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President’s Message
Greetings Whiskey Creek Community,
As summer draws to a close and September ushers us into fall, the kids are heading back to school. You’ve probably noticed the rise in traffic, whether it’s cars, golf carts, or bikes. As we all adjust to the school year and community events, let’s make sure to be extra careful and attentive for everyone’s safety.
Summer may be coming to an end, but hurricane season is in full swing. Recently, we had our first brush with Hurricane Debby. Like many others, I regularly check my hurricane supplies, such as gas, water, batteries and the generator. Unfortunately, the generator was not working properly. My son Jackson and I tried to fix it, but nothing seemed to work. Then, a wonderful act of kindness occurred. A resident of our community, Mark L. Franzer, noticed our struggle and offered his knowledge and guidance. He spent about an hour helping us with the generator, and thanks to his help, it started right up. Mark’s kindness and neighborly assistance truly made a difference. I know I mention it often and this act of kindness proves once again how special our community is.
Whiskey Creek Civic Association Membership
By Sally Gins
As of July 31, only 25 percent of homes have joined as members of the Whiskey Creek Civic Association for the year 2024. We strongly encourage you to support your community with a monetary donation. The suggested amount is $125 per year. However, please give what you can. Our goal is to increase participation!
*If you have questions regarding your membership status, please email wccaacct@ gmail.com.
Thank you to our newest members:
Mary Allyson Briggs
Jim and Christine Collier
Dalton and Julie Drake
Thomas and Hedy Essley
Marilyn Adkins Spring
Did You Know?
Total doors in Whiskey Creek: 1,574
-- 11 percent seasonal residents
-- 89 percent full-time residents
Breakdown By Door Type
-- Single-family homes: 883 (56 percent)
-- Condos: 195 (12 percent)
-- Village Green 55-plus townhomes: 394 (25 percent)
-- Wyldewood townhomes: 102 (7 percent)
Message From Tommy Doyle, Election Supervisor
As your Supervisor of Elections, it is my duty to ensure you are well informed and prepared for all elections. We are now entering the final stretch toward the Nov. 5 General Election, and I would like to provide you with essential information to ensure you have a positive voting experience.
If you have moved recently, please remember to update your address with our office. As a Lee County voter, it is
your responsibility to keep your voter information current, which is crucial when it comes to voting. Your address determines where you vote and the races that appear on your ballot.
How long has it been since you updated your signature? It might seem small, but keeping it up-to-date is vital. Whether voting by mail or
Message From Tommy Doyle on page 3
In the coming weeks and months, you will receive updates about the new changes at Seabreeze Communications, which distributes our newsletter. The newsletter will now be available in both print and digital formats to better serve and engage the residents and our community. Stay tuned for more information in the newsletter and on the Whiskey Creek Facebook page!
Just a kind reminder that our board meetings will resume in September, and we are looking forward to seeing you there. Your active participation and feedback are important to us, so please let us know if we are meeting your expectations or if you have any ideas or concerns. We are here to serve you and the community.
Please stay connected with us and stay informed about upcoming events such as the Battle at the Creek Golf Tournament, Fall Festival, or the Holiday Golf Cart Parade
Message on page 2
Security Report
By Michael Kuehn
As you read this you will probably think it is familiar. This is not a reissue of a past article but rather a reminder of basic regulations we should all be following.
The speed limit on all streets in Whiskey Creek is 30 mph, especially on Whiskey Creek Drive. It is against Florida State Law to park in the bicycle lane on Whiskey Creek Drive. If you have anyone come to your house, for any reason, and they need to park for a long period of time you need to have them park in your driveway, yard or on a side street and have them ferried to your house. The law for driving a golf cart on the streets is that the driver must possess a driver’s license or learner’s permit and obey all the rules to have it. A golf cart also cannot be driven on the streets between the time of sunset and sunrise. Our number of traffic stops has increased in the last few months so relax, take your time, and you will get to your destination safely.
Real Estate Round-Up
By Bob Oxnard, REALTOR®
Do You Want To Sell Your Whiskey Creek Home?
After years of being in a seller’s market, the tide has shifted. We are solidly in a buyer’s market. These days if you want to sell a home in Whiskey Creek, or elsewhere in Southwest Florida, you would be well advised to be patient or better yet, be aggressive with the price to attract a buyer. In late July, according to statistics provided by the Florida Gulf Coast MLS, Whiskey Creek had 33 homes active on the market. This included eight condos starting at $150,000, 15 villas starting at $272,000 and 10 single- family homes starting at $460,000. This is more inventory of homes on the market than we have seen for quite some time. There were only four units pending sale, two villas and two single-family homes.
In the previous four months, 30 homes had sold while an additional seven homes were terminated, and seven more had expired. This is especially significant in Whiskey Creek where it was not unusual for potential buyers to drive through our neighborhood looking for homes and even asking neighbors if they knew of anyone thinking of selling. We could go into many reasons why home sales have slowed and prices are declining, but we can quickly identify a few things:
1. Mortgage interest rates remain stubbornly high.
2. Insurance costs have risen significantly.
3. Hurricane Ian took homes off the market, creating a temporary shortage, two years ago.
President’s Message from page 1
by visiting the Whiskey Creek Civic Association Facebook page. Your input is valuable and drives our ongoing efforts to better serve you.
For those who are unable to attend the meetings, you can stay informed and engaged by utilizing the resources available on our website. If you notice any concerns such as a home that is not following the deed restrictions or a broken sprinkler in the medians, please feel free to contact one of the board members or send a note on the website https://whiskeycreeknews.net/. Thank you for your involvement and support!
The Whiskey Creek Country Club will continue to offer new summer food and drink specials, summer golf specials and events. From a chill and affordable happy hour to tasty brunches and dinners, the club serves as a central hub for social interaction and relaxation, a great spot to hang out with friends and neighbors.
The community newspaper announced a membership campaign last month and again this month. We will keep the community updated as we aim to reach our goal of 100 percent participation. Currently, we are around 25 percent and are getting closer every day. To the new members and renewal members, we extend our thanks for your membership and commitment to our community. Your $125 yearly membership helps pay for community events, maintenance and community upgrades. To learn more about the use of funds and to become a member or renew your membership, visit https://whiskeycreeknews.net/membership/.
Whiskey Creek continues to be a popular destination for residents of all walks of life, each contributing to the rich tapestry of our community. Whether you’re here to settle down, unwind, or raise a family, your presence is vital to our collective vision. Here’s to a summer filled with good vibes, safety and strength!
Warm regards, Cole
Peacock, Board President, Whiskey Creek Civic Association
4. Realtors and sellers are reluctant to admit that home values are not where they were in recent years.
The biggest thing for a seller to remember is that the market determines the price. It doesn’t matter how much they need to end up with, or how much they paid, or what they have invested in it. Like all markets, home prices are affected by supply and demand more than anything else.
Will the market come back around? This Realtor believes the answer is yes. As Thomas Edison famously said, “There is only one Fort Myers in the United States, and there are 90 million people who are going to find it out.” We have so much to offer here. The sun, the sand, the islands and the best
Yard Of The Month
By Mark L. Franzer
1435
Tredegar
Drive finds a unique Frank Lloyd Wright styling personally applied by its owners Dan and Diane Jenkins. They toil successfully within their home-based business of custom high-end home design and effectively market through Diane’s graphic designer expertise. They were initially attracted to Whiskey Creek by their daughter’s local residence, however with her family’s location out of state, left their cats under Dave and Diane’s expert care. Shortly after acquiring their home within a few months of Hurricane Ian’s landfall, extensive pool cage and home repairs were not of the Whiskey Creek baptism that had preferred. But have they ever bounced back! Exquisitely ornate from design characteristics to choice landscaping is only trumped by the open golf course views. Take a walk down Tredegar and locate the Jenkins. Another talent that truly identifies itself by the Jenkins’ design efforts but more so from the honor of being recognized for their collective efforts in calling this their home!
weather in the nation during the winter. It is impossible to keep people from discovering what you and I have learned. We live in paradise!
Real estate, like many markets, is cyclical. We enjoyed a rise in home values for the past decade. Is it time for a breather before that happens again? If so, when can we expect it will occur? Your guess may be as good as mine, but the tea leaves I read say it could be a couple more years before we see a significant change.
If you have any questions or comments about this article or other real estate issues, please contact Bob Oxnard at whiskeycreeknews@yahoo.com.
If you have family or friends that you’d like to share details of our beloved Whiskey Creek community (or show off your hard-earned recognition!), the web page for their review is http://www.whiskeycreeknews.net.
Also, please check out Whiskey Creek’s very own private Facebook page for additional community information, involvement and market areas! You’ll need to request membership to gain access! https://www. facebook.com/groups/1430022127286192
For those who would like to nominate other homes in our lovely Whiskey Creek, please send your nominations to WC.yardofthemonth@yahoo.com.
Security Report from page 1
During July we had 46 stops at stop signs that were issued warnings. There were two stops that were given citations for running the stop sign. There were six citations issued for speeding. Two drivers were issued citations for expired registration. A driver was given a citation for driving with a suspended driver’s license. The deputy was sent to give medical assistance and also did a requested well-being check at a different residence.
A golf cart was stopped for being on the street after dark and was issued a warning. The deputy assisted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office zone car in getting a theft report. The deputy was flagged down by a resident about a suspicious person hanging around in the early morning hours. The person was confirmed to be a member of a work crew in the neighborhood who had arrived early
Whiskey Creek Civic Association
2023 Board of Directors
President Cole Peacock
462-5805 colepeacock@comcast.net
Vice President Jim McCabe 313-1056
Secretary Kyle DeCicco 810-3729
Treasurer Melissa Metzger 851-1561 msmetzger1119@gmail.com Wyler Gins 220-1036
Seth Hartt seth@boat-trailers.com Jessica Nolan 462-6885 weathersnolan@gmail.com Paul Copeland 464-8726 pcopeland@mcgriff.com
Committees
Deed Restrictions Chair Seth Hartt seth@boat-trailers.com
Membership Sally Gins 954-801-7914
Yard Committee Chair Mark Franzer mfranzer@yahoo.com
Whiskey Creek News
Editor Jan Kotcamp 482-7679 whiskeycreeknews@yahoo.com
and was waiting for the crew. The deputy was flagged down by a resident about a black VW Jetta, with no visible license plate, being parked in the neighborhood all day. The deputy located the vehicle and contacted the occupant who stated that she sells solar panels in the area. The occupant advised that she just purchased the vehicle from someone on Facebook Marketplace and had not registered the vehicle yet. The deputy verified that the vehicle had not been reported stolen and that the subject of the current investigation possessed a title for the vehicle. He secured the vehicle, and the subject was picked up until she could return with a valid license plate or a tow truck.
As always keep your outside lights on and overhead garage doors down. Lock all vehicles left in the driveway and remove all valuables and garage door openers from them.
1435 Tredegar Drive
The National Weight Control Registry
By Mary Lou Williams, M. Ed.
The National Weight Control Registry arose out of the discouraging failure rates of university-based obesity research programs. Of subjects who lose weight in such programs, 90 percent regain all or part of the weight they’ve lost within five years. But some obesity researchers believed that there were ordinary people who had found the solution to their weight problem and that obesity researchers could learn from them. These researchers collected the histories of people who had been successful at losing weight and keeping it off and analyzed their weight loss and weight-maintenance strategies. The seven predictors of successful weight loss were also the predictors of successful loss maintenance. The Seven Predictors Of Success
Self-monitoring was the first predictors of success: The registrants tracked themselves not only while losing weight, but afterwards as well. Fifty percent of registry members reported that they still counted calories or used some other means of tracking caloric intake. Seventy-five percent weighed themselves at least once per week.
The second factor was a habit of eating a fixed number of regularly scheduled meals.
The third was not eating less than two meals per day.
The fourth was eating the majority of meals at home rather than in restaurants.
By far the best predictor of success was the fifth: the habit of regular physical exercise. Nearly every member of the registry reported using a combination of diet plus exercise to both lose weight and maintain weight loss.
A Change In
Attitude
The sixth predictor of success involved a change in attitude - acceptance that successful weight loss is not a matter of losing pounds and then going back to old eating and exercise habits, but rather a matter of commitment to lifelong changes in those habits.
The registry members also had a change in attitude about their weight goal: they accepted a realistic weight goal rather than an ideal that could not be sustained.
Closely related to acceptance of a realistic weight was the seventh and last predictor of success: adoption of an eating plan the subjects were content to stay on for the rest of their lives, an eating plan that was satisfying and delicious and didn’t leave them feeling deprived.
Lakes Regional Library
15290 Bass Road Fort Myers, FL 33919
Telephone: (239) 533-4000
Children
Baby Rhyme Time
Toddler Tales
Family Storytime
Preschool Storytime
Preschool Playdough Playdate 1
Black Light Bingo
Kids Read Down Fines
All Abilities Kids Storytime
Teens
Florida’s Top 10 Ghostly Legends
Teens Arts and Crafts
Adults
English Café
Book Discussion: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab
Online Spanish Conversation Club
Download Drop-in
BARD Drop-in Session
10 to 10:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
11 to 11:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
10 to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25
11 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25
0:30 to 11:15 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 12
4 to 4:45 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26
2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21
10 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14
2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28
2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14
6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30
2 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5
6 to 7 p.m, Thursday, Sept. 12
11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 19
11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 26
Online Genealogical Research Using U.S. Census Records 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7
Call the library for adult, teen and children online events.
Once these new habits are established, they become more permanent than the old because they come with a built-in reward - looking good and feeling better.
Message From Tommy Doyle from page 1
casting a provisional ballot during early voting or on Election Day, your signature is key to ensuring your vote is counted.
Under the Florida Election Code, the signature on your Vote-by-Mail or Provisional ballot must match the one my office has on file. Updating is easy—fill out a Florida Voter Registration Application and return it to any of the Lee County Elections Offices.
If you still need to do so, consider requesting a Voteby-Mail ballot. Think of it as an insurance policy against unexpected life events that could prevent you from going to the polls. Florida is predicted to have an active hurricane season, and we want you to cast your ballot securely, no matter what happens.
I anticipate a high voter turnout for the upcoming Nov. 5 General Election. If you prefer to vote in person, you don’t have to wait until Election Day. Take advantage of the early voting period, which takes place from Monday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 2.
With early voting, you have the flexibility to vote at any of the 12 available locations, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Plan your visit and check our website, https://www.lee.vote, for live wait times posted for your convenience.
On Election Day, you can only vote in your assigned precinct. The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., so you must be in line by 7 p.m. to vote!
Reading through and marking your sample ballot before heading out to vote can save you time at the polls. You can access your sample ballot on our website.
My staff and I continue to work diligently to protect the security of your vote and ensure that elections in Lee County remain accurate, safe and transparent. The Supervisor of Elections Office is your trusted source for election information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me and my dedicated staff at (239) LEE-VOTE (533-8386) or elections@lee.vote.
Important Dates
• Monday, Oct. 7: Deadline to register to vote
• Thursday, Oct. 24: Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail ballot to be mailed
Puns
The fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.
Crossword Puzzle
36. Large flightless bird
37. Combines
41. Sail holder
42. Baby’s bed
43. Illustrated
44. Compassion
45. Hang around 46. Indian dress 47. Every last one 48. Think likely
Pale
Baronages
Affectionate
Presumes
Growing old
Dispatches 59. Blockade
Down
1. Garage alternative 2. Common solvent 3. Camp bed 4. Threesome
Word Scramble
Weather
By Ellie Neal
Nithggini Woonsstrm Anir Doonrat
Etesl Obnriaw Hcrueirha Ccoyeln
Duhnret
Dcolyu
Liha Wson
Word Scramble Solution on page 6
Sudoku Puzzle
Hotels
Interment
Legislate
Talk effusively
Fire residue
Fee paid for instruction
Alerts
Stringed instrument
Flowing garments 16. Betrayals 19. Not here 22. Hansen’s disease 24. Apparel 26. Minnow-like fish 27. Past tense of to be
Defeat decisively
Paintings
Leaves out
Grins
35. Bareheaded 38. Illustrating
Drive crazy 40. Musical genre 42. Gentle touch 44. Daddy 45. Engaged 48. Angry outburst 49. “Oh dear!”
50. Cartoon bear 53. Regret 55. Compete
Crossword Solution on page 7
Whiskey Creek Country Club News
Don’t let the dog days of summer get you down. Start your day with a planned lunch with a friend or neighbor at Whiskey Creek Country Club. Chef JTee offers a menu filled with some delicious choices. Many days there are lunch specials to choose from.
Dinner is served on Tuesday and Friday, 5 to 8 p.m. The bar is open daily until the club is closed where you can meet with friends, family and neighbors for that refreshing beverage!
There are so many new fun things to participate in at Whiskey Creek Country Club.
Stop in and see the many items in the Whiskey Creek Pro Shop … there are gift certificates available just in case you don’t see want you want to purchase.
Pick up a brochure at the counter and see the many golf and social memberships that Whiskey Creek has to offer.
There are many card games and also Mah Jongg games being played year-round.
Contact the club for more details at (239) 481-3021.
Continental Women’s Club
The Continental Women’s Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 11:30 a.m. at The Hideaway Country Club.
Our October program will feature a presentation by Kathy Burg, program operations manager with Valerie’s House. Valerie’s House is a nonprofit organization providing ongoing grief support programs for children and families grieving the death of a loved one. You are invited to attend, both to enjoy Continental friendship and to learn about Valerie’s House.
Continental Women’s Club is a social, cultural and philanthropic organization established in 1975, and membership is open to women living in Lee County. We
have many special events and interest groups within our club that you can participate in for social and educational purposes throughout the month and the year. In addition, we contribute to many local charities and award two scholarships each year to senior high school girls who plan on furthering their education.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at The Hideaway Country Club, 5670 Trailwinds Drive, Fort Myers 33907. The cost to attend the luncheon is $26. Reservation deadline for Oct. 3 is Tuesday, Sept. 24. Please call Liz Paul at (239) 691-7561 for meal selection and to make a reservation.
Sudoku Puzzle Solution on page 7
not illegal yet.
Cook’s Corner
From Lincoln Heritage Trail Cookbook
Easy Quiche
1 frozen deep dish pie shell
1 c. cooked ham
4 eggs
1 sm. can slice mushrooms, drained
8 oz. sour cream
8 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prick sides and bottom of pie shell with fork and bake in preheated oven for 7 minutes. Beat eggs lightly in mixing bowl. Add sour cream, cheese, ham and mushrooms, mixing well with a fork. Pour into pie shell and bake 50-60 minutes or until well browned and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Chicken Divan
2 (10-oz.) boxes frozen broccoli, thawed
1 c. mayonnaise
2 c. cooked chicken, bite-sized pieces
1 T. lemon juice
2 (10 1/2-oz.) cans cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. curry powder
½ c. slivered almonds(optional) paprika
Spray 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place broccoli in bottom of dish. Add cooked chicken. In a separate bowl combine undiluted soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice and curry powder. Pour over chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle with almonds, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
Note: Can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. Baking time will need to be extended.
Polka-Dot Wasp Moth
By Mark L. Franzer
Don’t let this moth scare you by way of “mimicry.” The dark metallic blue with white dots and red “tail” gives the threatening appearance of a dangerous wasp but is completely harmless. The caterpillars are a shade of orange with long black hairs again making themselves look dangerous to prey but are harmless.
Utilizing ultrasonic inaudible signals, the female moth attracts a new mate. Once the male is in proximity, he emits an answering signal. After mating, the females locate a suitable habitat to deposit their eggs (12 to 75) on the underside of the oleander leaves, hence the alternative name of “oleander moth.” The larval stage, also called the oleander caterpillar, has an aggressive appetite causing minor to severe damage to the oleander plant, and has been known to feed on the desert rose. Due to the toxic nature of the ingested oleander plant, the caterpillar is not of interest to birds or small mammals. This can result in suitable numbers to decimate the oleander plant. Natural enemies include stink bugs, red fire ants, flies and wasps. Removal of the larvae infestation is the most environmentally-friendly method of controlling the oleander caterpillar. Because of the poisonous nature of the plant sap, care must be taken to wash the hands
after disposal of the pruned plant material. The harvested caterpillars can be humanely disposed of by freezing for 24 hours or dropping them in a container of soapy water. This is the method most environmentally-friendly to dispose of the oleander caterpillars other than utilizing insecticides that pose health hazards to humans and/or damage beneficial biological control agents.
Montage Women’s Club
The Montage Women’s Club is a social and philanthropic club open to all women residing in Lee County. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club (community entry off McGregor Boulevard between Cypress Lake Drive and College Parkway). Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with a short social period, followed by lunch at noon and an informative speaker program and a short business meeting. Within the organization are various interest groups for members’ participation. Membership is open to both year-round and seasonal residents. We welcome you to visit Montage for a luncheon. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26. Our speaker will be Carolyn Sudol, a local shell expert.
Carolyn shares lots of information about various shells and utilizes her great sense of humor to keep the audience engaged in her lecture. The luncheon fee is $28, and you always have a choice between either a regular menu entree or a vegan/plant-based entree. If you would like to attend a Montage meeting, need further information, or would like to make a reservation, please call Rita Artwohl at (239) 703-7787. The reservation cutoff to attend this meeting is noon, Thursday, Sept. 19.
Fort Myers YMCA To Host Annual River Nights Charity Event On Oct. 5
The Fort Myers YMCA is thrilled to announce its Annual River Nights Charity Event, taking place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the historic Burroughs Home and Garden. This elegant evening promises to be a night to remember, featuring an open bar, delectable heavy hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, music and dancing under the stars.
All proceeds from the River Nights Charity Event are dedicated to providing essential services to children and families in our community. These funds will support the Fort Myers YMCA’s scholarship program, ensuring that every child has access to safe, enriching after-school care, summer camp, swim lessons, sports, wellness programs, health education and more, regardless of the ability to pay.
“The Fort Myers YMCA is committed to serving the children and families in our community, providing a safe and nurturing environment where they can learn, grow and thrive,” said Suzie Starks, Fort Myers YMCA executive director. “Events like River Nights are crucial in helping us raise the necessary funds to continue offering these vital programs and services. We invite everyone to join us for a wonderful evening and support our mission.”
By participating in the River Nights Charity Event, attendees will directly contribute to the YMCA’s efforts in making a
positive impact on the lives of local children and families. This event is an opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable night while supporting a cause that strengthens the community.
For more details or to purchase sponsorships and tickets, please visit River Nights Charity Event website or email Suzie Starks at Suzies@ymcaswfl.org or (239) 275-9622.
About YMCA Of Southwest Florida
Start By Registering To Vote
Each of Florida’s 67 counties has a Supervisor of Elections. This is an elected official that manages the elections for that county. If you are just beginning the voting process, Google Supervisor of Elections and the name of your county (i.e. “Supervisor of Elections Lee County”). You can find out how to register to vote (or confirm that you are already registered) and you can find out how to request a mail-in ballot on this website. In Florida, the deadline to register to vote in the General Election on Nov. 5 is Monday, Oct. 7 (registertovoteflorida.gov/home).
If you would like to request a mail-in ballot in Florida, vote-by-mail ballot requests must be received by 5 p.m. on the Thursday 12 days prior to the election (Florida Statute 101.62). This date is Thursday, Oct. 24.
YMCA of Southwest Florida is a leading nonprofit strengthening Southwest Florida communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Driven by its founding mission, the Y has served as a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community for more than 175 years. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, the Y aims to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Desoto, Hendry and Glades counties.
From The Desk Of Sheriff Carmine Marceno
Shopping Center/Mall Safety Tips
Malls and shopping centers are excellent places to make purchases of all kinds and, as a result, these locations tend to be well populated and teeming with activity.
Shoppers migrate from store to store, occasionally stopping to eat or for a cup of coffee, and all too often pay little attention to the people around them and/or their surroundings.
Shopping with young children complicates matters as we must closely monitor their whereabouts and behaviors despite carrying packages, trying on clothing, navigating the mall, etc.
A number of my previous “Safety & Security Tips” address “situational awareness” and today’s message will, once again, remind residents and guests of the importance of understanding your surroundings, familiarizing yourself with potential hazards and being in a position to effectively respond in the event of an emergency.
Poetry Corner
Health Care???
I’ve had some bad luck
With a health scare or two And I’ve made all the rounds From hospitals to a zoo.
For some unknown reason
I hated them all
At the various hospitals I would crumple and fall.
I tried to escape
But that didn’t fly
Finally dodged PT
Saying a pool was nearby.
Assisted Living was next I was still in a fog
It’s possible my meds Were meant for a dog.
My confusion just worsened
My memory unclear
There were times in my room
Johnny Depp would appear.
Walk confidently while demonstrating that you are paying attention to your environment. Distractions, such as smartphones, may send a message that you are not paying attention. Would be wrongdoers attempt to operate covertly and target unsuspecting victims. By constantly monitoring the people in your vicinity and that which is going on around you, you dramatically reduce the likelihood that you will be caught off-guard.
Try to avoid overburdening yourself with too many packages or large packages that are difficult to carry. Additionally, keep all of your bags and purchases within your site.
Never display large sums of cash and, other than while making payment at the register, avoid handling cash in public.
Those carrying handbags, purses and similar items should consider carrying/wearing them “cross-body” with the clasp or flap facing your body.
It is critical to remember where you parked and, when returning to your vehicle, have your keys/key fob in your hand.
Many of us enjoy the shopping experience, the activity and bustle at the mall and the interesting people that we encounter. It is, however, incumbent upon shoppers to remain attentive and to reduce the likelihood of victimization.
Be alert! Be safe!
My last big adventure
Was a scary group home
Where no one spoke English
So, I continued to roam.
My thoughts were still cloudy
And added to that
The patients were worse
One thought he was a cat.
But I must give them credit
They got my meds right
And the fog slowly lifted
And things started to look bright.
But now looking back
And I really don’t jest
The hospital stays Were really the best.
I’ve been home for two years
Three weeks and a day
And I’m trying my best
To keep it that way!
Judith Foley
An easy place to start out if you are completely flummoxed is the National Association of Secretaries of State webpage titled Can I Vote (nass.org/can-I-vote). Good luck!
