Category: Community Announcement

Ice and Lights

Debbie Roney Smith on

Dothan Leisure Services is once again bringing Dothan and surrounding areas Ice & Lights (located at 171 N. Foster St.) this year! Ice skating is available for $10/person (includes the skate rental) all week long as listed: Tuesday – Thursday, 10 AM – 9 PM; Friday, 10 AM – 10 PM; Saturday, 9 AM – 10 PM; Sunday, 1 PM – 8 PM.

Additionally, there will be a themed special event tomorrow, December 21st. The hours are still 10 AM – 9 PM but there will be special events occurring in the evening. At 5 PM, Frozen characters will be onsite for photos and fun. Then, at 6 PM, Frozen the movie will play in Porter Park. 

Visit the Ice Skate in Dothan website for more information and to get discount tickets. 

Holiday Toy Drive

Debbie Roney Smith on

TCAC Coalition and Power Up People have teamed up to host a Holiday Toy Drive for the benefit of Frenchtown and Holton Street. Donations are being accepted from December 11-20th at the following Tallahassee locations:

  • Square Mug Cafe – 663 Railroad Square
  • The Bark – 507 All Saints Street
  • The Plant – 517 Gaines Street
  • Ms. Dee’s – 717 Old Bainbridge Road
  • Sweet Pea Cafe – 832 W Tharpe Street
  • GlassHouse Automotive – 6401 W Tennessee Street
  • FLPAC – 603 N MLK Jr. Ave
  • Quaker Meeting House – 2001 S Magnolia Drive

If you would like to donate larger items or money and/or volunteer for the in-person toy giveaways days, call Trish Brown at (850) 688-7153 or email Outreach@tallycac.com. 

AAA’s Holiday Season: “Tow To Go”

Debbie Roney Smith on

If you find yourself consuming too many adult beverages during the upcoming holidays, AAA wants to give you a free tow. The company is working to keep impaired drivers off the road with its ‘Tow To Go’ program. AAA will send a tow truck to an impaired driver and transport them and their vehicle to a safe place within a 10-mile radius for free. The service is available to anyone in Florida, not just members.

However, AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said it should be used as a last resort. “Please before you party, make sure that you have your plan in place, identify a designated driver or ride-sharing service. Have all of that planned out before your first drink,” Jenkins said.

The service will be available on Christmas Day (December 25th) and New Year (January 1st). ‘Tow To Go’ starts at 6 p.m. and runs through 6 a.m. the next morning.

To use the service, call (855) 286-9246.

Friends of Chipley Animals

Debbie Roney Smith on
Bradley Cooper, a currently available Bulldog mix (as of 11/27/2021)

If you live in Chipley or surrounding areas and love animals, consider joining the Friends of Chipley Animals Facebook page. The page is run by volunteers of the Chipley, FL shelter but is not a reflection of the shelter itself. Many of the animals listed on the page come from surrounding counties but are all located in Chipley at the time of their posting. Dogs and cats are only kept 5-7 days so if you see an animal that interests you, please call them right away (the number is listed on their page). The Friends of Chipley operate Monday through Saturday 9:00 am until 12:00 noon CST.

Additionally, they are in URGENT need of volunteers to visit the shelter to take pictures and get descriptions of pets to post to the website. The hours for volunteers are between 9 am and 12 pm CST. If you are interested in helping in-need animals get adopted, please call the shelter for more info. 

New Cave Discovered at Florida Caverns

Debbie Roney Smith on

There has been an amazing new discovery at the beloved Florida Caverns State Park. A MASSIVE new cave has been discovered. Called the New Cave, or Liz’s Surprise, it is reconceptualizing what experts know about Florida caves.

Formation found in New Cave

The cave is the third-longest cave in Florida at 5576ft, although exploration is still underway. The cave entrance was found approximately 25ft underground on the newly acquired parkland called Bennett Parcel. So far they have not found evidence of humans in the cave but there is a plethora of wildlife, fascinating formations, and crawlways.

Visit the recently published Florida Caverns State Park Youtube video to see the new discovery for yourself or consider visiting the park for a guided cave tour! 

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

Debbie Roney Smith on

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!

Happy Birthday Black Dog Cafe!

Debbie Roney Smith on

Congratulations on 24 years of female-owned excellence, Black Dog Cafe! The Cafe is giving back to celebrate their birthday today, November 1st, by offering a free coffee when customers bring in a donation for Second Harvest Food Bank. Black Dog is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers a wide selection of coffee, drinks, pastries, and frozen treats; everything is sustainably and locally sourced. Some come out to Lake Ella today to enjoy the lovely weather, great drinks, and do some good for the community!

Second Harvest Food Bank accepts donations of non-perishable food items, and would like to draw attention to their most needed items:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Grains
  • Protein Foods
  • Dairy/Dairy Alternatives
  • Canned Meals (ex: soups, chowders, and chili)
  • Nutritional drinks (ex: Ensure, Boost)
  • Baby Food
  • Non-food Items (ex: diapers, toiletries)

Visit their official website here to view a detailed list or learn more about the organization. 

The Great Pupkin Match!

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Animal Service Center of Tallahassee is having its first event in almost two years this Saturday! With over 90 adoptable dogs, Tallahassee Animal Services is hosting an outdoor adoption matchmaking event. The Great Pupkin Match will have meet and greet tents, music, food trucks, giveaways, and a cute festive photo station! Come out and find the love of your life from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. If you would like to save time, you can fill out an application to pre-approved HERE.