Category: Places

New Eatery in Tallahassee Owned/Operated by 3 Preteen, Philanthropic Sisters

Debbie Roney Smith on

Three Tallahassee sisters have stepped into the realm of entrepreneurship despite the daunting circumstances produced by a global pandemic and their young ages. Sisters Lyrica (age 13), Zaira (age 12), and Nadira Leo (age 9) own and operate their own vegan eatery named “Bourne Brilliant.” As of July 25, 2020, the trio is located in the rapidly expanding Railroad Square in one of the small, vibrant nooks that line the Breezeway Market. 

Officially, the newly opened patisserie shop is leased by their mom, Syrheda La Shae, but the young girls are the power behind the cute shop and its’ products. The sisters’ have very supportive, proud parents: their father was the first to invest in their business ($50 many years ago when they were competing in competitions and selling goods at festivals) while their mother works with them as a family team. Syrheda explains that each of her daughters “bring something unique to the business. I like to encourage that uniqueness. They’re working together as one business entity but they have their individual skills” (source). 

     

    While they have gained a reputation based on their amazing baked goods, they offer a range of brilliant products including holistic items like teas and bath soaps, juices, their grandmother Ella’s preserves (pickled okra, squash relish and jams), and natural hair products. Additionally, they offer a rotating hot-n-ready menu with mouth-watering options like roti, Indian flatbread, Caribbean vegetable callaloo, and mac ‘n cheese. They are a vegan and plant-based source of food for the community. They also act as an environmentally, socially conscious LLC: they use paper packaging in place of plastic, are members of community organizations like the Big Bend Minority Business Chamber of Commerce, and regularly donate their goods and time to various people and organizations in need. 

     

    Lyrica, who has an auto-immune disorder, was the initial force behind the sister business; she started a bread ministry in 2013 to bake bread and other goodies that she and her family then distributed to their community. Bourne Brilliant LLC was the result of Lyrica pitching the business venture to their parents to support their frequent donations, supported by her younger sisters. They currently go to school online and have COVID precautions in store: staff and visitors wear masks and they only allow five people in the shop at a time.

    Sisters Nadira, Zaira, and Lyrica (left to right) Photo by Alicia Devine

    Located on McDonnell Drive at Railroad Square at 618 McDonnell Drive B-3. They are open Thursday-Saturday. Their hours are 9AM to 5PM on Thursday and Friday; 11AM-6PM on Saturday. Consider visiting them this weekend to support these innovative, kind girls in their newest endeavor! For more information, please visit their website: https://www.bournebrilliant.com/

     

     

    Gloria Jean’s Sweets and Erma Jean’s Antiques and Gifts in Hosford

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Gloria Jean’s Sweets and Erma Jean’s Antiques and Gifts is located at 21539 NE Chester St. in Hosford. Hosford which is in Liberty County has two sisters who own an antique store/bakery/flower shop and it’s all under one roof…one old roof that is. The old wooden home, which used to belong to their grandparents, is estimated to be over 100 years old. Hours are: Wed-Fri 10am to 6pm and Sat. 9am-3pm Eastern Time. The phone number is:  850-379-3323.

     

    Martin’s Harvest Farm

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Looking for a great source of healthy, good for you, locally grown produce? Check out Martin’s Harvest Farm! Located in Marianna, this family farm is an up-and-coming gem of the community. They offer hydroponically grown, pesticide free produce. A neat service they offer is curbside pickup produce boxes offering year-round lettuce, arugula, micro greens, and more. Additionally, they participate in the weekly Marianna Farmers Market. To learn more about their varied and wallet-friendly services, check out their website at martinsharvest.com

    Orange Hill Gator Farm

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Orange Hill Gator Farm is located in Chipley. They have alligator tours which include a two-hour informational dialogue about these reptiles, and a children-safe, family-friendly tour of our breeding houses as well as the natural habitats of the American Alligator. Tours start at 9am daily and last approximately 2 hours as weather permits and by reservations only.  CALL 850-527-1383 FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS. Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera and are also cautioned to wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals please) for safety.

     

    https://debbie7559.wixsite.com/orangehillgatorfarm

    Purple Tire Shop ~ Grand Opening

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Congrats on the grand opening to The Purple Tire Shop which is owned and operated by Jaramin McKinnie. In addition to tires & tire repairs, Jaramin and his team repair brakes, alignment, engines, steering & suspensions. They also offer tuneups and oil changes. Call 850-526-2383 for hours of operations and times. 

     

    Jackson County birthday

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Yesterday Jackson County celebrated it’s 198th birthday!

    Jackson County was established in 1822 making it one of the oldest counties in the state. The County was named after Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the United States. Marianna, the county seat, was founded by Scottish native, Robert Beveridge, and is still the home to the courthouse and other local governing organizations for the County.

    Though thought of as a predominantly rural agricultural community, Jackson County is also known for its rich historical heritage and one-of-a-kind historical landmarks. People from all over the world travel to Jackson County to enjoy scuba diving in the natural spring water, touring the only walk-through cave tour in Florida, sightseeing the local “haunted” attractions, or to try to catch a glimpse of local endangered plant life and animals only found in our County.

     

    Blue Springs Recreation Area open weekends only now

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Blue Springs Recreation Area came to its seasonal end last Sunday, August. 9th.  Saturday, August 15th will be the next time it is open now that the brief weekends-only schedule starts. The Saturday and Sunday schedule continues until Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, with the park open that Monday to finish up the summer season of this year.

    The park is expected to open on schedule next Memorial Day, with a lot of improvements to be completed during the traditional closed period of the year. While it’s closed this time around, crews will be temporarily drawing down the water six feet so that workers can complete the park’s new headwall. That work is expected to begin in October or November. Until it starts, the boat ramp at Hunter’s Fish Camp Road will stay open to the public although the swimming area will be closed. Once the headwall construction period begins, it will be closed as well until all the work is completed. The headwall will be made of landscape block and replaces the sandbag array that currently serves the purpose of establishing an end to the water in order to keep it from washing up and eroding the maintained area of the popular recreational area on Merritt’s Mill Pond. The headwall structure will also provide a safer entry-and-exit experience for swimmers. Additionally, the county is installing better steps for both side of the diving board platform, giving users more surface area on the approach, adding a wading area for the youngest children, and a redesign of some terraced area so that there will more flat space along the edge of the waterway.

    The changes taking place this year will expand the recreational area’s fulfillment of American Disability Act standards, as well, with extra sidewalk rails installed nearer the water’s edge.

    Marianna and Graceville library are reopening today

    Debbie Roney Smith on
    The Jackson County Public Library in Marianna and Graceville are re-opening their doors today, August 3, 2020. Marianna will open at 9:00 a.m. with Graceville opening their doors at 10:00 a.m. They will both close daily at 5:00 to allow staff to thoroughly sanitize the facilities.
    They have arranged the computers and furniture to allow for safe distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines. They are strongly recommending and encouraging masks and they will be available at the library as will hand sanitizer. The children’s room is not open for children to visit, it is recommended for their safety that children stay close to their parents while visiting the library.
    At the present time, internet service is unavailable, but repairs are underway and we are very hopeful that service will be restored sometime next week. *Checkout is limited to five items per valid card. DVDs are limited to 5 per family. Launchpad checkout is limited to one per card.
    Curbside service is still available at both locations for those who need it. You must fill a form out online 24 hours in advance. The link for the library is http://jcplfl.org/?fbclid=IwAR1_SzYMBiJ-xgr-S191pIMvNV8z2b11jROx_1a_H4UEok6VyBKOCSgeypk

    Springfield School Museum

    Debbie Roney Smith on
    The Springfield School Museum is located on Union Road just west of Marianna, not far from Jackson County’s first county seat of Webbville in the community known as Springfield. While the museum is not open on a regular basis, tours can be arranged through Lillie Clark, who owns LMC Impressions and The Gallery of Art just north of the schoolhouse on Safari Road. She can be reached at 850-263-3111.
    Lillie Clark, Mary Beechim, and Elease Varner are all residents of Springfield that have worked diligently to receive funding for restoration of the schoolhouse through grant opportunities made available by the Bureau of Historic Preservation Division of Historical Resources and with assistance provided by the Florida Historical Commission. Many of the original interior furnishings of the school were carefully preserved over time and are used in the present day museum, such as the desks and pews. The original floors and walls were also very carefully preserved, something Lillie Clark doted on in a 2019 interview with Jackson County Times, referring to the schoolhouse being left in “mint condition”. As with any historic structure, original pieces that have been preserved are considered highly valuable, but it is even more so in the case of the limestone walls of the 1920s schoolhouse, constructed out of local limestone blocks. Waddell’s Mill Pond, which is visible from the rear of the schoolhouse, was the source for some of these limestone blocks which Mary Beechim’s brother helped bring up to the school. Mary and her siblings also attended the school during their childhood, allowing for the preservation of memories and experiences of days gone by.

    Wild oyster harvest from Apalachicola Bay has been suspended for 5 years

    Debbie Roney Smith on

    Did you know North Florida’s oyster fisheries dates back to the 1800s and at one point produced 90 percent of Florida’s oysters and 10 percent of the nation’s oysters?

    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has unanimously approved a plan to suspend commercial and recreational harvest of wild oysters from Apalachicola Bay for five years. The rule will go into effect on Aug. 1. Under the new rule, on-the-water possession of wild oyster harvesting equipment, such as hand tongs, would also be prohibited through December 31, 2025.

    The rules only apply to wild oysters and do not apply to oyster aquaculture operations. Staff will return for a final public hearing at the October Commission meeting. FWC’s large-scale restoration project will be ongoing on for five years and the largest portion of funding, nearly $17 million, will go directly toward forming 1,000 acres of oyster reef habitat.