Amazing Raffle and Auction items!!! Celebrate The Arts

We have some super amazing prizes, raffle items and auction items at our Event this weekend. The tickets are only 10 dollars and you get 5 raffle tickets. But of course we will let you buy all you want…… so to tempt you here are some of our items. Come to Harley Davidson at 11 till 4:00 and enjoy a day of art and celebration. Proceeds go to Beach Care Services.

· Leather Jacket from Harley

· Kayak from Sunjammer Sports

· 4 Rounds of Golf at Hombre

· Shimmering Seas Jewelry

· Botox from Dr. Ward at Gulf Coast Dermatology ($500 value)

· Wine World Gift Basket

· Beachy Beach Basket (Beach Towels, wine, and other fun beach items) compliments Beachy Beach 30

· Cerulean Interiors Gift Basket

· Dinner for four cooked by Konrad!!!!!

· Dinner & Movie Package: Dinner for four at Panama Pizzaria + 4 Grand Theater movie tickets

· $600 Entertainment Package: 4 rounds of golf at Bay Point ($300 value); dinner at Runaway Bay ($100 value); Panhandle Helicopter ride ($200 value)

· Blue Heron Gift Basket

· Four (4) $25.00 certificates to Jasmine Thai

· Condo Vacation Stay from PCBLP.com (2 BR, 3 nights, off-season: Sept-Feb, last week April and first 2 weeks of May). Condos listed at http://www.pcblp.com

· $30 Gift Certificate at Beef O’Brady’s

· Dusty’s Gift Certificate

· 4 tickets to Gulf World

· Outback Steak House Gift Card

And were just getting started!!!

Celebrate the Arts is Bigger and Better this Year!

Save the Date for Saturday, Jan 25th!

Celebrate the Arts Local Artists Market, just got bigger and bolder thanks to Harley Davidson of Panama City Beach.

This year the event will also include a Celebrity Fashion Show and Live Auction, where local “celebrities” from Sheriff Frank McKeithen to Holly, Mandy and Miguel of Island 106 will not only be modeling the latest Harley fashions but will be auctioned off for a lunch date to benefit Beach Care Services.

In addition to the Fashion Show, with a $10 donation, participants can also enjoy a wine and cheese tasting.

The artists market portion of the event is free to the public, who can expect the same great wares from years before, with the addition of some new artists such as Roxanne Turnipseed who will be debuting her young girls’ bracelet line and Christon Anderson, whose works can be viewed from Main Street Gallery in Panama City to A.Wickey’s Gallery on 30A.

More About Celebrate the Arts

The event was born three years ago when business neighbors Karen Smith of Beachy Beach Real Estate and Roy Eure Jr., designer and owner of Cerulean Interiors fantasized about using art to help their community. Eure, an artist himself, wanted to show his support for the local artist community and give them an opportunity to share their work while Smith saw an opportunity to fund raise for charity. Artists would sell their wares and give a portion of the proceeds to Beach Care Services, a local charity that helps Panama City Beach locals in need.

This year’s event is expected to not only offer more, but more people will get an opportunity to take part due to Harley Davidson providing the event location. To stay tuned into the event, visit the Celebrate the Arts Facebook Page.

Information on how to pre-purchase Fashion Show and Wine Tasting tickets will be announced soon. Until then Save the Date for January 25th starting at 11 am.

Help your Montego Bay Friends!!!

As many of you know, there was an unfortunate fire that occurred at Montego Bay Restaurant on Thomas Drive. Not only did we lose a great restaurant in our community, but several families lost a source of income just one short week away from Christmas. Let’s get together as a community and help these families out!! This Sunday (December 22nd) from 6-9pm, Willy’s Live will be hosting live music with Kevin Jacobs and Terry Brock, as well as serving up some heavy Hors d’oeuvres. All we ask for is a a $10 donation at the door for entrance. All money raised at the door, and a portion of the bar sales will be donated to the families that were impacted by the fire at Montego Bay.

An Idea Camp Success Story with Gulf Coast Theatre Students

If you haven’t been to an IdeaCamp with the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce, you are missing out. These interactive events designed after “Bar Camps” offer a laid back way for community members to share, learn and network in a local restaurant. A handful of speakers share their experiences and “ideas”, hoping to connect and inspire with their audience. Connections are made and often cool things happen, as did with Gulf Coast Theatre Department.

A couple months back, Jason Hedden, Associate Professor of Theatre in the Division of Visual and Performing Arts at Gulf Coast State College shared about what his applied theatre class was up to, a concept he called “Rehearsal for Reality.”

The way his students would “rehearse for reality” would be to use theatre techniques such as improvisation in non-traditional settings as a training tool for sales, customer service and effective communication.

They started with other Gulf Coast State College students such as those in the fields of physical therapy and micro-biology.

The theatre students served as simulated patients to help train the students entering the medical field.

After these exercises proved successful, Hedden proposed to his fellow chamber members an opportunity to partner with them in their prospective businesses and several took him up on the offer.

A local retail establishment had the theatre students do some “secret shopping” and helped the shop owner improve the quality of experience for their customers.

In addition, after being ignited with Hedden’s enthusiasm at IdeaCamp, two Real Estate companies also signed up for the opportunity. Both Keller Williams Success Realty and Beachy Beach Real Estate had welcomed the students in their offices for simulated buyer and seller meetings.

This IdeaCamp success story is proof that cool things happen when people get together to share, learn and network in a no pressure setting. The next IdeaCamp is scheduled for Nov. 21st from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Panama City Beach. The event is FREE to Panama City Beach Chamber members and includes light eats, a free drink ticket for up to 50 participants and an opportunity to win door prizes like swag from local businesses or even a FREE ROUND TRIP flight from Southwest Airlines.

To register for the next IdeaCamp, click HERE or visit their FACEBOOK page to stay up to date with Ideacamp happenings.

If your business or organization is interested in the “Rehearsal for Reality” project with Gulf Coast Theatre students, contact Jason Hedden at jhedden@gulfcoast.edu or 850-769-1551 ext 2889

You can also catch the Gulf Coast Theatre Department live in action starting this upcoming Friday the 15th for their opening weekend of the hit musical Les Miserables. To buy tickets and to learn more about the theatre department, you can visit the website or stay tuned to their FACEBOOK page.

IdeaCamp this Thursday Night at the New ATC at Gulf Coast!

The wildly successful IdeaCamp held by the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce and made possible by Southwest Airlines is happening this Thursday evening, October 24th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Gulf Coast State College’s brand new Advanced Technology Center.

Community members are invited to Share, Learn and Network with other residents and business people in a relaxed environment. IdeaCamp attendees will enjoy light eats and a FREE drink ticket for the first 50 registrants that arrive. Please REGISTER HERE in order to secure your spot.

The event is FREE to PCB chamber members and $20 to non-members. Door prizes are awarded so make sure you bring your business card and look forward to a tour of the ATC at this IdeaCamp.

Gulf Coast Jam Fest starts Thursday

This weekend’s Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam has got a lineup that can’t be beat.

From country legends like Charlie Daniels, Trace Adkins and Toby Keith, to hot young performers like Darryl Worley, Eli Young Band, Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert – this event will have something for everyone.

Starting Thursday and going through Saturday, stages will open all over Panama City Beach: Boardwalk Beach Resort on Thomas Drive, Frank Brown Park on Back Beach Road, Edgewater Beach Resort on Front Beach Road, Club La Vela on Thomas Drive and the Harley-Davidson Stage in Seahaven.

Gates at most of the stages will open at 9 a.m., with performances going until 3 p.m. when the action on the main stage at Frank Brown Park will pick up. After hours performances will go into the early morning hours at Club La Vela.

Thursday night, Trace Adkins takes the main stage at Frank Brown Park from 9:15 to 10:45. Adkins debuted in 1995 with the album “Dreamin’ Out Loud” and has since released seven more original albums and two greatest hits compilations. He has had more than 20 Billboard country music chart hits including No. 1s: “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.”

He’s also been on “Hollywood Squares” and “The Celebrity Apprentice,” as well as authored an autobiography called “A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck” and appeared in the movie “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

Friday night’s main event gets devilish when The Charlie Daniels Band takes the stage at Frank Brown Park from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Daniels is best known for his No. 1 Country hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” but has been performing since the 1950s. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and the Musicians Hall of Fame Museum in 2009.

He’s followed by Brantley Gilbert from 9:15 to 10:45 p.m. Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide” was No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2011 and in 2012, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” also reached No. 1.

Saturday finishes off the event with Darryl Worley taking the main stage from 6 to 7 p.m. Worley has had 18 singles on Billboard Hot Country charts, including No. 1s “I Miss My Friend,” “Awful, Beautiful Life” and “Have You Forgotten?” which was No. 1 for seven weeks.

From 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Eli Young Band takes the main stage. The members of Eli Young Band, Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson, met as students at the University of North Texas. Their No. 1 hits include, “Crazy Girl” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

Then Toby Keith finishes it off from 9:15 to 10:45 p.m. A platinum-selling musician and country music writer, Keith hit the scene with the release of his 1993 album “Toby Keith.” He has an extraordinary list of hit singles including: “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” the most played country song of the 1990s; and “How Do You Like Me Now,” the No. 1 country song of 2000.
For complete information, tickets and scheduling go to http://www.gulfcoastjam.com.

Here’s the Lineup

Saturday

Main Stage at Frank Brown Park
4 p.m. – gates open
5-5:30 p.m. – PSO winner
6-7 p.m. – Darryl Worley
Darryl Worley has had 18 singles on Billboard Hot Country charts, including No. 1s “I Miss My Friend,” “Awful, Beautiful Life” and “Have You Forgotten?” which was No. 1 for seven weeks.
7:30-8:45 p.m. – Eli Young Band
The members of Eli Young Band, Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson, met as students at the University of North Texas. Their No. 1 hits include, “Crazy Girl” and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart.”

9:15-10:45 p.m. – Toby Keith
A platinum-selling musician and country music writer, Toby Keith hit the scene with the release of his 1993 album “Toby Keith.” He has an extraordinary list of hit singles including: “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” the most played country song of the 1990s; and “How Do You Like Me Now,” the No. 1 country song of 2000.

Team Cocktail Stage at Boardwalk
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Keelan Donovan
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Gimm-Icky
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Mockingbird Sun
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Black Jack Billy
1:45-3 p.m. – Craig Campbell
3-5 p.m. – DJ Hish

Landshark/Jim Beam Stage at Edgewater
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Slamabama
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Hoss Skelton
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Griffin Peterson
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Tyler Farr
1:45-3 p.m. – Colt Ford

Pepsi Experience Stage at Frank Brown Park
11-11:20 p.m. – after show TBA

Harley-Davidson Stage at Seahaven
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Grayson Rogers Band
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Anthony Orio
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Brothers Osborne
12:30-1:15 p.m. – The Cadillac Three
1:45-3 p.m. – Corey Smith

Late Night Stages at Club La Vela
1:30-2:30 a.m. – Mockingbird Sun
1:30-2:30 a.m. – Zachary Carter

Friday

Main Stage at Frank Brown Park
4 p.m. – gates open
6-7 p.m. – Blackberry Smoke
7:30-8:45 p.m. – The Charlie Daniels Band
Charlie Daniels is best known for his No. 1 Country hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” but has been performing since the 1950s. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008 and the Musicians Hall of Fame Museum in 2009.
9:15-10:45 p.m. – Brantley Gilbert
Brantley Gilbert’s “Country Must Be Country Wide” was No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs charts in 2011 and in 2012, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do” also reached No. 1.

Team Cocktail Stage at Boardwalk
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Garrett Miles
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Friends of Lola
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Danielle Peck
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Erik Dylan
1:45-3 p.m. – Tracy Lawrence
3-5 p.m. – DJ Hish

Landshark/Jim Beam Stage at Edgewater
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Ryan Kendrick
10:45-11:15 a.m. – Hannah Ellis
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Michael Ray
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Angie Johnson
1:45-3 p.m. – Chase Rice

Pepsi Experience Stage at Frank Brown Park
11-11:20 p.m. – Cole Taylor after show

Harley-Davidson Stage at Seahaven
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Sarabeth
10:45-11:15 a.m. – PSO 6th runner up
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Chris Weaver Band
12:30-1:15 p.m. – TBA
1:45-3 p.m. – Drake White and The Big Fire

Late Night Stages at Club La Vela
midnight-1 a.m. – Drake White and The Big Fire
midnight-1 a.m. – Zachary Carter
1:30-2:30 a.m. – Erik Dylan
1:30-2:30 a.m. – DNA

Thursday

Main Stage at Frank Brown Park
4 p.m. – gates open
6-7 p.m. – Tate Stevens
7:30-8:45 p.m. – Kip Moore
9:15-10:45 p.m. – Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins debuted in 1995 with the album “Dreamin’ Out Loud” and has since released seven more original albums and two greatest hits compilations. He has had more than 20 Billboard country music chart hits including No. 1s: “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.”
He’s also been on “Hollywood Squares” and “The Celebrity Apprentice,” as well as authored an autobiography called “A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Free-Thinking Roughneck” and appeared in the movie “The Lincoln Lawyer.”

Schedule

Team Cocktail Stage at Boardwalk
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Joe Bachman
10:45-11:15 a.m. – The Vespers
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – PSO 2nd runner up
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Katie Armiger
1:45-3 p.m. – Greg Bates
3-5 p.m. – DJ Hish

Landshark/Jim Beam Stage at Edgewater
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – Jordan Covington
10:45-11:15 a.m. – PSO 4th runner up
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – PSO 4th runner up
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Kirstie Lovelady
1:45-3 p.m. – Jerrod Niemann

Pepsi Experience Stage at Frank Brown Park
11-11:20 p.m. – Kirstie Lovelady’s Red Solo Cup After Party

Harley-Davidson Stage at Seahaven
9 a.m. – gates open
10-10:30 a.m. – County Line Road
10:45-11:15 a.m. – PSO 5th runner up
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – PSO 3rd runner up
12:30-1:15 p.m. – Natalie Stovall and The Drive
1:45-3 p.m. – Brett Eldredge

Late Night Stages at Club La Vela
midnight-1 a.m. – The Kicks
midnight-1 a.m. – Zachary Carter
1:30-2:30 a.m. – DNA
1:30-2:30 a.m. – Zachary Carter

Performers’ information was compiled from Wikipedia.
Performance Line-Up was gathered from http://www.gulfcoastjam.com/lineup/

Locals Get in Free to Daytime Concerts Today Only!

The first ever Gulf Coast Jam is hitting Panama City Beach today and organizers have announced that today is “Locals Appreciation Day” and will allow all area residents to attend daytime concerts at any of the stages today at no charge.

It is important to note that this perk is only for today, Thursday, September 26th and only for the daytime shows. You will need tickets for the shows starting this evening. Though are area expects several thousand out of town visitors for this event, there are still some Weekend Passes available.

For ticket information, call 888-512-7469 or visit their website at www.gulfcoastjam.com. General Admission Passes for the weekend are only $139 while supplies last. Panama City Beach country music fans can stay up to date with all the weekend has to offer by downloading the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam Mobile App on your smart phone or visiting their Facebook page.

Some of headliners on the line-up include: Trace Adkins on Thursday, Brantley Gilbert on Friday, and the one and only Toby Keith on Saturday. Stages will be at Frank Brown Park, Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort, Boardwalk Beach Resort and Seahaven Beach Resorts.

Beginner Friendly Tennis Round Robin in Watercolor

The renowned tennis resorts of Watercolor and Seaside, with the help of Tennis Pro Tracy Townsend is hosting the 3rd Annual Love All Round Robin Tennis Tournament to benefit local charity, Food for Thought Outreach on Saturday, September 21st. The Walton County based non-profit whose mission is to provide food and meals to local children in need, depends greatly on events like these to keep providing services.

The Love All Round Robin last year gained a lot of traction and in addition to raising thousands of dollars for FFT in just a matter of hours, helped bring awareness to an organization that not only serves Walton County, but also most recently expanded to help children in the Destin area.

Beachy Beach 30A Real Estate is the presenting sponsor again this year and will be helping facilitate this event with the help of 30A Tennis and will provide lunch and refreshments for players. Attendees will enjoy a friendly Round Robin competition with other tennis aficionados like themselves as well as participate in a Silent Auction which will include items from local vendors such as designer jewelry from Blessings in Disguise, luxury home goods from Summer House Lifestyle, and unique home and garden items from Clay 30A Nursery and more. Participants will also have a chance to purchase inaugural Food for Thought and Love All merchandise, with all profits going directly to the FFT mission.

Another exciting change for this year’s event, is that not only are all levels welcome to join in the game, both Men and Ladies can participate this year as there will be Men’s Doubles and Ladies’ Doubles. The event is beginner friendly, so novices need not be shy!

Registration is also quick and easy as players can go online to www.lovealltennis.net and pay with their credit card, and even elect to give an extra donation to Food for Thought, should they choose. For more information about the event, whether you want to play or you want to help out or donate an auction item, please email tennis@foodforthoughtfl.org or call 850-231-3060 and ask for Hilary or Britt.

In addition to getting a chance to play with tennis players like themselves, included in the cost of the admission ticket, players will enjoy lunch and swag from Beachy Beach 30A Real Estate as well as two raffle tickets for a chance to win a raffle prize from Cotton Land Title which has generously donated a Off Shore Fishing Trip with Salty Fish Coastal Outfitters. If you can not make the event and still want a a chance at the raffle prize, you can email jennifer@cottonlandtitle.com for more details.

You can also stay connected to this year’s event by visiting the Facebook Page for 30A Tennis, where you can share the event with friends and get a sneak peak at some of the auction items as the event nears.

To find out how you can help Food for Thought Outreach as they work to serve more schools in our area, visit their website at www.foodforthoughtfl.org or email them directly at info@foodforthoughtfl.org.

The First Time I Wanted to Die I Was 12 years Old

Forgive me for my bluntness, or don’t . But I knew if I made the subject line “National Suicide Prevention Week Sept 8 -13“, many of you would not click to read more. Not out of apathy, it just probably would not have caught your eye.

I chose that heading because I know that first step to getting rid of the stigma associated with suicide is to talk about it. The first time I wanted to die, I was in fact 12 years old. I was at church camp and I scavenged through pill bottles looking for something I could overdose on, luckily my knowledge of pharmacology as a sixth grader were very limited and I ended up having an asthma attack before I could get my hands on anything.

I wanted to end my own life many times over the years, especially as my mental health worsened. It is now twenty years later and thankfully I did not choose a permanent action for a temporary problem. I owe my being here to my mother who made sure I got the help I needed so I would be safe and not do myself any harm when I was in these dark periods of my life.

Thanks to a support system of family and friends and the help of mental health professionals, I am here today. But not everyone is so lucky, which is what this week is about. I know if I had not received professional help, I would not be alive today.

I offer these candid words because I know unless you know my history, you would never have pegged me as someone who struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts over the years.

I post happy pictures and optimistic quotes and love to laugh. I have above average intelligence, am attractive and physically skilled. I can sing, dance, and throw a great party when in a pinch. I generally “succeed” at just about any task I tackle. I say all these things because often after a suicide I hear people say things “But he was so talented or she was so smart….” as if to beg the question “What do they have to be sad about?”

That is precisely the point. Mental Illness is not rational nor does it discriminate which is why we need to take it more seriously. There is a local group in our community hoping we will join together and do that very thing.

SPARE which stands for Suicide, Prevention, Awareness, Response and Education, is a coalition of several local organizations and citizens who want to spread the word about suicide to prevent future suicides. They are hosting a walk this Saturday, September 14th at Gulf Coast State College, meeting at the Hwy 98 side at 8:30 am and beginning the walk over Hathaway Bridge at 9 am.

Everyone is welcome to join the walk and will get a T-shirt with a $10 dollar donation.

SPARE hopes to bring awareness to the public about suicide and its devastation on families, increase prevention and proper response to signs and symptoms, and educate about ways to help prevent Suicide. This walk is an effort to help SPARE accomplish their goals.

For more information, please call Christine Hurst at 850.522.1516 or email nwflspare@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/sparenwfl

If you or someone you know is in crisis, have them call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or locally the Life Management Crisis Center Hotline at 850-873-8573.

Dancing For Life is this Saturday!

If you have ever wanted to see Sheriff Frank McKeithen shake his tail feathers, you can this Saturday, August 10th at Arnold High Theatre.

McKeithen along with other law enforcement officers such as Police Chief Drew Whitman, Sergeant Emily Melton and Teresa Anglin will show off their best moves with professional dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios.

Event Attendees will also enjoy something that is quite a treat for our area, a dance performance from nationally acclaimed dancers who waived their performance fee so all event profits could go to Relay for Life. In addition to helping judge the event, World Mambo Champions Ronald and Katie Guillen as well as World Cabaret Champions Kimalee Piedad and Justin Guilmette will be performing.

Bay County law enforcement will go head to head with the Panama City Beach Police Department after spending twenty five hours to prepare a choreographed dance routine to be performed live with their professional partner. The winner will be decided by a combination of votes from judges, audience applause, and the number of “votes” or dollar donations each dance couple receives.

The donations will aid in Fred Astaire’s fundraising efforts for their Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society. Fred Astaire was moved to start this event five years ago when a beloved student, Dr. Joan Elzawahry passed away from cancer. It was then that the Fred Astaire of Panama City decided to use their gift of dance to help the fight against cancer and their efforts are gaining traction with each passing year.

Show organizer and Ballroom Dance Instructor Stephanie Van Wick reports that “I have been involved with this project since the beginning and have watched it grow. This year it has been especially amazing seeing the level of community involvement, it has inspired me to work harder to make our contributions count.”

You can start voting for your favorite couple now by making a donation as well as purchase tickets for the show by going to www.fredastairepanamacity.com or calling their studio in Panama City at 850-873-6269. General admission tickets are $25 per person but VIP tickets which include preferred seating and a cast party directly following the show at Boatyard restaurant are only $45.

Showtime is 6:30 pm at this Saturday, August 10th at Arnold High School Theatre on Alf Coleman Road in Panama City Beach.