Community happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.


Bridgeway Senior Program
Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of May 25-29:
•Wednesday: Turkey cordon bleu.
•Thursday: BBQ rib patty.
•Friday: Baked chicken.

Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate.floridatrail.org or call the listed number.
•May 29–31: Weekend fun at Cheaha State Park in North Alabama. Call 995-4267.

Family Fun Festival
The Destin Middle School Family Fun Festival will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. May 29. Sports contests include punt, pass & kick, 3-point shooting and a home run derby for all ages including adults. Other activities such as moon walk, rock climbing wall and a dunk tank will be available.
Concession stand will be open for participants and family members. A silent auction will have numerous items and raffle items will be given away while a DJ plays music.
Proceeds will be used for the Athletic Department at Destin Middle School.

Booksigning
Vicki Allen will sign copies of her book, “Drink One To Me, Christian Bennett,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 29 at Bayou Book Company, 1118 John Sims Parkway E in Niceville and from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Sundog Books, 89 Central Square in Seaside.

Destin Library
The following events are held regularly at the Destin Library. Call 837-8572
•Tai Chi for Arthritis: At 7 a.m.  Wednesdays. Cost is $5/class. 
•Cuddlers & Toddlers Storytime: From 3 t 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Thursdays for ages 4 months to 4 years.
•Independent Film Series: Independent and foreign films shown at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month.
•Friends of the Destin Library: Monthly meeting held at 10 a.m. the second Friday of each month.

Destin Community Center
All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.
•Brazilian Martial Arts: Offered at 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
•Chair Yoga: Meets at 11 a.m. Thursdays. Cost is $2.
•Duplicate bridge: At 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Community Center Annex. Entry fee: $5. No partner needed.
•Fencing: From 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 678-9190.
•Game room: Open to children 10 and older and under 10 accompanied by adult from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday.
•Intermediate party bridge: At 12:45 p.m. Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967.
•Jazzercise class: 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays.
•Low impact aerobics: From 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Bring water and towel. Cost $3 per session.
•Walk to music: From 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday.
•Woodcarving: Coastal Wood Carvers meet at 9 a.m. Fridays. Fee: $3 per class.
•Zumba: Dance fitness class at 10 a.m. Thursdays. Cost $6 per class.

Destin YMCA
If interested in the following events, contact the Destin Family YMCA at 837-8440.
•Swim lessons: Classes for ages 6 months to adults, group or private, morning or afternoon, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays, and Monday through Thursday. $48/members and $62/program participants.
•Water exercise classes: Aquacise I at 10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday in May and 9 a.m. in June. Aquacise II 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Classes free to members.
•Masters Swim Club: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Free to members.
•Aquatic Center: Water fitness classes from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Daily fees available for recreation swim only. Members/free; non-members, $35/month.
•Swim team: For developmental group and age group to seniors. Call for information.

Community Yard Sale
A Community Yard Sale, sponsored by the Simon and Anna Society, a senior ministry at Grace Lutheran Church, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 30 at 4325 Commons Drive in Destin.

Hurricane Awareness Day
Learn how to prepare for the hurricane season from 9 a.m. to noon May 30 at Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Bldg. K. Event includes children's booths and guest speakers including the American Red Cross and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department.

Spring Dance Program
The Northwest Florida Ballet School will hold its Spring Dance Program at 2 p.m. May 30 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.
Tickets are $10/adults and $5/children 12 and under. Call 664-7787. 

Boating course
“America’s Safe Boating Course,” conducted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14, will be held at 9 a.m. May 30 at Treasure Island Marina, 327 Harbor Blvd. in Destin. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
Cost is $35 and includes text, lunch, tour of the station and the examination. Pre-register at 865-9130 or 217-2918.

SUP for Life
SUP for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society will be held from 12 to 8 p.m. May 31 in the Choctawhatchee Bay at Senor Mojitos in Santa Rosa Beach. Paddlers, stand up paddleboards, kayaks or canoes, will gather pledges and donations to paddle all day. The event is designed for all levels of paddlers from novice to expert.
To take part, call 586-5781 or e-mail cory@watermangulfcoast.com

Model search
Modelscoutbennett, Haute 98 magazine and BPP photography will host Ford Model Management for a model search for ages 10 and up at 10 a.m. May 31 at Country Inn and Suites on Commons Drive in Destin. No photos necessary. Fee is $40. Call 424-6095.

Boating seminars
A seminar, Onboard Weather Forecasting, will be presented June 1 at the University of West Florida Coombs Campus on Lovejoy Road in Fort Walton Beach. Registration is available at www.uwf.edu or call 315-0686 or 474-2914.
•June 8: Hurricanes and Boats
•June 15: Anchoring
•June 20:    Partner in Command (Includes a portion on the water)
•June 22:    Using GPS
•June 27: Crew Over Board (Includes a portion on the water)
•June 29: How to Use a Chart
   
Home School Day
Home School Day: Dig It Up, a day for home school students ages 5 through 11 to participate in a mock archaeology dig, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 2 at Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Avenue in Valparaiso. Members are free; non-members $5/student and $2/adult. Register at 678-2615.
       
Hurricane Seminar
Walton County Community and Emergency Response Team will host a Hurricane Seminar to inform and prepare Walton County residents at 6 p.m. June 3 at Coastal Branch Library, 437 Greenway Trail in Santa Rosa Beach.

Sacred Heart seminar
Dr. Jose Jimenez, family medicine physician with Sacred Heart Medical Group, presents a free seminar on “Things that Aid or Disturb Sleep” at 10 a.m. June 3 in the Suite 3 Resource Center conference room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. To register, call 278-3600 or visit www.sacredheartemerald.org

Topsail tours
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach will hold the following tours. A $2 park entrance fee is required. Outside tours are canceled during severe weather. For information, call 267-0299.
•Turpentine Program: Earn babbits at 10 a.m. June 5.
•Hammerhead Sharks: Slide presentation at 6 p.m. June 9.
•Breakfast with a Ranger: Ask  questions about wildlife at 9 a.m. June 13. Bring $4 or your own breakfast.
•Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse: Learn about their habitat and behavior at 6 p.m. June 16.
•Coastal Dune Lakes: Learn about rare freshwater lakes at 6 p.m. June 22.
•Raptors: Learn about owls, ospreys, hawks and other hunters in the sky at 6 p.m. June 30.

2009 Beach Blast
Help raise funds for the Jr. Lifeguard Program of the Destin Fire Rescue Foundation during 2009 Beach Blast from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6 at June White Decker Park, 15000 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin.
Tickets are $10 for all day. Enjoy inflatable water slides, giant slip-n-slide, rock climbing/obstacle course, Sponge Bob Bounce House, Jr. Lifeguard competition, lifeguard demonstrations, water safety clinic and instructional demonstrations for many water sports such as paddle boarding, surfing, jet skiing, diving, kite boarding and kayaking.

Yard Sale Spectacular
The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida will host a Yard Sale Spectacular with the Niceville-Valparaiso Kiwanis from 7 a.m. to noon June 13 at 115 Westview Ave. in  Valparaiso.
Donations will be accepted during regular museum hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A limited number of 10’x10’ spaces are available for $10 each. Call 678-2615.

NWF State College information sessions
Northwest Florida State College will hold a series of information sessions, “NWFSC — The Basics: What You Need to Know to Begin College,” for new and prospective students at 6 p.m.  June 30 at the Niceville Campus, College Mall gallery, Bldg. K, July 9 at the Fort Walton Beach Campus Administration Building, and July 14 at the Chautauqua Center, Bldg. 1 Room 154 in DeFuniak Springs.

Genealogy program
The Heritage Museum will host Branch Out, a program on family genealogy, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. July 15. Free to HMNF members; $5/child and  one adult. Space is limited. Call 678-2615 to reserve space.