Community Happenings

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Art and Antique Sale

The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso, will sell art, antiques and unique collectibles unrelated to the museum’s mission from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16. Proceeds will benefit the museum’s onsite history education programs.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of Jan. 18-22:

•Monday: Closed.

•Tuesday: Meatloaf.

•Wednesday: Baked chicken.

•Thursday: Turkey breast.

•Friday: Beef chili.

Cooking classes

Chef David’s Club Commander’s Cooking Classes start at 1 p.m. Jan. 16 with Great Eats for The Big Game - A Super Bowl Party Throw Down! Other classes are 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.

Second Annual Media Appreciation Reception

The Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will hold its second annual Media Appreciation Reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at The Great Events Center, 12590 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin.

The program costs $20/members and $25/non-members which includes hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Public relations practitioners and interested professionals are invited. For reservations, call 337-8700 or e-mail jproffitt@turnberry.com.

Military in the Sunshine State

The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida and Northwest Florida State College will present Florida Humanities “Road Scholar” Gary R. Mormino, Ph.D., who will present a free community lecture to discuss “Military in the Sunshine State,” at 1 p.m. Jan. 20 at the NWFSC Niceville campus in the Bldg. K College Mall community gallery.

At 6 p.m., the Heritage Museum, 115 Westview Ave. in Valparaiso, will host a free viewing of the film Florida Dreams - The Story of Modern Florida and How It Grew based on Mormino’s book of the same title.

Free Webinar for government contractors

Chad Hamilton, partner with O’Sullivan Creel, will moderate a live one and a half hour Web broadcast, “The New DCAA Regulations: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You,” from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Jan 21 via WEBINAR.

DCAA updates, including new audit guidance and results from a recent contractor survey and an overview of the Deltek product and benefits of the software, will be shared.

To register, go to www.osullivancreel.com, click on the link provided in the right hand column.

Awards & Installation Banquet

Heisman Trophy Winner and founder of Desire Street Ministries Danny Wuerffel will present Focusing Outward: Living A Balanced Life during the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Awards & Installation Banquet Jan. 22 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Visit www.DestinChamber.com or call 837-6241.

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.

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. To register your cat for the show, call 706-374-4216 or e-mail coonslady@aol.com.

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.

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.

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.

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.