CRESTVIEW — Gary Johnson wants to feed more than 250 people on Thanksgiving, but he'll need some help.

Lunch will be served from 12:30-2 p.m. Nov. 27 at Johnson and his wife, Doris', 1865 E. First Ave., home. It'll be quite a feast, with turkey and ham, candied yams, sweet potato pies, collard greens and homemade dressing, he said.

That is, it will be if North Okaloosa residents provide all those items, along with paper plates and utensils, to the retired food inspector. Just give him the food — he estimates it'll take about 15 turkeys — and he'll prepare the meals, the master chef said. Doris and other volunteers will help with preparation.

The event is one of Johnson's efforts to resurrect Brotherhood of Love, his nonprofit outreach ministry that flourished for years when he lived in the Miami and Thomasville, Ga., areas.

Last year, Thomasville's Thanksgiving meal fed more than 550 people, he said. Numerous news reports tout the ministry's other events, including an Easter Eggstravaganza and the Dreamland Christmas, which provided meals, clothes and toys for needy residents.

Johnson, a First Baptist Church of Holt member who recently moved to Crestview, received a letter of recognition from Florida City Mayor Otis T. Wallace, who said he "has worked to help in the establishment of good government, participated in projects to feed the hungry and provides assistance to anyone in distress."

It's Johnson's life's mission: to do God's work, bring the Gospel to others, and inspire them to leave a life of crime.

"We want to go in the communities, break up the dope houses, the gangs — all of this," he said. "Anything that's illegal and unlawful and a downfall to the community, the Brotherhood of Love is gonna help the city get rid of that."

HOW TO HELP

Call Johnson, 229-379-1741 or 398-0272, if you can provide food for his community Thanksgiving feast

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Can you help this Crestview man serve 250 Thanksgiving meals? (VIDEO)

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Emerald Coast HOG Chapter 3605, sponsored by Emerald Coast Harley Davidson, will be doing their 35th Annual Toys 4 Tots Run this Sunday, November 16, with the proceeds benefiting Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Children in Crisis.

Entry fee is $10 per participant and a new toy or gift card with all types of motorcycles welcome. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. at Sam’s Club parking lot in Ft. Walton Beach. The motorcycle bike parade starts at 11 a.m. from Sam’s Club and ends at the Niceville Mullet Festival site.

Parade and festivities will include music, food, gift certificate give-aways, motorcycle contests and more. For further information or to make donations, contact Emerald Coast Harley Davidson at 850-862-4706.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 35th Toys 4 Tots Harley Davidson run is Sunday

LAUREL HILL — An evening of fellowship, thanksgiving and feasting awaits this close-knit community's residents at Wednesday's annual Laurel Hill Harvest Supper.

The feast is always held the Wednesday evening of the week before Thanksgiving. In recent years, the First Baptist Church has hosted the supper because it has the largest fellowship hall.

This year’s supper is sponsored by South Ebenezer Baptist Church. Traditionally, the sponsoring church leads the pre-meal thanksgiving service and congregational sing.

After the service, attendees dig into Southern church supper specialties and desserts, many of them family favorites passed down through generations.

A quarter or more of Laurel Hill’s 567-person population attends the Harvest Supper, which senior citizens fondly remember from their younger days, though none can quite recall when the tradition started.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT:Laurel Hill Harvest Supper

WHEN:6:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE:Laurel Hill First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 3972 Second Ave.

COST:Free, but families traditionally bring a covered dish, salad or dessert to contribute to the feast

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Laurel Hill Harvest Supper set for Wednesday

CRESTVIEW — Many area residents will miss Samuel Allen for his kindness, fairness and calm demeanor.

Allen, who died Nov. 5, was Crestview's first black city council member, a long-time teacher, and a strong advocate for the African-American community.

"Sam Allen was one of the finest men that this city has ever known," Cadle said.

Allen's teaching career included working at Drew High School in Baker, Carver-Hill School  and Richbourg Junior High School in Crestview.

Allen and his wife, Caroline, were particularly involved with the Carver-Hill Museum and park complex. When it came to the Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society and the museum, "Mr. Allen and Mrs. Allen worked as a team," said George Stakley of Crestview.

In later years Allen worked in an advisory capacity for the society, with members' full respect.

"We looked up to him as a 'father' for the society," Stakley said. "He was always soft-spoken; (even as students) we never heard him raise his voice."

The Allens were instrumental in organizing funding for improvements to the museum — which honors the old campus and chronicles local black history — and ensuring the annual May Day Festival, which celebrates the museum, continued.

And doing so with grace.

"A very gentle, very kind man, he worked to persuasion in talking with people," Cadle said. "He was great to get his message across in a kind manner. He was quite a gentleman."

In addition, Allen was a faithful member of Lebanon Baptist Church, where he served as Sunday SCHOOL superintendent and transportation chairman. An usher for more than 50 years, "he made sure he spoke to everybody" who attended the services there, Jean Bell, the usher board president, said.

Cadle said the former community leader's achievements will not be forgotten.

"Everyone in the city loved working with him," Cadle said. "He and his wife were strong advocates for their community; their legacy lives on."

SERVICES

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Nov. 14, McKinnie Funeral Home, 398 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Crestview

Funeral: 11 a.m. Nov. 15, Lebanon Baptist Church, 1288 Washington Ave., Baker

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Carver-Hill Memorial & Historical Society, 649 McClelland St., Crestview, FL 32536.

Email News Bulletin Editorial Assistant Renee Bell or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'VERY GENTLE, VERY KIND': Friends remember former city leader, trailblazer

VALPARAISO — Interested in the outdoors? Bring your lunch and learn about "A Pollinator's Paradise," with Master Gardner & Horticulturist Marie Harrison during an outside presentation of History Sandwiched-In.

The lecture begins at noon Friday at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso.

Harrison will showcase "Paradise Gardens," a new outdoor exhibit, and explain the importance of native plants, herbs, shrubs and trees to pollinators. She also will share how you can join the movement.

Call 678-2615 for more information. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bring lunch, learn about new outdoor exhibit

The Young Adult Library Services Association recently announced titles of the 2014 Teens’ Top Ten.

Last month, teen book club members around the country voted for their favorite titles as part of TeenRead Week. The YALSA committee — with members in 16 school and public libraries around the country — selected 25 nominees. 

Teens across the country ultimately voted for these Top 10 titles:

1. "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

2. "Splintered" by A.G. Howard

3. "The Rithmatist" by Brandon Sanderson

4. "The 5th Wave" by Rick Yancey

5. "Monument 14: Sky on Fire" by Emmy Laybourne

6. "Earth Girl" by Janet Edwards

7. "The Testing" by Joelle Charbonneau

8. "Steelheart" by Brandon Sanderson

9. "Siege and Storm" by Leigh Bardugo

10. "The Eye of Minds" by James Dashner

Check out our electronic resource, Overdrive, or our library catalog for these titles.

You can request titles not available in Crestview from other Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative libraries in Niceville, Valparaiso, Fort Walton Beach, Mary Esther and Destin.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Teens: Here are the top 10 books for you

CRESTVIEW — More than 9,000 miles separate Crestview and Thailand, but Nick Belvin is happy to be back in Chiang Mai, the northern Thai city where he teaches English as a foreign language at a private school.

Shortly before his September departure, Belvin visited with several Northwood Arts and Science Academy classes, spoke about Thailand, and promised to stay in touch.

The community knew of his plans to hike the 230-kilometer Annapurna Circuit — which rises to 5,400 meters (or 17,716 feet) high — in about 20 days.

More than 45 people died in an October blizzard that struck the trail, which circles the world's tenth-tallest mountain, according to Reuters.

Local friends worried about Belvin's safety, but now, he's back in touch.

"It was a heavy blow to those of us in lower elevation when we heard the news" of the blizzard, Belvin said in a recent email. “I was only three days ahead of the storm, and I would have been in big trouble if I had been stuck in the high altitude areas that got hit hardest."

“We heard some terrible stories from people who made it through the weather, and a few harrowing tales of bravery.

"All stories made me kiss the wet, rainy ground of Pokhara, where I spent the week after completing the trek."

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview teacher dodged killer Nepal blizzard by days

NICEVILLE — Kusten Kruezers Volkswagens of the Emerald Coast has donated $1,650 to Children in Crisis. The club used proceeds from its recent car show at the Mullet Festival grounds.

“The donation was a tremendous help and will be used to help feed, clothe and care for the children living at the CIC Neighborhood in Fort Walton Beach," said Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO.

Children in Crisis Inc. is a nonprofit that serves abused, neglected and abandoned local children. Call 864-4242 or visit www.childrenincrisisfl.org for more details.  

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Volkswagen club helps support Children in Crisis

CRESTVIEW — When Lisa Reeves lost her house in an Oct. 15 fire, a group of people she'd never met before sprang into action.

ACCIDENTAL FIRE

Reeves and her 11-year-old daughter, Marissa, weren't home when a blaze claimed their single-story home and its contents, valued at $50,000.  The fire was an accident; Marissa had hatched a chick from an egg, and it wasn't in the best of health. Reeves put the chick in a box with a heating lamp in a back bedroom, which later caught fire.

Reeves — who now lives in a mobile home in Auburn — said she salvaged a few items, including "some pictures and some paperwork and stuff like that." Residents have dropped off necessities at 3034 Log Cabin Lane, Crestview, or the Crestview Sears to help with the situation. Antioch Elementary School collected clothes for Marissa, a student there.

But Reeves didn't expect help outside Northwest Florida.

BOOK LOVERS UNITE

Reeves, an author known as L.M. Glenn, received an unprecedented response from book lovers and authors who heard about her situation and purchased Reeves' e-books to help her family.

Angel Martinez of New Mexico was among those who wanted to help this perfect stranger — "never met her, never heard of her, never read her books," she said — but having lost everything in a house fire herself, she wanted to do more. "$1.99 for a Kindle book is not enough to help someone start over," she said.

Martinez recalled Giftapalooza, an annual event run by author T.E. Ridener, who collects Christmas gifts and food baskets for needy children. She thencreated Amazon and Wal-Mart wish lists — with necessities and extras for Marissa in mind — for an Oct. 21-26 fundraiser on Facebook.

Donors' generosity led to some $1,300 in cash and gift cards — "It's not much to start over, but it's something to keep (Reeves') faith going," Martinez said. "Most people donated from the heart."

STARTING OVER

The book lovers' efforts surprised Reeves, who expressed gratitude and appreciation. "No one has ever done anything like that for me before," she said.

Now, she's in rebuilding mode.

"Big items have been taken care of," Reeves said. "We don't need any big items. Just the small stuff." That includes cooking pans, cleaning supplies, bathroom items, pillows, towels and washcloths. And women's shoes, size 7 1/2 — for Reeves and Marissa.

In the meantime, Marissa, an avid reader, is rebuilding her library, thanks to some of the Amazon donations. That makes mother and daughter happy, Reeves said.

"When my daughter is smiling, I am smiling," she said.

WANT TO HELP?

Donate: http://www.gofundme.com/fw2ino

Amazon wish list: http://amzn.to/1thxMLX

Wal-Mart wish list: http://bit.ly/1zz8mlq

Email Renee Bell, Crestview News Bulletin, or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Strangers, neighbors help family after house fire