On May 7, 2008, Rachel Morningstar Hoffman was tragically slain during a Florida sting operation gone awry. On July 12, a number of local and regional artists will honor her memory at the 1st Annual Purple Hatters Ball. This single-day event will take place at Quincy, FLs Ponderosa Wildlife Preserve, featuring a number of bands Hoffman had a special connection with, including Dubconscious, The Warehouse Jazz & Funk Ensembles, Catfish Alliance, Trial By Stone, Corporal Boil, The Malah, Full Black Out, Pepper Drive, Eurosults, Mechaneborialis and The Zack Bartholomew Trio, among others. Hoffman also had a deep relationship with The Ponderosa Wildlife Preserve, helping ready the property for the Bear Creek Music and Art Festival in 2007. She also had plans to attend culinary school in the near future and often hosted potluck gatherings at her home to practice for her future career. To honor her passion for food and hospitality, the benefit asks all participants to bring a homemade dish to share with others and to participate in what may be the largest potluck dinner in Florida history. All profits from this event will benefit the Morningstar Foundation which has been established by her mother and stepfather. (www.purplehattersball.com)