STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL:

Come with us to The STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL at Plant City, FL on Wed. March 7, 2012

Bus Leaves VHL 8:30 AM, Return approx. 8:00 PM

$39.00 (Includes Admission & Driver's Tip)

Show: Lee Greenwood & Louise Mandrell 3:30 PM

3,000 Free Seats Available - Reserved Seats: $15 & $20

Tickets available at Wed. morning Coffee

Thank you. Barbara

VHL TEA, HATS & FASHIONS

By: Barbara Balascio

               Get your hats ready Gals - We are having a TEA & FASHION SHOW! The date is Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26th starting at 1:30 PM. Tickets will be available from 8:30 to 10:00 on Wednesdays before Coffee starting Feb. 8th until sold out. There will only be 80 seats so buy early and make sure you have a spot. Cost will be $8.00 each and all food is being homemade by the Committee of Barbara Balascio, Dee Cook, and Judy Corns.

               Seating will be 4 to a table but you do not have to have a full table to buy tickets. Fashions will be by Boutique on Wheels. This is a one stop clothing store being brought to VHL. All clothes will be for sale that day and the models will be your friends in the Village.

               We are asking that you decorate and wear a hat in some fashion - it can be a hat, cap, beach hat or whatever. Judges will be looking for the funniest and the most elegant.

Don't miss a great afternoon of fun and fellowship.

Recreation Committee

By Beverly Wallace

               Hi to all. You may have noticed some changes going on with the calendar so let me explain as best as I can. We had a complaint addressed to the board of directors that our village was becoming like a casino and that they felt we were not running our penny anti games the way we should. Well once it is brought to a board members attention and questions are asked, then the board has to investigate how we are doing things and to make sure we run those games according to the Florida Statutes. If we do not follow the statutes and are knowingly breaking the rules, and we are inspected then we would be subject to fines and or arrested. That is the person in charge could be arrested, not everyone participating.

               It is very unlikely that we would come under inspection but to be on the sage side we needed to do the right thing by making the changes we have made. The Florida statute for running penny anti games says we cannot advertise in any manner or post those games. However we have checked with our attorney and we can make a calendar of room reservations which I will be posting on our bulletin board. Now let me address the 50/50 and gift card scenario. We cannot have a raffle of that nature because we are a "Not for Profit" organization.  The "Non Profit" organizations can do the gambling because their profits go to charitable organizations. Please bear with us as we work out the kinks in some of the things we were doing and don't be afraid to give us ideas for fund raisers as two heads are always better than one.

               Thanks to all those volunteers that have been helping with the bocce courts and horseshoe pits. Everyone here makes this place an enjoyable place to live and together we can accomplish many things. Thank you again for your support of all our committees and jobs that are getting done. You Rock! I am happy to call all of you a friend!

Restaurant Raters                      

By Susan Morrow:

Dick and I like to eat out and we like to visit old favorite restaurants as well try some new ones.  So we have decided to appoint ourselves the “Restaurant Raters”!!  The purpose of our little articles will be to share our experiences in local restaurants and give you enough information for you to try them, too, if you wish.

Lake View Restaurant, 5606 S McCall Road, 697-9200, was the location for 18 folks from VHL to eat and listen to Judy and Tommy play and sing country music.  They perform each Thursday from 6:30-9:30.  It is really easy for Dick and me to tell you about the food because almost everyone in the group tried something different....except the people who ordered the chicken tenders from the appetizer menu for $5.00.   The tenders were delicious and served with a dipping sauce.  One person ordered the sirloin steak dinner ($8.95) which is served with a salad or soup, roll, vegetable, and potato or rice.  He loved his meal.  Someone had chicken stir fry, another had beef soup, and two people had steak subs.  Everyone was pleased with the quantity of food for the price.  Nancy was our waitress and she did an excellent job waiting on our big table of 14. The other 4 people ate at a separate table and they all raved about the onion soup.  Dick had the special which was chicken with ham and tomatoes served with a cheese sauce over it with a side of beans and mashed potatoes.  Everyone had a wonderful time and enjoyed the music and the meals.  Lake View is open daily from 12:00pm until 9:00pm.  There is plenty of parking.  We suggest you try it sometime.

               Do you want to go out for dinner?  Give us a call and we will try to go with you….local number 830-8678 or try my cell or email me.  We like to meet new people and try new restaurants.

Dick and Susie Morrow, 616-916-3634 or smorrow43@yahoo.com