By working together, we will get through this and transition into better times.
One Step at a Time
While the coronavirus is still with us and limiting certain amenities, we are slowly moving forward, one step at a time. Our beaches have fully reopened with no restrictions; this includes public parking. We advise that everyone continue to follow all State orders and CDC guidelines to help slow the spread and ensure that we continue to move forward. By working together, we will get through this and transition into better times. Our restaurants continue to serve their patrons with delicious meals and our shops are preparing to welcome shoppers. And we still have a sense of humor. We asked one of our locals what she thought of the quarantine and she said, “It made me realize that my only hobby is eating out!”
And the winner is...
Last month, we had a gift certificate to the Mexico Beach Marina up for grabs, and the lucky winner is Thomas Cottone from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Congrats, Thomas!
MAY GIVEAWAY
This month, we are giving away an MBARA prize pack that includes a hat, a T-shirt, and a chance to win a $150 gift certificate to the Mexico Beach Marina. Mexico Beach has one of the most active artificial reef associations in the country. Our reef system helps generate the quantity and variety of fish caught off these beautiful shores, and it creates a fishing and diving playground. For every one hundred members, MBARA can build and deploy two eight-foot pyramid reefs that will be here for decades. To place your name in the hat, send an e-mail to Nick at [email protected].
Meet Mario Gisbert
This month, we would like to introduce Mario Gisbert, the new City Administrator for Mexico Beach. Mario was raised in Hialeah, Florida, and went to Florida A&M University, where he received his baccalaureate and master’s degree in architecture. He practiced architecture until 1997, when he began to transition into development and then into municipal management. Mario has worked for the City of Panama City Beach as the community redevelopment agency director and then the city manager from 2012 to 2020. A few months ago, he came to work for the City of Mexico Beach, where he is working on our recovery from Hurricane Michael and is doing an outstanding job assisting in the rebuilding of our city. Mario is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys bow hunting, fishing, diving, canoeing, camping, and hiking. He has a beautiful daughter named Elaine. The next time you are in City Hall, be sure to stop to meet Mario and welcome him aboard.
Mexico Beach Annual Photography Contest
April 1 to July 31
The 20th Annual Mexico Beach Photography Contest started April 1 and runs until July 31. We welcome all photographs taken in Mexico Beach—past and present. All photographs will be submitted for judging after July 31, and the winners will be contacted and announced on the Mexico Beach website, on social media, and in the e-newsletter. Winning photographs will be displayed in the Mexico Beach Welcome Center. Categories are Around Mexico Beach, Sunrises and Sunsets, The Beach, Fishing and Boating, People, and Flora and Animal Life. We hope you will capture Mexico Beach through your “eyes” and enter our photography contest.
Come celebrate the Fourth of July in Mexico Beach with our Best Blast on the Beach. We are sure everyone will be amazed by our grand fireworks display. This show can be seen throughout the entire city, and it will be one show you will not want to miss. Make your plans now to come and enjoy the show. Launching at 8:30 p.m., our Best Blast on the Beach fireworks show will be a must-see for you and the entire family!
Mexico Beach is a Leave No Trace community, and we appreciate your assistance in helping us keep our beaches clean. Any items left on the beach unattended from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be removed and disposed of by the City of Mexico Beach. Items include, but are not limited to, tents and tent frames, beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, toys, etc. Also, please fill in any holes before you leave. Your assistance with these requests will keep our beaches beautiful and pristine. For full details on this ordinance or questions, click here or contact City Hall at (850) 648-5700.
Drunken Pompano
This yummy fish dish is one that is easy to assemble and a dinner-table favorite! We publish it compliments of the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Seafood Cookbook (www.mbara.org).
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds pompano, split
2 tablespoons pimento, chopped
2 tablespoons onion, chopped
2/3 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons buttered crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup dry wine (red or white)
PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the fish, skin side down, on a greased heatproof platter. Mix the pimento, onion, mushrooms, parsley, buttered crumbs, salt, and pepper, and spread over the fish. Mix the stock and wine and pour around the fish. Bake uncovered about 25 minutes, basting occasionally with the wine and broth mixture. Sever with warm bread and enjoy!
Police Officers
We think these comical comments that our law enforcement officers have heard and given will make you smile.
Comments to police officers:
—Are you the guy from the Village People?
—I can’t reach my license unless you hold my beers.
—You must have been going over 120 to keep up with me.
—Sorry, officer, my radar detector wasn’t plugged in.
—I thought you had to be in good shape to be a police officer.
—That gut doesn’t inspire confidence.
—I pay your salary.
Comments by police officers:
—Radio call: The guy that pays our salary is here if anyone wants to meet him.
—Don’t run; you’ll only go to jail tired.
—The cuffs won’t hurt as much later.
—The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not: Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?
“Got up on the wrong side of the bed”
This saying is generally used to lightheartedly explain why someone is in a bad mood or a little cranky. The origin of the saying goes back to Roman times. They believed that the left side of the bad was evil or connected with bad luck. In fact, the Latin word for left is sinister. The Romans believed that bad luck would come to anyone who got out of the bed on the left side. Eventually, the original saying “got up on the left side of the bed” evolved to “got up on the wrong side of the bed.”
