CRESTVIEW — What do Mark Twain, James Joyce, D.H. Lawrence, Jack London and Kurt Vonnegut have in common — besides being some of literature’s most luminous names? At one time or another, their works — today considered literary classics — have been banned from American libraries, Crestview Public Library staff members said.

A display at the library, erected Friday in observance of Banned Books Week, includes stacks of books that have been banned or challenged in American libraries. To draw attention to the perceived dangers of stifling Americans’ right to read, the books on display have been wrapped in yellow police “caution” tape.

An author doesn’t have to be one of the great names of literature for their works to be challenged, Crestview librarians said. Authors also include J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien, and titles even include the Bible.

“I think this display has more books than we’ve ever put on the banned books table,” librarian Annie Whitmore said as she and Marie Garcia put finishing touches on the display. “We are just creating an awareness of our opportunity to explore literature and how some people want to keep you from doing that.”

The American Library Association and its members have observed Banned Books Week for 30 years. This year’s theme, “fREADom,” features the Statue of Liberty holding aloft her torch and reading a book she holds in her left hand. The Crestview library is distributing bookmarks bearing the graphic.

Sometimes books are banned for religious reasons, library assistant Tracey McGann said.

“Most people object to some books on religious grounds, but then they’re the ones who most want religious freedom,” McGann said.

While books are rarely challenged at the Crestview library, in 2010, a local mother demanded “manga” graphic novels, well read among teen readers, be removed or secured. The woman said her son “lost his mind when he found this,” she said, exhibiting a mature version of manga the boy had stolen from the adult graphic novels section. Her challenge was unsuccessful.

“We like people to appreciate what living in America provides for them,” Whitmore said as she placed fREADom bookmarks around the display. “It allows people the opportunity to challenge books, but it also allows people the right to choose what they want to read.”

Visitors to the library might be surprised to see books like Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” George Orwell’s “1984” or poetry by American author Maya Angelou on the table.

Librarians hope patrons will be disturbed to know that at one time or another, other citizens tried to deprive them of the opportunity to check those and many other books out of the library.

“It allows people to realize what our First Amendment rights are,” Whitmore said.

The Banned Books Week display will be up at the Crestview Public Library through Oct. 6.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library celebrates freedom to read

CRESTVIEW—City Council President Ben Iannucci III said he has asked the Institute for Senior Professionals to meet with Mayor David Cadle and himself to perform a feasibility study and business plan for a sports and culture complex that could be funded by a city tourist development tax, also called a “bed tax.”

Former Supervisor of Elections Pat Hollarn, representing the institute, explained the organization “is a group of retired senior executives who have offered this service to local governments and non-profits. It is pro bono; that is the beauty of it.”

Earlier this year, Okaloosa Arts Alliance representatives presented the council with an alternative program and recommended combining the Iannucci-championed sports complex with a cultural and arts component to produce a facility that would serve a broader range of citizens and attract more visitors to Crestview.

Iannucci said the arts community’s suggestions would be included in the Senior Professionals’ evaluation.

“This does not mean approval of the sports complex concept,” Iannucci emphasized. “This is to approve the ISP developing a business plan.”

Councilwoman Robyn Helt said she “gladly” moved to engage ISP’s services. Her motion passed unanimously.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Senior Professionals to advise on Crestview sports/arts complex

LAUREL HILL —The City Council tonight will discuss lowering the transaction fee for water bill payments to $2.75. Since this summer, residents have been able to pay using a debit or credit card for a $3.50 transaction fee. Residents would like to see the fee reduced, according to a city water department attachment in the council packet. "The usage is picking up as more and more people find out the option is there," the statement said. In other business, the council will mull moving regularly scheduled Tuesday night meetings to Thursday evenings. In addition, council members will discuss the possibility of changing next month's Nov. 6 meeting date due to Election Day. In addition, the council will be tasked to elect a chairperson and vice chairperson as required by the city charter. Larry Hendren currently serves as the chairman and Betty Williamson is the vice chairman. The meeting will also give an update on internal updates for the general fund and water fund. For those that want to attend the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. the Laurel Hill city hall building, located off State Road 85.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill to discuss water bill transaction fees

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Freedom to Read celebration, otherwise known as Banned Books Week.  The American Library Association began this annual event in response to concerns about book censorship and challenges.  The U.S. has always had challengers and censors of various reading material.  From “Catch-22” to “Gone with the Wind,” and “The Grapes of Wrath” to “Grimm’s Fairy Tales,” it may surprise you which books have been challenged throughout the years. 

Some challenges come from good intentions to protect people, especially children, from reading materials considered unfit.  Other challenges have come from those who want certain information completely unavailable to all people, obliterating certain knowledge from being part of the history of literature.  These actions, even if well intentioned, tell us that we, as a democratic society, do not possess the intellect or right to choose to read what we wish to read. 

As a public library, the staff and director try to put aside our personal beliefs when choosing books for our collection and have the confidence that people will choose for themselves and their children information they enjoy and learn from.  The idea of intellectual freedom is a beautiful one, not to be hindered or taken for granted. 

Express your freedom today:  drop by the library and check out a book from our Banned Books display!

STAFF PICK

"Anne Frank:  The Diary of a Young Girl": Anne Frank’s diary was discovered by Miep Gies shortly after her family was arrested and deported to concentration camps.  After the war, Anne’s father, Otto Frank, received Anne’s diary from Miep.  He later decided to have it published, despite Anne’s wish for it not to be read by others. 

Mr. Frank decided to edit certain passages and phrasing from her diary.  The edited version is the version most widely read.  Still, Anne’s writing reflects her inner conflicts, perceptiveness and love of life.  Mr. Frank had not realized his daughter to have such depth of thought. 

Anne was a normal teenager who started to come of age under horrific circumstances.  Her dreams of the future hint that she was not anticipating that her life would be cut tragically short.  This is the impact that her diary has given to the world: that a child without guise or guilt was sentenced to have never realized her dreams.

Marie Garcia is assistant director at the Crestview Public Library on Commerce Drive.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Banned Books Week is Sept. 30 – Oct. 6

CRESTVIEW—Members of the family of late city Parks and Recreation worker Nathaniel Grant requested that city officials halt a process that would have named the Twin Hills Park stadium in his memory. Grant died in the summer of 2011. At city Councilman Tim Grandberry’s recommendation, the facility was scheduled to be named Nathaniel Grant Stadium.

“While our family appreciates the gesture of naming the football stadium at Twin Hills Park after my husband, Nathaniel, we feel it best to rescind your request,” Miranda Grant wrote in an email to Public Works Director Wayne Steele.

“There are so many deserving families for this honor,” Grant’s email stated. “Maybe the stadium could be dedicated in general to all the deserving members that have passed on.”

The Crestview City Council unanimously approved Miranda Grant’s request with its approval of the consent agenda at Monday’s meeting.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family halts stadium naming

CRESTVIEW — Tony Taylor was sworn in Monday morning as the Hub City’s police chief during a ceremony at Warrior's Hall in the George Whitehurst Municipal building.  Many uniformed officers were on hand to welcome their new chief, along with many of Taylor’s family members and former colleagues.

Mayor David Cadle opened the ceremony by addressing the officers.

"This is the beginning of a new era for this department," Cadle said. Following his comments, the police chaplain Mark Broadhead gave the opening prayer.

Taylor was then sworn in by Cadle to begin his first day as police chief.  Taylor addressed his officers and assured them that he believed in teamwork.

"Let me put your minds at ease," he said. "I'm going to be a part of this department, not apart from this department. I want to get to know you all."

After Taylor's remarks, City Councilman Charles Baugh spoke on behalf of the city council and welcomed Taylor and his wife of seven years, Lilia.

"It is very fitting that we have this ceremony in the Warrior's Hall, because the officers are the warriors of our city," Baugh said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview swears in new police chief

CRESTVIEW — Beginning today, the Okaloosa County Public Transit System, Wave bus Route 5, will offer limited bus service to the CHOICE High School/Technical Center (Vo-Tech), New Okaloosa County Courthouse Annex Extension and Water & Sewer Building on Lewis Turner Boulevard. Route 5 bus stops are as follows:

Route 5 Outbound

Stop 1: Santa Rosa Mall – 7:50 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 3:50 p.m.

Stop 2: Mary Esther/Marilyn – 7:55 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m.

Stop 3: Walmart– 8:05 a.m., 12:07 p.m., 4:07 p.m.

Stop 4: White Wilson– 8:14 a.m., 12:16 p.m., 4:16 p.m.

Stop 5: YMCA – 8:14 a.m., 12:17 p.m., 4:17 p.m.

Stop 6: CHOICE High School– 8:18 a.m., 12:25 p.m., 4:25 p.m.

Route 5 Inbound

Stop 6 (continued): CHOICE– 8:18, 12:26 p.m., 4:26 p.m.

Stop 7: Okaloosa Courthouse Annex Extension– 8:20 a.m., 12:28 p.m., 4:28 p.m.

Stop 8: Water & Sewer Building – 8:23 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Stop 9: YMCA – 8:25 a.m., 12:31 p.m., 4:31 p.m.

Stop 10: FWBMC – 8:25 a.m., 12:32 p.m., 4:32 p.m.

Stop 11: Walmart – 8:33 a.m., 12:38 p.m., 4:38 p.m.

Stop 12: Sun Plaza – 8:38 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m.

Stop 13: Santa Rosa Mall – 8:43 a.m., 12:55 p.m., 4:55 p.m.

To ride the Wave, look at your destination and decide which bus will get you there the quickest from the schedule. Go to the nearest bus stop.

Okaloosa County Transit offers deviated fixed route bus service and limited Para Transit service countywide. The buses have wheelchair and bicycle storage.

Okaloosa County commissioners recently voted to keep all transit routes through the 2013 fiscal year; however, future bus routes will be determined annually. For further information, call  689-7809 in Crestview or 833-9168 in Fort Walton Beach.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wave bus service to new courthouse extension begins today

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Public Library's First Tuesday Lecture is at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Crestview News Bulletin Arts and Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes will present a pictorial visit of Crestview Sister City Noirmoutier, France.

Nearly 20 years ago, Sister Cities International paired Crestview with the island community of Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, off the west coast of France.

"Come learn a little of our sister city's history and culture, and find out how you can meet our visitors from Noirmoutier when they visit Crestview at the end of October," said Sandra Dreaden, reference librarian. 

Refreshments will be served at 10 a.m. Call 682-4432 for more information.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Lecture on Noirmoutier, France coming tomorrow

CRESTVIEW — Alzheimer's Family Services provides support groups and educational opportunities for family members or friends coping with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. A support group starts at 10 a.m. Oct. 9 at Covenant Hospice, 370 W. Redstone Drive, Crestview. The support group is free and respite care is available. To register or for details, call 478-7790 or visit www.AlzFamServ.org.

Support groups are a means for caregivers and others interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease to exchange ideas, gather information and discuss their concerns with others who are dealing or have dealt with the same issues.

Alzheimer’s Family Services is a not-for-profit organization serving individuals and families in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties in Florida, as well as Escambia and Baldwin counties in Alabama. Its mission is to provide education and emotional support through a variety of services including: memory screens, support groups, tracking devices for wandering patients, respite, and counseling. AFS is an affiliate of Covenant Hospice.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Alzheimer's support group begins meeting Oct. 9

CRESTVIEW — The water and sewer rates for Okaloosa County increased 2.75 percent today.This is part of the five-year plan of rate increases enacted in September by the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners.

The water usage rate for single family residences increased from $2.22 to $2.28 per month for each 1,000 gallons of water used, or any part thereof, up to the first 3,000 gallons.  Their sewer usage rate increased from $3.48 to $3.57, up to the first $3,000 gallons.

The residential rate goes up to $3.14 from $3.05 last year for residential users who use between 3,000 and 10,000 gallons of water per month.

Single family residents who use more than 10,000 gallons of water per month are now being charged $4.67 per 1,000 gallons, up from $4.55.

The all others water usage rate (non-residential single family) increased from $3.05 to $3.14 for all levels of usage. The sewer usage rate increased from $3.48 to $3.57 for all levels of usage.

The water flat rate increased from $25.55 to $26.25 per month for residential single family customers who have county water service available, but who have not connected to the county water system.

The sewer rate has increased from $38.86 to $39.93 per month for residential single family customers without water service, and for those who have both county water and were service available, but have not connected to the county sewer system.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: County water and sewer rate increase starts today