School board focuses on tackling ‘vapedemic’
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School board focuses on tackling ‘vapedemic’

The Franklin County Schools have a vaping problem and it’s costing them money, as well as harming the health of students. At a lengthy discussion at the May 24 board meeting, school board members listened as school officials outlined a situation in which students as young as those in elementary grades are being found using…

‘Our resilience will shine through’ – FCHS Class of 2023 graduates
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‘Our resilience will shine through’ – FCHS Class of 2023 graduates

In an exuberant ceremony Friday night, May 26 at Franklin County High School, 60 graduates of the Class of 2023 received their diplomas and stepped out to take on the world. The gymnasium was filled to capacity, and all went smoothly throughout the ceremony, with some humor as well, as Principal Danielle Rosson was treated…

ED Corps graduates its Class of 2023
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ED Corps graduates its Class of 2023

It’s a small, tightly-knit graduating class, getting their educations at the Island Drive headquarters of the Franklin’s Promise Coalition in Eastpoint.On Friday night, at a ceremony at the amphitheater of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve, they were presented their sheepskins. While not formally under the auspices of the Franklin County School District, the school…

Turtle Pond party backs Backpack Buddies
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Turtle Pond party backs Backpack Buddies

With the peaceful three-acre pond shimmering in the background, and tables of food laden with homemade goods, about 100 guests attended a reception on behalf of the BackPack Buddies of Franklin County, a non-profit organization that provides meals for the weekends for schoolchildren in the county. The Farm to Table fundraiser was held at Turtle…

ABC pre-K learns to love the land
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ABC pre-K learns to love the land

When the Apalachicola Bay Charter School’s pre-Kindergarten teacher Joy Floyd had a long-time dream, she did something about it. It was her hope to have the classes of these young ones create a sensory and food garden, all to be in keeping with the ideas found in the curriculum for these kids just embarking on…

Chasing Shadows: How a Sicilian family shaped Apalachicola
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Chasing Shadows: How a Sicilian family shaped Apalachicola

By Pam Richardson Guest Columnist This old sepia-toned photograph of an elderly man has been tacked to the bulletin board above my desk for weeks. It is inexplicably compelling and moving. The chiseled set of the man’s jaw conveys courage and perseverance, the straight line of his mouth suggests an ability to withstand hardship, and…

RSVP today for Teacher of the Year banquet
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RSVP today for Teacher of the Year banquet

The Franklin Education Foundation is inviting the community to thefourth annual Franklin County Education Banquet on Thursday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Franklin County School Cafetorium. The banquet will honor the 2022-23 retirees, Rookie of the Year, School-Related Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year. The banquet is free to honorees,…

African American women’s clubs once flourished in Apalachicola
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African American women’s clubs once flourished in Apalachicola

An English professor at the University of South Florida has shed fresh light on the history of Apalachicola’s African American women’s clubs in the early 20th century. At a well-attended talk March 16 at the Apalachicola Margaret Key Library, presented by the PALS friends of the library group, Dr. Cynthia Patterson drew on a 2019…

Students demonstrate art of public speaking
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Students demonstrate art of public speaking

The two judges, Apalachicola librarian Lucy Carter, and Carrie Jones, environmental supervisor with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, were seated promptly before the 9 a.m. start of the district-wide 4-H Public Speaking Competition Friday. A large number of parents were in their seats as well in the meeting room at the UF…