ROAD CLOSURE: The Crestview Public Works Department will perform utility work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 and 9 at 229 Citadel Lane in Crestview. A section of the road will be closed during that time. Details: 682-6132.

OKALOOSA COUNTY WATER AND SEWER PAYMENT SYSTEM INTERRUPTION: Customers will not be able to make payments online or via the phone system from 3 p.m. Friday, March 10 until approximately 10 a.m. Monday, March 13. Make payments in person, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., or pay with a check or money order anytime at a designated drop box.  

BREAKFAST AND YARD SALE FUNDRAISER: 7 a.m. March 11, Blackman Community Center, 7590 U.S. Highway 198, north of Baker. Proceeds from a country breakfast, which costs $7 per person, and yard sale benefit the community center.

BASKET WEAVING CLASS: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. $35-$40 per person. Bring an old towel, spray bottle and a snack if desired. 678-2615.

ADSO FUNDRAISER COOKOUT: 11 a.m. March 11, Arts and Design Society gallery, 17 First St. SE, Fort Walton Beach. Tickets: $12 per person, available at ADSO office. Featuring hamburgers, hotdogs and singer-guitarist Joe Weiss’ live music. Funds will help convert courtyard for functions and classes. Details: www.artsdesignsociety.org, or 244-1271 from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.

SENIOR BINGO: 10:30 a.m. March 16, Don Braun K of C Hall, 701 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview. Lunch served. Call 682-6126 to RSVP.

'SAVE THE PLANET — SAVE HISTORY': 1-3:30 p.m. March 18, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Learn how to contribute to the three R’s, “reduce, reuse and recycle,” with guest speakers from Emerald Coast Science Center, Waste Management, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Students will make a simple bird feeder, a sweet treat to take home, and enjoy a visit with Nonie’s Ark Animal Encounters. Cost: $8-10 per student; one free parent admission with registration, and $3 per additional parent. Preregister due to limited space. 678-2615.

EMERALD COAST CHRISTIAN WRITERS RETREAT & CONFERENCE: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 22-24 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25, Blue Lake Camp, Andalusia, Alabama. Classes, workshops, paid critiques, worship and inspiration presented by professional Christian authors. Registration ranges from $75 to $475. Meal packages also available. http://bluelakecwr.com/ or call 225-2466.

DICTIONARY FUNDRAISER: 6 p.m. March 29, Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 808 South Drive, Fort Walton Beach. A Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated event with bunco, dinner and an auction to support its Dictionary Project, which provides dictionaries to Okaloosa third-graders. Dinner of baked chicken alfredo penne, tossed salad and Italian bread. Tickets: $20. Call Hulda Mahlum, 217, 5775, to purchase.

THROWDOWN BENEFIT AUCTION & BBQ: March 30 through April 1, Churchill Oaks Clubhouse, Santa Rosa Beach. Features renown chefs, including Emeril Lagasse and Chris Wilson, "world-class vintners, pitmasters and … musical entertainment by Silverado Pickups and live and silent auctions,” a media release states. Annual charity events, Wine Walkabout, Sip N Shop and Golf Tournament, kick off festivities on Thursday, March 30 and Friday, March 31, benefitting Alaqua Animal Refuge and the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. Tickets to individual charity events can be purchased separately. All funds raised benefit charities along the Gulf Coast, with most proceeds given to local organizations. Tickets and details: www.chichimiguel.com.

FRIENDS OF THE CRESTVIEW LIBRARY BOOK SALE: 5-8 p.m. March 31 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 1, Warriors Hall, 201 Stillwell Blvd., Crestview. The March 31 early-bird sale costs $2 for non-Friends members’ admittance. Donations of like-new books and movies accepted until March 15 at the library, 1445 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

REGIONAL SEDER: 6 p.m. April 10, Emerald Coast Convention Center,1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. Cost for the Passover meal, music, worship and celebration is $40 per person. Features recording artist Paul Wilbur and host Hosanna House of Destin. Details: 837-7430 or admin@hosannahouse.net.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 22 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Youth Center, 923 Denton Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. Seventh- through 12th-graders may attend. $10 per person; includes a light lunch and conference materials. Scholarships available for students from low-income families. Theme: “Lead, Empower, Act, Discover!” Includes a hands-on, real-life simulation. Details: David Triana, 368-3505, united4agoodcause@gmail.com, or Dawn Novy, 344-7721, dnovy@bgcec.com.

ARC SUMMER CAMP DONATIONS: Arc of the Emerald Coast seeks donations of funding, water, juice, paper products and carnival toy items for an April 25-28 summer camp trip for Arc clients. Contact Arc at 863-1530 or info@arcemeraldcoast.org for details.

PINE NEEDLE BASKETRY CLASSES: 5-8 p.m. May 16 and May 23, Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso. Learn Seminole techniques. $55 to $60 per person. 678-2615.

CRESTVIEW HIGH CLASS OF 1977’S 40-YEAR CLASS REUNION: 6 p.m. July 15 at Warriors Hall in Crestview. “We are searching for classmates that we have lost contact with,” an event organizer said. “If you haven't already received information about

the reunion, please contact Sharry at krustin@cox.net.” Tickets must be purchased in advance due to the caterer needing to prepare for the correct number of attendees.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION:

• 8:30 a.m. March 21, OkaloosaCountyAdministrationBuilding, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
• 8:30 a.m. April 4, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. April 18, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
• 8:30 a.m. May 2, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. May 16, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
• 8:30 a.m. June 6, Crestview City Hall, 198 N. Wilson St., Crestview.
• 8:30 a.m. June 20, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORKSHOPS: 1:30 p.m. March 28, April 25, May 30 and June 27, Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway Shalimar.

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.

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

BAKER FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSION: 7 p.m. first Thursdays, Baker Area Public Safety Building.

DORCAS FIRE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS: 7 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 TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION: 3 p.m. third Thursdays, Niceville Community Center, 204 N. Partin Drive. Call 1-800-226-8914 ext. 231 to confirm.

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.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County