CRESTVIEW — The Hub City is the second-“Best Town to Raise a Family in Florida," according to Niche.com.

Crestview was surpassed by High Springs in Alachua County. The next-closest community to make the list was DeFuniak Springs, No. 17. Pensacola ranked 27th. No other neighboring communities made the list, and no Florida towns made the national top 100.

See Niche's full report here>>

Niche.com — which analyzed communities with populations under 100,000 people — assigned rankings “based on school ratings, crime rates, age demographics, and access to affordable housing and childcare," the website states. "A high ranking indicates that a town attracts young families with good schools and a safe community."

Crime-and-safety and education each contributed 20 percent toward a community’s overall ranking. Access to libraries, involvement and investment in the community, home affordability, population between ages 35 and 44, and population ages 9 and younger each contributed 10 percent. Affordable day care and access to grocery stores each contributed 5 percent toward a town’s overall score.

Crestview’s high ranking doesn’t surprise Richard and Maria Masters, who moved here with their four children from California in January 2009.

“I think the biggest thing I like about Crestview is the welcoming we got from people who didn’t know who we were,” Richard Masters, a Navy veteran, said. “People opened up and took us in like family. Our kids have so many ‘moms and dads’ in Crestview, it’s unreal, and I am ‘Papa’ to tons of kids.”

The Masterses rapidly assimilated into their new hometown, became active in Girl and Boy Scouts, and joined a church. “I love our church, Our Lady of Victory,” Masters said. “The parishioners here are really, really great.”

If he had one complaint, Masters said it’s a limited choice of restaurants. “You just can’t go anywhere nice to eat in Crestview,” he said. “You have to leave town to eat.”

That perception is one of several concerns expressed by the study's critics on the News Bulletin's Facebook page. Most commenters questioned the ranking.

"Not a place for family at all!" J Denise Ford said. "No decent places to eat. No decent parks. Nothing to do for miles away. Traffic is horrendous!"

"There are no amenities…unless you count Walmart and Lowe's," Anita Harness said.

Niche also ranked Crestview first in “Best Towns to Buy a House in Florida” and 91st in “Best Towns to Buy a House in America.”

Additionally, the site ranked Crestview 15th in “Safest Towns in Florida,” sixth in “Towns with the Best Public Schools in Florida,” and seventh in “Towns with the Best Community in Florida.”

Niche compiles its information from publically available sources including school and government databases.

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MAKING THE GRADE

Niche.com issued these grades for Crestview:

Crime and safety: C

Education: A-

Library access: C-

Community: B

Housing: A-

Day care access: B

Grocery store access: C+

Residents 35-44: 10.2 percent

Residents under 9: 17.7 percent

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Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview ranked No. 2 best town to raise a family

CRESTVIEW — The Seniors vs. Crime Project seeks volunteers.

Volunteers must be at least 50 years old and have a full-time or part-time Florida address.

Senior Sleuths help operate a local Seniors vs. Crime office where seniors can make complaints and seek assistance.

You may also be asked to investigate a complaint or monitor advertisements and activity by a particular company or within a particular industry.

If needed, you will be provided with training to carry out any of the roles that you wish to undertake and for which we feel you are suitable.

Some assignments can even be carried out as part of a senior's everyday routine — including clipping suspicious newspaper/magazine ads or reporting telemarketers and suspicious solicitations.

Qualified residents can apply at www.seniorsvscrime.com/become-a-volunteer.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Seniors vs. Crime volunteers wanted

CRESTVIEW — Two airmen can focus on their overseas mission with peace of mind, knowing their dogs, Dizzy and Zoe, are in good hands during deployment.

And for Crestview volunteer pet sitter Lori Phillips, making the black-and-white spaniel mixes part of her family is an opportunity to thank the active-duty airmen for their service.

Phillips is a volunteer with Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet, a nationwide organization that assures a deployed or wounded member of the military doesn’t have to give up a pet.

Military members unaware of the program sometimes are forced to sign over pet ownership to an agency that might then put the animals up for adoption while their owners are deployed, Phillips said.

“Think how heartbreaking that is when they came back and they can’t get their pets back,” she said.

REGULATED BY CONTRACT

Under the program, volunteers sign a contract for the duration of the military member’s deployment. Sitters get to meet the pets and their owners before deployment to determine compatibility.

Volunteers can determine which species of pet they want to accept in their home. Phillips, who has a dog of her own, was fairly open minded.

“I signed up for everything, except for snakes,” she said.

Dizzy and Zoe moved in with her at the end of February and will remain until their “parents,” as Phillips calls their owners, return from deployment in June.

Under the contract signed with Guardian Angels for Soldiers’ Pet, “You agree to give the dog or cat back when the parents come back,” Phillips said.

Pet owners agree to provide money for the animals’ expenses, but volunteers may not accept a stipend or compensation for their services.

“With the contract, the pet parents agree to leave gift cards for supplies or vet visits,” Phillips said.

A VALUABLE SERVICE

Phillips regularly sends photos and videos of Dizzy and Zoe to their owners and keeps them updated on their dogs’ health and activities.

“I have a dog myself,” she said. “They really sort of bonded with each other, but you can really tell they miss their mom and dad.”

She said the program offers a valuable service to active-duty military; one that the public doesn’t often consider.

“Imagine having to leave everything for three or six months or a year, and imagine if you had to sign over your pet,” Phillips said.  “… This is one thing I can do for them.”

She said her hope is more volunteers will join the program, and more members of the military will participate in it and share the sense of satisfaction she has experienced.

“I can do a little bit for my country, and this is my part,” Phillips said.

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WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer pet sitter for a deployed military member may contact Monica Lanier, Florida foster coordination liaison with Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet at coordination.fl@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org. For more information about the program, visit www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview volunteer military pet-sitter assures happy reunions after deployments

CRESTVIEW — Main Street Crestview Association is getting ready for its annual Sidewalk Mania day next month.

The event, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6, features Crestview and Main Street businesses and restaurants, a sidewalk chalk art contest, activities for all age groups, and cow patty bingo, sponsored by the Common Ground Community Garden.

For more information or to preregister for the event, call 398-8433 or 585-5672.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sidewalk Mania planned in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — A pancake fundraiser is scheduled at Applebee's to raise funds for Crestview Professional Firefighters unit 2680.

The meal costs $7; pancakes will be served from 8-10 a.m. June 13 at 215 Rasberry Road.

Proceeds will help buy a Hurst Jaws of Life. Here's why they need it>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pancake breakfast benefits Crestview firefighters

Did you know the Crestview Public Library provides free proctoring service?

If you are doing an online course or distance learning program and need to have your exams proctored, we can do that for you.

We are available to test during our open hours. All you need to do is contact your school and give them the name of the proctor, address, telephone number and email address.

Just come into the library and request a proctor to receive this information.

Next, contact your school and they will contact us. When you are ready to test, give us a call and set a day and time. We will receive the test, if it is a printed copy, or an email with an access code, if it is to be completed online.

Call us and set up your proctoring schedule. We are happy to help you achieve your educational goals.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: LEWIS: Free proctoring in Crestview? Yeah, we do that

MILTON — Gardening enthusiasts wanting to take a drive outside the county next month can visit the Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners' 5th Annual Yard and Plant Sale.

The event is 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Santa Rosa County Extension Office, 6263 Dogwood Drive in Milton.

A variety of household items — including household goods, linens, kitchenware, dishes, patio items, jewelry, books, garden items and knick-knacks — will be for sale.

Many plants, including herbs, annuals and perennials, will be available.

No clothing or shoes will be available.

Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening, lawn and plant questions, and demonstration gardens will be open for tours.

Contact Mary Derrick, 623-3868, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays or email maryd@santarosa.fl.gov for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Master Gardener Yard and Plant Sale set in Milton

BAKER — “Crestview, Florida: A Pictorial History” offers an illustrated glimpse of the Hub City as far back as the city’s 1880s establishment.

And there’s more to come as Crestview gears up for its 2016 centennial celebration, Baker Block Museum Director Ann Spann said.

 “We’re excited about being part of the Crestview centennial,” Spann said.

Featured photographs culled from the museum’s collection help readers trace the city’s progress, beginning with shots of crews laying Louisville and Nashville Railroad track.

“We’re excited about it,” Spann said. “We just got it on the shelf last week.”

The book, published by the North Okaloosa Historical Association,  is dedicated to the late James “JC” Connor, a longtime museum and association volunteer.

“He initially worked with us on this project,” Spann said. “He was very much a force behind it.”

Photos cover the area's people, moonshining, sports, entertainment, schools, churches and times both good and bad.

Timed for release around the Fourth of July will be a second volume in what Spann said will be a series of history books.

“It’s called ‘Okaloosa Strong: The Homefront,’ which talks about a lot of people who served in the military as well as the homefront during wartime,” she said.

Like the Crestview book, “it has a lot of photographs and newspaper clippings,” Spann said.

All proceeds from sales of both books go to the Baker Block Museum.

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WANT A COPY?

“Crestview, Florida: A Pictorial History” is available for $20 at the Baker Mercantile, beside the Baker Block Museum at the corner of State Roads 189 and 4 in Baker. All sales benefit the museum. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: History book delves into 100 years of Crestview history

CRESTVIEW — The HEROES group of Crestview has been hard at work this summer.

Members of Helping Everyone Respectfully Overcome Everyday Situations, led by CEO Kathy Ellis, have done everything from stuffing envelopes for businesses to making and planting about 4,600 poppies for the Flanders Field Memorial Day effort at American Legion Hall Post 75 in Crestview.

In addition, members recently competed in the Special Olympics, bringing home several medals.

"They enjoy being useful, and they are so proud of (their accomplishments)," Ellis said.

And they are looking for more opportunities to help the community.

"Does your organization need help with a project? Let our busy hands help you out," Ellis said.

Contact Ellis, 689-1448 or gonnuts78@hotmail.com, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview H.E.R.O.E.S. plant Memorial Day poppy field, bring back Special Olympics medals

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women's 2015 Women’s Wall of Honor Honorees are as follows:

Tammy McGaughy, Sherry Marcolongo, Jean Hood, Velma Conyers, Valarie Bogar, Sherry Smith, Margaret Schwartz, Louan Rathke, Donna Pattison and Dood Wood.

"These special women have contributed to the well-being of children, families and the citizens of our community," an OCCSW spokesperson said in a news release.

The honorees’ names are placed on a plaque, and in a nearby book containing a biographical page for each woman, in the library at the University of West Florida's Fort Walton Beach campus.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa commission announces 2015 Women's Wall honorees