Category: Kind to Your Wallet

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Event

Debbie Roney Smith on

Next weekend is Arbor Day! First celebrated in Nebraska in 1874, Arbor Day is dedicated to planting trees and celebrating their various roles in the world. Trees do a lot including but not limited to boosting our mental health, eating greenhouse gases, cooling the areas around them, supporting wildlife, and cleaning the air!

To celebrate, Panama City Quality of Life is working with IFAS to give FREE trees to Bay County citizens. This offer is only good while supplies last, so come out early to secure your River Birch or Red Maple! The tree giveaway will be held from 9am-1pm at McKenzie Park. There will also be a free kid craft and tree planting kit at Oaks by the Bay Park from 10-11am while supplies last. Learn more by visiting the Facebook event page here. 

Free Entrance to Gulf Islands National Seashore

Debbie Roney Smith on

There are only FIVE days in 2023 that the National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee offer free admission to one and all! This means that the local hotspot, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, will be free to everyone coming soon. While the first free day passed in January, the second free pass day is coming this April. As a way to celebrate National Park Week, get free entrance to the National Seashore on April 22nd. Celebrate Earth Day, also occurring on April 22nd, by picking up trash on your walk or capturing a photo of the natural beauty to share online with the tag #celebrateearthday.

The Gulf Islands National Seashore offers recreation, natural preservation, and historic sites along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands of Florida and Mississippi. Visit the Florida portion of the seashore in Pensacola. The Florida District offers nature trails, beaches, historic fortifications, and the Naval Live Oaks Reservation. The two principal islands in the Florida District of the National Seashore are Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key.

Can’t make it to the dazzling white beaches this Earth Day? Visit on one of the other three free days:

  • August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
  • September 23: National Public Lands Day
  • November 11: Veterans Day

Protect Yourself from Scammers

Debbie Roney Smith on

Scams are on the rise; in 2020, over $2.3 billion in losses were reported due to imposter scams. Imposter scams were the most commonly reported category followed swiftly by online shopping scams. Read the tips below to protect yourself:

  1. Be careful when asked to install apps or software; always check that the app/software is reputable.
  2. Never pay anything over the phone.
  3. Be wary of false urgency; scammers often ask you to act immediately. 
  4. Don’t click on links in emails unless you know who they’re from. Phishing scams often try to send ‘free’ coupons or masquerade themselves as reputable services (such as Netflix).
  5. If it’s offered, make use of multi-factor authentication for any important accounts. 

Flea Across Florida: Washington County

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Washington County segment of Flea Across Florida will be held April 14-15, 2023. Flea Across Florida is a 275-mile yard sale that stretches from Live Oak to Pensacola, and it’s coming to Washington County and surrounding areas soon! The market will be open from 6-5pm daily.

There will be individuals from surrounding areas selling furniture, clothing, and so much more! The market will take place over Historic Highway 90 in Chipley at T&B Hidden Treasures. Visit Washington County’s Flea Market to help “revitalize and support those historic communities along the highway.”

Spring FamFest

Debbie Roney Smith on

First Assembly Marianna is hosting a Spring FAMfest on April 2nd from 3-5 pm. It’s a free, family-friendly event. There will be games, food, prizes, facepaint, a kidzone, balloon art, inflatables, AND pictures with the Easter Bunny. Come out and experience FAMily. Located at 4186 Lafayette Street in Marianna. 

Science Spot for Tots

Debbie Roney Smith on

The Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida is currently holding a series of Science Spots for Tots. Located in Tallahassee, the Discovery Center welcomes all ages to the class although they are geared towards the 2-5 age group. However, the activities are adaptable so children of many ages/abilities can learn and participate. Entry to the event includes day admission to the museum! The event typically runs from 11:30am to12:30pm EST. 

The cost for members of the museum is as follows: $5 for the 1st child and $3 for each additional child. Non-members pay $6 for the 1st child and $3 for each additional child. For both purchases, one accompanying adult is free. The next available class is the February 28th Push & Pull event. However, there will be a number of events until the end of April:

  • March 7th – Light & Shadow
  • March 14th – Sound
  • March 21st – Growing/Animal Babies
  • March 28th – Materials/Things We Use
  • April 4th – Ants
  • April 11th – Spiders
  • April 18th- Rocks
  • April 25th- Backbone Bonanza

Inspire Your Heart with Art

Debbie Roney Smith on

Today is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day! There is growing scientific evidence that creating art helps cognitive health.(1) Painting has helped stimulate memories and encourage connections in those with dementia. Further studies have shown that using art to express oneself can help improve the emotional health of individuals with depression, anxiety, and cancer. Additionally, art has been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in healthy older people. 

Art is for individuals of ALL ages. It can be messy or neat, colorful or black and white, a mix of mediums, and more. There are no rules in art. Spend today exploring the world and yourself through artistic creation. You can make art using anything and everything; finger painting in the dirt with your kids can be just as beautiful and fulfilling as spending hours on a detailed ink drawing. 

FREE Drive Up Movie Night: Top Gun Maverick

Debbie Roney Smith on

The PC Marina/Civic Center is showing Top Gun Maverick this Friday, January 27th from 7-9pm. This is a FREE event with spots determined on a first-come, first-serve basis. Parking opens at 6pm with the movie starting promptly at 7pm. SPACE IS LIMITED; there are only 100 spots available, so please RSVP. It is recommended that participants bring chairs/blankets to sit on in the event that they arrive after the parking spots are full. Please note that RVs and Trailers are NOT allowed. 

Please note that the movie REQUIRES the downloading of the free, all-new Cinewav App for audio. Scan the QR code to download the app; it allows the movie to be heard through Bluetooth or headphones. The movie will be available in English and Spanish. 

Visit the Facebook event page here to follow the event or learn more. 

ReTreePC Tree Giveaway

Debbie Roney Smith on

ReTree Panama City is working with the UF|IFAS Extension Office to give away free trees this coming weekend. While supplies last, there will be 3-gallon Sweetbay Magnolias and Tulip Poplars available to residents. IFAS Master Gardeners will be on-site to answer questions you may have about the trees’ growing condition. The giveaway will be held on January 21st and will be held at two locations: The Market at St. Andrews at Oaks by the Bay Park and Panama City Farmer’s Market at McKenzie Park. The giveaway begins at 9am at McKenzie Park and 10am at The Market at St. Andrews. For information specific to the St. Andrews giveaway, visit this Facebook event page. For information specific to McKenzie Park, visit this Facebook event page.

National Cut Energy Costs Day

Debbie Roney Smith on

Yesterday was National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. It was established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. Celebrated annually, it is designed to bring awareness to energy waste in businesses and homes. According to the mortgage company Freddie Mac, an average U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. Cutting your energy waste helps you save money. Find a few suggestions below of changes you can make in your home to save more money in the long run:

  • Buy a programmable thermostat.
  • Switch to LED lights. They might cost twice as much as CFL bulbs, but they last three times longer.
  • Check that your appliances are energy efficient or choose energy efficient when you buy new/used appliances. 
  • Consider houseplants. They help reduce energy waste via transpiration.(1)
  • Every 3 months, check your appliances for dust build-up. Clean if necessary. This helps the unit perform efficiently.
  • Kill phantom energy loads (aka “vampire/ghost power” or “standby power”) by unplugging certain electronics/appliances when they are not in use. An estimated 5-10% of residential energy is used for standby power.(1) Visit this Green Groundswell article to learn which electronics consume standby power.