Relics to Reefs
Beachbilly
Lifestyle
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
We are nearing the opening of our new campus! Providing groundbreaking care to the communities we serve is a part of our history. We were born from a legacy of putting people first through better access, experiences and outcomes. We continue to grow and invest in the health of our community to support our Mission of helping people throughout life’s journey.
Our new hospital campus is scheduled to open September 23, 2023. It is conveniently located at the corner of Brent Lane and I-110 in Pensacola, Florida. Please visit our website for updates and to learn how we are transforming health care for generations to come.
ebaptisthealthcare.org
Just saying Ian, Nicole or Michael brings about strong memories. But then there’s Andy. He has lived in the Panhandle for over 32 years serving as a firefighter and paramedic. Now, as a flight nurse, Andy provides rapid-response medical care and life-saving treatment to those in need. At FPL, we understand the importance of reliable energy and restoring power safely and as quickly as possible when needed during emergency situations. That’s why we prepare all year to be ready for hurricane season.
Get ready for storm season at FPL.com/Storm
Andy Flight Nurse
14 HEAD-TO-HEAD
The 9th Annual Dragon Boat Festival Returns to Pensacola
17 STAMPED LGBTQ+ Film Festival Returns for 11th Year
21 BEACHBILLY LIFESTYLE
Local Family Launches Lifestyle Brand and TV Show
24 MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION
Granting Wishes and Spreading Joy for Kids Fighting Critical Illnesses
27 RELICS TO REEFS
The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail Offers 20 Spectacular Shipwreck Sites for Saltwater Enthusiasts to Explore.
31 BEACHES TO WOODLANDS
The 20th Annual Beaches to Woodlands
Tour Highlights Santa Rosa County's Diverse Coastal Community Through a Series of Family-Friendly Fall Activities.
8 Editor’s Note
10 Page 10 with DeeDee Davis
41 Event Calendar BUSINESS
2021 issue survived barrage loss and entire loved ones, kept side, at least will change vaccines coronavirus, some freely
strange spring. The novel in our so far been it from print with time, Escambia Santa quickly once
Obesity, diabetes and heart disease became death sentences for too many people battling Covid. While genetics predispose some to these illnesses, many can be managed or eradicated by lifestyle changes. I’d like to focus on making healthy choices while still enjoying the bad-for-you good stuff in moderation.
Owner & Publisher
Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com
incredible special-needs pets and owners and she discovered that while these precious babies may take a little more care, the love they give in return is worth every second.
first responders and hospital workers? Thank you for putting yourselves on the front lines to keep us as safe as possible. Also, a big shout out to all the teachers out there scrambling to put together online lessons to keep our kids engaged and learning instead of worrying about things they cannot control. We appreciate you!
What has suspect it mental time positive experiences. resolutions Instead, brought home have uncertain. my community. health is our knew it.
The fact is, virus or be symptoms. That is community, stay possible--leaving the idea, too, rather than social via world—phone encourage tribe. We bring and something this.
in our will see that community groups and safe ways difference distancing. I must outpouring amongst my toilet paper more than to make up applause for our
already? assure you equally— alone. it—the I’m over on a word: over Only suspect. pandemic the stress, distancing and many things can provide more return. Society has had fostering know that always a sweet kitty sounds check page 34. for our with some
I don’t know about you, but 2020 offered far too little of either of these to me. I was so consumed with my mom’s illness and then with surviving the grief of her loss and the anxiety of the pandemic and the sorrow of so many national news stories that I took little time for myself. This year, I hope to explore creative and personal endeavors that help me rediscover myself and discover new outlets for personal expression.
If exotic animals are more your thing, head on over to the brand spanking new and significantly enlarged Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. The new location features all the hands-on, up close interaction as the previous location plus added attractions, amenities and experiences that will make for a wonderful family day out.
One of the things I enjoy about living in the Florida Panhandle is the diversity of our natural habitats and ecosystems. From dense forests and winding rivers to coastal marshes and white-sand beaches, we really do have the kind of unique natural beauty here in Northwest Florida that most people can only dream about living in. The Beaches to Woodlands Festival has been honoring and celebrating that natural beauty in Santa Rosa County for 20 years. The festival showcases the county’s diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture, arts and history through a series of events spanning the entire fall season. Read all about it on page 31.
Executive Editor Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com
Art Director Ian Lett ian@ballingerpublishing.com
Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Alana Cox advertise@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Morgan Cole morgan@ballingerpublishing.com
On that note, I encourage you to read our COVID-19 Resource Guide, which provides resources for food, business, community and more. The ever-changing nature of this crisis necessitates that I mention that these resources may or may not be available to you by the time you read this issue. I hope it will provide a place to start, some ideas or some inspiration either way.
Kelly Oden Executive Editor
If you’re interested in conservation, check out Dakota Parks story on local Panhandle Rooftop Nesting Biologist, Rebekah Snyder. Through her work with Audubon Florida, Snyder helps to ensure local shorebirds have safe nesting spaces in an increasingly overpopulated region.
Another unique aspect of panhandle life is our beautiful and bountiful Gulf of Mexico. For those brave enough to dive its waters, the Gulf promises to reveal some of its hidden gems. The Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail offers divers the opportunity to explore historically significant shipwrecks. These wrecks have become reefs that offer shelter and food to Gulf marine life. Divers have the opportunity to see both history and nature in a unique way—under the sea. The trail offers more than 20 sites and a passport to keep track of the ones you’ve visited.
While many people made glorious headway on home improvement and personal projects in 2020, I did not. I did not organize anything. I did not fix anything. I did not learn a language or a new skill. Nothing. But that’s ok, too. I’m still here. That’s an accomplishment. However, in 2021, I’d like to lighten my load and empty my house of much of the clutter and unnecessary junk that fills it. It’s time to make room for something new.
All of this, plus a few DIY pet treat recipes and some good news from the Florida legislature regarding protection for pets in abusive situations.
You may also notice that we have some nonpandemic related stories in this issue. We made the call to include already planned articles that might still be helpful, relevant or enjoyable for our readers. We hope you find them useful.
Assistant Editor Nicole Willis nicole@ballingerpublishing.com
Contributing Writers
DeeDee Davis
Darien Hardy
Editorial Intern
Madeleine Davis
Speaking of coastal living, one local family has turned their way of life into a slogan, a brand, a television show and more. Beachbilly Lifestyle combines the beach bum and hillbilly lifestyles into one big, happy family—and the public is loving it. Check out their story on page 21.
Sales & Marketing
Paula Rode, Account Executive, ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com
In this issue, we’ve covered all of these topics and more to help readers shift their own focus in 2021. We hope you enjoy. Here’s to your health!
So, turn off the news, put down your phone and enjoy these heartwarming tales and adorable of photos of local animals and the folks who care for them. When you’re done, give your kitty a little catnip and throw your dog a bone. It’s these simple pleasures that will keep us all sane.
As for us, Pensacola Magazine has been published under one title or another for more than 40 years. We have no plans on changing that. We will continue to publish and to bring you all the information we can for as long as we can. Please reach out to us with story ideas, inspiration or just a quick hello. We are all working from home and we are missing our water cooler conversations. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay strong, Pensacola!
Geneva Strange, Account Executive, ext. 31 geneva@ballingerpublishing.com
All that, plus details on the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, which features gorgeous carved boats and teams racing to raise money for a good cause—Habitat for Humanity and other local charities. We also bring you all the info on the STAMPED LGBQTIA+ Film Festival. Now in its 11th year, STAMPED celebrates diversity and inclusion via the art of film.
Kelly Oden
21 E. Garden St., Ste. 205 Pensacola, FL 32502 850.433.1166 | fax: 850.435.9174 ballingerpublishing.com
As always,
Executive Editor
Kelly Oden Executive Editor
Kelly Oden Executive Editor
I hope you enjoy the issue!
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publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2023
Zip-line through fall foliage. Find your way through a corn maze. Meet your new favorite artist. Fish, run races and eat like a local. Beaches to Woodlands features events from the shoreline of Navarre Beach, the streets of Historic Milton to the serene trails of Blackwater Forest. Experience the best of Santa Rosa County this fall.
Bands on the Blackwater Fall Concert Series
Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27
Bands Start at 7 pm
5158 Willing St., Milton, FL facebook.com/bandsontheblackwater
33rd Annual Juana
Good Time Regatta
The Wish for Wind Party:
Sept. 8 | 6–9 pm
Sailboat Races:
Sept. 9 & 10 | 11 am – 4 pm
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL jaunaspagodas.com/regattanews.htm
Navarre Beach Art, Beer & Wine Festival
Sept. 10 | 10 am – 7 pm
8649 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL bit.ly/3Dc2ODl
Oktoberfest at Ye Olde Brothers Brewery
Sept. 23 | 11 am – 4 pm 4458 Hwy 87, Navarre, FL yeoldebrothersbrewery.com
Holland Farms Pumpkin Patch & Maze
Sept. 23 - Nov. 4
Sun. – Sat. | 8 am – 6 pm 2055 Homer Holland Rd., Milton, FL hollandfarmsonline.com
3rd Annual Challenge
22 Event Walk and Ride
Sept. 30 | 9 am – 5 pm
8513 Navarre Parkway, Navarre, FL bit.ly/46FjHnr
15th Annual Sweet
Season Farms
Corn Maze
Sept. 30 – Nov. 5 Sat., 9 am – 5 pm, Sun., 11 am – 5 pm 2260 Horn Rd., Milton, FL sweetseasonsfarm.com
Navarre Fishing Rodeo
Oct. 7 & 8
Tournament opens at 12:01 am Sat. Closes at 4 pm Sun.
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachfishingrodeo.com
Fall Festival at the West Florida
Railroad Museum
Oct. 7 | 10 am – 3 pm
5003 Henry St., Milton, FL wfrm.org
Sea Turtle Extravaganza
Oct. 8 | 10 am – 2 pm
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center 8740 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachseaturtles.org
Boo at the Zoo
Oct. 14-15, 21–22, 28–29 | 10 am – 5 pm
5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL gbzoo.com
Fenner McConnell/ Mark Wantz
Blackwater Heritage
Trail Ride
Oct. 28 | 7:30 am
5629 Byrom St., Downtown Milton bbbs.org/events/fenner-ride
I have never understood the obsession so many people have with pets. Having been raised in a family that moved around a lot, we didn’t have pets, other than the occasional stray cats we brought home. These were not usually the caliber of pets you see on the Petco commercials. We are talking gnarly, nappy, fleabitten little critters that even the pound didn’t want. My parents weren’t exactly enthused about the feline infusion, but they tolerated our putting out scraps for them, which was usually enough to keep them coming back for more. If they stayed at least two weeks, they became “the family pet”. I would dress the cats in doll clothes and think they were the most beautiful purebreds ever to live. Eventually, even the most desperate of creatures would flee rather than face another game of chase or wrestling with my brothers. The call of the wild was evidently much more desirable. I carried over the anti-pet philosophy until my own children could utter their first words, which I swear were “all our friends have pets, can we have one, too?” Not wanting to be viewed as the neighborhood Cruella Deville, I compromised on this issue, and we became the proud owners of an aquarium. Fish made perfect little pets, finitely contained, just swimming around waiting for feeding time. Of course, next came birds, which were a little messy, but still acceptable. I loved hearing their little songs, though I never in my wildest
dreams imagined that such miniature creatures could make such a mess with seed. The addition of a hamster that could, and did, eat the entire sleeve off a shirt was the next in our growing zoo. Lesson learned. Do not cover the hamster cage at night with a t-shirt that you hope to ever use again. Consequently, I spent an awful lot of time during those years trying to teach my kids about the wonder of the plant kingdom. They never quite warmed up, though, to my orchids and bromeliads. When they went away to college, the pets “went away,” too. Enough on that subject. It was inevitable. A few years ago, a kitten was rescued by a neighbor who already had a house full of kids and pets. This precious, perfect little baby was not just rescued. It appeared to have been dropped by a bird and my saint of a friend was the good Samaritan. I ain’t kidding. The moment I laid eyes on this tiny ball of black fur with white paws and big blue eyes, I was toast. I joined the throngs of other cat lovers with her first “meow.” Come to mama!
I was transformed. Once, I considered cat hair on furniture to be a sign of filth and disgust. I don’t even see it now. When I would visit friends and see their cats jump on countertops, I would cringe. AD (after adoption) when my little one jumped higher, I took photos of her accomplishments and proudly displayed the framed portrait along with those of other family members. When my grown children came to visit, they looked at me in total disbelief as I would baby talk to this little angel. Like, who are you and what did you do with our Mom? I was devastated over their lack of enthusiasm when they opened what I thought was the perfect Christmas gift–little ornaments that were framed with her picture. I got the last laugh there. Both kids love animals and as adults, both are long time owners. My son has a goldendoodle and he can't travel without making arrangements for this dog. Board him? Not a chance. He has to stay with a trusted friend who will let him run, play, swim, climb on furniture and eat chopped chicken for dinner.
My daughter is worse on the subject. She has a small dog that is the definition of “lap dog”. God help us if something happens to him. He is aging and, like many of us, is putting on a few pounds. I mentioned his ‘waddling” and you would have thought I committed blasphemy. She accused me of body shaming and I am certain he goes to canine therapy as a result. Her family has grown, as well, now that another rescue kitten has moved in. The dog only thought I caused him grief. The fur ball of energy torments him and doesn’t take his barking seriously. Can't wait to see how this one plays out. There is nothing so wonderful as a pet. She doesn’t talk back and she doesn’t keep you up at night worried about whom she is hanging out with and I don’t have to do her laundry. Her shoe and clothing budget are minimal, and, yet, she still gives unconditional love and trust, while maintaining her independence. Look what I had been missing for all those years. Meow.
2 Corbett Davis III
4 Tina Tortomase
6 Cayden Cauley
5 Crystal Spencer
13 Sue Straughn
28 Bob Montgomery
30 Todd McWaters
Local clinic offers proven, noninvasive medical solution for chronic back pain, including failed back surgeries.
Has your chronic back pain made life difficult, unbearable even? Have you had failed back surgery? Are you suffering from sciatica, stenosis bulging or herniated discs? Have doctors and specialists offered you pain management techniques that don’t really address the problem?
You are not alone. Nearly 38% of the world’s population suffer from debilitating back pain. And even more unfortunate, the surgeries recommended to fix you have such a high failure rate that there is a medical term for it, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS). FBSS comes with a whole host of symptoms that often make life more difficult than it was before you opted to have surgery and include persistent pain that can affect not only the back, but the neck and limbs as well.
Not all hope is lost however. Acupuncture & Wellness of Pensacola specializes in treating back pain. Whether it’s from a disorder, repeated injury, osteoarthritis, or something more complex like FBSS, Dr. Gibbons is helping their patients live lives free from pain!
“For our 45th anniversary our children gifted us an Alaskan cruise,” shared Max G. of Florida. “ We were over the moon to say the least!
But while the excitement of exploring the wilderness was almost too much to bear, so was my back pain I’ve had two failed surgeries and my surgeon keeps pushing for another One of those fool-me-once situations, but I also didn’t want to spend 10 days in a cramped cruise room miserable and taking pain pills ”
Dr. Gibbons explains, “My patients are typically individuals who have been told they should have surgery but would either have a difficult time going under the knife or have tried that route with little success and decided to explore other options. There is more to healthcare than prescription pills and scalpels. By offering several integrative therapies, we are able to combat and treat your pain from several angles ensuring the possible outcome.” Acupuncture & Wellness of Pensacola has pioneered non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical innovative medical solutions that not only address the back pain itself, but its cause as well.
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. To expedite this process, AWP integrates a targeted microcurrent therapy called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery.
In especially complicated conditions they will also utilize O3 Regenerative Therapy™, a proprietary technique that makes use of ozone therapy
Ozone therapy has been used since the 1800’s and was actually a popular tool for Doctors during the first world war because of its antibacterial, antiviral and antiinflammatory properties AWP uses it today to combat inflammation and in a majority of cases, offer their patients a more permanent solution
“If you would’ve asked me 3 months ago if I thought I would feel this good after a few acupuncture treatments, I would have told you, you’re nuts! But I’m a believer! My wife and I are currently booking excursions for the cruise and I’m actually looking forward to it. Before I would’ve been hesitant to even schedule something like dog sledding knowing my pain was through the roof, but now I can’t wait! Obviously I have my kids to thank for this trip but I can’t help but take my hat to the team at AWP because those ladies are the reason I’m going to truly enjoy this trip.”
THE DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE NEW "DAVID W. PEADEN II BOARDROOM" AT THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF WEST FLORIDA OFFICE IN PENSACOLA
The Northeast Pensacola Sertoma Club, Inc. (SERTOMA) presents the ninth annual Pensacola Dragon Boat festival. On September 30, thousands of spectators will gather around Bayou Texar, just off Bayview Park near downtown Pensacola (2000 E Lloyd St.), to support up to 40 teams who will be racing for bragging rights and a specialized trophy in this locally renowned event.
Dragon boating originated in Hong Kong in 1976, but its historical roots can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago in China. Today, there are more than 50 million people worldwide participating in dragon boating each year. Teams and competitions are currently found in over 57 nations.
During races, dragon boaters typically paddle a long, narrow canoe that seats 20 paddlers in 10 rows in sync along a 250 meter to 500 meter racecourse toward the finish line. A steerperson standing in the stern uses a ninefoot oar as a rudder and a drummer sits at the bow of the boat by the dragon’s head, facing the rest of the crew.
SERTOMA, the organizer of the Dragon Boat Festival, was founded in 1988 for the purpose of contributing to the Pensacola Community by raising money and supporting many community charities. This year, the Dragon Boat festival supports its charity partners in
the Pensacola community: Gulf Coast Kid’s House, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and Escambia County Public Schools Foundation.
Event organizers note that you can invest in charities that serve the Pensacola community by becoming a sponsor and/or registering a team and joining in team fundraising. All sponsorship levels are still open, and there is still room for more teams. You can register and find out more information at pensacoladragonboatfestival.com or reach out directly via email at info@pensacoladragonboatfestival.com.
SERTOMA is preparing for a full day of racing, food and festivities. This all-day festival is complete with food trucks, local artists, children’s activities, contests, music and more. SERTOMA itself will have beer, water and Dragon Juice for sale. The day will begin with the Young Marines of Pensacola’s opening ceremony at 8 am and the first race of the day commencing at 9 am. Each team will race in three heats. This festival’s course is 300 meters in a straight line. The championship race will be held approximately at 4 pm. Finally, an awards ceremony will immediately follow the championship race.
The Dragon Boat race serves as a great team building experience for companies, organizations, krewes, non-profits, municipalities, local businesses, civic organizations, rowing clubs and so many more.
We pride ourselves on having the vast resources of a national firm, yet our approach is rooted in a strong local presence. Warren Averett’s honest advice and hundreds of specialized professionals help organizations do what matters most to them by removing the worry of technical planning, security or compliance.
The team of people looking out for you just got a lot bigger.
Dragon Boat racing helps people strive to be inclusive, collaborative, organized, communicative, synchronized, productive and committed—all of these skills also help people work better as a team in the business world. Taking part in a dragon boating session can build teamwork and a sense of camaraderie. Paddling together can be the great equalizer that bridges the gaps between staff and managers, as well as different departments, of an organization.
According to the event organizers, whether you compete with a group or sponsor another team, everyone is sure to leave with “memories, a closer group of friends, sore arms and the fact that all the fun is going to support the local charities of Pensacola.”
Event organizers suggest carpooling when possible as parking will be limited at the festival grounds. Bleachers will be set up for spectators to get the best view of the race from start to finish. Admission to this festival is free to the public, but opportunities to make donations will be available throughout the day.
Come have fun, cheer on your crew and support local charities at The Ninth Annual Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival 2023.
For more information and event details, visit pensacoladragonboatfestival.com or @PensacolaDragonBoatFestival on Facebook.
STAMPED Film Festival is returning to Pensacola for its eleventh year of celebrating LGBTQ+ art, representation in film and the sharing of queer stories.
Since 2012, STAMPED Film Festival has brought some of the best LGBTQ+ films to the Pensacola community. STAMPED began as a way to support LGBTQ+ individuals in the community and educate non-LGBTQ+ individuals on how they can support and uplift their queer neighbors. The festival is still doing so today, but on a much larger scale. 2023’s STAMPED Film Festival will take place on September 28 to October 1 and is set to be the largest one yet.
“STAMPED LGBQTIA+ Film Festival brings the community together through the art of storytelling, and that includes an array of people, from LGBTQIA+ vendors and businesses to local and visiting members of
the queer community,” STAMPED President, Sid Williams-Heath said. “Going into STAMPED’s 11th year, it’s crazy to see the growth of both the festival and Pensacola’s LGBQTIA+ community over the last decade. Having a consistent representation and celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories has really boosted Pensacola as a queer-friendly destination, and STAMPED has grown to be a resource in the community.”
Though the festival is only about a decade old, STAMPED gets its name from events that occurred almost three decades ago. The festival’s name stems from local LGBTQ+ history. Memorial Day Weekend has always been a popular time for both LGBTQ+ tourists and locals alike to come to Pensacola Beach and celebrate. In the mid-1990s, several local business owners and officials opposed LGBTQ+ tourists. So, when Memorial Day Weekend came around, LGBTQ+ beachgoers decided to stamp their cash with the words “Gay Money” or with a pink triangle to show the city and businesses just how much that community members were contributing to the local economy—$25 million a year.
STAMPED Film Festival adopted the name “STAMPED” to pay homage to these events, and because it is the festival’s goal to raise awareness for the LGBTQ+ community, just like the tourists did back in the 90s. As posted on the festival’s website, STAMPED’s mission is to provide “a vibrant cultural experience to Pensacola by using the unique expression of films with a specific focus on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and queer community to foster awareness, inclusion, and diversity.”
This year’s STAMPED schedule will be chock-full of films that focus on the LGBTQ+ community and their experiences. The festival shows a variety of films from many different genres. STAMPED also awards the best film from several categories. For example, some of the categories up for grabs in previous years include Best Documentary Feature Film, Best Animated Film, Best Narrative Short Film and Best Narrative Feature Film. Due to the overwhelming amount of submissions, films are still being reviewed and the full festival lineup is not out yet, but will be available shortly. “We’re still finalizing the final rundown after being inundated with absolutely fantastic submissions this year. It’s gotten so expansive that STAMPED has actually brought on a professional filmmaker and festival expert, Chris McNeany, to help curate the final selections. In general, you can expect Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon to be jam-packed,” Williams-Heath exclaimed.
One aspect of the festival that is already confirmed on the schedule to return this year is Sunday as “Family Day.” Family Day offers something for every member of the family; it provides parents of LGBTQ+ youth with opportunities to learn about how they can best support their children, and it provides kids the opportunity to get creative and engage with the arts.
“Each closing day of the festival has become a day dedicated to films for all ages, and through the wonderful support of Sunday’s Child this year, we are expanding that programming. You can expect children’s films, improv workshops, story time, and a colorful lineup of supplemental programs, while also incorporating new activities
for adults to enjoy simultaneously,” Williams-Heath said.
There will be a panel of notable queer parents for the adults to hear and learn from. One of the parents that will be on the panel is Jake Graf, who is a well-known transgender father and the filmmaker of Our Baby: A Modern Miracle, which will also be shown at the festival.
STAMPED encourages everyone to participate in the festival, whether they are LGBTQ+ or not. “Knowledge is power, and while it is so lovely to see someone on the silver screen that looks and loves like you do, it’s often even more powerful to experience and celebrate someone else’s story who doesn’t look or love like you,” WilliamsHeath said. “That’s what all attendees can take away from the festival: an opportunity to share in someone else’s story– to witness it firsthand through stunning internationally-submitted filmmaking– and leave feeling
validated and educated on how others can love differently than you.”
The Pensacola community has been receptive and supportive of STAMPED over the years. Visit Pensacola reported that 2019’s festival attracted nearly 700 total attendees, with around 15% of those attendees coming from out-of-town specifically to attend the festival. As a nonprofit, STAMPED is able to exist and keep festival admission free of charge because of this community support. STAMPED also hosts a kickoff celebration every year for sponsors who make a donation of $100 or more to the festival.
“STAMPED is, and only can be, free to the public because of the community’s generosity in supporting our nonprofit,” Williams-Heath said. “I’m grateful for how well the festival is received. Our reputation as a free, inclusive opportunity in the community has grown, and we’re always so moved at the wonderful feedback we receive from attendees on how much the festival has meant to them.”
STAMPED Film Festival is hosted at The Clark Family Cultural Center, located at 400 S Jefferson Street in Downtown Pensacola. STAMPED can be found on Instagram and Facebook at @StampedFilmFestival. To get involved or learn more, visit stampedfilmfest.com.
“STAMPED LGBQTIA+ Film Festival brings the community together through the art of storytelling, and that includes an array of people – from LGBTQIA+ vendors and businesses to local and visiting members of the queer community."
Josh and Jessika Brown are a local couple recently in the spotlight for their brand—Beachbilly Lifestyle. What started as a word to describe their hillbilly and beachgoer lifestyle has now expanded to include a YouTube channel, lifestyle brand and, most recently, a TV show.
The couple are college sweethearts that met at the University of Mobile. Since meeting, they have had three sons, the oldest of which is currently 19. Together, the family have established a home in Perdido Key and began living out their beachbilly lifestyle, which Josh defines as, “country living at the beach.”
The family enjoys all things beach and hillbilly—from water sports like fishing and surfing to raising livestock and growing their own fruits and vegetables. As lovers of the outdoors, the family spends a lot of time soaking up all that the coast has to offer.
Eager to share his family’s way of living with the world, Josh decided to pick up a camera and create YouTube videos about seven years ago. The videos would showcase the family tending to their garden and livestock, as well as documenting their experiences traveling and trying out new activities. Eventually, the channel grew and the couple expanded into a branded apparel line called Beachbilly Lifestyle.
After Josh came up with the phrase “Beachbilly Lifestyle” to describe his family’s lifestyle, he decided to trademark the phrase and started thinking about some of the ways that the brand could really pick up. The idea to grow the Beachbilly brand into the world of apparel began with Josh’s son.
“One day my son walks through the house with a ‘Salt Life’ t-shirt on. And I said, ‘That’s it! We're gonna do t-shirts.’ Everybody wears a t-shirt, everybody comes to the beach, and they want to get a t-shirt from the restaurant they eat
at, and they want to get a t-shirt that says ‘Pensacola Beach,’ ‘Perdido Key’ or ‘Gulf Shores’ on it. So that’s what we did,” Josh explained.
From there, Beachbilly Lifestyle-branded apparel expanded to include hats, tanks, hoodies and more. Today Beachbilly Lifestyle products are sold in a variety of local shops such as Intracoastal Outfitters in Pensacola Beach, Souvenir Cities in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Perdido Key Souvenirs & More and other shops along the Gulf Coast.
As the family continued to post on their YouTube channel and offer their products in more and more stores, they gained a local audience. Observing the work that the family was putting in and the attention that they were receiving, Josh’s friend suggested that the family share their lifestyle on a bit larger scale. Having a connection with local station Blab TV, the friend introduced the team to the Beachbilly YouTube channel. Impressed with what content already existed and seeing the potential of the family’s story, Blab offered the Brown family a TV deal.
“We didn’t and still don’t have a huge YouTube presence. But it's all about being at the right place at the right time, or the right person coming across your material and seeing your stuff,” Josh said, reflecting on the situation.
After several episodes and a few months on Blab, Josh was contacted by WFGX and WEAR and asked to put the show on those networks. “I talked about it [the offer] with my wife, and she was like, ‘Well, what's it going to hurt? Just give it a little shot.’ So I did, and that's when it really took off,” Josh explained.
Moving the show to these new channels helped Josh find the right people to help with his show and grow the Beachbilly team. They found producers and cameramen and, eventually, a production company who would help
Beachbilly Lifestyle reach national audiences. Today the show is on nine streaming channels including Amazon Prime and, most recently, Roku.
The show, also titled Beachbilly Lifestyle, showcases the family on their adventures and their journey creating and growing an apparel brand. Within the first season, the Browns visited a variety of places across the country. In one episode, the family embarks on an educational visit to Key West, in another they explore Nashville. The family also spent a lot of time in Bentonville, Arkansas, home of Walmart, as they showed the process of their licensing deal.
“We showed our time in Bentonville, as we did a little deal with Walmart last year. They put us in I think about 100 Walmart stores and we did a hat licensing deal with Outdoor Cap, which does all the hats for Walmart, Tractor Supply and Bass Pro,” Josh explained.
The community has enjoyed watching Josh and his family on their adventures. The television program has been wellreceived, especially locally.
“The Perdido Key community has rallied behind us and supported us,” Josh said. “When the show came out, we had a release party and we had a huge turnout. They didn't have to do that, but they wanted to show us how proud they were of us. We’re just really blessed with this great community of Perdido Key.”
Seeing the success of the show, the Browns are already preparing for season two. While the premise of the show will remain the same, Josh hopes to focus more on the lifestyle that they live at home in Perdido Key.
“We have a little bit of the ‘beach,’ but a lot more of the ‘billy’ in season one. In season two, I really want to showcase more of the beach and the Beachbilly lifestyle at the beach. A lot of people refer to Gulf Shores through
Panama City as the ‘Redneck Riviera.’ We want to showcase that: how a lot of people live in Alabama, the Panhandle of Florida and the Gulf Coast,” Josh said.
Josh’s overall goal for the show is to show others in the area “just how easy and rewarding it is” to take a risk and go for your goal, whether that be growing your own crops, creating your own business, or anything else.
“You’ve got to plant that seed, water it and fertilize it. It takes time and it takes patience. But then you get to see how it grows. Then you get to go out there and you see how it produces fruit—it teaches you a lot about life,” Josh said. “I'd love to encourage anyone that's sitting there wanting to take an adventure, that wanted to start their own business, or are wanting to do something but they always seem to talk themselves out of it—just do it.”
Beachbilly Lifestyle products can be found online beachbillylifestyle.com. Josh is active on Instagram and Facebook at @BeachbillyLifestyle. For more information regarding the TV show, visit beachbillylifestyle.com/ pages/tv-show.
At Ochsner 65 Plus, our trusted team of providers takes an innovative and comprehensive approach to primary care for adults 65 and older with your unique health needs in mind. Along with your physician, we build a team that provides customized care.
• More time with your physicianup to 60 minutes
• A wraparound team to help you achieve your health goals
• Transportation coordination for clinic visits
• Daily group activities, speakers and educational courses
• Exclusive access to a fitness center inside of Ochsner 65 Plus
• All Humana Medicare Advantage plans and traditional Medicare accepted
Wishes are a natural part of childhood, but few actually expect those wishes to come true. Yet thanks to Make-A-Wish® Central and Northern Florida, more than 7,000 children with a critical illness have been given a chance to have their wishes granted.
“I love Make-A-Wish,” says Kathleen Hampton, Director of Development for the chapter’s Northwest Florida region. “I love the fact that I can experience the impact of a wish on a child and their family. There’s no better feeling.”
Wish kids come from a wide range of backgrounds. From a 4-year-old undergoing treatments for leukemia to a teen living with cystic fibrosis, they are united in their shared experience of constant hospital visits. Every day, these children deal with symptoms, side effects, and medical appointments that would dishearten even the strongest adult. But thanks to Make-A-Wish, they get to take a break and experience the unmitigated joy of being a kid.
“When a child hears that their wish is going to be granted, they get excited,” says Hampton. “They’ve already gone through so much. Wishes motivate them to go through treatment and give them hope when they need it the most. The joy and excitement that the child and family experience—it’s just something that you can’t describe.” Wish kids are referred by a caregiver, medical professional or family member with intimate knowledge of their condition. Once they’re approved, a wish discovery volunteer helps them to refine their wish, often encouraging them to dream bigger. Next, Make-A-Wish spends time making sure every detail is perfect.
“We take the burden and worry out of the equation so they can truly enjoy their wish,” Hampton says. Over the past year and a half, she has facilitated dozens of wishes and loves seeing the impact her organization has. Yet there are some kids who stand out, like Theresa, a teen whose wish for a Sing 2-themed birthday party brought a community together. The owner of Sonny’s BBQ in Pensacola was more than happy to host the party, but the staff went one step further. They dressed up as characters from the movie!
For Hampton, building relationships with such dedicated people is her own wish. “I’m always willing to cultivate those relationships,” she says. “I want to hold on to that and keep that momentum going because having the community surround the child and family for a wish is critical.”
What’s more, each Make-A-Wish chapter is independently run and dedicated to granting wishes right in their own backyard.
“Each state chapter has their own 501c3 designation,” Hampton says. “We work within our own chapter and all donations stay in the region.” In her role as Director of Development, Hampton works tirelessly to cultivate relationships throughout the Florida Panhandle so that local children who are eligible for a wish have a community to support them. This can include anything that helps spread the word about the incredible work that Make-A-Wish is doing, from finding local businesses who can fulfill wishes to getting volunteers connected.
It takes a community to turn their wishes into reality. And once a wish has been granted, previous Wish Alumni pay it forward.
“It’s really gratifying to see and hear from families who've experienced it,” Hampton says. “They are our best ambassadors for the Make-A-Wish mission.”
Throughout the region, Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers are equally dedicated—the chapter raised more than $5 million last year—but it’s the wish kids that are the real heroes.
By working with your local Make-A-Wish chapter, you can have a hand in bringing joy to critically ill children in your own community. To get connected with Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida, visit their website at wish.org/cnfl/tallahassee or contact Kathleen Hampton at 407-622-4673 (ext. 201).
Home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the Florida Panhandle offers an abundance of exciting opportunities for fun and exploration along its coastlines. However, it’s when you venture beyond the coast and into the depths of the Gulf waters that you become immersed in an environment full of creatures and structures straight out of fantasies.
The Panhandle Shipwreck Trail offers up a nostalgic dive into the storied past of vessels sunken under mysterious circumstances, explosive espionage and hurricanes washing ashore from Port St. Joe to Pensacola. From life-threatening storms and man-made disasters, Florida is unfortunately no stranger to ecological devastation. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill wreaked havoc across the Panhandle region threatening marine life, local economies and valuable natural resources. The Panhandle Shipwreck Trail was launched in 2012 in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Following the spill, waterfront communities across the Panhandle region experienced a sudden drop in tourism. As a result, the Florida Department of State, Bureau of Archaeological Research (BAR), used funds from a Coastal Management Program grant to create a diving trail in an effort to boost the tourism economy, showcase the unique maritime history of the region and create habitats for a variety of marine life.
With assistance and input from local waterfront communities, the shipwreck Trail was modeled after an already successful ecotourism venture in the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail offered a popular
set of wreck dives where visitors could fill a passport with stamps as they completed each dive. The development team seized the opportunity to learn more about this model and distributed a series of questionnaires to various panhandle dive operators requesting their expert intel on popular wrecks in the area rich with history and ecological diversity. The chosen wrecks are situated offshore of Pensacola, Destin, Panama City and Port St. Joe.
“Everybody loves shipwrecks. It’s adventurous and romantic. So, the idea of a shipwreck trail was thrown out and my office contacted local waterfront communities, the dive shops and charter boat captains to nominate wrecks that were accessible to a wide range of scuba certifications, not just tech divers,” Underwater Archaeologist and Diving Safety Officer for the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, Melissa Price explained. “They needed enough structure left to make an interesting dive. We also were looking for sites with a lot of sea life and an interesting story to tell.”
Panhandle Shipwreck Trail visitors have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of Gulf Coast marine life, with some wrecks shallow enough to also accommodate snorkelers.
When the dive trail was intitially launched in 2012, it featured a total of 12 wreck sites. In the summer of 2021, eight new wrecks were officially added to the trail to provide an expanded underwater experience for both recreational divers and snorkelers. Today, the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail now highlights a total of 20 shipwrecks boasting artificial reefs and a variety of sea life for diving, snorkeling and fishing along the Panhandle.
Preserving the deep maritime history of Florida and inviting adventure seekers to explore beyond the sandy white shores
of the Gulf, the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail Passports provide a gateway to 20 spectacular shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. Divers are invited to start their journey along the trail at any of the destinations and upon the completion of each dive, have their Passport validated with a signature and sticker. Passports are available at participating dive shops and through dive charter operators, which are listed
at panhandleshipwrecktrail.com. Passports also include information on each site and a space where you can journal about your own personal dive experience. Participating dive shops and charter operators have official stickers to affix to the passports as each of the wreck dives are completed. Individuals who complete all wreck dives along the trail will receive a certificate and commemorative t-shirt.
You can learn more about each of the dive sites along the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail on their Facebook page and website, where you will also find detailed information and photos for each of the wreck sites.
The spectacular sunken ships of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail include:
USS Oriskany
City: Pensacola, Fla.
Depth: 80-212 feet
Sink Date: May 17, 2006
The largest artificial reef in the world and nicknamed the “Great Carrier Reef,” the USS Oriskany was sunk after serving in the Pacific and earning battle stars for service in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Located 22 miles off the coast of Pensacola and submerged in more than 200 feet of water, this wreck offers exploration for divers of all skills and a myriad of pelagic and sedentary marine life.
YDT-14
City: Pensacola, Fla.
Depth: 90 feet
Sink Date: April 2000
Gulf storms have buried this diving tender to her decks, but the upper structure around 65 feet below sea level offers boundless exploration for divers.
San Pablo
City: Pensacola, Fla.
Depth: 80 feet
Sink Date: August 11, 1944
Launched from Belfast, Ireland, in 1915, San Pablo started her life as a fruit transport running bananas from Central America to the United States. Early during World War II, she was sunk by a U-boat in Costa Rica and refloated. In August of 1944, amid rampant rumors of foreign spies and espionage, San Pablo exploded off Pensacola’s coast, earning her the local name “Russian Freighter.” Recently declassified documents reveal that San Pablo was actually destroyed in a top-secret U.S. military operation testing an experimental weapon system. American agents sank the freighter with a radio-controlled boat carrying more than 3,000 lbs. of explosives. Her wreckage is scattered across the seafloor where divers can explore boilers, refrigeration coils and huge sections of twisted metal, all home to an impressive array of marine life.
Pete Tide II
City: Pensacola, Fla.
Depth: 100 feet
Sink Date: 1993
An offshore oilfield supply vessel, this upright wreck boasts three levels of superstructure and an intact pilothouse making it home to mesmerizing schools of fish.
Three Coal Barges
City: Pensacola, Fla.
Depth: 50 feet
Sink Date: 1974
Sunk in an emergency operation to avoid the barges running ashore, these three barges lie end-to-end in less than 50 feet of water, creating a thriving habitat for marine life and a shallow destination for diving and snorkeling.
Miss Louise
City: Destin, Fla.
Depth: 60 feet
Sink Date: 1997
This push tug sits upright in 60 feet of water, brimming with marine life and serving as a great dive site for both novice and intermediate divers.
Black Bart
City: Panama City Beach, Fla.
Depth: 85 feet
Sink Date: 1993
Sunk in memory of Navy Supervisor of Salvage Captain Charles “Black Bart” Bartholomew, this oilfield supply vessel remains largely intact with its wheelhouse (40 foot depth), deck (66 foot depth) and open cargo holds (80 foot depth). The ship’s original appliances (including the toilet) remain intact in the Head and Galley, offering unique exploration opportunities.
FAMI TUGS
City: Panama City Beach, Fla.
Depth: 100 feet
Sink Date: 2003
Once resting bow-to-bow and joined by a 30-foot tether, a storm picked up one of the sunken tugs and placed it directly atop the other, allowing divers to enjoy two shipwrecks at once and serving as a reminder to visitors of the power of the sea.
USS Accokeek
City: Panama City Beach, Fla.
Depth: 100 feet
Sink Date: July 9, 2000
After an impressive global run serving as a fleet tug, the USS Accokeek was repeatedly sunk and refloated for salvage and ordinance training at the Navy Dive School in Panama City.
USS Strength
City: Panama City Beach, Fla.
Depth: 80 feet
Sink Date: May 19, 1987
A WWII minesweeper that survived a midget submarine attack and a kamikaze raid, the USS Strength offers divers a fascinating tour of a large artificial reef, which is also home to an impressive goliath grouper.
USS Chippewa
City: Panama City Beach, Fla.
Depth: 100 feet
Sink Date: February 8, 1990
Sunk as a Navy training platform for the Panama City Experimental Dive Unit in 1990, the USS Chippewa now sits upright on the bottom in 100 feet of water offering a great dive for spotting marine life. This tugboat was also known for breaking speed records during her U.S. Navy tenure.
Vamar
City: Port St. Joe, Fla.
Depth: 25 feet
Sink Date: March 21, 1942
Sunk under mysterious circumstances during a trip to carry lumber to Cuba in 1942, Vamar now lies in just 25 feet of water, offering a large steam engine, bilge keels and a wide variety of marine life perfect for both divers and snorkelers.
Scan the QR code below for complete details on the eight new wreck sites included as part of the expanded Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail.
To learn more about the trail, participating Passport partners and more, visit floridapanhandledivetrail.com.
Santa rosa county offers a unique combination of natural, historical and cultural wonders—pristine white beaches, piney woodlands, historic mills, heritage arts, sea turtle sanctuaries and so much more. Every year, Santa Rosa County comes alive for its annual Beaches To Woodlands Tour, which unveils a diverse array of events and activities designed to showcase the vibrant spirit of the season.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the festival, and with events spanning throughout September, October and November, it’s sure to be an exciting autumn extravaganza. The festival embraces a wide variety of events to cater to every interest – from art enthusiasts and music aficionados to nature lovers and families seeking quality time together. Whether you’re in the mood for artistic fun, thrilling outdoor escapades, or simply immersing yourself in the seasonal charm, Beaches To Woodlands promises an unforgettable experience for all visitors.
Sept. – Oct. | Fridays, 7 – 9 pm
5158 Willing St., Milton, FL facebook.com/BandsOnTheBlackwater
Bands on the Blackwater is a free outdoor concert series held Friday nights in downtown Milton. Pull up your boat or bring a lawn chair and relax while listening to great live music.
Sept. – Nov.
8974 Tomahawk Landing Rd., Milton, FL adventuresunlimited.com
Fall is a great time to enjoy the many natural attractions at Adventures Unlimited located just north of Milton, FL in the Blackwater River State Forest. Enjoy the changing colors and the rush of excitement while doing one of the Canopy Zipline Tours. Overnight accommodations at the resort’s campsites or cabins are available along with canoeing and kayaking down the majestic Coldwater creek.
Sept. 10 | 10 am – 7 pm
8649 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL bit.ly/3Dc2ODl
Come experience the creative side of life at The Navarre Beach Art, Beer & Wine Festival. View and shop from unique artisans and small local businesses. Discover one-of-a-kind items, listen to live music and taste some of the best beers, wines, coffees and ice creams the Gulf Coast has to offer. Admission is free with a suggested donation to the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.
Annual Juana Good Time Regatta
Sept. 11 – 13
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL juanaspagodas.com/RegattaNews.htm
The Juana Good Time Regatta is designed for both experienced and novice racers, with the main emphasis being a “Good Time.” It is open to all sizes of multihull sailboats, from beach cats and trimarans to cruisers. The Regatta will be held over three days, Sept. 8, 9 and 10, and includes parties, food and live music! The event starts with The Wish for Wind Party (packet pick up) on Sept. 8, from 6–8 pm. The sailboat races are Sat. and Sun. from 11 until 3 or 4, depending upon the wind! For more info, visit juanaspagodas.com/RegattaNews. htm or call 850-939-1092.
Highway 87 Outdoor Market at Pik-itz
Sept. 19, Oct. 3, 17 & Nov. 7 | 9 am – 1 pm
1922 Hwy. 87, Navarre, FL pikitz.com
This monthly outdoor market takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month. Farm to Table vendors are available along with various arts and crafts.
September 11th Memorial Stair Climb
Sept. 11 | 7 am – 12 pm
8573 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL facebook.com/NavarreBeachFireDepartment
The Navarre Beach Fire Department is hosting a Memorial stair climb for first responders of 9/11. They will be raising money for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation benefitting the families of First Responders.
Oktoberfest at Ye Olde Brothers Brewery
Sept. 23 | 11 am – 4 pm
4458 Hwy. 87, Navarre, FL yeoldebrothersbrewery.com
The premier event of the year at Ye Olde Brothers Brewery. Come out and enjoy premium craft beer, authentic lagers, traditional German fare and great music.
Holland Farms Pumpkin Patch & Maze
Sept. 23 - Nov. 4 | Sun. to Sat., 8 am – 6 pm 2055 Homer Holland Rd., Milton, FL hollandfarmsonline.com
Enjoy a farm hayride that will take you around the farm and to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin of your choice. New activities for this year include a ¾ mile train ride around the farm and a new innertube hill slide. Other activities include corn box, horse and regular swings, spider web, pirate ship, zip lines, pedal tractor cart racing, hill slides, rat racers, sand box and an 8-acre corn maze with kiddie maze.
3rd Annual Challenge 22 Event Walk and Ride
Sept. 30 | 9 am – 4 pm
8513 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, FL facebook.com/Navarre-Challenge
This event is sponsored by the American Legion Riders Chapter 382 to help bring awareness to the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress and the 22 veteran suicides a day. This community event will help raise money towards Project: VetRelief and feature an opening military ceremony, followed by a 2.2 mile walk and 22-mile motorcycle ride. There will be guest speakers, vendors, food, and live music throughout the day.
14th Annual Sweet Season Farms
Corn Maze and U-Pick Pumpkins and Sunflowers
Oct. 1 - Nov. 6 | Sat., 9 am – 5 pm, Sun., 11 am – 5 pm*
*Weekdays reserved for school field trips only 2260 Horn Rd., Milton, FL sweetseasonfarms.com
Visitors can spend time this fall season navigating their way through our fun and unique corn maze with plenty of room to spread out on the farm! U-pick sunflowers will be blooming in October. along with the pumpkin patch. More than 25 fun farm-themed activities, including a cow train, beeline zipline, corn popper jumping pillow, barnyard ball, playground and more. Plenty of food will be available for sale on-site. The farm bakery will offer fresh squeezed lemonade, homemade caramel apples, roasted sweet corn, sno-cones, kettle corn and more.
Navarre Fishing Rodeo
Oct. 7 & 8
Tournament opens at 12:01 am Sat. and closes at 4 pm Sun.
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL navarrefishingrodeo.com
Fish from the shore, a boat or kayak, or from the pier–you just can't “fish” from the seafood market! Prizes will be awarded in all divisions. Up to two Junior anglers, ages 12 and under, can compete in the Junior Division for free with each paid rodeo admission. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Navarre Chamber Foundation which in turn benefits the Navarre Beach Marine Park.
3rd Anniversary Bash
Oct. 7 | 6:30 pm
2199 Hwy. 87, Navarre, FL
Help St. Michael’s celebrate their third year of business. Get ready to drink some awesome beer, get awesome eats, listen to some groovy music in the beer garden and support an awesome local charity. A limited number of commemorative anniversary beer mugs will be available for sale that include a year's worth of Mug Club Membership.
Juana’s Annual Oktoberfest Beer Fest
Oct. 7 | 12 – 4 pm
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL juanaspagodas.com
Enjoy a festive atmosphere for adults to sample craft beers and food from the Sailor’s Grill along with activities for children staffed by the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station.
Oct. 7 | 10 am – 3 pm
5003 Henry St., Milton, FL wfrm.org
This event will include tours of the museum, historic presentations, model train displays, and the riding kids train and garden. Food vendors plus “Snowbiz Shaved Ice” will be on site serving up delicious treats.
Take a Kid Fishing
Oct. 7 | 8 am
Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, 8579 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL takeakidfishingnavarre.com
This kid’s fishing clinic is staged at Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. The first 200 children (ages 12 and under) will receive a fishing pole. goodie bag, free bait and fishing instruction. This event fills up quickly. Proceeds go to the Navarre Chamber Foundation.
Spooky Shark School
October | 9 – 10 am
8740 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachseaturtles.org/programs
Explore sharks of the deep when the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center Shark School goes Spooky in October. Explore local gulf coast sharks, shark biology, and shark conservation. Shark school participants receive: Introduction class to sharks of the Gulf of Mexico, shark arts and crafts, shark tooth treasure hunt, a certificate of completion and early entrance to the NBSTCC.
Sea Turtle Extravaganza
Oct. 8 | 10 am – 2 pm
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, 8740 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL. navarrebeachseaturtles.org
Shell-e-brate all things sea turtle through games, crafts, a photo booth, costume characters, music and more. Free admission all day to the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center.
Bluegrass in the Woods
Oct 14 | 7 - 9 pm
Sunburst RV Resort, 2375 Horn Rd., Milton, FL sunburstrvresort.com
This free event will feature bluegrass music, s’mores around the fire pit and plenty of toe tapping. Bring your own lawn chairs and enjoy the peaceful setting. RV sites, cabins, and tent sites can be rented to make a weekend of it.
Oct 13 | 6 pm
8649 Gulf Blvd, Navarre, FL navarrebeachcarshow.com
The 22nd Annual Navarre, Car, Truck, and Bike show will kick off on Oct. 13 with the Friday Night Cruise-In. This event will feature more than 200 cars, a DJ and trophies awarded to the best cars in attendance.
22nd Annual Navarre Beach
Autorama: Car, Truck and Bike Show
Oct. 14 | 8 am – 4 pm
Navarre High School, 8600 High School Blvd., Navarre, FL. navarrebeachcarshow.com
Autorama showcasing more than 150 historical cars from all decades are on display in this popular event. Event features music, food and vendor booths. Check in is 8 am and judging starts at 11 am.
Boo at the Zoo – Trick or Treat Trail
Oct. 14-15, 21-22 & 28-29 | 10 am – 5 pm
5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy., Gulf Breeze, FL gbzoo.com
Trick-or-Treat with all your favorite animals! Boo at the Zoo offers six days of scare-free, daytime fun for children and their families. Join the safe zoo neighborhood of Halloween entertainment, with kid-friendly fun around every corner. Includes trick-or-treat trail with toys, treats, treasures, bounce houses, face painting, animal ambassador headquarters and the entire zoo.
15th Annual Run for the Reef 10K/5K
and Kid’s One Mile Fun Run
Oct. 14 | 6 am
8597 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.org
Features an out-and-back course along scenic Gulf Blvd. Event is a fundraiser to help “Make Navarre Snorkelicious,” a benefit for the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary and artificial reefs. Race Day registration will be from 6 am – 7 am at Windjammers on the Pier. The run starts at 7:30 am at the Navarre Beach boat launch parking lot.
Munson Heritage Festival
Oct. 14 & 15 | 9 am - 5 pm
Krul Lake Recreation Area, Milton, FL facebook.com/munsoncommunityheritagefestival
Learn about old-time ways through hands-on demonstrations. There is a Civil War reenactment camp, Native American displays, wood carving’ basket weaving, making corn-shuck dolls, dulcimer making, shoe cobbling; cross-cut sawing, old-time circular sawmill operation, turpentining, displays by local museums and more.
Annual Charity Chili Cook-off and Volleyball Tourney
Oct. 15 | 10 am – 4 pm
1451 Navarre Beach Cswy., Navarre Beach, FL juanaspagodas.com
Event is a fundraiser for Caring and Sharing of South Santa Rosa County. Fee required to enter the chili cookoff or the volleyball tournament. Donation fee required to taste. Bring already cooked and hot chili in crock pots with serving ladles to set up between noon and 2 pm; chili tastings take place from 2 to 4 pm. Volleyball registration at 10 am and the tournament starts at 10:30 am. Four-person co-ed teams will be paired according to skill level.
Pink Pirate's Get It Off Your Chest
Annual 5K Run
Oct. 21 | 8 am
8578 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL facebook.com/pinkpiratesnavarre
Breast Cancer Awareness Run. Race starts at the Navarre Beach boat ramp parking lot. Pink Pirates is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funds to assist with early detection of breast cancer.
Annual Ghost Walk Downtown Milton
Oct. 20 & 21 | 6 pm
6866 Caroline St., Milton, FL santarosahistoricalsociety.com
Tours will begin at the Imogene Theatre in Milton starting at 6 pm each evening. Tours start every 25 minutes until around 10 pm and last 30 to 45 minutes.
3rd Annual Batty Fang-Tastic Halloween
Oct. 24 | 4 – 8 pm
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge, 3051 Cloptons Cir., Navarre, FL facebook.com/emeraldcoastwildliferefuge
Don’t be afraid to come out to the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge for a spook-tacular time at the 3rd Annual Batty Fang-Tastic Halloween. Arrive in costume (or not) for a boo-licious evening of trick or treating with animal ambassadors, kid-friendly owl-oween haunted trail, pumpkin painting, cake walk, and much more. Food trucks will be on-site to provide all sorts of delicious treats each night.
Science Spooktacular by the Sea presented by the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station
Oct. 21 | 5 pm – 9 pm
8638 Blue Heron Ct., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachmarinesciencestation.com
From creeps of the deep, an endangered species cemetery, to science that glows in the dark, amazing sea creatures await you at the annual Science Spooktacular fundraiser. Explore science stations led by outstanding Santa Rosa County teachers. The family friendly event features glow in the dark science demonstrations, spine chilling dissections, haunted beach walk, hands-on activities and crafts.
Oct. 28 | 7:30 am
5629 Byrom St., Downtown Milton bbbsnwfl.org/events/fenner-ride
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and the West Florida Wheelmen are excited to announce the 2023 Fenner Ride will take place on Oct. 28 at 7:30 am at the Clyde L. Gracey Community Center. Cyclists can enjoy routes that start in the city of Milton, all the way to the woodlands of the Blackwater Forest, and back again. Riders will be able to experience Northwest Florida’s native wildlife, natural environments, and beautiful scenery. This ride includes routes for all cycling levels: 18, 42, 62, or 100 miles. Registration will be open until Oct. 27. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.
Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society
Saturdays, 10 am – 4 pm
7507 Buckeye Dr., Navarre, FL holleyhillpottery.com
Gulf Coast Kiln Walk has the largest historical 32 ft. wood fueled “Anagama” cave style kiln and the only reconstructed wood fueled Southern Altered Groundhog kiln from the 1940s in the State of Florida. Both historical kilns are available to view on the tour.
Trash Bash with the Navarre Beach
Sea Turtle Conservation Center
Oct. 28 | 8 – 10 am
8649 Gulf Blvd., Navarre Beach, FL navarrebeachseaturtles.org
Halloween themed for the month of October. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes that are upcycled and/ or marine themed. Help protect sea turtles and other imperiled species through a citizen science program that allows volunteers to take an active role in the war against marine debris. Volunteers collect trash from different areas along the 4.5 miles of Navarre Beach and record data that is forwarded to state and federal agencies. Meet in the main Navarre Beach Parking Lot near the Sand Crab Pavilion. A limited supply of gloves, buckets and pickers are provided, or bring your own.
Holley Hill Pottery and Art Studio Kiln Openings
Sept. - Nov.
Tues. & Sat. | 10 am - 4 pm
7507 Buckeye Dr., Navarre, FL holleyhillpottery.com
Open Tuesday to Saturday on the Tour. Holley Hill Pottery has been making pottery in Santa Rosa County for over 40 years capturing the lifestyle, scenery and sea life of the Gulf Coast using local clays and their own glaze formulas.
September Home Games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. For more information and tickets, visit milb.com/pensacola
September 1 at 6:35 pm - Chattanooga
Lookouts vs Blue Wahoos
September 2 at 6:05 pm - Chattanooga
Lookouts vs Blue Wahoos
September 3 at 4:05 pm - Chattanooga
Lookouts vs Blue Wahoos
September 12-15 at 6:35 pm - Mississippi
Braves vs Blue Wahoos
September 16 at 6:05 pm - Mississippi
Braves vs Blue Wahoos
September 17 at 4:05 pm - Mississippi
Braves vs Blue Wahoos
Details for Division Championship Series
Games are TBD
Seville Quarter Haunted Ghost Tour
Now through January 31
Come dine with the spirits of Seville on a Seville Quarter’s Haunted Ghost Tour! Take part in a paranormal investigation and then enjoy a meal at one of Pensacola’s oldest and most haunted restaurants. International psychic medium, Ericka Boussarhane, and members of her team will guide guests through the halls of Seville Quarter, telling tales of ghosts, murder, mayhem and more of downtown Historic Pensacola’s paranormal happenings. Tickets include the guided tour and a $12 meal voucher. Seville Quarter is located at 130 E. Government St. in downtown Pensacola. Reservations are required. Tour dates and times vary. For reservation information and more details, visit pensacolaghostevents.com.
September 1, 15 & 29
The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) will be hosting “Cinemas in the Sand,” free familyfriendly movie nights. Held at the Gulfside Pavilion on Casino Beach, Cinemas in the Sand allows families to come together and enjoy the beautiful beach and a wholesome movie. On September 1, the SRIA will be showing The Greatest Showman. On Sept. 15, Wall-E will be shown, and on Sept. 29, Night at the Museum will be shown. The movies will begin playing at sunset on a giant inflatable outdoor movie screen. For more information visit visitpensacolabeach.com.
September 5
Multi-platinum Grammy-nominated hard rock band Godsmack is coming to the Pensacola Bay Center along with special guests Atreyu and Flatblack. With over 20 years of chart-topping success, Godsmack have cemented themselves as 21st-century hard rock titans. To date, they’ve released eight studio albums, accomplished a staggering 11 #1 singles at mainstream rock radio and achieved 20 Top 10 hits at the format. Additionally, they’ve enjoyed four Grammy nominations and were named Billboard Music Awards Rock Artist of the Year in 2001. Doors open at 6 pm and the show begins at 7. The Pensacola Bay Center is located downtown at 201 E. Gregory St. For tickets and more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.
September 6, 12 & 19
The world-famous Blue Angels can be seen practicing over the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola select days throughout the year. Department of Defense identification cardholders and their guests (active duty service members, retirees, and their families) can visit the National Naval Aviation Museum to watch the Blue Angels practice. The gates will open at 9:30 am. The practice flight demonstrations can also be viewed outside of NAS Pensacola including Fort Pickens, boat cruises, and various points throughout downtown. The Blue Angels will take off around 10:30 am and the practices last for about 55 minutes. Practice schedules are subject to change.
September 7
Support local arts education through Pensacola Little Theatre’s annual benefit, depARTure. Running from 5 pm to 8 pm, the benefit will include live performances, libations, local auction items on the PLT court and a raffle for a grand prize. The grand prize raffle includes $4,000 cash or two tickets to the 2024 US Open Women's and Men’s Finals (four tickets total), a three-night stay in New York and personal concierge service. Each ticket purchased grants entry into the raffle and the event. depARTure supports Pensacola Little Theatre’s scholarship program, helps keep tuition prices affordable, and sponsors the traveling theatre outreach troupe that takes arts education into the community. The Pensacola Little Theatre is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. For tickets and more information, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.
September 7 & 14
Enter a world of spies and espionage as Corrie ten Boom, her sister Betsie and her elderly father Casper, heroically hide Jews from the Nazi invaders in their little town in Holland. Since 1971, the best-selling book by John and Elisabeth Sherrill with Corrie ten Boom has sold millions of copies and continues to touch the hearts of readers. With the power of live theatre and music this production brings Corrie's story to audiences in a powerful and exciting new way. Experience it for yourself this fall at the Rex Theatre! The Rex Theatre is located at 18 N. Palafox St. Doors open at 6 pm and the show begins at 7. For tickets and more information, visit hidingplacemusical.com.
September 16
The Miracle Strip Corvette Club will be celebrating its 20th annual Vettes at the Beach this September. The all Corvette car show has grown to host over 300 Corvettes from all over the country. People flock to the beach to join in on a day of friendship, great food and beautiful cars. Vettes at the Beach is held from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm in the Pensacola Beach parking lot. More than 35 trophies will be awarded and the National Corvette Museum will be on site with many Corvette treasures to purchase. The Miracle Strip Corvette Club proudly supports the Santa Rosa Kids’ House and Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida as its charities with proceeds from the show. For more information, visit miraclestripcorvette.com.
September 16
Florida-based trio, Magic City Hippies, will be bringing their indie funk sounds to the Vinyl Music Hall. With their unique rock, pop and funk influenced sound, Magic City Hippies draws fans of all ages and demographics. Robby Hunter, Pat Howard and John Coughlin formed the band back in 2015 in Miami. Now the group is traveling North and stopping in Pensacola to perform on Sept. 16. Doors open at 8 pm and the show begins at 9 pm. The Vinyl Music Hall is located at 2 S. Palafox St. For tickets and more information, visit vinylmusichall.com.
September 16
Jackass star, stand-up comedian, and New York Times best-selling author, Steve-O, is stopping by the Pensacola Saenger Theatre on The Bucket List Tour. Every idea on SteveO’s bucket list was so ill-advised, he never expected to go through with any of them… until it was time to prepare for this tour. Not only are the stunts more ridiculous than what you already know Steve-O for, he did them all, and made a multimedia comedy show out of them. Not for kids or the faint of heart. The Pensacola Saenger Theatre is located at 118 S. Palafox Pl. The show starts at 7 pm and doors open at 6 pm. For tickets and more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.
Leanne Morgan @ Pensacola Saenger
September 20-22
After discovering her passion for stand-up comedy later in life and finding the time and confidence to pursue her dream, Morgan has garnered over 2.5M followers across social media and her popular online stand-up special, So Yummy, has reached over 50M views on YouTube. Her fan base continues to grow with her relatability as she discusses everything from being a housewife, sharing
Jell-O recipes to having a new grandbaby. Morgan will perform three consecutive nights at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre as part of her Just Getting Started tour. The Pensacola Saenger Theatre is located at 118 S. Palafox Pl. The show starts at 7 pm and doors open at 6 pm. For tickets and more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.
Paws and Pilates
September 23
Downtown Pensacola’s locally owned and operated business, Pure Pilates, is hosting an adoption event for the Pensacola Humane Society. The animal adoption van will be parked in front of Pure Pilates at 426 S. Palafox St. from 9 am to 2 pm on Sept. 23. Pure Pilates will host a mat class with kittens at 10 am. The class fee is $20 and all proceeds go to the Pensacola Humane Society. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations from the Pensacola Humane Society’s wish list or a monetary donation to support this wonderful organization. For more information, visit purepilatespensacola.com/pawsandpilates.
September 29 - October 1
Savor delicious seafood, enjoy various musical acts and immerse yourself in historic downtown Pensacola during the annual Pensacola Seafood Festival, hosted by Fiesta Pensacola. This free festival features some of the best seafood vendors on the coast, as well as arts, crafts, family-friendly activities and more than 150 artisans and craftsmen. The festival is open from 11 am to 11 pm on Friday, 10 am to 11pm on Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. For more event details, visit pensacolaseafoodfestival.com.
September 30
The Wingman Foundation Memorial Run serves to honor and remember fallen Naval and Marine Corps air warriors. The run will take place in historic downtown Pensacola, beginning and ending at Seville Quarter on E Government Street. Runners also have a virtual registration option, so you can participate from anywhere. In addition to the 5K, there will also be a one mile fun run for kids 12 and under. Race proceeds support The Wingman Foundation, an all-volunteer run nonprofit that endeavors to support Gold Star families and the families of injured aircrew after a mishap occurs. The race begins at 7:30 am on Sept. 30. To register for the race or learn more, visit raceroster.com.
Presented by The Women’s Board of Baptist Health Care Foundation
Oct. 26, 2023
Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center 913 South I St.
5:30 p.m. Cocktails, Silent Auction and Hors D’oeuvres
6:30 p.m. Program and Live Auction
7 p.m. Fashion Show
Fashions provided by Bluetique, Dillard’s, The Market & Mainly Shoes, and The South Outfitters
For sponsorship information, visit baptisthealthcarefoundation.org or call 850.469.7906.
For participants in the City of Pensacola’s Summer Youth Intern Program, it’s never too early to start building a career.
Jarvis Andrews is only 19 years old, but he just wrapped up his second summer working with Public Works and Facilities through the paid internship program, which he is hopeful will ultimately lead him to a career at the city. Andrews said he was drawn to Public Works because of the hands-on nature of the work, whether it’s working on traffic signals, being out in the field with road crews, working in the sign shop, or just learning something new from his supervisors.
“I like doing all different kinds of new things and learning new things that I didn’t know about, and I felt like this was a good job to teach me,” Booker T. Washington High School graduate Andrews said.
Andrews was one of 21 local youth who spent their summer gaining real-world job experience in a variety of City of Pensacola departments through the paid internship program, learning valuable skills as they prepare to enter the workforce. Interns spent eight weeks working with a specific city department, not only learning from city employees in the work environment, but also engaging in a variety of hands-on projects.
Traffic Electrical Control Traffic Supervisor Mathew Edge, one of Andrews’ supervisors, praised his positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to learn. Edge has worked for the city for over 19 years, and he encouraged Andrews to pursue a career at the city in the future.
“The sky’s the limit,” Edge said. “As much as he wants to learn, he can keep going up as long as he keeps a great attitude.”
Second-year intern Mallory Bell worked for City Council after spending last summer at the Pensacola Police Department, which she said gave her great insight into the importance of teamwork between city departments. Bell is going into her sophomore year at the University of West Florida as a criminal justice major, with a goal of working in law enforcement.
“From last year working with the police department, it really sparked my interest even more,” Bell explained. “And this year, it really led me to see how the city and police department work together. It’s not just a one-man team – it takes everybody working together as a team.”
Bell said she enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at City Council through her internship this summer, working with fellow City Council intern Jessica De to learn about councilmembers’ goals for social media and engaging with their constituents.
“I feel like that was the best part, was to see not only from the outside but a different point of view from the inside,” Bell said. “They’re not just there for the politics, but they’re there because it’s their community they grew up in and are passionate about.”
About a dozen city departments participated in the Summer Youth Intern Program, including the City Administrator’s Office, City Council, Community Redevelopment Agency, Finance, Housing, Parking, Parks and Recreation, Pensacola International Airport, Pensacola Police Department, Port of Pensacola, Public Works, and Sanitation and Fleet Management.
Pensacola International Airport intern Cielee Hollon, also a second-year intern, said the airport internship was a perfect
fit for her since she is double majoring in flight operations and aviation management at Delta State University in Mississippi. Hollon plans to be a pilot, and the internship program provided her an opportunity to experience airport operations at a young age.
“I’m going to school to be a pilot, but being able to see the other side of things on the ground has definitely opened my eyes to all the different operations in an airport, rather than just the flying side of things,” Hollon said.
Hollon said the intern program has been beneficial not only for the knowledge and experience she’s gained, but it was also instrumental in helping her secure several college scholarships.
“I’m just really glad that this is an opportunity that I have, because it definitely broadens my horizons for the future,” Hollon said. “It allows me to learn more every day, and it’s a great way to spend my summer.”
Mayor D.C. Reeves recognized summer interns at a luncheon and awards ceremony on July 28, marking the conclusion of the 2023 City of Pensacola Summer Youth Intern Program.
"Providing opportunities like this for young people is so important to help them develop valuable workplace skills and decide what career path they're interested in pursuing," Mayor Reeves said. "These interns chose to spend their summer break working and learning new skills, which is a testament to their work ethic and leadership. I have no doubt that they have bright futures ahead of them, and I hope their experience with the City of Pensacola will play a role in helping them accomplish their goals."
For information about future opportunities with the Summer Youth Intern Program, visit cityofpensacola.com.
“The sky’s the limit ... as much as he wants to learn, he can keep going up as long as he keeps a great attitude.”City Council interns Mallory Bell, left, and Jessica De speak at a City Council meeting Public Works and Facilities Intern Jarvis Andrews works in the sign shop.
The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), a program of the University of West Florida (UWF), has been awarded a $99,968 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative (NERRS). The grant funds the project, “People of the Apalachicola Region: Exploring cultural heritage as a vector for ecosystem planning, management and adaptation.”
The project aims to provide a more representative interpretation of heritage in the Apalachicola area; inform management decision-making for both heritage and environmental resources impacted by climate and human pressures; and guide future research into impacts and issues these resources may be facing.
Baptist Health Care has achieved Fitwel® certification for the design of its Bear Family Foundation Health Center located at the new Baptist Hospital campus on Brent Lane. Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system committed to building health for all.
The Bear Health Center earned the Fitwel certification for evidence-based health and wellness design and operational strategies. The facility design supports the physical, mental and social health and well-being of team members and the community.
“This certification is a testament to our team's dedication and planning over the last several years to ensure we built a modern health center that promotes a healthy, safe and innovative environment for our patients, team members, and community,” Baptist Health Care Vice President of Corporate Construction John Porter said.
Gresham Smith, an architecture, engineering and design firm, collaborated with Baptist Health Care team members to create the $650 million new Baptist Hospital campus. Features of the Bear Health Center’s design that contributed to the certification include outdoor amenities such as walking paths and restorative gardens, access to healthy food options and quality drinking water, an active stair design to encourage walking rather than elevator use, sit-tostand workstations for all employees, shared multi-purpose spaces for community engagement, an on-site bus stop and emergency preparedness strategies.
“We applaud Baptist Health Care’s commitment to designing a facility geared around the health and wellness of not only their patients, but their staff members as well. This commitment allowed the team to prioritize strategies that activated the campus and focused on both physical and mental health,” Senior Vice President Gresham Smith said.
Scheduled to open this fall, the Bear Health Center is a 178,000-square-foot building with six floors and 162 exam rooms. The center offers physician offices and a variety of services, including those for oncology, infusion, imaging, bariatrics, surgery, cardiology, lab and pharmacy. In addition, Panera Bread is located on the ground floor and a conference center is on the second floor for events, meetings and other community outreach events.
“It was incredible to find out that the grant got funded,” Nicole Grinnan, public archaeologist and interim executive director at FPAN said. “The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve expressed a real need to us for more research into local heritage resources. Although we have worked with Reserve in the past, this project will serve to bolster our collaborative efforts and common goals. I’m excited that we’ve been given this amazing opportunity.”
Grinnan is the project lead and principal investigator and will work with UWF graduate student Bria Brooks, among other researchers from UWF and elsewhere. Grinnan’s team will explore the interaction between people and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve environment and how they have interacted over time by encouraging participation in an online survey and community workshops in and around the Reserve.
“We want to find out how people value this heritage and bring more awareness to it,” Grinnan said. “The project will hopefully inspire people to learn more about history and archaeology in their area, encouraging them to become stewards of these places and preserve them in the long term.” They will also seek to learn how climate change has impacted archaeological sites in the Apalachicola area over time and what the impact would be if those sites were lost. The team will use the integration of digital modeling and on the ground monitoring to learn what sites are most at risk of loss.
The project was one of 17 projects selected involving 27 Reserves across the nation and totaling more than $2 million awarded by NERRS. The project will span from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.
For more information about FPAN, visit flpublicarchaeology. org. For more information on UWF’s Anthropology and Archaeology, visit uwf.edu/archaeology.
The July Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup collected more than 51 tons (102,840 pounds) of bulk waste, along with 70 tires and 965 gallons of paint. The cleanup took place on Saturday, July 29 with 24 loads picked up from the Eastgate, Parker Circle and Broadview Farms areas including portions of surrounding neighborhoods.
The Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup allows residents in the cleanup areas to leave eligible items at the curb on cleanup day to be picked up by City of Pensacola Sanitation Services. The cleanup includes bulk items such as household appliances, furniture and mattresses, bicycles and toys, tires and old paint. Through the Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup program, all city neighborhoods have a cleanup once a year during the months of January through October. In addition to Sanitation Services collecting items left at the curb, Code Enforcement conducts a sweep of the cleanup area and addresses any code violations. For more information about the Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanup Program, visit cityofpensacola.com.
Santa Rosa County was awarded $8.5 million in funding from Triumph Gulf Coast to build infrastructure on 40 acres at the Whiting Aviation Park, a 269-acre development adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field, where all helicopter pilots for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are trained. A first-of-itskind limited-access-use agreement between Santa Rosa County and the Navy allows Whiting Aviation Park’s civilian tenants to use the runway and control tower at Whiting Field.
"Leonardo is just the beginning for Whiting Aviation Park," Santa Rosa Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree said. "The park is uniquely positioned for aviation-related operations, and we are talking to several prospective companies interested in possibly locating here."
The Leonardo Helicopters Florida Support Center will be 113,000 sq/ft and include four large hangar bays, major component repair and overhaul, transmission work that will include Dynamic Test Bench, a full-sized paint booth and all associated tooling and equipment. In addition, a large parts warehouse will also be co-located to enable a more efficient supply chain response for the US Navy’s TH-73 fleet at NASWF as well as for commercial customers operating throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The Leonardo Helicopters Florida Support Center is slated to be completed by the end of 2024.
"We are thrilled to break ground at Whiting Aviation Park on Leonardo Helicopters' new Florida Support Center," Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo Helicopters U.S. Clyde Woltman said. "With this modern and highly efficient facility, Leonardo Helicopters will be able to bring its industry-leading product support services even closer to our customers. We would not be here today without the constant partnership and support of the state of Florida, Space Florida, Santa Rosa County, Triumph Gulf Coast and the United States Navy."
Leonardo breaks ground on new customer support center in Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County joined Leonardo to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art customer support center at Whiting Aviation Park in Milton. A groundbreaking ceremony was held today, Jul. 28, with other partners from Space Florida, Triumph Gulf Coast, the state of Florida and the United States Navy. Construction will now officially begin on this highly anticipated helicopter support center at Whiting Aviation Park, a site immediately adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF).
"This is a historic moment for the U.S. Navy and Santa Rosa County. This project is the culmination of more than two decades of work and cooperation to support the mission of NAS Whiting Field and the men and women training to be the pilots of tomorrow,” said Colton Wright, Santa Rosa County Commissioner, District 5, and Board of County Commissioners Chairman. “I'm so thankful to Leonardo for their commitment and making the investment in Santa Rosa County to build a facility to perform maintenance and overhaul on the TH-73 helicopter. We value Leonardo's team and their partnership in producing the best pilots in the world...right here in our backyard.”
The announcement of Leonardo's intention to build a helicopter support center at Whiting Aviation Park came in 2019 pending its aircraft being selected for the U.S. Navy’s Advanced Helicopter Training System, the Navy’s comprehensive program to replace its aging fleet of TH-57 “Sea Rangers” that operate from NASWF. In January 2020, the United States Navy selected a variant of the Leonardo AW119, now named the TH-73 “Thrasher”, to serve as the primary training aircraft for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard as well as other allied nations. The first aircraft was delivered to the US Navy in June of 2021 and in July, with the support of Santa Rosa County and Triumph Gulf Coast, Leonardo opened a temporary hangar at Peter Prince Airport to gain its FAA Part 145 certification and begin repair work while a larger, permanent facility was being designed and developed at Whiting. Since that time, Leonardo has hired 19 full-time employees in Santa Rosa County.
To better serve the needs of this fleet and more than 1,000 Leonardo aircraft that are operating throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Central America, the Company worked closely with partners at Santa Rosa County and Space Florida to select a site at Whiting Aviation Park, a commercial aviation park immediately adjacent to NASWF, for its new comprehensive customer support facility. Located on 267 acres of industrially zoned land owned by Santa Rosa County, the Whiting Aviation Park features a “first of its kind” limited access use agreement between Santa Rosa County and the US Navy, allowing tenants of the park to have access to NASWF’s 6,000 ft. runway and air traffic control. With financing through Space Florida, Leonardo will be investing over $65,000,000 into the construction, fit-out and tooling for this new facility.
With Florida Blue and Truli for Health, you can offer employees access to quality coverage, with less administrative work for you and lower costs for everyone. Our group health plans offer benefits like $10 copays for virtual visits for general medicine, plus access to 8,000+ doctors,* 180+ hospitals, and most major pharmacies.
*Provider networks are subject to change. They are made up of independently contracted physicians, hospitals, and ancillary providers. Health benefit plans have limitations and exclusions. The amount of benefits provided depends on the plan selected and the premium may vary with the amount of benefits selected. Health insurance is offered by Florida Blue, a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. and HMO coverage is offered by both Florida Blue HMO, a trade name of Health Options, Inc. and Truli for Health, a trade name of BeHealthy Florida, Inc., both HMO affiliates of Florida Blue. These companies are Independent Licensees
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. 113844 0523
July sales were down 22% compared to June and down 15% compared to last July.
44 DAYS ON MARKET
For Sale
329
The average DOM for residential and condos combined was 44, down three days from June.
Residential listings increased by 131 units from June’s totals, matching a twelve-month high of 2,568 units. Condo inventory hit a twelve-month high of 283 units.
MEDIAN SALE PRICE
310k PENDING SALES
953 NEW RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS
July’s pending sales were virtually tied with the prior month and down 15% compared to last July.
personal take on the trend by shifting from "typical" coastal design that pairs beachy hues with natural textures like rope, driftwood and wicker to something more classic and natural like the Cape Cod variation by working in some nautical touches like anchors, oars or seashells.
Design inspiration for a comforting, relaxing home
Updating your home can provide the perfect opportunity to explore new design styles or refresh living spaces with a new color scheme. In fact, a coat of paint can help set the mood for entire rooms in your home.
By turning to nature-inspired designs, you can create a sense of comfort and relaxation. A hybrid color, like Valspar's 2024 Color of the Year, Renew Blue, is gentle and airy with a touch of blue to set a restful and meditative mood. The grayed sea green - inspired by fleeting things such as fog, mist, clouds and glacier lakes - is a seasonless and versatile hue that features a mid-tone blue with warm undertones and can be used in outdoor living spaces and fourseason rooms alike.
"This mid-tone shade has become popular for wellness environments over the years due to its low saturation level, which evokes a sense of rest and calm," said Sue Kim, Valspar's director of color marketing. "The harmonious green and blue open the possibility for outdoor applications, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior."
To help elevate the mood in your home, consider implementing Renew Blue into one of these popular design trends that can update the look of nearly any of your indoor or outdoor spaces.
Coastal looks are timeless designs that have remained relevant for years because of their positive correlation to calming beach locations. Perfect for outdoor spaces like the backyard, you can implement a more curated and
In the entryway, using beautiful and functional decor, such as unique ceramics and handwoven textiles, helps usher in a modern rustic style. By using timeless tones and accents, as well as layering heritage art, you can create visual mystery while elevating the ordinary to make your home feel warm and welcoming to guests from the moment they walk through the door.
Modern Traditional is a style that came together over time, and the Hygge look is a refined take. It pulls elementary cues from traditional farmhouse style but has shaker-inspired elements mixed in and is done with a slightly modern twist. It can make a larger space like the kitchen feel welcoming, open, carefully curated and warm.
Boho is a nature-loving and free-spirited style connected to earthy and botanical elements. From handmade decor to vintage metallic finishes, this style reimagines the past and elevates everyday spaces like bathrooms into personal retreats designed with wellness in mind.
Leaning into the modern sentiment of "less is more," this style reflects a naturally minimalist design aesthetic and showcases color coordination with moodboosting hues and joyful color. Perfect for nurseries and other spaces that should be bright and welcoming, pieces with pared-back, welcoming
shapes and silhouettes that allow quality natural materials to shine are perfect for decorating the room.
Visit Valspar.com to find more on-trend home design inspiration and order up to 10 free paint chips to be delivered to your home to see how your favorite colors will fit your space.
If a concept like color drenching - using one color from the baseboards to the ceiling and decor - isn't what you're envisioning, pairing a gentle and airy color like Renew Blue with other hues may be just the trick to create the space of your dreams. Consider these popular Valspar pairing options:
* Perfect Backdrop: The familiar, natural tone of beige has returned strong, balancing warm and cool shades to create comforting spaces that harmonize well with various design styles.
* Dusk in the Valley: A barely-there, grayed pastel that is soothing to the senses, even amid constant changes. Layering pale tints in various materials can create a sense of calm and relaxation.
If you're unsure where to begin your color search - or need advice on color matching, building your painting confidence or troubleshooting complicated projects - the experts at Valspar offer free virtual advice. Simply provide details about your space, lighting and style preferences using the questionnaire at valspar.com/en/colorconsultation and by uploading photos of your space and any inspiration to receive personalized recommendations directly to your account.
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Source: Valspar
Our “Just Looking” program can get you insider access to homes BEFORE they hit the open market. Best of all, you’ll continuously get homes that match EXACTLY what you are looking for WITHOUT calls from salespeople! Simply spend 5 minutes on a phone call to tell us details about what type of home you want and desired areas, then our marketing team finds sellers that are willing to sell, but are not yet on the public market! Totally free of charge!
Designing a new home, remodeling your own or simply rethinking aesthetics and decor all require a little imagination and a lot of inspiration. A quick online search brings up hundreds if not thousands of thoughtful ways to make your kitchen or bathroom match your desired style from modern to traditional or anything in between.
All those results can be slightly overwhelming, however. Rather than having a go at it alone, rely on the professionals to guide you toward looks that are all the rage and fit a variety of budgets. Consider these on-trend design ideas from the kitchen and bathroom experts at Wellborn Cabinet, whose whole-home solutions double as functional and beautiful.
Kitchen Trends
Let it Flow: Open concepts have become quite common as it allows the kitchen to feel like one large room where loved ones and guests can intermingle as opposed to an enclosed space. This flowing openness lends continuous visibility to the area ranging from the (seemingly) always active kitchen to gathering spaces in the dining and living rooms. An open floor plan also helps connect design aesthetics from each room to the next.
Opt for Concealed Storage: Pots, pans, knives and all your favorite kitchen gadgets need hidden somewhere. Rather than taking up valuable pantry space, turn to a stylish storage solution from Wellborn Cabinet's line of pullout cabinets that give you the room you need. With options ranging from pullout peg boards to sleek tray dividers, these clever contraptions can help you stay organized while making functionality beautiful.
Incorporate Smart Tech: Trends aren't exclusively about aesthetics - practicality via technology is equally important for those looking to update their kitchens to the 21st century. Devices like smart refrigerators that allow you to take inventory from an app, smart lighting that brightens and dims to save on electricity and voice assistants that help you keep track of recipes are all trendy paths toward a top-of-the-line kitchen. Bring in Organic Touches: Organic modern is in, which means adding organic touches using natural materials like stone and wood in your cabinets, countertops, flooring and more. Achieve a warm vibe with these organic elements paired with a neutral color palette (soft whites and earthy tones) and natural light.
Bathroom Trends
Add Accents that Pop: Obvious accents like bold pops of color and unique patterns come to mind, but you can also make your bathroom stand out by experimenting with materials, accessories and shapes. Think eye-catching cabinet hardware, fun mirror shapes and openshelf decor that grabs attention without overdoing it.
Show Off Wood Vanities: As an important area you'll use to get ready for each day, vanities should be purposeful and practical but can also brandish your personal style. Types and sizes may vary but one look seeing an upward trend, according to Wellborn Cabinet's design experts, is the use of natural tones and textures like woodgrain to complement the rise in popularity of warm colors in recent years.
Go for Decorative Lighting: The same tired light fixtures in bathrooms can feel drab and dreary. Evaluate the amount of natural light available (often at a premium in bathrooms) and decide if you can go more subdued or need to effectively and efficiently illuminate the area. Bellshaped, wall-mounted sconces next to mirrors are in vogue, as are glass globes to complement ample natural light. For a true touch of modern flair, consider dramatic accent lighting like underlights on a floating vanity that do double duty as a convenient nightlight.
Make it Spa-Like: Lavish luxury is the goal with a spa-like bathroom in the comfort of home. Organic materials, natural light, traditional decor and, maybe most importantly, an oversized soaking tub are at the core of this look. While it may sound counterintuitive, you can actually create your own oasis with some simple, budgetfriendly aesthetics. The first step for many is to incorporate more storage using sleek cabinets, shelves and wall-mounted hooks to achieve a decluttered look. Next, simply replace your old showerhead and faucet with spa lookalikes and stock up on plush, fluffy towels for that luxurious appearance without a complete remodel. Find more design inspiration by visiting Wellborn.com.
If you love the look of beautiful kitchen cabinets and appreciate their functionality, try incorporating them throughout the house with these ideas.
* Home Office - As working from home continues to rise in popularity, you might need that extra storage space around or above your desk whether it's in a full-blown office or a nook in the den.
* Laundry Room - Uppers and lowers alike can help you stow away detergents, cleaning products, laundry baskets and even last season's wardrobe.
* Mud Room - All those shoes and jackets need space somewhere, and kitchen cabinets in the mudroom can help you contain the mess.
* Garage - Whether your garage serves as a secondary entertainment area, home gym or simply storage for outdoor tools and toys, cabinets allow you to organize (and hide) that equipment.
#16775 Source: Wellborn Cabinet
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and the National Weather Service is predicting between 12 to 17 total named storms. The best advice for homeowners who want to be better prepared? Proactively think about what can be done ahead of time -- as well as after the fact -- so that you and your family are able to withstand severe weather and quickly recover from it.
“Every day, our team speaks with homeowners needing guidance on their insurance and ways to help keep their family and property safe. Customers typically ask our loss consultation team about water damage, deductibles and what might be covered under their insurance policies,” said Jim Wucherpfennig, vice president of Property Claim at Travelers, a property casualty insurer that assists homeowners in planning for and recovering from hurricanes. “Knowing policy terms and conditions can help alleviate some of a homeowner’s anxiety that accompanies a storm.”
Wucherpfennig suggests taking the following steps to be ready for severe weather:
Before a storm:
• Review your policy: Know your insurance coverage limits and check to see that your coverage amounts will allow you to repair or rebuild your property based on current costs.
• Keep good records: Store your policies and insurance contact information in a safe place should your property be damaged and you want to make a claim.
• Create an inventory of personal belongings: Capture video or write a list of items and store it with any important photos in a fireproof safe or safe deposit box. Consider purchasing extra coverage for computers, jewelry, art and other expensive items that could be damaged or destroyed in a storm.
• Consider purchasing flood insurance: This is a separate policy and can cover water damage due to flooding resulting from tropical storms and hurricanes.
After a storm:
• Make temporary repairs: Consider hiring a vendor to board up windows, tarp the roof, clean up hazardous spills and debris or take other steps to reduce the possibility of additional property damage.
• Separate and inventory damaged personal property: Create a list of any damaged contents and include a description of each item with details such as the name of the brand and manufacturer; age, place and date of purchase, and other pertinent facts. Be sure to include photographs, video, or personal property inventories you may already have available.
• Maintain accurate records: Keep detailed notes of your expenses and save bills and receipts from your temporary repairs.
For more information on how to get your home and your finances ready for severe weather, visit Travelers.com. While no one likes to think about worstcase scenarios, being prepared before a storm, and having a plan for its aftermath, can help your family get back on its feet faster.
Photo source: (c) Image Source / iStock via Getty Images Plus
If you have a deck, it's probably one of your favorite - and most used - spaces, especially when it's warm outside. But time, usage and weather can all take their toll on your family hangout spot. The good news is, even if you're a novice DIYer, it's easy to protect your deck and keep it looking great in just a few simple steps, and doing the job yourself can save money and help you avoid more work on it in the future.
Now is a great time to clean, stain and seal your deck. Here's how to ensure the job is done well.
When was the last time you assessed the condition of your deck? Look for issues like dirt, mildew, algae or old stain coating that's peeling - plus damaged, cracked or warped wood that may need to be replaced.
Try the "splash test" - splash a little water on the deck and watch how quickly the water is absorbed. If the water is rapidly absorbed into the wood, that means it's no longer protected from the elements and needs attention.
While you might be tempted to rent a power washer to clean your deck, it's not recommended, as power washing can damage wood - especially if you're inexperienced in using this tool. Instead, choose a deck cleaner designed specifically to clean decks in preparation for staining and sealing.
If you see dirt and stains but no coating peeling off, an exterior cleaner like Thompson's WaterSeal Heavy Duty Deck Cleaner will work on any type of wood. If you see old peeling coating, however, Thompson's WaterSeal Maximum Strength Deck Stripper is the strongest option to help remove old stain. Make sure to follow the instructions on whatever product you use for cleaning your deck, and don't forget the rails or benches. If you have several boards that vary in color, a solid color stain would get you a more consistent color, transparent stains will show more wood grain, and semi-transparent stains add more color and protection while keeping some of the wood grain visible.
Once your deck is cleaned, you can start to envision the effect you want. Would you like to see more natural wood grain, a little grain, or almost none? Design experts often choose a dark or light deck color to provide a strong contrast to the color of the home's exterior. You can also use different color stain on the railings and benches of your deck for visual interest. If you're unsure what look you want, try a small sample area first to see how it appears once the stain is dry.
To make staining and protecting your deck easier, Thompson's WaterSeal products provide year-round protection in just one coat - with specialized water-beading formulas to help prevent water damage. Choose from four stain and wood sealer products depending on the look you want: Clear Wood Sealer shows all wood grain, Transparent Wood Sealer shows the most wood grain, Semi-Transparent Wood Sealer shows some wood grain and Solid Color Wood Sealer shows little wood grain.
Measuring your deck, including railings and benches, helps you determine the amount of stain you'll need. Read the product instructions carefully before using. You'll find useful information including weather guidelines and recommended temperature ranges for application. For example, it's best to avoid windy and rainy days as well as high temps when your deck boards are very hot.
Also check product labels for recommended wait times between cleaning and staining. Thompson's WaterSeal Wood Sealers require waiting 48 hours before applying deck coating.
To help ensure that your deck stays looking great even longer, keep your deck free of leaves, dust, dirt and snow. Visually check your deck for trouble spots and do the "splash test" every year, so it will stay in good condition as long as possible. Using these tips, you should be able to protect and revitalize your deck so you and your family can continue enjoying it for years to come.
Pro tip: You can seal and protect other surfaces in your outdoor space beyond decks and fences, including concrete and stone patio pavers, using products like Thompson's Multi-Surface Waterproofer.
Ready to get started? Learn more about how to protect your deck at ThompsonsWaterSeal.com.
For more information contact Gail Green!
FOR SALE: 40 ft 2022 Intrepid 409 Valor | $779,000
FOR SALE: 37 ft 2019 Freeman 37 | $720,000
Sleek and stylish, the 409 Valor offers all the enhanced accommodations you would expect in a luxury performance cruiser. From a private head with shower stall and separate master berth with queen bed and hullside windows to a forward cabin section that easily converts to a large double berth.
• Hullside Dive Door With Step Ladder And Grab Rails
• Entertaining Is Elevated With Cozy, Custom Seating & A Stylish Wet Bar
• Baitwells, Rod Holders, Tank Storage, Tackle Boxes & Raw Water Wash Down
• Quick Gyro Stabilizer Enhances Comfort at Sea or at Anchor
• 8.5 Kw Kohler Generator
• Entertainment, Central Heat And Air, Grill, Multiple Refrigerators & More Available to Enhance On-Board Comfort and Accommodation.
• Only 60 Total Engine Hours!
• Boat Has Been Kept Inside A New, Conditioned Warehouse!
Very nice 2019 Freeman 37 VH with quad Yamaha 300s with amazing features, which include but aren't limited to:
• Optimus hydraulic steering
• Yamaha Helm Master joystick
• Rigid Light Bar
• Ritchie Lighted Compass
• Anchor W/Line & Dock Lines
• Pair of Garmin GPSmap 862
• KISAE Power Inverter 2000
• Nite Track Night Vision 2, Garmin Autopilot, Garmin xHD2 Open Array Radar, Garmin AIS 800
For more information contact Dan Green!
• MasterVolt 12/35-3 charger
• 2 ICOM VHF radios, 2 VHF antennas on stainless ratchet mounts
• 4 Tuna Tubes, Outriggers, Livewells, Raw Water Washdown, Fresh Water, Tackle Drawers
• Custom Aluminum trailer with bow ladder, torsion springs and a GVWR of 21000 lbs.
