Community Briefs 9-4

Destin attorney named to Best Lawyers in America

Attorney W. Christopher Hart of Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond & Stackhouse, was honored for his legal expertise and success on Aug. 15 by being named to the 20th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Attorneys were selected for inclusion based on the highest standards of professional practice.

“Best Lawyers is the most reliable reference for quality legal representation,” said Steven Naifeh, president and co-founder. “Inclusion on this list indicates that an attorney is valued by his or her peers for professional success.”

The attorneys named to Best Lawyers are recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 134 different practice areas. Individuals awarded a “Lawyer of the Year” recognition received the highest scores in their practice area and city  this year. In this past year, Best Lawyers evaluated more than 131,000 lawyers around the world, and collected more than six million voting results.

Noell Bell receives Destin's Employee of the 3rd Quarter Award

City of Destin Building Inspector Noell Bell was recognized as the city's Employee of the 3rd Quarter at the Aug. 19 city council meeting. Mayor Sam Seevers presented Bell with the award and proclamation, along with a special recognition for her accomplishments from Congressman Jeff Miller.

Bell began service to the city in March of 2000 as a maintenance technician in the Public Services Department. She joined the Community Development Department in July of 2005 when she was promoted to the position of building inspector.

Blueprint Health Studio fit camps to benefit charities

Blueprint Health Studio of Destin launches a new program, Fit Camps for Change, from 5:30-7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Elephant Walk at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Representatives from benefiting charities, Children in Crisis, EMERGE with the Emerald Coast Autism Society, Shelter House and Sacred Heart Foundation, will speak about the vision for their programs and what they plan to use funds raised toward.

For each person that signs up for the Fit Camp program at Blueprint Health Studio in Destin (monthly fee of $199), the charity will receive 25 percent of each membership.  The purpose is to continually donate proceeds to these local charities by rotating beneficiaries monthly throughout the year.

Pinning ceremony

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at Northwest Florida State College held a pinning ceremony Aug. 2 to recognize the 21 students, all of them current registered nurses, who completed the baccalaureate program in nursing. Destin resident Maribeth Magtanong was one honored.