Gateway - February 2024 by Seabreeze Communications

The Club At Gateway

Dec. 7, 2023

The Ladies’ Golf Association at The Club at Gateway hosts a holiday golf event each year. Santa made an appearance this year – on his sleigh, of course, which was surprisingly decorated by some very talented yet sneaky lil’ elves. This event was topnotch! Everyone seemed to have a great time. The costumes were adorable and fun. The weather was perfect for a holiday golf event, and

The

yes, the golf was also great. Listed below are the flight winners and closest to the pin winners.

First Place Flight Winners

Frosty the Snowman:

Jackie Hood, Janet Black, Susan Foley, Doria LaFlamme

Santa: Michelle Farrer, Pam Stevens, Madelene Maxim, Lisa Stanick

Rudolph: Lauren Suzic, Diane Long, Carol Gant, Lisa Healy

Grinch: Mary Rodenkirchen, Pat Burton, Lisa Safian, Cynthia Lovell

Elf: Julie Freitag, Paula Wright, Kollynne Farison, Danette Vititoe

Second Place Flight Winners

Frosty the Snowman: Sally Olson, Sharyl Shockman, Paula Scofero, Elaine Quinn

Fabisiak. He

performance in remembrance of his mother, Olive, who was a 24-year member of the club and sadly passed away earlier this year. Installation of the new Board members

Santa: Sandy Knight, Marg Ledvora, Barb DeAngelis, Ilse Pfander

Rudolph: Susan Price, Pam Moskwa, Jane Heupel, Linda Reffner

Grinch: Diane Dugan, Danielle DeSilva, Don Hart, Michelle Ransom

Elf: Peggy Torrance, Lea Jensen, Jeanne Eichinger, Pat Gaydos

Closest To The Pin

Hole No. 4 Lisa Stanick

Hole No. 7 Lucille Giannuzzi

Hole No. 11 Danette Vititoe

Hole No. 14 Michelle Farrer

was also included in the meeting: President Charlotte Stewert, Secretary Kathy Flaherty, and Member-at-Large Susan Roberts. The party continued with the help of Sarah Yanovich, Food and Beverage director of The Club at Gateway. Delicious meals were put together by Executive Chef Dan Lavallee and the Gateway culinary team.

The ladies dined on New England-style baked stuffed haddock, lump crab and cracker stuffing, hollandaise sauce, wild rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. Also, bruschetta chicken pan seared boneless chicken breast with fresh mozzarella, vine ripened tomato and basil served with wild rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. The third dish was portobello-spinach and cheese ravioli with pestoParmesan sauce. Warm rolls and butter were available along with a white chocolate citrus cake for dessert.

By Janice Eaton, Laurel Borgia, Marianne Kollasch and Donna Marchetti

Gateway Woman’s Club holiday meeting was opened and closed by renowned career violinist Jeffrey

dedicated his

Outgoing Member-At-Large

Janet George

Outgoing Secretary Mireya Rossi

Marilyn Steiner is shown with her winning picture which was painted by GWC member Sheila Otte (pictured). Sheila Otte

Violinist Jeffrey Fabisiak dedicated his performance to his mother Olive who was a longtime member of Gateway Women’s Club.

Outgoing President Claudia Polzer

The Club At Gateway from page 1

Happy New Year From The Club At Gateway!

Members of the club enjoyed an evening of casino style gaming with small plates and food stations, fun holiday drinks, and a champagne toast. Guests were provided $5,000 in Gateway Gold Tickets to spend at the blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps tables. Winners were awarded prizes, including golf swag, massages, and wine baskets. There was a photo booth and live entertainment by D.J. Eric. Everyone had an enjoyable time together as we bid farewell to 2023, and welcomed 2024.

Rick’s Tennis Tips … Get A Grip!

By Rick Hanover, USPTA Tennis Director

Utilizing the proper grip for the intended shot is what separates the best from the rest! Whether it is a continental grip for serves, volleys and specialty shots, or a semi-western one like Novak Djokovic for topspin forehands, the angle of the racquet on contact is the leading factor in where the ball ends up. Having the correct grip makes every shot easier! Hope this helps and we’ll see you on the courts.

The Club At Gateway on page 3

The Club At Gateway Tennis News

Holiday Tennis Party

Tennis League Play Update

Five of The Club at Gateway tennis teams lead the pack as of the holiday break, while two others are close behind. Our newly formed LCWTL Silver team, captained by Jan Kahnke, is one of those dominating their division so far. The 8.0 USTA mixed team led by Sue Sarafian is again looking to repeat as champions and move on to districts. Good luck to all as we head down the stretch!

Other Tennis News

After-school junior clinics are in full swing and are designed for all levels and ages 5 to 17. Led by USPTA professional Jason Sallin, our Red, Green, and Yellow ball programs make learning a game for a lifetime easier than ever before. These are open to nonmembers for only $17 per hour. If interested, please contact Jason at (442) 6665057. Registration for Kid’s Summer Tennis Camp begins Feb. 10 and will run June 10 through Aug. 9. Classes are Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and open to nonmembers.

For those adults who are new to tennis or haven’t picked up the racquet in a while, our Rusty Racquets class on Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. is a great way to start your weekend. The more advanced player can get a great workout and hit a variety of shots in our cardio class from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. This fun, upbeat drill with music is only $17 per class for nonmembers.

Upcoming Tennis Events

Gateway (hosting) vs. Legends occurs Saturday, Feb. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams consist of 3.0-4.0 Ladies and 3.5 and 4.0 Men competing for the coveted headless player trophy!

Golf Tip: Focus On The Golf Course

By Michael R. Dodson, PGA, Head Golf Professional

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 on solely 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!

Glow Golf At The Club At Gateway

On Dec. 28, the Club at Gateway hosted its first official Glow Golf Event. Glow Golf uses glow-inthe-dark golf balls and illuminated markers to add a playful and entertaining aspect to traditional golf. This was a great event for the entire family and a fun way to get both kids and adults excited about golf. The event began with a dinner buffet, which received rave reviews. Thank you to Chef Dan and Sarah and your teams for a wonderful meal.

Members casually mingled between the Grille Room and the practice facility, which was transformed into three illuminated events. There was a glowing field goalpost for chipping, eight mini golf putting holes, and six hitting stations with large targets for full swings. We had great comradery and look forward to doing this again in the future! Thank you to everyone who participated!

Fun was had

all in our annual Christmas Tennis Mixer with Patty Gedra and Frank Mitchel earning top honors. Our amazing kitchen staff served up a delicious grilled veggie tray, charcuterie board, and cookies to die for after play.

Whispers Of God

Sabbath Snow

By Dr. Mark P. Gonzales, Executive Director, Royal Palm Association of Churches, SBC

So, I grew up in Austin, Texas where we seldom had snow. In fact, my earliest recollection of that kind of weather was the blizzard of ’61 when we had 2 inches. Not enough to build a snowman, but we managed to craft a snow-snake or two, and with tremendous effort later that afternoon, a snow-hamster. Sad as that is, there was this one spectacular Christmas that would surprise us about 20 years later. . . .

By then I was married and had three little boys, as was my older sister who had a small boy as well. That year they would travel from Waco and we would travel from Fort Worth to gather for Christmas in my parents’ Austin home where my younger single brother and our preteen sister were also gathered. With my brother-in-law serving as a busy Anglican priest and me busily serving as a Baptist pastor in our respective

Catch The Action

February On The Water

By Capt. Bill Russell

February is the peak season for one fish in Southwest Florida that thrives during the cooler winter months: the sheepshead ( Archosaurs probatocephalus ). Sheepsheads are easily identified by their broad body with telltale black vertical stripes that many have renamed the convict fish. They’re equipped with almost human-like teeth that would give a dental hygienist nightmares. That mouthfull of teeth is used for crunching crustaceans, mollusks, and barnacles. When we think of sheepsheads and where to find them inshore, we look for them around oyster bars, or anywhere oyster and barnacles are likely to grow. Oyster bars aren’t the only place to look; sheepsheads are structure oriented and prefer a good tide flow. Put those two together and there are endless places across our inshore waters to target. Structure with a good growth of oysters and barnacles should not be overlooked. Areas that should pop in your mind with that combination are bridges, piers, docks, jetties, seawalls, and other submerged obstructions inshore and along the beaches. Downed or submerged trees or large branches are a good possibility. They also congregate along shorelines, drop-offs, depressions and creeks. Nearshore artificial reefs and hard bottom in gulf waters out to about 40-foot depths are prime areas to target when weather allows.

As mentioned, sheepsheads are equipped with a mouthfull of teeth, however they are not sharp and very seldom cut through a leader. Their teeth are for crushing hard objects, not catching fast moving baitfish. A small, thin, sharp hook is preferred to consistently get the hook to penetrate between those teeth. And even then, a little luck comes in handy.

I rig one of two ways. First, with a No. 1 or 1/0 circle hook tied to 2 to 4 feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader with either a small sliding egg sinker or split-shot sinker. Use just enough weight to get it to the bottom, when you fish around oyster bars and structure you will get hung up a lot, if you go with as little weight as possible it will help to reduce hang-ups.

Fresh shrimp is the go-to bait. Many hardcore sheepshead anglers use various other, sometimes secretive baits, but we

churches, getting a couple of days off at the same time to gather together was no easy task, not to mention our constantly busy wives chasing around young children. So we welcomed the rare opportunity for a Christmas family gathering before we all had to rush back home to our congregations. But then it happened. We got snowed in!

It actually started on Christmas Day and kept snowing the day after which brought the city of Austin and surrounding area to a snowy white standstill. The city was just not equipped to handle large amounts of snow. So we had a snow day. Several of them in fact. And we got the very rare chance to stay tucked in, relaxed, and therefore really be able to enjoy our families far more than we ever imagined. Ahhh . . . . None of us have ever forgotten that fairy tale Christmas.

So what’s the “Sabbath” part of the snow story? Well it’s simply this. When God gave us the gift of the Sabbath to observe in every cycle of seven days (whether you see Sunday as day one or Monday as day one), He never intended it to be a heavily restricted and policed observance like the Pharisees made it back in the Biblical era. He intended it to be a day of welcomed rest, relaxation, worship, and joy with family, friends, and most of all, Himself. He designed it to be restorative and refreshing to our souls. In short, a “snow day” like we had in Austin that one magical year. And here’s an amazing truth: He wants us to enjoy that every seventh day!

Pretty cool, huh?

are going to stick with shrimp. Shrimp are readily available, and they catch fish. Either a small shrimp threaded up the hook shank, hooked live, or if the shrimp are large, cut them accordingly. The smaller the piece you can get away with the better your hookup success will be, sheepsheads are notorious bait stealers, bring a lot of bait.

Second, very productive, and my favorite, is a jig head rigged with a live shrimp. Inshore we may use from an eighth to a half ounce depending on depth and current. Pinch or bite the tail off and thread the shrimp tail first up the shank of the hook bottoming out at the head of the jig. A slow bouncing retrieve works best but it can vary from day to day, don’t be afraid to experiment. But remember, they feed off the bottom, a quick suspended retrieve will go untouched. We usually fish both styles (circle hook and jig head) and see what works best; it changes from day to day and locations. I have tried all the different colored jig heads, and they all catch fish, but one color may outfish the others on any given day.

It amazes and saddens me to hear how many people have been deceived and gaslighted to believe God’s precious gifts to us are harsh restrictions or commandments seemingly designed to stifle our spirits or quench our joy. But it is just the opposite, my friends. And it is only a matter of opening our hearts to trust His heart, hear His wisdom, and walk in His ways. Like making every seventh day a “Sabbath Snow Day.”

Learning to chill 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.

For tackle, a light to medium light action rod with a fast tip is best, you really need to feel the light tap when they pick up the bait. A bait caster or spinner with 10-to 20-pound line, monofilament, or braid, is all that’s needed. I use 15-pound braid, this really allows the anglers to feel the pickup. Sheepsheads aren’t as aggressive as snook or grouper when hooked, they put up a great fight but seldom make a hard effort to dash under rocks or pilings and cut you off, therefore a light rig is fine and a lot more fun.

While targeting sheepsheads from a boat obviously gives you more options, you are still in luck if you are stuck fishing from shore. Southwest Florida has several public fishing piers and bridges that are fish magnets. Many fishing locations were damaged or destroyed from Hurricane Ian , but there are still accessible areas. The sheepsheads are feeding on goodies from the pilings or structure, you need to fish as close as possible to get their attention.

This is the top month to hook into the biggest sheepsheads of the year in Southwest Florida. If you put in some time to learn the tricks to locating and hooking sheepsheads, you will be on your way to some good fishing. And your reward, they are some of the tastiest fish in the water.

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, go to the website at www.fishpineisland.com and/or 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 28 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.”

Dear friend,

“I Just Don’t Believe That…”

When I meet people in town, they usually say, “Oh, yeah, I know you, you’re that doctor with the beard on TV.” Well, perhaps I should tell you a little more about myself, the picture from television and why I use it in my ads.

Let’s start with me, the guy with the beard. Ten years ago I was living here in Florida. At that time my mother was down visiting from New Jersey for the season when she showed up in my clinic with a frozen shoulder. She was desperate and in pain having lost practically all use of her dominant arm. She could hardly fix her hair, reach for a coffee cup or even fasten her brassiere. Basic hygiene had become extremely difficult for her. She was afraid, because the two orthopedic surgeons that she had consulted told her, “Your only option is to have your shoulder replaced.” I remember saying to my mother, “I just don’t believe that.”

Now at that time I was a chiropractor who worked primarily on the spine. Frankly… I didn’t know how I was going to help her. I just knew there was a nonsurgical solution out there and I was going to find it.

And boy did I find it! I found the answer to my mother’s shoulder problem and much, much more. And where did I find it? Of all places, I found it at the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Tupelo, Mississippi. Immediately I hopped on a plane and flew into Memphis, rented a car and drove out to a chiropractic neurologist who was willing to teach me how to fix my mother’s frozen shoulder. I spent three days in his clinic shadowing him, learning a new technique I had never even heard about before. Eager to help my mother, I developed this new skill set quickly. When I returned to Florida I wanted to be able to immediately fix my mother’s shoulder.

And that’s exactly what happened. After I performed the first Non-Surgical Operation on her shoulder, her pain went away significantly and she recovered to nearly full range of motion. She was so happy that she avoided surgery and got her life back.

It’s strange how life is, because that same doctor who showed me how to fix my mother’s shoulder opened up his treasure chest of knowledge and showed me how to help people with chronic knee, neck, low back pain and those suffering with neuropathy in their hands and feet, all without the use of Drugs, Surgery or Injections.

I spent the next several months flying back and forth to Mississippi learning all that I could.

Many years later we now have over one thousand successful patient testimonials. Many of them were told by their doctors that their only option was to have their knee or shoulder replaced or to take toxic drugs for the rest of their lives to mask their neuropathy symptoms.

Al was one of those patients who was told he had ‘bone on bone’ degeneration. His knee stopped unlocking properly, similar to what I’m describing in the photo, and he was facing knee replacement surgery. He was suffering from chronic degenerative knee pain, couldn’t walk properly and was easily holding onto 60 pounds of excess body weight. His doctors would have eagerly scheduled him for a knee replacement surgery had he decided to go in that direction.

Immediately after the Non-Surgical Operation I performed on Al’s knee, he was squatting and walking up and down the stairs normally without pain.

Al is now in his early 70s touring Alaska in his RV. He has dropped over 60 pounds and is biking 15 - 20 miles per day and loving life. He regularly sends me great pictures from his adventures.

Joyce was told by her oncologist, “There’s nothing that can be done.” 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 another debilitating condition. She and her husband showed up in 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 protocols. Within two weeks her numbness and tingling in her feet subsided and the feeling was coming back.. After 12 weeks she was feeling the sand between her toes as she walked along the beach again. 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!

You should know that I don’t heal anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific non-surgical operation that resets the communication between the brain and knee or shoulder, instantly decreasing pain and inflammation, increasing strength and flexibility and helping with tissue healing. For our neuropathy patients we have a 4 step, proven approach that heals your nerves and reverses your symptoms. We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that!We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that!

Today in the United States medical doctors are prescribing more drugs than ever before. These drugs are designed to cover up symptoms as your condition gets worse underneath the surface. The toxicity from the daily use of these chemicals ultimately leads to nasty side-effects and more drugs to treat the new symptoms. The current “healthcare” system was built to maintain your condition, not fix it. It’s a brilliant business model for the pharmaceutical industry and the hospitals, but a horrible strategy to follow if one is looking to age gracefully.

That’s where my practice comes in. I have found a way so that more people are able to afford the treatment they need, even those on a fixed income with or without health insurance coverage. One Non-Surgical Operation in my clinic could cost what you’d pay for just the deductible of a joint replacement surgery.

You Benefit from a Unique Offer…When you bring in this article, you will receive a FREE CONSULTATION with me to determine whether you are a good candidate for our Non-Surgical Knee or Shoulder Operation. If you’re being seen for Neuropathy we will take a thermal image of your feet at no charge to you. This will give me enough information to know whether I can help you. Once we determine you’re a good candidate and you feel comfortable in my clinic the complete examination is only $197. That’s it, for the entire neurological examination & report of findings. This examination & report could cost you over $500 elsewhere. But, please

call right away because this offer expires on February 29, 2024, and I don’t want you to miss out. By the way, further care is very affordable and you’ll be happy to know that the non-surgical, drug free therapies and procedures performed in my clinic can cost as little as $300 per month. You see, I’m not trying to seduce you to come see me with this low start up fee, then to only make it up with high fees after that. Further care is very important to consider when making your choice of doctor because higher costs can add up very quickly.

“You shouldn’t be forced to choose drugs and surgery just because that’s the only treatment medicare and your insurance company will cover.”

You should know a little about my qualifications. That’s important so that there’s no misunderstanding about the quality of care. I’m the bestselling author of Breaking The Cycle - how to take control of your life when traditional medicine has failed. An amazon #1 new release in three categories. I’m a graduate of Life University School of Chiropractic practicing since 1998. I am a licensed chiropractic physician certified in functional neurology. I’ve been entrusted to take care of avid morning walkers, pro-athletes and business tycoons you may have heard of.

My office is called Active Health Brain & Body and it is located at 6710 Winkler Road, Suite #1. It’s the gray Key West-style building at the corner of Cypress Lake Drive and Winkler Road behind the Bank of America. The phone number is 239-482-8686. Please call my wonderful assistants Megan or Silvia today to make an appointment.

I wish you the Very Best in Health and Life!

Dr. Rob Davis, DC

P.S. When accompanied by the first, I am also offering the second family member this same examination for only $97.

P.P.S. Your time is as valuable to you as mine is to me. That’s why I have a “no wait” policy. It is highly unusual to wait more than a few minutes in my office.

My mother and I featured in a local publication for nonsurgical shoulder solutions.

story of how he avoided a total knee replacement surgery. Joyce is all smiles at her one year checkup. No more neuropathy!

Kelly, chairwoman of GWC Holiday Luncheon

Gateway Gals On The Go

Before the end of the year, the Gateway Gals on the Go hit the trails again for their Mystery Walk. They found a hidden gem right in Fort Myers. If anyone is looking for a lovely, quiet walk overlooking several ponds right in Fort Myers, this is for you!

Billy Creek Preserve Loop is an easy 1.5mile stroll around several ponds in a residential neighborhood. It’s a great place to walk, birdwatch, bike, or run, but no dogs are allowed. The paths are paved and the walking is easy, quiet, and peaceful. Billy Creek Preserve and Filter

Marsh is a 56-acre area designed to cleanse water that runs into the Caloosahatchee River. It is an important “cleaning” system for Billy’s Creek. Plants filter out the excess nutrients in the water and help to improve water quality for Lee County. It is located directly east of Billy Bowlegs Park, where Deion Sanders played baseball as a child. The park is named after Billy Bowlegs, the important Seminole Chief during the Seminole Wars in the mid1800s, leading his people in the last major resistance against the U.S. government.

After a hiatus of several years due to COVID, Gateway Girls on the Go were finally able to volunteer for the Habitat for Humanity program called Women Build again. Ten ladies (and one member’s husband – well done Mike Whitman!) met in Fort Myers on Dec. 8 to help construct a new house! The goal of this project was to help more families achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build better lives.

The group met at the building site of a lovely new neighborhood, all constructed by volunteers from Habitat for Humanity. They worked with other folks from the community

as well as a crew of actual builders who were also volunteers. The goal on that day was to raise the walls, outside and inside, and they did! Women Build offers qualified families affordable housing that they help build with the assistance of volunteers. As the leader said, this is a hand up, not a handout. The GWC volunteers were scheduled to work from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. but they finished early – what a great crew. They hammered, nailed, drilled, lifted walls and ended up with the shell of a new house. The roof and finishing work will be completed at a later time and a new family will move in within the next couple of months, offering them a pathway to a new life. A truly wonderful and rewarding project, one that the ladies have been privileged to do.

Dining Out

The Gateway Women’s Club members and guests recently enjoyed fresh fish and seafood at Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster Bar. Overlooking the marina, the GWC diners found a place to relax, a place to be with friends, and a place to share laughs and great memories. From start to finish, the food and service were excellent. Clam chowder, seafood bisque, gumbo, and salads, along with calamari, alligator bites and oysters whetted appetites. Entrees followed and included deliciously prepared hogfish, salmon, shrimp, grouper and snapper. Sweet treats, such as carrot cake, raspberry swirl cheesecake and Key lime pie, capped off a tasty and fun evening.

Gateway Women’s Club on page 9

Chief photographer Lois Hyatt

Assistant photographer Linda Graham

Installation of new officers by President Claudia Polzer: Charlotte Stewart, president; Kathy Flaherty, secretary; and Susan Roberts, member-at-large

Holiday luncheon committee members Sue Woolford, Viola Murphy, Judy Bickerstaff, Marilyn Kelly, chairwoman, Yvonne Cribbs, Marsha Malamut, Linda Steele

Holiday luncheon decorations committee: Mona Burke, Janet George, Carol Luce, chairwoman, Diane Sarsfield and Jo Iwanski

Maryann and Russell Schmidt, Debra Roggow and Louis Smith, Donna Thayer, and Gracie and Ron Hrinda

Pam Dwyer

Jean Martin, Mary Anderson and Nancy Van Horn

Mystery Walk: Back row: Elsie Rivard, Susan Roberts, Charlotte Stewart, a friend from Wales, Sharon Desrosiers, Daphne Weber, Patti Stephens, Michelle Karnes, Claudette O’Connor, Mireya Gonzalez, Connie Roessler, Julie Rizzo, Mary Mills. Front row: Mary Anderson, Judy Hammond, Maria Beacham, Maryanne George, Barb Hanlin, Santa Berthelsen, Karen Amaro. Kneeling is Mimi Rossi.

Habitat for Humanity: At the end of the build, tired but happy. Pictured are Elsie Rivard, Charlotte Stewart, Maryanne George, Mary deSilva, Pam Dwyer, Valerie Emerson, Michelle Karnes, Sharon Desrosiers, Mary Anderson

Habitat for Humanity: Raising the wall

Habitat for Humanity: GWC member volunteers Lauren Whitman, Michelle Karnes, Mary Anderson, Valerie Emerson, Pam Dwyer, Charlotte Stewart, Maryanne George

Marilyn

From The Desk Of Sheriff Carmine Marceno

Seating Is Limited … Enroll Now!

Annual Homeowners Association Presidents Council Presentation

Working cohesively with our county homeowners’ associations requires the appropriation of an array of resources and my commitment to continue ongoing communication with our residents.

While our efforts have produced extraordinary results, I am of the mindset that the application of the newest technologies and enhanced community policing strategies will assist us in our efforts to keep Lee County among the safest counties in the nation.

On Feb. 6, I will be hosting my “Annual Homeowners Association Presidents Council” at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall from 9:30 a.m. until noon.

The event will include a display of Lee County Sheriff’s Office assets as well as include a presentation of the innovative technologies that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are using to protect our communities.

Additionally, I will participate in a “question and answer” segment at the conclusion of the forum.

Please be advised that seating is limited and your prompt registration is requested.

Gateway Women’s Club from page 8

Book Club

February’s Book Club plans to meet on Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. A hostess is needed! Judy Kading plans to be the co-hostess while Jan Hartzell will be the discussion leader. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid is the chosen selection. It is “A breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.”

Sit And Stitch

The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall is located at 13350 FSW Parkway in Fort Myers. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided. I encourage interested HOA presidents, HOA Board members and community residents to attend. As seating is limited, please register as soon as possible by calling (239) 477-1CRU (1278) or by visiting www.sheriffleefl.org/ hoapresidentscouncil.

Alliance For The Arts

We Contain Multitudes

Artists: Deb Zwetsch And Zan Lombardo

Feb. 2 To 24, 5 To 7 p.m.

Deb Zwetsch and Zan Lombardo built a relationship as collaborative artists to specifically create the work for this show. They have channeled multitudes together. Harnessing watercolor paints and liquid silk dyes, they offer artworks of imbibition, created by trusting The Flow, the egoless flow, with as much enthusiasm and unconditional love and trust as they could muster.

Elusive skunk apes peer between the trunks of pines, saw palmettos and bald cypress trees. The abecedarium of the animals of the Everglades, a veritable yearbook of character portraits of local mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects, is juxtaposed with a litany of leftovers from the trauma of Hurricane Ian . The moon in all its phases is featured as it influences all creatures and phenomena of the natural world. Human figures wear the silken skins of other beings as they interact with them, whether that be listening to the choruses of frogs in the rain, considering the fecundity of a rookery, facing the imposing mass of a brown bear, darting from the silver spears of mullet schools, or gasping at a graceful nest of snakes. The artists show them embodied, not separate.

The artists’ lived experience is that the heart is a vulnerable engine. The energies it circulates traverse in curves and circuits, spiraling and eddying with lines, shapes, textures, and colors. The enormity of what is present fills walls and rooms, some things rearranged by hurricane force gales, but thankfully more often by gentle breezes. Their focus is on both microcosm and macrocosm, inner and outer. To experience the whole planet as a sentient being, one must first find oneself in relationship with all, welcoming the multitudes with open heart, open head, and open arms.

Collaboration is not to be undertaken by the weak or faint of heart. Collaborative struggle has required enormous amounts of flexibility and integrity. The result is concrete, visible evidence that channeling the Creation together is possible. The artists’ intentions are for their artworks to embrace this resplendence and acknowledge that life is overwhelmingly abundant and well worth their effort, laughter, and tears. They remind us to be humble and to keep expanding out into the universe.

Alliance For The Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919, (239) 939-2787, artinlee.org.

Continental Women’s Club

The Continental Women’s Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Thursday, March 7 at 11:30 a.m. at The Hideaway Country Club.

Our March program will feature a presentation by dancers from the Kellyn Celtic Arts Irish Dance Academy. Come join us in an early celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Click your heels and show you’re green.

Continental Women’s Club is a social, cultural, and philanthropic organization established in 1975, with membership

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. Meetings are 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. Reservation deadline for March 7 is Tuesday, Feb. 27. Please call Liz Paul at (239) 691-7561 for additional information, meal selection, and to make a reservation.

Stop Treating The Blinky Light

Did you know that only about 20% of your nerve fibers transmit signals of pain. You have 31 pairs of spinal nerves running from the base your skull to your tailbone. Each one of these spinal nerves has nine nerve fibers. Only two of these fibers transmits signals of pain which equates to approximately 20% These nerve fibers are the blinky light. This is why you show up in the doctor’s office. This is why you take anti-inflammatories and pain medication. This is even why you get certain treatments or have procedures or injections. It’s all to cover up the blinky light; the symptom, the pain, the discomfort. You’d like to keep the light from blinking so that you don’t know it’s there anymore. The problem is if you cover up the blinking light all the time with a piece of duct tape, your engine is still going to break down. The problem is that the breakdown will be much worse if you keep covering it up.

Well, you may say that’s great I get it, but...but I’m in pain and I don’t wanna be in pain. That’s understandable so

let’s talk about chronic pain. I describe it to my patients like this. Your chronic pain is a car rolling. And it continues to roll and roll, but it’s not rolling because somebody’s inside with their foot on the accelerator, no, it’s rolling because the brakes are broken. These brakes are the remaining nerve fibers that are not being looked at by most doctors. The brakes are the large diameter afferent nerves that have to do with muscle tone, light touch and balance. And when these brakes are broken or damaged, you will continue to have aches and pain and/or numbness and tingling until you fix the brakes.

This is how my clinic is different. We look at the brakes not just a blinky light. Because we know if we fix the damaged brakes, the blinky light will shut off.

Dr. Robert Davis, DC, DACACD is a chiropractic physician with training in functional neurology and holds a diplomate in addictionology. He has been in practice for 25 years. He may be reached at (239) 482-8686.

The next meeting of the Sit and Stitch group will be hosted by Prudi Fournier on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. The group includes many Gateway Women’s Club (GWC) members who are working on a variety of stitching projects. The following projects are ongoing for members who want to participate: lap blankets, shawls, and hats for Hospice. Any GWC member who enjoys sharing her skills is welcome and the group encourages new project ideas. If you plan to attend the meeting or are interested in joining this group, contact Prudi. Her information can be found in the GWC Directory.

Bridge

Bridge 101 will meet Tuesday, Feb. 6 and 20 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.

Charitable Giving Committee

The Charitable Giving Committee has news to share! The committee kicked off their Dollars For Scholars in January and will continue this commitment throughout the year. In January, items were also collected for the furry friends that are at the Gulf Coast Humane Society – it was a huge success!

The next donation event will be March 20 for the Pace Center for Girls. Pace provides girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. A “wish list” will be posted on the GWC Facebook page and an email will also be sent out.

Other activities to look forward to are the Silent Auction Baskets in April and some type of comedy event! All the monies raised for these events will be distributed to the group’s 2024 charities.

Boston Red Sox Step Up To The Plate To Raise Funds For Golisano Children’s Hospital In 2024

The 31st Annual Event Series Is Planned In February And March

Registration is open for the 31st Annual Boston Red Sox event series presented by Ambitrans Ambulance to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital in February and March.

Events include:

• Boston Tee Party, Feb. 15 at The Forest Country Club and includes an evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and spirited auctions. Bidding opportunities include autographed sports and entertainment memorabilia, fine jewelry, and luxurious spa and destination packages.

• 31st Annual Celebrity Golf Classic, Feb. 16 at The Forest Country Club includes a bigleague golf tournament featuring Boston Red Sox players, major league greats, and sports celebrities. Oncourse contests and an after-tournament dinner add to the excitement.

• Dinner on the Diamond, March 19 at JetBlue includes a family-friendly event with dinner on the field, Red Sox celebrity appearances, autograph signings, a sports memorabilia silent auction, and surprises. VIP packages are available for an MVP experience.

“The Boston Red Sox organization truly understands the power and importance of philanthropy and giving back,” said Katy Martinez, senior director of development for Lee Health Foundation. “As champions for local kids in Southwest Florida, the dedicated major league players and staff, Forest Country Club members and event participants have helped raise over $15 million for Golisano Children’s Hospital. We are truly honored to be a part of this amazing event series year after year.”

Shawn Smith, general manager of Boston Red Sox Florida operations, added, “We are humbled and blessed to share in

such an impactful platform with our partners at Lee Health and Golisano Children’s Hospital. The health and wellness of children here in Southwest Florida will always be a focus for us as we continue to serve our community for years to come.”

This year, support for this event series will support the development of the new Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatric Surgery Center. Last year, approximately 5,000 outpatient pediatric surgeries and procedures were performed at HealthPark Medical Center to treat fractures, tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, ENT conditions, orthopedic maladies and appendectomies.

The new surgery center will provide world-class, compassionate care in a welcoming environment. The center will directly benefit children and families by reducing wait times, increasing efficiencies, lowering costs and improving access to emergency services.

Following the success of last season, with $378,000 raised, the goal for the 2024 series is to make a record-breaking impact. For information and to register for the events, visit leehealthfoundation.org/redsox.

About Golisano Children’s Hospital

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is nationally recognized for the quality care of pediatric patients. Established in 1994, Golisano is the only recognized children’s hospital in Southwest Florida. Named a U.S. News Top Pediatric Hospital in 2022, as well as a 2022 Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Hospital serves more than 45,000 patients every year in relation to more than 30 specialty pediatric services such as cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and more. Lee Health opened the current hospital building in May 2017 which offers 135 beds and includes comprehensive pediatric services such as a 24-hour pediatric emergency department, hematology-oncology unit, regional perinatal intensive care center, and Level II and Level III neonatal intensive care unit with 70 private rooms. For more information, visit GolisanoChildrensSWFL.org.