Florida Estos

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

It’s never too early to offer season’s greetings! Season’s greetings to you all!

We will gather for our traditional Christmas luncheon:

Sunday, December 7, 2025

12:00-4:00 pm 

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

We will gather at our familiar location: 

Heikki and Inne Joonsar’s community clubhouse

Tamarac by the Gulf Clubhouse

9099 141st Street North

Seminole, Florida  33776

Parking is available in the parking areas adjacent to the clubhouse. On street parking is ok as long as you don’t block a driveway. Thank you to Inne and Heikki for making this space available to us!

The main course (pulled pork, mashed potatoes and gravy) is catered from Pete and Shorty’s American Cuisine. Verivorst, sauerkraut, and cranberry relish are homemade.

Please plan to bring something for our smorgasbord table too: appetizers, salads, side dishes, and desserts are most welcome! When you make your reservation, please mention what you will be bringing. We bought the insurance so you are welcome to bring your own adult beverages; non-alcoholic options will be provided.

By Sunday, November 30, 2025, please send an email to Heikki and Inne Joonsar at kfes1918@yahoo.com to let them know you are coming so they may place an accurate catering order. Please include (1) the names of your guests and your children and their ages, and (2) what you will be bringing for the smorgasbord table.

As soon as Heikki Joonsar receives the catering quote he will provide the exact per person price. For planning purposes the cost to participate should be in the following range:

$20 per adult and children over the age of 12

$5 for children twelve and under

You may pay:

(1) with cash or check at the door

(2) in advance through ZELLE  (KFES1918@yahoo.com) to the KFES account, or

(3) in advance by mailing a check made out to KFES and addressed to Heikki Joonsar, 14032 89th Ave, Seminole, FL. 33776.

Jõuluvana will be visiting us! The FAA has agreed to clear Jõuluvana for a direct flight from the North Pole to Seminole!

Parents are invited to bring wrapped presents with clearly marked name tags for their children so Jõuluvana may begin Christmas deliveries at our party. Activities for children are welcome too!

We are looking forward to celebrating the holiday season with you!

Heikki and Inne Joonsar

Information about KFES events and photos may be found on this website, floridaestos.blog, in engaging post-event stories graciously written by KFES member Sirje Kiin and published by New York-based Vaba Eesti Sõna and Toronto-based Eesti Elu, and our Facebook page, Kesk Florida Eestlased https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To enhance security features for our Facebook account members, Kesk Florida Eestlased is a private account that asks you to click on a link to join. The account is managed by KFES member Birgit DeLaidatti, and she will respond to requests from prospective followers. Thank you, Birgit, for this wonderful service to Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts members! To join our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

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Members and friends of Kesk Florida Eesti Selts/Estonian Society of Central Florida were delighted to attend Azara Ballet’s engaging performance titled “Encore” on November 14 and 15, 2025, in the Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota (FL). 

Martin Flowers (Roosaare), Azara Ballet’s co-founder and resident choreographer, graciously extended complimentary tickets to the Estonian community so we could become acquainted with this exciting professional ballet company. As one might correctly guess from Martin’s name, he is originally from Estonia. In 2022, he co-founded Azara Ballet with his partner Kate Flowers, Azara Ballet’s Executive Director and Associate Artistic Director. Please visit the Azara Ballet website to learn more about this unique professional ballet company and its schedule of upcoming performances.

“Encore” reprised five stories that had been performed by the company prior to this weekend. The highlight for the members of the Estonian community and culminating story danced by the company was “Kodumaa,” choreographed by Martin himself. We cannot give a better description than that written in the program: “Exploring Estonia’s liberation from the Soviet Union in 1991, commonly referred to as the ‘singing revolution,’ Martin weaves a mesmerizing story using the expressive language of dance, set to the evocative backdrop of Estonian music and compositions.” From our perspective—though we admit to having tears in our eyes at the conclusion—all audience members—as visibly moved as we—understood Estonia’s struggles and triumph as our story was told through Martin’s “Kodumaa.”

We hope that word will spread broadly about Azara Ballet and specifically about Martin’s “Kodumaa.” Estonians near and far would be fortunate to have an opportunity to be mesmerized too. If you would like to watch the show at home, please click this link here to purchase a digital ticket.

Martin Flowers (Roosaare) (center) is flanked by Astrid and Heinar Normet and Lisa Mets and Anneliis Kuusik, Matti Rukholm, Birgit DeLaidatti, Rein Allikberg and Ilvi Jõe Cannon, Riverview Performing Arts Center, Sarasota (FL), November 15, 2025. Photo was taken by an Azara Ballet company volunteer.

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Season’s greetings!

Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, and Inne Joonsar, KFES Vice President, are delighted to announce the Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts will be hosting our annual Christmas celebration in the Clubhouse in their Tamarac by the Gulf residential community, a location that is familiar to us. Jõuluvana/Santa Claus has been given the GPS coordinates, and the airways will be clear for his flight.

Details so far:

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Time to be announced

Location:

Clubhouse at Tamarac by the Gulf

9099 141st St.

Seminole, FL 33776

More details will follow in email, on our Facebook page, and this website. To join the KFES email list, please send an email to kfes1918@yahoo.com.

Information about KFES events and photos may be found on this website, floridaestos.blog, in engaging post-event stories graciously written by KFES member Sirje Kiin and published by New York-based Vaba Eesti Sõna and Toronto-based Eesti Elu, and our Facebook page, Kesk Florida Eestlased https://facebook.com/groups/2497393393890607/ . To enhance security features for our Facebook account members, Kesk Florida Eestlased is a private account that asks you to click on a link to join. The account is managed by KFES member Birgit DeLaidatti, and she will respond to requests from prospective followers. Thank you, Birgit, for this wonderful service to Estonian Society of Central Florida/Kesk Florida Eesti Selts members! To join our email list, please send an email to Heikki Joonsar, KFES Treasurer and Acting President, at kfes1918@yahoo.com.

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Welcome to a new year of activities! Thirty-one members and friends and three children gathered over a delicious German-style lunch at the German-American Society Friendship of Pinellas County on Sunday, November 9, 2025, to kick off our new year of activities. We were delighted to welcome new friends Eda and Sonya Abolfathi and Leann and Jaan Taagepera. Naturally, it was wonderful to catch up with our regular members and wish Peep Rebane a very happy birthday too! Enjoy these photos from our afternoon. Note: Escaping the camera’s eye were Anneliis Kuusik and Rein Allikberg, Vincent DeLaidatti, Heinar Normet, Heikki Pajusalu, and our photographer Erkki Taada. [Click on the images to stroll through the gallery of photos.]

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