Twin Creek Crossing is adding 40,000 square feet of retail space adjacent to the recently opened Marquis Cinema in Crestview. Construction is expected to to begin in August and be completed in less than a year. In addition, Johnny O’Quigley’s has plans to add a family oriented flagship restaurant across from Jenkins’ produce market.
Wal-Mart will be adding two locations in our local area. The Niceville location is well on its way and the building is expected to be completed in September or October. No opening date as been released for this John Sims Parkway location. The site offers additional commercial parcels with no confirmed tenants announced. The Santa Rosa Beach location is planned for the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and West Hewett Road in Phase 1 of Topsail West. The project includes additional plans for for shops, restaurants and other businesses. Estimated opening is at least a year away.
Coastal Living’s July/August issue had a great list of reasons for loving the coast… At the beach, no one raises an eyebrow when adults act like kids…Lounging under an umbrella for nine straight hours is considered normal…Our best memories are made there-on vacation, on a sunset walk, on a dare on a surfboard…At get-togethers, the dress code is always “come as you are”…It’s where we seem to get our best night’s sleep…Food tastes better at the shore. In fact, you’re practically required to indulge. Ice cream before noon? But of course!…Dolphins smile…Pelicans dive…Crabs crawl sideways…When you are on “beach time”, everything is go with the flow. No schedules. No rushing. No stress…Cocktail hour is really a race between you and the melting ice…Everybody smiles bigger when they have a sun kissed glow on their cheeks! Yes, we do love living at the beach! Come join us and become our neighbor!
The United Service Organization (USO) has opened the “Freedom Lounge” in the Northwest Florida Regional Airport. This 1,000 square foot facility offers Military personnel and family members welcome packets, emergency assistance with lodging, transportation, meals and communication services. Special features include: computer stations, library services, TVs and a friendly play area for the kids. The Lounge is staffed by USO volunteers. Col. Bruce McClintock, Commander of the 96th Air Base Wing at Eglin Air Force Base boasts “ This is the classiest USO facility I’ve ever seen! This community does the best job of caring for past, present and future warriors – we are grateful for all that you do”
HarborWalk Village, located on Destin Harbor, will honor a local hero every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. throughout the summer. Each week the celebration will highlight the efforts of people who go above and beyond to make their community better. Local entertainment and a WWII replica flyover begin at 7:20 p.m. with fireworks at 8:30 p.m. Join the free family fun including live entertainment and crafts for the kids starting at 6:30 each week.
The Navarre Beach restoration project, which was completed in November 2006, has been named as one of the four best completed restoration projects in the country by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. The sand quality, size of the project and collective efforts to gain state funding were sited as winning characteristics for the project. Approximately 3 million cubic yards of sand were placed on 3.7 miles of beach during this project. In order to keep the native sugary white sand covering the beaches, sand was dredged from a borrow site in the Gulf about 4 miles offshore. Locals and visitors agree that the $18.2 million dollar project was well worth the investment. Congratulations to all who were involved in this award winning project!
Calling all bookworms! The much anticipated 10,000 square foot state of the art public library has opened in Panama City Beach for your reading pleasure. Centrally located at 12500 Hutchinson Blvd., this library has it all…old books, new books, audio, video, DVDs, 24 internet stations,a 15 seat computer lab as well as a vast array of special services. Definitely a great way to get out of the heat this summer. Summer programs for the kids start next Tuesday 6/15/10 and will include: Make a Splash for K-5th graders offered on Wednesdays 2-3pm and Make Waves for the older set 6th – 12th graders held from 2-4 pm on Tuesdays. For additional information call 850-233-5055 or stop by and take a look…you just might want to stay around for a while! http://www.nwrls.lib.fl.us/Locations/PCB.htm
It is time once again to line the streets of Fort Walton Beach and become pirates ( if only for the weekend)! The Festival events start Thursday night at 4 p.m. with a Pirate Walk in the downtown area (trick-or-treating -pirate style) followed by a family friendly block party and the Billy Bowlegs Pub Crawl. Festival activities officially kick off on Friday June 4th at 3 p.m. at The Fort Walton Landing. Events will be held throughout the weekend including the skirmish between Capt. Billy and the Mayor, live music, local artists, delicious food, children’s activities, Children’s Pirate Parade and nightly fireworks. Monday night’s Torchlight Parade will close out the Festival. Arrr! For more information visit www.fwbchamber.org/bowlegs
After five long years, Navarre Beach will again enjoy a pier! Grand opening festivities are planned for Saturday June 5th. The previous pier had been destroyedby hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. Public input has been vital in this project and the local residents are thrilled about their new pier. The 1,545 ft pier is the longest pier in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Special features include a low wattage, turtle friendly lighting system, octagonal end design with 3,800 square feet of surface area, over 800 breakaway wood panels, 7 potable water spigots, a deck height of 30 feet above water, an overall accessible surface area of over 32,000 square feet, and 16 handicap accessible railing locations. Come down for a walk, to fish or just to celebrate and enjoy this beautiful addition to Navarre Beach. Summer hours are 5 a.m. – 10 p.m. seven days a week.
