Behind the Scenes

They go unnoticed by some, working before dawn on the grounds in Seaside, well into the hot afternoons. But some of Seaside’s residents and visitors seek them out to compliment them on their work. “We like to think we help contribute to the beauty of Seaside,” says Gary English, maintenance technician in Seaside. “We get a lot of people who say, ‘Thank you for making this place so beautiful.’”

English was born and raised just outside Philadelphia and moved to South Florida where he raised two girls. His now grown daughters — Christen, lives in Tallassee, and Lindsey, teaches third grade at Butler Elementary on 30A — begged him to move closer to them. “I had moved back to Philadelphia by then, and they looked me in the eye and said, ‘Daddy we miss you.’” Since moving to this area, he gets to see his daughters and dote on his first grandson, Christian. And he loves life in Northwest Florida.

“I always thought the further south you went in Florida, the prettier the water was until I set foot on the beach of Seaside,” he says. For English the work atmosphere in Seaside is ideal. “It’s a great place to work,” he says. “Everyone gets along, it’s a great group of people. I’m so blessed to have this job.”

Hunter Greene grew up in Madison, Fla., just east of Tallahassee, and has been working in Seaside for nearly a year. Fresh off his honeymoon, he shows signs of a happily married man. His bride, Reva, works at Frost Bites in Seaside. “We call her Reva the Diva,” English laughs.

The two were high school sweethearts who broke up, went their separate ways and met back up later. Now they enjoy married life with their two-year-old daughter Ashlyne. You may catch a glimpse of the newlyweds together in Seaside, since Greene also works at Frost Bites part time. “But business is business, and personal is personal. That’s the way we handle it,” Greene says. “It works out great for us.”

Greene says his job suits him, as he gets to enjoy meeting people from all over. “I like talking to people, I’m a people person,” he says. “It’s always great to get to know those who visit here.”