The Bible Way Church of God in Christ hosted a special Annual Black History Program on Sunday, featuring as the keynote speaker, Muriel Fuqua, Professor of African-American Literature at Daytona State College. She is also the pastor of the Word and Praise Family Church in Daytona Beach. The program included special music and dance by the Heritage Dancers from New Smyrna Beach. Elder Willie G. Wood is the Pastor.

The Oak Hill Community Trust will hold the monthly meeting at city hall on Tuesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. Please note the time change, and the public is invited. Plans are already being discussed for spring activities such as a kayak run, fishing tournament, heritage day and a reception on April 4 to present the Arcadia Publication of the Oak Hill pictorial history. The Community Trust will be selling the books for $21.99, but on that day, from 10 a.m. to1 p.m., the books will be available for $20. All proceeds will go to this non-profit organization. One of the initiatives that is done on a quarterly basis is the honoring of a "Citizen of the Quarter." Area residents are asked to nominate a citizen who has made an important contribution to the community, and the Community Trust joins the city commission in honoring this person with a plaque and proclamation. Last Monday night, former mayor and commissioner, Mike Thompson, received this honor. If you would like to submit a nomination, they are available at city hall or on the city’s Web page.

Congratulations to Eric and Dustin Simmons who are the proud parents of a new baby girl, born Feb. 12. She weighed 8 lbs 1 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She will be called Brylee McKenzie, and is very happy to have a big brother, Lane.

Frances Johnson is recovering nicely from foot surgery last week in Ormond Hospital. We send her get well wishes, and a very happy birthday today. On Wednesday night, her church family surprised her with birthday greetings and cake to honor her golden years. She is an active senior member of First Baptist Church, and played the piano there for more than 65 years.

Pastor Emerson Bolton and his wife, Margaret, left Monday morning to drive to Richmond, Va., to attend a missions conference, so they were not here on Feb. 26 to celebrate Mrs. Johnson’s birthday or his 3rd anniversary as pastor in Oak Hill. However, the church has planned a special service (and church dinner following at noon) on March 8.

Jody Wheeler invites the young people of the community to attend the Wednesday night Youth Group at First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. They are planning a pizza lunch following the March 1 church service, and then a trip to go bowling.

If you have children in the elementary school, plan to attend an important Charter School Meeting on March 12 at 6 p.m. at city hall. There are currently 120 students registered and important information will be shared at this meeting.

Bill and Harriet Wood are staying busy keeping up with their 8-year-old grandson, Chad’s, schedule. On March 15, Chad’s piano teacher, Ethel Blake, was honored at the Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church in New Smyrna Beach. Chad played several musical numbers to honor her. On Friday night, he played at the St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church in Mims for a special program, and on Sunday, Feb. 22, Chad was asked to provide special music on the piano at the New Salem Primative Baptist Church in Sanford for a special Black History Monday Program. The Sanford Church Pastor is New Smyrna Beach’s C.J. Haynes, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Haynes. His brother, Carlus, Orlando attorney, also spoke at the special program. If you want to hear Chad in concert, he will be playing on Sunday, March 1, at the Babe James Center at 2:30 p.m.

Gary Geiger’s brother, Bill, and wife, Lois, arrived last Tuesday from their home in Arlington, Ohio, to spend a week visiting the Geiger family. Gary’s mother has been here visiting Brenda and Gary in their new home on Osteen Street for three weeks and she will return with her son, Bill, to her home in Findley, Ohio.

Al and Kathy Judd are the new recipients of the "Pink Flamingo" Award. Last Thursday night at the "Prime-rib 55-Plus" Dinner at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, more than 80 adults cheered as Al and Kathy were presented this special award. If you pass by their home on Howes Street and see this brightly lit pink flamingo in their front yard you will know why.

On the weekend, the Judds enjoyed a trip to Disney World with their two grandsons, Payton and Jordon, from Port Orange.

Jim and Loretta Maynard enjoyed a Christian Music Concert last Saturday featuring the Bill Gaither Family. The concert was held at the Amway Arena in Orlando.

Kim and Kathleen enjoyed a recent visit from New England friends, Ronnie and Esther. They live in Redding, Vt., and spend three months of winter in Deltona. Kathleen’s mom, Laure Souza, was released on Friday to come home from the hospital in Melbourne where she underwent kidney surgery on Feb. 16. Kathleen’s sisters, Tina Miller from East Douglas, Mass., and Theresa Ahlers from East Wallingford, Vt., are here for three weeks during their mother’s recovery. On Sunday, Mrs. Souza celebrated her 84th birthday, and last Sunday she and her husband celebrated their 62nd Anniversary. We send get well wishes and happy birthday to her!

Get well wishes are sent to Katherine Dean who is currently in an Orlando Hospital after a recent fall while staying with her daughter, Janice.

On Friday, Feb. 27, the 48th All County Music Festival will be held at DeLand High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. Representing Burns Elementary School are five remarkably talented 5th graders: Tylor Fox, Richard Lee, Alexandra DelSonno, Dominique Diehl, and Destiny Brunson. Congratulations to you all.

Jeremy Goodrich, son of Jimbo Goodrich, celebrated his 16th birthday last Sunday at the home of his grandparents, Jim and Rosemarie Goodrich.

Mark and Brenda Dewees enjoyed a recent weekend visit from her mother, Mrs. Larken, who makes her home in Green Cove Springs.

On Saturday, March 7, the Oak Hill Elementary School Relay for Life team is holding a garage sale at the New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission parking lot from 7:30 a.m. until noon. Everyone is invited to come, and if you have anything to donate to the sale, please bring it to the school Media Center.

John Allen left last Wednesday to spend a week in Dallas visiting with friends and family.

Reminder to elementary school parents, that the deadline to order a school yearbook is Feb. 27. Don’t procrastinate and miss this treasure of memories. The cost now is $20, but after Friday you will have to pay $25.