…….and you can help

If you’re one of the many Northeast Florida residents that would like to take a ferry from Amelia Island’s Fernandina Beach downtown harbor to Cumberland Island and maybe even take your bike along, then take a minute to contact Gary Ingram of the National Parks Service at gary_ingram@nps.gov telling him you support the nautical route.

Currently Kevin McCarthy, who operates Amelia Island River Cruises & Charters out of Fernandina Harbor Marina, would like to do more than just show his boat passengers Cumberland Island’s wild horses, beaches, and historic landmarks then turn around and head back to Amelia Island.

McCarthy, who currently takes sight-seeing passengers back-and-forth on a daily basis,

Because of a Florida law that State Senate President Don Graetz says he can’t explain but will continue to support anyway, beer aficionados awaiting the opening of a micro brew pub in downtown Fernandina Beach at the site of the now shuttered O’Kane’s, will not be able to purchase the popular half-gallon growlers, that are currently OK in 47 other states.

Long before six-packs became popular, most beer was consumed in a bar and folks who wanted to drink beer at home filled a small pail called a “growler” to carry it. According to beeradvocate.com when the beer splashed around in the pail it created a “rumbling” sound as gases escaped through the lid,” causing what sounded like a “growl.”

In an Associated Press story filed earlier this week Senate President Graetz says he doesn’t know why growlers are illegal in Florida and even admitted that the law appears to be overregulation, but added that a repeal of it isn’t in the cards because a close friend of his asked him to continue to support legislation that hurts the state’s fledgling craft beer businesses. That friend is Lewis Bear, a distributor of Budweiser products in Republican Graetz’s district and Graetz says he does what he’s told by his friend.

“We know we can’t compete with Budweiser, but we should have the opportunity to sell our own beer in a growler to our customers who want it,” says Al Waldis, who along with

To save a few bucks on liquids the less than 20 mile drive North from Amelia Island to the Georgia state line may be in order as gasoline, wine and distilled spirits all cost less in our neighboring state than they do here says the non-partisan, non-profit Tax Policy Foundation (TPF).

At the time of this writing the average price for a gallon of gas in Florida was $3.44 says TPF while in Georgia it stood at $3.29, so the short drive up I-95 or Highway 17 may be worth it to fill your tank, particularly if you drive an RV or some other gas guzzler.

If you’re a beer drinker you’re better off buying your suds in Florida since Georgians pay