CRESTVIEW — Works by artists of varying ages and experience levels meet on the Crestview Public Library’s north wall in a current exhibit.

"They range from the budding artist to the dying artist," exhibit coordinator Peggy Hollingshead said.

In addition to some of Hollingshead's own abstracts, artists Charlotte Parrish, Terry Scott, Nicole Weaver, Sarah Hawkins and Jessica Bruegenhemke have works on the display wall.

One of the delights of shows featuring mixed talents and styles is the variety of expression. Patrons view details of Parrish's "Thistle Ballet" and contrast it with Hollingshead's evocative "Phoenix."

Budding artist Bruegenhemke sets us pondering with "Bird King," a splendid graphite work of a wolf holding a falcon on its forepaw under the full moon. Shades of "LadyHawke"? Only the artist knows for sure.

Northwest Florida State College student Hawkins displays remarkable agility in capturing textiles’ graceful drape in sepia pastels called "Cloth Drawing" and "Boot Drawing."

Weaver has lots of fun with color and text in her self-described "crazy paintings," including the lively "Pig Love," which includes roses, hearts and, yes, a friendly pink oinker.

Scott’s bright, cheerful floral paintings belie the artist's battle with a terminal illness, making his works even more emotional celebrations of life.

The exhibition will remain through August.

Note: A previous version of this article said Sarah Hawkins' medium used was watercolors. In fact, it's sepia pastels.

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: Crestview library exhibit features variety of local talent

CRESTVIEW — A local exhibit shows that scouting founder Sir Robert Baden-Powell's legacy is strong in the Crestview area, with multiple troops and packs continuing the movement he founded more than a century ago.

Through August, Crestview Public Library visitors can get a look at scouting as they view merit badges, Pinewood Derby racecar kits, caps, patches and souvenirs.

Materials cover all ages of scouting, beginning with Cub Scouts and continuing through Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venture Crew.

The Crestview area has five Boy Scout troops, five Cub Scout packs and a co-ed Venture Crew, said Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz of the Gulf Coast Council's Choctawhatchee District.

The Cub Scouts will host School Nights when classes resume, Schwartz said. Boys will hang posters and bring home fliers announcing each elementary school's event.

"Scouting is really one of the best youth activities available in our area," Schwartz said. "You don't need to be an athlete to be a scout. If there's something you're interested in, chances are there's a merit badge available for it."

Want to join scouting?

North Okaloosa Boy Scout troops meet Monday evenings as follows.

Troop 30: First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.

Troop 773: Knights of Columbus, 701 E. James Lee Blvd.

Troops 731 and 732: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Del Cerro Camino

Troop 532: First Baptist Church of Holt, 532 W. Highway 90

Cub Scout pack meeting times vary, as follows:

Pack 799: First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave.

Pack 530: chartered to the Elks Club, meets at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 2250 P.J. Adams Parkway

Packs 731 and 732: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Del Cerro Camino

Pack 532: First Baptist Church of Holt, 532 W. Highway 90

Venture Crew 773: First Presbyterian Church, 492 N. Ferdon Blvd.

Contacts: Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz, 585-5672, bakerny@yahoo.com.

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 library exhibit covers all ages of Boy Scouting

BAKER — Betty and Lucien LeMarchand of Baker will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends Aug. 10, 2013.

The couple was married Aug. 10, 1953 in Meridian, Miss.

Lucien worked at Eglin Air Force Base and retired in 1994 with more than 35 years of service.

Betty is a full-time wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is an active Daughters of the American Revolution member, and was instrumental in writing and compiling information for Okaloosa Heritage Books 1 and 2. She also volunteers at the Baker Block Museum.

The LeMarchands are Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and North Okaloosa Gideon Camp members. They also operate Adam's Birds, an aviary named for one of their grandsons.

The couple's children are Brenda and Woody Bullard of Gainesville, Barbara Griffiths of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Tina and Rex Cadenhead of Baker.

They have eight grandchildren, Christine, Melissa, Pam, Adam, Paul, Joshua, Jason and Kimberly. They also have eight great-grandchildren, Courtney, Clayton, Austin Tyler, Alexis, Allie, Lucien, Madeline and Austin Hayes. They are expecting their first great-great-grandchild in January 2014.

The News Bulletin publishes north Okaloosa County residents' “Special Occasions”— birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements— at no charge. Submissions may be edited for length and style.

Call 682-6524 or email news@crestviewbulletin.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SPECIAL OCCASION: Baker couple celebrates 60th anniversary

CRESTVIEW — It's the summer of public wall art in North Okaloosa County.

As a state prisoner wraps up a mural on Baker Block Museum, muralist Darryl Davis is working on the north wall of a 1920s Main Street building.

"If the weather would just cooperate I'd have more done," Davis said, adding one of the frequent recent showers to hit the area caused some of the paint to run before it dried.

Davis' mural on the side of the Stewart Law Firm continues a tradition of large-scale artwork on early and mid-20th-century commercial buildings.

The art offers a glimpse of when the building served as a dentist's office. Through a hole-in-the-wall view, a girl peers at an old-time dentist's chair and equipment.

Other motifs include a 1960s scene of a boat being rowed up flooded Main Street, an old postcard and the Fox Theatre.

Daily history lessons

Main Street barber Mack Brooks, whose shop is the longest continuously operating business in the historic district, offers Davis near-daily support and advice, the artist said.

Brooks shares his frequent history lessons with Davis during the octogenarian's daily walks from his barbershop to lunch at Uncle Bill's Restaurant, and sometimes in the morning as well.

"I'm going to paint his picture on that 2-cent stamp on the old postcard," Davis said. "Mack stops and gives me his 2 cents' worth, so I'm giving it back to him."

Several downtown buildings’ sides historically had lavish artwork and advertisements.

Former Main Street Crestview Association director Ryan Arvay was in negotiations with Coca-Cola for funding to restore an old-fashioned Coke ad on the side of the former New Central Café.

However, when the City Council cut funding for his position, Arvay resigned before the project could come to fruition.

Davis drew a 1-inch scale layout of the mural and scaled each square inch up to a square foot on the building’s smooth stucco side.

When Davis is finished, the mural will fill the entire side of the building and will wrap partially around the back.

He expects it will take at least two more months, weather permitting, before the work is finished.

Want to go?

Watch muralist Darryl Davis work on the side of the Stewart Law Firm building most weekdays during fair weather at 215 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: Sidewall artwork tradition continues with downtown Crestview mural