Connie’s Corner - Dec 23

Hello to all my family and friends. I hope everyone is in good health and good spirits.

Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate my 68th birthday! We had fun!

If you missed the Christmas party this year we had a great time. A lot of food, great entertainment with Debé, Bobby, and Deneen and Karaoke. Thanks to all of you who joined us and all the elves that help put it together! Especially Stella and Jennifer Lynn who helped me decorate the bar.

Another Christmas show emerged this past Friday when Al produced his annual “Al’s Christmas Comedy Show”. Crazy Kate, Jewel, Joey, Al, Nathan, Jenny, and Rhoda Mae adorned the stage for this years festivities. Thanks to all of you. Another great show.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve already! My next Connie’s Corner will be in January 2020. A New Year and a New Decade! With no resolutions, I make changes not resolutions.

What a year it has been. We lost 13 of our friends this past year. Last December we lost (John) Gary Pinto, in January; Bob Handley (Santa), Larry Isen aka Stephanie Powers. Followed by David Berkeley (Bonnie), Tim Maines, Robert Wiley (Bo), Mercedes, Tim Wolfe, Hal Webster, Ruth Ellen Shepard (Twilight Lounge owner), Half Shot Mike, Jesse Warnock, Jason Lutz, and Tim (Sam). May they Rest In Peace.

Again, we are collecting Toys for Tots and coats, hats, gloves, shoes, and clothing for men, women, and children of all ages. For the homeless through Let’s Do it Ministries. Sometimes the smallest gift can mean so much to someone who has so little. Thank you for always opening your heart to our charities.

Speaking of charities

Roger’s Bear Happy Hour next charity is Bravo. The bears will not all be gathering this week because of Christmas. But Roger will be serving you as usual.

Remember our potluck dinner. I’m fixing two hams donated by Kenny Martin. Thanks Kenny! So please join us at Christmas. There’s always plenty to eat! And don’t forget New Years Day Potluck! I’ll fix pork and kraut, Debé is bringing black eyed peas and cornbread, and someone I think is bringing greens. So bring in the New Year with us!

If you are planning your New Year’s Eve with us join Val during Happy Hour and “G” along with Brent Fabian and a cast of stars to bring in the New Year! Champagne served at midnight.

Val, Bill, and I wish everyone the happiest and healthiest season. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all others. We thank you for another great year and look forward to the coming New Year and decade.

Let’s Get Cooking with Connie

We had our Christmas Cookie Contest. We had six entries plus my peanut butter cookies, Al Johnson, Sheri, Joe Stefanko, Lee, Dan and Paul, all entered delicious cookies. 1st place was Joe and his snow globes. 2nd place was Sheri and 3rd place was Lee with his Snickerdoodles. Congratulations! To all the winners!

January’s contest will be Winter Soups. It was brought up by Brad that we should put together a Southbend Cookbook. Many have talked about this before, so we (The Board of Chefs) and I decided to compile a cookbook for charity. The 1st cookbook will be available at our Christmas Party 2020. This is how it will work. The 3 winners of every month plus myself will offer their recipes. They do not have to give up the secret recipe or any recipe for that matter. We are starting with December 2019 and will end with our annual Chili Cook-off in November 2020 During the OSU game. Every month I’ll compile the recipes, make copies, put them in a folder. We will sell or auction the books for charity. What the Board of Chefs doesn’t know is the cook with the most blue ribbons by November will chose the charity. So let’s get Cooking with Connie!

Don’t forget the Miss Southbend 2020 Pageant Sunday January 26th at 6 pm. The theme Sabrina Heartt has chosen is “Queens among the Galaxy”. No entry fee. Must be an Ohio resident and 21 years of age or older.

I would like to take the time to thank all of you who read “Connie’s Corner.” It’s been another wonderful and challenging year! Thank you for allowing me to share my stories and life with you.

Until next year, take good care of yourselves and each other.

I’ll leave you now with this one last thought: May the spirit of the season stay with you throughout the year.

Love,

Connie