Laurel Hill – Amidst the frenzy of gift shopping, card writing, cookie baking and turkey basting, a small north Okaloosa County church invites its neighbors from far and near to pause, take a breath, and experience the true meaning of Christmas.

Roscoe has one big wish on his list this Christmas: That some kind soul will adopt him and take him to his fur-ever home. But until he leaves his current digs at the Crestview Animal Services shelter, a full house at The Spirit of Christmas is his next wish.

The city was built as a railroad town, with its commercial heart spanning the several blocks from the courthouse to the Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s tracks, then south to meet State Road 85. (Which, back in the day, ran right up Main Street.)

Munich’s 189th Oktoberfest celebration ends on Oct. 6, but in Crestview, the party is just beginning. The historic Bush House will host the city’s observance of what began on Oct. 12, 1810, as a wedding celebration for Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese.

Just in time for that spooky time of year, a troupe of dead people will populate the historic Bush House’s broad front porch. On Friday, Oct. 11, student thespians from NWF Share bring to life some of the notable citizens of Spoon River, Illinois.

This week’s Hometown History is a glimpse at one of Crestview’s most colorful and resourceful politicians, Robert Lee Fulton Sikes, who died Sept. 28, 1994, and whose name graces local public facilities including the airport, the public library, an elementary school, a road in east Crestview, and the local campus of Northwest Florida State College.

There’s a hint of fall in the air, but there’s always fascinating history to look back on. Here’s what was going on this next week in our hometown.

Sometimes God needs to give you a gentle kick in the tuchus to get you to take the next step he has in mind for you. For the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, he sent a new pastor to do the job for him.

The world of robotics comes to the Crestview History Museum on Sept. 14 during the museum’s monthly Second Saturday opening. The family friendly event is an opportunity to discover the fun, science, creativity and teamwork that robotics encompasses.

Summer may be winding down according to the calendar, but certainly not according to the weather. Here’s some interesting milestones in our city’s history to mull over while enjoying a sweet tea on the porch. We’ll take a glance at the end of August first: