CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library, located at 1445 Commerce Drive, has scheduled the activities listed below through December.

Family Library Time events are:

• Sneak Peek Party, 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17. Be the first to see all the improvements the library has made. There will be s'mores, live music by Rick Sanders, a book reading by Ms. Heather; marshmallow "roasting by a campfire"; and interactive animal displays provided by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
• FLT will be at the Crestview Fall Festival Saturday, Oct. 30.
• Touch a Truck is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 13.
• Noel Night is 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, with music, munchies and more.

Storytime classes

All Storytime classes start at 10:15 a.m., with sign in at 10 a.m. for the first 30 children to attend.

Storytime for ages 0-2 is Tuesdays in the library Story Room. Older children are welcome.

Storytime for ages 3-5 is Wednesdays in the Story Room. It is simultaneous with the Ages 6-11 class. Younger siblings may attend if accompanied by an adult, and older children are welcome. All attendees must be able to sit quietly. If any children in your party is ready for quiet sitting, come to the 0-2 Class, where there's a lot more movement.

Storytime for ages 6-11 is Wednesdays in the Meeting Room. It is simultaneous with the Ages 3-5 Class. Parents and caregivers may pick up their children in the Meeting Room at 11 a.m. They may visit once and get a feel for the class. If your child is not comfortable attending alone, attend the Ages 3-5 class with your child.

Storytime weekly themes:

• Aug. 17-18 Health Heroes; Aug. 24-25 Piggies; Aug. 31-Sept. 1 People Working.
• Sept. 7-8 Grandparents – bring biological or honorary grandparents if you’d like; Sept. 21-22 Yummy In My Tummy; Sept. 28-29 Autumn.
• Oct. 5-6 Silly; Oct. 12-13 Field Trip to Bob Sikes Airport, 5535 John Givens Road; Oct. 19-20 Dinosaurs; Oct. 26-27 Halloween  – Wear a non-scary costume if you’d like.
• Nov. 2-3 Play; Nov. 9-10 Numbers; Nov. 16-17 On the Go; Nov. 23-24 Thanksgiving; Nov. 30-Dec. 1 Variety Show.
• Dec. 7-8 Move; Dec. 14-15 Christmas.

Additional library activities

Other library events are:

• Teen Time is 2:30-4:30 p.m. Fridays for students in grades 6-12. Art is first Fridays. Videos and board games are on the other Fridays.
• Lego Free Play for ages 6-17 are 4-5 p.m. third Tuesdays in the Meeting Room with Ms. Olivia.
• An astronomy workshop for ages 9 through adult was 6:30-7:30 p.m. fourth Tuesdays.
• Scavenger Hunts for all ages are held each month. Find out what is being hunted each month. Then, let a front desk librarian know how many you find for a small treat.
• The library offers Bright Futures volunteer hours for students in grades 9-12. Ask Ms. Sandy or Ms. Ginny for details.

Hours

Crestview library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m.t o 5 p.m. Fridays; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Call 850-682-4432 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library releases updated schedule

The Internet is a tremendous asset for many people. Yet, with this great asset comes a bit of risk.

There is always the danger that some unscrupulous persons, somewhere in the world, will try to hack into your computer to do damage to the computer or to you in a financial way.

Going to certain websites can permit malware to be downloaded to your hard drive. Malware can do malicious things when you least expect it. Viruses can be snuck onto your hard drive by being buried in emails that come from shady people who try to make an email look legitimate.

This is why it is good to routinely do a full system scan of your computer looking for “stuff” that can do you harm. A scan should be done consistently because even if you feel as though you are protected, these potentially harmful bugs can still get in.

If you don’t do a scan periodically, you run the risk of your computer crashing, or your life getting hijacked.

Sometimes without our realizing it, “stuff” gets into our lives and tries to destroy us on a personal, spiritual, or emotional level.

For example, we sometimes intentionally make decisions and engage in behavior that have the potential to attack us morally and spiritually. We may not even realize it until it is too late, and recovery efforts are difficult at best.

We must be willing to routinely do a full scan of our lives to find internal spiritual dangers. They could be large and glaring, or small and hidden. 

As you go about scanning your life, admit you have made mistakes. The truth of this needs to be accepted.

As you do, you need to remember that as bad as things may have gotten in your life, there is always hope. You have the promise and assurance that in Jesus Christ, when you discover your sins, confess them, and repent of them, you will be forgiven.

I will readily admit that when I have done my own personal scans, they have not been fun at all. But recognizing my mistakes, admitting them to God, and seeking forgiveness has always been well worth it. Each time it has been like a huge, heavy burden was lifted.

Finding my shortcomings, acknowledging them to God, and confessing them sets me free from the grip they’ve had on me. I received God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

What is it in your life that you need to give over to God? Is there a sense of selfishness, that everyone owes you something, or that they need to give in to your desires? Do you find yourself being self-centered, thinking the world revolves around you because of your importance?

How about pride, or arrogance, or bitterness? How about a sense of entitlement? What “virus” has crept into your life, waiting to damage you?

Do a full system scan of your life. Recognize how your behaviors or thoughts lead you away from God.

Confess them and be ready to receive his forgiveness. He will give it when you seek it with all sincerity in your heart. This will happen because of the love and grace promised through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Scan your life to remove 'viruses,' keep hope

CRESTVIEW —Homeschool families of children ages 6-11! You asked. We are answering!

We are offering an Ages 6-11 Storytime Class beginning Aug. 18 that will be simultaneous with Ages 3-5 Storytime Class, like we did this summer.

Doors open at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and we can accommodate the first 30 children for each class. You’ll take your children who are ages 6-11 to the Meeting Room and sign them in there.

You are welcome to visit once to get a feel for the class. After that, please enjoy the library after you sign them in.

The children will do a craft with Ms. Ginny. At around 10:30 a.m., I will parade the children ages 3-5 (and their adults) from the Story Room to the Meeting Room and pick up the children ages 6-11, parading them from the Meeting Room to the Story Room, where we will read stories, play games and/or learn library skills.

I will have them back in the Meeting Room by 11 a.m. to pick up their craft and meet you.

Please call me at 850-682-4432 with questions.

Heather Nitzel is the Youth Services Librarian at the Crestview Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Crestview library has new Storytime offering by request

Recently, I’ve been getting questions from homeowners about high populations of small snails. So far, questions about these non-native snails have come from the Baker and Laurel Hill areas. But, these nuisance snails may be heading your way.

This snail’s shell is conical in shape, tan to light brown in color and ranges in size from 3/4- to 1 inch in length.

It appears that these snails came in on CSX railway cars from Mexico. The first known populations in our state were all near CSX railways. They are an introduced species from the West Indies and were identified as Bulimulus sporadicus.

In Florida, these snails were first reported in the Jacksonville area in 2009. Since then, they have been found in other parts of Florida, including in the Panhandle. Infestations also have been described in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas in recent years.

How they affect agriculture

I first saw these snails myself several years ago while on a farm tour in Jay/Allentown area in northern Santa Rosa County. Their numbers were impressive, attached to farm harvesting equipment and in the debris/leaf litter of cotton and peanut fields.

It’s their populations (extremely high numbers) that are creating problems. So far it appears that these snails are mostly feeding on decaying vegetation and not as much on living plants. 

Their high numbers are creating problems when it comes time to harvest certain row crops. They also have become a problem for citrus growers, mainly in clogging the micro-sprinkler emitters used to irrigate citrus trees. And, in the landscape, they become a nuisance as the snails climb up the sides of houses and tree trunks and cover landscape plants.

These snails thrive in Florida’s tropical climate and with an abundance of organic matter on which to feed.

Changing its habitats

In home landscapes, modifying areas that hold moisture or that stay overly wet may reduce favorable feeding, breeding areas for this snail.

This may include reducing or eliminating areas that hold moisture such as mulched beds and groundcover plants.

It may help to be careful to not irrigate too much. I’ve been trying to convince people to make this change for years.

Our lawns, landscapes and gardens do not need to be watered on any kind of schedule. They need to be watered when we are not getting adequate rain. Has it rained at your landscape lately?

So far, chemical control has not been very effective. However, there are slug and snail baits that you could try. Some of these are quite toxic to pets and wildlife. Always follow the directions and precautions when using any pesticide, including molluscicides!

Larry Williams is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Small snails find their way to Florida from Mexico via rails

With the days being so hot, please don't leave your pets outside all day. Bring them in so they have cooler air and make sure there is plenty of water, both inside and outside.

Because our companion pets have fur, they can potentially heat up faster than we do. One important safety procedure to always follow is never leave your pet in a parked car.

On humid days, it is especially important to bring your pets inside as the increased humidity makes it difficult for your pet to cool down through their panting. When it is hot outside, don't expect your pet to walk on ultra-hot asphalt. They can burn their paw pads. Buy some booties made for dogs, walk on the grass only, or best of all, wait until it is evening and much cooler to take them out.

Should your pet get heat exhaustion or heatstroke, here are suggestions from the Humane Society (www.humanesociety.org/resources/keep-pets-safe-heat).

"Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them. Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take them directly to a veterinarian."

Pets are important members of our families. Just as we don't want to be sitting outside in the extreme heat, neither do our pets enjoy being out in this heat.

Heat strokes in children

Keep your children inside during the heat of the day, as you don't want them to get over-heated or get heatstroke. Let them play outside in the early morning hours and late in the afternoon when the heat isn't as intense.

Make sure that there is plenty of water or drinks with ice for your kids.

Here are a few of the symptoms of heat exhaustion in children from the Children's Health website, https://bit.ly/2UAa2y4.

• An elevated body temperature, usually between 100˚ and 104˚ Fahrenheit
• Cool, clammy skin despite the heat
• Goose bumps
• Headache
• Increased sweating
• Increased thirst
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and/or vomiting

Should your child exhibit any of these signs take them into an air  conditioned environment and give them cool fluids with electrolytes to drink.

Cool wet towels applied to their skin can also help get their temperature down.

If your child won't drink, is agitated or having seizures, call your doctor immediately. If your doctor is unavailable, call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency room. Heat stroke in children can be very serious.

An additional safety tip for both pets and children is to never leave them unaccompanied next to a swimming pool or other body of water.

It only takes a second for a pet or child to fall in and a potential tragedy could occur. Be aware of your surroundings and enjoy your summer!

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: Taking care of your pets and children during hot weather

Treefrog calls are often heard with each rain event, but how about a “snoring raspy” call that begins after a day time light rain?

That may be a male Cuban treefrog trying to attract the girls. Cuban treefrogs breed predominately in the spring and summer. Reproduction is largely stimulated by rainfall, especially warm summer rains such as those associated with tropical weather systems and intense thunderstorms.

The Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) was accidentally introduced to Florida in the 1920s as a stowaway in shipping crates from the Caribbean. Over the last 100 years, the invasive frog has managed to spread throughout Florida and the Southeastern U.S. by hitchhiking on ornamental plants, motorized vehicles and boats.

Though occasional cold winters have created temporary population setbacks, new generations of Cuban treefrogs continue to be reported in north Florida, including the Panhandle.

An invasive species is generally defined as a plant, animal or microbe that is found outside of its native range, where it negatively impacts the ecology, economy or quality of human life.

Cuban treefrogs come out at night to feed on snails, millipedes, spiders and a vast array of insects. But, they are also predators of several Florida native frogs, lizards and snakes.

Tadpoles of the invasive Cuban treefrog have been shown to inhibit the growth and development of native Southern toad and green treefrog tadpoles when all of the species are in the same water body. Additionally, a large female Cuban treefrog can lay over 10,000 eggs per season in very small amounts of water.

Identification

Panhandle citizens can help manage the invasive Cuban treefrog by learning to identify them and reduce their numbers. All treefrogs have expanded pads on the ends of their toes. Cuban treefrogs have exceptionally large toepads. They also have a “big eyed” appearance due to their oversized bulging eyes.

Cuban treefrogs may exceed 6 inches in length, have warty-looking skin with possible blotches, bands or stripes, and vary greatly in color.

However, they can be distinguished from other treefrogs. Cuban treefrogs have a yellowish wash where their front and rear legs are attached to their body. Juvenile Cuban treefrogs have red eyes and blue bones visible through the skin of their hind legs.

The skin of the Cuban treefrog produces a sticky secretion that can cause a burning or itching sensation if it contacts the eyes or nose of certain individuals. It is recommended to wear gloves and wash your hands after handling Cuban treefrogs.

Trapping and euthanizing

It is important to document the locations of Cuban treefrogs in the Panhandle. Placing short sections of PVC pipe in the ground around your home and garden will provide hiding places for the treefrogs that enables you to monitor them.

Cut 10-foot sections of 1.5-inch-diameter PVC pipe into approximately three-foot-long sections and push them into the ground about 3-4 inches.

To remove a frog from a pipe, place a clear sandwich bag over the top end, pull the pipe from the ground, and insert a dowel rod in the other end to scare the frog into the baggie.

Reporting sightings

If you suspect you have seen one, take a picture and send it to Dr. Steve Johnson at tadpole@ufl.edu. Include your name, date, and location. Dr. Johnson can verify the identity.

If it is a Cuban treefrog, upload the information by going to www.eddmaps.org/ and click the “Report Sightings” tab.

Once identified as a Cuban treefrog, it should be euthanized humanly. To do that, the Cuban treefrog in a plastic sandwich bag can be placed into the refrigerator for 3-4 hours then transferred to the freezer for an additional 24 hours.

Alternatively, a 1-inch stripe benzocaine-containing ointment (like Orajel) to the frog’s back to chemically anesthetize it before placing it into a freezer. After freezing, remove the bagged frog from the freezer and dispose of in the trash.

Removing eggs

Ornamental ponds should also be monitored for Cuban treefrog egg masses especially after a heavy rain. The morning after a rain, use a small-mesh aquarium net to scoop out masses of eggs floating on the surface of the pond and simply discard them on the ground to dry out.

Various objects that can collect water found throughout your yard need to be dumped out regularly to reduce breeding spots for both Cuban treefrogs and mosquitoes.

Sheila Dunning is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Cuban treefrog considered an invasive species

I have a love/hate relationship with AT&T cellular service. In many ways their service is great, but their customer service has deteriorated over the years and is now lacking.

AT&T has become quite greedy with their late fees, service fees and many other extraneous fees in order to recoup their massive losses on their acquisitions of both Time-Warner and Direct TV. 

These losses are due to AT&T's greed, poor financial choices and have nothing to do with their customers. However, AT&T now views their customers as cash cows, extracting fees at every opportunity. I am not the only person who has noticed this phenomenon.

An article from Wolfstreet — https://bit.ly/3iv1QYb — explains what went so wrong with AT&T and how they are trying to make financial changes. This doesn't sound good and isn't the way to run a fiscally sound business.

"After a horrendously expensive acquisition spree of legacy companies that included DirecTV and Time Warner … AT&T today disclosed that it wrote off $16.4 billion in assets in Q4, for a total $18.9 billion write-off in the year 2020."

The article goes on to say that AT&T ended the year 2020 with a loss of $5.2 billion. No wonder AT&T is continually nickel and diming their customers all the time. They are trying to increase revenues, even as they are losing customers.

For instance, if you pay your bill at an authorized AT&T location, you will be charged a "convenience" fee of $6. If available, and you pay using a kiosk with a credit card and require no help from an AT&T employee, there is no fee. 

People that have been long time customers, such as my husband and me, are getting tired of all the added fees and bogus "late" fees. If one shorts their bill by even a few cents, an automatic $7 late fee is now added.

It doesn't matter how long one has been a customer or how many services one has with AT&T, this is applied across the board. Customer service has gone away with COVID-19 and big companies no longer care if they offend their customers.

I am not the only one talking about problems with AT&T. On May 18, 2021, the Los Angeles Times ran a piece by Business Columnist David Lazarus regarding late fees and poor customer service (https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-05-18/att-late-fees).

We, as a family, are ready to try another cell phone company. We haven't settled on one yet and are looking at our options.

Be aware that many companies are adding convenience fees, late fees and all sorts of other money-making schemes to their bills in order to offset their losses or poor business practices.

Be aware, check your statements and watch out for those extra fees.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: I'm considering dumping AT&T services

CRESTVIEW — Home canning popularity has been rising in the past number of years, but since COVID-19, it has seemed to skyrocket!

People who began gardening and limiting trips to the store had to find a way to preserve their bounty, something our grandparents did many years ago.

Home canning safety

Canning may seem very familiar to us. The glass jars, metal bands, and speckled canner all look the same; they haven’t seemed to change much since our grandparents used them many years ago. What has changed are the developments in the science of food and canning safety.

Today, science is used to research the best methods for canning foods, the cooking time needed to kill harmful microorganisms in food, and the best way to sterilize our equipment.

Science has shown methods used in the past, such as using an oven to heat jars until they seal or open kettle canning. Newer techniques, such as using the dishwasher, microwave, or electric multi-cooker canning, have also been found not to be safe.

In some instances, these canning methods may encourage the growth of microorganisms in canned foods, increasing the risk of foodborne illness, such as botulism.

Foodborne illness symptoms can be severe. For example, the symptoms of botulism include severe cramping, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, paralysis, and death. In a person with a compromised immune system, a very young child, or an elderly person, these symptoms can be even more dangerous.

For the best, updated information on safe home canning practices, contact your local Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent; visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation website at https://nchfp.uga.edu; and follow the guidelines in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Complete Guide for Home Canning.

This guide can be downloaded for free at https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html.

Pepper jelly workshop

If you would like to learn more about home canning, join the extension office's Pepper Jelly Workshop, which is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at 3098 Airport Road, Crestview.

Registration is required and can be completed by visiting  https://okaloosacanning2021.eventbrite.com.

The cost is $15 per person; class size is limited.

During this class, you will learn how to prepare home-canned goods using the water-bath canning method and USDA guidelines to prevent foodborne illness.

The best part is you will get to take home a jar of your very own pepper jelly!

For more information about food preservation methods or classes contact Jill Breslawski, Family, and Consumer Science, with the UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension at 850-689-5850 or jbreslawski@ufl.edu.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Learn pepper jelly canning at upcoming workshop

When we think of bullies, we think of the mean kid on the playground that steals other children's lunch money or that neighborhood kid always getting in trouble for beating up younger children.

Webster's online dictionary defines bully as "one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable." We have all run across adults who are bigger bullies than any child on the playground.

In many ways, COVID-19 didn't bring out the best in people. There are those who are extremely authoritarian and controlling and have tried to bully others, from the wearing of masks to vaccinations.

Now that an experimental vaccine is available, some would like to force-vaccinate everyone, including those who question the efficacy and safety of this mRNA shot.

Do we really have freedom if we can't control what goes into our body? I know of a few people that think they should decide for everyone else, but in this country, we have freedom and that includes the freedom to accept or decline an experimental vaccine.

Many people are unaware of VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) that is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can find it here: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html.

There are several severe reactions people have had, including death, so this isn't something that should be taken lightly as it could affect your life.

I have a friend whose father's heart stopped after his vaccine. His life was saved, but he spent 15 days in the hospital, mostly in the Intensive Care Unit, and now walks with a walker, something he never did before.

Denmark has suspended some brands of vaccines because of safety concerns. According to a Reuters story, "Denmark on Monday became the first country to exclude Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 shots from its vaccination programme over a potential link to a rare but serious form of blood clot."

The move comes after the Nordic country stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine altogether last month citing similar concerns.

The country's health authority said in a statement (https://yhoo.it/3wp96td) it had found that "the benefits of using the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson do not outweigh the risk of causing the possible adverse effect in those who receive the vaccine."

As one can see, receiving this vaccine is not quite as simple as one may think. Plenty of medical personnel and scientists are concerned about possible side effects from these vaccines.

The government shouldn't coerce or force anyone to have a vaccine that hasn't been thoroughly vetted through long-term testing. This is a serious decision and one that each individual or family must make for themselves.

We all want COVID-19 eradicated, but we also don't want someone to die from the Emergency Use Authorization vaccine.

There are many people who want to wait and see what the long term effects are from this vaccine before they introduce it into their body, and they shouldn't be bullied for this decision.

Realize there are differing opinions on this subject. And truthfully, someone else's vaccination status is not your business.

Let's be kind to each other here in Crestview!

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: COVID-19 doesn't bring out the best in people