TRAFFIC

Eglin Air Force Base to close Highway 85 and State Road 123 on April 6

The 96th Test Wing is scheduled to conduct testing on the Eglin range complex on April 6 requiring the closure of Highway 85 and State Road 123.

• The roads will be closed between 9 and 11:30 a.m.

According to Eglin, the roads will not be closed for more than 90-minute periods within the time frame. 

GIVING BACK

Step One Automotive to teach Small Engine Repair to Middle and High School Students

The HSU Educational Foundation has partnered with Step One Automotive Group to offer a Small Engine Basic Repair course at the HSU Innovation Institute South in Fort Walton Beach.

• This course is designed for middle and high school students who will be able to take apart a small engine, put it back together, and start it.
• The course will be held twice a week for two hours per session on Wednesdays from 5 pm to 7 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to noon.

The “Small Engine Basics Repair” course will be four weeks long, for a total of 16 hours, and will be led by a Step One Automotive Senior Master Mechanic. During the course, students will learn about basic parts of the engine, the tools needed, and techniques that can be applied to vehicle engine repair.

The course will begin on April 12th and continue every Wednesday and Saturday until May 6th. For the final class on May 6th, family members are invited to stay for the length of the class to watch their participant put the final touches on the engine and start it.

You must reserve your spot for this free course. Click here to register.

ART+CULTURE

NWFSC to showcase student artwork in annual Arnie Hart Juried Student Show & Art Faculty Exhibition

Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) is set to host its annual Arnie Hart Juried Student Show & Art Faculty Exhibition at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries.

• The event, made possible by generous donations from Ms. Jean Hart in honor of Professor Hart’s legacy in ceramics, will feature artwork from talented students in two and three-dimensional categories.

This year’s exhibition is especially exciting as it will be judged by Dr. Aja Roache, the director of the Foster Tanner Gallery at Florida A&M University. Dr. Roache will be responsible for selecting the Best-in-Show and first through third place winners. Students who place in the competition will receive cash awards and scholarship nominations.

• The opening reception on April 7th, from 6 to 8 p.m., will include an opportunity to meet with NWFSC professors and enjoy a dance performance by the College’s dance professor, Vanessa Kanamoto.
• The event is open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

The Arnie Hart Juried Student Show & Art Faculty Exhibition allows students to showcase their artwork in a professional setting and provides a unique opportunity for the public to see the incredible talent and creativity of the students at NWFSC.

The exhibition will run from April 7th to May 10th, 2023, and the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 90 minutes before most Mainstage and Sprint Theater performances.

Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries is located at 100 College Blvd. E, Niceville, FL 32578.

THINGS TO DO

‘Hop with a Cop’ returns to Surge Adventure Park on April 11th

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Youth Services Division and Surge Adventure Park are gearing up for the 3rd annual “Hop with a Cop” event.

• This exciting community event is set to take place on April 11th, 2023, from 5pm-8pm at the Surge Adventure Park located at 300 Mary Esther Blvd Unit 117.

This year’s “Hop with a Cop” event will feature a range of activities and attractions for people of all ages. The event will kick off with bicycle safety presentations, followed by the distribution of free bicycle helmets and raffles for free bicycles. It’s worth noting that attendees must be present to win the bicycles and obtain free helmets.

In addition to the bicycle-related activities, the event will also feature a variety of carnival games, free ice cream and popcorn provided by Cinco Baptist Church, as well as free hotdogs and drinks provided by Buffalo’s Reef, Step One Automotive, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

• Attendees will also have the opportunity to jump and bounce around at Surge Adventure Park at half the price. Waivers must be completed online or inside the Surge Trampoline Park.

COMING SOON

$23.5 million affordable housing community coming to the City of Crestview

In a collaboration between one of the nation’s largest developers of affordable housing, Housing Trust Group (HTG), and AM Affordable Housing, a non-profit founded by NBA Hall of Famer and Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning, the construction of Princeton Grove has commenced.

• The new $23.5 million affordable housing community is designed to cater to seniors aged 62 and up, along with senior veterans of the armed services in the City of Crestview.

The apartments at Princeton Grove will be reserved for income-qualifying residents who earn at or below 22, 30 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), with rents ranging from $363 to $1,188 per month. Additionally, the developer has committed to a minimum of five apartments for veterans who meet the same household income and age criteria, as veterans are an integral part of this area.

• The property is scheduled to open in Fall 2024.

Princeton Grove marks the seventh affordable housing collaboration between HTG and non-profit AM Affordable Housing, with other joint ventures including the award-winning Courtside Apartments in Overtown, Miami in 2016, as well as the recently completed Shoreline Villas community in the City of Fort Walton Beach.

“The demand for housing in the Florida Panhandle has never been greater,” said Matthew A. Rieger, President and CEO of HTG. “Princeton Grove supports the City of Crestview’s 2020 master plan goals by creating more affordable housing, creating safe and attractive housing, giving residents access to a multitude of recreational and lifestyle amenities, giving the community a say in the development scheme, and by creating a property with excellent curb appeal that enhances the overall character of the surrounding area.”

Located at 475 Aplin Road in Crestview, Princeton Grove will be a four-story community offering a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Amenities will include a clubhouse, a state-of-the-art fitness center, pickleball court, putting green, media room with computer stations, resort-style swimming pool, and dog park.

• In-unit amenities will include Energy Star®-rated appliances and granite countertops. Princeton Grove will also be National Green Building Standard certified.

The project team for Princeton Grove includes general contractor Bayern Construction, civil engineering firm Choctaw Engineering, architect and interior design from PQH Group, and landscape designer BDG Booth.

The funding sources for Princeton Grove include:

• $9.1 million in 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity syndicated through Truist Community Capital
• A $14 million construction loan from Truist Bank, along with three more loans from Florida Housing Finance Corporation: a $8,550,000 State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL), $600,000 Extremely Low Income (ELI) loan, and a $654,000 National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) loan.
• In addition, it received a $7.45 million Freddie Mac loan through Grandbridge Real Estate Capital.