COMMUNITY BRIEFS
EHS class of 1973 to gather in GB

Escambia High School Class of 1973 will celebrate its 35th Class Reunion at Quality Inns and Suites, located at 41 Gulf Breeze Parkway, on Friday, June 27 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturday, June 28, from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. For more information, visit members.cox.net/ehs73/ or email ehs73@cox.net.

GB Hospital to raffle piano

The Gulf Breeze Hospital Employee Foundation is sponsoring a raffle for a 1992 Yamaha piano with a bench, and a walnut finish. Original purchase price was $2,895 and the current appraised value is $1,500.

Tickets are on sale in the administration office for $1 each, six for $5, or 130 tickets for $100. The drawing will be held May 1.

The beautiful piano was generously donated by one of the hospital employees to help raise money for the Employee Foundation. The Employee Foundation confidentially assists hospital employees through catastrophic experiences like hurricanes, house fires, illnesses and more. They also provide flowers or memorials when an employee loses a family member, and fund scholarships at Pensacola Junior College and University of West Florida.

Elks to hold Relay for Life Auction

The Gulf Breeze Relay for Life event scheduled for April 25 and 26 and participants are having a Relay Team Fund Raiser at Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge on April 12. There will be no entry fee to attend the auction. Optional dinner tickets are available for $10 each. The event will be catered by Shane's Rib Shack.

Pensacola Beach's T. Bubba Bechtol will serve as the master of ceremonies.

This is an event designed to increase the fund raising potential for each of the planned 43 teams. The teams are providing the auction items though individual gifts and local business sponsorship donations. Come and join them for a night of fun and get in the auction.

April declared Library Appreciation Month

At the March 25 Board Meeting, the Santa Rosa County Commissioners recognized the Santa Rosa County Library System and presented the Library Board Advisory Committee with a certificate proclaiming April as Library Appreciation Month.

The Santa Rosa County Library System is a department of the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners. Libraries are located in Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, Navarre and Pace. Further information can be found at http://www.santarosa. fl.gov/libraries.

AARP to host Tax-Aide

April 15 will soon be here! The AARP Tax-Aide program, staffed by volunteers, assists millions of low- and middleincome taxpayers, with special attention to those ages 60 and older, across the nation is offered at the Gulf Breeze, Milton and Navarre libraries. The program offers free oneon one counseling to help individuals prepare and file basic tax forms, including the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and other standard schedules. No appointment is necessary. Tax forms are available at each Santa Rosa County Library - Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, Navarre, and Pace.

AARP Tax Assistance Schedule through April 15:

Gulf Breeze Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday from 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Navarre Library on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Visit the Santa Rosa County Library System home page at to link to the AARP Tax Preparation Web Site and a list of important documents to bring with you. You can also link from the home page to the Library System Tax Forms Site for links to commonly used tax forms.

Economic Stimulus Payment Tax Forms:

The federal government Economic Stimulus Payment program of 2008 requires those eligible for the stimulus payment, but who do not usually file tax returns, to file IRS Form 1040A-3 with the Internal Revenue Service. Santa Rosa County Libraries have a limited supply of this form, available at each library. Additional forms will be available past the April.

Host families needed

Academic Year in the USA (AYUSA) is looking for caring families who wish to open their home and share in a meaningful exchange with a young person from another country. AYUSA is a non-profit organization that works to provide young people with learning experiences that promote cultural appreciation, insight and friendship. Since 1980, AYUSA has arranged for over 40,000 students from over 75 different countries to spend a semester or academic year living with American host families.

For information, call Stephanie Burleson at 850-287- 4500 in Pensacola, or visit www.ayusa.org to see the students who still need homes.

If unable to host a student, consider passing this on, as all across the world, AYUSA students are eagerly awaiting their host family placement.

Chamber opposes guns at work

The Gulf Breeze Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted recently to oppose the "Guns at Work" legislation currently being considered by Florida legislators. The Chamber's position is not "Anti-gun" but is "Pro- Property Rights" for private business owners and employers. The chamber opposes government intrusion into the private property rights of employers who should be able to determine the appropriateness of guns on their privately-owned business property.