GIVING BACK

Harbor Docks’ Take-A-Kid-Fishing Day

Harbor Docks Charities is hosting the 27^th Annual Take-A-Kid-Fishing Day on Sunday,  November 6, 2022. For the last 27 years, thousands of area children have spent the day fishing aboard many of Destin’s finest charter boats.

This year, there are 300 openings for kids – many of which do not often get the chance to fish in the beautiful waters around Destin, including the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay.

• Off duty law enforcement and firefighters from Destin and Fort Walton Beach, as well as other Harbor Docks Charities Volunteers, will be the chaperones on these professional charter boats. 

Reservations for this free fishing trip are being accepted until the slots are filled. This is for children from 7 to 13 years old. To make a reservation or get additional information call Harbor Docks at 850-837-2506, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday thru Friday and ask for Jackie. Pre-registration is required. 

• RESERVATIONS WILL BE TAKEN BEGINNING ON Monday, OCTOBER 3rd. 

• If interested, you can call or email your reservation. Be sure to include each child’s name and age, along with their parent’s name and phone number.

The first group of approximately 150 kids will be signed-in at 7 a.m. and the second group will be signed-in at 8 a.m.

On the day of, participants will meet downstairs at Harbor Docks Restaurant for a breakfast of orange juice and donuts. Boats will board at approximately 7:30 a.m. and return roughly four hours later. The second  group of children will board at 8:30 a.m. and return at 1:00 p.m. All children will receive a t-shirt, rod and reel as well as a family fish fry. 

Teachers, policemen and firemen who are interested in volunteering or chaperoning, please contact Jackie at Harbor Docks 837-2506.

LAST CALL

Swizzle Stick auctioning of iconic decor, final call on October 1

Got fond memories of Swizzle Stick? Now get fun memorabilia, too!

Here’s your chance to own some of the iconic décor from our beloved Swizzle Stick on Okaloosa Island. Everything – martini-shaped chairs, wall art, even glassware – is up for grabs. Be generous, as all proceeds will be donated to Fisher House of the Emerald Coast.

• The auction is now live.
• Auction ends on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at midnight.

Fisher House of the Emerald Coast is a 12-suite residential facility that provides a “home away from home” for military and their families while receiving medical care.

As previously reported, the Swizzle will close their doors on October 1 as the Best Western hotel prepares for a massive renovation.

Click here to see items available to bid on.

THE WEEKENDER

A few things to do around town

September 29, 2022 – Ft Walton Bch HS Reunion – Class of ’72, ’73, ’74 & ’75 – Price Varies – View

September 30, 2022 – CONCERTS AT THE LANDING: Interstellar Echoes – (A Tribute to Pink Floyd) – View

September 30, 2022 – Destin Fishing Rodeo Kids Wagon Parade – View

October 1, 2022 – 2022 Okaloosa Gas Navarre Fishing Rodeo – View

October 1, 2022 – Step One Automotive Hosts the Saving with Soul Adoption Event – Free – View

October 1, 2022 – 2022 Women’s Expo at The Island Resort – Free – View

October 1, 2022 – Downtown FWB Art Walk sponsored by Artesano Boutique! – View

October 1, 2022 – MKAF Fall Flix: The Goonies – View

October 4, 2022 – Power Your Parenting – Awkward Conversations – View

October 4, 2022 – 2022 National Night Out – 80’s Themed Community Block Party – View

October 5, 2022 – C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles – $10 – View

October 7, 2022 – Sip N’ Stroll Gallery Night at J.Leon Gallery – View

October 9, 2022 – Destin High School 5K – $35 – View

October 9, 2022 – 2nd Annual BrunchFest – View

October 11, 2022 – Saneka’s Legacy to Present on October 11th – View

October 11, 2022 – Sinfonia Gala Event featuring Patti LaBelle – View

October 12, 2022 – C.A.R.E.ing for Turtles – $10 – View

October 13, 2022 – MKAF Taylor Dayne Concert in the Village – View

A MESSAGE FROM WM & CITY OF DESTIN

How to handle yard debris before and after a major storm

In the event of a storm, it is important to know in advance how to handle yard debris and trash pickup both before and after the storm.

‘If there’s an inbound storm, some people will think it’s a good idea to go out and trim their trees and get some things done before the storm gets here,” said Destin City Manager Lance Johnson.

• Johnson asks residents to not do that because yard debris could become airborne during the storm and cause damage to your own house or someone else’s property.

Before a storm, WM will continue to provide collection and disposal services according to designated schedules while weather conditions permit. 

• Bundle and tie down all loose trash and yard debris. 
• Secure garbage and recycling containers in a location away from open spaces. 
• DO NOT trim trees before the storm hits. 

After the storm, and after the area has been declared safe, clean up your yard as soon as you can. 

• Put the debris in the right of way next to the road so that WM, or one of the contracted refuge removal companies, can get to it and get it out of Destin as quickly as possible.

“Separate piles for household garbage, recycling, yard waste, construction debris, and household hazardous waste,” said Doug Rainer, WM. “WM will follow all emergency declarations and guidance given by state and local authorities after a weather event to determine when and where it is safe to resume service.”

• WM will post updates at wm.com/alerts in the event of weather-related delays and service changes. 

When placing debris out for pickup, follow these guidelines:

• Leaves, long clippings and small twigs must be canned or bagged and shall not weigh more than 50 pounds per container or bundle. 
• Tree limbs must be stacked and shall not be more than six feet in length or four inches in diameter. 
• Do not pile debris around fire hydrants or mailboxes or on top of ground transformers. 
• WM will pick up no more than two cubic yards of material at a time which is approximately one pickup truck bed full.

Place your trash bins close to the roadway but not actually in the roadway.

“Bins in the roadway can create a hazard for people jogging or riding their bicycle because they may scoot out into the roadway with a car coming up behind them,” added Johnson. “Keep the sidewalks free of debris so pedestrians can traverse the sidewalk freely and not have to walk out into the roadway.”

“WM is always working for a sustainable tomorrow and appreciates your support in this effort,” added Rainer.

For more information, visit WM.com and cityofdestin.com.

EVENT

The Destin Seafood Festival is BACK and better than ever for 2022!

The Destin Seafood Festival, one of Destin’s most celebrated traditions, is back after a 2 year hiatus and will be held October 7-9 on the Destin Harbor.

• The Destin Seafood Festival kicks off the Destin Fishing Rodeo that runs the entire month of October and is the primary fundraiser for the Destin Charter Boat Association.

Destin Mayor Gary Jarvis and Captain Jim Green, President of the Destin Charter Boat Association, met on the harbor this week to talk about the upcoming event in a video from the City of Destin.

“It’s coming back!” said Jarvis. “We lost it one year due to COVID, and last year Mother Nature intervened and we had to cancel it.” 

“We have a great crew this year that’s helping us put it together, and it’s a big benefit,” said Green. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year.”

• The Destin Charter Boat Association is a non-profit organization whose primary function is advocacy for Fisheries Management. 
• The funds allow the association to be able to be a representative for the industry at the state and federal levels.

New this year is the Call to Chef that brings local, wild-caught seafood back to the Festival. Call To Chef is a smaller, local seafood festival inside the larger Destin Seafood Festival featuring local chefs where attendees can sample local seafood and drink local beers.

• It is a ticketed event that spans over all three days, and each day is broken into various time slots for different food items.

“It’s really a great idea,” said Green, who gives a lot of credit to the festival organizers for spearheading the event. “It’s creating a lot of buzz in town. One of our biggest complaints was that we didn’t have local seafood.”

With school back in session and restaurants losing a lot of their staff, it was really hard for local restaurants to commit to a 30-hour, three-day festival and still be able to run their business.

• Festival organizers developed an idea to make it just a three-hour block.  This sparked a lot of interest. 

“We’re really excited about having the cuisine from all around Destin and the area to be brought down here to the harbor for people to enjoy,” said Green.

Started in 1978 by the Destin Charter Boat Women’s Auxiliary, the Destin Seafood Festival was a way to generate business in October and bring people down to the dock. Green’s mother was one of its founders.

“There were a lot of local restaurants and home cooks that would come down and showcase their cuisine,” said Green. “It was really a great time on the harbor. It allowed for fellowship after the long summer, getting into the Destin Fishing Rodeo.”

The Destin Charter Boat Association took it over from the Destin Charter Boat Women’s Auxiliary and grew the event. The Destin Chamber of Commerce also ran the event for a period of time. In 2008, the Destin Charter Boat Association took it back over and brought it back down to the harbor.

“Being down on the harbor, it kind of just brought it back to its roots,” added Green. “When we did that, all the property hosts that we asked were very enthusiastic and helped us get it cranked back up down here.”

This year will be the 14th year the Destin Seafood Festival is held on the Destin Harbor. 

“I just want to encourage everybody to come down here, and go ahead and get the special VIP tickets so you can experience the Call To Chefs,” added Mayor Jarvis. “Enjoy the local, wild caught gulf seafood and support the Destin Charter Boat Association and the work they do to preserve the fishing heritage of this community.”

Admission to the Destin Seafood Festival is free.  

• Single-day and two-day tickets are available for purchase for the Call to Chef. Attendees will have the option to come and go each day as they please, sampling at their leisure. Tickets are very limited to this new event so don’t delay!

For more information and to purchase Call to Chef tickets, visit destinseafoodfest.com.

MORE READS

A few more things to know

• TOLLS REINSTATED: In case you haven’t heard by now, the tolls for the Mid-Bay bridge, Spence Parkway and Garçon Point bridge have been reinstated as of 5pm on Tuesday.

• DESTIN FIRE: First responders from multiple agencies evacuated Silver Shells condo due to a structure fire yesterday. Destin Fire Rescue reported that the “fire started on the balcony, pushing into the condo.” Crews were able to stop the fire before too much damage occurred to the condo.

• LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS HEAD SOUTH: Yesterday afternoon, fire departments from across Okaloosa County sent a response team to aid in areas impacted by Hurricane Ian. Additionally, Okaloosa EMS delivered 55 total cylinders of oxygen to the Tallahassee staging area, according to Okaloosa County. Okaloosa EMS partners with the Florida Department of Health to stage an Oxygen Generating System in the Fort Walton Beach Area.