Community Happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of Jan. 25-29:

•Monday: Grilled pork patty.

•Tuesday: Hamburger.

•Wednesday: Mozzarella chicken.

•Thursday: Sausage/beans.

•Friday: Beef Frito pie.

Garage sales

Covenant Hospice will hold garage sales from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 23, Feb. 19-20 and March 19-20 at 1419 29th St. in Niceville. The sales will benefit its non-funded and under-funded programs in Okaloosa and Walton counties. These programs include bereavement services, children’s services, chaplain services and indigent care. Items on sale include furniture, books, jewelry, toys, Valentine items (new) and more.

The non-profit is now seeking donations and volunteers to help in organizing the sale. Call 729-1800.

Computer Expo

The fourth annual “Computer Tech 2010” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Northwest Florida State College Niceville campus in the College Mall, Bldg. K. The free event focuses on the home computer user and will feature 20 free “How-To” workshops, vendor displays and door prizes. For a complete schedule visit www.nwfacug.org.

Gumbo contest

The Destin History & Fishing Museum’s annual Gumbo Contest and Silent Auction Fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Destin Community Center. Area restaurants and individuals compete for the title of the best gumbo on the Panhandle.

The event includes live music from local musicians and a silent auction.  Sample all the area’s finest gumbo and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award.  Advanced tickets are available at the Museum for $10 per adult.

To enter your gumbo in the contest or donate an item for the silent auction, call 837-6611 or e-mail kathydestinhistory@embarqmail.com.

Cooking classes

Chef David’s Club Commander’s Cooking Classes start at 1 p.m. with Sumptuous Valentine’s Day Dinner, Jan. 23 and Celebrate Mardi Gras with famous Commander’s Brunch, Jan. 30. Cost is $30/class or $75/all three. E-mail info@commanderspalacedestin.com.

Carrabba’s Cooking Class Fundraiser

Shelter House is partnering with Carrabba’s Italian Grill at Silver Sands Factory Stores to bring Carrabba’s Cooking Class to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 23 at 10562 Emerald Coast Parkway West. Proceeds go to Shelter House’s efforts to end domestic violence.

Enjoy wines, learn to cook Carrabba’s original recipes and taste demonstrations. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased from  Shelter House prior to the event at 102 Buck Drive in Fort Walton Beach. Space is limited. Call 243-1201.

Florida Trail Association

The Florida Trail Association will hold the following events. Visit http://westgate. floridatrail.org or call the listed number. 

•Jan. 23: Hike in Conecuh National Forest in Alabama, 8 a.m. Call 484-9111.

•Jan. 23: Hike on Eglin reservation to the Alaqua campsite, 9 a.m. Call 683-0803.

•Jan. 26: Monthly meeting at Bayou Blues in Niceville, 6 p.m. Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.

•Jan. 30: Four-mile full moon hike around Bear Lake with potluck dinner afterwards, 5 p.m. Call 682-6098.

•Jan. 31: Hike in Gulf Shores, Ala., at Bon Secour NWR. Visit Ft. Morgan afterwards, 9 a.m. Call 723-7924.

•Feb. 5-7: A 15-mile backpacking hike on Eglin reservation at 8 a.m. Eglin recreation permit required. Call 492-8258.

•Feb. 5-7: Weekend of camping, hiking and socializing at Torreya State Park. Call 623-1646.

•Feb. 13: A 9-mile hike on the Nokuse section at 8:15 a.m. Call 862-1903.

•Feb. 12-14: Weekend of camping, hiking and socializing at Cheaha, Ala., at 8 a.m. Call 995-4267.

•Feb. 19-20: Camping and a bike ride around Bear Lake at 10 a.m. Call 683-0803.

•Feb. 20: Awards banquet and pot luck dinner at Bear Lake at 11:30 a.m. Call 932-0125.

•Feb. 21: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance in the Yellow River Ravines section at 8 a.m. Call 474-5359.

•Feb. 23: Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues in Niceville.  Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.

•Feb. 27: Hike on Tarkin Preserve Park at 8 a.m. Call 554-7255.

Senior tours

For information on the following tours for seniors, call 594-9980.

•Cajun Mardi Gras Tour: Konriko Rice Mill, Avery Island, Mardi Gras parades in Houma, La., and tour of New Orleans, Feb. 14-18.

•Branson, Mo.: Tour five shows and 9 meals and other places of interest, March 11-16.

•Alaska Cruise/Canadian Rockies Tour: Eight-day land tour Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise, Banff Jasper. Seven-day Alaska Cruise, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, May 25-June 4.

•Israel - A Journey to the Holy Land: Bethlehem, Jericho, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth and other places of interest, Oct. 21-30.

Cat Show

Destiny Cat Fancier’s Allbreed and Household Pet Cat Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 23 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 24 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center on Okaloosa Island.

Admission is $5. Bring a large can of cat food for the local shelter and receive $1 off.

Boating seminar

A boating seminar, Mariner’s Compass, will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Anchorage, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. Call 315-0686 or 474-2914. Registration is available on-line at www.uwf.edu. Cost is $40. Call 315-0686.

Mortgage seminar

Sacred Heart Senior Services and Mainstay Financial Group, Inc. will present a free seminar on home equity conversion mortgages at 10 a.m. Jan. 25 in the Suite 3 Resource Center conference room at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast. To register, call 278-3600 or toll-free 877-416-1600.

Cottages for Kids

The annual Children’s Volunteer Health Network “Cottages for Kids”, now in its fourth year, will be held this May in Rosemary Beach. These carefully crafted houses may be purchased by the public, with all proceeds benefiting Children’s Volunteer Health Network. The houses are designed and built by local and regional architects and contractors, and are donated to CVHN for resale.

On Jan. 26, CVHN will host a kick-off party for interested architects and builders. For more information, visit www.cottagesforkids.org or call 622-3200.

Booksigning

Timothy A. Weeks will be at the Destin History and Fishing Museum at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 26 for a presentation on his new book, “Goldie’s Search for Silver.” Weeks will also autograph all three of his books for parents interesting in purchasing a copy for their child.

Model search

Modelscoutbennett will hold a modelsearch with Elite Model Management Global at 10 a.m. Jan. 30 at the Country Inn and Suites on Commons Drive in Destin. Looking for ages 13 and over, male and female for all Elite markets around the world. No photos necessary and no height requirement. Fee is $20. Call 246-1492.

Informational symposium

The U.S Naval Academy Alumni Association of Pensacola will host an Informational Symposium for interested high school students, their parents, counselors and school administrators from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at The National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola. Attendees will learn about admission to the U.S. Naval Academy and Navy ROTC scholarships and meet local contacts, graduates and parents. RSVP at 435-9179 or 291-4446 as soon as possible.

Habitat for Humanity seminar

Habitat for Humanity Okaloosa County currently does not a waiting list for future home sites and is in need of securing qualified families to begin participation in their program. With Striving for Perfection Ministries, Habitat will host a seminar to detail the process of qualifying for a Habitat home and what Habitat offers to families through the program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at 24 Bass Avenue SW in Fort Walton Beach. The event is open to all interested individuals and families in the community that would like to understand Habitat for Humanity homeownership and to determine eligibility. Door prizes and refreshments provided. Call 315-0025, ext. 3.

Bird Walk

Members and non-members of all levels of experience are invited to join the Choctawhatchee Audubon Society for a bird walk around the Niceville area at 8 a.m. Feb. 6. Bring binoculars, a bird book and weather appropriate clothing. Call 2602.

Camellia Workshop/Open House

The 11th Annual Camellia Workshop/Open House, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Camellia Society, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 6 at the Okaloosa County Extension Service Building, 127 Hollywood Ave. in Fort Walton Beach. Attendees will receive one-on-one, hands-on instruction on various aspects of growing camellias. Visitors are encouraged to bring samples of leaves, blooms, etc., to the pests/diseases table for evaluation of plants. Camellia plants will be available for purchase. Call 862-4526.

Bikers for Bridget Poker Run

Register at 9 a.m. at Earth, Wind-N-Fire for the Bikers for Bridget Poker Run. First bike out at 10 a.m.; last at 11 a.m. Cost is $10 per hand. All proceedsw go toward Bridget’s medical care. Stops include Destin Ink, Scully’s, Red Door Saloon, Nick’s Seafood Restaurant and On the Edge. Barbecue by Roger Porter. Call 360-909-1051 or e-mail jamesddjms@aol.com.

Boating seminar

A boating seminar, Basic Coastal Navigation, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Anchorage, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. Call 315-0686 or 474-2914. Registration is available on-line at www.uwf.edu. Cost is $35. Call 315-0686.

•Feb. 22: Using GPS.

Valentine Dinner

Shelter House, local domestic violence center, and Youth Village, Inc., an after school program and summer camp, are teaming up to present a Valentines Dinner from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Youth Village, 312 Pelham Road in Fort Walton Beach. Tickets for the spaghetti dinner are $10/person and can be purchased at 243-1201.

Eco-Nomic Living Expo

Okaloosa Saves will hold its Fourth Annual Piggy Bank Pageant at the Eco-Nomic Living Expo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds on Lewis Turner. Kids get to decorate, dress-up and create artistic piggy banks through their schools, business, local churches and organizations. Piggy Banks will be pre-judged at their organization, and then compete in the Okaloosa Saves Pageant. Pageant winners will be awarded a $100 U.S. Savings Bonds donated by new customer services. People’s Choice winners will be selected at the Economic Living Expo. Call 862-0111, Ext. 1316 or e-mail egarcia@eglinfcu.

Computer workshops

The Destin Library computer workshops offered January through March are open to individuals having a valid library card membership in the Okaloosa County Library Cooperative and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The last day for preregistration will be two days prior to the scheduled workshop date.

Workshops include E-Mail Internet Basics, Computer Basics, Facebook, and Introduction to Blogs, Digital Photography and Craigslist.

Registration forms and workshop descriptions can be viewed and downloaded at www.cityofdestin.com. Call 837-8572.

Kids in the Kitchen

Sarah K’s Gourmet and 30a Media Inc will film a regular segment featuring local children ages 4 to 14 who aspire to be chefs. Segment will teach nutrition, cooking skills and math skills while showcasing a young chef.

Send recent picture of child along with age, contact information and age appropriate recipe to Sarah K’s Gourmet, 34940 U.S. 98, Suite 183 Destin FL 32541.

The recipes must meet be 10 ingredients or less, simple and fresh ingredients, family friendly and age appropriate cooking processes.

Destin Library

The following events are held regularly at the Destin Library. Call 837-8572

•Tai Chi for Arthritis: At 7 a.m.  Wednesdays. Cost is $5/class.

•Cuddlers & Toddlers Storytime: From 3 t 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 to 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.

•Brazilian Martial Arts: Offered at 8 p.m. Mondays.

•Ballroom dance classes: Learn swing, Latin and ballroom dance from 7 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. Cost: $10/person.

•Chair yoga: 10 a.m. Thursdays. Cost: $2.

•Dodgeball: 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays for ages 17 and up.

•Duplicate bridge: At 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Entry fee: $5. No partner needed.

•Fencing: From 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 678-9190.

•Game room: Open to children 10 and older and under 10 accompanied by adult from 1 to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday.

•Intermediate party bridge: At 12:45 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967.

•Jazzercise class: 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

•Line dancing: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays for beginners and intermediates Begins Nov. 4. Cost $5.

•Low impact aerobics: 9:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Begins Nov. 2. Bring water and a towel. Cost $3.

•Table tennis: 8 to 11 a.m. Thursdays.

•Volleyball: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays.

•Walk to music: From 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday.

•Woodcarving: Coastal Wood Carvers meet at 9 a.m. Fridays. Fee: $3 per class.

•Zumba: Dance fitness at 11 a.m. Thursdays. Cost: $6.