2025 Sept. 8 HBNPA MINUTES

Historic Neighborhood Planning Assembly Minutes Sept. 8, 2025  

1. Travis Stegal introduced proposed new HBNPA Steering Committee member Dana Karstensen of Union St. (Vote passed unanimously by membership attending the Assembly.)
2. Alec Eaton and Emergency Management: Announcement of free battery operated weather radios. Dozens of free radios were provided to attendees at the meeting.
3. Brunswick Police Department: 

• Crime stats 5 entering auto incidents all vehicles were left unlocked. 70 total reported incidents. 
• Upcoming BPD events- National Night Out October 7th & Faith in Blue October 10th.

1. Deputy Marshall Amy Brown Liquor License Applicants:

• Driftwood Wine Bar (external catering license)
• Solar 108 (provisional license due to change in ownership)
• Newcastle Wines (external catering license). 
• All applicants were given approval by the Assembly and will go before the City Commission on 9/17. Seven licenses total on the agenda at the Commission meeting. 

[Editor’s Update: three existing downtown entities requesting off premise catering alcohol licenses and the new Gloucester St. Cactus Mexican Restaurant were approved by the Commission on 9/17. The requests from Solar 108 (fuel and convenience store) and Snappy Food Mart on Glynn Ave for provisional licenses were deferred, and KK Deli and Convenience store (across from Cactus Restaurant) was denied.]  New Business: 

1. Roland Biron of Biron Teas (across from Salvation Army): owner worked for Ritz Carlton, Herbal Wellness tea that tastes good. Partners with luxury resorts and hotels. Packaging 100% plastic free.
2. Faith King of Newcastle Bakery: currently a wholesale bakery, with retail pop-up days. Miss King’s goal is to open a bakery downtown with scones, cookies, tea and coffee.
3. Taylor Ritz Fendig: Millage rate explanation. The assessed value of real property is determined by county; the millage rate is determined by City. 
4. Stephanie Jacobs: Historic District Yard Sale Sept. 27, 8am-1pm, 71 people interested in selling stuff that day.
5. Inspector Traswick, Brunswick Fire Department: Four structure fires in August -99% save rate. 92 medical calls in August. Schools coming to visit fire station in October

Advice: Check space heaters and keep them 6’ from flammable objects. Check smoke detectors annually. Get at least one fire extinguisher.

1. Kate Sabbe: Historic District Halloween theme ‘BrunsWitch.’ 1st Baptist Church Trunk of Treat in Downtown Brunswick will not be held this year. Rally to bring back traditional Trick or Treat. Great PR potential to show safety of historic Brunswick. Will ask for permit to block off Union/Prince from 5pm-8:30pm. [Editor’s Update: Permit limited to a couple of blocks on Prince St.. Possibly a smaller downtown Trunk or Treat may be held off Monck St. on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, there are at least five other Trunk or Treats scheduled around Brunswick, starting as early as Oct. 23 at the Glynn County Safety Offices. We hope kids will avoid candy comas.]
2. Jason Umfress: 7th Annual PorchFest, Nov. 9, Noon-6pm. PorchFest stresses Safety First. In addition to various safety departments attending the event like last year (police, sheriff, fire, National Guard), this year golf carts will not be allowed in Halifax Square. 

In 2018, the first year, there were 28 bands. Last year there were 75 performers/bands on 62 porches with an estimated 10,000 visitors and 25 food trucks. This year the bands were capped at 60, and as of the meeting six porches and many more volunteers were still needed for 2025 PorchFest. 

1. Mike Blackerby: Glynn County School Superintendent 

• Mr. Blackerby has 31 years of educational experience including 26 years in Camden County. He feels the Glynn Co schools are on an upward trajectory (last year had a 98% HS graduation rate, up from 70% in the 2010s)
• Golden Isles College & Career Academy (GICCA) is successful with 564 students, 177 employer partners, and the opportunity for students to attend classes at Coastal Pines Technical College.
• 29% post-pandemic student absenteeism down to 15.9%
• Glynn Co. District Rezoning: [Editor’s note: rezoning clarification was requested from Mr. Blackerby the day after the Sept. 8 HBNPA, and the following is his response]. 

The new elementary school, which will replace Glyndale Elementary, is scheduled to be ready for the start of the 2027-2028 school year.  Due to the geographic location of the new school compared to the current Glyndale location, rezoning will need to occur after completion of the new school.  If we implemented a new rezoning plan prior to the new school completion, it would have to be significantly modified. All elementary students south of Gloucester to the Sidney Lanier Bridge will go to SSI Elementary in the new plan. Students north of Gloucester will attend Burroughs Molette Elementary.  The mainland Oglethorpe Point Elementary zone begins north of Parker’s convenience store on the causeway and extends up the east side of highway 17 to Peek Rd.  

• [Editor’s note: the school board is still accepting citizen input on the proposed redistricting plan via an on-line survey. This is your opportunity to weigh in the proposals at the high school and middle school level as well as the elementary school level. Go to: https://www.glynn.k12.ga.us/261214_2 ]

  Respectfully submitted by Note Taker Kameron Taylor and Editor Mary Helan Turner