Heritage Palms MAY 2026

Between Palms THE

VETERANS MEMORIAL FLAGPOLE

DEDICATION

See page 6 NEWLY ELECTED 2026 HP MASTER BOARD

See page 11

See page 14

Staying Connected

JANE BREISCH, EDITOR CVGOLFERS@GMAIL.COM

Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who have sacrificed their lives to give us the freedoms we enjoy. Thank you to ALL Veterans who have been lost, as well as those who continue to serve. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” - Joseph Campbell

A little holiday trivia: Waterloo, New York is often credited with hosting the first Memorial Day observance. Originally known as Decoration Day, it was recognized for the first time on May 30, 1868. The American Civil War prompted the creation of Memorial Day to honor fallen soldiers. The federal government labeled the date “Memorial Day” in 1971; the Uniform Monday Holiday Act is the act that shifted Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May.

Veteran’s Memorial Flagpole at the Oasis/ Tiki in this issue. The ceremony took place on March 16. See details and photos on page 6.

Speaking of Memorial Day, it’s only fitting we’re covering the dedication of the

You have to laugh… Mark Carter has a way of delivering financial information in an entertaining and humorous way. See his Between the Numbers - What the Numbers Don’t Tell You article on page 22. ***********

Tennis and Pickleball fill the pages of this issue – six articles in total! The first one, Tennis Club Champions, starts on page 16. See if you can find them all!

And what an Annual Meeting Scramble & Tent Party it was! There are some 41 photos from the event, as well as a short video of the fireworks finale in case you missed it. Coverage begins on page 11.

Speaking of photos, this BTP issue contains some 125 photos and three videos. This is only possible because of the change to a digital platform from a paper one. I know some of you miss the old newsprint copy of BTP, however, the ability to offer 60+ pages of news “in season,” verses only eight pages,

is a huge advantage. I’m hoping you feel the same way, and are becoming more comfortable with navigating your way through an issue.

Speaking of navigation, please know there’s an option for you to download this issue (or any prior

issue) as a PDF (Adobe) for viewing, rather than using a web browser for viewing. Simply click the downward arrow icon (#3 above) to download the magazine as a PDF on your laptop, iPad, or cell phone. The PDF version shows one page at a time (vs the two pages you see side by side “on line”). Plus, if you download the issue, you can print any page you like, and also store any current or prior issue on your laptop. It’s easypeasy!

Should you have an article to submit for the June issue, my deadline is May 2. Post Cards are welcome! Please email to cvgolfers@gmail.com .

Veterans Memorial Flagpole Dedication

ARTICLE BY ROGER MOYER, HPVA VETERANS MEMORIAL FLAGPOLE PROJECT LEADER

PHOTOS BY DIANE BARANAK

About 150 HP residents and guests gathered at the Oasis/Tiki on a beautiful March morning to witness the initial flag raising and dedication for the Veterans Memorial Flagpole. The Heritage Palms Veterans Association (HPVA) worked with the Club to sponsor, fund, and erect this fitting memorial to past, present, and future veterans.

HPVA BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS (L TO R): ROGER MOYER, SECRETARY; BILL PRZYBYLSKI, BOARD MEMBER; MIKE BRAKE, COMMANDER; BILL BROPHY, QUARTERMASTER; RICH CRAWFORD, BOARD MEMBER: AND PAUL O’CONNELL, BOARD MEMBER.

NOT PICTURED: BOARD MEMBERS ANDY JARABAK, BOB DETHLEFSEN, AND JEFF PAUL.

An all-veteran Honor Guard from Cape Coral VFW, and a bagpiper from Guns and Hoses of SWFL, accompanied the flag to the flagpole and raised the colors while a bugler played To the Colors. Following the flag raising, I was deeply honored to lead the rest of the ceremony. After sharing a bit of history about the project, I thanked the 29 donors on behalf of HPVA who funded the project in its entirety for their amazing support. By funding in this manner, no

monies were used that would normally be available to support veterans in SWFL.

Many people played an integral role in making this dream of the HPVA a reality.

Club leadership under GM Traci Irons-Izzo was recognized, along with the HP Board and the Oasis Steering Committee. Many thanks go out to HP’s Director of Facilities, Kevin Ammon, who participated in every step along the way, from planning to completion.

Hugh Best (USN 1952-1955), HP’s most senior veteran, then came forward to unveil the memorial plaque on the flagpole base. Bagpiper Mike Harris played a medley of each of the service hymns to recognize all veterans. A moment of silence was then observed for all veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. This was followed by the bagpiper playing Amazing Grace. At this point the Veterans Memorial Flagpole was officially dedicated with the following words: “We hereby dedicate this Veterans Memorial Flagpole to honor all veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America and in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. May it perpetually fly our Colors as the emblem of the cause for which this wonderful country has fought, may it also be a beacon of hope and freedom for all who pass by.”

HPVA OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL FROM DFCU FINANCIAL (L TO R): JOHN RINVIL, ASST. BRANCH MANAGER-FT MYERS; SERGEY STUPANOB, BRANCH OPERATIONS; RACHAEL ENSOR, ASST. BRANCH MANAGER-NAPLES; BILL BROPHY; TRACY PATINO, SWFL MARKET MANAGER; ROGER MOYER; AND MIKE BRAKE.

Following the dedication, I announced on behalf of HPVA: “To our wonderful Heritage Palms Community, the Heritage Palms Veterans Association presents this memorial gift.”

ALL-VETERAN HONOR GUARD FROM THE CAPE CORAL VFW AND GUNS AND PIPER FROM GUNS AND HOSES OF SWFL.

GM and US Marine Corps veteran Traci Irons-Izzo came forward to address the audience and express gratitude to all veterans and the HPVA for this project. She commented, “As the Stars and Stripes rose above our club this morning, let us carry its meaning into our daily lives – with kindness toward one another, pride in our community, and gratitude for the blessings we share here in SWFL. May we honor this flag not only in ceremony, but in the way we live each and every day – with our hearts full of respect and appreciation.”

HP Board President, Ron Assise, came forward to accept the gift of the flagpole to the Club. In his acceptance comments he said, “When we look at this flag, we are reminded of the courage and sacrifices of so many who came before us – brave men and women who served our country with honor, who worked to build stronger communities and who believed that the principals of liberty and justice were worth defending. Their effort allows us to enjoy the freedoms we can so easily take for granted.”

HP'S HUGH BEST (USN 1952-1955) UNVEILED THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE.

A NIGHT-TIME VIEW OF THE MEMORIAL FLAGPOLE.

HPVA Commander Mike Brake then thanked all the attendees for their support over the years. The ceremony concluded with HP resident Marc Bubert singing an inspiring rendition of the National Anthem. Following the ceremony, the Club provided coffee and pastries for all attendees. The HPVA’s bank, DFCU Financial, handed out souvenir flags to all in attendance. We thank them for being a key sponsor for the HPVA.

Annual Meeting Scramble and Tent Party

ARTICLE BY JANE BREISCH, EDITOR

GOLF SCRAMBLE PHOTOS BY

TENT PARTY PHOTOS BY

DAVID DEVEREAUX

MARY LOU REID AND PAM GARVEY.

We had 612 players compete in the Friday and Saturday shot-gun rounds of HP’s Annual Meeting Scramble held March 27 and 28. Perfect weather prevailed both days, sporting sunny skies and low humidity. Over 800 owners partied under the high-top tents Saturday evening. Double Dare and Company provided great dance music, and there were fireworks at dusk to celebrate our 28th Anniversary! Special thanks to our hard-working staff who kept everyone well supplied with drinks and vittles galore!

L-R: NOREEN & PAUL KUBINSKI, AND GERALD & MARLA KUNTZ. THIS IS THE LAST TENT PARTY FOR THE KUBINSKIS.

Newly Elected 2026 HP Master Board

SEATED (L-R): GARY, RODGERS, SECRETARY; RICH FIREBAUGH; ROB SHOVLIN, PRESIDENT; AND GEORGE SMOTHERS, VICE PRESIDENT.

STANDING (L-R): MORLEY FRASER; KIM MILLER, TREASURER; RENDE LANGLOIS; STEVE SERGESKETTER; AND GORDON HODGSON.

Tennis Club Championships

CHAD DYER, DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS CDYER@HPGCC.COM

The 25 th Tennis Club Championships were held over three exciting weekends, showcasing great competition and strong member participation across all divisions. The Doubles Championships (Men’s and Women’s Divisions) took place on March 6 - 8, followed by the Mixed Doubles Championships March 21-23. The Men’s Singles Championship concluded the event on March 31. A total of 33 teams competed, with 50-75 spectators attending the finals each weekend to support the players and enjoy the action. Winners and finalists were recognized with engraved crystal trophies in celebration of their outstanding performances.

MIXED 8.0+ CHAMPIONS:

PAUL INGRAM AND MICHELLE ROGERS

MIXED 6.0 CHAMPIONS: RENEE AND STEVE OLSON

MEN’S 3.0 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS:

STEVE JAMROSE AND RICK BARLOW

MIXED 7.0 CHAMPIONS: SYLVIA MOL AND MARK GROTTOLI

MEN’S 3.5 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS: RON ASSISE AND RICHARD FURGIUELE

MEN’S 4.0 CHAMPIONS:

GARY RODGERS SCOTT

Results from the finals:

Mixed Doubles:

6.0 Division: Steve & Renee Olson defeated Steve Jamrose & Sarah Wrasse 6-3, 6-0

7.0 Division: Mark Grotolli & Sylvia Mol defeated Phil Cooper & Melanie Fawbush 6-3, 6-3

8.0+ Division: Paul Ingram & Michelle Rogers defeated Pete & Ruth Hessert 6-3, 6-4

Men’s Doubles:

3.0 Division: Steve Jamrose & Rick Barlow defeated Mike O’Sullivan & Jim Reid 6-4, 2-6, 10-6

3.5 Division: Ron Assise & Richard Furgiuele defeated Phil Cooper & Mike Scott 6-2, 6-4

4.0 Division: Gary Rodgers & Scott Wells (Round Robin Play Champions)

Women’s Doubles:

3.5 Division: Renee Olson & Sarah Wrasse defeated Lisa Benedetti & Judy Scott 6-3, 6-1

4.0 Division: Lisa Pavichevich & Nancy Johnson defeated Kim DiGangi & Sylvia Mol 6-3, 6-4

Men’s Singles

3.5 Division: John Whitney defeated Richard Furgiuele 6-3, 4-6, 10-8

4.0 DOUBLES

CHAMPIONS: RODGERS AND SCOTT WELLS

WOMEN’S 3.5 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS: RENEE OLSON AND SARAH WRASSE WOMEN’S 4.0 DOUBLES CHAMPIONS: LISA PAVICHEVICH AND NANCY JOHNSON

MEN’S 3.5 SINGLES CHAMPION: JOHN WHITNEY

MGA Celebrates 25th Season

JEFF PAUL, SECRETARY JPAUL92460@GMAIL.COM

Another successful MGA season has come and gone. The Board would like to thank our 660 members who played this year.

At our March 23 Happy Hour closing event, we celebrated our 25th season as an MGA! We honored our past MGA Presidents and Board members, and presented plaques to Bob Kelly, John Osbrink, and Greg Kriesch, thanking them for their hard work and dedication, ensuring that all of our events ran smoothly and our courses were in great shape. We also gave a big thanks to Larry

FORMER MGA PRESIDENTS (L-R): CHUCK BURNER, FRED DECOTIS, GEORGE SMOTHERS, ANDY PIAZZA, BOB REDAR, GARY KAJANDER, JOE VESCIO, PETE DESJARDINS, STANDING WITH CURRENT PRESIDENT BOB WITTMAN.

German, Cheyenne Baker, and their entire F&B staff for the wonderful support for all of our Dinners, Luncheons and Happy Hours.

The Board would like to give special thanks to our retiring Board Members for their outstanding work and leadership, and welcome our new 2026-27 Board members. See photos.

PRESENTING OUR $17,345 CHECK TO MAX CONSTANZO, REPRESENTING THE HARRY CHAPEN FOOD BANK, ARE 2025-26 BOARD MEMBERS (L-R): BILL MOOMAW, ANDY WHITE, BOB WITTMAN, JIM CLOONEY, MORLEY FRASER, JEFF YODER, AND DAVE KOTH.

RETIRING MGA BOARD MEMBERS

(L-R): SECRETARY ANDY WHITE; VICE PRESIDENT MORLEY FRASER; AND PRESIDENT BOB WITTMAN.

Finally, thanks again to our entire membership for their generous contributions to the Harry Chapin food bank. We have since raised over $18,000 this season, and over $175,000 in the past 16 years.

MGA PRESIDENT BOB WITTMAN PRESENTING 25-YEAR PLAQUES OF RECOGNITION TO BOB KELLY, GREG KRIESCH, AND JOHN OSBRINK.

NEW MGA BOARD MEMBERS (L-R): DAVE KOTH, DICK FULLER, MARK MORIARTY, AND DOUG

Heritage Palms’ Senior Management Team

SEATED (L-R): JONEY KELLY, ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR; HEATHER BECHT, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES; TRACI IRONS IZZO, GENERAL MANAGER; JILL EATON, DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP SERVICES; AND DANIELLE BROUNCE, MARKETING DIRECTOR. STANDING (L-R): KEVIN AMMON, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES; LARRY GERMAN, FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR; BOB KELLY, DIRECTOR OF GOLF; DAN DAVIS, DIRECTOR OF SECURITY; LISA SCHNECK, WELLNESS & ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR; SHERRY NOWAK, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER; AND GREG KRIESCH, DIRECTOR OF GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS. NOT PICTURED: CHAD DYER, DIRECTOR OF RACQUET SPORTS.

Between the Numbers

What the Numbers Don’t Tell You

MARK CARTER, FINANCE COMMITTEE AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE MEMBER MARKBCARTER@MAC.COM

A new CEO was coming on board, and met with the outgoing CEO on his first day. He asked if she had any advice. She told him she had prepared three envelopes marked 1, 2, and 3, and that he should open them at the end of his first, second, and third years. The new CEO tucked them into the top drawer of his desk—and promptly forgot about them.

At the end of his first year, things hadn’t gone well. While rummaging through his desk one day, he found the envelopes. He opened the first. Inside was a single page that read, “Blame your predecessor.” So, he did—and felt much better almost immediately.

By the end of the second year, things were even worse. This time he remembered the envelopes and opened number two. It said, “Reorganize.” So, he did—creating a new org chart that looked very impressive.

The third year flew by—and it was a disaster. He hurriedly opened the last envelope. Inside, it read: “Prepare three envelopes.”

Now, on to this month’s column.

Last June (2025), I reintroduced Between the Numbers as a column focused on financial matters relevant to members here at Heritage Palms. The column was originally started by Paul Tilly, a CPA and longtime member of the Finance Committee. In fact, Paul is something of our resident historian on all things financial at the Club—and if you ever need to know what happened to a budget line item in 2012, he’s your guy.

My goal has been to provide insight for those of us who aren’t—and never were— accountants or finance professionals, while keeping things light enough to be an enjoyable read. Many of you have been kind enough to offer compliments, some have challenged my thinking (always welcome), and a few of you seem to look the other way when I walk by… those must be the accountants, still reconciling something.

This column isn’t strictly about financial matters, but rather about the value of owning here at Heritage Palms. The Club is financially healthy and well-positioned to weather whatever storms may come—both financial, and the occasional Florida variety. Despite some understandable concerns about dues increases and the cost of golf

cart rentals (which, at times, seem to rival a car payment), our Club remains one of the best values in SWFL. And that’s before you even consider the intangible benefits.

This past year brought many highlights: new tennis and pickleball courts, a new sidewalk, and of course, the outstanding new Oasis. It may have been a long time coming, but judging by the crowds, it’s clearly been worth the wait. At this point, the biggest challenge may be finding an open chair.

One of my personal highlights was watching a tennis match featuring two members of the Over 70 Men’s Team—Ron Morrison and Bob Gerlicher—both in their 90s. Proof that around here, age is just a number… one that may come with a very dependable backhand.

This has been the first season my wife, Kellie, and I have spent here full-time, and it’s been a terrific experience. Heritage Palms offers outstanding amenities, dedicated staff, and beautifully maintained grounds. More importantly, it’s a place where we’ve made many new friends—from across the eastern United States and even a couple of Canadian provinces. Finances matter, of course—but friendships like these are priceless… and considerably more fun than a budget meeting.

The opportunities to get involved are nearly endless. We’ve played golf, tennis, and bocce—and just as importantly, enjoyed the social side of each. Kellie volunteered with the Nine-Hole Golf League, and I joined the Finance and Communications Committees. Both gave us a chance to contribute while building new relationships—and, in my case, to prove that finance discussions can occasionally include a sense of humor.

So, in closing…if you’re not already involved, I encourage you to jump in. Not just in the amenities, but in the life of the Club. Volunteer, join a committee, meet new people. It’s a big part of what makes Heritage Palms such a special place. And who knows—you might even enjoy it as much as a good round of golf…on a day when you don’t keep score.

At the end of the day, the numbers matter—but the people matter more. And around here, we’re doing pretty well on both fronts.

Should you have ideas for topics you’d like to see covered in Between the Numbers for 2026–27, feel free to email me at markbcarter@mac.com.

Sleep: The Missing Piece in Living Well

LISA SCHNECK, CPC, CNC WELLNESS AND ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR LSCHNECK@HPGCC.COM

What if one of the most powerful things you could do for your health didn’t require a membership, a prescription, or a major lifestyle overhaul?

What if it was something you already do every day—but maybe not quite enough, or not quite well?

That “something” is sleep. And for many people, it’s the missing piece.

We tend to think of sleep as downtime— something passive, something we squeeze in after everything else is done. But in reality, sleep is one of the most active and essential processes in the body. It’s when your system shifts into repair, restoration, and recalibration.

While you’re sleeping, your brain is literally cleaning itself. A specialized system—called the glymphatic system— helps clear out waste products that build up throughout the day. At the same time, your body is releasing hormones that support tissue repair, muscle recovery, and immune function. Your nervous system is settling, your stress response is recalibrating, and your metabolism is quietly resetting behind the scenes.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that many of the things we want for our health— more energy, better focus, improved mood, easier weight management, less pain—are heavily influenced by how well we sleep.

And yet, sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice.

You might have noticed this yourself. A poor night of sleep doesn’t just make you tired—it changes your entire experience the next day. You’re a little more reactive. Cravings are stronger. Motivation is lower. Even small things feel a bit harder than they should.

It’s helpful to understand that cravings are not a lack of discipline or character weakness, they are simple physiology.

Well Longer

When sleep is off, your hunger hormones shift, making you feel hungrier and less satisfied. Your body becomes a little more resistant to insulin, which can make weight management more challenging. Pain can feel more intense. Focus and memory take a hit. Over time, consistently poor sleep can even impact long-term brain health.

On the flip side, when sleep improves, many things start to fall into place more easily.

This is why, in our wellness programming, we talk about sleep as one of the “Five

Wellness Superpowers.” Not because it’s trendy – but because it’s foundational.

Sleep supports everything else: nutrition, movement, mindset, and even how we connect with others.

The challenge is that modern life doesn’t exactly make great sleep easy. Artificial light, busy schedules, evening screen time, and ongoing stress, all send mixed signals to the body. Many people find themselves tired—but wired. Ready for bed—but unable to fully settle.

The good news is that sleep is highly responsive to small, intentional changes. You don’t need to get everything perfect—you just need to understand what’s happening, and make a few adjustments that work for you.

That’s exactly what we’ll be talking about in our upcoming Living Well Longer lunch and learn session on May 13 th . This will be the last installment in the Living Well Longer series!

Join Us: Living Well Longer – The Power of Sleep. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing a lot “right” with your health—but still feel low on energy, stuck, or not quite where you want to be, sleep may be the lever you haven’t fully pulled yet.

Living Well Longer: The Power of Sleep May 13 at 11:30 a.m. in the Palms Dining Room A In this session, we’ll explore: What’s actually happening in your body while you sleep How sleep impacts brain health, weight, pain, and recovery Why sleep can be a turning point for overall health

Simple, realistic strategies you can begin using right away

This will be a practical, lifestylefocused conversation—designed to give you clarity, not overwhelm.

One for the Children

JOAN TOOLEY AND JOY WEINER

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS

The HPPA and HPTA would like to thank the HP Community for making our annual “Play It Forward” Charity Event, held January 25, a tremendous success! Once again, your generous donations of time and money enabled us to collect close to $11,000 for our charity, the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), and give away $800 in cash prizes. Prize winners included Dee and Ron Nyman, Bill Fechter, and Don Kenyon.

SARAH WRASSE MANNING THE SILENT AUCTION BASKETS AND DONATIONS.

L-R: STEVEN SCHLUMPF, STEVEN SHELTON, AND JOE LACH.

Alecia Shannon, CEO of the Center, attended our Round Robin and Event Brunch. She thanked the community, and gave a wonderful summary of CAC’s services. Sarah Wrasse was instrumental in organizing donations of baskets for our silent auction. Lynn Roberts, HPPA Board member, and volunteers created beautiful tablescapes, turning the Palms Dining Room into our theme, “Hearts on the Court.”

On March 26, HP representatives Steve Jamrose, Joan Tooley, and Joy Weiner attended the annual CAC Gala/Fundraiser held at the beautiful Alderman House

in downtown Fort Myers. It was a beautiful affair, and our $10,000 “check” was recognized as the first donation of the night, setting up donations of over $280,000. That was $100,00 over what was raised in 2025! It’s our hope to include them as our charity again next year, raising even more money to help them with a shared purpose of ensuring every child in SWFL grows up safe, supported, and heard.

OUR CHECK PRESENTATION TO THE CAC. L-R: JANE TOOLEY; KALEIGH LAWRENCE, CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OF CAC; ALICIA SHANNON, CEO OF CAC; AND JOY WEINER.

PICKLEBALL

PLAYERS

ATTENDING THE EVENT ARE (L-R): GLORIA SCHOLL, DEBBIE KEYSOR, NANCY ROGERS, WHITEY SORNAT, MAUREEN HANRAHAN, BRENDA GINTER, AND KIM SCHLUMPF.

ENJOYING THE EVENT ARE (L-R): TENNIS PLAYERS JAMIE UNGER, DIANE GERMANI, AND CAROL ANN WENTZELL.

AT THE CAC GALA/FUNDRAISER (L-R): STEVE JAMROSE, JOY WEINER, KELEIGH LAWRENCE, ALICIA SHANNON, AND JOAN TOOLEY.

Read On…

KAREN HARRIS HERITAGEPALMSBOOKCLUB@GMAIL.COM

The HP Book Club will meet for the final time this season on Friday, May 8, at 2:30 p.m. in the Activity Center to discuss Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout. The story, which returns Strout’s beloved cast of characters from her earlier novels, involves the murder trial of a man accused of killing his mother. Strout explores the central human questions and concerns that underlie both this murder case, and other events going on simultaneously in the community. One reviewer wrote of Strout, “Her dialogue is so natural, and her observation of people is brilliantly acute.”

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Club meetings are open to all residents who read the book. If you wish to be added to the HP Book Club mailing list, please email me.

Canadians Celebrate “Our HP Home Away

CAROL RING

DCRING@ROGERS.COM

More than 160 Canadians gathered in the Palms Dining Room on Monday, February 9, for our annual “Our Home Away from Home” Canada Party . It was an evening filled with national pride, laughter, and plenty of red-and-white spirit.

EVENT COMMITTEE (L-R): IVANA WALKER, BONNIE BEATTY, LOVIE FERGUSON, KAREN MACMILLAN, CATHY WHITE, CAROL RING, PAT SIMMONS, FAITH BRENAN, AND NANCY BONNER. NOT PICTURED: DAWN GLEDHILL AND JOHN MOSLEY-WILLIAMS.

From the moment guests arrived, the room was alive with Canadian energy. Decorations throughout the venue featured maple leaves and Canadian flags, while many attendees proudly wore red and white outfits or jerseys from their favorite Canadian sports teams. The festive atmosphere created an instant sense of connection among fellow Canadians enjoying winter in FL.

The evening began with a lively social hour, giving friends, old and new, the chance to reconnect and mingle. The crowd then gathered together to sing the national anthem, “O Canada,” before

Away from Home”

posing for a large group photo that captured the spirit of the celebration.

Guests then headed to the food stations where Canadian-inspired dishes and beverages were served. The culinary offerings were a highlight of the evening, with many attendees complimenting the F&B staff, whose efforts helped make the celebration such a success. Entertainment continued throughout the evening with Canadian-themed trivia featured on the large screens, sparking friendly competition and plenty of laughs. A popular name-tag guessing game also kept guests circulating around the room. Each participant had the name of a famous Canadian person, place, or thing placed on their back and had to ask

others questions to figure out their identity.

Two lucky attendees went home with special prizes. Mike Alderman and Ginny Tullis were the winners of this year’s gift baskets.

As Canadians who spend part of our winter here, we’re also grateful to be part of the broader HP community. The warm welcome and friendship of

MEMBERS ENJOYING THE EVENING.

our American neighbors help make HP feel like a true home away from home, and we appreciate the opportunity to share such a wonderful community together.

Events like the Canada Party highlight the strong sense of connection among residents, bringing people together to celebrate friendship, community, and the traditions that make Heritage Palms such a special place.

Heritage Palms Charitable Organization Holds Annual Meeting

The HPCO held its Third Annual Meeting on January 16, 2026, led by President Allan Potechin. With a quorum established, members reviewed organizational business, and looked ahead to another year of community impact.

The re-election of directors whose terms had expired at the end of 2025 was held during this meeting. The membership voted to retain Miriam Shook, Claire O’Regan, and Lou Bottitta for new twoyear terms running through December 31, 2027. Dates were also announced for the HPCO annual dinner dance and golf outing; January 30, 2027 for the dance, and April 18, 2027 for the outing.

The organization appreciates the continued dedication of its Board members and looks forward to building on its mission of supporting Heritage Palms employees in need. Since HPCO began through 2025, generous support from our residents has allowed us to provide about $100,000 in assistance to HP employees facing extraordinary needs, in line with our mission.

HPCO DIRECTORS (L-R): MIRIAM SHOOK, LOU BOTTITTA, MARY STIPPICH, ANTHONY PLEVNIAK, CLAIRE O’REGAN, ALLAN POTECHIN, AND BARBARA GREGG.

HPCO 2026 Priorities

• Continue to identify ways to support HPGCC employee needs

• Grow awareness and engagement across the HP community

• Encourage more resident participation through donations and volunteer efforts

• Commit to expand outreach to employees using more media in multiple languages

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

PHOTOS

AND VIDEOS BY

PAM GARVEY

Heritage Palms kicked off its St. Patrick’s Day celebration with a parade of 20 or so golf carts decorated in a myriad of green colors to commemorate the holiday. They traveled up Wine Palm and onto Washingtonia Palm before arriving at the Clubhouse. Due to the cold weather, the St. Patrick’s Day festivities continued in the Palms Dining Room and Grill Room.

Video here

HPPA News

BILL FECHTER, HPPA PRESIDENT BILL@THEFECHTERS.COM

The HPPA had a great season this year with the addition of our four new courts. Accomplishments included:

• Ability to assign courts by level of play to better meet the needs of our members. Beginners and advanced players were all able to find games at their own level.

• Began Interclub league play, with three matches held this winter.

• Held monthly happy hour sessions in the evenings to socialize and get better acquainted with all of our members.

• Additon of our new Pickleball Pro, Noel Innis.

• Addition of a new Pickleball Ball Machine to allow members to improve their game with ball drills.

We ended the season with a successful End of Season Party, where 82 members enjoyed a great meal and socialization with our membership. We had some great door prizes, raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing.

MIXED DOUBLES 3.0+ LEVEL PLAYERS (L-R): DEB EGAN, DAVE LIPINSKI, AND JULIE & STEVE DAWSON.

MIXED DOUBLES 3.5+ KATHY BRYDEN, KATHY BLAGOUE, NOT PICTURED:

We also completed our Club Tournament Season with our Mixed Doubles Championships on March 23. We had 21 teams compete in three different levels of play for the championship.

In the 3.0 + level Steve and Julie Dawson won 1 st place. and Dave Lipinski and Deb Egan won 2 nd place.

In the 3.5 + level Rob and Kathy Bryden won 1 st place, and Bill Fechter and Kathy Blagoue won 2 nd place.

In the 4.0 + level Greg and Linda Jurasovich won 1 st place, and Bryan Dean and Jan Carmitchel won 2 nd place.

The HPPA is looking forward to building on our successes next season.

LEVEL PLAYERS(L-R): BLAGOUE, AND BILL FECHTER.

PICTURED: ROB BRYDEN.

MIXED DOUBLES 4.0 + LEVEL PLAYERS(L-R): GREG & LINDA JURASOVICH, JAN CARMITCHEL, AND BRYAN DEAN.

MAGGIE DEBONIS

MMDEBO1@GMAIL.COM

The women who represent HP and play on the Lee County Women’s Tennis teams were celebrated for their efforts in the Palms Dining Room on March 12. The evening was full of fun, amazing raffles, tennis trivia, and a delicious dinner. The event was capped off with a fantastic slide show of all the captains, co-captains, and team members doing what they do best… playing tennis!

EVENT HOSTS (L-R): EILEEN SPINOLA, MAGGIE DEBONIS, SUE HAFFEY, AND MARCIA LEADBETTER.

We field ten teams, and these teams play against most of the clubs in Lee County who have tennis facilities. Aside from lots of fun, our teams enjoy camaraderie, friendships, team spirit, and a healthy dose of competition.

If you are interested in taking up tennis or returning to the game, contact the Pro Shop, and enjoy being part of this amazing group of women!!

LINDA LAMBERT RECEIVING THE GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE, A $200 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM LA-TE-DA SPA FROM EILEEN SPINOLA!

Tennis Teams

TEAM TABLES.

Men’s 2026 Tennis Banquet

CLARK BRODEN CLARKBRODEN@GMAIL.COM

The six HP Men’s Tennis Teams and guests celebrated their just concluded league seasons with a wonderful buffet dinner and program held March 31 in the Palms Dining Room. Ted Corcoran and I were Co-chairs of the event.

Two of the teams, Captain Bob Lathrop’s 70 Plus Men’s League team and Captain Ted Corcoran’s 50 Plus Men’s League team won their respective Copper and Blue D Divisions. In addition, Captain Gary Rodgers’ 70 Plus Gold Division team finished second out of eight teams.

A moment of silence was held for two players who passed away last year, Leo Giribaldi and Keith Bird. Gary Rodgers spoke about Leo, and Ron Assisse, Captain of the 50 Plus White B team, spoke about Keith.

Each of the captains gave summaries of their season including Lou Bottitta, Captain of the 50 Plus Red C Division team, and Clark Broden, Captain of the 70’s Plus Nickel Division team. Ted Corcoran passed the captain’s mantle for his team to Steve Jamrose for next year.

Head Tennis Pro Chad Dyer spoke about the past season’s events and changes made. The other Pros attending were Carolyn Lawver, Larry Albritton, and Danny Camacho. Pro George Freije was unable to attend. Austin Waddell, the Court Maintenance Person, was also in attendance and is leaving the end of April to be closer to family. All were recognized by the 82 attendees for their splendid work in caring for the players and courts.

Bob Gerlicher, Ron Morrison and Chuck Schmitz, all in their early 90’s were awarded plaques by Ted Corcoran in recognition of their longevity on the courts, proving once again that tennis is the sport of a lifetime.

THE FIRST PLACE 50 + BLUE D TEAM. MIKE O’SULLIVAN, TOM HAIRE, CAPTAIN JOHN KOCHER, BOB GERLICHER, RON MORRISON, RICK BARLOW, JACK PEACE, MARK CARTER, AND FRONT (L-R): BOB CERESI AND CO-CAPTAIN

Outgoing BOD President Ron Assisse, and incoming BOD President Rob Shovlin - who plays on Lou Bottitta’s team - were both given ovations by the attendees.

We thank Larry German and Cheyanne Baker and their F&B staff for their help staging this event.

TEAM. STANDING (L-R): CAPTAIN TED CORCORAN, GERLICHER, STEVE OLSON, BARLOW, JIM ABDERHOLDER, AND ZORAN PAVICHEVICH. CO-CAPTAIN STEVE JAMROSE.

THE THREE GOLDEN AGERS. L-R:  CHUCK SCHMITZ, BOB GERLICHER, AND RON MORRISON.

THE VICTORIOUS 70 + COPPER TEAM. STANDING (L-R): JIM REID, CAPTAIN BOB LATHROP, MIKE O’SULLIVAN, PAUL HEARSUM, PHIL COOPER, TOM GUZIK, JOHN BERESTECKI, TED BOYNTON, JOHN PAGANO, STAN URBANIK, BILL TESTIN AND RON NYMAN. FRONT BOB CERESI. NOT PICTURED: WHITEY SORNAT, STEVE SPINOZA, MIKE SCOTT, STEVE WOLFE, AND BOB PIAZZA.

HP Post Cards

From Sandy Cox: The Cox Family has been coming to Florida since our daughter, Stacey, was only a few months old. It’s no wonder she wanted to come to HP from Columbus, OH for her October 18, 2025 wedding! Stacey has played tennis with the pros on HP courts, as well as participated in the kids’ summer camps during her younger years. The Club did a fantastic job coordinating the event. Her wedding was truly enjoyed by all!

From Jenna Highlander: Breaking Mah Jongg news! Janine Baron had an “earthly hand” playing Mah Jongg on March 24. After consulting with the National Mah Jongg League, the chances of an “earthly hand” are one in 100,000. What an interesting and unique event! In golf, the odds of getting a hole in one are about far greater… one in 12,500.

THE EARTHLY HAND.

From Debbie Edwards: Andrea McGauley, Linda Cappella, Helen McDonald, and I participated in a March invitational at Estero Country Club with a Margaritaville theme. We finished first in the event, winning $200 for the team. Linda Cappella had her 2nd hole in one, but her first in FL. It was a beautiful day and a lot of fun!

L-R:

ANDREA, LINDA, HELEN, AND DEBBIE.

From Cheryl Penkalski: 21 HP members attended the “Grip It & Sip It” golf quota group’s season-ending party at the Oasis on March 29. A good time was had by all!

From Ginny Tullis: Our “Queens of the Green” golf group held their final dinner to celebrate a great season on March 24. Looking forward to continuing our awesome times in the fall .

From Monica Szymusiak: My group of lady golfers saw this big guy on #5 Sabal on February 16. We let him play through!

From Cathy White: I shot this beautiful rainbow in the fountain by Sabal #18 green at 10 a.m. on March 21.

Canadian/American Chicks with Sticks Quota

GINNY TULLIS GINNYTULL15@GMAIL.COM

It was with great anticipation that we entered our year-end CANAM game on Friday, March 20. The flags of both countries were flying high, and the excitement was within us all. How wonderful it is that both countries have shared this awesome friendship and camaraderie for twenty years! We all played our hearts out; however, the USA’s hearts were clearly bigger than ours. The USA won handily, and showed us who ruled the roost that day. Well done!

Quota Group Competes

From The Pro Shop

BOB KELLY, DIRECTOR OF GOLF BKELLY@HPGC.COM

Hello from the golf shop. Summer is almost here, and as always, the heat comes with it. We remind everyone at this time of year that you can’t drink enough water while playing golf. According to Golf Digest, you may not be hydrating properly in extreme heat, and it may be impacting your golf game. Staying hydrated will help you stay focused, prevent fatigue, and keep your body feeling fresher longer. While not intended to replace your regular water intake, hydration powders are an excellent way to avoid dehydration by replacing electrolytes, and even add some extra vitamins to fuel you through the round. We want everyone to stay safe, and if you’re not feeling good, quit.

The Royal golf course is scheduled to close for summer maintenance on Monday, May 11. The closure is planned for 11 weeks. Royal will reopen in early August for the remainder of the season, and Sabal will then close for 11 weeks for summer maintenance, and to complete the bunker renovation project. If all goes as scheduled, we hope to have all 36 holes open for play by October 12.

Through April we have played nearly 51,000 rounds year to date. Thanks to Greg Kriesch and his staff for the outstanding playing conditions they have provided all year.

The Summer Reciprocal program has begun and runs through the end of October. You will notice that many of the clubs continue to raise their rates. Heritage Palms has done so as well to stay comparable to the other clubs. As we see at HP, many clubs have more members staying year-round and their members book the most desirable morning tee times. Please remember to give us multiple club options, and a suitable time window as we try and book your requests. You can find a copy of the 2026 Reciprocal list on the Club’s website. The golf shop accepts reciprocal requests two weeks out, and we can book the times two days in advance. Please make sure you carry your membership card with you when you travel, and remember that you do represent Heritage Palms when playing these courses.

Mark your calendar for the following summer club golf events:

• Monday, May 25: Memorial Day Scramble

• Saturday, July 4: July 4th Scramble

• Monday, September 7: Labor Day Scramble

Also, this summer we’re hosting two FSGA golf events on June 18 and September 3. These events are open to all Heritage Palms members with GHIN handicaps in our system. Registration can be found online by going to FSGA.ORG.

I hope you all have a great summer of golf. I look forward to seeing you on the course.

WGA News

TERRI ANDERSON, WGA PRESIDENT THEHRLADYSYRACUSE@GMAIL.COM

WGA League play ended April 29 for the 2025-26 season. This year, 332 women enjoyed a variety of new and different games in addition to the regular games (best ball, match play, modified scramble). Some games were well received - a few not so much. Lesson learned for next season! But overall, members enjoyed playing a different game each week.

The first ever WGA March “Pick a Partner” event was a great success, not only for the winning teams, but for all attendees. Tournament Directors Mary Previte and Assistant Susan Fraser put together a wide variety of raffles for a “table draw” and “shopper’s choice” prizes. WGA cutting boards, ball retrievers, mystery gift cards, tote bags, golf balls, and umbrellas were just a few of the prizes people walked away with. From member feedback, it looks like the “Pick a Partner” format will be making a second appearance for the 2026-27 season!

The year-end closing reception was held April 7, with league awards presented and the installation of the 2026-27 officers. Many thanks to departing Board members Mary Previte, Tournament Director; Kathy Blagoue, Treasurer; and Barbara Haberer,

Handicap Director. It was such a joy and honor to work with each of them as we engaged and encouraged all members to learn more about the WGA.

Special thanks to Annie Kajander who chaired the mentorship committee for the past few years, reaching out to and matching new members with WGA mentors.

As I am preparing to return to Kennett Square, PA it’s hard NOT to reflect on how fortunate I feel to be part of the WGA in a beautiful community like ours. Not only do we have two challenging golf courses, but a highly qualified Pro Shop staff, led by Bob Kelly, a very talented professional golf instructor, Christine Bonham (yes, I did take lessons this year, and yes, it did change my game!), a wide variety of first-class amenities, and beautiful sunshine as the icing on the cake!

My sincere thanks to the WGA Board, WGA members and volunteers, the HP community and staff who facilitated such a great 202526 season!

Happy golfing all. See you in October!

Swinging into Spring LNHGA News

KAREN JENSEN, LNHGA PRESIDENT 2026-27

KARENPISH@MSN.COM

The Ladies Nine Hole Golf Association (LNHGA) has been busy this spring. Our March Birdies & Blossoms luncheon kicked off a great day of golf with a pick-a-team event. It also offered us the opportunity to present a check for $10,000 to Brandi Macchia, the principal of Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School, our charity.

Our final luncheon of the season themed Diamonds and Daisies was held April 8, where our incoming Board will be installed.

L-R: BRANDI MACCHIA, PRINCIPAL; KATIE HALVERSON, ASST. PRINCIPAL; SUE NINK; AND JUDY PURCEL.

We’d like to thank all of the committee chairs and their teams who helped make our monthly luncheons and Fun nights a huge success.

Congratulations goes out to Christy Smith for her Hole-in-One on January 28 on Royal 14.

A special thank you goes to Judy Kent for taking on the role of LNHGA President for the last four years. Her dedication to the league has been invaluable and greatly appreciated by all of us. We expect she’ll be doing a lot more sewing in the coming year with all her free time!

Question 1

Do You Know the Rules?

DAVE KRAFT DKRAFT_SR@YAHOO.COM

You are playing hole number nine on the Royal Golf Course. You hit your second shot just short of the bunker in front of the green. When you arrive at your ball you noticed that one of the groups in front of you forgot to rake the bunker. Your third shot would be directly over the bunker that is not raked. Are you allowed to rake the bunker before your third stroke?

Answer to Question 1 “No”

Rule 8.1 You have to play the course as you find it. By raking the bunker, you would be improving your line of play. Penalty for breach of Rule 8.1 improving your line of play: General Penalty Two Strokes

Question 2

You are playing hole number nine on the Royal Golf Course. Your second shot ends up in the bunker in front of the green. Not being able to play towards the hole, you play your third stroke backwards towards the teeing area with the ball coming to rest outside the bunker. Are you allowed to improve your line of play by raking the bunker before your fourth stroke?

Question

3

You are playing hole number nine on the Royal Golf Course. Your second shot is in the bunker in front of the green. Your third shot you hit out of bounds. Out of bounds is a stroke and distance penalty, which means you will be dropping a ball in the bunker for your fifth stroke. Are you allowed to rake the bunker before you drop your ball for your fifth stroke?

Answers to Questions 2 & 3

“Yes” You are allowed to rake the bunker in questions 2 & 3

Rule 12.2b(3) No Restrictions After Ball is Played Out of Bunker

After a ball in a bunker is played and is outside the bunker, or a player has taken or intends to take relief outside the bunker, the player may:

• Touch sand in the bunker without penalty under Rule 12.2b(1), and

• Smooth sand in the bunker to care for the course without penalty under Rule 8.1a. This is true even if the ball comes to rest outside the bunker and:

• The player is required or allowed by the Rules to take stroke-and-distance relief by dropping a ball in the bunker, or

• The sand in the bunker is on the player’s line of play for the next stroke from outside the bunker.

Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: After raking a bunker here at Heritage Palms, the proper way to leave the rake is to leave most of the rake in the bunker, leaving about one foot of the handle outside the bunker.

Ace Faces

JOHN SHERRY

March 12, 2026

# 5 Royal

195 yards

3 wood

This is John’s 1st hole-inone!

MENDY HOLLINGSHEAD

March 13, 2026

# 14 Royal

91 yards

7 iron

This is Mendy’s 1st hole-inone! Mendy shared, “I was born on a Friday the 13th, and my mother was 13 days overdue when they induced her on that day in August 1971. So this is definitely my lucky day!”

TIM JOHNSON

March 19, 2026

# 14 Sabal

150 yards

6 Iron

This is Tim’s 2nd holein-one! His first HIO was on #3 Sabal on January 9, 2005. Tim said, “It was lots of fun getting my 2nd after 21 years trying!”

MIKE WILLAMAN

March 19, 2026

# 12 Royal

123 yards

7 Iron

This is Mike’s 1st hole-inone!

LINDA CAPPELLA

March 23, 2026

# 17 at Estero Country Club

78 yards

9 iron

This is Linda’s 2nd hole-in-one, but her 1 st in FL! She was playing in an invitational event and earned $50 for winning closest to the pin, as well as a plaque from Estero CC.

DENISE FIORINO

April 3, 2026

# 12 Royal

92 yards

6 iron

This is Denise’s 1st hole-in-one! She shared, “I was with my husband, Frank, and our friends Holly and Ralph Giordano, who are part of the HP community and have been part of my life since college. It was a great moment, and what made it even better was sharing it with the three of them. I think Holly actually shed a tear.”

DEBBIE EDWARDS

April 4, 2026

# 12 Royal

92 yards

7 hybrid

This is Debbie’s 2nd holein-one! Her first HIO was on #3 Royal in 2020.

Hardiness and Resilience

ANDREW WEINER WEINER@UKY.EDU

As I grow older, I become more aware of adversity. I witness good friends dying, other friends with significant health problems, people losing spouses and significant others while some struggle with financial burdens, i.e. supporting adult children. Although we all experience adversity, it seems that some let the stress associated with adversity wear us down, while others seem to cope much better with problems.

Why? Two words: hardiness and resilience.

Hardiness is a personality style, which is effective in resisting stress. It is comprised of three major dispositions: commitment, control and challenge.

• “Commitment” refers to a tendency to involve oneself in life activities and demonstrates an interest in the surrounding world.

• “Control” refers to the belief that one can influence the events in one’s life and acts in a manner, which reveals efforts in support of that belief.

• “Challenge” refers to a belief that change, rather than stability, is the normal mode of life, thus motivating one to seek opportunities for growth rather than guard against perceived threats to one’s security.

Hardiness helps us with resiliency or the ability to bounce back from adversity. Because a personality with high hardiness style resists the extreme detrimental effects of stress, the ability for that person to recover from adversity using skills and support systems, is less compromised. Thus, we say that a hardy person is extremely resilient. Unfortunately, hardiness is a personality construct, which means it cannot be directly observed. We don’t know for sure why some people are high in hardiness while others are low, but we can speculate that bio-physiological and behavioral factors influence how much hardiness a given person may possess. The most significant question to pose is “Can we identify what high hardiness people do, naturally or instinctively, and attempt to learn those skills?”

Let’s assume that you’re not blessed with a high level of hardiness. Is it possible for you to increase your resilience through learning new skills? The answer is “yes,” and using your emotional intelligence can help. People who are high in hardiness have good cognitive appraisal skills, and can put stressful circumstances into perspective, and interpret them in a less threatening manner. Optimistic appraisals of an event reduce the stressful impact

of the event and thus, are less likely to negatively impact health. The areas of emotional intelligence that can help us develop cognitive appraisal skills are emotional self-awareness, reality testing, self-actualization, stress tolerance, and optimism. Learning about these areas can increase your cognitive appraisal skill. People who are high in hardiness demonstrate a coping style known as “transformational coping,” an optimistic coping style that transforms stressful events into less stressful ones. At the level of action, those high in hardiness are believed to react to stressful events by increasing their interaction with them, trying to turn them into an advantage, and an opportunity for growth, and in that process, achieve some greater understanding. Those who are high in hardiness are good in accessing social support; they rely on friends and others to help with situations they find stressful. They do not withdraw and expect the world to come to them.

In summary, not all of us are blessed with a hardiness-type personality, thus we may experience the stress associated with painful events in more severe ways than those who are hardy. However, we can learn resiliency skills and use them to overcome adversity despite not being born “hardy.” Learning cognitive appraisal, behavioral coping, and social support building skills, can help tremendously.

The Doubles Tennis Match

A LEGENDARY SHOWDOWN OF 90-YEAR-OLD

CLARK BRODEN

CLARKBRODEN@GMAIL.COM

Billed as “The Doubles Tennis Match of the Century,” an extraordinary tennis event took place on St. Patrick’s Day at Heritage Palms, drawing several dozen spectators who packed the bleachers despite the cold and blustery weather. The match featured two teams of seasoned athletes, all aged 90 and above, representing Heritage Palms and Heritage Cove in a regular match of the Men’s 50 Plus Tennis League of Lee County.

The event was heavily publicized within HP. Coverage by a reporter from Gulf Coast News ensured the match reached even wider audiences, when an excerpt aired on the 11 p.m. newscast. The match’s highlight reel was later posted on YouTube, where it quickly went viral, showcasing the remarkable skills and spirit of the players.

Competing for HP were Bob “Stick” Gerlicher, 91, and Ron “Bullet” Morrison, 90. Their challengers from Heritage Cove were Don “Spaghetti” Picard, 90, and Mort “Lightning” Levy, 92. Despite their age, these still very skilled players demonstrated agility, precision, and determination in a fiercely competitive match that lasted almost an hour and a half.

The home crowd was treated to an entertaining and close contest. Gerlicher and Morrison ultimately defeated Picard and Levy with scores of 4-6, 6-4, and 10-8 in a

Match of the Century

90-YEAR-OLD CHAMPIONS

THE VICTORS (L-R): RON MORRISON AND BOB GERLICHER.

super tiebreaker. The match was not only a testament to their talent, but also to their enduring passion for the sport.

After the match, the winners received a Trophy Cup and “gold” medals, while the runners-up received a Flying Fish award, symbolizing “sleeping with the fishes” until next year. In a lighthearted gesture, Bob Gerlicher also presented Mort and Don with a broken racquet, all in good fun and sportsmanship.

Beyond the competition, the event highlighted tennis as a lifelong sport. Ron

Morrison reflected, “It doesn’t matter what age you are; you can still play tennis.” His partner, Bob Gerlicher, added, “It was fun to play in front of the home crowd. It really helped a lot.” Their remarks captured the inspiring message of the day: with good health and determination, tennis can be enjoyed well into one’s later years.

Ted Corcoran, HP resident and co-captain of the HP 50’s team, organized the event and plans to make it an annual tradition for any Men’s Team player who reaches the age of 90. He introduced the players as “versions of the Bryan Brothers, just a little older.” The day ended on a high note, as Corcoran’s team won all four matches to finish in first place in their division.

Fort Myers Theatres’ Upcoming Productions

JANE BREISCH, EDITOR

Here are three Fort Myers regional theatre offerings to entertain you in the coming month(s).

Florida Repertory Theatre, 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers. The FL Rep is celebrating their 28th season as “one of America’s top repertory theatres” according to the Wall Street Journal. Check their website at https://www.floridarep.org for tickets for the following shows:

• Denise Fennell’s The Bride: Or, Does This Dress Make Me Look Married?

By Rick Pasqualone

Continues through May 10, 2026

ArtStage Studio Theatre

Tour-de-force actress Denise Fennel, the scrappy Sister from last summer’s “Late Nite Catechism,” tackles the meaning of love, life, and the ritual of marriage. Drawing inspiration from her own life – and the advice of the audience – “The Bride” tackles the decision of a lifetime: Will she, or won’t she?

• Florida Rep’s PlayLab - A festival of new works. Historic Arcade Theatre

Continues through May 3. 2026.

Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers (only 20 minutes from HP!).

Started by FL Repertory Theatre founders Bob Cacioppo and Carrie Lund, Players Circle is in its eighth season. Check their website at https://www.playerscircle.org. for tickets for the following shows:

• I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti By Giulia Melucci

Continues through May 3

This tasty comedy invites you into Giulia’s kitchen as she recounts a string of botched romances and failed love affairs while preparing a home cooked meal.

• Same Time, Next Year By Bernard Slade May 22 – June 7; previews May 19 – 21

One of the most popular romantic comedies of the last century, Same Time, Next Year ran four years on Broadway, winning multiple Tony Awards. The plot follows a love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, who rendezvous once a year. Twenty-five years of manners and morals are hilariously and touchingly played out by the lovers.

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 239-278-4422. Check their website at https://broadwaypalm. com/. for tickets for the following shows:

• All Shook Up – Featuring the Songs of Elvis Presley Continues through May 16, 2026

• The Sounds of 1967 – A Summer that Changed Everything May 22 to June 20, 2026

• The Wizard Z June 26 to August 8, 2025