lifestyle | Crestview News Bulletin

Ringing in 2020 with positive changes

Written by archive on December 31, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.

2020: It’s a New Year and a new decade. What do you plan to do with this gift? As with any new year, we have the chance to make a fresh start, a new beginning.

It meant many things to me growing up in Southern California: watching the Rose Parade, either in person or on television; perhaps going to Disneyland after the parade; or having friends over to play board games and dinner — lots of fun activities.

Will you use this year to make positive changes, or continue with old patterns? Many people make resolutions. How many resolutions are kept through Feb. 1, much less Dec. 31? What we may need are lifestyle changes that will affect the rest of our lives, not just a few weeks.

We can choose to look at the new year/decade and be complacent, or we can see this as an exciting adventure. Jim, my husband, and I, choose to see this new decade as an adventure. What can we accomplish? There are many things we want to do, including making home repairs and upgrades, becoming more physically active, and traveling more.

There are also new skills or hobbies we can learn. Have you always wanted to learn to play the piano? Take some piano lessons. The Crestview Community Choir is looking for members, as are other organizations. Perhaps we can spend more time visiting those in assisted living and nursing homes. There are many ways we can use our time wisely.

We need to see time as a gift, rather than something that just passes by. As a child, I didn’t appreciate the gift of time and I wasted it, dawdling or daydreaming.

Now that I am older, I value time and realize that my time here on earth is limited and there are things I’d like to accomplish before I go to heaven.

Jim and I would like to travel. He wants to take me on a Disney cruise and enjoy the atmosphere. It has been quite a few years since we’ve been to Walt Disney World and we’d like to go there for a vacation. Naturally, we’d both like to go to California and visit family members.

There are many things to do, and truthfully, we have a very limited amount of time on this earth.

So, write down your goals, dreams and desires and work on making them a reality this year.

We can accomplish what we’d like with determination, hard work and the Lord’s help.

Happy New Year!

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: Ringing in 2020 with positive changes

The Extension Connection: The magnificent mullet is a local luxury

Written by archive on December 31, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.

A new year brings a new opportunity to pick out that perfect calendar to hang on your wall. While I am partial to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension calendar (available at your local Extension Office), last year I received a unique calendar from the “Fresh from Florida” program.

Each page featured a Florida grown crop or product along with a tempting picture and recipe. As a fish person, August’s page caught my eye. It featured a Florida Pan-Seared, Bacon-Wrapped Mullet and a fascinating story from FloridaMemory.com I’d like to share.

“As canned and frozen fish became increasingly popular in the United States after World War II, Florida state officials hoped to boost the local mullet fishing industry by encouraging producers to can the fish and sell it outside the state. Unfortunately, consumers in northern and western markets tended not to consider mullet a desirable food. To give the fish a fresh image, state officials urged canners to sell mullet under one of its Spanish names, lisa. Alas, despite a robust marketing campaign using creative recipes such as “Lisa Luxury Loaf” and “Lisa Guacamole,” the new name was not a hit, and Floridians today enjoy their mullet as mullet.”

With winter being a relatively slow fishing season, with fewer reef fish in season and brisk temperatures limiting the shoreline fishing, mullet fishing is a great alternative to get that fishing fix. With a 50-fish daily bag limit and the ability to catch them with a cast net, hook and line, spears (saltwater only) and gigs, the opportunities are endless.

I, for one, am glad that “lisa” never took off so that we can continue to enjoy it as the local luxury it is.

This is the Lisa Luxury Loaf recipe, submitted by Mary Lou Norwood, Women's Editor (Recipe from the Administrative files of the State Conservation Board).

Lisa Luxury Loaf

1 lb. can Lisa

juice of 1/2 lime or lemon

2 dashes Tabasco

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper

1 small onion, grated

1 cup dry bread crumbs

2 eggs

1 cup tomato paste

Combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Knead with hands until mixed well. Pack into buttered loaf pan (the disposable aluminum foil ones do fine. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Loaf will slip out easily. Serve with a creole tomato sauce, cheese sauce or white sauce with green peas. Eight servings, but to be prepared for seconds, better plan on six people.

Laura Tiu 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: The Extension Connection: The magnificent mullet is a local luxury

I CAN AND I WILL: A reset for 2020

Written by archive on December 27, 2019. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

God gives us an automatic reset button on our spirits when we go to sleep each night.

I go to bed every night knowing that tomorrow is a new day with new adventures. That sunrise brings a fresh sense of optimism, almost like God is erasing the hurdles from the day before and giving us another shot.

I’ve had difficult times in my past, as we all have. The devil loves those periods in our lives. That is when he pounces on us and tries to take control of our future.

Sadly, some of us let him in during those weak moments. He wants us to believe that there’s not a “reset” for us. He wants us to think that the remainder of our lives will be as bad or worse than our current situation.

Don’t forget that Jesus died for our sins. He gave us the ultimate revival of life. During those bad times, we need to remember that God has forgiven us, and tomorrow is a new day with an opportunity to make our Lord and Savior proud of our accomplishments.

If we fall short tomorrow, let’s “reset” on the next day. Before you know it, you’ll be more content with the life you’re living.

Although 2020 is simply the day after the 31st of December, it gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow. If we remember that we are the children of the King of all Kings and act like we’re descended from royalty, we’ll make our Father proud.

Let’s “reset” in 2020 and make it the best year of our lives by living the way God intended.

Love, help, live, explore, befriend, and make memories.

Do you need a “reset” for the New Year?

Rick Stanfield is a syndicated columnist, motivational speaker and author. His latest book is “I Can and I Will.” For more information, visit his website at www.rickstanfield.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: I CAN AND I WILL: A reset for 2020

GATHERINGS: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations

Written by archive on December 23, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.

TOASTMASTERS: Interested in forming a Crestview Toastmasters group? More members are needed before a club can be chartered in Crestview. If interested, contact Clara Dunham at 850-803-4488.

MONDAYS

YOUTH NIGHT: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N. Visitors may enjoy free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or fellowship.

BOY SCOUT TROOPS 30 AND 33: meet 6:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays during the school year at First United Methodist Church, 599 8th Ave., Crestview. Boys and girls ages 11 to 18 may join. Contact bsacrestviewtroop30@gmail.com or smicrestviewtroop33@gmail.com, or visit www.beascout.scouting.org.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 8 p.m. Mondays, the clubhouse at 704 Robinson St., Crestview. For beginners and newcomers. Details: Jerry, 830-6218. www.fwb-area-aa.org.

DOGWOOD GARDEN CLUB: 10:30 a.m. first Mondays, September through May, location to be announced. Details: 683-0839.

COUNTRY PATCHERS QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. fourth Mondays, Antioch Baptist Church, 4824 Antioch Road, Crestview. Sit-n-sew and workshop meeting.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: fourth Mondays. Details: info@occsw.org.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mount Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

TUESDAYS

CRESTVIEW LIONS CLUB: 7 a.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, Hub City Smokehouse, 168 Main St. S, Crestview. Details: crestviewlions@hotmail.com, secretary Charlotte Jones, 533-9931.

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY:

●8 a.m. Tuesdays at First Baptist Church of Garden City, 3140 Haskell-Langley Road, Crestview. Details: Mary Cole, 683-1899.

●5 p.m. weigh-in; meeting starts from 5:25-5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview. Brooke Bratton, 225-8197. www.TOPS.org.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 to report incidents. okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

CRESTVIEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO: Quarterly games 4:30-6 p.m.; regular games 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday at 701 James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

BAKER GARDEN CLUB: 10 a.m. first Tuesdays September through May at different locations. Liz Davis, 537-4512.

OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP: 1 p.m. first Tuesdays, Wellness Center at Twin Cities Hospital, Niceville. A Registered Nurse is present, and meetings include details of specialty care and product innovations that may be helpful. Details: 389-7071.

CARVER-HILL MEMORIAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY: 5:30 p.m. first Tuesdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

SHOAL RIVER REPUBLICAN CLUB: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays of each month at Hideaway Pizza, 326 Main St., Crestview. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 395: 5:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, Carver-Hill Museum, 895 S. McClelland St., Crestview. Commander Raymond Nelson, 420-0706.

NORTH OKALOOSA PATRIOTS: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, 150 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Crestview. www.panhandlepatriots.com.

WEDNESDAYS

CRESTVIEW KIWANIS CLUB: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

KNITTING GROUP: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Casbah Coffee Company, 196 Pine Ave. W, Crestview.

PANHANDLE SADDLE CLUB: 6 p.m. first Wednesdays, David’s Catfish House, 1296 N. Ferdon Blvd. Crestview. Includes socializing, dinner and a meeting. November topic: how to keep your horse healthy. Details: Donna Curry, 830-6403 or donna@embarqmail.com.

SONS OF ITALY, CRESTVIEW CHAPTER 2865: 6 p.m. third Wednesdays. All people of American-Italian heritage may join. Group president Thomas Hughes, 682-3597, thomasjhughessr@hotmail.com.

THURSDAYS

GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP: 10 a.m. Thursdays, Crosspoint, in portable 2, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway, Crestview. For people grieving the death of a loved one or other losses. 678-4411 extension 109.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, 704 E. Robinson Ave., Crestview. 689-1842.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 or email okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com to report incidents.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CRESTVIEW: 5:30 p.m. first Thursdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

FLYING NEEDLES QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. second Thursdays at Niceville Church of Christ. Visitors and quilters are welcome.

NORTH OKALOOSA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Live Oak Baptist Church, 4565 Live Oak Church Road, Crestview. Call 398-7524 for details.

MAINSTREET CRESTVIEW ASSOCIATION: 8 a.m. third Thursdays, FAMU College of Pharmacy in downtown Crestview. Group improves and promotes Main Street and Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency businesses.

CRESTVIEW PHOTO CLUB: The Crestview Photo Club meets 6:30-8:30 p.m. fourth Thursdays at the Crestview Elks Lodge, 127 W. Pine Ave., across from Casbah Coffee Shop.

CRESTVIEW EXCHANGE CLUB: fourth Thursdays, Covenant Hospice, Crestview. Sharlene Cox, 682-6824.

FRIDAYS

AMERICAN LEGION POST 75: Community Family Gathering dinners, 6-7:30 p.m. Fridays at the post, 898 East James Lee Blvd., Crestview. First Fridays, steak dinners, $15 each. Second Fridays, grilled and smoked BBQ chicken dinners, $10 each. Third Fridays, fish fry, $10; fourth Fridays, spaghetti dinners, $8. Live band performances 7:30-11:30 p.m. Fridays. A full list of all the meetings and events the legion has is posted at www.alpost 75.org. Visit the site or their Facebook page for more information.

SATURDAYS

ADULT/FAMILY NIGHT: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N., Crestview. Free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or just fellowship.

KARAOKE: 8 p.m. Saturdays, American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. 689-3195.

BOBBIN LACE GROUP: 11 a.m. first Saturdays, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Anyone may attend to inquire about the craft. 678-2615.

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION: 9 a.m. to eat and 10 a.m. meeting third Saturdays of the month. Dwayne Hopkins, 217-1001. All motorcyclists are welcome.

VFW HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT: 12 p.m. third Saturdays, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450, 2240 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Lynn Mobley, 682-5552.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GATHERINGS: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations

Crestview tree donation planted in French community

Written by archive on December 20, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — When Crestview Area Sister City Program members departed Noirmoutier in September, they left behind a tangible memory of a celebration in one of the French island’s communities.

Through voluntary donations, the delegation presented the town of l’Epine with $225 to plant a tree in commemoration of its centennial. Crestview developers Susan and Rick Goff also donated a plaque for the tree.

On Dec. 7, l’Epine Mayor Dominique Chantoin, officials including town council vice president for education, youth and sports Michel Allemand, residents and members of the Noirmoutier Sister City Committee gathered to see the tree planted.

“We were in the l'Epine for the planting of the cork oak offered by our friends in Florida,” committee treasurer Gérard Moreau said. “It was raining, but that is good for the growing of trees. We were reminded of the sunny time for the celebration of the centennial of l'Epine.”

When the Crestview delegation helped l’Epine celebrate its centennial on Sept. 15, the day was flawlessly warm and sunny.

“After the short speech, Dominique Chantoin and Michel Allemand put the tree in the ground close to the other one you saw here during your visit,” Moreau said. “It was a pleasure thinking about you (Crestview friends) and the marvelous time shared with you last September.”

For a community in a country renowned for its appreciation of wine, the selection of a cork oak was appropriate. The evergreen is the primary source for wine bottle corks.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview tree donation planted in French community

Enchantment on the Old Spanish Trail brings Christmas to Baker

Written by archive on December 20, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.

BAKER — The first annual Enchantment on the Old Spanish Trail is set to begin on Friday, Dec. 20.

The one-mile walking trail, located at 5899 Buck Ward Road, will be open from 5-9 p.m.

The trail is full of Christmas lights and scenes including the Polar Express, a lighted tunnel, Nativity scene and Whoville.

“I like Christmas and we were talking about what there is to do around Okaloosa County,” said Joy Mathis, co-creator of the trail. “It was something we wanted to do to entertain people and let them enjoy our country life a little.”

Mathis co-created the trail with partner Tanya Gordon. Mathis referred to the trail as a “laid-back country Christmas.”

The trail costs $5 a person, with children three and under free. According to Mathis, group and military discounts are available.

The trail will run until Sunday, Dec. 29.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enchantment on the Old Spanish Trail brings Christmas to Baker

Okaloosa County clubs and organizations

Written by archive on December 17, 2019. Posted in lifestyle.