Kids design perfect school

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"

Patti Triplett's Gifted Enrichment classes at Gulf Breeze Middle School are energetic and achieving gigantic things. Kids are designing for kids. Several weeks ago they began designing the "perfect school." The basic premise was that the design must be feasible and educationally sound but money was not a limitation.

Eight classes of gifted students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grade planned and designed the perfect school, which included four groups from the sixth grade, two groups from the seventh grade and two groups from the eighth grade. These classes competed against each other to present the best concept in front of several distinguished judges.

Decorating ideas and materials were donated by many community businesses, such as Gene's Flooring, along with parents, teachers, and even the school's principal, Jennifer Granse. Scott Sallis, a local architect, visited with all of the classes several weeks ago and gave suggestions on the concepts with which they were working.

Submitted photo Gulf Breeze Middle School sixth graders Brian Garbeil, Sierra Hamlin, Graham Messer, Morgan Shula, and Garrett Peek won second place in the contest.

When the projects were completed these teams of designers gave a 15-minute presentation of their completed model in front of judges, which included Sallis and Judy Meyer from the school board office. The judges evaluated the teams' finished products with criteria based on creativity, format, organization and structure using a scoring format.

Seventh graders Haley Doman, Carl Hoffman, Caroline Shell, Katarina Espenscheid, Elizabeth Kubik, and Max Wolf designed the Main Stay Middle School and won first place overall. Sixth grade students Brian Garbeil, Sierra Hamlin, Graham Messer, Morgan Shula, and Garrett Peek, designed the Hollywood Stars Middle School and won second place over all. Eighth grade students Laura Harpole, Jacob MaCan, James Mozur, Seth Friedland, Ryan Burke and Kevin Moran designed Lake Okeechobee High School won third place overall.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Gulf Breeze Middle School seventh graders Carl Hoffman, Lorraine Fountain, Haley Doman, Caroline Shell, Elizabeth Kubik, Dion Wolf and Katarina Espenscheid won first place in a school design contest.

The project was a huge undertaking and each of the groups did an excellent job.

All boards are on display in the school cafeteria and will be transferred to the Santa Rosa County School District Administrative Offices in Milton for display next week.

Gulf Coast Friends

On Nov. 8 the Gulf Coast Friends Woman's Club will hold their 17th annual arts and crafts fair. The fair will be held at New World Landing in Pensacola. Doors open at 10 a.m. and a delicious lunch of turkey and all the fixins' will be served at 12 p.m. This is the club's only fundraiser and all net proceeds are donated to local charities. In addition to specialty tables for baked goods and twice-loved books, there will be raffles, door prizes, a 50/50 raffle and much more. Tickets are $25. For information and reservations contact Peggy Hodges at 850-932- 8036.

New District Director of FFWC

Whitman

Shirley Gaddis of Gulf Breeze was elected District 1 Director of the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs 2008 through 2010. District 1 covers Santa Rosa, Walton, Escambia and Okaloosa counties. There are 14 districts in Florida and over 100,000 members in affiliated clubs in 50 states and around the world. It is the oldest and one of the largest volunteer service organizations for women.

Shirley moved to Gulf Breeze from Birmingham, Ala. in 2001 and became an active member of the Santa Rosa Woman's Club, holding the offices of second vice president, president elect, and president for two terms. Nine members of the Santa Rosa Woman's club, Kay Craven,

www Barbara Gonshor, Linda White- Spunner, Pat Landfair, Marion Ginn, Mary Eder, Anna Campbell, Barbara Oliver and Carolyn Pfeiffer, accompanied Shirley to Crestview to cheer her on as she accepted the honor of District 1 Director.

Gulf Breeze Chamber Holiday Parade Dec. 8

"It's a Wonderful Life in Gulf Breeze" is the theme of this year's holiday parade, sponsored by the Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce. The parade will be held on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.

Submitted photo Members of Santa Rosa Woman's Club, Kay Craven, Barbara Gonshor, Linda White-Spunner, Pat Landfair, Marion Ginn, Mary Eder, Shirley Gaddis, Anna Campbell, Barbara Oliver and Carolyn Pfeiffer attend the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs District meeting in Crestview.

This time the route will begin on Shoreline Drive and continue on to McLain Drive where the parade will turn right.

There will be a mandatory meeting for all parade participants on Monday, Dec. 3 at the recreation center on Shoreline Drive in Gulf Breeze. Each entry must be decorated, and businesses are needed to donate convertibles, trucks or flatbed vehicles for dignitaries and nonprofit organizations.

A community holiday party is planned after the parade in the Gulf Breeze High School parking lot for all participants.

The parade entrance fee is $25 for businesses and $10 for nonprofit organizations. For details, or to register for the parade, visit www.gulfbreezechamber.com or call Meg Peltier, the chamber's executive director at 850-932- 7888.

Gulf Breeze Dog Lovers plan event

Gulf Breeze Dog Lovers (GBDL) has had a remarkable summer and fall this year. The dog lovers organization and Dr. Natalie Dyson sponsored a low cost pet vaccination clinic and vaccinated around 40 pets, saving their owners time and money.

GBDL was pleased to furnish six pet rescue masks to save animals in home fires for all the fire departments located along highway 98. Members worked to raise funds to supply these masks. They also donated $1,125 to the City of Gulf Breeze to light up the Shoreline Bark Park so it could be used after work during daylight savings hours.

The group worked at Pet Fest and is working on the committee for the memorial to Nancy Keys. There is a dedication ceremony planned for

Whitman

Nov. 10 at 10:30am at the park, located near Shoreline Park South.

Call GBDL President Carolyn Whitman at 850-934-5834 for information the organization.