The holiday season has made the turn of Thanksgiving and now is on the homestretch toward Christmas. One of the season’s most cherished events is the annual Tree of Lights ceremony today (Dec. 3) at 5:30 p m. at the lobby entrance of Gulf Breeze Hospital.

This special event is spectacular to view. It holds a special meaning for members of the Gulf Breeze Hospital family and the community it serves. Each light honors an individual or group that supports the Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary. For a minimum donation of $5, your light will shine on the Tree of Light in recognition of the person or group you choose.

During the holidays, your light tells others you are thinking of them in a very special way. Their names will appear in the Book of Honor displayed in the hospital lobby, and a card will be sent notifying them of your thought/illness.

To honor a person or group, or to offer a memorial, please pick up a form from the Auxiliary office at the hospital, complete and either return to the Hospital Auxiliary office or mail to the Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary, 1110 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561.

Submitted photo Max and Patty Kattner of Gulf Breeze were joined by Michael and Chrissy Cook, Lynda Knell and Jim Michael Knell, and Liz Knaus and Ken Pell at the Symphony Orchestra Ball. Please join in the tree-lighting ceremony. Refreshments will follow the ceremony.

Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary Jewelry Sale

The Gulf Breeze Hospital Auxiliary will hold The Gulf Breeze Hospital $6 Fundraiser Jewelry Sale again this year. The event is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 7-8, from 7 a m. to 4 p m. in the Ciano Building on the Gulf Breeze Hospital campus. This is a good time to purchase early Christmas gifts for groups and individuals. The proceeds will benefit the hospital patients.

Betty Allen/GBN Heather Reed spoke to the Santa Rosa Woman’s Club. To learn more, contact Marion Ginn at 916-4376 or 748-9045 or via e-mail at mlg7@bellsouth net.

Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Ball

The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Ball was held Nov. 4 at the Pensacola Country Club. A small jazz band of orchestra members provided dance music. There were colorful azaleas on each table, and a great time was had by all.

Dr. and Mrs. Max Kattner of Gulf Breeze hosted a table, and dear friends joined them for a night of fun. Guests included Michael and Chrissy Cook, Lynda Knell and Jim Michael Knell, and Liz Knaus and Ken Pell, all of Pensacola Beach.

Guests mingled at the silent auction, followed by dinner that featured filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Dan Shugart, sports director at WEAR-TV conducted a live auction. The event was well-attended, and the food, dancing and decorations were filled with an elegance of an old-fashioned era.

GFWC Santa Rosa Woman’s Club

The members of the GFWC Santa Rosa Woman’s Club met Nov. 3 at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church on Pensacola Beach. Two guests attended; Dot Harris, the daughter of club member, Jeannie Harris, and Judy Robinson, who was a guest of Barbara Oliver.

The Conservation Department, co-chaired by Shirley Gaddis and Susan McCorkle, hosted the program. Their guest speaker was Heather Reed, a marine biologist in charge of restoring Deadman’s Island. She gave some history of that area which dates back to the 19th century when it was used as a Yellow Fever quarantine area. Efforts are under way to establish a living shoreline while reversing the 216 feet of erosion caused by years of damaging storms and secondary effects caused by man-made seawalls, dredging, etc.

It was of particular interest to learn of the civic involvement in this effort, including the participation of Georgestone Technical School for welding structures for oyster beds and area boy scouts for their creative abilities in building wood walkways from debris left from Hurricane Ivan.

United Peninsula Association

The next meeting of the United Peninsula Association (UPA) will be Dec. 7 at Tiger Point Golf Club at 5:30 p m. This special evening will be a working session with Santa Rosa County Commissioner Lane Lynchard to try and finalize the group’s efforts to obtain a “Scenic Designation” for U.S. Highway 98 and County Route 399 on the Peninsula. The association will also address the next steps on the South Santa Rosa Utility Service (SSRUS) water and sewer issues as well as possible consolidation of services for the Peninsula with the commissioner.

The UPA welcomes two new organizations: Tiger Point Family Dentistry with Dr. Donald Radomski, DMD; and Villa Venyce Homeowners Association with Bruce Neu, Secretary.