From the Editor's Desk
Let's make the city a Sphinx
B.J. Davis

I created an online quiz for my friends recently, and one of the questions was "What is one thing that I have not seen in person?" The multiplechoice selections included Trump Tower, snow, The Great Sphinx of Egypt and Janet Reno. This got me thinking about my trip to Egypt in 2000 (now you know which one have seen).

I learned recently that Egyptologists aren't 100 percent sure who built the Sphinx because all recorded information was either destroyed or never recorded. Some experts believe it predates the wheel and was built by the 4th Dynasty King, Khafre (25582532 BCE). Don't worry, you're not going to be quizzed.

The truth is, it's a shame that we don't know more about this "Wonder of the World." The Sphinx is revered as the icon of Egypt. Who would have thought 7,000 years later, it would remain a symbol of achievement and culture?

Each day, we are faced with our own decisions that may become an icon of achievement. Currently, the Gulf Breeze Emerging Leaders (GBEL) are working diligently as a group of young area leaders, hoping to bridge the gap between established values and city progression.

We've been meeting for the past few months through a great program called "Lunch and Learn." At these luncheons, businesses leaders and educators graciously set aside time to inform the GBEL of current issues including everything from environment to public safety. These activities are nothing short of preening our young minds to understand the impact we can have on this city.

Luckily, we have support and guidance from the newly appointed leadership at the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce, Meg Peltier. In her short tenure thus far, she has already shown that with the proper motivation and tools for learning, such at GBEL, leaders, young and experienced, can leave lasting legacies, much like the Sphinx.

I implore those yearning to make an impact on the area to do so. For some, it's another name on a board or entry on a list of benign accomplishments. However for others, it is truly a way to make a difference.

This is an exciting time to be a part of a city with our redesign and implementation of stormwater utility. Just as in the history-making dynasties of Ancient Egypt where leadership is everything, let us not be deterred in striving to make our city a Sphinx of its own by following that leadership.

Oh, and I've never seen snow.