The 2026 hurricane season is designated to the dates June 1 to November 30. We are in the middle of it! If you were in Burnt Store Marina September 28, 2022, you know how Hurricane Ian changed our world in just 24 hours.
September is Disaster Preparedness Month, an annual campaign held every September since 2004, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Proper planning helps minimize the impact of a disaster to lives and property, and ensures your safety and survival. Disaster Preparedness Month is followed by National Preparedness Day on September 30.
Be sure to check out our Certified Emergency Team – CERT – information online at BSM22.org, and elsewhere in this Beacon issue.
You can always find something to celebrate, or festival to attend in September. Here is a selection:
September 2, 1752: The British ended their use of the Julian calendar, switching instead to the Gregorian calendar, resulting in a major adjustment as Wednesday, September 2, was followed by Thursday, September 14. The correction resulted in rioting by people who felt cheated and demanded the missing eleven days back.
September 3, 1833: The New York Sun newspaper first appeared, marking the beginning of the ‘penny press,’ inexpensive newspapers sold on sidewalks by newspaper boys. The paper focused on human interest stories and sensationalism and by 1836 was the largest seller in America with a circulation of 30,000.
September 7: Labor Day – This day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.
September 8, 1565: The first Catholic settlement in America was founded by Spaniard Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles at St. Augustine, Florida.
September 10 – 12: 13th Annual Bulls on the Beach – This is a live bull riding on the beach. Seriously. Enjoy two nights of a rock-and-roll rodeo featuring some of the Southeast’s best professional bull riders.
Where: Flora-Bama, Pensacola
Location: 17401 Perdido Key Dr.
Perdido Key, FL. 32507
Web: florabama.com/bulls-on-the-beach
September 11, 2001 – The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history occurred as four large passenger jets were hijacked then crashed, killing nearly 3,000 persons. Four separate teams of Mideast terrorists, operating from inside the U.S., boarded the morning flights posing as passengers, then forcibly commandeered the aircraft.
Two fully-fueled jumbo jets, American Airlines Flight 11 carrying 92 people and United Airlines Flight 175 carrying 65 people, had departed Boston for Los Angeles. Both jets were diverted by the hijackers to New York City where they were piloted into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The impact and subsequent fire caused both 110-story towers to collapse, killing 2,752 persons including hundreds of rescue workers and people employed in the towers.
In addition, United Airlines Flight 93, which had departed Newark for San Francisco, and American Airlines Flight 77, which had departed Dulles (Virginia) for Los Angeles, were hijacked. Flight 77 with 64 people on board was diverted to Washington, D.C., then piloted into the Pentagon building, killing everyone on board and 125 military personnel inside the building. Flight 93 with 44 people on board was also diverted toward Washington but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overpower the terrorists on board.
September 16, 1620 – The Mayflower departed from England, bound for America with 102 passengers and a small crew. The ship weathered dangerous Atlantic storms and reached Provincetown, Massachusetts on November 21. The Pilgrims disembarked at Plymouth on December 26.
September 20, 1973 – The much-hyped Battle of the Sexes took place in the Houston Astrodome, as tennis player and women’s rights activist, Billie Jean King, defeated self-styled male chauvinist Bobby Riggs in three straight sets. Riggs, a retired tennis champion, had been critical of the quality of women’s tennis.
September 24: National Punctuation Day – Do you find yourself correcting punctuation while reading a restaurant menu? Do you see red anytime you see an incorrect usage of the apostrophe? Then, this is your kind of holiday.
September 25 – 26: Flagler County Pro Rodeo at the Flagler County Fairgrounds in Bunnell, featuring classic rodeo competitions and family entertainment. Location:150 Sawgrass Rd, Bunnell, FL 32110
September 26 – October 5: Miami International Auto Show – More than one million square feet of everything automotive, including new cars, trucks, SUVs, electric vehicles and crossovers. Attendees will be able to participate in a number of interactive experiences (including test drives) and there will be classic cars that look like they came right out of a museum. New: Indoor EV test tracks. They will give attendees the opportunity to experience the cutting-edge advancements of the newest and most innovative EV brands, all from inside the vehicles themselves.
Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Ctr. Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139 Web: miamiautoshows.com
September 26: National Public Lands Day – Grab your friends to create a team and explore a great Florida state park. During this national day of celebration, National Public Lands across the country hold special events, from cleanups to scavenger hunts.
Where: National Public Lands across Florida, and the nation.
Web: nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day
September 28 & 29: American Indian Day Festival – Step into a world of tradition and heritage at this annual free event. Happenings include Native American music and dance and food, a Miccosukee fashion show, airboat rides, tribal arts and crafts and, of course, alligator wrestling shows.
Where: Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami Miccosukee Indian Village (500 US Hwy 41, Miami, FL 33194)
