CRESTVIEW — Sons of Italy in America is hosting a golf tournament at 11 a.m.  Oct. 20 at Foxwood Country Club, 4927 Antioch Road.

The fundraiser costs $35 for Foxwood members and $45 for nonmembers. The fee includes a cart, range balls, beverages and a complimentary meal. Proceeds will supplement the order's charitable programs. Cash prizes include Closest to Pin and Long Range (men's and women's winners). A raffle is also planned.

Sponsorships are also available as follows: hole sponsor ($50); bronze ($100-$299); silver ($300 to $499); or gold ($500 and up).

Sponsors will be acknowledged via billboard at the club. For more information call Joe Altieri at 398-2389 or B.J. Thomhave at 682-2012.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Participants wanted for Oct. 20 golf tourney

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CRESTVIEW—Citing the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights,” “which affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas,” the Crestview Public Library’s request for passage of its annual Material Selection Policy unanimously passed the city council without discussion.

“It’s just our yearly update,” Library Director Jean Lewis said. “There’s no controversy in it.”

The policy serves as a guideline for library staff and states, in part, “books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation.”

Approved as part of the Crestview City Council’s Oct. 8 meeting consent agenda, the policy was implemented just days after Banned Books Week concluded. Library staff had prepared a display of books that had been challenged or banned, including many by well-known authors including J.K. Rowling, Anthony Burgess, Maya Angelou and Kurt Vonnegut.

“Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval,” the policy states, noting the library “should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of (its) responsibilities to provide information and enlightenment.”

The policy prepared by Lewis and her staff “recognizes that some materials may be controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons,” however, under the approved policy, “it is not the responsibility of the library to censor collection materials that adhere to the principles stated in this policy.”

Citizens who object to particular materials in the library’s collection are offered a procedure for challenging the material utilizing the Material Selection Inquiry form available at the library. A challenge would be “critically reviewed” by a five-person committee approved by the city council following the criteria of the material selection policy.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library selection policy approved

Workshops to assist Okaloosa students taking the Oct. 27 ACT and Nov. 3 SAT are at the Fort Walton Beach High School and Niceville High School media centers. Registration forms, which must be postmarked by Oct. 8, are available at area high schools.

Hours are 2-5 p.m. Oct. 23, 24, 29 and 30 at Fort Walton Beach and Oct. 25, 26 and 31 and Nov. 1 in Niceville. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished, but students will need to bring calculators. For details, contact Alice Hart at Amhart1966@aol.com or 615-585-2401.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sign-up ends today for ACT/SAT workshops

CRESTVIEW — Relay For Life kickoff is 6-7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Foxwood Country Club, 4927 Antioch Road, Crestview. The 2013 Relay For Life in Crestview is April 26 and 27 at Old Spanish Trail Park on Stillwell Boulevard.

For more information, call the area American Cancer Society office at 244-3813.

Last year, Crestview Relay ranked No. 24 out of 350 such events in Florida. Proceeds help the American Cancer Society achieve its mission of eliminating cancer as a major health concern. At Relay, people who have walked alongside those battling cancer can grieve and find healing. Participants fight back against cancer because they want to put an end to the disease.

In honor of those who battle cancer 24 hours a day, team members typically take turns walking the track throughout the day and night. For those not walking, there is constant action to keep everyone busy. The event will include entertainment, food and games along with ceremonies and inspirational stories.

At each event, attendees celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer via the Survivor's Lap and survivor recognition. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight. The event's Luminaria ceremony is a way to remember loved ones lost to the disease, and honor those who have survived and are currently battling it. Relay helps individuals make a commitment to save lives by taking up the fight.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and helping those with cancer through research, education, advocacy and service.

For information about cancer, call 1-800-ACS-2345.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relay For Life sets Oct. 11 kickoff

CRESTVIEW — When Nina Métier and Vincent Fouasson, both 15, arrive in Crestview from France in a few weeks, organizers hope any qualms they might have about plunging into a new country and culture will vanish when they discover they’ll be in the hospitable care of Amarissa Marrero and Kyle Davis and their respective families.

Amarissa and Kyle, both Crestview High School juniors, are among the student hosts with whom 21 students from Crestview’s island sister city, Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, will stay during their Oct. 26-Nov. 8 visit. For most of the French students, this will be their first experience in the United States.

Crestview’s student hosts said they anticipate the opportunity to discover similarities and learn about the differences between our cultures. Amarissa and Nina have been corresponding on Facebook in advance of Nina’s arrival.

“I’m looking forward to learning about her way of life,” Amarissa said. “I want to get a better understanding of her culture and the way French people see things.

Kyle said he learned he and his guest already have something in common.

“I can’t wait to share my musical interests with Vincent,” he said. “He plays bass and I play guitar. I’m excited to play some music with him and show him around.”

City leaders noted the opportunities the upcoming exchange brings to the community.

“It’s great for our citizens to learn more about another country, its culture and traditions, as well as being available to our visitors to teach them about our American culture,” Mayor David Cadle said.

From the Noirmoutrins’ last visit, Cadle also had a cultural lesson, learning something about the French palate.

“The last time they visited, I hosted a fish fry for them but they were a little unsure about the grits, so we’re providing barbecue this time,” he said.

Sisters since 1995

Crestview and Noirmoutier united in 1995 under the auspices of Sister Cities International, part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1950s citizen diplomacy initiative. Aileen Barley and her son Joe helped start Crestview’s participation in the program. Several area communities were vying to be chosen by Noirmoutier’s committee as their twin city.

“My mother and I were the first ones to go over there,” Joe Barley said. “Shalimar didn’t get it. Niceville didn’t get it. Fort Walton Beach didn’t get it. Crestview got it!”

He said the late Russell Sneddon, former director of the Air Force Armament Museum, was a driving force behind organizing a local Sister City organization. Once the Crestview City Council, spearheaded by late Councilman Sam Hayes, approved the partnership, an initial exchange of visitors was arranged. The French hospitality immediately captivated the local contingent.

“Oh, we had such a good time,” Aileen Barley recalled. “They are such very nice people.”

Exchanges between the two communities include educational, cultural and economic components. When a group from Crestview last visited Noirmoutier in 2010 for the 65th observance of France’s liberation at the end of World War II, two members of the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce went along and studied the island’s industries.

During this year’s visit, a member of the University of Nantes faculty will meet with chamber of commerce leaders to establish student internship exchanges. Informal exchanges have already been taking place. Last summer, a French journalism student interned with the News Bulletin.

Every two years, the Soundsations and Madrigal show choirs of Northwest Florida State College travel to Noirmoutier for performances, and Crestview High School French Club members have also made visits to the island. During the exchanges, participants always stay with host families to experience more fully the local culture.

Lasting impressions

During Monday evening’s host orientation at the Crestview Public Library, Sister City members told host families that how they welcome their guests will help form lasting impressions of the entire country. Noirmoutrin students who visited in Crestview in 2009 recently said their memories of their experience are all positive.

“I was struck by the desire of my host family to share their culture, welcoming me into the family so that I felt at home and consider myself a part of the family,” Bruno Gallais said.

“I have very fond memories of my host family,” Rozenn Relandeau said. “I was received as the daughter of the house and they did everything to make my stay as pleasant as possible. I liked their kindness. They spoiled me and gave lots of gifts. I much appreciated all they did.”

“I would really like to return to Crestview,” Bruno said. “The trip was for me a true sharing of culture, life and friendship. I loved it.”

Members of the local Sister City organization hope Nina, Vincent and their classmates leave Crestview with equally fond memories. And Crestview hosts hope they can soon reciprocate and visit their new friends in France.

“Oh definitely, I want to visit her,” Amarissa said. “I can’t wait.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Sister City program prepares to welcome French guests

CRESTVIEW — The registration book closing date is Oct. 9 for the Nov. 6 general election. Election offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day.

The Crestview office is at the Buddy Brackin Building, 302 N. Wilson St. The Fort Walton Beach office is in the Water and Sewer Building at 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 404, Fort Walton Beach.

Voter registration applications are available at all Supervisor of Elections offices, city halls, county libraries and social service agencies.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: General election books close Oct. 9

CRESTVIEW— During the statewide Main Street Florida conference in Dade City, the Main Street Crestview Association was recognized for downtown improvement projects and association members’ efforts, bringing home two “outstanding” and two “merit” recognitions.

“I’m very happy to tell you our Main Street Association returned from the statewide meeting with several awards,” Mayor David Cadle said as the recognitions were recently distributed at City Hall.

Foremost was the Outstanding Public Improvement award for the Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial, spearheaded by former Mayor George Whitehurst and longtime community leader Bob Lynn. While accepting the award, Lynn gave the credit to Whitehurst, who was unable to attend the presentation.

“It was his idea, the whole thing,” Lynn said. “We got the work done in 18 months.”

Though a small veterans monument was erected in front of the Okaloosa County Courthouse in 1947, “it was thought that the valor of the community’s brave veterans was deserving of something more than the original monument’s diminutive size,” the award presentation stated.

Today, the black marble wall and surrounding plaza and nearby gazebo is frequently the location for Veterans Day observances as well as community gatherings and festivals. Residents can purchase the plaza’s brick pavers and order them inscribed with names or messages appropriate to the memorial.

Main Street Crestview also received the Outstanding Private-Public Partnership recognition for the Community Redevelopment Agency/Main Street façade-improvement grant program. The program reimburses downtown property owners up to $5,000 for qualified projects that restore their building’s façades and improve Main Street’s historic appearance.

“It’s a very valuable program,” Cadle said.

Main Street Crestview Association President Ellis Conner was the recipient of a Local Florida Main Street Program Supporter merit award.

A Business of the Year merit award went to Coney Island and owner Julia Phillips. The hotdog restaurant has served local customers — who were always greeted with a familiar, “What fer ya?” by founder Mable Edge—for more than 40 years.

Main Street Crestview was also recognized for 15 years of continuous service to the community.

Conner said the association would submit an application to Main Street Florida to have the refurbishment of the historic 1930s Alatex Building sewing factory and one-time City Hall into a pharmacy school for Florida A&M University recognized next year.

“This coming year, we look forward to receiving the number one project award, the Alatex and FAMU project,” Conner said. “We would like to submit this to the state for consideration for outstanding project.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: State-level awards honor vets memorial, façade improvement

BAKER — Leading a group of his fellow Rotarians through the Crestview Rotary Club’s corn maze, organizer Mike Carroll said, “I’ve been through here two times and I can tell you, it’s very corn-fusing.”

Corny jokes aside, there is a kernel of truth in Carroll’s comment. The 5-acre maze is bewildering, but it’s all in good fun.

“There’s going to be something for everybody out here,” Crestview Rotary Club President Pat Dingess said. “This really caters to families.”

Rotary member Bill Barnhill donated the use of his cornfield off Buck Ward Road in Baker for the maze. He also contributed use of an adjacent pasture for parking and another for the 25-minute hayride, pony rides and a petting zoo. Visitors can play “The A-maze-ing Game” in which they get punches on their admission tickets, used for prizes, by visiting different spots inside the maze.

Sharpshooters can take their three shots with the compressed-air-powered corn cannon, shooting ears of corn toward target buckets to win prizes. Carroll said the armament is comparable to his T-shirt cannon that shoots souvenir shirts from the roof of his portable barbecue smokehouse.

 A $7 individual admission fee covers everything except for the pony rides and concessions, which feature Carroll’s Hub City Smokehouse Triple-B-winning barbecue. Admissions and a portion of concession profits benefit Rotary community projects.

“We’re going to use the profits for the many projects the Rotary supports,” Dingess said. “Our signature project for Rotary Clubs everywhere is polio eradication.”

Among the local projects, Dingess said, is the club’s annual dictionary giveaway to third-graders and U.S. Constitution copies presented to seventh-graders in north county schools.

Four marshals with walkie-talkies will be in the maze at all times, not just to temper any high-spirited mischief and deter cheaters who might be tempted to cut through corn rows, but also to direct lost visitors, including anyone lost as twilight approaches.

Organizers said that unlike some comparable events, the Baker Corn Maze does not have a Halloween or nighttime component, which makes it more amenable to church groups that oppose Halloween-themed activities.

“This is a fall festival event,” Dingess said. “Don’t come expecting ghosts or goblins. We’re focusing on families and are open only during daylight hours.”

Without giving away any secrets, a feature of the maze is the central pattern of the Rotary International “wheel” logo, forming a broad, circular avenue from which various paths through the maze radiate and connect.

Barnhill said the local Rotary Club directed Precision Mazes, a Missouri-based firm, to design the maze layout. The business came to Baker and cut the maze through Barnhill’s cornfield in one day using GPS-guided equipment.

“Put on your tennis shoes and come ready for fun,” Dingess said. “Flip-flops are not recommended.”

Proper footwear is important, Carroll agreed, noting, “You wouldn’t want to get corns.”

The Baker Corn Maze is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays Oct. 6 through Nov. 4. Admission is $7 per person. Take U.S. Highway 90 to Milligan, onto Old River Road, then left onto Buck Ward Road and follow the signs to the Baker Corn Maze. See video at left in "Related Media."

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Rotary Club corn maze opens Oct. 6 (VIDEO)

Crestview First United Methodist Church’s Arts and Crafts Bazaar is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at Crossroads Center, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview.

Artists and vendors should apply. Limited spaces are available. For more information, call Frankie Burgess at 586-5577 or Bobbi Burton at 758-8085.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bazaar organizers seek vendors

CRESTVIEW — Organizers of the city’s first Taste of Home Cooking School were pleased with the event’s attendance and promised Tuesday’s event would be the first of more to come. Sponsored by WAAZ/WJSB radio and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Crestview, the school and accompanying vendor showcase drew an estimated 700 attendees.

“The turnout is unbelievable,” the radio stations’ general sales manager, Cal Zethmayr, said.

Overflow required the city Parks and Recreation staff to dash over to Warriors Hall to fetch more chairs for the Crestview Community Center. The 60 VIP tickets, which included a private reception with Chef Michelle “Red” Roberts, sold out within a week of going on sale, Zethmayr said.

As Roberts visited with VIP ticket holders, other attendees formed a giant queue that snaked past exhibitors’ tables at the hall’s rear, signing up for door prizes that included cookbooks, airline tickets, day spa packages, body wraps and kitchen appliances. Vendors and organizations offered wine tastings as well as baked goods and jewelry for sale.

“We support our community and try to help any way we can,” Winn-Dixie floral department manager Jenny Bettis said as she displayed autumn-themed table arrangements.

However, Roberts, Taste of Home magazine’s celebrity chef and senior culinary specialist, and her recipes grabbed the spotlight. Many audience members had seen Roberts’ demonstrations during Taste of Home Cooking School programs in DeFuniak Springs, where the program has been presented for 18 years.

“Taste of Home is a well-known national brand,” Roberts said. “A lot of people here tonight have seen our show in DeFuniak Springs and came to see us again.”

Though the national magazine is proud to offer “recipes from families just like yours,” some audience members said they were just there for the evening’s entertainment.

“I cooked for 57 years so I quit cooking,” Beach Campbell, of Crestview, said. “I came to see someone else do the cooking.”

Sarah Myers, Campbell’s daughter, wasn’t sure if she’d tackle any of the recipes presented during the evening.

“Somebody needs to teach me to cook, but at my age, I don’t know if I’ll learn anything,” Myers said. “My husband does all the cooking. I should’ve sent him here.”

“I’m already a pretty good cook, but my wife and sister wanted to come tonight,” Baker resident Roger O’Neal said.

Long-time Crestview resident Billye Carter joked that she could probably teach Roberts a thing or two after decades of preparing local country cuisine for her own family.

“Yeah, I’m going to teach her cornbread, ‘okry’ and black-eyed peas,” she said, laughing.

Roberts attributed the school’s large attendance to Taste of Home’s reputation for offering simple-to-prepare dishes that don’t require exotic ingredients. In fact, all of the recipes she prepared, such as steak and bleu cheese bruschetta, were made with ingredients purchased locally earlier in the afternoon.

“The ingredients are easy to find, and ours are down-home recipes that are easy to do,” Roberts said.

Zethmayr said organizers faced one glitch as they started organizing the program.

“We needed 240-volt service but the Community Center only has 120,” he said.

After he bought $500 worth of electrical parts, two city employees, working on their lunch hours, put together a power board that allowed the on-stage kitchen appliances provided by the Crestview Sears to operate. That effort in itself virtually assured Tuesday night’s program won’t be the Taste of Home Cooking School’s only Crestview appearance.

“We own this equipment now so we have to do another school,” Zethmayr said with a chuckle.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 700 attend Taste of Home Cooking School