Mid-Bay Rotary’s 30th Annual Oktoberfest: Service to the Community
The Mid-Bay Rotary Club held its 30th Annual Oktoberfest in September at Merchants Walk in Bluewater Bay. The festivities included the Edelweiss German Band, Accordionist Walter Kasprzyk, Balloons by Mickey Cameron, The Emerald Coast Community Band, Folk Musicians Gary Schmitz and Ken Tate and Folk Musician Jody Lucas. There were over 25 vendor booths. The children’s multiple bouncy houses were again hits. The North Bay Fire District Fire Truck and Firefighter tours were great as well as informative. Served were Brats (over 1,900) and Sauerkraut (100 pounds), ¼ pound chicken (300 pounds), Hot Dogs (over 500) and German Pretzels were (600) cooked/sold (along with 240 cups of cheese). Beer sales (27 kegs) and wine sales (75 bottles) were noteworthy. Tips were split between Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program (Polio eradication) and ShelterBox. Mid-Bay Rotary specifically thanks Winn-Dixie, CHELCO, Rotary Spouses, Sibling, Kids and Friends, the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron; and its many sponsors who helped donate to the success of the Oktoberfest. Students from the Collegiate High School Interact Club and other student volunteers helped with the children’s rides, serving food and selling pretzels, sodas, iced tea and water. Net profits will go to the community (e.g., student scholarships and the Rotary Youth Camp) and to international projects (e.g., ShelterBox and Polio Eradication).
The Walton County Fair Celebrates 100th Anniversary
The Walton County Fair Grounds recently opened the gates on its 100th anniversary!
The fair has been a cornerstone of the community since 1924, with a mission to promote Agriculture & Home Arts, providing opportunities for youth and adults to showcase their talents in artwork, handicrafts, crops, and livestock. The fair also celebrates the heritage and heart of Walton County, reflecting the hard work and dedication of its ancestors. Each year, the food, the carnival rides, livestock shows and local entertainment have delighted residents with good, old-fashioned fun. This year’s centennial event honored those who, in the early days, helped make the fair what it is today.
Family Bay Day 2024 Brings Community Together to Celebrate Choctawhatchee Bay’s Natural Beauty
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA), in partnership with the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program and with financial support from the Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative through the Northwest Florida State College Foundation, successfully hosted Family Bay Day at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in September. A resounding success, over 450 attendees gathered to celebrate the beauty and ecological significance of the Choctawhatchee Bay.
It offered activities and educational Exploration Stations that provided participants with hands-on learning opportunities about the bay’s unique ecosystem. One of the most popular activities was fish printing, where families created fish prints, combining art with a lesson about local marine life.
“We are thrilled to have had such a wonderful turnout for Family Bay Day 2024. It’s inspiring to see families coming together to learn about and appreciate the incredible natural resources in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Events like this are crucial in building a stronger, more environmentally conscious community,” said Alison McDowell, Executive Director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance.
As part of the Family Bay Day celebration, the CBA also held the 2024 Amateur Photo Contest, inviting participants to capture the natural beauty and heritage of Northwest Florida. This year’s winners’ photographs truly embodied the spirit of the Choctawhatchee Bay:
1st Place ($250 prize): Avery Hale – Pelican at Maritime Park
2nd Place ($150 prize): Emily Ellis – Springs Serenity at Cypress Springs
3rd Place ($100 prize): Margot V. Penner – Sunset cast net at Basin Bayou
Honorable mentions will also be featured in the 2025 Mattie Kelly Environmental Initiative Calendar, which will showcase the breathtaking landscapes and moments captured around the bay.
Military Family Makes Stops in Niceville on Inspiring Journey to Run a 5K in All 50 States
Jeremy and Kelly Hough, along with their teen daughters, Campbell and Caroline, and their beloved pets Kona and Zulu, made a special stop in Niceville on October 17th. The family is running a 5K in each of the 50 states and the nation’s capital in a heartwarming initiative called “Miles for Smiles: Run 50 Strong.” This adventure aims to raise awareness for the cleft community, connect with other cleft-affected families, and support Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused nonprofit. “My daughter, Campbell, was born with a cleft. She was fortunate enough to receive some of the best care in the United States,” said Jeremy Hough, a career Air Force officer. “We know that too many children around the world don’t have access to proper high-quality cleft care. We’re running to help make a difference.”
Clefts are the most common facial difference worldwide, affecting approximately 1 in 700 babies. The condition can make it difficult for a person to speak, eat, hear and breathe.
Campbell is the inspiration behind the family’s partnership with Smile Train, which has supported two million free cleft surgeries globally. “I’m proud to partner with Smile Train, because I know the work they do is lifesaving. As a cleft-affected person, I want to help ensure the global cleft community is seen, heard and supported,” said Campbell.
To date, the Houghs have raised nearly $100,000 for Smile Train, funding vital cleft treatments for thousands of children across more than 75 countries.
“Miles for Smiles: Run 50 Strong” started on September 11 in Anchorage, Alaska, and will conclude on October 31 in Maui, Hawaii. To support the Hough family and find out more about their stop in Niceville, as well as a full list of locations, visit https://www.smiletrain.org/miles-for-smiles/locations.
