Upcoming Events

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

Mon, Jan 23rd- Project HOPE Self Care Workshop 2 pm - 3:30 pm at Saint James City Civic Center. See details below.

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

Fri, Jan 27th- Hooker Member Mixer starting at 6 pm at Tarpon Lodge 13771 Waterfront Drive in Bokeelia. New and seasoned members are invited to stop by and chat. Have a tasty beverage and get to know one another.

Sat, Jan 28th- Community Cleanup 8 am - 10 am, meeting at OLMM Catholic Church 12175 Stringfellow Rd. Adopt-a-Road type cleanup for Bokeelia. Call or text Julia at 239-298-1113, or just show up!

Sat, Jan 28th- Outdoor Island Market 9 am- 2 pm at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church 10360 Stringfellow Rd in SJC. Volunteers needed. See details below.

Mon, Jan 30th- Project HOPE Community Resilience Training 2 pm - 3:30 pm at Saint James City Civic Center. See details below.

Wed, Feb 1st- 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 3rd, 4th, and 5th- ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteers needed. See details below.

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

Tues, Feb 7th- Luau Site Meeting 6 pm at Saint James City Civic Center.

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

From the Board

Hi all of you happy Hookers!

My name is Lorie Tidwell.  Thank you for your support in electing me to the 2023 Hooker Board of Directors.  For many of you, I'm probably a new face, but for others, a familiar face.  I was Madam 11 in 2016, then served a two-year term on the Board.  It's an honor to serve. We've had great volunteers in the past and I'm excited to meet and work with all the new volunteers who have recently joined the Matlacha Hookers.

As a seasoned member, what DJ always emphasizes "Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!" is great guidance.  Apart from the obvious benefits of our Hooker fundraising, volunteering is a fun way to give back, and a great way to get to know your fellow community Hooker members. Just a couple of hours to hand out building supplies with Julia, or 4 hours at Fort Myers ArtFest, or community clean up (next one is Jan 28), or creative fun for the luau with Sandy Kerr on Jan 23.  Come with a friend or solo.  Introduce yourself to whomever is herding the cats and pitch in.  You'll get to know individual members, you'll see everyone's unique leadership style, and then you can decide when and where you want to focus your efforts.

We have A LOT going on right now and A LOT to be proud of.  Continue to smile, reach out and enjoy the sisterhood, and fellowship, of A LOT of like-minded, generous, smart, and insightful women. 

Stay healthy and I look forward to working with you all!

Hooker Hugs - Lorie

Card Shower Requested

Holly Haines recently lost her husband, Bruce Haines.

Please keep Holly and her family in your hearts and prayers.

Holly Haines

601 SE 9th St.

Cape Coral, FL. 33990

We Need YOU

at Fort Myers ArtFest 2023

Beverage Station

February 3, 4, and 5

Almost 50 more volunteers are needed on Saturday, Feb 4, and Sunday, Feb 5.  Hookers and their friends, spouses, kids (18 or over) and significant others are needed to staff 5 beverage stations.  We work for tips, which go toward Lee county scholarships.  Lots of former Pine Island Elementary school kids are gracious recipients of these scholarships!!

Shifts are Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 am-1:30 pm or 1:00 pm-5:00 pm.  

Go to ArtFestfortmyers.com.  Follow the prompts.  Password is:  Hookers23

Once signed up, you'll receive an email confirmation with all the instructions and info you'll need.

-OR-  

Call 202.294.4901 or email lorah.tidwell@gmail.com and provide:

 - date (Saturday or Sunday) and shift you want to work

 - name

 - email address

 - cell phone number

 - emergency contact

 - T-shirt size
 

THANKS for your support!!  We look forward to seeing many of you at ArtFest Fort Myers.  Don't forget to leave time before or after your shift to enjoy the over 200 Art vendors, music, and food trucks.  You'll also be sporting watercolor artist Ellen Negley's original design on your new yellow volunteer T-shirt.

Lorie and Theresa

Co-Chairs ArtFest Fort Myers

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 SJCCC.

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

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 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.

Hurricane Relief   

We had an amazing time at the Cape Coral Artfest talking to people about our hurricane relief and selling our Hooker Merch! The Cape Coral Rotary presented us with a check for $11,000 to continue to do the good work we have been doing!

Monday, January 23rd we will be doing another supply giveaway; vetting begins at

8 am. Cars will line up just outside of the Methodist church semi-circle parking lot. While we work out some logistics on the plywood and drywall, we will be offering the following to residents. No deliveries will be set up for this giveaway.

3 - 1 gallon Primer Paint (mold and mildew resistant)

3 - 3.5 qts of drywall compound

1 roll - 250ft drywall tape

2 totes- 1 of each 27 gallon and 12 gallon

10 pk - electrical outlets

Saturday, January 28th 8 am-10 am - Community Cleanup for the island! We will be cleaning up Bokeelia this time! If you are interested in being a TRASHY Hooker, please join us! We will be meeting at the OLMM Catholic Church

Tuesday, January 31st - We will be working with the Fort Myers Rotary and will be doing a supply giveaway of 2,000 sheets of drywall. They are talking about providing up to 25 sheets of drywall per resident. It will be at the Methodist Church back parking lot. They will also have deliveries available. Once we finalize the details we will share them with you!

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!

OUTDOOR ISLAND MARKET

Saturday, January 28

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 

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

Carol Zaremba (SJC) - Blueberry Sour Cream Cake

Julia Gaylor (Cape Coral)- Baked Beans

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

Pine Island Food Pantry News

The Food Pantry is in need of the following items: jelly, Hamburger Helper, 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.