The New Year Starts with a Bang!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to a new, fresh year of hopes and promises. I keep praying that this year will be better than the last. Hopefully, they get this nasty disease stuff under control, (although in some reports it appears it is nothing like we’ve experienced for the last two years). That’s a glimmer of hope, as I read it, yet others seem to want to inflate it. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they only wrote the STRAIGHT TRUTH! There are some who only like to look at the bad side, and others who always look for the good side. It’s amazing how it infects your insides if you only look for the bad. You know, we can always find a positive side! Might not be a great positive side, but at least it’s looking up rather than buried in depression. I’ve actually had people say to me though, they don’t want to tell me something because I’ll always find the positive, and they just don’t want to hear it! That’s an honest statement!

*It’s been a long time coming, but the Goodland Road project will finally have a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, January 12 at 11:00 AM. Thanks to Rick LoCastro for inviting me to attend. I really appreciate his kind consideration! I didn’t even know when it was about to happen. The Goodlanders also are overwhelmed with happiness that construction has been completed and the road is everything that was needed, and it also caused little disruption during construction, which we all thought was impossible! I know one of the main guys in the Transportation Department, who is a leader amongst other leaders, and that is Jay Ahmad, a terrific guy and VERY knowledgeable and thorough! Can you imagine a two-lane road with only one way in and one way out, raising the road two feet so water can run underneath to keep the mangroves on both sides healthy, and people coming and going to work or pleasure, and practically no disruption? I don’t know how, but they did it! The Conservancy was watching every step of the way in case there was even a little deviation, but it was perfect!

*We have certainly had a different “winter” than we’ve had before. As you know, I’ve lived here for 48 years, and I swear I’ve never experienced a winter like this. We had a couple colder days in the beginning of November, and then they left, right after I borrowed my girlfriend Jeanie’s space heater. I can hardly stand cold, and I didn’t want to turn my heat on if I could help it. I used that heater for two days, and now it is a decoration on my floor waiting to be used again. It’s been beautiful! Balmy, fresh, sunny, and the beaches are full, I’ve heard. We’ve all remembered cold winters here. In years gone by, my fruit trees froze and I lost them! Farmers had to run their irrigation on the vegetables or fruits all night to keep them from freezing. And back when my kids were in school yet, it snowed twice! The kids ran to the school windows to catch a glimpse of what snow looked like. It never stuck on the ground, but it was on their bikes and bike seats. They were so excited. That was in the late 70’s or very early 80’s. It’s never snowed again here that I can remember. Old Timers will tell you about it. It was a big deal back then.

*Is anyone going to see the Marco Players in January? The play is another comedy named “Silver Alert.” I’ve heard this will be another play with laughter and fun. I love leaving a play when it was fun. You go home and even sleep better! Is it Beverly Dahlstrom who selects these fantastic plays? The audience seems to be very excited to attend these performances.

*You might have noticed I wear a “lighthouse” sweater jacket on the cooler days. I bought that in Michigan years ago, and always wear it when it gets cooler. I wore it to a meeting at the government center about a month or so ago because those chambers are kept really cold, so I bundle up. Well, it disappeared! I don’t know where I left it. I took it outside but then back I went. After that I couldn’t find it. I fretted over it for quite a few weeks. I’ve had it for over 30 years, and now it was gone. I know it’s just a sweater, but I loved that sweater. At Christmas, my girlfriend gave me a plastic bag, and inside of it was a replica of my original sweater/jacket. I couldn’t believe it! She then told me the steps she had to take to get one, and then get the right size, and then have it shipped each time to replace the one that didn’t fit, but for Christmas! There it was! Thanks Jeanie honey! It was so very nice of you! Let’s hope it gives me another 30 years of service. Now that’s a friend! Means more than anything money can buy.

*The East Naples Civic Association will be holding their 2022 Annual Dinner Banquet and Installation of Officers on Thursday, January 20,2022 at The Player’s Club & Spa, 8060 Grand Lely Drive, beginning with cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 PM. Dinner will begin at 6:30 PM. Tickets are $60 per person. Pay online by January 12 at www.ENCivicandCommerce.org. Dinner choices are: Baked Salmon, Roast Beef and Chicken Mushroom Marsala. The “ENCA Citizen of the Year” will be announced. Also, a Silent Auction to benefit the Scholarship Fund will be fun for all. A special thank you to the Player’s Club and Spa, Coastal Breeze News and Tuscany Villa of Naples for their generosity; Masquerade and Balloons Galore; and Encompass Magazine. Thank you to all these merchants who help us have an extraordinary banquet! It is so kind of you and we appreciate your support tremendously! 

Special Note              

***Included in this fabulous evening is the East Naples Civic and Commerce Kick Off and Champagne Toast and 2022 Board of Directors Election. It’s a big night folks! The joining of two fabulous organizations becoming one!