We greet New Year’s Day in a variety of ways. In Portugal and Spain, celebrants eat twelve grapes to ward off bad luck in the coming year; the Scots purify their houses while the Dutch burn Christmas trees in the streets and the Japanese laugh aloud at the stroke of midnight to encourage good cheer in the New Year. A different tradition reigns in North America. Snowbirds pack their duds and head for the Emerald Coast where companionship, great food, and recreation is the order of the day. Snowbirds that arrived early, some in October, were on hand on Wednesday, January 2 to greet the winter migration of fellow snowbirds, numbering in the hundreds. The warm welcome recurs each Monday beginning January 7 between the hours of 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.at Faith Assembly located at 306 Geronimo in Miramar Beach.

 Here’s good news for David Seering fans! See him live on stage where he combines excellent music with exuberance and vitality that brings audiences to their feet. It takes place January 9 at Destin Life Center Building of the Destin United Methodist Church located at 200 Beach Drive in Destin beginning at 10:00 a.m. during the snowbird’s general meeting. It’s free to members of the Walton County Snowbirds. Bill Neidel, the club’s Information Officer, advises members to come early – 45 minutes to an hour! He points out, “The vendor tables are staffed with people who are knowledgeable about the region and who are particularly interested in snowbirds. Each one has useful information that improves the enjoyment of the Emerald Coast.”

 Helen Hayes, legendary star of stage and screen reminded us, “…when books are opened you discover you have wings.” But, reading books is only half the fun! The other half comes during lively discussions about them and that occurs when the book discussion group gets together. First up on January 17 is “Moloka’i” by Alan Brennert facilitated by Karen Moosekian. Next, on February 14, it is “The Calligrapher’s Daughter” by Eugenia Kim Susan and on March 7 the group will discuss “Shanghi Girls” by Lisa See facilitated by Linda Muston. For details, contact Dee Trolian at daryl_trolian@hotmail.com  or Valerie Beall 850/837-8624. The Book Discussion group meets at the Conference Room of the Terrace Building at the Pelican Beach Resorts – 970 Highway 98 East in Destin at 1:45 p.m.

 Calling all sopranos, altos, baritones and basses. The Snowbird Singers will get the season underway with a new director. She is Katie Ott whose music résumé includes many years as the principal harpist for symphonies in Pensacola, and Mobile in addition to, among others, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Northwest Florida. Rehearsals begin January 11 at Santa Rosa Community Church 3524 U.S. 98 10:30 a.m. For additional information, email Mert Thomasma atMert2@gmail.com .

 Opportunities galore await snowbirds interested in quilting, crocheting, knitting, or lacing. Contact Carol E. Burrows at 850-837-8552 for details

   Golf activity is ramping up with the start of the Tuesday golf league on January 8 and the Thursday league on Jan 10. A new 9-hole league is getting underway at Shalimar Pointe. Seven weeks, $126 (includes cart) on Monday afternoons. Begins January 14. Get details on these and other golfing opportunities athttp://www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com/Golf_PFWS.html .

 Returning snowbirds may retrieve items from Affordable Storage between three and four p.m. Wednesday January 9, and 16 and February 4.

 Tom Mahar writes for the Walton County Snowbirds. Reach him at tkmahar@aol.com . For Snowbird information, www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com