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 — Local acoustic guitarist Ian Gomez has set three Music at the Library performances.

Hours are 6-8 p.m. fourth Mondays June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22 at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

Gomez plays a mixed catalog of "folk-punk" music. "I write a bunch of original stuff, but I'll probably do a cover here and there," he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guitarist series of performances start June 27 in Crestview

BAKER — A long-time Baker resident's 100th birthday celebration is this weekend.

Friends and family members may attend the celebration, which is 3 p.m. May 28 at the Gray home on Washington Street in Baker.

Juridell Gray, born May 27, 1916, is the sixth of 11 children — four of whom were twins — born to Nelson and Camilla Easley Gray.

She has a great sense of humor about her upcoming birthday, her niece, Baker resident Jean Bradley, said.

"She said, 'I'm waiting for my party. I'm not going anywhere, 'cause I'm nowhere near dying!'

Juridell, affectionately known as "Sang" and "Jewel" in the Baker community, retired from laundry work at Eglin Air  Force Base.

The mother of three has one surviving daughter, Juanita Gray Whitley of Baker, and a granddaughter, Dyan Whitley Ross of Atlanta, who is expecting twins.

The News Bulletin publishes North Okaloosa County residents' “Special Occasions” — birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements — at no charge. We may edit submissions for length and style.

Call 682-6524 or send us an email for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker resident is ready for May 28 100th birthday celebration

CRESTVIEW — Buddy’s BBQ of Crestview has a a top 10 rating after a surprise visit by nationally acclaimed barbecue restaurant owners Bryan and Nikki Furman of B’s Cracklin Barbeque in Savannah, Ga.

Naaman Eicher, Buddy's owner, stated in a media release that the Furmans have been nationally acclaimed in Bon Appétit Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Gun and Garden, and by Thrill List.com. He said he was shocked when B’s Cracklin Barbeque stopped by to sample Buddy’s offerings, and then immediately went to Instagram and posted that Buddy’s BBQ was in the Top 10 list of barbecue food they had eaten. 

Furman said in his post, “The meats I give 5 stars…I put him in my top ten!!!! No doubt about it!!!!!!"

The Furmans were Eicher's last customers of the day. "I stopped by the picnic tables at Waterfront Rescue Mission where they were eating to be sure that everything was all right before closing. 

"Talking shop with legendary pit masters such as the Furmans was fun and educational as they shared tips, techniques, and their mutual love for good food and barbeque. 

"We also completely agreed in the practices of fresh, never frozen, farm to table, the use of heritage breed hogs, cooking fresh daily, and letting the meat speak for itself without the addition of sauces while cooking,"  Eicher said.  

The release stated Furman will be opening a restaurant in Atlanta soon and he advised Eicher to consider opening in the Destin marketplace. 

"I am seriously considering (that)," Eicher said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview company receives top rating from B's Cracklin Barbeque

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County officials will share FEMA and the Northwest Florida Water Management District’s updates to flood maps during these open houses:

●4-7 p.m. June 28, Okaloosa County Commission meeting room at 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar

●4-7 p.m. June 29, Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview

To access flood information, visit http://portal.nwfwmdfloodmaps.com/, select the county and type in the street address.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview, Shalimar flood information meetings are June 28 and 29

CRESTVIEW — Thelma Ragland wants to be able to go grocery shopping. Kenny Fuller, who’s mobility impaired, would like to get to the library. And Mae Retha Coleman wants people to be able to get to doctors’ appointments.

Neither Ragland nor Fuller have cars, and Coleman often drives neighbors without transportation to their appointments.

City officials and management of Meruti Fleet and Management, operators of Okaloosa County’s Emerald Coast Rider bus service, received input from public transit riders and proponents Tuesday night at a series of transit town hall workshops.

After a brief introduction by Meruti vice president of operations, George Cavelle, a former Chicago Transit Authority director, residents were given color-coded dots to stick on maps lining the wall to indicate where they’d like to see a Crestview bus service stop.

The dots tended to follow the city’s State Road 85 north-south corridor, with clusters appearing around services and facilities such as Winn-Dixie, the library, North Okaloosa Medical Center, Publix, Wal-Mart and the “Four-Story” medical center.

Other suggested stops included downtown, City Hall, the county Brackin Building, Twin Hills Park, Goodwill, the Okaloosa County courthouse and Consolidated Ace Hardware.

“I’ve been dying to get to the library,” Ragland said, a luxury she has had to forego since bus service was terminated through Crestview in 2014. Grocery shopping is also a high priority for her family, which has no car.

“I was walking a mile to catch the bus every day, but they just quit running it,” Ragland said. “I don’t mind walking but we live too far way to get to the store.”

Meruti’s Emerald Coast Rider bus service General Manager Bob Berkstresser said the company is also exploring commuter bus service, especially for low-wage workers who have to head to the south county.

“If we can come up with some park-and-rides, the folks who have those $9-an-hour jobs would have some options,” Berkstresser said.

Berkstresser said Meruti is in early conversations with Eglin Air Force Base officials about providing a bus service to and around the base, which lacks on-base transport after its shuttle service was discontinued.

At the same time, the transit operator is working to simplify routes, make route maps more understandable and install technology that will help riders see when their bus is expected.

The county recently signed a purchase order for 10 GPS systems for county buses, “so now folks can get online and see where the bus is,” Berstresser said. “Maybe they can get in a few more minutes of shopping or another cup of coffee rather than waiting at the stop.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview residents weigh in on public transit needs

CRESTVIEW — Organizers say after Saturday’s Military Appreciation Recognition Celebration broke attendance — and food consumption — records, they are planning for an even bigger event next year.

“This was the biggest MARC event we have ever had,” founder Bob Lynn said. “It was more than double the crowd. We had more vendors, more music and more businesses involved, and more military than ever before.”

Lynn attributed the increased turnout — which he estimated at 2,500 or more military members, their families and supporters — to increased public awareness of the event and the Crestview Centennial Committee making MARC the group’s May event.

A highlight was the Emerald Coast Young Marines’ recreation of the flag raising at Iwo Jima. The World War II event was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal on Feb. 23, 1945, and recreated by sculptor Felix de Weldon for the Marine Corps War Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

“The young man who read the narration about the raising and the history of it, would bring a tear to the eye,” Lynn said. “Two Young Marine girls — they couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 — stood on either side to assure the flag wouldn’t touch the floor.

“Those two girls grabbed that flag as if they were grabbing a million dollars. It was the most precious, stirring thing.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's military appreciation picnic sets attendance record

CRESTVIEW — Missed, canceled and bumped flights, surprise check-in fees and lost luggage combined with screaming toddlers and reduced onboard leg room add up to frequently stressed air travelers.

But for passengers at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, a four-legged friend from Crestview brings smiles to frowny faces and relief to frayed nerves.

See photos of Dozer at the airport>>

Dozer the Therapy Dog, a familiar sight at area schools, stores, the library and rehabilitation centers, makes monthly visits to the county commercial airport to greet arriving passengers and offer a big-eyed “bon voyage” to those departing.

“We really enjoy it and passengers seem pleasantly surprised when they lay eyes on him and thrilled when they realize he’s the petting kind and he’s there to see them,” Dozer’s “mom,” Angie Nousianinen, said.

Just as youngsters lose their shyness when reading to Dozer at the library, passengers’ stress melts away after a few moments scruffing his big pointy years, she said.

“Some people are scared of flying,” Nousianinen said. “I'm one of them. Some stress over details. Did I pack every thing? Did I shut off the iron? Is my flight going to be on time? Is my ride going to be there?”

VARIETY OF FRIENDS

Nousianinen said Dozer has been greeted by a wide variety of travelers, including members of the military whom he reminds of pets they left behind when they deploy, or who are waiting to meet them when they return.

“Many fly into our area for vacations or to visit family members, but not every flight brings joy,” she said. “It’s not always a vacation or a reunion.

“A passenger Dozer once spent time with drove this point home for me when they called her flight. She turned to say goodbye to Dozer one last time and I noticed she was holding a perfectly folded American flag tightly against her chest.”

Encountering Dozer at a time when some people — including celebrities — claim their menagerie of mammals and reptiles are their “therapy pets” is also an opportunity to teach the traveling public about what a trained and certified therapy animal really is.

“As well as the joy it brings, I'm enjoying the opportunity it provides to educate people about therapy dogs and service dogs and the dangers that can arise if they interfere with a service dog in any way,” Nousiainen said.

UNFRIENDLY SKIES

As the busy summer travel season gets underway, skies will continue to become more stressful, travel experts say.

“Flying today is the equivalent of traveling via Greyhound bus in the 1970s,” Victoria Person-Goral, a USA TODAY travel writer, stated.

“A lot of rudeness and incivility comes from stress, and there's so many ways to be stressed when flying these days,” etiquette expert Anna Post, Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter, said.

At Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, Dozer and his mom alleviate some of travel’s incivility.

“We never know who we will meet each month,” Nousianinen said. “Many times it's people from right here in Crestview or people coming to visit one of us. Many times it's our fine military coming and going from Eglin to who-knows-where.

“Sometimes we meet people on a great day for them, and sometimes on one of the worse days of their lives. We may not know what's going on in their lives but I know we will make an impact in some small little way.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview therapy dog calms unfriendly skies (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — During his three-month internship at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, Théo Toulat, a business major at the University Nantes, has been plunging into American culture.

While shopping May 21 at the new Whole Foods grocery store in Destin, he had an opportunity to share his native French expertise in fromage—cheese—with the cheese counter clerk.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: VIDEO: Crestview chamber's French intern talks cheese at Whole Foods

CRESTVIEW — Motorists can expect these Okaloosa and Walton County construction projects to result in traffic changes.

Okaloosa County

●Interstate 10 resurfacing: Intermittent and alternating lane closures east and westbound, between the Santa Rosa County line and east of the County Road 189 (Holt) Exit, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 22 through Thursday, May 26.

●State Road 123 widening: Lane restrictions on S.R. 85 at the intersection of S.R. 123, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday, May 22 through Saturday, May 28 as crews perform paving operations.

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: East and westbound lane closures, west of the Shoal River Bridge to the Walton County line, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 23 through Saturday, May 28 as crews perform construction activities.

●U.S. 90 resurfacing: Eastbound and westbound lane closures, west of Summertime Drive to Old River Road, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 23 through Saturday, May 28 as paving operations continue.

Walton County

●U.S. 98: Westbound lane closures east of C.R. 393, Sunday, May 22 through Friday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 31 through Friday, June 3. Lane closures will be in effect 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as crews construct a new right turn lane.

●I-10 resurfacing: Intermittent east and westbound lane closures from west of Boy Scout Road to east of U.S. 331, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, May 23 through Thursday, May 26 as paving operations continue.

●I-10 resurfacing: Intermittent east and westbound lane closures between Mile Marker 75 and Mile Marker 78, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday May 22 through Friday May 27, as paving operations continue.    

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 7 Okaloosa, Walton traffic changes to expect this week