The Navarre Krewe of Jesters Mardi Gras Parade is this Saturday. Make sure you are on the island before noon because it will be hard to get over the bridge after noon. In years past, they opened up both lanes of the bridge for cars to use to get off of the island, so be prepared for delays. This year’s parade is being touted as larger than ever and there are more than 25% more parade entries than last year. The forecast is currently calling for only a slight chance of rain – but to date – there hasn’t been any rain in the history of this parade.

There was a little uproar on social medial last week about the Holley-Navarre Water Department proxy forms that were sent out for the election that is this Tuesday, Jan. 21.  There is a story about this on the front of this issue. The water department has been conducting their elections this way for as long as we have been a newspaper which will be 14 years in May. If someone doesn’t like the way the water department holds elections, then perhaps they will change it when the get involved and run for the water board. The candidates for the water board are Chris Richardson, Daryl Lynchard, James Dabney, Ashely Strabla and incumbents Charlie Enghauser and Sheldon Hutchins.  Please go vote Tuesday. 

We have some great advertising to help you shop locally in our Holiday Happenings Gift Guide!  We hope you will take the opportunity to visit their businesses and spend a little holiday cash. I l-o-v-e the cover that Dickie Williams’ designed for the guide. He took our new artificial reefs, turned one into a Christmas tree and then put the face of a Navarre “legend” on the scuba diver, which wasn’t a stretch since he is one of our most avid local divers and responsible for most of the reef footage that we have. Yes – it is Mike Sandler.