I read with great interest recently that Councilwoman Robyn Helt has begun the push to link Twin Hills Park with historic downtown Crestview via a walking trail and (that she) envisions other improvements along the corridor funded with Community Redevelopment Agency monies.

CRA dollars are collected from the properties within the CRA District and are designated for improvements that will rehabilitate the district and the economy within the district. Councilwoman Helt and the entire council, sitting in their capacity as the CRA, are to be commended for tackling such a worthwhile project.

I have long been a vocal advocate for the redevelopment of the Downtown District as Crestview's heart, a location where my wife and I continue to make substantial personal investment. Such a project will build on the great work carried out by the council and city staff in making tremendous improvements to Twin Hills Park in recent years.

The walking paths and playground areas are now heavily utilized. Linking the park with downtown will further increase pedestrian traffic in both areas and continue the long and difficult process of revitalization.

Keep up the good work.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Boyles supports downtown redevelopment

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone taking time from your busy schedules to respond to this survey. (Poll, Feb. 13, News Bulletin)

I would also like to thank the Crestview Bulletin for conducting this survey. It is critical for the Crestview Police Department to receive feedback — both positive and negative — as it is how we assess the level and effectiveness of our service to the community.

Speaking to this particular issue, opening our facility on a 24-hour basis is an important matter, as it will greatly enhance our ability to provide more services to the community of Crestview.

I would also like to allay some concerns regarding potential misconceptions.

The staff necessary to achieve this goal is already in place, just not all in the right location. Our Communications Center is currently located on the opposite end of Crestview from the main facility. All that is necessary for us to open our doors perpetually is to move the Communications Center into the Crestview Police Department.

We are assessing pertinent expenses and we do not anticipate a budgetary impact significant enough to create the need for raising taxes.

Again, thank you all for your input. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions on how we can work together to improve the safety and security of our community.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Police chief appreciates office hours survey

Did you know the 2012 American Cancer Society Crestview Relay for Life ranked 24th in Florida, raising over $150,000 to help in the fight against cancer.

Did you know cancer deaths are down 20 percent since 1991.

Did you know Okaloosa County ranked No. 1 per capita in the nation in fundraising for Relay For Life in 2012!

Did you know two in three people diagnosed with cancer today survive at least five years, thanks in part to the American Cancer Society.

Are the above facts related?

You bet they are. It takes dollars to fund research to help lower cancer deaths and increase survivability. The American Cancer Society Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease.

Here are some other ways ACS, Relay for Life and your donations help.

The 2013 Crestview Relay For Life will take place at Old Spanish Trail Park on April 26-27, starting at 6 p.m. We are recruiting teams and sponsors to take part. All cancer survivors are encouraged to participate.

To start a team, contact Disa Pettit at 797-6605.

For sponsorship opportunities, call 537-4654 or 603-3500.

To reach the Crestview chair, contact Krystal Jackson at 689-2115.

To reach an ACS staff partner, contact Brittany Wade at 244-3813 ext 3556.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Life-saving cancer research costs money

How come we see nothing on the Shoal River boys basketball team? They are 13-0 and have the best team in the county, but not one article on them. 

This team played in the Troy University tournament over the summer and came in second in their division, beating high school teams.

Coach Buckelew has his best team ever, but I see no recognition in the sports section.

It was an awesome game that deserved to be mentioned; I am totally disappointed in the lack of interest by this paper and its sports staff to give equal representation.

Also, did you know that most of the kids coming out of middle school sports in Crestview will not be attending high school here, but traveling down to Niceville or Fort Walton to attend their schools while living here?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Shoal River basketball deserves coverage

I had a nice conversation Monday with the writer of today’s Letter to the Editor concerning the lack of coverage for Shoal River Middle School’s remarkable basketball team.

Mr. Campbell in his letter says he’s disappointed “in the lack of interest by this paper and its sports staff to give equal representation” to other sports teams.

Indeed, most of the News Bulletin’s sports coverage goes to high school sports. However, this outcome is due to having one sports editor who cannot be in all places at once.

The newspaper’s staff is very much interested in covering all grade levels of youth sports in some capacity.

There’s just one man in our newsroom for the job, but there are countless parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others who can help. Most attendees of middle school games and other underreported athletic events — and community events — own or have access to digital cameras and computers; they can help ensure their teams and organizations get the level of equal representation Mr. Campbell writes about.

CNN’s iReport allows anyone to submit photos, video and audio so citizen journalism can cover what CNN bureaus can’t.

The News Bulletin doesn’t have a name for its outreach effort, but we want you to know this option is available.

Of course, we’ve extended the invitation to middle school coaches, community organizations, teachers, administrators and other newsmakers in Crestview, Baker and Laurel Hill — with little response and ignored email and voicemail. (Yes, we noticed that, and noted it each time.)

Occasionally, more letters will roll in accusing the newspaper of bias or lack of interest in something, and the newsroom will write more emails to school administrators, teachers, coaches, community organizations and others, politely inviting them to help keep the community informed. We’ll post Facebook messages offering the invitation; they will get several likes, but little will happen.

So let’s be clear.

If Crestview, Baker or Laurel Hill residents submit something to the News Bulletin — whether it’s a community or service organization’s upcoming public event or activity, a church offi cer election or fish fry announcement, a blurb about a business opening or major achievement, photos from last night’s middle school basketball game or anything else of reasonable public interest — we will cover it in some way, shape or form.

Guaranteed.

That doesn’t mean everyone’s submissions can run in print; although, at times, that may be the case. It does mean that we will report on every topic we know about, at least once (not from multiple submitters), in print or online or both.

This is your newspaper, and we want to tell your stories. We opened this Opinion page for you last fall because we want your diverse views to make the public record. Our reporters do a great job covering city government and other “hard news,” but we want readers to know about the smaller, feel-good news, too: that amazing middle school basketball game, the science project that won the fair or the show and tell where students dressed up as presidents.

Test us.

Email relevant news items, photos with captions and even stories to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

If the community comes together and uses the tools available to them — free, no less — we promise not to disappoint.

Contact News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni at 850-682-6524 or tboni@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbEditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: Help us improve the News Bulletin's local coverage

I loved (Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes') article on Crestview being like everywhere else. (Crestview Bulletin, Jan. 23, 2013, Opinion)

My husband and I moved to Crestview this past summer from Italy. We had a house here from the time he was stationed at Eglin and we made a decision to settle down here.

Not an easy decision, especially after living in Europe and enjoying the city life my entire life.

But you know what? The first morning here, I saw squirrels in my back yard. I couldn't remember the last time I saw a squirrel. Maybe it was in a zoo when I was a kid.

The same day, I saw deer by the road on State Road 85. I was screaming with joy! You cannot see deer in the city.

The next day, I saw a blue jay and a cardinal on the fence. Wow!

I am a city girl and I occasionally miss that cosmopolitan lifestyle, but regular visits to Ocala, Tampa and St. Pete, where our families live, take care of that 'craving.'

Not only am I growing to love this simple life so close to wildlife — being surrounded by high trees and just a short drive from a beach — but I am also starting to feel at home here.

As a small business owner, I want to support my local community. I love all the shops on Main Street, and you gave me a great idea where to eat next. Thank you!

While we cannot pick where we will be born, we can pick where we want to live, and Crestview turned out to be my choice.

Thank you for a great article.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Italian transplant enjoys Crestview life

I have lived in Crestview for five years and have watched a disturbing trend: new home developers tearing down existing lots or dividing acres to put up another house or housing development. 

For what? 

The (7th Special Forces Group) is already in place, so who are they selling to?

Meanwhile, I have witnessed several houses in my subdivision on the market for a long time or foreclosed upon, or at some process in between.

Do we really need to build more houses in our area? 

The amount of currently built houses available, according to open source websites, is numerous, but more and more, I am seeing new homes being built, only to stand empty — or worse, be vacated after a new buyer walks away from the home because the reality of the situation becomes apparent. 

It would be more comforting if homebuilders would buy existing houses and "flip" them to sell. 

The trees and "small town feel" are starting to disappear because of this situation — and we are all paying for it by our property values decreasing. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Property values being undermined

My family and I just moved to Crestview five months ago. We are here for my husband’s job as a government contractor.

Crestview is a beautiful little town, but coming from Melbourne, where everything was convenient — mall, Sam’s Club, Target — moving to Crestview has been a bit frustrating.

I would love to shop here instead of driving to Destin or Mary Esther, but there is nothing here. I am thankful for Publix, an Applebee’s, Starbucks and a theater, but I am really hoping for good news as far as new stores, and I’m not talking (about) a bigger Wally World.

I contacted someone from the Crestview City Council who did tell me that there were talks going on about possible “anchor stores” and “half a dozen restaurants” coming to Crestview. He also said where as before there were not enough people to fill the retail demand, that is no longer the case.

After talking to other frustrated residents, I came away with the impression the city did not want to change. I was assured from the city council member that was not the case.

Destin is great, but I just hate driving 31 miles for what used to take me 10 minutes to reach.

I am really hoping you can give me hope that change is coming. As I said before, Crestview is a lovely, kind and wonderful town.

It just lacks retail and restaurants.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Crestview needs more retail and restaurants

Foy Shaw — a community leader with great vision, patience and eternal optimism — started his moving and storage business in 1956, and over the years added more than just jobs to the Crestview community.

He was a force and an inspiration most worthy of the programs that live on in his name, including the annual scholarship through the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, an organization he loved and nurtured.

Foy always said we should welcome some changes and others not so much. The long-awaited resolution to the fiscal cliff turned out to be pretty close to the worst-case scenario. The impact of tax increases has become a painful reality for an overwhelming majority of our citizens.

So much for the song-and-dance routine about taxing “millionaires and billionaires.”

The boys and girls in Washington have targeted the average citizen — as they always have — when they want more money. The average citizen will have less cash for the foreseeable future.

The average citizen — unlike the federal government — has to balance his budget and can’t keep borrowing more and more money.

In many U.S. communities, jobs are likely to shrink. Okaloosa County is in better shape than most to weather this economic drought. Our traditional tourism and defense industries will not wither overnight, and continued good stewardship of these economic sectors will minimize downturns.

Further, if the mid-county /I-10 corridor can continue to grow, it will have a strong positive effect on the entire region. The Panhandle counties as a whole have experienced some tough times, but if we bind together as a team, we have an opportunity to defy the odds and create hundreds of high-quality jobs close to home.

Fundamentals for this cheery outlook are in place. The crown jewel of the “new growth” for Okaloosa is the centrally and strategically located Bob Sikes Airport. It is a rare commodity, located as it is in a bona fide industrial park. This has great inherent value for the region’s economy over the next couple of decades.

I’ve been around long enough to see a number of economic downturns, and I have noticed that there seems to be two types of responses from communities.

One is “Woe is me” and the other is “I’ll bet we can!”

Wringing hands and wailing loudly for help tends to produce, well, chapped hands and a sore throat. However, taking a positive attitude, assessing the opportunities rationally, and putting a thoughtful plan into action usually leads to good results.

All four local chambers of commerce, your county, your cities and your friends and neighbors have a history of making the best darn lemonade out of the worst lemons. This is our time to shine once again.

Chamber leaders, in sync with county and city agencies, have been looking ahead and putting economic fuel into the vehicles that will get us where we need to go. One of those items is the long-overdue connector highway from U.S. Highway 90 to the Bob Sikes Airport. This project finally has gained some attention in the mid-county and south county areas.

Together, we can make this a reality and the U.S. 90 connector, now known officially as Foy Shaw Boulevard, will be the catalyst for a new era of prosperity for all of Okaloosa County.

Anyone who knew Foy knows exactly what he would be doing today: leading the change, just as his namesake boulevard will do as soon as state and federal leaders finally break the 18-year-old logjam.

Dennis M. Mitchell lives in Laurel Hill and is the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s president-elect.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GUEST COLUMNIST: U.S. 90 connector will help fuel prosperity