Community Happenings Oct. 22
All area codes are 850 unless noted.
Healthy Living Seminar
Dr. Charles Mayes Jr., interventional cardiologist with Sacred Heart Medical Group, will speak on Atrial Fibrillation and Mitral Valve Disease from 10-11:30 a.m. Oct. 22 in the Suite 3 Conference Room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Make reservation at 416-1620 or 877-416-1620.
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
Open House
The City of Destin 2014 Open House will be held Oct. 23 at the Destin Community Center with buffet-style lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the city’s incorporation and we will celebrate this milestone. Remarks from the mayor and volunteer recognition will begin at noon. Council, staff and city partners will be on hand to meet and talk with the public. The city will also host a free Community Shred Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents and businesses to bring old documents to be shredded.
Community conversations
The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women, in association with the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, will host and support open and informational conversations with women throughout Florida from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23 at Northwest Florida State College in Room 113. We welcome you to participate in local community conversations in Okaloosa County to share your input on the challenges faced by Florida’s women and families. Call 864-3148 or visit www.occsw.org.
• Nov. 18: 6-8 p.m. at the University of Florida Fort Walton Beach Campus, Bldg. 1, Room 124.
Survey
Please take time to complete a City of Destin customer service survey at http://www.cityofdestin.com/cssurvey. The City appreciates your honest opinion and will take it into consideration to help improve services.
Book signing
Ms. Diane Pickett will sign copies of her first novel, “Never Isn’t Long Enough,” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at Books-A-Million in Destin Commons.
Audubon Society
Look for ducks and shorebirds Oct. 25 on Destin beach and Choctawhatchee Bay with Bruce Purdy. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in parking lot at southwest corner of the Destin Bridge over East Pass. Call 359-5334.
• Nov. 1: On a field trip to Laidlaw Preserve, Ron Houser of the Bay County Audubon Society will host a tour of the Laidlaw Preserve north of Vernon, Fla. Meet 7:15 a.m. at the Bluewater Bay Winn-Dixie on Hwy. 20. Bring binoculars, lunch, water, insect repellent, and wear long pants and walking shoes. Call 381-5651.
• Nov. 8: A bird walk with Carole Goodyear in the Bluewater Bay and Lake Pippen areas. See loons, shorebirds, ospreys, and woodpeckers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Bluewater Bay Winn-Dixie under the sign. Wear close-toed shoes and bring a sack lunch and binoculars. Call 897-2555.
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.
Early Voting
Early voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 1 at the Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Ave. in Destin.
SOCKS fundraiser
The SOCKS Thrift Store will host Gabbi’s Tailgating Party from 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at 498 Carmel Drive in in Fort Walton Beach. A $6 ticket includes hamburgers, hot dogs and other typical tailgate food, as well as your choice of beverages. There will be store specials, newly arrived merchandise, and raffle items. Tickets may be purchased at the store or at the door.
Fall Fest
The City of Destin’s 14th Annual Fall Festival will be held from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Destin Community Center. Admission is one non-perishable food item. There will be booths with games and activities, a cakewalk, a costume contest, a spacewalk/slide, food for sale, and candy for those just stopping by to Trick-or-Treat. Tickets for games and food will be on sale at 4 tickets for a $1 with most games costing one ticket. Registration for the costume contest is from 5-6 p.m. with judging at 6 p.m. Judging for Jack-O-Lantern contest will be held at 5 p.m. so pumpkins must be dropped off by 3 p.m. Oct. 27.
Alzheimer’s support group
Covenant Alzheimer’s Services will hold a free support group for family members or friends coping with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease at 2 p.m. Oct. 28 at Sacred Heart of the Emerald Coast, Suite 3 Conference Room. Call 866-478-7790. Meets last Tuesday of every month.
Town Hall Tour
U.S. Congressional candidate for Florida District One, Mark Wichern, will host a Town Hall meeting from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Destin Community Center.
• Nov. 2: Walton/Okaloosa Counties Grand Town Hall meeting from 6-9 p.m. at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Seminar
Margaret R. McDowell, firm founder of Arbor Wealth Management, LLC, a “fee-only” registered investment advisory firm, will host at portfolio management and retirement seminar at 10 a.m. Oct. 29 in the Arbor Wealth Conference Room. Call 608-6121 to reserve seating. Refreshments will be served.
One Heart One Voice Women
Dee Chernicky Ministries hosts a meeting with worship and ministry from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 31 at The Palms Resort on Indian Bayou Trail in Destin. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Guest speaker is pastor and author Scarlett Harrington and leading worship is Karen Longmire. Free childcare provided for ages 6 weeks through 8 years with online reservation at http://www.deechernickyministries.org/. An offering will be taken.
Pancake Breakfast
Feline Friends of Destin will host a “pancake breakfast” from 8-11 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Destin United Methodist Life Center on Beach Drive. Cost will be a minimum donation of $5 and includes pancakes, sausage and beverage. All proceeds go to the rescue and adoption programs of Feline Friends of Destin.
An Evening for Ava
Enjoy an evening of free food and fun including a silent auction and raffle from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 2 at The Pancakery, 960 U. S. 98 in Destin. Proceeds will benefit six-year-old cancer patient Ava Scaglione who was diagnosed this summer with Stage 3 Wilms tumor.
Holiday Sale
The Sacred Heart Guild Gift Shop will host its annual Holiday Extravaganza from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3-7 and from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8 in the main corridor of the hospital. Guests will enjoy a 20 percent discount on unique gift giving items, holiday decorations, tree ornaments, manger scenes, angels, baby clothing, festive toys and stocking stuffers, holiday cards and table décor.
Camellia Show
The 51st Annual Camellia Show and Plant Sale, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia Society, will be held from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 8 in the atrium of the Meridian at Westwood Retirement Resort, 1001 Mar Walt Drive.
Holiday Craft Show
The City of Destin’s 8th Annual Holiday Craft Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 14 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Destin Community Center. There will be hand-crafted jewelry, woodcarvings, watercolor paintings and more from over 70 vendors. Vendor booths are available for $40/Destin residents and $50/non-residents plus $10 for a corner booth (if available). This includes an 8 ft. X 10 ft. space and one 6 ft. table. Admission is free to the public.
Out of Darkness Walk
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’sEmerald Coast Out of Darkness Walk will be held from 12-2 p.m. Nov. 15 at Beasley Park in Fort Walton Beach. Check-in time is 11 a.m. to noon. The event is free. Call 368-6694.
5K Run/Walk
The Amped Elite All-Stars “Salute to Our Heroes” Red, White and Blue 5K Run/Walk will be held at 8 a.m. Nov. 15 in Niceville. Dress in patriotic colors with an opportunity to personally salute your hero on your T-shirt. A portion of the proceeds, along with donated items, will be given to The Fisher House of the Emerald Coast on Eglin AFB. For registration and details, visit active.com or www.getapac.com.
Wedding Expo
The Gulf Coast Wedding Expo begins at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center on Okaloosa Island. This is an opportunity to talk with professionals about that special day and try samples, get pampered, and maybe even win a door prize.
ACT/SAT workshop
A workshop to assist students in Okaloosa County High Schools who will take the Dec. 13 ACT and Dec. 6 SAT will be held from 2:15-4:15 p.m. Nov. 18-20 and Dec. 1-3 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 Nov. 3. For information, contact Alice Hart at 615-585-2401, email Amhart1966@aol.com or contact your high school guidance department.
Crop Drop
The Sixth Annual Crop Drop Destin will be held at 8 a.m. Nov. 22 at Grace Lutheran Church to bag more than 80,000 pounds of produce for food ministries. From 12-3 p.m., enjoy the free Harvest Festival at Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village with food, games crafts, NASCAR show, corn hole and more. Bring a chair or blanket. Shake the City Worship plays at 1 p.m. followed by worship led by Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave at 2 p.m.
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.
• Game Room: Open to children age 10 and older from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• 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 3-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday for grades K-4. Snacks provided. Weekly fees are $15/resident and $20/non-resident.
• 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 from 9-10 a.m. beginning Nov. 10. 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 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 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: Thursdays at 11 a.m. beginning Nov. 6. Cost is $6.