Lots of things to talk about with you this week, so instead of focusing on just one something…

…a couple of weeks ago I shared with you about the “Concert for Tommy” event to establish the Tommy Griffin Music Scholarship that will take place inside the Thomasville Fairgrounds on July 24. To update, the 501c3 status for the foundation overlooking the scholarship is now official, so all contributions will be fully tax deductible. It has been my hope that we could clear $15,000 after all expenses to underpin 15 years’ worth of $1,000 scholarships, and I feel confident we will get there. The scholarship will be specifically for a young person who may not be the top academic student in the county, but has found music as their life passion and needs a little help in trying to pursue it. I love that concept. It should be a fun evening of reminiscing and good, classic rock music and all for a great cause. Tickets will be on sale at the door and online, and I’ll be sure to let you know how it all turns out.

…and continuing in the “update” frame of mind, things are moving right along for the T.L. Spence, Jr. Veterans Museum effort as well. Some innovative plans for the area immediately around the former American Legion building are in motion, so keep an eye out for those, too. As was reported some time back, the museum also has its 501c3 non-profit status in place, and several local philanthropic families have already contributed to the project. As is the tradition here in The Rose City, you can be assured of a top-notch facility that will honor our local veterans and tell their incredible stories as well as can be done. 

…I realize it’s the summer and the weather can be unpredictable this time of year, but this has been the coolest summer in my memory. I know we’ve had a lot of rain and that has had a lot to do with it, but to know we’re approaching the middle of July and have barely had any 90 degree days is a little odd. Not that I’m complaining though.

…the only part of the weather I will complain about is how it has affected my backyard peach crop. Every summer I look so forward to cobblers made with my home-grown peaches that grown on three trees behind the house. But this year, apparently due to the excess moisture in the ground, the entire crop has apparently been afflicted with something called “brown rot,” which makes the area around the pit a gooey brown. Oh well – I guess I’ll just have to be satisfied with store-bought peaches for the cobbler, and I hope that’s the biggest problem I have to deal with this summer.

…as someone who used to work in downtown Thomasville as a young man, it does my heart good to see downtown thriving as it is these days. It’s amazing to drive through on Broad Street and see all of the car tags from not only out of our county but from different states. Good times for sure for our downtown, and a tip of the cap to all those whose planning and work has led to it.

…we recently visited Fernandina Beach for a few days (my favorite beach by far) and encountered a couple of neat things I’d like to share. First off, we had lunch at a place called “Poe’s Tavern” in Atlantic Beach (between Fernandina and Jacksonville). The entire place is Edgar Allen Poe themed, with historic Poe memorabilia all over the walls, amber lighting, old fashioned light fixtures, stained glass windows, and room dividers made of what looks like very old rod iron cemetery gates and fences. The menu items are named after various Poe elements. Think of a Poe-themed Hard Rock Café and you get the idea. For what it is worth, it is kind of a chain of sorts, with locations also on Sullivan’s Island near Charleston and Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina. The entire ambiance just seemed like something that would work so well in a deeply Victorian-rooted place like Thomasville. Just saying. 

…I don’t know how many of you have ever visited downtown Fernandina Beach, but it is basically downtown Thomasville by a beach. The appearance, the “feel” of it is so similar. If you’re like me and you love going to the beach but don’t want all the touristy stuff and prefer something that feels a little more classy with a deep historic flair, then I heartily suggest Fernandina. 

…one of the things I like to do when I can is visit historic cemeteries in the places we visit. On our Fernandina visit, I was able to walk through St. Peter’s Cemetery near downtown. In reading some of the inscriptions on the headstones, something unique caught my eye. On one stone it reads: “Charles Angel – Born Feb. 28, 1848. Assassinated Mar. 19, 1882.” In all of my years I’ve never seen such an epitaph before – and after doing a little research it turns out there is quite a tale attached to it that made my jaw drop. I’ll share it in an upcoming column. 

…to close out our chat, may I ask how high school football can literally be less than a month away?