1. ENJOY A MOVIE NIGHT. The Marquis Cinema 10 at 2828 Richbourg Lane, Crestview will be open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. For showtimes, see http://www.movieshowtime.net, or pick something entertaining on cable, online or in DVD form.

2. TAKE YOUR FIRST HIKE OF 2017 with the Florida Trail Choctawhatchee group. Members will tour the Timberlake Recreation area. It starts at 2 p.m. Jan. 1 at a kiosk on Ranger Road, and Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. To RSVP, go to http://bit.ly/2iJtxvM. An Eglin permit is required. See https://eglin.isportsman.net/Permits.aspx for details.

3. CHALLENGE YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS with a puzzle-building session. The person to snap in the last outside frame piece gets bragging rights. (There are few local events this time of year, but this suggestion is oldie and goodie.) 

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

Several mutton snapper management changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2017. These changes were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's September meeting:

•Recreational, commercial, importation and sale minimum size limits will be 18 inches in all state waters.

•The recreational bag limit will be five fish per person within the 10-fish snapper aggregate bag limit in all state waters.

•The commercial trip limit will be five fish per person, per day or per trip from April through June in Atlantic state waters (this will replace the prior May through June commercial trip limit that was effective for all state waters).

•A 500-pound commercial trip limit is in effect for the remainder of the year (July through March) in Atlantic state waters.

Though mutton snapper is not overfished or undergoing overfishing, the 2015 stock assessment indicated that the population is smaller than previously estimated. Atlantic federal fishery managers recently approved measures that would make Atlantic federal regulations similar to the recent state changes.

Gulf federal fishery managers are also considering making similar measures for Gulf federal waters. These changes are intended to prevent harvest from exceeding the planned federal quotas, or the number of fish that can be harvested.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mutton snapper management changes expected

Several mutton snapper management changes go into effect Jan. 1, 2017. These changes were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's September meeting:

•Recreational, commercial, importation and sale minimum size limits will be 18 inches in all state waters.

•The recreational bag limit will be five fish per person within the 10-fish snapper aggregate bag limit in all state waters.

•The commercial trip limit will be five fish per person, per day or per trip from April through June in Atlantic state waters (this will replace the prior May through June commercial trip limit that was effective for all state waters).

•A 500-pound commercial trip limit is in effect for the remainder of the year (July through March) in Atlantic state waters.

Though mutton snapper is not overfished or undergoing overfishing, the 2015 stock assessment indicated that the population is smaller than previously estimated. Atlantic federal fishery managers recently approved measures that would make Atlantic federal regulations similar to the recent state changes.

Gulf federal fishery managers are also considering making similar measures for Gulf federal waters. These changes are intended to prevent harvest from exceeding the planned federal quotas, or the number of fish that can be harvested.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mutton snapper management changes expected

CRESTVIEW — An out-of-town passenger suddenly died Tuesday afternoon, according to the Crestview Police Department.

The vehicle's driver called 911 at 3:28 p.m. to report her grandfather had a "medical event" while traveling on Interstate 10, according to the CPD. The vehicle pulled off I-10 and parked at the McDonald's on South Ferdon Boulevard to wait for emergency services' arrival. CPD officers arrived first, followed by the Crestview Fire Department and Okaloosa EMS. 

Emergency medical technicians performed CPR on the man, a CPD spokesperson said. However, Okaloosa EMS reported to CPD, the man "was dead on arrival at the scene."

The victim's information has not yet been added to police reports, but the CPD spokesperson stated they believe the man was "from Mississippi or Louisiana."

—

This is a developing story. We will post updates as they become available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Out-of-town vehicle passenger dies

CRESTVIEW — Karen Ksobiech, owner of Hair World in north Crestview, will discuss “The Science and Fashion of Hairdressing” for the Jan. 3 First Tuesday Talk at the Crestview Public Library. 

This free class starts at 10:30 a.m. with coffee and cookies served starting at 10 a.m. when the doors open. The library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive behind the Post Office in north Crestview.

Ksobiech’s display, “The History of Hairdressing,” will also be on display Jan. 3 through Feb. 28 at the library. 

Call the library, 682-4432, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'The Science and Fashion of Hairdressing' set Jan. 3

"Regrets? I've had a few …" Frank Sinatra, one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th century, did things his way, but he was also familiar with remorse.

He's not alone, of course. We all deal with regrets — and financial ones are among the most troublesome.

Here are the leading financial regrets, according to a recent survey by Bankrate.com, along with some suggestions for avoiding them:

•Not saving for retirement early enough — This was the top regret expressed by survey respondents. Saving and investing early for retirement offers you two key benefits. First, the more time you give growth-oriented investments, the greater their growth potential. And second, by saving and investing for retirement early in your career, you will likely need to put away less money each year than you would if you waited until, say, your 40s or 50s. Therefore, if you aren't already doing so, contribute as much as you can afford to your IRA and your 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan. And increase your contributions every time your salary rises.

•Not saving enough for emergency expenses — You can't plan for all expenses. Your furnace might die, your car may need a major repair, you may incur a sizable doctor's bill — the list goes on and on. If you don't have the money available to meet these costs, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments.

That's why it's important to maintain an emergency fund, containing three to six months' worth of living expenses, in a liquid, low-risk account.

•Taking on too much credit card debt — If you don't overuse your credit cards, they can be handy and helpful in many ways. Try to keep a lid on your credit card debt, though, keeping in mind that your debt payments reduce the amount of money you have available to invest for your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement.

•Not saving enough for your children's education — This may be perhaps the most difficult regret to address — after all, it's not easy to save for your own retirement and simultaneously put money away for your children's college educations.

However, if you can afford to save for college, try to do so in as advantageous a manner as possible. For example, some college savings plans offer tax benefits.

•Buying a bigger house than you can afford — If you tie up too much money in mortgage payments, you will have less to contribute to your various retirement accounts. While home equity certainly has some value, it generally does not provide you with the same liquidity — and probably not the same potential for growth and income — as an investment portfolio that's appropriate for your needs and risk tolerance. So think carefully before purchasing that big house; you might be better served by scaling down your home ownership and ramping up your investments.

You can't avoid all the doubts and misgivings you'll encounter at various stages of your life. But if you can reduce those regrets associated with your finances, you could well increase your satisfaction during your retirement years.

This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Act now to avoid financial regrets

ATLANTA, Georgia — Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties due to the drought that began on Nov. 29.

"These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Alabama. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 3.125 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years.

The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Applicants may apply using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than Aug. 8.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: SBA drought loans available in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview News Bulletin welcomes its newest team member, Mark Judson, who covers North Okaloosa County, particularly Crestview, Baker and Laurel Hill.

Judson — a 2016 University of North Florida graduate who started at the News Bulletin on Dec. 13 — gained years of experience and acclaim at his alma mater.

He served as Spinnaker News’ managing editor, was a sport and investigative columnist for the off-campus Folio Weekly and a Features contributor for Void Magazine, all in the Jacksonville area.

In addition, Judson won the Florida Society of News Editors’ First Place Award for Multimedia Student News Bureau Project in June and has served as a social media editor and marketing manager.

“Mark will build his journalism career at the News Bulletin, but he is no stranger to hard news and the needs of a 21^st-century newsroom,” CNB Editor Thomas Boni said.

Judson’s portfolio includes reports on a Jacksonville shootout; legal entanglements associated with dredging the St. Johns River; and gauging public opinion on Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s fraud charges. In addition, he covered changing trends, such as Jacksonville women emerging in the craft beer industry, and general features, such as a local 16-year-old girl’s appearance on TV’s “Shark Tank.”

His UNF training and experiences surpassed reporting to include recording video, appearing on television programs, co-hosting podcasts, performing web design and tracking readership.

“Mark is experienced in many areas — UNF has an excellent journalism program — and that training, coupled with his own talent, dedication and attention to detail, make him a welcome addition to the Crestview News Bulletin,” Boni said. “We are pleased to introduce him to our communities.”

Judson said his drive centers on a passion for people.

"I became a journalist because I believe in putting the needs of others first,” he said. “This might mean bringing attention to someone in need, holding accountable those who believe they are above scrutiny or informing people about what's going on around them. I've always been a strong writer and seeker of information, so journalism was the perfect way to achieve the goal of helping people."

Judson is new to Crestview, but he said he’s no stranger to smaller towns like the Hub City.

“I love seeing an abundance of local businesses and engaged citizens — I think those are key to building a thriving community,” he said. “So far, people have been incredibly welcoming and kind. I'm looking forward to learning more about the area and meeting as many people as I can."

Residents will see Judson at city council meetings and around town, but those who are social media savvy can see him anytime on his Twitter page. Just search for @cnbMark. CNB readers also can email tips to Judson at mjudson@crestviewbulletin.com.

Judson said he is excited to meet more Crestview area residents online and in person.

"I came to Crestview because I believe small towns allow for individuals to have more impact,” he said. “This is personally important to me and further prepares me for my long-term goals. The area is also surrounded by other interesting towns and home to several parks and trails.

“Besides, why would somebody want to leave Florida?"

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Meet Mark Judson, the News Bulletin's reporter

With 2017 almost here, I have an idea for a New Year’s resolution that is healthy, provides exercise and is a fun outdoor activity for the entire family.

Vegetable gardening can be an excellent activity to try in this new year. For the beginner or experienced gardener, there is always something new to learn from the experience.

There is much to learn about science in the backyard garden. Children can experience where food comes from. They can discover the insect world, including discovering that some insects are actually beneficial. And hopefully, they will learn to care for the land along with learning a skill that can be shared with their children.

The experienced gardener can try something new.

Chinese cabbage is something that you might try. It’s easy to grow and tastes delicious raw or cooked. You could try various herbs in the garden such as lemon balm, dill or chocolate mint. Sometimes color in the garden will help offer a change. Adding color to the garden is easy with annuals such as marigolds, nasturtiums or ornamental kale.

For whatever reason you decide to garden, now is the time to begin planning.

Here is how:

• Choose a sunny location close to a water source. A location near the house makes it easier to care for the garden and harvest the vegetables.
• Have your soil tested. Soil testing takes the guesswork out of determining the amount and kind of fertilizer to use. It also tells you if lime is needed and how much to apply. Your local University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences extension office can provide you information on soil testing.
• Choose vegetables that your family likes, use recommended varieties for North Florida and order early.

January is an excellent time to order seeds for your garden. By ordering early there should be no delay in getting your seeds for spring planting. Many times, newer, more popular varieties are sold out if you wait to order. Many seed catalogs will provide ideas on what to plant, but always buy from a reputable dealer.

Much more on vegetable gardening is available from the UF/IFAS Extension Office in your county or from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening.

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: Gardening: a healthy New Year’s resolution