Roses to everybody who helped put together the recent Teachers First Breakfast to honor the teachers and staff members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district.

The breakfast, held at Squid's Restaurant before school on May 1, kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week. The Chapel Hill Restaurant Group donated food, facilities and expertise, and parents and other supporters gave generously and also donated 4,000 fresh roses to give to teachers and staff. The event raised more than $50,000 for programs and projects that benefit teachers.

The breakfast, flowers and fundraising all help give our teachers a lift -- especially important this year, when the state budget situation has resulted in cuts in salary.

Few treasures are as valuable as a great teacher. We are fortunate to have a lot of them in this area. We're fortunate, too, to have a lot of people who recognize and appreciate that, and who are willing to give their time, talent and money to make sure the teachers know it.

Roses to Richard and Jill Edens, who on Sunday celebrated their 30th anniversary as pastors of United Church of Chapel Hill.

Thirty years in any one position is noteworthy, especially these days, but the Edenses have done a lot more than punch the clock for three decades. Under their leadership, United Church's congregation has grown more than fivefold, and they have guided the church to a position of prominence in the causes of social justice and civil rights. United Church has been steadfast in working to ensure that all people are treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

UCCH was one of the first Open and Affirming congregations in the area, welcoming gay and lesbian people as full members. It has fought against the death penalty and for the homeless.

In fact, just last year, when the town and the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service were seeking a place to build a new shelter for homeless men, every proposed site sparked predictable opposition from those nearby -- until a site next to UCCH was identified. The church, true to its calling, welcomed the idea; Richard Edens called it "a sign of hope and goodness in this community."

Roses to the Carrboro High School girls soccer team, which has put together a spectacular season in only its second year in existence. The Jaguars went 17-2-1 during the regular season, including a 1-0 victory over crosstown rival and perennial power Chapel Hill High School.

The soccer team's season was another indication that Carrboro High is well on its way to developing the kind of superb year-in-and-year-out athletic program that CHHS and East Chapel Hill have already established. High school athletic programs have a history of getting off to fast starts around here; East, some of you may remember, won the state boys basketball championship in its first year of existence, without a single senior on the roster.

Carrboro, we're proud to see, is making a name for itself as well. Great job, Jags.

Please send suggestions for Roses & Raspberries to Dave Hart, associate editor, at dhart@nando.com.