Summer is for relaxing – for pets too. Many pet parents indulge their animal companions with vacations, special meals, hotel stays and trips to the spa. In fact, an estimated $53 billion were spent on pets last year.
Despite gloomy skies and soggy grounds, it was work as usual last Monday for the crew of Sacred Heart’s mobile unit, which conducted free heart health screenings in front if the Betty J. Pullum Family YMCA.
Local author Michael Byars Lewis has been recognized at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for his first novel, “Surly Bonds.” Lewis, who is also a professional pilot, traveled to New York City May 29 to accept his award as a finalist in the first novel category.
Gulf Breeze Hospital said goodbye to its administrator of eight years with warm wishes and fond memories at a retirement reception on June 13. Robert “Bob” Harriman was honored by colleagues and family for his tenacity and leadership of Gulf Breeze Hospital and the Andrews Institute of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.
The first ever “green” restaurant on Pensacola Beach will be opening this summer, and is ironically named Red Fish Blue Fish. The restaurant is currently under construction near the Soundside Market on Via de Luna Drive. The property management company Innisfree Hotels owns the restaurant. CEO Julian MacQueen also owns and operates the Hilton and Holiday Inn Resort on Pensacola Beach, as well as other properties across the southeast.
The days of being able to quickly depart Navarre Beach during summer weekends have mostly come to an end. Lengthy waits to get off Navarre Beach Bridge and onto U.S. Highway 98 are the new normal for the summer season, and many locals are frustrated over it, especially members of the south end committee of the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council (TDC).
Santa Rosa County native Boo Weekley scored his third PGA victory on May 26 at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Tex. Subsequently, he found himself competing against golf legend Tiger Woods and two others for the PGA Tour’s Player of the Month, a contest in which the sponsor, Avis, donates $50,000 to charities chosen by the winners, who are selected solely based on fan votes. Although Weekley was ultimately named Player of the Month, two nonprofit organizations serving local children in need are the true winners, raking in $25,000 each.
Jim Crowder wasn’t afraid of taking chances. That, and his degree in electrical engineering — with the support of a patient wife — was his doorway to success.
Leigh Bowden was devastated by the disappearance of her adored Yorkie, Toot. Like many devoted pet owners who find themselves in a such a tragic situation, she spent hours each day looking for her dog, frantically posting flyers, combing neighborhoods and sending requests for help on social media, gradually losing hope he would ever be located. However, ultimately it was her continued effort, specifically the flyers, which reunited Toot with his family, which had grown by another Yorkie via adoption in his absence.
