Halloween 2021: Fast Facts

Tomorrow is Halloween! To celebrate, keep reading to learn some fun facts about the history and current celebration of the holiday:

  • Halloween did not reach mainstream consciousness in the U.S.A until the 1800s when the mass immigration of Scottish and Irish people allowed their traditions to flourish here – traditions that helped form the modern celebration of Halloween as we know it. 
  • The largest Halloween Parade in the world is held by New York’s Greenwich Village; over 50,000 participants in costume make up the parade while millions of spectators visit Manhattan to observe the fun. 
  • Trick-or-treating is a product of the medieval practice of mumming. Mumming refers to the practice of costumed actors parading streets and performing at homes for feast days such as Hallows Eve, Christmas, Shrove Tuesday, and Twelfth Night. 
  • Trunk-or-treating was created as a safer, easier alternative to trick-or-treating for rural communities who live farther apart. 

National Pumpkin Day

Today is National Pumpkin Day, an annual event of unknown origins that celebrates the versatile and much-loved winter squash. Did you know Floridians prefer pumpkin pancakes to other pumpkin-themed treats such as lattes, cookies, bread, and pie(1)? Pumpkins are botanically classified as fruits, and there are over 30 varieties to enjoy. There are great nutritional benefits to eating pumpkins(2): being 94% water, they offer a high vitamin and mineral content with low calories. They also have a high antioxidant content which can help the human body fight chronic diseases. So consider visiting a pumpkin patch near you to get some delicious pumpkins to enjoy this fall season! 

Medical Marijuana in Pensacola

Dr. Michelle Beasley

Dr. Michelle Beasley is a Board Certified Physician serving Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola. She has been serving the area for over 15 years and holds both a Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Medicine from The University of West Florida. She is currently accepting new patients for compassionate care; if you are looking to start treatment with medical marijuana, consider Dr. Beasley. If you are looking to switch providers, she offers a discounted initial assessment price of $49! To get in contact with Dr. Beasley, click here to visit her online portal – you will be able to make an appointment online or call her office.

LGBTQ+ Center Awareness

Today is National LGBTQ+ Center Awareness Day. For more detailed information on this national event, visit the LGBT Center Awareness Day website.

Since this annual event is designed to help advocate for the work of LGBT community centers everywhere, today’s blog is dedicated to highlighting the local LGBTQ+ Center of Bay County. According to their website, the Bay Center “is currently the only safe space with dedicated programming for LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18 in the entire Panhandle of Florida, from Mobile, Alabama to Jacksonville, Florida.”

They offer support groups, a safe space, scholarships, community outreach programs, and more! The Center advocates for community engagement, offers volunteer opprotunities, holds events, and works hard to improve the wellness of the LGBTQ+ community while leading the charge for positive change in the area. 

Visit the Center’s official website to learn more. 

World Suicide Prevention Day

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and today is World Suicide Prevention Day. One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. Suicide is a devastating pandemic that is worsened by unequal social conditions. By raising awareness, reducing the surrounding stigma, and encouraging well-informed, multi-pronged action, the prevalence of suicide around the world can be reduced. 

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was first successfully launched in Stockholm in 2003. It was a joint initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). This global event is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and its intricate causes. Today is a day to promote action through intersectional and holistic means that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts worldwide. Head over to IASP’s website for resources, statistics, and more.

 

Grant Given to Jackson Hospital

Jackson Hospital received a $2.5 million grant to improve operations during future natural weather phenomenon. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a grant of $2,584,225 to allow the hospital to purchase and install 12 permanent generators within the hospital’s network of facilities. The grant was funded specifically by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in response to Hurricane Michael in 2018. The generator project will allow Jackson Hospital to continue operating at all locations during any future power outages.

Florida Panhandle Hospitals

There are a number of hospitals and emergency rooms in the Florida Panhandle, but the top three are as follows:

Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare
  • Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital (Pensacola). Phone (850) 416-7000. Address: 5151 North 9th Ave, Pensacola, FL 32504. Website
  • Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare (Tallahassee). Phone (850) 431-1155. Address: 1300 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Website.
  • Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Hospital (Panama City). Phone (850) 769-1511. Address: 615 North Bonita Ave, Panama City, FL 32401. Website.

Tallahassee Nurseries

Did you know that indoor plants offer both physical and psychological benefits to humans who own them? The benefits of houseplants are:

  • Boosts indoor air quality
  • Promotes exercise
  • Encourages healthy eating
  • Improves mood
  • Relieves stress and anxiety
  • Helps prolong attention span
  • Boosts self-esteem
  • And More!!!

This means the ongoing 2-for-1 houseplant sale at Tallahassee Nurseries is a wonderful opportunity to improve the well-being of your household! From now until September 2nd, or until supplies run out, the garden center will be selling 2-for-1 of equal-or-lesser value houseplants; rare plants and orchids are not included, despite being indoor plants.

Chipola Fitness

Looking to try a new, fun type of fitness? A local gym, the Chipola Fitness Center, offers a variety of courses weekly.

Barefoot Basics is a low-impact class designed to help increase balance via stretching and toning. Dance Fit 2 is a high-intensity music fitness course. Mash-up follows Variable-intensity Interval Training (VIIT), a program including mind/body, agility and strength, and high-intensity intervals to make the most of your time. If you’re looking to strengthen and tone, take part in the Muscle Up class. Power Up is designed for early risers; Power Up your day with this 5am course! Total Body fitness is just as it sounds – a class designed to work the body head to toe.

The Fitness Center also offers a variety of Spin Classes but they are often very limited, so membership is required for early online booking. The offered classes are Fun FriYa Spin, Pedal & Crunch, Spin Scultp, Spinergy, and Total Body Spin. For more detailed information on spin courses, more details on gym membership, and more, visit the official Chipola Fitness website

Bear Paws Adventures

Located at 2100 Bear Paw Lane in Marianna, Bear Paws Adventures offers a natural river float trip in kayaks, canoes, or tubes. They offer equipment rentals and shuttles. Pricing is as follows:

  • Kayak $35 per person; includes a parking pass and shuttle pass
  • Canoe $50 for two people; includes a parking pass and shuttle pass
  • Bring Your Own Kayak/Canoe $25 per vessel; includes a parking pass and shuttle pass
  • Tubing $15-60 
  • Bring Your Own Tubes $10 per person; includes inflating the tubes, shuttle pass, and parking pass

Visit their official website for more detailed information on pricing and to familiarize yourself with the service rules on parking.