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

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

Roman Street will perform Sept. 5

Enjoy a movie and concerts under the stars!

As the summer comes to a close, Seaside keeps the events coming. Join us as the family fun continues as we invite you to curl-up with a blanket during Central Square Cinema on Friday night, enjoy fresh produce and other local finds at the Seaside Farmers Market on Saturday morning and rock the night away with live music on both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Just because school may have started doesn’t mean the events are over!

Fri. Sept. 3 – 8 p.m.
Movie: Grab your blankets and head to the Amphitheater for a movie under the stars. Enjoy this Academy Award Winning Disney film that will take you up, up and away!

Sat. Sept. 4
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Seaside Farmer’s Market  Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products and other unique offerings during the Seaside Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Located on the Seaside Amphitheater, directly behind Raw & Juicy, you’ll find local specialties that will help sustain our growers! Enjoy made from scratch breakfast at the market and other activities sure to liven up your morning!
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Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers Jennifer Jones and Bobby Stuart excavate a loggerhead turtle nest July 26. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

South Walton Turtle Watch Group assists USFWS, NOAA and FWC in relocation program

It was a busy morning on South Walton beaches July 26 as South Walton Turtle Watch assisted U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologists in relocating sea turtle nests.

The nests are being relocated to the east coast to ensure the sea turtle hatchlings do not encounter oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The eggs are removed within a week of hatching from the nest, placed in coolers with dampened sand from the nest, transported in a specially designed, temperature-controlled truck to the east coast. The eggs are then held under monitored conditions until the hatchlings emerge. When they hatch, they are being released into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Canaveral.
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Posted under Beaches, Environment, Nature

Full moon in the sky over the Gulf. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Lavender clouds across the skies over the Gulf of Mexico

With a full moon setting, a colorful morning awakes on July 26 on South Walton beach in Seagrove.

Posted under Beaches

Classes will be held July 27, August 3, 10

Get up-close and personal with Walton County’s coastal dune lakes. Classes will offer classroom type instruction, guided tours, and on-site discussion about different topics focused on coastal dune lakes. Topics will include: What is a coastal dune lake?, coastal morphology, water quality of coastal dune lakes, human impacts to coastal dune lakes, exotic / invasive species, and preservation areas involving coastal dune lakes.

Field trips will include visits to some of the lakes with guided tours ranging from the dunes at the outfall of a lake to descriptive history of the area, to investigating human impacts on the lakes. There is a maximum of 20 students.
 July 27, August 3,10
 – Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
You can register at any Northwest Florida State College registration office.

Read More…

Posted under Environment, Nature

Rip currents keep SWFD lifeguards busy with rescues on July 2. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

More than a dozen people rescued from the Gulf July 2

The SWFD responded to four water rescue calls involving eight distressed swimmers by 11:30 a.m. July 2 and four more by 2 p.m.

As SWFD lifeguards worked tirelessly to warn beach goers of the inherent dangers that the surf conditions presented, many times their warnings were ignored requiring the lifeguards to perform rescues.

The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) would strongly encourage all beach goers to familiarize themselves with the beach flag warning system, the color of the flag and heed the warnings and directions of SWFD lifeguards.

The present surf conditions, remnants of Hurricane Alex, are very deceptive; while the waves and clear water look very inviting, due to the widespread locations, total number and strength of the rip currents, swimming in the Gulf extremely dangerous at this time.

“Knee deep is too deep,” Sean Hughes, Deputy Chief of SWFD said as a warning to anyone entering the gulf in these conditions.

“We take every measure to be proactive and not reactive, preventing a situation from developing is far better and safer than having to responding to a swimmer in distress.” said Sean Hughes, Deputy Chief.

“We are very fortunate that no one was seriously injured this morning” said Gary Wise, Beach Safety Director, “we need beach goers to monitor and follow the beach flags and direction of our lifeguards, under the current conditions knee deep is to deep.” Lifeguards will be out in force this holiday weekend to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe 4th of July at the beach.

Posted under Beaches

Reed Waddle scheduled to perform July 7.

Celebrate the summer with great live music

The Seaside Summer Concert Series every Wednesday hosts popular acts from across the southeast, and beyond, in the Seaside Amphitheater. Many of the artists featured this summer have never performed in Seaside or anywhere along the Florida Gulf Coast, so don’t miss your chance to experience these amazing musicians. Below are the bands scheduled to perform in Seaside during the month of July. The concerts will be held at the Seaside Amphitheater 7 p.m. on Wednesdays
July 7: Reed Waddle – Since moving from his gulf coast hometown in Destin to Boston after Labor Day of 2009 Reed has had a series of career changing milestones. In 2009, Reed won the prestigious New York Songwriters Circle Grand Prize Winner, which helped launch careers of artists like Norah Jones, Jessie Harris, Gavin DeGraw and Kate Voegele, (One Tree Hill). One month earlier, he was a co-winner in the Mountain Stage NewSong Competition in Charleston, West Virginia, competing with thousands of songwriters from the US and Canada. Reed is nothing short of a strikingly unique singer songwriter. His soulful songs rage from deep within creating an instant bond. Reed’s music marries youthful pop sensibilities with a classic rock roots. The uncommon denominator that sets him apart is his voice; rich and meaty yet smooth…and all his own. Read More…

Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

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.
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Posted under Outdoor Family Fun

C.W. Roberts bulldozers prepare to close the outfall at Western Lake. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Coastal dune lake protection plan in effect

Local agencies in Walton County continue to work together to ensure that our coastline remains oil free and open for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.

The South Walton Fire District lifeguards have played a vital role on the front lines. This past weekend when a dozen quarter size clots of what appeared to be oil washed ashore, the lifeguards instructed beach goers not to touch it.  The lifeguards then notified the State Coordinating Office where the substance was collected and disposed of.

Residents or visitors are encouraged to call and report any suspected oil substance to the Walton county Sheriff’s Office Communication Center (850) 267-2000.  The suspected petroleum material is only supposed to be picked-up by those persons who have received proper training in handling it.  Walton County Public Works, the Sheriff’s Office Beach Patrol Units, and South Walton Tourist Development Council clean-up crews will pick it up.
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Posted under Beaches