Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 21, 2019 – 11:30 a.m.
Elm Street Sportsman Association
In 2014 a group of civic minded, men who desired to make a difference in the lives of young people and families in Fernandina Beach founded the Elm Street Sportsman Association (ESSA). Since then the organization has blossomed into a well-established and well-regarded community outreach resource.
The mission of the Elm Street Sportsman Association, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, is to address the social and economic needs of citizens while working to guide, foster and support youth towards S.T.A.R.S. (Striving To Achieve Real Success). The organization sponsors, participates and/or donates to a wide variety of community organizations which include: Fernandina Beach High School Football Team, Fernandina Beach High School Tennis Team, Boys & Girls Club of Fernandina Beach, Keep Nassau Beautiful, Cedar Haven Transitional Home for Women, A Much Bigger World Inc., and the Young Lives Multicultural Ministry. Additionally, ESSA organizes and hosts back-to-school supply rallies, Communications with Cops, Thanksgiving baskets for area families in need, sporting events, Christmas toy giveaways and scholarship awards. These events are always free of charge and open to all members of the community.
In delivering the Proclamation expressing gratitude to ESSA “for their steadfast devotion and continuous and faithful leadership in this community which helps develop children and families into capable young adults and future leaders” Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor Len Kreger also announced the organization’s plans to offer homework tutoring, test preparation tutoring, college application assistance, mentoring, a farm sharing program, community-wide workshops aimed at homeownership education and connecting those in need with social services.
Lawrence Albertie accepted the Proclamation on behalf of the Association.
Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coast Survey
NOAA Office of Coast Survey Navigation Response Team Two Leader Mr. James Kirkpatrick accepted the Proclamation expressing the city’s gratitude for their steadfast stewardship in providing navigation products and services that ensure safe and efficient maritime commerce on America’s oceans and coastal waters.
Vice Mayor Len Kreger read the Proclamation, which cited the 200-year history of the office, which focuses on the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere. The City of Fernandina Beach is home to a NOAA Office of Coast Survey where innovative applications beyond navigation emerge as researchers harness evolving technologies. These advancements give the Office of Coast Survey tremendous opportunities to help the Nation meet the challenges of the changing environment.
Kreger recognized the Office’s Navigation Response Team, which shelters-in-place during extreme weather events here and warns citizens of dangerous weather. The Team is responsible for responding to maritime emergencies and searching for underwater obstructions that pose a danger to navigation which are often the result of extreme ocean turbidity caused by nor’easters, tropical storms, and hurricanes.