This Saturday at 9 a.m. is the sixth annual Autism OdysSea at the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station. There will be many activities for the children. Visit NavarreScienceStation.org for more information.
The Holley Navarre Seniors Center has tickets available for Fun with Flowers, an event to make your own fresh flower May Basket. See their ad for more details.
Our core values at Navarre Press include, “The truth is our currency.” We deal in the truth, and that is a huge responsibility that we do not take lightly. Our entire business model is built on the truth. And, it can be a dangerous business because there are people that do not like their truth. Sometimes, I don’t like mine and I don’t get angry about it, I just resolve in myself that I’m going to do what it takes to change. That is what makes life interesting. We are constantly changing. Last week we had two problems with two different ads that were brought to my attention before the paper ever hit the streets. My first thought was that I was so embarrassed, my second was, maybe they won’t notice, and then my third was, of course they are going to notice because we are a newspaper and it is our business to make people notice – that is why we sell ads in the first place – duh. I’m normal. I have all the normal flight or fight reactions to bad situations. I called the decisionmakers for both and told them what our mistake was, and then I told them how we were going to make it up to them. I also put the systems in place where we could minimize the probability of the mistakes ever happening again. Both of them were very gracious and were very happy with the proposed plan to make it up to them. But, it could have gone very differently, and I was prepared for that too. Stuff happens, and it happens here too. There are a lot of moving parts to putting this paper together each weeks and mistakes happen. I want to be the one to bring the mistakes up – before they are casually found by others. But, if you find a mistake – please let us know. I’ll immediately want to turn back time so that it will have never happened, but quickly, I’ll deal with the reality at hand.
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.
