A gift list of those who give so much

Several years ago, shortly after the youngest member of my extended family passed age 30, we decided we were all too old for Santa Claus. We stopped giving each other gifts and now give our Christmas money to worthy causes.

I have several national favorites, but my local favorites are the Angelus and the Humane Society of Pasco County.

The Angelus is a home for developmentally disabled kids and adults in Hudson. If you want to get a peek at how this wonderful place works, you can go see its Christmas Pageant at 6:30 p.m. today, Sunday or Dec. 22 and 23 at the facility off Hudson Avenue and meet some of the terrific people who live and work there. It will make your heart sing to see these happy people in this happy place.

The pageant is free, but just seeing it will make you want to leave a generous donation to keep this place going. If you can't make the pageant, mail a check to 12413 Hudson Ave., Hudson, FL 34669.

My check to the Humane Society is in deep gratitude for rescuing my beloved cat, Bustopher Jones II, five years ago and keeping him safe and healthy until our eyes could meet across a crowded room and we could fall madly in love with each other. Frankly, it's quite possibly the best relationship I've ever had with a member of the opposite sex not related to me by blood.

So I mail a check to the society at 14949 Harmon Drive, Hudson, FL 34610 with the hope that the society's clever matchmakers can make some more happy matches.

I also mail a check to my St. Petersburg Times carrier, to thank him for delivering a dry newspaper to me in the wee hours of the morning, especially when Bustopher's wild friends show up in my back yard and howl me awake at 5:17 a.m. and I'm too groggy to do anything but read the paper.

There. My Christmas shopping is done.

If you're one of those people who simply must buy presents, let me suggest the gift of entertainment. You don't have to worry whether it fits or if it's the right color.

All the local professional and community theaters sell gift certificates, and if you give your friend enough for two theater tickets, there's always the chance the friend will invite you to go along, which means you get one-half of your gift back.

Speaking of theater, the new Palace Grand banquet hall in Spring Hill has added another Jackie Mason show, this one on Jan. 15. The originally scheduled shows on Jan. 16, 17 and 18 sold out within five days after word leaked that the popular comic was coming to town.

The Grand has also added another showing of "Old Blue Eyes and Friends" on Feb. 6, again when the originally planned tributes to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Liza Minnelli and Bobby Darin on Feb. 7 and 8 sold out within days after they were announced.

However, if you hoped to have your holiday party on any Saturday in December 2002 at the Palace Grand, you can fuhgiddaboutdit. All Saturdays in December 2002 are completely booked, according to co-owner Nick Sessa, and, unfortunately, he can't add a Saturday in December.

It was a homecoming for tenor Dino DiLiberti when he was guest singer in A Pasco Christmas 2001 at Richey Suncoast Theatre in New Port Richey recently.

Shortly after the Clearwater singer said he would be in the annual Christmas show, someone found an old flier with DiLiberti's photo on it from more than 20 years ago. The flier announced he would perform in I Pagliacci with the Florida Lyric Opera Company on April 2-4 and 11-12 at the theater.

"That's so long ago, I can't even remember it," DiLiberti joked after the show.

Hudson artist Beverly Marcotte is sending a very special oil painting on leather to New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani. The 2-by-3 foot work shows a view of the Twin Towers from the Brooklyn Bridge at night.

"It's my way of showing appreciation for how (he) came through for New York City," the Connecticut native said.

Mrs. Marcotte's daughter, Melissa, lives in the city and was on a plane to Switzerland for a singing engagement the morning of the Twin Towers attack.

"I couldn't reach her for hours, and I was frantic," Mrs. Marcotte said.

It turned out Melissa's flight was canceled. She went to Switzerland later and will be going back after the holidays to complete her contract.

The painting incorporates a brass belt buckle with New York on it that Mrs. Marcotte picked up at an antique shop in Virginia.

"It all just fits together," she said.

All you guys who snickered at the "pink coffins," also known as sidewalk benches, along New Port Richey's Main Street won't be able to laugh for long.

The Greater New Port Richey Main Street association recently got the city's permission to paint the 32 benches that are on the Cotee River with either a historic or a nature-themed scene.

Artists will be asked to donate their time and talent to this project, set for a weekend in April. Main Street and other businesses will supply the paints, brushes and drop cloths.

"This is the first step in the (downtown) mural project," said Laura Turner, the executive director of the organization and the impetus behind the painted benches project.

To apply to do one of the benches or to donate to the project, call (727) 842-8066.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright