What’s Happening in North Okaloosa County

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

WOMEN ON WELLNESS CONFERENCE: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 7, Niceville Community Center, 204 N. Partin Drive. Featuring presentations and interactive sessions to help women achieve balance and success in life, work and health. Registration costs $30; go to http://womenonwellness.org/ to register.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND DIGITAL ARTS EXHIBIT RECEPTION: 6-8 p.m. April 7, Arts and Design Society, Art Center Gallery, 17 First Street, SE, Fort Walton Beach. The exhibition is on display free of charge from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays April 4-28 at the gallery. Details: www.artsdesignsociety.org or call 244-1271 during gallery hours.

FAMILY ESTUARY FESTIVAL: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 8, Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Niceville. This Mattie M. Kelly Environmental Institute event is free to attend. Learn about the environment, enjoy kayak tours, T-shirt making and interactive activities. Food vending by Boy Scouts of America. Details: Dana Stephens, 729-6469 or stephed@nwfsc.edu.

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.

‘NWF READS’ FEATURES FICTION WRITER: 7 p.m. April 17, Northwest Florida State College Sprint Theater, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. Annual literacy celebration with fiction writer and memoirist Andre Dubus. Free, with first-come, first-served seating Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Followed by Blackwater Review reception, 6-6:45 p.m., in the adjoining McIlroy Gallery. Beverly Holmes, 729-6032 or holmesb@nwfsc.edu.

OKALOOSA MASTER GARDENER PLANT SALE: 8 a.m. to noon April 22, Okaloosa Extension Annex, 127 W. Hollywood Blvd., Fort Walton Beach. Indoors event. Includes hard-to-find Florida-friendly and University of Florida-recommended varieties Okaloosa Master Gardeners grew.

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.

‘COMING HOME’ PERFORMANCE: 6 p.m. May 13, Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Blvd., Niceville. The Calling Dance Company presents a faith-based story centering on hope amid loss. A portion of the proceeds benefits Covenant Care's Camp Connect, a grief counseling camp for children. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and free for children age 4 and under. Purchase at www.TheCallingDanceCompany.org.

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.

HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS: Crestview High School Hall of Fame nominations are being accepted. Nominees must have graduated at least 10 years ago and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and athletic accomplishments. All submissions must include verifiable information.  If possible, supply the nominee’s contact information. You may resubmit previous nominations for consideration. May 26 is the application deadline. File applications with CHS’s front office or email them to Coach Tim Hatten, tim.hatten@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us, or Chris Moore at tcbjmoore@cox.net

CRESTVIEW HIGH CLASS OF 1977’S 40-YEAR CLASS REUNION: 6 p.m. July 15, 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.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

OKALOOSA COUNTY COMMISSION:

  • 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.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION MEETINGS:

  • 3 p.m. April 20, training room of the Okaloosa County Administration Building, 1250 Eglin Parkway, Shalimar.
  • 3 p.m. June 15, Niceville Community Center, 204 Partin Drive N., Niceville.
  • 3 p.m. July 20, Niceville Community Center, 204 Partin Drive N., Niceville.
  • 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 emailtiffany.bates@wfrpc.org.

TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: 2 p.m. April 27, Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Fort Walton Beach.

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 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 are for chamber members and their employees. Details: 682-3212 or info@crestviewchamber.com. http://www.crestviewchamber.com.

NETWORKING BREAKFAST: 7 a.m. April 6, Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive. Cost: $5 per person. Board of directors vote scheduled. Go to www.crestviewchamber.com/pages/BoardofDirectors for candidate details.

MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: 11 a.m. April 11, Samuel's Roadhouse, 114 John King Road, Crestview. Membership fees apply to this committee. Marian McBryde, chair, MAC@crestviewchamber.com.

GOVERNMENT ISSUES COMMITTEE: 8:30 a.m. April 12, chamber office, 1447 Commerce Drive. Speaker: Darryl Boudreau, director of Florida Local Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy.

AMBASSADORS 'LET'S DO LUNCH': 11:30 a.m. April 13, Azteca Mexican Restaurant & Grill, 789 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview. Informal networking luncheon. RSVP to ambassadors@crestviewchamber.com.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: 5-6:30 p.m., Johnny O'Quigley's Ale House, 1025 Industrial Drive, Crestview.

HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE: 8:30 a.m. April 19, chamber office, 1447 Commerce Drive, Crestview.

PILOT COMMITTEE MEETING: noon April 20, Cracker Barrel, 201 Cracker Barrel Road, Crestview. For leaders ages 21-41.

AMBASSADOR COMMITTEE: 8:30 a.m. April 26, Stay Suites of America, 3709 Ferdon Blvd. S, Crestview.Richard Harless, ambassadors@crestviewchamber.com.

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