Category: Kind to Your Wallet

National Holiday and Local Library Spotlight

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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!

Hurricane Michael Assistance

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The Rebuild Florida Housing Repair & Replacement Program for Hurricane Michael is in partnership with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to serve 12 Florida Panhandle counties in long-term housing recovery efforts. This is a grant program for housing rehabilitation, reconstruction, or replacement that will prioritize low-to-moderate income families. It requires applicants to be the primary resident homeowners (owner-occupied) or property owners of the rental property at the time of Hurricane Michael in the following 12 counties: HOLMES, WASHINGTON, BAY, JACKSON, CALHOUN, GULF, GADSDEN, LIBERTY, FRANKLIN, LEON, WAKULLA, TAYLOR.

Want to visit in person to discuss your qualification? Rebuild Florida Centers are open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday at the following locations:

Marianna
2917-B Optimist Drive
Marianna, FL 32448

To find more information and/or fill out the application online, visit the Official Website Here. 

Inspire Your Heart With Art!

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“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” – Pablo Picasso

Today is Inspire Your Heart With Art Day! Held annually on January 31st, this is a day to ponder how art affects you, your world, and your understanding of the world. Celebrate this annual event by appreciating art and/or your own creativity; consider the following activities to recognize this amazingly introspective day:

  • Visit an art gallery
  • Read a good book
  • Listen to music; especially an artist/genre you wouldn’t regularly listen to
  • Start your own artistic masterpiece (paint, draw, compose, create, et cetera)
  • A regular artist? Explore a new technique
  • Stream an inspirational film or art documentary
  • Share your art with others via social media 

Grand Opening of The Busy Bee

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Tomorrow is the grand opening of the new Busy Bee in Pensacola! It is a free event being held from 12 p.m. EST on January 29th to 6 p.m. EST on January 30th. The Busy Bee is hosting this Black Friday Weekend with Bantucola, and Chris Hendricks. There will be an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with Council Woman Tenaide Broughton of D5 as well as fresh-prepped produce and food-to-go! 

Register via Eventbrite for the Grand Opening Celebration! Eventbrite HERE!

All You Can Eat Crabs

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Have a hankering for crab? Head to Crystal River Seafood in Tallahassee tomorrow for their All-You-Can-Eat-Crab-Legs-Monday! From 4 p.m. CST to 9 p.m. CST, you can enjoy bottomless crab legs served with fried shrimp and two side dishes.

Visit their Facebook page HERE to RSVP for a specific event, find their address, and more!

National Handwriting Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today, January 23rd is National Handwriting Day! It was established in 1977 by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association to promote the consumption of pens, pencils, and writing paper. The date chosen is significant because it is the birthday of John Hancock, the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate this annual event by putting a writing utensil to a writing medium: 

  • Journal
  • Send a handwritten letter to a friend or family member
  • Write a short story or poem
  • Try calligraphy
  • Write a love note for someone you care about

Plant a Tree in Pensacola

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Keep Pensacola Beautiful, the Arbor Day Foundation, and the International paper are working to plant over 70 trees in celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day tomorrow, January 23th! From 9 a.m. (EST) to 2 p.m. (EST), this free event will encourage citizens “to do their part in helping to reduce air pollution, conserve energy, and beautify the State of Florida by planting trees! Planting native trees protects the environmental balance and beauty of the Sunshine State by preventing the spread of invasive plants and offsetting some of the potential impacts of climate change.” – UF / IAFS Extension

Please note, you CAN NOT BE LATE to the meetup point at the KPB office, as groups are breaking off promptly at 9 a.m. and dispersing to different parks and locals. This event is free, will show you how to properly plant a tree, and provide a free KPB t-shirt. Please dress appropriately in layers, close-toed shoes, and a mask!

**AVAILABILITY IS LIMITED**
If you are serious about coming please sign up through Volunteer Match (linked HERE) or email Lauren Doubek at Lauren@KeepPensacolaBeautiful.org!

Resume 101: Virtual Workshop

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Looking to polish up your resume? CareerSource Escarosa is hosting a virtual workshop focused on the techniques and principles of writing a resume or sprucing up an existing resume. Learn the do’s and do not’s of how to create an effective tool that will help land you interviews. The event includes tips on what resume format is most appropriate AND offers sources for free resume templates. The How-To: Resume 101 (VIRTUAL WORKSHOP) will be held each Thursday, starting tomorrow, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Unable to attend this timeslot and hoping to catch a different workshop? Visit the CareerSource calendar HERE: https://careersourceescarosa.com/job-seekers/workshops

Feeding the Gulf Coast

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West Bay Advent Christian Church of Panama City Beach is hosting a free Feeding the Gulf Coast event tomorrow, January 20th! Tomorrow is forecasted to be mostly sunny with a high of 70, so dress for a cool day. West Bay Advent Christian Church is partnering with the agency Feeding the Gulf Coast to help those in need. Starting at 11 a.m. (CST), they will be handing out boxes of food to those in need. The program volunteers will load your vehicle, so please stay in your car and stay safe! The event will continue while supplies last. 

Invasive Plant Removal

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Eager to find an event that allows you to volunteer, learn, and get outdoors all in one fell swoop? Check out the upcoming Invasive Plant Species Removal event in Tallahassee! Hosted by UF/IFAS Leon County Extension, this educational experience will occur on Saturday, January 16th from 9 a.m. CST to 11 a.m. CST (although you are welcome to leave early as needed). This cool morning event will teach you how to identify and efficiently remove invasive plant species such as camphor, coral ardisia, and more!

Coral Ardisia

Participants must wear masks during the entire event, although it will be held entirely outside and social distancing will be a natural part of spreading out to cover the work area. Please meet by 9 a.m. at Gil Waters Reserve at Lake Munson. This is a lake that drains into Ames Sink and then makes its way to Wakulla Springs. By participating in this invasive species removal, you are helping native plants and animals thrive as well as improving water quality! Children and families are welcome; please bring gloves, water, buckets, and removal tools if you have them.