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CRESTVIEW — Here are upcoming and recent events in North Okaloosa County and surrounding areas.
ARC poinsettia sale fundraiser underway
CRESTVIEW — The ARC of the Emerald Coast annual poinsettia sale is in progress. All proceeds benefit ARC, which provides care and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The deadline to order red, marble or white poinsettias is Nov. 26.
An eight-inch size costs $25 each, or purchase three for $60. Delivery is available for an additional cost, and orders must be paid by cash, check or credit card (via Square) before delivery.
Email ethatcher.arcec@gmail.com or call 863-1530 to order.
Blood donations wanted
CRESTVIEW — People who donate blood or platelets at OneBlood Donor Centers through Nov. 30 will receive a OneBlood fleece blanket and a $10 eGift Card.
Locations include the OneBlood Center at 2400 S. Ferdon Blvd., Suite B, Crestview.
Visit oneblood.org/donorcenters for other locations, hours and appointments, or call 1-888-936-6283.
Church youths hosting pancake benefit for Walker students
CRESTVIEW — The Joy Fellowship Senior High youth group is raising funds to purchase new tennis shoes for Walker Elementary School children.
"Approximately 65 percent of the children at Walker are on free or reduced lunches and our youth group would like to bless some of the children with new tennis shoes," a youth group spokeperson said.
An all you can eat pancake breakfast fundraiser is 8-10 a.m. Dec. 1 at Applebee's, 215 Rasberry Road, Crestview.
Tickets cost $8 each and will be available at the door. Breakfast includes pancakes, two pieces of bacon, and coffee, tea, soda, orange juice or milk. Pancakes are all-you-can-eat. There are no substitutions for the breakfast menu.
20th Annual Ride for the Toys will help Crestview foster children
CRESTVIEW — The local American Legion Post 75 will have the 20th Annual Ride for the Toys in December. All toys and funds received will benefit Crestview children in the care of FamiliesFirst Network.
The run begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Walmart Supercenter parking lot, 3351 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.
The entry fee is a $10 donation, plus an unwrapped gift.
After the ride, attendees are invited to enjoy food, music and raffles at Post 75, 898 James Lee Blvd. E, Crestview.
Call Shelby Windham, 689-3195 or 305-3635 for more information about the run. Call Michelle Giordano, 850-860-4259, for more information about FFN, which is the lead agency in Circuit 1 for foster care and related services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
VOICES of Mobile to have local Christmas concert
CRESTVIEW — The acclaimed vocal ensemble VOICES of Mobile presents their free 2018 Christmas Tour Concert.
The event is 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at First Baptist Church of Crestview, 171 Hickory Ave. E.
A love offering will be received for the choir. The VOICES of Mobile is comprised of 18 vocalists from The University of Mobile.
Call 682-2544 for more information.
North Okaloosa Community Band to host Christmas concert
CRESTVIEW — The leadership of the North Okaloosa Community Band announces its upcoming Christmas music spectacular.
The free concert is 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive.
Under the direction of Kim Whaley, NOCB, Pensacola's Bay Community Band, Fort Walton Beach's Emerald Coast Community Band, and the Walton County Community Band will perform a diversified program of sacred and secular Christmas music.
The program includes several numbers by the individual bands as well as a rendition by the four combined bands.
Arts and craft vendors wanted for Heritage Museum Christmas festival
VALPARAISO — The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida invites arts, craft, and antiques vendors to participate in its Yule of Yesteryear – A Traditional Christmas Festival.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the museum and Perrine Park, 115 Westview Ave., Valparaiso.
Vendors must produce quality hand-crafted, original items only.
Yule of Yesteryear is a free event that includes musical and historical theatrical performances; Civil War Christmas re-enactments; and craft demonstrations such as blacksmithing and weaving.
To register, go to www.heritage-museum.org; email info@heritage-museum.org; or call 678-2615.
First Baptist Church of Crestview presents Christmas musical
CRESTVIEW — "Welcome to Bethlehem" is a free Christmas musical-drama that will be presented twice by the First Baptist Church of Crestview Sanctuary Choir and Drama Ministry.
Hours are 10:30 a.m. Dec. 9 and 6 p.m. Dec. 10 at the church, located at 171 Hickory Ave. E, Crestview.
"Joy and hope for a hurting world are the themes that shine through in this encouraging and relatable Christmas musical-drama," a media release for the event stated.
"In (the musical) we find the staff of Bethlehem Inn reaching its guests in their real-life struggles, from a couple struggling financially, to a teenage runaway needing help."
Call 682-2544 for more information.
Gift card email scam targets Fort Walton Beach business
SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office is warning area companies about a a new scam designed to fraudulently use email and gift cards to gain cash.
A Fort Walton Beach business employee received an email that appeared to be from the business owner, asking her to purchase gift cards to give out.
The email, signed with the name of the owner, instructed the employee to use either a company credit card or her own and stated she would be reimbursed, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office media release.
The employee was told to then send photos of all the
purchased card numbers and purchase receipt back to the owner, but when she went to follow through with the instructions, the credit card company texted the real business owner. He declined the transaction and notified law enforcement.
Although the original email to the employee had both her correct name and her correct email address, OCSO deputies found the email address given to her to use to relay the gift card numbers was not the business owner’s true email address.
It’s believed the scammers may have gotten accurate business-related names and emails from a combination of websites and business cards.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa Community Briefs