Community Happenings March 14

All area codes are 850 unless noted.

Audubon Society

Join Malcom Mark Swan for a birding trip on the Eglin Reservation March 14. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Winn Dixie on Hwy. 20 in Bluewater Bay. Wear long pants and bring water, hat, binoculars, and insect repellent. Call 210-343-9082.

 • March 21: Local birder Dee Nickerson will lead a bird walk in the South Walton Courthouse area. Expect to see early migrants and possibly a Northern Parula. Plan to have brunch after. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Winn Dixie on Hwy 20 in Bluewater Bay at 7:30 AM. Call 499-9269.

• March 28: Birding the Bayou by Boat: Local photopaddler Walt Spence will lead a canoe/kayak birding trip on a Niceville-area bayou. All attendees must register in advance at 582-7064, and they must also bring their own boat, safety equipment, drinking water, and sunscreen. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in front of Badcock Furniture in Bayou Plaza on Hwy. 20 in Niceville. 

Story Hour

Every Thursday, Starbucks at HarborWalk Village will host StoryHour@Starbucks at 3:30 p.m. There will be hot chocolate available for the kids, and all parents get 20 percent off their purchase.

Fundraiser

The Comptrollers for a Cause Team will host a Relay for Life Fundraiser, Eat at Joe’s to Benefit the Cause, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every Thursday in March at Joe’s Crab Shack in Destin.. For a copy of flyer to be presented or questions about the event, call 687-3226.

ACT/SAT workshop

A workshop to assist students in Okaloosa County High Schools who will take the April 18 ACT and May 2 SAT will be held from 2-5 p.m. April 13, 14, 20 and 21 at Fort Walton Beach High School and 2-5 p.m. April 15, 16, 22 and 23 at Niceville High School. All materials, snacks and drinks are furnished. Students need to bring calculators. Registration deadline is March 24. For information, contact Alice Hart at 615-585-2401, email Amhart1966@aol.com or contact your high school guidance department.

Stroke support group

A free stroke support group will meet at 3 p.m. March 16 in the Suite 3 conference room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast for stroke survivors, caregivers and family members.

Financial seminar

“Nine Answers to Annuity Myths” is topic of Financial Matters Seminar at 10 a.m. March 16 in The Family Birth Place, second-floor Education Room, at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach. Make reservations at 416-1620 or 877-416-1620.

Breast cancer support group

Patients and survivors are invited to join group that will meet at 6 p.m. March 17 in the Olson Women’s Diagnostic Center at Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast. Call 278-3980.

Volunteer training

Covenant Hospice is seeking individuals who are interested in making a difference in the lives of patients and families facing end-of-life issues and in supporting the organization. A two-part volunteer training workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 18 and March 20 at the Fort Walton Beach Covenant Hospice branch office, 220 Eglin Parkway NE. The workshop is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. To register or to learn more, call 729-1800 or email carole.haws@covenanthospice.org.

Yard sale

The third annual Mission Yard Sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 20 and 21 in the student center at Village Baptist Church, 101 Matthew Blvd. in Destin. Sale includes furniture, household items, clothes and more.

Boating course

A Boating Safely Class, presented by USCG Auxiliary 14, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 21 at Coast Guard Station Destin on U.S. 98 on Okaloosa Island. Cost is $35 and includes class material, lunch and a tour of the station. Call 217-3948 or email modavis@cox.netto register.

This boating class is designed to be an introductory course to meet the boating education needs of recreational boaters.

Healthy Living Seminar

The seminar will feature Adrianne Butcher, pharmacist at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, who will discuss medication safety questions and concerns at 10 a.m. March 25 in the Suite 3 Conference Room. Call 416-1620 or 877-416-1620 to register.

Diabetes class

Jenny Stuckey, registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, and Anne Townley, registered dietician and certified diabetes educator, will host a self-management class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25 in the Resource Center Suite 1 education building at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Pre-registration required and a physician referral is needed to attend. Call 278-3683.

Seminar

Margaret R. McDowell, firm founder of Arbor Wealth Management, LLC, a “fee-only” registered investment advisory firm, will host “Tax Efficient Investing: Strategies for 2015” at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. March 25 in the Arbor Wealth Conference Room. Call 608-6121 to reserve seating. Refreshments will be served.

Finest on the Emerald Coast

Winners of the Finest on the Emerald Coast will be honored from 6-9:30 p.m. April 9 at the Emerald Grande, HarborWalk Village. Evening includes food, entertainment and recognition of the Finest winners. Fireworks end the evening. Purchase tickets now at www.finestontheemeraldcoast.com/tickets.phpand receive a discounted rate through April 8. Tickets are $30/individual and $50/VIP. Day of event $35.

Beekeepers’ Workshop

The Northwest Florida Gulf Coast Beekeepers Association will host its first workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 at Florosa Elementary School, 1700 Hwy. 98 in Mary Esther. The event features hands-on demonstrations of how to raise bees, collect honey, and build beehives. Guest speakers will cover introduction of beekeeping, honey and the cottage food industry law in Florida, and understanding bee behavior. Registration begins at 7 a.m. Registration is $30/person and includes up to two members per household; $10/children 10 and under.Register before March 21 and receive a $10 discount. Registration fee also includes lunch fish fry. Call 292-4530 or 830-0468 or email sea3horse@cox.net for more information.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

The Covenant Alzheimer’s Support Group meets from 2-3:30 p.m. March 31 in the Suite 3 Education Center at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. Call 499-3390. Meets last Tuesday of each month.

Easter Egg Hunt

Destin Library’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be April 1. There will be 2,000 eggs hidden around the Destin Library for children 4 years and under to track down. Call Will Rogers at 837-8572 for more information.

Library movies

The Destin Library will host Early Release School Day Movies from 1:15-3:15 p.m. April 2 aimed at those in grades 3-5. The program is designed to connect popular children’s movies with available themed reading materials on the same topic or genre at the library. Movie selections will be announced prior to the scheduled movie date. Pre-registration is required at wrogers@cityofdestin.com. Refreshments will be provided.

Audubon Society

The Choctawhatchee Audubon Society will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 2 in Room 130 of the new Student Services Building at NWFSC. The program will be “A Photographic Essay on the Birds, Bugs, Reptiles and other local Beasties” by Walt Spence, naturalist and photographer. Call 678-1461.

• April 4: Coastal Bird Stewardship Program Training Walk with Bonnie Samuelson of Audubon Florida will conduct this educational event centered on protecting nesting shorebirds, such as Snowy Plovers. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Uptown Station in Fort Walton Beach. Call 941-951-7704.

• April 4: Adult volunteers are needed to help with educational bird-themed games for Cub Scouts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Scout-a-Rama at Uptown Station. Contact Walt Spence at 582-7064 if you can help.

• April 25: Adult volunteers are needed to help teach children about birds during the  Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival in Rocky Bayou State Park. Call Margaret Benner at 678-6665 to volunteer.

Symposium

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital’s Fourth Annual Women On Wellness Symposium will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 10 at the Holiday Inn Resort on Okaloosa Island.  Attendees will hear presentations by local physicians and business experts, as well as national renowned keynote speaker Zonya Foco, RD. Register at www.WomenOnWellness.org.

Resurrection Run

The 12th Annual Resurrection Run Destin at Village Baptist Church begins at 8 a.m. April 11 on Mark Street behind the church. This mission fund raiser includes your choice of a 5K Walk, 5K Run or 10K Run. The 5K Walk/Run goes to Crab Trap and back while the 10K Run goes to Pompano Joe’s and back.

Registration is $30 in advance and will include a sponsor goodie bag and race shirt. Awards will be presented two deep based on race chosen, age bracket and male/female. Visit www.villagebaptist.org or call 837-8107 for information/registration. 

Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market

The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday 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. Market is held on Wednesdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Farmers Market

The WaterColor Coastal Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at Cerulean Park. Traditional Farmers Market items such as local farm fresh produce, eggs, and dairy products will be available. There will also be a large variety of organic and homemade items such as Greek gourmet foods, hot and jerk sauces, grass fed beef, chicken, and pork. Market is held on Thursdays from March 12 through Labor Day.

30A Farmers’ Market

This community event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in Town Center in Rosemary Beach features fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, cheese and more. Market is held on Thursdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Seaside Farmers Market

Get your pick of fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, native plants and other unique offerings Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Amphitheatre behind Raw & Juicy. Enjoy special cooking demos and activities.

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 $7. No partner necessary. For more information e-mail halsyst@aol.com

Destin Life Center

Recreation and fitness activities at Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, include the following. Hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday visit the Soul Café for lunch. Call ahead for dine in or pick up. For information, call the DLC at 837-2021.

• Adult Open Soccer:  From 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays. Fee is $2/player.

• Adult Open Volleyball: From 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays. Fee is $2/player.

• Pickleball: From 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

• DLC Fitness Cardio/Weight Room:  Nautilus equipment, three treadmills, two ellipticals and one recumbent bike. Memberships are $40/calendar quarter; $30/month; $20/week; and $10/day.

• Community Fitness Classes: Indoor cycling, Zumba, Rise and Stretch, PIYO, Cardio Dance, Forever Young (senior aerobics) and more. Costs are $40/month; $7/class; $20/month Forever Young, fitness for seniors; and $3/individual Forever Young.

Destin Community Center

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.

• Chair Yoga: Class will be held at 10 a.m. Monday and Thursday. Cost is $4/class.

• Essential Oils: A free class at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 and March 4 and 18 for those who desire a more natural route to promote heart health and to manage pain anywhere, from a mosquito bite to arthritis.

• Game Room: Open to children age 10 and older from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• Line Dancing: Class for beginners will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursdays. Intermediate lessons are held at 1:30. Open dance is from 1:15-1:30 p.m. The class is $6.

• Low impact aerobics: From 9-10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cost is $3/session. Bring water and a towel. Stretch bands are available for $2.

• Pickleball: Mondays from 12:30-3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for all levels. Cost is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.

• Senior Pilates: Class will be held from 9-10 a.m. Mondays. Cost is $6/class.

• Table Tennis: Tuesdays from 2-5 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

• Woodcarving: Class for men and women meets from 9 a.m. to noon Fridays. Cost is $2/class.

• Yoga: Class will be held Thursdays at noon. Open to all yoga enthusiasts of any level. Cost is $6/class. Please bring a mat and towel.

• Zumba Gold: Mondays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. Cost is $6/class.