PARTY LINE: As tourists flock to the beach, locals flee

Mark Northcutt celebrated a BIG birthday on June 12, I am told, and wife, Tricia, surprised him with a cruise to Alaska.

Susan Gongos is in Vegas.

Steven Weiner has also been visiting the city.

Stephen Marlette and Harriet Crommelin have been enjoying the village of Fontvieille just outside of Arles, France.

Laurie Hood is enjoying the Bahamas.

Jami Anderson is in Nashville.

Snookie Parrish is in Birmingham with her mom.

Jane and Greg Bahr headed to Birmingham on Friday to see Greg's dad for Fathers Day. They will have dinner Saturday night at Bonjouno, one of their favorite restaurants.

Terry Long has been in Birmingham due to Mike having surgery June 8. Surgery went well.

Brett Wheeler flew to Saratoga, N.Y., last weekend and saw the Dave Matthews Band.

Eric Marcus and Chandra Hartman have returned home from their travels.

Kassie Zukowski is back from Utah, helping daughter Julie with her new twins Cole and Lincoln. The Zukowskis greet daughter Noelle Mata today, grandson Grant 13 and granddaughter Sarah 11, visiting from Ellijay, Ga., for a week to help celebrate Fathers' Day and Ray's birthday on Thursday.

And while others are traveling, some are welcoming travelers.

Nancy Veldman is enjoying family in from Michigan.

Holly Speight's sister, nieces and nephews are here from Tennessee.

Chef Phil McDonald said James Carville is one of his heroes and it was a privilege to cook for the Ragin Cajun last week. The dinner was at a home in Seaside and the chef prepared passed appetizers of fried oysters with cucumber and lemon chive aioli, and crab cakes with remolaude. For dinner, chef did an arugula panzanella, gulf shrimp with smoked paprika, preserved lemon and charred tomato grits. Dessert was pineapple rum crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream. There were 20 people in attendance.

I saw Christine Burroughs, and Tom and Dana Saffel while out and about last weekend.

Victoria Hunt hosted the Women's Art Network for its June meeting. Twenty-four members enjoyed the evening, with food, networking and sharing their craft.

Ann Perry is being inducted into the National Horsebreeders' Hall of Fame. Congrats to her!

Allison Craft's grandmother was featured on last Tuesday's episode of Nancy Grace.

Turtle nests 7, 8 and 9 have been found on South Walton's beaches.

Joe Abruzzo celebrated another birthday on June 10.

Wish a happy birthday today to Sun columnist Chick Huettel and Lisa Steeno.

Tomorrow to Bob Dobes.

Monday to Cathy Huettel.

Tuesday to David Hopkins and Lane Rees.

Wednesday to Joe Stanko and Janis Sawyer.

Thursday to Cheryle Colburn.

And Friday to former Sun reporter Andy Meinen.

Get well wishes go out to Donna Johns and Ralph Angel.

And a big "happy Father's Day" to all dads out there!

Deborah Wheeler is the arts and entertainment reporter for The Walton Sun. She may be reached at (850) 267-4555 or e-mail debbie_wheeler@link.freedom.com. Party Line Talk appears weekly in The Sun. Contributions are encouraged.