Category: Features

A conversation with Margaret Longhill about Will McLean

February 1, 2018

President Emeritus of the Will McLean Foundation, Margaret Longhill, is credited for her work helping to get the late Will McLean into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. McLean (1919-1990), considered the “Father of Florida Folk,” was inducted in 1996. Shortly before his death, Longhill and some of McLean’s closest friends were instrumental in establishing … Continue reading A conversation with Margaret Longhill about Will McLean →


Winner and finishers of the 2018 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest Named

January 23, 2018

Congratulations to Kathryn Belle Long, the winner of the 2018 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest. Long’s winning song is, Tallahassee, a song about her hometown. Long says she has wonderful memories about the red clay hills where she spent her childhood, the same town where her parents and grandparents lived their lives, all … Continue reading Winner and finishers of the 2018 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest Named →


Apalachicola Documentary

January 9, 2018

Official website of the Murrow Award-Winning Documentary, “Apalachicola Doin’ Time” and various updates Tuesday, January 9, 2018 UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Monday in the 30-year-old water dispute involving Florida, Georgia and Alabama known as the Tri-State Water War. Molly Samuel from public radio station WABE in Atlanta attended the oral … Continue reading Apalachicola Documentary →


Archival material: Florida folk musicians and Vassar Clements record “Old Folks At Home”

October 1, 2017

In 1997 fiddler Vassar Clements and a variety of musicians and singers gathered in a mobile studio at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs to record Florida’s state song, “Old Folks At Home” by Stephen Foster. The recording engineer in the mobile studio was Jim Bickerstaff. Florida Artists Hall of Fame winner, Frank Thomas, … Continue reading Archival material: Florida folk musicians and Vassar Clements record “Old Folks At Home” →


Fostering Baby Squirrels

August 30, 2017

It’s that time of year again…when hundreds of baby squirrels begin to venture out from their nests. Unfortunately, many end up falling from trees and become easy prey when encountering the jaws of cats and dogs. Many also are lucky enough to be rescued by willing volunteers who either take care of the furry critters … Continue reading Fostering Baby Squirrels →


As Hurricane Harvey barrels down on TX, FL remembers past history

August 25, 2017

Residents all along the coast of Texas are bracing for Hurricane Harvey expected to come ashore either late tonight or early Saturday morning. At 7:30 p.m. forecasters with the National Hurricane Center reported winds are sustained at 130 mph making Hurricane Harvey a category 4 storm.  Catastrophic flooding is expected due to heavy rainfall and storm … Continue reading As Hurricane Harvey barrels down on TX, FL remembers past history →


Bill Cosby critical of the lack of good role models on TV in an ironic archival 1979 Interview

June 17, 2017

Editor’s note: I was so excited to meet the famous comedian back in 1979.  I had memorized many of his comedy routines to use in my speech classes in high school. I remember how shocked I was during the press conference (hear an excerpt below) when he was SO serious about everything. I had expected … Continue reading Bill Cosby critical of the lack of good role models on TV in an ironic archival 1979 Interview →