May is filled with excitement for the Walton County School District! Awards ceremonies, music concerts, art shows, drama performances, and senior activities create the backdrop for the culmination of a year’s hard work. Students will highlight their efforts and showcase their learning as assessments begin across the district. We are proud of our student’s dedication and “stick-with-it-ness” as we near the 2022-2023 finish line! If your student participates in assessments this month, please ensure they attend school well-rested and nourished with a healthy breakfast. Having breakfast containing protein, fat, and carbohydrates helps children feel full and remain focused during their exams. Students’ success comes through the partnership of parents, volunteers, and the community. April is the month volunteers are celebrated for the time they share with local Walton County School District schools. In addition, schools throughout the county held volunteer brunches and special lunches and gave appreciation awards to community members who shared time with students and faculty members. Walton County School District is always seeking interested persons for volunteering and mentoring. If you are interested in volunteering or mentoring in our schools, please visit our web page for more information! One of the many events volunteers may assist with includes the K-12 Special Olympics. The 2023 event was hosted Friday, April 28, 2023, at Emerald Coast Middle School track field. Students from across the District converged at the Santa Rosa Beach school to enjoy a day of friendly competition. Superintendent Hughes was there supporting student athletic efforts and... Read More

  This springtime soiree is scheduled for May 21st at Grand Boulevard The month of May typically ushers in picnics, flowers and little girls in beautiful dresses. This May 21st will encompass all of these things and much more, with a Mommy and Me Picnic hosted by La Luna Children’s Boutique and presented by The Henry Haus on Grand Boulevard’s North Lawn from 3-5pm. This special afternoon party will benefit a worthy cause with all proceeds going to Caring and Sharing of South Walton. Mothers and their children will delight in a southern coastal picnic with fare by Blue Mountain Bakery, sweet treats from Kilwin’s and Sweet Henrietta’s, live music by Tyler Acosta Music, and arts and crafts sponsored by Beau Interiors. Salty Girls Beach Setups will set the scene with beautiful chairs, blankets and picnic decor. Rose and Co. Flowers will add their special touch with gorgeous floral arrangements. And photographer Lexi Arielle will capture special memories from the day. Guests are encouraged to call La Luna Boutique to schedule a special appointment for their “mommy and me” attire at 850-368-5654. La Luna will work with moms to select the perfect styles to wear for the day…matching or coordinating but unique to each family. A limited number of tickets will be available for the “Mommy and Me Picnic” at https://www.laluna4kids.com, for $100 which includes Mom plus one child. Each additional child is only $15. Nashville based artist, Kelly Terrell Art, will also offer her kids’ art commission kits in... Read More

  By Will Estell If you consider yourself an automobile connoisseur of any depth, it’s almost certain you could probably guess the cars that would make up a list of this title, simply based on common knowledge of what is and isn’t a real sports car and what does and doesn’t make economic sense for the average person to daily drive. At the other end of the spectrum, as much as I can appreciate the more exotic makes, you can’t include anything made by Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Lotus or a host of other makes on this list. Mostly because even as true sports cars they can’t be had for the $50,000 ceiling here, and even if they could I couldn’t—with good conscious— suggest anyone try to daily drive anything that has $25,000, 15,000- mile service requirements or (insert used $30,000 Maserati’s here) has a high probability of developing a new problem on the roundtrip to Fresh Market or Starbucks. Mazda MX-5 When it comes to true-to-the-definition sports cars there’s not much debate among auto aficionados about which one brings the most smiles per miles and dollars: It’s almost always hands down Mazda’s classic Elan inspired MX-5 roadster. There is a reason more MX-5’s are raced on tracks every weekend than any other car in this country. And it’s the same reason that the MX-5 is about the only sub-$40,000 car (new) that the same guy who owns a Porsche 911 GT3, classic Ferrari 328 or Lotus Esprit would still choose... Read More

  By Mackenzie McClintock, SWFD Public Information Officer, The warmer weather is here and that means you may be thinking about getting out into the yard to complete gardening tasks and landscaping. Have you ever taken a moment to consider if your landscape lighting could be posing a fire hazard? In the past, South Walton Fire District firefighters have responded to fire incidents that were a result of landscape lighting malfunctions or failures. Fortunately, these incidents are not typically large fires, but they can be scary for the homeowners involved, and at times, it’s difficult to understand why they happen. Fire hazards should not deter you from utilizing outdoor lighting systems, however, proper care and procedures are imperative in fire prevention. It’s also important to remember that natural landscaping materials, such as pine straw, are highly flammable and cause fire to spread quickly, even after rainfall. Here are a few fire prevention tips from the South Walton Fire District: Develop practices to control pests, such as rodents, to avoid damage to electric wiring and equipment. Ensure all outdoor outlets and fixtures are equipped with weatherproof Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breakers. Keep light fixtures clear of debris such as pine straw, leaves, and other combustible materials. Even extension cords placed near pine straw can present a fire safety hazard. Make use of LED lamps when possible. These lamps burn incredibly cool, are more energy efficient, and they last for a considerably longer time. Install in-ground lighting fixtures with covers to... Read More

  By Kathleen Edge, Publicity & Website Chair In honor of Mrs. Frank Mercer, a former President of Green Thumb Garden Club, the Mercer Scholarship has been awarded to student(s) from Walton County for over four decades.  The qualified student(s) must be currently enrolled or have been accepted by a college, university, or technical school and have a major in horticulture. The $3,000 scholarship is funded through donations from generous GTGC members, fundraising events and the Walton County community.  The 2023 recipient will attend and receive their award at the May 2023 meeting.  Additional Green Thumb Garden Club scholarships will be awarded to participants in 4 H Camp Timpoochee and E.O. Wilson Biophilia Naturalists Outdoor programs. The May 24, 2023, meeting is at Westwinds Conference Center in Miramar Beach, Florida  Check-in begins at 9:30 am and lunch is included in the $25.00 fee for each member.  With a meeting theme of Petals, Pearls, and Prosecco; attendees are encouraged to wear their finest spring attire; a prize will be given for the  “Best Hat” at the event. The Club will celebrate National Garden Week with this year’s first summer social — Plant the Park — on June 5, 2023.  The 9 – 11 am event is at Legion Park, 226 Ponce De Leon Street, Miramar Beach, Florida.  Light snacks will be available; attendees should bring water and other preferred refreshments, hat, gloves, and garden tools.  Beautification of Walton County is front and center to the GTGC mission and all persons are... Read More

  South Walton-area motorists who utilize a navigation app or system during their drive now receive advance-warning alerts from South Walton Fire District apparatus responding to emergencies. These Safety Cloud alerts aim to better protect motorists and first responders, as well as assist in improving emergency response times, by giving drivers more time to safely comply with Florida’s Move Over Law. This law requires motorists to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles with activated signals. The Safety Cloud system  (www.haasalert.com) alerts drivers who are actively using Waze, Apple Maps, Google Maps, vehicles equipped with Ford’s Blue Oval Intelligence system and any Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram vehicles. Motorists using any of the methods listed will receive a hands-free alert that notifies them of an approaching SWFD emergency vehicle or scene. Safety Cloud developers have stated they are working to add new vehicles and navigation apps onto the platform to increase the number of people receiving alerts. In March 2023, the HAAS Alert system alerted 4,405 total drivers about 307 incidents involving a responding SWFD apparatus. SWFD would like to remind motorists to obey all traffic laws while slowing down and moving over for responding emergency vehicles. Also, motorists should ensure that all emergency vehicles have passed before pulling back into the flow of traffic. The post South Walton Fire District Joins ‘Safety Cloud’ Alert System Network appeared first on South Walton Life | 30A News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  There’s something BIG going on every month it seems at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. And May is no exception! Welcome Summer During the Memorial Day Celebration Weekend Saturday, May 27, 7-9 p.m. Sunday, May 28, 6-9 p.m. Kick off the 100 days of summer as festivities begin Saturday, when a true locals’ favorite, Forrest Williams Band, takes the stage at the Events plaza from 7-9 p.m. On Sunday, enjoy live music from Trest Richerson Band from 6-9 p.m. Free children’s activities will be from 6-9 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. You won’t want to miss the fireworks, live music, shopping, dining and fun all weekend long. Tequila and Tacos Anyone?  It’s Almost Time for the Tequila & Taco Fest Friday, May 12, 6-9 p.m. Saturday, May 13 | 1-4 p.m. Sunday,  May 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Village of Baytowne Wharf will come alive with local restaurants and food trucks competing for the Best Taco on The Emerald Coast with a first-place prize of $2,500 – and you will have a say in the People’s Choice Award! Sample many types of Tequilas and Margaritas from Blancos, Resposados, Anjieos and even Mezcals while indulging in some of the area’s best tacos. For tickets: www.efestevents.com Friday | 6-9 p.m. Saturday | 1-4 p.m. Sunday | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.efestevents.com. Alissa Steffens Vocal Studios Presents a Spring ConcertFriday, May 19, 7-8:30 p.m. | Events Plaza Stage | FREE All Invited. Join vocal coach Alissa Steffens... Read More

  Peter Mohylsky, It’s all about Sea Turtles! Do you love our local beaches? Do you have some free time from March through October? Why not join the Volunteer Beach Ambassadors? What began as a group of 30 volunteers back in 2016 has now grown to over 200 volunteers for the 2023 season. The volunteers are ambassadors for the culture that makes this such a great place to visit and live. Volunteer Beach Ambassador (VBA) Team Leader Peter Mohylsky stated “I am very proud of this team of dedicated volunteers. Everyone is dedicated to working on improving the quality of beach life for those who are full-time residents and just vacationers or part-time residents. The overall impact on the environment along the beach is nothing short of remarkable.” This group of volunteers greets our locals and visitors along the beaches, scenic bike paths and throughout our community. They are members of the Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles (FOSWST), a non-profit organization that promotes sea turtle conservation through awareness and education. While greeting everyone visiting our beaches, the main job of a VBA is to educate them on beach etiquette and county beach ordinances, specifically those codes that directly impact the preservation and safety of our nesting sea turtles. They also pick up trash, fill in holes in the sand, and flatten any sandcastles/art at the end of the day. The purpose is to work to achieve what we’ve all heard described as #CleanDarkFlat beaches. They are working towards educating the... Read More