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Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids

Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Holiday.

BRADENTON – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 and Bradenton Moose Lodge #1223 teamed up to bring holiday joy to area children on Dec. 14.

As was the case with the AMI lodge’s annual kid’s Halloween party, the Christmas party was again held at the Bradenton lodge because lodge #2188 in Bradenton Beach suffered significant damage during hurricanes Helene and Milton and remains closed for the foreseeable future.

The lodges also joined forces for the 2023 kids’ Halloween party while the AMI lodge’s dining room floor was being replaced.

Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
One of these youngsters correctly guessed how many pieces of candy were in the tumbler. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
Eliana, 2, received a visit from Rudolph. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

42 children attended Saturday’s party. Upon arrival, each child was asked to guess the number of candies contained in a tumbler sitting on the table. Malcolm Riti hit it right on the head when he guessed 30 pieces. The kids also received gingerbread-themed stickers and sticker sheets. They were treated to a breakfast of French toast sticks before Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer arrived, which led to the children singing Rudolph’s theme song.

Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
Sandra Zenzel read “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
When Natalie later opened her present, she discovered a My Look sparkling gem hair styler. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Before Santa arrived, AMI lodge member and event volunteer Sandra Zenzel read aloud “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The kids were then asked to sing “Here’s Comes Santa Claus” to greet Santa as he and Mrs. Claus arrived. After taking his seat, Santa visited with the children and each child received a gift selected specifically for them.

Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
Amani, 7, received a gift from Santa. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
Seven-year-old Amani received a makeup kit. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

As the festivities wound down, AMI lodge Administrator Byron Dalton noted the annual children’s parties are part of the Moose organization’s mission to serve the community. Dalton expressed appreciation for the Bradenton lodge’s partnership and the teamwork shared with lodge administrator Wanda Ayers. Ayers tended bar during Saturday’s party and served Bloody Marys and other adult beverages to some of the parents and grandparents in attendance.

Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
Henry, 8, received a Terra remote-controlled spider. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose lodges host Christmas party for kids
These Women of the Moose members helped organized the party. Shown from left to right are Kathy Blair, Sandra Zenzel, Terri Dalton, Linda Rosso, Joanne Eyester. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the damaged lodge in Bradenton Beach, Dalton said the plan is to soon wall off the south end of the lodge so the social quarters (the bar area) and the upper deck can be used while waiting for the dining room to later be restored or reconstructed.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party

AMI Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Entertainment, Events.

BRADENTON BEACH – Santa Claus paid a Saturday morning visit to the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge.

Joined by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer during his Dec. 16 visit, Santa posed for photos and handed out gifts to all the children whose parents and grandparents registered them in advance.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Five-year-old Luca Hudson was among the first to receive a gift from Santa and his helpers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Ariana Stupec, Braxton Stupec and Luca Hudson displayed their gifts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The kids came to see Santa Claus and receive their gifts. We do this annually and this is probably one of the larger crowds we’ve had,” Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton said.

Regarding that morning’s rainy weather, Dalton said, “When has weather ever stopped Santa?”

Each youngster was called up by name to receive a gift from Santa and his Moose Lodge helpers.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Moose lodge officers, staff members and volunteers made Santa’s nice list this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The lodge employees and volunteers took their own time to go shopping for each child, knowing their name and age, and matching each one individually with a gift. We started doing that last year. Thank you to everybody who’s a Moose member and helps support our children, our seniors and our local charities,” Dalton said.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Eight-year-old Clare McLaughlin visited Santa and Rudolph. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Three-year-old Nora Carson thanked Santa for her gift. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After receiving her gift from Santa, a Play-Doh play set, 3-year-old Nora Carson politely said, “Thank you, Santa.”

The children’s Christmas festivities included a free breakfast featuring powdered French toast sticks, kids’ coloring activities, Christmas carol sing-alongs, candy and more.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Corbin and Rowan Slicker displayed their coloring efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
Dar-Lynn, Ellie and Susan Elfiore enjoyed the Moose Christmas party. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Many of the adult attendees got their first look at the lodge’s new dining room floor, a project that required the lodge to be temporarily closed at various times during the past few months. The lodge officially reopened on Dec. 13.

“We spent almost 90 days getting our new floor done,” Dalton said.

Moose Lodge hosts Christmas party
The AMI Moose Lodge has a shiny new dining room floor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 welcomed Rudolph, Santa and other guests to its annual children’s Christmas party Saturday morning.

Joined by parents and grandparents, more than 60 children gathered inside the Moose Lodge to celebrate the Christmas holiday. At about 10:30 a.m., Officer Eric Hill, of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, delivered Santa Claus to the lodge’s beachfront door. Santa then received a warm holiday welcome as he entered the lodge and greeted the awaiting youngsters.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Officer Eric Hill transported Santa to the AMI Moose Lodge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

One by one, each child was called by name to visit with Santa and receive from him and his Moose Lodge helpers a wrapped gift selected especially for that child’s age group.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Aliana, Kesha and Amani Garcia attended the party with Kali Kunkle. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton and Senior Regent Joy Shames shared their thoughts on the day’s festivities.

“This is one of the things we do every year for our kids and members. The Women of the Moose are doing a great job and everybody’s having fun. The kids have paper and crayons and are making Christmas cards to send to our seniors at Moosehaven,” Dalton said.

Moosehaven is a retirement community in Orange Park, Florida that has served Moose members since 1922.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Lodge Administrator Byron Dalton recognized the efforts of these Moose volunteers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“We are having a lot of fun with the children’s Christmas party here at the Moose Lodge. We’ve got Santa, Rudolph, the elves and Tommy the Moose here. The Women of the Moose put this together, along with the lodge. We’re happy to see so many kids. We have 62 kids signed up and we’re having a great day,” Shames said.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Young Rob Herig attended the party with his grandma, Terri Rowden, and his grandpa, Terry Rowden (not pictured). – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer entered the room, the children and adults broke into an impromptu rendition of the famous Christmas song that tells Rudolph’s story.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer chatted with Savannah, Hudson and Brittany Lineberger. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

New York residents Bridget and Michael Roorda spend a few months each year on Anna Maria Island and they brought their children, Amelia, William and MJ, to the Moose party.

“We’ve been coming for years. We’re almost snowbirds,” Michael said.

“We love it,” Bridget added.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
The Roorda family from New York enjoyed a moment with Santa. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Josh and Meredith Pridokas brought their daughter, Ellie, to the party.

“This is wonderful,” Meredith said.

“This is the first year Ellie is old enough to appreciate Santa and the decorating. She’s soaking it up,” Josh added.

Adult activities

Regarding some of the adult activities taking place at the lodge, Shames said, “Tonight, we have our ugly sweater contest for the adults.”

The proceeds from the ugly sweater contest went to the Women of the Moose charity.

AMI Moose Lodge celebrates Christmas
Sam Waters, Jerry Lunde and Joy Shames participated in the adult festivities Saturday evening. – Jerry Lunde | Submitted

Dalton said the Queen of Hearts jackpot is currently at about $30,000 and the next weekly drawing takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 22.

“We’re about a third of the way through the deck,” Dalton said of the drawing that utilizes a deck of playing cards and eventually awards a cash jackpot to the lucky Moose member who draws the Queen of Hearts. Each week, one playing card is revealed and the longer it takes the find the Queen of Hearts, the larger the jackpot is. Some of the Queen of Hearts proceeds help fund the lodge’s numerous charitable efforts and activities.