LAUREL HILL — The city of Laurel Hill will have its 11th annual Christmas Parade soon.

The parade will start at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Industrial Park on New Ebenezer Road, Laurel Hill.

The route then crosses State Road 85 and continue down Fourth Street, then up Third Street, ending on Second Avenue at the Post Office.

Contact Nita Miller at 850-652-4441 or clhclerk@fairpoint.net if you would like to participate.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill getting ready for 11th annual Christmas Parade

CRESTVIEW — Music, munchies and more! How can you miss? 

Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa with us on Friday, Dec. 17 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

The 17th annual Noel Night begins at 6 p.m. and wraps up around 7:30 p.m. 

Soloist Jenna Lewis; Chanticleer from Crestview High School, led by Kevin Lusk; New Life Worship Center Children’s Choir, led by Sherrell Compton; and Crestview Community Choir, led by Cecil Lindegrad will fill the library with Christmas music. 

We will also make penguins while supplies last! Scavenge the library for Menorah, Advent, and Kinara candles for a prize! Get a picture with Santa! 

All ages are welcome at Noel Night, and registration is not required. Call 850-682-4432 with any questions.

Heather Nitzel is the Youth Services Librarian at the Crestview Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Noel Night activities include musical guests, games and crafts

CRESTVIEW — Thanksgiving seems to get overshadowed by Christmas.

Stores have had Christmas decorations up for months and many of them don't even bother with Thanksgiving any more. They go directly from Halloween to Christmas.

Our family has always felt that Thanksgiving was an under-appreciated holiday. We have so many things for which we need to be both grateful and thankful. We also need to share our abundance with those who may not be as fortunate.

Many churches have a benevolence fund to assist members who may need a little extra help. Check with your church office and see if there are families that may need groceries. You can donate money to help pay utility bills, purchase fuel so people can get to work, or even pay rent.

It seems there is a consistent need for funds to assist someone in the church family. Be generous. The Lord didn't bless you so that you could stockpile money or "toys." While we need to be wise with our money, we also need to be aware of the needs of others.

One thing we have learned over the years is that we can survive nicely without the latest and greatest electronic gadgets. We can save for more pressing needs, such as home repairs, and also use some of our income to support missionaries or other ministries.

We also need to give thanks for the freedoms we have living in our country. How can we show our gratitude for our freedom? Thank a service member the next time you see one in uniform, perhaps buy their lunch or dinner. Find out if there is an organization that is sending cards and packages to deployed service members and take part in this project. The holidays can be lonely for those overseas.

We also need to be grateful to our first responders for keeping our community safe. Bake or buy some cookies, doughnuts or pastries and take them to the Crestview Fire Department, sheriff's station here in Crestview, or to the Crestview Police Department. Have your children make cards for these selfless individuals thanking them for their service.

What are you thankful for this year? Who would you like to thank?

Here are a few things on my family's list:

• the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.
• Jim and I are thankful for each other.
• our home.
• clean drinking water.
• our wonderful pets.
• the Bible.
• our wonderful military and first responders.
• friends and church family.
• our pastor and his dedication.

As we go into Thanksgiving week, don't forget to be kind to others. Use "please" and "thank you" in your conversations with others and be patient.

Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord bless you and your family.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: The Thanksgiving holiday is underappreciated

CRESTVIEW — Peanut butter is often thought of as a simple staple for a kitchen pantry. Something always to have on hand to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the kids when you need a quick meal, a delicious treat applied to celery, or a yummy addition to a breakfast smoothie.

Peanut butter can be taken for granted. This tasty spread provides a load of nutrition to the consumer of this shelf-stable staple. Just one ounce of peanut butter, about one tablespoon, is packed with about 7 grams of protein.

Protein helps our bodies in too many ways to list. Still, just a few include building muscle, keeping your bodily systems functioning, such as your immune system, and providing energy. In addition to being a good source of protein, peanut butter also contains vitamin E, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and monounsaturated (good) fats.

With all these benefits, one may think that eating a large amount of peanut butter may benefit their regular meal plan. Peanut butter is also high in saturated fat and calories, so moderation is key.

Because of the versatility, overall nutritional value, cost, and ease of storage, peanut butter can be especially beneficial to people who struggle with food insecurity. These people may need assistance keeping their homes stocked with food for themselves and their families.

To help fight food insecurity in our own community, the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension is once again hosting the annual Peanut Butter Challenge from Oct. 1 through Nov. 24.

We ask that those able donate new (unopened) and unexpired jar(s) of peanut butter to the Okaloosa County Extension office at 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. An additional collection site is the Florida Farm Bureau, 921 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

After the challenge end date, our partnering agency, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA), will match the total amount of donated peanut butter.

All donations and matched products collected in Okaloosa will be distributed to food pantries and events held within the county to provide a nutritious food option to residents in need.

In 2020, the challenge collected 1,243 jars totaling 1,542.7 pounds for Okaloosa County; this year, we are hungry for more! On your next shopping trip, please consider helping out by grabbing an extra jar.

Contact Jill Breslawski, Family and Consumer Science Agent, or Jennifer Bearden, Agriculture Agent with the UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension at 850-689-5850 for more information about the Peanut Butter Challenge or donation arrangements.

Jill Breslawski is an agent at the UF/IFAS Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Peanut butter has many benefits

What is grace? For some it is the prayer said before a meal, like “God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. By his hands we all are fed; give us, Lord, our daily bread.” Or, like the one I learned at summer camp, “Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub! Yay, God!”

Grace. It is so much more than a prayer before meals. In fact, the kind of grace to which I am referring has nothing to do with a meal at all.

Grace is an act of God. It is when he shows his love and forgiveness toward us humans even when we don’t deserve it.

Throughout the history of humankind we have always rebelled against God. We have separated ourselves from him by the kinds of thoughts we harbor, by the kinds of inappropriate decisions we make, by the harmful and hurtful actions we take.

Because we are the creators of our own messes by not obeying God, it is perfectly well within God’s right to condemn us. But his love for us is too deep for that.

God showed his ultimate level of grace in Jesus Christ. Jesus presents to us the tremendous depth of God’s love. He took upon himself our wrongdoings, our sins, so we would have the opportunity to receive and accept God’s love.

An example of grace is found in Luke chapter 15 where you find the parable we typically call “The Prodigal Son.” I encourage you to read it, bearing in mind it is also a story about our reactions toward God.

Spoiler alert! When the son returned to his formerly shunned home, his father saw him coming and ran to greet him, threw his arms around him, kissed him, and had a huge party for him. The father was overjoyed, because the son who had been lost – who had gone astray – had returned. His father never stopped loving him, and loved him all the more.

That is grace! The son, because of his behaviors, did not deserve to be forgiven or welcomed home. But he was.

Grace is a most wonderful gift given by God. And it only takes the realization and acceptance that God’s love is so deep, he gave himself to us in Jesus Christ. Because of our wrongdoings we do not deserve to be forgiven and welcomed by God. But we are.

This, my friends, is grace.

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Grace is one of God's most wonderful gifts

CRESTVIEW — Now that the weather is changing and we are in the month of November, the holidays and cold weather are just around the corner. There are some tasks that we can do now so that we don't feel so stressed once the holidays are upon us. 

Just this week, I had to switch the air conditioning off and turn on the heater. Here are some other things to make the transition to winter easier.

Make sure to replace your old furnace filter with a clean filter as we head into the winter months. It is recommended that our heater filters be changed every 30 to 60 days, depending on how much dust (and fur, for those with pets) your filter collects. As the lady at Lowe's told me, "It is cheaper to buy filters than to replace your HVAC system."

Protect any plants that might freeze when the weather is under 35 degrees. Plants in containers are especially vulnerable to freezing and should be put in an enclosed patio or covered with an old bed sheet or plastic.

Be sure to remove the covering during the day so the plants get sunlight and make sure the plants on the porch get sun. You can also put a heavier layer of mulch on in-ground plants that may be subject to freezing as this will help protect them. I bring my hibiscus plants in and put them in the bathroom for the winter.

This is also the time to plant your bulbs for spring and summer. If you enjoy cooking with garlic and onions, now is the time to plant them. Flower bulbs should be planted from October through December then you will enjoy beautiful flowers in the spring.

Bulbs that work well in our area are: ranunculus, tulips, daffodils, crocus, hyacinths, cannas, gladiolus and daylilies, make sure you mulch them. We are zone 8b, according to the US Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone, so choose your plants and bulbs with that knowledge.

Clean, oil and store your gardening tools so they will be ready for spring and make them readily accessible. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to locate one's trowel or rake.

Clean out your fireplace and have it ready for the winter. Have it professionally inspected for cracks or any other problems annually. If needed, have your flue cleaned professionally. Buy or chop some firewood so that you are ready to have a roaring fire once winter comes.

Your rain gutters probably will need to be cleaned out and may even need some repairs. Go ahead and do this now rather than waiting. Another chore checked off the list. Have your roof inspected before the winter storms begin.

Buy and install faucet covers for those below freezing nights so your pipes don't freeze. These covers are inexpensive and the cost is much less than paying for broken pipes should your water pipes freeze.

These are just a few suggestions for getting ready for the winter. Enjoy the cooler weather and let's be ready for winter, Crestview!

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HAPPENINGS: 6 ways to get ready for winter in Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — The Gamma Alpha Upsilon Zeta (GAUZ) Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated was given the distinguished honor of being inducted into the Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society Hall of Fame.

The sorority was recognized as the first National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Black Greek Fraternity or Sorority chartered in the city of Crestview. The induction celebration was held on Oct. 29 at Warriors Hall in Crestview.

David Wheeler, Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society President, presented the charter members of GAUZ with a certificate to commemorate the induction.

Among those in attendance to show support and offer congratulations to the chapter on the historic occasion were Mayor Pro Tem Shannon Hayes, members of the Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society and representatives from the Greek organizations that make up the NPHC.

Chartered Oct. 18, 2020, GAUZ is celebrating one year of service in the Crestview community.

The charter members are Mar’Sha Andrus, Adele Barthé, Maria Medina-Blair, Alicia Booker, LaKisha Brinson, Miranda Griffin, Vaneesa Harrington, Darlene Jenkins, Sarah Johnson, Sandra Mims, and Wanda Walker.

The principles of the sorority are community service, scholarship, sisterhood and finer

womanhood.

Its members provide community service through their national initiative- Z-HOPE, which stands for Zetas Helping Other People Excel through mind, body and spirit.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated was founded on the campus of Howard University Jan. 16, 1920, and celebrated a milestone in 2020 when the organization reached 100 years of existence.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Carver-Hill society makes historic induction in Crestview

This past Tuesday, Nov. 2, about 70 people gathered at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach to remember, memorialize, and inter about 40 individuals. These individuals, if not memorialized in this service, would have simply faded into obscurity.

You see, the persons memorialized that day were elderly who had outlived all their family, or young children whose parents could not afford to have their children buried, or veterans who for one reason or another would not be buried in a military cemetery.

But, with the coordination of County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, 22 congregations from around the county provided pastoral leadership to make sure these persons did not fade away. Pastors, rabbis, deacons, and elders provided a very meaningful service. A local choir sang two beautiful anthems. A soloist filled the air with melodic songs of praise.

We were all there because of what unites us – we are all children of God. It doesn’t matter from what tradition we come when it comes to expressing our faith. It doesn’t matter from what socioeconomic strata we come.

Each and every person is a child of God. And as such, each is to be afforded the dignity of which they are worthy – even in death.

“God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness…’ So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7-8)

God created us in God’s image – men and women. God breathed life into us. That is, he gave us a soul. So each person on the face of the earth is created in God’s image. Each person is infused with the breath of life – given a soul.

As Rabbi M. Robert Delcau of Temple Beth Shalom reminded us, we are given a soul and are called to accomplish something on God’s behalf. We are called to make life better – somewhere, somehow, for someone.

How have you been fulfilling your calling as a child of God to help make life better? Have you remembered in the midst of the cacophony of slander, anger, hatred, and division that is swirling around our nation that you and everyone around you is a child of God and worthy of the dignity of that station in life?

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: FROM THE PULPIT: Everyone is a child of God and worthy of that station's dignity

CRESTVIEW — Hoopla offers access to nearly 1 million titles of audiobooks, eBooks, movies, television shows and music at no cost to Crestview Public Library cardholders.

Fans of other digital platforms such as OverDrive and Libby can check Hoopla for availability of titles they have on hold. On Hoopla, there is no wait.

In November, Hoopla offers a selection of titles that patrons can access without deducting from individual monthly borrow limits. Themes included in the November Bonus Borrows are:

• Heroes & Villains.
• Holiday Family.
• Holiday Romance.
• Learn with hoopla! Kids.
• Lifelong Learning Adult Education.
• Sci-Fi.
• Series You'll Love.
• Thrills & Chills.

Jean McCarthy is director of Library Services at the Crestview Public Library.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Hoopla Bonus Borrows return in November

CRESTVIEW — The new 4-H year has been off to a great start, and this will continue to be an eventful year!

4-H Day at Nixon Farms was a great success, with almost 50 children participating and over 170 exhibit entries. The categories that youths competed in were: Amateur Photography, Craft Corner, Poster Contest, Egg Contest and a Poultry Show and Auction that followed.

This event was open to youths ages 5-18, and 4-H members as well as non-members were allowed to compete.

This program would not have been successful without the support of our sponsors, Nixon Farms, CCB Community Bank, Justin Bolen Equine Services LLC., Elk’s Lodge No. 2624, WonderPups, Jeremy McVay and Shot in Focus Portrait Studio.

There are also new clubs rolling into Okaloosa County 4-H this year, including a Drone Club and, coming soon, Shooting Sports. Shooting Sports will offer teams in archery, shotgun and air rifle. Both Drone Club and Shooting Sports are striving to participate in competitions this year. 

There will also be a Holiday Bake-Off with more details to come soon, so mark your calendars for Dec. 9.

If you are interested in being involved with 4-H, contact Ronnie Cowan at rcowan1@ufl.edu, Breanna Wade at bwade@myokaloosa.com or call the office at 850-689-5850.

Breanna Wade is a 4-H program assistant at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: Okaloosa County 4-H growing and thriving