PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Panama City Beach is a Real.Fun.Beach 365 days a year, with more visitors discovering the destination every year. Once again, an extravaganza of themed events and activities will take place throughout November and December, culminating with the Panama City Beach Biggest Loser RunWalk on Dec. 28 and the Seventh Annual New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop on Dec. 31, featuring a kid-friendly Family Beach Ball Drop with 10,000 inflatable beach balls released onto Pier Park Drive at 8 p.m., followed by more music and entertainment until a huge beach ball is lowered as part of the countdown to the new year.
“Here in Panama City Beach, we don’t believe fun has an off-season,” shares President and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Dan Rowe. “We strive to deliver fun events throughout the year, so you always have an excuse to visit.”
Below is an overview of special holiday events and offerings in Panama City Beach. A comprehensive listing of all upcoming activities is available at www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.
Chili Vibrations – Reggae Festival & Chili Cookoff: Nov. 14-16
Bringing connoisseurs of island sounds and tasty chili together, the inaugural Chili Vibrations Reggae Festival & Chili Cookoff features the sounds of Julian Marley & the Uprising, Iration, Dirty Heads and Matisyahu taking the Aaron Besant Park Amphitheatre stage. In addition to world-class sounds, the International Chili Society sanctioned completion promises to tempt taste buds.
PGA Q-School: November 16-22

The Hombre Golf course is again hosting the PGA Tour Qualifying School in Panama City Beach, giving golfers the chance to earn their way onto the professional circuit. The course is both challenging and scenic, and spectators are invited to come out and watch the action unfold.
Run for the Redfish: Saturday, Dec. 6

The 2014 Run for the Redfish Half Marathon and 5K begins at Pier Park and travels down Front Beach Road, looping back to its start concluding with an after party at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Views of the Gulf of Mexico can’t be missed on one of the most picturesque courses in the Southeast. Last year over 850 runners participated and this year promises to deliver an even greater turnout.
Optimist Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 13
An annual Panama City Beach tradition, the parade includes floats from local businesses, schools, community groups, marching bands and car clubs weaving through Pier Park and along Front Beach Road.
Biggest Loser Run/Walk & Health Expo: Sunday, Dec. 27-28
Hosted by Dan and Jackie Evans, season five contestants on NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” the Half Marathon and 5K RunWalk was sold out last year with thousands participating. The non-intimidating environment offers visitors and locals an opportunity to kick off their New Year’s resolution to live a healthier lifestyle, or cap a successful year of striving for a healthier lifestyle, with a course that allows walkers to complete the race at their own pace.
Panama City Beach’s Sixth Annual Beach Ball Drop: Wednesday, Dec. 31
The Sixth Annual Beach Ball Drop at Pier Park will feature music, fireworks, and a countdown to midnight, when an 800-pound glowing beach ball descends to signify the New Year. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with a Family Celebration complete with prize drawings, stilt walkers, mascots and the countdown to a kid-friendly Family Beach Ball Drop at 8 p.m., consisting of fireworks and more than 10,000 inflatable beach balls released onto Pier Park Drive.
With more than 16,000 rooms in a variety of lodging categories from condos to beach resorts, Panama City Beach has something to suit every reveler this holiday season. One of America’s top beach destinations, Panama City Beach is renowned for its emerald-green waters and white sandy shores.
Visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com for a comprehensive updated listing of deals and values to soak in the remainder of 2014.

Surpora Sparks-Thomas, former senior vice president and chief nurse executive at Children’s Hospital can now add published author to her resume. She is the author of Equipped to Enjoy Life’s Journey.”
Thomas won the 1995 Pinnacle Award for Innovations in Medical Management and was named the Outstanding Nursing Administrator of the Year by the Alabama State Nurses’ Association in 1987. She was inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of fame in 2003, into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame in 2006, and was the first person inducted into the  Children’s Health System Nursing Hall of Fame and was the first person inducted into the when it was established in 2008. The Surpora Thomas Pediatric Nursing Education and Research Center at Children’s Hospital is named in her honor.
Mrs. Thomas has been the anointed teacher of the Living Biblical Principles Bible Study at New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church-Dolomite for over 25 years. She serves as a Deaconess, Sunday School teacher of the Adult Class and the Christian Education Director. She is Married to Jule Thomas and the mother of four daughters (Sonya, Sherri, Julena and Leah) two son-in laws (Eric and Tremaine) three granddaughters (Erica, Erin and Taylor)  two grandsons (Demaris and Jule) and one great grandson (Kamari).
Books may be Purchased at Amazon.com.

Invented by Domonique Torrence, the Spartan Pepper Spray Device keeps women safe in a whole new way. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BlackNews.com) — Domonique Torrence is garnering national headlines with his superhero inspired safety device. The Spartan is a new personal security device that slips over the hand and straps to your wrist leaving your hands free to open doors, carry grocery bags, jog, and even ride a bike. At a moment’s notice you are able to pepper spray your attacker without fumbling for it on your keychain or at the bottom of your purse. Sales of this safety product have far exceeded the company’s expectations.
With the great success, the Spartan pepper spray group believed that the company could do more for women and began brainstorming ideas that could support women’s safety.
The Spartan pepper spray team considered many options, but decided to solicit help from a few wealthy investors and cut the price of this safety device in half. Spartan spokes person states, “With rape and assaults on college campus across the U.S. at a all time high. We feel that more people should have this type of personal safety device so we wanted to make it affordable for all.”
Domonique V Torrence (inventor) was driven to create the device after a friend was beaten, robbed and raped on a college campus after leaving the library. He states, “She had pepper spray in her hand ready to go, but it was knocked out of her hand. I knew there had to be a better alternative.”
For additional information about The Spartan Pepper Spray Device, visit www.spartanpepperspray.com

Alabama’s Beloved Storyteller to be Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame 2015 Inductee

MARION, ALA: Kathryn Tucker Windham  will be inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame in March, 2015. The date will be announced later.
A native of Selma, graduate of Huntingdon College, and lifelong resident of Alabama, Windham is well-known as a master storyteller, author of twenty-four books, playwright, photographer and popular public television and radio personality.
Windham began her writing career at the age of twelve when she became movie editor for her Cousin Earl Tucker’s weekly newspaper, The Thomasville Times. After spending her childhood in Thomasville and graduating from Huntingdon College, she went to work as a reporter for The Alabama Journal.
In 1942, she moved to Birmingham, and in 1944 she joined The Birmingham News.  She married A.B. Windham in 1946, and they moved to Selma where their three children were born.
Windham joined the staff of The Selma Times-Journal in 1956, and won several Associated Press awards for writing and photography.
Although Windham retired from newspapering in 1973, she never retired from spinning tales and truths to anyone who would listen – and thousands did! She founded the Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival, which has been held annually in Selma since 1978.
Windham loved to tell stories about ghosts and about growing up in rural Alabama.  She was featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, and was a regular storyteller on Alabama Public Radio’s Alabama Life.
In 1995 she received the National Storytelling Association’s Circle of Excellence Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame’s guidelines, a nominee must have been deceased for two years. Windham died at age 93, on June 12, 2011, shortly before the publication of the last of her 29 books. It is entitled: She: The Old Woman Who Took Over My Life.
The induction ceremony will take place in Alumnae Auditorium on the Judson College campus in Marion, AL, and will be open to the public at no charge.  A luncheon in her honor will follow the induction ceremony. Reservations will be required for the luncheon.
The AWHOF, founded in 1970, is housed in the A. Howard Bean Hall on the campus of Judson College in Marion, AL.
The induction ceremony will be held in Alumnae Auditorium on the Judson College campus. Additional information will be available on the AWHOF website at www.awhf.org.

MIAMI – Throughout October, in conjunction with the 29th Annual Red Ribbon Week®, families and schools worked to decorate their homes and campuses to promote living healthy, drug-free lifestyles. Now they need your votes to win the grand prize: $1,000 for their school’s drug prevention programs and an iPad for their family or classroom.
The National Red Ribbon Photo Contest, sponsored by the National Family Partnership® and co-sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, was created in an effort to prevent drug use and educate youth during Red Ribbon Week and beyond.
“This contest ensures students hear our Red Ribbon Week message from multiple channels – at school and in their homes,” said NFP President Peggy Sapp. “It gives parents a natural way of bringing up the topics of drug abuse and prevention – and the importance of making smart decisions in the future.”
Voting is easy and the deadline is Nov. 19th. Simply visit www.RedRibbon.org/vote and decide which entry you feel best represents this year’s theme: “Love Yourself. Be Drug Free™”. You may vote up to 10 times per day in support of your favorite photo.
A total of 10 students and one school will be announced Dec.5th as winners of the 2014 National Red Ribbon Photo Contest.
To learn more about Red Ribbon Week, visit www.RedRibbon.org.

(NAPSA) – Recently, a program that helps put young people on a path to careers in science put one young man on a path that led to the White House.
Several weeks ago, Eddie Cuba, 11, met President Obama at the White House Science Fair in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as one of the million kids who have been inspired by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) through Time Warner Cable’s Connect a Million Minds (CAMM) initiative.
Thanks to this initiative, Eddie had the opportunity to join a new program at Boys & Girls Club of Paterson & Passaic called Do-It-Yourself (DIY) STEM because he really enjoys learning science in a different environment after school, making rockets and light bulbs with friends. Since Eddie started the DIY STEM program, his grades have improved, and he wants to go to college and keep studying science because he thinks STEM is fun.

Future Job Outlook
Like many young people, Eddie came alive and was inspired by STEM when given the right opportunity for expanded learning outside the school day. STEM education is critical to the future success of our young people as most of the fastest-growing jobs will require some education in science, technology, engineering and math.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 9.2 million jobs in STEM fields by 2020. Young people entering the workforce need more skills than they did decades ago – the ability to think critically and problem solve, leverage quantitative information and develop creative solutions both in teams and as individuals.

A Shortage Of Students
Unfortunately, there is a shortage of both interested and adequately prepared K-12 students in STEM subjects, especially among minority youth and young women. Gaps in science and math educational achievement for African American, Latino and Native American students start as early as the fourth grade.
Additionally, despite a steady increase over the past 20 years, only 15 percent of female high school students express an interest in STEM fields, as compared to 40 percent of male high school students. The opportunity gap in STEM education is likely to widen unless organizations develop pathways for more underrepresented youth to succeed in STEM careers.

Preparing For 21st Century Success
Parents, employers and educators are asking how best to prepare America’s young people, particularly underrepresented youth, for a successful post-secondary education and a 21st century career?
One way that shows promise is through out-of-school time. “The out-of-school environment – after school and summer – plays a critical and often overlooked role in helping young people develop needed skills and competencies,” says Damon A. Williams, Ph.D., senior vice president and chief education and youth development officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Out-of-school providers like Boys & Girls Clubs have an opportunity and responsibility to help more young people develop a passion and an aptitude in STEM-as many kids mistake a lack of foundational knowledge for a lack of talent or ability.”

Hands-On Learning
By introducing youth to hands-on, discovery-based STEM learning opportunities, out-of-school providers are teaching kids how to make technology through design thinking – rather than just consuming technology. This education is invaluable because there is a skills divide between young people who simply consume data as entertainment and kids who can apply data analytically and creatively.
Research shows that the out-of-school environment advances STEM learning and increases interest in STEM-related careers, particularly among underrepresented youth. In fact, African American, Asian American and Latino households are most likely to participate in out-of-school STEM programs.
As a complement to the school day, out-of-school programs also provide opportunities for trial-and-error beyond the school environment-a safe place to fail-while teaching critical 21st century skills like problem solving and perseverance, which are needed in STEM careers.

Partners Supporting STEM
For example, Boys & Girls Clubs of America recently partnered with Time Warner Cable to help address America’s declining proficiency in STEM by, together, launching the DIY STEM program during out-of-school time at Clubs across the country. Aligned with Time Warner Cable’s commitment to connect young people to the wonders of STEM, this curriculum engages Club youth ages 10 to 18 in the “science of every day,” focusing on energy and electricity, engineering design, and food chemistry, to provide out-of-school opportunities for critical thinking and peer exchange.
Out-of-school programs such as DIY STEM are often the first time underrepresented youth are given the opportunity to learn STEM in fun and motivating ways. These programs provide project-based learning opportunities that address real-world challenges and encourage innovative solutions, and these experiences can be life changing. According to Eddie, “I truly believe that learning science will help kids change the world.”

The Importance Of STEM
“Few issues are more important to the future of our nation as STEM education. Through strategic partnerships, I hope that more out-of-school STEM programs will be offered to underrepresented youth as a supplement to school, so they develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace,” Williams says.
To learn more about this DIY STEM program, or to download the self-guided STEM activities, visit www.myclubmylife.com/diystem. To learn more about Time Warner Cable’s commitment to STEM, visit connectamillionminds.com.

Club youth Eddie Cuba and Jayda Collazo had the opportunity to attend the White House Science Fair with Time Warner Cable Chairman and CEO Rob Marcus.

Experts say the out-of-school environment plays a critical and often overlooked role in helping young people develop needed STEM skills and competencies.

STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR – Gunner’s Mate Seaman Brian Brom, from Jasper, Ala., stands watch at a .50 caliber gun mount aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as it transits the Strait of Gibraltar. George H.W. Bush, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian Stephens/Released)
“Why Being There Matters” – On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world’s oceans give the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world’s oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America’s finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.
Thank you very much for your support of the men and women in U.S. Navy, deployed around the clock and ready to protect and defend America on the world’s oceans.