I arrived back in town at the tail end of the 2008 Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament; just in time for the final weigh-ins tonight. No records were broken, but some big fish came in nonetheless.
Click the more link for pictures and the final results from tonight’s weigh-in.
Continue reading “2008 Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament Results”
By: Juliann Talkington
Juliann Talkington is the administrator of the Panama City Renaissance School. Reach her on 850-215-8712 or jtalkington@pcrschool.org.
With the state of the economy in Bay County, we are all searching for ways to improve conditions. People talk wistfully about the new airport and what it will do for the area. The champions speak about more tourists, more permanent residents and high-quality employment opportunities.
With rising gas prices and a nationwide recession, many people are starting to wonder how realistic these projections might be. Even though it would be nice to think Bay County is insulated from tough economic conditions elsewhere, it is probably unrealistic. Like other tourist-based economies, Bay County suffers when outsiders don’t have extra money to take vacations.
Continue reading “Better education necessary to diversify Bay County economy”
Well, I had heard that it wasn’t doing that great, but I didn’t know that it was possibly being shut down. What are they doing to be sure the local tourists know about this? Is our local TDC helping? Has the circus asked for help? I see their signs in all the windows, but are they providing enough information to draw people over to the circus? Are the show times even on the flyers?
If something isn’t doing good, it either isn’t being accepted or whoever is marketing it is not doing their job. I’m sorry to be critical at this sensitive time, but we’ve all been yelling for more stuff to do here and now one of the things we got is threatening to leave. Is everything being done to ensure its success?
Below is the press release put out by the Beaches Chamber:
Panama City Beach, July 7, 2008 – Last Thursday night I took my young son to the FSU Flying High Circus at Frank Brown Park. The show was incredible and we had a great time, but as I drove home a déjà-vu sensation hit me, and I remembered the last evening of the Miracle Strip Amusement Park – in late summer 2004. That was an enchanted evening, full of rides, laughter, people…but it was also sad. There was the sense of the passing of time…. nostalgic, sweet but heartrending. After that night it would close down forever. My own family, who has lived in PCB for-almost ever, was with me and introduced me to Buddy Wilkes that night. I couldn’t have known what he must have been feeling. I had only just moved here weeks earlier and had not yet acclimated to the culture, the community, or the multitude of childhood memories existing within the walls of that amusement park.
AGENDA
COMBINED BOARD MEETING
Bay County Tourist Development Council
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.
Panama City Beach
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 9:00 a.m. Council Room, PCB City Hall
I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
A. Invocation
B. Pledge of Allegiance
Almost three weeks into running, FSU’s Circus by the Sea at Frank Brown Park on Panama City Beach is running smoothly and having success.
I was out there today and they were heavy into circus camp with over 20 kids. Nate Stapp, Associate Director of the Flying Circus said that they have a capacity of around 60 kids.
They changed the ticket prices around a little. I was told that locals can get tickets for $15-adults and $10-kids and that it was spelled out on the website, but I couldn’t find anything that said that. On the website, it says that there is an online discount, $18-adults and $10-kids. Close enough.
PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL (July 1, 2008) – It is with much regret the Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce accepted the resignation of Debi Knight, President of the Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Knight has served as President for sixteen years and has been instrumental in building the Chamber of Commerce membership to over 950 members, as well as the recent relocation of the chamber office to the new Chamber Centre on Beckrich Road. Her energy and enthusiasm will be missed.
The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will work closely with an Executive Search Committee to recruit candidates for this position.
In moving forward, The Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce will continue to provide the same excellent standard of service to its membership and this great community.
During the transition and search for a new President, all inquiries should be directed to Beth Oltman, Director of Operations at 850-235-1159 or Al McCambry, Chairman of the Greater Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at 850-215-4842.
Be sure to come to Pier Park for the July 4th festivities.
Every year the fourth of July festivities at Pier Park on Panama City Beach goes out with a bang, literally. They will be shooting the fireworks from the beach, and the party will be at Aaron Bessant Park.
Starting at 5 and going to 9:30, there will be performances by Herd of Turtles and Stillhouse, and Veterans Memorial Rededication, and a Patriotic Pet Parade and Golf Card Decorating Contest.
Be there or be square.
The CVB Board voted 5-0 on 7/1/08 to approve a request for $60,000.00 in funding for the Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine and Music Festival to be held October 10-12, 2008 (Columbus Day Weekend) at Frank Brown Park. Absent were Mayor Oberst, Yonnie Patronis, Rick Russell, and Buddy Wilkes. Mike Nelson voted via telephone. The festival will be promoted by a group including Jack Bishop, C.J. Ryan, and Steve Pizza. All board members involved in the discussion seemed very supportive of the festival and funding request.
Although the festival schedule is still tentative, the promoters currently anticipate the following festival elements:
Continue reading “TDC/CVB Approves $60,000 October Festival Funding”
Well, the Panama City Beach City Council decided that we need lifeguards, but they don’t know how they will pay for it yet.
Mike Hudson, a resident of Panama City Beach, started a beach rescue service – Bay Medical Center EMS Surf Rescue Unit. His team put together a lifeguard program proposal with was the topic of discussion Thursday’s meeting.
After discussion is was decided that they would push through an already approved budget item to hire lifeguards at the City Pier. They also decided that they will put pressure on Bay County for them to follow suit with similar lifeguard placement actions. As part of discussion it was decided that they would update the existing ordinances that require beach service vendors to be lifeguard trained and update equipment that may be more suitable for current lifeguard needs.
Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa’s Award-Winning Culinary Team Led by World-Class Chef Julio Lucero
The Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa Hotel in Panama City Beach, Florida is not only the home to acclaimed Chef Julio Lucero, but home to an award winning culinary team as well.
As a native of Sonora, Mexico, Chef Julio Lucero received a degree in industrial engineering before looking to expand his horizons by emigrated to the United States in 1986, where he decided to pursue his passion of the culinary arts. Chef Lucero perfected his craft by working in every area of kitchen operations.
Chef Lucero’s background as a chef includes assisting in opening and operating the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Palm Springs. After ten years with Renaissance, Chef Lucero took on the next challenge to become the Executive Sous Chef of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. In 2003 he was promoted to an Executive Chef position to open the new Seville Golf and Country Club, in Gilbert, Arizona, where he continued to build his knowledge of various cuisines. In 2007 Chef Lucero returned to the Emerald Coast along with his wife and two sons to become the Executive Chef at the Marriott Bay Point Golf Resort and Spa.
Continue reading “Panama City Beach, FL Resort Wins Culinary Award”
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