LETTERS TO SANTA, A9-15 CELEBRATING 130 YEARS AS YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER Thursday, December 21, 2017 apalachtimes.com @ApalachTimes facebook.com/Apalachitimes 50¢ OUT TO SEE Learning Farmers Market this Saturday City to lease center The Apalachicola Farmers Market is your pitched one-stop last-minute Harbormaster House gift giving solution this at city Saturday, Dec. 23 from By David Adlerstein 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Apala- The Apalachicola Times luncheon chicola’s finest artisans [email protected] will offer suggestions 850-653-8894 By Lois Swoboda for everyone on your list The Apalachicola Times from jewelry to soaps to An Apalachicola eco-tour- [email protected] honey, birdhouses and ism company, with a grand 850-653-1819 art. Pick up fresh bread, plan to revitalize the now- cakes, bakery treats, shuttered Harbormaster On Dec. 12, about 70 seafood and produce House at Scipio Creek, has people gathered at Holy just in time for Christ- secured a 10-year lease on Family Senior Center mas. Follow the signs the facility. in Apalachicola to build down Market Street to By a unanimous vote at support and raise funds the Mill Pond Pavilion a special meeting Dec. 14, for a proposed Children’s at Scipio Creek com- Apalachicola city com- Learning Center at the mercial harbor. missioners unanimously Mayor Van Johnson approved the lease terms with Mike and Robin Vroegop address the city commission. Center for Excellence in Holiday offi ce closures Florida Geotourism Associ- [ DAVID ADLERSTEIN | THE TIMES ] Apalachicola. ates LLC (FGA), a four-year Spearheading the Franklin County old ecotourism company the Vroegops contended their hearing gave the Vroegops the project on the grounds of offices will be closed owned by retired firefighter plans embodied a public-pri- go-ahead to negotiate, called the former Apalachicola Dec. 25 and 26 for Mike Vroegop and his wife vate partnership that would for a $1,000 a month rent for High School is the Head Christmas, and Monday, Robin. The lease is now being reap extensive benefits for each of the next five years, Start Task Force formed Jan. 1 for New Years. drawn up by City Attorney the community at large and and then five one-year exten- in response to the threat- City of Apalachicola Pat Floyd. taxpayers in particular. sions which would allow for ened withdrawal of Head offices will be closed With an extensive display of The Vroegops’ proposed a 3 percent annual rent hike. Start from Franklin Dec. 22, 25 and 26 for colorful bar charts on display contract, which had been In addition, the Vroegops County in April. Christmas, and Jan. 1 on easels in the city commis- modified following a back- propose to invest about Seated on the task for New Year’s. Offices sion room, and a 20-page and-forth with Floyd ever $16,000 the first year for force are Mayor Van for the city of Carra- summary of the project dis- since commissioners during Johnson, Michaelin and belle will be closed Dec. tributed to commissioners, the September budget See LEASE, A3 David Watts, co-chairs 25 and 26 for Christmas, Karen Kessel and Val- and half a day on Dec. 29 entina Webb, Carrie and all day Jan. 1 for New Kienzle, Holly Paul rep- Years. resenting Early Head County libraries in Start and Tim Center of Eastpoint and Carra- Capital Area Community belle will be closed Dec. Action which adminis- 25 and 26 for Christ- ters the grant that funds mas and Jan. 1 for New Head Start here. Years. The Apalachicola Municipal Library will See CENTER, A18 be closed Dec. 25 and 26. Pajama party Christmas Day The Apalachicola Ice New team Company, 252 Water to head Street, will host a pajama party and potluck dinner Riverkeeper on Christmas Day, starting at 2 p.m. Wear Special to the Times your pajamas and bring a a dish. All are welcome. Apalachicola River- keeper has hired Georgia First Day Hikes at Ackerman to succeed Ochlockonee, Bald Point Riverkeeper Dan Tons- meire, who is retiring in The Ochlockonee early 2018. River and Bald Point The non-profit State Parks invite you organization, an inter- to start the new year off national Waterkeeper on the right foot- with a Alliance member, was hike in park! Join a park founded in 1998 to grow ranger for a guided hike local, state and federal on Monday Jan. 1. support for the protec- The two-mile Och- tion and restoration of lockonee hike will start Apalachicola River and at 10:30 a.m. at the Bay. Ackerman has been picnic area and follow involved with Apala- the river trail along the chicola Riverkeeper beautiful Ochlockonee for over a decade as a River and the Scenic business sponsor, pro- Loop through pristine [ CHARLIE SAWYER | SPECIAL TO THE TIMES ] gram volunteer, and pine flatwoods. The most recently as board 1.7-mile Bald Point hike president. through coastal scrub “The board of direc- and flatwoods will start tors is delighted to have at 2 p.m. at the Sundew Peace on earth Georgia assume this Loop trailhead at the far new role,” said Charley end of the Sunrise Beach The fog-shrouded tree, at to them, “Do not be afraid. in cloths and lying in a manger. Kienzle, newly-elected parking area at 480 Bald Apalachicola’s Riverfront I bring you good news that Suddenly a great company of board president. “Her Point Rd. Park, declares the message will cause great joy for all the the heavenly host appeared leadership and deep Park admission is $4 fround in Luke that “An angel people. Today in the town of with the angel, praising God involvement in this per vehicle. For more of the Lord appeared to them, David a Savior has been born and saying, “Glory to God in organization’s efforts to information contact and the glory of the Lord shone to you; he is the Messiah, the the highest heaven, and on effectively address the Kristin Ebersol at (850) around them, and they were Lord. This will be a sign to you: earth peace to those on whom 962-2771. terrified. But the angel said You will find a baby wrapped his favor rests.” See TEAM, A3 Volume 132 Number 35 Opinion .................... A4 Outdoors ...................A8 A4 A5 Phone: 850-653-8868 Society ..................... A6 Classified ............A16-17 Secret Life of Words: Chasing shadows: Fax: 850-653-8893 Faith .........................A7 Super moons coming Christmas 70 years ago * ** A2 Thursday, December 21, 2017 | The Times * ** The Times | Thursday, December 21, 2017 A3 LEASE From Page A1 heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing and window repairs, includ- ing painting the interior, replacing the refrigerator and rekeying the 28-year- old building, which has been vacant ever since the St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge moved its offices out three years ago. The Vroegops’ invest- ment would be about $13,500 the second year, with more improvements to the heating and air con- ditioning system, as well as repairs to the exte- rior decking and siding. About $10,000 would be invested in the third year of the contract, said the Vroegops, including treating and staining the The Harbormaster House [ DAVID ADLERSTEIN | THE TIMES ] exterior wood siding and decking. marketers. proposed contract item by will leave the space under or storage of flammable parking, and one for the In the fourth year of the “Geotourists are those item to see if commission- the building available for materials. Also, there Vroegops, with the rest on deal, the Vroegops said seeking a deeper under- ers had problems with it. public access, although will be one parking space a first-come, first-served that as part of $30,000 standing and appreciation The Vroegops said they there will be no smoking available for handicapped basis. in improvements, they of the unique natural did not intend to profit would work to secure a assets, history, and cul- from any possible sub- state grant for the city tural heritage of Florida’s lease of portions of the to replace the ramp so Coastal Plain, as well as a space, and it was agreed that it complies with readily accessible means that any future sublease, Americans for Disabil- to experience those and its terms, would ity Act requirements, as assets firsthand through require agreement by both well as do renovations knowledgeable guided they and the city. of the exterior stairs and interpretation; carefully Commissioner Anita landscaping. planned infrastructure Grove, who had been The fifth and sixth years for the facilitation of instrumental on the call for a total of about independent exploration; Waterfront Florida $14,000 in improve- activities and experien- committee, and ments, including major tial learning for diverse Commissioner Anita repairs to the restrooms, age and interest groups; Grove, both sought work on fixtures and and opportunities for ways to break down the carpet replacement. meaningful cultural par- Vroegops’ investment by “It’s a really terrific ticipation,” according to year, and to stipulate in property in a terrific Robin Vroegop’s LinkedIn the contract the scaope location, with a lot of profile. of what they would be potential,” said Robin “We don’t foresee that committed to doing each Vroegop. “We intend to there will be conflicts year. make it a destination. It with existing commer- Ash said she would will be spectacular.” cial vendors,” she told prefer a shorter lease She stressed that their commissioners. term, perhaps a three- vision encompasses Mike Vroegop stressed year lease, with additional keeping the center area, that dating back to the options, but the Vroegops about 468 square feet, budget hearings, in antic- were insistent on the as community space that ipation of inking a deal, he logner term, given their could feature an exhibit and his wife have contrib- investment.