CRESTVIEW — Walker Elementary School’s main hallway features students’ masterpieces for the first Spring Art Show. The school has been decorating the halls to celebrate art teacher Sarah Harris’s arrival.

Drawings and paintings from each teacher's class appear in the main hallway and in a portion of the school's media center, which facilitated a family night for a book fair.

The displays impressed second-grader Miranda Everhart, 7, who was attending the art show and book fair with her father, Tad. 

"I like the drawing and coloring; I like all of it," Miranda said, adding she looks forward to painting more.

Her father said he supports the arts program.

"It gives (students) a break from all of the math and science," he said. "It also helps with their imagination."

He’s not alone in his support.

"Many (parents) have said that they felt that their children were artists and they never got to participate in the visual arts," principal Jeanine Kirkland. "This has been a wonderful beginning for us and we want to keep it going."

The school introduced the art program at the beginning of this school year, following Harris’s hiring.

Harris teaches a class from each grade level for 40 minutes a week.

"We cover the whole art spectrum (including) drawing, coloring and painting," she said.

Some of the classes have started working with papier-mché. Recently, all eight kindergarten classes collaborated to create a large pairing of papier-mchéhearts displayed at the show.

Parents have donated recycled items, including egg cartons and discarded paper towel rolls, to support the program. The class can use these items to create art.

"One thing I teach my kids is that you can find art in anything — and we will — which will be fun." Harris said.

The school had a similar art show in the fall and plans to have another before the end of the school, she 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: Walker Elementary displays students' works for art show

BAKER — Baker is the location of the first library lending machine in the Florida Panhandle, thanks to a grant received by the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new service, named "The Library Spot," is 2 p.m. March 15 at the Baker Block Museum, 1307 Georgia Avenue.

Senator Greg Evers is scheduled to dedicate the new library service.

The project was funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.

The Library Spot brings 24/7 access to books and DVDs to Baker, which doesn't have a local library facility.

The machine works like movie rental service, but there is an important difference, Vicky Stever, coordinator of the library cooperative, said. "Public library services are free," says Stever. "Instead of swiping a credit card, you can swipe your library card to get this great service at no cost. And you have even more choices, because we provide more than just DVDs; there are books for preschool through teen plus best-seller titles for adults."

Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative, or OCPLC, library cards are accepted by the lending machine. Eligible Okaloosa residents may also request a card by contacting the OCPLC office or picking up an application form at the Baker Block Museum. 

"The North Okaloosa Historical Association that operates the Baker Block Museum has been an essential partner in the grant project," Stever said. "They are providing the electrical and Internet connectivity needed to operate the machine, and allowing us to locate it on the museum’s porch for easy access to the community." She said the museum’s convenient location at the intersection of State Roads 4 and 189 was a significant factor in its selection, as well as "the museum’s great dedication and desire to serve the Baker area."

For more information, contact Stever at LibrarySpot@okaloosa.lib.fl.us or 609-5101.

The Baker Block Museum is open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and the third Saturday of the month. Contact the museum at 537-5714.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Ribbon cutting Friday at 2 p.m. for Baker library lending machine

NICEVILLE — Baker School’s gifted students participating in a career enrichment program at Northwest Florida State College learned about the skills required to be a crime scene investigator.

Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office investigators Kristie Hoffman and Lisa Hughey presented a crime scene scenario for the students to solve. They discussed the differences between their job in real life versus how it appears on television shows like “CSI.”

See it online

See video of Baker School students learning about crime scene investigation at http://bit.ly/10DIS5O.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sheriff's office investigators dispel 'CSI' comparisons

CRESTVIEW — Northwest Florida State College students and Crestview Sister City members traveling this year to Noirmoutier, France, along with anyone else, can learn more about trip preparation.

Europe Bound, a free seminar for independent travelers to Europe, is 6 p.m. March 18 at the Crestview Public Library.

News Bulletin Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes will present the program, a condensed version of three-night seminars he developed for the Tulane University Center for International Students and Scholars and has taught at Northwest Florida State College.

Following the seminar, travelers will know what kind of luggage to tote, when they shouldn't tip European waiters, and why they won't find train timetables for Cologne under "C" in German train station literature racks. Riding on Europe's intricate rail network, having memorable meals on a budget and finding affordable and memorable lodging are other topics.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Europe Bound seminar is March 18

CRESTVIEW — Wanda Sue Thompson is $1,655 closer to a healthy liver.

Friends, family and Full Gospel Tabernacle Church members helped raise money for the 58-year-old with a chicken-and-dumplings dinner and bake sale on Friday.

"It went above and beyond our expectations," Janet Lundy, Thompson's sister, said.

The church kitchen was busy with volunteers preparing plates with a side of green beans and a piece of cake for dessert.

It’s a familiar scene for the church’s membership, which enjoys hearty feasts — especially when they help others.

"We are a church that loves to cook and eat," said Jean Marie Belle, one of 10 volunteers. "It’s for a good cause and we are glad to do it."

Waiting for a liver

Thompson is on a waiting list for a liver following a primary biliary cirrhosis diagnosis in 2009. The disease causes irritation and swelling of the liver’s bile ducts, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Bile, a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aids digestion of fatty acids.

"The liver starts to attack itself and they don't know why,” she said of the condition, which often affects middle-aged women.

"There is no help or cure for it," Lundy said. "The only alternative is a transplant."

More than half of patients reportedly lack symptoms upon diagnosis, but Thompson has begun to feel the effects.

 "I feel okay, but I get tired very easily," she said, adding she has bouts of itching, a common side effect.

Other symptoms can include abdominal pain and jaundice.

Later this month, Thompson will make her fourth trip to Jackson Memorial Hospital to meet with doctors. It’s the closest medical facility that can assist her.

Once a liver is available, Thompson must immediately fly back to Miami for the procedure. An air ambulance will transport her and one family member within four or five hours from receiving notice.

Helping family

Lundy has organized three fundraisers since Thompson’s diagnosis. Prior to Friday’s event, $2,000 from a prior dinner and yard sale offset medical costs along with food and gas expenses. The pair’s brother, who lives in Miami, provides lodging.

Every bit helps for someone with a fixed income.

Thompson, a former registered nurse, recently started receiving disability checks, but they pay very little, she said.

The sisters hope to escalate fundraising efforts in preparation for post-operation costs such as a required month's stay and meals at the hospital, along with surgeons’ check-ups.

"So far, we are just making enough to cover each trip," Thompson said. "We would like to do something on a bigger scale."

The women seek fundraising suggestions from the community.

In the meantime, the church will continue accepting donations for Thompson, said Lundy, who’s planning another fundraiser for the near future.

"She has been my lifesaver during all of this," Thompson said.

 Want to help?

ContactFull Gospel Tabernacle Church, 682-0203, to donate to Wanda Sue Thompson’s liver transplant fund.

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: Women seek fundraising ideas for liver transplant

CRESTVIEW — Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 108, or EAA, will host a Young Eagles Flight Rally for ages 8-17 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Emerald Coast Aviation in Bob Sikes Airport.

Area elementary and middle school students can become EAA Young Eagles. The public may observe and schedule future flights for youths.

Rally pilots will explain more about their airplanes. How pilots ensure safety is the prime concern before every flight. Parents and friends will be briefed on the aircraft being used, the flight route, and how to safely take photos during and after the event.

After the flight, students will receive a certificate making them official EAA Young Eagles. Their name will be entered into the "World’s Largest Logbook" on permanent display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wis. The logbook is also accessible at www.youngeagles.org.

Young Eagles

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles Flight Rally was created to teach children about aviation. Since the program launched in 1992, EAA volunteer pilots have flown more than 1.7 million young people who live in more than 90 countries, a spokesperson said.

"Free airplane rides are just part of the flight rally," Tom Godbold, of the EAA, said. "We hope to build one-on-one relationships between pilots and young people, giving a new generation a chance to learn more about the possibilities that exist in the world of aviation."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Young Eagles Flight Rally is March 16 in Crestview

CRESTVIEW —Organizers of the Third Annual Fashion Spree and Tea: A Spring Social, benefiting Covenant Hospice, need volunteers to host a table of six to eight guests.   

The Kentucky Derby-themed event, set for 2-4 p.m. April 27 at First Baptist Church of Crestview, will feature several tea selections, teatime treats and a fashion show by The Red Raspberry Boutique & Bridal, a derby hat contest, and a competition among table hosts.

Each volunteer host selects her table’s menu and sets the table with china and décor that reflect her personality and taste.

The event has raised more than $5,200 for the nonprofit hospice in the last two years. Events such as this tea help fund Covenant Hospice’s bereavement services, children’s support programs, chaplain services and indigent patient care in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Covenant Hospice accepts patients regardless of ability to pay.

In 2012, the organization provided more than $1.5 million in care for uninsured or under-insured patients facing a terminal illness, a hospice spokesperson said.

Want to help?

Contact Jenni Perkins, 598-5003 or jenni.perkins@covenanthospice.org, to volunteer as a host for the Third Annual Spree & Tea benefiting Covenant Hospice.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hosts sought for annual Fashion Spree and Tea benefit

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County Distrct 3 Commissioner Nathan Boyles is the guest speaker for two Okaloosa Democrats meetings.

The meetings are 6 p.m. March 14 at the Coach-N-Four in Fort Walton Beach and 6 p.m. March 28 at Coach-N-Four in Crestview.

Boyles, a Republican, will discuss recent events and plans for the country. Democrats and guests are encouraged to attend.

Call 609-3367 or visit okaloosademocrats.com to learn more about Okaloosa Democrats.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Boyles speaking to Democrats in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach