Downtown Cinema Plus in Fort Walton Beach, owned by Navarre entrepreneur, James Coleman, is showing “12 Strong” at 7 p.m. for a week beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 30. “12 Strong” tells the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11. A lot of our local airmen were there before and after this team was in Afghanistan and either met or worked alongside or in support of these brave men. It is an awesome movie and Downtown Cinema Plus is a fun place to go see movie and have dinner at the same time. Also, you can affordably rent the movie theater for birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties and more. Check out their website at www.downtowncinemaplus.com.
Congratulations to Navarre High School’s boys weightlifting team. They are Regional Champions! You can read about it in the sports section and you can also watch the videos of their lifts on Navarre Press Sports Facebook page (and Navarre Press Facebook page, too).
The business page has the results of a $120,000 economic strategy plan for Santa Rosa County. We were found to have strong K-12 schools, a retired military population, available land, access to outdoor recreation and quality of place. Not surprisingly, we were found lacking in the infrastructure department as well as lacking in a “vibrant and walkable” downtown – and there is more – you can read all about it on our business page. This week, we have two stories that are on the exact opposites of this spectrum. On one side we have Phil Babiak proposing what looks like to be a brilliant and well thought out alternative to what the FDOT proposes for Navarre’s downtown, and we have a county commissioner that is elected to uphold our planning and zoning except under extreme hardship – asking for a variance to put yet another set of storage units in the “Heart of Navarre.” This is certainly not the highest and best use for the land designated “Heart of Navarre.” However, our zoning board passed it unanimously, with Lynchard’s representative on the board abstaining – as he should have. The county commissioners still need to approve it before it is set into motion. The time of all of this is just a little too convenient to slip it in before the result of Navarre’s Master Plan is revealed. This is another study authorized by Commissioner Lynchard at the tune of $150,000 to tell us the highest and best use of the land we have left. I believe all variances in commercial districts should be put on hold in Navarre while the Master Plan is being finalized so as not to throw a monkey wrench in the entire plan. Please let your county commission know how you feel by emailing them at bocc@santarosa.fl.gov.
Is it what we do or why we do it that makes the difference? The answer is in the why. Why you do anything is more important than the what. Anyone can do the what, but what matters is the why.
Under the category of economic growth and good things happening for Navarre… Navarre’s Pullum YMCA seeks your input in their future expansion. They will be having input meetings to discuss specific programs and design elements on March 10, 13, and 15. See their ad in this issue for more information – including meeting times and locations. As a bonus, the Pullum Family YMCA is also offering $50 off the joining fee until March 17. Offer Code is: INPUT.
Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100 has an ad in this issue explaining their mission and reasons all women should join. The deadline to join is March 1. See their ad for more details.
We have been going through all of the stories we have written from 2017 to get ready for our awards submissions from the Florida Press Association. Last year we came home with 28 awards, the most ever and we were voted as Newspaper of the Year. That will be really hard to top – but this is sure to be another banner year. Looking back over 2017 it is really hard to choose the best – they are all so good.
Congratulations to Centennial Bank. Home BancShares, Inc. – Centennial Bank’s parent company, is ranked #1 on the Forbes 2018 “Best Banks in America” list, a rise from #8 in 2017’s rankings and #15 in 2016’s rankings. This is the ninth consecutive year Forbes has ranked America’s largest banks, using financial data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Cindy Davidson is the Branch Manager of Navarre’s Centennial Bank. Be sure to tell her congratulations when you see her. And, when considering banks, consider Navarre’s Centennial Bank, rated best bank in America!
Emerald Coast Med Spa is hosting a free cosmetic surgery consultation event with Dr. Tiller from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Dr. Tiller has performed cosmetic and reconstructive procedures on active duty and retired members of our nation’s Armed Forces and was a personal surgeon for President Ronald Reagan and is internationally recognized as a leader in cosmetic surgery for men and women. This is a rare event for Navarre. If you are even a little bit curious – book your consultation today at 850-939-5413. Personally, I’m curious about his conversations with Ronald Reagan. He must have just gotten out of medical school when he got that awesome assignment.
Several have asked how I’m feeling because they are pretty sure I’ve put the hex on myself for putting in writing that I don’t get sick. Maybe I’m just saving up for the big one. I don’t want to be glib about my good fortune and I do thank God that I’m so healthy – because I’d make a terrible patient. That is probably why I am healthy to date – because God wants to make sure the medical practitioners don’t get near me because He cares about their well-being.
