'Knit wits'group knits for fun, fashion and infants

Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club gave birth to The Knit Wits, a new activity group, two years ago when neighbors were asked to share information about their hobbies. Three members, Connie Repp, Sheila Little and Fran Fletcher brought knitting projects, talked about supplies and process and offered to help anyone who would like to learn.

Members of the Knit Wits include Fran Fletcher, Connie Repp, Lou Jones, Anne Sessions, Debbie Cooper, Doris Kelly, Alice Caruso, Sheila Little, Susan Springer, Pat Kennedy and Mona Michael. There are both experienced and new knitters in the group which meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, at 2 p.m. Members take turns hosting and serving tea in their homes. The women share skills, life stories and laughter.

New knitters moved swiftly from creating scarves to chic hats and bags, baby blankets and even sweaters. These knitters create items for family and friends as well as for personal use. One member, Doris Kelly, has also been knitting tiny caps for premature babies, and she donates them to Baptist Hospital in Gulf Breeze. Following her example, other women in the group have decided to make baby items, including caps, booties and blankets to donate to needy new parents. If you are interested in joining the knitters call Sheila Little at 934- 3586 or Fran Fletcher at 934- 3837.

Members of the Knit Wits, Fran Fletcher, Connie Repp, Lou Jones, Anne Sessions, Debbie Cooper, Doris Kelly, Alice Caruso and Sheila Little were modeling hats and knitting baby items recently at the home of Mona Michael.

Navarre Garden Club

The official start of spring will be celebrated by the Navarre Garden Club with its annual Spring Fling Luncheon on Friday, April 20. The public is invited to attend a special spring lunch. Luncheon tickets are available for $7 each and every NGC member is selling them now, as well as the tickets ($1 each) for the Opportunity Baskets. The Spring Fling features an extensive selection of plants.

This year's luncheon menu is: Cubanito sandwiches, garden salad, potato salads, fruit salad, and vegetable tray, assortment of desserts, plus iced tea and coffee. For group tickets, contact Barb Dillon at 939-3387. As in previous years, the Garden Club delivers! Take out lunches must be preordered before April 18, from Carolyn Igo. The luncheon, plant sale, crafts sale and baskets will be at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 7810 Navarre Parkway, beginning at 11 a.m., continuing until 2 p.m. Purchase your tickets by the 18th because limited tickets will be available at the door. For more information, see the website at www.gardencentral. org/florida/navarre or call Joyce Horgan at 936-8104.

Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts

The members of Gulf Breeze Arts, Inc. held an indoor fine art exhibit on March 24 and 25. The winners were: Tom Grow, Best in Show for photography; Diane Brim, Award of Distinction for oils; and Betty Shoopman, Judge's Choice for watercolor.

Other categories and winners include: Category I: Oils and Acrylics: Patricia Burney, first; Betty Shoopman, second; Steve Zieman, third; Jessie Nash, honorable mention. Category II: Watercolor/Acrylics: Larry Paulsen, first; Jean Marie Grabowski, second; Pauleene Smith, third; Lois Overbaugh, honorable mention. Category III: Mixed Media & Collage: Toni Jordan, first; Dona Stenstrom, second; Royanne Pace, third; Marcia Moritz, honorable mention. Category IV: Photography: Bob Goldberg, first; Frances Hanson-Grow, second. Category V: Graphics, Ink, Pastel: Jane Nowlin, first; Jan Kurtz, second; Cathy Pascoe, third; Charles Terrell, honorable mention. Category VI: 3-D, Glass, Jewelry, Etching: Fran Sansing, first; Capri Boyle Jones, second; Lorene Lanza, third. This was a well attended and very successful event.

Greater Navarre Beach Arts Association

"Jazz Up the Arts" with Hot European Jazz Trio, Friedrich- Hebert-Moreno, will be happening on April 21 in Navarre. The concert featuring the European Jazz Trio, Friedrich-Hebert- Moreno, on Saturday, April 21, will be at the Navarre Comfort Inn's Conference Center at 7 p.m. This jazz trio is one of Europe's rising stars in the jazz arena, with four CD's to their credit. The trio consists of Jurgen Friedrich, pianist; John Hebert, bassist; and Tony Moreno on drums. They will be playing original music and renditions of jazz favorites. Vocals are shared by the trio.

All the members of this trio have played with recognized Jazz musicians and performers in the US and Europe. Friedrich has taught jazz in Hamburg, Germany; Moreno teaches at the New York University Jazz Program and City College, NYC. John Heber graduated from Wm. Patterson Univ. in New Jersey in 1994, and now performs in NYC for live performances and studio sessions. He has family in the Navarre area.

In addition to the trio, entertainment will also be provided by Navarre High School musicians and singers playing their own style of Jazz Classics.

Seats are $25 for individuals or $20 each for two or more, with 260 seats available. Five stage-side corporate tables, seating eight, are available for $1,000 each, and include hors d'oeurves and drink tickets, as well as the best seats in the house! Sponsored tables will also have a company banner on display. Contact Michael Loftis for sponsor tables at: 515-0167. Tickets may be purchased from GNBAA members, at Pak n Fax on Hwy 98, or see the contact info at www.gnbaa.org. For more information contact Will Lake at 637-3897 or Connie Jones at 939-7964.

Gulf Breeze Rotary Club

The Spring Social for the Gulf breeze Rotary was held on March 27 at the Cultural Center Downtown from 6 to 9 pm. Cocktail hour started at 6. There were over 100 members and guests in attendance. All in attendance had a wonderful time.

Two recent meetings included programs on Camp Happy Sands and the Junior ROTC program at Gulf Breeze High School. Charlie Roose talked about the Children's Summer Camp started by his mother that serves underprivileged youths in the local area. The camp is now open six weeks during the summer and serves approximately 150 low income children. Much of the funding is provided by local churches and many of the volunteers are from church groups.

Charis Powell, Ann Brodie and Brenda Rose do substantial volunteer work at the camp. Charlie is on the board of directors and he is able to run this extremely worthwhile project on just a shoestring budget. Many times the organization is in the red and would benefit from corporate, local business or personal sponsorship.

infants

To offer support contact Charlie Roose at cBrose@bell south.net.

The GB Rotary Golf Tournament will be Friday, April 20 at The Moors.

Proceeds from this event go to the Gulf Breeze Rotary Scholarship Fund. Through a combination of fundraisers and special endowments the Fund has been able to grant over 85 scholarships valued at over $300,000 to graduating Gulf Breeze High School students and has granted over $15,000 in endowments to Pensacola Junior College.