Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Saturday June 22

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This event is free and open to the public. The Blueberry Bash starts at 8am and ends at 2pm. This bash is sure to be one you don’t want to miss. Enjoy the day picking blueberries and listening to live music while shopping local vendors.
A Honey Extraction Workshop will be at Landmark Park in Dothan, Al on Landmark Drive from 9:30am to 11:30am in the AG building. Call 334-794-3452 for more information. The workshop is free with paid gate admission. Guests will have a chance to watch as honey from local hives is uncapped by hand, extracted from the comb and bottled. Honey will be on sale while supplies last.
7pm to 10pm Jesse Roberts will be preforming at Up The Creek Café in Marianna on US Highway 90. You can go early for dinner and grab a seat, then stick around for great tunes, cold beer, and tasty appetizers after 8pm.

This Saturday is the start to another great weekend in the Panhandle. If you have an event you would like me to share please email me at debson1999@gmail.com with the word blog in the subject line.

 

Recovery Loan Program~ Be sure to read if you are buying a new home

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The Florida Housing finance Corporation has put this out as a Hurricane Michael Recovery Loan Program for those in the following counties: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla, and Washington. Borrowers who qualify will be get up to $15,000 in assistance.  You do not have to be a first time buyer to be eligible. However the home must be owner-occupied. Be sure to go to the link provided below to see if you qualify and to learn more about it. Then click on “Homebuyer Programs Wizard.” www.floridahousing.org

Blue Springs~June 20th till September 2nd

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Hurricane Michael wrecked havoc on Jackson County. Blue Springs was no exception. The docks were totaled, debris scattered throughout the park, fallen trees, downed fences, and on and on. The diving boards were sent in for repair and there is no guarantee that they will be in place when they open but they are coming. They also had issues with lifeguards since they have to get certified every 2 years. But the county has worked hard to make this a beautiful place to relax and have fun again this summer!
Blue Springs is located about 5 miles east of Marianna. An average of 77 million gallons a day flows from the spring, which is the main source of water to the 202 acre reservoir known as Merritt’s Millpond. Before Hurricane Michael this park was a nationally known fishing area and locally popular boating area. Be sure to take your camera. This park has cypress wetlands and upland mixed forest. The spring emerges from an underwater cave complex that houses 2 rare species. The Georgia blind salamander and Dougherty Plain cave crayfish.

Blue Springs is projected to be open for business Thursday June 20th at 9:30am. The hours for this summer will be Thursday – Sunday from 9:30am to 6pm, weather permitting. It closes for the season on September 2nd. The water is open from 10am – 5:30pm.  Admission is $4.00 per person. Blue Springs will have concession stands open and have kayak rentals for those who would like to spread their wings in other parts of Mill Pond. It is located in Marianna in Jackson County at 5461 Blue Springs Road. visitjacksoncountyfla.com/

Nesting Sea Turtles June 18th from 2-3pm

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Turtle Talk is a recurring event held at the Research Reserve Nature Center located at 108 Island Drive Eastpoint, Florida 32328. This Thursday June 18th is the next one. It begins at 2pm. This air conditioned event is a wonderful chance to learn more about sea turtles. This is your chance to learn all about nesting sea turtles and find out how you can help them. Members of the St. George Island Turtle Patrol team will be on hand to answer questions and give an update about sea turtle nests on the island. You will also get the chance to touch a sea turtle carapace or look close-up at loggerhead sea turtle eggs. For more dates and information click on the link. https://www.floridasforgottencoast.com/

Happy Father’s Day

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This photo was taken today, it is a selfie of my father and I. My father is a retired Navy Veteran who served and fought for our Country and worked all his life for his family. He taught me right from wrong and to not waste time. So I want to take the time to say THANK YOU DADDY for being my father and THANK YOU for serving our Country so we can be free to celebrate Father’s Day. I wish all you dad’s a Happy Father’s Day in honor of my dad.

Jeff Bates in Marianna on June 14th

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Jeff Bates will be in Marianna, Florida on Saturday June 14th from 11am to 1pm. Nashville Recording Artist Jeff Bates will be at Miller & Miller’s Nissan Dealership to help them celebrate their 1st year anniversary. After the show he will be doing a meet and greet. Food and refreshments will be provided be sure to take your own lawn chair. Looks like it is not supposed to rain and be in the higher 80’s so don’t forget the sunscreen and hat!

Music in the Park summer Concert’s on Thursday night’s 7pm

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June 6th kicked off this year’s weekly summer concert’s in the park. It is hosted by Jackson County Parks & Recycling, Jackson County Tourist Development Council, and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Each week at the Citizens Lodge Park in Marianna a different band will be performing on Thursday night’s through July. These concerts are free to all. They will have music, food trucks, and kid’s activities. Remember to take a lawn chair, blanket, and go out and enjoy a relaxing evening. The next 2 weeks line up is:

~June 13th – Band: Killin’ Time Food: Papa G’s Hot Dogs & Catering & JK Italian Ice-mobile Vendor                                                                        ~June 20 – Band: Heywood Food: It’s Grub Time & JK Italian Ice-mobile vendor

Pineapple Willy’s Beach Clean-up Saturdays in June and July

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Pineapple Willy’s is located at 9875 S. Thomas Sr. in Panama City Beach. It opened it’s doors in 1984. They are a seafood and barbeque restaurant that advertises they serve the best ribs on the beach and they have live music that gets better every year.

This summer they are hosting beach clean up days from 9am to 10am Saturday mornings. The exact dates and who they are donating to each week is on the flyer. The next one is this Saturday, June 15th. Each event they have picked a different non-profit to help. For every person that shows up they donate $10 to the charity of the week. This Saturday it is B.A.S.I.C. of Northwest Florida. They have giveaways and prizes each week. Last Saturday it rained however 109 people still showed up. Pineapple Willy’s donated $1,090 to The Lucky Puppy Rescue! What a great way to help clean up the beach, meet new people, and support non-profits in need. You may want to take sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses!

Traffic Tip Tuesday

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As of July 1, 2019 texting is now a primary offense in Florida. Now a police officer can pull you over if they see you texting and write you a ticket.

Marianna Police Department posted this last Thursday on their Facebook page and it never hurts to repeat information like this:
~Florida Law states that a parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for a child younger than six (6) years of age must not leave the child unattended or unsupervised in a motor vehicle for a period in excess of 15 minutes or for any period of time if the motor vehicle is running, the health of the child is in danger, or the child appears to be in distress. For the safety of your children and pets, never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time.

The Marianna Police Department is located at 2890 Green St. Marianna, FL 32446 and you can call them at 850-526-3125.