COASTAL RESOURCES

Local volunteers needed for 2023 ‘International Coastal Cleanup’ on Okaloosa beaches

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism, Saltwater Restaurants and many community partners will host the International Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, September 16, 2023 from 8-10AM.

• They are looking for volunteers to help with this cleanup. Here’s what you need to know.

For over 35 years, Ocean Conservancy has held the International Coastal Cleanup® which is a global event that prides itself in, “harnessing the power of people to fight ocean trash.”

The goal of the cleanup is to remove as much trash and debris from local beaches and there are multiple locations where volunteers of all ages can participate. You can join the local effort at any of the below cleanup locations by registering here. 

• Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island (1450 Miracle Strip Pkwy, Fort Walton Beach, FL)
• Crab Trap/James Lee Park (3500 Scenic HWY 98, Destin, FL)
• Surf Hut (551 Scenic Gulf Dr, Miramar Beach, FL)
• Norriego Point (1 Gulf Shore Dr, Destin, FL)
• Clement Taylor Park (131 Calhoun Ave, Destin, FL)
• Henderson Beach State Park (17000 Emerald Coast Pkwy, Destin, FL)

Participants will receive an event t-shirt (limited quantities, first come, first served) and a post cleanup breakfast will be available free of charge at the Boardwalk, Crab Trap, and Surf Hut locations.

Volunteers are asked to bring their own bucket, mesh bag, gloves, and grabbers to collect trash. Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring water and sunscreen.

“Beach cleanups not only keep our beaches beautiful for visitors, but they create a safe environment for our wildlife,” said Jessica Valek, Coastal Resource Coordinator, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism. “Certain animals, like sea turtles and shorebirds, rely on our beaches to lay their eggs and protect their young. The International Coastal Cleanup is a great way to bring the community together and do good for the environment.”

During the most recent event in April, nearly 500 volunteers removed over 3,000 cigarette butts. Marine debris is a detriment to our local ecosystem and causes problems for seabirds and coastal marine life.

• “Volunteers are the key to the success of this event,” Said Valek. “More volunteers translates directly into more trash cleaned up and safer beaches for wildlife.”

Click here to register

THINGS TO DO

NWFSC to host the first annual Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo

The Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo is coming to Niceville as Northwest Florida State College prepares to host its first ever rodeo on November 10-11, 2023 at their campus.

• This event promises heart-stopping action and family fun for all ages.

The Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo aims to deliver a premier rodeo experience, showcasing top talent in fan favorite events like bull riding, barrel racing, roping, and more. Attendees can expect performances from professional cowboys and cowgirls who will compete for prizes and the thrill of victory.

• Specialty acts and child-friendly mutton busting will round out two evenings of edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

All proceeds from the rodeo will benefit Raider Athletics at Northwest Florida State College. Funds will help provide critical resources for NWFSC’s student-athletes to support their athletic and academic pursuits.

“We are thrilled to introduce Niceville to the exhilarating world of rodeo,” said NWFSC president Dr. Devin Stephenson.  “We want to invite everyone to support our Raider Athletics Program, see our beautiful campus, and have an unforgettable family-friendly experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.”

The Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo will take place on Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11. Both evenings will kick off with mutton busting at 6:30 PM, where children try their hand at rodeo glory by riding sheep. The main rodeo event will start at 7:30 PM each night.

• Tickets can be purchased online at http://Emeraldcoastrodeo.com. Organizers encourage rodeo fans to buy tickets early for the best seats at this highly anticipated event.

A MESSAGE FROM FLEET, SMITH & FREEMAN

Attorney Whitney Smith warns against “Poor Man’s” Estate Planning Strategies

Mistakes in how you title your assets can lead to serious consequences for your loved ones after you pass away, according to local estate planning attorney Whitney Smith.

• In an interview, Smith, an attorney with Fleet, Smith and Freeman law firm in Shalimar, delved into the critical aspects of asset titling and “poor man’s” estate planning, emphasizing the significance of these matters in securing one’s financial future.

Smith began by underlining the pivotal role that asset titling plays in safeguarding one’s interests. 

“During this stage in life, people are buying and selling assets, real property, personal property, and how you title assets really does matter,” Smith said. “Sometimes people think it’s a convenience just to put one person on the title, when the fact of the matter is, that’s not always the best case scenario when it comes to creditor protection and estate planning.”

According to Smith, one of the most common mistakes is when a widow or widower remarries but fails to update the title on a home or other property. For example, if a widow sells her home to move in with a new husband, but only the husband remains on the title of the new home, problems can arise if he passes away first.

“In Florida, we have homestead laws. And if something were to happen to him, and he dies, and I’m not on that title, unfortunately, I only get a life estate on that property, or I can make an election as a surviving spouse to take half,” Smith explained. “A lot of people don’t understand that’s what the ramifications are as far as not putting the correct people on the title.”

Unmarried couples buying property together also need to carefully consider titling, according to Smith. She says Florida law provides some options for unmarried couples to hold title in ways that protect each party, but problems can occur if the couple does not address this upfront.

“How do you split up a property that you two own together? In Florida, we have certain ways to protect rights, kind of like a prenup when you get married,” Smith noted. “Buying a house is a contract as well, and you can do some kind of contract living arrangement as far as what happens in the bad case scenarios you do break up.”

Adding an adult child or other person to your bank accounts or property deeds may seem like a convenient way to plan your estate, but Smith warns this practice can backfire.

• “What happens if a daughter and the parent don’t get along anymore? You’ve added them to the deed, and now you have to get that daughter to sign the deed to get off title,” Smith said. “So that’s what we call ‘poor man’s estate planning.'”

She explains that if the added person has financial problems later, your assets could be exposed to their creditors. “Any assets of that daughter are susceptible to the creditor coming and taking over it,” Smith cautioned.

Proper estate planning documents are the best way to ensure your assets transfer as desired after you pass away, according to Smith. Titling mistakes can undermine even the most well-thought-out estate plans.

• “If you don’t look at how your assets are titled prior to your death, the final outcome may not be as you desired,” Smith concluded.

For more information on estate planning, contact Whitney Smith at Fleet, Smith & Freeman in Shalimar, Florida.

ICYMI

Catch up on news from our local partners

• Poor password practices can cost your local business big bucks. Here’s how to help prevent that.

• 3 new jet bridges coming to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport

• ‘Prepared for life’: How the Gulf Coast Scouts are empowering our youth to be prepared for life’s challenges

• Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic eases back-to-school stress with school physicals

• Peaden shares tips on how to keep drain lines clean and avoid HVAC breakdowns in Summer heat

• Natural Gas fuels economic growth in Okaloosa County

• Eglin Federal Credit Union and Okaloosa Saves partner in the Teach a Child to Save Campaign

• Cox expanding ‘ultra-fast’ internet service into Valparaiso & Deerland, donates $25,000 to STEMM Academy

• Top 10 title defects to watch out for before you buy property in Florida

• The importance of Succession Planning for local business owners, tips from Attorney Bart Fleet

COMING SOON

Hilton Sandestin’s $35 million property-wide renovation

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has announced a $35 million property refresh. Comprised of three separate phases, the renovations kicked off with a complete room redesign, set to be completed and available for bookings later this year. 

• The hotel’s full property-wide renovation is set to conclude prior to spring break of 2024.    

“Our team recognizes the importance of enhancing our property and onsite amenities to reflect current trends and guest expectations,” said Angelina Covington, general manager of Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. “Updating the look and feel of the resort while continuing to provide the same great services and accommodations we have gained the reputation of providing for almost forty years, will further elevate the Hilton Sandestin Beach experience.” 

The renovations began with an overhaul of the different room categories to offer visitors a coastal beachfront home-away-from-home. The first stage in this two-year refresh started in the winter of 2022. Hilton says the new accommodations will enhance stays for guests of all ages with a bunkbed enclave, making family getaways more comfortable and accessible.

• Advanced features such as motion-censored lighting underneath beds, upgraded charging stations throughout the room or suite, and elevated vanity stations with deluxe lighting have been implemented to create a more enjoyable stay.  

Building upon the resort’s already tranquil aesthetic, the remodel enriches the brightness in each guest room with a warmer set of blues and crisp white for contrast. The 590 total rooms and suites are modified by floor and spaced out during the different renovation stages across each of the hotel’s two towers, Emerald and Spa, to avoid disruption for guests.  

A revamping of the six on-site dining outlets, three swimming pools, beachfront deck space, full-service Serenity by the sea Spa, main public spaces, and more will take place in the second and third phases of the resort’s renovations.