April 2019 Business Briefs / Member News Part 2

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Opens Applications for Artists for the 24th Annual Festival of the Arts
Artist applications and poster competition entries are now being accepted for the 24th Annual Festival of the Arts. Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation's Festival of the Arts is one of the Southeast's premier festivals and showcases more than 100 artists from across the US. The Festival is a celebration of art, music, food, family fun and features a live music lineup, a food bistro, wine and beer garden, art activities for kids, merchandise and more. The Festival will be held on Oct. 26-27, at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village. Artists display their pieces and compete for $10,000 in cash award prizes. The winning design for the official poster competition will become the signature artwork for festival t-shirts, posters, marketing collateral, merchandise and will be displayed on the cover of the festival guide (which has over 30,000 distributions). The winning artist will also receive a $500 cash prize. Visit www.MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org for Artist Application, Rules of Participation and Poster Entry Form. 

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Outreach Makes History with Two-Week Artist Residency Program
Recently, Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (Destin) Community Outreach impacted 5,700 children in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The original touring productions “The Snow Queen” and “The Reluctant Dragon,” by The Atlantic Coast Theatre (A.C.T.) for Youth, were experienced by 20 school groups and Boys & Girls Clubs in the area. Through the generosity of the Dugas Family Foundation, and Keith and Laura Howard, this two-week artist residency program has enabled MKAF to deepen its outreach focus on offering meaningful arts-based learning to “at-risk” youth, Title 1 schools, and students in underserved or rural areas.


Snowbirds Visit Children in Crisis – Donate to At-Risk Kids
Ken Hair, Children In Crisis (CIC) president & CEO, receives a donation of $500 from the SeaCrest/Venus Condominium Snowbirds presented by Rosemary Morton; Cathy Scott, who hand-made the quilt; and Tim McGuire, winner of the quilt auction.  The membership donated the funds to help provide a home to more than 100 at-risk children that will live at the CIC Neighborhood this year.

New Spring Menu Showcases Seasonal Best at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has announced a new spring menu at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood, showcasing the highest quality ingredients available. Using the freshest produce, fish and other elements, Executive Chef Lee Guidry has created several new flavorful dishes, including Beef Tartare with diced filet mignon tossed in a Sherry vinaigrette, topped with a salad of frisse, baby arugula and chive mixed in a lemon vinaigrette; Heureux Farms Pork Belly with citrus cured local pork belly, served over a yellow lentil ragout, topped with crisp artichoke hearts, watercress and lemon dressing; and Grilled Calamari stuffed with seasoned lump crap meat, marinated in lemon, fresh basil and shallot. Exciting new entrees include Butter Poached Grouper served with sautéed fresh petit spring vegetables and topped with a champagne based beurre balance and domestic caviar; and Seared Snapper served over a savory lump crab cheesecake, wilted spinach and finished with oven roasted yellow tomatoes. Visit Seagars.com/menus for more information. 

McCaskill & Company to Receive Scenic Corridor Foundation Design Excellence Award
Scenic Corridor Foundation has announced McCaskill & Company in Miramar Beach as the winner of its Design Excellence Award for this quarter. Owners Bill and Elizabeth Campbell and Carolyn Campbell Brigman will receive the award at a special presentation ceremony on April 12, at 9:30 a.m. at the Miramar Beach location. Everyone is invited to attend!

Scenic Corridor Foundation established this award in 2017 to recognize businesses and developers who build or renovate projects that best exemplify the intent of the Scenic Corridor Guidelines established for developments on U.S. 98 and U.S. 331 S. in Chapter 6 of the Walton County Land Development Code. 

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Enrolling for Summer Program
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast has opened enrollment for its summer program. Programs offer Club members something fun, educational and exciting to do during the school break at an affordable price. 

“Our action-packed activities inspire creativity, build character and provide academic enrichment,” BGCEC CEO, Shervin Rassa, said. “Not only will your child participate in fine arts projects and fun games, they will also enjoy learning about healthy lifestyles and good character and citizenship. Our summer program is a great way for kids to make friends, learn new things and just have fun!”

For details, click here. 

Beach Walk Café Expands Staff with Renowned Talent
The Henderson Park Inn’s signature restaurant, Beach Walk Café, is pleased to welcome Executive Chef Jason Gray and Front of House Manager Michael McIntosh, to the team. Together their extensive professional experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry brings forth new-age ideas and initiatives to Beach Walk Café. Gray comes to Beach Walk Café with a culinary background of more than 25 years in progressive experience within the hospitality, food and beverage industries. He has worked in a variety of settings including country clubs, cruise lines, culinary arts education, and most notably, the United States Navy. As executive chef, Gray will lead the team to create new, fresh dishes while also putting his individual spin on Beach Walk favorites, like the Blackened Scallop Pasta dish and New York Style Cheesecake.

McIntosh joins the Henderson Park Inn and Beach Walk Café team as the new front of house manager. McIntosh is a long-time local and has worked in several local restaurants, including Cuvee Bistro and Emeril’s Coastal Italian. As a certified sommelier, he brings widespread knowledge of fine wine and has vast experience with cocktails and mixology. McIntosh’s position will additionally include leading customer service initiatives, educating staff, and forming relationships with community influencers. 

Okaloosa Arts Alliance Poster Contest 
The Okaloosa Arts Alliance (OAA) would like to invite all Okaloosa County School students to participate in the 10th Annual OAA Okaloosa County School Poster Contest.    The OAA wants to know what you consider “Summer Fun.”  It can be anything you can create on paper with markers, pencils, paint, pastels, charcoal, or crayons.  There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner for three elementary school students (K-4), for three middle school students (5-7), and for three high school students (8-12) in Okaloosa County.   Each 1st place winner will receive a $75 gift card, each 2nd place winner will receive a $50 gift card and each 3rd place winner will receive a $25 gift card.   Additionally, the 1st place winners’ artwork will be posted in the OAA newsletter and on the OAA website. For details, visit www.okaloosaarts.org.                               

Southern Management Group Receives 2018 Safety Award from FFVA Mutual
Southern Management Group was recently recognized for outstanding safety standards by workers’ compensation company FFVA Mutual. The Safety Award is given to 12 clients per year, and Southern is honored to be selected as one of the 2018 recipients. Southern’s insurance policy is brokered through Hays Group and carried out by FFVA, who services 4,200 workers’ compensation policies across multiple states. 
 
Southern was nominated for the award by FFVA Safety Consultant Arian Collick. Collick stated that regular inspections show Southern completes necessary steps to maintain safety consistently throughout its offices. Through opportunities to attend safety meetings, seminars, webinars, and workshops, Southern’s employees are kept up-to-date on workplace safety measures and knowledgeable of smart practices. In addition, Collick also recognized Southern’s laundry facility for its automation of machines to lower and reduce any safety concerns. 

Exceptional Fort Walton Beach Teen Named ‘Youth of the Year’
Fort Walton Beach – Selected among numerous outstanding youth, Jacobe Turner has been named the Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The Youth of the Year title is a prestigious honor bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Now in its 72nd year, the Youth of the Year program honors our nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire. Turner will go on to contend for the Florida Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

When Turner is not lending a helping hand to the staff and his fellow members, you can find him taking advantage of the many programs the BGCEC has to offer. His involvement over the last four years with the Keystone Club has been instrumental in the community. Turner is always the first one to sign up for a community service or volunteer opportunity. In the wake of Hurricane Michael, he worked with other Club members to make and distribute more than 600 care packages families affected by the storm. Turner plans to attend Northwest Florida State College to get his associates degree before transferring to Johnson & Wales University to study culinary arts.

Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Trust Fund Helps At-Risk CIC Children
The Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Trust Fund recently presented a check for $5,000 to Children In Crisis (CIC). The funds will be used to continue the CIC Safe Neighborhood, Crime Prevention and Drug Abuse Prevention/Education programs. Seen here, Okaloosa County SheriffLarry Ashley (right) presents the donation to Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, and Allie Noah, CIC development director.  




ECCAC observes National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is this month. This is a time to acknowledge the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and their families. That is the 24/7 job of the multi-disciplinary team of staff and volunteers at Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Centers(ECCAC) in Okaloosa and Walton counties.  ECCAC is a part of the National Children’s Advocacy Center non-profit organization. There are 777 Centers across the country, with 27 of them located in Florida. In ECCAC’s 18-year history, right at 12,000 children have received more than 50,000 services at no cost to include mental health therapy, crisis intervention, referrals to other community providers, interviews and medicals. 

Earlier this month, ECCAC received an official proclamation from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declaring Child Abuse Prevention Month in Florida, stating it is vital that individuals, businesses, schools and community organizations make children a top priority. 

Exceptionally Egg-citing Times for Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
Some very egg-citing things have been happening behind the scenes at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. The park has announced the hatching of not one, but two African penguin chicks! The first chick hatched on Jan. 25, with the second hatching three days later. They have been hand-raised behind the scenes by the Gulfarium's well-trained animal care staff and are currently shedding their fluffy down, to be replaced by juvenile waterproof feathers.

"African penguins are an endangered species. They are facing imminent extinction without human intervention," explains Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park's President Will Merrill III. "African penguins only lay two eggs per clutch, so we are extremely happy to have two healthy chicks."

The Gulfarium anticipates that the chicks will begin to integrate with the rest of their penguin colony in just a little over a month and shortly thereafter, be ready to make their debut to the public.
 
Beachworx Offers New Members Trial
Beachworx is offering New Members a trial month for only $100. This membership trial is perfect for those not wanting to get locked into a contract, yet want to see what Beachworx has to offer. Desire a convenient, centrally located professional meeting space? Let Beachworx be your solution. *Offer ends Aug. 31, 2019.