CRESTVIEW — Graphics artist Miranda Morrill and manager Kayley Teal-Wibben are busy these days as they scurry around the new Signs Galore Express shop.

“Right now it’s pretty much a mess,” Teal-Wibben says, stepping over trimmed graphic vinyl scraps as Morrill cuts self-applied graphics for a car dealership.

“We’ve got all the ball teams getting their names on their jerseys,” Teal-Wibben said.

Plus a customer at the counter needs a few feet of colored sign vinyl for her home Silhouette Cameo graphics-cutting machine.

The spin-off of long-time north Crestview Signs Galore is suited for these “small” jobs — no matter how overwhelming they may appear to the layman — Teal-Wibben said.

“Signs Galore is doing the ‘monument signs,’ the high-dollar signs,” she said. “The express shop, we’re doing mainly the T-shirts, yard signs, banners and any names-on-the-jerseys and hats, and the smaller stuff.”

Separating the two types of graphics business lets the company serve both of its customer bases more efficiently, Teal-Wibben said.

“We’ve just kind of separated it so the quicker, smaller and less-expensive jobs are coming through Express and everything else is coming through Signs Galore,” she said.

“We’re still offering everything we do at the other shop. We’ve just divided it up so things will be more efficient.”

One previously underserved type of customer includes stay-at-home moms who produce graphics on smaller home versions of Signs Galore’s high-end commercial vinyl cutting plotters.

“We’re selling them vinyl locally rather than them buying it online,” Teal-Wibben said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in it — more than I anticipated. We have plenty of people who appreciate it.”

In addition to signage, clothing graphics and materials, both Signs Galore locations offer graphic and logo design services, she said.

Signs Galore Express is located at 602 Ferdon Blvd. S., across from Southside Primary School.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

Email sgxcrestview@gmail.com or call 398-8080 for details.

WANT SIGNS?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview sign shop expands

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library Class for 3- to 5-year-olds (formerly known as Story Time) will be simply delicious as we read stories like “The Doorbell Rang” by Pat Hutchins.

Each time the doorbell rings, there are more people who have come to share Ma's wonderful cookies.

Will there be enough?

The book is an excellent choice for introducing division to primary-grade children and to begin talking with children of any age about patience and sharing.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: REVIEW: Children's book is about math, patience, and sharing

NICEVILLE — Area residents and business persons interested in learning leadership skills and legislative networking may sign up for a nine-month course at the Costa Leadership Institute in Niceville.

Leadership Okaloosa is designed to enhance leadership skills and provide community awareness.

Participants receive classroom training by certified instructors and are given opportunities to interact with various key community leaders throughout the process.

Benefits include:

●Learning leadership training and development

●Networking with others in the community

●Be equipped and motivated to assume leadership roles in the community

●Interact with community leaders

●Develop an awareness of the region and its needs

●Awareness of the legislative process

●An overnight trip to Tallahassee

Students will tour key areas such as Destin, Crestview, Niceville, Valparaiso, Fort Walton Beach, Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field. The Legislative Days in Tallahassee provide participants with a better understanding of the community.

Additionally, each participant takes part in a group project to benefit the community while focusing on project management, time management and team building skills.

Leadership Okaloosa is hosted by the Northwest Florida State College Costa Leadership Institute with the support of the Crestview Area, Destin Area, Greater Fort Walton Beach and Niceville Valparaiso Chambers of Commerce.

Applications are available at http://bit.ly/2c2BSuX. Email them to Jamie Moncure, Costa Leadership coordinator, moncurej@nwfsc.edu. Contact her for details at 729-5253.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Costa institute offers Leadership Okaloosa training

Dear editor,

Traffic issues are synonymous with living in Crestview these days.

For the past week, I have personally agonized over picking up my grandkids at Walker Elementary School.

I believe the school is trying to implement a new system for dropping off and picking up kids, but has created a bigger problem than existed.

Last year, cars would enter from the left of the east side and go down into the school. That actually allowed more vehicles to get off of Stillwell (Boulevard) and into the school.

The new plan results in a large number of vehicles stopped on Stillwell prior to allowing a few into the school to pick up kids.

At times, the traffic has gone all the way back to our police department.

It is also very confusing to have one person with a stop sign controlling three intersections not close together simultaneously.

Emergency vehicles would have a tough time getting in if they were required to do so.

I applaud their effort, but it needs to be helpful and not harmful. Thanks.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet us.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LETTER: About Walker Elementary’s traffic fiasco

CRESTVIEW — Need something to do this week? Check out these fun events:

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

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview High School Bulldogs beat Northview High School’s Chiefs 70-0 Aug. 26 in Jack Foster Stadium in Crestview.

Remaining games in the varsity schedule are:

Date, Opponent, Time

Sept. 2, Mosley, H-7 p.m.

Sept. 9, Biloxi, Martin A-7 p.m.

Sept. 16, Int. School Broward, H -7 p.m.

Sept. 23, Pace, A- 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 30, Choctaw*, A -7 p.m.

Oct. 7, Milton, H -7 p.m.

Oct. 14, Fort Walton Beach*, A -7 p.m.

Oct. 21, OPEN

Oct. 28, Niceville*, H -7 p.m.

The ninth grade and junior varsity schedule are as follows:

Date Opponent Location

Aug. 25, Choctaw, A

Sept. 1, open

Sept. 8, Fort Walton Beach, A

Sept. 14, Niceville A

Sept. 22, open

Oct. 29, Choctaw, H

Oct. 5, Niceville, H

Oct. 13, Fort Walton Beach, H

H = Home

A = Away

* = district game

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Bulldogs beat Chiefs (PHOTOS)

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