November/ December 2019 Newsletter
Don’t forget to visit our website at rifca.net
Bruce Squillante - Newsletter Editor
Bruce Squillante - Newsletter Editor
Rummage Sale Preparations Are in Full Swing
By Bruce Squillante
The Annual RIFCA Rummage Sale is the primary fundraiser for our community’s clubhouse. This year, it will be held on November 8th (8am to 5pm) and November 9th (8am to 2pm). We will hold special hours for River Forest residents on Thursday November 7 from 4pm to 7pm.
This is the first year the Rummage Sale has been under the leadership of Bruce and Julie Squillante. Last year’s leaders Jan Croson and Gail Beals spent years improving and making the Rummage Sale the success it is today. Bruce and Julie did not have to make any significant changes, but there will be a few. You will see more of the appliances outside the clubhouse with pots/pans. Unlike last year, Bruce and Julie were able to secure a trailer to put all of the furniture. A new design for the rows gives greater room to maneuver. Gail Beals suggested the design change and Bruce/Julie plan to expand it next year.
There will be more items for sale outside in order to convince customers to stay a little longer to shop.
For guests and River Forest Residents that come to shop the bargains, the care in organizing the items will seem effortless. However, there is so much that goes into preparing the Rummage Sale. All of the items in the Rummage Sale have been donated by River Forest residents or have come from prior estate sales. Throughout the year Bruce/Julie have been purchasing bins to put the donations and selling certain items on Ebay, Marketplace, Craigslist, and other sights. The aim was to make as much money as possible for the Clubhouse. Those items that did not sell were placed in bins and stored in Dona Room A.
As Dona room A became more crowded, Bruce and Julie had a mini estate sale in May in order to clear out some of the merchandise. The two day sale was very successful and removed a good number of items. Nevertheless, in the months that followed, more merchandise came in from donations. Dona Room A became completely full and necessitated the excess being stored in the lanai.
After the Snowbirds dinner on October 26, RIFCA members donated their time to move the tables into position, put the chairs under the gazebo, and then begin the lengthy task of carting in all of the merchandise from the Dona A room. At least 12 people assisted moving more than 110 bins and boxes into the Clubhouse. The task took over an hour. It was a well organized effort.
In the first week after the Snowbirds dinner, Julie, Gail Beals, Jan Croson, Camille Cromer, Robin Evans, Shirley Bland, and others began opening the bins and putting the merchandise on the tables. That task was made a little easier because Bruce and Julie had been putting tape on each bin with a description of the contents. In the lanai, Sande Kitterman, Barb Lavey, and Karin Bazak took on the task of sorting, folding, and hanging the clothes. New for 2019, Frank Kitterman changed the wood rods used to hang the clothes for metal rods. The stronger metal is not bending under the weight of the clothes.
Preparation continues and there will be more to share in the next newsletter. Come by anytime to shop.
Rummage Sale Volunteers and Donations Needed
Jan Croson and Gail Beals passed the torch for the RIFCA annual Rummage Sale to Bruce and Julie Squillante. Bruce and Julie are keeping with the great Rummage Sale tradition. We are planning to do some things a little differently. For example, we are going to post Thursday evening hours for our neighbors and keep the Friday/Saturday times. To have a successful Rummage Sale, it takes a community. We are looking for donations of items that we can sell in November. Donations can include home furnishings, kitchen items, tools, home décor, clothes, collectibles, linens and more. Bruce and Julie are happy to pick up your donations or feel free to drop them off. If you drop off items, please let Bruce or Julie know so that we can organize them.
In addition, we need your support the days of the Rummage Sale. As you can imagine, it takes at least 15 people each day to run the Rummage Sale efficiently. Please call Bruce or Julie if you could volunteer your time to help us. Remember, the money we raise is used to maintain our clubhouse.
In addition, we need your support the days of the Rummage Sale. As you can imagine, it takes at least 15 people each day to run the Rummage Sale efficiently. Please call Bruce or Julie if you could volunteer your time to help us. Remember, the money we raise is used to maintain our clubhouse.
It Takes a Village
by Julie Squillante
It takes a village is a saying that can be used in many instances but for me It Takes a Village to Keep River Forest Beautiful. I have lived here going on five years now and the longer I live here in River Forest the more I love it. Bruce and I have many opportunities to visit other neighborhoods in Fort Myers and the surrounding areas but nothing can compare to the peacefulness and the uniqueness of River Forest. But it takes many people to keep River Forest looking as beautiful as it is. As many others do, Bruce and I walk our neighborhood daily and we see the changes in our streets.
Bruce mentioned the garbage company which was a big issue not only on the island but on all the surrounding streets. If you see debris in your street, call Bruce or you can call Advance yourself to report it. We also have many dog owners and while most do pick up after their pets, owners need to remember to dispose of their pet waste at home and not leave it on the side of the road. This can also be said for any trash found around the streets in River Forest. Just pick it up and dispose of it in an appropriate container. I have also taken over the landscaping at the entrance to River Forest and I will not go into some of the unusual things I have found there in the bushes. So to step off the soapbox, let’s keep River Forest beautiful for many more years by each of us being diligent in our wonderful neighborhood.
Bruce mentioned the garbage company which was a big issue not only on the island but on all the surrounding streets. If you see debris in your street, call Bruce or you can call Advance yourself to report it. We also have many dog owners and while most do pick up after their pets, owners need to remember to dispose of their pet waste at home and not leave it on the side of the road. This can also be said for any trash found around the streets in River Forest. Just pick it up and dispose of it in an appropriate container. I have also taken over the landscaping at the entrance to River Forest and I will not go into some of the unusual things I have found there in the bushes. So to step off the soapbox, let’s keep River Forest beautiful for many more years by each of us being diligent in our wonderful neighborhood.
Potluck - September 7, 2019
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My Joy Hat
by Carol Kennedy
I need joy in my life and so do you. I don’t mean just a happy feeling and giggles. I mean real Jesus Joy. Recently, Jesus helped me discover real Jesus Joy at a time when I needed it the most in my life.
My Dad passed away recently. His death wasn’t entirely unexpected since he was 95, but based on the doctor’s prognosis it seemed I would have plenty of time to make a trip up north to see him one last time. I was wrong. That was my plan, not God’s outcome.
We made the trip to frigid northern Michigan, enduring the long good bye, sadness, grief, viewing, funeral and final burial. Days later, we arrived home to the warmth of Florida, yet heavier grief set in while tears easily came. I felt every regret, what if, and emotion possible, from the tips of my toes to the top of my heart.
Upon my return from the cold north, I was to begin attending a Bible Study on the Book of James. I didn’t feel much like going, but I went anyway, thinking it would help me. I’m glad I decided to attend. For it was in the first few verses Jesus nudged me and urged me to listen to his brother James.
I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Following are the James verses that are still foremost in my mind, should I feel sad or depressed about losing my Dad.
James 1: 2-3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
Key words in these two verses for me were and still are “consider” and “pure joy”. Knowing human nature it would hardly seem fair that I should immediately feel and act joyful while in the midst of a grief trial. I could handle the action of ‘consider’ better. For days I didn’t feel the joy upon my Dad’s passing, but I kept reciting the words in James 1: 2-3.
The very first step to feel genuine Jesus Joy was to say it aloud. Then I would begin to sing around the house. I would say it aloud, pray it aloud and loudly echo the familiar ‘joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart…’ song. I was merely going through the motions and several weeks had now passed. God did something wonderful and miraculous a few weeks into this joy recitation.
I continued attending the James Bible study, even though I didn’t feel much like showing up to class. I knew deep down I should and so I went faithfully every week. One Tuesday after class I decided to travel to my favorite store and see what I needed. I wandered through the store with a sad look on my face and nearly bumped into a table displaying discounted items.
One of the items grabbed my attention immediately. I smiled and wrapped my fingers around it. It was a beautiful, pink, sparkly, sequined hat. I placed it on my head and smiled from ear to ear as I glanced in the nearby mirror. At once I proclaimed, this is it….this is it, and began wandering around the store. At that, a security officer stepped in front of me, and said ‘do you plan to buy that?’ To which I replied, well I guess so, why? He said, well, you are walking around and getting closer to the exit…’ I started laughing, probably too loud for such a silly moment. Of course I will purchase it right away officer.
From that moment on, that sassy pink hat became my JOY HAT. The hat became the physical, outward symbol of the return of joy to my life. I couldn’t wait to get home and prance around, wearing the shiny hat. God knew I needed more than just the words of joy to begin to feel pure joy. Step number two was the hat for me.
For the next few weeks right after greeting my husband in the morning I would enter my bathroom, wash my face, glance at the hat hook and place the sparkly pink hat on my head. At first my husband didn’t say anything, but eventually he said, ‘so ok, what’s with the hat?’ ‘It’s my joy hat,’ I claimed. ‘Oh, I see,’ he replied and would walk away. I don’t always tell him everything I am thinking.
A few days later, I donned the hat again. I shared with him my joy hat experience; he grinned and said, ‘oh okay, I get it.’ From that moment I knew I was to use the hat experience in more ways. In a few short weeks I was to be a keynote speaker for an annual Women of Faith event. I knew in my heart that the new topic of my keynote was going to be, “Let’s Claim our Joy,” and the pink sparkly hat would be the most important prop for the day.
It truly was a unique and awesome blessing for me to share the hat story with over 300 ladies. Since that Saturday in May, I have received blessing after blessing from ladies in the form of emails, phone calls, and thank you notes. They share their personal trials of many kinds; adding their first inclination after attending my keynote was to purchase a Joy Hat. To me, that was a huge gift from God.
One thank you note I received read: “thank you for your powerful gift on Saturday. God truly lifted you up from your personal grief to give tools of hope to the ladies that day.” Yes, He released me from major bruising and pain in my fresh grief so I would be able to testify to the ladies. If God hadn’t lessened my grief and pain, I never would have been able to share the joy tools with other ladies that Saturday in May.
Thank you, God for releasing me from major, painful grief during that month of May.
Potluck - October 5, 2019
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Garbage Pick-up Issues in River Forest
Some of you may have noticed that we are having some issues with garbage pick-up on Fridays. We are noticing small piles of glass and debris throughout River Forest. Bruce Squillante called Advanced a couple of weeks ago and was told that there may be a hole in the bottom of the recycle truck. Bruce will ask Advanced to come out again and have the street swept after the November 1 garbage pick up.
If you notice any more piles of glass or debris in the streets later in November, please let Bruce know the address.
Snowbirds Dinner - October 26, 2019
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Luminaria Night - Another Spectacle for River Forest
It is that time of year again. The month of December brings cooler weather and happy holiday feelings for everyone. One of River Forest’s unique and fun traditions is Luminaria Night. This year we are planning to have the celebration on December 15 from 7pm to 10pm. If you have not participated in the celebration before…it is never too late to start.
We understand that two of our neighbors on River Forest Dr. are going to have a big display in their front yard. This is a fun kind of teamwork and more details will come in December. Last year we had 4 different neighbors with drinks and sweets for those walking around. There will lots of bags on the ground on Luminaria Night. If you see a bag that is not lighted, please go ahead and light it.
We understand that two of our neighbors on River Forest Dr. are going to have a big display in their front yard. This is a fun kind of teamwork and more details will come in December. Last year we had 4 different neighbors with drinks and sweets for those walking around. There will lots of bags on the ground on Luminaria Night. If you see a bag that is not lighted, please go ahead and light it.
Board Meetings
November 4
December 2
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Potlucks
December 7
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Rummage Sale
November 7/8/9
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Thanksgiving Dinner
November 28
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Country Breakfast
December 14
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Luminaria Night
December 15
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Christmas Dinner/Party
December 21
Notice to River Forest Residents
Bees are of vital importance to our food chain, but they can be frightening
If you see a honey bee swarm, PLEASE DON'T SPRAY IT!
Doug Lints is working with an Alva Bee Removal specialist and can offer a no fee bee removal and relocation from River Forest.
Please call (239) 850-3746 or Rhinodoug@yahoo.com
If you see a honey bee swarm, PLEASE DON'T SPRAY IT!
Doug Lints is working with an Alva Bee Removal specialist and can offer a no fee bee removal and relocation from River Forest.
Please call (239) 850-3746 or Rhinodoug@yahoo.com
Donations to the Ronald McDonald House - Pop Tabs
Please save the pop tabs from your cans of soda/beer. Dick Kennedy collects them to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. If you let him know when you have a bag full, he will come and pick them up.
According to the Ronald McDonald House website, Advantage Metals buys the tabs at market rate and then makes a charitable contribution on top of that. Last year the pop tab program brought in $20,000. They even had a Pop Tab Pandemonium day earlier this year.
Contact Dick Kennedy to pick up your pop tabs.
According to the Ronald McDonald House website, Advantage Metals buys the tabs at market rate and then makes a charitable contribution on top of that. Last year the pop tab program brought in $20,000. They even had a Pop Tab Pandemonium day earlier this year.
Contact Dick Kennedy to pick up your pop tabs.
