One Senior Place Collects Toys, Serves up Good Time

(VIERA, FL)  November 26, 2018 –  Not every Brevard child will wake up Christmas morning to a pile of gifts under the tree. For the thousands of Brevard parents who struggle to cover the essentials, Christmas presents for their kids are simply out of reach.  One Senior Place in Viera will be helping needy families cope, when they host a Holiday Toy Gala to benefit one of Brevard’s biggest toy drives on Friday, December 7 at 6:00 PM at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road.  Admission to the smart casual event is free, with a new, unwrapped toy or gift for children or teens. Walmart gift cards are particularly welcome. The large toy drive by His Place Ministries is now in its 16th year and will provide toys and gifts for more than 3000 Brevard children, many of them considered homeless.  Collected toys are staged in a room where parents can “shop” on December 20 for free gifts according to the gender and age of their children.  Approximately 800 families benefited from the toy drive last year, for children aged from toddlers through 17.  Gifts for teen girls are often underrepresented and therefore especially needed. The Holiday Toy Gala and “fun-raiser” is sponsored by A Mother’s Touch Movers and will serve up heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, wine and beer at the Viera marketplace for senior resources, with smooth jazz provided by saxophonist, Fred Cavese.  Attendees can purchase raffle tickets for various prizes and make additional donations for gift cards if desired.  To RSVP for the Holiday Toy Gala, call (321) 751-6771.  For more information about One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, visit www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

CEO and founder of One Senior Place, Don Kramer explains why the Holiday Toy Gala is an important event.

“Every parent wants to be able to give their kids a happy Christmas, but many just cannot,” said Kramer. “In addition to the struggles caused by the economy, many families are also dealing with financial burdens caused by the death of a wage earner or because of medical expenses due to illness.  That’s where the toy drive and donations come in. It’s all about helping kids experience the joy of Christmas, regardless of their family’s income.”

For information on the dozens of events presented annually by One Senior Place, call 321-751-6771.  One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families.  To learn more about One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging visit www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

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Photo  –  Now in its 16th year, the toy drive by His Place Ministries of Melbourne will collect toys for approximately 3,000 Brevard children. On December 20, parents in need can “shop” the free assortment of gifts for their families. One Senior Place will host a Holiday Toy Gala on December 7 to collect toys and raise funds for gift card purchases.  Admission to the free event is one unwrapped toy. RSVP to 321-751-6771. photo courtesy john bertran

Event Poster

About One Senior Place– Now in its 13th year, One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, is a marketplace of resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their family caregivers in Central and East Central Florida.  Completely unique, One Senior Place at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road in Viera is a one-stop information hub and mini-mall “revolutionizing the way America shops for elder care and services.”  One Senior Place is home to a wide variety of senior-focused businesses, a resource library and is the site of educational seminars and presentations for seniors.  In 2008, One Senior Place was named Florida’s Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  In Brevard, they were honored as  Business of the Year by the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce.  A second location, One Senior Place Orlando, opened in Altamonte Springs in December of 2011.  More information about One Senior Place and One Senior Place Orlando can be found on the company website at www.OneSeniorPlace.com or by calling 321-751-6771.

The Seniors Intervention Group is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life for Seminole County seniors. While non-perishable food pantries are filling up over the holiday season, many seniors also struggle to feed their beloved pets. Please help us feed these pets by donating wet or dry cat and dog food this holiday season. Donations will be collected at One Senior Place Greater Orlando located at 715 Douglas Avenue in Altamonte Springs, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Seniors Intervention Group is also collecting non-perishable food items such as cereal, canned soup, canned vegetables, boxed meals (mac and cheese/noodles), instant mashed potatoes, rice, canned tuna/chicken, spaghetti, fruit cups, peanut butter, jelly, microwave popcorn, and Ensure/Boost. Personal hygiene items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, combs/brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, Depends, Q-tips, denture cleaner, as well as cleaning products like  laundry detergent and dish detergent are also appreciated.

For more information about accepted items, please contact Seniors Intervention Group directly at 407-790-1948.

Author Donna Puglisi at One Senior Place November 8

(VIERA, FL)  October 29, 2018 –  With pinkies held high, attendees to the public meeting of the Legacy Book Club can enjoy Tea & Sweets on Thursday, November 8 at 1:00 PM at One Senior Place in Viera.  One Senior Place, the Experts in Aging, will host the Tea & Sweets event, featuring author/poet Donna Puglisi and members of the Cape Canaveral Pen Women, from the Florida State Association of the National League of American Pen Women.  Ms. Puglisi will discuss her books, “Diamonds in the Rough” and “Roses and Onions, One Layer at a time” at the Viera marketplace for senior resources at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road.

Tea for the free Tea & Sweets event will be provided by Senior Partner Care Services, while Ms. Puglisi will provide cake for attendees. For more information, call (321) 751-6771 or visit the website of One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, at www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

Event organizer Barbara Fradkin of One Senior Place explains more about the unique event.

“This will be a fun afternoon of discovery for all involved,” said Fradkin.  “As Donna says in her book, ‘May your layers be roses, some onions. But always look to your core; once the layers are peeled away- this is who you truly are!’”

For information on the dozens of events presented annually by One Senior Place, call 321-751-6771.  One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families.  To learn more about One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging visit www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

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Photo (above) –  Shown here with her illustrator, Will Lilienthal, author and poet Donna Puglisi will be the featured speaker during Tea & Sweets, a meeting of the Legacy Book Club at One Senior Place on November 8 in Viera.  For more information, call 321-751-6771. photo courtesy donna puglisi

ABOUT DONNA PUGLISI — Donna Puglisi has been writing poetry since she was 12 years old and continues to draw on her life’s experiences in her writing. She grew up in Wisconsin with her parents and two sisters. Her mother was a poet, author, musician and composer. It was through her that Donna developed a love of poetry and the arts. Donna is also a dancer and choreographer.  The “Dance of Words” is in many ways a canvas for her writings. Humor, love, nature, tributes to veterans, firefighters and law enforcement make her work unique, touching everyone who reads her poetry. Honesty and passion shines through in her books, “Diamonds in the Rough” and “Roses and Onions, One Layer at a time.” The release of “The Power of Passion, Dancing Barefoot” is anticipated for 2019.

About the Legacy Club – The Legacy Club is a free program for Brevard residents 55 and older. Legacy Club members receive free (65 and older) to reduced (55 to 64) admission, on a space available basis, to Brevard Public Schools events (excluding FHSAA playoff games) as well as musical and theater performances. In addition, all members will have access to special events throughout Brevard County. For a membership application or more information, contact Sara Almond, Engagement & Programs Coordinator for Brevard Public Schools, at 321-633-1000 ext 644 or via email at Almond.Sara@brevardschools.org.

About One Senior Place– Now in its 13th year, One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, is a marketplace of resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their family caregivers in Central and East Central Florida.  Completely unique, One Senior Place at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road in Viera is a one-stop information hub and mini-mall “revolutionizing the way America shops for elder care and services.”  One Senior Place is home to a wide variety of senior-focused businesses, a resource library and is the site of educational seminars and presentations for seniors.  In 2008, One Senior Place was named Florida’s Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  In Brevard, they were honored as  Business of the Year by the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce.  A second location, One Senior Place Orlando, opened in Altamonte Springs in December of 2011.  More information about One Senior Place and One Senior Place Orlando can be found on the company website at www.OneSeniorPlace.com or by calling 321-751-6771.

Guided craft event at One Senior Place November 12

(VIERA, FL)  October 29, 2018 –  Up to 30 lucky participants can create a beautiful holiday decoration that will last for years to come, during the free Make a Wreath event on Monday, November 12 at 10:00 AM at One Senior Place in Viera.  One Senior Place, the Experts in Aging, will host Make a Wreath as the first in a series of four craft education events with the Cape Canaveral Pen Women at the Viera marketplace for senior resources at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road. Each attendee will receive supplies provided by Whittaker Cooper Financial Group and will be guided through the construction of a white ribbon wreath with gold embellishments by the president of Cape Canaveral Pen Women, Marion Coste. Refreshments for the free Make a Wreath event will be provided by Senior Partner In-Home Care. An RSVP is required to reserve space and supplies.  Call (321) 751-6771 or visit the website of One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, at www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

Event organizer Barbara Fradkin of One Senior Place explains more about the craft education series.

“People love learning how to create items that are beautiful or useful or both,” said Fradkin.  “The Cape Canaveral Pen Women are lending their talent to teach wreath-making as well as future craft education events here at One Senior Place.”

For information on the dozens of events presented annually by One Senior Place, call 321-751-6771.  One Senior Place is a marketplace for resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their families.  To learn more about One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging visit www.OneSeniorPlace.com.

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Photo –  Each attendee to the guided Make a Wreath event will create their own white and gold ribbon wreath with supplies donated by Whittaker Cooper Financial Group at One Senior Place on November 12 in Viera.  Space is limited.  Call 321-751-6771 to RSVP. photo courtesy marion coste

About the Cape Canaveral Pen Women –The National League of American P​en Women (NLAPW) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that links professional women in the arts and promotes the development of their creative talents. Founded in 1897, the League has 81 branches in 35 states. Its members are women who produce creative works in Arts, Letters, or Music. The Cape Canaveral Branch was founded in 1969 by Dr. Elaine Murray Stone. All NLAPW branches in Florida are part of the Florida State Association. The Cape Canaveral Pen Women participates in outreach programs that promote arts in their communities and awards an annual scholarship to a young woman who demonstrates potential in art, letters, or music.

The Mission of the League is to encourage, recognize, and promote the production of creative work of professional standard in Art, Letters, and Music, and through outreach activities provide educational, creative, and professional support to members and non-members in these disciplines. The core values of the NLAPW are respect, knowledge, creation and preservation of the arts.  Membership is open to women who are published authors, composers of original music, artists whose works have been in at least three juried shows, and allied professionals. For more information, visit http://canaveralpenwomen.org/.

About One Senior Place– Now in its 13th year, One Senior Place, The Experts in Aging, is a marketplace of resources and provider of information, advice, care and on-site services for seniors and their family caregivers in Central and East Central Florida.  Completely unique, One Senior Place at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road in Viera is a one-stop information hub and mini-mall “revolutionizing the way America shops for elder care and services.”  One Senior Place is home to a wide variety of senior-focused businesses, a resource library and is the site of educational seminars and presentations for seniors.  In 2008, One Senior Place was named Florida’s Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  In Brevard, they were honored as  Business of the Year by the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce.  A second location, One Senior Place Orlando, opened in Altamonte Springs in December of 2011.  More information about One Senior Place and One Senior Place Orlando can be found on the company website at www.OneSeniorPlace.com or by calling 321-751-6771.

Viera Neighborhood of Military Veterans Raises Funds, Awareness for Breast Cancer

(VIERA, FL) October 15, 2018 –  Dedication, belief in a cause and plenty of hard work have resulted in a record fundraising total estimated in excess of $7,000 for breast cancer research raised from the retired residents of Indian River Colony Club in Viera, the patriotic community with a culture of giving. The neighborhood of military veterans supported the organizing and fundraising efforts of staff member Maureen Reeder, who has championed the cause for the past eight years. A bake sale, golf tournament and luncheon, silent auction, raffles and tee shirt sales through Rockledge Professional Firefighters have all contributed to the record-setting effort, which will culminate in a walk by the Busty Bunch team during the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on October 27 at the Avenue Viera. Currently in the #2 position out of 179 registered teams, the IRCC Busty Bunch is still accepting donations and walking registrations through their team page at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/bustybunch.  Interested participants can also call 321-255-6026.  The annual nationwide walk events raise money to fund innovative research, provide free information and support, and to help people reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it’s most treatable.

Indian River Colony Club staffer and organizer of the Busty Bunch walking team and its related fundraising events, Maureen Reeder explains what the walk means to her personally.

“I walk not only for the thousands who are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, but in memory of my mom, my sister Eileen Doyle, my cousin, Linda Shehan, two lifelong friends, Sandy Lawson and Judy Larson– all lost to breast cancer,” said Ms. Reeder. “And for the survivors, so that they continue to be cancer free, including my sister, Karen Kleber and cousin, Susanne Sochlaski. I could not do this year after year without the contributions and help from volunteers at Indian River Colony Club.”

Kathi Skaar is the 2018 Chairperson for Indian River Colony Club’s Golf for a Cure tournament.

“IRCC is a very giving community and this event is another example.  We have 10 breast cancer survivors in our Women’s Golf Association and many more in Indian River Colony Club.  Raising money through fun events and holding a golf tournament is one way of honoring their courage and spirit while helping others here in Brevard County and beyond.”

Today, one out of every two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer reaches out to the American Cancer Society for help and support. The donations raised by the Busty Bunch and the other 179 teams registered for the Viera event will enable investment in groundbreaking breast cancer research, free information and services for women diagnosed with the disease, and access to mammograms for women who need them. Donations will help more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors celebrate another birthday this year.

Viera’s very first neighborhood, Indian River Colony Club is known as “The Place Patriots Call Home.”  A haven for military retirees, the par-72 private golf course community has a patriotic culture and country club amenities for active adults aged 55 and over. For more information about Indian River Colony Club, call 321-255-6000, visit their website at www.IndianRiverColonyClub.com or like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/colonyclubinviera/.

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PHOTO (photo courtesy of ircc):  The Women’s Golf Association at Indian River Colony Club held a tournament to fundraise for the Busty Bunch walking team, which will take part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event at the Avenue Viera on October 27. To join the walking team or make a donation to the Busty Bunch, call 321-255-6026. 

PHOTO  (photo courtesy of ircc):  Maureen Reeder and members of the Rockledge Professional Firefighters fundraise for the Busty Bunch walking team in advance of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event at the Avenue Viera on October 27. To join the walking team or make a donation to the Busty Bunch, call 321-255-6026. 

About Indian River Colony Club –  Viera’s very first neighborhood, Indian River Colony Club was originally conceived as a retirement destination for military retirees. IRCC began to take shape in 1986, its vision to create a private country club-like environment for members.  Membership has now expanded to include non-military personnel who want the energetic, patriotic lifestyle cultivated by three decades of members. Still predominantly a haven for military veterans, IRCC maintains a culture centered on service to others. IRCC is a gated golf course community of nearly 800 homes on 453 acres in Viera, owned entirely by its membership. “The Place Patriots Call Home” enjoys 24-hour gated security, a generous maintenance package and a full complement of newly renovated and 100% debt-free country club amenities for active adults aged 55 and over, including an 18-hole, par-72 private golf course.  The patriotic neighborhood was named one of the 2018 Top 20 Golf Communities in North America by Golf Course Home Network. For more information about Indian River Colony Club, call 321-255-6000 or visit their website at www.IndianRiverColonyClub.com.

Suntree United Methodist Church celebrates restored 1920′s era organ with grand concert, video tour

(SUNTREE, FL) October 8, 2018 – An idea hatched in a mini-storage is set to become a full fledged community treasure.  A 1924 Hook & Hastings pipe organ once in thousands of parts, has been given new life and is ready for its official debut during Music for All Reasons, a grand concert and video tour of the restoration on Sunday, October 21 at 3:00 PM at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne. The concert playlist for the instrument of monumental power and grandeur is impressive: Organist Tom Taylor will perform timeless organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Charles Ives, together with transcriptions from the operas of Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Giacomo Puccini. Additionally, Taylor will engage the audience with a “name that tune” game of famous movie themes and composers. Salvaged at no cost from a private owner in Stuart, Florida, the pipe organ parts were reassembled and married to a fully functional Rodgers digital organ to create a unique hybrid instrument that allows the player to choose between the pipes or the digital circuitry for sound production. The Pipe Organ Project Suntree (P.O.P.S.) took 24 months from the initial concept to completion, raising $130,000 along the way from church and community members for the official design, assembly prep, building modifications and installation of the organ. The Music for All Reasons dedication concert and restoration video tour is presented free of charge.  For more information about the concert, call 321-242-2585.

Since the 1960′s, Tom Taylor has been presented in concerts and accompanied silent films.  He has performed on the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Century II Civic Center of Wichita Kansas, as well as in the Miller Theatre in Wichita, along with locations in Missouri, California, and now Florida. In recent years, he has gained kudos for his development of the Suntree Silent Cinema series, which screens silent film classics to his historically accurate organ accompaniment.  Not surprisingly, the history of the pipe organ holds a personal appeal for Mr. Taylor.

“The rescued 1924 Hook & Hastings pipe organ is registered with the national Organ Historical Society,” said Taylor.  “It was already in service when Lindbergh first crossed the Atlantic, when the Korean conflict ended and when man first walked on the moon.  It has its own unique history and now forms the core of a brand new instrument. I feel genuinely privileged to have been part of the project that brought this magnificent organ back to life.”

Tom Taylor has been the principal organist at Suntree United Methodist Church, for over 11 years.  A member of the American Guild of Organists and Wichita Theatre Organ, Inc., Taylor is reminded of the special joy he can now bring to many during services and concerts alike.

“The congregation of Suntree United Methodist Church always wanted a pipe organ,” said Taylor.  “And through the generosity and hard work of many, we have finally realized our dream;” adding, “There is nothing that can really describe the glorious physicality of the pipe organ. It’s the ultimate surround sound experience.”

Tom Taylor stands among the pipes of the newly restored 1924 Hook & Hastings pipe organ at Suntree United Methodist Church in Melbourne.  The public is invited to the pipe organ dedication concert, Music for All Reasons.  Call 321-242-2585 for more information. PHOTO BY BUZZ BIZ PUBLIC RELATIONS

concert works:

Bach – Sinfonia in D Major from Cantata no. 29, Toccata and Fugue in D minor;

Bernstein – “Make Our Garden Grow” from the opera Candide

Gershwin – “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” from Porgy and Bess

Ives – “Variations on America”

Mendelssohn – “Rondo and Capricioso”

Puccini – “Un Bel Di” from the opera Madama Butterfly

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ABOUT TOM TAYLOR –Tom Taylor received his Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance in 1971 from Friends University, Wichita, Kansas. As a professional organist, director and accompanist, he has served Protestant and Catholic churches in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Florida for over 45 years.  He has directed and accompanied choirs, soloists and ensembles with members of all ages.  He has amassed over 90 productions in amateur and professional Musical Theatre as pianist and vocal director, bandleader, orchestra conductor or arranger/composer. His composing credits include: “The Golden Stairs – a New Musical” – a remembrance of the changing high school scene in the early 1960’s. Book and Lyrics by John Laubahn. “Inspiration,” was released in 2008, a recording of selected organ works and improvisations. Taylor’s concert appearances include organ, choral and instrumental concerts, including the March 2013 Mozart “Requiem” with the Central Florida Winds directed by Rick Sabino.  He has also performed with retired U.S. Army Bandmaster Hal Gibson’s wind ensemble, the Melbourne Municipal Band and the Space Coast Symphony under the direction of Artistic Director, Aaron Collins. Mr. Taylor has been a producer/bandleader of benefit shows for Hospice of Olathe, Kansas as well as Resurrection Ranch and The Haven for Children in Brevard, Florida.  Tom Taylor is a member of the Space Coast chapter, American Guild of Organists, where he was a  Dean, as well as a past member of the American Federation of Musicians in Kansas City, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois.

ABOUT SUNTREE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH –Suntree United Methodist Church is a place where all are welcome and encouraged to investigate spiritual matters, in the hope of experiencing God’s grace and the discovery of joy that comes from a vital relationship with Jesus Christ. The church provides two different styles of worship each Sunday morning. The Traditional service at 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM includes a full choir and hymns. The Gathering at 9:30 AM is a worship experience that promotes a “come as you are” casual atmosphere with refreshments and an extended greeting time. The church is located at 7400 N. Wickham Road in Suntree.  For more information about Suntree United Methodist Church, call 321-242-2585 or visit. www.SuntreeUnitedMethodist.org

AARP Explanation 2018 FL Constitutional Amendments

The Orlando Office of the Senior Community Service Employment Program has a several slots available for adults age 55+ who are looking to re-enter the job market. 

Adults age 55+ who meet federal program guidelines are then matched with local nonprofits and government agencies so they can increase skills and build self-confidence, while earning a modest salary. This is a “job training” program and is a path toward permanent employment in the community.  Click here to see the AARP website for more details.

Federal guidelines include – but are not limited to:

• Income 125% of Federal Poverty Level
• Age 55+

CALL the Orlando Office for more information – 407-852-1608 …. One Senior Place does not have any additional information on this program.

Thank you for sharing in the community and helping adults age 55+ know there are slots available in this program.