Send Us Your Events and Deals – We'll Put The Word Out

Everyday on PCBDaily.com and SeePCB.com, I’ve receive loads of emails from tourists who want to know what’s happening when; big events, small giveaways–whatever, they want to know and we want to make sure they see what you’ve got going on Panama City Beach.

Let us help you get the word out. All you have to do is email your event to me, cebo@toocreative, or Jason jason@pcbdaily, and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you have something as big as a city-wide festival or something as small as a two-for-one special, drop us a line and we’ll publish that information on seepcb.com, on the facebook fan page, give it a few tweets and, if it’s a weekend event or special, we’ll run it in our new “Weekend Wednesday” column detailing what’s happening every weekend on Panama City Beach. Even if that event is months away, send it to us and we’ll place it on our online calendar for everyone to see. When the date nears, we’ll post an article. All you have to do is send us the info.

No event or special is too big or too small.

City Continues Steps in the Green Direction

If you had not known already, back in March the City of Panama City started a cooking oil recycling program as a part of its Green Initiative.

Basically, the programs works like this: anyone can stop by one of 9 Green Recycling Stations, look for the hard-to-miss neon green shelves, pick up an empty container from the top shelf and fill it with your used “Plant Based Cooking Oil”. All you have to do then is just bring the container back with your used oil and place it on the bottom shelf. You may also bring your used oil in the original container. The oil is collected by the city, which is then converted into Bio-Diesel Fuel and used in city vehicles reducing the city’s expense for diesel fuel. Already, Panama City has produced hundreds of gallons of bio-diesel fuel. This program benefits everyone by providing an easy way to dispose of used oil while keeping cooking oil out of sewer systems. And the bio-diesel fuel is much better for the environment as it significantly reduces engine exhaust emissions.

After seeing this program in action, my immediate reaction was, “what is the beach doing to conserve energy and move in the green direction?”

As of today, Panama City Beach has but two recycling drop off sites for the entire city; one at Pete Edwards field and another on the West End on San Vincent Street, both of which are surprisingly secluded. Such was the case with Panama City, although they have more recycle stations, but local businesses helped out, allowing the city to use their space for pickup and drop offs.

With as many restaurants as there are on Panama City Beach, having a system like this could greatly benefit the city. In fact, as city budget talks continue, having a bio-diesel fuel program could reduce some expenses at little cost.

If Panama City Beach increases the number of recycle drop offs, say by two, put them in less obscure places and provide incentives like a cooking oil recycling program, people would be more inclined to participate. I know I would.

Panama City Beach can become a much greener place, all that’s needed is a little initiative.

If you are interested in taking your used cooking oil, Panama City dropoff/pickup locations are:

Behind the Old Bay County Library next to City Hall.
Texaco Station Jenks & 23rd St Intersection
Texaco Station Harrison Ave & Hwy 231 Intersection
Texaco Station at the Curve on Thomas Dr. PC Beach
Texaco Station at 1138 Beck Ave in St. Andrews
College Texaco Station on 15th St near G.C.C.C
Bay County Health Department on 11th Street
Rege Helletts Auto Body 2014 W.23rd St
Panama Generator & Alternator on 11th St

City Budget Talks Looming

Panama City Beach officials will meet at city hall for a workshop aimed at framing the budget for 2010. While these are somewhat preliminary workshops, it is apparent that hard economic times, which have disturbed budgets everywhere, will muddle Panama City Beach’s budget as well.

As it stands, draft projections for the 2010 city budget forecast recreation expenditures to increase from $2,563,803 to $3,509,428, nearly $1 million. The new library, which broke ground back in April, will cause library expenditures to increase from $889,010 to $1,675,950. On top of that, law enforcement expenditures will increase from $5,301,011 to $5,888,759 more than $500,000. But the plus side to that is police officers will finally get the upgrade in patrol cars which were delayed last year. And as the economy continues to turn around as well as the completion of the new airport, Panama City Beach tourism should see a significant increase amplifying the need for well-equipped officers.

The city’s contingency fund, by the end of the 2010 fiscal year will take an estimated $2.2 million dip.

These continuing workshops should help city officials stamp out what will be a tough budget to manage.

Our Beach Erosion – 12 Answers to the Latest Project

As part of keeping our beaches the way they are, large and wide, the Tourist Development Council is making an investment that will help sustain the millions in beach renourishment spent in years past and help beautify our white sand. A huge aid in keeping the sand in place is vegetation and Lisa Armbruster with the Beach Renourishment efforts has a plan to plant our beach with fresh vegetation, and she’s starting this fall.

Q. How much of the beach will receive new vegetation?
A. Nearly all of the beach from Pinnacle Port to St. Andrews State Park (but not including the park) has vegetation proposed. Areas that do not have vegetation proposed are those areas undergoing apparent redevelopment, although if those property owners wish to have vegetation installed, they will be included.

Q. Approximately how many plants will be planted?
A. Approximately 1.5-1.7 million plants.

Q. Will there be plants other than sea oats planted?
A. The bid documents define that 70% of the vegetation will be sea oats, and 15% will be dune panic grass; the other three species suggested are beach elder (5%), sea purslane (5%), and beach morning glory (5%) – although, notably, the bid documents offer that the bidder may propose a substitute for one of the three smaller quantity plants.

Q. What is the expected cost of the entire project?
A. The cost estimate (and I stress estimate) is $1.5 to 2.0 million.

Q. Where will the funds for the project be appropriated from?
A. The funding will come from the Third Cent bed tax (dedicated beach nourishment fund). We also have a state match already secured in a grant, so approximately 28.5% will be paid by the state.

Q. What is the objective, meaning, are there areas that have historical erosion points that this will prevent or reduce the erosion?
A. The planting project will enhance the existing dune system, and in some areas, lack of existing dune system, and over time should help build up dunes along the landward portions of the Panama City Beach beaches; this serves as additional protection from storms to upland structures and infrastructure and complements the beach nourishment activities completed for the beaches.

Q. When will bids go out for the project?
A. End of July or early August.

Q. Who is expecting to bid, meaning, landscape architects? contractors?
A. The bidders should be capable of handling the work/size of the project.

Q. When is actual work expected to begin?
A. Until we get the bids in, including their proposed schedules, we can’t say for sure. It is expected to start by winter of this year and be complete by early spring.

Q. How long will the work take place?
A. Again, until we see proposed schedules, we don’t know. At this point, the bid documents give the bidder 165 days to complete the work from the time the contract is awarded. A portion of this time will likely be devoted to growing the plants, so folks wouldn’t see work being done on the beach, although the project would be moving forward.

Q. Will there be anything in place to keep beach goers off the new plants?
A. The project includes post and rope fencing along the seaward edge of the planting for the entire length of the project, and includes perpendicular post and rope fencing through the approximately 100 public accesses on the beach. Also, signs will be placed within the planting areas indicating that folks should keep out of the vegetation. This post and rope fencing also speaks a little to your question below regarding aesthetics.

Q. Will the plants be planted in a pattern to help be aesthetically pleasing?
A. The planting pattern has been designed by our coastal engineering firm, Coastal Planning & Engineering, based on the existing topography of the beach; the planting should blend in nicely with the existing beach and vegetation.

Record Crowds but No Blue Marlins at Bay Point Billfish Invitational

Drawing record numbers, the 2009 Bay Point Billfish Invitational brought everything except Big Blue herself. Last year, the tournament went to an all catch-and-release for Blue Marlin, changing the way it had always been done. This year, they went back to the good ‘ol method of what you catch, you bring in to weigh, except this year, nobody caught any Blue’s, just the blues.

“We had 67 boats registered this year,” said Tournament Director Scott Burt, “I would have liked more, but 67 is a great number considering the state of the economy. We have salesman, developers, hotel owners, I mean, what industry hasn’t been hit?”

As I was running around taking pictures and taking notes, it was commented to me that they may have to shut the gates down. At around 8:30, there were so many people in the “spectator” area that one couldn’t move through it, posing somewhat of a threat, actually. Not 20 minutes later, there was an announcement by Scott Rossman, the MC of the event as he was talking to all the people in TV land, live about the tourney, that if they were planning on coming out, that they wouldn’t be able to get in as they closed the gates to all guests. Scott Burt, Tournament Director, told me that this was only the third time in the history of the event that they had to do this.

Not exactly record-weight fish were brought in, but a few walked away with pocketfuls of cash, including Peter Bos of Destin, who brought in the winning Tuna weighing in at 119.5 lbs, netting him over $36,000. The evening was relatively uneventful literally until the last 20 minutes of weigh-in when the first and second place Tuna were brought in along with the first place Dolphin. At one point, the channel feeing into the marina was congested with millions of dollars worth of yachts ancey to get their weigh-on.

Seas were a little rougher than had been forecasted and many of the anglers had said that most of their trip at sea was accompanied by rain and cloudy weather. Was this the cause of not only fewer fish, but smaller fish as well? Were the giants looming too deep to find this year? Well at least one thing’s for certain, many records still remain unbroken.

Final numbers:

Invitational – Saturday July 18, 2009

Tuna

Peter Bos, Legendary – 119.5 lbs
Paul Murdoch, Team Charles 50 – 90.3 lbs
Jared Roberts, Mollie – 51.3 lbs

Wahoo

Grant Nicholson, Life is Good – 33 lbs
Peggy Ann Hudson, Iona Louise – 20.3 lbs

Dolphin

August Redding, Dream Wake II – 32.1 lbs
Grant Nicholson, Life is Good – 27.5 lbs
Mark Griffin, Britney Jean – 26.3 lbs

40/40 Shootout Tournament – Friday July 17, 2009

Wahoo

Monty Ferrell, Just One More – 29 lbs
Collins White, The Dirty 38 – 21.0 lbs
Rick Thompson, Frig It – 23.5 lbs

Tuna

Mark Crone, A-Loan Again – 56.1 lbs

Dolphin

Monty Ferrel, Just One More – 20.5 lbs
Jeremy Sprenkle, Wideopen – 24.0 lbs
Mark Datelle, Wideopen – 23.8 lbs

Al Hubbard Kids Fishing Experience

Team Osprey – 10.1
Team Cast-A-Way – 6.8
Team Adios – 5.1
Team Reel Fun – 7.7
Team Premier – 6.0
Team Cool Breeze – 4.0
Team B&T – 42.9
Team Boxfull – 4.2
Team Floridaze – 7.5
Team Fishbones – 8.7
Team JOE – 10.5
Team Southern Dawn – 4.7

Bay Point Invitational Tournament Schedule

Kicking off this week, the Bay Point Billfish Invitational Fishing Tournament is back and with it, the Weighed Blue Marlin category returns as the most popular category of the tournament for both anglers and spectators alike. With more than 10,000 spectators expected, vendors everywhere and boats everywhere, this year will truly be a year to remember.

The tournament has already kicked off Wednesday with a special trip for two combat-wounded U.S. service members for the second annual Soldier Salute. According to a press release today:

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Deane Messex and Sergeant Philip Gonzales were joined by local Bay Point resident and retired Army officer Dean Resch for a day of fishing in the Gulf on the 74’ Viking Game On courtesy of Galati Yacht Sales and the Washington, DC based Freedom Alliance.

The highlight of the fishing trip was when SSG Messex landed a 62.9-pound cobia! In the evening, the soldiers and their families enjoyed dining on their catch but the best part for the soldiers was knowing that their service and sacrifice is appreciated by grateful Americans.74-foot Viking Game One with veterans aboard.

Yachts have been arriving since yesterday for registration today with the official tournament kick-off to fire off tonight at 10 pm by the ceremonial Flare Gun start at the mouth of St. Andrews Pass.

You can keep an eye here for updates on the tournament, or you can mosey on over to www.baypointbillfish.com.

Tournament schedule below. Cast away!

Thursday July 16

4:00pm	Jet Flyover – Kicking Off the Opening of the 2009 Bay Point Invitational is a Jet Flyover from Tyndall Air Force Base!
5:30pm–8:00pm	Tournament Team Optional Entry continues in the foyer of the Bay Point Marriott.
5:00pm–11:00pm	Festival on the Docks! Boat Show, Tournament Village, Taste of the Town, Artist Colony, Great Music and Kid’s Play Area.
5:30pm–6:00pm	PRIVATE – Mandatory Captain’s Meeting (Invitational & 40/40) located at the Bay Point Marriott on the Grand Lagoon Deck. Shuttles provided from Bay Point Marina.
6:00pm–8:15pm	PRIVATE – Kick-Off Party in the Grand Lagoon Ballroom, Bay Point Marriott, sponsored by Ample Energy. Live music, great food and drink, silent auction and door prizes. Shuttles provided from Bay Point Marina.
5:30pm–9:00pm	Rock Lobster performs LIVE on the Clear Channel Entertainment Stage.
9:00pm–9:30pm	Opening Ceremonies. Presenting of the Arms and Colors by the J.R. Arnold Navy ROTC Honor Guards and sSinging of the Star Spangle Banner by Neysa Wilkins.
9:30pm	Traditional Firing of the Bay Point Cannon and our spectacular Boat Parade.
10:00pm	Official Start of the Tournament signaled by a Flare Gun start at the mouth of St. Andrews Pass.
10pm–11:30pm	Nashville’s Rising Star, Singer and Songwriter Joanna Smith performs LIVE on the Clear Channel Entertainment Stage.
11:30pm	Keep the Party going at Lime’s Bayside Grill and Restaurant on the Grand Lagoon!

Friday July 17th

11:30am–4:45pm	Al Hubbard Kids Fishing Experience
4:45pm–5:45pm	WEIGH-IN—KIDS Can’t Miss Weigh-Ins for the Al Hubbard Kids!
5:00pm	Meet Miss Billfish, Jessie Lee!
5:00pm–11:00pm	Festival on the Docks! Boat Show, Tournament Village, Taste of the Town, Artist Colony, Great Music and Kid’s Play Area.
6:00pm–11:00pm	PRIVATE – VIP/Sponsor Area opens adjacent to the Weigh-In area sponsored by MTU and Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison.
6:00pm–10:00pm	WEIGH-IN—40/40 Scales officially open and Weigh-Ins begin for the new 40/40 Shootout
6:00pm–11:00pm	WEIGH-IN—INVITATIONAL Weigh-Ins for the Billfish Invitational … and the possible return of Big Blue!
11:00pm–Closing	Keep the Party going at Lime’s Bayside Grill and Restaurant on the Grand Lagoon!

Saturday July 18th

5:00pm	Meet Miss Billfish, Jessie Lee!
5:00pm–11:00pm	Festival on the Docks! Boat Show, Tournament Village, Taste of the Town, Artist Colony, Great Music and Kid’s Play Area.
6:00pm–11:00pm	PRIVATE – VIP/Sponsor Area opens adjacent to the Weigh-In area sponsored by MTU and Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison.
6:00pm–10:00pm	THE BIG SHOW! Weigh-Ins begin for the Bay Point Invitational. Release Videos and instant results posted on the Big Screen
7:00pm–10:00pm	LIVE Telecast of the Weigh-Ins on WJHG MY 7 and LIVE Webcast on WJHG.com.
11:00pm–Closing	Keep the Party going at Lime’s Bayside Grill and Restaurant on the Grand Lagoon.

Bay County Leadership Class to Create Ecotourism Map

The 26th class of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Bay program has produced a BAY COUNTY ECOTOURISM MAP as its class project.

Each Leadership Bay Class is expected to develop a project that will benefit the Chamber and Bay County as part of the nine-month course curriculum. This year’s class chose to create an eco-tourism map that would not only highlight one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, but also provide an informative guide enabling locals and visitors alike to enjoy the wide range of eco-related natural areas and outdoor activities accessible in Bay County.

The map identifies and gives short descriptions of sites for Walking, Hiking, Biking, Equestrian, Boating, Canoeing, Fishing, Shelling, Bird Watching, Wildlife and Nature friendly parks. The map also includes Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates for easy navigation to the locations. Sections of the map also highlight some of the jewels of Bay County: Pine Log State Forest, St. Andrews State Park, Econfina Creek, Bay County Dive Sites and Tyndall Air Force Base. Contact the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, the Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce or the Tourist Development Council for your copy of the BAY COUNTY ECOTOURISM MAP.

The Leadership Bay Class of 2008-09 would like to thank the following sponsors for their commitment to the BAY COUNTY ECOTOURISM MAP: Tourist Development Council/CVB, Dan Rowe; Economic Development Alliance (Bay County Chamber of Commerce); Boyd Brothers; Gigli Enterprises; Diver’s Den; Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort; Bay Medical Center; Robert Cutler Photos; Ecological Resource Consultants; Angelo’s Steak Pit; Bikini Beach Resort Motel; SunJammer, Brad Stephens; St. Joe Company, Kevin Smith; Vision Bank; the Leadership Bay Steering Committee; and the Bay County and Panama City Beaches chambers of commerce.

Results Boot Camp Hosts Charity Boot Camp at Gallagher’s Gymnastics

Bay County residents now have an opportunity to support local school children as they shed some pounds.

On Saturday, July 18^th at 10 am, the new Results Boot Camp will be holding a charity fitness boot camp at Gallagher’s Gymnastics to raise awareness, money, and school supplies for the Panama City Rescue Mission’s Klothes for Kids program. You can attend the 45-minute training session by bringing a $10 cash donation or school supplies totaling $10 to the Gallagher’s Gymnastics facility, located at 7508 Holley Circle, less than 1 mile from the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City Beach. 100% of the donations will be given to the Klothes for Kids program.

Unlike military and gym-based group classes, the Results Bootcamp training program is held indoors on a spring-loaded and padded floor, which greatly reduces the chance of creating or aggravating joint injuries.

“After 14 years in the fitness and weight loss industry, we know what works. It takes intelligently designed programming, proper nutrition, and a lot of support to lose weight and get into great shape,” says Jeremy Nelms, who owns and operates the boot camp with his wife, Alissa. Alissa was once ranked in both singles and pairs figure skating and brings considerable expertise to the mental development, discipline and willpower necessary to get people back into their skinny clothes.

For more information about the charity boot camp, visit the Results Boot Camp website at http://www.ResultsBootCamp.com or call Jeremy Nelms at 850.890.6260.

Does Spring Break Make PCB a Less Attractive Destination?

The answer to the title question is a categorical YES, demonstrated in almost “Duh!” fashion by a Y Partnership study. The study, presented at Tuesday’s TDC meeting by Y Partnership representative Peter Yesawich, showed that 3 times as many respondents, in a study that included 1,025 adults, believed Spring Break makes Panama City Beach a less attractive destination. While this conclusion, and other conclusions in the study, did not come as a surprise to me or those in the meeting attendance, what became apparent was that the debates were more than just Spring Break banter, but a commentary on Panama City Beach’s identity.

Dan Rowe during the meeting made a poignant statement, “We’re at a critical juncture approaching Spring Break 2010. Exactly 60 days from the opening of the new airport.” The question no doubt on everyone’s mind was how we present ourselves to this new markets. Do we condemn our relationship with College Spring Break and bid for a new clientele or do we hit the new markets hard with Spring Break advertising to maximize the season? Obviously, the question does not inspire a simple answer, but at the core of it we have to really ask ourselves who we are and what is the identity we are trying to assume? Are we the party town of old, are we Destin 2.0 or are we something different entirely?

In some way, and maybe I’m the only one, I’ve always likened Destin and Panama City Beach to siblings; Destin being the older, more civilized sister and Panama City Beach the crazy, fun-loving little brother. For years, this analogy fit quite well. But with recent developments Panama City Beach has changed; it grew up, as little brothers must eventually do, and is turning out to be quite a winner.

The reality is although Panama City Beach has indeed “grown up” enough to even make its older sister jealous, PCB differs from every other destination because at its heart it’s still the fun-loving life of the party. This is a sentiment even acknowledged by Andy Phillips, who said “We have a party reputation, folks, that’s just who we are. People come here because we are fun. They can come here and put lawn chairs in the back of Cadillac Escalades and cruise the strip.”

Any conversation about Spring Break, concurrently, is a conversation about Panama City Beach’s identity. To ask, “do we market to the College Students or the Family Spring Breakers during Spring Season” is merely the small scope of a much broader issue: who and what are we?

Take Orlando for example. They are an amusement destination and have completely embraced it: even guest service agents are trained to smile big, laugh and be able to tell you at least one Mickey Mouse story. Now, if Orlando suddenly wanted to become a stodgier business-traveler destination, they’d be in trouble. Which may be the very reason why destinations like Panama City Beach have such a hard time shaking the party-town stigma. Maybe, on some level, that’s just what they are.

All that being said, the solution to Panama City Beach’s Spring Break/Identity conundrum does not have an easy answer. Panama City Beach, frankly, is somewhere in between party and civility; like a frat boy, turned charming businessman. At some point a balance can be found and I believe Mr. Marty McDaniel, TDC chairman, hit on the key idea. “We are going to have to learn to evolve.”

Evolution is the key word. How do we evolve and what are we evolving into? The evolution of Panama City Beach may not yet be visible, but by defining and accepting our current identity, I think, we have the opportunity to gingerly guide it in the direction we want.

The truth is, after all the talk, what will probably happen is no more funds will be allocated to Spring Break and instead moved into beach conservation efforts and perhaps a little into Family Spring Break marketing. And, frankly, that’s where the money should go. We need to keep our best asset as clean as possible and Family Spring Break may be the next big thing. Spring Breakers of the college type will always come to Panama City Beach whether you market to them or not. You may hate them or love them, but at least at the moment, they seem to know us a little better than we know ourselves.

The mixture of Family and College Spring Break will work. I’ve seen it and you’ve seen it. Every year in February and early March there is a mixture of Spring Breakers and Snowbirds. The Snowbirds take just enough rooms to keep the beach from being overrun by students, which in turn lessens the amount of incidents and overall beach filth. Somehow, both groups are able to seamlessly coexist. The college breakers are at the clubs with no worries, the Snowbirds are entertained by the crazy antics and perhaps even a little nostalgia and everyone’s happy; a little bit of responsibility and a little bit of fun. I suppose that is the inevitable destination of our evolution, question is how to get there unscathed.

On Aug. 19 the TDC will gather again to hold a community forum for PCB residents to express their opinion on the matter before any final decisions are made.

Recap: Panama City Beach's Best 4th of July Ever

The title is obviously difficult to quantify, but as a lifelong resident of our great city, I can say without a doubt, that I’ve not experienced a better 4^th of July on this beach before.

All week long you sensed the buzz. On Thursday afternoon you felt it. By Friday morning rumblings became a full-on stampede, all leading up to a Saturday 4^th of July that, at least in one writer’s opinion, was Panama City Beach’s greatest Independence Day event ever.

It was a hot, very hot, but beautiful weekend perfect for beach lovers who showed up in droves. From end to end, Panama City Beach was packed with tourists. Hotels and Condos were sold out, restaurants stayed on waits, attractions were packed to the door and if you were brave enough to step foot into Walmart, you had no doubts as to the overwhelming surge of business.

The Veteran’s Memorial was rededicated at Pier Park where several Vets saluted the flag and prayed for soldiers currently protecting our country. Throughout the day there were concerts, contests and all sorts of food and fun to be had.

At sunset, the real show began. From Grand Lagoon down to Pier Park, Panama City Beach tourists and locals were witnesses to a stunning celebration. Night skies came to life, and Pier Park put on one of the most amazing fireworks displays I’ve ever seen. It was awesome.

I hope that this weekend’s events were not just benchmarks for future events, but a precursor to what Panama City Beach can expect in the years to come.