FORT WALTON BEACH —Children in Crisis has extra support for its programs benefiting at-risk children. Bit Wizards donated $360 to the nonprofit organization.

"The donation helped provide our children in need with school summer vacation activities and a BIG SMILE!  The donation truly made a difference and we are very thankful," Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, said.

The CIC Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach provides emergency shelter for children removed from an unsafe environment on short notice, and offers housing to help with foster home shortage. 

Learn more at www.childrenincrisisfl.org or call 864-4242.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bit Wizards makes Children in Crisis donation

CRESTVIEW — Here are a few events happening this week:

●'Crestview Through the Century' lecture by Pat Hollarn, noon May 13 at Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. RSVP for the free lecture at 678-2615 due to limited space.

●Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours is 6:30 p.m. May 12 at CCB Community Bank, 1290 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. Includes free dinner catered by Jeff Jones "Boudreaux's" and a drink. Bring your business card for a chance to win a$250 MasterCard gift card. Must be present to win.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: ICYMI: Crestview-based events include centennial lecture, business networking

CRESTVIEW — As part of her article on how helpful biographies can be for a reader, Crestview reference librarian Sandra Dreaden recommended the books listed below.

“And the Good News Is . . . Lessons and Advice from the Bright Side” by Dana Perino. Perino writes a buoyant, insightful memoir, describing her childhood in Denver; years in the George W. Bush administration, in which she served as press secretary from 2007 to 2009; and her success as a TV pundit. She also gives excellent advice for those aspiring to media careers.

“Keep Moving and Other Tips and Truths About Aging” by Dick Van Dyke. Show-business legend Dick Van Dyke is living proof that life does get better the longer you live it. Who better to offer instruction, advice, and humor than someone who’s entering his ninth decade with a jaunty two-step?

His optimistic outlook is an invigorating tonic for anyone who needs a reminder that life should be lived with enthusiasm, despite what the calendar says.

“Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story” by Rick Bragg. For nearly 60 years, Jerry Lee Lewis has been a monumental figure in American life. The wildest and most dangerous of the early rock and rollers, he electrified the world with hit records such as “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Breathless.”

Now, for the first time, Lewis’s story is told in its full human complexity, as he shared it over two years with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Rick Bragg. The result is a story of fire and faith and resilience, informed by Bragg’s deep understanding of the American spirit, and rich with Jerry Lee’s own unforgettable voice.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography” by Pamela Smith Hill, editor. Having grown up 25 miles from “Little Town on the Prairie,” DeSmet, South Dakota, I love anything Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Hidden away since the 1930s, Wilder’s never-before-published autobiography reveals the true stories of her pioneering life. Some of her experiences will be familiar; some will be a surprise. “Pioneer Girl” re-introduces readers to the woman who defined the pioneer experience for millions of people around the world.

It also contains 125 images, eight fully researched maps, and hundreds of annotations based on numerous primary sources, including census data, county, state, and federal records, and newspapers of the period.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview reference librarian recommends these biographies

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans-owned and -based GLO will expand its non-stop service from the VPS Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport to New Orleans in the summer months.

The Corporate Flight Management, Inc. startup will offer non-stop service from VPS to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport beginning June 24.

Monday and Friday service is through Sept. 5, with introductory "GLOForIt" $99 fares (round-trip required). Tax, fees and three checked bags are included in the fare structure.

Friday schedule

●Depart MSY (New Orleans) at 1 p.m. CT, arrive at VPS at 2:05 p.m. CT

●Depart VPS at 2:35 p.m. CT, and arrive at MSY at 3:40 p.m. CT.

Monday schedule

●Depart MSY at 10:40 a.m. CT, arrive at VPS 11:45 a.m. CT

●Depart VPS at 12:15 p.m. CT, arrive at MSY at 1:20 p.m. Ct.

Flight dates

●June 24 and 27

●July 1 and 4

●July 8 and 11

●Aug. 5 and 8

●Aug. 12 and 15

●Sept. 2 and 5

"The route between Destin-Fort Walton Beach and Little Rock launched with a great response. Now that schools are winding down and Southerners are looking to book weekend getaways and summer vacations, we have received a quick uptick in requests for service between Destin-Fort Walton Beach and New Orleans," said Trey Fayard, GLO’s founder and CEO.

"A select flight schedule will operate on Friday and Mondays and accommodate both the weekend traveler and those looking to getaway for a full week of vacation."

The company began seasonal air service between VPS and Little Rock’s Clinton National Airport on March 25.

To book flights and find out more, visit FlyGLO.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GLO offers non-stop Northwest Florida flights to New Orleans

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors chairman has greater insight on national security matters after attending a military forum.

Marian McBryde, who received a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force, attended the 63rd annual National Security Forum May 3-5 at Air War College on Maxwell Air Force Base.

The event exposed influential citizens to senior U.S. and international officers and civilian equivalents. They exchanged ideas and perspectives on Air Force, national and international security issues. McBryde attended lectures, met in seminars for in-depth discussions and participated in social events.

Approximately 160 U.S. civilian business, education and government leaders met with senior military leaders to explore national security issues. The NSF provided an opportunity for an open, candid exchange of ideas among these guests, senior military and civilian leaders, and Air War College students.

The Air War College is the senior professional development school in the Air Force officer education system as a part of Air University. AWC educates selected senior officers to lead at the strategic level in the employment of air and space forces. Its curriculum focuses on coalition warfighting and national security issues, with emphasis on the effective employment of aerospace forces in joint and combined combat operations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview chamber official attends national security forum

CRESTVIEW — The ninth annual Military Appreciation Recognition Day is May 21, national Armed Forces Day, in Crestview.

The free event is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview. Parking opens at 10 a.m. and the ceremony starts at 11 a.m.

Free entertainment, displays, music, food and games will be available to military members and their families.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Military Appreciation Recognition Day is May 21

During Pawsitively Scrumptious's May 7 Catterday event, My Safe Place Cat Rescue brought several cats for adoption, at least one of which found a new home. “Cats are so much harder to adopt than dogs,” boutique owner April Meier said. “But we had three cats that came in to shop.” Those cats received a goodie bag with samples of cat food, snacks and toys. Cat owners received free samples of food and treats for their feline friends, and one lucky cat owner won a year’s supply of cat food during the cats-only event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview's cat day afternoon (VIDEO)

PENSACOLA — The Panhandle Pilot Program will focus on lionfish removal efforts off Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties, where lionfish can be found in high densities.

For every 100 lionfish checked in from this seven-county region between May 2016 and May 2017, the harvester will be eligible to receive a tag allowing them to take a legal-sized red grouper or a legal-sized cobia that is over the bag limit from state waters.

The state will issue 100 red grouper and 30 cobia tags to successful participants. In addition, the first 10 persons or groups who check in 500 or more lionfish during this one-year period will earn the opportunity to name an artificial reef.

To qualify for this program, tails of any lionfish harvested must be brought to an approved FWC checkpoint (list coming soon to MyFWC.com/Lionfish by clicking on “Lionfish Challenge and Panhandle Pilot Program”).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Panhandle Pilot Program champions lionfish removal efforts

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

PENSACOLA — Naval Air Station Whiting Field will receive a national-level award.

The Association of Defense Communities honored NAS Whiting Field with its Installation Excellence Award for 2015. This recognizes the command’s continuing emphasis on strengthening relationships with Northwestern Florida and Southeastern Alabama localities.

ADC presents awards to individuals and organizations that support enhanced ties between military and the area in which the military bases reside. The organization reviews Department of Defense installations from any military branch that has successfully built strong partnerships with communities, regions and/or states to “enhance community-military collaboration; promote installation efficiency and innovation; advance DoD energy efficiency goals; and/or serve as a national model for community-military partnerships.”

To be eligible for the award, an ACD member must nominate an installation.  Jim Brightenfield, the Tri-County Defense Support Initiative’s manager, submitted NAS Whiting Field’s nomination.

“I have seen firsthand the outstanding work done at NAS Whiting Field, training our future aviators. The commitment Whiting makes to its students, staff and the community are without parallel,” he said. “Whiting Field has, over the past few years, received numerous unit and installation awards. The ADC award representing Installation Excellence brings together all the work and awards and commitment under the appropriate banner that signifies true installation excellence.”

NAS Whiting Field’s nomination package detailed aspects of the installation’s relationship with the community. Specific items included the base’s land-buffering initiatives with the county, the renewable energy project at Holley Field in Navarre, a proposed land-swap concept with Escambia County and volunteerism within the community.

NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Bahlau was pleased with the recognition, but emphasized that the key word for the ADC award was partnership.

“The team here at NAS Whiting Field continues to set the standard by working tirelessly to be good neighbors in the community,” Bahlau stated.  “The residents and businesses of Santa Rosa County likewise take care of our team in a way that I have not seen before in my 25 years of service. I am truly fortunate to be part of such a tremendous relationship.”

Bahlau will receive the award during ADC’s annual symposium June 21 in Washington D.C.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NAS Whiting Field recognized as Top Shore Installation