The 34th Annual Toys 4 Tots Run raised an estimated $15,000 following the Nov. 17 event, organizers said.

About 500 motorcyclists — bikers from the Sandollar Motorcycle Club, the Harley Owners Group, The Vietnam Vets/Legacy Vets and the Euro Knights, along with individual riders from Pensacola, Navarre and Mossy Head — participated in the event, which kicked off in Fort Walton Beach. After a 15-mile ride, which included a cruise past the Northwest Florida Regional Airport, the group finished in Niceville at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival grounds.

“Annually, the event raises about $15,000 (and) another $10,000 value in toys and more with gift card donations,” said Gene Large, the Harley Owners Group Emerald Coast Florida chapter's membership officer and head road captain.

The club — along with sponsor Heritage Cycles Harley Davidson in Fort Walton Beach — organized the event. Donations went to Toys 4 Tots, Children in Crisis and the Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast bikers net $15,000 after 34th Annual Toys 4 Tots Run

HOLT — A simple answer to a question inspired an annual tradition for a Holt girl who wants no senior citizen to spent Christmas alone. 

A few years ago, Railey Conner and her family attended a church service with her great-grandmother, Roxie Buchanan, a Carrington Manor resident who has Alzheimer's disease. Afterward, the child wondered who was responsible for taking other Carrington Manor residents to church. 

Click here for a link to Railey's 13th Birthday Project>>

"I had to explain to her that some (residents) don't get that," her mother, Angie Holland, said.  

Instead of celebrating her birthday on  Dec. 15, Railey decided to collect items for senior citizens at local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The ultimate goal was to "share the love" with them during the winter holidays, she said.  

Railey's Birthday Project is now in its third year. In 2012, residents donated toiletries, blankets and slippers, among other offerings. Railey and her friends made gift bags, which she gave to residents at Carrington Manor, Safe and Secure Respite Care, Crestview Manor and Silvercrest Manor. 

Railey says it's important to remember that Christmas is for more than children.

"Thinking about kids during Christmas is great, but everybody does that," she said.

"These people (senior citizens) used to be our teachers, pastors or nurses," she said. "These are people we used to look up to. Even though we may not cross paths (with them) as often as we used to … we still need to think about them."

Railey and her mother are looking for more locations to set up collection bins for the project.

As of this printed edition, the First Baptist Church of Holt (532 U.S. 90, Holt), the Crestview News Bulletin office (705 Ashley Drive, Crestview) and Freedom Tax Services Plus (417 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview), Holland's employer, are the only two locations.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Holt girl seeking donations for area senior citizens

CRESTVIEW — Residents, including moms with children from the Lap-Sit program, attending the Crestview Public Library's First Tuesday lecture now know more about local wildlife.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge assistant director Susan Leveille introduced attendees to Blossom, a skunk; a corn snake named Butch; Landlord, a gopher tortoise; and April, a barred owl.

Click here to see photos of the animal ambassadors>>

None of the animal ambassadors — some of which have been imprinted, or have had a close relationship with humans — can be released into the wild.

They are permanent residents of the refuge, which helps native wildlife through education, conservation and rehabilitation.

However, Leveille said some of her message of wildlife conservation and protection may not sit well with homeowners hoping to rid their yards of "nuisance" animals.

For example, the law prohibits collapsing a gopher burrow and removing the tortoise. Gopher holes can be habitats for up to 300 other species, making it a "keystone species" on which other animals depend for survival, Leveille said.

It's also illegal to trap and relocate a raccoon; "(when) you remove one, there is another animal ready to move in," Leveille said. However, you can legally remove the food source, such as pet food bowls, that attracts pesky native critters.

As for Butch and his friends, "if you see a snake hanging around your house, you may have a rodent problem," Leveille said.

Leveille said the wildlife refuge welcomes volunteers, adding work at the former Sasquatch Zoo, east of Crestview off U.S. Hwy. 90, "is very physical." 

WANT TO HELP?

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge welcomes volunteers. Call 682-3949 for details.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Residents gain knowledge of wildlife conservation efforts (PHOTOS)

Editor's Note: This is an update to "Homeless for the holidays."

CRESTVIEW — The Campiones would have been homeless after Saturday, their deadline to move out of a mobile home they had been living in rent-free.

But the day before eviction, Debbie Campione found hope.

"I went on Craigslist Friday and saw an ad for a three-bedroom house," she said. "The owner said she had just put this house on there 30 minutes before I saw it."

For two months, Kathleen Bowman and her son, Phil, had been letting Campione, her daughter, Crystal Pryor, and Pryor's five children live rent-free in a mobile home the Bowmans owned on Lee Avenue.

Last month, the Bowmans sold the lot to Habitat for Humanity, and had to remove the mobile home by the beginning of December to close on the property.

Campione was informed of the sale at the time so her family could begin looking for a new home, Phil Bowman said.

"We went under contract with Habitat for Humanity. Just the timing was bad," Bowman said, with Thanksgiving occurring just two days before the family had to move.

Nitsi Bennett, president and chief executive officer of the regional Habitat for Humanity office, said the organization was not responsible for the family having to move.

"(The Campiones) knew that the house was sold," he said. "They were only supposed to be there until they found someplace else."

The Campiones also received an eight-day notice before eviction.

Helping hands

When Campione found the Chestnut Avenue home listed online, Bowman helped the family move.

"We paid their deposit for the new place and we gave them a trailer to move their stuff," he said.

Campione said she and Pryor have begun the process of applying for one of the Habitat for Humanity houses planned Crestview, and are gathering necessary financial documentation.

"There could a one- to two-year waiting list, they told me," Campione said. "I said that's fine, as long as we get our name on there."

Bowman said he and his family are glad the story had a happy ending, and were pleased they could help Campione and her family.

"Habitat and the Bowmans are just in the business of helping people," he said.

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Family finds new home following eviction from rent-free residence

CRESTVIEW — North Okaloosa Community Emergency Response Team members are better prepared to assist firefighters extinguishing wildfires and multi-structure incidents. 

CERT members have learned, among other lessons, how to help firefighters stay hydrated so they can continue fighting such sweeping fires. Crestview Fire Department firefighter Paul Lewis assisted CERT instructor Kris Boone conduct a four hour-training session last month.

Those interested in joining the North Okaloosa CERT can call Team Chief Mark Brown, 496-1715 or crestviewcert@yahoo.com, for more details. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CERT members gain knowledge on working with firefighters

Won't you please give to our “Gift of Reading” program? We collect new or slightly used books and give them to children in the Okaloosa Head Start Program.

Already, we have received a considerable donation from Microsoft, which pledged a generous gift to sponsor the Crestview Public Library campaign.

Microsoft— which matches employees' charitable payroll pledges— employs aCrestview High School alumnus, whose donation will help the library present outreach programs and purchase new books for local Head Start programs.

We have ordered new books for children through age 5 who attend Edney, Bay and Laurel Hill Head Start and preschool classes.

Still, every little bit helps! Stop by the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, behind the Crestview post office, if you would like to donate.

Jean Lewis is the Crestview Public Library's director.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Give the gift of reading — it costs just a book

BAKER — The Baker Family Medical Center at 1321 Georgia Avenue in Baker is hosting Cookies with Santa tomorrow.

Santa will visit at the center for two hours, 4-6 p.m. and will be taking Christmas requests. Children may write and share their letters with Santa, and their parents or guardians may also take a photo of their children with Santa.

Cookies and punch will be served.

Call 537-2700 for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cookies with Santa at Baker medical center

While unpacking Christmas decorations — items I've acquired over several years — from the attic, I pondered why people keep things.

I have a system to determine what stays and what goes — a checklist with these questions:

•Why did I keep this? Did it have sentimental meaning?

•Have I forgotten about this item? If it’s been more than a year and I haven’t missed it, I probably don’t need it.

•Can I live without this item? Is it irreplaceable?

Making this list — and checking it twice — helps me keep clutter down so that spring cleaning is no hassle, and the house stays nice! 

And, with Christmas coming up, you have to make room for the new items that will take up space.

With that advice in mind, here's what's happening in Laurel Hill:

Homecoming Week kicks off Monday, when Laurel Hill School students return to class.

Monday is Camouflage/Duck Dynasty day; Tuesday is Character Day, when students dress like their favorite character from a book or movie; Wednesday is Decade Day, when students dress from a certain period, whether it's the roaring 1920s or the groovy 1970s! Thursday, students dress from different cultures for “Around the World” Day.

Friday is the Homecoming game and dance, so wear Hobo blue and gold! Saturday is the senior citizen prom.

Call the school, 652-4111, for more details.

Amber Kelley lives in Laurel Hill. Send news or comments to Hobo.homefront@gmail.com or P.O. Box 163, Laurel Hill, FL, 32567.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: THE HOBO HOMEFRONT: Declutter before decorating your Christmas tree

CRESTVIEW — Following the city of Crestview and Main Street Crestview Association's Christmas Parade, attendees are invited to nearby Lifepoint Church for a Christmas tree lighting.

Attendees can sip free hot chocolate and snack on cookies as church volunteers light an artificial 23-foot-tall Christmas tree in Lifepoint's main parking lot.

The event — a first for the church — will include a live nativity with church members and a large sleigh display for photo opportunities.  

"It's something we always wanted to do for the community to draw us all together," church business administrator Kathy Barrow said. 

"Hopefully, this is going to be a great time for many years to come," she said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: City of Crestview and Main Street Crestview Association's Christmas Parade and Lifepoint Church Christmas tree lighting

WHEN: Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 on Main Street; tree lighting begins at 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: 400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Christmas tree lighting to follow parade Dec. 7

CRESTVIEW — Main Street Crestview Association Christmas parade organizers, working with Police Chief Tony Taylor, are taking steps to keep the event moving.

Taylor had suggested that organizers have a pre-parade mandatory meeting of float and truck drivers, group marching units in blocks, and designating multiple dispersal areas off Wilson Street.

Main Street volunteer Cal Zethmayr said the event has experienced periodic halts when units would stop at the reviewing stand, then a block later, unload riders by Badcock & More furniture, causing units behind them to halt.

The Tuesday evening meeting will help clarify new rules, Zethmayr said. Those include forbidding amplified sound that isn't Christmas music. Last year, a religious organization had a rider with a bullhorn shouting fire-and-brimstone messages that many parade goers found inappropriate.

"Some good came out of the preacher that screamed last year," Zethmayr said.

North Okaloosa Amateur Radio Club members will provide communications, escorting each block of 25 units and reporting their progress, Zethmayr said. Each block will be sent to a pre-assigned separate disbanding area after the parade to avoid confusion and traffic jams. Supporters will then know where to wait to help dismantle floats.

Organizers have met with CSX railroad representatives, who had agreed to stage trains beyond Crestview to assure none crossed Main Street between 5:45 and 7:30 p.m. on parade night.

Finally, Zethmayr said, the Main Street Crestview Association will strictly enforce the "one Santa" rule. The only float that will include the jolly old elf is the association's, which traditionally concludes the parade.

"After all, there's only one Santa Claus," Zethmayr said.

Want to go?

WHAT:Mandatory meeting for drivers or adult representatives of Crestview Christmas Parade units

WHEN:7 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE:Warriors Hall, Whitehurst Municipal Building, Stillwell Boulevard and Industrial Drive

Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mandatory Christmas parading groups' meeting is Tuesday