Niceville Republican Women Federated presented two scholarships in 2022.
Stella Hurley, a 2022 Baker High School graduate, read her essay on “Why I Am a Republican” at the June 6 meeting and met members and guests at NRWF. Stella will attend the University of North Florida. From left: Lana Wood, Diana Gilbert, Stella Hurley, Lourdes Adams, Jan Howard-NRWF President and Jane Stevens.
Brooke Lewis, a 2022 Niceville High School graduate read her essay on “Why I Am a Republican” at the July 11 meeting. Brooke will attend the University of Florida. From left: Lana Wood, Brooke Lewis, Lourdes Adams, Jane Stevens, Diana Gilbert and Jan Howard-NRWF President.
A Bed 4 Me Foundation has received a grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation, Inc., which will fund 150 new beds for children in need within Walton County. A Bed 4 Me serves families in Walton and Okaloosa counties providing beds for children ages 2 to 18 from low to middle income families. After a referral and introductory visit, a new bed, including a twin bed frame, mattress, sheet set, comforter and pillow, are provided to each child. A Bed 4 Me held a social and wine pull Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Hammock Bay Lake Club, 1850 Great Hammock Bend, Freeport. Information about A Bed 4 Me is available at abed4me.org.
Bluewater Bay Garden Club will meet Oct. 13. 10 a.m., in Rm 909 at Crosspoint Church CLC in Niceville.
Angel’s Attic Thrift Shoppe located on the campus of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Niceville will offer 50 percent off the entire store inventory, Saturday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The City of Niceville will dedicate and unveil three Florida historical heritage markers at 10 a.m. Oct. 6, in Niceville’s Lion’s Park. The Old Maritime City marker will depict the advent of the automobile when all commerce in the area was by water. In 1911, the steamer Belle, loaded with naval stores, sank with the loss of four lives, including local Capt. Noah Edward Burlison. The Niceville Fish Company operated by Claude Meigs and the Spence Brothers Fish Company were the leading commercial fishing industries of the Choctawhatchee Bay region, maintaining fish warehouses and fleets of boats. The Boggy Mill Company Site marker will highlight the timber and lumber industry during the early 1900s. The complex consisted of 40 acres, one of the largest lumber mills operating in the area.
The Niceville Fire 1934 marker tells of the fire that destroyed three grocery stores, a dry goods store, creamery, post office building, hotel, drug store and fish warehouses, estimated at $100,000 then, but would be worth $2 million now).. There was no running water with which to combat the flames and it appeared for a time that the town would be destroyed until the forest firefighters and CCC workers took charge.
The Annual Niceville Bazaar will be held Oct. 22 at the Niceville Mullet Festival Grounds from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The organizer, Freedom Life Compass, which moves women from recovery from drug addiction to empowerment, continues on its mission to raise funds for its Freedom House Project.
Vertex Solutions, a defense contractor headquartered in Niceville, was selected as a finalist for the GrowFL 50 Companies to Watch List. The 66 Finalists were selected from more than 400 nominations across the state and are now in the running to be named a GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Honoree. Fifty companies will ultimately be selected. Vertex is the only company from Northwest Florida represented. The awards event, now in its 12th year, honors impressive second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities and broadening new industries. Together, the 12th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch finalists represent nearly 2,000 jobs and generate more than $430 million in revenue. These companies anticipate a growth of 40 percent in revenue and 18-percent in employment by the end of 2022.
On Sept. 12, CALM was shovels in the ground for its groundbreaking ceremony of CALM Village! The Village will consist of seven cottages for the affordable needs of women and children in crisis. President Chanie Erb talked about how through God’s guidance, a dream has become a reality for CALM. Special thanks to Mayor Henkel, Councilwoman Cathy Alley and Civil Engineer Matt Zinke for attending. Thank you to Manna Church for providing refreshments and desserts.
Recently, First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded five outstanding Northwest Florida organizations with $5,000 each through the Hope Florida Fund including our own Westonwood Ranch in Freeport and C.A.L.M. Organization, Inc. – Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms in Niceville. She also awarded each organization with the First Lady’s Medal for Courage, Commitment & Service, which honors Floridians who are creating positive change in their communities. The First Lady recently launched the Hope Florida Fund to harness the charity of the private sector to give funds to deserving local non-profit entities through her Hope Florida – A Pathway to Prosperity initiative. She presented these awards to organizations in the area that are serving children and families in need, families going through a crisis, and families that have children with unique abilities.
