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Author To Discuss Art, Aging

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune Correspondent

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 11/29/2007 08:47 pm

RUSKIN - Amy Gorman, author of "Aging Artfully: 12 Profiles of Visual and Performing Women Artists 85-105," will speak at the SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

During her talk she will show clips of filmmaker Greg Young's movie "Still Kicking," based on her book.

"Aging Artfully" contains Gorman's photographs and interviews of 12 San Francisco Bay area women between ages 85 and 105 who continue to sing, play instruments, dance or create visual art.

"As I say in the book," Gorman said in a recent e-mail interview, "I woke up one morning and age was on my mind. I was 62 at the time (67 now) and frankly, was stuck in my sculpture. It's a hobby for me. I decided I wanted to speak with older women artists to see if they could help me get past my stuck places. After all, they must have been through similar difficult times in their art. I was really looking for role models, I suppose. So I sought them out.

"I'm a retired social worker, worked for many years with the elderly, mostly the sick and those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I wanted to meet older people who were not sick, but who were living life in their 80s, 90s and 100s with zest ... We can have many decades to live, if we're lucky, past retirement, and I believe we can make them meaningful if we put a little effort into them.

"The women I found to interview were different in their backgrounds, art forms, ethnicities, lifestyles and interests. But they all had a positive outlook on life, looked forward to every minute, indeed, lived in the moment.

"They all had stories about their lives to tell, but did not dwell on their stories alone; they had too much to do each day! They had busy schedules and had to have time to do their art, music or dance, whichever they were involved in.

"Most of them did exercise regularly, or did until recently, and many had survived serious illnesses. Two of them still drive at 95 and 99.

"They all had some spiritual belief at some point in their lives, not necessarily now, but only two went to an organized religious service with regularity. As a group they were more involved with community activities; several still wrote letters regularly to express their social and/or political concerns.

"The key seems to be to find something you love to do and do it, daily. All of them had activities they loved doing, and there is often not enough time in the day to do it all.

"The women I met are amazing; they are resilient; they meet an obstacle and overcome it. They move on, and always with a smile."

Then she inserted a disclaimer: "These profiles, of course, are just anecdotal. ... My book is not based on research but on interviews and stories."

The presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the SouthShore Regional Library. Information about this and other free library programs is available by calling (813) 273-3652 or visiting www.hcplc .org.

Chorus To Honor 'A Baroque Holiday'

SUN CITY CENTER - The 30th annual holiday concert of the Kings Point Chorus will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Borini Theater (previously called the Kings Point Theater), 1900 Clubhouse Drive.

"The theme this year is 'A Very Baroque Holiday,'" said spokeswoman Dora Murray. "Listen carefully to the opening song, 'So Baroque at Christmas,' as it becomes humorous."

Included in the program are "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Nuttin' for Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "This Peaceful Night" and "Still, Still, Still."

Tickets are $5 per person and may be purchased at the Kings Point Box Office.

For information about box office hours and accessibility, call (813) 634-9229. For information about this concert or the Kings Point Chorus, call Rose Ostrander, (813) 633-1753.

The group practices from 1:45 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays in the East West Social rooms. New members are welcome to join rehearsals beginning Jan. 7 in preparation for the spring concert.

Luncheon To Feature Fashion, Speaker

SUN CITY CENTER - The Sun City Center/East Bay Christian Women's Club will meet at 11 a.m. Dec. 13 at Club Renaissance, 2121 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.

The club will present faux fashions by Rose Colucci, and inspirational speaker Dorothy Morse will tell how a sense of unworthiness and despair motivated her to look for a rescuer.

The deadline for reservations or cancellations is Dec. 10. The price is $17 per person. Call Linda Corbin, (813) 633-8415, or Tara Flood, (813) 383-7540, or e-mail godluvsme40@gmail.com for information or reservations.

Veterans, Pirates Share Beads, Grog
RUSKIN - At the Veterans Day parade in Ruskin, veterans James Merrigan, Billie Fox and John Dean stormed aboard the red, white and blue float of Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate.

Beads and grog were granted the three by the pirates' leader, Adm. Terry Huber.

Fox served in Korea with the 2nd Marine Division, Dean on a Navy tanker between the Korean and Vietnam wars and landlubber Merrigan with the 280th Combat Engineers in World War II.

Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate is a not-for-profit organization that helps amputees of all ages and their families, as well as groups and organizations such as the Shriners Hospitals for Children who work with amputees.

Details are available at the pirates' Web site, www.peg legpirate.org.

Detachment Celebrates Marine Corps' Birthday

RIVERVIEW - More than 60 guests and members of Riverview Detachment 1226 of the Marine Corps League celebrated the 232nd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps Nov. 6.

Notable attendees were District 7 Vice Commandant William Cona and department services officer Bob Cannon. Col. Scott Aiken from the Marine Corps Special Command at MacDill Air Force Base was the guest speaker.

On Nov. 13 a Calvary Lutheran Church trailer of Thanksgiving food disappeared. Detachment 1226 donated $250 to the church to help replace the food "and to ensure that those who are less fortunate do not do without on this Thanksgiving holiday," said Jack Skelding, senior vice commandant.

Piano Quartet To Perform Tribute

SUN CITY CENTER - The 15-year-old Kings Point Piano Quartet will present a tribute to Bud Marnach at a free Christmas concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 16 in the Banquet Room of the Kings Point Main Clubhouse, 1900 Clubhouse Drive.

"Bud Marnach was a beloved vocalist in Kings Point for many years," said Shirley Bengston, spokeswoman for the quartet.

He was a soloist with the quartet and their master of ceremonies.

"Bud ... died in Minnesota in October, so we are honoring him at this Christmas concert," Bengston said.

Four pianists with individual scores will play simultaneously on two pianos. Each of the six piano women from Kings Point - Bengston, Daphne Allen, Elizabeth Head, Marie Kotila, Jeannette Kyllonen and Audrey Vogel - will play this music for two pianos, eight hands, that "will bring fun and the joy of Christmas to the audience," Bengston said.

Guest Don Allen will sing; Eleanor Crossley will be the mistress of ceremonies and sing "O Holy Night." The audience will be invited to join a sing-a-long, led by Crossley.

Singers, Band To Lead Adventure In Music

SUN CITY CENTER - The German-American Singers and South Shore Concert Band will perform a holiday concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 8 at Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd.

Singers' director Pat Raimondo, accompanied by Thelma Roggenkemper, will lead the group in An Adventure in Music - including traditional German carols (in English and German) and Beethoven's "Die Ehre Gottes aus der Natur."

Director Ed Nawrock and the band will perform instrumental versions of "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and Alfred Reed's "Russian Christmas Music," among others.

Tickets are $5 per person and are available from any band or chorus member and at the Atrium Ticket kiosk Monday through Friday mornings. Call Margot Gunther, (813) 633-0446, for information.

Snippets

Toys for Tots may be dropped off at Colonial Bank, 1647 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center, before Friday. "I ... ask my Rotarian membership to please support the children ... Working together we can all make a difference to so many families who have less than us this Christmas," Linda Yepez said.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay.rr .com or call (813) 657-4531.

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