The Fisher House Golf Classic — New Name, Same Great Support!

My friend Valerie Casey, the organizer of the “first annual” Fisher House Tampa Golf Classic at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club on November 18, says she’s happy with the 2011 tournament’s 130+-golfer field, the beautiful weather and the wonderful spirit of everyone who came out to enjoy a fun round of golf, food and entertainment and raise money for a very worthy cause.

Actually, the tournament itself isn’t new, only its name has changed. As it has its previous four years, when the event raised a total of nearly $60,000 under its previous name, this year’s Fisher House Golf Classic also raised a hefty sum of money to help the Tampa Fisher House — the amazing residence which houses the families of the wounded veterans (such as U.S. Army Sgt. Joel Tavera; see page 1) who are cared for at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital on Bruce B. Downs Blvd, just south of Fletcher Ave.

At our press time, Casey and her wonderful team of volunteers did not yet have a fund-raising total for the 2011 event, but Casey says that, in light of the economy, she isn’t complaining about nearly matching last year’s total of about $25,000 raised.

“We still have some donations coming in,” Casey said at our press time. The Fisher House is so important to our wounded service men and women and their families, so it’s important to me that we do what we can to help.”

Appreciative Fisher House Tampa manager Paula Welenc says the golf tourney is the Fisher House’s largest fund raiser each year.

For more info about the Tampa Fisher House, visit FisherHouse.org. — GN

Funny Divas Rock Back 9 Café!

If you like to laugh but somehow still have never seen my good friend and New Tampa resident Susan Saiger perform, either as a solo feature act or as part of the Funny Divas comedy troupe, I hope you will remedy that mistake ASAP.

In fact, the nearly 100 people who attended the most recent Funny Divas show, held November 19 at the Back 9 CafĂ© at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club off Cross Creek Blvd., will tell you that Susan and her standup comic friends Aniria, Long Island Mary and Robin Savage all have the ability to “make you pee a little,” as Long Island Mary would say.

Back 9 Café co-owner Mark Schwab says he was happy with the turnout and the way the crowd reacted to the Divas.

“For our first time trying something like this, I’d have to say yes, it was great,” says Schwab. “We would definitely like to bring the Funny Divas back again!”

The Back 9 Café (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.) can be reached at 907-0267. For upcoming Funny Divas shows, visit FunnyDivas.com.