Category: Community

John and Ann Smith have lived in Panama City Beach for 29 years and currently reside on Grand Palm Blvd. The couple have been married 42 years and have two children, Adam and Katie.

John holds a Ph.D in Medical/Veterinary Entomology (insects affecting human & animal health) and Ann is a former special education educator.

Over the course of his 37-year career, including 20 as director of the State of Florida mosquito control product testing laboratory, John has dedicated his work to mosquito control research.

As John explains, “Aside from being a major nuisance, mosquitoes are the world’s most deadly creatures capable of spreading serious illnesses such as, West Nile virus, Eastern Equine encephalitis, dengue, and dog heartworm…diseases currently circulating in Florida. Mosquito control involves much more than just spraying. I have the scientific background necessary to know how to achieve exceptional control to benefit Beach residents.”

Though now retired, John continues to serve on the Florida Health Department Mosquito Advisory Task Force and is currently running for a seat as Commissioner of Beach Mosquito Control District in the November elections.

John and Ann enjoy spending time with family, working on their property near Pine Log State Park, visiting national parks, and are avid nature lovers.

Marta, tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a creative, artistic, entrepreneurial, driven businesswoman. I love living here in the Grand Lagoon and since moving into Martinique six years ago, I’ve had a personal interest in helping build, develop, and evolve the Grand Lagoon community into its full potential. The Grand Lagoon is a special enclave to me and living here is all about nature and outdoor living at its finest. I launched a media company, Grand Lagoon Life, in June of 2017 and have enjoyed a slow, steady growth for the past three-and-a-half years. At a certain point, probably sometime in the past year, I took a 30-thousand-foot view at what I was doing with this magazine, all the social media, videos and live events, and the realization hit me that Grand Lagoon Life really isn’t so much of a place as it truly is a lifestyle. People come here for that easy-going lifestyle… days filled with being outside in nature. Being a part of a small community where everybody knows your name. Maybe they’ve left a corporate job in the city, or they’ve relocated here following retirement. They are ready to live the easy, breezy, beach life now. My new web-based show, Grand Lagoon Life, is a little “slice of life” in the Grand Lagoon. I am the host, and I interview local residents, business owners and entrepreneurs on what life here is all about. This is a passion project that I’ve had in the works for a while.

Tell us about your family.

I live with my sweet hubby Jimmy and kids Leo, 15 and a sophomore at Arnold High School, and Cruz, also 15 and a freshman at Arnold. We have three cats and the household is always busy! My sister Liz lives right up the street with her family – she’s my best friend, and the reason I relocated here from Los Angeles once upon a time – to be closer to the family.

Tell us about your current, past, or future career.

In Los Angeles for 18 years I worked at ad agencies, large and small, and later launched a catering & event production business which I ran for the last ten years. Upon moving to Panama City Beach in 2004 I first worked at the Panama City Beach Chamber as Director of Communications for nine years, then jumped over to Harley-Davidson of PCB as their Director of Marketing & Events for four years. By that time the entrepreneur in me was ready to roll again, so I left Harley and went into business for myself in June 2017.

What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?

Firefly’s Caesar salad, Grand Marlin’s tuna tartar, C-Level’s prime rib, Juan Taco’s for a good taco or shrimp quesadilla.

Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?

That’s hard – I meet a lot of interesting people every week through interviews and events. The most interesting person to me probably didn’t take the road more traveled. I love meeting young adults and asking them about their aspirations, and why. Oftentimes I learn a lot of new things from the world’s future leaders.

What advice do you have for us?

It’s possible to manifest nearly any dream if you believe in it and can envision it. The old saying is so true: “Whether you think you can – or think you can’t – you’ll be right.”

What is something on your bucket list?

To own a sangria bar on St. George Street in St. Augustine.

What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

Out in L.A. I catered a fiesta party for Fran Drescher in her Malibu home. Her friends and family were SO NICE! As my crew was getting ready to wrap it up and leave, the whole party stood and applauded us.

By Stephen Fett, President/CEO, Panama City Rescue Mission

Was there ever a time you had to care for a sick family member? Maybe a spouse, a sibling, or a parent? Imagine yourself in a situation where you had to move to another city to care for your ailing mother. At some point we all need to provide care to a loved one. You make a decision to do whatever it takes to give comfort to those in need for as long as it’s needed. Because of that you change your life until that care is no longer required. We do what we need to do for our family out of love. We do it just as God loves us – unconditionally.

This is a story about Indria who was living in St. Petersburg, Florida in December of 2019 when her mother fell sick. She made the decision to move with her three children to help her step-father take care of her mother. Sadly, in February of 2020, her mother passed away. After her mother’s passing, her step-father told Indria and her children they had to leave and could no longer live with him. Indria and her three children were living in hotel after hotel. They would sometimes sneak into truck stops to be able to take a shower when they didn’t have money for a room.

Indria made her way to Marianna, Florida where she heard about Panama City Rescue Mission and Bethel Village Women’s and Children’s Shelter. She called and told us she had spent all her money and had to be out of her hotel by 11 a.m. that day. Indria did not have transportation and needed to find a way to get to us. We called Doorways of Northwest Florida, a Community Partner to see if they could help. They were able to pick up Indria and her children and bring them to us. There are no accidents when it comes to God’s hand looking after his children. He placed the right people at the right time to secure a way for Indria and her children to have a safe place to stay.

Soon after arriving at Bethel Village, Indria secured a job locally. She has been able to save money and has recently been approved for an apartment. Doorway’s is assisting her with move-in costs. She is grateful for all the people that helped her transform a situation of suffering to flourishing.

Since 1973, the Panama City Rescue Mission has been committed to Christ-centered rescue, recovery, and restoration in an effort to break the destructive cycle of poverty and homelessness. Anyone wishing help the organization either with a donation, or by volunteering, are urged to visit the Mission’s website pcrmission.org for more information or to contact us.

By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County

With the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Michael approaching and many still recovering from Hurricane Sally we are all acutely aware of the damage storms can inflict. Building codes are updated regularly to mitigate against structural damage to our homes and businesses, but how do we protect our landscapes?

Nothing is foolproof and we have no control over weather events, but if you start with the #1 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principle: Right Plant, Right Place you are setting yourself up for success.

Tree selection decisions usually start out with a basic desire – I want shade and I like the way this tree looks. That’s a good start, but there are many other things to consider when selecting trees that can live for generations. Starting with an honest site assessment is very important.

Site selection questions to ask:
How much space do you have for a tree? Be sure to consider overhead, underground, and mature canopy width. Make sure there is enough room for lateral root expansion as the tree ages. A good rule of thumb is to allow for root spread 2-3 times mature canopy width.
Is my site windy? Trees on windy sites have increased transpiration rates and may require more water. Choosing a “drought tolerant” tree can reduce supplemental water needs after establishment. Wood strength varies by tree species, select trees with medium to high wind resistance to reduce likelihood of breakage in wind events.

Could the tree be exposed to salt spray? If so, be sure to choose salt tolerant plants.
How does the soil drain and is it subject to periodic freshwater flooding? Some areas are prone to short term flooding from seasonal rain showers. If this is the case, be sure to select trees that can tolerate fresh water flooding.

Below is a table with some recommended trees and how well they rate in some difficult site conditions. There are many more that can be grown in our area, this is simply a small sample!

If you have questions about specific trees, please contact me at juliebmcconnell@ufl.edu or 850-248-8091. An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.

By Bill Husfelt, Superintendent, Bay District Schools

Now that we’ve welcomed students back to school, it’s time to begin highlighting some of the amazing programs we have going on throughout Bay District Schools.

I’d like to start by taking a look at “Woz Ed,” the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education program designed by Steve Wozniak, one of the co-founders of Apple Computers.

This unique curriculum is designed to teach students the “soft” skills they need to be lifelong learners and collaborators (like problem solving and critical thinking) while leaving them with some very real, and marketable, skill sets like coding, creating artificial intelligence and flying drones.

While Woz Ed offers a multitude of programs at a variety of levels, we’ve chosen to focus our professional development on elementary grades at first so we can appropriately support the teachers who are undertaking this new project. So, this school year, we’re rolling out coding, drone aeronautics, cyber security and artificial intelligence in grades kindergarten through fifth at the area elementary schools that were willing to be our pilots for this new curriculum.

On the beach, this program will debut at Hutchison Beach Elementary School this year and we can’t wait to see what our Dolphins create!Their Woz Ed teachers have been equipped with 3-D printers, drones, block and text coding tools, robots and cyber security simulations. According to the Woz Ed program, their curriculum “is a convergence of the worlds of education and work. Our programs are aligned with the emerging global economy – rich with technology, driven by industry demands and infused with entrepreneurial spirit.”
While every student will benefit, it’s of particular interest to me that coding, engineering and other similar courses are truly open to all. As the Woz Ed brochure notes, “you don’t have to be good at English to be good at coding.”

We’re also rolling out a new heavy machinery Career and Technical Education component to our Construction Technology Academy at J.R. Arnold High School this year. So now students have yet one more program from which to choose (construction, engineering and drone flying are all very popular) and even more options for hands-on education that can both take them places right out of high school and, in many cases, translate into college credits if that’s their chosen path.

It’s exciting to do our part to enhance diversity in these career fields and to show our students some of their options for further study after high school. I, for one, cannot wait to see our second graders learn to fly drones and I’m excited about how that technology may entice them to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math. There’s no telling the dividends that may result from us piquing the interest of these students early on with technology-related skills and careers.

Equipping our students with the academic and soft skills they need to achieve their dreams is our mission and it’s thrilling to see another program coming to fruition that will help excite students about school and about furthering their education in the technical fields.

Camp Helen State Park Pumpkin Patch
The friends of Camp Helen are excited to announce the opening of their pumpkin patch. Now through October 31st, (or until they sell out) pumpkins will be sold 7 days a week, from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Camp Helen State Park is located at 23937 Panama City Beach Parkway (Highway 98), Panama City Beach, just west of the Lake Powell Bridge.

This year, the pumpkin patch will have social distancing measures in place. Everyone is encouraged to stay 6 feet apart and only handle pumpkins they plan to purchase. Signage will be placed throughout the park with our safety guidelines. The Charity accepts all major credit cards but cash will be exact change only.

The organizers look forward to welcoming local residents to this picture-perfect event, but urge supporters to stay home if they feel ill and only visit once they feel better.
More information is available at facebook.com/FriendsOfCampHelenStatePark, or by calling 850 233 5059.

Panama City Senior’s Center Has Reopened!
The Senior Center at 423 Lyndell Lane has reopened and is once again offering members a number of varied and engaging classes: chair exercise, yoga, line dancing, rotary, knife and chisel woodworking and painting. Daily, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To find out more please call 850-233-5065.

Programs and Support for Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease
The 850 Strong Rock Steady Boxing, at Anytime Fitness, 856 N. Tyndall Pkwy., Callaway offers a premiere exercise fitness program that can help halt the progression of the devastating effects of Parkinson’s disease. Only people who have a Parkinson’s diagnosis can participate. Call 850-640-6150 to make an appointment.

Dementia Support Group – meets the first Tuesday of every month, at the PCB Chamber, 309 N. Jackson Blvd., 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group – meets the second Tuesday of every month, at the PCB Chamber, 309 N. Jackson Blvd., 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This month, the group will host a representative from Acadia Pharmaceuticals who will be discussing medical treatment options for the disease.

Red Cross to Host Blood Drive in Panama City
December 17th – Bill Cramer Showrooms. 2251 W. 23rd St., 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Donors are invited to sign up for both drives and encouraged to invite new donors to patriciate, more donors…more lives saved!

Interested in hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive at your place of business or worship in Panama City Beach? Please contact Stephen Carr 251-222-0608 or stephen.carr@redcross.org.

Junior League Once Again Hosts Annual Holly Fair
Tickets are now on sale for Holly Fair, the Junior League of Panama City’s (JLPC) largest annual fundraiser, November 12th to 15th, 2020, at Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort. The more than 30-year Bay County tradition will continue to be an in-person holiday shopping experience with JLPC’s top priority being the health and safety of event attendees, volunteers and vendors. Tickets are available for purchase at JLPanamaCity.org/HollyFairTickets.

“We think now more than ever we can lift people’s spirits in preparing them for the holiday season,” JLPC President Lauren Presser said. “The Junior League of Panama City is expert at putting on Holly Fair. We will have the necessary precautions in place to make shoppers feel comfortable during the COVID-19 pandemic while also making sure the people of Panama City know how important carrying on this tradition is to us.”

In addition to the traditional Thursday night Preview Party, Friday Champagne Brunch and general shopping, Holly Fair will feature a new event, ‘Crafting with the Clauses,’ on Sunday, November 15th. This day of crafting and fun is $10 and includes a photo with Santa Claus. Patrons who purchase tickets will also have access to nearly 75 vendors ranging from Christmas décor to boutique clothing and from kitchen gadgets to designer jewelry. All net proceeds from Holly Fair will support the programs and mission of JLPC.
One of the programs that benefits directly from Holly Fair is the JLPC Diaper Bank, which addresses diaper need within our community by distributing diapers, wipes and training pants through various local partner agencies.

Become a Defender of Potential
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida host ‘Let’s Talk Tuesdays’ on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month, 8:30 a.m., 12 Noon and 5:30 p.m. Find out how you can become a defender of Potential!
Visit bbbsnwfl.org to find out more and to sign up for this month’s virtual meeting.

Healthy Start Coalition Launches Safe Sleep Campaign
Following a dangerous uptick in the number of unsafe sleep deaths in Bay County, the Healthy Start Program and Children’s Advocacy Center are partnering with Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center to launch ‘This Side Up,’ a Safe Sleep Baby campaign. Over the coming months the Advocacy Center and Healthy Start will be training first responders, police and firemen on safe sleep practices and providing them with ‘This Side Up’ safe sleep packets, that will include a Safe Sleep shirt, pacifiers and educational materials for Mother’s and other guardians. To find out more or to find out how you can participate in the campaign please contact Sharon Trainor sharon@healthystartbfg.org.

VITAS Healthcare Awards $30,000 Grant to Panama City Rescue Mission
The Panama City Rescue Mission (PCRM) recently received a $30,000 grant from VITAS Healthcare to provide aid to people experiencing homelessness in Bay County. The grant will support PCRM’s new ‘Life Transformation Program,’ which assists people with relationships, personal health, economic stability and housing.

“The vision for PCRM is to provide the inspiration and services that will stimulate effective collaboration without compromise and uphold personal development within the community as the clear and compelling pathway out of recurring crises through rescue, redemption, rehabilitation and re-assimilation.” said Stephen Fett, PCRM CEO.

A Superior’s Veterans & First Responders Appreciation Lunch
Tuesday, October 20th, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse. All local veterans and first responders are invited. The local community is also welcome to come out and support our heroes and share their appreciation for the men and women who keep our country and community safe. Proudly hosted by A Superior Air Conditioning.

Rotary Club of the Emerald Coast Announces Milestone
Earlier this summer the Rotary Club of the Emerald Coast presented three more of its members with the Paul Harris Fellow Award, making the 20-member strong Club, a 100% PHF Club! The Paul Harris Fellow is the highest award in Rotary and is given to Rotarians, or member of the community, who have made an outstanding contribution to the community and contributed at least $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. The Emerald Coast’s 100% PHF status is significant as only 12 of the 53 clubs in this District (6940) have achieved this status and only one other in Bay County.

Rotary is an international organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

2nd Annual Pre-Holiday Coastal Social to Benefit Girls Inc.
Join Grand Lagoon neighbors, friends and business owners for a fun evening of cocktail and wine tastings, holiday treats and live entertainment. The event will feature a Local Vendor Showcase, full of local merchants’ and artists’ finest products on sale just in time for the holidays! There will also be an Art Raffle benefiting Girls Inc. “Inspiring All Girls to be Strong, Smart & Bold.” The event is free; attire is ‘Festive-Holiday.’ Thursday, November 12th, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Legendary Marine, 4009 Thomas Drive.

Storm force winds, flash flooding and fires, can occur at any time, devastating your home and property. Don’t wait until you are at your most vulnerable to consider these important and timely tips from the Bay County Sheriff’s Department.

Vet contractors to make sure they have a license. Use this link to check licensing: www.myfloridalicense.com. Licensed contractors working in Bay County must be either registered or certified with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Also check sites like the Better Business Bureau and look at any licensing complaints.

Always get a copy of the written / signed contract and take the time to read the details. Ask for the person’s business card that you are contracting with. Be sure to clarify that they actually work for that company.

Never fall for the “it’s cheaper to have the homeowner pull the building permit” excuse. This is a red flag and indicative of an unlicensed contractor.

Never pay for the total job up front. A 10% down payment and draw system based on actual progress is typical. Also, do not pay large checks for “materials” to a contractor. Instead offer to buy materials yourself from the supplier if the contractor is requiring you to pay up front for the materials.

Get multiple estimates from qualified contractors. Ensure you are not getting ripped off by unscrupulous contractors by getting additional quotes before agreeing to a contract.
When in doubt about a contractor call your local building department or the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

In a declared State of Emergency contracting without a license is a third-degree felony. An unscrupulous licensed contractor can be held criminally accountable in certain instances when work fails to get completed in a timely manner, or if the licensed contractor is enabling unlicensed contractors to work under their license. Know your rights!

By Joanne MacPhee

Ever since he was a young boy, J.R. Figueroa has been fascinated by military aircraft; he played with them, he studied them and hoped that one day he would get to fly them. His Uncle would take him to airshows in Arizona and together they would make frequent visits to the Yuma Aircraft Museum. Then as an impressionable seven-year-old he watched, like millions around the world as Top Gun burst onto our movie screens. All these childhood memories left an indelible mark on the man he would become.

Today, Lieutenant Colonel J. R. Figueroa is a member of the 301st Fighter Squadron at Eglin Airforce Base, flying B38 fighter jets in adversarial, simulated combat against fellow F22 fighter pilots.

Born in Puerto Rico Lt. Col Figueroa was already a member of the Island’s Civil Airport National Guard and ROTC when he joined the U.S. Air Force to study at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fl. Figueroa graduated as a Lieutenant, with a degree in aerospace engineering.

Three years into his military career Figueroa was selected for pilot training and was sent to Columbus AFB for F15 flight training. Like many, Lt. Col. Figueroa has moved from base to base over the years including a four-year commission at Lakenheath AFB in England, where he flew tactical, Alert Force missions over UN territories.

It was while stationed at Lakenheath that the Lt. Col. had the privilege to participate in a ‘Missing Man Formation’ as part of a Memorial Service in Normandy, France. The Missing Man formation is a ceremonial aerial salute, composed of two pairs of aircraft. The aircraft fly in a V-shape with the flight leader at the point and their wingman on their left. The second element leader and his wingman fly to their right. The formation flies over the ceremony low enough to be clearly seen and the second element leader abruptly pulls up out of the formation (in this instance Figueroa), while the rest of the formation continues in level flight until all aircraft are out of sight.

A married father of three, Figueroa is well aware of the risks he and his fellow pilots face each day when airborne, but there is confidence in knowing that every mission is meticulously planned down to the smallest detail. “What many people do not know, is the hours, upon hours that go into preparing for a simulated-combat flight” said Figueroa. “An actual exercise might only last an hour to one point three hours in the air, but as pilots we spend hours in briefing sessions before each flight and many more hours after the exercise, analyzing every aspect of the maneuver to see what we did right, what we did wrong and what we can do better. We all realize that one day this may not be a simulation and lives will depend on how well we trained in advance for the mission.” Figueroa admitting that much as there is definitely a rush and a sense of fun and excitement to every flight, there is also danger and the privilege of being able to fly should not be taken lightly.

Before their posting to Eglin following Hurricane Michael, the 301st Fighter Squadron was stationed at Tyndall AFB, and as Figueroa explains the Gulf Coast Airspace is particularly conducive to flight training because of its topology and minimal commercial air traffic.
We are lucky to live among them, so the next time you hear that unmistakable roar, look up as they fly by you at mach speed and stop to consider the men and women above, risking it all for our freedom.

On September 24th, 2020 the Panama City Beach Council approved the fiscal year 2020-21 budget, which includes $81.8 million in capital investments, four additional police officer positions, one additional fire inspector and a procurement specialist.

“The budget is balanced, prudent and responsive to the City Council’s Strategic Plan and community needs,” City Manager Tony O’Rourke told the Council. “The proposed FY 20-21 expenditures budget for all funds is $144,628,926. The capital investment represents 94 percent of the FY 20-21 budget increase.”

Major components of the budget include:
• $33.3 million in Front Beach Road Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) capital investment
• $37.4 million in water and wastewater capital investment
• $9 million in general fund capital investment including $6.8 million for Bay Parkway
• $1.8 million in stormwater capital improvements

After a September 1st budget workshop, City Council recommendations totaling $553,000 were incorporated into the budget. These included the addition of several new positions including a procurement officer to lead citywide purchasing; a third fire inspector so that all condos/properties can be inspected annually; and four police officer positions. The Council also added a part-time IT systems employee and agreed to fund an IT assessment study.
Other positions included in this budget include a biologist and GIS analyst in Utilities, and an additional street maintenance worker in Public Works.

The City has $1.5 million budgeted for street resurfacing.

Unassigned General Fund reserves for the next fiscal year, which begins October 1st and runs through Sept. 30th, 2021, are projected to be $9.7 million or 35 percent of recurring general fund expenditures, which exceeds the City Council’s Financial Management Policy that requires at least 25 percent ($7.1 million) be kept in reserve.

The Council has committed to fast-tracking the CRA by having several sections underway at one time and recently approved a bond issue which will provide $40 million to keep the project moving forward.