GB quilter tells her story
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Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Ruth Hadden among her prize winning quilts.

Ruth Hadden is a special "gem" in our community. She and her late husband Stan moved to Gulf Breeze in June of 2002 to be near their daughter Patricia Woodburn who is a local realtor. Ruth's 87th birthday was Jan. 7 and she spent it at her late husband's bedside in the hospital. Stan published a newsletter for 35 years called the Eagle and the Angel and mailed or e-mailed them to anyone who was interested. Stan always said, "Everybody is entitled to my opinions." He wrote a special publication in his newsletter about his beloved Ruth right before his death on Feb. 9. He said, "She comes from the hearty true American stock that produced the generations that created and built our nation, She instilled traits of honesty and hard work in our children and all other people lucky enough to know her."

Ruth and her husband were together through good times and bad times. They were separated by two wars and still managed to have three children: Patricia, Stanley, and Timothy. The entire family suffered when they lost the youngest son, Tim. Tim was killed at age 20 in a motorcycle accident in California on his way home from his enlistment in the service.

When Ruth and Stan got married, Stan's weekly salary for 5 and a half days work was $15. That was good money in those days. They did not own a car and they had to budget their expenses. They carefully allocated their money into three basic items: food, rent, and everything else. On Saturday, Ruth would walk the three miles to town to do the grocery shopping. Stan met her at the store when he finished his half-day's work. The $5 grocery purchase filled several paper bags, far too much for them to carry home, so they would rent a taxi for 25 cents and ride to their $5 a week apartment. They kept a budgeted record and were able to save $5 that first year. Now and then they would treat themselves to a movie for one dime each.

Ruth had to work hard all her life. One of the tasks she perfected was learning to sew with a needle. Ruth can crochet, make cloth dolls and tried her hand at ceramics for 25 years but her main passion has been making quilts. One of her prize creations, "13 Colonies," took more than one year to create. She made Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy for all the children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Each doll had different color clothing; but all had the same charming smile that always touched a child's heart. Ruth has been featured in her favorite magazine, Country, in a human-interest story called "My Favorite Quilter" written by her late husband Stan. The piece won first prize. She has already made each member of her family a quilt, even the unborn great-grandchildren.

Attention Publicity Chairmen: Send emails to Betty Archer Allen at betty@gulf breezenews.com or write to Talk of the Town at Gulf Breeze News P.O. Box 1414, Gulf Breeze, FL32562, subject "Talk of the Town"

Ruth Hadden brought her charm and quiet dignity to this area. She has lived here for five years. She immediately became a vital part of her church and the community; helping out anywhere she was needed. She and Stan contributed paintings to the church auction for charity the first year they were here. Ruth says, "I love my church and the people are so nice and I like Gulf Breeze but it is hot."

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club members Darlene Richards (left) and Margaret Cunningham, proudly show off their hats at the Club's first meeting of the season.

Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club

Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club held their first meeting of the season on Tuesday Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. with an "English High Tea" at the home of Lou Jones in Santa Rosa Shores. The Board members hosted this event and hats could be worn and those who did were recognized. The evening was a fun and festive with great fashions, food and hats. There were pots of teas, scones, sandwiches, pastries and plenty of conversation among members. A short business meeting was held and the group learned that the October meeting would be about the Wild Life Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. The Santa Rosa Shores Women's Club is open to any woman in the Santa Rosa Shores area with meetings held the first Tuesday of each month. Ladies needing more information should call Fran Fletcher at 850-934-3837 or Margaret Cunningham at 850-932-2914. New York Style Fashion Show

There is going to be a truly fun fashion show called "Look Again" at MySpayce on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. The show will honor Sarah Brown and Mary Southworth. There are six downtown business entrepreneurs putting on the show: Shannon from Fiore, Scout Studio b, Adorn, Susan Campbell Jewelry and Mike D's.

There will be a runway with models, light hors d'oeuvres and mimosas. There will place cards and opportunities to purchase the new fashions that day. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to Ballet Pensacola Dance Chance scholarships. Each year, 100 percent of the money raised goes to a child that auditions at Ballet Pensacola. So far this year, 14 kids are in the program because they received scholarships. Some other organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters, let kids know that this opportunity exists. The show pays for itself. They find sponsors of the fashion show whose $1,000 donation would go to another

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child's scholarship. A sponsor gets four tickets to the show, one ticket to the Ballet Pensacola Gala, four tickets to each performance, and acknowledgement in annual programs. Tickets are $35 and are available at the door.

The Navarre Lions Club

The Navarre Lions club presents its second annual golf outing on Monday, Oct. 8. Registration begins at 11 a.m., lunch is served at 12 p.m. and then the shotgun begins at 1 p.m. This event is held at the Club at Hidden Creek golf course at 3070 PGA Blvd, in Navarre.

The Navarre Lions club needs help from all golfers who want to help those less fortunate in our area. For further information about the event contact Dennis Hufstader at 850-499-3320, Ron Jones at 850-939-7964 or Shari Bauer at 850-420-2948 or email mrhufstader@yahoo.com.