Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at The ‘CandyMaker’

The holidays are here and while some have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads; making those confectionary dreams come true is a career for one local man.

“Come in “We’re having a good time…”

It’s hard not to act like a kid in a candy store when you walk into the ‘CandyMaker.’

“Yea it’s a sweet job,” said Tom Ehlke, owner of CandyMaker. “I try not to take myself too seriously and we try to have fun with it…”

For the past 25 years Ehlke has made a living off customers with a sweet tooth.

“We make the fudge here, we hand make all of our chocolates, we make our own line of caramel, we dip caramel apples, we make pecan logs, peanut brittle, we dip frozen bananas in chocolate and of course we make the saltwater taffy.”

Ehlke has some of the area’s largest selections of homemade candies and of course his specialty: “We started out as a taffy store more or less, and expanded from taffy, but that’s our hook, that’s what people come for is the homemade saltwater taffy,” explained Ehlke.

There is a lot that goes in to making this sweet treat. After the base is cooked, it’s distributed to all four stores. It’s then reheated in the microwave and placed on a pulling machine; it pulls for about 15 to 20 minutes, flavor is added and it then goes through the roller. After the taffy is shaped, it goes through the cutting board and last but not least, onto the wrapping machine.

Ehlke makes over 18 different flavors of taffy and says his customers are always satisfied. “They’re kids in a candy store and we want them to have a good time.”

“Have I ever had a cavity?” said Ehlke. “Certainly…hasn’t everybody? But you know what I always say…it’s better to have a sweet tooth than no teeth at all…”

Ehlke opened his first candy store in Destin 25 years ago, and additionally has four other stores, including one at Pier Park.

CandyMaker (Between Bootleg Barbeque and Starbucks)
600 Pier Park Dr # 100
Panama City Bch, FL 32413-2169
(850) 236-6575

R2D2 Meets Modern Medicine

Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, Friday morning, Gulf Coast Medical Center unveiled their newest addition to the hospital: the da Vinci SI HD.

Currently, the da Vinci surgical system is being used in hundreds of locations worldwide; however, Gulf Coast Medical Center is the only hospital in the region to have the da Vinci SI HD.

Meteorologist vs. Mother Nature

Weather is one of the most watched parts of a newscast—and Thursday afternoon, NewsChannel 7’s Nicole Morten takes you behind the green screen.

“Hi I’m NewsChannel 7’s Jim Loznicka here in the Vipir 7 Weather Center…”

FedEx Raising Shipping Rates

A shipping giant is making some changes that might put a damper on your pocketbook…According to reports out Monday, FedEx will be raising rates for ground shipping and home delivery by 4.9 % in 2010.

Express packages will go up by 5.9 % percent next year as well. The new rates go into effect January 4th.

Black Friday Bargains

Families from across the county and beyond are getting together to enjoy food and fellowship this Thanksgiving Day,  but not only does Thanksgiving bring great food, it also brings lots of sales for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year!

Sales. Sales…and more sales. That’s the sign of the times here in downtown Panama City.

70 Years of Marriage and Still Going Strong

A long marriage isn’t as common as it used to be. But one local couple has reached a marital milestone…

When Gene and Alice Bolinger said “I Do”, they meant every word. Sherrie Polson is their only daughter and she says even after 70 year of marriage the flame is still going strong. They try to live by the golden rule,” said Polson “They try to treat each other the way they want to be treated.”

Five Local Kids are Adopted, Now Have a Forever Home

There are thousands of children in the foster care system throughout the U.S. waiting for homes. Nearly 4,000 children were adopted by Florida families last year, and according to the Department of Children and Families nearly 700 children in the entire state of Florida are available for adoption today. In honor of National Adoption Month, November 13th was a very special day for five local children, as they can now claim a forever home.”

The adoption process has been a long battle for the Mullins Family. Today that long wait came to a joyful end. “No one can take her away from us again,” proud adoptive parent, Randy Mullins. “There’s no words to describe how excited we are. We’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time, and now she’s finally mine, she’s ours, said wife, Debra Mullins.

GCCC’s ‘Boundless Sounds’ Seeking Talent for Record Label

Playing drums; rockin’ out on the guitar and mixing music is what this classroom is all about. Lucky for them–they have a 360 degree learning experience right at their fingertips. Welcome to boundless sounds. The student-run record label at Gulf Coast Community College.

“We actually seek out talent, record them, mix them, promote and market them, just like a real record label would,” ” said student, Colin Craven.

Homeless Veterans Not Forgotten

With each man and woman standing here, comes a story.

“Vietnam Era Veteran, I was on a NATO joint mission at the end of the war from August 1974 to January 1975,” said Vietnam Veteran, George Green Jr. “We were on an escort mission for President Nixon.”

Campaign Against Human Trafficking Begins in U.S.

Fourteen U.S. cities are now targets in a national campaign aimed to shed light on human trafficking.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unveiled the “Hidden in Plain Sight” initiative last week. It features billboards across the U.S. highlighting what it calls “the horrors and prevalence of human trafficking.” The agency compares the problem to modern-day slavery. The campaign’s goal is to raise public awareness about the existence of human trafficking in communities nationwide, and asks members of the public to take action if they encounter possible victims.