ROSES to Elicia Hyde-DeRuyscher, a 15-year-old rising sophomore at Chapel Hill High School who was perceptive enough to notice a gap in the community that needed filling and active enough to do something about it.

Elicia has played soccer since she was a young girl. She loves the game, the beneficial effects of physical activity, the confidence and friendships it helps build. But she noticed that few Latina girls played, although many of their fathers and brothers were active soccer players.

So on her own initiative she set up a program for holding soccer clinics for Latinas, helping them learn and develop their skills and then sign up for rec leagues. She arranged for Tracy Ducar, a former member of the U.S. National Team, to give some pointers, and the project has taken off.

Elicia has helped a lot of young girls in the community learn new skills, meet new friends and have a lot of fun. That's a pretty impressive way to spend a summer vacation.


ROSES to Brian Parker, who recently was honored as the Chapel Hill Fire Department's firefighter of the year.

Parker was cited not only for his work actually fighting fires, but also for the many things he does in the community. He has raised money and promoted causes such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the UNC Burn Center, Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House and St. Baldrick's Children's Cancer Fund.

At the firehouse, he has installed electronics in department vehicles, conducted fitness training the Fire Academy and volunteered to participate in lots of other projects. He coordinates the annual Poker Run to raise funds for the Chapel Hill Firefighters Association and its many projects.

ROSES also to Capt. Tommy Gregory, runner-up as firefighter of the year. He has coordinated the CHFA Habitat for Humanity fire sprinkler program and installed more than 50 systems -- one of which was credited with saving a home and family on Nunn Lane in 2006.

Also nominated were Robert Bosworth, Caprice Mellon and Keith Porterfield. We appreciate all of them and their colleagues for their work in keeping the community safe.


ROSES to state Rep. Verla Insko, who was honored last week for her work on behalf of increased access to health care, especially for children.

Inkso, from House District 56 (representing Orange County), received the James D. Bernstein Excellence in Public Service to Children Award from the N.C. Pediatric Society.

During this year's legislative session, she was the primary sponsor of three major bills to extend health care to thousands of uninsured North Carolinians. She won an appropriation in the state budget to create the Kid's Care program that improved health care benefits for an additional 38,000 uninsured children, and she has worked to extend insurance coverage for major mental illnesses.

Few issues are as important to as many people as access to affordable health care, especially for our state's children. The tribute to Insko for her work in that area is well-deserved.