Upcoming Events Sat, Sept 23- Meat Raffle to Benefit the Pine Island Food Pantry 2-4 pm. Burnt Store Tavern 3015 SW Pine Island Rd in Cape Coral. Mon, Sept 25- Island Luau Committee Meeting starting at 6 pm. See details below. Mon, Oct 2- October Board Meeting starting at 6 pm. Salty Girls Island Cafe 10700 Stringfellow Rd in Bokeelia, close to the center. Sun, Oct 8- Dobie Darna Memorial Fundraiser 12- 7 pm. Jug Creek Marina and Fish House 16498 Tortuga St in Bokeelia. Volunteers needed. See details below. Mon, Oct 9- October General Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm. American Legion Post 136, 4106 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City. Fri & Sat, Oct 13 & 14- Organizing and Cleaning the Storage Unit and Trailer Time TBD. More details coming soon. Stay tuned! Sat, Oct 21- Halloween Festival hosted by the Pine Island Food Pantry 12- 3 pm. Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church 12175 Stringfellow Rd in Bokeelia. Volunteers needed. See details below. Mon, Oct 23- Island Luau Committee Meeting starting at 6 pm. Location TBD. See details below. All are welcome! Members are encouraged to visit the website for up to date news, meeting minutes, financials, merchandise and committee event forms. |
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Ladies, Well, summer is over and the kids are now back in school. We are slowly entering our busy season and many of our members will be returning from their Northern homes. We will soon be planning our annual Christmas Caroling, Island Luau, and many other events. These events take many hours of planning and many volunteers to make them successful. I encourage you to attend a planning meeting to learn more about the various volunteering opportunities. It does not take much time from your schedule, and we promise you will meet new friends and have fun in the process. This time of year also marks elections. This month, and in October, nominations will be accepted. This is another way to volunteer. If you would like to learn more about one of the positions, please feel free to reach out to a current Board member who holds the position that interests you. We are all happy to speak with you and describe the duties. And lastly, we are approaching the one-year anniversary of Ian and a lot of our Hooker Sisters have had great losses. As we continue to heal, let’s remember to support each other. Your Hooker Sister, Carolyn Ryzanych, Secretary |
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From Dr. Tom Millins, Principal of Pine Island Elementary School |
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During our September Meeting on the 12th, Principal Tom Millins of Pine Island Elementary shared that he was disappointed that the Matlacha Hookers were not selected as one of the Foundation of Lee County Public Schools’ Business Partners of the Year. He asked that we share the nomination letter, that he submitted last Spring on our behalf, with all of our members. |
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Pine Island Food Pantry Halloween Festival 🎃 👻 10/21 |
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The Pine Island Food Pantry will be holding their Halloween Festival on October 21, 12- 3 pm. This will be held indoors, at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, in the Parish Life Center (where the food pantry is located). They are asking community groups, including the Matlacha Hookers, to each run an activity table. That can be a game, a craft, or anything we can come up with that would be geared towards kids 12 and under. We are in need of some volunteers who can help out, and a Chair or a couple of Co-Chairs who can lead the team and represent the Matlacha Hookers at this fun event for the Pine Island community. Interested? (of course you are!) Contact Christy Rau 513-703-7433 |
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Winn Dixie Community Bag Program |
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The Matlacha Hookers have been selected again for the Winn Dixie Community Bag Program! This means that we will receive $1 from every $2.99 reusable Community Bag sold during the month of September 2023 at: Winn-Dixie, 9864 Stringfellow Road, St James City, FL |
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Volunteers needed for Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle Please contact Julia 239-298-1113 12thmadam.julia@gmail.com |
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General Membership Meeting |
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Monday, October 9, 2023 American Legion Post 136 4106 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City Doors open at 5 pm to start ordering food and beverages. Reminder: the American Legion only accepts cash! The meeting begins promptly at 6:30 pm. Please don't forget to bring food pantry donations! |
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Coming Soon: 25th Anniversary Shirts! |
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25th Anniversary shirts are coming soon!!! They will be revealed and available for purchase at the October general membership meeting. Shirts will be sold at a member discount and only available to members. So make sure your dues have been paid before the meeting! The merchandise team thanks you for your support. We hope you will wear your special edition Matlacha Hooker shirt with pride! Linda Bohacek, Merchandise Chair |
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!!Renewals and Elections!! |
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The renewal process is in full swing! If you are interested in participating in the elections, your membership must be renewed by October 31st. Also, name tags have gone up 50 cents and now are $7.50 to order. Nominations will be accepted in September and October. Have questions? Please reach out to Lorie Tidwell at Lorah.Tidwell@gmail.com or Julia Gaylor at 12thmadam.julia@gmail.com |
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Bag 'n Tag and Pancake Breakfast |
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While this event is not until March 16th, 2024, we need a location to store items that are being donated to us. Remember that the Bag 'n Tag typically provides at least two (2) Hooked on Education Scholarships each year. Julia will oversee the Pancake Breakfast, and Teresa Shattuck has volunteered to be one of the event Co-Chairs. We need at least one more Co-Chair and someone or some place to store donations. The Maxwell House, trailer, and storage unit are not available at this time. (Meanwhile, please hang on to your unwanted stuff!) For more information or if you can provide some storage, please contact Madam DJ at 239-910-3829. |
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Check Out Our Amazing Merch Team! |
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Working hard at Torched Redfish Rundown on September 16, in the Cape! L to R: Jean Fromm, Dana Huff, DJ Ruscik, Lorie Tidwell, Jill Filgut. |
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Island Luau Planning Meetings Sept 2023 – April 2024 Island Luau Event is on Sunday, Feb 25, 2024, at Saint James City Civic Center Our first meeting is on Sept 25th at 6 pm. It will be remote, call-in only format. This meeting is primarily for the Co-Chairs and Secretary. We will be reviewing the decisions we made in April. If anyone else would like to call in, please contact: Joanne joannecorreia179@gmail.com or 603-494-0780 before Sept 25th. If you are a new member and would like to receive Island Luau updates, please get in touch with: Mary Mtgordon617@gmail.com or 608-498-9161.
We will start regular meetings with all Committee members and Leaders on October 23rd at 6 pm. We will be meeting on the fourth Monday of the month to avoid conflicting with the General Meeting schedule. 2024 Luau Meeting Schedule; the meetings start at 6 pm (Locations TBD) Sept 25, 2023 – primarily for the Marketing Team, remote call-in format Oct 23, 2023 – Full Team Members Nov 27, 2023 Dec 18, 2023 (Christmas) Jan 22, 2024 Feb 19, 2024 (One week before the event) Feb 24, 2024, Sat, Setup Feb 25. 2024, Sun, Luau Event! Mar 25, 2024 – Financials Meeting (check presented April at General Meeting) Apr 22, 2024 – 2025 Luau Event Planning
Here is how YOU can plan to help us: put these dates in to your schedule, think about running an area, and come to the meeting on October 23rd. All are welcome! Joanne Correia and Sandy Kerr, Island Luau Co-Chairs |
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Pine Island Food Pantry News |
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The Pine Island Food Pantry is in need of the following items: Canned soups (NOT cream based), dry cereal, Hamburger Helper, diced tomatoes, instant mashed potatoes, elbow macaroni, penne or ziti pasta, egg noodles, dried beans, saltines, crackers. 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, 9 am - 11 am. Visit pineislandfoodpantry.org to learn more. Thank you! |
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New password for website was updated February 27th. Members Only Area Password: @HMP23 |
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Herald and website content submissions, along with questions or concerns, should be sent to Christy Rau at MHwebmistress@gmail.com. Please do not email Christy by replying to, or 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. |
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