Deborah Orr of Santa Rosa Pottery demonstrates the art of throwing clay. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Local potter offers wares, instruction at Santa Rosa Beach studio

Looking for a special piece of pottery or learn how to do it yourself? Look no further than Santa Rosa Pottery in Santa Rosa Beach.

Long time South Walton resident Deborah Orr, proprietor of Santa Rosa Pottery has been an artist most of her life and throwing clay since the early 1980s (the process of forming a pot out of clay on the potter’s wheel is called throwing). Orr creates artful and functional pottery using natural elements. The finished product is food safe, dishwasher proof, oven and microwave safe.

Originally from Kentucky, Orr grew up in a country town north of Lexington where her family thrived in the hardware business since the Civil War. After deciding to leave her hometown, Orr thought she would never find a place as beautiful as the Kentucky countryside; that is until she discovered Walton County and fell in love with the natural landscape of Northwest Florida.

Orr found a quiet 10-acre property nestled in a wooded area off of Don Bishop Road and developed her homestead. After a career as a schoolteacher and raising four children, Orr now focuses full time on creating her clay wares and continues to educate at her studio. Read More…

Posted under Home/Garden

The rule defines an “enclosure” as an area of land enclosed in such a manner as to prevent the natural ingress or egress of a fox or coyote

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a final rule Sept. 1 permanently prohibiting the chasing of foxes and coyotes with dogs within an enclosure in Florida.

The FWC has worked on this issue for more than a year, and the practice was temporarily prohibited in February.

Maj. Curtis Brown, head of the FWC’s Captive Wildlife and Investigations Section, presented the final rule and provided some options for hunters.

“Coyotes and certain other nonprotected furbearers can still be taken year-round using several methods, including dogs,” Brown said. “This can occur on open private lands and in specific wildlife management areas.”

The rule defines an “enclosure” as an area of land enclosed in such a manner as to prevent the natural ingress or egress of a fox or coyote.

“This is not about taking away hunting opportunities,” said Chairman Rodney Barreto. “I’m a big believer in fair chase, and I have a list of places where hunters can still engage in those activities.”
Read More…

Posted under Hunting

Posted under Fishing, Hunting

Nature festival a weekend of outdoor fun

Join the South Walton Community Council for a fun weekend of nature based activities Oct. 15-17. The Back to Nature Festival offers visitors and locals an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Walton County.

Kayak the dune lakes, take a river safari, go on an ecology walk, or bring the family to Seaside for a day of family fun.

Most events are about two hours long and cost $10 unless otherwise noted. Events will be closed after maximum participant limits are reached so register early! Registration will begin in mid-September. To register, Click here

Friday, Oct. 15

6 p.m. – Welcome Night at Bud and Alley’s - Come to the welcome night for the 9th Annual Back to Nature Festival at Bud and Alley’s Restaurant in Seaside!  Enjoy a strolling dinner with complimentary house selected wine or beer and cash bar.  You will have the opportunity to meet event leaders and fellow nature enthusiasts, register for events, and preview selected items for our silent auction to be held on Saturday.  All proceeds from the silent auction and a percentage of proceeds from the strolling dinner go to benefit the mission of the SWCC, to preserve and protect our natural environment.  $25 per person. ::MAP:: Read More…

Posted under Biking, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, paddle/surf/boat

Ponce DeLeon Springs. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Enjoy a free lunch and a swim at the springs

Time: 10  a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, along with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department and the Holmes County School System, will be sponsoring the 14th annual Picnic in the Park. As a way of saying “Thank you” to all visitors, free lunch will be served to everyone. This will be a fun event for all ages.
Fees: Entrance fees to the park will be waived for the duration of the event.
Contact: (850) 836-4281
Directions: Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Area is located one-half mile south of U.S. 90 on County Road 181A. ::MAP::

To learn more about Ponce de Leon Springs State Park Click here

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Barred owls at ECWR. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

4,000 sq. ft. facility boasts room for growth

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the Florida Panhandle for more than 15 years. Caring for a variety of wildlife found sick, injured or abandoned, ECWR has taken in everything from an injured osprey to orphaned beavers to abandoned exotic pets.

ECWR recently relocated to Santa Rosa Blvd. on Okaloosa Island from its formerly cramped quarters in Destin. The new 4,000 sq. ft. facility is four times the size of their previous location. The staff has also been increased now that the facility has growing room.

“We brought in more than 57 raccoons this year alone,” assistant director Patrick Gault, said.

ECWR has 17 ambassador animals and birds that are permanent residents at the facility. The ambassadors are wildlife that, for various health reasons, can no longer be reintroduced into the wild. These ambassadors serve as educational diplomats during educational presentations ECWR offers to the public. Read More…

Posted under Environment, Nature

Classes to be held at Gulf Coast Community College

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Bay County.

The course will be conducted at Gulf Coast Community College in the second floor lecture hall of the Student Union East building, 5230 West U.S. Hwy. 98 in Panama City.  Instruction will be from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 7, 9, 21 and 23.  The range portion of the class will be Sept. 28 from 7-11 a.m.

People who have taken the Internet course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report and attend only the Sept. 7 class from 6-10 p.m. and the Sept. 25 range day.

An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times.  Students should bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.

Successful completion of an approved hunter safety course is required for everyone born on or after June 1, 1975, before they can purchase a Florida hunting license.  The FWC course satisfies hunter safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.
People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.

Posted under Hunting

Celebrate Literacy Sept. 7 and 8

Time: 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Eden Gardens State Park is sponsoring a fun-filled afternoon of reading events, including The Great Word Hunt in which the students will search the gardens for letters and then utilize those letters to create words; the team creating the greatest number of words will win a small prize. The day will be finished off with reading time facilitated by different costumed characters reading to the children at various locations within the park.
Participation Requirements
Fees: Park entrance fees will be waived to participants.
Contact: (850) 267-8322
Directions: Eden Gardens State Park is located in Point Washington, off U.S. 98 on C.R. 395.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun, Parks

Head over to Seaside for some of the best bargains around!

Location: Seaside Amphitheater
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Turn those old sweaters, retro furniture, record albums, and books into cash. If you have something to sell, there is no better place to fetch top dollar than at the largest yard sale in Walton County held in the picturesque, coastal town of Seaside.

Featuring vendors sprinkled throughout the Seaside Amphitheater, this semi-annual event has become one of the top attractions of the year with more than 100 vendors, selling a variety of items at bargain prices.

Now is the time to get rid of those old collectibles and treasures you’ve been stashing in your garage or attic! Vendor Registration Forms are available online so register early as space is limited. Download a registration form online at: www.seasidefl.com/yardsaleregistration or request an application by calling The Merchants of Seaside at (850) 231-6107.

Posted under Home/Garden

Catch a big one this October!

Established in 1948, The Destin Fishing Rodeo is the ultimate fishing tournament for saltwater anglers of all ages.

• Open Everyday – October 1st through October 31st
• The Rodeo is FREE to angler’s fishing aboard a registered boat in the Rodeo. to contact a registered boat go to: www.destinfishingrodeo.org/registeredboats.html
• Weigh-ins everyday on the docks at A.J.’s Seafood & Oyster Bar from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.
• Open to Private and Charter Boats
• FREE entry for Pier, Bridge, Jetty & Surf Fishing
• Over 30,000 anglers compete throughout the month of October
• Over $100,000 awarded in cash and prizes
• Daily, weekly and overall prizes.
• Junior, Teen, Ladies and Senior Divisions.
• Virtually every gamefish is recognized with awards during the Rodeo. Whether you’re trolling inshore for King Mackerel, offshore for Marlin and Sailfish, or fishing the deep bottoms for Red Snapper and Grouper, you’ll be in the running for prizes. Click here for more information on tournament

Located on Destin Harbor.
1/4 mile East of the Destin Bridge. ::MAP::

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Fishing, Outdoor Family Fun