Community Happenings 1-28

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Florida Trail Association

• Jan. 28: Eight-mile hike at 9 a.m. at Point Washington. Call 302-528-8284.

• Jan. 29: Fifteen-mile hike at 8 a.m. on Eglin near Navarre. Eglin recreation permit required.  Call 723-5112.

Emerald Coast Science Center

Botanical Chords, which intertwines the science of microscopy with the art of photography to create stunning images of the natural world, will be presented at the Emerald Coast Science Center, 139 Brooks St. in Fort Walton Beach, through Jan. 31.  Botanical Chords is included with your admission. Winter hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 12-4 p.m. Sunday.

PEO luncheon

PEO, an international sisterhood that raises money to educate women, will host a Lazy Daisy Luncheon for snowbirds on Jan. 31 at The Links in Sandestin. To make a reservation, call 837-4869 or 837-5637.

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society

Monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 in Room 140, Building D, of the Niceville campus of NWFSC. Program, presented by Alan Knothe, will be “Shorebirds of the Florida Panhandle”. Call 678-3965.

• Feb. 18: Take a birding and photography walk with Walt Spence on the nature trails of the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation near Freeport. Meet at the Bluewater Bay Winn-Dixie at 7 a.m.; Freeport City Hall at 7:30 a.m.; or at the Biophilia Center at 8 a.m. Call 678-3965.

Stitch-in

The Sand Dunes Chapter of Embroiderers' Guild of America will host a public stitch-in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Books-A-Million bookstore at Destin Commons. Call 496-3466.

Old-time Saturdays

The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida in Valparaiso announces Old-time Saturdays for children and families, programs that will engage kids by utilizing authentic historic museum collections with hands-on activities to entertain and educate. Cost is $7/child or $5/child for Museum members. Chaperones are free. Make reservations at 678-2615.

• Feb. 4: Cracker Shack — Build a pioneer house the way Florida settlers did in the 1800s.

• March 24: Outhouse Archaeology — Uncover clues about what people threw away.

Government contracting seminar

The Niceville office of accounting firm Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CRI) will present its third annual government-contracting seminar Feb. 7 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The seminar is designed to prepare government contractors with strategies for unlocking government contracting mysteries that will enhance opportunities for success in 2012.

There is a $60 registration fee, and lunch will be served. Visit the Events section of the CRI website at www.CRIcpa.com.

United Way luncheon

The United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties will host its annual celebration/annual meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at Shalimar United Methodist Church. Cost is $12/person, with corporate tables for eight available for $96. RSVP by Feb. 3 to 243-0315 or email events@united-way.org.

Cooking demo

The Fresh Market’s Fresh Flavors Cooking Demo, featuring Shrimp Veracruz and Butternut Squash, Apple, Pancetta and Sage Tortellini Soup, will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Fresh Market in Destin, 4495 Commons Drive West. The event is free.

Pill take back

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has set up a program that allows the public to drop off unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs during regular business hours Monday through Friday at the Destin substation on Stahlman Avenue.

JobsPlus Mobile stops

Stops for the JobsPlus One-Stop Centers will be held at the Destin Library from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the third Thursday of every month. Jobseekers will be able to register in the EmployFlorida Marketplace database enabling them to search and apply for open positions and apply for unemployment compensation.

Cooking class

Ruth’s Secrets Revealed will be held from 12-2 p.m. Jan. 28, Feb. 18 and March 3 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Destin. Cost is $50/person. Make reservations at 337-5108.

Cooking class

Shelter House presents the Carrabba's Italian Grill Cooking Class from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 24 at Carrabba’s in Silver Sands Factory Stores. The $40 registration includes a glass of wine and recipes to take home. Seating is limited. Call 243-1201.

National Pancake Day

IHOP invites guests to enjoy a free short stack of IHOP’s signature buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Feb. 28. In return, guests are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to support the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital or another local charity. 

America’s Boating Course

A 5-week public boating course, America’s Boating Course 3, will be conducted from 6:30-9 p.m. on Monday nights beginning March 5 at the Anchorage building, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. Tuition is free, with a $45 charge for materials.

The course covers safe boat handling, good seamanship, rules of the road, aids to navigation and piloting, tips about local waters, and more. Call 863-0874.

Training symposium

The Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Military Comptrollers and the Northwest Florida Chapter of the National Contract Management Association will host this annual training event March 8 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island. The schedule includes more than 14 workshops and a CDFM test site. Cost is $110. Register at www.gulfcoastasmc.org/rpds/. Early registration encouraged by Jan. 31 at 883-0439.

Seniors of Destin Program

Call the Destin Community Center at 654-5184 for more information on programs for seniors.

• Free golf lessons, 8 a.m. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at Morgan Sport Complex. Call 685-5310.

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 3-3:45 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30-10:15 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.

• Baton lessons: Begins in the spring. Call 699-8309.

• Chair yoga: Thursday at 10 a.m. Cost is $3/class.

• Duplicate bridge: At 9:30 a.m. Mondays and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Thursdays at Buck Destin Park. Entry fee: $6. No partner needed.

• Game room: Open to children 10 and older and under 10 accompanied by adult from 1-9 p.m. Monday-Friday.

• Intermediate party bridge: Mondays and Tuesdays at 12:45 p.m. at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967.

• Jazzercise class: 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call 621-3055. 

• Kidz Klub: After-school program from 3:30-5:30 p.m. 

• Modern line dance: Classes from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Jan. 11. Fee is $5/class.

• Open gym: Check ahead for times and dates open.

• Table tennis: 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays and 3-5 p.m. Tuesdays.

• Tennis Academy: A tennis program with USPTA Professional Brian Wilson at Buck Destin Park on Legion Drive. This program will be open to all ages and abilities with days and times to be determined. Group classes will be one hour long and cost $15 a session. Private lessons will be $50 an hour. To sign up or for more information, email srbtennispro@yahoo.com.

• Walking Club: Walk with music from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday.

• Woodcarving: Fridays at 9 a.m. Fee is $3.

• Yoga: Thursdays at noon. Cost is $5/class.

• Zumba: Classes start at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays in January. Fee is $10/class or class cards at 10 for $70 or 20 for $100. Call 543-1507.

•  Zumba for kids: A Zumbatomic Class will start in January at 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays for children ages 4-12. Fee is $10/class or class cards at 10 for $70 or 20 for $100. Call 543-1507.

• Zumba gold: Thursday at 11 a.m. Cost is $6/class.