Lido Shores: Enthusiastic Crowd Turns out for 4th Annual LSPOA Golf Cart Caroling

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Enthusiastic Crowd Turns out for 4th Annual LSPOA Golf Cart Caroling

LSPOA Carolers serenade outside Peggy & Ken Abt's home December 17th.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear…. well, it really wasn’t midnight, it was more like 7:00 pm. The weather, although threatening throughout the day, was perfectly clear, with the moon even peeking out at times during our Fourth Annual Golf Cart Carol Sing on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Enthusiastic neighbors gathered for song sheets and electric candles, and we set off in decorated golf carts, electric bikes ((Katie Best had a tricycle) and our trusty legs.

Lois Trotochau and her friend were waiting and joined us as we started the evening with our traditional first song “Deck the Halls” as our group began to enlarge. We advanced to Ken and Peggy Abt’s house where we surprised Peggy by singing ‘The Anniversary Song’ (a secret request to Lee earlier in the week by Ken) as they were celebrating their 58th anniversary on that day.

Lee Edstrom accompanies Carolers on the accordion

From there we headed to the Cassell’s house where we sing our annual Christmas songs by Jewish composers. The house was dark and when Stuart came to the door in his bathroom, he sheepishly admitted he forgot but ran back and got Miriam who displayed her gorgeous robe, and we all had a wonderful laugh and sang our songs.

Stu & Miriam Cassell welcome "surprise" visit in their robes

Ron Stanish’s home was next, and we were greeted by Ron and his friends decked out in Christmas joy with cider and cinnamon stick ‘roadies’ for us singers. Ron’s late partner and our long-standing neighbor Ken McMillen was in our hearts and minds as we sang.

Fred & Judy Fiala enjoy Carolers, as Katie Best looks on

The Fiala’s were waiting for us with apologies for their house not being ready for entertaining (their dumpster had just been removed that morning) and we all nodded in sympathetic acknowledgement of our recent hurricane issues. We gave them a hearty concert with our group having now swelled to 33+ (shout out to Tom Mawn’s beautiful voice).

At our last stop, Stu and Gail Barzman’s house, we were again treated with her expert Christmas Carols signing abilities that she practiced for years while teaching at a catholic school. There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.

Organizers Kathy & Lee Edstrom

And to add absolute joy for the end of the evening, the Barzmans surprised us with an unbelievable spread of sandwiches, goodies and Irish whiskey!!! Gail had read that the Edstrom’s weren’t able to have an ‘after party’ this year due to the hurricanes and picked up the ball without anyone knowing it.

The best comment was by Gail, when she announced, “I had a ball at the store picking out Christmas paper plates for the first time in my Jewish history”. You go Gail, thank you – true Spirit of the Season.

Thank you everyone, the evening was magical.

LSPOA GOLF CART CAROLERS

Art Abdinoor & Laurel Best

Sandra Appignani & Mark Baumgarten

Katie Best

Denis & Marylee Bischoff

Carrie & Ken Cox

Andrew Cox and fiancé, Jess

Diane Desenberg, Tom Mawn and friend

Lee & Kathryn Edstrom

Lori & Tom Fitzgerald

Elliott Himelfarb, Janet Minker and Gracie the Doddle