Stoneybrook Happenings
By Denis Oldani, President HOA
Greetings neighbors,
Now that we are in daylight saving time, please look out for walkers, bikers and children out and about on your evening commute.
The community center remodel and multipurpose room update is underway. The wall in the multipurpose room
Stoneybrook Day
Stoneybrook Day was yet again a huge success! There are so many familiar and new faces in our community each year. Each year we celebrate this amazing community and the wonderful people in it. This year was no exception. Thank you
was removed and the seating capacity is now 100 at tables and chairs and 210 at chairs only. Window treatments have been installed and the new tables, chairs and racks should have been delivered. As of the writing of this newsletter, the remodel of the restrooms and expansion of the exercise room are a few weeks away. The work has been approved for the Stoneybrook monument at the entrance. The
to all of the volunteers who helped make this event possible. Everyone was able to enjoy great music from D.J. Kevin, Publix subs and Jack Mancini’s sandwiches, face painting and tattoos, a petting zoo with newly born baby goats, Estero
lighting will be fixed and enhanced. The board approved getting new exit gates at the front entrance.
Don’t forget about coffee, tea and chat. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors. See the calendar for dates and time.
Enjoy spring and stay safe.
fire department, the Lee County Sheriffs Office’s yummy cookies, 50/50 raffle and many prizes. We hope everyone enjoyed making memories with friends and families. Stephanie Crockett
St. Patrick’s Day Event With Joe Sassarini
The entertainer, Joe Sassarini, filled the tent on March 16 with dancers, singers and anyone celebrating St. Patrick’s Day a day early.
He performed here last year and was brought back by popular demand. He sang and line danced for over 2½ hours. He played dance music from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.
Our Adult Activities Committee was quite busy this year. Watch the
St. Patrick’s Day Event With Joe Sassarini on page 5
By Jewel Faerber
Book Club Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons
The following Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons have been scheduled.
Tuesday, April 9, 11:30 a.m.
Nino’s
18767 S. Tamiami Trail
South Fort Myers
Tuesday, May 14, 11:30 a.m.
Sushi Thai Too
25101 S. Tamiami Trail
Bonita Springs
Tuesday, June 11, 11:30 a.m.
Oak and Stone
10191 Estero Town Commons Place
Bridge Players
Needed!
Please call Anthony Ruocco at (239) 992-0616.
Stoneybrook Master Association Board Of Directors
Denis Oldani, President Melissa Mahmoud, Vice President
Daniel “Todd” Madden, Secretary John Detterbeck, Treasurer
Directors:
Darrell Grigg, Matthew Reed, Elizabeth Hanson
The Board of Directors meets on the third Tuesday of the month in the Community Center. Meetings are open to all community members. Residents may address the Board during Residents’ Open Forum which begins at 6:30 p.m. At the end of the Residents’ Forum the general meeting begins.
Stoneybrook Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors
Eileen Huff - Chairperson, Chris Brady - Vice Chairperson, Phil Olive - Assistant Secretary, Phil Simonsen - Assistant Secretary, Adam Dalton - Assistant Secretary
The Board of Supervisors meets at 9 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Community Center. Exceptions are: November and December held on the second Tuesday because of holidays, and February, May, June and August held at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to all community members. Agendas, minutes and other information can be found on the CDD website: www.stoneybrookesterocdd.com.
Stoneybrook – A Golf Community
Front Gate 949-4965
DwellingLIVE Guest Registration (888) 994-4117
Community Center 948-1787
Community Center Fax 948-1786
Pro Shop 948-3933
Golf Course Superintendent 948-9057
Main Line Irrigation Problems
– during normal golfing hours 948-9057
Alliant Property Management LLC 454-1101
Alliant Property Management Fax 454-1147
Lennar (formerly US Home) 278-1177
Lee County Sheriff’s Office 477-1200
Poison Control (800) 222-1222
Alligator Hotline (866) 392-4286
Animal Control 432-2083
Mosquito Control 694-2174
Comcast 432-9277
Florida Power & Light 334-7754
Lee County Utilities 936-0247
– to report “Lift Station” alarm 479-8700
Sunshine Before You Dig (800) 432-4770
(Underground Cable Locating Service)
Waste Services of Florida 332-8500
Free Residential Appliance Pickup 337-0800
– please do not dispose in community Dumpsters
Master Board
Contact us on the Home page on the Website: www.stoneybrookestero.org
Alliant Property Management LLC
Emergency (24-hour) Number: (239) 454-1101 www.alliantproperty.com
13831 Vector Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907 Community Center
E-mail: stoneybrook.office@alliantproperty.com
We meet in our library. As always, all are welcome to participate in the discussion. If you did not read the book, a printed summary of the book is given out before our discussions. If you have read a book that you think we would enjoy reading, please bring the title and the author’s name. We are always looking for new novels to read.
Please email Jewel at jcf0519@comcast.net so we will know how many people plan to attend.
Our book club will meet the third Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the community center. April 15 – Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See June 3 – The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Note – The May 20 meeting has been changed to June 3.
Lady Tan’s Circle Of Women
By Lisa See
According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female
doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.
From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus , they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.
But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.
How might a woman like Yunxian break free of these traditions and lead a life of such importance that many of her remedies are still used five centuries later? A captivating story of women helping each other, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a triumphant reimagining of the life of one person who was remarkable in the Ming dynasty and would be considered remarkable today.
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Evolution Of Home Buying
By Thomas L. Patricca, CFP®, CEPS, AEP®
If you’ve purchased a home at any time since the 1990s, you likely paid an approximate 3 percent commission to the your agent, i.e., the buyers agent, and you had no real say in the payment of that fee. If you wanted to buy the house, you had to pay the fee that had been agreed upon by the seller when the seller entered into an agreement with the sellers agent. Since the 1990s, sellers agents have listed homes with cooperative compensation offers so that agents on both sides of the sale would receive essentially equal commissions at closing.
The process of buying a home has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few decades, with significant shifts in practices, regulations, and consumer behavior. A pivotal moment in this evolution is the recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement agreement regarding broker commissions, which is effective in July.
In the 1990s, the home buying journey was largely characterized by traditional practices and limited access to information. Buyers heavily relied on real estate agents to navigate the market, from searching for properties to negotiating deals. The process typically began with buyers contacting a local real estate agency, where they would meet with an agent to discuss their preferences and budget. During this era, transparency regarding broker commissions was minimal. Buyers often had little insight into the breakdown of these fees, which were typically bundled into the overall cost of purchasing a home. As a
result, there was a lack of clarity regarding the financial arrangements between buyers, sellers and agents.
Moreover, the Internet was still in its infancy, and online listings were not yet the norm. Buyers primarily relied on printed listings in newspapers or real estate magazines to identify potential properties. This limited access to information meant that buyers had to heavily depend on their agents to provide listings and market insights.
Fast forward to today, and the home buying landscape has been revolutionized by advancements in technology, regulatory changes and shifting consumer preferences. The NAR settlement agreement has played a significant role in enhancing transparency and empowering buyers with more information.
One of the most notable changes is the increased transparency surrounding broker commissions. Beginning in July, buyers will have access to detailed information about commission rates upfront, allowing them to make more informed decisions. This transparency has reshaped the dynamics between buyers, sellers and agents, fostering a more equitable marketplace.
Furthermore, the rise of online platforms and real estate websites has democratized access to property listings and market data. Buyers can now browse thousands of listings, view virtual tours, and access comprehensive property information with just a few clicks. This has empowered buyers to take a more active role in their home search, reducing their reliance on agents for property discovery.
Additionally, the NAR settlement agreement has spurred greater competition within the real estate industry. By dismantling certain anti-competitive practices and
Illusionist Alex Geiser –
Saturday, March 2
On Saturday, March 2, the residents of Stoneybrook enjoyed the sleight of hand of Master Magician and Illusionist Alex Geiser. Alex just spent quite a long time entertaining in Las Vegas. At the end of his performance, he left many people saying, “How’d he do that?”
Fuse – Event Recap
This is just one of our photos from Feb. 15. Fuse is composed of three entertainers. They play various instruments and play mostly dance music. Any song can be requested, and most songs are in their repertoire. We had about 100 people in the tent, many of them on the dance floor as we had a sellout crowd. We had advertised that the group would perform until 9 p.m. They were still going strong after 9:30 p.m. We hope to bring them back next year.
Jewel Faerber, Adult Activities Committee
Monthly Motivation
Celebrate The Wins!
By Joshua A. Sky, Career Coach and Leadership Trainer
Think of someone in your life who has some good news. Maybe it’s already been acknowledged on a small scale or even in a bigger way. Perhaps it happened a while back and you didn’t get to make a big enough deal out of it at the time. Why not celebrate it again! Not in a big way but just with an email message restating your happiness for them. If you missed it, think of something to wow them. It’s never too late!
Believe it or not, there is scientific research behind this gesture on your part. We all know how to share the special occasions in each other’s lives – engagements, births, promotions, marriage. Research suggests that when we share in others’ good fortune, it actually
Numerous people asked the Activities Committee to bring him back next year. Now he is probably Stoneybrook’s favorite illusionist. I know he is mine! Jewel
impacts our own well-being, and that the benefits of sharing our good fortune can extend beyond the wellbeing derived from the event itself!
Even more interesting is the power of capitalization. Studies have also concluded that amplifying the pleasure of a good situation that involves others is actually contributing to an upward spiral effect of positive emotion that boosts happiness.
So go ahead and share your own good news, big or small, with others, and be sure to capitalize on their good stuff as well.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more, it turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” – Melody Beattie
promoting transparency, the agreement has opened doors for new players and innovative business models. Buyers now have a wider range of options when it comes to choosing a real estate agent or brokerage, leading to increased competition and potentially more competitive pricing. Overall, the home buying process has undergone a remarkable transformation from the 1990s to today, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes and shifting consumer expectations. The NAR settlement agreement has further catalyzed these changes by promoting transparency, empowering buyers and fostering competition within the real estate industry. As we move forward, it’s clear that the home buying experience will continue to evolve, reflecting the everchanging needs and preferences of buyers in the modern era. Since buying a home is often the largest purchase folks make in their lifetime, it is important to consider working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP ®) so that you understand the details and intricacies of not only the commission structure, but lending, interest rates, homeowners insurance, escrow and a host of other complex issues. A CFP can also help you navigate these changes if you are in the market to sell your home.
Day
With
from page
newsletter during the summer for a preview of next year’s entertainers.
Faerber
St. Patrick’s
Event
Joe Sassarini
1
Jewel Faerber, Carol Oldani, and Sue Schroeder, Stoneybrook Adult Activities Committee
Brylcream
On Jan. 24, the residents of Stoneybrook were treated to an evening of ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s music. The group is known as Brylcream. They have been entertaining all over Florida for many years.
Jewel Faerber
Morning Stretch
Monday, Wednesday And Friday – 8 To 8:30 a.m. And 8:30 To 9 a.m.
United Way Of Lee, Hendry, And Glades
Joining Forces With The Mighty Mussels For A Star Wars-Themed Fundraiser
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are joining forces in a galaxy not so far, far away for an exciting Star Wars -themed baseball game and fundraiser on Saturday, April 27.
United for a Cause, taking place at Hammond Stadium, will feature costume character appearances and specialty jerseys worn by Mussels players. Jerseys will be available for auction to benefit United Way. Gates for the game open at 5 p.m. with first pitch at 6:05 p.m.
Tickets start at $15 at https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/ UnitedLee and for every ticket sold, $5 will be donated to
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. Enjoy a great night of baseball under the lights with family and friends, all for a worthy cause. Sponsorships are still available! If you are interested, please contact Barbara Alderson at (239) 600-6283 or BAlderson@UnitedWayLee.org.
About United Way
In addition to raising funds for human service organizations in our community, United Way promotes partnerships and collaborations among agencies, helping them to work together focusing on issues that continue to improve lives. United Way’s mission as a volunteer-driven organization is dedication to improving the quality of life for all people in our community. United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades was established in 1957 and over $221 million has been raised and distributed since that time. For more information, please call (239) 433-2000 or visit UnitedWayLee.org.
There are two, halfhour stretch segments. It’s an excellent way to work all the different parts of the body while improving your balance, coordination and strength. It uses your own resistance as we strive for total body toning and fitness. Each class is a cross between tai chi, yoga and Pilates. This is a great class to achieve a full stretch.
You can come to one session or both, depending on what works for you. Come and join us!
For any questions call: Linda Masters, (740) 361-4088.
Pinochle Players Needed!
Pinochle players are needed to play at the clubhouse! Ladies and gentlemen included. We will teach you how to play! Please call Hellen Ruocco at (239) 992-0616.
Bingo Nights
Bingo Is Back! Get Your Daubers Ready For The 2024 Season
Reminder: Please email Jewel if you are attending so we can distance the tables. If we do not get 10 people, bingo will be cancelled.
The 2024 dates are: April 18, May 2 and 16 in the Stoneybrook Clubhouse from 7 to 9 p.m.
Please bring your masks (optional). Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
The cost will be $10 for three cards per game. We play 10 double games. Daubers available for purchase! BYOB and snacks. This is for 18-plus only (Florida state law). Jewel Faerber and the Activities Committee jcf0519@comcast.net
Update On The Golf Course
By Eileen Huff, CDD Board Chairperson
For the month of February, the actual rounds of golf were 4,995 to a budget of $5,835. We did have seven days of rain that negatively impacted the rounds of golf. Cash balance as of March 18 was $786,155.36 and as of this date all accounts payable were paid in full.
The roadway project began in January and has been completed ahead of schedule. Currently we are working with both Collier Paving and Johnson Engineering to repair the sod areas compromised and any other minor damage that occurred. The walking path by the pump house is still not completed. We are waiting for Florida Power & Light to raise the utility box to level off that portion of the path. Hopefully this will be completed soon. I would like to say that both Collier Paving and Johnson Engineering were both efficient and professional throughout this project.
The next project that the CDD will be working on is the replacement of the bridges on the golf course. This will be worked on during the approximately two-week period in June. The course will be closed during that time. We are going to do this in conjunction with the regular scheduled summer closures for the golf course maintenance. The final dates will be in the next newsletter and sent via email blast.
We will be taking a loan to complete the golf course project. The landscape project along Corkscrew Road is currently with the village and county for approval. We will keep the community updated on the progress.
For the month ending Jan. 31, total revenues were $559,812 which is $19,411 less than 2023 and $120,159 under the 2024 budget. Year to date revenues are $1,533,696 which is $771 over the 2023 budget, and $141,394, under the 2024 budget. The expenses for the month ending Jan. 31, were $324,084 which is $29,275 more than 2023 and $30,276 under the 2024 budget. Year to date expenses are $1,222,523 which is $5,502 under the 2023 and $93,547 under the 2024 budget. The net position as of Jan. 31, is $162,214 under budget.
If you are interested in lessons or joining one of the Women’s or Men’s Stoneybrook golf leagues, please contact the Pro Shop at (239) 948-3933.
If you have any questions regarding these issues or any concerns, please email the CDD at cdd@ stoneybrookesterocdd.com, or attend the CDD meetings. The September CDD meeting will be held on Tuesday April 23 at 9 a.m. It will be held at the Stoneybrook Community Center.
Celebrate Earth Day At The Wonder Gardens
Join us on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our annual Earth Day Celebration! The Wonder Gardens will be open to the public with an array of local
vendors and small businesses available in a farmers’ market fashion along with various family activities and community partners.
The Wonder Gardens is located at 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135-5405.
