Front Page (b1) Wall Street Journal article on St. Joe in Today's

[robertsondavies]

Saturday Paper - balanced article, but mostly positive.

My guess is that someone at influential 3rd Avenue Value Fund in NYC was able to plant the idea for the article -

Anyhow, its interesting to see the article in there - particularly since most WSJ readers have little to zero awareness of "The Beach"

 

[robertsondavies]

Here I go, a conversation with myself...

In reading this article carefully, I am troubled by one line and wonder if any locals could shed light on the applicability of the statement. Quoting WSJ - "The Panhandle region can somtimes be chilly during winter months and can be infested by mosquitoes"....

I've been to SoWal multiple dozens of times, and my wife and I can never remember being bothered by mosquitoes, and certainly to no greater degree than anywhere else we've been. In our recollection, the only place we've really been bothered by mosquitoes is the woodlands of the upper midwest, including Canada, where mosquitoes presence actually dictates your activity schedule -

Anyhow, I think the WSJ article grossy mistates the Pandhandle's "infestation" relative to other areas in the U.S. Keep in mind this is a major blunder, because most people reading this article will have never been to the "Redneck Rivieria", and I think their minds will slam shut on the area when they read that mosquitoe line. - Is this true perhaps more inland on the panhandle, than within a few miles of the coast? If so, this is a misrepresentation of monumental proportions and the WSJ needs to address this.

Folks if there is any evidence that Panhandle is not significantly worse than other areas of Florida or the Southeast, than this needs to be addressed by WSJ staff - not sure how this made it in the article.

Am I being nitpicky or would you all consider the area "infested". Separately, if you were reading an article about a vacation or potential second home area that you have never been but are being introduced to, would you not slam the door shut on the idea after reading that the area is basically notorious for mosquito "infestation"??

 

[MattChrist Live]

Mosquitoes can carry you off into the sunset during the summer evenings on the south Bay side (Choctawhatchee, I probably didn't spell that right). But during the winter...mosquitoes are virtually nonexistent.

Even during the summer evenings, the period where the mosquitoes come out and play lasts for maybe five, ten minutes tops. I would actually say that inland lake areas have a bigger presence of mosquitoes, (Orlando), as do marshy areas along the Atlantic Coast (Southern Georgia).

While the WSJ did make an error, I believe they just followed in line a pretty common misconception about this area's environment, which to date, hasn't deterred too many people from coming and enjoying the evening sunsets at "The Beach."

 

[John R]

maybe these guys could help out the WSJ's fact finders a bit: http://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.com/

 

[Smiling JOe]

Mosquito Season hasn't quite started at my house this year. "Infestation" might be a bad choice of word, but the Mosquito population made me buy pants and wear long-sleeved clothing when I go past the screened porch to walk the dogs. They are vicious. However, the trade-off is that my yard is filled with birds, and I there are other steady guests such as Ducks, Fiddler Crabs, Rabbits, Deer, Fox, Raccoons, Squirrels, Cats, Dogs (neighbors'), and those are just the animals I see. I never had that when I lived in SoWal. Maybe too much poison being sprayed by the Mosquito Control. I'm too far off the road for the Mosquito Control to reach my house, except when they come down my neighbor's driveway and spray for a few minutes at his house.

Along the beach, I've never noticed Mosquito activity, but move inland just a bit, and they are present. However, the population of mosquitoes in SoWal is nominal compared to my house when they are in season. I really just see small living animals as a sign that our ecosystem is healthy. I just wish I had more frogs and lizards around my house to keep the mosquitoes in check.

 

[robertsondavies]

good points all, i agree it may just be a bad choice of words...

It's pretty funny going to the Walton County mosquito poisoners website that was pointed out by an earlier post - it lists the usefulness of mosquitoes as a) food for frogs etc, and b) provides work for mosquito control employees ...

it says children can go out immediately after they come with their fogging trucks, but stay 30 feet away. somehow I don't quite trust this county website for providing accurate information on the safety of the product, when they list their own livelihood as one of the true raisons d'etre of the mosquito - On the 4th day, the almighty created the mosquito, and in so doing, the creator is endowing the mosquitos neighborhood with a bountiful source of employment, and assessments. amen

Uncle Timmy would probably back my story up that the mosquitos of SoWal are quite genteel and charming - ok, well genteel and charming as compared to the variety I have experienced in Ontario. now bees and wasps, that's a different story.

 

[NewUrbanGirl]

Here's a link to the article for those who care to read it....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120493957275321243.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_money_and_investing

 

[Rita]

I would presume people along the beach would not be bothered by mosquitoes nearly as much as inland due to the breezes coming in off the Gulf.

.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I would presume people along the beach would not be bothered by mosquitoes nearly as much as inland due to the breezes coming in off the Gulf.

.

correct

 

[DuneLaker]

Thanks for the post. Always interesing to see what others say about us. And it is true, New York, WSJ, theStreet.com, etc. know who and where we are. There have been a number of articles the past several years. We don't need a new branding. Friends who visit here from Alaska, Texas, Europe, etc. have had no trouble finding us. They drive and obviously fly. Nature built a fabulous place and they will come. I sent a response to Michael Corkery.