The Club At Gateway
Golf Tip: Focus On The Golf Course
By Gyles Robin, Director of Golf, The Club at Gateway
For most of us golfers, we all experience “blow-up holes” or a string of poor shots put together. It is very easy to look back on mistakes and try to fix them on the golf course. This leads to bad thoughts that makes it very easy to lose focus on your current golf shot. If you look at some of the best golfers to ever play the game, they always seem to put everything else aside and focus on one shot at a time.
As you are planning your current shot, do not let prior shots affect your decision-making process. As you are over the golf ball, the focus should be solely on making the best swing possible.
This will leave more space in your head for positive thoughts and planning for your next shot. Doing this will ultimately lead to better golf shots as you have a “blank slate” for each swing that you make. Higher focus levels will help avoid those blow-up holes!
Work on “forward thinking” and make each swing your best!
Rick’s Tennis Tip
Variety Is The Spice Of Life!
Outmaneuver your opponent with changes in spin, height and depth to keep your foe uncomfortable and guessing. Much like a baseball pitcher utilizing fast balls, curves and changeups to different locations to keep the batter off balance, a good server and rally tactician will have the same success on the slower clay court! Hope this helps and we’ll see you on the court.
Pickleball Playoffs
Check out these fantastic photos from our pickleball community playoffs!
Gateway Women’s Club
By Janice Eaton, Laurel Borgia, Marianne Kollasch and Donna Marchetti
Dr. Andrew Kurtz visited Gateway Women’s Club and shared some of the magical and musical offerings presented at the Music and Arts Community Center (MACC). Kurtz, executive music director and CEO, invites everyone to the many offerings showcased throughout the year at Gulf Coast Symphony’s Music and Arts Center located at 13411 Shire Lane in Fort Myers. This 270-seat, acoustically perfect theater has something for everyone. MACC’s live performances include jazz, chamber and symphonic music, theater productions and much more. Concerts and shows include
matinees, late night and even candlelight performances. Kurtz said, “We were thinking of our patrons when we crafted our facility. Our location is easy to get to, just off of Daniels Parkway, with ample free parking. We expect everyone to have fun and leave with smiles on their faces.”
The Music and Arts Community Center’s mission is to create community through music. Kurtz went on to explain that it is important to give back. One way this is accomplished is through the education opportunities they bring to otherwise underserved areas.
A partial listing of the shows coming soon include: Southwest Florida Theatre
Snowbird Follies , Nov. 29 to Dec. 23
Rogers & Hammerstein’s A Grand Night for Singing , Jan. 18 to Feb. 3, 2024
Nunsense II: The Second Coming , Feb. 22 to March 9 Route 66 , April 10 to 28
Gulf Coast Symphony At The MACC
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and Rachmaninoff Piano
Concerto No. 3 , Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 19, 3 p.m.
Beethoven Symphony No. 4 and Liebermann Flute concerto , Jan. 13, 2024, 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 14, 3 p.m.
Haydn Lord Nelson Mass with Fort Myers Symphonic
The Gateway Guys and Gals (Mixed Doubles 3.03.49) clinched gold by defeating Bella Terra. Kudos to Captain Julie Ovenhouse and the fantastic team: Samantha Bagdasarian, Chris Reynolds, Betsy Lee, Todd Ovenhouse, Kevin Schermerhorn, and Mark Conradt.
The Gateway Gherkins (Ladies’ Doubles 3.0-3.49) also secured gold by defeating Marina Bay. Shoutout to Captain Chris Reynolds and the stellar team: Betsy Lee, Julie Ovenhouse, Jaime Dohack, Samantha Bagdasarian, and Tanya Matthews.
Next season, Gateway will have three outstanding teams: Women’s 3.0-3.49, Women’s 3.5-3.99, and Men’s 3.5-3.99. Get ready for some exciting action!
Mastersingers, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 18, 3 p.m.
Brahms Symphony No. 4 , April 20, 7:30 p.m. and April 21, 3 p.m.
Jazz At The MACC
Blue Train: Music of John Coltrane, Nov. 16, 7 p.m.
Swinging Holiday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.
Jazz Trio
Music of Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and more, Jan. 11, 2024, 7 p.m.
Music of Duke Ellington, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.
Who Will We Be? (A jazz suite about soul), March 7, 7 p.m.
Modern Creations: new jazz performed by the composers, April 18, 7 p.m.
Sunday Chamber Music
Beaux Arts Trio, Jan. 28, 2024, 7 p.m.
Verona Quartet, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
Stokes & Koztowski, March 17, 7 p.m.
Gulf Coast Symphony’s Orchestra Fellows, May 5, 7 p.m. For complete information call (239) 277-1700 or go to gulfcoastsymphony.org.
Gateway Guys and Gals Pickleball Mixed Doubles
Gateway Gherkins Pickleball Ladies’ Doubles
Event organizer Deb Stephano, Dr. Andrew Kurtz and GWC President Claudia Polzer
2023 Orange Crush Golf Event
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 Orange Crush Golf Event at the Club at Gateway on Oct. 26. The shotgun started at 8:30 a.m. and nearly 70 ladies joined in. This event always marks the beginning of beautiful weather and the return of our seasonal friends.
And The Winners Were
First place: DeWitt/Cummins/Ovenhouse/Black (138)
Second place: Kennedy/Knowles/DeMichiel/Chapman (138)
Third place: Quatman/Martin/Knight/DaPonte (139)
Fourth place: McVeigh/Finger/Rodenkirchen/Olson (141)
Fifth place: Whittaker/Niquette/Nauta/Shockman (142)
Sixth place: Wanke/Burton/Healy/Marshall (142) Congrats, and thanks to all for participating.
From The Desk Of Sheriff Carmine Marceno
Civilian Support Unit
The prodigious and esteemed Lee County Sheriff’s Office Civilian Support Unit (CSU) is a diverse entity comprised of volunteers from all professions, callings and backgrounds.
Since the unit’s inception in 1988, Civilian Support Unit members have donated hundreds of thousands of hours assisting our agency in areas related to traffic control, parking enforcement, Marine auxiliary, vacation home checks, bike patrol, neighborhood canvassing and so much more.
The supplemental services provided by our CSU members have become an integral component of the Lee
County Sheriff’s Office. Their efforts assist certified deputies when additional eyes, ears and hands are essential.
Our county’s population continues to grow and with such growth comes additional obligations to our community. At this time, I am reaching out to our residents in an effort to grow our Civilian Support Unit. Your desire to serve your Lee County neighbors, combined with our assets and resources, become an extraordinary alliance. Our ceaseless commitment to this community, coupled
with your life-experience, help enhance and support the quality of life that we have come to know in Lee County! Together, and only together, can we meet the county’s expanding needs.
For additional information, please call (239) 477-1422, email csu@sheriffleefl.org or visit us at www.sheriffleefl.org/civiliansupport-unit.
Whispers Of God Kind Conversations
By Dr. Mark P. Gonzales, Executive Director, Royal Palm Association of Churches, SBC
As I write this I am still basking in the joy and wonder of a threeweek visit from our third son, his lovely wife, their 6-year-old son, 4-year-old daughter and two golden doodles from Woodland Park, Colo. What a hoot! Especially when our oldest son, his wife, teenage son, 6-year-old and 3-year-old daughters out in Babcock Ranch hung out with us as well! Was it noisy? Of course. Active? Absolutely. Messy? You bet. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. We truly enjoy each other!
But of course, we had all the in-between times with our Colorado family as well, who were basically living with us, not just visiting, for those three weeks – a predetermined plan to see how we’d all do in the event they became snowbirds with us for a month or two in the winter. How would meal preparation, grocery shopping, nutritional differences, health issues, cleaning, laundry, outings, projects, homeschooling, church, expenses, moodiness, possible disagreements and much more work out? Hmm….
Things can get a bit dicey with family, though you love them dearly, right? Different rhythms of life, preferences, habits, quirks, wounds, triggers, and reactions. You know the drill, even if it is just short visits at Thanksgiving and Christmas. So how did the test run go for us? Well, to be honest, it went remarkably well. What a blessing from above! We are so grateful!
So, in the wake of their departure, Lindy and I got to thinking about why it went so well and why it always goes so well with the frequent visits from our middle son, his wife, and their twin 7-year-old daughters in Gainesville. And we thought about why it went so well a few years ago when our oldest son and his family lived with us for several months while their home was being built at Babcock Ranch. Well, what came to our hearts were two key things that seem to be at play in our particular family.
First, we all share the same core values based on our focused, individual walks with the Lord to follow Him and his ways from the heart as best we can, especially when we have our struggles. His “love letters,” the Bible, help us do that, and that is solid common ground.
Consumer Alerts
Scammers Are Impersonating Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Inspectors
By Alvaro Puig, Consumer Education Specialist
Scammers are using the names of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) employees, including the FTC’s Inspector General, to trick people into sending money or giving up their personal information. Here’s what you need to know.
The FTC won’t threaten you or demand a payment. If you get a letter with the name of an FTC Commissioner or staff member that threatens some dire consequence if you don’t pay immediately, it’s a
Secondly, it is something that flows out of that kind of spiritual relationship with Him, which spills over into our relationships with each other: kindness and kind conversations.
Lindy and I have noticed that all three sets of parents have a lifestyle filled with kind conversations with each other, as well as with their young children, who are being trained to do likewise! They don’t snap at their kids, bark out orders, or demean them or each other. And though they, and we, have those difficult days of being a bit grumpy, aloof, tense, hurt, discouraged, etc., each one’s personhood is still respected even when we are not in the mood to be kind. You can still speak kindly even when you don’t feel like it. It’s kind of like acting on faith, not feelings, until our emotional state catches up.
And so, we had a great time! Conversation lines were kept open due to the cultivation of kindness and love in the way we interacted with each other. Romans 2 puts it this way:
Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Repentance literally means “a change of mind,” from the inside out, which effectively deals with most disagreements before they get destructive. Kindness does that, not arguments, fights, blame, or even reason. Reasoning is never effective with a wounded soul until they experience the kindness of your patience, comfort, reassurance, and love.
So, enjoy this Christmas with your family, my friends. Cultivate kind conversations to keep things on the table, and even heal things that have been swept under the rug. Take deeper breaths, talk slowly, listen well, smile more, ask for forgiveness, defer to one another, and grant grace space. If you do, it can indeed be “a most wonderful time of the year!” And then, do the same in the New Year!
Savoring kindness with you, Pastor Mark Articles, videos and podcasts: markpg.org. Write and share at mark@quillpress.org. Hear me every Saturday, 8 a.m. on 91.5 FM.
Holiday House
Now Through Dec. 31
For 67 years, Fort Myers Woman’s Community Club (FMWCC) has been proud to host Holiday House. The members of FMWCC are excited to bring this timeless, treasured Southwest Florida tradition to life once more in a new and exciting fashion.
This year we’re decking the halls, or more specifically the windows, of First Street in our picturesque historic downtown river district!
The ladies of the Fort Myers Woman’s Community Club invite you to join us in 2023 for a Holiday House Christmas Stroll.
I’ll Be Home for Christmas ... If Only In My Dreams is a timeless salute to our military. Enjoy scenes both modern and vintage all along First Street, with the occasional offshoot, of what we want our men and women in uniform to see when they come home to their families for the holidays.
There is no charge for our presentation but we invite you to scan the QR codes on the signs in any of the windows to donate as you are able. The invaluable support of our community makes next year’s Holiday House event possible!
How do I know which businesses will be decorated? I want to see them all! As we firm up details with the business owners along our stroll path, we will share as we are able.
Is Holiday House at the Burroughs home or Langford-Kingston house this year? Due to consistent scheduling conflicts with weddings and other events during the holiday season, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain our event at the homes so Holiday House 2023 will take place exclusively along the stroll path to the west of the Sidney Berne Davis Art Center.
When does Holiday House end? This year’s event will run until Dec. 31. Holiday House will be available to the public for the entirety of the Christmas season! Will there be any place for Santa pictures? FMWCC does not currently have any plans to host a Santa meet and greet anywhere along the stroll path. Where do I park? We encourage you to enjoy the entirety of the event so there is no designated Holiday House parking. Garages are easily accessible and unmetered street parking is available throughout the river district.
scam. Don’t pay. The same goes for threatening callers that claim to be from the FTC.
The FTC doesn’t give out prizes. If someone contacts you claiming to be from the FTC and says you need to pay to get your prize, it’s a scam
FTC employees won’t identify themselves with a badge number. If someone claiming to work for the FTC gives you a badge number, it’s a scam. Especially if they then ask you for money.
Don’t respond to someone who says they’re from the FTC and demands money, threatens you, or asks for personal or financial information. Report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Seabreeze Communications Group does not endorse any advertising as it relates to the communities. Advertising is not screened by Seabreeze Communications Group.
Artist: Andrew Libecki
Five Ways To Safely Celebrate With Your Pet This Holiday Season
By Dr. Whitney Miller, DVM, MBA, DACVPM
Most pet parents agree: their animals are part of what makes the holiday season so magical. While it’s an excellent opportunity to integrate furry family members into all the special holiday traditions and make memories together, there are a few things you should keep in mind to keep your pet safe and healthy throughout the festivities:
• Opt for pet-friendly decorations. Many favorite holiday decorations need to be kept out of pets’ reach. Mistletoe, pine needles, ivy garland, holly, lilies and poinsettias can be toxic to pets when consumed. This is why I recommend artificial Christmas trees to those with particularly curious pets that like to chew on plants. If you don’t choose an artificial tree, it’s important to note that some water additives for real trees can be toxic, so you should make sure your pet can’t access this water source. When decorating your tree, it’s best to avoid tinsel and breakable ornaments to prevent potential hazards, and you should always secure your tree to prevent a climbing cat from tipping it over.
• Keep pets warm and dry. As the weather gets colder, pets may need a few extra layers to stay comfortable and safe while outdoors. Booties can help prevent a pup’s paws from getting ice in them and offer protection from salttreated walkways. At home, use pet-safe ice melt rather
Catch The Action December On The Water
By Capt. Bill Russell
Two times I look forward to each fishing year. First, when the water warms after winter and bait schools return to our waters. And second, when the water cools to the point baitfish vacate our inshore waters as we approach the end of the year. I love fishing live bait most of the year, but it’s a lot of work and time-consuming netting them, not to mention the mess you start the day with. During the cooler months, most fish prefer easier-to-catch shrimp.
December is the month we make the transition and shrimp become the primary diet for most fish. Apart from mullet (a pure vegetarian), there are not any fish I can think of in our coastal waters that won’t eat a shrimp. When the water temperature drops to the point that baitfish leave our local waters then shrimp becomes the go-to bait.
Cooler weather gives a big boost for catching sheepshead as the larger ones move inshore and over nearshore reefs. Look for them around structures, including dock and bridge pilings, rock jetties along the beach, oyster bars, and most nearshore artificial reefs and hard bottom in the gulf within sight of land. Seasoned anglers fish shrimp on a jig head or a small, very sharp hook with just enough weight to reach the bottom. If you don’t mind fishing in the cold, this is your fish. The colder the better for sheepshead. Unlike sheepshead from the northern states, ours are excellent on the table.
Pompano are similar to sheepsheads, in the fact that they will not eat any type of baitfish, they feed primarily on small crustaceans, including shrimp, crabs, sand fleas, small crustaceans and mollusk. Small nylon jigs tipped with a piece of shrimp are deadly for pompano when slowly bounced over a hard or sand bottom. Silly Willy or Crazy-style jigs have also gained a lot of popularity over recent years. Popular colors are white, pink, and yellow.
than salt, which can be irritating to pets’ paws, mouths and stomachs. You can keep them feeling warm and looking stylish on winter adventures with sweaters and jackets. A cozy handwarmer lead will help keep you warm as well while you’re out and about. When you return home, always dry off their coats and paws to remove debris and ice clumps in fur and between paw pads.
• Choose and wrap gifts wisely. If you’re one of the nearly 80 percent of pet parents who, according to a recent consumer survey of 1,000 dog and cat parents, plan to include pets in holiday gifting, make sure pets only have access to and open presents while supervised so they don’t ingest any paper or tape. I recommend sticking to wrapping paper for pet gifts, as ribbons, bows and accessories can be dangerous when ingested. Whether you’re buying advent calendars, apparel or toys for your pet, holiday stockings offer an easy and pet-safe “wrapping” option that you can use year after year.
Sheepsheads and pompano have small mouths, so it is important to use a small hook. If you are unsure of the size, stop in at your local tackle shop and let them hook you up and give you some pointers.
Sea trout are moving off the shallow grass flats to deeper protected areas as temperatures drop with arriving cold fronts. Deep areas around oyster bars, creeks, canals, and potholes are good areas to target. During mild or warmer stretches trout move back over shallower areas. Live shrimp and DOA shrimp under popping corks are deadly baits drifted over flats.
Redfish are located around oyster bars, deeper creeks, hard bottom shorelines, and structures such as dock pilings. Over the past month, anglers caught good numbers of smaller redfish around oyster bars and creeks. December should bring more of the same. Larger reds can be sight fished on the lower tides over shallow flats adjacent to deeper water. This is best done wade fishing, from a kayak, canoe, or a shallow water skiff. Again, shrimp is the best bait, either the real thing or artificial and fly imitations.
• Be aware of toxic holiday foods. Common holiday foods such as chocolate, turkey skin and bones, ham, grapes and raisins, garlic, caffeine, alcohol, onions, certain spices and sweets, especially any containing xylitol, should be avoided. For festive pet-safe foods, your local pet store has a variety of sweet and savory dog treats just for the holidays. If you think your pet has accidentally ingested toxic food or other material, contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline, (855) 764-7661, immediately.
• Prioritize pet health and wellness. Involving pets in holiday traditions can mean taking them along for a road trip, introducing them to new people or staying in unfamiliar environments – all things that can cause anxiety in pets. It’s important to keep your pet’s mental health top of mind during the holiday season and year-round. When possible, pets should be introduced to new people and pets in a neutral environment, individually and at their own pace. For pets that experience anxiety in the car, practicing with short drives or sitting in the car while parked, followed by treats and positive reinforcement, can help the adjustment and prepare them for a long ride. Calming products can help mitigate anxiety in pets, and you can also consult your veterinarian for anxiety or motion sickness treatments to help make travel easier.
of you who take the time to read this column a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at www.myfwc. com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish.
Offshore, we can expect hookups with a mix of species around nearshore reefs, ledges, and hard bottom. Bottom dwellers like sheepsheads, snapper, flounder, grouper, grunts, pompano, and permit are a good possibility. Also, Spanish and king mackerel, bonito or false albacore, barracuda, sharks, and cobia are likely to get in on the action at any time.
As the craziness of the holiday season is upon us, a day on the water is a great way to get away from the crowds. We should see days with great weather and fishing opportunities in between cold fronts to close out the year. Wishing all
For charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service and “Catch the Action” with Capt. Bill Russell, call or text (239) 410-8576, website: www. fishpineisland.com, email: gcl2fish@live.com.
Capt. Bill Russell is a native and lifelong resident of Pine Island who has spent his entire life fishing the waters surrounding Pine Island and Southwest Florida. For the past 27 years, Bill has been a professional fishing guide who takes pride in customizing each trip to ensure everyone on board has a great time and will return again. Come join us and “Catch the Action.”
Gateway Women’s Club from page 1 It was a perfect day for bocce with temperatures in the upper 70s, lower 80s, lower humidity, sunshine, and a light breeze. Who could ask for more?
Gateway Gals On The Go
The recent adventure for the Gateway Gals on the Go was a bocce game.
The Club at Gateway’s bocce courts were put to good use. Two sessions of bocce were held with 12 members participating in the 9:30 a.m. timeslot (Mary Anderson, Eleanor Stuart, Laurel Borgia, Barb Lutz, Charlotte Stewart, Judy Hammond, Claudia Polzer, Susan Roberts, Mary Mills, Sandy Schwartz, Susie Kravetz, Claudette O’Conner) and eight members in the second timeslot (Brenda Rella, Diane Sarsfield, Janet George, Lynn Lewis, Joyce DiVirgilius, Kathy Mullane, Ginger Sanford, Barbara Nicholson).
The ladies were cheered on by their teammates! More experienced players offered tips to those who were newer
to the game. Amazingly, one team scored four points in one frame! A social game of bocce was enjoyed by all. Mary deSilva took registrations and organized the teams, Elsie Rivard was the onsite referee, and Michelle Karnes kept the teams on track when it was their time to throw the pallino or roll the right color of ball. Many ladies extended their time together and rehashed their bocce game over lunch at The Club at Gateway.
Charitable Giving Committee
Gateway Women’s Club Bingo Night was a huge success. The group had a full house at Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church and there were costumes galore.
There was a total of seven winners for bingo for a total payout of $700. There were several wreaths donated for door prizes along with gift cards and custom bingo tumblers. It was a great night of fun, laughter and bingos!
Sue Woolford, Anita Kardon
In no order: Brenda Rella, Diane Sarsfield, Janet George, Lynn Lewis, Joyce DiVirgilius, Kathy Mullane, Ginger Sanford, Barbara Nicholson
Bocce team coordinators Mary deSilva, Michelle Karnes and Elsie Rivard
In no order: Mary Anderson, Eleanor Stuart, Laurel Borgia, Barb Lutz, Charlotte Stewart, Judy Hammond, Claudia Polzer, Susan Roberts, Mary Mills, Sandy Schwartz, Susie Kravetz, Claudette O’Conner
Patty Keavney and Micky Lyman
Costume winners: Third place, Kathy Fabisiak; second place, Jo Iwanski; first place, Linda Steele
Prudi Fournier, Carol Brown
Kim Walling, Ginger Safford
Cochairs Charlotte Stewart, Judy Hammond
Michelle Karnes, JoAnn Montalbano
Jessica Goodall from Eva’s Closet with Charitable Giving Committee Cochairs
Judy Hammond and Charlotte Stewart
Gateway Women’s Club from page 5
Cochairs for the Charitable Giving Committee Judy Hammond and Charlotte Stewart and their committee worked tirelessly to put this event together. Through their efforts and unending enthusiasm $3,113 was raised for Eva’s Closet!
Closet change for the year came to a grand total of $1,920, all for Eva’s Closet … just amazing!
Christmas is right around the corner. The ladies can start shopping now for those great toys to be donated to Eva’s Closet in December!
Book Club
December’s Book Club will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. in the home of Laurel Borgia with Valerie Emerson as co-hostess. Please R.S.V.P. to Laurel if you plan on attending. Her information can be found in the GWC Directory. The featured book is Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery –“a witty and heartfelt story of two friends who unexpectedly find the person and the place in which they belong this Christmas.”
Children’s books will be accepted for holiday giving to those in need.
Bridge
Bridge 101 will meet Tuesday, Dec. 5 and 19 at Hampton Park Amenity Center at 10 a.m. Please contact Susie Kravetz by phone or email, (information in the directory) to let her know if you are attending. We welcome anyone who wants to learn bridge or enjoys playing bridge.
Dining Out
an unforgettable dining experience. The attentive waitstaff provided superb service of culinary delights for every sense. Many of the GWC diners took advantage of the happy hour prefixed menu, which included a first course of soup, salad, or tapas, an entrée, and dessert. Other GWC diners experimented
Special Event
Thirty members of the Gateway Women’s Club recently went to Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens in Punta Gorda. The ladies strolled along the pathway enjoying over 4,500 plants and trees, and then down the mangrove path to the Peace River.
Some interesting trees in the garden were the travelers palm, kapok tree, and rainbow eucalyptus. There were many sculptures to enjoy there including The Man in Red, Next Summer (a lady inside a tube in the water) and Bibi on the Ball
with a phenomenal assortment of pintxos (like tapas) and charcuterie. El Basque was the perfect setting for a memorable evening. Nothing brings good people together like good food.
Twenty-eight Gateway Women’s Club members and guests recently dined at El Basque in Bonita Springs. El Basque is a quaint wine and tapas bar serving Basque Country cuisine from Northern Spain and Southern France. The late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain proclaimed the Basque cuisine as “the most awesome food scene in Europe.” Locally, the News-Press critic Jean Le Boeuf said of the Bonita Springs restaurant, “El Basque isn’t just a Spanish restaurant, it’s a food lover’s paradise.” The Gateway Women’s Club diners at El Basque wholeheartedly agree and many of the GWC members and guests plan to return soon.
El Basque owner and chef, John Colon, circulated among the GWC tables sharing his love for food and Basque cuisine. Chef Colon’s insistence on using the finest ingredients while providing a warm and inviting ambiance, makes for
The attendees included Cleta Alix, Brenda Rella, Charlotte Stewart, Claudette O’Conner, Claudia Polzer, Daphne Weber, Diane Sarsfield, Donna Thayer, Linda Graham, Elsie Rivard, Helen and Michael Cotner, Judy Fox, Judy Hammond, Kathy Flaherty, Kathy Mullane, Janet George, Lorraine Tobin, Lucia Koran, Mary Karas, Mary Ann George, Mary Anderson, Mary Mills, Nancy Shapiro, Norma Barr, Robin Connolly, Ronnie Hayes, Stephanie Mena, Sue Woolford, Susan Roberts, and Wanda Davies.
Many of the ladies stated that they plan to go back again.
Jean Martin, Bruce Kardon, Anita Kardon, Carol Coates and Tom Roth
Debra Roggow and Louis Smith
Jim and Marilyn Steiner
Holiday Scams
Don’t Get Taken During The Season Of Giving
For most of us, the holidays are full of giving, getting and goodwill. But some bad actors use the holidays to take advantage of people’s generous spirits. They frequently target members of our communities who are older and more vulnerable to scammers and con artists.
Five Holiday Scams To Avoid
1. Package Delivery Scams
An estimated three billion packages were shipped during the last holiday season. So, it’s not surprising that cybercriminals have concocted several schemes related to package deliveries.
A popular scam involves receiving a text or email that asks you to click on a link for a number of phony reasons, such as to get an update about the delivery date, track the package location, give your payment preferences, provide delivery instructions or pay a shipping fee. You may also be given a phone number to call for more information about your delivery. Since fraudsters want you to act without thinking, they may convey a sense of urgency in their message.
While some of these communications are obviously fraudulent – perhaps containing multiple misspellings or other errors – many are carefully crafted, even replicating a shipping company’s logo or email format in some cases. So, it’s easy to get duped, especially during the hectic holidays.
Unfortunately, clicking on the link may infect your phone or computer with malware that enables a cybercriminal to capture your passwords or take control of your device. Or it may direct you to a form that requests personally identifying information, which can be a gateway to identity theft.
Calling the number typically leads you to a friendlysounding individual who asks you to verify your personal information or provide the credit card number used for your purchase. You might also be requested to pay an additional delivery fee, customs fee or tax for the package. If you receive any of these communications, it’s best to simply go to the shipper’s website for more information about your alleged delivery using the tracking number provided. (Type the website address directly into your browser because search results may lead you to a fake or phishing site that mimics the authentic one.) Or call the shipper using a verified phone number.
Sometimes scammers take a more aggressive approach and call you pretending to be a representative from a package delivery service. If this happens, don’t provide any personal information – just hang up. If you receive a voicemail with a call-back number, don’t return the call.
2. Missed Package Scams
Who doesn’t hate missing a package delivery?
Cybercriminals know this. So, they’ve created a ruse that involves leaving a note on your door claiming to have a package for you that couldn’t be delivered. The note contains a phone number to call to reschedule the delivery. If you call the number, you’ll be greeted with questions related to your personal identity that can later be used to commit fraud.
If you receive a missed delivery note, look at it closely for any mistakes or other signs that it could be fraudulent. (It’s also a good idea to check your recent orders to see if a delivery was scheduled for that date.) Even if the notice looks legitimate, don’t call the number listed on the note. Instead, visit the company’s website to find the official customer service number.
3. Gift Card Scams
‘Tis the season for gift cards. So, naturally scammers have devised some ploys to take advantage of this.
A common gift card scam involves receiving a phony or “phishing” email or text that appears to be from someone you know – such as an executive at your company – and asks you to purchase multiple gift cards for a work-related function. Or perhaps it’s a personal request allegedly from a relative or friend who claims to need some help with ordering gift cards.
If you receive any unusual requests for gift cards during the holidays, reach out directly to the individual by phone to confirm the authenticity of the request.
4. Social Media Scams
During the holidays, you might see promotions or contests on social media sites offering gift cards or vouchers in exchange for simply completing an online survey. Unfortunately, the survey usually isn’t legitimate. It’s only a means of capturing your personal information to commit identity fraud or other types of cybercrime.
Or you might be offered a prize for just liking or sharing a social media post. But doing either could infect your device with malware.
The bottom line? Be extra cautious during the holidays on social media, especially with enticing offers that seem unusually generous.
5. “Brushing” Scams
While the name of this scam is odd, the scam itself is even odder.
You’ll receive a package you didn’t order bought from an online marketplace that allows customers to post reviews of their purchase. The item is typically cheap and lightweight.
“I Could Feel The Sand Between My Toes Again…”
Joyce was told by her oncologist, ‘There’s nothing that can be done, you’ll have to live with the neuropathy.’ She would have to live with the chemo-induced neuropathy in her hands and feet. Hot and cold were indistinguishable, and the numbness and tingling made it impossible for her to walk any distance. Joyce was a cancer survivor, only to have come out on the other side with a debilitating condition. She and her husband showed up at my clinic and told me what their medical doctor had said. I told her the same thing I told my mother, ‘I just don’t believe that.’ After a thorough neurological examination and report of findings, she trusted me enough to follow my best recommendations. Within two weeks, her numbness and tingling in her feet subsided, and the feeling was coming back . . . After 12 weeks she told me, ‘I could feel the sand between my toes again while I was walking along the beach.’ At her one-year checkup Joyce’s sensory loss had improved over 80% overall to within the normal range . . . She is all smiles these days!
“I got neuropathy as a side effect from the chemo that I received 2 years ago in the fall. So it has been about 2 years since I’ve had the neuropathy. We received the ad in the newspaper and my husband says why don’t we see if this guy can help you. We made an appointment, came here and he did. I am so much better it’s unbelievable. I wasn’t able to go to the grocery store without taking a cart, even if I was just picking up some bananas or one or
two things. I had to have a cart to help me walk through the store. When we went to the beach we pretty much just stayed in our chairs because I couldn’t get up to go for a walk on the sand. My feet hurt that bad. It was hard to get dressed in the morning. While trying to put my feet into my pant legs my toes wouldn’t cooperate. When I finally came in for my appointment it was close to the end of the time when we were going back up north.I got to know everybody pretty well because I was here everyday that they were open to get in all of my treatments before we left. I continued everything at home, all of the way up through the summertime to where I ran out of stuff, and so now I’m not doing any of that anymore, but they are still so much better it’s unbelievable. I mean I walk the beach, I play golf two or three times a week, I can run into the grocery store without help, and my husband will say I can’t keep up with you anymore. It’s just so much better, it’s wonderful. It’s well worth coming in and having the treatments and taking supplements. You just need to be faithful and do it because it will wake your nerves back up. It’s wonderful. If you don’t try to take care of yourself nobody else is going to.”
—Joyce B, Patient
Dr. Rob Davis, DC is the Best Selling Author of B reaking the Cycle, How to take control of your health when traditional medicine has failed. An Amazon #1 New Release in 3 categories. Call (239) 482-8686 to schedule an appointment.
Since it’s the holiday season, you might think it’s just a gift from a stranger looking to pay it forward. In reality, it’s likely from someone who sells products on online marketplaces who wants to create fake, positive reviews. But, in order to post a review, the marketplace requires that a transaction be verified with a legitimate tracking number that shows a successful delivery.
And that’s where your mystery package comes into play. That purchase creates a tracking number. So, after the package is delivered, your fake gift giver can write the review.
The good news? You won’t be charged for the item, and don’t have to return it. Often the sender just randomly found your name and address online.
However, it’s possible the fraudster created an online account for you at the marketplace or hijacked your existing account. So, you should report the activity to the marketplace. If you have an account at the site, change your password immediately. The United States Postal Inspection Service offers additional information about this scam. (https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/ brushing-scam).
Taking Action
We hope you’ll enjoy the holidays without the stress of dealing with fraud. But, if you’re a victim, here’s what to do:
• Report the crime to local law enforcement.
• Alert your banks and credit institutions.
• File a complaint with the FBI (www.ic3.gov).
• Report the scam to the FTC (www.ftc.gov).
Even if you simply encounter a scam, the FTC encourages you to report it to help others avoid becoming a victim.
Did You Know…
The Fuller The Fridge, The More Energy Efficient It Is
An empty fridge not only makes it more difficult to decide what to snack on, but it also wastes valuable energy. It works like this: Empty space in the refrigerator requires it to generate cool air to replace the warm when you open the door. If the fridge is packed, less cool air escapes and less energy is required to replenish it.
November 10 – December 25
Based on the popular film, this hilarious musical comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. Raised in the North Pole, Buddy is unaware that he is human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. Buddy embarks on a journey to New York. This holiday classic is sure to bring out the true spirit of Christmas...after all, the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!
Dec. 30, 2023 - Feb. 17, 2024
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his ascent to be “The King.” You’ll hear iconic hits including All Shook Up, Heartbreak Hotel, Burning Love, Hound Dog, Don’t Be Cruel, Jailhouse Rock, Blue Suede Shoes and more!
ArtFest Fort Myers – Volunteers Welcome. Be Part Of The Arts
ArtFest Fort Myers, the premier fine art festival in Southwest Florida, actively seeks volunteers to join our dynamic team to support this acclaimed event.
The 2024 edition of ArtFest Fort Myers unfolds in the heart of the downtown Fort Myers River District, commencing at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, and concluding at 5 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 4, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the grand opening scheduled for Friday, Feb. 2. This extraordinary event offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the arts, featuring over 200 artists from across the county, the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida, and a range of interactive art experiences designed for children of all ages.
“Our volunteer team represents a diverse cross-section of the community,” remarks Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, ArtFest Fort Myers executive director. “They come together with enthusiasm to work harmoniously during the festival weekend, ensuring attendees, professional artists, our generous sponsors, and VIP guests all have a memorable experience.”
ArtFest Fort Myers welcomes volunteers from all walks of life, whether for the festival weekend or those seeking more sustained, year-round involvement. Weekend volunteers are required to commit to a minimum four-hour shift, with a choice of roles such as interacting with professional artists, vending commemorative shirts, posters, and other festival merchandise, assisting in the children’s Art Yard, staffing the VIP Club, contributing to the success of the Publix Run To The Arts 5K, or selecting from numerous other volunteer assignments.
For those planning to attend the festival yet wishing to contribute their time, opportunities exist on Thursday and Friday in prefestival roles. These roles may encompass site decorating or artist/volunteer hospitality. It’s important to note that professional labor crews handle all the heavy lifting, leaving you to actively participate in decorating the area and supporting the setup teams.
Volunteer benefits include reserved parking, an ArtFest Fort Myers volunteer T-shirt featuring the 2024 commemorative artist, complimentary snacks and water, the chance to interact with talented artists from across the country and worldwide, and the opportunity to connect with fellow dedicated volunteers like yourself.
The arts are pivotal in our community, enhancing our quality of life and delivering a substantial economic impact. The dedicated volunteers who help orchestrate this magic play an indispensable part in sustaining the vitality of the arts. You and your friends can leave a lasting mark on our community by signing up.
To register as a volunteer, visit ArtFestFortMyers.com and click the “Volunteer” button. Select a role that piques your interest – sign up early, as assignments are given on a firstcome, first-served basis. No prior experience is necessary –your smiling face, positive attitude, and a comfortable pair
of walking shoes are the only prerequisites.
For further information, please visit ArtFestFortMyers. com or contact us at (239) 768-3602 or info@ ArtFestFortMyers.com. Please stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #artfestfm.
If You Go
What: Volunteer with Southwest Florida’s premier art festival.
When: Four-hour shifts are available on Feb. 3 and 4. Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-festival shifts are available on Feb. 1 and 2.
Where: Downtown Fort Myers River District on Edwards Drive
How: Visit ArtFestFortMyers.com and click the “Volunteer” button.
Perks: An ArtFest Fort Myers T-shirt; reserved volunteer parking; complimentary snacks and water; the chance to interact with great artists and fellow volunteers
Parking: Reserved parking spaces exclusively for volunteers – a prized perk indeed
The Curious Kisstory Of Mistletoe
The Mysterious History Behind The Kissing Plant And How The Plant Became Associated With Christmas Traditions And The Holidays
Have you ever received a kiss under a sprig of mistletoe during the holiday season? If not, then you have undoubtedly seen the tradition played out in the movies or on TV. The plant has even made its way into several classic holiday songs.
Decorating with mistletoe may not be a holiday tradition as well-known as singing carols or stringing lights up around the Christmas tree, but it’s near the top of the pantheon of holiday traditions. However, despite its popularity, the history of the plant and how it became incorporated into holiday lore remains mostly unknown. What Is Mistletoe?
Let’s start from the beginning. The mistletoe tradition holds that a man is allowed to kiss any woman standing beneath a sprig or bouquet of mistletoe, and vice versa. If a kiss is refused, bad luck befalls the person who said “No.”
Now we will dive a little deeper into the lesser-known facts. Mistletoe is a semiparasitic plant that produces small white berries and grows almost exclusively in trees. It finds its home like many seeds do – through bird droppings. As the seed begins to grow, the plant attaches itself to the “host” tree to steal water and the essential nutrients that it needs to survive.
Not only is mistletoe a parasitic plant that comes from bird droppings, but the origins of the name itself are unattractive as well. It’s derived from two Anglo-Saxon words “mistel” meaning dung, and “tan” meaning stick or branch.
Zion Lutheran Church, 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, will offer “a day early” Saturday evening worship options for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The church’s Oasis “come as you are” informal service with praise band will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 with an early observance of Christmas Eve. Worship on Saturday, Dec. 30, will mark the passing of the old year and the start of 2024.
Both Oasis services will be held in the Zion fellowship hall, with parking next to the Winkler Street entrance.
So where does the tradition of kissing others underneath the branches of a small parasitic plant come from?
The History Of Mistletoe
The puzzle begins in the first century A.D. with an ancient civilization. The consensus among experts is that the use of mistletoe in ritual form started with the Celtic Druids. This ancient civilization of people lived on the British Isles in what is now Ireland and Scotland.
The mistletoe became a sacred symbol of vivacity and fertility to the Druids after they saw it blooming in the trees during the harsh winters. It would later become a central focus of the Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe, a ceremony that led the Romans to call the Druids “barbarians.”
Another piece of the mistletoe puzzle comes from Norse mythology. In the Norse culture, the mistletoe plant was a sign of love and peace. The story goes that the goddess Figg lost her son, the god Baldur, to an arrow made of mistletoe. After his death, she vowed that mistletoe would kiss anyone who passed beneath so long as it was never again used as a weapon.
The last piece of the puzzle leads us to the tradition that we know and love today. The kissing tradition as we know it appears to have started in 18th century England where it first became widely used as a Christmas decoration. The tradition spread quickly throughout the world. Beginning as a custom among the lower classes, it made its way to all classes, becoming a universal holiday ritual.
So, next time you find yourself puckering up under the mistletoe, remember that it all started with bird droppings, a parasite, barbarians, and a Norse goddess. Cheers!
Zion also will offer multiple holiday services in the sanctuary. The final Advent service will start at 10 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 24.
Traditional Christmas Eve worship will begin at 4, 7 and 9 p.m., Dec. 24. A service on Christmas morning will start at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 25.
New Year’s Eve services in the sanctuary will begin at 9 and 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 31. A late afternoon New Year’s Eve service will begin at 4 p.m.
More information is available on the church’s website at Zionfm.org
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