THE FABULOUS '50S ; THE COUNTY'S BROWN BAG LUNCH SERIES RECALLS THE EARLY DAYS OF BROWARD AS IT STARTED ON THE ROAD TOWARD EXPANSION Jane Feehan, Special Correspondent. South Florida Sun - Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Aug 21, 2002
In the 1950s, gasoline was 24 cents a gallon, a Thanksgiving dinner was $3 at the Governor's Club Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard, and there were only three high schools in Broward County.
"I remember what a treat it was to walk from our apartment in downtown Fort Lauderdale to the Pioneer House on New River for an oyster dinner. It was only 99 cents," said Nella Kirk, widow of Dr. Cooper Kirk, who was appointed the first Broward County historian in 1972.
Kirk was one of about 40 people who gathered for the Brown Bag Historical Lunch Program presented recently at the Broward County Historical Commission. As part of an outreach program, the commission holds the event every month to encourage the study and preservation of the county's history. Helen Landers, the current historian, presided over the discussion and offered interesting facts, figures and historical tidbits that opened a floodgate of memories about an era that served as a watershed in the history of the state and in Broward.
Nationwide, the 1950s seemed to offer the fulfillment of the American Dream. Good jobs were available and money was easy to borrow for new houses that were springing up in tracts across the country, giving rise to modern suburbia. Travel was a growing industry.
But a few people thought South Florida was a cultural wasteland; others thought it was nothing more than a collection of sleepy tourist towns. And some thought widespread gambling fueled the economy and the growth of organized crime.
U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver looked into gambling and organized crime in the county in 1950 and 1951 and asked Broward Sheriff Walter Clark how he became a millionaire on a $7,000 annual salary. Clark was eventually indicted and gambling establishments were closed but the doors of a new era were about to open in Broward.
"Several things had a significant impact on the growth of Broward County in the 1950s," said Landers, a resident of Fort Lauderdale since 1926. "They were air conditioning, mosquito control and the first nonstop passenger airline flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale."
The county had five commissioners then, power brokers met at Brown's Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors boasted that it was the town of "relaxation without taxation," and the first elected representative from Broward, Dwight Rogers Sr., went to Washington.
"Many of the big roads were built in the '50s, including the Sunshine State Parkway, (since renamed Florida's Turnpike) and the county expanded west with the founding of Pembroke Pines, Plantation and six other municipalities," Landers said. "Leroy Collins, the most enlightened and successful governor of Florida up until that time, brought business and industry to the state, including Broward County."
Downtown Fort Lauderdale developed into a bustling business district, drawing people from Hollywood, Hallandale and northern areas of the county.
"I remember riding to downtown Fort Lauderdale on the Greyhound bus to go shopping at Burdines and McCrory's," said Hollywood resident Patti Clempson, who also reminded the group that Fowler's Restaurant in Hollywood was a popular spot for Fort Lauderdale residents and that west of State Road 7 in Hollywood there was nothing more than a thick forest of pine trees.
By the end of the 1950s the population of Florida had grown by almost 79 percent.
"We knew that if we wanted our children to come back and make a living here, Fort Lauderdale would have to become a mid-sized city," said Sandy Casteel, wife of retired Fort Lauderdale Judge Wynne Casteel.
But most people did not envision the growth that would make the county the booming area it is today, Landers said. In 1950, Broward had only 83,000 residents and Fort Lauderdale had a population of 37,000.
Today, Broward is the second largest county in the state with 1.5 million people, 30 high schools, eight commissioners and one of the fastest-growing airports in the nation. The image of the sleepy tourist mecca is a distant memory in the minds of those who experienced South Florida in the post-World War II decade.
The Broward County Historical Commission hosts its Brown Bag Lunch series the third Thursday of each month throughout the year. For more information, call 954-765-4670. (Copyright 2002 by the Sun-Sentinel) .............................................................................................................................
MISSISSIPPI FISHERMEN GET, GIVE HELP TO STAY AFLOAT August 7, 2007
MS-1604-07-569
Joint Information Center Media Contact:
FEMA/Mississippi News Desk: 228-594-3560
BILOXI, Miss. -- Cars, roof tops, an old rifle or two, family photos and tons of rotting vegetative
matter make up the catch for some Mississippi shrimpers these days. It’s grueling work lifting Hurricane Katrina’s debris from Biloxi Back Bay and adjacent waterways. In the wake of the storm’s effects on fishing and with the onset of unrelated harsh economic realties, some fishermen consider
it a welcome task.
“I was out of work for nearly a year before this contract came along,” said Steve Garlotte, a Biloxi shrimper who participated in marine debris removal in Pascagoula last fall and was recently hired as site supervisor for a debris cleanup staging area in D’Iberville. “This debris work is good,” said Garlotte. They’re on the job six days a week, 12 hours a day.
The debris assignment will keep Garlotte and 22 Mississippi shrimpers busy in Biloxi Back Bay until the end of the year when a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard expires for the project. The contract is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). About $237 million was obligated by the agency to help clean the Mississippi Sound and coastal inland waterways after Hurricane Katrina. Funds are being disbursed through an inter-agency agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard who manages and monitors the marine debris removal program
for FEMA.
“More than 80 percent of the debris recovered so far is vegetative matter,” said Coast Guard Ensign James McKnight as shrimpers glided by on a skiff loaded with neatly stacked logs and branches from dead trees that they cut with a chainsaw. They’ve also found items like a toupee and leather coat from Dillard’s with the price tag still attached – good for a laugh in the sweltering summer sun.
But debris has adversely affected Mississippi’s fishing industry.
“Before the storm, I was catching 1,000 pounds of shrimp a night,” said Garlotte. Fishing slowed and shrimp and oyster landings spiraled downward after the hurricane left tons of debris in Mississippi waters. “Fishing nets cost between $700 and $1000,” said Garlotte. “They cost too much to get snagged in debris.”
The hurricane also bruised the industry in other ways. It destroyed docks, ice facilities and boats critical to commercial fishing. “There were $35.3 million in damages to the Mississippi fishing fleet,” said Dale Diaz, director of marine fisheries for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. “And while some ice plants have been repaired or replaced, getting enough ice to operate is still a major concern for commercial fishermen.”
The fishing industry contributed $1.1 billion to the state’s economy; its post-storm contribution is still being assessed. According to the DMR, during a five-year average before the storm, Mississippi shrimp accounted for five to seven percent of all the shrimp landings in the U.S. Soon after the hurricane, it dropped to about three percent, Diaz said. “There were 933 licenses issued for commercial fishing in Mississippi before Katrina; today, there are 313,” he added. More than two thirds of the state’s licensed fishing units are engaged in shrimping.
The record-breaking hurricane also destroyed or damaged more than 12,000 acres of oyster beds.
“They took a hit,” said Diaz. “Between 90 and 95 percent of the beds were destroyed. There was no oyster season after Katrina.” Mississippi accounted for eight percent of all U.S. oyster landings for several years prior to 2005.
“We used to get about 400,000 sacks [of oysters] a season,” said Joe Jenkins, owner of Crystal Seas Seafood Processors in Pass Christian, the first one back in business after the hurricane. “I’ll be happy with half that this year.”
But help is on the way for the oyster harvest – and for Mississippi’s fishing industry.
Besides FEMA’s marine debris removal, about $37 million has been approved by Congress to be distributed to Mississippi over the next five years as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service Disaster Recovery Program. Nearly $3 million from the program was recently handed over to the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources to help restore oyster beds.
Mississippi is the first state affected by Katrina to begin planting or “cultch” operations to restore oyster beds. The process involves spreading oyster shells or crushed concrete over areas in the Mississippi Sound to establish habitats for the tasty marine mollusks.
“We’ve restored 755 acres of oyster beds using 71,135 cubic yards of culture materials,” said Diaz. The restoration was completed by Mississippi fishermen. The DMR also hired 135 Mississippi commercial oyster harvesters to relay oysters from Biloxi Bay and Graveline Bayou to several reefs in western Mississippi Sound. Each harvester was paid for up to 40 sacks a day. Harvesters transported 75,000 sacks of live oysters and shells to provide additional brood stock for oyster larvae in areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. As part of its disaster recovery program, the DMR has employed 400 Mississippi commercial shrimp and crab fishermen to monitor the recovery of fisheries.
The work brings needed income to the fishermen.
Fishermen are facing income woes unrelated to Katrina: high fuel costs and lower prices for
their catches.
“It costs us about $350 for fuel for a 14-hour trip,” said Garlotte. “That and the price per pound for shrimp is less than it was a few years ago.” Imports have driven shrimp prices downward about 50 percent. Oysters are not affected by imports – yet. Given the choice, most fishermen would rather
work the oyster beds than haul back shrimp; it’s more profitable.
But help continues. Besides restoring habitats, the DMR encourages working waterfront areas to receive and process seafood to help keep fishermen in business. “We’re working with the Southern Mississippi
Planning and Development District [the regional planning authority] to create or set aside land for working waterfront areas,” said Diaz who once fished commercially for ten years.
The DMR also helps fishermen through a marketing affiliation with Wild American Shrimp, an alliance of shrimpers of the South Atlantic and Gulf waters formed to increase public awareness about the quality of their shrimp and to educate the trade and consumers about seafood that grows naturally. “Mississippi shrimp are the Cadillac of shrimp,” said Irvin Jackson, director of seafood marketing for the DMR.
There is progress in the recovery of the state’s fishing industry. Mississippi fishermen landed 1.3 million pounds of shrimp in June 2006; shrimp landings increased to 2.4 million pounds in June 2007. “We’re not close to where we were before, but there are little successes going on all over,” said Diaz.
Successes can be attributed, in part, to the contingent of tough Mississippi fishermen who have endured the ravages of Hurricane Katrina, the economic pressures of imports and are willing to pick up debris, plant oyster beds and anything else to stay afloat.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, economic status or retaliation. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, you should call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or contact your State Office of Equal rights. If suspicious of any abuse of FEMA programs, please contact the fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603
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TALE OF TWO MISSISSIPPI COAST CITIES, TWO VISIONS FOR RENEWAL
by Jane Karnap
BILOXI, Miss—Recovery of Mississippi Gulf Coast towns and cities from Hurricane Katrina is
a collage of realities and dreams, of traditions and new development, of private finance and
federal assistance. Optimism about the future binds the communities; it’s the common denominator
of the recovery story in this state. Renewal promises a very different Long Beach, an improved way
of life for Ocean Springs. The future of each city will be shaped by the vision of its leaders.
When Hurricane Camille took a swipe at the Coast in 1969, Long Beach was a small town of
7,000 or 8,000 residents. “Some areas never came back after Camille,” said Mayor Billy Skellie. “Businesses – restaurants, motels and the riding stables – never re-opened.”
But Hurricane Katrina dealt Long Beach and its 18,000 residents a much harsher blow. Skellie, whose father was mayor when Hurricane Camille hit, said that storm’s winds were fiercer than Katrina’s. But it was Katrina’s storm surge and length of time lashing the Coast that wreaked more havoc. “The 30- or 31-foot surge from Katrina came in about 1,500 to 1,700 feet, stopping just south of the CSX railroad tracks,” said Skellie. The storm surge took six lives and leveled almost everything in its path, including sewer and water lines, communications and other infrastructure. The central business district was also flattened.
It didn’t destroy the spirit or the resolve of Long Beach residents. “About 15,500 people returned,” said their mayor. In office about 10 months before Hurricane Katrina, Skellie faced the monumental task of piecing Long Beach back together for them.
Water and sewer lines south of the railroad tracks were a priority. The city successfully applied for funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay for the project. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is administering the money and now Long Beach is off and running.
“We’re first along the Coast to do this work [restoring water and sewer lines]” said Skellie. “Now we’re in the third phase of the project.”
It hasn’t been easy for Long Beach to wend its way through the complex application process. “I didn’t have a staff,” Skellie said about beginning the work. “Now MEMA sends in the accountants we call our little watchdogs to help.”
There’s plenty more to do; additional monies are expected from the FEMA and MEMA Public Assistance programs for additional infrastructure repairs and repairs or restoration of public buildings such as the firehouse and city hall. The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will provide $7 million through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to revitalize the Long Beach downtown area.
The mayor and city aldermen now see an opportunity for reconfiguring Long Beach with a master plan. They contracted the services of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company to assist. Famed new urban theorist Andrés Duany and his associates developed SmartCode, a design and development model to keep towns compact and rural landscape open while preventing urban sprawl through zoning. Long Beach awaits the plan.
The city will take a land inventory and consider the impact – and relevancy—of SmartCode before forging ahead. “New Urbanism may not be ideal for this city,” said Skellie. “SmartCode includes pedestrian-friendly ideas that may not work for the entire town.” He thinks it may be better applied to
a more densely populated area.
Most important to Skellie is a feasibility study of annexing additional land surrounding his city. He’s optimistic about attracting developers to Long Beach. With additional land, he envisions an interchange off I-10, drawing high profile retailers and other commerce to his city.
He’s hopeful for “substantial, meaningful development” on the beach near the downtown area because
it would attract ancillary business. It may be tougher to attract small business said Skellie. “Affordable insurance is the number one stopper for small business.” The insurance crisis may delay that dream.
It’s a problem for the entire Mississippi Coast.
“Insurance issues are impeding progress,” said Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran. “I’ve spoken to
11 Gulf Coast mayors to get their input on the effects of insurance…we feel the same: there should be
a national perils program for major disasters.”
Ocean Springs, first settled in 1699, sits at the highest point on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. About
20 miles east of Long Beach, it is a historically quaint, artsy community of more than 17,000 — one
of the Coast’s most affluent. Hurricane Katrina damaged or destroyed about 30 percent of the city’s dwellings. Storm surge flattened houses on the edge of the Gulf, near its harbor; many will not be
rebuilt because of high insurance costs.But significant plans are underway for recovery – and more.
About $6 million in FEMA funds will pay, in part, for repairs to public buildings and parks, for repairs to sewer lift stations, for reimbursement for equipment and manpower, for restoring the community pier and building a new park to commemorate the historic Fort Maurepas originally built in 1699. Nearly $3 million in federal monies were used for debris removal.
Moran took office only six weeks before Hurricane Katrina but Ocean Springs is in good hands. With degrees in economic development and finance, a career that includes acting as consultant to several Jackson County entities and extensive grant writing experience, Moran is familiar with infrastructure issues and how government agencies work.
In Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, she saw an opportunity not only to repair and restore Ocean Springs but to improve it. “Ocean Springs has history, the arts…vernacular architecture,” said Moran. “It’s a prized place to live because of the quality of our hospital, schools, and restaurants.” Her vision for the city’s future is a blend of historical legacy and modern realities.
Under her direction, Ocean Springs successfully applied for several grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide about $1 million for equipment and additional repairs to public buildings. Other grants will pay for historic building restoration.
“We were the only city in Jackson County to apply for USDA grants,” said Moran.
The Mississippi Development Authority will provide a $6 million Community Development Block Grant to revitalize downtown.
“Ninety five percent of our businesses returned after the storm,” Moran said. She wants to attract more business and new developers to Ocean Springs. The city has contracted the planning services of Dover and Kohl in Coral Gables, Florida who will help calibrate the use of SmartCode as an option for developers.
“We’re seeking a developer [for the beach area] who understands SmartCode and has experience developing harbor front property,” said Moran. A $250,000 U.S. Economic Development Agency grant will pay for a master plan for Ocean Springs Front Beach.
“It is critical that we obtain input from all residents – neighborhood by neighborhood – in envisioning any plan,” said Moran.
Master plans, SmartCode, grants, insurance programs, infrastructure and development are some of the elements to consider in creating a new future for Ocean Springs and Long Beach. But it’s the vision that mayors Moran and Skellie have for their cities’ future that is proving to be the springboard to recovery – and transformation.
FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
