Week in Wakulla: Feb. 16-23

Government Meetings

Thursday, February 16
• ENERGY CONSERVATION COMMITTEE will meet at 10 a.m. in the Board of County Commissioners conference room.
• PUBLIC WORKSHOP will be held on the Wakulla County Bicycle, Pedestrian and Blueway Facilities Master Plan from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Senior Center. This workshop is open to everyone.
• ST. MARKS CITY COMMISSION will hold a special called meeting at 6:30 p.m. at city hall to install the  new commissioners.

Tuesday, February 21
• COUNTY COMMISSION will meet at 5 p.m. in the commission chambers.

Clubs, Groups, Regular Meetings

Thursday, February 16
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 7 p.m. at the Panacea Women’s Club on Otter Lake Road, Panacea. For more information call 524-9103.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• BINGO will be held at the VFW Post on Arran Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• COASTAL OPTIMIST CLUB will meet at noon at Posey’s Steam Room in Panacea.
• FAMILY TO FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP will meet at 6 p.m. at the NAMI Wakulla office.
• ROTARY CLUB meets at the senior center at noon.
• WAKULLA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 24 High Drive, Crawfordville.
• BINGO will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Cantina Grille in Panacea to benefit Florida Wild Mammal Association.
• NAMI FAMILY TO FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP will meet at 6 p.m. at the NAMI Wakulla office, 2140-C Crawfordville Highway. This group is for family members and friends of people diagnosed with mental illnesses and is free of charge.
• FREE AARP TAX-AIDE for low to moderate income taxpayers will be offered at the library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Friday, February 17
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 8 p.m. at 54 Ochlockonee Street in Crawfordville. Call (850) 545-1853 for more information.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at noon at 54 Ochlockonee Street in Crawfordville. Call (850) 545-1853 for more information.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
 • FRIDAY AFTERNOON BOOK CLUB meets at the public library from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS meets at St. Teresa’s Episcopal Church in Medart from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• PICKIN’ ‘N’ GRINNIN’ JAM SESSION will be held at the senior center from 10 a.m. to noon. (Also on Tuesdays)
• WAKULLA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 24 High Drive, Crawfordville.
• QUILTERS GUILD OF WAKULLA COUNTY will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the library. Join them for the fun of quilting. Quilters of all skill levels are invited to partake in community projects, personal work and informative workshops, as well as field trips. Contact Anne Lopez at 294-0832.

Saturday, February 18
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 5:30 p.m. at Mission by the Sea Church on Alligator Drive in Alligator Point. Call (850) 545-1853 for more information.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS meets at 3128 Crawfordville Highway at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 224-2321.
• FREE AARP TAX-AIDE will be available for low and moderate income taxpayers at the library from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• ORDER OF THE CONFEDERATE ROSE “Mary C. Gwaltney” chapter will meet at 5 p.m. at the library. For more information, call Lisa Morgan at (850) 926-1405.
• SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS “Wakulla Guards Camp” will meet at 5 p.m. at the library. For more information, call Lisa Morgan at (850) 926-1405.

Sunday, February 19
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 6 p.m. at 54 Ochlockonee Street in Crawfordville.  For more information call (850) 545-1853.

Monday, February 20
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 7 p.m. at the Panacea Women’s Club on Otter Lake Road, Panacea.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS FOR WOMEN will meet at 6 p.m. at 54 Ochlockonee Street in Crawfordville.  For more information call (850) 545-1853.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 6 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• LINE DANCING will be held at the senior center at 1:30 p.m.
• RESPITE CARE is offered by The Alzheimer’s Project of Wakulla at Lake Ellen Baptist Church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your loved one to be cared for. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost. The church is located at 4495 Crawfordville Highway. Call Pat Ashley for more information at (850) 984-5277.
• YOGA CLASSES with Tamara will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Citizens Center. This is a gentle restorative class focusing on the breath to build flexibility, restore balance with a mind/body approach.

Tuesday, February 21
• ALANON meets at 54 Ochlockonee Street in Crawfordville at noon.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 6 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• BOOK BUNCH meets in the children’s room at the public library at 10:30 a.m.
• NAMI CONNECTION will meet from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the NAMI Wakulla office. This group is for people diagnosed with a mental illness.
• VFW LADIES AUXILIARY BINGO will be held at the VFW Post on Arran Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• CRAWFORDVILLE LION’S CLUB will meet at Beef O’Brady’s at 6 p.m.
•  SARRACENIA CHAPTER OF THE FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the library. There will be a short business meeting followed by a program presented by Katherine Gilbert called “Living with Mangroves in North Florida.” Come early at 6 p.m. to mingle and enjoy refreshments before the meeting and talk get underway.

Wednesday, February 22
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at Ochlockonee Bay UMC on Surf Road at noon.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• BOOK BABIES, storytime with activities for toddlers, will be held at the public library at 10:30 a.m.
• BRAIN GYM CLASS will be held at the senior center at 10:30 a.m.
• KNITTING GROUP meets at the public library from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 491-1684.
• LINE DANCING will be held at the senior center at 2 p.m.
• NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 6:30 p.m. at 2140-C Crawfordville Highway. Call 224-2321 for more information.
• BEADING CLASSES with Tamara will be held at 12:45 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center. Choose from glass and stone beads to create your masterpiece. There is a $3 to $5 fee for the materials.
• KNITTING CLUB will meet at 4 p.m. at the public library. Anyone interested in the art of knitting are encouraged to attend.
• FREE AARP TAX-AIDE for low and moderate income taxpayers will be offered at the Senior Center from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 23
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS meets at 7 p.m. at the Panacea Women’s Club on Otter Lake Road, Panacea. For more information call 524-9103.
• ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS will meet at 8 p.m. at the Station House, 3106 Shadeville Highway. Call (850) 544-0719 for more information.
• BINGO will be held at the VFW Post on Arran Road from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• COASTAL OPTIMIST CLUB will meet at noon at Posey’s Steam Room in Panacea.
• FAMILY TO FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP will meet at 6 p.m. at the NAMI Wakulla office.
• ROTARY CLUB meets at the senior center at noon.
• BINGO will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at La Cantina Grille in Panacea to benefit Florida Wild Mammal Association. 
• WAKULLA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum is located at 24 High Drive, Crawfordville.
• FREE AARP TAX-AIDE for low to moderate income taxpayers will be offered at the library from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY will meet from 6 to 7 p.m. at the library. The public is encouraged to attend. 
• LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS will meet at 7 p.m. at the library. Henry “Buddy”  Wells, supervisor of elections for Wakulla County, will be speaking at the meeting. The event is part of the Wakulla League’s “Fair Voting 2012” project for this election year. In addition, the Wakulla League has invited Marilyn Wills, former Florida League President, and long-time Leon County member Gaynell Waldo to help explore the implications of the new voting laws, and the dates of the races and the times for early voting which have changed this year.

Special Events

Thursday, February 16
• FREE PROGRAM AT LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library, Woodville Branch, at 6:30 p.m. will feature James Huffstodt, author of “Hard Dying Men,” who will portray Captain James Hazzard, Union Civil War veteran (circa 1911) recalling Shiloh, Vicksburg and the fall of Mobile. The program is free and open to the public.
 
Friday, February 17
• EXEMPTION ASSISTANCE will be available to senior citizens from Property Appraiser Donnie Sparkman and his staff at the Senior Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Senior citizens need to bring a valid driver’s license, Social Security number and proof of income. For more information, contact Debra Russell at 926-0500.
• ANNUAL ARTHUR L. ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET will be held by the Wakulla County Christian Coalition at the Wakulla County Senior Citizen’s Center, 33 Michael Drive in Crawfordville, at 6 p.m. The guest speaker will be Dr. Kimball Thomas, principal of East Gadsden High School. Tickets are $30 each; 2 for $55; or a table of 8 for $225. Tickets can be obtained by calling  Bossie Hawkins at 656-2578; Jennie Jones at 926-7547; or Ruth Francis at 926-6238.

Saturday, February 18
• ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION AND PARADE will be held. The parade line-up will begin at 10 a.m. and the parade will begin at 11 a.m. The celebration will continue in Hudson Park with food, vendors and entertainment throughout the afternoon.

Sunday, February 19
• ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN READ-IN will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Wakulla County Public Library. To find out how to participate and for more information, please call (850)766-3718.

Wednesday, February 22
• CHAMBER NETWORKING LUNCHEON will be held at Wakulla Springs Lodge from noon to 1:15 p.m. RSVP’s are requested. Call the Chamber office at 926-1848 for reservations. Cost for luncheon is $12, (checks and cash only), and part of each person’s lunch fee will be added to the cash prize pot.
Friday, February 24
• WALK TO DEFEAT ALS will be held at 6 p.m. in downtown Tallahassee, 228 S. Adams Street. People will gather to join the fight to find a cure for a deadly illness. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, progressively paralyzes its victims, attacking nerve cells and pathways in the brain or spinal cord. Wheelchair-bound patients along with their families and friends will make a 2-mile trek in The Walk to Defeat ALS. The Walk to Defeat ALS is The ALS Association’s signature event in which all funds directly support cutting-edge research, programs and patient care. Registration also begins at 4:30 p.m. the day of the race. For more information, go to: www.WalktoDefeatALS.org, or call 888-257-1717.
• FIFTH ANNUAL STONE AGE AND PRIMITIVE ARTS FESTIVAL will be held at the Ochlockonee River State Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is $4 per vehicle. Guests can view demonstrations of flint knapping, the art of projectile point fashioning, along with deer hide brain tanning, bone, wood, and antler carving; and observe bow and arrow construction, basket weaving and early pottery. Competitions in Atlatl throwing and archery are scheduled. For more information, please visit www.knapfest.com. The festival will continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday, February 25
• INTRODUCTION TO BEEKEEPING SHORTCOURSE, hosted by the Apalachee Beekeepers Association, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Leon County Extension Office. Individual registration with lunch is $50; $35 for ABA members, $25, 14 years and younger. Rotating sessions will include Hive Assembly, Nutrition, Foraging, Bee Health, Open Hives Demonstration, Tools & Safety, Management, Pests and Integrated Pest Management. For more information, contact Lisa Lazarus at 294-3372.
• STONE AGE AND PRIMITIVE ARTS FESTIVAL will be held at the Ochlockonee River State Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 per vehicle. There will be an auction. For more information, please visit www.knapfest.com.
• DAY OF DIALOGUE ON MINORITY HEALTH will be held at Riversprings Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event is held annually to promote community health in Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. This event will provide assistance to residents by education and promoting the importance of a health lifestyle. There will be snacks and grocery items given away, as well as several drawings. For more information, contact Kenny Manning at 545-5982 or email kmann5_2008@yahoo.com.
• ANNUAL WAKULLA COUNTY YOUTH FAIR ASSOCIATION SWINE SHOW will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wakulla County Livestock Pavilion located on Cedar Avenue in Crawfordville. The show will begin at 9 a.m., with a barbecue lunch for purchase at noon. The awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. The annual Greased Pig Scramble will be held just before the awards, usually at around noon. In addition to the normal events, the committee as also added an Alumni Class for anyone that has ever participated in the show, but does not have a pig in the show this year.  If you are a Swine Show alumni and would like to participate this year, please contact P. J. Piland at ppiland@comcast.net or 509-3263. There is no fee for an alumni to participate.
• SOPCHOPPY OPRY will feature Wayne Martin and his fabulous Country Gold Band at 7 p.m., along with special guest Billy Rader. Sopchoppy Opry, now in its 13th season, is performed on the stage of the historic Sopchoppy High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15. Call (850) 962-3711 for tickets and information.
 
Sunday, February 27
• STONE AGE AND PRIMITIVE ARTS FESTIVAL will be held at the Ochlockonee River State Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is $4 per vehicle (up to eight occupants). For more information, please visit www.knapfest.com.

Tuesday, February 28
• AARP DRIVER SAFETY CLASS will be held at the library. This program is for seniors 50 years and older. It is a classroom setting and no driving is done.  The program discusses how age related physical changes can effect the way seniors drive. The class is a one day session and a discount will be given by your insurance company for three years following the class. The cost for AARP members is $12 Non members $14 . Seniors can register by calling 926-4605. The  class schedule today, April 24, June 26, Aug. 28 and Oct. 23.

Thursday, March 1
• ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS will be held annual Celebration of the Arts.  The past 10 years have been enjoyable nights of singing, musical acts, and theatrical performances.  This year’s production promises much of the same. The evening begins  5:30, March 1st, at Wakulla High School, with a Silent Art Auction.  As last year, each school has produced a painted canvas for the public to bid upon.  At 6:30, the performances begin with singing from the elementary students, followed by musical performances and skits  from Wakulla Middle, Riversprings Middle, and Wakulla High Schools.  Tickets may be purchased at the door and prices are $2.00 for students and $5.00 for adults.  Hang onto that ticket because door prizes will be given away!  All proceeds benefit lucky Wakulla High seniors for scholarships in the Arts.
• FREE LECTURE on the Natural Bridge Campaign, then and now, will be presented by Dr. William Lees, executive director of the Florida Archaeology Network, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the TCC Wakulla Center. The free lecture is hosted by the Florida Public Archaeology Network, University of West Florida and the Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Center. This lecture series is free and open to everyone.

Friday, March 2
• 35TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF NATURAL BRIDGE RE-ENACTMENT will be held today, Saturday and Sunday at Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, 7502 Natural Bridge Road, Tallahassee. School day will take place for middle school and high school students, starting at 10:30 a.m. There will be multiple stations set up around the state park with living historians giving 19th century demonstrations. Students are welcome to pack a lunch with them. Please feel free to contact the Natural Bridge State Park for more information at (850) 922-6007 ,The CSO will accept donations of $3.00 per person for adults and $1.00 for children under the age of six.

Saturday, March 3
• 35TH ANNUAL BATTLE OF NATURAL BRIDGE RE-ENACTMENT will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the state park. Guests will mingle with civil war reenactors and observe a Confederate-Union skirmish in the afternoon, cavalry demonstrations, artillery shows and a 19th century medical demonstration in the afternoon direct following the skirmish. 19th century sutlers and food vendors will be present. Please feel free to contact the Natural Bridge State Park for more information at (850) 922-6007 ,The CSO will accept donations of $3.00 per person for adults and $1.00 for children under the age of six.

Sunday, March 4
• OPENING CEREMONIES AND DEDICATION of the 35th annual re-enactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge will be held, followed by a full-scale reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge at 2:30 p.m. 19th century sutlers and food vendors will be present. Please feel free to contact the Natural Bridge State Park for more information at (850) 922-6007 ,The CSO will accept donations of $3.00 per person for adults and $1.00 for children under the age of six.

Saturday, March 10
• SECOND ANNUAL LOW COUNTRY BOIL will be held at 3Y Ranch in Crawfordville from 6 to 10 p.m. The event will feature a Low Country Boil dinner, and live music by JB’s Zydeco Zoo.  For tickets contact the Chamber office (850) 926-1848.
• PUBLIC TALK ON “From Google Earth to Google Embryo: Exploring the Spheres We Grow From” will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory, 222 Clark Drive, Panacea. Dick and Natalie Gordon are new scientist volunteers who 
are establishing our Embryogenesis Center. Admission is free, membership encouraged. Contact Richard Gordon at 984-5297 or by email DickGordonCan@gmail.com.
• FOURTH ANNUAL JESUS RIVER FESTIVAL will be held at Sopchoppy City Park from noon until dark. Additional information can be found at jesusriverfest.com
 
Thursday, March 15
• FREE LECTURE on “Adventures in Northwest Florida Archaeology “ by Dr. Nancy White, Professor of Archaeology at the University of South Florida, will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at TCC Wakulla Center. The free lecture is hosted by the Florida Public Archaeology Network, University of West Florida and the Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Center. This lecture series is free and open to everyone.

Saturday, March 24
• FIFTH ANNUAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY will be held by VolunteerWakulla from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hudson Park. There will be booth set up for services offered in the county, as well as places to volunteer. There will also be free food and door prizes every 30 minutes after 11 a.m. For more information, call 745-0060 or visit www.volunteerwakulla.org.

Saturday, April 28
• JAM 4 CAMP will be held by Wakulla County 4-H from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hudson Park. This is the day to sign up for Camp Cherry Lake and day camps that will be offered through 4-H. There will be a free concert, as well as vendors. For more information, contact Sherri Kraeft at 926-3931 or sjkraeft@ufl.edu.