For the people of Kissimmee who rely on the Church’s food bank to help them through difficult times, Jim and Marilyn’s arrival turned out to truly be a blessing.

The Harrison’s attended First Christian faithfully until services started at Tropical Palms in the winter of 2011. The Harrisons began dividing their time between services, worshiping at the Recreation Hall here on Sunday mornings and going to First Christian Sunday evenings.

But unfortunately the pastor who started the non-denominational service here was called back to his home in South Carolina because of a family emergency. Suddenly the eight or so attendees were without a leader though not for long.

“Some of the folks at the Center asked me if I’d be interested in leading the service,” Jim recalls. “I didn’t know what to do, but on our way home I felt a call and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

It was a natural fit. Jim, a retired stores manager for the City of Mississauga, Ontario, had been teaching a Men’s Bible class at his retirement community in Freelton, Canada, for a number of years and he took to his new role easily. The weekly service he conducts is about thirty minutes long, with ten minutes of hymns, a sermon he writes himself, and prayers for anyone who asks, usually for someone suffering an illness or who has a family member or friend in need. His congregation for the non-denominational service has grown from eight to about forty a week.

But Jim and Marilyn are two people who not only talk the talk – they walk the walk – and so they wanted to find a way that they could be of greater service to the community beyond the Sunday service. Since no monetary collection is made, Jim thought it might be a good idea to ask attendees to contribute foodstuffs for First Christian’s food bank.

Open on Mondays and Thursdays and run by volunteers, the food bank has been in operation for ten years. It feeds five or six families a week, but because there is so much need, the bank asks families to come only once a quarter so that it can reach as many in need as possible. It’s a big job and much is required to meet its demands.

“We began collecting food in February, mostly from the people who attended the Rec Hall service. But then we had the idea to tie it to Tropical’s St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Day Dinner because we knew so many people would be attending. We asked everyone to bring what they could and share their lot with the community. The response was absolutely overwhelming. After the dinner party we had a car loaded with food,” Jim says with gratitude at his neighbors’ generosity.

“Then folks began leaving food when they left the park at the end of season,” Jim adds. There were three boxes left the week we talked to him.

“Since we’ll be returning home for the summer, we’ve made arrangements with General Manager Chris Wasilewski and the Tropical team to keep the food drive going throughout the summer season. Anyone interested can drop what they can at the office.”

Jim and Marilyn, who by the way are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary this year by taking a cruise with a group of friends they’ve made at Tropical Palms, plan to be back next winter. And they’ll be taking up right where they left off this past season, with Jim leading a Sunday service and the couple spearheading a food drive for the less fortunate in our community.

We’re blessed to have this very special couple – and all those that supported their efforts – back with us again. So are those families in need in Kissimmee.

For the last ten years, Luke has spent a week of his annual vacation with his family, lending his attributes and devoting his considerable energies to helping the people of Haiti through the Mission of Hope, a Christian organization that exists to serve the nation of Haiti and change the lives of the people there. Of course, if you know Luke at all, it comes as no surprise that he shrugs it off as no big thing. We think it is.

His dad John, a minister, who sadly passed away last year, started this family tradition of service. It began almost as a fluke.

“My Dad and a group of fellow missionaries were on their way to Venezuela when the trip was called off. They decided to go Haiti instead,” Luke said.

“He fell in love with the work that the Mission of Hope was doing to provide housing, health care, education and so many other services that the people of this impoverished country needed, he began taking a group of parishioners every year that included my mom, Cathy, my younger brother, Jesse, and me.”

When the devastating earthquake of 2010 hit the small island nation, John and a group numbering about a hundred tried to get into their now adopted country almost immediately, but they weren’t able to enter until April.

They immediately went to work, helping to build the Mission of Hope’s hospital, orphanage, houses and cafeteria. Their work soon earned them the nickname “Can Crete” for Canada, their homeland, and the concrete they used in their work.

Over the decade the Frasers have been going to Haiti they’ve brought with them,

in addition to their team of missionaries, a doctor and several nurses who would travel into small villages bringing essential medical care to the people.

“When Dad passed away last year after his mission, a road – Fraser Way – was named after him as thanks for all his good works. It means a lot to all of us. I know he would have been honored.”

This year, the first without John, was a changing of the guard. His church’s new pastor, Paul Fletcher, did, according to Luke, “a lot of ‘what would John do?’ because of his desire to maintain the traditions of service my dad had begun. He did a good job.”

Of course, the family’s return was also filled with bittersweet moments. “A woman who first went with us six years ago got a calling and has been there ever since taking care of the orphanage. This year she married a Haitian and my Dad would have performed the ceremony. He was missed.”

But his memory was certainly honored by the work the Fraser family did in his absence. “We put in a concrete path from the cafeteria to the dorms, painted houses, hung doors on the outdoor latrines, and planted flower beds.

“I really enjoy the work,” Luke says. To see the changes, to see it grow from two houses and tents along the road to more than two hundred houses now. It’s very gratifying and something that would have meant a lot to my Dad.”

Luke plans to continue going back every year, as does his Mom. “There’s so much to be done. There will always be work to do in that country.”

It’s good to know it’s fine young fellows like Luke that will be doing it.

Since his departure from Tropical Palms, so many people have asked us about Jack we thought it might be a good idea to let his many friends know what he’s up to these days.

After leaving here, Jack spent a few months in Eustis, FL where he worked as a volunteer at the Cat Protection Society Shelter, lavishing feline residents with his special brand of attention.

Though he enjoyed it, he decided to move back to that place that’s always held his heart, his hometown of Nelsonville, OH. A small town founded more than two hundred years ago, it’s where Jack spent the first fifty-one years of his life, where he had graduated high school, and where he returned to teach and coach for twenty-eight years. He moved into a one hundred twenty year old house that overlooks the site of his many triumphs as a teacher and coach, the combined Nelsonville/York elementary, middle and high school campuses.

It was also the site of a dream he called “wild and impossible,” for a seventy-seven year old. But then Jack is not your likely seventy-seven year old.

“I wanted to coach again. I wanted to walk out on that football field where I had spent so many happy Friday nights under the lights.”

The team’s new head coach, David Boston Jr., who Jack had coached during his playing days, gave him the chance to realize his dream.

“I went to work with the coach’s staff. Of course, I had coached all of them during their high school careers so I fit in pretty easily. It was a perfect match.”

A good match for the team as well. They went nine and one Jack’s first year. “The staff and team were outstanding. We were invited to the state playoffs and even though we were eliminated, I’ve got to say that this was the finest, most respectful, talented group of young men I’ve ever coached.” Coming from Jack, that’s high praise indeed. The team has invited him to return for next season and he promises to be there.

For those of us that know and care for this fine gentleman, it comes as no surprise that during the off-season he volunteers a couple of days a week at a food pantry for the needy. “I’ve learned there are a lot of people who are, to put it bluntly, hungry. It’s a job that fits with what I believe – to be respectful of every individual regardless of status or circumstance.”

Another thing that’s come to mean a great deal to Jack is a small country church that sits on a hill near his home. He faithfully attends every Sunday.

Of course, he keeps in touch with the family he made at Tropical Palms. He talks with all new employees by phone, sharing his wisdom and experience, providing his perspective on how to treat guests. “The idea is that everyone that comes through the door at Tropical Palms is important and should be treated that way.” Which is, of course, Jack’s way.

He hears from the front desk team frequently, he has stayed close with General Manager Chris Wasilewski, and remained good friends with Luke Fraser, who keeps a bulletin board that posts the results of the Nelsonville/York football team so everyone can keep track of Jack.

As to returning to Florida, Tropical Palms and the job Jack describes as the most rewarding one he’s ever had – after football – well, he has no plans for the immediate future. But if he should come back to Florida, he says, he’ll be back at Tropical Palms “in a heartbeat.”

We certainly hope so.

“It all begins with some of the new lifestyle activities we’re going to be adding, while expanding some of the more popular things we’ve already got underway,” Chris explains.

“Lots of people are coming back and bringing fresh ideas for activities – interests of theirs – they want to introduce to their friends and fellow guests. We’re going to do all we can to facilitate that,” Chris says.

“Last year Petanque started to become popular here. This year we’re introducing a variation of the Bean Bag toss called the Corn Hole Toss.  We’ll have a contest every Monday on the Bocce Ball/Petanque course and the game is so much fun we’re sure it’s going to really take off just as Petanque has.

“We’ve also updated some perennial favorites like Bingo with a new software program that will project the numbers one of our favorite team members, Bill Eastman, calls onto our giant 72” big screen TV at the Veranda.

“Our Wednesday stained glass class with Nancy Nizzardini has become so popular we’ve expanded studio time. Of course, people can still make private appointments if they have special projects they want to do. It’s a great opportunity to express your creatively.

“We’re also doing more planned activities. Wednesday nights we’ll be taking advantage of our great location and doing organized strolls over to Old Town to see the Do Wops and listen to Golden Oldies, something everyone here loves. And we’ll be organizing local excursions and supplying transportation to both Port Richey for the Casino Sun Cruise and to Tampa for the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. After all, if you’re lucky enough to stay with us…” Chris chuckles.

“It seems everybody wants to get healthy and be in shape, so attendance at all of our different fitness programs is really high. One of the things we’re really excited about is a new series of videos we have for our indoor walkers. They’ll no longer have to stare at the walls in the Bamboo Room when they walk – not with these great new videos projected onto the 72” big screen TV guiding them through their workouts. And of course, we’ll still be doing Aquafit fitness classes at the pool every morning.

“And while we’re talking about the pool, we’ve got a new inflatable Hippo Slide for weekends and holidays. Kids, and adults with the hearts of kids, love it. And we’ve given the area around the heart of Tropical, our pool a bit of a facelift. It’s just one of a number of improvements we’re making to the physical plan we believe will improve everyone’s experience here,” Chris says.

There are many others. “We’ve got 13 new cottages; 5 for vacation cottage rentals and 8 for vacation cottage sales in the Sandcastle homeowners area of the resort. We’ve diversified the floor plans with one & two-bedroom vacation homes, converter floor plans that transform the living room into an extra bedroom. And even a handicapped friendly model.

“We’ve also spruced up the RV area, converting 25 spaces to full service cement pads. We’re happy to be welcoming two rallies in January: the Monaco and Jupiter Light groups and we’re sure they’ll appreciate them. The rallies always bring a lot of fun with them,” the GM says.

“”We’ve upgraded the electrical systems around the pool and the Gator Pond so you can see what’s about to bite you,” Chris says with a laugh. “Seriously, it will make picnicking there lots more fun – the systems are so good, people can now bring croc pots and televisions, plug them in, tailgate and watch the football playoffs.

“It’s quite a list, but the team has resolved to accomplish it all. And we’re all hoping you’ll make a resolution to spend more time with us and have more fun when you do,” says Chris. “Be sure to make that a New Year’s resolution you keep!”

So there was only one thing to do – and that’s do it again this year!

Mark your calendars – starting December 1st,  you’re all invited to donate toys for tots.  Guests are encouraged to bring unwrapped new toys to the front office and place under our tree. Tropical Palms will also be hosting an exclusive appreciation party for it’s sandcastle homeowners and long term guests. And like all Tropical Palms’ parties this one is going to be a blast. It kicks off at 6 in the Bamboo Room with, we hope, a contingent of Marines, a menu that features Cornish game hens cooked to holiday perfection, and music courtesy of D.J. Tricia, whose high energy spins are guaranteed to get you out on the floor shaking your groove thing. It’s free for Sandcastle owners and long-term guests, so we want to see all of you in attendance.

Last year the Tropical Palms team did an incredible job of decorating for the party. The tree was decked out with characters from Dr. Seuss and all the tables sported Seuss books that people had donated to add to the bounty of gifts. This year Janet Eastman, who helped to start this tradition three years ago when she first came to Tropical Palms, and her team are promising to outdo themselves to get everyone in the spirit. She’ll be in the kitchen, ably assisted by Maria Delia, Bill Eastman, Humberto Borund, and anyone else who cares to volunteer as a Santa’s helper.

Bartenders Lee Gelderman, a Sandcastle vacation cottage owner and Maintenance Manager Ed Wasilewski have volunteered and will be back pouring at our open bar. Last year, they did such a great job mixing cocktails and drawing beers the duo raised over $80.00 in tips they contributed to Toys for Tots. They promise to do so again this year – so feel free to reach down into your pockets to thank them. Having the Marines here holds special meaning for Lee and his wife Elaine. They have a son who is one of those few good men who serve in the Corps. Right now he’s stationed in Afghanistan. We wish him God’s speed and a safe return.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of the wonderful people from Toys for Tots who make this possible, so we spoke with Stephanie Dent, a member/volunteer coordinator for the Toys For Tots campaign for Osceola County.

For Stephanie, working with Toys For Tots is something of a family tradition. Her Mom, Peggy, volunteered when son, David, Stephanie’s brother and a former Marine now in the Reserves, had to leave to attend school in North Carolina. Peggy got Stephanie involved and now the 19-year old from St. Cloud is devoting all her considerable energy to the cause. She’s busy registering people to collect the toys – it was Stephanie we turned to help us find Marines to attend our party – and is working with Channel 9 to find a warehouse where all the toys can be kept and distributed from. She’s taken on quite a bit of responsibility but feels the cause is worth it.

We so greatly appreciate your efforts and the efforts of Stephanie and thousands like her because in these tough times the only bit of Christmas too many children will have will be the gift delivered by Toys for Tots.

Please join us on December 9^th.

Happily, the Eastman’s discovery of Tropical Palms coincided with Royalty Resorts taking over management of the property and their mission to make the Resort a place that provides owners, renters and RVers a truly unique experience. Little did Janet know at the time what an instrumental part she would play in that plan.

There was no getting around the fact that when Royalty took over, the property was in need of some loving care and attention. For years, its owners had been content to operate Tropical as a transient rental community. Not so for the new Royalty Resorts management. “A meeting was held of people who were planning to stay two months or more and we were asked what kinds of programs we’d like to see,” said Janet, the soon to be Activities Team member.

“Management was incredibly responsive. We soon started having tournament team bocce ball and horseshoes. We got the aqua swim program going. We organized other exercise groups, starting with a bunch of folks who did a once around the Resort walk everyday. We formed a group of foodies that goes out once a month for a lunch to sample area restaurants. And we began having special dinner shows and live entertainment at the pool. The response we got from residents and visitors alike was tremendous. The following year we returned with more ideas and everyone was really receptive and encouraging. We’ve started having hot dog roasts the first Tuesday of every month, potluck dinners on the third Tuesday and a campfire around Alligator Pond where we all toast marshmallows and s’mores on the fourth Tuesday. This year we’re hoping to add a storyteller to the campfire meeting. It’s all so people can get together and meet and form friendships. Bill and I have certainly made lots of new friends.”

Enough new friends that the Eastmans organized a cruise for March of this coming year. Twenty people signed up to tour the southern Caribbean, Grand Turks, Antigua, Carrasco, and Dominican Republic with them. Of course, it’s not all about the adults. “We also started doing a lot more activities for children: weekend crafts where the kids got the chance to make everything from Mr. Potato Heads to sock puppets and peanut butter and lady bug apples. We now have “dive-in” movies every Friday night. And fun stuff like a D.J. and alligator shows around the pool on weekends. One of the things that’s really a lot fun is helping the kids with their Halloween costumes and making scarecrows they hang on the fences around the Resort. We get into it as much as they do,” Janet says.

GM Chris Wasilewski and the team are always looking for new ideas and programs. They welcome anyone who has a talent or hobby they want to share. “We always try our best to accommodate them. The whole idea of Tropical is to keep people as engaged – or as relaxed – as they want to be. That’s the goal we’re always working towards.”

Richie & Lucy Bruno

For the Brunos Rich, Lucy and son, Christopher, racing hot rods is definitely a family affair. Chris, now 24, started drag racing at Wall Stadium in Wall Township, NJ when he was five years old. Yes – you read that correctly – five years old.

The family would attend circle track races at Wall and when they began building a children’s track, Chris asked his parents if he could give it a try. Eight weeks of classes and training later, a Junior Drag Racing legend was born.

He did so well driving a Mike Bos Jr. Dragster that the Mike Bos Company gave him a free car. He was sponsored for eight years by the McDonald’s where Mom, Lucy, worked. During his time as a Jr. Dragster he won the Jr. Dragster Racing Championship, the King of the Hill in his class, and the Diesel Nationals in his Dually. For the uninitiated, that’s a souped up pickup truck. But the biggest prize was a Wally Award Chris won with a teammate in the 8 to 17 year-old category of Junior Dragsters at the most famous racetrack in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500.

Then a couple of years ago Chris faced some medical issues and was sidelined for a while. But his love of driving and need for speed helped with his recovery and he’s back behind the wheel racing again, planning to add new trophies to his collection.

It was only 10-years ago dad, Rich, who works at the Brickwell Construction Co. in Forked River, NJ, decided to get into the fun his son was having. He purchased a Nostalgic Alcohol Funny Car – that’s a car that runs on alcohol – with a ’71 Ford Mustang body. Since then it’s been like son like father and Rich has developed a real passion for the sport. He’s reached speeds of 201 MPH, doing a ¼ mile in 7.17 seconds in his Funny Car. Not so funny, but certainly thrilling.

Rich has also purchased a ’56 Bel Air Chevy at Old Town, a family favorite when they’re here at Tropical. They’ve been coming to the Resort for more than a decade and this year purchased a Sandcastle vacation cottage.

But the really big news is Mom. This year, after ten years of sitting on the sidelines rooting for her fellows, Lucy decided that just wasn’t enough excitement. So with the inspiration of turning 50, Lucy has joined her guys and gotten into driving. She’s got herself a classic muscle car, the ’75 Camaro, has been practicing weekend and is planning to get on the track at Raceway Park this year. And she’s vowing to make the fellows eat her dust. Talk about the Fast and the Furious – you’re talking about the Brunos.

The Walkers

Vic Walker has always liked working on cars. Twenty years ago he decided to build his own hot rod from a 1934 Ford pickup. Built for comfort not speed, it was what first brought Vic and his wife, Janet, to Old Town. From there, it was only a hop, skip and a jump – or more accurately, a short walk – to discovering Tropical Palms, where the couple purchased a Sandcastle vacation cottage earlier this year.

Vic’s next car was a 1941 Willy’s pickup that the handy Mr. Walker built from a kit. The car has the authentic look of a Willy, but its drive train and suspension are new. Vic drives it frequently, taking it to car shows nearly every weekend between Memorial Day and the end of September.

When the Walkers come here this winter, Vic will be driving a rare 2004 Chevy SSR, a car General Motors only made for four years. The front looks like a ’53 Chevy pickup and Vic is hoping to meet some other SSR owners in the Tampa/Orlando area when the couple spends their winter here. He’ll be showing it off at the Old Town car parade on Friday nights, one of the big attractions behind the Walkers decision to buy at the Resort.

In addition to his own cars, Vic has helped one friend build an Austin-Martin from a kit and another restore a ’68 Camaro, one of the truly classic muscle cars and the same car, different year, that Lucy Bruno drives.

You might want to stop by and say hello to Vic – he’s a good friend to have.

“We went everywhere: France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland. But it was hard work and it took it toll. One night after a show with Carl Perkins I was sent to hospital. That’s when I decided to give up touring.”

But not the business. The Shouts got back together and managed by Don Arden, Sharon Osborne’s father and later Ozzie’s manager, formed a recording company and released the hit She Was My Baby.

“We were sponsored by Radio Caroline, a boat that broadcast rock n’ roll from offshore in England because the BBC was the only outlet for music back then and they didn’t play our kind of music. Everybody listened to Radio Caroline until the government managed to shut it down. They made a movie about it called Pirate Radio with Phillip Seymour Hoffman. When them gone, I decided it was time to move on.”

But you can never quite take the rocker out of rock n’ roll. Soon after arriving in Canada, Vic was asked to audition for Alice Cooper and got an offer to go back out on tour. He thought about it, but family won out and Vic hung up his sticks, settled in Ontario, met his wife Kimberly and worked as an engineer and then as a computer programmer before retiring about seven years ago.

Soon Vic was back on the road again, touring the states. However, this time it was with Kimberly and they toured in a motor home, not a bus. After six years on the road, the couple discovered Tropical Palms in 2010. They liked it so much they spent the winter here, decided to buy a Sandcastle vacation cottage and sold their RV on Craig’s list. This coming year they’re hoping to be at the Resort from October through April.

The couple likes hanging out at the pool, enjoying the entertainment – as opposed to being the entertainment – walking over to Old Town for the antique car shows, and going to the Universal and Disney. And now that they have the Sandcastle, they hope for visits from their 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

When Chuck Berry sang “Just give me that rock n’ roll music, any ole way you choose it, it got a back beat you can’t lose it” it might have been singing about the backbeat Vic pounded out on his drums. We sure know Vic hasn’t lost it.

Kokomo & Morgan Gelderman

“I’m almost nine and my brother Morgan is a year younger, though he acts like a pup. He’s always showing off, rolling onto his back and getting rubs from everyone. But we get along real well; we even share our bones. Life is good when you’ve got a bone to jaw on.

“Pop takes us for rides in his golf cart all the time. Every morning, we jump in the cart and wait for him to take us down to the Bark Park so we can run around and hang with our buds for a while.

“Then it’s over to the office where we get cookies and loving from Karen who works there. She’s a total pushover. Can’t resist us. Of course, when you’re retired show dogs and as good looking as we are, you get used to people making a fuss. And we love it when they do.

“Now, I wouldn’t want you to think it’s all fun and games for us. We have a serious side. Both Morgan and I are certified to visit nursing homes, hospices and hospitals. It makes the people we visit feel better and that’s what we’re all about – making people feel good.

“Morgan’s half-brother, River, lives at Tropical with the Biales, but I’ll let him tell you about himself and his kid brother Piper.”

River & Piper Biale

“We love it here,” River told us. “There’s so much to do, there’s hardly enough time in the day to do it all. We go out every morning with our Dad, Richard Biale, to get the paper and then it’s out to feed the ducks. Watching them is a real kick because they let us get up real close. I guess they know they’re going to get treats.

“The best part of the day for me and Piper is having Dad chauffer us around in the golf cart. We love going to the dog bath station and getting groomed afterwards. Mom used to be the President of the Garden State Golden Retriever Club and ran lots of shows, so she knows all about grooming. I think it’s because we look so good that everyone loves making a fuss over us. In fact Piper’s birth Mom, Smooch, was the number one Golden in the country.

“Piper on the other hand, was voted the worst behaved dog out of three thousand in the show. I don’t even want to tell you what he did, but there’s one judge who never, ever wants to see him again. Here, we can all go down to the Bark Park and run around and work off some of that energy playing together and chasing balls. Then we like to head over to the office because they keep a big bowl of biscuits and, like my buddy Kokomo said, Karen’s always ready to give us one.

“But the highlight of our time at Tropical is getting dressed up for the golf cart parades. What a blast! We’ve worn blinking lights at Halloween, Santa hats at Christmas and red, white and blue bandanas on the Fourth of July. And, of course, it’s a chance to ride in the golf cart, show off and make new friends, like that cute little Muttigree, Chloe.”

Chloe Fitzgerald

“Thanks for the compliment, River. Now I don’t want to disappoint you guys cause I like you all a lot, but Buster’s my boyfriend. He went home for the summer, but I’m just counting the days ’til he gets back. Until then, I guess I’ll just content myself with chasing you all over the Bark Park and showing you who’s boss. I might only weigh seventeen pounds but I got a big dog attitude.

“Just like all you fellas, I like riding in golf carts with my Mom, Sasha Fitzgerald. But I like walking around the resort more and I’m lucky because my Mom takes me for, like, six walks a day. We go over to the lake together and check out the gator. That’s the first thing I do everyday. And I like feeding the ducks; that’s always fun. Then, when Mom goes to work in the office, I like to visit ’cause so many people come in and pet me – I feel like I’m the official mascot of Tropical Palms. In fact, I’m thinking of asking for the job.

“What I really like best about Tropical Palms is that it gives me a safe, comfortable lifestyle, with lots of love from everybody here. Isn’t it great how many people stop everyday to give us some love, whether it’s petting, or biscuits or a belly rub? That’s what makes Tropical such a special place for all of us.”

When Chloe said that, there was lots of yelping and tail wagging in agreement.

Bite into some of the best fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetables that will ever tickle your taste buds at the Kissimmee Main Street Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 7AM till 1PM. While you’re there, take a stroll through time and explore historic downtown Kissimmee. August 11^th the Market hosts a Special Kid’s Day. Learn more at www.localharvest.org