Press Releases
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Press Releases
Fee Free Week for National Parks Week
Free Entry to Gulf Islands National Seashore During National Parks Week
Date: April 15, 2010
Contact: Gail Bishop, 850-934-2618
Contact: Cathy Losher, 850-934-2606
In celebration of National Parks Week, Gulf Islands National Seashore will join with other National Park Service (NPS) sites around the country and offer fee-free entry into the park beginning this weekend.
The fee-free week, including the weekends before and after, was announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar who said last month, “We are rolling out the red carpet and inviting everyone to visit a national park and help celebrate National Park Week. Parks are fun and affordable destinations and great places to engage in healthy, outdoor activities, whether for a few hours or a few days.”
At Gulf Islands National Seashore, all entrance fees will be waived for visitors to the park from Saturday April 17 through Sunday April 25. At this time of the year, entrance fees are collected at two of the park’s units: Fort Pickens and Perdido Key. Loop A of Fort Pickens Campground is currently open with full RV hook-ups and restroom facilities. The remainder of the campground is expected to reopen next month, upon completion of a sewer construction project. Visitors may check campsite availability and make reservations by visiting www.recreation.gov or by phoning 877-444-6777. Campsite rates are $20 per night, or $10 for seniors. Weekend lifeguard coverage will be provided at Langdon Beach beginning this weekend and at Johnson Beach beginning the following weekend. Full daily coverage shall begin next month. Picnic pavilions are also currently available for use and reservation at Opal Beach and Johnson Beach.
Acting Park Superintendent Nina Kelson states, “This is such a good opportunity to reconnect with all the natural and historic features of the national seashore as well as its ranger led programs.” Park entrance stations will have Senior and Annual Passes available for those who wish to purchase them. Kelson points out that faster moving lines makes this an excellent time to acquire annual passes for those visitors wanting to take advantage of what the park offers year-round. For a full description of the facilities and programs currently available, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/guis or contact the Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center at 850-934-2600.
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2010 Fun Fest Poster Contest
March 3, 2010 Cash Prize for Festival Poster Contest The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking artists to design the official poster for the 26th Anniversary of the Fun Fest on Navarre Beach. The winning artist will receive a $300 cash award and a complimentary high-visibility artist booth at the event, Friday and Saturday, May 14 and 15, 2010. Artists are encouraged to submit their original artwork for consideration no later than April 1, 2010 in order to be displayed in the Visitor’s Information Center for voting by the public. The first 10 entrants will receive complimentary event T-shirts and posters, with the winning design being reproduced into limited edition, collector’s posters sold during the event. Entries need to be appropriate for replication on posters, t-shirts and other FunFest promotional items. Submissions should be thematically related to the FunFest and/or Navarre Beach and must include minimal required elements to be eligible for consideration. No more than three designs per artist maybe submitted. Fun Fest celebrates its 26th year with live music, entertainment, 5k Run and Walk, food vendors, the infamous Corporate Challenge, more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, and a children’s area throughout the weekend. For more information on submission requirements, or other Fun Fest registration information, log on to www.navarrechamber.com and click on “Special Events” or contact the Chamber at 939-3267. TRACEY WILLIAMS (850)939-3267
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*Navarre** **Beach** Lifeguard Season Begins March 12 *
- Learn to swim.
- Never swim alone.
- Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present.
- Don’t rely on flotation devices, such as rafts; you may lose them in the water.
- Alcohol and swimming don’t mix.
- Protect your head, neck, and spine- don’t dive into unfamiliar waters- feet first, first time!
- Don’t swim at dawn, dusk or at night as these times are when sharks feed.
- During thunderstorms move inside to a building or vehicle.
- If you are in trouble, call or wave for help.
- Scuba dive only if trained and certified, and within the limits of your training.
- No glass containers at the beach. Broken glass and bare feet don’t mix.
- No beach fires- fire residue and superheated sand can severely burn bare feet.
- Report hazardous conditions to the Navarre Beach Office at (850)936-6110.
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10th Annual Seagrass Awareness Celebration
March 27, 2010 (10:00 am until 2:00 pm)
Shoreline Park South, Gulf Breeze (Across from the Recreation center on Shoreline Drive)
Agencies, organizations, artists and vendors are invited to provide a display or activity for the 10th annual Seagrass Awareness Celebration. Enjoy this event by letting the community know about your group or organization! Please contact Debbie or Chris if you are interested in participating in this event!!!
Seagrass Awareness is an annual family orientated event held at Shoreline Park South in Gulf Breeze, Florida. This year activities will include live marine life in the touch tanks, “eat a seagrass bed,” seining, games, fishing, arts and crafts, boating safety, fishing, kayaking and more!
Bring a friend, lunch, water, sunscreen, hat, water shoes, lawn chairs and join us for a fun filled day!
Participating organizations include: The Environmental Education Coordination Team, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Florida Sea Grant Extension, Florida Master Naturalists, Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, Ecosystem Restoration; Resource Rangers, Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, Florida Diamondback Terrapin Working Group and more!
March is Seagrass Awareness Month in Florida!
Seagrasses are a valuable part of the marine environment and support a thriving million-dollar fishery. Most commercial and recreationally important fish, crabs and shrimp spend some time of their lives in seagrass beds. These grass beds help to filter toxins from the water, contribute to water clarity by trapping suspended sediments, provide food and shelter for juvenile fish, shrimp and crabs, provide food for manatees, green sea turtles, and migratory birds depend on seagrass beds for foraging needs! Threats to these important resources include: degraded water quality, dredge and fill projects and physical impacts from boat propellers.
In our area, the “true” marine seagrass species include: shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum), widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima), manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme), and some species of Halophia. In the upper parts of the bays, another ecologically important submerged aquatic plant is tape grass, (Vallisneria americana).
The term submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is a general term that includes grasses found submerged in salt, brackish and fresh water environments.
“Seagrass …..it’s alive” is the motto for this initiative. Get involved, and help spread the word about seagrasses this month! Be creative and provide educational opportunities for your friends, neighbors, fisher-people, boaters and those concerned about water quality.
Extension Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin.
Contact:
Chris Verlinde 623-3868 chrismv@ufl.edu
Deborah Holland, 983-5359 Debbie.Holland@dep.state.fl.us
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22nd Annual Riverwalk Arts Festival
*Call to Artists, Entertainers, Performers, Historic & Ethnic Cultural Groups, Vendors, Volunteers and Art/Culture Supporters*
*MILTON –* The Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, Inc. (SRACF) in its mission to vitalize, promote and enhance art and culture in our county announces its general call to all artists, entertainers, performers, historic and ethnic cultural groups, vendors and volunteers who would like to participate in the 22nd RIVERWALK ARTS FESTIVAL scheduled to be held on the weekend of May 22 - 23, 2010 along the banks of the Blackwater River in historic downtown Milton’s Riverwalk Park. This event draws thousands to the area for a weekend of delight that embraces the sights, sounds and aromas of an old time art festival in the best Southern tradition!
After 21 years of artists fighting the March winds and braving the chill, the new management team of this year's Riverwalk Arts Festival decided to move the date to May 22nd & 23rd. We listened and observed needs and have streamlined artists' packet handling for setup and logistics. Great new
plans are in action for increased media coverage and out of state advertisement to draw greater crowds for everyone's benefit. We are committed to make the 2010 Riverwalk Arts Festival a well organized, fun filled, beautiful event. Many artists, cultural performers and entertainers
are already submitting their applications. Please join us. We'd love to have you!
The 22nd RIVERWALK ARTS FESTIVAL will celebrate arts and culture heritage with spirit and flair on Sat. May 22nd and Sun. May 23rd, 2010 in historic downtown Milton’s Blackwater Riverwalk Park. Artists, musician, dancers and
story-tellers will gather to share their talents and you are cordially invited to join them! A juried Fine Art Show will feature classic categories competing for cash prizes, while the Traditional Folk Art Exhibits will offer demonstrations and sales of heritage art forms. We welcome history buffs to visit Civil War encampments and the Blackwater Pirates lair, as
well as walking tours of local historic districts. The Milton 1909 L&N Depot Museum Complex, celebrating its 101st anniversary, offers one of Northwest Florida’s finest collection of railroad artifacts and rolling stock, not to
mention a model railroad Gift Shop – only minutes from downtown.
*Application forms are now available on our websites* www.santarosaarts.org and www.sracf.org (simply click on “Riverwalk Arts Festival” on the navigation bars to go directly to http://sracf.org/RiverwalkArtsFestival.html) or are
also available by calling (850) 393-0121, FAX (850) 324-2836. Space is limited so please pass this message on to friends and make a speedy response. In addition to visual art, we invite writers, musicians, dancers, actors, story-tellers and others to join us. If you are part of an
historical or ethnic cultural group that would like to perform or exhibit, please let us know. The “CONTACT US” page on the website is for your convenience and is checked daily.
The City of Milton, Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, Navy League, Santa Rosa County Council and Tourism Board (TDC) all join in welcoming you to celebrate the 22nd Annual Riverwalk Arts Festival, May 22nd and 23rd,
2010 in historic downtown Milton, Florida.
*Contact: Ann Scott (Festival Chairman) at 393-0121 or Margie Baldwin (cultural groups and stage performers) at (850) 983-9601.*
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Interactive trails map: Let your fingers do the walking- then your feet
Northwest Florida Unveils Online Interactive Trail Map. Outdoor Enthusiasts Invited to Let Their Fingers Do the Walking.
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