All-American kids: Families revel in Independence Day weekend activities
They gathered at all four corners of Franklin County, and the biggest smiles and happiest faces were on the children.
On Saturday, it was Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival, and on Sunday, the eastern end of the county gathered in Carrabelle for the festivities. On Monday it was all about Apalacfhicola’s Independence Day Eve festivities and on Tuesday, July 4, the island’s annual water cannon shootout at the parade put a cap on a glorious four days of festivities.
Here are some faces of the future of America, from the Eastpoint and Carrabelle events
Franklin County third grader Clint Litton, left, and fifth grader Shuggie Thompson were all decked out for Carrabelle’s UNofficial parade, as they rode with their grandmother, Ruby Littlon, who was aboard an electric bicycle. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
The Mellow Mullet shaved ice truck poured out bubbles at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival and Eli Watson, visiting from South Carolina, and Franklin County second grader Brielle Thompson, at right, swatted every one they could. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Stella Syska, from Carrabelle, lights up a sparkler at C-Quarters, along with her brother Stone, and under the supervision of parents Emil and Heidi Syska. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
First Baptist Christian School pre-kindergartner Michael Creamer shows off his tennis shoe, as he plays on the back of the truck at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival with sister Franklin County sixth grader Kimberly Wilson, and parents Mackenzie Wilson and Valerie Creamer. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Isla Belle Turner catches a nap at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival, while her parents, Brittany and Chet Turner, of Apalachicola, were busy with a beverage booth. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Franklin County pre-kindergartner Everrly Smith Segree smiles from a wagon pulled by her mom, Nena Segree at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Brynnleigh Shiver, 13 months old, is all decked out in red, white and blue in the arms of her mom Cilia Golden at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Enjoying Carrabelle’s Unofficial parade are, from left: Heather Vaught, Cora Vaught, Rachel Thompson, with the blue star glasses, and Khrissa Litton. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Autumn Taylor holds her 6-month-old daughter Lilith Marshall at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Carrie Grishom holds her 9-month-old daughter Lily while preschooler Axtyn relaxes at right. Ronald and Carrie Grishom traveled with their family over from Wakulla County to Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Deanna Tointigh, from Woodville, carries 9-month-old daughter Audrianna at Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Rhiannon and Austin Kinney, from Wakulla County, came by Eastpoint’s Freedom Festival with their sons, Kolton, 1, and Brayden, 4. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.