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eNewsletter · December 2015 |
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Christmas is an extraordinary season in Mexico Beach! Each year the City of Mexico Beach, the Mexico Beach Community Development Council, and the Special Events for Mexico Beach committee host the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at Sunset Park. There are Christmas carols and complimentary snacks, coffee, and cocoa while everyone awaits the arrival of Santa. This year, the tree was lit by residents Jack and Janet Mullen, and the festive golf cart parade led Santa in on a fire truck. The park was beautifully decorated by the El Governor Motel manager, Wylie Petty, and his creative staff. A festive time was had by all. To all our friends, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
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Mexico Beach Farmer’s & Craft Market
 Special Events for Mexico Beach is hosting an opportunity for vendors to display and sell their fresh produce and crafts. The Mexico Beach Farmer's and Craft Market, which will be set up across the street from the El Governor Motel, will be open to the public at 9:00 a.m. on December 12, January 9, and February 13. With plenty of produce, crafts, photography, jewelry, and much more, the day can be spent going from booth to booth. We hope you and your family will come spend the morning in Mexico Beach and enjoy the market. This event is being put on by the Special Events for Mexico Beach as a fund-raiser for the July 4th fireworks show.
For those interested in reserving a space, visit mexicobeach.com for complete rules and application.
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And the Winner Is…
 Last month, we had a gift certificate to the Shell Shack up for grabs. The lucky winner is Ginger Ellenberg from Seneca, SC. Congratulations, Ginger!
This month, we are giving away a gift certificate to Frost Pottery Garden. This colorful shopping oasis features pottery pottery, jewelry, gifts, and much more. If you would like your name in the hat, send an e-mail to Melissa and be sure to put your contact information in the e-mail.
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Celebrate Twice
 It’s time again to say good-bye to this year and hello to the New Year. Mexico Beach offers a unique way to ring out the old while bringing in the new—you can do it twice! The Mexico Beach CDC and the Gulf County TDC offer free transportation to area restaurants and bars where patrons can celebrate ringing in the New Year in two time zones. Going from Port St. Joe, located in the Eastern Time Zone, to Mexico Beach, located in the Central Time Zone, allows patrons to celebrate New Year’s not once, but twice. There will also be a New Year’s Eve Day scavenger hunt, which will offer free trinkets, as well as two fireworks shows. For more details about the Celebrate Twice event and to learn how to ride, visit www.CelebrateTwice.com. Come celebrate the old and the new at the beach this year!
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Mark Your Calendars
 Mexico Beach Farmer’s & Craft Market
December 12, 2015
January 19, 2016
& February 13, 2016
Special Events for Mexico Beach is opening up a winter Farmer's and Craft Market. The market will take place across the street from the El Governor Motel. Vendors are invited to display their items while shoppers peruse each booth looking for goodies to take home. It will be a fun day of shopping and exploring Mexico Beach. From fresh produce to local art and photography, there will be plenty to view and purchase. For more information, click here.
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 JSL's presentation of The Nutcracker
December 12, 2015
Come enjoy a live rendition of the holiday classic The Nutcracker as presented by the Junior Service League of Port St. Joe. This complimentary performance will get everyone into the holiday spirit. Bring your chairs and blankets to George Core Park in Port St. Joe and be amazed by the dancers and performing artists depicting this classic tale. For more information, click here.
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 New Year's Eve Celebrate Twice
December 31, 2015-January 01, 2016
No need to wait another 12 months for the next New Year. Ring in the New Year twice! Start in the Eastern Time Zone in Port St. Joe and St. Joe Beach, then travel west just five minutes to Mexico Beach and celebrate all over again an hour later in the Central Time Zone. For more information, click here.
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 January Snowbird Biloxi Trip
January 12–13, 2016
Come join the Mexico Beach snowbird crew as they head off to win big and make some memories! The Mexico Beach Community Development Council will be hosting a Biloxi trip for those who want to press their luck. The bus will be pulling out early for this overnight adventure. With two days full of fun activities, you are sure to win something! For more information, click here.
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 Mexico Beach Gumbo Cook-Off
February 20, 2016
Who’s ready to drag out the pots and dust off their roux recipe to see if they have the best gumbo this side of New Orleans? The 18th Annual Gumbo Cook-Off will be on Saturday, February 20, 2016, at Sunset Park in Mexico Beach. Come watch as chefs “cook it out” and see who gets crowned Gumbo King. The entire family is invited to come out and enjoy the day tasting gumbos, dancing to live music, and having a good time. For more information, click here.
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Recipe of the Month
Tuna Steak with Citrus
This is a simple, fast and delicious recipe we think you will enjoy! We thank the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association for this delicious recipe!
INGREDIENTS
4 tuna steaks
2 teaspoons lemon zest
¼ cup olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon and 1 orange
2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
2 teaspoons orange zest
Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients, except the salt and pepper. Marinate tuna steaks for 1 hour. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Brush marinade on steaks while grilling. When done, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with hot French bread and enjoy!
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Thoughts for the Month
Here are some interesting trivia questions about the upcoming holiday. See how much you know!
✯ Q. What family tradition did President Franklin Roosevelt insist on performing every Christmas Eve?
A. Sitting beside the fire, reading aloud the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol while exuberantly acting out all the parts.
✯ Q. Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?
A. The ancient Norse peoples associated mistletoe with their goddess of love.
✯ Q. What contribution to the Santa legend did New York ad writer Robert May make in 1939?
A. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. May wrote the lyrics as copy for a Montgomery Ward department store giveaway. In 1947, it was set to music and reluctantly recorded by Gene Autry at the urging of his wife.
✯ Q. What auspicious television event occurred in December 1965?
A. A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted on CBS. It was one of the very first animated Christmas TV shows.
✯ Q. What do the songs “Jingle Bells,” “Walking in a Winter Wonderland,” and “Sleigh Ride” have in common?
A. None of these songs mentions Christmas.
✯ Q. What Christmas song was introduced in the 1942 movie Holiday Inn and was almost cut out of the final version?
A. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”—one of the most popular songs of all time.
✯ Q. Who first sang “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”?
A. Child singer Jimmy Boyd, who was 12 years old. It hit the top of the pop charts.
✯ Q. True or False: America has an “official” Christmas tree?
A. True. America’s official national Christmas tree is located in Kings Canyon National Park in California. The tree, a giant sequoia called the General Grant Tree, is over 300 feet high. It was made the official Christmas tree in 1925.
✯ Q. In what year did the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program start making the holidays a little happier for children?
A. In 1947, Toys for Tots organized its first Christmas toy drive for needy youngsters.
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