lifestyle | Crestview News Bulletin

LDS announces seminary graduates, award recipients

Written by archive on June 12, 2014. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

NICEVILLE — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Fort Walton Beach Stake is celebrating its Early Morning Seminary graduates.

Graduates from Crestview are Jeffrey Linares, Emily Parker, Kailyn Wirt, Michael Balatimore, Brittany Matthews and Keidra Perdue. Graduate Anne Jones is from DeFuniak Springs. Graduates from Fort Walton Beach are Emily Christopherson, Noah McSheehy, Skyler McSheehy, and Christian Woolsey. Graduates from Niceville are Molly Clifton, Madison Grigg, Andrew Moore and David Russell. Graduate Justice Morgan is from Olive Branch.

Students still finishing the program — and awarded Certificates of Achievement for completing certain portions — are Keidra Perdue, Tiffany Lawson, Dixie Mobley and Kortnie Perkins, Crestview; and Alexandra Bill, Joseph Brill, Samuel Brill and Ammilia Dubbs, Fort Walton Beach.

Students from eight congregations, their teachers, church leaders and hundreds of family members and friends gathered June 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Niceville chapel.

Keidre Perdue of Crestview sang, “I Am A Child of God,” accompanied by Ingrid Roberts; Emily Christopherson of Fort Walton Beach sang, “How Great Thou Art” a cappella. Chapman Tew accompanied on the piano while Emily Parker conducted the music.

Early Morning Seminary consists of a daily scripture study class held at 5:45 a.m. before high school begins. Students study each topic for a year, starting with the Old Testament, then the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and Church History.

Through games and various drills, students master 100 scriptures: 25 from each discipline. These classes provide a spiritual and social climate to prepare young people for effective service and missions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LDS announces seminary graduates, award recipients

Crestview actor cast as Arthur, King of the Britons, in 'Spamalot'

Written by archive on June 12, 2014. Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Dominick "Nick" Trolian must know several things in his role as Arthur, King of the Britons, for Northwest Florida State College's summer musical, "Spamalot."

Namely:

•How to tell if a woman is a witch

•How to deal with taunting Frenchmen

•The airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow

•Plus page after page of rollicking dialogue from one of the stage’s funniest musical comedies.

But, as Arthur tells Sir Bedevere, "you have to know these things when you're a king, you know."

Trolian, a Crestview resident who played Scrooge in View From the Stage's "A Christmas Carol," joins a cast of 21 regional thespians for the musical "lovingly ripped off from the motion picture 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail," as the subtitle states.

To accede the throne, Arthur explains, "the Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur."

But strange women lying in ponds distributing swords don't also distribute plum musical comedy parts. For that, Trolian had to audition.

The role he wanted

"I definitely wanted the part of King Arthur," he said. "I don't think there was any other role I was suited for. There's a lot of dancing in the show and I'm not a particularly good dancer.

"I'm probably the only role in the show that doesn't have to dance a lot."

While Trolian said he has seen the classic 1975 Monty Python film, it wasn't until he heard Northwest Florida State would produce Eric Idle’s stage adaptation that he viewed "Spamalot" performance videos on YouTube.

Having never seen Tim Curry or his replacements in the role, "I am definitely doing my own King Arthur," Trolian said. "I'm really excited because I love to do comedy and I don't get to do it very often."

The July 16-19 run of "Spamalot" marks Trolian's second appearance on the Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center stage, following last summer's "Les Misérables."

An actor-by-night

A software engineer at Eglin Air Force Base by day, in true community theatre tradition, the accomplished actor-by-night is in rehearsals four evenings a week.

Luckily, Trolian says, his wife, Cathy, and three daughters support his love of theatre, which includes being on the View From the Stage board of directors.

Trolian's enthusiasm for "Spamalot" increases as he sees scenes being blocked for the first time. His favorite is "I'm All Alone," which Arthur sings with his servant, Patsy.

"I'm really excited to see how the scenery's going to look and how all that stagecraft takes place," Trolian said. Scenery designer "Clint Mahlie does a fantastic job."

"I really enjoy being part of the ensemble," he said. "It's a very professional operation … even though it's predominantly a college production. It's high quality all the way through."

Email News Bulletin Staff Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview actor cast as Arthur, King of the Britons, in 'Spamalot'

Health department seeks anyone in contact with rabid raccoon

Written by archive on June 12, 2014. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) is issuing a public health advisory in an effort to locate the person or persons who may have recently come in contact with a potentially rabid raccoon in the Fort Walton Beach area.

On the morning of Wednesday, June 11, an employee of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Fort Walton Beach found a deceased raccoon in a bucket full of water. The small raccoon had been wrapped in a towel and was most likely thrown over the fence after PAWS closed on Tuesday evening.

If you are the individual who found or cared for this animal, it is important that you undergo an assessment to determine your risk for exposure to rabies. Please contact your primary care provider or DOH-Okaloosa at (850) 833-9240, ext. 2139 to be assessed.

Okaloosa health officials urge residents to avoid contact with wild and stray animals to protect themselves from the risk of rabies exposure. In Florida, raccoons, bats and foxes, and unvaccinated cats are the animals most frequently diagnosed with rabies. Other animals that are at high risk for rabies include skunks, otters, coyotes, bobcats, and stray or unvaccinated dogs and ferrets.

“Rabies is a potentially fatal disease. It is important not to handle wild animals, stay away from animals acting abnormally, and keep pets vaccinated against rabies,” said Karen Chapman, MD, MPH, Director of DOH-Okaloosa.

Rabies is transmitted through exposure to the saliva and nervous tissue from a rabid animal through a bite, scratch, or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. DOH-Okaloosa works with Okaloosa County Animal Services in responding to incidents of animal bites, tests animals for rabies through the Department of Health state laboratory, and quarantines animals as necessary and provides consultation on treatment after potential exposure to rabies.

The following are steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones against rabies:

· Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.

· Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Okaloosa County Animal Services at (850) 244-0196.

· Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray domestic animals from your neighborhood. To remove wild animals, call the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at (850) 650-1880.

· Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

· Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might come in contact with people and pets.

· Do not handle or offer food to wild animals. Do not unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or litter.

· Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home.

· Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health department seeks anyone in contact with rabid raccoon

Near-centenarian advises being kind, living an authentic life

Written by archive on June 11, 2014. Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Vera Harold Owen, who turns 100 years old on Saturday, recalls a childhood of chasing boll weevils and picking cotton on a Southern Georgia family farm.

Before she reaches the milestone, she shared her life story — and some life lessons — while celebrating with friends at the Crestview Rehabilitation Center.

Growing up

Being the second of six children, with two younger sisters and three brothers, she said she was left to take care of the house and family while her mother often traveled as a midwife and her father worked in the field.

Owen and her late husband, Sam, grew up in the same neighborhood and married at 18 and 25, respectively, before buying a farm in the deep woods of Ashburn, Ga., and having two children.

Her upbringing and farm life prepared her for plenty of work to come.

Work ethic

“Hard work might hurt you, but it sure won’t kill you,” Owen said, referring to long hours spent in fields of cotton, corn and livestock when she wasn’t serving as the manager of a men’s dress-pant factory.

While controversy loomed as needles worked and bobbins spun, Owen said she was one of the few willing to train black women in the factory. Skin color didn't faze her; after all, they needed the work as much as anyone else, she said.

“We was just in a small town, and you know that town just prospered because everybody in town who wanted a job could go get a job … it was a good time,” she said.

She recalled being happy that some of the women remembered her as the one who taught them how to sew when she returned to the factory town years ago.

“I would be so proud that I had done something for somebody,” she said.

'Don't brag'

In addition to investing in others, Owen said her best advice is to be true to oneself; to live a good life.

What does that mean to Owen?

“Don’t live falsely. Live like you are. Live your character just like your character is … Don’t brag about nothing. Don’t make people think you’re what you’re not. Be what you want to be.

“To be what you want to be, be truthful, be loving and kind. Be kind to everybody.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Near-centenarian advises being kind, living an authentic life

Crestview family expecting ‘mono-mono’ twins

Written by archive on June 11, 2014. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Brandon and Lyndsey Brooks are not only expecting twins; they're expecting monoamniotic twins, also called mono-mono twins.

The girls — named Savannah Lynn and Hannah Kathleen — share the same amniotic sac and placenta. In common twin pregnancies, the unborn children have separate amniotic sacs.

Mono-mono twins occur in just one of 10,000 pregnancies, which can have complications, according to the Journal of Perinatology.

Entangled or compressed umbilical cords and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, in which one twin receives most of the nourishment, leaving the other undernourished, are among the concerns.

But Lyndsey, at 25 weeks, is under the watchful eye of doctors and specialists at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.

“The girls are doing phenomenal right now, but that can change in an instant,” she said.

The staff regularly monitors the mother and children to ensure their safety throughout the pregnancy.

Unexpected

The pregnancy surprised the couple when they found out in March.

“Leave it up to Lyndsey and I; we are overachievers,” Brandon said.

“I was actually about to get my tubes tied, but I wouldn’t change a thing in the world,” Lyndsey said.

Savannah Lynn and Hannah Kathleen will join the couple's 8-year-old daughter, Amelia, and their 5-year-old son, Logan.

“Logan and I are about to be outnumbered," Brandon said.

The twins will be delivered by Caesarean section at 32 weeks, pending a doctor’s approval.

Raising funds

Lyndsey’s mother, Victoria Teems, is already thinking about the twins' fashion.

“I am beyond stoked,” she said. “I can’t wait to dress them up.”

In the meantime, she's considering the costs of prolonged hospital visits.

Teems is collecting donations via Gofundme.com to help cover hospital and travel expenses. When he is not working, Brandon travels from Crestview to Pensacola to spend time with Lyndsey.

“This isn’t for them to spend on fun and games,” Teems said. “It’s going to help with utility bills, medical costs and gas.”

Teems said she appreciates any help, should residents want to contribute at http://www.gofundme.com/9dh5a0.

“If they donate, then we thank them from the bottom of our hearts,” she said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview family expecting ‘mono-mono’ twins

North Okaloosa Vacation Bible School Guide

Written by archive on June 10, 2014. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

Vacation Bible School is coming! Here's a list of scheduled events in North Okaloosa County.

•••

Mt. Zion Baptist in Laurel plans August session

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 3831 New Ebenezer Road, Laurel Hill, will have Vacation Bible School 6-8 p.m. Aug. 6-8. The event will end with an Aug. 9 picnic.

People ages 4 through adults may attend. Contact Robin Brown, 902-1397 or 652-2057, for more details.

•••

Our Savior offers 'God's Mission Field'

Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church will host VBS for children and adults 6-8 p.m. Aug. 11-15 at 178 W. North Ave., Crestview.

"God's Mission Field" is the theme. Contact Heather Bien, 689-2959, for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Vacation Bible School Guide

LDS church to Crestview mayor: 'We love you, we admire you, we respect you'

Written by archive on June 10, 2014. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Fort Walton Beach Stake, which includes all of Okaloosa and part of Walton counties, has recognized Crestview Mayor David Cadle's "honorable and faithful service," President Mel Miller said.

On Thursday, the Stake surprised Cadle with a porcelain figurine showing a man and his wife reading to their children. The plaque states, "Mayor David Cadle In Recognition of his service to the community and his Support of Christian Family Values 2014. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Miller presented the figurine to Cadle and praised the mayor during the impromptu ceremony with these remarks:

•"… In behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we present to you this figurine of a man and his wife reading to their children and teaching them the importance of being the kind of people our Heavenly Father would have them be."

•"Mayor Cadle, we want you to know that we love you, we admire you and we respect you, and this is but a small token of our appreciation for your years of honorable and faithful service to the people in this city and the surrounding area."

•"We’ve had your name engraved on this and we want you to take it home with you when you retire, so you can have a constant reminder in your home of the legacy you’ve created here in this beautiful city."

Miller and his wife set roots in Crestview in 1971 after coming here in 1967 and falling in love with the area.

He's watched the area closely in that time, and said Cadle is among those who have "had the most profound positive impact on not only the lives of adults, but on thousands of our youth as well."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LDS church to Crestview mayor: 'We love you, we admire you, we respect you'

EXTENSION CONNECTION: Plan for hurricane season before it's too late

Written by archive on June 6, 2014. Posted in lifestyle.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30. Often, during years of little to no activity, residents tend to have a false sense of security, which results in a lack of preparedness.

As a result, when the time comes to prepare, everyone fights for supplies and stresses over preparations that need to be made. On top of it all, such last-minute preparations strain finances.

Many people have not made their plan, put together their kits, or prepared for the hurricane. If you are one of those people, seize this opportunity. Don’t wait until the day before landfall to get everything ready.

Here are basic tips to help you get started.

• Familiarize yourself with hurricane terms and specific safety measures to implement. Include all family members, even children, in this practice to have a well-informed group.

• Compile checklists for your situation; implement the plan, and practice the plan with the family.

• Compile emergency kits for food, important papers and first aid supplies.

• Have items ready to secure your home.

• Plan to protect pets.

• Prepare your boat if you own one. Boat US has a variety of resources to help you prepare your boat or marina in case of a storm.

You can download disaster guides and in-depth preparation tips at http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/disaster_prep/.

And remember: Having an emergency preparedness plan should not be looked at as a chore; it's an opportunity for families to work together. Doing all these things in advance can ease your family's should an emergency arise.

No one wants to think of that “what-if” situation, but wouldn’t you rather be prepared than be stressed and sorry?

Email bsaari@ufl.edu or call 689-5850 for more information on marine science and natural resources information.

Brooke Saari is an agent at the University of Florida's Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Plan for hurricane season before it's too late

Standout Crestview seniors to take love of limelight to college

Written by archive on June 6, 2014. Posted in lifestyle.

Editor's Note: Each graduation season, we look back on a senior arts student's accomplishments. This year, as has happened in the past, two students stood out.

CRESTVIEW — Before twists of faith pushed each into the limelight, seniors Angeles Alexander and Wesley Barlow never thought about performing in public.

Wesley was a wrestler in middle school, placing at state competition in his native Arizona. When he moved to Crestview, wrestling for Crestview High seemed like a natural continuation.

Then he got bitten by the performing arts bug and joined Crestview High's jazz band, where in addition to playing piano and percussion he performed vocals.

Meanwhile, Angeles' older sister, Alexis, wary of a potential scene-stealer, begged her to avoid the drama program where Alexis had found her niche.

Angeles instead turned to the chorus, inspired by a high school chorus performance she saw while attending Shoal River Middle School.

"There came a part where someone had a solo and everybody went crazy," Angeles said. "I was like, 'I want to do that.'"

She culminates her senior year as the Chanticleer show choir's president.

Confidence boosters

Unable to resist the stage's lure, Angeles and Wesley hit the boards running their sophomore year.

Angeles acted, stage managed and choreographed. Wesley arrived by way of backstage. When friends discovered he was familiar with tech, "I was basically 'voluntold' to get into theatre," he said.

"I remember him showing up and I was like, 'all right!'" Angeles said.

The next thing he knew, he was cast as a Nazi in "The Sound of Music."

Minor roles followed until Wesley — just to see what would happen — auditioned for the 2013 musical "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." He unexpectedly landed a lead role.

"It was a little jarring to see my name on that cast list after auditions," Wesley said. "I was convinced it was a mistake."

"Being in theatre and chorus and band, they're just real confidence boosters," Angeles said. "Every time I would sing … everybody would say, 'I just love your voice' and it felt so good."

The two performed leads together in their senior spring musical, "Happy Days," with Angeles playing Pinky Tuscadero while Wesley portrayed "The Fonz," her love interest.

'Wonderful, weird kids'

While different vocations call the duo — Angeles hopes to become an EMT; Wesley, an electrical engineer — both intend to continue their love of performing arts.

"I would love to go on Broadway, but that's not a very realistic dream," Wesley said.

No matter where life takes them, both agree their fond memories of countless hours on the Pearl Tyner Auditorium stage will last their lifetimes.

"I could just go on and on about how I love the people in theatre," Angeles said. "Everyone involved with the arts, they're trying to express themselves. We're a mix of just wonderful, weird kids."

"It was one of those things you don't know exactly how it's going to be until you get in the middle of it," Wesley said. "You think it's going to be dumb, but instead it lets you get out there and be something you're not."

Email News Bulletin Staff Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Standout Crestview seniors to take love of limelight to college

Online storm mitigation workshop set for homeowners

Written by archive on June 6, 2014. Posted in lifestyle.

Free storm mitigation workshops will be available 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. June 9.

The Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies has partnered with the Disaster Resistant Communities Group to conduct the one-hour workshops.

During each workshop, participants will learn how homeowners can undertake one or more windstorm mitigation projects on their homes to strengthen it against Florida’s next wind disaster.

Workshops are provided by a grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

See www.BeReadyFlorida.org for more information. Call Okaloosa County Emergency Management Division at Public Safety, 651-7150, to register.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Online storm mitigation workshop set for homeowners

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