CRESTVIEW — A Crestview resident has received an award for her art.
Okaloosa Public Arts presented Sharon James with an honorable mention for her piece "Yankee Doodle," which she entered in the Sept. 16 Okaloosa Public Arts juried show.
James' piece, along with many others, will be on display in the Okaloosa Administration Building in Shalimar for one year.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview artist wins award
CRESTVIEW — A Sept. 16 wreck resulted in minor injuries.
Alexander Parker, 23, of Eglin Air Force Base, and Kara Payne, 32, of Crestview, were driving northbound on State Road 123 around 6:30 a.m., according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release. Payne stopped for traffic ahead, and Parker, also stopping for traffic, reportedly couldn’t stop in time and hit Payne's vehicle.
Parker's vehicle veered left into the southbound lane, striking a third vehicle with driver Stephen Thrash, 49, and passenger Adrien Thrash, 6, both of Crestview, according to the release.
Parker; Payne and her passenger, Jesse Payne, 32, of Crestview; Stephen Thrash and Adrien Thrash received minor injuries. Parker and Stephen Thrash were the only two people transported to a hospital.
Damage to the 2005 Chevrolet Colorado that Parker was driving is estimated at $8,000; damage to the 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe Kara Payne was driving is estimated at $3,000; and damage to the 2007 Ford F250 Stephen Thrash was driving is $8,000.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 injured in State Road 123 accident
CRESTVIEW — Gordon Martial Arts has set these events for remainder of 2016:
"We host three tournaments a year and crown about 30 competitors with 'GCMAC Champion' at the May tournament,” GMA owner Thomas Gordon said. “Each tournament has 120-180 competitors and 300-550 in attendance. So for those three tournament dates, we have a pretty good impact on the city.”
See www.gma.com for more information on GMA events.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gordon Martial Arts sets year-end events
The 2016 Okaloosa Public Arts “Tribute to Music” Art Show winners are as follows:
Honorable mentions include:
Suzanne Robbert of Pensacola judged the show, according to Okaloosa Public Arts.
These artists’ work was juried into the show; the works are currently on display at the Okaloosa County Administration Building in Shalimar through September 2017:
Linda Kernick, Colby Detwiler, Rita Benz, Helen Blair, Joe Harper, Anne Johnston, Pat Roberts, Joan Langham, Thalia Newton, Theresia McInnis, Bernadette Simms, Kimberly Heartsong, Patti Gillespie, Wally Ratcliffe, Sharon James, Theresia Barker, Ann Forester, Elia Saxer, Autry Dye, Sue Tarkin, Sandra Harrison, Toni Dineen and Tappi Schilling.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Saxer, Harper and Dye place in art show
As summer changes to fall, plants in our landscapes change too. Shorter day length and cooler weather bring on changes in our shrubs, trees and lawns.
Azaleas may lose a few leaves now. These are the older leaves on branches near the center of the plant. There is no need for alarm by the loss of a few older azalea leaves from now until spring.
However, if younger leaves, those nearest the tip of the shoot, turn yellow or brown there is cause for concern. Poor drainage, lack of water or alkaline soils may cause this.
Other plants such as gardenias, hollies, camellias and cherry laurel may have yellowing leaves now. But as with azaleas, these are the older leaves on the stem near the center of the plant. Mature leaves will drop from the plant from now until spring. This is the normal aging of older leaves. Be careful to not confuse this normal process with spider mites, scale, lace bugs, nutrient deficiencies, poor growing conditions, salt injury, etc. Just keep in mind that this normal change in leaf color and leaf drop occurs on older leaves during cooler weather – it’s a seasonal change.
Leaves of sycamore trees have changed from green to brown by now. Although sycamore is a deciduous tree, this phenomenon is not caused by a change in day length or temperature and is not considered a true seasonal change. It is the result of insects feeding on the leaves. By the time the damage is visible, there is little that can be done to correct the problem, which is caused by the sycamore lace bug. This problem will take care of itself since sycamore trees will soon be dropping their leaves.
Our lawns also experience some seasonal changes. Growth rate of lawn grasses decreases during fall. This slowdown means less mowing is required and it means that lawns will be less attractive than they were during spring and summer. Weak, thinning and damaged areas of the lawn will show little to no improvement during this time because of this slowdown in growth.
Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipedegrass will turn brown with the arrival of the first frost. Expect some St. Augustinegrass blades to turn reddish purple as a result of cool temperatures and light frost. With freezing temperatures, St. Augustinegrass will turn brown in unprotected areas.
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: Autumn creates changes in our landscapes
CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Area Sister City program will have a picnic to provide information about a Sister City visit.The picnic is set for noon Sept. 24 at the Twin Hills Park picnic shelter off Purl Adams Avenue, Crestview. The public may attend the event at no charge. Bring a favorite dish to share.About 45 residents from Noirmoutier-en-l'Ile, France will visit the Crestview area Oct. 12-24.Call 603-2584 for more information.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Sister City program sets picnic
CRESTVIEW — An upcoming class will give area residents the chance to "dance with a star."
Fred Astaire Dance Studio will host Chelsie Hightower — of television shows, “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars” — on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 for the studio’s students. A group dance lesson will be open to the public at 7:45 p.m. Sept. 30 for $35 a person.
Hightower has partnered with many stars including professional bull rider Ty Murray, pop musician Michael Bolton, and IndyCar driver Hélio Castro-Neves. Hightower performed in the 2013 “Dance for Life” showcase.
“We are proud to bring Chelsie Hightower to Crestview,” Fred Astaire Dance Studio owner David Colón said. “Our town has many who appreciate the arts, and it is our pleasure to provide an opportunity for those ballroom dance lovers, and dabblers, to learn from a pro we have loved to watch dance so beautifully on television.”
Space is limited. Call 682-1455 or visit www.FredAstaireCrestview.com to register for the class.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pro dancer to visit Crestview studio
Have a cute photo of your kids out and about? They could be our next The Bulletin Kid! Email a photo with your child's name, age, hometown and a description of the action to news@crestviewbulletin.com
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Bulletin Kids: Week of Sept. 20, 2016
CRESTVIEW — Brothers from a local Masonic lodge have influenced local progress, education and the economy for 130 years and pledge to remain positive influences on the city’s future.
Thursday evening the lodge’s long and prominent position was recognized with the Crestview Historic Preservation Board’s third historic marker. It was the second Free and Accepted Masons lodge to receive the recognition.
“The Crestview Historic Preservation Board thought it was very fitting to honor Concord Lodge No. 50 F&AM during the city’s 100th anniversary, since the history of the lodge and the city of Crestview is so deeply entwined,” board president Ann Spann said.
“The Concord Lodge predates the city by 30 years,” she said. “It played an important role in the formation of Crestview over the years.”
DISTINGUISHED BROTHERS
“Many distinguished citizens are, were and continue in the making of the history of Crestview as members of Concord Lodge No. 50,” Worshipful Master Chester Willis said.
Granted its charter on Jan. 23, 1886, the lodge was originally a two-story wooden building located alongside the Yellow River Railroad line—today’s Industrial Drive—where the Garden of Memories cemetery is now.
When the Crestview Community School burned down, the Masons welcomed classes into their lodge, which itself burned down in December 1916.
In 1919 a new lodge opened in the building that currently houses S.E.A.S. Engineering on the north end of Main Street at U.S. Highway 90.
71 YEARS ON MAIN STREET
It, too, was originally wooden, but was later clad in brick to match nearby prominent civic and commercial buildings that included the original Okaloosa County courthouse, which it faced, the Rice Building and the First Presbyterian Church.
Concord Lodge remained at the Main Street location 71 years until building its current lodge on Garden Street in 1990.
“The lodge chose to place the marker at the original building and (building owner) Kermit George was pleased to work with us to place the marker there,” Spann said.
The Historic Preservation Board has placed two previous markers recognizing local sites’ historic importance and cultural significance.
The 1904 J.R.L. Conyers Lodge No. 364 F&AM PHA, marker was placed June 12, 2012, and Old Bethel Cemetery received a marker on Nov. 20, 2013.
One of the city’s more unusual boards, the Historic Preservation Board, composed of citizen volunteers, was formed in 2001 and is tasked with preserving and remembering Crestview’s past.
“Board members are appointed by the mayor and City Council,” board President Ann Spann said. “The board does independent fundraisers that we use toward historic preservation projects and historic markers.”
One of the board’s first accomplishments was preserving the historic Alatex Building from demolition for a proposed parking lot.
“It has become the centerpiece of our historic district and now houses the Florida A&M University school of pharmacy,” Spann said.
Spann, a Crestview native who is also the director of the Baker Block Museum, said now that the board has mounted its third historic marker, it is working on recognition for several more historic sites.
The board recently received rights to “Crestview: The Forkland” from its authors, historians Betty Curenton and Claudia Patten. The board has republished the comprehensive history book with a special Crestview Centennial Celebration cover.
“We work to preserve historical structures as well as historic traditions in Crestview,” Spann said. “Our service to the board is very much a labor of love.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 130 years of service honored
GAINESVILLE — Florida beekeepers are concerned after 2.5 million bees that were killed during an aerial spraying with Naled/Dibrom for Zika-carrying mosquitoes in Dorchester County, S.C.
Now, Floridians are looking for ways to avoid the same tragedy. Florida is the third-largest beekeeping state in the nation.
Researchers are not surprised that the South Carolina incident has Florida beekeepers worried, said Fred Fishel, professor of agronomy and director of the Pesticide Information Office.
“With the Zika cases in south Florida, and now that scientists have identified mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus, we would expect beekeepers to be concerned about increased pesticide application,” Fishel said. “But, registered beekeepers should be notified before an application of pesticides. That gives them time to protect their bees while spraying is conducted.”
There are pesticides that will not harm bees, but will kill mosquitoes, says William Kern, associate professor of urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
“The larvaciding materials Methoprene should have very little impact on honey bee colonies and no mortality on adult honey bees. Bti, a biological pesticide, has no impact on honey bees,” Kern said. “The problem comes from the use of adulticides like Naled, pyrethrin, or resmethrin, that will kill exposed bees.”
Jamie Ellis, an associate professor of entomology and head of the UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, offers tips to help beekeepers minimize damage to bees:
•Ask the Mosquito Control District to review the list of pesticides available to them and use those that are the least toxic to bees and have the shortest persistence in the environment. Remember that the Mosquito Control District will want to rotate chemicals to lessen the chance that mosquitoes will become resistant to any one product. Consequently, you may have to work with the team to identify a couple of lower-risk pesticides.
•Encourage the mosquito control district to spray after dark, when bees are not flying. Remember, most mosquito control districts must spray at or just after dusk because that is when mosquitoes fly. However, the later in the evening that the mosquito control districts can spray, the better it is for the bees.
•Work with the spray team to identify areas that need to be sprayed. Local terrain will determine the location of mosquito hotspots. Consequently, spray teams can review their spray area and maybe limit the amount of pesticide that they spray.
•Create a list of local beekeepers and include their contact information. You can give this list to the local mosquito control district and ask them to notify all area beekeepers prior to spraying for mosquitoes. This is especially important when Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is conducting emergency mosquito control operations. A helpful reminder that a beekeeper can have colonies located all over the district will be instructive.
“Beekeepers need to remember that mosquito control districts work under certain constraints and may not be able to follow all of the recommendations above,” Ellis says. “The obligation is on the beekeeper to protect his/her bees.”
Ellis suggests placing hives in areas that are less likely to be exposed to spraying. Also, communication is key. “Communicate openly with local mosquito control districts about the importance of honey bees,” Ellis says. “Volunteer to give a presentation on bees to the employees so that they will understand the situation better.”
“Both Aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) are found around houses,” Kern said. “These mosquitoes are associated with urban and suburban residential and recreational areas; therefore, backyard bee hives are at greater risk than hives placed in rural or unoccupied locations.”
Brad Buck is a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences science writer.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida university offers safest Zika spray methods
