FOOD+DRINK

Fort Walton Brewing Company to close at the end of the year

On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Fort Walton Brewing Company took to social media to announce that they will be closing their brewery at the end of the year.

In the announcement, owners Jim & Deb Lewis said that December 31st will be the last day that Fort Walton Brewing Company would be selling beer.

• “This is probably the hardest thing we have ever done,” they wrote in the post. 

According to the owners, their landlord has recently decided to sell the building and the the Nano brewery must vacate. 

“This has come to a huge shock to us,” they said in the post. “We have been blessed over the last 5 years to be a part of your family, from birthdays, engagements, Mother’s Day, celebration of lives, tons of laughs & tears. You have included us. You helped us start from nothing to number one in our area.”

Fort Walton Brewing Company will be discounting all pints $1 off through the month. They will also be selling all FWBC goodies, glasses, and stickers, along with selling plants, tables and other brewery items and decorations.

“We are pretty devastated by this sudden turn of events,” they wrote. “We are asking that you all come by and support our little brewery until the end, there are no other family we would rather spend the time with!”

• “Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough. We are so blessed to have made such great family and friends!”

Fort Walton Beach Brewing Company is located at 505 Mooney Rd. NW Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

LOCAL SPORTS

Fort Walton Beach High School begins search for new Head Football Coach

On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Fort Walton Beach High School Principal John Spolski announced that Chip Petree, the Vikings head football coach for the past three years, will not be returning to the position. 

According to Principal Spolski, the time was right to move in a new direction. 

“Chip Petree is a man of integrity who has great passion for student-athletes and sports overall,” said Spolski. “However, I believe it to be in the best interests of our players and the Viking program to make a change at this time.”

• “We are grateful for the community’s support during this transition, and I am confident we can find a coach who will work with our players to restore the Viking tradition.”

The search now begins for Fort Walton Beach High School’s next head football coach. According to the Okaloosa County School District, both Spolski and Athletic Director Holly McDaniel will work “swiftly and strategically” to keep the program’s momentum going and inspire growth on and off the field.

Coach Petree is scheduled to fill a vacant teaching position at another school, according to the press release. 

The offseason training program at Fort Walton Beach High School will be supervised by current staff members until a new coach is hired. The timeline to have a new head coach in place is January 2023.

The Vikings football program went 0-10 for the 2022 season.

GIVING BACK

Z96 hosting special screening of “Elf” movie, benefitting Jingle Jet

Z96 invites families to experience the classic holiday film, “Elf”, on the big screen while benefiting Jingle Jet, a unique event that provides local families with a holiday experience that will give them a lifetime of memories.

• The special screening will take place at Suds-N-Cinema in downtown Fort Walton Beach on Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 2 pm.
• Tickets are $7 and are available exclusively through JingleJet.com.

Jingle Jet is a unique event where neighbors, friends, co-workers, and even strangers nominate families who have experienced undue hardship that adversely affects their holiday joy. Soliciting nominations and raising awareness, Z96 collects stories of heartache, loss, struggle, and the human spirit from caring and generous individuals.

According to Cumulus radio, families that are selected will take flight on a once-in-a-lifetime “trip” to the North Pole.

“We collect lists from each family detailing their needs and wants,” wrote the station on their website. “From those lists, we shop for high-priority items as well as wants for a little extra joy. The Jingle Jet plane boards each family for their magical flight to the “North Pole.””

• The families enter a holiday wonderland and experience the magic and joy they would not have otherwise been able to fathom on their own.
• These families receive not only gifts or assistance but also warmth, celebration, and a feeling of true love.

Jingle Jet is a project of The Zazza Community Foundation, a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for charitable, civic, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3).

For more information about Jingle Jet, visit jinglejet.com.

POLITICS

Bobby Wagner sworn in as Destin’s new mayor, also new council-members

On Monday night, Bobby Wagner was sworn-in as Destin’s new Mayor , along with Jim Bagby, Torey Geile and Matthew Sweetser as elected city council-members.

• Okaloosa Commissioner Mel Ponder (also former Destin Mayor) was on hand to facilitate the swearing in in front of a packed room.
• Wagner then thanked the residents who came out to the meeting, followed by a short speech.

“A few months ago, I took a leap of faith in a position that I felt very called to do,” said Wagner. “I felt very strongly to run for this position because I, for many years, have called Destin my home and I care deeply about not only where we’ve been, but where we’re at and where we’re going.”

Wagner then told the crowd that he promises them 3 things:

• To always listen.
• To always keep learning.
• To continue to love the Destin community.

“I want to make sure that you all are heard and understood,” added Wagner. “So even though I look 12-years-old, I appreciate everyone’s support on this road. I could not have done this without the support of my friends, family, and everyone involved, my neighbors, and the community groups.”

The city also thanked former Mayor Gary Jarvis and former council-member Rodney Braden for their years of service.

COMING SOON

Dillard’s closing at the Santa Rosa Mall, future mixed-use redevelopment in the works

On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, Radiant Partners, owners of the Santa Rosa Mall, announced that they are in contract to acquire the Dillard’s department store building and subsequent property. 

According to a Tuesday afternoon press release, this acquisition will allow Radiant Partners to take full control of the Santa Rosa Mall property and continue to master plan the redevelopment, continuing with their second phase of the multi-family Renaissance Santa Rosa.

“Dillard’s has long been a valued partner for the Santa Rosa Mall,” said David Schonberger, Managing Partner of Radiant Partners LLC. “The decisions to close the store and transfer ownership of the land were mutual decisions that allow both parties to pursue our strategic visions.”

• Schonberger added that their long-term approach is for a mixed-use community that will include more residential, retail, medical, education, and entertainment uses.

The deal is expected to close in Q1 2023, and Dillard’s is expected to continue operations into Q2 2023.

• Once completed, Radiant Partners will release more details and renderings for the future of the property.

Continued redevelopment

Back in May 2022, the City of Mary Esther’s Local Planning Agency unanimously approved a preliminary development order for a 206-unit apartment complex located on the back side of the Santa Rosa Mall.

• This is the proposed Phase 2 of the Renaissance Santa Rosa Apartment complex.
• Phase 1 was complete last year in the old Belk section of the mall.

Renaissance Mary Esther II, LLC and Rea Ventures Group, LLC submitted an application to the City of Mary Esther to construct the second phase of the Renaissance apartments. 

• The project involves 8.25 acres on the east side of Phase 1, that stretches from Page Bacon Road to Dillards. 

This means that the current section of the Santa Rosa Mall that this project would encompass would be redeveloped in order to accommodate the new apartments. According to the Northwest Florida Daily News, the area that would be redeveloped includes roughly 30 commercial spaces.

According to city documents, the main U-shaped building will be comprised of 197 units while 3 carriage houses will be comprised of 9 units total. 

Additionally, it will have a swimming pool and club house.