Matilda Provides Hope for the New Year

Wrap 2024 with "Matilda" and shop for holiday gifts with favorites from artists and small businesses.

NEW ON THE BLOG The Mighty Matilda Remembering heroes from our childhood stories can provide a sense of continuity in uncertain times and remind us that we have the power to overcome challenges and achieve our goals. One such character is Roald Dahl’s Matilda, whose determination and resilience remind us that it’s critically important to believe in yourself. Read the Article To Build or Buy: A Software Dilemma for Businesses When equipping your business with the right software, the decision to build a custom solution or buy an off-the-shelf product can feel like a high-stakes choice. Owners must evaluate critical factors — budget, timelines, technical expertise, and long-term goals — to navigate this pivotal decision and ensure their software strategy aligns with business objectives. Read the Article NEW CLIENT HIGHLIGHT Weis Counseling Stay tuned for the launch of a new website later this month and a new private practice, Weis Counseling, in St. Louis, Missouri, in January 2025! With a background in nursing and clinical social work, Geri Weis, RN, LCSW, is uniquely equipped to help individuals and couples care for themselves emotionally and physically. COMMUNITY NEWS Robin’s Bikes & Fitness Is fitness on your list of goals for 2025? If so, bikes make great gifts! Pictured in Gloss Rebel Pink, the Sirrus X 3.0 is a great option to get your heart pumping! Or, if a pedal-assist option is more your speed, Robin has those - and Küat’s sturdy and secure Piston SR Hitch Rack that carries up to 100 lbs of heavier e-bike models. Stop by Robin’s bike shop in time for the holidays to view a great selection of both kid and adult bicycles and accessories. Visit the Shop Baird Dental Business Concepts Running a successful dental business has changed dramatically in today’s environment of climbing overhead, employment scarcity, online reviews, increasing competition, and mammoth insurance write-offs. Sandy Baird, MBA’s new "From Metrics to Success: Leveraging Data to Elevate Your Dental Practice" seminar will explore how to use your metrics to guide you through today's challenges and coach your team to a higher level of performance. Learn More JC’s Gourmet The season of feasting and hosting family and friends continues through December! If you’re local or visiting the Emerald Coast, don’t miss your chance to stock up on delicious, award-winning gourmet appetizers from JC’s Gourmet at the Seaside Farmers Market between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays or visit takeaway locations around town. View the Menu & Locations Ester’s Fabric Art Fabric artist, Denise Nosal, recently created magnetic 4” x 6” postcards using recycled materials. These adorable cards make perfect gifts to send as a holiday message and a permanent display piece! Click below to contact Denise, order your postcard art for holiday gifts, or learn more about commissioning a custom fabric art piece. Visit the Website Sewanee Children’s Center Sewanee’s Community Action Committee (CAC), a non-profit dedicated to combating poverty and hunger in rural Appalachia, hosted Sewanee Children’s Center (SCC) in November. CAC’s Director, Sarah Edmonds, gave the preschoolers a tour of the food pantry and showed them the Thanksgiving meal boxes, which fed nearly 100 families! SCC teaches its students that being kind and helpful to others feels good. The visit to CAC is a concrete example of how SCC students can help others. Learn More About SCC Sewanee Guild of Change Ringers Approximately 75 ringers and 25 guests ascended “the Mountain” to partake in the North American Guild of Change Ringers (NAGCR)’s 2024 Annual General Meeting hosted by the University of the South and the Sewanee Guild of Change Ringers from October 17 to 21, 2024. The weather was at Sewanee’s best, the ringers and their guests thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the community listened to cheerful tones emanating from Breslin Tower throughout the weekend. Read the Highlights UPCOMING EVENTS Frame Gallery Gifts & Art Tennessee Craft-South’s 2024 Holiday Tour Sewanee, TN - Frame Gallery is thrilled to be part of the Tennessee Craft-South’s 2024 Holiday Tour on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8! The two-day event features an exciting lineup of live artist demonstrations by Randa Wells and Keith Killebrew each day and an array of stunning works by talented local artists at Frame Gallery! Artists with works on display include Connie Keetle, Diane Jones, Tom Howick, Linda Gaines, Alec Moseley, Jim ClenDening, Annette Smith, Leslie Lightfoot, and more. Learn More Pictures with Santa Paws Sewanee, TN - Come celebrate the season with us at Frame Gallery on Saturday, December 21, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm! Enjoy a festive holiday party featuring photos with Santa Paws, also known as Rambles the therapy dog! In addition to a take-home photo, the event includes a fun craft and refreshments. Please RSVP by December 14 to reserve your spot and bring a donation from the suggested list to support Rambles’s favorite non-profit, Marion Animal Resource Connection (MARC). Learn More & RSVP Dog-Harmony & Friends Chillin’ for Canines Miramar Beach, FL - Ain’t Life Cool, a cryotherapy and wellness center, is hosting its second Chillin’ for Canines benefiting Dog-Harmony on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 100% of the proceeds from walk-in services booked that day will be donated to Dog-Harmony, a 501(c)3. To participate in Chillin’ for Canines, visit Ain’t Life Cool in Miramar Beach on December 7 to select various therapeutic services, including cryotherapy, red light therapy, compression therapy, and Himalayan salt aromatherapy, to reduce inflammation, swelling, and pain. Learn More Ohana Institute’s Holiday Night Market Inlet Beach, FL - Shop for holiday gifts that support local charities, artists, and small businesses! Renee Broxson Fine Art and Dog-Harmony are among the vendors at Ohana Institute’s Holiday Night Market at 30Avenue on Thursday, December 12, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Add Event to Your Calendar Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) Fort Walton Beach, FL - Join ECPRO members and guests for an annual holiday party at Longhorn Steakhouse on Tuesday, December 10, at 6:00 p.m. Please bring an ornament for a fun Secret Santa gift exchange. Outgoing President, Josh Bugby, will confirm ECPRO's incoming 2025 Board of Directors over an enjoyable holiday meal to close out the year. RSVP