On Friday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m., the Edison and Ford Winter Estates kicked off the 48th annual Holiday Nights celebration with a tree lighting ceremony. Guests had the opportunity to participate in the countdown with Dave Elias from NBC-2 when the Christmas tree on the Ford property was lit with thousands of animated lights choreographed to holiday music. Female vocalists, the American Sirens, performed shortly after the tree lighting. The event was sponsored by Florida Power & Light, Bob Dean Supply, Sunbelt Rentals, and TriCircle Pavers.
This year’s theme is “Holidays on Wheels” and will incorporate many different types of wheels, especially car wheels because of the connection to Henry Ford, and also wagon wheels, bicycle tires, ships’ steering wheels, and train wheelsets. Holiday Nights will run nightly through Dec. 31 (will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas night). Guided Holiday Tradition Tours will be offered at 6 and 7 p.m. or visitors can choose to meander at their own pace on a self-guided tour. Inside-theHomes tours will be offered on Dec. 6, 13, and 20 at 6:30 p.m., for a special up close look at the homes’ decorated interiors. Additional lights with new technology are being installed this year. Throughout the property, many of the displays will have more lights than ever before. The palms will have animated “magic lights” that will change colors, and for the first time, the historic pond near the river pavilion will be lighted and there will be lights on the waterfall that are animated and choreographed to music.
The family-oriented event includes the Children’s Tree Trail, which features 50 trees decorated with handmade ornaments from Lee County school children. On Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting, and on Dec. 3 and 10, children can get their face painted (additional charge for face painting). Then, on Dec. 16 and 23, there will be a teddy bear booth, where children can make a bear (additional charge).
Soundings
Holiday Nights At Edison And Ford Winter Estates
There will be music on several nights, including strolling carolers, a pianist, and tenor saxophone and trumpet players. In addition, the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers will perform on Dec. 13. An antique circus car (a calliope) with a built-in pipe organ will be played at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12. Curators will be on hand to answer questions about the car, which is a modified 1914 Model T Ford.
Guests can shop for gift items during Market Mondays, when multiple craft and holiday vendors will have booths around the banyan tree from 4 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11, and 18. In addition, the Museum Store and Garden Shoppe will be open until 9 p.m. every night of Holiday Nights and will be stocked with unique gift items for that hard-to-buy-for loved one. Refreshments will be available for purchase on select nights.
Holiday Nights tickets for adults are $20; teens (ages 13 to 19) are $10; children (6 to 12) are $2; and $10 for Edison Ford members. Guided Holiday Tradition Tours are $30 for adults, teens are $25, children are $18, and $15 for Edison Ford members. Inside-the-Homes Holiday Tours are $50 per
person. Lee County residents with identification will receive $5 off regular-priced Holiday Nights admission on Monday nights. To purchase tickets or view the nightly schedule, visit the website at EdisonFord.org.
About Edison And Ford Winter Estates
Edison and Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter homesite of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 220,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights.
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, yearround involvement. Weekend
The homes and gardens at Edison and Ford Winter Estates are decorated with thousands of lights for the Holiday Nights celebration.
ArtFest Fort Myers on page 7
Gulf Harbour Book Club Review
Submitted By Joan Kaplan
The Gulf Harbour Book Club met on Nov. 6 to discuss Horse by Geraldine Brooks. There were 19 people in attendance for this excellent book.
The author presentation was well researched and delivered quite lively by Fran Cleaver.
Geraldine Brooks is an Australian-American journalist and novelist, whose 2005 novel March won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. She was born Sept. 14, 1955 in Sydney, Australia. She married Tony Horowitz in 1984. He was an American journalist and author, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1995 for national reporting. At the time of their marriage, she converted to Judaism. She became an American citizen in 2002, retaining her Australian citizenship. They have two sons, Nathaniel and Bizu. Her husband died quite suddenly while on his book tour, (cardiac arrest) in 2019 at age 60. She was halfway through writing Horse when she got the news, and suspended writing for a year.
Geraldine was educated at the University of Sydney and attended Columbia Graduate School of Journalism in 1983, on scholarship, obtaining a master’s degree. Her first job was reporting on horse racing in Sydney.
She was a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, covering crises in Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East.
She and her husband reported on several hotspots but she won an award in 1990 for reporting on the Persian Gulf. In 2006 she was awarded a fellowship at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study.
She grew up in the suburbs, her father a big band singer was stranded in Australia when his manager took his money.
In addition to many books, her most acclaimed are Year of Wonders, published in 2001 which became an international bestseller. Set in 1666, it depicts a woman’s battle to save her English village from an outbreak of bubonic plague. It saw a spike in sales 20 years later when COVID struck.
Her next novel March, published in 2005, was inspired by her fondness for Little Women. To connect the reading to her new status in 2002 as an American citizen she researched the Civil War setting of Little Women and decided to create a chronicle of wartime services for the absent father of the March girls. Her next novel, People of the Book, was published in 2008. Brooks explored a fictionalized story of Sarajevo Haggadah. The novel was inspired by her reporting of human-interest stories in the aftermath of the breakup of Yugoslavia. The novel won both the Australian Book of the Year award and the Literary Fiction Book of the Year award in 2008.
Her 2011 novel Caleb’s Crossing is inspired by the life of Caleb Cheeshahteaumauk, a Wampanoag convert to Christianity, who is the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College in the 17th century.
In 2016 Brooks visited Israel as part of a project by the Breaking the Silence organization to write an article on the Israeli occupation to mark the 50th anniversary of the six-day war. The book was published under the title Kingdom of Olives and Ash.
Horse is a historical novel based upon the racehorse Lexington one of the most famous thoroughbreds in American history. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller and won several awards. Her inspiration came at a luncheon to celebrate Caleb’s Crossing when an executive from the Smithsonian was describing how he had just overseen delivery of Lexington’s skeleton from Washington, D.C., to the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky. As he related the horse’s extraordinary life story, she became fascinated and by the time he got to the horse’s fate in the Civil War she knew that her next book would be about this horse.
She and her husband began the research in Kentucky. He was writing on Olmstead and by coincidence discovered a diary account of Thomas Scott and his doctor. What a find!
Brooks started writing at 53, and volunteers for a therapeutic riding program for children with autism, on Valentine, her 26-year-old horse. She does extensive book tours in the United States and Australia. She lives in Martha’s Vineyard and Sydney.
Joyce Timberlake read us a quote about horses which I would like to share. “The horse as your totem animal represents freedom above all else. The horse is a majestic animal that embodies the spiritual power of independence, freedom, nobleness, endurance, confidence, triumph, heroism and competition. It is a symbol associated with strength, courage and freedom.”
Many of our book club members either owned or had access to a horse growing up. They all expressed such love for their experiences.
Brooks’s novels don’t just use history as backdrop; they scour the depths of the past in search of wisdom for the present. She can take different stories about each character over a span of years and make them all relevant to each other. The characters are so well developed they are lifelike. She makes you think about difficult topics.
The title refers to the label on a skeleton gathering dust in the Smithsonian’s attic. As it turns out, “Horse” is as much of a misnomer for Lexington, called “the greatest thoroughbred stud sire in racing history,” as “historical fiction” is for Horse In Washington, D.C., in 2019, Jess, a zoologist, is called to restore Lexington’s newly-identified bones for public display. She collaborates with Theo, an art historian, who finds a painting of a horse in his neighbor’s garbage.
Jess and Theo’s stories are interspersed with that of Jarret, Lexington’s groom, during the 1850s and ’60s. Born into slavery in Kentucky, Jarret bonds with a colt called Lexington, setting out to prove that “all men are equal on the turf or under it” and hoping to win enough at the races to purchase his freedom. Lexington grows famous for his speed and endurance under Jarret’s care. Jarret was sold, along with Lexington, first to a New Orleans entrepreneur, then back to Kentucky. Jarret watches the Civil War unfold from the South’s elite stables. In 2019, Jess and Theo know nothing about Jarret. Nevertheless, they use the evidence they have to reconstruct his world.
In Horse, Brooks examines what others have overlooked. Like Horse’s protagonists, she rummages through what looks like junk, searching for treasure. Jess rescues Lexington’s bones. Theo salvages the painting to restore it. These objects carry traces of the past that need to be studied in order to be understood – and in order for their full stories to be told. Lexington sired 575 foals. Many of these foals became winners of the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes and runners up in the Kentucky Derby like Seabiscuit. The most famous is Secretariat who won the Kentucky Derby.
At the novel’s heart is a most important question: How did we forget about Jarret? The fact of knowing more about the horse than the man is not lost on Brooks. She elevates the history of Black grooms, trainers, and jockeys even as she underscores the disturbing interchangeability of the men with the horses they rode. When the New Orleans horse racing impresario Ten Broek says “this [ … ] is my Jarret. He knows the horse. Follow his advice in every particular, as if his instructions were my own,” Jarret “tries to ignore the dissonant clanging of Ten Broeck’s words. My horse. My Jarret. New grandstands, new barns – did the man just buy up everything he wanted in this world?” This is Horse’s strength: It depicts dignity and indignity simultaneously. It asks us to remember the passion and expertise Black men brought to the sport of horse racing and to recognize the violence that kept them out of its official record. As the novel shows, the horse whose legacy is preserved in museums, art galleries, and stud catalogues would not exist if not for the man whose life is irrecoverable except through fiction. When horse racing became popular in the North, Black jockeys were replaced with White jockeys. What else is new?
The Gulf Harbour Book Club usually meets on the first Monday of each month at noon in the club’s boardroom. If you want to join the book club email joankaplan@mac.com. From December through April, Zoom will not be available as we are using Zoom for the authors. The selections for the upcoming season are: Dec. 4, Lisa See for Lady Tan’s Circle of Women ; Jan. 8, Laurie Frankel for One, Two, Three; February, Ann Napolitano for Hello Beautiful; March 4, Will Schwalbe for We Should Not Be Friends; April, Etaf Rum for Evil Eye. In May we will read The River We Remember by William Kent Kreuger. Preference will be given to book club members for the authors joining us. There will be a two-week advance deadline for book club members to sign up. After the deadline any member of the club is welcome.
Ladies’ Luncheon
By Sandy Kreatz
Tiffany Wood, Crime Prevention Specialist, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, was our guest speaker at the November Ladies’ Luncheon. She presented a very informative talk focused on Internet safety and security measures and tips to avoid falling for the latest scams and current predator driven crimes. All in all, very interesting and a little alarming!
Thanks to Chef for a great lunch, staff for their attentive service and Missy for her always tempting trunk show!
Hope to see you next month at our annual “Last Minute Shopping” event!
In Memorium
Donna Anne Maier
Aug. 11, 1956 To Oct. 10, 2023
Born in Columbus, Ohio to parents Ethel and Robert Simmons, Donna died of natural causes due to cerebellar atrophy at Cape Coral Hope Hospice.
She was a graduate of the Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and worked for Ohio Rehab Services.
Donna’s activities included reading for the blind on a radio station, being a docent at the Kelton Historical House, boating as a member of Gulf Harbour Yacht Club, water aerobics, dogs, and flying with a private pilot license.
Donna leaves behind her husband Richard F. Maier, Jr. of 14781 Laguna Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908, her son Samuel Andrew Maier and his wife Diana Maier of Cincinnati, Ohio, sisters Pamela Newland of Columbus, Ohio, and Rhonda Gillingwater of Volcano Village, Hawaii, Aunt Donna Johnson of Dayton, Ohio and Uncle Hartzel Coffman of Lancaster, Ohio.
A celebration of life was held on Nov. 5 at Bridgewater Banquet Center in Powell, Ohio 43065.
As the opening of our new office draws near, the entire team is looking forward to rejoining our clients and friends on the islands and welcoming you to a beautiful new home for us all.
In the meantime, we are here to help. Call us at 239.472.8300.
Patio Event Space
New Lobby
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
Gulf Harbour Master Association Board Meetings
will now be routinely held at Suitor Middleton Cox & Associates offices, 15751 San Carlos Blvd #8, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Meeting date and times will continue to be posted on the signs at the north and south entrances.
Gulf Harbour
Master Association Board Of Directors
President Chris Cope
Vice President David J. Urban
Secretary Dave Van Namee
Treasurer Carl Pecko
Director Carol Gillespie
Director John Wilson
Director Sam Schiphorst
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.
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!
Montage Women’s Club
The Montage Women’s Club is a social and philanthropic club open to all women residing in Lee County. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at The Club at Pelican Preserve, 9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd., Fort Myers 33913 (community entry off Treeline Avenue between Colonial Boulevard and Daniels Parkway).
Activities begin at 10:30 a.m. with a short social period, a business meeting at 11:15 a.m., followed by lunch at noon, and normally an informative speaker program, ending at 2 p.m. 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 lunch.
Our next meeting will be held early (due to the Christmas holiday) on Thursday, Dec. 14, and our planned program will feature Maestro Andrew Kurtz, music director and CEO, Gulf
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
Coast Symphony, along with a small ensemble of symphony musicians. The Gulf Coast Symphony is the second-largest nonprofit performing arts organization in Lee County. Luncheon fee is $28 and the planned regular menu will be a grilled breast of chicken with natural jus, farro, garlic, walnuts, raisins and green onion, served with chef’s choice of both seasonal vegetables and dessert. The plant-based/ vegan meal will consist of stuffed delicata squash with farro, garlic, walnuts, raisins, cranberries and green onion, along with a bed of spinach and seasonal vegetables. Dessert will be fresh berries topped with coconut whipped cream. Fresh rolls and butter are always served.
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 cutoff to attend this meeting is noon, Thursday, Dec. 7.
you don’t pay immediately, it’s a 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.
Association Presidents
Celebrating 23 Years
• Proven
• Outstanding
in dominating Gulf Harbour real estate sales and unsurpassed client satisfaction!
• Exceptional Service - Fulltime support staff specializing in Gulf Harbour!
volunteers are required to commit to a minimum fourhour 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
Reminder:
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.
Gulf Harbour Pickleball Social A Huge Success!
Thanks to everyone who came to the Fort Myers Racquet Club and joined in on the Gulf Harbour Pickleball Social. Please contact Paula if you want to be included in on the next one: paulajocastro@gmail.com.
Thank you, Paula Castro
Seventh Annual Porsche And Friends Parade
To Golisano Children’s Hospital Dec. 2
The event delivers holiday cheer in style to patients while raising critical funds.
For the seventh year, a parade of Porsches and other exotic automobiles will deliver Santa and holiday cheer to patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 2. In addition, a live auction will raise critically needed funds to help build the new Golisano Pediatric Surgery Center.
The seventh annual event is organized by John and Valerie Petracco on behalf of the Everglades Region of the Porsche Club of America, which covers Southwest Florida from Punta Gorda to Marco Island. The event is held in partnership with the Gulf Harbor Porsche Owners Group, Porsche Fort Myers, Terra Nostra Italian Ristorante and the Iona McGregor Fire District. Since 2016, the groups have raised more than $1 million for Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Participants with their cars will gather on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at Glory Days Grill, 5056 Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers, before heading to Golisano Children’s Hospital with a Lee County Sheriff’s Office escort. Once at the hospital, drivers will hand off their gifts to child life staff and gather to watch the Iona McGregor Fire District and Lee County Sheriff’s Office SWAT teams who dress as elves and repel from the roof of the hospital to tap on patients’ windows to share holiday cheer. Drivers will then participate in a live Fund-a-Need call, with the goal of raising funds to help build the new pediatric surgery center. This center will expand surgeries and outpatient services so that all children can get the surgery they need, without waiting or being delayed because of a lack of operating space.
Participants are encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy for infants to teens and be ready to give to the mission. Register by calling John Petracco at (239) 464-7080 or via email at jpetracco@comcast.net.
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.
Golf Cart Rules Reminder
Gulf Harbour has had several incidents and issues involving golf carts. Reports have included underage driving, wrong-way driving, driving on pedestrian and bike paths, and driving under the influence.
Some excerpts from our Rules and Regulations:
Any member, family member, or guest may operate a motorized vehicle (i.e. cars, trucks, golf carts, motorized scooters, etc.) on Master Association property as long as the driver is at least 16 years of age, has a valid driver’s license and has proof of vehicle insurance.
All golfers with golf carts should refrain from using pedestrian and bicycle pathways, if at all possible, especially if a golf cart path is available in that area and the golf cart driver is playing golf at the time. When use of a Gulf Harbour road is necessary, ATVs and golf carts utilized for activities other than golf should be driven in the same direction as vehicle traffic and comply with all rules that apply to vehicles.
All Florida rules of the road must be followed when driving motor vehicles within Gulf Harbour.
Please consider the above when driving your golf cart at Gulf Harbour.
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 lifeexperience, 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.
Gulf Harbour Websites
Gulf Harbour Master Association • www.GulfHarbour33908.com
Palmas Del Sol • www.palmasdelsol.net Paramount • http://www.athomenet.com/theparamount
www.gulfharbouryachtclub.org
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. 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.
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 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. 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.”
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Rules & Regulations
Reminder
• Lakes: No boating, fishing or swimming in any lake within Gulf Harbour.
• Eagle Perch Island: No fishing.
• Marina: No recreational swimming or fishing in the marina. No fish or other marine life of any kind shall be cleaned, prepared or processed in any manner on the property.
Regulations
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.
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.
Gulf Harbour Marina Board of Directors
Gulf Harbour Country Club Board Of Governors
Disclaimer
The Soundings is a newsletter published for the benefit of the residents of Gulf Harbour. Seabreeze Communications Group assists in providing publishing, printing and advertising services. The content is that of the authors which should not be construed to be representations, opinions or views of the Gulf Harbour Master Association Inc., or its management, officers or directors or Seabreeze Communications Group. Additionally, the paid advertising in the Soundings should not be construed as an endorsement of any advertised product or service. Finally, none of the content of the Soundings may be reproduced for any purpose nor can the name GHY&CC Homeowner’s Association or similar modification be used in any way without the express prior written consent of the GH Master Association Inc Board of Directors.
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.
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 salt-treated walkways. At home, use pet-safe ice melt rather 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.
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.
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.
www.GulfHarbour33908.com and the Soundings updated.
Seeking Soundings Writers
Do you have an interesting story to share?
The Soundings is always looking for new and talented writers to submit articles on events, the social scene, restaurants, movies, family matters, village life, etc… Now is your chance to share your interests with the community. You can contribute each month, just once, or once in a while.
• Are you involved in any particular activities in Gulf Harbour or around town?
• Can you share your knowledge about a specific topic or hobby?
• Do you have (or did you retire from) an interesting career?
• Are you the person who always knows what to do/ where to go in our area?
• Do you like to take pictures or draw cartoons?
• Can you pass along a favorite recipe?
If you answered yes to any of the above or have an idea of your own, you can submit your articles (and photos) at GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com.
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
Rooftop Fun
The rooftop bar, open from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Wednesday and Friday nights atop Sidney’s, is fun for everyone with a panoramic 360-degree view of the city and the sunset over the Caloosahatchee River! The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center invites the public to come learn, sip, create, celebrate, listen to music and dance the night away! Sidney’s sculpture garden and reception area are now open to the public on Wednesday and Friday nights from 6 p.m. till midnight.
Note: Some nights will carry a nominal cover charge. Enjoy painting, dance, yoga or live music on the rooftop. All ages welcome.
• Wednesday. Dec. 6 – Latin Dance with Angela, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 13 – Wednesday Nights at Sidney’s presents: D.J. Don Fresh, 8 to 11 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 13 – Davis School of Music Recital, 6 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 15 – Friday Nights at Sidney’s presents: Briz & Lady
• Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Wine and Paint, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 20 and 27 – Rooftop Karaoke, 8:30 to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve Rooftop Party, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Ring in the New Year at Southwest Florida’s largest open-air rooftop while sipping champagne or your favorite cocktails and a bird’s-eye view of the historic downtown Fort Myers River District. Celebrate New Year’s Eve at a ravishing party perched on the rooftop of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center on Saturday, Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dress is cocktail attire.
Sidney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden offers an unforgettable setting for a classy New Year’s Eve celebration with great food, cool drinks, and amazing rooftop views with epic panoramas over the city. This is an opportunity to enjoy exclusive “front-row” seating including lounge furniture, tables and chairs to watch the incredible display of downtown fireworks provided by the River District Alliance. Tickets are $222 per adult, VIP tables available. Space is limited so don’t wait. Guests can enjoy a spectacular celebration with live music, an open bar (ages 21-plus), dancing on an oversized dance floor, extravagant food stations, a late night dessert buffet, a champagne toast at midnight, and more – all with a stylish ambience ideal for a sophisticated New Year’s Eve night.
Tickets include: 2023 New Year’s Eve (NYE) swag, heavy hors d’oeuvres by Frisco’s, full open bar, and live music by The Lineup Band.
VIP Tickets include: 2023 NYE swag, heavy hors d’oeuvres by Frisco’s, full open bar, live music by The Lineup Band. VIP includes premium waterfront seating with best view of fireworks, designated VIP food station with designated cocktail waitress.
Please visit our website www.sbdac.com for more information.
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center (SBDAC), 2301 First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901, (239) 333-1933, www. sbdac.com.
Phone Numbers
United Way Kicks Off 2023/24 Campaign
Pacesetter Companies Ignite $11.3 Million Fundraising Effort
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades celebrated its 2023/24 Campaign Kickoff at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers, where more than 600 business, nonprofits and community leaders gathered to hear updates from the organization. Event sponsors included Busey Bank, Uhler, Vertich, and White Advisors and Publix Super Markets.
“We are so blessed here in Lee County to have heroes walking among us every single day. Anyone can be a hero,” said Board Chair Noelle Branning. “We all have a capacity to help someone else, to know when someone needs that hand, and to recognize that we can do better. We all can be heroes today.”
Campaign Cochairs Kevin Karnes and Jay Santos spoke about the power of uniting heroes and the importance of inspiring hope. They took turns describing how United Way makes a difference in everyone’s lives and how anyone can be a part of that difference.
Pacesetter Cochairs Carolyn Rogers and Gary Matter gave updates about companies and organizations that ran their United Way campaigns early to set the pace for the rest of the community. Pacesetter giving, along with early Alexis de Tocqueville Society giving (individuals who contribute $10,000-plus annually) has put United Way at 52 percent of the 2023/24 campaign goal of $11,288,681. There are currently 175 Pacesetters with 549 individuals who give at the Keel Club level (donations of $1,000-plus annually), including 88 who are Alexis de Tocqueville donors. The total raised thus far is $5,926,048.
The top eight Pacesetter companies are:
A highlight of the campaign kickoff was when former Campaign Cochairs Beth Hendry and John Clinger gave away a two-year Acura Integra lease from Scanlon Auto Group, a longtime supporter. This marks the 23rd year that Scanlon has donated a vehicle to one generous United Way supporter who contributes at least $240 annually
through a payroll deduction. This year, Pamela JenkinsCaggiano of LARC, Inc. was the lucky winner.
All money raised through the United Way campaign stays in the local community to help support the local human service network of partner agencies. United Way Partner Agencies such as Harry Chapin Food Bank, Community Cooperative, Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Children’s Advocacy Center, Literacy Council Gulf Coast and Boys & Girls Clubs serve a diverse range of needs in the community.
About United Way
In addition to raising funds for human service organizations in our community, United Way promotes partnerships and collaborations among agencies, helping them to work together focusing on issues that continue to improve lives. United Way is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in our community. United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades was established in 1957 and over $225 million has been raised and distributed since that time. For more information, please call (239) 433-2000 or visit UnitedWayLee.org.
“We cannot thank our Pacesetters enough for the great start to this important campaign,” Karnes said. “The $11.3 million goal is essential to making sure our coworkers, family, friends and neighbors continue to get the help they need.”
“We are thankful to all of our donors and volunteers for deeply caring about our community and being true heroes by providing the hope for a better tomorrow,” Santos added. “What an amazing start to such an important campaign for our community.”
The 2003 PORSCHE & Friends Parade to Golisano Children’s Hospital
Your generosity this year has put us well over the $1,200,000 threshold since we started a short 7 years ago. Valerie and I are so blessed to have friends, neighbors and partners in our community who share our passion of helping the precious patients in the hospital. JP & Valerie Petracco jpetracco@comcast.net
Flora Sharp, Rosa Rodriguez, Madison Mitchell
Campaign Cochairs Jay Santos and Kevin Karnes are superheroes!
Pamela Jenkins-Caggiano of LARC, Inc. was the lucky winner of the two-year Acura Integra lease donated by Scanlon Auto Group.
Jeannine Joy, United Way president and CEO
Dawn Belamarich, Toby Belding, Jessica Walker, Gail Markham Michael Siefert, Trevor Whitley, Arnold Gillard, Brian O’Donnell
