Talk of the Town
Mayokis carol for neighbors and seniors

The Mayokis' Fiesta Group hosts an annual Christmas caroling event each year throughout the Bay Cliffs and Plantation Hill neighborhoods and this year was no different. The group also sponsors the Mayoki Bunco Babes, who found a special way to celebrate Christmas this year.

A group of Mayokis boarded a float and began their parade through the neighborhoods to sing Christmas carols. Aflat tire caused a slight delay, but families were soon on their way. They first visited The Villas at Gulf Breeze to sing carols with the retirement center's residents and staff. This is an annual stop and the residents always enjoy the little ones and the singing. The caroling brings such joy to their hearts and reminds them they are special to someone and never forgotten.

After the stop at The Villas, the families enjoyed dinner at the home of Paul and Sheri Snider. After dinner, the group boarded the float again and continued caroling through the neighborhoods of Bay Cliffs and Plantation Hill. The parade float stopped again at the home of Scott and Jennie Barrow to enjoy desserts and hot chocolate before heading home. This annual Christmas caroling event has been on the Mayoki schedule of events for decades. It is always one the children enjoy, along with the local Christmas parades. The Mayokis enjoyed their caroling and were hosted by two Plantation Hill families for dinner and dessert.

The Mayoki Bunco Babes, formed from the Mayoki Fiesta Group, have been playing bunco monthly for more than a decade, rotating among the member's homes. Most of the members are from Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach.

During Christmas, the group expands to 16 to allow those who substitute throughout the year to also join in the fun. This year, at the home of Tom and Beverly Vaughn, the Mayoki Bunco Babes met for dinner, their final few games of the year and a game of dirty Santa, where they each bring gifts that are up for grabs once opened. Unique to the party this year, the ladies invited their respective spouses to accompany them and the men enjoyed shooting pool, playing foosball and smoking cigars. Both occasions were quite festive and the Mayoki's Fiesta Group is quite a group.

The Mayoki Bunco Babes, formed from the Mayoki Fiesta Group, held a very festive Christmas party. Back row from left: Beverly Vaughn, Brenda Foreman, Marilyn Makarowski, Dee Price-Williams, Judy Tice, Alicia Rezek, Linda Allen and Chris Segers. Front row from left: Debbie Turner, Cindy Pedersen, Liz Burchell, Linda Hogan, Danice Welman and Debbie Rodgers. Not pictured are Joan Fitzsimmons and Debbie Garhard.

Gulf Breeze Rotary Club

The Gulf Breeze Rotary Club's annual Christmas party was a special occasion this year. Nine new individuals were honored with Paul Harris fellowships. The honorees included Jim Reeves, Jim Green, Greg Smith, Pam Langham, Robert Randel, Carol Ford, Danny Zimmern, Bill Graves and Todd Skinner. These designated scholarships of $1,000 each are given either by the honorees or in their name to Rotary International. Due to the benevolence of the Rotarians, over $10,000 was contributed for use in worldwide service projects in honor of these individuals. Rotary International uses the donations to carry out service projects around the world. Examples of similar projects include the distribution of polio vaccines throughout the world and water projects in various countries to assure a clean drinking source.

Enjoying a Christmas luncheon at the home of Von and Belinda DeKozan are, from left: Mitchell DeKozan, Philip DeKozan, Taylor Castleberry, Kyle Brown, Natalie Newell, Sallie Papajohn, Carroll Papajohn, Lacie Brothers, Zachary Brothers, Kara Cederquist, Robin Davidson, David Davidson, Kelly Cederquidt, Colby Brown, Caleb Brown.

Navarre Garden Club

Navarre Garden Club members are moving their meetings to the Hidden Creek Golf Course restaurant, the Tuscan Grille, located at 3070 PGA Boulevard in Navarre. They will hold all of their meetings there until the end of their fiscal year in May. Their first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Their program will be about butterflies and will feature Karen Broughton and Jytte Fawzy, who are both volunteers at the Panhandle Butterfly House.

The Navarre Garden Club is very active in helping maintain the gardens for the Panhandle Butterfly House since certain plants are necessary hosts for the butterflies that make this area home.

The recent Rotary Paul Harris honorees are pictured with Rotary officers at the Gulf Breeze Rotary Club's annual Christmas party. Back row from left: Ron Richards, Todd Skinner, Greg Smith, Clay Ford, Danny Zimmern, Robert Randel, Jim Reeves and P.C.Wu. Front row from left: Paul Stanley, Dana Morris, Pamela Langham, Carol Ford and Jim Green. (Back row left) Ron Richards, Todd Skinner, Greg Smith, Clay Ford, Danny Zimmern, Robert Randel, Jim Reeves, P.C.Wu.

The garden club has been meeting for some time at the community center but recently decided to make a change because of budget concerns. Club members concentrate much of their efforts on the creating a Navarre Garden Center. This center would provide meeting rooms for the community, offices for the garden club, gardens and wetland areas for public viewing. Contributions for this project are gratefully accepted.

For more information, contact Linda Henderson at 850- 936-4950 or Joanne Connor at 850-936-7310.

Emerald Coast Woman's Club

The Emerald Coast Woman's Club card and game luncheon will be held Feb. 21 at the Tuscon Grill at Hidden Creek Country Club, Navarre, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale at the January and February meetings. For more information, contact Chris Rogers, chairperson, at 850-939-2388 or Dorothy Naujoks, co-chairperson, at 850-939-6138.

Have a great 2008

To all the beautiful "Talk of the Town" friends out there, I hope you had happy holidays and will have your very best year! You will if you keep up your Bee-Attitudes:

Bee-busy doing what you love to do. Bee-true to your dreams and achieve your goals in life. Bee-sure to grasp the sweetness of each day. Beesilly and find some time to take off and just giggle and play. Bee-bold enough to try something new that makes you spread your wings and fly. Beehappy, hopeful and cheerful. Bee-yourself bee-cause you are doing good things, helping charitable causes and giving of yourselves to needy causes.

Remember that altruistic people tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives.