on September 15th is the 3rd Sunday of the month. Today people everywhere are celebrating Wife Appreciation Day, National Cheese Toast Day, Greenpeace Day, National Felt Hat Day, National Double Cheeseburger Day, National Linguine Day, National Online Learning Day, National Tackle Kids Cancer Day, and National Crème Dev Menthe Day. That is a lot of National Days going on. Below each photo are a few facts about some of these days.
on September 12th, yesterday, was National Day of Encouragement! This day was dedicated to uplifting people around you and making a positive impact. Even though this was yesterday, it is something we could all do everyday.
Verbal encouragement has been proven to increase physical performance by as much as 33% according to several studies. Don’t you feel a little more motivated, a little more excited to complete a task when someone offers you kind words? Try encouraging a friend, coworker, family, pet, or yourself with phrases like: ~ I believe in you no mater what. ~ You are safe and loved. ~ Be gentle with yourself, you are doing the best you can. ~ I’m proud of you. ~ You’re important to me, and I’ll support you no matter what. ~ I know it’s tough right now, but I’m cheering for you and believe you can make it through this.
These are just a few examples. I hope today you give yourself a kind word, and then pass it on. Walk with empathy, kindness, and love.
on Where were you 18 years ago? In the United States Patriot Day occurs on September 11th of each year in memory of the people killed in the September 11 attacks in the year 2001. A bill to make 9/11 a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on Oct. 25, 2001. Joint resolution 71 passed the House by a vote of 407-9, with 25 members not voting. The bill passed the Senate unanimously on Nov 30. President Bush used the authority of the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002 as the first Patriot Day. Patriot Day is not a federal holiday, schools and businesses remain open in observance of the occasion. The flag is flown at half-mast at the White House and on all U.S. Government buildings throughout the world. Additionally a moment of silence is observed at 8:46am EST, the time the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
~The impact lingers. Ten thousand first responders and Ground Zero volunteers have been diagnosed with cancer by the World Trade Center Health Program. – AFP
~The rubble of the World Trade Center has given way to a gleaming new complex of office towers, a museum, a transit hub and a memorial that draws millions of visitors each year. But rebuilding is still not complete. – AP
on National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 8-14th is when America takes time to honor all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment to tackling one of our economy’s most demanding and important jobs. Every September companies around the country come together to recognize and thank truck drivers. This annual celebration of America’s 3.5 million professional truck driver’s is the motoring public’s opportunity to thank truck drivers for delivering critical goods to their communities. Everyone has a truck driver to thank this week. If you are eating it, wearing it, cleaning with it, playing with it, then at least one truck driver delivered it!
~More than 80 percent of U.S. communities depend solely on trucking for delivery of their goods and commodities. ~There are 7.7 million truck drivers in the United States. Total industry employment is 3.5 million or one out of every 16 people working in the United States. ~Nearly every good consumed in the U.S. is put on a truck at some point.
If you know a truck driver consider sending a hand written card/letter to their home thanking them this week for the sacrifices they make everyday to help ensure we all get the products we need daily. If you don’t consider waving or saying thank you when you pass them in your town.
on The Washington and Jackson Legislative Delegation will hold their annual Pre-Session meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 2:15 p.m. CST Jackson County School Board Chambers located at 2903 Jefferson Street in Marianna.
This meeting is an opportunity for citizens, elected officials, cities and local governments, and other civic organizations to address the delegation before the start of the 2020 Legislative Session. They will also consider and vote on “local bills”, which is state legislation that only pertains to a municipality, taxing district, or school district within the county.
Public testimony during the Legislative Delegation Meetings is welcome. To request an appearance form to be placed on the agenda or submit handouts for the Washington and/or Jackson County Legislation Delegation meeting, please email brad.drake@myfloridahouse.gov or ann.mcgraw@myfloridahouse.gov or contact Rep. Drake’s district office at (850) 951-0547 no later than 4 p.m., Friday, September 13th.
The legislative delegation consists of Representative Brad Drake (R-Eucheeanna) and Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City). Both Drake and Gainer represent other counties in Northwest Florida.
on The Salon at Chipola College is located at 3094 Indian Circle in Marianna. Chipola offers a full lineup of services for the cost of the materials. You can call 850-718-2439 and make your appointment to get a haircut, color, highlights, wax, facial, manicure, pedicures and more at The Salon at the Chipola College.
on September 4th is National Wildlife Day (NWD). Colleen Paige created National Wildlife Day in 2005 they also celebrate on February 22nd in honor of the late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin- the famed “Crocodile Hunter.” NWD encourages wildlife lovers to stand up and fight for animals that need a voice. Wildlife doesn’t just exist in the forest or outside the city limits. The creatures and animals sharing our world live under our feet and in the sky above us. Today serves to bring global awareness and education concerning the number of endangered animals and the need for conservation and preservation. This is a great day to visit (and donate to) your local zoo, wild animal sanctuary, state park, wildlife conservation center, etc. If you visit one be sure to email debson1999@gmail.com with blog in the subject line and you can also post to social media using the hashtag #NationalWildlifeDay!
A few local places: ~Gulf World in Panama City Beach, ~ZooWorld Zoological and Botanical Conservatory in Panama City Beach, ~Redemption Love Farm in Miccosukee, Emerald Coast Zoo in Crestview, ~Goose Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, Inc, in Tallahassee, St. Franchise Wildlife in Quincy, and Seacrest Wolf Preserve in Chipley.
http://nationalwildlifeday.com
on A catastrophic Category 5 hurricane hit the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Michael struck Oct. 10th and spanned from Panama City to Mexico Beach to western Georgia. The hurricane brought wind speeds up to 161mph and caused widespread damage. To date, Hurricane Michael(HM) was the 4th most powerful hurricane to hit the US. It is the most powerful hurricane to impact the Florida Panhandle in recorded history, according to the National Weather Service.
Ranchers who were in the path of HM can now access funds to rebuild provided by the Sales Tax Relief for Farmers Impacted by HM. The relief fund will provide allocations for farmers to use to purchase building and fencing materials, for fuel to transport agricultural products to a processing or storage facility or for any costs accrues while removing hurricane debris.
According to the University of Florida Extension, Florida law provides for a refund of sales and use tax and discretionary sales surtax paid on materials purchased during the period Oct. 10, 2018, through June 30, 2019. In order to access these funds, applications must be filled out no later than Dec. 31, 2019.
Any person who purchased and placed tax-paid fuel into a motor vehicle from Oct. 10, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and used the fuel on a Florida public highway to transport agricultural products to an agricultural processing or storage facility or to remove hurricane debris may apply for a refund. The refund is limited to the taxes paid on fuel used to transport agriculture products or hurricane debris from locations in Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, or Wakulla counties.
For more information click here https://floridarevenue.com/Pages/forms_index.aspx and then click on forms. You can also call about your refund at 850-617-8585.
on National Dog Day, because you know it seems they have a national day for most things! And what a great excuse to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue.
National Dog Day was founded in 2002 and is celebrated on August 26th each year. It was founded by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and animal advocate, Colleen Paige. The date is significate because it’s the date that Colleen’s family adopted her first dog “Sheltie” when Colleen was just 10 years old.
National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure. Their mission is to help the public realize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year. They are against any kind of breed band. They discourage buying dogs from pet stores supplied by puppy mills, backyard breeders, the internet and newspaper ads. They encourage you to instead choose adoption first.
They ask that even those who aren’t dog lovers please consider donating $5 to the local animal shelter or rescue in honor or National Dog Day. And we have plenty of those in the Panhandle. Partners For Pets is in Marianna and is a no kill shelter in desperate need of donations, They are currently raising funds to get a new place built due to extensive damage from Hurricane Michael and also the amount of dogs/cats that have been dropped off to be cared for. They are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm. They except monetary donations and also in need of cleaning supplies and pet food all the time.
on National Second-Hand Wardrobe Day is breathing new life into old clothes, allowing consumers to offset their carbon footprint by exchanging or recycling their used garments. It is celebrated on August 25th each year. Buying clothes second hand and donating your used clothing creates a positive cycle that is crucial for cutting back our waste.
Second hand shopping saves you money, has a positive impact on the environment, helps those in need, and if done correctly can lead to a closet with some cool clothes! A few second hand shops in Marianna are:
~Habitat For Humanity Restore located at 4736 US-90. They are closed on Sunday and Monday and Tuesday through Friday they are open 10am to 6pm. On Saturdays they are open from 9am to 3pm. They have a FB page and if you like and follow them they have a word of the week that when said to the cashier you receive 10% off what you buy and on Thursdays they offer 10% off as a senior discount. ~Innovative Charities of Northwest Florida, located at 1994 FL-71. Closed on Sundays however they are open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. ~Saint Anne Catholic Church Thrift Store. It is located at 3009 Fifth St. Hours are normally Tuesday and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm however they have a sign up saying it is temporally closed. ~Goodwill located at 2800 FL-71. They are open on Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Monday through Saturday they are open 9am to 8pm.
Do you have a favorite thrift store in the panhandle? If so please send the name to debson1999@gmail.com with blog in the subject line. HAPPY SHOPPING!
