Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament

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Click on the image to enlarge.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is coming soon! From July 14-23, the 42nd annual tournament will be held at Jim King Park & Boat Ramp. The event benefits the community as proceeds are donated to the Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc. The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is one of the largest kingfish tournament in the Southeast. The event includes the General Tournament, a Junior Angler Offshore Tournament, and a Redfish category. The event is presented by Summit Contracting Group and is sponsored by a plethora of great local businesses. The Tournament will host a Food Festival, live entertainment, a liar’s tent, exhibitions, and more!

Visit the official tournament website HERE to sign up, view the 2022 program, and more! 

Red, White, and Blues Week

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Today is the first day of Red, White, and Blues Week! The week is anticipated to be a patriotic trifecta in Pensacola beach: fireworks, fun, and flying. The Blue Angels will be closing out the Fourth of July holiday weekend with three days of daredevil aerial acrobatics. 

The annual Pensacola Beach Air Show (July 9th) features other high-flying acts and is the culmination of the week’s events. From today to Sunday, catch a series of practices and dress rehearsals. View the schedule by visiting Pensacola Beach’s event webpage here. 

Native Grasses

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Native grasses are an essential topic that many don’t consider. Many of the green pasture grasses you see today are actually from other countries and contain 10x the amount of chemicals as farmland.(1) 

Native grasses are more cost-efficient as they require far less maintenance and promote beneficial wildlife. Natives have existed in the ecological landscape for so long that they have adapted to the soil, terrain, sunlight, and moisture conditions. This means homeowners won’t waste as much time and money watering, cutting, or reseeding. Reseeding is a natural aspect of native grasses because they are perennial which means they self-seed each year. They are more prepared to deal with natural droughts because their roots reach far, far down into the ground (see photo). This also means native grasses are beneficial for soil erosion; plant native grasses near pond edges and more. Their far-reaching roots also assist in maintaining healthy soil. Furthermore, native grasses are naturally resistant to many of the local pests and diseases that many homeowners would usually treat with pesticides. Not only does using fewer pesticides save you money but it also means a healthier ecosystem – less poison means more pollinators, healthier soil, and less chemical runoff that can affect human and animal lives. 

Learn more about native grasses, groundcover, and lawngrasses HERE at the UF|IFAS extension website. 

Greenwood 4th of July

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The Town of Greenwood is hosting a 4th of July Celebration on Monday, July 4th. Everyone is welcome, but please have pets on leash. The Opening Ceremony will begin at 10 am in Greenwood Park with fun family activities lasting until the afternoon. There will be free sausage dogs, watermelon, water slides, cool treats, and entertainment. Be sure to bring water and wear sun protection. 

Greenwood Supermarket Announcement

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The Greenwood Supermarket had its grand opening today! There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 am to celebrate. Greenwood Supermarket is located at 4185 Bryan Street and will be hosting festivities such as door prizes, significant savings, and more. They are open Monday thru Saturday (5:30 am – 7 pm) and Sunday (7 am – 7 pm). Visit their Facebook page to read the daily lunch menu and keep up-to-date with the Supermarket.

Firework Celebration in Marianna

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The City of Marianna and Main Street Marianna are hosting the 12th Annual Fireworks celebration this weekend! The event will be hosted at the MERE Complex on Caverns Road on Sunday, July 3rd.

There will be food vendors, live music, vendors, and kids’ activities. Nashville’s Bryan White and Andy Griggs will be performing this year from 7 – 8:45 pm. There will be local acts opening the show from 5-7 pm. The fireworks show will begin at 8:45 pm from behind the t-ball field on the right side of FCI Road. Parking will be available on both sides of the MERE. For more information, please visit the Annual Fireworks Celebration event page on Facebook here. 

1st Annual Altha Independence Day Festival Car Show

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The 1st Annual Altha Independence Day Festival Car Show is happening this Saturday, June 2nd from 1 – 4 pm! It will be hosted at 15727 NW Bodiford Road in Altha. If you would like to partake in the event with your own vehicle, the fee is $20 via Cashapp (CarsAndCoffeeKings), Venmo (CarsAndCoffeeKings), or Paypal (CarsAndCoffeeKings@gmail.com) for pre-registration. Registration on the day of the event is still $20 but must be paid in cash. The Top 25 vehicles will receive rewards. Day-of registration and check-in are from 1 – 2:30 pm, judging will occur 2:30 – 3:30 pm, and the awards will be announced around 4 pm.

Real Florida Reader

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Florida State Parks is partnering with the Florida Department of State, Florida’s Bureau of Library Development, and local libraries throughout the state to offer Real Florida Reader day passes so families and individuals can continue their learning adventure while exploring new places. Head to your nearest public library and check out a book to get started on your #RealFloridaReader day pass. Both the library card and day pass are free! Each pass covers one vehicle entrance fee (with up to eight people inside).

The pass is for day-use only and does not include camping registration, equipment rentals, or any other fees. Please note that Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife, Skyway Fishing Pier, and Weeki Wachee Springs state parks are excluded from this promotion. Hurry to your local library now, pick up a new read, and head to your favorite state park! The promotion ends on September 12th, 2022. Find out more at FloridaStateParks.org/RealFloridaReader.

Pollinator Class in Fountain

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Photo was taken at Sandhills Native Nursery

June 20-26th is National Pollinator Week! The week is dedicated to bringing awareness and support to all types of pollinators from bees to wasps and more. Sandhills Native Nursery is hosting a special two-day Pollinator Class this weekend to celebrate.

Visit the nursery amongst the beautiful sandhills of Fountain this Friday or Saturday to learn more about pollinators, see the array of glorious summer native flowers blooming in the heat, and receive a special 20% off your total purchase order (valid day of class only). The nursery encourages you to come prepared for the heat: bring sunscreen, a hat, neck fans, fluids, or anything else you may need to help keep you cool! There will be cold water and Gatorade on hand to refill empty bottles and a few standing fans. The class will be held in the shady areas available at the nursery to help prevent anyone from overheating. 

Visit the official Sandhills Native Nursery Facebook page to stay up-to-date with events, hours, and more!

Marianna Farmers Market & Family Fun

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The annual Melons in the Park is coming to the Marianna City Farmers Market this Saturday, June 25th! Alongside the traditional wares offered at the weekly farmers market, the event will have kids’ activities, raffles, and more vendors than usual. The raffle includes a craft basket and a food basket, both worth $100 with a ticket price of only $1! The kids’ activities include face painting, door prizes, a seed spitting contest, and a coloring tent.