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What a 200 years it's been.

With a celebration held in front of City Hall Monday afternoon, the community gathered to wish a "happy birthday" to the place they call home.

"This is an exciting year of celebration for our city," Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said while addressing the crowd of about 250. "As we move through Tallahassee, this bicentennial year, I urge each and every one of you to take a second to celebrate our 200 years of excellence and all that's been accomplished and while we also embrace the next 100 years, as we set the foundation for future generations,"

"Ambitious from the Beginning" is the theme for the year-long Bicentennial observance. The event featured live music from the Raa Middle School Steel Band and Florida A&M jazz band, as well as historians Althemese Barnes and Doug Smith.

Barnes took to the podium to trace the "pivotal times" and strides over the last two centuries. The founder of the Riley House, an African American culture and history museum, noted how during the centennial celebrations in 1924 that six days of celebration were set aside for white people while Black citizens only got a single day.

"So many of the people and voices of the centennial have been silenced. Their work, contributions and legacies live on through other inspirational leaders and people of skill and courage," said Barnes, a 6th generation Tallahasseean.

"Much has changed. All for the better,” she added while "proclaiming the beauty and richness of Tallahassee 200 years later."

Once all speakers were finished, the bands got their chance to play as attendees socialized. The event was attended by at least three county commissioners, Rick Minor, Carolyn Cummings and Christian Caban.

All city commissioners joined the celebration except Jeremy Matlow, who has been highly critical of City Hall leadership and his colleagues in the majority voting bloc. His aide Ryan Ray didn't offer a reason for why Matlow didn't attend, other than saying he chose not to.

For those that did, there was plenty of punch and cake for the crowd, as they got to pick between chocolate, vanilla, and key lime pound cake.

Read more about the bicentennial and capital city history at tallahassee.com/tlh200

TALLAHASSEE - To recognize 39 years of service to Florida State University and the FSU baseball program, the Seminoles will celebrate former assistant coach and director of operations Chip Baker during the March 9 game against New Orleans.

Baker served as an assistant coach for 18 seasons under Mike Martin from 1985-2002 before transitioning to the director of operations role for 21 years under Martin, Mike Martin Jr. and Link Jarrett. Retiring in September 2023, Baker was a member of 16 FSU teams that reached the College World Series and won 1,856 games during his time at Florida State.

Known to players and fans alike as 'Big Shooter', Baker wore jersey No. 3 during his time as FSU's third base coach. During the celebration against New Orleans, mini posters with Baker's iconic jersey number will be distributed to the first 3,333 fans and Baker will be recognized on the field in the bottom of the third inning.

Fans are also encouraged to attend a pregame question and answer session with Baker and the Voice of Seminole Baseball, Eric Luallen, from 1:03-1:33 p.m. in Haggard Plaza at Dick Howser Stadium.

The Saturday game between the Privateers and Seminoles will begin at 2:00 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets at www.seminoles.com/tickets.

Chip Baker:

Chip Baker remains one of the most popular figures in the Seminole baseball program after his retirement in September 2022. Baker spent 39 seasons with Florida State, serving 18 years as an assistant coach and 21 years as the director of baseball operations.

In 2022, Baker was a part of his 2,000^th career win in a career that spans stops at Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and – since 1985 – Florida State.

Baker supervised all facility enhancement projects, the game day experience at Dick Howser Stadium, managed the program's budget, oversaw team travel logistics and served as the liaison to alumni, former players and other VIPs.

During his tenure with the Seminoles, Baker participated in 37 NCAA postseason tournaments and 16 College World Series appearances, including 11 in 18 years on the field. He was a member of the coaching staff for the 1986 and 1999 teams that reached the CWS championship game. Baker's duties as an assistant included coaching third base, tutoring FSU's catchers, scouting opponents and directing the Seminoles' defensive alignments.

Baker is still known as one of college baseball's premier catching instructors. During his tenure, Baker coached seven All-American receivers, including Ed Fulton, Barry Blackwell, major-leaguer Marc Ronan, current Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, Mike Martin Jr., Jeremy Salazar and Tony Richie. As an administrator, he mentored current Seattle Mariner Cal Raleigh and the 2021 Perfect Game Player of the Year, Mat Nelson.

Baker also served as the long-time director of the Mike Martin and Seminole Advanced Baseball Schools. Over 130 former campers went on to wear the Garnet and Gold and several advanced to the major leagues. Over 30 first round draft picks – including Sean Gilmartin, John-Ford Griffin, Nick Stocks, Jonathan Johnson, J.D. Drew, Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez and brothers Justin and Melvin Upton – came through Tallahassee. Baker was on the staff of national and regional clinics and continues to work with local youth organizations putting together clinics.

The North Carolina native has written articles for Scholastic Coach and Collegiate Baseball magazines on the subjects of catching, third base coaching and bunting, and has published a Collegiate Level Strength & Speed book. In 2001, Baker put together a record-selling catching video with Championship Videos entitled, 'Expanding the Strike Zone.' A popular speaker with no shortage of stories, Baker continues to address Seminole Booster clubs and civic organizations around the state.

A 1980 graduate of High Point University in North Carolina, Baker was part of four Carolina Conference championship teams, including the 1979 team that was the NAIA World Series runner-up.

After completing his bachelor's degree in physical education, Baker earned a Master of Science degree in movement science at Virginia Tech, where he began his collegiate coaching career.

Baker is the proud father of Katie, a 2018 graduate of Florida State and a former student manager with the FSU softball team during the team's run to the 2018 National Championship.

In 2001, Baker and former head coach Mike Martin were presented with the university's prestigious Westcott Award for their bravery in saving the lives of players and staff during the Seminoles' road trip to Stanford. Leaving the San Francisco airport, the two coaches gained control of the team's charter bus after the driver suffered a fatal heart attack, safely guiding the bus to the side of a busy highway.

A voter for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, Baker was recognized in 2006 by the American Baseball Coaches Association 'For a Quarter Century of Leadership & Devotion to Baseball.'

In April of 2014, Baker entered Florida State's Circle of Gold, an honor acknowledging a worthy individual who, through their service and achievements, personify the university's tradition of excellence. For years, Baker also served as a TV analyst for FSU home games on the ACC Network Extra.

For more information on Florida State baseball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through X and Facebook (@FSUBaseball) & Instagram (@NoleBaseball).

Elena Barrera

Reading between the lines, Mayor John Dailey on Tuesday had a not-so-subtle message for Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor about city firefighter pay talks: Butt out.

Hours after Proctor volunteered to moderate increasingly bitter union contract negotiations for Tallahassee firefighters, Dailey wrote to Proctor saying it "may be time to reevaluate" the city's providing fire protection in the county.

Dailey, formerly a three-term county commissioner who served alongside Proctor, further suggested that Leon County should consider establishing its own fire department as they have discussed in past years.

"As such, I recommend the county commission at its March 19 meeting consider directing the county administrator to explore the operation of fire services in unincorporated Leon County and indicate its desire to sunset the current agreement with the city," Dailey wrote.

A call to Proctor went unanswered Tuesday afternoon.

The political brinkmanship began after Proctor, a preacher and FAMU political science instructor, volunteered his services. The Tallahassee Professional Firefighters Association, which is the Tallahassee Fire Department's labor union, has been trying since last March to negotiate raises in a one-year contract to no avail.

Last year's many meetings resulted in impasse, and negotiations for a new three-year contract are starting amid the unresolved contract.

Proctor earlier Tuesday had said it's time to "stop, drop and roll.": "I believe that we need to stop disagreeing, we need to drop the hidden agenda and we need to roll out the dough."

"I don't come here with pipe dreams," Proctor added. "I come here as the most seasoned local official in the history of this town, having voted on more money being spent for more diverse things than anyone in history."

Proctor, who has served eight terms representing the county commission's District 1, was first elected in 1996.

Related:Bill Proctor at Tiger Bay: He's 'tired' of Tallahassee city commission infighting

Tallahassee Fire Chief Gene Sanders said in a statement that the priority has been on firefighters throughout negotiations. Multiple proposals have been made with "increases that are now up to 8.6% within the rank of Firefighter, which is far above an average offer."

"I remain hopeful that union leadership will allow their members to vote on the raise currently on the table, which I support,” Sanders said.

There is enough money to pay TFD employees the raises they are asking for, Proctor said. Between money coming in from both the city and the county, $51.4 million is generated every year to pay 275 employees, he said. "That equates to a little over $185,000 per year to support each individual worker," he said.

"Our residents want well paid and motivated, competent firefighters whose pay is commensurate to the danger and importance of their work," he said.

City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow said the commission will likely discuss Proctor's offer at the end of their meeting Wednesday afternoon. The city manager hired the current negotiator, Matlow said, but the commission has the ability to direct the city manager to change negotiators.

The number of people applying to TFD is "way down," he added, and the city is at "a critical point of finding the right deal" to be competitive with other cities and counties in the state.

Breaking & trending news reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.

Tarah Jean

Tallahassee Community College is now just one step away from officially being recognized as Tallahassee State College.

Florida legislators on Tuesday unanimously passed a proposal (SB 522) to change the name of the college in state law.

The final approval came just days ahead of the 2024 regular legislative session’s scheduled end on Friday. TCC remains one of only two colleges in the Florida College System’s 28 schools to still have “community college” in its title. The bill next heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis. If signed by him, the name change becomes effective July 1.

TCC’s renaming plan comes as a result of new bachelor's degree programs — a bachelor of applied science in business administration, a bachelor of science in elementary education and a bachelor of science in exceptional student education — that were recently added to the college, contributing to its evolving status in Florida.

Since the time TCC President Jim Murdaugh announced the college’s name changing plans on The Greg Tish Show in August, the rebranding initiative has received support from TCC’s Board of Trustees, who voted on Murdaugh’s recommended choice of TSC, as well as Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, and Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, who both sponsored bills in favor of the renaming.

The college opened its doors in 1966 and was originally named Tallahassee Junior College before being renamed TCC in 1970, which means that the school has not had another name in over 50 years.

Along with the name change from TCC to TSC will be a new logo as well, which follows at least five different logos of the college since its establishment. The college is working with the Pace Branding and Marketing consulting firm to make a decision about a new logo as it awaits DeSantis’s signature to put a stamp on future renaming.

The Florida Legislature is looking to boost the pay for a depleted state work force and for the third consecutive year has inserted a pay raise in a $116 billion state budget it will soon send to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In sum, the plan spends about $134 million for a 3% pay increase for 96,863 state employees.

House and Senate leaders finished working out details Monday. The chambers on Tuesday published the document and sent copies to lawmakers at 11:48 a.m. That started a constitutionally-mandated 72-hour cooling-off period before a Friday vote and conclusion of the 2024 legislative session.

When announcing the budget had dropped, House Speaker Paul Renner said lawmakers will have a "pretty good Friday," meaning they'll be able to end their work and head home.

Some 79,000 workers classified as Career Services employees will see an increase of about $1,032 annually. The raise for middle managers and those in what are called "select exempt" positions (16,000 employees) will see an additional $1,325 and pay for about 600 senior managers will get boosted by $2,658.

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This is the third year in a row, and the fourth in the past five years that state workers have received raises. They got just two stand-alone raises between 2008 and 2019.

However, the Florida Education Association, the state’s largest labor union, points out teacher pay ranks near the bottom in average teacher salaries among the 50 states. Pay for public school teachers is funneled through the state budget to local school districts.

“Make no mistake: our state has the ability to provide funds to pay teachers and education staff professionals fairly, to fully fund public education, to ensure teacher vacancies are filled so every child can have an educator trained in their subject,” said Andrew Spar, the FEA's president, in a statement.

The starting salary for a Florida teacher is $47,500 compared to a national average of $50,200, according to the National Education Association. The Florida Department of Education reported there were nearly 5,000 teacher vacancies statewide at the start of the current school year.

Florida government: Lean and mean?

Florida runs a much leaner government than other states, and it appears to be getting smaller.

At $40 per resident, the average state worker costs Floridians less than half the national average of $90. And the state employs 96 people to handle the paperwork, maintain facilities, and provide services per 10,000 residents compared to the national average of 198.

According to the latest Department of Management Services annual workforce report, 10,210 workers have left their state jobs since 2018 while just 355 positions have been eliminated.

Since 2019, state worker base pay has increased on average by about $4,000, according to DMS. And there are currently more than 17,000 vacant positions in state government – or about 19% of positions are unfilled.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has the last word on a state pay raise, proposed eliminating about 1,400 jobs across state government in his budget proposal.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow him on X: @CallTallahassee.