DESTIN — Shelter House's 4th Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence raised more than $20,000, according to a spokesperson.

More than 360 runners turned out for the Dec. 6 race, which included 5k and 9k courses throughout the Indian Bayou neighborhood. The 9k distance served as a reminder that a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds in the U.S.

More than 2,000 luminarias represented how Shelter House and its community partners light the way to a safer place for Okaloosa and Walton's domestic and sexual violence survivors, a spokesperson said.

The event concluded with a post-race party at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and dessert courtesy of Karaboo Bakery and Sugarmill Sweets. Runners were also treated to hot cocoa, gumbo, s’mores, hot toddies and more while awards were presented.

The state-certified domestic and sexual violence center provides a 24-hour domestic violence/rape hotline, crisis counseling, advocacy, outreach, support groups, primary prevention, transitional housing and confidential shelter.

Next year's Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence will take place Dec. 5. Call Shelter House, 243-1201 or visit www.shelterhousenwfl.org, for more information on the race or sponsorships.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Run nets $20K for nonprofit serving domestic, sexual violence survivors

FORT WALTON BEACH — Okaloosa foster children will be warm and comfortable this winter following the Silver Threads Quilt Guild's recent donations to Children in Crisis.

Guild members donated 176 quilts, 112 pillowcases, 113 Christmas stockings, 67 tote bags and seven bags, each containing a Beanie Baby, to the nonprofit organization.

“Your hands did this and the children feel your love," Ken Hair, with Children in Crisis, said to guild members. He said CIC has given homes to over 500 children since 2008.

In addition, The Emerald Coast Parrot Head Club presented a $1,000 donation to help feed, clothe and care for the children living at the CIC Neighborhood. 

The neighborhood has an emergency shelter for children removed without notice from an unsafe environment, family foster homes for young children and two teen transition homes for foster children aging out of care.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 2 organizations help Children in Crisis

Editor’s note: In each Weekend Edition, the News Bulletin will provide clues to a certain North Okaloosa location. If you tell us the correct location, you could win lunch for two at Angel's Speakeasy in Crestview. We will announce the winner on crestviewbulletin.com. 

It's too late to enter last week's contest, but you can quiz yourself on North Okaloosa knowledge, just for fun! 

HINT: The Commodores sang about it, and so did Hillsong, though neither of their songs was about the kind of “Still” I’m looking at, a relic of North Okaloosa’s colorful early 20th-century history.

The old copper still I’m checking out could well have been among those that meant the difference between supper on the table or going to bed hungry for Depression-era moonshining families.

I’m rooting around a veritable county grandma’s attic of treasures in a congenial village that almost was voted the Okaloosa County seat.

Where am I?

Spoiler alert:  * * * * * * * * *

The correct answer was: Baker Block Museum!

Congratulations, Kathy Garrett Kerlin, for guessing correctly!

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: I AM WHERE? (In "Grandma's attic")

CRESTVIEW — Applications for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program will be available Jan. 12-23 at the Crestview Housing Authority front desk, 371 W. Hickory Ave., Crestview.

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The voucher program is for family with very low income.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Housing Authority's Section 8 applications waiting list opens Jan. 12

Okaloosa County parks will be open on Christmas and Jan. 1, but the restrooms will be locked. Parks will reopen after each holiday period.

The Wright and Baker Landfills will close at noon on Dec. 24 and are closed all day Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. They reopen at 7 a.m. Dec. 26.

Waste Management will not collect household waste, recycling, yard waste or bulk items on Christmas or New Year's Day. Collections will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled collection days.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County park, landfill and Waste Management holiday closures announced

LAUREL HILL — Saturday will be filled with holiday cheer, beginning at 3 p.m. with the city’s annual Christmas Parade.

“It’s the long route this year,” Mayor Robbie Adams joked.

The parade begins at the P.A.W.S. kennels at T.E. Rogers Road, proceeds on New Ebenezer to Fifth Street, then Second Avenue, and Eighth Street to Earl Campbell Road. It crosses State Road 85 and continues on Sunnyside Avenue, south on Fourth Street past Laurel Hill School, up Third Street and turns east on First Avenue to Steel Mill Creek Road, north to Second Avenue, and east to the First Baptist Church.

City Clerk Nita Miller did not immediately have a count of parade entries, but noted there is always room for more. “Anybody wanting to participate can contact me (at 652-4441),” she said. “There’s no charge to enter.”

After the parade, Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church members will present their annual Living Nativity, a program in which the audience makes its own “journey to Bethlehem.” Groups depart every 10 or 15 minutes along a luminaria-lined footpath around the church’s grounds, pausing at campfire-lit stations where they’ll encounter actors portraying historic biblical figures from the Nativity story.

“…Instead of sitting and watching the nativity unfold before you, you actually make a spiritual journey of your own,” the church’s pastor, the Rev. Mark Broadhead, said.

Actors and volunteers represent several area churches, including the Laurel Hill and Crestview Presbyterian churches, First Baptist Church of Laurel Hill, Live Oak Baptist Church of Crestview, and First United Methodist Church of Crestview.

Refreshments in the historic 1903 church’s fellowship hall follow the roughly 20-minute journey.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: Laurel Hill Christmas Parade

WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: See report for details

WHAT: Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church's Living Nativity

WHEN: 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 13

WHERE: 8114 Fourth St.; parking available at the Laurel Hill School track on Fourth Street at Park Avenue

COST: Free; donations accepted

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Christmas on the Hill: Christmas Parade, Living Nativity are Saturday

CRESTVIEW — The Friendly Thriftiettes Charity Club's annual banquet is 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Carver-Hill School Center, 461 W. School Ave., Crestview.

The banquet will feature guest speaker Evangelist Nate Moorer  of Resurrection Baptist Church.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10 per person or two tickets for $18. You may also contact any club member.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Friendly Thriftiettes Club annual banquet is this weekend