Hoards of bikers arrived yesterday with many more to arrive today. Most venues were not open last night, but Ms. Newby’s, as always, was slammed. With all the venues to open today, Panama City Beach is expected to be slammed with bikers from around the southeast US and beyond.
I will be posting updates and pictures as the week rolls on, stay tuned for updates.
First off, a big thank you to Jason allowing me access to this forum to showcase my nature photography of Panama City Beach and the surrounding Emerald Coast. I’ll be bringing you the natural side of PCB with a weekly feature photo.
From the peaceful black water bayous to the sugar white sands, the Emerald Coast is like no other coastline in the world. Like all cities, Panama City Beach has its faults, but at the end of the day we have beautiful beaches, emerald waters, abundant wildlife and glowing sunsets… what’s not to love!
The first feature photo is titled “Kissing Pelicans”. I caught these two pelicans “touching” beaks as if kissing just after sunrise on Grand Lagoon, in front of Baypoint.
Feel free to checkout more nature photos of the beach and the area’s wildlife at my photoblog Sand between Your Toes.
Teddy Meeks
On Saturday October 4th from 10 am until 2 pm at the Pier Park Amphitheatre at Aaron Bessant Park, Woodlawn United Methodist Church is putting on a fall festival for all to enjoy. There will be live music, carnival games, ten inflatables, train ride, plasma cars, stilt walkers, balloon makers, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, hotdogs, chips, barnyard olympics and more.
The cool part is that everything is free. Well, almost everything. The only thing that you’d have to pay for is a pumpkin, should you decide to support the annual youth Pumpkin Patch fundraiser.
This sounds like a ton of fun, everyone should check it out with their kids.
Again:
Fall Festival
Pier Park – Aaron Bessant Park
October 4th
10am – 2pm
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (September 9, 2008) – Join Tapestry Park as we welcome the fall with the final installment of Tapestry Park Cinema on Friday, September 26th. This month’s feature film brings three singing chipmunks to the giant 16-foot screen in Savannah Park. Tapestry Park Cinema will also be offering a cash-only concession stand.
Tapestry Park began hosting this four-part event series in June and has seen tremendous support from the community at large. Tapestry Park is currently seeking local businesses interested in sponsoring Tapestry Park Cinema, and other community events, in 2009. The Tapestry Park community hopes to host this event and add additional educational/cultural events that promote a community atmosphere, and is looking for partners to allow family-friendly events to continue into the future. To inquire about event sponsorships at Tapestry Park, please contact Adam Shiland by calling 850.428.0825.
“Everyone who has taken part in our events have thoroughly enjoyed their experiences,” said Mark Tanney, the developer of Tapestry Park. “I know that there are businesses in the area that see the benefit of supporting these programs and in return they will receive tremendous exposure to our guests.”
The final screening will begin at 8:00 p.m.; however, guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure their spot on the lawn. The cash-only concession stand will feature popcorn, sodas, juices and bottled water. Tapestry Park will be collecting pop tabs from all sodas purchased at the event. All collected tabs will be dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida to support their Pop Tab Program.
For more information on Tapestry Park, visit the community online at tapestrypark.com or call us at 850.234.3339. Tapestry Park is located on Clara Avenue, between Hutchinson Boulevard and Hwy 98, in the heart of Panama City Beach. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held in Savannah Park.
The drop in humidity and the diminished crowds make early Fall one of the best times of the year to experience the Emerald Coast‘s festivals and other special events. A perennial favorite of children and adults alike, Zoo World’s Zoobilee 2008 is coming up on September 27 and 28. Zoo World has staged the event for over a decade, with last year’s attendance counts coming in at over 8,000 visitors for the weekend. With admission for the event set a mere one dollar per visitor once again, Zoobilee promises to be a hit this year as well.
As in years past, a visit to Zoobilee promises to be a day of fun for the whole family. Visitors will find numerous special attractions, including a dunking booth, and prize giveaways throughout the day. Visitors may also purchase raffle tickets in drawings for various valuable prizes donated by local businesses. Although its famous animal shows will not take place during Zoobilee, the park has promised that many of the animals will be available throughout the event for posing with visitors for photographs.
Now in its sixteenth year of operation, Zoo World is a zoological and botanical conservatory housing over 200 exotic and, in many cases, endangered animals on over seven acres of lush vegetation. ZooWorld is an active member of the (UZA) United Zoological Association, and is also an active participant in the (SSP) species survival plan program. It is perhaps best known for its big cats and delightful shows featuring talented exotic birds. However, Zoo World is also home to a large variety of animals, including primates, giraffes, reptiles, and amphibians. Those visitors in search of a closer encounter can enjoy a petting zoo as well.
Zoo World is open year round and is always in need of both donations and volunteers. Interested parties who choose to donate their time can work as either Animal Keeper Volunteers or Gardener Volunteers, but in either case must be at least eighteen years old and in good physical condition. In order to participate, volunteers need to contact the park at least twenty-four hours in advance in order to be matched up for training with the correct Zoo World professionals.
One of the best things about a visit to Zoo World is that it offers parents a unique opportunity to help their children make connections between what they see on their favorite television shows like Nickelodeon’s “Go, Diego Go!” and their own lives. Over twenty million viewers a month tune in to watch Diego and his sister, Alicia, rescue various exotic animals, many of which can be found at our own Zoo World. The Spectacled Bear, Kinkajou, and Scarlet Macaw are just a few. Furthermore, an interest in exotic animals and their environments can have ramifications far beyond childhood.
In July 2008 Science Daily published an articled discussing a scientific study of children’s perceptions of tropical rain forest environments. “Turner and colleagues found that children’s awareness of rainforest biodiversity is highly developed, with the majority of the children depicting a rainforest with a diverse animal fauna, even though most have presumably never visited a rainforest. This knowledge of the natural world is crucial for inspiring and recruiting the next generation of naturalists and conservationists.” Children seem to have a natural affinity for animals and parks like Zoo World allow them to connect to nature by being in the presence of animals normally only seen in the wild.
As captivating as photographs and videotaped encounters can be, they cannot compare to the experience of being in close proximity to such fascinating creatures. It is often difficult in today’s high tech world for parents and caregivers to compete with television and videogames for their children’s attention, but special events like Zoobilee can at least help to level the playing field by providing a vibrant and memorable experience to treasure for years to come.
Zoo World is located at 9008 Front Beach Road. The gates open at 9:00 AM with the last admission at 4:30 PM. The park will close at 5:00. Free parking is available at the Super Walmart parking lot and free shuttle service will be provided from nine until five. Zoo World will provide free parking for handicapped drivers, all other drivers must pay a three dollar charge.
More can be learned about Zoo World at www.ZooWorldPCB.net.
Friday September 26th, John Stone will be performing at Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater in Pier Park. Stone is a Tootsies recording artist playing his “Baby Come Back” tour.
This concert is benefitting the Foundation for Breast Cancer and will feature special guest John Conlee, Steven West and Leslie Craig.
Gates open at 7pm and tickets are on sale for $12 at Tootsies in Pier Park, Tootsies in Nashville or online at www.Tootsies.net.
Panama City Beach, Fl, September 12, 2008: The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. in cooperation with Super Boat International Productions, Inc. has announced the final schedule of events for the upcoming 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race on October 3, 4, & 5th, 2008. The winning Teams from this SBIP/APBA National Final Race will compete in Key West, Florida at the Super Boat World Championships, November 2 -9, 2008. See http://www.superboat.com for the most up-to-date schedule of events, Race Team members, Official Offshore Race Course Map and other Race Weekend on Panama City Beach information.
This year’s corporate sponsors are Regions Bank, Pier Park, Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant, Origin at the Towne of Seahaven, Margaritaville and Marina Landing Condominiums. Community partners are The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce, the City of Panama City Beach, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sports Marketing and the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest.
This year, twenty three (23) Super Boats from all over the United States qualified for the SBIP/APBA Offshore Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race and their boats, their owners and the race teams will be at Race Village, which is being set up in Pier Park East on Panama City Beach. The Championship Race, for the United States National Title, will be run on Sunday, October 5th between the M.B. Miller County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the City of Panama City Beach Dan Russell City Pier at Pier Park on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 300 yards offshore. Although both Gulf piers are currently under construction, the construction activity will not interfere with the race or spectator’s viewing. Super Boat speeds of over 150 miles per hour could be reached during the race.
Super Boats will maneuvered the 6 mile rectangular Official Offshore Race Course between the Dan Russell City Pier and the M.B. Miller County Pier, on Sunday, October 5th starting at 12:00 noon, giving land and sea spectators a spectacular view of the high powered machines as they pass back and forth between the two Gulf piers. The Panama City Beach race is the last on the SBIP/APBA Offshore National Race Circuit qualifying Race Teams for the World Championships in Key West, Florida.
Super Boat Racing is not just about sleek, colorful and fast racing machines, but about the thrill seeking men and women who get behind the helm of the offshore Super Boats. Boat length ranges from 24 to 50 feet in length and are powered by automotive or turbine engines up to.4,800 horsepower. The race fans will get to see the nation’s biggest, fastest offshore powerboats and top drivers race toward a National Championship title. Super Boats will be on display during the week at various Regions Bank locations, Pier Park and at the Downtown Improvement Board’s Oktoberfest, October 3rd, Friday evening, in beautiful downtown Panama City.
This year, the Dry Pit Area for these offshore Super Boats will be at Race Village in Pier Park, and will be open FREE to spectators to see the boats and teams up close on Saturday and Sunday.
On Friday, October 3rd: Friday evening the Mayor’s Welcome Party takes place at 7:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road and race fans, friends, tourist and locals are encouraged to join Mayor Gayle Obsert, Mayor of the City of Panama City Beach, in officially welcoming the Super Boat Race Teams and their out of town fans to the Beach. The public is invited and no reservations are necessary.
On Saturday, October 4th, the Dry Pit Area at Race Village in Pier Park will be open. The Public is invited to come and see the boats, talk with the Race Team members and view all their high speed equipment that will be on display in Pier Park. Race Village is open FREE to the public. On Saturday afternoon, various Super Boats will be in the water practicing out in the Gulf of Mexico near the east end of the Beach from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm. That evening at 7:00 pm the Racer’s Party takes place at Margaritaville at Pier Park and the general public is encouraged to attend to meet and socializing with the Super Boat Racers, the Super Boat Owners, the Race Team Members and their families. Reservations are not necessary.
On Sunday, October 5th the St. Andrews Bay Super Boat Parade begins at 11:00 am on St. Andrews Bay, from the marina at Marina Landing Condominiums, located on the northwest side of the Hathaway Bridge, U.S. Highway 98, and will cruise to the Gulf of Mexico. At 12:00 noon the race begins, the Official Start and Finish Line will be offshore of Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant on Front Beach Road. Super Boats will be racing 300 yards offshore in a 6 mile rectangular course between the County Pier at ALF Coleman Road and the Panama City Beach Pier at Pier Park. All Super Boat races are expected to be completed by 2:00 pm. So come early so that you don’t miss any of the racing action. There will be a SBIP/APBA Offshore Official Awards Ceremony for the Super Boat winning Racers and their Team at 4:00 pm at Sharky’s Seafood Restaurant and the public is invited.
The best FREE spectator viewing for Race Day on Sunday will be from the Beach’s shoreline at Public Beach Accesses # 43 through # 58 along Front Beach Road and FREE parking will be available along 3 miles of Front Beach Road at the M.B. Miller County Pier to Pier Park. Additional spectator viewing will be at various participating Gulf front restaurants, motels and condominiums along Front Beach Road.
In addition to welcoming the general public to view the Race from their establishment, there will be special VIP Spectator Seating on Race Day, Sunday, for all active military, enlisted and officers, and their families at Pier Park’s Gulf front restaurant Margaritaville. Arrive early for the best seats and dining tables.
Offshore viewing the Sunday Race in personal pleasure boats and other charter boats is allowed from a special 3 mile long Offshore Boat Spectator Area, designated south of the Official Offshore Race Course in the Gulf of Mexico about 300 yards offshore between the two piers. See http://www.superboat.com website for the exact Official Offshore Race Course and Spectator Map.
Super Boats are some of the fastest and largest offshore Powerboats in the world. With a maximum length of 50 feet, F-16 jet canopies and equipped with up to four engines producing more than 4,800 horsepower, the boats can reach record breaking speeds upwards of 200 mph.
Imposing as they may appear, they are finely tuned machines incorporating the most advanced space age technology. They provide the ideal platform for the installation and testing of high speed equipment under some of the most punishing conditions possible.
The boat classes that race in the SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Circuit are Super Boat Unlimited, Super Boat Vee Unlimited, Super Boat, Super Cat, Super Vee, Super Boat Vee Limited, Turbine, Super Boat Stock (S), and Manufacture Production: P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5.
The American Power Boat Association (APBA) was founded in 1903 and
is the authority for U.I.M. (Union Internationale Motonautique) approved powerboat racing in the United States. http://www.apba-racing.com
Super Boat International Productions, Inc (SBIP) was founded by John Carbonell in 1991. Carbonell has 32 years in Powerboat promotions and 10 years experience racing powerboats. SBIP holds a ten year license from the APBA Offshore and will host 10 offshore race events in the United States during the 2008 SBIP/APBA Official Super Boat National Racing Circuit. http://www.superboat.com
The Bay Area Sports Association, Inc. (not for profit) (BASA) is a membership association formed by area local businessmen and women whose mission is to encourage, support and promote recreation, amateur, Olympic and professional sports activities within the Greater Panama City area. Such sports activities are to provide for the entertainment and betterment of both residents and visitors to enjoy as participants, observers or fans. The BASA supports local sporting events like the 3rd Annual Panama City Beach SBIP/APBA Super Boat Florida/National Championship Race in order to raise needed money for youth sports in Bay County. A portion of all food and beverage sales on Sunday’s Race Day at participating Panama City Beach restaurants such as Sharky’s and at Pier Park- Margaritaville be donated to BASA. BASA Membership is open to the public. http://www.bayareasportsassociation.org
For more information on this fun weekend, visit http://www.superboat.com
A couple buddies of mine, Paul Wohlford and Steve Bailey, started RedFishRiviera.com. I’ve helped them get their internet presence off the ground, but they are doing a phenomenal job at launching awesome product and educating the community about red fishing. Check out the press release below and support them by visiting their website, RedFishRiviera.com and buying a cool shirt!
NEW FLATS FISHING OUTFITTER PLAYS ON NICKNAME OF REGION
‘Redfish Riviera’ established to promote growing sport
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (September 22, 2008) —Two local fishing enthusiasts decided to pair their love of redfishing with the growing popularity of the sport by launching a new company, Redfish Riviera, Inc. The outfitters dedicated to the sport of redfishing, created by Paul Wohlford and Steve Bailey, sells a wide range of apparel and specialty items to sportsmen and families. In addition, the company educates consumers about the sport of redfishing, provides information about redfish tournaments and locations, and connects anglers with one another.
The name plays on a well-know nickname for the gulf coast region as the “Redneck Riviera”. Wohlford, president of the company, said the idea was born during a Tourist Development Council meeting when they were discussing upcoming Redfish tournament sponsorship opportunities. Steve Bailey, CEO of the company, and Wohlford trademarked the name, and Redfish Riviera, Inc. became official in April 2008.
“Since then, we have been approached to cast the name on restaurants and lodges,” said Wohlford of the popular name. “I don’t know where the applications will go in the future. We are focused on growing the company at this point, and expanding our reach to retailers, outfitters, marinas and resorts across the southeast. The early results have exceeded our expectations. Maybe that’s because redfishing is the fastest growing segment of sports fishing, and is said to be approaching bass fishing in terms of popularity.”
The Redfish Riviera spans the shores of Brownsville, Texas, along the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic coast of Florida, up to Surf City, NC.
The sport has gained popularity in recent years and has spawned into a sportsman’s ‘must do’. According to the Inshore Fishing Association’s website “inshore fisheries have flourished much quicker than anyone could have imagined since the banning of netting”. The redfish or red drum has become one of the most sought after fish on the Gulf and Atlantic shores.
“It has really grown into a household name to sportsmen throughout the country,” says Bailey. “It is a very eco and family friendly sport, too. With fuel prices the way they are, this is not the kind of fishing you have to run offshore 70 miles to do. It’s all inshore, and state laws regulate fishermen to size and bag limit. Redfish are a very protected species.”
Primarily an inshore fish, the average redfish weighs from 6 to 12 pounds, but can weigh up to 50 pounds. Redfish are a bottom-feeding, schooling species common along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. Typically located on flats, redfish can also be caught in reefs, bays and marshes. They live in shallow water and can be recognized by a dark spot on the tail. They became trendy as a food fish after being offered as blackened redfish in New Orleans restaurants and became popular as a game fish as more former bass anglers got turned on to inshore saltwater fishing.
Redfish Riviera, Inc. has already grabbed the attention of major networks and tournament organizers in their short time of existence. Wohlford and Bailey recently accepted an invite to join a crew of the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Pro-Am Team. They will partner with a Redfish Cup Professional Angler and fish the flats of Pensacola in the Pro-Am Tournament. The event is being televised on ESPN2 and ESPN Outdoors. Bailey said they are thrilled to have the opportunity to promote their new company on a national platform. “We’ll see where it takes us,” said Bailey. “It’s a great opportunity for us and we are excited to be part of it.”
Redfish Riviera, Inc. promotes the major redfish tours and their tournaments. They also sponsor a team, Team Redfish Riviera, who recently claimed a top 10 finish at the IFA Redfish Tournament presented by Cabela’s in Navarre Beach, FL.
“Down the road we hope to expand by offering guide services, restaurant and accommodation partners, as well as introducing redfishing to new anglers” said Wohlford. “Really, with the way this sport is growing, the possibilities are endless.” For more information on Redfish Riviera, to view tournament schedules or to purchase merchandise visit www.redfishriviera.com.
In a somewhat boring meeting that was exciting at the same time, the Airport Authority unanimously accepted the lowest bid for the terminal, with the stipulation that they needed to come back $4 to $6 million less than where they were at. If that confuses you, let me clarify, because it was confusing to me at first.
The bid for construction was awarded to Walbridge, who was the low bidder at $68 million. The Airport Authority had determined a budget of $54 million for the terminal based on preliminary studies and had confirmed this as recently as May of this year. Former Panama City Mayor Gerry Clemons pointedly asked what changed between May and now to cause an increase of $14 million and after not being answered once, he asked again. Again David Hanson of Walbridge danced around and avoided the question. The gracious Joe Tannehill eloquently stated “we are where we are”, indicating he was ready to move on from that particular merry-go-round. Mr. Tannehill asked Hanson and a representative from HNTB, the architecture firm, whether they had been in communication and working together to come up with the best solution to cut costs without effecting the overall usability, quality, and public appearance of the new airport terminal. The answer was a quick no, only not said in so few words. Again, Mr. Tannehill so eloquently stated that if they didn’t come together, they would be both looking for work as the airport job wouldn’t be a job their firms would have any longer. The two firms assured the board that they would have a presentation in a week specifying the approach that would lower the costs an additional $4 to $6 million and they would have a suitable, acceptable contract for the bid on or before October 7th. Wow, say that out loud – what a mouthful.
Mr. Jeff Dealy, in his construction update, announced that currently, test strips were being laid down for the runway.
The Board unanimously approved increasing the runway depth to 15 inches with the top layer consisting of concrete. It was discussed lightly the need to go ahead and construct the entire 10,000 feet of the runway, which is an extension of the initial 8,400 feet. This was not voted on as they are still awaiting permitting from the FAA for the extension, and they didn’t want to “get ahead of the FAA”. This will be formally decided upon the meeting after the permitting is approved. Centerline lighting on the runway was also approved.
During the public participation portion of the meeting John Caylor, candidate for County Clerk and zaney “investigative reporter” tried to get in some hoopla about how the public showed they did not want the airport through vote and proceeded to talk about how St. Joe was a bunch of crooks. John, throwing the vote on a Democratic ballot and seeing a 22% voter turnout with 54% of overall turnout voting against the airport is hardly overwhelming. After a quite boistrous performance, he was told to leave by the Airport Cheif of Police.
PCBDaily 