CRESTVIEW — The 6th annual Community Health Fair is 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Crestview Community Center.

Some 50 vendors will offer free health screenings ranging from hearing to skin cancer tests and health insurance information. The event will feature live music from local artists Carl Woodall and Three Floors Down, kids’ face paintings, Okaloosa Sheriff's Mounted Posse horse ridings, a hula-hoop contest and taekwondo demonstrations.

Admission is free except for breakfast and lunch items that will be available.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nov. 3 health fair offers family entertainment, awareness

BAKER — Country-cooking aroma mingles with freshly shaved cypress wood scent and boiling lye soap tang as the annual Baker Heritage Day festival unfolds at Baker Block Museum and Heritage Park, 1307 Georgia Ave., Saturday. Music including folk, gospel and country tunes will fill the air.

The annual event is a celebration of Northwest Florida heritage and culture featuring folkways demonstrations — including quilting, butter churning and blacksmithing — and folk arts and music. Historical displays will feature information about Laurel Hill School, one of north Okaloosa County’s oldest educational institutions, and neighboring communities.

The Baker Block Museum will be open during the festival. Admission to the museum and festival is free. New this year, the North Okaloosa Historical Association will sell its first “Lost North Okaloosa” 2013 calendar, featuring photos of regional landmarks from private collections. The calendar costs $10; proceeds benefit the museum and association.

Call 537-5714 or see www.bakerblockmuseum.org for details. The museum and heritage park are at 1307 Georgia Ave. (State Road 4).

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nov. 3 Baker Heritage Day Festival celebrates north county culture

CRESTVIEW — After a year hiatus, the Loomis Bros. Circuswill return to Crestview Nov. 9-11 at Old Spanish Trail Park. Performances are 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Nov. 10; and 3 p.m. Nov. 11.

Advance tickets cost $10 at several locations including Cooney Island restaurant and Mickey's Grocery and Grill in Baker. Tickets cost $15 at the gate. Military members get a 10 percent discount. Proceeds go to the Main Street Crestview Association, event sponsor.

Attractions

“It’s a more traditional family circus … there is going to be something for all ages,” owner and ringmaster Justin Loomis said. “We have elephants, tigers and horses that will perform tricks during each performance.” 

One elephant particularly should garner some attention.

“Okha is the only elephant in North America that can walk on a ball,” Loomis said.

Specialty acts include an Argentinean family who can juggle with their feet and a comedy act from Melvino the clown.

Kids can ride on elephants one hour before each show, Loomis said. Food and drinks will also be available.

Additionally, three elephants and clowns from the show will appear at the Veterans Day parade 10 a.m. Nov. 10 on Main Street.

Background

Loomis has continued a family tradition handed down from his father, Arnold. Since he was 7, Justin has been involved in the circus business. His father also helped start the Loomis Bros. Circus in 1997.

Out of 10 siblings, three have stayed with the business.

“At one point, they were all involved in the circus,” Loomis said, adding that the circus tours Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

“We feel more at home in smaller communities,” Loomis said. “That’s why I always look forward coming to Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Circus days are here again: Loomis Bros. event runs Nov. 9-11

CRESTVIEW — Cold weather Monday didn't deter visitors from the Full Moon Indian Hunting Camp near the Crestview Community Center.

Kids bundled in jackets and blankets listened to Farris "Blue Herron" Powell give a brief history of American Indians who settled across the southeastern United States.

Powell spoke on Creek Indian culture — namely the tribe’s hunting techniques and trading deerskins with European settlers — and on traditional clothing and games. He displayed authentic tools, hunting spears and a musket and explained the weapons’ evolution.

He also aimed to dispel cultural myths.

"You didn't throw your (tomahawk) at your enemy (during battle),” Powell said, referring to misrepresentations on TV and film. "If you threw it and missed, then your enemy had the chance to pick it up and use against you."

Visitors — treated to soffkee, a traditional, grits-like food, and pumpkin donut holes — said they enjoyed the exhibition.

"I really liked the weapons part (of the program); my favorite was the tomahawk," Ethan Howard, 9, said.

Others liked Niceville musician Dale Palmer’s American Indian-inspired flute music.

"I thought it was the best," said Johnny Humphrey, 8, whose parents, Cathy and John Sr., took him and his three siblings to the event. "I liked the entire thing, especially the music.”

"We try to come out here when they have something going on,” Cathy said, referring to library-supported events.

Powell, who educates Floridians and Alabamians on southeastern American Indians, said the program will return more frequently. 

"I usually only do this program about every other year, but (the library) has invited me to come back next year."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents learn about American Indian culture

GAINESVILLE— Crestview area landowners, farmers and producers can visit their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office to apply for conservation technical assistance and possible cost-share opportunities. Get more information on the Natural Resources Conservation Service and conservation assistance at the Crestview Service Center, 934 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview or call 682-2416.

Applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues. The cutoff date for consideration is Nov. 16.

NRCS works with landowners through conservation planning and assistance designed to benefit soil, water, air, plants and animals.

Cost-share funding may be available to eligible applicants for the following Farm Bill programs:

• The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers facing threats to soil, water, air and related natural resources on their land.

• The voluntary Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of national, state, tribal and local significance.

The NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to eligible private and tribal landowners for developing upland, wetland, aquatic and other types of wildlife habitat.

• The Conservation Stewardship Program, which encourages producers to address resource concerns. Producers would helm additional conservation activities and improve, maintain and manage existing conservation activities.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Conservation assistance and funding deadline is Nov. 16

CRESTVIEW — First United Methodist Church's Action Outreach Group is creating handmade, one-of-a-kind sock monkeys and creatures for purchase at the church's fall bazaar.

The bazaar — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview — will feature arts and crafts, a 12 p.m. luncheon and more.

Call Frankie Burgess, 586-5577, or Bobbi Burton, 758-8085, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Methodist church plans Nov. 10 bazaar

In September, Jack Payne, University of Florida senior vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources, announced the UF Oyster Recovery Task Force’s formation.

This group, now called the UF Oyster Recovery Team, includes scientists, industries and public health representatives whose initial task was to study oysters’ decline. They would look at the issue from all aspects to find cause for the oyster die-off.

It became clear that a catastrophic event didn’t cause the decline. Rather, it seems multiple environmental factors are at play.

Eastern oysters are a staple to our bay’s health and wellness. These hearty organisms tolerate a range of salinity conditions, from fresh to full-strength seawater. However, they are most “happy” when living in brackish water (a mixture of fresh and salt water). Considered biofilters, oysters can filter up to 24 gallons of water per day. They help to control algal blooms, lower suspended sediment, silt and nutrients and improve water quality and clarity.

Oysters also provide critical food and habitats where they grow, creating reefs that are homes to many fish and invertebrate species in the estuary.

Historically, oysters harvested from Apalachicola Bay represent 10 percent of the U.S. oyster harvest and about 90 percent of Florida’s harvest. This oyster fishery is a Florida icon and many jobs depend on this industry.

The future is uncertain.

However, team members hope that by working together, oyster resources will rebound and a sustainable oyster management plan will help prevent future fishery collapses like the one that has just occurred.

See http://franklin.ifas.ufl.edu/ for updates on the University of Florida Oyster Recovery Team’s efforts. Email bsaari@ufl.edu or call 689-5850 for more information on marine science and natural resources information.

Brooke Saari is a Sea Grant Marine Science and Natural Resources agent at UF/IFAS Extension-Okaloosa County in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Task force studies oyster decline

CRESTVIEW — Amvet Post 35 Riders’ civic outreach program aims to wow spectators while bringing the community closer together.

One effort began Oct. 21 with a visit to Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center, where post riders and passengers displayed their gleaming machines and demonstrated their riding skills for 35 residents and staff. They rode a small circuit around the facility for patients, mostly senior citizens and wheelchair users.

“The idea to do this came from a suggestion from Pam White, one of our members, whose aunt (Lois Eileen Ellis) is here in this facility,” Amvet Rider President Wade Hutto said. “When we started talking about it, it sounded like something we ought to do because we are all about  doing things for the community — and, in this case, the elderly and infirmed.”

The post’s community service also catches the national Amvet’s attention.

“You might say it is like a merit badge is to the scouting program,” rider Ken “Sparky” Sparks said. “We have to earn awards, and one way to earn them is community service.”

However, Sparks and Hutto carefully explain, they don’t make these rides for awards or publicity. Rather, they see them as personal contributions to military veterans, many of whom reside in facilities like Shoal River. Nearly 45 percent of the patient list includes prior military members or widows, staffers said.

The group plans to have monthly rides spread out among other North Okaloosa County in-care facilities.

Amanda Owens, Shoal Creek activities director, said she liked the idea because it would ensure patients get outdoors.

“I think this has been a wonderful experience for our patients … they really enjoyed meeting the motorcyclists and having chats with them. The only other thing I would like to see is for other organizations to join in with the riders and come visit with our patients one-on-one  because … they love it,” Owens said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bikers’ outreach program visits senior citizens

FORT WALTON BEACH  — Emerald Coast residents can expect a return to warmer temperatures by midweek, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala.

Cold weather surprised the area this weekend, bringing temperatures in the low 40s.

“This is definitely unseasonably cold,” said John Purdy, a meteorologist with the weather service. “The reason is because of (Hurricane) Sandy. We’re on the backside of Sandy. … There’s a moderate, prolonged north wind that’s bringing all the cold weather into our area.”

In Fort Walton Beach on Monday night, temperatures were expected to dip to 39 degrees, which is about 10 degrees below average, Purdy said.

Crestview temperatures were forecast to drop as low as 34 degrees.

Tuesday’s lows are expected to be slightly warmer at 40 to 45 degrees in Fort Walton Beach and 51 degrees in Destin.

“Wednesday night is when we’ll turn back to normal,” Purdy said. “We will warm back up.”

The cold weather has kept many folks — both tourists and locals — away from the beaches in the past three days.

“It’s tremendously slowed things down,” said Ron Ray, who works at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. “Normally we don’t see this until December.”

Ray said a few visitors showed up early Monday, but most people opted to stay indoors.

Even the beach was virtually empty Monday afternoon, he said.

“I don’t even see the occasional book reader (on the beach),” Ray said. “It just kills everything.”

A few diehard anglers were fishing and catching a mix of sheepshead, king mackerel and bluefish, he added.

Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: It’s ‘unseasonably cold' in Okaloosa County, but not for long

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library, which can’t buy new books this year after city budget cuts, keeps its shelves updated with support from donors like the Dogwood Garden Club, which made a book contribution on Monday.

Purple daylilies lovers can thank Celia Broadhead’s grandfather, Ralph Wheeler, for making the perennial’s variant available to contemporary gardeners. A 1940s and ’50s hybridizer — someone who creates plant hybrids — Wheeler developed the Amherst daylily, a foundation plant for breeders of the plant’s purple species.

Broadhead inherited her grandfather’s green thumb and — shortly after moving to Crestview with her husband, Mark, in 2007 — she joined the city’s Dogwood Garden Club. With the start of the club’s fall planting season this year, Broadhead was named the group’s Woman of the Year.

Honorees can choose to receive a plaque, have a tree planted in their honor, or have a book donated to the Crestview Public Library.

“She chose to receive a book as her award,” club President Sarah Petty said. “It features her grandfather, a pioneer hybridizer of Florida.”

Broadhead selected “The New Encyclopedia of Daylilies” to share her love for the flower that fascinated her grandfather.

“He was also interested in caladiums,” Broadhead said. “He tried a few things before he settled on daylilies.”

 Monday morning, she and several club members gathered outside the library and presented the book to Library Director Jean Lewis.

“It is definitely a valuable contribution to our collection,” Lewis said. “Gardening books are very special to our customers, so it is going to be very popular.”

“We also voted to make a donation to the Friends of the Library,” Petty said, adding the gardeners knew the library’s new-books acquisition fund had been eliminated for the new budget year.

The organization has not yet decided on an amount, Broadhead said.

Lewis also praised the Dogwood Garden Club, now the city’s only garden club, for other efforts on behalf of the library.

“They decorate with the greenery in the meeting room and in the lobby,” Lewis said. “They keep us looking good. It’s wonderful to have such talented partners.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Garden club contributes to cash-strapped library's offerings