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MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. –February 9, 2021—The Emerald Coast’s official Big Green Egg EggFest cooking competition, Eggs on the Beach, is returning to Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach on Oct. 16, 2021. Presented by Bay Breeze Patio, the family-friendly event celebrates the delicious results of cooking on the Big Green Egg while benefitting two local charities–the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought. Cook teams will be smoking, grilling and baking their favorite dishes on the Big Green Egg while tasters sample the delicious bites and vote for their favorites.
The annual cooking competition unites cook teams, ranging from backyard grillers to local restaurants to local non-profit organizations. Cook teams prepare a variety of dishes from meats and seafood to veggies and desserts on the Big Green Egg in an effort to earn the “People’s Choice” votes and a brand new large Big Green Egg.
New for the 2021 Eggs on the Beach cooking competition is the new enhanced location behind the Seascape Towne Center overlooking the pond and fountain. The new location will allow each cook team to have their own 10×10 tent, allowing for more prep space and social distancing. In addition, the tiki bar, public restrooms and access to Seascape Towne Center businesses will provide added convenience and enjoyment for cook teams and tasters.
“We’re excited to see this event evolve,” said Bay Breeze Patio co-owner and event co-founder Wayne Paul. “Bigger is not always better. After canceling the 2020 event, we’re coming back better than ever. The new location at Seascape will allow us to hold a more intimate and customized experience. The best part is that Eggs on the Beach will once again support two incredible local non-profits that are serving needs in our community among students and active and retired military.”
Non-profit teams will again have an opportunity to compete for cash prizes and proceeds from the event benefit The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast and Food for Thought. The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast provides a home away from home for military families during medical treatment, and Food for Thought is fighting hunger and food insecurity among area students by providing backpacks with healthy snacks for students in Walton and Okaloosa Counties.
The cooking competition will be enhanced by kid’s activities, live music, and drawings for a chance to win a Mini-Max Big Green Egg and more. In addition, top ranked college football games will be aired
in the ENCO Sports Zone. Beverages including beer, wine, cocktails, water and sodas will be available for purchase.
For those who have thought of owning a Big Green Egg, Demo Eggs, which are used during the competition, are available for pre-sale at a discounted price. Demo Eggs are available in Large or XLarge and come with a nest (metal stand) and plate setter along with a limited lifetime warranty. Demo Eggs are used during the event and will be available for pick-up between 4 – 5 p.m. on October 16. Eggcessories, including temperature controls, baking stones, egg covers, and cooking utensils, will also be discounted during the event.
Save the date! Eggs on the Beach will take place from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Cook team registration will open in April. Taster tickets will be on sale soon. To learn more, visit www.EggsontheBeach.com.
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Destin Banner Art brings coastal flair to Main Street in Destin.  Our Community Ambassador, Kathryn Guidry of Valparaiso, was a featured artist and painted a sunset scene with a heron.  Many of you know Kathryn as our designer extraordinaire, contributing to all our creative projects throughout the year.  Kathryn was interviewed for the banner art, and courtesy of the Destin Log, an excerpt appears below.  Kathryn was joined in this effort with another incredible Fisher House supporter, Kathy Schumacher who donates highly sought after art each year at our Helping Heroes Gala.

“I did it because it kind of reflects the area and the colors were very vivid, so I thought it would make a perfect banner,” Guidry said.

Although this is Guidry’s first time to participate in the banner project, she’s dabbled in all sorts of arts and crafts all her life.

“Growing up I had a father who was very artistic and talented … so I guess it kind of runs in the family,” she said.

When her children went off to college, she had more time on her hands and took painting lessons.

Since then she has done artwork to raise money for such local organizations as the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society and Children in Crisis. She’s also very involved with Fisher House.

Fisher House is located on Eglin Air Force Base and provides a “home away from home” so that military families can be together during treatment for serious illnesses.

More:2019 – Art banners installed on Main Street

“That’s my big project,” she said, noting that her husband is retired military.

She first started her volunteering with us while in high school, raising money as part of the Miss Niceville High School pageant, donating $2100 as the Peoples Choice/Runner Up, she joined us as Dorothy with the Grand Boulevard Festival of Trees, we placed second, joined us for the Helping Heroes Gala, parents and sister in tow, and this past Christmas, she came home from college and hosted a fundraiser with her mom and friends, raising another $760 for our families. I love this girl and her heart for serving military and veteran families. HEY, she is part of a military family too and they raised her right. Kudos Pam and Pete! Lauren will also be coming home from school in April to volunteer at the Wine Festival. The sky is the limit!

Connect with holistic practitioners, sports and strength training professionals, weight management, natural & non-invasive anti-aging treatments. Demonstrations, as well as more than $5,000 in raffle prizes and vendor giveaways. Here for more info.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military family community.  The application period is open until 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, Wednesday, February 17th, 2021.  Apply at sfmc.militaryscholar.org.

Hosted from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center

Plug into fresh, smart, creative, fun ways to connect our minds, body, heart & soul to one another in a Whole Life Connection.
Experience pathways to whole living from local artisans, natural cosmetic solutions, organic food & cooking, holistic disciplines, sports & strength training. Interactive demos, workshops, raffles. Over $3000 in prizes and proceeds from Admission and raffle sales to benefit OUR Fisher House & Children’s Hospital.  More info here:  Wellness Unplugged-Whole Life Connection | Facebook

Tickets can be purchased here.

The Scholarships for Military Children Program, academic year 2021-2022, began accepting applications Dec. 14, and the deadline for submissions is Feb. 17.

In existence for 21 years, the program recognizes the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and celebrates the commissary’s role in enhancing military quality of life. Thus far, SMCP has awarded more than $20.1 million to 11,814 students, selected from a pool of nearly 105,000 applicants.

SMCP is administered by the Fisher House Foundation. Funding comes from commissary business partners and other earmarked contributions. Every dollar received is given out as a scholarship grant. Additionally, the foundation matches all donations, dollar for dollar, and does not charge for its services.

Read more here. 

The Port of Vancouver USA welcomed the USNS Fisher, a vessel with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) on December 12 for a stay of approximately nine months, as the temporary home port for the 951-foot long vessel. The ship will be docked at the port’s berths 13 and 14 and will offer an impressive sight to river users and those able to view it from the Oregon side of the Columbia River.

Read More Here

Each November, the Emerald Coast Exchange Club hosts Salute a Veteran at the Armament Museum.  This year’s event, on November 14, will feature hundred of flags flying in front of the Armament Museum, each bearing a tag honoring veterans who have served our country and new to this year, thanks to a generous sponsor, Bevilacqua Research Corporation – Chef Dan’s Fuel food truck will be serving complimentary meals to veterans from 11-1, pre-registration required. Come join the patriotic ceremony at 8:00 a.m. , enjoy being outdoors, walk among the flags at the Armament Museum and pick up some great food from our friends at One 20 A Modern Bistro.  Reserve your ticket here for a FREE meal.  

To sponsor a flag:

This fundraiser  helps provide scholarships and support the organization’s four programs of service: Americanism, Youth Scholarships, Community Service Projects and the Prevention of Child & Elderly Abuse. Flags are available for sponsorship:  Please fill out the form below and mail it with your check to: Emerald Coast Exchange Club, PO Box 2022, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549. If you would like to add a photo, please include it with your submission. Deadline for a request to display a flag is November 1.