The Drip Coffee Company is hosting “Cookies with Mrs. Claus” on Saturday, December 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This event will include activities, treats, storytelling by Mrs.Claus, and more! Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Mrs. Claus while she is visiting us from the North Pole. She is an absolute delight and enchanting to engage with no matter your age! The Drip will be open that day from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Bay County Public Library (BCPL) Foundation received a St. Joe Community Foundation grant for $26,500 to benefit the Foundation’s Free Library on Wheels (FLOW) and Little Free Libraries initiatives. FLOW visits after-school programs and special events distributing free books to children in an effort to increase and improve literacy in Bay County. Literacy levels are drastically below where they should be for elementary school students and have not caught up to pre-Hurricane Michael literacy levels.
This generous grant allows the BCPL Foundation to continue and expand a variety of literacy initiatives throughout Bay County, including the construction of additional Little Free Libraries and FLOW Book Boxes, to be located in areas with the most direct impact. The Foundation’s book inventory will be replenished with a new shipment of approximately 25,000 – 30,000 books. FLOW’s Books of Diversity project will purchase titles to reflect the diverse students of the area including English/Spanish language books. The Foundation will also be coordinating book drives with local schools.
In addition, there will be a 2023 Elementary School Reading Challenge to help avoid the “summer slide” that often happens if students do not keep up their reading skills over the summer break. Elementary students who complete their reading challenges will be able to win fun prizes!
Duplin Winery, the South’s largest winery, is nearing completion of its much-anticipated Panama City Beach, Fla. location. It’s being built on the former Hombre Golf Club off Panama City Beach Parkway, just minutes from the beach.
The Fussell family, which started Duplin Winery in Rose Hill, N.C. nearly 50 years ago, expect a Spring 2023 opening.
“Duplin has always been more than a winery. It is an extension of my family, a gathering place. When you walk through those doors, you’re family. We really mean that,” said co-owner Jonathan Fussell, who, along with his brother Dave Fussell Jr., is deeply involved in Duplin’s day-to-day operations.
The $15 million, 38,000-square-foot complex will feature a rustic, Southern charm feel with gorgeous porches and other inviting outdoor spaces. Five tasting bars, a retail market stocked with wines, gifts, and more, a wine slushie bar, a fresh fudge bar, and a bottle-your-own-wine experience will all be available inside for guests to enjoy.
There will also be a 13,000-square-foot pavilion where musicians can entertain guests who are sipping Duplin’s award-winning, cool, sweet and easy wines. The large space can also be used as the perfect setting for weddings.
“We are so thankful and blessed to be opening in beautiful Panama City Beach. We look forward to sharing the wines we love, welcoming more people into our Duplin family, and bringing new jobs to the area,” Jonathan Fussell said.
The new Panama City Beach location will generate more than 60 new jobs. The team is actively hosting job interviews and accepting resumes at careers@duplinwinery.com.
There two great opportunities to welcome in the New Year at Pier Park as the streets are closed off to traffic and thousands of revelers enjoy free live music, entertainment, fireworks, and good cheer.
For those too excited to wait until midnight, or for those fans of New Year’s Eve who want to conduct the countdown twice, there are separate Beach Ball Drops at both 8 p.m. and midnight.
The first celebration starts at 5:35 p.m. with free live music on the concert stage by Barry Fish Band in front of the Celebration Tower.
On the way to midnight, bands perform for the gathering crowd, anticipating the countdown to 2022 when a huge, glowing beach ball is lowered to signal the start of the New Year, and another great fireworks display. Time Square has nothing on this Panama City Beach NYE party!
