FOR PARENTS

White-Wilson Medical Center’s ‘Awkward Conversations’ class is tonight!

White-Wilson Medical Center is continuing its engaging and informative Power Your Parenting series with its next session: Awkward Conversations.

• This class will focus on how parents can prepare for tricky but important, age-appropriate conversations.
• It will take place on Tuesday, October 4 at White-Wilson’s main campus in Fort Walton Beach, 1005 Mar Walt Drive, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Pediatrician Dr. Melanie Parm will talk about how caregivers can approach the sometimes awkward talks about growth, puberty and sexual health with their child. This parent-only class is free to attend, and refreshments and door prizes will be provided. 

“As children move through developmental stages, it’s important for parents to prepare for the topics that are bound to arise,” said pediatrician Dr. Melanie Parm. “Even for adults, some conversations can be uncomfortable to handle.”

• Dr. Parm added that “during this class, I’ll discuss ways caregivers can get ready to have those talks as well as give tips to help make it feel less awkward for both the parent and child.” 

White-Wilson will continue the series with one additional topic to benefit parents: Emergency Basics on November 3. 

The classes are free and open to parents, grandparents, caregivers and community members. You do not have to be a White-Wilson patient to attend. However, they do ask that due to the sensitive nature of these topics, children do not accompany their parents.

Registration is required for each session in the series. You can click here to easily register.

THINGS TO DO

Gulfarium’s 3rd annual “Croctoberfest’!

Are you crazy about crocodiles? Do you think alligators are amazing? Big fan of beer and brats?

Get ready for the Gulfarium’s 3rd annual Croctoberfest on October 15th & 16th, where they will be celebrating all things crocodilian with additional encounter opportunities and special events.

Purchase a Croctoberfest wristband to sample craft beers from a selection of local breweries including:

• Grayton Beer Company
• Idyll Hounds
• Odd Colony
• McGuire’s Craft Brewery
• And others

“We will be bringing back our exclusive encounter where you can meet Magnolia, our albino alligator,” said Aimee Brim, Gulfarium Director of Marketing and Communications. “This special encounter will be available for Croctoberfest weekend only so don’t miss out on your chance to sign up & meet this spectacular gator!”

Exclusive paintings created by members of their crocodilian family and Croctoberfest merchandise will be available for purchase in the gift shop. Regular admission and encounter prices apply. 

• A portion of the proceeds from Croctoberfest 2022 will be donated to crocodilian conservation. 

Visit www.gulfarium.com/croctoberfest for more information. Valid ID required for purchase. 

TRAFFIC

Okaloosa and Walton County Traffic Advisory

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Okaloosa County:

• State Road (S.R.) 20 (John Sims Parkway) Resurfacing Project – Drivers will encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures from Edge Avenue to west of the Rocky Bayou Bridge Sunday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, Oct. 6, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for median widening and sidewalk construction activities.

• Brooks Bridge Replacement Project – Drivers may experience the following traffic impacts Tuesday, Oct. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. as crews perform geotechnical investigations and utility work. 
  • U.S. 98 east and westbound alternating and intermittent lane closures between Perry Avenue and Pier Road.  
  • Santa Rosa Boulevard east and westbound alternating lane closures from east of Amberjack Drive to Ross Marler Park.  
  • Intermittent shoulder closures on Brooks Street, between Perry Avenue and Florida Blanca Place, and on Business Access Road.

• S.R. 85 Improvements from U.S. 90 to Commerce Drive – Crews will be reconstructing portions of existing sidewalk ramps to ensure they are Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and conducting various sidewalk and drainage improvements along southbound S.R. 85 (Ferdon Blvd.) from U.S. 90 to 1st Avenue, and along northbound S.R. 85 from U.S. 90 to Richbourg Lane. This work will require closures of the S.R. 85 outside lanes Sunday, Oct. 2 through Thursday, Oct. 6 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. During the closures, drivers will be able to access side streets from the outside travel lane.

Walton County:

• U.S. 98 Widening from Emerald Bay Drive to Tang-O-Mar Drive – This week, drivers will encounter intermittent and alternating lane closures on U.S. 98 east and westbound, between 8:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. These closures are required to place thermoplastic striping and complete work list items. One travel lane in each direction will remain open at all times.

• U.S. 98 Resurfacing Project from Village Road to East of U.S. 331– Drivers may encounter intermittent closures of the U.S. 98 east and westbound outside shoulders to allow crews to widen existing turn lanes between Village Road and U.S. 331.  Additionally, shoulder closures will continue as crews construct the new U.S. 98 westbound turn lane at Don Bishop Road. The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph in the area. The turn lane construction is expected to continue through late-September 2022.

All activities are weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

PUBLIC SAFETY

17-year-old wanted in Fort Walton Beach for making threats with AR-15

On Sunday, October 2, 2022, officers with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department received information regarding a video sent by a 17-year-old male, Grant E. Guarin of Fort Walton Beach, via Snapchat.

• Guarin was seen on this video pointing an AR-15 style rifle at a camera and making threats to harm unidentified persons. Detectives took over the investigation and an arrest warrant was obtained for Guarin for a violation of FSS 836.10.

Detectives, with the assistance of other law enforcement partners, are searching for Guarin. The AR-15 rifle was located and impounded, according to a press release from the FWBPD.

Just before 7am on Monday morning, Fort Walton Beach High School Principal John Spolski sent out a text message to parents.

“Over the weekend, an inappropriate threatening video was made and shared via social media,” wrote Spolski. “The FWBHS Administration, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and FWBPD worked quickly to ensure our school week unfolds seamlessly. I think you know without saying that I appreciate your concern and support.”

• Spolski went on to write that “violence and threats can not and will not be tolerated at FWBHS. Student achievement is important but and as I have stated many other times, safety of our students is our number one priority.”

Around 1:20pm, Principal Spolski sent another message out to parents:

“I am sharing this information to assure you that any threats to our students, staff or school as a whole will be taken seriously and investigated,” he wrote. “This incident affected attendance and that is unacceptable, not because of the accumulated absences but because this act frightened students, parents and staff. Safety is our priority and our school day continued as scheduled because of the swift actions of our law enforcement agencies.”

The Fort Walton Beach Police Department stressed the importance of coming forward with information regarding any written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

• “This is in violation of FSS 836.10 and the Fort Walton Beach Police Department takes this matter seriously and is committed to making the community safe,” wrote the city in a statement Monday night.

Anyone with information on Guarin’s location is asked to contact their law enforcement agency or the Fort Walton Beach Police Department at 850-833-9546.

GIVING BACK

Hurricane Relief Drive in Destin and FWB

Over the weekend, a Hurricane Relief Drive began in the cities of Fort Walton Beach and Destin to aid those affected by Hurricane Ian. This is hosted by Biguns Hope Disaster Response Services.

There are two drop-off locations:

• Marler Street Public Parking Lot, located at 285 Harbor Boulevard.
• Fort Walton Beach City Hall, located at 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW.

Donations will be collected daily from 8 am – to 6 pm until the truck is full. The following donations will be accepted:

COMING SOON

City of Destin approves Publix shopping center at Old Time Pottery location

In March 2022, Get The Coast broke the news that Publix would be taking over the Old Time Pottery property located at 757 & 761 Harbor Blvd in Destin. 

• On Monday night, the Destin City Council approved the request for a Major Development Order to build a new shopping complex. 
• The project encompasses the old theater and the building southwest of the Old Time Pottery store. 

The property is approximately ±20.06 acres and will consist of the redevelopment of the existing Downtown Destin Shopping Center. All existing buildings, pavement and most of the existing utilities will be demolished and removed, according to the development order. 

Construction for the new development includes a ±69,000 sqft grocery-anchored shopping center with new parking (320 spaces), sidewalks, landscaping, utilities, and an expansion of the existing stormwater management retention pond.

• Within the new shopping center will be a ±2,800 sq.ft. liquor store and ±4,800 sq ft. of other retail/commercial space located at the current Old Time Pottery location. 

According to city documents, the project would first demolish and regrade the entire site, removing all buildings and impervious surfaces. The site would then be redeveloped as proposed in the site plans submitted to the City of Destin. 

This project will be done in phases with Phase 1 consisting of the grocery-anchored shopping center first. The green space you see in the rendering below is the remainder tract and will be developed at a later time. This chunk of land is close to 9 acres and will be a grassy area until future development happens. 

According to representatives for the project, Publix is expected to close on the property in May 2023. They estimate that construction will take approximately 1 year to complete, putting their tentative opening timeframe around May 2024. 

Construction of infrastructure must start no later than October 03, 2023.

Click here to see more renderings of the plan