24 lifeguards endured chilly temperatures during training Mar. 5.

28 lifeguards getting ready for 2010 season start Mar. 13

24 of the 28 South Walton Fire District lifeguards started pre-season training and orientation on Mar. 5. With the Gulf water temperature of 59 degrees, each lifeguard has passed a rigorous physical ability test of running and swimming and began their additional physical training, emergency medical training, communications, customer interaction and service strategies.

With Beach Safety Director, Gary Wise watching from the shoreline, the lifeguards did a  beach run, a swim, one hour of board rescues and one hour of buoy rescues.
The lifeguards will be stationed at eight public beach accesses in South Walton Saturday March 13th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.  The lifeguard locations are: Inlet Beach, Bramble Grove/Santa Clara Street, Van Ness Butler Jr., Blue Mountain, Gulf View Heights, Ed Walline, Dune Allen and Miramar Beach public beach accesses.

For more information regarding SWFD and Beach Safety, visit their website at www.swfd.org

For additional information about the South Walton beach accesses, click here

Posted under Beaches

Walton County beach parks with lifeguards, easy access, parking, and restroom facilities

Walton County’s beaches in Miramar Beach and along Scenic Highway 30A offer many public beach accesses. Locals have their favorites, whether it be good surf, quiet strolls or the safety of a lifeguard available. South Walton Fire District lifeguards patrol eight locations. These eight locations offer adequate parking, restroom facilities, and three offer handicap access with wheelchairs available: Ed Walline at the corner of Scenic Hwy. 30A and CR 393, Bramble Grove/Santa Clara Street in Seagrove and Miramar, near Pompano Joe’s on Scenic Gulf Drive. Lifeguards are on duty from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., seven days a week from the second Saturday in March until the last Sunday in September.

Here is a list of beach access locations with lifeguards from west to east:

Miramar Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located on Scenic Gulf Drive off of U.S. 98 in western Walton County • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Dune Allen Access – ::MAP:: Located west of County Road 393 on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • Handicap access

Ed Walline Access – ::MAP:: Located at the intersection of 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Gulfview Heights Access - ::MAP:: Located 1/2 mile east of intersection County Roads 393 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Gulfview Heights Street • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking

Blue Mountain Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located at the south end of CR 83 • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Limited Parking

Van Ness Butler, Jr. Access – ::MAP:: Located between Seaside and WaterColor on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Ample parking lot on the north side of Scenic Hwy. 30A

Grove Road/Santa Clara Street – ::MAP:: Seagrove on Scenic Hwy. 30A • Lifeguards • Restrooms • Parking • ADA access with wheelchair available

Inlet Beach Access – ::MAP:: Located 3/4 mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Scenic Hwy. 30A, turn south on Orange Street • Lifeguards • Portable restrooms • Parking

Posted under Beaches

Events in Santa Rosa Beach include presentation Mar. 26 and tours of Scenic 30A Mar. 27

Almost two years after being designated as a Florida Scenic Highway, Walton County’s Scenic 30-A corridor is more vibrant than ever. After officially earning designation as a Florida Scenic Highway in May of 2008, Scenic 30-A has continued to work towards improving the overall traveling experience along the corridor. With continuous support and assistance from local residents, state and local government representatives, business owners, and community organizations, this 28.5 mile corridor will celebrate its natural, cultural, historic, recreational, archeological, and scenic resources during Florida Scenic Highway Day.

In celebration of this exceptional corridor the Friends of Scenic 30-A will be hosting an opening ceremony for Scenic Highway Day, Friday evening March 26, 2010 at the Walton County District 5 office located at 70 Logan Lane in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m (CST). During this opening ceremony, a short documentary on Coastal Dune Lakes will be shown following a brief presentation about the Florida Scenic Highway Program. That evening and the following day, visitors can stop by the office to pick up brochures, educational materials, and other information about Scenic
Highway 30-A.
Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Irish dancers in Seaside. Photo courtesy brandanbabineax.com

Dance an Irish jig at the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Seaside

The Merchants of Seaside invite everyone to all things Irish during their 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Enjoy the sounds of Irish/Celtic music, and to accompany the live music will be The Drake Irish Dancers of Fort Walton Beach who will be performing a variety of jigs and reels. The school has produced 2 Open Champions and one qualifier for the World Championship Competition. The dancers range in age from as young as 5 to adult. The dancers will take to the stage in the Amphitheater at 6:00 p.m.

If Celtic music is your pleasure, you will not want to miss Mithril taking the stage at 7:00 p.m. Mithril is fast becoming one of the most sought after Celtic/World music groups on the concert series scene. The band’s unique progressive style has its roots in traditional Celtic music but moves far beyond that, weaving such diverse influences as American folk, classical, and Middle Eastern melodies into their full tapestry of sound. Mithril continues to push at the boundaries, taking audiences of all ages on an exotic musical journey to Ireland, Scotland, and beyond.

And keep your eye out for our celebrated, special guest. The Seaside resident Leprechaun will make an appearance throughout the evening with her pot o’ gold.

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

Killdeer on Western Lake. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

This territorial killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) was spotted along the shallow mud flats of Western Lake in Santa Rosa Beach on Feb. 21. The bird must of been nesting in the area as she was not delighted with the presence of paddlers near her spot.

Posted under Birding

Campbell Lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Take a hike along a coastal dune lake at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Come and join the park folks for a hike. Visitors will be guided down the paved bike path leads you to a rare, pristine coastal dune lake for a 3.5 mile hike where park rangers will discuss coastal dune lakes.  Park at the Day-Use Area off Hwy 30A. $6.00 entry admission into the park.

Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A.

Call (850) 267-8330 for more details. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the park is located 1/4 mi. south of U.S. Hwy 98 on western end of Scenic Hwy. 30A.  ::MAP::

Posted under Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

Public invited to social hour and dinner

The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance invites everyone to join them for CBA’s Annual Meeting on the 25th of February to celebrate CBA’s move and the future of the organization.  Social hour will begin at 5:30, and dinner and the meeting will begin at 6:30. They would appreciate your RSVP by Friday, February 19th; please email cba@nwfsc.edu or call 850-267-1888.
109 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach

CBA spent the beginning of 2010 settling in to its new headquarters at the South Walton campus of Northwest Florida State College.

The NWFSC South Walton Center is developed on 16 acres of a nearly 30 acre site owned by the college that is part of the county’s government and education center. South Walton High School, the South Walton Library and the Walton County Government Center are located on adjacent parcels of the more than 110 acres originally acquired by the Walton County Commission from the state of Florida.
Read More…

Posted under Nature

Locals prepare for peaceful protest against pending legislation on Feb. 13, 2010

As the pending legislation for near shore oil drilling looms over the coastlines of Florida’s beautiful beaches, local businessman, Dave Rauschkolb has taken action to protest and bring awareness to the public.

Rauschkolb has created ‘Hands Across The Sand’  as an action dedicated to protecting our coastline and waterways from the devastating environmental effects of oil exploration and support industries, and are organizing a protest along the Gulf Coast.

Mission Statement
1. To raise awareness about pending Florida legislation to drill for oil in our coastal waters.
2. To organize a Gulf coast wide and perhaps a statewide coastal movement to protest this legislation. This protest will bring thousands of Florida citizens to our beaches and will draw metaphorical and actual lines in the sand; human lines in the sand against near shore oil drilling in our waters. This event will be held on Saturday February 13, 2010.
3.  To convince our Legislators and Governor to drop any and all Legislation that would allow this folly.

Walton County area beach locations:

Main Protest Site: Seagrove Beach to Grayton Beach
(parking in Seaside and at the Van Ness Butler Jr. Beach Access between Watercolor and Seaside)

Additional Protest Sites with ample parking: Blue Mountain Beach Access, Dune Allen Beach Access, Ed Walline Beach Access, Gulfview Heights Beach Access, Inlet Beach Access, Miramar Beach Access

For more information, go to http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/

Posted under Birding, Fishing, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, paddle/surf/boat

Photo courtesy www.brandanbabineaux.com

Icy art at Gaffrey’s studio

Local resident Brandan Babineau shot this photo of Justin Gaffrey’s icy truck in Blue Mountain Beach Jan. 10. Looks like someone left the water on, perhaps just for some icy fun! Freezing temperatures have left this icy art intact for a few days.

Posted under Home/Garden

New improvements to trail head include parking, picnic pavilion and restroom with solar panel.

Parking, picnic area and restroom at western trailhead on Satinwood Drive

The U.S. Forestry is developing the trailhead on the west end of Point Washington State Forest Greenway Trail on Satinwood Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.

Parking is now available for 10+ cars and includes a picnic area pavilion, and bathroom for users of the Longleaf Trail system.
Construction should be finished by Jan. 31. ::MAP::

For a related story with the local area hiking trails, Click here
For more information about the Point Washington State Forest Greenway trail, you may contact 850-267-8325

Posted under Trails/Hiking