Our Members

Grandezza is proud to announce that our United Way Committee has been named Community Committee of the Year by the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades. Dennis Noice and Bill Motzer accepted the prestigious honor on behalf of the committee from United Way Board Member Carolyn Rogers at a recent United Way ceremony. The […]

Boarding the plane, I was excited for the adventure ahead. For months, I had been planning this getaway with great anticipation. Time with friends, visits to several towns and memorable excursions were all on the agenda. It felt like exactly what I needed: a break from my daily routine and an opportunity to explore new […]

In April, the GirlFriends once again showcased their beautiful artwork. The art interest group, is led by Carol Ann Levi and meets weekly during season. It’s always such a treat to see their creations. Jeanne Basso, the founder of Grandezza GirlFriends in 2011, shared the history of how it came to fruition, including our butterfly […]

A heartfelt thank you to our Grandezza Singers friends and supporters! Your enthusiasm and encouragement made the 2025–2026 season truly special. We’re already looking ahead to next season with excitement, as new music and new members are on the horizon. Interested in joining us? Reach out to any Grandezza Singers member and be part of […]

A DAZZLING SEASON HIGHLIGHT: THE GIRLFRIENDS FASHION SHOW The fashion show remains the highlight of the season, and this year’s event was no exception. Under the skilled direction of Kara Nickolas and her dedicated team of assistants, the show was executed flawlessly and left attendees thoroughly impressed. The ensembles were provided by Mainstream Boutique in […]

HERE’S WHAT RESIDENTS HAD TO SAY ABOUT ENGAGE ESTERO. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE RECENT ENGAGE ESTERO SURVEY More than 660 Greater Estero residents participated in the Engage Estero survey, providing a reliable picture of community priorities. Most respondents are long-time residents, with 68% living in Estero more than nine months a year and 51% residing […]

NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS STAY SAFE For more than 20 years, the Grandezza Neighborhood Watch program has helped preserve the safety, and strong sense of community that residents value so highly. Established by long-time resident Al Meyer, the program was founded on a simple belief: when neighbors stay aware and look out for one another, everyone […]

DISCOVERING IRELAND’S HEART AND SOUL On this wonderful trip to The Emerald Island we flew from Cleveland to Shannon, Ireland, where we joined a CIE tour called The Ireland South Day Tripper. After checking in at the historic 18th-century family-run Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, we headed into town. Known as one of the prettiest […]

In February, the GirlFriends held a portrait of a bride luncheon. Leigh Ann Brown shared her extraordinary collection of 18 bridal gowns, some more than 100 years old. It was fascinating to see how times have changed. As part of the program, GirlFriends submitted their own bridal photos. We are so grateful to Kevin Ryan […]

The GirlFriends kicked off 2026 with Murder Mystery. Most of the ladies were decked out in 1920’s style for the dramatized memorial service of Vito Marzetti. Jeanne Basso, Sandy Renner and Sharon McCarthy helped move the plot with small parts in the performance. I think they may have a future in the theater. The winning […]