FORT WALTON BEACH — The 23rd Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, set May 9, will help food banks restock their pantries. 

Letter carriers, in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service, the AFL-CIO, Valpak, and United Way of Okaloosa-Walton Counties, will collect non-perishable items; quick meals like macaroni, spaghetti, soups, canned meats, peanut butter, canned juice, canned fruits, canned vegetables, baby food and cereal.  

To participate, place food donations in a bag beside your mailbox early morning on May 9. Your letter carrier will pick up your donations during regular mail routes and will deliver them to local food banks. 

See a list of local participating food banks>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Food drive to benefit Okaloosa, Walton pantries

CRESTVIEW — Cub Scout Dens 4 and 11, of Pack 799, chartered by First United Methodist Church of Crestview, have received financial support that can help them attend scout events and purchase more supplies.

The Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union cut a $100 check for the Dens' participation in the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Triple B Cookoff Art Contest.

"Cub Scout Dens 4 and 11 … would like to send a big thank you to the Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union for the check," a spokesperson for the groups said. "Thank you very much!"

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Scouts: Financial support will help fund events, supplies

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County’s household hazardous waste drop-off site opens Tuesday through Saturday beginning April 21. Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Paint, pesticides, pool chemicals, used oil, gas, anti-freeze, computers, televisions, car and rechargeable batteries, fluorescent lights, cleaners, solvents and aerosols, among other items, can be dropped off at 84 Ready Ave., Fort Walton Beach.

Contact 301-2013 or see www.co.okaloosa.fl.us/pw/environmental/hazardous-waste for more information. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Household hazardous waste drop-off site opens Tuesday

FORT WALTON BEACH — Upcoming Earth Day events in Okaloosa County are as follows:

•Emerald Coast Science Center Earth Day event: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at The Emerald Coast Science Center, 31 SW Memorial Parkway, Fort Walton Beach. The Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department teaches water conservation lessons to children.

•Earth Day Beach Cleanup: 8-10 a.m. April 25. Volunteers sign in at Beasley Park or Beach Park on Okaloosa Island, or Henderson Beach State Park in Destin. The Okaloosa County Environmental Council invites all ages to participate. 

Volunteers will receive a “Leave Footprints — NOT Stuff” T-Shirt, trash bag, bottled water and gloves. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Earth Day events include water conservation lessons, beach cleanup

CRESTVIEW — Participants of last weekend's Korean Martial Arts Festival in downtown Crestview participated in an exit survey, with one question being, "What would you say was the best thing about KMAF?"

They gave these compliments, among others:

•Well organized, with interesting presentations and excellent instructors.

•Enjoyed the wide mix of backgrounds all working together to share knowledge, and presenters and martial arts masters' overall kindness and humility

•Enjoyed meeting and training with high-ranking instructors from all over the U.S. and abroad

The annual event, presented by Gordon Martial Arts, featured 15 instructors performing 30 instructional sessions ranging 45 to 60 minutes. Friday night included a keynote presentation, six sessions and four junior sessions, followed by a late dinner at Azteca Mexican Restaurant. Saturday included four keynote presentations, 10 sessions and four more junior sessions, followed by a banquet.  The event wrapped Sunday with four sessions.

"It really is one of the must-attend Korean Martial Arts events worth visiting in the USA each year," saidGeoff Booth, a martial arts teacher who traveled over a million miles to attend the festival.

Guests who attend the event come from as far away as Canada, England, Holland, Korea and Australia.

Learn more here>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Visitor: Crestview's Korean Martial Arts Festival among 'must-attend' events

Hear ye, hear ye! On Tuesday, May 5, the Shire of Phoenix Glade, of the Society for Creative Anachronism, will take us “Back to the Middle Ages.”

The society is an international organization that researches and re-creates the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. 

Come to the Crestview Public Library between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. to watch fighting and fencing, play a game and  learn a dance. This Evening Library Time is for ages 4 and up. 

Registration is not required for the free event. Please call me at 682-4432 with questions.

•••

In other news, AARP had a very busy season of preparing taxes for people at no charge.

We send a heartfelt thank-you to all volunteers who so cheerfully and faithfully gave their time, energy and expertise.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NITZEL: Fighting, fencing on tap at Crestview library next month

FORT WALTON BEACH — Child sexual assault survivor and advocate Lauren Book, among others, will walk the panhandle Thursday, April 16 during her sixth annual “Lauren’s Walk." 

The walk begins in South Florida and ends 1,500 miles later on the steps of the Florida capital in Tallahassee, where Lauren will lobby for sexual abuse legislation.  The event, sponsored by Bridgeway Center, Inc., coincides with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

A $10 advanced registration fee — paid at www.laurenskids.org — covers the cost of a T-shirt, sports band and lunch. On-site registration costs $15. 

The walk through Okaloosa County begins at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Navarre; stops at Bridgeway Center Inc.’s Soundside Wellness Consultants, 205 Shell Ave., Fort Walton Beach; and heads to the Children's Advocacy Center in Niceville.

A reception for walkers will be held 12:15 p.m. April 16 at Bridgeway's Soundside Wellness Consultants.  Light refreshments will be served. 

Donations will be accepted for Bridgeway Center’s Child Abuse Prevention Team, which coordinates with Child Protective Services for children in Okaloosa County. Services are also provided with assistance from the Guardian Ad Litem program, Families First Network in Pensacola, Family Support Services and Bridgeway's Family Care Unit.

Call 376-5386 for more information.   

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's how you can walk the Panhandle to raise sexual assault awareness

CRESTVIEW — The community can observe Transplant Awareness Month during Saturday's “The Big Event,” a fundraiser for businessman Ron Walker.

Walker was diagnosed in the mid-2000s with a non-alcoholic-related, life-threatening liver disease. Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham say a liver transplant is crucial to his survival.

The National Foundation for Transplants, which is partnering with the fundraiser's organizers, stated that the transplant’s $575,000 cost is just the beginning of expenses Walker and his wife, Katrina, will face.

Follow-up care and expensive daily anti-rejection medications are “as critical to his survival as the transplant itself," the foundation’s website states.

The Rev. Silas Ford, pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church — who co-starred with Walker in View From the Stage’s fall 2014 production of “Twelve Angry Men" — said, “There’s a complex at UAB where you have to stay from four to six weeks, and someone will have to stay by his side for 24 hours a day. He’ll be out of work and his wife will be out of work. But he has to pay his bills.”

Ford said one benefit of involving the transplant foundation is that money raised for Walker goes directly to the patient. “Funds have to be allocated per IRS guidelines, so donors know someone won’t just take donations and use it to buy a new car,” Ford said.

Proceeds from the Big Event’s community yard sale, barbecue, Boston butt sale, bounce house and entertainment will benefit a worthy man, Ford said.

“He’s quite a guy,” Ford said. “He’s a very eclectic guy. He and his wife are very wonderful, interesting people.”

HOW TO HELP

WHAT: “The Big Event,” a liver transplant fundraiser for Ron Walker including a yard sale, barbecue, Boston butt sales, bounce house and entertainment

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11

WHERE: Lifepoint Church parking lot, 400 Ferdon Blvd. S., Crestview.

NOTES: Send tax-deductible donations to: NFT Florida Transplant Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Write “in honor of Ron Walker” on the memo line. Or make secure donations at www.transplants.org. Select “Find an NFT Patient” to locate Walker.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: National Transplant Month: Crestview man's expenses exceed cost of transplant

DESTIN — Next week, volunteers can learn how to determine and grant wishes of Florida children with life-threatening medical conditions.

The class is 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 18 at an undisclosed location.

Attendees will learn about how to determine a child's one true wish; different granting techniques; and policies and guidelines on granting the wish.

Participants must be at least age 21, have communication, patience and commitment skills, and give one hour per week.

To register, RSVP for the location or learn about other volunteer opportunities, contact Stephanie Smith, 407-622-4673, ext. 201, or email ssmith@wishcentral.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Make-A-Wish sets Destin grant training session

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Guardians ad Litem will host their annual remembrance program on Sunday at Twin Hills Park.

The event begins 2 p.m. at 100 Hathaway Street N. Attendees will commemorate Northwest Florida's abused, abandoned and neglected children and can learn more about Guardian ad Litem.  

The ceremony features interpretive dance by Northwest Florida Ballet students Jeilani Champion and Malika Grice; a Crestview ROTC flag ceremony; and singing by North Okaloosa resident Toni Taylor. Later, attendees will toss biodegradable flowers in the pond. Each flower represents one child in the GAL system.

The ceremony "will be completely uplifting and motivate (attendees) to know there are children who need help," Carita Smith, Guardians ad Litem recruiter, said. "The amount of time it takes to be a volunteer doesn't compare to the (benefits) of speaking up for them."

Smith hopes more people will become a voice for children in need. In Okaloosa, 175 volunteers are needed. Right now, there are 60. "Some volunteers offer to take more than one case because we are in such great need," Smith said.

North Okaloosa coverage includes Crestview, Laurel Hill, Baker and part of Mossy Head, and the agency has south Okaloosa offices as well.

GAL advocates meet with each child in the program once a month or more determine steps to take in the child's best interest, whether at home, in court or educationwise. They take medical, legal and other needs into account and address them with the GAL team, which includes the child's Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocate Manager, and a Child's Best Interest Attorney, according to the 2015 Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program Standards and website.

In some cases, the GAL functions as a mentor to the children he or she represents. "They advocate through the court, but also for their physical, emotional, educational needs and more, and give them a sense of hope," Smith said.

When asked what kinds of organizations the Guardians partner with, Smith said, "We interact with the Department of Children and Families, Families First Network, (Children in Crisis), Bridgeway.

"Kids can be placed just about anywhere. We have to work with other agencies and make sure we build that rapport with different agencies so that we can get what's needed for the best interest of the children."

What's the most important thing about volunteering?

"The best part of being a GAL, for me, is seeing the kids, interacting with the children, and knowing that I'm making an impact on their life," Smith said.

"When they can look back and say, 'You made things better for me,' I'd do it 20 times over."

Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guardians ad Litem set remembrance ceremony