In 1987, Secretary of Education William J. Bennett  said, “Let’s have a national campaign … every child should obtain a library card  and use it.” 

This statement kicked off the observance of Library Card Sign-Up Month. Every September, libraries across the country join the campaign to ensure all children have a library card.

We encourage parents and guardians to bring their children to the library and sign them up for a free card. Adults may apply for their children's cards and they are responsible for all materials checked out.

A photo ID, proof of current street address (such as driver’s license, voter registration or utility bill) and telephone numbers are required to get a library card. 

A card issued at any Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative member library (including the Crestview, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther, Niceville and Valparaiso libraries) is valid at all six member locations. Members' cities and the Board of County Commissioners fund OCPLC locations.

As an incentive, every child who applies for a library card during September will get his or her name put in a Sept. 30 drawing for a book bag filled with fun items. We will notify the winner by phone. 

Bring the kids in for a library card.  It will open the windows of the world for your child.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Prize drawing set for library card sign-ups

CRESTVIEW — Dozer the therapy dog’s monthly visits to the Crestview Public Library do a lot more than provide children a big, furry reading buddy.

When kids read to the Great Dane, they gain confidence and improve their reading skills, library staff members and supporters say.

Saturday morning, the Friends of the Crestview Library expressed their appreciation for Dozer’s contributions toward area child literacy with a gift bag of treats for the dog and his mistress, Angie Nousiainen.

Pawsitively Scrumptious, a Main Street business known for its support of community animal-related programs, donated some of the goodies.

“One of the things we like is you help kids learn how to interact with animals,” friends President Rae Schwartz told Dozer and Nousiainen. “Especially big animals.”

“He’s so big I could ride him like a horse,” Violet Content, 6, said as she and her sister Vivian, 7, stroked Dozer’s back.

Nousiainen cautioned the girls that though Dozer is indeed as big as some miniature ponies, his bone structure is not suited for carrying riders like those of equines.

“You could actually hurt Dozer if you tried to ride him” Nousiainen said.

Vivian and Violet represented one of the constituencies the Friends of the Library enjoys supporting, Schwartz said.

“We get to do a lot of things to support the library,” she said. “This is my favorite. Dozer’s visits are just one of several youth programs we do throughout the year.”

Nousiainen said Dozer has between five and eight young friends read to him on a typical Saturday morning. When he visits Northwood Elementary School, the numbers jump.

“At Northwood we’ll get 30 or 35,” she said. “The kids have to read a certain number of books to earn the right to read to Dozer.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Dozer rewarded for supporting child literacy

CRESTVIEW — A 5-year-old boy with multiple disabilities will have a new iPad thanks to his mother’s Facebook “family” and the community.

Kendra Franklin, a 2007 Crestview High School graduate, moved back to the area last month with her two young sons.

Harlen, who is 5, was born with a deformed frontal lobe and has cerebral palsy. He is blind and can neither walk nor talk. But he can use an iPad to play his favorite songs, using special applications.

His mother had just bought him one, which disappeared during their move. After Franklin filed a police report about the incident and posted on Facebook about how upset she was, her mother started a Go Fund Me account to raise $1,000 for a new one. The money was raised within two days, with enough left over for iTunes songs and apps.

Although Harlen has fewer options for communicating than most children, he is a sweet boy who loves music, especially rap, his mother said, adding she believes he is drawn to the beat.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community replaces blind boy's stolen iPad

CRESTVIEW — A Saturday morning mechanical failure left a 1999 Corvette damaged in the woods off Farmer Street and its owner heartbroken.

“I love that car,” he said. “It’s something I wish I didn’t have to be seeing.”

The owner, a Crestview resident who didn’t give his name, said he had worked hard to buy the car. He was giving his younger brother a ride when the car suddenly veered off the road at a bend shortly north of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.

Tire tracks showed the car rode the curbing for a short distance while the driver struggled with the steering before jumping the curb. The driver believes the sports car’s control arm broke but won’t know for sure until the car is raised on a lift.

“I was trying to turn that way and it went the other way,” he said.

Neither the driver nor his brother was injured in the mishap. The owner could not estimate the damage to the Corvette until it could be extracted from the woods where it came to rest.

He estimated he was driving around 30 mph when the accident occurred. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article referred to the vehicle as "classic" and "vintage." We removed these references in the revised article. 

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Saturday accident leaves vintage Corvette in the woods

CRESTVIEW — Many local needy families will have food on the table thanks to Dr. Jennifer Wayer and her patients, who are no strangers to community and world outreach.

When the Crestview dentist challenged her patients to bring nonperishable food and household supplies to her Fourth Avenue practice, not only was the response enthusiastic, one of them upped the ante.

Woodworker Larry Hunter donated a beautiful new, handcrafted hope chest made of aromatic cedar to the cause. Participants could “buy” a raffle ticket for the donation of five non-perishables or $5.

“I always like to work in wood,” Hunter said. “I had a dental appointment with Dr. Wayer and we put two and two together and I donated the chest.”

Wayer said from previous food and clothing drives she and her patients held, she knew that summer is a critical season for the local food bank.

“After learning that our local food pantry helps about 50 families every day, and that many of these families are bona fide homeless, we wanted to do something to help,” Wayer said.

Wayer’s patients filled Hunter’s chest to overflowing, and food started piling up around it. Additional cash donations totaled $1,000.

‘IMPRESSIVE’ RESPONSE

“The response was impressive,” Wayer said. “After two months of displaying the cedar chest and advertising within the office, we raised an impressive $1,000 and too many canned goods to even count!”

“We’re always excited when we get donations,” Sharing and Caring President Robin Marston said. “She’s helped us out before. Last winter we got coats and blankets for the homeless, and she always makes sure we have toothbrushes and toothpaste.”

Equally excited was Wendy Farmer, who won the hope chest.

“Actually, I always wanted a cedar chest,” Farmer said. “I was so excited. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

Wayer said her practice’s efforts toward winter relief will continue this year.

“In the coming months, we will continue to raise money, canned goods, and awareness for the needs of our local food pantry,” Wayer said. “Each Christmas we collect non-perishable food items and place them under the Christmas tree. 

“This year, in addition to collecting food items we will be delivering warm winter jackets to the homeless and under-resourced through Sharing and Caring.”

WANT TO HELP?

Dr. Jennifer Wayer and Sharing and Caring welcome donations of non-perishable food, toiletries and household cleaning supplies. Donors may take their donations to Wayer’s practice, 101 E. Fourth Ave., on the corner of Industrial Drive, or to Sharing and Caring, 298 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., behind Senior Services.

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 dentist’s latest outreach helps Sharing and Caring

CRESTVIEW — When Crestview Public Library staffers wanted to add to their board book collection — but ran out of room in the little “house" — Friends of the Crestview Library Mickey and Ruby Frabott offered to remodel the structure and add a third floor.

The Friends also donated $300 in memorial money after the death of Founding Friends President Flo Lembeck. The funding will be used to purchase additional board books.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Extreme makeover: 'book house' edition

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County voters approved the  Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption incentive in the Aug. 26 referendum. Before the county's decision, on Aug. 14, Ashley Rogers, a lawyer with Chesser & Barr, PA, addressed Crestview Civitan Club members at Coach-N-Four restaurant in Crestview and explained the EDATE program.

Civitan meetings are at 11:30 a.m. second and fourth Thursdays at Coach-N-Four, 114 John King Road, Crestview. Lunch follows business, and visitors are welcome.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Rogers presents EDATE business incentive to Civitan members