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Boggy Bayou Fireworks Show The annual Independence Day fireworks display will take place at approximately 8:45 p.m., Monday, July 4. Pre-show music begins around 6 p.m. Some of the most popular vantage points for public viewing are Lincoln Park, Lions Park, Kiwanis Park, Niceville Landing and the Turkey Creek area...

By now, you’ve probably heard or read in Bay Life about the opening of ALDI in Niceville. Known for offering food (and more) at great prices, this new grocery store opened June 23. If the company stays on track, it will become the third-largest U.S. retailer in terms of...

By Doug Stauffer Okaloosa County was privileged April 18 to host history in the making. Almost 2,000 of us were blessed to say, “I was there to witness this historic event.” This date marked the 80th anniversary of the World War II Doolittle Raiders bombing of Tokyo. Eighty men launched...

Summer beach days are here, but what is there to do at night? (Especially for families!) PRESTO! at the Magic Parlor is bringing some of the best magical talent from around the world for a show filled with illusion, showmanship and outright hilarity. This 90-minute magical masterpiece is Inspired...

Saturday, May 7th | 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Sunday, May 8 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Grand Boulevard By Lori Leath Smith As a child growing up in Grayton Beach in the 80s, Jennifer Steele never dreamed she’d one day become the director of a non-profit that would help...

By Doug Stauffer They say blood runs thicker than water, but I witnessed what happens when colleagues choose to create an enduring bond. With its many branches, this extended family of the 919th Special Operations Wing (SOW) showed the heights achieved through genuine solidarity. I had the distinct pleasure of...

By Michelle Ruschman Publisher’s Note: Our area is blessed with several military installations, serving thousands of military personnel and possessing a significant deployment commitment. Consequently, our family and friends in the military are continuously placed in harm’s way. Fortunately, we have Fisher House, which provides a home away from home...

By Guery Clendening It is Spring! The flowers are blooming and Azaleas are beautiful this time of year. I love this season. To me Spring speaks of new beginnings. When I lived in Illinois, the winters could be harsh at times. I remember during one winter, looking out my office...

By Beth Clavier What’s in a name? Well, in Latin, “Sinfonia” means a group of musicians, which local founder, Artistic and Music Director Demetrius Fuller says is how Sinfonia Gulf Coast got its clever moniker. “I wanted Sinfonia to represent any group of musicians, not just a full orchestra, so we...

By Kenneth Books There is no cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder. And the expenses for families with a member who has autism are steep. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that, in addition to medical costs, intensive behavioral interventions for children with autism cost $40,000 to $60,000 per child per...