Thanks to the efforts of some creative individuals, residents of PSI Mandarin Center, a senior retirement community at 3933 Pritmore, enjoyed a fun Valentine’s Day.

After holding a successful Christmas party at the facility, members of the Mandarin Garden Club’s crafty ladies group could hardly wait to return and instigate another round of festive fun.

“The ladies are wonderful,” Deborah Campbell, manager at PSI, said of the garden club ladies. “They’re fast learners, too. This time they added several sugar-free items to all the goodies they provided for the party.”

The crafty ladies prepared sweet treats, homemade cookies, pink punch and decorative Hershey Kisses roses for each resident.

Following Becky Bathen’s sharing of Valentine knock-knock jokes and leading brave souls to belt out some “love songs,” club members passed out red bingo cards. Club members donated prizes for bingo winners.

“This means so much to our residents,” Campbell said of the gardeners’ efforts. “The residents also enjoyed the pets some of the club members brought.”

The pets appeared to enjoy the party, too.

“Pepper, family member of McGlade Holloway, sported a red and white Be Mine sweater while greeting partygoers. Boo Bear, a rescued shih tzu whose “mom” – Carol Walters – dressed in beige to match, provided lots of love to visitors, as did Shiloh, an Italian greyhound wearing a fuzzy pink valentine, and Barbara Price’s Yorkie decked out in a lavender dress.

“This is fun for everyone. We enjoyed doing this,” garden club member Mary Forester said. “We’ll be back soon.”

Gourd Show contestant

The ninth annual Florida Gourd Show is at the East Palatka Fairgrounds this weekend, and Mandarin resident Kim Belvin has 11 hand-painted or gouged items entered.

There are 75 categories for the competition, said Belvin, a member of the Northeast Florida Gourd Society, adding that her items will be featured in the jewelry, miniature, realist animal, wood-gouged, covered container and hand-painted exhibitions.

Belvin, a nurse, got started in her unique art at the urging of her grandmother.

“She knew I loved to paint,” Belvin said. “She saw a picture of a painted gourd and told me I should try that.”

Belvin said visitors who want to see who won this year’s competition should attend the gourd show Saturday afternoon after the judging is complete.

Bible study simulcast

Christ’s Church Mandarin at 6045 Greenland Road will simulcast popular Bible teacher Beth Moore from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today. Tickets are $25 each and include a box lunch and late afternoon snack. There is no child care for this event. Doors will open at 10 a.m. For more information, call 886-3964 or 268-2500.

Community garage sale

The Mandarin Community Club will hold its second Community Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 10. Individuals can rent a 12-foot-by-12-foot site for $25.

“We do all the advertising,” club member Lynn Cuda said, adding that 6-foot tables are available for rent from the club for $20 each or three for $50.

In addition to lots of items for bargain hunters, food vendors will be on site. People anxious to clean out their garage can donate to the Mandarin Community Club.

Donated items will be accepted from 2 to 6 p.m. March 9, at the club building at 12447 Mandarin Road. Call 268-1622 or 880-1231 to reserve a site in advance (required) and/or table(s) and for more information.

Send news and tales from Mandarin, Beauclerc, San Jose and other areas in the 32217, 32256, 32257 and 32258 ZIP codes to Rhonda Reese at (904) 737-6727 or e-mail glreese@bellsouth.net. For events, information must be received at least 10 days in advance.

source : www.jacksonville.com