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View From the Stage tackles ambitious Helen Keller drama

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

Sarah Hawkins as Annie Sullivan and Brooklyn Onuffer, playing Helen Keller, rehearse scenes from "The Miracle Worker," opening Friday in Warriors Hall.

CRESTVIEW — "Hello Dolly" it ain't.

The View From the Stage community theatre troupe has chosen one of American theatre's most challenging shows for their fourth production.

"The Miracle Worker," William Gibson's inspirational 1959 drama, brings local audiences the story of Annie Sullivan, who is hired to tutor the near-feral Helen Keller.

It is a triumphant story of the human spirit.

It is also a risk.

Are local audiences ready for a meaty show without hummable tunes or madcap door-slamming?

Producer Berit Faust thinks both the company and its audience are ready for serious drama.

"We've had a lot of people interested in the play," including some who, like Keller, face the challenges of speech and hearing impairment, Faust said.

In fact, the Saturday evening performance will include a sign language interpreter "so people can see how far we have come in our awareness from the days of Helen Keller being almost institutionalized," Faust said.

Director Nancy Black believes audiences will find many relevancies in the show.

"'The Miracle Worker' … is a prolonged glance at one family and their trials and triumphs; really no different than you or I," she said.

Black considers herself fortunate to have found an exceptional pool of talent from which to cast the production.

"I have been involved with theater, both acting and directing, for over 30 years," she said. "This cast and crew are by far the best with which I have ever worked."

Sarah Hawkins as Annie Sullivan and Brooklyn Onuffer as Helen Keller hadn't previously worked together, which Black said has added extra realism to their characters' initial tumultuous relationship.

"Through the brutal blocking that is required for several scenes, they have developed a trust in each other," she said. "This trust is evident in the fact that their movement on stage has become fluid and realistic."

The drama opens Friday evening. Curtain is 7 p.m.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: "The Miracle Worker," presented by View From the Stage

WHEN: 7 p.m. April 11 and 12; 2:30 p.m. April 12 and 13

WHERE: Warriors Hall, Whitehurst Municipal Building, Stillwell Avenue at Industrial Drive, Crestview

TICKETS: $12 each at the door or at Journey Java Connection, 269 N. Main St.

MORE: www.viewfromthestage.com

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: View From the Stage tackles ambitious Helen Keller drama

Growing Crestview church gains space, eyes more ministry opportunities

Written by archive on . Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

James Ross, pastor of Mosaic Church in Crestview, says a new location off U.S. Highway 90 will allow the faithful to provide additional community support.

CRESTVIEW — Mosaic Church will soon have a much larger home, and that means more opportunities for helping people, head pastor James Ross said.

The church, which meets in a building owned by Central Baptist Church, soon will share facilities with Living Faith Baptist Church and Crestview Korean Church off James Lee Boulevard.

The 9,000-square-foot property currently serves four members, according to Living Faith Pastor Tony Orsa.

Mosaic averages an estimated 200 Sunday visitors, Ross said.

"With the group that Mosaic has, we felt that they could use the resources of the building," Orsa said. "We thought it would be of better service to them."

Facility use was offered at no charge, and Mosaic members performed $75,000 worth of renovations, according to Ross.

To prepare for the first service at their new home June 1, church members are constructing lighting systems and contractors are renovating the inside byreplacing walls, changing flooring and updating the main sanctuary. 

The investment of time and sweat will pay off for the Crestview area, Ross said.

"Churches don't pay property taxes, so what we want to do is to find out how much we would owe in those taxes and invest back into the community," he said.

Additionally, Ross wants to work with other churches to meet the community's needs.

Mosaic's ministries include supporting the Crestview Pregnancy Center and Crestview Orphan Care, an Emmanuel Baptist Church ministry, with supplies and other contributions. In addition, members — with help from The Wild Olive, a local restaurant — provided a free Thanksgiving meal for the community in 2013.

Eventually, their reach could spread beyond the Hub City, as Ross wants to start other churches in Northwest Florida.

For now, increasing community service here in Crestview, particularly for the needy, is a top priority.

"One thing we say all the time (at Mosaic) is 'be the church,'" Ross said. "Nowhere in the Bible is the church mentioned as a building. It's the people.

"That's where being the church comes into play — so we can help those people."

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Growing Crestview church gains space, eyes more ministry opportunities

Covenant Hospice offers advance care planning workshops this month

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

Planning for the end of life isn't an easy conversation, but Covenant Hospice staffers want to clarify the process.

The nonprofit will offer free hands-on advance care planning workshops as follows:

•2 p.m. April 10, Sterling House, 1551 Merchants Way, Bluewater Bay.

•1:30 p.m. April 16, The Meridian at Westwood, 1001 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach.

•2:30 p.m. April 23, Chautauqua Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 785 S. 2nd St., DeFuniak Springs.

Attorneys, financial planners, healthcare professionals and other area experts will be available.

National Healthcare Decisions Day, observed April 16, is an initiative to provide healthcare decision-making information at no charge.

Reservations are required. Call 729-1800 to RSVP.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Covenant Hospice offers advance care planning workshops this month

Community, business leaders should support local culture

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — While audiences have favorably received View From the Stage's first three productions, "The Miracle Worker" producer Berit Faust realizes the troupe faces a continued challenge in making residents aware they have a community theatre.

Community and business leaders' absence during "A Christmas Carol," the company's December musical, indicate to VFTS producers they have a way to go.

It was also a disappointment for culture proponents, who stress the importance of a rich quality of life in attracting new area businesses.

"As we go forward, I really hope community leaders and the business community will increase their support of not only this, but of other cultural organizations that benefit not only those of us who live here, but those companies looking to relocate here and bring their families here," Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Arts and Culture Committee chairwoman Rae Schwartz said.

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: Community, business leaders should support local culture

Four Okaloosa parks receive advisories for hazardous water

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

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

On March 31,  Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach; Gulf Islands National Seashore and Marler Park, Okaloosa Island; Clement E. Taylor Park, Destin failed tests based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards.

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

Call 689-7859 or 833-9247 for more information. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Four Okaloosa parks receive advisories for hazardous water

EXTENSION CONNECTION: Stop bagworms before they hatch

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

Northwest Florida doesn't have the highest concentration of the common bagworm, Thyridoptgeryx ephemeraeformis, but most plants bagworms feed on can be found here.

Common host trees include red cedar, live oak, maple, elm and pine. Other susceptible shrubs include Indian hawthorn, juniper, arborvitae, ligustrum and viburnum.

Finding a host

Bagworms overwinter as a clutch of 500-1,000 eggs wrapped in an infested plant's leaves. Larvae hatch in late spring as tiny caterpillars that disperse to surrounding plants, spinning a silken thread and “ballooning” on the wind.

Once established on a host plant, the young bagworms feed and construct a bag using pieces of twigs, leaves and silk.

Then, the female bagworm's head and thorax emerge from the foliage bag. She continually feeds on the plant, leaving it severely defoliated. As few as four bagworm larvae can cause a 4-foot arborvitae to be so damaged that it can’t ever grow enough foliage to return to normal appearance.

Reproduction

The caterpillars feed steadily for four to 16 weeks. Once the larva has consumed enough food, it attaches its bag securely with a thick silken strand to its host plant or nearby structure. 

The bagworm seals the bag's posterior end, molts and begins pupation. The bagworm’s seven- to 10-day metamorphosis results in a moth. However, the adult female’s wings and appendages are reduced to mouthparts, legs and small eyes. She remains in a caterpillar-like state a couple of weeks and releases a pheromone that attracts the male.

The male bagworm emerges as a free-flying, lacey, black moth that lives one or two days — just enough time to mate with the female in her bag. Once mated, the female dies, mummifying around her eggs.

Controlling the population

Bagworm populations can reappear in the same areas year after year. Mechanical methods and biological insecticides are the most effective practices to control bagworms. 

Handpick them from late fall to early spring and place them in a bucket of soapy water or a sealed bag to prevent new larvae from dispersing. Applying Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, to the foliage is an effective means of control when applied to new spring growth. 

This bacteria stops all caterpillars' feeding, so be cautious about where it is used. Many desirable butterfly larvae can be harmed if the product lands on other larval plants.

Sheila Dunning is an agent at the University of Florida's  Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Stop bagworms before they hatch

Health department: Beware of black henna tattoos

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

Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County officials say black henna tattoos can pose problems.

Unlike natural brown henna tattoos, which use dried ground henna leaves to create a temporary tattoo, unnatural black henna paste includes para-phenylenediamine, or PPD, a toxic chemical exempt from FDA approval.

Adding PPD dyes the skin faster and makes the tattoo look more like a permanent tattoo, but PPD in black henna tattoos makes them unsafe and can produce serious health effects. Symptoms include itching or burning, blistering, oozing, scab formation and, in some cases, permanent scarring.

Ask to see the paste's ingredients before receiving a henna tattoo, health officials advise.

In Okaloosa County, anyone providing temporary tattoos must display a notice stating henna use is not FDA approved and may cause harmful reactions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Health department: Beware of black henna tattoos

World champion dancers performing Saturday in 'Dance for Life'

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

International dance champions Justin Guilmette and Kimalee Piedad will headline Fred Astaire Dance Studio's annual Dance for Life showcase at Crestview High School, benefiting Covenant Hospice.

CRESTVIEW — International champion dancers Justin Guilmette and Kimalee Piedad will perform locally Saturday, exhibiting their sensuous, award-winning ballroom dance moves.

The duo takes to the Crestview High School Pearl Tyner Auditorium stage April 5 as part of Fred Astaire Dance Studio's annual "Dance for Life" exhibition showcase, benefiting Covenant Hospice.

"Dancing is truly a celebration of life, and Covenant Hospice is all about quality of life," studio owner David Colón said. "It is such a great cause and a rewarding partnership for both organizations."

Many Fred Astaire studios present yearly exhibition programs, often benefiting a worthy community cause, Covenant Hospice senior development manager Jenni Perkins said. This is the fourth year that the local studio has partnered with the hospice.

"Charity events such as Dance for Life help fund Covenant Hospice’s special programs in Okaloosa and Walton counties," Perkins said, adding the service accepts patients regardless of their financial status.

World champions

While Fred Astaire dancers from the Crestview studio and throughout the region will perform at Dance for Life, many eyes will be on the international champions.

The couple are United States Dance Championship and British Invitational Exhibition World Championship winners. Just six couples are invited to participate in the British exhibition.

"Their performances are full of emotion, beauty and amazingly graceful lifts that leave the audience breathless," Colón said.

In addition, Piedad appeared on ABC's “Dancing with the Stars” and Fox's “So You Think You Can Dance,” Perkins said.

“Each year this dance showcase gets bigger and better," Colón said. "We are excited about hosting the event again, and we are thrilled to introduce local performing arts lovers to Justin and Kimalee."

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Dance for Life, a Covenant Hospice fundraiser

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. April 5

WHERE: Crestview High School's Pearl Tyner Auditorium

COST: $15 general admission; $30 VIP, including limited, reserved premier seating and post-event cocktail party with celebrity dance stars Justin Guilmette and Kimalee Piedad

TICKETS: Available at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 301 N. Main St., Crestview, 682-1455; or at the door.

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: World champion dancers performing Saturday in 'Dance for Life'

Korean Martial Arts Festival brings international attention to Crestview

Written by archive on . Posted in lifestyle.

Richard Rounsaville, left, and his mother, Angela Mobley, practice martial arts techniques during last year's Korean Martial Arts Festival at Gordon Martial Arts in Crestview. The event returns to Crestview for the eighth year this weekend.

CRESTVIEW — Martial arts enthusiasts and instructors from around the country and abroad are heading here this weekend for the 2014 Korean Martial Arts Festival.

The three-day festival, hosted by Gordon Martial Arts, will feature instructors like Geoff Booth from Australia and Inwan Kim, grandmasters in Korean Martial Arts who have 10th-degree black belts. 

Tom Gordon, the host school's owner, will be among 16 instructors teaching various Korean martial arts techniques including taekwondo and Hapkido, among others. In addition to networking, the festival allows enthusiasts to learn from each other in a positive environment, he said.

The festival has brought international attention to Crestview, earning praise from numerous national martial arts publications. In 2012, Black Belt Magazine named the event one of "10 Must Do Martial Arts events."

Last year, the TaeKwondo Times called it the "must-attend event of the year."

More than 100 participants are expected to participate in the Friday, Saturday and Sunday festival, which, for the first time, will take place at Warriors Hall Auditorium, Gordon said.

"We did previously have it at the (Gordon Martial Arts) school, but we outgrew it," Gordon said. "It's a good problem to have."

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Korean Martial Arts Festival brings international attention to Crestview

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