The deck of the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier was buzzing with activity March 15 in spite of chilly, windy weather. Locals and tourists mingled, enjoying live music at the re-opening of the pier’s outdoor bar, which has been named Lagerheads.
Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association (NBLRA) President Linda Coley asked Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bob Cole to address some questions and concerns at the March 22 NBLRA meeting. Leaseholders submitted questions to Coley prior to the meeting.
The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center may be closed for expansion, but announced last week that they are preparing to host their first-ever fundraising event, “The Amazing Race for Survival” at Navarre Beach Park April 5. The funds raised by this event will support the NBSTCC’s future growth and sea turtle conservation efforts.
The Navarre Beach property owner who was seeking an amendment to the county’s land development code to provide for construction of a 240-unit development has requested the item be removed from March 13 zoning board meeting agenda. Santa Rosa County Planning and Zoning Director Beckie Cato said March 10 Steve Hering requested the request be delayed until April to provide time for him to meet with members of the Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association (NBLRA).
Many area residents noticed increased traffic on Highway 98 the past few days likely in part to college spring breakers who are looking for fun in the sun on Gulf coast beaches. According to Tripsmart.com, this week and next week have the highest numbers of college students on spring break with more than 2.7 million students out of class this week and nearly 1.5 million next week.
The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (NBSTCC) closed its doors Saturday in preparation for construction of a new pool and observation deck and improvements to the interpretative portion of the center. Volunteers completed inventory and locked the doors shortly after 2 p.m.
More sea turtles nest on Florida’s sandy beaches that on any other U.S. coastline. Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) hope the 2014 nesting season will be as successful as others in recent years.
Local residents and out-of-town visitors started lining Gulf Boulevard more than three hours before the start of Saturday’s 28th Annual Navarre Beach Mardi Gras parade hosted by the Navarre Krewe of Jesters. Sunny skies, warm temperatures and a parade with more than 50 entries were a perfect combination for what Krewe of Jester’s President Charlene Tremor called, “an amazing parade.”
The Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association (NBLRA) expressed frustration with the Santa Rosa County Commissioners at their monthly meeting Feb. 15 suggesting the elected officials needed to be more vocal about their support for grant funding for beach renourishment. NBLRA President Linda Coley said, “Without funding from another source – like the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) funding – the only method of paying for beach renourishment is the creation of an MSBU. The funding of the MSBU would fall mainly to the residents of Navarre Beach.”
The Santa Rosa County Commissioners gave their approval Feb. 13 for the Sea Turtle Conservation Center (STCC) to seek state permits to drill a saltwater well near the facility on Navarre Beach. The exact location has yet to be determined.
