Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK
FORT WALTON BEACH A home in the 200 block of Cypress Street in Sylvania Heights was severely damaged in a fire early Saturday morning, according to a Facebook post by the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District.
The fire was extinguished quickly and there were no injuries. However the home s three occupants were displaced.
The cause of the fire was accidental, according to the post.
Special to the Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Distillery 98 is celebrating their first year in business May 22 with an all-day celebration including a paddle board race on Eastern Lake followed by a crawfish boil, local live music, and raffle at the local distillery to benefit Gulf Therapy.
Owner and CEO Harrison Holditch founded Distillery 98 after frequenting the area with his family while growing up. Since some of the best memories are from his trips to Florida, Holditch had a strong connection to the area. He felt as if it truly represented him and his family, thus inspiring him to move to Santa Rosa Beach full time to pursue his dreams. Now with over 80 accounts representing the brand across the Emerald Coast including various restaurants, bars, and liquor stores, Distillery 98 has established itself as a trusted, local brand with deep roots in the community.
Special to the Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK
NICEVILLE – After months of dedication, creativity and grout, two new mosaics are completed and installed in the President’s Office Suite of Northwest Florida State College thanks to local artist Sarah Hawkins. Hawkins was commissioned to create the mosaics in early 2020.
The mosaics are made in the colors of Northwest Florida State College’s logo; red, black and white. The first art piece is an interpretation of the logo called “Swoosh,” and the second is a version of the College seal called “Educatio Optima.”
Some of the tiles used in the mosaics are remnants from the red plastic-glass doors of the original administrative building. The old door pieces were provided for the artwork by former NWFSC trustee and generous donor Eileen Arpke and longtime College Librarian Janice Henderson.
Special to the Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK
NICEVILLE Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) announced winners of the 35th annual James and Christian LaRoche Memorial Poetry Contest and the Blackwater Review art and literature journal for 2021.
Fiona Morris of Santa Rosa Beach won first place and a cash prize of $100 for her poem Summers in the Screen Room. Madison Gray of Freeport placed second with her poem Mea Culpa. Gray will be awarded a cash prize of $50.
Two poems tied for third place with a cash prize of $25 each. Carter Hyde of Fort Walton Beach tied with his poem Prayer for Dionysus at a Party. In addition to winning the first-place prize, Morris tied for third place with her poem Seed, Berry, Love.
Miramar Beach
The Surf Hut in Miramar Beach is hosting its cleanup event in collaboration with Visit South Walton, Okaloosa County, the Tourist Development Department and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. at The Surf Hut at 551 Scenic Gulf Drive, Destin.
The Surf Hut will provide a complimentary pancake breakfast from 9-10 a.m. Breakfast is limited to the first 75 volunteers. Breakfast tickets will be given to those who have pre-registered through Eventbrite.
Henderson Beach State Park and James Lee Park
Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. at both The Crab Trap Destin, 3500 Scenic Highway 98 E., and at Henderson Beach State Park, 17000 Emerald Coast Parkway.