ART+CULTURE

Mosaic Theatre Company to present “Annie Jr.” at Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium

The Mosaic Theatre Company is set to bring the enchanting world of Broadway to life with their upcoming production of “Annie Jr.”

• The heartwarming tale of little orphan Annie and her quest for family and belonging will be performed at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium from April 19-21.

Co-executive director Sophia Hagan-Metcalfe announced that the production features a talented cast of 50 students who have dedicated over 150 hours of rehearsals to the show.

“From toe-tapping musical numbers to touching moments of camaraderie and hope, ‘Annie Jr.’ is a celebration of resilience, friendship, and the enduring power of love,” Hagan-Metcalfe said.

As a nonprofit theatre company deeply rooted in the community, Mosaic Theatre Company invites families from near and far to experience an evening of laughter, tears, and inspiration. The classic story promises to captivate audiences of all ages, whether they are lifelong fans or experiencing it for the first time.

• Performances will be held on April 19th and 20th at 7pm, with additional matinee shows on April 20th and 21st at 2pm. Tickets are available for purchase at $15 on the Mosaic Theatre Company’s website, mosaictheatrecompany.com.

ART+CULTURE

Okaloosa County School District and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation partner for 24th Annual K-12 Art Show

The Okaloosa County School District and the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation are joining forces to host the annual Okaloosa County K-12 Student Art Show on April 17-18 at the C. H. “Bull” Rigdon Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach.

• The two-day event will showcase over 2,500 pieces of artwork from students across 15 elementary, middle, and high schools in the district.
• The exhibit will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on both days, with free admission for all attendees.

On April 18, a special reception will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. to honor the young artists and present Best of Show awards to middle school and high school students for their outstanding 2-D and 3-D works.

This year marks the 24th anniversary of the collaboration between the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and the Okaloosa County School District in organizing this student art show, which aims to celebrate and promote the artistic talents of local students.

For more information about the event, interested individuals can contact the Okaloosa County School District at 850-833-3100 or the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation at 850-650-2226.

MILITARY

Hurlburt Field tightens security with 100% ID Checks beginning April 17

The 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron (1st SOSFS) will begin conducting 100% identification checks for all individuals accessing Hurlburt Field starting April 17, 2024.

• This change in installation access procedures aims to enhance security measures at the base, according to Hurlburt Field.

Under the new policy, visitors without a Department of Defense (DOD) issued ID card will be required to obtain a visitor pass. Uniformed service members, their dependents over the age of 16, DOD employees, and retirees are authorized to sponsor these passes, which can be obtained at the Visitor Control Center (VCC) from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To prevent traffic delays at the gates, it is recommended that individuals begin acquiring their visitor passes in advance.

Visitor passes are valid for up to 60 days. However, if a pass is needed for more than 60 days, a commander’s approval is required, and the pass can then be issued for up to one year, with the exception of retirees. Retirees traveling with visitors will need to renew the visitor’s pass every 60 days. Passes should be shredded or returned to the VCC when no longer needed.

• Gator Lakes Golf Course will remain open to the public, provided that visitors have an approved visitor’s pass.

In addition to visitor passes, individuals can also process REAL IDs into the Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS), a networked database system designed to easily verify access authorization of people entering military installations.

Registering a REAL ID in DBIDS can alleviate gate congestion if an ID card holder forgets their card at home or in a CAC reader. Retirees can also use their registered REAL ID to access the base if they lose their military ID or if it has expired.

For more information, contact the 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Office at (850) 884-7906.

GIVING BACK

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation brings art to life for nearly 400 students with special needs

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) recently provided hands-on creative residencies for nearly 400 K-12 students with special needs and abilities in Walton County.

• The week-long program, held from April 8, was led by artist and inventor Dwayne Szot, founder of Zot Artz, as part of MKAF’s ArtsReach residency program.

The residencies took place at two Santa Rosa Beach schools: South Walton Academy and Emerald Coast Middle School.

The South Walton Academy Adaptive Arts Day served approximately 175 K-12 students of all abilities, while the Walton County School District Special Olympics Field Day at Emerald Coast Middle School served around 215 K-12 students with special needs from 15 schools in the Walton County School District and Westinwood Ranch, a holistic learning program for individuals with developmental differences.

“We’re thrilled to have Dwayne Szot back with his wonderful Zot Artz program,” said Melanie Moore, MKAF education director. “He really is the Willy Wonka of the adaptive arts world. He has invented these fantastical creations that appeal to people of all abilities, but also help people create together. So, whether one of the students is in a wheelchair, or perhaps they lack fine motor skills, we’re providing an opportunity for them to create art in a collaborative and meaningful way.”

In 2024, MKAF presented around 140 ArtsReach programs, a record 71 percent increase over the previous year. Since its establishment in 1995, MKAF estimates its outreach has impacted more than 400,000 individuals in the local Northwest Florida community.

• MKAF’s Arts for All Abilities initiative is unique in the area, as it is the only arts organization with a specific program dedicated to delivering arts to people of all abilities. “I’m very proud of that and the fact that it has been part of the culture of our organization,” Moore said.

Proceeds from MKAF-produced events fund the organization’s community outreach mission, which includes providing cultural outreach programs through ArtsReach for K-12 students, adults and children with special needs, at-risk youth, and active/veteran military through MKAF’s Warrior Arts program.

POLITICS

Okaloosa Commissioner Mel Ponder announces he will not seek re-election for District 5 seat

During the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Commissioner Mel Ponder announced his decision not to run for re-election in the upcoming November election for the District 5 seat.

Commissioner Ponder, who won the seat in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, has served in various government roles for nearly 14 years, including positions on the Destin City Council, as Destin’s Mayor, and in the state legislature before returning to Okaloosa as a commissioner.

• “It has been a great and tremendous honor for me, my wife and my family and I hope that in that time I’ve been able to serve the community honorably and effectively preserving our values and culture in Northwest Florida,” Ponder stated during the meeting.

Ponder expressed his belief that a great leader will succeed him, surpassing his accomplishments. With seven months remaining in his term, he felt it was the right time to make this decision, allowing potential candidates ample time to prepare for the campaign.

“I’m here for seven more months. There’s enough runway time for someone to get in and make it a great campaign,” Ponder said. “It was not my intent a year ago. My plan was to run one more term and then term-limit myself.”

The decision to step down was not taken lightly, and Ponder revealed that he and his wife spent considerable time in prayer and reflection before finalizing their choice in the last few weeks.

Ponder looks forward to serving the community for the remainder of his term.

POLITICS

Drew Palmer announces candidacy for Okaloosa County Commissioner, District 5

Drew Palmer has officially launched his campaign for the position of Okaloosa County Commissioner District 5, following the announcement of Commissioner Mel Ponder not seeking re-election.

• Palmer, who describes himself as a conservative dedicated to God, family, and community, says he aims to serve the people of Okaloosa County, as stated in his campaign press release today.

Palmer resides in Destin with his wife Jodi, an elementary school teacher, and their daughters Reagan and Riley. They worship at Shoreline Church.

In a press release on Tuesday afternoon, Palmer says he has sought ways to make a positive impact on his community, including serving as a founding member of the Governing Board of Destin High School, where he contributed to reducing overcrowding and encouraging educational excellence in Okaloosa County.

“As a husband and father, I’ve been blessed to raise my family in Okaloosa County. I want our kids to have the same opportunity,” said Palmer. “Our exceptional public servants have done a phenomenal job making our county a great place to live and work. I want to continue their good work, ensuring that our kids can grow up here, be educated here, work here and contribute to making Okaloosa County an economic powerhouse on the panhandle.”

Palmer’s career journey began in the United States Air Force before transitioning to the engineering sector, where he supervised staff members working on software development and operational intelligence for the National Security Agency (NSA).

• Palmer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University, a Master’s Degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, and a Master’s Degree in Leadership from Mid-America Christian University.

If elected, Palmer says he plans to focus on several key issues including:

• Affordable housing for teachers and first responders.
• Supporting law enforcement and public safety.
• Providing efficient and transparent county operations.
• Infrastructure development.
• Economic growth.

Following this morning’s announcement that Commissioner Ponder will not be seeking re-election, Congressman Matt Gaetz said, “Okaloosa Commissioner Mel Ponder has been an outstanding public servant. He carries Ginger and my well wishes into his next chapter in life.”

He then publicly endorsed Palmer:

• “Drew Palmer has my total and complete endorsement in his campaign,” wrote Rep. Gaetz. “Drew loves Okaloosa County. He will keep our taxes low and our streets safe. Please join me in supporting Drew Palmer!”

Palmer says that after spending “countless hours and personal financial resources” to elect qualified and conservative Republicans for office, it’s now time for him to roll up his sleeves and put his experience to work for the taxpayers and voters of Okaloosa County.

“Let’s all thank Commissioner Mel Ponder for his dedicated service to the people of Okaloosa County and the State of Florida,” continued Palmer. “If elected, I will do my best to follow his heart and always put the people first.”