One day, as I was shelving books, two of my library girls and their mom walked up to me. Eyes sparkling, they said, “Ms. Heather, wouldn’t it be so cool if kids could put their books in the library for other kids to read?” Finally, it has come to fruition!

Kid authors, submit your books to the front desk! We’ll review them and put them in the Little Library (which Chick-fil-A donated to us) for other kids to read and enjoy while they’re in the library.

There are a few pre-made books on which to pen and illustrate your stories, or you may design your own.

Call me at 682-4432 with questions.

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Library accepting young authors' work

CRESTVIEW — Here is a list of upcoming events in our area.

DAY OF DNA: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 27 at the Robert L Sikes Public Library in Crestview, the Genealogical Society of Okaloosa County is sponsoring a day of presentations on the use of DNA for genealogy. Kristina Clever, of Clever Genetic Ancestry, will be the guest speaker. Seating is limited and registration is required. Email gsocgsig@gmail.com.

CRESTVIEW ROTARY ROUNDUP: 6-9:30 p.m. May 3, Barnhill Arena, Baker Area Recreation Association, 5503 U.S. Highway 4, Baker. All proceeds benefit the club's outreach programs from nonprofit charities to educational support. Guest speaker is retired Cold Edward Hubbard, and former prisoner of war in Vietnam.Details: crestviewrotary@outlook.com.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 4, Main Street, Crestview. Includes 8 a.m. 7K fun run, and appreciation event begins at 10 a.m. Fire departments, law enforcement agencies, Life Flight organizers and other groups will be present as well. Event sponsorships are available through the Main Street  website.

PUBLIC SAFETY DAY: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 on Main Street in Crestview. Fire departments, law enforcement agencies, Life Flight will be among the agencies present. See a fire truck up close, or the tools safety personnel use in their work. Agencies may also compete against each other in various activities.

COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR: 9 a.m. to noon June 1, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive. The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce event includes free health and wellness screenings, health education and demonstrations; door prizes, family entertainment and a snack bar. Call 682-3212 for more information.

CRESTVIEW FALL FESTIVAL 2019: 1-6 p.m. Oct. 26, Main Street, Crestview. Free event consists of vendor booths with activities and games for attendees. It includes a popular costume contests for humans and pets, as well as a pet parade at 2 p.m.

RECURRING

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays in the Baker Area Public Safety Building, 1375 19th St.

REP. JAYER WILLIAMSON OFFICE HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. first and third Thursdays, Okaloosa County Extension office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. Call 995-3698 for an appointment.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall, 8209 Highway 85 N, Laurel Hill.

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: DFDC now meets 7 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 5 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA: Office hours at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1447 Commerce Drive, by appointment. Registration begins in April for summer and fall terms. UWF offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola and online. Call 863-6550 for questions or an appointment. 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS: for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. www.crestviewchamber.com.

CHAMBER AFTER HOURS: Chamber members may attend free 4:30 p.m. or 6 p.m. April 11 yoga classes or 7:30 p.m. April 11 Open House at Grateful Hearts Yoga, 5719 State Road 85 N, Crestview. Light refreshments will be served at the open house. RSVP your attendance to Tim or Grace, gratefulheartsyogastudio@gmail.com. Limited class spots are available.

HEALTH FAIR VENDORS, SPONSORS: The chamber seeks sponsors and vendors for its upcoming health fair, 9 a.m. to noon June 1 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Call 682-3212 for more information.

BREAKFAST SPONSORS: for 2019 sought. Contact Tim at 682-3212.

HERITAGE MUSEUM ACTIVITIES

The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is located at 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso.

BOBBIN LACE & TATTERS GROUP: 1 p.m. first Saturdays at the museum.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's happening in North Okaloosa County

The annual Laurel Hill Arts and Heritage Festival celebrates the attributes that made north Okaloosa County the economic powerhouse of the late 19th century.

This year, the festival will be held on April 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the side yard of Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, located at 8115 4th Street.

The event is sponsored by the Laurel Hill and Crestview Presbyterian Churches and the Friends of the Arts. There is no cost to attend, but there will be crafts, food and beverages for sale.

“It’s a little festival with a century of roots behind it,” said Mark Broadhead, pastor of Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church “Many of our exhibitors’ families have been here for many generations. Theirs are skills and recipes that are passed on from parents to children.”

Local heritage groups, including the Baker Block Museum, will share regional history with festival attendees.

The festival’s performance artists include a variety of regional singers and musicians, from the vocal talents of Douglas Black to the big symphonic band sounds of the North Okaloosa Community Band.

More than 30 exhibitors, community organizations, performers and services will participate in the annual festival. The event will include things such as handmade crafts, artistry, cottage industry foods, and live music.

Food sales will benefit community social services and programs, including Laurel Hill School, the town’s Little Free Libraries, Crestview Boy Scout Troop 773, the First Presbyterian Church of Crestview’s food pantry, and Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church’s community outreach programs.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ‘A little festival with a century of roots’

CRESTVIEW — Members of Davidson and Shoal River Middle School drove their way to the top of the leaderboard during Monday’s Middle School Athletic Conference Golf tournament.

The nine-hole tournament was held on the Oaks Course at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club.

Gracie Grant, a member of Davidson’s team, was the low medalist for the day in the girls’ category for the Class 2A division. Grant finished the round at one over par, giving her a score at 37 and the victory.

“She is an unbelievable golfer,” said Davidson’s golf coach, Chris Small. “She deserves it because I have never seen anyone work harder at it.”

Small said Grant, who is a seventh-grader at the school, won the event last year, too.

When asked about her determination and focus during the event, Small said it was nothing different than how she performs during practice.

“She keeps getting better and works very hard at it,” Small said.

On the boys’ side of the event, Shoal River team member, Alexander Fagan found himself tied at the top of the leaderboard at five over par with Ruckel’s Kyler Long to win the boys Class 2A division.

Fagan attends school at the STEMM Center, but plays golf for Shoal River’s team.

Shoal River’s golf coach, Robert Maddens, said Fagan is one of the more competitive players on the team.

“He practices five to six days a week. Even when we don’t have practice, he will still go practice,” said Madden. “He takes it very seriously. If there is free time after practice, he goes to the putting green or driving range.

“He is focused and determined every time he is on the course,” he added.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Davidson's Grant and Shoal River's Fagan win golf tournament

CRESTVIEW — Many people in the community will join together to help the American Cancer Society attack cancer from every angle during the annual Relay for Life of Crestview event taking place at Crestview High School.

The event starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26.

“This year’s Relay for Life Event is going to be one for the record books. Our teams and committee have been working so hard to bring this event to life,” said Megan Bowersox, event lead for Relay for Life of Crestview. “We can’t wait to honor our survivors and caregivers and celebrate life. This is a family-friendly event with live entertainment, food, games and more.”

The American Cancer Society is fighting cancer on every front, standing shoulder to shoulder with cancer patients and those supporting them. Last year, 2.7 million participants in the U.S. raised more than $279 million at more than 3,500 events to help beat our biggest rival.

Funds raised help the American Cancer Society attack cancer in dozens of ways, from developing breakthrough therapies to building supportive communities, from providing empowering resources to deploying activists to raise awareness.

Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in Washington in 1985, the Relay for Life movement unites communities across the globe to celebrate people who have been touched by cancer, remember loved ones lost, and take action for lifesaving change. Symbolizing the battle waged around the clock by those facing cancer, the event can last up to 24 hours and empowers communities to take a stand against cancer.

In addition to the support of the community, Relay for Life of Crestview is also supported by many local businesses and organizations. This year’s sponsors include Vertex Aerospace, North Okaloosa Medical Center, Allen Turner Chevrolet, CHELCO, Eglin Federal Credit Union, G2 Entertainment and Cumulus Media.

For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/crestviewfl the event page on Facebook “Relay For Life of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Annual Relay for Life event to be held at Crestview High School

The benefits of being bilingual and learning a second language have been studied and shown to improve cognitive function and improved academic success.

Learning a second language has been shown to increase empathy, awareness and a positive attitude toward the native speakers of the language being learned.

With your library card you will have free access to Rosetta Stone, one of the most popular language learning programs that uses immersion style learning.

Choose from 30 languages:

•Arabic; Chinese (Mandarin); Dari; Dutch; English (American); English (British); Filipino (Tagalog); French; German; Greek.

•Hebrew; Hindi; Indonesian; Irish; Italian; Japanese; Korean; Latin; Pashto; Persian (Farsi).

•Polish; Portuguese (Brazil); Russian; Spanish (Latin America); Spanish (Spain); Swahili; Swedish; Turkish; Urdu; Vietnamese.

Marie Heath is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Crestview library to get Rosetta Stone access

CRESTVIEW — About 120 Gordon Martial Arts students advanced to their next martial arts belt levels April 5.

"I’ve learned a lot in the three months I’ve been doing Taekwon-Do," Teresa O’Connor, a Crestview mother, said. "I mainly signed up for exercise and self-defense."

Acquiring discipline, whether one’s own or for one’s children, is another motivator, GMA owner Master Tom Gordon said.

Parents have also commented on how the respect their children acquire at GMA for their instructors, elders and each other carries over to home.

"Master Gordon and his staff are wonderful," one mother said after the ceremony. "I’ve seen a definite improvement in my kids’ behavior since they’ve been coming here."

Many students achieved impressive levels of accomplishment. Jeremy Morgan attained his fifth-degree black belt in Taekwon-Do, a feat Master Gordon said happens to only about one in 2,000 practitioners of the discipline when they start as white belts.

Master Greg Bledsoe, a long-time GMA instructor, was awarded his seventh-degree black belt, an even more rare accomplishment. He was presented a pair of chevrons for his new uniform by guest instructor Master Michael Munyon of Michigan. He and several other masters visited to teach a three-day International Taekwan-do instructors course.

Three teen students, Trent Tucker, Asline Heringer and Phenix Mayo, received their first-degree black belts in Taekwon-Do, and adult Matt Young received his first-degree black belt in hapkido.

Landen Daves, Lillie Dale and Sydney Rosnick received the blue uniforms and equipment of Black Belt Club students.

Gordon, a former adult league football player, said the way students continue to attain higher ranks long into adulthood sets martial arts apart from most other sports.

"In almost all other sports, as you get older, you get benched. In martial arts, you get more respect."

And that, said new Crestview Mayor JB Whitten, is a matter of perseverance. During motivational remarks to the students and audience, he likened his political career to striving for a black belt.

"The first time I tried (for public office), I got beaten," he said. "But I didn’t go home and cry. I tried again, and that time, I got elected. You always have to keep trying."

Following his remarks, as is tradition for GMA guest speakers, a bucket was passed and raised $232.50 from the audience for his choice of non-profit: the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless.

Whitten’s comments came as validation to Teresa O’Connor’s efforts, who was awarded her yellow belt that night.

"When I first came to Gordon Martial Arts, I couldn’t get off the floor," she said. "Now I got this (belt), and I’m making friends. And I lost weight!"

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gordon Martial Arts belt ceremony showcases multiple attributes

As a boy in a small town in Georgia, we had a St. Augustinegrass lawn. My dad started the lawn before I was born.

That lawn was still doing fine when I left for college at age 17. I don’t remember weeds in the lawn during summer months. I do fondly remember winter “weeds” in that lawn.

To see clumps of winter annuals in our yard and in neighbors’ yards was a natural part of the transition from winter to spring. They added interest to what would have been a plain palette of green.

It was expected to see henbit with its square stiff stems holding up a display of small pinkish-purple flowers in late winter and early spring. A clump of henbit was a great place to hide an Easter egg, especially a pink or purple one.

Wild geranium, another common winter annual, offered another good hiding place for Easter eggs with its pink to purple flowers. Large clumps of annual chickweed would nicely hide whole eggs. Green colored eggs would blend with chickweed’s green leaves.

Crimson clover with its reddish flowers, hop clover, and black medic with their bright yellow flowers were also good hiding places for Easter eggs. Plus, clovers add nitrogen back to our soils.

I never remember my dad using any weed killer. He rarely watered. The lawn was healthy and thick enough to be a deterrent to summer weeds. But during fall and winter as the lawn would naturally thin and go dormant, winter annual weeds would run their course.

I’ve heard that the sense of smell provides our strongest memories. I remember the first mowing of the season with the clean smell of chlorophyll in the spring air. It was refreshing.

Once mowed and as the heat took its toll, by late April or mid-May, these winter weeds were gone. What was left was a green lawn to help cool the landscape as the weather warmed. We mowed the lawn high as St. Augustine should be, played on it and typically didn't worry about it.

Most people have winter weeds in their lawns that let us know spring is near. Perhaps we worry too much with these seasonal, temporary plants that may have wrongly been labeled as weeds.

Besides, how long have we been battling them and have the result that they're still here? Most lawns have countless numbers of the seeds awaiting early winter to become yet another generation. By May they are gone.

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: Winter annual weeds a great place to hide Easter eggs