Finding the right career can be a daunting, high-stakes task.  

The Crestview Public Library’s Vocations and Careers Collections, in our website’s Electronic Resources, covers the topics of finding an appropriate institution of learning; job-searching; and maintaining a career. They also provide current, applicable content for all vocational milestones.

The collection offers content from almost 400 journals, and free access is available for Crestview Public Library card holders.

Go to www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, click ‘electronic resources,’ click ‘Vocations and Careers Collections,’ and type in your library barcode number for access.

Once you have decided to send resumes, you can also use our Career Transitions database to help you with your job applications and resumes.

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview library offers career, job application information

The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce schedule for April is listed below.

●Lunch n' Learn, noon April 20, chamber office, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Guest speaker Adam McCloskey of the Small Business Development Center will present information on "Google Places: Let's Get Your Business on the Map."

Lunch will be provided. RSVP by Friday, April 15 to Sandra Wilson, swilson@crestviewchamber.com.

●PILOT Committee meeting, noon April 21, chamber office. Members will welcome chamber intern Theo Toulat, from Crestview's sister city in France. Catered lunch. Cost is $5 at the door. RSVP your attendance by April 19 to Ryan Mabry, PearlMabrySOM@gmail.com.

●Ambassador Committee Meeting, 8:30 a.m. April 27, Stay Suites of America, 3709 Ferdon Blvd., S., Crestview. For more information about the committee, contact chair Anne Shaffield, ashaffield@careersourceow.com.

For details on the chamber or any of these events, call 682-3212 or email info@crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview chamber schedule includes April 20 Lunch and Learn

CRESTVIEW — “A Spring Ring: Eclectic Chimes from Hymns to John Williams” is an upcoming May 3 presentation.

The Morning Chimes Choir, a local handchimes group, plays music from many genres including classical, hymns, folk, and movies plus original pieces.

It will perform 10:30 a.m. May 3 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, as part of the library's First Tuesday series.

The concert is free to the public. Coffee and cookies will be served at 10:30 a.m. Call 682-4432 for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Choir schedules May 3 Crestview performance

CRESTVIEW — The Habitat for Humanity regulars had a challenge finding tasks for all the volunteers that arrived this week to work on a new Crestview home. Associates from the local Starbucks volunteered with associates and managers from several Okaloosa County Publix stores.

“They are virtually supplying all of the man-power,” said David Hyre, long-time volunteer and co-foreman on the Crestview home. “Those of us who are regulars on the job spend our time trying to instruct them as to how go about doing operations.”

Jackie Gouge, Publix district manager, is excited that her company sponsored Okaloosa Habitat’s 56th house. “It’s very important for our associates to feel validated when they do this, and they have a lot of fun doing it.” Gouge says she personally benefits by seeing her associates having a great time while serving their community.

Publix Supermarket Charities donated $4 million to Habitat for Humanity, directly resulting in the sponsorship of the Crestview home.

“Our associates are compassionate. They want to give back to the community,” says Tim Bryant, manager of the Crestview Publix. “Even though we’re a multi-billion dollar company, we give money back to the community to benefit those who need help the most.”

Starbucks, a company whose Crestview location also donated helping hands, shares the same community service values with their fellow site volunteers.

“You see all of our partners in a certain environment,” says Crestview Starbucks manager Erin Johnson. “To see them out of their environment and out of their comfort zone is really fun.”

Jamie Peoples, the future homeowner of the Crestview Habitat house, says that once she is in her new home she will have more time to spend with her three children.

“We’ve had a stable home for a while, but it’s expensive. And since I work two jobs they don’t see me,” says Peoples, trying to hold back tears. “That will be the biggest thing for me; being able to be home more with them.”

Having more weeks like this one, with dozens of volunteers, Peoples and her children will be in their home that much sooner.

For more information on how to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County, go to www.habitatfwb.org/volunteer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Publix, Starbucks team up to build Crestview resident's Habitat home

CRESTVIEW — A retirement ceremony honoring the accomplishments of Jean Lewis, former Crestview library director, was April 9 at the Carver-Hill School Center in Crestview.

Lewis was the first African-American library director in Okaloosa County and Crestview, with 12 years of service. According to the program for the event, she received her A.A. degree from Corning Community College and a B.A. from Florida A & M University, where she graduated summa cum laude.

"She has been recognized in 'Who's Who in Black America', and 'Who's Who in America, is a member of Mount Zion AME Church, Velma Conyers No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star, American Library Association, FAMU National Alumni Association and The Friends of the Crestview Library," the program stated.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Retirement ceremony celebrates first Crestview, Okaloosa African-American library director

CRESTVIEW — Bel Aire Terrace Apartments will host the April Business After Hours for the Crestview Chamber of Commerce.

Area residents and companies may attend for hors d'oeuvres, games and networking from 5-6:30 p.m. April 14 at the apartment clubhouse, 100 Bel Aire Drive, Crestview.

For more information, call 423-6980 or visit www.BelAireTerrace.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Chamber Business After Hours is April 14

CRESTVIEW — A number of Gordon Martial Arts students have earned promotions in taekwondo and hapkido.

Roughly 120 students as young as 4 years old, and others into their 50s, celebrated their achievements April 8 at the Crestview Community Center. 

Belts and certificates were presented, with congratulations to the two newest black belts — Kurtis Lynch, who successfully tested for first degree, and Jeffery Lovretich, who tested for second degree.

During the March 30-31 testing period, taekwondo students in groups of six to eight demonstrated a prearranged set of movements. They later joined a partner to display self-defense moves against common strikes and grabs.

Students also answered questions about taekwondo history, curriculum specifics and the meaning of martial arts tenets. Tenets of taekwondo are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

Intermediate level taekwondo students also wore red padded safety gear and sparred with classmates, demonstrating a higher level of proficiency as they've progressed through the belt system.

In addition to sparring, advanced level students broke boards to demonstrate power. 

Hapkido students paired off with students of similar size and ability to demonstrate joint locks, takedowns and throws.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gordon Martial Arts students earn promotions, celebrate achievements

UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. — U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Bryan Smith, a Crestview native, has earned the 2016 Penn State Outstanding Adult Student Award.

The senior, who majors in criminology, received a Penn State diploma case and a $500 grant from the Adult Learner Opportunity Fund. Leslie Laing — Penn State’s assistant director of Adult Learner Programs and Services in Student Affairs — established the fund to aid non-traditional-age students and veterans juggling financial and family responsibilities while earning an undergraduate degree.

Smith is an ideal candidate, Laing said.

“Bryan courageously serves his country, his campus and our community,” she said. “He has bravely faced personal, financial and professional obstacles while pursuing his educational goals, and yet makes time to mentor other students.”

Smith, a married father of two young children, serves as an adviser and trainer in the Navy ROTC program and is a volunteer in the State College community.

He said balancing family, career and class work can be a challenge — “first and foremost, I would not be able to balance anything without the support of my wife,” Smith said — and “there are many times (when) I don’t necessarily get the sleep I need, but that’s where I think being a Marine is useful.”

He deployed for two years in Iraq before the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Educational Program accepted him. The program allows Smith to remain on active duty while enrolled full-time at University Park. Upon completing his degree, he will be a commissioned second lieutenant.

“I hope to continue serving in the Marine Corps until retirement while also pursuing a master’s degree and ultimately a doctorate,” Smith said. “I know this is going to be difficult, but I enjoy being challenged.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview native, U.S. Marine named Penn State Outstanding Adult Student

NICEVILLE — An Okaloosa-Walton CareerSource open house and reception is scheduled as Northwest Florida State College Career Center relocates to the Student Activities Center on the Niceville campus. The event is also to welcome a CareerSource employee who starts working at the campus Monday, April 18.

The open house is 10 a.m. to noon in the Career Center, building 410 at Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd. E.

Attendees may register to win a $100 shopping spree at the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore on the Niceville campus.

CareerSource offers job seeker services, career counseling, employment search workshop, assessment training and more.

NOTE: This article was updated to include the reason for the open house information. This is not an actual job seeker event.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NWF State sets April 20 CareerSource open house

TROY, ALABAMA — A Crestview resident recently took part in a production of the musical "Violet" presented by the Troy University Department of Theatre and Dance April 6-10 at the Trojan Center Theater on the Troy Campus.

Shelby Steverson was part of the ensemble for the production, which showcased the talents of student actors, singers and dancers, and told the dramatic story of a young woman on a cross-country bus trip in search of a TV preacher to heal her scarred face.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview resident takes part in April 6-10 Troy University production