Miss Destin 2020!
Congratulations to Miss Destin 2020, Lauren Adams!! She was crowned by Brooke O’Keefe, Miss Destin 2019, during the annual pageant in July, presented by the Destin Fishing Rodeo organization. Lauren recently graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School and is the daughter of Billy and Christie Adams. Lauren has lived in Destin her entire life and is currently employed at The Louisiana Lagniappe in Destin as well as Aloha WaterSports.
Prior to being crowned, Lauren said, “…Being named Miss Destin has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I love this town and would be so proud to represent our community.”
Other winners of the evening were:
Kaylie Sparks — 1st runner up; Khloe Johnson Silver — 2nd runner up.
Marlee Tobik won the Peyton LoCicero Humanitarian Service Award. Anna Knowles won the Most Photogenic Award. Marlee Tobik won the Nancy Cheney Miss Congeniality Award. Fashion Show host Heidi LoCicero presented summer fashions from Dressing Room Boutique and Frill Seekers Gifts…personalized fabulous finds! Shoreline Church provided the perfect venue for the pageant and a team of folks to help.
Photo by Max Impact Photography.
2020 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
The 2020 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, Aug. 7 and ends Sun., Aug. 9.
Qualifying items will be exempt from tax, including certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and the first $1,000 of the sales price of personal computers and certain computer-related accessories purchased for noncommercial home or personal use. For more information and a list of qualifying items, visit revenuelaw.floridarevenue.com.
ECCAC Announces 2020/2021 Board of Directors
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) has a new 2020/2021 board of directors and officers: The Walton County Sheriff Office’s (WCSO) Major Audie Rowell is President; Janet Parker is Vice President; and Alan Wood is Treasurer. Other members include immediate past president Bill Fletcher, along with Tammy Pierce, Eric Aden, Todd Bierbaum, Shaun Eubanks, Velia Lala, Renee Pellegrino, Artie Rodriguez, Tom Saffel, Michael Thompson, Annie Stutts and Demetrius Fuller-Music & Artistic Director of Sinfonia Gulf Coast.
In addition, Chelsea Fox was recently promoted to ECCAC Development Manager and Jasie Landeros has joined the Prevention Department as Outreach Program Manager. Prior to her promotion, Chelsea handled and coordinated many of ECCAC’s events and volunteers. Now, in addition to overseeing the non-profit organization’s Young Ambassador board, she will also direct the development, identification, research, cultivation, management and solicitation of major gift prospects and donors, oversee fundraising events and manage ECCAC’s marketing program. As the Outreach Program Manager, Landeros and her team are actively involved in area schools teaching programs to help educate children with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, digital dangers, and all types of abuse. In addition to providing children and teenagers with these resources, ECCAC also works with adults to provide mandated reporter training, smart device training, Drug Endangered Children training, and Darkness to Light training. In ECCAC’s 20-year history, over 15,000 children have received more than 170,000 services at no cost. Visit www.eccac.org or call 850-833-9237. If abuse is suspected, call the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.
FPRA NWFL Coast Chapter Votes in 2020-21 Board
Congratulations to the new Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Board: President- Shaye Smith; President-Elect- Jenni Brunson; Immediate Past President- Stephanie Pettis, APR, CPRC; Secretary- Denise Song; VP of Finance- Lori Smith; Partnerships Chair- Bob Pinard; VP of Professional Development- Chelsea Fox; Professional Development Chair- Maggie White; Northwest Florida Communications Summit Chair- Bobby Parker; VP of Communications- Corey Dobridnia; Digital Media Chair- Cali Hlavac; Design Chair- Danica Phillips; VP of Student Services- Whitney Lee; VP of Membership- Jenni Brunson; VP of Accreditation- Stephanie Pettis, APR, CPRC; VP of Events- Kelly Curry; and VP of Image Awards- Hillaree Durso.
Destin Library to Offer Curbside Service
The Destin Library is currently closed to the public, but is offering curbside service Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff will be available via phone to answer questions, provide assistance, and check out materials for curbside pickup. As an added feature, parents can request a “grab bag” of materials for children and teens to continue to participate in the library’s Summer Reading Club. Patrons can request materials online at the library’s website or by phone at 850-837-8572.
Free Face Masks at the Destin Library
In coordination with the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative, and the Okaloosa County Health Department, the Destin Library is giving away free face masks. The masks are 100% cotton with polyester elastic and are machine washable and dryable. One pack of five masks per family are available during the library’s operating hours. Masks are also available at all other Okaloosa County Libraries. Call 850-837-8572 for more information.
Want to Become a Community Leader?
The Destin Chamber is now taking applications for Destin Forward, a community education and leadership program. Destin Forward offers and in-depth learning experience of our community. Up to 25 business professionals will be accepted into the program which begins in late August and ends with graduation in May. The program is designed to provide a hands-on learning experience into the issues facing the Destin community on a day-to-day basis. Participants will learn from experts in many different fields, including the environment, boat safety, tourism promotion and government affairs. For more information and application, visit DestinChamber.com.
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