Category: History

Native American Heritage Day

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November is Native American Heritage Month and today is the annual Native American Heritage Day.

This month is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the heritage, culture, and value of Native Americans through a historical and modern lens. It is an opportunity for the whole country to appreciate and learn about the rich, unique history of Native Americans and Alaskan Natives; additionally, it is a chance to acknowledge and thank the community for their long history of positive contributions to the country’s values, culture, and land. Perhaps most importantly, it is a time to reflect on the obstacles and challenges that they have endured in the past as well as in this modern-day.

Below are some fast facts about the Native American and Alaskan Native population in the USA: 

  • As of 2020, there are 574 federally recognized Indian tribes. 
  • Native Land Digital is an indigenous-led organization that helps map territories, languages, and treaties across the globe; use their online map to find the history of the land you live on. 
  • As of 2020, there are 324 distinct, federally recognized American Indian reservations (including federal reservations and off-reservation trust land). 

Thanksgiving 2021

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Fun Thanksgiving facts to share at the table today:

  • Apple pie accounts for 20% of the type of pie consumed today, beating out pumpkin pie (at 16%). 
  • The world’s biggest pumpkin pie was made in Bremen, Ohio. It was 20ft wide and weighed 3,669lbs!
  • The Macy’s Day Parade has been shown on NBC for 69years as of 2021. Catch the parade on NBC, Telemundo, or Peacock from 9am-12pm or 2pm-5pm. 

Black Friday or Buy Nothing

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The widely popular holiday Black Friday is just two days away. 

However, Black Friday is not the only event occurring on November 26th – it is also Buy Nothing Day in the United States. Black Friday can be a great opportunity to save money on holiday gifts or expensive investments like new computers but can also encourage needless spending and competitive shopping that can lead to physical harm. Buy Nothing Day is a movement started by artist Ted Dave in 1992, and is an international day of protest against consumerism and the harm it causes to individuals, communities, and the environment. 

 

Seaside, Florida

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Seaside is the world’s first New Urbanist town which means that it is an unincorporated master-planned community. It’s located in the Florida Panhandle in Walton County. New Urbanism came to prominence in the 1980s in the U.S.A., and is an urban design movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of housing and job types. However, criticism questions if New Urbanism actually succeeds in being sustainable or just likes the aesthetic design of quaint, pretty towns. You might recognize Seaside from the widely popular “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carrey; it was the primary film location for the movie. 

World’s Smallest Police Station

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Did you know that Florida is home to the world’s smallest police station? Located in Carrabelle, this police station is no bigger than a phone booth. It was placed on U.S. 98 under the chinaberry tree on March 10, 1963. Then Police Chief Albin Westberg elected to move it to this location after the city experienced problems with tourists making unauthorized long-distance phone calls on its police phone. 

The police station is rather famous and has even been featured on television shows. “Real People”, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, “The Today Show”, and “Johnny Carson” all featured the police station. Additionally, it was in the movie “Tate’s Hell” which was produced at Florida State University. The station even has copyrighted merchandise – t-shirts, hats, visors, postcards, and calendars are all available for purchase. 

Wreck Capital of the South

Debbie Roney Smith on

Did you know that Panama City Beach is one of the most visited dive destinations in Florida? PCB offers a plethora of diving sites for both experienced and non-experienced divers. Commonly referred to as the “Wreck Capital of the South,” PCB is home to the best dive beach along the Emerald Coast. Peak diving season is April through September. The moniker “Wreck Capital” comes from the numerous famous wrecks found in the Gulf of Mexico that are accessible in Panama City Beach. A few of these wrecks include the 110ft Grey Ghost, a 160ft freighter named Chippewa, a 441ft World War II liberty ship, and the 220ft S.S. Tarpon, a World War II tug boat. 

Veterans Fair

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The GFWC Marianna Woman’s Club is partnering with the Chipola Civic Club to host the 7th annual Veterans Day Program. This Friday, November 5th, all veterans are invited to come down to Madison Street Park for the fair. From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., veterans will have the opportunity to receive information from a selection of vendors. Additionally, a sausage dog lunch will be available for free while live music is performed by the Charlie Basford Band. Door prizes will be passed out at the end of the program. 

*Masks and social distancing are encouraged

Business Women

Debbie Roney Smith on
Debbie Roney-Smith

Today is America Business Women’s Day, celebrated annually on September 22nd to mark the founding date of the American Business Women’s Association. Created in 1949, this day is designed “to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership; education, networking support and national recognition.” It was officially recognized in 1983, and thrives to this day as female entrepreneurship flourishes in the 21st century. Below are just three of many local women-owned businesses to support today:

Our very own Debbie Roney-Smith with American Gold Realty, located in Marianna, FL. Debbie offers specialized information gained from over 20yrs living and enjoying the Florida Panhandle and surrounding areas. With 25yrs of realtor experience, Debbie is a wonderful choice for your future buying, selling, and renting needs!

Black Dog Cafe. Located in Tallahassee, FL. Women-owned for over 20yrs, this cafe offers excellent customer service, locally sourced baked goods, sustainable coffee, and more! 

Florida Star Nurseries & Supply. Located in Marianna, FL. This is a local contractor who has been operating for almost 40yrs. They specialize in landscaping, nursery plants & trees, nursery equipment, and more! 

Greenpeace is 50!

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Today is National Greenpeace Day, and 2021 happens to be the 50th anniversary of the creation of the global organization! Greenpeace was created in the 1970s as a global ecology movement, an organization dedicated to the protection of nature and the education of the public. Fifty years of growth later, Greenpeace has combined the goals of peace and ecology and is established in 57 countries with more in development.

Greenpeace has even had a personal impact on the lovely Florida Panhandle; since 2005, they have been working to help protect and expand an area of Keystone Forest here in the panhandle. It is a hotspot for biodiversity, and is home to the richest endemic plant life in the south, housing 75% of Florida’s native plant species.

Eager to learn more about the impact Greenpeace and its dedicated members have had? Visit their official website for more information on everything from current initiatives to how to get involved and the history of the organization. 

World Suicide Prevention Day

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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.