Community Bulletin

Turkey Trot thanks

Heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, participants and thousands of spectators who were part of the 23rd annual Turkey Trot! There was a nip in the air, but the sun was shining as more than 5,600 participants gathered to raise funds to help seniors live independently! Glenn Kloiber, 88-years-young, won the trophy for the oldest registered participant, and college student Will Bridges was the first trotter to cross the finish line at 15:10.

Help support PAM

Performing Arts of Maitland (PAM) is a public charity that builds community through funding local performing arts. We need your donations this year. Our funding was cut 15 percent in 2011 and 15 percent in 2012. PAM entertained 278,000 in 2012 and we did it for less than 30 cents per audience member. We bring the music to Maitland 's Art Festivals, the Taste of Maitland, and twice a week to Lake Lily. PAMCares brings local performers to assisted living facilities to warm the hearts of the residents. Our Stage Band brings the big band sound to life, and our poets and writers bring the literary arts to performance at the A&H Culture & Cocktails Second Fridays.

Our 120-piece Symphonic Orchestra presents its free concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Help us keep bringing the local performers to you in the community. Please send a check or go to our website and hit the donate button. We need your help now. Make checks payable to: Performing Arts of Maitland, 117 Whitecaps Cr, Maitland, FL 32751. Visit pamaitland.org

Hot sauce vs. cancer

Tijuana Flats has kicked off its Hot Sauce Campaign to benefit Kids Beating Cancer. All 86 locations have a banner up reminding you to buy bottles of hot sauce to help the charity. Proceeds from each $5 bottle sold will benefit Kids Beating Cancer’s Orlando division.

Thousands made strides

(PIC) An estimated 45,000 Orlando residents, breast cancer survivors, business and community members joined together and put on their pink bras at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk to fight breast cancer, and provide hope to all people facing the disease. This noncompetitive, fundraising event on Oct. 20 united the community in celebrating breast cancer survivors, educating men and women about the importance of early detection and prevention, and raised more than $695,000 to fund lifesaving research and support programs that will further the progress against this disease.

Give the gift of volunteering

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Central Florida needs volunteers in your area who can befriend terminally ill patients, provide relief for weary caregivers, accompany their pet on Paw Pals visits, visit with veterans, provide art and music therapy, make bereavement calls, sew Memory Bears or garment bags, knit/crochet afghans, make crafts, help repair medical equipment, or help with administrative work. Call 407-691-4541 or email [email protected] if you would like to find out more information.

Box up shoes for kids

With thousands of shoe box gifts already collected in Orlando, area residents are encouraged to continue packing boxes for Operation Christmas Child through “Build a Box,” an online giving tool. This year, the Samaritan’s Purse project expects to reach a milestone — collecting and delivering shoeboxes to more than 100 million children since 1993. Many local families are choosing to pack shoebox gifts virtually through “Build a Box.” Do so by visiting the project’s website at samaritanspurse.org/occ

Local Bach finalists

The Bach Festival Society congratulates the winners of the 20th Annual Young Artist Competition held on Saturday, November 17. More than 60 entrants from around the state of Florida competed, with twelve prize-winning contestants advancing to the finalist round. The finalist recital was open to the public and was enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. Finalist Caroline Lazar from Maitland played alto saxophone. Finalists Joseph Prior, from Winter Park, played the horn, and Rebecca Edge, also of Winter Park, played violin.