Will the Rays Stay By The Bay?

The senior baseball writer for Tampa Bay Times, Marc Topkin, was the featured speaker at the Kids and Kubs annual banquet on January 20, 2023.

Marc has covered the Tampa Bay Rays since the first pitch in 1995. He shared the high points of his career during his time with the Rays and spoke about the Rays baseball's future, which he hopes and thinks will remain in St Petersburg.

An estimated 90 Club members, friends, and guests attended a delightful occasion at Banquet Masters in Clearwater. Amazing entertainment was provided by an energic ("Elvis".) Door Prizes and dancing were available to those in attendance.

Several past Presidents attended, including Eddie Broomes, Jon Wilkinson and Clarence Faucett. Among special guests whose attendance was noted included: Carol Ann Payne and Violet Prepost representing Friends of the Sunshine Center in St. Petersburg, where the Kids and Kubs office is located. Chris Wolfe of the city of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation was a supporting guest of the Club.

Club President, Will Michaels, was pleased with the effort of all who helped with the 2023 banquet. Noted were the work of Terry and Kathleen Miller, Bill Barrett, Lou Kalogeras, Barb and Walt Ewald, Dave and Kathryn Laramee, Ed Broomes, Dave and Kathryn Laramee, and Mike Vander Syde Michaels offered special thanks to Vice President Terry Miller for organizing and working with Banquet Masters to produce a great success!

Ethel Lehmann made selling 50/50 tickets a profitable activity. Eddie Broomes, and Dave Glauner, were on hand to assist Ethel with her winnings.