November through January is generally known as the holiday season in the United States, as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day are celebrated and observed as days employees have off. Other holidays are also celebrated during that time of year, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. While the holiday season may be a short period of the year, there are many other holidays observed throughout the calendar year. In Florida, there are state-specific holidays, which are observed in state offices.

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners, as well as County, State, and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials, met at the corner of Highway 90 and Avalon Boulevard Wednesday, Jan. 29, to commemorate two public servants of yesteryear. Bart D. and John R. Broxson were both Sheriffs of Santa Rosa County, as well father and son.

A celebration of the lives of two former Santa Rosa County Sheriffs turned into a scary situation Wednesday morning, Jan. 29, in Milton. State Sen. Don Gaetz, 77, suffered what has been described as a “medical emergency” during his remarks at a roadway dedication ceremony. The ceremony was in honor of Bart D. and John R. Broxson, two former Santa Rosa County Sheriffs and members of the well-known Broxson family.

On Jan. 18, 2018, the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Center was chosen to be the forever home of a sea turtle survivor. Coming to the center at just 16 lbs., Sweet Pea, a juvenile green sea turtle, had survived being tangled in fishing gear, which damaged her arm and paralyzed a back flipper. Some of the fishing gear was found inside her body as well.

It’s no secret Navarre residents love their animals, and their wildlife. On any given day, you can find Navarre residents posting pictures of their pets, bears, foxes, or visiting the Gulf Breeze Zoo and Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge or serving as volunteers at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center. When animals need help, a core group of residents jump into action.

Five decades ago, Steve Janke was in a warzone. He had been sent to Vietnam and served during the middle portion of the war, from 1970 to 1971, at Cam Ranh Air Base.

Despite the fact Janke hasn’t been in a war in over 50 years, he is still does battle with the enemy. Only this time, its for his congregants’ souls. Janke serves as lead pastor of Open Door Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist congregation which meets at Hampton Inn & Suites Navarre each Sunday.

Santa Rosa District Schools is taking steps to become an African American History Exemplary District, per the Commissioner of Education’s African American History Task Force.

The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated Snowbirds and 100 years of Navarre history with a ‘Roaring 20s’ Snowbird Festival, hosted at St. Sylvester Catholic Church.

The Chamber annually holds snowbird events, including a festival. This year’s festival was put on with the collaboration of the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office and a variety of sponsors and vendors.

The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigation into an act of vandalism and property damage which led to the destruction of soccer fields at Tiger Point Park has led to the arrest of a suspect. Chance Tate, 20, of Gulf Breeze, was arrested on Friday, Jan. 17, and charged with damaging property with criminal mischief.

Liberty Church of Gulf Breeze, as with other Liberty Churches in the area, has close to a dozen small groups available to its congregation. These small groups include everything from Bible study groups for women and men to event and hobby groups like game night.