Signs of spring – balmy weather, blooming flowers and nesting birds – are occurring. Warmer temperatures also mean alligators are more active and visible. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recommends taking precautions when in and around the water:While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, the FWC offers the following tips about how to safely co-exist with them: – Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed one. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. – Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. – Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge and never let them swim in fresh or brackish water. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey. Call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) if you believe an alligator poses a threat to people, pets or property and the FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. The FWC administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur. Find more resources about living with alligators at MyFWC.com/Alligator. The American alligator, Florida’s state reptile, is a conservation success story. Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population, which is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size. They are found in freshwater lakes, ponds,... Read More

  JoJo’s Coffee and Goodness Owner and operator Angela “JoJo’’ Stevenson invites you to enter a cafe and relaxed coffee shop atmosphere for a daily dose of “goodness.” Feel free to work on site (free WiFi) or meet up with friends or family. Stop in for cinnamon rolls, scones (cranberry orange, chocolate caramel and cheddar thyme, strawberry coffee cake), cranberry orange muffin, red velvet cookies, brownies with espresso ganache or caramelitas. Try a breakfast special with a piece of quiche or kolache-hashbrown casserole. Breakfast burritos are rolled and ready daily. Choose from andouille, bacon, chorizo or veggie. Or tantalize your taste buds with a made-to-order breakfast sandwich on croissants or bagel with two eggs and cheese and then choose if you want to add Jojo’s homemade smoked jalapeño beef bologna, bacon, house smoked barbecue or ham. Cinnamon rolls and kaloches still hold the top spot for sellouts. Stop in for featured muffins, coffee cake or pound cake–great with maple cinnamon latte or caramel macchiato. Some of Jojo’s most popular coffees are cold: Nitro, Cold Brew, fruit smoothies and frozen affogatos are the way to go. Of course, there’s always freshly roasted coffee. Order ahead and pick up some for all your celebrations. Hours 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday (850) 737-6194 4652 Hwy. 20 East, Nicevillebigorangehousedesigns.com LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant Welcome to LJ Schooners Dockside Restaurant located at the spectacular Bluewater Bay Marina Complex. Named after “LJ Schooner” (the LJ is for Lazy Jack), a cherished four-legged icon... Read More

  Jaime Dorsey is a California transplant successfully growing her interior design firm, Dorsey Design Co., in Bluewater Bay and surrounding areas. She has a trained eye in design, after designing and remodeling homes and commercial real estate properties in California. Over the past four years, she has helped create dream spaces that her clients love year over year. When she moved to Florida in 2022 with her family, she found that her true passion is in designing home interiors. Her attention to detail, respect for classic architecture and strong work ethic make her a standout leader in this space. Dorsey Design Co., is a family-owned business and is composed of herself as Lead Designer, her husband, Brian Dorsey, and brother-in-law Daniel Dorsey. Together, the brothers help execute her designs and knock down walls if they need to! With their vast knowledge of construction and hands-on training from their father (who has an extensive history of professional car design and home construction) they are no strangers to dust, remolding and hard work. Supporting roles with other family members help make Dorsey Design Co., a growing success. Many have come to know Jaime and Dorsey Design Co., by their classicism with modern twist designs; a unique and compelling style that is one-of-a-kind, timeless and beautiful. With the use of mix materials, textures and colors, combined with an understanding and expert application of detailing, scale and proportion, Dorsey Design Co. has a bi-coastal resume of projects in both the retail and home... Read More

  By Stacy Lingenfelter Sarikanon, Stunning Spaces – Decorating Den Interiors When it comes to color, I advise my clients to follow their heart. As an interior decorator, my color philosophy revolves around the fact that sometimes color preferences are not always the same as your favorite colors. But when some sound thought is considered when planning for a new color scheme, generally your heart’s color desires will rule supreme! And, as most people have discovered, planning a color scheme is a carefully thought-out process. I suggest that my clients follow five easy steps in assessing their space for a new color scheme. First, decide where your best opportunities are for using color! Will painting one wall in an accent color give your room the spark you desire? Or perhaps a soft blending of similar color hues will give your new room its desired “feeling or mood.”Then, take a critical look at your room’s architectural features. Do you want them to stand out – take center stage – or be minimized? For instance, perhaps you have painted bookshelves flanking a room’s fireplace. Adding an accent color to the back walls of your bookshelves might add just a bit of much-needed color flair to the entire wall scheme. Third, try to define how your space is being used. Reading, relaxing, game playing, watching TV? An important consideration in selecting your new color scheme is how you actually use and enjoy the space. Next, analyze your room’s lighting. How much natural light... Read More

  Join the ladies of Women United for its 2nd Annual Brunch and Bubbly presented by Cox. Sunday, May 7, at 11:30 a.m. at 109 Brooks St SE in Fort Walton Beach. Wear your favorite pink dress (or blouse) and hear from passionate female leaders discussing the work of United Way Emerald Coast and Women United in providing women and girls access to mental health resources and education in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Tickets are on sale now at www.united-way.org/womenunited. General admission starts at $65, Bottomless Bubbly VIP is $75 and a Table of 8 is $550.   The post Join Women United for Brunch and Bubbly May 7 appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) kicked off its highly-anticipated 2023 Concerts in the Village Thursday, April 20. The area’s first live concert series is held each spring on Thursday evenings at the MKAF Dugas Pavilion in Destin. This year’s 28th annual family-friendly series will run from April 20 to June 22. The 10-concert live music series will feature premier regional and national musicians and bands performing everything from classic rock, reggae and disco to modern pop. Here’s a closer look at the lineup: May 5 Ozomatl, cacophony of sounds melding salsa, jazz, funk, reggae and hip hop, takes the stage. This social-minded ensemble rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1995 to give voice to Latinos, fight for workers’ rights and promote a global unity. After performing around the world, this Latin-pop infusion is ready to rock Destin. Tickets are $25 adults/$20 active-duty military. May 11 will feature Lucky Chops – New Day, New Tour. Lucky Chops has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk on the world since forming in NYC in 2006. The intensity of the band’s energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. Tickets are $25 adults/$20 active-duty military. May 18, get ready to chill with Yacht Rock Revue: Reverse Sunset Tour. This top-notch group of musicians, presented by SiriusXM, trademarked the term “yacht rock,” both metaphorically and literally (U.S. Registration Number 3834195). From humble beginnings in a basement, they’ve rocked onstage with John Oates, Eddie Money and... Read More

  By Kenneth Books Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, it’s natural for local residents to take to the water and try to land that trophy fish. But there’s more to fishing than baiting a hook and casting a line. No one is born with fishing skills. And, as the saying goes, give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life. Into the breach steps Capt. Rob Hansill, an engineer who retired from the Marine Corps after 22 years, with a penchant for teaching. Four times a year, Rob runs the Get Hook’d Academy at Bluewater Bay Marina, providing young people with techniques that will serve them for the rest of their lives on the water. The four-session classes take place in early spring, May, August and September. This will be the fourth year the Academy has operated. So far, there are 94 graduates of the Academy. “We base it on school holidays, so we can get four consecutive Mondays in a row,” Rob, 51, says. Each class runs three hours, from 4 to 7 p.m., which Rob admits is “kind of a stretch for a kid who goes to school all day, but it works.” Rob’s teaching method includes quick demonstrations followed by hands-on training. For example, he’ll show a knot, then the students will work toward mastering it. The students are provided videos of the classwork, which they can take home and... Read More

  A Gift to our Community that Keeps on Growing By Kelly Murphy-Redd, CEcd Marlayna Goosby, founder and director of Grow Your Gift Conservatory of Music uses her gift to grow the gifts of others. Born in Louisiana and a military “brat,” Marlayna lived in England, Alaska and Alabama before moving to Fort Walton Beach in 1995. Her father was Command Chief at Hurlburt Field and her husband is a retired reservist Chief Master Sergeant from Duke Field. She attended Fort Walton Beach High School and was appointed to the All-County Honor Band all four years and the Florida All-State Honor Band one year. Marlayna received a music scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi. As First Clarinet in the university symphony, Marlayna played alongside Doc Severinsen and the original cast of Les Miserable and graduated with a degree in music. Marlayna has wonderful memories of her 32 years as a musician. She remembers practicing in her basement, on a stool, on the concrete floor when she was very young, and being taken to group lessons in Anchorage, Alaska when it was ten to twenty degrees below zero. She lights up when talking about playing in the Viking Band at Fort Walton Beach High School under the tutelage of Mr. Randy Folsom and Mr. Ernest Hebson, who still mentor her today. Marlayna insists the years spent with these gentlemen also helped make her and her fellow students into good adults. Coming home from college, Marlayna worked as a mail clerk... Read More

  By Dr. Richard Chern, M.D. If you haven’t heard already there is a new weight loss medication available at a reasonable cost. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist which means it activates the GLP-1 receptor. Still confused? It doesn’t matter. It has several important actions in the body. Semaglutide ultimately helps your body lose weight by improving the regulation of sugar levels and insulin levels in the body. If this sounds like a medication for diabetes instead of weight loss then you would be correct. This class of medications was developed to improve diabetes. Astonishingly, in studies, many of my patients lost significant weight. In fact, up to 30% of their body weight. And, much of the weight stayed off after stopping the medication. This medication also slows the stomach. Food stays in the stomach longer so you feel full longer. And your stomach gets full faster so you eat less. These medications help people lose significant weight and you lose weight without feeling hungry! Sounds like magic, right? I have been seeing patients for over 30 years. I have seen so many weight loss drugs come on and go. This is the first time I have ever been excited to tell people about a weight loss medication. So how is it possible this medication is available? Well, this medication was initially Ozempic. The FDA allows a new medication to have a patent, or monopoly, on the medication for many years. They say this gives the company enough time... Read More

  What is Preserve Bluewater Bay? Preserve Bluewater Bay (PBWB) is a not for profit organization created by community members to save the greenspace in Bluewater Bay. PBWB is working to garner a true non-profit 501c3 status, but it is still in the works with the State of Florida and the IRS. The magnificent greenspace in Bluewater Bay is the defining characteristic of our community, and we want to keep it that way. Why is this community ripe for development? Bluewater was originally built as a golf community. The golf course has been slowly losing clientele over the years and is not as profitable as it once was. As the demand for housing increases and interest in golf decreases, residential and commercial development companies see an opportunity for profit and are interested in purchasing the golf course to build new homes and multi-tenant units. We’ve witnessed neighboring communities struggle with over-development and infrastructure shortages (roads, schools, etc.) and we want to prevent this from happening in Bluewater Bay. Are you trying to save the golf course? Today, much of our greenspace is still primarily used as a golf course. The golf course helps pay for the maintenance and upkeep of these greenspaces. PBWB would like to continue to use the land for a golf course, because it is the most cost effective way to maintain the land. Although the golf course financial picture is improving, it is yet to be seen if it can return to profitability. If golf gets... Read More