CRESTVIEW — Garden Party 2017, a fundraiser for the Crestview Community Garden, is set 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 18 at 157 S. Main St.

Chef Mary Richard of 'A Grand Elegance' and Esther Phelps will present A Local Farm to Table lunch, 11a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event also includes crafting and activities for kids and adults, gardening tips and tours, seeds and starters, storytelling and a raffle.

Advanced admission tickets cost $10 per adult, $15 per couple and donations for children. Raffle tickets cost $10. You do not need to be present to win. 

Prizes include:

• Three drawings for helicopter rides by Advanced Aerial Operations
• A handmade quilt
• Kitchen herb gardens

All proceeds go to paying the garden’s water bill, garden maintenance and improvement, and community outreach programs.

If there is rain, the event moves to March 25.

Call 758-8481 to purchase tickets. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Garden Party set March 18

Just like individual households, libraries must prioritize when it comes to budgets. When something is not used enough to justify its cost, adjustments must be made.

The library's subscription to HeritageQuest, an electronic resource for genealogy research, expires today and will not be renewed. For those interested in genealogy research who do not have a personal subscription to a genealogy resource, the Baker Block Museum, home to the North Okaloosa Historical Association, is a great place to start. You may call them at 537-5714.

Speaking of electronic resources, many of those found on our library electronic resources page are supplied to us through the Florida Electronic Library. However, the Crestview Public Library specifically purchases others. Please check them out and remember — use it or lose it! (Your 14-digit Crestview Public Library card number is required for access.)

•ChiltonLibrary provides access to repair, maintenance and service information on the most popular cars, trucks, vans and SUVs on the road today, as well as many new vehicles. This continuously updated resource provides step-by-step repair procedures, troubleshooting guides, diagnostic trouble codes, photos, illustrations, diagrams, and multimedia (videos and animations) to simplify even the most complicated tasks.

•LegalForms lets you take the law into your own hands and create accurate, reliable legal documents with no hassle. It offers Florida-specific "attorney forms" – officially approved forms actually used by law firms. Many of the forms and documents are available in Word and Adobe format so you just need to simply fill in the blanks on them.

•The Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC) helps users embark on new education and career paths with in-depth information on colleges/universities, graduate/professional programs, distance learning, corporate training, available scholarships/awards, and more. Practice tests include entrance exams, certifications, and licensing tests. With the Career Assessment tool, students can map a career path using a multiple-choice exam that matches their answers to the most suitable job categories, industries, and occupations. The Resume Builder and Virtual Careers Library tools help students build essential career skills like how to build a resume, cover letter, and interviewing tips. GED and ASVAB books, as well as practice tests, are also available.

•Opposing Viewpoints in Context is the premier online resource covering today's hottest social issues, from capital punishment and immigration to marijuana and affordable housing. This cross-curricular research tool supports science, social studies, current events, and language arts classes. The tool presents informed, differing views on each side of an issue and helps students develop information literacy, critical thinking skills, and the confidence to draw their own conclusions.

•Science in Context is an engaging online resource providing contextual information on hundreds of today's most significant science topics. By integrating authoritative, curriculum-aligned reference content with headlines and videos, Science in Context draws researchers into the subject matter, showing how scientific disciplines relate to real-world issues, from weather patterns to obesity.

•Price It! Antiques & Collectibles is an electronic database antique/collectibles pricing tool, containing data from a variety of sources, including online auctions (eBay), online antique dealers and land-based auction houses. The database currently has over 23 million prices realized for art, antiques and collectibles in more than 100 categories and subcategories with over 10 million images.

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Use it or lose it: electronic resources

CRESTVIEW — Ashley Bailey, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office crime prevention specialist, will present “Active Shooter—Anytime, Anyplace: Do You Know What to Do?”

The First Tuesday Talk is 10:30 a.m. March 7 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

The hour-long presentation is free to attend. Coffee and cookies will be available at 10 a.m. when the doors open. Call 682-4432 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Active shooter' safety presentation set

Hello, my name is Veronica Graham and I am the new 4H Program Assistant for Okaloosa County.

I started working at the extension office as a volunteer for the Master Gardener Program in 2016, but joined the 4-H team just before Christmas of 2016. I grew up in Livingston, Montana, where I enjoyed outdoor activities such as bike riding, hiking and spending time with my three horses and two dogs. 

After high school I joined the Air Force, where I served four years as an EOD technician.

During that time, I had two beautiful children and decided that they needed me more than the military did. I put down my boots and picked up the books. By 2014, I had my bachelor’s degree in Project Management with a focus in Training and Development.

Currently, I am leading the Embryology School Enrichment Program in 8 schools that include 54 classes. I really enjoy the fact that these students are learning the developmental stages of life.

I have also been working with the Family Nutrition Program to develop new raised bed gardens for local schools.

Contact me at vgraham@co.okaloosa.fl.us or call 689-5850 to find out more about 4-H in our county.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Graham joins Crestview extension office staff

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Courthouse records of marriages from Feb. 14-20 include:

•Starniliya Coleman and Theodore Uecker, both of Crestview.

•Sarah Downen and James Wright, both of Crestview.

•Ashley Booth and Rylanda Campbell, both of Crestview.

•Ashley McIver and Zachary Putnam, both of Baker.

•Taquanna Mobley and Jerome Wilks, both of Crestview.

•Adrianna Jernigan-Laroe and Anthony Bolerjack, both of Crestview.

•Benjamin McCabe and Shawna Kennedy, both of Crestview.

•Shaina King and Andrew  Stanley, both of Crestview.

•Antonio Mills and Emily Jackson, both of Crestview.

•Natasha Hallett and Jacob Collins, both of Crestview.

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

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Spring Panhandle Job Fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 2 at St. Mary’s Parish Life Center, 65 Coral Drive SW, Fort Walton Beach.

Job fair business participants are:

•1 SOFSS NAF Human Resources Office, Acorn Food Services, Adcomm, Aerotek, Air Force Reserve, Airbus, American Water, AOCE, Inc., Arby's

•Benjamin Franklin Plumbing/One hour Air Conditioning, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, Community Broadcasters, Complete Florida, DeVry University

•Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa & Walton Counties, Edward Jones, Emerald Coast Utility Services, Inc., G4S Secure Solutions, Gulf Coast Youth Services

•Heavy Equipment College of Georgia, Home Instead Senior Care, Kelly Services, Kitty Hawk Kites Inc., LandrumHR, Mary Kay Inc.

•Navy Federal Credit Union, Northwest Florida Daily News, Okaloosa County BCC, Okaloosa County Head Start, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Okaloosa Gas District

•ResortQuest By Wyndham Vacation Rentals, SA Technical Services, Inc., Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Exchange – AAFES, Tom Thumb, Turner Construction

•University of West Florida Emerald Coast, Verizon, Vet Center, VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, Inc., Waffle House, White-Wilson Medical Center, Wyndham Vacation Ownership

Check-in and registration for employer set-up is 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. March 2 at the church.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Panhandle Job Fair comes to St. Mary's

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

CRESTVIEW — A number of at-risk and trafficked teenage girls recently received a day of pampering.

Tracie Esmond and the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in Crestview's Ryan Bullard spent months raising funds for the event, which took place Feb. 19 at Penton House Salon and Day Spa in Pace.

“During the event, local girls were given the opportunity to receive haircuts, styling, hair dying, manicures and pedicures, and makeup,” a media release stated. “Many cosmetology professionals were on site to provide services to these youth at no charge. The youth were treated to pizza and snacks at the salon.”

What were the benefits?

“The event supported a pro-social atmosphere for teen girls, the event served to allow at-risk and trafficked girls to feel better about themselves and enjoy a day of beauty with their peers, and the list could go on,” a media release stated.

What’s next?

“We are working closely with product manufacturers such as Paul Mitchell and Bare Minerals to acquire donated products for future events,” the release stated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: At-risk teens enjoy spa day

CRESTVIEW — One club's efforts to provide a garden park and decorations in the city are apparently appreciated — to the point of thievery.

The Dogwood Garden Club maintains Garden Park, an area near the intersection of Ferdon Boulevard and Main Street in Crestview. The site contains a Blue Star monument at its south end, benches and tables, and plants that members seasonally replace.

"This year, evidently, the pots of plants are so irresistible that someone felt it necessary to take one (pansies). Pot and all," club member Thea Duhaime stated in an email to the News Bulletin.

The club paid about $35 for fall-season plants, and planted them — still in their pots to deter weed growth — at the park. "The cost of all our projects comes out of our treasury," Duhaime said.

The flower theft is just one example of alleged mischief.

In the fall, club members found destroyed and overturned concrete benches and someone allegedly broke a pipe used for the fountain and ground watering.

Due to the vandalism, the city turned off water and electricity to the fountain and other pipes, so Duhaime and other garden club members now have to bring gallons of water with them during maintenance sessions.

"It's so disheartening," Duhaime said of the damage. "It is too bad that we can't have nice things in Crestview."

There is some good news: One of the park’s regular visitors spoke to Duhaime Feb. 22 and volunteered to paint the tables.

In addition, Crestview Department of Public Services employees assist the club's members with occasional heavy lifting, such as righting overturned benches after vandals struck last year.

"They helped us with trimming plants … sandblasted paint from the tables originally used at the park, heavy lifting for tree removal and the like," Duhaime said. "If it's heavier than what a group of older women can do, they do it for us. They’ve been great and we're so grateful that they're there."

While there hasn't been excessive local vandalism, Crestview Police Department Sgt. Ray Harp said the best way to deter criminal activity is for area residents to alert the CPD.

"Just call it in if you see any suspicious activity going on. That way we can check it out," he said.

The CPD dispatch phone number is 682-2055.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Garden club reports pansy theft

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview resident is dead following a wreck involving a bicycle and a vehicle, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.

The crash occurred at 4:58 a.m. Feb. 23 at the intersection of Country Road 393 and Harielson Road in Crestview.

Mark S. Dunafan, 56, of Crestview, was riding a bicycle in the southbound lane of County Road 393, approximately 10 inches to the left of the solid white painted edge line for the CR 393 southbound lane.

Kelvin J. Williamson, 19, of Crestview, was driving a 2008 Chevy Cobalt in the southbound lane, and the right front of his vehicle struck the rear tire of the bicycle, according to the release.

Dunafan landed on the hood and windshield of the vehicle and then tumbled onto the roadway on the west shoulder of CR 393, just north of the Harielson intersection. Williamson was not injured in the crash.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview man dies in bicycle crash