CALM Chapel
A free, live musical performance as a community service of Crisis Aid for Littles and Moms (CALM) a 501c3 non-profit in Niceville will be held Mon., June 22 from 6-8 p.m. at CALM Chapel/VenYou201 at 201 Redwood Ave. You are invited to drop by, purchase food from a local food truck then come inside and enjoy the music! Also available will be an auction for Custom Corn Hole boards from Board & Paintworks, a small business in Niceville, and other items. Donations will be accepted and will benefit moms and their children in transitional housing. Facebook: VenYou201/events for this and other streaming performances. VenYou201@gmail.com.
CALM Chapel/VenYou201 has reopened and is ready for your next event! If you’re looking for a place to have your next meeting, networking event, or graduation or back-to-school party, contact calmchapelnv@gmail.com. It is perfect for up to 100 people with tables, chairs, equipment and kitchen prep/caterer area available. All rental proceeds benefit CALM whose mission is to offer single moms and their children transitional housing and life skills for up to six months as they move to independent living.
Other upcoming events at VenYou201 in July:
Sat., July 11, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, a mini-craft and farmer’s market.
Sat., July 25, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m., author and speaker, Diane Stallings, Church – Come Forth! discusses how to pray in the event of a premature death.
Rocky Bayou Christian School Specialty Camps
Rocky Bayou Christian School is launching a full range of Specialty Camp options for children entering Kindergarten-17. Camps include basketball, reading enrichment, SAT Prep, crafts, robotics, cooking and much more. Visit rbcs.org/student-life/rocky-bayou-summer-programs/#specialtycamps for more information.
Freeport Veterans Memorial at Casey Park
The ball is rolling on this year’s projects to complete the memorial park! Things are falling into place beautifully and the bronze artist has completed their work and will be shipping soon! However, Covid-19 has hampered our fundraising efforts greatly. To learn how you can help, please contact Tim at (850) 585-3304.
Miss Okaloosa
Eight Queens were recently crowned at the 2020 Miss Okaloosa County Pageant. The 2020 Miss Okaloosa County, Riley Cleveland and the 2020 Little Miss Okaloosa County, Emerson Fournier, will compete in the 77th annual Miss and Little Miss National Peanut Festival Pageants in Dothan, Ala., in the fall. This is the first year that Okaloosa County has sent a Miss and a Little Miss for the competition. In its fourth year, the annual pageant is directed by Paula Stokes-Wilkinson.
Alaqua Receives Grant
Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport received a $5,000 cash grant to provide emergency veterinary care for vulnerable pets impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the grant was made possible by GreaterGood.org, a national nonprofit that protects people, pets and the planet. Together, a total of $50,000 in cash grants were given to 10 select animal welfare organizations impacted by the coronavirus to help animals in their geographic area. Pet families in the Panhandle area looking for support can call or email Alaqua at (850) 880-6399 or info@Alaqua.org to be considered for veterinary financial assistance.
Summer Reading is Here!
Niceville – Summer Reading is not just for kids! To participate in the Adult Summer Reading Program, pick up a reading log at the front desk and keep track of the books you read this summer. Turn in your completed reading log by Fri., Aug. 28, and you will have the chance to win a Bayou Books gift certificate!
ICYMI: The Summer Reading Program has gone virtual this year. Join the Facebook group for access to awesome content, from 10 weeks of Page Turner Adventures to Story Time and Summer Reading classes. Reading logs are available now in Youth Services. Win a different prize each week through July 21st!
Freeport – Each Monday Friends of the Freeport Library will post a weekly challenge on the Facebook page. Post a picture in the comments of the completed challenge, or stop by the library to show a staff member. Each completed weekly challenge will get a raffle ticket for one of our fantastic prizes that will be given away at the end of the summer, such as these cool brag tags. Earn a brag tag for each reading log turned in, in addition to a raffle ticket!
Can you collect all 10?
How do you earn a raffle ticket?
1. Check out books at the library.
2. Turn in a completed reading log.
3. Complete a weekly challenge and comment on our Facebook challenge post, or bring in to show library staff.
Drawing will be held on August 1!
Eric Aden will be Okaloosa County’s Next Sheriff
Aden was unopposed in his bid for sheriff and will be sworn-in as Okaloosa’s new sheriff on Jan. 4, 2021. Aden currently serves as a Major under Sheriff Larry Ashley and is the Operations Bureau Chief for the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. He began his career as a deputy in 1995 patrolling our roadways and was a School Resource Officer. As Operations Bureau Chief, Aden is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors in Okaloosa County and manages nearly 200 of the agency’s sworn personnel.
Also running unopposed are J.D. Peacock, Clerk of Courts; Ben Anderson, Tax Collector; Paul Lux, Supervisor of Elections; and Mack Busbee, Property Appraiser. The only constitutional officer with a challenger is Marcus Chambers, who was appointed superintendent last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis and is challenged by former State Rep. Ray Sansom.
