grip must be in your fingers, not the palm. Your stance should be wide with your feet shoulder-width apart. The plane of your swing must be around your body, with the club coming from the inside for impact. An around-the-body swing is helped by a right-to-left (for right-handed players)
weight shift, which in turn creates the release from the inside. And the club coming from the inside to impact creates maximum speed and distance. Increasing your club head speed starts with the fundamentals – a good grip and a good posture. Once you are set up for success, it is easier for your body motion to move freely behind the ball in the backswing, and into the ball on the way through.
A great drill is to swing a golf club three feet off the ground (sort of a baseball-type swing but using your golf grip and posture). This will help you feel the right swing plane and release through impact.
ANGEL TREE
It’s that time again.
… Each year, we work with Ana’s Friends, a nonprofit organization serving abused, neglected and abandoned children in Southwest Florida. We at The Club at Gateway have been associated with this organization for many, many years (formerly known as Guardian Ad Litem). Each year, we display a special tree and hang gift tags with the child’s age and gender provided. Our members take a tag or two and buy wonderful gifts for each child. This year we have over 120 tags and we know there will not be one left. People here are so generous. Thanks in advance for all the kindness and generosity!
FITNESS … WITH MARY MARGARET
Our great friend and long-time member, Brian McVeigh, has been on an inspiring journey of resilience and recovery, thanks in part to his dedicated work with Mary Margaret Tinutis, our personal trainer at The Club at Gateway. Over the past few years, Brian has faced significant medical challenges, including the implantation
of a pacemaker, a Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the draining of fluid from his brain. Despite these hurdles, his collaboration with Mary Margaret has led to remarkable improvements. Brian reports feeling more confident and stronger, while his wife, Sandy, observes that his daily activities have become more manageable. Their recent attendance at an out-of-state wedding brought heartwarming comments from family members who noted the positive changes in his posture and steadiness. Brian’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the support of a loving wife and community. Keep up the great work, Mr. McVeigh!
Travis Raque Director of Racquets at The Club at Gateway
RACQUET SPORTS
A tennis player walks onto a pickleball court …
It sounds like the start of a rowdy joke. Instead, it’s a fairly common pickleball origin story.
More than 23 million people played tennis in 2022, according to a study from the Tennis Industry Association. With pickleball often alongside – or in some cases, on – tennis courts, it ’s only natural that some tennis players become a little curious about the game.
From the outside, it looks like tennis and pickleball have a lot of similarities. And though both sports share some similar strategies and require similar skill sets, there is certainly a transitional period for tennis players who try their hand at the sport.
Whether you’re a tennis player picking up a pickleball paddle for the first time or a pickleball expert trying to help your tennis-playing friends learn the game, here’s everything you need to know about transitioning from playing with rackets to playing with paddles.
UNDERSTAND THE NEW RULES
Sure, tennis and pickleball involve a court, a net, and a ball. For most tennis players, though, that’s where the rules similarities end. From serving to scoring to the famous kitchen, the court layout and scoring structure take some getting used to. Tennis players should familiarize themselves with the new rules, and experienced players should be patient as they learn.
FOCUS ON GRIP
Tennis players know having the right grip can make a big difference in your play on the court. Pickleball is the same way, and it might take some time to find the grip that feels most comfortable for you. Some tennis players prefer to use a similar grip size to their tennis racket for their pickleball paddle, while others prefer something smaller. And, of course, adapting your favorite tennis grip, whether that ’s eastern, western or continental, to pickleball can take some time, too.
The key to making this shift, of course, is plenty of practice and match play. Work with a coach who can walk you through the different grips and teach you how to identify and develop the right grip for you.
EMBRACE THE DINK
Pickleball has its own set of unique shots. Tennis players often have excellent groundstrokes and strong volleying skills. Dinking, though, is a new concept. It can be hard to slow down and hit a “soft” shot after hitting with force.
Tennis players should prioritize learning about pickleball shots like dinks to help them fully embrace the game and be successful. Learning the strategy behind the dink and when to use it can go a long way to making the transition to pickleball a lot easier.
LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE THIRD SHOT
The third shot is important to how points develop, and every player has a different approach based on their skillset.
The two-bounce rule keeps players from rushing to the net right after they serve, which can be a hard adjustment for tennis players. It’s important to wait for the serve and the return to bounce before hitting a shot and use the third shot to transition forward. Whether you prefer a third shot drop or a third shot drive, learning how to make the most of this crucial shot can help take your game to the next level.
TAKE IT SLOW
Having tennis experience will help you transition to pickleball, but it won’t make you an instant champ. As with any new sport, it takes time to learn the strategy needed to win and truly transition from tennis to pickleball. Take every opportunity to play with people of all skill levels to help you learn and consider taking an introduction to pickleball lesson at your local club or park.
Then, try your hand at open or group play by heading to a local park or signing up for a session at a pickleball facility. These events are great ways to
learn the ropes, make some friends, and learn about the pickleball scene.
Then, it’s time to take some lessons! Since tennis players have some transferable skills for pickleball, it can be easy to play regularly without taking a lesson or getting high-level instruction. Working with a coach will help you learn the ins and outs of pickleball strategy and truly make the transition from tennis.
DID YOU PLAY TENNIS BEFORE PICKLEBALL?
It’s very common for tennis players to transition to pickleball, fall in love with the game, and become some of the sport’s biggest advocates. Truly transitioning from tennis to pickleball can take some time, but the effort is well worth it.
Enjoy and purchase some of the best artwork exhibited anywhere in Florida!
Are you transitioning from tennis to pickleball?
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
If you’re shifting from tennis to pickleball, schedule plenty of time to practice and stick with it! If you’re trying to help a friend transition from tennis to pickleball, take some time to play alongside them to help them learn the rules and talk them through the strategy. It takes some time, but you’ll end up with a fierce doubles partner!
FEBRUARY 1 & 2, 2025 | OPENING NIGHT JANUARY 31
Artist: Christine Adele
Gateway Women’s Club
JANICE EATON, LAUREL BORGIA, MARIANNE KOLLASCH AND DONNA MARCHETTI
GATEWAY WOMEN’S CLUB MEETS BARBARAANNE URRUTIA
STEPHANIE MENA
Barbara-Anne S. Urrutia, Senior Manager
Communications and Marketing at Lee County Port Authority Southwest Florida International Airport was invited to present an in-depth look at RSW.
Urrutia graduated from Florida State University earning a degree in public relations with a minor in journalism and joined Lee County Port Authority
CHARLOTTE STEWART, GWC PRESIDENT WITH BARBARA-ANNE URRUTIA SENIOR MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING, LEE COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY AND DEB STEPHANO, PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR
in 2000. Her team is responsible for the promotion and marketing of RSW International Airport as well as Page Field through public information and marketing campaigns, special events, community and media relations, corporate citizenship and employee communications. She also handles the airport’s Art in Flight program, oversees the production of airport advertising and promotional materials and maintains the airport’s website and social media efforts.
The Lee County Port Authority showcases Southwest Florida artists and their work for the traveling public. Art in Flight is a partnership between the Lee County Alliance for the Arts and Lee County Port Authority, which brings art to the public spaces at Southwest Florida International Airport.
Page Field is a full-service, awardwinning business and general aviation airport. Private and corporate pilots can use both Page Field and RSW airports run by the Lee County Port Authority. Page Field’s terminal is decorated in a World War II theme, paying homage to its history as an Army air base in the 1940s. A full-size replica P-51 Mustang is suspended from the lobby ceiling, surrounded by breathtaking original photographs featured on the walls. Visitors are invited to explore many displays of local World War II artifacts throughout the building. An original, fully restored North American AT-6 Texan Aircraft is displayed in the parking lot for our guests to enjoy. Everyone is invited to visit their website: https://www.baseoperationsfmy. com/facility/
Many changes have been put into place since Ian . Growth continues at RSW. Over 1.5 billion dollars has been dedicated to several projects over the next 5 years. Urrutia explained, “The funds for these expansions come from government grants and airport bonds, not property tax dollars.”
RSW is a Class A Port of Entry U.S. Customs site foreign trade zone. Thousands of people work at the airport. Over 10 million people traveled through RSW in 2023. New carriers have been added including Breeze and Avelo Airlines. Future plans for RSW call for additional terminals, TSA checkpoints and security points. New local and corporate vendors will be added to serve RSW travelers. A “Grab and Go” eating option will also become available.
Just announced, WOOF@ RSW, “Watching Over Our Friends,” is a new K-9 therapy program developed in partnership with Therapy K9s of Southwest Florida. Certified dog teams and their handlers will spend time greeting airport guests who need extra care to reduce stress. The furry ambassadors will be at the airport on a bi-monthly basis to start. The K-9 teams will be located in pre-security and will wander throughout the terminal in public areas. They are easily identified by their Blue Shirts with the WOOF logo walking with dogs wearing blues vests that say, “Pet Me Please.”
For complete RSW details and future design layouts, Barbara-Anne Urrutia invites everyone to visit the website at www.flylcpa.com.
BOOK CLUB
BARBARA HANLIN
The GWC Book Club will be reading The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews. It celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances. Ivy Perkins, who is newly divorced, buys an old farmhouse. She has a full-time job sorting through everything that was left there. Ivy finds a beautifully made Santa suit with a handwritten note inside a pocket. It appears it was written by a child with a Christmas wish. Ivy then has a mission to solve the mystery of the note.
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10 in the home of Mary Jo Cornell with Valerie Emerson as co-hostess. Barb Hanlin will lead the discussion. Remember to bring a children’s book that will be donated to the soup kitchen in time for Christmas. Mary Jo’s contact information is in the GWC Directory.
BRIDGE
LAUREL BORGIA
Bridge 101 will meet December 3rd and 17th at Hampton Park Amenity Center at 10 a.m. Please contact Susie Kravetz by phone or email, (her information is in the GWC directory) to let her know if you are attending. The group needs a number count and names of attendees so you can get in the gate. They welcome anyone who plays bridge.
CHARITABLE GIVING COMMITTEE
JUDY HAMMOND
Gateway Women’s Club celebrated a successful and festive Bingo night with its 2nd Annual Bingo event, held at Gateway Trinity Lutheran Church recently. With
Halloween being the theme, costumes ranging from witches to emojis, and even Dracula made for a thrilling and entertaining evening. The event combined the excitement of bingo with a costume contest, ensuring fun for all attendees.
Attendees played for generous prizes, and luck was on the side of several winners throughout the night. The winners of the six bingo games were:
Game 1 ($100 prize): Split between Mary Mills and John Hammond
Game 2 ($100 prize): Art Kravitz
Game 3 ($100 prize): Barb Hanlin
Game 4 ($100 prize): Karen Maxwell
Game 5 ($100 prize): Ginny Aluskewicz
Game 6 ($200 prize): Split between Faith Degnan and Joan Watson
The evening’s costume contest also brought out some fierce competition. The winners were:
1st Place: Patty Smrstick as Dracula
2nd Place: Lorraine Tobin as a Nun
3rd Place: Lynn Lewis as a Witch
Adding to the night’s excitement, a 50/50 raffle saw Mary De Silva and Candy Steinman each taking home a share of the prize. The event also featured door prizes for lucky participants.
CHARITABLE GIVING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ANITA KARDON, JUDY HAMMOND, CHAIRPERSON, CHARLOTTE STEWART, GWC
PRESIDENT, FRAN YUNGHER
CANDIE STEINMAN, WINNER OF PHOTO ON CANVAS BY GWC
MEMBER LINDA STEELE
CHAIRPERSON JUDY HAMMOND
CHARITABLE GIVING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
JANET GEORGE, LINDA CASTILE, ANITA KARDON, FRAN YUNGHER
CHARITABLE GIVING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PAT MCLAUGHLIN, LINDA STEELE, MICHELLE KARNES
The committee raised $1,798.92 at Bingo night and it will directly go to supporting GWC local charities, including ACT (Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc.), the Gulf Coast Humane Society, and the club’s own $$ for Scholars program, which provides scholarships to deserving young women.
CHARITABLE GIVING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
SHARON DESROSIERS, PRUDI FOURNIER, JANE HILL, ANNE CANTAFIO
Gateway Women’s Club would like to thank all who participated and volunteered to make the event a success. The club is committed to fostering community spirit and supporting local charities, and this Bingo night was a testament to that mission.
GINNY ALUSKEWICZ, WINNER OF PHOTO ON CANVAS BY GWC MEMBER LINDA STEELE
LORRAINE TOBIN, 2ND PLACE COSTUME WINNER WITH ANITA KARDON AND JANET GEORGE
LYNN LEWIS, 3RD PLACE COSTUME WINNER
MARIA BEACHAM, WINNER OF PAINTING BY GWC MEMBER PAM DWYER
KATHY FLAHERTY, WINNER OF WOOD PAINTING BY GWC MEMBER JANET GEORGE
PATTY SMRSTICK, FIRST PLACE COSTUME WINNER
GATEWAY GALS ON THE GO
MARY ANN MCDONALD
GWC members and guests recently enjoyed the experience of axe throwing at HeadPinz on Global Parkway. No one proved to be expert, but Mimi Rossi and Bobbi Kincade were judged the most lethal of the group! Ax throwing can’t be useful, but it was fun and it was nice to have a couple of husbands along to try their skills.
DINING OUT
SUSAN ROBERTS
Thanksgiving has recently been celebrated all around the country. But it is more than just indulging in a delicious feast of turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie. It is a time when families and friends come together, expressing gratitude and creating lasting memories.
The Gateway Women’s Club’s recent dining out event at LYNQ restaurant in Fort Myers extended those traditions of Thanksgiving and embraced the joy of grateful gatherings. As the Women’s Club’s
MARYANN SCHMIDT, KEN FREDA, DOROTHY FREDA, DEB AND BOB STEPHANO (LEFT TO RIGHT)
AX THROWING ATTENDEES
members, spouses, and friends enjoyed a variety of tasty appetizers, savory entrees, and refreshing beverages, the time together also was a cause for celebration of our community and the friendships that we cherish. Dining out together
provides an opportunity to share our gratitude and togetherness. The evening ended with a lively Happy Birthday song, shimmering candle, and festive celebration of member, GWC officer, and dear friend Norma Barr.
ANITA AND BRUCE KARDON
ARTHUR AND SUSIE KRAVITZ
GRACIE HRINDA AND DONNA THAYER
KEN AND DOROTHY FREDA NORMA AND ARNOLD BARR
RANDY AND ELEANOR STUART
RUSSELL AND MARYANN SCHMIDT
BIRTHDAY GIRL – NORMA BARR
CAROL BROWN, MARIA BEACHAM, GARY BROWN
SPECIAL EVENT
MARY MILLS
A group of GWC members and guests enjoyed an outing at ECHO Global Farms. ECHO provides aid where it is much needed. Most hunger arises in rural areas which is why ECHO focuses on small farming solutions. Farmers around the world are being forced to adapt to ever-changing weather patterns. ECHO gives families the ability to face these challenges.
BEAUTIFUL GOAT AT ECHO
MIMI ROSSI AND LOIS BASS
CHARLOTTE STEWART AND ECHO WORKERS SIGN AT ENTRANCE
PARTICIPANTS IN THE ECHO TOUR
PARTICIPANTS IN THE ECHO TOUR
Whispers Of God…
DR. MARK P. GONZALES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROYAL PALM ASSOCIATION OF CHURCHES, SBC
ACKNOWLEDGING GOD
Acknowledging God is on my heart today in the wake of our national elections (as I write this) and a tumultuous campaign season. It brought to mind many quotes from our American founding fathers I thought I’d share with you in a spirit of gratefulness for His watch-care over us. In fact, my radio broadcast series in November was on the topic: “He is Our Nation Watcher.” (Saturdays at 8 a.m. on 91.5 FM, or on the Kingdom FM app; or go to markpg.org , click “Broadcasts,” Click “Portraits of God.”) And no matter your personal thoughts about the outcomes of the election, never lose sight of the fact that God’s got this and God’s got us! So . . .
While our founding fathers clearly prohibited “God Establishment” in the Constitution of the United States/Bill of Rights/ Amendment 1 that reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion (like was done in much of European history);” and they certainly did not endorse “God
Exclusion” by also including this clause: “Congress... shall not prohibit the free exercise thereof;” they did, however, clearly practice the balanced middle ground of “God Acknowledgement” in much of their speech and writings in spite of their short-comings like all the rest of us. Here’s a peek:
The Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
Benjamin Franklin. “I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs
I see of this truth-- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? . . . We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ . . . I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.”
George Washington. “I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in His holy
protection that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and lover for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large.”
Thomas Jefferson. “I hold the precepts of Jesus, as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent, and sublime which have ever been preached to man.”
Abraham Lincoln. “We have been the recipient of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have
been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nations have ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own (Humanism) .”
So, let’s continue to look up, waaay up, and be grateful, my
friends, especially because none of us are perfect, our nation is not perfect, and leaders are not perfect, but God is!
May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America! A great work still in progress!
Grateful for His watch-care with you, Pastor Mark
Articles, videos & podcasts: markpg.org. Write & share at mark@quillpress.org. Hear me every Sat., 8 a.m. on 91.5 FM.
Alliance For The Arts
SPECIAL EVENTS
NORTH PUTNAM -A FILM SCREENING
Date and Time: Dec. 4, 6 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Member’s price, $10; Nonmembers price, $12
This is a film screening from the Southern Circuit tour of Independent Filmmakers.
North Putnam depicts a year in the life of a rural Indiana school district and the community it serves. Crafted with empathy, a hyper-real reporting lens and skillfully
lush cinematography, the film aims to reach across divides and to spark action-oriented conversations about the interdependence between public schools and community development.
View the trailer here.
MARIAN, OR THE TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD BY ADAM SZYMKOWICZ
Date and Time: Dec. 6 and 7, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 8, 2 p.m.
A gender-bending, patriarchy-smashing, hilarious new take on the classic tale.
Robin Hood is (and has always been) Maid Marian in disguise and leads a motley group of Merry Men (few of whom are actually men) against the greedy Prince John. As the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, who will stand for the vulnerable if not Robin? What is the cost of revealing your true self in a time of trouble?
CLOWN BAR 2 BY ADAM SZYMKOWICZ, DIRECTED BY BILL TAYLOR
Date and Time: Dec. 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Dec. 22, 2 p.m.
Cost: Member’s price, $27; Nonmembers price, $32
A murder has once again rocked the Clown Bar, a notorious lair where underground clown crime dominates.
BILL METTS AND FRANK CORSO INDOOR BLUEGRASS
Date and Time: Dec. 15, 3 to 5 p.m.
Cost: Member’s price, $18, Nonmembers price, $20
Join fellow bluegrass lovers in our Foulds Theatre as the Bluegrass series continues with two amazing performers!
Lee Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919, (239) 939-2787
Edison And Ford Holiday Nights 2024
Don’t miss The 49th Annual Edison And Ford Holiday Nights! Thousands of lights, hundreds of historic decorations, and one unique holiday experience await you nightly! Holiday Nights will run from November 29 through December 23, and December 26 through January 5, 2025, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Nights has been revamped with new light displays and much more. Don’t miss the Children’s Holiday Tree Trail with handmade ornaments created by students from local schools and shopping in the Museum Store and Garden Shoppe for unique holiday gifts. Plus, on select nights, there will be refreshments available for purchase, Santa visits, and carolers!
Nightly guided holiday tradition tours are at 6 and 7 p.m. (sold at the ticket office on a first-come first-served basis daily). Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
See website for more information.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Around The Town
MONTHLY ART WALK
Date and Time: Friday, Dec. 6, and Jan. 3, 2025, 6 to 10 p.m.
The River District Alliance lights up downtown Fort Myers artistically the first Friday of every month. The streets will be lined with local and regional artists selling and displaying their one of a kind works of art, with many styles represented.
MONTHLY MUSIC WALK
Date and Time: Friday, Dec. 20, and Jan. 17, 2025, 6 to 10 p.m.
From jazz and blues to rock and roll, local and regional musicians line the streets of downtown Fort Myers, and the lineups vary each month, 6 to 10 p.m.
As always, Art Walk and Music Walk are free to attend. Find us on First Street, in Downtown Fort Myers. To help plan your parking, visit https://denisonparking.com/fort-myers/.
Explore Fort Myers at https://www.myriverdistrict.com/.
Montage Women’s Club
The Montage Women’s Club is a social and philanthropic club open to all women residing in Lee County. We normally meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at The Landings Yacht, Golf, and Tennis Club (community entry off McGregor Boulevard between Cypress Lake Drive and College Parkway). Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with a short social period followed by lunch at noon followed by an informative speaker program and a short business meeting. Within
the organization are various interest groups for members’ participation. Membership is open to both year-round and seasonal residents. We welcome you to visit Montage for a luncheon.
Our next meeting will be held on Friday, December 20 (a week early due to Christmas). Our planned program for December will consist of student violinists entertainment from Cypress Lake High School.
Luncheon fee has recently increased to $34 per person, and you always have a choice of either a regular menu entree and/or a vegan/plant-based entree.
If you would like to attend a Montage meeting, need further information, or would like to make a reservation, please call Rita Artwohl at (239) 703-7787. Reservations cut-off to attend this meeting is noon, Thursday, December 12.
Remembering Pearl Harbor: Voices From December 7, 1941
The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a turning point in history that forever changed the lives of those who were present. Both service members and civilians were caught in the chaos and destruction, yet many rose to acts of heroism that would define their legacy.
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, part of the National Park Service in Hawaii, makes available audio files taken from oral history video interviews with Pearl Harbor Survivors. Here they talk about what they saw and experienced on December 7, 1941. https://www.nps.gov/ perl/learn/photosmultimedia/sound-library.htm .
SAFETY DURING HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON
Halloween has passed and, if you haven’t already done so, your focus will soon turn toward holiday shopping.
“Season” here in Southwest Florida has begun and roadways, malls and restaurants will swell with the influx of snowbirds and tourists.
Each year, I reach out to our residents and guests reminding them that while enjoying this special time of the year, they need to be additionally cautious and careful.
As we near “Black Friday” and the heart of the shopping season, I remind everyone to remain aware and alert. While we see this time of year as festive, criminals see this season as an opportunity.
From The Desk Of Sheriff Carmine Marceno...
Parking lots fill, forcing shoppers to park unusually far from store and mall entrances. Many of these areas are not welllit and, as a result, items left inside of parked cars create an opportunity for thieves. It is important to remember exactly where you park your car or truck. Additionally, walking to and from your vehicle, especially during evening hours, should be done cautiously. Ensure that all vehicle doors are locked and there are no items of value in sight. Upon your return, have your keys/fob in hand when approaching your vehicle.
Shopping with friends and family is always a good idea. Groups are far less vulnerable.
If shopping with young children, discuss the importance of remaining together and discuss plans should they get separated from
you. Remind them how to ask mall/store staff for assistance should they need to find you. Consider selecting a meeting location if separation occurs.
Keep purses, wallets and purchases close to your body. When dining, purses should never be placed on the back of chairs. Purses should be carried and not left in shopping carts.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Avoid using ATMs located in isolated areas. Report any and all suspicious activity.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will be present, in full force, in an effort to ensure that everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday season.
