[[{“value”:” By Helen Petre It is time for us humans to break out the blankets and jackets, but what do our wild animals do to prepare? Fortunately, they have everything they need to stay warm. In the fall, most animals start eating a lot. They need to add a layer of fat to keep them warm and provide energy to sustain them through the winter when there is little food. The Florida black bear, Ursus americanus floridanus The Florida black bear is the only bear in Florida. There are about 4,000 in all of Florida, but only about 120 in the western Panhandle, mostly in Eglin. They prefer dense undergrowth in scrub oak ecosystems, swamps, and flatwoods. One was seen in Grayton Beach State Park recently, and it was not small. Should we be worried about large, dangerous animals while walking in the woods or on the beach? Probably not. As with all wildlife you encounter in their habitats, give them room and do not try to interact with them. If you are hiking in an area that is bear habitat, make noise. If the bear hears you, he will most likely move away from you. Bears mate in the summer, but the eggs do not implant until November, and then, only if the female has gained enough weight. The cubs are born in January as tiny, helpless things weighing less than a pound. Females feed and protect them denned in the saw palmetto understory until spring. Males are much larger than... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Kay Phelan For a quarter of a century, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) has been dedicated to providing hope, healing and justice to child abuse victims and their families in Florida’s Okaloosa and Walton Counties. ECCAC has two centers—the Pierce Family Children’s Advocacy Center in DeFuniak Springs and the Julie Sacco Porterfield Children’s Advocacy Center in Niceville. ECCAC is an accredited part of the National Children’s Advocacy Center non-profit organization. There are 900 Centers across the country, with 28 of them located in Florida. How ECCAC Works The centers don’t house children, but instead provide many needed services 24/7 in a child-friendly environment where children can safely tell their stories. Along with ECCAC’s staff and volunteers, both of our local centers house a multidisciplinary team of child protection representatives from the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Protection Team, State Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement and licensed mental health counselors. In ECCAC’s 25-year history, over 33,000 children have received more than 200,000 services at no cost. The single most important hallmark of ECCAC’s process is the fact that the impacted child, dealing with the immediate trauma and stress of their situation, can tell their story in one room, just one time. They do not have to repeat it numerous times at different places to different people. In other words, all pertinent parties that can help the child victim are all there at the centers at the same time. Once the child tells their story, action... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Michelle Ruschman One of the most important missions we have as a nation is to ensure that our children, teachers, administrators, and the support staff in our schools can focus on education without the distraction of feeling unsafe. Retired veteran Joshua Yirkovsky was inspired to start his private protection company, Angel Force Protection, and his nonprofit organization, Angel Force Foundation, when he saw firsthand what can happen when a school day is halted to deal with an intruder. “In 2024, I was in the car lane waiting to pick up my kids from a private Christian school. I looked up to see a vagrant pulling on the doors, insisting to be let in, thinking it was the church. He was agitated and using foul language, and I could see the students and teachers through the door, clearly scared, trying to handle it on their own. With my sons being in there, I knew we needed a solution. That was the seed for Angel Force Protection and Angel Force Foundation.” The business and the foundation are two sides of the same coin. The business employs military veterans to become Angel Guards, primarily for schools. The other focuses on providing children, their families, and educators with resources that are “dedicated to advancing school safety through proactive education and comprehensive initiatives.” This includes programs like Future Leaders Academy and safety seminars. They also conduct fundraisers so schools have the resources to utilize the instruction and protective services they need to equip... Read More

 [[{“value”:” It’s another exciting lineup and fantastic weekend of music and reverie at Stinky’s Bait Shack and Stinky’s Fish Camp in Santa Rosa Beach! “}]]  SoWal.com  Read More

 [[{“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. Visit https://www.beignetsandbrew.com. The post Beignets & Brew Grayton Beach: Spreading Sweetness appeared first on South Walton Connections. “}]]  Read More

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Three area mentoring organizations are joining forces for National Mentoring Month. Representatives on behalf of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Bay Education Foundation, and Bay District Schools’ Elevate Bay program will give out free coffee and donuts on January 22 from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. to all […] Read More