Damian’s Ice Cream is building a new distribution center in Milton’s I-10 Industrial Park. And the incredibly missed frozen lemonade will be sold again for the first time in years. On Feb. 20, they held a groundbreaking event for the new site.

Night to Shine is a remarkable global celebration, centered on God’s love, with the mission to honor and value people with special needs. Local churches from all around the world host a prom on the same night for anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. Started by the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine is free for all attendees, thanks to the generous donations of the community.

On Feb. 11 the Milton Garden Club celebrated Valentine’s Day early with a guest speaker who spoke on a matter close to their hearts, gardening tips and tricks.

John Todorovich is a teacher University of Florida and a master gardener with the school’s extension office known as the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). He spoke about understanding garden hazards and explained why they occur.

In what was touted to be a balance between so-called experts and citizens, the Santa Rosa County commissioners voted Feb. 13 to increase the number of seats at the task force table from 10 to 12 and include a handful of builders.

The commissioners previously agreed to collectively choose the experts portion of the panel and then designate a citizen from each of the five districts. Increasing the number of seats by two increased the experts panel by two, leaving the citizens’ representation at five.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Amnesty Day will be held Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 8 a.m. to noon at the South Santa Rosa Service Center, 5841 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. in Gulf Breeze. This event allows residents to dispose of HHW at no charge without having to drive to the Central Landfill in Milton.

The overcast weather did not stop the rain of colorful beads, sweet treats, and toys for every boy and girl thrown at this year’s Mardi Gras Parade.

The 2025 Milton Mardi Gras Parade hosted by the Krewe of Airship Pirates brought smiles to adults and children alike on Feb. 15.

On Feb. 12, the award-winning restaurant Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q opened its new location Pace. With the help of Santa Rosa County officials, they celebrated their grand opening.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Bobby Burkett, President/CEO Jim Ponek, and the Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce members showed up to support the local owner, Rich Rylke.

Building relationships one cup at a time the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office hosted Coffee with a Cop at Mama Lattes on Feb. 15.

Police officers often face distrust from the public. Captain Keith Kauffman and Sergeant Chris Cognac from Hawthorne, Calif., created Coffee with a Cop in 2011. Their goal is to restore trust between officers and the citizens they serve.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Florida of the March 17 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred May 10, 2024. 

The Florida Department of Health and Students Working Against Tobacco, support the banning of not just cigarettes at public parks, but all tobacco use. At the county commission meeting Feb. 10, they shared why.

Santa Rosa County ordinances state park visitors must comply with no smoking at parks where signage is posted. But those signs may need to be changed to no tobacco, as local groups are advocating to have ordinance language expanded to include e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.