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The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College in partnership with Walton County Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Walton County Tourist Development Council, will hold an inaugural kayak/paddleboard launch to promote the public recreational use of the newly renovated Kellogg Bayfront Park in Santa Rosa Beach. Following a leisurely paddle around the Choctawhatchee Bay, the afternoon of outdoor activities will continue with the first installment of fishing Eco-Adventures at Kellogg Park, The Bayside Fishing Clinic.

Last week Dad and I came down to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to do more work for the upcoming Coastal Dune Lakes project. We accomplished a lot over the four days that we were down.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman will bring his distinctive Southern Rock sound to the Green at Gulf Place on Scenic Highway 30A in Santa Rosa Beach for a special Memorial Week concert on Wednesday, May 28.

In honor of Memorial Day, Gulf Place will recognize the nation’s military heroes, and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Special Operation Warrior Foundation, serving the families of fallen and wounded special operations forces.

Sunday Brunch in SoWal is an ode to our Southern roots. We love to enjoy a laid back, lazy day while spending quality time with those we love. There’s nothing better sharing a great meal with family and friends, sipping on cool drinks, and dancing your way into a new week. That’s why we’re bringing you this SoWal List full of insider tips on where to enjoy Sunday Brunch.

Art, architecture and technology converges and merges when more than two dozen dynamic digital works by artists from all corners of the globe set Alys Beach aglow in early  June. Creative and mesmerizing art covers the walls, courtyards and pedestrian pathways throughout the town every June.

Watersound Origins will host the Great American Picnic on June 8 from 4 - 8 p.m. You and your family can enjoy a day of fun at Wind Garden Park complete with good tunes, delicious eats, kid-friendly activities, and a fireworks show. And it's all for a good cause.

Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation’s (DCWAF) 9th Annual Destin Charity Wine Auction raised a record breaking $2,035,000 for children in need in Northwest Florida. This marks a 57 percent increase from last year’s results of $1.3 million, reaffirming the foundation’s namesake event as the top charity fundraising event in Northwest Florida, and a “Top 10 Charity Wine Auction in the U.S.” recognized by Wine Spectator Magazine.

Laurie Hood received the Daily Point of Light Award from President George H. W. Bush for going above and beyond to rescue abused, neglected, and homeless animals through her non-profit shelter, Alaqua Animal Refuge.

Laurie feels honored to be chosen as a Daily Point of Light recipient. Since 2007, she has worked to create a safe haven for animals in need, and has saved almost 10,000 animals in the process. 

The real estate report for the first quarter of 2014 in Walton County, Florida is remarkable and clearly shows the health of the market. Most of the statistics and graphs in the report go back to 1st quarter 2010 and the trends are clear. The Walton County Real Estate Report for Quarter 1 2014 is produced by Florida REALTORS® and provided by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors® (ECAR).

Click here to open the Quarter 1 2014 Walton County Real Estate Report in pdf format.

Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach turns 100 this year. A centennial celebration will be held at 10 a.m. on May 26, 2014 with the unveiling of a marker at a Memorial Day observance with the designation of the site as a historical landmark by the State of Florida. The public is invited to attend the ceremony at the cemetery located on State Road 393 south. 

The Memorial Day event will include keynote remarks by Rev. Don Ullrich, Colonel, retired USAF. The Historic Marker will be unveiled by Michael Zimny, Specialist with the State of Florida Historical Council.