On the Town: Dollar Tree store may open next Wednesday

Sometimes getting information from a large company can take time. Some corporations are justifiably wary of the news media.

A month ago I asked Dollar Tree when they would open the new Marco store. Six hours later I was told probably at the end of September.

Last Monday I drove by the store at Shops of Marco. Two employees were chatting outside. I asked from my car, “When’s opening day?”

“September 26,” came the prompt reply. No maybes, no howevers, just, “September 26th.”

I take that as probably true, but unofficial and subject to change. Anyway, it’s almost time for fans of dollar stores to get into a Dollar Tree state of mind.

Guess the grownup

You could win a U.S. Savings Bond if you try your luck in the VIP (Very Interesting People) photo contest at Orion Bank on Bald Eagle Drive.

Orion’s vice president and manager, Keith Dameron, invites all Islanders to visit the bank, check out the old photos of 12 current Islanders and match the pictures to the list of “VIPs” names.

Submitted photo

Do you recognize this Marco resident from a photo of her as a child? She’s one of 12 islanders in Orion Bank’s contest to guess the grownups from long-ago photos.

“It’s a lot of fun and reminds us all of days past and how much many Islanders from many different places now have in common,” says Dameron. The contest began Monday and runs through Oct. 12.

The first people to submit correct identifications of the photos from yesteryear will win savings bonds of from $300 to $50. Orion Bank is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and until 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. Who knows, the kid in the grainy old photo may be your golfing buddy, your haircutter or your kid’s teacher.

Youth Haven kids at the beach

The hoopla over Dancing With the Starz fundraising is over now but the lovely music of giving continues. For example, Starz dancer Maria Elena continues to work hard to help the children of Youth Haven, the emergency shelter for abused and abandoned youngsters. She, several Youth Haven workers and a dozen or more volunteer teens and grownups arranged for the Youth Haven kids to have a wonderful day at the beach.

Hilton Grand Vacations offered the Charter Club’s beachfront facilities, where the kids enjoyed the water, the sand, games and contests, the pools and more. Joey’s Pizza and Pasta sent over hot pizza for all. I was noted that there were several sets of siblings among the frolicking kids — an adorable brother and sister, ages four and two, a cute and lively trio of two boys and a girl. They are safe and loved now at Youth Haven. And they’re together, enjoying life in ways so many of us take for granted. Some had never seen a beach before. One little girl asked Maria Elena, “Whose party is this?”

Photo by DON FARMER, Eagle staff

A child from the Youth Haven emergency shelter for abused and abandoned children enjoys a fun-filled outing at the Charter Club on Marco Beach.

“It’s YOUR party, sweetheart,” Maria Elena said. “Oh Wow,” replied the surprised and thrilled child.

And a Dancing encore as well

Some participants in Dancing With the Starz this year are planning an encore of sorts. It’s a professional dance show featuring talented professionals from the Modern Steps School of Dance and some of the amateurs who danced for charity last month.

“If you missed Dancing With the Starz, now is your chance to see an encore performance,” says the flashy poster for the event.

It’ll be next Tuesday at the Island Country Club, including show, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets are $50 for open seating and $100 for reserved dance floor seats.

Photo by CHRIS CURLE, Eagle staff

Children from Youth Haven loved the sun, sand and day-long activities on Marco Beach last weekend, thanks to Islanders Maria Elena Pujol and Peter Berec.

Proceeds will benefit the Modern Steps School of Dance, whose owners and instructors did so much to help the Starz event, which, with Judy Perez at the helm, raised $500,000 for charity.

For information on tickets, phone 775-3445.

Screen enclosures? What screen enclosures?

Visitors who had not been on Marco since Hurricane Wilma took out most of our screen enclosures noticed that a lot of Islanders never replaced their pool cages. I explained that the cost of the cages is substantial, even if insurance pays part of the irreplacement cost.

“Yes, but what about the bugs and other wildlife?” my friend asked. I replied that some people have screened their sliding doors or just stay indoors a lot in our hot summers anyway. I also noted that many Islanders are not here in the buggy, muggy months.

“But what about the palm rats, feral cats, anoles, raccoons, opossums, iguanas, snakes, turtles and whatever else lives here?”

I think he has a point. My mother-in-law has a Marco friend who left her lanai door open for a while one morning. When she went back into her living room a short time later, she found a great blue heron sitting on her coffee table. So if you decided not to replace your screen enclosure and are living screen-free now, let me know how you deal with critters that think it’s cool to check out what life is like indoors.

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My email:don@donfarmer.com.