We are in the midst of the Christmas season and the allure of online shopping and big-box retailers can be tempting. The convenience of online shopping is hard to beat. However, there’s a compelling case to be made for turning our attention to local businesses. Shopping locally isn’t just a trend; it’s a powerful way to support our community, economy, and environment. Here are some reasons to consider supporting your community’s small businesses.
There were enough fights in college football over Thanksgiving weekend to make a day at the hockey rink look tame.
All those flag plantings on the field riled up the losing teams, who might have won their games had they shown that much fight and emotion during the game.
For almost the entirety of my 36 years of full-time Christian ministry, I have avoided planting a church with the same zealous determination that I avoid liver and onions. Yet here I am in Navarre planting a church.
Our Navarre community is filled with talented, creative and smart people. Two weeks ago, we had a feature on one of our “famous” local photographers, John Starrett, whose remarkable eye and timing makes him one of the best in Northwest Florida and beyond. Another such photographer we are so blessed to have here in Navarre is Jeff Waldorff. You can find him on the front page of this issue. His photos adorn many homes and businesses in Navarre and all over the country. Two of his photos were selected recently for the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s 2025 Sea Turtle Calendar. We congratulate him on the selection. Both photographers are awe-some and we are so grateful for their talent.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the nation will pause to remember the 83rd anniversary of the devastating surprise attack by the Japanese against the U.S. Navy’s facilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i. Most Americans know it as Pearl Harbor Day, that the attack precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II and that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in condemning Japan’s aggression, called Dec. 7, 1941, “a date that shall live in infamy.”
What a year it has been for Navarre alum Emily (Madril) Sams.
From an Olympic gold medal winner to National Women’s Soccer League champion, Sams has had a year she will absolutely never forget.
Christians, it is that season of the year when you can expect your pastor to ask your congregation, “What are you thankful for?” The question ignites your organic search engine to launch a scan of your recent history for any events or circumstances that rise to the level of thanks-worthiness. Pastors always hope that the question will open a floodgate of thanksgiving, and sometimes it does. When it doesn’t, we resort to coaxing, restating the question again and again into the uncomfortable silence. Of course, we pastors could break the silence with our own expressions of thanks.
Sometimes we focus on what we don’t have, or situations we aren’t in, and we lose sight of what we do have and where we are. I know I have a lot to be thankful for – at all times – even when I’m wrapped up in the day-to-day busy-ness of life. I gathered these versus to remind me of what true thanksgiving is and what my gratitude should be focused on. I hope you enjoy them during this time that we take a break from our routines and focus on being thankful for all of our many blessings – or as we set out to purposefully be a blessing to others.
We at Sandpaper Publishing have much to be thankful for, beginning with our members and readers. You fuel the passion we have for publishing three newspapers each week for three communities. We work hard to report and write the stories the matter most to you. We are your voice and are privileged to be in that role. Thank you for choosing us as your news and information source. We hope you stay tuned because we have so much more work to do for you.
I hope you all are taking time to enjoy Thanksgiving week and are taking a break from the madness of the daily grind.
I can tell you I am certainly doing that after months of bouncing around football fields, golf courses, gyms and more.
