The Forest Matters
FPOA President’s Update
Normally your correspondent would not lead off with an admonishment about our leash law. In this instance the importance of making sure your dog is on a leash when he or she is outside now has a very good reason; the presence of Cane toads in our community. Other names for these animals are Bufo, Giant or Marine. These toads have secretions on their epidermis which are lethally poisonous to canines. Should your pet bite one he should be taken to a vet immediately. These toads hide in bushes or other ground cover. So, it is wise to make sure your dog stays out of these growths at all times.
The professional eradication of these pests would take a lot of time and money and would be unsuccessful. Please keep in mind we abut a large preserve which is mostly swamp and is a perfect habitat for these animals. The kid’s game Whack a Mole comes to mind.
When, several months ago, we asked for a permit to restripe our roads, Lee County informed us we would have to remove the four speed-reducing humps we already had on our roads. The reason given was simple; they were illegal. It was also determined there were roads in need of re-paving. Finding a vendor to do the complete work of paving, removal
of the humps and replacing them with legal, speed calming tables and striping took some time. Agreeing on a schedule then took more time. Thankfully the work described has been completed.
Along with the tasks described above we had to wait until they were complete to contract for the cleaning of our sidewalks. This job has also been completed.
During our last FPOA board meeting the day to day responsibility for the operation of our community during the summer months was transferred by a vote of the Board of Directors to the Executive Committee. This authority is limited to issues which pertain to what makes everything we expect to occur in our community to do so. This authority will expire when next our full board meets on September 30th.
The management of The Forest needs to know where you can be reached during the time you are away over the summer months. The form for reporting this information may be located on our website or at the Main Gate office. This information will be kept confidential and will only be used when an emergency requires it.
New single family home owners are provided with copies of our rules, bylaws and deed restrictions for the Phase in
Alliance For The Arts
Transcendental: David Acevedo – Artist Exhibit June 7 to June 29, Opening Reception: June 7, 5 to 7 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public.
David Acevedo seeks to create a fantasy landscape where his memories and history can live in peace. The color palette he uses varies from time to time because of the ever-changing mind that dictates it. Never one to follow recipes, Acevedo creates his own mixture of mediums until he feels content.
The materials Acevedo uses to create his paintings are usually photographs, magazine cut-outs, acrylic paints, gesso, inks, pencils, dry and oil pastels, oils, enamels, colored markers and pens; applied to cotton rag paper or stretched canvas. A particular painting of his could have all of these mediums or as little as one. His pictorial work is recognizable by the bold colors, textures and compositions. A notable part of his work is the hidden message or symbols in the work, drawing the viewer into each piece and creating intrigue.
Wednesday Night Market
Wednesday 6/12, 7/10, 8/14, 9/11, 10/9, 11/13 and 12/11, 5 to 8 p.m.
Join us every second Wednesday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. for our monthly pop-up market. We feature a selection of
fresh produce, art, live music, food trucks and beer and wine. Members Only Book Club
June 18, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Join fellow Alliance members in the Main Gallery to explore literature – both fiction and nonfiction – revolving around art, artists, art history, and art appreciation. Participate in thoughtful group discussions and expand your appreciation and knowledge of the world of art!
The reading is Last Light – How Six Great Artists Made Old Age a Time of Triumph.
Classes
Painting Studio With Terry Lynn (Ages 16-plus, Beginner To Advanced)
June 4, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. OR 1 to 4 p.m. OR 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Recurs Six Tuesdays From June 4 to July 9
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180
Join beloved instructor and painter, Terry Lynn Spry, for her weekly fine art painting classes designed for the novice to the professional. Students are encouraged to work at their own level, and with their subject and medium of choice. In this class, you can expect to learn more about the spectrum of painting from realism to abstract, as well as, studies in portraiture, color control, composition, value study and drawing.
Making Bold Images With Collage And Water-Based Media (Ages 18-plus)
June 6, 2 to 4 p.m.
Recurs Six Thursdays
From June 6 to July 18
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180 Artist/Instructor Alexis Lago will share with you the joy of creating artistic images using collage and water based media. The
which they are living. If you do not have any or all of these documents copies may be obtained at the Main Gate office. Rules for the placement of homes on a lot are contained there.
Should a home owner need to modify his home or the surrounding landscaping a description of those modifications must be shown on the Architectural Review Form easily obtained at the aforementioned office. This form, when completed, needs to be turned in at the same office. The Architectural Review Committee will provide an opinion on whether the modifications proposed conform to our deed restrictions, rules and bylaws.
June 1st is the official start of the 2024 hurricane season. Now is the time to make sure all the protective measures you have taken are ready. Shutters, either electrically operated or manually installed need to be inspected to make sure they are operational.
Stay well, Chuck Patten, President, Board of Directors, Forest Property Owners Association
infinite possibilities of this path and how to make your art more organic, beautiful and cohesive.
Compose A Piece In One Month: A Beginner’s Guide (Ages 16-plus)
June 6, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Recurs Four Thursdays From June 6 to June 27
Member’s price – $140, nonmember’s price – $170
Join Dr. Daniel Nistico, celebrated musician and teacher, for this five-week course as he guides participants through composing a piece of music from scratch.
Polymer Clay Workshop: Gnomes And Trolls
June 6, 6 to 9 p.m.
Member’s price – $40, nonmember’s price – $50
In this polymer clay workshop students will learn about polymer clay. They will create a figurine of their choice, allowing their imagination to run wild, while having the instructor give technical advice if needed. Students can cook their creation in class or take it home. This workshop is for all levels.
Introduction To AI Art Generation (Ages 18-plus)
June 8, 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Recurs Three Saturdays From June 8 to June 22
Member’s price – $90, nonmember’s price – $110
This class will lead you through learning what AI art is and the different platforms that are available to use. Plus show you the history of how AI art came to be and the future prospects of what it can accomplish, in our Bloom & Wallace Digital Art Lab. No prior experience needed.
Consumer Alert
Pay Your Bills, Not Impersonators
By Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist
If you’re paying a medical, utility, or other bill online, you probably expect to wind up on the company’s website. What might you not expect? An impersonator tricking you into paying them instead. But that’s what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says a company called Doxo did. Here’s what you need to know.
Forest
Assistance (Who To Call)
Emergency (Fire, Life or Death) 911 Sheriff (Noise, Trespassing, etc.) 477-1000
Gatehouse (Authorizing Guest) 482-6666
FPOA Office (Rules, Lighting, etc.) 482-1109
Mosquito Problems 694-2174
Animal Services (Unleashed dogs) 432-2083
FL Fish & Game (Gators, Raccoons) (888) 404-3922 Forest Country Club 482-8378
According to the FTC, Doxo pretended to be an official payment site for big-name companies like AT&T, Spectrum, and Labcorp. The FTC says Doxo used online ads that looked like they were from the companies, and even used company names as keywords so Doxo’s ads would show up in search results.
If the bills got paid, what’s the problem? There’s lots of them, says the FTC. People who paid their bills through Doxo often paid fees to Doxo on top of what they owed on the bill they were trying to pay. And, in some cases, the payment never got to the company that issued the bill. People only found out when they got a warning letter from a bill collector
or had their utility service shut off. Some people wound up paying late fees to the actual company that billed them – or paid their bill a second time, just to avoid other problems. If you’re looking to pay your bill online, know that search results might not get you to the right place. Instead, check your bill to find the online payment site. And, if possible, use a credit card. Credit cards offer the most protection against fraud, including the right to dispute charges if there are any problems.
Learn more about impersonator scams at ftc.gov/ impersonators. If you spot an impersonator scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
National Donut Day – Friday, June 7
The first Friday in June (June 7) is National Donut Day! Keep an eye on your national chain donut shops – many of them offer a free donut on this auspicious occasion. Donuts have been around for over 400 years and originally the deep-fried pastry did not have holes. Several stories abound regarding the creation of the hole. One such story is that the Pennsylvania Dutch made this adaptation, so the pastry would be an ideal shape for dunking in coffee.
The first National Donut Day was held in 1938 as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army.
Source: Doughnut (2014), In J.F. Mariani’s The Encyclopedia Of American Food And Drink (2nd ed.).
According to a 2021 poll by the insights and analytics company, Ipsos, the most popular donut in the United states is cream-filled (22 percent), followed by plain glazed (18 percent). Chocolate glazed comes in third (12 percent) (Google “Cream-filled donuts most popular flavor amongst Americans.”)
The well-known U.K. trade publication, British Baker espouses in its online publication the trend towards premiumisation – which is the upgrading of an item to justify a higher cost – in the bakery industry.
& Ana Fonseca
The “world’s first donutelier” has opened in central London in celebration of the fried dough delicacy. (Source: bit.ly/4aiehA1) . They offer luxury doughnuts with the accompanying price of £6.50 ($8.16 USD).
According to a June 5, 2023 publication from the global news service PR Newswire the “doughnut market in North America is set to grow by 689.57 million from 2022 to 2027,” due to the increase in snacking consumption.
Whether you discover a luxury baker in your neighborhood or you stop at a well-known shop down the street … enjoy this popular sweet on June 7. Maybe you’ll get a free one!
Alliance For The Arts from page 1
Fluid Art Landscape 101 With Cathleen Ozmore
June 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180
In this class, you will create beautiful landscape paintings using Golden Fluid paints, Amsterdam medium body paints and TLP pigments. Artist/Instructor Cathleen Ozmore says, “Come paint with me. I have so much to share with you.”
A Mini-Retreat: Taking A Deep Dive Into SoulCollage® (18-plus)
June 8, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Member’s price – $50, nonmember’s price – $60
Beyond the “I Am One Who …” there are an unlimited number of ways to access the wisdom of your SoulCollage® cards. For over three years, the Alliance for the Arts has been offering SoulCollage workshops – some introductory
sessions and others with a specific theme. This mini-retreat experience is for those who may have attended one or more of these workshops in the past and are looking to go deeper into the SoulCollage practice.
Watercolor Painting (Beginner-Advanced) June 8, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Recurs Six Saturdays From June 8 to July 13
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180
Enjoy being creative with transparent watercolors. Linda’s hands-on teaching technique allows you to create along with her in the classroom. Learn something new or refresh your skills.
You will learn brush techniques, color theory, perspective, gradients and composition. Each week is a new lesson complete with reference handouts. You will learn tricks that aren’t in the book and secrets for a successful painting.
Constructive Narratives In Painting: Beginning NonRepresentational
June 12, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Member’s price – $25, nonmember’s price – $30 In this workshop, you will learn how to approach the empty canvas with no clear intent and work nonrepresentationally, rotating the canvas around and paying attention to composition alone until the masses form something to bring out of the nonobjective and into the representational realm. Artists of all experience levels are welcome, even if you’ve never picked up a paintbrush.
Step By Step Batik: Sea Maiden
June 16, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Member’s price – $100, nonmember’s price – $125
If you’re looking for an intriguing art experience, this is the class for you. Utilizing a technique that originated in Indonesia called batik, you will be working with multiple templates on ginwashi rice paper, using melted wax and watercolor to create a beautiful painting that will boast a fabric-like finish. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, you will thoroughly enjoy this distinctive creative process, but do not hesitate to enroll.
Fluid Art: The Wrecked Ring (Ages 18-plus All Levels)
June 19, 6 to 9 p.m.
Member’s price – $75, nonmember’s price – $90
Whether you are a beginner or advanced, these fluid art techniques will be fully explained, demonstrated and you will go home with two completed pieces. Every student will leave with a handout to assist with your fluid art journey at home.
Fluid Art Master Class: Medium Paints
June 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180
Join Artist/Instructor Tammy DeCaro for this intensive fluid art workshop where you’ll learn three techniques in one day: puddle swipe, dip/reverse dip, balloon smash. Acrylic Painting With Pat Smelkoff: St. Augustine Welcome
June 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Member’s price – $45, nonmember’s price – $55
Join Instructor Pat Smelkoff for this fun, one day project. You’ll create this painting on a 10- by 20-inch canvas and be able to take it home the same day. All supplies provided.
Decorative Stitch Book
June 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Member’s price – $150, nonmember’s price – $180
In this class you will create a 6- by 5-inch blank book, perfect for sketching, journaling or note-taking. You will leave the class with a beautiful and unique book and the skills to make more. This workshop is suitable for beginners and those with prior knowledge of bookbinding. All supplies and tools will be provided by the instructor. Alliance For The Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919, (239) 939-2787, artinlee.org. Please note the updated gallery and administrative office hours: Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call for any questions about events or classes.
Continental Women’s Club
Since 1998, Continental Women’s Club has awarded $78,000 in scholarships. This year we have another two recipients – Nashely Gabriel Cardenas, who is a graduate of South Fort Myers High School and will attend Florida State University and Jessalyn Alvarez who is a graduate of East Lee County High School and will be attending Florida Southwestern University. We will meet these two young ladies at a future luncheon meeting.
Meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at The Hideaway Country Club, 5670 Trailwinds Drive, Fort Myers 33907. The cost to attend the luncheon is $25. There will not be a luncheon on Thursday, July 4, due to the holiday. For additional information on the club please contact Liz Paul at (239) 691-7561.
Continental Women’s Club is a social, cultural and philanthropic organization established in 1975, and membership is open to women living in Lee County. We have many special events and interest groups within our club that you can participate in for social and educational purposes throughout the month and year. In addition, we contribute to many local charities and award two scholarships each year to senior high school girls who plan on furthering their education.
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