Homeless coalition seeks volunteers for count The EscaRosa Coalition On the Homeless is looking for volunteers to assist with the annual 2013 U Count Point-in-Time Homeless Survey. The survey will be conducted over a 24-hour period, from 10 a.m. Jan. 24 to 10 a.m. Jan. 25. ECOH is charged with counting homeless individuals in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The purpose of the U Count survey is to determine the needs and extent of the local homeless population, including sheltered and unsheltered men, women and children. ECOH then can match their needs against the services offered in the community. Florida is ranked one of the highest in homeless veterans. As military men and women leave the service, the 2013 count is especially important, as it will provide information ECOH needs to better serve them. Volunteers are asked to serve as active participants in the counting process. No specific experience is required to serve as a volunteer (training will be provided), but compassion and a desire to help individuals who are homeless are essential. ECOH needs a minimum of 150 volunteers to serve a two- to four-hour shift at area soup kitchens, churches, food pantries and other locations where homeless gather. In conjunction with U-Count, ECOH will have its first annual U-Count Homeless Services Day to provide homeless individuals and families the services and benefits they need, all in one place, on one day. Volunteers will be on hand to help secure temporary housing, sign people up for veteran or public benefits, provide employment counseling and access to medical care, give haircuts, a hot meal and more. The event will take place at ECOH’s main office, 2601 W. Strong St., Pensacola. To help, send donations to: EscaRosa Coalition On the Homeless, P.O. Box 17222 Pensacola, FL 32522, or by PayPal at www.ecoh.org/. Please place on the memo line: “U-Count” Homeless Services Day. Supplies also are needed for the U-Count Homeless Services Day from business and individuals to help those in need. Needed items include socks, gloves, Chapstick, small LED flashlights, duffle bags and backpacks, ponchos, candles, toilet paper, personal body products, men’s clothing and blankets. For more information, call Seren Keiek, project manager, at 232-9548.
Jay Historical Museum hours The Jay Historical Museum on Commerce Street in Jay is open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and is available for tours on other days upon request. Contact jayhistoricalsociety@panhandle.rr.com or Sandy Moore at 675-4695.
Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County meeting The Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. today, Jan. 13, at Ace’s Restaurant, 6583 U.S. 90, in Milton. Libertarians and the public at large from all Panhandle counties are invited.
School district announces Teacher of the Year semifinalists SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Education Foundation has announced the five semifinalists selected from 33 nominees for Santa Rosa School District’s Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Annette Nixon, Gulf Breeze Middle School; Cheryl Thacker, Pace High School; Ann Thompson, West Navarre Intermediate; Kim Kayser, West Navarre Primary; and Michele Fuller, Woodlawn Beach Middle School. The SREF Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, which consists of administrators, business and community leaders, parents, and former Santa Rosa Teachers of the Year, will observe the semifinalists in their classrooms and conduct interviews before selecting three finalists later this month. The Santa Rosa Golden Apple Celebration will be March 1 at New World Landing to present Teacher of the Year awards and honor all Santa Rosa County educators. For sponsorship information or tickets, visit www.santarosaeducation foundation.org or call 983-5043.
Navarre Library offers Brown Bag Lunch today Navarre Library’s next Brown Bag Lunch will be noon to 1 p.m. today, Jan. 16, in the Navarre Library meeting room, 8484 James M. Harvell Road in Navarre. Marketa Hutchison, personal trainer, will present an introduction to Pilates, along with a demonstration and explanation of Pilates moves. Basic nutrition also will be covered. Attendees are advised to bring a mat, if possible; however, one is not required. Bring your lunch and enjoy an hour of motivation toward your New Year’s resolutions. Brown Bag Lunches are noon to 1 p.m. third Wednesdays in the Navarre Library meeting room, unless indicated otherwise on the online library calendar. You bring a lunch and drink, and we’ll provide an interesting and interactive presentation. Each program is open to the public, and there is no charge or registration required. For more information, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/libraries or call 981-7323 (READ). Republican Club of Santa Rosa County meeting The Republican Club of Santa Rosa County will hold its next monthly meeting and Dutch Treat Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at The Club at Hidden Creek, 3070 PGA Blvd, Navarre. The featured speaker will be Jayer Williamson, a businessman and political activist in Santa Rosa County. For more information, contact club president Morgan Lamb at 939-2409 or morganlamb@bellsouth.net.
Trauma Intervention Program Heroes with Heart, a silent auction, dinner and award presentation for area heroes, will be 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at Hurlburt Field Soundside Club in Mary Esther. This event recognizes law enforcement officers, firefighters, hospital personnel and other first responders nominated by our volunteers for going above and beyond the call of duty in 2012. Recipients of the Heroes with Heart Awards are unsung heroes who, at this event, are given the public recognition they deserve. Organizers still are seeking silent auction items. Silent auction item donors will be recognized on a list of sponsors displayed at the gala, by announcement during the evening and by listing on the online sponsor recognition page. Donations may be tax-deductible. See already donated items on the Silent Auction Sneak Peek tab. The Soundside Club is at 107 Kissam St., Hurlburt Field. Auction items also can be bid for online at www.32auctions.com/tipnwfl.
Covenant Hospice New Volunteer Workshop Covenant Hospice will have a New Volunteer Workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Milton branch office, 6479 Caroline St, Suite B, Milton. Covenant Hospice volunteers help with patient and family support, the We Honor Veterans program, children’s programs, faith-based initiatives, fundraising, special events, bereavement services, Alzheimer’s family services and administrative projects. To RSVP, call 202-5948 or 202-5802
Course to teach identifying domestic violence The Community Drug and Alcohol Council Inc. is offering Identifying and Treating Domestic Violence, a three-hour CEU course for nurses, social workers, counselors, prevention specialists, behavioral health professionals or anyone interested in learning more about domestic violence prevention. The class will be 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jan. 25 at The Center, 3804 N. Ninth Ave. in Pensacola. The cost is $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Registration is required at www.cdac.info or by emailing lyork@cdac.info.
Reimagine Events seeks clothing, youth group help I have an urgent need for our upcoming event. The wonderful church family in Pensacola that typically provides the racks of clothing to be distributed during these events indicated they won’t be able to make the January 26th event. I really do find this as an opportunity for the youth in our area to shine. In order to make this area of the event work, the following is needed: Reimagine Events is in need of clothing to be distributed at a Jan. 26 event. Needed are clothing and shoe donations, bags for guests to carry out their selections and hangers. Reimagine also seeks a youth group or two to sort through the clothing and shoes from 8 10 a.m. and place it on racks. Youth also are requested to work during shifts of 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Any clothing left over can be used for any church that has a clothing closet. For more information, contact Linda English at 454-5280 or linda@reimagineworldwide.org.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local briefs – Jan. 16, 2013