Salinas Park

Debbie Roney Smith on

The new and improved Salinas Park Bayside on 30E Cape San Blas, FL is officially open. The ribbon cutting occurred on Jan 30th. They have a new/updated elevated bayside boardwalk which is about 1,600 feet long here. Huge thank you Florida Department of Environmental Protection and The Trust for Public Land for all the wonderful upgrades. This picturesque bayside park features water access, a volleyball area, a playground, fire pit, screened in tables, grills, bathrooms and a shower. Some of the new upgrades include a pump for easy air refill while you are out biking. Also a mister to cool down on hot summer days. They have a water bottle refilling station, several drinking fountains at different heights, and much more.

A long-time local park and beach access point, Salinas Park provides a picnic grove with small wooden pavilions in a pine forest. It’s the primary access point for equestrians headed to the beach. Although the sands here aren’t as lovely as at nearby St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, the beach is busy since access is free and leased pets are welcome. This park is open 24 hours a day.

 

AARP is offering tax help in Bay & Jackson Counties

Debbie Roney Smith on

Tax season is here and AARP’s Tax-Aide is ready to help. Trained volunteers visited the Panama City Beach Public Library Saturday for the first day of the program and are there again today. There are no income or age limitations to qualify for the free help and you do not need to be an AARP member. Since the state of Florida has no state income tax, they are only doing federal tax returns. Since 1968 this volunteer-based program has helped nearly 50 million low- to moderate-income taxpayers.

Below is the dates and times for this free, no charge whatsoever tax help.

~The PCB library site is opening 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays until April 15. It is located at 12500 Hutchison Boulevard.

~Trinity Lutheran Church in Panama City is also a Tax-Aide site on Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. beginning February 6. It is located at 1001 W 11th Street. If you have questions, call (850) 532-0399.

~In Jackson County, assistance is available at the Jackson County Agricultural Complex, located at 2741 Penn Ave Suite 3. The location is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. beginning February 5 and is by appointment only; call (850) 482-9620 to schedule an appointment.

For more information on the program and to learn what documents you need to bring, click the link below to go to the sight and then click on documents to bring with you located on the right side of the screen.

https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/

 

Groundhogs Day~what does Phil say?~02-02-2020

Debbie Roney Smith on

Since his first prediction in 1887 through this year, Phil has seen his shadow 104 times, while he has failed to spot it on just 20 occasions. Ten years are missing from the record, but Phil has issued forecasts without exception. It is the second year in a row Phil has not seen his shadow and the first time on record in consecutive years.

This year just after 7:25 a.m. Sunday, with a record crowd on hand to witness the spectacle, Phil emerged from his den in Punxsutawney, Pa., amid a steady light snow and temperatures near 30 degrees. The marmot did not see his shadow, signifying early spring, according to folklore. Had he spotted his shadow, it would have meant six more weeks of winter.

The origins of Groundhog Day are traced to the 1700s when German settlers arrived in the United States, bringing a tradition known as Candlemas Day, a celebration of the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. About a century later, it was reimagined as Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day this year takes on extra significance as the digits of its date make up the palindrome: 02/02/2020. As a palindrome is a sequence that reads the same way backward and forward, perhaps it means Phil can’t be wrong this year. Time will tell. The track record of Phil’s more recent predictions, however, is a disaster. In each of the last three years, the furry critter has missed the mark. See the photo for full details.

Groundhog Day this year also coincides with the Super Bowl. This is only the second time Super Bowl Sunday has fallen on Feb. 2. The last time was in 2014. On that day, Phil saw his shadow, and the Seattle Seahawks routed the Denver Broncos, 43-8. Phil’s prediction for six more weeks of winter that year was spot on, as brutally cold and snowy weather lasted well into March.

Free financial workshop~Feb 4th

Debbie Roney Smith on

2020 is here and that means it is a new year and a new decade. What better time for a new start on your finances? Join Kelli Walter with Envision Credit Union’s for a FREE financial education workshop to ensure your finances can roar into the 20’s the way you want. All attendees will be entered to win a $50 VISA Gift Card. Topics to be discussed, ~How to set new goals, ~Budgeting tools, and ~Understanding Credit Scores.Tuesday, February 4, 2020 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm Located at 2929 Green St. in Marianna. This is at the Jackson County Library. Be sure to click the link below to RSVP for this event.

https://calendar.time.ly/tdg13xyz/event/43719264/20200204180000

Jan 31st~National Hot Chocolate Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

National Hot Chocolate Day is January 31. Hot chocolate is a warm beverage made with ground chocolate, heated milk or water, and sugar. In America, we often use the terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa interchangeably. However, the two beverages are different. Hot chocolate has also been around longer than hot cocoa. In the early 1800s, Casparus van Houten Sr. developed a process to separate the cocoa solids from the butter. His son, Coenraad Johannes made those fats more soluble in water. Together their processes made cocoa powder possible. But before then, everyone drank hot chocolate. Hot chocolate can be enjoyed in a variety of combinations, topped with whipped cream or marshmallows. Sometimes a sprinkle of cinnamon or a dash of peppermint makes the chocolate extra special. In the United States, an instant form of hot chocolate is popular. It is made with hot water or milk and a packet containing mostly cocoa powder, sugar, and dry milk. People enjoy topping it with marshmallows or whipped cream.

There are health benefits to drinking hot chocolate. Cocoa contains significant amounts of antioxidants that may help prevent cancer. It has also been shown that the cocoa beans help with digestion. The flavonoids that are found in the cocoa also have a positive effect on arterial health. This thicker, creamier beverage often offered medicinal benefits for stomach ailments during the 19th century.

With the rain and temperatures expected in the lower 50’s around the panhandle, will you drink hot chocolate today?

 

30th Annual Candlelight Tour~Feb 1st

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Torreya State Park is hosting the 30th annual candle light tour this Saturday, February 1st from 12 pm EST till sunset. Entrance into the park is $3 a vehicle which includes admission to the event. At sunset the historic Gregory House will open it’s door to free leisure tours. It is $3 a person to go on a tour at 10am, 2pm, and 4pm of the Gregory House. They will have demonstartions, a food truck, and live music throughout the day.

Public Safety Day~Feb. 1st

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Plan to attend the first-ever Public Safety Day on Feb. 1 from noon to 4 p.m., at the Florida Public Safety Institute, located at 75 College Drive, in Havana. At this all-ages event, there will be food, music, a kids’ play area, public safety demonstrations, fire trucks, police vehicles, motorcycle demonstrations, and your child will have a chance to ride with a cop at Public Safety Day! Take bikes and helmets and be sure to join in on the fun! There will also be a chance to win one of four $500 scholarships, and much more!

OneBlood will be onsite during this exciting day to take blood donations! Those who donate will receive a “Badges for Life” t-shirt and a Papa John’s coupon. To be an eligible donor, you must meet these criteria:
No Vaccines two weeks prior to donating
Eat before donating blood
No heavy lifting 24 hours after donating click below to reserve your spot.

https://www.oneblood.org/donate-now/donation-centers-list-select-time.stml?driveID=903196

 

Panama Grammer School now on National Register of Historic Places list

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Panama Grammar School was built over 100 years ago and still sits on the corner of Harrison Avenue and 7th Street. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by The United States Department Of The Interior. For months officials have been working to get one of the oldest Panama City buildings national recognition. In November, the building received state approval and then moved toward national approval. Built in 1914, the red brick building has served as a downtown landmark for decades and has been owned by the First Presbyterian Church of Panama City since it closed as a public school in 1965. Due to extensive damage from Hurricane Michael the church put the building up for sale.

 

Alfred B. “Maclay” Gardens

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It’s camilla season in Tallahassee. If you haven’t been, you should check out Maclay Gardens State Park – with all the gorgeous camilla in bloom, it’s a beautiful sight.

Alfred B.” Maclay” Gardens State Park is a masterpiece of floral architecture and rich history, the gardens feature a picturesque brick walkway, secret garden, reflection pool, walled garden and hundreds of camellias and azaleas. Peak blooming season is from January 1 through April 30, with the floral peak in mid-to-late March. During these months, a special fee is charged for visiting the gardens and the historic Maclay House. There is something for everyone. The experiences include biking, hiking, horseback riding, weddings, tours, swimming, walking, running, geo-seeking, paddling, and so much more.

Alfred Maclay was a wealthy banker and financier from New York. He visited Tallahassee with his wife, Louise Fleischmann Maclay, in 1923 and was impressed by the huge oaks and pines, beautiful dogwoods and hollies. He decided this would be the place to fulfill his lifelong dream of creating a beautiful garden, and this would be their winter home. Over the years they established one of the most beautiful ornamental gardens in Florida. In 1953, nine years after Mr. Maclay’s death, Mrs. Maclay and her children donated the gardens to the state of Florida. She expressed her wishes that the gardens always be maintained as a memorial to her husband and his creation, and opened to the public for the enjoyment of the people of Florida and guests.

The park and historic gardens are open daily from 8am to sunset and the Maclay House museum is open January through April, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Located at 3540 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee. You can contact them at 850-487-4556 or click on the link below to go to the website for more information. And be sure to click the link below to see all the great events they have scheduled. You can go on full moon paddle with a park ranger in the lake, tours of the garden also given by a park ranger, and painting in the park is offered!

https://www.floridastateparks.org/maclaygardens

Thanks to noahs.notions on Instagram for the photo and this great idea to blog about!