- April 19, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Publix Supermarket Charities helped the Junior League of Sarasota take a big step forward in its fight against hunger recently. Publix Sarasota Regional Director Tim Hennings awarded the League with a $15,000 check on April 11, at JLS headquarters.
Fund Development Chair Denise West applied for a Publix grant and accepted it with Cookbook Chairs Lea Graf and Heather Koester, who are working on the creation of a new cookbook featuring healthy meals that are locally sourced and easy to make. Sales from the cookbook, which will launch in Fall 2018 and will be titled “Simply Sarasota: From Fresh to Fabulous,” will support the League’s future service projects in Sarasota.
Spencer Whealy proposed to girlfriend and fellow Sarasota native Kelsey Wilson April 16, at The Ringling. The lovebirds met in September, when they started chatting after a service at Covenant Life Presbyterian Church. Spencer remembered Kelsey from the Easter prior when she sang a solo onstage during the service, and he had been praying ever since that he would get to know her. Easter thus holds a special meaning to the couple, as does the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the site of their first date. It comes as no surprise then that Spencer chose to propose on Easter at The Ringling. After attending Easter service, they went to the Cà d’Zan for a tour before heading to the museum. He proposed at the very spot where they watched the sunset on their first date. Members from both their families were there to celebrate with an engagement lunch at Marina Jack and an Easter dinner at the home of Kelsey’s parents.
We couldn’t help but notice that many of our readers had pretty impressive tablescapes for their eggcellent Easter celebrations. One of our favorites was Debbie Partridge’s thoughtful setting, which included Meissen china with hand-painted flowers that were unique to each plate; bunny ear napkin rings and place cards from Target, Lenox crystal and King Richard silver; and a large bunny centerpiece from Children’s Haven workshop.
The floppy-eared centerpiece is particularly special to Debbie and her family because she bought it more than 35 years ago when her son, who has Down syndrome, went to Children's Haven for day care. “The bunny has been broken but glued since it has special meaning to our family,” Debbie says. “Gives it more character, I think.”
Friends of the Sarasota Ballet held its final showcase luncheon of the season on April 10, and many volunteers were acknowledged for their commitment to FSB and The Sarasota Ballet. Among those recognized were Alison Jones, Phyllis Myers, Phyllis Schaen, Shelia Vincent, Barbara Long, Betsy Wollman, Kay Aidlin, Laurie Hofheimer and Sandy Miranda. Each person was presented with an engraved key chain as a thank-you gift for their service to the organization. Retiring committee leaders Fran Nitschke, Lydia Landa and Pat Golemme were each presented with a potted Orchid. It was an especially momentous afternoon for Janice Kunkel, the retiring president of FSB, who was president for three years and vice president for one year prior to that. Barbara Jacob and Laurie Fitch will be taking over as joint presidents for the 2017/2018 season.
