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Bring some BUDDY you love! NOW – DEC 25 Fall in love with Buddy the Elf! Based on the popular film, this charming and whimsical musical comedy will spread holiday cheer for all to hear!
1380 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers
239.278.4422 BroadwayPalm.com
IN THE OFF BROADWAY PALM
CHILDREN’S THEATRE
$19 Lunch & Show!
NOW – DEC 25 Groove into the holiday season with this 1960s style revue featuring Christmas favorites you know and love!
NOW – DEC 24
DECEMBER2018
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16
DECEMBER 201
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8 FROM THE BREWER Bier de Noel
10 WINE
Hello Bordeaux
12 FITNESS
Tips to avoid gaining extra weight during the Holidays!
14 REAL ESTATE BIG Questions
16 FEATURE
The Real Santa Claus
20 WANDERING
Stephanie wanders around “Alpine” Helen, Ga.
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22 FEATURE
Little Toot the “Giving Tug” is Coming to Town @ Six Knots
24 DIY FOODIE
Christmas Cheer - A few Christmas Concoctions
DEPARTMENTS 6 WITTICISMS
7 QUICK READS 13 COMEDY
25 COMMUNITY IN ACTION 30 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4
DECEMBER2018
8
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DECEMBER2018
5
Wiicisms \ ˈwi-tə-ˌsi-zəm \
noun
: a cleverly witty and often biting or ironic remark
By Tony Henkels
•To the world you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world.
•When little things annoy you, remember that they are little things.
•Want to get to heaven? Turn right & go straight. •Most of being smart is knowing what you are dumb at.
•Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
•Happiness is being too busy to worry during the day & too sleepy to worry at night.
•The man of the hour is the man whose wife asked him to wait a minute.
•We’re doing something wrong when kids run wild & dogs go to obedience school.
•Be prepared to spend an hour with anyone who asks “got a minute?”
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DECEMBER2018
•Work your way up or rust your way out.
QUICKREADS QUICK By Tony Henkels
Dave Barry is Not Making This Up. - Dave Barry. Author is a humorist & specializes in absurdity. If you can read 2 pages without laughing, you are a confirmed curmudgeon.♥♥♥♥♥
Kennedy Babylon - Howie Carr. A very detailed look at ALL of the scandals & depravity of the entire Kennedy clan. They probably make the Clinton's look innocent!♥♥ Rise And Kill First - Ronen Bergman. The history of Israel's targeted assassinations. A detailed, 600 page book about Mossad, IDF, and the politicians, plus military leaders.♥♥♥♥ Dave Barry's History of The Millennium - Dave Barry. This book was written in 2007 & refers to many current events from the 50's on & also politics of the time.♥
Directorate S - Steve Coll. A detailed history of the Afghan war from 2001 – 16. Mostly about the Pakistani ISI & their support of the Taliban while taking $$$$ from the U.S.♥♥♥
Still The Best Hope - Dennis Prager. A scholarly look at why the the world needs American values. Prager is an intellectual conservative who compares American values in detail with the rest of the world.♥♥♥♥
The Last Black Unicorn - Tiffany Haddish. Her memoir of her life from rags to riches. Started in the worst section of L.A, father disappeared, mother mentally ill, now a fairly famous actor & comedian.♥♥
Who We Are & How We Got Here - David Reich. Harvard professor of genetics scholarly history of the development of the ability to get information from DNA. They can tell the ancestry of people accurately going back 4-5 thousand years! They use geology information to tell where people lived on they cross bred and a LOT of other charismatics. A tough read, but interesting & very informative.♥♥♥♥
I Feel You - Cris Beam. This book wants to convince us that EXTREME empathy can solve a lot of problems. Author's husband decided to become a woman, her daughter is transgender too, so she believes we should have EXTREME empathy for them. She also believes that criminal courts should have extreme empathy for most criminals, only using probation, not jail sentences. Sound logical???? ♥♥♥♥
The Ten Commandments - Dennis Prager. A serious look at exactly what the ten commandments say & mean in the original Hebrew version.♥♥♥♥♥ DECEMBER2018
7
From The Brewer....... 8
BIER DE NOEL BEER
Christmas and Holiday beer is a tradition in many parts of the United States, including Southwest Florida. You are probably even seeing some of these popping up around the stores in your neighborhood. Of course, there are always those Goose Island Bourbon County stout releases on Black Friday or the variants of Breakfast Stout releases from Founders that we see coming out around this time of year. These are phenomenal beers and are typically aged in Bourbon (Goose Island) or Maple Syrup barrels (Canadian Breakfast Stout) with other additions, such as coffee. They’re great for the season and enjoying in front of a warm fire on a cold night, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them Christmas or Holiday beers.
Typically, Holiday or Christmas beers that pop up contain some general consensus of ingredients and/or flavor profiles. They are typically dark, and often contain dried fruit esters (ie fig, date, raisin, black current, apples.) They are also often spiced with what some may consider holiday spices (ie clove, pine, spruce, licorice, nutmeg, vanilla.) Lastly, they are almost always high abv and/or medium to full bodied. These beers attempt to take the essence of the holiday and compact it into a beer.
DECEMBER2018
Long before the craft-brewing renaissance that has been sweeping the United States, these Holiday or Christmas beers were a tradition throughout most of Europe. Many different countries produce their own versions. Germany produces weihnachtsbier, which translates to Christmas Beer. In German style, this beer is a lager, albeit a higher alcohol lager. It has copious amounts of roasted malts to give it a dark color, and a roast flavor profile with dried fruit esters and cloying alcohol warmth that finishes crisp, much like most German lagers. One of the most popular and highest rated weihnachtsbiers is Monchsof Weihnachtsbier from Kulmbacher Brauerei in Germany. Usually only found on draft between October and December, if you can find it, it is highly recommended!
We would be amiss without touching on the Belgian Christmas brewing tradition. They have the rich history and brewing tradition of their German neighbors, but without the Teutonic commitment to rigid brewing laws. The brewers of Belgium have become experts in the use of refined sugars to create rich colors and caramel flavors. Unlike many American or even French Christmas beers, the Belgians don’t include spices. The complex esters produced by their unique yeast strains can impart anything from spice and clove to dried fruit. A popular Belgian Christmas style beer is St. Bernardus Christmas ale. This is a Quadruple style Belgian beer that has an intense aroma of cookies and caramel with hints of dried fruit including plum, baked apples, and brown sugar. It is complex, spicy, and finishes with a slight bitterness.
A close neighbor, France has been producing Biere de Noel for as far back as brewery records have been kept. This is typically
Big Blue Brewing Hosts “Meet the Brewer”
just a darker version of their Biere de Garde that started being
brewed during the holiday season as a marketing ploy to sell
more beer during the winter months. Examples of Bier de Noel
range in color, alcohol, and flavors. However, typically this is a
Event
darker, higher abv beer with a complex malt backbone, often
accentuated by fruity and spicy esters from the yeast that is used.
Unfortunately, there are few versions of this beer currently available on the market.
In Britain, there is a long history of brewing strong ales to help
its citizens cope with the cold, dreary winters. Barleywine is
typically aged for up to several years. As it ages, the intense,
noble hop aromas and bitterness tends to fade into a complex
malt-drive dried fruit, nutty, and toffee backbone. Double-digit abv gives the drinker nice warmth for the cold dreary weather. Fuller’s Golden Pride is a good example of this style of beer.
Similarly, Winter Warmers tend to be malt forward with a huge body and range from red in color to pitch black. Many English
versions don’t contain spices, although those that do follow the
“wassail” tradition of blending robust ales with cinnamon, ginger,
and/or nutmeg. Great Lakes Brewing from Ohio does a version
of this beer called Christmas Ale which contains notes of honey,
cinnamon, and ginger. It is a 6-time World Beer Championship
medal winner and highly recommended if you can find it!
There are many styles and a wealth of traditions and history when
it comes to Christmas or Holiday beer. It is fun seeking out and
finding some of these beers from breweries in countries where the tradition or style originated. Similarly, because of the huge
craft-brewing boom in the US, it is almost always possible to find
a local or regional beer that is based on one of these styles or
Big Blue Brewing hosted a Brewer Meet & Greet where new brewmaster, Bill Vaughnan, released a half dozen extremely limited beers (5 gallons each). Maple Pecan Brown Ale Pineapple Milkshake IPA Irish Red Ale with S'mores flavored coffee Strawberry Shortcake Saison Chocolate Coconut Milk Stout Raspberry Lime-ade Saison Bill joined Big Blue Brewing just a few months ago, after moving on from his original endeavours- Bury Me Brewing & Peace River Beer Company.
“Together we hope to grow Big Blue into one of the most recognizable beer brands in the area. I am constantly working on new beer recipes and very limited treatment batches.”
A "treatment batch" is essentially taking a small amount, usually 5-15 gallons, of a base beer and adding fruits, spices and other flavors to the beer. “We are also working on developing our pilot batch system (10 gallon) so that we can brew exclusive small batches. We release a lot of these limited batches at a moments notice all week and they go fast so stop often and be sure to watch our social media outlets for updates!” Stop and say hi to Bill while enjoying his awesome brews!
traditions. These beers are almost always seasonal, so seek them
out and get a couple while you can. Enjoy them with family and
holiday meals, and put some in the cellar to age and try again next year.
Submitted by Roger Phelps Owner/Influencer of Microbial Reproduction Eight-Foot Brewing, LLC
Dan Termini
Bill Vaughnan
DECEMBER2018
9
HELLO BORDEAUX WINE
If the country of France is ground zero for wine lovers, then their motherland is almost always the auspicious region of Bordeaux. However, despite the notoriety of this infamous location, it is often fraught with confusion among uninitiated oenophiles. The rules and restrictions are complex and the names are difficult for non-Francophiles to decipher. Surprisingly though, once the basics are grappled with, Bordeaux ends up being more easily understood than numerous other highly-regulated regions throughout the Old World.
To begin, Bordeaux’s red wines are blends based mainly on either Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or a combination of the two. Cabernet Franc, the third most widely planted red grape in the region, is a supporting player, followed by Malbec and Petit Verdot. Carmenère is the only other grape allowed in the blend; however, it is not commonly used in the present day Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is located in the southwestern portion of France. It is marked by two rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, that join in the center of the region to form the Gironde which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean. This neatly divides the area into three distinct sections – the Entre-Deux-Mers, the Right Bank and the Left Bank.
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DECEMBER2018
“Entre-Deux-Mers” directly translates to “Between Two Seas.” It is an apt descriptor as it is the land located between the Garonne and Dordogne before they join together. The soil in this area is overly fertile, so it is not considered prime terroir as the resulting wines lack concentration and do not possess the ability to age like their counterparts on the outer banks.
Although white grapes make up only about 15% of the grapes cultivated in Bordeaux, the majority of white grapes grown in Bordeaux hail from the Entre-Deux-Mers. The varietals are mainly Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. These are typically found in combination with a minor portion of Semillon balancing the acidic Sauvignon Blancs and labeled White Bordeaux. Additionally, this sub-region does produce Merlot grapes in significant quantities, as well. The east and north of the Dordogne and Gironde is called the Right Bank, which features Liborne as its major city. Their wines are based largely on Merlot grapes. The prominent areas of the Right Bank are located around Saint-Émilion and to a lesser extent, in the area of Pomerol, which produce quality wines that can mature, but do not feature the age ability that those of the Left Bank do. Wines originating in the peripheral areas of the
Right Bank, as well as those made from the aforementioned Merlot grapes in the EntreDeux-Mers, are considered basic, everyday drinking Bordeaux. And they feature correspondingly friendly price points.
Finally, the most prestigious subsection, the Left Bank, unfolds to the west and south of the Garonne and Gironde. The wines, based mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, are concentrated. They require aging and possess the ability to mature for decades or more. The Left Bank is divided into MĂŠdoc in the north and Graves in the south. MĂŠdoc contains HautMĂŠdoc, which is an even more specific area of prominence in the upper reaches of MĂŠdoc, while Graves consists of Pessac-Leognan and, below that, Sauternes, which is famous for its unparalleled botrytis-affected, sweet, dessert wines.
ĎŁŃ‰ŃŒŃŽŃŒĐťŃƒŃŽŃ? Ď–Ń‚ŃƒŃ†Đž ŇŞ Ď§ĐżĐżŃˆ Ď™ĐťŃ‡ŃƒŃ†Ń“ Ď ĐťŃŽĐżŃŒŃˆŃƒŃŽŃ“ Ď˜ŃˆŃ ĐťŃ ĐżŃ‡ĐżŃˆŃŽŃ? ϣпюŃ? Ď–Ń‰ŃŒŃŠŃ‰ŃŒĐťŃŽĐż ϛпНОŃ?тщюŃ?
In the Bordeaux Classification System of 1855, it was determined that the Châteaus (or wineries) would each qualify for a certain class level based on the quality of their wines. These standings were to be permanent designations. Five Châteaus took top honors and were regarded as Premier Cru. Four of those Châteaus, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild, reside in MÊdoc, and the fifth, Haut-Brion, makes its home in PessacLeognan.
As with any wine region, one can delve deeply into the specifics regarding Bordeaux and revel in its complexities. But with the basics down pat, it makes sorting the finer particulars of this complex region much easier. That being said, all this education means it is time to sit down with a nice glass of Bordeaux and appreciate the dedication that went into ensuring and sustaining the quality of such an amazing wine location.
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DECEMBER2018
11
FITNESS
Submitted By Kari Fundingsland Owner of Kari Kardio Group Fitness Center
Tips to avoid gaining extra weight during the Holidays! Americans consume over 4500 calories just on Thanksgiving Day! Then, all the holiday parties start and run right into Christmas and New Year’s festivities. Why wait until January 1st to set your New Year’s fitness resolutions like most of us do?
Try these little tips to get you through the holidays: • Try to avoid too many appetizers before your meal. Cheese/Crackers and other snacks have a high amount of calories. Plus, they leave you feeling full and not hungry for the good stuff!
• Dish up smaller portions – use smaller plates to control your portions. Avoid paper plates. Research has shown if you use a heavy plate you trick yourself into thinking you have a lot more food on your plate. • Drink a lot of water before and after your meal. This will help you feel full. • Take a quick walk after your meal and avoid sitting down.
• Keep up with your fitness routine. During the holidays, everyone seems to find excuses to skip the gym or fitness class! Keep your same routine. You need to be consistent to burn off all the extra calories you will be consuming.
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DECEMBER2018
y ed om C
By Tony Henkels
TEACHER: Clyde, your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his? CLYDE: No, sir. It's the same dog. TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested? HAROLD: A teacher.
Recently I woke up in such a good mood I looked over to my husband & said “Honey I love you.� He looked at me & said “Why? What’s the matter?�
Feeling very proud of myself, I asked my mother “what’s it like having an awesome daughter?� She replied “I don’t know, why don’t you ask your grandmother.� What did one flag say to the other? Nothing, it just waved.
How come there are no knock-knock jokes about America? Because freedom rings.
When I came home from golfing, my wife left a note on the fridge “It’s not working – I can’t take it anymore. Gone to stay with my mother.� I opened the fridge. The light came on, the beer was cold. I never did find out what she was talking about.
A man loses his dog so he puts an ad in the paper. The add says “Here boy.�
Having children is like living in a frat house – nobody sleeps, everything is broken & there’s a lot of throwing up.
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13
REAL ESTATE
BIG QUES
Real Estate Questions with Daniel R. Larson
When I List My Home for Sale, What’s My Market, Rea Obstacles? How Do I Decide Whether My Realtor and I Are
If you’re like most people, when you decide you want to move,
• What do you view as my biggest obstacle in selling?
whatever the reason, that motivation usually hits pretty fast.
that’s not likely to be true. You want an agent with the experience
you really want to move. Motives can run the gamut from “I got
a new job” to “We’re having a baby” to “It’s time to retire.” But,
Then, the second thought is usually, “… and we need to sell this place for a whole bunch of money.”
It’s understandable to want to sell your home for as much money
as possible, and as quickly as you can. But those sentiments don’t really take into account the fact that your home, and the real
estate it sits upon, is a potential asset for somebody else. It’s in
a market which encompasses both value and obstacles.
This should be an answer about your neighborhood, your market,
and your property. If they say, “I just need to put it on the MLS,” to see your obstacles before they even start to show up. • What is your availability?
If they say they are a part-time agent, or that they have another
job, feel free to move along. Agents who work in teams can be ideal. Even if you don’t always have your primary contact point, you always have somebody.
One really great test is to call the agent early on a Saturday
So, where do I start?
morning, before you ever meet with them, and see if they answer
What’s less obvious is how to pick a good one, because much of
both times, they’re ahead of the pack.
Thankfully, there’s a kind of person whose job it is to figure all
this out for us. It’s called a Realtor. That part is pretty obvious.
the literature about how to pick a good Realtor is written by the Realtor who is asking you for your business.
In vetting a Realtor, great questions to ask are:
• What do you view as my biggest competition in selling?
This is where you find out if all they know is what they looked up
in the MLS. An agent active in your market will know all the new
construction in the area, and they will have seen your neighboring properties (your competition.)
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DECEMBER2018
their phone. Then, call them the morning of your appointment
to confirm your appointment. Again, if they answer their phone • What do I need to do to get my property ready to sell?
Now, this may get personal. Don’t be offended if your Realtor
tells you something that you don’t want to hear. In fact, if all your
agent has for you is 'sunshine and rainbows,' I wouldn’t necessarily trust them. Removing smells and holes in walls and
anything personal is essential to selling.
A good Realtor will help you keep it professional, while pointing
out what makes your property a weak offer in comparison to
your neighbors. For example, your buyer does not need a list of all the items you’ve ever installed in the house.
STIONS
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Sometimes working with honesty and integrity
means you have to suck it up and take your
lumps from the best agent, the one who is
telling you the truth. 'Sunshine and Rainbows'
agent isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be so much fun in a year
when you still havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t moved . â&#x20AC;¢ What are you going to do besides putting the property in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)?
Every Realtor has a different answer here. There really is not just one good answer, but it better
be something. Holding a million open houses,
sending fliers across the community, calling all
your neighbors, knocking on doors, agent
opens, and print advertising are all good option.
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â&#x20AC;¢ How many properties have you sold in this market in the past 6 months?
A good answer is at least 1 per month. And
make sure that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not taking credit for
properties sold by their company, rather than
properties they have sold personally. Taking
credit for their companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sales is not illegal, or
a violation of the Realtor Code of Ethics. But, if
the company may have some other great agent
who is selling all over your area, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the person with whom you should be speaking.
DECEMBER2018
15
FEATURE
16
DECEMBER2018
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
R
The
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
E R
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Santa Claus
Written by Mrs. Kris Kringle aka Mrs. Clause Photos by Tammy Gallant
There are a great number of people from "up north" who traverse the distance from their Northern homes to spend the Winter lounging under sunny, blue skies in lovely Southwest Florida. Cape Coral and Fort Myers definitely have its fair share of those travelers that we locals lovingly refer to as "snowbirds."
We all know that Florida depends on the annual migration of snowbirds every year, but what most folks don't realize is that SWFL is home to one of the most famous and well-known couples in the world...Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Yes, you read that correctly. If you think about it, this should not be a surprise. It's understandable that those from up in the higher elevations would like to escape winter's cold, wind and snow. They come down to avoid the nuisances of shoveling snow, scraping frost, fighting icy or snow-packed roads, etc. The warmer weather also boasts the appeal of numerous health benefits, not the least of which is that cold and arthritis aren't good bedfellows.
Yes, Minnesota, Montana, New York and others have some brutal winters. No one can deny that. However, there's a place further north that has even more brutal cold conditions. That place is the North Pole! And who is it that we all know lives there? Well, Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course. Who would have more of a reason to escape to the warmer climes than them?
Santa, himself, is a pretty rugged old elf. Flying south for the winter was more the idea of Mrs. Claus. Her arthritis "hurts something fierce," she says as she places a batch of cookies on the table, fresh out of the oven. "Santa does love his cookies," she adds, wiping her hands on her apron which just happens to be adorned with mistletoe and candy canes. She then took her place, seated next to Santa and rested her aged, yet supple hand comfortably on his arm as they told the story of their decision to become snowbirds.
DECEMBER2018
17
Santa said they had talked about it for many decades. He argued how hard it would be to attend to his Christmas duties without being right there in the North Pole. However, even he couldn't argue with the advent of recent technology. Mrs Claus convinced Santa that it would be completely possible and even practical to
head south. That's when the pipe dreams became plans.
The next part was deciding where to move. Of course, they could choose anywhere in the world, but in the end, it was mutually decided that Florida would make the most sense. It's still easy enough to get back home, if and when it became necessary. Add to that the commonality of snowbird migration making it easy to blend in and, well, the rest is history, as they say. It was the most likely place for them to go unnoticed and not draw unnecessary attention.
They actually came here to scout locations about 12 years ago. The Claus' settled into a cozy apartment that first year, just to give it a trial run. "We figured it was best to test the waters before plunging in, head first," Santa said with a twinkle in his eye, as he popped the last bite of his cookie into his mouth. It went so well that they bought their own home away from home, shortly thereafter.
In keeping with the Florida spirit, Santa decided he would trade in his sleigh (at least while he is down here) for a more conventional mode of transportation. We have all heard the stories, seen the drawings, and know that Santa is a big fan of traveling quickly and in the open air, with the wind on his face. For him, the next best thing to the sleigh, which is not at all practical in Florida, was to buy a motorcycle.
So, very soon after their arrival, Santa and Mrs. Claus headed off to a local motorcycle dealership to bring home his Florida ride. Mrs. Claus says she worries about him while he's off "gallivanting about the countryside," as she calls it, but adds that "if it puts a smile on his red-cheeked little face, it's worth it." She adds that "he brings so much joy and happiness to so many people around the world, he really deserves a bit of pampering himself."
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DECEMBER2018
Slowly, but surely, Santa has been embracing advancing technology. Last year, some of the elves were finally able to talk Santa into jumping on the social network bandwagon. With the help of a local photographer, here in Cape Coral, he now has his very own Facebook page. His right-hand-elf and head of publicity emphatically convinced him that he needed to enter the current day and age, stating that "anyone who's anyone has social media accounts, nowadays." As of now, he has almost 70,000 followers as The Real Santa Claus, @OldKrisKringle, on Facebook.
Though the Christmas season keeps him busy and he has a hectic schedule with going back and forth to the North Pole for toy planning and production, he does make some time for photo opportunities, special deliveries, appearances at holiday gatherings, etc. Be sure to follow him on Facebook to find out more. Until then, Santa and Mrs. Claus wish you the happiest of holiday seasons. See you on the nice list...hopefully!
DECEMBER2018
19
WANDERING
“ALPINE” HELEN, GA
I love living near the ocean with sand in my toes and salty ocean air, but occasionally,
it’s nice to escape the Florida heat for the mountain air.
This summer was no
exception. The kids and I loaded up the
car and made the 10-hour drive to Helen, Georgia for some family adventure.
Story & Pictures by Stephanie Karasek
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DECEMBER2018
Alpine Helen is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in N.E. Georgia, located along the Chattahoochee River. This charming city is lined with cobblestone streets, quaint hotels and shops, and restaurants serving Alpine food and drink.
The suspended bridges between zip lines required just the right combination of precise footwork and fearlessness.
I spent my mornings on the private deck with a cup of coffee and book, enjoying the cool morning air. The kids loved the game room, hot tub and big screen TV.
COOL RIVER ADVENTURES Our third day was spent at Cool River Adventures. This park includes a rope course and rock climbing wall for all ages. We completed the Big Adventure, a course designed for adults and kids who are 70+ lbs. It has 11 elements and a short zip line. For those wanting even more of a challenge, Extreme Adventure has 13 elements that go across the Chattahoochee River. It is not for the faint of heart.
Anna Ruby Falls is located a few miles from Helen in Unicoi State Park. The State Park is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The water cascading over the rocks is created by two creeks. The Curtis Creek Falls drop 153 feet and the York Creek Falls are a shorter, but still incredible, 50 feet. The water at the bottom of the falls is part of Smith Creek which flows into Smith Lake, the centerpiece of Unicoi State Park.
A week before our trip, the first tropical storm of the season caused the river to overflow its banks. The river was 20 inches higher than normal and closed to tubing due to rapids. Luckily for us, the river opened on our last day and we were able to Tube the Hooch. It was the highlight of our trip.
We stayed at an incredible Airbnb located 4 miles up the mountain and had all the comforts of home in a secluded, rustic cabin.
ANNA RUBY FALLS We spent our first day hiking in search of waterfalls… and we found them!
DUKE’S CREEK FALLS Duke’s Creek Falls is a scenic two mile out and back hike through a lush green forest. The trail descends alongside a shallow, mossy stream to the bottom of Duke’s Creek gorge where multiple waterfalls convergence at Davis Creek and Dukes Creek. At the falls, a 300-foot-long walkway connects observation decks that provide an excellent view. Dukes Creek Falls is located a few miles from Helen and is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. UNICOI ZIPLINE AND AERIAL ADVENTURE.
Our second day in Helen was spent in the tree tops at Unicoi State Park. Unicoi Zipline and Aerial Adventure includes over 15 zip lines, 7 skywalk bridges and 3 aerial towers ending with a zip over the lake. The views were incredible from 75 feet in the air.
TUBIN THE HOOCH The Chattahoochee River originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains of N. Georgia and flows through Helen. Tubing on the river is a favorite activity for locals looking for a way to escape the heat during the summer months the water is cold!.
We rented our tubes from Helen Tubing and Water Park. We purchased the all-day pass which allowed unlimited tubing and access to the waterpark. It takes about 2 hours to tube the hooch. The river runs through town and past restaurants at the midway point.
When you reach the exit point, a bus brings you back to the beginning for another trip. If you visit, don’t forget to bring a pushing stick and water socks.
We loved our mountain getaway and decided that we would be back. Whether you are in search of an adventure vacation with family, a girl’s trip to sample wine or just a chance to enjoy the beauty of the mountains, Helen Georgia is just the place!
DECEMBER2018
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Little Toot, the “Giving Tug”, is Coming to Town @ Six Knots By Captain Christopher Robin Founder of the Little Toot Foundation Illustrations by Mark Herron
No one is more excited than Little Toot and Captain Christopher Robin on their return home to the docks of e Edison & Ford Marina. ey are excited to share the good news and stories from their latest adventure. 22
DECEMBER2018
Aer years of being locked away in a barn in LaBelle, lost and forgoen, Lile Toot has been found. Once a tugboat that helped other boats, Lile Toot is now ready with a new purpose of giving. He and the Captain are not only ready to lend a line, they are ready to lend a hand, make a smile and share the world of possibility that abounds for anyone who believes.
It was a time for new beginnings, a time for sharing and a time to celebrate that dreams do come true. Even while Lile Toot sat alone and abandoned in the dark barn where he lived, he never gave up hope. As the world passed by on the river behind him, Lile Toot believed. He trusted that the Captain would return and that someday he would feel the cool waters under his hull again.
What he did not know was that the barn doors would swing open once again, and that a new Captain would stand and proclaim that he would take Lile Toot places that he had never imagined and with a whole new purpose.
Together, GOING @ Six Knots, Lile Toot and Captain Christopher Robin now venture into new waters sharing their stories, listening to others, and taking all who want to be a part of the journey and new adventures with them.
rough their wheel house, Lile Toot and Captain Christopher Robin share not only the tales of their real life adventures, but they share the stories and inspiration of those they meet.
November 16th, 2018, became “Official Lile Toot Day” in LaBelle. e Mayor made the proclamation as 2nd and 4th graders from LaBelle Elementary TOOTED, whistled and cheered. ey launched Lile Toot into a world of new adventures from the same place where Lile Toot was once abandoned.
“e Giving Tug,” Lile Toot, wants to share his story and vision of “e Art of Giving.” Giving starts from the heart and ends up in a smile. Everyone has something to give. It might not be obvious, but it's real and it comes from inside.
When Captain Christopher Robin welcomes you on board Lile Toot, there is but one request: be willing. Be willing to let the breeze open your mind, and the sound of the water passing comfort you. Be willing to let go of the past and live in the present. Most importantly, as a Lile Toot Crew Member, Fleet Friend and Ambassador, when a boat passes by and you hear Lile Toot’s whistle, wave and smile for that is a gi everyone can receive.
Keep on believing! Keep on sharing & giving! Keep on TOOTING! LileTootFoundation.Org
DECEMBER2018
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CH
DIY FOODIE
HOLLY JOLLY PUNCH
ristmas eer
INGREDIENTS 1 part DeKuyper® Triple Sec Liqueur 2 parts Pinnacle® Original Vodka 3 parts Cranberry Juice 6 parts Ginger Ale 2 parts Orange Juice Cinnamon Allspice Nutmeg INSTRUCTIONS Add ingredients to a punch bowl and stir. Slowly stir in orange juice concentrate as it melts. Add spices to taste, and garnish with orange slices.
NAUGHTY LIST HOT CHOCOLATE
INGREDIENTS 1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka 1/2 part DeKuyper® Peppermint Schnapps Hot Chocolate Whipped Cream Cherries INSTRUCTIONS Rim mug with crushed candy canes. Pour ingredients into mug. Garnish with whipped cream and a cherry.
CRANBERRY MOJITO
INGREDIENTS 2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum 2 parts Cranberry Simple Syrup 10 Fresh Mint Leaves 1/4 part Lime Juice Soda Water Cranberries Lime Wheel
INSTRUCTIONS Combine mint leaves and lime juice in the bottom of a tall glass. Lightly muddle. Fill glass with ice. Add cranberry simple syrup and light rum. Top with soda water. Lightly stir with bar spoon. Garnish with fresh cranberries and limes (optional).
Cranberry Simple Syrup: In a saucepan, add 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 8 oz of fresh cranberries. Bring to a light simmer over mediumhigh heat until sugar is dissolved and cranberries start to burst (around 10 minutes). Remove from heat and strain out cranberries
Recipes courtesy of The Cocktail Project thecocktailproject.com
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DECEMBER2018
COMMUNITIES IN ACTION
28th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SING TO HELP COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE FEED THE HUNGRY
Celebrate the holidays and help feed the hungry by singing at the 28th Annual Christmas Carol Sing, sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.
The Christmas Carol Sing will be Tuesday, Dec. 11, at First Presbyterian Church, 2438 Second Street in downtown Fort Myers, between Lee Street and Royal Palm Avenue. Admission is free, although organizers request voluntary donations of at least two cans of nonperishable food for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative, and a voluntary cash donation, if you can.
Because of the overwhelming popularity of the event, three sing-alongs are planned at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to show time.
Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. It provides more than 15,000 meals each month through its Community Cafés and Meals on Wheels programs, distributes more than 500,000 pounds of groceries through its Mobile Food Pantries, and serves 6,500 individuals and families with homeless and comprehensive case management services through its Social & Education Resource Centers. A proud United Way partner, Community Cooperative serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers Beach. The church has been a strong supporter of the agency from the beginning and continues to support its ministry there by providing volunteers and other support for The Soup Kitchen and the Meals on Wheels program.
Hymn Sing organizer Sam Galloway, Jr., has made feeding the hungry part of his life’s work. “Our community has done so much to help our neighbors, but we need to do even more, especially with so many people still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Irma. If we each just gave the equivalent of what we would spend on a meal – either at home or in a restaurant – those few dollars could feed a family of four for an entire week.” Galloway said. Galloway said cash donations are especially needed because Community Cooperative can buy five times as much food for the same amount of money that residents spend at local grocery stores.
Residents who cannot attend any of the Christmas Carol Sing performances may donate canned goods at either the Galloway Ford dealership on Boy Scout Drive or the Coconut Point Ford dealership on U.S. 41 in Estero or mail donations to Community Cooperative, P. O. Box 2143, Fort Myers, FL 33902
The Christmas Carol Sing is a festival of holiday music and family fun. This year’s 90-minute performance will feature the First Presbyterian Church Choir, soloists and other special guests singing favorite holiday carols with audience sing-a-longs. There is a strong rumor that Santa Claus will be making a surprise visit for the “children in all of us.” In addition to the Christmas Carol Sing, the Galloway Family of Dealerships also annually sponsors Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing in February. Both events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative.
Last year, Community Cooperative received 6,000 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable items from the Christmas Carol Sing. The food was immediately distributed to those in need. For more information, call First Presbyterian Church at (239) 334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.
DECEMBER2018
25
MATANZAS CRAFT BEER FEST ON THE BAY
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COMMUNITIE
Soulixer performs
Guests
Guests
Tony Coppolino, Capt. John Bunch, Doug Speirn-Smith
Amy and Steve Nease
Sharon Jamieson, Julie Smith, Joe Jamieson, Jim Jamieson
Mariela Castanon, Kathy and Dave Chetwin
Charniece Jarman, Emily Golden, Megan Garner, Shawn Murray, Melissa Cofta
DECEMBER2018
ES IN ACTION
GROUND BREAKING FOR THE CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER
DECEMBER2018
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W OUNDED V ETERANS R ELIEF F UND
COMMUNITIE
FISHING TOURNAMENT
JessLee, Jon Sills perform
Jimmy Wheway, Sam Marshall, Nick Koukos, Matt Johnson
Lexi Distel, Cannon Creighton, Stone Creighton, Tom Fisher
Mike Zarrella
3rd place team - Adam Fullington, Mandy Fullington, Julia Phillips, Marley Phillips, Chris Miles
Christin Olsen, Dan Creighton, Brent Evans, Michael Durkee
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DECEMBER2018
Calcutta Award winner Christin Olsen with Dan Creighton
Dan Creighton, Mandy Fullington, Adam Fullington, Kim Hauser
For more Photos Vi
ES IN ACTION
FMPD T HANKSGIVING F OOD D RIVE
Thank You to all that donated!
sit RIVERSTYLEMAG.COM
DECEMBER2018
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1
HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Enjoy the biggest holiday festival in Southwest Florida! The Annual Festival of Lights takes over
Cape Coral Parkway in South Cape from 4 – 10
pm. For over 25 years, this holiday celebration is a true
evening of FREE fun for the whole family.
Enjoy the musical spirit of the holiday season with
the annual Spirit of the Gulf Chorus performance at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at 2 pm. Visit www.spiritofthegulf.com for details.
HANUKKAH
STUDENT CONCERT SERIES
7
9
Enjoy a FREE concert with the Jazz Ensembles at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall. Students
from the FSW Music Department share their talents with the community. Performance starts at 7:30 pm, doors open at 7.
ART WALK
Join the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral for this new twist on your traditional candidates
forum. See if your local, state and federal candidates can bust some of our political myths
about Cape Coral, Lee County and Southwest Florida!
From 6 – 9 :30 pm at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.
REJOICE A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The Lee County Community Band will present “A Christmas Festival” at Cape Coral High School. The FREE performance is set for 3 pm.
Fort Myers, between Lee Street and Royal
Palm Avenue. Admission is FREE. Organizers
request voluntary donations of at least two cans of nonperishable food for The Soup Kitchen, operated by Community Cooperative.
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Three sing-alongs are
planned. They will be at 1 pm., 4 pm. and 7 pm. The doors will open 30 minutes prior to show time.
MUSIC WALK
Enjoy great sounds during a casual evening
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DECEMBER
4
SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
This annual event is at First Presbyterian
Church at 2438 Second Street in downtown
in the Downtown Fort Myers River District!
Music Walk is FREE to Attend. Fun for the
whole family! Starts at 6 pm each month.
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CHRISTMAS KWANZAA
PET WALK
Now held at the Butterfly Estates, the Pet Walk
remains
every
fourth
Friday
beginning at 6 pm and it’s FREE. Lots of
great pet-themed activities and a great
place to explore! Located at 1815 Fowler Street, the
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Butterfly Estates is a gem in the River District you’ll be
sure to enjoy.
NEW YEAR'S EVE IN SOUTH CAPE
South Cape Hospitality & Entertainment
Associations, with the City of Cape Coral, present The South Cape New Year's Eve ball
drop! From 7 pm to 1 am, enjoy live music
on the big stage with Signal III (CCPD officers) and
Soulixer. Emcee Bill Johnson will keep the ball rolling until the beach ball drop at midnight! Food trucks, vending,
and more…Ring in 2019 in South Cape style. This FREE
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DECEMBER2018
For the MOST Comprehensive Calendars of Events FOR CAPE CORAL: CAPESTYLEMAG.COM F OR F ORT M YERS : RIVERSTYLEMAG.COM
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example of the community support, holiday spirit and
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28TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SING
event takes place on SE 47th Terrace. All ages welcome.