Island Times Volume VII, Number 18 Pensacola Beach, Florida December 27, 2011 Fireworks and Bears... Oh My! 2012 Begins with A Bang Fireworks at Midnight Polar Bear Plunge New Year’s Day When you are four-months-old everything is a new experience - - especially welcoming a new year. Little Vera Ann Schepper will miss the dazzling parties and midnight fi reworks, that’s past her bedtime, but she may make the scene at the Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day. You can fi nd her in the protective arms of her parents, Wade and Melia Schepper of Gulf Breeze. Dad is a United States Marine and Mom is employed at Surf Burger. Island Times is pleased to appoint Vera as our New Year’s Ambassador. Turn to page 2 for more new year’s news. PAGE 2 Island Times December 27, 2011 Bears And Cubs Take The Plunge On New Year’s Day Out with the old and in allows entry into the race area cial designation – bear cubs.” tumes keep the Polar Bears any with the new. As the year draws and a post-race party. The fee The Polar Bear Cub Club warmer than those who just to a close, tuck the sweet mem- is reduced to $5, if no shirt is is open to paid Plunge entrants have on swimsuits,” said John- Season Your ories of 2011 away. It’s time to desired. Spectators are welcome 12-years-old and younger. son. “But each year we see wet celebrate and look forward to and there is no charge to cheer. Each Cub will receive a special and wild entries.” the promise of a New Year, a Proceeds from the event are do- Plunge goodie bag, and will be Will the Polar Bears be Holidays with fresh start, a blank slate. As a nated to the Beach Chamber. entered in the Cub Club’s prize shivering or will it be like a day grand fi nale to the Season Your Lined up on the soundside drawing. at the Beach? Island Spirit Holidays with Island Spirit cel- beach, Plungers will get the sig- Showing off your sense of Longtime Santa Rosa Island ebration, the Pensacola Beach nal to begin from Renee Mack, style at the Polar Bear Plunge lifeguard and supervisor Dave December 31 Chamber of Commerce pro- Paradise general manager. En- has become a beach tradition. Greenwood predicts the water Happy New Year Fireworks vides a sizzle and a splash for trants make their way from the Island Times sponsors the Best temps on January 1 to be in the Extravaganza- Midnight. Ring in revelers to usher in 2012. beach to the turn around point Plungewear Contest. Awards low 60s. the new year with islandwide cel- Dazzling fi reworks will near the end of the Paradise will be given for fi rst, second “It’s very unpredictable,” ebrations. A dazzling fi reworks light up the inky night sky over Pier. and third place for the most cre- he states with certainty. display at midnight from the end the Gulf of Mexico when the “Some run, some skip, ative costume. Judges identities Predicting air temperatures of the Gulf Pier. clock strikes midnight on New other wade and swim. Some are kept secret and make their are even more diffi cult, accord- View from all over the island. No Year’s Eve. The pyrotechnics turnaround before they get to determination before, during ing to National Weather Service, charge. will launch from the end of the the end mark,” said Mack. “The and after the event. they range between a balmy sev- Gulf Fishing Pier. The display way they want to get around the “Whether you choose to get enty down to a chilly 23 degrees. January 1 can be viewed from the soft course is up to them.” wet or just watch, don’t miss No matter the weather, the event Polar Bear Plunge - Paradise sand at Casino Beach or from Since the rules are non-ex- this New Year’s day tradition,” takes place. Bar and Grill , 21 Via de Luna your favorite beach location. istent for Polar Bear Plunging, said Chamber Executive Direc- “We will have the heat Registration: 12:30 . Start, 2 p.m. New Year’s Eve parties will prizes are awarded by random tor Maureen LaMar. “The cos- turned up in our tented areas, The emerald waters of Santa be in full swing as Beach busi- drawing. Each Bear receives tumes are crazy and get better but bring dry clothes and fl uffy Rosa Sound are fi lled with those nesses offer free champagne, a ticket which is entered into every year.” blankets” said Renee Mack. hardy souls who wade, swim and balloon drops with prizes and the prize drawing. Three lucky Top costumed contend- “The kitchen will be open and scurry to the fi nish line. Heaping dancing to live bands. bears will be awarded prizes. ers each year include Marcia our bartenders will be ready bowls of black-eyed peas wait The party continues on All bears will get a serving of Hoven and her gang of willing with spicy Bloody Marys.” to warm them. Entry fee ben- the sand beach at Paradise Bar good luck black-eyed peas. plungers; Eleni Weisnicht, who The awards will be made efi ts the Chamber. No charge to and Grill where the Polar Bear Polar Bears come in all siz- traveled from the University of immediately following the cheer. Plunge begins at 2 p.m. on es. Big and little. Old and young. Colorado to defend her previ- Plunge. For more information New Year’s Day. Registration “It’s surprising how many ous title; and the devilish Jim The event is open to the begins at 12:30. Entrants pay families take a dip in the cold Cox. His red costume, complete public. Ample free parking is 850-932-1500 $11 to take the plunge. The fee, water together,” said Shelley with horns and pitch fork was a available on the east side of the or online at which includes a Polar Bear Johnson, Chamber president. crowd favorite. Paradise property or in the Via Plunge commemorative t-shirt, “The kids who enter have a spe- “I don’t know if the cos- de Luna Shopping Center. pensacolabeachchamber.com Pavlock To Chair Island Authority Board The Santa Rosa Island Au- tary-treasurer. Ed Guernsey and Director Maureen LaMar re- good cash position the SRIA is Other projects include: thority handed the 2012 Chair- Fred Gant will remain as board ported that the Visitor’s Center in.” • The iconic water tank lo- man’s gavel to Dave Pavlock members. experienced an increase of 25 SRIA Executive Director cated in the Casino Beach park- at the conclusion of their De- Good news was contained percent over November of last Buck Lee reported that the proj- ing lot will be repaired and re- cember 14 Full Board meeting. in reports at the fi nal meeting of year. Visitors from Florida, Ala- ect to upgrade the planks on the painted in the New Year. Pavlock, who served during the the year. bama, Texas, Pennsylvania and Boardwalk is moving forward • Beach renourishment per- 1980s as a SRIA Board member Alan Jowers representing Georgia had the highest guest and should be complete by April mit documents, and construction and later as an Escambia County Carr, Riggs and Ingram gave the numbers. LaMar also updated 2012. His report also contained plans are in process. Timing of Commissioner, topped the slate SRIA a clean audit opinion and the board with a report from the two entries where Chamber ex- the renourishment will depend which received the unanimous attributed the good fi nancial year Chamber’s promotions. ecutives from Virginia Beach on the Sturgeon migration. vote of the board members. Ver- to an increase in commercial ac- “We are very busy in De- have been seeking information • Via de Luna landscaping non Prather will serve as the tivity, receipt of the fi nal FEMA cember as well. We are hosting a on how to conduct an air show is on hold. Cars exceeding the vice-chairman; Thomas Cam- payments from Hurricane Ivan Snowbird gift card and discount as successful the Blue Angels speed limit are creating a con- panella, secretary-treasurer; and damages, and BP monies. card promotion in conjunction Air Show on Pensacola Beach. cern with regard to how much Tammy Bohannon, acting secre- Beach Chamber Executive with VisitPensacola,” she said. Mike Langston of Basker- landscaping can be safely plant- “The Season Your Holidays De- ville Donovan presented the en- ed. cember 9 Lighted Boat Parade gineer’s report which contained • Leaseholders on Corto and December 11 Surfi ng Santa items of restoration, repair and and Largo Drives may see some Parade grew in attendance and master planning. EDSA, plan- relief when it rains. Flooding is- Island Times participation this year.” ning fi rm who developed the sues are being addressed by the Published every other Tuesday Board member Vernon Pensacola Beach Master Plan, County. Langston also notes that Prather commented that the began weekly meetings with erosion problems on Rio Vista SHELLEY W. JOHNSON, PUBLISHER Post Offi ce Box 844 Chamber’s promotions play a County and Baskerville Dono- Drive are being reviewed. Im- Gulf Breeze, FL 32562 big part in the increase of the van engineers on December 6. provements are on hold awaiting 850-748-6878 phone commercial lease fees. Features of the Core Area Rede- direction from Escambia County. “It’s like a dynamic duo, velopment Master Plan approved The next Full Board meet- 850-270-1117 fax the SRIA and Chamber,” Prather by the Steering Committee and ing is Wednesday, January 11 [email protected] said.