We all love a good bargain, no matter what our age. But if you're a senior citizen on a fixed income, finding discounted goods and services can mean the difference between making ends meet and going without.

The good news is that tons of senior discounts are available – often for people as young as 50. One caveat right up front: Although many senior discounts are substantial, you sometimes can find better bargains – especially on travel-related expenses like airfare, hotels and rental cars. So always do your research first before requesting the senior rate.

Here's a roundup of some of the best senior discounts I've found:

An AARP membership costs only $16 a year for anyone over age 50, including free membership for spouses or partners. AARP's discounts website features discounts on dozens of products and services including rental cars, hotels, restaurants, clothing and department store chains. AARP also offers an inexpensive driver safety course for drivers over 50 (members and nonmembers alike) that can lower auto insurance premiums by up to 10 percent or more.

Popular AARP discounts include:

•20 percent discount on installation or upgrades to ADT home security systems.

•45 percent off membership to Angie's List.

•20 percent off purchases from 1-800-FLOWERS.com.

•Up to 25 percent off car rentals from Avis and Budget.

•Up to 20 percent discount at many hotel chains including Hyatt, Hilton, Wyndham, Best Western, Days Inn and Ramada, among others.

•10 to 20 percent off at many restaurant chains, including Claim Jumper, Denny's and Outback Steakhouse.

•15 percent off many Geek Squad services from Best Buy.

•A free 45-minute consultation with an Allstate Legal Services Network attorney, as well as 20 percent off member attorneys' fees.

A quick Google search will uncover numerous other senior discount resources. One popular site is SeniorDiscounts.com, an online directory of more than 220,000 U.S. business locations that offer discounts to people over 50. Registration is free, although they also offer a $12.95/year premium that offers members-only discounts and other perks. Other good sites include Brad's Deals, Sciddy.com and Savvy Senior.

Other commonly available senior discounts include:

•A 15 percent discount on the lowest available rail fare on most Amtrak trains for travelers over age 62.

•Greyhound offers a 5 percent discount on unrestricted fares (over 62).

•Southwest Airlines offers senior fares (over 65). Although not necessarily their lowest available rates, Southwest's senior fares are fully refundable.

•The U.S. Geologic Survey senior pass (over 62) provides free lifetime access to more than 2,000 government-managed recreational sites (including national parks), as well as discounts on camping and other amenities. Senior passes cost $10 in person or $20 by mail.

•Verizon Wireless offers discounted mobile phone service for subscribers over 65.

•Both Walgreens and Rite Aid offer monthly senior discount days for members of their rewards programs when most non-prescription items are 15 to 20 percent off. Ask your neighborhood pharmacy if they offer similar programs.

In addition, many restaurants, department stores, movie theaters, museums, theme parks, banks, credit card issuers, utilities (including gas and electric, water, garbage, telephone and cable) and other businesses offer special discounts or promotions for seniors. Always ask before your purchase is rung up.

Bottom line: Abundant resources are available to help seniors save money on purchases large and small. You just have to do a little research – and ask whether senior discounts are available. Remember, 10 percent here and 20 percent there can really add up.

Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. Click here to participate in a free, online Financial Literacy and Education Summit on April 2.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: PRACTICAL MONEY SKILLS: Money-saving tips for seniors

CRESTVIEW — The Common Ground Community Garden of Crestview's organizers are hosting an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Bob Sikes Library in Crestview.

Organizers are accepting applications for their Main Street garden behind the H&R Block offices at the foot of the CSX overpass. 

For a small fee, you may adopt your own 12-foot by 4-foot raised garden bed or a larger in-ground garden bed.

But this will require a commitment from you: Be prepared to hand-water, keep it weeded, and spend time in the garden each week. 

"Every dollar you invest in your own community garden plot can give you 10 or more dollars of fresh vegetables that will mean healthy meals for your family," a news release stated.

Experienced gardeners, Master Gardeners, and the organization's website can help even beginning gardeners take home lots of fresh veggies this summer.

If you are interested in becoming a gardener or a sponsor, call Catherine Ward at 850-758-8481.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Common Ground Community Garden of Crestview sets March 3 informational meeting

BAKER — Jeannette Henderson said receiving a plaque for helping to preserve Baker's history was a little overwhelming.

State Sen. Greg Evers, County Commissioner Nathan Boyles and Okaloosa County School District Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson showed their appreciation for the 82-year-old historian on Sunday. Baker School heritage and hometown pride were on full display during an unveiling ceremony for a historical marker that Henderson's hard work helped make possible.

Henderson's more than two years of research were integral to formally crediting then-Baker High School as Okaloosa County's first state-accredited high school in 1923. Her service helped put Baker on the Florida Historical Marker Program's map, which recognizes 800 sites.

That's fitting to Evers, a Baker native.

"If you are from the Baker area, (Jeannette) can tell you who you are kin to," he said. "Jeannette and Charles are the core of the nucleus of the Baker community."  

Family members of the school's first three-student graduating class of 1924 helped to unveil the historical marker. 

Shirley H. Lundy, the daughter of Dewey Henderson, and her husband, Delano — both proud Baker graduates — traveled from Pensacola to help.

"It's a close-knitted family," Delano Lundy said, referring to Baker. "Everybody knew everybody and most of everybody is kin to somebody."

The marker will be displayed near the school's entrance this week, Henderson said, adding that her work is not finished.

She hopes to start a North Okaloosa history club and, possibly, bring more historical markers to the area.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Historical marker brings Baker pride

NICEVILLE — Distinguished Young Women of Okaloosa County, previously the Junior Miss, is accepting applications for its second annual competition through March 1.

Young women must be in their junior year of high school and live in Okaloosa County to be eligible.

The Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program will take place this summer on July 19. Girls participating will not only be in the DYW family for life, but also learn life skills invaluable for the coming years, as well as having the chance to be awarded cash scholarships for college.

Participants will be judged on five categories: Grades, Fitness, Talent, Interview, & Self-Expression. A mom/daughters meeting is planned for particiapnts signed up by the deadline.

For details, go to the DYM Facebook page; contact carolebyrd911@yahoo.com; or go to the DYM website and click on "participate."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Distinguished Young Women accepting scholarship entries

MOOC, or Massive Open Online Courses, is the acronym that academics, teachers and librarians use for online degree programs.  

Many of our visitors need a proctoring service that allows them to take exams in a controlled environment. We offer proctoring free of charge and serve a large number of students in the community.

Our library's Internet access allows students to search numerous databases to help them complete course work for higher education. We also have print resources that might be needed.

Database access is available to anyone with an Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative library card, and some of our databases specifically require a Crestview library card. These databases can be accessed remotely for those who have computers at home.

Just call us to get free proctoring, which is available during regular library hours.

You can reach me, Jean, or Marie, Sandra, Heather, Anna, Sabrina, Audrey, Mike, Sasha, Sandy or Esther at 682-4432.  

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Proctoring services available for students taking online courses

CRESTVIEW — Yvonne Shanklin would love to see the McMahon Environmental Center become a place where she can introduce her five grandchildren to outdoor movies.

Joyce Heath said she has enjoyed several family celebrations beneath the trees and would like to see more families make similar memories.

Wanda and Mark Hulion just want to pitch in and help make the park more attractive to draw more people.

They were among 40 residents who gathered on Saturday to share hotdogs, hamburgers and many ideas about ways to refurbish the center.

A Kiwanis project

The Crestview Kiwanis Club has taken on planning and fundraising for refurbishing the park, which retired forester John McMahon, the center's founder, said was the first arboretum of native trees in Okaloosa County.  

Among residents' suggestions were:

• Replacing the dilapidated museum — a former forester's cabin — with an outdoor amphitheater for lectures, nature presentations, small concerts, plays and outdoor movies

• Replacing the landmark fire tower and hut with a new, state-of-the-art museum, education and meeting facility, including an exhibit on Boy and Girl Scouts' contributions to the park

• Putting a playground, adult shuffleboard court and community swimming pool in the fenced-in area currently used to store parade barricades and derelict city-owned cars.

Preserving history

Demolishing the 1949 fire tower and current museum met with some residents' opposition.

"The tower is one of the landmarks of this city," Councilman Joe Blocker said.

Jayne Swift of the wastewater management company CH2MHill, which is partnering with the Kiwanis Club, said restoring the fire tower "would take all the funds we can budget for the whole site." A private company has offered to demolish the tower at no cost in exchange for the scrap metal's salvage rights.

Several scouts and Venture Crew members had considered museum renovation projects, Boy Scout Unit Commissioner Rae Schwartz said.

However, "They are limited by the Guide to Safe Scouting," she said. "Because of the asbestos (exterior wall shingles) and lead paint, there's very little they can do."

In addition, the building is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Kiwanis project chairman Jimmy Lundy said.

No trees to be lost

No trees would be lost in the final proposal, Swift said.

"The trees are what made this place," she said.

McMahon praised CH2MHill for its involvement, saying "they believe in the principle of environmental education."

The flow of public suggestions the Kiwanis committee has received "is contagious," Swift said. "I'm hearing ideas that take us down whole different paths I never considered."

Have a suggestion?

Crestview Kiwanis Club members and city officials welcome public suggestions for refurbishing the McMahon Environmental Center. Submit ideas to Jim Lundy, jimlundy3742@yahoo.com or Betsy Roy, emmiller@cox.net

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Public provides suggestions for McMahon Center refurbishment

CRESTVIEW — A women's self-defense course is planned from 10-11:30 a.m. March 1.

It will be held at Gordon Martial Arts, 130 W. Oakdale Ave., Crestview and is sponsored by GMA and the Healthy Woman program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Women's self-defense course scheduled March 1 in Crestview

Editor's Note: We hope you enjoy this Black History Month feature, one of a series on successful influential residents in our community.

CRESTVIEW — Today's black youths have preceding generations to thank for their opportunities to be successful, Col. Arvesta Roberson says.

The 1985 Crestview High School alumnus particularly credits two men who inspired his goals, which led to a distinguished Army career. Among them are Sgt. George Stakely (Ret.), CHS's former ROTC battalion leader, and a former U.S. secretary of state.

"He always said Colin Powell was his mentor," Carver-Hill Museum curator Rae Roberson said of her son, who is stationed at the Pentagon.

Reading Powell's book, "My American Journey,"  inspired her son to join the Army, she said. Stakely, now retired, remains active in Crestview's Carver-Hill Memorial and Historic Association.

Now, Col. Roberson is taking Stakely's and Powell's inspiration and paying it forward.

"He (encourages) the young people to strive for their goals," his mother said. His most recent effort was during a Feb. 8 Black History Month presentation. "Coming back down to show the young kids how he started and where he is — that was his main goal," Rae said.

Col. Roberson's military career spans service in and travel to 35 countries. Among his decorations and awards are the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star.

Rae said his list of awards and decorations leaves her "shocked" when she realizes the heroism he displayed to receive some of them.

"I got to reading about those medals and I just got sick" upon learning about the war hazards he faced, she said. "To think my child had been through all of this stuff."

Col. Roberson, the Army's current Integration Branch chief of the Requirements Division, will command the 1st Signal Brigade in Yongsan, Korea, beginning in July.

"Oh, definitely I'm proud!" Rae 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: Army colonel credits previous generations for current success

The Bay Area Food Bank received 28,296 pounds of food to help needy people following the Defeat Hunger Bowl, the nonprofit's officials said.

“We couldn’t be happier with the level of participation and generosity folks in the community showed,” said Dave Reaney, the food bank's executive director. “With this food, we’ll be able to provide our Florida service area with 21,766 meals.”

Twenty-one Wal-Mart stores in the Florida Panhandle participated in the month-long food drive.

Other Defeat Hunger Bowl corporate partners  included Kraft, MondelÄ“z, Coca-Cola and CampbellÂ’s.

Bay Area Food Bank services Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Defeat Hunger Bowl collections will provide 21,000 meals across the Panhandle