JOIN JEAN LEWIS AT THE FITNESS CENTER FOR COFFEE, DANISHES & BESTSELLERS! Jean Lewis is a veteran bookseller living and working in Southwest Florida. She is passionate about reading and wishes to share her knowledge with others who enjoy receiving information about new authors, titles, and great writing. For ten years, she wrote book reviews […]

Fine dining, fine women is how many of the Verandah Gourmet Club members describe their Club here in Verandah. The Gourmet Club has been in existence for about ten years, but seems to have taken flight after the Club’s relaunch in January 2023, post COVID. Janice Cartwright started leading the Club in June of 2023. […]

HOT DAY SALAD IT’S TOO HOT TO TURN ON THE OVEN Let’s have a great salad for dinner tonight. MY FAVORITE SALAD FOR HOT EVENING • Butter lettuce • Golden beets that have been roasted in the oven, cubed • Goat cheese* • Green grapes, sliced in half Mix ingredients together and serve with vinaigrette. […]

THE VERANDA RESTAURANT This is a very special restaurant in downtown Fort Myers. The Veranda was once two houses located at the corner of Second Street and Broadway. These homes were joined together in the late 1960s by Peter Pulitzer, of publishing fame. Paul Peden purchased the buildings in 1978 and The Veranda was born. […]

It started with a little stumbling and foot drop in 2022. Then, the diagnosis of ALS in 2023. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to a gradual loss of voluntary muscle movement. Charlotte (Holly) Mertz, […]

Design Review: It is a widely used self-governance tool to maintain the cohesiveness and quality of life in a deed-restricted community. Verandah’s restrictions were secured to our deeds when we purchased our home. They are called Declaration of Covenant Design Review Committee: Committee members are homeowners that are appointed by the Board of Directors. This […]

WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN INSTALLING THE NEW COMCAST FIBER OPTIC SYSTEM Throughout the summer, Comcast has been working closely with the VCA to install the underground fiber for Verandah’s new Internet and cable TV service. Comcast’s contractor is almost done with the underground construction work. Grass and landscape restoration is in progress. The […]

A large share of Verandah’s charm and appeal stems from its attention to landscaping. Beyond normal maintenance activities, the VCA provides $42,500 annually for landscape replacement. The need for replacements can be due to plant failure and disease, aged-out plant beds, car strikes, and hurricanes, like Helene, Milton, and other calamities. River Village Way at […]

Meet the VCA’s new Board members Jack Hauser and Logan McNeil Campbell. David Keeley has been reappointed for another term. Jack and his wife Lisa became Florida residents after spending decades in Minnesota. He has lived in Verandah and served as a Neighborhood Representative for about a year. Jack spent his entire professional career in […]