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By Heather Bennett One of the many great things about living along The Emerald Coast is our sense of community. We cheer on one another, we pray for one another, and we show up for one another when we are in need. Our community is passionate about showing up for...

Encouraging Connection with God and Our Community By Lori Leath Smith Destiny Worship Center Pastor Steve Vaggalis might not have known what the former Miramar Beach Taco Bell/Kentucky Fried Chicken would become when the church had the opportunity to purchase it in 2018. But the building located next to the Destin...

By Heather Bennett Hope is an optimistic feeling, based on the desire or wish for a positive outcome. Hope can also be faith in the unknown. For HOPE Project, Inc., hope means Healing Our Patriots With Equines. Through equine therapy, this nonprofit organization is giving hope to veterans, first responders...

25th Annual MKAF Festival of the Arts It’s almost here! Known as one of Northwest Florida’s premier fine arts shows, the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) Festival of the Arts is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year. The 25th annual event is set for Oct. 24-25,...

Fishing in our area isn’t a new phenomenon. It goes back over a thousand years. As far back as the seventh century A.D., the American Indians who called this strip of paradise home survived off the seafood in the area. Hundreds of years later, it is thought that Spanish...

Equipping our Schools to Prevent 2nd Leading Cause Of Death Ages 10-24 By Peggy Brockman, Hope Squad Master Trainer We think we know our children. Almost every parent who has lost or almost lost a child to suicide will tell you they had no idea. Suicide is the second leading cause...

By Lori Leath Smith Did you know? There are more than 55,000 active duty service members in the Northwest Florida region with more than 44,000 veterans in our area alone. Approximately 73% have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan since the tragic events of 9-11. Roughly 41% have service-connected disabilities. Approximately every...

By Aether Van Dyke Nightmares are not always only in the realm of the unconscious. They are often manifested through abuse and addiction. It is overwhelmingly common for people to find themselves going from a bad situation to a worse situation when drugs and other abuses become involved. Those struggling...

By Chad Perko, CBA Ecology Technician As an Ecology Technician for Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, one of my primary duties is to oversee our oyster shell recycling program. You may ask, “Why does an oyster shell need to be recycled and what does CBA do with it?” Well, it’s all about...

By Sula Skiles At age 20, I was given a modeling opportunity with a clothing line in another country. I was overwhelmed by the thought of this huge dream, that this could possibly be my big break in my new modeling career. It was too good to be true. They...