lifestyle | Crestview News Bulletin

French Sister City residents learn about Crestview at forum

Written by archive on October 11, 2013. Posted in lifestyle.

NOIRMOUTIER-EN-l'ÎLE, France — Visitors to a recent community activities forum in Crestview's Sister City learned about the Hub City's virtues, and how they can enjoy them firsthand.

Sister City committee members staffed an information booth during the Sept. 22 event that displayed organizations and clubs throughout the island community off France's west coast. They described Crestview's congenial hospitality, favorable weather, down-home cooking, outdoor fun ranging from canoeing to beach frolics, and attending games of "football américain."

Fliers promoted upcoming exchanges, including summer 2014 trips to the island planned by the Crestview High School French Club and girls' soccer team, and 2015 performances by the Northwest Florida State College show choir and Madrigals. Other fliers announced planned trips to Crestview by Noirmoutier students in 2015, and a delegation coming in 2016 to help celebrate the Crestview centennial.

"We had many contacts with the population and found new members for the next trip to Crestview in 2016," committee President RenéRelandeau said.

Displays — set up beneath Crestview and Noirmoutier city flags — included photos of recent exchanges, including a June and July visit by 22 members of Crestview's Sister City program.

The local organization will be represented at the Oct. 25 International Festival at Shoal River Middle School, at which a special door prize can be won: Relandeau and his committee have dispatched a keepsake metal box filled with rich, buttery "Philbert Gallettes," cookies baked only on Noirmoutier, made with sea salt harvested on the island.

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: French Sister City residents learn about Crestview at forum

Baker church to host Oct. 17 health fair

Written by archive on October 11, 2013. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

The Shady Grove Assembly of God Church in Baker will host and sponsor the event, along with the Northwest Florida Agency on Aging, the Northwest Florida Rural Health Network, the Walton-Okaloosa Council on Aging and Okaloosa Regional Home Health Services.

"The goal of the fair is to bring awareness of the resources that are available in the area, thus helping the consumer to have some choice(s) when and if they need to make a decision," said event organizer Gwen Rhodes, a community resource specialist with the Agency on Aging.

Rhodes said her organization’s representatives and others would offer assistance with Medicare open enrollment, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

An estimated 20 vendors will be present; some will offer free blood pressure checks, hearing screenings and memory tests, while others will inform residents about their home health and hospice care options.

Free refreshments including hotdogs and potato chips will be available.

Event sponsors have organized similar events in Crestview, but this is the first time they’ve brought the health fair to Baker, Rhodes said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Shady Grove Helping Hands Community Fair

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 17

WHERE: Shady Grove Assembly of God Church, 1189 Shady Grove Church Road, Baker

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: Baker church to host Oct. 17 health fair

Fair provides information, rescources regarding senior care

Written by archive on October 10, 2013. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Several senior citizens are more informed about their health and safety following Saturday’s Information and Resources Fair at the Crestview Public Library.

The fair — for residents unable to find assistance on the Internet, according to event organizer Gwen Rhodes, of the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging — included free blood pressure checks and opportunities to collect information on area assisted living facilities and health care providers.

"We just try to bring that information to seniors because a majority of them do not use a computer," Rhodes said.

Members from the Seniors vs. Crime Crestview office, sponsored by the Florida State Attorney General's office, handed out information about the non-profit organization.

"If any senior citizen feels that they have been taken advantage of (by identity theft or some other fraud) … they can come by our office, free of charge, manager JB Whitten said.

Crestview resident Sandra Turincs said she appreciated the information.

"There are a lot of people who do need help, and we are all getting a little older," she said. "I think that is a really good thing they do for the community."

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: Fair provides information, rescources regarding senior care

Indian flute festival’s poster contest seeks submissions

Written by archive on October 10, 2013. Posted in lifestyle.

NICEVILLE — Artists who submit designs for the Musical Echoes Flute Festival’s annual poster competition have a chance to win $200. Submissions are due Jan. 11, 2014.

Musical Echoes chose for its annual totem, or symbol, a hummingbird, symbolizing peace, love and joy, and devotion, permanence and eternity.

The Indian flute must be the poster’s primary feature; the hummingbird also must be present. The winning design will be displayed at the festival and used on promotional materials.

Musical Echoes, the largest Indian flute festival in America, provides free family fun including award-winning musical performances and traditional Native American dance.

The 2014 festival is April 25-27 at Fort Walton Beach Landing.

WANT TO SUBMIT?

WHAT: Native American Flute Festival poster design competition

WHEN: Submissions due Jan. 11, 2014

AWARD: $200 for the top artist

CONTACT: Gail Meyer, gmeyer@fwb.org or 833-9595. More details at www.musicalechoes.org

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Indian flute festival’s poster contest seeks submissions

‘Barbells for Boobs’ raises $2,200 for mammograms (PHOTOS)

Written by archive on October 10, 2013. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — With area residents’ help, CrossFit’s Crestview location has netted $2,200 for mammograms following Saturday’s "Barbells for Boobs” fundraiser.

That amount will pay for 26 breast check-ups for men and women who otherwise couldn’t afford one, event organizer Chloe Collinsworth announced on Facebook.

See the 'Barbells for Boobs' photo gallery>>

Standing room was hard to find at the Shoffner Boulevard facility. Attendees had to make room for participants in “Helen meets Grace,” a combination exercise including pull-ups, kettle bell swings, clean and jerks and a 400-meter run near the facility.

Several participants paid tribute to friends and family members who have dealt with breast cancer.

Cassandra Hicks — who honored her mother and breast cancer survivor, Diann Howe, along with co-worker and breast cancer survivor Debora Belanger — said she appreciated the turnout.

"As a part of the CrossFit community, this (was) such a good event … for us to come together,” she said.

Belanger — cancer-free for seven years — attended to support Hicks and her daughter, Samantha Childs.

"I think this is awesome," she said. "It is causes like this that make a difference."

In addition to donations, participants showed support by wearing pink attire or sporting pink hair.

Instructor David Patterson wore his wife's training bra.

"For these events I like to go all out," he said.

Although raising money is beneficial, raising awareness is also important, he said.

"It's not all about the money; it's about making a difference in the community," he said.

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: ‘Barbells for Boobs’ raises $2,200 for mammograms (PHOTOS)

Autumn art classes for moms, toddlers start Oct. 15 in Crestview

Written by archive on October 9, 2013. Posted in lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — After several years of success at the county’s south end, Abrakadoodle art teachers are offering daytime classes for Crestview moms and their toddlers.

"Autumn Adventures with Mommy," a visual arts class for children 20 months to 4 years old, begins Oct. 15 and runs through Nov. 19.

Erin Bakker, the local Abrakadoodle group’s director, said response has been so considerable to courses offered in the county’s south end that instructors want to expand to north of the Shoal River.

With Abrakadoodle now offering classes at several Crestview-area elementary schools, Bakker said interest is high for additional art instruction opportunities for area kids.

"We have had such a good response," Bakker said. "There is a need in the Crestview area for this."

The $85 tuition covers supplies and instruction.

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: Autumn art classes for moms, toddlers start Oct. 15 in Crestview

EXTENSION CONNECTION: Horse manure examination can save you money on de-worming bills

Written by archive on October 8, 2013. Posted in lifestyle.

Most horses only need to be de-wormed two to three times per year. You need to rotate commercial de-wormers’ active ingredients to prevent resistance.

A new approach for worm control is strategic de-worming, in which you only treat at certain times of the year — spring through fall — or when fecal egg counts rise.

Fecal egg counts involve horse owners submitting fresh manure samples to a lab. Results are expressed as eggs per gram of manure.

“A fecal egg count of less than 200 epg suggests a light parasite load,” the American Association of Equine Professionals states. “Horses with high fecal egg counts of 500 to 1,000 epg suggest the interval between de-worming is too long.”

Generally, most horse owners de-worm their horses — whether they need it or not — every eight to 10 weeks, based on the old recommendations. This practice has led to the development of drug resistance in worm populations. We have a limited number of de-wormer products to use. To keep these de-wormers effective, we must employ new strategies to prevent resistance.

An estimated 20 percent of the horse population harbors 80 percent of the worm population. The other 80 percent of our horses may only need de-worming twice per year: once in the spring and once in the fall. This will help prevent resistance and save you money.

Our Crestview office will conduct fecal egg counts for area horses. Interested horse owners should go to our website at http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu/ag/ or call me at 689-5850 for more information.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Horse manure examination can save you money on de-worming bills

'Many blessings' during Crestview family's trip to Argentina

Written by archive on October 8, 2013. Posted in Faith, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — The Church of God recently held its annual Feast of the Tabernacles in nine locations around the United States.

However, a Crestview family chose to attend the event farther south.

Sandra and Art Dreaden, their son Cody and his wife, Kim, both Crestview High School alumni, spent the eight-day feast in Mendoza, a 452-year-old colonial city in western Argentina.

The adventure, which began last month with a flight into Santiago, Chile, was part of the family's desire to broaden its cultural horizons.

"It's just so expanding to be with people with other cultures; to see how they live but see how, basically, we're so alike," Sandra said.

Visiting South America also meant a climate change. The Dreadens' bus almost didn't make it to Mendoza in time for the celebration when snow blocked the Andes mountain pass between Chile and Argentina.

Lions and lambs, wine and olives

The Feast of the Tabernacles is the Church of God’s celebration of Old and New Testament teachings, Sandra said.

"We keep all of the Holy Days in Leviticus 23 that Christ and the New Testament church kept," she said. "Feast of Tabernacles, to us, pictures when Christ returns to this earth; the whole lion-lies-down-with-the-lamb business."

Each day began with a church service, leaving afternoons free for sightseeing with the Dreadens’ Argentine hosts, along with explorations to vineyards and olive groves outside the historic city.

A team of translators ensured the "international" guests — those not from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia — were included in all the services, dinners and entertainment.

Art Dreaden celebrated his birthday during the sojourn, receiving a special present when he exchanged neckwear with another man, adding a Tabasco-themed tie to others in his collection.

Time to recharge— and dance

"To us, it's a time of the year when we get our batteries recharged, get our spiritual life on track, and find what's really important in life," Sandra said. "It's a time to rededicate our lives to what's really important."

It was also a time to experience new cultures, as church members from different countries performed native dances while dressed in traditional clothing.

Cody and Kim Dreaden added a touch of Americana with a well-received swing dance demonstration.

"They did these moves where he swings her legs around his neck and flips her upside down," Sandra said. "The Latin brethren had never seen anything like it and were exclaiming, 'Don't drop your wife!'"

This year's feast came with tangible and spiritual blessings. When Cody returned to Santiago, with cell phone reception, an exciting email was waiting for him.

The University of Florida senior, who graduates in December with a mechanical engineering degree, received a much-hoped-for job offer.

"There were many blessings on this trip," Sandra 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: 'Many blessings' during Crestview family's trip to Argentina

EXTENSION CONNECTION: Excessive water can doom trees

Written by archive on October 7, 2013. Posted in lifestyle.

Most trees are not well adapted to saturated soil conditions.

With nearly daily rainfall this spring and summer — sometimes in record amounts — the ground became inundated with water. When excess moisture dramatically changes root environment, especially during the growing season, a tree’s entire physiology is altered, which may result in the tree’s death.

Water-saturated soil reduces the supply of oxygen to tree roots, raises the soil’s pH, and changes the decomposition rate of organic material — all of which weaken the tree, making it more susceptible to indirect damage from insects and diseases.

Additionally, with heavy rainfall there is erosion and sediment movement. Exposed roots or roots covered by excess soil add stress to plants. When rain finally stops, the tree’s system often has been so compromised that it can’t perform functions necessary to survival — so it just dies.

Altered processes

When the ground becomes completely saturated, a tree’s metabolic processes change quickly.

Photosynthesis shuts down within five hours; the tree is in starvation mode and lives on stored starches. Water moves into and occupies all available pores that once held oxygen. Any remaining oxygen is used within three hours. Lack of oxygen prevents the normal decomposition of organic matter, which leads to production and accumulation of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxide.

Additionally, there is noticeable root growth loss within seven days. Roots only develop when soil oxygen levels are at 5-15 percent. Soon, pathogens attack decaying roots. Loss of root mass from decay and fungal attack leave the tree prone to drought damage. After two weeks of saturated soil conditions, the root crown area can have so many problems that decline and even death are imminent.

Sealed fate

Nutrient uptake is necessary for plants to function. However, in saturated soil, anaerobic organisms — primarily bacteria — replace the aerobic organisms that once existed in the soil. These bacteria convert nitrogen into forms unavailable to plants.

In addition, manganese, iron and sulfur become limited because the soil pH has increased, making the elements unrecognizable. With little to no functioning root system, trees in saturated soils do not have the means to uptake nutrients, even if they were available.

When a tree experiences anaerobic soil conditions, it will exhibit symptoms of leaf loss with minimal to no new leaf formation. This usually appears two to eight weeks after the soil dries out again. Many trees — especially more juvenile and mature trees — will not survive.

Well-established trees may still decline several years later, if they experience additional stresses such as drought or root disturbance from construction.

Preventive measures

Little can be done to combat damage caused by soil saturation. However, it is important to enable the tree to conserve its food supply by resisting pruning and to avoid fertilizing until the following growth season.

Mulch removal will aid in the availability of soil oxygen. It is a “wait and see” process. While water is essential to trees’ survival, it can also be a detriment when it is excessive.

Sheila Dunning is a Commercial Horticulture Extension agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Excessive water can doom trees

Crestview volleyball team holds Breast Cancer Awareness Night Oct. 7

Written by archive on October 7, 2013. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Kathy Combest is many things to many people. She's a wife, mother, sister, friend and coach — just to mention a few of her roles.

She's also a competitor, a fighter and a survivor.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer while coaching Baker School’s volleyball and girls basketball teams in August of 2007.

A year later, after several surgeries and treatments, Combest was declared cancer-free.

Five years later, Combest, now Crestview High School’s volleyball and girls basketball coach, is still cancer-free.

Combest and her Bulldog volleyball team will celebrate her continued good health with a Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Oct. 7, when Crestview hosts Freeport for a 6 p.m. varsity match.

"It's exciting for me because … if you can make it for five years (cancer-free), you have a good chance (of remaining cancer free)," Combest said. "I'm not saying you won't get it again, but you have a better chance not to get it.

“I would like for all the players that played for me at Baker in basketball and volleyball, and all the players that have played for me here, and any friend that has helped out through the years, to be here."

The Holt Volunteer Fire Department, which comprises many of Combest's old Baker students, will be on hand to honor the coach by raising money with T-shirt sales and a donation jar.

The money raised that night will go to the Breast Clinic Charity Fund in Fort Walton Beach.

"They decided to raise money for breast cancer and they wanted to honor me and my five years of being cancer-free," Combest said. "And they let me pick the charity organization that I wanted. The one I wanted is here in Okaloosa County, in Fort Walton Beach.

"Dr. Sandra Hanson and The Breast Clinic Charity Fund is for women that don't have insurance. Because it is so expensive to have mammograms, sonograms and even biopsies.”

Hanson and Scotty Chestnut of the Holt Volunteer Fire Department will talk about charities that help those with breast cancer, Combest said.

Like so many people, Combest never thought she would have breast cancer. As a coach and former athlete she's always made it a point to stay in shape and eat healthy.

Combest — who continued coaching while battling cancer — said she thinks leading her teams helped her through the tough times.

"I think while I was going through that it gave me a focus point," she said. "People that can focus on something are better at what they do and they don't dwell on being sick.

"I know basketball and volleyball helped me do that at that time."

People battling breast cancer, breast cancer survivors and those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer will be recognized during Monday’s ceremony.

As much as it will be a night of breast cancer awareness, Combest also wants it to be a celebration of life.

"I just want to have the people that helped me go through what I went through to be here to celebrate my five years clean," she said.

WHAT: Breast Cancer Awareness Night

WHEN: 6 p.m. Oct. 7, when Crestview hosts Freeport for a varsity match.

WHERE: Crestview High School gym, 1250 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated in the "Where" section that the game is at Jack Foster Stadium. The print edition included the correct information; the erroneous, extra detail was added during transfer to the web. We regret the error.

Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview volleyball team holds Breast Cancer Awareness Night Oct. 7

850.682.6524