BrunchFest

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS!

1st Place: Boathouse Oyster Bar

2nd Place: Eastpass Seafood and Oyster House

3rd Place: Margaritaville Destin

Best Sip: The Tipsy Mule

Rain and cooler temperatures did not keep the crowds away for BrunchFest at HarborWalk Village on February 11. This scrumptious event brought hundreds of brunch lovers to Destin Harbor, eager to taste breakfast bites and morning cocktails from around 20 local restaurants and vendors.

“We are a sold-out event this year, selling out three weeks before the event,” said HarborWalk Marketing Vice President Brittany Bryd.

From mimosas and bloody Mary’s to shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles, each stop along the BrunchFest passport was delicious and memorable. As festival goers enjoyed each stop, they had the opportunity to vote for their favorite bite and sip.

Alaqua Animal Refuge Commemorates Grand Opening of New Facility with Month-Long “Celebrate! Alaqua” Events

“We are so happy to finally be in our permanent home,” said Alaqua Founder Laurie Hood. “We have welcomed the animals to their new sanctuary and now we want to welcome our community to come see what their love, fundraising, and support throughout the years has built. After eight years of creating this space, we invite everyone to come ‘Celebrate Alaqua’ and honor this momentous move for our organization.”

Alaqua Animal Refuge is pleased to announce the formal opening of their new, one-of-a-kind facility, located at 155 Dugas Way, and invites the community to celebrate the momentous occasion with a monthlong celebration of events titled “Celebrate! Alaqua” beginning March 4.

As the Southeast’s premier 501(c)3 refuge and sanctuary, Alaqua believes that every abused, neglected, and homeless animal deserves a second chance. Originally located on 10 acres in Freeport, the new 100-acre facility will allow Alaqua to continue to do the important work of animal rescue and rehabilitation, as well as be an educational and training center for animal welfare advocates as a place that will inspire, empower, and educate others to make change in society and recreate

During the month of March, Alaqua will host a featured event every Saturday, kicking off with the highly anticipated Seventh Annual 100 Point and Cult Wine Dinner on Saturday, March 4. The sold-out, exclusive evening will offer guests a one-of-a-kind experience as they will be the first to dine in Alaqua’s permanent home. The elegant affair begins with a sunset cocktail reception followed by dinner and entertainment in the New Orleansinspired Courtyard of the Jumonville Family Welcome Center. Guests will be seated for a curated 5-course dinner inspired by coastal roots, courtesy of Chef Nikhil Abuvala of Roux 30a. Each dish will be expertly paired with unique 100 Point and Cult Wines, along with craft cocktails and spirits. Guests will also enjoy a private concert with musical guest performances as well as a silent and live auction.

March 11-the community is invited to the Inaugural Alaqua Wellness Festival from 10 a.m. p.m. The event will celebrate animals, humans, the earth, and how each coexist with body, and soul. The festival is open to guests of all ages. Wellness classes and workshops including yoga, Pure Barre, Chi-Gong, sound baths, nature trail tours, educational seminars and more will be offered throughout the day. In conjunction, there will be a showcase of local vendors, live music, and an array of food and beverage options. The day will conclude with a ceremonial bonfire.

March 14- doors open for visits, tours, and adoptions, and will be open daily Tuesday through Sunday of each week from 11 a.m. p.m.

March 18- Adoption Event, Volunteer Drive, and Fun Run/Walk from 10 a.m. p.m. The community is invited to meet, interact, and learn more about adopting one of Alaqua’s available animals, including cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, and farm animals. Their volunteer team will also be available to answer questions and sign up those interested in becoming volunteers themselves. There will be food trucks, education booths, dog training tips, and tours of the grounds and nature trails throughout the afternoon.

March 25- Wild and Free Festival from 10 a.m. p.m. This event will highlight Alaqua’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, a state and federally permitted facility, providing a much-needed resource for rescue, rehabilitation, and release of sick, injured, and orphaned native Florida wildlife across an 11-county area. The festival will kick off with a “baby shower” to raise awareness and gather supplies for the upcoming “baby” season where the Refuge takes in hundreds of orphaned wildlife patients. Following the shower, guests will have access to food trucks, craft beer stations, and live music throughout the day. Alaqua’s new wildlife rescue ambulance will be onsite for tours and will be filled with animal ambassadors. There will also be kids’ activities including a wildlife scavenger hunt, face painting, and birdhouse decorating.

Okaloosa County School District Announces Education Staff Professional of the Year

The Okaloosa County School District is proud to announce this year’s Education Staff Professional of the Year is Ms. Shawna Crist, Media Assistant at Plew Elementary School. Mrs. Crist spent thirteen years in the classroom before becoming a mom and choosing to become a full-time volunteer at Plew Elementary, where she received the 2012 Senior Adult Volunteer of the year award. Now, in her eleventh year as the Media Assistant, she shares ideas with others throughout our District and is known to staff and parents as a “cheerleader for readers who strives to keep students from falling through the cracks.” deserving of Support Person of the Year for OCSD.” patterns of these rays is important for the conservation of the species. “Anything we can do to assist in the advancement of an endangered species in Northwest Florida, is oin to be a benefit or all o us said Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Trey Goodwin. “We are lucky to have a team of marine biologists in Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department that understands how important these rays are to the collective marine ecosystem.”

“Our Education Staff Professionals play a vital role in our schools and across our District. We have so many employees who give their all to impact the lives around them positively, and Ms. Crist sets that example every day,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers.

In November 2022, Mote Researchers, along with the Okaloosa County Coastal Resource Team, found rays and tagged seven of them with acoustic tags the size of a small battery. Tracking the movement of the rays will help determine why the rays migrate to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area in the fall and winter months.

Okaloosa County’s Coastal Resource Team with Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism recently initiated and assisted a team of researchers in identifying and tagging devil rays in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mrs. Crist was chosen as Support Person of the Year for Plew in 2018, is the creator of the school news show, Violin Club sponsor, Mrs. Crist-mas Shop sponsor, Plew Planters Team lead, and Plew Parent Leadership co-president. Plew Elementary Principal Tammy Matz stated, “Mrs. Crist is an icon; a person widely admired especially for having reat in uence or si nificance here at lew Elementary. I could not think of anyone more

While installing three miles of sand fencing on Okaloosa Island in 2021, members of the Coastal Resource team noticed a number of devil rays swimming close to the beach. The Coastal Resource Team’s curiosity into the migratory patterns of these rays prompted them to contact researchers from Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida.

For the past years, Mote Researchers have been collecting data on three pelagic ray species: spotted eagle rays, manta rays, and de il rays. All three species are classified as “Endangered.” Understanding the migratory

“It will be great to have some answers for the locals and tourists that constantly stop us on the beach asking questions about this very visible species. Hopefully we will see these devil rays returning to our coast year after year and we can determine why they overwinter in our waters,” said Alex Fogg, Coastal Resource Manager for Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

This multi-year collaborative study aims to tag 30-50 devil rays. The data will be analyzed to not only provide some insight into the movement ecology of this endangered species but also guide coastal management throughout their range. This is just one of many cooperative projects the Coastal Resource Team engages in with re ional uni ersities and scientific partners.