The Rotary Club of Edgewater recently awarded a $500 gift certificate to the Building On Our Skills Together program to buy supplies. B.O.O.S.T. is a mentoring program that allows the community to get involved with elementary education. Rotarians and their spouses work with students to give special one-on-one attention. Rotarian and mentor Patti Bankston-Futrell presented the gift certificate to Beth Wilson, the B.O.O.S.T teacher. From left, front row: Emma Jones, Ashton Smith, Nathaniel Brown, Jalen Simmons; back row: Bankston-Futrell, Wilson and Amanda Letonoff, mentor.

St. Patrick Catholic High School seventh-grade students who have been identified as Duke University Talent Identification students, from left, front row: Mary Margaret Maddox, Jordan Healy, Hannah Ainsworth, Stephen Alexander, George Azar, Taylor Bosarge, Sienna Johnson, Adam Cooper, Joe Cook, Brady Ford and Matthew Foster; second row: Ellen Collins, Meghan Letard, Sam Hopkins, Kaden Fricke, Kaitlin Givens, Kara Krivanec, Stuart LeBlanc, John Moore, Zachary Torricelli, Timmy Nguyen, and Nicholas Nimmo; top row: Timothy Sherwood, Jacob Seicshnaydre, Anna Wright, Austin Simmons, Brandon Sparks, Evans Wood, Jackson Wagner, Joshua Luke and Jesse Parker. Not pictured: Allison Daneault, Eoin Harris, Brooke Saucier and Jeremi Dibble. The Duke TIP identifies academically gifted seventh-graders, based on outstanding performance on standardized tests. The candidates are invited to complete the SAT or ACT, providing them with the opportunity to take an advanced-level test and learn more about their academic strengths.

Seal teacher awards nominations sought

Students at Cherokee Elementary in Pascagoula who placed advanced on the Mississippi Curriculum Test were recognized recently. From left, front row: Chris Nix, Breanna Cunningham, Jazmine Davis; back row: Trenton Simms, Noah Williams, Zykeria Deleneye, Malikah Hasan, Alondra Sosa Samuel Parker, Griffin Garriga and Ahmed Baqer. Not pictured: Jordan Laster.

Moss Point’s Little People Learning Center recently held a clothing drive to benefit Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. The center services children in Gautier, Pascagoula and Moss Point with its day-care program. From left: Learning Center staffers Ziekeya Brooks and Adrian McCullum, business manager, with Zyiquarius Brown, Kaleah McMorris, Tyler Smith and Goodwill truck driver Chris Hawthorne.

From left, Erin LaFontaine, Hannah Warren and Elizabeth Elikns performed at the National Dance Competition in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Their dance, Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now, won platinum, first place overall in their age division, competitive highest score, a technical award for precision, and $200. The girls are dancers from Arabesque School of Dance’s Bay City Dancers in Bay St. Louis. The trio also won several high awards at local competitions throughout the year. LaFontaine is the daughter of Terrell and Julie LaFontaine of Long Beach. Warren is the daughter of Steven and Jamie Warren of Gulfport. Elikns is the daughter of Andy and DeeDee Elkins of Bay St. Louis. Their dance was under the direction of Jessica Caillet, assisted by Karen Compretta.

Hancock County Republican Women’s Club members met recently with Secretary of State Delbert Hoseman for lunch to discuss voting system issues in Mississippi. Pictured are Judith Redshaw, Deanna Harrison, Hoseman, Marilyn Adams and Elise Hilbert.

Stone Middle School in Wiggins has a new science lab, where students participate in hands-on experiments. From left: Patrick Rager, Anthony Morse, Cameron Ladner and JaDerrick Jackson.

Delya Sims, left, Lekendra Fleming, Joshua Scott and Diamond Milton watch as Jasmine Towner, front, tries her luck at the dunking booth during a MCT2 party at Lyman Elementary School. Students from Lyman Elementary who scored advanced or proficient on the 2008-09 MCT2 test were treated to the MCT2 party. The 118 students participated in many fun activities, one of which was getting a chance to dunk principal George Black.

AARP Jackson County Chapter 1213 recently observed its National Day of Service. Members donated canned goods for the Daily Bread Food pantry and gift items for residents of Plaza Community Living Center and Singing River Rehabilitation Center. President Jerry Meador, Lois Meador, co-chairman of the National Day of Service committee, and Min Miller delivered the items to the pantry. Ernestine Hutchins, chairman of the National Day of Service committee, Novella Griffin and Irma Martin delivered gifts to nursing homes and visited with residents. Jackson County AARP members meet the second Monday of each month with a potluck lunch. Details: Jerry Meador, 769-2283. Pictured are Lois Meador, Jerry Meador, Miller, Hutchins and Griffin.

The Jackson County Technology Center held a staff development session, before students reported for the school year, aboard the Happy Dance. The event included lunch and team-building activities. The Happy Dance is owned by John and Kim Aflague. From left: Charlene Dobbs, Kim Aflague, Cathy Bloomfield, Diane Novak (director), Laura Matthew, Nic Wages, Connie Helmuth, Rickey Corker, Richard Keleher and Mark Wallen.

First-grader Brooke Dorsey, wearing her Recipe for a Special Grandparent chef hat, sneaks a hug from her grandmother, Anne Mikish, at the DeLisle Elementary School Grandparent’s Day luncheon. More than 250 grandparents participated in the luncheon.

Seven ninth-graders from St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis, with a faculty moderator, joined with Goodwill warehouse and store workers recently to ready donations for sale. Stanislaus students are separated into groups and sent to work with nonprofits in the community to enhance their spirit of community involvement. From left, first row: Robert Courtiate, Antholy Depreo, Christian Dedeaux; second row: Goodwill CEO Ron Russell, Gavin Gros, Trey Deschamp, Stanislaus faculty member Denise Carneiro, and Gaitlin Fay.

Cedar Lake United Methodist Church in North Biloxi recently celebrated marriage as it recognized 12 couples in the church who have been married at least 50 years. Music for the service emphasized the wedding theme, highlighted by a solo performance of ‘You’re My Best Friend’ by Chris Ladner. After the sermon, ‘The Sanctity of Marriage,’ pastor Gary Ruff officiated a short ceremony in which five of the couples reaffirmed their marriage vows. A wedding reception followed. Front row: Romie and Mildred Krohn, Waldo and Betty Hartel, Terrell and Pat Richardson, Bill and Katherine Husley, Bill and Ann Balius; back row: Bobby and Caroline Touchstone, Mike and Ann Scarborough, Fred and Dorothy Mitchell, Ray and Glenna Phillips, and W.M. and Edna Krohn. Not pictured: Bill and Nita Rushing, and James and Helen Rushing.

USSVI Tullibee Base of Mississippi Base Commander C.L. Harvey, right, of Grand Bay, Ala,, presented the USSVI Eagle Scout Award Certificate and patch to newly minted Eagle Scout Brett Edward Monju, left, of Kiln at a recent ceremony. The Eagle Scout Award is usually presented at a specially convened Court of Honor. This ceremony is very similar in effect to a shipmate being awarded his dolphins as the honoree will forever be known and honored as an Eagle Scout.

The line lieutenants of the Krewe of Hera — Ashley Grayson, Kim Ryan, Kathryn Platt and Wanda LeBlanc — recently had their annual Mardi Gras kickoff party at the home of Tom and Vicki Baird.

Officers were elected and installed at the Mississippi Poetry Society, South Branch meeting recently at the Moss Point Library. The installation ceremony was conducted by Helen Jarvis of Pascagoula. Officers are Patricia Butkovich of Gautier, president; Mary Osterman of Ocean Springs, vice president; Judy Davies of Gautier, secretary; and Voncile Ros of Pascagoula, treasurer. Brenda Finnegan of Ocean Springs was appointed publicity chair and Jim Atchley of Pascagoula was appointed sergeant-at-arms. Butkovich was chosen as branch nominee for Poet of the Year for the state society, and Nelda Broom of Pascagoula was nominated for the state Lifetime Achievement Award. Plans were made for upcoming events. From left are Butkovich, Davies and Ros.

Holland new principal at St. Martin High