May 2016 Business Briefs / Member News Part 4

City of Destin Announces Interim City Manager
The Destin City Council approved a contract on May 16 to hire Carisse LeJeune as the interim city manager, while the council searches for a permanent replacement for outgoing City Manager Greg Kisela. LeJeune is the former assistant city manager of Boynton Beach, Fla., and has served the public sector for the last 15 years. Her resume states that she is an “executive level public sector professional with over 15 years of achievement in municipal government, including policy development and implementation, strategic planning, sustainability and emergency management. Results oriented and effective leader with proven ability to plan, implement and monitor special programs, activities and projects such as 5-year Citywide Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, City Rebranding and Greenway/Bikeway/Pedestrian Master Plan.”

Okaloosa Arts & Culture Fest This Saturday
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance invites you, your family and friends to the annual Okaloosa Arts & Culture Fest, which will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the FWB Landing. This free family fun arts event features dozens of local artisans and craft vendors, food and beverages, free family arts activities, live music, and art performances. For details, visitwww.OkaloosaArts.org/oaa-fest.html.

Fashion Designer to Visit Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
The Sandestin Family Retail Shops announced today that fashion designer Lauren Stokes, creator and owner of the clothing line Lauren James, will make appearances June 10-11 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. There will be an exclusive meet and greet on June 10, at the Overlook at Sandestin, and an in-store appearance on June 11, at Barefoot Princess in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. This is the first time Lauren has partnered with a retailer for an in-store event. For details, follow www.Facebook.com/ShopSandestin.

Grayton Beer Company Unveils Canned Beer
Grayton Beer Company recently announced that the beer currently packaged as 30A Beach Blonde Ale is now available in 12 oz. cans as Beach Permit Blonde Ale. Appropriately named, the new aluminum packaging allows the popular local brew to be iced down and taken to the beach. The shiny new packaging of the blonde ale will be an obvious choice for beachgoers heading to the glass-free beaches. Reminiscent of the permits placed on 4x4 trucks allowed to drive on the beaches in South Walton County, FL, the Beach Permit Blonde Ale will be easily recognizable with the Walton County Beach Permit #26178 on one side and the Grayton Beer Company logo on the other. 

Praise Temple Deliverance Church Helps CIC Children
Pastor Darren Parker of Fort Walton Beach’s Praise Temple Deliverance Church, along with church members, present a donation of $1,000 to Ken Hair, president and CEO of Children in Crisis (CIC).  The donation will help feed, clothe, and care for the abused, neglected, and abandoned children living at the CIC Neighborhood.




LuLu’s 1st Anniversary Party Bay Bash
Boat in, float in, paddle in, or come by land. Join in the celebration of LuLu’s first year at its 1st Anniversary Party Bay Bash on June 11. Revel in a family day filled with non-stop fun, food, kid’s activities, and back-to-back live music out on the sandy beach along the Choctawhatchee Bay. The music begins at 11 a.m. with the Lamont Landers Band, followed by Hotel Oscar, Amanda Shaw and Glen David Andrews. Come meet Crazy Sista, restaurateur and author Lucy Buffett who will be on hand from 1 to 3 p.m. signing her newly updated cookbook, LuLu’s Kitchen, A Taste of the Gulf Coast Good Life. The first 50 boats, floats or paddle boarders to anchor in behind Lulu’s will receive free 1st Anniversary Party Bay Bash t-shirts. For details, visit www.lulubuffett.com/destin/. 

Keller Williams Emerald Coast Realty Hosts KW RED Day 
Inaugurated in 2009, KW Red Day is Keller Williams Realty’s annual, company-wide day of community service.  RED stands for renew, energize, and donate. KW associates around the world are asked to “give where they live” and dedicate a day to renewing and energizing the communities they serve. Harvest House was the charity of choice for the Destin and 30-A KW offices. The agents made donation requests at the Destin Walmart resulting in three carloads of food collected, plus $396.65 in cash. Additionally, three area restaurants, Dockside Café & Oyster Bar, Mimmo’s Italian Restaurante, and Drew Messina Catering, provided an extravagant lunch at the Keller Williams Destin Market Center for the public to enjoy for a $5 donation. That money went towards buying perishables for Harvest House and concluded with agents stocking the shelves at Harvest House with the various donations collected.

Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer Raises $3,500 for Food For Thought
Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer celebrated its one-year anniversary on Thursday, April 7, 2016. More than 200 people came out to celebrate the success of the locally owned and operated full-service restaurant located on the Historic Destin Harbor. Guests enjoyed $1 drink specials, live music, and a raffle benefittng Food For Thought Outreach, Inc., raising $3,500 for the local 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Brotula’s co-owners Chris Ruyan (left) and Tyler Jarvis (right) presented the check to Food for Thought Outreach Founder Tiffanie Nelson, during the opening of Food For Thought Outreach's new Destin pantry.

Southern Residential Leasing Offers Housing Special for Active-Duty Military
Southern Residential Leasing has waived the standard $50.00 application fee for all active-duty military members and their families now through the end of May. Southern’s “Military Move-In Special” will allow the brave men and women of our armed forces to find homes for rent in Pensacola, Destin, Mobile, and the surrounding areas and apply free of charge. This special has become a semi-annual tradition within the residential leasing division of Southern Rentals and Real Estate since November 2014.