[[{“value”:” By Kyle Sparks, Ovation Painting The holidays are all about gathering — family dinners, festive celebrations and cozy evenings with friends. As we prepare our homes for company, one of the most impactful updates you can make is a fresh coat of paint. Full-room or whole-home interior projects do more than refresh walls — they set the tone for the entire season. Imagine a dining room in a warm, rich shade that makes Thanksgiving meals feel even more inviting, or a living room with crisp, clean walls that highlight your holiday décor. Fresh paint creates a backdrop that feels intentional and welcoming, giving your guests the sense that every detail was thought of. Beyond appearances, a newly painted interior simply feels cleaner and brighter. Scuffed walls, dingy trim or faded colors can make a space feel tired, while new paint instantly lifts the mood. Pair that with the glow of candles, string lights and seasonal decorations, and you have the perfect recipe for holiday warmth. November is also an ideal time to tackle larger interior projects. Cooler weather means better conditions for painting, and schedules are often easier to coordinate before the busier holiday rush. Whether you’ve just finished a remodel, want to modernize outdated colors or are ready for a complete home refresh, this is the season to bring it all together. As family and friends gather in your home this holiday season, give them a setting that feels just as memorable as the celebration itself. Ready to... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Danica LaFaire, Owner, Fish Window Cleaning of Northwest Florida Hey there, Northwest Florida! As Thanksgiving approaches and the year winds down, conversations about gratitude fill the air—and with them, the question that’s been making everyone scratch their head lately: to tip or not to tip? If you’ve felt a little confused or even fatigued by tipping lately, you’re not alone. Between iPads that flip around with preset options and ever-changing “expected” percentages, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing it wrong no matter what you choose. But I’d like to offer a refreshing perspective: gratitude first, generosity second. Tipping, at its best, is simply a gesture of thanks — a way to acknowledge the people who make our daily lives smoother, cleaner and a little brighter. Sometimes that gratitude shows up as a few extra dollars, sometimes as a handwritten card and sometimes as a sincere “thank you, I appreciate you.” Each can be equally meaningful. So, Who Should We Remember This Season? The holidays bring a flurry of deliveries and behind-the-scenes work. Here are a few folks who carry a heavier load this time of year: Mail carriers (USPS): Federal employees can’t accept cash or gift cards, but they can accept a small non-cash gift (under $20 value) such as snacks, coffee or a simple token of appreciation. Package drivers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon): Cash or gift cards are allowed, though most companies discourage anything over $25. Trash and recycling crews: A cash tip of $10–$30 per worker... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Laurie Hood, Alaqua Founder & CEO Tucked among the pines and pastures of Freeport, Alaqua Animal Refuge has always been a place of second chances. Every rescued animal carries a story of survival, and every visitor feels the quiet peace that comes from being near them. It is that same sense of connection that inspired Alaqua’s newest initiative, Alaqua Well-Being, a program that invites people to slow down, breathe deeply, and heal alongside the animals who live there. The idea for Alaqua Well-Being grew out of simple conversations with volunteers. When asked what brought them to the refuge, the first answer was always their love of animals. But as those talks went deeper, something more profound emerged. Many were walking through their own seasons of grief or change — the loss of a spouse, recovery from illness, divorce, or other personal challenges. Again and again, they shared that it was the animals who gave them the courage to keep going. Watching a once-broken animal learn to trust and love again gave them hope that they could heal, too. It became clear that the refuge was helping people as much as it helped animals. Alaqua Well-Being was born from that truth. It is built on the idea that when we care for animals and connect with nature, we also heal ourselves. The program brings together experiences that nurture the mind, body and spirit, including meditation, art, nature walks, counseling and animal-assisted activities. It is a place where compassion becomes... Read More

 [[{“value”:” By Dr. Richard Chern As the season of Thanksgiving reminds us to pause and reflect on what we’re grateful for, there’s no better time to appreciate the gift of health and balance. Hormones play a vital role in how we feel every day—our energy, sleep, focus and even our joy. When those hormones fall out of balance, it can be difficult to feel truly thankful for the moments that matter most. Restoring Harmony Naturally Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) uses hormones that are identical to those your body naturally produces. Derived from plant sources and carefully customized to your individual needs, BHRT helps restore balance in a way that feels natural and seamless. Benefits to Be Thankful For Renewed energy helps you wake up ready to take on the day with vitality and purpose. Emotional balance brings steadier moods and a brighter outlook. Restful sleep restores the body and mind. Sharper focus enhances mental clarity and motivation. And with revitalized confidence, you can feel more like yourself—inside and out. Relaxed smiling woman meditates with hands on chest, practicing breathing exercises at home. Mindfulness practice, focus on breath, self care routine, stress relief, reflection and holistic wellness A Season for Renewal Just as autumn reminds us of cycles and renewal, BHRT offers a way to restore your own natural rhythm. Through personalized treatment, you can rediscover balance, vitality, and gratitude for how good life can feel when your hormones are working with you, not against you. This Thanksgiving, Give Thanks for... Read More

Lainey Wilson Was The Star Of The 2025 CMA Awards Lainey Wilson was undoubtedly the queen of the night at the 59th Annual CMA Awards. The “4x4xU” singer won three of the shows biggest trophies, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year, and still found time to handle hosting […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

Florida Delegation Warns Trump: Drilling Threatens Military Ops Staff Reports November 21, 2025 1:37 pm Eglin Air Force Base, Government, Military, Okaloosa County, State Government, Tourism In Brief: Who: Rep. Jimmy Patronis, Rep. Neal Dunn, Rep. Mike Haridopolos, Rep. Daniel Webster, Rep. Vern Buchanan, Rep. Laurel Lee, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Byron Donalds, and President Donald J. Trump. What: A formal request urging the removal of certain drilling blocks from the Big Beautiful Gulf Lease Sale (BBGLS) 1. When: Letter issued Thursday, November 20, 2025. Where: Washington, D.C., concerning the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range. Why: To prevent interference with military testing and training, avoid economic harm, and protect tourism in Northwest Florida. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jimmy Patronis, joined by seven members of Florida’s congressional delegation, is calling on President Donald J. Trump to remove specific blocks within the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) from the upcoming Big Beautiful Gulf Lease Sale (BBGLS) 1. The lawmakers warn that oil exploration or drilling activity in these parcels would threaten some of the nation’s most critical military missions and undermine the economic stability of Northwest Florida. The letter — co-signed by Reps. Neal Dunn, Mike Haridopolos, Daniel Webster, Vern Buchanan, Laurel Lee, Scott Franklin, and Byron Donalds outline concerns surrounding the December 10, 2025, lease sale, which would open vast areas of the Gulf of America to domestic energy development. While the group expressed continued support for the administration’s efforts to strengthen American energy independence, they emphasized that... Read More

Audit sparks major overhaul: Florida Lawmakers move to fix school choice tracking and funding Flaws Staff Reports November 21, 2025 1:30 pm State Government In Brief:   A statewide audit found Florida lacked accurate records for 30,000 scholarship students and couldn’t properly track hundreds of millions in payments. Sen. Don Gaetz’s SB 318 would overhaul the system with new ID requirements, monthly verification, and clearer funding structures. Lawmakers say the fixes are needed to stabilize a rapidly expanding school-choice program now serving one in five Florida students. CRESTVIEW — Florida lawmakers are moving to overhaul the state’s school choice scholarship system after a recent audit found widespread tracking and payment problems affecting tens of thousands of students and hundreds of millions of dollars. State Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Crestview) filed SB 318 on Friday, a bill aimed at increasing transparency, improving payment accuracy, and aligning scholarship timelines with the state budget cycle. The proposal follows an operational audit of 2024-25 school funding presented this week to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education. Committee chair Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) said the rapid expansion of Florida’s universal school choice system has strained agencies, school districts, and scholarship funding organizations. “We can all be very proud of how far this program has come in a short amount of time,” Burgess said in a news release. “However, to ensure our school choice programs live up to their full potential and promise, there are challenges we need to address.” The audit found that the state... Read More

Lainey Wilson Won Three Categories At The 2025 CMA Awards Lainey Wilson had the support of her fiancé, Devlin “Duck” Hodges, at the CMA Awards on November 19th. The couple walked the red carpet together before the ceremony and posed for a bunch of affectionate photos. RELATED: SEE PHOTOS OF THE BEST-DRESSED STARS ON THE […] More Country Music Nation  Read More

FWBHS Students Debut Tiny House, Gear Up for International Competition Staff Reports November 21, 2025 9:03 am Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Schools and Education In Brief: Who: Fort Walton Beach High School Building Trades students, Superintendent Marcus Chambers, Instructor James Martin, Principal Lindsey Smith, district leaders, and local business owners. What: An exclusive preview of a student-built tiny house and the launch of a fundraising campaign for the 2026 IBS competition. When: Preview event held today. Where: Fort Walton Beach High School Building Trades program site. Why: To highlight student craftsmanship, promote workforce development, and raise funds for the students’ trip to compete internationally in Orlando. Fort Walton Beach — The Fort Walton Beach High School (FWBHS) Building Trades program opened its workshop doors today to Okaloosa County School District leadership, School Board members, local business owners, and community partners for an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of its ongoing student-built tiny house project. The event offered guests a firsthand look at the high-level craftsmanship students are developing through one of the district’s most hands-on Career and Technical Education initiatives. During the preview, visitors toured the partially completed tiny house — a fully functioning structure built from the ground up by Building Trades students under the guidance of instructor and former professional contractor James Martin. Guests watched as students demonstrated framing, carpentry, insulation installation, electrical layout, plumbing routing, and interior finishing, all while explaining the techniques and safety standards they had learned throughout the project. The tiny house will ultimately measure... Read More

OCSO Searching for Missing 35-Year-Old Tremaine McClellan Staff Reports November 20, 2025 4:16 pm Okaloosa County, Public Safety In Brief: The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for 35-year-old Tremaine McClellan, missing since November 3, 2025. Authorities released images of McClellan and the vehicle he may be driving in hopes of generating leads. The public is urged to contact OCSO or Crime Stoppers with any information that could help locate him. OCSO Searching for Missing 35-Year-Old Tremaine McClellan The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating 35-year-old Tremaine McClellan, who has been reported missing after last being heard from on November 3, 2025. According to investigators, McClellan is approximately 6’6″ tall and weighs around 185 pounds. A photo released by the Sheriff’s Office shows both McClellan and the vehicle he was believed to be driving when he was last in contact with family or friends. The vehicle appears to be a dark-colored SUV with business decals on the side and a Florida license plate. Authorities hope the image will help the public recognize the vehicle or provide information about McClellan’s whereabouts. Anyone who has seen McClellan or has information that could help locate him is urged to contact the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office at 850-651-7400. Anonymous tips may also be shared through Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 850-863-TIPS, online at emeraldcoastcrimestoppers.com, or through the P3 Tips mobile app. The OCSO encourages the community to share this information to help bring McClellan home safely. Photo:... Read More