Ron Sapp
Several weeks ago, I was privileged to be part of a panel discussion about what it was like to grow up in Fernandina Beach. The group was made up of four alumni of Fernandina Beach High School, all from classes that graduated in the '60s and '70s, so our experiences were fairly similar.
It was fun to reminisce about growing up here, and I think the capacity crowd was entertained. When “Old Fernandina” folks get together, and I proudly number myself as one of that group, it should be clear to all within earshot how proud we are of this town and how much we loved it and still do.
I’ve always liked to pause and reflect, to “mind drift,” if you will, and as I get older, those mental calisthenics are more fun. For example, what events in my youth would I characterize as major – major being defined as playing a key role in carving out the person I am today. I shared some of these major events with the audience at the panel discussion.
• When a group of men brought Little League baseball to Fernandina Beach and organized the first league and teams.
• When local Cub and Boy Scout troops were formed, providing leadership training and the opportunity to master outdoor skills. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have Ralph Wood as my scout master and role model.
• When the city commissions of 1956 and '57 built the two recreation centers, complete with swimming pool, auditorium and activity rooms.
• When I got my first bike, which allowed me to ride down to the docks, to the two five and 10 cent stores and to the various other stores that constituted our working downtown. In short, my new bike meant a new freedom.
• Walking to the Ilan Theater from our house on North 16th Street to watch double-feature Westerns on Saturday afternoon.
The list could go on, of course, because we “Old Fernandina” kids are the very embodiment of the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.”
If you’ve been a loyal reader of my columns, and I’m happy to say there are a few, you know how fond I am of older movies and my penchant for using selected favorite quotes. Well, here goes another one – from Dr. Zhivago – Yuri’s father-in-law says, “I’ve always said, scratch a Russian and you’ll find a peasant.” Well, I will modify that statement, “Scratch an 'Old Fernandina' adult and you’ll find an 'Old Fernandina' kid.”
The purpose of all this reminiscing is to point out several things:
• Fernandina Beach is a special place for all of us, whether you’ve lived here 50 years or 50 minutes.
• Old Fernandina kids benefited from a town filled with men and women who made this place special.
• Today it’s up to us to keep this place special for all those who come after us.
• Much of the above was made possible by the legislative activism of forward-thinking city commissioners, and I trust our current commission will continue that history of activism in a way that provides the broad shoulders upon which future commissions will stand.
In closing, I know that Old Fernandina, or New Fernandina, or Future Fernandina, will always know that the natural beauty of our island is something to be treasured because, for me, the uniqueness of our city is confirmed by our closeness to the river, the creeks, the ocean and the magnificent forests filled with canopy paths and roads and heritage trees. May we always keep these treasures close to our hearts.
This will be my last column so I want to thank the News-Leader, particularly Publisher, Foy Maloy, the several editors I’ve worked with, especially Michael Parnell, who encouraged me to write columns in the first place, my wife, Kasey, who’s put up with me spending countless hours staring at a blank computer screen, and the many readers who’ve put up with me lo these many years. It’s been sweet!
Oh, my farewell wouldn’t be complete without another modified quote from one of my favorite movies, "Shane." Shane tells Joey, or Little Joe, “Tell your mother there are no more guns left in the valley.” Modified: “Tell your mother there are no more liberal columnists left in the News-Leader’s valley.”
