SoWal Scene - South Walton County, Florida Blog

SoWal Scene Q & A - Lauren Romano of Heartworks Kids

If there really are angels amongst us, local resident and one of my dearest friends, Lauren Romano, is one of them.  I caught up with Lauren recently online to ask her about her new venture called Heartworks Kids.  Read on, folks ... it truly is an amazing thing Lauren is creating in our community.

How long have you lived in South Walton?  Where did you move from?

Our family has been here for about 5 years now. After living in Boulder, Colorado for 17 years we decided to make the move to the beach.

Why South Walton?

We had heard about this area for a long time and planned a trip to travel from Panama City to Gulf Shores eight summers ago. When we came across South Walton...we fell in love.

A year later we came on vacation again with our first born. Before we left, we put a contract on a cute little Florida beach house. We were crying as we drove to the airport, our hearts were heavy, this place was really getting to us. My husband and I would find every excuse to come for a visit over the next two years.

Then in Aug of '03 we said, "That's it with the rat race!" and moved down in December. People thought we were crazy, but we didn't care. Florida had captured our souls and we never looked back. I think my husband would agree that it was the best decision we ever made.

Tell us all about Heartworks Kids. Where did the inspiration come from to start it?

Some Hip Happenings for the Kiddos in June and July!

Alys Beach
Call 850.213.5500 or email events@alysbeach.com for more information.

• Sandcastle Building Lessons
  Wednesdays from 1-3 pm
  Location: Alys Beach in front of walkover
  Join local master sand sculptor Mark Flynn and learn to build towers, walls and arches like a pro.

• Beachology 101 with Christian Wagley
  Thursdays from 9-10 am
  Location: Alys Beach in front of walkover
  Meet and learn more about the fish, crabs, shells, dune plants, and other residents of the beach and shallow Gulf waters. We'll use nets and our hands to catch some of these wild critters of the beach and Gulf, talk about how they survive in this dynamic area, and then set them free to live another day. Come ready to get wet and have fun!

• Grady Thrasher Book Signing at Fonville Press
  July 1 from 9 - 10 am
  Location: Fonville Press
  Join us for a special guest visit from author Grady Thrasher as he reads from newly released childrens book "Tim and Sallys Beach Adventure." This beautifully illustrated picture book finds America's favorite brother and sister team heading to the beach with their parents and their friendly dog, Flip. Illustrator Elaine Hearn Rabon will be on hand to inspire budding artists to create beach drawings of their own. It's a sunny adventure you won't want to miss!

Rosemary Beach
For more information, call 850.278.2032.

• Moonlight & Movies
  Location:  Western Green
  Every Thursday Night at 8:15pm.  Bring your blanket and lawn chairs for a free family movie  Call for info on what is showing.

Sandestin
For more information, call 850.267.8117.

• Sunset Cinema
  Location: Village Events Plaza at Baytowne Wharf . 
  Every Thursday at 8pm.  This kid-friendly event is free and open to the public.  Call for info on what is showing.
• Mini Gras & Boomin' Tuesdays with Fireworks
  Location: Village Events Plaza at Baytowne Wharf .
  Every Thursday at 7pm.  An evening of fun and merriment at the Village with special children’s activities sprinkled throughout the events plaza. Each week the village will choose a king and queen to lead the parade and participants will get to show off their beads as they prance through the streets. Every Tuesday at 9:00pm the village hosts a beautiful fireworks show over the lagoon!
• July 4th Red, White & Baytowne Celebration
  Location: Village Events Plaza at Baytowne Wharf.
  Travel through the village and experience the sights and sounds of the 4th of July. We will host a variety of children's activities throughout the evening along with live music sure to entertain all ages. Then, the Village of Baytowne Wharf presents a magical fireworks extravaganza illuminating the skies to celebrate our country's Independence Day - Festivities from 5:00 - 10:00pm.

Seaside
Call 850.231.0733 for more information.

• Seaside Repertory Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty
  Location: Seaside Amphitheater 
  Every Monday evening at 730pm  - Free
  A group of actors solicits help from the young audience to perform this well-known fairy tale with its rich characters including a wise Frog, a garrulous Bush, the lively Briar Rose, her well-meaning but testy Father, and, of course, the drama of the blessing of Briar Rose by the fairies of Earth, Wind, and Water and the Fairy of Fire's curse of a 100 year slumber before Briar Rose awakens to recognize "what she has never seen and live in joy." This is the archetypal story of timeless love and the virtues of patience.
• Starlight Film Series
  Location: Seaside Amphitheater 
  Every Friday Night at 8:30pm - Free
  Bring your blanket and lawn chairs for a free family movie.

WaterColor
Call 850.231.0733 for more information.

• Seaside Repertory Theatre presents Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
  Location: Marina Park Amphitheater
  Every Tuesday evening at through August 11 at 7:30pm - Free and open to the public
  What do you get when you take classic fairy tales and turn them on their head? According to The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, the Ugly Duckling grows up to be A Really Ugly Duck, Cinderella snubs Rumpelstiltskin, and the Princess kisses a frog only to end up with a mouthful of slime. Intertwined throughout the show, the zany takes on traditional fairy tales are sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Related Post: SoWal Scene List of 5 - Summer Activities for the kiddos

Have a children's event you want to add to the list?  Add a comment below!

SWFD Junior Lifeguard Program coming to South Walton

I was just talking with someone recently about how I was surprised the SWFD Lifeguard Division hadn't started a Junior Lifeguard program.  Well, lo and behold, I walk into Starbuck's yesterday and see a flyer on the bulletin board they are holding tryouts for...you guessed it...a new Junior Lifeguard program!

I jumped on the website this morning to try to find specific information to share but couldn't find any.  I believe they are holding tryouts for children between the ages of 10 and 15 but I will leave it up to you to call to find out all the fine details.  Call   850-267-1298 for more information.

..................................  UPDATE   UPDATE   UPDATE  ....................................

Just received this info! 

JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM
Program begins June 17, 2008
Boys and girls, ages 9-15

Swim tryouts at Ed Walline Beach Access on May 24 @ 8:30am and May 31@ 8:30am.
To register, call 850-267-1298

Mom and Dad - Summer is right around the corner!

A few weeks ago, I posted about how parents in South Walton are beginning the mad scramble to find activities for the kids during their summer break.  I have come across some other activities for those of you that are still trying to round out the schedule.  Enjoy!

• Summer Science Workshops at Perpetual Imagnination in Grayton Beach for K-5th grade children
  Staring Monday, June 2 | Monday - Friday at the following times: 10am-noon; 1-3pm; &3:30-5:30pm. | All workshops cost $30 | Also offering Sunday afternoon Coastal Dune Lake workshops ($60) which includes a kayak/canoe tour of Western Lake.  For more information or to register your child, call Melissa at 850-231-1400.
• Kidz Beach Lessons and Instruction in Ocean Sports near WaterColor for kids 8 and up.
  Surfing, Kayaking, Skimboarding, Boogie Boarding, Snorkeling and Paddle Boarding | Kidz Beach is a 3-hour program offered daily from 9 a.m. to noon. | $95 for one day (3-hour/per day), $240 for three days or $375 for 5 days. | For more information or to register your child, call 850.267.5646.
• KidZone Day Camp at Sandestin
  9am-2pm | cost is $55/day | Click HERE for the June schedule | For more information, call 850.267.8117.

Flute Workshop for Children at Fonville Press

Fonville Press—a popular coffee shop, newsstand and wine bar located on County Road 30A in Alys Beach—will host a free flute-playing workshop for children on Thursday, May 1st from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m.

The workshop will be led by composer, recording artist and “multi-instrumentalist” James Wisniewski of “wZ” (www.jimmiwz.com).

Over three decades, Wisniewski has studied and shared billings with such renowned artists as Julius Baker, Ornette Coleman and Herbie Mann. Following dozens of recordings, Wisniewski’s latest creations “echo of ancient musicians and vibrations of the present,” blending Oriental, Indian, Native and South American sounds.

SoWal Scene List of 5 - Summer Activities for the Kiddos

It's that time of year again for many SoWal parents - the mad scramble to find activities for the kids during their summer break.  Surpisingly, South Walton is still evolving as far as being an area that can claim it offers many options for quality year round childcare and summer camps and programs for local residents.  Baby steps - we're getting there. 

When we first moved here in 2001, there were really no options for parents so we must keep perspective - it is getting better.  For example, when the boys were in preschool, we had to make the hour-long round trip to the Roane School in Destin Monday through Friday.  Today, we now have a few excellent church-based preschools in SoWal.  I have heard there are long waiting lists to get into these already - attention fellow entrepreneurs - there is an oppoturnity here for someone to open up similar programs!

For summertime, parents have always gotten very creative - some end up hiring nannies, others send their older children to camps out-of-state or to stay with extended family, and others just do the shuffle with their offspring, signing them up for a bunch of activities throughout the summer all around the Emerald Coast, shuttling them between friends houses and that sort of thing.  I can hear some say, "Well, you have the beach!".  We do - and we all spend a lot of time there - but it's not enough to keep a child entertained for an entire summer.   

Preteens now, we have decided to send our boys to camp - one to Wisconsin, the other to Pennsylvania - and do the shuffle for the rest of their break.  I have been looking into some other things for them to do as well and it has inspired this week's SoWal Scene List of 5 - 5 summer programs for the kiddos in SoWal.  Enjoy! 

5th Annual Torre Rosa Benefit to be held on April 26

The 5th annual Torre Rosa benefitting the South Walton Montessori Academy will be April 26, 2008 from 6:00 to 9:30 PM on St. Augustine Park in Rosemary Beach. The theme this year is a good old fashioned barbeque, with great local music by Dread Clampitt & dancing under the moon! Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q will be catering and we’ll have a cash bar (wine and beer). Tickets are $75 each. We’ll also have a silent auction and are getting lots and lots of great stuff! Order your tickets securely online by clicking the button below or by calling 850-231-5955.

The South Walton Montessori Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), not for profit, private school in Walton County Florida, currently located in Rosemary Beach, FL.  The schools serves children from 18 months through 6th grade.  Your generous support of the school is sincerely appreciated.

Alys Beach Welcomes The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny will hop over to Alys Beach on Friday, March 21st.

“We’re very excited to welcome the Easter Bunny back to Alys Beach this year,” said Kelli Arnold, the town’s Events Coordinator. “He’ll greet guests and children in the courtyard of one of our new homes.”

The Easter Bunny’s visit coincides with a Courtyard Home Tour, which will also feature a performance by children from the New Gulf Coast Choir. The free Open House event will last from 6:00pm until 8:00pm, and is open to the public.

Fonville Press—a popular coffee shop, newsstand and wine bar located in Alys Beach directly on Scenic 30A—will also host its weekly “Après Beach” party that Friday, from 5:00pm until 9:00pm, with a live performance by The Justin Fobes Band.

Please note that the Courtyard Home Tour may be postponed in the event of inclement weather. For more information, please call 1-866-481-8387 or email events@alysbeach.com.

Perpetual Imagination - Part Science Center, Part Toy Store

A really cool little store opened up on Highway 283 in Grayton Beach a month before Christmas called Perpetual Imagination that is offering some really fun educational extracurriculars for children in kindergarten through 5th grade which, as most of us know, is lacking big time in SoWal. From their site, "Perpetual Imagination is a conceptual educational toy store that we envisioned as a cross between a hands-on science center and a toy store.  The resulting business is quite unique, with the owner/scientist on site to create new exhibits, answer questions, demonstrate products, and conduct and oversee hands-on science workshops."

They are now holding all kinds of neat hands-on science and art workshops every week (see February calender below) and also sell science lab kits, robotics kits, globes, microscopes, science project supplies, toys, and gifts.  They also offer birthday party services as well if you are looking for a unique place to celebrate your little one's big day.  On top of all that, I just found out they also offer tutoring for K - 5th grade students in science, math, english/reading, social studies, and spanish for only $15/hour!

Attention Moms and Dads

Just received this week's issue of Shark Bites in my inbox, Seaside Neighborhood School's weekly eNewsletter (I just love that I get most of my correspondence via email from SNS - it's so forward thinking and environmentally friendly...KUDOS to you SNS!)

Registration for the 2008-2009 school year has begun for all you parents with kiddos graduating to middle school next year and who want to send them to Seaside.  Applications must be completed and submitted with proof of Walton County residency by April 18, 2008 to be entered into the lottery (for those of you who don't know, there are only 113 students in total at SNS and therefore a limited number of spots for incoming 6th graders so they implement a lottery system every year).  Applications are available in the school office or through the school website at www.seasideschool.net.  Siblings of current SNS students must complete an application for enrollment and submit it by April 18 (note: siblings get automatic enrollment).

Good luck!