Member News: Women on Wellness, Volunteer Opportunity, Run with Dogs, & More

3rd Annual Women on Wellness: Guidance for a Healthy Lifestyle
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Twin Cities Hospital, and the Costa Leadership Institute at Northwest Florida State College are excited to present the 3rd Annual Women on Wellness symposium April 11, 2014, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. This one day educational and energizing conference is aimed to help women achieve balance and success in life, work, and health. Attendees will hear dynamic presentations by local physicians and business experts. Join us to learn how to increase your resilience, eat better, lead a more balanced life and improve relationships, communications, and overall wellness. To register or obtain more information, visit www.WomenOnWellness.org or call (850) 729-6880.

ResortQuest Real Estate® Congratulates Top Producers
ResortQuest Real Estate announced its January top producers. Rick and Dale Martinez of the on-site Ariel Dunes office received highest honors for top closed sales and the Nathan Abbott Team of the Destin office received highest honors for top closed listings out of more than 100 ResortQuest REALTORS® in Northwest Florida. To meet with these top associates, visit 35000 Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin or Ariel Dunes in Miramar Beach. The Nathan Abbott Team may be reached at (850) 803-7653, and Rick and Dale Martinez can be reached at (850) 974-1470. Also, visit RQEmeraldCoastRealEstate.com or follow us on Facebook atFacebook.com/ResortQuestGulfCoast.

Hilton Sandestin Reopened Revitalized Spa March 1 With New Spa Director
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa announced the completion of renovations at its award-winning Serenity by the sea Spa, and the appointment of Rhonda Davis as the new spa director. The resort’s recent $12.5 million transformation included major upgrades at the 11,000 square-foot spa, where Davis will oversee all aspects of operations, staff management, and treatment protocol. For eight consecutive years, Serenity by the sea has been voted “Best Spa” by readers of Emerald Coast magazine, and in 2013 was ranked #26 in Travel + Leisure magazine’s readers’ poll of Top US Spas. For more information, visit HiltonSandestinBeach.com or call (850) 267-9500.

Legendary Marine Debuts Four New Boat Models & New Technology
Legendary Marine is introducing four brand new boat models, plus showcasing cutting-edge marine technology at the Emerald Coast Boat Show, to be held March 14 – 16 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. It is also offering special purchase packages for boat buyers at the show, including six months free storage at Legendary Marina in Destin or North Light Marina in Niceville, free Pit Pass with 20-hour service, free value pack including tank of gas, Coast Guard kit, and on-water orientation with captain, plus buyer's choice of either a $300 retail valued Fishing Pack from Half Hitch Tackle or Water Toy Pack from West Marine. For more information, visit www.legendarymarine.com.

Belk Searches for Child Models
On March 29, from 12 – 3 p.m., enjoy KidFest at the Destin Commons Belk. The day is centered around a children's fashion show showcasing spring fashion trends. Belk is currently searching for local children, ages 3 – 11, to be models in the fashion show. Contact Brandy Hafely, regional administrative assistant, at (850) 650-4091. All models receive a special model discount the day of the event with absolutely NO EXCLUSIONS! No experience necessary, this is a fun event for the entire family to enjoy! Visit www.belk.com/AST/Featured/Promo_Details/KidsFest.jsp.

3rd Seering Concert pushes total to over $50K for Children Accomplished musician and performer David Seering, accompanied by pianist Bobby Van Deusen and vocalist Susie Griffith, delighted a near sell-out crowd raising almost $18,000 for Children in Crisis. This pushed the three-year total to over $50,000 for the CIC children. Joining David on stage to complete the wonderful evening of entertainment was Steve Gilmore, (Bass), Brent Persell, (Drums) and entertainer Pat McAlpine of Nepean, Ontario, Canada. Seen here, Ken Hair, CIC President & CEO, receives a check from Seering.

CBA Volunteer Opportunity
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance needs help with an Oyster Reef Construction on Friday, March 7, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The location is the Pelican Cove Condominiums on Placid Drive in Fort Walton Beach. The meeting spot is at the end of Harrelson Drive. RSVP to Rachel Gwin at gwinr@nwfsc.edu. Wear gloves, clothes and close-toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty and wet. Bring a towel, sunscreen, bug spray and a hat. Bring refillable water bottle and snacks. You will be helping the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance move and place bagged oyster shell at the reef site.

Destin's 14th Annual Run With the Dogs 5K The City of Destin Parks & Recreation Department will host the 14th Annual Run with the Dogs 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m. This run is open to individual runners/walkers. A “stroller division” has been added this year. Participants are encouraged, but not required, to bring their dog, big or small, to run or walk the race. Preregistration cost is $20 and must be completed by March 1. Cost is $25, if registered between March 2 and March 14. Day-of registration cost is $30. Participants may also register online at www.runsignup.com until March 14. For more information, call 650-1241,email Nick Coleman at ncoleman@cityofdestin.com, or visitwww.CityofDestin.com.

Brice Horwell Recognized as United Way Volunteer of the Year During the United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties’ annual meeting, Brice Horwell was named as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year. Horwell is a long-time volunteer with Covenant Hospice, a United Way member agency that submitted Horwell’s name for award consideration. A Navy veteran, Horwell is active in Covenant Hospice’s We Honor Veterans program, which provides special recognition and care for veterans at the end of life. Horwell has volunteered with Covenant Hospice for over seven years and has averaged more than 210 hours and 1,600 miles travelled annually. For details about the program, call (850) 729-1800 or visitwww.covenanthospice.org.

26th Annual ArtsQuest Reveals 2014 Featured Artist
ArtsQuest, a fine arts festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and presented by Visit South Walton and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, reveals Juan Francisco Adaro as Featured Festival Artist. The 26th annual festival is scheduled for May 9-11, 2014 in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Featured Artist Juan Francisco Adaro is a contemporary painter born in Buenos Aires Argentina and currently lives in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. For details on this year’s festival, visit www.artsquestflorida.com.

Cumulus Branding Seminar
Enjoy this free event by Cumulus Broadcasting to grow your customer base! Event takes place on March 10, at the Destin Area Chamber, on March 11, at the Crestview Chamber, and March 12, at the Fort Walton Beach Chamber, at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Everyone who attends will be registered to win a free $500 gas and groceries gift card! Call (850) 243-7676 to reserve your space.

Local Residential Real Estate Starts 2014 with a Bang
While buyers may not have included real estate in their shopping plans for the holidays, they came back full force in January with a 25.4 percent increase in single family home sales across the Emerald Coast, according to sales statistics released by the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors (ECAR). Townhome and condo sales fared similarly well in January, with a 20.6 percent increase in sales when compared to January 2013. Median prices for single family homes in the region rose during the month by 6.3 percent when compared to 2013, while townhome and condo prices increased 3.7 percent. Visit www.emeraldcoastrealtors.com.

Faith & Fishtells Lecture at Museum
Ronald Gibson, author of “Faith & Fishtells,” will talk about the cultural history of Destin, the hard working families, events, and one family’s immigration from Canada to Northwest Florida in 1924, during a free lecture at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, on Friday, March 14 at noon. Bring a sandwich and take your lunch break for this informal lunchtime education program. This lecture is free and open to the public. SPACE IS LIMITED. Please call (850) 678-2615 to reserve a seat. 

McGuire’s Wine Tasting
Join McGuire’s Irish Pub for its monthly Wine Tasting on Wednesday, March 5, from 5 – 7 p.m., and sample five wines for just $5. Once you've found that one special bottle you've just got to have, take it into our award-winning restaurant and have it with dinner--no corkage fee. And don't forget, you can take $5 off your first bottle of the wines featured on the tasting! Call (850) 654-7002 for details.

Free Piano & Vocal Recitals March 15 & 16 at NWFSC
Lois Van Dam, a music professor at Northwest Florida State College, will perform a piano recital featuring the music of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tyler Recital Hall at Northwest Florida State College's Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville. At the recital, professor Van Dam will perform Bach's Italian Concerto and Beethoven's Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein), as well as four Brahms selections. The recital is free of charge with donations accepted at the door. For more information, call (850) 729-5382 or visitwww.MattieKellyArtsCenter.org.

Okaloosa Water & Sewer Gets $1.2M for New Water Tank at Bob Sikes Airport
Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department has been selected, along with Santa Rosa County, to receive two grants from the Northwest Florida Water Management District for future water supply planning. The recent announcement from Florida’s Water Management District states that the water supply funding allows for the construction of a 1 million gallon elevated water tank and facilities in Okaloosa County, as well as reclaimed water upgrade on Highway 285 in Niceville. The Niceville project will address priorities under the area’s Regional Water Supply Plan. For more information about Okaloosa County Water & Sewer, visitwww.co.okaloosa.fl.us/wsweb/index.html. 

Prom Dinner Menu at Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Visit Ruth’s Chris Steak House for a special Prom Dinner Menu, which will be $50 per person, including tax. Starters include your choice of a Steak House Salad, Harvest Salad Caesar Salad, or French Onion Soup; Entrée choice of 6 oz. Filet & Shrimp, Stuffed Chicken Breast, BBQ Shrimp, or Blackened Grouper; and dessert of cheesecake. Call (850) 337-5108 for reservations.

Sacred Heart to Host Joint Replacement Classes March 17 and March 31 
The Joint Replacement Program at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast hosts bi-weekly education classes to help people learn more about the joint replacement process. The next classes will take place on Monday, March 17, and Monday, March 31, at 9 a.m. in the hospital’s Resource Center Suite 3 conference room. Led by Linda Ledford, Sacred Heart’s dedicated joint replacement coordinator and registered nurse, the class will focus on what to expect before, during and after surgery. For more information on the joint replacement process or to attend a class, please call Linda Ledford at (850) 278-3646. For more information, visitwww.sacredheartemerald.org.

Cruise & Blues / Bugs & Brews
Enjoy a Sunday afternoon cruise on board the Solaris on March 30, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Live music will be provided by Cadillac Willy, and the meal will be crawfish with all the trimmings. Cost is $42, and reservations are required. Call (850) 650-2519. Boarding is at 1 p.m., at Baytowne Marina. Visit www.SunQuestCruises.com.

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Do you have special business information you would like to share with all Chamber members and our website visitors? Please send your exciting news, which can be about an upcoming event or other timely information, to news@DestinChamber.com. Only Chamber members are allowed to post news, each news item has to be less than 100 words, only one item per member is allowed each week, and Chamber staff reserves the right to reject or edit postings that do not meet the requirements. All news items are due by Friday for posting the following Monday. The link to this page will be sent out in our weekly Tuesday Talking Points email, and the news item will remain on the website until the next Monday's posting. We will not keep an archive of these pages, and no general business descriptions will be posted. Also, member news items will only be published once.