The Ave Herald

Many Ave Maria houses sparkled for the Christmas season.

Click here for more pictures of Ave Maria Christmas lights as well as photos from the parish pot-luck supper Dec. 21.

Around Del Webb...

By June McCann

Christmas Festivities... Del Webb members enjoyed a double dose of fun on December 4 with a wine and cheese reception at the Golf Shop followed by a cookie exchange and eggnog party at the Tidewater Club.  A Christmas trivia game also strained the brains of party goers - can you name all 9 of Santa's reindeer???  The celebrating gentlemen pictured below are Jerry Davis, Stan Smolinski, John Calce and Norb Arnoldi.  The ladies shown here are Marilyn Doren, Marlys Arnoldi, Mary Ellen Smolinski and Nancy Freeman.  The evening  ended with not only the exchange of cookies but with wishes for a joyous and peaceful Christmas.

Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant ...On December 9^th twenty Del Webb residents journeyed by bus  to the East Coast of Florida to participate in the 28^th year  of a spectacular rendering of all things Christmas!  Tina Raymond, Del Webb's Life Style Director, made the arrangements for the evening which included a buffet dinner and a  most unusual theatrical renderings of  the Christmas story.   Nearly a thousand cast members and behind-the-scenes professional and volunteer set designers,  musicians , actors, dancers and singers produced a multilayered performance sure to be remembered and applauded.  Held at the campus of the First Baptist Church, the pageant included a festival of carols, a "Christmas in the City" presentation in song and dance (below left) and a very inspirational depiction of  the birth and life of Jesus (below right).  Enjoying the pre-show dinner are (left to right): Mary Ellen Smolinski, Marlys and Norb Arnoldi, Kathy and Darwin Baack and Diana Malcom.

By Land, Sea and Air...  Del Webb members Dee and Ray Justus went exploring distant shores in November on the Crystal Line's "Trans-Canal Enchantment"  trip, designated as a Science & Technology theme cruise with its destination-- the Panama Canal.  Oh!  The places they visited!  Embarking  from Miami, they sailed to Georgetown, Grand Cayman and Cartagena, Columbia, before reaching the Canal. The photo below left shows the monstrous size of both locks and ships passing through this monumental navigational wonder extending across the Isthmus of Panama. From there the cruise visited  the ports of Huatulco, Puerto Vallarta (below right) and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico,  before passing the Baja Peninsula and San Diego, and disembarking in Los Angeles, CA.   What an adventure!