Library expansion officially lifts off

Reporter - News Analyst

Official Library Groundbreaking.  Left to right:  Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican, Mayor Ed Boner, City Commissioner Johnny Miller, County Commission Chairman Barry Holloway, FOL President Bill Flynn, City Commissioner Charlie Corbett and County Commissioner Danny Leeper.

FOL President Bill Flynn

For any of the 200 or so people who attended the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Fernandina Beach library expansion on February 27, 2014, there was no doubting the identity of the happiest guy in town.  A smiling Bill Flynn, president of the Friends of the Library (FOL), emceed the upbeat event to celebrate the culmination of years of hard work as county and city commissioners joined him in a symbolic groundbreaking with shovels spray-painted gold.

FOL's Dee Torre Kaufman stands with other library supporters before artists renditions of library addition.

Working from prepared remarks, Flynn was generous in praising the efforts of elected officials, FOL stalwarts, private contributors and the library user community in advocating and supporting library improvements.  He singled out Donna Paz Kaufman, who preceded him as FOL president, and Dee Torre Kaufman, who has headed up fundraising efforts.  He thanked former elected officials as well for their support in securing funding and endorsing the project:  District 2 County Commissioner Mike Boyle, City Commissioners Jeffrey Bunch, Arlene Filkoff and Tim Poynter.

Emma Love Hardee students sing as School Board Chair Donna Martin looks on.

Students from Emma Love Hardee School sang two songs for the audience, animating Flynn even more.  The singers of the Peck Ensemble generated even more enthusiasm from an engaged audience with their song, “This Old Building.”

Peck Ensemble celebrates in song "This Old Building."

Both Barry Holloway, Nassau County Board of County Commissioners Chair, and Ed Boner, Fernandina Beach Mayor, delivered brief congratulatory remarks.  Nassau County Library Services Director Dawn Bostwick also spoke, stressing the improvements that library users will enjoy upon completion of the project.

In addition to Barry Holloway, District 4 County Commissioner and current board chair, Danny Leeper, District 1 County Commissioner attended.  Leeper and former City Commissioner Jeffrey Bunch served on the initial project-planning group.  Also looking on was Former District 2 Commissioner Mike Boyle, who along with Leeper and Holloway supported county funding for the project.  The Fernandina Beach City Commission was well represented by Mayor Ed Boner, Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican, Commissioners Charlie Corbett and Johnny Miller.  Former Mayor-Commissioner Arlene Filkoff also attended.  Other elected officials joining in the celebration included School Board Chair and District 1 Member Donna Martin and Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper.

Smiling audience members (l-r) John Megna, Former City Commissioner Arlene Filkoff, Nancy Fishburn, City Commissioner Johnny Miller, City Clerk Caroline Best.

Board of Nassau County Commissioners Chairman Barry Holloway and FOL President Bill Flynn

Left to right: City Commissioner Charlie Corbett, Mary Ivins, City Manager Joe Gerrity, Vice Mayor Sarah Pelican and Project Architect Steve Lazar

Fernandina Beach Mayor Ed Boner and FOL President Bill Flynn

Library Director Dawn Bostwick and FOL President Bill Flynn

Following the ceremony, donors attended a celebratory reception at Café Karibo.

While the initial work for library expansion has been completed, more work remains before the ribbon cutting ribbon cutting next year.   Individuals seeking ways to help the expansion effort should contact FOL at info@fernandinaFOL.org or stop by the library, which will remain open during construction, at 25 North 4^th Street, Fernandina Beach.

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
--Winston Churchill

Editor's Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne's many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

February 28, 2014 10:36 a.m.