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The SWCC Opens Registration For 
Spring Season, Invites Community 
To Open House

The South Walton Children’s Chorus, or 

SWCC, has opened registration to music-
loving children between the ages of 9 and 13 
for its Spring season. The program provides 
children in the area with an opportunity to 
learn music fundamentals, like reading music, 
and build their vocal ability and strength 
all the while developing lasting friendships, 
greater social skills and confi dence.

“The arts, and music in general, are 

extremely important to any community. 
In particular to this area, we need more 
opportunities for kids to get involved 
in music,” Director Kara Bishop said. 
“Music brings people together in tragedy 
and in celebration. It adds so much to our 
community, making it unique and special.”

Now entering its fi fth season under the 

direction of internationally acclaimed opera 
singer Kara Bishop, this program continues to 
grow. It originally began just over a year ago 
with just seven students, but it now boasts 
more than 30 children and continues to be 
invited to perform at elite events, such as the 
Henderson Tree Lighting. 

“We would love to continue this excitement 

for music education,” Bishop said. “I’d like to 
see our children’s chorus grow to more than 
50 members.”

“Our incredible patrons make this 

program possible,” said Bishop. “With the 
community’s support, we’re able to provide 
scholarships and purchase all the necessary 
components to keep this program running 
properly.”

For more information on the SWCC or to 

learn how to register, visit its Facebook page 
or contact info@thehivecreativeconsulting.
com. 

The St. Joe And Watercrest Senior 
Living Group, LLC Tannounced 
New  Joint Venture To Construct

The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. 

Joe”) and Watercrest Senior Living Group, 
LLC (“Watercrest”) today announced their 
intent to pursue formation of a joint venture 
to construct and own a new assisted living 
and memory care community in Santa Rosa 
Beach, FL. The community is currently 
expected to consist of 107 units, which 
includes 75 units dedicated to assisted living 
and 32 units for memory care. The new senior 
living community will be located off West 
Hewett Road, near Highway 98 and the west 
end of Highway 30A, on St. Joe land. The 
parties expect that while St. Joe will be the 
majority owner in the project, Watercrest will 
manage community operations.

Watercrest communities are known for 

featuring premium accommodations and 
exceptional amenities and world-class care. 
Residents enjoy access to a wide array of 
resort-style amenities, which may include 
fi ne dining venues, pool, spa, wellness 
programming with aquatic therapy, and 
health education. 

“We are excited to announce this senior 

living project with a best in class partner 
like Watercrest,” said Jorge Gonzalez, 
President and Chief Executive Offi cer of 
The St. Joe Company. Mr. Gonzalez added, 
“Watercrest has a unique approach and 
platinum standards, which we believe truly 
set its communities apart. We look forward to 

forming a great partnership and serving the 
growing demand of senior care in Northwest 
Florida.”

Construction of the new Watercrest 

community is expected to begin in 2019, 
and the parties anticipate welcoming new 
residents by the end of 2020.

State Farm grants $3,000 to 
BGCEC Money Matters Program

To fund the Fort Walton Beach Boys & 

Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Teen 
Center’s Money Matters Program, State Farm 
Insurance has granted the Club $3,000 to 
help promote fi nancial stability among teens 
by building their basic money management 
skills.

“We’ve partnered with independent State 

Farm agencies before, but we’re thrilled to 
have this kind of support from this incredible, 
large organization,” said CEO of the Boys 
& Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Shervin 
Rassa. “It’s an incredible investment into 
these teens’ futures.”

The Money Matters Program was created 

by the Boys & Girls Clubs to provide

behavior-changing fi nancial education 

to help teens on a path toward budgeting, 
saving, planning for college and fi nancial 
freedom. Comprised of fi ve core units--
Budgeting & Living Within Your Means, 
Saving & Investing, Planning for College, 
Credit & Debit and Entrepreneurship-- this 
program gives teens a real-world perspective 
on money, reaching them at a time where their 
behavior as earners, spenders and savers can 
be infl uenced.

“In 2017, we had nearly 300 teens 

participate in the Money Matters Program,” 
said Rassa. “And 57 percent saw an increase 
in their test scores.”

For more information about the Boys 

& Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast and 
the Money Matters Program, visit www.
emeraldcoastbgc.org 

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12/27/18   6:56 PM