Panama City Beach - Cape St. George Light

If you are visiting our Panama City Beach Condo, a day trip to Apalachicola and St. George Island is a fun way to pass some time and see some historical buildings. If you go we recommend the restaurant on the corner in downtown Apalachicola for lunch.

ST. GEORGE ISLAND - The 153-year-old Cape St. George Light has been moved and opened again today. Three years ago the lighthouse sat on uninhabited Little St. George Island, accessible only by boat and boarded up as a safety hazard. It was leaning slightly as the Gulf of Mexico swirled past its base along the eroded shoreline until the 74-foot lighthouse finally succumbed to the sea, smashing to pieces.

On Saturday, the lighthouse doors opened and a line of people climbed the new set of pine steps circling inside the 19th-century bricks before, hoisting themselves up a metal ladder through a small rectangular hole to the lamp house. It marked the end of a rescue mission that was improbable at best and thought crazy by most. "It's just absolutely thrilling," said Eddie Lueken, 52, of Tallahassee as she stood in the glass-enclosed lamp room which was warmed by the sun. "This is a piece of history transplanted here."

Almost anyone who saw Cape St. George Light after it fell would have thought it was lost forever. Large chunks of bricks and the mangled metal lamp house were awash in the surf. Logic would have told most that it couldn't be saved. "It looked like such a heap of rubble that I thought it was overambitious to try it," said Mike Roehr, 67, who lives on St. George with his wife, Connie, 50. "It shows what I know." Shortly after it fell, Dennis Barnell and Terry Kemp went out to take a look. What they saw was discouraging, but they decided if dinosaurs can be pieced back together, so could Cape St. George Light. They were already part of a group, the St. George Lighthouse Association, that was hoping to stabilize the structure and move it back to higher ground.

Once the lighthouse crumbled, the mission changed. The association worked through a bureaucratic maze of federal, state and county government to get the project approved and started. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided money to recover and move the lighthouse pieces. Volunteers spent thousands of hours cleaning the old bricks. The association raised money through T-shirt sales, fundraisers and other events and state lawmakers provided $350,000 to help. Contractors cut rates, volunteers provided labor and the lighthouse rose again at the end of the 4-mile bridge that connects St. George with Eastpoint on the other side of Apalachicola Bay, about 77 miles southwest of Tallahassee. "It was total devotion on their part," said Lueken, who has a vacation house on St. George. "It was a labor of love if there was ever one."

Residents and tourists from as far away as The Netherlands stood in line Saturday for about an hour to climb the 92 steps -- not including the ladder through the 22-inch by 21-inch rectangle to the top. One boy shouted to his parents, "Whoa! This is awesome!" in a voice that echoed around the small room. While maybe a little more subdued, adults making the climb were also enthralled. "Neat! Awesome! Look at the bridge," said Connie Roehr, experiencing an entirely new view of the long, narrow island that she's known her whole life. It wasn't her first time climbing steps in the lighthouse, but it was the first time she made it to the top. When Roehre was a child, her parents would take her by boat to Little St. George where the abandoned lighthouse stood. It wasn't open to the public, but she would still venture inside.
"There wasn't anything that said that we couldn't," Roehr said with a laugh. "We didn't go very far."

Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - The Beach is Going Green

I am struggling with ideas for a post today, so how about a little Green Humor.

The following suggestion is from “The Circuit” the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce magazine. The latest issue was dedicated to going Green and the following suggestion was listed under a section about having Green meetings at work.

Use edible centerpieces. Centerpieces that consist of delicious fruits and veggies are a smart way to cut back on the cost and waste of expensive flower arrangements. Many florists fly in their products from all over the world, wasting and adding to their carbon footprint.

Seems to me that the person suggesting this forgot that lots of our fruit is also imported from all over the world, which would also waste and add to their carbon footprint. What about eating all of that fiber? Lot’s more trips to the bathroom resulting in the unnecessary use of millions of gallons of water

Why not just save the money and do without the flowers and fruit?

How about letting us know of other funny and bogus suggestions to go Green or some real ways to save and conserve.

Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Leftover Turkey Recipe

Our favorite leftover turkey recipe is my Mom's Turkey Enchiladas. Enjoy!!

Turkey Enchiladas

2- 4 oz cans green chilis
1- large clove garlic, minced
2 T plus 1/3 cup salad or olive oil
1 ½ pounds fresh ripe tomatoes or 1 large can 16 or 12 ounces
2 cups chopped onions
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon oregano
3 cups shredded or diced turkey
2 cups sour cream
½ pound shredded cheddar cheese
½ pound shredded jack cheese
12 corn tortillas

Rinse seeds from chili peppers and chop. Saute with garlic and 2 tablespoons oil. Peel and chop tomatoes. Add with onion, 1 tsp salt, oregano and ½ cup water to chili mixture. Simmer slowly uncovered until thick – about 30 minutes. Combine turkey with sour cream, half the cheese and remaining salt. Heat oil. Dip tortillas in hot oil just until limp. Blot with paper towels. Fill with turkey mixture. Roll and arrange in shallow pan, seams down. Pour sauce over top. Sprinkle with other half of cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

What is your favorite leftover turkey recipe?

Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Weekend Holiday Events

Here are some Holiday-related activities in Bay County this weekend:

FRIDAY, NOV. 28
Home For The Holidays: Every Friday until Christmas in downtown Panama City.
Pier Park Tree Lighting: 6 p.m. in Town Center across from Old Navy. Santa will arrive by the Pier Park Express. Appearance by Mayor Gayle Oberst; live entertainment and holiday festivities.

Historic Apalachicola Christmas Celebration will light up downtown Apalachicola from 4-8 p.m. The streets will be lined with luminaries and filled with the sounds of carolers. Businesses also will be open late. Santa will arrive on a shrimp boat at 4:30 p.m. at the City Dock on Water Street, across from City Hall. Details: Call the Chamber office at (850) 653-9419.

Apalachicola Festival Of Trees: Nov. 28 to Dec. 13: Christmas trees decorated by area professionals and groups will be on display. Champagne reception is Dec. 13 from 7-9 p.m. Donations at the door.

SATURDAY, NOV. 29
Apalachicola Yule Log Lighting And Caroling: Nov. 29 from 1-4 p.m. Santa visits with children downtown, caroling, lighting of the Yule Log at dusk.

The Classic Russian ‘Nutcracker': The Willis Ballet and The Saint-Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya; 7:30 p.m. at the Marina Civic Center in downtown Panama City; Admission: $24, $34, $44; Tickets: (850) 763-4696 ; Discount: Visit www.willisballet.com to print out a flyer for a 15 percent discount; Details.

SUNDAY, NOV. 30
Apalachicola Tree of Remembrance: Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. A non-denominational ceremony at the City Christmas Tree, Water Street and Avenue E, to remember those no longer with us.
Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends!
Jerry

Panama City Beach - Stores Open On Thanksgiving

Tired of Turkey?

Here's a list of Panama City Beach area stores, restaurants and entertainment venues that will be open on Thanksgiving

CVS - Open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Big Lots - Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Books-A-Million - Open noon to 9 p.m.
Dollar tree - Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dollar General - Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Grocery Outlet both locations: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
K-Mart - Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wal Greens - Open 24 hours
Wal-Mart All locations - Open 24 hours
Winn-Dixie - Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Restaurants

Boatyard - Open
Breakers - Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Charlie Coram's - Open
Dirty Dick's Crabhouse - Open 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Domino's Pizza Beach locations -2 to 9 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn - Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kingfish - Open 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pineapple Willy's - Open 11:30 a.m.
Pizza Hut - Open 4 to 10 p.m.
Po Folks - Open 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. .
Sonic Drive In - 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Starbucks Mall location: 1 to 9 p.m.
Starbucks LynnHaven location: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Starbucks Callaway location: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m .
Starbucks Pier Park location: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
TGI Fridays - Opens at 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Entertainment

Blockbuster Video - 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Movie Gallery - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Open 4 to 7 p.m.
Rock'it Lanes - Open 2 p.m. until.

Other

Seawind Medical Clinic Panama City location - Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free Thanksgiving meals will be served at the Panama City Rescue Mission, 609 Allen Ave., from 11 a.m. to 2 pm.
Best Panama City Beach Condos for Rent

Panama City Beach - Thanks and Giving Time

Here is a Panama City Beach giving opportunity...Bay County firefighters are hosting a holiday food drive in an effort to help those in need this season. According to a news release, food donations can be dropped off at any county fire station from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Monday, Dec. 22.
The food items will then be delivered to the Panama City Rescue Mission Food Bank. Only canned and non-perishable food items can be accepted. Bay County Fire Stations are located at:

• Thomas Drive Fire Station 1, 2913 Thomas Drive
• West Bay Fire Station 6, 6224 Laird Circle Drive
• North West Side Fire Station 7, 3211 Michigan Ave.
• Southport Fire Station 8, 2115 County 2321
• Sand Hills Fire Station 9, 13010 State 77
• Bear Creek / Youngstown Fire Station 11, 11711 U.S. 231
• Bayou George Fire Station 12, 9033 County 2301
• Hiland Park Fire Station 14, 2801 Lafayette Road

If firefighters are not at the station during a drop-off, donors may leave donations next to the front door. Firefighters will be checking regularly for food in the drop-off boxes.
For more information, call Deputy Chief Brad Monroe 850-819-0356; Lt. Gene Brandow at 850-596-2222; Lt. Ray Hottinger at 850-258-8878