HOMES OF THE TREASURE COAST
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218 sw federal highway, stuart
www.petitesurprise.com • 772.287.8030
monday - friday 10 am to 5 pm
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Dear Mom,
Here’s how
42
xo
Results
Count!
I spent
my winter
vacation!
Kathy Brandon
kathy@kathybrandon.com
www.kathybrandon.com
772.834.8832
Beachland Real Estate
N. Hutchinson Island FL
“BEACH LIFESTYLE PROFESSIONAL”
HUTCHINSON ISLAND RESIDENT, YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR BROKER
Guests enter Astrachan’s house through
impressive 10-foot-high mahogany doors.
‘It’s perfect for you,’ he says. ‘You’ve been involved with theater
all of your life.’ So I called the next day and asked if they
have any volunteer opportunities.”
OPENING DOORS
It didn’t take long for her to go from answering phones one
afternoon a week to proofreading five days a week. Eventually
she was asked if she wanted to donate $10,000 yearly and
become a Patron Producer.
“Life has been very good to me,” she says. “It’s time for me
to give back. I don’t have any heirs.”
Last year, Astrachan was asked to be on Riverside’s board
of directors, which is involved in choosing the shows to
produce. “It was one of the most happy days of my life,” she
says, beaming. “Their decision was unanimous, and I was
told that was the first time that had ever happened.”
As a former teacher, Astrachan says she was passionate
about getting high school students involved in the theater. For
the past few years she has paid for students from Vero Beach
High School, St. Edward’s High School, Indian River Charter
High School and Sebastian High School to attend various
Riverside productions, including a “talk back” after the show,
where the actors answer the students’ questions. But there are
a few requirements — as part of Astrachan’s endeavor is to
teach students life skills. To this end, she asks the principals
of the schools to give the students an assignment, and in
addition, she visits the schools herself and instructs the
students on how to properly dress for the theater and what not
to bring cellphones, for starters — and it works.
“The way the kids behave in the theater is not to be believed,”
she says. “It makes me so joyous. I drive home from
those matinees and I cry. But don’t worry. I cheer up quickly. I
love my little home.”
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