[[{“value”:” Exercise Classes – Angela Gibson will lead classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 10  a.m. at 70 Logan Lane,  Grayton Beach. Cost is $5 per class for CSSW members and $10 for non-members. Sign up on the email list. If you are  not already on the email list, call 850-280-5342 or email coastalseniorsofsouthwalton@gmail.com Core Class – Angela Gibson will lead a 30-minute core class every Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. A yoga mat and  Pilates ring are used for this class. Cost is $5 per class for CSSW members and $10 for non-members. For  information or screening, call 850-280-5342 or email coastalseniorsofsouthwalton@gmail.com Watercolor Painting Class – Karen Peterson will teach classes on Fridays March 6, 13, 27 and April 10 and  24 from 8:45 a.m. to noon at 70 Logan Lane, Grayton Beach. Cost is $20 for CSSW members and $40 for non-members. Sign Up Required Due To Limited Space. No walk-ins.. Sign up by the email list. If you need to  be added to the email list, call 850-280-5342 or email coastalseniorsofsouthwalton@gmail.com Advanced Watercolor Painting Class – Karen Peterson will teach classes on Thursdays March 26 and  April 9 and 23 from 12 to 3 p.m. at 70 Logan Lane. Cost is $20 for CSSW members and $40 for non-members. Participants will be responsible for their own supplies. No supplies will be provided. Sign Up Required Due To Limited Space. Sign up by email list. To be added to email sign up list, call or email  850-280-5342 or coastalseniorsofsouthwalton@gmail.com... Read More

 [[{“value”:” Walk into almost any major retailer right now and you’ll see the same pattern: racks packed tight, new collections already replacing last month’s inventory, markdown signs quietly preparing for the next cycle. The system depends on constant turnover. More product. Faster releases. Shorter relevance. That model works in cities built on trend velocity. It doesn’t feel right on 30A. This coastline moves differently. The light changes daily, but the landscape remains. The dunes don’t reinvent themselves every month, and Western Lake doesn’t rebrand each season. There’s a steadiness here — a quiet consistency — and it makes you question why everything else has to move so quickly. Fast fashion has conditioned us to expect constant novelty. Weekly drops. Micro-trends. Clothing produced in such large quantities that disposal is factored into the business model. When something fades, stretches, or falls out of style, replacing it feels easier than keeping it. But speed carries a cost. Not only environmentally, but culturally. It shifts how we value what we wear. When garments are built to be temporary, our attachment to them becomes temporary too. 1 of 3 There’s a difference between buying something because it’s inexpensive and buying something because it feels right. One fills space. The other earns it. Along 30A, where lifestyle is deeply tied to place, that distinction matters. At Captured Clothing 30A, we’ve tried to avoid the fast-fashion, mass-produced approach as much as we can. Not because it sounds good in marketing language, but because it doesn’t align... Read More

 [[{“value”:” The Walton and Okaloosa communities are coming together to give recognition and thanks to our first responders, veterans, and active military. A Superior Mechanical will hold its inaugural Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Lunch at the Niceville Community Center, 204 Partin Drive North, Niceville, FL 32578 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 pm.  Please save the date! During the event, A Superior Mechanical will donate a new AC system complete with installation to one First Responder or Veteran in need. This giveaway is open to all who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and all first responders including EMT/Medics, Police, Sheriffs and Fire Fighters. Register to win at ASuperiorMechanical.com and go to ABOUT US > HVAC GIVEAWAY. “We are honored to give thanks to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day for the citizens of our community,” says A Superior Mechanical owner, Jimy Thorpe. Local businesses are invited and encouraged to donate door prizes and giveaways. Thorpe says he hopes this giveaway serves as an example of how others can give back. “We wanted to somehow give back to others and simply decided to give back what we have: AC systems.” The event includes a delicious hot lunch catered by Swiftly Catered, a brief welcome from the sponsors and supporters, and the AC Giveaway. This event is supported and sponsored by the City of Niceville and Niceville Community Center, Niceville High School (who will... Read More

 [[{“value”:” Walton County Tourism (WCT) is expanding its free  Beach Tram service on Sunday, March 1, connecting municipal parking facilities to regional beach accesses in an effort to ease parking demand and improve beach access. Route details are available at WaltonTransportation.com, which will act as an informational hub for the transportation program. “This program has  been years in the making,” said Tabatha Bolen, transportation manager for WCT.  “The entire team has put so much work into making it what it has become. It is exciting to be part of a program that provides a needed service that truly benefits our guests,  both visitors and the local community.” The 393 Municipal Parking Facility (MPF), at 1668 S County Hwy 393, and the  Grayton Beach Municipal Parking Facility, at 1505 S County Hwy 283, are the first two lots that will be on the transportation program. At 393 MPF, service will run daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The A-to-B Route will run directly from 393 MPF to Ed Walline Regional Beach Access (RBA), departing every 10 minutes. The West Route will include stops at Dune Allen Regional  Beach Access and Fort Panic RBA, departing every 15 minutes. At Grayton Beach MPF, also known as Grayton Central, the A-to-B Route currently operates from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. daily, with direct service to the corner of Hotz Avenue and Garfield Street every 10 minutes. Beginning March 1, Grayton Central will add a West Route running from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Heather Bennett Eye In the heart of South Walton, a new kind of living community is taking shape, one built not just with brick and mortar, but with love, determination, and a belief that everyone deserves the chance to live a full and independent life. Established as a 501(c)(3), Harlan’s Place is a nonprofit housing community designed for adults with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, created by parents who dared to imagine a brighter future for their son and for countless families who share the same hopes. Harlan Carey, who’s now eight, is at the heart of this vision. Like all parents, his family dreamed of a life where he could make his own choices, form friendships, and experience the everyday joys of independence. Yet, they also faced a reality familiar to many families of individuals with disabilities, ‘What will happen when we can no longer provide care?’ From that question, Harlan’s Place was born. “I was looking at what his future looked like, and how I wanted him to live his adult life,” said Harlan’s father and Harlan’s Place founder, Michael Carey. “I started doing a bunch of research. Everything was either institutional or a group home. That’s just not what I had envisioned.” Out of that concern, Harlan’s Place was born. Michael is committed to building a living environment that goes beyond traditional models of disability care. The goal is simple but powerful: to create a place where people with Down syndrome can thrive, grow, and... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Lori Smith  Freeport’s hometown rodeo is back — and it’s more than just a night of bulls, broncs and barrel racing. The 7th Annual Westonwood Ranch Pro Rodeo returns March 27–28 at the Freeport Regional Sports Complex, bringing high-energy entertainment to the community while raising vital support for one of Walton County’s most meaningful nonprofit missions. Presented in partnership with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Freeport, the two-night event invites families from across the Emerald Coast to gather for live rodeo action, music, food vendors and kid-friendly fun — all while helping teens and young adults with developmental differences build brighter futures. Doors open at 6 p.m. each evening, with Professional Cowboy Association performances kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Fans can expect classic rodeo events including bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, ladies barrel racing, team roping and bull riding. Children’s activities, bounce houses and local vendors will add to the festive, family-focused atmosphere. Tickets are sold at the gate only, with proceeds directly supporting Westonwood Ranch programs that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Freeport and throughout Northwest Florida. More Than a Rodeo: The Heart Behind Westonwood Ranch While the rodeo has become a beloved local tradition, its true purpose goes far beyond the arena lights. Westonwood Ranch is a Freeport-based nonprofit dedicated to helping teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gain life skills, job training and independence through hands-on, real-world experiences. Located on a holistic ranch... Read More

 [[{“value”:” Watersound Fountains is the kind of place best experienced firsthand. That’s why short-term stays are part of the story here. A short-term stay offers the chance to experience retirement living near 30A as it actually unfolds — not during a quick tour, but in real time. A morning routine. A few shared meals. A stretch of days where life moves at an easier pace, without the usual responsibilities. Whether for a few days, a few weeks, or an entire season, a short-term stay allows guests to step into the rhythm of the community without pressure or long-term commitment. It’s an opportunity to live here — not imagine it. Mornings begin quietly. Sunlight filters through the windows. Coffee is unhurried. Some guests head to the fitness center or pool. Others ease into the day with a walk, breakfast with neighbors, or time outdoors near the surrounding protected forest. “I happened to be here spending the weekend,” one member laughs. “And I haven’t left. I just stayed.” That moment, when a stay starts to feel like everyday life, often comes as a surprise. During a short-term stay, guests enjoy full access to the community. Chef-prepared meals. Wellness classes. Fitness studios. Social spaces designed for conversation and connection. Maintenance and daily details are handled, freeing up both time and mental space. By mid-morning, the community hums gently with activity. A balance class here. Coffee with new friends there. Someone deciding, on a whim, to try the golf simulator or join a book... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Joshua Bledsoe, Public Information Officer February provided an opportunity to celebrate what makes public education strong. During National Public Schools Week, Walton County School District joined communities across the nation in recognizing the essential role public schools play in preparing future leaders and sustaining vibrant local communities. Florida’s Future: Powered by Public Schools. Public schools are accountable to the families they serve. They are governed locally, open to every child, and built on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. That stewardship is evident in our continued partnership with Schneider Electric, which is helping transition district facilities to energy-efficient LED lighting. This districtwide LED conversion is projected to generate approximately $4 million in long-term savings and produce a 14% reduction in utility costs. LED systems consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting and have a much longer lifespan, reducing both power usage and maintenance expenses. March is an exciting month of celebrations as we recognize several important observances: Music in Our Schools Month celebrates the impact of music education on student creativity and achievement. Walton County has a strong commitment to developing the Whole Child, and that means strong music programs. National Nutrition Month highlights the connection between healthy choices and academic performance. We ensure students receive food that they like to eat while also taking care to provide food that is thoughtfully prepared and nutritious. Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and in our own community. We are also proud to recognize the... Read More