Santa Rosa elections supervisor sets candidate workshop
MILTON — The Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections Office will conduct a candidate workshop for anyone interested in running for office.
The workshop will be held Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. in the County Commissioners Meeting Room at 6495 Caroline St. in Milton.
Topics covered will include offices up for election in 2018, requirements to run for office, qualifying, the petition process, political advertising, campaign finances, and reporting requirements.
Call the Elections Office at 983-1900 or visit www.votesantarosa.com for details.
Sacred Heart sets free flu shots, screenings
During October, Sacred Heart Health System will provide free flu shots at locations in Pensacola, Cantonment and Pace for adults who are poor, elderly or uninsured.
Only individuals ages 18 and up are eligible for these flu shots. In addition, heart-health screenings will be provided at locations in Pensacola and Cantonment.
Heart-health screenings will measure blood pressure, blood sugar and total cholesterol, and can detect anemia. The screenings are helpful in diagnosing conditions that put people at high risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other health problems.
Following is the October schedule for remaining adult screenings:
•Oct. 26 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Community Clinic, 131 W. Intendencia St., Pensacola. Flu shots.
•Oct. 31 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at West Milton Church of Christ, 5300 U.S. Highway 90, Pace. Flu shots.
For more information about Sacred Heart's ''Mission in Motion'' community-health screenings, call 416-7826.
Santa Rosa Extension sets free 'Cooking with Herbs' class
MILTON — Experts from the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Santa Rosa County Extension Office will offer a class on cooking with herbs.
The session, free to attend without pre-registration, is available 10 a.m. Oct. 20 at the Gulf Breeze Library, 1060 Shoreline Drive in Gulf Breeze
Ginny Hinton, UF-IFAS Extension Santa Rosa County Family and Consumer Sciences agent, will discuss the secret to spicing up your dishes without adding extra salt or fat.
For questions about the class contact Bethany Diamond at 675-6654 or bethanydiamond@ufl.edu.
Economic injury disaster loan deadline set
MILTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations that Oct. 23 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans in Florida.
Applicants must have endured hardships as a result of the drought that began on Dec. 1, 2016.
The declaration includes these Florida counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington.
Santa Rosa County Farm Tour returns in October
MILTON —The 51st Annual Santa Rosa County Farm Tour will be held Tuesday, Oct. 24, beginning at the Santa Rosa County Extension office located at 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton.
The farm tour will highlight a wide range of agricultural and natural resource stops including the Blackwater State Forest, Future Farmers of America and 4-H livestock projects, longleaf working forest, and invasive cogongrass management.
Annually, approximately 200 residents join on the tour and discover what the county's agriculture and natural resources have to offer. They ride in a charter bus and enjoy a catered lunch. The tour will award the Farm Family of the Year to Burlin and Levi Findley of Wild Boar Farms.
Bus space is limited. The fee to reserve your spot is $20. Register at www.SRCFarmTour17.eventbrite.com.
For more information, contact the Santa Rosa County extension office at 623-3868.
Dedicated Women in Christ Conference scheduled
MILTON — The Dedicated Women in Christ Conference 2017 will present anointed speakers and fellowship with women from around the country.
The event is set Thursday, Oct. 26 through Saturday, Oct. 28 at Heart of God Church Ministries Inc., 6151 Dogwood Drive, Milton. The Rev. Victor T. Alexander is pastor there.
Morning sessions start at 9 a.m.; evening sessions start at 6:30 p.m. The theme is “Waiting on God.” The conference is free for women who attend.
For more information, contact Sister Sadie Alexander at 476-2266.
Drive-through rabies clinic on tap
MILTON — The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) and Santa Rosa Animal Control will host a drive-through rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Oct. 27.
The clinic will be from 4-6 p.m. at the Animal Services facility at 4451 Pine Forest Road in Milton.
Veterinarians from Pace Veterinary Clinic and The Ark Animal Hospital will provide the vaccine and administer the injections for $10. Cash and checks will be accepted. A valid driver’s license will be required for all checks. A certificate of vaccination and rabies tag will be provided. No other services will be available. Pets must be secured in a vehicle, crate or on a leash.
“Once again we are happy to be able to partner with Animal Control and the local veterinarians to provide this service,” said Sandra L. Park-O’Hara, ARNP, administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County. “These clinics are always well-attended. Typically, the veterinarians and their staff will vaccinate 200 to 300 dogs and cats. It’s a very worthwhile effort.”
Rabies is a disease that affects the brain. The virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals through a bite or scratch. In the United States, more than 90 percent of rabies cases occur in wild animals such as raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats, but domesticated animals can carry it as well.
Treating people who have been exposed to rabies can be expensive, and insurance does not always cover the cost. Those seeking post exposure treatment are usually seen first in a hospital emergency room to begin the shots, and may receive the rest of the series at the health department. Since Jan. 1, DOH-Santa Rosa has provided post exposure rabies shots to 16 people at a cost of about $15,704.00.
Christ United Methodist Church organizes pumpkin patch
MILTON — Christ United Methodist Church at 5983 Dogwood Drive is having its annual Pumpkin Patch 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct.6-31; it's open seven days a week.
There is a decorated area for picture taking as well as hay rides on the weekends. Native Americans nurture the pumpkins in the southwest United States.
All proceeds will go toward the children’s fund at the church. "Come down to the Pumpkin Patch and pick out your prized pumpkin or two," an event media release states.
Contact the church at 623-8820 for more information.
Vendors, artists and crafters sought for fair
MILTON — St. Mary’s Episcopal Church seeks artists and crafters for its annual Winter Arts and Crafts Fair.
This event is set noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the historic church on 6849 Oak St., in Milton. The church seeks vendors to showcase their handiwork including custom jewelry, art, woodcrafts and candles.
Inside booth space is available for $45 for both days and includes one 6-foot table. Outside booths are $20 for one day and $35 for both. Set-up will be from 9-11:30 a.m. Dec. 1. Space is limited. Use of electricity costs $5.
Contact the church at 623-2905 or stmarysmiltonflorida@gmail.com for a vendor application.
Santa Rosa Art Association offers art grants
MILTON — The Santa Rosa Art Association Inc. is offering up to $200 art grants to individual classroom teachers in any discipline and up to $300 for teams or grade-level teachers in any discipline in Santa Rosa County for use in the 2017-2018 school term.
The money used must fund art education projects of some kind — whether that involves art creation, history or appreciation — and teachers must produce tangible proof of completion.
Teachers applying for a grant may submit as individuals or as a team, may be assigned to any grade level, and do not have to be art teachers.
Evidence of satisfactory completion may include art products, documents, video or photographs. Selected teachers will receive the funds in their school accounts by January with expected completion and documentation by the school year's end.
Visit www.sraamilton.com or email m2009br@gmail.com for an application.
Business offering $55K in scholarships for high school seniors
GULF BREEZE — Mediacom Communications is offering $55,000 in scholarships to support high school seniors planning to further their education. In its 17th consecutive year, the company's scholarship program will award $1,000 World Class Scholarships to 55 high school seniors.
Scholarship recipients can use the financial award to support educational expenses for higher education or vocational training from any accredited post-secondary institution starting in the fall of 2018. Award selection is based on academic achievement and leadership.
Applications for the company's World Class Scholarships are available at www.mediacomworldclass.com. All high schools in the business' served communities received informational cards asking school officials to make seniors aware of the scholarship and encourage submission of applications on or before the Feb. 16, 2018 deadline.
Applicants do not have to be the company's customers but must live in areas where the business provides broadband, video, phone and other digital communication services.
A complete list of communities in the company's service areas is included with the online application.
Send inquiries to scholarship@mediacomcc.com.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa Community Briefs