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Pair add
spice to Altamonte's volunteer fling
Altamonte Springs annual banquet honoring the city's volunteers had an
unusual twist. Two of the most prominent attendees gave the event a show
biz flair. And that was beyond the magic act booked to entertain the
crowd.
One was a musician who received the night's most
prestigious award.
The other was the emcee. He used to be a paid
entertainer. Now he is just entertaining.
In fact, he is not a volunteer. He is on the city's
payroll. It seems as if Eddie rose has been on the city's payroll since
the first trainload of tourists visited Altamonte Springs to soak up the
sunshine and smell the pine needles.
Rose, pushing 80, is tougher and more resilient than
State Road 436 and a lot more fun to be around.
Currently a city commissioner, Rose has
been with the city so long in various capacities that his long history
with Altamonte set up the banquet's unusual twist this year.
Mike Arena, who formed the outstanding Altamonte jazz
ensemble a quarter of a century ago, received the prestigious Mary Lou
Wagoner award for his toe-tapping work on behalf of Altamonte.
As emcee, Rose presented the award. It was Rose who
gave Arena and his band their first home at the civic center. As Rose
told it, the inaugural audience consisted largely of a group from a
nearby nursing home who threw their walkers to the wind when the band
got cranked.
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Their
enjoyment was a harbinger of things to come for the pleasure Arena
brought thousands who appreciate real music.
Arena plays at bigger venues now to accommodate a
growing following for his 20-piece ensemble dedicated to keeping the big
band sound alive. I have applauded his music at the Altamonte Hilton or
a high school auditorium.
The next concert, a tribute to count Basie, is June 15
at 7 pm at the lake Brantley high school.
I was honored to be among those, including Rose, to
give a taped tribute to Arena.
Rose is a comic. This guy won't say something as
pedestrian as "good morning", and leave it at that.
Unlike Arena, his venues are varied. I once caught one of his shows in
an Eckerd parking lot where I just happened to bump into him.
The venue they shared last week should make Altamonte
proud. For 18 years, the city has sponsored the event for the 320 people
who contribute most to the 100,000 volunteer hours annually. Corporate
sponsors also have kicked in almost $1 million.
As a result, Altamonte Springs has one of the best
recreation programs you can find. It is geared for all-the young, the
old, and the disabled.
Orlando Sentinel
OrlandoSentinel.com
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2003 |