Category: Featured

The Residents and businesses in Walton County can help plan the future of their communities through a new initiative, Plan for Walton 2040.

“Walton County is a unique place, with world-famous beaches and resort towns, charming historic sites,  large areas of conservation, and beautiful rural farmland,” says Plan for Walton 2040 Project Lead Marina  Khoury. “Those areas all have their own character and a sense of community. Future growth in these communities, and the intensity of that growth, should reflect those values. Walton County also is a special  place for DPZ as we have been helping to guide development there for the past 40 years.”

Plan for Walton 2040 is part of an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) of the county’s Comprehensive  Plan, a state-mandated long-range plan that must be updated every seven years. The planning effort includes a major emphasis on community outreach and engagement to ensure that residents, businesses,  and stakeholders have the chance to share their ideas and opinions. This input will be combined with the technical team’s assessment to create a long-range vision plan to guide Walton County’s future growth and development.

To conduct the review and planning effort, the Walton County Commission has engaged a team of consultants led by DPZ CoDesign. DPZ may be familiar to long-time residents as they helped author the  Trust Plan in the 1980s and also planned and designed the town of Seaside, among others. The consulting team includes experts in transportation, green infrastructure, environmental planning, land economics,  zoning analysis and legal review.

On the website, www.PlanForWalton2040.com, residents can learn more about the planning process, sign up for email updates, and take an initial survey to share their ideas and preferences for Walton County’s future. Plan for Walton 2040 also has a Facebook page of the same name where residents can ask questions and engage in the process.

“For this plan to be successful, we need to hear from the wide array of people who work, live or recreate in Walton County. So we invite everyone to visit the website, take our survey, sign up for email updates,  and plan to attend all or part of the charrette meetings in May,” said Khoury.

In addition to the website, social media, and email outreach, the planning team hosted a week-long workshop in Walton County from May 1-8, 2024. That workshop, a “charrette,” included public presentations, workshops on specific topics such as environment and transportation, an open-studio time where stakeholders interacted with members of the planning team, and “pop-up” outreach efforts in different areas of the County.

For more information, visit www.PlanForWalton2040.com or email info@PlanForWalton2040.com.

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By Heather Bennett Eye

A life-changing tip following their Kilimanjaro summit not only impacted the guide who received the tip but also Jim and Kristi Sumpter, local Walton County residents and co-founders of Endeavor Expeditions. After learning that their tip would help put their guide’s child through school for the year, they began taking steps to develop Kids of Kilimanjaro, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help fund educational opportunities for the children of Kilimanjaro guides and porters.

Jim and Kristi have built partnerships with local guides across the globe, but it’s been their years of traveling in Tanzania and the gratitude, generosity and genuine joy of the guides and porters of Kilimanjaro that inspired them to start their nonprofit organization. Both Jim and Kristi have summited Kilimanjaro multiple times with Jim leading teams to the summit. This winter, they invited local award-winning photographer Chandler Williams of Modus Photography to join them on their Kilimanjaro and Safari expedition to not only create marketing content for Kids of Kilimanjaro but to experience for himself the joyful spirit of the guides, porters and their families.

You may be familiar with Chandler’s photography, a mix of inspiring landscapes, people, and wildlife from 30A and around the world. Chandler has experience with international travel and is “comfortable in a lot of uncomfortable environments” with his camera. He arrived in Arusha several days before the expedition to spend time with the families of the African team. There can be anywhere from four to ten porters for every one person making the climb. Chandler’s expedition with Jim and Kristi had a total of 10 climbers, some local and some out of state. They had 40 members on their African team to assist them. Porters are expected to carry tents, propane tanks, cooking supplies, toilets and equipment with packs weighing up to 40 pounds each, up the mountain through five different ecological climate zones. Most of them have worn-out tennis shoes, and often lack rain gear, hats, gloves or proper clothing for climbing. They rely a lot on donations and tips. Some people donate their supplies and outdoor apparel at the end of an expedition.

“These guys that are carrying your gear, they’re nothing but cheerful, singing, happy, and helpful. It’s unbelievable,” stated Chandler.

When Chandler found himself with his waterproof boots drenched from rain, the guide grabbed his boots and gave them to the cooks to dry over the propane tank when they were done cooking. “There’s probably 10 people in a three-man tent. They’re huddled and trying to dry them off for me, like just laughing and cheering. I almost broke down. It’s just their willingness to help,” Chandler said.

The guides make around $25/day, while cooks make $15/day and porters make between $5-$10/day. What Chandler observed is what Jim and Kristi also experienced. People who, although they are doing extremely physically demanding work in less than ideal conditions, are doing it with a heart of humility and joy, singing and laughing throughout their journey. “They’re doing this hard work and they’re not making a lot of money. They’re making the sacrifices for their children, but they’re doing it happily you know.”

In Tanzania, school is considered a privilege. Even though it’s officially “free,” education can cost around $800 per year due to fees, uniform costs, books, food, and supplies. Transportation can also be costly due to long distances between schools in rural areas. With all these obstacles, getting a good education can be difficult, but finishing school means more opportunities and a brighter future.

Kids of Kilimanjaro was created to help with tuition assistance to students of families of the Kilimanjaro communities. Opportunities for education lead to opportunities for better jobs, which in turn benefit families and communities.  “Education is important,” stated Chandler. “It can change everything for these families.” He and his wife will be funding one porter’s son’s education indefinitely.

If you are interested in learning more about Kids of Kilimanjaro and Chandler’s experience, he is showcasing his “Journey Through Africa” from 6-9 p.m. on May 15 at 30a Studio Rental, 416 S County Hwy 393, Bldg 7, Unit 3 in Santa Rosa Beach. You can RSVP to the event through Modus Photography at www.modusphotography.com/rsvp.

“It’s really hard to convey how genuine the experience was,” said Chandler. “It’s a life changing experience when you go on these trips with them. This is something, personally, I plan on being a part of the rest of my life. My wife and I now pay for one of the students, a porter’s son. Modus Photography is going to pay for his education indefinitely.”

If you can’t attend the event, or are interested in learning more about Kids of Kilimanjaro, please visit https://kidsofkili.com. For more information on Endeavor Expeditions, you can visit www.endeavorexpeditions.com.

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by Heather Bennett Eye

As our regional athletes of Special Olympics Florida gear up for the Summer Games, I want to share with you how the organization is more than just a place for those with intellectual disabilities to train and compete in Olympic-style sports. It’s also an organization that fosters leadership growth and provides access to free health care. I’ll also share ways you can get involved.

Our Northwest Region consists of Area 1 (Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Washington, and Jackson counties) and Area 2 (Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Taylor and Hamilton counties). They’ll each have their own Area competitions (Area 2 on March 2nd and Area 1 on March 16) before competing against each other at the Northwest Region Summer Games on April 6 in Defuniak Springs. Prior to that, two athletes from our region, Sara Dunbar and Ashley Harrell, are preparing for a very special trip to Washington, D.C. On February 5-7, athletes, program leaders, unified partners and family members will gather on Capitol Hill to address members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. This is an annual, national event known as Capitol Hill Day. Athletes will advocate the importance of continued funding for the program, and ending health care disparities and discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities.

Athlete Stacy Barns of Pensacola attended Capitol Hill Day in 2015 and 2016 and recently assisted in prepping the national athletes who will make their way to Washington, D.C. this month. Along with the Chief Health Officer of the Special Olympics, she co-presented via Zoom the health initiatives in Florida and across the globe. “It’s something that’s really inspiring, not just about Stacey, but many athletes, where they gain these leadership roles and they assume these positions within Special Olympics and their communities and they use it to leverage their voice to become advocates,” stated Damien McNeil, Regional Director of the Northwest. “That’s one of my favorite things to witness.”

Advocacy is important for various reasons. Not only does the Special Olympics provide opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to demonstrate their skills and talents through sports and leadership, but it’s also internationally the number one provider for free health screenings for people with intellectual disabilities. “People are going without things that they need. They need those resources,” said Damien. This also rings true for those who live along the Emerald Coast. The disparity that affects those with intellectual disabilities happens right there as well.

The Special Olympics provides free optometry, audiology, dental, podiatry and mental health screenings, along with referrals for those who need medical care. They also provide free hearing aides. “It gives life to the mission at work,” stated Damien. The free screenings take place at events like the Summer Games, in which Doctors volunteer their time and resources for these screenings. Screenings are available to athletes and non-athletes with intellectual disabilities. At this year’s Northwest Region Summer Games, around 600 athletes are expected. With as many athletes, and additional non-athletes, that will be in attendance, healthcare workers are encouraged to reach out if they are interested in volunteering to assist with screenings.

How can you help the Special Olympics? Day-of or long-term volunteers are always needed. You can also sign up to coach or play. Those without intellectual disabilities who have a passion for sports can participate as a Unified Partner. This offers the opportunity to contribute and foster connections between communities. “We want to make sure we are advocates for people with disabilities in any way that might look like,” said Damien. Volunteering is a great opportunity to demonstrate that.

If you are a physician or health organization looking to volunteer for health screenings, you can contact Blair Mackie, Health Manager for Areas 1 and 2 at blairmackie@sofl.org or (850) 778-7573. For anything else, please reach out to Damien McNeil at damienmcneil@sofl.org or (407) 402-8604. To learn more about volunteering opportunities, please visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org/northwest and click on Get Involved. If you are interested in attending an event to cheer on our athletes, the summer games are free and open to the public.

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Free Federal Income Tax Preparation Available in South Walton County

Free Federal income tax preparation is being offered in South Walton County for low to middle-income families and individuals, with special attention to senior citizens. Tax Preparation service will be available from Feb. 6 to April 11, 2024, at A Simple Faith Church in Santa Rosa Beach (new location this year). The church is at 360 WRM Circle Blvd in the Blue Mountain Beach Industrial Park, north of Hwy 98.

Taxpayers must make appointments online at  tinyurl.com/yryzb5mt or by calling (850) 275-9104.

The site will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 – 5 p.m.

Tax-Aide is also available in DeFuniak Springs. Call (850) 892-8746 for an appointment.

AARP Tax-Aide is a nationwide service, with information available at other nearby locations at https://www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/locations.html.

This service is sponsored by the AARP Foundation and the IRS. There are no age restrictions and AARP membership is not required.

Taxpayers must bring their 2022 tax return, Social Security cards for taxpayer(s) and all dependents, picture IDs, and all tax documents received. Bring checking or savings account information if direct deposit of refunds or direct debit of amounts due is desired. If applicable, bring Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) for each individual. Taxpayers who wish to itemize deductions must bring appropriate information. Note that complicated tax returns involving rental properties, inventories, depreciation, etc. cannot be prepared.

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The Point Washington Medical Clinic (PWMC) is pleased to announce the official Ribbon Cutting and Reception of its new stand alone 4,750 sq. ft. facility located at 1321 N. County Hwy 395 in Santa Rosa Beach. The press and public are invited to attend the event beginning at 4 p.m. with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 25, 2024. Following the ribbon cutting there will be a reception with live music and tours of the building.

Founded by Drs. Hillary Glenn, DNP, APRN and Patsy Vargo, MD, Point Washington Medical Clinic provides free medical care to those who need it thanks to their dedicated team of volunteers, from doctors and nurses to various community members who assist with health education, translation, and administrative tasks.

Their new facility, beautifully situated on the Point Washington United Methodist Church campus in Point Washington, was designed by architect Zack Quinn with interior design by Suzanne Rester Watson. Woodruff Construction handled construction, and Bradford Davis Landscape Architect the environs.

Co-founder and Executive Director Dr. Hillary Glenn, DNP shares, “This building is by the community, for the community. We wouldn’t be here without the many contributions of our generous supporters, and we’re incredibly excited to expand our services and hours to serve our neighbors even more. Designed with the patient in mind, the building’s intentional details are all planned to ensure privacy and provide a calming comfortable environment, as well as being organized so the volunteers and team are able to easily access the tools they need.” Dr. Glenn continues, “Unique attributes of the facility include a children’s educational play area, a state-of-the-art classroom with a teaching kitchen, and a meditation prayer garden. To support the calming environment, we leaned into the natural landscape. This is seen with the oversized windows in the lobby looking out over the beautiful native forest, the dental operatories line up with large windows so patients will be looking out at trees while being treated and our partnership with the CAA and their Arts in Public Spaces program will enhance the interior beauty by bringing in works from local artists of our local environment inside.”

The new clinic will provide more space for volunteers who serve the clinic in various administrative, clinical and hospitality roles. It will also include six exam rooms including a pediatric exam room, an increase from two in the current pop-up clinic. This means the team will be able to serve 850+ patients a month in the future, an increase of 300%. The clinic will expand its preventive and primary care services with the addition of dentistry, mental health services and expanded onsite lab testing. Wellness, nutrition and educational classes will now be possible because of the new teaching kitchen and meeting space. This will enable the PWMC to further its mission of building a stronger and healthier community by providing high-quality primary health care regardless of the patient’s means or access.

The PWMC staff, Board of Directors and volunteer team are all excited for what the new facility means for the growing roster of patients as well as the greater Northwest Florida region. For the past six years, operating only two days a week, they have provided over $3.5 million in healthcare services on site and have had over 15,000 patient visits.

Once the volunteer-driven clinic is able to expand their service hours, they expect to be able to see close to 10,000 patients annually providing over 1 million dollars in healthcare services per year.

A fundraising campaign continues to support construction. Those interested in volunteering or contributing to the building campaign can visit thepwmc.org/donate to learn more and make a donation.

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Fore Her is excited to announce the 2024 Pink Walk & 5k on Saturday, January 27th presented by Emerald Coast Hospice.

The event returns to The Village of Baytowne Wharf and will bring back the timed 5k race in addition to the Survivor Stroll and annual Walk, after a great success introducing the 5k in 2023.

“I am so excited for this year’s Pink Walk to help so we can continue to help more breast cancer patients along the Emerald Coast,” says Jennifer Crawford, Board Vice President of Fore Her. “Our 2023 event had close to 200 runners and walkers and we are hoping to grow it even more this year”

The community is invited to walk or run with friends and family, wear pink, and have fun while raising funds for breast cancer patients in financial need. Attendees will enjoy an after-party with a DJ, a photo booth, prizes, and food samples. All registered breast cancer survivors can enjoy the VIP Survivors’ Lounge sponsored by Rum Runners which will feature special treats including hand massages, and more.

“This event helps raise funds for those who are financially struggling while battling breast cancer. The funds raised help with the things not covered by insurance to help relieve some stress for our recipients – utilities, rent, and additional living expenses” adds Crawford.

Fore Her has sponsorships still available and will join current sponsors including Emerald Bay Plumbing, Jennifer Crawford Realtor, Keller Williams, Julie + Rob of Scenic Sotheby’s Realty, Fresh Prints of South Walton, South Walton Plastic Surgery, All In Credit Union, Jenetta’s Simple Treats, and Charlie’s Cafe. All who register will enjoy a virtual swag bag as an added opportunity for all sponsors and benefit the participants.

Registration for the Pink Walk & 5K is now open online at ForeHer.org/PinkWalk5k. Early Bird 5k registration starts at $50 through January 15 and then increases to $60. Those who register through January 15 will receive a free Pink Walk t-shirt. Fore Her offers a discounted rate of $45 to register for breast cancer survivors and the Survivor Stroll is free to participate for survivors. The first 200 participants to sign up will receive a race medal.

Packet pick-up will be at The Village of Baytowne Wharf concert stage on Friday, January 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, January 27 starting at 7 a.m. Day of registration will also be available from 7 to 8 a.m. The 5k will start on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

For more information, and available sponsorship opportunities, visit pinkwalk5k.org or email ali@weilhousecreative.com

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