South Walton county, Florida & Scenic Hwy 30A - SouthWaltonScene.com™

Mark your calendar - 4th Annual 30A St. Patrick Day Parade March 12, 2011

The 4th Annual 30A St Patrick's Parade is scheduled to take place on Saturdy, March 12, 2011.  The parade will begin on Scenic Hwy 30A at Gulf Trace Subdivison in Grayton Beach [MAP] and will proceed west, ending at Gulf Place in Santa Rosa Beach [MAP].

Presiding as Grand Marshall this year will be South Walton Fire District Chief Rick Talbot.

“Where better to be wearing of the green than on the Emerald Coast, and Scenic 30A." said event organizer Paul Vizard.  "It is a great thrill to see the happy faces of spectators as the parade passes.”

Up for grabs again is the "Best in Parade" award given for the best decorated vehicle or float.  Stick around after the parade in Gulf Place from 4-6PM for some St. Patty's Day fun ... face painting, Irish Dancers, music and entertainment.  

For more information and to enter the parade, visit http://www.30AParade.com.

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Community Spotlight - Grayton Beach, Florida

 
{ Historical.  Community.  Kinship.  Laid-back Attitude. Eclectic. Old Florida.}  Grayton Beach is where the soul of South Walton county lies.  Established in 1890, Grayton is near and dear to the hearts of millions as it was the first established community in South Walton county.  Generations of families have called Grayton home or an annual vacation destination over the last century.

One can only imagine how much different the area looked back then. At the time, there was one other settlement in Point Washington, a few miles north of what is now Hwy 98.  There were no roads.  There were no bridges.  Hwy 98 and the Clyde B. Wells bridge on Hwy 331 weren't built until the 1930's. Electricity followed in the '40s when the Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) was established. Those early pioneers had vision as now, almost 120 years later, Grayton Beach has evolved into a popular,  upscale destination with all the ammenties of modern life which is tempered with a stewardship to preserve the village's historical character.

Grayton Beach encompasses an area from the east side of Western Lake to around the Alligator Lake area to the west on Scenic Hwy 30A, and includes Grayton Beach State Park, a 400-acre nature park on the Gulf of Mexico established in 1965. 

The main artery into Grayton Beach proper is found on the southern portion of Hwy 283, across 30A and down to the beach on historic DeFuniak Street.  Take a stroll down Defuniak and onto the quaint side streets lined with Old Florida-style cottages with big porches, under ancient oaks and pines, and you immediately feel transported back to a time where people lived simply and on their own time.  The popular Red Bar - coined the most popular indoor destination and a must stop for all visitors - is found at the curve by the beach as is the funky Zoo Gallery, and D & K's Restaurant and a few other specialty shops. 

[Event] Mark your calendar! The 22nd Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival starts this Thursday, May 6!

The 2010 ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival is less than a week away!  Enjoy a full weekend of art-inspired browsing, shopping and fun while supporting the arts in the Beaches of South Walton county, Florida!  

Here is a brief look at some of the weekend's events.  ***Visit the official ArtsQuest website >> HERE >> for the full schedule of events, parking information and to purchase tickets.

Thursday, May 6 | Back to Grayton Beach A gathering of friends, old and new, in the place where the spirit of ArtsQuest was born over 20 years ago as the Grayton Beach Fine Arts Festival
 
5 - 7pm
Hibiscus Cafe
85 DeFuniak Street, Grayton Beach
Bring a dish to share and your own beverage; non-alcoholic beverages provided. Free and open to the public. Live music by Bryan Kennedy & Suzi Ragsdale. Purchase benefit drawing tickets here, and you could win a weekend stay in Seaside, 30A Songwriters Festival tickets, original jewelry and art from ArtsQuest Artists and much more!
 
Friday, May 7 | ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival

• Festival open from 4 - 8pm in the SEASIDE, Florida Town Center [MAP].  This event is FREE and open to the public!  Park & Ride from Publix at WaterColor Crossing (shuttle runs from 4-830PM).  Enjoy Live music on the Amphitheater Stage by The Shadowboxers and on the Ruskin Stage by Tennessee Firearms.
• Opening Night Gala from 5-7PM at Great Southern Cafe' in the SEASIDE, Florida Town Center.  $30.  Tickets: 850-622-5970.  Event Details: Experience the opening night of ArtsQuest in celebratory fashion.  Enjoy great wine and Chef Jim Shirley's delicious creations, mingle with other art lovers and then stroll through Seaside and get a first chance to purchase the work of 120 fine artists.

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Visit the official 22nd Annual ArtsQuest website for a full schedule of events, detailed information, including on where and how to park, to purchase tickets and more! >> GO.

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Saturday, May 8 | ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival

• Festival open from 11AM - 8pm in the SEASIDE, Florida Town Center [MAP].  This event is FREE and open to the public!  Park & Ride from Publix at WaterColor Crossing (shuttle runs from 10AM-830PM).  Enjoy Live music all day and night long on the Amphitheater Stage!  Purchase benefit drawing tickets at the Festival merchandise tents, and you could win a weekend stay in Seaside, 30A Songwriters Festival tickets, original jewelry and art from ArtsQuest Artists and much more!

Sunday, May 9 | ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival

• Festival open from 11AM - 5pm in the SEASIDE, Florida Town Center [MAP].  This event is FREE and open to the public!  Park & Ride from Publix at WaterColor Crossing (shuttle runs from 10AM-530PM). Spend Mother's Day at ArtsQuest!  Purchase benefit drawing tickets at the Festival merchandise tents, and you could win a weekend stay in Seaside, 30A Songwriters Festival tickets, original jewelry and art from ArtsQuest Artists and much more!

From the MUSIC Scene - An Evening in the Courtyard with Suzi Ragsdale in Grayton Beach

An Evening in the Courtyard with Suzi Ragsdale
When: Tuesday, May 11 from 6-8PM
Where: Courtyard of Hibiscus Cafe' in Grayton Beach
Cost: $10.00 per person.  Tea, coffee and a bite of something sweet included.  Cheese, fruit and vegetable plates will be available for purchase.  Bring your own wine or beer.
Questions? 850-231-2733

About Suzi
"Nashville native Suzi Ragsdale virtually cut her teeth in the recording studio. Her dad a singer/songwriter as well, she grew up surrounded by music. At age 5, she sang with the kiddie chorus on her father Ray Stevens’ Grammy Award winning smash, “Everything Is Beautiful”. At 10, she began recording children’s albums and writing her own songs… by 13, she was singing other writers’ demos… & by 17 singing in local clubs.

In 1990, Suzi began collaborating with Verlon Thompson and the two produced 4 albums for their own VNS Records. They also joined Guy Clark’s band and played and sang on Guy’s albums such as Boats to Build (1992), Dublin Blues (1995) and Keepers (1997). Suzi can also be heard singing and/or playing on six of Darrell Scott’s seven albums from 1996 to the present. Darrell produced Suzi’s 1998 album Future Past, and both he and Verlon accompanied her on it.

South Walton on the 'Net - Watch the "History of Grayton Beach" on YouTube!

▶ The History of Grayton Beach on YouTube.com >> Watch.

▶ 30A & Beaches of South Walton on Statesman.com
"Road trip through beach luxury across northern Florida ... We decided to do the first leg of our trip in one 13-hour drive to the Florida Panhandle. Armed with a sack of goodies from Whole Foods, we headed for the area between Destin and Panama City that locals call 30A. Florida 30A is not your typical highway. A short dip south of I-10, it's a scenic stretch lined with a bike path that runs through 20 miles of beaches dotted with storybook towns along the way. One of the towns you might be familiar with is Seaside, made famous by the movie "The Truman Show" starring Jim Carrey. The town is charming with cottage-like homes, grassy parks and cobblestone pathways leading to the beaches with powder-white sand and clear, emerald-green water. This is a place where you park the car and leave it, and clothing is bathing suits and sundresses; shoes are optional."  Continue Reading >

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▶ Beaches of South Walton on iTrip.com
"Experience a Little Piece of Nirvana At the Beaches of South Walton: South Walton Beach, FL, also coined “SoWal” by locals, is located along the scenic Highway 30-A, and in the Northwestern region of the “Emerald Coast.”  Nirvana, shangri-La, the Elysian Fields, the celestial city, or heaven- all of these words bear the same meaning, regardless of their individual religious or mythical backgrounds. The description of these holy places is what holds the most relevance in this context."  Continue Reading >>

▶ Northwest Weekend Getaways - 2010 on FloridaTravelLife.com >> Read.

▶ WaterColor on CoastalLiving.com
"The Best Seaside Cottage Rentals: Florida’s Highway 30-A spreads vacation rentals behind its paper-white beaches like dune grass. WaterColor is a planned community built like traditional neighborhoods. Most of the privately owned homes, from one to six bedrooms, are available by the night—you can view styles and floor plans and pick out your dream cottage rental. Staying here gets you access to the resort’s tennis courts, seven pools, and private golf courses."  >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on OrlandoSentinal.com
"A shorter commute coming soon to beaches of South Walton: The Beaches of South Walton aren’t exactly as well known to Orlando folks as say,  Daytona Beach, but the Northwest Florida stretch of 15 lovely beach communities will be more accessible starting next month." >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on MiamiHerald.com
"New Panama City airport could stir Gulf Coast's sleepy way of life: They call it the Emerald Coast for the blue-green water, but the color I remember best about the beaches of South Walton is white: wide expanses of sand so white it glistens in the sun. Few beaches in Florida or anywhere can match this 26-mile shoreline in Walton County, bordering the Gulf of Mexico in Florida's northwest Panhandle. The sand is nearly pure quartz crystal, dazzling to the eye and soft underfoot." >> Continue Reading.

▶ The History of Grayton Beach on YouTube.com >> Watch.

▶ 30A & Beaches of South Walton on Statesman.com
"Road trip through beach luxury across northern Florida ... We decided to do the first leg of our trip in one 13-hour drive to the Florida Panhandle. Armed with a sack of goodies from Whole Foods, we headed for the area between Destin and Panama City that locals call 30A. Florida 30A is not your typical highway. A short dip south of I-10, it's a scenic stretch lined with a bike path that runs through 20 miles of beaches dotted with storybook towns along the way. One of the towns you might be familiar with is Seaside, made famous by the movie "The Truman Show" starring Jim Carrey. The town is charming with cottage-like homes, grassy parks and cobblestone pathways leading to the beaches with powder-white sand and clear, emerald-green water. This is a place where you park the car and leave it, and clothing is bathing suits and sundresses; shoes are optional."  Continue Reading >

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Support our advertisers!

        

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▶ Beaches of South Walton on iTrip.com
"Experience a Little Piece of Nirvana At the Beaches of South Walton: South Walton Beach, FL, also coined “SoWal” by locals, is located along the scenic Highway 30-A, and in the Northwestern region of the “Emerald Coast.”  Nirvana, shangri-La, the Elysian Fields, the celestial city, or heaven- all of these words bear the same meaning, regardless of their individual religious or mythical backgrounds. The description of these holy places is what holds the most relevance in this context."  Continue Reading >>

▶ Northwest Weekend Getaways - 2010 on FloridaTravelLife.com >> Read.

▶ WaterColor on CoastalLiving.com
"The Best Seaside Cottage Rentals: Florida’s Highway 30-A spreads vacation rentals behind its paper-white beaches like dune grass. WaterColor is a planned community built like traditional neighborhoods. Most of the privately owned homes, from one to six bedrooms, are available by the night—you can view styles and floor plans and pick out your dream cottage rental. Staying here gets you access to the resort’s tennis courts, seven pools, and private golf courses."  >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on OrlandoSentinal.com
"A shorter commute coming soon to beaches of South Walton: The Beaches of South Walton aren’t exactly as well known to Orlando folks as say,  Daytona Beach, but the Northwest Florida stretch of 15 lovely beach communities will be more accessible starting next month." >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on MiamiHerald.com
"New Panama City airport could stir Gulf Coast's sleepy way of life: They call it the Emerald Coast for the blue-green water, but the color I remember best about the beaches of South Walton is white: wide expanses of sand so white it glistens in the sun. Few beaches in Florida or anywhere can match this 26-mile shoreline in Walton County, bordering the Gulf of Mexico in Florida's northwest Panhandle. The sand is nearly pure quartz crystal, dazzling to the eye and soft underfoot." >> Continue Reading.

▶ The History of Grayton Beach on YouTube.com >> Watch.

▶ 30A & Beaches of South Walton on Statesman.com
"Road trip through beach luxury across northern Florida ... We decided to do the first leg of our trip in one 13-hour drive to the Florida Panhandle. Armed with a sack of goodies from Whole Foods, we headed for the area between Destin and Panama City that locals call 30A. Florida 30A is not your typical highway. A short dip south of I-10, it's a scenic stretch lined with a bike path that runs through 20 miles of beaches dotted with storybook towns along the way. One of the towns you might be familiar with is Seaside, made famous by the movie "The Truman Show" starring Jim Carrey. The town is charming with cottage-like homes, grassy parks and cobblestone pathways leading to the beaches with powder-white sand and clear, emerald-green water. This is a place where you park the car and leave it, and clothing is bathing suits and sundresses; shoes are optional."  Continue Reading >

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Support our advertisers!

        

..........................................................................................................................................................................

▶ Beaches of South Walton on iTrip.com
"Experience a Little Piece of Nirvana At the Beaches of South Walton: South Walton Beach, FL, also coined “SoWal” by locals, is located along the scenic Highway 30-A, and in the Northwestern region of the “Emerald Coast.”  Nirvana, shangri-La, the Elysian Fields, the celestial city, or heaven- all of these words bear the same meaning, regardless of their individual religious or mythical backgrounds. The description of these holy places is what holds the most relevance in this context."  Continue Reading >>

▶ Northwest Weekend Getaways - 2010 on FloridaTravelLife.com >> Read.

▶ WaterColor on CoastalLiving.com
"The Best Seaside Cottage Rentals: Florida’s Highway 30-A spreads vacation rentals behind its paper-white beaches like dune grass. WaterColor is a planned community built like traditional neighborhoods. Most of the privately owned homes, from one to six bedrooms, are available by the night—you can view styles and floor plans and pick out your dream cottage rental. Staying here gets you access to the resort’s tennis courts, seven pools, and private golf courses."  >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on OrlandoSentinal.com
"A shorter commute coming soon to beaches of South Walton: The Beaches of South Walton aren’t exactly as well known to Orlando folks as say,  Daytona Beach, but the Northwest Florida stretch of 15 lovely beach communities will be more accessible starting next month." >> Continue Reading.

▶ Beaches of South Walton on MiamiHerald.com
"New Panama City airport could stir Gulf Coast's sleepy way of life: They call it the Emerald Coast for the blue-green water, but the color I remember best about the beaches of South Walton is white: wide expanses of sand so white it glistens in the sun. Few beaches in Florida or anywhere can match this 26-mile shoreline in Walton County, bordering the Gulf of Mexico in Florida's northwest Panhandle. The sand is nearly pure quartz crystal, dazzling to the eye and soft underfoot." >> Continue Reading.

Business Spotlight - Ophelia Swimwear in Grayton Beach

Ophelia Swimwear

Owned by:  Tori Von Hoene
Location:  26 Logan Lane, unit B, Grayton Beach, Florida
Hours of Operation:  10AM-5PM, Mon - Sat
Contact:  850.231.0676
Website:  www.opheliagraytonbeach.com
Facebook:  HERE

● Give us your elevator pitch - tell us about the biz. 

"Ophelia is a stylish swimwear boutique for the sophisticated swimsuit shopper. With over 10 different designer brands, we strive to present a fresh and unique variety of designer swimwear collections to flatter every shape. We offer an elite selection of swimwear for women, from designer bikinis, to beach cover ups, to one piece swimsuits ...all from quality brands. Our cover ups are super soft, feel great on & can easily be worn from day to night. "

● What was your inspiration to start your biz in South Walton?

"My inspiration to start a swimwear boutique came from too many frustrated swimsuit shopping experiences. Young moms today are much hipper then they use to be. They don't want the maw maw suits with skirts yet don't want cheap skimpy suits either. We want function with style. Simple sophisticated designs that last more than one season.

● What is your best selling item/service?

"Some swimwear lines that we carry our, Brett Sandler, Mara Hoffman, Zimmermann, Letarte, Vix, OndadeMar, Badgley Mischka, Lisa Curran, DKNY, KushCush & more.  We also carry cover ups by Michelle Jonas, T-shirts by Nation & lots of fun accessories to make you "beach chic!!""

Related Links:

• Business Spotlight Archives

Ophelia Swimwear

Owned by:  Tori Von Hoene
Location:  26 Logan Lane, unit B, Grayton Beach, Florida
Hours of Operation:  10AM-5PM, Mon - Sat
Contact:  850.231.0676
Website:  www.opheliagraytonbeach.com
Facebook:  HERE

● Give us your elevator pitch - tell us about the biz. 

"Ophelia is a stylish swimwear boutique for the sophisticated swimsuit shopper. With over 10 different designer brands, we strive to present a fresh and unique variety of designer swimwear collections to flatter every shape. We offer an elite selection of swimwear for women, from designer bikinis, to beach cover ups, to one piece swimsuits ...all from quality brands. Our cover ups are super soft, feel great on & can easily be worn from day to night. "

● What was your inspiration to start your biz in South Walton?

"My inspiration to start a swimwear boutique came from too many frustrated swimsuit shopping experiences. Young moms today are much hipper then they use to be. They don't want the maw maw suits with skirts yet don't want cheap skimpy suits either. We want function with style. Simple sophisticated designs that last more than one season.

● What is your best selling item/service?

"Some swimwear lines that we carry our, Brett Sandler, Mara Hoffman, Zimmermann, Letarte, Vix, OndadeMar, Badgley Mischka, Lisa Curran, DKNY, KushCush & more.  We also carry cover ups by Michelle Jonas, T-shirts by Nation & lots of fun accessories to make you "beach chic!!""

Related Links:

• Business Spotlight Archives

From the BUSINESS Scene - Congrats to Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc. for winning 32 ADDY awards!

Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc was recognized by the Panama City Chapter of the American Advertising Federation for advertising excellence at the 2010 ADDY Awards Celebration Gala on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort Conference Center in Panama City Beach, Florida.

“After many years as a member of the Emerald Coast Advertising Federation, we made the calculated decision to transfer our membership to the Panama City Chapter,” said Lisa Burwell, president and owner of Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc. located in Grayton Beach, Florida. “Some of our largest clients are in the Panama City Beach region, and we want to strategically position ourselves in this region for them and for the opening of the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.”

“As new members of AAF – Panama City, this is the first year for Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising Inc. to be a part of our local tier of the ADDY competition,” said Pamela Kidwell, 2009–2010 ADDY Committee Chair. “We are proud for their accomplishments and we welcome their involvement.”

Business Spotlight - VIE people+places

The Business
VIE people+place
Owners: Lisa and Gerald Burwell
Contact: Lisa Burwell – 850-231-3087 ext 1.
Website: VieZine.com
Online Magazine: VieZine.com/Magazine
Blog: VieZine.comBlog
Facebook: VIE
Twitter: Twitter.com/VIEzine

● Give us your elevator pitch - tell us all about your biz.

"VIE was an idea that had been germinating for a few years but when the economy took a turn for the worse last year, I felt that the magazine could offer fresh insight for our beautiful area of the world as well as a creative outlet for our company. It’s been the toughest challenge I’ve ever known, my scariest endeavor to date (and there have been a few), and the most rewarding—all at the same time. VIE has a global attitude with a local perspective that continues to offer interesting stories about the people and places from COLA 2 COLA (Pensacola to Apalachicola). It’s about life and all it wonders. People are fascinating if you give them enough thought, time and attention to listen. To life!"

● Tell us a little about yourself.

"VIE is published by Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc., a small boutique public relations and marketing company. We are located in Grayton Beach [MAP] and have been in business since 1994. We’ve been blessed to represent great clients, both locally and nationally, and count it a joy to have a five-minute commute to work along 30A.

The company is owned by me and my husband, Gerald Burwell, an architect by trade, but also the best business partner one could ever hope for, as well as an overall great guy! Along with a terrific team of creative people, we published VIE together last year and are in the midst of working on our 2009 Fall Issue that promises to be exciting, and a little different than before."
[photo: Lisa and Gerald Burwell]

Woooo - Congratulations to Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc in Grayton Beach!

Cornerstone Marketing & Advertising, Inc., publisher of VIE, was recognized by the Emerald Coast Advertising Federation for advertising excellence at the 2009 ADDY Awards & Gala on Saturday, February 28th at the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village in Destin, Florida. 

Cornerstone won 37 ADDY Awards – 10 Gold, including 1 Judge’s Choice Award, and 27 Silver. Taking home the most awards and the most golds, it was certainly a successful night for Cornerstone’s The Idea Boutique.

The 10 Gold ADDYS awarded to Cornerstone were won for three local businesses –

• 30A Resorts
• Café Thirty-A and
• VIE – People + Places magazine

- and one non-local business - North Carolina-based Sky Carolina.

The 27 Silver ADDYS were secured for Southern Theatres, L.L.C., owner of The Grand 16 at Pier Park, The Resort Collection of Panama City Beach, VIE – People + Places magazine and Cottages for Kids.  

Lisa Burwell, president and owner of Cornerstone  said, “We were thrilled to have had interesting and varied clients last year and we count it a blessing that we were able to continue to grow the company in an economic downturn. Our creative team led by vice president Bob Brown and creative director Eric Shepard along with graphic designer Hui-Ting Tang did an outstanding job along with all members of the Cornerstone team.”

Congratulations, Cornerstone!

SoWalScene.com - 2008 A Year In Review: Part One.

Happy New Year!!  I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a healthy, happy, safe and prosperous 2009! 

I also want to thank you for your continued support and readership in SoWalScene.com's first full year on the 'net.  Actually, today is the one year anniversary of SoWalScene.com and I must admit, I am humbled by the journey this blog has taken me on in the past year and am incredibly excited about the upcoming year and beyond.  What started as a fairly straight-forward blog has morphed into a multi-page, multi-dynamic website with a sister site - SoWalDining.com and more exciting additions in the pipeline.  And a partner and I are in the process of launching another site that we think will be incredibly useful for the community so please stay-tuned! 

2008 has not been an easy one for many, both in South Walton and throughout the world.  It's been heart-breaking to see families forced to move to seek work elsewhere, see businesses that have had a presence in South Walton for years close, and hear the stories of people who have lost everything because of bad choices made during the real estate run up we witnessed back in '03-'05. 

No one can predict the future but collectively we are hoping for a better 2009 - and are bracing ourselves for the real possibility it will be as, if not more, difficult as 2008.  One thing is for sure - those that are still able to call this home are more grateful than ever for the charmed life we lead here. And, on other thing is for sure - the economy will turn around at some point.

In honor of the transition of years, I have complied Part One of a Year in Review below - view Part Two here  - and have listed some of my favorite posts from each month the year.  Enjoy - here's to 2009!

January 2008 in South Walton: Seagrove Villas and Motel put on the market - 30A big blue sign (new wayfinding signage) controversy erupts -  Kris Titus of the Walton county TDC steps down - four laning of Hwy 331 begins - Frill Seekers wins the 19th Annual Great Southern Cookoff at Sandestin.

February 2008 in South Walton: Walton TDC halts installation of big blue wayfinding signage on 30A - South Walton High students perform Blithe Spirit at the Seaside Rep. after it had been banned last minute from production at the high school because of a public complaint stating it was morally inappropriate - County Road 30A designated a "Scenic" highway - Coastal Vision 3000's "THE Beach" campaign unveiled - the community of NatureWalk on County Road 395, north of WaterColor, put up for sale - we observed a Leap Day on the 29th.

March 2008 in South Walton: Seaside Half Marathon draws record entrants - tourist season 2008 begins during Spring Break - Walton county TDC implements the "Leave No Trace" program on area beaches - celebrities Sheryl Crow and Emeril Lagasse were spotted around town - local artist Billie Gaffrey chosen as ArtsQuest 20th Anniversary poster winner - Easter comes early in March - former South Walton High School coach Mark Cozzie was found not guilty of lewd and lascivious behavior against a minor - the old Sandor's building that used to sit at the corner of Hwy 395 and Scenic 30A is moved down 30A to Alys Beach where it becomes George's at Alys Beach - 1st Annual 30A St. Patrick's Parade is held.

April 2008 in South Walton: The Seaside Rep's Annual Benefit, this year themed, "The Prom", raises over $56K - Walton county TDC decides to remove big blue wayfinding signage (the "announcing signs") on Scenic 30A - Seabreeze 106.3FM Jazz Fest holds last event in South Walton (it will be held at Pier Park in Panama City Beach starting in 2009)  - 22nd Sandestin Wine Festival held - Earth Day 2008 was on the 22nd.

May 2008 in South Walton: Yellow fly season begins - more than 60 swimmers pulled from dangerous rip currents in Bay, Walton and Okaloosa counties during Memorial Day weekend and one drowing was reported - 1st Annual Seaside Jazz Fest held - lifetime resident Doodle Harris passes away - Sonny Mares appointed Executive Director of Walton county TDC - VIE-people+places magazine launches - 20th Anniversary of ArtsQuest held.

June 2008 in South Walton: New Junior lifeguard program started on area beaches - Salty Dog Saloon, formerly Snapperheads, opens on Scenic 30A - new Blue Mountain Beach beach access opens - gas prices over $4.00/gallon - Parade of Homes 2008 begins - sea turtle nesting season begins on area beaches - hurricane season 2008 begins - rare Humpback whale sighting off Crystal Beach.

Some of my favorite posts over the past year:

• Signs Signs Everywhere (Jan)
• You Know You Are A South Waltoner When... (Feb)
• The Grouper Sandwich and Seagrove Village Market (Mar)
• Finding Opportunity in a Beach Resort Town (Apr)
• Seaside Jazz Festival - Weekend One. Marketing Snafu or First Year Growing Pains? (May)
• Welcome to the Beaches of South Walton, Dear Tourists (Jun)

Related Posts:

SoWalScene.com - 2008 A Year In Review: Part Two