Mike and Tracy Cant of Jib Boom have a wonderful story to share with us.
What happens when a young Canadian girl leaves her home in Australia to visit her parents for Christmas in The Landings? A Landings love story for the next generation! Carly Cant (parents Mike and Tracey Cant of Jib Boom) flew from her home in Australia to The Landings to stay for Christmas, in December of 2024.
After meeting soon after, online, Ryan Sanchez and Carly Cant had their first date at The Landings. A few dates later, Carly knew Ryan was “the one” and decided not to return to Australia. Ryan came North to meet Carly’s family and experienced the winters in Lakefield, Ontario, as well as a few blizzards. Carly flew south to meet Ryan’s family in Springfield, Illinois and his friends in Fort Myers. Soon after, Ryan rented out the Babcock Ranch Eco preserve to propose to Carly and a baby alligator was witness to her excited “yes.”
tee at The Landings.
On October 11 this year, Carly and Ryan celebrated their marriage on the fairway of the 18th green with the support of Mark Wehrman and the golf team. Cocktails and an amazing reception dinner and dance were organized by Deb Tuaileva and her food and beverage team at the Helm Club. Friends from The Landings, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. were here to celebrate. From first dates to “I do’s” The Landings has produced another love story!
Oktoberfest at Picnic Pointe
On October 23 residents celebrated our first party of the season, the second annual Oktoberfest. The weather was perfect with sun, clouds, and a light breeze. Linda Marsala, Mark and Mary Willis, Bob and Mary Spada, Julie Iverson, Betty Kollar and Tom Bell set up and decorated the pavilion in less than two hours. Three Cornhole games were set up and people played games just for fun. Dennis Clark volunteered his DJ talents and played a variety of music from Oompa to Rock and people were dancing and even joined in a line dance performance. Julie had prepared a roaster full of delicious sauerkraut with 84 bratwursts. Along with a variety of salads, potato and cabbage dishes provided by the guests, we had an amazing feast that was finished off with delectable desserts.
The Marsalas treated us to refreshing spiked apple cider as well. We had fantastic attendance of 72 residents, which included eight of our nine board members. Just another indication that our board is in total support of our village. This attendance was twenty over 2024 and we are looking forward to a larger crowd at our future events, especially as more snowbirds are returning. Come join the fun and show off your cooking skills as well.
Welcome back Pam and LeRoy Van Antwerp
The Van Antwerps first came to Crossjack in Windjammer Village in 2013. They were snowbirds until they decided to make The Landings their permanent home. In 2016 they bought a townhome in Longboat and enjoyed the extra space and golf course view until Pam injured herself playing tennis. For several months she could not climb the steps to their main bedroom and that’s when they decided that it would be wise to move to a single floor house. To their dismay there was nothing suitable available here in The Landings. In 2020 their realtor Dan Bullock found a beautiful house in Plantation Somerset in Fort Myers, near their daughter Heidi’s home. Pam told me that once the decision on the house was made, Dan congratulated them to their new home. But Dan also said, “you chose a beautiful home in a great community, but mark my words, sooner or later you will be back in The Landings.”
LeRoy and Pam both said that they loved their new home, neighbors and the community and they became Social Members here to stay connected with friends and activities. After a few years though, they both realized that Plantation Somerset has everything you would want in a community except it lacks the ambiance, camaraderie, and social life we have here in The Landings. In September 2025 Dan’s projection came true; Pam and LeRoy are back! They bought an amazing house on Windjammer Lane and Tom and I are happy to have them as our neighbors a few houses down the street. In addition to their daughter in Fort Myers, they have a son, three grandchildren and six great grandchildren, with a seventh on the way. With two guest bedrooms and a fantastic open concept living area available, they are looking forward for their families visiting. Being with Pam and LeRoy in their new home, I think they found their “forever” home on Windjammer Lane.
