’18 miles of virgin beach’ now open to public



You can get there from here, now that the road is open all the way from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach. Construction crews released J. Earle Bowden Way to the Florida Department of Transportation on Tuesday to inspect the road before releasing it to the National Park Service. “It’s 18 miles of just virgin beach,” Sandy Johnson, executive director of […]

Pensacola Beach preparing for Spring Breakers



It’s March and Pensacola Beach is steadily preparing for Spring Break. Santa Rosa Island Authority board members, at their Feb. 25 committee meeting heard several encouraging bits of news about new businesses opening and existing businesses expanding. Gary Powell told the SRIA that the Portofino Boardwalk is entirely leased to professional businesses. “You have to be professional to make it […]

Busy Beach Optimists serve with a smile



The members of the Pensacola Beach Optimists not only do a lot of good for the beach, but they also have a lot of fun while doing so. Their gatherings are parties with a purpose and the purpose is to befriend youth, whether through benefitting the local elementary school or supporting Optimist International’s goals to help children who are fighting […]

The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide, Longfellow said



Many of us would try almost anything to avoid the difficult moments in life. That is especially true when it comes to disability or illness. In spite of the fact that we would not welcome it, difficulty often turns out to be a good teacher, especially if we see ourselves not as a victim, but as a seeker after truth. […]

This week on Pensacola Beach



Colleges on Spring Break this week include: Florida A&M; Florida Atlantic University; Georgia State; Rice March 9-13: Alabama A&M; Baylor; East Tennessee State; Eastern Kentucky; Florida State; Naval Academy; Stephen F. Austin; Tennessee State; Tennessee Tech; Texas Christian; Texas State; University of Central Florida; University of Florida; University of Georgia; University of Memphis; university of Tampa; and University of West […]

And the winner is . . .



Cherry Fitch, joined on stage by Mark Lee (left) and Gary Michaels, thanks the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce after their company, Levin & Rinke Resort Realty, was honored as the 2008 Business of the Year during the Chamber’s Awards Gala on Saturday, Feb. 28 at New World Landing in Pensacola. Behind the trio is Resort Realty colleague Brian […]

SR School District, ACLU find common ground



Students can still pray in Santa Rosa County schools. Teachers can still pray in Santa Rosa County Schools. They just cannot pray together. The Santa Rosa County School Board voted unanimously Monday night during a special meeting to approve a negotiated Consent Decree on the American Civil Liberties (ACLU) lawsuit pending against the school district in the U.S. District Court […]

Gulf Breeze bar asks council for extended hours



At Monday night’s Gulf Breeze City Council meeting, the development team of Nick and Scott Wheatley and Nick Bodkins, proprietors of The Bridge bar, asked council to consider extending the hours city code allows them to serve alcohol. “We’d like the council to consider a few changes,” said Bodkins. “We’d like some advice on how to bring up an ordinance […]

GBHS wins state Science Olympiad

School Board chairman urges support from public sector for trip to Nationals

The Gulf Breeze High School Science Olympiad team is getting set to compete in the National Science Olympiad Competition after winning State at the University of Central Florida on Saturday, Feb. 28. There’s no time to celebrate. The students already are back to work on their State award-winning projects to perfect them for Nationals. “We have some very dedicated students […]

Lees ‘blessed, humbled’ to be county’s top teacher

Milton teacher feted during annual Golden Apple Awards banquet

Beth Lees finally decided to be a school teacher during her freshman year at Troy University, but it was apparent at an early age that she had teaching in her blood. “It shouldn’t have been a surprise to me or anyone,” Lees said. “Not just because my mother has taught at Locklin (Technical School) for 25 years, but when I […]