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Entertainment

Florida's Living Beaches
Active Entertainment Outdoors photography 

Florida’s Living Beaches – A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber

September 2, 2021September 2, 2021 Murray Balkcom books, Entertainment, Florida's Living Beaches, sea life, shell identification

Florida’s Living Beaches The first book which should be in every beach goers bag is Florida’s Living Beaches: A Guide for

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Stars of Alabama
Entertainment 

Stars of Alabama | Sean Dietrich

June 1, 2019November 4, 2020 Murray Balkcom Sean Dietrich, stars on alabama

Stars of Alabama is the title of Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, is scheduled to be released on July 9, 2019.

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30A Songwriters Festival
Entertainment Events News 

10th Annual 30A Song Writers Festival | Jan 18-21, 2019

January 10, 2019January 10, 2019 Murray Balkcom songwriters

Headliners are Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals along with 195 artists performing at 30 venues along 30A.

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30A Songwriters Festival
Entertainment 

30A Songwriters Festival Headliners Announced

October 2, 2017January 10, 2019 Murray Balkcom events, Songwriters festival

2018 30A Songwriters Festival The 2018 30A Songwriters Festival will be held on January 12th- 15th, 2018. BUY TICKETS HERE.

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Flutterby Festival
Entertainment Events Neighborhoods WaterSound Origins 

Flutterby Festival 2017

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 Murray Balkcom Cultural Arts Alliance, Entertainment, Flutterby Festival

Flutterby Festival 2017 The Flutterby Festival, produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, celebrates its 25th year of observation of

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Harvest Wine & Food Festival
Entertainment Events Food/Health Neighborhoods WaterColor 

Harvest Wine & Food Festival | Nov 2-5, 2017

August 8, 2017October 4, 2017 Murray Balkcom events, food, WaterColor, wine

Harvest Wine & Food Festival Explore the Harvest Wine & Food Festival which will provide patrons the opportunity to sip

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Entertainment Events 

Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam | Sept 1-3, 2017

August 8, 2017August 8, 2017 Murray Balkcom music, Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam

PEPSI GULF COAST JAM Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, a three-day celebration of sun, fun and country music, will host its 5th annual

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Pepsi Spring Jam
Entertainment 

Pepsi Spring Jam Panama City Beach, FL

April 27, 2017April 29, 2017 Murray Balkcom music, panama city beach, Pepsi Spring Jam

Pepsi Spring Jam Panama City Beach, FL 2017 Pepsi Spring Jam is here! We may not be Nashville, but sometimes

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ArtsQuest 2017
Entertainment Events 

ArtsQuest 2017 | Fine Arts & Music Festival

April 4, 2017April 4, 2017 Murray Balkcom art, CAA, music

Art and Music 30A at ArtsQuest 2017 | May 13-14, 2017 ArtsQuest 2017: Celebrating the 29th anniversary, ArtsQuest Fine Arts &

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Pensacola, Florida—this is an era when the town is cobblestones, iron balconies, and men in straw skimmer hats. A trolley rolls down Palafox. Ships in the bay have smokestacks. It’s hot outside. Young Albert is a trumpet player. He has talent. His father, the attorney, calls him lazy. He says music is a dead-end profession. He says Albert won’t amount to anything in this world if he plays music. So, the boy works loading crates in the harbor. On weekends, he plays with the Salvation Army Band to keep his lips in shape. They’re a good band, they play hymns in front of the bank on Government and Palafox to raise money for the poor. The other side of Government Street: A couple shuffles the sidewalk. Man and woman, middle-age, dressed in ratty clothes. They have accordions strapped to their chests, and tin cups with rattling with coins. They wear darkened glasses. They are blind. They don’t often play on Government Street. Today, they’re hoping to earn enough to buy supper. The woman sings tunes she’s learned from the radio. She has a good ear. She can hear a melody once and play it. Albert and the band take a break to rest their mouths and replace fluids. The fellas remove jackets and fan themselves. This is Northwest Florida. The sun can melt a man like candle wax. “Ssshhh,” says Albert. “You hear that?” Everyone listens. “I hear it,” says Trombone. “Sounds like an accordion,” adds Bass Drum. The band is a curious lot. They go investigate. Albert stops walking. He listens to the music, then presses the mouthpiece against his lips to play along. French Horn finds a part to play, too. Snare Drum, Fluglehorn, and Tuba do the same. Soon, the boys have joined the blind woman’s song. Together, they play a secular melody—which has been strictly prohibited by the Official Salvation Army Rulebook, section 207-A, paragraph 3. It’s beautiful music. A big crowd gathers. Men in linen suits reach into pockets, tossing money. Women empty coin-purses. The blind couple smiles so hard, they almost crack teeth. So does Albert. They play until sunset. And I imagine Panhandle sunsets in the ’20’s were just as magnificent as today’s. When they finish, Albert gathers cash from the pavement. He collects piles of fifty-cent pieces, dollar bills, pennies. Six hats full. The blind woman thanks him. She cries. Albert cries. The band cries. Everyone cries. It’s more money than the couple has ever earned before. It was only one afternoon, a few hours in history. But it was more than that. Those who saw what happened would talk about it. Their kids would retell the story. And their grandkids—which is how I heard it. It’s a story that’s even outlasted Albert himself. A kid whose father said he wouldn’t be worth a damn in this world if he kept playing his god-forsaken trumpet. Well. Fathers don’t know everything.
Entertainment 

Featured Local Writer – Sean Dietrich – Sean of the South

March 27, 2017April 11, 2017 Murray Balkcom Entertainment, Featured, Sean Dietrich

Sean Dietrich – “Sean of the South” “Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life

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REAL ESTATE

124 Mountain Top Dune Drive | Blue Mountain Beach
Blue Mountain Beach Featured Neighborhoods Real Estate 

124 Mountain Top Dune Drive | Blue Mountain Beach

December 13, 2021December 14, 2021 Murray Balkcom

This home at 124 Mountain Top Dune Dr is situated at 41 ft elevation, one of the highest points in South Walton. Located less than 1/2 mile, this home on a quarter acre lot is presently being renovated to a 4 bed, 3 bath home with pool and cabana building,…

WaterColor Homes Price Analysis - Oct 2021
Featured Real Estate WaterColor 

WaterColor Homes Sales Analysis – Oct 2021

September 2, 2021 Murray Balkcom
51 Ventana Blvd
Blue Mountain Beach Featured Neighborhoods Real Estate 

51 Ventana Blvd | Blue Mountain Beach

August 30, 2021 Murray Balkcom
207 Melrose Ave
Neighborhoods Point Washington Real Estate 

SOLD! | 207 Melrose Ave | Audubon Point

November 4, 2020August 30, 2021 Murray Balkcom
From Google Reviews
Featured LOCAL INTERESTS Neighborhoods Real Estate Seagrove 

From Google Reviews

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 Murray Balkcom
8 Keel Court WaterSound BeachOversee RentalsWalton FundingEmerald Coast Title Services

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