GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP: 10 a.m. Oct. 8, Crosspoint, portable 3, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway, Crestview. For people grieving the death of a loved one or other losses. Meets every Thursday, excepting holiday.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 8, Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

NORTH OKALOOSA REPUBLICAN CLUB: 6 p.m. Oct. 13, Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main St., Crestview. norcoffl@outlook.com or 758-6706.

GOVERNMENT ISSUES COMMITTEE MEETING: 8:30 a.m. Oct. 14, Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Guest speaker: Council member JB Whitten.

RECURRING

KNITTING & CROCHET GROUP: 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Crestview Public Library. Rae Schwartz, bakerny@yahoo.com.

CRESTVIEW KIWANIS CLUB: 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview.

BEGINNERS' TRIBAL BELLYDANCING CLASSES:6 p.m. Wednesdays, Senior Activity Center, 205 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. Teacher: Sweet Magnolia Tribal Belly Dance co-director Valorie Rossi, www.fcbd.com.

GRIEFSHARE SUPPORT GROUP: 10 a.m. Thursdays, Crosspoint, South Crestview, in portable 3, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway,  Crestview. For people hurting from the death of a loved one or other losses. 678-4411 extension 109.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, 704 E. Robinson Ave., Crestview. 689-1842.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 to report incidents. okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

MOUNTAIN DULCIMER GROUP: 2-4 p.m. Thursdays, TBD. Listen or play; beginners welcome. 682-3165.

EMERALD COAST PROFESSIONALS NETWORKING GROUP: 4-6 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, Crestview JobsPlus One-Stop Center, Wilson Street, Crestview. For job seekers with a bachelor's degree and two years’ professional work experience, or more than eight years’ professional, managerial or supervisory experience. Registration: email a resume and cover letter to ecp@careersourceow.com, or visit careersourceokaloosawalton.com.

NORTH OKALOOSA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Dorcas Fire Station No. 42 on Deer Creek Road. Call 537-9456 for details.

CRESTVIEW EXCHANGE CLUB: second and fourth Thursdays, Covenant Hospice, Crestview. Sharlene Cox, 682-6824.

FREE LINE DANCE LESSONS: 7-8 p.m. Fridays, American Legion Post 75 lounge, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Followed by live band music from 8 p.m. to midnight. 689-3195.

KARAOKE: 8 p.m. Saturdays, American Legion Post 75, 898 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. 689-3195.

LAPSIT: 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays in the Crestview Public Library's Story Room. Enjoy stories, songs and finger plays. For children under age 3 and caregivers. Check the library's calendar, www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, for exact dates and themes.

STORY TIME: 10:15 a.m. Mondays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive. Children at least 3 years old can enjoy stories and activities, and make a simple craft to take home.

BEGINNER KNITTING: 6-7 p.m. Mondays by appointment, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Crestview library card required. Call 682-4432 to schedule.

AGAPE SQUARES: 6-7:30 p.m. Mondays, 214 S. Partin Drive, Niceville. Square dancing, $3 per person.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 8 p.m. Mondays, clubhouse at 704 Robinson St., Crestview. Details: Richard, 398-6620. Fort Walton Beach/North Okaloosa website: www.fwb-area-aa.org.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS: 7 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, Mt. Ewell Lodge 131, U.S. Highway 198, Baker.

TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY:

●8 a.m. Tuesdays, First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Ave., Crestview. Mary Cole, 683-1899.

●6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, First United Methodist Church fellowship hall, Crestview. Brooke Bratton, 225-8197. www.TOPS.org.

BAKER BLOCK MUSEUM: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on third Saturdays, or by appointments, 1307B Georgia Ave. Free admission. The museum has exhibits, pioneer buildings from the 1800s and a research library with historical documents. 537-5714.

SENIORS VS. CRIME: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, except holidays, 296 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite 8, Crestview. Call 306-3176 to report incidents. okaloosacountysvc@yahoo.com.

LAPSIT: 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays in the Crestview Public Library's Story Room. Enjoy stories, songs and finger plays. For children under age 3 and caregivers. Check the library's calendar, www.cityofcrestview.org/library.php, for exact dates and themes.

BUSINESS NETWORKING INTERNATIONAL: noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Ryan's Restaurant, 3000 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. Members give each other quality business referrals for increased financial success. Business persons welcome to visit. Details: President Joe Faulk, 682-8844 or 217-1370.

CRESTVIEW KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO: Quarterly games 4:30-6 p.m.; regular games 6-9 p.m. every Tuesday at 701 James Lee Blvd., Crestview.

NORTH OKALOOSA REPUBLICAN CLUB:  6 p.m. second Tuesdays, Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main St., Crestview. Dutch treat dinner at 6 p.m. followed by meeting at 7 p.m. New members and interested persons may attend. official business: norcoffl@outlook.com. Club president Jeremiah Hubbard, jeremiah.hubbard@gmail.com or 758-6706.

NAVARRE OCEAN WAVES SQUARE DANCERS: 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Holley/Navarre Senior Center, 8476 Gordon Goodin Lane, Navarre. $4 per person.

CRESTVIEW LIONS CLUB: 12 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays at Hideaway Pizza, 326 N. Main St., Crestview. B.J. Thomhave, 682-2012.

OPEN MIC POETRY AT THE LIBRARY: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Free event. Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432 or ehurwitz@okaloosa.lib.fl.us; Rick Sanders, 585-6399. Read poetry or play music. This month's poetry starter: Rules are rules. http://www.cityofcrestview.org/library/programs.php.

CRESTVIEW TOASTMASTERS: 6-7 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays, Holiday Inn Express, 125 Cracker Barrel Road, Crestview. Visitors are welcome. Kathy Morrow, 974-3662.

 STRICTLY WEAVERS MEETINGS: monthly, TBA. Alice, 934-4403.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: GATHERINGS: Northwest Florida group meetings announced

LAUREL HILL — The Oct. 3 Laurel Hill Hobo Festival drew a number of residents to Gene Clary Park.

Despite gray skies, visitors got their faces painted, played in bounce houses and on inflatable slides, perused the history booth, enjoyed a variety of food, met Sparky the Fire Dog, and clapped along to home-grown entertainment.

“All the food smells were wonderful,” resident April Tucker said. “The slide was so much fun and it was fun watching the face-paint artist.”

“I wanted to stay longer but I had company coming,” Martha Gibson, Tucker’s mother, said, adding she enjoyed looking at the Baker Block Museum’s display of area historical photos.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill Hobo Festival draws a crowd (PHOTOS)

CRESTVIEW — Children in Crisis has extra support for its programs benefiting at-risk children.

The Emerald Coast Foundationdonated $35,000 — proceeds from its ECF Boat Week and Poker Run — to the nonprofit organization.

"The support by the Emerald Coast Foundation really made a difference in the lives of our at-risk children," Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, said. "2015 has been a tough year for finding the necessary funds to provide a home to our children at the CIC Neighborhood, and their support will help us to stay open and operating."

The CIC Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach provides emergency shelter for children removed from an unsafe environment on short notice, and offers housing to help with foster home shortage.

Learn more at www.childrenincrisisfl.org or call 864-4242.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast Foundation donates $35K to Children in Crisis

BAKER —  Gary Williams, resource officer at Baker School, says the Baker homecoming parade this week is expected to cause 30- to 45-minute traffic delays Friday.

The parade is 4 p.m. Oct. 9. Its route starts on 14th Street in front of the school, turns north on Highway 4 to the traffic light, turns east on Georgia Avenue to Buckward Road, then turns south on Buckward before ending at the back entrance of the school.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker School homecoming parade will impact Highway 4 traffic this week

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa County representatives welcome Maruti Fleet & Management as the local transit system’s new operator.

The Maruti team — which has a five-year contract — plans to work alongside riders to identify the system's immediate needs. This will result in addressing core concerns, which could include route modifications, trip planning features or bus frequency changes, according to a news release.

Later, the team will expand the system into a more regional service, providing public access to major points throughout the area.

The 300-employee company — which has offered transportation services to citizens across Florida and Texas since 2004 — annually provides more than 3 million passenger trips.

Visit www.rideoct.org or call 833-9168 for more information about Okaloosa County transit routes and services.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County hires new transit operator

MILTON — The 12th Annual Munson Community Heritage Festival takes place 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11 at Krul Recreation Area at the Blackwater River State Forest.

A $10 parking fee per vehicle covers both days of the event, but admission is free.

The event features a Riley saw mill, grist mill and the Reed Family sugar cane kitchen, as well as a classic car show on Saturday and archery and black powder rifle tournaments on Sunday.

Live music will be featured both days at the stage on the lake's south side.

The Florida Forest Service will be on hand with the Fire Prevention Kids Zone, featuring games for younger visitors as well as the Santa Rosa County forester’s booth.

Other partners with displays and booths will include the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Red Rock Masonic Lodge, Munson Volunteer Fire Department, the Santa Rosa County Tourism Development Council, Escambia River Electric Cooperative and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

 Krul is about 1 mile east of the Florida Highway 4 and Munson Highway intersection in Munson.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Here's what to expect at the Munson Community Heritage Festival

CRESTVIEW — The United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties and its partners — A&A Transfer and Storage, The French Laundry and Destin Cleaners — seek donations for their annual Coats for Kids at Christmas drive.

Residents can drop off new or gently used coats through Dec. 1 at these locations:

●BBVA Compass Banks

●Beach Community Banks

●Coastal Bank and Trust

●Northwest Florida State College's Niceville and Fort Walton Beach campuses

●Okaloosa School District offices

●Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office chaplains

●Publix, Crestview

●Regions Banks

●Trustmark Banks

●All Eglin Federal Credit Union offices

●Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Crestview

See www.united-way.org for a complete list of locations.

Volunteers will pick up and deliver coats to Bangkok Cleaners, The French Laundry or Destin Cleaners for cleaning.

Participating United Way Agencies will distribute the coats to children at no cost to the family.

Contact the United Way, 243-0315 or events@united-way.org, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Coats wanted for Okaloosa, Walton children

CRESTVIEW — Fall gardening doesn't have to be a mystery.

Residents can attend "Fall Gardening in Northwest Florida: What You Need to Do in October" — 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Crestview Public Library, 1445 Commerce Drive — for tips.

Okaloosa County Master Gardener James Frederick, with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension Service, will provide advice.

Attending the seminar could mean the difference between life and death for your garden.

"Many plants only do well when planted during the cooler weather of fall," an event spokesperson said. "Fall planted trees and shrubs have a higher survival rate as compared to those planted in spring."

Call the Extension Service, 689-5850, for more information. 

—

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article, based on an erroneous media release, stated that the Master Gardener's name was Fred James.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fall gardening seminar scheduled in Crestview

LAUREL HILL — Chloe Channell, a 14-year-old “America’s Got Talent” quarter-finalist from Pensacola, headlines the Oct. 3 Laurel Hill Hobo Festival.

The event — which features children’s activities, a silent auction, live entertainment, arts and crafts and lots of local food, including Triple B Festival-award-winning Pigstickers BBQ — runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Gene Clary Park. Admission is free.

Chloe, one of the featured performers, started singing around the same time she started talking. By age 7, she was a full-time member of The Sawmill Band at the Chumuckla Farmer’s Opry. Backed by a Nashville band, she recorded her first CD at age 8.

She impressed judges three years later during the eighth season of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

“I actually had to remind myself that you are only 11 years old,” Melanie Brown, also known as Scary Spice, said after Chloe sang “All-American Girl." “Girl, you can sing. You can really sing.”

Joining Chloe in the Hobo Festival's lineup is Tim Richey, a guitarist with the Destin-based The Mulligans, who started playing the instrument at age 8 after seeing The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

In solo gigs, his covers of songs by The Eagles, Jimmy Buffet, James Taylor, John Denver and other legends of rock, country and folk display his versatility.

Other performances include the Laurel Hill School Chorus and The McVays — siblings Jeremy, Micah and Garrett — the musically inclined grandchildren of Laurel Hill's the Rev. Mike McVay, who appears at community events dressed as the town’s Hobo mascot.

WHAT: Laurel Hill Hobo Festival

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3

WHERE: Gene Clary Park, New Ebenezer Road, Laurel Hill

COST: Free admission and parking

NOTES:

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

9:15 a.m.: Laurel Hill School Chorus

Noon: Tim Richey

2 p.m.: The McVays

2:30: Chloe Channell

WANT TO GO?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'America's Got Talent' participant headlines Laurel Hill Hobo Festival

CRESTVIEW — The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle head-on wreck that left four people injured.

The incident occurred around 5:15p.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 90, just east of the Shoal River Bridge, according to North Okaloosa Fire District Chief Ed Cutler.

A pick-up truck's driver and a passenger in a sedan were airlifted to area hospitals. The other two patients were transported in an ambulance with lacerations.

The North Okaloosa Fire District aided the Dorcas Volunteer Fire Department at the time of the wreck. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida Highway Patrol investigates Crestview area head-on wreck