lifestyle | Crestview News Bulletin

Crestview resident presents research at University of Alabama conference

Written by archive on March 31, 2017. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview resident is among University of Alabama students selected to present a research project at UA’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference.

Shelby Critcher of Crestview on March 30 presented the project, "Variability of Electrical Impedance Measurements Collected from Human Forearm Using Multiple Electrode Configuration."

Students participating in the competition gain experience presenting and defending their research projects to a panel of judges in both oral and poster presentation forms, according to a conference media release.

They also become eligible for cash prizes, and form relationships with faculty mentors and fellow conference presenters.

Awards will be presented April 10 at the school stadium's south end zone.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resident presents research at University of Alabama conference

Emergency response training available in Crestview

Written by archive on March 30, 2017. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team's basic certification training is scheduled. With certification, participants may help our area's first responders during the first 72 to 96 hours after a natural or man-made disaster.

CERT will provide free training for area residents ages 18 and up April 21-23 and April 28-30 at No special skills or experience are needed. Attendance at all six sessions and preregistration are required to become certified.

The first three sessions are 6-9 p.m. April 21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22, and 1-5 p.m. April 23 at Crestview Fire Department Station No. 1, 321 N. Woodruff Ave. The last three sessions are 6-9 p.m. April 28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29, and 1-4 p.m. April 30 at the station.

Topics include first aid, disaster psychology, fire prevention and fire safety, disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and terrorism.

Completion of the class does not create any obligation to become part of North Okaloosa CERT, but does qualify the student to be part of any Community Emergency Response Team in the country.

Go to https://okaloosaflcert.samariteam.com/Default.aspx to preregister and fill out the CERT application. Email NOkaloosacert@gmail.com for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emergency response training available in Crestview

2 pedestrians seriously injured in Wednesday night accident

Written by archive on March 30, 2017. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Two Crestview residents remain hospitalized with multiple severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle shortly before 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Both were standing in the roadway of Ferdon Boulevard South.

Heather Gibbons, 29, and Erin Davis, 19, stopped their respective vehicles after noticing a dog lying in the northbound inside lane of Ferdon Boulevard (State Road 85) at the intersection of Robinson Avenue.

A northbound vehicle, driven by a 17-year-old Crestview resident, struck the women as they examined the dog in the dark intersection.

Because LifeFlight was not operating due to weather conditions, the women were transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center by Okaloosa County EMS ambulance.

Gibbons is listed in serious condition and Davis is listed in critical condition.

The Crestview Police Department is continuing to investigate the accident.

Two other pedestrians have been struck by vehicles on S.R. 85 recently in Crestview, including a man who was killed on the morning of March 12 near the intersection of Griffith Avenue. The accident remains under investigation by the Crestview Police Department.

Three days earlier, a women was struck by a truck that left the roadway and hit her while she waited to cross at the intersection of Redstone Avenue near Publix. She was released from North Okaloosa Medical Center the day after the accident.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 2 pedestrians seriously injured in Wednesday night accident

'Jose Ole' beef taquito recall set

Written by archive on March 28, 2017. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

WASHINGTON — Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc., a Lampasas, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 35,168 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat beef taquito products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically rubber with plastic, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The items were produced Dec. 30, 2016.

The products subject to recall are 60-ounce plastic bags inside of a corrugated carton labeled as “José Olé Taquitos Beef Carne De Res In Corn Tortillas Crispy and Crunchy,” with case codes 3366365A, 3366365B, 3366365C, 3366365D, and a Best By date of Dec. 30, 2017.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “Est. M-5590” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming.

The problem surfaced when Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc. received two consumer complaints of foreign material in its ready-to-eat beef products on March 14 and March 21. The foreign materials were pieces of rubber with white plastic that originated from the establishment's processing equipment.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS urges consumers who have purchased these products not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact General Counsel Paul Taylor at 909-477-4800.

Consumers with food safety questions can visit AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov, an FSIS virtual representative website.

The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline is 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854), available in English and Spanish from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.

The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem can also be accessed 24 hours a day.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Jose Ole' beef taquito recall set

Bridgeway starts Mental Health First Aid Training

Written by archive on March 27, 2017. Posted in health-fitness, lifestyle.

CRESTVIEW — Starting March 31, Bridgeway Center Inc. will provide Youth Mental Health First Aid training for the Okaloosa Technical College practical nursing program.

The eight-hour course gives people the tools to identify when someone might be struggling with a mental health or substance use problem and to connect them with support and resources when necessary.

“One in five Americans has a mental illness, but many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care,” a Bridgeway media release states. “Unlike physical conditions, symptoms of mental health and substance-use problems can be difficult to detect.

“For friends and family members, it can be hard to know when and how to step in. As a result, those in need of mental health services often do not get them until it is too late.”

Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training assist an individual having a heart attack, MHFA prepares participants to interact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aiders learn a five-step action plan that guides them through the process of offering support.

"Through this program, we hope to take the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems," Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, said. "When more people are equipped with the tools they need to start a dialogue, more people can get the help they may need."

The council helped bring MHFA to the U.S. in 2008. In 10 years, MHFA has become a movement in the United States, with more than 550,000 people as certified MHF Aiders, according to the media release.

Bridgeway Center Inc., has two Youth MHFA instructors and one Adult MHFA instructor. BCI has provided training to over 285 Okaloosa County residents and professionals since 2015. This includes guidance counselors for Okaloosa County schools and Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers.

Contact Lisa Lydston, BCI, at 833-7500 extension 203 or lisa.lydston@bridgeway.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bridgeway starts Mental Health First Aid Training

4-H is about more than farm animals

Written by archive on March 27, 2017. Posted in columns, lifestyle.

Many people, when asked what 4-H is, immediately come to one conclusion: farm animals.

Though much of 4-H is about animal science and livestock, there is a world beyond these areas of focus that truly makes 4-H shine.

For instance:

It is the largest youth development program in the nation.
It focuses on teaching our children through hands-on learning and strives to make our youths productive and caring citizens.
Under the large umbrella term 4-H, we find over 50 different curriculum and project areas ranging from public speaking to environmental science to green engineering.

Projects serve more than one purpose. Children are learning a new specialty area, but they are also meeting new people and expanding their social skills. During school vacations, youths in our area can participate in day camps or attend overnight camps offered by 4-H.

Some of the many topics explored during day camps include sewing, canning, soap making, robotics and nutrition.

Overnight camps during the summer help our youths develop leadership skills, as well as meet other young people in our area.

So, though farm animals are a large part of what 4-H does, it is certainly not what defines this expansive organization.

For those interested in joining 4-H, there are several clubs available locally. Some of these clubs include vet science, dog specialties and archery.

We are always looking for individuals willing to donate their time to become club leaders and start new 4-H clubs for our youth.

Contact me at vgraham@co.okaloosa.fl.us or 689-5850 for details on becoming a volunteer or starting a new club in a project area that has yet to be explored in our area.

Veronica Graham is the 4-H Program Assistant for Okaloosa County.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 4-H is about more than farm animals

Use tax diversification to help manage retirement income

Written by archive on March 27, 2017. Posted in columns, lifestyle.

You need to save and invest as much as possible to pay for the retirement lifestyle you've envisioned. But your retirement income also depends, to a certain degree, on how your retirement funds are taxed.

And that's why you may be interested in tax diversification.

To understand the concept of tax diversification, you'll need to be familiar with how two of the most important retirement-savings vehicles — an IRA and a 401(k) — are taxed. Essentially, these accounts can be classified as either "traditional" or "Roth."

When you invest in a traditional IRA or 401(k), your contributions may be tax- deductible and your earnings can grow tax deferred. With a Roth IRA or 401(k), your contributions are not deductible, but your distributions can potentially be tax- free, provided you meet certain conditions. (Keep in mind, though, that to contribute to a Roth IRA, you can't exceed designated income limits. Also, not all employers offer the Roth option for 401(k) plans.)

Of course, "tax-free" sounds better than "tax deferred," so you might think that a Roth option is always going to be preferable. But that's not necessarily the case. If you think your tax bracket will be lower in retirement than when you were working, a traditional IRA or 401(k) might be a better choice, due to the cumulative tax deductions you took at a higher tax rate. But if your tax bracket will be the same, or higher, during retirement, then the value of tax-free distributions from a Roth IRA or 401(k) may outweigh the benefits of the tax deductions you'd get from a traditional IRA or 401(k).

So making the choice between "traditional" and "Roth" could be tricky. But here's the good news: You don't necessarily have to choose, at least not with your IRA. That's because you may be able to contribute to both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, assuming you meet the Roth's income guidelines. This allows you to benefit from both the tax deductions of the traditional IRA and the potential tax-free distributions of the Roth IRA.

And once you retire, this "tax diversification" can be especially valuable. Why? Because when you have money in different types of accounts, you gain flexibility in how you structure your withdrawals — and this flexibility can help you potentially increase the amount of your after-tax disposable income.

If you have a variety of accounts, with different tax treatments, you could decide to first make your required withdrawals (from a traditional IRA and 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan), followed, in order, by withdrawals from your taxable investment accounts, your tax-deferred accounts and, finally, your tax-free accounts.

Keep in mind, though, that you may need to vary your actual sequence of withdrawals from year to year, depending on your tax situation.

For example, it might make sense to change the order of withdrawals, or take withdrawals from multiple accounts, to help reduce taxes and avoid moving into a different tax bracket.

Clearly, tax diversification can be beneficial.

So after consulting with your tax and financial advisors, consider ways of allocating your retirement plan contributions to provide the flexibility you need to maximize your income during your retirement years.

Edward Jones wrote this article for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Use tax diversification to help manage retirement income

Party highlights community garden

Written by archive on March 21, 2017. Posted in lifestyle, things-to-do.

CRESTVIEW — Common Ground Community Garden hosted its first Garden Party on Saturday.

The event featured tours of the garden, information on becoming a member, several children's activities and a farm-to-table meal.

The party featured food donations from several Crestview and Laurel Hill chefs and farms to offer attendees a freshly prepared meal.

Raffle tickets were also sold for several prizes; winners will be announced during the Triple B Cookoff on March 25.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Party highlights community garden

Triple B brings new mix of music

Written by archive on March 21, 2017. Posted in lifestyle, things-to-do.

CRESTVIEW—The Triple B festival traditionally focuses on pitmasters and barbecue, but that’s just one aspect of the annual event. Attendees can also visit vendor booths and listen to live music.

The second “B” in Triple B has traditionally stood for “bluegrass,” but 2017 has brought a branding change. The word has been replaced with “bands,” though the change wasn’t part of a larger marketing push, according to Crestview Area Chamber President Valerie Lott.

LURING MORE BANDS

“Bluegrass was just something we decided to venture away from,” Lott said. “One of the bands still has a bluegrass sound, though, so we’re not completely ditching it.”

The shift reflects that artists from other genres can participate in the festival, which is exactly what attendees will notice this year.

The Triple B will feature three bands — New Earth Army; Luke Langford and the 331 South Band; and Continuum.

New Earth Army, based in Destin, blends various musical genres into their performance, encompassing funk, jazz, blues and jam rock. Their set will kick off the Triple B, taking the stage at 10 a.m.

Langford and his band from Freeport will follow with a set beginning at about 12:30 p.m. The five-piece band is country at heart and makes it known in their high-energy set.

The event concludes with Destin-based Continuum, scheduled to perform at 3 p.m. The band is self-described as “electronic soulk,” which their Facebook page says is a blending of folk and soul genres. The group also mixes elements of indie rock and pop rock into their set list.

“There are all these festivals in the south part of the county with great bands and we wanted to lure some of that to the north end in Crestview,” Lott said.

The bands will perform under the awning at Old Spanish Trail Park thanks to equipment and parts donated from community sponsors, according to Lott.

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Approximately 75 vendors have registered for Triple B, and Lott expects about 20 more to register this week leading up to the event.

An official vendor list has not been released but will encompass a wide range of categories including jewelry makers, craft soap designers, vehicle sales representatives, artists and much more, according to Lott.

There will also be food and beverage vendors aside from the approximately 30 barbecue competitors.

In years past, vendors split into various categories and this determined the registration fee. In an effort to streamline the process, vendors have been lumped into a single registration category and charged a $95 booth fee.

Money collected from these fees is recycled by the chamber and used for future marketing, promotions and events.

The annual event attracts about 10,000 attendees, according to Lott, who said she expects similar numbers this year.

The event will be held at Old Spanish Trail Park this year, as opposed to previous years when it was held in downtown’s Main Street district.

The chamber made this change to accommodate a higher number of barbecue vendors and their equipment needs.

WHAT: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13^th Annual Triple B Cookoff

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview

ONLINE: www.crestviewchamber.com/tripleb

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B brings new mix of music

Triple B becomes official barbecue event

Written by archive on March 21, 2017. Posted in lifestyle, things-to-do.

CRESTVIEW—The Triple B festival is returning to Crestview for the 13th consecutive year and will highlight new features blended with old traditions.

The event’s experience begins the moment car doors open as the smell of barbecue fills the air, a scent certain to be even stronger in 2017.

Triple B has partnered with the Kansas City Barbeque Society to become an officially sanctioned event on the group’s competitive circuit. During a sanctioned event, competitors can earn points to qualify them for the national competition held annually in Kansas City.

“We have a guy coming from Arizona, from Ohio, from North Carolina,” Crestview Area Chamber President Valerie Lott said. The chamber is the organization behind the Triple B.

The increase of barbecue vendors, expected to be about 30, demanded a shift in venue. Previously, the festival has been held in downtown’s Main Street area but with more participants comes more equipment.

The rigs and trailers used by some of the individuals on the competitive circuit would also be too cumbersome for downtown, according to Lott. This year, the Triple B takes place at Old Spanish Trail to accommodate the event’s growth.

While KCBS members will compete for a national award, local pitmasters and cooks will still be featured in a separate area, Lott added.

“We didn’t want to lose that local, backyard element of the festival,” Lott said. “It’s also there for those local people that just want to be able to find someplace they can go to after the festival ends. A local place isn’t going anywhere when the event ends, so people can still seek them out.”

This also means that the People’s Choice award will continue in 2017. This award will be presented to a local pitmaster, not on the professional circuit, receiving the most votes. Tickets for the competition will cost $1 and allow people to sample a participating barbecue vendor for a sample. Attendees can then vote for their favorite.

Partnering with KCBS has also allowed the Triple B to lure regional pitmasters that they were unable to secure in previous years because of scheduling conflicts. Lott explained that last year another Panhandle event, sponsored by KCBS, drew some barbecue cooks rather than Triple B.

“These were things we didn’t even think about in the past,” Lott said.

A new venue and new city laws also raised other questions about how the event would be run. Previously, the event was free to attend thanks in part to the nature of its location. Now, with a controlled venue site, the chamber had the option to charge an admission fee — an option the group declined.

“How could we charge for it?” Lott said. “Our mission is to provide the community with events that everyone can attend” and charging for entrance could discourage or hinder some attendees.

The chamber also faced the question of alcohol. New city laws permit events such as the Triple B to sell alcohol if they receive the proper permitting. Again, the decision was made to stick with tradition.

“Our interest is having family-friendly events and while you can certainly have alcohol and be family-friendly, it just isn’t the image of the chamber,” Lott said.

WHAT: The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s 13^th Annual Triple B Cookoff

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview

ONLINE: www.crestviewchamber.com/tripleb

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B becomes official barbecue event

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