Upcoming Events

Wed, Feb 1- Maxwell House Clean Out and Sorting at 9 am in Bokeelia, breaking for lunch, until completed. Volunteers needed. Call or text DJ Ruscik 239-910-3829.

Fri, Sat, and Sun, Feb 3, 4, and 5- ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteers needed. See details below.

Mon, Feb 6- Storage Unit Clean Out and Inventory at 10 am on Doug Taylor Circle in Saint James City. Volunteers needed. Call or text Linda Bohacek at 715-579-5009.

Mon, Feb 6- Board Meeting starting at 6 pm at Matlacha Firestation #4.

Tues, Feb 7- Luau Site Meeting starting at 5 pm at Saint James City Civic Center. We'll look over set-up and decorations for the outside area, and the meeting inside starts at 6 pm.

Wed, Feb 8- Chic Boutique Jewelry Workday at Chris Buntin's place in Bokeelia. Volunteers needed 1 pm - 4 pm or whatever time you have available. We'll be cleaning and pricing the jewelry for the Island Luau event. Please contact Chris 312-231-4557.

Mon, Feb 13- February General Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm at American Legion Post 136, 4106 Stringfellow Rd in SJC. See details below.

Sat, Feb 18- Blood Drive 10 am- 3 pm in the Winn-Dixie parking lot, 9864 Stringfellow Rd. Volunteers needed to help sell merchandise and Winn-Dixie community bags. Call or text DJ Ruscik 239-910-3829.

Mon, Feb 20- Luau Basket Making starting at 10 am at Beth Nelson's place in SJC. Volunteers needed. Call or text Beth 239-677-7024.

Mon, Feb 20- Luau Planning Meeting starting at 6 pm at Matlacha Firehouse #4. All are welcome. See details below.

Sat, Feb 25- Outdoor Island Market 9 am- 2 pm at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church 10360 Stringfellow Rd in SJC. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Sat, Feb 25- Set up for Island Luau starting at 3 pm at Saint James City Civic Center, 3300 Fourth Ave in Saint James City.

Sun, Feb 26- Eleventh Annual Island Luau set up begins at 9 am, and the event runs 1 pm- 5 pm at Saint James City Civic Center, 3300 Fourth Ave in Saint James City.

Members are encouraged to visit the website for up to date news, meeting minutes, financials, merchandise and committee event forms.   The new Merchandise Catalog is now available.

Madam's Corner

Ladies,

I do hope that you have all enjoyed a lovely January.  Although the weather has been on the cool side, it has cooperated for all of our events.  Hard to complain about clear, blue, beautiful skies and crisp, fresh air!  

We have a few volunteer opportunities coming up in the next ten days and would appreciate your help.

On Wednesday, February 1st, at the Maxwell House, at 7830 Lobean Lane in Bokeelia, we will be sorting through donations. Everything will be separated into items that can be used at the Luau in February, the postponed PIE Derby (date TBA), and for the Bag 'n Tag in March.  Clean out and sorting will begin at 9 am.

ArtFest Fort Myers on Friday, February 3rd through Sunday the 5th.  We need volunteers!!  See details in this Herald to sign up.

On Monday, February 6th, Linda Bohacek will be heading up the clean out and reorganization of our storage unit.  This will also complete our inventory assessment, as we begin several months of events and support for other organizations.  After all, this is season and there's a lot going on!

If you have taken photos of any volunteer or recent events, please forward to matlachahookers@matlachahookers.org so that we can post them on our website and Facebook.

Remember that now is the time to VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER, and VOLUNTEER again!  I promise that you will meet new friends, have fun, and feel good about all of your efforts.  We can and do make a positive difference in our community, but cannot do that without YOU!

Stay well and be kind.  Hugs and smiles, please and thank you, and a little kindness goes a long way these days for so many that still need encouragement and hope.

See you soon,

Madam DJ

We Need YOU

at Fort Myers ArtFest 2023

Beverage Station

February 3, 4, and 5

We NEED YOU for ArtFest Fort Myers! Hookers and their family and friends are NEEDED to staff 5 beverage stations at ArtFest Fort Myers Feb 3, 4, and 5.  We work for tips that go for scholarships for our local students and 49 more volunteers are NEEDED.

Unfilled volunteer shifts:

Sat Feb 4, 9:30 am-1:30 pm  6 more volunteers

Sat Feb 4, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm  14 more volunteers

Sun Feb 5, 9:30 am-1:30 pm 13 more volunteers 

Sun Feb 5, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm 16 more volunteers

To sign up go to ArtFestFortMyers.com. Password is Hookers23

Or email Lorie (lorah.tidwell@gmail.com) with the shift you want to work, name, email, cell, emergency contact and T-shirt size. 

You'll receive a confirmation email from Annie Crouch.

Huge thanks to all who have signed up to volunteer!

See you there!

Lorie and Theresa

Co chairs ArtFest Fort Myers

~Attention all Hookers who are attending or volunteering at ArtFest!~

Don't forget to stop by and say hi to Dwayne Zot and Debbie Cundall (Hooker and previous Madam) at the Art For All venue.  Zot Art is where our colorful Hooker notecards are made and the process is AMAZING!  He's hoping to use some hooks in his inclusive art, so we'll have more Hooker notecards with hooks in the artwork. 

Check out the official ArtFest Fort Myers article excerpt below!

ARTS FOR ALL

All Kids Love Making Art.

At Art For All kids (or adults) use adaptive art tools to create huge, amazing art pieces. Zot Artz is the main art feature of Art For All and their team says ...

"Rather than finding ways for people with disabilities to participate in activities for non-disabled people, we create entirely new activities and projects for people with disabilities and invite those without disabilities to join in."



Join ArtFest Fort Myers in the Art For All activity area. February 4, 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, 10 am to 4 on the downtown Fort Myers - intersection of Edwards Drive and Hendry Street right by the riverfront.

Get a sneak peek at ZotArtz.com 

Activities include:

• Pogo giant painting stamps are great for kids with grip, stability, or vision challenges.

• Paint rollers that attach to a wheelchair so participants can paint on the ground.

A chill tent will be provided as a calming space for overstimulated or upset participants and their parents. Also available is an ADA restroom. Service dogs are welcome.

LARC, Family Initiative, STARability, and Best Buddies will be there with supportive services and information.

Other activities include Publix Art Yard, Chalk Block, Art Under 20, and Young Art Collectors tent.

ArtFest offers you a unique chance to meet and mingle with the artists, sample a variety of culinary delights, and enjoy live music and entertainment on the Publix Community stage.

Island Luau Event Planning Meeting

Monday February 20 at 6 pm at Matlacha Fire Station #4

Optional pre-meeting social gathering at Miceli's 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm

Tickets are available for the Feb 26th Event at SJCCC; price is $40 each.

Tickets are available for purchase at Centennial Bank 5551 Sunset Ln in SJC, at the Beacon of Hope 5090 Doug Taylor Circle in SJC, and at the general meeting on 2/13.

Tickets are also available from Sherri 816-200-4100 or on Eventbrite here:

Please bring a bottle of wine for our Mystery Wine area. ($10 or more, 750ml)

Can't make it to the meeting? Text or call to arrange pick up!

In Bokeelia, call Joyce Boyer 314-401-9354

Pine Island Center text or call Christy Rau 513-703-7433

In SJC contact Beth Nelson 239-677-7024 or Joanne 603-494-0780

Cape Coral area reach out to Lucinda 574-229-8180

We are in need of tissue paper, cellophane large basket bags, and crinkle cut paper fillers. Please save all of your paper towel and toilet paper cardboard rolls!

We are also in need of wine corks, beads, and empty 6-10 oz cans.

Can't make it to the meeting? Just call or text Sandy Kerr to arrange pick up!

Sandy can be reached at 305-849-1539.

The silent auction is in need of gift cards and gift certificates.

We have plenty of baskets and for those who signed up to make baskets or would like to make a basket. Please call Linda Bohacek 725-579-5009 to request size, or arrange for pick up of gift cards or certificates if unable to make it to the meeting.

We are looking for volunteers to be on the Food Committee, we also need a committee lead to manage the area.

"Chic Boutique” in the Luau event is collecting donated jewelry.

[no purses/hats this year]

Chris Buntin is inviting “Bling Babes” to contact her at 312-231-4557 to clean and price jewelry on February 8, and to set up and sell at the Luau event.

If you love bling, this is the volunteer opportunity for you! Call Chris!

Thinking about Helping with the Island Luau – If you are a business,

maybe be a sponsor?

This year we are hosting our 11th Annual Island Luau Event on Sunday, February 26, 2023, from 1 pm -5 pm at the St. James City Civic Center in St. James City, Florida. The ticket price includes live music, beer, wine tastings, exotic punch, food, an etched glass, and an entry ticket raffle. Other activities include a silent auction, mystery wine, classy lady jewelry, and Matlacha Hooker merchandise shopping.

Half of the proceeds will be donated to the Beacon of Hope’s Senior Programs, and the other 50% will be donated to the Saint James City Civic Association.

The Beacon is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping the needs of the Greater Pine Island Community.  The 20+ recipients of Beacon Bites meals cost $30,000 a year. The Beacon also provides transportation to doctor appointments, helps those with financial needs, home repairs, and so much more. Over the past ten events, the Matlacha Hookers have raised almost $76,000, and last year we increased the donation amount to $16,000 for the Beacon with your help!

The Saint James City Civic Association provides members an opportunity to meet others in the community with shared interests and a facility to accommodate various events, groups, clubs, and activities. The building needs major repairs to the roof, floors, kitchen, and lanai due to Hurricane Ian.

As we still are reeling from Hurricane Ian, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families. We feel very blessed to live in a community that helps one another through all adversities, and certainly, this is a far-reaching one. We are grateful for your past support and offer you the opportunity to help again, only if you are in a

financially sound place to do so.

Sponsorships available:

ORCHIDS-Donate $500 and receive banner recognition and four event tickets. HIBISCUS- Donate $250 and receive banner recognition and two event tickets. PLUMERIA- Donate $100 and have your name/business displayed on our event banner.

If interested in attending, wish to donate an item, basket, gift certificate, or volunteer, or desire more information,

please call Joanne Correia at (603) 494-0780, Sandy Kerr at 305-849-1539 or Linda Bohacek at  (715) 579-5009.

Hurricane Relief

General Membership Meeting

Monday, February 13, 2023

American Legion Post 136

4106 Stringfellow Road, Saint James City

Doors open at 5 pm. The meeting begins promptly at 6:30 pm.

For this meeting, we will be doing a potluck. We are suggesting that 12 people make

enough food for 6. We will divide up the food preparation by city.

Matlacha/Cape Coral- Appetizer or Side Dish

Bokeelia- Main Dish (meat or veggie)

Saint James City- Dessert

If you are interested in making a dish, please email our secretary, Carolyn Ryzanych at matlachahookers@matlachahookers.org

Pot Luck items so far:

Lori Tidwell (Bokeelia) - Chicken Salad Sliders

Julia Gaylor (Cape Coral)- Baked Beans

Carol Zaremba (SJC) - Blueberry Sour Cream Cake

Christy Rau (SJC) - Cheesecake Sampler

Linda Bohacek - Brownies

If you're unable to make it, please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/205631989

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3122

Access Code: 205-631-989

OUTDOOR ISLAND MARKET

Saturday, February 25

9 AM - 2 PM

Fishers of Men Lutheran Church

10360 Stringfellow Rd, Saint James City

Keep It Local!

This great event is continuing to encourage people to shop and support our local island community throughout the year. 

The Matlacha Hookers will be there and could use your help.

Contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009

Pine Island Food Pantry News

The Food Pantry is in need of the following items: bar soap, dish detergent, canned diced tomatoes, and all types of crackers (saltines, Ritz, Townhouse, oyster/soup). Please bring donations to the next General Meeting or drop off at one of the following locations:

Winn-Dixie, V.F.W., American Legion, Moose, Centennial Bank, the Matlacha Post Office or at the pantry when it is open on Monday and Thursdays, 8:30 am - 10:30 am. Visit pineislandfoodpantry.org to learn more. Thank you!

**IMPORTANT WEBSITE ACCESS INFORMATION**

The 2023 Password will be updated at the end of January. To continue to receive Heralds and have access to the members only page, you will need to renew your membership. The February 10th Herald will only be for current paid members and will also contain the new password for the members only page!

Questions?  Contact Vice Madam Julia

Don’t forget that 0.5% of all of your purchases will be automatically donated to the Matlacha Hookers if  you,

1. Select Matlacha Hookers as your charity and then,

2. Enter Amazon through the Amazon Smile each time you shop.

Thank you for supporting us all year long!

Herald and website content submissions, along with questions or concerns should be sent to Christy Rau at MHwebmistress@gmail.com.  Please do not email to Christy by forwarding a Herald publication.  Since we use the free version of WIX for both our website and emails, the Herald emails actually go out under a different email address which she does not have access to.