Community Happenings 9-28
All area codes are 850 unless noted.
Heart Walk
Okaloosa and Walton County residents can join the American Heart Association Heart Walk at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 28 at NWFSC in Niceville. The non-competitive, three-mile walk includes teams of employees from local companies, along with friends and family members of all ages. For information, call 1-800-257-6941, ext. 6082 or visit www.owheartwalk.org.
YMCA
A yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at Fort Walton Family YMCA, 1127 Hospital Road.
First Aid classes will be held from 9-11 a.m. and CPR classes from 12-2 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Fort Walton Family YMCA, Cost is $30 per class.
Fall swim lessons for ages 6 months to adult will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from Oct. 1-24 at the Fort Walton Family YMCA. There will be eight lessons, 30 minutes each. Cost is $50/members and $65/program participants. Call 863-9622 or email ftwaltonfamilyymca@ecymca.org.
Volunteers needed
Volunteers are needed immediately for The Dark Haunted House, presented by the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at 314 Harbor Blvd. in Destin, formerly Electric Cowboy. Volunteers, 16 or older, will assist with construction, prop design/building, painting, cleaning, costumes, makeup, security, etc. Weekend workdays for the build will be Sept. 28-29 plus some weekdays. Email volunteer@ecwildliferefuge.com to volunteer or for more information.
Library workshops
The Destin Library has scheduled workshops, Twitter Me, My iPad, Digital Photography, Microsoft Publisher, Facebook, Finding Books Online and Craigslist from September through November at the Library. View workshop descriptions at www.cityofdestin.com. Registration forms are available by email at wrogers@cityofdestin.com. For more information call 837-8572.
Volunteers needed
The Destin Library needs interested persons to volunteer for its 2013-2014 instructional computer program. Both instructors and teaching assistants are needed. Individuals should possess skills using the Windows XP operating system. Instructors are needed for applications/online and also equipment/device training including Kindle, Nook and iPad. If interested, email wrogers@cityofdestin.com.
Main Street Market
Destin’s Main Street Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in the parking lot of the Destin Water Users Building, 218 Main Street, with fresh local produce, baked goods, jams and jellies, jewelry, soap, farm fresh eggs, milk, local roasted coffee, tacos, Crust artisan bakers, fresh gyros and salads. Call 855-6384.
Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
Bird Walk at Ft. Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore led by Alan Knothe Sept. 28. Meet at 7 a.m. at Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach or at Langdon Battery at 8:15 a.m. Call 862-3498.
Day for Kids
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast hosts its annual free Day for Kids from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Fort Walton Beach Landing.
Choctaw Bay Music Club
Choctaw Bay Music Club will meet at 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Brooks Beal Center, corner of Beal Parkway and Yacht Club Drive in Fort Walton Beach. Dr. David Ott will present “How the Title Makes the Music.” Student musicians Meredith Stemen, Corbin Philips, Spence Phillips, and Abbey Schmidt, Summer Camp Scholarship awardees, will share highlights of their recent summer music camp experiences. The event is free and open to the public. Call 543-5673 or visit www.choctawbaymusicclub.org.
Women & Money
A Women & Money Unique Issues educational series, designed to provide women with information and encouragement about being financially successful, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, 8 and 15 at the Extension Office, 3098 Airport Road in Crestview. Cost is $20/person and includes materials. Register at fcs-nw.eventbrite.com or in person at your local Extension Office by Sept. 27. Scholarships may be available based on need.
Financial seminars
Arbor Wealth Management, a “fee-only” registered investment advisory firm at 8955 Emerald Coast Parkway, Suite 104 in Miramar Beach, will host “How To Make Your Portfolio Pay Monthly” seminars at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Oct. 2 in the Arbor Wealth Conference Room. Firm founder, principal and syndicated economist columnist Margaret R. McDowell will lead the presentation. Refreshments will be served.
Topsail tours
Paddle Campbell Lake with a ranger from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach. No outside canoes or kayaks are allowed. A sign up sheet is available in the ranger station. Park entrance fee is required. Call 267-8330.
• Oct. 11: Learn about the cutest inhabitants, the Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse, from 2-3 p.m.
• Oct. 12: Breakfast with a Ranger and learn about the park and its history at 9 a.m. To cover the cost of food, please bring $5, which goes to Friends of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to enhance the park or bring your own breakfast. No park fee. Call 267-8330.
•Oct. 18: Ranger Tammy will discuss the life of the Monarch Butterfly and a craft project includes making a butterfly from 2-3 p.m.
IT Pro Camp
An IT Pro Camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Northwest Florida State College Niceville Campus, Student Services Center (SSC) at 100 College Blvd. The one-day learning event is free of charge and geared toward professional development for those working in the IT field and is also open to high school or college students or the general public who have an interest in computer science. Advance registration is requested as space is limited. Advance registration is available at http://itprocamp.com/northwestflorida. The event includes door prizes from Microsoft and other vendors, as well as refreshments. Call 729-6099 or humphrej@nwfsc.edu for information.
Dog Daze
Dog Daze, an annual day of activities for canines and their families, begins at 9 a.m. Oct. 12 when the ribbon is cut on the new Fort Walton Beach Dog Park at Liza Jackson Park, 138 Miracle Strip Parkway SW.
Events include doggie yoga, pet parade, costume contest with superhero theme, weiner races, rabies and microchip clinic, pet adoptioin services and vendors. All well-behaved dogs above six months of age may attend. Suggested donation is $3 per pet. For more information and registration form, visit www.FWBChamber.com and click on the Dog Daze banner ad.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s begins at 8:45 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. For information, call 225-0680 or email pcowley@alz.org, or visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/AL-AlabamaFloridaPanhandle?fr_id=3241&pg=entry.
Yard sale
A yard sale to benefit Opportunity Place, a shelter that provides temporary housing for homeless women, children and families in Okaloosa and Walton counties, will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 12 and 12-4p.m. Oct. 13 at 305 Lovejoy Road NW in Fort Walton Beach. To donate items call 409-3070 or email lill@owh-mail.org.
Vendor opportunity
Valparaiso Garden Club is now accepting vendors for the Viva Florida 500 festival to be held Oct. 16 in Perrine Park, Valparaiso. Contact valpviva500@gmail.com to request vendor applications or download a copy at www.mariesgardenanddesign.com.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
American Cancer Society volunteers will host their annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) event for the entire Emerald Coast at 9 a.m. Oct. 26 at Village Baptist Church on Matthews Boulevard in Destin. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Registration is free and people can sign up as teams, or as individuals. Sign up online at www.makingstrideswalk.org/emeraldcoast, email harder.angie@gmail.com or jbrown464@cox.net.
Floral Design for Youth
Children ages 8-12 are invited to construct a floral design at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 in the blue room of the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso. The activity, led by members of Valparaiso Garden Club, is free, but it is limited to 20 youngsters and reservations are required. To reserve a place for your child, email valpviva500@gmail.com or call 678-2842.
Crossfit Challenge
A Crossfit Challenge will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 2 at Fort Walton Beach Crossfit to benefit Opportunity Place, a shelter that provides temporary housing for homeless women, children and families in Okaloosa and Walton counties. All levels of athletes are welcome to participate as an individual or 4-person relay team. Special fun Halloween activities will be held for the kids. Registration is $25 a person and all money raised stays in Okaloosa county to support the programs and services of Opportunity Place. Call 409-3070 or email lill@owh-mail.org for registration information.
Camellia show
The 50th Annual Camellia Show and Plant Sale, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia Society, will be held from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 9 in the atrium of Westwood Retirement Resort, 1001 Mar Walt Drive. Awards will be given in several divisions and categories. No entries will be accepted for competition after 10:30 a.m. Nov. 9. Call 477-3625 or email camelliafwb@cox.net.
Thanksgiving Feast
Harbor Docks will host its 19th Annual Thanksgiving Feast. People from all walks of life gather at the Destin restaurant in a true Thanksgiving tradition. Those who are capable of making donations are encouraged to do so. All proceeds raised benefit Habitat for Humanity and Destin Harvest projects.
Luminaria Run
The Third Annual Luminaria Run to End Domestic & Sexual Violence, a unique twilight run, will take place at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7 beginning at Destin City Hall Annex. The course will follow a path through the Indian Bayou neighborhood lined with more than 2,000 luminarias. The race includes 5k and 9k courses.
Early bird registration is available through Sept. 30 with cost adults, 5k — $25; 9k — $40. Children ages 3 through 12 are $10 for the 5k and $15 for the 10k.
To register, visit www.shelterhousenwfl.org or www.imathlete.com or call 243-1201.
Destin Library
The following events are held regularly at the Destin Library. Call 837-8572.
• Tai Chi: 9-10 a.m. Mondays. Cost is $5/class. Register by phone at 837-8572 or in person at the Library.
• 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.
• Chair yoga: Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m. Cost is $3/class.
• Duplicate bridge: Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 12:320 p.m. Wednesdays. Entry fee: $6. No partner needed. Bridge lessons 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
• Intermediate party bridge: Mondays and Tuesdays at 12:45 p.m. at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967. Beginning bridge class at 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. $2/session.
• 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. Now accepting applications.
• Low Impact Aerobics: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 a.m. Bring water and a towel. Cost is $3/session.
• MMA Fitness: Class from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday for all ages. Cost is $7. Grappling bags and gloves provided.
• Pickleball: Pickle Ball courts are available. Call if interested.
• Walking Club: Walk with music from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday.
• Woodcarving: Fridays at 9 a.m. Fee is $2.
• Yoga: Thursdays at noon. Cost is $5/class.
• Zumba gold: Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Cost is $6/class.