CRESTVIEW — Upcoming North Okaloosa County events and surrounding area activities are as follows.

HOLIDAY VICTORIAN TEA: 2 p.m. Dec. 16, Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Experience a history program about Victorian tea etiquette, costume, and holiday traditions while enjoying a variety of teas and light refreshments. Cost is $18 per person, or $16 for museum members.  Recommended for ages 8 and up.  Reservations are required due to limited space. RSVP: 678-2615.

EMERALD COAST CHRISTMAS MIRACLE CHILDREN’S FIESTA: 1-7 p.m. Dec. 17, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Free giveway for needy families. New toys for all who attend.  The 1-2 p.m. hour is only for families with kids with disabilities. The public will be allowed to enter at 2 p.m. Food, games, DJs, singers, church choirs, clowns, magicians, dance contests for bikes and more. Free coats courtesy of the United Way’s Coats for Kids program will also be given out. Business sponsorship opportunities, volunteers and monetary or in-kind donations welcome. Visit www.unitedforagoodcause.org for details, or see the group's Facebook page. David, 368-3505, or Estela, 305-3686 or e-mail united4agoodcause@gmail.com.

WASTE PRO HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Waste Pro will be closed Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas Day. Residential waste collection will be on Dec. 28. Recycling for Monday customers will be picked up Dec. 26 due to the Christmas holiday.

Waste Pro will also be closed Jan. 1, 2018 in observance of New Year's Day. Residential waste collection will be on Jan. 4. Recycling for Monday customers will be picked up on Jan. 2.

PUBLIC MEETINGS 

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETING: 3 p.m. Dec. 14, training room of the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar. Meeting schedule and location are subject to change. For updates and agendas, visit www.wfrpc.org or email tiffany.bates@wfrpc.org, or 332-7976, extension 217.

BLACKMAN FIRE DISTRICT BOARD: 7 p.m. first Mondays, 1850 U.S. Highway 2, Baker.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

CRESTVIEW HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD: 5:15 p.m. third Mondays, 371 Hickory Ave. W, Crestview. Open to the public.

CRESTVIEW CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. second and fourth Mondays, City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.

MILLIGAN WATER SYSTEM BOARD: 6 p.m. second Tuesdays, 5340 U.S. Highway 4.

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. second Tuesdays in the Baker Area Public Safety Building, 1375 19th St.

REP. JAYER WILLIAMSON OFFICE HOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. first and third Thursdays, Okaloosa County Extension office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. Call 995-3698 for an appointment.

LAUREL HILL CITY COUNCIL: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, City Hall. 

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 6 p.m. first Thursdays, 5232 Deer Springs Drive, Crestview, off Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90, Holt.

ALMARANTE VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 p.m. second Thursdays, Almarante Fire Station, 3710 Old California Road, Laurel Hill.

OKALOOSA-WALTON NORTH OKALOOSA FIRE DISTRICT: 6 p.m. third Thursdays, fire station 82, 5549 John Givens Road, Crestview.

HOLT FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 6:30 p.m. third Thursdays, 490 W. U.S. Highway 90.

HOLT FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, fire station.

LAUREL HILL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: 7 p.m., second Fridays, in Laurel Hill City Hall's fire department office.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 

CRESTVIEW AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVENTS: for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. http://www.crestviewchamber.com.

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE MEETING: 8:30 a.m. Nov. 29, Crestview chamber office, 107 Commerce Blvd. Become more involved in the Crestview chamber of commerce, network and grow your business. Amber Ellis or Karen Donaldson, ambassadors@crestviewchamber.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What's happening in North Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — If you have an event you would like to submit, send your first and last name and information about the event to news@crestviewbulletin.com.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 things to do this week in Northwest Florida

Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Okaloosa and Walton counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.  

Okaloosa County 

• State Road 189 (Beal Parkway) intersection improvement at S.R. 393 (Mary Esther Boulevard): Expect intermittent south and northbound outside lane restrictions on Beal Parkway, between Ewing Court and Water Street, from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. through Thursday, Nov. 13 as crews perform paving operations, sidewalk and driveway construction, and drainage upgrades.
• U.S. 90 driveway construction in Crestview at West James Lee Boulevard: The eastbound, outside lane will be closed at West James Lee Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday, Dec. 14 as crews perform new driveway construction activities.
• Interstate 10 resurfacing from east of County Road 189 (Holt/ Exit 45) to west of Yellow River: Expect intermittent eastbound and westbound closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., through Thursday, Dec. 14 as crews perform construction activities.
• U.S. 98 Deceleration Lane construction near St. Mary Avenue: Eastbound traffic near St. Mary Avenue will encounter lane restrictions Tuesday, Dec. 12 through Thursday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 21 as crews construct a deceleration lane in the median and new curb, gutter, and sidewalk. 

For the upcoming holiday season, there will be no lane closures or other activities that impede traffic on state roads beginning 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 and ending 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa traffic changes to expect

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Health Center will host its annual “Cookies with Santa” 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14.

"Come see Santa as he visits Florida," an event media release states. "Children can tell Santa all their Christmas wishes and, just in case Santa needs a little reminder, your little one can send him a letter to the North Pole, dropping them off in Santa’s mail bag."

Parents are welcome to bring their camera to this free event.

Crestview Health Center, a part of the North Florida Medical Centers network, is located at 800 Hospital Drive in Crestview, across from the North Okaloosa Medical Center ER.

Contact Crestview Health Center, 850-682-1164, with questions.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Health Center sets 'Cookies with Santa'

CRESTVIEW — Since 1990, the AMVETS, Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of AMVETS and AMVETS Riders have shared Christmas dinners for those in need. That tradition continues this year.

"We will be delivering meals in the area from Shoal River in the east and south, Yellow River to the west and Auburn Road to the north," Craig Sarrasin, commander of AMVETS Post 35, said in a statement. "If you would like to have a meal delivered to you at no charge, please call [850-682-8435] with your name, address, phone number and how many meals you will need. 

"Or if you wish to pick them up please let us know how many you will be requesting.  If you do not get through, please try again."

Here’s the menu:

• Turkey and/or baked ham
• Mashed potatoes with gravy
• Green beans and whole kernel corn
• Dessert
• Roll

Those seeking help should call between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Event organizers ask that you make your meal requests before 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.

Meals will be delivered sometime between 10:30 a.m. and noon on Dec. 25, Christmas Day.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: AMVETS to provide free Christmas dinners

Winter weather struck the deep South over the weekend. Crestview News Bulletin readers shared these photos of a rare sighting: snow in Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Snow in Florida

Laurel Hill celebrated Christmas with a parade on Saturday. Police and fire trucks led the way down Fourth Street with sirens blaring. Other participants included the Laurel Hill cheerleaders, horseback riders and antique fire trucks.  In addition to participants who provided attendees candy, Santa Claus, made an appearance.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Merry Christmas from Laurel Hill

CRESTVIEW — Crestview Elks Lodge 2624 has donated $1,600 to help a local assisted living facility repair its walk-in freezer.

"It will not complete the repairs, but it will help us meet our goal. It was so wonderful for the Elks to help us," Crestview Manor Director Becky Brice-Nash said. The repair will cost about $10,000.

"I deliver food here every Monday for (Crosspoint Methodist of Crestview)," the lodge's Exalted Ruler, Bob Daniel, said. "And in discussion with the folks back in the kitchen, I found out that their freezer was broken, so what better way to help in the community than to provide a $1,500 (donation) — which we added a hundred bucks to make it $1,600, so they can cover the cost of fixing the freezer.

"So when we bring food and bread, etc., they can freeze it and then use it at a later date, as opposed to just bringing the stuff into the walk-in cooler and having to use it or throw it away when it goes bad."

The funding comes from the $1,500 Lodge 2624 members raised from donations and several grant applications they completed. It took them over two months to raise the money, which also honors the 150th anniversary of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks.

The freezer and a second walk-in at the facility will also enable the facility to store fresh food, including weekly bread donations from local Publix stores.

"Publix has actually started donating day-old bread products, and we have not been able to freeze them. At the new Publix we'll be able to go every Thursday and pick up fresh bread, and when we get that freezer repaired, we can allow for more freshly made meals to be accepted and stored," Brice-Nash said.

Crestview Manor is a nonprofit facility, purportedly one of just two area facilities that accept people with Medicaid. The other is Twin Cities Pavilion in Niceville.

"We just really appreciate things like this (as a nonprofit)," the manor's resident care coordinator, Keely McNeal, said. "We get donations here to fix things, to buy new products for residents, so we are just super-excited and super-thankful."

Brice-Nash said Crestview Manor gets a lot of assistance from local groups like Hub City Barbecue, Pic-N-Sav, Panera Bread, all the churches and others.

"We get so much help, but when we're looking at a large monetary donation, that's the largest problem," she said.

As for the freezer?

"With all the people we have in the community, we're going to get it repaired very soon," she said.

The Crestview News Bulletin's YouTube channel features these videos:

• Crestview Manor Resident Care coordinator discusses Crestview Elk Lodge 2624's donation: https://youtu.be/5JJopFO7PBo
• Crestview Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Bob Daniel discusses the reason for the donation: https://youtu.be/lPSF_yU-Rqk

ONLINE

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Super-excited and super-thankful'

UPCOMING

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County clubs and organizations