Community happenings

Discover scuba
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25 at the Destin YMCA. Call 937-8440 for information.

Garage sale
Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County will hold a fundraiser  at 6:30 a.m. July 25 in the parking lot of Tattoos Forever in Crestview.

Wag & Win Rolex Giveaway
Last day to purchase $25 tickets for Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watch valued at $10,000 at McCaskill & Company, 13390 U.S. 98 West to benefit the Alaqua Animal Refuge. Call 650-2262.

Bridgeway Senior Program
Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of July 27-31:
•Monday: Beef spaghetti casserole.
•Tuesday: Smoked sausage.
•Wednesday: Tuna mac salad.
•Thursday: Creole steak.
•Friday: Ham and white beans.

Florida Trail Association
The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number.
•July 28: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville. Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 7: Walk around town with dinner afterwards begins at 6 p.m. Call 434-8861.
•Aug. 8: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance on the Nokuse section at 8 a.m. Call 862-1903.
•Aug. 8: Hike and swim at 8 a.m. at Juniper Creek in Santa Rosa County. Call 983-2557.
•Aug. 15: Canoe/kayak on Blackwater River at 9 a.m. Call 932-0125.
•Aug. 16: Rise and shine hike with breakfast afterwards at 6:30 a.m. Call 995-4267.
•Aug. 22: Canoe/kayak for a 4-5 hour float trip down Yellow River at 9 a.m. Call 682-6098.
•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.

Fall Term Registration
Registration for the fall term at Northwest Florida State College is in progress for returning students who may enroll via the college’s on-line registration system. New students may enroll on-line starting July 27. Individuals may also enroll in-person at any of the college’s six area locations from Aug, 3-31. For in-person registration hours and a complete course listing, visit www.nwfsc.edu

Junior League Recruitment Social
The Junior League of the Emerald Coast will hold a Recruitment Social for women who are interested in voluntarism and community service from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at GulfSouth Private Bank on Commons Drive.
You must be 21 years of age, live in Okaloosa, Walton or Santa Rosa County, and be sponsored by a Junior League member. The JLEC will provide a sponsor if needed.
Applications accepted on first-come-first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.jlec.org or call 862-2665.

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.

BackPack 2 School
Destiny Worship Center’s BackPack 2 School program helped more than 1,000 children in the community last year.
Every family can sponsor a child for $50. Many friends and businesses in the community are giving $100 sponsorships. This provides each child with a backpack full of their specific supplies, a new pair of sneakers and a haircut.
BP2S distribution date is Aug. 8 at both the Destin and Freeport Campus.
For more information or to contribute to this community outreach, call (850) 650-6800.
 
Seminars
Sacred Heart Senior Services and Mainstay Financial Group, Inc. will host a free seminar on 529 College Savings Plans at 10 a.m. July 27 in the Suite 3 Resource Center conference room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast.
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast’s Senior Spirit program presents a free seminar, “Five Wishes: The Power of Advance Directives,” at 10 a.m. July 29 in the Suite 3 Resource Center conference room at Sacred Heart. Register at 278-3600.

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.

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.

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.

Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida will offer a class in making Victorian Violet baskets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 1. The cost is $30 or $25 for members and includes all materials. Space is limited. Register at 678-2615 or the museum, 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso.

Girl Scout carnival
The Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle will hold a free carnival and concert featuring Teresa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Jackson County Agricultural Center in Marianna. The carnival is open to all families.
Any local business interested in having a booth at the Panhandle Connection Kickoff Carnival contact Pat Madison at (800) 624-3951 or pmadison@gscfp.org

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.

Boating seminar
A boating seminar, Rules of the Road, will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 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
•Aug. 31: Border Crossing

Income tax rally
Citizens of Okaloosa County and neighboring areas will rally at the Northwest Florida Fair Grounds from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 to commemorate the 148th anniversary of the first Income Tax which was implemented during the American Civil War in 1861.
Attendees are encouraged to bring coolers with food and water — no alcohol – as well as lawn chairs, flags and signs. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters 20th Anniversary Celebration
COX presents Big Brothers Big Sisters 20th Anniversary Celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 on Cox Channel 6 in Okaloosa County to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. Auction items to bid on include a citrine and pearl necklace, a football signed by Urban Meyer, head coach of the Florida Gators football team, an EZIP 26” Trailz Unisex Electric Bike and a weeklong stay at Sterling Breeze in Panama City.
Each $20 gift will give the contributor an opportunity to win a Portofino Island escape getaway.

Purses with a Purpose
Shelter House and the Ronald McDonald House will hold a benefit purse auction and sale from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20 between Nike and Restoration Hardware Clearance Center at Silver Sands Factory Stores.
The evening will include new and gently used purses, appetizers donated by Carrabba’s Italian Grill and wine. Admission is free and all proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House and Shelter House. 

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.

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.