Opinion Archive

It is official, Panera Bread will have a location in Gulf Breeze by the end of the year. On March 15, 2012 – almost a year ago – I wrote in my column that I was at the Fort Walton Beach Panera and spoke with a manager-type. I mentioned that the Panera truck has to drive through Navarre every day from Pensacola to Fort Walton and that it should have a stop in Navarre. He mentioned then that they were looking at a location in Gulf Breeze. I proceed to email Panera corporate to let them know that they should be looking at Navarre as well. Today, when I spoke with the regional marketing manager, I said the same. By the time I was finished with her she was sure they were looking at Navarre next and said, “Let us get this one (Gulf Breeze) open first.” I think I wore her down. She works out of the Jacksonville area and has never visited us on the far western side of Florida, but I believe she will now. She is also getting a package of materials from us promoting Navarre, including the 2013 Navarre Chamber Guide that we completed last month and a Visitor Guide.

An announcement is expected to be made this week regarding OfficeMax and Office Depot joining forces. Boca Raton-based Office Depot has 1,675 stores and Office Max, based in Illinois, has 900 stores.  If there is a merger, the plan would be to close stores that compete with each other which will reduce costs overall.

Last year the Florida Legislature passed a bill that allowed returning outright prayer to public schools. Not a moment of silence, not gathering around the flagpole on the National Day of Prayer, but the bona fide right of students to lead other students in prayer at any student assembly, even mandatory ones. School officials are prohibited from interfering, or even judging whether the prayer in question is appropriate.

In case you forgot, today is Valentine’s Day. I’m sure there are cards and candy still available at local retail outlets. Valentine’s is at the top of my list of holidays. I know guys hate it because there is a lot of pressure – supposedly.

We were a few reporters down this week and our news editor left for the hills of North Carolina last week, so I did what I had to do and I enjoyed every minute of it. Saturday, the Krewe of Jesters allowed me on top of their float to take pictures of the Mardi Gras parade. I really enjoyed it and it was from a perspective that I have not had in my 12 years of covering the parade. I had originally asked to be on top of the ladder of the fire truck but I was politely told that was against the rules.

In recent years, we have seen the size of our federal government increase at an alarming rate with excessive and irresponsible government spending threatening our economic prosperity. Across the country, millions of Americans have become more interested in the Congressional budget process, with many, including myself, advocating for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The American people understand that Washington must pass sensible budgets and get its fiscal house in order. Over the next few months, the annual budget process will move into full swing; however, during this time we are also facing numerous budgetary challenges.

The Mardi Gras Parade is this Saturday at 1 p.m. and the Navarre Beach Causeway going over to the beach will be shutting down around 12:30 p.m. Last year, they had both lanes coming off of the bridge after the parade. The Navarre Krewe of Jesters float will lead the parade and they are excited to show it off because they won first place Jan. 19 in the Abita Mardi Gras Parade on Okaloosa Island. Krewe of Lafitte from Pensacola will also be joining the parade with their float, “The Sword.”

I get it. I’m a woman who grew up on a farm doing “man’s” work. I enlisted in the Navy and did a “man’s” work as an aviation structural mechanic. Yet, the standards for physical readiness for me were different than for my male counterparts. Sure, I could carry the same tool box, but in the Navy’s eyes, I could not do as many sit-ups, push-ups and run a 1.5-mile as fast as a man.

The things women can do always amazes me. What amazes me more is all the things women have been told they can’t do.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” -Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.