CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Community Band performed their spring concert at Warriors Hall on Monday night.

The performance included a few upbeat folk pieces and music from "The Avengers."

The band was formed in 2016 when Lee Emerson approached Shoal River Middle School’s band director, Kim Whaley.

“He worked at Upbeat Music at the time and occasionally people would come acquiring if there was a community band,” said Whaley. “Enough people did this that he said, ‘Why don’t we start one?’”

Emerson spoke with Mayor David Cadle about the idea. After deciding to start the band, Emerson asked Whaley if the band could use Shoal River’s band room and Whaley agreed.

The band now has around 40 members, but anyone is welcome to join. Whaley said there is no audition. If someone is interested in joining, they just need to show up to practice.

“We rehearse every Monday night from 6:30-8 and it’s for anybody that’s ever played an instrument,” said Whaley. “We have people as young as middle school all the way to our oldest player, who is about 85 years old.”

Whaley said one of her favorite things about the band is the family aspect of it.

“We have a dad that plays with his three daughters in the band,” said Whaley. “We’ve had grandmas play with their grandsons. We’ve got a mom-and-son combo. We’ve got a lot of family combinations, which is really special.”

The band consists of many different instruments including flutes, clarinets, saxophones and trumpets.

Nancy Enfinger and Erica Wise have both been with the band since the beginning.

Enfinger, a baritone saxophone player, said she was nervous when she joined because it had been 38 years since she played, but she was glad she did.

“It’s enjoyable,” said Enfinger. “Sometimes I don’t wanna go. You know after work, you’re tired or whatever and you don’t want to do it. After I go, I’m glad I went because it’s really fun.”

Wise, a flutist, joined the band because it was close to home.

“I had played in other community bands in Fort Walton and found out that this one had started up and said I’m joining cause it’s right here in town,” said Wise.

Wise, who now plays in both the North Okaloosa and Fort Walton community bands, said she really enjoys being able to communicate with other musicians.

Whaley said one thing that makes the band special is that — like Enfinger and Wise — everyone in the band wants to be there.

“This is just kind of a release for them, a fun thing for them to do," she said. “It’s just a way for people to come together and we’ve made a lot of friends. To share through music is really unique."

The band’s next performance will be a patriotic concert on July 4.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Community Band performs spring concert

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Area Sister City Program and the Northwest Florida State College Fine and Performing Arts Division will present a free screening of a French comedy extensively filmed in Noirmoutier, France. The French island partners with Crestview and the college through Sister Cities International.

“Les Vacances du Petit Nicholas,” or Little Nicholas’ Vacation, screens 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Film Club screening room in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Building 110, room 328, on the college’s main Niceville campus.

When members of the Sister City Program and the NWFSC show choirs traveled to Noirmoutier in May 2013, there was only one slight disappointment: access to the landmark Plage de Sableaux pier and beach was restricted because a film crew was shooting major scenes there for what became a celebrated family movie. Visitors took to nearby woods and watched the shooting through the trees.

“This is not just a charming film, but a downright hilarious movie about a young boy and his pals who get into all sorts of mischief, all in the name of protecting him from what he fears are his parents’ efforts to set him up with the rather odd daughter of another vacationing family,” Sister City Program President Brian Hughes said.

“For those of us who have been to Noirmoutier, it is fun seeing recognizable sights around the island,” he added. “For those who have never been on one of our Sister City trips or performed in Noirmoutier with the college’s show choirs, it’s a great chance to see some of the magic scenery that keeps drawing us back there.”

“Les Vacances du Petit Nicholas” is intended for all ages, and is not rated, though a brief, non-salacious scene of a naked buttocks on a beach might earn it a PG were it released in the U.S. The film will be presented in the original French with English subtitles. NWFSC film professor Dr. David Simmons and Hughes will lead a discussion about the movie after the screening.

Refreshments will be served and the event is open to the public. Information about the Sister City Program, which includes members from throughout Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties, will be available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sister City Program, NWFSC to screen French comedy

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Chamber hosts fundraiser for ReStore

The Panhandle Community Theatre, located 4646 Woodbine Road in Pace, is bringing suspense to their main stage this month with Frederick Knott’s ‘Wait Until Dark.’

The thriller follows a blind woman who unknowingly has a doll filled with drugs which three con men are attempting to retrieve, by any means necessary.

The latest production is directed by Ken Armitage.

Showtimes begin at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. on October 13-16 and 20-23. Tickets are $15 except on Thursdays when tickets are $12. For reservations call (850) 221-7599 or visit panhandlecommunitytheatre.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Panhandle Community Theatre presents, 'Wait Until Dark' (PHOTOS)

DESTIN — The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation will present its annual Festival of the Arts Oct. 29–30 at the scenic MKAF Cultural Arts Village in Destin.

The two-day signature event features exhibits of more than 100 artists from 10 states (and one from Europe) showcasing a diverse palette of artistic styles in 15 art mediums.

This year the festival welcomes guest artist A.J. Brown, a second-generation Florida Highwayman from Fort Pierce, Florida.

The original Highwaymen were 26 self-taught African-American painters, who in the 1950s realized that they couldn’t sell their work in white-owned galleries, so they took to the road selling their scenes of beaches, sea and wildlife for $25 from their car trunks on area roadways. Today, many of the remaining Highwaymen are still on the road selling their works, but the world is more welcoming and their art sells for thousands of dollars.

“The festival has always been a celebration of art,” said MKAF Artist Market Chair Deb Nissley. “We are honored A.J. Brown was able to join us to share her legacy story through her lovely artwork. Growing through the discovery of art is what we strive to do and we’re sure festival goers will find this component both inspirational and educational."

Art lovers of all ages will be able to watch artists create works of art before your eyes, browse art from dozens of emerging new and student artists and get hands-on in the interactive children’s art station. Beyond the visual arts, the festival will feature two days of continual live music and a sampling of the local culinary arts scene. Entertaining street performers, lively art drawings and the sale of colorful keepsake souvenirs — all create a family-friendly festival feel.

“We are thrilled to return to our original roots when this festival was first born in 1995 and billed as “art on the lawn” by Southern Living magazine. Twenty years later we are proud to offer a world-class cultural art event that truly is a celebration of art, music, food and fun,” said Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation CEO Marcia Hull.

The festival runs Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Daily admission is $5. Proceeds from the event benefit MKAF and its arts education outreach programs for all. The event is free to children 12 and under and MKAF members. For more information, visit

For more information, visit mattiekellyartsfoundation.org or call 850-650-2226.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Festival to feature second-generation Florida Highwayman