Florida Estos

Dear Members and Friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts!

Please plan to join us as we gather for our traditional and popular Estonian Soup and Sandwich Luncheon!

Sunday, January 21, 2024

12:00-4:00 pm

Volunteers are welcome to arrive at 11:00 am to help us set up and to remain after 4:00 to help us clean up!

WE ARE RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY CLUB HOUSE AND RECREATIONAL CENTER AT THE WINTER HOME OF INNE AND HEIKKI JOONSAR. We have celebrated our soup-and-sandwich luncheon and other events there in the past.

TAMARAC BY-THE-GULF, INC.
9099 141st St.
Seminole. FL 33776

Tamarac By-the-Gulf is a community of 380 individual homes all painted white with white tile roofs. The best way to enter is at the TRAFFIC LIGHT on 86th Ave. N. and Oakhurst Rd. (137th St.) where there is NO sign. Then turn right onto 140th Way. Continue until you make a slight left onto 141st St. where parking and the club house are visible. Parking is available on both sides of the club house. The entrance at the TAMARAC sign off Oakhurst & 94th Place can be easily missed because it is hidden by a curve. A GPS can usually get you there.

This location is 5 minutes from the beaches if one continues west on Park Blvd. (694). Some of you may want to continue to the beaches to finish the afternoon and enjoy a beautiful sunset.

The amount of the members’ contribution to help us offset our costs will be announced at a later date.

Please plan to bring a contribution to the potluck luncheon table, e.g., salads, sandwiches, side dishes, soup, and desserts. Traditional Estonian dishes are encouraged! Inne has already planned to make our family split pea with barley and ham soup. If you are bringing a hot dish, please plan to bring it in your own crock pot or other warming appliance. The kitchen may be available for keeping dishes warm, but no cooking is permitted. Please bring your own beverages. Please note: This clubhouse, as a rental, does not permit alcoholic beverages to be served. Soft drinks, coffee and water will be provided.

KFES Member Peep Rebane volunteered the following for our entertainment: “Luban kah esineda lühikese satiirilise ettekandega mille pealkiri on “Eesti Rahva Randamised.”

Cost  is $10.00  per person, children are free. You can pay (1) with cash or check at the door, (2) via ZELLE  (KFES1918@yahoo.com) to the KFES bank account, or (3) check made out to KFES and mailed to Heikki Joonsar, 14932 89th AVE Seminole, FL. 33776. 

By Monday, January 15, 2024, to help us plan for the right number of people, please send an email to KFES Treasurer Heikki Joonsar and let him know who is coming with you (please include children’s names and ages too) and what you will be contributing to the potluck luncheon just in case we need to make some adjustments in the menu. Please email Heikki at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Inne and Heikki Joonsar

PS PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE: The Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts is planning to celebrate the 106th Anniversary of Estonian Independence/EVA 106 on Sunday, February 18, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Drive, Clearwater, FL 33762. Information about the cost and making reservations will be sent in the new year; advance reservations will be required so meal orders may be placed with Feather Sound Country Club prior to the event. Volunteers are welcome to assist with set-up starting at 11:00 am. More information is forthcoming in the new year. Please stay tuned to email. To be placed on the KFES email list, please send an email to kfes1918@yahoo.com.

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More than 65 members and friends of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts, including 10 children, gathered to kick off the holiday season on Sunday, December 3, 2023, with our traditional Estonian holiday luncheon and a visit by Jõuluvana (Santa).

There are at least three highlights to this annual KFES event, making it impossible to prioritize or rank the three in order. Perhaps they are all equal in attraction. Perhaps a top attraction for many adults is lunch! We gather to celebrate a traditional Estonian holiday lunch prepared by KFES members and friends, which includes verivorst, roast pork, hapukapsas (sauerkraut), mashed potatoes and gravy, jõhvikamoos (cranberry sauce), rosolje, deviled eggs, marineeritud peetid, and so much more! KFES sends a huge thank-you to Kaie Põhi Latterner, Anneliis Kuusik, and Rein Allikberg for spending their Thanksgiving holiday in the kitchen preparing an abundance of delicious verivorst!

A second highlight–likely the first highlight for the children–is the arrival of Jõuluvana (Santa)! Before obtaining FAA clearance to fly direct from the North Pole to Tampa Bay, Jõuluvana checks his list to see who has been naughty and nice. Because the names of KFES members, friends and children appear on his nice list, Jõuluvana is delighted to make the journey and distribute some early presents to eager recipients. This year Jõuluvana arrived doing his happy dance! Jõuluvana was especially pleased to be assisted by his own special päkapikk, Astrid Normet!

Having the opportunity to greet old friends and welcome new friends is a third highlight of this annual KFES event. We were especially delighted to welcome first timers Aime Kerstenbeck-Brownbill and Rick Brownbill from Ontario, Canada; Marju and Luiz Ferst; Sirje Kiin and Jack Walters formerly from North Dakota and now Spring Hill (FL); Crystal Ra Laksmi-Ditton from Daytona Beach; Thomas Soracco from Clearwater and Tallinn; and Cory Wilbur. Our KFES family continues to grow as we welcome back the Janušauskas family now with their little one and special friend, Tuuli Reiman, visiting from Estonia, and friends Andrius and Agne Prasauskas. Also joining us again were Jana Harakka with her daughter Savanna; Merike Milli and her mother Lia visiting from Eesti; Heiki, Nathan, and Heidi Pajusalu and Viivi Truu; Pärli and Mart Vainu from Sarasota; and the Valk family of Lauri, Kerttu, Pärtel and Madli. KFES draws members and friends from far and wide: the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region, Crystal River and Spring Hill, The Villages in central Florida, Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach on the east coast, the Orlando area, Canada, and Eesti!

We take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the leadership of the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts and faithful volunteers who go the extra mile. We are especially grateful to Treasurer and Acting President Heikki Joonsar, Vice President Inne Joonsar, former Vice President and Acting President Moonika Mägi, and Secretary Triin Karr. This selts would not run without engagement by Birgit Delaidatti, who is also KFES Facebook manager, and her husband Vincent; Anneliis Kuusik and Rein Allikberg; Astrid and Heinar Normet; and the Eric and Reet-Regina Cabrera family, who always provide over-and-beyond support for our activities. A very special thank-you to Kaie Põhi Latterner, who is Estonian Honorary Consul, a vägev KFES tegelanna, and our musical director. We hope you enjoy these extra photos from the day’s collection that also recognize the many volunteers and participants who are the soul of our association.

A very special thank you to Birgit and Vincent Delaidatti for reserving the Clubhouse at Harbour Crest 400, which is situated in their residential community in Largo, Florida. We had ample space to mingle and to lay out our smorgasbord tables filled with scrumptious delights prepared by our members. An activity table for children helped them wait patiently for Jõuluvana’s (Santa’s) arrival! We hope this inspires you to join us at future events!

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