Silver Sands Factory Stores Expanding: With Phase V, designer factory center will be largest in the nation.
The fifth phase of Silver Sands Factory Stores opened May 28, 1999. With the completion of Phase V, Silver Sands Factory Stores will be the largest designer factory store center in the nation.
Nike, Naturalizer, Kasper asl, Fossil, and Johnston and Murphy are among several designer stores welcomed their first customers Memorial Day weekend. Other Phase V stores will open throughout the summer, adding 67,000 square feet of retail space to the center and bringing the number of Silver Sands stores to 120.
Situated at the western end of Silver Sands Factory Stores, Phase V is the latest expansion of the center. With each additional phase, Silver Sands' growth has been steady since the 1992 debut of the center with only 25 stores. Silver Sands Factory Stores will host a benefit dedication of Phase V on July 22, 1999. Phase V will also provide new offices for center management and security, designed to increase customer services and convenience.
Silver Sands Factory Stores is a leading employer on the Emerald Coast, supplying jobs for approximately 1,500 people. The center annually contributes between $25 and 30 million in ad valorem and sales taxes to local and state economics. Every new store brings new employment opportunities.
"We are proud that Silver Sands makes such a vital contribution to the economy of the Emerald Coast region," said developer Keith Howard of Destin-based Howard Group. "We appreciate our local customers and our employees, and being a part of this wonderful community."
Other Silver Sands news: They participated in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser on May 1 and 2 at Ft. Walton Beach High School stadium, raising over $2,300 in donations.
ERA Great South Realty, Inc. Howell and Proffitt Join ERA Great South Realty Inc.
Warren Howell and Joe Proffitt have joined ERA Great South Realty, Inc. as Sales Associates, according to Diane Huggins, Member Broker of the DeFuniak Springs real estate company.
"By joining a firm which is affiliated with the ERA Real Estate Network, with Member Brokers in all 50 states, Howell and Proffitt will be able to offer home buyers and sellers a wide variety of products and services," Huggins said.
ERA Great South Realty, Inc., located at 917 U.S. Highway 331 S., was founded in 1986 and is owned by Jack and Diane Huggins and serves the DeFuniak Springs/Walton County area.
Merchants of Seaside Presents
Donation to United Way of Oklaloosa-Walton Counties
The Merchants of Seaside presented a $1,500 check, representing a portion of the proceeds from this year's popular Spring White Wine festival, to the United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties. Donations made to the United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties provide funding and support for many local charities.
Sugar Beach Interiors Showcase Home Opened in June
Sugar Beach Interiors has announced that their showcase home, Bayhill of Regatta Bay became open to the public June 19, 1999. Bayhill is just one of several homes that Sugar Beach has designed and furnished for this year's Parade of Homes.
The owners of Sugar Beach Interiors, Jane Alden and Karen Waterfield, felt the need to showcase their design talents in a setting that would be totally accessible to their clients. "After completing an interior design project, we have always respected our clients privacy--it's an invasion of their solitude and the uniqueness of the design we have created for them to ask them to allow potential clients into their home to view our work" said Alden.
A showcase home is not unique to this area, but a design firm owning the home and featuring a Design Center within the model is an innovative concept and endeavor. This showcase residence will allow clients to view what they, as interior designers, do for their clients.
For more information of Sugar Beach's showcase home, call Susan Turton at (850) 837-5157.
Thirty-One Companies Recognized as 1998-1999 Van R. Butler Elementary
Adopt-A-Classroom Business Partners
Van R. Butler Elementary principal, Gail Smith, along with the school's pre-K through 5th grade teachers, expressed gratitude to its thirty-one 1998-1999 Adopt-A Classroom Business Partners in an afternoon reception held at Elephant Walk's Governor's Attic. The event marked the close of the third year of the educational partnership, which was forged by Smith and Sandestin management in the summer of 1996.
Since its inception and subsequent September 1997 opening, Van R. Butler Elementary has been embraced the area business community. "We're fortunate to have consistently strong support for the Adopt-A Classroom program," remarked Smith. "We've always had 100% coverage." She maintains that the relationship is truly mutually beneficial. "It's an eye-opening experience for the businesses to see how education has evolved; they're amazed at the technological advances we've made."
Sponsors of the 1998-1999 program included Walton County Chamber members: AmSouth Bank, Arvida, Building Industry Association of Okaloosa & Walton Counties, Coldwell Banker, Emerald Coast Bank, First American Bank, First Union Bank, Frank's Cash & Carry, Freeport Lumber, Freeport Truss, Horizons of Okaloosa County, Inc., Monet, Monet, Rivard Realty of South Walton, Rosemary Beach, Sandestin Beach Hilton, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, South Walton Utility, Walton Log and The Walton SUN. In addition to the $300 monetary contribution made by each of these sponsors, representatives visit their assigned classroom at least once per quarter, provide field trips, serve as guest readers during "Focus on Reading", and introduce potential parents to the school. For more information about the program or to adopt a Van R. Butler Elementary Classroom for the 1999-00 school year, interested supporters should call Gail Smith, (850) 622-1100.
Shown in the photo is Brenda Jones presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Jim Jarvis of the Walton SUN for their sponsorship of her class. Jim is also a Board member for the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.