Community Happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Click It or Ticket

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's office will join other law enforcement agencies across Florida in renewing a pledge to save lives by intensifying efforts to enforce seat belts laws during the Click It or Ticket campaign through March 15.

Lowe’s fundraiser

Through Shamrocks Against Dystrophy, Lowe’s will accept $1 and $5 donations through St. Patrick’s Day to help fund research for treatments and cures, support group sessions, clinic fees, MDA summer camp, mobility and communication devices, and much more. All money raised stays in local communities.

‘Buy Destin’ coupon

The “Buy Destin” coupon book, with valuable offers from Destin Area Chamber of Commerce members, is available for $5 at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A.

Children’s Summer Fun Guidebook

The United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties is gathering information on children’s summer programs for the “2010 Children’s Summer Fun Guidebook,” designed to help parents find safe, fun and educational daytime summer activities for children. Programs offered must be for youth ages 4 through 18 and held during June, July and August. If your agency/business offers such summer programs, send a general description of the programs to have listed including dates, times, cost and any items the children may need to bring. Send information to United Way, Attn: 2010 Summer Fun Guidebook, by mail: 112 Tupelo Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; fax: 243-6625 or e-mail events@united-way.org.  Deadline is April 9. The Guidebook will be available the first week of May. Call 243-0315 to request a copy or download it at www.united-way.org.

Food donations for Shelter House

Shelter House, local domestic violence center, is collecting donations of unopened, canned and non-perishable food items that Snowbirds may have left over after their stay on the Emerald Coast. Donations may be dropped off at 102 Buck Drive in Fort Walton Beach or 78 Lynn Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.

Thanks for Giving

Outback Steakhouse will hold a month-long “Thanks for Giving” effort in participating restaurant locations where customers may order from the “Red, White and Bloomin’” menu. Proceeds from menu sales during March will help to meet the $1 million commitment Outback has made to Operation Homefront.

Cash 4 College workshop

Northwest Florida State College will hold a free “Cash 4 College” financial aid workshop to help students and parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid from 1 to 4 p.m. March 7 on the Niceville campus in building C-1 and C-2. Call 729-5370 or e-mail bennettp@nwfstatecollege.edu.

Curves food drive

Curves locations in the area will collect non-perishable items and monetary donations for food banks in the local area during March. Members who donate a bag of groceries or make a minimum donation of $30 during the month will receive a reusable Curves grocery freezer bag for free. Non-members who do likewise between March 8 and 20 can join Curves for free. Curves will waive the cost to join.

Curves locations in the area will participate in a company-wide contest for the most food drive donations collected by Curves locations across the nation. Winners will receive one of several cash prizes to be donated to their local food bank. Call 650-1060.

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.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of March 8-12:

•Monday: Sausage.

•Tuesday: Baked chicken.

•Wednesday: Western pork patty.

•Thursday: Beef stew.

•Friday: Baked chicken.

Boating seminar

A boating seminar, Anchoring, will be held at 7 p.m. March 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.

•March 22: Knots, Bends and Hitches

•April 12: Hurricanes and Boats

•April 26: Boat Handling Under Power

Meet the Candidates Forum

The Fort Walton Beach Tea Party presents a “Meet the Candidates” Forum for State Representative District 4 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. March 9 at Grace Tabernacle, Mariner Plaza, 218 Eglin Parkway NE. All candidates for the March 23 special election have been invited, including Craig Barker, Matt Gaetz, Bill Garvie, Jerry Melvin and Kabe Woods. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a meet and greet with the candidates. All reserved seats will be released at 6:55 p.m. to allow for overflow seating.

Senior tours

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

•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.

Cooking demonstration

The Fresh Flavors Cooking Demonstration is coming to a store near you!

Local chefs will lead a free, step-by-step presentation at The Fresh Market from 1 to 4 p.m. March 13. Drop in any time and learn how to prepare Seared Lamb with Creamy Cabbage.

Florida Trail Association

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

•March 13: Bike ride on the Timberlake trail at 9 a.m. Eglin permit required. Call 683-0803.

•March 13-14: Camp/hike at Little River State Park in Alabama at 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.

•March 19-21: Canoe and camp at Okefenoke Swamp in Georgia at 8 a.m. Call 932-0125.

•March 20: A 3-, 6-, or 8-mile hike in the Cimarron section at 8 a.m. Eglin permit required. Call 682-6098.

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

•March 26–28: Annual Conference and Hiking Festival in Haines City, Fla. Call 877-HIKE-FLA.

•March 27: Kid’s Hike & Interactive Experience at 9 a.m. at the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center. Call 974-2078.

•March 27: Hike on the Dunes Trail at 9 a.m. Call 932-5469.

Faye Boroughs benefit

A benefit for Faye Boroughs and her son will be held March 14 at 3 Graces Taverna at the Market Shops of Sandestion. Tickets are $30 per person, children 12 and under eat free, with proceeds going to Faye. Call 424-6004 or 420-7810 to volunteer or make donation pledges.

Bridal event

Stacie Francombe, founder and CEO of Get Married Media, a national, integrated multi-media wedding lifestyle resource, will be the keynote speaker for the Wedification bridal event and dinner on March 13 at the Hilton Sandestin.

Shop for a Job festivals

Silver Sands Factory Stores will host a “Shop for a Job” festival from 1 to 6 p.m. March 17, 24, 31 and April 7 at Shopper Services, near Michael Kors and laoste. High school and college student are encouraged to attend to apply for summer jobs.

On March 24, 31 and April 7, the JobsPlus 40-foot Mobile One-Stop vehicle will be stationed at Silver Sands from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to facilitate the hiring process by allowing applicants to go online to corporate Web sites and apply for jobs at Silver Sands.

Handicapped Citizens Drive

Knights of Columbus, Christ Our Redeemer Council #13527, will hold its annual Handicapped Citizens Drive, Tootsie Roll Drive, March 18-21 at Walmart in Destin and Winn Dixie and Ace Hardware in Bluewater Bay. The funds collected go to help Horizons, Inc., Special Olympics and Resources for Human Development. For every donation a Tootsie Roll will be given.

Garage sale

Covenant Hospice will hold a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.

Metaphysical Festival

The Eighth Annual Emerald Coast Metaphysical Festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 20 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 21 at the Navarre Conference Center at the Days Inn on U.S. 98, and will feature more than 50 vendors, psychics, readers, healers and speakers. A donation of $10 will be requested at the door. The public is invited to view displays, buy metaphysical books, mystical art, gifts and items of interest, have a reading from a psychic, interact with a special healer or listen to 13 speakers on a variety of topics.

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society Fieldtrip

Take a fieldtrip to Ft. Morgan, Ala., for spring bird banding on March 27. Call trip leader Don Ware at 862-6582 for details.

Scholarship program

Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union is accepting applications from 2010 graduating high school seniors for its scholarship program.  Ten $1,000 scholarships will be given away in May 2010 to high school seniors from the AACFCU service area. Seniors must be AACFCU members to qualify for the scholarship and show outstanding academics, good communication skills and leadership. Applications must be filled out completely. The application and instructions can be picked up at any of the Credit Union’s 18 locations or downloaded at www.aacfcu.com. Applications are due no later than April 2.

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

Job Fair

The Panhandle Job Fair Foundation will host the free Spring Panhandle Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 15 at Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd. in Fort Wa

Celebrity Charity Luncheon

A Celebrity Charity Luncheon to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Destin Relay for Life will be held April 22 at Bonefish. Seatings are from 11 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Call 837-1071.

Memorial Poker Run

Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club presents The Deputy Skip York Memorial Poker Run to benefit the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center on May 22. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Heritage Cycles Harley Davidson, 788 North Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach

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.

•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: $3.

•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: 12 to 1:30 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.