Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 21, 2015 5:32 a.m.
No, it wasn’t Hallowe’en. Those costumed pirates and marauders that filled the Fernandina Beach City Hall Commission Chamber this past Tuesday were there to obtain their just desserts for all the good work they do in the community. Dressed in their finest pirate duds, Leon Nicholls, Steve Powers and others of the 69-member strong Fernandina Pirate Club, Inc. accepted a proclamation from Mayor Ed Boner declaring that October 9-11, 2015 had been declared the First Annual Pirate Festival.
Boner reminded the audience that the Pirate Club has been in existence since 1973. In addition to strolling Centre Street on weekends, handing out beads and shouting “Aye!”—or maybe “Aargh!”—the club has been involved in numerous charitable civic projects. They even sponsor their own scholarship contests.
Next year’s festival will occur a week later in October.
Even though the proclamation was issued after the event, the pirates did not make the mayor walk the plank.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.