San Pablo Island - Come stay awhile!

[blizz01]

Wow - this loosely reminds me of the whole Fleming Island push in the 90's.....

Atlantic Beach approves Pablo Island marketing concept for Beaches

ATLANTIC BEACH - The City Commission Monday became the first Beaches community to approve a resolution calling for the coastal area of Duval County to be marketed as San Pablo Island.

The commission unanimously approved the resolution that was proposed by Mayor John Meserve, who has sent copies of identical resolutions to both Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach councils for consideration.

"It's primarily a neater way of branding," said Meserve. "Most of the hotels seem pretty excited about it. It's a no-cost thing."

Meserve, who is also the executive director of the Fleet Landing retirement community in Atlantic Beach, said his company's marketing staff is researching the use of San Pablo Island in referencing the Beaches in the future on company letterhead, city logos and Internet sites.

The Neptune Beach City Council reviewed the proposed resolution July 6 but balked at moving on the measure. The council was split with some liking the concept while others, such as Councilman Eric Pardee, saying it would distance the barrier island from metropolitan Jacksonville, which is what most people outside the First Coast have heard of.

Jacksonville Beach Mayor Fland Sharp said he wants his council to review the resolution, but he's already said he's warming to the concept of using San Pablo Island as a new brand for the areas east of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Commissioner Carolyn Woods said she'd like to see more than just the Duval County Beaches community consider the San Pablo Island name.

Woods pointed out the current wording on the resolution only covers the geographic area through the Guana Preserve. She asked that the wording be changed to cover the land mass east of the Intracoastal all the way down to Vilano Beach and she also wants governments in St. Johns County to consider the resolution.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-07-29/story/atlantic_beach_approves_pablo_island_marketing_concept_for_beaches

[reednavy]

It'll still be always called Jax Beaches, no matter how they brand it.

[JaxNole]

Seems like another extension of referring to Jacksonville-proper residents as "townies," as if that were such a negative.  When people from the beach ask where I live and I tell them Riverside, I'm typically met with a disapproving look and told they don't "cross the ditch."

If the three beaches communities want to secede, let them do it and cut off their resources from Duval County.  Erect tolls right at the inbound end of each "ditch crosser," such as the bridges on Atlantic, Beach and JTB.  Issue free transponders, yet charge nothing for Duval County townies.

If being associated with Jacksonville is so bad, cut the cord and lose the money.

[Captain Zissou]

I agree with JaxNole.  Let them do it.  Charge all those bigwigs from FNF, CSX, and Blue Cross $2 every time they want to drive to work.
It has always bothered me that they all live in Sawgrass, drive into Jax for their 9-5, and then head right back. 

[blizz01]

Hmm - I just wonder if folks in Ponte Vedra would want to be lumped in as well - maybe(?).  Seems like they've been successful for the most part in creating a brand/image on they're own accord.  I would think it could be beneficial to remain antonymous.  If they could find a way to lump in Amelia Island too we could go toe to toe with Brunswick & "The Golden Isles".

[Captain Zissou]

Ponte Vedra would not stand for being lumped in with those lesser beaches.  I have made the mistake before of saying that people from "North Ponte Vedra" live in Jax beach.....Not going to do that again.  We should still make them pay the toll. 

In London they have the Heraldic Dragons on either side of the road when you enter they City of London, maybe we could have Heraldic Manatees.  They can raise my property tax for that project.

[Ocklawaha]

Uh hey y'all, it's just a name change for marketing purposes. "While staying on Florida's First Coast, don't miss San Pablo Island, and the unspoiled beaches of Jacksonville..."

Frankly, SAN PABLO is the historic name for the communities at the Beach. Jacksonville Beach was known as Pablo Beach into the 1900's. Also missing is the town of Ruby Beach, call these name changes a salute of history with a tad of romance.

OCKLAWAHA

[blizz01]

Well then, give us our beloved Cowford back!   

[Captain Zissou]

At least South Jacksonville.

[Deuce]

Good one JaxNole. That'll learn them! Then of course they would have to put a beach access fee on the townies, maybe an extra sales tax! This can only escalate to war!

[Ocklawaha]

Somehow "Pablo Island," sounds more like a place I would take the family to as opposed to "Cowford". BTW, y'all did know that Lake City was called "Aligator Town" in the pre-War of Yankee Aggression era? Frankly we could benefit from Cowford in several ways. Oklahoma has a monument called "Crossing the Red" (river). Within the bronze monument are several life size long horns and a hand full of cowboys. Could we not duplicate this with a true and unique monument of cattle being driven into the river crossing? "Cowford, You've got to feel the heritage..." (Just don't step in anything).

OCKLAWAHA

[blizz01]

Looks like we may have a Wikipedia update opportunity:

In the United States' section of cities that have changed names throughout the course of history:

Alburquerque → Albuquerque, New Mexico
Charleston → St. Charles, Illinois
Charles Towne → Charleston, South Carolina
Clark → DISH, Texas
Cleaveland → Cleveland, Ohio
Cowford → Jacksonville, Florida
Dearborn → Chicago, Illinois
East Detroit → Eastpointe, Michigan
Fort Duquesne → Fort Pitt → Pittsburgh → Pittsburg → Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fort Orange → Albany → Willemstad → Albany, New York
Gay Head, Massachusetts → Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Hot Springs, New Mexico → Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Jernigan → Orlando, Florida
Lancaster → Lincoln, Nebraska
Losantisville → Cincinnati, Ohio
Marysville → Corvallis, Oregon
Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania → Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
New Amsterdam → New York → New Orange → New York, New York
North Tarrytown, New York → Sleepy Hollow, New York
Pig's Eye → St. Paul, Minnesota
Plantation of Penacook → Rumford → Concord, New Hampshire
Providence → Anne Arundel Towne → Annapolis, Maryland
Sellstown → Dublin, Ohio
Sing Sing → Ossining, New York
Spokan Falls → Spokane, Washington
Swilling's Mill → Hellinwg Mill → Mill City → East Phoenix → Phoenix, Arizona
Terminus → Marthasville → Atlanta, Georgia
Vermilionville → Lafayette, Louisiana
Wineville → Mira Loma, California
Wintonbury → Bloomfield, Connecticut
Yerba Buena → San Francisco, California

[blizz01]

BTW, there's already a Pablo Island in Montana and a San Pablo Island in the Philippines - I hope this doesn't confuse anyone.  I obviously have too much time on my hands today.  Something else, too - I suppose that all those fringe folks that are just west of the "ditch" - i.e. Kernan area and San Pablo (oh, the irony) won't be able to simply say that they live at the beach now!  Islanders unite!

[Captain Zissou]

Good point.  Maybe we should move the Heraldic Manatees inland a few miles to punish them for their years of treachery. Dissenters beware!

[JaxNole]

Good one JaxNole. That'll learn them! Then of course they would have to put a beach access fee on the townies, maybe an extra sales tax! This can only escalate to war!

That's fine with me.  If I go to a beach, it's down south, starting with Flagler.  Also, if the municipalities of the proposed San Pablo Island were able to increase the sales tax, it wouldn't affect me that much because most of my shopping is done on this side of the ditch.

Mayor Meserve is mistaken or was misquoted when stating this was a no-cost campaign.  Staffers, collateral, design, studies, etc..., require resources which typically translate into paid goods and services.

Does anyone have a copy of the resolution?