By Jay Kerner
When we started this paper last year, we knew that being a bi-weekly instead of a daily might occasionally give us some headaches. Here is a perfect example: Last week I wrote a brilliant piece on graffiti (if I do say so), and submitted it for this issue. Then I open Monday’s NewsPress to see a big editorial on the subject. They even had pictures of some of the same graffiti I was using. Crap!
My first thought was that someone on our staff was acting as a mole, feeding our story ideas to the boys on the hill. Then I remembered we don’t really have a staff, so I guess I’ll have to mark it down to coincidence. I will grudgingly allow they did a nice job on their piece, even if it lacked the humor and curse words that have helped build my readership into the high double digits.
That’s okay. I have an idea how to get back at them in a semi-friendly, non confrontational way. That’s why I am officially announcing my candidacy for their Reader’s Choice Award for Favorite Newspaper Columnist. If I remember right, that list hasn’t changed much for several years. With the recent departures up the hill, I figure this is my shot.
My exploratory committee will be meeting soon to plan campaign strategy. In the meantime, feel free to write my name in, as often as they’ll let you. Can I win? Who knows? They have a lot of popular, talented, writers up there. But wouldn’t it be funny if I at least made the list? More on this as it develops.
Griffon International Film Festival
If you haven’t attended this event during its first few years, please take the opportunity this time. You’ll see original films shown nowhere else in the area and have a chance to meet industry professionals too. We are pleased to print their program as our middle four pages this issue to help get the word out about this event. Go if you can, and as always tell ‘em Joe sent you.
Joe Gives A Buck Update
It’s always expectations that bite me in the butt. A great idea turns into a plan. A plan is implemented with optimism, and there’s no reason great things won’t happen. Surely everyone in town would give one dollar for a worthy cause like this, wouldn’t they? The votes come in waves, with the majority coming the first few days after a new issue hits the streets. The dollars are still lagging behind the votes. That’s probably natural. I imagine a lot of people are waiting until the last minute to make their donation. I sure hope so. All three of these groups are worthy recipients and we’d love to hand them all nice fat checks.
But it’ll be what it’ll be. The one thing you can count on is that we’ll tell it like it is, good or bad. Ultimately, it’s you the readers, who decide whether this was a good idea or a big waste of time and newsprint. There’s still time to get involved. Make a donation of any amount, at any Commerce Bank in St. Joe. Just tell them it’s for “Joe Gives A Buck”. Then email us at email@urjoe.com, and tell us whether you vote for Grace House,
Help!
As my world gets busier with the approaching opening of drive-in season, we could really use some help here at “The Regular Joe” with advertising sales. This would be a part time position with flexible hours and would involve commission from both new and existing customers. Advertising sales experience would be a big plus, but any kind of outside sales would get you considered. Call or email. All the info is on the cover as well as this page.
Tuck’s 30th Anniversary
Can it really be 30 years since Tuck’s opened? Part of the original expansion of what is now the Belt Sports Complex, Tucks has seen a lot of bands, and a lot of bikes since then. Somewhere there is a picture of me being basically carried out of there, on the night of my bachelor party. I’m pretty sure it was doctored in PhotoShop, and they put my head on another body, because I don’t remember a thing.
But regardless: Congratulations to Tuck’s…stop in and have a drink (soda counts too) and tell them thanks for being a Regular Joe!