Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 17, 2016 2:49 p.m.
Newly-elected Mayor Robin Lentz delivered four proclamations on behalf of the Fernandina Beach City Commission at their November 15, 2016 Regular Meeting.
Recognizing Patti Mack on her retirement from the City of Fernandina Beach
Administrative Specialist Patti Mack retired from the city on October 31 after 22 years of public service. She began her career with the city as a Staff Assistant in the Public Works Department and worked her way up to Administrative Specialist in the Facilities Maintenance Department. According to the Proclamation, “She survived Kronos, badly behaved copier machines and the irregular nuances of Mr. Rex Lester and Mr. Jeremiah Glisson. The sincere and conscientious efforts she demonstrated on the job dramatically benefitted the City of Fernandina Beach, but none more so than the members of the Facilities Maintenance family.”
Professional Fire Fighters Local 2836 “Fill the Boot Days”
Mayor Lentz proclaimed December 2, 9, and 16 as “Fill the Boot Days.” Members of Local 2836 will be soliciting contributions to support the battle against muscular dystrophy at various intersections in the city. She noted that over the past 14 years local firefighters have raised more than $72,000 for this cause. She urged citizens to exercise caution when driving in areas where collections will be underway.
National American Heritage Indian Month
On behalf of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Cara Curtin accepted the city proclamation declaring November 2016 as National American Indian Heritage Month. In accepting this proclamation, which cited both the traditions and values of Native Americans that helped shape the nation and acknowledged the “deplorable chapters of violence against Native American people,”
Curtin explained the history of the DAR’s involvement in the cause of Native Americans. She said that during the Great Depression of the 1930’s, many of America’s children were hungry, but that the plight of Native American children was even more desperate. “The DAR is the largest women’s service organization in the world,” she reported. “We have 3,000 chapters worldwide and each of those chapters has an American Indian Committee, which was created in 1937 in order to provide Indian children with the additional help they need.” The 100 DAR chapters in Florida support a DAR Indian school in North Carolina, which supports Indian girls at risk of violence. Curtin cited the DAR’s support for facilities at the boarding school.
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Mrs. Rita Mulkearns, who lost her husband to pancreatic cancer, accepted a proclamation from Mayor Lentz declaring November 2016 as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and November 17, 2016 as World Pancreatic Cancer Day. Mulkearns expressed appreciation to the city for their acknowledgement of the seriousness of the disease. She encouraged people to wear purple on November 17 in support of the awareness effort and to visit the website www.pancan.org.
Given the Commissioners’ recent hand-wringing over the Parks and Recreation Department, may we assume that the City Manager has implemented adequate financial controls for “filling the boots” with cash?
Our roads are considerably more congested than they used to be. Are there any safety rules/procedures in place or is each fire fighter left to his own initiative?