Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Small Business Saturday

Debbie Roney Smith on

Small Business Saturday is an annual holiday that celebrates small businesses and encourages consumers to shop locally at independently-owned businesses. It was founded in 2010 by American Express, and has grown into an event that rivals Black Friday and Cyber Monday – both annual shopping holidays that put big conglomerates over locally-owned businesses. Small Business Saturday draws attention to the importance of small businesses on local and national economies. This year it is more important than ever to support this annual event; small businesses were hit hard throughout the pandemic and are still closing at an alarming rate! Meanwhile, big-box retailers are seeing record-high sales and have been for well over a year. So visit town today, get started on holiday shopping, and support your community! 

Native American Heritage Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

November is Native American Heritage Month and today is the annual Native American Heritage Day.

This month is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the heritage, culture, and value of Native Americans through a historical and modern lens. It is an opportunity for the whole country to appreciate and learn about the rich, unique history of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives; additionally, it is a chance to acknowledge and thank the community for their long history of positive contributions to the country’s values, culture, and land. Perhaps most importantly, it is a time to reflect on the obstacles and challenges that they have endured in the past as well as in this modern-day.

Below are some fast facts about the Native American and Alaskan Native population in the USA: 

  • As of 2020, there are 574 federally recognized Indian tribes. 
  • Native Land Digital is an indigenous-led organization that helps map territories, languages, and treaties across the globe; use their online map to find the history of the land you live on. 
  • As of 2020, there are 324 distinct, federally recognized American Indian reservations (including federal reservations and off-reservation trust land). 

Thanksgiving 2021

Debbie Roney Smith on

Fun Thanksgiving facts to share at the table today:

  • Apple pie accounts for 20% of the type of pie consumed today, beating out pumpkin pie (at 16%). 
  • The world’s biggest pumpkin pie was made in Bremen, Ohio. It was 20ft wide and weighed 3,669lbs!
  • The Macy’s Day Parade has been shown on NBC for 69years as of 2021. Catch the parade on NBC, Telemundo, or Peacock from 9am-12pm or 2pm-5pm. 

Black Friday or Buy Nothing

Debbie Roney Smith on

The widely popular holiday Black Friday is just two days away. 

However, Black Friday is not the only event occurring on November 26th – it is also Buy Nothing Day in the United States. Black Friday can be a great opportunity to save money on holiday gifts or expensive investments like new computers but can also encourage needless spending and competitive shopping that can lead to physical harm. Buy Nothing Day is a movement started by artist Ted Dave in 1992, and is an international day of protest against consumerism and the harm it causes to individuals, communities, and the environment. 

 

Flora-Bama Lounge

Debbie Roney Smith on

Florida is home to the last great roadhouse – the Flora-Bama Lounge! The Flora-Bama was constructed in 1964, two years after Alabama State Route 182 was completed. Route 182 connected Orange Beach, AL to Perdido Key, FL; the Lounge sits at the state line right on the beach. It is the quintessential dive bar where known celebrity millionaires and bikers hang out side by side. Despite having to complete repairs after a few hurricanes almost destroyed the bar, it has remained a renowned location.

 The Bama even has its own special drink: the “Bushwacker“. The drink is a frozen concoction that has a coffee-esque taste. Flora-Bama is so renowned that it has been mentioned by many musicians, some of which are listed below:

  • Kenny Chesney: “Flora-Bama”
  • Kenny Chesney: “Coastal”
  • Jimmy Buffett: “Bama Breeze” and “Rag Top Day”
  • Chris Young: “Lighters in the Air”
  • JJ Grey & Mofro: “Florabama”
  • Blake Shelton: “Good Ole Boys”
  • Neil Dover: “Flora-Bama Time”
  • Riley Green: “Bury Me In Dixie”

Seaside, Florida

Debbie Roney Smith on

Seaside is the world’s first New Urbanist town which means that it is an unincorporated master-planned community. It’s located in the Florida Panhandle in Walton County. New Urbanism came to prominence in the 1980s in the U.S.A., and is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. However, criticism questions if New Urbanism actually succeeds in being sustainable or just likes the aesthetic design of quaint, pretty towns. You might recognize Seaside from the widely popular “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carrey; it was the primary film location for the movie. 

New Cave Discovered at Florida Caverns

Debbie Roney Smith on

There has been an amazing new discovery at the beloved Florida Caverns State Park. A MASSIVE new cave has been discovered. Called the New Cave, or Liz’s Surprise, it is reconceptualizing what experts know about Florida caves.

Formation found in New Cave

The cave is the third-longest cave in Florida at 5576ft, although exploration is still underway. The cave entrance was found approximately 25ft underground on the newly acquired parkland called Bennett Parcel. So far they have not found evidence of humans in the cave but there is a plethora of wildlife, fascinating formations, and crawlways.

Visit the recently published Florida Caverns State Park Youtube video to see the new discovery for yourself or consider visiting the park for a guided cave tour! 

Family Volunteer Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Family Volunteer Day, an annual event held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving or two days after the third Thursday in November. Family volunteering is a specific subtype of volunteering; families work together to support their communities/neighborhoods which further strengthens the community and the families involved.

Family Volunteer Day was created in 1990 by Points of Light; it is sponsored by Disney’s Friends for Change and managed by generationOn. The event is designed to help inspire community involvement and the opportunity to help raise kind, compassionate children. Family volunteering allows families to come together and give back, creating a holistic community that thrives on collaborative compassion and empathy. 

World’s Smallest Police Station

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that Florida is home to the world’s smallest police station? Located in Carrabelle, this police station is no bigger than a phone booth. It was placed on U.S. 98 under the chinaberry tree on March 10, 1963. Then Police Chief Albin Westberg elected to move it to this location after the city experienced problems with tourists making unauthorized long-distance phone calls on its police phone. 

The police station is rather famous and has even been featured on television shows. “Real People”, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, “The Today Show”, and “Johnny Carson” all featured the police station. Additionally, it was in the movie “Tate’s Hell” which was produced at Florida State University. The station even has copyrighted merchandise – t-shirts, hats, visors, postcards, and calendars are all available for purchase. 

Wreck Capital of the South

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that Panama City Beach is one of the most visited dive destinations in Florida? PCB offers a plethora of diving sites for both experienced and non-experienced divers. Commonly referred to as the “Wreck Capital of the South,” PCB is home to the best dive beach along the Emerald Coast. Peak diving season is April through September. The moniker “Wreck Capital” comes from the numerous famous wrecks found in the Gulf of Mexico that are accessible in Panama City Beach. A few of these wrecks include the 110ft Grey Ghost, a 160ft freighter named Chippewa, a 441ft World War II liberty ship, and the 220ft S.S. Tarpon, a World War II tug boat.