What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County

CRESTVIEW — Here’s a calendar of upcoming events in North Okaloosa County and surrounding areas. 

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS PRESENTATION: 10 a.m. Sept. 20, Okaloosa County Annex Building, 127 Hollywood Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa County Master Gardener Dave Gordon will focus on the dos and don'ts of having pitcher plants in your landscape and display a variety of bog gardens. Handouts will be available. Free. Call 689-5850 to reserve a seat due to limited space.

PANHANDLE JOB FAIR: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21, St. Mary's Parish Life Center, 165 Coral Drive, Fort Walton Beach. Over 60 employers. 11 a.m. question-and-answer session with industry professionals. Preregistration: www.careersourceokaloosawalton.com. Details: www.panhandlejobfair.com.

JOYNER-KERSEE TO SPEAK: 5 p.m. VIP and 6:30 p.m. main event Sept. 21 at Boys & Girls Clubs of South Walton, 427 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach. Six-time Olympic track and field medalist, and BGC alumna Jackie Joyner-Kersee will address the BGC 4th Annual Steak & Stake fundraising dinner attendees. VIP tickets cost $150. Regular tickets cost $100. Contact Crystal Mayes, 344-7763 or cmayes@bgcec.com to purchase or sponsor.

TACKLE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS FUNDRAISER: 6-9 p.m. Sept. 22, Hurlburt Soundside Club, 107 Kissam St., Hurlburt Field. The Fresh Start for Children and Families sixth annual event benefits Fresh Start programs. Tickets range from $40 for general admission to $1,000 for an MVP sponsorship at http://bit.ly/2wFv7J8. Live music by The Mulligans, live and silent auctions, food, cash bar, etc. Football jersey or casual game attire is suggested.

GENEALOGY MEETING: Tom Sajwaj, a member of the Genealogy Society of Okaloosa County, will speak 10:30 a.m. Sept. 23 at the Fort Walton Beach Library, 185 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach. His presentation will be “Fact and Fancy in Oral Family History.” Details: Val Moreland, 582-8202.

EVENING WELDING CLASS ORIENTATION: 6-6:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and Oct. 19 at the Weld Shop, Building 560 at Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. NWFSC is accepting applications for spring 2018, with classes beginning in January. Details: Mark Gonzalez, 729-5233 or gonzale1@nwfsc.edu. 

23RD ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST IN BLUEWATER BAY: Friday, Sept. 29, 5 to 10 p.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 30, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Market Place near Winn-Dixie on Highway 20, Bluewater Bay, Niceville.Featuring live music, entertainment for adults and children, arts and crafts, soft drinks, bratwurst, hotdogs, baked chicken and beer. Sponsored by the Mid-Bay Rotary Club. All proceeds go to local charities. Free admission.

CRESTVIEW MANOR BUNCO BENEFIT: Doors open 9 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Senior Center in Old Spanish Trail Park, on Stillwell Boulevard in Crestview. Games begin at 9:30 a.m. $25 per ticket; catered lunch provided. Proceeds will be used to support Manor residents' needs to assist with their living expenses not covered by insurance or Medicaid. Tickets: Jean Shaw, 582-4030, or Kathy Neidig, 682-5324.

FORT WALTON BEACH COIN CLUB COIN SHOW: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Meridian at Westwood, 1001 Mar Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach. Park in the White Wilson parking lot. Free admission. Everyone who attends gets a free new collectible quarter while supplies last. There will be dealers willing to buy, sell and trade coins, currency, gold and silver. Free appraisals. Dave, 512-4904.

HISPANIC FEST RESCHEDULED: The Hispanic Fest originally scheduled for Sept. 10 was postponed due to Hurricane Irma. The new festival date is 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, Okaloosa Island. Proceeds benefit the 13th Annual Emerald Coast Christmas Miracle Needy Children’s Fiesta. Business sponsorships and vendor information are available. Call 368-3505 or email united4agoodcause@gmail.com for details.

'KINGS OF HARLEM' PERFORMANCE: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Layon Gray's off-Broadway play depicts the story of the Harlem Rens, the first all African-American basketball team formed in the 1920s and their struggles against the overt racism and discrimination encountered in establishing their legitimacy as a professional team. Tickets cost $37.50 at the theater box office, www.mattiekellyartscenter.org, or by calling 729-6000.

BRIGHT FUTURE COMMUNITY YARD SALE: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Vendor booths cost $40 for a single booth or $60 for a double booth. Nonprofits get $10 off each price. Call 612-9271 or see the Bright Future Ministries Facebook page for a booth application.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

REP. WILLIAMSON MEETS WITH CONSTITUENTS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21, Okaloosa County Extension Office, 3098 Airport Road, Crestview. State Rep. Jayer Williamson will discuss area concerns, issues and the upcoming legislative session. Call the district office, 850-995-3698, for information or to make an appointment.

REDEVELOPMENT MEETING RESCHEDULED: The next Crestview Redevelopment Agency meeting has been changed from Sept. 21 to 5 p.m. Sept. 26 at City Hall in the Council Chambers.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETINGS:

  • 3 p.m. Oct. 19, Robert L.F. Sikes Center, Northwest Florida State College, 805 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
  • 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: 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 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.

HACKERS GOLF TOURNAMENT: 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30, Blackstone Golf Course, 108 Blackstone Lane, Mossy Head. Call 682-3212 or visit crestviewchamber.com for sponsorship opportunities. The chamber is also selling $5 raffle tickets for a propane Broilmaster Grill with a retail price of $1,597. Purchase tickets at the chamber office, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview. Winner announced after the golf tournament, and need not be present to win.

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