Great Calusa Poker Run slated for Sunday
Get ready, get set, draw, a playing card that is, on Sunday, Dec. 5, during the 18th annual Great Calusa Poker Run. Hosted by the Calusa Land Trust and the Pine Island Boat Club, this first-of-the-season poker run increases in popularity every year and following last year’s format, will not be limited to just boaters. Whether you participate in the poker run by boat, automobile, motorcycle, kayak, golf cart or even on foot, haste is not the object of this run. All that is required that cards drawn at each of the dealer stations and can be done in any order with the exception of the last which will be at Woody’s Waterside.
Two courses have been established with one for boaters only and one which can be accessed by land or water. The dealer stations for this year’s Great Calusa Poker Run are as follows:
By land:
1. 4111 Galt Island Avenue to Airport Canal ending at Bob and Bonnie Kellen
2. Pine Island Shores, 2063 Macadamia Land, the home of Pink and Ron Wesorick
3. Ragged Ass Saloon, on Stringfellow Road
4. Island Cow Trading Co. on Stringfellow Road
5. Waterfront Restaurant, Oleander Street
6. 3832 Cherry Land at the home of Linda and Ron Good
7. Woody’s Waterside, Stringfellow Road
By water:
1. Long Cut
2. Pine Island Shores, 2063 Macadamia, the home of Pink and Rod Wesorick
3. Chino Island
4. Blind Pass
5. Jensens Marina, Captiva Island Club
6. Green Flash Restaurant
7. Woody’s Waterside
All participants must complete their hands at Woody’s by no later than 3 p.m. and while awaiting the announcement of the winners, all participants and spectators can enjoy island music provided by Frank Tuma.
The price of a game ticket is $5 and there is no limit as to how many tickets can be purchased by those participating.
Fpr those who are unable to attend on Sunday, members of the Pine Island Boat Club will have volunteers who can carry tickets from station to station and with one exception; participants need not be present to win. Four cash awards will again be presented this year with first place payout $1,000, second will receive $350 and $150 will go to the third highest hand. In addition, a $100 cash prize will be presented in a losers drawing, but the participant winning this special award must be present to collect it.
Tickets are available for purchase at Woody’s Waterside Pub in St. James City until the day of the poker run and from various sellers around Pine Island.
All proceeds from the poker run will be donated to the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island to help to procure and preserve environmentally sensitive land on and around Pine Island.
For more information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call Bob and Bonnie Kellen at 283-8677 or Ron and Pink Wesorick at 283-7249 or Dewey or Liz Duchaine at 470-1072.