NICEVILLE — Experience the talents of some of Ireland’s finest female performers in this internationally touring show coming 7:30 p.m. at Northwest Florida State College's Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville.

Ireland's traditions of music, song and dance will come alive in one performance only. Women of Ireland, an innovative full-stage concert production, displays the next generation of Ireland’s leading female talent in music, song and dance.

The common theme is the presentation of the most revered qualities of Ireland’s ethnic music, transported from the Irish fireside to the international concert hall platform in a contemporary setting featuring world championship dancers.   Tickets are $35 each at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box Office, 729-6000 or at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. Tickets will also be available show night, space permitting, starting at 6 p.m. There is a $2 per ticket processing fee.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women of Ireland concert Feb. 15

NICEVILLE — Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College will come to life with the sounds of Motown and soul.

“Souled Out,” presented by the Emerald Coast Concert Association is a musical ensemble that specializes in those great Motown sounds.

“Souled Out” is led by three dynamic performers whose vocals are unmatched. The seasoned R&B singers, perform – complete with dead-on vocals and smooth choreography – with the same panache and spirit as their Motown and soul predecessors, backed by the northeast renowned Souled Out Orchestra.

Leader of the band is Donald “Smoothie” McCall, who has been singing his whole life, performing with many groups as well as several theaters.

Joining him is singer Irving “Smokey” Lewis who grew up in an extremely musical family and started to sing at a very young age, performing in many talent shows. He continued his love for music and has been a front man for nearly 26 years.

The orchestra includes Ricky Marshall, drums; Rudi Weeks, bass; Pat Jennings, keys; Rod Caron, saxophone; and Dave Stangarone, trumpet.

“Souled Out” is the ultimate in musical nostalgia. Whether flawlessly reproducing the hits of the Temptations or energizing a room with the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, “Souled Out” is a show like no other.

Bringing the biggest and most memorable hits from the beloved Motown and soul legends, they entertain in a way that wows the audience and captures their hearts all over again.

Visit “Souled Out” and listen to their entertaining and catching music on their web page at www.souledoutgroup.com.

Tickets for $30 in advance are available at the NWF State College’s box office, or by calling 729-6000. The price for tickets the day of the show is $35. For more information call the ECCA line at 362-9356.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Souled Out concert brings Motown to Niceville arts center

CRESTVIEW — The regional International Thespian Society competition's local winners have faced intense opposition. District 1, of which Crestview High School is a member, is the state's largest region, stretching from Pensacola to Tallahassee.

After becoming the best in the district during a competition last month at Northwest Florida State College, the cast of Bulldogs will compete in what former Thespian Society President Ryan Vance said is the "biggest student-run Thespian event in the entire country."

The state Thespian Society's annual gathering — coming March 20-23 at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa — will be more than a competition, Ryan said. Spread among the center's five theaters, rehearsal hall and Patel Conservatory classrooms, the event will allow students to hone their stagecraft skills in acting and behind the scenes.

Workshops and seminars offer instruction in acting, set design, costume design, lighting, makeup, house management and other theatre-related skills. Instructors and judges will include theatre professionals along with college and high school drama faculty.

"It’s incredible, the amount of stuff we learn," Ryan said. "There’s tons of workshops there that I want to attend. I get so much from them. It’s a great experience."

Ryan plans to major in theatre arts upon graduation from Crestview High in June, following example from one of his best friends and theatre mentors, Jesse Hinton, who graduated last year.

In this year's Jan. 4-5 regional competition, the Crestview High School Thespians earned five more "excellent" ratings — the highest awarded in a student performing arts competition — than last year, Thespians adviser and drama teacher Annette Gebhardt said.

"We earned seven excellents this year — up from two last year, so we are really excited about that," she said. "It was our best performance ever."

"We did really, really well in our competition," Ryan said.

However, because only one excellent-scoring performance can advance to state competition, Ryan, who has performed at state level, offered the honor to his friends whose small group musical also scored an excellent.

"Taking the group would allow the most people to perform," Ryan said.

"Representing us at state in March will be Angeles Alexander, Brittany Agee, Madeline Gebhardt and Bridget Worth for their small group musical," Annette Gebhardt, Madeline's mother, said.

The girls will reprise their district-winning performance of "Paris Original" from the 1960s musical comedy "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

"It was kind of bittersweet performing his year because I'm a senior and will be graduating," Ryan said. "I’m still excited to go and it’s exciting to see people who hadn’t performed (at state competition) get the chance to go."

However, Ryan did score a state-level honor during the district competition for his performance in the one-act Susan Glaspell play “Trifles.” Performing with Jerrod Miller, Wesley Barlow, Brittany Agee and Madeline Gebhardt, Ryan was selected for state all-star cast.

"They take one actor from each of the one-acts and they form the all-star cast," Ryan said. "I was really humbled and honored to be chosen."

To help fund their way to Tampa next month, the Crestview Thespian Society will sponsor the second annual Bulldog Idol show, 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Crestview High's Pearl Tyner Auditorium. Tickets are $5 each, available at the door the night of the event.

Crestview's winning Thespians

Crestview High School's International Thespian Society chapter brought home seven "excellent" scores at district-level competition.

Winners were as follows:

Pantomime:“The Music Man,” Jack Barr, Keidra Perdue, Kyle Porte, Alex Andrews and Mac Sticha

Solo Musical:"The Wild Party," Catherine Hanna

Ensemble Acting:Scene from "Rumors," Mac Sticha, Wesley Barlow, Madeline Gebhardt and Bridget Worth

Monologue:Ryan Vance

Small Group Musical:"Paris Original" from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Angeles Alexander, Bridget Worth, Madeline Gebhardt and Brittany Agee

Set Design:"Legally Blonde," Briana Schiro

Costume Construction:Mayzie from "Seussical: The Musical," Caitlin Prestridge

Contact News Bulletin Arts and 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 High Thespians state-bound after district triumph

4-H Camp offers line dancing, marine science activities, kayaking, snorkeling, arts and crafts, GPS and campfire games, archery and team building opportunities throughout one week at the Okaloosa County site.   

A week at Camp Timpoochee is a lifetime of memories, friendships and life skills — and a great week of fun.

 I attended Camp Timpoochee as a camper, counselor-in-training, counselor, staff member and adult volunteer. I came home each summer with new camp songs added to my repertoire, new friends and tons of fun games and ideas to share with others.

Nothing can describe the wonderful experience a child gets the first time he or she goes off to camp and experiences it for the first time. My camp memories are still very fresh and I always smile when I think back on all the great times I had. 

You do not have to be a 4-H member to attend with us, but maybe if you go and experience what camp and 4-H have to offer, you might think about joining one of our clubs. 

Have the experience of a lifetime! 

If you have any questions about the 4-H program, clubs or camps, call the Okaloosa County Extension office at 689-5850. 

Let us answer your questions and provide you with information to get started in a great life experience with 4-H. 

We have camp packets available and ready. There is a limited amount of spots, so visit http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu/4hy/ to print a packet or stop by our office at 3098 Airport Road, Crestview, to pick one up. 

Haley Worley is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: 4-H summer camp at Camp Timpoochee

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library says, "Laissez les bons temps rouler! Let the good times roll!"

With a display of Carnival masks, throws and harlequins behind the circulation desk and a decorated Mardi Gras tree in the rear lounge area, you can almost hear the strains of "Mardi Gras Mambo" playing at the Crestview Public Library.

The library staff got into the carnival spirit again this year, with Library Director Jean Lewis and staff members Audrey Milcarek and Peggy Beiring providing decorations for the display shelves behind the circulation desk.

Milcarek started the tradition a couple of years ago with a few harlequin dolls in Mardi Gras costumes sitting among beads atop two sets of shelves. This year, the display fills two whole cases.

For her Mardi Gras tree, Milcarek said she pounced on after-Christmas sales for the trimmings. A fan of peacock plumes tops the tree. Ornaments include masks and balls in the colors of Carnival.

"We try to get festive and patrons enjoy it," Milcarek said. "Oh, you know me — just give me a reason to decorate!"

On Fat Tuesday, Feb. 12, the library staff will "be masking as the 'Krewe ex Libris Jean,'" or Jean's Krewe at the Library, throughout the day, Milcarek said.

"We'll be in beads and everything. Hopefully, we can find some Zapp's to put out," she said, referring to chips made in Gramercy, La.

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: The good times roll Mardi Gras-style at Crestview library

CRESTVIEW — Artist Charlotte Caudill Parrish's works in multiple media will appear throughout this month at Journey Java Connection on Main Street.

"Charlotte's media includes acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal, ink, mixed, wood and plaster," artist coordinator Peggy Hollingshead stated in a media release. "Her subject matter includes Christian, landscape, abstract, portrait and small table sculptures."

"She's amazingly talented," coffee shop owner and manager Sandra Peters said, noting the shop has exhibited some of the artist's work in the past.

Parrish studied art at the University of Kentucky, the London School of Fine Art, Northwest Florida State College, the University of West Florida and Florida State University. She works in acrylics, oil pastel, charcoal, ink, wood plaster and mixed media.

The coffeehouse, a non-profit community outreach of the Journey United Methodist Church, offers gallery space for artists of all levels of expertise and talent. Performing artists likewise find a creative outlet on Journey Java's stage during open-mic nights and scheduled performances.

Journey Java's artists of the month receive a large area to show their work and a reception honoring them.

To be considered, artists may submit a photograph of their work to Hollingshead at Peggy@drphh.com or Peters at Sandra@journeycrestview.com. Alternatively, they may hand-deliver the photo to Journey Java Connection, 269 N. Main St.

Want to go?

A free public artist's reception for Charlotte Caudill Parrish, Journey Java Connection's artist of the month, will be 6-8 p.m. Feb. 16 at the coffeehouse, 269 N. Main St. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Call Peggy Hollingshead, 902-9066, or Sandra Peters, 398-8814, for more information.

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: Charlotte Parrish is Journey Java artist of the month

Raising chickens in your backyard is becoming a national fad.

There has been a push to change land use codes to allow for small-scale poultry production in large cities and towns. More people want to raise their own chickens for eggs and meat.

However, raising poultry is not for everyone.

Before purchasing poultry, determine what county and city codes affect your property. Then, consider limiting the impact of poultry on your neighborhood. Poultry can bring unwanted smells and insects if improperly managed. Your yard needs a dry area to house the poultry.

Next, consider chick care. Baby chicks must be kept at around 95 degrees Fahrenheit for the first week. Decrease 5 degrees each week until they are more than 5 weeks old. These young birds also need special chick starter feed until they are 8 weeks old, when you can switch them to a chick grower feed.

Chicks must be 20 weeks old before they receive adult feeds. If your backyard flock is for laying eggs, separate the roosters and hens at 20 weeks. Roosters are really of no use if you just want laying hens. The hens must be fed a layer ration.

Chickens are vulnerable to parasites — like worms, mites and lice — and diseases. Put them in a clean, dry habitat. This will help decrease internal and external parasites and reduce the need to use pesticides to control them. Additionally, ask a local vet about diseases prevalent in your area.

We recently had a fowl pox outbreak, so I would recommend vaccinating against this disease.

Coops should have at least two solid sides and a roof that will protect chickens from the wind and rain. The structure can be fixed or mobile. A mobile coop makes sanitation easier by spreading manure around the yard so that it does not accumulate in one location.

Whether fixed or mobile, coops must be sturdy enough to keep out predators. Additionally, chickens need a minimum of three square feet of floor space per bird.  

Finally, chicken manure is nitrogen-rich; you must fertilize less if using manure.

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview. Call 689-5850 for more on this topic.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Tips for raising your own poultry