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

COLD SHELTERS: The following Crestview shelters open at 6 p.m. and close at 7 a.m. when temperatures are 40 degrees or below.

Sunday: Lifepoint Church, 400 Ferdon Blvd. S, 682-3518.

Monday: Helping Hands house, 428 McLaughlin Ave., 398-5670. Hosted by Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Tuesday and Wednesday: Community of Christ, 398 First Ave. W., 682-7474. Hosted by Joy Fellowship.

Thursday: Helping Hands house, hosted by Woodlawn Baptist Church, 398-5670.

Friday: The Full Gospel Restoration Full Gospel Church, 383 Texas Parkway, 682-6029.

Saturday: Helping Hands house, hosted by First United Methodist Church, 398-5670.

PRIZE DONATIONS NEEDED: The Crestview Police Department Community Services Division is accepting prize donations for the games night it has with special needs teens and adults in Crestview. Donations of bottled water, soft drinks and snacks are also welcome. Take donations to the CPD, Whitehurst Municipal Building, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Tri-County Community Council, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. 306-1134.

CRESTVIEW SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Serves Mondays through Saturdays. To volunteer at Central Baptist Church, call 682-5525; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 682-3154; LifePoint Church, 682-3518; Community of Christ, 682-7474; First Presbyterian Church, 682-2835; or First United Methodist Church, 682-2018.

SUPPORT CIRCLE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS: Meetings take place as follows.

—5-6 p.m. Tuesdays at Shelter House, 120 Woodruff Ave., Suite A, Crestview. This is a Shelter House survivor-led support group. Walk-ins are welcome. 683-0845. 

—6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Shelter House, 16 Ferry Road SE, Fort Walton Beach. A Shelter House survivor-led support group. Walk-ins are welcome. 243-1201.

—noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Shelter House, 3590 U.S. Highway 331 S., Suite 102, DeFuniak Springs. A Shelter House survivor-led support group. Walk-ins are welcome. 362-7190.

FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 1-3:30 p.m. Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 247 S. Booker St., Crestview. Free items include shoes and other accessories. Presented by Concerned Citizens of Crestview. Details: 689-1582 or 428-6997.

EMPLOY FLORIDA WORKSHOPS: 9-11 a.m. fourth Thursdays of the month at CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, 409 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach. Learn to conduct job searches on the state system, create a resume, access labor market data for wage, job experience and education requirements for a specific occupation. Learn about Training Grant opportunities, online training courses, and the organization's virtual recruiter.

COLLEGE OFFERS ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT: A Florida State University program that offers relief – free of charge – to distressed African-Americans who provide care to a loved one with dementia. It uses trained lay pastoral-care facilitators and is recruiting caregivers in North and Central Florida. ACTS 2 (African-American Alzheimer’s Caregiver Training and Support) won a $20,000 award as well. Caregivers participate in a 12-session, telephone-based skills-building and support program covering topics such as relaxation, effective thinking and problem-solving skills. Call 866-778-2724 toll free, 850-274-4945, or go to www.ACTS2Project.org for details.

SHINE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders, a Department of Elder Affairs program, seeks volunteers to help elderly residents answer Medicare questions and resolve problems, help them make informed choices about their health insurance, save money on prescription medications and learn about their eligibility for helpful programs. There is no charge for seniors to use the program. Bilingual volunteers are also encouraged to call. Dial 1-800-963-5337 for details.

EMERALD COAST HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS WANTED: ECH provides compassionate care through a team of professional staff members and volunteers. Volunteers are thoroughly trained and provided ongoing education. They can serve in a variety of areas from administrative help to offering support to a hospice patient through visits or weekly phone calls. Just a few hours a month makes an impact. Details: Ann O'Connor, 689- 0300.

SENIORS VS. CRIME VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Seniors vs. Crime's Crestview office, which assists senior citizens whom someone scammed or took advantage of, needs help. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8. To volunteer, contact Office Manager Joe Loria, 306-3176, or Region 5 Deputy Director JB Whitten, 813-489-5657. Contact 800-203-3099, see www.seniorsvscrime.com, or email crestview@svcproject.org for more information.　

REPORT ELDERS ABUSE: Call the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-96-ABUSE (800-962-2873) if you suspect elderly friends and neighbors are being abused. Many elders may suffer from financial exploitation, neglect or physical or emotional abuse, often caused by family members. The NFAAA is a private, non-profit agency supported by the federal Older Americans Act and the State of Florida General Revenue Fund through the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Gwen Rhodes, 494-7100 or rhodesg@nwflaaa.org

UWF ACADEMIC ADVISING: The University of West Florida offers assistance with admissions, academic and degree advising and registration in Crestview. Contact Deborah Cluff, 863-6550, to schedule an appointment for first Thursdays at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1446 Commerce Drive.

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE: Need help? Contact the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, 409-3070, www.okaloosawaltonhomeless.org; Opportunity Inc., 659-3190; or Helping Hands of Crestview, 428 McLaughlin St., behind First United Methodist Church. Helping Hands is open 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

WOMEN AND FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND EDUCATION: a Crestview-based Community Drug and Alcohol Council program that helps pregnant women with substance abuse. 689-4024.

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: Eligible low-income families can receive financial assistance through the Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Apply at www.elc-ow.org. Hover over "Services" and click "School Readiness" to register.

FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING: By appointment, Crestview Public Library and Elder Services of Okaloosa County, in Crestview, 494-7101 or 1-866-531-8011.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Nonprofit seeks Crestview area lots for families needing housing. 758-0779 or 315-0025.

VA VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Veterans in crisis, their families and friends can call 800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 to talk with qualified, caring VA responders. Confidential. www.veteranscrisisline.net.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEEDS MENTORS: Adult volunteers spend two hours weekly mentoring children. Pairs go to the library, museum, park or beach, hike, roller-skate or play sports. 664-5437.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS: Group needs people to work in the Emergency Operations Center assisting county personnel. Contact: Yvonne Earle, 863-1530, extension 230.

FREE HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE DROPOFF: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Okaloosa County Recycling Office, 80 Ready Ave., Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa residents may drop off paints, pesticides, pool chemicals, used oil, gas, antifreeze, computers, televisions, fluorescent lamps, car batteries, rechargeable batteries, cleaners, solvents, aerosols and printers.

MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida seeks friendly, reliable volunteers to greet guests and answer phones in its gift shop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Details: 678-2615, stop by 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, or email info@heritage-museum.org.

CARS NEEDED: Opportunity Inc. accepts donations of cars, boats and other vehicles to support Opportunity Place, an emergency shelter for families. Shelley Poirrier, 409-3070 or shelley@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org.

SHELTER HOUSE FINANCIAL SUPPORT: It costs just more than $100 a day to shelter a domestic violence victim. Every little bit helps. 683-0845.

DRIVE VETERANS: Help veterans attend appointments at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Pensacola two days a month. Veterans Service Office, 689-5922.

VEHICLES NEEDED: Covenant Hospice accepts cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats and RVs. Qualified professionals pick up vehicles from Pensacola to Tallahassee at convenience. Rachel Mayew, 428-0605.

LAKEVIEW CENTER'S FAMILIES FIRST NETWORK NEEDS BEDS: Donations wanted for local children in protective services. Cribs and beds for children must be in good condition. 833-3840.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa County services calendar