Community Happenings Aug. 20
All area codes are 850 unless noted.
Mellow Mushroom anniversary
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers will bring back selections from its original 1974 menu on Aug. 20 in a “Way Back Wednesday” celebration to mark the brand’s 40th anniversary. The menu selections will be 30 cents for Coke products, 75 cents for Michelob, Budweiser or PBR and $2.50 for a small cheese pizza.
Making Strides kickoff
The American Cancer Society will host a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kickoff rally and informational meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach. Walk takes place Oct. 18 at Uptown Station. To participate in the kickoff, call 585-9904or email donna.msabc@gmail.com.
Bulldog
The Northwest Florida Georgia Bulldog club will hold a social at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Island Wing Company in Destin.
Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market
The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays in Grand Park in Miramar Beach between Cantina Laredo and Tommy Bahama’s.Vendors will offer locally sourced food-based items including produce, eggs, milk, butter, grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb, and pork, honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams.
On sale now
Copies of the book, “Poems for the Young at Heart,” by Destin’s Lt. Col. (Ret) Samuel Lombardo, are now on sale at Barnes & Noble in Destin. Cost is $19. Lombardo will be scheduling book signings at a later date. To read about the book, visit www.thedestinlog.com/community/destin-poet-inspired-by-natural-beauty-1.332509.
Bridge
Duplicate Bridge, ACBL, will be held at 9:50 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 307 Harbor Blvd. in Destin. Cost is $5. No partner necessary. For more information e-mail halsyst@aol.com
Alzheimer’s support group
Covenant Alzheimer’s Services will hold a support group for family members or friends coping with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease at 2 p.m. Aug. 26 at Sacred Heart of the Emerald Coast, Suite 3 Conference Room. Call 866-478-7790.
ACT/SAT workshop
A workshop to assist students in Okaloosa County High Schools who will take the Sept. 13 ACT and Oct. 11 SAT will be held from 2:15-4:15 p.m. Sept. 8, 9, 10, 15 and 16 in the Media Center at Fort Walton Beach High School. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students need to bring calculators. Registration deadline is Aug. 21. For information, contact Alice Hart at 615-585-2401, email Amhart1966@aol.com or contact your high school guidance department.
Seminar
Margaret R. McDowell, firm founder of Arbor Wealth Management, LLC, a “fee-only” registered investment advisory firm, will host “Are Markets Overvalued? Uncovering Investment Opportunities” at 10 a.m. Aug. 27 in the Arbor Wealth Conference Room. Call 608-6121 to reserve seating. Refreshments will be served.
Embroiderers’ Guild
The Sand Dunes Chapter of Embroiderers’ Guild of America will hold its final stitch-in from 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Niceville United Methodist Church, room 400. Call 496-3466.
Bird/rare plant walk
Rare Plant biologist Tom Greene will lead a tour Aug. 30 of wet prairies of Point Washington State Forest, which harbors a multitude of carnivorous plants, and possibly Bachmann’s Sparrow. Bring water, insect repellent, long pants and shoes or boots that can take wet conditions. Meet at the eastern end of the Sandestin Walmart parking lot at 8:15 a.m. Call 694-6403.
Audubon Society
The Choctawhatchee Audubon Society will host a special program on the History of our Rivers and the Role of our Forests with a presentation by Barbara Albrecht at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4 in room 130 of the NWFSC Student Services Center. Call 699-0977.
• Sept. 20: Bird Walk at the Fort Walton holding ponds, the most productive site for shorebird species in Okaloosa County. Meet at the Coach and Four Restaurant, 1313 N. Lewis Turner Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach at 7:30 a.m. Bring a hat, water, sunscreen and insect repellent. Call 210-343-9082.
• Sept. 27: Bird Walk at Niceville bayous and spray fields, searching for a variety of water birds, migrating songbirds, and even wild turkeys. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and any spotting scopes or binoculars which you may wish to use. Meet in front of Badcock Furniture in Bayou Plaza, 699 John Sims Parkway, at 7:30 a.m. Call 863-2039.
Jewelry/accessories sale
A Jewelry and Accessories $5 sale, sponsored by Masquerade Jewelry Fundraising, will be held from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 4 and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, 1000 Mar Walt Drive. Proceeds fund annual scholarships to area high school students. Call 496-2390.
Narconon
Abuse of addictive pharmaceutical drugs is on the rise. Learn to recognize the signs of drug abuse and get your loved ones help if they are at risk. Call Narconon for a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all types of drugs. Narconon also offers free assessments and referrals. Call 800-431-1754 or email DrugAbuseSolution.com.
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.
• Adult Open Gym: Monday from 6-9 p.m. for 17 and up to play full-court pickup basketball games. Destin residents are free and non-residents are $2.
• Brazilian Martial Arts: A Capoeira class that combines the elements of dance, acrobatics and music from 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
• Chair Yoga: Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m. Cost is $4.
• Duplicate bridge: Monday and Thursday at 9:15 a.m. and Wednesdays at 12:30. Entry fee: $6. No partner needed.
• Intermediate party bridge: Monday and Tuesday at 12:45 p.m. at Buck Destin Park on Legion Drive. Call 837-1967. Cost $2.
• Kidz Klub: After-school program from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for grades K-4. Snacks provided.
• Line dancing: Beginners class begins at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, open dance at 1:15 and intermediate dancers at 1:30. Fee is $5.
• Low Impact Aerobics: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:15 a.m. Cost is $3/session.
• MMA Fitness: Tuesday and Thursday from 6-7 p.m. for all ages. Cost is $7/person. Grappling bags and gloves provided.
• Pickleball: All levels, including first timers, welcome. Cost is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.
• Shotokan Karate: Class promotes life enrichment, physical fitness, discipline, focus and self-defense at 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Fee is $65/month.
• Table tennis: Competition from 2:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays.
• Turbo kick: Fitness class at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Fee is $10.
• Walking Club: Monday-Friday from 8-9 a.m. Walk with music.
• Woodcarving: Fridays at 9 a.m. Fee is $2.
• Yoga: Bring a mat and towel at noon Thursdays. Cost is $6.
• Zumba gold: Mondays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. Cost is $6.