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PARADISE FRIENDS Dan Kain, 248-210-0350, dkain01@gmail.com, paradisefriends.peapps.com

Happy Holidays to you – whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule or even
Festivus. Here in PG we’ll celebrate almost anything, right? The nights may be longer, but that
doesn’t stop us. We just start earlier. Seriously, as 2017 draws to an end, we have a lot to be
grateful for and many new memories. Let’s get together and close out the year in style.

Join us for these events in December…

PGI Lighted Holiday Boat Parade – On December 23, join us and see what makes a Punta Gorda Christmas so special.
Watch for emails with more details.

New Year's Eve - Magical Memories New Year's Eve Party. Put on your dancing shoes to ring in the New Year at the
Sunday Funday Magical Memories Gala. The event will be held at the Civic Association from 6 to 10 p.m. Entertainment
by DJ David Royal and a delicious dinner catered by Carmelo’s Italian Ristorante. Savor appetizers and a buffet with
lasagna, chicken piccata, meatless shell pasta, salad, rolls and a scrumptious dessert. It’s BYOB, but champagne will be
provided for the 9:30 p.m. toast. The cost is $30 members, $40 non-members. Please contact Abrielle Tayler-Levine
804-310-5406 or Jacqui Engle 973-657-0348 with questions or to volunteer for set up or clean up. Look for an email to
sign up on the Paradise Friends website. Send your check to PGICA, 2001 Shreve St, Punta Gorda 33950, payable to
Paradise Friends. We're looking forward to ringing in another new year – 2018.

Friends to Go – Those of you on Facebook should keep an eye out for pop-up events posted to the Paradise Friends
group. These are impromptu events organized by whoever posts the suggestion. If there’s something you want to do but
don’t want to wait until it becomes a Choice event, or you just want a little company, then post it to the Facebook group
and see who else wants to join you. It could be as simple as shopping, touring an orchid nursery, a lunch or maybe a
movie.

Tables of 8 – The best way to get to know people is in a small group. Here’s the perfect opportunity. However, just
because it's called Tables of 8 doesn’t mean it must always be 8. If a host only wants 6 in the group, or wants more than
8, that's up to them to decide. The hosting assignments will rotate; you should expect to be a host approximately every
fourth month you participate. If you don’t want to host in your home, just make a reservation at a restaurant of your
choice - how easy is that? If hosting in your own home, you pick the menu and each guest will bring a dish to share.
Either way, this is a great way to get together with longtime friends and meet new ones. The next gatherings will be held
on December 7 and are already set, but if you want to get on the list for January 4, sign up on our website by December
20. For more info contact Nancy Gamblin at nkgamblin@aol.com.

Ladies Lunch Bunch – Ladies, join us for lunch on Thursday, December 14. Look for emails with details and sign up on
the Paradise Friends website calendar.

Chow Hounds Men’s Lunch Bunch – Also at noon on Thursday, December 14, the
men will be lunching at Beef O'Brady’s, 1105 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda. This is a
sports bar featuring burgers, fries, wraps, best onion rings in town, variety of beers,
TV's, good service, reasonable prices, nice portions. No sign up needed, just show
up. For more info, contact Bert Leitsch at Bert370@ix.netcom.com.

Mixers - No reservations needed for this one either. On Thursday, December 21
come to the St. Andrews South Clubhouse, 1901 Deborah Dr., Punta Gorda, from 5
to 7 p.m. It’s the monthly opportunity to mix and mingle, enjoy complimentary
appetizers and have a beverage or two from the cash bar. For more info, contact
Cindy Morrell, camorrell72@gmail.com or Struss Shirk, strussshirk@bellsouth.net.

Membership - The Paradise Friends Club is open to all PGI Civic
Association members. If you would like to join us, we would love to have
you. Dues are $20 per year/per person and you can order nametags for $11
each. You can get a form from the PGICA lobby or from Julie Scharpf. Leave
the completed form and check at the PGICA office or send it to Julie. Her
contact information is 908-917-2264, julie.scharpf@gmail.com, 2714
Mayaguana Ct., Punta Gorda, FL 33950.

Send photos for inclusion in The Commentator to Sue Kelley,
skelley180@aol.com.

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