Spring has sprung and oddly, certain trucks are a lot louder. I was sitting outside eating at Johnny Huston’s and no less than six different trucks went by on Highway 98 revving their engines with a loud reverberation. I decided it was some kind of “mating call.” It is definitely an attempt to garner attention. I mean – girls really dig loud trucks – not. But maybe, they were girls trying to attract the guys. That would actually be genius, but then you might end up with a guy who thinks one of the coolest things you can do is drive around with a loud truck, and that doesn’t sound like a winning proposition to me. Most people try to find cars that have low road noise and don’t make loud sounds like back firing – on purpose. I decided to ask the all-knowing Google why people do this to their vehicles and the answers are not fit to print. The consensus online is that the drivers are trying to make up for shortcomings in other areas. I thought I was just being hyper-critical, but the online crowd is ruthless – and anti-loud noise popping trucks as well.
There are two car washes this Saturday. One is going to be on the south side of Highway 98 at Navarre Park and the other is going to be across the highway at Centennial Bank. They are both raising money for the same organization “DUO” or “Do Unto Others.” We have written several stories about this cause which raises money to give to principals to help students in need. Whether you are coming or going through Navarre between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday – please let the students wash your car for cash – or just drive through and hand them some cold hard cash.
April 8 is the BIG day – total eclipse day. While Northwest Florida won’t experience what they call “totality,” we will experience it at about 80%. You can read about it in this week’s issue on page 7A – including how to make your own eclipse viewer. But here is a really important tip – your normal sunglasses will not protect your eyes and your camera will need a special lens filter specifically for photographing the eclipse. We (being North America) will not have another chance to experience this again until 2033. There won’t be another one like this running coast to coast until 2045.
I have always had an interest in history, and mythology and when I was in elementary school. I read every book my school library had regarding myths and mythical creatures that make up the culture of many nations. I was also brought up in a Judeo-Christian Church and home and loved the Bible stories as well – which some, not me, believe to be mythical stories. And, I’ve also had an interest in Nostradamus, a French astrologer, apothecary, and physician who made predictions – and I give Nostradamus the same weight as I give a horoscope – none. But it is still interesting. I wish my Bible study teachers had put more weight on all the predictions otherwise known as prophesies in the Bible – because they actually come true. My column this week may be considered “religious” but I’m going to be as factual as possible and even include a historian that wasn’t a believer.
If someone has it out for you, there are many ways they can try to destroy you and/or your reputation. If you were a business, it used to helpful to call to the Better Business Bureau, which still exists. At least the Better Business Bureau would do their best to get both sides of the complaint and resolve it before it becomes public knowledge. Now people don’t bother going to the Better Business Bureau – they just take it to social media where they don’t have to have proof of any supposed transgression. They can just lob word grenades and “suppose” and “conjecture” without facts. And apparently, now it just takes an anonymous complaint to your local fire department that corresponds with an annual requested fire inspection.
Saint Patrick’s Day is this Sunday and the Shamrock Stroll 5K Fun Run/Walk and Pet Parade and Costume Contest is this Saturday on Navarre Beach from 8-10 a.m. There is a registration fee, but you can get there as early as 7 a.m. the day of the event and register. The next holiday is Easter. Easter Sunday is the last day of March on the 31st. Santa Rosa County Schools (and UWF) are out for Spring Break the week before Easter. There is a large concert, Spring Jam, going on at Juana’s on March 24, the Sunday before Easter. Okaloosa Schools have Spring Break March 15-22.
Navarre High School students built an electric car funded by Florida Power and Light. After two months of work, they were able to take it to Five Flags Speedway and test it. What a great project for our students.
We had a great white shark wash ashore Friday morning which was very well fed, not pregnant. An autopsy later confirmed that she was probably 30 years old. Females are considered mature and have the potential to be pregnant around 33 years of age. Kudos to the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (NBSTCC); Alex Fox, a Marine Biologist from the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center; Paige Douglas from Gulf World Marine Institute (GWMI); Volunteers Bob and Tony from NBSTCC; and Navarre Beach Fire Department and Sheriff’s Officers who secured the area because there were plenty there who just wanted to use the situation for their five minutes of fame.
We want to give a huge shoutout to Juana’s! Last Saturday night, the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce was hosting their annual gala – beach party themed – and as luck would have it, it was forecasted to be very cold and rainy. Without hesitation, the Rudzki’s and Juana’s crew went to work setting up tents on the deck that appeared to be one continuous covering of the entire deck complete with sides to block the wind.
Last week I was rushing around getting ready for work, and I let the dogs out one last time before leaving for a meeting, and I was about to be late. Turns out, I was. One dog came in, and the second dog was nowhere to be found. So, I called out and she came around the corner with a very recently deceased squirrel in her mouth. She proudly plopped it down on the cement and then strutted into the house – very happy with herself.
