Landings Mag MAR 2026

On The Cover

On Friday, January 23, McCoy Pavilion at Picnic Pointe was dedicated in honor of Charles, widely known as Charlie, McCoy. Charlie has been a resident of The Landings since 1998.

Charlie is a well-known and hugely respected musician who has won honors throughout his long and storied career. Perhaps the best thing about Charlie and his wife Pat, is that they are kind and generous neighbors who give willingly of their time and talents. Landings residents are blessed to have them here.

Please

Vote by Mail Update

If you are a Florida resident and prefer to vote by mail, you must register again to vote in the August 3 primary and November 26 elections. ALL previous vote by mail registrations have been discarded by the State of Florida.

A driver’s license or other legal identification is required to reregister at the Election Center at 13180 S. Cleveland Ave., located directly behind Robb & Stucky on U.S. 41 across from Bell Tower. You can also request your vote by mail ballot online by visiting Lee.Vote and clicking on Vote By Mail.

McCoy Pavilion at Picnic Pointe

Dedication

On a sunny afternoon in late January, a crowd gathered for the official dedication of McCoy Pavilion at Picnic Pointe. The Pavilion is named in honor of Charlie McCoy. Formally named Charles Ray McCoy, he is known as Charlie to everyone.

New people at The Landings may not be aware that a renowned and award-winning musician lives here with his wife Pat. Charlie won a Grammy at the 15th Annual awards for his album, “The Real McCoy.” He also earned two CMA Awards and seven Academy of Country Music honors.

Charlie wrote a song about The Landings after Hurricane Ian, called “Where We Landed.” Although the hurricane did tremendous damage, the owls that were on the roof of Wheelhouse Grille somehow managed to survive. Charlie was given one of the owls to thank him for the music and lyrics he wrote and performed in 2023.

Charlie played with a host of famous people throughout his career. He is perhaps best known for his harmonic solo that appears on the recording “Candy Man” by Roy Orbison, which begins with Charlie playing harmonica. The song was originally released as

the B side to “Crying” in July 1961 but went on to be a hit on its own. Thanks to YouTube, interested listeners can hear it at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=HE2aDDSV4rg

Charlie is known as a prolific session musician for good reason. He performed on many recordings by well-known artists including Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings and Loretta Lynn. Indeed, Charlie performed on eight of the soundtracks for Elvis’s movies.

The harmonica is not the only instrument Charlie plays. On Presley’s 1965 “Harum Scarum” soundtrack album, he played guitar, organ, and vibraphone in addition to harmonica.

Charlie also played trumpet on Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 and 35,” saxophone on Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman,” and bass harmonica on Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” Charlie’s talent wasn’t limited to playing music. For 19 years, he was the music director for the television show “Hee Haw.”

What’s perhaps most amazing is that with all this acclaim, Charlie has remained humble and accessible. Riverside resident and musician Jim Willis had this to say about his friend: “He’s the easiest professional I’ve ever performed with. He’s always the most prepared, and always patient, kind and encouraging. He makes everyone feel comfortable and special.”

One of Charlie’s most recent performances came when he sat in with the Crossroads Band on January 30. More than 150 people came to the Lumber Axe Bar & Grill on Colonial Boulevard. Charlie played harmonica and sang a few songs, much to the delight of the crowd.

Charlie McCoy’s Steamboat Bend neighbors serenaded him with a rousing rendition of “Happy Trails to You.”

The audience agreed that it’s a lucky day when the musician entertaining you is a member of the Country Music

Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2007 into the Musicians Hall of Fame as part of a group of session musicians called “The Nashville A-Team.” He was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Vince Gill and was inducted by Larry Gatlin in 2022.

Although Charlie is normally the entertainer, the tables were turned at the dedication. His neighbors at Steamboat Bend started singing “Happy Trails to You,” the song that ended their community gatherings. Four neighbors at a time began singing with additional groups of four joining in until all the neighbors were serenading him. That was a fitting tribute to the man who had entertained his neighbors so well for so long.

CATHY WEBB

Golf Corner

MARK WEHRMAN, PGA, DIRECTOR OF GOLF

PRACTICE YOUR SHORT GAME

As I have been conducting more short game clinics recently, I’ve had a little time to practice my own game. Spending time around the green always reminds me of the importance of having a good short game. Being competent on and around the green will free up the rest of your game including the most important part, the mental game we all play while golfing. Having a good short game frees your game and your mind.

When you miss a green in regulation and you don’t have confidence chipping and pitching the ball, you immediately start panicking about your next shot. You will get over the ball and start thinking about the technique versus visualizing the landing area and the end result. Knowing you are going to strike the ball crisp and give yourself a putt for par will free up the tension and uncertainty in your mind. Not having that pressure will bring out your best golf.

Practice chipping to improve your game.

Over 60 percent, roughly two-thirds, of your shots come on or around the green. This means that if you are going to spend an hour practicing, then more than half of your time should be spent on or around the green. Hitting two baskets of balls with your driver is NOT the best use of your time. For example, I have had some of my best scoring rounds when I was not striking the ball very well, but my short game was on that day. I have also had some great ball striking rounds but didn’t score very well because I wasn’t chipping it close to the hole and the putts weren’t falling.

So, do yourself a favor and treat the shots around the green very seriously. Take your time practicing the shots. Use a lot of imagination and get creative with club selection. Make sure to always pick a landing area and focus on that spot when making your practice swings. Only use as much loft as needed to execute the shot. The longer the ball stays in the air the higher the degree of difficulty. My philosophy has always been to get the ball on the ground as quickly as possible.

A good drill to use when practicing is to take 10 balls and chip them from various spots and different lies around the green. Then go finish out each shot by putting the ball in the hole. Keep track of your total score. To gauge your performance, consider the tour average for getting up and down from off the green is approximately 65 percent. If you can get up and down at least half of the time I promise you will start seeing lower scores.

Almost two-thirds of golf shots are played around the green.

Hitting the ball on the green and two putting for par is fun but getting up and down for par from off the green is the same score on the scorecard and just as rewarding. Knowing you will chip it close will free up your full swing and your putting stroke.

Chess and Checkers Club News

JOHN WINTERS

Let’s start with a poem:

CHESS WIDOW

By Anonymous

As you stare at the pieces on the board, I wonder how to get your attention toward ME!

Knights, Kings, Bishops, Pawns, You move them slowly sometimes till dawn. A chess widow must be my fate, Gosh, I hope you’ll soon have check mate!

The poem expresses an oldfashioned view about chess: That it’s only a man’s game. I’m hearing increasingly that wives are asking their husbands to teach them chess. We have several women members in our club. Chess is too much fun to keep it only for men. Women need to experience this fun with us.

It was popular in the ’50s and ’60s to apply a Freudian interpretation to explain why boys at about the

age of 14 became interested in chess. The interpretation has been completely debunked. In fact, it is a little crazy. Still, it is interesting to be aware of it as part of chess history. The interpretation says that a young boy sublimates the playing of chess to think he is killing his father (the King). The young boy has an Oedipus complex where he fanaticizes himself as competing with his father for the affections of his mother.

How would you explain the recent upsurge in interest among girls and women?

The Chess Club meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Helm Club Ladies’ Lounge. All players, from beginners to those seeking a challenge, are welcome to attend.

WHAT IS SYNCOPE?

The Wellness Corner

LOIS HULSE

Syncope refers to a condition in which a person temporarily loses consciousness. Syncope may also be called fainting or passing out. It is caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain. This can happen for a variety of reasons.

Most causes of syncope are not dangerous. It can be triggered by things such as needle sticks, seeing blood, pain, or intense emotion. However, syncope can also be a sign of a serious medical problem, such as a heart abnormality. Other causes may include dehydration, migraine headaches, or taking medication that lowers blood pressure.

Your health care provider will do tests to find the reason why you are having syncope. Talk with your health care provider about your symptoms. Stay well hydrated and avoid prolonged standing.

Always get help if you faint, hit your head or are injured, if you have irregular

heartbeats, chest pain, or shortness of breath, have a seizure, severe headaches, vision problems, or trouble walking. These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Get medical help right away.

PROTECT YOURSELF!

A recent event at The Landings serves as a good reminder that if you are walking, running, exercising or outdoors alone always carry identification that at a minimum contains your name, address, phone number and emergency contact. If you have health issues, especially heart disease, diabetes or other significant health risks, including that information (stents, bypass surgery, insulin dependence) can be an enormous help if emergency services are required. A list of medications and allergies would be helpful too.

Ladies’ 9-Holer Golf

DEBRA BATES

What a busy season we are experiencing. January events included a mystery hole scramble where a hole was eliminated on the front and back nine. Some lucky groups may have been able to eliminate their worst hole. Team members Pam Grusz, Donna Hendricks, Ruth Hockert and Susie Duca took first place on the front nine. On the back nine, the winning team included Dee Bellar, Mary Greenberg, Kathy Langton and Joyce Eichenberger. Closest to the pin were Suzanne McGauley on #1 and Joyce Eichenberger on #11. Congratulations to the winning teams.

Winners of the President’s Cup event were (from left): Linda Schmidt, Karen Erickson, Betty Kollar, Joan Woodford, Joan Zerolis, Cookie Smith and Linda Sharron.

Big shout out to Betty Kollar. Her gross score minus her handicap was the best net score. Members of her team said she was on fire!

The 9-Holer golfers played a President’s Cup event the following two weeks. Each player played her own game on the front or back nine, then vice versa the next week. Congratulations to Linda Sharron, Karen Erickson, Betty Kollar, Linda Schmidt, Joan Woodford, Cookie Smith and Joan Zerolis.

Our Member/Guest event took place the next Friday. The morning was foggy starting out, but we persevered. Special thanks to the event committee for the meal planning and beautiful decorations. Our sandies and mulligans certainly came in handy; they changed the game for some teams. First place team members on the

front were Kathy Zielie, Gretchen Phillips, Karen Erickson, Liz Marini and Debra Bates. The back nine winning team members were Laurie Trudel, Ellen Ernst, Jean Pomanowski, Carol Donohue, Darlene Kratz and Elaine Bollin.

Don’t forget that if your ball hits a ball on the green, it is a two-stroke penalty. All players should mark their ball. No one needs two extra strokes!

Mary Story was given a beautiful pot of violas on her birthday.

LLGA Ladies’ 18 Golf

MARY ANN SPRY

What an amazing month of golf the LLGA-18 experienced despite the challenging weather we had on our Wednesday mornings. But then that is typical in January, isn’t it?

The President’s Cup Tournament was held and, my goodness, it was an exciting finish! Georgene Hildebrand and Debbie Daly tied after a well-played round and had to go to a play-off and Hole 10. The league gathered to cheer on the two terrific golfers, and we congratulate Georgene for becoming the 2026 LLGA-18 President’s Champion.

Georgene Hildebrand is the 2026 President’s Cup Champion.

Our January “Member-Guest Day” was a Polka-Dot Classic with everyone encouraged to wear your favorite polka-dot attire. There were so many polka dots showing how creative everyone was in every color design and style. Along with the polka dot theme, we played “BINGO” golf. Each pair was given a bingo card that each square was designated to find a turtle, fish, get out of sand, hit a tree, hole in one, birdie, find a ball and the list went on. The most squares circled was 21 by the winning foursome of Sarah Noyes, Sue Copeland, Lynne Denk and Bev Reeves.

On January 1, we had 15 very hearty golfers in some very, very cold temperatures. Congratulations to winner Theresa Johnson, second place Michelle Hamill, and third place Mia Byrne in Low Net play. Kudos to all who played on this first day of 2026!

Each team of two played a Shamble. The first-place team with Low Gross was Lynda Redmon and Buffy Bruenderman.

Shamble Low Gross winners were Buffy Bruenderman (left) and Lynda Redmon.

Low Net winners in the Shambles event were Christy Eyre and Laura Trian.

Low Net honors in the Shamble went to Christy Eyre (left) and Laura Trian.

We played Bingo at our table as we enjoyed a great salad bar with all the favorite fixings. Thanks much to Cathy Steeves, Lynne Denk and Linda Maness for planning a fun tournament for 88 players!

A huge thank you to our Cart Barn crew for preparing the carts with everyone’s equipment to be ready to drive to their designated holes and then rush back after the great morning of fun and games on our lovely course. That 30 minutes before tee off time can be a scramble in itself.

We welcome back Sandy Winegardner and look forward to getting reacquainted and enjoying playing together.

Enjoy your days on the course, be kind, and keep up with the group ahead of you!!

PARTY

Tuesday, March 17

Tuesday, March 17

5-8 PM: Dinner Buffet | Main Deck

5-8 PM: Dinner Buffet | Main Deck

5-8 PM: Entertainment by Irish Kenny G

5-8 PM: Entertainment by Irish Kenny G

$36++ Per Person

$36++ Per Person

BBuffet uffet

Beer Cheese Soup

Lucky Charms Salad Bar

Pretzel and Potato Rolls

Corned Beef Brisket with Spicy Mustard Sauce and Horseradish

Potato Crusted Salmon with Dill Crème Fraiche

Braised Cabbage and Root Vegetables

Parsley Potatoes

Clover Dessert Station Clover Dessert Station

Assorted Irish Delights

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: 239-482-3211

Regular Dining Not Available

48 Hour Cancellation Policy

Village News

ARIEL, CLIPPER COVE, FLAGSHIP, HARBORTOWN, LIGHTHOUSE, LONGBOAT, MARINER’S COVE, RIVERSIDE, SCHOONER, STEAMBOAT BEND, STEAMBOAT BEND EAST, SUNSET COVE, SUNSET HARBOR, TRAWLER, WINDJAMMER

HAZEL JONES hazelwhitejones@gmail.com

ARIEL Residents continue to gather in the Taeping Room at Ariel since it was too cold most of January to be outside. The first event took place on January 1, when the Social Committee provided Mimosas for the New Year’s brunch for the residents. All types of egg casseroles, quiches, fruit, pastries, and lots of other goodies were provided by the residents for everyone to enjoy.

Social Committee chair Cathy Kimball (left) and former president of the Ariel Board, Earle Lipscomb, enjoyed the Dessert Party.

The brunch was well timed too; it began at 12:30, giving those who rang in the New Year time to recover from the previous evening’s festivities. The committee also provided water and juice for those who needed hydration of a different type.

Garry Helyer enjoyed the selection of savory as well as sweet snacks offered.

The second event in January was a new one. The Social Committee hosted a Dessert Party to bid Bon Voyage to the more than 20 Ariel residents who were leaving the next day on a Landings Yacht Club Caribbean cruise.

Once again, the residents provided all the goodies needed for a sweet and savory feast. The Social Committee provided a chocolate fountain. Food, music provided by Ariel’s own

Rick Brown, dancing and conviviality were the hallmarks of this event.

Rick Brown is a Winner!

Those who’ve heard Rick Brown sing and play guitar know that he is a wonderful musician. He has performed not only at Ariel and at numerous events at The Landings but also appears in venues around Fort Myers frequently.

He demonstrated at the 2026 Landings Golf Championships that he has other talents too. He won the Nicklaus Flight with a net score across the two-day event of even par! Congratulations, Rick.

A Sad Note

We all knew that Rick Brown was a wonderful musician but discovered he’s a talented golfer too!

Clarence (Clancy) Nillis, a resident at Ariel since 1998, passed away on January 22 at age 93. He and his wife Donna were married for almost 70 years. They were active participants in many of the social engagements at Ariel and had smiles for everyone. Although his health and eyesight declined over the last several months, he continued to attend events as long as possible. His good humor will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

FLAGSHIP

CAROL WATSON carolmwatson@me.com

As I take over authorship of our Flagship news, I’d like to thank Pattie Parrett for her mentoring me and for her willingness to assist me while I am in Massachusetts. You can imagine getting news from you all while I am that far away for eight months is quite a stretch. Since I am a snowflake (not a typo), I melt once it gets too hot, Pattie has volunteered to be my Lois Lane! News could go to Pattie, but I would also encourage you to reach out to me personally with any special news you would like posted – special milestones, reasons for congratulations, wonderful vacations or a short but interesting vignette about something you have done. Pictures are particularly useful for creating interesting postings i.e., a picture of you in a special outfit, your excitement after a hole in one, a special passion, Flagship’s/Fort Myers’ beauty or you and your grandchild/grandchildren on vacation here in The Landings. You can reach me at carolmwatson@me.com .

Also, I may post special requests on our Flagship Facebook page. I hope you check it on occasion. If you aren’t already a member of our Facebook page, send Colleen Gallagher an email: gala9505@aol.com and she will invite you to join.

Please be aware that our Facebook page is for informational purposes that are specifically related to Flagship Village events or members, items to buy and sell or Landing events. It is not for political commentary or any political events. Also, our Facebook page is not a place to complain. Complaints go directly to Suitor Middleton & Cox.

Did you know we have a decorating elf in 4616/4612? This sprite keeps the holiday or special occasion spirit visible by festooning our mailbox/elevator area with seasonal accoutrements. We thank our elf for providing a warm glow to our days.

The mailbox area was appropriately decorated for February’s big day.

In January several of us attended a Scam and Fraud program presented by Lee County Sheriff’s Officer, Corinthia LoSauro, Crime Prevention Practitioner. We were updated on the ubiquitous scam and fraud problems that plague us all. We must be diligent.

Key protective pointers were given. For example, always check and double check sources. Don’t just assume the phone call or

email from the IRS, Social Security or Apple is real. Don’t respond if you don’t recognize a phone number or email address. Don’t respond to a voice message or an embedded phone number. Call the secure source of the supposed source. But beware if you google, for example Apple’s number. If you aren’t savvy enough to avoid the first listing or the ones that say sponsored result of your search, you may just get the fake number and fake website created by the scammer. Then when you call that number, you go right into their web. For the most part, IRS or Social Security will not email or call you.

I got false information from a social security “advisor” because I naively used a sponsored website. Sadly, I based some financial decisions on that advice.

You can be tricked by a call from your “granddaughter” that sounds just like her thanks to AI. If “she” asks for money to get out of trouble, ask her a question that only she would know the answer, or ask her for her uncle’s name when you know she doesn’t have an uncle. Then hang up and call you granddaughter! She’ll love to hear from you and wonder what’s the fuss.

Another pointer, if you ever have to freeze your credit, be sure to keep your freeze code. Know where you recorded it and put it where you can easily find it. Without it you can’t unfreeze your credit and then apply for new credit.

By now you’ve experienced our closed pool. Some of you may have noticed the last year how the pool was not as bright and “clean” looking as we would like. We were scheduled to update the pool last year but put it off. The county did an inspection and said it needed to be scheduled ASAP. The pool needs to be resurfaced with new tile and caps installed. With any luck it will be opened by the end of March! We will have to celebrate our sparkling new pool when we can once again dive in.

Flagship residents can take advantage of regular get-togethers.

Due to inclement (understatement) weather, our February 1 brunch at the pool had to be cancelled. Although we might still be able to use the deck for our gatherings, our bathroom facilities and grills, the Thursday and Sunday night Casual “Happy Hour” might be in 4616/4612’s courtyard. If this alternative has changed, I hope you found all the fun!

A group of us attend the dedication of Picnic Pointe to Charlie McCoy – now the Charlie McCoy Pavilion. Charlie sang for us the song he wrote after Hurricane Ian. He had walked down to Picnic Pointe and as he turned to return, he saw our protective owls used to keep away birds from leaving their calling card. They had survived! He wrote the song celebrating the resiliency of the birds and of The Landings. With the renovations, new birds were installed, and Charlie was presented with one of the original owls! What beautiful people, what beautiful music we have at The Landings. The Landings is where the wise, talented owls do land.

Correction

Two names were misspelled in the Steamboat Bend East article in the February issue. The caption for the photo on the bottom right of page 36 should have read Diane DeVincent and Jim Demers. We’re sorry for the error.

WINDJAMMER

EVA BELL evabell81@yahoo.com

Taylor and Keyon Johnson wed in August 2025.

Therese and Keith Biscarr are the proud parents of Taylor Johnson. They have been residents of The Landings for five years and recently they had the pleasure of an extended visit from their daughter Taylor. Taylor’s husband, Keyon Johnson, is a Baltimore police officer and he also just enlisted in a joint program with the United States Marine Corps.

In 2025 he went to Parris Island in South Carolina for bootcamp and then to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for Infantry School. The young couple were married in August 2025 and have hardly been together because of Keyon’s commitment to the Marine Corps. They will finally be reunited in April 2026 and are planning to spend a little time together in The Landings before Keyon is called back to duty.

If you see this young couple around The Landings, please thank Keyon for his service as a police officer as well as a Marine. We certainly need young people, women and men, to serve our country.

RIVERSIDE

New husband and Marine Corps member Keyon Johnson was joined by his bride Taylor.

As promised in my first article, I want to reach back and get some “facts” about how Riverside and the neighborhood came to be. Check out the flyer on the next page and see if you can spot your lot. It is puzzling to me how some lots sold whilst others, that may have been considered superior lots, were not sold –especially at these bargain basement prices. Interesting to note that in 1994 you could purchase a lot for a price similar to what it would cost to have a pool installed today. Have a closer look at the ad and see what you would have paid for a house and a lot –not a lot!

DAVID WEIR david.weir1@me.com

Prices have appreciated in 32 years!

In the ad, you can also see the “private marina.” Fast forward to our current Marina Director’s comments.

A “Hidden Gem” within our community is the Riverside Marina. The Riverside Marina has 36 slips that can accommodate boats up to 50 feet. The Marina is owned by Riverside, however each slip is deeded and privately owned. You do not have to be a resident of Riverside to own a slip. As long as you are a resident of the Landings, you can purchase a slip. The beauty of the Marina is that it is very protected which makes docking a breeze.

Thanks to our Marina Director Bob Mahoney for leading the way in keeping our marina in great shape and allowing us all, including our four-legged family members, to enjoy westerly views overlooking the river.

Another of Riverside’s “niceties” is reflected on the top left corner of the entrance sign shown in the photo below. The red image denotes the availability of a community AED, which is an Automated External Defibrillator. Others can be found throughout The Landings, and they are used to help anyone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It’s a sophisticated, yet easy to use, medical device that can analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. The actual AED is on the back of the sign. Check it out next time you pass by the entrance sign!

An AED (automated external defibrillator) is available at Riverside.

In January, Riverside residents enjoyed the annual off-site visit to the Prawnbroker. As always it was a great turn out and, of course, the food was excellent! It was great to see Brian Hudson back in Riverside and attending the event.

Fred Garner prepares to deliver the blessing at the Prawnbroker gathering.

The end of season cul-de-sac party will be held on Hatteras on March 30. More details will follow.

In last month’s article, I featured one of our residents by offering clues to the person’s identify without giving up too much information. Your task was to guess who the resident is. Without prolonging the suspense our “mystery” resident is Sherry Winters, a former Riverside Yacht Club Estates (RYCE) reporter

February mystery resident Sherry Winters.

and head editor for this publication AND a former Mrs. Minnesota! Congrats to all who guessed the name of our featured resident.

Now to this month’s mystery neighbor!

WHO AM I?

Clue #1 – They have lived in Riverside for less than 20 years and they are in the photo below, one of about “only” 75!

Clue #2 – Due to extenuating circumstances, the resident only had 30 minutes to make up their mind about whether they were going to purchase a home in Riverside or not. They have never regretted the purchase. Obviously, this resident does well under pressure and can recognize value very quickly.

Clue #3 – The water has always attracted this person. This was “handy” because they played water polo in college!

Clue #4 – Their significant other is “picture perfect.”

Clue #5 – Over the course of 13 years (many moons ago), they fundraised for, personally shopped for, and hand delivered a total of 2,418 brand new bikes to the Salvation Army for an underprivileged area across the border from Windsor, Ontario.

Clue #6 – By just talking to the resident you may not believe they were a “bouncer” in college. When you meet them in person you may think otherwise.

That is it for this month’s column. As always please feel free to reach out with information you would like passed along to your fellow residents.

RYCE is the place to be!

SCHOONER

JOAN L VANDE KIEFT vandekieft@gmail.com

The Inman, Brooks, Wilson and Lorenz families at 4502 Windjammer suffered from the periodic flooding in front of their building causing access issues in that area, hence the reference to “Lake Lorenz.” It was determined that the concrete aprons between the driveways and the streets had sunk due to a lowering of the ground below. The Schooner Board decided the appropriate remediation of this situation was to raise the concrete aprons, also known as “slabjacking.”

On Thursday, January 29th, sidewalk superintendents Marty Lorenz and Bentley Quinn, 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, oversaw the efforts of the Sealtite Insulation & Slabjacking team of Jeremiah “as in Jeremiah was a bullfrog,” and Tim. The able team drilled holes periodically in the aprons and inserted a foam that expanded and lifted the concrete. The apron on the south end was raised three inches and gradually the concrete was pitched towards the north parking lot drain.

Thanks to the Sealtite team, “Lake Lorenz” disappeared.

The flooding test seemed to work with the water running about 120 feet to the drain. The crew returned the next day and filled the openings and gaps in the slabs. Some people said Bentley had given the whole operation a paws up.

Philip and Maria Aponte spent an entire week celebrating his January 14th 90th birthday with 12 family members. Children, grandchildren and even one-year-old great granddaughter Sienna honored Phil and Maria at The Landings.

From left: son-in-law James Riehl, grandson Nicholas Riehl, grandson-in law John Reinert, birthday boy Philip Aponte, son-in-law Jacob Abercrombie and grandson LJ Riehl.

Phil was born in the Bronx in 1936, and after a year of college enlisted in the Army for a two-year deployment. He met and married Maria upon his return, and Phil used the G.I.

Bill to continue his education, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and an MBA. Maria worked as a secretary and then became a physician’s assistant.

From left: Samantha Hofmeister, grandson LJ Riehl’s fiancé, daughter Lisalynn Abercrombie, Maria Aponte, granddaughter Samantha Reinert holding great granddaughter Sienna Reinert, and daughter Laura Riehl.

Phil’s proficiency in Spanish drove him to specialize in international business and he and Maria lived all around the U.S. as well as in Brazil, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Their three children were born and went to school in different cities.

Phil was employed at various banks, American Optical, UNICEF, before ended his career at Hallmark Cards, retiring in 1997. He and Maria bought their townhome in The Landings in 1997 and moved here full time in 1998.

TRAWLER

The LYGTC championship golf tournament flights were completed in early January and several Trawler men competed and placed very well. George Maness finished in second place in the Nicklaus Flight with Rick Camper taking ninth, while LeRoy Fleming placed third in the Palmer flight. Congratulations to all!

RICK JERR deedeelaurens@gmail.com

The recent annual meeting installed new board officers with Betsy Jackson elected president, Larry Bush, vice president, Brock Henderson continues as treasurer, Wally Lucente was selected as secretary, and John Emholz is a new board representative. Perry Maness and Jean Boushay continue as at large representatives.

Several individuals were honored for their exceptional contributions to the village community. Outgoing board president Cheryl Box worked tirelessly to ensure the continued efforts to rebuild, repair, and plan for the future of Trawler’s physical plant. Her accessibility was unmatched and communication skills are outstanding. Brock Henderson’s financial expertise has been crucial, particularly navigating the state’s many fiscal requirements and the recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Ian. Board member Perry Maness is a fountain of knowledge with reference to construction and building maintenance and he has utilized that knowledge to keep those costs down. Tim Longworth, Bill Collier, Keith Lowrey and Jim Mott, our Veterans Affairs specialist, have all contributed greatly to the well-being of our community. James Goetz, Rick Camper and Pete Wilson collaborated to save the village a considerable sum on insurance contracts. Finally, LeRoy Fleming was honored for his outstanding coordination of the annual Christmas Decorating of the village over the last dozen years.

The welcome back pool party was well attended and featured a live duo playing excellent tunes, great food and camaraderie. It’s always nice to welcome our snowbirds and catch up on news of family, travel experiences and other adventures of our northern brethren. Until next month I wish you fair winds and following seas.

STEAMBOAT BEND EAST

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” Jimi Hendrix

CAROL CUMMINS callifleur1955@gmail.com

Steamboat Bend East (SBE) is all about community. Our January dinner at the Wheelhouse was a convivial time, and if you weren’t early, you were late! We walked

Celebrating SBE community and Shirley Bragg’s birthday are: Lynn Bragg, Casey Homick, Denny McAuley, Diane and John Dugan, Sharon and Jere Johnston, Larry and Ann Roy, Angela McAuley, Diane Homick, and Shirley Bragg.

in 10 minutes before the event and almost everyone was already seated.

SBE residents enjoyed the musical “Little Women” at the Players Circle Theatre. From left, front row: Jim Demers, Diane DeVincent, Carol Cummins. Back Row: Colleen Clark, Cheryl Clifford, Dianne Hester, Greg Podczaski, Pam Grusz and Lisa Smith.

A special birthday cake and song for Shirley Bragg made the gathering extra special.

It was a chilly morning, but the sun helped warm our hearts as we celebrated the life of Dick Weller by the pool. Dick was known for his laugh and quick smile, his work as a farmer in Illinois, and several civic jobs in the off season. Armella’s daughter Kim shared beautiful memories from Dick’s life. The celebration was attended by Armella’s family and friends. Before Tom Rogers read John Donne’s poem, For Whom the Bell Tolls , he explained that when it was written in England during the Plague, the churches would ring their bells when a person died.

“Each man’s death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind. Therefore, send not to know

For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee.”

It certainly captured the feeling in our hearts. A wonderful potluck luncheon followed the memorial service.

Rotheca Serrata, also known as blue fountain bush, can be found in bloom in late January and early February on Flagship Drive near Lighthouse Village .

Walking along Flagship Drive near Lighthouse Village, I noticed a most exuberant flower with delicate blue flowers verging on violet. The stamens shoot out like a fountain! It is native to India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The plant is used in Ayurveda for snake bites. I challenge you to a flower scavenger hunt to find this one.

Cheryl Clifford and Susan Cope discovered their inner artist at the Introduction to Watercolors class offered by Carol Cummins.

RESOURCE HUB

THE LANDINGS YACHT, GOLF & TENNIS CLUB

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

482-3211 • FAX 482-1796

General Manager: John “JT” Trimarche

Executive Administrative Assistant: Michelle Alig

Director of Activities and Communication: Michele Lawson

Controller: Kim Cummings

HAPPY LANDINGS

The Official Community News

PUBLISHER

Seabreeze Communications

Head Editor: Hazel Jones hazelwhitejones.hl@gmail.com

Editors: Barbara June, Linda Tucker

We Need Volunteers

Happy Landings needs new editors and reporters for several villages and clubs at The Landings. If you are interested, please contact head editor Hazel Jones.

MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of the Happy Landings digital magazine is to record and celebrate events in the lives of individuals and the life of the community.

Deadline: Articles for the Happy Landings digital magazine will be accepted only until noon on the 1st of each month, and should be e-mailed to the Editor.

Disclaimer/Complaint Process: Happy Landings™ is a digital magazine published for the benefit of the residents of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc., which has hired Seabreeze Communications as the publisher to provide content and sell advertising consistent with the editorial and advertising policies of the Board of Directors of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and, unless otherwise noted, should not be construed to be those of The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club Inc., or the Board of Directors, or the members. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc. Happy Landings is a registered trademark which cannot be used without the express written permission of the holder of the mark, The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc.

The Happy Landings ™ does not accept letters to the editor. All members of the LYGTC have the right to express their concerns to the Board of Directors, after following these steps: First, bring your problem/complaint to the attention of, in order, the editor; the Communications Committee; and finally, the General Manager. If dissatisfied with the result, you must then fill out a “Member Problem/Complaint” form (available in the Administration Office). The completed form will be given to the Board of Directors, who will decide if the problem/complaint warrants its review or action.