Carrabelle Area Chamber of

Commerce
105 St. James Avenue (Hwy 98),PO Box DD Carrabelle, FL 32322

(850) 697-2585
chamber@nettally.com
www.carrabelle.org

The Pearle of the Panhandle

Events-May
th

st

Thurs Apr 30 & Fri 1 US 98 Ochlockonee Bay

Bridge in Panacea will have eastbound lane
closures
9 am-4pm for routine inspection/maintenance
th
May 1st-11 Forgotten Coast en plein air
Throughout the area www.pleinairfl.com
(See page 4 for Area Events)
nd
Sat 2 Giving Words to Our Forgotten Coast
FL State Univ. Coastal & Marine Lab-4-8:30 pm.
Must be registered fsucml@fsu.edu
th
Thurs 7 Canvas & Cocktails 7-9 pm hosted at
the Franklin County Senior Center for The
Carrabelle Artist Association (These classes will
be held weekly) (850) 228-0422 Or
www.canvasandcocktailscarrabelle.com
th
Sat 9 I-Quit 10 am Carrabelle Branch of the
Franklin County Public Library (850) 697-8974,
Toll
free
(877)
848-6696
or
www.ahectobacco.com

May 8th & 9th The 20th Annual -Camp

Gordon Johnston Days
(See page 3 for full schedule)
Dedication of New signage & Flag Pole
Gulf Unmanned Systems Center, LLC
th
Sun 10 Mothers Day
th
Wed 13 Noon Board of Directors Meeting
Carrabelle Library-BYO lunch.
th
Thurs 14 Coming to Pass: Floridas Coastal
Islands in a Gulf of Change 7 pm FSUCML
Auditorium www.marinelab.fsu.edu

Thurs May 21st Chamber Mixer 6:00 p.m.

The Old Carrabelle Hotel
nd

Fri 22 5-7 pm C-Quarters Liquors Grand

Opening & Ribbon Cutting
rd
th
Sat 23 & Sun 24 Red Snapper Tournament
C-Quarters Marina www.c-quartersmarina.com
th
Mon 25 Memorial Day

Hurray, Hurray, its the first of May !!!

Turtle Season begins today..

Friday, May 1, 2015

New Members
John & N. Jill Rees

Welcome Back:
Apalachicola Bay & River Keeper, Inc.
BayMedia
Join today!!
Call or download our Membership Application on our website
www.carrabelle.org/contact

The New Carrabelle-Snapshot Tour Walk, Cycle or Drive

Sights & Landmarks Along Carrabelles Scenic Coast Brochure
was delivered in time to give out at the Riverfront Festival.
If you havent seen it yet, stop by the Chamber Office to pick one up!
A BIG thank-you to all who helped put it together!

Lighthouse Shinings
by Laurel Newman
The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association (CLA) had a vendor booth at this years
Carrabelle Riverfront Festival to raise funds for painting the Crooked River Lighthouse
and the Keepers House Museum. We enjoyed visiting with lots of lighthouse friends
and supporters and met many new potential lighthouse friends, many of whom
received a free ticket to climb the lighthouse.
We had a visit Sunday (04/26/15) from Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers - Tom
wrote the prize-winning song for last year's Lantern Fest, and he and his band
performed it (Shine, Crooked River, Shine) at the Riverfront Festival in Carrabelle this
weekend. Tom is now a member of the CLA, and hopes to come perform for us again
at this year's Lantern Fest in October. He and his pirate crew are a delightful bunch
from Nashville, and we hope they will come back soon!
Also on Sunday, we were blessed with a visit from Flat Stanley, in the company of Ms.
Julie Stephens, a longtime lighthouse friend. Flat Stanley is representing Julies
granddaughter Chelsea, adding to his list of travel destinations. We hope they all
come back soon!
Delores R. Hardin, President Carrabelle Lighthouse Assn.
850-697-4700 or 697-2732 www.crookedriverlighthouse.org
Let us know whats happening with you so we can include YOUR accomplishments here!

See our website www.carrabelle.org under

Things to Do Entertainment/Events for
More info
Events Further afield:
Listen to WOYS 100.5 FM Oyster Radio
Or go to www.oysterradio.com
or www.forgottencoastline.com
(Reminder: Please forward your events for the next month by the
third week of the prior month in order for them to be included in the
Coastline Newspaper under area events)

Chamber officers
President-Cher Novaria/At Your Service Concierge
Vice Pres./Treas-Sheila Hauser/Century 21 Collins Realty
Secretary-Tonia Chisholm/FC Public Library-Carrabelle
Executive Director-Lisa Munson
Chamber Directors
Ann Wilson/NHC Homecare
Lewis Christie/Christies Cottage Living
Dr. Lois Kaitland/Phoenix Family Health Care
Welcome New Chamber Directors:
Skip Frink/Old Carrabelle Hotel
Paul Marxsen/Marxsen Accounting
Bo May/Rio Carrabelle
Pamela McCreery/The Beachtrader
Visitors Center
2014

2015

Brochures Sent
% Inc

2014

2015

% Inc

Jan

51

106

208

30

75

250

Feb

111

167

150

27

63

233

Mar

163

171

105

25

74

296

Apr

118

178

151

41

47

115

May

66

26

Jun

64

66

Jul

80

36

Aug

52

36

Sept

56

21

Oct

76

22

Nov

79

19

Dec

62

32

978

381

Totals

Total Web Website Visitors Jan 1-April 12: 52,623

Total New Members Year-to-date: 34
(Includes return Memberships of pre-2014 Members)
Chamber Hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Franklin County Visitor Center
Monday Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Closed Sunday

Natural Resource Fish Display Installed at Carrabelles River

Walk
The spirit of this project is to identify the varied fish available in the
Franklin County region and lead the visitor to the businesses that can
show them off. The display shows fiberglass fish replicas of our
waters and will have Quick Response Decals to lead visitors to sites
such as FWC, Franklin County Tourist Development Council and the
Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce websites. This display enhances the
look of Carrabelles waterfront while providing an educational
aspect. There will be descriptions explaining what information the QR
decals will provide. These QR websites will expand the displays
usage by providing a wide variety of information ranging from fish
identification, boating safety, and locating local businesses. This
colorful and eye catching Natural Resource Fish Display is funded by
Franklin County Tourist Development Council and Visit Florida. This
is an ongoing project in cooperation with Carrabelles Waterfront
Partnership and Community Redevelopment Agency with additional
enhancements to follow in the coming months. Thank you, Mr.
Chester Reese, for envisioning this project and carrying it through to
completion. Visible promotional and educational aids such as
Chesters fish display have a dramatic effect on visitors and local
citizens as well.
Submitted by: Brenda La Paz, Carrabelle Commissioner
CRA & TDC Board Member
Franklin County Tourist Development Council:
The winner of the Carrabelle Adventure Getaway Vacation Contest is
Chrissy Petty from Jackson, TN. She was randomly selected from
almost 2,000 entries. Ms. Petty & her daughter will be here coming to
Carrabelle for the first time, so lets give her a warm Carrabelle
Welcome!!
Franklin County Emergency Management
Information about Residential Construction Mitigation Program is
on Home page-applies to single family site built homes, does not
cover mobile or manufactured homes.
Services page-Hurricane preparedness-apply for transportation
assistance or your re-entry tags.
http://www.franklinemergencymanagement.com/
Everyone who attended the Riverfront Festival had a great time!
(the threat of rain didnt scare us off!) Ill get a photo gallery on our
website soon. Thank-you to all the volunteers and participants!
st
Christies Cottage Living had a wonderful 1 weekend in their new
location..Best wishes for continued success!

The 20th Annual Camp Gordon Johnston Reunion Days

A celebration for America's veterans
The Annual Camp Gordon Johnston Reunion Days were established to celebrate historic wartime Carrabelle and the
service of our veterans from WWII to present. All veterans and their family, friends, and supporters are invited to
Carrabelle from Friday, May 8, 2015 through Saturday, May 9, 2015.
Friday, May 8th, registration will continue throughout the day. If you wish to register on-line to be in the parade, please: call
Sidney Winchester at: (850) 524-3927 or Mike Horvath at (850) 251-3928.
Boat excursions to Dog Island, where many practice beach landings were held during WWII training, will be provided by Towboats
U.S. Passage for each participant will cost $25.00. There must be a minimum of three persons before the boat will leave. This is a
sightseeing tripwe will not disembark on Dog Island. For reservations call: (850) 697-8909 or 697-3360.
At 6 P.M., the Lanark American Legion Post 82, Camp Gordon Johnston, will host a southern seafood buffet. Legion
members, WWII veterans and active duty troops only are invited to attend this event.
Saturday, May 9th, all participants are invited to begin the day with breakfast at the Masonic Lodge, 108 NE First Street, in
Carrabelle. Breakfast will be served at 7:30 A.M. at a cost of $6.00. Breakfast is free to active-duty troops and WWII veterans.
At approximately 10:45 A.M., on Highway 98 in Carrabelle, the parade will begin featuring WWII vehicles, tanks, and modern
military equipment. Marching bands, active duty soldiers, civic groups, and re-enactors will participate in the parade festivities. This
year the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, First Florida Chapter, will be bringing their restored vintage military vehicles to
participate in the parade. Afterwards they will form up at the old Gulf State Bank location in Carrabelle to conduct their swap
business. The public is cordially invited to attend this parade, paying tribute to veterans of all branches of service, from all past and
current wartime and peacetime efforts. The public is also invited to come to the Swap location to view the vehicles, purchase

souvenirs and talk to the participants.

Saturday evening will feature a dinner and dance at 6:00 P.M. at the Franklin County Senior Center. Live Entertainment &
DJ Dance. Join us for an evening of fun at the newly revitalized Senior Center. $ 10 Donation per person. No charge for WWII,
Active Duty Troops, and veterans with valid ID. For tickets Please call (850) 697-3760 or (850) 320-8201. Proceeds will help keep
our Senior Center alive and well.

The CGJ Museum will be open for visitors on Thursday 12001600 hours, Friday 09001600 and Saturday 09001500 hours. The
Museum is closed Sundays.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy good food, fun and to honor all our veterans.

All veterans/friends and interested persons are welcome to attend the festivities.

For More Information Please call (850) 697-8575

Or visit www.campgordonjohnston.com

Carrabelle Area
For a full schedule of events, visit www.pleinairfl.com

Maritime Collection
th
May 1st-May 9 - 12:00 pm-5:00 pm
Rio Carrabelle, 102 St. James Ave (Hwy 98), Carrabelle
Painting Station: Views from Marine Street
th
May 5 - 9:00 am-6:00 pm
Marine Street Pavilion, 701 Marine Street, Carrabelle
Floridas Finest Plein Air Ambassadors Cynthia Edmonds and Mary Garrish will coach novice and first time painters to create their own painting
en plein air. Pre-book your session online. Select from three time slots, 9-1 am, 1-3 pm or 4-6 pm each day, $25 per person includes all
supplies. If you do not want to stay for two hours, stop by and try your hand on a Community Canvas just for fun.
Demonstration: Marine Street Panoramas
th
May 5 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Marine Street Pavilion, 701 Marine Street, Carrabelle
Watercolorist, Luke Buck, and oil painters Gene Costanza and Larry Moore
Reception and Presentation: Exploring Watercolor
th
May 5 -4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Rio Carrabelle, 102 St. James Ave (Hwy 98), Carrabelle, FL
Enjoy a presentation by Luke Buck discussing his mastery of watercolor in the plein air process. Meet the artists Gene Costanza and Mary
Erickson and enjoy the hospitality of the Carrabelle Artists Association.