FIRST TANGLEWOOD CRAFT FAIR HUGE SUCCESS

The first ever Craft and Hobby Show to be opened to the public drew a large crowd on November 11th. Partially due to a typographical error, customers were lined up at 8 AM, a full hour before we were scheduled to open.
As soon as the 56 crafters were ready, the doors were opened and the customers came rolling in.

They found a multitude of items to buy: kitchen linens, watercolors, wood carvings, paper tole, quilting, plenty of jewelry and note cards, candles, pens, plastic canvas, purses, hand and foot boards, toys, books, baby sweaters and hats, homemade bakery and more. The sale continued until nearly 1:00 PM, the tables looking mighty lean by then.

Checking with the crafters, the overwhelming consensus was that it was a success. Several did more business than they had expected. Although we had a major schedule conflict with the big craft sale downtown, it was agreed that we ought to have another sale, perhaps in March. Keep tuned to this newsletter for late breaking announcements. Check out the Craft Fair pictures on Picture Trail.

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RED, WHITE, AND BLUE = WARM AND HAPPY VETS

Over the past several months the ladies of Adele Dods’s Knit and Crochet club have been making red, white, and blue lap robes for local institutionalized veterans. Thirty-nine of them were on display in the Craft Room at the Craft and Hobby Fair on November 11th, Veterans’ Day. Impressive? Awesome!

Vince Costanza and his oversized elves on motorcycles will be delivering these marvelous blankets to vets in nursing homes in time for Christmas. Dozens of other veterans will be the recipients of lap robes also, under the direction of Ron Weidner and the Tanglewood Veterans’ Club. Both groups do a wonderful job of cheering up some people who may not have anyone left to give them Christmas. The Veterans have given so much to us, we yarn wielders are proud and pleased to give them a little bit of happiness.

Adele and her group want to thank all of you who donated yarns of every color and money with which to buy yarn. I hope you got to see what your scraps and dollars were turned into.

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EVERYBODY LOVES THE CIRCUS

Ladies and Gentlemen, and children of our ages, the Cole Brothers Circus was in town recently; and several of us from Tanglewood were there!

Many of us have had the opportunity at some time in our lives to see the great Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Once a traditional traveling attraction that road the rails, erected tents, and entertained the country folks at fairgrounds and similar venues, the circus now focuses its attention on the large cities and the mega-seat arenas that can financially afford them.

Ticket prices have made it difficult for today’s young families to cover transportation, parking, tickets, and the traditional snacks and souvenirs.

The Cole Brothers Circus, on the other hand, now produced by the Pugh family, seems to have targeted small town America as it completes its 115 city (if you think of Sebring as a city) tour over a period of eight months. Their program proudly announces that it produces at least two shows a day for seven days a week. Obviously, only the dedicated need apply!

The performers of the Cole Brothers are not only dedicated, but they are extremely talented as well. Acrobats from Kenya (maybe); a balancing act named Svetlana (could be!); a Spider man character who has mastered the spinning wheel and the motorcycle on the high wire; a Spider girl who was shot out of a canon; dog acts; trapeze and high flying performers; and two amazingly talented pachyderms filled two two hour performances to presumably packed houses - or should I say tents.

Prices were “family friendly,” and the staff seemed really interested in accommodating each customer’s needs.

It will be two years before the Cole Brothers Circus returns to Sebring; but you might want to mark in on your calendar today!

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TANGLEWOODSMEN GIVE THANKS, CHOW DOWN

If the best part of a holiday dinner is the gathering of the family around the table, over 100 residents had the best Thanksgiving dinner ever. As Janet says, “We’re all family to each other.” The tables were set pretty enough for a magazine layout. The predominant colors were orange and gold, with at least one free spirit decorating with purple linens.

As always, one Host or Hostess for each table fixed the turkey, and the others brought vegetables, salads, breads, pickles, wines, potatoes, gravy, desserts, you get the picture. No one left the Hall unstuffed.

John Greytak provided the turkeys for each table. When next you see him, give thanks.

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CINDERELLA OPENING NIGHT

Opening Night a Huge Success: One hundred and seventy six Tanglewood residents were treated to a delicious meal and a hilarious play on opening night of “Cinderella Wore Combat Boots”.

Hats off to Cindy Gorman who did a fabulous job in her Directorial debut.

The cast: Tom Mapp (Story Teller/Fairy Godperson), Howard Johnson (King Charming), Phil Pluta (Prince Charming), Lori Eckert (Godzella), Sharlee Hynes (Mazzarella), Roberta Gallmeier (Motherella) and Sandy Radawiec (Cinderella) had the audience howling with their off the wall rendition of the classic tale.

Head Chef, Paco Cruz and his assistants Barry Radawiec and Diongeno Caron, served a fabulous meal of salad, baked ziti and dessert.

Thanks to all the rest of the crew for helping to kick off the Tanglewood Actors Guild Dinner Theatre in such fine style.

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