NICEVILLE — In his debut book, “Maze,” author Wayne Goodson weaves tales of seemingly magical lands and situations.

Readers will journey through South America with Dr. Marlow Dunne and his son, who aim to prove the existence of pygmies.

In the stories “Thumper,” “The Behemoth of Boggy Bayou” and “Squirrel Tree,” readers will learn about the author’s strange connection to various animals in the world.

Finally, in the story “Martha,” readers will learn about Wayne and Martha Goodson, whose lives are filled with love, adventures and misadventures — and the proverbial glue that keeps them together.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Niceville author releases new short story collection nationwide

Nov. 29 and Dec. 28 are license-free freshwater fishing days, and Nov. 30 is a saltwater license-free day in Florida.

Regulations such as seasons, size limits and bag limits still apply, even on license-free days or if you are exempt from a license.

If you can’t wait for a license-free day, an annual resident license is $17 for freshwater or saltwater fishing, and a combination to do both is $32.50.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Three more license-free fishing days scheduled in Florida

From beans to blueberry yogurt and breakfast cereals, many foods contain health-promoting nutrients and components. Functional foods provide benefits beyond basic nutrition.

For more on functional foods, see foodinsight.org>>

and the UF Food, Family, Youth  and Commmunity Services site>>

But how much of the “beyond basic nutrition” do we understand? The International Food Information Council's most recent Functional Foods Consumer Survey was designed to answer this question.

Surveyed participants believe they have general nutrition knowledge; most consumers feel relatively confident they do. Those younger than 49 years old consider themselves extremely knowledgeable about nutrition.

Despite such confidence in nutrition knowledge, most survey respondents believe they fall short of meeting "all or nearly all" of their nutrient needs.

For some nutrients, consumers perceive their intakes are adequate when, actually, they are not. For nutrients such as vitamin D, potassium and fiber, the discrepancy between perception and reality is stark. But for nutrients such as vitamin C and calcium, consumers’ perceptions are on target.

The high percentage of consumers meeting their needs for B vitamins is a testament to the value of functional foods, especially fortified foods. Breads, rice and cereals — often fortified with B vitamins — may help consumers meet their B vitamin needs, without the consumer realizing it.

Understanding functional foods and their benefits can motivate us to improve our daily diet.

And it can help us determine the healthiest foods to put on our plate.

Brenda Smith is with the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Learn about nutrition and functional foods

BAKER — Saturday’s Baker Heritage Festival drew more exhibitors and attendees than ever before, North Okaloosa Heritage Association members, the event’s organizers, said.

Establishing actual attendance figures is impossible, association and Baker Block Museum Director Ann Spann said, but just by observing crowds, they knew they surpassed previous years' attendance.

See Baker Heritage Festival video>>

See photos from the Baker Heritage Festival here >>

Many exhibitors praised student volunteers from Baker School’s JROTC battalion, who helped erect tents, tote display materials and assisted at the heritage association's table.

"The Baker ROTC (had) outdone themselves," association member Phyllis Enzor said. "They were here before we got started and (they were) here helping take down."

Under a blue autumn sky, people came from throughout Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama to hear bluegrass and gospel music, sample treats and observe demonstrations of folk arts, crafts and traditional pioneer practices at more than 60 stands.

James and Susie Lowery, who visited from Red Level, Ala., enjoyed sampling Georgia cornbread at Betty McLeod's stand. The Baker woman was one of several vendors selling the sweet cake.

"This is good," James Lowery said.

Mayberry to NW Florida

Many attendees were delighted to see former Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Elsie Garrett; ill health had kept her homebound for nearly two years.

She joined her husband, J.T., who displayed his vintage 1960s Ford Galaxy police car, with a "Mayberry Sheriff's Office" seal. He costumed as Barney Fife, the deputy on "The Andy Griffith Show."

"I think more people are happier to see Elsie than me," J.T. said.

Inside Heritage Park's log cabins, Florida State Parks re-enactor Anne Harvey cooked a traditional harvest stew of apples, prunes, rice and pork meat over the open hearth.

Across the room, her sister, Mary Ellen Wexler, churned butter in an antique hand-cranked churn, while the women's mother, Ernestine Harvey, supervised from her fireside chair.

Such demonstrations, which included cypress shingle making, quilting and blacksmithing, supplemented Baker Block Museum exhibits and regional historic societies’ displays.

Outside, vintage Model T and Model A Ford cars and trucks attracted many attendees.

Retired Baker School teachers Kay and Roger O'Neal paused periodically to study displays and chat with exhibitors, but more often receive former students’ greetings.

"This area is rich in history," Roger O'Neal said. "What a great day to come out and see it."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Heritage Festival draws record crowd, exhibitors (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Residents may have concerns about adopting or providing foster care for children, Emmanuel Baptist Church’s Justin Wyatt said.

Prospective parents may be interested but “fear the unknown,” he said; concerns could range from financial — can they financially care for a child? — to emotional — would a foster parent grow too attached to a child in their temporary custody?

In addition, “there is a fear that the child may be difficult …. (but) they have to remember that these children did not ask for these circumstances,” Wyatt said.

Emmanuel Baptist Church and St. Mark United Methodist Church have scheduled meetings to demystify adoption and foster care.  

Emmanuel's program will offer information on foster care services and local, national and international adoption.

 "Many people think that adoption is a great idea, but they don't know where to start," Wyatt said.

Representatives of Crestview Orphan Care, a ministry of the church that provides awareness and support for adoptive and foster families, can offer some tips during the meeting, he said.

Lisa Ausley, a minister at St. Mark UMC, said becoming a foster parent can offer children some stability, and benefit guardians, too.

"Such a blessing comes with it," she said. "How many of us really have the opportunity to shape a life … possibly for eternity?"

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:  Adoption and foster care meeting

WHEN:  6 p.m. Monday

WHERE: Emmanuel Baptist Church, 3252 E. James Lee Blvd.

CONTACT: RSVP to crestvieworphancare@gmail.com.

     •••

WHAT:  Foster care meeting, with lunch

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10

WHERE: St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2250 P.J. Adams Parkway, Crestview

CONTACT: Lisa Ausley, lausley@stmarkcrestview.com or 682-5280.

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: Crestview churches set meetings on foster care, adoption options

CRESTVIEW — Northwest Florida State College student Nicole White, of Crestview, has won the News Bulletin’s 2013 Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Ten judges from the News Bulletin and the Northwest Florida Daily News named her entry, “Cat and Bear,” the best of five competition finalists’ submissions.

One entry was disqualified following an investigation that revealed the pumpkin was not carved in 2013, Editor Thomas Boni wrote to judges prior to the Thursday afternoon announcement.

Nicole won a gift basket with a $20 Wal-Mart gift card, a deluxe pumpkin carving kit and assorted chocolates.

The News Bulletin’s pumpkin carving contest ran Oct. 8-30, was advertised on the newspaper’s Facebook page, and was open to all North Okaloosa County residents.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview woman named News Bulletin’s top pumpkin carver

CRESTVIEW — After declaring Thursday’s international festival debut a success, school district organizers said the event will return next year.

See performances from the festival>>

See photos from the festival>>

The International Festival and Hispanic Heritage Celebration — sponsored by the district's English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, program, the Friends of the Arts and county school multicultural clubs — was a fiesta for all the senses.

The Shoal River Middle School gym featured musical performances, cultural displays, dance demonstrations and information on cooking plantains.

Countries from the Americas, Europe and Asia were represented by displays featuring photos, cultural artifacts, clothing, examples of money and flags. Some offered food samples.

Many participants and attendees dressed in traditional costumes representing their respective countries.

Musical performers included "Latin American Idol" singer Amid Montelongo and the Boricuando Puerto Rican Folkloric Group.

Attendees enthusiastically clapped along with the music, examined the cultural displays and sampled foods from various countries.

Embracing diversity

"We want everyone to embrace their own heritage and share their heritage with us," ESOL Director Lois Hanzo said as she opened the festival.

"Folk traditions are complicated things," Joe Kenkel said while introducing a Panamanian dance troupe that included his wife, Arabhesky Chacon. "Sometimes, no one knows how they started or where they came from."

Guest speaker Sgt. Randy Galindo, a 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) soldier whose wife, Blanca, is a Davidson Middle School ESOL teacher, encouraged audience members to broaden their cultural horizons.

"When you embrace diversity, you never know what opportunities are going to pop up," he said, explaining his career became possible because he decided as a boy to study Farsi when his family lived in Iran.

"If you embrace diversity, it probably won't hurt, and it probably will help you," Galindo said.

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: First International Festival turns Shoal River gym into a mini-UN (PHOTOS, VIDEO)