Community Activities

SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES LIST

Daily/Weekly/Monthly/Annually Scheduled Activities – October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025 https://heronsglencc.com/group/pages/activities-booklet

ALPHA DELTA MU SORORITY CLOSES OUT THE YEAR CANDACE HUETTEMAN, HERONS GLEN

ADM sisters took a fun trip to the Broadway Palm to see the play Chicago on October 27. A few days later several sisters attended the Veterans of the Glen (VOG) meeting on Wednesday, October 30. At the meeting, ADM presented the VOG members with a Merchant Marine flag that will hang with the other military service flags at VOG dances in the future. In a short talk, Edd Huetteman, a former Naval Officer and graduate of the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., described the role that the Merchant Marines play in both war and peace. Edd sailed as a First Engineer on a merchant freighter for 5 1/2 years. He took bombs to Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. He sailed around the world as a cadet when he was just 18. Oh, the stories he could have told that evening.

On November 16 and 17, ADM held its annual downsizing sale with all proceeds going to veteran organizations and the sorority’s numerous other charities. Following the sale, a party to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of ADM was held at Joy Venker’s house. The sisters are looking forward to attending VOG holiday activities in support of veteran charities. The sorority’s Christmas party will close out the calendar year.

ALPHA DELTA ALPHA BEGINS NEW SEASON DENISE JOHNSON, HERONS GLEN

Although ADA met in October without many of our snowbirds, our full meeting in November set the tone for the 2024/25 season. We look forward to continuing our community service and support to All Souls Outreach, Hearts and Homes for Veterans and Island Coast High School. We have several social events planned for educational opportunities and just fun.

Our annual Foster’s Grille fundraiser benefitting Hearts and Homes for Veterans will be held on Monday, January 13,m2025. Mark your calendar now. Herons Glen residents continue to turn out to support this worthy cause. It is a fun night of good food with friends and family and even strangers that choose to participate. Hearts and Homes staff will be mingling to answer your questions. Watch for the flyer to appear in December, as well as reminders on Google group.

We look forward to a season of sisterhood and community service this new season.

START OF A NEW SEASON FOR THE CHORUS DAVID MUIR, HERONS GLEN

The Herons Glen Chorus has been a part of the community for many years. One of its founders, Jim Slater, still sings in the chorus at age 94. But the chorus had been disbanded for 5 years due partly to the retirement of directors and to COVID, when Ed Huetteman pushed to bring it back. Two years ago, Ed, Sue Atkin, Claudia Tweedle and David Muir organized some rehearsals and were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the chorus members and support from the community as a whole. Now the reformed chorus is preparing for its third season, and we’d be glad to have you join us if you love to sing.

BENEFITS OF JOINING A CHORUS

The following are some quoted benefits of singing told by many:

• It was in a choir I discovered the sheer joy of making music with others.

• It was in a choir that I discovered my confidence both musically and personally.

• It is in a choir that I always have a source of comfort, a family and a sanctuary away from the world around me. The science of music talks about:

• The calming effect of music

• The augmentation of memory through music

• The enhancement of left and right hemispheres of the brain

• The feeling of connecting beyond oneself

HOW TO JOIN THE HERONS GLEN CHORUS

Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 5 in the ballroom from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Come watch to see if it works for you. If you know you are joining, please be there at 1:30 p.m.

A Meet and Greet will be held Monday, January 6 at 7 p.m. in Activity Room A for all who are interested in joining the chorus. Please bring your beverage and an appetizer to share.

NEW MARBLES SEASON BEGINS PATTI CUMMINGS, HERONS GLEN

On October 27, another Marbles Tournament season began. Nine tables of enthusiastic players joined in the ballroom at 6 p.m. for an evening of fun and fellowship with their neighbors. Some of them are in photos accompanying this article. During the evening two teams (both women’s teams) won all three games better known as a sweep. They are pictured with their names. Due to the women’s great playing they now lead the monthly score with women 14 and men 13. The next Marbles evening will be on November 17; however, this date is after the November deadline so we will report in January. There will be no Marbles in December, but the games will resume January 12, 2025. Make your plans now for many evenings of fun.

IN THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN CANDACE HUETTEMAN, HERONS GLEN

How was the Halloween Dance? Ask the Vampire. He said, “It didn’t suck.” Ask the ghost. He said it was, “spooktacular.” The dance floor was full all night as almost everyone danced to the music of the band, “Double Dare.” Of the 161 partiers, many were baffled as to “who’s who” wearing the “screamingly” fun and clever costumes. With so many entrees in the costume contest and so much yelling and cheering for the favorites, it was hard to choose a winner in each category. However, “The Minions,” Tony and Kelly Johnston were voted the best in the couples’ category and “The Super Herons” won as the best group.

Congratulations to the Resident Events Committee for hosting a great party. Maybe you should plan now to attend the New Year’s Eve Dance. It’s sure to be another enjoyable event.

ALPHA GAMMA DELTA CHAPTER NEWS NANCY THOMPSON, HERONS GLEN

As the first chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi international sorority established in Herons Glen, Alpha Gamma Delta (AGD) has developed a long history of service-oriented fundraisers supporting charities and donations through a variety of projects. Most recently, Alpha Gamma Delta hosted its annual Herons Glen Craft Fair in the ballroom of our community on Saturday, November 2. With over 47 vendors, both HG crafters and outside vendors, the ballroom was a kaleidoscope of crafts, products and colors. Represented were artists’ original paintings, ceramics and pottery, crafters’ knit goods, leather goods and other unique handcrafted items. The AGD chapter sisters sold their famous homemade cheddar cheese and beef/onion cheese balls and over 300 various flavors of artfully decorated chocolate, yellow, white, and spice cake balls. Raffles for $100 of lottery tickets, wine and liquor baskets, along with a Booze Buggy (you guessed it, booze!) and so many, many more, were big hits! This Craft Fair continues to be the primary fundraising project of AGD. All monies earned by the vendors’ table rental fee is donated directly to Special Equestrians, Inc, as a 501(3)(c) charity.

Established in 1987, this organization’s mission is to enhance physical, emotional, and cognitive growth for individuals with disabilities through equine assisted activities and therapies. The organization serves people referred to Special Equestrians by doctors, therapists and teachers, “helping people one stride at a time” is the aim of Special Equestrians.

There is a new program, Horses and Humans in Harmony, specifically designed for the personal unmounted interactions of veterans with the horses. The participant application is located on their website, specialequestrians. net, along with descriptions of their programs and events, donation and volunteer opportunities and contact number, (239) 226-1221

Our AGD chapter contributes service along with financial support to several other organizations. We donate Bears for Cops to the local police agencies for use in situations where children or a disabled or challenged adult may find calmness and security during stressful interactions. In addition, we contribute to

Hearts and Homes for Veterans, and to the Glen’s annual Pretty in Pink fundraiser.

Our AGD chapter is always eager to embrace questions and to provide information on our group to anyone interested in joining a service-oriented group of women dedicated to sharing ourselves, our treasure, our talent and our love, with our Herons Glen community, our local community, our neighbors and our friends, for the continued celebration of people helping people. Text President Nancy Hentges at (715) 853- 6281 or Vice President Nancy Thompson at (315) 466-9091.

SAVE THE DATE! Our next annual Craft Fair will be November 8, 2025. Hope to see you there.

TRAVEL CLUB TRAVELS TO STETSON MANSION AND MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART! DUANE PARKINSON, HERONS GLEN

Fifty-one excited members of our very active HG Travel Club boarded our motorcoach on Wednesday, November 13, and our professional driver headed to DeLand, Florida, just north of Orlando for our Travel Club’s overnight trip. Four hours after departing the Glen, we began our buffet lunch at Cook’s Buffet and Bakery. Even though it is a “buffet,” Travel Advisor reviewers rank it as No. 9 out of 167 restaurants in DeLand. And that ranking did not disappoint us.

Then, we bused over just a few blocks to the Stetson Mansion. It was built in 1886 by the famous hatmaker, John Stetson. At the time, the three-story mansion was the largest mansion and the most beautiful “Gilded Age” mansion in Florida. The current owners spend literally months each summer and fall decorating the interior rooms with “you would not believe” Christmas ornamentation. The rooms of the bottom two stories are full of Christmas memorabilia, including over 50 Nativity scenes from around the world. Greenery. Angels. Trees. Lights. Words just cannot describe the decorations; it has to be literally seen to believe. Or just go to their website to see photos of the decorations (stetsonmansion.com). Our tour guides were extremely knowledgeable of the mansion’s history and why each room was decorated in the way it was. The mansion has hosted numerous dignitaries in its history, including the King and Queen of England, U.S. President Grover Cleveland, and its electrical system was installed by Thomas Edison.

After a restful night’s sleep at the Courtyard by Marriott, we boarded the motorcoach and departed a short distance for Winter Park, just north of Orlando, and received a guided tour at the Morse Museum of American Art. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Tiffany art glass. We commonly think of Tiffany glass as those beautiful lampshades. But Louis Tiffany began his artistic career as a painter and then transferred that artistic desire into beautiful glassworks in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In addition to the lampshades that we are familiar with, he has also done many larger stained glassworks such as residence windows and even amazingly beautiful cathedral windows. The museum has room after room of his artwork. It also is a “must see” if you are in the area. And interestingly, his father founded the famous Tiffany jewelry stores. Have any of you ladies received a surprise gift in one of those distinctive teal blue boxes?

After lunch in the area around the museum at one of the many delightful restaurants and exploring numerous local shops and art galleries, we reluctantly (but also wanting to get back “home”), boarded the motorcoach and returned to the Glen. We were tired, but excited about what we had experienced with our friends in the Travel Club.

We look forward to many future overnight trips within our wonderful state of Florida and many new experiences together! If you would like to join our club ($5 per person per year), we’d love to have you share our experiences. Our next formal meeting is on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 2 to 4 p.m. in the Clubhouse Ballroom. Our club now has 306 members; come and join us.

And obviously a huge thank you to Rhonda Parkinson for her wonderful planning of our trip. Thank you, Rhonda.