Community Happenings 7-24

All area codes are 850 unless specified.

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.

Benefit

Mitchell’s Fish Market at Grand Boulevard, a Ruth’s Hospitality Group restaurant, will donate 10 percent of sales from the Chef’s Feature at all 20 locations during July and August to benefit the Oxfam America Gulf Coast Spill Response Fund. This Fund is supporting partners in the region, responding to the disaster and meeting pressing needs on the ground.

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.

Bridgeway Senior Program

Bridgeway Senior Program will deliver the following meals the week of July 26-30:

Monday: Italian mac.

Tuesday: Smoked sausage.

Wednesday: Chicken salad

Thursday: Creole steak.

Friday: Ham and white beans.

Florida Trail Association

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

•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.

•July 31: Hike to find the highest point on the trail on Eglin at 8 a.m. Call 492-8258.

•Aug. 4: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390.
•Aug. 11: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390.
•Aug. 13-15: Camp/bike/hike/swim at Falling Waters State Park at 8 a.m. Call 434-8861.

•Aug. 14: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip down Yellow River from Milligan to Gin Hole Landing at 9 a.m.  Eglin permit required.  Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 18: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390. 
•Aug. 22: Bring your canoe or kayak for a float trip on Blackwater River from
Kennedy Bridge to Peaden Bridge at 9 a.m. Call 484-9111.
•Aug. 24:  Monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Bayou Blues Restaurant in Niceville. Visitors
welcome. Call 682-6098.
•Aug. 25: Hike in downtown Pensacola at 6 p.m. with dinner following. Call 207-7390. 
•Aug. 28: A three -mile hike on the Jackson Trail to Peaden bridge at 8 a.m. followed by a swim in the river. Lunch afterwards at the Gator Café in Baker.  Call 776-5147.

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.

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.

Food donations

Shelter House is collecting donations of unopened, canned and non-perishable food items that summer tourists may have left over after their stay on the Emerald Coast. Food donations will be used to feed the women and children who stay in the emergency shelter. Donations may be dropped off at 102 Buck Drive in Fort Walton Beach or 78 Lynn Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.

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.

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.

NWFSC Health Programs Information Fair

The Nursing and Allied Health programs at Northwest Florida State College will host a Health Programs Information Fair from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2 in the College Mall, building K on the Niceville campus for those interested in learning more about admissions to the NWF State College associate degree (RN) and bachelor’s degree (RN to BSN) programs in nursing as well as programs in dental assisting, paramedic, EMT, radiography, emergency medical services, medical coding/billing and health services management. Call 729-6400.

Choctawhatchee Audubon program

The Choctawhatchee Audubon will present an educational program, “Red Cockaded Woodpecker Ecology and Monitoring, Working to Recover an Endangered Species”, at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville in the Learning Resource Center, LRC Room 128. Socializing, refreshments and conservation topics begin at 6:30 p.m. Call 678-1461

Sales tax holiday
The Florida sales tax holiday will be held Aug. 13-15. Floridians will not pay sales tax on books, clothing and footwear that cost $50 or less as well as school supplies that cost less than $10. Silver Sands shoppers can earn extra credit by receiving an additional 20
percent off one single item at select stores and a complimentary Platinum
Rewards coupon book from Aug. 1-15.
The Florida sales tax holiday also applies to handbags, backpacks, fanny packs and diaper bags but excludes briefcases, suitcases and other garment bags.

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.