Not all fundraisers are fancy

Welcome to December, the month reminiscent of cold weather and holidays — unless you live in Florida where we decorate our yards in the sometimes blistering heat as we wait for The Claw to remove piles of hurricane debris. 

Personally, I am reminded that another trip around the sun has been successfully completed. On Dec. 6 I exercised my membership and preferred parking spot at the Tampa Zoo with my Canon pointed at the entertaining Orangutans, followed by a chaser party at a local Tiki hut where the band sang my 2024 theme song, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?" 

Thanks to friends who came out to dance in the sand, snack from a huge Costco cookie platter ($24.99 for members who need a delish holiday party take-along) and then tried to break up a bar fight where I learned one probably shouldn't mess with a guy who has a safety pin in his cheek (not that there's anything wrong with that). But I digress...

You are cordially invited to a recap of some of the happenings that have been happening in our small city.

Channeling Granny Clampett: Let the residents of Bent Tree / Woodlands II HOA remind us that not all fundraisers are held in swell places while wearing city clothes or mingling around cement ponds. The eighth annual tree lighting on the boulevard and Toys for Tots donation station was another huge success with over 200 toys collected. Organized by retired Marine Col. John Alexander and his wife, Gail, they guarantee an appearance by that couple in red velvet, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

Photo by Janet Combs

In uniform: The United States Marines celebrated its 249th birthday in November with birthday galas taking place in cities around America. Lucky for Sarasota that Edward Valdez organized one such gala at the Art Ovation Hotel for 200 guests. Valdez, a veteran and military liaison and his wife, Jade, together with a volunteer committee celebrated with guest of honor Edward Rensi, past president and CEO of McDonald's USA. All proceeds went to the Fisher House Foundation, and the 2025 celebration promises to be even bigger.

Proud husband moment: Ryan Ackerman excitedly told me about a nonprofit called Holiday House SRQ co-founded by his wife, Sepi, and Jenny Infanti. HHSRQ will be taken into four Title 1 schools giving 2,000 children the opportunity to shop for presents for their family with no cost attached thanks to organizers and generous supporters. Alta Vista, Brentwood, Emma Booker and Wilkinson elementary schools will reap the benefits, and a gentle reminder that a Title 1 school is defined as the recipient of additional resources from the federal government to help students from low-income families.

That fire sign: Sagittarians are known to be adventurous, open-minded, fun-loving and impatient. Additionally, and this drove my mom crazy, we are always on a quest for knowledge, so if you have some juicy news, dirty laundry, gossip or venting to share please contact this Sag at [email protected]. Anonymity always guaranteed upon request!