The Buzz: Sopchoppy singing sensation Chelsea Dix Kessler enlivens Sachs Holiday Party

Welcome to The Buzz, Tallahassee Magazine’s column created to share who’s where and what they’re doing. While we try to flit around with all of Tallahassee’s social butterflies, the Buzz can’t be everywhere. Send the skinny on your next soiree to buzz@tallahasseemagazine.com.

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The Lisa Miller & Associates Christmas party on Dec. 21 was hosted by Lisa Miller and Meghan Kelly at the home of Lisa and Jerry Miller. Donations were collected for Last Hope Rescue. Guests who attended included Bob and Alissa Lotane, Ted and Joan Thomas, Claudia Sachs, Sarah Carroll, Steve and Su Ecenia, Marcia Thornberry, Kevin and Debbie Patten, Cathi and Mark Lawson, Bill Knepper, Electra and Denis Bustle, Elroy and Lisa Caldwell — and, of course, Mr. Kris Kringle himself!

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Ron Sachs and Gay Webster-Sachs held a holiday party with the unusual theme: New Year’s Eve EVE — on Monday, Dec. 30 at their Rosehill home, where more than 100 friends gathered. The Sachs party was intended to appeal to folks in town who don’t necessarily like New Year’s Eve partying but were open to a night-before approach to the holiday. A live jazz quartet performed, along with aspiring Sopchoppy singing sensation Chelsea Dix Kessler. 

Among the guests: Fred and Lynn Baggett, Bill Smith, Steve Uhlfelder and Sandie Hanna, Samantha and Wes Strickland, Joanie and Bob Lauther, Rick Oppenheim and Stefanie Graves, Diane and Dr. Kirk Mauro, Mac Langston and Robin Boyle, Matt and Michelle Ubben, Larry and Debbie Thompson, Beth and Col. Steve Murray, Laura and Sam Rogers, Bill Hall and Martha Olive-Hall, Robert and Julia Rivas, Robin and Sandy Safley, Chucha and Russ Barber, Heather and Mark Mitchell, Mark and Karen Frost, Gary and Wendy Williams, and Ryan and Claire Banfill.

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To give its board members a taste of what life is like in local schools, The Foundation for Leon County Schools inaugurated a “Principal for a Day” program in January. 

Members of the group, which raises money to enhance public education, were paired with a local school and shadowed 15 real principals for a day. Of course, the best part of any school day is recess, so after the last school bus rumbled off in the afternoon, the group adjourned to Recess, the CollegeTown nightclub, for a little bit of playtime. Foundation Executive Director Sheila Costigan welcomed participants along with Leon School Superintendent Jackie Pons and School Board member Dee Crumpler and his wife, Ann, and Sha Maddox. Erik Davis was there along with Principal Michele Keltner from Desoto Trail elementary; Mary Estes visited Swift Creek Middle School; April Salter attended as well as Raa Middle School Principal Giselle Marsh; and Jeannie Booth, who spent the day at Oak Ridge elementary. Also on hand were principals Shane Syfrett (Deerlake middle), Jane Floyd-Bullen (Gretchen Everhart and Pace Secondary), Tanja Fitzgerald (Cobb Middle School) and Jimbo Jackson (Fort Braden School).

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For the 17th year, Tim and Stephanie Jansen invited friends to enjoy an “Eve of Christmas Eve” party at their spectacularly decorated Highgrove home. The party started as a way to invite their daughters’ little friends and their parents over to enjoy some Christmas cheer. Most of those “little ones” are in high school and college now, but they’re calling in September to make sure the party’s still on. Pouring rain the night of
Dec. 23 didn’t put a damper on the festivities; the party moved inside, and although they were “packed like sardines,” it just made the event even friendlier, said Stephanie.

Among those attending were Coach Mike Martin and family, Larry and Amber Pendelton, Rob and Carolyn Bradford, Will and Susie McKinley, Mark and Sally Rosser, Pat and Kecia Dorsey, David and Kathy Maus, Elroy and Lisa Caldwell, Manny and Pat Gonzalez, Ryan and Jennifer Davis, Bill and Ida Thompson and Dr. Kirk and Diane Mauro.

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Celebrity Chef Art Smith returned to Tallahassee in January for Pigmania!, an homage to foods porcine and a fundraiser for Goodwood Museum and Gardens. The feast kicked off with appetizers such as sweet potato fries with bacon and sweet chili sauce, and corn and bacon chowder with corn bread. Main dishes included bacon, pork, empanadas, tamales and an oyster bar. Ed Blissard of Purple Martin Outpost and Peculiar Goods created wonderful decorations for the venue and food tables.

Among those “pigging out” were Morgan and Bradford Lewis, Lynn Solomon, Grover and Judy McKee, Rick and Martha Barnett, Jeff and Ron Schomburger, Beth and Lanny Lewis, Caroline Conway and Ryan Poole, Kim Smiley and Gabe Hanway, Stuart and Cissy Proctor and Joann Bixler.