The Episcopal Church Women of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Gulf Breeze are sponsoring a free Back to School Literacy Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Church’s Parish Hall. Everyone in the South Santa Rosa and Pensacola Beach area is invited to come and bring the children.

Several local authors specializing in children books will be on hand to visit with the children. They are Charlotte Barnes, Dylan O’Leary, Billy Sue Greenlee, Christmas Blair Kitko, and Dennis and Janice Boyce. Publisher Linda Wasserman and illustrator Melinda Saunders will be standing in for Eileen Mary Wisdom.

Barnes is a Florida poet, author, and humorist. She graduated from Milton High School and Florida State University. When she’s not writing, Barnes enjoys watching college football and taking as many naps as possible!

O’Leary is a graphic artist and identifies himself through his work ‘The Legend of Prince Erik and the Dalarna Horse.’

Art and Mary Leisy don’t appear to be too nervous about their approaching tandem parasailing ride at Pensacola Beach on July 19. Art recently turned 93 years young. Greenlee was born in Biloxi, Miss. She grew up in a log cabin in southern Mississippi. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi and presently resides in Alabama. The golden years have given her the opportunity to pursue her dreams of writing.

Kitko is a devoted Christian, wife and mother who felt the call of the Lord to give children and parents something they could enjoy together. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is an avid Buckeyes fan but now resides in Florida with her family.

The Boyces, in their first collaboration, have used Dennis’ vivid original art work to tell how words can influence understanding of fact versus. fiction, what all want to believe and how stories can affect relationships.

The group preparing to watch Art and Mary Leisy go parasailing in honor of Art’s 93rd birthday are, front, from left: Peggy Hollenbeck, Trish Tierny, Art Leisy, Mary Leisy, Jack Voisinet. Middle: Bea Voisinet, Diane Arnold, Suzie Leaycraft, Brooks Hollenbeck. Rear: Jayne Atkins, Marny Needle, Don Needle and Jim Arnold. Story, 1A Wisdom is a resident of Gulf Breeze is currently living in Alaska and cannot attend, but her work will be represented by Wasserman and Saunders. Wisdom has traveled to Africa and has a particular interest in elephants and has watched them for days at a time. She is an animal behaviorist, a copywriter, and a graphic artist.

Wasserman is a local writer and the owner, publisher and editor of the Pelican Press. Wasserman began writing and editing on her school newspaper and yearbook. She won her senior class poetry contest. She has worked in all areas of newspaper writing and proofreading. She wrote a chapter on ‘Biblical Behavior Modification’ in the 2002 edition of the Encyclopedia of Psychotherapy based on her psychology master’s thesis.

Catch should make lots of sushi Josh Martin, a rising freshman at Gulf Breeze High School, shows off a 28-inch King Salmon he caught earlier this month on the Kosilof River in Alaska. Josh traveled to Alaska with his father, former Gulf Breeze resident Jim Martin, Ph.D., the new president of Edison State College Fort Myers. Saunders has worked as a professional artist/illustrator in the Pensacola area for over 20 years. She has performed a wide range of artistic tasks in a diverse range of mediums.