Anja Machado recently joined the United Way of Santa Rosa County as a brand development specialist. “I see living within Santa Rosa County very caring people willing to unite in order to answer on a large scale the prayers of people in need,” she said. “I believe United Way offers the best opportunity for impacting the most people in need within our neighborhoods.”
A report released April 22 by Florida Realtors® showed single family home sales in the area were up in March when compared with last year, but the sales volume for condos and townhouses was down significantly.
The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Florida is $3.74, which is up 30 cents from this time last year. According to a report released April 27 from AAA-The Auto Club Group, the average price in Florida dropped 2 cents from a week ago, while prices increased in Georgia and Tennessee.
A report released last week shows more adults and children in Florida suffer from “food insecurity,” than the national averages. The US Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a “socioeconomic condition of limited or uncertain access to enough food to support a healthy life.”
Gov. Rick Scott and Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman presented Vicky Bell with the Volunteer Florida Champion Service Award for her dedication to the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida. Bell received the award April 22 in Tallahassee during a meeting of Florida’s Cabinet.
Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids, was a victim of childhood sexual abuse for six years at the hands of her nanny. Armed with the knowledge that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education, Lauren sought to turn her experience into a vehicle to prevent childhood sexual abuse and heal survivors.
Bob Boston of Navarre updated commissioners April 21 on two Navarre Beach reef projects selected for early restoration funding resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Permitting is complete for one project and should be complete for another next month – construction for both may start this fall.
Moments after bombs were dropped April 16 by F-16s stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, local social media blew up with related reports of ground shaking as far away as northern Escambia County. The impact of the bombing was so strong it registered on seismic equipment at the main campus of Pensacola State College.
Two communities, Grant and Valkaria, officially became the incorporated town of Grant-Valkaria in 2006, making it Florida’s newest town. On April 12, the community celebrated the official opening of its new town hall during its annual picnic.
“Yes, I Pahk the Cah At Hahvahd Yahd,” chuckled David Harrigan when I said he sounded like he was from Boston, rather than Taunton, Massachusetts where he was born and raised.
