On January 10, the Santa Rosa Woman's Club (SRWC) made a donation of $300 to the Special Needs Class at Gulf Breeze Middle School to be used by the teachers in the classroom. The Special Needs Class personnel are teachers, Tina Pennewell and Sharon Schaeffner; teacher assistants, Loretta Webb and Margaret Bennett and Behavior Technician, Aaron Holly. The Gulf Breeze Middle School Principal, Jennie Granse and Assistant Principal, Richard Cobb are very supportive of Special Needs Student education.

SRWC enjoys a special relationship with the Special Needs group. Earlier SRWC had donated $718 with an additional donation of $200 from an anonymous club member to be used for an outdoor swing for the class. The strict safety regulations were finally met in September and a beautiful swing was a delight of the students.

Special needs teachers from two schools were allowed to come to the SRWC's annual garage sale and pick out items that they could use in their classroom free of charge. In September the Special Needs teachers expressed a need for some more comfortable seating for the students in a more home like setting. Two very generous club members' donated two gently used couches and a chair to the students. In December the students made gift gags, cards, reindeer food, shopping lists to sell as a moneymaking project. SRWC members bought $ 91.50 worth of these items for their own use.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Back Row from left, GBMS Assistant Principal Richard Cobb, Tina Pennewell, Margaret Bennett, Sharon Schaeffner and Loretta Webb. Front row, from left Shirley Gaddis, Shari Fulord and Pat Worsnop around the swing donated to the school by Santa Rosa Women's Club.

The SRWC Educational Department's projects for this year were the Special Needs Class at Gulf Breeze Middle School, the Sports Ability Games and assisting schools with special projects as requested. The Educational Department Members are Chairman, Sharon Fulford; Co- Chairman Rose Jenkins; Marie Boykin, Wendy Brandon, Millie Dehn, Nan McLendon, Aleta McElwain, Sherry McReynolds, Cathy Sharp and Pat Worsnop. They have met all the goals that they set for themselves this year. Five members of the Department served over 300 meals to special needs students from three counties in the Sports Ability Games on last March.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Lane Gilchrist, Kathy Andrews, Meridith Wolf, Jane McGrath, Marian Ginn and Bob Harriman at the Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary Tree of Lights celebration.

Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary

GB Hospital Auxiliary Jewelery Sale

The Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary is sponsoring a "Sterling Silver Jewelry Sale" in the Gulf Breeze Hospital front lobby on February 2, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be free engraving on site and Visa and MasterCard will be accepted. Proceeds from this sale will be used to enhance hospital services and equipment.

Another yearly event held by the Auxiliary is the annual Tree of Lights ceremony at the front entrance of GB Hospital. The Tree of Lights ceremony was held Dec. 7 and has special meaning for members of the Gulf Breeze Hospital Family and the community it serves. Each light honors an individual or group that supports the Hospital.

Dottie Castleberry and the Gulf Breeze Elementary Chorus and Neal McLeod and Gulf Breeze High School Jazz Band provided the Christmas music on that chilly, windy evening. The Auxiliary volunteers served home made cookies, hot chocolate and coffee to the participants and their families numbering over 100. The Master of Ceremonies was GB Hospital Administrator Dr. Robert Harriman. Mayor Lane Gilchrist and Rev. Robert Dekker of Concord Presbyterian Church participated in the program.

Archer Allen

The proceeds from this event allows the Auxiliary provide three scholarships per term to local (Gulf Breeze, Navarre and Pensacola Beach) students who are enrolled in studies pertaining to the medical field at Pensacola Junior College (PJC). To be eligible students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and show need for the scholarship.

Donations to the scholarship fund can be made at any time of the year as well. This year three local women's club contributed $900. Kathy Andrews of Gulf Coast Friends, Jane McGrath of Pensacola Beach Woman's Club and Marion Ginn of Santa Rosa Woman's Club presented checks to Meredith Wolf from PJC. Individual donors also contributed $600 to honor or memorialize friends and relatives.

Greater Navarre Beach Arts Association

The Greater Navarre Beach Arts Association (GNBAA) sponsored the first "Artist Showcase Night" on Friday, January 26 with popular local artists Brad Greek and Wanda Veal featured in this kick-off event. Special exhibits of their current work were display that evening and open for viewing.

Brad Greek is a talented plein art (outdoor) artist, and works in various mediums painting landscapes, wildlife, aviation and military subjects. Greek is largely self-taught as a painter but studied art and architectural drafting in Ohio, before a tour in the military brought him south. He has participated in many juried and invitational exhibits, and besides original paintings, sells signed and numbered limited edition Giclee prints. More information on Brad's artwork can be found at: www.artbybradgreek. com.

Wanda Veal grew up in Ft. Walton Beach, and became a special education teacher. Retired from teaching, Wanda returned to the Florida Panhandle in 2001. She opened Dockside Studio in Holley in 2002 where she designs and makes beautiful stained glass windows and objects. Many of her works can be seen at: www.docksideglass.com.

Both artists are founding members of the Greater Navarre Beach Arts Association and have been involved in all activities from the Navarre Beach Arts Festival (Oct. 2006) to the latest event, the GNBAA Art and Yard Sale.

Pensacola Bridge Club

American Contract Bridge League

Learn to play bridge in February with Free lesions beginning February 2. It's your chance to join the elite. You play in a game your very first session. Bring a partner or come alone. You won't be alone for long. You will meet new and interesting people.

This is your opportunity to get in on four free lessons to show you how to play bridge. Bring your friends, kids, spouses and relatives. Start enjoying a fascinating pastime. You can learn in just a few weeks. There will be free refreshments

Reserve your spot by calling Roger Reff at 712-5856. The lessons will be held at Pensacola Bridge Center 1200 N. 12th Ave. Check this website for more information www.pensacolabrideclub. com.

Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club

The Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club will meet at the home of Connie Repp, 3448 Hillside in Gulf Breeze on Tuesday February 6. The group will study the expertise of scrapbooking. Scrapbooking is an excellent way to preserve artistically those precious moments.

Gulf Breeze Optimists Club

The Gulf Breeze Optimists Club awarded three checks at their weekly meeting, Friday, January 19. Marguerite Burr, President, presented a check for $2,000 to Jim Ogden for "Sports Ability" which provides athletic opportunities for 272 severely handicapped children. Their next event which includes running and field activates occurs March 30 at Navarre High School. The Marines also assist and support the group.

Nina Cobia accepted a check for the Cody Foundation, named after her son who suffers from a rare form of muscular dystrophy called Duchenne's Disease. The award contributes to research in finding new medicines to aid victims of this disease.

Hank Shirah, Interim Director of Santa Rosa Kids' House, received a check to support their efforts to help abused children. The mission of this child protection agency is to "repair the child and his family."

Gulf Breeze Toastmasters Club

The newly formed Gulf Breeze Toastmasters club meets every Wednesday at noon at the 1st Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze, 555 Fairpoint, Gulf Breeze. The church has donated a meeting room in their education facility for the club's use. Meetings start promptly at noon and will always finish by 1pm. Brown bagging is welcome.

Any one interested in learning more about becoming an effective Public Speaker is welcome. Toastmasters International is a well-known, effective club devoted to improving every member's speaking ability. For more information: Linda Wasserman at 206-4608, Evelyn Livermore at 316-8685, Rick Gordon at 678-852-3368, J. R. (Rick) Gordon 492-7874.

Holley Navarre Seniors Association

E.T. once again phones home at seniors in the first of their 'Saturday Matinee Movies' the Holley Navarre Seniors Association showed the movie "E T". The seniors enjoyed bags of buttered popcorn during the Movie. Chili dogs and root beer floats followed, with music and dancing for entertainment.

The Holley Navarre Seniors Association sponsors many activities during the week and on weekends, and is open to men and women over the age of 50. For more information, stop by the center, across the street from the Navarre Library, or call 936-1644.

This Friday at 11:30 a.m. they will hold their monthly potluck lunch and invite interested persons to come as visitors, to meet some of the members and see how you like the organization.

Emerald Coast Women's Club

The Emerald Coat Women's Club (ECWC) meeting will be February 1. The meeting will feature a seminar on improving women's health New Years Resolutions fading, so the Emerald Coast Women's Club is bringing in a special speaker from Atlanta: Joshua Clark presenting a short seminar on improving your health through proper dietary choices and supplements. Clark travels nationally delivering fun and informative talks on how simple modifications in the areas of diet, exercise, rest, etc., can play major roles in preventing diseases and slowing down the aging process.

Clark has been a consultant with GNLD, a leader in the nutritional research and development industry for the past ten years. He will share some of the information he has gained by working with some of the top scientific researchers and advice on navigating through all of the hype associated with the nutritional and diet industry.

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Allen at betty@gulf

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