May Bay Business Report

May 2012 Vol 21, Number 5
Meeting Notices Monthly Business Luncheon May 2, 2012 noon The Blue Parrot 68 West Gorrie Drive St George Island Business After Hours May 10, 2012 Friends of the Lighthouse Lighthouse Park St George Island 5:30-7:00 pm Monthly Business Luncheon    June 6, 2012 noon Caroline’s 123 Water Street Apalachicola Visitor Statistic March 2001 1,474      March 2002 1,223    March 2003   820 March 2004 1,540 March 2005 1,607 March 2006 1,687 March 2007 2,857 March 2008 3,189 March 2009 2,082 March 2010 3,406 March 2011 3,389 March 2012 2,907 March 2012 Website stats  Visits 27,145 Unique Visitors 21,170 Pageviews 109,629 Pages/Visit  4.04 Time  00:03:45 Bounce Rate 34.30% % New Visits 70.90% Chamber Board of Directors PRESIDENT  Mark Friedman 670-1253  VICE-PRESIDENT Ginny Griner 653-8853 TREASURER Jerry Hall 653-9510 SECRETARY Kristin Anderson 653-2249 BOARD MEMBERS Brenda Ash 653-8805 Kristy Branch Banks 670-1255 Donna Duncan 653-8976 Bonnie Gomes 670-8450 Bud Hayes 927-3305 Beverly Hewitt 653-9510 Mike Koun 653-2191 Michael Shuler 653-1757 Candy Varnes 927-2322 Kevin Ward 899-0669	New Members Island Ease Charter Welcome Captain Randy Brunson with Island Ease Charters.  Randy has a 40 foot Trojan with an inboard diesel, an air conditioned cabin and a full size head (bathroom).  Randy offers sunset and pleasures cruises on the Apalachicola River and bay.  He also does eco tours and tours in the gulf and around the islands.  He is available for weddings, photography tours, or just a relaxing cruise.  Randy is also a song writer and lived in Nashville prior to coming here. Last year one of his songs was picked for a new album by Nashville recording artist, Eric Heatherly, known for making the song Flowers on the Wall a big hit in 2000. He can even write a song for newlyweds!  Randy can be reached by calling(850) 570-5184 or cell (706) 897-6100 or by emaillyricdr@gmail.com. K & J Plumbing David Paul joined the chamber in April with his plumbing business K & J Plumbing.  David has been a plumber for eleven years.  He worked for Apalachicola Northern Railroad prior to getting his plumbing license.  David was born and raised in Apalachicola and lives here with his wife Janelle and two daughters Kristen and Jayme.  He can be reached by calling (850) 653-6071. Tucker Recruiting Robert Tucker joined the chamber with his business Tucker’s Recruiting, a recruiting firm that matches up requests for profession engineers, electrical, mechanical, and software engineers, with available positions. They also recruit field supervisors, technicians, and electricians. Robert matches up requisitions and applications by at least 85% with resumes before he submits the applicants to the requesting firm. He also refers people to his website so that they can check weekly for new opportunities in Florida and several other states.  Robert came to Franklin County several years ago from West Palm Beach.  For more information you can go to his website at http://www.engineeringjoblistings.com Peoples First Insurance Welcome Lee Warren with Peoples First Insurance Services, LLC, a full service insurance company that provides benefit, health, home, auto, and business insurance. In business since 1912, first as Black Insurance Agency, later merging with Peoples First in 2000, Peoples First Insurance has locations in Panama City and Orlando with new and innovative ways of offering proactive insurance, bonding and risk management services to meet the customer’s insurance needs. Lee’s office is located at 1002 West 23rd Street Panama City.  He can be reached by calling (850) 770-7047 or800-648-4645 or email lee.warren@pfinsurance.com.  You can also visit their website at http://www.pfinsurance.com High Cotton Affairs, LLC Welcome Kelli Newman and Kristy Grove with High Cotton Affairs, a lifestyle event planning company that brings southern charm to the events they produce on the Forgotten Coast. They provide creativity and inspiration to bring their clients vision to life producing the ultimate event that is uniquely tailored to individual desires.  Be it a dream wedding, a sweet sixteen party or a festival.  Kelli and Kristy started the company in January of 2012.  They can be reached at (678) 207-6964 or by email atinfo@highcottonaffairs.com or visit their website atwww.highcottonaffairs.com Member News Wombat Sound Music Store has relocated to 53 Avenue C, across the street from the Gibson Inn.  Carol Harris can still be reached at(850) 653-3871 or 653-2695 The Chapman House Museum will open on Friday, May 4-Sunday May 6th.   There will be special guided tours and celebratory lectures by Walter B Melvin.  For reservations and tour times stop by 6th and US Highway 98. Dr. Hobson Fulmer at the Apalachicola Bay Animal Hospital is looking for a part-time Kennel Assistant.  Call (850) 670-8306 or drop by and pick up an application. Franklin County Schools Open House May 11, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm the community is invited to attend an open house and showcase at the Franklin County Schools. During the showcase, parents and community will have an opportunity to take a tour of the campus to see all the wonderful things our students and teachers are doing and visit various special programs, such as culinary arts and wood shop.  Lunch will also be available at the “Class Café”. Ribbon Cutting and Open House Dr. Robert Head, the Sacred Heart Pediatric office in Apalachicola, will host an open house May 9th at 11:00 am.  The office is located at 55 Avenue E (US Highway 98). RSVP to Paulina Pendarvis(850) 229-5603. Florida Dixie Youth Softball Tournament Florida Dixie Youth Softball Tournament will be held in Franklin County again this year July 12-16th. Approximately 600 people will be involved in the tournament. For more information contact Nikki with Franklin County Parks & Recreation (850) 653-8277. Press -Carl Dansbury editor with Points North, an Atlanta lifestyle magazine, wrote an article on the area for their May issue. -Colin Hackley was here in April on assignment with Visit Florida, the state’s tourism and marketing branch. He spent several days photographing the area for the Visit Florida website. -Jan Norris was in town in mid April writing a story on oysters for Florida Travel + Life.  Jan also has a travel blog where she will have stories on the area. -Beth Harpaz, the Travel Editor with the Associated Press, was given information for an article she wrote for the AP.   Ironic inspiration for Gulf Coast Vacation was inspired by all of the       BP ads she has seen in New Year over the past couple of years.  She and her sister went on a road trip through the north Florida gulf coast to see if BP was “greenwashing” the effects of the oil spill. Turns out they loved the gulf coast especially Apalachicola and St George Island! -Amy Mikler was here in late April.  She was taking photos for Florida Travel + Life. -Rowan Jacobsen was in town for a week at the end of April.  Rowan wrote The Oyster Guide: A Geography of Oysters, American Terroir, Shadows on the Gulf (BP spill) and writes for many food magazines like Bon Appetit, Saveur, Outside, Forbes, the New York Times, etc. -David Martin via Pam Forrester with Visit Florida was given information on the things to see and do in our area. He is with the Fox station in Orlando. 20th annual Historic Home & Garden Tour This year’s home tour is the 20th tour.  This year’s theme is A Passion for Preservation and includes ten turn of the century homes and four gardens.  The Whiteside House is the featured home.  Its current owner, Richard Bickel, has done a tremendous job renovating the house and gardens.  The tour expanded this year to include a symposium on the history of Apalachicola and its architectual styles on May 4th, which was so popular it has already sold out. Friday Evening, there will also be an Evensong, A Celebration of Worship and Song from 5:30pm to 6:00pm at Trinity and a lecture by Warren Emo, Franklin County Fort Coombs Armory: Past, Present and Future from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Fort Coombs Armory. Saturday, May 5th, is the tour.  Tickets are $15 or $20 the day of. Lunch will be available from 11:00am to 2:00pm in Trinity's parish hall for a fee of $12/each. Trinity Episcopal Church is located on the corner of US Highway 98 and 6th Street in Apalachicola.  Proceeds benefit the preservation and restoration fund for historic Trinity Church. For additional information call Trinity Church at (850) 653-9550 or visit the website http://www.apalachicolahistorichometour.org/index.cfm/m/1/dn/Home/ America’s Great Plein Air Paint Out More than 20 nationally acclaimed artists will gather on Florida's Forgotten Coast in early May to participate in the 7th annual Florida's Forgotten Coast Plein Air Invitational, America's Great Paint-Out, May 3-13, 2012. Painters will set up their easels and pull out their brushes to document the landscape and culture of this last vestige of authentic "Old Florida" – the coastal stretch of scenic North Florida between Mexico Beach and Alligator Point. For a full schedule of events, go to www.pleinairfl.com. Crooked River Lighthouse Full Moon Climbs And is hosting another free outdoor movie, the 1958 version of The Old Man and the Sea. Film starts at 7:45pm bring a chair (850) 697- 2732 or www.crookedriverlighthouse.org	Directors Column Our new year begins at the end of June.  We elect new board officers and install our 2012-2013 board at our June 6th luncheon which will be held at Caroline’s in Apalachicola.  As per our bylaws, the current board has come up with a slate of candidates and officers to lead us through the new year:  Donna Duncan, attorney with Sanders & Duncan, has agreed to serve as President, Bud Hayes with the ABC School and the Franklin County Humane Society will serve as Vice President, Kristin Anderson has agreed to remain as Secretary and Jerry Hall as Treasurer. Many of the existing board members have agreed to serve another term. Continuing on will be: Bonnie Gomes, Brenda Ash, Mike Koun, Michael Shuler, Mark Friedman, Ginny Griner, Kristy Branch Banks, and Kevin Ward. Candy Varnes will be retiring from the board in July. We thank them for their many months of service. If you would be interested in serving on the board Anita at (850) 653-9419 or email anita@apalachiocolabay.org Dues Renewal   Membership dues are due by June 30th.  The regular business membership is $195 per year. For only $16.25 per month you get: Listed on the best website on the Forgotten Coast, listing in the area’s premier Visitors Guide and map, 20,000 copies of each, included in information sent to visitors seeking to come to the area (we have direct contacted approximately 20,000 tourist per year), brochure space in our Visitors Center staffed Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 10:00 am-4:00 pm Saturday, with knowledgeable staff that answer questions and helps them locate services and products.  Also, the chamber is often the first point of contact for people seeking to relocate to the area. Renewal notices will go out soon and we want to have your business information up to date.  Please take a minute to review information on the form and your listing on our website. You can also see the activity your listing has received on our website. If you have questions on how to access your listing call us at (850) 653-9419 or email us at info@apalachicolabay.org The 14th Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show ended early this year due to rain. We had a strong turnout of boat owners and visitors early on, but lighting discouraged attendees in the afternoon. We would like to thank our wonderful volunteers: Jeff, Norma and Liz Hewell, Beamer, Ginny Cole, Carol Barfield, Jerry Hall and Derick Lolley, Michael Moron for the music Augusta and Daniel with the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, Kristin Anderson and the crew of the Governor Stone and Donnie Gay with Centennial Bank. Thanks also to the folks who had educational booths at the show: Kayd with the Apalachicola Riverkeepers, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Department of Environmental Protection Clean Marina program, Friends of Florida State Parks, Roger Pinholster and W K Sanders with the Youth Boat Building program, and local boat builders Fred Sawyer and Larry Hatfield. Got Ideas? Suggestions? How can the Apalachicola Bay Chamber better serve you? Is there something that we can do better to help your business?  Is there something you would like to see us add or change on the website, at the visitor’s center or in the visitors’ guide?  Ideas are always welcome.  Feel free to call or email us with your ideas at info@apalachicolabay.org. Volunteers Needed  The Apalachicola Bay Chamber Visitor Center seeks volunteers to help at the visitors center and with special projects.  Duties include giving our visitor information, answering questions about places to stay, restaurants and things to do.  If you would like to help, we’d love to have you.  It can be a fun and rewarding.  Contact us for details(850) 653-9419 or email us atinfo@apalachicolabay.org

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