Latest news with #FreedomBoatClub
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Freedom Boat Club expands in Thunderbolt
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Freedom Boat Club is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday to celebrate its third Savannah-area location in Thunderbolt, Georgia, a spokesperson said. The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. at the Freedom Boat Club of Savannah in Thunderbolt. The event is open to the public and light refreshments and free boat rides will be offered for the community. Freedom Boat Club was founded in 1989, offering a hassle-free boating experience at more than 400 locations across 35 states, its mission says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boater Freedom Act takes effect July 1, easing inspections for Florida boaters
'Boating in Florida will soon be more enjoyable with new liberties on the water thanks to the new Boater Freedom Act.' Gov. Ron Desantis signed the act into law on Monday. The law limits law enforcement agencies to conducting random boat inspections. It passed with majority support from lawmakers and officially starts July 1. Boaters, like Adam Pollett, is ready to bet out on the water feeling a bit relaxed. 'I can sit back and have a cigar and just get out there and fish,' he said. 'Everything else doesn't matter.' But he does worry that this could lead to people not being a safe as they should be. Some critics fear it could also harm the ecosystem, which they say is already fragile. According to the FWC, Florida had more than one million registered vessels last year. Now those boaters are gaining more freedom. Dsantis said the law is a win win for both boaters and law enforcement. 'I think by this legislation protecting you against suspicion less searches,' DeSantis said. 'it actually will be a better allocation of resources, not just for FWC, but also for the other local law enforcement agencies who are really important in keeping our people safe.' Freedom Boat Club Boat Capt. Charles Beardsley said safety is key, especially with the new law. In Florida, boats need specific safety equipment depending on their size and use. The vital items are: personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, and sound-producing devices. 'And remember everything slow is pro,' Beardsley said. 'You don't want to be speeding out there, especially if you are approaching another boat or dock. Go slow.' 'And you need to make sure you are properly trained. You won't know if you are doing something wrong if you aren't properly trained. ' The law includes a new inspection decal program. Now, when registering your boats, you will receive a decal as long as you pass a safety and sanitation inspection. It also prevents state and local officials from restricting the sale or use of boats based on energy source. 'That all sound great to me,' said Pollett. 'Good job.' The Boater Freedom Act take effect July 1. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A Chicago ‘high holiday,' St. Patrick's Day celebrated with green-dyed river and thousands for downtown parade
CHICAGO — Crowds began forming early Saturday morning in downtown Chicago to kick off the city's St. Patrick's Day weekend, with thousands lining Wacker Drive from Wolf Point to DuSable Lake Shore Drive to watch the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River. The gusty winds didn't spoil the festivities. Just after 10 a.m., a sightseeing boat packed with members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA began chugging west, spraying fluorescent green water into the river, continuing a tradition the union started in 1962. Onlookers cheered and played traditional Irish music as several small power boats zig-zagged behind the plumbers' vessel. Lakeshore East resident Kate Liebelt, wearing a green wig and carrying her dog Jennie, took a boat tour as the plumbers continued pouring dye into the water. Liebelt attended the event with her nine-year-old neighbor Glayden McQuade and said she never misses the riverfront celebration. 'By far one of the happiest, most fun days in downtown Chicago is celebrating the river being dyed green,' she said. 'It brings the community together to celebrate St. Paddy's Day and the start of spring.' South Loop residents Tom and Sue Keegan boarded a boat at Freedom Boat Club's Streeterville dock and said they don't miss the event regardless of the weather. Both are members of Old St. Patrick's Church in the West Loop and said their Irish heritage makes the day important. 'We call this a high holiday,' Tom Keegan said. It took the plumbers about 45 minutes to transform the murky gray river to bright green, a color expected to last for several days. After the dyeing, thousands of residents and tourists streamed toward Grant Park to watch the downtown Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade. The half-mile parade, in its 70th year, kicked off around 12:15 p.m. to the sounds of bagpipes and drums played by members of the Chicago Police Department. Marchers assembled at the intersection of Columbus and Balbo drives and headed north to Monroe Street. Marching bands from several military service branches led the way, followed by high school bands, Irish dance companies, a group of American miniature horses and thousands of union members and their families. The parade is always an opportunity for local politicians to make an appearance. Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker were on hand, waving to the crowd that was densely packed along Columbus Drive. Justin McCarty brought his family from Springfield, Missouri. It's the first time they've ever attended. 'We've got a parade in Springfield, but not at this scale,' he said. A union pipefitter, McCarty was dressed head-to-toe in green, including a matching top hat. He said the parade was also an opportunity to show solidarity with union marchers, who included auto workers, ironworkers and many others. 'It's a brotherhood thing,' he said. Members of United Auto Workers Local 551 said they marched in the parade to celebrate winning a new contract after participating in the 2023 national strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis. 'We got a damn good contract, the best we've gotten in 30 years,' said Lenny Faria, an assembly line worker at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant on the Far South Side. UAW 551 member Kaelan Harris, a forklift driver at the Ford plant, said he usually attends the Northwest Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade but that this year it was important to join thousands of members at the city's largest event. 'We're all in the union together, and if this parade looks like a hit, we're going to do it next year,' he said.
Chicago Tribune
15-03-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
A Chicago ‘high holiday,' St. Patrick's Day celebrated with green-dyed river and thousands for downtown parade
Crowds began forming early Saturday morning in downtown Chicago to kick off the city's St. Patrick's Day weekend, with thousands lining Wacker Drive from Wolf Point to DuSable Lake Shore Drive to watch the traditional dyeing of the Chicago River. The gusty winds didn't spoil the festivities. Just after 10 a.m., a sightseeing boat packed with members of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA began chugging west, spraying fluorescent green water into the river, continuing a tradition the union started in 1962. Onlookers cheered and played traditional Irish music as several small power boats zig-zagged behind the plumbers' vessel. Lakeshore East resident Kate Liebelt, wearing a green wig and carrying her dog Jennie, took a boat tour as the plumbers continued pouring dye into the water. Liebelt attended the event with her nine-year-old neighbor Glayden McQuade and said she never misses the riverfront celebration. 'By far one of the happiest, most fun days in downtown Chicago is celebrating the river being dyed green,' she said. 'It brings the community together to celebrate St. Paddy's Day and the start of spring.' South Loop residents Tom and Sue Keegan boarded a boat at Freedom Boat Club's Streeterville dock and said they don't miss the event regardless of the weather. Both are members of Old St. Patrick's Church in the West Loop and said their Irish heritage makes the day important. 'We call this a high holiday,' Tom Keegan said. It took the plumbers about 45 minutes to transform the murky gray river to bright green, a color expected to last for several days. After the dyeing, thousands of residents and tourists streamed toward Grant Park to watch the downtown Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade. The half-mile parade, in its 70th year, kicked off around 12:15 p.m. to the sounds of bagpipes and drums played by members of the Chicago Police Department. Marchers assembled at the intersection of Columbus and Balbo drives and headed north to Monroe Street. Marching bands from several military service branches led the way, followed by high school bands, Irish dance companies, a group of American miniature horses and thousands of union members and their families. The parade is always an opportunity for local politicians to make an appearance. Both Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker were on hand, waving to the crowd that was densely packed along Columbus Drive. Justin McCarty brought his family from Springfield, Missouri. It's the first time they've ever attended. 'We've got a parade in Springfield, but not at this scale,' he said. A union pipefitter, McCarty was dressed head-to-toe in green, including a matching top hat. He said the parade was also an opportunity to show solidarity with union marchers, who included auto workers, ironworkers and many others. 'It's a brotherhood thing,' he said. Members of United Auto Workers Local 551 said they marched in the parade to celebrate winning a new contract after participating in the 2023 national strike against GM, Ford and Stellantis. 'We got a damn good contract, the best we've gotten in 30 years,' said Lenny Faria, an assembly line worker at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant on the Far South Side. UAW 551 member Kaelan Harris, a forklift driver at the Ford plant, said he usually attends the Northwest Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade but that this year it was important to join thousands of members at the city's largest event. 'We're all in the union together, and if this parade looks like a hit, we're going to do it next year,' he said.
