If you are reading Navarre Press, then you care about your community and you are an informed citizen. There may be many reasons you want to know what is happening in your community. Perhaps you don’t want to be the last to know, or maybe you want to be the first to know.

One of the things in life that is certain is change. Time brings about healing, distance from what it was we were fired up about and a willingness to look to a better future. Not all change is good – and change for the sake of change is not good. But last week, Navarre got to experience change for the better. Two chambers – once a source of dividing our community – have come together as one. It was something that required the right people and the right time.

Congratulations to the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate 50 years of service to the business community. We are so proud of all they have accomplished in their history and look forward to the next 50 years.

As I go to meetings and listen to meetings in Santa Rosa County and now Okaloosa County, I realize how valuable it is to know what is going on in two counties, not just one.

Sometimes we focus on what we don’t have, or situations we aren’t in, and we lose sight of what we do have and where we are. I know I have a lot to be thankful for – at all times – even when I’m wrapped up in the day-to-day busy-ness of life.

If you haven’t registered to vote in the November election, it’s too late.

The registration closed Tuesday, Oct. 11. Locally this election will decide your District 2 commissioner and District 4 commissioner for Santa Rosa County. You will also vote on whether or not you want Holley Navarre Fire District to be able to levy ad valorem taxes instead of the non-ad valorem fee you are currently paying.

Our reporter and team member, Ken Garner contributed the following one of our other newspapers, and I’m sharing it this week in my column.

This week (Oct. 2-8) is National Newspaper Week and, while it’s relatively anonymous as far as “holidays” go, it is a great time to consider just how important local newspapers are to communities across our nation and the world.

Cooler temperatures are here and that means the bears are on the move. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, (FWC) our black bears are joining their northern cousins in fattening up for the winter.

Black bears eat up to 20,000 calories a day in the fall. That means, they will be on the move and searching for good food “grub” even more than usual.

We will be experiencing a little louder “Sound of Freedom” this coming Monday – through Thursday, Sept. 12 – 15, when the 58th Fighter Squadron of Eglin conducts night flying operations in the area when F-35 fighter aircraft will conduct missions between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Night flying is required for 58th FS training operations and we are glad they are receiving the training they need.

We are excited for the fun of the Beaches to Woodlands tour to begin as they celebrate their 19th anniversary of connecting north and south Santa Rosa County with events.

We hope you will take part in the fun and venture up to the north end of the county for some adventure there as well. There is an outline of events with dates in this issue.