MILTON — St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Winter Arts and Crafts Fair is Dec. 2 and 3. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the historic church located at 6849 Oak St., Milton.  

“Join us for this event to showcase your custom jewelry, art, woodcrafts, candles and other creative handiwork,” an event spokesperson said. “Attendees look forward to this event to purchase one-of-a-kind treasures.”

The Episcopal Church Women will sell baked goods, goodies, jams, jellies and other canned goods, and the Men’s Group will grill hamburger lunches.

Inside booth space is available for $40 for both days and includes one 6-foot table. Outside booths are $20 for one day and $35 for both. Set-up is 9-11:30 a.m. Dec. 2; space is limited. Use of electricity will be provided for $5.

Contact the church, 623-2905 or stmarysmiltonflorida@gmail.com, for a vendor application.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Vendors sought for winter arts and crafts fair

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this weekend in Santa Rosa County

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Bulletin Kids enjoy a day at Bob Sikes Airport

CRESTVIEW — Hurricane Matthew evacuees have toys to enjoy while away from home due to area Scouts’ efforts.

Boy Scouts from Troop 773, Cub Scouts from Pack 799, and Girl Scouts from Troop 738 collected items to help children of U.S. military who evacuated to NAS Pensacola.

John Humphrey, cubmaster of Pack 799 and chartered organization representative of Troop 773, coordinated the collection. He asked the Knights of Columbus for use of the Don Braun Hall on Highway 90 as a collection site. In addition, the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary group donated coloring books, crayons, games, toys and other items to the collection.

The Scouts spent the day collecting items and then drove to Pensacola to deliver the items to United Way. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Scouts collect toys for Hurricane Matthew evacuees

SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, which is Oct. 29-30 at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, Destin. Details: Marcia Hull, 650-2226. To volunteer, go to http://signup.com/go/rniGJm to reserve a shift or contact Kathy Whidden, 376-7391 or kathy@destinchiropractor.com.Subhead: RECURRING

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE: Need help? Contact the Okaloosa Walton Homeless Continuum of Care, 409-3070, www.okaloosawaltonhomeless.org; Opportunity Inc., 659-3190; or Helping Hands of Crestview, 428 McLaughlin St., behind First United Methodist Church. Helping Hands is open 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Tri-County Community Council, 290 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview. 306-1134.

CRESTVIEW SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Serves Mondays through Saturdays. To volunteer at Central Baptist Church, call 682-5525; Our Savior Lutheran Church, 682-3154; LifePoint Church, 682-3518; Community of Christ, 682-7474; First Presbyterian Church, 682-2835; or First United Methodist Church, 682-2018.

FREE CLOTHING GIVEAWAY: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 1-3:30 p.m. Thursdays; and 9 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 247 S. Booker St., Crestview. Free items include shoes and other accessories. Presented by Concerned Citizens of Crestview. Details: 689-1582 or 428-6997.

MOM'S NIGHT OUT: 4:30-8:30 p.m. second Fridays, Mosaic Church, 837 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Open to single moms and dads, and those with a deployed spouse. Child care for children ages 1 and older. Email Stacey@mosaiccrestview.com to make reservations the Wednesday before the event.

FREE FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR NEEDY RESIDENTS: 9 a.m. second Saturdays, 383 Texas Parkway, Crestview. Dry goods and fresh produce available while supplies last. Hosted by House of Restoration, a partner agency of Feeding the Gulf Coast. Details: Ruby Chatman, 398-0577.

WOMEN AND FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICES AND EDUCATION: a Crestview-based Community Drug and Alcohol Council program that helps pregnant women with substance abuse. 689-4024.

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: Eligible low-income families can receive financial assistance through the Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Apply at www.elc-ow.org. Hover over “Services” and click “School Readiness” to register.

FREE MEDICARE COUNSELING: By appointment, Crestview Public Library and Elder Services of Okaloosa County, in Crestview, 494-7101 or 1-866-531-8011.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY seeks Crestview area lots for families needing housing. 758-0779 or 315-0025.

VA VETERANS CRISIS LINE: Veterans in crisis, their families and friends can call 800-273-TALK (8255), and press 1 to talk with qualified, caring VA responders. Confidential. www.veteranscrisisline.net.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA NEEDS MENTORS: Adult volunteers spend two hours weekly mentoring children. Pairs go to the library, museum, park or beach, hike, roller-skate or play sports. 664-5437.

VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTERS needs people to work in the Emergency Operations Center assisting county personnel. Contact: Yvonne Earle, 863-1530, extension 230.

MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS: Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida seeks friendly, reliable volunteers to greet guests and answer phones in its gift shop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Details: 678-2615, stop by 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso, or email info@heritage-museum.org.

CARS NEEDED: Opportunity Inc. accepts donations of cars, boats and other vehicles to support Opportunity Place, an emergency shelter for families. Shelley Poirrier, 409-3070 or shelley@okaloosawaltonhomeless.org.

SHELTER HOUSE FINANCIAL SUPPORT: It costs just more than $100 a day to shelter a domestic violence victim. Every little bit helps. 683-0845.

DRIVE VETERANS to appointments at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Pensacola two days a month. Veterans Service Office, 689-5922.

VEHICLES NEEDED: Covenant Hospice accepts cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats and RVs. Qualified professionals pick up vehicles from Pensacola to Tallahassee at convenience. Rachel Mayew, 428-0605.

LAKEVIEW CENTER'S FAMILIES FIRST NETWORK NEEDS BEDS for local children in protective services. Cribs and beds for children must be in good condition. 833-3840.

EMERALD COAST HOSPICE seeks volunteers in a number of areas, from administrative help to offering support to a hospice patient through visits or weekly phone calls. Details: Ann O’Connor, 689-0300.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Helping Hands: volunteering and services

UPCOMING

QUILTS OF VALOR PROGRAM: 10 a.m. Oct. 13, New Hope Baptist Church, 108 Aurora St., Valparaiso. Guest speaker: Matthew N. Davis Jr., retired U.S. Navy command master chief, and Warrior and Family Support Program Specialist. Learn how the Quilts of Valor Foundation provides red, white and blue quilts to service members and veterans touched by war during this Flying Needles Quilt Guild event. Raffle tickets for a quilt will be available to purchase; the winner will be announced Dec. 15. Details: president@flyingneedlesquiltguild.org and www.flyingneedlesquiltguild.org.

ALMARANTE CEMETERY CLEAN UP: 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 on the corner of Highways 85 and 602 in Laurel Hill. Details: Tracy Curenton, 652-4162.

PRINCESS BALL: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15, Crestview Community Center. For girls ages 13 and under. Dinner will be served.Tickets cost $40 per princess and escort. Add $15 per extra princess in the same family. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Crestview. Moms may take photos of the official entrance; just princesses and their escorts may dine and dance together. Contact Chris Cox, 902-1075, or Loney Whitley, 537-4654, for details.

OKALOOSA MASTER GARDENER LECTURE: Native azaleas and rhododendrons, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 19, Crestview Extension Office, 3098 Airport Road. Presented by the Okaloosa County Master Gardener Association and University of Florida extension office. Call 689-5850 to register.

CRESTVIEW DINNER THEATER PERFORMANCE: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview. "Mayhem at the Monster Bash," a Halloween costume party murder mystery by the Act4Murder troupe. The dinner and show start at 7 p.m. General cost is $38 for the dinner, show, tax and tip. RSVP and see VIP packages at www.act4murder.com.

‘RHINESTONES FOR RONDA’ FUNDRAISER: 6 p.m. Oct. 27, Ramada Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Tickets cost $25 each at www.Bling2016.com or at the door. Proceeds will help defray medical costs for Ronda Davenport, United Way vice president of resource development, who has pancreatic cancer. Event includes live and silent auctions, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, music by a disc jockey, a wine wagon and photos with a cardboard Ronda. Attire is casual, but wear plenty of bling in Davenport's honor. To donate auction items, contact Julie Hurst, julie@eccac.org or 974-8668. Details: Vicki Tarro, 863-7501 or Vicki.Tarro@HCAHealthcare.com.

BALLET SEASON TICKETS: The Northwest Florida Ballet’s 47th season has set four productions at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Tickets are available four weeks before performance dates. Season subscriptions cost $135 per adult and $55 per child; details at www.NFBallet.org.

Shows include:

• ‘Stars of American Ballet’ — 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Principal New York City Ballet dancers perform works from acclaimed choreographer and co-founder, George Balanchine. $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under.
• ‘The Nutcracker’ — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19, and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 20. 37th annual ballet performance and debut of the holiday favorite. Performances will be held at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on Nov. 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 20 at 2:30 p.m., and will be the debut of the Northwest Florida Ballet Symphony Orchestra led by composer and conductor David Ott. $38 for adults and $18 for children 12 and under.
• ‘From Russia With Love — A Celebration of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo’ — 7:30 p.m. April 1 and 2:30 p.m. April 2. Live accompaniment by the NFB Symphony Orchestra. Pays tribute to the famous ballet company, with “three of the world’s most historic ballets by three of Russia’s most prolific composers”: The Firebird, with music by Igor Stravinsky; Scheherazade, with music by Rimsky-Korsakov; and the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, with music by Sergei Prokofiev. $38 for adults and $18 for children 12 and under.

CRESTVIEW HALLOWEEN OBSERVANCE: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31.

BAKER HERITAGE DAY: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Nov. 5, Baker Block Museum, 1307 Georgia Ave., Baker. Features heritage demonstrations, vendors, music and food. Booth spaces available. 537-5714.

DOOLITTLE SCHOLARSHIP OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT: 7 a.m. Nov. 3, Eglin Golf Course in Niceville. Starts with check-in and an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Cost: $50 for active duty military, $75 for Eglin Golf Course members and $100 for all others. Price includes green fee and cart, balls, lunch, refreshments on the course, and an awards party. Proceeds help provide college scholarships for Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets at area high schools, top graduates at the Community High Okaloosa Institutes for Career Education (CHOICE) Okaloosa Aerospace Academy at Choctawhatchee and Crestview high schools, and the University of West Florida Air Force ROTC program. Details: www.eglin.afaflorida.org. Registration forms available at http://eglin.afaflorida.org/html/events.html. Details: Steve Madley, 803-2280.

‘A PETER WHITE CHRISTMAS’ JAZZ PERFORMANCE: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Accompanying guitarist White are trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonist Euge Groove. Reservation required. Front-section seating costs $80 each; general admission costs $40 each. Order at seabreeze.fm or call 729-6000.

NORTH OKALOOSA CUB SCOUTS ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS: Rising first- through fifth-grade boys now can join the Cub Scouts. Registration, through December, costs $14; annual membership costs $24. A Boys Life Magazine subscription costs $12. Scholarships and earning opportunities are available through pack fundraising.

North Okaloosa groups include:

• Pack 530, which meets at Crosspoint Church’s south Crestview campus. Contact Cubmaster TJ Tajalle, 573-842-8214 or tj.tajalle@gmail.com, for more information.
• Pack 799, which meets Mondays at First United Methodist Church in Crestview. Contact Cubmaster John Humphrey, 380-6977 or johnhumphrey@embarqmail.com, for details.
• Pack 532, which meets at First Baptist Church of Holt. Contact Cubmaster Courtney Strom, 228-365-1995 or cejeos5@gmail.com, for details.
• Pack 731 also meets in Crestview. Contact pack chair Mike Wing, 902-3556 or mikecwing@yahoo.com, for details.
• Crestview Boy Scout membership is available for sixth-grade through 18-year-old males. Contact Rae Schwartz, bakerny@yahoo.com, or Bryant Perkins, Bryant.Perkins@scouting.org, for details.

RECURRING

SCHOLA CANTORUM FALL AUDITIONS: The Northwest Florida State College Schola Cantorum vocal ensemble has begun fall rehearsals. To audition call 830-2062. The group will present a series of seasonal concerts in area churches in December. Meetings are 6 p.m. Mondays in building 110 of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville.

CRESTVIEW COMMUNITY GARDEN FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. third Saturdays, 157 Main St. S., Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's Happening in North Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview area woman seeks leads on her missing dog.

Gizmo, a 6-pound Yorkie “slipped out the door (Oct. 7) when my husband was leaving to work and he’s a runner and haven’t seen him since,” Carrie Martin said in a social media posting.

The dog is missing from the Auburn Road area. He is microchipped and missing two bottom teeth.

Call 758-7040 if you have information on Gizmo’s whereabouts.   

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview dog missing since Oct. 7

CRESTVIEW, Florida — People hoping to book a hotel room near South Ferdon Boulevard in Crestview may have to keep looking.

Very few have rooms available due to an influx of South Florida evacuees fleeing Hurricane Matthew. Hotel guests include residents from Miami, St. Augustine, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona, Jacksonville and Tampa.

A Baymont Inn and Suites employee said, "We're pretty full for the night," and like most the hotel staff contacted, was too busy helping hotel guests to be interviewed.

South Ferdon Boulevard hotels that are completely full also include the following:

• Econo Lodge
• Stay Suites of America
• Super 8 Crestview
• Comfort Inn & Suites
• America's Best Value Inn

Comfort Inn Front Desk and Sales manager Jillian Davis said most lodgers there came from Central and South Florida.

Sandie Monte, the general manager at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, said room availability is an issue across Northwest Florida.

"We've been checking with the hotels (in Crestview, because) Milton and Pensacola have called us asking for rooms," she said. "They are full.

"We're seeing a few from Tampa and South Florida, but most of them have been people coming straight in on I-10 from Jacksonville. For the most part, it’s a lot of families and they're just happy to find rooms (this) close to their homes.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hurricane Matthew evacuees fill Crestview hotels

CRESTVIEW — Laurel Hill writer Joseph Barrow always wanted to become a published author with credentials he could list on a resume.

Now that the renowned “Chicken Soup for the Soul” publisher has accepted his story, Barrow — who writes as JB Steele — has achieved that goal.

"I have a couple of self-published books, but being professionally published … having that pleases me. I'm glad to have it," Steele said.

His story, "A Hospital Visit," is included in a new book, "Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude,” by Amy Newmark and Deborah Norville.

Like all Chicken Soup stories, "A Hospital Visit" is a true one — that's a requirement for publication. According to the series’ website, submissions feature something that happened to the author as told from his or her point of view.

“The Power of Gratitude,” the latest installment in the 250-book series, is about "the many benefits of gratitude and thankfulness (and readers will) see how a wide swath of people incorporate gratitude into their own lives," a media release states.

Shelton Interactive contacted Barrow in 2015 about publication. "There was about an 18-month lead time. It has to go through rounds of selection," followed by editing, grammar checking, wording and other processes, Barrow said.

As for the story's focus, Barrow said, "When I was younger I was a very, very sick little boy. I almost didn't make it. I was born several months premature in Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola."

The team of doctors and nurses in the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit took care of Barrow and he was eventually able to go home.

"My mother (Lynda Barrow of Crestview) and I, whenever we had doctor's appointments, we would stop in at the neonatal unit so they could see how I was doing. She was friends with a lot of the nurses and she was a nurse, and we had to go around and visit."

When Barrow got older, he stopped visiting them. In 2005, however, "I was back in Sacred Heart Hospital visiting, and I decided to go look for that neonatal unit.

The rest of the story involves a touching, unexpected reunion — but you’ll have to read about that in the book.

A copy of "Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude" is available at the Crestview Public Library.

Barrow’s other works include two self-published ebooks, "Unknown Worlds" and "Wizard's Apostasy," which was his first full-length fantasy novel. The novel is the first part of a trilogy. Both are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, iTunes, and other ebook retailers.

See www.steelewritingenterprises.xyz for more information about the author. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' book features Laurel Hill man's story

CRESTVIEW — Need something to do this weekend? Check out these fun events:

1. ATTEND THE FLY-IN at Emerald Coast Aviation. The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Crestview Bob Sikes Airport, 5535 John Givens Road. Local vendors, air rides, Red Bird Simulator rides and kids' activities are scheduled. Refreshments will be served at the event, for which all proceeds benefit the Veterans Airlift Command. Call 398-6749 or visit ECA's Facebook page for more information.

2. JOIN THE POKER RUN. The second Emerald Coast Breast Cancer Awareness Poker Run, open to all cars, trucks and bikes, starts with registration at 9 a.m. Oct. 8 at Helen Back, 5206 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. The first bike goes out at 11 a.m. and the run ends with the last stop at Northwest Florida Wingmen Motorcycle Clubhouse, 160 Cayson Ave., Crestview. The cost is a $20 donation, plus a $10 donation per extra hand. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

3. BUY A BOOK, movie or another item at the Fall Friends of the Crestview Library book sale. The last two sessions are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9 at Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. Proceeds benefit the library.

4. ENJOY THE CELEBRATION of White-Wilson Medical Center's 70 years of service in Northwest Florida. The ceremony is 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 8 at 1005 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach. A physician meet and greet, free health screenings, a bouncy house and music are part of the event. Visit http://www.white-wilson.com/70years/index.html for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 4 things to do this weekend in Northwest Florida