Nathan Fife @ The Courtyard at Pescado
04/16/2023 – 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Rosemary Beach Rosemary Beach Rosemary Beach
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General News
The Pickled Pickers @ Red Fish Taco
04/16/2023 – 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Santa Rosa Beach 7525 W County Hwy 30A Santa Rosa Beach
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Governor Ron DeSantis Announces First Month of Toll Relief Program Savings
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Toll Relief Program, signed into law by the Governor in December 2022, concluded its first month of toll relief for Florida’s commuters in January, totaling nearly $37 million in savings for over 1.1 million SunPass customers, with some Floridians saving more than $100 during the first month of the program. The year-long program automatically gives customers with at least 35 monthly toll transactions a 50 percent credit to their account. The legislation, originally proposed by Governor DeSantis in September 2022, was successfully passed during the Legislative Special Session in December. Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 6A on December 15, establishing the Toll Relief Program through the Florida Department of Transportation. The Toll Relief Program builds on the successful SunPass Savings Program that concluded in December 2022 and resulted in 384,000 drivers saving over $18 million. “During a time of persistently high inflation, this toll program represents important relief for Florida commuters,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I am proud to have signed this program into law, saving Floridians nearly $37 million in its first month that they can now use to support their families.” “Today’s announcement of nearly $37 million in savings for commuters reaffirms our state’s commitment to providing direct, immediate assistance to Florida’s families through the much-needed Toll Relief Program,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “The Department is excited to support Governor DeSantis’ initiative and help make a difference for Florida’s families at times when they need...
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Museum Honors Vietnam POWs
The Air Force Armament Museum Foundation held a reception to honor Okaloosa County’s Vietnam POWs in March at the Air Force Armament Museum 100 Museum Drive. The event honored all former Vietnam POWs from Okaloosa County who served in the United States Air Force.All proceeds from the auction benefitted the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation. POWs honored that night included: Brig. Gen. George “Bud” Day, USAF, Ret (Feb 24 1925-July 27, 2013) Col. Richard A. Dutton, USAF, Ret (April 24, 1930-Dec 12, 1999) Col. Keith Hall, USAF, Ret Col. Howard Hill, USAF, Ret Col. Ed Hubbard, USAF, Ret Col. Ron Webb, USAF, Ret Lt Col. Dave Gray, USAF, Ret The event was an opportunity for the community to learn more about the contribution of these individuals and the sacrifices they made while serving our country. Sponsors of the event include the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, Eglin Federal Credit Union, Forever Warriors and the Magnolia Grill. The post Museum Honors Vietnam POWs appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.
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Controlling Acid Reflux
By Kay Leaman, Health Architect Acid Reflux happens occasionally to many of us and for many others it is a consistent problem and concern. So, what is it? Acid Reflux happens when the sphincter muscle located at the lower end of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong time (fails to close), allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. We can experience a burning in the chest (heartburn), belching, nausea, a bitter taste, discomfort in the upper abdomen or a dry cough. Complications that can arise from regular episodes such as ulcers (stomach lining is exposed to bacteria that damages the cells which create the ulcer), inflammation or difficulty swallowing. Risk factors include obesity, Hiatal hernia (bulging at top of stomach above the diaphragm), connective tissue disorders like scleroderma or delayed stomach emptying. If you smoke, overeat (clean your plate syndrome), eat late at night, use aspirin on a regular basis or enjoy a frequent diet of coffee, alcohol or fried and fatty foods, you can aggravate this condition. Rolaids/Tums, etc. are not the answer. These products neutralize stomach acid, which hampers the absorption of nutrients such as iron and B12. The same occurs with medications that coat the stomach. Taking these products on a regular basis can increase the chance of becoming anemic or developing osteoporosis. NOTE: If you’re experiencing the first signs of GERD, consuming these for a short period of time can give the esophagus time to heal. From a holistic view, GERD is caused...
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OCSD Launches Anti-Vaping Campaign
From Superintendent Marcus Chambers The U.S. Surgeon General declared youth vaping a national epidemic in 2018. During the 2021-2022 school year, the number of reported vaping incidents in Florida schools nearly doubled from the previous year. In Okaloosa County, where the majority of our students make good choices every day, we are not immune to this crisis, as we have seen a spike in the number of students possessing, distributing and/or using electronic cigarettes on our campuses. Our students’ health and safety are my No. 1 priority. I appreciate your active involvement not only in your student’s academic success but also in their health. When a student makes the decision to vape at school, both are affected. My hope is that through the launch of this district anti-vaping campaign, we can all do a better job identifying the signs of vaping among students, know and share information on the negative health effects with our students, and be very clear about the discipline consequences involved with vaping. I am very grateful if your child has made the decision to not vape, and we will do everything we can to reinforce that wise choice each and every day. For those who are vaping, we will work with parents to provide educational resources and contacts for community agencies that may be able to provide assistance. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one out of every 10 middle and high school students uses electronic vaping products. Vaping is the...
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Turtle Nesting Season Underway
Nesting season arrives on our coasts for sea turtles and waterbirds Nesting season has started for both sea turtles and waterbirds in the Sunshine State. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds people they can help protect vulnerable nesting sea turtles and waterbirds this spring and summer while visiting Florida’s coastal habitats. Because our state’s shorelines are critical for sea turtle and waterbird nesting, beachgoers can have a big impact on their nesting success. To help nesting sea turtles and waterbirds, give them space, minimize disturbances, and keep beaches clean and dark. Obstacles on the beach can prevent sea turtles from nesting as they crawl across the sand to lay their eggs. Trash, holes in the sand and other obstacles can also prevent sea turtle hatchlings from reaching the water once they emerge from their nests. Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, that prey on sea turtle hatchlings, shorebird eggs and chicks. Litter on beaches can entangle sea turtles, birds and other wildlife. Beachgoers can help our native wildlife by stashing all trash, filling in human-made holes in the sand, and removing boats, beach toys and furniture from the beach before sunset. Fishing line can be deadly to sea turtles, waterbirds and other wildlife, so be sure to dispose of it properly. To find a monofilament recycling station near you, visit mrrp.MyFWC.com. Any lighting can misdirect and disturb nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings, leading them away from the ocean and toward potential danger. Beachgoers...
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Heroes Don’t Always Wear Capes
PLASMA: A Source of Life to Share By Lisa Woodrum Are you aware that you possess a source and gift of life inside you that you can share with others? It’s called plasma. Fifty-five percent of your blood is made up of plasma and science cannot duplicate it. People in our community and worldwide experience health conditions which require medicines containing this key component. Plasma donations are used to produce medicines that treat rare and chronic conditions. For example, plasma medicines can be used to treat more than 80 different autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies and rare blood disorders, saving lives or improving the quality of life for a multitude of men, women and children in 110 countries! The Fort Walton Beach Grifols Donor Center is one of 300 Grifols centers in the U.S. and also has a strong global presence. Grifols has the foremost leading plasma collection/donation centers in the world. During its five years here in Fort Walton, it has been managed by Kacy Torres who was originally a donor herself in Pensacola. She learned of Grifols’ mission, ”Improving the health and well-being of people around the world,” which resonated with her heart to make a difference. “I saw what it actually entailed and their mission [motivated me to pursue this as a career],” said Kacy. Grifols is careful to steward every person’s wellbeing, from the donor giving the plasma to the millions of patients receiving their life-saving services and medication produced from the plasma. As a donor, I...
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Local Author Bookshelf: Author Project Winner Launches Fantasy Series
With his final novel, Time’s Orphan, officially launched this month, Niceville local award-winning author Hayley Reese Chow now offers the complete Odriel’s Heirs series, a fast-paced, young adult fantasy adventure. The Odriel’s Heirs series tells the story of a world in which the powers of fire, invisibility and healing are passed down to three Heirs to protect their land from a demon necromancer and his armies of undead. Spanning decades and generations, the Odriel’s Heirs series features three stand-alone novels connected by two bridge novellas to comprise a darkly epic saga across a new world both extraordinary and perilous. Walking in the footsteps of Sabriel, Graceling, and Avatar: The Last Airbender, Odriel’s Heirs features strong female protagonists, slow burn romance and high stakes fantasy in a new world of magic, monsters and the undead, where the lives of all depend on the strength of three. Hayley Reese Chow is an Air Force veteran, reservist, engineer, ex-ultramarathoner, retired fencer, mother of two and up-and-coming author, publishing seven books in the last three years. Her books have won the Florida Author Project, a Literary Titan Gold Award, a Book Reader’s Appreciation Group Medallion, and have been finalists in the Book Blogger Novel of the Year Awards and the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. For more information, visit hayleyreeschow.com. The post Local Author Bookshelf: Author Project Winner Launches Fantasy Series appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.
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Growing Your Own Food
By Margaret Morrison, Walton County Master Gardener Ah, springtime! When many have the desire to do something about getting into gardening. The thought of growing some food for your own table becomes a thought brought to mind from many prompts we see in newspaper articles about healthy eating, healthy living, and the importance of exercise and sunlight in our lives.* Community gardens are one venue to explore, especially when you may not have the space or the permission to plant your own garden plot. What you may not know is that an opportunity for you to join in this worthwhile adventure exists here in Walton County, ready and waiting for you. Cultivate Community Gardens was established as a Section 501(c)(3) organization in 2017. It was initially the dream of Tracy Whealy Miller, a Walton County resident coming here from a background making her well versed in the advantages of growing your own food. Tracy grew up in Iowa in a family dedicated to preserving and sharing seeds. Her parents went on to found the Seed Savers Exchange, a source of high- quality seeds well known and respected in gardening circles. What she realized is that many people would like to have an opportunity to work a plot to grow items that were personally known to be GMO-free, and grown to organic standards to benefit the health of their families. Having a garden plot perhaps would allow people to grow some types of special heirloom or culturally important foods for...
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