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By Will Estell If you’re a fan of the arts—whether visually, musically or through their power of healing, and if you live anywhere in Okaloosa, Walton or Bay Counties, then you’re likely already familiar with Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF)—the outreach and events this organization has been bringing to Northwest...

By Barbara Palmgren, Bay Life Reporter and Author, “Saving A Golf Course” I’ve come to realize that sometimes in life we are fortunate to have opportunities to step up in times of adversity, to be one more person to say, “Let’s roll. Let’s do...

By Kenneth Books The average human body contains about 60 percent water. And we die after about three days without ingesting liquids. Yet, most of us take water, the most crucial element in the world, for granted. The...

Resilience and Courage Define One Hopeful Place’s Sherry Jones By Doug Stauffer This story began four decades ago and details the extraordinary journey of a local girl who, at the tender age of 18 and fresh out of high school, found herself...

By Barbara Palmgren When I think about the beauty of the golf course at Bluewater Bay, and look at its blue and white logo with boat sails and golf clubs, I have to borrow a few lines from Roy Orbison’s famous song and change the lyrics: I’m going back someday, Come what...

By Christopher Manson In January 2022, a partnership between Okaloosa Island’s Gulfarium and the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism Department was launched. “C.A.R.E.”ing for Turtles takes place at the Gulfarium every Wednesday through the end of July; then every other Wednesday in August. The hour-long program is $15 for ages eight...

By Christopher Manson Last month, local anesthesiologist and paddleboard enthusiast Ryan Wegner headed to the Bahamas for a massive 80-mile, approximately 16-hour paddle event benefiting Piper’s Angels Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis. The Palm Beach Gardens-based nonprofit hosted its 10th annual Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis June 21-25. Wegner, the father of twin Autistic...

By Doug Stauffer America, the beautiful birthed in 1776, Immediately the world their focus did affix. Yet, with two hundred forty-six years now past, It’s time to be born again for America to last. Through wars and tumults, patriots braved, The voices against tyranny constantly raised. An adage of old, from Benjamin Franklin’s quill, “Rebellion to tyrants...

By Doug Stauffer For the first time in its 80-year history, the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point, N.Y., will witness an extraordinary accomplishment: three students from Niceville High School’s Class of 2019 will graduate together. Christopher Loffer, Gavin Wilson and Samuel Scholl will make history on...

By Heather Bennett Eye You probably know someone who’s had a cancer diagnosis or know someone who knows someone. It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been touched by cancer in some way. Our community is no different. People are affected every day. Michele Bailey, founder of Bailey Brigade, and her...