Upcoming Events

Mon, Feb 12- February General Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm. American Legion Post 136, 4106 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City. See details below.

Mon-Wed, Feb 12, 13, 14- Wooden Rose Sales at PIE starting at 8:20 am. Pine Island Elementary School 5360 Ridgewood Dr in Bokeelia, close to the center. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Wed, Feb 14- Elvis: A Musical Revolution 11:30 am lunch, 1 pm show. Broadway Palms 1380 Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers.

Sat, Feb 17- Pine Island Garden Gala 9 am- 2 pm. Phillips Garden Park, one block north of the center. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Mon, Feb 19- Luau Basket Making 9 am- 12 pm. Beth Nelson's house, 3343 Manatee Dr, Saint James City. Volunteers needed. Questions? Contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009.

Mon, Feb 19- Island Luau Committee Meeting starting at 6 pm. Saint James City Civic Center 3300 Fourth Ave, Saint James City.

Fri, Feb 23- PIE Walk-a-thon starting at 8:00 am. Pine Island Elementary School 5360 Ridgewood Dr in Bokeelia, close to the center. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Sat, Feb 24- Outdoor Island Market 9 am- 2 pm. Fishers of Men Lutheran Church 10360 Stringfellow Rd in SJC. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Sat, Feb 24- Island Luau Set Up starting at 10 am. Saint James City Civic Center 3300 Fourth Ave, Saint James City.

Sun, Feb 25- Island Luau Set Up starting at 9 am. Saint James City Civic Center 3300 Fourth Ave, Saint James City.

Sun, Feb 25- 12th Annual Island Luau 1 pm- 5 pm. Saint James City Civic Center 3300 Fourth Ave, Saint James City.

Mon, March 4- March Board Meeting starting at 6 pm. Salty Girls Island Cafe 10700 Stringfellow Rd in Bokeelia, just north of the center.

Sat, March 9- Island Fest with Mullet Toss 10 am- 5 pm. Phillips Park Ball Field 5675 Sesame Dr, in Bokeelia, close to the center. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Sat, March 16- Bag 'n Tag Pancake Breakfast Event starting at 8 am. Moose Lodge 8903 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City. See details below.

Members are encouraged to visit the website for up to date news, meeting minutes, financials, merchandise and committee event forms.

PLEASE make sure you're loading this entire edition of The Herald! Depending on your device, The Herald may be getting "clipped" and not fully loading. The very last things you should see are the P.O. Box address and "Visit the Website" link at the bottom. If you're not seeing this, there are two things you can try. At the very top of the Herald, click on the option to View in a Browser. If that doesn't work, look for "View Entire Message" where it looks to be the end/bottom of The Herald. You should be able to click and load the rest of The Herald. Hopefully this helps some of our members, who haven't been able to hear about all of the awesome things that the Matlacha Hookers have going on!

Spotlight On: DJ Ruscik

Matlacha Hookers 25th Anniversary Party Shirts!

Celebrate a quarter-century of camaraderie and memories with our exclusive 25th anniversary Matlacha Hookers shirt. We sold these limited edition shirts at our 25th Anniversary party on February 4 at a special price of $20. We are excited to be able to extend that price to members at our February 12 General Membership meeting. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grab your shirt and join us in celebrating our special Silver Hook milestone!

General Membership Meeting

Monday, February 12, 2024

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.

We will be drawing for the Travel Raffle at this meeting! This is your very last chance, so be sure to bring $25 to purchase one of the few remaining tickets!

Please being your pre-loved premium and costume jewelry you would like to donate (for the

Chic Jewelry Boutique at the Island Luau) to this meeting.

We would appreciate gift cards for restaurants, gift certificates, and any new items for Island Luau baskets.

(Please see the Island Luau section below for more details.)

Want to purchase Island Luau tickets, but want to avoid the online fee?

Bring cash or a check (with phone number and email noted) to the meeting and Sherri Davis can get your tickets entered in for you!

As always, please don't forget to bring food pantry donations! 

Are your closets busting at the seams? Kitchen cabinets won't close? Bring your Bag 'n Tag donations to the meeting! (Keep scrolling for more details below!)

Volunteers Needed At Pine Island Elementary

Our Matlacha Hookers Merchandise Team Needs You!!

The Matlacha Hookers Merchandise Team has a busy winter planned, and really needs some helping hands! Come out and shop, and volunteer!

Pine Island Garden Gala
Saturday, February 17, 9 am to 2 pm

Phillips Garden Park

One block north of the center

Shifts available: 8:15- 10:15 am, 10:15 am- 12:15 pm, 12:15- 2:15 pm.

(Please plan on arriving 15 minutes early for your shift.)

Outdoor Island Market

Saturday, February 24, 9 am - 2 pm

Fishers of Men Lutheran Church

10360 Stringfellow Rd, Saint James City

Shifts available: 8:15- 10:15 am, 10:15 am- 12:15 pm, 12:15- 2:15 pm.

(Please plan on arriving 15 minutes early for your shift.)

Island Fest with Mullet Toss

Saturday, March 9, 10 am- 4 pm

Phillips Park Ball Field

5675 Sesame Dr, Bokeelia close to the Center

Shift available: 9:30 am- 12 pm, 12- 2:30 pm, 2:30- 5 pm

 (Please plan on arriving 15 minutes early for your shift.)

The Matlacha Merchandise Team needs volunteers at these fun events!

Please contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009

🌺 Island Luau Event 🌺

The Island Luau Event is on Sunday, Feb 25, 2024, at Saint James City Civic Center

Feb 19, 2024, Monday (One week before the event) – All members

The meeting begins at 6:00 pm at Saint James Civic Center, 3300 Fourth Ave, Saint James City.

Feb 24, 2024, Saturday, Set-up Crews start at 10 am

Feb 25. 2024, Sunday, Luau Event, Set-up starts at 9 am

All volunteers need to be on site by 12:00 pm 

Linda Bohacek, Joanne Correia, and Sandy Kerr,

Island Luau Co-Chairs

Reminder to please bring to every meeting:

~ any pre-loved premium and costume jewelry (for the Chic Jewelry Boutique)

~ regular size bottles of wine, value $10+ for the Mystery Wine (we need 200 for the event) or cash donations for the committee to purchase wine

🌺 Thank you!!! 🌺

🌸 Island Luau Baskets 🌸

Thank you for signing up to either make a basket or bring a basket! WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ON BASKET MAKING DAY. For those who volunteer, please bring clear scotch tape and scissors.

Instructions: You can choose to wrap it yourself, but please close it loosely as we may need to add gift certificates to the basket. We have bows to close it.  If you would like the committee to wrap it, we will be happy to do so. PLEASE tape a written list of the contents, with the value, to the basket. Plus include a filled out DONATION form which details who this is from and who procured it.

VERY IMPORTANT: Bring basket to the General Meeting on February 12th -OR- bring it to Beth Nelson's home, at 3343 Manatee Drive in Saint James City, between 9 am and Noon on February 19th -OR- Contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009 to make arrangements to deliver the basket. 

We can't wait to see what our awesome Hookers have created!

For those who aren't able to make complete baskets, but would still like to help, we still need your assistance! We need small bags of various snacks. Most importantly, we need gift certificates from eateries that you frequent. Finally, bring crinkle paper (or if you have a shredder, bring shredded paper from home).

Please bring these items to the February General Membership meeting on Feb 12 or to Island Luau Basket Making on Feb 19. 

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

😊 🍷 WELCOME ENTRY AREA, POUR STATIONS, APPETIZERS & DESSERTS 🍷 😊

Ladies, 

With the Island Luau only two weeks away, it is time to finish staffing the event.

We need volunteers (12) for the entry area to welcome guests, scan them in, and give them their wrist bands, gift bags, and leis.

We also need volunteers for our three pour stations, 4 volunteers at each station. (12:30 - 2:30 pm, 2:30 - 5 pm, or do the whole event 12:30 - 5 pm)

Additionally, we need volunteers to assist with appetizers and desserts.

The Island Luau event on February 25 runs from 1 - 5 pm, and we ask that all volunteers arrive by 12:00 pm.

To volunteer contact Cindy Walton cindylynnsw@gmail.com or text 609-369-1347

💎 💍 CHIC JEWELRY BOUTIQUE 💍 💎

VOLUNTEERS [BLING BABES]:  If you haven’t signed up, we could use your help!  Call or text Chris B 321-231-4557 to sign up

2/25/24 Sunday 11 am - Help set up displays & help guests with jewelry choices [1-5 pm] in the Luau Chic Jewelry Boutique.  
 

If you haven’t peeked at your jewelry stash lately, there is still time to donate.  Bring your treasures to 2/12/24 General Meeting.  All the money we raise goes to Island Luau charities.
 

Christina Buntin 321-231-4557 jcbuntin8209@gmail.com

Save the Date for Island Fest with Mullet Toss 3/9

The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce needs our help with one of Pine Island's most beloved events, Island Fest with Mullet Toss, scheduled on March 9! We will be returning to the ball field at Phillips Park this year! YAY! We are a member in good standing of the Chamber, and this is a fun-filled event for both volunteers and attendees alike. Volunteers are needed for the Front Gate and Registration areas, along with General Clean-Up. Sign up sheets will be passed around at the February 12 General Membership meeting with more details.

March Matlacha Hookers Social 3/20

Extended due to popular demand. Let's fill the boat!

Questions? Contact Darcy 954-530-2494 darcyconner@cruiseplanners.com 

Bag 'n Tag Update

Good news!  We have a trailer at the Maxwell House, at 7830 Lobean Lane in Bokeelia, that will be here for at least another week.  Feel free to drop off items that are in bags with information on the outside, or boxes with lids, but please text DJ at 239-910-3829. 

Small items, such as clothing, can be dropped off at Trader's Hitching Post 4547 Pine Island Rd NW in Matlacha, near the Post Office.

GREAT NEWS - The American Legion is allowing us to use one of the PODS for storage, and their dining room for sorting!!  Please bring items to the February General Membership Meeting on Monday, February 12th, with more information to follow.  If you need more information, please contact Carolyn at 707-291-0310 or Teresa at 239-738-5008.

General Meeting Location Ideas Wanted!

The Matlacha Hookers Board is in the process of securing locations for our upcoming general membership meetings in Cape Coral, and we're reaching out to gather some ideas for potential meeting locations.

We are looking for venues that can accommodate 30-50 people and provide a conducive environment for productive discussions. Additionally, if the location offers any unique features or amenities, that would be a great bonus.

If you have any recommendations or insights into suitable meeting spaces in Cape Coral, we would greatly appreciate your input. Whether it's a conference center, hotel meeting room, or any other venue that you think could be a good fit, please feel free to share your suggestions. Please contact Carolyn at (707) 291-0310 or email ryzanych@yahoo.com. Thank you for your help and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Adopt-A-Road Post Report: Mission Accomplished!

Just in time for the Saturday in Matlacha event, fourteen happy Hookers showed up at 8:30 am last Saturday morning.  Pickers in hand, and fashionably garbed in neon yellow safety vests, half headed East toward Miceli's. The other half journeyed west toward Yucutan. The team tackled both sides of Pine Island Road, dragging huge garbage bags, with a defined mission: Pick up that Trash!

Mission Accomplished!  Thanks to Kaye Hubach, Kathy Tenbrink, Joyce Conatser, Donna Trusik, Juli Gilson, Nancy Carlson, Betsy Davis, Joy Ziss, Linda Bessette, Kathryn Bunce, Heidi Lutz, Julia Gaylor and Lorie Tidwell.  

We also had Adopt a Road co-chair Shirley Noble do a 3 bag pre-clean up last weekend since she couldn't participate on February 3. Thanks Shirley!!

Altogether we picked up 16 bags of trash in about 2 hours. Special treat afterwards provided by Cindee Tolliver at Traders Hitching Post.  Cindee served mimosas and munchies to the clean up group.  It was a nice opportunity for all of us to socialize and relax after our work was done.

Thanks to all who took the time and energy to participate.  Know your Hooker participation is valued and please continue making a positive difference in our community. Everyone driving through Matlacha, enjoy the trash free entrance and exit as you motor on and off the island.  Please help us keep our little slice of paradise clean and looking good, for all to enjoy. 

Lorie Tidwell and Shirley Noble

Adopt a Road Co Chairs

Pine Island Food Pantry News

The Pine Island Food Pantry is in need of the following items: feminine hygiene products, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, instant mashed potatoes, cereal, saltines, wide egg noodles, and any non-perishable snack items to put in kids' snack bags. 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!

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.