Superhero Saturday, Free Food

This Saturday April 4th will prove to be an epic event for Panama City as a one-day event unlike any other happens: Superhero Saturday. Hosted by the 23rd Street restaurants Taco Casa, Gyro Cafe & Marble Slab Creamery in the Wal-Mart Plaza, Superhero Saturday will be a one-stop shop for superheroes in all sorts of ways.

From 12-4pm, there will be various free “super” activities to enjoy while dining at these three restaurants owned by English Enterprises. There will be live costume superheroes including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. In additional, local cartoonist Jayson Kretzer will be giving away free sketches of your favorite superhero, and next door the video game store Play & Trade will be hosting a free video game tournament. To top it off, Taco Casa & Gyro Cafe will be be offering a free meal for children with a paid adult entree.

“With the recent movies, television shows and video games, superheroes are a big part of our culture,” said store owner Geoff English. “Following a recent appearance by these costumed superheroes at our restaurant, we decided to base an event around them. We hope the kids and adults will enjoy it.”

The event will be held on Saturday, April 4th from 12-4pm at the Taco Casa, Gyro Cafe & Marble Slab Creamery in the 23rd Street Walmart Plaza across from Big Ten Tires.

16th Annual Business Expo in Panama City Beach

The Panama City Beach Chamber’s 16th Annual Business Expo is Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at Edgewater Beach Resort, from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Business Expo 2009 is presented by Pier Park and sponsored by Comcast, Knology, the News Herald, Edgewater Beach Resort, Barefoot Beach Club/By the Sea Resorts, Innovations Federal Credit Union, Waste Management and Regions Bank. Media sponsors include Beach TV, WMBB News 13, WJHG News 7, Magic Broadcasting, Beach 95.1 Radio, Clear Channel, Viamedia, Panama City Radio Group and Lamar Advertising.

Business Expo serves the business community with a comprehensive B2B tradeshow displaying wide-ranging trades and industries. It entertains thousands of locals and families with a fun theme (“The Nature of Business”), decor, costumes, music, a “Best Booth” competition, food and a cash bar. It’s an opportunity for consumers to get out and take note of hundreds of area businesses showcasing their newest, most innovative products and services. Over three thousand people attended the last Business Expo.

This year the Chamber is proud to present four Green workshops. These “mini-presentations” will run every 45 minutes throughout the event and take place in the Green Room, a specially designated area set aside for businesses showcasing their green/sustainable products and services.

3:15 – 4:00 “What is LEED?”
John Toppe, Founding President of U.S. Green Building Council, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

4:15 – 5:00 “Green Overview: What Footprint will YOU Leave?”
Tammy McDaniel, Fort Walton Beach Chamber

5:15 – 6:00 “Energy Efficient Home Performance”
Tim Welch, Peaden Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing

6:15 – 7:00 “Introduction to Ecotourism in Bay County”
John D. Tobe, Ph.D., Director of Ecological Restoration and Conservation,
Ecological Resource Consultants, Inc.

More information on these workshop topics will be available at Thirty Days of Green and the Bay Green Expo on May 16th at Gulf Coast Community College (www.baygreenexpo.com).

This year the Expo is charging a $1-per-person Admission Fee, which will go to the Chamber’s Education Foundation helping local schools. For more information call the Panama City Beach Chamber at (850) 235-1159.

Canadian Pianist Tops Pops Season Finale on May 2

In regular concerto engagements and recitals in major halls around the world, Canadian pianist Christine Mari Yoshikawa has quickly established herself as one of Canada’s most sought-after young pianists.

She will be the featured soloist during “Music of the Night,” the final concert of the season by The Panama City POPS, Saturday, May 2, 2009, 7:30 pm at the Arnold High School Auditorium.

Building on its best season yet, which has featured world premiers and guest composer appearances, The POPS will finish the schedule with a night replete with romantic overtones.

The evening’s highlight will be a twenty-minute POPS medley entitled, “A Tribute to Gershwin.” The arrangement, by composer Jack Jarrett of the Berklee College of Music, has been performed internationally.

“Gershwin’s music remains as some of the most popular work of the Twentieth Century,” comments Maestro Eddie Rackley. “What set Gershwin apart was his ability to manipulate forms of music into his own unique voice, and what makes this medley really special is Jack Jarrett’s masterful interpretation.” The POPS Chorale will accompany the orchestra for the ambitious finale.

“The entire evening will have the feeling of romance,” states Rackley, “even in the classical sections.” Concert-goers may expect to hear everything from Tchaikovsky to Kevin Kaska, whose “Golden Falcon Prelude” was premiered by The POPS in its season opener.

Mr. Kaska also wrote a commissioned piece for the Panama City Centennial concert entitled “Emerald Jubilee.” The piece received a rousing ovation. For the final concert Rackley decided
to include another arrangement by Kaska, “I’m Glad There is You,” the Sinatra standard whose new arrangement was commissioned by The Boston Pops as an encore to one of its concerts. The composition is a jazz/Latin fusion piece featuring jazz piano and trumpet with full symphonic orchestra.

“This has been a wonderful year for The Panama City POPS,” remarks Victoria Williams, President of the organization’s Board of Directors. “The musicians have never sounded better and our community has recognized just how talented our local orchestra truly is. We look forward to another outstanding season.”

Established as a mentoring orchestra, The Panama City POPS invites advanced student musicians of all ages to audition. If qualified, they are mentored by current POPS musicians who help guide and teach them while giving them the opportunity to play and perform with an orchestra.

Also that evening, The Panama City POPS will conduct its second annual silent auction in collaboration with the Visual Arts Center. The painting, “Nature’s Symphony” by local artist, Kim Griffin, is the featured work of art on this season’s Panama City POPS Orchestra brochure, program covers and television commercials. The original artwork will be on display at the Visual Arts Center in downtown Panama City until the final POPS concert on May 2. More info on the artwork and auction is available at http://www.panamacitypops.org.

Individual tickets for the May 2 concert are $25 for adults, $18 for over age 65 or active military, and $10 for ages under 12, and are on sale now at http://www.panamacitypops.org or by calling
(850) 785-POPS (7677).

Seabreeze Jazz Festival at Pier Park

A full lineup of award-winning artists are ready to hit the stage in Panama City Beach, Fla., the new home of the Gulf Coast’s annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival. Panama City Beach’s Pier Park sets the stage for a jazzy, all-star weekend, April 16 – 19, expected to draw music lovers near and far. The lineup includes nationally acclaimed smooth jazz artists: Boney James, Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Nick Colionne, Warren Hill, Joyce Cooling, and more.

“We’re proud to be the new home of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival,” said Dan Rowe, president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Pier Park provides the perfect setting for this nationally recognized event.”

The weekend kicks off Thurs., April 16, 7:00 p.m., with the three-hour Smooth Jazz Dinner Cruise on beautiful St. Andrew’s Bay presented by the Bay Point Marriott Resort and Spa. Enjoy the upbeat, funky-style performance of the renowned jazz keyboardist Alex Bugnon aboard the Solaris, a 125-foot yacht known for exceptional cuisine.

Friday begins with a performance by the Urban Jazz Coalition, 6:00 p.m., followed by The Smooth Jazz All-Star Jam Show featuring festival host Nick Colionne, Four80East, Alex Bugnon, Brian Simpson, Shilts, Nils, Matt Marshak, Althea Rene and Jackiem Joyner. The evening concludes with dancing and revelry at the Jazz Under the Stars party at Pier Park’s Reggae J’s.

Great performances continue all day Saturday, starting 10:00 a.m., with high-energy artists and ending with another Jazz Under the Stars party that will send all your blues away. Saturday’s performers include Wayman Tisdale, Will Downing, Joyce Cooling, Four 80 East, Eric Darius, Althea Rene’ and more. The weekend finale is a day of live entertainment, Sunday, beginning 9:30 a.m., with performances throughout the day and evening by Boney James, Warren Hill, Nick Colionne, Brian Simpson, Nils, Jackeim Joyner, Roman Street, and Jones and Company.

“With expanded on-site parking, great beaches, extensive shopping and dining options at Pier Park, plus an abundance of hotel and condos nearby, the 2009 Seabreeze Jazz Festival will have it all,” says Mark Carter, the event’s organizer. “The weekend brings together a collection of great artists and people who love contemporary smooth jazz.”

The Difference Between "Real Fun Beach" and "Summer White Sale"

Here are 5 reasons why “Real Fun Beach” will work and 2008’s “Summer White Sale” wasted a lot of money.

1. “Real Fun Beach” (RFB) tells you exactly what Panama City Beach is, has been, and will always be.

It is what “the Beach Lovers Beach” was trying to be, but never was.

It replaces the long time, halfway official “world’s most beautiful beaches.” Claiming to be the world’s most beautiful beaches is a little too broad and boastful to hang your hat on, even though it’s a very true claim to me and thousands of others who love it here.

2. They got the domain name! YAY! “RealFunBeach.com” is a beautiful, easy to remember, easy to type, tells-you-what-it-is domain name.

3. The sub-concept — I’ll call it “Yesterday: Real, Today: Fun” since I don’t know what the staff and agencies call it — is equally brilliant. Its message says “one day you’re in your real world: worker, parent, student, etc., and today you can be in the fun world at the Real Fun Beach. This is perfect bait for fishing in PCB’s honey hole, Atlanta. A fast five hour drive from the real world to the fun world.

4. The “Yesterday/Today” idea can be used and reinvented in so many great ways. This is a concept that can grow and thrive for years, because it’s so flexible in letting us compare real world vs. fun world.

5. The offline campaign ties in perfectly to the online campaign. Go figure. Read Jason‘s article on the online campaign for more info.

And the “Summer White Sale”? It had none of this. Nothing to differentiate PCB, nothing to transform the mindset of the consumer about PCB (it actually reinforced negative perceptions of being a cheap, lower-class destination). Nothing that could grow and live on as a brand, nothing that could really help us move forward with a new image. It never had a chance.

A few concerns (only 3!) with this new campaign:

1.
Real. Fun. Beach.
Using. Periods. For. Emphasis. In. Headlines.
Way. Over. Done.
But. Maybe. It. Still. Works.
Heck. I’ve. Done. It. Before.

2. The cute little names for our tourists, Sandy Bottom Bunch, Soul Searcher, etc., are clever and can be expanded to define more types of visitors. Another great concept that could live on for years.

But since local tourism businesses will now have the ability to target these segments directly through the CVB site, who’s to say a big bar can’t clutter my “Soul Searcher” page when I expect only “relaxed and laid” back results for my vacation planning? Perhaps the CVB has a plan in place for this, but then they’re walking a fine line by telling one business that they do not qualify to market to the “Sandy Bottom Bunch.” This is another perfect example of why government entities and tax dollars should not be used to run business and marketing campaigns such as this one. This campaign, in a perfect world, would have been developed by one of the large accomodation providers or a coalition of private businesses such as the Greater PCB Chamber.

3. I am convinced that Jennifer Barbee and company will accurately measure online traffic through all the major channels, and probably help with offline measurement as well. With all this new data coming and being properly measured, don’t we all get to have a copy of that information? All bed tax dollars are spent equally and fairly for the benefit of the Bay County tourism industry, right? And since it’s run by the county, all citizens get access, right? And even tourists – who suffer the burden of the tax equally with the collectors – should get a peek since they helped fund it, right?

One last thing. The team did some research for this campaign in Atlanta. The professionals discovered what this hack in Lynn Haven has been telling you for 3 years: Atlanta does not know us, and the Atlantians who think they know us don’t know the real us. The fact that they’re already our number one market is irrelevant. Here’s something I’ll bet on in 2009 and 2010…there are many more potential visitors in Atlanta, Georgia (repeat visits included, of course) than there are the rest of the world. Call me crazy, but that’s just how it is when you add a little real world common sense to all the marketing research and data.

Now, with Real Fun Beach, I suggest all of you bed tax collectors jump on board with this idea, aim 5 easy hours up the road to Atlanta, use “Real Fun Beach” in your advertising, call your guests “Soggy Bottom Bunch” or “Dark Sharks” or whatever is being promoted on the web site and REALLY BUY INTO THIS THING TO MAKE IT WORK.

Whisper Dunes is Selling

Buyer confidence returns as sales, traffic builds at Whisper Dunes

Last April, Beazer Homes’ Whisper Dunes community was a buzz of construction activity in a challenging economy.

But the national homebuilder remained confident in the Panama City Beach market, and today claims the No. 1 spot in single family attached sales volume and is in seventh place overall in home sales for Panama City Beach in 2009, according to the MLS.

“While buyers were hesitant to do more than look last year, since January it’s like a big cloud suddenly was lifted,” said Matt Brandman, Beazer’s Northwest Florida Division president. “Buyers seem much more confident and have a positive state-of-mind. They are seriously looking with an intention to buy, rather than simply shaking the bushes.”

Whisper Dunes includes town homes from the $170’s and villas beginning at $219,990. The cabana, swimming pool and network of walking paths have been completed just in time for a Grand Opening April 4 that will showcase villas which have just been finished.

Brandman said traffic since the first of the year has been more than 50 percent, and close to 25 percent of the first phase has sold, mostly in the past 90 days. The price and completed amenities, as well as special incentives and eco-friendly construction that guarantees low monthly heating and air bills, have been the big draw for those who want to own a new home.

He said half of the buyers are local and the rest have come from the Northeast and Midwest.

“We’ve seen a lot of people who have been coming to PCB for years and years and are tired of renting for three or four months at a time,” he said. “First-time buyers particularly see this as a perfect storm, with the lowest mortgage interest rates on record, great pricing on solid brand new construction and the $8, 000 tax credit that will expire before the end of the year.”

Designed for both permanent and seasonal buyers, the first phase of Whisper Dunes will include 44 homes. Once complete, the community will have a mix of 156 town homes and 222 single family attached villas, ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

The April 4 Grand Opening celebration is expected to draw a big crowd because celebrity organization guru Monica Ricci will be on hand to offer complimentary advice on replacing chaos with order.

Considered a leader in her field, the author and frequent guest on HGTV’s Mission Organization has an impressive following on Twitter and Facebook, and a blog where she critiques new products as they come to the marketplace.

A little over two years ago, Beazer’s planning and design team began tapping her expertise to add space-saving storage and organizational elements to its homes nationwide, many of which are found in the builder’s model homes at Whisper Dunes.

You can meet Ricci, tour the model homes and enter to win prizes during the Grand Opening from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first 25 guests will receive a free copy of her book, Organize Your Office In No Time. Whisper Dunes is located at 101 Sand Oak Blvd. in PCB. Visit Beazer.com for more information.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-03-31

just signed up for twittervision, wondering how it works. #
Tootsies is packed out. And I was told this is nothing, wait til 11 #
Tootsies is packed out. I was told that this is nothing though. They said wait until 11 #
oh sweet success. everything is in order, in place and good! super stoked. #
maybe all my stuff is still on it? that would be nice. #
so far so good, fingers crossed. #
yay, I just got my mackbookpro back. lets see if it works. they were supposed to have fixed it! #
ooo, it’s raining hard now. getting dark outsite. #
Where nikki allen volleyball chick fainted on tv with wayne gentry – Photo: http://bkite.com/05Xj1 #
They’ll play its raining, but the wind is what mkes it tough – Photo: http://bkite.com/05XiB #
Trying to get my media pass. Funny how these outsiders come in here and lock down our area. #
Avp at sharkys. Winds probably 20mph gusts. Blowing me over. – Photo: http://bkite.com/05XhI #
On top of seahaven. Winds are scary up here, and its starting to rain. #
will tweet for food! #
But, getting ready to go up to GCCC for back end demo on new panama city beach web site. #
came home with my middle son – crazy bad weather, tornado warning and torrential rain. scary #
Let’s see what the board thinks. I think the creative was great. Huge improvement over last year. #
Realfunbeach would be the new url for the campign #
Ypartnership’ summer marketing campaign creative art is way better than last year. #
Peter yesawich is up. Talking about summer marketing plan. #
Huge social push. The site will update pcb’s network of social sites. #
Jbinc is going to create custom facebook apps for the new site. #
Eventually partners will be able to add their own videos. #
Partners will be able to add their own promos. And even specify it towards certain “personalities” #
Ooo, has partner login section for . . . Well, partners. #
Name recall using cookies. Displays name across top of page. Says welcome back *name* at the top. #
Amazingly simple content management system (cms). Very straightforward and easy to navigate. #
Front end of the visitpanamacitybeach.com website is amazing. Let’s look at the backend. Inovative cms #
Trip planner plots out where you’re going on maps mashup #
Entire site changes based on the anwers to the “fun quizes”. #
“Fun” is the theme. #
Uses boulean search. Searches index of everything on the site. Text, image tags, everything. Cool. #
heading to the TDC meeting to see the new VisitPanamaCityBeach web site from @JenniferBarbee #
@Sunjammers the flowrider? Miracle Strip Loop http://tinyurl.com/cgj3aq in reply to Sunjammers #
Just ordered the big daddy jack burger at bww #
I’m at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar – http://bkite.com/05TOc #
going to pier park for lunch with @beachaccesspcb #
http://twitpic.com/2gnfc – Breaking news! Indoor flowrider in panama city beach #
The pros are out practicing even though rain approaches #
Avp is getting cranked up behind sharkys. – Photo: http://bkite.com/05RIu #

Litter on our beach, pay $500 fine.

Last week the Beach City Council changed the way it enforces “beach litter” on Panama City Beach. Before, as long as the trash was picked up within 24 hours, it was ok. Now, property owners can be fined if any trash is found on their property – period- regardless of how long it has been there. The only check in place is that the decision has to be made with “common-sense.”

This new ordinance would require that property owners continuously police the beach to ensure that it is clean so as to prevent fines. The baseline penalty for each infraction is $250 per day.

I think that the spirit behind this decision is well intended, but I’m not so sure this is the way a clean beach campaign should be carried out. I was talking to a friend the other day, who is a beachfront property owner that was outraged at this decision. Her argument was that if beachgoers trash the beach in front of her condo building, but are not actually occupying a residence there, why should the condo community be held liable for their littering? I can see how this could be applicable to a larger beachfront resort or club when the majority of the trash left behind would be a result of their concerted efforts, but what about the little guy? If I own a beachfront house next to a public beach access, why should I have to pay a fine when someone else trashes the beach behind my home?

I think we’re close, but not there yet. I agree that someone needs to be held accountable for the trash, but I think I’m going to side with the property owners this time, even though I don’t always agree with what they are trying to do (talking more to the big clubs, etc.). I believe by telling the property owners that they need to keep their property clean regardless or they get fined, we are NOT moving in the direction of telling the offenders that they are in the wrong by putting the trash on the ground in the first place. By doing this, we are simply continuing to encourage visitors to our area to litter, enforcing the attitude, “Don’t worry, just throw your trash on the ground, someone will come by and pick it up later.”

Will fining the property owners work in deterring trash build-up on our beaches? I think so, but it sends the wrong message, and that’s the point. Plus, it is only a batch over a gaping hole, when in actuallity a whole new pair of jeans is needed. What’s the right message? We need to convey to visitors of our area that they can be on vacation from school or work, but not their civic responsibility of keeping the environment clean. They aren’t allowed to throw trash on the ground at home, and they shouldn’t be allowed to throw trash on the ground here.

So, what do I propose? I thought you’d never ask. I propose that we keep the same ordinance in place (sorry owners) but it needs to be more specific, plus we need to fine those that are littering our beaches with their waste.

For the property owners

If you are a club or resort
- You must have staff present and visible during activities cleaning and picking up trash where reasonable (obviously staff couldn’t be expected to be in the middle of 15,000 people at a concert)
- If staff is not present or some sort of cleanup process is not taking place, then the property owner is given a warning, then fined if the problem is not taken care of by the same time the next day.
- You are required to hand out a beach awareness flier that not only includes information about the flag system but also informs their guests of the penalties and fine associated with littering. This flyer would also inform them that there are xx number of trash receptacles on the beach for trash disposal and plastic bags available at no charge to them available at the front desk (provided by the city/tdc).
If you are a private property owner (beach front residence single family or attached or residence only condo development)
- If significant amount of trash is found behind residence, the owner is given a warning with the opportunity to verbally dispute. If an agreement was made that the trash was the result of someone other than the owner, then the owner is not held liable.

For the Visitors to our area

If you litter on the beach and are caught, you’ll be given a $500 fine. This includes cigarette butts. This rule would be enforced using common sense.
When you check in to a condo or hotel, you’ll be given a flier notifying you of this and you will have the option of taking plastic bags with you to the beach should you feel that walking back and forth from your post on the beach to the trash receptical for every beer can is not worth your time.
You’ll be expected to keep your area clean with trash in a plastic bag, not laying about to be cleaned up at the end of the day.
Obviously, this law would be enforced within reason. If there are 15,000 people at a concert behind Boardwalk, patrons couldn’t be expected to be walking around with plastic bags.

Does a $500 fine sound steep? Well, Don’t Mess with the Beach. TDC, you can have that slogan free of charge from me. The problem is that our visitors think they can just throw the trash on the ground and someone else will clean up after them. We have to change this message and make it clear that it is never ok to leave your garbage on the beach. This is our most valued asset, but no one would know it because the rules we have in place don’t reflect that.

As part of the marketing campaign that the TDC is putting on, we need to allocate a budget to put up billboards, print flyers, advertise on web sites (mine please) that we are serious about keeping our beach clean. We need to hire FloRida to sing a music video about putting trash in its place and play it on local TV stations for all to see that come to our area. And, lastly, and certainly most importantly, we need to give officers the ticketing authority to go out and enforce this. If we need to hire people that can do this, it will be well worth the effort. We will make money off this immediately, but in the long-term, that money will slowly go away, as people realize that we don’t play around with litterers.

The eventual effect will be that people, when they think of our area, will remember that we value our beach greatly and that littering here is out of the question. Some will be deterred by this and won’t come anymore, and we’re better off that way, as they are dirty and disrespectful. Others will tell everyone they know about the great beautiful place they visit every year called Panama City Beach and that it never has trash on its beaches. Our area will be virtually trash free because the burden of responsibility will not be too large as the burden will rest on those that are creating it on an individual basis.

thoughts?

Airport bringing in third-party for commercial and industrial development

This news is a little stale, but I needed to get this up.

The Airport Authority decided last week to bring in a third-party developer to manage the development of the 1,400 acres set aside for commercial and industrial uses. Authority members voted for Jones Lang LeSalle over four other companies including Hunt Development Group, St. Joe/Haskell, Taylor & Mathis and TranSystems.

The Jones Lang LeSalle website touts that they are a global company with over 750 locations worldwide, and they manage properties in countries ranging from India to New Zealand and everywhere in between. They will bring their expertise here not only to ensure that the area around the airport is developed correctly, but that it has the best opportunity to be occupied by quality businesses and/or services.

I think this is great as it, again, opens up our area to people and organizations that are outside our market and operate on a much larger scale.

11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Competition at Edgewater Beach Resort

Surf’s up! Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort, a property of The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, announced they will host the 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19, 2009. Edgewater was the accommodations host for this competition last year, and anticipation for this year’s event has grown so much that Edgewater is already booked to capacity. Because of this, The Resort Collection is offering special rates for Edgewater’s sister property Long Beach Resort.

Located less than a mile away from Edgewater along 1,300 feet of emerald water and sugar-white sand, Long Beach Resort offers luxurious suites, private amenities and breathtaking waterfront views. Guests can enjoy oversized balconies, the tropical Lagoon Pool, two all-weather tennis courts, seasonally heated Polynesian pools and whirlpool spas at a 15% discount, with rates starting at just $110 per night when they book online with the promotional code: SKIM.

“Skim Jam is always an exciting event at Edgewater. We are proud to be the accommodations sponsor for this fun-filled, family-friendly competition,” said Paul Wohlford, vice president of sales and marketing at The Resort Collection.

Skimboarding enthusiasts from near and far are getting ready to put on their gear, wax their boards and prepare for the most thrilling skimboarding competition of the year. Skim Jam has truly made its name in the record books and features the best pro and amateur skimboard talent in the world. This nationally recognized sporting competition, organized by Tony and Lib Johnson of Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop, offers free admission to observers. Net proceeds from contestants’ entry fees go to benefit the Boys & Girls Club at Frank Brown Park and Skim USA.

Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort is offering a weekend full of exciting events, beginning with Global Surf Industries and Surftech’s Surf/ Stand-up Paddleboard Demo and Regatta, plus a chance to meet the pros of skimboarding at pre-check-in on Friday, April 17. The annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam Contest will begin on Saturday, April 18 at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 4:00 p.m. A treasure hunt in the sand for kids 11 and under called Panama Jack’s Lil’ Sandiggers Treasure Hunt will be held at 1:00 p.m., along with other fun-filled family activities on the beach. Sunday’s events will begin with Church On The Beach, a non-denominational praise and worship service, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. before the Skim Jam Finals begin at 9:00 a.m. The day will culminate with an awards ceremony for the competition’s winners.