It is through teamwork that truly great things are accomplished. Last week was a shining example of wonderful things that come when people in our community unite.

National Farm-City Week is traditionally held the week before Thanksgiving. This week celebrates the hard work that goes into supplying cities with farm products.

In Okaloosa County, we celebrate this week by giving fresh farm products to needy families in our community. This is the seventh year that Okaloosa's University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension has partnered with Okaloosa County Farm Bureau to organize this event.

The event includes the "World’s Smallest Parade" across Crestview. It consists of two tractors pulling trailers of produce up Main Street and through Crestview to the Woodlawn Baptist Church parking lot, making a pit stop at Richbourg School to pass out sweet potatoes to the students there.

Many other organizations helped make this event possible.

Woodlawn Baptist Church hosted the food distribution and supplied volunteers to help distribute food items. Volunteers from Crestview Rotary Club spent several hours bagging and loading grits, cornmeal and sweet potatoes for the event. Volunteers from USDA NRCS and Crestview Rotary also helped distribute food at the event. UF-IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center donated collards, fresh ground grits and cornmeal.

Sirmon Farms supplied the sweet potatoes at a discount. Publix donated breads and baked goods. And, as usual, Mr. Ferguson at Construction Sales and Services supplied the tractors to pull the produce across town to the Woodlawn parking lot.

I enjoy seeing our community organizations join together to do good things. I look forward to working with these great people again next year!

Jennifer Bearden is an agent at the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Farm-City Week celebrates agriculture

CRESTVIEW — Poets and musicians can read, perform, improvise and play together during an open-microphone event 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Crestview Public Library.

The poetry starter is "every word is a bird we teach to sing." Anyone can attend, and admittance is free.

The library is located at 1445 Commerce Drive in Crestview.

Contact Esther Hurwitz, 682-4432 or ehurwitz@okaloosa.lib.fl.us, for details.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Library sets open microphone poetry night

CRESTVIEW — The North Okaloosa Community Band, with director Kim Whaley, has finalized its Christmas concert schedule.

By invitation of the Pensacola Bay Community Band, the NOCB's next performance is 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Sanders Beach Community Center, 913 S. I St., Pensacola.

The NOCB's local performance is 7 p.m. Dec. 11 in Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. The Crestview Friends of the Arts presentation will feature both sacred and secular pieces that will highlight soloists, small groups and the entire ensemble.

Like all NOCB performances, admission is free, but donations to help defray associated costs will be accepted.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa Community Band sets Christmas concerts

CRESTVIEW — Schola Cantorum, the Northwest Florida State College-based community chorus, will present its annual Christmas concert.

The first performance is 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 10, at the First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

Under the direction of Dr. John Leatherwood, the 15-voice chorus, accompanied by Kevin Schular, will perform a variety of classic, contemporary, secular and popular Christmas and seasonal music during this free concert.

From the classic "Jubilate Deo" to favorites including "O Holy Night," "Away in a Manger" and "What Child is This?" to contemporary selections including Mark Lowry's "Mary Did You Know?," Schola Cantorum — Latin for "college of singing" — demonstrates its breadth and talent in its annual Christmas treat to the community.

If you miss the Crestview concert, Schola Cantorum will also perform 6:15 p.m. Dec. 6 at St. Simon's on the Sound, Fort Walton Beach; and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Fort Walton Beach.

Admission is free, but offerings to cover expenses and support music education at NWFSC will be accepted at each performance.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Schola Cantorum sets Christmas concert

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.

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 — A hospice organization received Thanksgiving dinner donations from a local church.

Pentecostals of Baker Church representatives presented Emerald Coast Hospice in Crestview with enough supplies for 10 patients' families to have a holiday meal.

Volunteers delivered the supplies to patients in Baker, Crestview and DeFuniak Springs, according to ECH Volunteer Manager Ann O'Connor.

"They have been doing this for the last six years and amaze me every time," O'Connor said. This year, the church not only provided a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, but they also included a ham for each family.

"It's amazing they're in their 20s and they've grown up doing this — good people," O'Connor said of Jessica Bray and Ann Hicks, who dropped off the supplies.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Emerald Coast Hospice accepts Thanksgiving donations

CRESTVIEW — A squad of Crestview police officers and investigators recently took part in a November monthly training exercise for nighttime shooting proficiency.

Their performances on the shooting range led to renewed state law enforcement qualification and certification.

“Bad guys don’t work 9 to 5,” Investigator Shawn Temple, the range safety and training officer during the exercise, said. “We train at night because over half our time is going to be in the evening and at night, and even in daytime, we might be going into dark buildings.”

So, besides the obvious lack of light at night, what’s the difference between night and day shooting?

“Targets look different at night than they do during the day,” Officer Corey Newcomb said.

“We have to be used to the difference in sight perceptions. Targets may look bigger or smaller at night, and distance perception changes at night.”

In succession the officers practiced with handguns, rifles and shotguns at various distances from their targets. After each round at each distance, range training and safety officers, including two investigators and a SWAT team and patrol sergeant, assessed the officers’ accuracy, offering advice and instruction where needed.

Toward the end of the exercise, lights that previously offered a dim glow over the range were completely extinguished and testing resumed in complete darkness, with officers having to provide their own illumination using either flashlights or lights clamped to their weapons.

Patrol and Investigations personnel weren’t the only officers being tested at night. K9 Officer Sonic and his partner, Officer Jay Seals, were tested on another evening.

It is critical that K9s respond to their partners' commands, even with the potential distraction of gunfire.

“When I first got him, he wanted to run in the direction of gunshots,” Seals said. “He was ready to go to work! But being in the thick of it all isn’t always where I need him to be.”

Diligent training paid off. As Investigator Temple ordered, “Fire,” Seals successfully led Sonic through a series of commands behind the line of shooters as the crackle of gunfire sounded nearby. The K9 responded immediately each time, though once or twice he offered an encouraging “woof” just to let his human buddies know he had their backs.

By the end of both evenings, all Crestview officers—two- and four-legged—had qualified for certification.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CPD officers take nighttime shooting training

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