Talk of the Town
Turpin discusses Oriskany project with DGC

The Driftwood Garden Club met on Feb. 28 for their monthly meeting at New World Landing in Pensacola with President Millie Dehn, presiding. The meeting was hosted by Ann Hunt and Fran Sansing. The hostesses decorated each table with red roses and presented each member with a rose at the end of the meeting as a reminder of heart month.

Bettie Kahn gave a very interesting report on birds in our area and continues to make photos for the scrapbook. Betsye Haddock reported on indoor gardening and Dot Morgan gave a brief report environmental education emphasizing a toxic waste article she noted in the newspaper. Vice President Kathy Cannon announced that next month's meeting would be a field trip to the Gordon and Betty Sprague's Museum to view their personal collection of antique agriculture equipment, toys and memo rabilia. Since its time to be looking for new officers the next year Dot Jordan and Pat Landfair agreed to work on the nominating committee along with a chairman who will be appointed later.

The program, entitled "Neighborhood and Environmental Services; Marine Resources Division, What They Do" featured Captain Robert Turpin. Turpin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from the University of West Florida and is currently working on a master's in science in ecology and evolutionary biology/coastal zone studies at the University of West Florida. Turpin discussed his recent experiences as Escambia County's Project Manager and his biggest task to date: deploying the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Oriskany as the world's largest artificial reef. He was also asked to position more than 100,000 tons of concrete bridge demolition materials as eight artificial reefs and to establish the longterm Escambia River dredge materials disposal site via the creation of 40-acre salt marsh mitigation at Macky Island. His talk and slides were very educational and entertaining.

Turpin stated, "The deployment of the USS Oriskany has resulted in 3 and half million dollars to the economy and that for every $1 spent on artificial reefs the area gets back $1.32 both inside and outside the community."

Turpin

Santa Rosa County Fair

The Santa Rosa County Fair is coming up on April 1-6. Please come out and join the fun.

If you have any questions please call Fair Manager Regina Sprague at 850-261 1421 or visit www.santarosacountyfair. org.

Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary

Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary will hold a sterling silver sale on April 4 in the hospital lobby from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Silver Shoppe will present jewelry with over 10,000 pieces in stock. Major credit cards, debit cards, personal checks and payroll deductions will be accepted. Come and enjoy this beautiful selection of jewelry. For further information call Maureen Crooker at 850-932-8004.

Gulf Coast Friends

New World Landing in Pensacola was the location of Gulf Coast Friends' (GCF) regular meeting held on Thursday, March 13. President Jane Arnott opened the business meeting with several announcements followed with the Pledge of Allegiance. A fashion show was held featuring Lee Tracy Fashions from Quietwater Beach. Leah Reddish and Sylvia Smith of Serenity Salon did makeup. The models were GCF members Judy Brownell, Ginger Caro, Betty Doss, Katie Hallberg, Lois Harris, Sheila Little, Fran Sansing, Elizabeth Schwab, Joyce Spencer, and Gail Welsh. A lovely lunch followed the fashion show and Jane Arnott opened the floor for a business discussion after which time the meeting adjourned.

Betty Archer Allen/Gulf Breeze News Alyse Tack, right, presents a check to Deborah Cathey, Science Olympiad head, as Allison Carter, Gulf Breeze Middle School student body president, stands by.

Women living in Gulf Breeze are invited to attend Gulf Coast Friends meetings. The next meeting will be held at The New World Landing on April 10. Items on the agenda include guest speaker, Dr. Jerry Blacklaw, the nomination of the new slate of officers for 2008. Members should plan to have their pictures taken for the 2008 directory at this meeting.

If interested in becoming a member of the Gulf Coast Friends charity organization, contact Bev Shepard, at 850- 932-3949. There are more than a dozen special interest groups. Contact Gail Welsh at 850-932- 5463 for further information. Gulf Breeze Optimist Club/Gulf Breeze Junior Optimists

Submitted photo The Gulf Breeze West MOMS Club took the kids on a field trip to the WSRE Studios on March 12.

The Gulf Breeze Optimist Club and the Gulf Breeze Junior Optimists are always busy achieving and giving to others. The Gulf Breeze Optimist Club held the final rounds for its annual Oratorical Contest on Feb. 26 at Gulf Breeze Middle School and March 4 at Woodlawn Beach Middle School. Contestants spoke for five minutes on the topic, "Why Me? Why Not!" Gulf Breeze Middle School winners were: Allison Proctor, first place; Justine Grace, second place and Julianne Lewis, third place. Boys who won the Gulf Breeze contest include: Joshua Lawson, first place; Nick Gupta, second place and Robert Burns, third place.

Woodlawn Beach Middle School had three winners for the girls' team, including: Taylor Gordon, first place; Alex Ryan, second place; Annie Nichols, third place. Winners proceed to the Zone Contest, then on to the district competition with scholarships awarded to the winners at each level.

Submitted photo Lookin' good Lynda and Michael Knell, Patty and Max Kattner and Pam and Bob Schuster were seen supporting a good cause on March 15. The couples were attending an American Heart fundraiser.

Gulf Breeze Junior Optimists presented a check for $500 to the teacher and head of the Science Olympiad Deborah Cathey on Monday, March 10 at their meeting. These Junior Optimists will also award $350 to a facility for the homeless called Heavenly Blessings at a future meeting.

Brett Westmoreland, Club Treasurer, said, "The group raised the funds by paying a $1.00 to wear a hat to school on Hat Day, the pre-holiday dance, and candy sales."

Pete Della Ratta, Gulf Breeze Optimist and the Junior Club's advisor, praised the

group's initiative, energy and enthusiasm in organizing and carrying out projects that generate funds for many worthy recipients in our community.

The Gulf Breeze West MOMS Club

The Gulf Breeze West MOMS Club had a field trip to the WSRE Studios on March 12. The MOMS Club is open to all moms in the Gulf Breeze Elementary School district. They are part of an international non-profit organization for stay-at-home moms. They welcome children at all the daytime activities. With the exception of the monthly MOMS night out, all events are planned during the day when the stay-at-home mom needs the most support. They offer play groups, tours of interesting places, trips to the beach, park and playgrounds, and much more.

The Gulf Breeze West MOMS Club works together on service projects that benefit the community. They have donated to the Pensacola Ronald McDonald House, Gulf Coast Kids House, Caring and Sharing, Catholic Charities, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research, Hurricane Ivan and Katrina victims and the WaterfronRescue Mission just to name few.

The members run all the club's programs. They meet the first Tuesday of every month for a business meeting and have at least one event per week scheduled every month. Dues are $20 per year. They help to pay for the supplies, printing and mailing the newsletter and activities. Moms who are interested are invited to attend two meetings before deciding to join. They ask that only members attend their activities in a member's home.

Other MOMS Clubs exist internationally to support stay at home or part time working mothers.

If you have any questions or need more information contact Jennifer Keenan at 850-916- 9704 or jennykeenan@bellsouth. net or e-mail Membership Vice-President Lyn at blairelyn@aol.com.