🌱 How looming school closures could reshape education options in Mary Esther

Good morning Mary Esther! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How looming school closures could reshape education options in Mary Esther

Also on today's calendar: Baby & Toddler Story Time and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What do sweet potatoes wear to bed? 🤔 (Answer below!)

---

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Humid with partial sunshine, with a high of 89 and low of 77 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 90, low: 77.
• Sunday: Humid with a t-storm in spots, with a high of 89 and low of 79 degrees.

---

📰 News we're reading

• Santa Rosa among area school districts facing cuts due to loss of students and state funding (wuwf.org) — Families in Mary Esther face the looming closure of Mary Esther Elementary as part of Okaloosa County’s efforts to plug major budget gaps tied to state funding changes and school vouchers. The story also details how nearby Santa Rosa and Escambia districts are cutting positions, weighing school consolidations, and pressing the state for reimbursement as they all brace for multimillion‑dollar shortfalls.
   

---

📸 Around Mary Esther

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

---

🗓 Upcoming Events in Mary Esther

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday June 16

• Trivia Night in Fort Walton Beach →
  Rick's Seafood & Sports, 178 Eglin Pkwy NE, Fort Walton Beach
  6:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

---

Other local events

Saturday June 13

• Unearth Sound Bathing with Luna Sol →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  3:30 pm

Monday June 15

• All About Books Book Club →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  10:30 am
• Adult Lego Night: Unearth a Museum! →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  4:00 pm

Tuesday June 16

• Tie Dye Event! Patterns of the Past, Colors of the Present: Unearth Your Story with Tie-Dye →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  4:00 pm

Wednesday June 17

• Baby & Toddler Story Time →
  Mary Esther Public Library, 100 Hollywood Blvd W, Mary Esther
  10:30 am

Thursday June 18

• 3 - 6 yrs old Story Time →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  10:30 am
• Mr. Larry Magic Show: Can You Dig It? →
  Mary Esther, FL Calendar, 100 Hollywood Blvd, Mary Esther
  2:30 pm

---

📣 Mary Esther Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

---

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday June 12

• The Decades by Request - A DJ Hosted Events
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce The Gulf Club Restaurant and Sports Pub 960 Highway 98, in the Sunsations Plaza, one block West from Big Kahuna's
  8:00 pm

Saturday June 13

• Downtown FWB Saturday Market →
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Downtown FWB Landing Park
  8:00 am
• CALM Furniture Resale Store Open 9am -1pm, every Saturday of the month →
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce 34 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
  9:00 am
• EXSA FOREVER ACTIVE- MOBILITY STRETCHING & INJURY PREVENTION CLASS
  Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce ONLINE LIVE COACHING
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

---

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

---

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Murphy USA, Inc. posted a job opening for Cashier in Mary Esther. Apply here.
• DRS Technologies posted a job opening for Shipping/Receiving Coordinator- Contract in Fort Walton Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mary Esther here.

---

🗞 Nearby News

Fort Walton Beach

• 418 Westminster Rd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 (realtor.com)
• Rotary clubs expand rescue tube project across Okaloosa County beaches (getthecoast.com)
• Fort Walton Beach eyes potential impacts of property tax cuts (weartv.com)

Destin

• LSU Law faculty, alumni make a splash at LSBA Annual Meeting in Destin (lsu.edu)

---

Ok Mary Esther! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Yammies! (Thank you Lynda S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

---

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

---

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook