Pumba looking for ‘furever’ home

If you would like a small, very enthusiastic dog to brighten your life and dispel the doldrums of these hot summer days, Pumba may be exactly the pup you’re looking for.  This cute canine is nine months old and a perfect mix of Schnauzer and Yorkie.  His coat, mostly black, is sprinkled here and there with accents of tan and white, and his eyes sparkle with an infectious zest for life.  He loves other small dogs, chasing his toys, and people who give him lots of attention.  And when play time is over, there’s nothing he enjoys more than curling up in a nice comfy lap.  Pumba and his pals are waiting anxiously to meet you at Alaqua Animal Refuge, each and every one of them hoping to find a loving forever home.  They’ll greet you with happy barks and exuberant wags of the tail.  Your visit will be time well spent — guaranteed!  And as for Pumba, he may be small in stature, but his heart is as open as all outdoors.

If you would like to adopt Pumba or any of the other available friends, contact Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-880-6399 or go online at www.aarflorida.com.
914 Whitfield Road
Freeport, Florida 32439

Open Tuesday – Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Bring the family for a tour of the facility.

Posted under Home/Garden

Photo courtesy West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club.

The West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club offers a variety of paddles in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. If you are interesting in becoming a member, you can go to their website at www.clubkayak.com/wfckc or contact Wes Mosteller at wesjane@earthlink.net

Guests are welcome on trips as long as they have the skills to safely navigate the waters being paddled.  Guests must sign a waiver form and have an Eglin Recreational Pass if the trip is on the Base.  Paddlers must supply their own boat.

Saturday, July 24, Turkey Creek

There will be a paddle on Turkey Creek, Saturday, July 24.  The group will assemble at Hardees Restaurant, south of I-10 prior to 9:00 a.m. and leave for the put-in at 9:00 a.m.  This is a wonderful paddle on a small, clear, twisty stream with underwater and overhanging obstructions. The paddle will begin at the Hippy Hole and paddle to the boat ramp in Boggy Bayou in Valparaiso.  An Eglin Recreation Pass is required for this paddle.

Bring water, sunscreen, a lunch, PFD, and anything else you require for a fun paddle. The WFCKC guidelines allow the trip leader to decide if dogs are allowed to attend paddles, and this paddle will be without dogs. For additional information, and to let the trip leader know if you plan to attend please reply to stonefrances68@gmail.com or call 850-482-4480.  Cell phone on the day of the paddle is 850-209-4575.  Please be aware that it is not possible to get service in some areas of Eglin where we will be driving.

Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous 2010, October 22-24

Mark your Calendars now — 
for the 2010 Florida Paddlers’ Rendezvous, October 21-24.

FL Sport Paddling Club (FSPC) proudly continues the Rendezvous tradition of bringing together Florida paddling clubs and paddling enthusiasts for a weekend of fun, friends and paddles.
This year’s base camp will be the Silver River State Park campground from which we will launch four days of trips that canoeists and kayakers of all skill levels will enjoy. Also join the potluck supper, program, nightly campfires, paddlers’ swap meet, and the wonderful exchange of friendship and paddling skills that evolves when so many with like interests come together.

The main event will take place Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, 2010. Make your reservations at Silver River SP now!! Pre-Rendezvous paddles will be held Thursday, October 21, for those who can come early. Trip details and a list of additional accommodations will follow when we have a website set up.
Please help us reach all who may be interested.   Send us any additional contacts you may have.  Please email Kathy, publicity chair, at KathrynVaughn@ATT.net with your questions, suggestions or information

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

Tons of fun this Independence Day weekend with events on Saturday and Sunday all over Walton County!

Freeport fun day and parade July 3

The Freeport Planters Association is hosting an Independence Day fun day and parade. Starting at 3 p.m., the fun will begin at the Freeport City pool with swimming, inflatables, rock wall along with hot dogs, chips and drinks for the entire family. The cost for lunch is $3.00 with proceeds going to the veteran’s memorial fund.  Then, at 5 p.m. enjoy the parade that starts at the corner of U.S. Hwy 331  and Hwy. 20 then marches to Freeport City Hall.  For more information, or to sign up for the parade call Eleanor at 850-835-5611

Fireworks at Seaside July 3

The spectacular Seaside Fireworks will be held on both July 3 and 4. July 3 show starts at 9 p.m.

Red, White and Baytowne July 3 – 4

Location: Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin
July 3 – 4:  The Village will have kids activities from 6 – 10 p.m., including kids’ crafts, facepainting, and balloon sculpting. House Band Coconut Radio will take the stage from 6-9 p.m.

July 4: Baytowne will have fireworks over the lagoon at 9:15 p.m.

Fun events in store at Seaside celebration July 4th

Kids enjoy the watermelon eating contest at Seaside July 4th celebration. Photo courtesy 30Aradio.org

Parade, watermelon eating contest, live music with Dread Clampitt and fireworks!

The Merchants of Seaside host a fun-filled Fourth for families of all ages! Kick off the Independence Day at the annual South Walton 4th of July Parade at 8 a.m., enjoy a variety of events during the day including a watermelon eating contest and music from 30A Radio. Then dance the night away with Stars & Stripes at Seaside; and salute the night sky with music from Dread Clampitt with special guest Sam Bush, then a spectacular fireworks display over the gulf.

Schedule:
8 a.m. – The parade begins in front of Seagrove Plaza. Everyone shares in the glory as participants march down Scenic Highway 30A from Seagrove dressed in patriotic costumes and on festive holiday floats, all vying your applause. Upon arrival in Seaside, a panel of judges will select winning parade entries and awards will be handed out. And, don’t forget your beloved furry friends; the crowd always loves patriotic pooches dressed in their finest holiday costumes. Interested in being in the parade? Click here for registration form

After the parade has ended and winners have been announced, enjoy music in the Amphitheater from 30A Radio until 11:00 a.m., along with face painting and a watermelon eating contest. Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Pilar looking for ‘furever’ home

Pilar is an Anatolian shepherd/Labrador mix. She is a year old, has intelligent brown eyes and a golden tan coat highlighted in all the right places with stylish white accents. Her sweet and gentle disposition make her a favorite among the staff and volunteers at Alaqua Animal Refuge.

She loves to go for walks and is great on a leash. While Pilar gets along very well with other dogs, and has even been known to befriend a cat or two, she gets a bit nervous around children. This being the case, Pilar would be happiest in an adult centered household. She’s hoping her special someone will come along very soon to offer her a loving forever home. If a new four legged companion is a possibility in your near future, please do consider a trip to our peaceful ten acre sanctuary, and a visit with Pilar. She and all her friends will be so happy to see you.

If you would like to adopt Pilar or any of the other available friends, contact Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-880-6399 or go online at www.aarflorida.com.
914 Whitfield Road
Freeport, Florida 32439

Open Tuesday – Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Bring the family for a tour of the facility.

Posted under Home/Garden

Help clean up debris left by humans.

Head to local beach access from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and help clean up trash

Please come out Saturday and Sunday, June 4 and 5, 2010 to clean the beaches before any evidence of oil arrives. If oil hits the shore, debris that comes into contact with oil will be considered hazardous waste and will need to be disposed of as such. By cleaning the beaches now, we can eliminate some of this debris.

Very Important: This is not an oil clean-up effort! This is to clean the beach of human trash like soda bottles, caps, plastic cups, etc. before oil arrives. Do not pick up any debris that has been oiled! Please see the safety guidelines below. SWCC is providing bags and gloves for anyone who needs them. They are available at the Seaside Farmer’s Market tomorrow from 8:00-1:00. See Chandra at the seed and sprout booth. 

We need to cover all 26 miles of Walton County. Please organize a clean-up effort at your nearest beach access. 

Guidelines

 Listed below are generally suggested guidelines for  pre-oil impact beach cleanups:
•    Use approved access points. (TDC Beach accesses)
•    Stay below the tidal line. (Stay away from dunes)
•    Pick up only man-made debris. Do not disturb natural vegetation or natural debris such as June grass, as  it often provides valuable nesting benefits to shorebirds and other wildlife.
•    Do not place debris in the dunes or above the high water line.
•    Do not use equipment such as rakes, shovels or tractors.
•    Either carry your collected bags of trash off the beach and dispose of them or place them at a TDC garbage collection point on the beach. Recyclables can be disposed of at designated recycling trailers located throughout South Walton.
Read More…

Posted under Beaches

Golf, kayaking, soccer and children’s activities fill fun-filled day

The WaterSound community is hosting their third annual Summer at the Sound family-fun day on June 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Village Commons, the community’s central gathering spot located at 530 Pathways Drive.  This event is free and open to the public.

Activities will include face painting, balloon artists, a bounce house, music and kayak tours on Lake Powell as well as swimming in the beautifully designed Village Commons pool and playing in the nearby kids’ fort.  The kayak tours will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and space is limited so registration is required.  Food will be available for purchase pool side from the WaterSound Beach Club.
Read More…

Posted under Kayak/Canoe, Outdoor Family Fun

Remove only man made litter along South Walton’s beaches as natural debris in place provides nesting benefits to shorebirds and other wildlife

A well-intentioned recommendation from Volunteer Florida urging eager people to move beach litter above the high water line to make cleaning up oil that may come ashore easier may prove harmful to beach nesting shorebirds.

Florida’s beaches and marshes are the nesting sites for many different species of birds—Plovers, Terns, Gulls, Pelicans, Herons, Egrets, Rails, and more. Beach and marsh nesting birds camouflage their nests, which are usually found above the high water line. In many cases, eggs blend in perfectly with the sand, are hard to see and are easily stepped on and can be inadvertently crushed.
If parent birds are frightened off of their nests even temporarily, eggs and chicks are exposed to extreme weather (sun or rain) as well as predators. Moving beach litter from the shoreline into dunes and areas above the high water line will lead to impacts to nesting birds and could result in damage to the dunes.
Read More…

Posted under Beaches, Nature

Phase I applications accepted until April 12

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is accepting applications through April 12 during its Phase I random drawing for quota permits to hunt wild hogs on selected wildlife management areas.

These quota permits are for hog-only hunts (both still and dog), where hunters can use modern firearms.  Many of the new summer hunts are night-only hunts.  In addition, permits for the dog hunts allow hunting with up to three dogs at a time, two hunters and one gun.
Read More…

Posted under Hunting

A least tern stands guard over its eggs on a Florida beach during shorebird nesting season. Photo courtesy FWC

Watch for nesting shorebirds this spring

As Florida’s residents and visitors venture out to the beaches to enjoy warmer weather after a hard, long winter, so do the state’s abundant and unique shorebirds. But there’s a big difference between the two beachcombers in Florida.

Shorebirds depend on those narrow stretches of sand to survive, not only in the short term, but to survive as a species. Without the proper nesting sites and feeding habitat, the number of shorebird species may decline. Some species’ numbers are already stressed, so accidentally disturbing their nesting sites would be particularly harmful.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges all beachgoers to be on the lookout for nesting shorebirds and give them plenty of space to perpetuate their species. Read More…

Posted under Nature

Four-mirror SteamPunk Picklescope with 2 interchangeable color-wheels by Chandra Hartman

23 emu eggs to be auctioned on ebay

23 locals showed their artistic talent recently to benefit Alaqua Animal Rescue. A rescued Emu at Alaqua donated the eggs which were painted, carved and embellished in a variety of fashion for the cause.

The eggs will be auctioned off on eBay April 2, 3 and 4 with all the proceeds going to Alaqua.  Currently the eggs are on display at the Harborwalk Village Alaqua Animal Refuge location for those interested in viewing the eggs.

For more information, go to http://goingtothedogsfl.com/
For more information about Alaqua Animal Refuge, go to http://www.aarflorida.com/

Posted under Home/Garden