Festival of Hearts coverage in Noozhawk, by Rochelle Rose

For the 19th year, the Friendship Center celebrated its signature special event — the Festival of Hearts — on Saturday with a “Queen of Hearts” theme from Alice in Wonderland lore. Held a few days before Valentine’s Day at The Fess Parker DoubleTree Resort, the festival featured a sit-down luncheon, a social hour with Fess Parker wines, and musical entertainment by the Montecito Jazz Project led by Tom Towle. The silent auction featured "heart-oriented" Heart Art, including colorful and creative paper mache hearts painted by local artists, celebrities and community members. More than 150 attendees gathered in the hotel foyer for the pre-lunch social hour and silent auction, and then left to the Reagan Room for the program and a colorful luncheon plate of salmon, potatoes, yellow tomatoes, red onions and capers. READ MORE