Stoneybrook Estero
Stoneybrook Happenings
DENIS OLDANI, PRESIDENT
Greetings Neighbors!
As we welcome February, let’s embrace the promise of warmer days ahead and celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day.
18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center. A congratulatory shout out to all residents. As of the writing of this newsletter we have 760 households registered to vote and receive surveys on-line. This is great news as it boosts participation and saves us all money in mailing.
This year, four seats on our Master Board are up for election. Please remember to xercise your right to vote! You can conveniently cast your ballot by mail or on-line. Don’t forget to submit your proxy. It is needed to reach a quorum, that allows us to have a meeting. Be sure and mark your calendars for this year’s annual membership meeting. Our Annual Members Meeting will be held on March
Wishing you a loving Valentine’s Day, whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, a cozy night in, or a fun-filled outing, remember to cherish your loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy the sunshine! As the weather begins to warm up, let’s savor the beautiful Southwest Florida sunshine.
Stay Safe
Coffee, Tea, And Chat
JEWEL FAERBER
January 20, 2025, was a special day at Stoneybrook. Over 35 residents went on a “cruise to the Caribbean.” They stopped at numerous islands tasting the food and buying the wares being displayed by the natives. The residents had a good time as evidenced by
these pictures. The drinks and snacks were delicious, as usual. Joan was at her best with her “corny jokes.” Join us for the next Coffee on February 17. The theme will be Mardi Gras, so start looking for your colored beads and masks.
Production Directors
Stephen Miller
Elizabeth Miller
Sales Department
Margo Williams
Miranda Ledbeter
Alyssa Debban
Corey Bank
Justein Matthias
Webmaster
Selina Koehler
Production Manager
Lee Nostrant
Production Department
Elaine Donholt
Ruth Nekoranec
Katie Heystek
Dianne Strout
Karen Kalisz
Michelle Feeney
Andie Reynolds
www.seabreezecommunications.com
Upcoming Meetings And Events
THE FUTURE OF ROAD SAFETY IN ESTERO
A Traffic Safety Action Plan
Wednesday, Feb. 26
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Estero Park and Recreation Center 920 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., in Estero
Road safety has become an increasing concern for many residents in greater Estero. The speakers will invite attendees to participate and provide feedback. The presentation will look at the high-injury network and discuss potential solutions. The speakers are:
Don Scott, Executive Director of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization Carmon Monroy, Senior Transportation Manager, CTS Engineering
They will provide information about recommended traffic safety measures currently under consideration and answer other questions regarding:
— County Road 951a
— Workforce housing
— Addressing congestion
— Explaining future planned improvements
Registration is free, but seating is limited, so RSVP is required online at: https://esterotoday.com/feb2025
This meeting follows the October 2024 meeting, featuring Frank Domingo, Professional Engineer and Principal at Stantec, and Ron Gogoi, AICP Transportation Planning Administrator of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). You can find a summary of that meeting at https://esterotoday.com/event/oct2024.
THE DON ESLICK ESTERO PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD DINNER
Honoring 2024 Recipients Joe and Joni Pavich
Thursday Evening, Feb. 27
At the Estero Country Club (Vines Community)
Join us for a special occasion. We have the extraordinary opportunity to honor Joe and Joni Pavich, who will receive the prestigious Don Eslick Estero Person of The Year Award. This award recognizes their unwavering commitment and passionate belief in Estero for over 35 years.
The couple worked tirelessly in their new real estate business after they arrived in 1989. Joe’s efforts to attract potential new residents highlight his belief in Estero as a great place to live. He didn’t just promote the community; he built a sense of belonging and excitement that resonated with newcomers. Meanwhile, Joni’s meticulous organization and people and sales skills ensured
that every initiative ran smoothly and efficiently. It was a team effort.
We’ll kick off the night with a delightful Happy Hour at 6 p.m. At 6:50 p.m., we’ll transition to a sumptuous dinner featuring an exquisite selection of entrees to satisfy every palate.
For details and to register, go to https:// esterotoday.com/2025Award.
RESULTS OF THE VILLAGE OF ESTERO TRAFFIC SURVEY
Wednesday, March 26
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Estero Park and Recreation Center 920 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., in Estero
Little affects our daily quality of life as significantly as traffic. Engage Estero and the Village of Estero to take road conditions and management seriously.
The village utilizes a series of Master Plans in each area of functional responsibility to help guide community investment and growth. The Estero Village Council recently selected Johnson Engineering to update the village-wide traffic study Master Plan. The study is designed to identify current and future traffic issues and provide recommendations to improve traffic flow and safety in Estero. The study includes: — Projected development on vacant parcels.
— Traffic impacts from areas outside Estero.
At the Engage Estero March Community and Membership Meeting, the results of the study will be provided by:
— Steve Sarkozy, Estero’s Village Manager
— David Willems, Estero’s Director of Public Works
— Leah Holmes, Transportation Engineer at Johnson Engineering
Registration is free, but seating is limited, so RSVP is required online at: https://esterotoday.com/mar2025/
• Steve Sarkozy, Estero Village Manager
• David Willems, Village Director of Public Works
• Leah Holmes, Johnson Engineering
To stay updated on events and issues of importance in Estero, please sign up for Engage Estero’s emails. This will provide you with local news and important community articles regarding greater Estero. www. esterotoday.com.
At Engage Estero, we believe in the strength of the community. As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical nonprofit, we utilize evidence-based research to provide impartial facts and information about community issues that can improve your quality of life.
“Be Informed, Get Engaged, and Make an Impact!”
Monthly Motivation
JOSHUA A. SKY, CAREER COACH AND LEADERSHIP TRAINER
DR. DOOLITTLE ... DR. DOOGOOD
Today, we’d like you to turn your attention to our furry, scaly, and feathery friends. We’d like to ensure that we take extra care to be kind to the other animals in our environment.
If you are the owner of a furry friend such as a cat, dog, gerbil, or bunny, how about giving them an extra little ear scratch today? Or maybe a special yummy treat. If you have an aquarium, how about something new and decorative for your fish?
If you’re not a pet owner, you can volunteer for a local pet shelter for an hour or two or provide a treat to your neighbor’s pet (with the owner’s permission, of course). They can always use a helping hand to keep the animal company or take them for walks along your street. Or you can do something for our flying feathered friends. A little bird seed can go a long way.
“You never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” –
Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi
Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons
The following ladies’ luncheons have been scheduled.
Tuesday, February 11 at 11:30 a.m.
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Suite 51 Miromar Outlets, Estero
Tuesday, March 11 at 11:30 a.m.
Miller’s Ale House 10065 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers Gulf Coast Town Center
You may sign up for all luncheons at the community center to have your name placed on the list. If you sign up and later cannot attend, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance. Carpooling is encouraged. If you have any questions or need a ride match, please contact Chris Costello at (774) 573-7064 or chrispea46@hotmail.com.
MORNING STRETCH
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY –
8 TO 8:30 A.M. AND 8:30 TO 9 A.M.
There are two, half-hour 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.
WATER AEROBICS CLASS
TIME CHANGE
Starting in December, the schedule for water aerobics will start at 9 a.m. and end at 10 a.m.
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.
February Book Summary
ANNABELLE TOMETICH
THE MANGO TREE: A MEMOIR OF FRUIT, FLORIDA, AND FELONY
“Rows of orange people sit handcuffed in a beige room. One of them is my mother.”
When journalist Annabelle Tometich picks up the phone one June morning, she isn’t expecting a collect call from an inmate at the Lee County Jail. And when she accepts, she certainly isn’t prepared to hear her mother’s voice on the other end of the line. However,
explaining the situation to her younger siblings afterwards was easy; all she had to say was, “Mom shot at some guy. He was messing with her mangoes.” They immediately understood.
Answering the questions of the breakingnews reporter—at the same newspaper where Annabelle worked as a restaurant critic––proved more difficult. Annabelle decided to go with a variation of the truth: it was complicated.
So begins The Mango Tree , a poignant and deceptively entertaining memoir of growing up as a mixed-race Filipina “nobody” in suburban Florida as Annabelle traces the roots of her upbringing—all the while reckoning with her erratic father’s untimely death in a Fort Myers motel, her fiery mother’s bitter yearning for the country she left behind, and her own journey in the pursuit of belonging.
With clear-eyed compassion and piercing honesty, The Mango Tree is a family saga that navigates the tangled branches
of Annabelle’s life, from her childhood days in an overflowing house flooded by balikbayan boxes, vegetation, and juicy mangoes, to her winding path from medical school hopeful to restaurant critic. It is a love letter to her fellow Filipino Americans, her lost younger self, and the beloved fruit tree at the heart of her family. But above all, it is an ode to Annabelle’s hot-blooded, whip-smart mother Josefina, a woman who made a life and a home of her own, and without whom Annabelle would not have herself.
Book Club-2025
JEWEL FAERBER
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.
Bingo Nights
Our Book Club will meet the third Monday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feb. 17 The Mango Tree by Annabelle Tometich
March 17 Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
April 21 The Measure by Nikki Erlick
May 19 The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
JEWEL FAERBER AND THE ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
JEWEL’S EMAIL: JCF0519@COMCAST.NET
Reminder: Please email Jewel if you are attending so we can distance the tables. If we do not get 10 people, bingo will be canceled.
2025- BINGO AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
UPCOMING DATES ARE:
February 20
March - no dates available
April 10 and 24
May 8 and 15
From 7 to 9 p.m. in the Stoneybrook Clubhouse.
Please bring your masks (optional). Stay safe and take care of yourselves.
• $10 for 3 cards/game. We play 10 double games.
• Daubers are available for purchase at $1.50 each.
• BYOB and snacks.
• 18-plus years of age only (Florida state law)
TLP Tidbit$
THOMAS L. PATRICCA, CFP ® , CEPS, AEP ®
LIFESTYLE CREEP: WHEN YOUR WALLET LIVES LARGER THAN YOUR DREAMS
Ever feel like your lifestyle’s gone rogue? One day you’re pinching pennies, and the next, your bank account’s mysteriously vanished thanks to designer shoes, takeout galore, and a shiny new gadget you didn’t need. Welcome to the not-so-exclusive club of Lifestyle Creep—where your expenses rise faster than bread dough in a warm oven.
WHAT IS IT?
Lifestyle creep is that sneaky nemesis that tiptoes into your life, like extra holiday pounds or wrinkles that suddenly demand reading glasses. It’s the gradual climb in your cost of living, usually without you even noticing. Have you been dining out more often? Upgraded to a car with heated cupholders? Buying the latest phone even though yours works just fine? Congrats, your lifestyle’s throwing a party and forgot to invite your savings account.
Perhaps you got a raise—yay, you! Paid off some debt? Scored an inheritance? While your income ballooned, so did your spending … but not your savings. And no, this doesn’t happen overnight; lifestyle creep is more of a slow burn than an instant bonfire.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
First things first: pay yourself like the VIP you are. Got a raise? Funnel that sweet, sweet cash into savings before you even think about splurging on something shiny. Automate those transfers to make saving feel effortless (because who has time for manual effort?).
Next, embrace the power of a “cooling-off” rule. Thinking about dropping a chunk of change on a flashy new toy? Wait a week. For larger purchases, wait longer. You might find the shine wears off faster than you can say “buyer’s remorse.” Bonus points if you set a strict monthly spending plan—it’s like a diet for your wallet, minus the celery sticks.
And remember, raises and bonuses aren’t Monopoly money. Uncle Sam will claim his share, so don’t spend it all without factoring in taxes, or you’ll be in the red faster than you can shout “IRS!”
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
Set financial goals that light you up. Whether it’s saving for retirement, a dream vacation, or finally replacing your avocado-green couch, having clear targets makes it harder to splurge impulsively. After all, who needs a third pair of AirPods when you’re laser-focused on your bucket list?
Left unchecked, lifestyle creep can snowball into a real issue. If you spend every penny you earn and your income drops—hello, retirement—your lifestyle could take a nosedive. The ultimate dream? Retiring with enough to maintain your fabulous lifestyle and maybe leave a little extra for your loved ones.
For a reality check (and some expert guidance), consider working with a certified financial planner™. They’ll help you nip lifestyle creep in the bud and set you up for a future so golden, Midas would be jealous. Cheers to living large … responsibly!
BONITA SPRINGS – ESTERO
CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S CONNECTION
INVITES YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS TO OUR ANNUAL AUCTION!
Friday, March 14
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd., Estero Auction preview begins at 10:45 p.m.
Luncheon cost: $35 inclusive
Reservations and cancellations must be received by Wednesday, March 5
Tables assigned for all guests. Wish to be seated with friends?
Submit all names & checks together, plus contact name & phone number and any food allergies. The event may sell out so reserve early with a check payable to BSECWC
Mail to: BSECWC, 20071 Seagrove St., #1003, Estero, FL 33928
Call Nancy with questions at 520-904-2913. A check must be received to reserve!
Special Feature
“Bucks for Baskets” Auction!
Come with a bundle of $1 bills and take away treasures valued at so much more!
Or bring your checkbook and have more fun by … purchasing a “Paddle Pass” (day of event only) and bid on all baskets at a reduced price! Pay no more than $3 for any winning basket, each creatively arranged! It’s fast! It’s fun! And anyone can be a winner with a lucky paddle number!
Guest Speaker
Terri Sevinsky speaks in a relatable way … This self-proclaimed Optimistic-Pessimist shares principles to help us choose to Respond, instead of React to life’s difficulties.
Stonecroft Bible Study
Form new and meaningful friendships in an informal small group to study how the Bible applies to real life.
Call Marlene at (630) 542-5462 for information and location.
Prayer And Fellowship Connection
Join us from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month gathering with friends, a short topical lesson, and prayer, audible or silent. Lunch often follows!
Call Nancy at (908) 581-5623 for location. Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries Website: cwcflorida.org Facebook.com/BSECWC
RESOURCE HUB
STONEYBROOK OF ESTERO
STONEYBROOK MASTER ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Denis Oldani
Vice President:
Melissa Mahmoud
Secretary:
Daniel “Todd” Madden
Treasurer:
John Detterbeck
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.
Front Gate
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
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