November / December 2015 by On the Coast Magazine

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015

5 6

ARE MY KIDS HAPPY? AS LONG AS THEY ARE HAPPY THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

Publisher’s Page Contributor's Page

The fantastic writers who make this magazine a reality!

Shoulders Back, Chest Out, Stomach In Stand tall. It's worth it.

12 Is Something Missing?

An essential ingredient in your child’s life.

18 A Local Company Reaches Out

VOLUME 12 NUMBER 6

Impacting & improving our communities.

22 Are You Plugged In?

Paying attention has its rewards.

24 Gifts Galore

Our annual gift guide.

36 Charitable Events

Horizons Fashion Show, Race for Lace

Alexandra Brown shares this issues treasures!

38 Great Books for Great Kids 40 Fairs, Festivals and Fun

On the Cover: Christmas On the Coast

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Make Your Next Birthday Party A

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PUBLISHER/EDITOR NANCY BABIN PHOTO EDITOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR SHANE BABIN CONTRIBUTING EDITORS KOBE BABIN, NANCY BABIN, ALEXANDRA BROWN, DENISE GATES, PAUL HUNTER, MALIA JACOBSON, LESLIE MOLAND, ERIKA SCANNELL, CRYSTAL TINGLE, TIFFANY TOLER PHOTOGRAPHY COASTALSTYLE.COM ART DIRECTOR NANCY BABIN GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAGUE SOLUTIONS & TRINITY GRAPHICS & DESIGN

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ON THE COAST is published six times a year and is available free of charge at more than 200 strategically placed locations. ON THE COAST encourages your comments, suggestions and submissions, and we reserve the right to edit for tone, grammar, style or length. The Magazine will not be held responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or photography. Editorials articulated in this publication do not necessarily reflect that of ON THE COAST MAGAZINE. Please write us at: ON THE COAST MAGAZINE 4421 Commons Drive East #110 Destin, FL 32541-3847 (850) 642-5439 E-mail OTC@OntheCoastMag.com ON THE COAST is a division of KIDZ ON THE COAST ® Publishing, INC. All materials are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the publisher. Kidz on the coast Publishing Inc., does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial content, nor Kidz on the Coast Publishing Inc., or its staff assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial content appear in any publication.

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To most of us with college- and school-age children, the end of the year in our minds is usually May or June. In reality, this is the end of the year – November and December. This is a special time for holiday fun, family time, memory making and yearly reflections.

too, Dear Readers, to do the same! And what better time to do it? Organize a coat drive. Collect gloves and blankets; maybe put together toiletry bags for the homeless. Gather some friends and go clean up an elderly neighbor’s yard. Sponsor an angel or two from the Angel Tree for children in need. Organize a team for the 5th annual Luminaria Run benefitting Shelter House, “shedding a light on domestic violence” on December 5th. Set the example. Make time to develop character in your children while there is still time.

At the beginning of the year we all make goals and/or set a New Year’s Resolution or two, but how many of us stop in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the end of the year holiday season to honestly reflect on them? On ourselves? On our family? Did we reach our goals? Did we stick to our resolutions? Did we make any positive long-lasting changes or did we fall back into the same ol’ same ol’ rut? If I am to be completely transparent, I know that I fell short in many areas and sadly, at some point in the year, life became too busy, and those same ol’ ruts took over.

Well-renowned and beloved evangelist Billy Graham teaches, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” I’m guilty of trying to give my children things over teaching them character. It’s easier. It’s faster. I see instant gratification in their excitement and joy over those shiny new things.

Since life is not slowing down, it is time for us to take control! As I race from place to place and try to fulfill this commitment and that, lately I’ve asked myself these things… Will finishing first in a debate competition have a greater impact on my child in later years, or will showing kindness? Will stacking the shelves with just one more basketball medal or trophy be what takes my son further down this path called life, or will compassion? Am I teaching my children how to win or how to succeed? Do they understand key concepts like empathy and mercy? Do they understand that coming in first does not necessarily make you best? If not, how can I help instill those values in them? What is key to developing their character? Flip ahead a few pages and read some of the tips and suggestions we have mapped out in this very edition you hold in your hands!

But I want to leave my children a legacy – not just a bunch of stuff. I want to see them develop character and show kindness, not just show off the latest clothing trends or electronics. We all want to give our children the best, but what if we focused more on developing the best within them instead? It may not be easy, especially during this busy, demanding time of the year, but I believe in you. Let’s finish 2015 better than ever. Let’s make these days On The Coast and everywhere shine from the love within, not just the holiday lights around town. We can all use some more love. Let America’s favorite author remind you in his infamous words, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” –Dr. Suess Happy Holidays, my Loves.

As I challenge myself to step back, slow down and focus on the moral and character development of the children within my family and sphere of influence, I want to challenge you

2004 Gold ADDY Award

2008 Silver ADDY Award

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 5

Contributors Crystal Tingle

Erika Scannell

Denise Gates Denise is a freelance writer and editor, the stay-at-home mother of two teenage boys, and a military wife whose husband’s career takes her all over the country but whose heart remains in Destin, FL. As any writer knows, a second set of eyes is essential before submitting an article for publication. Denise is often asked to be that second set of eyes for us – to read over articles and make sure the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed. Denise reviews articles and restructures them as necessary to make sure the writer’s message shines through. Writers put their passion down on paper, but we run it by Denise first.

Paul Hunter Paul Hunter, B.S., C.S.C.S, lives On the Coast with his wife and three teenagers infusing science with his playful style yielding astonishing results at Grayton Beach Fitness, voted Best Place to Work Out on 30-A. He may be reached at: graytonbeachfitness@gmail. com

Erika Scannell has been married to Kip for nearly 10 years and has enjoyed living in this area for the past 13. Mother to 5 incredible children and active in her church and community as a volunteer MOPS Coordinator, SW Football Secretary and speaker. Enjoys running, reading and writing and plans to publish her first book this year.

Crystal, along with her husband of 19 years and 3 boys, has been living in the Destin area since 2005. She is Founder of TheFitandHealthyLife.com which is a resource website created to teach and empower women to become the best version of themselves at any age through healthy food and fitness. Her passion to help women grew from her own transformation from frumpy mom to fit mom when she finally learned to stop comparing herself to others and focus on being the best that she could be…competing only with herself and all of this happened after 40!

Leslie Moland

Tiffany Toler Alexandra Brown Alexandra lives in Destin and is married to Jerry Brown and has 2 daughters, Ellen (14) and Clara (12). She has loved reading since the age of 3 and also loves snow skiing, hiking and mountain biking.

Tiffany recently relocated with her newly wed husband and their dog from Eglin AFB to McGuire AFB in NJ. She enjoys contributing to On the Coast magazine doing research for all things including the event calendar, web editorial and newsletters.

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After years of visiting the Emerald Coast, Leslie Moland is proud to call herself a local. She is an active part of the community, working closely with the White-Wilson Community Foundation and as public relations specialist at WhiteWilson Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Leslie is a self-described Southern Belle who enjoys taking full advantage of Florida’s long, sunny days, fresh seafood and laid back atmosphere.

Malia Jacobson Malia Jacobson is a freelance journalist specializing in health and parenting. Her most recent book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, and Tirades. She is a mom of three children under eight. She keeps a close watch during family game nights.

On the Coast Magazine takes pride in having locals tell us their stories! If you have a story of interest, please feel free to reach out to us at OTC@OntheCoastMag. com or send us a message on Facebook at On the Coast Magazine. Who knows, you and/or your story might have a chance at being published!

Holidays Are Better When Cooking with Natural Gas SUGAR COOKIES

Makes 4 1/2 dozen or 27 (2 cookie) servings Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 6 minutes INGREDIENTS 2 3/4 cups flour 2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 2 eggs 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract DIRECTIONS 1. Mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Set aside. 2. Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. 3. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. 4. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. 5. Refrigerate dough 2 hours or until firm. 6. Preheat oven to 400°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in additional sugar or Colored Sugar. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. 7. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. 8. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. 9. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

• • • • • • •

Nine out of 10 chefs prefer using natural gas Provides even heat and precise temperature controls Saves time - no waiting for burners to heat up or cool down Sealed burners allow for quick and easy cleaning Offers better energy efficiency than other fuels sources Automatic ignition, and can be used even during power outages Baking adds moisture to food making for better tasting meals

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STAND

TALL IT'S WORTH IT By Paul Hunter

Posture. What does it mean to you? Does it paint a picture in your head of a confident soldier standing at attention, an athlete about to compete, an elderly person with a rounded back, a child lacking self-esteem? The word posture also suggests “a particular way of dealing with or considering something; an approach or attitude.” So, is “posture” merely physical or is it mental as well? Does one affect the other? Well, it could be both. Sometimes, the physical body follows the mental attitude or approach. Other times the mental attitude or approach follows the physical. Yes, they are interrelated.

How powerful is posture? Social psychologist, researcher and Harvard University professor Amy Cuddy has been able to demonstrate that our body language can change other people’s perceptions and even our own chemistry, simply by changing body positions. Chemistry? Yes! With an open posture (such as chin and chest lifted and arms open) held for just two minutes, testosterone increases 20%, cortisol decreases 25% and the person is 86% more likely to take a risk. In an opposite closed-posture scenario, testosterone decreases 10%, cortisol increases 15% and only 60% are more likely to take a risk. These are significant numbers, especially when you factor in that it was only two minutes in either a high-power posture or low-power posture. So, posture matters.

Structurally, posture can have a positive effect as well. If you have ever seen a skeleton, you have seen that the spine, vertebrae and shoulder blades help to provide a framework for the entire body. Of course, that is with no input from outside sources such as gravity and the muscles surrounding each of those joints. Picture a wooden rope swing with a board hanging at the bottom. Let’s quickly cover some very basic anatomy. The spine consists of 24 vertebrae. From the bottom up they are 5 Lumbar, 12 Thoracic and 7 Cervical. Also included as part of the spine, just below the lumbar spine and where the ilium (hip bones) attach, is the sacrum. Not part of the spine but still a consideration when looking at posture, the shoulder blades typically ride around the upper thoracic area and are responsible for how the shoulders present themselves. How many times have you heard “pull your shoulders back” when they are slumped forward? Poor posture leads to an increased chance of injury and has even been related to some medical ailments such as carpal tunnel disease. Our spine is designed to have three natural curves that allow the body to have a degree of sick absorption, mobility and stability all in one highly functional package. Gravity has a tendency to pull the top down and over. Fighting that constant pull are your muscles which surround each of these joints to perform one of three functions: to cause motion (to pull your spine upwards when you are sitting or standing), to prevent motion (into the slouching position), and to allow motion to occur (when you need to lean forward or twist). CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 9

1. Opposition or Bird Dog CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Ultimately, it is how well we are able to control the outside forces on our spines that determines the health of it. Short of suggesting you see a doctor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, massage therapist or personal trainer to help you with any specific problems, I will use the example of an “apparently healthy” person with no injuries, aches or pains who simply desires to strengthen their postural position.

Posture. It’s not a sometimes thing. It’s an all-thetime thing and whether you accept it or not, it affects your attitude and chemistry as well as your physical structure. Assess yourself regularly and do something good for yourself. Train for better posture.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here are some exercises to assist you with improving and/or maintaining your posture >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Starting position: On the floor on all fours. Hips over knees and shoulders over wrists. Movement: Extend one leg straight back while extending the opposite arm forward. You should now be balancing on opposite limbs. Hold for 1-5 seconds. Repeat for 10 repetitions, then do the other side. The alternative is to switch between every rep. What to look out for: Keep your back level. There is a tendency for the spine to twist at the shoulder and hip. Also, don’t try to lift the leg “up in the air” as this can lead to excessive back arching. Keep the spine stabilized. Perform 2 sets.

2. Plank / Side Plank Starting position: On the floor balanced on your toes and either elbows or hands (like in a push-up position). Spine should be in a straight line. With clients I use a long pole laid from the heels, across the glutes, between the shoulder blades and the back of the head. Movement: Actually, no movement here. The goal is to be able to hold this position for a period of time, somewhere between 10 seconds and 2 minutes. Better yet, can you hold this same alignment while doing push-ups for the same amount of time? Yes, you are still planking, only now with additional movement.

3. Poloff Press or “Anti-Rotation” Starting position: Using a light to moderate resistance cable or tubing coming from the side and holding the handle at the chest. Movement: Slowly extend the arms out in front maintaining level and resisting any rotation; hold for 2-10 seconds and repeat 10 times. You will feel tension in the near side leg, hip, arm, chest and far side shoulder and possibly side (oblique) in addition to the abdominal areas. Perform 2 sets on each side.

4. One-Legged Kneeling (Lunge Position) Stretch Starting position: Kneel down, then place your right leg out in front of you at a 90-degree angle. Put your hands behind your head and push your left hip forward. You will feel the stretch through the front of your left hip and front of the thigh. Movement: Hold for 30 seconds. Don't lean forward, but keep your shoulders over your hips. Go back to kneeling and repeat on the other side. Try this five times a day.

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Balancing your diabetic risk is important for the life of your kidneys. Small changes in the choices you make can reduce your risk for chronic kidney disease.

• Control your blood sugar levels. • Take medications to control blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. • Follow your diet for diabetes, including limiting salt and protein. • Be active! Get regular exercise.

• Avoid certain medicines that may harm your kidneys, including NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen. • See your doctor regularly, and be sure to get your kidneys tested and screened annually. • Quit or limit smoking and alcohol consumption.

Managing your diabetes can reduce the risk for kidney disease and complications. Learn more ways to take care of your kidneys so they can take care of you at

KeepYourKidneys.com

Brought to you by

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P A R E N T I N G

Modern Morality

Raising Children of Character in a Changing World

------ By Malia Jacobson ------

oday’s parents are bombarded with information about

Between increasingly raunchy media messaging, declining family

keeping their child’s body and mind healthy—but what

time, and growing concern about modern kids’ lack of empathy and

about their child’s moral health? It’s a question that

conscience, it’s no wonder parents like the Sousleys feel like they’re

Seattle-area parents Molly and Justin Sousley found

in the middle of a moral mess. Most Americans agree: A recent

themselves

Gallup poll shows that 7 out of 10 Americans feel the moral state of

grappling

with

when

their

first-grader

Jillian suddenly started cheating and fibbing during family

the country is declining.

game nights. “Right away, we realized that we needed to have

Continued On Page 14

some big conversations about right and wrong,” says Molly.

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P A R E N T I N G

Continued From Page 12

Peer cruelty is escalating—government reports show that a third of middleschool and high-school students have been bullied—and today’s kids are more likely to cheat academically than any past generation. In a 2010 study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 87 percent of high school juniors admitted to cheating, and nearly half of the students surveyed (47 percent) didn’t believe cheating was wrong.

Media Meanies One driver behind a poor moral atmosphere: a decline in family time, says bestselling author and parent educator Michele Borba, Ed.D., author of Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues That Teach Kid to Do the Right Thing. In October, University of Missouri human development scientists reported that wireless technology is harming family relationships as people spend more time plugged in to a device and less time connecting with each other.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, kids’ media use has increased over 20 percent in the past five years. Kids ages 8-18 spend more than 53 hours per week— 7 hours and 38 minutes per day—using entertainment media. Thanks to media multitasking (using more than one medium at once) they actually observe 10 hours and 45 minutes of media content per day.

--------------------With fewer high-quality face-to-face interactions, kids don’t have the chance to build and practice empathy—“You can’t learn empathy from a screen,” Borba notes. That’s problematic, because empathy is “the core of goodness,” she says, and it’s this troubling lack of empathy, that contributes to anti-social and behaviors like bullying and cheating. ---------------------

With fewer high-quality faceto-face interactions, kids don’t have the chance to build and practice empathy—“You can’t learn empathy from a screen,” Borba notes. That’s problematic, because empathy is “the core of goodness,” she says, and it’s this troubling lack of empathy that contributes to anti-social behaviors like bullying and cheating.

Religion’s Role With church attendance declining steadily—the Hartford Institute for Religion Research reports that church attendance has dropped 16.9 percent over the past 10 years—fewer parents are benefiting from the support of a values-based community or a ready-made moral script. Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum, Executive Director and co-founder of Seattle’s Kavana Cooperative and the mom of two young daughters, believes that religious communities can boost kids’ moral development. “There’s immense social benefit to belonging to a community of like-minded people with shared values,” she says. “And any religious tradition has a shared narrative that parents can use when talking with their children about morally complex issues.” Families don’t need to attend a traditional bricksand-mortar church or temple to benefit from this type of support, she notes. Innovative communities are springing up to fill a demand for outside-thebox religion: Kavana creates Jewish programming centered around holidays, learning, and social activism throughout its Queen Anne neighborhood—at parks and in private homes—without a physical building. Continued On Page 16

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Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ 15

Continued From Page 14

Regardless of religious affiliation (or nonaffiliation), one of the most important things parents can do for their children is to invest in their own moral growth, according to Harvard psychologist Richard Weissbourd, Ed.D., author of The Parents We Mean To Be: How WellIntentioned Adults Undermine Children's Moral and Emotional Development. “Parenthood can make you morally progress, or morally regress,” he says, referencing the increasing numbers of fathers who abandon their children as an example of moral regression (according to David Blankenhorn, author of Fatherless America, the percentage of children growing up fatherless doubled between 1960 and 1990). Today, says Weissbourd, too few parents view themselves as engaged in moral development—leaving children without a healthy model of moral growth.

compassion, children grow up with a skewed worldview: they are more likely to have an inflated sense of self that corresponds to lowered empathy for others. The all-encompassing focus on happiness even creeps into parents’ attempts to teach their children moral values. Familiar statements like “Be nice to others, and they’ll be nice to you,” and “Pass the ball to her, and she’ll pass it to you” masquerade as lessons in kindness and sharing, but the underlying message is that actions should be motivated by personal happiness—not the greater good. Children raised on a steady diet of happiness need to learn to appreciate sadness—an important component of empathy, says Reverend David R. Brown of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington. “It’s appropriate and healthy to feel sad and troubled at times, when we’re thinking about poverty or abuse or problems in our community.” In fact, sadness is essential to moral development. “That’s how kids can begin feel compassion for others.”

How Happiness and “Peerenting” Undermine Morality Though it’s tempting to blame declining religion and growing media use for children’s moral shortcomings, experts place the blame squarely on parents’ shoulders. In his book, The Moral Intelligence of Children, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Coles reports that parents are the single most important source of moral instruction in a child’s life.

Ironically, modern parents’ fixation with their children’s happiness has become hazardous to kids’ moral health. According to Weissbourd, happiness has replaced morality as the central goal of child-raising. “My research suggests that in white middleand upper-class communities, parents are focused on happiness—goodness tends to be secondary,” he says. When parents prioritize happiness over basic human traits like kindness and

Parents also undermine children’s moral growth when they try too hard to befriend them. This type of “peerenting,” exemplified by Phil Dunphy on ABC’s hit show Modern Family, can backfire. “We identify with our kids so much, we often really see their challenges,” says Edmonds, WA mom Melissa Eller, mom to four children aged 16 through 23. “But

sometimes that means we’re empathizing with them instead of saying “what you did is not right.’”

Children of Character Despite these common parenting traps, both Weissbourd and Borba see much to be encouraged about in today’s parenting culture. One bright spot: many parents are teaching kids basic manners. “Being polite and respectful is one way kids develop moral awareness and moral identity.” According to Borba, the most vital moral traits for children are empathy, conscience, and self-control. “Kids need to feel the right choice in their heart—that’s empathy. They need to know it in their head—that’s conscience. But they also need the self-control to actually do the right thing.” These three qualities form a “moral core” that creates a foundation for other virtues like patience, perseverance, tolerance, and kindness, she says. Children are born with an innate sense of empathy that needs to be stretched and nurtured, says Anil SinghMolares, the father of six children and the president and founder of the Compassionate Action Network, a Seattle-based network of groups dedicated to advancing compassion. “Children are born with compassion, but parents can’t assume that their kids will grow up to be good people. We have to be intentional about it,” he says. Parents can do this by responding to and “mirroring” a child’s emotions in infancy and talking with toddlers and preschoolers about how their actions affect others, instead of relating all consequences back to the child’s own happiness. “Don’t say, ‘Stop pulling the cat’s tail because you might get scratched,’” says Borba. “Say, ‘Don’t pull the cat’s tail because that hurts him.’” Parents have a bigger influence than they realize, says Ian Corlett, author of E is for Ethics: How to Talk to Kids About Morals, Values, and What Matters Most, but the degree of their influence hinges on the closeness of the parent-child relationship. “Adults need to create strong Continued On Page 46

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Creating The Healthiest Community

on earth By Leslie Moland

In addition to its sugar sand beaches and long sunny days, the Emerald Coast is a place for those with big hearts and a passion for giving back. There are more than a thousand nonprofits in this area that work to solve a variety of community issues—from environmental problems to illiteracy and animal abuse. These organizations are the backbone of our community, and one of the many reasons the Emerald Coast is a great place. The White-Wilson Community Foundation (WWCF) is a Fort Walton Beach based non-profit organization that has taken on the challenge of bridging gaps in health care. With the ambitious mission of “making our community the healthiest on Earth,” they have a big challenge ahead.

Holly Holt and Harriet Simmons of the Department of Health Walton County Accept a check for $10,000 to provide mammograms.

“Health outcomes in our community lag behind many others in our state,” said WWCF President Dr. Jack Azzaretto. “The Foundation exists to build partnerships and create collaborations that will impact and improve the overall health of this community. While we know that we have a big task ahead of us, we are passionate about our mission and believe together we can make a difference.” In 2010, White-Wilson Medical Center recognized a nationwide trend— many women were forgoing annual preventive health screenings, specifically mammograms. Women are traditionally the caregivers in families, and often neglect their own health to care for others. To help combat the decline in preventive care and increase awareness about the importance of women’s health, White-Wilson Medical Center hosted the inaugural Little Black Dress Party. The event and the campaign surrounding it encouraged women to take steps to care for themselves; and the seed for the Foundation was planted.

Dr. Jack Azzaretto, Alan Gieseman, Ron Adamov and Dr. Ken Haskin took part in the 29th Annual H.C. White Golf Tournament to benefit WWCF.

The success of the event helped build community partnerships and increase access to health services for local women. To date, the Little Black Dress Party has raised over $250,000 for women’s health initiative in the community. “While working to serve women’s health needs through the Little Black Dress Party, we recognized additional opportunities to improve the health of our community,” said White-Wilson CEO Alan Gieseman. “It became clear that we needed to establish 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to tackling one community health issue at a time. White-Wilson has been working to meet health needs in our community since 1946 and the Foundation is an extension of that commitment to community health.”

Misty Rae Ruthrauff, Andi Mahoney, Aimee Schaffer, Leslie Moland and Ashlee Edelen at Run for the Health of It.

Gieseman’s vision came to life in 2012 with the formation of the WhiteWilson Community Foundation. The organization’s mission is supported through its commitment to service, education and fundraising. What sets WWCF apart from other organizations is their focus on unique solutions and partnerships. WWCF works to utilize current resources to help eliminate deficits. Continued On Page 20

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Continued From Page 18

Upon learning that breast cancer survival rates in Okaloosa County lag behind the rest of the state, WWCF partnered with the Okaloosa County Health Department to expand mammogram services. They have replicated the program through their service area and partnered with Florida Departments of Health in Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

This October, $55,000 was awarded to organizations that service women’s health needs. WWCF partnered with the Mental Health Association to provide emergency mental health medications for women in need, Hope Medical Clinic to provide primary health care services for up to 250 women, the Walton County Health Department for mammograms and the Shelter House to establish a forensic exam room and refuge for rape victims. In addition, they worked with Sight Savers America to provide high-tech vision equipment for children in need through a $10,000 grant.

Currently, there is no state funding available for mammograms for women under 50. This means that if a 45 year old woman turns to the health department because she felt a lump, they may not have the resources to care for her. To help change that, WWCF partnered with WWCF is led by a volunteer board that blends the Florida Department of Health medical, financial and business expertise. Walton County to provide 100 Board members include: mammograms for women in need, giving them the capability to serve more women in need. • Jack Azzaretto, Ph.D., President Professor, University of West Florida

• Alan Gieseman, Vice President

CEO, White-Wilson Medical Center, P.A.

• Ken Haskin, M.D., Treasurer Retired Physician

• Gene Barker, CPA

“Without the White-Wilson Community Foundation, we would not be able to provide emergency medication to women with mental health issues” said Executive Director for the Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties Virginia Glynn Barr. “The Foundation identifies gaps in care and works with organizations like MHA to help bridge those gaps and make health care more accessible to those in need. ”

Partner, Warren Averett

• Janet Niemi Chubb, DHSc

Professor, University of West Florida

• Bruce Marshall

General Manager, Eglin Programs – MEI Technologies, Inc.

• Ray McGovern

Senior Vice President, The McGovern Group / Merrill Lynch Little Black Dress Party committee members celebrating at the 6th Annual Little Black Dress Party, A Night Under the Big Top.

In September 2014, WWCF introduced its Community Health Grant program. Since then, the Foundation has awarded over $128,000 to support community health projects in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties. These grants are funded through the organizations fundraising efforts, including Run for the Health of It, a 5K/8K race held each March; the Little Black Dress Party, held each May and the H.C. White Golf Tournament, held each September.

20 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

• Tama Van Decar, M.D.

Chief Medical Officer, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center

Each member is dedicated to taking an active role in determining areas of greatest need and finding solutions.

Okaloosa County Special Olympics golfers hit the links at the 29th Annual H.C. White Golf Tournament.

While it may be small, the WhiteWilson Community Foundation is making great strides in changing the lives of those in need of health services. They are committed to finding unique solutions that increase access to care and bringing together community resources. To learn more about the WhiteWilson Community Foundation, its community health grants and work in our community, visit whitewilsoncommunityfoundation.org.

WWCF Board Members: Dr. Karl Metz, Gene Barker, Dr. Jack Azzaretto, Dr. Janet Niemi Chubb and Ray McGovern.

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ 21

TECHNOLOGY

Checked in for the

Holidays By Crystal Tingle

Just when I thought I wasn’t one of “those” people who always has their nose in cyber world, checked out of reality, I realized rather abruptly that I was deceiving myself. It happened one evening as I was winding down and my sweet little eight-yearold chatterbox was not. As I scrolled through social media, he was telling me one of his precious “endless” stories from his overactive imagination. “What would you do if I had hair so long it could wrap around a human and it could grow?

It would wrap around them like Spider-Man’s web…kind of like a sneak attack. You know how he grabs them up and wraps his web around them, but it would be hair.” I robotically replied, “Oh wow, that’s great my love…that would be something!” With one raised eyebrow that has become his signature look in our family and his little halfcocked droopy lip that he does, he said with a sigh, ”You aren’t listening to me. You are always on your phone!”

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Is this true? Could this be me? I know better. I mean, I can justify my behavior, for Pete’s sake! I have to use social media because of my business. It is how you drive traffic to your website, right? It is an integral, indispensable part of the cyber business world! Or is it? Yes, it is true it is important when you are striving for top rankings and driving traffic, but there is also this other “cyber social world” phenomenon called “checking in” that we might want to redefine.

You have seen it…so-andso just checked in to ABC Restaurant, or so-and-so just checked in to XYZ Gym. I personally don’t do this, with the exception of a few favorite stores that offer me a discount if I do. But still, it got me thinking…how can we be so checked in when it comes to the wood, hay and straw of this world that will burn away, but be so checked out from the treasure that will last forever, our family? I stepped back to take an honest look at myself to evaluate how “checked in” I really am with my family.

I am not writing this as one who is fully checked in. Trust me; I am walking through this myself but I want to do better. I want to use this holiday season to be not only “plugged in” but also truly “checked in” with my loved ones. I am hoping that if I can be somewhat successful with this through the business of the holidays, then I will be able to carry this over into those just ordinary days year round. I want them to know in those moments of time that matter to them, whether it’ s a school performance, a conversation about a new crush, a fictional story about “what if” from an 8-year-old or a great day at work for my husband, I want them to know that in that moment of time, they have my undivided attention! The hardest part of this all was the self discovery that what I truly believed I was already doing I, in fact, fell short by miles! How many times have I said to one of my boys as they were trying to tell me something, “Keep talking but walk with me over here” as I tried to maximize these moments by tackling a load of clothes or emptying the dishwasher while I listened, or worse…checked email or social media? Does this sound familiar? I challenge you to become keenly aware when you are in those moments to take note. Try sitting with one of your children who really DOES want to talk to you (mothers of teens know what I mean) and try to stay focused on them and them alone. Watch where your mind wonders while they are talking. Watch where your eyes roam. Watch your body posture if you can even sit still long enough to not grab your phone or tackle that pile of clothes that you see as an opportunity while you are listening. You will be shocked! When we really become self aware of what we do, we realize how short we actually fall in giving our spouse and children the honor, respect and value they deserve. I don’t have a five-point how-to list to help with being better at “checking in” with your loved ones, but I do have homework for you. The next moment the opportunity presents itself and one of your children want to chat, say this to them before allowing them to continue: “You are so incredibly important and special to me and you deserve my undivided attention in this moment.” Why? Because what this does, secondly, after you have first officially freaked them out, is hold you accountable for following through with the value you have just placed on them. Consider your public admission of intent to them the same as your social media check-in button. Once it’s clicked, you have officially entered the building! And more importantly, everyone knows where to FIND you, especially your family…checked in to hear their heart and treat them like the valuable treasure they are!

眀伀瀀攀渀䐀愀椀氀礀㄀ ⴀ㘀

瀀椀渀欀渀戀氀甀攀愀瘀攀渀甀攀⸀渀攀琀

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 23

Gift Guide

24 â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

Green Gifts Wyland Water Gallery Bottles

These beautiful swing-top glass Water Gallery bottles feature four amazing Wyland images! They are truly “functional art” and are meant to be reused over and over again and also displayed as art in your home. They'll make fantastic gifts for the Wyland-lover in your life and are a unique way to own a piece of Wyland art. Water Gallery was recently certified Carbon Neutral and is a member of the widelylauded “1% For the Planet” organization, so along with giving 3% of each sale to the Wyland Foundation, every bottle you buy gives back to the natural world around. Guy Harvey bottles also available. mywatergallery.com $25 - $35

PopTop Microwave Popcorn Popper

Wood Belt Holder

Personalized

Keep those hard-earned martial arts belts organized and in great shape with this durable wood belt holder. Lightweight and easy to hang, it holds up to 8 martial arts belts. Can be personalized with any name up to 9 characters. Gifts.com $39.99

Robe

Cool winter mornings are made warm and cozy when you’re wrapped in this plush, short hooded robe. The looping doodle design makes it extra lovable. Super soft and cuddly. Machine washable. Available in Pink, Purple and Pool. Can be monogramed for a personal touch. PBTeen.com $59

Custom Lake Art Cribbage Board

This custom-made cribbage board is sure to score big time on your next boating trip or weekend away. Cherry wood and made in the USA. uncommongoods.com $59

Lasagna Dishes

These glazed stoneware lasagna dishes can go from oven to tabletop effortlessly. Destined to be the most versatile dish she owns, it’s dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. Available in red, blue or green and can be personalized on one line up to 25 characters. Gifts.com $44.99 Continued On Page 26

Gift Guide

the PopTop Microwave Popcorn Popper to make healthier popcorn for you and your family in minutes. Simply add popcorn kernels to the fill line, fold in the triangular panels of the silicone bowl to form a lid, and heat in the microwave for a few minutes to prepare delicious homemade popcorn. As the kernels pop, the panels on top unfold to make room for up to ten cups of popcorn to share. Vat19.com $19.99

Whole Family

Continued From Page 25

Amazon Kindle Fire HD At a starting price of $99, the Amazon Kindle Fire HD is a great value this Christmas season for any member of the family. Solid performance and access to ample content, it’s an ideal, budget-friendly gift for someone who isn’t yet a tablet owner, especially if they’re attracted by the free videos, music and eBooks of Amazon’s $99-a-year Prime membership. Amazon.com $99

GUSU Board Everyone is SUPping On the Coast. Surprise someone special this Christmas with a local GUSU board that are custom made in the USA! IRIE cruiser $1595. LION racing board $1995

LoPi Fit Electric Bike Be one of the first in America to own a Lopifit electric walking treadmill bike! This bike is a fun, safe viable form of local transportation and provides low to no impact exercise! Available in 6 colors and yes, you can take it out on a test ride. lopifitus.com $1995

Fitbit Flex The whole family will like the Fitbit Flex as it tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, how well and long you sleep, and more. A wide variety of band colors to individualize and great motivation after holiday feasting. This is the perfect device to motivate anyone in the New Year. Amazon.com $89

College Polar Pen

The Polar Pen is the most unique pen we have ever seen! It is the first writing utensil held together entirely with magnets. Using 13 rare-earth magnet segments that form a tube around the ink cartridge, the pen can easily be constructed or destructed in a snap. The long-lasting magnets will provide hours of entertainment for fidgeting fingers. It also boasts a stylus for those times that you need to move your work to an electronic surface. Available in silver, gold, and gunmetal black at Vat19.com $39.99 and up.

Coffee Maker

Treat yourself to an ice-cold pick-me-up with this singleserve iced coffee! Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice and place under spout; add coffee to the filter basket; fill water reservoir of the Hamilton Beach coffee maker with 8 ounces of water; press on and watch it brew right into your glass! JCPenney.com $38

Mellow

Mellow is the first mountable electric drive that turns any normal skateboard into an electric skateboard– within minutes. Awesome for college students who need to get around the campus fast. No more worries about crowded parking spots - take your board and park it with you in class. mellowboards.com $1099 and up

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Continued On Page 28

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刀䄀夀䴀䌀䘀䄀䐀䔀一簀 ⠀㠀㔀 ⤀ ㈀㐀 ⸀㘀㤀㈀䰀䔀䔀䬀䤀䄀㌀㐀㌀䴀椀爀愀挀氀攀匀琀爀椀瀀倀欀眀礀⸀ 䘀漀爀琀圀愀氀琀漀渀䈀攀愀挀栀 ⠀㠀㔀 ⤀㈀㐀㐀⸀㌀㠀㜀㠀

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 27

Teen Boys

Continued From Page 26

U-Wheels U-Wheels is the hottest new way to get around town and is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first self-balancing scooter with dual gyros. Weighing only 24lbs, it comes with Bluetooth 4.0 and built-in speakers and is easy to carry. Its superior battery system allows for longer charges and more time on the road. This is great idea for college kids with little to no parking spaces available. Uwheels.com $699.99

Human Slingshot The Human Slingshot allows you to fling your friends around inside of a giant stretchable band. It's like being a human pinball! Great exercise, fun and coordination come into play! Vat19.com $99

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 The drone hovers over the middle ground between toy and true drone, offering a perfect balance of fun while still allowing you to capture some incredible aerial footage or snap some high-quality photos from its two high-definition cameras. Bestbuy.com $299

Teen Girls Cupcakes 101 Baking Kit She'll have a blast baking and decorating cupcakes with this adorbs baking kit! BakeItPretty.com $58

Case of the Month The case of the month is still hot this year! Your subscription gives you a new colorful case delivered right to her door so she will think about you every month! phonecaseofthemonth.com $30/3 months or $89/12 months

Wire Wall Letters Create a one-of-a-kind display with photos, postcards and more on these twisted wire letters. 14.5 inches high Made of iron with a black finish. Available in letters A-Z. pbteen.com $13

Fuji Film Instax Mini 25 This camera takes polaroids that are the size of a credit card! Instant gratification with a picture right in your hand to show off and share! Amazon.com $67.99

Birch Box Want her to think of you every month after Christmas? Try a monthly subscription to Birchbox! These little boxes hold a treasure trove of makeup goodies. She'll get five personalized beauty samples delivered right to her door each month! Birchbox.com $10 monthly Game of Phones turns your trusty cellular companion into the subject of a modern day scavenger hunt between you and your friends. Just gather your friends and their smart phones, draw a prompt card, and see who can use their phones the fastest to create an emoji masterpiece! Collect the most points to win. Only the fastest and funniest will survive. Photojojo.com $20

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Continued On Page 30

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine â&#x20AC;˘ 29

Tween Girls

Continued From Page 28

Dance & Cheer Clothes Agree 2 Disagree Girls Metallic Star Shorts ($30.00) and Black Racerback Tank ($20.00). Too much cuteness in this outfit for dance or cheer. Lexy Leah Destin

Mustache Cup We see them a lot now... Mustaches and your tween girl will enjoy hers right on her cup! Claires $8.50

The Daring Book for Girls This book is every girl's invitation to adventure. This manual is everything that girls need to knowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and that doesn't mean sewing buttonholes! Whether it's female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. Amazon.com $8.44

Kid-Made Modern Flashy Light Kit Kid-Made Modern Flashy Light Kit Your tween will love personalizing her very own lantern to hang in her room. Target $17.99

Onzie Leggings Onzie Leggings for girls Size 5 to 16! Fun prints and can be worn for so many activities such as dance, cheer and yoga. Lexy Leah Destin $46 Socks Who doesn't love socks especially if they are from Dakine! These awesome snowflake Dora socks will keep her warm and looking super cute! Darien.com $20

Continued On Page 32

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Tween Boys

Continued From Page 30

Spikeball Spikeball is intense and fast-paced! Smack the palm-sized ball down on the net so it ricochets up at your opponents. This game will give your tweens a great workout while they are having so much fun. spikeball.com $59.00

Puzzleball The Ravensburger The Earth: 540 Piece Puzzleball requires no glue and is a challenge to put together. It makes a smooth ball and when finished it can set in its stand which can rotate. Super cool and they might learn some geography on the way! christianbook.com $29.99

Paper Airplanes Dramatically extend the loft and distance of your home made paper airplanes. PowerUp can create flights lasting up to two minutes long and traveling hundreds of yards! Each kit includes a storage case, instructions, power module, charging unit, and spare propeller. Requires 3 AA batteries (not included) Vat19.com $16.99

Meccano MeccaNoid Robot The Meccano MeccaNoid robot uses over 600 pieces and 6 motors so your tween can construct a real working, talking, moving robot that has personality, including a sense of humor! Amazon.com $148.95 and up

Wallet Marvel Comics Leather Character Trifold Wallet is a cool, practical and affordable gift your tween will like. walletnation.com $26.99

Razor GDF Fury This Razor GDF Fury has a go-kart style frame and cruises at speeds of up to 12 mph. The bucket seat and Spark Bar add just enough flash to leave the competition in the dust. Walmart $265.98

Spooner Board Pro The Spooner Board Pro is an indoor and outdoor board for learning tricks. It is indestructible which is great. Amazon.com $44.95

40% OFF Annual Pass Sale Nov 26 Dec 31, 2015

www.gulfarium.com . 1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach . Open Daily at 9am . 850-243-9046 32 â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

Babies & Toddlers

Mini-Melissa Shoes Pair of amazing silicon Mini-Melissa shoes that are extremely comfortable and fun! A wide variety of colors and styles available. Pink N Blue Avenue Destin $42-$65

Underwater Disco Light Show The underwater disco light show is an ingenious floating gizmo that projects psychedelic multicoloured light sequences onto the bottom and sides of the bath. The pulsating effects are distorted by the water in the tub and make for a great time for kids! You can also put this into your pool for a light show for guests! Amazon.com $14.89

John Deere Pick N Pop The John Deere Pick N Pop Combine has a kidpowered sit-and-scoot design that picks up balls and pops them out. It plays two musical tunes and sparks imaginative play for toddlers. johndeeregifts.com $61.99

Muscial Stack & Ball Game This two-in-one electronic Tiny Love 584 MUSICAL STACK & BALL GAME offers a multi-sensory experience, integrating lights, sounds, and textures. It has easy-to-grip rings, crinkly ears, and four colorful balls with rattles inside to encourage baby’s exploration. Walmart $40.00

Tomy Toddler Toys Jumbo Jamboree This one-man-band plays five instruments at the same time while it's being pushed. Each body part can be removed and played separately, including the saxophone nose, jingle bell ears, a drum, a harmonica, and a xylophone. Amazon.com $32.99

Color of the Sea Ariel Doll This Color of the Sea Ariel doll contains water activation technology that allows her to reveal a magical light show inside her tail when submerged in water. She sings “Part of Your World” in both English and Spanish. Walmart $34.99

Bonnets Sweet bonnets and clothing designed for pea-sized models with a particular preference for tasteful and timeless pieces. Bonnets are always a great keepsake especially monogrammed ones. Pink N Blue Avenue Destin $24-$52

Rabbabu Toys Rubbabu's hand made natural foam toys in simple shapes and bright colors are loved by kids and parents alike. Soft and safe. Come in a variety of shapes from balls, car to letters. Pink N Blue Avenue Destin $8 and up Continued On Page 34

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Elementary

Continued From Page 33

Summer Camp! It's an exciting gift to give and one they will look forward to all year! Riverview Camp for Girls provides your daughter with an experience she'll treasure forever. They also hold a mother daughter weekend that is a weekend to remember! riverviewcamp.com $495 and up

Girls Camisole & Sweaters This spotlight camisole features fun multi straps and comes in a variety of fun colors, $28.99. Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweaters run from 22.99-35.00. Lexy Leah Destin

Cra-Z-Loom Bracelet Marker Every girl will want to liven up their wardrobe with the Cra-Z-Loom which turns ordinary rubber bands into cool jewelry they will love! The simple loop, weave and wear design lets you create unique bracelets, necklaces, rings and more! Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-Rex This 2.5-foot dino walks forward and roars. With a press of his power pads, his eyes light up and his mouth opens and closes with chomping sound effects. He comes with three Imaginext figures and launchable boulders and projectiles. Walmart $79.99

Crazy Action Contraption Klutz Lego Crazy Contraption It's a kit in a book, packed with LEGO ideas to build out 16 vehicles and other contraptions with superclear instructions and step-by-step diagrams. Walmart $21.95

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Target $12.99

Wheel Brightz Wheel Brightz are a way for your kids to pimp their rides! A wide range of colors to light up the night! FatBrainToys.com $14.99 and up

Spirograph First introduced in 1965, Spirograph makes it possible for aspiring artists of all ages to create beautifully intricate designs combining principles of art and mathematics that has inspired generations. The wheels and rings work with most pens, markers or pencils. Target $14.99 and up

Wild Planet Dodge Discs This set includes two launchers and 20 soft foam disks that shoot up to 25 feet! With rapid-fire trigger this is great fun for indoor or outdoor play. Amazon.com $59

䐀䔀䌀䔀䴀䈀䔀刀㈀㄀ ⴀ 䨀䄀一唀䄀刀夀㄀䌀愀氀氀琀漀刀攀猀攀爀瘀攀夀漀甀爀匀瀀愀挀攀吀漀搀愀礀℀

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 35

CHARITABLE EVENTS Horizon Stars Winterland Fashion Show The Arc of the Emerald Coast (formerly Horizons of Okaloosa County) will be presenting Horizon Stars Winterland fashion show Nov 20th, 2015 . This years production will be held at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resorts Linkside Conference Center. This event, touted "The Most Significant Fashion event in the area", features an all volunteer group of models, hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, who show up in force to support this wonderful cause. The mission "To create a path from disability to capability so that people of all ages can work, play, learn, achieve personal goals and live meaningful lives". The show also allows dreams to come true for 2 clients from The Arc, who will be walking the runway as well. This year, international, professional model Madeline Stuart will join the show. Madeline is the first professional model with Down Syndrome, and recently walked in New Yorks Fashion Week, and won Model of the Year from Melange Productions. Madeline works tirelessly to promote awareness and as an inspiration for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Winterland will be a stunning presentation in white, and will include clothing from various Silver Sands Premium Outlet stores, as well as childrens wear from Destins Pink and Blue Avenue, '50's style womens wear from Rebel Vixens, evening wear from Simply Elegant, and other designers signing on daily. It will also feature several surprise entertainers, a silent auction and several custom made Christmas tree creations that can be purchased and delivered to your home. The event is sponsored by Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, TSC Productions, ZT Motors of FWB, Emerald Ladies Journal, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, ERA American Realty, Beach Community Mortgage, Lisa Jo Spencer PA, Brodie Bowman Orthodontics, and of course, On the Coast Magazine. Tickets are available at www.arcemeraldcoast.org on the events page. VIP Experience $100, regular admission $65

Race for Lace 2015 The Race for Lace is back in SUPER HERO style and it is going to be bigger and better than ever! Saturday, November 14th come out and join us in this fun 3.1 mile course that begins at Main Street Medical in Crestview. Run, walk or soar through historic downtown Crestview and travel around Twin Hills Park to finish back at Main Street Medical. This flat street course, combined with one of Crestviewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notorious hills is a race you will not forget! All proceeds go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the hopes that a cure is on the horizon. Start times are at 9am and you can register onsite or go to Raceforlace.com Features a 5K Run/Walk - 5K Stroller - 5K Body Armor (wearing a 25lb vest) - $30 Kids 1 mile Superhero Dash - $20

On the Coast Magazine is a proud media sponsor of local charitable events. For sponsorship information, e-mail OTC@OntheCoastMag.com

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bouncepartyplayzone.com • Cell 850-533-0832 • Office 850-865-3191 Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 37

R E A D I N G

By Alexandra Brown

It’s already the holiday season again and I know everyone is busy planning and buying gifts for friends and family. Gift cards are always a practical choice, yet a book is such a personal gift to give. Giving a book requires the giver to think about the recipient and what he or she might like. Giving a book requires the giver to spend time contemplating the recipient. In an era where time is precious, the recipient will know that he or she is special because you took the time to choose a book for him or her. I always enjoy choosing books to give to my children because not only do I like selecting them, but also having one of my children come back and tell me how much she is enjoying the book turns into a gift for me. Here are a few books I believe would make wonderful potential holiday gifts. Maybe one of these could be the perfect gift for a child in your life. First for the upper elementary or middle school age child, I would suggest “El Deafo” by Cece Bell. This book is for the boy or girl who understands too well how tough middle school can be. This book is actually a memoir about the author’s difficult time in middle school as a kid who had lost much of her hearing due to illness. She had to go to school wearing a sizeable hearing aid and even with that she still struggled to hear. The book tackles the serious subject of her struggle to fit in while being bullied as a special needs student. So she generates an alter ego –a deaf superhero! Even though the subject matter is serious, it is written with warmth and humor and gives the reader a deeper understanding of the struggle of very middle schooler who feels different. I recommend this one for both boys and girls ages 8 and up. Another one for the upper elementary or middle school age boy or girl is “Crenshaw” by Katherine Applegate. In this book the main character is 9 year old Jackson whose family has fallen on hard times. There isn’t enough money for food or rent and Jackson is dealing with anger and sadness over the situation. When Jackson was younger he had an imaginary friend that was a cat named Crenshaw. Suddenly as the family is about to become homeless Crenshaw is back. The subject matter of the book is tough, but Crenshaw the imaginary silly cat breaks up the tension and the result is a story that explains poverty and homelessness in a conscientious way. I highly recommend this one for just about anybody, but particularly for children ages 9 and up.

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For the teen girl in your life I recommend “The Hired Girl” by Laura Amy Schlitz. Actually, I recommend this for not just the teens but the adults too! In this story Joan is a 14 year old girl who lives on a farm with her father and brothers. She is an intelligent girl who loves school but her father makes her quit in order to do all of the cooking and housework for her family. She is sorely mistreated and unloved. She runs away and finds work in a Jewish home in Baltimore where her love of reading is fostered by the family for whom she works. Joan is a loveable character and anyone who reads this book will feel a kinship with her. Any girl ages 13 and up will like this one. A book for the teen mystery lover in your life, both boys and girls, is “Jackaby” by William Ritter. This is the start of a series which is nice for future gift giving! One reviewer described this book as “Sherlock Holmes meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and that description is spot on. The main character, Abigail Rook, arrives in New Fiddleham, New England in 1892 and meets R.F. Jackaby who is an investigator akin to Sherlock Holmes, except he can see supernatural beings. Abigail becomes his assistant and the story follows their adventures. It is a fun and engaging read that anyone will like. I recommend it for anyone ages 13 and up. Lastly, a book to give that will make you the coolest person ever in the eyes of a teen – “This Amazing Book is Not on Fire: The World of Dan and Phil.” This book is part memoir, part philosophy and part comedy written by Dan Howell and Phil Lester who became YouTube sensations as teenagers for their quirky videos on being teens in awkward situations. After more than 8 million YouTube subscribers, they have turned their best memories, thoughts and stories into a book. Parents, you will need to understand that they don’t mince words in describing some of the crazy situations they find themselves in, but they are straightforward, honest and decent guys just trying to figure things out. They are very funny and real and your teen will be laughing all the way through. I recommend this for any teen ages 13 and up. I hope that you have a wonderful holiday season with those that mean the most to you. I hope you take time to sit and just “be.” I hope that you read something meaningful. I hope that you have time to tell those you love what they mean to you. I hope that you look back someday and remember love, laughter and joy from this holiday season. I know that I hope these things for myself and for those I care about. Happy Holidays.

吀䠀䔀䘀䄀䴀䤀䰀夀刀䔀匀伀唀刀䌀䔀䴀䄀䜀䄀娀䤀一䔀匀攀爀瘀椀渀最䘀愀洀椀氀椀攀猀䰀椀瘀椀渀最 ☀ 嘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最漀甀爀䔀洀攀爀愀氀搀䌀漀愀猀琀昀漀爀伀瘀攀爀㄀㌀夀攀愀爀猀℀ 圀椀渀渀攀爀漀昀㈀㌀一愀琀椀漀渀愀氀䄀眀愀爀搀猀愀渀搀㈀䄀搀搀礀猀

䤀渀倀爀椀渀琀Ⰰ 伀渀氀椀渀攀愀渀搀伀渀吀栀攀䜀漀℀

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 39

FAIRS, FESTIVALS &FUN November 1 Niceville NW FL State Mattie Kelly Arts Center Dracula 2:30pm $32 adults, $15 children 850-664-7787 November 1-30 Grayton –Shops of Grayton Grayton Farmstand 7am-7pm 305-282-5999 Sandestin Baytowne Wharf Baytowne on Ice 11-10pm $13 (1.5 hours inc skate rental) 850-714-7614 November 7-,8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 Panama City Beach Capt. Anderson’s Marina Grand Lagoon Waterfront Market 8-2pm

November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Rosemary Beach Farmers Market 9-1pm 850-499-4697 Watercolor Farmers Market 9-2pm 850-499-4697 November 2, 5, 12, 13, 14 Seaside REP Theatre Moonlight and Magnolias 6pm $25 per ticket 850-231-0733 November 2-5 Destin Community Center Basketball Clinic Grades 1-4 5:30-7:15pm FREE 850-654-5184

40 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

November 4 FWB St. Mary’s Catholic Church Blessing of the Emerald Coast FREE 850-226-4712 November 5 FWB Eglin Golf Course Doolittle Scholarship Open Golf Tournament 8am Active Duty $50 Members $75 One player $200 850-803-2280 November 5-8 Seaside Seeing Red Wine Fest Friday 6-8pm $200 Saturday 1-4pm $150 & up Sunday 10-1pm $60 850-650-3732 November 5, 12, 19, 26 Crestview Spanish Park Trail Farmers Market 8-2pm 850-689-5850

November 5, 12, 19, 26 Santa Rosa Beach Topsail State Park Americana Under the Stars 6:30-8pm $5 850-267-8332 Watercolor Farmers Market Framers Market 9-1pm 850-499-4697 November 5-15 Tallahassee North Florida Fair $7 Adults $4 Child 850-878-3247 November 6, 18 FWB Downtown Art Walk 5:30-8:30pm FREE 850-244-8191

November 6-7 Apalachicola-Battery Park Florida Seafood Festival Fri 10am-10:30pm Sat 7am-11pm FREE 850-653-4720 FWB Saint Simons on the Sound Craft Fair Thurs 9-2pm, Fri 9-5pm Sat 9-3pm 850-244-8621 Pensacola Naval Air Station Blue Angels Homecoming Show Sherman Field Fri: 8am & 4pm Sat: 8am $7 and up www.naspensacolaairshow.com Watercolor Mountain Film on Tour 6pm gates open film at 7pm One day $30 - Weekend $60 850-534-5008 Watercolor Mountain Film for Kidz Kidz Kino $30 Ages 6-12 850-534-5975

November 6-8 Niceville Mullet Fest Fairgrounds Thunderbird PowWow Fri: 9-2pm Childrens Day 7pm Grand Entry Sat: 10-8pm Sun: 10-4pm $5 Adult $3 12 & under 850-678-8077 Okaloosa Island ECCC FANdom Anime Convention Fri 1-12pm, Sat 9-12am, Sun 10-7pm $15 at the door 786-368-5322 November 7 Destin American Legion Veterans Day 5K 8am 850-837-3818 Destin HarborWalk Village Blues, Brews, & BBQ 11-4pm FREE 850-424-0600 Destin-Dock behind AJ’s Pin Fish Classic ALL DAY FREE 850-650-1241

Freeport Hammock Bay Thin Blue Line 5K 7:30-1pm $35 850-797-2022 Lynn Haven Roberts Hall Christmas Craft Market 9-3pm 706-506-1450 November 7, 14, 21, 28 Crestview Spanish Park Trail Farmers Market 8-2pm 850-689-5850 Miramar Beach Grand Blvd Farmers Market 9-1pm 499-4697 Niceville-One 20A Modern Bistro Parking Lot Niceville Farmers Market 7-2pm 850-729-2120 Panama City Beach Boardwalk Beach Resort & Conf Ctr Ironman Florida 850-230-4610 Seaside Farmers Market 9-1pm 850-687-3494

November 8 Niceville Mattie Kelly Arts Ctr US Army Jazz Ambassadors Concert 3pm FREE 850-729-6000 Panama City Marina Civic Ctr Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker 3pm 850-763-4696 November 9-13 Destin Jersey Mikes Homes for Heros Fundraiser 850-269-2925 November 9-14 PCB Aaron Bessant Park Emerald Coast Cruizen $11 per day or $25 both 662-587-9572 November 11 Crestview Veterans Parade 10am FREE 850-689-1618 FWB Uptown Station Home of the Brave 5K $25-$30 1Mile Run $10 7am 850-651-4864 Continued On Page 42

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FWB Uptown Station Veterans Day Flag Raising Noon - 1:30pm FREE 850-301-0757

Destin Dog Park Pooch Palooza 1-3pm Donations Accepted 850-654-5184

Destin Harborwalk Village ARTwalk 11-4pm FREE 850-424-0600

Sandestin Linkside Horizons Fashion Show 7-10pm $65 single - $120 couple 850-863-1530

November 12 Destin Mattie Kelly Arts Fall Wine Walkabout 5:30-9pm $50 850-650-2226

Destin Lulu’s Lulu’s Marlin 5K Run/Walk 8am $15-$25 850-830-8862

FWB SAMS Club Parking lot Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run 8am 850-864-4242

November 20-22 Sandestin Hilton Weekend to Remember A Better Marriage FREE Active military & spouse FREE Clergy & Spouse $149.00 & up 407-325-3952

November 13-14 Destin Community Center Holiday Craft Show 11-4pm Fri 9-3pm Sat FREE admission 850-654-5184 November 14 Crestview Community Center Princess Ball - 13 & under 6-9pm $35 for Princess & Excort $10 additional princesses 850-902-1075 Crestview Main Street Medical Center Race for Lace 9am $25-$30 850-398-6963

FWB Defrance Christmas Indoor Flea Market & Antiques 850-314-7500 FWB Promise Church Community Day 11-3pm FREE 850-796-7240 Sandestin Baytowne Wharf Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights 4-7pm $40 advance, $50 at door 866-912-3224 November 15 Destin HarborWalk Village Make it Shine Concert FREE 2pm 850-424-0600

Niceville-Bluewater Fitness Ctr. Miles of Memory 5K Run/Walk 8am $20 850-244-8191 November 19 Destin Regatta Bay Golf Club Bourbon on the Bay 5:30-8pm $40 850-837-6241 FWB Emerald Coast Science Ctr Planetarium Nights 5-8pm $9 Adults $7 Child 850-664-1261 November 20 Destin Commons Santa’s Arrival 5-8pm 850-337-8700

November 20-21 PC Fairgrounds Christmas at the Fair 10-5pm Friday 9-4pm Saturday Admission - 1 canned good 850-769-2645 November 21 Mary Ester Santa Rosa Mall Market Days 12-7pm 850-807-7043 Milton St. Mary’s Winter Arts & Crafts Show 10-5pm 850-623-2905

Benefitting the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle

Celebrating our 5th Anniversary Friday, January 22, 2016 The Palms of Destin Resort and Conference Center

Doors open at 6 p.m.

$35 per person

Social Hour, Hors d' oeuvres, Dessert Tasting and Voting, Awards, Silent Auction and Entertainment by Shades of Blue All attending can vote for their favorite dessert.

Check out your local Girl Scout Office for tickets! www.gscfp.org

42 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

(850) 434-1333

Seaside The Nutcracker 4pm FREE 85-428-0825 November 21 - January 1 Sandestin Grand Boulevard Holiday Lights FREE 850-837-3099 November 23 FWB Medical Center Where did I put my Keys? 11:30-1pm FREE 858-614-7274 November 23-24 FWB Emerald City Gymnastics Handspring Clinic 12-2pm 850-863-3991 November 24-30 Sandestin Grand Boulevard Festival of the Trees FREE 850-837-3099 Seaside REP Every Christmas Story Ever Told 2pm, 7pm $20 Adults $10 Kids 850-468-0901

November 26 Rosemary Beach 30A 10K and Fun Run Fun Kids Run 1 mile 7:30am $90 10K $45 1 Mile 850-259-1788 November 27 Destin HarborWalk Village Santa’s Arrival Noon - 4pm Free 850-424-0600 PCB Aaron Bessant Park Beach Home for the Holidays John Berry concert 7-10pm 850-233-5045 Pensacola Vinyl Music Hall We Were Promised Jetpacks Concert 8pm $36-$51 850-607-6758 Point Washington State Park Nonies Ark EVEntures 5:30-7pm $15 Ages 4-10 850-200-4160

Sandestin Baytowne Wharf November 28-December 30 Polar Bear Express Defuniak Springs FREE Christmas Reflections 6-9pm $3 Under 6 FREE 888-498-6391 850-974-6774 November 27-29 Milton Railroad Museum The Polar Express $15 850-333-8993

December 1-31 Grayton –Shops of Grayton Grayton Farmstand 7am-7pm 305-282-5999

November 28 Sandestin Baytowne Wharf Sandestin Baytowne Wharf Baytowne on Ice Here Comes Santa & Fireworks 11-10pm 6-9pm $13 (1.5 hours and skate FREE rental) 888-498-6391 850-714-7614 Seaside Holiday Parade December 1 4-8pm Niceville Mattie Kelly Arts FREE Peking Dreams Acrobats & 850-428-0825 Circus of China 7:30pm Watercolor Old Florida $35 Holiday & Winter Market 850-729-6000 5-9pm FREE December 2 850-419-6188 Sandestin Baytowne Wharf Wed Night Holiday Concert November 28, 29 Van R. Butler Chorus Destin HarborWalk Village 7-9pm Visit with Santa Free 12-4pm 850-424-6000 FREE 850-424-6000 Continued On Page 44

匀愀琀甀爀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀㄀㈀琀栀㘀㨀㌀瀀洀 ∠ 匀甀渀搀愀礀Ⰰ 䐀攀挀攀洀戀攀爀㄀㌀琀栀㌀瀀洀匀漀甀琀栀圀愀氀琀漀渀䠀椀最栀匀挀栀漀漀氀䄀甀搀椀琀漀爀椀甀洀 ∠ 匀愀渀琀愀刀漀猀愀䈀攀愀挀栀

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 43

Continued From Page 43

December 3 Destin Community Center Christmas Tree Lighting 6pm FREE 850-654-5184 December 3-6 FWB Uptown Station Bikes or Bust 850-654-1000 December 4 FWB Jingle Bell Jog 5K run/Walk and 10K $30-$35 850December 4-5 Niceville Mattie Kelly Arts A Christmas Carol in Concert Fri: 7:30pm Sat: 2pm $25.00 850-729-6000 December 4-5, 11-12, 18-19 Destin HarborWalk Village A Dickens Christmas 2pm & 7:30pm $20 Adults $10 Kids 850-687-1837

December 5 Crestview Christmas Parade 5:30pm FREE 850-689-3722

December 11 South Walton High School Miramar Beach The Nutcracker Destiny Worship Center 6:30pm A Broadway Holiday $15 Sinfonia & Morgan James 850-897-2933 7:30pm Destin Bubba Gumps $29.50 - $40 Valpariso Heritage Museum Luminaria Run 850-460-8800 Yule of Yesteryear Christmas 4:30pm 10-4pm 5K & 9K Niceville Mattie Kelly Arts FREE Adults $30 - $55 Holiday POPS 850-678-2615 Kids $10-$15 7:30pm 850-243-1201 December 12, 13, 19 $18 - $25 850-729-6000 Destin HarborWalk Village December 7 Visit with Santa Crestview Library December 12 12-4pm Ukulele Jam Club Destin HarborWalk Village FREE 6-8pm Breakfast with Santa 850-424-0600 FREE 8am 850-398-4009 850-424-0600 December 13 Destin Harbor December 8 Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church Boat Parade Crestview Library Living Nativity 6pm Poetry and Music Jam 6-8pm 5:30 - 8pm FREE FREE FREE 850-424-6000 850-682-4432 850-682-2835 Destin Luluâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Destin Village Baptist Church Sandestin Tuba Christmas and Billy Claus arrives You Amaze Us Tour Holiday Lantern Parade Family event 6pm 5pm Concert 6pm Parade 2pm $18 Adv - $20 at the door FREE FREE 850-650-2519 850-710-5858 December 10 FWB Downtown Ladies Night Out 5-8pm FREE

44 â&#x20AC;˘ Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

Destin Village Baptist Church Matt Maher, Jon Guerra & Hannah Kerr Concert 6-8:30pm $20 850-483-0714 South Walton High School The Nutcracker 3pm $15 850-897-2933 December 15 Niceville Mattie Kelly Arts Jazz Band Fall Concert 7:30pm FREE 850-729-5382 December 17 Santa Rosa Beach Gulf Place Wine Walk About 5-7pm $15 850-267-8458 December 18 SRB Eden State Gardens Christmas Candle light tour 5-8pm 850-267-8320

December 19 Rosemary Beach Winter Solstice Run 10, 20, 40 mile runs 8-5pm $100 and up 850-387-2047 Seaside Holiday Pops Concert 5:30 FREE 850-428-0825 December 20 Destin Harborwalk Village ArtWalk on the Harbor 850-424-0600 Destin Harborwalk Village Breakfast with Santa 11am 850-424-0600 December 21 Santa Rosa Beach Winter Solstice Run 231-715-1122 December 31 Destin Lulu’s New Years Eve Family Fun Beach Ball Drop, Games, Face Painting, Music, Fireworks Sand Castle Contest 10am 850-710-5858

Sandestin January 22 Village of Baytowne Wharf Destin Palms New Years Eve Countdown Destin Desserts Fireworks at midnight 6pm 7pm $35 FREE 850-434-1333 850-424-0600 January 23 Panama City Beach Pier Park Destin Bayou, Bay & Beach Beach Ball Drop 5K & 10K Half Marathon 5:30pm 7:30 & 8:30am FREE 850-236-9974 Seaside Countdown to New Years 7pm FREE 850-428-0825 January 1st Watercolor Polar Bear Plunge 9am FREE 850-534-5975 January 16 OK Island EC Conv Ctr Winter Guest Fest 8-Noon $1 850-244-8191

Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine • 45

Continued From Page 16

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TARGETING “THE MORAL CORE:” EMPATHY, CONSCIENCE, AND SELF-CONTROL These tactics were developed by Michele Borba, Ed.D., to help children develop the traits called “essential to goodness.” EMPATHY Draw Attention to Unspoken Feeling Cues: Point out facial expressions, “people watch,” or watch television without volume to help children tune into the emotions of others. Ask Kids to Switch Roles: During conflicts with siblings, friends, or authority figures, ask children to imagine themselves in the place of the other party to help them appreciate different perspectives. CONSCIENCE Be a Strong Moral Example: Parents are a child’s strongest moral influence; ensure that your own moral behavior is up to par. Explain the Reasons Behind The Rules: Telling children why you set certain rules gives you an opportunity to share your values with children, and gives them important insight into your ideas about right and wrong. SELF-CONTROL Create A Family Self-Control Motto: Post your slogan in a spot where it can serve as a constant reminder of the value your family places on self-control. Encourage Self-Motivation: Help your child develop an internal compass by encouraging self-praise for positive moral behaviors: “You didn’t give up and you figured out that tough assignment. Did you remember to tell yourself that you did a great job?”

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relationships with children, be people whom children trust and respect, and truly know their children in order to assert any type of moral authority,” he says. Parents fail to realize the power of their own moral example. “When kids 12 and under get a discount, and your child just turned 13, do you pay the higher rate without complaining? Kids notice those day-today decisions about right and wrong,” says Eller. The most natural way to assert moral influence? Spending time—real, unplugged, face-toface time—with kids. Spending unstructured time with children encourages the types of conversations and questions that allow parents to share their values, something experts agree is critical to children’s moral

growth. “If you can start talking about these types of ethical issues when kids are young, you’ve got a great foundation to build on when those more challenging years come around the corner,” says Corlett. The Sousleys are seeing their ethical instruction start to pay off. When Jillian recently declared that she was quitting her youth soccer league, they held firm: “We told her that she made a commitment to the team, and she needs to honor it. Even if she doesn’t play, she needs to go to the games to support the team.” It’s a hard lesson, Molly says, but it sends an important message about responsibility and community. Jillian is starting to grasp those concepts, and Molly looks forward to continued moral growth. “More than anything, we want her to be compassionate.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------New Robotics Exhibit FCAT Enrichment Family Science Night Science Spots for Tots Class Planetarium Birthday Parties

“Where kids have fun with science!”

Come discover the difference a hands on encounter with science can make. 31 SW Memorial Parkway, Fort Walton Beach | 850.664.1261 | www.ECScience.org 46 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine

Give Them

VISION to Grow!

Welcome

Wendy Huang, M.D.

Board-Certified & Fellowship Trained Pediatric Ophthalmologist The doctors and staff of Eye Center South are proud to welcome the newest member of our medical staff: Wendy Huang, M.D., a Board-Certified & Fellowship Trained Pediatric Ophthalmologist specializing in pediatric eye conditions, eye muscle disorders, amblyopia and pediatric refractive error. Dr. Huang is pleased to trade in New York’s winter weather and traffic for the pristine beaches and ample sunshine of the Florida Panhandle beaches. She is a perfect and much-needed complement to our pediatric ophthalmic services in our Destin office and Dr. Huang looks forward to providing medical eye care needs for the children of the greater Destin, Panama City and Pensacola areas. For more than 30 years, Eye Center South has developed a reputation of eye care excellence and looks forward to helping preserve, protect and restore the vision of our friends and neighbors throughout NW Florida, Southern Alabama & Southwest Georgia.

Wendy W. Huang, M.D.

850-650-6550◦EyeCenterSouth.net 151 Regions Way, Buidling 1 • Destin, FL 32541

Eye Center South Your vision. Our mission.

Executive Health & Wellness Center Raising the bar in

Personalized Healthcare.

Dr.Tommy John, MD

Dr. John returns to the Florida Panhandle with over 28 years of Family Practice and Sports Medicine experience. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excited to join SEHWC in our mission to incorporate old-fashioned concierge medicine with new technology for a comprehensive take on wellness. He has served as the Medical Director for ExxonMobil, during which he worked with FEMA and local practioners to create a post-Katrina health delivery system. He has worked with LSU athletes and coaches and has provided concierge medicine to governors, professional musicians and managers in the entertainment industry.

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