GulfHarbour MAY 2026

Gulf Harbour Book Review

SUBMITTED

BY JOAN KAPLAN

THE SOUL HUNTERS

The Gulf Harbour Book Club met on April 6 to discuss The Soul Hunters by Christopher Torockio. There were 21 of us in person. For those who weren’t there, you missed a real treat!

Chris is the son-in-law of Club Members Hannah and Allan Sharapan. Hannah did a lovely job presenting the biography of Chris. Here is his info:

Dr. Torockio is the award-winning author of four books of fiction—two novels and two collections of short stories. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, The Gettysburg Review, The Iowa Review, The Antioch Review, New Orleans Review, Willow Springs, West Branch and other publications. Four of his stories were awarded Pushcart Prize Special mentions. He earned his M.F.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and Ph.D. in Creative Writing and Contemporary Fiction from Western Michigan University.

Dr. Torockio has been awarded grants and fellowships from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Vermont Studio Center and the Wesleyan Writers Conference. His teaching

interest lies in fiction writing and contemporary fiction. His publications are The Soul Hunters a novel (Black Lawrence Press, 2016), The Truth at Daybreak stories (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2008) and Floating Holidays a novel (Black Lawrence Press, 2007).

I must add that Chris is a most charming person. I can’t wait to meet him when he visits his in-laws.

Here is what other authors wrote about the book.

PRAISE

“The Soul Hunters took me entirely out of my own life and then very artfully led me back into it. This writer’s way with time and with people in time, through the window of a single day and night, is as involving as it is by turns moving and funny, too. The compression of incident and emotion, and the psychology of this family, these sons

and their lost father, had me from the start. One lives in this book; one’s sense of felt life is enhanced without quite seeing how it is brought off. A magic show, the thing first rate fiction always provides.”

-Richard Bausch, author of Before, During, After

“The Soul Hunters is rich with character, incident, and humanity. This nuanced, multi-layered, and multi-generational novel is utterly engrossing, and all the characters, from the three brothers who have recently lost their father, the wives of these brothers, to the father himself (who we meet in flashback), are so movingly and skillfully drawn. There’s also a lot of humor and mischief in these pages. What a damn fine novel Chris Torockio has given us.”

-Christine Sneed, author of Little Known Facts and Paris, He Said

Chris Torockio has written a novel of great depth, insight, and expansiveness. A patriarch’s death shakes loose from his three middle-aged sons and their spouses the secrets they have kept even from themselves, and over one long day and night a history and present realign to give this family a chance to survive. The subject matter of this novel is life-and-death serious, but Torockio leavens it with humor and absurdity. He is a master of structure, character, plot, and point-of-view, and he employs them all in service of wisdom, maturity and rich storytelling.”

-Tim Parrish, author of The Jumper and Fear and What Follows

The Gulf Harbour Book Club meets on the first Monday of each month in the Fitness Center at noon. If you want to join the Book Club email joankaplan@mac.com. Zoom is available for Members if the author allows it. We had 9 authors lined up for the 2025/2026 season. We already had Kristen Harmel, Jane Yang and Abi Dare and Zelly Ruskin, Kate Quinn and Bernhard Schlink. January was Bernhardt Schlinke. March was Theo of Golden, April was Chris Torockio for The Soul Hunters. There are no more authors on Zoom until next September. The May book is The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

Holes in One

John Ahl

March 18th, 2026

Hole #13

Darlene Mattcheck

March 30th, 2026

Hole #6

Cheryl Copham

March 30th, 2026

Hole #6

(No picture taken)

Please submit all articles, announcements, photos and events for Gulf Harbour Soundings to GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com by the 4th of the month preceding the month of publication.

Mark Helman

April 6th, 2026

Hole #9

Continental Women’s Club

LIZ PAUL

The Continental Women’s Club will hold its monthly luncheon meeting on Thursday, June 11 starting at 11:30 a.m. Our June program will feature a unique presentation of the funny relatable stories of Jeanne Robertson. Ms. Robertson was an award-winning humorist from North Carolina. Her “southern English” added to stories about her “left brain” husband and her many experiences as Miss North Carolina and then Miss Congeniality in the Miss America pageant.

The meetings are being held at The Hideaway Country Club, 5670 Trailwinds Drive, Fort Myers 33907. The cost to attend

the luncheon is $28.  Please call Liz Paul at (239) 691-7561 by Tuesday, June 2 for meal selection and to make a reservation.

Continental Women’s Club is a social, cultural, and philanthropic organization established in 1975, with membership 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.

Thank you for your blood donations!

Gulf Harbour Yacht & Country Club

Saturday , March 28 th , 2026

William Aarons

William Atkin

Tim Baldwin

Thomas Barth

Gail Bernstein

Randy Biffert

Jeanne Braun

Roger Burch

Amanda Conley

Michael Duffy

Elizabeth Dummermuth

David Durante

Elaine Fritz

Stephen Hancox

Beverly Harris

William Harwin

James Heck

Thank you for “giving the gift of life” We were able to collect 3 0 units of blood . Blood Center

Randers Ireland

Gary Jeub

Julie Johnson

Lynn Kahian

Michael Kenny

Kurt Koeppler

William Krenz

William McCaffrey

Michael McConnell

Sarah Muermann

George Olsen

Walter Otey

Caudio Pulze

Joyce Saparnis

Scott Sullivan

David Walther

Geo Welbourne

Thank You Gulf Harbour

We would like to express our gratitude to the donors that were able to give blood on Saturday, March 28th at Gulf Harbour Yacht & Racquet Club. This truly is a lifesaving mission, and it is so important to our hospitals and the community to remember to donate blood.

At Lee Health, donated blood goes to help save the lives of patients at your community-owned hospitals: Lee Memorial Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital of SW Florida, Gulf Coast Medical Center and Cape Coral Hospital. In addition to

the five hospitals, our blood center also services the Level II Trauma Center at Lee Memorial Hospital and the Regional Cancer Center at the Sanctuary.

For the blood drive, we had 35 donors that tried to give blood and 30 units collected! With each unit saving 2 lives, over 60 lives in our community have been touched by the generosity of your donors.

We appreciate everyone that was able to make it out and give “the gift of life.”

Sincerely,

Shannon Flory Lead Donor Recruiter Shannon.Flory@leehealth.org

Clubhouse Renovation Project

UPDATE #22

Fellow Members and Friends of Gulf Harbour,

I want to provide you with another progress update on our Clubhouse Renovation project and share several positive developments that have occurred over the past month, since my last update.

While large construction projects naturally encounter moments where plans must be adjusted and expectations recalibrated, we remain focused on steady progress and maintaining the long-term vision we all share for Gulf Harbour. Earlier this month, on Tuesday, March 3rd, we met again with the leadership team at Curran & Young Construction for another working session to review the project in detail. The purpose of that meeting was to reaffirm joint goals, reinforce expectations, clarify communication processes, review change orders, and confirm manpower commitments moving forward. Most importantly, we discussed establishing a clear and realistic path toward a revised completion and operational timeline. The meeting was productive and constructive, and we believe it reinforced the shared commitment to moving the project forward with renewed focus. Since that meeting, we have seen solid progress in meaningful areas and are encouraged that we will meet our “Open for Operation” by December this year.

A few days after that meeting, Chris Curran, CEO of Curran Young Construction spent time on our job site and following that site visit, reached out to the full team on our project with the attached message. I find his message encouraging and I think it is important for all Gulf Harbour Members to hear.

Hello Team,

I wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts following today’s visit to Gulf Harbour with Doug and Jake. It was a truly productive session. We find ourselves in what will likely be remembered as the most challenging phase of this renovation, and it’s clear that club projects like ours come with unique hurdles that other types of projects simply don’t present. Even so, I’m confident that, by working together, we’ll successfully navigate whatever comes our way.

To give a little perspective and encouragement, I’d like everyone to take a few minutes to watch this video highlighting the Twin Eagles project: Click here to view the video.

Twin Eagles faced even greater challenges than what we’re dealing with now, yet through teamwork, tough conversations, and unwavering focus, the project was a tremendous success. I believe our journey at Gulf Harbour will echo that experience, and I’m excited for us to create our own story of collaboration and achievement.

Thank you all for your dedication and resilience. We understand and share the opening goal and despite ongoing challenges, are committed to achieving that goal.

Best regards,

Chris Curran, CEO Curran Young Construction

I encourage Gulf Harbour members to click on the link in Chris’s message and review the Twin Eagles video and the resultant clubhouse Twin Eagles members now enjoy.

In terms of our construction progress, several important milestones have recently taken place.

Many of you likely noticed that structural steel began arriving on site Friday, February 20th. This delivery represents a critical step in the project, and installation is now underway. Steel placement is currently on a hot path, and our teams expect this phase of work to move quickly over the next several weeks as the structural framework of the expansion continues to take shape.

Inside the existing clubhouse, progress continues to advance steadily as well.

• Most all interior framing has now been completed.

• Approximately 80% of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-ins have been finished.

These are important milestones because they allow the next phases of interior work to begin once the remaining systems are finalized.

We have also received Revision 9 of the construction documents, which reflects a handful of design and structural refinements. These adjustments are now being reviewed and incorporated into the construction planning to ensure all work continues to align with the overall design vision.

From a mechanical standpoint, we are also in good position for upcoming installations. All of the

HVAC equipment has now arrived on site and is currently staged on the property. These systems will be installed once the flat roof rough work is completed, allowing proper placement and integration into the building systems.

In addition, the ventilation hoods for our two new kitchens have been delivered. They are currently fully shrink-wrapped and protected on site and are expected to be installed and hung within the next couple of weeks.

Looking ahead to the expansion structure, the second-floor slab is scheduled to be poured next

week, which will be another visible sign of forward momentum for the project.

Throughout this process, I also want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of Doug Glover, our Owner’s Representative, and Char Mohr, our Daily Quality Controls Manager. They continue to play an important role on behalf of the membership, supporting coordination and helping ensure the project remains aligned with the standards and vision for Gulf Harbour. Their dedication, along with the efforts of Lonnie and the entire management team, has been instrumental in keeping this complex project moving forward.

Renovation projects of this scale require patience, coordination, and persistence from many different parties. While the journey is not always easy, the destination will be something truly special for our membership and for the future of our club. We started this demolition and construction July 7, 2025. We have literally just crossed the halfway threshold to completion by December 15, 2026.

So, I would simply ask that we stay resilient, keep the faith over these next 260 days, and continue supporting the team working hard to deliver what will ultimately be a spectacular addition to the Gulf Harbour experience. Achieving that vision will require a strong team effort from everyone involved, but together we will get there.

Thank you, as always, for your patience, encouragement, and continued support. As always, attached are recent photographs taken by Lonnie.

Sincerely,

Bill Lambert President, Gulf Harbour Board of Governors

VIEW FROM ACTIVITY ROOMS

HALLWAY TO NEW BATHROOMS

DOORS TO NEW BATHROOMS

NEW WINE STORAGE ROOM

AC UNITS FOR INSTALLATION

NEW ELEVATOR ENTRY

KITCHEN HOODS READY FOR INSTALLATION

This Year’s Elected Board Members for the Club

3 YEAR TERM

William “Bill” Lambert - Golf Member

Mike Mayoras - Golf Member

David VanNamee - Sports Member

YOUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND OFFICERS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR

William “Bill” Lambert - President

Michael Sklorenko - Vice-President

Jack Bourget - Treasurer

George Johnson - Secretary

Kim Bauman

Bruce Jasurda

Mike Mayoras

Reymond Sargenti

David VanNamee

Catch The Action

CAPT. BILL RUSSELL

MAY ON THE WATER

May is a month that ranks high for anglers fishing in the coastal waters of southwest Florida. It could be our best time of the year for chasing big fish.

Tarpon season is at its peak. If you want to hook into a big tarpon, this is the time to do it. Large schools gather off the beaches, and inshore from Charlotte Harbor south to the Ten Thousand Islands. Gulf passes up and down the coast are popular tarpon hangouts, with Boca Grande Pass getting the most attention. It’s common to see upwards of a hundred boats on any given day tarpon fishing Boca Grande Pass. If you are going to fish Boca Grande Pass from your own boat, do your homework first.

Sharks large and small invade our waters from the shallow inshore flats to offshore. Many of the larger females including bull, lemon, and blacktip, move into inshore waters to give birth to their pups.

Sharks are an under rated game fish. When hooked on moderate tackle they are an absolute blast, especially high-flying blacktip, and spinners. Be careful when handling them, or better yet leave them in the water. If you cannot easily remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible. Watch those teeth!

May is time for big snook to head for the Gulf passes and nearby areas for their upcoming summer spawning session. Although snook season is closed, they offer a challenge, and a lot of fun for the catch and release angler. If you hook into one, please handle it with extra care for a safe release. Never hang a large fish from its lips or mouth; this has proven to do irreversible damage to the heavier fish, often leading to its death, plus its illegal. It’s best to not remove a big fish from the water at all, not just snook, but any big fish to be released. If you remove one for a picture, hold it horizontally with both hands while supporting the belly. Make it quick, snap the picture, and return the fish to the water.

Hooking into redfish, and some big ones is possible throughout the month. Calm mornings or evenings give sight anglers on the skinny flats some great opportunities at stalking tailing fish. Shallow draft skiffs, kayaks, canoes, or getting in the water and wade fishing gives the angler a better chance to sneak up on fish in the calm shallow waters. As days get hotter, fish under the shade of the mangroves, docks, or overhangs on the mid-day high tides. The last couple of hours of the incoming are often most

productive. Redfish may run in size from little guys less than a foot, to brutes pushing well over thirty inches. Redfish eat a wide range of baits including live, cut, and artificial.

Mangrove snapper might be my favorite fish on the table. They aren’t the biggest fish around, but they fight incredibly hard for their size and offer excellent table fare. As we move closer to summer, expect numbers of snapper to increase throughout the inshore waters, gulf passes, and nearshore reefs.

Look for Spanish mackerel are harassing bait schools inshore, around the passes, and nearshore reefs. Mackerels, with blazing speed, are a blast to catch on light tackle and often run in large schools. They are good on the table but should be eaten fresh, not frozen. While a stationary bait like a live shrimp under a bobber works for mackerel, they really like quick moving shiny baits. A fast retrieve with a small silver spoon is hard to beat.

With the month bringing days with little to no wind, fishing offshore in gulf waters is a good choice. Long runs to deeper water give you the best chance for the larger bottom dwellers such as red grouper, snapper, porgy, and others. If you’re looking for a shorter trip and the potential for action, hit the nearshore reefs in depths from twenty to fifty feet. Coordinates are available for all public reefs, and most hold a variety of fish large and small.

This is a month to be prepared for anything; you never know what you might come across. I like to always keep a heavier rod rigged and ready, just in case. If you are fishing for tarpon or sharks, you

already have the heavy arsenal out, but if you are just having fun on the flats with trout, you never know when that once in a lifetime cobia or school of tarpon might show up. Preparation and awareness are the key. Have a rod that will handle the job rigged and ready and pay attention to your surroundings. If not, that trophy fish might just swim right by without you even knowing it. The weather should be good and fishing even better. Get out there and take advantage of it!

Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app to your phone. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish.

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 30 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.”

Alliance for the Arts Announces Immersive Arts & Theatre Summer Camps for Youth

The Alliance for the Arts (AFTA) announces its 2026 Summer Camp lineup for young creatives ages 3–17, running from June 15 through July 31. This year’s programming features the Youth Arts Summer Camp, Tech Theatre Bootcamp, and the Broadway Palm/ Alliance Musical Theatre Intensive—a unique collaboration offering students hands-on training alongside industry professionals in the spaces where they perform.

The Youth Arts Summer Camp and Theatre Tech Camp will be hosted on the Alliance’s 10acre campus at 10091 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers. The Broadway Palm/Alliance Musical Theatre Intensive will take place at the Broadway Palm Rehearsal Space, located at 1400 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

YOUTH ARTS SUMMER CAMP

June 15–July 31, 2026 | Ages 3–12

The Alliance’s Youth Arts Summer Camp program features rotating weekly themes such as Messy Art Magic, Mixed Media MashUp, and Ancient Art, with projects tailored to each age group’s developmental stage.

• Preschool Artists (Ages 3–6): Half-day camps focused on sensory exploration, playful materials, and guided creative discovery. Campers must be reliably toilet trained.

• Young Artists (Ages 7–12): Full-day camps offering deeper engagement with materials, techniques, and creative problem-solving through themed projects.

New this year the Alliance is partnering with Fashion First to offer a collaborative camp option to experience that combines visual art and sewing. Ages 6–8 will attend Fashion First Sewing Camp in the morning and Alliance Art Camp in the afternoon. Ages 9–12 attend Alliance Art Camp in the morning and Fashion First Sewing Camp in the afternoon.

Arts Summer Camp Hours:

• Ages 3–4: 9–11:30 a.m.

• Ages 5–6: 1–4 p.m.

• Ages 7–12: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Arts Summer Weekly Camp Cost:

• Full day: Members $275 | Non-members

$330

• Full day with extended care: Members $350 | Non-members $425 (Ages 7–12)

• 1/2 Day Sewing Camp, 1/2 Day Arts Camp: Members $330 | Non-members $360

• Half day (Ages 3–6): Members $125 | Nonmembers $150

2026 Weekly Summer Arts Camp Themes:

• Week 1: Ages 3–6 Messy Art Magic | Ages 7–12 Cosmic Creators

• Week 2: Ages 3–6 Tiny Creatures and Big Art | Ages 7–12 Mixed Media Mash-Up

• Week 3: Ages 3–6 Once Upon an Art Time | Ages 7–12 Fantasy Worlds

• Week 4: Ages 3–6 Shapes in Our World | Ages 7–12 Ancient Art

• Week 5: Ages 3–6 Garden Giggles | Ages 7–12 Nature Explorers

• Week 6: Ages 3–6 Rainbows and Sunshine | Ages 7–12 Weather and Wonders

Tech Theatre Bootcamp: Build, Design & Shine!

Ages 11–17 | June 15–26 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

This immersive camp will teach the skills needed to create and run a professionalquality stage production. This hands-on camp takes students behind the scenes of a

live production of RENT. Campers will safely use tools, collaborate on builds, and help bring a full production to life.

Participants gain real-world experience in:

• Set construction & scenic painting

• Lighting & sound design

• Props & costume support

• Stage management & production leadership

Note: This camp is offered in conjunction with the production of RENT. Please note that the show contains mature themes that may not be suitable for all families. If you would like your child to participate in Theatre Tech Boot Camp without direct exposure to show content, accommodations are available upon request.

Safety First: All students must follow safety guidelines, including wearing closed-toe, closed-heel shoes and keeping long hair tied back while working in the shop.

Whether your child dreams of working backstage or simply loves to build and create, this camp is a backstage pass to the world of theatre!

Tech Theatre Bootcamp Details:

Ages: 11-17 yrs

Dates: Week Days 6/15-6/26

Time: 9AM-4PM (Extended Care available from 7:45AM- 5:15PM)

Cost: $400/members $480/non-members

Musical Theatre Intensive Camp

Ages 7–17 | July 6–31 | 9 a.m.–4 p.m. | Location

Broadway Palm

The Broadway Palm/Alliance for the Arts Musical Theatre Intensive is back and better than ever, offering young performers an exciting opportunity to train where the pros perform. Throughout the week, campers will explore the essential elements of musical theatre—singing, dancing, and acting—while learning what it’s really like to prepare for the stage. Students will work with professional performers from Broadway Palm’s current production of The Wizard of Oz, gaining insider tips and hands-on training from working actors. The week builds toward an exciting live performance on a Broadway Palm stage, where every student gets their moment to shine for family and friends.

Musical Theatre Intensive Camp Details

Ages: 7-17 (varies by session)

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Arrival: 8:45–9:00 AM

Location: Broadway Palm Rehearsal Space, 1400 Colonial Boulevard

Final Performances: Fridays at 3:00 PM on a Broadway Palm stage.

With only 20 campers per session, space is limited to ensure personalized instruction, so be sure to register early!

Session 1: July 6–10 | The Wizard of Oz (Ages 7–11)

Younger campers explore scenes, songs, and dances from the mainstage production. Includes a Broadway Palm matinee and a Friday cabaret performance for parents.

Session 2: July 13–17 | The Wizard of Oz (Ages 12–17)

Older students delve into scene study, dance technique, and music theory inspired by Dorothy’s adventures.

Session 3: July 20–24 | Christmas in July (Ages 7–11)

A nostalgic trip to 1940s Indiana featuring music from A Christmas Story. Campers perform classic holiday hits centered on family and seasonal joy. Session 4: July 27–31 | 50s & 60s (Ages 12–17)

A retrospective of rock and pop, featuring the music of Elvis and the sounds of 1967. Ideal for students interested in the evolution of rock and roll.

What to Bring- Musical Theatre

Intensive Camp:

Bag lunch, snack, and water bottle (no refrigeration available)

Dance or rehearsal clothing (no jeans)

Jazz shoes, ballet slippers, dance shoes, or sneakers

No flip-flops or sandals

Before and after care is available at the Alliance for the Arts for an additional fee.

Registration for young artists, for a summer of creativity, confidence, and curtain calls, is now open. All camps encourage curiosity and creativity in a supportive environment. No prior art or theatre experience is needed. Space is limited. For registration and details, visit ArtInLee.org/youthcamps or call 239-939-2787.

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9:00 am- 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9:00 am-1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit us at www.ArtInLee.org, or find us on Facebook, Meetup and Instagram.

What’s Blooming at Edison and Ford Winter Estates: Aralias

KAREN M. MAXWELL, INTERIM HORTICULTURE DIRECTOR

When contemplating a plant genus to write about, I tour the gardens at Edison and Ford Winter Estates with open eyes, looking for that specimen that does one of two things – catches your breath or blends into the landscape, hardly noticed. To me, the Aralias are the latter. As a historical garden, I always attempt to find the significance of that specimen and tie it back to the Edisons’ or Fords’ botanical legacy.

Sometimes, this is easier said than done. In 2002, the City of Fort Myers prepared a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR), which took a deep dive into the plantings that were documented or otherwise known to exist during Edison’s time of ownership. Additionally, the report includes plants installed following the Edison years, that perhaps did not support an appropriate historical interpretation, and it concludes with recommendations for restoring the landscape accuracy as reasonably possible. At the same time, taxonomists around the world have been busy updating and reclassifying plant genera to reflect their access to new identification keys, including

DNA testing. In other words, when we read about the plants discussed in the CLR, all is not always as it appears.

As early as 1908, it was documented that Thomas Edison procured the Geranium Aralia, also referred to as Wild Coffee (not related to any genus of coffee plants) from the Reasoner Bros. nursery for analysis of its latex content. Today, this plant goes by the binomial name of Polyscias guilfoylei where the genus name means “many shaded.” This is a great border type plant, native to Africa, South and Central America, and Asia. Known as a “humidity hound,” it thrives in Southwest Florida summers and will shed many of its leaves when there is an insufficient humidity level. A varietal named P. guilfoylei ‘Victoriae’ won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Merit for its strong variegation and ease of growth. Sometimes referred to as the Victoria Tree, it grows to 24 feet.

In 1931, Dr. Walter Buswell once identified Aralias as one of the plants growing close to Seminole Lodge. They were listed as aralia, ornamental aralia and in some cases, frosted aralia. A renowned botanist of his day, Dr. Buswell, was hired by the

Edisons to catalog their collection of tropical plants and at the same time he collaborated with the botanists involved with the Edison Botanic Research Corporation for rubber research. He was paid $25 a month for his work, and it seems that he was one of the first to suggest to Mina Edison that she consider creating a natural history museum in the garage from which he worked, which today is the ticket office and gift shop.

While the species is not mentioned, there is evidence that the Seminole Lodge aralias were Japanese or Queensland Umbrella Trees, Heptapleurum actinophylum. The Umbrella Tree is noted in a 1918 photograph capturing the wedding day of Charles Edison at Seminole Lodge. This would be consistent with the popularity of Japanese plants that captured the nursery industry in the 1920s. We still find them popping up in random spots in the gardens – especially in and around the bamboo stands, so it’s no wonder this plant ended up on the list of invasive species in Florida.

A later passage in the CLR describes the main gated entrance to the Edisons’ property as flanked by royal palms, a pair of silk oaks (Grevillia robusta), then a border of Aralia

lutescans. Unable to identify this “aralia” in popular references, my search took me further, leading only to more questions. It would seem, that the referenced border shrubs were either the once popular Umbrella Tree, today known as the invasive Schefflera (Heptapleurum actinophylum) or perhaps it was the attractive, Arboricola or Dwarf Japanese Schefflera (Heptapleurum

P. GUILFOYLEI IS NATIVE TO AFRICA AND SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. IT CAN BE USED AS A BORDER.

arboricola), which is more suggestive of a shrub border, growing only to 10 feet or so and a very popular landscape shrub to this day.

Prior to 2000, but no longer in place, an elongated shrub border grew just inside the McGregor picket fence on the Edison property, comprised of a dense row of Dinnerplate Aralias and maintained at a height of four feet, coupled with a dense row of crotons that have all since been removed.

A stroll along the McGregor fenceline of the Ford home today, one will find a mixed border of tall shrubs, including the Guilfoyle’s Aralia (the so-called wild coffee) recognized by its coarse toothed leaves. If you are looking for an easy, limited maintenance hedge, this may be the answer. Growing to 12 feet, these narrow shrubs are not fussy about their soil, taking kindly to some pruning, are happy in full sun to some shade and generally pest free. Their only request? Please do not let

the roots sit in constantly wet soil.

Outside of the Moonlight Garden, one can find the P. scutellaria ‘Balfourii’ – a rounded leaf that is often variegated. There is also a white-edged variety known as P. balfourinana ‘marginata.’

Another easy to grow species of the genus Polyscias, P. fruticosa, has gone in and out of popularity as often as short skirts. Native to Indonesia, the Ming Aralia is a fabulous houseplant or bonsai candidate due to its lovely, lacy, and compact foliage, and its slow growth requiring a repot only once every two or three years.

‘BALFOURII’

CAN BE FOUND IN THE MOONLIGHT GARDEN AT THE ESTATES.

Reportedly, the young leaves are edible and sport a spicy, parsley like flavor and are eaten raw in Southeast Asian cuisine or dipped in sauce. Sometimes called the Ming Tree, this “aralia” only grows 12 inches in a dozen years but can ultimately grow to 10 feet or more. As with other species of this genus, it is relatively pest free,

HEPTAPLEURUM ACTINOPHYLLA IS ALSO KNOW AS THE UMBRELLA TREE; IT IS LISTED AS AN INVASIVE SPECIES IN FLORIDA.

loves humidity, its delicate leaves require bright (no direct) light, but will not tolerate wet feet or being overly watered. The plant may be mildly toxic to domestic pets. These plants do best with a regular monthly feeding of balanced fertilizer to maintain robust health.

To wrap it up, genus Aralia once included many other popular woodland species that thrive in the shady, moist gardens of Southwest Florida. The re-classification of many of these former “aralias” are now found in the genera Schefflera, Fatsia, Heptapleurum and Polyscias meaning none of the plants historically known as aralias in the Estates’ records, are now considered aralias at all.

Montage Women’s Club

The Montage Women’s Club is a social and philanthropic club open to all women residing in Lee County. We normally meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. Our May meeting will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn (Captiva Ballroom), 12600 University Drive, Fort Myers 33908, corner of College Parkway at the Summerlin Road overpass. Meetings begin at 11:30 a.m. with a short social period followed by lunch at Noon followed by 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, May 28. There will be no featured speaker this month but a special game day is planned. Additionally, there will be a formal installation ceremony for the new Montage Women’s Club Executive Board Members for 2026-2027.

Luncheon fee is $30 per person. The May regular entree will be pasta ala vodka sauce with meatballs, a side of steamed vegetables followed by Chef’s dessert choice. The vegan/plant-based entree will be vegan pasta primavera with roasted vegetables followed by fresh fruit for dessert.

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) 7037787. Reservations cutoff to attend this meeting is noon, Thursday, May 21.

Coast Guard Auxiliary, Lee County Sheriff Jump Start National Safe Boating Week

The Wiggins Pass Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary gave safe boating tips, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office offered ice cream at a joint marine safety event on Ft. Myers Beach April 7th. The Flotilla displayed it communications trailer as the sheriff’s ice cream truck provided visitors sweet treats as an incentive to hear messages about water safety.

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA COMMANDER

WALTER DELEVICH (INSIDE) GREETS SHERIFF’S OFFICE OUTREACH COORDINATOR

BARRY KURTZ (OUTSIDE) AT THE LEE COUNTY MARINE SAFETY EVENT APRIL 7TH.

Auxiliary members also talked with members of the public about careers in the Coast Guard. National Safe Boating Week, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Safe Boating Council, will be observed locally and nationally from May 16 to May 22.

For more information, please contact Gregg Ramshaw of the Wiggins Pass Flotilla at gwramshaw@gmail.com or Robert Babezki, FSO-PA, at rbabezki@auxnaples96.org

Photos by Auxiliarist Robert Babezki

THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ICE CREAM TRUCK (LEFT) AND THE U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY WIGGINS PASS FLOTILLA’S COMMUNICATIONS TRAILER ON THE LOT OF THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOCAL FACILITY ON FT. MYERS BEACH. ALSO SHOWN IS THE COMBINED TEAM OF AUXILIARY MEMBERS AND SHERRIFF’S OFFICE MEMBERS AT THIS EVENT.

Consumer Alerts

ROSARIO MÉNDEZ, ATTORNEY, DIVISION OF CONSUMER AND BUSINESS EDUCATION, FTC

TIMESHARES: YES? NO? MAYBE?

If you’re considering getting a timeshare this vacation season, read on. Maybe you got a flyer in the mail with pictures of sunny beaches and beautiful resort suites. Sounds great, right? But before you sign a timeshare contract, make sure you understand what you’re getting into — and how to get out of it.

Not all timeshares work the same way. Some use points to determine where you can stay and for how long. Others get you one week a year at a resort, but it’s not always the same week. The cost also varies … a lot. Typically, timeshares require you to pay initial fees and yearly maintenance fees that may increase every year.

Promoters might offer you a gift or delicious meal to attend a timeshare presentation. If you decide to go, the sales staff may make a lot of promises and pitches designed to get you to buy right then and there without giving you time to think about it or do any of your own research.

So before you sign that timeshare agreement, ask yourself a few questions:

• If the timeshare is only for a specific property, is this where I want to vacation every year?

• Can I afford this timeshare, even if the maintenance fees go up?

• Do I have the time to deal with issues that may arise if I can’t book the resort I want during the time I want to travel?

• If I no longer can afford or want the timeshare, how can I sell it?

And read Timeshares, Vacation Clubs, and Related Scams for more tips.

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS

RESOURCE HUB

Admiral’s Isle ................................ Jeff McGinty

Bellavista George Hemsey

Coronado Geoff Smith

Courtyard Homes ...................... Tiffany Gaede

Crescent Cove ......................... Sam Schiphorst

Crooked Pond Carol Tsilimos

Edgewater Mike Sklorenko

Grande Cay ....................................... David Lein

Gulf Harbour Master Geoff Smith

Gulf Harbour Marina Dana Snyder

Harbour Landings I Megan Martin

Harbour Landings II ............. Thomas Broadie

Harbour Links Joe Pierce

Long Pond Millie Johnson

Mariposa ....................................... Steve Perseo

Mill Pond ................................ Maureen Herold

Osprey Landing William Crouch

Osprey Point Jay Ducharme

Palmas Del Sol ................................... Bob Corp

Rivers Edge Ron Harrington

Sagamore George Sorensen

Seaside Estates Richard Edelman

Tamarind Cay ........................... Harvey Gordon

The Shores I Ron Kitlas

The Shores II Mark Anderson

The Shores III ............................... Dave Reimer

The Shores IV ................................ John Albano

GULF

HARBOUR COUNTRY CLUB

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

William “Bill” Lambert President

Michael Sklorenko Vice President

Jack Bourget ....................................... Treasurer

George Johnson................................. Secretary

Kim Bauman ....................................... Governor

Bruce Jasurda ..................................... Governor

Mike Mayoras .................................... Governor

Reymond Sargenti ............................. Governor

David VanNamee............................... Governor

GULF HARBOUR MARINA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Kirk Hamilton

Vice President Doug Duncan

Secretary Bob Cunningham

Treasurer ............................................. Larry Palmer

Marina Appearance Committee David Kelley

GULF HARBOUR

MASTER ASSOCIATION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Geoffrey Smith

Vice President ............................. Sam Schiphorst

Treasurer/Secretary ............................ Carl Pecko

Director William Crouch

Director Carol Gillespie

Director .................................... Ripperton Riordan

Director John Wilson

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bellavista

Coronado

Courtyard Homes

Crooked Pond

Edgewater

Grande Cay

Harbour Landings I

Harbour Landings II

Harbour Links

Long Pond

Marblehead Manor

Mariposa

Mill Pond

Osprey Landing

Osprey Point

Palmas Del Sol

Paramount

Rivers Edge

Sagamore

Seaside Estates

Tamarind Cay

The Shores I

The Shores II

The Shores III

If you want your community news included here, please send articles and pictures to GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com by the 4th of each month.

GULF HARBOUR WEBSITES

GULF HARBOUR MASTER ASSOCIATION

BOARD

MEETINGS

will now be routinely held at Suitor Middleton Cox & Associates offices, 15751 San Carlos Blvd #8, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Meeting date and times will continue to be posted on the signs at the north and south entrances.

ATTENTION ASSOCIATION BOARD

MEMBERS

When your officers change, be sure to notify us so that we can keep both www.GulfHarbour33908.com and the Soundings updated.

GULF HARBOUR MASTER ASSOCIATION • www.GulfHarbour33908.com

GRANDE CAY • www.grandecay.com

HARBOUR LANDINGS I • www.harbourlandings.org

HARBOUR LINKS • www.harbourlinks.net

MARIPOSA • http://detaliassociates.com/secure/login.aspx

PALMAS DEL SOL • www.palmasdelsol.net

PARAMOUNT • http://www.athomenet.com/theparamount

TAMARIND CAY • https://smca.cincwebaxis.com/cinc/home/

GULF HARBOUR COUNTRY CLUB • www.gulfharbour.com

MARINA • www.gulfharbourmarina.com

YACHT CLUB • www.gulfharbouryachtclub.org

RESOURCE HUB

PHONE NUMBERS

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SEEKING SOUNDINGS WRITERS

Do you have an interesting story to share?

The Soundings is always looking for new and talented writers to submit articles on events, the social scene, restaurants, movies, family matters, village life, etc…

Now is your chance to share your interests with the community. You can contribute each month, just once, or once in a while.

• Are you involved in any particular activities in Gulf Harbour or around town?

• Can you share your knowledge about a specific topic or hobby?

• Do you have (or did you retire from) an interesting career?

• Are you the person who always knows what to do/where to go in our area?

• Do you like to take pictures or draw cartoons?

• Can you pass along a favorite recipe?

If you answered yes to any of the above or have an idea of your own, you can submit your articles (and photos) at GulfHarbourReport@gmail.com.

GOLF CART RULES REMINDER

Gulf Harbour has had several incidents and issues involving golf carts. Reports have included underage driving, wrongway driving, driving on pedestrian and bike paths, and driving under the influence.

Some excerpts from our Rules and Regulations:

Any member, family member, or guest may operate a motorized vehicle (i.e. cars, trucks, golf carts, motorized scooters, etc.) on Master Association property as long as the driver is at least 16 years of age, has a valid driver’s license, and has proof of vehicle insurance.

All golfers with golf carts should refrain from using pedestrian and bicycle pathways, if at all possible, especially if a golf cart path is available in that area and the golf cart driver is playing golf at the time. When use of a Gulf Harbour road is necessary, ATVs, and golf carts utilized for other than golf activities should be driven in the same direction as vehicle traffic and comply with all rules that apply to vehicles.

All Florida rules of the road must be followed when driving motor vehicles within Gulf Harbour.

Please consider the above when driving your golf cart at Gulf Harbour.

RULES & REGULATIONS REMINDER

Lakes: No boating, fishing or swimming in any lake within Gulf Harbour.

Eagle Perch Island: No fishing.

RESOURCE HUB

Marina: No recreational swimming or fishing in the marina. No fish or other marine life of any kind shall be cleaned, prepared or processed in any manner on the property.

Regulations are fully supported by: Gulf Harbour Master Association Inc., Gulf Harbour Golf and Country Club Inc., Gulf Harbour Marina Condominium Association Inc.

DISCLAIMER

REMINDER

All Dogs MUST be leashed at ALL times in and on Gulf Harbour Properties.

The Soundings is a newsletter published for the benefit of the residents of Gulf Harbour. Seabreeze Communications Group assists in providing publishing, printing and advertising services. The content is that of the authors which should not be construed to be representations, opinions or views of the Gulf Harbour Master Association Inc., or its management, officers or directors or Seabreeze Communications Group. Additionally, the paid advertising in the Soundings should not be construed as an endorsement of any advertised product or service. Finally, none of the content of the Soundings may be reproduced for any purpose nor can the name GHY&CC Homeowner’s Association or similar modification be used in any way without the express prior written consent of the GH Master Association Inc Board of Directors.