BAKER — Memories of days gone by are fresh in the minds of visitors to the Baker Block, who now eagerly anticipate the November Baker Heritage Festival following Saturday's Baker Memories Day.

In the Baker Block Museum, a U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform cover drew John Griffin, 7, to the display of military memorabilia as he and his brother Daniel, 10, explored the eclectic collection.

The brothers, visiting the Block for Baker Memories Day from Holt with their mom, Evelyn, tried on several of the displayed uniform hats, John giving a snappy salute as he donned the Marine cover.

"That hat's too small for you," John said, laughing, as a Boy Scout field cap perched atop his brother's head.

At the end of the Baker Block porch, the Baker Mercantile welcomed visitors, some of whom remembered when the original Mercantile filled most of the building.

"They have some nice things in there," Crestview resident Joann Smith of Crestview said, emerging from the store. "When I was a little girl we'd come in the Mercantile for candy when we'd come to Baker to visit Maw-maw and Paw-paw.

"To a little girl, it seemed like they sold everything under the sun," she added.

Outside in the Heritage Park, vendors, some of them Mercantile merchants, sold arts and crafts, plants, aprons and other merchandise.

Popular on the sweltering day were Jerry Champion's homemade ice cream, churned using an old-time engine, and snow-cones sold by the women and youth of Golan Assembly of God in Baker.

"Everybody said it's good," Champion said. "Either they're good liars or it's pretty good ice cream."

Grill masters Jim Turner and Jamey Broxson, who organized the event the past three years, said requests for hamburgers and hotdogs started coming in early, necessitating opening lunch sales half an hour ahead of the announced noon serving time.

"We had folks asking for 'em," Turner said. "If they want to spend money to help raise money for the museum, we're not going to say 'no.'"

For Turner, the museum holds special significance. The log cabin in which his mother, Marinell Hutto, and her father, Orbie Hutto, were born is one of the vintage Heritage Park buildings.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Memories Day draws crowd to Baker Block to reminisce

Did you know that children are the most common victims of dog bites? Many dog bites that affect children happen during everyday activities and with familiar dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has great ways to help parents and their children understand how they can prevent dog bites, so you can help your kids – and dogs-stay safe and happy!

Here are the association's tips:

1.  Avoid dogs you don't know. If you see an unknown dog wandering loose and unsupervised, avoid the dog.

2. Ask before petting!  When the owner is with their dog, always ask the owner for permission to pet their pup. Even if it's a dog you know, asking first can help prevent sudden movements that may startle the dog.

3. When confronted, don't panic. If a dog confronts you, walk confidently and quietly away. If a dog goes after you, stay calm and stand still, keeping hands low and clasped in front of you. It's important to take a defensive position, so the dog won't think you are trying to harm him.

4. Don't make it worse. Avoid escalating the situation by yelling, running, hitting or making sudden movements towards the dog. All of these actions will make the dog feel threatened and can make the dog more aggressive.

5. Let sleeping dogs lie. When a dog is sleeping or eating, leave the dog alone.

6. Never tease dogs. Don't take their toys, food or treats, and never pretend to hit or kick them. This could create distrust in the dog, and make him or her more aggressive.

7. Playtime has a beginning and end. A dog has to want to play, but when the dog leaves that's your cue that playtime is over. The dog will come back for more play if he feels like it.

8. Never pull a dog's ears or tail. Pain makes a dog feel like he is in danger and he could respond by biting.

9. Dogs aren't toys. Never climb on or try to ride dogs. Not only could this scare or anger the dog, but it could also injure the dog if he cannot support the weight or tries to get away.

10. Dog crates are safe spaces. Don't bother a dog when he is in his crate. Dogs need a comfortable, safe place where the child never goes. Remember, dogs need alone time too!

Teach your children these simple lessons to reduce dog bites, and help keep your kids and pups safe, happy and healthy!

For more information on preventing dog bites, visit www.avma.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 10 things we can teach our children to prevent dog bites

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pools offer Crestview residents a local option to stay cool

BAKER — The rural town of Baker is listed as the most conservative town in Florida by the online news website, Business Insider.

Based on political analytical data provided by Clarity Campaign Labs, Business Insider identified the most conservative and liberal towns for each state in the country.

The website identified the most liberal town in Florida as Miami Gardens.

Longtime Baker resident, Sen. Greg Evers said the recognition is long overdue.

“I’m just glad to hear that the rest of the world has finally figured out, what I have known all my life,” he said.

Baker historian Jeanette Henderson believes the commonly-found conservative mindset of Baker residents is due to how they were raised.

“I think values play a big part in it,” she said.

Regardless of where residents stand on political topics, including the issues of gun control, climate change, or even abortion, Henderson said Baker continues to be a close-knit community.  

“It’s a very caring community, we look after each other,” she said.  

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker named most conservative town in Florida

SOCKS — Save Our Cats and Kittens — is having its 4th Annual Kitten Extravaganza Event from 12 to 5 p .m. Saturday, June 21. The event will take place at the shelter and the thrift store located behind the shelter.

Kitten and cat adoption fees will be drastically reduced and, as always, free adoptions for cats 5 and over. 

SOCKS Thrift Store will have a sale with almost everything half off; proceeds go to the kitties. 

GS Gelato and other animal rescues will also be in attendance.

 Contact SOCKS at 850-863-5756, visit their website at www.saveourcatsandkittens.com, come to 498 Carmel Drive, Fort Walton Beach, or follow them on Facebook for more information.

 SOCKS is a free roaming no-kill shelter and adoption center operating on donations only for more than 20 years. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pet adoption extravaganza set for Saturday

It's summer reading time, and I have some great suggestions for you. Here is a sneak peek at a few on the list:

•Like contemporary urban fiction? Then Jim Butcher's "Skin Game" will appeal to you. This Dresden Files novel, available on CD, is filled with mystery and fantasy. Harry Dresden, a professional wizard, has been assigned by Winter Knight and the Queen of Air and Darkness to help a group of supernatural villains led by his enemy. Harry is sure this job will be the end of one of them.

•"The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty involves three unrelated women and their men's secrets. Cecilia Fitzpatrick finds a letter her husband intended for her to read after his death. However, he is very much alive when she reads it. This letter will change not only Cecilia’s life, but also Tess and Rachel's.

•Like thrillers? John Sandford’s "Field of Prey" is an interesting choice. This Lucas Davenport novel purportedly is the best one yet. A young couple out on a date notice a strange smell in the woods and report it to police. The police investigate and find a burial ground full of body parts. It is discovered that as many as 15 skulls are in the field — and these killings have been going on for years.

More great books to take to the beach include "China Dolls," by Lisa See, "Ghost Ship" by Clive Cussler, "The Goldfinch," by Donna Tartt, "Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation" by Judith Macrell and "The Astronaut Wives Club" by Lily Koppel.

Come in to the library and browse for titles; it is time to enjoy a summer read.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Recommended page turners for your summer reading

BAKER — Summer’s a great time to sit on the porch and reminisce, so Saturday, the Baker Block Museum and Baker Mercantile invite residents to their porch for lunch and remembering the good ol’ days.

“It’s a time when friends of the Baker Memories Facebook page and alumni from Baker School come back to get reacquainted with the museum,” director Ann Spann said.

Jamey Broxson, a board member of the North Okaloosa Heritage Association, which operates the museum and Mercantile, started the event “to encourage the local community to come to the museum and see what’s here,” Spann said.

“People reminisce a lot about local history,” Baker Mercantile manager Charlee Becker said.

The third annual Baker Memories Day includes hamburgers, hotdogs and home-churned ice cream available for purchase.

Tables set up on the Baker Block porch will be decorated in country style with burlap tablecloths and floral centerpieces. The Heritage Park next door to the museum will be open; there, folks can also take their meals and explore vintage north county buildings.

Spann said 24 vendors have reserved spaces for a festive community crafts and flea market, “and more space is available.”

During the first two Baker Memories Days, Broxson did most of the work himself. This year he’ll have some helpers.

“We thought with the Baker Mercantile open now, we can help him out,” historical association board member Phyllis Enzor said. “The Mercantile is such a big part of the museum now.”

Volunteers will include youth group members from the Crestview Lifepoint Church.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Memories Day: time to reminisce on the porch