FROM THE STATE

Gov. DeSantis appoints 3 to the Northwest Florida State College District Board of Trustees

On Friday, August 5, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jack “Tanner” Peacock and Dr. Jon Ward and the reappointment of Lori Kelley to the Northwest Florida State College District Board of Trustees. 

Lori Kelley, of Fort Walton Beach, is a certified public accountant at Warren Averett, LLC. She is past National President of the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, and past Chair of both the Walton County Chamber of Commerce and the Niceville Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Kelley earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of West Florida.  

Jack “Tanner” Peacock, of Santa Rosa Beach, is a Broker Associate at Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty. He was appointed as a Walton County Planning Commissioner and is a member of both the National and Florida Associations of Realtors. Peacock earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University.  

Dr. Jon Ward, of Inlet Beach, is a Dermatologist at Dermatology Specialists of Florida and Founder of Bay County Taxpayers, LLC. He is also a Managing Partner at Southeastern Dermatology Group and the Legislative Chairman of the Emerald Coast Medical Society. Dr. Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Florida.  

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

FOOD+DRINK

Destin’s Chef Al Massa wins second place at National Competition

The 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off took place on Saturday, August 6, 2022 in New Orleans. The 18th annual event was held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase.

You’ll remember from last week’s newsletter that Chef Al Massa of Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer was representing Florida in the competition.

• He came in 2nd Place with his Pan Seared Florida Lionfish with black forbidden rice, melting zucchini ribbons with a chardonnay shellfish butter.

This is the same dish that won the 2022 Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Restaurant Week.

Judging the dishes for the 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off were Louisiana Celebrity Chef John Folse, California Chef Shirley Chung, Two-time Chopped Champion and Florida Chef James Briscione, and Kentucky-based Sri Lankan-American Chef Sam Fore.

The Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable and domestic fisheries, has been held every year in New Orleans since 2004.

Congrats Chef Massa!

GIVING BACK

Battling hunger to help local students succeed

With the much-needed support of local volunteers and donors, Food For Thought Outreach is once again gearing up to provide backpacks filled with healthy food for needy students across Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Now in its 12th year of service, Food For Thought supports a child’s development and educational experience by bridging the gap between school meals during weekends and holiday breaks.

• The local non-profit has been fighting child hunger since 2010 and now serves 32 area schools, providing weekly backpacks to more than 3,200 students dependent on free or reduced school meals. 

“With economic hardships facing so many families in our area, we are experiencing historic levels of food insecurity in Okaloosa and Walton counties,” Tiffanie Nelson, Founder & CEO of Food For Thought, said. “As the demand for our services have grown, we are more thankful than ever for the support of local volunteers and donors who share in our goal of fighting child hunger.”

Supporters can help ‘Stock the Pantry’ August 25.

One of Food For Thought’s most important annual events will take place August 25, when volunteers and supporters gather for the ninth annual “Stock the Pantry Party” at 132 Market Street in Santa Rosa Beach. 

• The event, which is open to anyone making a $7 donation or providing seven food items, marks the completion of a summer-long friendly competition among local businesses to raise funds and food for the program.

With schools getting ready to start this week, Food For Thought has a growing need for volunteers to help prepare and deliver backpacks to students each week.

“During the school year, we will sort, package and distribute more than 2 million food items to needy students,” Nelson noted. “That work requires a total of more than 5,000 volunteer hours, so we are desperately in need of individuals and groups who can contribute whatever time possible to support our mission.”

Each week, volunteers assemble and distribute backpacks containing about 10 easy-to-prepare food items, including breakfast items like oatmeal and cereal, lunch items such as peanut butter, jelly and soups, healthy snacks, and fresh produce like apples and oranges when possible.  

New and returning volunteers can meet staff, tour facilities, enjoy complimentary Abide Coffee, and learn more about Food for Thought during these upcoming open house events:

• Okaloosa County Volunteer Open House, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 18 at 908 Airport Rd. in Destin
• Walton County Volunteer Open House, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 26 at 132 Market St. in Santa Rosa Beach.

Nelson noted that individuals and organizations also can support the non-profit program through a financial donation.  A contribution of $7 sponsors a child for a week, $28 sponsors a child for a month, and $252 will sponsor a student for the entire school year.  Donations can be made online at www.fftfl.org.

Students will receive Food For Thought enrollment letters along with their normal back-to-school paperwork at the beginning of the school year.  Completed enrollment letters should be returned to school guidance officers or teachers.

GIVING BACK

Step One Automotive named “Business of the Year” by the Okaloosa County School District

During the latest Okaloosa County School Board meeting, Step One Automotive Group was recognized as “Business of the Year” for the 2021-22 school year by Superintendent Marcus Chambers for their active involvement in the local school community.

“One of the things that we’re blessed with in this county is that we have businesses and partners who work with us in order to help us have the school district that we have today,” said Superintendent Chambers. “Step One Automotive finds the importance of connecting their business to the needs of the community.”

Step One’s focus on the community can be seen specifically through a local partnership with Pryor Middle School in Fort Walton Beach. They have provided extensive support that includes:

• Partnering with Shalimar Eye Care to provide free eye exams and glasses for 30 students.
• Helped with the purchase of bicycles for many of the students at Pryor. (80% of the students walk to and from school.)

Additionally, Step One Automotive purchased translation headsets for the English Language Learner (ELL) students, which represents 30% of the student body. These headsets translate Spanish-to-English and English-to-Spanish, greatly helping the students to learn academically.

A few more ways Step One has stepped-up:

• Pancake breakfast with gift bags that included a gift card to Walmart for Pryor staff.
• Brings a food truck to the school throughout the year to allow the teachers to eat for free.
• Provides grants to teachers for classroom supplies that enhance instruction.
• Brings in motivational speakers.

“From helping the families, students, and teachers, whether it be at Pryor or other schools across this district, we’re just grateful and so proud that Step One is our 2021-2022 Business Partner of the Year,” added Chambers.

Pryor Middle School Principal Brooke Barron spoke on behalf of her school, thanking Step One Automotive.

“Pryor has had great success and lots of learning gains,” said Barron. “Our lowest 25% has made amazing gains and I think a lot of it has to do with, not only our wonderful and caring staff, but having business partners like Step One. All of our students have benefited in one way, shape or form from Step One’s generosity.”

Principal Baron recounts how Step One’s Maureen Bierman will email her and ask what they can do for the teachers, for the holidays, for the students, always offering to help and seeing what they can provide. 

Step One Automotive’s Director of Marketing, Maureen Bierman, thanked the Superintendent and the School Board for their continued support and recognition as “Business of the Year.”

“Thank you all so much for acknowledging Step One,” said said. “It’s really part of our mission statement to become involved in the community, and it’s an honor to be part of everything that you do. And while you’re thanking us, really, it’s all of you that deserve to be thanked for all the hard work you put in, from everybody on this board all the way down to every teacher in every school. Thank you very much.”

FOOD+DRINK

Chick-fil-A in Fort Walton Beach named ‘Best Drive-Thru in America’

On Friday, August 5, 2022, Chick-fil-A in Fort Walton Beach announced that they were named “Best Drive-Thru in America” across the entire Chick-fil-A chain.

• To anyone in Fort Walton Beach, this is no surprise. 
• In fact, my friend Holly Ferris documented why their drive-thru is so great in an article from 2019! Read here.

According to franchise owner Matthew Sexton, Chick-fil-A, as a brand, has been ranked the number 1 drive-through in America for a number of years now among its competitors and other Quick Service Restaurants. 

“We are excited and humbled to be ranked number one within Chick-fil-A…top of the chain,” said Sexton on Friday night.

Sexton told Get The Coast that many metrics go into creating the rankingwithin Chick-fil-A. These include:

• Speed of service
• Quality of food
• Order accuracy
• Emotional connection

Sexton says that while the service needs to be fast, it also needs to be good.

“Always relational, never transactional,” he said. “All this being said, we owe any ranking we are blessed to achieve to each and every person we work for and that is the guests that faithfully fill those drive-thru lanes daily!! Thank you all for giving us a job!”

Congrats to our favorite Chick-fil-A!