Larry Cole with Patty Lyon and her grandson Rynal.
QR codes are everywhere – everywhere in the world and everywhere in Kismet where they are the keys to the new Kismet Directory, kismetdirectory.com, and the new Kismet Historical Society site, kismet.omeka.net, which can also be reached at kismethistoricalsociety@gmail.com. The Directory offers the familiar town map and homeowner listings we have been accustomed to in older print versions. The creator behind the online version, Elliot Epstein, also has sourced many advertisers, covering the costs of production and providing a helpful source of local and mainland services. A new version of the KCA website, kismetca.com, with a listing of events will be up soon.
Sam Wood has been working on developing the Kismet Historical Society for several years. The online version includes historical pictures ranging from the original Kismet Market and the dirt sidewalks of the ‘50s to pictures of some Inn inhabitants submitted by Jeanne Lieberman. “The Kismet Story” by Al Bliss (1984), a fascinating story of Kismet’s origins through the early 1980s, is reprinted there. My copy was given to me by Andre Melton, the nephew of a victim of the 1938 hurricane and her sister, Miss Alice, whose cottage and candy store stood on the sight of the current Bulkhead. Sam is looking for new submissions: Kismet will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 2025 with a lot of history.
The spring meeting of the Kismet Community Association was on June 10. Assistant Kismet Fire Chief Buddy Shumacher delivered the startling information that only 35% of Kismet homeowners have put up and maintained easily visible street numbers. In one instance our first responders and EMS personnel on a critical medical call lost valuable time searching for the house. Calls are routed through a central mainland office so reports must include a house number. Charging e-bikes presents another fire danger. A recent ongoing complaint also affecting our health and well being is deteriorating Verizon cell service that’s particularly acute on Oak and Pine Walks. Apparently one or more of the cell transfer towers is not functioning.
It must be summer because the list of coming events has mushroomed. This will be the fourth year for the Sandcastle Building Contests for both children and adults on the beach, on Saturday, July 1. There are sandcastle flags and sand pail prizes of goodies contributed by Kismet residents and businesses. Sign up is at 10 a.m.; building can begin anytime but must be finished by 3 p.m. for judging. Our biggest community event, dating back 58 years, is the July 4th Parade on Sunday, July 2, at 11 a.m. Children, floats and families line up before then on Burma and Oak. Category lists are usually posted before. The overall theme of the parade will honor Viet Vets as the parade concludes with a patriotic salute at the flagpole. Following this, KFD members serve up a BBQ feast, conduct raffles and sells T-shirts. Kismet League for Animal Welfare (KLAW) will be set up across the way for their annual bicycle raffle.
