COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Aug. 31
All area codes are 850 unless noted.
Food For Thought Thursdays
Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, 435 Grand Blvd. Suite Q104 in Grand Boulevard, will give 20 percent of food and drink sales to Food For Thought Outreach during Happy Hour from 3-7 p.m. Sept. 1.
Basic Life Support Initial Classes
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast will offer community education American Heart Association Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider Initial courses in September and October in Suite 1, Education Building. Cost is $50 per person. First class if from 4-9 p.m. Sept. 8. Enrollment closes Sept. 5. Enroll at 278-3019 or email timfeld@shhpens.org.
• Sept. 24: 4-9 p.m. Enroll by Sept. 21
• Oct. 11: 4-9 p.m. Enroll by Oct. 19
Fall Flair
The Destin United Methodist Women will host their eighth annual Fall Flair Arts and Crafts Show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 9 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive. There will be more than 60 vendor booths, a bake sale, silent auction and lunch served in the Soul Cafe. Walgreens will be giving free flu shots. Vendor booths still available at fallflair2016@aol.com. All proceeds go to support the DUMC Missions. For additional information call 850-543-0304.
Paddle for Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Florida Panhandle Chapter will hold the inaugural Paddle for Prevention from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 10 at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, in an effort to introduce the healing and therapeutic benefits of the water. Participants can register for time slots every 30 minutes at AFSP.org/paddle. The $20 registration fee covers paddle board rental and helps to raise funds for the local AFSP Chapter. The park fee will be waived and Pavilion E is reserved. Check-in begins a half hour before time slot. Food will be provided by Cabana Café.
Tai Chi Class
The Destin Library will offer one-hour Tai Chi classes with Barbara Rezmer, a certified Tai Chi for Health instructor, every Monday morning at 9 am beginning Sept. 12. The cost is $5/session. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants with registration’s (on a first-come first-served basis) accepted by phone or in person. Call 837-8572.
Family history workshops
The Destin Library will host a series of hands-on Family History workshops, Who Is in Your Family Tree?, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, Oct. 18 and Nov. 15 in the library’s computer lab. The programs are free and open to the public. New and repeat registrants are welcome.
Registrants must have a valid library card from any Okaloosa County Public Library. Registrations will be limited to 18 participants on a first-come registration basis.
To register, call the Destin Library at 837-8572.
MBCA Car Show
The Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA) Alabama/NW Florida Panhandle Section hosts a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Events Plaza at The Village of Baytowne Wharf. All Mercedes-Benz owners and vehicles are invited to participate including Mercedes-Benz vehicles owned by non-MBCA members. At-tendance is free and ballots will be provided for general public to vote for top three vehicles in the show. Vehicles on display will be subject to a registration fee of $10 donation each. At registration, participants will be provided a MBCA logo card to display on their dash board showing their number (for voting), year, model, and owner plus a car show dash plaque for the first 30 vehicles registered.
Read to Sophie
Children ages 6 to 12 years are invited to stop by the Destin Library between 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 to "Meet and Read to Sophie." Sophie is a therapy dog trained by local resident Debbie Linton and certified by Therapy Dog International. The program provides an opportunity through Tail Waggin' Tutors for children to practice their reading skills by reading aloud to a dog. This is a drop-in program, with 20 minute shifts. No pre-registration and selected books will be made available. Call 837-8572.
Author/book signing
Best-selling author and Florida resident, Tim Dorsey will visit the Destin Library from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Prior to speaking the author will sign books and have available for sale other merchandise associated with characters from his stories. This program is free to the public. Seating will be limited.
Master Gardeners Lecture
Okaloosa County Master Gardeners presents Karen Kirk-Williams' program "Fall and Winter Gardening for Butterflies and Hummingbirds” Sept. 21 at Extension Annex in Fort Walton Beach. There is no cost to attend this program, but space is limited so registration is required at 689-5850.
• Oct. 19: Dave Gordon presents "Rhododendrons-Native Azaleas" at Crestview Extension office.
Steak & Stake Dinner
Evander Holyfield will be the special guest speaker for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast’s third annual Steak & Stake fundraising dinner Sept. 22 at the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Walton in Santa Rosa Beach. For information on sponsorships or tickets, contact Rob Engel, director of development, at rengel@bgcec.com or call 862-1616.
The Disciplined Dance of Dressage
The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will host The Disciplined Dance of Dressage at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at The Destin Library. on Friday, September 9th, (2:00 PM) at the Destin Library. The program is free and open to the public. Jodie Kelly, local Dressage trainer and a 2011 Grand Prix level Champion, will take us behind the scenes of Dressage, the oldest and highest level of Equestrian training. Jodie is the great-granddaughter of Mattie Kelly and continues to compete and train both riders and horses at her stables in Kelly Plantation.
Kids Eat Free
IHOP offers a Kids Eat Free program for ages 12 and under from 4-10 p.m. through Sept. 25 to celebrate back to school.
Make-and-Take classes
The Destin Library has announced a new series of free how-to workshops for ages 18 and up that focus on practical projects and skills you might not have learned in school. Workshops will be held the last Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. This month’s workshop, is Greener Cleaners. Participants will learn to make two cleaning products: an all-purpose cleaner and a glass cleaner. Light refreshments will be provided. No registration. Call 837-8572 or email mfontaine@cityofdesitn.com.
Sugar Sands Charity Golf Classic
The ninth annual Sugar Sands Charity Golf Classic will be held Oct. 10 at the Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin to benefit Children in Crisis. The two day event kicks off with a pre-registration party at Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar on Oct. 9. The tournament will begin with a 11:30 a.m. check-in and shot-gun start at 1 p.m. Participants will enjoy lunch prior to play, beverages on the course and a family style dinner at the awards ceremony following golf at Tuscany Italian Bistro. In addition to golf, also included in the $250 sign-up fee is a Tommy Bahama shirt voucher for each golfer. Call 864-4242 for more information.
Meet the first tourists
The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will host a program, Meet Our First Tourist, at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Library with Michael Weech from the Indian Temple Mound Museum in Fort Walton Beach. The program, free and open to the public, will highlight exhibits from the museum of the area's Native American occupation. Email friendsofthedestinlibrary@gmail.com.
Bereavement Support Group
Share and learn more about the grief journey you are enduring with an Emerald Coast Hospice bereavement group at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Destin Library. Groups are free and ongoing.
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.
Farmers Market
The WaterColor Coastal Farmers Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 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 and grass fed beef, chicken and pork. Market is held from March 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 Sundays 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
Emerald Coast Bridge Club will be held at 10 a.m. Monday and Thursday at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 307 Harbor Blvd. in Destin, in the old Parlor. Cost is $7. No partner necessary. For more information, call 380-1558 or email nzdet@aol.com.
Destin Life Center
Recreation and fitness activities at Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, are from 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 informa-tion, 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 2-5 p.m. Monday-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.
• Aerobics: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 a.m. Bring water and towel. Cost is $3/session.
• Capoeria: Class in the Brazilian martial art that combines the elements of dance, acrobatics and music will be held on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. for adults 18 and over.
• Chair Yoga: Monday and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. Cost is $4/class.
• Dodgeball: Ages 13-16 play from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays; ages 17 and up from 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays; and ages 8-12 from 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.
• Game Room: Open to children age 10 and older from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Basketball/volleyball court, ping pong/foosball/air hockey/pool ta-bles
• Pickleball: Play from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mondays. Fee: $3/nonresidents or $2/residents. Racquets and balls are available¬¬. Just bring gym shoes.
• Senior Chair Exercise 50+ years: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10-10:45 a.m. consists of performing light exercises to help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and circulation. Free/residents and $2/non-residents.
• Senior Ping Pong Lessons: Free for Destin Seniors from 1-2 p.m. every Tuesday. Call to sign up.
• Table Tennis: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Paddles and balls provided.
• Youth Dodgeball: From 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays for ages 13-15 and for ages 8-12 Thursdays. Fee is $3/session for nonresidents and $2/session for residents.
• Zumba Gold: From 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Fee is $6/session.