Community happenings

Breakfast with a Ranger
Ask questions about wildlife at 9 a.m. Jan. 10 at  Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. Bring $3 or bring your own breakfast. Call 267-0299.

Florida Trail Association

Night hike around Bear Lake with pot luck dinner following at  5 p.m. Jan. 19. Call (727) 375-3416.

Collegiate High School
Applications for 2009-2010 admission to the Collegiate High School are now available. An information session will be held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 12 in the College Mall, Bldg. K community gallery on the college’s Niceville campus and at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Crestview Public Library.
For more information, visit the school’s web site at www.nwfcollegiatehigh.org

Bridgeway Senior Program
Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of Jan. 12-16:
•Monday: Meatloaf.
•Tuesday: Chicken Alfredo.
•Wednesday: BBQ rib patty.
•Thursday: Turkey pot roast.
•Friday: Beef chili with beans.

Seminar on Reverse Mortgages
Sacred Heart Senior Services and Mainstay Financial Group, Inc. presents a free seminar on home equity conversion mortgages at 10 a.m. Jan. 12 in the Suite 3 Resource Center conference room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.
To register, call 278-3600 or toll-free (877) 416-1600.

Boating seminars
Seminars, sponsored by UWF and the Fort Walton Sail and Power Squadron, a unit of the United States Power Squadrons, include Boating Security on Jan. 12 and Boat Handling Under Power Jan. 26. Seminars begin at 7 p.m. at the University of West Florida Coombs Campus on Lovejoy Road in Fort Walton Beach and last two hours.
Registration is available on-line through the UWF Continuing Education Maritime Education Web site at www.uwf.edu or call 315-0686 or 474-2914.

Zen priest to speak
“How to Taste a Strawberry When a Tiger Is Chasing You” is the title of a talk to be given by The Rev. Teijo Munnich of Asheville, N.C., at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Coastal Branch Library in south Walton County.
The talk is free and open to the public.  The library is at 437 Greenway Trail near U.S. Hwy. 331 in south Walton County. Call 231-1498 for more information.

Seminar
Building Engineering-Consultants, Inc. will present a seminar, Maintenance Plans and Reserve Studies, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at the Destin Community Center. Cost is $10/person.
Participants will receive a Completion Certificate for 3 hours of continuing education credits for CAM License.
RSVP by noon Jan. 14 at manderson@be-ci.com. Include full name and CAM license number.

Walton County Master Gardener course
Applications are being accepted for the new Master Gardener class to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Thursday Feb. 5 through April 23 at the Walton County Extension Office, 732 N. 9th Street in DeFuniak Springs.
Space is limited. A charge of $95 covers books and other supplies. In addition to classroom work, students are expected to participate in community volunteer projects.
Call 892-8172 for applications.  Deadline is Jan. 16.

Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate.floridatrail.org or call the listed number.
•Jan. 16: Spend the long weekend at St. Joe Peninsula hiking, camping and eating. 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.
•Jan. 17: A 4 day, 3 night backpacking/hike on Eglin at 8 a.m. Do all 30 miles or part. Call 492-8258.
•Jan. 24: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance at 8 a.m. Call 983-2557.
•Jan. 24: Cold weather BBQ at 5 p.m. Call 682-6098.
•Jan. 27: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at LaRumba restaurant in Niceville. Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.
•Jan. 31: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance on the Nokuse section at 8:15 a.m. Call 862-9633.
•Jan. 31: Hike on the Hutton Unit in Blackwater River State Forest at 8 a.m. Call 932-0125.

Topsail tours
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach will hold the following tours. A $2 park entrance fee is required. For information, call 267-0299.
•Turpentining: Earn daily babbits at 10 a.m. Jan. 17.
•Birds of Prey: Learn about owls, ospreys, hawks and other hunters in the sky at 9 a.m. Jan. 31.

Community Health Fair
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast will host its sixth annual community Health Fair from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Jan. 24 in the main colonnade of the hospital with free health screenings and information on health issues.
Walk-ins are welcome, and there is no need to pre-register. For accurate results on the glucose and cholesterol screenings, please do not eat or drink anything besides water eight hours prior to the test. Call 278-3600 or visit www.sacredheartemerald.org

Media and Merchandise Auction
Emerald Coast Advertising Federation will relive the ‘80s at the  Awesome ‘80s Media and Merchandise Auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29 at Hard Rock Café in Destin.
Enjoy music, a silent and live auction, food and drinks. In addition to traditional auction items, the auction will feature advertising space from local and regional publications.
Tickets are $20/person, or $125 for eight tickets and can be purchased ahead of time or at the door. For tickets, call 240-9135 or e-mail lorraine@creative-wits.com

UWF open house
The University of West Florida will host a free open house for future students from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 31 in the University Commons Conference Center, Bldg. 22. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. Other open houses will be held Feb. 28 and April 18. Call 474-2230.

Flash Boot Camp Course
Learn the fundamental skills you need to get started creating Flash animations and applications in a four-week course from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Feb. 3 through 24, on the UWF main campus in Bldg. 78, Room 136. The cost is $99. Call 474-2914.

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 to 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.
•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 and Tuesdays at the Community Center Annex. Call 837-1967.
•Jazzercise class: 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
•Low impact aerobics: From 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Bring water and towel. Cost $3 per session.
•Pilates: Class held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost $5/class.
•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 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 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: On going classes, weekly and weekend. Ages 6 months to adult.
•Swim team: For developmental group and age group to seniors. Call for information.

new4Heartfelt Walkabout
Join Sacred Heart Foundation for a “Heartfelt Walkabout” from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Magnolia Ballroom at the Village of Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Guests will enjoy signature dishes from area restaurants, wine tastings, live entertainment, and silent and live auctions. All proceeds from the event will benefit Sacred Heart Foundation’s capital campaign to raise $5 million for the expansion of heart and vascular services at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.
Tickets are $99 per person and may be purchased at Kitchenique in The Market Shops at Sandestin, Burnt Pine Golf Club, and Sacred Heart Foundation.

Camellia Workshop/Open House
The 10th Annual Camellia Workshop/Open House, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia Society, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 7 at the Okaloosa County Extension Service Building, 127 Hollywood Ave. in Fort Walton Beach.
Attendees may drop by the free workshop anytime to get hands-on instruction from local Camellia society members. Camellia plants will be available for purchase.

Destin Woman’s Club fundraiser
The Destin Woman’s Club presents Shirley Simpson on stage as Minnie Pearl from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 14 at Grace Lutheran Church, 4325 W. Commons Drive in Destin. Reception follows to meet “Minnie.” Proceeds will benefit Fisher House in Fort Walton Beach.
Tickets are $25 and are available beginning Jan. 12 at P.S. Gifts in Fort Walton Beach, Bayou Books in Niceville and Kitchenique in Sandestin. Call 687-1130.

Cox Cablethon
The 37th annual Cox Communications Cablethon benefiting Covenant Hospice will be held Feb. 27-28 on Channel 6.
The Cablethon may also be viewed globally this year via the Internet so providing sponsors even more value for their sponsorships. All of the money raised from the Cablethon goes toward unfunded programs in Okaloosa and Walton Counties such as indigent care, bereavement and children’s programs.
Covenant Hospice, a not-for-profit organization, is now seeking corporate sponsorships and auction items for the Cablethon. Call 729-1800 or visit www.covenanthospice.org
 
 Parrot Head Club Chili Cook-off
The fourth annual Emerald Coast Parrot Head Club Chili Cook-Off to benefit Relay for Life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Fudpucker’s in Destin. Cost is $10/person to sample, vote on favorite and participate in silent auction.
Cost to enter your chili is $10 for club members through Feb. 27; $20 at the door and $30 for non-members through Feb. 27, $40 at the door. Prize awarded.
E-mail wolfcry97@aol.com to enter or donate items for silent auction.

Green Thumb Garden Club
The Green Thumb Garden Club of Santa Rosa Beach will host a motorcoach tour to the annual Mobile Flower Show, “Festival of Flowers,” March 28-29. Trip also includes shopping in Fairhope, area touring, a dinner cruise and Bellingrath Gardens. For a brochure, call 627-0441.