State of Florida Speciality Plate

Debbie Roney Smith on

The State of Florida is giving car owners a special opportunity to help save the bees by pre-ordering a license plate! The annual use fees from the sale of the Florida State Beekeepers license plate will be distributed to the Florida State Beekeepers Association. The money will be put towards funding outreach and education to raise awareness of the importance of beekeeping to Florida agriculture. Additionally, the funds will help honeybee research and husbandry. The State has until October 2022 to get 3,000 pre-orders for the license plate to become a reality. Please pre-order yours today at the following link for $40: https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/beesvoucherorder.html 

News about Torreya State Park

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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced that Torreya State Park has been designated a State Geological Site. The agency describes State Geological Sites as “areas the Florida Geological Survey has determined to be significant to scientific study and the public’s understanding of Florida’s geological history.” source This is especially important for Torreya as the park is still in recovery from Hurricane Michael, and State Geological Sites receive more support and interest. 

Torreya State Park Trail by @nonsensicalnoah

The agency explained that “Torreya State Park was chosen for this designation in part because of the park’s Rock Bluff, a steep, tall, limestone bluff that has been exposed by erosion from the Apalachicola River. Rock Bluff is part of the Torreya Formation and is about 18 million years old. Marine fossils (…) are found in the limestone formations exposed along the Apalachicola River and in the streambeds within the park.”

Palindrome Week

Debbie Roney Smith on

A palindrome is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of characters which reads the same backward as forward. The first palindrome was written in Latin and traced back to ancient Rome; they have also been found in ancient Sanskrit and Greek. Additionally, palindromes have been found as graffiti in the remains of the city of Herculaneum. Herculaneum was buried in volcanic ash circa AD 79 by Mount Vesuvius, Italy. The last week of February is a week of palindromes:

 

Benefitting the PCB Senior Center

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The Panama City Beach Senior Center counts on donations to keep its lights on and to continue serving the community. Consider supporting this keystone of the community by visiting its upcoming craft fairs. Today, from 9am to 2pm, the PCBSC will be hosting the Winter Craft Fair. The fair will be held at the Lyndell Conference Center right next door to the PCBSC. The Craft Fair will have crafts, jewelry, local goods, lunch items, baked goods, and more!

The second fair will also be held at the Lyndell Conference Center. On March 5th, PSBSC will be hosting an Everything Sale. It will have everything available at the Craft Fair and more! For more information about either event, call the PCBSC at 850-233-5065 or email sue@pcbsc.com. 

Mardi Gras Barkus Parade

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    Tomorrow is the 11th annual Mardi Gras Barkus Parade. This is a special Mardi Gras parade hosted by the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers, a Krewe of dogs and their humans.

    The Krewe is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the parade proceeds will go towards the benefit of local animal charities. The theme of this year’s parade is Pirates of Oyster City; the event will include live music, local food and drink, and arts and crafts vendors. Festivities will start at 11am at Riverfront Park. The parade of costumed dogs, people, golf carts, boats, and floats will begin at 1pm. As always, the King and Queen of the Apalachicola Mardi Gras parade are shelter animals who are up for adoption; they have a place of honor in the parade. Learn more at the Mystic Krewe website here. 

    Mardi Gras GRAND Parade

    Debbie Roney Smith on

      The annual Pensacola Mardi Gras Grand Parade is coming up this February 26th!

      The Grand Parade is the city’s largest parade; it includes more than 6,000 participants and 10,000 viewers. The parade features local Krewes, marching bands, organizations, and Scout Groups. Additionally, there are a number of out-of-town Krewes and organizations that visit specifically for this event. Interested in attending? The parade takes place on Palafox and Garden Streets in historic downtown Pensacola. It will start on February 26th at 2pm and lasts until 6pm. There will be a dedicated children’s viewing area free of alcohol and tobacco to ensure families can have a good time during the high-energy parade. Learn more about the parade at the Pensacola Mardi Gras website here. 

      Mardi Gras Parade

      Debbie Roney Smith on

        The largest men’s Krewe along the Florida Panhandle, the Krewe of Lafitte, is hosting their Illuminated Parade in Pensacola on February 25th! This all-male crew features 300 “gentleman” pirates, twelve floats, and is the only after-dark parade in the county. The parade will start at 7:30pm in Downtown Pensacola. Visit the official Krewe of Lafitte website to learn more about the parade float captains and other events held by the organization: https://www.kreweoflafitte.com/the-krewe/. 

        Leave the Leaves to the Bees!

        Debbie Roney Smith on

        Did you know that Florida is home to more than 300 species of bees?! In Florida, bees are active most of the year and rely on a variety of nesting materials to stay alive and reproduce. They may nest in well-drained soil that is sparsely vegetated, in trees or other wood, plants with hollow stems, or under fallen leaves. It is important to leave fallen leaves where they land in order to protect bee habitats, as well as help renourish the soil with nutrients from the decaying leaves. 

        It is incredibly important to help bees – and other insects – because they pollinate over 80% of flowering plants and food crops. The impact of bees’ hard work is seen very clearly here in the Panhandle, a notoriously agriculture-heavy area. If you would like to further assist the hard-working pollinators in your area, consider planting native wildflowers to help feed them and shelter them. Not only will you be helping the natural world but you will also get some beautiful flowers to enjoy! Click on the image below to view a list of wildflowers.

        Bay County Audobon Society: Local Field Trip

        Debbie Roney Smith on

        Today at 7:30am, there will be a local field trip held at Majette Park by the Bay County Audobon Society. Interested in birding? Native plants? Photography? Just getting out and stretching your legs? This field trip has something for everything!

        Please note that trips are subject to weather and last-minute changes. Additionally, due to COVID, facemasks are recommended while in close contact but may be removed once members spread out more than 6 feet during the walk. See their Facebook page, electronic newsletter, or Meetup page for up-to-date information; alternatively, call Ron Houser at 850-774-9733.