Gulf Harbour Book Club Review
JOAN KAPLAN
The Gulf Harbour Book Club met on February 3 to discuss with author Stephanie Dray on Zoom. We had 41 in attendance.
Linda Rosalanko presented the author biography. Kudos to Linda for finding information that had to be researched as it was not readily available. Stephanie Dray graduated from Smith college with a degree in government and got her law degree from Northwestern. Stephanie said she practiced law for 10 minutes and acknowledged it was a great background for being a writer. She resides in Maryland with her husband, cats she fosters, and history books. Stephanie was always a storyteller, her books inspired by her family’s immigrant history. They struggled during the Great Depression and always talked about their history. Her grandfathers enlisted in WWII right after Pearl Harbor. They said the Roosevelt’s (as we now know Frances Perkins) New Deal saved their family.
Stephanie is so witty, funny and most of all brilliant. She fielded so many questions from our inquiring minds which demonstrated her wealth of historical knowledge. She is the
author of America’s First Daughter, My Dear Hamilton and The Women of Chateau Lafayette in addition to other books. As avid readers, we highly recommend these books. She was almost on deadline (the day of book club) to send her last edition to her publisher for her newest book. Stephanie and we agreed to have her back next season to discuss her next book. Her entertaining nature captivated us. As we walk around campus
here at Gulf Harbour, members are coming up to us to join the book club. We are so blessed to meet her on Zoom.
I could continue on but the story of Frances Perkins is really what we and Stephanie want you to know.
HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF FDR’S SECRETARY OF LABOR
JESSICA BREITMAN, SUNY NEW PALTZ, FDR LIBRARY INTERN
To commemorate Women’s History Month, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library honors Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and the first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet.
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Foundations In Economics And Labor
Born in Boston to well-educated parents on April 10, 1880, Frances Perkins attended the women’s college Mount Holyoke, founded by Mary Lyon, a pioneer in women’s education. Lyon’s empowering adage to the young ladies at Mount Holyoke was: “Go forward, attempt great things, accomplish great things” (Downey 11). Although she majored in both chemistry and physics, Perkins was always fascinated by her economics electives and began developing the necessary tools that she later would need as Secretary of Labor. She visited factories, interviewed workers and took notes on their wages, hours, and working conditions and learned the cold-hard facts of industrial life.
In 1907, she moved to Philadelphia, where she became the general secretary of the Philadelphia Research and Protective Association. Her job investigating phony employment agencies that preyed on immigrant women put her face-to-face with pimps, drug dealers, and other criminal elements. While in Philadelphia she enrolled at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, in an effort to expand her knowledge of economics.
The
Inc.
After two years she moved to New York City, confident that she had gained enough experience to acquire a job helping the less fortunate. She moved into a settlement house in Greenwich Village, attended Columbia University working to obtain a graduate degree in political science and became heavily involved in the women’s suffrage movement. She advocated for women’s rights on street corners, protests and in meetings. On March 25, 1911 the notorious Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire occurred in New York City. Frances Perkins happened to stumble upon the horrific scene. The factory employed hundreds of workers, mostly young and impoverished women. As a result of poor safety regulations, such as faulty fire escapes and locked doors, the workers could not escape the scorching fire. One by one desperate women jumped to their deaths from the upper floors of the factory. 146 workers died that day. Perkins immediately
took action and sought ways to prevent future workplace tragedies. Recommended by Theodore Roosevelt, she was named executive secretary of a Committee on Safety. The committee was instrumental in creating the New York State Factory Investigating Commission, a legislative panel that investigated factories and other workplaces and make sure they were up to code.
When approached about working for the National Consumers League, Perkins jumped at the opportunity, eager to work for an organization that advocated for worker’s rights and protection. There she got her first taste of politics as she lobbied for the elimination of child labor and for the creation of a shorter workweek. In 1911, she invited
President Theodore Roosevelt to attend a league meeting in New York. Although the President declined her invitation, this marked the beginning of a growing reputation in the world of politics.
Franklin
D. Roosevelt
In 1929, New York State Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Frances Perkins as the Industrial Commissioner of the State of New York. FDR recognized her intelligence, wit, and no-nonsense attitude and knew she was right for the job. She took full advantage of her new position to help the impoverished.
When the stock market crashed in 1929, Perkins persistently encouraged FDR to take action. FDR became the first American
governor to stress that unemployment was a major national problem (Downey 110). He created a committee on employment, and appointed Perkins to be in charge. She traveled to England to study their unemployment compensation program in order to construct a similar program in the United States.
In January 1930, Perkins made news when she publicly contradicted President Herbert Hoover about the severity of the nation’s economic and unemployment problems. FDR admired her courage. The admiration was mutual: “Frances saw that Roosevelt treated her as a peer, and in return she
devoted to him her skills, diplomacy, and remarkable emotional intelligence.”
Department Of Labor
When FDR was elected President in 1932 there was speculation over who the President would select for his cabinet. One name that kept coming up was that of Frances Perkins. Because no woman had previously served in a presidential cabinet, any woman appointed would be closely scrutinized and be targeted for criticism.
Impressed by her ability and accomplishments, President Franklin Roosevelt offered Frances Perkins the position of Secretary of Labor. As Secretary of Labor, Perkins took on the responsibility of developing solutions to the problems being caused by the Great Depression. Most pressing was the fact that between 13 and 18 million Americans were unemployed (Downey 149).
The first public works project created by the Roosevelt administration was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided unskilled unmarried men manual labor jobs in the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by the government. Her political and administrative support made the CCC one of the great early successes of the New Deal. She also worked long days to battle unemployment, and garner
support for the New Deal and other programs, and in 1933 alone, she gave more than 100 speeches.
Social Security
Perkins’ most significant contribution to the New Deal was, of course, the Social Security program. Franklin Roosevelt was the first sitting president to support government-sponsored old age, unemployment, and health insurance. FDR wanted to enact a national program to address the broad problem of economic insecurity. But he recognized he would face political, economic, and constitutional challenges.
Taking office at the lowest point of the Great Depression, the new president chose to delay tackling long-term economic security as he focused on battling the immediate crises of hunger and joblessness. Perkins remained committed to creating a permanent social safety net for Americans. On June 29, 1934, FDR issued an Executive Order creating a cabinet level Committee on Economic Security to prepare legislation for Congress. Its chair was Frances Perkins.
On January 15, 1935 the Committee on Economic Security presented its final report to President Roosevelt. Two days later, FDR unveiled the Social Security program and sent it to Congress. On August 14, 1935, the president signed the Social
Security Act. Later that day, the Washington Post proclaimed that the Social Security Act was the “New Deal’s Most Important Act … its importance cannot be exaggerated …because this legislation eventually will affect the lives of every man, woman, and child in the country” (Downey 243). Secretary Perkins went on to work on other New Deal initiatives, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which established a minimum wage and prohibited child labor in many workplaces.
Meanwhile, she watched Hitler’s rise in Germany with a worried eye. As things worsened in Germany, and stories broke out about increasing anti-Semitism and violence, she sought a way to help German refugees escape. Immigration laws dating back to the Coolidge administration were stringent, and many Americans feared that relaxing immigration laws would increase competition for the few jobs that were available.
Because the Immigration Service was within the Department of Labor at that time, Perkins creatively administered existing quota regulations to aid refugees in need. By 1937, her efforts “admitted 50,255 immigrants for permanent residency, two-thirds of whom were Jews and 231,884 foreign ‘visitors’” (Downey 194).
On April 12, 1945, FDR died from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, and Harry Truman became president. Perkins and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes were the only two cabinet officials to serve for the entire 12 years
of the Roosevelt administration. Although she stayed in the cabinet for Truman’s first few weeks as president, she was the first of the FDR’s holdover cabinet members to resign. She suggested to Truman that he find a “great, strong man” to fill her shoes, and Truman laughed, saying he wished she would not quit.
Legacy
Soon after stepping down from the cabinet, Perkins was asked to write a book about FDR’s life. The Roosevelt I Knew was the first definitive biography of the President and quickly became a bestseller (Downey 354). It remains one of the great memoirs of the Roosevelt era.
By October 1946, Perkins was back working for the Truman administration, as part of the United States Civil Service Commission, a position she held until her husband’s death in 1952. It was then that she ended her government service career, and became a lecturer at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University until her death in 1965 at the age of 85.
Frances Perkins would have been famous simply by being the first woman to serve in a president’s cabinet; however, her involvement in the New Deal and constant fighting for the American worker makes her a legend. Although she is not well-known today, the work of Frances Perkins lives on in our unemployment insurance, minimum
wage, shorter workweek and federal laws regulating child labor and worker’s safety.
In commemoration of her accomplishments, in 1980 the headquarters of the United States Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., was named in her honor. Mount Holyoke College also honored her by creating the Frances Perkins Scholars, dedicated to educating women older than the usual college student.
But Frances Perkins leaves behind an even greater legacy: She helped pave the way for women to enter the male dominated political world. Twenty-one women have held cabinet positions since Frances Perkins first accepted Franklin Roosevelt’s offer to become Secretary of Labor. By accepting a position in Roosevelt’s cabinet, Perkins changed the course of women’s history in America.
Citations above refer to Kirstin Downey’s The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR’S Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience (Random House, 2009).
The Gulf Harbour Book Club meets on the first Monday of each month in the club’s boardroom. If you want to join the book club email joankaplan@mac. com. Zoom is available for members if the author allows it. We have the
following authors on Zoom: March is Caveat Emptor by Ken Perenyi with Sandi Altner, The Stolen Queen , and The End of Your Life Book Club. The famous authors are Ken Pereyni with Sandi Altner, Fiona Davis, and Will Schwalbe. We are working on next season with Stephanie Dray, Marie Benedict, Abi Dare, Christopher Torockio, Kristen Harmel, Ariel Lawton, Chris Whitaker, Ann Napolitano, Marie Benedict, etc.
Palmas Del Sol Art Show and Sale
Sunday March 23, 2025
Palmas Del Sol Clubhouse 10 am to 3pm
Artists
Mina Bobel
Lora D’Souza Jill Staples
All Gulf Harbour and other friends are invited to the Palmas Del Sol Art Show and Sale. Please come enjoy a glass of wine or Prosecco while you walk among our works of art. Questions? Please contact Jill Staples (904)206 -9666 or email staplesjill@gmail.com
Thank you for your blood donations!
Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club
Saturday, January 25, 2025
Tim Baldwin
Thomas Barth
Joann Benedeck
Richard Brown
Kristen Butler
Ken Carney
Kyra Cavender
Carlie Chubb
Michael Duffy
Elizabeth Dummermuth
Stephen Hancox
William Hardin
George Hughes
Berniece lapalucci
Samuel lapalucci
Julie Johnson
Scott Kallemeyn
Claire Klitenic
David Knust
William Krenz
Ralph Martinsen
William Mccaffrey
Michael McConnell
Elizabeth Morris
Walter Otey
John Rademaker
Gene Rebeor
Nancy Sage
Joyce Saparnis
Jacob Schwei
Nancy Sheppard
Randy Siffert
Dennis Staples
David Walther
Mary Wilson
Sandra Yetman
Thank you for “giving the gift of life.” We were able to collect 33 units of blood.
Ladies’ Luncheon
SANDY KREATZ
We kicked off the new year with a presentation by Chip Graddy and Steven Kinney, owners of Radius Wealth Advisors. They work with many families in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida, and Chip is a former member of Gulf Harbour. The focus was on being prepared for any financial surprises that arise in our lifetimes, and, when they come up, how to deal with them.
Chip and Steven spent several minutes answering audience questions.
Thanks to Missy for her trunk show and Chef and Staff for a great lunch and service.
Join us in February when Florida Repertory will be our guests ... always a fun afternoon!
Concerts Continue At The Alliance For The Arts
JOIN THE ALLIANCE FOR THESE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES
The Alliance for the Arts (AFTA) is thrilled to announce the return of live music, featuring an exciting lineup of performances that includes American Community Music Association (ACMA) artists and lively bluegrass shows. Tickets are priced at $18 for Alliance members and $20 for nonmembers. The Alliance for the Arts is located just south of Colonial Boulevard at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, Fla.
BLUEGRASS CONCERT SERIES
Band: Swinging Bridge (INDOOR)
Date: Sunday, March 9, at 3 p.m.
About: Swinging Bridge, established in 1997, is a five-member bluegrass and classic country group from Venice, Florida, performing regularly throughout Southwest Florida. The band, featuring Alan Colpitts, Chris Bryson, Doug Rowe, JR Davis, and Bobby Martin, is a popular fixture at local bluegrass festivals and the monthly Southwest Florida Bluegrass Association Jam/Fests. In 2003, they released their debut CD, Rough Edges , which was wellreceived by their growing fan base. Known for their strong lead vocals, tight harmonies, and lively stage presence, Swinging Bridge delivers a mix of traditional and contemporary bluegrass and country, creating engaging and memorable performances.
Tickets: https://www.artinlee.org/ experience/live-music/
THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY MUSIC ASSOCIATION (ACMA) CONCERT SERIES
Band: The Honey Badgers Featuring Fred Bell (INDOOR)
Date: Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.
About: The Honey Badgers: This contemporary folk-Americana duo from Newark, Del., consists of married singer-songwriters Erin Magnin and Michael Natrin, whose undeniable chemistry and sparkling harmonies captivate audiences both on and off stage. With Erin’s wistful violin and Michael’s driving guitar, The Honey Badgers weave heartfelt stories of self-discovery, connection, and navigating life’s journey. Their powerful lyrics and melodies earned them the title of “Most Wanted” at the 2023 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase, and they were winners of the 2023 Delaware Public Media Homey Award for Best Folk Song.
Fred Ball: Ball’s musical journey began in Greenwich Village in the 1960s during the height of the “Great Folk Scare.” After a long hiatus to focus on family life, Fred returned to his passion for music in 2005
and has been performing steadily ever since. His charming anecdotes, witty storytelling, and honest songwriting reflect a life well-lived and a deep love for the craft. Now based in Florida, Fred has shared his music at various local venues and continues to write and play with the same enthusiasm that first drew him to the stage.
Tickets: https://www.artinlee.org/ experience/live-music/
Tickets are $21 for members and $23 for nonmembers and are available online at ArtInLee.org or by calling (239) 939-2787.
OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL
Name: Jazz on the Green
Date: March 29, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About: Join us for Jazz on the Green, a dynamic, daylong festival that brings together world-renowned jazz artists for a soulful celebration in the heart of nature. Surrounded by lush greenery, immerse yourself in smooth rhythms, mesmerizing improvisations, and the incredible diversity of jazz music from around the world.
This year’s lineup is a showcase of international talent and eclectic styles. Enjoy performances by the Stephane Wrembel Trio, known for their unique Gypsy jazz-inspired sound; Alex Cuba, a Latin Grammy-winning musician with a distinctive blend of Cuban rhythms and rock influences; and the Danny Sinoff
Trio, known for their fusion of classic jazz and contemporary vibes.
Tickets: www.artinlee.org/event/jazzon-the-green/
Name: Six Guitars by Chase Padgett
Date: April 25 to 27, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
About: Chase Padgett brings six distinct guitar-playing characters to life, each showcasing a different genre—Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Folk, and Country. An accomplished actor, singer, guitarist, and improviser, Chase was a semifinalist on Fox’s reality singing show Alter Ego. A Florida native, he honed his skills at
the University of Central Florida and the SAK Comedy Lab, the same theater where Wayne Brady got his start. After performing with Disney and Universal, he premiered his first solo show, Six Guitars, in 2010, earning rave reviews and sold-out performances across North America.
Tickets: https://www.artinlee.org/event/6guitars-by-chase-padgett/all/
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS
The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at 10091 McGregor Blvd., just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call (239) 939-2787, visit us at www. ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook or Instagram.
What’s Blooming At Edison And Ford Winter Estates?
KAREN M. MAXWELL, HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS COORDINATOR AND HORTICULTURE SPECIALIST
ALLURING ALOCASIAS
Commanding a distinctive and robust presence in any garden, the large, arrow-shaped bouquet of leaves known as the Giant Upright Elephant Ear or botanically speaking the Alocasia macrorrhiza – macro meaning large and rrhiza referring to its style of growth by large underground rhizomes or roots. Growing in front of the Edison home, the plant sports upright leaves on stiff stems, which is an identification clue to its inclusion in the genus of Alocasia.
Easily confused with the Giant Elephant Ear known as Giant Calocasia, one can recognize the difference in that calocasia leaves hang down. There are quite a few more distinctions but let us save that for later.
Certainly, a plant this size is not for everyone, so let us explore some other alocasias in the genus that are frequently available in our Garden Shoppe, sometimes overlooked because they are protected in an area specifically for shady plants.
Part of the Arecaceae or Arum family, alocasias have many cousins including caladiums, calla lilies, monsteras, dieffenbachias and peace lilies. This makes sense, as they each possess a common and unusual flowering technique: Tiny flowers are clustered on a stem called a spadix and as a unit, they are protected and surrounded by a spathe or hood. While these flowers are quite noticeable on calla lilies for instance, they are rarely visible on alocasias. If you are fortunate to have an alocasia bloom for you, the reward will be a pleasantly fragrant experience.
The genus of Alocasias has over 100 species, all originating from tropical Asia and Australia, whereas the genus of Calocasia mentioned above, has only 12 species from Asia and India. Calocasia roots are often grown and prepared as a highly nutritious and starchy food staple in large parts of the world, whereas all parts of alocasias are considered toxic and should never be ingested by humans or domestic pets. As shown in the names of some of the alocasias showcased in this article, these plants are often hybridized to maximize preferred characteristics such as size, color variegation or patterns.
THERE ARE MANY ALOCASIAS GROWING IN THE GARDENS AT EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES. THESE LARGE-LEAVED PLANTS ADD A TROPICAL FEEL TO A FLORIDA GARDEN.
As a houseplant, alocasias are an exceptional addition to a collection, because they are relatively easy to maintain, often sporting a waxy or glossy leaf, and they don’t want any direct sunlight. They prefer only to be watered once the top 2 to 3 inches of soil has dried out and they are frequently the perfect candidate for a self-watering
pot. Because they enjoy consistent temperatures between 65 to 85 degrees and high humidity, it is possible they may retreat in vigor over the harshest winter months, spending a little time in a somewhat dormant stage if their environmental temperatures go below 60 degrees and humidity is low. Should this happen, remove any spent or yellowed leaves, and allow your alocasia to rest by withholding water until the top 3 inches of soil is dry, and do not use
any fertilizer. Keep it out of sunlight and maintain its temperature, which is easy as it is within the range we humans generally prefer. Once higher temperatures and humidity levels resume, that large rhizomatous root will start to send up new shoots and by summer, the plant should look fabulous again. When the first new leaf appears, it is time to start applying a biweekly, diluted liquid and organic fertilizer. We recommend avoiding using granular, slow-release or other chemical fertilizers to avoid the possibility of salt buildup around the plant.
As a houseplant, alocasias are an exceptional addition to a collection, because they are relatively easy to maintain, often sporting a waxy or glossy leaf, and they don’t want any direct sunlight.
Alocasias do not mind being slightly potbound, but if roots start to sneak out of the pot’s drainage holes it is time to repot but keep the upsizing to only an additional inch or two. Repotting will only be necessary every other year. Doing so will avoid having the plant in a pot so full of soil that if overwatered, will result in the plant becoming waterlogged. Soil should be a crumbly, quickly draining mixture.
Which alocasia is best? An 8-foot-tall specimen recently spotted at the January Tropical Plant International Exhibition, the
Alocasia sulawesi “Jacklyn” is sometimes available in the Garden Shoppe at Edison and Ford Winter Estates and its two-toned, textured leaves give it a kind of prehistoric big, bold, and beautiful look and will not be mistaken for any other kind of plant! This is a great candidate for a self-watering pot and sure to be a conversation starter.
Looking for something a bit smaller? “Polly” or “African Mask” ( Alocasia x amazonica ‘Polly) is frequently available in the Garden Shoppe due to its popularity for growing only to about 2 feet in height. Those uprising leaves are wavy edged and have distinctive white veins. It does well indoors or outdoors if the previously discussed conditions are provided.
Even more demure, Alocasia “Tiny Dancer,” ( Alocasia brisbanensis x Alocasia odora ‘Tiny Dancer’) swirling upward to about 20 inches, looks best in a grouping, as its plain dark green waxy leaves pirouette in their pot. Of course, I placed a planter of this deep in the shady end of the Moonlight Garden at the Estates.
Another statement alocasia, Alocasia “Regal Shield” (Alocasia odora x Alocasia reginula ‘Regal Shield’) is a medium-large variety, topping out at around 5 feet. Best enjoyed in a bright light environment, it may be elevated on a garden stand to best appreciate the dark green glossy foliage of Regal Shield with its rich, dark purple underside protruding from lime- green stems.
Alocasia “Portadora” will present with ruffled, 8-foot-tall leaves and loves being outside, providing it is grown in fast-draining soil to avoid waterlogged roots. It will also do well in a large pot, and like all alocasias, if grown indoors, the large face area of the huge leaves serves as a natural air filter in the home.
For the gardener that likes variegated leaves, Alocasia macrorrhiza , var. “Lutea” or “Variegata” are both large species, the former, a green and gold variety, growing in front of Edison’s home and the latter, tucked into a shady spot in the Moonlight Garden, where the variegated green and white leaves will hopefully reach their mature height of 15 feet.
If you are fortunate to have an alocasia bloom for you, the reward will be a pleasantly fragrant experience.
These foliage plants add architectural interest to just about any type of garden. The selection and availability changes frequently in the Garden Shoppe, so visit often and look around for a rare beauty. Feel free to reach out to a member of the horticulture team if you have questions about a plant’s care.
Montage Women’s Club
The Montage Women’s Club is a social and philanthropic club open to all women residing in Lee County. We normally meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. Our March meeting will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn (Captiva Ballroom), 12600 University Drive, Fort Myers 33908, corner of College Parkway at the Summerlin Road overpass. Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with a short social period followed by lunch at noon followed by an informative speaker program and a short business meeting. Within the organization are various interest groups for members’ participation. Membership is open to both year-round and seasonal residents. We welcome you to visit Montage for a luncheon.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27. This will be a special meeting as we will be celebrating Montage’s 15th Anniversary. There will be live entertainment along with other special surprises.
Luncheon fee will be $30 per person, and you always have a choice of either a regular menu entree and/or a vegan/plant-based entree.
If you would like to attend a Montage meeting, need further information, or would like to make a reservation, please call Rita Artwohl at (239) 703-7787. Reservations cutoff to attend this meeting is noon, Thursday, March 20.
Continental Women’s Club
The Continental Women’s Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Thursday, April 3 at 11:30 a.m. Our April program will feature a Chorus Group from Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School under the direction of Libby O’Connor, music teacher. Please join us to enjoy this award-winning chorus group.
Meetings are being held at The Hideaway Country Club, 5670 Trailwinds Drive, Fort Myers 33907. The cost to attend the luncheon is $26. Please call Liz Paul at (239) 691-7561 by Tuesday, March 25
SUNDAY, MARCH 9
MONDAY, MARCH 17
for meal selection and to make a reservation for our April 3 meeting.
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 the year. In addition, we contribute to many local charities and award two scholarships each year to senior high school girls who plan on furthering their education.
REMINDER
To contribute to your Gulf Harbour Soundings newspaper, please send articles, announcements, photos, events or any issues to GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com.
Consumer Alert
ANDREW RAYO, CONSUMER EDUCATION SPECIALIST
GOT A TEXT ABOUT UNPAID TOLLS? IT’S PROBABLY A SCAM
Whether you’ve driven through a toll recently or not, you might’ve gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It’s probably a scam. Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money. Learn how the scam works so you can avoid it.
You get a text out of the blue that says you have unpaid tolls and need to pay immediately. The scammy text might show a dollar amount for how much you supposedly owe and include a link that takes you to a page to enter your bank or credit card information—but it’s a phishing scam. Not only is the scammer trying to steal your money, but if you click the link, they could get your personal information (like your driver’s license number)—and even steal your identity.
To avoid a text scam like this:
• Don’t click on any links in, or respond to, unexpected texts. Scammers want you to react quickly, but it’s best to stop and check it out.
• Check to see if the text is legit. Reach out to the state’s tolling agency using a phone number or website you know is real — not the information from the text.
• Report and delete unwanted text messages. Use your phone’s “report junk” option to report unwanted texts to your messaging app or forward them to 7726 (SPAM). Once you’ve checked it out and reported it, delete the text.
Learn more about spotting and avoiding text scams at ftc.gov/textscams.
ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS
RESOURCE HUB
Admiral’s Isle ................................ Jeff McGinty
Bellavista Rick McCurdy
Coronado Geoff Smith
Courtyard Homes ...................... Tiffany Gaede
Crescent Cove ......................... Sam Schiphorst
Crooked Pond Carol Tsilimos
Edgewater Dave Knust
Grande Cay ....................................... David Lein
Gulf Harbour Master Chris Cope
Gulf Harbour Marina Dana Snyder
Harbour Landings I Megan Martin
Harbour Landings II ............. Thomas Broadie
Harbour Links
Joe Pierce
Long Pond Millie Johnson
Mariposa ....................................... Steve Perseo
Mill Pond ................................ Maureen Herold
Osprey Landing Bill Crouch
Osprey Point Jay Ducharme
Palmas Del Sol ................................. Bill Aarons
Rivers Edge Ron Harrington
Sagamore George Sorensen
Seaside Estates Richard Edelman
Tamarind Cay ........................... Harvey Gordon
The Shores I Gene Marshall
The Shores II Dan Montgomery
The Shores III ............................... Dave Reimer
The Shores IV ................................ John Albano
GULF HARBOUR COUNTRY CLUB
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Bill Lambert President
Scott Bassett Vice President
Jack Bourget Treasurer
George Johnson ................................. Secretary
Kim Bauman Governor
Patti Buckingham Governor
Bruce Jasurda ..................................... Governor
Chris Moore ........................................ Governor
Nata Munk Governor
GULF HARBOUR MARINA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Doug Duncan
Vice President Stephen Patterson
Secretary Mike Needler
Treasurer ....................................... Craig Anderson
Marina Appearance Committee David Kelley
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
COMMUNITY NEWS
Bellavista
Coronado
Courtyard Homes
Crooked Pond
Edgewater
Grande Cay
Harbour Landings I
Harbour Landings II
Harbour Links
Long Pond
Marblehead Manor
Mariposa
Mill Pond
Osprey Landing
Osprey Point
Palmas Del Sol
Paramount
Rivers Edge
Sagamore
Seaside Estates
Tamarind Cay
The Shores I
The Shores II
The Shores III
If you want your community news included here, please send articles and pictures to GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com by the 4th of each month.
GULF HARBOUR WEBSITES
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.
ATTENTION ASSOCIATION BOARD
MEMBERS
When your officers change, be sure to notify us so that we can keep both www.GulfHarbour33908.com and the Soundings updated.
GULF HARBOUR MASTER ASSOCIATION • www.GulfHarbour33908.com
GRANDE CAY • www.grandecay.com
HARBOUR LANDINGS I • www.harbourlandings.org
HARBOUR LINKS • www.harbourlinks.net
MARIPOSA • http://detaliassociates.com/secure/login.aspx
PALMAS DEL SOL • www.palmasdelsol.net
PARAMOUNT • http://www.athomenet.com/theparamount
TAMARIND CAY • https://smca.cincwebaxis.com/cinc/home/
GULF HARBOUR COUNTRY CLUB • www.gulfharbour.com
MARINA • www.gulfharbourmarina.com
YACHT CLUB • www.gulfharbouryachtclub.org
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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.
GOLF CART RULES REMINDER
Gulf Harbour has had several incidents and issues involving golf carts. Reports have included underage driving, wrongway 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 other than golf activities 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.
RULES & REGULATIONS REMINDER
Lakes: No boating, fishing or swimming in any lake within Gulf Harbour.
Eagle Perch Island: No fishing.
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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 are fully supported by: Gulf Harbour Master Association Inc., Gulf Harbour Golf and Country Club Inc., Gulf Harbour Marina Condominium Association Inc.
DISCLAIMER
REMINDER
All Dogs MUST be leashed at ALL times in and on Gulf Harbour Properties.
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.