On Valentine's Day, people's emotions run all over the map – some are head-over-heels and want to shower their loved one with gifts, while others are despondent because currently they have no one special in their life.

Whatever your love status, one thing everyone needs to guard against at this time of year is scams.

Valentine's Day brings out the best – and worst – in human behavior. Our impulse is to be generous and search for the ideal gift. Internet thieves know this and coolly set traps for unsuspecting shoppers. And, not surprisingly, dating websites experience greater activity, along with a corresponding increase in relationship scammers.

Here are some of the more common Valentine's Day scams to avoid:

Electronic greeting cards are popular year-round, especially near holidays. Scammers count on you not paying attention when you receive an email with an innocuous subject line like, "Someone you know just sent you an e-card."

Unless you're certain someone sent you an e-card, never click on links or follow instructions to download software to open the message. Chances are you'll load a virus or malware onto your computer, dooming you to receive endless spam or even endangering your personal and financial information.

Valentine's Day is the busiest day of the year for florists. Since many people now order flowers online, these purchases are a common target for fraud. A few tips when choosing a florist:

Beware of emails and social media ads touting great deals on other Valentine's themed gifts like chocolates, jewelry or lingerie. Unless you've previously done business with a company that legitimately has your email address, be skeptical. Watch out for minor typos in the web address – www.macys.comm instead of www.macys.com, for example.

It's no coincidence that dating websites are busier during the winter holidays and leading up to Valentine's Day. Lonely people's defenses are lowered, making them vulnerable to online romance scams. Before they know it, victims are conned into sharing personal or financial information, or lending money – money they'll never see again.

I'm not saying don't pursue love online at legitimate dating sites. Just watch out for these warning signs:

Bottom line: Don't let your emotions get the better of your common sense when it comes to matters of the heart. For more tips on spotting and reporting online scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission's website (www.ftc.gov).

Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Advice to help you avoid Valentine's Day scams

CRESTVIEW — Deborah Reynolds-Nash has seen the cost of living rise in her 57 years.

The Crestview woman has noticed the increasing costs of household products.

"Ever since they've (the children) been little, I've used Scott tissue," she said. "The tissue rolls are not as big as they used to be, and they're shorter than what they used to be. Everything's been cut down but the price."

Then there's dishwashing detergent.

"They cut the ounces down and the bottle looks real cute but it's smaller — and you're paying more," she said.

Small grocery bill spikes paled in comparison to the house insurance, which increased $200 per month this year, taking half her income, she said.

And last week, she noticed the rising cost in her electricity bill — almost twice as much to power her three-bedroom, two-bath home. That was a shock, she said, because she frequently used her fireplace throughout the cold weather.

Payment in pennies

"I normally pay my bills … I have a list of everything I have to pay. I calculate the light bill to be about $140 (on average). That's what I had a credit union check for. But when I got the light bill, it was $225."

So she took matters into her own hands.

That meant getting $173 in pennies from Eglin Federal Credit Union and $50 in pennies from the local teachers credit union, and footing the rest of the bill with cash on hand.

"I took it (the package of pennies) home, unwrapped it and took it back to pay my light bill, and they refused to pay it," she said.

That surprised Reynolds, who noted that Crestview's Gulf Power Company office has a sign that says cash, money order and checks are acceptable payment methods.

"I had no idea, no earthly idea that they would not take my money," she said, adding she brought reading material to pass the time while a clerk counted the change.

Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power's corporate communications manager, said that wasn't an option due to the amount. 

“As a courtesy to the other customers, we ask that customers have large amounts of change rolled up," he said.

Life changes — new challenges

Reynolds said much has changed since 2007, when her husband, Charles, died.

"Life was good before he died … I didn't have things to worry about. But now that it's me, I have to watch every cent. "

Reynolds worked in sewing factories and cosmetology prior to experiencing sickness that required her to have a bone marrow transplant. Most recently, she worked in laundry services on Eglin Air Force Base, she said.

Now, her working days are over, and that makes paying bills a problem. She draws Social Security disability benefits and smaller VA benefits because she and her husband divorced each other before remarrying  for just a few more years before he died.

Tricare helps, but with doctors as close as Crestview and as far away as Pensacola, Birmingham, Ala., and North Carolina, travel expenses, on top of everything else, are concerns.

Today's her deadline to pay the power bill in an acceptable payment method, and she'll do that, she said. But if it's not one thing, it's another.

"Soon as I think I'm getting over something, something else comes up" with her health, she said.

"Bills — that's where my money goes."

Staff Writer Matthew Brown contributed to this report.

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Email News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview woman pays with pennies to battle bill blues

CRESTVIEW — Each week, eight Crestview and Baker area musicians fill local venues with country and Gospel music.

The musicians, who have played together for 10 years, regularly perform at Linda's Philippine & American Cafe in Baker and Crestview's Old Spanish Trail Park Senior Activity Center.

The performances give senior citizens something else to do, and the music is timeless, performers say.

"We play … the oldies but the goodies," keyboardist Lois Lancester says. Others play the acoustic or electric guitar or the mandolin. Several often sing.  "We just love to play music."

It's a standing appointment for a number of North Okaloosa residents.

Patrick Beverly says he has been listening to the group perform for several years.

Gilbert Heaton of Crestview enjoys the twang.

"I enjoy country music," he says. "I enjoy it so much that I keep coming back again and again."

Mary Ratcliffe, who watches the Friday-evening Crestview performances with Ray Aplin, just enjoys the group's sound. 

"They do really well together," she says.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Country and Gospel music

WHEN:  6-8 p.m. Fridays

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park Senior Activity Center, 205 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Senior citizens find camaraderie in country, gospel music

CRESTVIEW — Area arts and cultural organizations are focusing on the following.

•Community theatre: View From the Stage, the community theatre troupe, has scheduled "The Miracle Worker" for its April play. The troupe seeks partnership opportunities with other venues, possibly Crestview High School, due to Warriors Hall's costly rental fees. Sandra Peters, View's co-founder, says the troupe could bring lighting and sound equipment, sets and professional instruction and expertise to an educational partnership.

•Student theatre: Crestview High School's drama program will present "Happy Days: The Musical," a stage adaptation of the TV series. The show is scheduled for May 1-3. Journey Java Connection begins winter KidzAct student theatre classes Feb. 4 and 7.

•Art connections: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's Arts and Culture Committee is launching a program to place local artists' works in area businesses, replacing off-the-rack prints and reproductions.

•Triple B: The Arts and Culture Committee is helping the barbecue festival's planners to recruit performers. Committee chairwoman Rae Schwartz says her group is investigating covering the south stage to protect performers from the sun. In addition, the committee hopes to have an eating area near the south stage, to alleviate crowding at north Main Street eating areas and draw a larger crowd for south stage performers.

•Sister City Program: The community's relationship with Crestview's partner city, Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, France, will be emphasized at a spring downtown showcase. In March, a Northwest Florida State College delegation will visit the University of Nantes, near Noirmoutier, to discuss a possible internship exchange program. Two Crestview High School student groups are planning summer trips to Noirmoutier.

•History and heritage: Events include May 3's spring Arts and Heritage Festival in Laurel Hill, which organizers hope will be a smaller version of the Baker Heritage Festival, held annually the first Saturday in November. The Baker Block Museum is proceeding with plans to open the Baker Mercantile Store at the end of February, and will hold the annual Family Heritage Wall of Honor induction in May. The museum and its research library now assist the News Bulletin with "Exploring North Okaloosa History," a weekly column.

Challenges: Schwartz says all local arts, heritage and cultural groups face these challenges:

•Finding effective venues for cultural events

•Finding effective ways to publicize them

•Educating local professionals and government leaders on "the importance of the arts in attracting new businesses by enhancing the community's livability, in order to encourage their involvement with, and support for, the arts and culture in our community."

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cultural outlook for 2014: Performances, programs planned

When older generations complain about reading and writing skills among today’s youth, they point accusingly at technological advances, award-winning author and college teacher Daniel Wick said.

But older generations would do well to embrace the changing landscape of language, says Wick, whose newest book is “An Epidemic of Epigrams or an Avalanche of Aphorisms."

“Historically, the English language is probably the most open major language, a testament to the different cultures that have interacted with English speakers. Generational contributions to culture have been an important influence,” he says.

“We still use the colloquialism ‘cool’ from the jazz age and rock n’ roll and rap lyrics continue to add words and phrases to our vocabulary. Likewise, word-use limits such as those on Twitter have more of us thinking about economy of language, which can be a good thing.” 

Rather than deny the power of culture and technology, Wick suggests to both educators and older folks that utilizing today’s trends is a great way to promote the joy and education of language.

“When you think about the engaging possibilities for wit, wonder and wordplay, language today has plenty of potential to educate expanding young minds and exercise aging brains,” he said.

He offers fun language exercises that can help both the young and elderly:

•Explore the wealth of possibilities with aphorisms/epigrams. What are they, and is there a difference? Not according to Wick. “Epigrams are aphorisms and vice versa: brief, usually witty, occasionally profound observations on life, love, death, philosophy, religion and virtually everything else,” he said. They tend to be thought-provoking, truthful and funny – or all three, including one from Wick: “We are as good as we are compelled to be and never as bad as we would like.” Or, put a new spin on an old cliché: “She was dressed to wound.”

•Assign lyric writing. Often, when asked about one’s favorite music, the real challenge is narrowing down the choices to those an individual doesn’t like – and even then there are exceptions. A student can share his or her favorite lyrics, and a second portion of the assignment would be to share his or her own lyrics, in the style of their favorite genre. There are many directions a teacher can take this, including applying a parts-of-speech tree to a student’s favorite lyrics. For older individuals, the creative component of the task can be stimulating – and they may even discover a previously hidden talent!

•Bringing the generations together: good old crossword puzzles. Challenging one’s mind is one of the most reliable ways to maintain our memory as we age. A challenge can include taking an alternate route home, reading material that we aren’t used to or that old-fashioned brainteaser, the crossword puzzle. It’s a great way for a grandparent to participate in a mentally stimulating activity with grandchildren, who may have never seen a crossword puzzle. These puzzles offer clues and answers that can be as clever as a well-written aphorism.

Daniel L. Wick is an international award-winning author of books, articles and plays. He holds a Ph.D. in history from the University of California and has taught at the college level for more than 30 years. He and his wife live in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Can word games make us smarter?