Chasing Shadows: The ‘mostly forgotten’ story of the Semmeses 
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Chasing Shadows: The ‘mostly forgotten’ story of the Semmeses 

By Pam Richardson Guest Columnist On a recent bright, but chilly afternoon I had the pleasure of riding around Apalachicola with local realtor Shaun Donahoe. The purpose of our jaunt was to look at real estate, but not with an eye to my purchasing any of it.  instead, I was picking Donahoe’s brain about people…

Savor some oysters at Saturday’s cook-off
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Savor some oysters at Saturday’s cook-off

It’s been 14 years since a fire in the historic district of Apalachicola completely burned down a vintage century-old home, a tragedy that spared anyone injury but one compounded by glaring deficiencies in the firefighting equipment the city’s volunteer fire department had to rely on. This Saturday, at an event sure to attract a vintage…

The Secret Lives of Words: Florida’s flamboyant flamingos
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The Secret Lives of Words: Florida’s flamboyant flamingos

If you’re a senior citizen like me (there’re plenty in Apalach), you may recall “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano,” the chartbuster hit first recorded by The Ink Spots in 1940, and later by Glenn Miller, Pat Boone, and even, in an at-home private session, Elvis (they’re all on YouTube). I was reminded of…

Documentary on oyster ecosystems wins Emmy
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Documentary on oyster ecosystems wins Emmy

A documentary film that focuses on the environmental pressures confronting oyster reefs worldwide, with a particular emphasis on Apalachicola Bay, has won its second Emmy award as it continues to gather both heightened attention and critical acclaim. At a ceremony held Dec. 2 in Hollywood, Florida, “UNFILTERED: The Truth About Oysters” won a Suncoast Emmy…

Laser show climaxes Carrabelle holiday festival
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Laser show climaxes Carrabelle holiday festival

Carrabelle celebrated the Christmas season under the glow of harbor lights and the dazzle of laser beams Saturday with the Holiday on the Harbor Street Festival and Boat Parade of Lights. “The festival was a great success and we could not have asked for more perfect weather,” said Lori Dougherty, director of the Carrabelle Chamber…

Island party unveils ‘Salty Boots Songwriter Festival’
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Island party unveils ‘Salty Boots Songwriter Festival’

Jennifer Stradtman has a dream, to create the Sandy Boots Songwriters Festival of St. George Island in the spring. To help awaken it, she hosted a launch party at her West Gorrie Drive home Saturday, featuring two of the best songwriters in Nashville, to help generate interest and whet the appetite for the spring festival….

Christmas cookie crumbles
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Christmas cookie crumbles

Forget your fruit cake and your figgy pudding. If there’s one sweet delight that best symbolizes Christmas, it’s a cookie, and area school kids, from Wewahitchka to Apalachicola and parts in between, got in the spirit of cookie decorating last week. In Apalachicola, it was a chance for Head Start kids and pre-kindergarteners from the…

‘Hurley Play’ is not what you think
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‘Hurley Play’ is not what you think

Jerry Hurley has been a local playwright for a long enough time that audiences have come to expect that he’ll come up with something worthy of a night out. He’s mastered cornball, he revels in raunch, and he’s skillful at bringing out just enough poignancy to not strain the heart muscles. He keeps ‘em laughing,…

Crooked River shows off new stage at Lantern Fest
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Crooked River shows off new stage at Lantern Fest

Scores of hanging lanterns cast a colorful glow over the Crooked River Lighthouse Nov. 11 for Lantern Fest, held each year in honor of the lighthouse’s birthday, now over 127 years old. None more impressive in that mystic light was the enormous wooden boat that will serve as the new sound stage and playground. The…

Seafood Festival has visitors ‘feelin’ alright’
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Seafood Festival has visitors ‘feelin’ alright’

The 60th annual Florida Seafood Festival last weekend is in the record books, and while it didn’t break any attendance records, the turnout was pretty respectable. “Attendance was up from last year,” said John Solomon, president of the all-volunteer board of directors. “Many vendors I spoke to said they had a very awesome year.” At…