Spring Break has Sprung

Transcription

March–April 2015
Now online at theseasidetimes.com
Spring Break has Sprung
A local’s take on
family fun for your
spring vacation
By Debbie McChesney
If you’re wondering what to do
with your kids this year during
spring break in Seaside, the limitless activities available leave little
room for boredom — rain or shine.
And many of them are free.
Start at least one or two mornings with a treat. Modica Market
offers an array of baked goods every
morning including croissants, muffins and doughnuts. Send the kids
in with a few dollars each and let
them pick out their favorite pastry
— the chocolate chip muffins never
fail to please.
On Saturday mornings, take your
family into town to explore the Seaside Farmers Market. With an array of vendors, you can buy locally
grown produce, homemade pies
and cookies, and more while enjoying some freshly cooked food along
the way. With activities aplenty go-
Seaside lives up to its title as the Travel Channel’s Best Family Beach, with fun activities for all ages.
Photo by Ron Calamia
ing on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the
market, you can enjoy sampling the
various produce, nut butters and
pastries while the kids run around
the amphitheater field meeting new
friends. If it gets too hot, Frost Bites
famous shave ice is right on the corner for a sweet treat. Or grab a fresh
smoothie from Raw & Juicy.
The Coastal Dune Lakes
Documentary and Its
Connection
By Nic Stoltzfus
As part of the crew that has been
working on the coastal dune lakes
documentary in Walton County this
past year, I am pleased to say that we
are finally finished. This documentary, “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels
of Florida’s Emerald Coast,” will be
shown on public television stations
throughout the state of Florida in
April and will premiere on stations across the nation in July. Even
though this story will be aired on TV
throughout the United States, the
documentary got its start in smalltown Seaside.
In the fall of 2013, Elam Stoltzfus
(my father), received funding from
the St. Joe Community Foundation
to produce a documentary about
If you’re heading to the beach, umbrellas and chairs are available from
the Cabana Man service, which also
has stand-up paddleboards and kayaks — both single and double — to
rent hourly and take the kids on the
water. The smaller swell and clear
water of the Gulf offer the perfect,
safe place to learn to surf. Sign up
for surfing lessons at Austin Magee
Surf School at (850) 217-4042, located on the beach. Check out his
Facebook page for additional information, photos and rave reviews.
Also for the blooming angler, you
can contact Kyle Swift for rod and
reel rentals and some surf fishing
lessons at (770) 880-8767, or find
him on Facebook (look for “SwiftlyHooked” on Facebook).
Seaside has three pools — one
covered for shade, one for adults
only and one on the west side. The
largest of the three, the west pool
has a Cool Bites grill that opens
March 7 and will be open daily from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., making it a great
option for lunch or dinner with the
kids. They swim and play while dinner is cooking. No wiggling around
at a restaurant.
For a break from the sun or to
escape a rainy day, paint your own
clay masterpiece at Fired Up Paint
Your Own Pottery at (850) 2313211. At the end of the day, you’ll
have hand-painted souvenirs to
take home and enjoy. Or join the
Spring Break cont. page 2
The Joffrey
Ballet Concert
Group preps for
its debut
performance
By Wendy O. Dixon
This spring, the merchants of Seaside will host America’s premier ballet
company, The Joffrey Ballet Concert
Group. The performance company
of the Joffrey Ballet School in New
Costal Dune Lakes cont. page 11 York City, the concert group will have
its debut performance in Seaside
on May 2. The show will include 30
Joffrey company members performing a variety of dances ranging from
modern and jazz, to classical ballet.
During a three-day workshop held
in Seaside, 15 selected local dancers
will be trained by Davis Robertson,
choreographer and artistic director, and will perform in Seaside at
a later date. Robertson is planning
to bring his Joffrey Ballet Concert
Group dancers as demonstrators
and teaching aids for the workshop
April 30-May 2. Rehearsals will be
conducted by Seleta Hayes Howard, Seaside’s “Nutcracker” ballet
Davis Robertson, choreographer
and artistic director for the
Joffrey Ballet
mistress and ballet teacher of the
Dance Academy of Seaside Neighborhood School.
For those wanting to take in the
show, cottage rentals are available
through the partners of the Seaside
Community Development Corp.
— Cottage Rental Agency, Homeowner’s Collection and Sunburst
Luxury Collection, which have the
variety of homes, including a cozy
one-bedroom romantic retreat or a
luxury resort hotel experience with
concierge service.
To reserve a cottage and see the
performance, visit Seasidefl.com/
vacation/rentals. c
Page 6
Page 10
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Page 17
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Page 26
Women of
Seaside
Beach Bites
Floral Wines
30A
Radio
Duck
Olympics
Seaside
Institute
Cranky
Yankee
Page 2
March–April 2015
T h e S e a s i d eTi m e s . c o m
Spring Break
Continued from page 1
Seaside Repertory Theatre for Stories
by the Sea, a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience for kids of all ages.
Offered every day at 3:30 p.m. except
Sundays, the event is free, and every
day offers a new story and opportunities to participate.
A favorite family tradition for many
Seasiders is to end each day on the
beach watching the iconic sunsets of
the gulf while listening for the Bud &
Alley’s restaurant bell to signify that
another day is done. Also don’t forget
to check the schedule for evening activities in the Seaside Amphitheater.
There is sure to be some great music
or a fun family movie to enjoy. c
Seaside was named Best Family Beach by the Travel Channel, in part because of its family focused activities and bike friendly streets. Photos by Jack Gardner, Clark Maxwell and Modus Photography
March–April 2015
Page 3
Page 4
March–April 2015
Happenings About Town
Editor’s Letter
Spring break is upon us again. And as the restaurants, retailers, service and
. We’d like to
cottage rental partners welcome you to beautiful
share the latest news with you to help make your stay here even more special.
While you were making your spring break plans, a few fortunate artists from
around the country were invited to participate in the Escape to Create artist residency program, held each January and February. The program offers artists a
chance to work on their art projects and showcase their songs, documentaries,
architecture, books and more while contributing to the thriving arts culture in
Seaside. You can read about the program and the artists on page 7.
Our cover story tells of one of 2014’s Escape to Create artists. Elam Stoltzfus,
along with his son Nic, has been working on a film featuring the rare coastal
dune lakes of South Walton. This documentary, “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels
of Florida’s Emerald Coast,” will be shown on public television stations across the state of Florida in April and
will premiere on stations across the nation in July.
Seaside is always in the news in some capacity or another. Being named Best Family Beach by the Travel
Channel is the latest accolade this iconic town received. Congratulations!
Wendy O. Dixon
Editor
editor@theseasidetimes.com
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Special Olympics Florida - Walton County basketball team celebrates after participating in County
Games at Emerald Coast Middle School in December 2014. See page 17 for our story on the upcoming Duck Olympics this Easter in Seaside. The Duck Olympics is a fundraising event to benefit Special
Olympics Florida- Walton County. Photo courtesy Mike Schumacher
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Kevin Boyle
Susan Benton
Cory Davis
Wendy O. Dixon
Diane Dorney
Karen Granger
Laura Holloway
Rebecca A. Huber
Jacquee Markel
Debbie McChesney
Mark Schnell
Lori Leath Smith
Nic Stoltzfus
Katie Tammen
Tracy Townsend
Susan Benton
Ron Calamia
Evan Carter
Photography
Jack Gardner
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Modus Photography
Lynn Nesmith
Director of Public Relations and Marketing
Seaside Community Development Corp.
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lsmith@seasidefl.com
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Seaside, FL 32459
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March–April 2015
Page 5
Breaking the Chains
By Mark Schnell
I have a confession: I love
Chipotle.
Yes, I’m talking about the
national chain
of “fast casual”
restaurants
with the industrial look and
heavenly burritos.
Of course, this will not surprise
any of my friends and family who
have watched me bring an extra
burrito home from Tallahassee,
or more recently, drive to the new
Chipotle in Destin to get my fix.
But this might come as a surprise
to those involved in the local debate over the Hampton Inn proposed for Seagrove. They might
think I don’t like chain businesses. Not true. I just like them to be
in the right places.
The proposed Hampton Inn
development has sparked an
unprecedented uproar. A huge
number of locals, second homeowners and visitors are strongly
against it. I’m one of them. There
are several levels to the opposition, and the fact that it’s a
chain hotel is only one of them
(it would be the first chain hotel
along Scenic Highway 30A). The
proposed development, which
also includes a mysterious and
tiny 660-square-foot retail use
within the pool area (a ridiculous
attempt to meet the mixed use
requirement), has sparked widespread opposition in the community because of its standard
prototype design, impacts on
traffic, beach accesses, parking,
drainage and safety, as well as its
incompatibility with the abutting properties and surrounding
neighborhood. Last but not least,
it doesn’t conform to the rules for
the Village Mixed Use category.
(The Walton County commissioners will most likely make
their decision on March 5, right
around the publication of this
column.)
But the fact that a chain hotel has been proposed for 30A
means that our days with only a
small handful of chains might be
coming to a close. We’ve been
“discovered” — even by corporate America — and we’re facing
a new wave of development. As
with any real estate boom, some
development will be good, some
will be negative. As a community,
we need to find a way to make
sure that the growth — which is
inevitable — actually enhances
our lives and reinforces our brand
to the greatest degree possible.
So how would I react if my
beloved Chipotle (or any of the
other chains I gladly patronize)
were to open on 30A? Believe it
or not, I would be very sad to see
that happen. The brand of 30A as
a destination and as a communi-
URBAN DESIGN
ty is that we are a one-of-a-kind
place, full of mom-and-pop locally owned businesses and very
high quality design. You simply
can’t find another place like it.
When we begin to be just like every other generic place — “Anywhere USA” — then we will lose
our competitive advantage. Even
though I love Destin and Panama
City Beach, we really don’t want
to follow their lead. It’s simply
not in our best interests.
I’d like to see our community
continue the discussion about
chains, and even consider banning some of them. Many communities have done this, and each
has tailored their laws to their
unique needs. Each community
selects a number of business locations — often in the range of
11 to 15 — that define a business
as a chain or “formula business.”
Most of these ordinances do not
include such common chain businesses as gas stations, grocery
stores, and banks in their ban.
And most limit the ban to certain geographical areas, such as a
downtown or historic district.
We could follow suit, banning chains only along 30A and
the feeder roads (existing chains
would be grandfathered). That
would send the national chains
up to locations along Highway 98,
which is a more natural and ap-
www.seasidefl.com
propriate place for them.
In addition to a possible ban on
some chains — or maybe in lieu of
it — we should implement some
basic design standards. Mostly,
I’m referring to codes that regulate the typical zoning issues of
height, setbacks, etc. rather than
architectural style. However,
we could consider architectural
standards in some cases, if warranted. There are model codes
such as the SmartCode that can
be calibrated for our local conditions. Ideally, we would implement such a code throughout
South Walton. But even if it were
used on a very small scale — to
rescue the troublesome Village
Mixed Use category, for example
— it would help the situation.
Despite my love for Chipotle
(seriously, the hot salsa is amazing), I hope there will never be
one along 30A. But I will happily
drive — or maybe even bike — to
a location along Highway 98 to
enjoy my favorite burrito. We are
stronger when we keep our standards very high and reinforce the
unique qualities that make our
home such a remarkable destination and place to live. c
Mark Schnell is an urban designer
based in Seagrove Beach.
Page 6
March–April 2015
WOMEN OF
Pioneer Women
Meet the leading ladies who make
Seaside a better place
By Wendy O. Dixon
As we continue our year-long series on the women of Seaside, we
shine the spotlight on three women
with diverse backgrounds, careers
and interests. In their positions as
leaders, they show their commitment
to enhancing the Seaside community
by running a business, heading up an
artist residence program, contributing to local charities and caring for
animals.
As one of the most respected small
towns in the world, Seaside lures
people with an appreciation for the
town’s new urbanism design and the
principals the town has come to embody. Women are an inspirational
part of that vision; women who know
what they’re working toward and
who are doing what matters.
These women have sought opportunities, faced challenges and overcome obstacles. They have rolled up
their sleeves and put in long hours to
cultivate their dreams.
They are leaders in the community,
and have inspired many more women
to contribute their skills and talents
in Seaside. They’ve shown that working with each other can make all the
difference between floundering and
succeeding in business. With a generosity of spirit, they extend a helping
hand, share resources and give credit
for a job well done, knowing that a
rising tide lifts all boats.
Wendy Mignot
Her fine pearl and leather jewelry
has graced the cover of Vanity Fair
and been worn by Hollywood’s Alist celebrities.
Her collection
is a world-renowned brand
defining the
Gypset Style.
You may think
the creator of
one of the hottest
jewelry
lines
would
hail from Los Angeles or New York,
but jewelry designer Wendy Mignot,
originator of Tahitian and Fresh Water Pearl and Leather Jewelry collection, ushers in her unique collection
from Seaside.
Owner of La Vie Est Belle (meaning “life is beautiful”) in Seaside,
Mignot’s trademark Fine Pearls and
Leather Jewelry collection includes
the finest Tahitian, South Sea and
freshwater cultured pearls, as well as
sea glass, shells, stones and an exclusive presentation of ancient and shipwreck coins on hand-rolled leather,
tied with precision and care.
An artist all her life, her latest
jewelry designs began to take shape
while sailing in the Caribbean, Virgin
Islands, Aruba, St. Bart’s, the Bahamas, Panama and Central America
with husband Jean-Noel Mignot.
From there her designs have grown
into an international brand.
After losing a sail boat in an accident, they bought a Volkswagen
van, heading from Canada to Central America, stopping in Seaside to
visit Jean’s parents, who were having
a trunk show for their jewelry. “We
stopped to see them and never left,”
Mignot says.
The fell in love instantly with Seaside. And in 2004, opened a coffee
and wine bar and art gallery, where
Wendy introduced her pearl jewelry,
in Ruskin Place. After great success in
Ruskin Place, they later opened Café
Rendezvous in Central Square, selling wine and pearls, as well as coffee.
Finally, her current location became
available, and she narrowed her merchandise to focus on her expanding
pearl jewelry collection.
Mignot says Seaside founders Robert and Daryl Davis were instrumental in her success in Seaside. “Daryl
has always been very encouraging
to me, she’s a great inspiration,” she
says. “As a mentor and businesswoman, she has always been there
for me every step along the way and I
have great respect for her. One thing
that sticks out in my mind from my
conversations with Robert is when
he said, ‘We do a lot of things here.
Some things work. If they do, we
keep them going. And if they don’t,
we try something else.’ It’s a simple
philosophy but I think it’s a great way
to look at it.”
Did you see leaving behind a nomadic lifestyle and starting a business here as a risk?
We are risk takers, life is a risk and
we go all out. We’ve traveled on sailboats with babies and some people
thought we were crazy. But I like to
live life with grit. When we came to
Seaside, we saw this new town and
it was incredible to find a place this
beautiful. It was perfect.
What do you think of when you
consider how far this town has
come, how many people visit here
and invest in the Seaside lifestyle?
We arrived in 2004, which I think
was the turning point for the town.
The artistic community was so overwhelming to me, and I felt at home.
It was really a dream come true. Life
is island-like here in Seaside, where
30A is an island and Seaside is the
heartbeat.
What’s the single most important
attribute in differentiating good
businesses and great ones?
Originality and great customer service. That’s why year after year people
come back to me. I’ve built wonderful relationships with my collectors;
I don’t call them customers. I see my
jewelry adorned on beautiful people
and it’s such an inspiration. When
I do something, I do the best; I will
always strive to be the best.
What are your principles for success as a leader in the community,
and also in life?
The secret to success in life is to
“live your love!” I believe you have to
give back for things to come to you.
Being part of this community, we
know that it takes a village to raise
a village, so I’m active in several local charities. We sponsor the Seaside
Neighborhood School Half Marathon each year, raised $12,000 for
the Boys & Girls Clubs in 2014 and
give to Food For Thought and Alaqua
Animal Refuge.
Laurie Olshefski
As
owner
of The Fitness
Fetish Family
Sport & Beach
Shop, an upbeat
shop
known for its
great
selection of positive
lifestyle clothing, Laurie Olshefski lives the lifestyle of one with
a fetish for fitness. “If I’m selling it,
I’m wearing it and living it,” she says.
“I don’t do it just for money, it has to
come from the heart.” Her motto —
Exercise and Accessorize — suits her,
as she elegantly mixes fitness gear
with a little bling.
The fitness shop celebrated 20
years in business in 2014. Laurie,
along with her husband John Olshefski, started out with a 250-squarefoot retail shop in Seaside. She taught
fitness classes in Seaside, with many
of her students, including Seaside
co-founder Daryl Davis, being other
Seaside shop owners and employees.
Olshefski says she looks for products with a mission to help people.
One of her apparel brands is “Life
is good,” whose charity, Playmakers, helps kids around the world in
need of love, safety, health and joy.
Brooks, a running shoe and apparel
brand, raises money for breast cancer
related charities. Many products in
the Olshefskis’ stores revolve around
companies with social missions.
She still teaches yoga in Panama
City Beach, and plays key roles in
leadership idea camps and the Women’s Work-Life Symposium, where
she shares ideas and tips with others in business community. She was
a recipient of the Retailer of the Year
award in 2011 by the Florida Retail
Federation, and won the 2012 Glenn
Shepard National Excellence in Leadership Award based out of Nashville.
She credits Seaside founders Robert and Daryl Davis with providing
guidance and support when she was
a young entrepreneur with a lot to
learn. “Daryl would personally cut
out articles and display ideas for us
to use for our store,” she says. “She
and Robert also hired consultants
to come to Seaside and work oneon-one with us merchants to help
us with merchandising and how to
improve displays. They held workshops for the Seaside merchants to
provide training on customer service
and sales techniques by retail experts.
I learned a great deal about retailing
from these talented and creative consultants.”
Did you see starting your careers
here as a huge risk?
I was 28 when John and I started
our business in Seaside. We didn’t
have children at the time. We looked
at the beautiful area of Seaside as
wonderful opportunity, not a risk.
What do you think of when you
consider how far this town has
come, how many people visit here
and invest in the Seaside lifestyle?
We are thankful and happy to be
able to say that we are one of the
long lasting pioneering merchants
of Seaside. We have witnessed the
rise of the popularity of Seaside, and
watched all of 30A grow into a lifestyle because of Seaside’s influence as
the founding nucleus.
What’s the single most important
attribute in differentiating good
businesses and great ones?
I think great businesses care —
they care about their customers, their
employees and their mission. When
everyone cares about their job and
each other, everyone works harder
and success happens.
What are your principles for success as a leader in the community,
and also in life?
There are many principles I use as
a leader in our company, as a yoga
teacher and a mother. Being a great
leader is being a good example in the
way you move through life. The principles I strive most for are staying optimistic, keeping a strong faith, having courage, living a healthy active
lifestyle, embracing change and challenges, striving to be different and always continuing to work on improving skills and self- development.
My goal as a leader is to be a multiplier — a leader that brings out the
best in the talents and skills of others,
helps others to blossom and helps to
create future leaders.
Marsha Dowler
M a r sh a
Dowler came
to
Seaside
for the first
time in 1992
with her husband,
David, who had
been coming
to
Grayton
Beach every
summer since 1948. The two were
married in Seaside in 1994, and
Marsha quickly became involved in
her new community.
Her first visit was during the winter, she recalls, the same time as the
first Escape to Create (E2C) event, a
temporary artist residency program.
As the only such residency of its kind
in the Florida Gulf region, Dowler
recognized the importance of the
program and volunteered to help.
Seaside founders Robert and
Daryl Davis value the importance
Pioneer Women cont. page 11
March–April 2015
Page 7
Escape To Create
ART
Unique residency program is a haven for budding artists
By Wendy O. Dixon
Creative types sometimes need
a change of scenery to nurture
their artistry. The natural beauty
of the gentle coastline of Northwest Florida — as well as the inspirational treasure that is Seaside
— seduces artists, poets, novelists, musicians, playwrights and
composers from all over. Each
winter, Seaside plays host to a
spectrum of artists who can immerse themselves in their work
through Escape to Create (E2C),
a unique artist-in-residence program founded by Seaside’s cultural pioneers as a program of
the Seaside Institute and a core
element of town-making. Creative
types sometimes need a change of
scenery to nurture their artistry.
The natural beauty of the gentle
coastline of Northwest Florida —
as well as the inspirational treasure that is Seaside — seduces
artists, poets, novelists, musicians, playwrights and composers
from all over. Each winter, Seaside
plays host to a spectrum of artists who can immerse themselves
in their work through Escape to
Create (E2C), a unique artistin-residence program founded
by Seaside’s cultural pioneers as
a program of the Seaside Institute and a core element of townmaking. “It’s so rare in this world,”
says Marsha Dowler, president of
Escape to Create artists — Left to right: Author and Naturalist, Mark Hainds; Mixed Media Artist, Janet Satz; Composer, Tyler Capp; Works on Paper, Donna
Ruff; Music Theatre, Heather Robb; YA Author, Bobbie Pyron. Photo by Karen Holland
the Board for E2C. “Where else do
your neighbors and friends open
their homes for artists and their
friends to come work on their
art? The entire community — the
homeowners, financial contributors, the partnership with the Seaside Repertory Theatre (REP) as
a fellow non-profit and our merchants — all elements of the community come together to offer this
year after year. It’s a humbling experience, but such a privilege to
bring together and connect them
to what these artists bring.”
First as community volunteer and
then as a 12-year board member of
the Seaside Institute and director
of the program, Dowler has played
a key role in promoting Seaside
as a vibrant cultural community
through guiding Escape to Create’s
emergence as the nationally recognized artist residency it is today.
“In the late 1980s and early ’90s,
there were few art galleries in the
area, no theater or film outlets,
and a fledgling bookstore,” Dowler says. “During these early years,
as many as 12 artists — composers, painters, writers, photographers, architectural scholars, etc.
— would be invited to spend the
month of January in a new town
that didn’t even exist yet on Rand
McNally maps.”
By the economic downturn of
2008 and 2009, the overwhelming
success of Seaside as the model
for New Urbanist communities
and sustainable place-making had
long been the core mission of the
institute, and only E2C remained
as an arts program. Dowler recognized a shrinking arts budget provided unexpected opportunity for
E2C to expand its cultural footprint as a 501c3, making it eligible
for grants and tax-deductible contributions.
To maximize its efficiency and
the necessary reliance on the generosity of Seaside homeowners
who donate their off-season rental
cottages as artist housing, Dowler
expanded the residency to two
month-long sessions with fewer
artists who are selected through a
rigorous application process with
stringent review by a panel of distinguished E2C alums. Dowler
and Escape to Create co-director
Karen Holland resigned their positions at the institute to devote
themselves to launching E2C as
a leading non-profit residency.
Seasiders Cathy Toole and Jane
Crews, author/writer Lynn Nesmith and educational advocate
Sherry Londe of Destin comprise
the dedicated team that makes up
the volunteer board.
E2C has gained national attention for its impact on the local
community and in the creative
lives of the artists. In 2010, E2C
was selected as one of only five U.S.
models of emerging residencies in
the U.S. by the Alliance for Artist Communities, an international
arts and culture research organization. Escape was cited for its role
in connecting artist to community
through the intrinsic value of its
philanthropic multi-disciplinary
residency, its purpose in advancing appreciation for the role of artist in shaping community, and its
record of service through educational outreach. “This was a defining moment for me,” Dowler says,
“to recognize the legacy Escape To
Create represents to Seaside and to
the world.”
The program is designed for artists who are emerging or in midcareer. To apply, artists must submit a work proposal that defines
the creative work they would accomplish during their stay. The
second component is a community service proposal out of which
the cultural programming is created. Third is educational outreach
proposal. “Educational outreach
brings a larger world to schools
located in an underserved county,”
Dowler says, noting that the artists visit schools in Walton County. “They’re here to not only work
on their projects, they’re seeking
to make contributions. Over the
years I’ve witnessed lives being
transformed in front of you, for the
artists, teachers and students.”
And while the fortunate few who
are awarded a spot in the program
share their talents, they add to the
thriving cultural flavor of Seaside,
drawing audiences from all over
North Florida. “For example, a
writer will give a reading,” Dowler
Escape to Create cont. page 13
Page 8
March–April 2015
SPRING BREAK
Squad Service
SEASIDE® partners with law enforcement
during spring break to maintain safety
By Wendy O. Dixon
As spring break approaches,
Seaside will be using several resources to assist in managing the
crowds that flock to Seaside during this time. In addition to its own
Courtesy Team, there will be an increased law enforcement presence.
To provide better service and
a sense of safety to residents and
visitors of Seaside during the busy
spring break season, the Walton County Sheriff ’s Office has a
stand-alone substation located adjacent to Perspicasity. The goal of
the facility is to improve response
time, speed up report processing,
and reduce fuel consumption.
Walton County Sheriff ’s Office
Lt. Don Savage says the substation
is manned full-time during spring
break, and is equipped with computers and a work area to allow
officers to complete reports while
being present in the community.
“It allows officers to stay in Seaside
more often,” he says, “and provide
better service during spring break.”
Savage explains. “We’ll be more
visible to the public,” he says. “Anytime you have law enforcement officers present, it is a deterrent to
crime.”
In addition to the substation,
the sheriff ’s office is providing a
bike patrol and a mobile command
center, with deputies on site. “Our
goal is to keep the public safe,” Savage says, “and especially to look
out for underage drinkers.”
The command center has everything a police station would have,
according to Patti Rogers, super-
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has a command center and bike patrol (top right) on site in Seaside,
allowing the deputies to respond more quickly to calls. Photos courtesy Walton County Sheriff’s Office
visor for the Seaside Community
Development Corp. Courtesy Team.
It provides the additional officers
Seaside needs during spring break.
“Parking it here serves as a visual
deterrent for bad behavior,” she
adds. “We’ve received rave reviews
from the community, who have
given us very positive feedback.”
“The additional manpower helps
deter crime and keep the community feeling safe”, says Catherine
Rodriguez, public information officer for the Walton County Sheriff ’s
Office. “We work with local businesses and our community part-
ners,” she explains, “knowing that
during spring break we have an
influx of people coming in, and we
are able to respond more quickly if
needed.”
In addition to the Walton County Sheriff ’s Office, the Seaside
Courtesy Team is on site yearround.
Savage adds that if someone is
in need of immediate assistance to
call 9-1-1. “Of course, if someone
sees a deputy and needs them, they
will come running to help.” c
www.seasidefl.com
March–April 2015
Page 9
At Your Service
SPRING BREAK
The Courtesy Team looks out for families
By Patti Rogers
Seaside’s Courtesy Team members are the front line ambassadors in
providing Seaside guests with a safe
environment and offering a wide variety of assistance for visitors to the
community at any time of year. In
the course of a day, a Courtesy Team
staff member can receive a call from
a guest reporting a lost cell phone or
lost keys. Minutes later they may receive a phone call about a lost child.
As supervisor of the Courtesy Team,
I am fortunate to have such a qualified staff. Although our past jobs
and life experiences differ, collectively we have the perfect balance
to meet the needs of Seaside merchants and guests.
The Courtesy Team works closely
with the maintenance staff in preparation for popular events Seaside
offers throughout the year. Families
come to enjoy our concerts in the
amphitheater where a blanket on the
grass, coupled with a cool breeze,
and Seaside-style entertainment is
the perfect combination for an enjoyable experience. Behind every event,
the maintenance staff and Courtesy
Team work continuously, attending
to the property details that enable
everyone in attendance to have a safe
and worry free good time.
During the spring break season,
Seaside experiences an influx of
Courtesy Team member Corey Pope
Seaside Community Development Corp. (S.C.D.C.) Courtesy Team members Jeremy Brunn,
Patti Rogers and Brandan Babineaux. Photos courtesy S.C.D.C.
families with children and teenagers from many different states.
The Courtesy Team offers assistance to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in crowd control and
safety. We collectively want to
make sure they return home safe at
the end of the night. The sheriff’s
office has been instrumental in
keeping order so all visitors young or
older, have a great time.
There is an old saying — It takes
a village — and in this case, the village is Seaside. The dedication of
the Courtesy Team and fellow em-
ployees, coupled with the cultivation of a great relationship with law
enforcement officials, has resulted in
the perfect combination. The kids,
officers, guests and staff come home
safe at the end of the day. They don’t
just strive for that, more importantly,
they achieve it. People have asked
me, “What is it about Seaside that
makes it work, that makes it so
unique?” Their eyes are wide open
as they await an answer.
“Well,” I reply, “We really, really,
love this place and we just want to
share the love.” c
Page 10
March–April 2015
FOOD & WINE
Beach Bites For Spring Break 2015
Story and Photos by Susan Benton
Spring break is a most welcome
season; they don’t call it spring fever for nothing. After the chill of
winter has dissipated and the warm
sunshine beckons us to the beach,
sometimes a quick bite is just right.
Airstream Row in Seaside is famous
for its top quality barbecue, hot dogs,
burgers, smoothies, salads and shave
ice — all quickly prepared so you can
make your way to the beach and soak
in the sun.
Certain to please any beach goer
seeking relief from the heat, Frost
Bites has been serving happy customers since 1994. Offering a variety
of fun creations like the Piggly Wiggly, a stuffed shave ice with custard
on the bottom and cream on the top,
Frost Bites also sells sugar free flavors
in addition to scrumptious add on
toppings.
For those opting for healthier foods
to enjoy on the run, Jenifer Kuntz,
owner of Raw & Juicy says, “Obviously our Costa Rican Bowl filled with
hearty rice, beans, spicy salsa and
avocado is nourishing, and easy to
devour on a walk back to the beach!
The Spring Rolls are a great snack,
and the Veggie Hummus Wrap is also
popular.”
If Southeast Asian street food is
what you are craving, then surf over
to Sóng’s food truck, (meaning wave
in Vietnamese) for the closest to authentic Bahn Mi offered on 30A. As
a big fan of the Vietnamese Bahn Mi
sandwich, and having tasted many
over a lifetime of travel, it won’t disappoint with its bold flavors exuding from the luxurious Heritage free
range black pig that has been slow
cooked over night, before being
stuffed in a fresh baguette created
specifically for owner Tommy Stein
by the Santa Rosa Beach bakery,
Crust. The in house pickled farmed
vegetables and herbs add the perfect
acidity and balance to the sandwich,
and while most are known for their
thin layer of liver pate spread on the
bread, Sóng’s is layered with a refreshing avocado-lime aioli.
“Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs are dogs
gone good”, says owner Heavenly
Dawson of the food truck aptly
named after her husband, Bill. Everything made is ingredient driven,
including her family recipe for the
chili that is topping her Let’s Be
Frank brand chilidog. The chili, along
with the beef served in the burgers at
their sister restaurant, Pickles Burger
& Shake across the street, is made
with White Oak Pastures sustainable
grass fed beef. Heavenly says, “While
it’s significantly less expensive, faster,
and easier to make mass-produced
food, we just don’t think it’s the right
thing to do.”
Plan on walking up to the window
to order one of the best hand crafted
burgers on 30A, and then take a load
off while savoring each morsel at the
Seaside Pavilion overlooking the Gulf
behind the Shrimp Shack. You might
even be drawn back in for a second
course from the billowing smells of
Royal Red Shrimp and Florida Lobster Tails being steamed to order.
At Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar, Chef
Phillip McDonald has taken the
reigns and is showcasing a new
menu. You can’t go wrong picking up
a slice of pie, and I highly recommend
his Brussel Sprouts pie topped with
fresh house made mozzarella, Pancetta, garlic, and chili or the Avocado
Bruschetta topped with thinly sliced
radishes, lemon, extra virgin olive oil
and spices. Both are incredibly fresh,
delicious, and the best part is you
can place the order from your beach
blanket and get it to go. c
Susan Benton, owner of 30AEATS.com,
is currently penning a cookbook to be
published late summer 2015.
For a taste of Southeast Asian food, try Sóng’s Bahn Mi sandwich before heading to the beach.
little residual sugar and are therefore considered dry. These intensely
aromatic wines can overpower
more delicate cuisines, so you’ll
want to select a more highly flavored dish to accompany your floral
wine for maximum enjoyment.
The bouquet from Bud & Alley’s
Marc Brendiff, Vouvray, Loire
Valley, France- A classic and lush
chenin blanc that is pale gold in
color with a nose full of white flowers, pear and grapefruit.
Yalumba Y Series, Viognier, South
Australia- This silky wine features
aromas of honeysuckle, ginger, jasmine and mandarin orange.
Alamos, Torrontes, Salta, Argentina- Bright floral aromas jump out
of the glass with orange blossom
and jasmine along with citrus and
peach in this crisp white.
Florals to buy at Modica Market
Conundrum, Proprietary Blend,
California- A California beauty with
an intriguing nose of green apples,
tangerine and honeysuckle, this
wine has an exotic pallet and a round
mouthfeel.
Baladina, Albarino, Rias Baixas,
Spain- This Spanish classic is zesty,
elegant, crisp and dry with earth
notes and pleasant floral aromas.
There are many beautiful floral
wines to choose from here in Seaside.
Celebrate the spring season and taste
the bouquet. Cheers! c
Floral white wines are in bloom
Pairing wines with a season is a
fulfilling experience for many. After the heavy reds of winter, lighten
up your glass with these gorgeous
white wines that feature floral aromas such as citrus blossom, white
flowers, honeysuckle and jasmine.
I took a stroll through Seaside on
the lookout for early signs of spring
and was delighted with the variety
of flowery wines from around the
globe available in our fair town.
Floral notes tend to be secondary
aromas (primary being stone fruit,
citrus fruit and orchard fruit). So
I find that wines with these floral
characteristics are more complex
and enjoyable. ‘Floral’ should not
be confused with ‘sweet’ (containing residual sugar), as many of the
wines listed below contain very
Pickles Burger & Shake is famous for its grass-fed beef burger.
The flowers of The Great
Southern Café
Alois Lageder, Pinot Grigio, Alto
Adige, Italy- From one of the most
prominent names in pinot grigio this
wine is a brilliant straw yellow and
has expressive aromas with flowery
and spicy notes.
The Curator, Swartland, South Africa- This fruity and silky wine is a blend
of chenin blanc, chardonnay and
semillon featuring aromas of stone
fruits, lemon candy and flowers.
Tipple through the Tulips
By Karen Granger
Succulent lobster chunks overflow a fresh roll at the Shrimp Shack.
Karen Granger is passionate about
wine and food. As a sommelier, she
researches wines available in Northwest Florida, and encourages people
to expand their knowledge of wines
and find their next favorite.
March–April 2015
Page 11
Coastal Dune Lakes
the coastal dune lakes in Walton
County. In an effort to fully understand the depth of the story,
Elam went to a Coastal Dune
Lakes Advisory Board meeting to
talk to the board members about
who he should interview for the
documentary. During his discussions with them, board member
Lynn Nesmith told him about
the Escape to Create program in
Seaside. She described it as a program that offers artists a chance
to stay in Seaside for a month to
work on artistic projects. She recommended he apply since Seaside
is perfectly located smack-dab in
the middle of dune lake country.
Elam applied to the program,
was accepted, and spent January
and February of last year as an artist-in-residence in Seaside. One
of the components of the Escape
to Create program is interacting
with other artists, many having
never been to this part of Florida.
As north Florida neophytes offering a fresh perspective on the
region, their conversations with
Elam sparked vibrant and novel
ideas about how to capture the
dune lakes story. During his residency, he interviewed 11 people;
these voices would come to form
the core of the documentary itself.
Along with time spent connecting with people, Elam also worked
on capturing images and video of
the surrounding lakes, particularly Western Lake, an easy 10-minute bike ride from Seaside. However, last winter was particularly
cold and this proved to be a challenge for filming outside.
On one cold January morning
my father messaged me:
“Began at daybreak by documenting the ice covered outfall of
Western Lake at Grayton Beach.
OMG it was soooo cold. 26 degrees is cold on the beach — it was
the Grayton Tundra! I had a pair
of ski gloves and a heavy Carhartt
coat, but I was not able to stay
warm. The batteries of the camera
died due to the cold weather.”
After the batteries thawed out,
he was able to capture some stunning images of the frozen outfall
and ice crystals on the sand, rare
occurrences for Florida.
Later that spring, we interviewed the founder of Seaside,
Robert Davis. During the interview, which lasted for about an
hour, Davis talked about a whole
Documentarian Elam Stoltzfus interviews Seaside founder Robert Davis for his film, “Coastal Dune
Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast.” Photo by Nic Stoltzfus
Pioneer Women
of the arts and civic duty, she says,
and she found Seaside was the perfect place for her to do her civic
duty. “Robert and Daryl have been
incredibly supportive in creating a
cultural and civic identity for the
community,” she says. “And Escape
to Create was instrumental in that.
It further strengthens the artists’
connection to the community and
expands the programming for the
Seaside Repertory Theatre (REP),
and that strengthens both organizations.”
But in 2009, as many non-profits
were suffering from the damaged
economy, the program was at risk
of closing when the current board
member was pulled away for another job. “I thought if you lose it you
may never recover,” she says. “So
you need to find someone who can
go to Seaside and manage it for the
artists. I guess I volunteered.”
In recognition of her contribu-
tions to the cultural fabric of Seaside, Dowler received the first Spirit
of Seaside Award given by the town
council in 2012. “It was an incredible honor and to me, (the award)
remains a powerful symbol of a
generosity of spirit and hospitality
so rarely found in this world,” she
says. “Seaside is a beacon of hope
for artists and indeed, for all of us.”
Dowler is serving her second term
on the board of The REP Theatre,
having first served during its startup years.
Dowler is also a long time advocate and volunteer with local efforts
to address the overpopulation of feral cats through TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) practices.
What was it like having one of the
first weddings in Seaside?
We were married at the Tupelo
Circle Gazebo, our sacred spot. It
remains so fresh and beautiful in my
mind. So many of our friends never
believed either one of us would get
married. It was just the most loving
celebration of finding your way to
Nic Stoltzfus photographs a spectacular sunrise over WaterSound for the film, “Coastal Dune Lakes:
Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast.” Photo by Elam Stoltzfus
range of topics. One of my favorite quotes of his, and it made
it into the final cut of the film, is
not about architecture or development, but about our relationship
with nature:
“When I am here, I am relaxed.
Particularly when I am on the
beach, or walking along the edge
of the lake, or out in a canoe, I
really feel a much stronger connection to my parents and grandparents and other ancestors who
are no longer walking around on
this planet, but are very much a
part of my life.”
Through long summer days, we
continued to film sunrises and
sunsets. Our crew chased rain
clouds and rainbows and worked
tirelessly to film elusive beach
mice and turtle releases. In August, Elam and I traveled to Australia to document dune lakes
found there. It was an intense
few months, but by October we
had amassed more than 13,000
images, hundreds of hours of
video, and almost 30 interviews.
It was time to start editing the
film. After I finished writing the
script, I began work on a companion coffee table book featuring the dune lakes. Cynthia Barnett, one of Dad’s fellow artists
at Escape to Create, agreed to
write the foreword.
Over the past few months, we
continued to edit the film and the
book. The first drafts were rough
but, over time, we continued to
smooth out the sharp edges and
eventually beautiful and smooth
works of art emerged.
After much work, we have created a documentary and book of
which I’m proud. Many people
have helped us along the way,
but I am especially grateful for
the robust support of the Seaside community that helped nurture this project and give it such
depth and richness.
Along with the premiere
of their film at WaterSound
Origins on April 2, there will be
a film screening at the Seaside
REP theatre and a book signing
by Nic Stoltzfus at Sundog Books
on Saturday, April 18. c
a partner in life, in which together
you’re bigger and better. It’s still
very meaningful to me.
of Seaside homeowners in providing
artist housing and the fundraising
efforts of its board, Escape To Create will award its first Fellowships in
2016. We want to continue to identify
and support impactful environmental projects like the Elam Stoltzfus
2014 Dune Lakes Documentary and
take a more targeted look at our investment in the arts for the benefit of
our artists and our host community.
How did you keep Escape to Create going during a rough economy?
The institute had deferred further
programming for who knew how
long. I took that as an opportunity to
preserve the program. I incorporated
together with co-creator Karen Holland, and we determined to go double
or nothing.
How has the Escape to Create program evolved since its early days?
Rather than have 10 to 12 artists
every January, I cut it in half and extended the season. So we had five
or six artists in January and again in
February. Now it has developed into
a true partnership with the REP Theater in offering public programs with
incredible depth and diversity.
After almost a quarter century,
what is next for E2C?
Thanks to the continued support
As an animal lover and advocate,
especially with the local cats, what
do you think other people can do
to help take care of the feral cats in
the area?
Education and access to spay-neuter programs is the key to controlling
a healthy population and to avoid
abandoned pets. Hopefully the day
will come when Walton County realizes that it is an investment in the
future Walton County. c
Editor’s Note: This article is part of an
ongoing series highlighting women who
have contributed to their beloved community of Seaside.
Page 12
March–April 2015
REGIONAL NEWS
30A Amped
We are featuring three new albums we’re excited to air on 30A
Radio for this spring.
so. Add that song to his list of great
bonfire songs like “The Sweetest
Thing” and “Brighter Days.” This
album is a must have for spring
and summer on 30A. Ol’ Glory by
J.J. Grey & Mofro is now available.
www.jjgrey.com
Kelsey Anna EP
Local artist Kelsey Anna released
her self-titled album in January and
it is now available on iTunes. Kelsey
Anna wrote her first song at 16, and
over the past decade has played
over 150 shows a year along the
Gulf Coast. Kelsey won Northwest
Florida’s Regional X-Factor contest
in 2011 and 2012, and her hit song
“Poison” won Best Original Song at
the Beachcomber Music Awards.
Residing now in Nashville, Tenn.,
she is truly one of 30A’s favorite local artists. You can also find her album at Central Square Records in
Seaside. www.kelseyanna.com
JJ Grey & Mofro “Ol’ Glory”
Ol’ Glory is a highly anticipated
new album from J.J. Grey & Mofro
out of Jacksonville. The single off
the album “Every Minute” could
have our favorite lyric of all time.
“Feels too good to be warm, in the
sun, loving every minute I’m living.”
Does that scream 30A? We think
The Skints “FM”
Reggae is a big part of 30A Radio, and one of our favorites is a
band from London called The
Skints. Described by Clash Music
as “the torchbearers for modern
British reggae music,” The Skints
mix reggae, ska and dub with
touches of grime and hip-hop; a
contemporary style that draws
as much from the streets of the
U.K.’s capital as it does from the
Caribbean. “FM” is their latest
album and is set in an imaginary
pirate radio station. The single
“This Town” features Tippa Irie &
Horseman. With great vocals, and
better bass, we recommend The
Skints “FM” for your next beach
party or dune lake paddleboard
trip. www.theskints.co.uk
Send us your suggestions for
our local, regional, and reggae 30A Radio Music Buzz to
requests@30aradio.com. Listen to
30A Radio online at www.30aradio.
com, or on the 30A app for iPhone,
Android, or iPad. c
Sand Rover
Rally Makes
its Trail
Contributed by 30.com’s
Lauren Reinlie
Locals and visitors are invited
to show off their funky old beach
cruisers during the second annual
30A Sand Rover Rally at Grayton
Beach State Park on Saturday, April
11, 2015. Vintage Land Rovers and
beach cruisers of all makes and
models are invited to attend the
event, which is hosted by 30A.com.
“Last year, over 40 owners from
across the Southeast brought their
vehicles to the event. We expect an
even larger turnout this year,” said
30A’s Mike Ragsdale. “It’s a celebration of the cool old beach cruisers
that you often see here along Scenic
Highway 30A, and it’s also a good
excuse to get stuck in the mud.”
Last year’s 30A Sand Rover Rally
was featured on the cover of Rovers
magazine, North America’s largest
Photo courtesy 30A.com
publication for Land Rover enthusiasts.
The day will begin with trail rides
through Point Washington State
Forest, followed by the rally event
at Grayton Beach State Park from 1
to 5 p.m. Although there is no fee to
register, please note that there is a
$4 fee to enter Grayton Beach State
Park.
For more information, visit
www.30Asandroverrally.com. c
www.seasidefl.com
March–April 2015
Page 13
Visitors Bureau provides
accomodations for the ultimate visitor experience
Seaside is best known for the simplistic elegance of the New Urbanism design principles.
And the partners of the Seaside Community
Development Corp. — Cottage Rental Agency,
Homeowner’s Collection and Sunburst Luxury
Collection — have the variety of homes to meet
any vacationer’s needs, whether you want a cozy
one-bedroom romantic retreat or a luxury resort
hotel experience with concierge service.
With amenities aplenty, the Seaside Visitors
Bureau partners plan to ensure guests at Seaside
have all they need to enjoy their vacation. By
renting a cottage through one of the Seaside
partners, you’ll be assured you’re getting the right
cottage for your stay in Seaside.
Visit Seasidefl.com/vacation/rentals
Our Featured Properties
Cottage Rental Agency
Sunburst Luxury Collection
Beachfront 9
Gift By The Sea
Love Me Tender/Love Me
True
Pure, simple and elegant. This series of
beachfront “Honeymoon Cottages,” were
designed by Scott Merrill, who at one time
was Seaside’s town architect, and inspired
by President Thomas Jefferson as he built
Monticello. These Gulf front cottages are
the perfect setting for a romantic retreat.
Perched perfectly behind the primary dune
along the Gulf of Mexico, each cottage is
furnished with a comforting neutral palette.
Gift by the Sea is part of the Sunburst
Luxury Collection, a high service and
amenity segment within Sunburst Beach
Vacations that provides a 5-star luxury
resort experience with all of the benefits —
privacy, space and freedom — of a private
home.
Love Me Tender/Love Me True is located near
Central Square and just steps from the East
Ruskin Beach Pavilion, one of the town’s most
photogenic beach walk-overs. Complete with
upper-level vaulted ceilings and views of the Gulf,
both floors are highlighted by tongue and groove
walls and an expansive kitchen, dining, and living
area. Each level features an inviting screened-in
porch; upstairs, a nostalgic porch swing and views
of the emerald waters of the Gulf are enjoyed,
while downstairs, a screened-in porch features an
outdoor shower. Each master suite is sumptuous,
and the showers are oversized. For additional options, this cottage may also be rented as separate
one-bedroom cottages.
2088 E. County Hwy 30A
Sunburst Beach Vacations
(866) 310-5718
SunburstCo.com
Escape to Create
says. “A musician will give a concert, an architect will give a lecture and a presentation.”
The heart of the Escape To Create experience is the gift of time
and place to artists fully engaged in
creative ideas, says Dowler. Housed
in private cottages donated in support of their projects, artists enjoy
complete immersion in their work
balanced with opportunities for
cross-disciplinary dialogue in an
intimate group setting.
“We own no studio, nor practice
room for the musicians,” Dowler
says. “We just start with the intent
to create this experience for artists
every year. Houses are different every year, artist are different every
year. And we find that for the artists who respond to this, that’s what
they are really seeking, the permission to fully surrender to their art.”
2326 East Co. Hwy 30A
2 BR, 2 BA, Sleeps 8
877-811-5440
www.CottageRentalAgency.com
Area restaurants and markets provide E2C’s weekly “soup
kitchen,” a tradition that brings
the group of no more than eight
artists together in the casual intimacy of a private home.
This January alone, Escape To
Create and Seaside homeowners
hosted an Academy Award and
BAFTA nominated documentary
filmmaker; a leading folk singersongwriter from Canada; a leading
actor and director from London;
a gifted emerging choreographer
who created the first dance film
in response to Seaside’s unique
architecture; a painter mapping
the fragile beauty of the Gulf and
the rare Dune Lakes as part of her
worldwide Waterplaces Project;
and an early career fiction writer
whose literary power predicts
huge potential. “To bring these
artists into the schools and colleges throughout Walton County is
an incredible opportunity to impact change and transform lives.
Homeowner’s Collection
Fernleigh
30 Savannah Street
3 BR, 2 BA, Sleeps 6
Fernleigh is a beautiful three-bedroom cottage
located just minutes from the beach on the east
side of Seaside. The cottage welcomes you with a
large screened-in porch that has a swing on one
side and rocking chairs around the other. The first
floor of the home has the living area, dining area
that seats six, kitchen and walkway to the master bedroom with king size bed and connecting
full-bath. Upstairs you’ll find the second and third
bedrooms with a shared full-bath. The bedroom
to the left is a queen bedroom with access to the
balcony. The bedroom has a twin daybed with
trundle pullout. This bedroom also has access to
the balcony, along with seating and views.
Homeowner’s Collection
(855) 411-1557
HomeownersCollection.com
And to showcase such unique talent onstage at The REP attracts a
mature cultural audience to our
community in contrast to the
exciting summer programming
The REP offers seasonal visitors,”
Dowler says.
Yet the influence of Escape To
Create extends well into the summer season. The hugely popular
illusionist and performance artist Jeanette Andrews will return
to Seaside in May for her second
engagement, bringing to The
REP a new magic show developed
during her 2014 Escape to Create
residency.
So after almost a quarter century, what is next for E2C? Thanks to
the continued support of Seaside
homeowners in providing artist
housing and the fundraising efforts of its board, Escape To Create will award its first Fellowships
in 2016. “We want to continue to
identify and support impactful environmental projects like the Elam
Stoltzfus 2014 Dune Lakes Film
and take a more targeted look at
our investment in the arts for the
benefit of our artists and our host
community.”
To find out more about the writers, scholars, filmmakers, musicians
and other artists participating in
the Escape to Create program, visit
Escape2Create.org/artists. Editor’s
Note: Marsha Dowler contributed
to this article. c
Editor’s Note: Marsha Dowler
contributed to this article.
#SeasideFL_
Page 14
March–April 2015
MAP
March–April 2015
Page 15
Shopping, Dining and Services
45 Central Wine Bar
(Opening in March)
Intimate wine bar and restaurant including a menu of small plates paired perfectly
with a wide selection of wines.
Albert F’s Fashion, Arts & Accessories
Located in Seaside’s lovely Ruskin Place,
Albert F’s is the place to find ladies casual
fashion, art by local talent & beach chic
accent jewelry and accessories.
800.974.5203 / www.albertfseaside.com
email: sp8holly@aol.com
Amavida Coffee & Tea
The one-stop shop for Fair Trade Coffee,
Fair Trade Organic Tea plus coffee and
tea accessories. 850.231.3539
www.amavida.com
Amoré by the Sea
An eclectic shop full of treasures.Turkish
pottery, dough bowls and ironwork. Antiques, furnishings, local art and jewelry.
That’s Amore’!
850-231-0337/ Amorebytheseside.com
An Apartment in Paris
Come inside and experience the perfect
collection of original art, home furnishings, accessories, gifts, jewelry and clothing. 850.534.0038
www.anapartmentinparis.net
The Art of Simple Downtown
Brimming with home accessories, candles,
unique finds and rare bath and body
lines ... browse, linger, be inspired and
leave with a happy find from the store
that has everyone buzzing with delight.
850.231.6748
www.theartofsimpleonline.com
Barefoot BBQ
Barefoot BBQ specializes in hormonefree, steroid-free, antibiotic-free beachside BBQ in a retro, tiki style atmosphere.
850.534.0313
Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar
Thin crust, wood fired pizza, antipasto
bar, salads & more. Italian wines and beer
and a full bar available. Located right
on the beach next to the Obelisk tower.
850.231.3113 / www.budandalleys.com
Bud & Alley’s Restaurant &
Roof Top Bar
A Seaside tradition on the Gulf since
1986. Sunsets on the roof-deck are a
daily town ritual. Fresh, regional, coastal
cuisine served daily for lunch & dinner.
Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar
Authentic border tacos, burritos & fun.
Offering a full bar featuring over 40
speciality Tequilas. Dine in or take out.
Located roadside next to Bud & Alley’s.
Central Square Records
An independent record store specializing
in CDs, new & used vinyl, record players,
guitar strings & accessories, Jittery Joe’s
Coffee, unique gifts, cards & more. Located above Sundog Books. 850.231.5669
www.centralsquarerecords.com
Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudge Works
Homemade fudge, kid’s candy and Yobe
Yogurt, America’s newest taste sensation.
Homemade fresh-squeezed lemonade is a
refreshing thirst quencher. 850.231.4770
www.sweetwilliamsltd.com
Deja-vu on the Beach
Offering affordable trendy clothing with a
sophisticated urban eclectic style.
Apparel, jewelry, shoes, bags and
accessories. 850.534.0710
www.shopwithdejavu.com
Duckies Shop of Fun
Calling all kids and kids at heart! Duckies
carries hundreds of items to put a smile
on your face. We’ve got toys, clothing for
kids, gifts, beach gear and so much more.
850.231.4800 / www.shopduckies.com
Fired-Up Pottery Painting
A fun, friendly place where you can paint
your “art” out on over 500 unique pottery
pieces. Great for birthday parties, bridal
showers, girls’ night out, and corporate
events.850.231.3211
www.firedupseaside.com
The Fitness Fetish
Fun & friendly family sport & beach shop.
“Life is Good” products, sports apparel,
swimwear, footwear, beach stuff and cool
gifts. 850.231.5000 / www.fitnessfetish.com
Focus
A little boutique portrait studio by the
beach where fun memories are made.
Focus also features fabulous gifts, frames
and custom jewelry. 850.231.1842
www.carlettawatkins.com
Frost Bites
Hawaiian shaved ice, homemade frozen
custard, fresh squeezed lemonade and
cold drinks. Also available for birthday
parties, weddings and special events.
252.452.3013
Gordie Hinds Contemporary
Art Fusion
South Walton outdoor scenes, fishing,
still life, colorful people.
850.231.1041
Great Southern Café
New-fashioned southern cuisine. Fresh
seasonal vegetables, seafood, aged beef.
Enjoy the “Littlest Oyster Bar” for fresh
oysters. Beer, wine, cocktails. Breakfast,
lunch & dinner. 850.231.PEAS (7327)
www.thegreatsoutherncafe.com
It’s Heavenly
Authentic, delicious gelato, hand-folded
and dipped ice cream. Enjoy shakes, sundaes, cookies and strawberry shortcakes.
Gourmet LavAzza Italian coffees and
espresso. 850.231.2029
Jewel Toffier
Taking you from casual to classy,
Jewel Toffier is known for its privatelabel coastal clothing and accessories.
850.231.0639
La Vie Est Belle
Featuring designer Wendy Mignot, the
originator of the Tahitian and Fresh
Water Pearl and Leather Jewelry collection. Largest collection of ancient coins
& shipwreck coins in the southeast.
850.231.4692
www.lavieestbellegallery.com
The MeltDown on 30A
Gotta have grilled cheese sandwiches and
soups. Serving traditional and speciality
grilled cheese sandwiches.
www.meltdownon30a.com
Mercantile
Mercantile carries goods for men and
women that are time-worn, weathered, a bit western and where possible
– eco-friendly and American made.
850.213.0010 / www.shopmerc.com
Modica Market
Your exclusive grocery deli market in
Seaside. Breakfast, lunch and beach foods
to go. 850.231.1214
www.modicamarket.com
Newbill Collection by the Sea
Gallery of Contemporary American Art,
fine craft, original paintings, photography, folk art & garden sculptures. Best
selection of handcrafted jewelry on the
Gulf Coast. 850.231.4500
ONO Surf Shop
Latest styles swimwear, footwear, lifestyle
clothing, surfboards, boogie boards, skim
boards & accessories.
850.231.1573 / www.onosurfshop.com
Restaurant Hours through March 31: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Ophelia
The area’s premier luxury designer
swimwear boutique catering to a variety
of body types and styles.
850.231.0676 / Opheliaswimwear.com
Per•spi•cas•ity
Open-air bazaar featuring bohemian
beach styles. Must have pieces for the
ultimate Seaside escape.
850.231.5829 / www.theseasidestyle.com
Pickles Burger & Shake
Home of Grass-fed beef burgers, corndogs, chicken fingers and famous fried
pickles; Hand-cut double-fried French
fries with special seasonings; and doublerich hand-made milkshakes.
850.231.5686 / www.sweetwilliamsltd.com
Pizitz Home & Cottage
The luxuries and necessities for simple,
comfortable, relaxed Seaside living. Custom orders available.
Raw & Juicy
Offering organic juices and smoothies,
raw food and organic beach snacks. Sea
Turtle Flashlight filters and merchandise
available here. 850.231.0043
www.rawandjuicylife.com
Seaside Beach
Casual Seaside fashion and accessories
for men and women. “bare feet & sandy
floors rule” in this Seaside lifestyle store.
Seaside Classic
Classic collection of Seaside clothing,
accessories, books & prints. The flagship
store for Seaside style.
Seaside Kids
The original children’s store at the beach.
Fun fashion, toys and must have accessories. Seaside logo wear for kids.
Shimmering Seas Jewelry
Elegant sterling silver, gold, diamonds,
pearls & many more shimmering
jewelry collections and unique gifts.
850.231.5100/shimmeringseas.com
The Shrimp Shack
A walk-up steam seafood shack on the
beach with peel & eat shrimp, lobster
rolls and shrimp rolls plus fresh oysters served raw, steamed or baked.
850.231.3799
Snap Tweens
Apparel, footwear, jewelry and gifts that
are just right for pre-teens. Unique fashion and designers that both parents and
kids will enjoy. 850.231.3800
www.snapkids.net
Sóng
Serving southeast Asian-inspired, street
food-style dishes from fresh local products, the menu is about creative simplicity, integrity and flavor. 850.502.9797
Sundog Books
An eclectic selection of books, greeting
cards & gifts for all ages. 850.231.5481
www.sundogbooks.com
Services
Believe Studio
Yoga and fitness studio offering yoga for
adults and kids, dance, Barre and other
fitness classes.
www.TheBelieveStudio.com
Beach Ready Spa
A unique blend of medical spa & holistic
wellness center. Highly trained technical
staff is available to provide you the products and services to treat both internal
and external signs of aging.
850.468.0925 / www.beachreadyspa.com
Seaside Transit Authority
Bike Rentals
The official rental bike provider of Seaside, Florida. Seaside Transit Authority
offers custom designed rental bikes for all
our Seaside guests and visitors. A variety
of rental items available include unisex
bikes, mens bikes, boys and girls bikes,
tag-a-alongs, tandems, kids trailers and
cargo trailers. 850.231.0035 www.seasidetransitauthority.com
877.811.5440
Earl Bacon Insurance Agency 850.369.0161
Florida Haus
850.231.3100
Johnson Rice & Co., LLC
850.231.0158
Neighborhood Title Company 850.231.5178
Post Office
850.231.2220
Trustmark ATM
Located next to The Art of Simple
and Sundog Books
Seaside Commercial Properties 850.231.6106
The Seaside Institute
850.231.2421
Seaside Interfaith Chapel
850.502.6112
Seaside Neighborhood School 850.231.0396
Seaside Tennis
850.231.2214
Seaside Swim and Tennis Club
850.231.2284
Seaside Repertory Theatre
850.231.0733
Surgical Care Affiliates, LLC 205.545.2572
For your vacation planning and
reservations in Seaside.
Seaside Visitors Bureau
www.seasidefl.com/vacation/rentals
Rental service for beach chairs,
umbrellas, kayaks and more.
Cabana Man
850.231.5046 / www.cabanaman.com
Licensed Real Estate Broker.
Seaside Community Realty, Inc.
Dedicated to the exclusive sales of
Seaside properties since 1983.
850.231.2201 / www.seasidefl.com
Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs
Serving up the best hot dogs on the
beach! We serve 5 different dogs that are
bursting with flavor & they have no antiFor the list in its entirety, download the insert at
biotics, hormones, nitrates, nitrites, filler
www.VisitSouthWalton.com/contents/download/30445
or junk. They are dogs gone good!
850.231.0802 / www.sweetwilliamsltd.com
Willow+Woods
An exclusive boutique for both men &
women designed to cater to all your fashion needs - fun & flirty for her, relaxed &
casual for him. 850.231.0433
www.willowchicboutique.com
Take us with you!
You can download the latest map and list
of places to shop and dine at
theseasidetimes.com/SSTShopandDine.pdf
Link to any of our advertisers.
Visit us at www.theseasidetimes.com
Page 16
March–April 2015
CALENDAR
March/April Calendar of Events 2015
March
13th Annual Seaside Half
Marathon & 5K
March 1
Whether you are a serious distance
runner or a casual weekend warrior,
come join us in America’s Classic
Beach Town on Sunday at 7 a.m. for
the Seaside Half Marathon and 5K
Run. Stick around for a great postrace party following the completion
of the Half Marathon. For more
info, visit: www.snsrun.com.
“First Friday” ArtWalk
Friday, March 6, 5-8 p.m.
Ruskin Place & Central Square
Enjoy live music and view beautiful
works of art and artist demos at the
galleries and shops of Ruskin Place
and select
Central
Square
merchants.
Seaside Farmers Market
Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21, & 28,
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Amphitheater
Get your pick of fresh produce,
baked goods, dairy products, native
plants and other unique offerings
during our market on Saturday
mornings. Find local specialties that
will help sustain our growers. Enjoy
special cooking demos and activities
sure to liven up your morning.
Stories by the Sea
Mondays-Fridays, March 9-27,
3:30 p.m. – Seaside Lyceum
Archway
Join the Seaside Repertory Theatre
as we present a one-of-a-kind
storytelling experience for children
of all ages. Each day will offer a
new story and there might even be
opportunities for your participation.
“The Commedia Robin Hood.”
Mondays, March 9-30, 5 p.m.
Amphitheater
Seaside Repertory Theatre’s (REP)
spring season revisits the commedia
dell’arte style with “The Commedia
Robin Hood.” The merry REP
troupe, Columbine, Arlequin,
Punchin and Rosetta tackle, tumble,
trick and trip their way through the
tale of Robin Hood with fantastic
abandon. The commedia players
are portrayed as poor travelers
who have made all their props
from objects they’ve found. Get
ready for action-packed clowning
with puppets, stilts, singing, patter
verse and mock combat in this
unforgettable adaptation.
Theatre Camp
Tuesdays, Thursday & Fridays,
March 10-31, 1-3 p.m.
The REP Theatre
Students learn the
basics of improv
comedy, creating
solid scene work,
and fun characters. The students
will also learn different types of
improv games and formats while
exploring their own creativity and
how group trust and teamwork
make for an --amazing and
hilarious improv theatre. Camp
sessions are from noon-1 p.m. for
ages and 1-2 p.m. for ages 12 and
up. For more information and to
sign up visit LoveTheREP.com
Central Square Cinema
Friday, March 13, 20 & 27,
7:30 p.m.
Grab your blankets for a family
movie under the stars. Enjoy a great
variety of films during this yearlong
series.
Rachael Sage - Live@TheREP
Thursday, March 26 - 7:30 p.m.
Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre
216 Quincy Ave.
Tickets: $25
A soulful vocalist and innovative
multi-instrumentalist, singer/
songwriter and producer Rachael
Sage has become one of the busiest
touring artists in independent
music, performing 100+ dates a
year with her band The Sequins
throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe
and Asia. She has earned a loyal
following for her dynamic piano
playing, delicate guitar work,
soulful vocals, and improvisational
audience interaction.
April
Stories by the Sea
Mondays-Fridays, April 1-10,
3:30 p.m. – Seaside Lyceum
Archway
Join the Seaside Repertory
Theatre as we present a one-ofa-kind storytelling experience for
children of all ages. Each day will
offer a new story and there might
even be opportunities for your
participation.
Callaghan - Live@TheREP
Thursday, April 2 - 7:30 p.m.
Seaside Meeting Hall Theatre
216 Quincy Ave.
Tickets: $25
Join us to celebrate the release
of Callaghan’s new studio album
“A History of Now.” Callaghan
plays piano and guitar and delivers
a stunning vocal, which earns
frequent comparisons with artists
like Sarah McLachlan and Emmy
Lou Harris. Her songwriting
chronicles the stories, experiences
and emotions that are part of
everyone’s lives.
featuring over 12,000 eggs in the
Amphitheater all for the little ones
to enjoy.
Duck Olympics
Sunday, April 5, noon-3 p.m.
Lyceum
Support the Special
Olympics Florida —
Walton County at
the Duck Olympics,
where an 80-footTheatre Camp
long lazy river will transform the
Tuesdays, Thursday & Fridays,
Lyceum Lawn into a duck pond
April 2-10, 1-3 p.m – The REP
and act as the centerpiece of the
Theatre
fundraising event. A 4-mph current
Students learn the basics of improv
will propel 5,000 yellow rubber
comedy, creating solid scene work,
ducks around the pool in multiple
and fun characters. The students
races for prizes throughout the
will also learn different types of
afternoon. Singer Reid Soria of
improv games and formats while
Autism Sings will also perform at
exploring their own creativity and
the event. The event free to attend.
how group trust and teamwork
People interested in volunteering
make for an --amazing and hilarious
at the event, providing sponsorship
improv theatre. Camp sessions are
or prizes can contact Mike
from noon-1 p.m. for ages and 1-2
Schumacher at mikeschumacher@
p.m. for ages 12 and up. For more
specialolympicswalton.org. Ducks
information and to sign up visit
adoptions are available for $5 online
LoveTheREP.com
at www.duckolympics.com. A duck
adoption will enter your duck into
Central Square Cinema
the race for prizes at the event.
Fridays, April 3 & 10, 7:30 p.m.
People will not need to be present
Seaside Amphitheater
to win.
Grab your blankets for a family
classic movie under the stars. Enjoy
“The Commedia Robin Hood.”
a great variety
Mondays, April 6 & 13, 5 p.m.
of films during
Amphitheater
this yearlong
Seaside Repertory Theatre’s (The
series.
REP) spring season revisits the
commedia dell’arte style with “The
“First Friday” ArtWalk
Commedia Robin Hood.” The
Friday, April 3, 5-8 p.m.
merry REP troupe, Columbine,
Ruskin Place & Central Square
Arlequin, Punchin and Rosetta
Enjoy live music and view beautiful
tackle, tumble, trick and trip their
works of art and artist demos at
way through the tale of Robin
the galleries and shops of Ruskin
Hood with fantastic abandon. The
Place and select Central Square
commedia players are portrayed
merchants.
as poor travelers who have made
all their props from objects they’ve
Seaside Farmers Market
found. Get ready for actionSaturdays, April 4, 11, 18, & 25, 9
packed clowning with puppets,
a.m.-1 p.m. – Amphitheater
stilts, singing, patter verse and
Get your pick of fresh
mock combat in this unforgettable
produce, baked goods,
adaptation.
dairy products, native
plants and other
DATES, TIMES, & EVENTS ARE
unique offerings
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
during our market on
Saturday mornings.
WITHOUT NOTICE.
Find local specialties that will help
Please refer to SeasideFL.com or
sustain our growers. Enjoy special
facebook.com/SeasideFlorida
cooking demos and activities sure to
for event details.
liven up your morning.
Events are made possible
Seaside’s Easter Celebration
by the A&E fee collected by
Sunday, April 5, noon-2 p.m.
members of the Seaside Arts
Seaside
& Entertainment Corporation.
Join Seaside for this annual Easter
Events are free & held in the
Egg-stravaganza including a visit
Seaside Amphitheater unless
from the Easter Bunny, live music
otherwise noted.
from 30A Radio and an egg hunt
March–April 2015
Page 17
Getting Their Feet Wet
COMMUNITY
Special Olympics Florida: Walton County
holds Duck Race fundraiser on Easter
Sunday in
By Katie Tammen
Two years ago, a handful of people decided to revitalize Special
Olympics in Walton County.
Easter Sunday, they’re inviting
the community to see how far
they’ve come during the Inaugural
Duck Olympics.
“It’s going to be a really great
family event,” said Mike Schumacher, one of the parents who led
the effort to restart the program
in the spring of 2013.
An 80-foot-long lazy river will
transform the Lyceum Lawn into
a Duck Pond and act as the centerpiece of the fundraising event.
A 4-mph current will propel 5,000
yellow rubber ducks around the
pool in multiple races for prizes
throughout the afternoon. Singer
Reid Soria of Autism Sings will
also perform at the event.
“We are honored to partner with
our merchants and Special Olympics Florida — Walton County in
this inaugural event that will help
raise funds to improve the quality
of life for members of our community and their families,” said Lori
Leath Smith, director of public relations and marketing for Seaside
The April 5 event is the largest fundraiser the Walton County
Duck Olympics benefits the Special Olympics team in Walton County, which has nearly 60 athletes
competing in six sports. Photo courtesy Mike Schumacher
program has tackled. The presenting sponsor, Duckies Shop of Fun,
and South Walton businesses such
as YOLO Board, The Donut Hole,
The Beach Group, Modica Market,
Davis Properties of Northwest Florida, SOFITCO, Emerald Coast Title
Services, Trustmark Bank and more
have already stepped up with time
and money to help the organization.
YOLO Board donated a paddleboard
as one of the prizes at the Duck
Olympics and Duckies purchased the
lazy river pool.
“To me, just doing whatever we
could for Special Olympics was a nobrainer,” said Bryan Pritchett, owner
of Duckies. “Making an investment
in that pool meant that they could
raise money for years.”
Walton County Director Damien
McNeil said they’re hopeful this
event will draw people to the program. “We have an ambitious plan
to double the number of athletes
participating and sports offered
by the end of next year,” he said.
Currently 59 athletes ages 8 and
up are participating in six sports
including the popular paddle
board program. Some of those
athletes will participate in a demonstration during the event.
YOLO Board co-owner Mitzi
Archer said it’s a natural fit to work
with Special Olympics. “They just
took to it so quickly and so easily,”
she said.
For the athletes, any of the sports
are life-changing, according to
Nancy Simpler who has been
involved with the program for
about six years. “It teaches them
sportsmanship; it teaches them
what their abilities are,” Simpler
said. “To see the advancement
they make with these (sports), it
changes your life.”
The event will kick off at noon on
April 5 and continue until 3 p.m.
It’s free to attend. People interested in volunteering at the event,
providing sponsorship or prizes
can contact Mike Schumacher at
mikeschumacher@specialolympicswalton.org.
Ducks adoptions are available
for $5 online at www.duckolympics.com. A duck adoption will
enter your duck into the race for
prizes at the event. People will not
need to be present to win. c
Page 18
March–April 2015
INSTITUTE
Homeowner Beverly Walters to Serve as Chair of the Board
Institute
of the
By Diane Dorney
Long-time Seaside homeowner
Dr. Beverly C. Walters was named
Chair of the Board of Governors
for the Seaside Institute at its annual meeting, which was held on
February 20, 2015. As Chair, Walters will preside over the meetings
of the Board and shall be the chief
executive officer of the non-profit
organization, which is dedicated to
fostering education, cultural activities and the arts within Seaside and
the surrounding area. She will also
have general control and management of the business and affairs of
the Institute.
“Beverly has brought tremendous
enthusiasm and benefit to the Institute and, in addition to being a Seaside and WaterColor homeowner
and long-time supporter of the Institute, I believe she will do a wonderful job at the helm of the Board,”
said outgoing Chair, Frank Starkey.
Starkey served as the Board’s chair
for the past five years.
Walters, who has had a career as
a neurosurgeon and clinical epidemiologist, has retired from fulltime clinical practice to pursue her
interest in applied evidence-based
medicine. She brings a wealth of
leadership experience to her new
role as she has served as co-chair of
numerous practice guideline writing groups and was Chairperson
of the Guidelines and Outcomes
Below are her responses to a few
questions regarding her new position on the Seaside Institute Board
of Governors.
What strategic goals would you
like to see for the Institute?
Dr. Beverly C. Walters
Committee of the Joint Congress of
Neurological Surgeons/American
Association of Neurological Surgeons for over 10 years. She also
served on the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Executive Committee and on the Board of Governors of the American College of
Surgeons.
Dr. Walters has had a lifelong interest in planning, architecture and
design. She was an assistant properties manager of a large real estate
development company and learned
interior design in the architectural
practice of Toombs, Amisano, and
Wells in Atlanta. Following her retirement from Neurosurgical practice Walters studied interior design
at the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 2007.
BW: I would like to see the institute
regain its proper place in the life of
Seaside and its citizens, as a purveyor of continuing education in
townbuilding, New Urbanism, and
evolving understanding of Aging in
Place. The Academic programs of
the Institute are extremely important in the life of the town, as well
as the “keeper of the faith” for the
basic tenets of community building, as exemplified by the town of
Seaside.
What role do you think the Seaside Institute plays in Seaside and
would you like to see that change
or continue along the same lines?
BW: In addition to the goals stated
above, I would like to see the Seaside Institute develop further relationships with academia and other
stakeholders in the realm of small
town development and exploration
of community structure.
How do you see the Academic
Village playing a role in the Institute goals?
BW: The Academic Village is one
of the most important civic estab-
lishments at Seaside. In the field
of education of all kinds, it stands
as a crucible for advanced thought
in town planning and community
development and the exploration
of how these ideas fit into an everevolving world of technology and
globalization. Its educational mission is paramount, for learning and
learners of all kinds and at every
stage of personal development. In
addition, the Academic Village has
a potential opportunity to evolve
into a center for artistic pursuits in
addition to design, architecture and
town planning. c
March–April 2015
Page 19
Bob Gibbs, Daryl Davis Lead Retail Workshop in
By Diane Dorney
In mid-January, a group of 30 developers, planners and municipal
officials gathered in Seaside to attend the Seaside Institute’s first in
a series of retail workshops. Held
in Seaside’s Assembly Hall, this
workshop was led by new urban retail experts Bob Gibbs, Daryl Davis
and Terry Shook. Participants were
guided through the basic principals of retail planning, case studies
in existing town centers and a tour
of the most successful new urban
town center in the country: Seaside.
For some boots-on-the-ground experience, Charlie Modica, owner of
Seaside’s Modica Market, shared
his family’s personal experience in
INSTITUTE
getting the market up and running
when the town consisted of just a
few houses and had yet to make its
impact in the region.
Gibbs and Shook are retail planning consultants for new urban
developers who want to incorporate the crucial component of
a town center into their projects
and to municipal officials who may
be seeking ways to reinvigorate a
downtown. Davis led the development of Seaside’s town center and
continues to manage its’ tenants as
it evolves. The Seaside town center
is a success story that others seek to
emulate as they attempt to find the
appropriate retail, office and housing that will make for the long-term
viability of a town. c
Seaside town founder Daryl Davis leads Seaside Institute retail workshop participants on a tour of the town center she helped to create and continues to manage. Photos by Diane Dorney
The ICAA Holds Its Annual
Retreat in
By Diane Dorney
In early February, the Institute
for Classical Architecture and Art
held its board of directors’ retreat
in Seaside. This annual meeting offers the directors of this nonprofit
organization dedicated time to discuss long-term goals for the ICAA,
which is dedicated to advancing the
classical tradition in architecture,
urbanism and their allied arts. This
is accomplished through education,
publication and advocacy.
Two prominent Seaside homeowners currently serve as directors of the ICAA: Robert Davis,
the founder of Seaside, and David
Dowler, a long-time Seaside homeowner who, with his wife, Marsha,
has been involved in Seaside civic
life for several decades.
Between two business meetings,
the directors were given a walking tour of Seaside. Several visitors
stayed in the Seaside Academic Village and others found guest housing in various Seaside cottages.
The ICAA, which is the result of
a 2002 merger of Classical America
and the Institute of Classical Architecture, is based in New York City
and is represented by 16 chapters
nationwide. It is a valued educational resource for students of art,
planning and architecture, design
professionals and the general public. It publishes an academic journal
called “The Classicist” and acts as a
curriculum partner with accredited
schools of architecture, such as the
University of Colorado Denver.
For more information about the
ICAA, visit www.classicist.org.
An excerpt of the letter from ICAA President Peter W. Lynden is below:
Dear Daryl and Robert,
I cannot thank you enough for the extraordinary hospitality you and
the entire Seaside family showed us this weekend. The ICAA board was
thrilled to see the amazing community you have built in Seaside, and it
served as the perfect backdrop to bring us all together to discuss the future
of the ICAA and of the field of classical architecture and the allied arts.
With warmest regards,
Peter W. Lyden
President
INSTITUTE
SPRING ART PROGRAMS
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
March 27 - 31, 2015
Thousands of students have taken this course with Brian Bomeisler,
which is based on the work of Dr. Betty Edwards. Bomeisler continues
to have tremendous success in teaching people to draw and paint, as
well as helping to build their levels of artistic confidence and creativity.
By the end of this 5-day workshop, you will see a remarkable change in
your drawing skills.
Plein Air Oil Painting with Kathie Odom
May 25 - 29, 2015
For intermediate and advanced painters. Sign up for this session and
receive lessons from a master in Plein Air oil painting. Kathie has won
numerous awards for her work but loves sharing what she has learned
with others in a collaborative environment.
Architectural Photography Workshop
May 30 - June 3, 2015
Steven Brooke returns to Seaside for a second five-day workshop. He
will cover the photography of individual buildings streetscapes, landscapes, interiors and night photography and include instruction in
photographic techniques, composition and post-production. All levels
are encouraged to participate.
Limited housing is provided in the Academic Village
for our educational programs.
Visit seasideinstitute.org/accommodations
for more information.
For more information about each program and to register
online, please visit www.seasideinstitute.org or contact
Diane Dorney at ddorney@seasideinstitute.org.
November–December
Page 20
2014
March–April
Page
2015
20
TENNIS
What’s Your Style
By Tracy Townsend
I want to talk to
you about style.
And I don’t mean
clothes. Do you
know what style
of tennis you
play? My Wilson rep recently
showed me the
company’s new
Tracy Townsend,
racket technolSeaside Tennis manager
ogy customized
for the three styles of play: the baseliner, the attacker and the net player.
Baseliners are people who never
come to the net unless they have to.
They are fast on their feet and hover just behind the baseline for every
shot. They are consistent, patient and
in good shape. They don’t take a lot
of chances. They wait for their opponents to make the mistakes, and
they make few mistakes themselves.
Baseliners hit the ball deep in the
court, and they have the ability to
stay on the court as long as it takes to
wear you out.
Attackers look to take advantage
of short balls or mistakes. They drive
the ball into a corner and follow it in.
They take more risks on short balls
and hit more aggressively more often. Balls that float toward them will
be taken out of the air with an offensive volley that they follow in to the
Spring Pro Shop Hours
starting March 2:
Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday-Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
net. The attacker likes overheads and
typically puts them away.
Net players live at the net. They
have good volleys and good overheads. They are quick, and they plan
ways to get to the net whenever they
are at the baseline. They can chip and
charge, or they can slice the ball and
move forward. A net player is always
looking for a way to take the ball out
of the air. They serve and volley, always follow a lob to the net, and have
effective approach shots.
Most of the pros you see on tour
stay back on the baseline. Very few
true serve-and-volley players are left.
Even the attackers have to be picky
about what shots they come in behind.
You have to recognize what style
tennis you play in order to improve. I
love to beat players by making them
do something they are uncomfortable doing or are unable to do. If you
don’t know what kind of player you are,
come see me. And if you do know what
kind of player you are, come see me.
We have some work to do either way.
See you on the courts! c
Tracy Townsend is a resort Tennis
expert and his company, 30A Tennis,
manages Seaside Tennis on behalf of
the Seaside Community Development
Corp. You can reach him at tennis@
seasidefl.com or call (850) 231-2214.
For news events and court conditions,
find Seaside Tennis on Facebook.
Courts are open for play
daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m.;
please call to reserve.
Eye-Opener Clinic: Monday-Thursday 8-9 a.m.
Round Robin: Friday-Sunday 9-10:30 a.m.
March–April
Page 21
2015
November–December
Page
2014
21
ABOUT TOWN
30A Songwriters Festival 2015
More than 4,000 fans showed up to see Jason Isbell and Leon Russell. Graham Nash, who told the audience the story behind the song
“Our House,” followed a standing ovation performance by The Indigo Girls. The weather was the arguably the best surprise performer of
the weekend. Most agreed 2015 Songwriters Festival was the best yet. Photos by Evan Carter Photography
Page 22
March–April 2015
VIEWPOINT
Ecology and Economy
Caring for the coastal dune lakes is our
responsibility
By Jacquee Markel
Photos by Nic Stoltzfus
My first cruise down 30A was 25
years ago. Windows were down, classic rock was playing and this Jersey
girl couldn’t believe her eyes. Not
only were the beaches pristine and
the dunes breathtaking, they were
deserted. There was something else
distinctly different about this quaint
beach road. There were lakes, lots
of them. Each one unique. Each one
a gem. I came to learn that these 15
lakes were different than any lake I
had known. They were called coastal
dune lakes that broke open to the gulf
from time to time, merging salt and
fresh water along with their inhabitants. My fascination grew as we built
a home on Oyster Lake, and the lakes
became part of me. I was in love.
So how do we honor these unique
water bodies? How do we coexist
without destroying them? I spend a
lot of time thinking about that, especially as the next wave of development can be seen everywhere. Walton County is part of one of the fastest
growing regions in the country.
The county has long considered
the lakes treasures and is trying to
develop measures that allow for
limited development while protecting the lakes. In December of 2014,
Walton County’s planning department introduced an ordinance to
relax the regulations that protect
our coastal dune lakes by increasing the amount of land that can
be cleared of natural vegetation
to build. The natural vegetative
community that exists around our
lakes and watershed perform several valuable functions including
filtering contaminants before they
enter the lake and absorbing storm
water runoff. Lawns and landscaping will never provide the same efficiencies of function. Clearing invites invasive species and increases
the severity of storm water runoff,
creating a direct pathway for fertilizers from our lawns and other
contaminants to flow into the lake.
The effects can be seen as invasive
species and algae, which are symptoms of an unhealthy lake.
After public outcry, the ordinance
was tabled to allow for more input. So
the question is, who should get more
consideration, the natural resource
or the landowner? Florida’s Natural
Areas Inventory has given our coastal dune lakes a ranking that classifies
them as globally rare and critically
imperiled. On March 26, 2014, the
Florida State Legislature passed Senate Resolution 1696 “recognizing the
vital importance of Walton County’s
coastal dune lakes to the ecological
and economic health of this state.” So
what should we do? Do we err on the
side of caution or throw caution to
the wind? Is bigger better and better
for whom?
Living on a lake is a privilege. Along
with the privilege comes the responsibility of stewardship. Perhaps living
with that stewardship isn’t for everyone. The lakes have only our regulations and understanding of those
who live near their shores to protect
them. Instead of Walton County
changing its current regulations to
accommodate a particular vision for
a bigger house, a pool, a guest house
or more parking, shouldn’t we give a
voice to the voiceless and show them
the respect they deserve?
How we assess value is subjective. In the long run, by degrading the coastal dune lakes for the
sake of a larger homestead, we will
eventually devalue both and Walton County taxpayers will be left to
pick up the tab. c
March–April 2015
Page 23
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL
Dedication, Innovation and Inspiraton
The Foundation of the
By Laura Holloway
It has been said that the true value
of a community is a reflection of its
education system. The future leaders
of tomorrow find their beginnings in
classrooms around the country, and
in Seaside, the chances for greatness
are heightened by the existence of the
Seaside Neighborhood School.
In 1993, Dr. Rosemary Williams,
a homeowner in Seaside since 1988,
bumped into Seaside founder, Robert
Davis, who mentioned that a small
group was meeting regularly to discuss South Walton’s school system.
He recommended that she, an educator, attend, and she soon found herself immersed in a group of individuals who were trying to improve K-12
education in the area.
After several meetings over many
months, it became apparent to Rosemary that the educational void in
the area could only be filled with the
foundation of a new school. At the
time, there were no charter schools
in Florida, but when Rosemary and
Robert began discussing the possibility of a school in Seaside, they discovered that a group of senators in Tallahassee were working on the Charter
School Bill. After a few trips to Tallahassee to meet with the senators and
their legislative analysts, the two felt
they had enough information to push
the idea of the school forward.
The Charter Bill was passed in 1996,
and everything went into fast forward.
With a six-week window closing rap-
Neighborhood School
The Seaside Neighborhood School, which began in 1996 with 36 students, is consistently ranked in the
top 10 among all middle schools in Florida. Photo courtesy Seaside Neighborhood School
idly, it was what Rosemary calls “a
race to the finish.” The public schools
in the area were starting the year on
August 13, and the team scrambled to
draw up appropriate documents and
plans to open on time.
Tracey Bailey, who had been appointed Charter School Director,
helped Rosemary define the proposal
for presentation to the board, which
was approved by the Walton County
School District. This triggered a request for a contract, and Beth Folta
and Linda Dwyer, who were working
with Seaside Community Development, joined the team to lend their
expertise in development and financial planning.
The board approved the contract the
night before the day legally required
to open the school, and again, planning went into fast motion. Rosemary
laughs telling it, and said, “When we
came out of the meeting where they
approved the contract, the teachers
were signing their teacher contracts
on the hood of a car in the parking lot
of the Walton County School District
Administration Office!”
The board knew they had teachers, but they still, even at this
point, did not know whether they
had students. Many families were
waiting to see whether the organization would open as a private
or public school. But the next day,
the school welcomed in its first 36
students, along with two faculty
members and one administrator,
proudly existing as one of the
first charter schools in the state of
Florida.
The school’s first classrooms were
located in two modular units, and
the enthusiasm and dedication behind the project prompted Robert
Davis to donate the land for the first
building. Soon after, the location fees
from the locally filmed movie “The
Truman Show” were donated by the
homeowners of Seaside to fund the
construction of the building.
The passion behind the project was
extraordinary, and the founders are
fortunate to have moments of true
appreciation for their dedication, to
see the good that they have helped
bring to the area. Rosemary recalls
one moment: “Before the school was
even under way, I had a complete picture of the school in my head. I had
a vision of the Lyceum being filled
with students, playing soccer. And I
remember during that first year, I was
walking past the Lyceum and it was
as though my dream was transferred
to the school. All of the kids were outside playing soccer. It was amazing.”
The Seaside Neighborhood School
would have never been possible without the complete support of the community, particularly Robert and Daryl
Davis, and the board members, who
continue to selflessly push the school
towards greatness. The parents of
those very first 36 students were instrumental, with “so much time and
energy donated — even supplies
were donated.” The earliest teachers
also “took the risk to come to a place
that no one was sure would survive,”
and the principles handled the continued evolution of the school with
skill. Even the students, who Rosemary describes as “incredible,” were
patient and attentive in the primitive
early stages of the school, contributing to the success of the school.
If a community is in fact a reflection of its school, Seaside, like the
Seaside Neighborhood School, will
continue to inspire and innovate,
always remembering the perseverance and dedication that made it all
possible. c
Page 24
March–April 2015
FITNESS
Aging Gracefully
The beginning of a
journey toward health
By Lori Leath Smith
Director of Public Relations
and Marketing
Seaside Community
Development Corp.
Believe Studio Personal Trainer:
“You’ll be working out with me in
the studio two days a week; but I
expect you to do your homework.”
Lori: “What? Homework?”
“Yes, through the mobile app, you
will have assigned homework that
holds you accountable. No excuses.”
Lori: “OK, If that’s what it’s going to take, then I’ll do it.”
“Lori, I like your motivation.”
When I was in my 20s, I worked
out and even taught fitness classes,
watched what I ate and stayed in
shape. However, I remember thinking: “If I’m working this hard to stay
at a healthy weight now, what will it
take to maintain that same level of
health when I am older?”
Now I am finding out. The other
day, I looked closely in the mirror;
what I saw staring back was, well,
not quite what I wanted. I still expect to see the woman I was in my
20s, but there’s a 50-something
woman staring back at me. Couple
growing more mature with the life
events that occur when you least
expect it, and you find yourself
wondering how you got to where
you are, or in my case, the weight I
am at, while you are taking care of
other business. Somehow I didn’t
realize it until it had already happened. I’ve raised three children
and am enjoying a successful, but
sometimes stressful, career and,
believe me, have incurred my
share of traumatic life events.
As I have let things go a bit, the
most difficult hurdle has been admitting that I need to do something about my not-so-healthy
lifestyle and just plain getting
started. Though the path can be
filled with ups and downs, victories and setbacks, I believe it’s
worth pursuing aging gracefully
— at any age. We all can get back
on track if we put our minds to it.
To begin with, I have taken it
upon myself to obtain the best information from experts on nutrition, fitness and healthy living and
other ways of feeling good and
looking good, so that I will be able
to stare at that person in the mirror with a renewed sense of pride
and confidence.
And while it is natural instinct
to want to keep this all to myself,
I believe better success will come
from being transparent and inviting you to walk with me through
the steps of my own weight loss
and fitness journey. Besides, it
might be too easy to quit if I’m the
only one who knows about it. My
job demands that sometimes I’m
staffer’s
thrust in front of a TV camera,
am called out to speak to large
groups, or simply representing
Seaside, day in and day out, in the
best light possible. So, why not
make this process public as well?
I hope you’ll join me, an everyday professional, in my journey
and that this experience will help
you in your own healthy living
goals. I welcome your interaction
and support along the way and
am making myself accountable
to Seaside Times readers. In fact,
I’d love your feedback; perhaps
you’re walking (or running) your
own journey. You can email me at
lsmith@seasidefl.com.
To get started:
1. I have begun a formal fitness
and nutrition program with Believe Studio in Seaside. Owner
Eric Isham paired me with one of
the studio’s expert personal trainers, Justin Brown. Justin is becoming a new best friend, offering
support, accountability, and expertise. He says I am beginning to
recharge my battery. I am working
out with Justin in-person two days
a week and am working out with
him the other three days via a mobile app that provides instruction,
a timer and the ability to log in
my efforts each session. I love the
ability to do these workouts early
in the morning before work. And
the best part — Justin tailors my
workouts just for me. I am attending yoga, barre, and pilates classes
to fill in. For me, this is a lifestyle
change that includes time management, incorporating workouts
into my everyday routine —which
is the ultimate goal. (Oh, I’m also
signed up to participate in the
Seaside Neighborhood School 5K.
I’ll let you know how that goes.)
2. I’m trying to take an honest look at what is going into my
mouth, the types of foods and
portion sizes, and making adjustments to my diet. From the time I
was in high school, I’ve been aware
of healthy foods and portion sizes.
My kids even called me Mother
Earth at one point. But, the truth
is, it’s been a slow fade to not really
thinking about it most of the time.
And, because of time restraints,
stress, and a very hectic schedule,
I haven’t been as attuned to eating
as healthy as I could. I am following a sensible eating plan, including nutritional supplements, with
helpful guidelines: more fruits
and vegetables, more fish and lean
proteins, drinking a lot of water,
etc. I’ll also have help from many
Seaside restaurants and eateries
that provide locally-grown, fresh
and organic produce as part of
their menus. (P.S. No more coffee
creamer.)
Current Dress Size: 14
Height: 5’ 6 ½”
Weight Loss Goal: 40 lbs.
Photo by Kurt Lischka for SoWal.com
3. I’m looking forward to support from Seaside Times readers, friends and family to help me
through. This is a long-term lifestyle change. It takes some work
to maintain a healthy lifestyle and
I aim to achieve it. Justin says consistency is the key. Managing my
time to fit it in is going to take
some work. Years ago, I taught fitness classes. I used to tell my clients, “You make time to do what
you really want to do.” With three
children and all their activities, a
full-time job and being a single
mom, it became much more difficult. But it can be done.
This journey is not only about
losing weight and getting healthy,
but also about respecting yourself
and aging gracefully. Inspired by
Seaside founders Robert and Daryl Davis whose continued vision
for Seaside is a place for those to
recharge and rejuvenate simply,
this column will offer ways we can
all work at aging gracefully — at
any age.
March–April 2015
Page 25
ENTERTAINMENT La Commedia dell’
The Seaside Repertory Theatre’s spring
season brings tumbles, tricks and trips
By Rebecca A. Huber
Did you know that our modern
sense of humor has been heavily influenced by 16th century Italian theatre? Commedia dell’arte is
a form of improvisational theater
performed by a traveling comedic
troupe of professional actors that
performed in the streets and occasionally at court venues until they
wore out their welcome.
While their style was improvisational, the troupes perfected their
lazzi, a memorized joke or antic
they used as a staple in the performances. These jokes became a
trademark for the actors or troupes,
and many of the lazzi have been
passed down from generation to
generation. Most of us are familiar with television’s The Simpsons,
whose characters are based off the
commedia dell’arte stock characters. Homer Simpson is Zanni, the
lowly adult with the mentality of a
child. Lisa and Marge are both the
Columbina character, the beautiful and wise female who solves all
the problems. Bart is the perfect
Arlechinno, the loveable prankster.
These character types are still considered standards for the entertainment industry.
Seaside Repertory Theatre’s (REP)
spring season revisits the commedia dell’arte style with “The Commedia Robin Hood.” The merry
Hang 10
Surf School opens again for spring
and summer
By Wendy O. Dixon
Seaside REP’s improvisational theater performances are fun for the whole family. Photo
courtesy Seaside REP
REP troupe, Columbine, Arlequin,
Punchin and Rosetta tackle, tumble, trick and trip their way through
the tale of Robin Hood with fantastic abandon. The commedia players
are portrayed as poor travelers who
have made all their props from objects they’ve found. Get ready for
action-packed clowning with puppets, stilts, singing, patter verse and
mock combat in this unforgettable
adaptation.
You can catch a performance of
“The Commedia Robin Hood” on
Mondays, March 9 through April
13, at 5 p.m., at the Seaside Amphitheater.
For more information about
this performance and The REP’s
Spring Break Theater Camp, visit
LoveTheREP.com. c
ACTIVITIES
Austin Magee has been surfing
more than half his life. And through
his travels abroad he has connected
with a world wide surfing community. He’s surfed in various weather
conditions and many coastlines, including the reefs of Indonesia, Bali,
and most recently, Ecuador, where
he brings clothing and toiletry
items to families in need.
“Doing missions work there is
part of it,” Austin Magee says. “It’s
a simple thing to do, pick up some
things at Walmart to bring items
not easy to get in those places.”
After setting up a surf school in
Seaside in 2014, returning clients
are already booking surf sessions for
spring. The water can still be cold
during the early spring months,
Magee warns, so he has wet suits
available. Appointments are recommended so he can ensure the proper size suit for each student.
Magee says anyone can get pick up
surfing, and he loves offering lessons
for anyone wanting to “hang 10.”
“This deep seeded connection
gets rejuvenated every time I teach
someone how to ride a wave,” he
says. “It doesn’t matter whether
you are six or 76. The thrill that
pours over you when you feel the
energy beneath your feet is unlike
anything else.”
Who can sign up: Ages 5 and older,
must be able to swim
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
For more information, including
pricing, contact: (850) 217-4042;
austin.magee@rocketmail.com;
Facebook.com/Austin Magee’s Surf
School at Seaside, Florida c
Surf instructor Austin Magee’s surf school is reopened for the spring and summer in Seaside.
Photo by Haley Aull
Page 26
March–April 2015
FARMERS MARKET
The Seasonings of Life
The Cranky Yankee adds spice to
Farmers Market
By Wendy O. Dixon
Master Gardner and naturalist
John Kratt loves gardening. And after
50 years of growing and 30 years canning, he’s figured out how to produce
wholesome, tasty, chemical-free produce and spices for shoppers at the
Seaside Farmers Market each Saturday morning.
On his farm in Freeport, Fla., Kratt,
known as the Cranky Yankee as a nod
to his Pittsburg, Pa., roots, uses only
organic materials, producing vegetables, herbs, spices and sea salts.
During the spring, Kratt plants
tomatoes and peppers. “Mostly hot
and some sweet,” he says. “And specialty items others are not growing
— squash, eggplants, Persian cucumbers and potatoes.” His gourmet
herbs include bay leaves from Turkey,
and organic ground Saigon cinna-
mon from Vietnam, as well as oregano and thyme, which he buys from
importers. “At the farmers market, I
sell starter plants in March and April
— basil, tomato, pepper, eggplant and
other veggie and herb plants.”
The Cranky Yankee’s specialty sea
salts, rich in healthful minerals found
in the ocean water, are pure and flavorful. The Himalayan pink has a
delicate pink color, and makes a dramatic finishing salt. The Pacific Blue,
a kosher flake sea salt coats food with
a clean, bright saltiness. The pyramidshaped crystals of this salt make it ide- John Kratt, better known as the Cranky Yankee,
al for cooking, seasoning, and for use and wife Ellie Kratt
as an accent for refreshments that call
for a salt-rimmed glass. Not iodized, a premium Hawaiian natural sea salt,
it is quite possible the best tasting sea has a deep black color, and is course
salt, complete unrefined, the natural but brittle with a crunch texture. And
minerals add subtle nuances of flavor. the Tamise French Grey is made of
It is evaporated Pacific ocean water a course crystal, making it a perfect
finishing touch to a meal with deliwith no additives.
The exotic sounding black lava salt, cious flavor and texture.
“Our own Creole seasoning blend,
The Bayou Blast, is perfect for blackened fish,” he says. “The Ragin Cajun,
also called magic dust, is great with
seafood, chicken and pork.”
Infused salt flavors include chipotle, rosemary, habanero, garlic dill and
apple wood smoked. “I’m a real stickler for what ingredients I use,” he says.
“I think people should eat real foods,
unadulterated, and know what a real
fresh vegetable should taste like, it’s
the best I can find, freshly picked
that morning. That’s why I enjoy the
farmers market.” c
White Bean and Collard
Greens Soup
Collard green soup is a wonderful way
to prepare these nutrition-rich greens.
Great Northern beans, chopped
yellow onion, white wine, garlic,
and our 15-spice blend, and thyme
give this soup incredible flavor. For a
weeknight supper, serve with slices of
crusty bread spread with goat cheese.
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4
cups)
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
or sweet onion
2 diced carrots
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup pinot grigio or other light
white wine
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black
pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
6 cups finely shredded collard
greens (about 10 ounces)
1 teaspoon of 15-spice blend
1 teaspoons thyme
2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, lesssodium chicken or veggie broth
1 (15.5-ounce) can Great Northern
beans, rinsed and drained
Preparation
Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot
over medium-high heat. Add onion
and garlic; sauté for 5 minutes or until
onion is tender. Add wine, pepper,
and salt. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates.
Add greens, carrot, thyme, spice blend
and broth. Cover, reduce heat, and
simmer 8 minutes or until greens are
tender. Add beans; simmer 5 minutes
or until thoroughly heated.
March–April 2015
Page 27
Pictured left to right: Carmel Modica, Carol Green, Cole Skipper, Jackie Stone, Jessica Grow and Ann
Grelling
Merchant Appreciation Awards
Congratulations to the 2014 Merchant
Appreciation Award winners
Amavida Coffee & Tea
Cabana Man Beach Services
Great Southern Café
It’s Heavenly
La Vie Est Belle
Meltdown
Mercantile
Modica Market
Perspicasity
Seaside Beach
Taco Bar
Crossword Puzzle
seasidefl.com/highlights
Across:
2. Freshly squeezed juice from the convenience of
Airstream Row; Raw and ______________
3. the northern-most roadway in Seaside
6. Seaside shop that caters to your peepers (two
words)
7. local winery named after the owner’s hometown in
Indiana
8. The feline counterpart of Bud and ________
10. instrumental in starting the Seaside Neighborhood
School _______________ Williams
12. Southern food staple, a favorite at Great Southern
Cafe; Fried Green _________________
15. ________ _________ Cinema movies under the stars in Seaside every Friday night (weatherpermitting) (two word)
16. colorful paint-your-own pottery studio in Seaside
(two words; __________-Up
17. local radio station keeping you in tune with all
things 30A (two words)
Down:
1. Seaside’s neighbor to the West
2. ______ ________ ________dancers performance ballet group showcased in Seaside on
May 2 (three words)
4. Airstream sushi favorite; the name means ‘wave’ in
Vietnamese
5. something you wear at the beach (unless you want
to burn!)
8. hotspot for quick bites on the way to the beach
(two words)
9. storyteller theatre for all ages, presented by the
Seaside Rep (four words)
11. cures spring fever (two words)
13. Seaside’s neighbor to the East
14. tentacle-ed sea creatures that leave a powerful
string; look, but don’t touch
18. coffee anyone? try this local shop on 30A
For answers, visit
www.theseasidetimes.com/crossword4
seasidefl.com/vacation/rentals

Spring Break has Sprung

Transcription

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