Many may not realize the history behind the tradition of blessing the fleets in fishing communities. Centuries ago, European Catholics, would have the local priest speak

his blessing over the boats to ensure a safe and bountiful fishing season. 

 

The City of Brunswick held its first blessing ceremony more than 60 years ago when Portuguese immigrants introduced the practice in their new home. This community of immigrants was mostly Catholic, and still the blessing is tied to the local Catholic Church. The event is held on Mother’s Day weekend as a way to honor Our Lady of Fatima (the patron saint of Portugal) and mothers in the parish. 

 

Darien, just north of Brunswick in neighboring McIntosh County, has held an annual blessing since 1970. Boat owners in both communities spend weeks preparing and decorating their vessels to compete for prizes and trophies. The Darien event has evolved into the largest Shrimp Boat festival on the east coast with many fun activities planned and no doubt a lot of very fine Wild Georgia Shrimp. If you want to read more on their website, go to: www.blessingofthefleet.com

 

Spring is a wonderful time to visit St. Simons and the Golden Isles and I would love to personally share our little bit of heaven with you!

It is a WiFi service area that provides wireless service all over the city. When I initially heard about the City of Brunswick’s plan, I only thought of the benefits of private citizens being able to get online for free. But the main stimulus for the City was to aid the Police Department and the Fire Department in better and more effectively attending to needs. Cameras placed at strategic spots can record live video streams and store the video for approximately 2 weeks. The Police Chief, Edna Johnson, was excited of the ability to see what’s going on while it was happening. Field Officers are able to write up reports without having to drive back to the Police Department. 

 

Kudos to the City of Brunswick for investing in this system to keep our city safe and protected and even better, it’s something we can all use!

Nationwide we often hear of companies falling on hard times and initiating cutbacks to stay solvent. Our Glynn County area has for the most part has dodged the bullet. In fact the manufacturing sector of the area is experiencing steady growth according to the Brunswick and Glynn County Development Authority. A new manufacturer, Innovative Foam Products, is preparing to open a new facility later this year and several established manufacturers are putting new upgrades into their businesses which certainly indicates their commitment to our area for the long haul. Manufacturing businesses and their employees purchase a tremendous amount of goods and services locally which recycles throughout the community. According to a recent survey, 22% of the manufacturer’s in the community participated in the survey and reported a total payroll in excess of $125 million. This area has a diverse economic structure with tourism, manufacturing and government providing job stability even in this uncertain time with the dreaded “R” word (recession) in the news. Just another reason that Glynn County is a great place to call home!

Just this past weekend, our office entered into a local chili cook-off competition in the Village on St. Simons Island. I met one of the other competitors who had a booth right down from us who is the Head Chef at the Brunswick hospital known as Southeast Georgia Health System. On Sunday I read the weekend local newspaper which featured our hospital and the remarkable turnaround and the vast improvements in the last few years. In 2004, our facility was named Hospital of the Year in the large hospital category (151 or more beds) by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. In addition to the Brunswick facility, there are also health care systems in 3 adjacent counties to further serve the region. 

 

Certainly, when considering a place to reside the ability to obtain quality health care is very important. If you or a friend or family members are considering a move to St. Simons or the Glynn County area, your health care needs should be accessible right here. Come check us out at your earliest opportunity!