Lakeside has been full of the Christmas Spirit the whole month of December. First we had the 100th birthday party for Dorothy Fitzgerald, who lives in Lakeside Gardens Senior Housing on Channel Road.
100-years-old
Lakeside has been full of the Christmas Spirit the whole month of December. First we had the 100th birthday party for Dorothy Fitzgerald, who lives in Lakeside Gardens Senior Housing on Channel Road.
100-years-old
Family and friends came from far and wide to help her celebrate the party that her caretaker, Rosa Silva, gave her. Vivian Hanson, her friend from the Historical Society, told me about Dorothy’s celebration and adventures in life. She married her sailor boyfriend, Eddie, back in 1937 and traveled across the country several times with her small children. They bought a home in Lemon Grove in 1944 where she lived until 1988 when she made the move to Lakeside Gardens. She has lived there longer than anyone else and has been active as president of the Association, organized pot luck dinners, yard sales and helped at the church dinners at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Lakeside. When she wasn’t volunteering she worked on hobbies such as sewing, crocheting afghans, gardening and craft classes. She said, “I like to do everything and I like life!”
Historical Society Resale Shoppe
The Historical Society opened their Mrs. Clause Christmas Resale Shoppe on Dec. 1. The place was a whirlwind of activities, seems like folks love to donate their gently used decorations that they no longer use and other folks like to buy the decorations at bargain prices. The Christmas Shoppe was the brainchild of Nita Finder, who used to help at the summer yard sales, she got the idea to separate the Christmas items and hold them for a December sale, thus was born the most popular fundraiser for the Society’s preservation efforts and to help keep the historic landmark, the 118 year Olde Community Church, alive and well. Its Holiday Home Tour was a delight as well, three homes, one garden and one business were on the tour which was chaired by Colleen Owens for the 5th year in a row.
Helping families in need
Our local Christian Help Center helped families in need by distributing food baskets. Joy Wray, a volunteer, a complete dinner and gifts for each child was given to more than 300 grateful families. Barona donated the turkeys. Another generous giving idea came from Marrakol Construction Company, which gave $25 gift certificates to the families who were at the Christian Help Center. Families could spend their certificates at the Historical Society’s Christmas Resale Shoppe, to buy trees, decorations and holiday cheer for their families at bargain prices.
Spirit of Christmas
The Chamber of Commerce held its 16th annual Spirit of Christmas on Maine Avenue on Dec. 6. Cassandra Usry, the office manager, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived by helicopter, which was a first! Then escorted by the girls from the Scholarship Pageant, which included Miss Lakeside, Miss Teen Lakeside and Miss Jr. Lakeside and their court marching down Maine Avenue to the tune of Jingle Bells.
Usry mentioned that Steve Mull, the Principal from Lakeside Middle School, had coordinated the performances of the theater groups from the schools and there were two stages for the various performers. Street and food vendors lined Maine Avenue and the firemen from Engine #1 assisted in the lighting of the huge tree in the Historical Society’s patio. It was almost like Mayberry … an old fashion Christmas event for friends, families and kiddies who helped the community get into the Spirit of Christmas, and best of all it didn’t rain.
