SPORTS COMMUNITY Lady Dolphins’ spirited Shawn Thomas tickles run ends against Kenney ivories on pipe organ The Gulf Breeze Gulf Breeze Presbyterian volleyball team met Church musician performs City celebration has something for all its match in the organ recital with energy Gulf Breeze residents soak up the sun and great regional finals. 1C and passion. 7C times during first annual extravaganza. 1B Fans await latest installment in vampire saga Pg 2B 50¢ YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER November 19, 2009 County targets illegal signs Ruff! Area pets demand to attend Pet Fest 2009 ■ But official admits SRC’s Compliance Division rary means. Residents and real “It’s abandoned vehicles, boats, tion code enforcement can Superintendent. “They just pop estate agents often put up tires. It’s all a distraction to our BY BRODIE up overnight. It’s very frustrat- community.” and activity be extremely challenging garage-sale or open-house signs GBN Canine Correspondent ing trying to control illegal sig- in rights-of-way and medians. Economy-driven budget and during the nage. I’ve been dealing with it staff cuts have left Santa Rosa Gulf Breeze Some citizens complain that OK, Breezer humans, you BY JOE CULPEPPER for more than 25 years, and County with no full-time code- Area such signage detracts from the had your fun last week dur- Gulf Breeze News there is nothing more frustrating enforcement officers. The coun- Chamber of quality of the area; others insist ing the ‘Life’s A Breeze [email protected] in enforcement than that.” ty has three people, including Brodie Commerce’s it stunts business. Weekend’ at Shoreline Park. Pet Fest It’s fairly common to see ille- Tompkins, charged with code Unsightly temporary signage “It’s not just signs. It’s other Now, it’s time for us pets 2009 at the Gulf Breeze compliance that includes abate- along U.S. Highway 98 in South gal signage suddenly appear on things, too,” said Don Richards, to have our day in the sun! Elementary School field. Santa Rosa County is a code- county roads and thoroughfares, President of the United ments – investigation and On Saturday, Nov. 21, There will be fun contests enforcement nightmare, an offi- especially along U.S. 98. Small- Peninsula Association, a group removal of unsafe structures – from 8 a m. until 3 p.m., all and events, a half-mile run cial says. business owners sometimes put of 19 homeowner associations, and contractor complaints. of my friends and I expect for the young pups and pets, The county relies on business “Illegal signs are like mush- up makeshift signage using ply- businesses and citizens with to be treated to lots of atten- See PET FEST, Page 2A rooms,” said Skip Tompkins, wood, posters and other tempo- more than 19,000 members. See SIGNS, Page 2A WEEKEND Weather Blue Angels soar during Homecoming Show THURSDAY 11/19 Sunny high 69O low 48O FRIDAY 11/20 Partly Cloudy high 71O low 55O SATURDAY 11/21 Scat T-Storms high 69O low 55O SUNDAY 11/22 Partly Cloudy O high 68 Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News O low 53 The world-famous Blue Angels U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team dazzled approximately 210,000 spectators during their annual Homecoming Shows on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13-14, at Pensacola NAS. Flying just feet apart at a speed of more than 350 miles per hour, four Blue Angels scream past the crowd at Sherman Field, with two pilots flying their FA-18/Hornets upside down. INSIDE Crossword puzzle 3B 2 appointed to BEACH Holiday decor Classifieds 3D Community 3-8A SSRUS board BOWL II going up now Entertainment 2B Gulf Breeze Felonies 2A ■ Additions come in time for sophomore ■ Decorations should look more Island News 1D ‘White Paper’ analysis Mitchell deKozan professional this season Obituaries 7A splits two Navarre Cathy C. defenders before The Gulf Opinion 6A BY VICI PAPAJOHN BY VICI PAPAJOHN Benoit, a local charging his way Breeze City Sports 1-8C Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze News small busi- into the end zone Council Talk of the Town 5A [email protected] [email protected] ness owner, on a 13-yard approved “Mailing Statement and Todd Johnson, a medical sales manager, touchdown pass installation of holiday decorations this year, on Editorial Page” were approved as new members of the South from Michael allocating the sum of $19,000, which matches Santa Rosa Utility Services (SSRUS) board at Mann during the what was spent last year. The decorations will FOUR SECTIONS Monday’s Gulf Breeze City Council meeting. Dolphins’ 42-12 be completed by Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. VOL. 8, NO. 47 Beach Bowl NOVEMBER 19, 2009 Benoit operates a business in the 32563 zip “I am sure it is going to look much better defeat. Story, 1C Joe Culpepper/Gulf Breeze News See BOARD, Page 2A See LIGHTS, Page 2A home! your Call 932-8986 today Call 932-8986 today Enjoy your community paper community your Enjoy mailed directly to mailed directly GULF BREEZE NEWS (850) 932-8986 www.gulfbreezenews.com 2 A November 19, 2009 GULF BREEZE NEWS PET FEST: Event to be Thursday, November 19 Mitigation Strategy pet lover’s Meeting 1:30 p.m., Gulf Breeze Area Chamber County Administrative paradise of Commerce Breakfast 7 Center, 6495 Caroline a.m., Andrews Performance Street, Milton Continued from page 1A and Research Pavilion, Gulf Breeze and a half-mile walk for us Santa Rosa County Local Tuesday, AARP types. I want to be in Mitigation Strategy Meeting November 24 the fashion show, conjure up 1:30 p.m., Conference Room, some paw-print art, do some 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, City of Gulf Breeze square-dancing and be in the Milton Board of Adjustments parade. 6:30 p.m., City Hall, You can get my picture made 1070 Shoreline Drive, by a professional photographer, Friday, November 20 Gulf Breeze spoil me with a massage and Gulf Breeze Area Chamber pedicure, get advice from a vet- of Commerce Gala Thursday, erinarian, and I can even see a Committee 8:30 a.m., pet psychic! Chamber Headquarters, 409 November 26 The cost is only $5 to take Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Thanksgiving: All city, state me into the vendor area, and Breeze and federal government offices $10 for full access and the pet closed; Gulf Breeze News, Gulf walk/run. But I can’t go unless Saturday, Breeze Area Chamber of you take me, you hear? November 21 Commerce offices closed. Get off the couch, dust off Gulf Breeze Area Chamber my leash and take me to Pet Vici Papajohn/Gulf Breeze News of Commerce Pet Fest 2009 Wednesday, December 2 Fest 2009! City, Rotary work together to raise funds for JA 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Gulf Santa Rosa Island Call the Gulf Breeze Breeze Elementary School, Authority Board 5 p.m., SRIA Chamber at 932-7888 for more Leanne Todd, Incoming President of Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida (JA), City 549 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Headquarters, 1 Via de Luna information. Councilman Dana Morris, Outgoing JA President Frances Yeo, City Manager Edwin “Buz” Breeze Drive, Pensacola Beach Eddy, City Councilman Joe Henderson, and Rotarian Kerry Anne Schulz all stepped up to City of Gulf Breeze wash cars and bake pancakes to raise funds to sponsor a JA class in a Gulf Breeze school. Monday, November 23 Executive Committee 6:30 Krause to appear at p.m., City Hall, 1070 Shoreline Rec Center tonight Santa Rosa County Flood LIGHTS: Drive, Gulf Breeze John Krause, Should be up by Thanksgiving Republican challenger for U.S. Congress, will hold a Continued from page 1A the way we wanted it to look,” ing to Ron Pulley, Parks and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Report Town Hall Meeting and a joked Zimmern. “We wanted to Recreation director for the City Information provided by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Meet and Greet tonight at than the mostly-volunteer effort save on labor during a tight of Gulf Breeze. the Gulf Breeze last year,” said Councilman J.B. economy, so we did it ourselves. “We hear from some peo- Felonies 11/14/2009 Community Center at 800 Schluter. “We found out it is This year, we should get the ple that we should do a bigger Dykes, James Anthony, Shoreline Drive in Gulf not as easy as it looks to do it same amount of coverage for job, that we should rival cities 11/11/2009 W/M, 24, 3200 block of College Breeze. The meeting will ourselves.” the same budget, but it’ll be like Foley or Daphne,” Pulley Garcia, Hamilton Rufus, Court, Gulf Breeze, crimes begin at 7 p m. and con- Schluter, City Manager done by professionals.” said. “But they literally spend H/M, 51, 5800 block of against an elderly person, for- clude at 9 p.m. Edwin “Buz” Eddy and then- Both entrance signs to the 10 times what we do for the Congress Court, Gulf Breeze, gery and drug possession. Councilwoman Bev Zimmern Refreshments will be city will be decorated, numer- effect they get. Council has battery. Gardellini, Adair Garsain, did most of the work last year to made available as well. ous median trees will be trunk- approved spending conserva- Little, Joshua Michael, W/F, 19, 5800 block of Capitol save money. Paid staff support- To learn more, go to wrapped and a large holiday tree tively and is still making sure W/M, 19, 1900 block of Revere Drive, Gulf Breeze, vehicular ed the effort. www.krause4congress.com. will be erected opposite the we are decorated for the sea- Street, Navarre, damage of theft.