“Man Of Constant Sorrow” Singer Reveals How Four Words From George Clooney Changed His Life

25 years have passed since the groundbreaking soundtrack for “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” was released and Dan Tyminski’s life was changed. In 2000, the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” hit theaters. The storyline follows a trio of escaped convicts who form a band called The Soggy Bottom Boys. The accompanying soundtrack featured 19 […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Gulf County volunteers assemble Christmas bikes for kids in need

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Gulf County Sheriff’s Office helps grant Christmas wishes for about 350 children every year through “Sheriff Mike’s Christmas Toy Drive”. But it is a community effort. The Coastal Community Association has raised nearly $23,000 this year, allowing them to purchase 40 bikes for children in need. Dozens of volunteers […] Read More

St. Joseph Bay Humane Society offers reduced adoption fees to help “Empty the Shelters”

GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Bissell Pet Foundation’s nationwide initiative, called “Empty the Shelters” helps animal shelters across the country that are facing overcrowding by making adoption more affordable for families. They are sponsoring reduced adoption fees for hundreds of animal shelters, including the St. Joseph Bay Humane Society in Port St. Joe. They […] Read More

Families celebrate annual Breakfast with Santa in Calhoun County

CALHOUN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Families in Calhoun County were at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement Saturday morning for a holiday tradition that helps keep local history alive. Their annual Breakfast with Santa had an all-you-can-eat breakfast with pancakes and sausage. Kids could also meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, and receive a special gift from them. […] Read More

30a.news

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical

​ [[{“value”:” Whatever you do, don’t let the Pigeon star in his own musical production! With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling, Caldecott Honor award-winning “Pigeon” picture books, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!), TheaterWorksUSA‘s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party! It’s not easy being the Pigeon-you never get to do ANYTHING! But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird CAN do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. The post Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical appeared first on Mattie Kelly Arts Center. “}]]  Read More

30a.news

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Saint Rita Conference, Saint Rita Catholic Church

 [[{“value”:” The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Saint Rita Conference, is a voluntary ministry dedicated to serving those in need within our community. Inspired by the mission of St. Vincent de Paul, we strive to provide compassionate assistance, hope, and support to our neighbors in Santa Rosa Beach, Freeport, Destin and within the city limits of DeFuniak Springs. Being a “Vincentian” (a Member) within The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is for those who hear a special calling by God. Members are more than volunteers; this is not merely something that we do, but something that we are: “Vincentians”. As Vincentians, we put our faith into action. We love God, as St. Vincent said, “with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.” The Vincentian vocation calls us to participate personally and directly in helping the needy by person-to-person contact and by the gift of our hearts and friendship, within the communal spirit of a Conference of lay persons each inspired by the same vocation. We seek to respond to the call every Vincentian receives, to bring the love of Christ to those in despair. We accomplish 40-50 home visits each week, helping our neighbors who are in need, regardless of religious affiliation. One of the most beneficial ways we help our neighbors is through car donations. Reliable transportation is essential for individuals and families to access vital resources such as work, medical appointments, groceries, and other essential services. By assisting with transportation, we aim to... Read More

Sean of the South: Christmas Cheer

 [[{“value”:” By Sean Dietrich I was 15 years old. I walked into the rural library. My father was freshly dead. I was a middle-school dropout. We were poor. It was Christmastime. The small, public library was decorated for the holiday season. There was plastic holiday crapola everywhere. It was cold outside. I had no winter coat. I stepped into the library with a blast of sleet and rain. I was wearing a T-shirt. My hair was soaked. “Where’s your coat?” said the librarian. “I don’t have one.” “You don’t have a coat!? It’s 30 degrees outside!” Shrug. The librarian’s name was Miss Terry. She was old enough to predate the Roosevelt administration. Her hair was cotton white. Her shoes were Reeboks. Her embroidered sweatshirt read: “Dear Santa, I can explain.” The library was a converted residential house. And I was a regular here. “You can’t go around without a coat,” Miss Terry said. “You’ll freeze.” Shrug Number Two. I wandered to the fiction section. Fiction was all I was interested in. I read fiction each morning, afternoon, and night. It was escapism, I see that now. And I was a classic escapist. But then, there were very few happy things in my life. Who wouldn’t want to escape? That day, I checked out two Louis L’Amour books, a few Dick Francis novels. When I brought my selection up to the counter, Miss Terry just looked at me with warm eyes. “I have a book I want you to read,” she... Read More

Finding Commonality

 [[{“value”:” By Kirk McCarley The Dictionary.com word of the year for 2025 was actually comprised of numbers rather than letters.  One might ask, “Should numbers even qualify?,” but apparently, from the perspective of the leading online dictionary and reference website, it passed the standard. So, what is “6-7?” Pronounced “six seven” it is an internet meme and slang term that emerged this year on Tik Tok and Instagram Reels.  It stemmed from lyrics in a song by rapper Skrilla, with a backdrop of “tall” NBA players in the music video. The meaning of the term is subject to conjecture; it can arguably coincide with multiple interpretations, including the most non-committal of all elucidations: “whatever.” Hearing the term transported me back to my freshman year in college and an appealing course alternative entitled “Theater of the Absurd,” a study of a series of unusual and provocative plays including classics such as “Our Town” and “Waiting for Godot.”  Tossed into the mix was a 1942 product by Thornton Wilder, “The Skin of Our Teeth,” which envisioned a very cold future earth on the precipice of a new ice age.  It was so cold in fact that “dogs are sticking to the sidewalks” and so chaotic and confused that the “world is at sixes and sevens.” With so many varieties of interpretation and juxtaposition, is it no wonder that we live in a state of consistent misunderstanding?  Where is that place where we find a common language with others?  How might we make... Read More

30a.news

A Pastor’s Ponderings: Christmas Light

 [[{“value”:” By Rev. Pete Hyde The night was cold and raw when he stepped out onto the balcony of the fifth-floor hotel room.  A persistent, spitting rain added a chill to the biting breeze and the gloominess of the evening.  The penetrating darkness of Mobile Bay stretched out before him.  Irregular points of orange lights dotted the far shore of the Bay, a couple of miles in the distance.  The eerie glow of the Mobile’s lights blanketed the far shore of the bay with an iridescent mix of orange and white.  The faint smell of burgers and fries drifted from the Burger King next to the hotel, adding a whole new dimension to the evening.  The evening was not quiet.  The constant traffic on I-10 filled the evening with tire noise and the rumble of diesel engines. He shivered a little from the cold and damp but stayed on the balcony.  This would be his only opportunity to have a break in the busyness for a while. The activities of the Christmas season had piled up again this year. What happened to not letting it happen again this year? His eyes tracked along the near and far shore.  There were no Christmas lights or decorations to be seen.  But then something caught his attention.  Stretching across the bay was a double line of red lights disappearing into the far side of the bay. Coming from the far side of the bay was a double line of white lights.  Like an... Read More

Beignets & Brew Grayton Beach: Spreading Sweetness to Grayton Beach

 [[{“value”:” Beignets & Brew, the Florida-based café renowned for its made-to-order New Orleans-style beignets and specialty coffee creations, has officially opened its second Sweet Spot in Santa Rosa Beach, welcoming the community to even more sweetness and connection. Beignets & Brew Grayton Beach soft-opened on Thursday, November 13, and hosted its grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 15, quickly becoming a local favorite for sweet treats and specialty coffee. The café is led by franchise partners Chris and Shannon Kramolis, marking Chris’s second Sweet Spot with Beignets & Brew. “As a local, it’s incredibly exciting to bring Beignets & Brew to Grayton Beach and share a little sweetness with our community,” said Chris Kramolis. “We’re thrilled to welcome neighbors, friends, and visitors into a place where everyone can find their sweet spot!” The café offers fresh, made-to-order beignets, specialty coffee creations, and a cozy, Instagram-worthy space where guests can gather, relax, and enjoy sweet moments together. It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends, treat yourself, or simply savor a little sweetness any time of day. Beignets & Brew Grayton Beach continues the brand’s mission to create spaces for connection, comfort, and sweetness in every visit. The post Beignets & Brew Grayton Beach: Spreading Sweetness to Grayton Beach appeared first on South Walton Life | 30A News, Events and Community Information. “}]]  South Walton Life | 30A News, Events and Community Information  Read More