"Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many." - Mark Twain THE RANGER REPORT - DECEMBER 2025 - The Official Newsletter of The Mighty Manatees Medicine Show "Celebrating Our 40 Year Manaversary!" Greetings and salutations. The Mighty Manatees would like to send out a mighty thanks to all of our friends, family and Fanatees who came out last month to our Neil Young Birthday Tribute at The Gem, and our Annual Friendsgiving at Steel City. Both shows were sold out. We really appreciate your appreciation. THE RETURN OF OUR WEB SIGHT! - It's true! After our dear Karl Frick's untimely passing last year, our website was accidentally deleted. It's been down for over a year but now due to the hard work of John RB, Todd Fritsche, and especially Ken Bernardo, our website has been restored and is now back up and running. Our Calendar, 500+ Song List, Photo Gallery, Poster Gallery, Comix, Press Clippings, Ranger Reports, YouTube clips, and perhaps most amazingly, a new page called Archives that takes you to our Mighty Manatees audio data-base. There are almost 700 live audio recordings of us dating from the late 80's right up to last week! And the shows are indexed so you can choose a date, and even find a specific song. We are very grateful to all the recording engineers over the years that have made this possible including Michael Jones, Todd Fritsche, and Marc Klempner. New content is being added all the time. Check out our newly restored website at: http://www.themightymanatees.com RETURN TO THE RAVEN'S CLAW! - This Friday, Dec. 5, the acoustic trio of Ray Adkins, Randy Wagner, and I will be playing Sessano at the Raven's Claw Golf Club, 120 Masters Dr., Pottstown, PA. Showtime is 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Special musical guest ted The Fiddler. Happy Hour Specials from 5 - 7. Thanks to Graham Crouse. http://www.ravensclawgolfclub.com RIBBY HOLIDAY SHOW! - Ho, ho, ho! Our electric band will play a holiday show at The Ribby in Bridgeport, PA, this Saturday night, December 6. Special musical guests! Have some eggnog! Go caroling! Showtime is 9:00 to 12:30 AM. Three holiday cheers for Melissa Navitsky! http://www.theribby.com FREE WILL BREWING - We will return to Free Will Brewing in Perkasie, PA, on Friday, December 12. Showtime is 7:00 to 10:00 PM. This is another holiday show! Bring some mistletoe! http://www.freewillbrewing.com PANACHE CHRISTMAS SHOW! - Felix Navidad! Randy Wagner and I will join Bob Tomlinson on Saturday, December 13, for some hot chocolate and song at Panache in Blue Bell, PA. Showtime is 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Wear an ugly sweater! http://www.panachewoodfiregrill.com CHAMBERS 19 - Deck the halls! Randy and I will join Bob T again for an evening of merriment on Friday, December 19, in Doylestown, PA. Showtime is 7:30 to 11:30 PM. http://www.chambers19.com ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION! - Please join Ray, Randy, and I on Saturday, December 20, at the United Church of Christ at Valley Forge, 45 Walker Road, Wayne, PA, for a free, uplifting, in-person, interfaith celebration featuring inspirational music and presentations from Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Native American, and New Thought Traditions. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the celebration runs from 6:30 to 8:30 PM followed by a reception with light refreshments. They're even going to let me play their grand piano! (We will also be celebrating Ray's 70th birthday!) This event is being presented by the Greater Philadelphia Center For Spiritual Living. http://www.cslphilly.org YOUR MONTHLY FARACOS - This month's Faracos show in Quakertown, PA, is on Saturday, December 27. Showtime is 6:00 to 9:00. Tomato pie and the mighty Tom Mussleman on percussion! VIDEO OF THE MONTH - This month's video was created by the late great Karl "K-Jo" Frick. This is the Manatees Christmas song, "Christmas Day". https://youtu.be/RaqB1FEAcKM?si=cqF_-p3jKg6ug74V Have a safe, warm, happy and healthy holiday, Ranger Will Wednesday's Child DECEMBER 2025 - 4 - Thurs - Band Rehearsal 7:30 - 10:30 5 - Fri - Sessano at Raven's Claw Golf Club, Pottstown, PA 6 - 9 6 - Sat - The Ribby, Bridgeport, PA 9 - 12:30 12 - Fri - Free Will Brewing, Perkasie, PA 7 - 10 13 - Sat - Panache, Blue Bell, PA 8 - 11 19 - Fri - Chambers 19, Doylestown, PA 7:30 - 11:30 20 - Sat - ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION, United Church of Christ at Valley Forge, Wayne, PA 6:30 - 8:30 25 - Thurs - CHRISTMAS 27 - Sat - Faracos, Quakertown, PA 6 - 9 28 - Sun - NCL, Bryn Athyn, PA 10:30 - 11:30 AM http://www.newchurchlive.tv 31 - Wed - NEW YEAR'S EVE - Private Event 9 - 1 IN PASSING - Vivian M Tates...Jimmy Cliff...Alice Wong...Hilly Boy Michaels...Jamie Anderson...Pauline Collins...James Watson...Diane Ladd...John Wesley Ryles...Sarah Beckstrom...Dave Ball...Lee Weaver...Gibson Lavis...Sally Kirkland...Wesley Susse...Richard Darbyshire...Udo Kier...Cleto Escobedo lll...Katha Navitsky...Murray Mullins...Eunice "Dawn" Elsie Little Sky...Jack DeJohnette...Colleen Jones...Rodney Rogers...Dharmendra...George Altman...Mother Viola Ford Fletcher...Jellybean Johnson...Leroy & Rybread (dogs)