CRESTVIEW — Area residents interested in learning about gardening may attend the first meeting of the year for the Dogwood Garden Club of Crestview.

The meetings begin with refreshments and socializing. Then old and new business is discussed and a gardening program is presented.

The meeting is 1 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Crestview Public Library's multipurpose room, 1447 Commerce Drive.

Following meetings continue at 10:30 a.m. first Mondays in members' homes.

The Dogwood Garden Club of Crestview's objective is to encourage interest and knowledge in horticultural practices, civic beauty, and the conservation of natural resources, and by example of good stewardship in the protection of our environment, beautification of our homes and community.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview gardening club sets first 2016 meeting

CRESTVIEW — As Jamie Peoples and her three children settle into their new Crestview home, they reflect on all the hands that had a part in its construction.

Watch video from the dedication ceremony>>

Among almost 700 volunteer workers were 18 business students from Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, whose spring break was decidedly different from the usual spring breaker’s image.

“Those college kids were awesome!” Peoples said.

Thursday, the volunteers’ combined 3,500 hours of labor paid off when the four-bedroom, almost 1,400-square-foot home was dedicated.

APPRECIATION

As a Habitat partner family, the Peoples family helped build not just their own home, which was constructed on a lot donated by the city of Crestview, but also homes for other Habitat families.

“I appreciate Habitat so much,” Peoples said as she thanked the non-profit organization that helps financially needy families obtain their own home.

“It’s been a long road,” Peoples said, choking with emotion. “Thank you so very much. I can’t say more than that. I feel more than that, but I can’t say it.”

Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa Chairman of the Board Debbie Bodensteine, who hosted the dedication ceremony Thursday afternoon, said Peoples had worked two jobs to support her family and pay rent.

“Now she has quit one and can enjoy her new home with her family,” Bodenstine said.

“With the money I will save living in our own home, I can now spend more time with my wonderful children (Destiny, 17, Derek, 15 and Ondrea, 11),” Peoples said.

GROCERIES AND A MAGNOLIA

The new home’s construction was made possible by a $60,000 grant from Publix Supermarkets Charities.

Tim Bryant, manager of the Crestview Publix, and members of his management team helped welcome the family to their home, and presented them with a load of $500 worth of groceries.

“Not only did we help build the house, we are going to fill their pantries,” Bryant said.

The dedication was also noteworthy because of a magnolia sapling in the front yard.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to partner with Habitat for Humanity,” Allen French of Trees Destin, a non-profit arborist, said.

And what’s the best part of the new house?

“My room!” Ondrea said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family moves into Crestview Habitat for Humanity home (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Television chefs may make it look quick and easy to whip up something with an impressive foreign-sounding name, but when it comes to helpful advice for the North Okaloosa County home kitchen, it’s the local chefs and cooks who’ve got it.

Watch chefs give their tips>>

The News Bulletin visited five area chefs in their kitchens, who shared their suggestions.

1. JULIE SPEARS, Sherry’s Restaurant, Holt

Julie’s a busy mom whose passion is baking. The first thing she does each morning is create Sherry’s mouthwatering desserts.

But when she’s at home, her kids get as much attention as her cooking.

She offered this advice for busy moms with lots of children: don’t throw them out of the kitchen.

“Always involve your children,” she said. “Put them to work doing simple things.”

2. JOSEPH McDUFFIE, The Wild Olive, Crestview

The son of The Wild Olive’s founders, Susan and Mike McDuffie, Joseph has indulged in his love of fine cooking since the restaurant opened.

He is currently its head chef, creating many of its signature menu selections.

“Clean as you do. It’s the biggest thing,” he said. “That’s what we do here a lot. It keeps things from piling up and makes sure you have a clean spot ready when you need it.”

3. ANDRÉ BOOKER, Buddy’s View BBQ, Crestview

André Booker arrived in Crestview from his birthplace in Buffalo, New York, by way of the Pacific Northwest, where after managing restaurants in national parks, he headed southeast to be with area family.

He’s adding his innovative experiences, including as a candy chef, to Naaman Eicher’s Buddy’s View BBQ trailer.

“Take your time,” he advised home cooks. “Patience is very important. You might get it wrong the first time, but you’ll get it right the next.”

And what should the family cook do if he or she still can’t get it right?

“Call me,” Booker said with a laugh.

4. JOHN CARLOS MACASAET, Thai Siam, Crestview

Thai cuisine is noted for its use of many vegetables.

John Carlos Macasaet, who prepares many of Crestview’s only Thai restaurant’s sauces and other dishes, said, “Always use fresh vegetables. They taste better and they’re cheaper than frozen ones. And they’re healthier and easier to cook.”

5. BILL TOANNON, Casbah Coffee Company

Folks hang out at “the Casbah,” as it’s familiarly known, as much for its home-baked pastries as for its coffees, teas and paninis. Co-owner Bill Toannon shared his daughter, Julie’s, secret for slicing fluffy rolls, like their cinnamon rolls.

“Instead of using a knife to slice the roll, which can flatten them and destroy the look, we use dental floss….We use that tiny string and saw back and forth and push down.

“It’s a nice clean cut … and there’s nothing to clean up.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 North Okaloosa chefs offer inside secrets (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — To professional home cleaners, the basics of their trade seem obvious.

But for college students setting up their first apartments or other folks who are new to housekeeping, the pros’ advice can be eye-openers.

And in the long run, it can make life easier — and healthier.

Two North Okaloosa County residential cleaners, April Tucker of AT Residential Cleaning, and Laura Forshaw of Monster Maids, offered these favorite tips:

1. Don’t leave your shower pouf dripping over the faucet or the shower head, Tucker said. “They’re constantly dripping and leaving hard-water stains. I hang mine from the shower curtain rings after I shake it out.”

2. Unplug and clean. The four electric burners on your stove actually unplug, Forshaw said, letting owners open the top like a car hood.

“You can actually pull them out and it lifts up, but a lot of people don’t know that. I clean a lot of houses and people see me do that and say, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know you could do that.’ They’ve been trying to reach through that little hole in the drip pans and clean up stuff that spills.”

3. Get a vent hood over your kitchen stove, Tucker said. “When they’re frying food, it creates ‘sticky dust’ and that is so amazingly resilient. I told our roommate, ‘Justin, we’re never frying in the kitchen!’”

4. It may be cumbersome, but every now and then, “pull out the fridge when you sweep,” Forshaw said. “If clients have animals you can make a small kitten with the amount of fur I pull out. I find a lot of lost articles. You’d be amazed what I find. Money, too.”

5. Install hardwood or tile floors. They are not only easier to maintain than carpet, they’re healthier, too, Tucker said.

“There’s so many bad things about carpeting I can live without,” she said. “They get stained, they trap odors, especially from pets.

“I live happily with area rugs. I can take them up and take them outside and clean them. Carpet makes the air so dirty.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa professionals: 5 tips for keeping homes tidy

CRESTVIEW — Sharing and Caring has extra funding for food supplies thanks to a local club.

The Spanish Trail Shrine Club recently donated a $500 check to the Crestview food bank.

Club officers Johnnie Brown and Robert Boutwell recently presented the money to the food bank's president, Robin Marston.

The STSC is a branch of the Hadji Shrine Temple in Pensacola, a fraternal organization that aids children with disabilities. Branches include Fort Walton Beach and DeFuniak groups as well. Call 803-1213 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Shrine club supports Crestview food bank

SHALIMAR — Six winners were drawn from the 204 entries with deposits totaling $23,167.82 in the Teach Children to Save program, orchestrated by local financial institutions, and the University of Florida's Okaloosa County Extension office.

The six winners received $50; however, all 204 are winners for making deposits and beginning a life-long commitment to saving. Our sponsors for this event are BancorpSouth, Beach Community Bank, Eglin Federal Credit Union, First City Bank, and PenFed.

Youth were asked to set a savings goal and make a deposit into a savings account, which makes them Okaloosa Savers. Since the program began in 2004, there have been 2,969 youth making deposits totaling $301332.90.

The individual winners are: Landon Burns; Trey Crouse; Jaynie Darby; Brady Duval; Destiny D'Angelo; and Branten Smith, Crestview resident.

"The average American savings was up to 5.3 percent in 2015. Programs like Teach A Child to Save, the Okaloosa Saves annual Eco-nomic Living Expo on Money, Home, Health, and Environment, as well as America Saves are making great strides in increasing financial security for our citizens," stated Sherry Harlow, Eglin Federal Credit Union marketing & public relations manager and Okaloosa Saves Board chair.

The organization's tips for parents include:

●Spread the message of the importance of money and budgeting.

●Make saving second nature.

●Get them to a local financial institution; open a savings account or deposit into an existing account.

●Teach like a mom, think like a kid.

●Curb their appetite for spending.

●Teach the basics of investing.

●Encourage them to be entrepreneurs.

●Be a role model.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa group recognizes Teach Children to Save winners

CRESTVIEW — While Waffle House restaurants gear up to observe Waffle Week  Sept. 4-10, the local Comfort Inn welcomed public safety officers and Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce members to observe National Waffle Day.

For four hours Wednesday morning, the Ferdon Boulevard South hotel’s lobby was filled with the aroma of baking waffles as a steady procession of hungry breakfasters trooped in and out.

“We just wanted to do something nice for our first responders, and we invited business leaders as well,” front desk and sales manager Jillian Davis said.

During the event, Davis said she added “waffle bar expert” to her title.

Aug. 24 was National Waffle Day, marking the 147th anniversary of Cornelius Swarthout’s 1869 patent of the first waffle iron.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Crestview Police officers, office workers, executives and business owners mingled over a pair of waffle makers and several toppings.

“We appreciate the community a-‘waffle’ lot,” Davis joked.

General manager Becky Triplett said the Waffle Day observance is one way the hotel gives back to its community supporters, who helped propel the property from 899th among the country’s 1,100 Comfort Inns to sixth in four years.

“Our goal is to be the number one hotel in the nation,” Triplett said.

Davis and Triplett said credit for the hotel’s success can be traced directly to its workers.

“We make sure we have a lot of reward programs for our staff to keep them motivated,” Davis said.

“The better you treat your staff, the better they treat their customers,” Triplett said.

FAST FACTS

Here is some trivia about one of America’s favorite breakfast foods:

●Waffles originated in 15th-century France and Belgium, derived from early communion wafer recipes. Flour, salt and wine were the main ingredients. Sugar was added about a century later.

●As waffles gained popularity, French King Charles IX issued waffle rules in 1560 to keep waffle makers from fighting. After his ruling, chefs had to remain a minimum of four yards apart.

●Leavened dough was first used for waffles in the late 16th or early 17th century, with beer yeast as the leavening agent.

●The word “waffle” first appeared in English in a 1725 cookbook.

●Waffles were first documented in colonial America in 1744 with “waffle frolics,” or parties, in New Jersey and the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (present-day New York).

●Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York, patented the first waffle iron on Aug. 24, 1869.

●The ice cream cone was invented at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, when an ice cream vendor ran out of cups and asked a waffle vendor to help by rolling his waffles into a cone-shaped holder.

●General Electric sold the first electric waffle maker in 1918.

●The three Dorsa brothers introduced Eggo frozen waffles in 1953.

●Belgian waffles, an American creation derived from a variation of the traditional Brussels waffle recipe, are first served at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, then marketed under the name Bel-Gem at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, where they caught on. Belgian waffles have deeper holes than standard waffles.  

●There are more than 2,100 Waffle House restaurants in the U.S., including two in Crestview.

Sources: Waffle House, Gone-ta-Pott.com

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview hotel celebrates National Waffle Day (VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Sgt. Greg Gierhart served in the Army and the Air Force, retiring in 1994.

Now he’d just like a home that doesn’t leak.

His current residence is a small, 2006 former FEMA trailer, manufactured as temporary housing for hurricane survivors who lost their homes or had to live elsewhere while their homes were repaired.

Now it’s falling apart and leaks.

Friends from Crestview’s American Legion Post 75, of which Gierhart is a member, have searched the area and believe they’ve found a 30-foot camper that will suit Gierhart just fine.

If only he could afford it.

But among other challenges, Gierhart is battling bladder cancer and is unable to work, and consequently can’t afford the $5,000 cost.

“Financially the medical bills are killing me,” Gierhart said.

LEAKY TRAILER

“I saw his trailer,” his friend and fellow Legionnaire, Lydia Benoit, said. “Once I got in there and looked at it, I was like, ‘you need more than a rebuilding. It's gonna cost us more.’”

Fixing his present trailer isn’t an option, Benoit said.

“From experience, having a camper myself, I know what it costs to fix it,” she said. “I said, ‘What you need is a new one—a newer one.’”

Gierhart and his Legion friends jumped into action. He gave the post his 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, which, Benoit said, “would make a great second car for someone needing to go to work, or a kid for his first job to have reliable transportation to get to work.”

“It’s the only thing of value that he really had,” she said. “He had this car and he said, ‘Well what can we do?’

“I looked at the car, and it's in pretty good shape, body wise, it's got good tires, the motor's good, probably needs a tune-up. I paid to have some minor work on the car.”

CAR RAFFLE

The legion is raffling the car for $20 a ticket from its James Lee post on State Road 85, where the Cavalier can be viewed.

“It’s a nice little car,” Gierhart said.

Then again, any help would be appreciated.

Benoit said Gierhart’s change of service branch and change of status from reserves to active duty complicated his situation with the Veterans Administration.

“He doesn't get any help from the VA,” she said. “He's not entitled to a pension of any source because he has split service. So he has to wait till he's like 62.

“When he went into the military he was Army. When you go in as a reserve or a guard member, as opposed to a full time active duty, there are certain things you're not entitled to until you reach a specific age.

“He separated and rejoined the military as active duty Air Force.”

Currently a certified nursing assistant periodically calls on Gierhart, who lives on Social Security benefits, which mostly cover his car insurance, food and medical expenses.

A trailer that doesn’t leak would be a dramatic change on his outlook, Benoit said.

“Trailers leak a lot if you don't maintain them,” she said. “We've maintained ours a lot and ours still leaked. It probably was not in the best of conditions when he got it.”

—

WANT TO HELP?

Raffle tickets for a 1999 Chevy Cavalier to raise funds for a Crestview-area veteran’s new trailer home are available for $20 each at American Legion Post 75, 898 James Lee Blvd. E., 689-3195. The vehicle may be viewed at the post. It has a solid body, no rust, good tires, recently changed brakes and a recent oil change.

Raffle tickets for a 1999 Chevy Cavalier to raise funds for a Crestview-area veteran’s new trailer home are available for $20 each at American Legion Post 75, 898 James Lee Blvd. E., 689-3195. The vehicle may be viewed at the post. It has a solid body, no rust, good tires, recently changed brakes and a recent oil change.

WANT TO HELP?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Funds sought for veteran's new home

SHALIMAR — Okaloosa Public Arts, an organization dedicated to placing art in public places, will present an art exhibition, “Tribute to Music.”

First, second and third place artist awards are $500, $300 and $200 respectively.

The deadline for submitting art for this event is Aug. 26. A non-refundable $35 entry fee is required.

A reception for the exhibit is 3-5 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.

The exhibit will remain on display for one year and will be hung throughout the three-story building.

Interested artists should contact Bernadette Sims, 651-8707 or Bernadette@cox.net for the prospectus for the show and details.

For more information on the reception or exhibit, contact Shirley Napier, event co-chair, 651-8300; or Elia Saxer, 543-3562.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa art show submissions end soon

NICEVILLE, Florida — This Veterans Day, you can join a movement, and use your work out as a way to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal members.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been 131 EOD technicians killed while carrying out an EOD mission.

Fellow EOD technicians designed a memorial workout to honor these fallen heroes called the EOD 131 and will raise funds for the EOD Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting this elite community and their families.

“This nationwide workout to support EOD veterans is fun, it helps people get fit, and it helps to support one of the most elite groups defending our nation,” explains Nicole Motsek, EOD Warrior Foundation executive director.

“It’s easy to get involved, whether you are a gym, business, or individual, just sign up and enlist your friends. It’s a workout that will leave you feeling great physically and emotionally.”

The EOD 131 takes place Oct. 1 through Nov. 30, with proceeds benefitting the foundation.

Each repetition in the workout symbolizes the sacrifice of one of the 131 EOD heroes who have been killed during combat operations since 9/11.

How it works

Gyms, military commands or individuals register to participate in the workout. The workout is done as a two-man team, as EOD technicians are trained to work in pairs. Each person who officially registers receives an EOD 131 Memorial T-shirt, and their donation goes directly to the foundation.

Participants can scale the workout to their ability level. They wear a 20-pound vest or body armor, and do the following:

●65 front squats at 135 pounds Men/95 pounds Women

●65 Kettle Bell Swings at 72 pounds M/54 pounds W

●16 Partner over burpees

●65 hang power cleans at 135 pounds M/95 pounds W

●65 Single arm kettle bell press at 54 pounds M/34 pounds W

●16 Partner over burpees

●65 Chest to bar pull-ups

●65 Box jumps at 30" M/24" W

●16 Partner over burpees

●65 Push ups (Chest to Deck)

●65 "Pendlay" barbell rows at 135 pounds M/95 pounds W

●16 Partner over burpees

●400-meter run in honor of Marine Staff Sgt. David Lyon

The workout was started three years ago by EOD technicians who wanted to honor their fellow comrades and help those still battling injury. The workout is modified each year if another hero is memorialized. This year a 400-meter run is added to the end of the workout to honor Marine Staff Sgt. Lyon, who recently died of wounds sustained during combat operations in Afghanistan.

It’s estimated that there are over 36,000 health clubs around the country, and over 55 million people that belong to them. In 2015 alone, there were over 64 million Americans who utilized a health club.

"The EOD Memorial Workout helps people to make a difference. Imagine the good we could do if even a small percentage of the nation’s health clubs and gyms get involved in this,” Motsek said.

Those interested in supporting the cause and getting involved in the nationwide workout can find more information and register their gym or group at www.eodmemorialworkout.com and https://www.facebook.com/DetonatorThrowdown.

To learn more about the EOD Warrior Foundation, visit www.eodwarriorfoundation.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Support veterans with the EOD 131 Crossfit Movement