Rosemary THYMES FALL 2026
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Sharing the Panhandle Coexisting with Black Bears in Walton County
FALL ALONG 30A
ROSEMARY BEACH SCULPTURE EXHIBIT
CARRYING THE BLUE DOG FORWARD
A Rosemary Beach POA Newspaper • rosemarythymes.org
WORLD-CLASS NATURAL GOLF. A MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY.
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A BOUNDLESS FUTURE.
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Reserve your Estate Lot Old Shores will begin with 21 extraordinary estate homesites, several of which are positioned along the final holes of our first course, designed by Tom Doak. These sites can accommodate residences of up to eight bedrooms, offering the flexibility to create a fully custom retreat or select from one of our thoughtfully designed plans for a turnkey experience. With an unmatched setting, these homesites present the opportunity to be one of the first owners at Old Shores.
For further information please contact:
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Read past issues! Locally Owned | Community Driven
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ROSEMARY THYMES | 6
CONTENTS
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PUBLISHED BY THE ROSEMARY BEACH PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION TIM SHADBURN PRESIDENT DOLF ROELL VICE PRESIDENT
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LETTYE BURGTORF SECRETARY DAN DROSS TREASURER STACY PARKS JOHN BUCK RALPH YARUSSO BOARD MEMBERS LEE NETTLES TOWN MANAGER DOUG AND DENISE BOCK TOWN ARCHITECT
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Town Map
ROSEMARY BEACH POA PO BOX 611010 ROSEMARY BEACH, FL 32461
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MAGGIE JACKSON JENNY DIAMOND
21 Sharing the Panhandle: Coexisting with Black Bears in Walton County
8 From the POA 9 Meet the Team: Laura Wensel 12 Rosemary Beach Foundation: Tour of Homes Returns, Music in Pictures Kicks Off 2026-27 Season 14 Fall Along 30A: The Season of Festivals, Flavor and Coastal Fun 18 2026-2027 Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition
25 Carrying the Blue Dog Forward: How Wendy Rodrigue Magnus Turned Grief Into a Living Legacy 28 Calendar of Events 30 Kid Bits 31 Kids Puzzle 34 Merchants Directory
THE ROSEMARY THYMES IS PRODUCED BY BALLINGER PUBLISHING MALCOLM BALLINGER OWNER KELLY ODEN EDITORIAL & CREATIVE DIRECTOR MORGAN COLE EDITOR DAWN GRESKO ASSISTANT EDITOR IAN LETT ART DIRECTOR RYAN DUGGER GRAPHIC DESIGNER/AD COORDINATOR FOR ADVERTISING RATES CALL 850.433.1166, EXT 27
FIND US ONLINE ON THE COVER: Photo courtesy of MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife
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ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS PAPER DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE POA BOARD. ROSEMARY BEACH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OWNED BY ROSEMARY BEACH HOLDINGS, LLC AND IS USED WITH PERMISSION PURSUANT TO A LICENSE FROM ROSEMARY BEACH HOLDINGS, LLC.
ROOTED IN ROSEMARY BEACH® THRIVING ALONG ALL OF 30A
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ROSEMARY THYMES | 8
From the POA
Welcome to Rosemary Beach!
Photo courtesy of Visit South Walton By Jordan Paramore, Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association Staff
Welcome to Rosemary Beach, where coastal charm meets southern hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be captivated by cobblestone streets, charming courtyards, and the architectural grace that sets Rosemary Beach apart. Stroll or bike through our walkable community, where each meandering road guides you along the path of discovery. Rosemary Beach is full of hidden treasures, from butterfly gardens and playgrounds to quiet parks along the boardwalks. Established in 1995 and situated on beautiful Scenic County Highway 30-A, Rosemary Beach is truly a community like no other.
and umbrella so you can relax and let the waters take your stress and cares away. Walk along our shaded boardwalks and enjoy a time of quiet reflection amongst the more than 3,000 live oaks bordering our streets, parks, and walkways.
The team behind this incredible community is the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association (RBPOA). Taking control from the developers in 2005 as a not-for-profit corporation, the RBPOA oversees the preservation of the town’s unique architectural integrity, the upkeep of communal amenities, and the facilitation of services that enhance the quality of life for both residents and guests. You might see the Our Town Center is the true heart and soul of the community. dedicated members of our landscaping and maintenance There is no shortage of good coffee and even greater food, teams on your morning walk, tirelessly working to keep our and with a wide variety of unique shops and boutiques to community beautiful while our friendly in-house Security explore. Here in the town center, you’ll find some of our team patrols the neighborhood to keep you and your family most prized feats of architecture. Our beautiful Town Hall safe. And don’t forget the beach; our Beach Services team sits at the very bottom of the square next to our charming is available seven days a week to help provide a luxurious Post Office, and if you follow the cobblestone street, you’ll experience with chairs, umbrellas and bonfires. be met with a breath of fresh ocean air as you follow Main Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, we’re glad you’re Street straight to our sugar-sand beaches. here. Welcome to a place where memories are made and Our half-mile beach of crystal white sand and the emerald community is cherished. Welcome to Rosemary Beach — green waters of the gulf provide an experience that is you’re going to love it here. second to none. Our beach team will provide you with a chair
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Meet the Team Laura Wensel Rosemary Beach Accounting Manager
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member of the team for almost four years, Laura makes sure that the Rosemary Beach Property Owner’s Association’s (POA) finances are up-to-date and organized.
By Maggie Jackson
Could you tell me about your role at Rosemary Beach? I am the Accounting Manager for the Rosemary Beach POA, where I oversee both accounts payable and accounts receivable. My role includes managing invoices, processing payments, tracking incoming funds and helping ensure the association’s financial records remain accurate and organized. Much of my work takes place behind the scenes, but it is rewarding to know that it helps support the day-to-day operations of the community.
How long have you worked on the Rosemary Beach team? How has the community changed over the years? I have been part of the Rosemary Beach POA team for almost four years. I started in an administrative role and gradually worked my way into the accounting department, eventually becoming the Accounting Manager. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to learn, grow and take on new responsibilities throughout my time here.
What is your favorite part of working at Rosemary Beach? Do you have any stories/examples you can share? My favorite part of working in Rosemary Beach is the people and having the opportunity to work in such a beautiful place,
Being surrounded by a great team and such a special community makes coming to work each day incredibly rewarding. it truly feels like paradise. We have some amazing owners who are an absolute pleasure to work with, and I enjoy building relationships with them and helping in any way I can. Being surrounded by a great team and such a special community makes coming to work each day incredibly rewarding.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy spending time with my son, Nicholas, and working in my garden. He keeps me busy with martial arts, playdates with friends, school events and local outings to the arcade, water park and playgrounds. Gardening is my way to relax and unwind at home when we are not on the go.
COME FOR THE EXPERIENCE When you book your ROSEMARY BEACH® vacation with us, you get more than a beautiful home—you get full access to everything that makes the ROSEMARY BEACH community extraordinary. 9 private beach walkovers 4 stunning community pools Exclusive entry to the Rosemary Beach Fitness Center Complimentary Court Time at the award-winning Rosemary Beach Racquet Club
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STAY FOR THE LIFESTYLE When it comes to real estate in Rosemary Beach®, local expertise isn’t just an advantage—it’s everything. As the only on-site brokerage in the community, Rosemary Beach Realty offers insider access, unmatched visibility, and decades-deep relationships built from living, working, and selling right here. That local advantage translates to real results: Rosemary Beach Realty was the top brokerage for Rosemary Beach sales in 2025 and is leading the way in 2026, representing over 77% of the community’s sales volume YTD and exclusively transacting the highest-priced sale of the year. Simply put, no one knows—or sells—Rosemary Beach like we do. We live here. We work here. We sell more ROSEMARY BEACH than anyone else. What makes the difference? Proprietary kiosks in North and South Barrett Square Priority ad positioning on the back cover of the Rosemary Thymes A database of 200,000+ engaged vacationers and prospective buyers Exclusive golf cart property tours
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Rosemary Beach Foundation Tour of Homes Returns, Music in Pictures Kicks Off 2026-27 Season
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s summer gives way to Rosemary Beach’s busy fall and winter calendar, the Rosemary Beach Foundation is preparing for two of its signature community programs: the annual Rosemary Beach Holiday Tour of Homes and the launch of the 2026-27 season of Music in Pictures
The two events look nothing alike — one is an afternoon of holiday cheer, the other a yearround arts-education initiative — but both trace back to the same mission that has guided the Foundation since its founding in 2006: bringing residents, visitors and Walton County schoolchildren together in a spirit of giving, learning and creativity.
Held each December, the Rosemary Beach Holiday Tour of Homes is a self-guided walk through a handful of Rosemary Beach residences dressed in their holiday finest. The Foundation partners with Rosemary Beach Realty and Rosemary Beach Cottage Rental Company to open the doors of some of the town’s most beautifully decorated homes for a single afternoon, with proceeds from advance ticket sales benefiting local charitable partners such as Caring and Sharing and Alaqua Animal Refuge. Annual attendees know the drill by now: the tour tends to sell out, so advance tickets are a must, and a camera is practically required for the garland-wrapped porches and lantern-lit courtyards that have become
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a local tradition of their own. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Preevent ticket details will be announced on Facebook, online at rbhometour.com and the new Rosemary Beach Foundation webpage at rosemarybeachfoundation.org. Meanwhile, the Rosemary Beach Foundation’s flagship arts-education program, Music in Pictures, returns to Walton County classrooms this fall to open its school year long event. Now well into its second decade, the juried initiative pairs professional musicians and Florida State University College of Music faculty with more than 4,000 K-12 students across more than 20 public and private schools throughout the county. Each fall, graduate musician fellows visit classrooms to perform and discuss a work of classical music; students then translate what they hear into varied multimedia forms of art creating original interpretations of the piece. The works are judged the following spring — with
Judges Awards, Chairman’s Awards and Medalists selected — before going on public display at community spots including Amavida Coffee and Tea in Rosemary Beach, the Coastal Branch Library, the Freeport Public Library and Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Together, these two programs capture what makes Rosemary Beach Foundation’s work distinctive: a holiday tradition that celebrates the town’s architecture and generosity and a year-round investment in the county’s young artists. Since 2006, the Foundation has directed more than $1.5 million to local schools and organizations, and both this December’s Holiday Tour of Homes and this fall’s Music in Pictures kickoff offers easy ways for residents and visitors to take part. For updates on dates, tickets and volunteer opportunities, follow Rosemary Beach Foundation online or watch for the next issue of The Rosemary Thymes.
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Fall Along 30A The Season of Festivals, Flavor and Coastal Fun By Maggie Jackson
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s the summer crowds begin to fade, 30A will begin to settle into one of its most celebrated seasons: Crisp mornings, warm Gulf afternoons and a packed calendar of festivals make fall the ideal time to experience the Emerald Coast. From beachfront concerts and luxury car shows to world-class wine events and family-friendly Halloween celebrations, nearly every weekend offers a reason to explore. September
The season begins in early September with the Baytowne Art & Chalk Festival at Baytowne Wharf, where talented chalk artists transform sidewalks into colorful masterpieces while live music and family activities create a festive atmosphere. This event takes place Sept. 4-6 and is free to attend. Later in the month on Sept. 19, Panama City Beach will embrace island culture during the Little Village Conch Shell Festival at Little Village & Finns, featuring Caribbean-inspired cuisine, local artists, handcrafted goods and live entertainment. Seafood enthusiasts will flock to one of the region’s most celebrated traditions, the Destin Seafood Festival Sept. 25-27. This event kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo that extends into the entire month of October. Established in 1978, attendees
can expect to try fresh Gulf catches from local restaurants and experience arts and crafts vendors and live entertainment on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk. This event is free, and more information can be found at destinseafoodfest.com.
October October is one of the busiest fall months along 30A. Beachfront concerts continue Oct. 1-3 with Moon Crush: Odie’s Beach Vacation, a multi-day music festival in Miramar Beach featuring nationally touring artists performing just steps from the Gulf at Seascape Resort. Every aspect of this event has been created by Old Dominion to make sure everyone has fun. Tickets can be purchased at odiesbeach.com. Automotive enthusiasts won’t want to miss Cars of 30A in Alys Beach Oct. 2-3. This event will present an elite and highly curated collection of rare and high-performance automobiles, set against Alys Beach’s iconic landscape of white-masonry homes and cobblestone streets. This collaboration brings together the best of both worlds: unparalleled architecture and automotive excellence. The cost to attend is $60 per person, with a VIP ticket option of $300 per ticket. More information can be found at carsof30a.com. Rock fans can head to nearby Miramar Beach Oct. 8-10 for Rockin’ in Paradise with Styx & Friends, a three-day beachfront festival celebrating classic rock with legendary performers. In addition to Styx performing, the lineup also features Tesla, The Marshall Tucker Band, Yacht Rock Revue, Don Felder, Edwin
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McCain, The Band Feel, 38 Special, Jefferson Starship and the Outlaws. This event offers a variety of experiences and passes. Learn more at styxparadise.com. For cocktail enthusiasts, the annual Bloody Mary Festival at Baytowne Wharf offers creative Bloody Mary competitions, brunch-inspired bites, handcrafted cocktails and live music. Hosted on Oct. 10, this event benefits Habitat for Humanity – Walton County. The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation will be hosting Harvest Wine & Food Festival Oct. 15-18. Hosted every October, the 2026 event will feature wine dinners, its famous Grand Tasting, a cocktail brunch and much more. Rated as one of the premier wine and food festivals in the Southeast, the Harvest Wine & Food Festival provides attendees with the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world’s finest wine and culinary selections. Tickets can be purchased at dcwaf.org/harvest-festival. Families can wrap up October at Baytowne Wharf’s Trick or Treat Street on Halloween from 6 to 8 pm where children enjoy safe trick-or-treating, festive activities and Halloween fun in a charming village setting.
November November ushers in one of 30A’s signature seasons—food and wine festivals. The Seeing Red Wine Festival in Seaside on Nov. 5-8 is among the Southeast’s premier wine events, offering reserve tastings, elegant wine dinners, brunches and its celebrated Grand Tasting in Central Square. Tickets can be purchased at seasideseeingred.com. Film lovers and the public alike can enjoy the 2026 Mountainfilm on Tour at WaterColor’s Marina Park Amphitheater Nov. 6-7, where award-winning documentary short films explore adventure, environmental conservation and diverse cultures beneath the stars in a spectacular outdoor setting. Each year, Mountainfilm on Tour travels around the
globe featuring a collection of culturally rich, adventurepacked and enlightening documentary short films selected from the best-loved films from the annual festival in Telluride, Colorado. The films selected for the show will explore themes connected to the Mountainfilm mission of exploring cultures, preserving environments and promoting adventure. Tickets are available on watercolorresort.com. Mid-November continues the culinary celebration with Alys Beach Crafted, one of 30A’s premier food-and-drink festivals. The multi-day event taking place Nov. 11-14 features immersive dining experiences, craft cocktails, beer and wine tastings, artisan demonstrations, the popular Firkin Fête and Spirited Soirée, along with a vibrant makers market. Tickets will be available to purchase online at alysbeachcrafted.com after Sept. 1. The fall event season concludes with Rosemary Beach Uncorked, a signature food-and-wine stroll through Rosemary Beach on Nov. 14 from 1 to 4 pm. The event is celebrating its 15th year, and guests can sample wines from dozens of vineyards while enjoying expertly prepared dishes from Rosemary Beach restaurants. Uncorked proudly supports local charities. This year features Caring & Sharing of South Walton, which provides crisis relief services including food assistance and counseling, and the Children’s Volunteer Health Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting underserved children with the critical healthcare they need to thrive. This event currently has a waitlist, but you can join at rosemarybeachuncorked.com. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or an extended coastal getaway, fall along 30A offers the perfect blend of beach weather, exceptional cuisine, live entertainment and unforgettable community celebrations. It’s a season where every weekend tells a different story — and every town has something worth discovering.
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2026-2027 Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition By Maggie Jackson
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he 2026-2027 Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition (RBSE) will open on Oct. 15, 2026 and run through October 2027, featuring 11 sculptures carefully selected to complement the town’s natural beauty and distinctive architecture. After receiving and judging 80 submissions, the RBSE committee, in partnership with the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association, is excited to welcome 11 artists from across the country to showcase their work in this year-long outdoor exhibition.
John E. Bannon, IL Sculpture: Drop John is a multi-media visual artist whose work is seen in public and private collections worldwide. He draws inspiration from the natural world, reimagining everyday shapes and forms to highlight their inherent beauty and positivity. His work integrates elements of Gestalt psychology, holography, colored light, magnification, reflection and illusions of weight and depth to create immersive environments that invite aesthetic engagement and quiet contemplation.
Earl Dismuke, MS Sculpture: Big Dreamer Earl is a Mississippi-based sculptor who is dedicated to enhancing community life through the power of public art. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in sculpture from the University of Mississippi. Earl is a co-founder of the
Yokna Sculpture Trail, a bi-annual rotating outdoor sculpture exhibition in Oxford, Mississippi. Examples of his work have been included in several international and national exhibitions, including but not limited to, the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, The Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Ocean Springs, MS, The Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS, Scope Basel in Basel, Switzerland, Lima, Peru and several gallery and museum shows.
Justin Gaffrey, FL Sculpture: Crab 1939 Justin writes: “I am a self-taught contemporary artist based in Santa Rosa Beach. My work is recognized for its bold, textural expression that bridges painting and sculpture. Over time, I developed a distinctive technique in which my hands sculpt heavy layers of paint into dimensional surfaces, allowing imagery to rise from the canvas with movement and energy.”
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“This physical, process-driven approach has naturally expanded into sculpture, where I explore form, balance, and structure on a larger scale. Working in materials such as steel, I translate the same sense of movement and dimensionality found in my paintings into open, spatial compositions that engage light, air, and environment.”
Morgan Lugo, GA Sculpture: Time Is of the Essence Morgan Lugo is a sculptor based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in largescale public art. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from Georgia State University and has over eight years of experience working in bronze foundries across the United States, Germany and the Caribbean, contributing to the fabrication of monumental public works. Her work has been exhibited at institutions including the High Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art and the Metal Museum. In 2019, her work was acquired by the City of Atlanta for the Fulton County Public Art Collection.
Eric Lynn, LA Sculpture: Wings of Serenity Eric is a Gulf Coast-based designer and fabricator that operates a metal-oriented digital fabrication studio, Workhaus. With a Master of Architecture degree from Tulane University and installations in numerous places across the southeast, Eric writes about Wings of Serenity. “This project stands as a tribute to the enchanting harmony between art and nature along the Gulf South. ‘Wings of Serenity’ captures the beauty and peacefulness of nature, exemplified through the majestic takeoff of three herons.”
Michele Moushey-Dale, WI – Sculpture: Natural Wonders Working primarily in bronze, Michele holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Illinois University, has participated in approximately 40 juried exhibitions, placed work in several private collections and is the recipient of several awards. She writes, “My desire is that the Natural Wonders Bronze will impart a sense of recognition, awareness, and understanding of our role with nature. Visiting the installation, much like a walk in the woods or along the river shore, the details and imagery will remind viewers of our interdependence with the natural world and the enjoyment we gain.”
Kyle Ocean, WA Sculpture: Mobalisk Kyle is a sculpture artist residing in western Washington whose work is concept-
driven and centered around geographical exploration and public involvement. His art has been featured in over 60 exhibitions. His sculptural work utilizes the graphic language of his printmaking and drawing, translating that language into equally expressive three-dimensional form. Much of his work uses scale and surface details, intended to captivate the viewer’s interest from afar. His designs are intended to bring the viewer closer to investigate the complexity of intricate surface details that are revealed through the patina process.
Chris Plaisted, CT Sculpture: Wind in the Waves 2 Chris was born in a tiny New Hampshire town surrounded by artists, including his family. Many were painters, and a neighborwho was a welder and woodcarver-taught him valuable skills. These experiences sparked his creative path. Now an emerging artist, Chris is drawn to travel, architecture, cities and water. Drawing on inspiration from his travels and observations, his sculptures arouse feeling through mainly welded-steel constructions. He also incorporates copper, wood, concrete and other metals.
Corrina Sephora, GA Sculpture: Bridge Beyond Time II Atlanta-based multimedia artist Corrina Sephora Mensoff specializes in metal sculpture, painting and public art installations. Through the use of repetitive symbolic imagery, she draws on nautical and celestial themes to explore emotion, memory and ritual. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in metals and sculpture from the Massachusetts College of Art and a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from Georgia State University. Mensoff has completed artist residencies throughout the United States and abroad, and her work can be found in prominent public spaces as well as permanent and private collections, including the collection of Sir Elton John.
Adam Walls, NC Sculpture: Core Deep Red Adam has been creating art for public exhibition since 2004. He received his BA in Art Education in 1996 from Limestone College and taught art in art centers, public schools, and out of his own studio until receiving his MFA in sculpture from Winthrop University in 2005. Since receiving his MFA, Adam’s work has appeared in Sculpture magazine, been the topic of discussion on NPR and ETV, and has been exhibited in over one hundred outdoor sculpture exhibitions. Adam Walls currently resides in Tryon NC and serves as the head of the sculpture program at UNC-Pembroke.
Time Is of the Essence by Morgan Lugo
Kat Warwick, TX Sculpture: The Spirit of Hope Coming to her art later in life, Kat is an educator, performer and gallery director at the Dallas Creative Arts Center. She says the following about her art, “The stone speaks in whispers and I listen. Ancient wisdom drifts into the stories my work portrays. I have a drive to create a better world through stone sculpture created by human hands. The history is profound... chisel marks from thousands of years ago are identical to the chisel marks I make today. Our tools are modern but the process is unchanged. The art of stone carving is a direct link to our past, our struggles, our successes, and our humanity.” Exhibition opening events in October will include information at the Rosemary Beach Property Owners Annual Meeting and a Donors Appreciation party on October 15. Special guest, Wendy Rodrique, the wife of the late George Rodrique who created Colors of My Mind in the Rosemary Beach permanent collection, will be at both events. Many of the artists will attend the Donors Appreciation Party. Additionally, photos, information and recordings of the artists talking about their sculptures will be available on the free OtoCast smartphone app. The RBSE would not be possible without the strong support of our donors. Visit our website at rosemarybeachsculpture.com to donate, and stay up to date on news and announcements by following the RBSE Facebook page @rosemarybeachsculpture. The mission of the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Committee is to enhance the architectural and natural beauty of Rosemary Beach and provide opportunities for inspiration through the placement of outdoor art. We hope you will find we are fulfilling that mission with the 2026-2027 exhibition!
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ROSEMARY THYMES | 21
Sharing the Panhandle Coexisting with Black Bears in Walton County By Jenny Diamond
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here is no question what our area is best known for. Every year, tourists flock to our sandy shores to soak up the sun, relax and enjoy the beauty of our pristine beaches and warm Gulf waters. We are known as the Emerald Coast, after all. But our beaches are just one piece of the incredible environmental puzzle that makes up Northwest Florida. In fact, the region is part of one of only a handful of biodiversity hotspots in the world, making it as rich in natural diversity as it is in scenic beauty.
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, an area needs to have at least 1,500 endemic species of plants (species that are found nowhere else on earth) and must have lost at least 70% of its natural vegetation. In 2015, the North American Coastal Plain (NACP) was designated as the world’s 36th biodiversity hotspot. The NACP stretches from Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and up the Atlantic Coast; Northwest Florida is designated as the “hottest” hotspot within the NACP for its various distinct ecosystems and number of plant, animal, fish and insect species. According to Conservation International, “biodiversity is the foundation of healthy natural systems: the species and ecosystems that make up life on Earth support the functions that humans depend on.” One species crucial to maintaining the biodiversity of Northwest Florida is somewhat surprising: the Florida black bear. Black bears have lived in Florida for thousands of years; the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) notes that black
bear fossils dating back nearly 12,000 years have been found throughout the state. While bears can be found nearly anywhere in Florida, they typically prefer forests, swamps, scrub oak ridges, hammocks and bayheads; the area a bear covers in search of food, water, and shelter is called their home range. Black bears are known as an “umbrella species,” meaning that protecting bears and the habitats they depend on also helps safeguard countless other plants and animals that share those ecosystems. Their role doesn’t stop there. Bears eat a diet made up largely of native berries, nuts, and seeds, then naturally disperse those seeds throughout their vast home ranges through their scat. This helps support the growth and regeneration of native plant communities. Because black bears roam across such large areas, conserving healthy bear populations also helps preserve the diverse habitats that make Northwest Florida one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. FWC has designated seven Bear Management Units (BMUs) that address the specific concerns and habitats of bears in a particular area. The Western Panhandle Bear Management Unit (WPBMU) consists of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Holmes Counties. Within each BMU, the FWC classifies areas into four categories based on how frequently bears appear in a given area: frequent, common, occasional and rare. Southern Walton County is designated frequent, and the more inland areas of the county are designated common.
ROSEMARY THYMES | 22
Currently, the Florida black bear, a subspecies of the American black bear and the only bear found in Florida, has an overall state population estimated at around 4,000. As recently as the 1960s and ‘70s, the number of bears in the entire state dropped into the hundreds, and bears were listed as one of Florida’s threatened and endangered species in 1974. Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, bears in Florida were listed as recovered in 2012. Within the WPBMU, there are an estimated 120 bears, all part of the Eglin subpopulation. In order for a subpopulation to be considered healthy, there needs to be roughly 200 bears; this number is needed for genetic variance among a particular population. One of the important objectives of the BMUs is attempting to maintain healthy subpopulations throughout the state to avoid genetic isolation. However, bears face habitat loss and fragmentation from development. The Florida Wildlife Federation notes that “as their habitats shrink, bears are pushed into smaller, disconnected areas, making it harder to find food, mates and safe spaces to roam while also increasing their risk of vehicle collisions.” Thus, animals like bears not only need a home range; they also need ways to access other populations via wildlife corridors. The allocation of protected land is not random. Corridors are connected areas of protected land that allow animals to move from area to area as safely as possible, ideally with little interaction with humans, roads, or communities. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation identifies corridors in Florida as “a vast network of forests, rivers, ranches and farms that connect the Everglades to the Georgia and Alabama borders.” Jennifer Bearden, IFAS Agriculture Agent for Okaloosa County, notes the importance of corridors not only for bears to access other subpopulations to avoid genetic isolation but also to prevent vehicle strikes, which account for the majority of all bear deaths statewide. “The black bear population in the panhandle is growing, which is a good thing, but now that it has rebounded, we have to be aware,” Bearden said. “The habitat that we’re driving through is their home. When juvenile males grow, they must leave the range of their mother and sisters, and eventually, they hit an interstate. If we can purchase and preserve the right pieces of land, then bears can move more freely between areas, even across the entire state.” Arix Zalace, local conservationist and filmmaker, points to areas along 30A as models for how growing developments and wild spaces can coexist.
“We know we’re going to develop, but there are ways to do it right,” Zalace said. “These communities along 30A have tight communal centers that are surrounded by protected wild spaces. We have to create a shift away from the idea that a tiny conservation park is sufficient; we have to have wildlife corridors that allow for the continued biodiversity of our region.” This celebration of biodiversity is central to Zalace’s work on a 2025 feature film, The Paper Bear, and a non-profit organization of the same name; co-founded by Zalace and executive producer Sean Couch, the organization’s mission “is to bring awareness to the immense biodiversity in Northwest Florida and share its natural wonders through the lives of the majestic black bears.” The early ideas for the film and the organization started less as an exposition on bears and more as a celebration of the NACP being named the 36th global biodiversity hotspot. However, Zalace eventually concluded that the best way to get the public emotionally involved and connected was to center one animal: the black bear. “If you can get people to fall in love with an umbrella species, they’ll care about everything under that umbrella,” Zalace said. The Paper Bear is a layered film that weaves a tale of two Maxes: in one tale, teenager Max and his father embark on a camping trip where Max learns about his father’s love of the Northwest Florida forests and develops his own appreciation through the experiences they share, including an encounter with black bears. In the other animated tale, Max, a young bear and Florida beach bum, learns the importance of his own species to the survival of the forests. The two tales converge in a way that shows how the love of a place and desire to protect it can be generational; the film pays homage to the oral storytelling traditions of Florida’s indigenous people to imply that conservation is a responsibility that seeks to build a desired future while integrating lessons from the past. Zalace references the plummeting bear populations in Florida in the ‘60s and ‘70s and the conservation efforts that followed. “Generationally, we don’t always get it right, but we can take those mistakes and create a new path forward,” Zalace said. “When we start bringing endangered species back from the brink, it’s our responsibility to learn how to live with them again.” The Paper Bear is streaming on Prime Video and Apple TV. To learn more about the film and the organization, please visit thepaperbear.org.
ROSEMARY THYMES | 23
Resources for Safe Coexistence Between Bears and Humans Humans and bears will continue to encounter each other, so there are needed actions from individuals, businesses, HOAs and communities to make sure that those interactions are safe for all. First, it is important that humans never intentionally feed bears and make sure that outdoor trash is secured. Nearly one-third (34%) of all bear encounters reported to the WPBMU between 2016 and 2025 involved bears getting into trash. In addition to securing outdoor trash, it is important to remove other potential sources of food like outdoor pet food and uncleaned grills; in areas where bears are particularly active, it may even be necessary to remove outdoor bird feeders. Bears are driven in their search for food and can smell a potential food source from over a mile away; according to the National Park Service, a black bear’s sense of smell is roughly seven times stronger than a bloodhound’s. Zalace notes that one misconception about bears is that they seek out food in neighborhoods and communities because they cannot find enough food in their natural habitats. Instead, he says, they are simply drawn by their sense of smell. “Bears getting into the trash does not mean that there isn’t enough food in the forest; there is plenty of food in the forest,” Zalace said. “It just means that they are attracted to the scent and high-caloric potential of foods in our trash. A bear can smell ripe berries from a mile away, but they might find a higher calorie meal from leftover fried shrimp that got tossed.” Bears are incredibly adaptable and can learn quickly to return to a regular source of food like trash cans or dumpsters, and they can also lose their fear of humans, leading to potential problematic encounters. BearWise, an organization dedicated to outreach and education about coexisting with bears, instructs the public about where to purchase bear-resistant containers and how to modify outdoor trash cans and dumpsters to make them more difficult for bears to get into. On a larger scale, BearWise offers practical information about how to protect agriculture, livestock, and beehives with electric fencing and electric mats. Though there are initial costs up front to install these protective measures, BearWise provides information and practical steps to make these solutions as accessible as possible.
In addition to these tips, BearWise reminds people to “Scare That Bear!” in order to maintain bears’ healthy fear of humans and keep them from revisiting neighborhoods and other populated areas. Tips for scaring a bear include standing your ground from a safe distance, raising your arms in the air to appear larger and talking in a loud, authoritative voice. These methods should only be used when they can be done safely: avoid scaring the bear if doing so will cause it to run into traffic, if there are large crowds of people nearby, or if the bear has no clear escape route. These methods are not intended to harm the bear or stress it unnecessarily; rather, they are intended to maintain a healthy boundary between humans and bears that will keep both populations as safe as possible. In extenuating circumstances, like encountering an injured bear or a cub on its own, it is better to report the encounter to FWC. If you encounter a bear in its own habitat, away from neighborhoods or communities, do not move any closer and enjoy the experience from a safe distance. Jennifer Bearden notes the importance of reporting bear encounters and reaching out to FWC or your local UF Extension Office with any questions or concerns. “We’re here as a resource, so if people have questions about bears or want to check out our publication series Living With…, please reach out. If a specific community is having a problem with bears, we can work together to come up with a clear education plan and mitigation strategies.” To report a dead or injured bear or a wildlife violation, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922). • BearWise: bearwise.org • FWC: myfwc.com • UF IFAS Extension: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu
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ROSEMARY THYMES | 25
Carrying the Blue Dog Forward How Wendy Rodrigue Magnus Turned Grief Into a Living Legacy By Maggie Jackson
W
hen Wendy Rodrigue Magnus walks into a classroom carrying original works of art by her late husband, internationally acclaimed artist George Rodrigue (19442013) who created the Blue Dog sculpture in Rosemary Beach, she isn’t simply teaching students about painting. She is inviting them into a conversation about life, loss, creativity and the power every person possesses to leave the world a little better than they found it.
That mission has become the heart of the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation, the nonprofit Rodrigue Magnus founded in 2017 after the most difficult chapter of her life. Today, the organization has reached more than 300 schools nationwide, presented 22 museum exhibitions across eight states and continues expanding the artistic legacy of George Rodrigue while inspiring people to discover their own creative voice. For Rodrigue Magnus, however, the journey began thousands of miles away from the museums and galleries where she would eventually build an international career. She grew up in nearby Fort Walton Beach, where the Gulf Coast shaped both her childhood and her appreciation for beauty.
“I knew how special it was as a kid to live on the beach,” Magnus said. “I would often wear my bathing suit under my clothes at school so I wouldn’t miss a moment at the beach when I got home.” Her mother, Mignon Wolfe, an artist herself, planted the first seeds of a lifelong passion for art. Years ago, Wolfe operated a booth at the Destin Seafood Festival, exposing her daughters, Wendy and Heather, to a creative life that felt colorful in every sense. That early exposure led Rodrigue Magnus to pursue a double major in Art History and English at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, before enrolling in graduate school at Tulane University in New Orleans. Her post-graduate goal was clear: to focus on museum work rather than the commercial gallery world. Everything changed, however, when she visited George Rodrigue’s Royal Street Gallery in New Orleans. The year was 1991, and Rodrigue Magnus had never heard of George Rodrigue, an artist known for his paintings of the Louisiana landscape and Cajun culture. ”I had never seen his paintings before, but a friend suggested that I speak to George’s agent. This was pre-technology, so networking, especially in the art world, was based on personal connections,” she said. “In the gallery, there was a 7-foot oil painting of a dog, and I just stood there staring at it. Unknown to me at the time, this painting was the true beginning of the Blue Dog series. It was the greatest painting I had ever seen in my life.”
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Rodrigue Magnus left graduate school two months before earning her master’s degree and accepted a position at the gallery, drawn by the opportunity “to be around the painting,” as she explained. There, she eventually met Rodrigue himself and was initially starstruck. The two began dating several years later and married in 1997, launching a partnership that would span continents. Together, the couple operated galleries in Louisiana, California and Germany, while maintaining a long-term gallery partnership in Japan. They developed museum exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States, including a blockbuster Rodrigue show in 2008 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Rodrigue also created paintings and campaigns for major brands, including Neiman Marcus, Absolut Vodka and Xerox Corporation, partnerships that catapulted his work to new levels. With New York publishers Abrams and Rizzoli, the couple produced twelve books, published nationally and internationally, on Rodrigue’s art. All the while, Rodrigue Magnus handled gallery management while Rodrigue focused on creating the artwork that made him internationally famous. Although the Blue Dog became his signature, Rodrigue Magnus says many people don’t realize the depth and development within the paintings. ”The Blue Dog is not a cartoon or character,” she explained. “George first painted it as a Cajun myth called loup-garou, a story his mother told to scare him into behaving. He adapted photographs of his studio dog, Tiffany, and invented his version of this crazy wolf from his childhood. Over time, the image transformed into something universal — a visual language through which George explored his feelings about life’s biggest questions. ‘Who am I? Where am I going? What does it all mean?’” Those themes became especially important as Rodrigue sought to transform Blue Dog from a painting into public art, something he believed should be sculpture and free. For nearly a decade, he experimented with ways to translate the twodimensional painted dog into a three-dimensional sculpture. Early relief cutouts in wood and neon never quite captured what he envisioned. Then inspiration arrived in an unexpected place. “We were at Houston’s restaurant in New Orleans, and George was playing with the cocktail napkins,” she recalled. “Suddenly, he curved them inward and said, ‘I’ve got it! His initial vision for the sculpture was that it would be 40 stories high, and include a welcome center and hotel on the Mississippi River. Because of his illness, this dream was never realized, but he did complete his sculpture in multiple versions, including one as large as 28-feet in New Orleans. Today his sculptures are installed as public art in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Florida.”
The curved design allowed the Blue Dog to exist in three dimensions, but without creating a back side or making it a character. Rodrigue and his friend Don Begneaud of Begneaud Manufacturing in Lafayette, Louisiana, began immediately on the prototype. Featuring gleaming chrome edges and automotive paint, the sculpture finally achieved what Rodrigue had imagined for years. In all but two sculptures, the sides are completed in the primary colors of blue, red and yellow. The two exceptions are finished with automotive ‘flip’ paint, creating a specialized effect of changing with the light. One of those sculptures is installed today as public art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the other welcomes visitors to Rosemary Beach. The Rosemary Beach installation, which was finalized in 2018, carries personal meaning for Rodrigue Magnus. The project came together through longtime friends Victoria Lee and Lawrence Pugh, who worked alongside George and Rodrigue Magnus for years at their gallery in New Orleans before eventually making their home in the 30A community. Today, the piece serves not only as public art but also as a symbol of friendship, generosity and the enduring reach of Rodrigue’s work. “The sculpture is one of George’s greatest artistic achievements, and today it is considered an important statement within Modern American Art,” she said. “The Rosemary Beach sculpture is effective because of where it is placed, in the Florida sunshine.” Following George Rodrigue’s death, Rodrigue Magnus found herself unable to imagine continuing without him. Today, rather than hide this experience, she shares it openly because she knows people connect with it. She returned to the educational programming she and George had begun years before. In 2017, she created the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation. This was developed from a simple but ambitious vision: To bring museum-quality experiences directly to students. Unlike many educational programs that rely on power point and similar technology for their onsite programming, Rodrigue Magnus carries original artwork into classrooms and allows the paintings to launch discussions. George’s art combined with Rodrigue Magnus’s storytelling become conversations far larger than art history. Students discuss identity, courage and grief.
ROSEMARY THYMES | 27
“We let the art take us on a journey,” she said. “One child shared that their bunny had died. That simple moment opened the door for classmates to process loss together.” With older students, the discussions become even more intimate. They talk honestly about their fears, curiosities and lives. By the end, they want to tell their own stories and share their art. They often stay well past the bell and don’t want to leave. “Many of them have remained in touch with me for years,” she noted. Rodrigue Magnus believes those moments reveal a truth that extends far beyond painting. “We are all artists,” she said. “Art is the most personal expression each individual possesses. It can be how you make other people feel, it can be how you dress or it can be how you write something. It’s brave to be an artist.” That philosophy shapes every presentation she gives, whether speaking to elementary students or adults. She also speaks candidly about the challenges of finding her purpose and building a nonprofit after George’s death and about growing up in an era when many women believed they couldn’t succeed independently. She discusses painful details of George’s illness, death and her grief. She follows with hopeful messages rooted in love, resilience, and enjoying life. Rodrigue Magnus will be back in Rosemary Beach this October to share with students in local schools. She will also present to the Rosemary Beach Property Owner’s Association, as well as public events in support of the Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition. In 2017, Rodrigue Magnus married one of George Rodrigue’s longtime friends, Douglas Magnus, a renowned silversmith from Santa Fe, New Mexico. As part of her life’s story, she embraces an expanding definition of love rather than one diminished by loss.
She recognizes that authenticity and presence remain the greatest artistic achievements. As George often stated, ”If you paint to please an audience or a critic, you will never make anything real, anything lasting, or anything your own.” Today, Rodrigue Magnus lives with her husband Douglas in Santa Fe, New Mexico and owns the world’s largest collection of original George Rodrigue artwork, a responsibility she approaches with equal parts gratitude and purpose. She and her Life & Legacy team, Curator Dana Holland-Beickert of Memphis and Outreach Coordinator Heather Parker of Tallahassee, work full time to share Rodrigue in schools and museums. Their latest exhibition, REFLECTIONS: The Art of George Rodrigue, continues through January 2027 at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge, where large scale artworks on metal invite visitors to literally see themselves within the art and become part of it. At the same time, Rodrigue Magnus continues to bring rarely seen Rodrigue paintings into schools, museums and communities across the country, including annual returns to the Florida Panhandle. Rodrigue Magnus’s work ensures that George Rodrigue’s artistic legacy remains vibrant, but perhaps her greatest accomplishment lies in what happens after students leave one of her presentations. They leave believing their own stories matter, that creativity belongs to everyone, that healing is possible and that every life — whether expressed through a paintbrush, an act of kindness or the courage to help another person — has the power to become a lasting work of art. For more on George Rodrigue, watch BLUE: The Life & Art of George Rodrigue, currently streaming on PBS and winner of the 2026 Emmy Award for Outstanding Regional Documentary. For more on the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation visit rodriguelegacy.org.
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ROSEMARY THYMES | 30
ds like to tell it ... New s the way ki se, true and, of cour al l good, mostly . at tering totally earth sh by CHRISTIA PA
Benson (5) spent some quality time with his older siblings this summer. His biggest sister Gigi graduated from high school and played in a BUNCH of travel volleyball games — probably a thousand — and they got to go to Las Vegas and Disneyland. He reports that he was on the lookout for dinosaurs but thankfully didn’t find any much to the relief of his mom. Emilia (13) and her best gals, Jude, Georgia, June and Laurel took their first, but definitely not last, trip down the Econfina River together. They all rode on basically one paddle board and one kiddie kayak and laughed and sang their way down the river. They tipped over many, many times and jumped off the rope swing. Only one belly flop occurred off the rope swing but all together they had a core memory making day. None of them are excited to start eighth grade even though that means they’re the alphas on campus but are excited for Modica and their garage band to start practicing.
LIZZI
Simon (5) went to Shell Island with his family. They rented a pontoon boat with slides and went really fast around the bay. They looked for so many dolphins but didn’t see any. He said he hunted for hours and hours for a shark tooth but came up empty handed. He found millions of sand dollars, and found a shark tooth necklace that would satisfy his hunt.
Emilia
Ari
Romy (8) visited Rosemary Beach for the first time this summer. She came from the Netherlands and shopped at Gigi’s. She picked out a super sparkly mermaid dress that is nothing like they have in the European stores. She can’t wait to wear it when she gets back home.
Holden (7) went to see a World Cup game in Philadelphia. He is a huge Messi fan and really Maeve (11) went to the hoped that France was Georgia Aquarium for glow night. The keeper for going to win the whole thing. He says he’s a tiny the giant Pacific Octopus bit French so that’s why said that the lady living he wanted them to win. there was a bit shy but He loved seeing the game not that night. She was with his own two eyes and at the front of the tank because of a rain delay and stayed there the was able to meet some of entire time they were at the players family under the aquarium. They also the overhangs. His sister, saw whale sharks and Lucy, opted out of the so many other beautiful futbol game, and instead, sea creatures. Her family saw Noah Kahan on that got to ride in their first same trip. They also went Waymo and by the end of to Vancouver, Canada and the trip decided they all preferred it to Lyft or Uber. ate sushi and saw family. Benjamin (1) spent many days this summer at the beach with his mama. He likes to eat the sand and splash in the water. He absolutely hates sunscreen time.
Benson
Charlotte (7) went on a trip with her grandparents to see the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. She says the days that they were there the bridge was hard to see
Sadie
Maeve
because it was foggy but they saw a little bit. They got to go to a chocolate store that had a long line.
little wiggly and just fell out. He only has a couple more teeth to lose but he says he’ll keep eating meatballs even after.
Ari (newly 9) went to Los Angeles this summer. Cooper (5) lost his first He ate so much yummy tooth. It was the bottom food, went to a garden and tooth. He said it was so saw plants bigger than wiggly and finally it just he was. His cousin was fell right out into his hand. also in LA at the time, so He said the tooth fairy they all went to a Dodgers did come to his house Game. It was so fun. His and it wasn’t as creepy as favorite food was the pizza. he thought it would be. Sadie (4) won the Rosemary Beach Fourth of July Costume Contest. She dressed up as the Statue of Liberty and just knew she was going to win as soon as she put on that outfit. It was for sure the crowd favorite for her age group. And now onto the lost teeth… Teddy, from former KidBits issues, has not lost any teeth eating meatballs this time. He lost one because it was a
Celine (7) is missing both of her front teeth. She lost one and then a couple of days later the other one was wiggly. She’s very sad to have missed out on corn on the cob this summer but has enjoyed it almost as much as cutting it off the cob. Bree (6 months) just got her first tooth. She loves having it brushed and using it to bite her mom and sister (Celine).
ROSEMARY THYMES | 31
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8 Havana Beach Rooftop Lounge
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17
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13 Restaurant Paradis
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Scenic Highway 30A
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38 Tracery
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West Long Green
850.534.0400 | restaurantparadis.com
23 Harbor
36 The Hidden Lantern Bookstore
850.231.0091 | thehiddenlantern.com
23
North Barrett Square
10 La Crema Tapas & Chocolate
35 Spa Pearl
2 20 31
34 36 1 25
850.399.4000 | kilwins.com/rosemarybeach
850.231.0091 | thehiddenlantern.com 850.460.9041 | thepearlrb.com
850.588.2882 | thepearlrb.com
9 Kilwin’s
34 The Hidden Lantern Bookstore
39 9
Western Green
Eastern Green
850.213.3796 | shoprosemarybeach.com
27 Tidwell & Son
850.213.3806 | TidwellandSon.com
28 Willow
850.231.0433 | wearwillow.com
#rosemarybeach | rosemarybeach.com
Beach Service 850.231.1860 Fitness Center 850.278.2200 Property Owners Association 850.231.1861 Post Office 850.231.1366 Security 850.699.3469
ROSEMARY BEACH is a registered trademark owned by Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC and is used with permission pursuant to a license from Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC.
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WHERE GREAT TASTE Meets GREAT STYLE LIVE MUSIC ON THE GREEN
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WHERE SHOPPING, FOOD, AND FUN MEET WORK AND PLAY. 12805 US HWY 98 E, INLET BEACH, FL 32461
CONTACT US: (850) 278-2000 www.RosemaryBeachRealty.com
VISIT US: 78 NORTH BARRETT SQUARE IN ROSEMARY BEACH®
27 ST. AUGUSTINE STREET 6202
181 SEACREST BEACH BOULEVARD
104 NORTH BARRETT SQUARE 2A
114 BOURNE LANE
78 NORTH BARRETT SQUARE #4
77 WIGGLE LANE
$3,790,000 4 Bed | 4 Bath | 2,876 Sq Ft
$2,390,000 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,562 Sq Ft
$4,250,000 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 3,396 Sq Ft
$1,499,000 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 992 Sq Ft
$2,699,999 5 Bed | 5 Bath | 3,162 Sq Ft
$2,065,000 2 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,281 Sq Ft
442 NICOLE FOREST DRIVE
25 ST. GEORGE’S LANE
87 BRIDGETOWN AVENUE
$14,500,000 4 Bed | 4+ Bath | 7,582 Sq Ft
$5,950,000 6 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 3,400 Sq Ft
$4,395,000 5 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 4,380 Sq Ft
116 SEABREEZE CIRCLE
198 E. WATER STREET
$529,500 3 Bed | 2 Bath | 1,558 Sq Ft
$3,749,500 4 Bed | 4.5 Bath | 2,629 Sq Ft
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ROSEMARY BEACH® is a registered trademark owned by Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC and is used with permission pursuant to a license from Rosemary Beach Holdings, LLC.