Community happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Bridgeway Senior Program
Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of June 29-July 3: Wednesday: Tuna mac salad; Thursday: Hamburger patty; Friday: Closed.

Beach Cleanup
The Walton County Tourist Development Council and South Walton Community Council invite residents and visitors to help clean up the area’s beaches from 8 to 10 a.m. July 5 at the following beach accesses:  Blue Mountain Beach Access, Dune Allen Beach Access, Ed Walline Beach Access, Grayton Beach Access, Seagrove Beach Access, Miramar Beach Access (on the western side of Pompano Joe's), Van Ness Butler Jr. Beach Access (between Seaside and WaterColor), and Inlet Beach Access.
Bags, gloves and bottled water will be provided. Call 231-0947.

Capture the Moment photography contest
Destin Commons and Destin Magazine present “Capture the Moment” contest with photography taken at Destin Commons. Deadline for entry is 5 p.m. July 6.
The photo contest will be in two categories — one for professionals and one for amateurs. Photos may include people or may be purely architectural. For entry instructions, visit www.DestinCommons.com

Boating seminar
A seminar, Using your VHF Marine Radio, will be presented July 6 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.

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.  July 9 at the Fort Walton Beach Campus Administration Building, and July 14 at the Chautauqua Center, Bldg. 1 Room 154 in DeFuniak Springs.

Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number.
•July 11: Canoe/kayak on Alaqua Creek at 9:30 a.m. Call 974-2078 or 682-6098.
•July 12: Canoe/kayak down Blackwater River at 9 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•July 18: Canoe/kayak on Titi Creek & Shoal River at 9 a.m. Call 682-6098.
•July 25: Bike/hike Blackwater Heritage Trail in Milton at 8 a.m. Call 983-2557.
•July 25: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance on Eglin reservation at 8 a.m. Call 341-1389.
•July 26: Canoe/kayak trip. Call 474-5359.
 •July 28: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville. Call 682-6098.

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.

Wag & Win Rolex Giveaway
McCaskill & Company will hold the first Wag & Win Rolex Giveaway to benefit the Alaqua Animal Refuge by raffling a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch valued at $10,000. Tickets will be sold through July 25 at McCaskill & Company, 13390 U.S. 98 West, for $25 each with no limit to how many can be purchased per person. Call 650-2262.

Free dental x-rays
The Dental Assisting program at Northwest Florida State College will offer free dental x-rays in July as a service to the public and to provide practicum experience for  dental radiology students. A written request or prescription from a dentist stating the specific x-rays needed is required.
Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. Call 729-6480 to schedule.

Garage Sale/Auction
Covenant Hospice needs big ticket items such as automobiles, boats and RVs and large pieces of good condition furniture, for a Garage Sale/Auction to be held in November at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds.
All donations are tax-deductible and the proceeds from the event will benefit Covenant Hospice patient and family services in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. To donate items, call 729-1800.

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, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays, and Monday through Thursday. $48/members and $62/program participants.
•Water exercise classes: Aquacise I at 9 a.m. 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.

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.

Stampfest III
The Panhandle Philatelic Society will host Stampfest III from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 18 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 205 Carol Ave. in Fort Walton Beach. Admission if free.

Planning workshops
Florida's Great Northwest and Enterprise Florida Inc. will hold strategic planning workshops for Northwest Florida's business, education, government and economic development leaders to help update Enterprise Florida's plan for the state's economic future.
Forums will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. July 29 at the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via de Luna Drive in Pensacola and from 1 to 4 p.m. July 30 at TCC Capitol Center, 300 West Pensacola St. in Tallahassee. RSVP by e-mail to ttucker@fgnw.org or call 337-3469.

Scholarship Fundraiser
A fundraiser called Puttin’ On The Ritz, for the late Michael A. Mancini, Sr., will be held to raise funds for a scholarship started by his wife Mary Mancini at Northwest Florida State College from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Sons of Italy Lodge. Desserts will be served and a cash bar will be available. The Twilight Jazz Band featuring another local Saundra Daggs will perform.
Tickets are on sale for $20 at 689-1115. To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, send your donation to Northwest Florida State College Foundation, 100 College Blvd., Niceville, FL 32578 and indicate it is for the Michael A. Mancini, Sr. Gifted Musician Scholarship.
Students bound for college and studying Jazz music will be able to apply.