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  Multiple community organizations are teaming up again to complete fundraising which will benefit The Twin Cities Pavilion and Crestview Manor. The event will be hosted by 3rd Planet Brewing Saturday, April 22. It will begin with team check-in at 11 a.m. Competition begins at noon. There will be two food trucks, an ice cream truck, face-painting for children, raffles, a silent auction and music. Last year sixteen ten-person teams participated. Register your team online: https://form.jotform.com/230266457148055. Questions: Contact Bob Hoffman at (850) 428-3261. The post Rotary & Local Groups Team Up for Charity Truck Pull April 22 appeared first on Bay Life | News, Events and Community Information.   Read More

  The Ships Chandler broke ground on the second phase of their marine and service center, located at 17309 US Hwy 331 in Freeport in March. The Ships Chandler originally broke ground on the first phase of the project in March 2021. Constructed by Chapman Building and Consulting and designed by Philip Spann and Associates, the new marine and service center is situated on over 14 acres of land and supplies the area with fishing and pontoon boats, outboard motors, engine services, and much more. The second phase of the project will consist of a 12,000-square foot building dedicated to engine repowers, electronics rigging, gelcoat and fiberglass work, as well as boat customization. The second phase will also include a covered boat and RV storage area with 170 spaces that can fit up to 60-foot vessels. “We have always loved the customization and refit side of working on boats,” said Peter Wright. “The new building will give us a dedicated space to house and work on the more in-depth projects we do with boats, including fiberglass, painting, and electronics.” The Ships Chandler is a family-run boating and fishing business that originated in Destin in 1980. Currently owned by Peter Wright, the business was started originally by his father. Peter Wright Jr., Peter’s son, is also a prominent figure in the business. As a family-owned and operated company, The Ships Chandler prides itself on their hard work while supplying their customers with the best service in the area. With over four... Read More

  By Maurice Stouse, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager As we head into March, we are seeing some early trends or patterns for investors. First among these are short-term interest rates. The Federal Reserve raised rates to 4.75 percent in early February. That was a .25 percent smaller rate increase than in its previous meeting. We are seeing short-term savings rates and CDs yielding at or near this level as well. Investors are left wondering if rates will continue to climb. The Federal Reserve is keeping a close watch on inflation which, after the February report, has prices going sideways for now (as opposed to continuing to go down). Digging deep into those numbers, we see that goods are down to 3 percent and wages are now growing at 4.3 percent. The cost of services continues to be resilient in the face of inflation. Wages may continue to wane as the white-collar labor force is seen as over employed and the same for many blue-collar professions. Restaurant and hospitality businesses continue to be seen as under-employed. There has been a lot of news about layoffs in the tech sector. While significant, those workers account for less than 2 percent of the workforce. Many of those returning to the workforce also see being productive and industrious as a key to a happy and fulfilled life. We are also learning more about the Great Unretirement or the growth of the so-called “unretiring.” Many Americans who retired during the pandemic are coming back... Read More

  ECCAC is There for the Kids “Every year we try to create awareness of April being National Child Abuse Prevention month and the services that ECCAC can offer to child victims. It is imperative that everyone does their part to help protect children. Prevention is the best protection against child abuse.” ~ Julie Porterfield, ECCAC CEO National abuse statistics are alarming. According to the National Children’s Alliance, the national association and accrediting body for Children’s Advocacy Centers, nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S. annually. Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment with 75% suffering from neglect, 17.2% from physical abuse and 8.4% from sexual abuse. Roughly four out of five abusers are the child victim’s parents. With National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, it brings to light the fact that many do not realize the peril our children can experience and have to deal with right here in Northwest Florida. There are approximately 1,100 cases of child sexual and physical abuse reported annually in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, an average of three per day. Despite those big numbers, nearly 2/3 of the actual needs to help child victims go unmet due to lack of reporting to authorities. It is estimated that for every one child ECCAC helps, there are two children out there who are not helped. Enter the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC), a multi-disciplinary team with all support services and personnel under one roof. They provide services 24/7 in a child-friendly environment... Read More

  By Stephenie Craig, Journey Bravely Ever find yourself feeling like life is happening to you and you have no control? Maybe a person did something that was unfair or hurtful. Maybe a storm disrupted your home or event. Maybe airlines canceled your flight. Maybe a health condition is making your life difficult. Living life inevitably results in discomfort. It can often feel like things are being done to you and you are a victim of people, your environment, or conditions you can’t control. Human nature extends us a tempting invitation to see ourselves as victims because victimhood lets us off the hook for taking responsibility for what we can control and casts the blame onto someone or something else. For a moment, embracing victimhood can feel comforting because it keeps you from having to self-reflect or take meaningful action toward change. However, in the long-term, victimhood ends up creating helplessness, hopelessness, bitterness, and resentment. In reality, life throws curve balls and there are many things outside our control. But, even when the curve balls come, there is a helpful alternative to seeing yourself as a victim. Regardless of what is happening in your environment, you have been granted the gift of self-control. When someone does something unkind and when hard things happen, you have a choice about how you will respond. You can slide into victimhood, blame others, feel helpless, harbor resentment. Or, you can acknowledge the pain of your situation and then shift toward using your self-control to... Read More