Happy Landings
FEBRUARY 2025
FASHION SHOW, SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON
A Look Inside
STRYKERS TO HEAD UP LANDINGS UNITED WAY 2025 CAMPAIGN
IN THIS ISSUE
Justein
Production
Production
FINE ART
C O M P E T I T I O N & E X H I B I T
Submissions: Monday, February 17, 2025
Judging: Thursday, February 20, 2025
THEME: FOOD
We invite artists of all mediums to submit their artwork for display in the Helm Club lobby.
Exhibit's theme must be reflected in the artwork.
Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.
V I P E X P E R I E N C E
New to the 2025 festival is the VIP Mega-Party Tent, a spacious commercial grade tent designed to offer shelter, premium food service and seating for those who purchase the VIP Ticket Package Your VIP ticket
Fashion Show, Scholarship Luncheon Featuring Hollie’s Boutique Fashions
HOLLY MESSINGER
Were you a member of a college sorority? If so, join sorority sisters of all ages at the annual Alumnae Panhellenic of Lee County Fashion Show and Scholarship Luncheon in the Main Deck on Saturday, March 31, at 11:00 a.m.
One of the major objectives is to provide local sorority coeds scholarships to continue their education. In order to qualify, the sorority members must either be residents of Lee County or be attending college in Lee County, thus Florida Gulf Coast University. The highlight of the event is when we award scholarships to this year’s recipients. Last
year we awarded four $2,000 scholarships to deserving college students.
Hollie’s Boutique, located on Gladiolus Drive, will be providing the fashions for the style show. We are delighted that this year’s honorary chairman is Amanda Hall, WINK news anchor. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction of curated items donated by local businesses and Panhellenic members for the scholarship fund.
This luncheon is open to all Landings residents. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through PayPal at AlumnaePanhellenicOfLeeCounty@gmail. com or by sending a check made payable to Lee County Alumnae Panhellenic to Holly Messinger, Ariel, 5260 S. Landings Dr. Apt 1701, Fort Myers, FL 33919.
WINK NEWS ANCHOR AMANDA HALL.
MELISSA TOMASSO, ZETA TAU ALPHA; CATHI CARRUTHERS, CHI OMEGA; AND SIERRA SIMON, DELTA DELTA DELTA.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
482-3211 • FAX 482-1796
General Manager: David Gillespie
RESOURCE HUB
PUBLISHER
Seabreeze Communications
EDITORS
Happy Landings
Director of Administration: Rosana Jaramillo
Director of Activities and Communication: Michele Lawson
Controller: Kim Cummings
HAPPY LANDINGS
The Official Community News
Head Editor: Sheryl Winters sherylwinters@comcast.net
Editors
Linda Tucker tuckerllo@comcast.net
Barb June junefamily@sbcglobal.net
Joan Davison Davisonjoana@gmail.com
Hazel Jones, hazelwhitejones.hl@gmail.com
Copy Editor: Karen Reitan, kreitan@comcast.net
MISSION STATEMENT
The purpose of the Happy Landings digital magazine is to record and celebrate events in the lives of individuals and the life of the community.
Deadline: Articles for the Happy Landings digital magazine will be accepted until noon on the 4th of each month, and should be e-mailed to the Editor.
Disclaimer/Complaint Process: Happy Landings™ is a digital magazine published for the benefit of the residents of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc., which has hired Seabreeze Communications as the publisher to provide content and sell advertising consistent with the editorial and advertising policies of the Board of Directors of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and, unless otherwise noted, should not be construed to be those of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club Inc., or the Board of Directors, or the members. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc. Happy Landings is a registered trademark which cannot be used without the express written permission of the holder of the mark, The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc.
The Happy Landings ™ does not accept letters to the editor. All members of the LYGTC have the right to express their concerns to the Board of Directors, after following these steps: First, bring your problem/complaint to the attention of, in order, the editor; the Communications Committee; and finally, the General Manager. If dissatisfied with the result, you must then fill out a “Member Problem/Complaint” form (available in the Administration Office). The completed form will be given to the Board of Directors, who will decide if the problem/complaint warrants its review or action. DEADLINE for MAR. 2025 February 4, 12 Noon
General Manager’s Report
DECEMBER 31, 2024
As I write this today, the Christmas holiday is right around the corner. The staff at the LYGTC hopes everyone had a happy holiday season, and an equally happy new year! The Helm Club and The Wheelhouse hosted a fun and wonderful evening ringing in 2025!
The Wheelhouse will be open for lunch and limited dinner service in the first couple of weeks of January.
We will be posting our expected hours of operations weekly, as we will need to adjust to staffing issues that come with new facilities. Reservations will be necessary this season for all evening dining, and can be made on-line, or by calling the club. Reservations will be taken up to two weeks in advance, so plan ahead to ensure you get the time and location you most desire.
Also keep in mind this season, beginning in January, the club’s happy hour times will be slightly different. Happy hours begin at 11 a.m. daily, but will end at 5 p.m. each day instead of 6 p.m. The increase in dining reservations, and the number of members who have indicated they want to experience dining at the Wheelhouse, make it necessary to have evening dining tables available and set beginning at 5 p.m. daily. We will do our best to accommodate the anticipated crowds of members who want to experience the Wheelhouse’s waterfront dining. Please be respectful to others who will be dining after you, and show up on time with your complete party in attendance, just as you would for tennis or golf reservations. Everyone’s cooperation is necessary to make this season enjoyable for all members in our busy seasonal months.
The initial menu at the Wheelhouse will be limited as we first open, to ensure we can produce quality food in a timely fashion. As we progress into January and beyond, we will be adding more dining times, and increasing the menu choices, as our kitchen staff gets more accustomed to this new menu, and to each other. We’ve been hiring Wheelhouse staff for almost 10 weeks, but still have not filled all the positions we need. Our new staff will need some time to acclimate to their new jobs and the new facility, and we ask for your patience and understanding as we have the expected “growing pains” that are typical for most new operations.
You will notice many new faces in the club’s operational staff, especially in the Helm club and in the Wheelhouse. Golf and tennis have some new staff also, so please introduce yourselves, and welcome the new arrivals. There is some excitement with this new group of employees, and we hope to make this a positive experience for all the new hires. It’s desirable and necessary we locate and acquire the best people we can to make the Landings a wonderful place to live and play for all our members.
The staff and I look forward to welcoming you all back to Florida this season, and wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season, and safe travels.
Financial Report
SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER 2024
The club’s financial performance in November saw an increase in total revenue over last month, but it was below budget expectations.
Financial Summary
• Monthly Revenue: $1,155,975, falling short by $69,226.
• YTD Revenue: $2,053,178, under budget by $345,687 behind last year by $20,700.
• Operating Profit: Monthly loss of $131,998, missing the budget by $303,625.
Departmental Performance
• Food & Beverage: Revenue was $219,192, trailing the budget by $145,060. Revenue was unfavorable to budget due to the Wheelhouse did not open as planned. Employee Uniforms were unfavorable to budget by ($2,472), but are under budget year-to-date. Events and Tournaments were unfavorable to budget by ($2,200), due to the timing of invoices. Contract Services were unfavorable to budget by ($1,343) due to the timing of services, but are under budget year-to-date. Supplies were unfavorable to budget by ($4,183) due to the timing of invoices.
• Golf: Revenue was $40,535, fell short of budget by ($9,170) and behind last year by ($10,625).
• Tennis: Revenue was $25,998, fell short of budget by ($4,457). Operating costs were unfavorable to budget due to the need to order pickleball supplies. Miscellaneous expenses were higher due to much needed lighting additions. Total Revenue was down due to the Director not being able to offer lessons; only two staff professionals were teaching lessons.
• Marina: Revenue was $388,745, exceeded budget by $95,405 and surpassed last year by $59,112.
• Administration & General: Over budget by $27,947 due to contract labor.
• Community Patrol: Over budget by $7,509.
• Golf Course & Property Maintenance: GCM expenses were under budget by $11,339 but Property Maintenance was over by $47,250 largely due to hurricane rental and repair expenses as well as Helm Club roof repairs.
Balance Sheet
• Infrastructure Reserve: $336,034
• Reserves Future Long Range: $243,066
• Operating Cash Balance: $709,199
Strykers To Head Up Landings United Way 2025 Campaign
“Donna and I are excited and grateful to have been named co-chairs of the Landings United Way Campaign. We are well on our way to raising this year’s goal of $60,000 and sincerely appreciate our community’s generous support of the vital local agencies funded by the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties.” Mike Stryker
LANDINGS UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE MEMBERS (L-R) TOM LOGIO, MIKE STRYKER AND LINDA LOGIO.
We hope you had a joyous holiday season and wish you a Happy, Healthy New Year!
A Note of Gratitude for Your Generosity
Thank you for supporting our United Way campaign. Your contributions are making a profound impact in our community! Because of your generosity:
• Families can keep food on the table, a roof over their heads, and utilities running.
• Veterans are finding resources to navigate civilian life and discover new opportunities.
• Seniors facing isolation feel safe, cared for, and connected.
• Residents recovering from hurricane damage gain hope and resources to rebuild their lives.
Throughout this campaign, countless individuals and families will be giving thanks for your kindness and compassion.
Nurturing Children & Youth
United Way partners with agencies across Southwest Florida to support our youngest and most vulnerable populations. One such organization, Quality Life Center (QLC) empowers children through after-school and summer programs that focus on academic achievement, enrichment, leadership, and mental wellness.
A mother shared her daughter’s transformative journey with QLC:
“About 11 years ago, my quiet and shy little girl walked into QLC. Today, she is a beautiful, smart, confident, and empowered young lady.” QLC is more than a program; it’s family.”
At QLC, children are welcomed by dedicated staff who inspire them to succeed on whatever path they choose.
Strengthening
Families
United Way collaborates with nonprofit organizations to help families tackle challenges like grief, immigration issues, illness, and abuse.
Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT) offers comprehensive services to individuals facing physical, mental, or emotional abuse. These include counseling, legal assistance, a rape crisis center, and prevention education.
One survivor shared her experience:
“ACT gave me the strength to overcome my darkest moments. With their legal help, I escaped my abuser and protected my five children. ACT empowered me to reclaim my life.”
ACT provides a safe haven where survivors can rebuild their lives with hope and support.
Supporting Veterans
Southwest Florida is home to over 100,000 veterans, and United Way’s Mission United initiative ensures they receive the care and resources they deserve.
Mission United connects veterans, active-duty military, and their families to essential services such as job training, housing, and legal aid. The program supports veterans in overcoming challenges like homelessness, unemployment, and isolation.
When a 29-year-old veteran’s car broke down, Mission United helped him secure a replacement vehicle. This support, along with other resources, helped him regain stability and renewed hope for his future.
Mission United is a lifeline for veterans overcoming challenges like homelessness, unemployment, and isolation.
Making a Difference Every
Day
Every day, United Way and its partner agencies are creating new stories of hope, resilience, and transformation in our community. Your support is at the heart of these successes. Thank you for making a difference today and every day.
Your Landings United Way Committee
Donna and Mike Stryker, Committee Chair, Riverside Member
Gary Bryant, Sunset Cove, Barbara Hartman, Trawler, Pam and John Klaas, Riverside Member, Linda and Tom Logio, Riverside Member, Jerry Poissant, Steamboat Bend East, Michele and John Shepherd, Schooner
Seasonal Halfway Markers for Landings Duplicate Bridge Club
BILL FERRIS
Now that the New Year’s Ball has officially dropped and we are in 2025, it is time to assess first-half results and other halfway markers for the 2024-25 Bridge Club season. We can be proud of our record for the first half of the season. We fielded between 7 and 11 tables from October through December of the period, producing 19 winning pair results (see below).
Highlights included one pair with a 70 percent or higher game, two new Club members joining in December
(welcome to Ted Levy and Miles Thomson), and a great Christmas party put on by the Board in the Green Room of the Helm Club. If you would like to run for the Board for next year, VP Tim Whiteis will be accepting nominations for the election in March, so please submit your name or that of your nominee to him within the next month. Look for more on the election in the next column.
Many club members are getting ready to play on February 10-16 in the Southwest Regional, which had been postponed this past fall by Hurricane Milton, but is now coming back to life. Our members are chasing points from Orlando to Daytona to the west coast of Florida. We also continued to run a one-day silver tournament at the local level this past December as we had in past years. Our sanctioning body, the American Contract Bridge League is doing all it can to make masterpoint events more available in online tournament formats as online tournaments periodically during the year, so watch for these events, which usually offer red, silver, and gold awards.
FALL SEASON NORTH-SOUTH AND EAST-WEST WINNERS
The following members have won or tied at least once this fall season. One partnership came out on top the most – Dave Hutson and Linda Birdt had 9 outright wins and one tie to lead us all. Several other pairs had multiple outright
wins as noted, and one pair had the highest percentage of masterpoints in a single session, 70.6 percent, as similarly noted.
David Hutson and Lynne Birdt – 9 wins, one tie
Bill Ferris and Bill Rush – 5 wins, 70.6% single-session percentage high Tim Whiteis – 4 wins Jerry Poissant – 3 wins Ron Garrett – 3 wins Barb Coneys – 2 wins Kersten Abrinder, Jacky Crump, Kathy Striggow, Joyce Kascsak, Cheryle Luchene, Dennis Nahnsen, Leela and Arvind Dandekar (tie)
Fort Myers Women’s Connection
MARY ANN SPRY
The FMWC will be having their February meeting and luncheon on February 6th, 2025, at K.C.’s Steakhouse in Fort Myers, 10950 S. Cleveland Ave, across from Page Field. Please watch for emails for additional information and updates. Our January meeting was very successful and we hope you will again join us for another exciting meeting and luncheon. We realize this location is not as convenient for so many of our Landings members, and we do hope to return to the Landings. However, in the meantime bear with the changes that we have had no control over.
Our February special feature will be the Barbershop Quartet, four amazing voices to
entertain you, and the speaker for the month is Nancy Self. You will certainly be uplifted by her message.
Prepaid reservations of $35 are required and must be received a week prior to each event. Reservations are guaranteed when payment is received. Please make checks payable to FMWC, and send to Barbara Shields, 9500 Mariners Cove Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33919. At that time, you can make your menu selection listed in the email, or check with Barbara or Marrikka for your choices.
Questions can be directed to Marrikka Stockman, call or text 239-218-5992. We are hopeful this wonderful group will be able to continue for the rest of the season as it is so important for all to make new friends and enrich our lives.
Chess and Checkers Club News
SHARYL LEIFELD
Editor’s note:
Sharyl Leifeld wrote an article for our club in the January 2024 issue. She updates it below.
As we begin a new year, our club finds itself halfway through its fourth year. Just coming off a successful membership drive, we continue to grow. Our members represent, as envisioned by club founder Bob Spry, all levels of abilities from total beginners to one “expert.” (We are still hoping to attract a “master.”) This unique concept is designed to encourage every Landings resident to join in the “joy” of the game.
But how does this work? Come to any meeting and you will find more experienced players challenging each other, while beginners or returning players are also being coached. Naturally, games vary in length, but players often change opponents during the two-hour meeting (Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, in the Bridge Room).
Bob Spry, our club founder, discovered chess while learning to play with his grandkids. And that inspired him to share this experience with his fellow Landings friends. Bob’s goal is to “teach beginners to play chess so they can enjoy the game with their children and grandchildren.” For most beginners, just the word “chess” is somewhat daunting, but in your first meeting you will quickly master the basic moves and have fun at the same time!
Some new members played in their youth, but soon (like riding a bike) that “muscle” memory returns. They remember basic patterns and continue to learn new strategies. One member is 93 years old, and he still remembers how he played chess in high school almost 80 years ago! We hosted a tournament during which club “expert” Tom Poulos played against ten opponents simultaneously – and he beat all of them! Tom is disarmingly shy, but don’t let your guard down! At the same time, he is one of our club’s biggest cheerleaders. He would “like to see more members of different levels, thus creating even more opportunities for all members.”
Our plans for the coming year include welcoming new visitors. If you have a grandchild who plays chess, bring them to a meeting. They are welcome to play with us!
So, please join us Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
And remember to protect your king! And your queen, too!
The Golf Corner
GINNY MINARCHI AND CATHY STEEVES
Ready Golf
Proper etiquette is a big part of playing golf – but etiquette should not stand in the way of maintaining pace-of-play for recreational golf. Time on a golf course is a precious limited resource that must be conserved so that the most people can enjoy their round. Thus, we have the concept of “Ready Golf.”
Ready Golf means thinking ahead so that you are ready to play as soon as it is safe to do so, whether it is your “turn” or not. Ready Golf applies everywhere on tees, fairways, and on the greens, but is not observed in tournament play.
Teeing off: the player with the honors should be ready to hit first. If the player with the honors is not ready, then someone else should hit first.
On the Fairway: all golfers should go to their balls as soon as possible and get ready to play their shots. While waiting to hit, players should survey their shot, select their club and stand at their ball ready to go when it is safe to do so, whether it is their “turn” or not.
On the Green: Ready Golf means being ready to putt before it’s your turn. Players should line up their putts while other players are putting so they are ready when it is their turn.
Farthest from the Hole: there is no reason Ready Golfers can’t play in the order of who is farthest from the hole. The person farthest from the hole should be ready to play first. But when someone hits a shot, and it’s still farthest from the hole, the next player should hit to keep continuous play.
Ready Golf means being ready to play, not playing when you’re ready.
Let’s all do our part to maintain pace-ofplay
Tennis Corner
JOAN DAVISON
Happy New Year! 2024 is in the books, bring on 2025! Like many of you at the Landings, I took up Tennis “late” in life. But boy am I ever glad I did. The exercise is fantastic but meeting so many wonderful people through Tennis has been a huge blessing in my life.
As always, lots has happened since my last column. On December 14 a “Share the Love” event was held at Picnic Pointe to benefit the Lee County Girls’ High School Invitational. Thanks to the incredible generosity of women all over Lee County, young female athletes were able to pick up clothing, shoes and racquets for free. It was fun to see the excitement of the girls and great to see coaches, athletic directors and school staff show up for “their girls.”
The first event of 2025 was a Men’s Doubles Tennis Exhibition held on January 5th. Landings pros Nathan Smiley and Tyler Cooper were joined by Thiago Petry and Marco Moreno, two very talented young men from Brazil who currently play on the Milligan University Tennis team (Nathan Smiley was one of their team members). The crowd on Stadium Court enjoyed watching the spirited play and camaraderie of the men. Thanks go to Herbert and Steve for their excellent work in preparing Stadium Court, Joe Bavender for DJing, Food and Beverage for the great food and drinks, and the incomparable Sandy Mohlman for umpiring with fairness and his usual great sense of humor.
The last Racquet Sports Team Member that I want to highlight is Isabella (Bella) Graf. Bella became the Director of Racquet Sports in May 2024, and we are lucky to have her! She was born in Munich, Germany and started playing tennis at the age of seven. As well as competing in High Performance Junior tournaments, Bella
L TO R: TYLER, NATHAN, BELLA, THIAGO AND MARCUS
MARCUS READY FOR THE SERVE
SANDY MOHLMAN, UMPIRE AND “COURT” JESTER
NATHAN AND THIAGO CELEBRATING A GREAT POINT
also competed in long jumping and 15-meter sprints. In 2006 she moved to New Jersey and joined the High School Tennis team at Northern Valley Regional H.S. in Old Tappan. Bella attended Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC where she was part of three USA Southern Conference Championship titles. After graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Professional Tennis Management she started her professional coaching career at various clubs as well as becoming the coach for the International Tennis: Europe program. In 2018, looking for more consistency in her life, she joined the Landings. 2019 saw her promoted to Head Pro. As well as directing the Racquet Sports program at the Landings, she serves in a leadership role with USPTA and holds many accreditations. In her spare time (?) Bella enjoys music, volunteering at animal shelters, cooking, traveling, photography, spending time with family and friends, and espresso (maybe German beer too).
Coming up: Lee County Girls’ High School Invitational – February 15 & 16, 2025; Madisen’s Match (a fundraiser for pediatric cancer) – March 15 & 16, 2025; Landings Cup – March 29 & 30, 2025.
Remember to always keep your eye on the ball!!
BELLA GRAF
9-Hole Ladies: Making Spirits Bright
MICHELE CAVANAGH
At the beginning of December, some of our members attended the Hideaway Invitational Event. Marilyn Harlan, Bev Reeves, Julie Iverson, Betty Kollar, Debbie Hedges, Sue Lentz, and Ginny Minarchi represented the Landings. These events
THE HIDEAWAY INVITATIONAL GANG FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
MARILYN HARLAN, BEV
REEVES, JULIE IVERSON, BETTY KOLLAR, DEBBIE
HEDGES, SUE LENTZ, GINNY
MINARCHI AND SANTA TOO
WHO WOULDN’T HAVE FUN GOLFING WITH THESE FESTIVELY DRESSED LADIES?
are designed to allow our members to play at other courses and socialize with people from other clubs. Watch the bulletin board outside the golf shop to see when the next ones are happening.
Our first Friday of December was a Criers Tournament Scramble. Teams were able to cry over their bad holes and then convert one of those scores back to par.
The annual Christmas Luncheon was on December 14th. The committee of Ruth Hockert, Kathy Langton, Anne Murray, and Pattie Parrett put together a fun golf round followed by an amazing lunch. Our ladies enjoyed a delicious festive meal which included a fresh green salad, tomato bisque, chicken stuffed crepes, cranberry muffins, and ice cream sundaes. The room and the players were all decked out in red and green. What a beautiful sight! Once again,
THE HOLIDAY LUNCH COMMITTEE
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RUTH HOCKERT, PATTIE PARRETT, ANNE MURRAY AND KATHY LANGTON
our members did us proud by making a generous donation to the Gladiolus Food Bank by donating cash and nonperishable food items.
The third week of play in December was a “Play Your Own Game” Week. It is important to participate in these “Play Your Own Game” weeks as well as the fun scramble weeks, especially if you want to compete in the Championship rounds. The Championships are flighted, so they are fair and open to all our members.
Given the number of people away for the holidays, there was a smaller group out on the last Friday of December to play the T, S, N Scramble. In this game only the scores from holes that that start with T, S, and N are counted.
Thank you to our December hostesses Bev Reeves and Jackie Wagner!
LLGA-18 Ladies Golf Happenings!
MARY ANN SPRY
Have we been celebrating for months? Holidays, tournaments, luncheons and so much activity. I must congratulate Linda Tucker and Judy Kennedy for an outstanding holiday golf and luncheon we enjoyed before we all were coming and going for the busy season.
The decorations were so festive with candy kisses circling the trees, enough for the elves and friends. At each place was a fun Santa hat and a micro-wave cozy, made by Judy, filled with special items for all. Some very special gifts were donated for a drawing, and winning tickets to the
KAREN SHELTON/QUILT WINNER
Florida Rep. theater were Nancy Nowak and Christine Dixon. Karen Shelton was the lucky winner of a gorgeous holiday quilt that Judy made.
Have you ever hit a great shot on #12, but kind of veered to the right and landed OB or more? Well, Mary W. Tauson graciously provided us with many balls that seem to have landed by her home...and there were more than enough for everyone. Thank You Mary!
The 18 Hole League also collected donations for the Gladiolus Food Pantry, for use where the need is the greatest
Not often does a Hole-in-One happen on our league day, but Cathy Goeckel had a great shot on Hole #3 during our “match play” tournament on 12/04.
LINDA TUCKER & JUDY KENNEDY
18 HOLE LEAGUE /CHRISTMAS
GOECKEL
How exciting that was for the whole group. During our holiday break, still able to post scores, was another great day for Lynda Redmon with a Hole-in-One on
#1. Amazing play days for these gals! Due to the holidays being on our league day, members were allowed to play another day each week with a member to witness their score. Winning Low Gross for both weeks was Lynda Redmon, and Low Net winners were Nancy Yavorsky and Toni Froedge.
President’s Cup winners will be announced next month, as well as our special Member/Guest event and luncheon participants. Looking ahead to February, we will be having our Sweethearts’ luncheon Feb. 12th where we will be inviting our partner for the day.
It was a fun weekend recently when Tiger Woods and his son Charlie played together in the PNC tournament where the PGA pros played with their children. How exciting it was to see Charlie make his FIRST Hole-InOne in the tournament, and his proud father there to witness. The tournament was so special and ended with Bernard and Jason Langer defeating Tiger and Charlie in a sudden-death playoff hole. What an amazing game those pairs had played.
Enjoy your days on the Course, and don’t forget your Valentine!
HOLE-IN-ONE/ CATHY
t s r e c o g n i z e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a n d h a v e w o r k e d w i t h T h e L a n d i n g s
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t o o b t a i n a n e w a n d m o r e a t t r a c t i v e a g r e e m e n t e f f e c t i v e J a n u a r y 1 , 2 0 2 5
W e w e r e a b l e t o n e g o t i a t e a r e d u c t i o n i n o u r m o n t h l y f e e s , a s i g n i n g b o n u s , p l u s H B O ( c h a n n e l 4 1 6 ) a t
n o a d d i t i o n a l c h a r g e w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s a m e l e v e l o f T V a n d I n t e r n e t s e r v i c e . T h e s i n g l e m o n t h l y b i l l
w i l l b e p a i d b y t h e L a n d i n g s , a n d r e - b i l l e d t o t h e v i l l a g e s m u c h l i k e o u r w a t e r f e e s s o t h e c o s t s w i l l s t i l l
b e p a i d b y y o u r v i l l a g e m o n t h l y a s s e s s m e n t
T h e L a n d i n g s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n r o l e i s t o f a c i l i t a t e a s i n g l e a g r e e m e n t a n d p r o c e s s t h e r e - b i l l e a c h m o n t h ;
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n O f f i c e w i l l n o t r e s o l v e i s s u e s w i t h y o u r s e r v i c e . A l l p e r f o r m a n c e o r e q u i p m e n t i s s u e s s t i l l n e e d t o b e r e s o l v e d t h r u t h e C o m c a s t / X f i n i t y s e r v i c e p r o c e s s v i a t h e t o l l - f r e e n u m b e r o r a t o n e o f
t h e i r s e r v i c e c e n t e r s
F o r a n y o n e w h o i s c u r r e n t l y p e r s o n a l l y p u r c h a s i n g H B O , t h e m o n t h l y f e e s h o u l d s t o p o n J a n u a r y 1 , 2 0 2 5
a n d y o u w i l l r e c e i v e a c r e d i t f o r a n y a m o u n t p r e p a i d . P l e a s e w a t c h y o u r b i l l s f o r t h i s c h a n g e o r c a l l t h e
C o m c a s t / X f i n i t y h e l p d e s k a f t e r t h e f i r s t o f t h e y e a r t o v e r i f y t h e c h a n g e h a s b e e n p r o c e s s e d
A s p a r t o f t h e n e w a g r e e m e n t , a l l o w n e r s a r e e l i g i b l e t o u p g r a d e t h e i r e q u i p m e n t . I f y o u h a v e t h e o r i g i n a l
b o x e s f r o m 8 y e a r s a g o a n d y o u h a v e n e w e r T V s , y o u m a y f i n d i m p r o v e d p i c t u r e q u a l i t y w i t h n e w e q u i p m e n t . T o o b t a i n a n u p g r a d e , c o n t a c t a l o c a l C o m c a s t / X f i n i t y o f f i c e f o r a n a p p o i n t m e n t t o e x c h a n g e
t h e e q u i p m e n t T h e l o c a l C o m c a s t / X f i n i t y l o c a t i o n s a r e o n 6 M i l e C y p r e s s P a r k w a y n e a r C o l o n i a l , o r i n
C a p e C o r a l o n P i n e I s l a n d R o a d I f y o u r e q u e s t C o m c a s t / X f i n i t y t o b r i n g o u t a n d i n s t a l l t h e e q u i p m e n t ,
t h e r e w i l l b e a c h a r g e f o r t h i s s e r v i c e
T h i s n e w a g r e e m e n t w i l l r u n t h r o u g h M a r c h 2 0 3 1 , o r 5 y e a r s b e y o n d o u r e x i s t i n g a g r e e m e n t .
D a v i d G i l l e s p i e L a n d i n g s V i l l a g e P r e s i d e n t s
G e n e r a l M a n a g e r
LMGA: Around the Greens
BENTLEY COLLINS
This month I want all LMGA members to be aware of our second major event of the season. Stag Day will take place on February 17th. This is a really fun day with four-man teams competing for some serious prizes. The day’s events include a steak dinner at Picnic Point. If you have not yet put together your team, you should do so while the selections are still good. And please don’t rely on the pro shop to do this for you.
Ladies, did you know that while the guys are out golfing on Saturday morning the pro shop offers ladies clinics every Saturday at 9:00 on the driving range. Sign up at the pro shop.
Fort Myers Republican Women’s Club
The Fort Myers Republican Women’s Club will meet on Tuesday, February 18 at The Club at Pelican Preserve. A representative for the Republican Executive Committee for the Lee County Republican Executive Committee will discuss plans for this hardworking organization.
A social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. The meeting and lunch will start at 12:00 noon with the program shortly afterwards. The luncheon fee is $30.
Visit the website, www.fmrwc.com.
Contact Diane Kinser, Recording Secretary/ Membership/Reservations, social.lady@ yahoo.com, or text 630-327-3546 .
As I sat in the restaurant this morning eating breakfast, following my early morning dermatology appointment, I thought to myself that a little advice on skin care might be appropriate. Googling skin care I found this interesting article from the New York Times about skin care tests and recommendations.
Nancy Redd is a writer who covers health and grooming for the NYT. She has tested dozens of products.
The best sunscreen is the one you’ll apply liberally and often, so it should be affordable but still feel and smell good on your skin.
After extensive brand-concealed panel testing, she recommends the physical sunscreen Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ and the chemical sunscreen Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, as best covering most preferences.
What to look for:
• SPF 30+
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests wearing sunscreens that advertise a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
• Broad spectrum
Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation.
• Water resistance
Even if you don’t plan to sweat or swim, waterresistant sunscreens have better staying power on skin.
Hit ‘em straight my friends!
Wednesday, February 19th
7 PM | Main Deck
$5 Admission Fee
$15 Game Book
(Cash only for this event, no member charge)
Member bar available Reservations Required 239-482-3211
Reserved Seating
24-hour cancellation policy
$10 no-show fee applied to account
Village News
ARIEL,
CLIPPER COVE, FLAGSHIP, HARBORTOWN, LIGHTHOUSE, LONGBOAT, MARINER’S COVE, RIVERSIDE, SCHOONER, STEAMBOAT BEND, STEAMBOAT BEND EAST, SUNSET COVE, SUNSET HARBOR, TRAWLER, WINDJAMMER
ARIEL
HAZEL JONES hazelwhitejones@gmail.com
Ariel Residents Celebrate the Holidays
The residents at Ariel, the 18-story building at The Landings with 135 units, are happy to get together to celebrate any occasion. The latest gathering was the Holiday party, held at the Main Deck at the Helm Club.
The Social Committee at Ariel, headed by chair Jan Helyer with the assistance of members Stephanie Burchfield, Barb Henry, Tracie Herron, Cathy Kimball, Martha Kohnke, Gary Ramadon, and Helen Rosenblum, beautifully planned all the details for the event that was held on December 6. Thanks to their efforts, the event provided an evening featuring delicious and varied food from an abundant buffet, interesting conversations on
a host of subjects, spirited dancing, and camaraderie shared by the group clad in festive cocktail attire.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
(FROM LEFT): CATHY KIMBALL, MARTHA KOHNKE, TRACIE HERRON, HELEN ROSENBLUM, GARY RAMADON AND CHAIR JAN HELYER PLANNED A WONDERFUL EVENING.
Tish, a wonderful singer and entertainer, provided the entertainment. She sang nearly non-stop throughout the event that lasted more than four hours.
This event is just one of many events that are planned by the Ariel Social Committee each year. The owners at Ariel are always glad to socialize with their neighbors.
The group of owners at Ariel went all out in decorating the building and grounds for the holidays. There were five Christmas trees, a large number of wreaths both inside and outside the building, two menorahs and a table celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas villages, dozens of poinsettias, sleighs, and much more. There were enough decorations to supply a small holiday shop!
The merry band of holiday decorators included Cindy Brown, Christine Bratrud, Diana Byers, Cyndi Doragh, Susie Duca, Tanya Dziubla, Rebecca Johnson, Cathy Kimball, Martha Kohnke, Jo Anne Miller, Gwen and Dave Morrison, and Jane and Joe Norris.
ARIEL OWNERS ENJOYED DANCING TO MUSIC PROVIDED BY TALENTED SINGER TISH.
CLIPPER COVE
MAISIE SEIVERLING maisieseiverling@yahoo.com
Spry News
The residents weren’t the only ones who enjoyed the displays. Two visiting grandchildren also were enchanted by what they saw.
TWO-YEAR-OLD LILY MORRISON WAS ENCHANTED BY THE CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS.
After seven Christmases at Clipper Cove, Bob and Mary Ann decided to return to Colorado for a family celebration. They had a great time with terrific weather including snow for the winter enthusiasts. As February approaches, the Sprys will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on a Royal Caribbean cruise with their family.
The Sprys also reported on the upcoming Clipper Cove pool party which is scheduled for January 13. It’s a great opportunity to meet the new snowbirds and some who are returning. Tim and Theresa Johnson are back for their third year from Lakeville, MN. Tim is doing well with his new knee.
Hahn Adventures
Dennis and Dana Hahn saw “Winterland,” an impressive quixotic performance at the Grand Theater, Crown Center,
KC. Their son Kyle worked the “Holiday Cirque Experience” to sold out audiences. The show was described as “a wonderland where the majesty of northern lights meets the delicate beauty of snow ice.” There was festive live music including vocals and stunning cirque performances. Wearing a rock-climbing harness, Kyle counterbalanced the dancers and other performers by way of a pulley raising and lowering them.
New Grandchildren
Cheryl and Ken Creasey were blessed with grandchild number eight. Phoebe James Waldo was born December 20. Mother and baby girl are happy and healthy and big sister Eliza is fascinated and excited!
YOUNG ELF DANIEL ROSENSWEIG, AGE 6, LOVES THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON.
DENNIS, KYLE AND DANA HAHN
ELIZA AND PHOEBE
Greg and Deb Hartman welcomed their first grandchild on December 15, Harrison Dean Dowling. The proud parents Kyle and Jessica Hartman Dowling live in Sioux Falls, SD.
DEB AND GREG WITH BABY HARRISON
Another Anniversary
Willie Scruggs and Karen Shelton celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a delightful dinner at Lobster Lady in Camp Hill on December 8.
Power and Motoryacht Magazine
The February issue of Power and Motoryacht magazine features an article about Michael MacLeod’s adventures doing the Great Loop, not once but twice. The Great Loop is a continuous waterway that recreational mariners can travel that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, the Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, and the inland rivers of America’s heartland. You can also listen to a podcast titled “Small Boats, Big Loop: Interview with Great Looper Michael MacLeod”
PATTI PARRETT
pparrett1@comcast.net
We topped off the holiday season with a fabulous Christmas party at the Helm.
Everyone was dressed in their finest holiday sparkles, and the Helm outdid itself with amazing appetizers, dinner plates and libations. Thanks to Camille Sandrock and Nancy Fusinetti for making this event memorable.
BECKY ROSS, PAT BELISO, VICKY GARRETT, COLLEEN GALLAGHER
VINNIE DEMARTE, RON DISHLER, JOHN SANDROCK, JOHN FUSINETTI, DALLAS PHILLIPS
PAT ROSEN
At the party, our fearless leader and board president, Nancy Fusinetti, paid tribute to our beloved Pat Rosen (4616), who has been a resident at Flagship since 2001.
POWER AND MOTORYACHT PODCAST
Pat will be leaving us midJanuary for her new adventures at Cypress Cove. Pat and her late husband came from Alaska and ended up at Flagship while looking for sailing lessons. Her husband was intrigued by the people playing “with a ball and a stick” and so they both learned how to play golf. Pat was a member of the 9-Holers and 18-Holers, and spent many years knitting, going to the gym 3 times a week and having lunch at the Wheelhouse regularly with friends. She also served on our board as Secretary and Board Director. She and her perfectly coiffed dog, Bijou, will be missed by all.
“Hey, do you know Vinny? Which Vinny? Vinny in 4604? Vinny in 4612? Vinny in 4608? Or do you mean Vinny the Plumber???” I don’t know about you, but I needed some clarification as to who’s who.
Vinny Margiotta (4608) Has been a Flagship owner for 2 ½ years. He grew up in Manhattan, and still owns the home he was born in. Back in the day, Vinny M. played piano and guitar. He went to college in Chicago, was a transporter for the hospital, then an EMT, and ended up retiring from Consolidated Edison Utility Company in 2014 after 33 years, when he started as a gas mechanic and ended up as
a senior instructor. Vinny has a son and daughter and 3 beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys working out, has dabbled in martial arts and loves to travel to the Caribbean and is planning a trip to Aruba. He spends much of his time at his house in Bradley Beach, New Jersey.
Vinny Fondacaro (4604) has also owned here for 2 ½ years and is also a New Yorker, residing in Long Island with wife, Yvonne. He has three children, a son and two daughters. Vinny has quite a background, retiring from three professions. After graduating from Hofstra University, he joined the Air Force in 1982 and was chief master sergeant in charge of the civil engineer squadron and combat search and rescue. Of his 40 years of service, he was in the National Guard for 23 years. During that time, he owned his own construction
business and was a firefighter in New York City. What an honorable background! He enjoys boating, fishing, and named his boat Gypsy Girl for his love of traveling.
CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT
VINNY FONDACARO AND DAUGHTER, CAPTAIN SAMANTHA FONDACARO
Vinnie DeMarte (4612) has been a resident in Flagship since 2020. He had a home in Putnam, New York, (another New Yorker!) He worked
VINNY M. AND GRANDS
THE FONDACARO FAMILY
for EM Laboratories Merck, Darmstadt, West Germany in the 70s, then for Schering Plough for 10 years, then private practice for 4 years and The Legal Aid Society of Westchester County from 1989 until retirement. He was Chief of County Court for The Legal Aid Society from 2019 through COVID until retirement on March 1, 2024. He studied at New York Law School and raised his four children in Westchester County, NY. He umpired high school baseball for 21 years and coached youth baseball for 12 years. He is one of our Flagship board members and is secretary of the finance committee. Colleen Gallagher, Vinnie’s domestic partner, keeps us up to date with all our news on our Facebook page. They both enjoy spending time at Colleen’s condo in Somers, NY.
Although Vinny the Plumber does not reside in Flagship, he is every part of our Flagship family and is known and beloved by many Landings residents. He obtained his Masters in plumbing and
pipe fitting in Boston (What? Not a New Yorker?) and moved to Florida when he was 21 years old and attempted to find work on the east coast of Florida. Everyone there told him that the real business was in an up-and-coming town called Naples. He worked there for a bit, then at Shell Point, and 30 years ago, with $11 in his pocket, he developed his own business, Penta Plumbing, and established himself as the “go-to” plumber in the Landings. We like to think of him as the “widow whisperer” as he frequently receives requests for all types of projects, some of which actually involve plumbing! He lives in Cape Coral with his wife, two teenage daughters and mother-in-law, and owns a condo in Steamboat Bend East.
There you have it! I hope you all enjoyed getting to know the Vinnies as much as I have. Be sure to stop them in the ‘hood and let them know who you are!
LONGBOAT
annpower103@gmail.com
Longboat Village December Pool Party – Another great turnout (with over 50 attendees) for our village Christmas “pool party” at Picnic Pointe. Our theme was Italian, and that is what we got, from meatballs to lasagna to various types of pasta with sauces. There were plenty of starters, such as shrimp, chips and dips and desserts from heaven (along with plenty of cookies and brownies). As a highlight of the evening, we had an ugly Christmas sweater competition. (What is a Christmas gathering without a few ugly sweaters?) There were lots of contenders, BUT the clear winner was my husband, Alan Power. There was also a raffle that saw 18 poinsettias given out. CeCe Loper (the
VINNIE DEMARTE IN COPENHAGEN
VINNY THE PLUMBER
chairperson of our Social Committee) would like to put in a special thank you to all of her helpers for the set-up and clean-up of the event. Her helpers were: Carol Method, Cheryl Tromley, Ann Warden, Jen and Joe Bavender, Zane Brown and Natasha Benchimol. Thank you for your service to our village.
LYC Christmas Dinner Dance –Longboat Village was very well represented at the LYC Dinner Dance. Alan Power, our current yacht club Commodore, and I were in attendance. The music was great and the food was excellent. A good time was had by all. Sitting at our table were Oscar and Lin Muysson, Donna and Tom Hendericks, and new members to the club, William and Sarrah SaintOnge.
Night Golf – Alan and I were invited to attend this event by our friends from Ariel, Jeff and Tanya Dziubla. Once again our Longboat residents were well represented in this event with Rick and Lindy Worrall and Phyllis Holly, just to mention a few. This was our first time playing night golf, what a hoot! We were lucky enough
to take second place on the front nine and we managed to keep all the balls allocated to us (not really sure how we did that).
If you are a golfer, you should try this. It is a unique experience – trying to hit a ball in the dark when your whole frame of reference is a little glowing ball of light. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience. I also recommend a good flashlight, so you don’t run your cart off the path and run over those white stakes they have sticking up out there all over the place. (Note no picture taken here. It was dark. I mean, really dark.)
Traveling Davison’s – Judy Davison was kind enough to send a little note on what is happening with them recently. First, they took a trip to Marathon to check out the marina and resort for the upcoming LYC cruise to Marathon in April. Along with some fellow Longboat
residents, they rented a house/condo for the upcoming cruise to Marathon.
Judy and Steve then went on to Key West and Sunset Key (a small island off of Key West and the place where they were married). They also had family members visit from Olympia, WA. They came to town during the University of Louisville (where Judy was an adjunct professor) Sun Bowl game. And, of course, there was a bit of family rivalry over the teams playing. January will see them celebrate their twelfth anniversary by going to St. Augustine. Steve has a tee time already set at TPC Sawgrass Golf Club (lucky devil).
Later in 2025 they will be traveling to Las Vegas to celebrate Judy’s birthday. (Judy seems to be celebrating her 39th birthday a lot but it would be rude to point that out.) Ah, the life of the carefree.
Article Note – Do you enjoy ready these articles; see how easy it is to share. If you have any stories you would like to share, or have travelled, please let me know. Sharing our stories and adventures with our neighbors brings us all closer together.
UGLY SWEATER LINE UP.
MARINER’S COVE
PAT BENNER patharben@aol.com
December was a time of decorating and celebrating in Mariners Cove Village. Mary & Scott Blais outdid themselves this year with their fun Christmas display in front and on top of their house. Kristine & Joe Majors also did a beautiful job of decorating their houses. Thanks to all those who decorated their houses which created a festive air in the neighborhood.
THE BLAISE’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
THE MAJOR’S BRIGHTLY LIT HOUSE!
A big thank you goes out to Geoff Gagen who cleaned up and planted some pretty flowers in our island at the entrance. It looks so much better than it did.
The Benners hosted a Christmas party at their house that was also a celebration of our newest homeowner, Ray Trezise. Almost 40 neighbors gathered to eat, drink, and talk.
RAY TREZISE, JEFF GOLDBERG, AND RON AMY AT THE CELEBRATION
Carl and Patti McMackin hosted our annual Gutter Party with over 40 in attendance. We were all so happy to see Shirley & Dick Ryan who we haven’t seen in a while. The party took place in their beautiful lanai and house. We all agreed they did such a super job that they ought to host it again next year.
RIVERSIDE
REPORTER NEEDED
Another year has flown by! How many of us have made that comment to our family and friends since January 1? I know I have. So, one more time, Happy New Year, Landings!
Christmas was a great time in our family. I hope it was in yours also. We went all out decorating our house inside and out as for the first time since we made the Landings our permanent residence, all our family was here for Christmas! We even added a few pink flamingos to our outdoor light display.
DECORATED AND READY FOR CHRISTMAS!
Ben and Baxter Shelfer also had a great Christmas with family in town. Ben fished with his grandchildren and the whole family visited Fort Myers’ Manatee Park.
PATTI AND CARL MCMACKIN
OFF TO A GREAT START IN THE NEW YEAR… FISHING WITH THE GRANDS LIKE SPENCER FROM CLEVELAND
JUST A WALK IN THE PARK… WATCHING THE GENTLE GIANTS AT MANATEE PARK WITH CAMI FROM CLEVELAND
Riverside’s first official get together of 2025 was our annual off-campus dinner at Prawnbrokers on January 8. The back room was filled with people enjoying each other’s company and catching up on holiday happenings and what the new year would bring. Our resident photographer, Cathy Webb, caught some candid photos of us having a great time
FOOD, EVEN BETTER CONVERSATION
RIC & MARY WILSON-TAUSON rooesq@juno.com
Whew! Where does the time go? December was a month of Happy Holidays and Health issues! Let’s start with the celebrations. There were many family Christmas festivities and gatherings outside of the Village including a Holiday Brunch at Mike and Lynda Redmond’s Longboat home where Liz Welsh delighted all in a traditional Carol Singalong. And what would we do without our very own Santa Claus, Larry Wagner.
A big present for the entire Landings Community came with the reopening of the Wheelhouse. Many Schoonerites attended the soft opening including Belinda and Ray Stacey, Becky and Mark David Goss, Carole Lundgren with her daughter Kris and
PRE DINNER CHATTING
HORS D’OEUVRES ARE NOW BEING SERVED! GREAT
LIZ WELSH AT THE REDMOND’S
JACKIE AND LARRY WAGNER
LAWRIES AND ARMSTRONGS
grandsons Braeden and Devan, the Schornstein’s granddaughter Paige and her friend Haden, the Lawries and Armstrongs being waited on by a staff person for the day, Rich Curry and his fiancée Mary Beth Campbell
Rich and Mary Beth are going to be married January 25th on Picnic Pointe. The Wheelhouse celebration
RICH CURRY AND MARY BETH
New Year’s Eve was a sell out with 150 reservations and lively partiers. The Staceys made it to midnight as did the high energy Crystal Day and Scot Elrod. And then of course, there are the birthdays to celebrate at the monthly ladies’ luncheon.
On the health front we have had more than our share of relatively mild Covid cases, hospital runs (Jonnie Ockerlund in particular,) and Nancy Sims who is now in rehab in Estero. After a trip to Minnesota to be with her sister when she passed, Nancy returned to Florida and came down with pneumonia, a UTI, and Covid on top of her COPD which was a bit frightening for all who care about her. She is hopefully on the mend. While
all this was going on, she and Hugh sold their Schooner unit to Tom and Susan Kolmer emigrating from Windjammer. The Sims are convinced they will be a wonderful addition to our Schooner community. More about them next month!
STEAMBOAT BEND REPORTER NEEDED
A Fond Goodbye and Farewell to the Landings
BY JERRY ZIEDENBERG
In 1983, a very long time ago, a different time and a different place, Sheila and Jerry Ziedenberg were beginning to cycle. They found the Landings is a nice place to bicycle. From this starting place, they cycled farther and farther up to the Edison house and then to Six Mile Cypress, Ft. Myers Beach and eventually to Naples and Sanibel Island. The Landings became their winter home. Jerry likes to run, and the Landings was a great place to run with its many covered paths. You could also get easily on to McGregor Blvd. and make long runs up to the riverfront downtown.
Their three sons, then 15, 12 and 10 enjoyed the facilities of the Landings in their winter home. In 2003, when Jerry retired from his busy life as
BELINDA AND RAY. MARK DAVID AND BECKY
CAROLE AND FAMILY
PAIGE AND HADEN
LADIES LUNCH CELEBRATE DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
a pharmacist in Canada, the Ziedenbergs began to spend entire winters at the Landings. Anxious to contribute, Jerry decided to start a “lunch and learn” program. A fine lady named Anne Young was instrumental in the beginning. Over 15 years, with help from Pat Daniels, Lynn Cisky and Barbara Henry, the Landings Lecture Luncheon Series became a fixture of the winter scene. It was obvious that we could have even more intellectual stimulation, so a three part evening lecture series was added. We would pick a theme and discuss three personalities to fit the theme. One year it was financial, and we discussed John D Rockefeller, William Randolf Hearst and Warren Buffett. But all good things come to an end.
After 42 years, we are winding down. Two of our sons are married and produced four wonderful grandchildren. They have all had successful careers and one is even contemplating retirement. As I look back at my time at the Landings, I remember sitting by the water and writing. I managed to write three history books in that idyllic setting. I remember a grandchild chasing a duck who is now a mature and successful university student. My head is full of wonderful memories.
Sheila and I want to thank everyone at the Landings for all the good times, THANK YOU!
STEAMBOAT BEND EAST
This month’s feature is our Steamboat Bend East President Peter and his wife Jane. I asked them how they found The Landings...
They originally learned about The Landings while visiting Southwest Florida with Minnesota friends, Wally and Mary Rea, and another couple. At the time, 2000, they were not near retirement, but had some
fun looking at what was on the market. Pete and his other friend went back to Minnesota for work, while Jane stayed on a few extra days with her friend. They looked at a couple of places, and then while sitting on a Sanibel Island Beach, Jane’s friend got a call that her husband put an offer on a place in Windjammer, and said, “By the way, Pete put an offer on a place too! “The plan was to rent the unit until retirement time. They fell in love with the Marina, and the beautiful property, but especially the down-to-earth, nice people in The Landings community.
Pete and Jane are a big reason that we have such a beautiful friendly village. Last year, Pete put in the new “Men’s and Women’s” Gazebos. There are lights wrapped around the Palm Trees, and we have wonderful Wednesday Happy Hours that help keep us all socially connected. Our neighbor Jesse Shipp worked on the bathroom renovations over the summer and now we will have quite a nice resort vibe by the pool.
Pete has worked tirelessly to accomplish all that had to be done to our buildings to pass a huge milestone inspection for insurance and correct the damage from hurricane Ian. One of the last projects to finish was to correct the water leaking
CAROL CUMMINS callifleur1955@gmail.com
JANE AND PETER DAHLIN ENJOYING A ST. CROIX RIVER CRUISE ON THEIR BOAT.
on the mezzanine of 4100. (Completed December 2024)
We just might see Pete on the golf course more often and enjoying their boat. He’s very happy to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We couldn’t be more grateful for the work Pete and the entire Board has accomplished. As Pete said,” Our village is in awesome shape.”
DAVE AND PAM GRUSZ, BARB AND MATT CONEYS ENJOYED THE YACHT CLUB FORMAL CHRISTMAS PARTY. ALSO PICTURED IS WALLY AND MARY REA.
There were some lovely Christmas events, including the Yacht Club Christmas Party held at the Helm Club, and the Christmas Concert, featuring a lot of The Landings musical talent.
As of the writing of this column, The Wheelhouse is due to officially open on January 2nd. Some of us enjoyed the “Soft opening for drinks and appetizers” that was scheduled for our village on December 21st.
CHECKING OUT THE
BEAUTIFUL NEW PATIO AT THE WHEELHOUSE ARE AL ANUNCIATA, JANE AND PETER DAHLIN, TY TYLANDER AND GREG PODCZASKI. SEATED IN THE FAR CORNER BOOTH, TY TYLANDER AND GREG PODCZASKI ENJOYED A NICE VIEW OF THE MARINA.
FRED MUHLEMANN AND WALLY REA SHOWING OFF THEIR NEW CHRISTMAS TIES, THANKS TO KATHY LANGTON.
About 30 people attended a Steamboat Christmas Potluck hosted by Wally and Mary Rea. The weather cooperated so that we could enjoy being outside at the Mezzanine of 4140. Kathy Langton generously gave Christmas Santa hats and
scarves to the women, and ties that lit up like a Christmas tree, to the guys. The food and company were wonderful.
WALLY REA AND GREG PODCZASKI DISPLAYED THEIR FINE CHRISTMAS HOSIERY.
We wish everyone a healthy and happy 2025!
TRAWLER
AL & PATTI PALUMBO thealster6@gmail.com
Happy Landings Holiday Edition: Stories from Trawler Village
A Festive Feast: Trawler
Christmas Turkey Perry brought the holiday spirit to the table with a perfectly deep-fried turkey that had neighbors raving. The delicious meal, shared with
laughter and good company, was the centerpiece of a memorable holiday gathering.
Keeping It Picture-Perfect: Pool Deck Resealing
Community teamwork was in full swing as Rob Smith, Dean Tenney, Bruce Simmons, and Perry worked hard resealing and sanding the pool deck. Their dedication keeps our shared spaces beautiful for everyone to enjoy. A heartfelt thank-you to these unsung heroes!
Trawler Tales: A Family Adventure Across Continents
Lyn and Ian Savidge have had a busy year of travel and family time. After flying down to sunny Florida in November, they shared stories of a summer spent in Winchester, England,
reconnecting with Ian’s family. With their Canadian son-inlaw at the wheel, the family explored the historic city under unusually sunny skies. Now back in Trawler Village, Lyn reflects on the joy of routine and the warmth of our community. It’s great to have them home for the season!
Boaters’ Bliss: Exploring
Southwest Florida with Peter and Lynn Wilson
Peter and Lynn Wilson have been making waves—literally— as they embrace the boating lifestyle of Trawler Village. Their winters in Southwest Florida are filled with overnight trips to Marco Island, Naples, and Venice, along with 45-minute lunch cruises to nearby waterfront spots. The calm intercoastal waters ensure smooth sailing, even when the Gulf gets choppy. This winter, they look forward to joining
the Landings Yacht Club (LYC) for a long cruise to Key West and Marathon, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow boaters. Peter also gives a big shoutout to Captain Craig and his crew, whose excellent marina support makes boating worry-free.
Your Stories Matter
Each resident adds to the vibrant tapestry of life here at Trawler Village. Whether it’s a far-flung adventure, a holiday feast, or a local outing, your stories inspire and connect us. If you’d like to share your experiences in our next edition, please send us your photos and details—we’d love to hear from you! Here’s to a wonderful new year filled with friendship, adventure, and, of course, happy landings for all!
WINDJAMMER
Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season with friends and loved ones. With the festivities subsiding it is now time to look to the future of Windjammer as we approach our new
board elections. Time limits, movement to new villages and family limitations have created multiple vacancies on the board effective March 2025. We need to find five new directors to help keep the successes moving forward. Perhaps a few of you miss the everyday decision making, company leadership roles, helping when needed and communication with people? Being a board member can fulfill all those needs. We have made battling the last few hurricanes the main focus. Please consider using your many talents and volunteer to lead us forward. Yes, that means you out there!
Many of you remember way back in the 50’s and 60’s when most dates ended up at the local ice cream shop. Well, the Garden Room turned back the time to that era to celebrate one couple’s 66th wedding anniversary on 12/17/1939 and 85th birthdays. Sherri and Paul Venner hosted a nostalgic party for her mom and dad, Judy and Dave Russell, who are longtime residents of Spanker Ct. In between an ice cream sundae bar, photo ops, talking of good times boating and fishing at the Russell’s Lake of the Ozark home a good time was enjoyed by all. Guests included their son Jeff and 8 grandchildren. Congratulations!
A small group of volunteers assembled on a beautiful, sunny Monday afternoon to set up for the Windjammer Christmas Party at Picnic Point. We sure hope you were among the sixty plus residents that attended this fun event. It is
always about the people and great food; we enjoyed baked ham, delicious appetizers, salads, amazing potato dishes and an array of desserts.
About half-way through the party a very handsome and jolly Santa paid us a visit. He brought his beautiful elf, and everyone had their picture taken with Santa. We all had fun singing Christmas Carols during the evening. A small group of us stayed around long enough to watch the remainder of an amazing sunset. Thanks to everyone who helped make this another fabulous evening with neighbors and friends.
The Sunday-Funday in February is Sunday, February 16, 2025, at Picnic Point. We are planning to do a Chili Cook-Off, the first ten chilis offered are entered into the competition. Mark your calendars, you don’t want to miss this fun event.
SUNSET FROM THE NEWLY OPENED WHEELHOUSE
DINING RESERVATIONS
Wheelhouse Grille & Compass Rose
Make your dining reservations online: landingsygtc.com
Call the designated dining reservation line: 239-899-5900
Important Reservation Notice:
For dining reservations, please use the designated reservation phone line only. Save the number 239-899-5900 in your phone to ensure you reach the correct line, which connects you to a live representative. If you are asked to leave a voicemail, rest assured that someone will return your call shortly.
Kindly refrain from contacting the Administration Office, Compass Rose, Wheelhouse Grille, or the food and beverage office for dining reservations.
