GIVING BACK

Step One Automotive unveils pink Jeep Cherokee for their breast cancer awareness campaign

Step One Automotive Group gave a preview on Wednesday of its third annual “Drive Out Breast Cancer” awareness campaign with the unveiling of a pink Jeep Cherokee L. 

• The campaign officially kicks off on Saturday, October 1 and runs through the end of the month, and encourages community members to sign the vehicle throughout October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The bright pink SUV, adorned with breast cancer ribbons, will make stops at local events to collect signatures. Step One will donate $1 for each autograph to cancer charities, up to caps of $2,500 in central Alabama, $5,000 in Georgia and $7,500 in Florida and Andalusia.

“Prevention is our number one goal,” said Maureen Bierman, Step One’s marketing director, at the Fort Walton Beach sneak peek attended by local officials and healthcare workers. 

• “I want to hear from all the ladies here in the room. Who has had a mammogram in the last 12 months?” she asked, encouraging screening to detect cancer early when most treatable.

Bierman told the crowd that their second goal is to encourage people to support breast cancer research, to help raise money, and to find a cure for cancer, once and for all. 

• “And the third reason, of course, is to support the organizations here on the ground that are doing the work to help people through cancer, to help them get out to the other side better and healthier,” she added.

Proceeds will support local groups assisting with research, screenings, treatment and recovery. Among the beneficiaries are St. Joseph Candler Telfair Mammography Fund in Georgia, Pink Topps in central Alabama and Ascension Sacred Heart foundations along the Florida panhandle and in Andalusia.

“I want to thank everyone at Step One Automotive for partnering with us for prevention,” said Roxanne Thomas of Ascension Sacred Heart, which has invested in 3D mammography technology to diagnose cancers sooner.

With the help of the First Lady of Fort Walton Beach, Janey Rynearson, the pink Jeep Cherokee L was officially unveiled and members of the audience began signing the vehicle.

The signature drive runs Oct. 1-31. Last year Step One presented nearly $15,000 to local charities through the campaign. It hopes to top that figure this October during the drive set to begin on Saturday.

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EVENT

Students gather for annual ‘See You At The Pole’ prayer event at Cinco Christian School

Students, teachers, and parents from Cinco Christian School in Fort Walton Beach came together Wednesday morning for the annual “See You At The Pole” prayer event at the school. 

• This yearly gathering, which takes place at schools across the nation, provides an opportunity for students to publicly express their faith through prayer.

The local event at Cinco featured a unique “pole” this year – a fire truck ladder courtesy of the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District. School officials said the fire truck allowed them to hold the event safely within the confines of the school’s new gated area since their existing flagpole is near busy Yacht Club Drive. 

“They are the most accommodating group of individuals and are out here at the drop of a hat, said Chrissy Hartley, Cinco Christian School PTO President, about the fire department’s involvement. “Every time we ask, they will be out here to support us, support our community and support the kids.” 

According to Tyler Hildebran, Director at Cinco Christian, the national “See You At The Pole” event originated as a student-led movement in the 1990s. And while fifth graders at Cinco Christian helped lead Wednesday’s event, school staff assisted them in preparing remarks.

“Our oldest group of kids here at Cinco is 5th grade. A fifth grader might know exactly what they’re going to say, but when they’re in front of 200 plus other people, adults and kids, they freeze up,” Hildebran explained. “So we make sure that they know exactly what the theme is, help them write out a script and then have them read it. That’s been really successful for us in the past and it was successful again today.”

Hildebran said the school views prayer events like “See You At The Pole” as opportunities to demonstrate that faith can be lived out publicly, even in a Christian school setting where students are already surrounded by believers.

• “It’s important to us that we can show our kids that they can be public in their faith, whether they’re at a Christian school, at a church, or anywhere that where they go,” he stated.

In addition to the public prayer time, students were given bracelets with the letters “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do?) to remind them to make wise, thoughtful choices each day. The throwback to the popular 90s slogan is something the school was excited to kickoff during the prayer event.

Hartley said instilling values like kindness and anti-bullying are key parts of the school’s approach.

• “We what the kids to think about ‘what would Jesus do’ in any situation,” she explained. “If you have a problem or you have an issue, pray about it and think ‘what would Jesus do’ before you act on anything.”

Both Hartley and Hildebran emphasized that Cinco Christian School views itself as an extension of the home, seeking to partner with parents to provide both quality education and spiritual development.

“School is not mentioned in the Bible at all but education is mentioned all over the place and it’s mentioned the first time in Deuteronomy chapter 6,” said Hildebran. “It says, ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.’ And then in verse 6 it says, ‘impress these things upon your children.’” 

• “Parents entrust their most precious assets to us and we educate them, fulfilling their parent’s duty to educate their children. That’s our mission, partnering with parents to train students so that they can grow up and discern the call of God on their life, whatever that may be,” he added.

SCHOOL

Three Niceville High School students excel as National Merit Semifinalists

Three students from Niceville High School have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, while two students from Fort Walton Beach High School earned commendations, school officials announced this week.

Kira Tuper, Aurora Mendenhall and Brody Plaiser from Niceville High are among 16,000 semifinalists selected from 1.5 million entrants in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The trio scored in the top 1% on the Preliminary SAT exam taken in their junior year.

To become finalists, the students must submit detailed scholarship applications with endorsements from school officials, write essays and earn SAT or ACT scores confirming their performance on the qualifying exam. About 7,250 students will win National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million combined.

Miller Lindsley and Alessandro Chavarin from Fort Walton Beach High received National Merit Scholarship Commended Student honors. They are among 34,000 recognized for exceptional academic promise, placing them in the top 50,000 PSAT test scorers.

• Though they won’t continue in the 2024 scholarship competition, commended students are part of a valuable national resource, said an official with the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

“I am extremely proud of these students and their efforts to earn this Scholarship. It is not an easy process, and those who are recognized at any level for their academic excellence deserve it,” shared Superintendent Marcus Chambers.

GIVING BACK

Boys & Girls Club unveils new ‘innovation lab’ in FWB thanks to $20,000 grant from Cox Communications

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast unveiled new tools and equipment at its technology-filled Innovation Lab thanks to a $20,000 grant from Cox Communications during a ceremony held at the Fort Walton Beach Club on September 28. 

The Cox Innovation Labs are the cornerstone of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Club Tech program, which provides students access to curriculum to advance their computer literacy skills.

• These Innovation Labs also help bridge the digital divide for children without access to a computer or reliable internet connection at home. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from Cox Communications,” said Shervin Rassa, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. “This $20,000 grant doesn’t just bring technology into our Fort Walton Beach Club; it opens new doors for the future leaders of our community. The Cox Innovation Lab is not just a space filled with gadgets; it’s a stepping stone that levels the playing field, ensuring that all our kids, regardless of their circumstances, have the chance to develop essential computer literacy skills and explore exciting STEM fields.”

The Cox Innovation Lab gives children enrolled in the Boys & Girls Clubs the freedom to explore their interest in STEM through new and innovative technology. The lab features laptop computers and Chromebooks, a video production suite, 3D printers, microscopes, drones, Wifi and internet services provided by Cox. 

“We’re committed to supporting STEM opportunities for children so they can stay connected, live, learn and pursue careers in our increasingly digital world,” said David Deliman, Cox Gulf Coast market vice president. “Cox Innovation Labs allow students to access exciting tools to advance their tech-literacy skills and explore new possibilities.” 

In addition to the Innovation Lab grant, Cox has made great strides in expanding broadband access along the Gulf Coast. Through community partnerships with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, Connect2Compete (C2C) and other internet affordability options, Cox is moving the needle on bridging the digital divide for families and students across the U.S.

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

September 29-30, 2023 – The 2023 Northwest Florida Fair – View

September 29, 2023 – Twisted Grape Live Music: Katie Dineen – View

September 30, 2023 – Florida Artist Blacksmith Association Open House – Free – View

September 30, 2023 – 2023 Women’s Expo at The Island Resort – Free – View

September 30, 2023 – Auburn vs Georgia Game Watching Party – View

September 30, 2023 – Friends of the Destin Library to Co-Host Magical Variety Show September 30th – Free – View

September 30, 2023 – Twisted Grape Live Music: Jesse Flores – View

October 1, 2023 – Welcome to the most spectacular and largest guided Sound Meditation Chakras Journey in Destin! – $25 – View

October 1, 2023 – Hope and Restoration – Free – View

October 2, 2023 – Driver Safety Class from AARP – View

October 4, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

October 5, 2023 – Zen Illustration Drawing – $30 – $35 – View

October 6, 2023 – 15th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival – $65 – $90 – View

October 7, 2023 – Dog Daze presented by Friendship Veterinary Hospital – View

October 7, 2023 – 15th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival – $65 – $90 – View

October 7, 2023 – HH Arts Gallery Night – View

October 8, 2023 – 3rd Annual BrunchFest – – View

October 11, 2023 – Wednesday Night Concert Series at The Village of Baytowne Wharf – Free – View

TRAFFIC

The latest update on the Brooks Bridge Replacement Project

The new Brooks Bridge connecting Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island is on track for completion by summer 2027, said project manager Brett Pielstick Thursday during a presentation at the Greater FWB Chamber.

The $171 million project received its final Coast Guard permit on Wednesday and Pielstick says they have been “scratching around” a bit more now. Crews have begun driving steel piles for a temporary work trestle that will allow construction on the new bridge while keeping the existing four-lane bridge fully operational during daytime hours.

The new bridge will extend the current 1,300-foot span to 2,100 feet, allowing it to cross over Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island. The clearance over the Intracoastal Waterway will increase from 50 feet to 65 feet.

• The finished bridge will have three 11 foot lanes, 10 foot shoulders, and then a 12 foot shared use path on both bridges, according to Pielstick.

Crews will first build one new bridge north of the existing bridge. Once complete, westbound traffic will shift to the new bridge while the old bridge is demolished and replaced.

The $171 million budget includes contingencies for weather delays. Lane closures will only occur nights and weekends, except for emergency repairs. “If you see us out there during the day, that’s because maybe somebody hit an attenuator,” Pielstick said.

The project aims to improve access while minimizing environmental impact. Conservation efforts are focused on protected species like bald eagles, Gulf sturgeon, smalltooth sawfish and manatees.

Crews will drive 348 concrete piles — 174 for each bridge — starting in late October, according to Pielstick.

• The new bridge will feature shade structures, benches and energy efficient lighting designed to limit impacts on sea turtles. Turns off the bridge will be reconfigured, but access to businesses will remain.

Pielstick said the project will “really connect Fort Walton Beach with the beaches in a good way.” He added that the 12-foot shared use path will be “a huge thing for the community” compared to the existing bridge, which is “pretty frightening at this point” for pedestrians.

To stay updated with all new bridge info, visit ilovefwb.com.