Page 16, September 2, 2019, The Islander
What I did last week
By Pamela Permar Shierling
When someone asks me what I did
this week, I hope I can remember.
The end of the week brought good
and bad.
The good was going to Assistant
Police Chief Scott Trautz’s retirement
party. He is a quiet and very honor
able man who has accomplished a lot
in his law enforcement career. He has
been a friend to us for many years and
we will miss his competence and sense
of humor.
Friday evening I went to dinner
with high school friends. We do this
once a month, and this month it was
Georgia Sea Grill. One word - excel
lent. We shall return.
I attended the Preliminary Hear
ing and Bond Hearing for the son of
a friend, and I simply ache for his
family.
At the end of the week Matt and I
sat in on two Hurricane Dorian brief
ings. Today I am at the point that I
just want this storm over with. Can I
hear an amen from all the emergency
management and county, city, JWSC,
school system, hospital, Health De
partment, everyone involved in this
life stalling event known as Dorian.
Meanwhile, Matt and I are trying
to finish the paper and our minds sim
ply won’t focus on anything but that
damn storm.
Not to mention that my pet, Tom
my Cat, hurt himself today -1 heard it
but didn’t see it - and I can’t get him to
the vet until Tuesday. So goodie - one
more thing to worry about.
Back to emergency preparations.
Flushing is of utmost importance to
me (yeah - tongue in cheek) but the
JWSC has system shutdown proce
dures in place. Everyone should be
aware of this because a system shut
down did not happen during Hurri
canes Matthew and Irma.
The Executive Director is respon
sible for making the decision to shut
down the system. I’m not saying it will
happen but know that it could happen.
Earlier in the week I attended the
sparring match known as the SPLOST
2016 Oversight Committee meeting. I
try to understand the frustrations on
the committee’s part as well as staffs
part. There is definitely a communica
tion gap. I don’t believe the committee
should rubber stamp everything, but
they aren’t in a position to do any
thing else.
I realize information is slow in
coming to these Oversight commit
tee members. Information should be
given to anyone who wants it on a
timely basis - especially committee
members. I see room for improvement
on both sides, but then there’s always
improvement room in any situation.
Shades of St. Simons... there is an
other rezoning issue brewing on the
“other” island - Blythe Island. They
Shierling - Editor The Islander EDITORIAL
are faced with a rezoning for an event
venue at the very end of Blythe Is
land Drive on Fiddler Island. See the
article on page one. This property is
noted on the 2018 Glynn County Fu
ture Land Use Map as Coastal Marsh
lands. The rezoning request is for a
Planned Development.
I spent Saturday writing and Sun
day putting the paper together, trying
to buy a car, and making hurricane
plans.
Even though I am hoping against
hope we won’t have to leave home and
the Island, I am a realist. At my age I
would hope so.
Matt and I are a good team. I made
plan A and he made Plan B.
Plan A is Brunswick. Plan B is
Jesup. Thank you Eric Denty for not
even taking a deep breath when Matt
called and asked that just in case
question - may we stay with you if
necessary?
I am ever in awe of people like the
Denty’s who effortlessly glide through
life or at least make it seem like they
do. We stayed with them during Hur
ricane Matthew. They are lovely, gra
cious people.
We will be with friends for the du
ration of Dorian. (Right now I feel like
it will be the rest of my life!) Bobbie is
cooking a chicken casserole, Patti has
stocked up on goodies and has a gen
erator, and Pam is bringing the wine
- what else!
We will have two dogs and a limp
ing cat as well.
During Hurricane Matthew Patti
and I made “Cowgirl Coffee.” That’s
about as outdoorsy as either one of us
gg^S.
What’s “Cowgirl Coffee” you ask.
Well, it’s made with coffee packaged
in what looks like a tea bag boiled in
a frying pan - yes frying pan - of wa
ter on a gas grill on a screened-in pool
porch.
I was just thrilled to be able to light
the gas grill without blowing up the
porch. Matt blessedly slept through
this. He’s not a coffee drinker anyway.
This year Patti has a generator
hooked up to stuff but who knows, we
might make “Cowgirl Coffee” this year
just for the heck of it and just ‘cause
we know we can do it.
Bobbi is definitely a coffee person.
I can’t think of two people I’d rath
er be cooped up with than these two
friends. Matt is just gonna have to put
up with three girls.
As I write this I am saying a prayer
for everyone in the way of this weather
and for those who have gone through
it.
We will see you on the other side.
Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Care • Skilled Nursing • Rehab
MARSH’S EDGE
ON ST. SIMONS ISLAND
136 Marsh’s Edge Lane • St. Simons Island, GA 31522
(912) 324-3028 • Marshs-Edge.com
£=16.
