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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Valparaiso, FL

Home Care Valparaiso, FL

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Porter County Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Valparaiso, FL is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Valparaiso, FL

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Valparaiso, FL?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Valparaiso, FL

Types of Elderly Care in Valparaiso, FL

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Valparaiso, FL
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Valparaiso, FL
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Forest Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Valparaiso, FL
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Main + Lincoln Restaurant or visit Brauer Museum of Art, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Valparaiso, FL

Benefits of Home Care in Valparaiso, FL

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Valparaiso, FL, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Valparaiso, FL

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your FL's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Valparaiso, FL

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Valparaiso, FL understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Valparaiso, FL

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Valparaiso, FL

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • AVIVA Valparaiso
  • Brookdale Valparaiso
  • Golden LivingCenter - Valparaiso
  • Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc.
  • Sterling House of Valparaiso
  • Avalon Springs Health Campus
Home Care Valparaiso, FL

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Valparaiso, FL

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Valparaiso, FL 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Valparaiso, FL

Latest News in Valparaiso, FL

'Valparaiso' mini-musical to help Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, honor city's 100th anniversary

VALPARAISO — Valparaiso, Valparaiso; they love their Valparaiso.Those are a variation of the lyrics four actors will sing in the mini-musical “Valparaiso,” a fundraiser for the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida to honor Valparaiso’s 100th anniversary.Barbara Palmgren, the chairwoman of the board of trustees for the Heritage Museum, said it will replace the museum’s key fundraiser, Night at the Museum, which wasn’t socially distanced enough for pandemic times.“We said, ‘W...

VALPARAISO — Valparaiso, Valparaiso; they love their Valparaiso.

Those are a variation of the lyrics four actors will sing in the mini-musical “Valparaiso,” a fundraiser for the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida to honor Valparaiso’s 100th anniversary.

Barbara Palmgren, the chairwoman of the board of trustees for the Heritage Museum, said it will replace the museum’s key fundraiser, Night at the Museum, which wasn’t socially distanced enough for pandemic times.

“We said, ‘Well, we just can't let this go. We've got to do something special for Valparaiso,’” Palmgren said. “Because it was their 100th year, they had these beautiful signs everywhere, and unless you would wander into Valparaiso, you wouldn't see the signs. I thought, ‘This way, we might be able to get a few more people understanding the value of this wonderful city that we live in.’”

Here are the candidates for races in Cinco Bayou, Mary Esther and ValparaisoPlay the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.Sweet news: Crumbl Cookies gourmet bakery opening Niceville, Destin locations in early 2022

Palmgren and three other actors will perform “Valparaiso” at A Night to Remember at 6 p.m. Saturday at Rocky Bayou Country Club at 600 Golf Course Drive in Niceville. The event will also include dinner and a performance by Mike and Ellen Sheppard on the hammered dulcimer.

Tickets are $80. To register and pay, call 850-678-2615. For more information, visit heritage-museum.org.

“Valparaiso” wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for Palmgren.

The former speech and drama teacher wrote the mini-musical over the course of three months. While she lives in Shalimar, Palmgren has a special love for the twin cities — Niceville and Valparaiso — after teaching at Niceville High School and Ruckel Middle School until she retired in 2002.

Yes, creating it was a lot of work, but Palmgren really enjoys that type of thing, she said. She once wrote a play called “Shalimar Shack” to help save the Shalimar Pointe golf course from bulldozers almost a decade ago.

“People enjoyed the play and they said, ‘You ought to consider doing some writing,’ so actually, I am a published author; I've written two books,” Palmgren said. “So writing, it comes naturally to me now, particularly to do something like this. This is just a lot of fun for me. I'm not worried about having to be sure I get every footnote right in the bibliography. And working with the other three people that were generous enough to say, ‘OK, I will act in this play,’ (is) just so fantastic.”

Valparaiso became a city in 1921, so they chose four key people who influenced the city as the characters in the musical: John Perrine, James Plew, Addie Lewis and Lula Edge.

Mike McMain, who acted in Palmgren’s “Shalimar Shack,” will portray Perrine, the city’s founder. He is a baritone who has been singing since he attended Choctawhatchee High School, and he now plays guitar in a garage band called Rewind 74 and at Shalimar United Methodist Church.

“It’s always wonderful to celebrate any centennial that happens,” McMain said. “We’ve had several that have happened in this area — Okaloosa County School District turned 100 recently, the Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club; now Valparaiso is turning 100. Those are all great milestones to celebrate.”

Fort Walton Beach Woman's Club turns 100, celebrates century of community service

And McMain, a Fort Walton Beach resident, feels a connection to Valparaiso.

“I’m a military brat,” he said. “My father was in the Air Force. When we returned from the Philippines in ’67, I went to Ruckel when we lived on base. Then I transferred to Pryor. I do have ties to Niceville and Val-P because I used to go through it every day in seventh grade.”

Perrine is the one who first saw potential in the area, McMain said.

“It had not been developed at all, so he made arrangements to purchase the 15,000 acres that later became Valparaiso, Niceville and Eglin Air Force Base Reservation,” McMain said. “The whole play is fun. It’s actually going to be a mini-history lesson. It will give you a lot of insight as to how Val-P got its name, how it got developed, how it got started and some history as to what people paved the way in important parts of the city.”

Ken Walsh will portray Plew, who established the Valparaiso Bank, Valparaiso Inn and Chicago Country Club of Valparaiso. He was also responsible for the creation of what would become Eglin Air Force Base, Palmgren said.

“Both Perrine and Plew are from Chicago, so if you go to Valparaiso, you'll find that there are a lot of city streets named; one of them is named Chicago, and, of course, the famous Lincoln Park in Chicago,” Palmgren said. “You see this strong Chicago influence in the beginning years of Valparaiso.”

Susan Page will portray Lewis, a teacher and principal who was instrumental in the development of the Okaloosa County school system. Lewis School in Valparaiso is named after her.

“(Page) is delightful, and she almost looks like Addie Lewis,” Palmgren said. “We will have a beautiful picture of Addie Lewis and of Lula Edge, which we will unveil. We will also unveil a picture of the Valparaiso Inn. It will be a magical evening.”

Honeybee Ice Cream and Arcade brings huge variety of sweet treats, retro games to Niceville

Palmgren will portray Edge, a Niceville postmistress and Okaloosa County School Board member who helped save Edge Elementary School in Niceville. She is excited about the play, because they haven't done anything like it before, she said.

“I'm just thrilled we're going to be able to see some wonderful people in our audience,” Palmgren said. “The mayor is going to be there with some council members. Lanny Corbin is going to be there representing Niceville with another board member. We have some just outstanding people that I think will really particularly treasure the performance of ‘Valparaiso.’ ”

Scott Stone, the music director, will also provide guitar accompaniment throughout the performance.

“We're going to be using songs that were famous throughout the era that people are familiar with, that I changed the wording to,” Palmgren said. “So it becomes just a lot more fun and pertinent to us.”

One of those songs is “We’re In the Money.” It is featured twice, firstly when Plew leases the Valparaiso Airport and 1,500 acres of land to the U.S. government, which spawned today's Eglin Air Force Base.

“You see (Plew) on the phone; he's talking, ‘Oh, how wonderful,’ ” Palmgren said. “He walks back, and joining him on stage is John Perrine, who has a beautiful voice. (Plew) looks at (Perrine), he says, ‘I think we're going to be OK. We're in the money.’ And (Perrine) goes, ‘We're in the money?’ and they start singing the song.”

“I think the audience will enjoy that because they'll be familiar with the song the second time around.”

The theme song, though, is “Valparaiso.” In it, they sing, “Valparaiso, Valparaiso, we love our Valparaiso; we’ll toast our Valparaiso.”

And they will. They will toast to their Valparaiso at the dinner theater, Palmgren said.

“To the next 100 years,” she said.

900 Square Foot Affordable Homes in Valparaiso? It Could Soon Be a Reality. - Mid Bay News

Ok – so I’m about to throw a lot of numbers at you. I don’t like it either – but it has to be done to frame the story. (Sorry!)Meet Joe and Grace. Joe and Grace are a newly married couple that just moved here on a permanent change of station (PCS) with the Air Force. Joe is a junior officer or Senior NCO, and Grace is a civil servant. Combined, they make the ...

Ok – so I’m about to throw a lot of numbers at you. I don’t like it either – but it has to be done to frame the story. (Sorry!)

Meet Joe and Grace. Joe and Grace are a newly married couple that just moved here on a permanent change of station (PCS) with the Air Force. Joe is a junior officer or Senior NCO, and Grace is a civil servant. Combined, they make the US Census-defined median household income for The Mid Bay area… about $76,823 per year.

Not bad, right?

Well…

Here’s the problem. According to Realtor.com, the median home on the housing market in Niceville, Florida, will go for about $438,000. Next door in Valparaiso – the median home price is slightly higher – at $440,000.

If they want to buy a home that they can afford, including a 20% down payment, that $76-thousand-and-change isn’t going to be enough. According to the how-much-house-can-I-afford calculator from the good folks at Nerd Wallet – Joe and Grace should be looking somewhere in the $320,000 range.

Which was doable in Valparaiso and Niceville – until the pandemic. In the last year – prices in Valparaiso alone were up more than 40%.

All this to say that even the mid bay area’s most affordable homes are no longer attainable for some middle-class residents.

Blah Blah Backstory – Tell Me What’s Up With Possible Affordable Housing In Val-p

This brings us to Monday night’s (March 14) Valparaiso Commission meeting. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Kake Cottages was brought to the commission for initial approval.

A PUD is basically a pre-planned development brought in front of a government for approval. Typically, a developer will use a PUD to ask for some changes in the zoning restrictions a city has put in – in exchange for some other considerations the developer can offer. In this case, the developer, David Fedonczak, wants to build smaller, 900 square foot houses to bring more affordable housing to the area.

Kake Cottages would be just that – according to the argument, the engineer for the developer Matthew Zinke of Jenkins Engineering told the commission. The development would place 20 homes, each with a price point of about $250,000, across the street from Valparaiso’s Coca Cola Bottling facility.

Debate – mostly from the citizens in the gallery to the commission followed. The lightly-attended meeting saw three of the 15 or so people in the gallery speak against the development. Their apprehensions spanned from concerns about additional congestion, to fire safety and resistance to new development.

The commission unanimously approved the development through the first hoop it needs to go through in order to become a reality.

Approval, But Not Final Approval

The commission’s approval of the initial PUD means two things: This exact plan – the number of houses and the way the lots are shaped – is set in stone. If they change key variables, they must start the process all over again. The builders now have more logistics work to do before turning dirt. Everything from linking up with Florida Power and Light to determining where light poles will go to water and sewer concerns will be planned for next.

The developer will then have to come back to the commission for final approval. Then they can begin construction.

Garniers, Lincoln and Lions parks under health advisory due to bacteria, sewage spill

Special to the Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORKThe Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County has issued health advisories for several waterbodies in Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso and Niceville.Health advisories were issued for Garniers Beach Park in Fort Walt...

Special to the Northwest Florida Daily News/USA TODAY NETWORK

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County has issued health advisories for several waterbodies in Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso and Niceville.

Health advisories were issued for Garniers Beach Park in Fort Walton Beach and Lincoln Park in Valparaiso. The health advisories are based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended standards for enterococci, bacteria that is an indication of fecal pollution which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage.

The sampling was conducted as part of the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County's biweekly saltwater beach water quality monitoring at 11 sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program.

On Thursday afternoon, the DOH also issued separate health advisories for Snapper Cove within Cinco Bayou located off Monahan Drive in Fort Walton Beach and Boggy Bayou, to include both Lions Park in Niceville and Lincoln Park in Valparaiso, due to wastewater releases.

Waters contaminated with wastewater presents several health hazards to humans and may contain untreated human sewage with microbes that could cause gastro-intestinal and other diseases, according to a DOH-Okaloosa advisory. Anyone who comes into contact with the affected waterway should wash thoroughly, especially before eating or drinking.

Children and older adults, as well as people with weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable to disease, so every precaution should be taken by those who come in contact with the affected waters.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a public notice of pollution detailing the circumstances of the wastewater release.

About 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Cove Drive No. 1 Lift Station at 117 Monahan Drive in unincorporated Fort Walton Beach, experienced a sanitary sewer overflow during an intense rain.

After receiving an alarm, staff responded to find that the starters for the pumps had overheated and tripped. The station never lost power, but due to extended pump run times from the inflow and infiltration of stormwater/groundwater into the public sewer system throughout the day and evening, the pump starters tripped.

Pump operation was manually restored within minutes. During the event, approximately 200 gallons overflowed from the station into a nearby storm drain that ultimately discharges into Snapper Cove off of Cinco Bayou. Crews have already cleaned and disinfected the affected area.

Okaloosa County Water and Sewer and the City of Niceville are performing water quality monitoring and testing. Once satisfactory results are achieved, the health advisory will be lifted through a future press release.

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