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The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) of Northwest Florida State College announces the fall session of its award winning eco-tourism initiative, Discover Roads Less Traveled: Eco-Adventures of Walton County.

“CBA’s eco-tours are intended to bring participants to local, off the beaten path environmental wonders,” states CBA’s eco-tour coordinator, Brandy Foley. “We hope that these tours will entice individuals to experience our local environment from a different perspective.” 

A giant red sun peeks over the oat-covered dunes, casting long shadows and illuminating a distinctive track in the sand, unbroken from dune toe to surf. The track was made in the midnight hour by a massive sea turtle on a mission.

Expectant mamas like her have been visiting SoWal beaches since prehistoric times, returning each year to the same spot where they hatched. Repeating the cycle by building a nest and burying dozens of eggs in the warm, incubating sands.

When Amy Walsh gave birth to her first child, she knew her mother was dying from bone cancer. Even so, her parents jumped on a flight from Michigan to Santa Rosa Beach to meet their grandson. Although Amy was recovering from a cesarean, she explained, “I cooked her dinner, rubbed her feet and made her sit in the sun.”

The founder of Fore Her is no stranger to public service, or cancer for that matter. Amy’s sister was a toddler when she was diagnosed with leukemia, a disease which, thankfully, was successfully treated.

The 4th Annual Alys Beach 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run returns to Alys Beach on Sunday, September 6, 2015 in South Walton, Florida. Located along Scenic 30A, the course winds through the resort town and ends with an oversized obstacle course for kids of all ages. A celebration of awards and more fun with music, food, and beverages will follow the race in the Alys Beach Amphitheatre.

It's always a great party and it's for a great cause - raising funds every year for one of our favorite local organizations - Children's Volunteer Health Network (CVHN). They see to it that all children in our area receive needed medical and dental care. We're thrilled Bud & Alley’s will be hosting the 11th Annual Hurricane Party again this year. The Hurricane Party will take place on Friday, Sept. 25 from 6:30-10:00 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting CVHN.

Food For Thought Outreach expects to serve over 1,200 students each week through its backpack program during the 2015-2016 school year - a significant 56% increase from last school year’s 770 students enrolled in the program. Every month, Food For Thought sends over 50,000 food items out to help battle food insecurity in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Add the year-to-year growth to the increased demand for assistance from Food For Thought’s summer outreach programs, and that can empty a warehouse very quickly. 
 

Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated group of locals, South Walton has added an entire layer of recreation through artificial reef environments. The South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) has installed the first set of near shore reefs off our beaches.

The fifth annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta benefiting the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast Guild takes sail on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.

Blue Highway, the chart-topping, award-winning, powerhouse five-member ensemble band, will headline Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s (MKAF) newest cultural event — Bluegrass at the Beach — a daylong family-friendly music showcase held Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin. 
 

A juvenile female bottlenose dolphin was found stranded  on June 28 on the beach near Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach. The dolphin was rescued and taken to Gulf World Marine Institute (GWMI) for testing and treatment. 

The dolphin is still in critical condition and being treated by GWMI staff veterinarian Dr. Staggs at the Institute. It appears that the rough surf caused salt water and sand got to enter into the blowhole causing aspiration pneumonia. This was not the cause of her stranding but a complication from the beaching process.