Upcoming Events

Thurs, Jan 12- Luau Solicitation Meeting starting at 10 am at House of Omelets, 900 SW Pine Rd in Cape Coral. See details below.

Sat, Jan 14- NFM VFW Car and Bike Show 11 am to 3 pm at Hurricane Grill and Wings, 756 SW Pine Island Rd in Cape Coral.

Sat and Sun, Jan 14 and 15- Cape Coral Art Festival 10 am to 5 pm. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Mon, Jan 16- 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.

Tues, Jan 17- Trailer Clean Out starting at 3 pm at the Saint James City Civic Center. Volunteers needed. Call or text Joanne Correia at 603-494-0780.

Mon, Jan 23- Luau Planning Meeting starting at 6 pm at Matlacha Firehouse #4. All are welcome.

Mid to Late January- Help Dianne Wickes pack up. See details below.

Fri, Jan 27- Hooker Member Mixer location TBD. Stay tuned.

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 at 239-910-3829.

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

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,

Welcome to 2023!  We're less than two weeks into the new year and we have already provided community support for recovery efforts.  Thanks to volunteers like YOU!

Speaking of our community, we have already received several donations from different organizations that will greatly assist with our efforts.  Thanks to the Platinum Point Yacht Club from Burnt Store Marina for their donation of $4,575 from a Shrimp Boil, AND to the Southwest Florida Parrotheads for their donation of $1,500 AND to FOX-4 TVs parent company Scripps for their donation of $6,500!!  And we've been told that more monetary assistance is coming our way.

We have two events this weekend and the more the merrier.  Stop by the NFM VFW Car and Bike Show this Saturday, January 14th from 11am to 3pm to see great 'rides,' enjoy good food, drink, music, and support Veterans in our area, The Matlacha Hookers are a sponsor and we'll be on hand with some of our merchandise.  Our entry into the show is being provided by Mindy and Ron Koster.  Ron will be showing his Ford Shelby!

The Cape Coral Art Festival will also begin on Saturday the 14th and run through Sunday.  Both days the hours are 10am until 5pm and we have been invited to set up our Merchandise Booth.  This is a great event and I'm sure that the Merchandise Team would appreciate some extra volunteers.  Hey, if you plan on going, stop by the booth and hang out for 30 minutes or an hour to give others a break to enjoy the show as well.

Note the upcoming Inventory, Sorting, and Clean Out dates for our Trailer, Storage Unit, and the Maxwell House.  Your help is appreciated and needed.

Finally, it seems that Winter has arrived with beautiful clear blue skies, crisp evening temperatures and starry nights.  Stay warm and get out there and enjoy one of the reasons we all live here - the weather!

Hookers Rule!!

Madam DJ 

Hurricane Relief   

Saturday we registered homes for debris pick up. Sunday the 8th, we participated with local volunteers to do an Island Clean up. Volunteers from all over came together to clean up Little Pine Island (all 2.4 Miles). It looks amazing! The next community cleanup will be Saturday, January 28th and we will be doing a stretch in Bokeelia. More details to follow! Monday the 9th, we handed out rebuilding supplies to 66 residents and delivered to 12 residents on the island! The next supply giveaway will be announced. Tuesday the 10th, the Matlacha Hookers were on Fox4 news for three segments to talk about our efforts for Hurricane Ian Relief. Check out the link below! You can scroll though all three videos by using the arrow on the video itself.

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

As we receive volunteers, we will share the food updates in upcoming Heralds.

Volunteers NEEDED!

Merchandise Needs Your Help

January 14 and 15

Our hard-working Merch team will be at two different events!

North Fort Myers VFW Car and Bike Show

Saturday, January 14, 11 am to 3 pm

Hurricane Grill and Wings, 756 SW Pine Island Rd in Cape Coral

Cape Coral Art Festival and Marketplace

Saturday, January 14 and Sunday January 15, 10 am to 5 pm

Thanks to the Cape Coral Rotary Club, who waived our vendor fee.

Volunteers needed at the Cape Coral Art Festival location.

If you can do 2 hour shifts or half day, that would be wonderful!

Contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009 or Lbrdh4pets@gmail.com for more details.

Island Luau Solicitation Team Meeting

 Thursday January 12 at 10 am at House of Omelets

900 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33991

Materials, instructions, and selecting buddy teams for areas to canvas will be the focus of this meeting. We would also appreciate those who have done canvassing in the past to let Linda Bohacek know if they could do those businesses again.

Please contact Linda Bohacek if you plan to attend the meeting. 

Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009 or Lbrdh4pets@gmail.com

Hookers needed to help pack up

Dianne Wickes

Hooker Dianne Wickes needs a few good Hookers for a few hours sometime before the end of the month of January.  Just packing personal goods, no furniture or heavy lifting.  Plan on 4+ hours and a productive pack up.  We'll miss Dianne and her unbelievable artistic talent.  But her mermaids and Pine Island pictures will live on.

We'll have more info soon.  If you have a few hours, email Lorie Tidwell at lorah.tidwell@gmail.com with your name and phone number.. We will be in contact with a firm date and time as soon as we know. Thanks as always for your participation!

Island Luau Event Planning Meeting

Monday January 23 at 6 pm at Matlacha Fire Station #4

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

If you're unable to attend, please join our meeting from your computer,

tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/630282333

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (571) 317-3122

Access Code: 630-282-333

Tickets are available now, and at meetings, for the Feb 26th Event at SJCC.

Luau tickets make great stocking stuffers!

Tickets will only be pre-sold before the event until 2/21/2023.

Please bring a bottle of Wine for our Mystery Wine Area.

(minimum $10 value)

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 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 and request size.
 

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 to volunteer

to sort & clean jewelry.

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.

Fort Myers Annual ArtFest 2023

Beverage Station

February 3, 4, and 5

The Hookers will once again staff the beverage stations and collect tips to benefit Lee county scholarships.  The event is tons of fun with over 200 juried artists displaying and selling their artwork.  Art varies from watercolor, to wearable, to sculpture and all mediums in between.  Make sure to allow some time before or after your shift to wander around, sample some food truck and vendor treats and do some shopping.

There are 5 beverage stations that need volunteers for the following shifts:

Friday evening  5:15-9:15

Saturday  9:30-1:30 

Saturday 1:00-5:00

Sunday 9:30-1:30 

Sunday 1:00-5:00

There are 2 ways to sign up:

1 - Online at artfestfortmyers.com

Click on Support, then volunteers

Click on Click to Volunteer for 2023

Fill in your first name and email address - submit

Go 2 inches down the page  - enter password -  hookers23

You will now see the Hooker volunteer opportunities

Pick your date, time and location and provide the requested

information

Don't forget to scroll to the bottom of the page and check the disclaimer box

to accept the terms and sign your name

OR 

2 - Email Lorie  Tidwell  lorah.tidwell@gmail.com  or call 202.294.4901 or 

Email Theresa Kramer  theresakramer58@gmail.com  or call 239.560.9687

Provide the following information

Shift you want to work - date and time

Name

Email address

Wireless phone number

Emergency contact name and phone number

T shirt size

Please feel free to bring your spouse, significant other, neighbors, friends, kids over 18.  We need almost 100 volunteers for this important fundraiser.  

Once you're signed up, you will receive a confirmation email from Annie Crouch from ArtFest Fort Myers.  In addition, you will receive all the info you'll need about parking and the event itself.  You can also contact Lorie or Theresa with any questions or concerns you may have. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!  We look forward to another successful fundraising event for our Lee county kids scholarships.

Lorie and Theresa

Co-Chairs ArtFest Fort Myers

Pine Island Food Pantry News

The Food Pantry is in need of the following items: crackers, jelly, Hamburger Helper, and canned diced tomatoes. 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 is 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.