Regent Caroline Maney and registrar Sherry Vieth, of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution's Choctawhatchee Bay chapter, recently welcomed new members Wanda Young, Linda McCooey, Barbara McDaniel, Karen Baker and Joanne Adams. Pictured, from left, are Vieth, Young, McCooey, Maney, McDaniel, Baker and Adams.

The group promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism at local, state and national levels. Membership is open to any woman 18 years or older who proves lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5 women join Choctawhatchee Bay DAR

The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women, in association with the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, is hosting and supporting open and informational conversations with women throughout the state.

The schedule is as follows:

•6-8 p.m. Oct. 23, Northwest Florida State College, Niceville campus, Student Service Center, Room 113

•6-8 p.m. Nov. 18, University of Florida, Fort Walton Beach campus, Building 1, Room 124

Information gathered during these conversations will be shared with state lawmakers in the Florida Commission’s 2014 Annual Report, “Your Voice Matters: A Conversation with Florida Women and Families.” 

The Florida Legislature requires the Florida Commission to study women's changing and developing roles and to implement recommendations to improve the development of individual potential. 

Call 864-3148 or see www.occsw.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Conversations with women set Oct. 23, Nov. 18

CRESTVIEW — The second annual International Festival and Hispanic Heritage Celebration will showcase North Okaloosa County’s rich cultural diversity, organizers said.

Blanca Galindo, an Okaloosa County School District English for Speakers of Other Languages interventionist, said the festival will include:

• Representation by more than 20 countries, including China, Russia, Japan, the Philippines, Germany, Ireland, Korea and many Central and South American countries.

• Appearances by the Crestview Area Sister City Program and the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), which will host a booth about different countries in which its soldiers serve.

• Northwest Florida State College’s English as a Second Language program will share information about county diversity.

• Performances — featuring Mexican “Latin American Idol” star Amid Montelongo — will include dances and music from Ireland, the Middle East, Ukraine, Puerto Rico, Central and Latin America.

Regional scholars have taken interest, Galindo said.

“We’re going to have 35 students from University of West Florida coming to the event," she said. "They’re doing a research project on diversity,” said.

The festival is presented by the school district's English for Speakers of Other Languages program and sponsored by the Friends of the Arts and area schools’ multicultural clubs.

Cultural or national groups interested in signing up may contact Galindo — 683-7500, extension 111 or blanca.galindo@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us — by Friday.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: International Festival and Hispanic Heritage Celebration

WHEN: Oct. 17. Exhibits 5:30-6 p.m.; performances 6-7:30 p.m.

COST: Free

WHERE: Shoal River Middle School gymnasium, 3200 Redstone Ave. E.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: More than 20 countries, cultures expected at international celebration

CRESTVIEW — A throng of booklovers and a new venue made last weekend’s Friends of the Crestview Library Book Sale one of its most successful events to date, organizers said.

The three-day sale — which featured hardbacks and paperbacks, DVDs, VHS tapes, audio books and CDs — raised $3,350 at its Warriors Hall location, event chairwoman Dot Moxcey said. Proceeds help purchase unbudgeted equipment and books for the Crestview Public Library.

Residents came prepared and, in many cases, returned for seconds.

Trudy and Gerald Mixon filled up a large department store shopping bag the Friends provided and headed back to get another.

“He reads everything from Stephen King to true crime. Everything,” Trudy said of her husband. “I’ll walk by and see him reading something weird and say, ‘How can you read that?’”

The library isn’t the sale’s only beneficiary. Waterfront Rescue Mission sells “two or three van-loads” of unsold books to support its community outreach services, Moxcey said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Booklovers help raise $3,350 for library's unbudgeted needs

CRESTVIEW — Eric Strindholm’s Ponkan orange tree would have been a gift to his neighbors, a source of fresh citrus that could provide nourishment.

But someone destroyed it between 12 and 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“It’s really upsetting,” the Savage Street resident said. “It is the work of a malicious person who’s just destroying other people's property.”

The vandal may also have slashed two new cars' tires and fired BB guns at nearby residents’ windows, according to Crestview police.

Strindholm, who grew up in the Miami Beach area, hopes to recreate such citrus grove ambience on the property around his 70-year-old clapboard cottage.

And share the fruit to help others. 

“I want it to look like those vintage postcards, with citrus trees full of fruit,” he said. “I thought I could make the whole yard an orchard and donate the fruit.”

Strindholm, who used a wheelchair after a car accident three years ago, temporarily depended on food from Sharing and Caring until he was well enough to return to his sales job. Sharing his orchard's bounty with the local food bank and soup kitchens will be a way to pay forward the generosity he received, he said.

Currently, Strindholm has lemon trees, a Valencia orange tree, a Thompson pink grapefruit, apple trees, a honeybell tangelo, and a honey Murcott tangerine that produces “the sweetest orange in the world,” Strindholm said. “You have to cut it with Valencia juice.”

The destroyed tree, worth $40, was to be one of a pair. The Ponkan orange — actually a large Mandarin tangerine — is very cold hardy; trees planted from its seeds bear fruit without pollinators, he said.

“If people planted those seeds, there’d be no food shortage,” Strindholm said. “If everybody grew at least one fruit tree and donated some to the soup kitchens, nobody would go hungry.”

Strindholm said he’s “over the anger” and won’t let a vandal deter him from raising fruit that will help feed neighbors in need.

Money is tight; he relies on bartering to help renovate his cottage, and he refurbishes and sells equipment to raise cash to buy fruit trees and maintain his orchard.

“As soon as I save enough money I run down to Lowe’s and buy another fruit tree,” he said.

 He said he plans to replace the destroyed Ponkan orange tree when he can.

“I’m going to get another one as soon as I get the money,” he said. “You have to do whatever you can do to help each other.”

WANT TO HELP?

Call the Crestview Police Department, 682-2055, to report information about recent vandalism in neighborhoods behind Thrifty Foods

Call Eric Strindholm, 225-1768, to donate toward trees that will bear fruit for Sharing and Caring's food bank

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Undeterred by vandal, Crestview man vows to plant more citrus trees to feed the needy (VIDEO)

LAUREL HILL — The incoming cooler weather for the fall season, may have helped the 2014 Laurel Hill Hobo Festival with a successful turnout.

PHOTOS: See 39 photos from the 2014 Laurel Hill Hobo Festival >>

“The weather is perfect for it,” resident Whaylond Davis said.

 Davis said he regularly brings his family to the community event, which took place at Gene Clary Park on Saturday.

While Davis has regularly attended the event in the past, it was the first time for Joanna Arntz, who was visiting from Ponce de Leon. Arntz said she was enjoying the family-friendly atmosphere.

“The kids have plenty to do (here),” she said.

While many children visited the play areas and the inflatable attractions, other children were looking to earn money.

 Dorcas residents, Kyanna Oliver, 11, and Gracie Cade, 9, sold lemonade.

“We always wanted to do this,” Kyanna said.

The sisters said they would save money they earned from the event.

“It’s been going really good,” Gracie said referring to the amount of money they collected. 

Neighboring vendor Sherry Gosh, who sold homemade goods, noticed an increase in attendance from last year’s replacement festival, “A Day in the Country Life” Fall Festival.

“It’s been busier than last year, the traffic has been doubled,” Gosh said. “It’s been a good turnout.”

In addition to visiting vendors, attendees also listened to live music and registered to win prizes donated by local businesses.

Attendees also gave back to the community by donating non-perishable food items towards the cause of Sarah Wayer, 15, who recently won Supreme Beauty in the 2014 Northwest Florida Miss Heart of the USA pageant.

The pageant’s goal is to eliminate hunger by supporting a local food pantry, Wayer said. Now, she is collecting on behalf of the Sharing and Caring organization of Crestview.

Wayer was also thankful for the community’s support.

 “There have been quite a few donations…which is really exciting,” Wayer said. “It’s great to see the community get involved.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents enjoy cooler weather, entertainment at Hobo Festival (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — The Helping Other People Effectively Network will host a status update meeting on cold night shelters and soup kitchens in Crestview.

The meeting is 6 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Crestview Community of Christ, 398 E. 1st Ave., Crestview.

Organizers ask attendees to bring a friend, fellow church member, neighbor, or anyone interested in shelters or soup kitchens to the meeting. 

For more information, contact Ann Sprague, 850-826-1770.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Group hosts meeting on North Okaloosa shelter and soup kitchen programs

FORT WALTON BEACH — Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast hosted their inaugural Steak & Stake fundraising dinner Sept. 25 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. More than 225 guests attended the event, which raised more than $32,000.

The evening began with a VIP reception, hosted by Cox Communications, with special guest speaker Jim “The Rookie” Morris.

Morris' life story was the inspiration behind the 2002 Walt Disney film "The Rookie," starring Dennis Quaid. To motivate his rag-tag high school baseball team, the then-35-year-old schoolteacher made a bet that he would try out for the big leagues if his team won a district championship. When his team won, Morris followed through on his promise, going to a try out where he threw 12 consecutive pitches at 98 mph. Three months later, he achieved his dream of pitching in the Major Leagues.

"Mr. Morris has a unique and exciting story. We were excited for our club members and community to hear his inspirational story and how great futures are started," said Shervin Rassa, chief executive officer for BGC Emerald Coast. "Although his story takes place on a baseball diamond, we can all relate to reaching and fulfilling our dreams.”

Guests were entertained by emcees Shane Moody and Ted Corcoran, along with the clubs' Youth of the Year candidate, Daishawn Kyser. The Youth of the Year is the premiere recognition program for members age 14-18 who promote service to their club, community and family, academic success, strong moral character, life goals, poise and public speaking ability. Clubs recognize Youth of the Month winners and select a Youth of the Year, who then participates in state competitions. Winners have the potential to receive scholarships and compete at the national level.

“Daishawn is a young man that embodies the character, personal growth and leadership qualities we look for in a Youth of the Year,” Rassa said. “His story is similar to so many young people we hear about today. What makes Daishawn’s story different is that despite his tribulations, he has emerged as a leader with perspective and aspirations to better his life despite the odds stacked against him.”

Youths from all seven clubs sat at every table with dinner attendees. They handed out their own business cards and shared the story of of what Boys & Girls Clubs means to them and how their club has a positive impact on their lives. Adults enjoyed juicy, mouth-watering hamburgers, while club members were treated to a special steak dinner.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast is proud to recognize their sponsors for their generosity and continued support. They are Cox Communications, Acentria, Coastal Bank & Trust, Destin Commons, Florida Blue, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, McMahon & Hadder Insurance, AT&T, Copy Products, Matthews & Jones, Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties; and annual partners All Sports Association, United Way, Centennial Bank and Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.

For more information on this and other great events by BGC Emerald Coast, visit www.bgcec.com; or contact Jessica Davis, Development & Marketing vice president, at jdavis@bgcec.com or call 850-862-1616.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Steak & Stake fundraiser nets more than $32,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs