CRESTVIEW — Yvonne Shanklin, an Edward Jones financial adviser in Crestview, next week will host a free educational seminar, "Key Life Decisions: Are You Prepared?"

The seminar — which will focus on estate planning, understanding taxes and common funeral arrangement questions — is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview. Dinner will be provided.

Guest speakers will include CPA Destin Cobb, attorney Michael Hamby and funeral director Joel Davis.

Space is limited; call Marcia Fleming, 682-2497, to reserve a seat.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Estate planning seminar set Sept. 29 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Master Gardener and author Marie Harrison is the Tri-County Horticulture Study Group's guest speaker this week.

Residents can listen to Harrison's lecture and presentation, meet other gardeners and learn about Malvaceae, the malva or hibiscus family,  10 a.m. Sept. 24 at the Okaloosa Cooperative Extension Service, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview.

Afterward, attendees can visit Bonnie’s Garden (4218 Painter Branch Road, Crestview), see the inventory of tropical hibiscus and learn the ins and outs of growing these tropical plants. In addition, find out how she manages retail sales on Etsy, Amazon and eBay.

The group will have lunch at Wild Olive (797 N. Pearl St., Crestview). RSVP to joycews@cox.net to ensure a seat is available.

The Tri-County Horticulture Study Group is sponsored by several Northwest Florida garden clubs. No dues or memberships are required, and meetings are free and open to the public.

See www.mariesgardenanddesign.com for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Horticulture study group sets next meeting in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab Sea Mobile visit to the Crestview Public library has been rescheduled.

The mobile will be on site from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

This family-friendly event is open to all ages and does not require registration. Part of the display is hands on to visitors.

The mobile is a self-sustained aquarium complete with a state-of-the-art filtration system.  It houses a wide variety of live marine life.

The 750 gallons of salt water in the mobile is contained in several aquariums, including 5 touch tanks with safe-to-handle species such as: starfish, sea urchins, conchs, crabs, sponges and a variety of other interesting and colorful sea life from the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, seven acrylic aquariums are filled with animals to view including: stingrays, seahorses, sea anemones, octopus, stone crabs, file fish, gorgonians, shrimp, and a variety of fish and invertebrates from the Gulf of Mexico.

Two microscopes with video camera adapters, hooked to two LCD 46-inch flat-screen televisions, allow visitors to see the intricate details of a sponge or tiny creatures such as amphipods swimming across the screen. Two BluRay players hooked to televisions play informational videos.

Visit www.gulfspecimen.org for a sneak preview. Call Heather Nitzel, 682-4432, for event details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sea mobile visit at Crestview library moved to October

CRESTVIEW — Theresa Carroll wasn’t at her desk Thursday morning. Mike Sterner wasn’t shelving groceries. Doug Hemphill wasn’t managing his staff. Brandon Diamond wasn’t flipping burgers. And JB Whitten and Betsy Roy weren’t over at City Hall.

They were just some of nearly 80 volunteers who, with their supervisors’ blessings, took the morning off and pitched in during the annual United Way Day of Caring in Crestview.

United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties CEO Ken Hinrichs said they contributed at least $170,000 worth of labor during the morning.

Overall, more than 800 volunteers participated in four Days of Caring in their communities in the neighboring counties, he said.

“It was a spectacular contribution they gave,” Hinrichs said.

The volunteers spread out across the community, performing tasks such as painting, yard work, erecting shelves and pressure washing at schools, charities and Wounded Warriors’ residences.

GIVING AND HELPING

“We just wanted to give back to our community,” Publix manager Tim Bryant said of his team of 10 employees. “I didn’t even have to bend their arms. They’re all volunteers.”

“We love helping out where we can,” Publix employee Michael Price, who’s also an Army National Guardsman, said. “We provide great quality service to our customers in the store as well as out of the store. Personally, I love serving my country and my community.”

While Bryant, Price and their colleagues were painting railings and ramps at Safe Connections, Whataburger employee Brandon Diamond, a self-described “professional burger-flipper,” and his team were painting Crestview Manor’s arts and crafts room.

“We do it (Day of Caring) because it’s a joy to serve the community,” Diamond said. “We’re more than just burger-flippers. It’s good to do stuff like this that makes other people smile. We live for smiles.”

REWARDING…AND FUN

At the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Community Outreach Director Melissa Forte marveled at the speed with which the Crestview Kiwanis team cleaned up the business’s grounds.

“You can get so much done with a group like this,” Forte said. “They’re getting so much done for us and we really, really appreciate it.”

Northwood Arts and Science Academy guidance counselor Erin Adams said the school was “so appreciative” of Acentria Insurance’s Sommer Castille and Theresa Carroll, who painted the media center doors and spread mulch in a garden area.

“They’re so awesome,” Adams said. “They even ran to Ace Hardware to get more mulch when we ran out.”

To the volunteers, the time spent at their respective work assignments was rewarding on multiple levels.

“We work at desks all day,” Carroll said as she emptied a sack of mulch. “This is fun!”

United Way Day of Caring volunteers served these Crestview organizations Thursday morning:

Antioch Elementary School: BBVA Compass Bank, CHELCO

Bob Sikes Elementary School: Coastal Bank and Trust, ResortQuest

Crestview Manor: Whataburger

Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Crestview Kiwanis, SAS Shoes

Northwood Arts and Science Academy: Acentria Insurance, Sacred Heart Hospital

Riverside Elementary School: Gulf Power

Safe Connections: Publix

Sharing and Caring: InDyne, CCB Community Bank

The Arc of the Emerald Coast: North Okaloosa Medical Center

Wounded Warriors: Gulf Power

WHO BENEFITED

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 80 Crestview volunteers provide $170K in community service

CRESTVIEW — Four Crestview firefighters have earned medals for saving a toddler's life.

Lt. Joey Lambert and firefighters Danny Ermy, Kelly Thomas and Jason Giles received recognition this week for their fast response to an Aug. 23 report of a choking child, Jeremiah Holland.

“It took Engine 2 approximately three minutes to get on scene, which I’m sure seemed like a lifetime to the parents,” Brandon and Jenny Holland, Deputy Fire Chief Tony Holland said.

Holland, who is not related to the family, said the responders found Jeremiah unresponsive and his face and lips had turned blue. They turned the boy over and “gave him four back blows, which cleared his airway.”

The firefighters administered oxygen to Jeremiah and color returned to his face, Holland said during a presentation at the Sept. 14 City Council meeting. Two minutes later, EMTs arrived and took over the child’s care.

“If it wasn’t for the immediate actions of this crew, Jeremiah might not be here today,” Holland said.

“Through their training and efforts, a life was saved; a young life,” Crestview City Council President Shannon Hayes said. “We’re proud of their efforts.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview firefighters receive medals for saving toddler's life

CRESTVIEW — Adams Homes and the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society are pairing up to host a mobile pet adoption in Crestview.

The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at 106 Strike Eagle Drive, Crestview, a model home constructed by Adams.

Animals will be available for immediate adoption from PAWS. The event, sponsored by Adams Homes, includes free food and activities such as face painting for the kids, a cotton candy machine, and hot dogs and refreshments served from noon to 2 p.m.

 Alicia Place is the first right turn off PJ Adams Parkway. Make a right on Alicia Place after the first stop sign. Directional signs will also be posted.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pet adoption event offered Oct. 3 in Crestview

FORT WALTON BEACH — One Okaloosa County park has potentially hazardous bathing water, the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County stated Sept. 14.

Garniers Park, Fort Walton Beach failed tests based on EPA-recommended enterococci standards. Enteric bacteria’s presence indicates fecal pollution from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife or human sewage.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: One Okaloosa park receives advisory for hazardous water

If you haven't heard, the Crestview News Bulletin for the next four months is celebrating nonprofit organizations and causes that strengthen our community.

The CNB — along with the Northwest Florida Daily News, the Destin Log, Walton Sun and Santa Rosa's Press Gazette — have joined GateHouse Media's more than 500 news organizations across the country for our Celebrate Community initiative. 

We will publish stories and commentary about organizations that help children, women, animals, military personnel, homeless people, those with mental illnesses and people with addictions.

So far, the CNB has requested and received information on North Okaloosa nonprofits so we can kick off the series. As we sort through that data and prepare feature stories and lists on organizations and causes that transform our lives, www.crestviewbulletin.com and the newspaper will encourage community involvement at every turn.

And what better way to start than with the United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties' 22nd Annual Day of Caring?

The Crestview Day of Caring kicks off Sept. 17 with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast at North Okaloosa Medical Center's cafeteria, 151 E. Redstone Ave. You can bring non-perishable foods — even if it's just a can or two, organizers say — for distribution at area food banks.

Next, "volunteers will be assigned to a local organization where they tackle meaningful volunteer projects," a United Way media release states. "Some projects may include painting a room, cleaning out a flowerbed, or sorting canned food."

Volunteers work on those projects and then have an 11:30 a.m. lunch at the GFWC Woman's Club, 150 Woodlawn Drive.

Helping to beautify or otherwise serve the community should be enough motivation to consider volunteering, but if you need an extra nudge, the United Way offers these top 10 reasons to participate in the Day of Caring (with my commentary added):

●Networking. You likely will meet people who don't travel in the same social circles — and you never know what opportunities that could provide.

●Lose weight. If you're pulling weeds or painting, you're seriously working some muscles. That's the first step to avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. Think about it: this one day could be the beginning of a brand new you.

●Breakfast and lunch provided. Free food — need they say more?

●A day away from the office. If your boss will give you the day off, it's worth getting some sunshine and avoiding those sometimes headache-inducing fluorescent lights.

●Learn about the community. It amazes me when the News Bulletin reports on places the John McMahon Environmental Center and I read Facebook comments such as, "I've lived here 20 years and have never heard of this place! Where is it?" Everyone can get stuck in their own schedule and traveling paths, which can result in isolation and lack of community awareness. Solution? Day of Caring.

●Free T-shirt. Expand your wardrobe at no charge? That's always nice, right?

●It would make your mama proud. That's a given. (And, community service aside, isn't this one of those "should be reason enough" points?)

●Good karma. What goes around comes around; even if you don't believe that's a cosmic truth, the same result remains. Think about it: if you're volunteering and meeting people you didn't know before, new relationships will form, and something good is bound to come from that.

●It's fun! OK, this one's a tougher sell for some people. But as someone who volunteers a lot, I can say that although painting houses or cleaning up debris can seem like hard work, you eventually bond with others in the group and make games out of the situation. Before you know it, time flies. (And you know that only happens when you're having… that's right: fun!)

●When you reach out a hand to one, you influence the condition of all. Just like bad things beget bad things, goodness begets goodness. If someone does something nice for you, most likely, you will pay it forward in some way, even if you don't consciously realize you're doing it. That's just human nature.

So, there you have it: 10 reasons to volunteer for tomorrow's Crestview Day of Caring.

Keep reading the News Bulletin as we explore more ways you can Celebrate Community.

What's your view? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BONI: 10 reasons to volunteer for Crestview's Day of Caring

CRESTVIEW — Children in Crisis has extra support for its programs benefiting at-risk children. Dunkin' Donuts and Purple Square Management  donated $2,909 to the nonprofit organization.

The funds were raised through a donation from sales transactions for a three-day period by stores located from Pensacola to Destin, including Crestview's location.

 “I can't thank the Dunkin' Donuts stores and staff enough for their wonderful support to CIC and our children," Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, said. "We give a home, food, clothing and care for over 100 children each year and this donation will go a long way in keeping our dream alive."

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: Dunkin' Donuts, management firm help Northwest Florida Children in Crisis

Comic books are goods read for youths.

For years, the myth was that comic books couldn't help children appreciate reading or improve their literacy skills.

It was generally thought that these books had mostly pictures and graphics, and this did not equate to reading, but more to looking at pictures.

Pictures do tell a story, and often help youths develop vision and imagination. More important, comic books provide the reluctant reader a path to enjoying reading. Kids later move on to other fun books.

Many youths today enjoy superhero games. Having these titles in the library will catch their attention and lead to them check them out.

Smithfield, N.C., librarian Emily Childress-Campbell gives some sound advice to parents about comic books:

•Comics are a format, not a genre.

•Comics featuring beloved characters can serve as a starting place for children and teens who have no idea where to start in their reading.

•Comics' adaptations of prose novels (such as Percy Jackson or the Infernal Devices) may lead a child or teen to read the prose novel.

•Particularly in rural towns, the library may be the only access that readers have to comics.

As library workers, let’s promote the idea that “real reading” is in the eyes (or ears) of each individual reader.

Come in and check out your favorite comic book.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LEWIS: Comic books have more benefits than meets the eye