National Life Insurance Day

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Today is National Life Insurance Day! It marks the anniversary of the first day that life insurance became available in the United States and takes place every May 2nd. The day is designed to help educate individuals on the benefits of life insurance and how to secure it for themselves. Life insurance does more than support your family after your loss; it can also ensure you don’t fall into debt, pre-fund a child’s college education, and keep a business afloat for a while in the event of the death of a family member who owned a business. Most life insurance policies make it possible to establish an emergency fund while making sure your family is taken care of. 

Sweet Bay Magnolia

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Happy May, everyone! For today’s Monday Mention, let’s look at the wonderful Sweet Magnolia Bakery. Located on Central Ave in Blountstown, the bakery opened in 2019 and has grown to be a gem in the small town. Sweet Magnolia offers a plethora of baked goods day-to-day, custom orders, coffee, and more. They have a little something for every meal: muffins and coffee for breakfast, quiche or sandwiches for lunch, and desserts galore for dinner! Learn more by visiting their Facebook page or visit them today!

Pensacola Crawfish Festival

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The Pensacola Crawfish Festival is happening now until April 30th in Pensacola. The annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival has been happening for over three decades and brings THOUSANDS of pounds of fresh crawfish from Louisiana. The festival takes place at Seville Square and Fountain Park.

Come enjoy boiled, fried, and steamed crawfish in traditional Cajun fare like jambalaya, etouffee, boudin, gumbo, and po-boys. This year’s music lineup features all-day entertainment by the 9th Avenue Brass Band. Other live music acts include Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and Ils Sont Partis Band, Gregg Martinez and the Delta Kings, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band,  and Curley Taylor & the Bayou Swamp Band.

The festival includes arts and crafts vendors, local food trucks, and a special festival beer called Fiesta Daze Lager; the lager is specially brewed by Pensacola Bay Brewery. Learn more by visiting the festival website HERE. 

Wine & Food Festival

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The South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival starts tomorrow! From April 27th-30th, come out to a variety of events focusing on wine, food, and the pairing of the two. There will be chances to meet renowned winemakers, see celebrity chefs, attend wine seminars, and choose wine samples from HUNDREDS of wines. The big event is the Grand Tasting on either Saturday or Sunday … or both, if you care to enjoy two days of tasting and treating yourself!

Guests will receive a tasting booklet outlining the featured wines so they can pick and choose their tastes carefully. Bottled water and food will be available in the Savor South Walton Culinary Village. Additionally, there will be live music from the Nashville Songwriters Showcase. All events will take place in the Town Center of Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach. To view the full schedule, pre-order tickets, and more, click here and visit the official event website. 

Arbor Day 2023

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Arbor Day 2023 is coming this Friday, April 28th! Arbor Day, literally translating to ‘Tree Day,’ is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep, and preservation of trees, forests, and old-growth forests. The first Arbor Day as it is recognized in the USA was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, and has since grown into a national holiday (circa 1970) and has even gained international recognition (circa 1883). 

Prior to the introduction of Arbor Day to the United States, the first historical celebration that aligns with the ideals of ‘Arbor Day’ was celebrated in 1594. In the Spanish village of Mondoñedo, the first documented arbor plantation festival was successfully organized by the mayor of the town. Clearly, the celebration of trees has been a cultural cornerstone for hundreds of years. It is estimated that the celebration on April 10, 1872 culminated in hundreds of thousands of trees being planted. 

Want to celebrate Arbor Day? Consider:

  • Planting a tree
  • Create art celebrating trees
  • Build/purchase something made from recycled wood
  • Sponsor/adopt a tree in need
  • Participate in ‘tree care’ (mulching, pruning, and watering)
  • Visit a local park/state park
  • Read Arbor Day’s Celebration Ideas list for more suggestions

North Florida Wildflower Festival

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The North Florida Wildflower Festival is coming up soon! Come out to Blountstown on Saturday, April 29th from 9am-2pm. The Florida Panhandle, from Jacksonville to Pensacola, is dotted with small towns that boast southern charm and gorgeous natural scenery. The Blountstown Wildflower Festival is one of the most popular events of each spring in Calhoun and surrounding counties. The Festival will feature food vendors, artists, crafters, nurseries, and more! The festival is family and well-behaved pet friendly. There will be kid-friendly activities such as train rides at the M&B Depot. Come out to Magnolia Square to soak in the small-town festival vibes and enjoy a lovely afternoon. The city, which is in the heart of Calhoun County, celebrates the region’s beauty during its annual festival. Learn more by visiting the event website HERE.

 

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Event

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Next weekend is Arbor Day! First celebrated in Nebraska in 1874, Arbor Day is dedicated to planting trees and celebrating their various roles in the world. Trees do a lot including but not limited to boosting our mental health, eating greenhouse gases, cooling the areas around them, supporting wildlife, and cleaning the air!

To celebrate, Panama City Quality of Life is working with IFAS to give FREE trees to Bay County citizens. This offer is only good while supplies last, so come out early to secure your River Birch or Red Maple! The tree giveaway will be held from 9am-1pm at McKenzie Park. There will also be a free kid craft and tree planting kit at Oaks by the Bay Park from 10-11am while supplies last. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here. 

Free Entrance to Gulf Islands National Seashore

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There are only FIVE days in 2023 that the National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee offer free admission to one and all! This means that the local hotspot, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, will be free to everyone coming soon. While the first free day passed in January, the second free pass day is coming this April. As a way to celebrate National Park Week, get free entrance to the National Seashore on April 22nd. Celebrate Earth Day, also occurring on April 22nd, by picking up trash on your walk or capturing a photo of the natural beauty to share online with the tag #celebrateearthday.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation, natural preservation, and historic sites along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. Visit the Florida portion of the seashore in Pensacola. The Florida District offers nature trails, beaches, historic fortifications, and the Naval Live Oaks Reservation. The two principal islands in the Florida District of the National Seashore are Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key.

Can’t make it to the dazzling white beaches this Earth Day? Visit on one of the other three free days:

  • August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
  • September 23: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11: Veterans Day

Protect Yourself from Scammers

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Scams are on the rise; in 2020, over $2.3 billion in losses were reported due to imposter scams. Imposter scams were the most commonly reported category followed swiftly by online shopping scams. Read the tips below to protect yourself:

  1. Be careful when asked to install apps or software; always check that the app/software is reputable.
  2. Never pay anything over the phone.
  3. Be wary of false urgency; scammers often ask you to act immediately. 
  4. Don’t click on links in emails unless you know who they’re from. Phishing scams often try to send ‘free’ coupons or masquerade themselves as reputable services (such as Netflix).
  5. If it’s offered, make use of multi-factor authentication for any important accounts. 

Earth Day 2023

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Earth Day 2023 is approaching rapidly! This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” Find an event to participate in by visiting the Earth Day 2023 event search page here. Don’t have the day off to partake in an event but want to make some changes to help invest in the Earth? Consider one of the ideas below:

  • Take pictures of pollinators. Pollinators include more than just the standard honeybees and butterflies; Florida native pollinators include solitary bees, wasps, bats, birds, moths, and many other insects.
  • Buy local produce. Get it from a farmers market, from trades with your rural neighbors, or grow your own food. This helps cut down on food waste as your produce will last longer AND cuts down on the enviromental transport costs from shipping food around the world. 
  • Turn off lights when they’re not in use. Leaving lights on increase the heat in your home, increasing your cooling costs. Light pollution, especially outdoor lights, have been linked to interference in wildlife habits. Additionally, leaving indoor lights on has been linked to diabetes, mood disorders and an increased risk of breast, prostate, and other cancers.
  • Visit this list of 52 ideas to Invest in Our Planet here for more options.