CRESTVIEW — Support for a 12-year-old and his family has grown so much that a common hashtag, #prayfordrew, is all over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on North Okaloosa businesses' signs.

Drew Barefield was hit by a boat propeller on June 28 while snorkeling in shallow water off Walton County’s Choctaw Beach. The boat driver left the scene of the accident. Currently, Drew is in a medically induced coma, Wendy, his mother stated in a Facebook message to the News Bulletin. 

“He has a long road ahead of him … my husband Trey and I are just taking it moment by moment, day by day and thanking Jesus for the little miracles he gives us," she stated.

The family, including Drew's sister, Savannah, are active members of Emmanuel Baptist Church, but community support has surpassed church membership.

#Prayfordrew appears on McDonald’s and BBVA Compass Bank's electronic signs and social media websites, and now is on bracelets, T-shirts and coffee mugs.

Lacy Gatlin, 23, of Atlanta, came up with the hashtag that started a movement.

Gatlin, who grew up in Crestview, is friends with the Barefields, and shortly after the accident created a graphic that stated: "#prayfordrew Hebrews 10:23" on her Facebook page. She made it her profile picture.

What happened next surprised her.

"Probably within the next morning, by the time I woke up, it was 100 people's profile picture. At this point in time, I don't even know the extent of where that's gone."

Gatlin, a worship leader, said she's just grateful that the hashtag is raising awareness and funds for the family.

“When we heard about this, it touched our hearts. We thought this would be a great way to ask people to pray for Drew,” said David Costa Jr., of Costa Enterprises, which owns and operates all three Crestview McDonald's locations.

FUNDRAISERS

Several fundraisers are scheduled to help the Barefields.

•The North Ferdon Boulevard McDonald's will offer 20 percent of Monday's profits — between 4 and 8 p.m. — to the family for medical bills and travel expenses. Emmanuel youth group members will assist restaurant staffers by greeting customers, cleaning tables and delivering meals.

•Gordon Martial Arts, on West Oakdale Avenue, will open its parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 to facilitate numerous fundraisers, event organizer Barbara Gordon said. Call 682-5214 to become a vendor.

•Donations and cards are still being accepted at the church, 3252 E James Lee Blvd, Crestview, and an account is set up at BBVA Compass Bank.

The family appreciates all the efforts, Wendy said.

“We are so humbled by all the support and prayers of our family, friends and community,” she said.

“We can't wait to share with Drew how everyone has rallied around him!”

—

Visit the Prayers for Drew Facebook page for updates on Drew Barefield's condition.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa residents support Crestview child following boating accident

CRESTVIEW — Sandy Connors has learned different shooting techniques, how camera angles affect composition and she's picked up some photo editing skills.

She credits the extra knowledge to attending Crestview Photo Club meetings, which monthly attract 30 regulars to the Crestview Public Library.  

The club, which celebrated its first year on Monday, now has new officers. Taking over as club president is Terry Maloney, who co-founded the club with Mira Crisp.

Crisp, who's moving with family next month to Texas, said the 60-member group has “surpassed expectations."

“I just thought we would have around a dozen people interested in photography,” she said.

But the learn-as-you-go approach attracted novices like Connors.

“There is such a wide range of skill (here),” she said. “You don’t have to be an expert on photography.”

Crisp said she will miss those shutterbugs, and hopes the club continues to prosper.

Maloney plans to expose members to new photo challenges, inviting guest speakers and taking more group photography trips.

“We are an enthusiasts club, not a professional club, so everything is about having fun,” she said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Crestview Photo Clubmeetings

WHEN: 6 p.m. second Mondays

WHERE: Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive

ONLINE: crestviewphotoclub.com or facebook.com/crestviewphotoclub

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Photo Club celebrates first year, installs new officers

CRESTVIEW — Julie Voiles says she's glad that helping out your neighbor isn't so old-fashioned that it's become forgotten.

The Crestview Manor resident expressed appreciation for five Spring Creek Apartments staffers who volunteered their entire Thursday cleaning, mowing and painting at the assisted-living facility.

Manor staff — including director Becky Brice-Nash and maintenance employee Sharail Figures — appreciated the extra help.

And Voiles commended the gesture.

 “It’s nice to see that people still do stuff like this,” she said.

Greystone Property Management Corporation, which manages Spring Creek, makes community involvement a priority, said Kristin Tugman, the Crestview rental complex's property manager.

“Once a year the entire company will take a day to get out of the office and find a place to volunteer in the community,” she said.

The Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce directed Tugman and her associates toward Crestview Manor.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Spring Creek staffers spruce up Crestview Manor

CRESTVIEW — Next week, Lamar Estridge will bicycle to his hometown, Dayton, Ohio, while supporting two causes close to his heart.

Estridge, an active duty soldier with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), will travel more than 1,700 miles to support a new bicycling club in Crestview and provide needed school supplies in Dayton classrooms.

It's a labor of love he calls "Ride for Change."

INSPIRING, ENCOURAGING YOUTHS

Estridge, who leaves Crestview on July 24, will travel through five states and camp at different locations along the way. He will bicycle back to Crestview on July 31.

“It’s going to be challenging; my goal is to cover 100 to 150 miles a day,” Estridge said. 

So far, a fundrazr.com account for the cause has reached $50 of a $10,000 goal.

All proceeds will be split between Crayons to Classrooms, an organization that provides school supplies to underfunded Dayton classrooms, and the Crestview Community Cycling Club.

Supporting schools in his hometown is important to Estridge.

“I am riding to inspire and encourage youth,” he said on the fundraising website. “I faced many influences that pushed me towards the street life. If I would have made the choice of violence and drugs it may have gotten me killed or landed me in prison.”

Faith helped Estridge make the choice to join the military and raise four children with his wife, Andria.

BICYCLE CLUB

Crestview's bicycle club, which started three months ago, has almost 20 members, Estridge said.

 The club, also called C4, meets Saturday and Sunday mornings near the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce building. Members cycle between 20 and 30 miles each day. 

“We are just out there exercising and having fun,” he said.

In addition to bicycling recreationally, Estridge has made it a necessity.

He often bicycles another 20 miles each day, back and forth on South Ferdon Boulevard, to get to work.

In all, Estridge said he bicycles between 50 and 100 miles each day. 

It's helped with exercise, but also with fuel costs, Estridge said. 

“I have saved quite a bit on gas,” he said. "I have saved $250 to $300 a month (on gas)."

ONLINE

Visit facebook.com/lamarcyclesforchange to follow Lamar Estridge’s Riding for Change fundraiser page.

Visit http://bit.ly/1nzs8a3 to sponsor the journey.

Learn more about the Crestview Community Cycling Club at http://facebook.com/c4cyclingclub

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Man biking to Ohio to support hometown schools, bicycle club

State Road 123 will be closed this weekend, July 19 and 20, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., impacting entrance to the Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS) from the north.

The Northwest Florida Regional Airport suggests visitors to the airport from the north use either State Highway 85 south to College Road, or State Highway 20 to State 85 south to the airport. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Alternate route suggested for NWF Regional Airport with State Road 123 closure

The Crestview Public Library's collection development policies and guidelines help us with our selections.

We use many American Library Association-approved periodicals such as “Publishers Weekly” and “Library Journal.” Both include the latest information about the publishing industry, bestseller books and book reviews.

Literary medal winners also are included in our selection process.

From the end of January to the beginning of February, I anxiously await the list of winners for Newbery, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King book awards.

The Newbery Medal — named for 18th century British bookseller John Newbery — is awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, an American Library Association division. Authors chosen for the medal are recognized for having the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The 2014 winner was “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” by Kate DiCamillo.

The Caldecott Medal — named in honor of 19th century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, also awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children — recognizes the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The 2014 award went to “Locomotive,” illustrated and written by Brian Floca.

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards recognize outstanding African-American authors and illustrators.

"The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood," the Medford Public Library's website states.

To earn the award, books for children and young adults must demonstrate appreciation of African-American culture and universal human values.

The 2014 award went to “P.S. Be Eleven” by Rita Williams-Garcia.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Award-winning books among library selections

VALPARAISO —  Floral design enthusiasts can learn more about fashionable arrangements next month during the Niceville Garden Club's classes.

The classes are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 2, 16 and 30 and Sept. 13 and 27, and Oct. 11 at the Valparaiso Public Library in the Mitchell Building, 459 Valparaiso Parkway. All six classes cost $75.

Classes are taught by state-certified instructors who are nationally accredited Flower Show Judges.

Students should bring their lunch; organizers will provide drinks and desserts at no extra cost.

Contact Marsha Palmer, nvgc1@cox.net or 573-2422, to register.

July 26 is the deadline for registration and payment.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Basic floral design classes begin next month

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Civitan Club members know more about the North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team following a July 10 presentation by CERT volunteer Robert Clisham.

The CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for potential area hazards and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. 

CERT is always in need of volunteers of all capabilities, from young and able-bodied to mature, detail-oriented individuals. For details, email Kristina Boone, N. Okaloosa CERT president.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community response team volunteer speaks at Civitan Club meeting

Kathy Newby, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioner’s public information officer, will speak at 10:30 a.m. on July 17, 2014, at the Crestview Public Library. 

Newby will discuss Okaloosa County’s Centennial in 2015, new developments within the county, and ways to communicate and stay informed, as well as take questions. The Friends of the Crestview Library general business meeting will follow and the public is invited to both.

Kathy Newby has been PIO since 2006 with Okaloosa County and is trained to fulfill that role in a county emergency. She has lived in the area since 1995, when she arrived as a military wife, and vacationed in the area while growing up in Alabama. Since that time, she has worked along the Emerald Coast in a variety of marketing, advertising and public relations capacity. She and her husband always loved this area and made it home upon their military retirement. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Newby, Okaloosa public information officer, to speak at Crestview library