BAKER — The American Cancer Society has more money to assist its goal of eradicating cancer.

As they have for the past three years, Old Spanish Trail Pro Rodeo and Baker Area Recreation Association presented the organization with a check for $1,000 toward "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" for the Emerald Coast on July 26 in Baker.

BARA recognizes "Pink Night" at their Saturday night Baker rodeo which is held each year in Baker.

BARA's involvement is joined by many other rodeos throughout the county where Saturday nights are Pink Night for breast cancer awareness.

Mark Todd, BARA president, challenges all other organizations to join the fight against cancer. "Together we can contribute to fight against cancer. Monies donated to the American Cancer Society stay here in our area to help locals who are battling cancer," Todd said.

"American Cancer Society encourages all women to have an annual mammogram; you have a greater chance to cure breast cancer if it is detected early," he said.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Recreation, rodeo organizers donate to American Cancer Society

CRESTVIEW — A Crestview church is hosting a free family movie night for the community.

The presentation of "Zootopia," rated PG for some themes, rude humor and action, is by Destiny Worship Center, and sponsored by Costa Enterprises.

Free snowcones, popcorn and drinks will be available during the event, which is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Old Spanish Trail Pavilion on Stillwell Boulevard in Crestview. The movie will start a little before 7 p.m.

Attendees may bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the film.

All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the event.

For more about DWC, go to http://www.destinyworshipcenter.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free community movie night showing scheduled in Crestview

CRESTVIEW — Summer reading programs like the one at the Crestview library keep children reading during the break so they don't lose hard-earned skills.

Participants in the library program earn "funny money" toward prizes in a program store at the end of the summer holidays.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Program helps North Okaloosa students retain reading skills

CRESTVIEW — Looking for a job? Employers will hire job applicants on the spot at an upcoming Crestview job fair.

Asurion, the Florida Department of Corrections, Gulf Coast Youth Services, Maruti Transit, Taylor Smith, Tom Thumb, Sacred Heart Medical Group, MasterCorp and Southland Utilities will be on site for the Career Source Okaloosa/Walton fair.

The job fair is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 27 at the Crestview library, 1445 Commerce Drive.

 Parking for the fair is on the east side of the building only.

This is the first job fair in Crestview since CareerSource Okaloosa Walton closed its Crestview service center June 3.

Job seekers and businesses seeking workers can visit south Okaloosa County CareerSource offices in Fort Walton Beach, Eglin Air Force Base and Northwest Florida State College.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Local job fair first once since Crestview CareerSource closed June 3

Need something to do this week? Check out these fun events:

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

CRESTVIEW — Childcare Network 268 is hosting an open house for current and potential clients.

Parents already using CN childcare who bring a friend that enrolls will receive $50 and the enrolling family will get free registration and $25 off their first week.

The event is 6 p.m. Aug. 2 at the company's 4798 Live Oak Church Road location.

For more information call 635-0581. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Childcare company sets open house

CRESTVIEW — A new Main Street address has everything a small or one-person business needs, without the overhead of buying or leasing a building.

Main Street Suites, opening Aug. 1, offers an executive suite package with a fully furnished private office, a full-time receptionist, a lobby furnished in an English motif, and access to a conference room.

“The whole concept is for people who need a satellite office or for people who are tired of working out of their house but can’t afford a full office,” suites owner John Colby said.

“All they have to do is walk in the door and rent it month-to-month,” he said.

Colby renovated the 1930 single-story North Main Street building that housed Lauderdale Gas and Appliance. A previous tenant partially covered the façade, including most of both display windows, with vinyl siding, which Colby plans to remove as he restores the exterior.

A new air conditioning system, Pergo composite floors, handicapped-accessible bathroom, a kitchenette, and an extensive building-wide security system are among physical improvements.

If a client doesn’t want to rent an office but still wants a professional address’ benefits, a receptionist and the conference room, they can rent a “virtual office,” Colby said.

“It’s for people who don’t want to use their home address,” Colby said. “They can use ‘Suite 101’ or whatever.”

Virtual office clients can have parcels received, signed for and held for pick-up, and have calls answered and forwarded.

“If they want to meet a client, they can use the conference room instead of meeting them at Wendy’s,” Colby said.

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MAIN STREET SUITES

A new downtown business offers six furnished executive suites and unlimited virtual suites for small businesses or companies seeking a Crestview satellite office.

●Executive suite package: $575 per month, includes fully furnished office, full-time receptionist, wireless/wired internet, 24/7 secure access, conference room access, network printer and fax, utility and janitorial service, IT support, call answering and forwarding, mail/packages received and held

●Virtual office package: $95 per month, includes professional business address, packages received and held, conference room access, calls answered and forwarded

●Conference room rental: $45 half day, $85 full day; 2 electronic whiteboards, seating for 2-10 people, USB charging station, AV equipment rental available

Contact John Colby, 642-0988, leasing@MyMainStreetSuites.com, 550 Main Street N, Crestview, for more information.

A new downtown business offers six furnished executive suites and unlimited virtual suites for small businesses or companies seeking a Crestview satellite office.

●Executive suite package: $575 per month, includes fully furnished office, full-time receptionist, wireless/wired internet, 24/7 secure access, conference room access, network printer and fax, utility and janitorial service, IT support, call answering and forwarding, mail/packages received and held

●Virtual office package: $95 per month, includes professional business address, packages received and held, conference room access, calls answered and forwarded

●Conference room rental: $45 half day, $85 full day; 2 electronic whiteboards, seating for 2-10 people, USB charging station, AV equipment rental available

Contact John Colby, 642-0988, leasing@MyMainStreetSuites.com, 550 Main Street N, Crestview, for more information.

MAIN STREET SUITES

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Executive suites concept comes to Main Street Crestview (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

CRESTVIEW — Almost two dozen Main Street merchants who gathered at Casbah Coffee Tuesday evening were diverse in their businesses and ideas but united in their vision for a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, attractive historic district.

“It’s the merchants that provide the goods and services that bring people downtown,” organizer Megan Bowersox, owner of Megan’s Sunshine Cafe, said.

Her co-organizer, Main Street attorney Nathan Boyles, said those attending the meeting were the start of a business owners’ advocacy group, or “a voice for those who want to have a voice.”

Boyles emphasized the group, tentatively called the Main Street Merchants Association, is not a rival to the Main Street Crestview Association.

“The Main Street Crestview Association has a very important role,” Boyles said. “What this group may do is something complementary, not to exclude the Main Street Crestview Association.”

‘THE NEXT FAIRHOPE’

Boyles said Main Street’s preservation of a classic American downtown shopping district and being easily accessible to State Road 85 are two of its biggest assets.

“I believe downtown Crestview can be the next Fairhope,” Boyles said, referring to the Alabama shopping town near Mobile Bay’s eastern shore.

“If we’re properly positioned so we can be a place where folks can come to, we can be a destination in ourselves, whether for someplace to go on a rainy day at the beach or on the way through” to the beach, Boyles said.

“We want Crestview to be a drive-to, not a drive-by destination,” said Stephen Smith, senior account executive for the Petermann Agency, the Community Redevelopment Agency’s marketing consultant.

SMALL-TOWN VIBE

“We have a vision for the future of Main Street that’s pedestrian, that brings people back,” Casbah co-owner Bill Toannon said. “You know, people want a place to congregate … They want what we’re providing. It’s part of what we do.”

“We’re at a point now where people are more interested in the small-town vibe that we can provide to our customers,” Bowersox said.

With the group’s general agreement to form a merchant’s association, Boyles offered to contribute $500 toward incorporation while Smith offered his agency’s help in establishing a Facebook page.

As an initial project, the group agreed to address Main Street’s visibility by working with the CRA board, City Council and Petermann to erect “gateway” signage at both ends of the street.

“It’s the first step,” Main Street Suites owner John Colby said.

“Now we’re stakeholders,” Boyles said. “Now we have a combined voice. Together we’ve got some clout.”

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Main Street Merchants Association forms (VIDEO)

LAUREL HILL — Boy Scout Troop 30's Dirty 30 Mud Run is 3.1 miles of obstacles, mud and fun times! It includes a one-mile fun run for kids age 9 and younger.

The troop will sell hamburgers, hot dogs and chips at the finish line. All proceeds raise funds for the troop's 2017 summer camp.

Cost is $30 per adult, and $15 per child at http://bit.ly/2a0hp4L.

Packet pick up is 4:30-8 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Crestview American Legion post, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Participants not able to pick them up then, their packets will be available the day of the event.

The run for adults is 7 a.m. to noon Sept. 24 at Highway 85 N and Route 2 in Laurel Hill. The kids run starts at 10 a.m.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill Boy Scout Troop hosts mud run fundraiser

CRESTVIEW — Newcomers who want to be involved, those who say “there’s nothing to do here,” retirees who want to serve their community and everybody in between have an opportunity Aug. 1 to discover where their talents can be put to use.

Service and civic organizations, fraternal societies, clubs and cultural groups will share what they do and how others can join them at a community organizations showcase.

“We are inviting our service and cultural organizations to take part,” showcase organizer Rae Schwartz said. “Set up a table and tell your story, your history, projects, and what’s next for your group.”

The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Crestview Library,  grew from a 2013 Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce initiative to create a master list of community non-profit organizations.

Among ideas discussed for the project was an opportunity for all organizations to have an informational table at a community showcase.

“There are so many ways people of all ages can get involved in North Okaloosa County,” Schwartz said.

“Here’s a chance to meet many of them face-to-face.”

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WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR ATTEND?

Any non-profit community organization, club, service, fraternal or cultural organization can set up an information table at the community organization showcase.

During the event — 5-8 p.m., Aug. 1 at the Crestview Public Library on Commerce Drive — the public may browse local involvement and participation opportunities.

Information or table reservations: Rae Schwartz, 585-5672, bakerny@yahoo.com.

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66 GROUPS TO JOIN

Opportunities abound for residents to be involved and give back to North Okaloosa County.  

Here’s a partial list of local organizations, societies and clubs:

●Alzheimer's Support Group

●American Legion

●American Legion Riders motorcycle group

●Baker Area Ministerial Association

●Baker Block Museum/North Okaloosa Heritage Association

●Baker Garden Club

●Beta Sigma Phi Sorority

●Book Arts Group

●Boy Scout troops

●Carver Hill Memorial and Historical Society

●Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Government Issues

●Chamber PILOT Young Professionals (Professional and Inspired Leaders of Tomorrow)

●Chamber Triple B (Blackwater, Bluegrass and Barbecue) Festival

●Church choirs

●Church youth programs

●Common Ground Community Garden

●Crestview Area Ministerial Association

●Crestview Area Sister City Program

●Crestview Civitan Club

●Crestview Library programs (youth, teens, lectures, groups)

●Crestview Photography Club

●Crestview Police Department Citizens Academy Alumni Association

●Crestview Police Department Explorers

●Crestview Recreation Department sports leagues

●Crestview Toastmasters

●Cub Scout Packs

●Dogwood Garden Club

●Elks Club

●Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park

●Exchange Club

●Free and Accepted Masons: Crestview Lodge

●Free and Accepted Masons: Baker Lodge

●Free and Accepted Masons, Laurel Hill Lodge

●Filipino Cultural Association

●4H

●Friends of the Arts

●Friends of the Crestview Library

●GFWC Crestview Woman's Club

●Girl Scout troops

●Healthy Woman

●Hospice, Covenant Care

●Hospice, Emerald Coast

●Kiwanis

●Knights of Columbus

●Lions Club

●Main Street Crestview Association

●Master Gardeners, Okaloosa County

●Military Appreciation Recognition Celebration

●Moms Club

●North Okaloosa Community Band

●Order of the Eastern Star (Crestview)

●Relay For Life (American Cancer Society)

●Rotary Club

●Schola Cantorum community chorus

●Sewing/Needlework Clubs

●Sharing and Caring

●Shoal River Mustang Club

●Sons of Italy

●Soup kitchens and cold weather shelters

●Spanish Trail Cruisers car club

●Special Olympics

●Ten Talents Youth Theatre

●Venture Crew

●VFW

●View from the Stage (community theatre)

●Young Marines

Source: Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, News Bulletin staff reports

Any non-profit community organization, club, service, fraternal or cultural organization can set up an information table at the community organization showcase.

During the event — 5-8 p.m., Aug. 1 at the Crestview Public Library on Commerce Drive — the public may browse local involvement and participation opportunities.

Information or table reservations: Rae Schwartz, 585-5672, bakerny@yahoo.com.

WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR ATTEND?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview community organizations showcase scheduled