GATEWAY WOMEN’S CLUB CELEBRATES THE YEAR’S END
STEPHANIE MENA
The Gateway Women’s Club motto is: Where friends meet for fun, learning and giving. This motto came to life at the end-of-the-year celebration when the GWC delivered friendship with times to remember, smiles, and prizes to the over 130 attendees. Gifts ranged from gift cards to restaurants within Gateway, centerpieces, poinsettias, roses, handcrafted holiday characters, oil paintings and more.
Charlotte Stewart, president, thanked the members and all of the many committees for their hard work throughout the year making Gateway Women’s Club the success it is. Two new officers were inducted. Linda Steele will serve as Treasurer. Michelle Karnes will serve as Vice President. Both terms run from 2025 to 2027.
Along with laughter and prizes, food always makes it a party. Sarah Yanovich, Food and Beverage Director of The Club at Gateway, presented delightful dining options.
Choice Of Entrée Shrimp Scampi: Sauteed shrimp with a lemon-garlic-butter sauce, Parmesan orzo and roasted asparagus.
COMMITTEE: JO IWANSKI, DIANE SARSFIELD, JUDY BICKERSTAFF, YVONNE CRIBBS
COMMITTEE: VIOLA MURPHY, CAROL LUCE, KATHY CRAIG, PAM DWYER
SUE WOOLFORD AND MARILYN KELLY
Mediterranean Chicken: Grilled chicken breast with artichoke-sundried tomato beurre blanc, Parmesan orzo and roasted asparagus.
Eggplant Parmesan: Crispy Panko-breaded eggplant with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese over bowtie pasta.
And Don’t Forget Dessert: Italian Limoncello Cake.
Gateway Women’s Club offers more than camaraderie for its membership. The club reaches out to others through the Charitable Giving Committee that awards scholarships to high school seniors, as well as benefiting many local not-for-profit concerns. At each meeting a new speaker presents details about his/her organization. Speakers come from unlimited groups and interests such as FSW Airport to the value of bees to our lives and so much more. The women in this club work tirelessly to share information with one another and come together building lifelong friendships.
BOOK CLUB
BARBARA HANLIN
The GWC Book Club will meet on Tuesday, February 11th at 7 p.m. in the home of Joyce Mullikin with Barb Hanlin as co-hostess. Penny Messerknecht will lead the discussion of First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, a Reese’s Book Club pick. “This fast paced read has everything you would want in a thriller: secret identities, a mysterious boss and a cat and mouse game that kept me guessing the whole way through.” – Reese Witherspoon Please RSVP to Joyce Mullikin by February 9th. Her contact information is in the Gateway Women’s Club Directory.
DINING OUT
SUSAN ROBERTS
A night out at Ford’s Garage in Estero magically transformed a mundane Monday for members of Gateway Women’s Club into an evening of fellowship, fun, and flavorful foods. Savoring every bite, the extensive menu at Ford’s Garage presented GWC diners with an array of options ranging from burgers, salads and the infamous French onion soup to salmon, ribs, ribeye steaks, and fish and chips.
The casual yet quirky ambiance of the 1920s service station-themed restaurant with vintage Ford vehicles, gas pumps, and fixtures provided the backdrop for lively conversation and memorable moments, all served with a side of laughter. Before long, the evening had come to an end, and the GWC group was reminded that time flies when you’re having fun, but our memories last forever.
BRIDGE
LAUREL BORGIA
Bridge 101 will meet on Tuesday, February 4th, and Tuesday, February 18th at 10 a.m. at the Hampton Park Amenity Center. There is no fee. Anyone who wants to learn or enjoys playing bridge is welcome. The ladies are a low-key, fun-loving group!
Contact: Susie Kravetz (her information is in the GWC Directory). Email or call her if you are planning to attend so she can give your name at the gate.
GATEWAY GALS ON THE GO
VALERIE EMERSON
December 13th found the Gateway Girls on the Go once again volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. Although they were a smaller group this time, they accomplished a lot! Walls, ceilings, window trim and the garage were given a fresh new coat of paint just in time for the single mom of six to move in before Christmas. The brand-new house was built in a neighborhood created by Humanity for Humanity in North Fort Myers. This is the fifth time members have worked with this wonderful group, and it is a rewarding challenge each and every time!
SIT AND STITCH
ELEANOR STUART
The next Sit and Stitch meeting will be hosted by Mickey Lyman on February 10th at 1 p.m. Please contact Mickey if you plan to attend. Her information can be found in the GWC Directory. The group includes many GWC members working on different projects. The members are still working on projects for Hospice and scarves for college-attending students who were in foster care. Any GWC member is welcome to join.
SPECIAL EVENT
KATHY FLAHERTY
Members of the Gateway Women’s Club enjoyed another special event. The following people strolled through the Edison/Ford Estates enjoying the beautiful Christmas lights there; Mary Mills, Claudia and Mark Polzer, Norma and Arnold Barr, Helen and Michael Cotner, Eleanor and RandyStuart, Debra Stephano, Jill Lorfing, Barbara Hanlin, Judy Kading, Kathy and Jeff Fabisiak, Judy and Bob Jones, Sharyl and Richard Tutela, Linda and Frank Graham, Patti Whetstone, Ronnie Hayes, Delphina Pinto and Kathy Flaherty. The lights were spectacular decorating the outside and inside of the homes. The group walked into the Estates under an archway of lights. There were many unique and different decorations throughout the walkway. Santa was even sitting in one of Ford’s old cars. It was wonderful to walk along the Children’s Tree Decoration path. Each tree the children decorated had a theme.
There was a pirate theme, a butterfly theme, a flower theme, and different sea animal themes. What a most enjoyable evening and would enjoy doing it again.
SPECIAL ARTICLE
Membership in Gateway Women’s Club is open to any woman residing in a Gateway community neighborhood, whether a full-time or seasonal resident. Gateway Women’s Club is not affiliated with the Club at Gateway and applicants do not need to be a member of the club to join Gateway Women’s Club. For more information or to obtain an application to join Gateway Women’s Club, please contact Susan Roberts, GWC Membership Chair, at [email protected].
