The Franklin County Public Libraries in Eastpoint and Carrabelle are taking registrations for their program “Music as a Second Language.”

The Franklin County Public Libraries in Eastpoint and Carrabelle are taking registrations for their program “Music as a Second Language.”

The program is for kids aged 8 to 18 who would like to lean to play a musical instrument – its funded through the Rock by the Sea fundraiser which is held every year at Harry A’s on St. George Island.

The program provides individual music lessons in guitar, keyboard, drums, xylophone, ukulele and voice.

It’s a 20 week program that begins in mid-January and ends with a recital.

Students who make it through the entire program get to keep their instrument.

Space is limited so get your applications as soon as possible – they are available at the county libraries in Eastpoint and Carrabelle.

Registration for the program runs through December the 13th.

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It's Christmas on the Coast this month!

Visit Area through Museum Video Series Want a closer look inside the Forgotten Coast’s treasured museums and historical sites? Check out our Museum Video Series hosted by Trinity Hardy. These enlightening videos will take you on a brief tour of each Franklin County museum, including The Raney House Museum, The Orman House Museum, John Gorrie Museum State Park, Carrabelle History Museum and Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, as well as our two historic lighthouses: Cape St. George Light and Crooked River Lighthouse. Discover the rich historical significance of each site and get a glimpse of the unique artifacts, memorabilia and exhibits showcased inside these fascinating museums. An event and community series will also launch soon to keep you informed on events and activities throughout the area. UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS  Apalachicola Historic Downtown Christmas Celebration November 29 The historic town of Apalachicola officially kicks off the holiday season on Friday, November 29 with the Historic Downtown Christmas Celebration. Merchants will be open late and the sounds of carolers will echo through the streets. Santa will arrive Via shrimp boat at 4pm at Riverfront park on Water Street to hear all the children’s Christmas wishes. The Historic Orman & Raney House Museums will be decorated and open for tours. Click here for details. Eastpoint Christmas Parade Dec. 6 Join Eastpoint for its annual Christmas Celebration on Friday, December 6. Santa will be at the Eastpoint Fire Station following a 4:30 parade from Seller's Tile along Hwy 98 to Fisherman's Choice. Gifts and refreshments for children 10 and under. Details. SGI's Island Christmas Event December 5-8 St George Island kicks off the Christmas season with a holiday weekend event December 5-8. On Thursday evening, December 5, experience the Lighting of the Palms, enjoy hot dogs, cookies, and cocoa at Lighthouse Park, see the Children’s Lighted Wonderland with activities, games, and face painting, and see Santa. Throughout the weekend December 6-8, enjoy shopping and dining free gift wrapping for all items purchased on the island that weekend. Details. Holiday Fresh Market December 7 Why fight the crowds and traffic at the malls? Come to Apalachicola for the day or the weekend and find one-of-a-kind unusual presents. Shop in a relaxed, hassle free environment in an outdoor setting. Buy hand crafted Apalachicola specialties such as baked goods, artwork, wood carving, pottery and hand knitted goods. Your gift shopping has never been easier! Located in front of the Dixie Theatre on Avenue E and Market Street. Details here.  Camp Gordon Johnston Golf Tourney December 7 Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum and St. James Bay Golf Club will host an Inaugural Camp Gordon Johnston Benefit Golf Tournament on December 7, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 at St. James Bay Golf Club in Carrabelle, FL beginning at 9:00 am. The Camp Gordon Johnston Museum will display vehicles and artifacts on site during the tournament. Following the tournament there will be a buffet at the Crooked River Grill in the St. James Bay Clubhouse.  Baroque Era Christmas Concert December 8  Classic Christmas Concert December 15 A Baroque Era Christmas is the theme for the first concert of the Ilse Newell 2019-2020 season to be held December 8 from 4-5pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola. The Tallahassee Bach Parley will perform French Noels by Michel Corrette and Marc-Antoine Charp0entier, the “Christmas Concerto” by Arcangelo Corelli and a Christmas sonata by Georg Muffat. Doors open at 3:40 PM.  On December 15, a classic Christmas music concert will be held at Trinity at 4pm. Featured in the concert is a cello/piano duet of “O Come, O Come Emanuel” with cellist Lauren Mullinax and pianist Janis Ramos. Plus many soloists form the Bay Area Choral Society will be featured. Holiday on the Harbor & Boat Parade of Lights December 14 The Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce will host the 2019 Holiday on the Harbor Street Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 14 from 11am -  8pm in downtown Carrabelle. This year’s Holiday on the Harbor will include a street festival featuring children’s activities, vendors,  live music and of course, the boat parade at dusk. Downtown Carrabelle merchants will be open during the festival with holiday specials. Stay for the weekend and enjoy a host of activities throughout Carrabelle.  Farmers Markets in Apalachicola and Carrabelle This Apalachicola Farmers' Market will be held December 14 and 28  at the Mill Pond Pavilion in Apalachicola. Features seafood, produce, honey, homemade breads, pies, and other regional specialties from 9am -1pm. For more info, click here. The Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle is hosting a Carrabelle Farmer’s Market on Saturday, December 7 and Saturday, December 21 from 9 am-1 pm at the foot of the lighthouse at 1975 Hwy 98 W, Carrabelle, FL. The market will be featuring vendors from the community with locally made goods, veggies, baked goods, art and more. The Crooked River Farmer’s Market will be held every first and third Saturday from 9 am-1 pm at the Crooked River Lighthouse. Give The Gift of Relaxation! Now is the perfect time to book a last minute holiday getaway or to reserve your Spring 2020 vacation. Lodging providers in Franklin County feature a great selection of beachfront vacation homes, historic B&Bs or anything in between to suit your vacation needs. APALACHICOLA The Gibson Inn will host its popular Murder Mystery weekend December 6-7, 2019.  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Murder Mystery Weekend at the Gibson Inn will feature caroling, auditions for a Christmas play, a Christmas costume contest and a murder! The murder weekend package includes cocktails, appetizers, dinner at the Franklin and two days of fun as you gather clues around town. Plan now for a New Year’s Eve at the Gibson Inn Fun and festivities to ring in the New Year, featuring musical entertainment from Slow Low Crow and the Brown Goose. Several Robinson Vacation Rental properties Offers seven nights for the price of six at all of their vacation rental listings. Also, if you stay a minimum of three nights, you can earn 10% off a fishing charter with Robinson Brothers Fishing Guides. CARRABELLE Many of the Sandy Beach Properties offer a mid-week special available and a 10% discount for guests returning to the same property more than once in any calendar year. The St. James Bay Golf Resort features a Stay & Play packages including accommodations plus unlimited rounds of golf. ST. GEORGE ISLAND Resort Vacation Properties features a variety of homes offering deals including 20% discounts on select properties. Collins Vacation Rentals specials include individual property discounts, Fall Savings Specials, Winter Escape Specials, Stay 4 Nights and Get 5th Night Free as well as other discounts. The Buccaneer Inn is offering a getaway that features Stay 6 consecutive nights and get the 7th one free plus a 10% discount for seniors over 55, government employees, and/or military. Several properties at Fickling & Company feature book 4 nights and get 5th free and repeat guest thank you discounts. Click here to view current countywide  specials.  Full Moon Climbs December 11 and 12 Both historic lighthouses in Franklin County will host full moon climbs on Wednesday, December 11 and Thursday, December 12. The Crooked River Lighthouse full moon climb will be held from 5-7 pm. Over on St. George Island, the Cape St. George Lighthouse is also hosting a full moon climb from 5:30-7 pm.  UPCOMING  EVENTS  November 29 -Apalachicola Christmas CelebrationNovember 30 - Small Business Saturday Nov 10-Dec.31 Marilyn Brogan Fine Art Show Nov. 29-Dec. 21 - HCA Small Works Exhibit/Sale December 4, 11, 18, 25 Bowery Station Open Mic  December 5- SGI Lighting of the Palms December 6 - Yard Sale Fundraiser December 6 - Champagne & Oysters Fete, Apalachicola December 6 - Apalachicola Bay Estuary Class December 6 - Eastpoint Christmas Celebration  December 7,21 - Crooked River Farmers' Market December 7 - Holiday Fresh Market December 8 - Baroque Christmas Program December 11 - SGI Full Moon Climb December 12 - Crooked River Lighthouse Full Moon Climb December 12 - Bay Friendly landscape Workshop December 14 - Holiday on the Harbor December 14, 28 - Apalachicola Farmers Market December 15 - Ilse Newell Christmas Concert December 28 - Riverkeepers Field Trips Connect to all events online here!

Franklin County Tourist Development Council • 731 Hwy. 98, Eastpoint, FL 32329 • 866-914-2068

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NOAA Fisheries FishNews - November 20, 2019

MAFAC Task Force Nominations, Sea Turtles, and More

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. NOVEMBER 20, 2019 Highlights NOAA Appoints New Director for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection NOAA announced the appointment of Alexa Cole as the new Director for NOAA Fisheries’ Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection. As director, Cole will lead NOAA Fisheries’ work to maintain sustainable global resources and a level playing field for U.S. fishermen and seafood producers. United States Takes Leading Role in Global Fisheries Management Tomorrow, November 21, is World Fisheries Day. Read our latest leadership message from Alexa Cole, new Director for NOAA Fisheries’ Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, to learn how U.S. fisheries management and seafood inspection set the global standard for sustainability. NOAA Releases New Strategies to Apply Emerging Science and Technology NOAA announces new strategies to dramatically expand the agency’s application of four emerging science and technology focus areas—NOAA Unmanned Systems, Artificial Intelligence, ’Omics, and the Cloud—to guide advancements in the quality and timeliness of NOAA science, products, and services. Through December 16, the public is invited to review and provide comments on these new strategies. Nominations Sought for New Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force NOAA Fisheries is requesting nominations for appointment to the new Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force of the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. The purpose of this task force is to provide MAFAC, and subsequently NOAA Fisheries, expert advice on the generation, delivery, and use of electronically reported data from private recreational anglers. Nominations are due January 19. Beachwalkers: Please Report Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles The recent cold snap marks the beginning of the cold-stunned sea turtle season in the Northeast. Cold and immobile sea turtles are now washing up on Northeast beaches, particularly on the sound side of Long Island in New York and Sandy Hook and Long Beach Island in New Jersey. If you see a sea turtle on the beach, please call it in. NOAA Fisheries Launches Updated Social Indicator Mapping Tool NOAA Fisheries has updated a web-based data visualization tool that invites community managers and other decision-makers to access information on coastal fishing community vulnerability. The map viewer and graphing tool enables users to explore social vulnerability in more than 4,600 coastal and fishing communities in 23 states. Alaska Preliminary 2019 Survey Findings for the Arctic NOAA Fisheries released preliminary findings from our 2019 surveys in the Arctic. Through long-term, consistent data collection during dedicated research surveys, we monitor trends in marine population abundance and changes in their distribution. This information helps Alaska Native communities, coastal communities, and resource managers better prepare and respond to changes in Alaska marine ecosystems. West Coast Rebound in Groundfish Leads to New Flexibility for Fishermen, Protection for Deep-Sea Corals Sweeping changes in Essential Fish Habitat designations for West Coast groundfish fisheries adopted this week will reopen access for fishermen to productive fishing grounds where fish populations have rebounded. At the same time, these changes will protect sensitive deep-water habitat and deep-sea corals from bottom fishing. Divers Release Endangered Abalone into the Wild A dedicated group of scientific divers gathered on a southern California dock to release hundreds of juvenile white abalone grown in captivity. This marked the first release of endangered white abalone into the wild off southern California, a key recovery strategy for the native species. Pacific Islands Marine Education and Training Mini-Grants Program NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Education and Training Mini-Grants Program supports projects that will increase the sustainability, viability, and visibility of fishing and marine resource issues and communities in the Pacific Islands region. Projects should prepare communities for employment in marine-related professions; increase seafood and fishing safety, marketing, or management; or improve the sustainability of fishing practices through technology or data collection. Proposals are due January 16. Southeast Proposed Rule to Establish Habitat Areas of Particular Concern in the Gulf of Mexico – Open for Comment NOAA Fisheries requests your comments on a proposed rule to implement Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan for Coral and Coral Reef Resources in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed rule would establish new Habitat Areas of Particular Concern, with varying levels of fishing gear restrictions, to protect coral essential fish habitat in the Gulf.  Comments are due December 16. Submit Nominations for Atlantic HMS SEDAR Pool NOAA Fisheries is soliciting nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species  Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review Workshops—better known as the SEDAR Pool—Advisory Panel. Selected members will serve a 5-year term beginning in 2020. Nominations are due December 18. Greater Atlantic Flood Prediction Helps People and Fish In the past 50 years, as the Northeast has gotten significantly rainier, flood prediction has become increasingly important. Understanding flooding patterns helps the public, town planners, and emergency responders, and it is also important for fishway operators and fisheries managers. Will Old Bones Tell Tales? Northeast Fisheries Science Center researchers are engaged in a multi-year effort to gather the information needed to maintain viable fisheries in a warming world ocean. Archeologists studying Smuttynose Island in the Gulf of Maine uncovered the remnants of cod and other fish deposited by one of colonial America’s first fishing stations. Researchers are using these fish parts to learn more about fish and the ocean they lived in nearly 350 years ago. New Officer Takes the Helm of the Gloria Michelle Lt. Benjamin VanDine recently assumed command of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's research vessel Gloria Michelle. The ship conducts scientific surveys and is deployed on projects for NOAA Fisheries and other scientific research organizations in the Northeast. Upcoming Deadlines November 29 Nomination packages due for openings on the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel. November 30 Applications due for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary’s Sanctuary Advisory Council. December 18 Nominations due for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species SEDAR Pool. December 20 Nominations due for Outstanding Leaders in Wetland Conservation award. January 16 Proposals due for Pacific Islands Region’s Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program. January 19 Nominations due for MAFAC’s Recreational Electronic Reporting Task Force. Upcoming Events November 14–20 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Costa Mesa, California. November 20 Webinar: Commercial eVTR Options in the Greater Atlantic November 20 Seaweed Farming in Washington State: An Introductory Workshop December 2–6 South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina. December 3–5 New England Fishery Management Council meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. December 4 Texas Trustee Implementation Group Conducting Annual Meeting via Online Video Presentation. December 10–12 Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting in Annapolis, Maryland. January 17 Maine Aquaculture Research, Development, and Education Forum in Belfast, Maine. February 12–13 West Coast National Electronic Monitoring Workshop in Renton, Washington. Federal Register Actions Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations web page to learn more about recently proposed and finalized regulations in your region.  Corrections or technical questions should be sent to the FishNews Editor at editor.fishnews@noaa.gov. www.fisheries.noaa.gov

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