Anniversaries and Reflections

Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
October 27, 2016 5:26 p.m.

It just occurred to me that I’ve lived in Fernandina Beach for 10 years. In October 2006, I drove down here with my two cats, a car full of stuff, and a friend to help with the driving. What made me think of that anniversary was seeing that Story and Song next weekend features Queen of Hearts. That was the first Story and Song I remember attending here and it was great. Four singer-songwriters took turns playing their own compositions and accompanying each other. This will be the last of the Story and Song concerts that Mark and Donna Kaufman have sponsored and it’s one you shouldn’t miss. Maybe take a moment to thank the Kaufmans for supporting these concerts for as long as they have.

Over the years I have had any number of memorable occasions where I have enjoyed art, books, theatre, and a whole spectrum of entertainment. When one of my Washington friends found out I was moving to Fernandina, she promised to send me “baskets of culture.” It didn’t take me long to find out that wouldn’t be necessary. We have such a variety of great entertainment here. And as I’ve said before, most of it is less expensive than popcorn and soft drinks at the movies.

Friday night, the Amelia Community Theatre is holding a song fest featuring songs from Stephen Schwartz. Among other works, he wrote the music for “Pippin,” “Godspell,” and most recently “Wicked.” Next week the Amelia History Museum’s Brown Bag Lunch features Allan Hallman, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in a talk about Florida’s diverse wildlife population. Later that week, the museum is dramatizing a slice of Fernandina Beach history from 1765 to 1865 at Fort Clinch.

In a couple of weeks, a new art gallery will open, introducing a new artist to the community. In mid-November, the Friends of the Library are presenting an evening with Mark Woods discussing his book, Lassoing The Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks. And I can’t forget the Friends of the Library’s fabulous book sale November 10-12.
Every time I try to do a list of what’s happening on the art and culture scene, I know I’m missing a lot. Some of you have been gracious enough to gently remind me. The events I mentioned above are just what I remembered. If I really got busy and searched, I know I’d find many more. I think the point is that there’s something here for all manner of interests and it makes our community a great place to live.