Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The Community Friends of Jefferson County, Inc. is hosting its annual 20th of May (Emancipation Day) Celebration on Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This year the event will take place at the Jefferson County Recreational Park, located at 1380 Mamie Scott Dr., and the organizers encourage the entire community to come out for an uplifting celebration of our community's diversity.
At the fair there will be food vendors, merchandise vendors, live music, dancing and special presentations. The Family of Friends Band out of Tifton, Ga., is booked for the event, along with guest singer Mike Jerel of the Tower of Power Band. Maddox Dance Group out of Tallahassee also will perform, and invited speakers include Arthur Wigfall of Thomasville, Ga., and Kent Watson of Monticello.
Norton says that since 2009 the Community Friends group has hosted 20th of May celebrations in the more intimate setting of local churches, rotating between different outlying locations. Their decision to bring the event to the more centrally located, public recreation park this year reflects a desire to open up the celebration and highlight the rich diversity to be found among the people of Jefferson County. They hope the event will provide an opportunity for the community to build shared knowledge across different generations and ethnicities.
For more information, contact Franklin Brooks at (850) 509-7506 or Essie Norton at (850) 508-3699 or enorton10@yahoo.com
St. Phillip Community Center holds 20th of May
fish fry to support park upgrades
Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
The St. Phillip Community Center is the only recreation park located in Jefferson County's small St. Phillip community, and it invites the community to come out to a fish fry to support its plans to give the gathering place an upgrade.
At the fundraiser, to be held on Florida Emancipation Day, Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a delicious fish sandwich for $5 or a delectable fish dinner for $10. Vendor tables will feature local goods and community organizations. There will be musical guests, along with a special Emancipation Day reflection from Dr. Kyle Harris of Florida A&M University. Proceeds will fund park renovations, playground equipment and regular upkeep expenses of the center.
Other than the St. Phillip A.M.E Church, the Community Center is the only establishment where nearby residents can hold social gatherings, host community events and recreate with their family and friends. The center hopes to have strong attendance at the Emancipation Day fundraiser, along with the support of many vendors and sponsors.
For more information, contact Tawana James at (727) 424-2822.