MARBLES TOURNAMENT
PATTI CUMMINGS, HERONS GLEN
The men vs. women Marbles Tournament play resumed on January 12 with 11 tables of players. The holiday break must have given the men renewed energy since they pushed forward for a substantial lead. At the end of 2024 the men were leading with 34 games to the women’s 28 games. After the January 12 evening, the men expanded their lead with 52 games to the women’s 42 games. Ladies, we still have time to recover the lead and win the day so don’t despair. One team of men, pictured here, swept three games.
PRETTY IN PINK 2025: A GUIDE
JANET SLATER, HERONS GLEN
Pretty in Pink, sponsored by the Herons Glen Ladies’ Golf Associations, consists of multiple fundraising events that culminate with a Ladies’ 18-hole golf tournament and luncheon honoring all cancer survivors. Golfer or not, here’s how you can join us in supporting a great cause!
Sponsor A Hole
(Remember a loved one or honor a survivor with a sign on a tee box) Sponsor as a club or group, or on your own Cost: $100, sponsor forms are available in the Pro Shop, or print your own here: http://tiny.cc/p426001 Contact: Cindy Matheny @ 501-318-5925 or [email protected]
Tournament Luncheon Raffle Table
(It’s huge!) Donate a basket or item Contact: Nancy Thompson @ 315-466- 9091 or [email protected] If donating a complete basket, please include a list of the contents. Drop off by March 5 in the front entry of 2210 Faliron or contact Nancy. Suggestion: Ask for gift cards to donate when you’re visiting a local merchant! We’ll add them to a basket.
Flamingo Flocking
(A fun flock that roosts in a friend’s yard). February 1 to 28; cost $20 donation. Pick up Flocking request forms in the Pro Shop or print your own here: http://tiny.cc/us16001 Contact: Trudy Flanery @ 860-625-5448 or [email protected] or Kim Morea @ 203- 994-4789 or [email protected]
Bake Sale
(Cook up a treat, or gobble down a goodie) March 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., during the Art Show Contact: Maryann Peckham @860-559-2528 or [email protected] or Katie Schwemlein @ 239-217-6181 or [email protected] portions and label; deliver to Katie, 20643 Dennisport Lane, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, March 7 or 12 to 5 pm., Saturday, March 8; or to Maryann, 20871 Villareal Way, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, March 7.
18-Hole Golf Tournament And Luncheon
(Ladies’ Day!) Wednesday, March 19. Golf and Lunch or Golf only; or Lunch only for non-golfers. Registration: March 3, 5, and 7 from 12 to 3 p.m., near putting green. Bring $25 check payable to Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc. Basket raffle tickets will also be on sale. Contact: Bonnie MacGregor @585-303-0624 or [email protected]
All Pretty in Pink events support Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc., a local nonprofit providing funding for breast screening, diagnostic testing, surgery and treatment for uninsured, low-income women and men in Southwest Florida.
SOCIALITES GET A WEATHER REPORT FROM ALLISON RAE
PAM SCHEID, HERONS GLEN
It was a cold, rainy January day when the Socialites hosted Allison Rae, meteorologist from NBC2 in Fort Myers. However, it wasn’t the current weather conditions Rae had come to talk about. As one of the news anchors for Channel 2, she has spent long hours on air giving Southwest Florida residents hurricane updates. She said the most devastating storm she had lived through personally and professionally was Ian. This year’s triple strike of Debbie, Helene, and Milton kept her especially busy.
Rae explained that she believes her responsibility as a television meteorologist is more than giving the weather forecast. She believes it is important, especially regarding hurricanes, to educate her listeners about the nature and causes of weather so they can better prepare to meet the storms’ impact. She told the group that it concerns her that many locals are misinformed about the “cone” they see on TV that shows a storm’s path. She explained the cone illustrates the direction of the hurricane’s “eye” but is not a strict indicator of its impact area. Areas in or near the right side of the cone are in the greatest danger of storm surge.
Storm surge from hurricanes along coastal areas is a major concern. While that is not a threat to inland Florida, Rae warned we should not be complacent when we are in a hurricane’s path. She says we should prepare for high winds, heavy rainfall, and tornadoes. She stressed that Floridians should understand that every hurricane is different and that no one should assume behavior of a pending storm will be like the one before. She also advised residents to get their weather updates from local stations rather than national news outlets.
The January meeting was also a time to welcome new members. Cheryl Dawes asked them to stand and be recognized. When complimented by President Janet Kerns for her clever centerpieces, Mary Lou Pierozzi asked the group if they recognized them as Galileo’s thermometers.
Because there had been some issues with the online reservations, Kathleen Colletti reviewed the process. Mary Koenig announced she is again hosting a jewelry party to benefit the Pretty in Pink cancer fundraiser.
Rhonda Parkinson introduced a representative from PACE who had been a guest speaker at a previous meeting. PACE is a program for teenage at-risk girls that has achieved considerable success helping these girls to turn their lives around. Rhonda presented her with a check for $750, proceeds from the bake sale held during the Craft Fair. Treasurer Bev Groft reported that this month’s member contributions to the All Souls food bank and outreach program totaled $545.
Members were informed that the annual Socialites fashion show will take place in April, and they were encouraged to sign up to model clothes from Anthony’s.
TRAVEL CLUB EXCITEMENT!
DUANE PARKINSON, HERONS GLEN
On Wednesday, January 15, there were over 100 excited members of our rapidly growing Herons Glen Travel Club who were in the ballroom learning about how to enhance our digital photographs on our iPhones and Androids. We have an amazing array of talented people here in the Glen, and our Dick Muller is certainly one of them. Dick showed us how to enhance the contrast, exposure, saturation, etc., on the photos on our phones so that our photos look much better. Thank you, Dick, for sharing your expertise!
Our club continues to have significant growth. Twenty new members were added to the club at the meeting, and we now have 343 members! Wow!
We also now have a “Herons Glen Travel Club” Facebook page. Check it out! Some of our upcoming meetings and activities include: Thursday, February 13 in the ballroom from 2 to 4 p.m., Dr. Norma Hudson, who gave us a wonderful presentation at our December 4 Christmas Banquet on “Christmas Customs Around the World,” will discuss her experiences living in Saudi Arabia for 34 years and then in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for seven years. A Westerner living in a very restrictive nation like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia certainly has some challenges in lifestyle, activities, etc. This will be a very interesting topic for us!
Also, I will be providing last-minute information on our Caribbean Cruise on February 17 to 27. This 11-day, 10-night cruise will be going to St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and has four at sea days for relaxation. We have 85 Glenners going on this cruise; a record number!
On Wednesday, March 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the ballroom, Dick Muller will continue his sharing on enhancing our digital photos. Also, we will have one of our members present her recent travel experiences to foreign islands. The details are yet to be finalized on this one. Stay tuned!
We recently completed the details of a newly arranged local trip to the Naples Playhouse upcoming on Sunday, April 6. There are 52 spots available on our motor coach, and almost 40 people signed up at the meeting. We will depart the Glen on a motorcoach at noon on Sunday, April 6 and see the 2 p.m. matinee, Man of LaMancha at the Naples Playhouse. The show will end at about 4:30 p.m., and then everyone will have dinner on their own at one of the wonderful restaurants on Fifth Street in Naples. We will then depart Naples by motor coach at 8 p.m. to return to the Glen.
There is still time for you to sign up for the October 18 to 28, Greece/Turkey Mediterranean Cruise on the Celebrity Equinox. We will be visiting Barcelona, Spain; Mykonos, Greece; Ephesus, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey (two days); Santorini, Greece; Olympia, Greece; and wind up in Rome, Italy. This is all at a very reasonable price. 60 Glenners have signed up for this cruise, and there is still room for you! Call me at (636) 541-4561 or email me at [email protected] for more information!
As you can see, our Travel Club members have an extremely active lifestyle. We love to travel to interesting destinations and learn about other countries and cultures from people who have been there. Come and join us!
ALPHA DELTA MU SORORITY CONTINUES CHARITABLE WORK
CANDACE HUETTEMAN, HERONS GLEN
Recently, the sisters of Alpha Delta Mu Sorority took a tour of the Outreach Program at All Souls Episcopal Church in North Fort Myers. Later this month, several sisters will take part in this program that supports veterans, the homeless and needy families in Lee County.
