Nestled in the heart of Crestview, across from Crestview High School in the Hancock Bank building, you’ll find a boutique unlike any other — one that brings elegance, craftsmanship and heartfelt stories together under one polished roof. 

Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts, founded in 2024 by longtime locals Shelia and Gordon MacLean, may be a newcomer to the scene, but it’s already become a sparkling staple for area residents looking for something truly special. 

Shelia, a proud native of “LA” — that’s Lower Alabama — has lived north and south of the state line her whole life. Her passion for fine jewelry started young, but it was the stories behind each piece that truly captivated her.  

“Jewelry is so much more than something beautiful,” Shelia said. “It represents love, achievement, memory. It becomes part of a person’s life story.” 

Her husband Gordon, a native Floridian and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shares her vision. With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence shaped by his military service, Gordon helps source the store’s luxury Swiss watch collection and carefully-curated inventory for discerning men. 

And the store’s name? It’s a loving nod to their family’s F4 Savannah cat, Baron — a regal feline whose exotic leopard-like appearance inspired the boutique’s branding. The result? A luxurious, inviting space that feels both refined and refreshingly unpretentious. 

At Baron’s, customers will find more than just display cases — they’ll find artistry and intention. The boutique offers: 

• Bespoke jewelry and dazzling diamond pieces for life’s biggest moments.
• A rotating selection of pre-owned luxury Swiss watches including Rolex and Omega.
• William Henry pocket knives and accessories — heirloom-quality gifts for men.
• Corporate and executive gifts, perfect for promotions, retirements or client appreciation.

Baron’s also stands out for its heart. The MacLean’s are passionate about community involvement, sponsoring local school teams and quietly supporting nonprofit causes — especially those that serve military families, veterans and active-duty service members. 

Celebrating its one-year anniversary this November, Baron’s continues to grow by word of mouth — from grateful grooms who found the perfect ring, to retirees marking a milestone, to proud parents choosing a meaningful graduation gift. 

“We’re not here just to sell,” Shelia says. “We’re here to help people find something unforgettable. Something that becomes part of their love story.”  

Baron’s can also design custom jewelry and Shelia has recently started a luxury line of exquisite pieces, created exclusively for Baron’s clients. 

Whether you’re marking an anniversary, popping the big question, or simply treating yourself to something timeless, Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts offers luxury with a local soul.  

Visit Baron’s across from Crestview High School in the Hancock Bank Building. Explore more at www.BaronsJewelry.com. 

Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts  

Retail Boutique Hours: M-F 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Voice/Text: (850) 240-0011 

Located in the Riviera Pointe Professional Building. 

Above the Hancock Whitney Bank across from Crestview High School. 

1301 Industrial Drive, 2nd Floor 

Crestview, FL 32539 

APPLY WINTERIZER TO THE LAWN 

Winterizer is a specially formulated fertilizer that is applied in the fall to promote root growth in the lawn. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU PURCHASE “WINTERIZER” THAT YOU READ THE INGREDIENTS! Many so-called “winterizers” I have seen sold in big box stores are not winterizers at all and if applied to your lawn in the fall will actually do more harm than good! A true winterizer will have a formulation of mostly potassium and very little or no nitrogen. Nitrogen stimulates top growth, something you do NOT want to do in the fall and potassium stimulates root growth. There are numbers on every bag of fertilizer that will tell you the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, in that order, in the bag. A true winterizer fertilizer should have a first number (nitrogen) of 5 or less and a third number (potassium) of 25 or more. We use a 0-0-62 when making our winterizer applications.  

You should NEVER use a high nitrogen fertilizer in the fall! By stimulating top growth in the fall, the grass is using energy it should be saving for the following spring to come out of dormancy, increasing the chance for the lawn to experience winter kill. I’ve seen countless lawns over the years that never greened up in the spring because they had been fertilized with nitrogen the previous fall and never came out of dormancy! 

APPLY PRE EMERGENT WEED CONTROL FOR WINTER WEEDS 

There are a number of cool season weeds that emerge in northwest Florida during the winter and to help prevent them, it is a good idea to make an application of pre emergent weed control to your lawn in October. Products such as Atrazine, Simozine and Pendimethalin are good for fall pre emergent weed control.  

REDUCE WATERING 

With the onset of cool temperatures, the grass will slow its growth and will need less water. Continuing to water the lawn after it stops growing is unnecessary at best and can be harmful at worst!  Cooler temperatures and shorter days cause the water applied to the grass to linger on the lawn which creates ideal conditions for disease activity. Reduce the opportunity for disease activity by reducing watering frequency to once or twice a week in October and turn the system off completely and drain the pump in November. 

DRAIN YOUR IRRIGATION PUMP 

Two winters ago, we had some particularly cold weather that damaged just about every irrigation pump that had not been drained, a costly lesson for many homeowners! Draining your irrigation pump is simple and only takes about 3 minutes. On the front of the pump, where the large pipe is connected, is a threaded plug close to the bottom. Use a 9/16 box end wrench or socket to remove the plug. After removing the plug, open the spigot at the top of the pump to allow air to enter the pump as the water drains out. After all the water is drained, replace the plug and your pump is winterized!  

WATCH FOR PESTS AND DISEASE 

There is one turf destroying insect pest that remains active through the winter: mole crickets. All other insect pests are inactive through the cooler season. If you had a problem with mole crickets in the spring and treated for them, the residual effects of the treatment are gone by the fall and mole crickets can return! If you see signs of mole cricket activity anytime during fall and winter, be sure to treat them. 

Certain types of lawn diseases are especially active during cooler temperatures in the fall. Be watchful for any declining areas in the lawn that have a circular pattern to them, which could indicate disease activity. Disease activity in the fall should be treated by reducing irrigation and application of proper fungicides. 

ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING YOUR LAWN HEALTHY? 

Call or text Skip at 850-240-7935 for a FREE LAWN CONSULTATION!     

Father And Son Pest and Lawn Solutions  

8373 E Bay Blvd, Navarre, FL 32566 

850-939-9868 

Fatherandsonlandscape.com

Learning to swim is an essential skill when you live on the Emerald Coast. Whether it be the beach, the river or a pool, Floridians are basically surrounded by water. Teaching a child or adult how to swim can save their lives. 

Lori’s H2O Skills is here to help teach these life skills to all ages. 

Located at 577 Brookmeade Drive in Crestview, Lori’s H2O Skills is a professional learn-to-swim program for all ages, beginning at three months all the way through adulthood. 

Currently, they are offering ‘All You Can Swim’ for the months of November and December. Enrolled students can swim in daily openings.  

In December you can buy 12 months of lessons for the price of 10 – that is eight free classes.    

By day, the highly maintained pool is used by Crestview Physical Therapy, and from 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays, this two-lane pool is used for private one-on-one lessons with the Lori’s H2O Skills team. On Saturdays, swim lessons are offered from 8 a.m. to noon. 

The experienced team shares a passion and love for teaching and safety. Grace Rosenbaum is the operating manager of the Crestview location and does most of the teaching. Amy Conover is the general manager and splits her time between Crestview and Ohio. Lori Weber and Kyle Weber are co-owners of Lori’s H2O Skills and founded the swimming curriculum they use, which came from Lori’s time spent with the YMCA, American Red Cross and Aquatic Achievers in Australia. 

“I brought back knowledge from all of those programs and turned it into Lori’s H2O Skills,” Lori shared. “We started in Milford, Ohio. It was always a dream of mine to have a swim school to save children in and around the water.” 

Lori fell in love with swimming as a little girl in Milford. She swam competitively growing up and went on to swim for the University of Kentucky. She continued to swim as an adult and in 2015, she started Lori’s H2O Skills to spread her love for safe swimming. 

“My mother and sister live down here, and my sister is purchasing Crestview Physical Therapy,” Kyle said. “They don’t use the pool during the evening hours, so when the opportunity arose, we were excited to expand our swim school and serve the Crestview community.”  

Swim lessons range as young as 3 months and as old as senior adults. They also teach individuals with special abilities and ensure everyone is comfortable in the water.  

“We only teach one-on-one swim lessons so our students can learn how to swim in the most efficient and effective way,” Lori said. “Our program is based on children learning to flip and float and get themselves to safety and learning proper swimming skills.” 

Classes are set up once per week for 15 minutes.  

“I did a study for children and researched the best way for them to listen and learn with their short attention span,” Lori said. 

The conclusion was that children stay engaged for about five to seven minutes. Based on these findings, lessons are capped at 15 minutes to optimize efficiency and retention. 

Lori has always been passionate about swimming. 

“I just love it,” she said. “I think about swimming and the water all the time.” 

The slogan of Lori’s H2O Skills is “Saving Lives One Child at a Time.” 

“My passion is teaching people how to swim so it can save their lives,” Lori said. “We want a child to flip and float and stay above water and have enough seconds for a person or friend to help save them. Just seconds can save lives.” 

Obviously, swimming in a pool is very different than swimming in the Gulf, but the staff understands the different techniques needed in saltwater and around the ocean to combat big waves and rip tides. 

The indoor 40-foot by 12-foot pool takes weather out of the occasion and allows Lori’s H2O Skills to offer swim lessons year-round. The pool is no deeper than 4 feet. 

For more information about one-on-one lessons and pricing, check out their website: www.h2oskillsflorida.com. 

“We just want to keep people safe around pools and the ocean,” Lori said. “We are the place to come for anything water related – that is our love and passion. Safety, safety, safety – that is what we care about.” 

Lori’s H2O Skills 

577 Brookmeade Drive Crestview, FL 

www.h2oskillsflorida.com 

850-333-7014 

Trauma therapy, however, is costly. Individual sessions with an experienced trauma therapist are typically a hundred dollars or more, done on a weekly or biweekly schedule. And it can take years of therapy to work through all the layers of trauma responses a victim may be experiencing, depending on the degree and complexity of the trauma. For a woman without insurance or significant resources, getting the help she needs to heal from her trauma can be completely out of her reach.  

This is where Set Free Foundation can help. Women who need therapy to heal from sexual trauma, but can not afford it, can find a therapist they are comfortable with, and the therapist can apply to Set Free Foundation for funding for their client. The therapist bills Set Free for the sessions.  

UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH 

A lot has been discovered in the last few decades about the brain’s response to trauma. The application of new techniques of brain imaging has opened up a whole new understanding of the chemical and physical changes the brain undergoes when a person experiences trauma. Research has verified trauma literally re-wires of some of the neuro-pathways in the brain which results in a variety of symptoms experienced by a trauma victim. These symptoms can include but are not limited to insomnia, panic attacks, depression, lethargy, brain fog, hyper vigilance or uncontrollable rage. It is quite possible for an emotionally healthy, productive person to become incapacitated and unable to function due to the damage done to the brain from experiencing trauma in her life. 

The effects of trauma rarely go away on their own, but compound over time. A sexual assault or molestation that occurred even years or decades ago, and was suppressed by the victim, can result in debilitating mental health issues later in life. These issues exist not because the person is not strong enough to “get over it” but because their brain has been physically altered by trauma and does not function the same way it did before the trauma. 

Trauma victims typically have a hard time understanding their own behavior. They know something isn’t right but they can’t explain it and don’t know how to change it. Often, they place the blame on themselves for their struggles or fail to associate their mental health issues with the trauma they experienced. That’s why treatment by an experienced trauma therapist is so important. Trauma therapy helps the person understand how their experiences have impacted them, how their brain functions have been altered and develop tools to cope with their trauma responses and gradually realign their thoughts and emotions so they can gain control of their lives again. 

CLIENTS SERVED BY SET FREE FOUNDATION 

Over the last 12 months, Set Free Foundation has provided funding for over 80 hours of trauma therapy and has committed to providing another 89 hours so far into 2025. 

This is what one client said about Set Free Foundation: 

I am a survivor of daily physical, sexual and emotional abuse that began when I was four years old and continued for 10 long years. For over 20 years, I did whatever it took to appear normal to the outside world, all the while my heart and mind were tormented by the memories of the abuse. Eventually, I was forced to face the fact I needed help and sought out therapy. 

I was receiving therapy through a grant and making progress with my healing. Then toward the end of 2023, I suddenly received news that funding had run out and I would no longer be able to continue therapy.  

This left me feeling defeated and ready to give up all hope. Then my husband and I discovered Set Free Foundation! Set Free made it possible for me to continue seeing the same therapist with whom I had established a good rapport. 

The healing process takes a long time, but I am definitely making progress! Set Free came to my rescue at just the right time and I am eternally grateful for the blessing they have been to me!  

 CONTACT INFORMATION  

If you are a sexual trauma survivor or know someone who is and cannot afford therapy, you can contact Set Free Foundation at setfreefoundation@gmail.com or (850) 463-5191. 

Set Free Foundation is an all-volunteer, registered 501(c)(3) organization and accepts monetary donations to fund trauma therapy for sexual trauma survivors.  

Skip has been working in the lawn care industry right here along the Emerald Coast for over 30 years and is an expert on how to manage lawns and keep them healthy. He explains, “Grass does not grow naturally in this region, so once a building lot is cleared of everything Mother Nature intended to grow there and sod is put down, you have to be very proactive at keeping the grass healthy, otherwise Mother Nature will begin to turn that ground back into what she intended for it to grow and you will see your grass decline.”  

Skip also says that there is a lot of misinformation out there about how to properly care for your lawn. “Certain brand-name fertilizer companies have promoted application schedules that are totally incorrect for the environment and type of grass we have in this area. I frequently speak with home owners whose lawns have severely declined after they religiously followed the advice of those fertilizer companies for three or four years in a row,” he said. 

In his workshop, Skip will talk about the proper type of fertilizer to use on your lawn as well as the proper time to apply it. He emphasizes that most people who apply fertilizer to their lawn in the spring apply it way too early. “When you apply fertilizer too early in the spring it’s like throwing most of your money away because the grass is not ready to absorb the fertilizer yet and the fertilizer is just going to get washed away before the grass uses it. Waiting until later in the spring to apply, allows all of the fertilizer to be absorbed by the grass and wastes none of it, Skip said.”  

Other topics Skip will cover in the workshops include how to recognize and control lawn pests, how to keep from replacing your lawn every seven to 10 years, the single most effective way to rejuvenate a declining lawn, the best way to control weeds in your lawn and the best way to water your lawn. He will also be available for individual questions.  

The cost to attend a workshop is $10 and every person who attends will receive a free copy of Skip’s book “What Every Home Owner Along The Emerald Coast Needs To Know About Lawn Care.” 

 “The reason I am doing these workshops and giving away my book is to give something back to the community. My business has been extremely blessed by the people of this community and I wanted to do something for the community in return. Keeping grass healthy is my passion and if I can educate others by sharing the knowledge and experience I have acquired by working with lawns here along the Emerald Coast over the past 30 plus years, well…that makes me feel really good,” Skip said. 

Hundreds of people have attended the lawn workshops Skip held in the past and they all came away with loads of information on how to care for their lawns. 

The workshop will be held at Father and Son Pest and Lawn Solutions 8373 East Bay Blvd. in Navarre on Saturday, Oct 11 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Seating is limited to 25. Scan the QR code to register for the workshop.   

If you are having a problem keeping your lawn healthy, Skip also offers free lawn consultations and can be reached by phone or text at (850)240-7935.  

Located in Holt between Crestview and Milton, this fully-equipped facility can accommodate individuals and groups that range from the everyday shooter to military, law enforcement and government agencies. Element Training Complex is here to serve the shooting community regardless of your experience or background. 

A $35-per-person Day Pass includes: 

•  Access to the 25-yard pistol bay. 
• Access to the 25-yard rifle bay. 
• Access to the three 25-yard shoot and move bays. 
• Access to the 100-yard range. 
• Access to the 300-yard range. 
• One cardboard target and one set of target sticks. 

Element Training Complex is open to the public for day-pass use, but if you love shooting, they recommend their cost-effective Annual Memberships of $500 per year. Members get access to the entirety of their 205-acre shooting facility. They also get select discounts on items in their pro shop, advanced notice and registration for classes, training and much more. There is a reduced application fee of $50 dollars for all military, law enforcement and veterans. For all civilians there is a $100 application fee.  

You can purchase a Sporting Clays Only membership for just $150 per year and a Six Month Membership for $300. 

Dion Walker is the operations manager of the facility, while his wife Valerie manages the pro shop. 

“My husband has always been into firearms,” Valerie said. “The opportunity presented itself to work at a range and shoot instead of just selling firearms.” 

Valerie was a stay-at-home mom with their four children and decided to come work with Dion at Element Training Complex. 

“We were out here all the time anyways shooting, and now we get to work here and bring our four kids, who also love shooting. We love it,” she said. 

If your whole family loves to shoot, make sure you ask about the Element Training Complex family membership. There are no age restrictions at the range. It is up to the parent to decide if their child is ready. The range just asks that parents stay within arm’s reach of the child at all times. To encourage learning to shoot responsibly at a young age, children under the age of 16 shoot for free! 

Owners Lauren and Robert Boothe opened the training complex in 2017 under the name Southern Tactical and rebranded to Element Training Complex in 2020 to offer even more than before. 

Element’s Pro Shop is a small gun store that carries a range of products including ammo, firearms, accessories, suppressers, targets, shooting bags, apparel, shirts, hoodies and hats. 

The Oaks Sporting Clays is open to the public. The course sits on 50 acres featuring 5-Stand and 20 stations. 

A day at the range makes for the perfect group activity. Whether it’s a corporate team building event, birthday party, retirement party, bachelorette/bachelor party, gender reveal, or just a fun day with some friends, Element Training Complex is the place to go for your next outing. 

The range is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with cease fire at 4:45 p.m. On Monday, the range is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with cease fire at 3:45 p.m. 

Starting in September for half of the year, there is a night match on the first Saturday of each month and the range remains open until 10 p.m. 

The third Saturday of each month is Training Night, and the range stays open until 10 p.m. This night shoot is open to the public, and people are encouraged to bring their night vision goggles, white lights and thermals. 

“We host a lot of matches at Element Training Complex,” Valerie said. “There is something happening every weekend here.” 

On the first Saturday of the month, USPSA holds a shooting match. The second Saturday of the month is a Steel Challenge and on the third Saturday, PCSL holds a shooting competition. 

Other matches that happen at Element Training Complex throughout the year include Tactical Games, Quantified Performance, and Cowboy Action, where people dress up as cowboys and shoot their revolvers and black powder rifles. 

“We have hundreds of competitors attend some of these events, and people come from all over the world to shoot,” Valerie said. 

Element Training Complex offers a variety of shooting classes year-round. Valerie says shooting all the classes and training is her favorite part of the job. 

The complex is a SIG Sauer Academy outpost, and hosts a lot of their classes such as Rifle Instructor, Concealed Carry, Pistol 101 through 104 and Rifle 101 through 104.  

Many different instructors put on these classes including JBS Training Group and Barrell and Hatchet, who teaches night vision classes and Distance Carbine classes. War HOGG Tactical hosts law enforcement firearm training and pistol classes. Frank Proctor holds pistol and rifle classes at the complex. Whatever firearm instruction or education you are looking for, Element Training Complex probably offers it. 

People leave these classes feeling equipped with the knowledge and training they were seeking, feeling safe behind a gun. 

Element Training Complex 

4418 Cooper Lane 

Holt, FL 32564 

elementrange.com 

850-537-4576 

Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts, founded in 2024 by longtime locals Shelia and Gordon MacLean, may be a newcomer to the scene, but it’s already become a sparkling staple for area residents looking for something truly special.

Shelia, a proud native of “LA” — that’s Lower Alabama — has lived north and south of the state line her whole life. Her passion for fine jewelry started young, but it was the stories behind each piece that truly captivated her.

“Jewelry is so much more than something beautiful,” Shelia said. “It represents love, achievement, memory. It becomes part of a person’s life story.”

Her husband Gordon, a native Floridian and a U.S. Air Force veteran, shares her vision. With an eye for detail and a commitment to excellence shaped by his military service, Gordon helps source the store’s luxury Swiss watch collection and carefully-curated inventory for discerning men.

And the store’s name? It’s a loving nod to their family’s F4 Savannah cat, Baron — a regal feline whose exotic leopard-like appearance inspired the boutique’s branding. The result? A luxurious, inviting space that feels both refined and refreshingly unpretentious.

At Baron’s, customers will find more than just display cases — they’ll find artistry and intention. The boutique offers:
• Bespoke jewelry and dazzling diamond pieces for life’s biggest moments.
• A rotating selection of pre-owned luxury Swiss watches including Rolex and Omega.
• William Henry pocket knives and accessories — heirloom-quality gifts for men.
• Corporate and executive gifts, perfect for promotions, retirements or client appreciation.

Baron’s also stands out for its heart. The MacLean’s are passionate about community involvement, sponsoring local school teams and quietly supporting nonprofit causes — especially those that serve military families, veterans and active-duty service members.

Celebrating its one-year anniversary this November, Baron’s continues to grow by word of mouth — from grateful grooms who found the perfect ring, to retirees marking a milestone, to proud parents choosing a meaningful graduation gift.

“We’re not here just to sell,” Shelia says. “We’re here to help people find something unforgettable. Something that becomes part of their love story.”

Baron’s can also design custom jewelry and Shelia has recently started a luxury line of exquisite pieces, created exclusively for Baron’s clients.

Whether you’re marking an anniversary, popping the big question, or simply treating yourself to something timeless, Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts offers luxury with a local soul.

Visit Baron’s across from Crestview High School in the Hancock Bank Building. Explore more at www.BaronsJewelry.com.

Baron’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts
Retail Boutique Hours: M-F 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Voice/Text: (850) 240-0011
Located in the Riviera Pointe Professional Building.
Above the Hancock Whitney Bank across from Crestview High School.
1301 Industrial Drive, 2nd Floor Crestview, FL 32539

Sandpaper Marketing can supply your company with nearly any promotional product from more than 3,000 suppliers. Boost ROI and leave a lasting impression with your customers. Sandpaper Marketing’s mission is to help you create long-lasting relationships with your clients through the power of promotional products.

Promotional products are an excellent way to set your business apart and make customers remember you. The key is to choose products that people use over and over again. Every time they pick that product up, they will be reminded of your business and what it can do for them.

Shop locally when it comes to promoting your business and choose Sandpaper Marketing as your partner. They specialize in targeting your audience and getting them to remember you professionally.

Sandpaper Marketing makes shopping for your business as easy as possible through their user-friendly website www.mymarketinggear.com. Search for specific products or browse categories of promotional items until you see what you like.

Whatever vision you have for marketing your business, Sandpaper Marketing can make it happen and highlight your brand to the right people. If you have a unique item in mind, just tell them what item you would like, and chances are they can make it happen.

For example, the owner of Stripes Pub & Grill wanted military-related items to sell in his gift shop. So, the Sandpaper Marketing team did some research and found bullet-shaped thermoses, as well as bullet-shaped bottle openers. They were a huge hit.

They’ve also designed numerous branded koozies, stickers, pop sockets phone grips, sunglasses, USB flash drives, beach balls, lanyards, frisbees, coffee mugs, tumblers and so much more!

All you need is a logo to get started – and if you don’t have one, they can help you with that as well. Give Sandpaper Marketing a call at 850-939-1900 or browse their website www.mymarketinggear.com.

Promotional products are only one of many things that Sandpaper Marketing specializes in.

“We believe marketing is essential to the long-term success of every business,” said owner, Sandi Kemp. “Good marketing powers your business as much as the electric company does. Operating without either is nearly impossible.”

Whether your needs are small or large, the team at Sandpaper Marketing is available to help you make your marketing vision a reality. Business cards, postcards, direct mail, branded promotional items or a full-fledged marketing plan – call the experts at Sandpaper Marketing. The service is personalized down to the last detail.

“Achieving growth for your business is what Sandpaper Marketing is all about,” Kemp said.

Offering graphic design, website development, search engine optimization and branding services for any business, Sandpaper Marketing works with each client to ensure the greatest success.

Sandpaper Marketing has worked with multiple businesses in the community including Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Life Church, the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development office, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy, The British Pedlar, Rollins Distillery, Stripes and many more.

Check out their online portfolio projects at www.sandpapermarketing. com.

Call Sandpaper Marketing today at 850-939-1900 to find out how they can make a difference in your bottom line.

Sandpaper Marketing
7502 Harvest Village Court
Navarre, Florida
850.939.1900
www.mymarketinggear.com
www.sandpapermarketing.com

Skip began writing the book when his oldest daughter, Destiney, became pregnant with Skip and Teresa’s first grandchild. Skip recounts, “There are so many things Teresa and I learned over the years while raising our 6 children. Many of the things we learned by child number four or five, I wish we knew back when we had child number one and two. I wanted to give my daughter, and any parent who reads this book, a head start on figuring out this whole parenting thing.”

Skip and Teresa raised all their kids right here in Navarre. All ventured away from home right out of high school, each taking a different path. The youngest left the house in 2019 when he joined the military. Today, they are all successfully pursuing their chosen fields and Skip and Teresa enjoy a close bond with each one of them, which Skip says is the ultimate goal in parenting. “Everything we do as parents, from the time our children are infants, should be done with the intention of empowering them to grow up to be self-sufficient, to reach their full potential, and then enjoy a peer-to-peer relationship with them as adults.”

Each chapter in Letters to Destiney is a personal letter from Skip to his daughter giving a specific bit of advice on being a parent.

For example, in chapter 5 one of the parenting concepts Skip talks about in his book is called the parenting in the funnel. The idea is that the control you exercise over your children should be tight in their younger years and then gradually broaden as they get older, like a funnel. Skip says the natural tendency is for parents to do just the opposite, they allow their toddlers a lot of freedom but place tight restrictions on their teens. “Teen years are when your kids need to start developing decision making skills. And the only way to do that, is to allow them the freedom to make decisions on their own. Some will be good. Some will be bad. However, the bad decisions will also create opportunities to coach them on how to overcome setbacks and solve problems.” Skip says the goal in parenting is not to prevent your kids from ever making a mistake, but to equip them with the skills and attitude to recover from mistakes when they are made.

Another thing the book emphasizes is prioritizing the relational bond you have with your child. Relationship is what enables parents to have influence in their children’s lives when they grow into the teen years and beyond. As children mature into their teen years, a parent’s role transitions from telling their child on what they can and cannot do, to coaching and influencing their child on making right decisions for themselves. If the relational bond between parent and child becomes damaged, the parent’s ability to guide and influence their child as they get older is greatly diminished. The book talks about how to keep that relational bond strong.

Other topics covered in the book include how to get your child to obey you the first time you ask them to do something, the technique Teresa used to keep all the kids under control while taking them to the grocery store, how to pass on your faith and values to your kids and much more.

If you would like a free copy of Letters To Destiney, A Father’s Advice for Successful Parenting, you can drop by Father and Son Pest And Lawn Solutions at 8373 East Bay Blvd in Navarre Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Fridays between 8 a.m. and noon and ask for a copy. If you live outside Navarre, you can call 850-939-9868 and request a copy and Skip will be happy to send you one. Skip doesn’t charge anything for his books. He says writing books and giving them away is his way of giving back.

The other four books Skip has written include:
• Letters To Judah, A Father’s Advice For Successful Living
• If I Could Talk To You About Human Trafficking This Is What I Would Say
• The Ultimate Guide To Building A Million Dollar Pest And Lawn Service Business
• What Every Homeowner On The Emerald Coast Needs To Know About Lawn Care

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Lori’s H2O Skills, a new swim school coming to Crestview this summer, is here to help teach these life skills to all ages.

Opening June 2 at 577 Brookmeade Drive in Crestview, Lori’s H2O Skills is a professional learn to swim program for children ages 3 months through adults.

By day, the highly maintained pool is used by Crestview Physical Therapy, and from 4 to 8 p.m. weekdays, this two-lane pool will be used for private one-on-one lessons with the Lori’s H2O Skills team. Swim lessons will also be offered from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday and 12 to 3 p.m. on Friday.

The experienced team shares a passion and love for teaching and safety. Grace Rosenbaum will be the operating manager of the new location in Crestview and will do most of the teaching. Amy Conover is the general manager and will split her time between Crestview and Ohio. Lori Weber and Kyle Weber are co-owners of Lori’s H2O Skills and founded the swimming curriculum they use, which came from Lori’s time spent with the YMCA, American Red Cross and Aquatic Achievers in Australia.

“I brought back knowledge from all of those programs and turned it into Lori’s H2O Skills,” Lori shared. “We started in Milford, Ohio. “It was always a dream of mine to have a swim school to save children in and around the water.”

Lori fell in love with swimming as a little girl in Milford, OH. She swam competitively growing up and went on to swim for the University of Kentucky. She continued to swim as an adult and in 2015, she started Lori’s H2O Skills to spread her love for safe swimming.

Now celebrating 10 years of business and service, Lori’s H2O Skills is opening their second location in Crestview, FL.

“My mother and sister live down here and my sister is purchasing Crestview Physical Therapy,” Kyle said. “They don’t use the pool during the evening hours, so when the opportunity arose, we were excited to expand our swim school and serve the Crestview community.”

Swim lessons range as young as 3 months and as old as senior adults. They also teach individuals with special abilities and ensure everyone is comfortable in the water.

“We only teach one-on-one swim lessons so our students can learn how to swim in the most efficient and effective way,” Lori said. “Our program is based on children learning to flip and float and get themselves to safety and learning proper swimming skills.”

Classes are set up once per week for 15 minutes.

“I did a study for children and researched the best way for them to listen and learn with their short attention span,” Lori said.

The conclusion was that children stay engaged for about five to seven minutes. Based on these findings, lessons are capped at 15 minutes to optimize efficiency and retention.

Lori has always been passionate about swim.

“I just love it,” she said. “I think about swimming and the water all the time.”

The slogan of Lori’s H2O Skills is “Saving Lives One Child at a Time.”

“My passion is teaching people how to swim so it can save their lives,” Lori said. “We want a child to flip and float and stay above water and have enough seconds for a person or friend to help save them. Just seconds can save lives.”

Obviously, swimming in a pool is very different than swimming in the Gulf, but the staff understands the different techniques needed in saltwater and around the ocean to combat big waves and rip tides.

The indoor 40-foot by 12-foot pool takes weather out of the occasion and allows Lori’s H2O Skills to offer swim lessons year-round. The pool is no deeper than 5 feet.

For more information about one-on-one lessons and pricing, check out their website: www.h2oskillsflorida.com.

“We just want to keep people safe around pools and the ocean,” Lori said. “We are the place to come for anything water related – that is our love and passion. Safety, safety, safety – that is what we care about.”

Lori’s H2O Skills
577 Brookmeade Drive Crestview, FL
www.h2oskillsflorida.com
850-333-7014