Newspaper Page Text
Page 10A
The Braselton News
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A natural escape...to Franklin County, Fla.
B irding, boating and
amazing sunrises
and sunsets are just
a few of the natural delights to
be found in Franklin County,
Fla. With more than 87 percent
of the county being protected
land as state or federal parks
and wildlife preserves, Franklin
County offers a natural escape for visitors.
Franklin County includes St. George Island,
Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Alligator Point, Dog Island
and Eastpoint. Each corner of the county offers some
thing unique from the outdoor adventures to charming
stores, historical building, working waterfronts dotted
with shrimp and oyster boats and scrumptious dining
options.
For bird-lovers, Franklin County offers a wonderful
chance to see a wide range of rare and unusual species.
Whether you take a special birding tour or take time
to look for birds as you travel through the island, you
will see plenty of variety. Prime birding areas are St.
George Island State Park, St. Vincent National Wildlife
Refuge, Tate’s Hell State Forest, the Apalachicola
National Forest and the Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve.
Among the boating opportunities are fishing, sun
set cruises, shelling tours, kayaking and canoeing.
Franklin County is known for its fresh and saltwater
fishing opportunities. The Apalachicola River Basin is
home to 186 species of fish and the bay system serves
as a critical nursery for more than 95 percent of all
species harvested commercially and 85 percent of all
species harvested recreationally in the Gulf of Mexico.
Seventeen local marinas are located throughout the
county. Professional guide service and charter boat
rentals are offered throughout the county.
Journeys of St. George Island has been providing
ecotours of the area for 16 years. Jeannie McMillan
founded the operation in 1991, and it is now overseen
by her son, Justin. Journeys offers guided kayak, canoe
and boat tours. They also rent sailboats, powerboats,
kayaks and canoes.
For more information on Journeys of St. George
Island, located at 240 E. Third Street, go to www.sgis-
landjourneys.com or call 1-850-927-3259.
For some beach time, go to St. George Island State
Park, located at 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive. Among the
things that make the park so special are the secluded,
pristine beaches, nature trails, camping and youth
camps. The nine-mile beach is located on 2,000 acres.
Last year, 180,000 people visited the park, and more
are expected this year.
For more information on St. George State Park, go
to www.floridastateparks.org/stgeorgeisland or call
1-850-927-2111.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Outdoor adventures aren't all that you will find in
Franklin County, Fla. Other stops worth some of your
time include:
•Dixie Theatre, 21 Avenue E, Apalachicola, Fla.,
www.dixietheatre.com or 1-850-653-3200. Be sure to
check out the schedule when you’re in the area. We
were lucky enough to catch “Nashville Does Dixie.”
This evening featured songwriters performing some
of the hits they wrote that were
made famous by such top stars
as Alan Jackson, George Straight
and Rascal Flatts. Steve Bogard,
Charlie Black and Dana Hunt
Black were the featured songwrit
ers. Charley opened up the night
by telling the audience about the
songs to be performed. “Some of
them are big hits,” he said. “You will recognize them.
Some of them ought to be big hits. They are in our
hearts.” It’s really special to hear the stories behind the
hit songs from the person who wrote the words.
•Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum,
Carrabelle, Fla., www.campgordonjohnston.com or
1-850-697-3395. This museum is dedicated to the
Amphibious World War II soldiers who trained at
Camp Gordon Johnston.
•Crooked Creek Lighthouse, Carrabelle, Fla., www.
crookedriverlighthouse.org or 1-850-697-9790. This
restored lighthouse is surrounded by forest and located
near covered picnic shelters and a playground. It’s a
great place for a family to stop during their visit to
Franklin County.
•John Gorrie Museum State Park, Apalachicola,
Fla., www.floridastateparks.org/johngorriemuseum or
1-850-653-9347. Gorrie developed an ice machine
used to cool his yellow fever patients room. It led to Dr.
Gorrie receiving the first U.S. patent for mechanical
refrigeration in 1851.
•Orman House State Park, 177 5th Avenue,
Apalachicola, www.floridastateparks.org/ormanhouse
or 1-850-653-1209. This 1838 Greek Revival home
overlooks the Apalachicola River and was built by
Thomas Orman, a cotton merchant.
SHOPPING
Natural sponges, beachwear, home decor and jewelry
are some of the items you will find in the charming and
unique shops in Franklin County. A few must stops
include:
•Avenue E in Apalachicola has “old Florida atti
tude with fresh new style.” Antiques, interior decor
and more are found at this store located at the corner
of Commerce Street and Avenue E in the historic
Zingarelli Building.
•Blue in Apalachicola has tons of unique items for
the beach and home. It’s located at 31 Avenue E.
•Apalachicola Sponge Company has natural sponges,
handmade olive oil and goats milk soap.
•Riverlily, a “shop for your senses,” has a huge
variety of bath products, perfume and other fun per
sonal products. It’s located at 78 Commerce Street in
Apalachicola.
•Southern Sage, located at 82 Market Street in
Apalachicola, has antiques, local products and some
great T-shirts with advertising from Bay City Packing
Company.
Franklin County is located 80 miles southwest of
Tallahassee and 85 miles southeast of Panama City.
For more information on visiting Franklin County,
Fla., contact the Franklin County Tourist Development
Council at www.anaturalescape.com or by calling
1-866-914-2068 (toll free).
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers.
She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
On the Road
with
Angela Cary
AngieEditor@aol.com
Chamber to hold chili cook-off April 19 at YearOne
The Jackson County Area Chamber
of Commerce will hold its annual
chili cook-off on Saturday, April 19,
from 3-6 p.m. in Braselton.
The event will be held at YearOne,
which is also holding a car show
that day from 3-9 p.m. Samples of
chili will be for sale. Quantities are
limited. A kids play area will be
available.
YearOne is located on Cherry
Drive.
DONATION TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
Georgia Power recently donated $5,000 to the Boys and Girls
Club of Jackson County. Pictured are (L-R): Chas Hardy, board
member; Michael Williams, executive director of the Boys and
Girls Club; Michael Maxwell, club director of the Commerce club;
Bo Braswell, local manager for Georgia Power and chairman of
the Boys and Girls Club board for Jackson County; and Kathy
Wilbanks, board member.
Fund-raiser planned for Friends
The Friends of the Braselton-
West Jackson Library will hold a
benefit fund-raiser, “Round-Up For
Reading,” on Thursday, April 17, at
6 p.m., at the Hoschton Depot.
The event will include BBQ,
entertainment, and a silent and live
auction. Singer Tiffany Milargo
will perform.
The auction will include a vaca
tion at Villa del Palmer Beach
Resort and Spa in Cabo San Lucas,
an autographed shirt from a profes
sional athlete, paintings from local
authors, chef meals planned, spa
A pet first aid class will be held
on Thursday, April 10, at 5:30 p.m.,
at the Humane Society of Hall
County.
The four-hour course will allow
participants to learn how to adminis
ter medications, recognize an emer
gency for pets, detect dehydration,
survey and approach a sick animal
and stock a pet CPR first aid kit.
treatments, UGA items and two
tickets to the Leman’s race series.
The event is $30 per person.
BBQ, coleslaw, baked beans, des
sert, wine, beer, tea and soft drinks
will be available.
Checks for the event may be made
to the Friends of the Braselton-West
Jackson Library, at 5253 Legends
Drive, Braselton, Ga. 30517.
For more information, or to
donate items for the auction, contact
Robyn Matthews, at 770-967-5115
or e-mail roberta071861@msn.
com.
All participants must pre-register.
The cost is $35 per participant, and
checks can be made payable to the
American Red Cross.
The class is sponsored by the
Humane Society of Hall County and
the American Red Cross.
For more information, call Kelley
Uber at 770-532-6617 or visit www.
humanesocietyhallcounty.com.
Clean-up
activities set
April 12,19
Keep Jackson County Beautiful
will feature two clean-up events
in April, the month of the Great
American Cleanup.
On Saturday, April 12, house
hold hazardous wastes — including
electronics, aluminum cans, latex
and oil paints, plastic bottles, paper
recycling items and bulbs and bat
teries — will be accepted from 8
a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jackson County
landfill. There is a $10 fee for TVs.
On Saturday, April 19, a county
wide clean-up day will be held.
Keep Jackson County Beautiful
is now signing up churches, civic
groups, clubs and organizations —
as well as individuals — who are
interested in registering to help or
in reporting an extra messy area.
Bags, gloves and goodies will be
provided.
Contact Susan Trepagnier of
KJCB, strepagnier@jacksoncounty-
gov.com or 706-708-7198.
Library board
to meet April 17
The Piedmont Regional Board
of Library Trustees will meet on
Thursday, April 17, at 5:30 p.m., at
the Banks County Public Library.
The library is located at 226 Hwy.
51 South, Homer.
The Piedmont Regional Library
System serves Jackson, Barrow and
Banks counties.
CASA volunteer
class planned
Piedmont CASA will begin a new
class for volunteers on Tuesday,
April 15, at 6 p.m. at the Braselton
Community Center.
CASA volunteers speak for chil
dren in foster care in Jackson, Banks
and Barrow counties.
“If you’ve ever wanted to help
children, this is your chance to help
a child who has no one to speak for
them,” organizers state.
Call 706-387-6375 to join the
next class.
Please Recycle
This Newspaper!
Spay, neuter discount offered
The Humane Society of Hall County is holding its Beat the Heat Spay and
Neuter Campaign now through Wednesday, April 30.
Those who qualify to have their animals fixed using the humane society’s
clinic can qualify for an offer. Owners who schedule their animals’ surgery
during the campaign will save $10 off the $50 per-animal fee. Owners of
both male and female animals are asked to have the surgery done.
Anyone receiving any form of government assistance, such as Social
Security, qualifies for the offer.
To schedule a date, call Frankie at 770-532-6617, and mention the Beat
the Heat Campaign to receive the $10 discount.
Pet first aid class available Thurs.
Georgia Carolina
AUTO AUCTION
Open to the Public
Every Friday at 6PM
GCAutoAuction.com • 706-335-5300
Open to the Public
Every Wednesday at 3PM
5th Anniversary Sale
Friday, April 11th @ 6:00PM
”600 Plus Vehicles"
Weekend Give A way at
Harrah's Cherokee Casino
EARLYBIRD DRAWINGS!
Free Food and Door Prizes!
Come Celebrate with the
"BEST TWO LANE AUCTION"
in the SOUTHEAST!
FRESH TRADES
FROM:
RHODE ISLAND,
VIRGINIA,
MARYLAND,
NORTH CAROLINA,
SOUTH CAROLINA,
FLORIDA AND
TENNESSEE
Located off 1-85, Exit 149, near the Atlanta
Dragway in Commerce, GA
FOR DETAILS, CALL 706-335-5300
YMCA
Healthy Kicjs Day and Open House
April 12,11arn-2pm
1/2 off the JOINER/s FEE and LOCK IN YOUR RATE
April 7-13, 2008
Bell Family Branch
Opal Street Extension
Hartwell. OA 30643
706-856-YMCA (9622)
of Georgia's Piedmont
Winder Barrow Brad Akins Branch
50 Brad Akins Drive
Winder, GA 30680
770-868-2917
www gapiedmontymca org
YMCA MISSION “To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all"
