Out and About

We also have a story on our water quality on page 1A. Believe it or not, despite the bad smell, funny color, and skin irritation that has been reported, the water is safe to drink, says Holley Navarre Water System. It evidently meets the EPA standards for drinking water. Still, I think I will stick to bottled or filtered water. We were even told by a local veterinarian that our dogs should have filtered water. I think the EPA needs higher standards. Who wants mediocre water anyway?  We should aim to have the best tasting water in Florida.  I wrote about the following before, but when I got off an airplane in Louisville, Kentucky there were posters all over the airport talking about how awesome their water tasted. Since that time, they have trademarked “Pure Tap” and are using it to tout how awesome their water is. They even bring a display to concerts with “Taps” so people can “tap in” to the good stuff – water. Kentucky has regional competitions to taste test different municipalities’ water. I vote that we send a few key people from our water system and Fairpoint (one and the same) to Louisville, Kentucky, to learn how they have such good tasting tap water.

I just received a letter from one of our vendors that our bill was going up as a “price improvement” for 2025. That made me laugh. I don’t think they get it. If it was a price improvement – for me – it would go down. When I receive emails from Realtors after the price has lowered on a house – they call that a price improvement. When your bills go up – that is only a price improvement for the person sending you the bill. We had a good laugh in the office, and that was worth the price increase.

Fun Fact, we haven’t had a “Price Improvement” in almost 20 years on our subscriptions. And, for the advertisers that have stayed with us, they never see a cost increase on their advertisements. We have a “loyalty discount.” As long as the account stays current and they don’t cancel, they keep the same rate they had when they signed up. We have many advertisers that have been with us for at least a decade, and some for longer. They are paying the rate it was when they signed up, not the current rate. So, if you have been thinking about advertising, there isn’t a better time than – yesterday – but today is better than losing altogether.

As I’m writing this, it is January 6, and many are just getting started on 2025. We took pictures today in Crestview and they still had their Christmas decorations downtown. It seems to have been a speed up to Christmas and slow down to the new year, but there are a lot of events right around the corner.

This Sunday from 2-5 p.m., at Emerald Waterfront Bar and Grill, there is a Grand Opening with live music, menu sampling, champagne, and valet service. Stop by and enjoy complimentary appetizers, dessert bar and craft beer samples.

Wondering when the Mardi Gras Parade is? It is Saturday, February 22 at 1 p.m. on Navarre Beach.

Quote of the Week: “Excuses make today easy, but tomorrow harder. Discipline makes today hard, but tomorrow easier.” Michael Oher (1986 –   ) American former professional football player