Rebuild Florida at the Blountstown Library

Yesterday was the first of four dates that Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement program came to the Blountstown Public Library. If you are a homeowner with damage from Hurricane Michael, you are encouraged to apply for housing repair assistance.

Rebuild Florida will be here for the following days with no appointment necessary:
April 8: 10 – 4 CST
April 19: 10 – 4 CST
April 20: 10 – 4 CST

Visit HERE for more detailed information such as what documents to bring with you. 

Timber Block Grant

Have you heard the good news? The State of Florida Timber Block Grant’s registration deadline has been extended to April 30th! The Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant Program (“TRBG”) is available to timber producers who suffered timber damage as a result of Hurricane Michael; compensation for the crop loss is provided to producers that meet the eligibility requirements. The program is managed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the US Department of Agriculture. If eligible, you may receive up to $608 per acre for pine and up to $714 per acre for hardwood. Repayment is not required. 

Register HERE

Kayak Local Econfina Creek

The weather is beginning to get warmer here in the Florida Panhandle as the spring equinox draws closer. Looking for something to get you out in the wonderful world of nature or something to occupy the kids on the weekend? Consider visiting the local Econfina Creek and its beautiful canoe trail in Youngstown, FL for a leisurely trip down the calm trail. The local Econfina Creek Canoe Livery LLC is currently offering shuttle services by reservation only seven days a week. They offer one or two-person kayaks as well as a pick-up from the end of the trail to take you back to your vehicle. They suggest bringing lunch and/or snorkeling gear to make the most of the trip, turning the 3hr paddle trail into a lovely, relaxing day-trip along the cool waters. 

Visit their official website HERE for more information or to make a reservation today. 

National Dentist’s Day

National Dentist’s Day falls annually on March 6th. It was established as a way to show appreciation and thanks to dentists, dental hygienists, and nurses. It’s also a way to bring awareness to dentistry so that people will know more about how to care for their teeth. It also encourages people who may have avoided going to the dentist to come in for a checkup. Here are some tips to help keep your teeth healthy:

1. Brush teeth for two minutes, twice per day. 

2. Floss daily!

3. Visit a dentist twice per year if possible. 

4. Eat a balanced diet and limit eating and drinking between meals to reduce corrosion. 

Unplug from Technology Today

National Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign that promotes a 24-hour respite from technology annually observed the first weekend in March. From sundown-to-sundown March 5-6, 2021, remove yourself from social media and technology, in general, to spend time on other, tech-free things. For over a decade, schools, religious institutions, and businesses have helped their communities celebrate this event to promote healthy life/tech balances. 

Consider going outside for a walk, reading that book you’ve had on your nightstand for a few weeks, spend quality time with friends/family/or pets, enjoy a hobby you haven’t practiced for awhile, and more! 

Visit the official National Day of Unplugging website HERE for more information such as things to do while unplugged, online gatherings, and more! 

Vegetable Gardening 101 in Tallahassee

Today was the first Organic Vegetable Gardening 101 course held at Native Nurseries in Tallahassee. New to vegetable gardening? New to Tallahassee? Looking for a refresher course? This workshop is for you! Joe Walthall goes over the basics of organic vegetable gardening – preparing a bed, soil building, what to plant, when to plant, and more. This is an outdoor workshop that features a demonstration in Native Nurseries’ vegetable garden. Missed today’s event? Never fear – this special workshop will occur again on March 6th at 10 a.m. EST. 

PLEASE NOTE: Registration is required by phone. There is a $5.00 fee; your payment holds your spot in the class. Please call (850) 386-8882 to pre-register. Class size is limited to 15 people. Masks are required. When parking, please use the driveway next door to the nursery with ‘Workshop Parking’ sign seen from Centerville Rd.

National Holiday and Local Library Spotlight

Did you know that February is National Libary Lovers’ Month? It is a month dedicated to recognizing the value of libraries as well as work to assure that libraries in the U.S.A. will continue to serve their patrons. 

In celebration of this month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries, let’s highlight a local public library that is continuing to provide wonderful experiences despite the restrictions of the time. Calhoun County Public Library turned 181 years old this January and is continuing to host its weekly Storytime every Thursday at 10 a.m. via Facebook. 

Visit the Calhoun library’s official website HERE or go straight to their Facebook page to access future storytime events and more by CLICKING HERE!

Valentine’s Day

Today is Valentine’s Day! It is also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. The Feast of Saint Valentine was established in 496 AD by Pope Gelasius I. It was an annual event celebrated on February 14th in honor of Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on the 14th in 269 AD. Saint Valentine’s Day became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries with the rise of courtly love. In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion in which couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, confectionery, and sending greeting cards.

In fact, greeting cards (now referred to as valentines) were created in 1797!  A British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained suggested sentimental verses for young lovers who were unable to compose their own sweet words. Printers had begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches based on The Young Man’s Valentine Writer sometimes called “mechanical valentines.” These mechanical valentines have grown into the valentine industry (worth over $19 billion as of 2018) that is known today.

Victorian England-era Valentine Card

Galentine’s Day

Today is Galentine’s Day, a day for women to celebrate women! February is the month of love and the 13th is designated to celebrating the important female friendships and relationships in our lives. It’s a relatively recent phenomenon; it was created by Amy Poehler’s Parks and Recreation character Leslie Knope. It was debuted in 2010 during the holiday special. It is a day to celebrate your female friends, a day to recognize the importance of friendship in order to strengthen and cherish them.