Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast at Coastal Branch Library

Winter Community Programs to be held at the Coastal Branch Library on Wednesdays from January 4 –March 8, 2017 at 10:00 am in the community meeting room. Winter Community Programs are designed for our adult community and families having educational and entertaining value while learning about our community and neighbors. Sponsored by Friends of Coastal Library. Free for the public with limited seating.

Wednesdays 10:00 am at Coastal Branch Library (Jan 4 - Mar 8)

Jan 4: Mountain Dulcimers - Folk Music and Hymns by Omar Wiseman
A retired Air Force officer, Omar Wiseman acquired his first Mountain Dulcimer after retiring and learned to play on his own. Workshops, practice, and playing with groups have led to community outreach and forming The Niceville Noodlers, a “learn and play” group. At the encouragement of his group, he began teaching Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer for the Center for Lifelong Learning and will soon begin his 5th year of sharing his love for this "homeboy" instrument from his North Carolina Mountain home.

Jan 11: Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast - Elam Stoltzfus and Nick Stoltzfus
Film screening produced by Elam Stoltzfus with scriptwriter Nic Stoltzfus, this one-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.

Jan 18: History of Walton Guards and their Captain, William McPherson - Hank C. Klein
During the beginning of the Civil War the Walton Guards was formed to help with the war effort. In April 1861 the newly formed Walton Guards met at the Walton County seat of Euchee-Anna and selected their Commander, William McPherson, a 28-year-old local boy, to lead them in the Civil War against the Union Army of the United States. Just who was William McPherson and what qualified him to lead the men from his county; also, what did the Walton Guards do to help the Confederate cause at the start of the War Between the States? Hank Klein has long been interested in the history of Destin, Florida, He recently published an interesting book about early Destin titled Destin Pioneer Settlers... A Land History of Destin Florida from 1819-1940. Hank also has a monthly “History Mystery” column in the Destin Log newspaper.

Jan 25: History of Walton County Sheriff’s Posse - Chick Huettel
This presentation covers the early 1800’s up to today’s modern Posse history. It was a past of dedicated lawmen, coupled with violence and quick justice. The era of cattle rustling, lynching, thieves, killers and bootleggers comes to life in this slide presentation presented by members of the Walton County Sheriff’s Posse. This presentation is adult material.

Feb 1: The Kitchenique Cooking School - The Aromatic and Flavorful World of Herbs and Spices - Vicki McCain, President Vicki’s Kitchens, Inc.
With a few basic cooking techniques and an understanding of the use of herbs and spices, the dishes that can be created are seemingly endless! So much of what we cook is determined by what we’re comfortable with and know about; and unfortunately for most of us, the use of herbs and spices falls outside that comfort zone. Incorporating herbs and spices into our diets is a delicious way to enjoy their formidable health benefits as well.

Feb 8: Principal Harpist - Katie Ott
Katie will give a performance and a brief history of the harp that will explain the evolution from the Egyptian lyre into the modern marvelous instrument we know and love today! The morning will also include demonstrations of special techniques and a mini recital of French and contemporary music.

Feb 15: Soldiers Life in the American Civil War - Robert Huffman
Robert will give a presentation on the basic living conditions of an average Civil War soldier: enlistment, pay, weaponry, and a typical day for a soldier in 1861. Such things as food, clothing, shelter and leisure time will also be discussed. American Civil War artifacts and a soldier’s uniform will be on display at the presentation. Retired from the USAF, Robert has been a Civil war re-enactor since 1983 and teaches at the Lifelong Learning Center in Fort Walton Beach.

Feb 22: A Story of West Point - Richard Barlow Adams
Based on his research his book The Parting: A Story of West Point on the Eve of the Civil War, Rich will address the questions: what was West Point like on the eve of the war, what was it like for West Point classmates and best friends to confront each other in combat, and what were West Point’s war loss figures? Rich is the first of three brothers to graduate from the Academy, and in late 1967, six months after graduation, deployed the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to Vietnam as the artillery forward observer for D Company (of the 1/506th Infantry of WWI “Band of Brothers” fame), an experience that figures in his most recent novel Song Be. After Vietnam, Rich became an Army aviator and flew a year in the Middle East, and after military service, formed, grew and sold an environmental engineering consulting company. Rich served as an adjunct professor at SMU in its graduate school of engineering and as an adjunct assistant professor at West Point.

Mar 1: Mississippian Indian Culture - Bob Lauderdale
A retired USAF and civil service archaeologist, Bob teaches classes at the Lifelong Learning Center in Fort Walton. In about AD 800, groups of Native Americans developed a culture along the Mississippi River in what is now the southeastern United States. This Mississippian culture is best known for building mounds of earth. The culture ended about 1700, but many of the mounds still stand.

Mar 8: Beach-Nesting Shore Birds: Florida’s Original Beach Babies - Bonnie Samuelsen
Bonnie is Project Coordinator for Audubon Florida’s Coastal Bird Stewardship Program in northwest Florida. You will see and hear about the delightful courtship displays, amazing camouflage, aerial attacks, and survival needs of both solitary and colonial nesting species. There will certainly be a series of “too cute” photos as she talks about chick rearing. Learn about the issues facing these rare birds and help us educate others in your community.

Program brochures will be available at the Coastal library and the schedule will be posted on the Walton County Coastal Calendar website at www.youseemore.com/walton. Winter Community Programs begin at 10:00 a.m. Jan 4 – March 8 on Wednesdays. Sponsored by Friends of Coastal Branch Library. Please consider joining our Friends Group to support your community library. For more information call Linda Thompson, Coastal library at (850) 267-2809. 

SoWal Groups & Orgs: Friends of Coastal Branch Library

South Walton Coastal Branch Library hosts year round events, lectures, children's story time, chess, tai chi, meditation and other classes open to the community. Stop in to see works of a local artist on display each month. The library is located at 437 Greenway Trail off Hwy. 331 South. Open Monday-Friday 9am - 8pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday. All residents and property owners of Walton County are eligible for a free library card. Nonresidents are eligible for a library card for an annual fee of $35.

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