Former students have begun to arrive in Sanford for the three-day Grand Celebration beginning Tuesday at 9 a.m. The classes attending the reunion will be from 1926 to 1970.

The theme for the occasion will be “Crooms – Celebrating 84 Years of Excellence in Education.” The reunion will take place from Tuesday to Thursday. The Crooms Grand Reunion Planning Committee. under the leadership of Sheralyn Jackson Brinson, Class of ’63 and Sammie Harkness, co-chair, Class of ’64, has planned many exciting activities for those attending.

Registration and a continental breakfast will be at Crooms Academy of Information Technology. Casual attire is suitable for the breakfast. The opening ceremony with city, county and educational officials will be held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. The tour of Crooms Academy will be at 11 a.m.

At noon, those wishing to sing in the choir will rehearse at the site of a worship service at Calvary Temple of Praise Church, just north of Crooms. The worship service will begin at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 4 p.m. and classes lining up for the grand march at 5 p.m. Speaker for the service will be the Rev. Shirley A. Howard-Hayes, a 1964 graduate of Crooms. She is presently the pastor of St. James AME Church in Bartow. She is the wife of her high school sweetheart, Leon Hayes, also a 1964 graduate.

The choir is under the direction of Mary Liggon Debose and Barbara Givens Parker. Residents of Sanford and Seminole County are invited to share in the activities: Monday, 6 p.m., worship service; Wednesday, 10 a.m., Crooms homecoming parade (from Holly Avenue down 13th Street to Crooms Academy). There will be bands, music, walking and riding units from the various classes. To enter the homecoming parade, contact James Davis, Class of ’65, at 407-320-8122.

• We Care Bridging Gaps Inc. thanks the many generous supporters who contributed to the success of this year’s Christmas food drive. The completion of this effort could not have been done without the community support, which which We Care Bridging Gaps is appreciative. Special thanks to Walmart, CPH Engineering, Federal Trust Bank, Sandefur Holding Company, and many churches and individuals who donated.