CRESTVIEW — Mama's in bloom just in time for Christmas, and that warms Betty Woodward's heart.

The pink Christmas cactus was her late mother's only potted plant and, when it blooms, Woodward thinks fond thoughts of her mom, Verna Louise Gillis Williams.

"It always sat on her side porch," Woodward said. "She'd always be waiting by the porch when we'd come visit, leaning against a pillar."

Woodward said other family members took cuttings from the cactus before she brought it home to Crestview from her mother's house near Red Level, Ala.

She named the plant "Mama" in memory of her mother.

When a cutting is inadvertently knocked off the plant, Woodward promptly puts it in water to root, and gives away the new plant. Mama's offspring are scattered far and wide, she said.

"I've taken care of Mama for 32 years," Woodward said. "She's a centerpiece when you walk in my door. She welcomes everyone when they visit."

Mama's buds began to open earlier this week.

"It bloomed its heart out," Woodward said. "I know it has 200-plus blooms on it. She's just laden with them."

Woodward carefully covers Mama during cold nights to prevent damage. The plant is too heavy to be moved inside.

"Everybody says, 'Look after Mama.' There's a lot of sentimental value," Woodward said.

She calls her Lakeside East home "a memory house of Christmas." Each piece in the home, which is aglow with Christmas décor, holds a dear memory.

That's the way it should be, Woodward said.

"I think people have a tendency to lose the closeness of family," she said. "I have stories about everything in this house."

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview woman's Christmas cactus covered in 200-plus blooms

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CRESTVIEW — We all know the story: grumpy, miserly, miserable, wretched Ebenezer Scrooge shuns the business of caring for mankind to focus on the business of business. Four ghosts later and he’s a transformed man, Tiny Tim lives, the Cratchits have turkey and we wipe away a tear and feel Christmassy.

I’m not spoiling anything by summarizing Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas parable because every time we read it — and everybody should read it — or see a movie, TV or stage version, the story’s as fresh, touching and relevant as ever.

View From the Stage, Crestview’s community theatre troupe, brings the story to Warriors Hall’s equivalent of Cinemascope, taking full advantage of that wide, wide stage to pack an eye-pleasing cast of 48 thespians into the Michael Demaio musical based on Dickens’ timeless story.

Director Sandra Peters wrung an enjoyable opening night performance Friday from her four dozen actors, who ranged in age from elementary school kids to retirees.

A few ear-shattering audio glitches marred Act I, suggesting the show might have benefited from an extra tech rehearsal or two, but knowing the financial challenges of having to rent that hall, I sympathized more than cringed.

Standout cast

Several standouts carried along a cheerful, enthusiastic cast, headed by Nick Trolian, who had the unenviable task of transforming his Scrooge from a surly old poop into crippled Tiny Tim’s avuncular benefactor after his night of ghostly revelation.

I have a strict criterion for judging tellings of “A Christmas Carol.” If I don’t get moist-eyed when Scrooge declares his conversion and starts dispensing goodwill, I consider the production a flop.

View From a Stage had me sniffing and surreptitiously wiping my cheeks to such a degree my spectacles fogged up.

Other highlights included Cassandra Schneider and Corey Black as Mrs. Dilber and Old Joe, respectively Scrooge’s maid who sells his belongings to a pawn dealer. Their musical number was a delightful bit of silliness reminiscent of “You Got to Pick a Pocket Or Two” in “Oliver!”

Likewise enjoyable were Jeremy Edwards as Marley’s ghost, a particularly well-acted apparition made all the more eerie by effective lighting. His fellow ghosts, Ashley Stewart, Sean Peters and Dave Daigle, playing the spirits of Christmases past, present and future, were likewise excellently cast.

Talk about an entrance

The audience was particularly enthralled with Christmas Present’s jovial entrance upon a glowing Mardi Gras parade float of a giant cornucopia.

Lincoln Sayger’s Bob Cratchit, and Douglas Black’s cheerful Fred Scrooge, Ebenezer’s Christmas-loving nephew, were the personification of gentle benevolence and merry celebration respectively.

Special note should also be made of Allie Howard’s Tiny Tim. Allie turned 8 years old the week of the production, but instead of receiving gifts, gave the audience the present of her winning combination of adorable personality and capable singing.

Some people will say the story is about Scrooge, which it is, to an extent. But I like to think it’s more about Tiny Tim and his optimism and conviction that deep inside even the most despicable among us, there is a dormant spark of good.

Like Tiny Tim fanning that spark, View From the Stage’s delightful production of “A Christmas Carol,” running this afternoon and tomorrow at 2:30 and 6:30, can’t help but make the spirit of Christmas lurking within us — but shrouded by gift wrapping, card writing and tree trimming — burst into flame. TIckets are available at the door.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: REVIEW: Local stage production is a 'Carol' worth hearing

CRESTVIEW — View From the Stage, the community's theatre troupe, presents Michael DiMaio's musical version of "A Christmas Carol" this weekend.

Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale features a cast of 26 adults and 22 children, and costumes and sets evoking Dickens-era London.

Cast members include Nick Trolian as Ebenezer Scrooge, Lincoln Sayger as Bob Cratchit, Allie Howard as Tiny Tim, Samuel Wirt as Young Scrooge, Braya Faust as Scrooge's sister, Fan, and Douglas Black as Fred Scrooge.

The cast has rehearsed for more than two months, Berit Faust, of View From the Stage, said. Challenges included working around other events scheduled for the hall and having limited stage rehearsal time due to the expense of renting the hall.

The set, which was constructed off-site, is rising on the Warriors Hall stage this week.

Curtain will rise at 7 p.m. Friday.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: View From the Stage presents "A Christmas Carol"

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday; 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

WHERE: Warriors Hall in the Whitehurst Municipal Building on Industrial Drive, Crestview

TICKETS: $15 adult, $8 children under 12; available at the door or at Journey Java Connection, 269 N. Main St., Crestview

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community theatre troupe brings 'A Christmas Carol' to Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Two of the season's joys are the Okaloosa Chamber Singers' and Schola Cantorum's Christmas concerts.

The latter will be sung locally Dec. 16.

The 11-voice community choral group, which is based at Northwest Florida State College, regularly delights audiences with its professionalism and a repertoire of classic and popular songs.

"A Babe is Born," a 14-number program under Dr. John Leatherwood's direction, will include selections ranging from classical pieces by composers including Gustav Holst and Felix Mendelssohn and Andy Beck's "(A Christmas Sha-na-na)."

Taking a breather from shopping, decorating, baking and wrapping to pause and reflect on Christmas' true meaning can be reinvigorating.

It helps put into perspective the busy bother we think is important, but which usually overshadows the part of the Advent season that actually is important.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: "A Babe is Born," a Schola Cantorum Christmas concert

WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 16

WHERE: First Presbyterian Church of Crestview, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview

ADMISSION: Free; donations accepted

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Schola Cantorum Christmas concert provides seasonal reflections

One of the founders of Crestview's Sister City relationship with its French counterpart has had a new accolade added to her long list of honors.

Dr. Marie-Thérèse Reed, who holds dual French and American citizenship, was honored when the Noirmoutier Classic Vehicles club named a newly restored World War II troop carrier for her late husband.

"I unveiled the door of the GMC and the name of my husband appeared," Reed said. "It was a very moving experience."

The General Motors truck of the 3545th Quartermaster Company was christened Nov. 23 "with very appropriate prayers" by Reed's pastor, the Rev. Pierre Chatry of St. Philbert's Catholic Church.

During the ceremony, club president Jean-Paul Limagne presented a history of the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps in which her husband, Capt. William A. Reed, served, Dr. Reed said.

Retired Gen. Dominique Viard of the French army praised the long friendship between the United States and France during the event, a topic close to Reed's heart.

She holds a knighthood of the French Order of National Merit for her work toward Franco-American friendship.

In the mid-1990s, Reed helped establish Noirmoutier's Sister City relationship with Crestview and is a frequent visitor to the Hub City. Her home has Noirmoutier's only screen door, a souvenir of her more than 20 years living in the United States.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Sister City co-founder honored with WWII truck dedicated to her husband

Joining adults in the kitchen helps kids learn about foods. Most 4-H cooking projects explore the science, nutrition and history of cooking while promoting healthy eating and resource management.

Of course, safety comes first. Follow these tips:

•Have supervision, and never allow kids to cook without asking for permission.

•Tell children that cleanliness is good. They should keep hands and surfaces clean, and children with long hair need to tie it up.  

•Ensure kids don't wear loose clothing that can catch on fire.

After setting safety rules, help youths identify, and know how to safely use, common kitchen tools including knives and other sharp objects. Ditto for hot items such as a broiler, toaster, stove or microwave.

Teach kids about measuring methods and demonstrate how to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. We certainly don’t want foodborne illnesses coming our way.

Help kids read directions and follow recipes. They should ensure they have all their ingredients before beginning a cooking project.

If the project requires cutting skills, start simple with something soft like a banana and a plastic knife. Demonstrate the technique and have them try the actions.

And when working with knives — you guessed it! — safety comes first. Lay down these ground rules:

•Cut with caution

•Focus on one task at a time

•Never point a knife at a person

•Always hold the knife by its handle

•Use a cutting board

•Go slowly

Next, demonstrate how to wash produce and handle meat safely so you do not have cross-contamination of foods.

Above all, help kids find what it is about cooking that excites them! Recipes for snacks, side dishes, main dishes, quick breads and desserts are great starters for youth cooking.

Thank you to Paula Davis, Bay County 4-H youth development agent, and the Northwest District Volunteering in the Panhandle Newsletter for this information on food and nutrition.  

FIND IT ONLINE

Adults can teach children how to select, prepare and store food. You can help kids explore cooking methods such as roasting, stir frying, grilling, barbecuing, smoking, boiling, steaming, braising and microwaving. MyPlate, a USDA resource, can help you plan meals and make balanced food choices.

Haley Worley 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: EXTENSION CONNECTION: 4-H, a recipe for success in the kitchen