Amelia Island Blog

I pass information along for a number of local charities.  This is a nice one.  Steven Hair was nice enough to send this my way.  The charity runs and rally benefit disabled veterans and in my opinion is a very worthy cause.  See www.lastlegrally.com for more information or updated information.

…..and Benefit Runs
Anchors Aweigh Charters Inc. – Disabled Veterans Program
Fernandina Beach, Florida off I-95 exit 373

www.lastlegrally.com
Visit often for details and updates
February 19-21, 2010
Friday Meet & Greet @ Murray’s Grille-Info and pre-registration available 5:00pm until ?
Saturday Benefit Run – 8:00am Registration – American Legion Post 54 – KSU @ 10:00am
Bike Show/Music – 11:00 – 6:00pm-Centre Street at the waterfront
Vendors/Music on 8th Street and @ Central Park on Atlantic Ave – 9:00am to 5:00pm
Pub Crawls – 6:30pm-until (must be pre-registered)
Sunday Worship Service 9:00am Central Park
Bike Games across the street from Central Park – 10:00am until
Benefit Run-11:00am Registration – American Legion Post 54 – KSU @ 1:00pm
Vendors/Music on 8th Street and @ Central Park on Atlantic Ave- 9:00am -5:00pm

I started my day with time well spent at the gym.  Over the years, I’ve been in good shape and thought I knew every trick in the book to get back into shape.  Hitting my 40’s, a few minor injuries and 2 boys taking up a lot of my time turned me into “OBESE” on the weight height charts.  About a month ago I decided it was time to make a change and started making changes in my diet.  The only problem…I was doing it alone.  After reading part of a book called “Connected”, I began to think differently about working out and my motivation in general.  We are all effected to a degree by the motivation or lack of motivation of those around us.  Some even speculate there may be a genetic component to weight, happiness and success.  Even if partly true, this was an interesting idea for me.  I’ve been self motivated for most of my adult life.   Since there was no “I” in team, I didn’t belong…(laughing)…or so I thought. 

If you’re interested in reading more or listening to a few videos, have a look http://www.connectedthebook.com/pages/links.html  .   Pretty interesting, but also very interesting if you want to make a change in your life or health.

My experience so far after nearly a week at Club 14 is good.  The first real visit was an orientation with Rae Lane, the owner,  and not just a signup.  She talked about goals and what we wanted from our time.  She also suggested a trainer for several complimentary visits offered to all new members.  Rae didn’t know this, but I honestly didn’t expect that much from a trainer.  After all, I spent 12 to 15 years in the gym 5 or 6 days a week,

worked out with amateur body builders and honestly….”I” felt there might be only a few areas I’d need help fine tuning.  Chris Antczak was the trainer and after the second visit, I definitely think everyone should spend at least a few visits with a professional trainer.  His background is in chiropractic medicine.  As a trainer, he appears to be ridiculously overqualified.  Regardless, he showed me a few exercises and changes to old exercises that made a huge difference.  I’ve had a few injuries in the past including neck, shoulder and a foot surgery.  He was able to show me a few simple things to do for my shoulder…immediately making a difference!  We also talked about exercises  to add or avoid in my routine.  Currently, I’ll be participating in the fitness challenge for 2 months and hope to have more good things to report.  The “Forever Fit Challenge” runs from January 28 to March 31.  Signups I think end this week…but check with the club at the link below.

At this point, I am very, very impressed with the entire club.  I’d recommend it to anyone and so far am beyond pleased. 

Welcome to Club 14 – Amelia Island’s Only Upscale Fitness Club!

We all know the economy is rough.  The Florida House was and hopefully is again one of the unique pieces of history we really do not want to lose.  The oldest continuously operating inn less than 2 blocks from the oldest saloon in Florida….what could be better? 

This should be a warning and a wakeup call to Fernandina Beach.  Doing business in the historic district is challenging.  I don’t profess to know the entire story behind the closure and I truly hope it is temporary…but maintaining a piece of history like the Florida House

should be something we assist…not tax.  Downtown Fernandina is one of the main attractions to Amelia Island if not the biggest.  We have more bed and breakfasts, diverse scenery, history, great restaurants and nice people (in such a small area) than any other place in Florida I know!  As a disclaimer, this is my opinion as a lifelong local. 

The next time we consider issues in the historic district, keep in mind the cost to do business there.  Some benefit, but for many, times like this turn into a struggle to stay afloat.  Protecting the area really is akin to protecting the heart of the island.

Sad as well…few know the kind of generosity the owners showed to various local groups.  I talked to the owners, who kindly offered to host a local network group…benefitting local business last year.  They were scheduled to host another gathering of a similar group on January 20th.   There isn’t much I can say, but I hope Joe and Diane make it through this and it brings a little awareness and sensitivity to small business in Historic Fernandina Beach.  

I drive like an old man…no offense to anyone.  My son tells me that all the time, so it looks like I’m finally turning into my parents.  When did this happen?  I’d guess sometime before my first son was born and I began to worry about things like safety.  I thought the example I set might rub off on my children and they’d end up driving like maniacs in…what…only 6 or 7 years now. 

This isn’t a long post, but is something I notice almost every day.  The street signs are blocked out, but this shot makes a point.  The oncoming traffic is entirely blocked from view by the hedge and the hedge is, I’d guess, about 12 feet over the property line almost at the curb.  What do you think?

The picture was taken from the stop sign at this intersection. 

Interesting link here to cases involving hedges and intersections.  If the municipality allows a hedge on a right of way to block view…..it appears they in turn accept liability for accidents caused by that condition.  Don’t take this as legal advice…I’m only reading examples online.   http://www.aitkenlaw.com/verdicts_settlements/hedges.html

My wife and I try most restaurants in town and I really enjoy finding something new.  Sfogliatelle is a kind of pastry and means many layers.   I may be sheltered, but I thought these were a treat.  My impression was a crisp exterior only a little sweet, not like other pastry.   The filling was very good with an orange and ricotta cheese filling.  The outside looked a lot like a clam.  If you want to try something surprisingly different, these were at Patty Cakes on North 4th Street.

Fernandina seems to end up with the best of everything.

Sfogliatelle are made from a dough similar to phyllo cut into discs and formed into a pocket to hold an orange-flavored ricotta filling, although almond paste or candied peel of citron are also used.

Sfogliatelle – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See the site for more or updated information.  This is a lot of fun for the kids.  Sign-up is online at the site below.  Ages are 4 and up.

2010 BASEBALL REGISTRATION
BASEBALL REGISTRATION IS CURRENTLY OPEN FOR THE 2010 SEASON. FERNANDINA BEACH BABE RUTH LEAGUE IS OFFERING A BASEBALL PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 4 TO 15. NEW TO FBBRL THIS YEAR IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGES 4 AND 5 TO PARTICIPATE. THE LEAGUE MET WITH THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND AGREED TO OFFER T-BALL AND ROOKIE LEAGUE PROGRAMS THIS YEAR THAT WILL REPLACE THE T-BALL AND BUDDY LEAGUE PROGRAMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED BY THE CITY OF FERNANDINA. THE CITY OF FERNANDINA PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER YOUTH SOFTBALL IN PLACE OF THE SOFTBALL PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY OFFERED UNDER FERNANDINA BEACH BABE RUTH.
FERNANDINA BEACH BABE RUTH LEAGUE IS A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN ORGANIZATION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING PLEASE COMPLETE THE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION ON LINE. THERE IS NO COST TO VOLUNTEER, YOU WILL BE REWARDED WITH SMILES OF GIRLS AND BOYS WHO ARE DEVELOPING SKILLS IN THE SPORT OF BASEBALL.

Fernandina Beach Babe Ruth League – (Fernandina Beach, FL) – powered by LeagueLineup.com

This appears to be one of the best explanations of the origin of the black eyed pea meal tradition.  I always knew it had to do with the Civil War, just never knew the story.   Anyway, my wife insists this is called “Hopping John”, but since I’m actually a southerner…and have never heard the expression…I refuse to believe there is such a thing as Hopping John Peas.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoppin’_John  Apparently Wikipedia…(curse the name) thinks “Hoppin John” exists…  “Hoppin John” is a recipe…including more than one kind of pea and even bacon.  We did eat butter beans with onion and a pork bone when I was a kid, but not on New Year’s Day. 

Regardless, it is cheap and being cheap..I mean frugal…is a virtue!  Learn from tradition…we live in a world full of materialism and ridiculous expectations.  Save a few dollars and do something nice with the money…or even put the savings in the bank. 

Tradition has it that Southerners have been eating black-eyed peas for good luck on the first of the year since the end of the Civil War. They were the only things left for many Southerners to eat after the invading northern army, led by Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, tore through Georgia on his “march to the sea.”
Sherman believed that the actions of his army “hastened what we all fought for, the end of the war."
Sherman’s goal was to bring a quick end to the war. He also wanted to make Georgia “howl.” To do so, Sherman’s army not only took the city of Atlanta, but it cut a path of destruction some 300 miles long and some 60 miles wide through the South. As the army wreaked havoc, it consumed almost everything in which it came into contact. Almost everything except black-eyed peas.
Apparently Northerners thought these cowpeas, as they referred to them, were unfit for human consumption (gasp!). Thus, for Southerners caught in the wake of this destructive army, there was little else that winter of 1864-65 on which they could subsist.
Little did he know it also inaugurated a New Year’s tradition for southerners

Thank Gen. Sherman for our black-eyed pea tradition – 2009-Dec-31 – CultureMap Houston

Jim Bird passed away yesterday.  He was the name I most often thought of when I thought of title insurance here in Fernandina.  When I was first starting out, he was generous with information and always happy to help.  Over the years, I began to understand this was a true gentleman with the kind of integrity and bearing you seldom see.  

Jim, I’ll miss the conversations and my heart goes out to your wife and family.  You left the world a better place and you will be remembered by everyone fortunate enough to know you. 

His service will be held on Thursday, 2:00 PM, Dec. 31 in the Burgess Chapel, Oxley-Heard Funeral Home.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, Dec 30 from 5pm – 7 pm.  In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions be made to the American Cancer Society in his memory.  www.cancer.org

Oxley-Heard Funeral Home – Obituaries

My son and I were riding the bikes earlier and noticed the vandalism at Emma Love Hardee.  Several

   windows/doors were broken out.  If anyone has any information, I’m sure the local police would appreciate a call.   

Think about it…our tax dollars pay to build local schools…if see someone vandalizing a building, they are vandalizing a building you own as a taxpayer! 

Amelia Island, in my opinion, has very little crime….things like this just don’t make sense.  I’d assume the repair and visit by a glass company on Sunday morning over Christmas weekend will run $2000 plus!

There are some details of the vandalism already in hand by the police.  Please don’t post tips or added information here.  Call the police directly with any information you may have.

Fernandina Beach Police Department

904-277-7342 (non-emergency number)

By the way, reading a little more…it appears any damage over $1000 is a felony in Florida.  What does that mean…on your record for life….no voting…every job app shows you’re a felon?  Vandalism isn’t even smart if you’re a criminal….you take a chance of going to jail and there is no payoff at all….makes no sense to me.  (not to imply any crime is good)

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Crime-Law-Enforcement-341/car-vandalism-2.htm

This post is a work in progress and I want to encourage anyone with a good idea to add something. 

Last week it occurred to me I wasn’t using a thermal mug at coffee shops. Saves money and paper/trees. I also added a couple degrees to the thermostat at home on the cooling side and subtracted a couple on the heating side. This makes a big difference in savings over a year and is almost impossible to detect after a while. The other ideas my family uses…we eat all leftovers at home, I buy lower octane gas (check your owner’s manual, all engines use something different and most don’t benefit from higher octane) and turn down the water heater temperature…another savings most never will notice.

What are your ideas?

We can’t change the world with one big decision or change…we change it in a thousand tiny ways locally in our own lives.