The herons glens - June 2024

Resident Spotlight – Tom Donoghue

By Sue McCoy, Herons Glen

Photo By Denise Johnson, Herons Glen

Tom Donoghue is retiring from his long-held position as president of Hearts & Homes for Veterans (HHV). His letter to the residents of Herons Glen is included along with this article. The editorial staff of out more about Tom and the HHV organization.

Tom and his wife, Mary, are originally from Milton, Mass., where Tom worked as a tech manager for the Buick Motor Division of General Motors. Tom and Mary have been married for almost 55 years and have four children and nine grandchildren. They built their house in The Glen in 2001 then moved here full-time in 2003. Tom enjoys golf, NASCAR, and jigsaw puzzles. He is also a longstanding member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Veterans of the Glen (VOG), and a cohead usher at St. Therese Catholic Church.

Tom originally became involved with Hearts & Homes for Veterans about 13 years ago when Don Payton, a fellow member of VVA, had the idea to do something to help veterans who were struggling to get back on their feet. He approached Tom about helping and he has been a key part of the organization ever since. The group is established as a charitable organization and their mission statement is:

“Hearts and Homes for Veterans Inc. assists homeless, and low-income veterans in South Florida. Our goal is to help veterans out of poverty and improve their quality of life.” HHV relies heavily on donated items, fundraising and individual monetary donors. The Glen has been involved with HHV almost since the beginning with individuals donating

The King Of Instruments

By Linda Lynch, Herons Glen

by Richard Hensler (son-in-law)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart once said, “To my eyes and ears, the organ will ever be the king of instruments.” Herons Glen resident August (Augie) Spagnolo might appreciate the sentiment.

At the age of 6 or 7, Augie would occasionally accompany his parents to a neighborhood bar in Pittsburgh, the city where he grew up. At the bar, Augie was mesmerized by the accordion player.

Augie started piano lessons at 8 years of age and then took lessons for both piano and the accordion. At age 12 he began playing the piano for Sunday school at his Lutheran church and continued doing that until the end of high school. Augie also played in a jazz and pop combo with five other high school musicians.

Augie was exposed to a church organ at around age 17. While he took a few seminars for organ playing, Augie is mostly self-taught, and he played at his Lutheran church off and on.

After college, Augie worked in the Pittsburgh public school system for 35 years, first as a science teacher and then as an administrator. He got married, and because his wife was a Catholic, Augie converted. When the pastor at his new church expressed interest in involving him in the parish, Augie’s wife suggested that the parish tap into his musical talents. Two weeks later Augie was playing the organ at Sunday services.

The current church organist retired a month later, so Augie was given the job and was also offered the position of music director. Within five years he had built a 50-plus person choir. He played and directed at that church for 21 years.

In the meantime, Augie got divorced from his first wife and met his current wife, Pat. Once he and Pat were married, Augie moved 30 miles away. He kept working at the original

their time, household goods and money. Eventually almost every group and club in The Glen became involved in helping this vital project with donations, fundraisers and more. Both Tom and the entire organization are incredibly grateful for all the assistance provided by residents of The Glen. If you are interested in volunteering, donating household goods or money, or sponsoring a fundraiser, please call the HHV main number at (239) 674-1719. HHV volunteers will pick up donated household goods and can include appliances, furniture, kitchen items, bicycles and electric scooters. They do not accept mattresses, sleeper sofas, or pillows. If you have a working vehicle that you would like to donate (and take a hefty tax break) please consider doing so; it can be life-changing to someone without any transportation.

How To Keep Up When You’re Away From The Glen

If you aren’t in the Glen, you can still access an online version of The Heron, our monthly community newspaper.

• Go to hggcc.com.

• Across the top, place your cursor over “HG Links.”

• Then scroll down to the second item, “Homeowner’s Assoc.”

• From there scroll down the left side of the page, almost to the bottom, where it says “Electronic Newspaper (Archive of Past Heron Newspapers).”

• Click on the image of the newspaper and you’ll be brought to the archives with a year’s worth of issues.

• Click on whichever month’s paper you’re interested in and you can keep up with what’s going on in the community.

Door to door delivery service for The Heron monthly newspaper will stop for the foreseeable future. The newspaper staff is sorry for this unfortunate but necessary inconvenience. Until further notice, the newspaper will be available for pickup at the following locations (and electronically on the HOA website):

HOA Office (on outside table)

HGRD Office

Pro Shop

Library (Card Room B)

Fitness Center

Article Deadlines For The

Heron

Issue Month/Year Date Due To The Heron

July 2024 Saturday, June 15

August 2024 Sunday, July 20

Articles should be sent to HGNewspaper@gmail.com

Articles for The Heron may be dropped off or mailed to The HOA Office, 2250 Herons Glen Blvd., N. Fort Myers, FL 33917 or emailed to hgnewspaper@gmail.com.

Transportation

By Jack Cotter, Herons Glen

The Veterans of the Glen Outreach Committee and Friends Helping Friends Transportation Committee have joined in a partnership to help Herons Glen residents who are in need of transportation for medical appointments, prescription pickup, grocery shopping or some other essential transportation need. Please do not call for rides to/from airport.

Beginning in May, residents may call a volunteer from the following list (Note: A 24-hour advanced notice would be very helpful.)

Jack Cotter (860) 490-2183 (Committee Chair)

Kathleen Colletti (239) 822-1573

Trish Chesnov (631) 334-1315

Nick Dinoto (301) 807-4580

Bruce Johnson (716) 472-3860

Jim Noffsinger (270) 881-7640

Dave Wingert (573) 552-2030

Mike Zarella (541) 292-2714

Thank You Delivery Volunteers

Through the years there have been numerous volunteers who have delivered The Heron newspaper to each door in Herons Glen. As our delivery service ends, we would like to call out the name of each of our current volunteers to say a

Nancy and Bill Apple

Bill Bennett

Kim Bock

Nancy Brown

Jim Bushdorf

Bob Castellanos

Kathleen Colletti

Pat Crouse

John and Joan Darcy

Alex and Linda Easton

Art Fredenburg

Karen and Dale Green

Kim Hamilton

Shirley Hrabar

Lew Iffland

Bruce Johnson

Janet Kerns

Butch and Charleen Kohut

Jerry Lewis

Eileen Mahan

Sean and Dave McDonald

Terry McElfresh

Community News

HOA And HGRD Schedule Of Meetings

The following is a listing of HOA and HGRD meetings known at the time of publication. As these to change, please check the Herons Glen website calendar and the community channel for updates.

Calendar Of HOA Meetings June 11 To July

All committee meetings are via Zoom/HOA Conference Room unless noted otherwise.

6/11 Architectural Review Committee, 9 a.m.

6/12 Board Meeting, 5 p.m.

6/13 Grounds Committee, 1 p.m.

6/19 Communications Committee, 1 p.m.

6/25 Architectural Review Committee, 9 a.m.

6/27 Finance Committee, 1:30 p.m.

7/2 Board Workshop, 1 p.m.

7/9 Architectural Review Committee, 9 a.m.

7/10 Board Meeting, 5 p.m.

7/11 Grounds Committee, 1 p.m.

7/17 Communications Committee, 1 p.m.

7/23 Architectural Review Committee, 9 a.m.

7/25 Finance Committee, 1:30 p.m.

job well done. In addition, we want to thank the many subs who supported these volunteers as needed. A special thank you to Rick and Pat Scharf for leading these volunteers –everyone’s efforts have been most appreciated!

Tony McGarry

Maryanne Nolan

Gene Noll

Duane Parkinson

Gary Pasche

Jim and Sue Perkins

Marla Pierce

Ruth Poster

Walter Query

Kim Roerk

Laura Rosen

Terry Rosen

Carol Ross

Kathy Schell

Gloria Selander

Jim Stone

Dan Storie

Joan White

Jeanne Winans

Gary Wright

Calendar Of HGRD Meetings June 11 To July

All committee meetings are via Zoom/Card Room C unless noted otherwise.

6/10 Budget Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

6/11 Budget Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

6/12 Budget Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

6/13 Budget Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

6/14 Board Meeting, 9 a.m.

7/1 Golf Committee, 9 a.m.

7/15 Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

7/22 Board Meeting, 9:30 a.m.

In Memoriam

John Brosnan

Carlo Corlito

Howard Gross

Roger Holdridge

Al Marino

Ed Schroeder

Welcome

Barbara and Patrick Callaghan

Kathleen and Charles Gehring

Sandra and John Harper

Tonia and David Herman

Stacy and William Johnson

Joan and William Lynch

Ellen and Gary Olson

Sarah and Paul Schell

Gregory Smewtkowski

Mark Verdone

Jodi and Stephen Wooldridge

Coming Soon

Community Activities

First Cornhole Tournament

By Sue McCoy, Herons Glen

Photos by Denise Fell, Herons Glen

The inaugural cornhole tournament at Herons Glen, sponsored by the HGRD Resident Events Committee, was held on Sunday, May 19. The afternoon was filled with excitement, featuring cornhole, food trucks, ice cream and music by Paul Lowe.

The tournament was set up as a single-elimination, blind draw competition. Eighty-two participants were randomly paired with partners enabling a more arbitrary competition while fostering new friendships. Open Play lanes were also available for those not competing

and offering a chance to learn the game. Our Master of Ceremonies Steve Christiansen was outstanding keeping the group on track and on time. We even had our very own cornhole cheerleaders! Refreshments were available throughout the day with two food trucks: Scoop Me Up and Outside the Lunchbox.

After a fun and competitive afternoon of play, the winning teams were determined. First place bragging rights went to Terry McElfresh and Chris Taylor. Second

place was awarded to Don Vanover and Julie Byrne with third place going to Nancy Sundberg and Gordon Wagoner. Due to the great participation in the tournament as well as the number of people who expressed interest in more cornhole, the organizers are going to propose having it as an amenity at Herons Glen. We have a preliminary location for the games to take place and we have made the HGRD Board aware of our intentions.

To take it to the next step they need four people (a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer) to create a Board and then manage the league. If you are interested in seeing cornhole as a permanent resident activity, get involved and volunteer to help. Please contact Denise Fell at DeniseFell3@gmail.com or Shelly Christiansen at Tyrytory@yahoo.com.

Catholic church for two more years, but the distance was too much.

He had been practicing at a closer Catholic church and was then offered a job there. He spent five years at the second Catholic church and re-energized the choir from 12 participants to 35.

When he retired from teaching, he took a break from a full-time music director position to travel and then came to Florida with Pat. They rented for several years before buying in Herons Glen. In Florida, Augie once again began playing the organ, accompanying the choirs in several different Catholic parishes.

Eventually he moved to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he has been for 16 years and is currently the organist and music director. Augie and Pat reside in Herons Glen for eight months of the year and spend four months at Conneaut Lake, Pa., about 100 miles from Pittsburgh. At Conneaut Lake, Augie has played the organ at several different churches, including a Methodist church and a Presbyterian church.

Augie loves the organ and serving as music director, and he still derives much pleasure from the piano. He admits that although he enjoys many types of music, he is somewhat partial to sacred music.

At almost 85 years old, Augie’s affinity with church music and his beloved organ, the king of instruments, has lasted for over 70 years. He is fortunate to have discovered a way to make his musical passion such a long-lasting part of his life.

Community Interests

It’s Hurricane Season And Time To Be Prepared!

By Linda Lynch, Herons Glen

With recent memories of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian in Lee County, it becomes ever more important to be prepared for hurricane season in Florida. And since hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, the time is already here.

Ben Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” But what does being prepared actually mean? Well, reading through this entire article is a step in the right direction as you start getting ready for whatever powerful summer weather comes our way.

One reliable source of detailed information that you can access at the HOA website is the Herons Glen Emergency Preparedness Plan issued by the Security, Safety, and Emergency Preparedness (SSEP) Committee. Here is the direct link: http://hggcc.com/hghoa/pdfs/community_info/ emergency_plan.pdf.

This Herons Glen plan incorporates information from Lee County (also available at their website, http:/leegov.com/ hurricane). Additional information is also available through the State of Florida in conjunction with the National Weather Service at their website, http://weather.gov/safety/hurricaneplan or you can create a detailed and specific plan at https:// www.floridadisaster.org/family-plan/, a service provided by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Regardless of what information you consult and your degree of pre-planning, it is necessary to realize that being prepared will take time and energy on your part and really must be done before a hurricane strikes so you already know what you need to know and do.

Prior to the arrival of a storm, it is the responsibility of all residents of Herons Glen to prepare and secure their own property. If you are a winter season resident, your house and yard need to be prepared for the possibility of a storm or hurricane before you leave. This includes assuring your yard and porches are free of any loose objects, such as grills and pottery, that could be blown about by high winds. Securing your windows with storm shutters before you depart is also highly recommended.

For year-round/summer residents of Herons Glen, there are a few more steps in your hurricane preparation:

• Be sure to have a full tank of gas in your car.

• Put aside a gallon of drinking water per person per day of need.

• Assemble a first aid kit.

• Check to assure you have needed prescription drugs and any special medical equipment.

• Have a battery-operated radio and a flashlight available, both with spare batteries.

• Fully charge your cell phone and consider an additional battery pack or power bank.

• Provision canned and nonperishable food and drink items.

• Gather eating utensils, a manual can opener, sanitary care items (toilet paper, etc.), mosquito repellent, plastic bags and containers, and bleach.

• Compile copies of your homeowners insurance policies, other important papers (wills, checkbook, tax information, credit cards, etc.), and proof of residency (driver’s license with Herons Glen address, tax receipt, utility bills).

• Consider keeping some cash on hand.

If you have a pet, securely fasten up-to-date identification on the pet’s collar, carry a photo for identification purposes, have a pet carrier (or leash or harness) to secure the pet if needed, pack food and water, and gather immunization records and medications. The Heron’s Glen SSEP Plan provides additional tips related to pets. In the event of a mandatory evacuation, Lee County will designate a cat- and dog-friendly evacuation center.

It is each individual’s responsibility to comply with voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders. Evacuation decisions are made by the local government based on the severity and characteristics of a storm. Notification is provided through numerous TV and radio stations. Herons Glen lies in Lee County Evacuation Zone D.

The Herons Glen HOA will also notify residents by email news bulletins, text messaging, community channel, and the official HOA Bulletin Board. It is a good idea to think through an evacuation route in advance, but you’ll need to consider the most current local information before heading out.

If you evacuate, be sure to let family or friends know where you are headed, as well as the HOA or HGRD or security. For those unable to leave the area, Lee County provides shelter at the North Fort Myers Academy of the Arts (1856 Arts Way) and the North Fort Myers Recreation Center (2000 N. Recreation Park Way off of Business 41, near the library). Information about when it is safe to return to Herons Glen will be provided via TV and radio.

Jeannie lived with her parents. She was only 14 years old and Johnny was 10 years her elder. Most folks in the community paid no attention to their age gap, including Jeannie’s parents. Johnny was very pleased with their understanding and acceptance. But when some church groups learned of this relationship, they were deeply concerned. However, there was something they were unaware of, and it would soon prove to be a huge embarrassment to them later on. Their assumption would prove to be the laugh of the town.

Ben Franklin also said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While you can’t prevent a hurricane, you can prevent or mitigate many of the problems that result from one. As residents who stayed during Ian learned, being prepared, helping each other, and sharing information is the best way to maximize each household’s safety.

Johnny And Jeannie

By Jack Nelson, Herons Glen

Johnny Rodgers had a very stressful job. He was manager of a supermarket chain in a busy city in central Florida, and was constantly on the go. To relieve his stress, later in the afternoon every day, he visited the local park where he’d rendezvous under a large live oak tree with his close friend, Jeannie. She was beautiful, and with long flowing red hair, she was a sight for sore eyes. They were a gorgeous couple.

Herons Glen Award-Winning Quilts

By Linda Lynch, Herons Glen

In a recent issue of the newspaper, we included an article lauding the quilters in Herons Glen who had been awarded ribbons at the 14th Biennial Quilt Show which was held in March. This event was sponsored by the Southwest Florida Quilters Guild (SWFQG) and took place at the Charlotte Event Center in Punta Gorda. At the time the original article was published, no photos were available.

This has since been rectified and shown here is a photo of some of the quilters and the quilts that were exhibited in Dianne

Johnnie and Jeannie couldn’t care less about other people butting in on their affairs. He just laughed it off, and he continued their afternoon trysts totally unabashed. Reverend Jackson of the local United Methodist Church was well aware of Johnny and Jeannie’s relationship, and gave them his blessing. Anyone as deeply in love, as Johnny and Jeannie were with each other, should be accepted by the community, and the couple’s age difference didn’t faze the reverend in the least.

But the church groups persisted with their disapproval, still unaware of the facts, and were appalled with Johnny and Jeannie’s connection. They maliciously spread the news to national media, and TV newscasters across the country were airing this bizarre story. But the negative publicity didn’t bother Johnny or Jeannie at all. He continued to see her every afternoon.

On a Monday morning in mid-April, Johnny decided to invite members of the church groups to join him and Jeannie in the park. He even invited the local news media. He wanted to show them that his connection with Jeannie was on the up-and-up. He didn’t apprise Jeannie of his actions because he knew she wouldn’t care. By mid-afternoon the park was jammed with people from all corners of the country, including students from the local high school. The principal didn’t want them to miss out on this extraordinary event. It would be treated as a field trip.

And there they were, sitting next to each other under the live oak, with Johnny holding Jeannie’s paw. She was the most beautiful Irish setter in the world!

Once again, we congratulate these talented women and celebrate their beautiful quilts.

ADA Members Roam ECHO Farms

By Denise Johnson, Herons Glen

by Sandy Croft, Herons Glen

Several members of Alpha Delta Alpha Sorority received a 90-minute private tour of ECHO Farms off Bayshore Road on April 25. A very knowledgeable docent led us through five acres of lush foliage, flowers and trees (gigantic, not your Herons Glen variety!). These many “forests” included plants native not only to Florida, but also to countries around the world. We were allowed to try samples of several edible plants. We learned about different cultures and how ECHO Farms provides training to men and women in agricultural and

water filtration systems to sustain their immediate family and eventually providing for others. This is a wonderful organization aiding in irradicating hunger and thirst around the world. Following the tour, the group “pigged out” at Hogbody’s for a great barbecue lunch before returning home.

Traveling Abroad

By Sarah Schoon, Herons Glen

There have been a few times when my husband and I have traveled beyond the borders of the United States, most recently to Canada. Since you don’t have to cross an ocean, it doesn’t seem as daunting as visiting the United Kingdom. This is our year to do just that.

For me it is the trip of a lifetime. While I can’t name a specific region, I am fairly certain that my ancestors came to the United States from Ireland and Scotland, maybe England too. I wish that I had done more research into my family history, but I got lazy. When I am in Herons Glen there is just so much other fun stuff that I want to do. I love researching, but it does take considerable time.

We have both received plenty of tips from other travelers: pack a raincoat; don’t dress like you are going to the gym; carry some local currency. There were other tips as well. My major concern has been the question of food. Will it not be to my liking?

I have a long history of being a picky eater. A friend of ours confessed that she is too, and on her trip to the United Kingdom, she replied, “Well, I didn’t lose any weight.” That is not exactly reassuring, but it is humorous. Another friend told me that there are almost always vegetarian options, thanks to the Beatles. I would pack a box of cereal, but I can’t spare the space.

Despite the minor concerns, as we travel across the ocean, I will be thinking about what my relatives must have felt leaving their homeland for new opportunities. My worries seem small in comparison.

residents listed with the HOA Office. These issues affect every property owner, their renters, vendors and guests. The articles are intended to help residents better understand the actual requirements for our restricted community and may also include safety information. Reading about and understanding these issues could eliminate an escalation of problems that may result in potential fines. If you have questions about a subject, you can locate the full article from the bottom left link on the HOA website at http://hggcc.com/hghoa/files/office_news.html, then Click the link titled HOA News Bulletins, EXTRA! EXTRA! Or you can see the issues listed by date in the middle of the web page under HG HOA News from Management.

• May 17 – Post Light Maintenance Standards and Owner Responsibilities; Fiber Optics Installation by CenturyLink/ Quantum Fiber; Emergency Contact Information for the HOA; New Herons Glen HOA Text Messaging Service

• May 10 – Hurricane Preparedness Information from SSEP; HGRD Community Lot Irrigation System (CLIS) Information; Links to Architectural Design & Development Guidelines and Related Standards and to Grounds Community Wide Landscape Standards and Related Standards

• April 26 – HOA Volunteer Forms & Committees

• April 19 – Alligators and Mating Season Information; Help Wanted for Herons Glen Newspaper Delivery Coordinator; Herons Glen HOA 3rd Quarter Assessment Fees

• April 12 – Bark Avenue Extravaganza

• April 5 – SSEP Safety Tip for Gutters to Protect Your Home from Wildfire

Please keep this reference guide in a location that’s easy for you to find when needed.

Herons Glen Golf and Country Club website: http://hggcc.com

Herons Glen Homeowners Association website: http://heronsglenhoa.org

Herons Glen Recreation District website: https://heronsglencc.com

Herons Glen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeronsGlen

HOA weekly bulletin emails and online: http://www.hggcc.com/hghoa/files/office_news.html

HGRD weekly newsletter emails and online: https://heronsglencc.com/group/pages/communications The Heron newspaper online: http://hggcc.com/hghoa/files/newspaper.htm Community TV Channels 901 and 902

Sunday, June 16

Lady Niners Attend KISS Event

By Denise Johnson, Herons Glen

Six members of the Lady Niners attended Colonial Golf and Country Club’s KISS (Keep It Simple Summer) event on May 7. While sitting in I-75 southbound traffic for what seemed like an interminable amount of time, we were reminded of yet another reason to be glad we are retired – no early morning traffic! Upon arriving, Colonial registered 104 ladies from 16 Lee County golf courses. The ladies caught up with each other, practiced a little, then played a scramble of nine holes. The ladies were split into groups between holes 1 through 9 and holes 10 through 18. The course was in great shape and everyone had a good time playing. Thank goodness Colonial ladies led us through the lay of the greens. There were several challenging hole placements. As the golfers finished playing, they all met in the ballroom for a fantastic buffet lunch and dessert.

We all wished each other well and expressed hopes of seeing one another at a future scheduled KISS event this summer and fall.

Butterfly Garden Blooms

By Becky Gignac, Herons Glen

Without these beautiful blooms (and this is just a sample), the Butterfly Garden would not have the ever-present butterflies. Too bad these various winged beauties would not hold still long enough for this photo shoot.

May 31 – June 22

Jump and jive with over 30 songs from the Big Band Era! Swing exploded out of Harlem and shattered cultural and ethnic barriers and now you can relive the dance phenomenon that swept the world. This all singing, all dancing extravaganza features It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, In The Mood, Sing Sing Sing, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Cry Me A River, Bounce Me Brother and more.

June 28 - August 10

Everyone’s favorite nanny is back! Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she helps teach the family how to value each other again. Mary Poppins is an enchanting mixture of an irresistible story, breathtaking dance numbers and unforgettable songs such as Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Dates may be subject to change.

The Butterfly Garden Committee has put many hours of work into this project so please take a few minutes to walk through this amazing garden. You will not be disappointed.

Hoist the Jolly Roger there be treasure out there.

Come on board starting June 1st to enter for a chance to win an authentic “Piece of eight”

Eight Treasure coins* will be given away starting Friday, July 5th, with one LUCKY Scalawag every Friday, for eight weeks.

Eight coin giveaways from Friday, July 5th until August 23rd. (*Authentic silver 2 reale coin per winner, no purchase necessary)

Join us to look over all the jewels and sparkling treasures while sipping a bit of grog and enjoying special offers throughout the store.