Smilestones
Avalon Players founding member Steven J. Leng and Director Julia Henrich
FOUNDERS OF AVALON PLAYERS ON HAND FOR ‘GREASE’
The Avalon Players, founded in 1969 to give children the chance to participate in a professional, family-friendly theater experience with musical productions, presented “Grease: School Version” over four evenings in July at the Avalon School auditorium.
A number of founding members were in the audience for the July 25 show, including Steven J. Leng, Dennis Soens, and Ginny Lynch, among others.
Two evenings featured the “Shining Stars” cast, and two were performed by the “Rising Stars.”
The Avalon Players originated 57 years ago when Soens, Lynch, and Bonnie Matt asked the mayor if they could use Community Hall to put on a show. The first production was “A Taste of Broadway.” The next summer, hundreds of children responded to a flyer announcing auditions, and each child was given a part.
The group’s longtime success would not have been possible without the creative genius of the founding members, and their continued support so many years later is truly astounding.
Rob Gretzmacher poses with his ‘Proclamation of the Mayor’ award.
STONE HARBOR SALUTES OCEAN RESCUE HERO
Rob Gretzmacher, who rescued three people who had gotten stuck in the surf after lifeguards had left for the day on July 5, was honored for his courageous actions at the Stone Harbor Council meeting on July 21.
Mayor Tim Carney and the council members saluted Gretzmacher as a Good Samaritan and presented him with a “Proclamation of the Mayor” award.
In bringing a father, son, and daughter safely to shore, he showed pure selflessness and truly embodied what it means to be part of the Seven Mile Beach community.
Avalon Lions Club members (from left) Carol and Jim Hunsicker, Loretta Finnegan and club president Jim Lutz present the big check to Monica Coskey, board member of the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children.
LIONS DONATE $20,000 TO DILLER HOME
The Avalon Lions Club presented a donation of $20,000 to the Helen L. Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children on Aug. 20 during the club’s annual end-of-summer cookout at the facility’s Charles P. Covington Pavilion. Proceeds for the donation were raised from the club’s annual Charity Golf Classic, held in June.
The Diller Vacation Home for Blind Children operates for eight weeks each summer, from mid-June through mid-August, providing blind and visually impaired children with an all-expenses-paid week of summer camp. With the continued support of community organizations like the Avalon Lions Club, thousands of campers have experienced the joy of summer at the shore since 1972.
Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor board members pose with the Vintage House plaque.
WOMEN’S CIVIC CLUB OF STONE HARBOR NOW HAS VINTAGE HOUSE PLAQUE
The Women’s Civic Club of Stone Harbor now has a Vintage House plaque for its clubhouse, presented by the Stone Harbor Museum on May 19 and installed July 23.
The Vintage Houses of Stone Harbor program celebrates historically significant buildings built in 1965 or earlier. The club’s original clubhouse was destroyed in the Great Storm of 1962, and the current building was constructed in 1963.
Scott Prince installed the 14-by-10-inch solid cast aluminum oval plaque, which designates the building as a significant part of Stone Harbor’s history and celebrates the Women’s Civic Club’s place in the community.
Kenneth Gambone at the Transplant Games of America.
GAMBONE ‘LOVED EVERY SECOND’ AT TRANSPLANT GAMES
Kenny Gambone, a two-time kidney transplant recipient and the son of Avalon resident Mary Gambone, participated in the 33rd Transplant Games of America from June 18-23 in Denver.
The Transplant Games featured 3,000 participants including transplant recipients, donors, people awaiting transplants, families, and caregivers. There were more than 20 competitions, from swimming and volleyball to ballroom dancing and bowling, and 60 special events and programs.
Gambone competed on the Team Texas Life Warriors, one of 40-plus teams at the Games. He wrote this on Donate Team Texas’s Facebook post, which featured photos of him and his fellow swimmers:
“I had the most amazing time at my first Transplant Games! The swim meet on Sunday was full of meeting inspirational people and then having a chance to cheer them on while they swam. Between the three of us in this picture we probably brought close to 15 medals home for Team Texas! The whole day was just a beautiful example of people grateful for their second/third/fourth chance at life. I loved every second! Can’t wait to do it again in 2028!”