Orange Acres History
January 2009

These pictures progress from top to bottom

January 5 - Monday

There were 6 on the bike ride to the mall today. Two of the women met us at the mall. From left are Dick & Alice Vierus (Dick rode, Alice met us) Tom Studer, Sara Detweiler, Gene Mathes, Mary & Jim Lessard (Jim rode, Mary met us) and Bob LaPosa. It was a perfect day for a bike ride. We were informed by security at the mall that we are not allowed to take pictures in the mall. What a strange policy.

January 6 - Tuesday

There were 114 at coffee this morning.

January 8 - Thursday

Queen Annlee and King Gene greeted those arriving for the cookout tonight at the clubhouse.

There were 114 in attendance tonight.

The fellowship with all our neighbors was great.

The cooks did a great job with the hamburgers.

The servers also did a fantastic job.

Our entertainment by Lillette Jenkins-Wisner was a real treat.

January 11 - Sunday

There were 68 people at the vesper service tonight which included 12 choir members. Rev Joe Stump did his usual great message. It was a great service.

January 13 - Tuesday

There were 113 present at the pancake breakfast this morning.

Vice President Ed Marian filled in for President Lind Burrows this morning.

Mary Ryman introduced new residents Barbara & Bob Work to the residents.

The great kitchen crew consisted of Bobbie Holden, Ed Schattschneider, Audrey & Ward Young, Joan Kapp, Mary Lou Lira, Marti Gauthier and Grace Sherry.

January 14 - Wednesday

Seventeen Orange Acres Residents took the bus trip to Clearwater to first eat lunch at Joe's Crab Shak.

Then to the beautiful Ruth Eckerd Hall with great seats.

To see "American Big Band", a sentimental journey through the music, dance and romance of the big band era in America.

January 15 - Thursday

There was a good crowd at the whist party tonight.

Lots of good fellowship and visiting.

Here are the winners for tonight.

January 17 - Saturday

There was a good crowd at the dance tonight sponsered by Cedar Cove.

Larry Williams did his usual great job of providing the music.

January 20 - Tuesday

There were 114 at coffee this morning.

January 22 - Thursday

There were 120 present at the Ice Cream social tonight.

Ramona Armstrong, chairperson for this event welcomed the crowd.

The serving crew did a great job.

Everyone got all they wanted, seconds if they could hold it.

Doesn't that look good? It really was.


Most stayed for the movie which followed the social.

January 26 - Monday

There were 32 at the beach party today at Siesta Key Beach. Gen is shown here leading the sing-a-long after the meal.

The grills were going for the hot dogs and hamburgers.

Everyone had all they could eat.

They also shared a good time of fellowship.

The weather was great though slightly cool in the shade.

Lots of good food selection and plenty of deserts.

A few had never been to our beach parties before.

January 27 - Tuesday

There were 128 at the coffee hour this morning.

After the coffee hour there was a home owner's meeting with an election of new members.

January 28 - Wednesday

Today Marge Phelan invited Joyce & Larry Mansfield and Gene Mathes for a ride on her son-in-law's sailboat.

Captain and owner of the "Kathleen D", Tracey Dell is shown here piloting the 42' catamaran with photographer, George creating a commercial to advertise the charter vessel on TV.

The layout of food and the invited guests were for the making of the commercial which will be on TV channel 16 in the evenings starting February 9th.

Of course we got to finish off the food along as did the other guests. The windy day was ideal for sailing and sitting out on the deck.

Larry got to try his hand at sailing this large vessel in Sarasota bay.

Gene Mathes also took a turn at the wheel.

The two hour trip around the bay was a pleasure without the sounds of a motor, just the whoosh of the wind. For more information go to www.kathleend.net/

Here we are returning to the marina after a great time on the water.

January 29 - Thursday

There were 5 of us riding the Legacy Trail today. They are Bob LaPoza, Becky Ciraulo, Faye Spinney, Tom Studer and Gene Mathes. Starting at Orange Acres we traveled 23 miles and ate lunch at the 7-Eleven on Laurel Road and Tamiami Trail in Venice.