Shop Talk: So we’ll never forget the fallen heroes of Vietnam

Johnny Fusco, a singer with a wide-ranging repertoire as big as his smile, enjoys entertaining islanders at Casa Mia, now open at 1000 North Collier in the space once occupied by Fortunes restaurant. Don Farmer/Eagle Correspondent

Radio talker Dave Elliott (98.9FM, weekdays 3 to 6 p.m.) is back by popular demand for a third year as emcee of the Christmas Tree Lighting party at Veterans Community Park on Saturday, Dec. 3. Chris Curle/Eagle Correspondent

The ever efficient, civic-minded Carole Roberts sends along important information for people visiting The Wall That Heals during its coming Marco visit.

You already may know some of this, but it bears repeating, for obvious reasons. And there’s news to add to the schedule of the reading of the names of Floridians on the Vietnam Wall (see times below).

Carole tells us that, while there are no names of Marco residents on the Vietnam Wall, if any local residents have loved ones from elsewhere honored on the wall, they can arrange to have those names read.

The way to arrange that is to email Carole right away, at CaroletRoberts@comcast.net.

During the exhibit, the names of the almost 2000 Floridians killed in Vietnam will be read. Here is the schedule, listed by the home towns in our state. Times are approximate and subject to change:

Thursday, Dec 8

Boca Raton 1:30 p.m.

Clearwater 2 p.m.

Clewiston 2 p.m.

Coral Gables 2:15 p.m.

Fort Lauderdale 2:45 p.m.

Fort Myers 3 p.m.

Gainesville 3:15 p.m.

Immokalee 3:45 pm.

Jacksonville 4 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 9

Jacksonville 1:30 p.m.

Key West 2 p.m.

Miami 2:45 p.m.

Mount Dora 3:30 p.m.

Naples 3:45 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Orlando noon

Pensacola 12:30 p.m.

Sanibel 1 p.m.

Sarasota 1 p.m.

St Petersburg 1:15 p.m.

Tampa 1:45 p.m.

West Palm Beach 2:15 p.m.

The Wall That Heals will open 24 hours a day Dec. 7 to 10 at Veterans’ Community Park. The Traveling Vietnam Wall features a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. — with all 58,267 names.

From Tom Jones to the temptations and everything in between

We enjoyed meeting entertainer Johnny Fusco the other night at Casa Mia Italian Steakhouse on North Collier Boulevard.

Or should we perhaps call him Tom Jones, Barry White or even Engelbert Humperdinck?

By any name — his or the ones he impersonates so well — he is a talented performer with a resume packed with good gigs at top venues, such as the Rainbow Room and the Friars Club in New York and legendary nightspots in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the Catskills.

He even does hits from such Motown legends as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and more.

These days he’s at Casa Mia on Wednesdays and Saturdays and at the Island Gypsy and Marina Bar in Isles of Capri on Fridays.

He knows how to establish an instant rapport with his audiences, which at Casa Mia often includes people on the dance floor.

When we were there, one couple paused when Johnny walked over and introduced himself. Said the slow dancing man, “I’m from the Bronx, but I left there in 1946.”

Johnny replied with a grin, “Hey I have a summer home in the Bronx. It’s called Fort Apache.”

He usually starts his music about 6 p.m. and sings until 9 or 9:30 p.m..

Casa Mia’s phone number is (239) 642-5253.