Construction of the $30 million SpringHill Suites on Navarre Beach has resumed after overcoming some obstacles, and the 161-room hotel is tentatively scheduled to open in December.
Gigi Naggatz was affectionately known as “The Turtle Lady” on Navarre Beach and she was a leading volunteer and conservationist who worked tirelessly for the sea turtles. She passed away Jan. 5 after a years-long battle with cancer. While she will be greatly missed by many, her spirit will live on through the many volunteers that carry on her mission on Navarre Beach.
TripAdvisor, one of the world’s largest travel sites, has listed Navarre Beach on a list of 10 Affordable Hidden Gem getaways for the winter season. The TripAdvisor website says of the list, “TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals has rounded up 10 super affordable US getaways this winter for staying in a rental, many of which are worthy of the “hidden gem” moniker due to their great attractions and recreation yet relative anonymity.”
The lease fees collected by a developer from the owners of 14 Sugar Dunes condominium units since the late 1980s, but never paid to Santa Rosa County as normally required, total more than $180,000.
The falling temperatures and a forecast of rain showers did not deter the hundreds of participants in the plunges held on Navarre Beach on New Year’s Day. Just the day before, the temperatures were in the 70’s and a plunge sounded pretty refreshing. But just one day later, the skies were overcast and the temperatures fell by 20 degrees and to those several hundred people the plunge still sounded refreshing. They were supporting a cause.
In the unlikely event there is a tsunami, Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has completed a Tsunami Plan and completed a “table-top exercise,” according to Brad Baker, Director of Emergency Management for Santa Rosa County, in a memo addressed to the board of county commissioners.
Blooms of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, were detected last week along Bay and Gulf counties in Northwestern Florida and Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties in Southwest Florida.
Tourism business leaders have rebuffed a move by District 4 Commissioner Rob Williamson to sidestep the rules of their Florida Legislature-authorized Development Council in overseeing $55,000 to fund the sixth annual Sand Sculpting Festival on Navarre Beach.
