South Walton Coastal Branch Library will hold a series of Winter Community Lectures on Wednesdays at 10am starting January 6 through february 24, 2016. The lecture series is designed for the adult community and provide educational and entertaining insights into local people, history, the arts and more. Free and open to the public.
Jan 6 | Chick Huettel: War in the Gulf of Mexico
Historian Chick Huettel will lecture on the “War in the Gulf of Mexico: the German U-boat Invasion. If you served on a u-boat you had to make up your mind to ignore foul air, dampness, and strong smells. The smells were all kinds. They came from the bilges, food, and fuel. The close proximity to the diesel engines was enough to sicken many stout stomachs. The food was the best quality in the navy, but at the start of a voyage it was stacked everywhere, and as time went on some usually spoiled. Chick Huettel has authored several historical works including War in the Gulf of Mexico, Adventures in Destin Waters, Early Settlements around Hogtown Bayou, and Mark of the Baskerville Hound (London published). He has degrees from Memphis State University (Business) and Memphis Academy of Arts. Recent activities seen Chick as Founder & board member Cultural Arts Association, Santa Rosa Beach,FL, Walton County Sheriff Department, Posse Volunteer (staff) and President of Coastal Heritage Society Foundation. This is a lecture and slide series originally initiated by the South Walton Coastal Heritage Association; one the oldest organizations still in existence in south Walton. Coastal Branch Library is now the home of the society and displays some local recovered artifacts.
Jan 13 | James Moore: Governor Catts
Historian James Moore will perform as Governor Catts, a Baptist preacher from DeFuniak Springs, made an aggressive run in 1916 to be Governor of Florida with a campaign method that forever altered political races in the state. Catts’ campaign was filled with humor, religious and legal conflicts, ending with a surprising resolution. Books written by Moore include researched and humorous stories in Walton Wanderings, true cases and legal history’s in Walton Wickedness, and a novel Hotel DeFuniak. In addition, he is co-author of Up, Down, In & Around Boggy Bayou—tales of around the present Niceville. James Moore gives historical presentations for the Florida Chautauqua Assembly, The Florida League of Arts and other associations representing various historical personalities.
Jan 20 | Sandra and David Berquist- Revealing the Inner Beauty of Stones
The Berquists will display and discuss a large variety of semi-precious stones and explain the process for cutting, shaping and polishing these stones as well as creating jewelry. The Berquists are members of the Playground Gem and Mineral Society in Fort Walton Beach. This club provides members the opportunity to use a variety of lapidary tools, learn about the geology of our area, take field trips to places where stones and fossils can be found in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas and enjoy socializing with other rock hounds. The club is open to interested individuals and families from our area and provides lapidary and jewelry-making classes from introductory through intermediate levels. http://playgroundgem.org/
Jan 27 | Dr. David Ott
Ott is an internationally recognized American composer and conductor of classical music whose impressive works have been performed and recorded by some of the most notable orchestras in the United States and Europe. In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Music Alive Award, co-sponsored by the American Symphony Orchestra League. Born in Crystal Falls, Michigan, Ott's works include four symphonies, an opera, the Annapolis Overture, written for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and various pieces of children's music. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music and the Grammies. The premiere of his Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mstislav Rostropovich, gained Ott the 1988 nomination. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1969. He received his Master's degree at Indiana University, and his PhD. in music at the University of Kentucky. http://davidottmusic.com
Feb 3 | Screenwriter Paula Hilton Act 4 Murder Variety is the Spice of Life!
Presented by Paula Hilton of Act4Murder, a professional troupe of actors who have been performing murder mysteries for dinner theater for ten years on the Emerald Coast. They are a popular form of entertainment, and are constantly being sought after by old and new restaurants looking for special events to beef up business, by non-profit organizations looking for fundraisers, and by private companies and individuals looking for a unique performance for other types of celebrations. Why? Because they are talented, flexible, affordable, memorable and fun! Join Paula Hilton, the creator of Act4Murder and author of all of their plays (almost 30 original comedies) and casts from several different shows as they demonstrate how they will knock you dead and kill you with laughter! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Act4Murder in action… they’re DYING to show you what they’re made of!
Feb 10 | Professor Richard Barlow Adams: “Eben Kruge, How a Christmas Carol Came to be Written”
Professor Richard Barlow Adams lectures on his book “Eben Kruge, How a Christmas Carol Came to be Written” addressing the questions - who was Charles Dickens, the young man of 30, writer, husband, father, businessman and harborer of a secret he will take to his grave, what circumstances surrounded him on the eve of his writing the most beloved and enduring Christmas fable ever written, and what triggered his imagination to write a story so unlike any he had written before. Richard is the first of three brothers to graduate from West Point and continue to be active in West Point alumni activities. He is a forensic engineering consultant and previously formed and sold what became a good size environmental consulting company. As you might guess, he is also a Vietnam veteran. In late 1967, six months after graduation, Richard deployed with two brigades of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY, to Vietnam, as the artillery forward observer for D Company of the 1/506th Infantry, of WWII "Band of Brothers" fame...an experience that figures in his writing of Song Bé. After Vietnam, Richard became an Army aviator and flew a year in the Middle East. After leaving the military and while growing his consulting company, Richard was an adjunct professor at SMU in the graduate school of engineering and an adjunct assistant professor at West Point.
Feb 17 | Instructor Richard A. Weinstein on Prohibition in Florida
Weinstein will lecture on Prohibition in Florida; The Noble Experiment With a 1000 mile coastline, close proximity to Nassau and the Grand Bahamas, the Florida rum runners of the 1920’s had a turbulent, highly profitable period of successfully avoiding the best efforts of the under-manned spare maritime resources of the United States Coast Guard. Richard A. Weinstein’s lectures are delivered with the hard facts and plenty laughter! As a retired high school Social Studies teacher Richard has worked as an adjunct instructor at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, The University of South Alabama in Mobile Alabama, and Northwest Florida State College, here in South Walton. A retired First Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Richard has also taught at the Marine Corps Educational Development Command and Marine Corps University where he wrote one of the current titles: “Readings in Military History” for the Staff NCO Academy professional reading list.
Feb 24 | Film Screening of Coastal Dune Lakes; Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast
Film screening with Producer, Cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus and Scriptwriter, Photographer Nic Stolzfus. Produced by Elam Stoltzfus, this 1 hour Public Television documentary, “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast”, travels from Australia to the United States in search of what coastal dune lakes are and what can be done to protect them. Extra features include special behind-the-scenes interviews with the crew and a series of short videos featuring the lakes. Sure to entertain and educate all ages the importance of being good stewards of South Walton’s Coastal Dune Lakes.
Lecture brochures will be available at the Coastal library and the schedule will be posted on the Walton County Coastal Calendar website atwww.youseemore.com/walton. For more information please call (850) 267-2809, Coastal Library, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach. We are located behind the South Walton Government/Education Complex on HWY 331 South. Free for the public with limited seating.
Jan 6 | Chick Huettel: War in the Gulf of Mexico
Historian Chick Huettel will lecture on the “War in the Gulf of Mexico: the German U-boat Invasion. If you served on a u-boat you had to make up your mind to ignore foul air, dampness, and strong smells. The smells were all kinds. They came from the bilges, food, and fuel. The close proximity to the diesel engines was enough to sicken many stout stomachs. The food was the best quality in the navy, but at the start of a voyage it was stacked everywhere, and as time went on some usually spoiled. Chick Huettel has authored several historical works including War in the Gulf of Mexico, Adventures in Destin Waters, Early Settlements around Hogtown Bayou, and Mark of the Baskerville Hound (London published). He has degrees from Memphis State University (Business) and Memphis Academy of Arts. Recent activities seen Chick as Founder & board member Cultural Arts Association, Santa Rosa Beach,FL, Walton County Sheriff Department, Posse Volunteer (staff) and President of Coastal Heritage Society Foundation. This is a lecture and slide series originally initiated by the South Walton Coastal Heritage Association; one the oldest organizations still in existence in south Walton. Coastal Branch Library is now the home of the society and displays some local recovered artifacts.
Jan 13 | James Moore: Governor Catts
Historian James Moore will perform as Governor Catts, a Baptist preacher from DeFuniak Springs, made an aggressive run in 1916 to be Governor of Florida with a campaign method that forever altered political races in the state. Catts’ campaign was filled with humor, religious and legal conflicts, ending with a surprising resolution. Books written by Moore include researched and humorous stories in Walton Wanderings, true cases and legal history’s in Walton Wickedness, and a novel Hotel DeFuniak. In addition, he is co-author of Up, Down, In & Around Boggy Bayou—tales of around the present Niceville. James Moore gives historical presentations for the Florida Chautauqua Assembly, The Florida League of Arts and other associations representing various historical personalities.
Jan 20 | Sandra and David Berquist- Revealing the Inner Beauty of Stones
The Berquists will display and discuss a large variety of semi-precious stones and explain the process for cutting, shaping and polishing these stones as well as creating jewelry. The Berquists are members of the Playground Gem and Mineral Society in Fort Walton Beach. This club provides members the opportunity to use a variety of lapidary tools, learn about the geology of our area, take field trips to places where stones and fossils can be found in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas and enjoy socializing with other rock hounds. The club is open to interested individuals and families from our area and provides lapidary and jewelry-making classes from introductory through intermediate levels. http://playgroundgem.org/
Jan 27 | Dr. David Ott
Ott is an internationally recognized American composer and conductor of classical music whose impressive works have been performed and recorded by some of the most notable orchestras in the United States and Europe. In 2003, he was awarded the prestigious Music Alive Award, co-sponsored by the American Symphony Orchestra League. Born in Crystal Falls, Michigan, Ott's works include four symphonies, an opera, the Annapolis Overture, written for the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and various pieces of children's music. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music and the Grammies. The premiere of his Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mstislav Rostropovich, gained Ott the 1988 nomination. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1969. He received his Master's degree at Indiana University, and his PhD. in music at the University of Kentucky. http://davidottmusic.com
Feb 3 | Screenwriter Paula Hilton Act 4 Murder Variety is the Spice of Life!
Presented by Paula Hilton of Act4Murder, a professional troupe of actors who have been performing murder mysteries for dinner theater for ten years on the Emerald Coast. They are a popular form of entertainment, and are constantly being sought after by old and new restaurants looking for special events to beef up business, by non-profit organizations looking for fundraisers, and by private companies and individuals looking for a unique performance for other types of celebrations. Why? Because they are talented, flexible, affordable, memorable and fun! Join Paula Hilton, the creator of Act4Murder and author of all of their plays (almost 30 original comedies) and casts from several different shows as they demonstrate how they will knock you dead and kill you with laughter! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Act4Murder in action… they’re DYING to show you what they’re made of!
Feb 10 | Professor Richard Barlow Adams: “Eben Kruge, How a Christmas Carol Came to be Written”
Professor Richard Barlow Adams lectures on his book “Eben Kruge, How a Christmas Carol Came to be Written” addressing the questions - who was Charles Dickens, the young man of 30, writer, husband, father, businessman and harborer of a secret he will take to his grave, what circumstances surrounded him on the eve of his writing the most beloved and enduring Christmas fable ever written, and what triggered his imagination to write a story so unlike any he had written before. Richard is the first of three brothers to graduate from West Point and continue to be active in West Point alumni activities. He is a forensic engineering consultant and previously formed and sold what became a good size environmental consulting company. As you might guess, he is also a Vietnam veteran. In late 1967, six months after graduation, Richard deployed with two brigades of the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, KY, to Vietnam, as the artillery forward observer for D Company of the 1/506th Infantry, of WWII "Band of Brothers" fame...an experience that figures in his writing of Song Bé. After Vietnam, Richard became an Army aviator and flew a year in the Middle East. After leaving the military and while growing his consulting company, Richard was an adjunct professor at SMU in the graduate school of engineering and an adjunct assistant professor at West Point.
Feb 17 | Instructor Richard A. Weinstein on Prohibition in Florida
Weinstein will lecture on Prohibition in Florida; The Noble Experiment With a 1000 mile coastline, close proximity to Nassau and the Grand Bahamas, the Florida rum runners of the 1920’s had a turbulent, highly profitable period of successfully avoiding the best efforts of the under-manned spare maritime resources of the United States Coast Guard. Richard A. Weinstein’s lectures are delivered with the hard facts and plenty laughter! As a retired high school Social Studies teacher Richard has worked as an adjunct instructor at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, The University of South Alabama in Mobile Alabama, and Northwest Florida State College, here in South Walton. A retired First Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Richard has also taught at the Marine Corps Educational Development Command and Marine Corps University where he wrote one of the current titles: “Readings in Military History” for the Staff NCO Academy professional reading list.
Feb 24 | Film Screening of Coastal Dune Lakes; Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast
Film screening with Producer, Cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus and Scriptwriter, Photographer Nic Stolzfus. Produced by Elam Stoltzfus, this 1 hour Public Television documentary, “Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast”, travels from Australia to the United States in search of what coastal dune lakes are and what can be done to protect them. Extra features include special behind-the-scenes interviews with the crew and a series of short videos featuring the lakes. Sure to entertain and educate all ages the importance of being good stewards of South Walton’s Coastal Dune Lakes.
Lecture brochures will be available at the Coastal library and the schedule will be posted on the Walton County Coastal Calendar website atwww.youseemore.com/walton. For more information please call (850) 267-2809, Coastal Library, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach. We are located behind the South Walton Government/Education Complex on HWY 331 South. Free for the public with limited seating.
