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500 THE ytSLANDER www.theislanderonline.com • December 6, 2010 Established 1972 Published by Permar Publications ssislander@bellsouth.net Vol 38 Issue 49 Looking to the next 100 years On the cusp of celebrating the Brunswick rosin plant's 100th anniversary next year, are Pinova, Inc's, management team, (left to right) Rhonda Pickren, Director of Finance and Control; Jon Weaver, Process Manager; Nancy Mick, Environmental Health and Safety Manager; Cedric King, Human Resources Manager and Safety Support; Pat Grozier, Director of Operations; and Bob Johannsen, Derivatives Operations Manager. After two previous ownership changes in two years, Pinova, which stands for 'pine ino vations,' bought the former Hercules rosin plant this year. It is the company's corporate headquarters. Islander Staff Photo - Shierling Pinova: 'in it for the long haul' By Matthew J. Permar Delegations speak to City Commission Two citizen delegations spoke to the Brunswick City Commission at the Wednes day, December 1 meeting. Wes Gruenke, President of the Windsor Park Neigh borhood Watch Association, told commissioners that dur ing each weekday afternoon, after Glynn Academy lets out, his neighborhood becomes a "speedway." He asked that the Commis sion consider installing speed bumps at the Windsor Park entrances. He said that when the teen drivers arrive at the park circle that includes Elm St., Sycamore Ave., Palmetto Ave., and Oak Circle, the drivers go different ways and race to see who gets to Highway 17 first. He also asked commission ers to consider repaving some of the streets in Windsor Park. "It is a hodge podge of different levels of paving," he said. Gruenke also asked for Turn to Page 7 Delegations City to start search for Chief The Brunswick City Com mission is planning to start its search for a new Police Chief in earnest after the first of the year, according to Mayor Brian Thompson. In a telephone interview with The Islander on Thurs day, Dec. 2, Thompson said, "In January we're going to adver tise the chiefs position. It will be an open search, meaning city police officers can apply along with any law enforce ment officials who are not cur rently employed by the city." Former City Police Chief Edna Johnson stepped down from the position back in Sep tember amidst controversy sur rounding one of her officers and a prostitute. At the time of Johnson’s res ignation, City Manager Roos evelt Harris named Tobe Green as interim chief. □ In his excellent book about the 1964 Glynn Academy State Championship football team, The Red Terrors, author Jesse Tullos writes, “In Glynn County, football seasons past are sealed in the memories of those who played or followed the game through a portal of the senses. There was a pungent, almost-sweet smell belching from the smokestacks of the Hercules Powder Com pany, the huge industrial plant across the street from where the Red Terrors played their football games in 1964. That smell hovered in the humid night air and was as much a part of high school football as were the cheers from fans in the home bleachers.” After changing hands three times in the last two years that “huge industrial plant” to which Tullos referred is now a stand alone facility, the only rosin plant of its type in the world and is now owned by Pinova, Inc.® who purchased the plant earlier this year. According to company Exec utive Director David Book binder, Pinova understands the plant’s unique connection to this community and plans to do nothing to diminish it’s legacy. Instead, Bookbinder says Pinova is is it for the long haul. They are going to grow the plant through financial invest ment and foster the company’s relationship with Brunswick and Glynn. “We’ll be celebrating the plant’s 100th anniversay next year and we want it to still be here 100 years from now,” said Bookbinder. From 1920 to 2008 the large industrial rosin plant on High way 17 in Brunswick near the intersection of the F.J. Torras Causeway was known as Her cules Power Co. and in latter years, Hercules, Inc. Built in 1911 by Homer Yaryan, the facility started life as the Yaryan Naval Stores plant. It was built on 70 acres of land, 40 of which was provided by the Brunswick Advance ment Association, the forerun ner of the local Chamber of Commerce, with another 20 Turn to Page 7 Pinova JWSC reconsiders tap fee charges By Pamela Permar Shierling The Brunswick/Glynn Joint Water and Sewer Commission voted to cut tap fees in for six months. The Commission had previ ously decided to suspend tap in fees altogether for six months. However at the December 2 meeting they decided to cut the tap in fee in half for both com mercial/industrial and residen tial for a six month period. After the 10 day public notice period, another public hearing will be held at the December 16 meeting. Provided there are no further changes and a majority of the commissioners approve the collection of one half tap fees for six months, the tap fee reduction will go into effect immediately after the December 16 vote. Tap in fees are how the Turn to Page 5 JWSC Technicality sends Bennie's zoning back to planners By Matthew J. Permar After deliberating and lis tening to public comments for approximately eight hours over the course of three meetings, Glynn County's Island Plan ning Commission (IPC) will have to sit through one more meeting and take another vote on Don Gentile's application to amend his Planned Develop ment Zoning Text. The amendment, which has caused considerable controver sy among St. Simons Island residents, particularly on the north end, was sent to the Glynn Comity Commission for final action on Thursday, Dec. 2. Moving the item to the top of the agenda, Chairman How ard Lynn (Dist. 4) asked Com munity Development Director Turn to Page 6 Gentile property ????? Community News - Pg 2 County-Wide News - Read County-Wide Football Contest Feature Section - Pg 8 & Pg 9 The Kids Are Alright Movie Review -Pg 12 Back Talk Editorial Column -Pg 20 0 9492229970 3