CRESTVIEW — Northwest Florida residents who donate blood through Nov. 30 at Lowe's, Walmart and movie theaters will receive a $10 gift card or movie ticket.

Donors also receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, iron count and temperature, including a cholesterol screening.

Locations include:

●Marquis Cinema 10, 2828 Richbourg Lane, Crestview: 4-9 p.m. Nov. 27; 4-9 p.m. Nov. 28;

●First United Methodist Church of Crestview Bloodmobile, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6.

Hours for the One Blood Crestview Donor Center, 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview, are as follows:

●9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 25

●8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27

●noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 29

●10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30

Visit www.oneblood.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview bloodmobile Thanksgiving schedule announced

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — During November, Northwest Florida State College’s Dental Assisting students have been helping to provide affordable dental care to DeFuniak Springs residents.

“Our students have been given a unique opportunity for on-the-job training while also helping to provide much needed affordable dental care to the DeFuniak Springs area,” said Julie Nelson, director of NWF State College's Dental Assisting Program. “When we were approached about this opportunity, I knew it was a great way for our students to learn while also giving back. This is a win-win.”

NWF Dental Assisting students are working alongside fourth-year dental students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at their DeFuniak Springs offices.

At the LECOM Dental Offices, students work under licensed dentists' direct supervision and use the latest diagnostic tools, such as full mouth digital X-rays.

Each student has a treatment room where he or she will provide comprehensive, restorative dental care services. These include: cleanings, periodontal treatments, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, dental restorations and full and partial dental prostheses.

LECOM is a Florida Medical Assistance provider. Fees at the LECOM School of Dental Medicine clinic are approximately 70 percent less than the customary rates of local area providers.

The LECOM Dental Offices first opened its doors to students and patients in May 2015.

Students will work in two shifts at the patient clinic — 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Each year, a new class of dental students will move to the area to complete their final year of clinical training.

Contact Julie Nelson, director, at 729-6444 or nelsoj@nwfsc.edu, for more information concerning the NWF State College Dental Assisting Program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida State College students offer affordable dental care

CRESTVIEW — Shelter House has gained $12,514 to help Okaloosa and Walton counties' domestic and sexual violence victims.

More than 500 Jeep enthusiasts attended the 2nd Annual All American Jeep Show at Old Spanish Trail Park in Crestview, a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization. The event included Jeeps on display, awards, a silent auction, a poker run, bounce houses and a demonstration by the Crestview Fire Department.

“The funds they raised at this event will allow Shelter House to serve more women, children and men right here in our local community who are recovering from domestic and sexual violence,” Shelter House Executive Director Rosalyn Iovieno said.

“I'm overwhelmed by all of the support from the Jeep community and the generosity of our local and national sponsors,” said event organizer Jeff Bullard, All American Jeep Club  president.

Presenting sponsors included the All American Jeep Club, Tattoos Forever, Lee Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Summerlin Truck Outfitter and Elite Jeeps Inc.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shelter House gains $12K from Crestview Jeep show

CRESTVIEW — A Central American man has a chance to live a healthy life with help from a team of Sacred Heart Health System doctors and a Crestview pediatrician.

Adair Blanco, 21, has experienced complications following surgery four years ago in his native Belize to remove a brain tumor.

Three big openings in Blanco’s cranium allowed regular infections to set in, Dr. Joseph Peter said. His family tried to get further medical help, to no avail.

“Because he did not have financial assistance, the doctors were not able to do any more for him,” Peter said.

With no relief available locally, Blanco’s family approached Peter, of Crestview Pediatrics, during his September 2014 medical mission to Belize.

“He was receiving antibiotics and was put on seizure medicine,” Peter said. “We were very surprised he was still alive.”

Peter, along with colleagues at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola — under pediatric critical care internist Dr. Rex Northup — arranged for Blanco to be brought to Northwest Florida for treatment.

He arrived Wednesday night and received multiple tests Thursday.

“He was in very good spirits,” Peter said. “He was very happy to be in the United States. He said it is his first visit. He gave us a hug.”

Upon evaluation of lab and test results, Northup, pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Pearson, Peter and other Sacred Heart specialists will determine a course of treatment for Blanco.

“We are hoping to come up with a good plan of care,” Peter said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview doctor coordinates Belize patient's tumor treatment

CRESTVIEW — November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and Covenant Hospice is joining hospices nationwide to raise awareness about care available for people with life-limiting illness.

Each year in the United States, almost 1.6 million people receive care from hospice and palliative care providers, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

"For more than 30 years, Covenant Hospice has been meeting the needs of the communities we serve, and our promise to provide comfort and dignity to those facing a life-limiting illness remains stronger than ever," said Jeff Mislevy, Covenant Care's president and CEO.

The nonprofit organization provides pain management, symptom control, psychosocial support, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible.

It also provides medical care, and the emotional and spiritual support that families need most when facing the end of life.

"For National Hospice Month, Covenant will embrace the theme 'Take a Moment. Make a Moment.' as we honor and celebrate the meaningful moments made possible each day by our staff, volunteers, donors and community partners," Mislevy said.

More information about hospice, palliative care, and advance care planning is available at www.choosecovenant.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Covenant Hospice observes Hospice and Palliative Care Month

CRESTVIEW — People who donate blood at a OneBlood Donor Center from Friday, Nov. 20 through Monday, Nov. 30 will receive:

●A long-sleeve “The Perfect Gift” T-shirt

●A voucher for a free $10 eGift card

In addition, all donors receive a wellness checkup of blood pressure, pulse, iron count and temperature, including a cholesterol screening.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. A photo ID is required.

Big Red Bus mobile locations include:

●Lowe's, 298 Rasberry Road, Crestview: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 21; noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 21.

●Marquis Cinema 10, 2828 Richbourg Lane, Crestview: 4-9 p.m. Nov. 27; 4-9 p.m. Nov. 28;

●First United Methodist Church of Crestview Bloodmobile, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 6.

The One Blood Crestview Donor Center, 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but hours through Nov. 30 are as follows:

●10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19, 23 and 30.

●8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 24 and 27.

●noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 22 and 29.

●9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 25.

Call the Crestview center at 306-2455 or visit www.oneblood.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker and Crestview blood donors get T-shirt, gift card

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Florida Department of Health’s Tobacco Free Florida Program offers residents services that can double a tobacco user’s chances of successfully quitting.

A new study released in the journal "Addictive Behaviors" confirmed that Tobacco Free Florida’s media campaign is using the right strategy by airing hard-hitting messages and ensuring high exposure through television, online and radio advertising to inspire smokers to quit.

The study went on to note that campaign exposure is also reducing the likelihood of relapse among those who quit.[i]

The smokeout, currently in its 40th year, is a time for tobacco users to make a quit plan or to plan in advance to quit on that day.

For more information on free and easy-to-access ways to quit, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Learn to quit for free during Great American Smokeout

CRESTVIEW — A night fit for a princess served as a party for young girls and a fundraiser for cancer research.

Click here or see photos from the event.

Relay for Life of Crestview's Duke It Out team had a Princess Ball for girls and their escorts, who could have included their father, uncle, grandfather or brother.

The Nov. 14 event drew 280 13-and-under girls and their escorts to the Crestview Community Center.

"It was a special night for little girls to be out with their fathers, uncles, grandfathers and brothers to dance the night away," co-organizer Loney Whitley said.

The community center was decked out like a fairy land, and each girl received a flower when they walked in the door.

In addition, there was a buffet dinner, a candy bar and a free photo booth; and the DJ played age-appropriate music, such as line dance songs and the Cupid shuffle.

Each pair paid $35; proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society's April 22, 2016 Relay for Life. North Okaloosa County residents will walk Crestview High School's track for 12 hours to reflect on a cancer patient's longest night: when he or she receives the diagnosis.

Learn more about the event at www.relayforlife.org/crestviewfl.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview area princesses dance the night away, help people with cancer (PHOTOS)

FORT WALTON BEACH — Floridians living in standardized public housing may be breathing easier soon. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro has introduced a smoke-free policy in HUD-affiliated public housing authorities nationwide.

The Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida, the state’s comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation program, has been working to educate public and private housing managers about the benefits of smoke-free policies for over three years, and is encouraged by this development, according to a spokesperson.

“Smoke-free public housing is another step in the right direction to improve the health of children, adults and families who are disproportionately affected by tobacco,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “We also know that implementing smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing produces benefits for the properties including reduced maintenance and turn-over costs, and fewer resident disputes related to smoking neighbors.”

The bureau’s list of multi-unit properties that have enacted voluntary smoke-free policies has grown to more than 1,000 properties since tracking began in 2010.

Public housing units have also been making the change.

Benefits of smoke-free buildings include:

Decreased secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke can travel from other units through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, plumbing and ventilation systems.

Better health. Smoke-free air laws decrease secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmokers, reduce heart attack and asthma hospitalizations, and encourage smokers to quit.

Increased safety. Smoke-free policies reduce fire risks for residents, owners and property managers.

Okaloosa County has HUD-affiliated public housing authorities in Crestview, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. Since Nov. 13, 2013, HUD-affiliated public housing in Niceville has been smoke-free due to their early adoption of a no-smoking policy.

“We commend the City of Niceville and Niceville Housing Authority for promoting healthier lifestyles for their residents,” said Carrie Ziegler, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County's assistant director.

“Other HUD-affiliated housing, apartment complexes, municipalities and employers should consider creating and implementing smoke-free policies that will help make Okaloosa County a healthier place to live, learn, work and play.”

Four out of five non-smokers would prefer a smoke-free building policy

Source: The Department of Housing and Urban Development

DID YOU KNOW?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HUD-affiliated public housing authorities to go smoke-free

NICEVILLE — Miles of Memories 5K, a fundraiser for Covenant Hospice Okaloosa and Walton patients with Alzheimer's disease, has been set.

The event is 9 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 at Superior Residences at Bluewater Bay, 4595 E. Highway 90, Niceville.

Registration costs $20 for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile walk, and increases by $5 on event day.

Brunch and champagne after-party passes are available at $12 per person. Register at www.milesofmemoriesniceville.kintera.org.

For details, contact Rachel Mayew, 729-1800.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Covenant Hospice 5K benefits Okaloosa, Walton residents with Alzheimer's disease