Community Happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of Feb. 1-5:

•Wednesday: Sloppy Joe.

•Thursday: Oven fried chicken.

•Friday: BBQ pork.

Media Auction

Special advertising packages and silent auction items will be available for bid at the Annual Media Auction, hosted by the Emerald Coast Advertising Federation from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 4 at Hard Rock Café in Destin Commons. Proceeds from the auction will go to support ECAF’s and Florida Public Relations Association's public service campaign for the Canaan Recovery Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides recovery services for women recovering from alcoholism and drug abuse. Admission is free. For information, e-mail proffitt@turnberry.com..com.

Habitat for Humanity seminar

Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County currently does not a waiting list for future home sites and is in need of securing qualified families to begin participation in their program. With Striving for Perfection Ministries, Habitat will host a seminar to detail the process of qualifying for a Habitat home and what Habitat offers to families through the program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at 24 Bass Avenue SW in Fort Walton Beach. The event is open to all interested individuals and families in the community that would like to understand Habitat for Humanity homeownership and to determine eligibility. Door prizes and refreshments provided. Call 315-0025, ext. 3.

Florida Trail Association

The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number. 

•Feb. 5-7: A 15-mile backpacking hike on Eglin reservation at 8 a.m. Eglin recreation permit required. Call 492-8258.

•Feb. 5-7: Weekend of camping, hiking and socializing at Torreya State Park. Call 623-1646.

•Feb. 13: A 9-mile hike on the Nokuse section at 8:15 a.m. Call 862-1903.

•Feb. 12-14: Weekend of camping, hiking and socializing at Cheaha, Ala., at 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.

•Feb. 19-20: Camping and a bike ride around Bear Lake at 10 a.m. Call 683-0803.

•Feb. 20: Awards banquet and pot luck dinner at Bear Lake at 11:30 a.m. Call 932-0125.

•Feb. 21: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance in the Yellow River Ravines section at 8 a.m. Call 474-5359.

•Feb. 23: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville.  Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.

•Feb. 27: Hike on Tarkin Preserve Park at 8 a.m. Call 554-7255.

Ruth’s secrets revealed

Chef Ruston Johnson and Sous Chef Scott Miller will hold a cooking class Feb. 6 at Ruth’s Christ Steak House, 15000 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin, to teach how to prepare crab cakes, sweet potato casserole, steak salad and bread pudding. Cost is $50/person; $40/person for Black Diamond cardholders. Make reservations at 337-5108

Bird Walk

Members and non-members of all levels of experience are invited to join the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society for a bird walk around the Niceville area at 8 a.m. Feb. 6. Bring binoculars, a bird book and weather appropriate clothing. Call 2602.

Camellia Workshop/Open House

The 11th Annual Camellia Workshop/Open House, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia Society, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 6 at the Okaloosa County Extension Service Building, 127 Hollywood Ave. in Fort Walton Beach. Attendees will receive one-on-one, hands-on instruction on various aspects of growing camellias. Visitors are encouraged to bring samples of leaves, blooms, etc., to the pests/diseases table for evaluation of plants. Camellia plants will be available for purchase. Call 862-4526.

Boating seminar

A boating seminar, Basic Coastal Navigation, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Anchorage, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. Call 315-0686 or 474-2914. Registration is available on-line at www.uwf.edu. Cost is $35. Call 315-0686.

•Feb. 22: Using GPS.

Volunteer orientation

The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center will hold a volunteer orientation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at 401 McEwen Drive in Niceville. Volunteers with a variety of skills are needed to help with administrative duties, community/special events, after hours to help care for children and more. RSVP at 833-9237, Ext. 222. 

Valentine Dinner

Shelter House, local domestic violence center, and Youth Village, Inc., an after school program and summer camp, are teaming up to present a Valentines Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Youth Village, 312 Pelham Road in Fort Walton Beach. Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $10/person and can be purchased at 243-1201.

Chocolat’ Fare

Destin United Methodist Women's annual Chocolat' Fare and Jewelry Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 13 in Avery Hall at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive. Proceeds will go to the Church Benevolent Fund and Missions. A large variety of homemade chocolate items (cakes, candies, cookies, dipped fruit, trifle, etc.) will be for sale to eat in the café and to take home. Handcrafted jewelry will also be for sale. Call 650-3573 or e-mail gwil102236@aol.com.

Hands Across the Sand

The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us and others throughout the state of Florida, as we join ‘Hands Across the Sand’ to protest pending offshore drilling legislation at noon Feb. 13 at James Lee Park. All those who join the protest are asked to wear black to symbolize an oil spill across our white sandy beaches. Call 837-2711, ext. 5.

Pancake Breakfast

A Valentine’s Day all you can eat Pancake Breakfast will be held from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. Feb. 14 in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, 4325 Commons Drive West in Destin. Advance tickets for adults are $5 and can be purchased at the church office. At the door tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children.

Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase tables and chairs for pre-school children.  The event is sponsored by Simeon and Anna Society, a senior Grace ministry, with proceeds supplemented by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Senior tours

For information on the following tours for seniors, call 594-9980.

•Cajun Mardi Gras Tour: Konriko Rice Mill, Avery Island, Mardi Gras parades in Houma, La., and tour of New Orleans, Feb. 14-18.

•Branson, Mo.: Tour five shows and 9 meals and other places of interest, March 11-16.

•Alaska Cruise/Canadian Rockies Tour: Eight-day land tour Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff Jasper. Seven-day Alaska Cruise, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, May 25-June 4.

•Israel - A Journey to the Holy Land: Bethlehem, Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth and other places of interest, Oct. 21-30.

Garage sales

Covenant Hospice will hold garage sales from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 19-20 and March 19-20 at 1419 29th St. in Niceville. The sales will benefit its non-funded and under-funded programs in Okaloosa and Walton counties. These programs include bereavement services, children’s services, chaplain services and indigent care. Items on sale include furniture, books, jewelry, toys, Valentine items (new) and more.

The non-profit is now seeking donations and volunteers to help in organizing the sale. Call 729-1800.

ACT/SAT workshop

A workshop to assist students in Okaloosa County High Schools who will take the April 10 ACT and the March 13 and May 11 23 SATs will be held from 2:15 to 5:15 p.m. March 9, 10, 15 and 16 at Fort Walton Beach High School and  from 2 to 5 p.m. March 11, 12, 17 and 18 at Niceville High School. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students need to bring calculators. Registration deadline is Feb. 22. For information, contact Alice Hart at 615-585-2401, e-mail Amhart1966@aol.com or contact your high school Guidance Department.

Spring Craft Show

The Destin Community Center will host its Third Annual Spring Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 27. For information, call 654-5184 .

Destin Fish Fry

The Destin History & Fishing Museum will host the Fifth Annual Old-fashion Destin Fish Fry Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Museum on Stahlman Avenue. Cadillac Willy will provide music. Advance tickets are $10 and available at the Museum. The day of the event, tickets are $12 for adults.

Eco-Nomic Living Expo

Okaloosa Saves will hold its Fourth Annual Piggy Bank Pageant at the Eco-Nomic Living Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds on Lewis Turner. Kids get to decorate, dress-up and create artistic piggy banks through their schools, business, local churches and organizations. Piggy Banks will be pre-judged at their organization, and then compete in the Okaloosa Saves Pageant. Pageant winners will be awarded a $100 U.S. Savings Bonds donated by new customer services. People’s Choice winners will be selected at the Economic Living Expo. Call 862-0111, Ext. 1316 or e-mail egarcia@eglinfcu.

Safe Boating Course

A five-week public boating course, “America’s Boating Course,” will be conducted from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday nights beginning March 1 at the Anchorage building, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. Arrive by 6:30 p.m. the first night for administrative tasks. Ownership of a boat is not required to attend.

Class instruction is free, but there is a $45 charge for classroom materials. For further information, call 315-0686 or visit the website www.fwsps.com

Computer workshops

The Destin Library computer workshops offered January through March are open to individuals having a valid library card membership in the Okaloosa County Library Cooperative and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The last day for preregistration will be two days prior to the scheduled workshop date.

Workshops include E-Mail Internet Basics, Computer Basics, Facebook, and Introduction to Blogs, Digital Photography and Craigslist.

Registration forms and workshop descriptions can be viewed and downloaded at www.cityofdestin.com. Call 837-8572.

Beach Kite Festival

Kitty Hawk Kites will host the Sixth Annual Kitty Hawk Kites Beach Kite Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 3-4 on the beach behind The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island. Professional kite fliers will be in attendance anda stunt kite field will be open with experts on hand to provide instruction on how to fly some of the most impressive kites available in the area. Free kids’ kite making, games and music by DJ Zoran will last for the duration of the event on both Saturday and Sunday

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 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.

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

•Chair yoga: 10 a.m. Thursdays. Cost: $2.

•Dodgeball: 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays for ages 17 and up.

•Duplicate bridge: At 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. 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 and Tuesdays at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967.

•Jazzercise class: 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

•Line dancing: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays for beginners and intermediates Begins Nov. 4. Cost $5.

•Low impact aerobics: 9:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Begins Nov. 2. Bring water and a towel. Cost $3.

•Table tennis: 8 to 11 a.m. Thursdays.

•Volleyball: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

•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 at 11 a.m. Thursdays. Cost: $6.