Community happenings

Fill the Boot
Destin Fire Control District and Destin Professional Firefighters Local #3158 will collect donations  for MDA at the intersection of Danny Weurffel and U.S. 98 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 22.

Rotary Barbeque Challenge
Local clubs compete during Smoke On The Harbor, a Rotary Barbeque Challenge, from 12 to 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at HarborWalk Village. Admission is free and open to the public. Food and drink available for purchase.

Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number. 
•Aug. 23: Canoe/kayak float trip on Coldwater Creek at 9 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•Aug. 25: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville. Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 29: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance on Eglin reservation at 8 a.m. Call 492-8258.
•Sept 4: Walk around town in Milton with dinner afterwards at 6 p.m. Call 983-2557.
•Sept 5: Kayak/canoe night float trip with dinner following at 6 p.m. Call 729-6729.
•Sept 6: Afternoon hike on the Dunes Trail on Pensacola Beach at 4 p.m. Call 932-5469.
•Sept 19: Canoe/kayak float trip down Turkey Creek at 9 a.m. Call 729-6729.
•Sept 18-20: Weekend of camping, biking and hiking at Three Rivers State Park. Call 434-8861.
•Sept 20: Rise and shine hike with breakfast afterwards at  6:30 a.m. Call 995-4267.
•Sept 22: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville. Call 682-6098.
•Sept 26: A 2-3 mile hike on the Dunes Trail on Pensacola Beach at 9 a.m. Call 932-5469.
•Sept 26: Seven mile hike at Torreya State Park at 10 a.m. (CDT) Call 939-0966.
•Sept 27: Hike on Juniper Creek Trail at 9 a.m. Call 484-9111.

Bridgeway Senior Program
Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of Aug. 24-28:
•Monday: Beef spaghetti casserole
•Tuesday: Smoked sausage.
•Wednesday: Tuna mac salad.
•Thursday: Creole steak.
•Friday: Ham and white beans.

Garage sales
Okaloosa/Walton Covenant Hospice will hold a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, the second and fourth weekends of the month, at 1419 29th Street in Niceville.
Items include furniture, new books and Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations.
Donations and volunteers to help are needed. Call 729-1800.

ACT/SAT workshop
A workshop to assist students in Okaloosa County High Schools who will take the Sept. 12 ACT and the Oct. 10 SAT will be held from 2:15 to 5:15 p.m. Sept. 9, 10, 14 and 15 at Fort Walton Beach High School. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students need to bring calculators. Registration deadline is Aug. 24. For information, contact Alice Hart at (615) 585-2401, e-mail Amhart1966@aol.com or contact your high school Guidance Department.

Summer '09 Economic Summit
O'Sullivan Creel, LLP and the Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties will hold the Summer '09 Economic Summit for local businesses from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center. Registration begins at 8 a.m.
There is no-charge for the seminar, but pre-registration is required. RSVP by Aug. 25 at 275-1241 or e-mail sderosa@osullivancreel.com.

Public lecture
The Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute at Northwest Florida State College will host Dr. Patricia “Tricia” Kelley, a National Association of Geoscience Teachers Distinguished Lecturer, at 7 p.m. Aug. 27 on the mainstage of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Niceville campus. She will present a free public lecture on “Evolution and Creation: Conflicting or Compatible?”
The lecture kicks off a special semester-long series on evolution as part of the college’s regular free “Science Friday” seminar series held on the third Friday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon on the NWFSC Niceville Campus. Call 729-5376.

Teen Dance
The Destin Community Center will hold a Teen Dance for middle school students from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 28. Cost is $5. Call 654-5184.

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.
•Ballroom dance classes: Learn swing, Latin and ballroom dance from 7 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. Cost: $10/person.
•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.
•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.

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. Call for times and days. $48/members and $62/program participants.
•Water exercise classes: Aquacise I at 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Aquacise II 5:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Classes free to members.
•Masters Swim Club: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Free to members.
•Aquatic Center: Water walking classes from 9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
•Scuba classes available. Call for information.
•Swim team: For developmental group and age group to seniors. Call for information.

College Surplus Sale
Northwest Florida State College will hold a Surplus Sale from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Niceville Campus in Building G-2. The sale is open to the public and conducted by closed bid with no prior inspection. Property is sold in “as-is” condition. Various items are available including computers, computer parts, printers, office type furniture, a 26 passenger bus, a van and various miscellaneous items. Call 729-5380.

Fill the Boot
Members of the Destin Fire Control District and Destin Professional Firefighters Local #3158 will collect donations at the intersection of Danny Weurffel and U.S. 98 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 29. Donations will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Model search
ModelScoutBennet and BPP photography and Haute 98 magazine will host Elite Model Management for a model search at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 29 at Country Inn and Suites on Commons Drive in Destin. Venue fee to participate is $40. Call 424-6095.

Boating course
“America’s Safe Boating Course” conducted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 1-4, will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 29 at Coast Guard Station 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 729-1522 or 865-9130.

Boating seminar
A boating seminar, Border Crossing, will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at the University of West Florida Coombs Campus on Lovejoy Road in Fort Walton Beach. Call 315-0686 or 474-2914. Registration is available on-line at www.uwf.edu.
National Women’s Friendship Month
Created by Kappa Delta Sorority, September will be celebrated as National Women’s Friendship Month. The celebration offers all women the opportunity to remember their special friends.

JobsPlus
The JobsPlus Mobile One-Stop will be at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 1. JobsPlus will offer “Job Searching and Resumes for Today’s Market” résumé classes at 10 a.m. and noon in the chamber conference room. The general public and veterans are encouraged to attend. Call 837-6241.

Cottages for Canines
In conjunction with the Ultimate Air Dog Southern Championship, Children’s Volunteer Health Network will host “Cottages for Canines” Sept. 18-27 in the Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. All proceeds benefit the Children’s Volunteer Health Network.
Doggie dream houses designed by artists, architects and creative locals will be on display with “Buy it Now” pricing in the Village. The event culminates Sept. 27 with a live auction of the dog houses remaining.
In addition, the Ultimate Air Dog Southern Championship will be held during the last weekend of Cottages for Canines.
Information can be obtained at www.cvhnkids.org or call 622-3200.

Trunk show
Kiki Risa boutique in Destin will hold a trunk show featuring the fashion label Leona from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at 36236 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite E.

Student Night
The American Society of Women Accountants will host a Student Night to inform students and CPAs of ASWA and other accounting firms at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at the UWF/NWF State College at the Fort Walton Campus, Bldg. 1, Room 126, 1170 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach.
Sponsors will give away scholarships to select students. Any CPAs attending will receive 1 hour of personal development CPE credit.
Visit www.fwb131aswa.org or call 226-8450.

Prime Time Personal Enrichment Program
Registration for Fall Prime Time personal enrichment classes at NWF State College begins from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 9 at the college’s Niceville campus in the College Mall, Bldg. K and from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Bldg. C.
Registration at all other college sites begins Sept. 10 and continues until classes start or are filled.
A schedule of classes is available at www.nwfsc.edu/schedule and at all college locations, area chambers of commerce and public libraries. Call 729-6084 or 729-6085.

Braille course
The Northwest Florida Visionnaires will offer a course to learn to transcribe textbooks into braille for blind students from 10 am to noon Sept. 14 in the Community Life Center at the First United Methodist Church of Niceville.
The class meets each Monday, except holidays, through April. No experience in braille is required, but you must have a computer. Call 897-3383.

Book sale
The Friends of the Niceville Library annual Book Sale will be held Sept. 18-19 in the Niceville Community Center, 204 N. Partin Drive.
A presale for members of Friends will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 and the sale will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 19. Baked goods will also be on sale.
All proceeds benefit the Niceville Public Library. Call 729-4090.

Day for Kids
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, Eglin Youth Program and Hurlburt Youth Center are joining together to celebrate “Boys & Girls Clubs Day for Kids” from 10:30 a.m. t 2:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center.
This free event is open to the public but children must be supervised at all times. Lunch, activities and prizes are provided. 

YOLO Board Seaside Celebration
A YOLO Board Seaside Celebration to benefit Holly Burke and Jason Thompson who are both battling cancer will be held Sept. 19 in Seaside. The event is free and open to the public.
Plans include paddleboard races from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., stand-up paddling demos, YOLO Yak fishing guide demos, silent auction, a YOLO Yak giveaway and silent auction, and a concert from the Gulf coast group Heritage from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Seaside Amphitheater.
Tickets for the Giveaway will be $5/ticket or $20/5 tickets and are available at select participating Seaside merchants or the YOLO Board retail warehouse, 820 Hwy 393 N in Santa Rosa Beach.
Sponsors for the event and donations for the silent auction are needed. Call 622-5760 or visit www.yoloboard.com.

Destin Woman’s Club fundraiser
The Destin Woman's Club fall fundraiser benefiting Children In Crisis will be held Sept. 26 at the Sandestin Hilton Hotel and Spa. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Enjoy a silent auction, raffle row, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, and music by Deja Vu.
The “Timeless” fashion show will feature fashions show from local stores.
Tickets are $60/person and can be purchased at Kitchenique in Destin, Spa 98 in Sandestin, Bayou Books in Niceville and PS Gifts in Fort Walton Beach. Call 240-6275.

Kids in the Kitchen
Sarah K's Gourmet and 30a Media Inc will film a regular segment featuring local children ages 4 to 14 who aspire to be chefs. Segment will teach nutrition, cooking skills and math skills while showcasing a young chef.
Send recent picture of child along with age, contact information and age appropriate recipe to Sarah K's Gourmet, 34940 U.S. 98, Suite 183 Destin FL 32541.
The recipes must meet be 10 ingredients or less, simple and fresh ingredients, family friendly and age appropriate cooking processes.

 
The Destin Community Center offers numerous activities including exercise and fitness classes, art classes and bridge games. Call 654-5184 for information and to register. Visit www.thedestinlog.com for a complete listing.