Author: Debbie Roney Smith

World’s Smallest Police Station

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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

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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. 

Florida Caverns State Park: Update

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It’s been three years since Hurricane Michael destroyed over 90% of the Florida Caverns State Park canopied forest. Luckily, the community has rallied around the park and major progress has been made toward repairing the devastated land. Thousands of tree saplings were donated to replace those lost, and debris cleanup is still underway. Currently, the campground and river access remain closed to the public. However, a large portion of the park has been reopened: the Blue Hole swimming area, the multiuse trails, and even the caves themselves!

Utilizing the surface-based lighting and electrical system to illuminate the cave to create a state-of-the-art LED lighting system, guided cave tours are once again being offered. This new, energy-efficient system helps protect the light-sensitive ecosystems in the cave and allows visitors to see cave formations more clearly – all without needing a flashlight!

For more information on the guided cave tours or to RSVP, visit the Florida Caverns State Park website. 

Clean Out Your Fridge

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When was the last time you cleaned out your fridge? Today is National Clean Out Your Fridge Day; it was created to remind everyone of the importance of keeping your refrigerator clean and tidy. Here are 1 reason to tackle the fridge today:

  1. Cleaning it out will help get rid of any bad smells.
  2. You can assess what goes to waste and save on your next grocery trip.
  3. Fridges can last 15years or more if treated well; occasionally wiping down the insides to remove built-up dust and spills is important for longevity. 
  4. The wonderful feeling of taking in a freshly cleaned and organized fridge when you go to get a job-well-done snack!

World Diabetes Day

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New figures from the 10th Edition of the IDF Diabetes Atlas reveal that 537 million adults around the world are living with diabetes. That means 1 in 10 adults live with diabetes!

This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is Acess to Diabetes Care. Despite it being a century since the discovery of insulin, many afflicted individuals do not have consistent access to it and other fundamental components of diabetes care. This must change; if not now, when?

Visit the official website of World Diabetes Day here for more information, or head straight to this link to pledge your support to this cause! 

Jazz for Justice: Foo Foo Festival

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The annual Foo Foo Festival is reaching its conclusion! Tomorrow is the annual concert fundraiser, Jazz for Justice. This annual concert fundraiser will help close out Foo Foo Festival; funds raised will go to LSNF (Legal Services of North Florida). The event will feature jazz artists Tuba Skinny and the New Breed Brass Band. Come down to Seville Quarter to enjoy live music for free from 1-7 p.m. tomorrow!

Florida Panhandle Sea Turtles

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Did you know that three of the five species of sea turtles found in the Gulf of Mexico nest on Pensacola Beach? In fact, 90% of sea turtle nesting in the United States happens in the Sunshine State! Between 40,000 and 84,000 nests are dug on Florida beaches by these amazing ocean reptiles every year. Pensacola Beach is especially prolific in loggerhead nesting, although green turtles and Kemp’s ridley turtles also nest in the area. The nesting process lasts from March to October; help keep turtles safe by watching where you step, avoiding nests that are marked off, cleaning up after yourself when you visit the beach, and keeping lights off the beach after dark to keep from confusing hatchlings trying to make it away from land to the sea. 

Super Girl Surf Pro Contest & Festival

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Tomorrow is the first day of the Super Girl Surf Pro Contest & Festival! This is a three-day festival that celebrates women’s action sports while focusing on female empowerment through social, athletic, cultural, and business opportunities.

The surf contest will be held at the Jacksonville Beach pier. The Festival Village at the Sea Walk Pavilion will be occurring simultaneously. The Village will feature live music, family-friendly activities, an ALL-FEMALE DJ competition, women’s beach soccer, women’s volleyball tournaments, free fitness/dance classes, and celebrity speakers. Additionally, there will be a beer garden and the possibility to get autographs from pro surfers. The best part is that all activities are FREE. Come down to Jacksonville Beach to take part in this festival from November 12th-14th! Visit the festival’s website here for detailed itineraries and more information on available activities. 

Stamped Film Festival: Foo Foo Festival

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From November 12-14th, Foo Foo Festival is hosting the Stamped Film Festival at the Pensacola Cultural Center. Starting at 5 p.m. on November 12th and ending with a family day on November 14th, this event focuses on LBGTQ films and creators. The highly vetted films will feature content that can vary from PG-Mature with the aforementioned ‘Family Day’ on November 14th. “Family Day” includes films that are suitable for all ages, a series of children’s activities from face painting, balloon art, and kids snacks.

While the show itself is free, reservations are required as seating is limited. Visit the Stamped Film Festival event page here to RSVP to this amazing event! Additionally, you can view trailers for the featured films, see a specific film lineup by day, and more. 

Fun Florida Population Facts

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Today’s blog brings you three fun facts about Florida’s population: 

  1. Florida ranked as the third most populous state in 2019. (United States Census Bureau)
  2. Approximately 950 people move to Florida on average per day. 
  3. Florida is ranked as the second-fastest growing state in the United States. (ISG World Miami Report)