06-16-99•
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MINUTES OF
FIRST NIGHT COMMITTEE
June 16, 1999
A regular meeting of the First Night Committee was held Wednesday, June 16, 1999, in the City Hall
Commission Chambers. Present were Chairperson Nancy DeCandis, Suzette Abrass, Nancy Bodge, Lynn
Charest, Eloise Koerber, Carol Mikell, Valerie Pickett, Elise Sloan, Dezmond Waters and Staff Member
Susan Dunham.
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Nancy DeCandis at 7:35 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes
Eloise Koerber motioned to approve the minutes of the meeting of May 19, 1999, Nancy DeCandis
seconded and the motion carried.
Introduction
All attendees introduced themselves since several individuals had been invited to this meeting for a
brainstorming session. Invited guests in attendance were Commissioner Mike Bomo, Teresa Amereihn,
Barbara Burkhart, Jaime Fletcher, Ph.D., Kim Rogers and Karen Sadler.
Brainstorming
Tonight's meeting was primarily a brainstorming session to decide what the Committee wanted to do
prior to going to the Commission with a plan. No other city-wide activities are planned for New Year's
Eve in the City of Atlantic Beach.
Brainstorming ideas were:
• What did you like about First Night: The children's programs; the dancing; the wide variety of
events; the music; the MOSH event; the overall concept: family or individual -oriented and non-
alcoholic; the bonfire.
• Transportation: Transportation to and from Adele Grage was not often enough; there were safety
issues regarding errant children; needed larger signs; check with National Guard and Marine Iron
Gaters to see if they would be able to provide vehicles.
• Midnight: Offer two midnight venues: 1) bonfire and 2) religious services; schedule these events
close together; offer "midnight" program at 9:00 for the young and the young at heart.
• Bonfire: More of a teen/adult event instead of for children.
• Fireworks: Would the City of Atlantic Beach/Selva Marina/Fleet Landing be willing to pay for
fireworks for the Millennium; make the fireworks a pivotal point for the evening such as a
processional to the fireworks; start the teen event soon after the fireworks; suspend all events during
the fireworks; if not able to have fireworks, then how about laserworks?
• Outdoor Locations: Selva Marina (can they provide a source of power in their parking lot?), Adele
Grage, Jordan Park, Atlantic Beach Elementary and Russell Park (100 amp service available).
• Teen Events: The Teen Council will come to the First Night Committee meeting in September with
its ideas for First Night; do we need a pre -teen venue; First Night is a family event—need to be
cautious about splitting into groups.
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• Call for Artists: Call for Artists were mailed out. If anyone has any names for artists who should be
included, let Nancy DeCandis know.
• Growth vs. Non -Growth: Keep the program compact or spread apart; how large do we want the event
to be; do we want to cap button sales at 2,000; teen venue, $3 for buttons/all venues, $5 for buttons;
like Atlantic Beach feeling—warm, accessible, community gathering, walking not shuttling to
locations; we can grow in terms of presentation, i.e., number of artists and number of events but keep
the same venue area; include community; if we utilize outdoors, then this will allow more venues and
more people can attend; do we want the event to be a community event that is not too large.
• Fleet Landing: Ballroom dancing; send an artist to perform at Fleet Landing or have Fleet Landing
residents come to us.
• Visual Arts: Street surprises; mimes; clowns; stilt walkers; giant puppets; jugglers; comedians;
Burris Entertainment and Events has access to all kinds of entertainment; First Night in New York
has a street performing area called Buskerville (maybe we could designate Sherry Drive); resolution
dragon; storytellers outside on the street. Nancy DeCandis needs someone to chair the processional,
someone to chair the outside programming and someone to chair the finale.
• Children's Events: Too crowded; lines were too long; put children's activities in the fellowship hall
at the church with musicians or clowns walking through; square footage is the same at the fellowship
hall and at the cafeteria; why not use both locations; need more venues for children; outside
performers; the school and the fellowship hall have been reserved; Bread & Puppets --Medieval
puppets 10 feet tall or more --share bread with participants (work with schools and teens to make the
puppets).
• Singers: Local churches are a wonderful resource for singers.
• Food: Last year no one knew that food was for sale, and the food was too expensive; this year, keep
it simple with sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs; offer only coffee and dessert after 9:00; talk
with Sticky Fingers, Sonny's or Bonos; it might be easier if we have only one vendor; rent carts for
cotton candy and popcorn; Jacksonville Beach Elementary School Safety Patrol has a popcorn
machine (let them run it and keep the profit).
• Help: Ask the Cultural Committee from Atlantic Beach Elementary if they will help in mask making;
also solicit help from church groups and the PTA.
• Ideas: Maze --Karen Sadler knows someone who could help with a maze; sand sculptors (Agricultural
Fair); giant game of musical chairs; submarine; building sculptures out of boxes (maybe Winn Dixie
or Publix will donate the boxes).
• First Night Last Run: Triathlon; trike bike; kids decorate your wagon; diaper dash; a run with the
whole family having to cross the finish line at the same time; three runs: an adult run, a kids run and a
family run. Carol Mikell will work on the First Night Last Run.
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• Sherry Drive: Talk to David Thompson about closing Sherry Drive from Ahern Street to "five
points"; lighting is poor—need to line Sherry Drive with luminaries; ask the Teen Council if they will
help with luminaries; give complimentary invitations to people who live on Sherry Drive who will be
inconvenienced by the closing of Sherry Drive.
• Recruitment: Nancy DeCandis to talk with Commissioner Mike Bomo.
• Rattles: Reminder to all Committee members to save bottles to make rattles.
• Metal Sculpture: Nancy DeCandis is talking with Ralph Johnson, a metal sculptor, about making a
large "2000" sign made of metal and lights. The last digit will be removable so it could be used
again. Nancy is trying to secure a grant to pay for the sculpture.
First Night Committee Meetings
No meetings will be held in July and August.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Nancy DeCanyilis, Chairperson