Coastal Branch library offering Wednesday winter programs

December 29, 2016

The Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is offering a variety of programs every Wednesday in Jan., Feb., and through March 8. The programs will be held in their community room starting at 10 a.m.

Coastal Branch Library, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach. For more information, call Linda at 850-267-2809.

Mountain Dulcimers – Folk Music and Hymns – Omar Wiseman program Jan. 4

Date/time: Wed., Jan. 4, 2017, 10 a.m.

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.

Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast Jan. 11

Date/time: Wed., Jan. 11, 2017, 10 a.m.

The Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is offering a variety of programs every Wednesday in Jan., Feb., and through March 8. The programs will be held in their community room starting at 10 a.m.

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 se- ries of short videos featuring the lakes. Sure to entertain and educate all ages the importance of beinggood stewards of South Walton’s Coastal Dune Lakes.

Walton Guards and their Captain, William McPherson Jan. 18

Date/time: Wed., Jan. 18, 2017, 10 a.m.

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.

History of Walton County Sheriff’s Posse program at Coastal Branch Library Jan. 25

Date/time: Wed., Jan. 25, 10 a.m.

This presentation from Chick Huette covers the early 1800s 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, lynch- ing, thieves, killers and bootleggers comes to life in this slide presentation presented by members of the Walton County Sheriff’s Posse. May contain graphic material.

Kitchenique cooking school program Feb. 1

Date/time: Wed., Feb. 1, 2017,10 a.m.

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 great health benefits, as well.

Harpist to perform Feb. 8

Date/time: Wed., February 8, 2017, 10 a.m.

Principal Harpist – Katie Ott will perform at the Coastal Branch Library Feb. 8.

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.

Civil War program Feb. 15

Date/Time: Wed., February 15, 2017, 10 a.m.

The Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is offering a variety of programs every Wednesday in Jan., Feb., and through March 8. The programs will be held in their community room starting at 10 a.m.

“Soldiers Life in the American Civil War” program by Robert Huffman will be the focus of at program at the Coastal Branch Library on Feb. 15.

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 Life- long Learning Center in Fort Walton Beach.

West Point program Feb. 22

Date/time: Wed., February 22, 2017, 10 a.m.

A Story of West Point by Richard Barlow Adams will be the focus of a program at the Coastal Branch Library on Feb. 22

Based on research for 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 for- ward 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. After military service, Rich 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.

Mississippian Indian culture program Mar. 1

Date/time: Wed., March 1, 2017, 10 a.m.

The Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is offering a variety of programs every Wednesday in Jan., Feb., and through March 8. The programs will be held in their community room starting at 10 a.m.

Mississippian Indian Culture by Bob Lauderdale will be the focus of a program at the Coastal Branch Library on Mar. 1

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.

A retired USAF and civil service archaeologist, Bob teaches classes at the Life- long Learning Center in Fort Walton.

Beach nesting shore birds program Mar. 8

Date/time: Wed., March 8, 2017, 10 a.m.

The Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa Beach is offering a variety of programs every Wednesday in Jan., Feb., and through March 8. The programs will be held in their community room starting at 10 a.m.

Beach-Nesting Shore Birds: Florida’s Original Beach Babies program by Bonnie Samuelsen will be held at the Coastal Branch Library on March 8.

Bonnie is Project Coordinator for Audubon Florida’s Coastal Bird Stew- ardship Program in northwest Florida. You will see and hear about the delightful courtship displays, amazing

camouflage, aerial attacks, and sur- vival needs of both solitary and colo- nial nesting species. There will cer- tainly 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.