Sometimes we wonder and worry about how to attract tourists to Hamilton County and White Springs. In this effort to increase tourism, are we ignoring one of our most valuable resources? Our Economic Development folks and our Tourist Development folks and our business folks all agree that any reasonable growth in tourism is good for us and our economy. The great news is that a big chunk of the work of attracting tourists is already being done, by volunteers! Here is an example. Recently the Suwannee Bicycle Association hosted one of several events that they hold here in White Springs each year, this one being the Fat Tire Festival. They had over 135 volunteers and participants who attended. Everyone had very positive comments. These are approximate numbers of attendees: Cedar Key 1, Gainesville 15, Jacksonville 38, Suwannee County cities 8, Tallahassee 12, Orlando 12, St. Petersburg 14, Southwest FL 3, Southeast FL 3, Georgia 2, Illinois 1, and South Carolina 5.
How do these visitors feel about their experience here? Here’s a comment from a Melbourne, FL participant. “What a great time at Suwannee Bicycle Association in White Springs, FL. We had a blast, got some great mountain biking in with some great people. Sharon Shea and the entire team of SBA volunteers put on one of the best events in the state of Florida and quite possibly the entire US. Many might wonder why we drive four hours to ride a bicycle. It is so much more! There are great mountain and road bike rides, kayak/canoe trips, camping, hiking and I think most of all, it is the fellowship. Great people from all walks of life. The great folks of SBA have not only become our friends, but are our family. We can't wait until the next event, and look forward to assisting the club goals as much as we can. Thanks Suwannee Bicycle Association for another great event! We had a glorious three days!”
Now to answer my own question about “Are we ignoring this asset”, the answer is no, we are not ignoring it but perhaps we are not fully partnered with these efforts either. What can we offer? What can we take advantage of? These groups are hungry for more information about our area and if they get it many of them will come back on their own. Are we giving them welcome packets, promoting our area and our assets? Are we selling? Are we doing anything to help these events grow, as they might help us to grow? Are we volunteering? These are all fair questions. If you care about or are part of our tourism efforts, I’d love to hear your answers and ideas on how we can do better.
Brenda Gipson certainly does her part to bring folks to White Springs through her business at the Adams Country Store and this year she is organizing a White Springs Historical Christmas Tour, where you will be able to go on a hosted tour of the Historic Telford Hotel, The Adams Country Store, the Camp House, several Historic Churches and much more. The list of places on the tour is still growing. Tickets are available at the Adams Country Store Thursdays – Saturdays. For more information call Brenda Gipson at 813-986-3597. This is a rare opportunity to see many of these historic buildings and experience the living history of White Springs.
If you missed the opportunity to see Suzi Parron, author of “Following the Barn Quilt Trail”, at her Wednesday book signing at the White Springs Library, you’ll have one more opportunity to see and hear her and Merri McKenzie talk about the Florida Quilt Trail at Janet Moses’s Blue Goose Studio, 174 N. Marion Street in downtown Lake City on Friday, November 18th at 6:00 PM. Suzi will have her books available for purchase and will do a book signing. Janet Moses has painted most of the quilt blocks in Trenton, Madison and White Springs and her studio is filled with wonderful folk art items ranging from paintings on a variety of canvasses such as old windows, doors, and tin roof snippets, to furniture, wall hangings and well, you just have to see it to believe it. Past presidents Clinton and Bush and former Florida Governor Bush all have Janet Moses artwork and if you come to this event you’ll see why her appeal is so universal.
The Udell family is a very important part of the fiber and the history of White Springs. Lt. Col. Ivan Udell spoke at last week’s Veterans Day luncheon and gave us all an increased appreciation of the unique makeup of our Armed Services and of their mission at home and abroad. I was sorry to hear that his mother Mrs. Jeanette Udell was in the hospital and still is as of this writing. She is improving and I hope and pray that she will be home soon. In 1962 Mrs. Udell became the first African American to vote in White Springs ending years of voting exclusion for the White Springs African American population. We all owe her a debt of gratitude. I’m sure I speak for White Springs when I say that we love you Mrs. Udell and we hope you get well and come back home soon!
This Saturday you will have the opportunity be healthy and to enjoy world class entertainment in White Springs. Not a bad combination. First, you will have an opportunity to make a commitment to being healthy and active! On Saturday Nov.19, 2016 the Florida Department of Health in Hamilton County with UF/IFAS Extension is hosting a Community Walk along Stephen Foster State Park’s main paved drive. The Department of Health will be on hand to help you track your weight and BMI. Community Walks will continue throughout the year on a quarterly schedule. The Department of Health will offer free admission vouchers to all participants for return visits to the park. Health checks begin at 9 A.M. Walk begins at 10:00 A.M. For more information contact Wendy Bragdon (386) 754-7083 or Heather Janney (386) 792-1276
To round out your Saturday you will have a chance to nourish your appreciation for musical talent. The Krickets are four supremely talented women who recently found brilliance as a powerful folk/Americana quartet and were recently awarded “Folk Artist of the Year” 2016 by the International Music and Entertainment Association. Now this talented “swamp-folk” foursome is bringing their earthy bluegrass influenced music and sweet, spellbinding vocal harmonies to the Town of White Springs. They will appear at the White Springs Folk Club, Saturday, Nov 19th at 7P.M. at the White Springs United Methodist Church. Please RSVP to 386-303-1394 if you wish to attend. There is no better place to hear such amazing talent than in the listening room atmosphere of The White Springs Folk Club.
One more reminder about a way you can help make a merry White Springs Christmas! You and your group can get involved and enter a float for the White Springs Christmas Parade of Lights, which happens on Friday, December the 2nd. Floats must be lighted. To register your float, call the White Springs Town Hall at (386)397-2310.
This week and every week there is a surprising amount of opportunity for good experiences in our region and I’m glad to share the information, but for now I’ll say what my friends and neighbors always love to hear me say, “Once again, I've said enough!” If your event or news is not in the column it’s probably because you didn’t tell me about it, and that is a shame because I love to hear from most of you! I hope to hear from you with news and I hope to see you out and about, enjoying your life in White Springs.
Walter McKenzie
386-303-1394