NICEVILLE — Northwest Florida State College's Humanities, Fine & Performing Arts Division will premiere "The Third Side," NWFSC theater professor Clint Mahle's history-based thriller.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. March 16-19 in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Sprint Theater on NWFSC's Niceville campus.  

The play is based on 16th-century playwright Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary and rival of Shakespeare, who was mysteriously killed in 1593. Some say Marlowe was assassinated. The mystery — part espionage, part political thriller — follows a young, proud writer trying to climb the social ladder in London. He finds himself caught between rival forces in the petty intrigues of powerful men and must find his way to survival.

The cast includes 19-year-old Jesse Hartsog of Fort Walton Beach in the lead role of the young Christopher Marlowe; Daniel Thornton of Baker; Wesley Barlow and Sheila Johnson of Crestview; Joshua Birdsong of Destin; Doug Linder of DeFuniak Springs; Tom Mosley of Freeport; Dylan Garofalo of Santa Rosa Beach; James Meadows, Jason Mueller, Daniel Sindelar and Tara Sindelar of Fort Walton Beach; and Zachary Phillips and Taryn Tomassetti of Niceville.

NWFSC and University of West Florida students may attend dress rehearsal free of charge 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 14 or Tuesday, March 15 by showing college ID at the door; or they may request one free ticket to the play’s public performance nights by presenting a college ID in person during regular box office hours or at the door on show nights (space permitting).

General admission tickets are on sale for $15 adults and $10 for youths ages 18 and younger.

Advance purchase — at www.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org — is recommended due to the theater's seating capacity.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker, Crestview residents among cast members in NWFSC thriller

For a toe-tappin’ good time, come to the Crestview Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 23. 

The Pelican Pickers play old-timey Appalachian and gospel music with a variety of instruments including Appalachian mountain lap dulcimer, banjo, mandolin, guitar, Irish penny whistle, fiddle, harmonica, Native American flute, recorder and silver flute. 

The songs — most of which come from the 1800s or earlier, and some from the early 1900s — will be geared toward children ages 4 and up, but adults are also welcome to attend. 

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and will end around 7:15 p.m. Registration is not required for this free event. 

Please call 682-4432 with any questions.

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's reference librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NITZEL: Pelican Pickers preparing for Crestview concert

United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties sets annual meeting

 FORT WALTON BEACH — The United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties has scheduled its annual meeting.

The March 11 event — which will cover the United Way's 2015 "Be Someone’s Hero" campaign — starts at 8 a.m. with breakfast at the Crosspoint Family Life Center, Niceville.

Campaign participants and volunteers will be recognized; Agency of the Year, Company or Organization of the Year and Volunteer of the Year will also be announced; and new board members will be selected and the board chair inducted.

Admission costs $15 per person; the public may attend.

Contact the United Way, 243-0315 or events@united-way.org, for more information. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties sets annual meeting

VALPARAISO — The next “Saturday at the Museum” is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida. 

Museum exhibitions include “Crestview Train Depot," “Military Memories," “Pieces of the Past: Okaloosa’s Centennial," and “1915 Early Transportation," among others.

Adults, seniors, and military get in for the reduced $3 children’s admission rate.

View historical exhibits and learn about Northwest Florida heritage. Play in the hands-on Discovery Room for kids, and picnic in Paradise Gardens or at one of Valparaiso’s beautiful city parks. 

In addition, all guests may participate in an instructed craft time with a history lesson at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m.  

The museum is located at 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview train depot among 'Saturday at the Museum' exhibits

Here's a list of upcoming events for Crestview, Okaloosa and Northwest Florida residents.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this weekend in Northwest Florida

VALPARAISO — The Heritage 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida.

Early registration fees (before 4 p.m. April 16) are as follows:

●$20: 5K Run/Walk

●$18: Northwest Florida Track & Museum Members

●$10: kids' 1-mile fun run (up to 13 years old)

Late registration fees (after April 16):

●$30: 5K Run/Walk

●$20: kids' 1-mile fun run (up to 13 years old)

The first 200 applicants to run the 3.1-mile scenic route along Boggy Bayou will receive a free T-shirt and goody bag, while supplies last. Winners in each category will receive a matted, framed photograph from the museum’s library archives.

Register in person at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso or at www.active.com through April 25. Applications also are available at www.heritagemuseum.org or http://nwftc.com/

The Heritage 5K precedes the 40^th Saturday in the Park Festival, which includes live entertainment, historical craft demonstrations, re-enactors, folk artists, food vendors, a Kid Zone with old-fashioned toys and contests.

The festival is free and open to the public.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Heritage 5K Run/Walk & Kids Fun Run scheduled

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa and Walton County motorists can expect these traffic changes this week.

Okaloosa County: 

I-10 resurfacing: Intermittent and alternating east and westbound lane closures 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 through Thursday, Feb. 18, from the Santa Rosa County line to east of County Road 189 (Holt exit). The active work zone's speed limit will be 60 mph.

State Road 85: Northbound traffic will experience a change in the traffic pattern at the S.R. 85 North-S.R. 123 intersection Sunday, Feb. 14. Lane closures will occur 8 p.m. Feb. 14 to 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15 as crews transition S.R. 85's north and southbound lanes to the original configuration.

Walton County:

Interstate 10 resurfacing: Intermittent and alternating east and westbound lane closures from just west of Boy Scout Road to just east of U.S. 331; 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15 through Thursday, Feb. 18. 

I-10: Alternating east and westbound lane closures on I-10, between mile marker 74 in Walton County and mile marker 94 in Holmes County; 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 15 through Thursday, Feb. 18. Crews will trim trees near the roadway. 

U.S. 331 North, southbound lane closures: Tuesday, Feb. 16 through Friday, Feb. 19 and Monday, Feb. 22 through Friday, Feb. 26, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., between Liberty Church of Christ and Harrison Drive, as crews trim trees.

U.S. 331 Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge: Alternating lane closures across the Clyde B. Wells Bridge, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, Tuesday, Feb. 16, and Thursday, Feb. 18 as crews place concrete for the new bridge.

U.S. 98, eastbound and westbound traffic will encounter lane restrictions on U.S. 98 about 3 miles east of C.R. 395; 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Tuesday, Feb. 16 and continuing for one month as crews perform turn lane construction.

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

BAKER — The Rotary Club of Crestview's 23rd Annual Wild Game Feast and Quail Hunt is Feb. 19-20.

When former Baltimore Raven and San Diego Charger Jarret Johnson takes the podium Feb. 19 at Gum Creek Lodge, it will be his first time at the event, a fundraiser for the Northwest Florida State College athletic program.

Johnson, who retired to Niceville after his career in the National Football League, had a simple reason for accepting the speaking engagement.

“They asked me,” he said. “I honestly don’t know a lot about it.”

But he recently spoke to NWFSC's baseball team, and understands who will benefit from the dinner. 

“It’s an interesting amount of talent you have there,” he said. “Some of the players might not have had the grades coming out of high school. And others were trying to position themselves better for professional ball or to get to four-year school.”

Johnson, who grew up in Cedar Key, moved to Niceville after retiring from football. He said his family was familiar with the area because they vacationed in Destin. They were attracted to the area because of the schools and the outdoor opportunities.

“My last few years playing, I started planning for retirement,” the 34-year-old said. “Some things worked out and some things haven’t. I’m staying busy.

“I do a radio show with a station in Baltimore during football season. I run an inshore charter fishing business and I’m starting to get into insurance.”

Want tickets to the feast? See 'RELATED CONTENT' on the left side of this page. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wild Game Feast speaker Jarret Johnson staying busy

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Arc of the Emerald Coast supports people with developmental and intellectual disabilities with programs that help them live, learn, and work in their communities.

One of Arc's many programs is Supported Employment, committed to including people with disabilities in the workforce. 

SE coaches assist adults with disabilities by providing skill assessments, vocational training, resume writing, and on-the-job personalized training alongside SE business partners until the employer is satisfied the client is ready to work independently in their workplace. 

Businesses that employ a persons with a disability show the community they care. Benefits that businesses receive in turn are increased productivity, reduced employee turnover, tax incentives, diversity and innovation, along with enhanced community relations. 

Arc partners with employers such as Lowe's, Walmart, Publix, Winn Dixie, Pizza Hut, Sam's Club, Carmike Boulevard 10 and many other local businesses.

For more information about this program and many other services provided contact the Fort Walton Beach office, 863-1530, or the Milton office, 623-9320.

For additional information visit www.arcemeraldcoast.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Northwest Florida companies partner to employ people with disabilities

CRESTVIEW — The 12th annual Triple B Festival is set, and organizers are looking for vendors.

The annual event is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 19 on Main Street in Crestview.

For details, contact the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview chamber accepting Triple B vendor applications (DOCUMENTS)