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Sending out a call to all calamondin growers

By LINDA D. COLE and INGRID L. KOHLER
Published February 12, 2005

Got calamondins? If so, this may be your lucky day! As most folks with a calamondin tree can tell you, the sour, bitty citrus fruits are harvested too infrequently, more often than not doomed instead to fall unnoticed and to rot beneath the tree, forming a fermenting mash around its roots. To those who must view the mess - and clean it up - the waste seems a shame.

But, cheer up, calamondin growers. Rose Higley, a reader in St. Petersburg, needs those fruits to make her special preserves. She has produced as many as 200 jars of it a year; steady customers count on being able to spread it on their morning toast (and whatever other delectable uses they devise).

Rose hasn't always been calamondin-challenged: She owned a tree that, unfortunately, had to be cut down. That's why she is hoping that REXers will share their harvest with her. Please call (727) 345-2006 if you have a calamondin surplus, but please don't call in the morning: Our intrepid marmalademaker is 92 years old and needs her rest.

More news on the backyard citrus front features REXers loaded with scrumptious grapefruit who wish to share the bounty. Mary Bayley, 89, of Safety Harbor, who invited readers to pick her fruit last year, is inviting them to do so again. She writes that the hurricanes last summer damaged a lot of the fruit, but her four grapefruit trees still offer juicy pickings.

Mary, like Rose, offers one stipulation: She wants potential pickers to arrive at her home after 10 a.m. so that everybody who wishes has a chance to get fruit. To learn Mary's location, give her a call at (727) 725-4114.

And Harry Carter of Holiday has a grapefruit tree loaded with delicious, sweet pink fruit waiting to be picked. Harry is offering a picker and bags, but you'll have to do the picking. To get Harry's address, call him at 727 942-6096 or e-mail harrycarterjr@earthlink.net

Lucie Somers, tireless hobbyist from Safety Harbor, needs supplies for a new project. She is gathering any item that bears either an image of the moon or symbols of Christianity - fish, cross, palm, Jesus, etc. - in metal, fabric or plastic. The items should be small because they need to fit into an album Lucie is making for her youngest grandson, Tristan. Please either mail your donations to Lucie at 47 Harbor Oaks Circle, Safety Harbor, FL 34695, or just drop them at her front door if you live in her area.

Bobbii Klein would be most grateful if you share with her your instructions for a cross-stitch sampler that uses the naval semaphore flags to spell out "Welcome Home." There's a story behind Bobbii's request. The Kleins have not seen their sailor son since 2001, and since that time have visited with only one grandson. They have never seen the other grandson in person.

They did see the family on television, however, when CNN ran footage of the USS Abraham Lincoln arriving in San Diego. Their son and his wife and children were interviewed on a split screen, and the young man said that if he thought doing so would get him to the loved ones on shore any faster than the ship could, he would jump into the water and swim the mile to the dock.

The couple will celebrate their wedding anniversary in May, and Bobbii would like to make this sampler as a gift. Bobbii may be reached by e-mail at bobbiisid@aol.com We've been having a run on stuffing materials the past couple of weeks from groups who are doing great work for folks who need a lift. Lorraine Huhta of Largo reports that the local chapter of the Sojourn Bears organization, a group that makes bears for cancer patients, needs stuffing for the bruins' innards.

They have plenty of material for making the bears and loads of yarn for knitting their sweaters. But if you are getting rid of old pillows (just those without feathers, please!) or batting or polyester fiberfill, the donations will be greatly appreciated. If you can help, please call either Lorraine at (727) 392-6706 or Evelyn Collins at (727) 398-0746. A few months ago, a reader gave away her French magazines through the column, and they were a big help to a local student who was taking French lessons. Now some Italian magazines are looking for a new home, and their owner, Marisa Johnson of St. Petersburg, hopes they will be a delightful way for someone to hone their skill in that language.

Indeed, Marisa, a native of Rome who has lived in the United States for 59 years, uses reading to keep from forgetting her native tongue. The magazines, Oggi (Today), are a sprightly way to do just that. Interested? Please call (727) 343-3295.

Lucy Bosy's autistic 13-year-old son, Jonny, is a train aficionado and loves to look at train pictures. If you have pictures, as well as videos and other items featuring trains, this young man will very happily put them to good use. Please call (727) 732-4405.

A big thank you goes from Jeremy McMillen to Lorraine Landry, who, in response to his Christmas Day request, gave Jeremy and his sons her well-seasoned Atari 2600. Boys of all ages apparently are having the best time playing with it: not only Jeremy's sons, mind you. Jeremy writes, "My brother recently came over and we played all night (just as we did as kids). Of course, I still won. Thanks again!"

Send requests to Reader Exchange, Floridian, St. Petersburg Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg 33731 or e-mail cole@sptimes.com Requests will be accepted only by mail or e-mail. This is an exchange column, so we will not run items that are for sale. Readers must agree to publication of phone numbers, including area code.

[Last modified February 11, 2005, 09:20:05]