CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK P A Wild First baby G A Porch E Ways of 2009 in Egypt PAGE 8A PAGE 10A PAGE 5B 2 75¢ WEDNESDAY, January 7, 2009 / 22 PAGES, 3 SECTIONS • www.fbnewsleader.com Sellers, not buyers County gets new top prosecutor SHANNON MALCOM New Fourth News-Leader Judicial District State Attorney Local attorney Wesley White has Angela Corey been appointed director of the Nassau announced White’s County State Attorney’s Office. appointment at a He will replace Assistant State swearing-in ceremo- Attorney Stephen Bledsoe, who will ny Tuesday at the return to the Jacksonville office. Nassau County Bledsoe had replaced Granville “Doc” White Judicial Annex. Burgess after he won election as coun- Corey and new ty judge in 2006. Public Defender White, who has a law practice in Matthew Shirk both were sworn in Fernandina Beach and lives in Yulee, Tuesday, the first time that took place will become the county’s top prose- cuting attorney. WHITE Continued on 3A Willette to direct Council on Aging News-Leader “These are par- ticularly difficult RYAN SMITH/NEWS-LEADER The Council on Aging has appoint- times for non-profit Fred Lindes, above, owner and operator of Island Pawn, 1421 ed Kenneth J. Willette as executive organizations as the ‘Business is South 10th St., says not as many people are coming into his shop director of the agency. He replaces Al number of people in to buy these days due to the economic downturn. However, many Rizer, who left in October for a similar need is increasing people come in to sell or pawn their property. Jessica Miller, position in Clay County. rapidly while the below, owner of Fifi’s Fine Resale consignment shop on South Willette is a former executive direc- income from federal slow’ at the Eighth Street, says her business has seen an increase in consign- tor of the Nassau County Economic and state funds is ers putting clothes up for sale in her shop. Development Board. More recently, Willette decreasing,” said he was vice president of business Tom Silverio, incom- pawn shop development for Florida’s Great ing board president. Northwest, Inc., an economic devel- “We are beginning the greatest RYAN SMITH opment agency headquartered in increase in the number of senior citi- News-Leader Destin. zens that our country has ever expe- “We are delighted to have a proven rienced. As the Baby Boom genera- As the slowing economy lowers leader with Ken’s background and tion advances into retirement age, the businesses’ bottom lines across the strategic experience to help our number of adults age 65 and over is county, local pawnbrokers say they agency fulfill its mission to the sen- expected to triple.” are feeling the pinch as well. Fred iors of Nassau County,” said Jane The Council on Aging, which offers Lindes, owner of Island Pawn, 1421 Bailey, outgoing board president, in a South 10th St., said fewer people press release. AGING Continued on 3A are coming into his shop these days intending to buy. However, many people are com- ing in to pawn or sell their property – and therein lies the problem. “When people start bringing things Danger? Abuse? in, and you’re overloaded with stuff and you can’t sell it, then business is slow,” Lindes said. “Basically most of the pawnbrokers are doing guns ‘Horses love to work’ and gold, and that’s basically it. I can always sell a gun. Even if it sits ANGELA DAUGHTRY/NEWS-LEADER ANGELA DAUGHTRY across the country as well. on the shelf for a while, we can News-Leader So far, according to the owners of recoup our money.” two horse-drawn carriage companies Lindes said he has had to stop ‘People are trying to make Although PETA, or People for the in Fernandina Beach, there have been accepting many items because Ethical Treatment of Animals, has had no incidents here involving startled his shop has become overstocked its radar on the horse-drawn carriages horses and vehicles. as more people pawn their posses- money any way they can’ of St. Augustine lately, the horse-drawn Cyndi Myers, owner of Amelia sions and fail to pick them up. carriage operators of Fernandina Island Carriages, says the city of Items such as gold-plated jewelry, Beach say that so far they have not had Fernandina Beach has horse-drawn- watches and tools simply aren’t ANGELA DAUGHTRY also took its toll on business. any run-ins with the group. carriage guidelines that echo those of good investments anymore, he News-Leader Not all her items are used, said PETA recently sent an “urgent” let- larger cities like Savannah, Ga., and St. said. Miller. Many items come from bou- ter to St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Augustine – but the carriage business “If I get enough (gold-plated jew- The economic recession has, tiques that are overstocked, and her Boles regarding an incident in which here is “totally different from a large elry) – if I get a barrel of it – I can unfortunately, touched nearly every- new jewelry comes from shows in an SUV hit a horse-drawn carriage, city.” send it off and get a little money for one in the area in one way or anoth- Atlanta and Miami. Vendors and local ejecting the passengers and startling “We don’t have near the traffic,” it,” he said. “And if I would have er, with the loss of employment or artists also come into her store to the horse, which bolted across four said Myers. “The busiest street is taken all the watches from decreases in revenue. Local busi- sell jewelry. lanes of traffic. Centre Street.” Myers also noted that November and December, I’d prob- nesses are especially susceptible to Miller said her sales are also PETA has been working to restrict ably have a barrel. All the guitars, I’d economic changes. But because of more affected by tourism than she horse-drawn carriages in other cities HORSE Continued on 3A probably have 30 or 40 – and we the give-and-take nature of the busi- ever expected, but she said she don’t have the room. ness, consignment stores are affect- remains “nothing but optimistic” “You find out what will sell ed in a slightly different way. about the future of her store. and won’t sell,” he added. “You Jessica Miller, owner of Fifi’s Fine The National Association of can go down to Wal-Mart and pick Resale consignment shop on South Resale and Thrift Shops noted in a up a watch cheaper than I can Eighth Street, says she’s seen an press release that NARTs members sell it.” increase in consigners over the past reported “significant increases in Lindes said he’s seen a slight year because “people are trying to both sales and inventory” during the uptick in customers who want loans make money any way they can.” months of September and October on items they might not pawn dur- Miller has also noticed a differ- 2008. A survey found that 89.9 per- ing healthier economic times, such ence in the type of consigners com- cent of stores nationally had an as gold necklaces and engagement ing in, with people new to consign- increase in new customers and 79.3 rings. “Now with the economy like ments bringing in better quality new, percent had an increase in consign- it is – that might be in their jewelry unused items from local clothing ers. A higher quality of incoming box, but they say, ‘Hey, I need 20 shops. merchandise was also reported by bucks or 50 bucks,’ and they bring And because people are becom- 54.7 percent of owners. it in,” he said. ing more aware of “green” practices, Consignment shop owners, Lindes said the economic down- more and more are jumping on according to NARTs, have also been turn is affecting other pawnbrokers board with the idea that buying re- developing marketing programs as well. “When I call the other pawn sales will help the environment. aimed at attracting a new type of cus- shops they tell me the same thing,” But, she says, unlike some sister tomer that previously has not been he said. “They’re backing off every- consignment shops in more popu- familiar with consignments. thing and just taking the essentials lated areas, her store has been “feel- November, surprisingly, was the they know they can get their money ing the pinch like everyone else.” best month of the year for Renee SUBMITTED out of.” The resurfacing of South Eighth Boomer, a white Percheron draft horse owned by Cyndi Myers of [email protected] Street earlier in the fall, she said, CONSIGN Continued on 6A Amelia Island Carriages, used to work on an Amish farm. 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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2A WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009 NEWS News-Leader LOOKING BACK Sons of American Legion seeks members 50 YEARS AGO chasing portions of city KEITH MASON, 1ST VICE promoting programs 1955 owned property adjacent to Sons of the American Legion PPAAGGEE like Americanism, Vietnam Era: Feb. 28, 1961-May 7, the Fernandina Beach air- Community Service, 1975 Container Corp. of port. Who are “The Sons of the American Veterans Assistance & Lebanon/Grenada: Aug. 24, 1982-July America in Fernandina January 11, 1984 Legion” you may ask.