SEPTEMBER 2025
Stoneybrook Estero
OF
FROM THE TREASURER
A Look Inside
HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR, NOVEMBER 1, 10 A.M. TO 12 P.M.
MONTHLY MOTIVATION
Production
Karen
Michelle
From The Treasurer
JOHN DETTERBECK
Let us do a little test, so is the glass half full or half empty? Some would say it is a matter of perspective, and they would be right. For me I have always been the half full type of person. I have found there is more to be achieved with this approach than to see what some people would call a negative point of view.
Faced with a problem, a positive approach tends to go further than being pessimistic about it. Otherwise, we would tend to spend our time just complaining and not
trying to help solve the issue. The Donkey from Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, is a fitting example of this. He was always known as the half full kind of character. One of his famous lines was “Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.”
I have never seen a sport team find success walking onto the court saying, “They sure are bigger than us, and they jump much higher than we do.” Or “they are undefended why are we even competing against them.”
In the business world I have rarely ever seen someone that succeeds with anything short of being positive. Those “Eeyores” that I have witnessed by no surprise are gone from their role or their businesses just disappear in a brief time.
As I have been working on my third budget for our HOA, I see areas that we need to continue to work on and other areas that we have fixed. A notable example of this is the copy machine in our office leased in 2020. Prior to getting on board the current machine was leased instead of being purchased. The lease is ending this year, and the board is set to purchase a replacement copier outright.
The cost of purchasing the copier will be about a third of what the lease cost us. Yes, there was wasted money with the lease, but now it is being corrected.
In my days in business when something went sideways my goal was first to fix the problem, to make things right for the customer and then to find a way to prevent it from happening again. Sometimes things just happen that are out of everyone’s control, and then we all need to pull together without pointing fingers and do what we can. Working together is what happens in a healthy community.
Holiday Craft Fair, November 1, 10 a.m. To 12 p.m.
We will have 20-plus vendors, breakfast, brunch, and coffee food trucks!
Stoneybrook’s Coffee, Tea, And Chat – August
Residents were invited to the August Coffee, Tea, and Chat , where the theme was Lights, Camera, Action! Friends and neighbors came together to enjoy coffee, tea, and lively conversation, all with a fun Hollywood flair. The event offered a chance to relax, connect, and share in the community spirit that makes Stoneybrook shine.
August Gathering
Stoneybrook Ladies’ Luncheons
Tuesday, September 9
11:30 a.m.
41 Bistro
19050 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers 33908
Tuesday, October 14
11:30 a.m.
Bahama Breeze
14701 Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers 33912
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.
PAY IT FORWARD
A young boy attempts to make the world a better place after his teacher gives him that chance. That was the plot for a movie from 2000 starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment called Pay It Forward.
A single act of kindness can ripple out to change the world. It got me thinking – how can we thoughtfully pay kindness forward in our own lives?
We all have people who impacted us profoundly, but perhaps we never properly thanked them. Rather than regret it, view it
MORNING STRETCH
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY –
8 TO 8:30 A.M. AND 8:30 TO 9 A.M.
Monthly Motivation
JOSHUA A. SKY, CAREER COACH AND LEADERSHIP TRAINER
as an opportunity. How can you pay their gift of kindness forward today?
Start by looking inward – what acts of kindness most touched you? Was it advice that changed your life? Help when you desperately needed it? Or simple words of encouragement?
Now ponder how you can thoughtfully pay that specific kindness forward. If mentoring made a difference for you, offer to mentor someone who needs guidance. If you were uplifted by a stranger’s encouraging words, be the stranger who uplifts someone else today.
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.
Paying it forward requires presence – notice what people around you need and act on it. Offer a compliment to a complete stranger. Surprise a stressed barista by paying for the next person. Write an inspirational note to a struggling friend.
As you pay kindness forward, reflect on how it makes you feel. Appreciate how one conscious act of generosity can uplift both the giver and receiver. And consider how when we thoughtfully lift each other up, we elevate humanity. If this continued throughout the day, imagine the impact it could have on so many – and it starts
with you. You never know, you might be the energy that starts an entire gratitude snowball! And the most amazing thing is that you won’t probably know how many you have touched or even who they are. But the feeling you can create for yourself by your one gesture could be amazing.
Find your own way to … Pay It Forward.
“Everything we do, even the slightest thing we do, can have a ripple effect and repercussions that emanate. If you throw a pebble into the water on one side of the ocean, it can create a tidal wave on the other side.” – Victor Webster
THE URBANIZATION OF GREATER ESTERO
Engage Estero releases its six-month update of the commercial and residential developments taking place across Greater Estero. This comprehensive report is one of the most read documents Engage Estero Releases. It is sent to over 14,000 residents who have signed up on our website www.esterotoday.com to receive our communications, and the posted document on our website receives over 4,000 hits per month.
Population growth rates will continue, especially in East Corkscrew. Estero’s population is projected to grow by over 8,000 within the next two to three years, while East Corkscrew is expected to reach approximately 60,000 residents within a decade. The September Greater Estero Community Report (GECR) report’s introduction covers these trends.
In an earlier GECR report titled “Adapt or Perish,” we also made the point that municipalities must adapt what they offer to the public, much like companies do, because they operate in a competitive environment, even if their primary goal isn’t profit. Just like companies need customers, municipalities need residents and businesses to thrive.
Most people tend to become worried and uncomfortable when faced with change. Most prefer the status quo. But, if a city fails to evolve and offer good services, infrastructure, and quality of life, people and companies may leave or choose not to settle there. The result is economic stagnation or even decline, with a resulting drop in home values because people will be less inclined to make Estero their home.
In many ways, the fact that developers have a considerable interest and desire to build in Greater Estero is a positive sign, given the recent decline in property prices. The recent decision by Curadel Pharma, a start-up pharmaceutical company, to construct a 43,000-square-foot medical office and supporting infrastructure at 9600 Corkscrew Road is another positive outcome.
The September 26 Community And Member Meeting You Will Not Want To Miss!
The location is 9285 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. (inside the Estero Community Park), Estero, FL 33928, on Friday, September 26 at 10 a.m.
Mary Gibbs, the Community Development Director for the Village, will discuss the difficulties that the Village’s Planning, Zoning & Design
Board (PZDB) has to face when balancing the demands of developers and, on occasion, their legal threats with those of the Village code and the residents’ concerns. She will also explain what some of the larger developments underway or about to start will look like.
In addition, Clerk Karnes, Lee County’s Clerk of the Court & Comptroller, will discuss the issue of title fraud.
Guidance For Those Who Are Caring For A Loved One With Dementia
Engage Estero recently provided a twopart article that was designed to help those who struggle to take care of a
family member or friend with dementia. This situation is undoubtedly one of the most heartbreaking ones anyone can face. Dealing with a family member who has dementia—whether mild, moderate, or severe—can be incredibly challenging, both emotionally and practically. Dementia often affects memory, behavior, communication, and independence, and the progression varies from person to person.
Family members and caregivers often experience emotional stress, confusion, and frustration as they try to navigate the situation. Most people facing these challenges are unsure about how to act
or what steps to take in this demanding situation.
If you believe a friend or colleague could benefit from the two-part article, which has been highly praised by several primary care
doctors, the articles can be viewed on our website:
https://esterotoday.com/how-to-handle-afamily-member-with-dementia-part-1/ https://esterotoday.com/continuing-thejourney-through-dementia-care-part-2/
From The Desk Of Sheriff Carmine Marceno...
SECURING EXTERIOR DOORS
An estimated 34% of residential burglars enter through a home’s front door. While I was unable to locate documentation regarding side and rear door entries, they, too, are frequent targets.
Additionally, a fairly recent and ongoing TikTok “challenge” that encourages youngsters to kick in the front doors of unknown homes prompts me to discuss an easy fix that will help reinforce and secure all exterior doors.
Exterior doors have points of vulnerability. These points include where the door meets the strike plate, as well as where the door hinges attach to the doorjamb.
In an effort to address these issues and to enhance your door’s ability to withstand force, it is recommended that strike plate screws and hinge screws be upgraded.
Most doors, when installed, utilize #9 ¾ -inch or 1-inch wood screws. These screws attach both the strike plate and the hinges to the doorjamb. Being small in size, they offer extremely limited support when facing blunt force.
A simple and inexpensive fix can dramatically increase your door’s ability to withstand forced entry.
Replace the shorter door-strike and hinge screws with fully threaded, 3-inch wood screws. A total of 11 screws will likely be required (two for strike plate and nine for three hinges).
By utilizing these 3-inch screws, hinges and strike plates will now be secured through the doorjambs and into the door’s framing studs. It is estimated that these longer screws will triple the resistance of solidcore, exterior doors.
Multiple locking points add additional security to your entrance.
The addition of a dead bolt lock is a bit more complicated and involved, will take approximately one hour to complete and incurs some cost. There are numerous dead bolt locks to choose from, including various grades, types of cylinders (single or double) and pick-resistant features, that you may wish to discuss with a professional.
These simple upgrades will substantially reduce the vulnerability of your exterior doors.
Catch The Action
CAPT. BILL RUSSELL
SEPTEMBER ON THE WATER
With the arrival of September, the end of summer is in sight as we gradually break away from long, hot, muggy days, and slowly transition to shorter, cooler days of autumn. This is welcoming news for anglers fishing around Southwest Florida. Days become less humid with a slight drop in temperature, a relief after a hot Florida summer. Don’t get me wrong, there will still be plenty
of hot and humid days, but they become more tolerable as the month progresses. September is also the height of hurricane season; fingers crossed for a quiet month and season in Southwest Florida.
Just as anglers enjoy the change of seasons, fish respond, as they become more active resulting in improved fishing. With a slight drop in water temperature, you can expect fish to exert more energy and feed consistently throughout the day. Of course, it’s fishing, there are days when you can’t buy a bite no matter what, but chances for success are tipped in your favor as the water cools.
Offshore, as water temperatures drop, look for fish to move closer to shore in shallower depths and pelagic species heading south down the coast. Grouper, plus large snapper, should be caught with consistency in depths beginning around 65 feet in Gulf waters. Artificial reefs that dot our coast, along with hard bottom and ledges in 30- to 70-foot depths are great locations to catch a variety of different fish from small to large.
Gag grouper has a very short open season the first two weeks of September.
Mangrove snapper fishing was good through the summer and should continue strong this month. Snapper school up around some type of structure that could include bridge pilings, docks, piers, oyster bars, creeks, mangroves shorelines, or any type of manmade or natural submerged structure. Fishing over hard bottom over the slack tide in many of the Gulf passes is a great way to fill a cooler with tasty snapper. Offshore, they are found in numbers over artificial
reefs and limestone ledges. Scale down your tackle with a light fluorocarbon leader of 20 pounds or lighter and small hooks. Best baits include shrimp (live or dead), small pilchards or pinfish, and a variety of cut baits. Chumming is a great option to attract snapper and get them fired up.
It’s possible over the month to come across schools of large redfish roaming the inshore shallows. Often a hundred or more travel along the edge of shallow bars and shorelines eating anything in their path. If you come across a school, make a long cast
in front of the lead fish, and hang on. These big reds often run 30 inches or larger and are schooling until we get our first real cold front, likely in October.
Bigger sea trout are moving back into shallower water to feed; this is a great time to work a top water plug across your favorite trout flats. Plenty of sea trout are caught under the endless schools of baitfish, look for birds and surface activity. Trout fishing will get better as the month moves along.
Snook begin to leave the beaches and Gulf passes where they spend the summer months and transition back inshore into the flats. Target snook around oyster bars, shorelines, sand holes, and structures such as riprap, docks, piers and bridges. This is often one of the best months for snook fishing as they are active, on the move and foraging on a variety of baits. Good numbers of snook will also remain along the beaches and Gulf passes as well. Snook season remains closed through September.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fi sh and Wildlife Commission at: www.myfwc.com . Also,
upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
With a variety of fish and enjoyable weather, this is a great month to get out there and see what you can catch!
For charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service and “Catch the Action” with Capt. Bill Russell, call or text (239) 410-8576, website: www.fishpineisland.com , email: gcl2fish@live.com .
Capt. Bill Russell is a native and lifelong resident of Pine Island who has spent his entire life fishing the waters surrounding Pine Island and Southwest Florida. For the past 29 years, Bill has been a professional fishing guide who takes pride in customizing each trip to ensure everyone on board has a great time and will return again. Come join us and “Catch the Action.”
Bonita Springs – Estero Christian Women’s Connection
WELCOMES YOU TO OUR FIRST LUNCHEON OF THE FALL!
Friday, October 10 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd., Estero FL Luncheon – $35 inclusive
*Reservations and Cancellations must be received by Wednesday, October 1.
*Tables will be assigned for all guests. To be seated with friends, submit all names & checks together, plus contact name & phone and any food allergies.
*Make check(s) payable to BSECWC. Mail to:
BSECWC, 20071 Seagrove St. #1003, Estero, FL 33928
Checks must be received by deadline to reserve your spot!
*Call Nancy with questions at (520) 904-2913
Special Feature
“Unlock Timeless Beauty with Dr. Lorna Baer”
Owner of Timeless Elegance Med Spa in Estero will help us understand how to embark on a personal journey toward a brighter, healthier, more confident self!
Guest Speaker
Linda Sill will join us to share her story, “Friends… and finding strength”
Stonecroft Bible Study
Form new and meaningful friendships in an informal small group to study how the Bible applies to real life. Call Sharon at (239) 410-9945 for information and location.
Prayer & Fellowship Connection
Join us the first Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for fellowship, short inspiring message, and prayer. Call Nancy at (908) 581-5623 for location. Affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries Facebook: Facebook.com/BSECWC Website: cwcflorida.org
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