CRESTVIEW — Where do vegetables come from?

Not the grocery store. That's one message that Common Ground Community Garden organizers want to send as they promote an educational and economical alternative to store-bought produce.

The new program — complete with a Main Street garden near the State Road 85 overpass — is one way for people to learn where produce really originates, Esther Phelps said.

"It doesn't come from the vegetable aisle at Wal-Mart or from inside a can," she said. "It really comes from your own hand." 

She hopes that those who rely on stores for their meals will learn how to prepare homegrown meals.

"Many people don't know how to … buy or even cook (fresh vegetables)," she said. "We want to teach (others) how to grow, how to cook them and how to save vegetables for months from now."

Gardening tutorials for beets, broccoli, Brussels sprout, collards and other vegetables are available at www.crestviewcommunitygarden.org.

In addition to helping residents meet their nutritional needs and stay within budget, organizer Dr. Catherine Ward said there are social benefits.

"We are here to foster gardening, friendships and cohesiveness," she said.

Organizers are accepting applications from residents interested in tending to their own plot for $50 a year. The nonprofit will find sponsorships for those who can't afford the amount.  

Once residents become gardening experts, they can even profit from their produce.

Vincent Grund, of Baker, sells his vegetables at several farmers markets. Others, particularly those who could use additional cash flow, could do the same.

"I would like to see the less fortunate people be able to step up and be able to help themselves," he said.  

WANT TO GO?

Common Ground Community Garden meetings are at noon the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Convergence Coffeehouse, 498 N. Wilson St., Crestview

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 community garden organizers accepting applications

The Crestview Public Library is starting a Crestview writers group.

If you are interested in writing — whether novels, non-fiction, screenwriting, poetry or other forms — or getting your work  published, this group is just for you.  

The group will meet at 6 p.m. every fourth Monday in the library's meeting room. We welcome writers in all genres who are interested in sharing ideas and tips.

The Feb. 24 kickoff will feature guest speaker Dr. Anne Haw Holt, a Monticello, Fla. writer and author who has presented fiction and grant writing workshops here. Interested writers of all genres may attend. 

Email Dr. Holt, ahholt@ahholt.com, or call Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432, for more information.

Marie Garcia is the Crestview Public Library's assistant director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Crestview Writers Group's first meeting is Monday

The Crestview Public Library will be closed Monday, Feb. 17 for Presidents Day, but we'll return with plenty of free activities for all ages.

You'll want to get your dancing shoes ready for Feb. 25, when David and Anna Sandlin demonstrate Irish dancing and teach lessons from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.  

For a toe-tappin’ good time, come see the Pelican Pickers perform from 10-11:30 a.m. March 29 at the library. They play 19th-century Appalachian, old-time and Gospel music on Appalachian Mountain lap dulcimers. Group members augment their sound with a banjo, mandolin, guitar, Irish penny whistles, fiddle, harmonica, Native American flute, recorder and silver flute.

We’d like to thank Cub Scout Pack 799, Webelos Den 11 and Wolf Den 4 and our Friends of the Library for providing refreshments.

Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Irish dancing, Pelican Pickers performance scheduled

CHIPLEY — The Florida Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting concerning proposed improvements to State Road 30 (U.S. Highway 98) from Emerald Bay Drive in Okaloosa County to Tang-O-Mar Drive in Walton County. The meeting is 6-7 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Seascape Resort Conference Center, Oak Room, 556 Seascape Drive, Miramar Beach.

The multi-lane reconstruction consists of widening 3.37miles of U.S. 98 from four to six lanes. This portion of U.S. 98 is a designated hurricane evacuation route and Strategic Intermodal Systems highway facility. Additional right-of-way will be required for stormwater retention ponds and intersection improvements. Construction is not currently funded within the department’s Five Year Work Program.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Feb. 20 public information meeting set for U.S. 98 widening project

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Kiwanis Club members and city officials invite the public to share ideas and suggestions for refurbishment of the John McMahon Environmental Center.

The Kiwanis Club received City Council approval to spearhead master planning and fundraising for the project, which could result in the city-owned park's first major refurbishment.

The center's landmark, unused fire tower and former ranger's cottage have been slated for demolition under a preliminary refurbishment plan suggested by the Kiwanis Club with local CH2MHill officials providing engineering services.

An education facility housing the park's natural history museum and classrooms would replace them if the recommendation is approved.

Other suggestions include adding a children's playground in what is now a little-used storage area and replacing the current museum with an outdoor amphitheater.

The public can attend a Feb. 22 open house to visit the park and its local natural history museum and offer recommendations for improvements, Kiwanis Club member Betsy Roy said. Complimentary hamburgers and hotdogs will be served.

The McMahon Center, which opened in 1979, was the brainchild of retired forester John McMahon and was facilitated by a $5,000 Florida Department of Education grant.

It is located on land donated by the state Forestry Division, and contains examples of nearly 100 trees and shrubs native to Northwest Florida.

The site is a regular destination for area student groups for nature and environmental studies, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts  undertaking Eagle and Gold rank projects.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Open house and community input session with complimentary lunch

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22

WHERE: John McMahon Environmental Center, 130 Butler Circle, Crestview

DETAILS: Kiwanis Club members and city officials welcome public ideas and suggestions for refurbishment of the environmental center. Contact Jim Lundy, jimlundy3742@yahoo.com, or Betsy Roy, emmiller@cox.net, to give input

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 input requested for environmental park refurbishment

CRESTVIEW — Cub Scouts from throughout Okaloosa County will compete in the district Pinewood Derby runoff March 8 at Santa Rosa Mall.

And area scouts saw plenty of excitement on Saturday, when they saw many hours of work go hurtling down the tracks.

PHOTOS: View photos of Pinewood Derby action >>

VIDEO: Watch Pinewood Derby video >>

Cub Scouts and Webelos from two Crestview packs and one from Holt raced wooden cars down tracks set up in the Crestview Elks lodge and Bob Sikes Elementary School's cafeteria. .

Webelos Garrett Lingenfelter, 9, anxiously watched as his car zoomed down the track, placing third in one heat and fourth in another.

"Mine wasn't very fast, I guess," he said, though his car attained the equivalent of nearly 130 mph. Still, he cheered fellow scouts in the spirit of sportsmanship.

'A lot of work'

Each boy puts in six or more hours of work on his car after adult leaders help cut a block of wood to the boy's design specifications, parent volunteer Don Snyder said.

"We encourage them to do most of the work themselves, but obviously we don't want a bunch of first-graders handling power tools," Pack 530 Cub Master Chip Corbin said.

Caleb Bergstrom, 8, of Pack 530, said "a lot of work" went into creating his green car, emblazoned with a big "1."

Other fanciful races included a bus, a Volkswagen Beetle, a pencil, a log truck, a Hershey bar, a police cruiser and a car carved to look like it was assembled from Legos.

And at least six boys submitted a Batmobile among 101 vehicles racing at the Elks lodge, Snyder said.

Weight conscious

Scoutsaffixed fishing weights and coins to their cars to attain the maximum 5-ounce weight. One racer had two stones hot-glued in the driver and passenger seats.

Holt Pack 532 Cub Master Pam Lehman brought her pack to the Elks lodge to race while Pack 530 took its lunch break.

"Our track is kind of old," she said. "They're (Pack 530) very generous for hosting us."

Cooperative efforts also were displayed at Bob Sikes Elementary.

There, Boy Scouts Jackson Kiewiet of Troop 30 and Nathan Behr of Troop 773 positioned the cars at the head of the track, releasing them on Pack 799 Cub Master Ryan Kilian's order.

"Anything to help the Cubs," Jackson said.

Hot chili goes with hot wheels

Ten Crestview Cub Scout Pack 799 parents participated in a chili cook-off following Saturday's Pinewood Derby, Tiger Den leader LeAnn Fairfield said. Four judges selected winners, and the boys and their families voted for their favorites.

Winners were as follows:

First Place: Jeff Kiewiet

Second(tie): Jennifer Stewart and Viviana Lasher

Third: Amanda Rodriquez

Crowd favorite: Jeff Kiewie

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Derby Day: Cub Scout packs vie for Pinewood Derby runoff (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

Mr. and Mrs. Craig Breen and Ms. Rene’ Bunch would like to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Callie and Ronnie.

Callie’s parents are Craig and Beth Breen of Crestview. Ronnie’s parents are Rene’ Bunch of Atmore, Ala., and Dana Bunch of Okeechobee.

Callie’s maternal grandparents are Elizabeth Carlson and the late Winthrop Carlson of Harwich, Mass., and her paternal grandparents are Carolyn Brodette of Rhome, Texas and the late Kenneth Breen of Medford, Mass.

Ronnie’s maternal grandparents are the late Teddy and Oleda Steege of Atmore. His paternal grandparents are Virginia Bunch and the late Ronald Bunch of Sylacauga, Ala.

Callie and Ronnie graduated from Crestview High School in 2004. Callie is a Northwest Florida State College graduate. Ronnie is a Faulkner State Community College graduate  and attended Auburn University.

Callie is employed by Nalley Honda in Union City, Ga. Ronnie is employed by Kia Motors Manufacturing in West Point, Ga.

The wedding will be a spring affair at the Tiger Point Golf Club in Gulf Breeze. The couple will make their home in Newnan, Ga.

The News Bulletin publishes north Okaloosa County residents' “Special Occasions”— birth, centenarian, engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements— at no charge. We may edit submissions for length and style. Call 850-682-6524 or email  for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Breen and Bunch announce engagement