Author: Useppa

Saint Patrick’s Day Cheer Part II – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – It’s been a hard time on Useppa over the last year. The old ways of doing things broke down. BUT…. because of volunteers, because of love for the island, some traditions continue with new life, new energy. A thank you to the anonymous leprechauns for organizing this year’s parade and the party on the beach. A toast to memories of Useppa leprechauns up above.

St. Patrick’s Day on Useppa Part I – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – Spirit and spirits filled the air. The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Useppa is an Island tradition. Led by the Fire Department decorated golf carts go up and down the beach. Friendly competition is only part of the fun. This post is only the beginning. The Judges were only beginning to make their decisions. The Winners and Party afterward come next. Cheers and thank you to the volunteers who made this year happen.

Racing Schooner Turned Warship, Museum Talk by Bob Macomber – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – Award winning author, lecturer, and Pine Island neighbor, Bob Macomber spoke Saturday night, March 8th at the Barbara Sumwalt Museum. Continuing a 28-year tradition of Useppa visits, once again Bob made history come alive telling his audience the 94-year story of the America built in 1851 at Brown’s Shipyard in New York City. From winning a world-famous 1851 regatta in England to being used by both sides during America’s Civil War, racing again beginning in 1870 for the US Navy, until finally rotting away and collapsing in the Naval Academy shipyard in 1942, the America was an iconic yacht. Hearing Bob tell the story was a delight!

Cotton Club Magic – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – An afternoon of dancing, fun, and fellowship by the water. Music by Mattlee Crew set the stage. Island neighbor and guitar player Doug Ryan added the right notes. Thanks to hosts Patty and Brendt Rusten and Doug Hitchcox for making it happen. Save the next dance for me….

Weekend Fun on Useppa – Sailing Pictures by Steve Acuff, Other Pictures and Thoughts by UseppaGin – Finally, a weekend of Island fun with Happy Hour at the Collier, sailing and lunch at Bill’s Grille, Members docked at the Marina, Homeowners back, Captiva Cruises and Museum visitors, dinner and lunch in the Collier and on the Patio, families and friends at the pool. Familiar faces were together again on Useppa. Their smiles were contagious.

Happy Hours on Useppa – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – Friendships, families, Friday night cocktails, lunch on the Collier Patio, Island walks, golf cart rides, Marina rebuilding continues…. Happy Hours Are Back. The Collier Inn is now open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. When there is room at the Marina’s main dock, Boating Members tie up and head up to the Collier Inn Patio for lunch and an afternoon at the pool. An award-winning chef and a new menu make every meal great. Useppa neighbors in fancy wigs welcomed a friend arriving on the launch. Gracie wore wigs like theirs when she was their elite hostess last year on a wine cruise in France. Captiva Cruises will be back two days a week. Sunday afternoon there will be a mini–Cotton Club showcasing Mattlee Crew playing the best of funk, blues, and classic rock at Rendezvous Cottages. The sun is shining. Islanders are smiling!

Healing Broken Hearts – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – It was a special night at the Barbara Sumwalt Museum. World-renowned heart surgeon and Island homeowner Dr. Michael Carmichael spoke about the 33 years he and his wife Becki have spent healing broken hearts in China. His Useppa family listened in rapt attention. Dr. Carmichael said, “In 1987 I was the co-director of an International CV Symposium and learned that coronary artery disease was the number one cause of death of the Chinese male, but bypass surgery was not done. I wanted to do medical missions, but it took five more years to find the appropriate avenue into China to perform open heart surgery and to teach. We have been doing that ever since, including living in China in 2017 and ’18, pre-COVID. Our most productive mission effort has been having over a hundred Chinese doctors and nurses come to the US to live and study with us. Thus, all our children grew up with Chinese friends and have been over a dozen times each.” Michael and Becki are a partnership. Pictures here show them over the years with their family in China and on Useppa, proof we are not just members of a Useppa family but members of a world family. By their examples, we were reminded to share our gifts.

Island Life and Island Fun – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – Another year of sailing, Bill’s Grille, a young couple almost engaged, yoga on the beach, families together, the return of longtime Useppa members and visitors, continuing hurricane recovery…. Island life and fun continue. There are still repairs to be done, and debris to be barged off, but piles are getting smaller, and smiles are getting bigger.

Winter on Useppa – Pictures and Thoughts by UseppaGin – Sailboats in the water, hamburgers and hotdogs at Bill’s Grille, reunions of old friends and memories of friends no longer with us, new plants everywhere thanks to Paradise Partnership, hurricane recovery and debris removal goes on…. life on Useppa continues. Thank you to everyone taking care of the island we love

Cigar Box Guitar Music at the Museum – Thoughts and Pictures by UseppaGin – The setting was casual. Tablecloth covered tables and chairs instead of rows of formal seating. A well-stocked bar and delicious snacks set the stage. Then the music began. Steve Arvey, one of the top cigar box guitar players in the world and his friend Captn Catfish played for hours to an audience of head bobbing, shoulder bopping islanders. The next morning Captn Catfish and Useppa homeowner Doug Ryan were on a mission. A Jimmy Buffet Florida Margaritaville license plate inscribed Parrothead was found in a FEMA pile of junked golf carts. A new cigar box guitar will be made. A return visit by Steve Arvey and Captn Catfish is in the future. Thank you to Museum Director Rona Stage and all the volunteers who made a magical night happen.