Calendar p. 2 Pastor Bob

Don’t judge a book by its cover By Pastor Bob Wallace

I remember a story from my childhood that’s worth retelling. It’s a true story which happened one sunny September at a Cadillac dealership in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was just after World War II. Probably 1946. New car production had started up again. The public had begun a stampede to replace their old cars with brandspanking new ones. They had driven their pre-war cars throughout the war years and eagerly awaited Detroit’s unveiling of new cars to buy.

Servicemen were returning from the war and had enough money saved up to buy new cars. Jobs weren’t hard to find. There were job training programs plus the GI Bill to help prepare veterans for civilian work. Small affordable houses with detached garages for new cars were going up at a record pace. One could be bought with no money down on a VA loan and no points. Thirty-year loans cost 1 percent interest.

Our nation’s future was just around the corner. Prosperity was on the rise. It was almost the time President Roosevelt had spoken about during the Depression years of 1930 and before the war when he had said there would be a car in every garage and a chicken in every pot. We were changing from a war machine to peacetime prosperity. Affluence was not yet upon everyone, but there were signs of it. One sign of prosperity was the car you drove. Well, it seems a fella’ walked into the only Cadillac dealership showroom floor on Boston Avenue in Tulsa. He looked anything but prosperous. He was wearing a pair of soiled bib overalls. A sweaty faded blue work shirt. A floppy, stained straw hat. And high-top work shoes that probably had never seen a coat of shoe polish. The car salesmen were old-timers. They had experience sizing up people who could afford to buy a new Cadillac. They snickered under their breath at the disheveled man looking at their cars. They said to their newest salesman, “He’s yours, if you want him.” The young man left the group of grinning salesmen, walked over to the customer, and said, “May, I help you, sir?”

The old man replied, “Is this all ya’ got, sonny?” He looked around the showroom floor at three shiny new Cadillacs.

“No, sir, we have a lot more. These are only the ones we’ve gotten ready to put out here to show.”

“That’s fine. I like ‘em.” He nodded and turned around to see a red convertible, a blue two door coupe and a big, shiny black four door Cadillac which looked as long as a city block. “I’ll take ‘em.”

“You’ll what?” the young salesman asked as if he had not heard correctly what the old man had just said.

“I’ll take all of ‘em”, as he pulled a roll of bills out of his bib overalls pocket large enough to choke a mule. The old man peeled off several crisp new $100 bills, along with a couple of bigger ones and said, “How much?”

As the young man ran to get his sales book he glanced over to see the shocked expression on the faces of the salesmen who had watched the scene unfold. They just stood, shaking their heads from side to side. They realized they had made a very costly assumption about the customer in the soiled bib overalls.

“I’ll get ‘em tomorrow,” the old man said loudly as he left and smiled at the gawking salesmen.

I’ve never forgotten that story. It’s one which says a lot about how we see one another.

Still, there have been other times when I’ve been working in the yard and just needed to run to the store for something and was ignored. Was it how I looked? Unshaven with soiled clothes and unkempt hair that turned people off? Probably!

“Never judge a book by its cover”, my mother always said. It still holds true today!

The Reverend Doctor Bob N. Wallace was called to be Pastor of Everglades Community Church on March 19, 2006 where he currently serves. Visit the Church website: www.ever-community-church.com

***ECC Fundraiser*** Pulled Pork Dinner

February 24, 2022 5:00 to 7:00 PM

Everglades Community Church

Eat In or Take Out

$12 Adults, $5 Kids (under 12) For Tickets email: vskanning@aol.com

EVERGLADES COMMUNITY CHURCH The Friendly Little Church on the Circle NON-DENOMINATIONAL 101 S. Copeland Avenue, PO Box 177 Everglades City, FL 34139, 239-784-7318 The Rev. Dr. Bob N. Wallace, Pastor Sunday Worship Service 11:00 am Sunday School 9:45 am www.ever-community-church.com

H e r e’s W h a t’s H a p p e n i n g A t T h e M u s e u m o f E v e r g l a d e s

First opened in 1927 as a commercial laundry, the building that now houses Museum of the Everglades is one of the historic structures still standing as a testament to the town’s time as a once-bustling center of business and the region’s first County seat.

The Museum of the Everglades is open Tuesday—Saturday from 9am to 4 pm.

Exhibit Everglades-The Fisherman’s Paradise Luring Anglers to Florida for Over a Century

Now – February 27, 2022

Museum of the Everglades

This exhibit tells the story of Everglades City’s evolution from a secret fishing hole known only to locals and a few wealthy Northerners in the late 1800s to a highly desirable destination for world class sportfishing today. The guides, the gear, and the area’s influence on the industry are discussed along with Barron Collier’s discovery, branding, and promotion of the town as Fisherman’s Paradise.

Event History of Everglades City March 17, 2022, 2:00 pm—3:00 pm

While many early settlers were attracted by the area’s diverse and plentiful fish and game, it was the extraordinarily fertile soil that caused them to stay. Squash, pumpkins, and cucumbers gave way to sugarcane and tomatoes — crops still grown throughout the region. Pioneer farms supplying soldiers in the Civil War would eventually grow into massive fields of tomatoes contributing 80% of the fast-food industry’s supply nationwide. This presentation will discuss the rich history of farming and food cultivation in the area for both family use and for profit.

Event The Other Side of “Progress:” The Tamiami Trail’s Dark Legacy April 17, 2022, 2:00 pm—3:00 pm

Although the construction of a highway across the Everglades in the mid-1920s is still celebrated as a miracle of modern engineering, the devastating effects this edifice would have on both the ecosystems of the Everglades and the culture of the region’s indigenous people is often overlooked. This day-before-Earth-Day presentation will explore the unfortunate effects of the road’s creation as well as the long history of schemes to drain the Everglades and recent efforts to reverse the damage done.

Please make reservations online at colliermuseums.com OR by calling the museum at 239-252-5026 during museum hours, Tuesday – Saturday. 9am-4pm. Thank You!

Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) Other names: crow / Status: FL=stable, IUCN=LC / Life span: to 14 years / Length: 14-16 in. (36-40 cm) / Wingspan: 33 in. (84 cm) / Weight: 7-12 oz (190-340 g) / Nests: along the coast / Found: SC, ChC, LC, CC, coastal, near coast / Months found: JFMAMJJASOND (lower case indicates breeding and nesting season). The fish crow, although slightly smaller, is all but impossible to discern from the American crow. The American crow is almost never found along the coastline, however, so the chances are that any crow you see along the coast is a fish crow. One distinctive difference between the two birds is the call; the fish crow is famous for its nearly constant cah, uh-uh.

The fish crow is unique in that it is one of very few birds endemic to North America. It does not have the range of the American crow, extending only as far north as Rhode Island, while the American crow’s range extends all the way to the Northwest Territories. The American crow far outnumbers the fish crow. Unlike its cousin, however, the fish crow does not appear to be as vulnerable to the West Nile virus, which in some regions has decimated American crow populations.

A highly adaptable bird, the fish crow feeds on garbage, eggs, insects, carrion, ticks from livestock, various berries, and some fruit. Like all crows, jays, and ravens, the fish crow appears to be capable of learned behaviors. The fish crow, for example, has learned to pick up a mollusk, fly high above a rock pile or highway and release it, breaking the shellfish open so the bird can feed on it. While not quite at the same level as the tool-using green heron, it is a fascinating example of avian intelligence.

Huge flocks of fish crows, called murders, roost on islands in and around St. Petersburg and Tampa where they number in the thousands. The fish crow has adapted well to the habits of Homo sapiens and because of that is expanding its range throughout the region.

Charles Sobczak is a writer and author from Sanibel, FL. His books can be found at Amazon.com and other online booksellers.

Photo of fish crow by Charles Sobczak

Lawn Watering Ordinance For All Everglades City Water Customers (Including Chokoloskee, Plantation, Copeland)

Everglades City Water Customers, there are new water ordinances in effect. Here are a few of the key rules. For the compete ordinance, contact City Hall.

 All customers existing landscape: No watering between

the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

 Those with an even numbered address: watering days

are Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

 Those with an odd numbered address: watering days are

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

 The ordinance also states that “wasteful and unnecessary

water use is prohibited.”

City Hall Contact Information: (239) 695-3781

The Island Life Recipes

Fennel and Potato Gratin ala Ina Garten Submitted by Elaine Middelstaedt

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil ½ tablespoon unsalted butter 1 fennel bulb, stalks and fronds cut off*, sliced thin in half length & crosswise 1 yellow onion, sliced thin 2 large russet potatoes, peeled and slice thin 1-1/2 cups heavy cream, plus one tablespoon 1-1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese (can sub Swiss cheese), divided ½ teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or more, if desired)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large frying pan, heat olive oil and butter, then add sliced fennel and onion, and cook until tender, about 10 or 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place sliced potatoes in a large bowl, add 1 cup shredded cheese, salt and pepper, and 1-1/2 cups heavy cream, mixing well. Add cooked fennel and onion, and mix again. Butter a 9 x 9 inch baking dish. Pour in the potato mixture and pat down until smooth. Mix the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese, and 1 tablespoon of cream. Spread this over the top of the casserole.

Bake for about an hour until golden brown on top. Remove from oven, and let rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

*Save the stalks for making soup stock, and the fronds for salad garnish.

M U L L E T R A P P E R S U D O K U

2/19/22

How to solve a sudoku puzzle:

Only use the numbers 1 to 9 Avoid trying to guess the solution to the puzzle Only use each number once in each row, column, & grid Use the process of elimination as a tactic Use cross-hatching and penciling in techniques

The 52nd Annual Everglades Seafood Festival was held February 11-13th. People ask me what I think the festival means to the town.

In this short space I will attempt to sum it up. Many non-profits from our area considers the festival their number one fundraiser of the year.

Businesses in the area are able to showcase their products and services to about 50,000 sets of eyeballs in a 3 day period. As a career marketing professional, I can tell you that this is a very good thing.

Our school not only raises funds, but the students learn about entrepreneurship, fundraising and teamwork by working the festival.

Area churches are all active during the festival. Holy Family and Everglades Community raise money on parking. Chokoloskee Church of God sells baked good each year.

The local museum gets noticed. Stone Crabs galore. The list goes on.

Yes. There is a mess post-festival...but they clean that up. Yes. We like our sleepy little town which is anything but “sleepy’ for those three days. It’s loud and some visitors are a bit obnoxious. BUT (and that is a big but), it is three tiny days for the benefit of many.

It’s only three days. We have everything we are here for—for the other 362 days. I will take that every single year. Bring it on!

Taxing Things by Mike “the tax guy” Klein

The IRS has issued all first, second and third Economic Impact Payments (EIP).

You may be eligible to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2020 or 2021 federal tax return if you didn't get an Economic Impact Payment or got less than the full amount.

It is important to understand that the Economic Impact Payments applied to different tax years. Depending on whether you missed the first, second or third payment, you will need to file either a 2020 or 2021 tax return to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit.

Payments You Received:

IRS EIP Notices: These notices were mailed to the address on file with the IRS:

Notice 1444: Shows the first Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2020

Notice 1444-B: Shows the second Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2020

Notice 1444-C: Shows the third Economic Impact Payment sent for tax year 2021

Letter 6475: Through March 2022:

IRS will send this letter confirming the total amount of the third Economic Impact Payment and any plus-up payments you received for tax year 2021.

You will need the total payment information your letter to accurately calculate your Recovery Rebate Credit.

For married filing joint individuals, each spouse will need to review their own letter for their half of the total payment.