Donny Osmond and his wife Debra have five children. The first was born in 1979, and the youngest was born in 1998. They all look so much like Donny… Country Music Nation  Read More

  By Spencer Angland, Marketing Coordinator, Flooring Depot of Panama City It’s the heart of the home. Where everyone gathers to talk about their day, create delicious food, and make lasting memories. Your kitchen reflects your personality—from knickknacks to how it’s organized, it is probably the most used room in your home. That’s why creating a functional and beautiful space is so important. Remodeling your kitchen can be overwhelming but it’s also your chance to change areas you don’t like or don’t function and make them fresh and new. One of the most important things to consider when designing a new kitchen is the cabinets. Typically, people want a lot of cabinet space so that they have room to store all their kitchen essentials and not have their kitchen look cluttered. Cabinets are more than just storage, though. Cabinets are one of the first things that you notice in a kitchen, and the style and color of the cabinets can affect the way that the whole kitchen looks and feels. There are countless designs and colors of cabinets that you can have in your kitchen, and they can be designed to fit exactly what you’re looking for. Picking the right cabinet out of all these options can be a daunting task, so I reached out to Carmelita Clark, Flooring Depot’s kitchen and bath designer who has more than 28 years of experience designing kitchens, to give us a little insight into some things that you should consider. She took a... Read More

  By Paul Bonnette Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Thomas Rhett and Miranda Lambert. What do all these artists have in common? They have all taken the stage in Panama City Beach for Gulf Coast Jam. For the past ten years, some of country music’s biggest stars have performed in front of crowds of over 30,000 people during Gulf Coast Jam. One of the people most instrumental in bringing “Country to the Coast” for Gulf Coast Jam is Executive Producer and Bay County Resident Rendy Lovelady. Lovelady, who has been in the music business for almost four decades, got his start at an iconic venue in New Orleans. “I was born and raised in New Orleans and I actually got my roots starting working for Pace Concerts and Messina Presents. I worked in the Saenger Theater, sweeping floors and pulling cables and doing everything I could possibly do starting my career.” After going to college to play football, Lovelady decided that he wanted to get back to his passion of promoting the music industry. “I started out as a tour manager that is where my roots came from, working with bands like Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Bon Jovi over the years. I moved to Nashville over thirty years ago with my family and I moved into managing,” he explains. “I managed Christian acts, rock acts, country acts, and as I got older I started producing festivals and events like Tennessee River Run and Bama Jam and... Read More

  By Ed Offley After two years of construction, the Duplin Winery is open for business on its 70-acre site at 10101 Panama City Beach Parkway. Located on the former grounds of the Hombre Golf Club, the 35,000-square-foot winery complex is presenting itself as both a significant PCB employer and a major family entertainment destination for tourists and residents alike, General Manager Morgan Jackson told PCB Life. “We’re very much a family-oriented business,” Jackson said. “We wanted to find a place that fits our lifestyle and felt that we could make a positive impact here.” In searching for a new location, company officials were immediately attracted to the “coastal casual” atmosphere of Panama City Beach, she said. “We are blessed and honored to welcome Florida into our Duplin Family,” said Jonathan Fussell, co-owner along with his brother, Dave Fussell Jr. The winery specializes in sweet wines made from the muscadine grape. The company both grows its own grapes in North Carolina and buys grapes from over 60 grape farming families in five southern states. The company plans to plant an additional 100 acres of grapes in the Florida Panhandle. Like its predecessors, the new PCB facility is far more than a bottling and retail sales outlet. “Over these years, experience has helped us learn how to become more than just a winery. We’ve learned how to create a true entertainment destination,” Jonathan Fussell said. “It’s a place where people enjoy hanging out, can be comfortable bringing friends and family, and... Read More

  By Sharon Michalik, Director of Communications, Bay District Schools We’re so excited to begin the 2023-2024 school year with all of our students, staff members, mentors, volunteers and one very special new addition… our new Superintendent Mark McQueen. Superintendent McQueen, who is a retired Major General with the United States Army and former City Manager for the City of Panama City, officially kicked off his tenure on August 1, 2023, and we’re so very grateful for his continued service to our country and our community. McQueen brings a wealth of experience to this new position and said he’s ready to get into the trenches with the troops to learn as much as possible about BDS and about how he can support our students, teachers and staff. “I am not an educator by profession, but I have spent my entire adult life in public service (first in the military and later with the City of Panama City),” he said. “From those experiences, I know that empowering people to do their best work is where the magic happens.” Public education, McQueen said, is “the foundation of any productive society and vibrant community, and I am excited to have the opportunity to help support the great work that is happening at Bay District Schools.” McQueen said he plans to spend his first few weeks in office visiting all of our BDS locations (so you may see him at a beach school near you shortly) to soak up as much knowledge as he... Read More

  It’s been a busy summer on the world’s most beautiful beaches, and Panama City Beach is being made more beautiful by two City initiatives. The first is our SeeLife 2 project, which placed 10 brightly-colored sculptures throughout our community this summer. This is an ongoing project, with a total now of 21 dolphins, sea turtles, and sea horses located on both public City properties and at private businesses and entities. We are honored to share the talents of these local artists, who merged creativity and skill in bringing these unique pieces to life. They are truly one-of-a-kind. We love the SeeLife program and want it to continue. More SeeLife pieces will be available in the future. This project is the fulfillment of something our residents wanted. Several years ago, our strategic planning process and citizen survey identified the community’s desire for public art. These artistic pieces enhance and beautify our public spaces and contribute to a more attractive community while encouraging both an appreciation and a love of art. Art has many benefits to a community by encouraging community engagement, demonstrating pride, and solidifying our community identity and brand through the placement of this fun art. This is just a win-win — showcasing great talent for the enjoyment of everyone. The SeeLife project would not be possible without our donors. This latest round of art was funded exclusively by Visit Panama City Beach. Dr. Ronald and JoAnn Dubin Family Foundation, the St. Joe Community Foundation, and the City funded... Read More

  Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida agents were thrilled to participate both in fundraising and in volunteer hours to the second Habitat for Humanity of Bay County home sponsored by the Central Panhandle Association of Realtors (CPAR). CPAR raised over $118,000 in funds to help build the home and is proud to continue their partnership with the organization to provide affordable housing for a local family in need. Making this project even more special, the CPAR home donations were made in honor of REALTOR® Eileen Shaw. A longtime Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Beach Properties of Florida sales agent, Eileen passed away in 2022 and was instrumental in bringing the first CPAR home to fruition. “We are honored to support Habitat for Humanity of Bay County in their mission to build homes and communities,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida Vice President of Broker Operations and 2023 CPAR President, Jennifer Ledesma. “Our members are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our neighbors, and we are thrilled to be a part of this project. It makes it even more special to do it in remembrance of our dear Eileen Shaw.” In addition to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida, top-level sponsors of the build included Remsco Inc., Econo Carpet Sales, Inc., Think Real Estate, New American Funding, Peoples First Insurance, Clear Title & Escrow, and Simply Granite. Habitat for Humanity of Bay County Florida, Inc. is an ecumenical Christian organization that welcomes volunteers from... Read More

  By Mike Horne, Mike’s Auto Collison Get recommendations Check with friends and neighbors and family. Almost everyone has had a car repaired for body work. Your insurance company might also be a good place to start as they conduct background checks on local shops. Who you choose is your choice Although the insurance company may have it’s own “Direct Repair Program“ or preferred partners that can expedite the process, you can take your vehicle to the center of your choice. Ask questions Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are entitled to as much information as you want before agreeing to use a body shop. Find a manufacturer-certified shop This may sound simple, but you need to know your car’s make, model and year when contacting a repair center. You want a shop that is certified to work on that specific vehicle, with the correct training, equipment and parts. For example, not all shops can fix a Porsche, because Porsche will only sell OEM parts to a Porsche-Certified shop. Always get an estimate in writing Any estimate should be in writing and free of charge. Ask the estimator to explain if you have questions. The shop should also examine the car indoors or in the shade away from direct sunlight to avoid missing any areas that might need repair. Look for technician certifications These certifications are costly and time-consuming to receive. Some industry certifications to look for include I-Car and ASE. Both are impressive and show the shop’s investment... Read More

  By Spencer Angland, Marketing Coordinator, Flooring Depot of Panama City When trying to find the right flooring for your home, there are a lot of factors to consider. What color or style do you want? How important is the durability of your floors? How often do you want to replace your floors? There are so many different types of flooring out there that finding the perfect floors that fit all your needs can be overwhelming. One option that stands the test of time for both beauty and durability is tile. Tile can be made of a variety of materials, including porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, and glass to name a few. It also comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, materials, and styles. You can let your personality come alive with tile. You can choose a more subdued design or pattern for elegance or choose something fun, colorful and vibrant that gives your space an element of design and style. The sky is the limit. Tile is extremely durable too. It’s great for Florida because it’s water and sand resistant and cleanups are much easier than other products. Plus, if you take care of it, it will look brand new for years to come. Due to its durability, tile can be used just as effectively outside as it is inside. If you are remodeling a pool deck or patio, tile is worth your consideration. One of our most popular manufacturers of tile is Florida Tile. Florida Tile is a... Read More