In a few weeks, Children in Crisis will cut the ribbon on its next foster family home, "Ya Ya's."

The ceremony is 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the CIC Children's Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach. CIC also will celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Children in Crisis Inc. will cut the ribbon on a new foster home at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The new home, named “Ya Ya's,” is located at the CIC Children’s Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach. The public is invited.

The new facility, which provides a home to 12 foster children, is designed to keep large families of brothers and sisters together. Construction was possible through a donation from Jim and Peggy Adams, Frank and Brenda Flautt and a grant from the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation. The construction contractor was DL Curtis Construction Inc. of Fort Walton Beach.

 “We are very fortunate to have the wonderful support of our community,” Ken Hair, CIC president & CEO, said. “The CIC board, donors and volunteers have proven how important it is for our community to provide a safe haven to the abused, neglected and abandoned children that may not have a place to go.”

CIC opened the Susanna Wesley House emergency shelter and Blessings House foster family home in 2008. The Dugas Family Foundation Neighborhood Center administrative facility and the Kids’ Clubhouse Recreation Center opened in 2009 and Sue Sue's Cottage and Opportunity Home for foster teens opened in 2010. 

CIC is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) charity with a goal of building a neighborhood of foster homes for Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties’ at-risk children. 

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Ribbon-cutting for Children in Crisis’ latest foster home for Okaloosa, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia counties’ at-risk children

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24

WHERE: CIC Children's Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach

MORE DETAILS: 864-4242 or visit www.childrenincrisisfl.org

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Children in Crisis cuts ribbon for new foster home Sept. 24

CRESTVIEW — Although Nataly Green hasn't dealt with bullying in her first weeks of kindergarten at Walker Elementary School, her parents wanted her to be prepared.

"In case she is (bullied), we hope she can defend herself," said Nathan Green, Nataly's father. 

Nathan and his wife, Laura, brought their 5-year-old daughter to the free "Stop the Bully" self-defense training on Saturday at Gordon Martial Arts after learning about it from their daughter's school.

 Nataly said she enjoyed learning more about bullying tactics and how to protect herself.  

 "It's really serious when a bully comes up to you and tries to be mean," she said.

However, Nataly is confident that she can handle such a situation.

"I will be prepared, definitely," she said.

Greg Bledsoe, who instructed children with other staffers’ assistance, said self-defense basics include one key lesson.

"The first thing we tell them is to avoid … any confrontations,” he said.

Before matters get out of hand, children should inform a parent or teacher, and use self-defense as a last resort, Bledsoe said.

Mary Way, impressed by the free session, registered her 5-year-old son, John, for martial arts lessons.

"We are going to teach him a proper way of how to handle (bullying)," she said. 

Way is confident that martial arts can prevent children from bullying.

"I think it will make the kids more aware of what they can do to protect themselves," Way said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Children learn how to handle offenders at 'Stop the Bully'

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women has named three inductees to the Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame.

Niceville native Rogene Anchors Hasty served as Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce's first newcomer greeting hostess and is its first former executive director. Former Gov. Bob Graham appointed her to a regional education committee, and she was appointed to a committee that helped secure a four-year nursing program at Northwest Florida State college.

Mary E. Burnette, a DeFuniak Springs native, was the first African-American teacher in the current Okaloosa County school system. She lobbied for and directed the local Head Start program for 22 years, and provided property for the Burnette-Harmon-Wood Community Resource Center in Fort Walton Beach.

Destin Mayor  Sarah “Sam” Seevers — who has served on Destin’s city council and chaired the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency — was the Northwest Florida League of Cities president and an executive board member. She attended the 56th Annual National Security Forum through Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base and was the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron’s honorary commander on Eglin Air Force Base.

The women were named during a ceremony Monday at Northwest Florida State College’s Costa Leadership Institute.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 inducted to Okaloosa Women’s Hall of Fame

CRESTVIEW — The city will present a fireworks show on Labor Day at Twin Hills Park, featuring family activities and music.

Children's activities including inflatable bounce houses and slides will be available 5-7 p.m. at the park’s football field. Music from Larkins Express will begin playing at 5 p.m. until the beginning of the fireworks presentation at 8 p.m.

North Hathaway Street from East James Lee Boulevard to Purl Adams Avenue will be closed during festivities.

See a map of parking spots>>

City officials postponed the Fourth of July fireworks presentation until Labor Day due to weather conditions.

Want to go?

WHAT: Labor Day fireworks

When: 5-8 p.m. Monday. Fireworks show begins at 8 p.m.

Where: Twin Hills Park on East James Lee Boulevard, Crestview

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview fireworks show scheduled for Labor Day (PARKING MAP)

The Okaloosa County Republican Party congratulates Barbara Wall, past chairman, for reappointment to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

The Florida Legislature in 1991 established the commission, whose mission is empowering women to achieve their potential, eliminating barriers to that achievement and recognizing women's accomplishments.

Commission volunteers research, analyze and make recommendations to the governor, cabinet and legislature on issues facing Florida women and families.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wall reappointed to Florida Status of Women commission

CRESTVIEW — Justin Madison and "Flyin' Brian" Dickenson sweated it out Thursday morning from a rooftop in the Carnegie Hills subdivision. The workers — technicians for Pensacola-based Compass Solar Energy — were installing a 12-panel, 5-kilowatt solar electricity system. Soon, the same sun they were braving will help homeowners Kaye and Steven Finney save more than $100 a month in electricity charges.

After arriving in Crestview from North Carolina with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), the Finneys wanted to take advantage of one of Florida's most famous resources. "We just moved a couple months ago to the Sunshine State, so we felt we should get solar panels," Kaye Finney said. "We've always been interested in renewable energy."

The couple were attracted by a federal tax credit that will knock nearly $5,000 off their $17,700 system, Compass Marketing Director Amy Vogt said. Also attractive is the potential for the power company to buy excess unused energy from the couple, Kaye Finney said.

The Finneys are one of 25 Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative member families who supplement home electricity use with renewable sources, CHELCO spokesman Mladen Rudman said. Of them, all use solar power except one member, who uses wind. Systems range from 1 kilowatt to slightly less than 13 kilowatts in power, he said.

The solar systems are not powerful enough to completely replace power purchased from CHELCO, Vogt said, but they help offset traditional power’s cost. If there’s a power outage, solar panels keep generating usable power as long as the sun is out, CHELCO energy services supervisor Bryan Gilbert said. "They'd be able to run minor things like lighting, but not major appliances," Gilbert said. "They could probably watch a little television and run some fans."

Sun that beats down on the Finneys' house will also power new attic fans Compass is installing. Kaye Finney said with their black shingle roof, her attic can be unbearably hot. "It's a nice-sized attic, so if the fans can lower the temperature 20 or more degrees, it'll be much more tolerable up there," she said.

What can you run on 5,000 watts?

The Finney family's new solar array provides 5,000 watts (5 kilowatts) of power on a sunny day. Here are some typical monthly residential power draws.

Aquarium: 50–1,210 watts

Clock radio: 10

Coffee maker: 900–1,200

Clothes washer: 350–500

Clothes dryer: 1,800–5,000

Computer:

    Monitor, awake/asleep: 150 / 30

    Laptop: 50

Dishwasher: 1,200–2,400 (using the drying feature greatly increases energy consumption)

Dehumidifier: 785

DVD, Blu-ray player: 17–21 / 20–25

Fans

    Ceiling: 65–175

    Window: 55–250

    Whole house: 240–750

Hair dryer: 1,200–1,875

Heater (portable): 750–1,500

Clothes iron: 1,000–1,800

Microwave oven: 750–1,100

Stereo: 70–400

Refrigerator (frost-free, 16 cubic feet): 725

Television:

    Flat screen: 120

    27-inch: 113

    36-inch: 133

Toaster: 800–1,400

Toaster oven: 1,225

Vacuum cleaner: 1,000–1,440

Water heater (40 gallon): 4,500–5,500

Water pump (deep well): 250–1,100

Source: CHELCO

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New Crestview residents tap Florida sunshine for energy source

CRESTVIEW — On Tuesday, Healthy Woman, a North Okaloosa Medical Center resource, welcomes author Nicole Johnson for its dinner, "Fresh Brewed Life:  Hope for the Daily Grind.”

"Nicole Johnson is a bestselling author, performer and motivational speaker," Healthy Woman Coordinator Alicia Booker said in an email. "(She) communicates with humor, compassion and wisdom using her unique blend of drama and speaking skills."

Johnson — who has spread uplifting messages to millions of women through speaking engagements, books and DVDs — said Tuesday’s event aims to encourage and motivate women.

"The part I hope I can play … will be reminding women that they are not alone in their struggles," she said in an email. "Through laughter and connection, I try to bring hope in the midst of ‘the daily grind.’"

One way to do that is by encouraging women to make life choices now instead of waiting.

"Every woman can start living a richer, fuller, more robust life today," Johnson said. "It’s about making intentional choices every day to be a participator, rather than a spectator, in our lives."

Copies of her book, "Fresh Brewed Life,” will be available for purchase.

Want to go?

 WHAT: "Fresh Brewed Life: Hope for the Daily Grind," featuring guest speaker Nicole Johnson, presented by Healthy Woman

WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive

COST: $25. Order tickets at the door, in advance at http://conta.cc/1517PeJ or in person, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the North Okaloosa Medical Center Marketing Office, 127 E. Redstone Ave., Suite C.  

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Author motivating Healthy Woman attendees tomorrow in Crestview