PANAMA CITY BEACH — Temperatures have been low in Panama City Beach in the past few days, but the weather was excellent for four Northern friends who spent Thursday carving wood figures at the Panama City Beach Senior Center.
“It’s so cold in Ontario in the winter,” John Jollymore said. “We always like to come to Florida because the people are nice and the food is good.”
The Canadian has frequented Panama City Beach every winter for about seven years.
The beach hasn’t just been a getaway from the freezing Northern weather, but it’s also been a place where Jollymore has formed friendships with other snowbirds who have escaped the cold from up North.
For about four years, Jollymore has joined Jim Anderson of Canada, Ryan Jennings of Maine, and Lane Dahline of Minnesota for wood carving classes at the senior center — amongst other activities. In fact, the foursome met each other at the carving classes.
The Panama City Beach Senior Center, 423 Lyndell Lane, offers numerous classes and activities for local seniors and winter residents.
“We get together for dinner or play pickleball,” Dahline said. “You come to carve, but the main thing is socializing.”
The snowbirds even keep in contact after their winter reprieves through text messages and emails.
Jennings has been coming to the beach for 13 years, and he loves the atmosphere and the Senior Center. He said he and his wife go sight-seeing and his wife does some shopping, while out in the city.
“This is a good place right here,” he said. “You’ll find something to do, and make new friends. It’s like a big family here.”
The Senior Center is more like the venue for an unofficial reunion, Dahline said.
“You get to see people from your home state every year,” he said. “It’s almost like a class reunion.”
The “class reunion” includes people from all across the North and Midwest. The Senior Center’s parking lot is often full of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Canada, and other Northern region license plates.
Mayor Mike Thomas appreciates the fact people want to spend their winters at the vacation destination.
“We’ve been mighty lucky over the years to have snowbirds come over,” he said. “We’re getting more from the Midwest who’ve been great customers. It allows some [businesses] to stay open.”
Hopefully, people will enjoy their stay and know the people of Panama City Beach did what they could to make the visitors happy, Thomas said.
Anderson seemed to be enjoying his stay, after he arrived to the beach on Jan. 1. He said he plans to stay until March.
The beach "is warmer than it is at home,” Anderson said. “Panama City Beach is a nice place.”
To keep the Senior Center afloat and ready for its visitors, officials will host its Grand Slam fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Edgewater Beach Resort. The fundraiser will benefit fitness, crafts, social activities and more for seniors at the nonprofit center.
The professional event will include a meal with live music from saxophonist Chris Godber. Jennifer Jones and the Edema and the Bruisers Band, and recording artist Todd Allen Herendeen also will perform.
Locals and snowbirds are welcome to attend the evening of benefit, said Grand Slam Committee Chairman Jim Barr.
“It’s going to be a wonderful evening of entertainment,” he said. “We would like to expand a special invitation to our winter residents.”
Businesses that purchase a table may receive a tax deduction, Barr said. Businesses will be included in the Senior Center’s newsletters, website and more. They may also receive recognition from local media outlets and from the center’s 777 members.
“This is a grand slam event, so let’s go to bat for our seniors,” he said.
The Grand Slam tickets are $800 per table for a table of eight people, or $100 per person. The deadline to purchase tickets is Jan. 30. For more information, contact Barr at 850-814-8586, or call the Panama City Beach Senior Center at 850-233-5065.