If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, DigitalLearn.org has the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed. 

Sections include:

●Getting started on your computer

●Using a PC (Windows 7)

●Navigating a website

●Basic search

●Introduction to email

●Using a MAC (OS X)

●Microsoft Word

●Creating resumes

●Online job searching

●Cloud storage

●Introduction to Skype

●Introduction to Facebook

●Buying a plane ticket

●Online scams

●Internet privacy

●Why use a computer?

DigitalLearn.org is an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant-funded project of the Public Library Association.

The site, launched in June 2013 and updated in 2016, is intended to build upon and foster the work of libraries and community organizations as they work to increase digital literacy across the nation.

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DREADEN: Use this website to learn more about computers

The chaste tree makes an attractive specimen as your landscape bed’s centerpiece or in a large container on the deck. 

Easy-to-grow, drought resistant and attractive to butterflies and bees, Vitex agnus-castus is a multi-stemmed small tree with fragrant, upwardly-pointing lavender blooms and gray-green foliage. 

The chaste tree’s divided leaves resemble those of the marijuana plant; its flowers can be mistaken for butterfly bush; and the dry, darkened drupes can be used for seasoning — similar to black pepper — making it a conversation piece for those unfamiliar with the tree.

Vitex — with its sage-scented leaves that were once believed to have a sedative effect — has the common name “Chastetree” since Athenian women used the leaves in their beds to remain chaste during the feast of Ceres, a Roman festival held on April 12. 

In modern times, the tree is often planted where beekeepers visit, to promote honey production; or it’s included in the landscape for enjoyment of its showy, summer display of violet panicles.

Chaste tree is native to woodlands and dry areas of southern Europe and western Asia.

It will thrive in almost any soil that has good drainage; prefers full sun or light shade; and can even tolerate moderate salt air. 

Vitex is a sprawling plant that grows 10 to 20 feet high and wide, and looks best unpruned. If pruning is desired to control the size, do so in the winter, since it is a deciduous tree and the blooms form on new wood. 

The chaste tree can take care of itself, but can be pushed to faster growth with light applications of fertilizer in spring and early summer and by mulching around the plant. 

There are no pests of major concern associated with this species, but root rot can cause decline in soils that are kept too moist.

Sheila Dunning is 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: DUNNING: The chaste tree is easy to grow, drought resistant

You might work diligently at building a financial roadmap for your retirement years and a comprehensive estate plan.

But you can’t just create these strategies — you also have to communicate them. Specifically, you need to inform your spouse and your grown children what you have in mind for the future — because the more they know, the fewer the surprises that await them down the road.

Let’s start with your spouse. Ideally, of course, you and your spouse should have already communicated about your respective ideas for retirement and have come to an agreement on the big issues, such as when you both plan to retire, where you’ll live during retirement, and what you want to do as retirees (volunteer, travel, work part time and so on).

But what you both might have let slip through the cracks are the important specifics related to financing your retirement.

You’ll need to answer several questions, including these:

●When will you each start taking Social Security?

●Are there strategies for maximizing both of your Social Security payments?

●When will you need to start tapping into your respective retirement accounts, such as your IRA and 401(k)? And, once you do start withdrawing from these accounts, how much should you take out each year?

You may want to work with a financial professional to address these issues, but however you proceed, you and your spouse need to be “on the same page” regarding the key financial components of your retirement.

Now, consider your grown children. You need to clearly communicate your estate plans to them, not only for the sake of openness and honesty, but also because they may well play active roles within those plans. So when talking to your children, make sure you cover these areas:

●Durable power of attorney — You may well decide to give one of your grown children the durable power of attorney to pay bills and make financial choices on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

●Estate executor — An executor is the person or entity you name in your will to carry out your wishes. An executor has a variety of responsibilities, so you’ll want to choose someone who is honest and capable of dealing with legal and financial matters. Again, you could ask a grown child to serve as your executor, but, to avoid potential conflict of interests among your children, you might want to go outside the family. Talk with an attorney about how best to name your executor.

●Status of will and living trust — Assuming you have already drawn up a will, share it with your grown children. The same is true with a living trust, a popular estate-planning tool that may allow your survivors to avoid going through the time-consuming, public and expensive process of probate.

A will and a living trust will obviously contain a great deal of information your children should know about — so take the time to explain your thinking when you created these documents.

You want to enjoy a comfortable retirement, and you want to leave a meaningful legacy through your estate plans.

To help accomplish both these goals, you need to include your loved ones in your arrangements — so open those lines of communication.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SHANKLIN: Tips for sharing your retirement, estate plans with family

American beautyberry puts on quite a show during the fall with its bright purple fruit.

The profusion of berry-like fruit found along the thin branches result in the plant taking on a weeping habit.

Each fruit is only about 1/3 inch in diameter but collectively form roundish clusters that encircle the stems. The berries are particularly showy in September and October. They remain on the plant, even after its leaves have dropped, into early winter if not eaten by birds and other wildlife.

Many species of birds — including robins, cardinals, mockingbirds, brown thrashers, finches and towhees — will eat beautyberry fruit. Birds are a major method of seed dispersal for this plant.

Even though I consider the showy fruit its best attribute, the small, lavender flowers tightly bunched together along the stems during June to August are attractive, as well. The plant is not well suited for manicured, formal landscapes but can be useful in a naturalized garden.

American beautyberry is a deciduous shrub without much ornamental value during the winter. But during the growing season, its somewhat course, fuzzy, light-green leaves look good in a setting with other darker-leaved shrubs.

It grows well in part shade/part sun as an understory plant beneath larger trees such as pines and oaks.

Be sure to allow enough room for this sprawling shrub to develop into its mature size of three to eight feet in height with an equal spread.

It may also be used as an informal screen or even as a specimen plant. But avoid using it where it will require regular shearing as the flowers and fruit are produced on new growth.

Thinning out old or low-growing branches is a better method of pruning this plant. American beautyberry may self-seed but I have not seen this to be a bothersome problem.

America beautyberry is somewhat available in the nursery trade and is fairly easy to propagate from stem cuttings. It can be propagated from seeds, as well. In addition to the purple fruiting types, look for cultivars such as 'Russell Montgomery' that produce white fruit. There are also other nonnative species of Callicarpa worth looking at, such as C. dichotoma and C. japonica.

Larry Williams is 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: WILLIAMS: Get some American beautyberry in your garden

The Crestview Public Library will take part in the Big Library Read. The program is the world’s largest digital book club through public libraries; it connects millions of readers around the world with the same eBook at the same time.

For two weeks beginning June 23, Crestview Public Library users will be able to borrow the eBook, "A Murder in Time" by Julie McElwain (Pegasus Books), from http://okaloosa.lib.overdrive.com and participate in a worldwide version of a local book club. There will be no waitlists for this popular mystery with a twist, which was selected based on a survey of more than 20,000 library readers.

"A Murder in Time" is an intricate mystery about a brilliant FBI agent, Kendra, who finds herself transported back in time to the 1800s. Relegated to the servant class, she stumbles across a gruesome murder, and she alone recognizes there is a serial killer in their midst. Kendra scrambles to solve the case before it takes her own life — 200 years before she was ever born. 

At its core, Julie McElwain’s debut novel is a puzzle, a hunt for a murderer and a quest for justice.

“Throughout my life, I’ve loved all genres of books — mystery, romance, paranormal and historical,” said author Julie McElwain. “Maybe that’s why I’ve included a little bit of all those elements in ‘A Murder in Time.’ I sincerely hope readers enjoy Kendra’s story as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.”

Big Library Read is a free program. To get started reading, all you need is a Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Niceville or Valparaiso library card.

The book can be read on all major computers and devices, including iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Chromebook and Kindle. The eBook will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, so there are never any late fees.

Big Library Read is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading platform for eBooks and audiobooks from the library. The program is made possible through a partnership between OCPLC member libraries, OverDrive and Pegasus Books, publisher of the McElwain novel.

For more information on Big Library Read, visit BigLibraryRead.com.

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GARCIA: Crestview library to participate in world’s largest digital book club