BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Starke Downtown Merchants and the North Florida Regional Chamber of Commerce recently addressed issues in planning the upcoming Christmas events with the city commission.
Expected construction downtown has left organizers looking for an alternative to the Downtown Square for lighting the city Christmas tree.
The relocation should only be required this year, according to Chief Administrative Officer Jimmy Crosby. Chrissy Thompson from The Downtown Grill said the options are limited since there needs to be a security camera watching the tree. Options included city hall, the chamber of commerce or the Santa Fe College Cultural Center.
While railroad overpass construction took place last year, the Santa Claus event following the parade was moved to the chamber of commerce. Because it worked out so well, Santa will be at the chamber again this year.
“It just made a great event to have him back at the chamber because it’s easier to get to after the floats and the parade,” Thompson said.
As for the tree lighting — if there is to be one — she said they were open to suggestions.
One thing they won’t budge on, however, is the prohibition on throwing candy from floats. They no longer want individuals passing out candy along the parade route, as some city commissioners have traditionally done.
The danger it too great, they said, particularly at night. They’ve had too many close calls.
Instead, much like the Great Pumpkin Escape, Downtown Merchants and vendors lining the sidewalks will hand out candy to keep that activity out of the streets.
“I think that is one of the reasons that we’re also here to make sure everybody’s on the same page,” Thompson said. “All of us in this room have had very close incidences with kids. There’s only going to be candy stations along Call Street.”
The city is welcome to join others or set up a station of its own, she said.
“Especially for you guys who ride on a fire truck. You’re not driving that fire truck,” she said. “Parents are not able to watch four or five kids, and that’s kind of what happens. We’ve had a couple close calls.”
Chamber President Pam Whittle said some drivers in the parade have said they would no longer participate.
“They were that scared,” Whittle said, detailing once incident with the Shriners where riders were thrown out of the buggy because the driver had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting someone.
“Our fear is we won’t be able to stop. I know you say, ‘Oh, we just did it at homecoming.’ That was a four-lane highway, in the middle of the highway, during the day,” she said. “That’s why our suggestion was to do the candy stations. We did it last year. We did not have enough volunteers. We needed people, at least, on every little block, handing out candy, walking on the sidewalk, keeping them off the street.”
Thompson said the Downtown Merchants will be providing candy for vendors to distribute, hoping that will help solve the volunteer problem.
Commissioner Danny Nugent asked if there was so much concern for child safety, why not move the parade back to the daytime? He also argued that if he is handing out candy from a bucket, he is the one in the street, not the children.
“If I’m this far from that kid. He’s not in the road. I’m in the road. I’ve done it for years,” he said, adding he had seen merchants and others throwing candy. “We don’t throw it in the road. None of these commissioners have. We’re really careful what we’re doing.”
Thompson insisted that if Nugent’s going to hand out candy, he needs to be on a sidewalk, but Nugent continued to argue the sidewalk would be too congested.
“How are you going to hand down the sidewalk? You’ve got 50,000 people. You can’t walk on the sidewalk during the parade,” he said. “We need to be out on the edge handing it to the kids who’re sitting on the edges of the sidewalk. The kids are sitting down, so that doesn’t make sense.”
Thompson tried to make a point about a child potentially walking between a car and the city fire truck, but Nugent interrupted, saying, “That’s why I wonder why we should have different people running our parade sometimes, no offense.”
“Have it back,” Thompson replied. “I will tell you, with everybody that’s in this room, if we are going to let you all and the sheriff throw or hand out candy, we’re not doing it.”
Mayor Andy Redding, who had tried interjecting before, pushed through, saying they were going to develop the parameters necessary to have a safe parade.
“We’re going to keep going forward, and we appreciate your hard work and volunteering,” Redding said.
Thompson said they were willing to work with city administrators, but the rule about not throwing or handing out candy on the street would be in writing.
Capt. Kevin Mueller was present to say the sheriff’s office supported the Downtown Merchants, and he shared his personal experience of handing out candy in the parade only to see children sprinting to get their share, and that was in the daytime. He also said the agency has a mobile camera that could provide security for the Christmas tree, wherever it is placed.
Commissioners Bob Milner and Janice Mortimer both stated the city has no interest in taking over the parade, saying the merchants and the chamber have been excellent partners over the years.
The parade will take place the evening of Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. The reservation-only Santa Breakfast will follow on Sunday morning.
The Miss Winterfest Pageant will take place Nov. 3.
Pumpkin Escape and more
Just as the Starke Christmas parade is traditionally the second Saturday of December, the Great Pumpkin Escape is coming up on the last Saturday of October, Oct. 26. Merchants will pass out candy from 5 to 8 p.m. along with the fun games, contests and other attractions. The pet costume contest will take place at 5:30 p.m. in front of the chamber of commerce.
On Oct. 30, the Witches’ Ride will return to downtown, and everyone is invited to don their pointy hats and parade around on their bikes, carts or brooms, then enjoy a special tasting with all money raised supporting Bradford County Education Foundation and Communities for Schools. Walkers are welcome, too. It will begin at 6 p.m.
Then prior to Christmas, they will hold Shop Small Saturday on Nov. 30, an opportunity to support local businesses and vendors during the holiday shopping season and enjoy other fun events on that day. It will include another Chalk It Up event as the first sidewalk art event was such a success.
