Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida Supports the Covenant Care Foundation at the 19th Annual Covenant Care Mask Gala

August 25, 2021

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida is a proud supporter of the Covenant Care Foundation, the region’s largest non-profit provider of home health, hospice, memory, palliative, and personal care. Covenant Care invests back into local communities through resources and special programs like My Wish. The Foundation’s Board of Directors works with partners and donors to support patients and families at every step of their journey.

The Foundation recently hosted their annual Covenant Care Mask Gala, a grand event that has become one of the largest fundraising events in Bay and Gulf Counties. Each year the gala raises more than $90,000 for local patients and families while bringing together so many community supporters. This year’s event was an extravaganza with tons of live entertainment including live music by Jukebox Brassband, performances by aerial dancers, stilt walkers, LED winged dancers, acrobatic dancers, and much more.

“The Covenant Care Foundation is dedicated to supporting our community’s most vulnerable, and we’re honored to be able to contribute to this invaluable organization,” said Jennifer Ledesma, managing broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida in Bay, Franklin, and Gulf Counties. “The gala is much more than just another event with dinner, dancing and auctions, the gala is a resource and lending hand for those in need.”

Held on June 5, 2021, at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, the 2021 Covenant Care Mask Gala was a resounding success, raising over $100,000 in funds to be allocated to supporting Bay County patients, families, and the My Wish program. My Wish helps seriously ill children, adults, and their families create magical memories with wishes funded by a network of community donors and fulfilled by Covenant Care. With the community’s help and other sponsors, Covenant Care continues to be able to do more for their patients and families.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida, which is independently owned and operated, became a member of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brokerage network, operated by HSF Affiliates LLC, in 2016. Since that time, it has earned a host of honors, including being recognized for five consecutive years as members of the Berkshire Elite Circle, a prestigious designation given to the Top 50 companies in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network.

For more information or to be connected with a sales specialist, please visit www.PCB.BeachPropertiesFLA.com, call (850) 252-4160, or visit the sales office at 15750 Panama City Beach Pkwy., Unit 140.

Let’s Get Growing with Julie: Plan Your Fall Vegetable Garden Now!

August 27, 2021

By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County

As we suffer through the Dog Days of Summer it may not seem intuitive to start planning a Fall and Winter vegetable garden, but now is a great time for that task. There are a lot of vegetables we can grow as the seasons change and many are compact enough for small gardens or containers if you don’t have room for a large garden.

The first step for any gardening project is matching Right Plant, Right Place. In general, vegetables need 5-6 hours of sunlight, well-drained soil in the pH range of 5.8-6.3, and access to water (preferably drip irrigation). You don’t have to keep edible plants in a dedicated vegetable garden, you can add them into your ornamental beds or grow in containers – if you meet their basic needs, the sky’s the limit!

The second most important tip in growing vegetables is recognizing the appropriate timing. Vegetables are typically short-lived plants that either thrive in warm weather or cool weather, so matching the correct season is key. Luckily, we have lots of options at this time of year in Northwest Florida. To extend your harvest stagger planting by 2-3 weeks throughout the planting date ranges listed below.

August – November
Collards
September – October
Lettuce
September – February
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
September – March
Arugula
Radish
Carrots
September – May
Mustards

If you are interested in learning more about growing cool season vegetables, join us online September 2nd for “How to Grow Vegetables in Small Spaces.” There are 2 ways to join, you can watch on Zoom or Facebook. Follow this event for updates: https://fb.me/e/1x4ldnfm6. This program is offered in conjunction with the Seed to Salad Kick off Event.

An Equal Opportunity institution, Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences. Participation shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status, or political beliefs.

What Menopausal Women Don’t Know

August 27, 2021

By Dr. Richard Chern, M.D.

The most basic definition of menopause is 12 months with no period. There is no mystery here. All women will eventually experience menopause and most see menopause as an event you must go through and once the hot flashes or other symptoms end it’s over.
Unfortunately, this part is wrong.

Well known symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness or moodiness are experienced by most women and they come to expect these during the peri-menopausal time when the body is transitioning to menopause.

The thought that menopause ends when these symptoms end is unfortunate, because in reality this is just the beginning of menopause. The truth is once menopause starts it never ends. Menopause signifies the ovaries going into retirement and once they stop working they never restart. Just because hot flashes stop does not mean you are in the clear and, in fact, this is when things get considerably worse.

The ovaries’ job is to produce estrogen and testosterone! When this production ceases, you lose both of these hormones as well as protection they provide against numerous diseases. During menopause, the body begins its slow decline into old age. Both estrogen and testosterone protect against heart attack, cancer, strokes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s and so much more. Breast cancer, stroke, and heart attacks happen to be the top three killers of menopausal women, and the reason is because of the lack of testosterone and estrogen. We previously discussed the recent study showing that testosterone pellets in women decrease the risk of breast cancer in post-menopausal women by more than 50%!

In our clinic, the majority of post-menopausal women we see have a common complaint. They cannot stay asleep all night and routinely wake up much earlier than they want and then can’t get back to sleep. This is from a lack of estrogen and actually happens to men as they lose their estrogen. Yes, men have estrogen! Estrogen plays a major role in maintaining sleep. No estrogen = No sleep. And no sleep is associated with all sorts of problems such as anxiety, depression, increased risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s and more. Hair starts thinning, skin gets thinner, fatigue happens faster, memory starts failing. These changes all occur because of a lack of hormones.

Did you know that testosterone is the most prominent hormone in the female body throughout their entire life? Testosterone plays a major role in the prevention of disease, it improves mood and can reverse osteoporosis.

Dr. Richard Chern, M.D. has been providing BioTE bio-identical hormone therapy longer than any other physician in the region. He trains providers throughout the U.S. on hormone therapy for men and women. He is a key opinion leader for BioTE and has participated in studies on the efficacy of both testosterone and estrogen in the prevention of disease.

Dr. Richard Chern, M.D. and Sue Griffin, APRN are currently accepting new patients. Please call 850-837-1271 for an appointment.

Imagine

August 27, 2021

You can achieve anything you can imagine.

Fresh Catch at the Angry Tuna

August 28, 2021

By Brittany Kirke

Even though it may be a few hundred feet away from the sand, this beachy bar will have you feeling fresh off the boat. Tim Jacobi and Don “DJ” Janovyak have been pelagic fishermen for over 40 years and grew up on big boats fishing recreationally, a popular activity in this area. With their new restaurant, they wanted to honor that and celebrate the fish caught on big rigs off Pensacola and Gulf Shores. They opened in late 2018, intent on emulating the vibe of paradise and putting it all into one building on the beach.
Curious about how they got their unusual name? Tim explains that pelagic fish “dart at bait and jump […] they move so fast that it looks like they’re angry.” The nature of the fish has become a sort of groundwork for the names of the food and drinks they serve.

Menu Spotlights
Angry Ahi Tuna Oysters – Inspired and created by Tim’s wife, Mary Beth. She was eating a seared tuna appetizer and then had a dozen oysters brought out to their table. When she got down to the last bit of her dishes, she combined them and fell in love with it. They are proud to offer the largest oyster bar on the beach at 26.5 ft long with three shucking areas and a pellet grill that gives the oysters a wonderful and smokey mesquite flavor if you like them cooked.

Cat 5 Hurricane – A drink big enough for two, this knock-out cocktail has five different kinds of rum AND a floater. If you can finish the drink, you get a t-shirt! It was inspired by Hurricane Michael which devastated the Florida Panhandle. The Angry Tuna was open for only nine days before the hurricane hit. Instead of letting that get them down, they took all the food they had and were able to feed the community. They cooked for all the emergency workers and were one of the few places that had electricity when it happened.

Angry Punch – The Tom Cruise cocktail, this is the drink you sip on when you’re out on the boat watching dolphins swim by. Super fruity and light, when you think about a vacation, this is your drink.

Seared Tuna Sliders – A house favorite, this dish comes with fries and showcases two seared Ahi Tuna sliders served on top of lettuce and ginger topped with wasabi cucumber sauce.

Weihenstephaner – A beer made by the monks, known as the oldest beer in Germany.

Hook and Cook – Bring in your fresh catch right off the boat and they’ll cook it for you in house, served with two sides.

If you’re looking for a lively spot to enjoy the view and ocean air, the atmosphere inside the Angry Tuna will feel like home to you. They have live music on the weekends, and you’ll be amazed when you walk around the restaurant. Guests are welcome to bring in their own pictures to put alongside the memories that the walls hold.

The Buzz Is In The Air!

August 28, 2021

By Cindy Mulla

Perfect climate conditions and outdoor natural spaces in the Florida panhandle create opportunities for a variety of year-round exciting outdoor adventures for locals and visitors alike. The buzz of seasonal excitement is always present in the air of Northwest Florida.
As you embark on your next outdoor excursion, you should be aware that Beach Mosquito Control District (BMCD) is doing their best to protect you and your family from potential mosquito-borne disease/outbreaks by monitoring and controlling local mosquito populations.

The Panama City Beach area has 50 species of mosquitoes and 26 of these species have the chance of transmitting mosquito borne disease or parasites. 17 of these mosquito species have more potential to transmit to humans and animals, including parasites to small domestic pets (Dog/Cat Heartworm). Six mosquito species out of the 17 species are targets of concern for Panama City Beach, where these species are constantly surveyed for control.

Surveillance is key for any Integrated Pest Management program (IPM), which BMCD performs for controlling female mosquitoes. Several different trapping methods are used to collect female mosquitoes and are designed for targeting specific species to aid in monitoring the presence or absence of arboviruses (virus transmitted by mosquitoes) in our community through laboratory testing BMCD performs every week.

Weekly serology samples are tested by the Florida Department of Health from three sentinel chicken flocks which gives BMCD the information to react to the transmission of certain arboviruses before they can spread into the community through an integrated approach for suppressing mosquito vector populations. Potential mosquito borne diseases of primary concern within our local area that impact humans are: West Nile Virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). However, by continuous, vigilant monitoring of mosquito populations, we are observing the potential of arbovirus activity that can be imported to our local area. For example: Chikungunya Virus (CHKV), Dengue Virus (DENV 1, DENV 2, DENV 3, & DENV 4) or Zika.

Mosquito transmitted disease has been recorded for decades. Every state, except Alaska and Hawaii, have had recorded endemic WNV cases. The late summer months are when WNV cases tend to rise locally with September being the peak month in our area. The peak month for EEE in our area is June. But do not let your guard down, mosquito virus activity is possible year-round in our area due to year-round mosquito populations.

Arbovirus is real, do not let one bite impact you for life. As we prepare to enter West Nile Virus season, please remember to be responsible when it comes to personal protection and always wear insect repellent when you are outdoors. When choosing a repellent, make certain it has one of these Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), IR3535, Para-menthane-diol (PMD) or 2-undecanone. Always follow the manufacturers label directions. When preparing to travel, do not forget to pack your repellent! We do not want you to return with an unwanted arbovirus souvenir.

For any of your mosquito concerns and or questions in the Panama City Beach area, please contact Beach Mosquito Control District at (850) 233-5030 or www.pcbeachmosquito.org.

Have a safe and healthy remainder of 2021!

Design and Culture: Modern Storage Solutions

August 28, 2021

Are you shopping for cabinetry? There is a checklist you are going to want to have when you’re ready to build or remodel your kitchen and baths. First and foremost, it’s always a good idea to get a kitchen designer at the beginning of your project whether you’re building a new home or rebuilding to ensure your dream results. Wood type, color or stain and door style are next on the list and then comes functionality and organization for our busy modern lives. New and exciting modern storage solutions are being created every day.

There are so many options to organize and create not only a beautiful but a functional space. Standard cabinetry will usually come with shelving and unless requested, lower cabinets will not have full depth shelves. Roll out shelves are our favorite accessory for storage in lower base cabinetry and pantries. I know most of us have found items in the back of our lower cabinets or pantries that we forgot we had or maybe expired, lol. Roll out shelves come in all different sizes and variations for organizing food items, pots and pans, Tupperware, etc. and they will change your life. No more lost items in the back of those base cabinets! That is why it is one of our favorite storage solutions. Deep drawers are another great functional option to add to your base cabinetry. Partitions, shallow roll out shelves, peg boards, and two tier cutlery trays can be added to deep drawers to add functionality and improve organization.

Now if any of you are like me, spices are one thing I need organized in my next kitchen. My husband loves to cook, and we have an astronomical collection of spices. I can’t wait to remodel and add some spice organization. There are different options depending on the layout of your kitchen and where you would like your spices to be. Vertical pull out spice racks are a good option. These can flank your range with one on each side, either in the base cabinet or you can flank your range hood in the upper cabinets. Another option is a cabinet with a door rack. The shelving is shallower, and racks are added to the door for options to organize. If your kitchen has a corner cabinet, turntables create functionality for those hard-to-reach areas.

Don’t forget about your vanities when thinking about storage. One of our favorite storage cabinets is a vanity grooming rack. Roll out trays are another option for bath vanities.
I’ve only touched on a few of the modern storage solutions available, so for more ideas visit www.durasupreme.com/storage and www.hardwareresources.com to view options and inspiration for your new kitchen available at Granite Plus. Or, you can stop by or give us a call and we will come to you and discuss your new kitchen and baths.

Let It Go | Disaster Recovery

September 3, 2021

Our thoughts and prayers are with those recovering from the latest hurricane. Hopefully this video will help.

Sun Power: Sundew Solar Leads the Way

September 3, 2021

By Aric Bowen

Since opening its doors in January of this year, Sundew Solar has been successful in reaching countless Bay County residents to spread the word about the importance of going solar. With so many calls fielded regarding questions about how the solar installation process works, Sundew wanted to outline what consumers can expect from the very beginning when the project is being quoted to the very end after the solar has been installed.

Phase One: Quoting/Design
In phase one, Sundew consults with homeowners to provide answers to an array of questions they may have and to determine their expectations. Projects range from standard grid-tied solar energy system installations to custom designed structures that will support the panels, including pool enclosures and greenhouses. From there, they request a recent power bill so they can evaluate their average power usage in order to inform homeowners how much money they could potentially save by switching from electric to solar power.

After the initial consultation, Sundew then provides a custom quote detailing the amount of energy and money that could be saved over a number of years with an itemized breakdown of the pricing for the solar energy system and installation.

Phase Two: Engineering/Design
Once the quote is signed, the project is sent off to a licensed electrical engineer for the custom designed solar energy system and, in the case of a project that includes a structure, a custom set of engineered plans designed for the building where the panels will be installed. Homeowners are given the opportunity to approve the design of the structure before the plans are finalized. All electrical and structural plans are designed to meet the most current Florida Building Code.

Phase Three: Installation
After receiving the final building plans, the project will be submitted to the local building department for permitting. Sundew Solar has partnered exclusively with locally owned and operated construction company, Guyson Construction, for all of its solar installation and construction projects. Guyson Construction has been serving Bay County since 2002 (19 years), has a five-star rating with the Better Business Bureau, and has been a member of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce since 2013. During all installation and construction projects, both Guyson and Sundew ensure that there are designated safety personnel on site at all times.

Phase Four: Completion/Activation
Upon passing final inspection, Sundew schedules the utility company to install the new meter and turn on the system. Sundew then performs tests to ensure that all components are working. Clients are able to download an app to their mobile phones that allows them to track the production of the solar panels in real-time.

For questions, quotes, or general information on solar panel installation, please contact Aric Bowen with Sundew Solar at (850) 832-0325. Sundew Solar is a member of both the Panama City Beach and Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

Patronis Proud

September 3, 2021

By Brooke Loyed, Principal, Patronis Elementary School

As we begin the new school year for 2021-2022, our school is buzzing with excitement….excitement for a new year and excitement for what we hope to be a “normal” year. I can honestly say we are already getting a head start due to having had a summer full of learning while we hosted a unique summer school for four weeks. We had over 200 students participate in enriching experiences and continued learning.

With our new year comes change which is always bittersweet. On June 30th, Ellie Spivey officially retired after 23 years of leading our school to excellence. We are a blessed school in having had two exceptional principals (Janice Salares was our founding principal before Ellie). I am excited to follow and continue the rich traditions. This will be my sixteenth year at Patronis. I was Assistant Principal for 15 years and both of my girls, Tarver and Tracy, have grown up here. Before Patronis, I was Assistant Principal at Mosley High School and a teacher at Bay High School. Katie McKenzie will be Administrative Assistant and she has worked here for seven years as a fifth grade teacher and leader but also has several years of experience at other schools in ESE and as Student Services Coordinator where she had a hand in guidance, MTSS, interventions, assessments, ELL, 504’s and many other administrative tasks. Her daughter Riley can be seen around the school helping every day and Gracie will be here before you know it. Together, we hope to help foster an environment of energy, creativity, safety, and academic strength.

Patronis has always had strong family, community and business support and we couldn’t do what we do without them! Our wonderful PTO is off to a great start with planning and preparation. They will be reaching out to parents at Orientation and Open House with ways to get involved. Just recently, we were elated to receive a generous donation from the Johnny Patronis Foundation which will help fund one to one Chromebooks in many classrooms. Patronis was founded as a research and design school and we want to continue growing through technology innovations.

We are Patronis Proud to begin this new year and this new adventure. We invite you to reach out to us. We are always looking for Elevate Bay Mentors and Volunteers. Thank you for supporting Patronis Elementary School….Tradition, Community, Excellence since 1995 and proud to be an “A” elementary school and FLDOE School of Excellence since 2017.

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