The Rotary Club of Niceville-Valparaiso recognized the top police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians for 2022 from each local department for their outstanding service to our community Feb. 20. The award recipients included: Niceville Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, Fireman Gage Reed; Valparaiso Fire Department Firefighter of the Year, Engineer Ethan Randolph; Niceville Police Department Officer of the Year, Officer Christopher Fulford; Valparaiso Police Department Officer of the Year, Officer Charles “Chuck” Dumbaugh; East Niceville Fire District Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Tyler Lawrence; North Bay Fire District Firefighter of the Year, Firefighter Tyler Gagner; Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year, Deputy Ezekiel Dixon; Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) Security Forces Airman of the Year, Senior Airman Abigail Saterfield; Eglin AFB Security Forces Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Technical Sergeant Caleb Foy; Eglin AFB Security Forces Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Master Sergeant Floyd Ford; Eglin AFB Security Forces Category I Civilian of the Year, Officer Jonathan Sowell; Eglin AFB Security Forces Category II Civilian of the Year, Officer Gregory Wise; Eglin AFB Military Firefighter of the Year, Staff Sgt. Josue Rosado Velez; Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Firefighter of the Year, Pedro Morales; Eglin AFB Fire Department Military Fire Officer of the Year, Master Sgt. Edward Thomas; and Eglin AFB Fire Department Civilian Fire Officer of the Year, Whitney Stine.From left: Technical Sergeant Caleb Foy, Eglin AFB Security Forces Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; Fire Chief David Birch, East Niceville Fire District; Senior... Read More

  City Food Hall Destin is now officially open at Destin Commons. Showcasing emerging and established local chefs from more than 10 specialty restaurant concepts, City Food Hall is a 14,000-square-foot gathering place offering international cuisine, craft beer and cocktails, state-of-the-art entertainment, and more. Located next to Foot Locker near Uncle Buck’s, City Food Hall will become Destin’s top culinary and nightlife destination. Locals and visitors can enjoy an expansive 32 seat indoor bar, HDTVs, plenty of seating, and two state-of-the-art Topgolf Swing Suites with multi-sport games and Full Swing golf simulator technology. The 10 restaurant concepts within Destin City Food Hall features unique cuisine from around the world including: PB&J Bakery and Café, with bold, unique dishes and nostalgic classics created by husband and wife duo Phillip & Jess Bauer; Nanbu Too, owned and operated by Chef Nikhil Abuvala. Nanbu (translated to “southern” in Japanese) offers Japanese cuisine with Southern Flair; Tuk Tuk Thai, bringing authentic Thai street food to Destin with ambitious dishes, bold flavors, mixed with hand-blended seasonings showcased by a military veteran-owned team; Birdie’s Nourished Kitchen by Chef Katie Dixon, offering a range of power foods from acai bowls and salads to healthy takes on traditional, southern fare; Macho Taco, Mexican inspired soul food that is simple, yet elegant, rustic, yet refined, creative, yet controlled; Poke Loa, A New Orleans-based restaurant that was the first poke restaurant in Louisiana. Poke Loa’s fish is delivered fresh daily, and fish, toppings, and vegetables are chopped and prepared in-house;... Read More

  By Doug Stauffer The governor, first lady, and guests gathered for an Opioid Crisis press conference in Destin recently. Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Agency for Health Care Administration to partner together to implement a network of addiction care. There were more than 8,000 overdose deaths in Florida in 2022. Many families are devastated, and society must implement ever more drastic measures. Successful legal action brought by the DeSantis administration against the pharmaceutical manufacturers has opened the doors to settlement funds in excess of $200 million. Those funds are being rolled out throughout the state to aid the fight against opioid addiction. They also focus on education concerning the dangers of fentanyl flowing over the open borders into our streets. “We want to stop illicit drugs from entering our state, hold dealers accountable, educate Floridians on the dangers and provide treatment that breaks the addiction cycle,” said DeSantis. “Opioid addiction is plaguing our state and nation, and we are seeing more fatalities related to overdose than ever before, with fentanyl being trafficked through the southern border. We will use funds from the opioid settlement in the most efficient and effective way possible to end addiction in Florida.” The Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) is the first in the United States, placing Florida as a leader in sustainable addiction and opioid recovery. Initially trial tested in 12 counties, the CORE program has expanded to 17 counties statewide.... Read More

  By Lori Leath Smith Never wanting to learn the game of golf, local resident Barbara Palmgren found herself doing just that when she ended up marrying Lornie, an avid golf player. So, she found a professional and took lessons. “The most important lesson I learned was that golf is a humbling game,” Barbara said in her book “Saving a Golf Course.” The moment a golfer thinks he or she has the game under control, the next shot lands in the water, the nearby woods or the formidable sand trap, cancelling the illusion of victory. On the plus side, a random long drive or miracle putt can bring the golfer back to play. This cycle of yin and yang continues throughout years of hope and frustration. Golf is a sport that can be enjoyed well in old age if knees and hips cooperate.” Little did Barbara know that years later, not only would she end up helping to save a local golf course, but also write a book about it! Her book about saving Shalimar Pointe Golf and Country Club is about how the course was almost bulldozed and lost to a developer wanting to build 180 new homes. But Barbara, Lornie and other residents were determined to fight to save it. Many challenges arose as they worked with others to save the course and their way of life for the good of their community. Barbara’s book established her as an expert and caught the attention of the national PGA... Read More

  The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) announced that Steve DeMeo will be inducted in the Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2023. DeMeo is the head coach for the Northwest Florida State College Raiders men’s basketball team and will be recognized during this week’s FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Men’s Basketball Tournament at Raider Arena.Spanning three decades and across all levels of the college game, DeMeo’s achievements are well-known throughout the greater basketball community. In 2015, he took NWFSC to a national title and was named the Spalding NJCAA National Coach of the Year. Under DeMeo’s direction, the Raiders turned in a six-year record of 170-27 (.863), earned an additional berth in the 2017 NJCAA Final Four, and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2016, 2018, and 2019. With DeMeo at the helm, the Raiders captured the Panhandle Conference Championship five-straight years (2015-19) and earned four FCSAA State Tournament Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. “I am extremely proud of Coach DeMeo for earning this recognition as an inductee of the FCSAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, NWFSC president. “His integrity, passion, and decision-making skills make him one of the best, and this recognition is well-deserved.” For more information on Raider Athletics, please contact Brady Peters, the athletic coordinator, at petersb5@nwfsc.edu. The post NWFSC Coach Steve DeMeo Named to FCSAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  On a breathtakingly beautiful February day in Seaside, Florida, thousands of runners gathered on February 19th, 2023 to participate in the 21st Annual Seaside School Half Marathon & 5K. This triumphant event not only brought together racers from all over the country, but also created an incredible opportunity to support The Seaside School Inc. The Seaside School Foundation proudly reports that more than $600,000 was raised to benefit The Seaside School, Inc., through the Seaside School Race Weekend efforts. 100% of the funds raised from Race Weekend benefit the Seaside School Foundation, which supports the ongoing operational needs, endowment, and capital projects for the Seaside Neighborhood School and Seacoast Collegiate High School. The Seaside School Inc., one of the first and now oldest operating public charter school in Florida and recently ranked #1 combination public charter school in Florida, is a tuition-free, public charter school serving students across Walton County in grades 5 through 12. “The money raised during Race Weekend is crucial for the operation and success of our school,” said Patrick McCarthy, President of the Seaside School Foundation. “The students that we serve in 5th through 12th grades rely heavily on this annual fundraising event, and without the race and the support of the community, we would not be able to provide our students with the unique learning experience they receive at our school.” The charity race weekend kicked off on Friday, February 17th with an evening under the stars at the annual race pre-party, Taste of... Read More