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BROADHEAD: Your generosity will return to you

Written by archive on August 10, 2015. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

For some people, the topic of generosity is a touchy subject.

Many times, their thinking is, “I’ve worked hard for my money; I’m not just going to simply give it away.”

While this kind of thinking may be understandable in some cases, it also signals a deeper issue — selfishness.

People often have no desire to share what they have, even when others might be in dire need. These folks are convinced their generosity might be squandered in needless, useless or harmful ways.

But stop to imagine for a moment if the shoe were on the other foot. What if, for some reason, you wound up in dire need and depended on the kindness and generosity of others?

A crowd of 5,000 people had gathered to hear Jesus teach. Because of the late hour, the people needed to eat a meal. But the disciples did not have enough money or food to feed them all.

The disciples located a small boy who had five loaves and two fish.

And that was all it took.

After Jesus gave thanks to God for the seemingly small offering, the food was distributed. Those 5,000-plus men, women and children ate their fill. When leftovers were gathered, there was enough to fill 12 baskets.

There are two ways of looking at this miracle. The first is the traditional way most people look at it. Jesus received the offering from the small boy, and as the food was distributed, it miraculously multiplied, never running out until all were fed and satisfied. God’s generosity overflowed.

The second way this miracle can be seen is that people in the crowd saw the generosity of that small boy who gave everything he had to Jesus. Then those who actually had food with them were moved to share what they had with others around them.

They may have thought, “If a little boy can do this, so can I.” And because of their generosity, there was more than enough to go around.

Either way this event is viewed, there's a miracle. One is God's supernatural intervention to multiply meager offerings into something greater. The other is God's supernatural intervention to change people’s hearts from self-interest to generosity.

Your generosity will return to you many times over. Don’t be afraid to share what you have, because you cannot out-give God.

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: BROADHEAD: Your generosity will return to you

Relay For Life Crestview chapter seeks sponsors

Written by archive on August 10, 2015. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — The American Cancer Society's Relay For Life Crestview chapter seeks sponsorship for its 2016 event.

See the complete sponsorship packet at http://bit.ly/1L01cdq.

Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser for cancer research. Cancer survivors and their supporters walk a track all night to remember the longest night a person will face: when he or she receives a cancer diagnosis.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relay For Life Crestview chapter seeks sponsors

Have church, will travel: Laurel Hill centenarian's church brings worship home

Written by archive on August 6, 2015. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

LAUREL HILL — When mobility challenges prevented Laurel Hill centenarian McDonald Campbell from attending Sunday service, the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church brought church to Campbell.

During the Aug. 1 service — held for Campbell's 101 birthday in her front parlor — the Rev. Mark Broadhead ordained her an Elder Emerita for almost 40 years of service on the Session, or church governing body.

Later, friends and family celebrated Campbell’s birthday with a cake baked and decorated by Laurel Hill student Jessianne Fortune.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Have church, will travel: Laurel Hill centenarian's church brings worship home

Visual arts, music, dance flourish during downtown Crestview's arts renaissance (VIDEO)

Written by archive on August 6, 2015. Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Visual and performing arts studios are blossoming on Main Street while new venues for dance and performance will create what will essentially be a performing arts district opposite the Okaloosa County Courthouse.

For Friends of the Arts President Rae Schwartz, the news brings opportunities for enhancing the community’s livability. “We are just really looking forward to all these wonderful new art businesses and what they will bring to the culture of the community and to our Main Street,” she said.

For the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, Main Street’s artistic renaissance makes Crestview even more attractive to businesses seeking to relocate or become established.

“Arts and cultural activities are one of those measures that companies considering an area look at to determine if that community can sustain their employees, not just in sense of a productive workforce but in their quality of life,” EDC Director Nathan Sparks said.

“Arts and culture are clearly quality-of-place components that companies place increasing value on,” Sparks said. “It’s not just about the community that can provide the lowest electricity or the best economic package.”

'TO ME, ART IS HEALING'

For almost a year, former Northwood Arts and Science Academy art teacher and media specialist Kristal Petruzzi and her husband, Tony, have renovated a former South Main Street bakery and donut shop into an art studio.

“I’ll be offering classes: a lot of kids’ classes and homeschooling classes, and mixed media classes for adults,” Petruzzi said. “It is mainly a teaching studio where people can come and take classes in all kinds of media, printmaking, painting, drawing and sculpting.”

Petruzzi hopes to open Happy Lark Art Studio in September. Plans include pottery instruction, and weekly opportunities for artists to walk in and let the creative juices flow. “We want to have an open studio once a week where people can come in and create whatever they like using materials in the studio,” she said.

Petruzzi says her studio will help people find their artistic muse. “To me, art is healing,” she said. “I think everybody has the potential in them.”

'WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO IT?'

Ryan Mabry, accompanist for Crestview High School's show choirs and pianist for the First Presbyterian Church, has always found comfort in music. As a CHS student, he sometimes skipped class to play Beethoven sonatas on the school auditorium’s grand piano. “God just put in my heart that I needed to do something with music,” Mabry said.

Realizing his job as a financial adviser wasn’t suited to his musical bent, a midday epiphany led to yesterday’s delivery of a grand piano to his new Main Street music studio. “I was at lunch a couple weeks ago and a friend said, ‘Why don’t you just do it?’” Mabry said of his decision to open his studio.

His emphasis on young children’s piano instruction is to keep the lessons fun. “I want to completely break away from the traditional student-teacher roles, where the kid is sitting there for half an hour and the teacher says ‘play this and that,’” he said. “I want the joy of music to be with them the rest of their lives. I don’t want them to ever become bored or disinterested.”

MARRYING MUSIC AND DANCE

Mabry's vision meshed with Mia Batson’s plans for Ballet and Barre, a dance studio — under construction below Mabry’s studio — that will offer lessons in classical, modern and Irish dance, among other genres.

By incorporating Ten Talents Youth Theatre and Mabry’s music, Batson’s studio will encompass multiple performing arts, she said. “When we do recitals we’re going to be incorporating all aspects of the performing arts,” Batson said, adding “The Little Mermaid” will be the studio’s first production. “We’re going to incorporate an acting Ariel as well as a dancing Ariel and a singing Ariel,” she said.

“One of the visions we see for this is really nurturing the performing arts, from music education to classical dance, contemporary, modern, lyrical, ballet all the way up to improvisational skills that are so prevalent in jazz, up to the beginning and higher levels of composition,” Mabry said.

“Dance isn’t just about music,” Mabry said. “It’s about musicality. I can’t think of a better marriage than music and dance. To have it come together under one roof is a blessing.”

'YOU WON'T WANT TO DRIVE TO DESTIN'

Two Main Street businesses are relocating to the same 500 N. Main St. block as Mabry and Batson’s studios. Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner David Colón said he is “almost certain” he will relocate his business to the former Harvest Vineyard building beside Ballet and Barre. “It will be both our studio and an events venue,” Colón said.

Around the corner, a two-story building on West Pine Avenue will become the new home of Casbah Coffee Co., whose owners are moving from 106 N. Main St., in September. The shop’s Kickback at the Casbah open mic and karaoke nights will continue every first and third Friday, co-owner Tracy Toannon said, but the new shop will have twice the floor space to enjoy it in.

“There may be other entertainment coming, but we have to grow in the evening,” Toannon said. “We figure there’s room to offer something in the evening. For a date night, you won’t have to drive to Destin.”

'GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING'

For Petruzzi, being part of downtown’s artistic renaissance is an honor. “I’m so excited about our opening, but I’m excited there’s a music studio and a dance studio coming, too,” she said. “It’d be so awesome if more businesses came in behind us.”

For arts proponents such as Schwartz — also a Main Street Crestview Association member — the sudden burst of downtown artistic ventures is promising. “Between the studios, it will hopefully expand our opportunities for arts and other events on Main Street," she said.

Schwartz helped create the 2010 and 2011 Music and Arts on Main Street festivals that merged visual and performing arts while drawing people to Main Street in the summer months. Mabry said such outdoor arts celebrations complement the new studios’ goals. These projects are not just business ventures but beliefs in the power of the arts — and leaps of faith, he said.

“God knows what he’s doing, and I just couldn’t be more happy,” he said. “We’re all thrilled and elated at what he’s doing for our community.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

These downtown Crestview visual and performing arts studios plan August and September openings:

•Ballet and Barre, Mia Batson, adult and youth dance classes: registration now open; orientation, 6 p.m. Aug. 14, 306-3913

•Crestview Performing Arts, Ryan Mabry, piano instruction: open enrollment Aug. 10-19; Grand opening Aug. 28, 5:30-8 p.m., 217-4040, crestviewperformingarts@yahoo.com

•Happy Lark Art Studio, Kristal Petruzzi, visual arts instruction: opening in September, date to be determined, 603-2475.

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Visual arts, music, dance flourish during downtown Crestview's arts renaissance (VIDEO)

SHANKLIN: How your risk tolerance should influence investment decisions

Written by archive on August 4, 2015. Posted in lifestyle.

As an investor, how much risk can you tolerate? It’s an important question — because the answer can help you make the right investment choices.

Before you know your risk tolerance, you’ll want to make sure you first understand the nature of investment risk — the risk of losing principal. This risk is especially prevalent when you invest in stocks, because stock prices will always fluctuate — and there are never any guarantees about performance. Of course, a decline in value does not mean you need to sell; you can always hold on to the stock with the hope that its value will bounce back. And this can certainly happen, but again — no guarantees.

How you respond to this type of investment risk will tell you a great deal about your own risk tolerance. Of course, no one, whether he or she has a high tolerance for risk or a low one, particularly likes to see declines, but people do react differently.

If you’re the sort of person who can retain your confidence in your investment mix and can focus on the long term and the potential for a recovery, you may well have a higher tolerance for risk. But if you find yourself losing sleep over your losses (even if, at this point, they’re just “paper” losses), becoming despondent about reaching your goals, and questioning whether you should be investing at all, then you may have a low tolerance for risk.

This self-knowledge of your own risk tolerance should help inform your investment decisions — to a point. Even if you determine you have a high tolerance for risk, you almost certainly should not load up your portfolio exclusively with stocks. If the stock market enters a prolonged slump, you could face heavy losses that may take many years to overcome, causing you to lose significant ground in the pursuit of your financial goals.

Conversely, even if you discover you don’t have much tolerance for risk, you won’t want to invest only in supposedly “safe” vehicles, such as certificates of deposit (CDs). During those periods when rates on CDs and similar instruments are low, as has been the case in recent years, your interest payments from these investments may not even keep up with inflation — meaning that, over time, you could end up losing purchasing power, which, over the long term, can be just as big a risk as market declines.

Ultimately, then, you’ll probably want to let your risk tolerance guide your investment choices — but not dictate them with an “iron hand.” So, if you believe you are highly tolerant of risk, you might have a somewhat higher percentage of stocks in your portfolio than if you felt yourself to be highly risk-averse — but in any case, you’ll likely benefit from building a diversified portfolio containing stocks, bonds, government securities, CDs and other investments. While this type of diversification can’t guarantee profits or protect against loss, it can help reduce the effects of volatility on your portfolio.

By knowing your own risk tolerance, and the role it can play in your choices, you can help yourself create an effective, suitable investment strategy — one that you can live with for a long time and that can help you avoid the biggest risk of all: not reaching your long-term goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: How your risk tolerance should influence investment decisions

Survey: Floridians like, but don't eat enough, seafood

Written by archive on August 2, 2015. Posted in lifestyle.

Many Floridians aren't eating the federally recommended intake of seafood, according to a new survey's findings.

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Sea Grant funded a study of 717 Floridians in 2013; results were published last month in the UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information System electronic library.

The findings?

•About 40 percent of Floridians do not eat enough seafood; the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating at least two weekly servings of seafood

•43 percent of Floridians eat more seafood than they had five to 10 years ago; 21 percent eat less

•People who don't eat the federal recommendation think seafood costs more, and they’re concerned about what they perceive to be environmental risks of wild seafood harvesting and aquaculture production

UF/IFAS staffers said they are concerned about survey results showing Florida consumers’ don’t know much about seafood, especially imported seafood's safety.

Floridians may be decreasing their seafood consumption due to these factors, according to Florida Sea Grant Agent Bryan Fluech.

Floridians want to support anglers and the local economy, and they like their seafood caught or harvested in the Sunshine State, he said.But many are not sure they’d know Florida seafood if they saw it, and they’re hesitant to pay the higher cost of local seafood.

Further, most consumers purchase their seafood from restaurants and grocery stores, but they are not confident that they are getting accurate information from these sources, according to the study.

UF/IFAS staffers said they can help educate consumers and the seafood industry.

“Specific educational programs could focus on developing a ‘train-the-trainer’ model for restaurant and retail staff,” Fluech said. “Such a program would help these workers better address customer questions and needs, while promoting Florida seafood.

“There are plenty of reputable resources they can use to learn about local seafood and where to buy it."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Survey: Floridians like, but don't eat enough, seafood

Public speaker encourages Crestview residents to find fun amid life's chaos

Written by archive on July 30, 2015. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Jeanne Robertson tours the country telling crowds funny stories about her life.

"One of the ways I enjoy life is I look for humor every day and I try to find it," the 71-year-old said.

Then, she shares it.

Her next stop is "Fit, Fierce and Fabulous! At Any Age," an Aug. 4 Healthy Woman dinner presented by North Okaloosa Medical Center.

Alicia Booker, Healthy Woman's program coordinator, said Robertson's presentation fits the event's theme.

"We wanted our attendees to have an evening of great information, great food and great entertainment," Booker said. "Jeanne Robertson fit the bill perfectly because she is certainly known as a great entertainer.

"Jeanne came highly recommended by one of our board of trustee members who had the opportunity to see her perform at another venue…"

Tickets already are sold out for the dinner, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Crestview Community Center.

LOOK FOR LIFE'S HUMOR

Having a sense of humor helps when difficult issues arise, Robertson said.

"Whether stressful situations occur or you have to make unpopular choices, if you can keep a sense of humor, it is a talent that lets us work with people every day," she said. "It keeps us fabulous; it keeps us fit."

Robertson said she recalled being at the airport once and learning, along with other travelers, the flight was delayed. She noticed, walking up to the gate, how tense everybody else was.

She knew it didn't have to be that way.

"I looked at them and they were angry, and I am just sitting here looking for somebody … saying something funny," Robertson said.

Instead of getting stressed, she wrote down anything she found hilarious about the delay.

That situation — and others over the past 52 years she has been a professional speaker — "reinforced that what I do is a great way to live your life," she said. "If you look for (humor amid chaos), you can find it."

'YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM WITH YOU'

Everyday chaos — like a routine trip to the grocery store gone awry — plays out in many of Robertson's speeches.

In an almost eight-minute clip on YouTube, Robertson tells the audience about the time she sent her husband, Jerry — whom she affectionately calls "Left Brain" — to the store for ingredients to make her go-to comfort food: a 7 Up pound cake.

He has master's and doctorate degrees, she says in the clip, but "I don't care how many pieces of paper you frame and put on the wall; if you have a left brain, it's gon' kick in on you — and it kicked in on him about the third aisle of that grocery store…"

She had numbered the list of items for Jerry to purchase, and his brain multiplied those by each ingredient's quantity, which gave way to hilarious results.

The third item was a dozen eggs; the fourth item, a tub of lard; fifth, 5 pounds of sugar; and sixth, 5 pounds of flour. So naturally he bought three dozen eggs, four tubs of lard, 25 pounds of sugar and 30 pounds of flour.

You'll have to watch the clip — which has more than 7.5 million views — to hear what the cashier, who knew Jerry, said to Jeanne the next time she went to the grocery store.

INTERNET'S 'TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE'

Robertson — who recently learned her YouTube channel hit 28 million views — said she sees the Internet's advantage.

"First, we just put up two (videos) a year, and people kept writing, saying, 'Put up more, put up more,' and we put up more," she said.

Some of her colleagues find it a chore to keep up with, but Robertson has embraced social media.

"I got so into Facebook," she said. "I do my own Facebook; I wouldn't have anybody (else) doing it."

She said she loves chatting with people on her Facebook page.

"I'm not saying people my age have to adopt (Internet use), but it's a tremendous advantage," Robertson said, adding that Skype, Facebook and other programs can help people stay connected with friends and family members.

And she hopes people who share her clips will realize the importance of oral storytelling.

"If you don't tell your family and younger people these family stories, you can't take them with you," Robertson said. "They bring joy to your family, and if you write them down or record them and share them with people, they continue on.

"Everybody has these family stories. What I want the women to do that day (in Crestview) is say, "She's been a fly on the wall in my house. The same thing happened to me."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public speaker encourages Crestview residents to find fun amid life's chaos

3 health benefits for pampering yourself in Crestview (VIDEO)

Written by archive on July 29, 2015. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

Sure, pampering yourself — getting massages, facials and other treatments — makes you feel like royalty, but it brings serious health benefits, too.

1. Massages provide balance. "Massage helps the body to maintain homeostasis," said Lisa Hiekel, a massage therapist at Adiva Day Spa in Crestview. That means "the well-being of the body, because (massage) works with all the different systems, helps relieve the muscles, helps circulation, helps promote metabolism.

WATCH: Experts explain the benefits of pampering yourself>>

"It helps to de-stress the body, which the mind and the body obviously work together."

Hiekel said she has had the satisfaction of seeing visible relief from pain on her clients' faces in as little as an hour.

Shoshanna Richardson, massage therapist at Hello Beautiful Salon in Crestview, said massage "is really helpful for people who have chronic pain, lower back pain," plantar fasciitis and shin splints. "It can help athletes increase blood flow and oxygen to the muscles," in addition to providing general relaxation, she said.

Massage therapy after the first trimester helps pregnant women address stress, neck and shoulder issues, Richardson said.

"Stress causes so many illnesses … the older we get, the harder we have to try to (perform at those previous levels)," said April Hinton, owner and stylist at Hello Beautiful.

2. Facials help remove toxins. People notice your face first, so it's important to keep it looking good, regardless of your age, says Diana Hill, a skin care specialist at Hello Beautiful.

But people get facials for more reasons than vanity.

"Facials increase circulating blood under the skin to aid in ridding the skin of waste that causes puffiness," she said.

By stimulating the lymphatic system, "facials help to detox lymph node waste, smooth fine lines, and promote collagen and elastin production" — considered "building blocks" that support the skin and help reduce wrinkles and sagging — she said.

"Facials truly do slow down the aging process and allow your face to look smother, healthier and more radiant," Hill said.

The procedure also exfoliates dead skins cells and "optimizes the benefits of skin care products," she said.

In addition to deep cleaning the face, facials "promote cellular regeneration," says Denee Manchester, of Adiva Day Spa.

"So our cells are constantly turning over, and constant cell renewal is what prevents age spots, wrinkles, losing elasticity in the skin — we want our skin to be in constant exfoliation just to help with that all-the-time glow," she said.

3. Salon and spa services make us feel better. "Women come here to enjoy themselves and relax," Blonde Bellagio owner and stylist Sherry Seymour said. "Relaxing and getting pampered is a stress reliever."

She said many of her customers with headaches find relief and re-energize after getting shampoos and scalp massages.

"Clients can be having a bad day and getting a good hairdo will improve their whole day," Nancy McLaney, the salon's receptionist, said.

"We like to make every woman in the world know she's beautiful."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 health benefits for pampering yourself in Crestview (VIDEO)

All Okaloosa parks pass hazardous water testing

Written by archive on July 29, 2015. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

FORT WALTON BEACH — NoOkaloosa County parks have potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated this week.

All parks but three received "good" water quality ratings. The there with "moderate" ratings are Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach; Emerald Promenade, Okaloosa Island; and Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin.

Enteric bacteria’s presence indicates fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: All Okaloosa parks pass hazardous water testing

Crestview church plans Vacation Bible School

Written by archive on July 28, 2015. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Central Baptist Church, 951 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview, will host Vacation Bible School in August.

The schedule is 6-8 p.m. nightly Aug. 5-9, with separate classes for adults, and babies through fifth graders.

Everyone will be taking a “Journey Off the Map,” a trip that will reveal truths about Jesus. On the journey, participants will experience joint worship, group Bible studies, music, crafts, and missions—as well as snacks and recreation.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview church plans Vacation Bible School

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