BSL Architectural Review Update
– June 2024
By Betty Ingerson, BSL
Board of Directors, ARC
Liaison
Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Single-Family Home Applications slowed down a bit in June. There were five new home applications, but only two were recommended for approval. Fifteen other applications were reviewed and nine were recommended for approval.
As of June 30, 2024, there were 111 new homes in the construction process. Forty-eight new homes have received certificates of occupancy in the current fiscal year (October 2023 to September 2024).
The following architectural projects were either approved or conditionally approved by the Burnt Store Lakes Board of Directors during the June 11, 2024, Board Meeting.
ADDRESS BOARD APPROVED PROJECT
NEW HOMES
16165 Limegrove Ct HOME: 3,133 Sq Ft (2,133 AC). 2 bedrooms, three baths, den, 3 car garage, and paver driveway by DM Dean, Inc. Tile roof color Boral Saxony 900 Slate (gray). Home color Olympus White, trim color Lazy Gray. Includes pool.
17269 Cape Horn Blvd SPEC HOME: 2,963 Sq Ft (1,989 AC). 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, office, paver driveway, and 3 car garage by Ferrara Construction Services. Tile roof color Cayon Dusk Blend. Home color White, trim color Gray. No pool.
OTHER CONSTRUCTION
24340 Nicobar Lane POOL HOUSE ADDITION: Install a 25 ft x 20 ft pool house addition connected to home via a roofed breezeway by JC Building Co, LLC. Pool house is on other side of pool. Note: Pool was approved in May 2024.
24491 Julian Ct ROOF: Tile-to-Metal, color Barn Red by Whitby Roofing.
16394 San Lucas Ln ROOF: Tile-to-Metal, color Sierra Tan by Noland’s Roofing.
16343 San Edmundo Rd ROOF: Tile-to-Metal, color Ash Gray (SRI .41) by Apex Roofing and Restoration.
17087 Monza Rd ROOF: Tile-to-Metal, color Westlake Steel-Shake-Timberwood by Green Coast Roofing. Note: Roof material has a “pebbled” coating. 17253 Cape Horn Blvd ROOF: Tile-to-Metal, color Unified Steel-Shake-Timberwood by Green Coast Roofing. Note: Roof material has a “pebbled” coating.
16872 Acapulco Rd ENCLOSURE SHIELDS: 6 ft wide by 8 ft long by 4 ft high enclosure shield with front gate for garbage cans, and one 12 foot long by 4 ft high single shield for pool equipment. White PVC. Installation by Dolphin Fence Corp.
24491 Julian Ct EXTERNAL PAINT & TRIM: Repaint home trim from Moroccan Brown to Barn Red by Owner. Trim to match roof color. Home color is beige.
16437 Cape Horn Blvd
EXTERNAL PAINT & TRIM: Repaint home and trim from Cream with Sunburst trim to Delicate White with Whiskers trim by Owner.
Annual Meeting And Board Of Directors Election
Preparations are underway for our Annual Meeting that will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 9:30 a.m. at the Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, Fla. There are four directors whose terms are expiring—Thomas Freimark, Richard Hefright, Elisabeth Geltz and Rick Mathis. In July, a “First Notice” of the meeting was mailed to all property owners of record as of that date in accordance with our bylaws. Included in the mailing was a “Candidate Statement of Interest” form to be completed if anyone is interested in volunteering their time to our community. A short biography may be submitted in lieu of the form. The deadline for submissions was Aug. 1, however, we may continue to accept candidates up to a week before printing the ballots and other annual meeting materials. Printing is scheduled for the week of Aug. 26, mailing by Sept. 16. Please note that in accordance with Section 4.1 of our bylaws it states: “As Members have been given the opportunity to nominate themselves in advance and prior to the annual meeting where the election will take place, nominations from the floor shall not be accepted.”
Sandy Funk, President
Trust Me … It’s A Good Thing!
At a recent Board of Directors meeting, the new owner of Seabreeze, publisher of The Heron Herald, informed the board members of a change in format for the newspaper. In the upcoming months, the current printed paper format will be changed to a digital format, with a minimum number of printed newspapers still available at the POA office. Details of the digital links and how to access The Heron Herald will be shared when those details are made available to us.
BSLPOA Board Members Paula Short, Newspaper Editor
Board Of Directors
Sandy Funk ~ President Liaison – Long-Range Planning
Richard Hefright ~ Vice President Liaison – Mechanical & Maintenance and Beautification
Elisabeth Geltz ~ Secretary Liaison – Drainage and Swales
David Todd ~ Treasurer Liaison – Lakes Quality
Thomas Freimark ~ Director-At-Large Liaison – Beautification
Betty Ingerson ~ Director-At-Large Liaison – Communications Liaison – Architectural Review
Richard Mathis ~ Director-At-Large Liaison – Safety and Preparedness Board Of Directors Community Standards
Board of Directors meeting is Tuesday, August 13 at 3 p.m.
Meetings are hybrid meetings held in the Community Center and available by Zoom. 16500 Burnt Store Road, Suite 102 (941) 639-5881
June 28 - August 10
Everyone’s favorite nanny is back! Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she helps teach the family how to value each other again. Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of an irresistible story, breathtaking dance numbers and unforgettable songs such as Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
August 16 - September 21
In a blend of suspense and humor, the renowned Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, crafts a captivating murder mystery. At a secluded countryside guesthouse, seven strangers find themselves snowed in. Their predicament takes a chilling turn when a police sergeant arrives on skis, revealing there’s a killer among them. As suspicion mounts, each guest unveils their murky past, adding layers of intrigue to unfolding drama.
Dates may be subject to change.
From My Lanai
From Eisenhower to Biden, I have endured. I have been challenged and yet thrived. I prayed through the tough times, and I prayed through the best of times. But today, as I sit on my lanai, I take stock of my crazy history that somehow didn’t kill me.
In my life I have lived through a presidential assassination, a car hitting my childhood home and landing in my bedroom, the first recorded F5 tornado, a full force blizzard leaving me trapped in a discotheque for three days, being lost in a fog bank in Maryland for hours, the unexpected death of our child, a hotel fire in Nashville while sleeping on the
Purple Martins
Results 2024
It seemed like a normal year, except for the fact that the scouts, the babies from two years ago, arrived from Brazil on Jan. 19, a week earlier than last year; the sub-adults, last year’s babies, arrived on Feb. 15. They had their long migration flight back from Brazil, some flying for 30 straight hours. These 1.7-ounce birds lose up to 50 percent of their body weight during the northern migration. Upon arrival, they spend their first weeks bulking up their bodies in preparation for the breeding season. The first eggs were laid on March 14. All gourds had eggs by April 3 – over 100! The birds’ food supply also came earlier with many dragonflies and other insects.
On that fateful day of April 3, there were windstorm gusts of over 50 mph which knocked down the pole with eight gourds and 38 eggs inside them. I came home from a meeting to find the pole and gourds on the ground. At some earlier point, our lawn service had accidently hit the pole with their lawn tractor and weakened it. I am one of about 15 Floridians that inspects each gourd and the babies weekly to report the numbers of successes or failures to the National/ International Purple Martin Conservation Association. They use this data from all USA and Canadian reporters to monitor the progress of the species, in which there has been on a serious decline for many years. They also band several birds and put tiny GPS instruments on the birds’ backs for tracking and timing.
Anyhow, I quickly sprang into action, removing the gourds from the downed pole. Before doing this, I placed some of the good eggs that were next to a gourd opening back into it. The parent birds were going crazy in the air above me. Many of the other eggs were damaged by the fall, and they were put in a separate pile. I then used a saws-all to cut off the pole to be put back in a new hole which I dug next. I then drove to Home Depot and bought a sack of quick dry cement and four strong metal stakes. I mixed the cement, put it in the hole, and put the sawed-off pole in the new hole. At this point, the wind gusts were still 30plus mph. I hammered the four stakes into the ground to support the pole and attached strong ropes to the pole to hold it steady. I waited about a half hour for the cement to cure and reinstalled the gourds. All my gourds have numbers or alphabets on them so that the gourds could be positioned in their correct direction before the fall. The adults know the position of their gourds, and if I had put them in the wrong position, they may have abandoned the nest or destroyed the eggs. The suggested height for these poles is 14 feet. The cut down pole’s lower gourds were only 7 feet off the ground. Even with this, none of
13th floor, a whiteout on I-75-S with an 85-car pileup, a small airplane that dropped 16 times before finally landing, a hawk flying through the windshield of my VW bug on westbound I-70, 9/11/2001, three major surgeries, a global pandemic, acute kidney failure, a brain bleed and concussion, and (now) a category 5 hurricane.
In retrospect, I think I deserve a break. Just a moment to stop, reflect and be grateful as I sit on my lanai. #Imstillstanding - #Godisgood - #Dontmesswithme Ava Ritter
the birds abandoned their nests. Three gourd nests had the parents lay additional eggs.
In total, 22 eggs were lost, broken in the fall. These fallen pole wonder bird adults, 16 of them, then laid another 21 eggs, one gourd with two existing eggs getting seven more new eggs. If all hatch, there will be at least nine babies in this gourd. Six big babies make for a very full gourd before fledging. We didn’t know how many of the existing fallen eggs would hatch, and some did, and some did not. Additionally, some eggs may simply not hatch for a reason unknown, or the parent bird may throw them out of the nest. We call the new hatched babies our miracle babies . On Pole No. 1, we ended up with 58 total eggs (many lost in the fall), 27 hatchlings and 27 fledglings. Because the gourds were on the ground for about five hours, we were hoping for maybe 10 fledglings at best to make it. Mother Nature was very kind to us this year. Our Pole No. 2 had 69 eggs, 62 hatchlings and 60 fledglings, making it a very good year.
We learned a few things from this disaster. These birds are fighters and trust their landlords, the people who have the purple martin setups; that some eggs and birds will survive such an event no matter how unlikely it may seem when it happens.
All the fledglings have now left the nest as of June 19. Some come back for a limited time before joining large flocks that go back to Brazil. Before their long trip in late July or August, they spend about a month bulking up on insects to give them the strength for the journey.
If anyone in Burnt Store Lakes is interested in being a landlord, please contact me. Supplies can be found at purplemartin.org.
Now we must wait for six months for the purple martins to return to us in January 2025.
Bill Kimber, Florida Master Naturalist, Kimber.bill@yahoo.com
Purple Martin Conservation Association, PurpleMartin.org
Purple Martin Society of Florida on Facebook
The mission of the Peace River Wildlife Center is to contribute to the survival of native Florida wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, and education.
During the month of June, PRWC admitted 284 animals. This brings our total intake for 2024 to 1,495. Our rehabilitation team released 49 animals back into the wild and transferred four to another wildlife facility.
Please do not bring injured wildlife to the Ponce Park location. PRWC’s wildlife hospital located at 223 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for injured animal care.
Our education center and gift shop at Ponce Park are open to the public for visits and tours from 11a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week.
Clear Your Gear!
This brown pelican was found at the Boca Grande phosphate docks. It had a hook in its right leg that the rescuer removed. It was brought to PRWC for supportive medical, antiinflammatory and antibiotic
treatment. While undergoing treatment, it also coughed up two additional hooks.
Just a reminder of how important it is to remove all fishing tackle and line while enjoying our beautiful Florida recreation! Also, please never feed wild pelicans leftover bait or fish scraps.
Red-Shouldered Hawk Release
This adult, red-shouldered hawk was brought to us after being found caught in a barbed wire fence. The hawk still had the barb attached, and our rehab team removed, cleaned and dressed the wound. The barb had injured the hawk’s patagium, which is the expandable membrane that stretches between the body and wing that enables gliding and flying.
After 19 days of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and supportive care, the hawk was ready for release. Another successful rehab story, thanks to the attentive rescuer and our rehab team!
Fun Facts
The red-shouldered hawk gets its name primarily from its striking coloration. The most distinctive feature of the redshouldered hawk is its reddish-brown patches on the leading edge of its wings, visible when the bird is perched or flying. Beyond its red shoulders, this hawk exhibits a beautiful mix of colors. Its head and underparts are generally pale with a streaked appearance, while the back and wings are dark brown with a checkerboard pattern of white spots. This coloration provides effective camouflage in its woodland habitat.
Juvenile, red-shouldered hawks have a different coloration than adults. They are more uniformly brown with pale streaks on their underparts and lack the red shoulder patches until they molt into adult plumage.
The prominent red patches are very notable on the wings and are a key feature for identifying this species in the wild.
A Digital Safety Travel List
While vacations are an opportunity to forget about dayto-day cares, they’re also an occasion for bad actors to try and ruin your trip through scams, theft and identity fraud. Here are some digital items to “pack” on your next trip so you can stay protected and enjoy greater peace of mind.
• Data backup: Before heading out, be sure to back up your data to an external hard drive or the cloud (preferably both). Do this for all your devices, so that if any device is lost, stolen, or damaged while you’re on vacation, you’ll still have access to important files and settings.
• Multifactor authentication: Given the unfamiliar surroundings, it’s easy to see how devices can disappear during vacations. Should it happen to you, you’ll want to make sure that your device can’t be unlocked even if it falls into the wrong hands. The best way to do it: Enable multifactor authentication, which confirms your identity by asking you to take more than one action at login. To unlock your device, the first step should involve a passcode; the second step should involve biometric authentication such as scanning your face or fingerprint. On an iPhone, set up Touch ID or Face ID. On Android devices, set up fingerprint scanning.
• Password management: From booking a travel itinerary to doing some casual shopping poolside, chances are you’ll be logged in to some of your online accounts before and during your trip. Make sure you’re using strong passwords that others can’t hack into. The simplest way
August 18, 2024
The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 (a 47 percent increase), and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population is projected to rise from 17 to 23 percent. The U.S population is older today than it has ever been.
to handle passwords – without having to remember all of them – is to use a password manager. It’s a tool that automatically creates and stores encrypted, hard-to-guess passwords for all your accounts. You use just a single strong password to open it and from there you can easily access your accounts. A password manager allows you to safely store not only passwords but sensitive personal data like banking and credit card information, passports and Social Security information.
• Virtual private network (VPN): Most people want to stay connected while on vacation, which means using Wi-Fi at hotels, airports, tourist spots and other public areas. Unfortunately, those places are fertile ground for scammers who can tap into open Wi-Fi networks to spy on you, track you, or plant malware on your device. They can even create their own fake networks to collect your personal data and steal your identity. When traveling, it’s a good idea to disable “auto-join” in your device’s Wi-Fi settings, so you can avoid connecting to unsafe open networks. If you must use public Wi-Fi, first activate a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your connection and delivers your data anonymously, so no one can access your personal information, online activity, or location.
• Software updates: In the time it takes for an ice cream cone to start melting in the hot sun, a new cyberthreat typically emerges. That’s why device manufacturers constantly update their operating systems to include the latest security fixes. The easiest way to ensure that your device has the most recent software upgrade is to go into your settings and turn on automatic updates. Similarly, make sure you have antivirus protection installed on your devices and that the software remains up to date.
• Credit card transaction alerts: Credit card fraud is a concern both at home and on the road—the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported more than 400,000 such cases in 2023. To help minimize any damage should fraudsters get hold of your card data, consider setting up specific types of transaction alerts through your credit
card company. For example, you might want to be alerted by text if a transaction exceeds a certain dollar amount or if there’s been an international transaction on your card.
• Credit monitoring: Need to stop at a gas station or ATM? Watch out for “skimming,” in which fraudsters tamper with the credit card swiping mechanism to steal information from your card’s magnetic strip. Having a contactless or chip-enabled card allows you to avoid swiping, but you might encounter older gas pumps or ATMs that don’t have this updated technology. If your credit card data is stolen, you might not know it until months later. Along with credit card transaction alerts, a good way to get an early warning about suspicious financial activity in your name is to set up continuous monitoring of your credit report and credit score.
• Stricter privacy settings: If you’re like a lot of people, you’ll post photos to social media in real time during your trip, so friends and family can share in your experiences. But if you have location services activated on your device, your exact location can be pinpointed through those images—which could lead to bad actors targeting you. It’s wise to turn off location services during your trip except when you need them for critical functions like navigation. Choose strict privacy settings on social media so that only trusted contacts can view your posts. Better still, consider waiting until you return home before posting those travel photos.
• Privacy and identity protection bundle: Whether dealing with limited cargo space in your car or crowded overhead bins on planes, you know the importance of packing your bags efficiently. That same thinking should go into choosing services for identity and privacy protection. Instead of purchasing individual cybersecurity measures, consider getting a comprehensive plan that bundles these services. Comprehensive plans offer a wide range of protective features – including credit monitoring, a VPN, social media monitoring, and a password manager – as well as $1 million in identity theft insurance and a 100 percent identity recovery money-back guarantee.
Good Neighbor Program
Let us know if you would like to be connected with a neighbor. Neighborhood Watch is accepting resident profiles as a community service for those who may need assistance from time to time, particularly in the event of a severe storm or hurricane.
To obtain a copy of the profile and/or to obtain additional information, contact Louise Barrett at (508) 728-8002 or
at lbarrett10@comcast.net. The BSL website (bslpoa.org) also has the profile forms and information available. Furthermore, you can register online at the State of Florida Special Needs registry for “special needs” status if you have a physical, mental, or sensory disability and require assistance during an emergency. Charlotte County Emergency Management, along with the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County, will strive to provide special needs sheltering and/or transportation to a general shelter.
The Cottage
From engaging activities tailored to stimulate cognitive abilities to personalized care plans that address each individual’s unique needs, our memory care aims to foster a sense of belonging and purpose.
We strive to create moments of joy and connection, empowering our residents to embrace life’s precious memories.
Schedule a tour today by calling 239-374-1115 and learn more about our comprehensive memory care.
Did You Know?
There Is No Such Thing As Vegetables, But You Should Eat Them Anyway
The rumors are true: Vegetables aren’t real – that is, in botany, anyway.
While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term for many types of edible plants.
You might think you know what carrots and beets are, but carrots, beets and other vegetables that grow in the ground are the true roots of plants. Lettuce and spinach are the leaves, while celery and asparagus are the stems, and greens such as broccoli, artichokes and cauliflowers are immature flowers, according to Steve Reiners, a professor of horticulture at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
As for produce that grows from flowers, such as peppers and tomatoes, the hot-debated crops are botanically classified as fruits, Reiners added. Cucumbers, squash, eggplant and avocados are also classified as fruit due to their anatomy, according to the European Food Information Council.
The term vegetable does not have a set definition when it comes to botany. However, in horticulture, the science of growing garden crops, a vegetable is defined as any herbaceous plant – a fleshy plant that completes its life cycle in a growing season – in which some portion “is eaten either cooked or raw, during the principal part of the meal, and not as like a snack or dessert.”
The legal definition of a vegetable versus a fruit – at least in the United States – was determined during a 19th century U.S. Supreme Court case that concluded that the tomato is a vegetable.
While vegetables are just the roots, stems and leaves of plants, experts don’t recommend eating just any roots, stems and leaves.
One example is rhubarb. The fleshy stalk is the edible part of the plant, but the leaves are poisonous. Stay
safe by eating plants that grocery stores commonly call vegetables.
“We know (vegetables) are healthy. We know the vitamin content, we know the mineral content,” Reiners said. “We know how much fiber is in all of it, and we also know that the vegetables you either grow or you’re purchasing at a farmers’ market or grocery store are safe to eat.”
By understanding the various parts of vegetables and the nutrients they carry, people can eat well, according to Sherri Stastny, a registered dietitian, and a professor in the Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercises Sciences at North Dakota State University. Stastny also stated that a head of broccoli is a great source of nutrients, but the stem of the green, which is more commonly thrown out, is also rich in fiber and nutrients. The regular consumption of flowery produce such as broccoli and cauliflower has been found to be associated with a decrease in the risk of cancer, she added.
“Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer in the United States, and we know that if you eat enough fruits and vegetables, you lower your risk for heart disease – and that goes along with obesity, diabetes and all these other chronic diseases. It is important to eat a variety of vegetables since each one will have varying beneficial nutrients,” Stastny said.
Dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale are great sources of certain phytonutrients, natural nutrients from plants that are beneficial to human health and help to maintain sharp eye vision, while carrots will help to strengthen night vision.
Per Stastny, “If you think of the richest, darkest, most colorful vegetables, that’s where you’re going to find those (nutrients),” while potassium-rich vegetables and fruit, such as potatoes, pumpkins and squash, could help to lower and maintain blood pressure.
For parents looking to get young kids to eat their fruits and veggies, breaking down the anatomy of the plant, while describing the colors, taste and texture, could be a fun and educational way of introducing the nutrient-dense foods to the early explorers.
Day proclaimed to commemorate the granting of the
Beware Of Fake Websites Imitating Official County Services
The Charlotte County Community Development Department would like to inform citizens about recent attempts to create malicious websites with URLs that closely resemble the official Citizen Access Portal address. The Citizen Access Portal provides online access to the county’s permits, licenses, plans review, code violations and site plan review system. These fraudulent sites are designed to mimic Accela products and redirect users to unauthorized locations, potentially compromising personal information.
To ensure your security and protect your personal information, please verify that you are using the correct URL when accessing the Citizen Access Portal: https:// aca-prod.accela.com/BOCC/Default.aspx?culture=en-US If you have any further questions or need assistance, you are encouraged to submit a support case through the official support portal. Please visit https://success. accela.com/s/article/Support-Portal-Success-A-bestpractice-guide-to-partnering-with-Accela-Support.
For additional information, call (941) 743-1201. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your ongoing cooperation in maintaining the security of our community.
vote to women in the USA.
August Events
John Lodge
Date: Friday, Aug. 2
Time: 8 to 9:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.)
Website: https://casino. hardrock.com/immokalee/ event-calendar
Event Description:
Seminole Casino Hotel welcomes legendary bass player, songwriter/vocalist of The Moody Blues and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Lodge as he performs “Days of Future Passed.” Attendees must be 21.
Location:
Seminole Casino Hotel, 506 South First St., Immokalee Contact Information: customercare@shrss.com
Fees/Admission:
Tickets start at $55 and can be purchased from Ticketmaster or at www.moreinparadise.com. Parking is free.
TikiFest
Date: Saturday, Aug. 3
Time: 12 to 6 p.m.
Website: http://www.fishermensvillage.com
Event Description: Annual TikiFest featuring specialty vendors, music, dancing, shopping and dining!
Location: Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda Contact Information: kburnam@fishersmanvillage.com
Fees/Admission: Free parking; free admission
Flip Flop Ball!
Date: Saturday, Aug. 3
Time: 6 to 10 p.m.
Website: http://www. puntagordachamber.com
Event Description: Join us for a spectacular evening of summer vibes with a relaxed beachthemed night of laid-back conversation and fun!
Location:
The Tiki at Four Points by Sheraton, 33 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda
Contact Information: reception@puntaGorda-chamber.com
Fees/Admission: TBD
Hunter Hayes
Date: Saturday, Aug. 3
Time: 8 to 9:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.)
Website: https://casino.hardrock.com/immokalee/eventcalendar
Event Description: Seminole Casino Hotel hosts Grammy award nominee Hunter Hayes live in concert. Attendees must be 21.
Location: Seminole Casino Hotel, 506 South First St., Immokalee Contact Information: customercare@shrss.com
Fees/Admission: Tickets start at $59 and are available from Ticketmaster or at www.moreinparadise.com. Parking is free
Sunset Sing-Along Karaoke Cruise
Date: Thursday, Aug. 15 and Friday, Aug. 30
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Website: https://fareharbor. com/embeds/book/ puntagordaadventures/ items/502154/ availability/1307939216/ book/?fullitems=yes&flow=876637
Event Description: If you think you could be on Punta Gorda’s Got Talent or have absolutely zero musical talent, this cruise is for you. This BYOB sunset dolphin cruise can hold up to 30 contestants, all battling it out for the “Golden Lei” – the ultimate bragging rights that certify you put on the best show. You’ll be able to choose from all your favorite songs, thousands of classic
What’s Happening on page 7
Consumer Alert
Recognize Business And Government Imposters Who Want Your Money
By Alvaro Puig, Consumer Education Specialist
Scammers pretending to be from the government tell convincing stories to steal your money or personal information. But now they’re taking a new, layered approach — and here are some clues to spot it.
The scammers first say they’re with a company and contact you about a routine problem, like suspicious charges on your Amazon account, a virus on your computer, or an account breach.
The story quickly escalates: They lie and say your name is involved in serious crimes and claim the court is about to seize the money in your bank account or retirement savings. (Also a lie.)
Next, they switch from being the bearer of bad news to acting like the hero. How? By (supposedly) connecting you to someone with the government to “help” you fix the problem.
But the person they transfer you to doesn’t work for the government. And they don’t help. They want to trick you into taking cash out of your bank or retirement account and giving it to someone.
Here’s what to know about how scammers try to deceive you:
• Scammers try to convince you they’re with the government to gain your trust by faking the caller ID to make it look like a government agency is calling.
• Scammers give you an employee ID or badge number or use the name of a real government employee.
• Scammers send official-looking letters with seals and make up government agency names that sound real but aren’t.
Someone who works for the government won’t tell you to get cash or gold and give it to someone. They won’t tell you to pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cryptocurrency. They won’t tell you to keep your conversation a secret or to lie to anyone. They won’t tell you to transfer money from your accounts to “protect” it or for any reason. Only scammers do those things. Check out How To Avoid Imposter Scams for more advice. And to report an imposter scam to the FTC, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What’s Happening from page 6
hits from the past 100 years! We have a cooler and mini fridge to keep your drinks cold all cruise long. There are also soft drinks and snacks available for purchase at the elevated bar. We have all the ice, cups, chasers and mixers for your alcohol, so just bring your best singing voice. Fact: Everyone sounds better after a few drinks, but you don’t have to sing karaoke. You can enjoy this sunset dolphin cruise and watch everyone else comfortably from our plush lounge seating. However, you will be excluded from the chance to win the “Golden Lei.” We have a fully electric flushing toilet on board, so don’t worry about a stinky outhouse. When the sun sets, the LED lights come on, and the crowd cheers for encores.
Location: Laishley Park Municipal Marina, 120 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda
Contact Information: (941) 646 - 8454 or experiences@puntagordaadventures.com
Fees/Admission:
$59 per adult – $35 per child
Recurring Activities
Trivia Night At Coastal Expressions & Wine
Every Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.
1133 Bal Harbor, Suite 1135, Punta Gorda
Contact information: Lori Sandage at (941) 214-8599 or at loriscoastal-expressions.com
Dance Fusion Class
Every Tuesday and Friday 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association, 2001 Shreve St., Punta Gorda or by Zoom Contact information: Carla Peralta, (941) 276-1887 or at carlap@hotmail.com.
Wine-O Bingo At Coastal Expressions & Wine
Every Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.
1133 Bal Harbor, Suite 1135, Punta Gorda
Contact information: Lori Sandage at (941) 214-8599 or at loriscoastal-expressions.com
Live Music At Fishermen’s Village
Every Friday and Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m.
1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda
Contact information at kathyb@fishville.com
Punta Gorda Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Downtown corner of Taylor and Olympia History Park Sunday Market
Every Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
History Park, 501 Shreve St., Punta Gorda Email: 118pghs@gmail.com
