CRESTVIEW — La Esperanza Latin Grill’s former home is being rebuilt and its new owner will be familiar for the community.

Mr. Mattress will move to the site of the now-closed restaurant, according to Crestview Permit Clerk Betty Mathis of the city’s growth management department. The site is under construction and no information is available on a completion date, according to Mathis.

The company currently operates a location at 3381 S. Ferdon Blvd., in front of the Walmart Supercenter.

Once construction of the old grill at 3045 S. Ferdon Blvd. is completed, the company will move its operations, according to a representative from Mr. Mattress. The site will not be a secondary location.

The representative also did not have a timeline for construction to be completed or a scheduled grand opening date.

Although the company will not be a new addition to the area, it will continue to reinforce the strong presence of mattress stores in Crestview.

Currently, a mattress can be purchased in nearly a dozen locations around the city.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mattress store under construction

The Crestview News Bulletin is offering our readers a special treat: namely, a chance to provide a memorable Easter for your family.

Just look to the right of this page under "Related Content"; click on the Funny Bunny link; unscramble the Easter-themed words; and send your completed answer form, in person, to our office at 638 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview, or email the answers to news@crestviewbulletin.com for the chance to win three great prizes.

Those who unscramble the most words will be entered into a drawing to determine the winner.

The Funny Bunny and the Scrambled Words Contest's grand prize includes these items: a gift basket featuring a stuffed bunny and a lot of candy, courtesy of Walmart; a $25 gift card from Floral Designs; and a John Deere toy tractor from Wise Equipment. See an image of the grand prize at www.crestviewbulletin.com. 

We must receive the completed forms, in person or by email, by April 7.

We will pick a winner on April 10 and announce the contest results in the April 12 News Bulletin.

Employees of the newspaper, participating businesses and their families are not eligible to participate in this contest.

Good luck! 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Enter the 'Funny Bunny' contest to win Easter prizes!

CRESTVIEW — Specialist Nathaniel Castonguay, a 2013 Baker School graduate, has completed military occupational specialty training as a nurse with the U.S. Army.

He attended the phase one nursing program at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio Texas and transferred to Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, for the final phase of the U.S. Army Practical Nurse Course, graduating March 1.

Castonguay received the Faculty Award, which gave him five promotion points. He will be stationed at Fort Bliss to serve as a nurse at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center.

He has received three promotions, with the fourth scheduled in October.

Castonguay joined the Army in October of 2014, attending basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

Castonguay was raised in Baker and attended Troy University from 2013-2014.

His family members include his wife, Ashley, of Fort Bliss, and James and Gail Castonguay, his parents; Haliegh Castonguay, his sister; and Bud and Zelma Rowell, his grandparents, all of Baker.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker man completes Army nurse training

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

CRESTVIEW — Need help or want to volunteer for a worthy cause? Here are some local services and organizations for consideration.

FREE TAX PREPARATION: By appointment from 2-6 p.m. Mondays, and first-come first-served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through April 18 at 1445 Commerce Drive.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN: Exhibitors sought for the Laurel Hill Arts & Heritage Festival, which is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29, next to Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, 8115 Fourth St. Includes woodworkers, fabric artists, visual artists, quilters and community service and organization representatives. No company sales representatives, please. Free to exhibit; no commissions on sales expected. Details: festival chairman Brian Hughes, 603-2584 or brian_abroad@yahoo.com for details.

SENIORS VS. CRIME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The Seniors vs. Crime Crestview office, which assists senior citizens of whom someone scammed or took advantage, needs help. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8. To volunteer, contact Office Manager Sheila Parish, 306-3176, or Region 5 Deputy Director JB Whitten, 813-489-5657. Contact 306-3176, www.seniorsvscrime.com or 800-203-3099 for help.

UWF ACADEMIC ADVISING: The University of West Florida offers assistance with admissions, academic and degree advising and registration in Crestview. Contact Deborah Cluff, 863-6550, to schedule an appointment for first Thursdays at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1446 Commerce Drive.

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE: Need help? Contact the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, 409-3070, www.okaloosawaltonhomeless.org; Opportunity Inc., 659-3190; or Helping Hands of Crestview, 428 McLaughlin St., behind First United Methodist Church. Helping Hands is open 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Tri-County Community Council, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. 306-1134.

CRESTVIEW SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Serves Mondays through Saturdays. To volunteer at Central Baptist Church, call 682-5525; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 682-3154; LifePoint Church, 682-3518; Community of Christ, 682-7474; First Presbyterian Church, 682-2835; or First United Methodist Church, 682-2018.

FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 1-3:30 p.m. Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 247 S. Booker St., Crestview. Free items include shoes and other accessories. Presented by Concerned Citizens of Crestview. Details: 689-1582 or 428-6997.

FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR NEEDY RESIDENTS: 9 a.m. second Saturdays, 383 Texas Parkway, Crestview. Dry goods and fresh produce available while supplies last. Hosted by House of Restoration, a partner agency of Feeding the Gulf Coast. Details: Ruby Chatman, 398-0577.

WOMEN AND FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND EDUCATION: a Crestview-based Community Drug and Alcohol Council program that helps pregnant women with substance abuse. 689-4024.

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: Eligible low-income families can receive financial assistance through the Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Apply at www.elc-ow.org. Hover over “Services” and click “School Readiness” to register.

FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING: By appointment, Crestview Public Library and Elder Services of Okaloosa County, in Crestview, 494-7101 or 1-866-531-8011.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY seeks Crestview area lots for families needing housing. 758-0779 or 315-0025.

VA VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Veterans in crisis, their families and friends can call 800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 to talk with qualified, caring VA responders. Confidential. www.veteranscrisisline.net.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEEDS MENTORS: Adult volunteers spend two hours weekly mentoring children. Pairs go to the library, museum, park or beach, hike, roller-skate or play sports. 664-5437.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS needs people to work in the Emergency Operations Center assisting county personnel. Contact: Yvonne Earle, 863-1530, extension 230.

FREE HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE DROPOFF: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Okaloosa County Recycling Office, 80 Ready Ave., Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa residents may drop off paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, used oil, gas, antifreeze, computers, televisions, fluorescent lamps, car batteries, rechargeable batteries, cleaners, solvents, aerosols and printers. The office is currently selling rain barrels for $65 and compost bins for $55.

MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida seeks friendly, reliable volunteers to greet guests and answer phones in its gift shop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Details: 678-2615, stop by 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, or email info@heritage-museum.org.

CARS NEEDED: Opportunity Inc. accepts donations of cars, boats and other vehicles to support Opportunity Place, an emergency shelter for families. Shelley Poirrier, 409-3070 or shelley@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org.

SHELTER HOUSE FINANCIAL SUPPORT: It costs just more than $100 a day to shelter a domestic violence victim. Every little bit helps. 683-0845.

DRIVE VETERANS to appointments at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Pensacola two days a month. Veterans Service Office, 689-5922.

VEHICLES NEEDED: Covenant Hospice accepts cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats and RVs. Qualified professionals pick up vehicles from Pensacola to Tallahassee at convenience. Rachel Mayew, 428-0605.

LAKEVIEW CENTER'S FAMILIES FIRST NETWORK NEEDS BEDS for local children in protective services. Cribs and beds for children must be in good condition. 833-3840.

EMERALD COAST HOSPICE seeks volunteers in a number of areas, from administrative help to offering support to a hospice patient through visits or weekly phone calls. Details: Ann O’Connor, 689-0300.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Helping Hands — North Okaloosa County services calendar

CRESTVIEW — Upcoming meetings for North Okaloosa County clubs and organizations, and those from surrounding areas, are as follows.

EMBROIDERERS GUILD OF AMERICA: 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 26, Religious Education building, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 1200 Valparaiso Blvd., Niceville. The Sand Dunes chapter celebrates various forms of hand embroidery. Details: 496-3466.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE FILM CLUB: 6:30 p.m. March 27, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. In Building 110, Room 238 of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center. Attendees will screen, "The Empire Strikes Back," Episode 5 of the “Star Wars” series. Also: Voting on officers. Free to attend; refreshments provided.

MAC USERS GROUP: 6:30 p.m. April 3, room 130 of the Northwest Florida State College Student Services Center, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Theme: "Back to the Basics and Beyond." Bring Mac devices. Details: FWBMug.com, or Jean Dutton, 862-3327 or jeancdutton@mac.com.

FAMILY LIBRARY TIME: 6:30-7:15 p.m. April 18, Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Registration for the Nonie's Ark visit is limited to first 30 children ages 4 and up.

CRESTVIEW KIWANIS CLUB: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

KNITTING GROUP: 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Casbah Coffee Company, 196 Pine Ave. W, Crestview.

SONS OF ITALY, CRESTVIEW CHAPTER 2865: 6 p.m. third Wednesdays, Foxwood Country Club, Antioch Road. All people of American-Italian heritage may join. Group president Thomas Hughes, 682-3597, thomasjhughessr@hotmail.com.

GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP: 10 a.m. Thursdays, Crosspoint, in portable 2, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway, Crestview. For people grieving the death of a loved one or other losses. 678-4411 extension 109.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, 704 E. Robinson Ave., Crestview. 689-1842.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 or email okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com to report incidents.

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MONTHLY BREAKFAST MEETING: 7 a.m. first Thursdays, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

CRESTVIEW LIONS CLUB meets 5:15 p.m. every first and third Thursday at Samuel's Roadhouse off John King Road. Details: BJ Thomhave at Foxwood Country Club, 682-2012.

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF CRESTVIEW: 5:30 p.m. first Thursdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

FLYING NEEDLES QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. second Thursdays at Niceville Church of Christ. Visitors and quilters are welcome.

CRESTVIEW PHOTO CLUB: 6:30-8:30 p.m. first Thursdays, Northwest Florida State College Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center, room 306, 805 U.S. Highway 90 E., Crestview.

NORTH OKALOOSA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Live Oak Baptist Church, 4565 Live Oak Church Road, Crestview. Call 398-7524 for details.

MAINSTREET CRESTVIEW ASSOCIATION: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, City Hall, 502 Wilson St., Crestview. Group improves and promotes Main Street and Crestview Community Redevelopment Agency businesses.

CRESTVIEW EXCHANGE CLUB: fourth Thursdays, Covenant Hospice, Crestview. Sharlene Cox, 682-6824.

STEAK NIGHT: 6 p.m. first Fridays. American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Cost: $15 per person; includes T-bone steak, baked potato, salad, bread and dessert. 689-3195.

SATURDAYS

TEEN WII: 2-4 p.m. Fridays, Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Wii playing for students in sixth through 12th grades.

ADULT/FAMILY NIGHT: 6-9 p.m. Saturdays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N. Visitors may enjoy free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or just fellowship.

KARAOKE: 8 p.m. Saturdays, American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. 689-3195.

READ TO DOZER: 10-11 a.m. first Saturdays, Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive. For children ages 4 and up.

BOBBIN LACE GROUP: 11 a.m. first Saturdays, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Anyone may attend to inquire about the craft. 678-2615.

GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION: 9 a.m. to eat and 10 a.m. meeting third Saturdays of the month, Ryan's restaurant, Crestview. Dwayne Hopkins, 217-1001. All motorcyclists are welcome.

VFW HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT: 12 p.m. third Saturdays, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5450, 2240 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Lynn Mobley, 682-5552.

YOUTH NIGHT: 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 Wilson St. N. Visitors may enjoy free refreshments, play games, watch old movies, or fellowship.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 8 p.m. Mondays, the clubhouse at 704 Robinson St., Crestview, for beginners and newcomers. Details: Jerry, 830-6218. www.fwb-area-aa.org.

DOGWOOD GARDEN CLUB: 10:30 a.m. first Mondays, September through May, location to be announced. Details: 683-0839.

COUNTRY PATCHERS QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. second Mondays, Antioch Baptist Church, 4824 Antioch Road, Crestview. Yearly membership: $20.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mt. Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

HELP OTHER PEOPLE EFFECTIVELY: 6 p.m. third Mondays at Community of Christ, Crestview.

COUNTRY PATCHERS QUILT GUILD: 9:30 a.m. fourth Mondays, Antioch Baptist Church, 4824 Antioch Road, Crestview. Sit-n-sew and workshop meeting.

THE OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: fourth Mondays. info@occsw.org.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mt. Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY:

●8 a.m. Tuesdays, First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview. Mary Cole, 683-1899.

●6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, First UMC fellowship hall, Crestview. Brooke Bratton, 225-8197. www.TOPS.org.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 to report incidents. okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

STORY TIME: 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Children ages 3 to 5 can enjoy stories and activities, and make a simple craft.

CRESTVIEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO: Quarterly games 4:30-6 p.m.; regular games 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday at 701 James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

BAKER GARDEN CLUB: 10 a.m. first Tuesdays September through May at different locations. Liz Davis, 537-4512.

OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP: 1 p.m. first Tuesdays, Wellness Center at Twin Cities Hospital, Niceville. A Registered Nurse is present, and meetings include details of specialty care and product innovations that may be helpful. Details: 389-7071.

CARVER-HILL MEMORIAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY: 5:30 p.m. first Tuesdays, Allen Park, 895 McClelland St., Crestview.

OPEN MIC POETRY AT THE LIBRARY: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Free event. Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432 or ehurwitz@okaloosa.lib.fl.us; Rick Sanders, 585-6399. Read poetry or play music. http://cvwlibrary.tumblr.com/.

SHOAL RIVER REPUBLICAN CLUB: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays of each month at Hideaway Pizza in downtown Crestview.

CRESTVIEW TOASTMASTERS: 6-7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, Greater Federation of Women's Club building, 150 Woodlawn Drive, Crestview. Visitors are welcome. Details: Kathy Morrow, 974-3662.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 395: 5:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, Carver-Hill Museum, 895 S. McClelland St., Crestview. Cmdr. Raymond Nelson, 420-0706.

NORTH OKALOOSA PATRIOTS: 6:30 p.m. third Tuesdays, 150 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Crestview. www.panhandlepatriots.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations calendar

UPCOMING

EMERALD COAST CHRISTIAN WRITERS RETREAT & CONFERENCE: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 22-24 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25, Blue Lake Camp, Andalusia, Alabama. Classes, workshops, paid critiques, worship and inspiration presented by professional Christian authors. Registration ranges from $75 to $475. Meal packages also available. http://bluelakecwr.com/ or call 225-2466.

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OKALOOSA COUNTY:  10:30 a.m. March 25, Fort Walton Beach Library, 207 Florida Pl SE. Bert Outlaw presentation, "Land Records 101."  Free. Val Moreland, 243-0352.

REPUBLICAN PARTY LINCOLN DINNER: Cocktails at 6 p.m. March 25, 1500 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach. Dinner is 7 p.m. Featured speaker: former governor Mike Huckabee. Entertainment by The Mulligans. Dinner tickets, $100; nonrefundable. Call 240-1279 to purchase. Limited seating.

DICTIONARY FUNDRAISER: 6 p.m. March 29, Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 808 South Drive, Fort Walton Beach. A Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated event with bunco, dinner and an auction to support its Dictionary Project, which provides dictionaries to Okaloosa third-graders. Dinner of baked chicken alfredo penne, tossed salad and Italian bread. Tickets: $20. Call Hulda Mahlum, 217, 5775, to purchase.

THROWDOWN BENEFIT AUCTION & BBQ: March 30 through April 1, Churchill Oaks Clubhouse, Santa Rosa Beach. Features renown chefs, including Emeril Lagasse and Chris Wilson, "world-class vintners, pitmasters and … musical entertainment by Silverado Pickups and live and silent auctions,” a media release states. Annual charity events, Wine Walkabout, Sip N Shop and Golf Tournament, kick off festivities on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31, benefitting Alaqua Animal Refuge and the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. Tickets to individual charity events can be purchased separately. All funds raised benefit charities along the Gulf Coast, with most proceeds given to local organizations. Tickets and details: www.chichimiguel.com.

FRIENDS OF THE CRESTVIEW LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 5-8 p.m. March 31 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. The March 31 early-bird sale costs $2 for non-Friends members’ admittance.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL ARTS EXHIBIT RECEPTION: 6-8 p.m. April 7, Arts and Design Society, Art Center Gallery, 17 First Street, SE, Fort Walton Beach. The exhibition is on display free of charge from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays April 4-28 at the gallery. www.artsdesignsociety.org, or 244-1271 during gallery hours.

JOSE DIAZ PERFORMANCE CANCELED: A Jose Diaz performance at the Crestview library, set for 6-7:30 p.m. April 10, is canceled. Artists who would like to perform on second Mondays at the library may call 682-4432.

REGIONAL SEDER: 6 p.m. April 10, Emerald Coast Convention Center,1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Cost for the Passover meal, music, worship and celebration is $40 per person. Features recording artist Paul Wilbur and host Hosanna House of Destin. Details: 837-7430 or admin@hosannahouse.net.

‘NWF READS’ FEATURES FICTION WRITOR: 7 p.m. April 17, Northwest Florida State College Sprint Theater, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Annual literacy celebration with fiction writer and memoirist Andre Dubus. Free, with first-come, first-served seating Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Followed by Blackwater Review reception, 6-6:45 p.m., in the adjoining McIlroy Gallery. Beverly Holmes, 729-6032 or holmesb@nwfsc.edu.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 22 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Youth Center, 923 Denton Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. Seventh- through 12th-graders may attend. $10 per person; includes a light lunch and conference materials. Scholarships available for students from low-income families. Theme: “Lead, Empower, Act, Discover!” Includes a hands-on, real-life simulation. Details: David Triana, 368-3505, united4agoodcause@gmail.com, or Dawn Novy, 344-7721, dnovy@bgcec.com.

ARC SUMMER CAMP DONATIONS: Arc of the Emerald Coast seeks donations of funding, water, juice, paper products and carnival toy items for an April 25-28 summer camp trip for Arc clients. Contact Arc at 863-1530 or info@arcemeraldcoast.org for details.

PINE NEEDLE BASKETRY CLASSES: 5-8 p.m. May 16 and May 23, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Learn Seminole techniques. $55 to $60 per person. 678-2615.

CRESTVIEW HIGH CLASS OF 1977’S 40-YEAR CLASS REUNION: 6 p.m. July 15, Warriors Hall in Crestview. “We are searching for classmates that we have lost contact with,” an event organizer said. “If you haven't already received information about the reunion, please contact Sharry at krustin@cox.net." Tickets must be purchased in advance due to the caterer needing to prepare for the correct number of attendees.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: 2 p.m. March 23,Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOP RESCHEDULED: The March 28 workshop has been rescheduled to 1:30 p.m. March 29 at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. Two or more Tourist Development Council members may attend the meeting to discuss functions of the Tourist Development Department and possible privatization of its marketing activities.

Other workshops are April 25, May 30 and June 27 at the same location.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION:

• 8:30 a.m. April 4, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. April 18, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
• 8:30 a.m. May 2, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. May 16, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
• 8:30 a.m. June 6, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. June 20, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Baker Area Public Safety Building.

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION: 3 p.m. third Thursdays, various locations. Call 1-800-226-8914 ext. 231 to confirm.

NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County

Spring is in the air, even if it's not quite there on the calendar. This year, as you shake off the cobwebs from winter and start tidying up around your home and yard, why not also do some financial spring cleaning?

Actually, you can apply several traditional spring cleaning techniques to your financial situation.

Here are a few ideas:

•Look for damage. Damage to your home's siding, shingles and foundation can eventually degrade the structure of your home. Your investment portfolio is also a structure of a sort, and it, too, can be damaged. Specifically, you may have deliberately constructed your portfolio with an investment mix – stocks, fixed-income vehicles, cash instruments, etc. – that's appropriate for your goals and risk tolerance. But over time, your portfolio can evolve in unexpected ways. For example, your stocks may have grown so much in value that they now take up a larger percentage of your holdings than you had intended, possibly subjecting you to a higher degree of risk. If this happens, you may need to rebalance your portfolio.

•Get rid of "clutter." As you look around your home, do you see three mops or four nonfunctional televisions or a stack of magazines from the 1990s? If these items no longer have value, you could get rid of them and clear up some living space. As an investor, you also might have "clutter" – in the form of investments that no longer meet your needs. If you sold these investments, you could use the proceeds to fill gaps in your portfolio.

•Consolidate. Do you keep your lawnmower in a shed, a rake in your garage, and your gardening tools in the basement? When working on your outdoor tasks, you might find it more efficient to have all these items in one location. You could also have your investments scattered about – an IRA here, a new 401(k) there, and an older 401(k) someplace else. But if you consolidated all your investments in one place, you might cut down on paperwork and fees, and you wouldn't risk losing track of an asset (which actually happens more than you might think). Even more importantly, when you have all your investments with one provider, you'll be better positioned to follow a single, centralized investment strategy.

•Prepare for a rainy day. As part of your outdoor spring cleaning, you may want to look at your gutters and downspouts to make sure they are clear and in good repair so that they can move rainwater away from your home. Your financial goals need protection, too, so you'll want to ensure you have adequate life and disability insurance.

•Seal leaks. In your home inspection this spring, you may want to investigate doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Your investment portfolio might have some "leaks" also. Are investment-related taxes siphoning off more of your earnings than you realize? A financial professional can offer you recommendations for appropriate tax-advantaged investments.

This spring, when you're cleaning your physical surroundings, take some time to also tidy up your financial environment.

You may be pleased with the results.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Time for financial spring cleaning

Library Journal has just published its "Best Free Reference Websites and Apps" list for 2017.

Check these out:

•American Archive of Public Broadcasting — americanarchive.org. This collaboration between the Library of Congress and WGBH in Boston aims "to preserve for posterity the most significant public television and radio programs of the past 60 years." Both audio and video from around the country are archived and searchable with more than 17,000 clips.

•C-SPAN Video Library — https://www.c-span.org/about/videoLibrary/. More than 228,000 hours of video (just about everything that has ever aired on C-SPAN), updated on a daily basis. Historical content includes debates, speeches and rallies. Users can create custom video clips to save and share.

•Global Stat — globalstat.eu. From the European University Institute, this database compiles publicly available data from over 100 sources, offering statistical information on globalization, sustainability and human development. Users can search on a range of topics including income distribution, energy consumption, water resources, dwellings, migration, land use, food production, nutrition, school enrollment and life expectancy, and create data visualizations.

•GovTrack — govtrack.us. Allows users to search for and track legislation being debated in the U.S. Congress. Users can set up alerts for particular bills and pieces of legislation as well as follow individual Congress members' work on bills and resolutions, voting records and committee work.

•Wayback Machine Archive Feature — archive.org/web. If you've never played with the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, it is fun! There's a feature worth highlighting: Save Page Now, which lets users archive most web pages and PDFs instantly on demand.  A simple copy and paste guarantees that the web page you saw today will be available even if it's changed or deleted later.

•IFTTT (If This Then That) ifttt.com. A nifty and highly customizable tool that can be employed without having any computer coding skills to mesh two online or digital services. For example, users can set up an RSS feed to deliver inbox alerts, automatically backup all tweets to a Google doc, or program your phone's GPS to open your garage door. The possibilities are nearly endless.

•PhotoMath — photomath.net. An app for iOS and Android, it instantly solves any arithmetic or algebra problem at which the phone's camera is pointed, showing the steps to achieve that result.

•Camel Camel Camel — camelcamelcamel.com. A price tracker tool that provides price drop alerts and price history charts for any product sold via Amazon. Users can set up a simple alert to receive notifications anytime an item price falls. There is also visual and textual price history information for every item in the Amazon database. Great for business research, but I can see other wonderful shopping possibilities!

Go to http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2017/03/best-of/best-free-reference-websites-apps/ to read the entire list.

Sandra Dreaden is the Crestview Public Library reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 8 of the year's best free references

Here are upcoming Crestview Public Library-related events. The library's address is 1445 Commerce Drive.

JOSE DIAZ PERFORMANCES CANCELED: The Jose Diaz performance at the Crestview library, set for 6-7:30 p.m. April 10, has been canceled. Artists who would like to perform on second Mondays at the library may call 682-4432.

AGES 0-2 LIBRARY CLASS: 10:15 a.m. Thursdays and 9:15 a.m. Fridays, Crestview library. Limited to 30 children per class. Topics are: March 23-24 and 30-31, Animal Sounds; April 6-7 and 13, Spring and Easter; April 20-21 and 27, Wildlife; and May 4-5 and 11-12, Praiseworthy Parents.

AGES 3-5 LIBRARY CLASS: 10:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Crestview library. Topics are: March 28, Flying High; April 4 and 11, Easter; April 25, Environmental Center Field Trip; and May 2 and 9, Praiseworthy Parents.

FRIENDS OF THE CRESTVIEW LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 5-8 p.m. March 31 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. The March 31 early bird sale costs $2 for non-Friends members to attend. 

FIRST TUESDAY TALK: 10 a.m. April 4, Crestview Public Library. Speaker Larry Williams of the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview will discuss lawn care in Northwest Florida. 

FREE TAX PREPARATION AND FILING: by appointment 2-6 p.m. Mondays through April 18, and first come, first served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through April 18.

FAMILY LIBRARY TIME: Events for ages 4 and up at the Crestview library include:

●6:30-7:15 p.m. April 18: Nonie's Ark visit. Registration limited to first 30 children; ages 4 and up only

READ TO DOZER: First Saturdays, 10-11 a.m.; for children ages 4 and up.

COFFEE & CRAFT: 10 a.m. second Saturdays, Crestview library. Call 682-4432 to reserve your spot.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Public Library events