Community Happenings 7-14

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of July 12-16:

•Wednesday: Smoked sausage.

•Thursday: Sloppy Joe.

•Friday: Chicken and dumplings.

Meet and greet

A meet and greet with candidate for sheriff Steven Menchel will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 15 at Perry’s, 1027 John Sims Parkway in Niceville. RSVP at steven@menchelforsheriff.com.

Grand opening

The Destin History & Fishing Museum will hold the grand opening for its Hammerhead Shark exhibit from 5 to 7 p.m. July 15. Light refreshments will be served.

United Way “Cram the Van”

Shop at Walmart every Saturday in July from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and donate school supplies to help “Cram the Van.” United Way partner agencies will collect the supplies and sort and distribute them to S4P Synergy, AMIKids and Take Stock in Children.

Florida Trail Association

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

•July 17: Bring your canoe or kayak and for a float trip in Santa Rosa County at 10 a.m. Call 623-1646.
•July 18: Volunteers needed for trail maintenance in the Yellow River Ravines at 8 a.m. Call 474-5359.
•July 24: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip on Juniper Creek in
Santa Rosa County at 8 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•July 27: Monthly meeting at Bayou Blues Restaurant in Niceville at 6 p.m. Visitors welcome. Call 682-6098.
•July 31: Hike from Karick Lake to the Wire Grass Trail at 8 a.m. Call 623-1646.

Panhandle Job Fair

The Panhandle Job Fair Foundation is accepting employer registrations for the Fall Panhandle Job Fair Sept. 16 at Northwest Florida Fairgrounds in Fort Walton Beach. Employers should now fill out the online registration form at www.panhandlejobfair.com or e-mail panhandlejobfair@cox.net. Registration proceeds from employers will benefit Take Stock in Children.

Employers will have access to highly motivated military members from the five Air Force and Naval installations in the area in addition to military veterans and civilian jobseekers. This is an opportunity for companies to recruit some of the most highly qualified, degreed, and technically skilled, professional personnel in the Southeast Region.

Adoption seminar

Passion1.27, The Heart of God Adoption & Orphan Ministry, will hold a free adoption and foster care information seminar from 8 a.m. to noon July 17 at Grace Lutheran Church Family Life Center, 4325 Commons Drive West in Destin. Whether you are curious, exploring, or thinking and praying about adoption or foster care, this seminar will help prepare you for taking the next step to making a difference in the life of a child. To register, call 419-2563 or e-mail Passion127@mchsi.com.

Heritage Museum Yard Sale
The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida in Valparaiso is accepting donations for their Yard Sale Spectacular from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. This year’s sale will include furniture and antiques as well. Donations are tax deductible. Call 678-2615.

Sheriff’s Candidate Forum

A Sheriff's Candidate Forum will be presented by the Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee at 6:30 p.m. July 20 at the Niceville Community Center, 206 N. Partin Drive. Invited candidates are Larry Ashley, Rick Hord, Ron Livingston, Steve Menchel, Bill Patterson and Tony Taylor. The forum is open to the public, no charge. Call 897-3322 or 217-2532.

Candidate forum

The Okaloosa County Republican Club will host a forum at 6:15 p.m. July 22 at the American Legion Post #235, 105 Hollywood Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach, for the Republican candidates running for the U.S. Representative District 2 seat currently held by Allen Boyd. Reservations and cancellations must
be made by July 19. The dinner cost is $10. Call 609-1179 or 651-5049 for reservations and cancellations.

Cooking demonstration

The Fresh Market’s Fresh Flavors Cooking Demo featuring Firecracker Raspberry Chipotle Glazed Shrimp with Summer Pasta and Vegetable Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. July 24 at Fresh Market on Commons Drive in Destin.

Transportation Project Priorities workshops

Participate in the decision-making process when the Okaloosa-Walton TPO holds workshops for your area at 4 p.m. July 27 at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave.

Plant Clinics

Okaloosa County Horticulture Extension Agent Larry Williams will hold Plant Clinics for county residents from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 22 and Oct. 27 at the Extension Annex Building, 127 Hollywood Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach. Call 689-5850.

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed at The Destin History & Fishing Museum to greet visitors, take admissions, give tours and help at fundraisers. There are openings available from 10 to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. If interested, call 837-6611 or e-mail kathydestinhistory@embarqmail.com. 

Free dental x-rays at NWFSC

The Dental Assisting program at Northwest Florida State College offers free dental x-rays in July as a service to the public and to provide practicum experience for NWFSC dental radiography students. A written request or prescription from a dentist stating the specific x-rays needed is required. The finished x-rays are given to the requesting dentist for diagnosis and any follow-up treatment necessary. Full mouth, bite-wing and panoramic x-rays are available. All patients must complete a medical history, must not have any condition such as pregnancy that would prohibit having dental x-rays, and must not have had recent dental x-rays taken. Appointments are available on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Call 729-6480 to schedule an appointment. Individuals must have the request or prescription from the dentist prior to scheduling the appointment. The NWFSC Dental Assisting program is located on the NWFSC Niceville campus, 100 College Blvd., Bldg E, Room 307.

Democratic Women’s Club dinner

Congresswoman Pat Schroeder will be the keynote speaker at the Democratic Women’s Club’s 2010 Annual Dinner honoring women’s suffrage at 6 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort on Okaloosa Island. For tickets, call 678-1561 or 864-3148. 

Boating course

A 4-hour Partner-in-Command boating course will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Anchorage, 404 Green Acres Road in Fort Walton Beach. The program, conducted by experienced local boaters, is designed to provide essential safe boating information to individuals who may not have recreational boating experience, or have not taken a public boating course; but may have to assist or replace the skipper in the operation of a vessel. The course is open to family members with or without the skipper present. The cost is $70 for one person or $80 for two members sharing the same materials. Call

473-7468 or 499-5757.

Junior Lifeguard programs

The Destin Fire Rescue Foundation will host Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard in Training Programs for those aged 9-17. Participants will discover SCUBA, tour Fire Station 9, visit the Coast Guard Station, learn CPR and AED, and more. Cost for the 8-week course is $425. Call 837-8413 or go to Destin Fire Station 9, 848 Airport Road, to register.

‘Buy Destin’ coupon

The “Buy Destin” coupon book, with valuable offers from Destin Area Chamber of Commerce members, is available for $5 at the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce, 4484 Legendary Drive, Suite A.

Senior tours

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

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

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 to 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.

•Duplicate bridge: At 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Entry fee: $6. No partner needed.

•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: Mondays and Tuesdays at Buck Destin Park. Call 837-1967.

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

•Open gym: Adult Full Court, 5 to 9 p.m. Monday; all ages, 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, pending special events.

•Volleyball: 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

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

•Walk to music: From 7 to 7:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 8 to 8:45 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

•Woodcarving: Coastal Wood Carvers meet at 9 a.m. Fridays.