As the days grow shorter, the leaves begin to turn the muted colors of red, gold, and orange and every lawn has great piles of endless falling leaves. The scent of burning foliage permeates the air and you can almost taste the spicy flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg on your tongue. Fall has once again come to St. Marys. We begin the celebration of the harvest season with our annual “Hay Days”. The fun filled family events will kick-off October 10^th and continue through October 31^st.

The amusement begins for kids of all ages with Build-A-Scarecrow. The first of the Hay Days events will take place at Orange Hall where a kit with everything you need to make the perfect Scarecrow will be available for $20. Just the right place for your unique Scarecrow will be selected downtown and there he or she will stand ready to welcome everyone downtown.

The quaint downtown district of St. Marys will be transformed into a beautiful fall display. Storefronts and historic homes emblazoned with pumpkins, scarecrows, hay bales and flowering potted mums will enhance the harvest season scene. Local businesses and organizations will be creating scarecrows to enhance the median of Osborne Street. Try to guess which Scarecrow goes with each business or group downtown along the Scarecrow Stroll on October 13^th.

The annual festivities will continue by encouraging families to come to downtown in costume that evening to view the scarecrows, visit the merchants for special treats and participate in hay rides, movies and more all at no cost.

Hay Days is enjoyable for everyone, surely an event not to be missed. “In the South fall is slow to start.  Hay Days invites fall into our downtown with all the traditions of pumpkins, scarecrows and fall colors”, said Alyce Thornhill, Director of the St. Marys Downtown Development Authority.

Bring your best four-legged friend to Yappy Hour at Seagle’s Saloon Patio on the waterfront in St Marys. The event takes place the 4th Thursday of every month September – April from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Cost is $10.00 per person, Dogs free, includes complimentary glass of wine and appetizers.
Well-behaved owners and dogs are welcome. Proceeds to benefit the Humane Society.
For more information visit www.humancamden.org

The Rock Shrimp Festival in St. Marys, Georgia, takes place on October 3, 2009. This year it’s “All about the kids”.

ST. MARYS, GA—In keeping with the focus of Kiwanis around the world, the St. Marys Kiwanis have themed the 2009 Rock Shrimp Festival “It’s All About The Kids.” The theme will be emphasized throughout the day’s events beginning with this year’s parade Grand Marshal six-year-old Ethan Spinks. Ethan recently saved his infant sister from choking on a coin. Other tributes to the theme include a new element, “The Kids Safety Zone.”

A collaborative effort between St. Marys Kiwanis and eleven other community organizations including fire departments, police departments and other agencies, The Kids Safety Zone will feature a DUI Car Crash Exhibit, Child Safety Seat Seminars, and live demonstrations and presentations on pet safety, smoke detector education, K-9 Units, Boating Safety, Bicycle Safety, Beer Goggles, and many other activities. All children who complete all the stations will get free admission to the St. Marys Submarine Museum by showing their completed passport. Parents will receive discounted admission to the museum.

St. Marys Kiwanis President Jolene Haney said that Kiwanis is all about serving the children of our community, and the Rock Shrimp festival is an excellent way to educate the public and engage them in the Kiwanis’ mission.

“Children are our future,” Haney said. “From our Terrific Kids and K-Kids programs in the elementary schools and Builders Club in the middle schools, to the Key Club in the high school, the Kiwanis offer myriad opportunities for everyone to help our kids be all that they can be.”

Kids from 2 to 92 will be enjoying one of the highlights of the festival—the quintessential rock shrimp dinners. Early morning foot races (beginning at 7:30 am), including a 5k, 10k, and 1.5k Junior Run, kick off the day, followed by the themed parade (10:00 am). First, second, and third prizes will be awarded to parade entries that best depict the theme, and the perpetual trophy, “Rocky,” will be handed over to the Best of Parade winner.

All-day entertainment will grace the waterfront stage with more than 100 food and arts vendors expected to line St. Marys Road and Osborne Street. According to Festival Co-Chair Barbara Mizelle, vendor spaces are going fast, but there’s still time to register.

“You can register for the races, parade, or a vendor space by visiting www.smkiwanis.com,” Mizelle said. “And the best time to buy your dinner tickets is before the day of the event to save money and waiting in line.”

Mizelle said Kiwanis volunteers anticipate cooking up nearly a ton of shrimp this year. Advance tickets can be purchased at St. Marys Welcome Center, Kingsland Visitors Center, Camden County Chamber of Commerce, Camden Printing, Atlantic Auto Brokers, Island Lounge & Grill, Coastal Bank in St. Marys, and Once Upon a Bookseller.

All proceeds from the festival will be spent 100% locally and fund the many kids programs as well as other Kiwanis initiatives. St. Marys Kiwanis deliver 150 Thanksgiving baskets to needy families, support Christmas for Camden’s Kids as well as the Salvation Army, Camden House, and American Red Cross among other organizations. The St. Marys Kiwanis have recently chartered an Aktion Club created to help mentally impaired adults organize and serve the community as well.

For more information, visit www.smkiwanis.com.

For the past three weeks the St. Marys Economic Development Conference Room has been the site of Captain John Scott’s First Coast Maritime (FCM) licensing class. First Coast Maritime LLC offers quality maritime training and instruction for a variety of licenses issued by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). FCM has obtained USCG approval for the St. Marys Economic Development Center facilities, allowing licensing courses to be taught at the facility. Students are also tested at the site, and the diploma issued by FCM for successful completion of a program may be submitted to the USCG to obtain certain licenses. FCM offers courses from the basic Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel certification – commonly referred to as a “six pack license” to more advanced professional maritime licenses and training. With class schedules of up to two weeks, the students attending classes with FCM make a substantial contribution to the local economy. The company also offers post military career counseling for active duty members of the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, demonstrating how the active duty sea service can be used in the Merchant Marine setting, from service on commercial ships to operating a small fishing charter.

Captain Scott had these words to share about the conference facility available through city. “When you are in need of a meeting facility for your business, there are two main challenges: finding the right facility to meet your specific needs and finding the best establishment and professional staff to work with. St. Marys Economic Development Center has become our anchor to the successful execution of conducting USCG Federal Licensing classes.”

Alyce Thornhill, Director of Economic Development agrees that this is an asset to our City. Leasing the conference room not only brings funds into the city it also keeps activity in our Downtown; these students support local businesses on breaks during the long sessions. “It is an initiative of our Economic Development Committee to attract and recruit more opportunities like this for the conference space, our room will easily hold 50 people and has all the amenities for hosting conferences, classes, workshops and planning sessions. For more information please contact St Marys Economic Development Department, 912-882-8111.

Captain John Scott, owner of 1st Coast Maritime (right) awarding Lt. Dale Williams of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (left) his challenge coin for successfully meeting the requirements for his USCG Captain’s License).

ST. MARYS AD HOC GROUP TEAMS UP WITH AMELIA ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL TO LAUNCH ST. MARYS FILM SOCIETY

ST. MARYS, GA—In the wake of Amelia Island’s recent success as a film magnet, executives from the Amelia Island Film Festival met with St. Marys residents recently to discuss a “sistership” in the advancement of film production and promotion for both areas. According to Tony McAdoo, president of the Amelia Island Film Festival, the collaboration is a natural.

“With the Cumberland Sound Ferry bridging the two towns, it makes a lot of sense to piggyback on each other’s resources,” McAdoo said. “Here we have two states separated by a mere river and each having its unique characteristics. We’re proud to offer our visitors and residents another dimension of entertainment and historic exploration by supporting the development of a St. Marys film organization.”

St. Marys Film Society organizers’ ultimate mission is to position St. Marys as a valuable location option for filmmakers. Toward that goal, they plan to begin by getting acquainted with film industry movers and shakers—producers, directors, writers, and actors, and building a portfolio of resources for the industry. One of the St. Marys Film Society organizers, Doug Vaught, said that Savannah has nothing on St. Marys when it comes to being an attractive location to make a movie.

“We trump them on cemeteries. Our diversity of geography and our water realm including Cumberland Island presents filmmakers with an excellent backdrop for drama, comedy, and adventure films.” Vaught went on to cite the recent filming of Resurrection Fern in St. Marys and on Cumberland Island as a good beginning toward getting the word out. He also went on to say that our proximity to the Jacksonville International Airport and technical talents available in neighboring Jacksonville will add to St. Marys’ appeal as a film location. Donna Boyett, proprietor of The French Quarter in Downtown St. Marys agreed.

“St. Marys and our surrounding area has much to offer, and as a business owner I’m eager to reach out to the film community and show them how easy we are to work with,” said Boyett, another Film Society organizer. “The economic advantages of having film crews in our town spending money are evident, but the residual benefit of boosted tourism like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil brought to Savannah has even greater positive ramifications.”

Thus far, two events are in the planning stages as part of the St. Marys Film Society launch. On February 18, one week before the 2010 Amelia Island Film Festival begins, the Film Society plans to host a screening of one of Amelia Island’s entries at a downtown St. Marys location. Then during the actual Amelia Island Film Festival (February 25-March 1, 2010), the St. Marys Film Society will host a “meet and greet” in St. Marys. Guests of the “meet and greet”—film execs and artists—will come from Amelia Island by ferry and visit with several businesses in order to familiarize themselves with what St. Marys has to offer.

“We have to walk before we run,” said Vaught. “This year we see ourselves as an ‘appetizer’ for the Amelia Island Film Festival. Future years will hold bigger things and bigger returns for our city.”

Looking to the future, Vaught and other Film Society organizers endeavor to form a film commission and take advantage of an official affiliation with Georgia Economic Development and all that they offer local organizations.

“More than 600 films and television projects have been shot in Georgia,” said Janet Brinko, Director of the St. Marys Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s good for tourism, and that means it’s good for our economy. There’s no reason why St. Marys can’t capitalize on our natural beauty and our business-friendly environment.”

According to industry statistics, for every $1 spent in the promotion of filmmaking on a local basis, $7 is returned to the local economy. Georgia Senator Jeff Chapman said that “In a time when cities around the nation are searching for ways to rejuvenate their economy, community leaders who are thinking outside of the box can add great value to a city’s long term plans. The organizers of the St. Marys Film Society are to be commended for their vision and their willingness to do the heavy lifting to make things happen.”

Anyone in the community who would like to get involved in the St. Marys Film Society is urged to call 912-882-4000.