It's summer again — time for many of us to take a break and possibly hit the open road. But even if you go on vacation, you won't want your investments to do the same — in summertime or any other season. How can you help make sure your portfolio continues to work hard for you all year long?

Here are a few suggestions:

•Avoid owning too many "low growth" investments. As you know, different investments have different characteristics and can help you in different ways. For example, you typically own stocks because you want them to grow in value so that you can eventually sell them for a profit.

Other investments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), provide you with a regular source of income and stability of principal — two valuable contributions to your portfolio. However, investments like CDs don't offer much in the way of growth. So if you own too many of them, you might be slowing your progress toward your important financial goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

You can maximize the productivity of your portfolio by owning a variety of investments — domestic stocks, international stocks, corporate bonds, U.S. Treasury securities, CDs and more.

How much of each investment should you own? The answer depends on a variety of factors, including your age, income, risk tolerance, family situation and specific objectives. Over time, your ideal investment mix may change, but you'll likely need at least some growth potential at every stage of your life.

•Don't let your portfolio go "unsupervised." Your investment portfolio can be subject to "drift" if left alone for extended time periods. In fact, without your making any moves at all, your portfolio can move in directions that may not be favorable to you. Suppose you think your holdings should be made up of 70 percent stocks, but due to strong gains, your stocks now make up 80 percent of your portfolio. This development could lead to a risk level that feels uncomfortably high to you. That's why you should review your portfolio at least once a year, possibly with the help of a financial professional, to check your progress and make adjustments as needed.

•Don't stop at the nearest "resting place." Some people hope that if they can get that one "winner," they will triumph in the investment arena. But the ability to "get rich quick" is much more of a myth than a reality. True investment success typically requires patience, persistence and the resilience to continue investing even during market downturns.

In other words, investing is a long-term endeavor, and you need a portfolio that reflects this reality. The investment moves you make today may pay off for you decades from now. You need to establish your goals and keep them constantly in mind as you invest. And you will never really reach the end of your investment journey, because you'll need to make choices and manage your portfolio throughout your retirement years.

Hopefully, you will enjoy a pleasant vacation sometime this summer. But your investment portfolio shouldn't take time off.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Don't let your investments take a 'vacation'

Tomatoes are abundant this time of year and you have many options to buy local and fresh. Tomatoes are one of the most popular home garden vegetables to grow and are currently providing home gardeners with fresh ripe bounty until summer's end.

Our local farmer’s markets are also selling homegrown tomatoes, and in many colors like deep red, bright yellow and green. Our climate is great for growing tomatoes. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of fresh tomatoes.

Nutritionally, tomatoes are packed with vitamins C and A. The vegetable is low in calories and high in flavor. They are great served sliced and also in cooked dishes.

Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Ripe tomatoes should be used within three to four days. For best flavor, do not refrigerate. Ripe tomatoes will give slightly to gentle pressure.

To preserve the summer’s bounty, try canning. Remember to use U.S. Department of Agriculture-recommended practices for safety and long-term quality. Go to http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/usda/GUIDE03_HomeCan_rev0715.pdf for a complete listing of how to safely can tomato products.

Here is a recipe for a low-fat, low-sodium salsa recipe packed with flavor and essential nutrients. Adjust the salt and oil to your taste and diet.

Farm Fresh Salsa

Ingredients:

• 6 medium ripe tomatoes, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 ½ seeded and minced jalapenos
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• ½ red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lime, juiced
• chili powder, salt and pepper, to taste
• scallions, cilantro or parsley, to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Place in refrigerator for up to 12 hours for flavor infusion. Serve with your own baked chips.

Baked Tortilla Chips

• 1 package medium or large tortillas
• cooking spray
• salt to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut tortillas into 8 – 12 pieces using a pizza cutter and a cutting board.

Place aluminum foil on 2 or 3 baking sheets. Place tortilla pieces in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Lightly coat tortillas with cooking spray on both sides. Sprinkle tortilla pieces with salt to taste, or eliminate salt for dietary needs.

Place in oven and cook 10-15 minutes until crisp. 

Pamela H. Allen is the interim county director and an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Let's talk tomatoes

"Love has brought a great many people to safety when competency was exhausted," Garrison Keillor said.

People can do many things for others in an attempt to help. They have the strength and ability.

This past week, news media companies ran a video of a soldier who risked his life by running through a harsh firefight to save the life of a young child. It was an act of bravery and love.

Then there are times when even the best efforts are not enough to bring about what is desired. Think about first responders at a serious vehicle accident. Despite their heroic efforts, a person's body is too badly damaged for their life to be saved. It's an act of bravery and love, but nothing could be done.

Think of a young child who has fallen and skinned a knee. Mom or Dad can do little other than clean the injury and put a Band-Aid on it. But what more is the child seeking? Comfort, an assurance that everything will be okay.

That is where love and compassion bring about the kind of healing that physical competency cannot. Yes, physical healing of pain is greatly sought. But even more so is the assurance that all will be okay. Being able to convey the message of comfort and hope is an act of love.

Love is a gift that is given to us from God. It is God's love that sees us through challenging times. When God's presence is acknowledged, we know all will be well.

That love often is expressed through other people. Whether through acts of bravery, acts of competency, or acts of compassion, it is God's love that is being expressed. Because of our experience of God's love, we can then share that love with another.

We are given the privilege of working with God in innumerable situations and circumstances. We can do many things. But relying on our own strength will eventually run us dry. Simply attempting physical feats will oftentimes not be enough — or even the correct approach to take.

Providing comfort, assurance and reassurance is always part of the healing process whether in body, mind or spirit. It is always a gift when it is offered.

At the root of all we do to help others is love. When you acknowledge this, you will accomplish great things.

As the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:3, 7: "If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing … Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Helping others is an act of love

Editor's Note: Since this incident—first reported in the Northwest Florida Daily News—occurred, Fort Walton Beach city officials have considered changes to their rules. 

Two ladies, Gloria Donaldson and Marti Stacken, out of the goodness in their hearts, purchased, prepared and distributed lunch to the homeless at the Landing in Fort Walton Beach for the past six months. Last week, the police shut them down as they didn't have the $100 per day "gathering permit." 

Apparently, being a Good Samaritan is against the law if one doesn't pay $5,200 per year for a permit to distribute food once a week.

Like many of you, I was appalled that Fort Walton Beach has such a law on the books. It is illegal to feed the homeless at a city park without a $100 "permit." I don't find fault with the police officers doing their job, however, it appears that Fort Walton Beach would rather fatten their city coffers than allow the hungry to be fed.

Have any of the Fort Walton Beach City Council members or the city manager, Michael Beedie, ever been hungry, jobless, felt desperate or needed help? It appears there is no compassion for those who are struggling. The city would rather charge those who have Christian charity and are obeying their Lord in order to distribute food to the hungry.

Are the police now going to be directed to all of the local fast food restaurants to make sure that some well-meaning customer doesn't buy a meal for a homeless person without that $100 permit?

It is wonderful that churches are feeding the hungry and homeless at their facilities, however, unless one has a car (most homeless don't), how are these people going to get to the churches?

Mr. Beedie doesn't like the "beating" the city of Fort Walton Beach is taking over this situation. The negative publicity is well deserved. Mr. Beedie and the city council don't seem to have any concern for those who are hungry. And Mr. Beedie's comment about food safety was laughable.

Get some compassion, Fort Walton Beach! Perhaps the city council would like to take a second day a week to feed the homeless? It will take the churches, volunteers and the city working together to solve the problem of hunger and homelessness, not slapping fees on those in the trenches.

Thank goodness Crestview doesn't have a law like this on their books!

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Get some compassion, Fort Walton Beach