To all the head football coaches out there, enjoy the good days.
Enjoy the wins. Enjoy the moments when the entire town you are coaching in has your back and cheers you on every chance it gets.
Most of my friends are considerably younger than me, as in, “I am old enough to be their father” younger than me. Our age difference is not an issue. It is not apparent in our conversations, at least from my perspective. My friends, of course, see what I do not: a white-haired man talking. But it doesn’t seem to matter. Occasionally, however, like a poker player’s tell, I will say something that instantly marks me as from a different generation. Usually, it is me quoting some iconic, funny line from a television show I grew up watching. Not only are my friends unfamiliar with the iconic line, but they usually have never even heard of the television show.
Governor Ron DeSantis has never shied away from bold proposals, but his latest idea—to eliminate property taxes in Florida—may be his most bold yet. While the promise of tax relief is politically seductive, the implications for local governments could be devastating. Property taxes aren’t just a line item on a homeowner’s bill—they’re the lifeblood of municipal budgets, funding everything from schools and police departments to parks and public health.
Actions have consequences, and so does inactions, especially when the inaction is an extraordinary number of state residents who do not complete their census survey. We count every person because every person counts.
Football season officially gets started on Friday for Crestview and Baker.
Both teams have high hopes for the coming season. Both teams should have winning seasons.
Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, were very mischievous. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew all about it. If any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were probably involved.
The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Okaloosa County’s primary animal control and shelter provider, is facing a dire financial crisis. With a projected $750,000 shortfall in 2025, the nonprofit has warned that without immediate support, it may be forced to shut its doors in early 2026. This is not just a budget issue—it’s a looming public safety and animal welfare emergency.
On my recent visit with family in Canada, I was not surprised when one of my brothers called me “Pasquale.” He has called me Pasquale as long as I can remember but I don’t remember why. He has nicknames for other family members, their origins more easily recognized, yet, I am Pasquale, and we are not Italian.
In classrooms across Florida, an unsettling trend continues to raise red flags: children as young as 6 years old are being removed from school under Florida’s Baker Act, a law originally designed to protect individuals in mental health crises. Intended as a last resort, it’s become a first response far too often. The result? Frightened kids, heartbroken parents, and communities questioning whether we’ve lost our way in addressing student mental health.
