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A few showers 30% rain chance WOMEN IN MUSIC & ART | Exhibition on Sunday in Crescent City. In APPLAUSE! 77 66 For details, see 2A www.mypdn.com PALATKA DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 $1 HEAR THAT RUMBLE? IT’S BIKE WEEK Housing Authority eyes another property on Palatka’s southside BY ASIA AIKINS wouldn’t require a lot of reha- Palatka Daily News bilitation. “It’s not going to require a The Palatka Housing lot of money to fix up,” he said. Authority Board of “It’s a pretty well-kept proper- Commissioners will discuss ty.” purchasing another property Upon board approval, on Palatka’s southside today. Nelson would negotiate the According to PHA docu- purchase of the property for ments, the authority has the market price of $35,000. received an offer to purchase The PHA also purchased the property at 305 S. 10th St. two properties on Laurel “Upon acceptance of this Street in November, but the offer, the Palatka Housing Palatka City Commission did Authority proposes to rehabil- not approve the construction itate the property and rent to of new units as included in the a public-housing eligible fami- PHA’s annual plan. Because ly as a ‘rent-to-own’ property,” of that decision, the PHA filed documents state. a fair housing complaint PHA Executive Director against the city of Palatka. Above and right, John Nelson said he looked at Motorcyclists attending the property and said it See HOUSING, Page 5A Bike Week in Daytona Beach made a stop at the Cheyenne Saloon in East Palatka on Wednesday during daytrips from the motorcycle festival Former Florida Furniture headquartered in Daytona Beach. Up to a half-million riders attend the annual event, which president, business leader, continues through Sunday, so motorists should be aware of extra two-wheeled traffic on was community booster area roads. and picked up the nickname Photos by BY TRISHA MURPHY CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News “Gabby.” Palatka Daily News “He was constantly working From a Bronze Star medal toward improving and advanc- recipient for service during ing Putnam County and try- World War II to the president ing to bring industry here,” of a family furniture business Martinez said. “As president in Palatka employing hun- of Florida Furniture dreds, Howard L. Gardner Jr. Industries, he always looked will be remembered as an out- toward helping Putnam ‘Gee’s Bend’ quilts to be standing man who County move for- cared about his com- ward. He and his munity and his coun- wife had a home in featured in Larimer show try. East Palatka and Gardner, a native were a big part of BY ASIA AIKINS ness. This quality is what of Palatka, died Palatka and the Palatka Daily News earned the attention of artists Sunday at age 95. Putnam County and historians worldwide. “I can’t say enough community.” The quilts from the Women “It’s neat to hear their sto- about his efforts to Wes Larson of Gee’s Bend have been fea- ries of inspiration, like think- help Palatka and agrees. tured at the Whitney Museum ing of ideas as they looked at Putnam County,” “From my per- of Art in New York, among the night sky through a hole said Dan Martinez, a spective, one of his other museums nationwide, in the roof,” said Angel Duke. friend and fellow Gardner greatest accomplish- and now they will make an “They live in these old, small Rotarian with the ments was owning appearance in Putnam houses. But there’s so much Rotary Club of and operating Florida County. love in those small houses.” Palatka. “Gabby Gardner was Furniture Co. in Palatka,” The community of Gee’s Duke, the founder of Rite of very dedicated to the princi- said Larson, retired past pres- Bend, Ala., has a history of Passage Initiative mentoring ples of Rotary and helping the ident of the Putnam County economic challenges dating group in Crescent City, said community.” Chamber of Commerce. “It’s back to the Depression. In an she wanted to expose her Gardner was a lifelong citi- the fact that he operated the impoverished area made up of ROPI girls to a unique per- zen of Putnam County. He furniture company employing families whose lineage began spective into art and culture grew up on River Street in hundreds of people in this in the community with slav- through the works of the Gee’s Palatka and graduated from community for many years. ery, the residents of Gee’s Bend community quilts. CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Palatka High School where he Anybody who does that is Bend have survived through Angel Duke holds one of the quilts that will be shown at the ran track, was quarterback for creativity and resourceful- See QUILTS, Page 5A Larimer Arts Center. the Palatka Maroons in 1935 See GARDNER, Page 3A INDEX Advice ............................. 6A Clerk’s offi ce Briefing ........................... 2A Classified/Legals ............ 9A Call goes out Comics ............................ 6A plans March Horoscope ...................... 6A Lottery............................. 8A for St. Paddy’s Obituaries ....................... 5A of Dimes Opinions ......................... 4A Sports ............................. 7A Sudoku ......................... 10A Day paraders fundraiser BY BRANDON D. OLIVER BY PETE SKIBA The Voice of Palatka Daily News File photo Palatka Daily News Putnam County Putnam County Commissioner Parade organizers are search- Chip Laibl on a motorcycle at a Attorneys know they since 1885 ing for a wide array of groups, previous St. Paddy’s Day Parade. can count on court clerks. clubs and organizations to help Babies can count on them VOL. 127 • NO. 51 Palatka celebrate St. Patrick’s through the March of PALATKA, FLA. Day. said he already has groups signed Dimes. The annual St. Patrick’s Day up for the parade, but he would The Putnam County Parade, hosted by Downtown like to have so many more. Clerk of the Courts staff is Public Notices Palatka Inc., is scheduled to begin “I probably have 10 or 13 holding a raffle to support on Page 9A at 6 p.m. Tuesday and travel down (groups),” he said. “I would like to the March of Dimes and its By mail, 2 sections St. Johns Avenue from Second have as many as possible.” drive to help more moms Street to 11th Street. have full-term pregnancies CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News Parade coordinator Sam Deputy See PARADE, Page 5A Deputy Putnam County Clerk Matt Shuler stands near See DIMES, Page 5A items that will be raffled for the March of Dimes. 031215a1.indd 1 3/11/15 7:51 PM 2A PALATKA DAILY NEWS • THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015 Celebrating Women in musiC and arts Putnam AM cent since the peak of citrus produc- tion at 254 million boxes in 1997-98. Local Florida Commissioner of PALATKA Agriculture Adam H. Putnam said the industry continues to be threat- Palatka Pride painting ened by citrus greening. He’s asked the Legislature for $18 party on Saturday million this year to support research, Palatka Pride organizers are host- to grow clean citrus stock and to ing a “painting party” beginning at 8 remove and replant diseased trees. a.m. Saturday at 1406 Oak St. The Greening is a bacterial disease group is asking for volunteers to help spread by the Asian citrus psyllid paint an older citizen’s house. There that weakens and eventually kills will also be a neighborhood cleanup trees. afterward. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves. For more informa- mERRiTT iSLANd tion, contact Interim Police Chief James Griffith at 329-0115. FPL subcontractor electrocuted CHRIS DEVITTO / Palatka Daily News The 19th annual Women in Music and Art event will be Sunday at Howe Memorial First Coast Tech offers Officials say a subcontractor Methodist Church, 252 Summit St., Crescent City. Jill Goodman, inset photo, will ‘Painting With Friends’ working for Florida Power and display her jewelry during the event that will include other arts and crafters and Light was electrocuted in central musicians and soloists. The event will begin at 2 p.m. with an art and craft First Coast Technical College’s Florida. exhibition. The show will start at 3 p.m. Cost is $5 and the proceeds will go to the Community Enrichment Program Brevard County Fire Rescue art and music department at Crescent City Jr.-Sr. High School. For related story will offer “Painting with Friends,” reports that a crew was replacing and more photos, see today’s Applause. from 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 30 at electrical poles Tuesday afternoon 146 Comfort Road. on Merritt Island, and the victim Cost is $35 – supplies included. was working in a bucket when he Learn how to paint tulips with acryl- was shocked. ic paint. Taught by Kim Sims. Officials say the man’s co-workers Register early; max seating limited brought him to the ground and and may have to have second class. attempted to resuscitate him before Scott, black lawmakers meet with little in common Registration: Melissa Revels at rescue crews arrived. Rescuers (904) 547-3353 or 326-9000. eventually arrived and pronounced BY WILLIAM MARCH that has called me to complain” the most qualified people.” the man dead at the scene. Associated Press about police or state agency actions, Concerning Medicaid, Scott said he said. “I can’t solve problems I the program was growing at an College Park to hold orangE ciTY TALLAHASSEE — In what one don’t know about.” “unsustainable” rate when he took candidate reception legislator called a “long-delayed The legislators asked Scott about office and costs have been contained. Girl pulls children meeting,” Gov. Rick Scott and the continued high unemployment in He blamed President Barack College Park Baptist Church will from burning home Florida Legislative Black Caucus largely black communities; about Obama’s administration for what have a reception for their pastoral discussed race relations, economic whether he will support using feder- may be an impending cutoff of aid to candidate and meeting of his family A 13-year-old girl is being hailed deprivation and health care in some- al money to expand the state’s Florida hospitals that serve the poor, from 4-6 p.m.