July 1, 2019
From the Desk of the Mayor
Hard to believe July 4th is here, a day when we celebrate cook-outs, beach trips, vacation time for some, and more work for others. Whether you are celebrating with friends and family, on a road trip, or just relaxing at home, I urge you to take time to remember what July 4th really means.
It was the day when our ancestors took the dangerous step to divide the Colonies from England. Remember, all Colonists were not in favor of this move, and the ones who were all for creating a new Nation would be called traitors to the English Crown, and could be hanged for treason if they were not successful. They put all they had on the line for the sake of having Independence from taxation and rule without representation. I would dare say some of them might even be surprised that this Republic has lasted for the last 243 years.
Yes, due to their diligence in creating a Nation where we are free to express our opinion and practice freedom of religion; whether your religion is found in the King James Bible, the Torah, the Qur’an,(Koran), or some other form of religion, you are free to worship in our great Nation.
Along with Freedom of Religion comes Freedom of Speech. This does not mean you can speak to others in a hateful, slandering manner but our form of government was founded on a good healthy debate, with everyone’s ideas being heard — to be able to take part in civil discussion or debates and make your point without fearing government reprisal. Although we will never all agree on everything, I think we can all agree that the United States of America is the best country in the world in which to live. As the lines from “This is My Country,” tells us: “Our love for this country runs deep in our hearts. Oh, we know that our nation is far from perfect. Inequality and prejudice still challenge. Old wounds are hard to heal. We struggle against poverty, and violence, against greed and materialism. And sometimes it feels like deep divisions might tear us apart. We know that these problems can only be solved with God’s help.” As Benjamin Franklin said, “I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth…. that God governs the affairs of men.”
The City has contracted with Moran Environmental to remove 17 abandoned boats from the Folly River. Funding for this was shared between the City and a federal grant. We are working with OCRM and DNR to develop a mooring ordinance to (hopefully) prevent this from happening in the future.
There will be fireworks July 4th beginning about 9:20 pm, in front of the 3rd street West Parking area. This area will be closed all day on the 4th to accommodate the fireworks company as they prepare for the show.
Any questions, call me at (843) 729-0298 or write tgoodwin@cityoffollybeach.com.
Mayor Tim
