Talk of the Town
Gulf Isles Neighbors ready to present charitable funds

Don Smith and Larry Sessions build and plant a flower bed at Bay Street entrance of Swenson Park.

The Gulf Isle Neighbors' May 14 meeting will conclude the season with the installation of officers and the presentation of funds to the Salvation Army and The Zoo-Northwest Florida.

Doors open at 11 a.m. at the Pensacola Civic Center for the social. Lunch will follow noon and then the meeting. The price is $10. For reservations, call 934-6150 by May 9. Rotarian helps Manna Food Bank

Manna Food Bank is in dire need of peanut butter, and the Rotarians who attended the Ethics in Business awards luncheon on May 5 brought a jar of peanut butter with them.

If others would like to help Manna Food Bank, call 432-2053.

Santa Rosa Shores Homeowners Association

On Saturday, April 26, the Santa Rosa Shores Homeowners Association had a "Clean Up Our Community" work day.

Volunteers met at Swenson Park with yard tools ready to spruce up the community. Approximately 20 volunteers worked four hours pulling weeds, trimming trees, laying sprinkler pipes, raking the sand at the park and picking up garbage along the streets leading into Santa Rosa Shores.

The entrance signs at Highway 98 and Bay Street had flower beds built with "pavers" and flowers planted thanks to some handy homeowners.

For more information about what's happening in Santa Rosa Shores, contact Margaret Cunningham at 932-2914.

Gulf Breeze Optimist Club Hosts Nashville Songwriters

The Gulf Breeze Optimist Club will host four Nashville songwriters - Chris Wallin, Camille Wallin, CJ Watson and Jeff Gilkinson - on May 9 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church.

The social hour begins at 6:30 with light entrees and beverages, and the concert follows at 7:30. Tickets are $20, and a donation jar will be at the bar for beer, wine and soft drinks.

Optimist members, friends and family, especially mothers, are welcome. All proceeds go to benefit youth in the Gulf Breeze community.

Photos submitted by Margaret Cunningham Tawhnee Judice and children Alyce and Sophie Judice, Don Ripley, Don and Darlene Richards help clean Swenson Park.

The four performers will perform music ranging from blues to jazz, from western swing to country. These versatile singers and musicians are recognized songwriters who have created hits for noted stars.

Camille Wallin has opened for acts such as George Jones, Darryle Singletary, Johnny Paycheck and rock/blues artists such as the Byrds and Georgia Satellites. She's proud to be bass guitarist for Anthony Smith.

Chris Wallin has written hits for Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins. Earl Scruggs, Diamond Rio, Brad Paisley are among the many artists who have performed Chris' songs.

Watson credits influences from Frank Zappa to Chopin, from Led Zepplin to Mr. Rogers for inspiring his songs. A frequent "Featured Writer" at Nashville's famous Bluebird Café, CJ transcends limits of genre to explore a wide range of musical expression.

Gilkinson provides a rare treat with his cello along with playing bass, banjo, harmonica and guitar. As a member of the Dillards, he wrote some of their hits including Annabelle Lee.

LEFT: Kathy Cannon, Vice president and Program Chairman of the Driftwood Garden Club, was in charge of the plant-swapping program.

The evening with the four Nashville songwriters will be an event to remember. Contact: Ray Shane at 324-0071 or 934- 8526 for more information. Emerald Coast Woman's Club Scholarship

Three students - Natalie Liongson, Caitlyn Howard and Kady Anderson from Navarre High School - have been awarded $750 each in a scholarship from the Emerald Coast Woman's Club to assist with their first year tuition and expenses.

The students were selected by the Guidance Department of Navarre High and were recognized at the Emerald Coast Woman's Club's May 1 luncheon at Soundside Hurlburt Field.

Natalie Liongson is the daughter of Darcy Gassen of 2355 Pineneedle Drive. Natalie will be attending the University of West Florida and majoring in Hospitality Recreation Hotel Management.

Caitlyn Howard is the daughter of Michael and Margie Howard of 1719 Turkey Oak. Caitlyn will be attending University of Central Florida, where she will be majoring in Pre-Med.

RIGHT: Pat Landfair, Helen Antonacci and Sara Whitesell were hostesses at the April Driftwood Garden Club. Photos submitted by Pat Landfair

Kady Anderson is the daughter of Dennis and Teena Wilberson of 6752 Flintwood Street. Kady will be attending West Florida, where she plans on earning a Bachelors Degree in Nursing.

Congratulations to these young women! For more information, contact Chris Rogers, Chairperson Publicity Emerald Coast Woman's Club, at 939- 2388

Driftwood Garden Club

The dining room at the New World Landing was ablaze with blooms of red Amaryllis stalks on April 24 when the Driftwood Garden Club met for its plantswap meeting. Kathy Cannon, Vice President and Program Chairman, was in charge and had all the ladies place their offerings of plants on a table in the rear of the room before the business meeting.

Millie Dehn, President, called on officers and committee members for reports, and Barbara Laugel read the nominations for officers for the next year. The slate was voted on and the next year's officers will be: President, Mona Brown; Vice President, Pat Tunison; Recording Secretary, Marti Vickery; Corresponding Secretary, Bettie Kahn; Treasurer, Emogene Presley.

Bettie Kahn gave a very interesting report on butterflies and passed pictures of baby hummingbirds eating from human hands. Joan Daniels provided information on the art of starting new plants, many of which she had brought to share.

Each member was invited to speak and show how the plant she contributed has its beginning. Following the show-andtell, each lady was allowed to choose four plants to take home. One lucky member at each table took home the Amaryllis centerpiece contributed by the hostesses, Helen Antonacci, Sara Whitesell and Pat Landfair. So the blooms of the red Amaryllis found another home in which to blaze.

The next meeting will be the induction of the new officers. For more information, call Pat Landfair, publicity, 932-9094. Panhandle Butterfly House needs volunteers

The year 2007 was an outstanding year for the Panhandle Butterfly House. In the period of four months, there were 10,000 visitors from 47 states and visitors from 13 foreign countries including Australia, Canada, England, France, German, India, Kyrgyz Republic, Panama, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

The Butterfly House began its 11th year on Thursday, April 17. The House is open to the public on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 pm. The remaining days of the week are set aside for youth-oriented programs and scheduled tours.

If you enjoy butterfly gardening and have a passion for butterflies, you may want to consider becoming a Panhandle Butterfly House docent. Docents are volunteers who share their knowledge and love of butterflies with the public.

Docent responsibilities include volunteering for prescheduled shifts, welcoming visitors, discussing the butterfly displays in the reception area, walking the visitors through the butterfly sanctuary and providing information about the butterflies and plants on exhibit.

Since, Docents who will be working with children are required to undergo a background check offered by the Santa Rosa Extension Office.

Volunteer application forms are available. Please return completed applications to Panhandle Butterfly House, P.O. Box 5208, Navarre, FL32566. Call (850) 939 9595.