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

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"??

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."

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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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.

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correct

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.

Did someone forget to tell Joe spokesman Jerry Ray about the three year build-outs? ""But there are a lot of people holding onto lots and waiting to build until they retire" ........ uhh no. And the build-outs continue to be a barrier towards moving the residential lot product.

This area does have some EVIL mosquitoes!

I don't think it's fair to be offended that an article says we have a mosquito problem when their presence is so great that we have a truck constantly spraying poisons, the area is crisscrossed with mosquito control ditches, and Mosquito Control is actually an elected position w/ a 100k+ salary.

, the area is crisscrossed with mosquito control ditches, and Mosquito Control is actually an elected position w/ a 100k+ salary.

No it is not. The director is hired by an elected board that makes significantly less than that. Even the new director is making quite a bit less than that.

WaltonGOP, how much is "quite a bit less" if it is a matter of public record.

What are the qualifications for such a position?

I swear my next job will be in government somewhere, where I can chalk up a defined benefit pension, make 75K, and work even less hard than I do now, in the i-banking fish bowl.

WaltonGOP, how much is "quite a bit less" if it is a matter of public record.

What are the qualifications for such a position?

I swear my next job will be in government somewhere, where I can chalk up a defined benefit pension, make 75K, and work even less hard than I do now, in the i-banking fish bowl.

It was reported in the newspapers when they hired the new guy. I believe it was less than 70K but do not remember an exact number. The elected board members conducted extensive interviews and picked what I am hearing is a very qualified individual. But again, I remember reading the news story but do not remember the details.

No it is not. The director is hired by an elected board that makes significantly less than that. Even the new director is making quite a bit less than that.

The point of my post was that we actually HAVE mosquito control so an article saying we have a mosquito issue isn't an untruth.

Sorry if the nitpicky details were wrong - all I know is that there are elected offices in Mosquito Control and as recently as within the last 6 months one of the Mosquito Control positions paid more than 100K a year.

Lest we forget...

"CDC's origins are closely linked to malaria control activities in the US. On July 1 1946 in Atlanta, the Communicable Disease Center was created as a new component of the US Public Health Service. The new center was the direct successor of the Office of Malaria Control in War Areas, an agency established in 1942 to limit the impact of malaria and other vector borne diseases (such as murine typhus) in the southeastern US during World War II. The center was located in Atlanta (rather than Washington, DC) because the South was the area of the country with the most malaria transmission."

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/history/history_cdc.htm

Love the history Chip n' Dale!

Per my high school history teacher, Washington D.C. used to be a hazardous duty posting for foreign diplomats because of the fever/malaria risk back in the day. ;-)

Did someone forget to tell Joe spokesman Jerry Ray about the three year build-outs? ""But there are a lot of people holding onto lots and waiting to build until they retire" ........ uhh no. And the build-outs continue to be a barrier towards moving the residential lot product.

Just out of curiousity, who still has active build out requirements?

Joe has given two one year extensions on the build-outs but the build-outs are still there and continue to produce a great deal of uncertainty. There are a few lots without build-outs that would be suitable for people who wished to sit on the lots to build at some possible retirement time in the future, but not many and none that Joe is offering of which I am aware. If Joe decides to enforce the build-outs, retirement plans might have to be indefinitely postponed while the potential retiree digs deep to pay Joe's fines.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/travel/escapes/07american.html?ref=travel

This article apppeared in the NY Times on Frday March 7, about the Panhandle. We are getting more and more press.

It was a typo--Panhandle is not infested by mosquitos, it is infested by mojitos.

It was a typo--Panhandle is not infested by mosquitos, it is infested by mojitos.

I tried ordering one of those at cantina laredo when I was tricked into going there last time. They wouldn't do it. I have a buddy that has a very nice restaurant in Alpharetta, GA and I heard his bartender say to a customer that they didn't make them. I wonder why? The mudlling of the mint?

Here I go, a conversation with myself...
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.

I doubt anyone not scared off by Rednecks would be deterred by mosquitos!

I wouldn't be surprised if New York's mosquitos aren't worse. They probably can't spray like we do. I think Alaska has the reputation for the worst mosquitos. Maybe we should spray the mosquitos with mojitos. We might all go out and follow the truck. Our friendly, now very upscale, southern reputation would surely trump any hardened New Yorker that was worried about a "redneck" or two.