Author: Debbie Roney Smith

ReTreePC Tree Giveaway

Debbie Roney Smith on

ReTree Panama City is working with the UF|IFAS Extension Office to give away free trees this coming weekend. While supplies last, there will be 3-gallon Sweetbay Magnolias and Tulip Poplars available to residents. IFAS Master Gardeners will be on-site to answer questions you may have about the trees’ growing condition. The giveaway will be held on January 21st and will be held at two locations: The Market at St. Andrews at Oaks by the Bay Park and Panama City Farmer’s Market at McKenzie Park. The giveaway begins at 9am at McKenzie Park and 10am at The Market at St. Andrews. For information specific to the St. Andrews giveaway, visit this Facebook event page. For information specific to McKenzie Park, visit this Facebook event page.

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

Debbie Roney Smith on

Gainesville’s 36th annual renaissance festival starts tomorrow! Hoggetowne Medieval Faire will be held at 9409 SW Archer Rd for the next three weekends. Open January 14-15, 20-21, and 27-29, come by to bring 2023 in ye olde style. There will be NINE stages with live entertainment including full-flight falconry, aerial acrobatics, jugglers, knife throwers, and gypsy dancers. Over 160 artisans and craftsmen will be selling one-of-a-kind jewelry, stone carvings, leather crafts, and period fashions in the medieval marketplace. But that’s not all! There will also be living chess board matches, carnival rides, and a fully-stocked food court. Look forward to trying blooming onions, giant turkey legs, fresh-baked pastries, sweet potato fries, succulent ribs, and MORE. Learn more by visiting the Faire website here.

AUDITIONS: The Addams Family

Debbie Roney Smith on

Director Stephen Lott is hosting auditions for the Addams Family (showing March 17 – April 2, 2023). Auditions will be held January 16-18th. The show plot is as follows:

A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

To prepare for the audition, prepare 16 – 24 bars (one verse and a chorus) of a song in musical theatre style. This is a tracked musical, so please prepare a tracked audition piece. There will be a speaker provided or you can bring your own (use karaoke or accompaniment tracks only). Choose a song that enhances and shows off your singing skills. You may also be asked to take part in movement or dance auditions where the choreographer will ask you to learn a few steps. No a capella auditions.

Please visit the Facebook event page to find detailed casting information or sign up for auditions here.

National Cut Energy Costs Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Yesterday was National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. It was established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. Celebrated annually, it is designed to bring awareness to energy waste in businesses and homes. According to the mortgage company Freddie Mac, an average U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. Cutting your energy waste helps you save money. Find a few suggestions below of changes you can make in your home to save more money in the long run:

  • Buy a programmable thermostat.
  • Switch to LED lights. They might cost twice as much as CFL bulbs, but they last three times longer.
  • Check that your appliances are energy efficient or choose energy efficient when you buy new/used appliances. 
  • Consider houseplants. They help reduce energy waste via transpiration.(1)
  • Every 3 months, check your appliances for dust build-up. Clean if necessary. This helps the unit perform efficiently.
  • Kill phantom energy loads (aka “vampire/ghost power” or “standby power”) by unplugging certain electronics/appliances when they are not in use. An estimated 5-10% of residential energy is used for standby power.(1) Visit this Green Groundswell article to learn which electronics consume standby power.

30A Songwriters Festival

Debbie Roney Smith on

The annual 30A Songwriters Festival is coming soon! A weekend party will feature a who’s who of singer-songwriters from different decades AND genres. The event headliners include Lyle Lovett, Gin Blossoms, Rickie Lee Jones, Yola, Steve Earle, and Morgan Wade. There will also be over 175 artists, 225 performances, and 30 different venues over the four-day festival. Come down to South Walton on January 13-16th to enjoy the music and a variety of local food vendors. Learn more by visiting the Festival website here. 

Earth’s Rotation Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

It is a well-known fact that the Earth rotates once every 24 hours. However, it wasn’t always common knowledge. It is thanks to the practical demonstration of Leon Foucault that we know about the Earth’s rotation. In 1851, the French physicist Foucault demonstrated how the planet rotates using his now-famous pendulum, the Foucault Pendulum.

A simple yet brilliant creation, the pendulum uses a suspended lead ball to indicate the rotation of the Earth over the course of a day. The pendulum is surrounded by small pins arranged in a circle, which the pendulum knocks down one by one, eventually completing a full rotation. Foucault first conducted his experiment in the Paris Observatory. It was then replicated in the Panthéon, where it remains an impressive centerpiece for visitors to view to this day. 

Click on the image to enlarge it.

Most discovery centers, planetariums, and museums have a version of Foucault’s Pendulum on display. However, you can also replicate this experiment at home with the kids using household items! For detailed instructions, visit this Resalvaged article to learn more. 

New Year Hikes

Debbie Roney Smith on

Looking to stick to your new year goal of being more active? Want to spend more time outdoors? Come out to explore the Gulf Coast’s coastal beauty this January! There will be four different hikes guided by a ranger this month. The hikes will be on the beach at the Rish Recreation Area in Port St. Joe, so come prepared for sun, sand, and fun. The hikes will be held on January 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th. Visit the Florida State Parks website here to learn more or contact the organizers with questions. 

Camellia Show

Debbie Roney Smith on

This weekend is the Camellia Show in Gainesville! Visit Kanapaha Gardens January 7-8th to enjoy the annual horticultural show. Garden guests will be allowed to view prize-winning camellia blooms cultivated by a variety of growers throughout the state. The blooms will be in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Visitors will learn all about how to care for and cultivate gorgeous camellias.

Additionally, there will be special camellias available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis. Kanapaha Gardens will also be offering guided garden walks throughout the weekend. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase bamboo plants during the Winter Bamboo Sale. The Gardens are a 68-acre nonprofit facility that welcomes pets. They also encourage guests to bring food and drink (non-alcoholic please) to enjoy a picnic on the grounds. Visit their website here for more information about the event! 

Farm & Craft Swap

Debbie Roney Smith on

Mid-South Lumber Co of Northwest Florida invites you to visit their Farm, Garden, Craft & Animal Swap next Saturday, January 14th! The FREE event will run from 8am to 2pm. The Swap will feature plenty of local vendors with fresh produce, baked items, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, small animals, and more. The January Farm & Craft Swap will be held at Mid-South Lumber at 12904 Highway 231 in Youngstown. Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

2023 New Year’s Resolutions

Debbie Roney Smith on

Happy New Year! May your next year bring you happiness, lessons, and good memories. Did you know that people have been creating New Year’s resolutions for approximately 4,000 years?! The tradition has been traced back to the ancient Babylonians. They made promises to gain the favor of their gods in order to start the year off right. Reportedly, they vowed to do things such as paying off debts and returning borrowed farm equipment. It’s likely that the age-old custom of breaking one’s resolutions – a custom that befalls the majority of resolution makers, according to statistics – originated a few months later. New Year’s Resolutions often create nothing but a cycle of shame, embarrassment, and feelings of inadequacy.

Instead of creating a list of resolutions, create SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. These elements help create a goal that is planned, clear, and trackable. This increases the likelihood of success because the goals become manageable and understandable. Visit Develop Good Habit’s website here to view downloadable SMART goal templates to help guide you into the future you want.