PCB Conservation Park Birding

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Interested in birding, photography, or learning about the natural world? Consider taking part in one of the upcoming Birding Walks at the Panama City Beach Conservation Park. The walk will be held twice this month on February 12th and again on February 19th from 7:30-9:30 am. The early morning walk will be led by a member of Bay County’s Audubon Society. Participants are not required to have their own binoculars but are encouraged to bring water. For more information, please contact the PCB Parks Department at (850)233-5045. 

Greenwood Supermarket: Grand Reopenening!

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The Greenwood Supermarket is expected to reopen by the end of February. Bill and Christine Smith have moved the store to a new location; 4185 Bryan Street, righ next door to the old location. The original supermarket was destroyed in a fire on November 13, 2018 after barely escaping major Hurrican Michael damage. 

The new market is expected to have a bigger deli and meat department. Additionally, the sq. ft. has gone up from 5,000 to 7,500. However, the rest of the store’s interior is being kept a secret so that there can be a big reveal at the grand-opening ceremony. Currently, the store reports that they anticipate needing over 20 people on payroll either part-time or full-time to provide a consistent experience to the community eagerly awaiting it’s reopening.

Strawberry Festival

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The annual Strawberry Festival will be held this weekend in Williston, FL. There will be a plethora of fun, strawberry-themed family activities such as a u-pick strawberry field, chocolate covered strawberry station, and more! Other kid friendly activities include bouncy jump pillows, a treehouse village, slide hill, and train. Additional adult activities include the u-pick sunflower patch, indulge in sweet treats like strawberry cheesecake or strawberry shortcake, and relax while listening to live music. There is even a Strawberry Pie Eating Contest that guests can partake in.

Please note that all guests are requested to follow CDC protocols for Covid-19 safety. Come on down to Red, White, and Blue Farm this February 12-13th between the hours of 10am and 4pm to enjoy this spectacular event. For more detailed information, please visit the official Strawberry Festival website here. 

Send a Card to a Friend

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Tomorrow is National Send a Card to a Friend Day! This is a wonderful opprotunity to give someone a happy suprise. Have you ever been excited to recieve something in the mail that wasn’t junk or bills? Recieveing a hand written card or letter is a wonderful feeling; it shows that someone thought of us and that they took time out of their busy schedule to communicate with longform intent. Additionally, there is a thrill to recieving a physical item of connection in a rapidly evolving digital world. So send out a card to someone you care about tomorrow, and keep an eye on your mailbox for a reply!

Fun Fact! The history of card has been traced back to the ancient Chinese sending greeting cards on New Year’s Day and the early Egyptians sending greetings using papyrus scrolls. 

Notify County Agencies About Special Needs

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West Florida Electric Cooperative is helping to spread the word about the Special Needs Registry Shelter Program. This is a program designed to provide hurricane or disaster related evacuation assistance for those without other alternatives. However, it is super important that you renew your enrollment in this program annually! The Registry Program allows for emergency responders to prepare for disasters and other emergencies, and for the needs of the community to be accounted for during times of trial. If you or someone you know has a condition greatly affecting eyesight, hearing, spech, walking, breathing, or a mental illness that can impact these senses, please contact your local emergency management agency to register. Learn more about the program at the Florida Health website here. 

Hickory Gall and Anthracnose: Tree Health

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hickory anthrocnose

Homeowners in Florida know the value of shade trees; hickory trees offer great shade but have increasingly been afflicted by hickory anthrocnose. Hickory anthrocnose, otherwise known as leaf spot, is caused by a fungal infection during the upcoming wet summer months in Florida. The disease is often accompanied by large reddish brown spots on upper leaf surfaces and brownish spots on the bottom of the leaves. To help prevent leaf spot, be sure to rake and remove leaves close to the trunk of the tree. 

If the infection persists, remember to Google your local UF:IFAS Extension agent to set up a site visit; they firmly believe that saving a tree is time well spent. Additionally, they would like to state that “When in doubt give our trees the benefit and keep them in place.”1

Take Your Child to the Library

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Tomorrow is Take Your Child to the Library Day! The initiative was started by Nadine Lipman in 2011 as a way to bring community awareness to the wonderful resource local libaries represent; it is also designed to help promote childhood literacy and library events. The event started with one single library and has since grown to include libraries all over the country! Additionally, Lipman was joined by co-chairperson Caitlin Augusta. The original website created by Lipman can be found here. Encouraging your kids to read helps boost language skills, critical thinking, reading comprehension, emotional intelligence, encourages creative thinking, and enhances concentration. 

National Groundhog Day

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Today is National Groundhog Day, a popular North American tradition derived from a Pensalvanyia-Dutch superstition about groundhog shadows. Over the years, the tradition has grown into a cultural monolith in the United States and Canada. Groundhog Day was concieved in the 1880s with the infamous Punxsutawney Phil, who’s modern successor goes by the same name. Phil’s predicitions are reported with mock seriousness but the cultural signficance and genuine childhood enjoyment of the occasion brings it back year after year. Looking to view Phil’s emergence from his burrow? Tune in online HERE on Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:15am to find out live or rewatch at a more reasonable hour. 

Jackson County: Recycling Resources

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Listed below is a collection of Jackson County recycling locations and what they accept: 

  • Jackson County Recycling located at 3630 Wiley Drive. Items accepted at this location include paper, aluminum, hazardous waste, cardboard, and white goods.
  • Sunland Recycling located at 3700 Williams Drive. This location accepts glass and aluminum only.
  • A Plus Recycling located at 1928 Edenfield Drive. Drop off your metal, glass, and aluminum here.
  • Advanced Auto Parts, Autozone, and O’Reilly Auto Parts locations take oil and batteries. 

Download a comprehensive list below, complete with items accepted/not accepted at the Jackson County website here. 

Calhoun County’s New Brewery

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Coming this Saturday, February 5th, is the opening of Calhoun County’s first brewery! From 11am to 9pm CST, bar foood and lots of freshly brewed craft beer will be available. Wine and soda will also be available. Additionally, there will be live music featuring Hot Mess from Apalachicola playing from 3pm to 7pm. Cody Barber of Carrabelle will finish the evening starting at 8pm. Visit the Blountstown Beer Company Facebook page to stay up-to-date with events and more.