GIVING BACK

Subaru Fort Walton Beach surprises Pryor Middle School with $10,000 donation

Step One Automotive’s Subaru dealership in Fort Walton Beach partnered with AdoptAClassroom.org to surprise students and teachers at Pryor Middle School with a $10,000 donation and 20 school supply kits during a back-to-school celebration at the school’s Fall Open House.  

The donation was made as part of Subaru Loves Learning®, a national initiative championed by Subaru of America, Inc. that helps provide funding for teachers at high-needs schools across the country to purchase the school supplies and resources needed to help their students succeed. 

Subaru Fort Walton Beach’s donation will benefit more than 500 students by providing teachers with $500 each to purchase supplies for the school year.  

“We want to help our local teachers and students get excited about the back-to-school season and make sure they have the supplies they need to succeed this upcoming school year,” said Sarah Cagle, store director of Subaru Ft. Walton Beach. “The Subaru Loves Learning initiative is one of the many ways Subaru Ft. Walton Beach gives back throughout the year, and we’re grateful to partner with WC Pryor Middle School and AdoptAClassroom.org to make a lasting impact.” 

According to AdoptAClassroom.org, more than 92% of classrooms have students whose families cannot afford to purchase school supplies for their children. This leads many teachers to spend on average $860 of their own money to fill the gap for students and equip their classrooms.  

• “The continued support from Subaru Fort Walton Beach and the Subaru Loves Learning initiative over the years is greatly appreciated by WC Pryor Middle School teachers, staff, students and families,” said Principal Brooke Barron. “With this donation, we will be able to provide additional support for essential items to help our students succeed during the upcoming school year.” 

This is the fifth year Subaru Fort Walton Beach has partnered with Pryor Middle School and is part of their year-round commitment to support the local community including partnerships with Saving with Soul Pet Rescue, Meals on Wheels, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, Fresh Start Women’s Shelter and more. 

MEMORIAL

Ernest Hebson, former Fort Walton Beach High School Band Director, has passed away

On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Ernest Hebson, former band director at Fort Walton Beach High School, passed away.

Mr. Hebson started the band program at Fort Walton Beach High School when the school was built in 1969 with grades 7-10.

When the school became 7-12, grades 7-9 moved to the newly built Max Bruner JR. High. The symphonic, jazz and marching bands have never received less than a superior rating at FBA district assessments and were consistently rated superior at FBA state events.

Mr. Hebson retired in 1999 and continued to work as an adjudicator of instrumental music assessments and taught several students privately.

• In 2004, was inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame.

(I will have a story coming out later today or Monday that features interviews will his former colleagues and students)

EDUCATION

Montessori Learning Center to host fundraiser dinner for new ‘forever home’ in Fort Walton Beach

The Montessori Learning Center of Fort Walton Beach has announced its first annual “Building the Future Together” fundraising event to kickstart their campaign to build a new, larger campus to serve more students. 

• This event on October 6th at WaterVue in downtown Fort Walton Beach will bring together alumni and supporters to help raise funds toward the school’s goal of $800,000 for a down payment on their new building. 

For over 40 years, the Montessori Learning Center has provided unique alternative education to children in Fort Walton Beach. Founded in 1978 by local families passionate about the Montessori philosophy, the school has moved locations over the years as it continued to grow. 

Currently located at St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, the school now serves over 60 students in preschool and kindergarten, and over 25 students in their elementary program which offers 1st through 3rd grade.  

In March 2024, Montessori will purchase the land next to the Emerald Coast Science Center on Memorial Parkway from the City of Fort Walton Beach for $525,000. Here they plan to build an approximately 14,000 square foot facility with 8 classrooms, a library, indoor and outdoor play spaces, and other amenities to allow them to expand up to 200 students. The total cost is estimated at $2.8 million.

Parent and school board member Morgan Smith explained that the annual fundraising event aims to raise money as well as build community outreach, since the school’s success relies heavily on community support. 

• “Montessori has not only survived but thrived in Fort Walton Beach for over 40 years,” Smith said. “As an alum myself, it’s amazing to see an alternative school thriving for so long in such a small town.” 

The October 6th event will feature dinner, drinks, live music, and a unique raffle. Tickets are $125 and include entry into a “drawdown” raffle with prizes of varying values. The grand prize is a 5-night stay valued at $9,800 donated by local business owner (and former board President at Montessori) Glenn Shelley. There will also be a silent auction for other prize donations.

• Culinary Catering 365 and The Drifting Oyster are partnering to provide food and oysters. 

Longtime supporter Mark Barrett of Design-Build Systems in Fort Walton Beach created the building plans (at no cost to the school) and will be unveiled at the event. This will be the first time that the community will get a chance to see what the future “forever home” will look like.

The school hopes to sell 200 event tickets to raise significant funds toward their building campaign. “We’ll be selling tickets until we sell out,” Smith explained. “I’d recommend buying in advance, but we may also sell at the door if we don’t hit capacity.”

With strong community support, the Montessori Learning Center hopes this annual event will help fund their forever home and allow them to continue providing unique Montessori education to Fort Walton Beach families for another 40 years and beyond.

Click here to learn more about the event.

SPORTS

Choctaw’s Cole Tabb is the Florida High School Football Player of the Week 

After receiving nearly 24,000 votes, Choctawhatchee High School’s Cole Tabb is the MaxPreps Florida High School Football Player of the Week. 

In a 49-27 win over Crestview, the senior Stanford commit carried 19 times for 365 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the school’s all-time rushing record. He was also just featured in our Hope Squad story this week.

• The Indians will face-off against the Pine Forest Eagles tonight in a home game at 7:00pm.

Other high school football games tonight:

• Fort Walton Beach Vikings vs. Escambia Gators at home at 7pm. (It’s military appreciation night with a flyover from Hurlburt!)
• Niceville Eagles vs. Chiles Timberwolves away in Tallahassee at 7pm.
• Baker Gators vs. Jay Royals at home at 7pm.
• Crestview Bulldogs vs. Pace Patriots away at 7pm.
• Destin High School Sharks vs. Rocky Bayou Knights

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

September 15, 2023 – Twisted Grape Live Music: John Zirpola – View

September 15, 2023 – Purple Passion Art Show Opening Reception – Free – View

September 16, 2023 – 2023 International Coastal Cleanup – Free – View

September 16, 2023 – Life Sculpting (Clay) – $40 – $45 – View

September 16, 2023 – Destin Seminole Club-FSU vs Boston College Watch Party – Free – View

September 17, 2023 – Into Stillness: A Sound Immersion with Alex Ballew of Secret River Sounds. – $35 – View

September 19, 2023 – Flight Night @ Twisted Grape – View

September 19, 2023 – Women in Science Conference – View

September 20, 2023 – Wine Down Wednesdays – View

September 20, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

September 21, 2023 – Bubbly Baytowne – Free – View

September 21, 2023 – Sip and Paint!! – $35 – $40 – View

September 22, 2023 – International Talk Like a Pirate Day – Free – View

September 22, 2023 – Twisted Grape Live Music: Tyler Acosta – View

September 23, 2023 – Sunshine State Animal Rescue’s All Paws Charity Poker Run – View

September 23, 2023 – Hot Cars for SOCKS Cats – View

September 23, 2023 – Sunshine State Animal Rescuse All Paws Charity Poker Run – $20 – View

COASTAL RESOURCES

10,000 more redfish released at Fred Gannon State Park in Niceville

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, Coastal Conservation Association Florida joined joined the Duke Energy Mariculture Center, Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for an important conservation effort.

• Together, these groups continued addressing the loss of the redfish population along Florida’s West Coast by releasing 10,000 hatchery-reared, juvenile redfish (averaging 3 to 4 inches in length) at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville. 

“Every redfish released is an opportunity to enhance the fishery for future generations,” CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski said. “In partnership with Duke Energy Mariculture Center, Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach and FWC, we are excited to expand our restocking efforts in the Panhandle and help revitalize the redfish population.” 

In recent years, Florida’s redfish population has drastically declined.  As a result, CCA Florida and the Duke Energy Mariculture Center have taken a proactive approach to stock enhancement for one of Florida’s most sought-after inshore fish, the redfish. 

• “Any opportunity to enhance the fishing in our community and better manage the stock is something we are on board with,” said Alex Fogg, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Coastal Resource Manager. “We are excited to expand our partnership with CCA Florida and eager to see the growth of the redfish population in the Northwest Florida region.” 

This latest release is part of a multifunctional and multiyear strategy to rebuild and maintain game fish stocks. Since 2018, CCA Florida and Duke Energy will have released more than 260,000 redfish across Florida’s coasts to help provide abundant recreational fishing opportunities.

Click here to watch the video