Bay County People #2

BAY COUNTY PEOPLE...only about Bay County People, clubs and organizations

FEATURED IN THIS NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION

Welcome to this our second edition of

Bay County People…….E-Magazine……..

dedicated to clubs & organizations in

Bay County.

Our publication offers FREE space to area

clubs and organizations.

Please send us your club information and

photos, to: [email protected] 850-774-0977

Spreading the Word

OPEN HOUSE

NOVEMBER 19th


The Bay County Veterans Council

(BCVC) is made up of 32 Veterans

O r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d M i l i t a r y

Associations in Bay County. BCVC

are the Sole Focal Point for Veterans

Issues in Bay County, authorized by

Bay County Board of County

Commissioners.

The Council helped raise funds for

the construction of the Bay County

Veterans Memorial Plaza in Arron

Bessant Park on Panama City Beach

and conducts a Re-Dedication

Ceremony on site each July 4th.

They also conduct the annual

Veterans Day Parade in Panama City

and the Memorial day Remembrance

Ceremony in Kent-Forrest Lawn

Cemetery.

The Council established a Military

Welcome Center at the new Bay

County Beaches International Airport,

that is manned daily from 8 am to 8

pm to assist our traveling Active Duty

and Veteran Hero's and their families.

Volunteers to man the Welcome Center

are needed and those who belong to

Groups wishing to serve an entire day

or more are welcome.

For more information on the

Welcome Center or to send

information to BCVC Member

Organization‟s, Contact Carol Hertz

at: 850 265-1270 or e-mail: Carol at:

[email protected].

Bob Thompson 871-0988

About The Gulf

Jazz Society

Founded in 1997, the Gulf

Jazz Society (GJS) serves as

an advocate of jazz music in

the Panama City, Panhandle

region of Florida. As part of

its annual program, the GJS

awards scholarships and

introduces jazz to local

schools. Recently the Society

awarded three $500 scholarships and granted Bay County

Public Schools a curriculum guide entitled “Jazz For Young

People“ as well as instructional materials for the use of

classroom teachers.

In February of 2001 The Society presented its first

independently produced “Emerald Coast Jazz Fest / Brunch”

at the Edgewater Resort. The same year the GJS inaugurated

its series of “Open Monthly Jam Sessions” at a downtown

restaurant, and started its series of quarterly “Jazz Gumbos".

The Gumbo's are a live music event paying tribute to

legendary jazz musicians, such as Duke Ellington, Thelonious

Monk, Lionel Hampton, Buddy DeFranco, Ella Fitzgerald,

Billie Holiday and others.

The Society‟s St. Andrews festival series began in April of 2002

with ”Joy Spring––A Jazz Jubilee” in celebration of National

Jazz Appreciation Month. A highlight of the mini-festival was

the presentation of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” to

legendary clarinetist Buddy DeFranco who accepted the award

in person with stirring words about the importance of jazz to

our cultural experience.

Subsequent free Jazz-By-the-Bay festivals have been presented

each fall through 2007. The festivals have featured jazz

musicians of national reputation, such as Ira Sullivan, Bob

Dorough, Warren Vache, J. B. Scott and the University of

North Florida Jazz Ensemble, Duke Heigter, John Eric Kelso,

Eddie Higgins, Steve Gilmore, Giacomo Gates, Hod O‟Brian

and Stephanie Nakasian.

The Ninth Annual Jazz By-the-Bay Festival is scheduled for

October 16th and 17th at Oaks-By-the-Bay Park at 10th and

Chestnut Streets in Panama City,

Gulf Jazz Society Board of Directors meets monthly in the

fellowship room of the historic St. Andrews Church at 10th

and Chestnut in Panama City, FL. Any person interested in

jazz and the program of the GJS is welcome to attend. Call 850

235 1659 for meeting details. Bob Borich Vol. Executive Director

Gulf Jazz Society Inc. http://www.gulfjazzsociety.org/

The AMIkids Panama City Marine Institute board was recently recognized for its leadership in the area

of community development. AMIkids‟ Chairman Dan Thompson presenting the award to Alvin Peters,

Norm Gulkis and Mike Michel during the national board meeting in Tampa.

AMIkids schools are a community based with 55 schools around the country. They are governed by a

board of local community leaders who are dedicated to providing troubled youth a promising future.

Since 1969, AMIkids has partnered with local communities to help over 100,000 kids develop into

responsible and productive citizens. Panama City Marine Institute was one of the first schools in the

organization. Their goal is to have every student either re-enroll in school, gain employment, or begin

higher education coursework.

Tuesday, November 1, Debra Peel gave a

Crime Stopper presentation to over 100

members, Silver Saints, from Hiland

Park Baptist Church. Thanks to the

Silver Saints for inviting us to the annual

Hamburger Cookout & Luncheon, the

food was great!

L-R : Carl Fondren, Executive Pastor,

Debra, Iris Corbett, Senior Adults Director

and Wayne Barnes, Photographer for the

Senior Adult Ministry.



Article by U.S. Army Spc. Amie J. McMillan

“Are you Mr. Smith, the editor and publisher

of The County Press?” questioned a 13-year-old

student (at the time, year 2000) at Everitt Middle

School. This conversation led to an article I wrote

about the program I was involved in called the

Bay County Sheriff‟s Office Explorers Program,

to be published in the COUNTY PRESS.

As an eighth grader, while most of my peers

were still juggling the thoughts of their future

career, I dreamed of becoming a published

journalist.

When I began my freshman year at

Rutherford High School, I was made aware of a

scholarship funded by the Bay Education

Foundation. The catch? I had to write an essay

explaining why I deserve the scholarship, as well

as what degree I would pursue if I was awarded it.

The essay was long by the time I finished writing

about my aspirations of becoming a famous

journalist one day. After what seemed like

forever, I was informed I had been awarded the

four-year scholarship.

The news that I was actually going to be able to

go to college made me that more focused in school.

My sophomore year, I transferred to Bay High

School where I took a creative writing course, as

well as signed up to be part of the high school

yearbook staff.

After graduation in 2004, I enrolled into

college at the Florida Community College at

Jacksonville. Although school was going well,

I felt a little empty like there was something else

I was called to do. After careful and thorough

research on different careers, I decided to join the

United States Army. I guess it helped a little that I

was in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

(JROTC) while I was in high school.

In August 2005, I enlisted as Private First Class

Amie J. McMillan, with the career choice of

Journalism. After completion of Basic Combat

Training in October 2005 at Fort Jackson, S.C., I

was sent to Fort Meade, Md. to begin the training

for my career as an Army Public Affairs

Specialist. In May 2006, I arrived at my first duty

station in Fort Lewis, Wash., and in March 2008,

I went on my first deployment to Iraq for 15

months.

During my first deployment, I was able to

report on a few of the many great things our

Service members were doing to help the people of

Iraq. I served as the only Public Affairs Specialist


on my base – Camp Bucca. The stories I wrote were circulated throughout many different publications

across the world, and my dream to become a published journalist, became a reality.

In March 2010, I arrived at my new duty station in Fort Bragg, N.C., and in August 2010, I deployed

for a 12-month tour to Baghdad, Iraq. While I was deployed, I was one of four media marketing

coordinators in all of Iraq, as well as taking photographs and writing stories about our Servicemembers.

Every day begins a new adventure, a new chapter in my life

that began when I was only 13 years old. Looking back at my life

so far, I don‟t regret a minute of it! As far as my career in the

Army, I could not serve our country if weren‟t for the community

support, and the support of my friends and family. Sincere

gratitude to Terry and Leanne Tally (adopted Mom and Dad);

Nevale Hill (mentor); Randy Jordan (BCSO Explorer leader in

2000); and Mrs. Karen Abrahams (mentor).

Spc. Amie J. McMillan is currently stationed at Fort Bragg,

N.C., serving as a Public Affairs Specialist in the U.S. Army.

...thank you Amie, for thinking of us at The COUNTY PRESS,

and sharing your story, especially at this time of year.

We congratulate you on your success and thank you

for your service to our county.

May God guide and keep you safe in your future endeavors.


http://www.pcrmission.org



http://www.jslpanamacity.org



http://www.panamacity-fl.tv



Amateur Radio Exams by Panama City ARC

Third Wednesday of each month (5:30 pm - 7:00 pm)

Saturdays (by appointment only) Location: Panama City ARC

Clubhouse, 130 N Church Ave., Panama City, FL

Please notify Gary Bills AJ4KY by the second Wednesday of the month if you wish to take an exam. Those wishing to take the test should be

present by 5:30 PM CT to complete the necessary paperwork. For more information, contact Gary (AJ4KY)

at [email protected] or at 850-747-9996.


Motorized Bicycles

Electric

Bikes NO LICENSE REQUIRED Gas Bikes …. LICENSE REQUIRED

218 N. Kimbrel Ave. #2

Panama City FL 32404

(850) 215-5212

Complete Bikes * DIY Kits

Your Bike Conversions

Writers Gallery ..meets every 3rd Tuesday at the Purple Grape in St. Andrews

Facebook “writers gallery FOR MORE DETAILS

Bay High Class

of 1954

MEET FIRST

MONDAYS

11:30

Rodeo‟s

Steak House

Bay High Class

of 1955

MEET SECOND

MONDAYS

11:30

Rodeo‟s

Steak House


[email protected]



The Emerald Coast Corvette Club is located in Panama City, Florida, home of the World's Most Beautiful

Beaches. Mailing address is P.O. Box 1013, Lynn Haven, FL 32444.

The club holds regular monthly meetings at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings are at Holiday

Inn Select, 2001 Martin Luther King Blvd., Panama City, Florida. We invite potential members to come to a

meeting. For membership application, click here.

We get together often for a cruise to a new restaurant or an event of interest. We do some road trips throughout

the year. Whatever it takes to enjoy the camaraderie and our Vettes.

History of Emerald Coast Corvette Club

The club was founded by a small group of Corvette owners/lovers in 1996. The club was originally organized

because there were no Corvette clubs in this area and a small group of owners wanted to get together and discuss

Corvettes and take their Corvettes to car shows. Membership started out with 10 members the 1st year and then in

1997 started growing to about 50 members and holds around that number at this time. Membership goes up and

down because we have several members that are in the military (Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard). Our beautiful

area is blessed with a base for each of these branches of the Armed Forces.

The first meetings of the club were at The Cheese Barn, then we moved to the Pizza Hut, then to Loco's, on to the

Golden Coral, then to the Panama City Country Club, to Fire Mountain back to Golden Corral and currently at

the Holiday Inn Select, 2001 Martin Luther King Blvd..

Over the years we have assisted other car clubs in sponsoring car shows to raise money for local charities. In 2001

we decided to do a Corvette only show. We called it The Corvette Beach Odyssey. We held three of these on the

third weekend of September each year. In 2004 we were forced to postpone until October because of hurricanes. In

2005 we cancelled the show due the extensive damage in nearby areas from hurricane Katrina. We have not held

the Corvette Beach Odyssey since.

The club's main goal is to have fun with our Corvettes. Some have said the main thing we do is Cruise to Eat, and

Eat to Cruise. The club‟s main charity is The Taunton Children‟s Home, located in Wewahitchka, Florida. We

also support the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY.

Club Officers are elected each December. Daniel Whitman was our first/founding President. Starting the club was

mainly his idea and we owe him a special thanks for his hard work in putting it all together along with Mark

Pittman and a few others.

http://emeraldcoastcorvetteclub.com/


Bay County

Manager Ed Smith

T h e co u n ty ma n a g e r i s

responsible for managing county

operations and for carrying out all

decisions, policies, ordinances and

resolutions of the commission. The

county manager's duties include the

preparation of the recommended

annual budget and long-range

Capital Improvement Program.

Ed Smith became the Bay County

manager in September of 2005. In

accepting the position he brought

almost two decades of experience in

local government. He served two

years as the city manager of

Chiefland, FL, as well as 15 years in

Marion County, including two years

as the senior administrative assistant

and seven years as the assistant

county administrator.

A graduate of the University of

Wisconsin-River Falls, Mr. Smith

began his career as a middle school

teacher. After moving to Florida he

worked as a news and program

director for two Ocala radio

stations.

Although Mr. Smith graduated

from the University of Wisconsin, he

is an avid Florida Gators fan. He

also enjoys a good round of golf in

his free-time.

E-mail: [email protected]

George B. Gainer represents

Bay County Board of County

Commissioners, District 2.

Commissioner George B. Gainer

was born in Jackson County in

1942. He is married to Charla

Janice Gainer and they have six

children. He attended Vernon

Elementary School, Jinks Junior

High, Bay High and Gulf Coast

Community College. Commissioner

Gainer previously served on the

Bay County Commission from 1968

to 1972.

Commissioner Gainer began his

career in the automobile business in

1966 and is currently owner of Bay

Lincoln Mercury Dodge Hyundai, Bay Suzuki, and Bay Ford in

Blounstown. Mr. Gainer is a member of the Panama City New Car

Dealers Association and past officer of the Chrysler and Ford Dealer

and Advertising Councils. Mr. Gainer is past president of the

Birmingham Automobile Association. He is a member of various civic

and professional associations including the Bay County Chamber of

Commerce, Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce and

Military Affairs Committee. George is a Mason and a Shriner.



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Bay County to hold

Waste Amnesty Days

Bay County‟s annual Waste Amnesty Days and Recycling

Round-up will be held Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12

from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Steelfield Landfill located at 11411

Landfill Road in West Bay, off State 79.

“This is something we do as a service to the community, giving

people an opportunity to clean up their properties and also

dispose of household hazardous waste properly without concern

about it damaging the local environment,” said Bay County

Utilities Director Jamie Jones.

Residents may drop off their yard debris, household garbage and hazardous waste at no charge and are

encouraged to bring recyclable materials as well. Fish ponds stocked by the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Commission are located on the property and will be open to fishing for customers who drop off

recyclables from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers must supply their own fishing equipment and bait, and

children must be accompanied by an adult.

This event is open to Bay County residents only. Proof of residency is required (e.g., driver‟s license,

power bill, voter registration card).

The following materials will be accepted:

•

Appliances (air conditioners, dryers, stoves, washing machines, etc.)

•

Construction and demolition debris (concrete, lumber, sheet rock, etc.)

•

Trash (kitchen garbage, furniture, carpet, clothes, etc.)

•

Household hazardous waste (pesticides, paints, used oil, fluorescent tubes, antifreeze, etc.)

•

Small engine containing devices (lawn mowers, weed eaters, edgers, etc.)

•

Tires

•

Yard debris (grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, etc.)

•

Recyclables (batteries, paper, plastic, metals, computers, cell phones, etc.)

Regulations prohibit disposing of appliances, household hazardous waste, small engine containing devices

and tires in landfills. The landfill accepts these items, but must process them separately from other waste.

If possible, please stage these materials in the load so they can be dropped off at the designated area.

Bay County will not accept gas cylinders, explosive materials, ammunition, or flares. However, residential

-sized propane tanks are accepted.

The normal tipping fees will still apply to commercial customers.

For more information, contact Bay County Solid Waste

Management at 236-2212.











CALL 265-3430

or 866-3400

NEW PRICE $950

DEAL OF THE WEEK

A Special Message to Club & Organization Media folks… The publishers of “Bay County People” invite you to join us, it„s FREE...promote your

club or organization on our portal website and in our E-magazine. Send us details of

your club or Organization, photos of past and future events.

We will share your information to thousands, and it‟s all FREE.

Please call 774-0977 or email [email protected]


ACROSS

1. Merchandise

6. Exploded star

10. Amount of medicine

14. A South American bird

15. Very imposing or

impressive

16. Weightlifters pump this

17. The meaning of a word

19. Sediment

20. Animal sexual arousal

21. Beer

22. Impoverished

23. Strike down

25. Thin and metallic in

sound

26. Resorts

30. A wise and trusted

guide

32. Summit

35. Later this evening

39. Choice

40. Asteroid

41. Notwithstanding

43. Failure to be present

44. Slob

46. To fake an opponent

out of position

47. Improvised flat floats

50. Communion table

53. Winged

54. 180° from NNW

55. It hangs from the necks

of turkeys

60. Drill

61. The financial means

whereby one lives

63. Ancient Peruvian

64. Roasting appliance

65. A dish of greens and

tomatoes

66. Consider

67. Make (one's way)

68. Foe

DOWN 1. Walk through water

2. Matures

3. Logs or timbers fastened

together

4. Arab chieftain

5. Cavity in the skull

6. Mesh

7. Narcotic

8. Ferocious

9. Pimples

10. Demoralized

11. A giant Boeotian hunter

(Greek mythology)

12. Statesman

13. Way in

18. Any doctrine

24. Babysitter's handful

25. Notes

26. Wearing footgear

27. Water carrier

28. Anagram of "Salt"

29. Backwash

31. Grave

33. Works

34. Not tricked by

36. Heredity carrier

37. Pawn

38. Tall woody plant

42. Deliberately vague

43. Picnic insect

45. Just short of a dozen

47. Fanatical

48. Without company

49. A comedy

characterized by broad

satire

51. Piercing tool

52. Increase

54. Sluggish

56. Comparative word

57. Lacquered metalware

58. Farm soil

59. Swirl

62. Finish

ANSWERS ON

Next page

ANSWER TO SUDUKO 1 ON next page

ANSWER TO SUDUKO 2 ON next page

SUDUKO 1 ….ANSWER ON previous page

ablate automatic ballet beast brick

cancel cause channel chord cobs

completion dine dissipate drill empty

feature grape hence lounge music

paper peach peek plane ranch really

rotor shale soup taken tees torch

valley vowel wander water weal

weird yellow

NEW ONLINE: www.baycountypeople.com

… special for clubs and organizations ...


SUDUKO 2 ….ANSWER ON previous page

ANSWER TO CROSSWORD PUZZLE ON previous page


...this is “good news”....for the first time, a web site and E-Magazine, dedicated to news of

clubs and organizations in Bay County Florida. Featuring information of past events and future happenings. And even better, it is FREE to any club or civic organization, all we ask, is that the club / organization, share with its members our

online edition, through email. The publishers will either supply an electronic edition of the e-magazine,

for membership distribution, or we can

email it direct to members.

Email you articles - photos - to [email protected]

850-774-0977


mailto:[email protected]

Florida

SLAP

distributor

carries on

family

tradition

Address:

2310 S. Hwy 77, Suite 110-201,

Lynn Haven,

FL - 32444

Phone: (850) 774-3186

About Florida SLAP

distributor carries on family

tradition:

Lee Ann Swartzentruber is carrying on a family tradition with Florida SLAP, a local

distributor of Slap Ya Mama Cajun products. The company was created by her aunt and uncle,

Jennifer and Tony Walker, of Walker & Sons Inc. The Walkers were looking for just the right

high-quality mix to please their convenience store deli customers in Ville Platte, La., who wanted

something a little less salty. So, they filled a pickle jar with salt, red and black pepper and garlic

and then let their children, Jack and Joe, get into the mix by rolling it around on the floor. The

original blend was introduced to the Walkers' customers in 1996 and demand quickly rose for the

spice mix. It became incorporated in 2001 and turned into a brand. Slap Ya Mama is now sold

throughout the U.S., as well as in Canada and the United Kingdom.

But Swartzentruber is the only family distributor, bringing Slap Ya Mama to Northwest

Florida with Florida SLAP. Swartzentruber was raised by her mother, Georgia, and Bob Walker

in Meridian, Miss. Bob Walker, the middle of three Walker boys, with Tony being the youngest

and Kenneth being the oldest, was the only family member to leave Louisiana. But Bob Walker

brought the Cajun cooking and the language with him, teaching Swartzentruber a little Cajun

French spoken by his mother and grandmother. From the age of 7, she grew up as part of the

Walker family, eating Cajun cooking at family reunions and crawfish boils with up to 300,000

pounds of crawfish. Initially, she just gave the Slap Ya Mama products to friends as thank-you

gifts and to initiate conversation with her job, but then found people were requesting it.

Swartzentruber, her son, Reid Garrett, and her husband, Cecil, started by working booths at area

festivals and farmers' markets.

They have been to more than 30 events since October 2009, with 26 during 2010. Family friend

Kayla Holder helps out during Thunder Beach, promoting the products while wearing chili-

pepper glasses. Florida SLAP supplies to more than 70 stores in Northwest Florida, from shops to

grocery stores and seafood markets. Slap Ya Mama started out with the mild Original Blend

Seasoning in the yellow can and has grown to include a medium White Pepper Blend Seasoning

and spicy Hot Blend Seasoning, as well as Cajun Pepper Sauce, Seafood Boil, Cajun Fish Fry and

Etouffee Sauce Meal Mix. Find Florida SLAP on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.


STARTING September 30th @ 7pm

EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

……...thru December 3rd………..

Challenge your friends to a SHOOT OFF!

Grub available at the snack-shack

9939 N. Hwy. 231 Panama City

(just before Bear Creek Next to the First Stop BP & Pro Gear store)

FOR MORE INFO CALL 722-6874 or 527-1373

PROCEEDS GO TO THE

NORTH BAY CHAPEL BUILDING FUND

Sally Sparks

to be an “angel

helper”

814-2488

Thank You!

Jeremy Tirado OWNER

850-653-6353 1793 Woodhaven Road

Fountain FL 32438

Complete Home Renova-

tions LLC. OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE

..answering the call...


Fleet Reserve on the Beach (Branch #346)

Fall TURKEY Shoot Fri @ 5 pm ** Sat @ 5pm …..$3 a shot…..

2117 Wilkerson Ave (behind Night Movies)


THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA

WILLIAM E. FISHER, JR


http://www.betsyannriverboat.net


Our Annual Appeal at

Christmas raises much needed

funds for the work we do among

the needy over the holidays. This

includes providing food, clothing

and toys for families to enable

them to experience the joy of the

Christmas Season. But your gifts

do not stop there. Funds not

e x p e n d e d f o r S e a s o n a l

Assistance are used throughout

the year to enable our charitable

work to continue to those in

need.

Please contemplate two slogans

we use frequently: "Need has no

season" and "Sharing is

Caring". Join with us in ministry

to the less fortunate by mailing

your monetary gift to the

Panama City Salvation Army

and contributing to the Red

Kettles when you pass them in

ffont of stores or the mall.

Origin of the

Salvation Army

Christmas Kettle Captain Joseph McFee had resolved in December of 1891

to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor

persons. But how would he pay for the food?

As he went about his daily tasks, the question stayed in his

mind. Suddenly, his thoughts went back to his days as a

sailor in Liverpool, England. On the Stage Landing he saw a

large pot, called "Simpson's Pot" into which charitable

donations were thrown by passers-by.

On the next morning, he secured permission from the

authorities to place a similar pot at the Oakland ferry

landing, at the foot of Market Street. No time was lost in

securing the pot and placing it in a conspicuous position so

that it could be seen by all those going to and from the ferry

boats. In addition, a brass urn was placed on a stand in the

waiting room for the same purpose.

Thus, Captain Joseph McFee launched a tradition that has

spread not only throughout the United States, but

throughout the world.

By Christmas, 1895, the kettle was used in 30 Salvation

Army Corps in various sections of the West Coast area. The

Sacramento Bee of that year carried a description of the

Army's Christmas activities and mentioned the

contributions to the street corner kettles. Shortly afterward,

two young Salvation Army officers who had been

instrumental in the original use of the kettle, William A.

McIntyre and N.J. Lewis, were transferred to the East. They

took with them the idea of the Christmas

kettle.

In 1897, McIntyre prepared his

Christmas plans for Boston around the

kettle, but his fellow officers refused to

cooperate for fear of "making spectacles

of themselves." So McIntyre, his wife and

his sister set up three kettles at the

Washington Street thoroughfare in the

heart of the city. That year the kettle effort

in Boston and other locations nationwide

resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for

the needy.

In 1898, the New York World hailed The

Salvation Army kettles as "the newest and

most novel device for collecting money."

The newspaper also observed, "There is a

man in charge to see that contributions are

not stolen."

In 1901, kettle contributions in New York

City provided funds for the first

mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison

Square Garden, a custom that continued

for many years. Today, however, families

are given grocery checks so that they can

buy and prepare their own dinners at

home. The homeless poor are still invited

to share holiday dinners and festivities at

hundreds of Salvation Army centers.

Kettles are now used in such distant lands

as Korea, Japan, Chile, and in many

European countries. Everywhere, public

contributions to the kettles enable The

Salvation Army to bring the spirit of

Christmas to those who would otherwise be forgotten -- to

the aged and lonely, the ill, the inmates of jails and other

institutions, the poor and unfortunate.

In the United States, The Salvation Army annually aids

more than 4,500,000 persons at Thanksgiving and

Christmas. Kettles have changed since the first utilitarian

cauldron set up in San Francisco. Some of the new kettles

have such devices as a self-ringing bell and a booth complete

with public address system over which the traditional

Christmas carols are broadcast. Behind it all, though, is the

same Salvation Army message, "Sharing is Caring."

Volunteers needed Every Salvation Army service needs dependable

volunteers to help with the fundraising efforts as well

as programs. If you can share time to assist in these

efforts, we encourage you to contact The Salvation


The Panhandle Chapter of the Florida Trail Association

by Ron Peterson, Chair, Panhandle Chapter, Florida

Trail Association

Incorporated in 1964, the

Florida Trail Association is a

501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer

organization that builds, maintains, protects, and

promotes the 1,400 mile Florida Trail, one of only

eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States,

in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. Our

volunteers also build and maintain other trails on

public land, that become part of the Florida Trail

System. With 18 regional chapters across Florida,

FTA provides recreational opportunities for

hiking and camping, as well as educational

opportunities to appreciate and conserve the

natural beauty of Florida.

One of these 18 Chapters is the Panhandle Chapter, organized in

1982. The Panhandle Chapter serves Bay, Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson,

Washington, and Gulf Counties, and is responsible for that part of the

Florida Trail lying between the Choctawhatchee and Apalachicola

Rivers. The chapter‟s first major trail project, in the late 1980s, was

construction of the Florida Trail through Pine Log State Forest, the

oldest state forest in Florida. The Pine Log Section passes through

the lovely Sand Pond Recreation Area, and includes a segment

coinciding with the old Military Road, built in 1823. Beginning in the

1990s, the chapter built the popular section of Florida Trail that

follows the wild and beautiful Econfina Creek that many find

reminiscent of sections of the Appalachian Trail. The Econfina

Section boasts blooming wild azalea and mountain laurel in the

Spring, a rare 10-ft waterfall, and two amazing suspension bridges -

Two Penny Bridge and Fender Bridge - that attract hikers from all

over northwest Florida.

Panhandle Chapter meetings and activities are attended by

outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Meetings are held in Panama City

Beach on the first Monday of each month. We meet at 6:30 pm at the Palms Conference Center of the

Sleep Inn across from Zoo World. Activities, including hikes, paddle trips, and campouts, are organized

at least once a month. Some of the most popular activities, featured annually, include the Econfina

Flower Hike, the Moonlight Hike, the Hike to the Springs, and the Pine Log Gathering.

Get the kids out from behind their electronic gadgets and into the woods to cure their “nature deficit

disorder”. As for you adults that might be looking for exercise, you‟ll find that a walk on the remote and

beautiful Florida Trail is far more interesting than that boring walk around the block.

Learn more about the Florida Trail and the Panhandle Chapter at www.floridatrail.org or

www.meetup.com/hiking-central-panhandle/ or call the Chapter Chairperson at 850 233 9351.


http://www.healthystartbfg.com

Bay, Franklin, Gulf Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.

850-872-4130 *or* 1-800-895-9506 We meet the 3rd Friday of every month, except Dec. and July, at noon at The Place downtown.


Ladies! Do you love to sing? Are you looking for a challenging hobby that will help you improve

your vocal production while sharing your gift of music with like-minded women? Are you seeking

an outlet for your creativity that will provide opportunities for performing, competition, and

community service? Harmony Shores Chorus, the Panama City chapter of Sweet Adelines

International, is conducting a membership drive and invites you to join us for rehearsal every

Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Bay High School Music Room. Please call (850) 872-9864 or visit

our website at www.harmonyshores.com for more information.

Murder, She Sang! Harmony Shores Chorus presents their annual show, “Murder, She Sang”, a

mystery set to music. Please join us for an evening of fun, mystery and a cappella harmony.

Saturday, November 5th, 2011, at 7 p.m. Arnold High School Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Road,

Panama City Beach, FL. Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. Group rates are available.

Please call (850) 235-2677 for more information.

We would like to welcome you to AVIS WHITE

CLEANING SERVICES where we take pride in our

work. We are always available to clean. Our hours of

operations are 7am to 7pm seven days a week. We

also offer emergency services. We specialize in condo

cleaning, carpet, business, office, residential, and

foreclosure cleaning. So if you would please be kind

and get your free quote today! We have CHEAPEST

RATES in town. If your not pleased the first time

then your next clean is ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! So

give us a call today and get your free quote.

THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE!

AVIS WHITE (850.763.6972)

Avis L White Cleaning Service

Please help

support our

FREE

publication…

advertising

is very

competitive,

see our rates at www.baygraphicspublications.com

or call 850-774-0977

Project 25 is underway for the

31st year in Bay County

The BCSO organizes and collects cash and new unwrapped toys for needy

children in our area. Last year over 500 children received toys, this year

the BCSO expect to help even more.

A car stuffed with toys is the result of support from the American Muscle

Car Club car show this past Sunday.

To donate please call the BCSO

at 747-4700 and ask for Ms. Becky Johns


Documents

Bay County People #2