Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Tallahassee Beer Festival 2023

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The 5th annual Tallahassee Beer Festival is next Saturday, August 26th. Held at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, the festival will run from 2-6pm. There will be over 100 homebrewers and breweries taking part in the Festival; they will feature over 300 different fermentations to sample. For those guests who don’t care for beer, there will be ciders, meads, sparking sodas, and wines available.

All guests will receive a souvenir-tasting glass. There will also be a Beer Mile; ambitious guests can register to take part in a one-mile race where participants drink a 12-ounce beer after each quarter-mile loop. All proceeds will benefit the United Partners for Human Services. Learn more by visiting the Festival website HERE. 

 

National Black Cat Appreciation Day

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Tomorrow is National Black Cat Appreciation Day! Black cats have a long, varied history among the civilizations of the world. Black cats are positive omens for some cultures while symbolizing bad luck in others. Perhaphs the most prevalent lore around black cats here in the USA is their believed connection to witches. This supersition was brought to the United States by the Puritans; they believed that all black cats were shape-shifting witches. The fear was so strong it became common to burn black cats on Shrove Tuesday to protect one’s home from fires. 

Nowadays, black cats are just as treasured and precious as any of our beloved pets. However, they still face predjuce due to centuries of misconceptions; they are more likely to be euthanized at kill-shelters and are the least likely to be adopted. There are a number of studies demonstrating the “black cat bias.”

Celebrate black cats by: 

  • Sharing adoptable black cats on social media.
  • Volunteer time or resources to local shelters.
  • Adopt, don’t shop!
  • Share a fun fact about black cats. 

Cumberland Island Boat Tours

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Amelia River Cruises are doing boat tours of Cumberland Island daily throughout August. You’ll get to see coastal Georgia and Cumberland Island along the coast of Amelia Island. This tour delves into the unique history of both islands as it cruises along the coast. It leaves from historic Fernandina at 2:30pm and gives an oceanfront view of Fort Clinch followed by the ruins of the Carnegie family’s Dungeoness Mansion. Guests might also spot wildlife such as dolphins, osprey, roseate spoonbills, and more. Guests will not be getting off the boat, so come fully prepared; bring your camera, binoculars, shade protection, sunscreen, snacks, and drinks (non-alcoholic). Learn more or book by visiting the Amelia River Cruises website. 

Skimboarding Tournament

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Come out to Vilano Beach for two full days of skim-boarding heats (Aug. 19-20th). The Florida Skimboarding Pro/Am is the third-longest-running tournament in the world! Some of the world’s best skimboarders come out to enjoy the Atlantic Ocean’s surface during this event. Athletes from more than 75 different beaches from all over Florida, the USA, and the world come for the Florida Pro/Aam. Due to weather and tides, the timing of each day’s heats are subject to change. Check the website for the most up-to-date information; click here to visit the website. 

American Vintage Market 2023

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American Vintage Markets is returning to Tallahassee this August! Come enjoy the market at the indoor North Florida Fairgrounds; two air-conditioned buildings will be chock full of vendors. The market runs from August 25-26th from 9am-4pm. American Vintage Markets is a curated collection of vendors who bring their best recycled, repurposed, handcrafted, and reimagined treasures. The market was inspired by a love of vintage, handmade, and repurposed items. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page. 

Greenwood is the Place to Be

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Click on the image to visit the listing!

Nestled in a small yet private 0.87 acres, this 1930s home is located in the historic, Antebellum town of Greenwood. The home is within walking distance of the grocery store, a bank, a town park, and the oldest running hardware store in the county. The yard has established flowering trees and is partially fenced; the empty space has endless potential. It would fit everything from a wildflower patch to a water slide to a few fruit trees. The homeowner has updated many of the house’s features including replacing the front porch and installing a new septic system. They have also installed a new HVAC, blown insulation, and replaced the main water line from the street to the house.

Greenwood is a lovely town and a peaceful place to live. It has seven homes and one store that are eligible for the National Registry. The store, Pender Store, is open for business to this day. Many of the homes can be viewed from State Highway 71. Additionally, Greenwood is close to a number of parks such as Torreya State Park, Florida Caverns State Park, and Falling Waters State Park. Visit Greenwood or move here today!

August Gardening

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August might seem like it’s too hot for planting but that’s not the case in the Florida Panhandle! Now is a good time to transplant a number of fall crops and start a variety of seeds. Transplant beets, broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, eggplant, kale, peppers, tomatoes, and tropical spinaches. As for seeds, now is a good time to start lima beans, pole beans, carrots, cucumbers, onions, squashes, and turnips.

Earth Overshoot Day 2023

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Earth Overshoot Day is being observed today, August 2. This is an incredibly important day for all of us to reconsider our way of life and the usage of natural resources. Started by Andrew Simms, Earth Overshoot Day was designed to track the ecological resources and services humanity used from nature. Renewable resources need time to renew. If humanity’s usage rate is higher than the renewal rate, then we are over-exploiting the resources without allowing them time to renew themselves.

Earth Overshoot Day (also known as E.O.D.) is a calculation based on resource use and the earth’s regenerating capacity; by calculating the ratio and multiplying it by the number of days in a year, we will get a value known as the E.O.D. Every year, the date comes sooner and sooner. Humanity is over-utilizing the Earth’s resources and putting not only the future of humanity in danger but the future of the Earth itself. Learn more by visiting the EOD website HERE. 

Wheelchair Accessible Beach

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Visit Panama City Beach partnered with Bay County to buy two new beach wheelchairs and a walker. They were purchased as part of the “Fun. For. All.” campaign; the campaign is designed to promote accessibility in Panama City Beach.

The walker and wheelchair are free to use and can be found at the M.B. Miller County Pier. Bay County Parks and Recreation Division Manager Vincent Martin said, “All they have to do is come up to the County Pier and request a unit if it’s available. They would sign a waiver obviously releasing that unit out there so they can use it for the day.” Visitors have reported that the equipment is easy to use. Stephanie Williams, a visitor from Tennessee, stated that she, “tested it out on the sand, and there was ease of movement.” 

However, the program is just beginning. The individuals behind the program want to see more accessibility equipment brought on board. Did you know that 12.1% of U.S. adults have a mobility disability with serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs? Three accessibility tools are a drop in the ocean. Bay County and Visit Panama City Beach are working to install more Mobi-Mats while also working to secure the funding necessary to buy more wheelchairs and walkers.

Mobi-Mats provide a more stable walkway than trudging through the sand; these are useful not only for the disabled but also for young toddlers, individuals pulling carts, and more. Please note that if the walkways are congested, capable individuals should move aside for those with disabilities.