CRESTVIEW — Following the Crestview High School chorus’ awarded “excellents” and "superiors" in district competition Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church of Milton, the women's chorus will perform May 3 at the state choral music competition in Tallahassee.

Under direction of Kevin Lusk, the school's choral music director, the women scored a superior for their stage performance at district, and garnered an excellent in sight-reading. Judges awarded them an overall superior, clinching their spot on the state performance program.

The men's chorus — which reportedly lost several members leading up to district competition — earned an excellent for their stage performance and a superior in sight-reading, scoring an overall excellent.

"Chorale got straight excellents on stage and in sight reading," senior and section leader Alex Andrews said. "Although the men and Chorale are not eligible for state, I still feel like we did great at district. We had pretty tough judges this year."

The chorus' all-female Destiny and Chanticleer show choirs, along with the solo and ensemble groups, will perform at the state choral music festival in Jacksonville on March 17, Alex said.

Upon their return, some chorus members who also belong to the school's International Thespian Society chapter will depart the state Thespian gathering.

"As soon as we get back from [state choral competition] on Monday, Tuesday the Thespians will be going to state in Tampa through the next Sunday," Alex said. "That will be a busy week!"

After state competition, the chorus will prepare for its May 9 spring concert, which is open to the public.

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: CHS women's chorus, show choirs are state-bound

Have you noticed food labels in our grocery stores over the last 10 years? They have changed significantly and sometimes read like a science textbook with nutrition jargon.

One of the newer things seen on foods is "gluten free." Many people are promoting these foods as a healthful way to eat.

So what is the big deal about gluten?

Dr. Amy Simonne and others at the University of Florida have developed a three-part series about gluten that provides straightforward, research-based facts.

As additional research is conducted, some of us may need a broader understanding of the issues surrounding these topics. We want to be wise consumers and avoid sway from marketing strategies.

So what is gluten?

Gluten is a mixture of proteins, gliadins and glutenins found primarily in wheat, rye or barley. It can trigger digestive, immune or autoimmune system difficulties for people with identified food allergies, food intolerances or food sensitivities. Before looking specifically at gluten, it is important to understand the differences between a food allergy, food intolerance and food sensitivity.

The facts

•Food sensitivity is a catchall term for food allergies and intolerances.

•A food allergy is the immune system reacting to a specific protein. A reaction usually occurs within minutes, but could be hours later. Cow's milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, soy or wheat trigger most food allergies.

•Food intolerance is more common than a true food allergy. It does not involve the immune system. Food intolerance is a metabolism problem in which the body cannot digest the food because of an enzyme deficiency.

Gluten mostly affects those with Celiac disease and wheat allergies. Celiac disease, the condition most often associated with gluten, is an inherited disease. Others may have wheat allergies or a gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

If you don't have specific gluten issues, you may want to know if you would be healthier without gluten. Limited research has shown improvements initially, but there are concerns about getting adequate nutrition on a gluten-free diet.

Knowing how to read a food label is crucial to finding and evaluating gluten-free foods. Look at the list of ingredients for wheat, rye, barley or a hybrid of these grains. The FDA proposed using the classification "gluten free" voluntarily in 2007.

Understanding your health issue and how it relates to reading a food label is very important.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Information on gluten-free foods

Though you could easily force your lawn to turn green prematurely with many high-nitrogen fertilizers, it's a false sense of accomplishment.

That new green growth depends on the availability of other elements, some of which are scant under cool soil temperatures. Iron, for example, is not readily available while soil is still cool.

Your lawn begins to turn bright yellow after being fertilized too early. In other words, you've induced or caused a nutrient deficiency with this sudden decision. The soil then is too cool to allow roots to take in the needed iron to support the growth that you've caused.

Other needed nutrients, such as potassium, are not readily available under cool soil temperatures. As a result, some of these fertilizer elements leach below the root area before grass roots are in a position to use them.

You waste fertilizer and money when you hasten the natural course. Waiting to fertilize during soil temperatures that are more favorable allows for efficient use of the fertilizer and less waste.

For our lawn grasses to efficiently use fertilizer, consistently warmer nights are required. So why not wait until mid-April to fertilize? You'll waste less fertilizer, save money and have a healthier lawn in the process.

It's a win, win, win situation.

Larry Williams is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Wait to fertilize your lawn

CRESTVIEW — From a field of 30 hopefuls, Crestview High School senior Michelle Bryan emerged as this year's Bulldog Idol, winning the annual music competition with her rendition of the Maroon 5 ballad "Sunday Morning."

The International Thespian Society’s Crestview High chapter produced the competition as a fundraiser to help members attend the statewide Thespian gathering in Tampa next month.

"We had a really good turnout for Bulldog Idol," Thespian adviser and school drama teacher Annette Gebhardt said. "We raised just over $1,100, which is wonderful!"

Michelle, a member of the school chorus and its Destiny show choir, has appeared in several musicals on the Pearl Tyner Auditorium stage, including "The Sound of Music," "The 21st Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Seussical, the Musical." Last fall she was chosen as the school's Homecoming queen.

For her audition the week before the Feb. 21 Idol show, Michelle sang the Amy Winehouse song "Valerie." That got her into the top 10. To break into the top five, where she joined Michael Brooks, Catherine Hanna, Evan Sammons and Atovic Johnson, she sang "Valerie" again before the enthusiastic audience.

Her performance of "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree," made famous by Scottish singer-songwriter K.T. Tunstall, propelled Michelle into the position of one of the top two finalists with Catherine Hanna. Her Maroon 5 tune turned out to be the contest's winner.

"I did not have a feeling I'd win this," Michelle said after the performance. "I was so excited. It was so awesome. This year, I've been so blessed."

Besides bragging rights as her alma mater's new Bulldog Idol, Michelle received another surprise while on the Pearl Tyner stage.

"I got asked to the prom right after I performed the second song," Michelle said. "It was a surprise. I said yes."

Last year's Bulldog Idol, Tyler Colonna, returned for an encore performance during the show, and Michelle will return during next year's competition, she promised.

First, members of the school's Thespian Society will head to Tampa for the March 20-23 state Thespian gathering at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to participating in theatrical competitions, the students will attend workshops and seminars in acting, set design, costume design, lighting, makeup, house management and other stagecraft skills.

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: CHS senior clinches Bulldog Idol title with Maroon 5 tune

CRESTVIEW — The Friends of the Arts, which Gigi Allen established as a committee to find and fund a grand piano for Warriors Hall, wants to move to the next level in its mission of bringing quality performing arts here and upgrading the hall.

"The events we have produced have been of the highest quality, but it is time to become self-sufficient," Friends President Rae Schwartz has said to the Crestview City Council.

Profits from programs — including two performances by music historian, author and pianist David Ott and a swing music concert by the UpBeat Jazz Orchestra — fund a city account designated for use in upgrading Warriors Hall for future performances, Schwartz said.

The group's city-held account contains $2,519.50, which includes profits from its cultural events and citizen donations toward the piano upkeep, Schwartz said.

"We wish to provide improvements to the hall that will increase its use as a venue for performances and theatre," including installation of theatrical lighting and construction of side wings on either side of the large stage, she said. "No city funds are needed for these projects."

Such improvements would benefit performances by the newly formed non-profit Crestview Community Theatre troupe. The company's co-founder, Sandra Peters, is the Friends of the Arts theatre chairperson.

The Friends can proceed in either of two ways, City Clerk Betsy Roy said.

The group could remain an independent organization, "but would have to control their own funds … much like the Friends of the Library," she stated in a memo to the city council.

Alternatively, the city would continue to control the group's funds and the Friends "would have to be established as a committee of the city and the members appointed by the mayor and members of the (city) council," her memo stated.

The Friends would comply with the recommendation that is most efficient and beneficial for the city, Schwartz said.

That would mean the committee should operate independently, using members' expertise, rather than have city government appoint members who might lack artistic experience, Mayor David Cadle said.

The city benefits from similar public-private partnerships — such as the Main Street Crestview Association program — that provide expertise and labor for events that benefit the city at little or no cost to taxpayers.

If the Friends of the Arts' focus remains on enhancing Warriors Hall and raising funds to maintain its grand piano, the group may continue using the hall without incurring facility charges, Roy said.

"As long as all the proceeds from events are entirely spent on the upgrading of Warriors Hall, then that would not be a violation of any facility policies," the memo stated.

All the profits will return to the city, Schwartz said.

Councilwoman Robyn Helt praised the committee for its initiative.

"I think this is great that this (committee) grew," she said. "You took a task and saw it through and now you're ready to move on and tackle bigger things. I am happy to continue a partnership or a relationship with the organization."

She proposed holding a council workshop to discuss the city's partnership with the Friends and clarify its future relationship.

Roy recommended discussing the topic at a proposed March 11 workshop.

– Upcoming cultural events at Warriors Hall include the Friends of the Arts "Sounds of Joy" gospel concert on March 9 and the Crestview Community Theatre production of the comedy "See How They Run" in April.

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: Friends of the Arts and city to define relationship

NICEVILLE — The actors, the nobility, the lovers and the forest fairies leap from the pages of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and onto the Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center Mainstage in the Northwest Florida Ballet's upcoming interpretation of the classic comedy.

With a cast of nearly 60 dancers, the local ballet company's March 9 and 10 productions are set to the sweeping music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, edited to accompany the 1876 ballet from his score for the play. Renowned choreographers Marius Petipa and, later, George Balanchine and Federick Ashton created the ballet.

Katia Garza, principal guest artist, choreographer and instructor with the compnay, choreographs the NWFB production. 

“I have to say that I have choreographed before, but 'Midsummer' is the one I enjoy the most,” Garza said. “It is a fun story with a lot of dancing and the audience will laugh and enjoy it.

"'Midsummer' is such a fun ballet to choreograph because it’s always different and gives the dancers the freedom to interpret the roles in such a different way, so for me, it’s always like a new ballet.”

On the same program, the company will perform the neoclassical ballet "Afterglow," choreographed by Artistic Director Todd Eric Allen.

The ballet is set to "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. "Afterglow," choreographed for the Northwest Florida Ballet in 2001, "is an exploration of shapes and texture," according to a news release.

Want to go?

The Northwest Florida Ballet's productions of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and the neoclassical ballet "Afterglow" will be performed 7 p.m. March 9 and 2:30 p.m. March 10 on the Mainstage of the Mattie Kelley Performing Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for children 12 and under, and may be purchased at www.nfballet.org or by calling 664-7787.

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: 'Midsummer' leaps to life on NWF Ballet stage