Wednesday, February 20, 2019
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  • Just Sold! One Seagrove Place Condo, 305
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Entertainment

Florida's Living Beaches
Entertainment 

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

October 2, 2018January 11, 2019 Murray Balkcom books, Entertainment

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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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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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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Entertainment Events 

Moutain Film on Tour at WaterColor, FL

July 30, 2014March 29, 2017 murraybalkcom 2014 Mountain Film, Entertainment, events, mountain film on tour

Mountain Film on Tour at WaterColor, FL Nov 7-8, 2014 – Adventure, Life Lessons and Environmental Messages brand this tour

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REAL ESTATE

Dune Allen – Coming Soon
30A West Featured Real Estate 

Dune Allen – Coming Soon

February 14, 2019 Murray Balkcom 0

Dune Allen Coming Soon Coming soon to the real estate market is a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home on a

Neighborhoods Real Estate 

What’s My Home Worth?

January 23, 2019 Murray Balkcom 0
Just Sold! One Seagrove Place Condo, 305
30A East Featured Neighborhoods Real Estate Seagrove 

Just Sold! One Seagrove Place Condo, 305

January 10, 2019 Murray Balkcom 0
Just Sold | 38 Blazing Star Dr | WaterColor, FL MLS# 794675
Neighborhoods Real Estate WaterColor 

Just Sold | 38 Blazing Star Dr | WaterColor, FL MLS# 794675

May 25, 2018 Murray Balkcom 0
Sold $337,000 – 34 Roberts Rd | Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Neighborhoods Real Estate 

Sold $337,000 – 34 Roberts Rd | Santa Rosa Beach, FL

April 3, 2018 Murray Balkcom 0

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Selling Real Estate in the 30A and greater 30A area since 2003, Murray Balkcom has earned a reputation for maximizing buyers and sellers real estate goals and dreams. Here to serve! Contact Murray Balkcom today to learn how he can help you maximize your own real estate goals and dreams.

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Murray Balkcom
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30A Local Properties
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Grayton Beach, FL 32459
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