Have you ever wanted to walk with dinosaurs, swim with sea turtles, or try working a job you’ve never had before? All this and much more are possible with the new Oculus Rift Virtual Reality machine at the library.

You might have an idea of what virtual reality is, but just how incredibly rich and immersive the experience you have with Oculus Rift might surprise you if you give it a try.

To make your appointment, ask someone at the front desk or call 682-4432 and ask for Jean.

The library will be closed April 28 for renovations and Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative Continuing Education Day.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Experience virtual reality at the library

CRESTVIEW — If you have an event you would like to submit, send your first and last name and information about the event to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — The Guardian ad Litem Program, which aims to represent victims of child abuse, neglect and abandonment in the court system, will hold its annual "Forgotten Children" memorial.

The event — 2:30 p.m. April 30 at Twin Hills Park, 100 Hathaway St. N., Crestview — raises awareness of the need for Guardian Ad Litem volunteers. Attendees will throw flowers into the water as a symbolic demonstration of local children still waiting for a guardian volunteer. The program includes the Crestview High School ROTC and children from other local schools performing various pieces.

The Guardian ad Litem program is an organization whose volunteers act as advocates in the court system for about 1,700 abused, abandoned and neglected children in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties.

The Guardian ad Litem Volunteer is part of a team that includes a case coordinator and a program attorney, all working together to assess and address the best interests of the children represented. Volunteers develop relationships with children who often have had no stable adult in their life, showing these children that someone truly cares about them.

Call 689-5060 and ask for Carita Smith, or visit www.guardianadlitem.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guardian ad Litems set Forgotten Children program

CRESTVIEW — The Foundation of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce raced ducks on April 22 near the Crestview Public Library. 

The race netted about $3,300 for vocational/technical scholarships. These scholarships will go to eligible Laurel Hill, Baker and Crestview High School graduates, who will receive as much as $1,000 over the next few months.

All 1,000 ducks were sold before the race, with many businesses in Crestview buying ducks for all of their employees as well as individuals chipping in to help vocational/technical education in our community. $1,550 in prize money was awarded to 10 people who bought duck numbers.

The top $500 prize winner was 710, belonging to Irma Rastater, the grandmother of foundation board member Mario Werth. Rastater said through her grandson, she will use the funds to visit Crestview family members from her home in Baden-Baden, Germany. Emerald Coast Aviation donated that prize. The second-place winner of $250, donated by the Paul Hsu Family Education Foundation, went to Megan Melendez of Casbah Coffee Co. She had duck 73.

Buyers of the eight next-fastest ducks included Nancy Bass of Merle Norman, duck 369; Laylee Jergensen from American Elite Molding, duck 322; Matthew Southard, duck 510; Edwin Gomez, duck 899; Angie Day from Day's Tire Pros, duck 454; Mary Inman, duck 659; Penny Eubanks, duck 402; and Courtne Hufstuler, duck 54.

There were eight additional $100 prizes funded by Hot Head Burritos; Friends of the Crestview Library; Bob and Peggy Hollingshead; Eglin Federal Credit Union; Publix; Cal Zethmayr for WAAZ; Dr. Richard Thomas, DDS; and Okaloosa Gas District.

Scout Troop 773 helped to construct the raceway next to the parking lot at the library. It took over 200 sandbags to build the retaining wall for the race track. About 20 other volunteers handled all the chores from hanging on the water hose to filling the race pond (thanks to Doug Sims and Richard Laux from Auburn Water Systems), to herding ducks, verifying the winners and doing a total clean-up of the area after the race.

The foundation credited the city of Crestview, particularly Mayor David Cadle and Public Works Director Wayne Steele, for allowing the use of the facility. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rubber duck race raises $3,330 for scholarship fund

CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Community Band has set its next concert.

It begins 7 p.m. May 1 in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

Under Kim Whaley's direction, the band will present a varied program, with emphasis on show tunes from cinema and the New York stage.

Like all the band's performances, admission is free, and donations will help defray associated costs.

The band will also accept non-perishable foods to donate to area food pantries.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community band sets show tunes concert

CRESTVIEW—A commute on Raptor Drive can take one past several suburban homes or leave somebody stuck in a five-foot hole.

A storm drain under construction on the street was left open for several days and marked off with a single piece of construction zone tape and four orange signs—two of which laid on the pavement. No cover was placed over the hole which dropped several feet into the ground and had no accessible escape route if somebody had fallen in.

Cris Basilio lives a few houses away from the opened drained and posted his concern to the News Bulletin’s Facebook page April 17 that “a child could easily fall” into the hall and become injured.

The removed portion of pavement surrounding the hole cut into the road lane and presented a threat to traffic on the residential street.

The road was repaired during the afternoon of April 19, but the hole was left open. Barriers that were once partially around the hole were moved into an adjacent yard—leaving no indication of the drop off to passing motorists or pedestrians.

“If two cars were on the corner going opposite ways, no doubt one would run right over this if they didn't see it,” Nettie Predieri, who lives on the street, said.

The drain is located at a curve in the road, meaning it’s partially blinded to some motorists depending on their travel direction.

The storm drain was covered and completed by the end of day April 19. On April 20, the tape and signs were still in place to caution drivers of the potentially wet cement which had been laid the day before.

Although fixed, the hole was open for several days and presented risks to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians traversing the road. Thirty-six homes are located on Raptor Drive, which borders other roads containing several dozen more houses in the Alicia Place subdivision.

A call to Public Services Director Wayne Steele for comment was not answered.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Construction project puts children at risk

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Courthouse records of marriages from April 2-20 include:

•Mercedes Yardley and Marcus Kelley, both of Crestview.

•Sydney Lane, of Laurel Hill, and Jacob Brown, of Fort Walton Beach.

•Mariah Kelley and Dustin Burkett, both of Holt.

•Elizabeth Bleigh and Robert Youngblood, both of Crestview.

•Brittany Moore and James Nelsen, both of Crestview.

•Michael Swenson and Victoria Hendrickson, both of Crestview.

•Valynthia Jones and Bruce Durm, both of Crestview.

•Tamara Lynn Bogle and Derek Peoples, Crestview.

•Jimmy Barger and Courtney Damon, both of Crestview.

•Sherry Smith and James Burnes III, both of Crestview.

•Antonie Markham and Troy Roberts, both of Crestview.

•Michael Ford, of Baker, and Megan Cross, of Prairie Village, Kansas.

•Cherish Rice and Doyle Hollis Jr., both of Crestview.

•Jessie Chism, of Bryan, Texas, and Nicholas Benziger, of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa marriage licenses

Editor’s Note: This continues our Celebrate Community series on nonprofit organizations and causes that improve North Okaloosa County residents’ quality of life.

CRESTVIEW — The ability to protect oneself is both important and vital for anybody, whether it’s a child confronted with a bully or an adult faced with a criminal.

Gordon Martial Arts helps individuals protect themselves when threatening situations arise by offering free self-defense courses for women and children. The classes aim to teach basic skills that can help people in dangerous situations, as well as tips for avoiding them in the first place.

“The main thing we teach is to be more aware of your situation,” Tom Gordon, the owner of the martial arts studio, said. “Whether this means not parking in dark areas, paying attention to what’s going on around you and not being distracted or how to get away from situations altogether.”

Gordon started offering the classes around 1995-96, he said. Since then, he’s partnered with local law enforcement to host the classes. Aside from defense in the moment, the classes can help victims of crime or bullying overcome psychological damage and give back a sense of personal security.

“Once an assailant is gone, the damage goes real deep, real fast,” Gordon said. He told the story of a woman who was victimized in her driveway and lost her sense of safety at her own home.

“We want to give people a sense of empowerment,” he added.

For children, Gordon teaches skills to avoid and discourage bullies — many of which are shared as a resource on the studio’s website. They include using a buddy system, talking to adults about the situation, not showing emotion, and avoidance. Children are also taught karate but only as a defensive measure, Gordon said.

Resources are also available for parents of children who are being bullied. Gordon believes that martial arts classes don’t just teach self-defense but also help children gain confidence, which can be just as important in dealing with a bully.

The classes are offered about four times per year and Gordon said he sees a mix of attendees.

“I’ll have girls aged 12, 13, 14 years and women up to their seventies,” he said.

Each class has about 20-25 people in attendance but he’s had classes as large as 50 before. Women are encouraged to attend multiple classes as a way to constantly practice and refine their skills.

“I love it when I see people at multiple classes,” Gordon said. He also enjoys getting feedback and seeing the mental toughness the classes can offer. “They are so amped up after the class, it’s a great thing to see.”

Gordon decided to offer the classes years ago because he knew he had the ability to educate people about a valuable skill.

“I’m in the belief that if you’re in a position to help someone, you should do something,” he said. “That’s how I was raised to believe and that’s what I continue to practice.”

Gordon — a father of girls, a husband and a son — saw the importance of teaching women and children specifically the ability to defend themselves and how to avoid potentially harmful situations.

The next women’s self-defense class will be offered with help from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Those planning to attend do not have to pre-register; simply show up in comfortable clothes. Attendees must be at least 12 years old.

Next class: 10:30 a.m. to noon, April 29

Location: Gordon Martial Arts, 130 W. Oakdale Ave., downtown Crestview

Cost: Free

More information: Ashley Bailey, 850-259-0031 or Gordon Martial Arts, 850-682-0720

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'We want to give people a sense of empowerment'

New fire engines – maybe! Optics provide insights to safety. CPD cars are equipped with "Blue Lights" to be more visible. Read again our April 15th front page story, "Increasing traffic causes accident surge." Next look at "Fire station gets new engines."

Our new engine is 'red' and the article indicates 'black' will be an included color. Why? 'Black' is a color that research has shown for years to be a causal factor in higher vehicle accident rates. Take a minute and look at the front page picture. Your eyes will tell you that 50 percent of our CFD engine not clearly visible, because it appears to be 'black.'

A study by the Dallas FD in the 1990's confirmed; "multiple-vehicle accidents may be as much as three times greater for red or red/white fire trucks compared to lime-yellow/white trucks." Today, we are 20 years past that study.

We all know that there will not be a real solution to Crestview's traffic challenge within the seven-year span of our new engine lease. The challenge Chief Holland faces is his willingness to place his first responders in harm's way by using the wrong can of paint. 

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet @cnbeditor.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New fire engines' color almost invisible