SOCKS — Save Our Cats and Kittens — is having its 4th Annual Kitten Extravaganza Event from 12 to 5 p .m. Saturday, June 21. The event will take place at the shelter and the thrift store located behind the shelter.

Kitten and cat adoption fees will be drastically reduced and, as always, free adoptions for cats 5 and over. 

SOCKS Thrift Store will have a sale with almost everything half off; proceeds go to the kitties. 

GS Gelato and other animal rescues will also be in attendance.

 Contact SOCKS at 850-863-5756, visit their website at www.saveourcatsandkittens.com, come to 498 Carmel Drive, Fort Walton Beach, or follow them on Facebook for more information.

 SOCKS is a free roaming no-kill shelter and adoption center operating on donations only for more than 20 years. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Pet adoption extravaganza set for Saturday

It's summer reading time, and I have some great suggestions for you. Here is a sneak peek at a few on the list:

•Like contemporary urban fiction? Then Jim Butcher's "Skin Game" will appeal to you. This Dresden Files novel, available on CD, is filled with mystery and fantasy. Harry Dresden, a professional wizard, has been assigned by Winter Knight and the Queen of Air and Darkness to help a group of supernatural villains led by his enemy. Harry is sure this job will be the end of one of them.

•"The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriarty involves three unrelated women and their men's secrets. Cecilia Fitzpatrick finds a letter her husband intended for her to read after his death. However, he is very much alive when she reads it. This letter will change not only Cecilia’s life, but also Tess and Rachel's.

•Like thrillers? John Sandford’s "Field of Prey" is an interesting choice. This Lucas Davenport novel purportedly is the best one yet. A young couple out on a date notice a strange smell in the woods and report it to police. The police investigate and find a burial ground full of body parts. It is discovered that as many as 15 skulls are in the field — and these killings have been going on for years.

More great books to take to the beach include "China Dolls," by Lisa See, "Ghost Ship" by Clive Cussler, "The Goldfinch," by Donna Tartt, "Flappers: Six Women of a Dangerous Generation" by Judith Macrell and "The Astronaut Wives Club" by Lily Koppel.

Come in to the library and browse for titles; it is time to enjoy a summer read.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Recommended page turners for your summer reading

BAKER — Summer’s a great time to sit on the porch and reminisce, so Saturday, the Baker Block Museum and Baker Mercantile invite residents to their porch for lunch and remembering the good ol’ days.

“It’s a time when friends of the Baker Memories Facebook page and alumni from Baker School come back to get reacquainted with the museum,” director Ann Spann said.

Jamey Broxson, a board member of the North Okaloosa Heritage Association, which operates the museum and Mercantile, started the event “to encourage the local community to come to the museum and see what’s here,” Spann said.

“People reminisce a lot about local history,” Baker Mercantile manager Charlee Becker said.

The third annual Baker Memories Day includes hamburgers, hotdogs and home-churned ice cream available for purchase.

Tables set up on the Baker Block porch will be decorated in country style with burlap tablecloths and floral centerpieces. The Heritage Park next door to the museum will be open; there, folks can also take their meals and explore vintage north county buildings.

Spann said 24 vendors have reserved spaces for a festive community crafts and flea market, “and more space is available.”

During the first two Baker Memories Days, Broxson did most of the work himself. This year he’ll have some helpers.

“We thought with the Baker Mercantile open now, we can help him out,” historical association board member Phyllis Enzor said. “The Mercantile is such a big part of the museum now.”

Volunteers will include youth group members from the Crestview Lifepoint Church.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker Memories Day: time to reminisce on the porch

CRESTVIEW — If you see Jason Driver hoofing around town with a backpack this weekend, be assured he’s not running away from his Crestview home.

The Crestview man is training for a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a personal journey of introspection that also raises funds for a Florida State University scholarship.

“Picture a pasty, overweight asthmatic who speaks NO Spanish walking a 100-kilometer pilgrimage in northern Spain in the summer,” Driver said.

His brother, Joel, died of cancer in January 2012, but the two often talked of traveling in Europe together.

“After he died, the family came together and started a scholarship in his name at FSU,” Driver said. “I am now trying to raise enough money for a second scholarship in his name.”

Driver has raised a little over $1,200 of the $15,000 goal.

“It won’t all come with this trip, but it’s a start,” he said.

HIKING THE CAMINO

The idea of hiking the Camino de Santiago started with discovering “The Way,” Emilio Estevez’s film about the pilgrimage, Driver stated in his blog, fromcouchtocamino.blogspot.com.

Later he discovered a cross that Joel gave him is the Cross of St. James, a symbol of the Camino de Santiago.

More connections followed.

The 110-kilometer route Driver will hike is the Camino Inglés, “the English route,”which Irish, English and Scandinavian pilgrims traditionally followed after arriving at the port of Ferrol.

While visiting Ireland earlier this year, he learned Irish pilgrims would gather at St. James’ Gate in Dublin before embarking on their pilgrimages to Santiago, the saint’s name in Spanish.

Driver promptly bought the credentials book — pilgrims obtain passport-style stamps at villages they pass through — and got it stamped at St. James’ Gate.

“My Camino had officially started,” Driver said on his blog.

Like the other Caminos de Santiago, Driver’s hike will end at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

There, because he will have walked more than 100 kilometers, Driver will receive his “compostela,” a certificate testifying to his accomplishment.

“I know that I won’t be alone,” Driver blogged. “Joel’s been with me the whole time.”

A LIFE-CHANGER

Driver will hike through the province of Galicia, where villagers speak a regional dialect. He plans to complete the Camino in five days.

“What’s really pretty about the (Camino) Inglés is it’s not as well traveled,” Driver said. “The towns are farther apart. You have to work to walk certain distances to get to villages or else you sleep outdoors.”

Supporters can follow Driver on his blog, where a GPS tracker he’ll carry will constantly update his progress. Upon his return, Driver said he wants to share the experiences with his 8-year-old son, Brendan, “and maybe (he’ll) try to push his own boundaries too."

“For many people, the Camino de Santiago has a mystical element,” Turespaña, a Spanish tourism website, states. “Many pilgrims set out on the Camino inspired by a different kind of spirituality, which manifests itself in the need to find out more about oneself, to find the answers to certain personal questions and to discover inner peace.”

“As Gandalf said to Bilbo (in J.R.R. Tolkein's novel, "The Hobbit"), not only do I think I will be a different person when I return, I’m betting on it,” Driver said.

HOW TO HELP

Jason Driver will document his July 17-26 pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago on his blog, fromcouchtocamino.blogspot.com. Donors can find a link to contribute to the FSU Foundation Joel Driver Memorial Scholarship, or they may send donations to P.O. Box 3062739, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2739.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at brianh@crestviewbulletin.com, follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Educator to hike the Camino de Santiago in memory of his brother

CRESTVIEW — The plight of a fictional snowbound Scandinavian kingdom inspired a local Girl Scouts troop to assist residents affected by regional springtime floods.

The Waterfront Rescue Mission now has a bin of blankets, clothing and personal hygiene products to provide residents thanks to Crestview Troop 676 members.

Four of the troop’s Brownies spearheaded the project, parent troop leader Amanda Converse said.

“The idea came from ‘Frozen,’” she said, referring to the 2013 Disney film. “In the movie, the town got frozen over and people needed blankets. Our girls realized that flood victims in our own town might need help, too.”

Brownie Tessa Campbell, 8, placed calls to several local charities, and determined that the South Ferdon Boulevard thrift store needed donations the most, Converse said.

Brownie Kaylee Gjesdal, 7, created a flier to solicit donations while Brownie Genesis Jimenez-Chavez, 7, arranged a drop-off location at St. Mark United Methodist Church.

With the aid of older Girl Scouts and younger Daisies — girls who will advance to Brownie next year — bag after bag of donated materials tumbled into an oversized bin last week.

“They filled it up!” store manager Felicia Davis said. “I was so proud of them. It’s really great to have that community involvement.”

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Disney's 'Frozen' inspires local Girl Scouts to help local flood victims

CRESTVIEW — Bonita Clark appreciates residents who publicly honored Saturday's bicentennial anniversary of America’s national anthem.

Around 20 residents gathered at Veterans Memorial Plaza in downtown Crestview to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the “Star-Spangled Banner."

“At least we got some folks (out there) and we participated,” Clark said.

The simultaneous singing of the national anthem took place at 3 p.m. as part of The Smithsonian Institution’s Raise It Up event, which called on citizens to gather and sing Francis Scott Key's anthem on Flag Day.

Attendees also sang a couple of verses from other patriotic favorites, including “My Country 'Tis of Thee” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

Crestview High School chorus director Kevin Lusk and Davidson Middle School chorus director Keitha Bledsoe helped lead the singing. Upbeat Music in Crestview loaned a few musical instruments to assist with the music.

“I love this country,” Clark said. “Being a musician, I think it’s important that everybody be a part of history and to know why we sing the national anthem.”

Bledsoe said honoring the anniversary was important to her.

“Whenever I have an opportunity to hear (the national anthem), I am overwhelmed with a sense of pride," she said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'OVERWHELMED WITH PRIDE': Crestview residents celebrate national anthem

LAUREL HILL — Several North Okaloosa residents are working to revive the Hobo Festival.

Volunteers are preparing for this year’s event with assistance from city officials including Mayor Robby Adams, event co-chair, and City Councilwoman Betty Williamson.

Now, with the necessary paperwork in place, organizers seek additional volunteers.

“We need personnel,” event chair Elgin “Trae” Duley said. “The more people we have doing a piece of this puzzle, the easier it is to get the work done.”

The festival committee — which earlier this month started meeting at Laurel Hill City Hall — is discussing setting an official date and vending prices, and organizing potential contests, among other things.

“This is new territory for all of us,” said Debra Adams, Robby’s wife.

Crestview resident Tara Llewellyn — in charge of the festival’s auction, featuring items donated by local businesses — anticipates the event's revival.  

“I think it’s great that current leadership is bringing the festival back and trying to make a difference,” she said. “I think it will be very beneficial to the community and I am proud to be a part of it.”

Sherill Ward, the city’s water clerk, is the committee’s secretary and seeks talented local residents to perform at the festival. 

 “I’m always looking to be more involved with the city,” Ward said. “I’m just excited that we are bringing this back.”

More than 50 vendors, children's activities, entertainment from local musicians, an auction and — of course, food — comprised prior festivals.

A festival fixture is the city's iconic hobo, which honors the city’s railroad history. After the Civil War, soldiers-turned-migrant-workers traveled railroads and provided manual labor on local farms during pit stops in town.

Last year’s festival was postponed due to a nonprofit status issue with the Internal Revenue Service, Duley said.

“We decided to postpone it rather than make a possible mistake,” he said.

However, this year, all systems are go.

“We are ready to rock 'n’ roll,” he said.

EmailNews Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'NEW TERRITORY': Committee seeks volunteers to revive Hobo Festival

Okaloosa County Transit is offering free rides for everyone on Thursday, also known as National Dump the Pump Day.

The promotional event includes all WAVE routes in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Destin and includes route 14, the WAVE Express.

Businesses that encourage employees to ride are eligible to win the OCT Dump the Pump Commuter Challenge; email Bob_Berkstresser@OCT.org for details.  

The American Public Transportation Association sponsors the event to highlight public transportation's benefits.

Federal and state grant programs, and the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners fund the WAVE. 

Call 689-7809 in Crestview, or 833-9168 in Fort Walton Beach, for more details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free Okaloosa County Transit bus rides available on Thursday

BAKER — Two North Okaloosa animal lovers are doing their part to ensure that lost pets return to their owners.

The Okaloosa Lost & Found Pets and Lost and Found Pets of Crestview and Okaloosa County Facebook pages allow residents to post photos of lost pets with contact information or post information on lost pets in their care. 

The women behind the sites say they just want to help. 

'A BETTER CHANCE'

“I have had a dog disappear about 10 years ago,” said Baker resident Alison Broxson, who runs Okaloosa Lost & Found Pets. “It just drives you crazy, not knowing what happened to them.”

She never found Piston, her wirehaired terrier, but the Facebook page she created a week ago can help reunite other residents with their pets, she said.

 “I have seen so many posts for lost animals (on Facebook),” Broxson said. “My theory is that if there is one site for (pet owners) to go to, then there is a better chance of finding their pets.”

Crestview resident Colleen Barrett started Lost and Found Pets of Crestview and Okaloosa County last December.

Barrett, who owns three poodles and often pet sits for friends and family, was inspired to start the website after learning that a Facebook account for local lost-and-found pets did not exist. 

“It motivated me to do something and help,” Barrett said.

The page receives daily posts, she said.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Broxson said three of eight missing dogs referred to on her page have been returned to their owners.

She doesn't know whether the website played a role in those reunions, but she is just happy to provide a community service.

“I am an avid animal lover,” she said. “This is something I feel like I can do to help animals.”

Broxson cares for dogs, chickens, a horse and a donkey at her home.  

She plans to start an animal rescue facility upon retirement.

“I would rehabilitate and foster the animals until they find a home,” she said.

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

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker, Crestview women create Facebook pages to reunite residents with lost pets