Sunset Marathon: 365 evenings in a row

This sunset photo taken on Jan. 24 will appear in "Skyblue Pink: 365 Days of Sunsets From Florida's Gulf Coast," a book that details 365 days of sunsets on Bonita Beach. Photo courtesy of Jason Schwartz


Jason Schwartz is the author of "Skyblue Pink: 365 Days of Sunsets From Florida's Gulf Coast," a book that he and his wife, Kristyn, put together after taking pictures at sunset every day this year.


A photo of an Aug. 24 sunset on Bonita Beach taken for a book entitled "Skyblue Pink: 365 Days of Sunsets From Florida's Gulf Coast." Photo courtesy of Jason Schwartz


Jason Schwartz and his wife, Kristyn, have spent the last 364 evenings visiting Bonita Beach taking pictures of the sunset and talking to curious locals.

“People come up to us all the time and ask what we are doing out here every day,” said Jason Schwartz, 33, of Estero, while sitting under an umbrella waiting for the sun to set. “We’ve made a few friends.”

Beachgoers have become familiar with the couple who sit in the same spot and take pictures of every sunset — every day, rain or shine, bugs or not — as part of a bonding experience that turned into a soon-to-be published book.

“We were looking for something to do this year that we could do together,” Jason said.

The Schwartzes have taken more than 13,000 pictures on the beach, about 40 per day, and will sort through them and choose one picture for each day of the year.

Jason, who is a graphic artist, will assemble the photos and design the book titled “Skyblue Pink: 365 Days of Sunsets From Florida’s Gulf Coast.” Each photo will contain the date, time of the sunset and other atmospheric data.

They hope it will give people an idea of what it was like to be on the beach every day and find an appreciation for nature.

“It changes every day out there and it’s totally different but you get to see it all,” said Kristyn Schwartz, 32, who has been caught in several lightning storms throughout the year. “It’s just nature and you never know what you will get.”

But the Schwartzes got more than they bargained for because in the process they’ve made friends like “Stan the flute man,” a recluse who plays his flute on the beach, as well as others who collect shells.

“Some pictures have people in them because it gives it that personal touch,” said Jason, who isn’t including people doing the “Bonita bend” — his description of rear ends in the air from beachgoers collecting shells.

The couple has one more day of picture-taking on the beach and they have an agreement with Presstige Printing in Bonita Springs to start production as soon as the last photo is taken Dec. 31.

But the plan was never to put together a book until supportive family and friends suggested the couple show off their pictures.

The Schwartzes thought it was a great idea.

“Our families have been supportive because we sometimes have to leave early from birthdays so we can come take pictures,” said Jason, who uses a $300 Sony Cybershot camera and has no previous photography experience.

Kristyn agrees the sacrifice was worth it despite having to keep up with their 7-year-old son, Braden, and Kristyn’s 13-year-old daughter, Katie.

“Life gets in the way of everything but we’ve made it out there every night, at least one of us, and it has hindered dinners and birthdays but it’s been worth it,” she said about their schedules that get so busy at times that only one of them gets to the beach.

But they always know what time the sun will set by looking online and keeping up to date by cell phone.

“I’m an expert when it comes to a sunset! You know when there is a lot of clouds, you can see there will be a nice sunset. If there are no clouds, it will just sink into the water,” Kristyn said.

Her husband, on the other hand, says it’s a surprise every time.

“I’m never disappointed because not every day is a perfect sunset and everything out there is alive,” said Jason, about visiting the beach and seeing turtles hatch, birds fly and dolphins swim near the shoreline.

All photos were taken on Bonita Beach, except one.

“My close friend’s mother died and we set sail that day from Marco Island to honor her death so that day the sunset on the Gulf isn’t from Bonita,” said Jason, who will dedicate that photo to his friend’s mother in the book.

For now they will print the book themselves and hope they can donate some of the proceeds to help remove the cigarettes, bottle caps and trash the couple saw accumulate throughout the year.

“We came out here every day and nobody was picking anything up, and it’s sad to see the beach that way,” said Jason, who has placed calls to local groups but none seems interested. “The experience has been everything from great to absolutely horrible because of the traffic to get to the beach every day or the bugs and rain.”

Despite the hardships, the Schwartzes are keeping their camera pointed till the sun sets for the last time this year.
“We set out to do it and we are driven to finish,” Jason said.

Bonita Springs man receives fraternal organization honors

Gary Cepko of Bonita Springs has been named the Fraternal Most Valuable Participant by the National Fraternal Congress of America.

The group honors individuals who have donated their time and energy to helping their community.

“Gary was nominated because he does so much for everyone,” said Dean Burns, the vice president of the National Slovak Society of the USA.

The Slovak Society nominated Cepko by contacting the National Fraternal Congress of America and filling out documentation that told of Cepko’s volunteerism.

“He has put in a whole lot of hours of volunteer time with a couple different fraternals and he deserved to be nominated,” Burns said.

There are 75 fraternal benefit societies, like Cepko’s, that are members of the National Fraternal Congress of America.

The National Fraternals group chooses five winners every week to receive the award, which gives them a chance to be drawn for a trip to Washington, D.C., and meet with their congressman.

“That would be so exciting to go to Washington because it’s a good time to have them fight for us and help our community,” said Cepko, who won for the week of Dec. 18.

The award program was started in May of this year and gives volunteers a chance to be recognized.

“It’s the recognition for the unsung heroes who give back to their community. They rarely get a pat on the back for what they do,” said spokesperson Rose Riccetti of the National Fraternal Congress of America.

But Cepko doesn’t volunteer for recognition.

“You just have to make the time and just the satisfaction that I’ve helped people throughout the year is enough for me,” said Cepko, whose volunteering has raised money for the Women’s Shelter in Bonita Springs and helping local churches. “It’s all about everybody working together for one common good.”

Festival illuminates Hanukkah

¸ Mickey Bielski lights the candles at the “Menorah of Freedom” during the Hanukkah celebration at the Promenade in Bonita Springs.

The victory of light over darkness brought together members of the Bonita Springs and Estero Jewish community to celebrate the Festival of Lights at the Promenade in Bonita Springs.

Members and their families gathered together with the Chabad of Bonita Springs and Estero for a grand menorah lighting and Hanukkah festivities including crafts for kids.

“Hanukkah brings out something within us more than any other holiday,” said Rabbi Mendy Greenberg, of the Chabad. “It teaches us that just a little bit of light can bring us a lot of happiness.”

Greenberg spoke in front of more than 250 attendees about the significance of Hanukkah and the miracle that oil to light a lamp for one day kept burning for 8 days.

That’s why the menorah includes eight candles and one servant candle that is used and not gazed at.

“A little light brings the end of a lot of darkness,” said Greenberg, who has organized the event for the last three years. “The message of Hanukkah is that it’s the power of spirituality that is within us that helps us get through.”

The event marked the fourth day of the lighting of the menorah and all festivities concluded Friday with a dinner at the Trianon Hotel in the Promenade Shoppes.

“We are trying to service the Bonita Springs and Estero area and by doing this every year we remember our ancestors,” said Luba Greenberg, the rabbi’s wife.

Live music, entertainment, hot latkes and donuts and falafel were available at the festival.

“We have been celebrating (festival of lights) for more than 2,100 years and we will continue,” Greenberg said.

Directionary Group aims to help businesses

A new business has opened its doors in Bonita Springs but shoppers won’t be strolling down the aisles, or lining up at cash registers.

It will service the business owner.

The Directionary Group is offering a customized service that helps local businesses keep afloat in the ever-changing Southwest Florida market.

“I’ve seen a lot of smaller businesses struggling because of season and hurricanes,” said Hugo Arloro, Directionary’s financial adviser. “We want to help keep them in business.”

The group, which is based in Bonita Springs, wants small business to keep their focus on providing services for customers.

“Figuring out where the cash flow is going is difficult and many smaller businesses could be doing much better,” said Arloro, who has been building the consulting side of The Directionary Group for a year and a half.

They will service businesses in Bonita Springs, Naples, Estero, Fort Myers and as high as Cape Coral. The main focus, and personal passion, for Arloro is making sure smaller fish don’t drown in a sea of large businesses in Bonita Springs.

“I’ve done a lot in the mortgage field and I’ve discovered that consulting is needed,” said Arloro, who began his financial and business career in Boston 17 years ago. “Consulting services allow me to show the owners where the cash flow is and how they can put it back into their business to make more.”

But Arloro isn’t promising that businesses will make more, just spend their money more wisely.

“I’ll come in, analyze the numbers and where the cash flow management is going. I can help them decrease expenses by 20 to 30 percent,” he said.

Through the use of a close network of business associates in public relations, sales and marketing, The Directionary Group will also be able to hire help wherever businesses need it.

“We will analyze their business for free and put together a plan for growth,” said Arloro, who has connections throughout Florida and the United States. “If we can’t do it, we can hook you up with someone who can.”

The one-stop shop approach is what Arloro says separates The Directionary Group from other consulting businesses in the area.

“We want the business owner to focus on doing their business and we will take care of the rest. We want to be that one-stop shop,” he said. “I’m trying to create a niche by helping businesses that need consulting and follow-up services.”

Arloro can also help larger businesses through his work with The Directionary Group.

“Some people need money for the business so I can get it from my mortgage connections. Some just need analysis and I can do that, too, through the Directionary Group,” Arloro said. “My passion is to help the small guys and I’ve been there myself so I know what they are going through.”

Woman tries to give soldiers a piece of home

Sandy Madaffer is on a special mission this season to bring some holiday cheer to troops overseas.

She is collecting sheets sets, microwaveable popcorn, beef jerky and playing cards for soldiers who are yearning for a piece of home while at war.

“This will make it feel more like home and will make things much more comfortable for the soldiers,” Madaffer said.

Madaffer started collecting sheet sets more than six weeks ago and created “The Sheets Brigade” to get the word out about her efforts.

“I've been doing it all by word of mouth and hoping everybody helps as much as they can,” said Madaffer, of Bonita Springs.
“Soldiers are given sleeping bags but those aren't the most comfortable things to sleep on … you see the pictures and just have to help.”

As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Bonita Springs, Madaffer is making it easy for interested donors by having them drop off items at her home.

Madaffer has collected more than 30 sheet sets.

“The sheets can have anything on them … Nascar or X-Men and then for fun they will argue about who got what,” said Madaffer, who has received two dozen flying discs and other items from local businesses. “They will take anything they can get but it's those hard candies and cards that they really want.”

This is the first Madaffer has collected for the soldiers and will send her first shipment on Jan. 1.

“The shipping isn’t cheap but I’ll send stuff as long as I get it,” said Madaffer, who is also collecting toiletry items. “This shows them that we care and it lets them know that we are thinking of them.”

Spirit of the Gulf spreads joy through song

The music is upbeat.

The chorus is lively.

And, the audience captivated.

That’s how best to describe the Spirit of the Gulf Chorus, a Southwest Florida-based women’s chorus that is ranked seventh in the world.

“We sing the kind of music that you feel physically. People get goose bumps from our music,” said chorus director Karen Breidert, who has sung barbershop for 32 years. “We have a great time and it’s show biz quality on a smaller scale.”

The chorus is a member of Sweet Adeline’s International, a worldwide organization of nearly 30,000 women singers committed to the barbershop style of music.

Barbershop music is similar to a cappella, in which the vocals are unaccompanied by instruments and use a four-part melody, explained Breidert about her group, which will be performing holiday songs this month.

“The style has changed. People would be flabbergasted to see that it’s no longer men in straw hats and a garter around their arm,” said Breidert, whose group became charted in 2001.

The Spirit of the Gulf has more than 150 members from Miami, Bonita Springs, Naples, Estero, Fort Myers and as far north as Ocala.

“We got one gal from Ocala! It’s the music that keeps our singers coming from all over,” said Breidert, who describes the group as a large sisterhood. “We want the audience to feel the excitement we feel for this hobby of ours.”

But the hobby is more than hours of driving, the group rehearses regularly and creates costumes for their performances.

“We do a lot of dance moves, especially in the front row to entertain and sell what we are singing,” said spokesperson Paula Lasher, who has been with the group for four and a half years.

Lasher joined because she wanted to try something new but didn’t expect the audition process to be so challenging.

“You have to practice for an audition for about 8 weeks and they give you a learning tape,” Lasher said. “You pick out the song you want but there is a lot more than just singing. You learn technical things, too.”

The technical aspects of the chorus’ performances are modern with costume changes, props and dancing.

“We won the most entertaining chorus award at [the] Internationals ... it was the first time anyone had ever been given that award,” Lasher said.

The Spirit of the Gulf is a non-profit organization and a percentage of money from the shows are donated to a music scholarship.

“It’s a very special group of women who love each other and love to sing,” Breidert said. “While we are working on our songs we are having fun and we want everyone to feel the same.”

Beach Road widening plans concern resident

Property owner Vickee Douglas, Rick Cirtolla, Lee County acquisition manager, and Jennifer Dorning look on at a map of the proposed Bonita Beach Road expansion from Old 41 to Imperial Parkway. Douglas could lose up to 15 feet of her property.

Vickee Douglas isn't happy that the proposed widening of Bonita Beach Road, from four lanes to six, is going to encroach on her property.

She told city officials at a workshop that she's worried about the resale value and what could happen to the tenants that currently live in the property's single-family home.

"This is not good news," said Douglas, who owns a property between Westbrooke Drive and Eastbrooke Drive that faces Bonita Beach Road.

The extension would require the city to purchase 15 feet of Douglas' property for sewer, sidewalks and bike paths.

"The property will get smaller and only a single model home will fit. This might hurt what somebody will be able to do with it when we sell," she said.

The plan calls for the widening of the road between Old 41 and Imperial Parkway — one of the busiest roads in Bonita Springs, with about 30,000 cars per day using the one-mile stretch, according to county traffic counts.

"We are having this workshop to solicit opinions and awareness of what we will need to do," said Nicole Maxey, the senior project manager.

The city of Bonita Springs and Lee County have allocated $7 million to purchase right of way areas.

"We would rather purchase more right of way before more property gets developed out there," said Maxey, whose office has already completed 90 percent of the planning.

Maxey admits that there is no money set aside for this project for the next five years but hopes the city will consider it when it revisits the budget.

"We want this so we can make the traffic better. This is an evacuation route, it connects the north and south corridors and it will give better access to Old 41 and I-75," said Eyra Cash, the project manager for the last year and a half.

Early estimates for the project show it will cost $14.6 million to acquire land and build the road but the earliest work could begin in late 2011.

"It's progress, what are you going to do about it," said Loretta Gallogly, 72, of Bonita Springs.

She has owned a home on Eastbrooke Drive for 18 years and has seen progress come and go.

"They just had our street ripped up and now they did it again for sewer. It's part of progress," said Gallogly, who came out to the workshop to see what was going on although her home won't be directly affected by the widening.

"It's a peaceful area and any growth is good," Gallogly said.

Zumba away the holiday pounds

Thanksgiving is long gone but unfortunately the pounds from eating turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie haven’t disappeared.

But Luz Marina Gil has a way to shed those pounds and have fun at the same time — all before Christmas.

Gil is a certified Zumba instructor who is throwing a Zumba Christmas Bash in Naples to get holiday eaters movin’ and groovin’ to latin rhythms including salsa, reggaeton and flamenco.

“It is going to be a very intense workout for 75 minutes and people will have a great time,” said Gil, who teaches Zumba at several locations in Naples.

Zumba, in technical terms, is a fusion of international music that creates an effective exercise program but to the average participant it’s just plain fun.

“I love it! I love to dance and that’s why I took the class and it’s aggressive,” said said Jeoff Gratton, 62, of Naples, who took a class with Gil at the YMCA in Bonita Springs.
The name “Zumba” comes from a Colombian word meaning to move fast and have fun.

The fiesty latin dance class will cost $20 at the door but Gil encourages people to buy tickets in advance because the class is being capped at 60.

“I’m going to have DJ Nalig from Miami come out and mix all the music and do some fun stuff with it,” said Gil, who won’t be taking too much time to show how to do the dance move. “We will just dance back to back and people can do their best to keep up.”

As part of the ticket price, patrons will also have a chance to participate in a raffle for small prizes and can visit with Santa, who will make an appearance.

“This will be intense but great because it’s right after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas,” joked Gil. “We have to work off some of the food the people have been eating.”

Boat center touts personal touch

The Bonita Boat Center prides itself on having the best customer service in Bonita Springs.

And, that's what separates the boat center from the competition.

"I love boats and everything about them and here we offer great personal service," said operations manager Alex Dolinksi about the company that has been in Bonita Springs for 36 years.

The boating retailer specializes in selling, customizing, detailing and maintaining 11- to 32-foot long Boston Whalers.

"We carry the higher-priced models, but all boaters know that the Boston Whaler is the Mercedes Benz of boats," said Dolinski, who has been with the boat center for four years.
"We don't just let people buy a boat — we give them everything they need," he said.

The boat center offers all types of services, including delivery after purchase, and makes calls to remind customers in need of maintenance service.

"We follow up with service calls, and when you buy a boat from me, we do what it takes to make sure you are taken care of," Dolinski said.

Being taken care of includes boat pickup in need of repair or customized installations.

The center also offers a brokerage service for customers wanting to sell their used boats.

"We also sell used trail-able boats and help people sell them. We just act as a middle man and then the customer can buy a new boat from us," said Dolinski, whose boats range between $10,000 and $250,000.

Boston Whaler boats are easy to sell in Bonita Springs because the area caters to fishing and boating.

"The market for boating is probably the best place in the world," said Dolinski, who sells 80 new boats and 30 used boats a year.

As an extension of their services, the boat center offers customers membership into the Cruise Club.

"We get together every six weeks for lunch on the water or for an overnight trip to the Bahamas and places like that," said Dolinski, who plans the trips based on customer interest.

Customers also have the opportunity to hire a boat captain if they want to become more familiar with certain waterways in the area.

"We work hard to make sure people get the boat that is right for them. We ask when they will boat and what they plan on doing," Dolinski said. "We are rated top 10 as far as customer satisfaction in the country."

Trim your tree Florida style

These lighted palm trees are available for purchase at Robb & Stucky in Bonita Springs. They are gaining popularity for people interested in decorating their lanai.

By Alejandra Diaz and Chelsea Samuel

Wake up from your turkey coma and finish that last sliver of pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving is over and it’s time to decorate.

Jump in the car and head out to replace those burned-out light bulbs, crushed wreaths and worn-out decorations that are begging for a modern twist during this year’s holiday season.

Even though Christmas is still a month away, area stores have stocked their shelves with plenty of festive merchandise.
Live Christmas trees will be available from service clubs as well as retailers.

You can find unique ornaments from the chain stores to the boutiques.

And if you want to really get into the swing of things and jazz up your lanai, you can buy your own lighted-palm tree.
Yep, tis the season.

Contemporary decorations from Target in Bonita Springs will bring versatility, color and pizzazz to the traditional green Christmas trees, white lights and plain ornaments.

“If you want your tree pink, we’ve got your tree pink,” said Ashley Schleusner, the executive team leader at Target, explaining that there are plenty of pink ornaments for a monchromatic look. “We have what is called the trendy Christmas and some more modern items.”

Rows of brightly colored ornaments become a rainbow of holiday decorations, including hot pink skates, glittery parrots and even a Santa on a snowmobile.

“We have twists on the classics and we have every color imaginable,” said Schleusner, adding that the employees try to give fast, fun and friendly service.

Schleusner's store has stocked up on outdoor decor, lights and other decorations for the home.

West Elm, a contemporary design store that opened earlier this month at Coconut Point, also offers contemporary twists on traditional decorations.

Trim a silver tree with mirrored garlands and orange goldfish and hang a teal stocking covered with giant silver sequins up by the fireplace.

“We take a traditional item and put a contemporary flair on it,” said Tony Purvis, assistant manager at the store.

Some of their quirky decroations include giant ornaments shaped like goldfish and grasshoppers and throw pillows adorned with reindeer, hedgehogs and owls.

“The holiday collections are made to complement it,” Purvis said.

But just trying to decide what style of decorations or even Christmas tree to put up can be daunting especially because there are so many options this year.

Douglas firs, Frasers, Scotch pine or mountain spruce are all options for trees whether real or fake.

“We have all sorts of (artificial) trees but people seem to be buying the Frasers because with smaller needles it’s easier to add more ornaments,” said George Larsen, the manager at the Bonita Springs Home Depot. “The Douglas firs are also popular for bigger, longer needles.”

The Fraser fir offers a contrast between the silver on the underside of the needles and the dark green on top. Douglas firs have needles that grow in rows and are perfect for lighter and smaller items.

“We just got into the business of ornaments this year. We’ve been doing mostly lights before but the ornaments are really selling,” said Larsen, whose store boasts tons of lawn decorations, lighting options and fireplaces.

“We sell more ornaments every year because lights people buy them once but they update ornaments all the time.”

Because trees this season come in all sorts of colors, textures and heights, Robb & Stuckys of Bonita Springs offers a few options people can put on their lanais - a new popular decorating spot.

“We have warmer weather and people like taking their holiday decorating outside,” said Leah Lloyd, the boutique manager for Robb & Stucky. “People like to decorate with unique items and we offer unique palm trees that have lights for the outside.”

The store also sells a fairy doll that has become “widely popular” this year because its plump body provides filler for corners, tabletops and bookshelves, said Lloyd.

Inflatable outdoor decorations are also the rage this season with options as tall as 14 feet featuring a spinning carousel inside a clear globe with snow.

“We have yard decorations, outdoor lights and blow-up yard ornaments, but when using them outdoors use the right equipment,” Larsen said.

He advises customers to decorate with weather appropriate extension cords and make sure they don't plug too many decorations into one socket.

“Read the instructions and make sure to stake all the decorations properly or they will end up in your neighbors yard,” he said.

Timers have also be a been selling at Home Depot because they prevent people from leaving their lights on all night by accident.

“Some people fall asleep and forget but these timers will take care of that,” Larsen said.

So get up off that recliner, put away the turkey leftovers and start decorating.

The neighbors are watching.

Immigrant reaches goal with own company

Rafael Robles, 39, is the owner of Rafo Corporation, a shell contracting and land developing company in Bonita Springs, Estero and as far north as Cape Coral.

But opening the company wasn’t easy. Robles was a civil engineer in Peru before he moved to the United States in search of a better life in 2002.

He accomplished his goal of owning his own company and has built more than 350 homes in less than a year.

But it took some time and patience.

He didn’t speak English and had no idea how the construction industry worked in the United States, but decided little by little he’d pick up what he needed to know, even if it took years and hours of backbreaking work.

“I started working as a laborer because I didn’t know English and it was hard to understand what was going on,” he said about his first construction job upon arriving.

“I always wanted to open my own business but I wasn’t ready at the time. There was too much to learn.”

And the learning didn’t come easy. He spent months practicing his English with coworkers and studying at home in Cape Coral until he felt he learned enough that he could start applying for state licenses.

“I used to come (to the United States) for visits and then I saw that there were a lot of big areas where it has to be developed so I left everything in my country and moved to Florida,” he recalls about his first decision to move.

That’s why he got into the development business after learning English and earning his general contractor’s and underground utility construction license.

“The system here is very different because the location of my country requires us to have a lot of structural systems because of earthquakes,” said Robles, who has owned his own business since 2005.

He has more than 100 jobs all over Lee County and hopes to expand in the future.

Rafo Corporation specializes in installing sewer mains, roads and lake excavations, but will also begin building the outer shells of buildings.

“We prepare things with carpentry, concrete slabs and then another company comes in and finishes everything off,” he said.

Currently Rafo Corporation’s jobs are mostly in Bonita Springs at Bella Terra, and other locations such as Terra Vista and a galleria on Corkscrew Road in Estero.

“Construction here is quicker than most other places because the technology is so good and the techniques are better,” Robles said.

“I’m very successful and I have yet to have a slow month. We offer good prices but it’s the quality that keeps customers happy.”

Spring Creek students step back in time to 1600s

Gustavo Marin, 10, and his mom, Elizabeth, write on hornbooks at the Ye Ol’ School House as part of the fifth-graders Colonial Craft Fair.

Students at Spring Creek Elementary School recently invited the community to spend time in the 1600s with an old-style colonial fair, complete with pumpkins, haystacks, crafts and garb reminiscent of the early days in Williamsburg and Yorktown.

The fifth-graders, with the help of volunteers, brought the 17th century to life with orange string lights along the portables, fresh corn bread and apple juice or cider.

“The kids love this,” said Terri Mancuso as she served up cider and directed students and parents into classrooms offering a variety of crafts from doll-making to hornbook writing.

The fifth grade teachers worked together to re-create the time period by having students dress in black bottoms and white tops and wear colonial headwear.

“The children love the experience they get with this because they get to see what life was like and they get to teach it to others as well,” said Karen Leonardi, the school’s principal.

As part of their curriculum, fifth-graders are in charge of creating a lesson including a colonial-type craft that can be taught to younger children. The idea is to get kids excited about the time period and express that to students in lower grade levels.

“They teach the other kids for two days so they get the real experience of colonial america,” said Leonardi, whose children used to do all the crafts in one day but the school’s population has grown.

Some of the crafts at the fair showed children and parents how to create handmade dolls, braid yarn and write using ink and a feather-writing instrument.

“We had to create something the kids could do like writing in hornbooks that were used for studying,” said Kathy Clase, the fifth-grade resource teacher.

In colonial times, hornbooks were made from hide and students wore them around their necks as a reference tool. The books included bible verses, letters, numbers and other information the teachers might ask.

Fifth-grade teachers put the colonial project together seven years ago to take the colonial experience out of the classroom and give students a different way to see what the world was like in the old times.

Movies on the lawn coming to a park near you

Movies, popcorn and drinks are coming to Riverside Park in Bonita Springs and everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the drive-in movie feel minus the vintage cars.

The Bonita Springs Estero Realtors Association (BEAR) in partnership with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the city of Bonita Springs to offer movies on the lawn as part of a new plan to draw visitors to the downtown Bonita area and to the new park.

The first movie is scheduled for Jan. 6.

“We want people to bring lawn chairs and lay out on the grass and enjoy a movie. All the movies are family-friendly,” said Arlene Houston, the city of Bonita Springs spokesperson.

She says the city received a special events application earlier this year asking to play the movies at the park with BEAR and the Chamber bearing the costs of running such an event at the park.

“We have a great band shell and this is the perfect site for movies at night,” Houston said.

The park will allow organizers to offer the movies on a 24-foot screen complete with a sound system and food that will raise funds for the Bonita Assistance Office.

“It’s nice to be able to give something back to the community and this was a chance for us and BEAR to work together to add something to the quality of life in this area,” said Nancy Keefer, the Chamber president.

Adding life to the area was more of the focus for the event.

“Wizard of Oz” has been chosen because it is family-friend and will appeal to all ages.

“We are doing this as a community fundraiser but I have to admit I stole the idea from New York City,” said Cameron Paine, the event's lead organizer and chief operating officer for BEAR.

Paine used to live in Manhattan where movies in the park night that brought out thousands.

“The event was so successful it was all standing room only and people loved it. They dressed up in costumes based on whatever movie was playing like Star Wars,” said Paine, who expects to draw 200 people on the first night.

BEAR and the Chamber will also have a couple of food vendors with 50 percent of the proceeds from food sales going to charity.

City officials say they will bear the cost of security for the event, which is estimated to cost $50 an hour for police officers from the sheriff’s office.

“We will be closing off traffic on Old 41 because of the sound,” Houston said.

BEAR and the Chamber are covering the cost of renting the movie, the speaker system and large screen.

“It will be good fun and a great use of the park and will bring people to downtown Bonita and get them excited about its future,” Keefer said. “We’ve got beautiful weather and we are bringing back the idea of having a drive-in movie theater. It’s all good fun.”

Restaurants serve 7,000 at Taste of Bonita

Dominic Calla, sous chef at the Tarpon Bay Restaurant at the Hyatt in Bonita Springs, flips diver sea scallops with roasted tomatoes, shaved onions and golden raisins at the 13th annual Taste of Bonita at Riverside Park.

No one was counting calories at the 13th annual Taste of Bonita at Riverside Park on Sunday.

Most of the food was fried, salted, dunked in sauce or just plain tasty — and that's what brought more than 7,000 to the park as part of a fundraiser to benefit local charities through the Bonita Springs Rotary Noon.

"It's a lot of fun and the restaurants are doing a super job," said Betsy Bridge of Bonita Springs while enjoying an almond crusted grouper she bought at the Tropical Reef Seafood Restaurant. "I don't have a favorite food yet, but there hasn't been anything I haven't liked."

And there was plenty for Bridge to enjoy with more than 35 restaurants from Bonita Springs and Naples showing off their best tasting foods such as Buffalo Chips' fried green tomato with special sauce, Tarpon Bay Restaurant's diver sea scallops and Naples Cheesecake Factory's Key Lime Pie.

"The food was wonderful and these ribs are delicious," said Valerie Schiessl of Estero while devouring Roy's Restaurant's samplings. "It's such a nice day to come out here and have a good time."
Event organizer Tony Valego was glad to see the turnout and thinks the weather provided a perfect day for good eating, drinking and enjoyment.

"People are sitting on their lawn chairs and blankets on the grass and spending time with their family. It's a great day to be out here and enjoying the food," Valego said.

Valego started the Taste of Bonita 13 years ago with only 10 restaurants and 2,500 people to raise money for the Rotary. He hopes this year's event raises $50,000.

Aside from good eats, attendees also enjoyed musical acts and a bigger children's area with a laser tag game, giant slide and bounce house.

"We try to add something every year to make it more of a family event that lasts a few hours," said Valego, who last year moved the event from the Sunshine Plaza to Riverside Park.

Fred Barry, 59, came out to the event with his wife, Shirley, 44, because the day was beautiful and the eating plentiful.

"I love what Bonita has done with this venue, and the quality of life here is wonderful," Fred Barry of Estero said.

"The music and the food is a great experience to taste some of the best of what Bonita has to offer."

Group to honor hospice helper

Daily story for the Local Bonita section

Donna Roberts

Donna Roberts, 66, has shown her love of Bonita Springs and is being recognized for her work by the Bonita Springs Community Foundation.

The foundation named Roberts the 2007 winner of the Love of Bonita award, which honors those who actively promote empowerment, self- sufficiency and make positive changes in others.

"Donna exemplifies what this award is all about. This isn't about someone being able to write a big check, it's about someone putting in the hours and motivating others," said Melanie Dehon, the chair of the Love of Bonita award dinner.

Dehon is organizing the Jan. 20 award gala where Roberts will receive an engraved vase and have a video shown highlighting her work and efforts in bringing Hope Hospice's "Joanne's House" to Bonita Springs.

Past winners of the award include Jacqueline McCurdy, David Short, Ira Hawk, Pat Lord and Richard Miller.

"I think that you go back to your roots and what family you came from and I know I have to give back," said Roberts, who has lived in Bonita Bay for seven years. "You're put on this earth for a certain amount of time and you gotta use it to do good."

Roberts began her service efforts 25 years ago in Detroit when she got involved with the hospice and decided that patient care was her passion.

"Your life is nothing if you don't give back and help. I started out in patient care but quickly moved to fundraising and I was good at it," said Roberts, who created the Women's Committee for Hope Hospice to raise funds to build a location between Fort Myers and Naples.

The committee has raised close to $5 million since 1999 and boasts 300 members, with three fundraisers annually.

"All nominees without exception were outstanding. Donna is an example of someone who gathers others, shares her vision and inspires them to act and share the same vision," said Fran Luessenhop, the vice chair of the Bonita Springs Community Foundation. "She is great at communicating her vision and that made her stand out."

Village String band gears up for new season

Mary McJoynt plays the saxophone as part of the Bonita Village String Band. The band will play during the lighting ceremony on Dec. 5 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.

The Bonita Village String Band plays at their own pace. They tap their feet to the beat and sing along in between sets.

The music is classical with an old-time beat and that relaxed enjoyable feel is what the band wants people to feel when they watch their shows.

The group had its first rehearsal for the 2006-2007 season recently and worked hard to get the kinks out.

“We have a need for a violin player and a few others. Some of our members haven’t come from up north yet but we will get it all together for our first show,” said music director Al Dalton.

He put the band together in 1991 after moving to Bonita St. James Village and realizing that he missed the Philadelphia musical groups called “mummers,” which first appeared in that city’s New Year’s Day parade.

The string bands began small in 1902, but became large enough to include saxes and drums much like the group Dalton has created in Bonita Springs.

“I love it and that’s why I’ve stuck with it all these years,” said Barbara Kachensky, who is the associate director for the band and the keyboard player. She has been a member since the beginning and enjoys dressing up in the traditional mummer style, where lively bands play melodies and wear exotic costumes.

The band is voluntary and all proceeds collected during performances are donated to a scholarship fund for students interested in pursuing music.

“We gave four scholarships this year and we are unique because the students are elementary and middle school aged,” said Dalton, about the $1,000 scholarships. “That makes us the only organization in Lee and Collier county that gives money to that age group.”

The money has helped students build careers out of music.

“The collections we take are to help the kids out that can’t help themselves and we have fun doing it,” said Kachensky, whose band has donated 38 scholarships in 15 years.

Having fun is also a big part of rehearsal. As certain songs are sung, dancers will get up and practice some of the routines they will later perform for audiences.

“We have all sorts of fun and have performed all over in mobile home villages, churches and anywhere we fit,” said Earl Sturm, of Bonita Springs. Strum is a founding member and serves as the master of ceremonies for the band making jokes during his announcements.

Members of the band come from Bonita Springs, Naples and Fort Myers and include about 80 musicians and a chorus line.
The group will open their season – about one show a week – with a performance during the lighting ceremony at Riverside Park on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.

“We are all hams, we love to sing and put on a good show,” Kachensky said. “We have doing it and people always give us a standing ovation.”

Assistance Office gathers food for needy

Yvonne Murray and her grandaughter's puppy Volche hands donated food items to Jessica Novins, the vice president of finance for the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber organized the Harvest and food drive collection in preparation for the holidays.

The Bonita Springs Assistance Office’s pantry is in need of canned food, cereal boxes and other nonperishable items.

The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce organized its eighth annual Harvest Night at the Promenade at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs recently to encourage the business community to donate foodstuffs and help the pantry prepare for the holiday season.

“We feed people 52 weeks out of the year and summer is the most difficult time for us because our clients are in such need,” said Lois Hollands, the administrator at the Bonita Springs Assistance Office.

Because the summer months are the Assistance Office’s busiest season, the stockpile of goods is at an all-time low and members of the chamber are doing what they can to help out.

“This is an opportunity for the business community to gain something back to those who may be in need,” said Nancy Keefer, chamber president. “We really care and it’s pretty impressive to see what these people bring to help out.”

The pantry finds that the summer months are most taxing on their clients because it’s a slower working season and many employees get less hours at work and aren’t able to put food on the table to feed their families.

“(Chamber) gives a wide variety of foods and this is a big help because it’s nice to be able to get more food for the holidays,” said Hollands, who said the chamber donated 4,000 pounds of food last year.

Jon McLeod, of Mobile Exposure, is donating his truck to deliver the food collected to the pantry.

“I have the ability to donate my services and this only scratches the surface of what they need,” said McLeod, who has been a member of the chamber for more than four years. “We support them as much as we can but his is a small effort.”

Reading night roars into Springs Creek Elementary Nov. 2006

Dave Kellom and his son Luc, 6, laugh while reading a book about snakes during the Roaring Readers program at Spring Creek Elementary.

Students at Spring Creek Elementary spent a night reading with their parents as part of the Roaring Reading program that promotes reading among families.

The program, which was started years ago, brings parents and children together once a month and the children read in groups, individually and out loud.

“The parents absolutely love it just as much as the kids. It’s their chance to come out spend time with their kids and read,” said Karen Leonardi, the principal at Spring Creek Elementary. “This teaches them a love for reading and literature.”
Keeping that connection with reading is why the school created the program and work to keep the program fresh every month by adding new activities for kids and parents.

In the last year, the school has added a younger readers program in which kids read a book and create an arts or crafts project related to the book.

“We have to do something for the little ones because many of our students have younger siblings and we want to have something for them too,” said Kimberly Donnelly, the media specialist who organizes the program and creates a theme for each month.

Students enjoyed a “wild about books” theme this month by reading about animals and having several items about wild animals spread throughout the media center.

“This is my first time coming to this because my wife normally brings him but it’s really good,” said Dave Kellom, about his six-year-old Luc. He spent time looking at a picture book about snakes with his son who created sound effects as he pointed at pictures.

Program organizers have also added a component for parents to attend while their children listen to stories out loud.
The “Families Building Better Readers” is an informational session in which parents are taught reading strategies and ways to spend time reading with their kids.

“We come every time because we both love to read. We go to the library a lot and get a big ol’ bag of books,” said Barbara Esch, of Bonita Springs. She accompanied her nine-year-old granddaughter Olivia Lynn.

Some parents are even encouraged to volunteer their time to read out loud to students in English and in Spanish.

“I bring both my girls and we come every month. It’s very enjoyable,” said Arturo Simon, 34, of Bonita Springs. “She reads in English and Spanish every night.”

And, that’s what organizers want students to do.

“Having them reading in both languages is good, it teachers them an appreciation for other cultures,” said Leonardi about the program that draws about 130 parents and students.

The next roaring readers program is scheduled for Dec. 11 at the Barnes and Noble at Coconut Point in Estero.

True-love story, old flames reconnect thanks to article in News-Press

Tara Clydesdale and Mike Pettit pose for a picture much like the one they took in June of 1989.


Tara Clydesdale and Mike Pettit pose for a picture in June of 1989. They were high school sweethearts at the time but went their separate ways only to rekindled their love almost 9 years later.


Above is the piece of paper Tara Clydesdale was given as a message to call Mike Pettit (pictured).


Tara Clydesdale, 33, and Mike Petitt, 34, pose for a picture with their "kids" Jack, Austin, Megan, Fat Albert and Katie. Petitt was able to find Clydesdale, his high school sweetheart, after searching the Internet and finding a News-Press article about Clydesdale and parasailing.

By Alejandra Diaz
Tara Clydesdale, 33, works on Bonita Beach, but she doesn’t sell hot dogs or set up rental chairs ...

Those are the words that got Mike Pettit’s heart racing, the words that gave him the encouragement to search the Internet for his long-lost high school sweetheart.

Those were the words that brought back all the memories of years gone by when Mike Pettit and Tara Clydesdale were an inseparable pair in New Jersey.

“I just wanted to talk to her. I never forgot about her. I needed to know how she was,” said Pettit, 34, who was afraid that Clydesdale was married or in a serious relationship.

But he sat at his computer, anyway, and ran a computer search for Tara’s name.

Incredibly and fatefully, it popped up, from an article in The News-Press that ran on July 8.

Instantly, Pettit was nervous.

“I couldn’t believe it. She was the first three hits and after that it was about the Clydesdale horses but I knew it was her,” said Pettit.

“I said to myself that I’d see what happens and when I saw her name, I was like ... .”

Clydesdale sees it a bit differently.

“It was meant to be ... Kismet ... People always say that about things happening for a reason.”

Google Search

It was the middle of this summer and Clydesdale was living in Cape Coral and working on Bonita Beach with a parasailing company.

She was featured in the story for her ability to send passengers as high as 1,200 feet in the air.

Pettit was living on the water in Delaware. He loved to fish and boat, so much that he drove 200 miles round trip a day to his job as a carpenter.

His life was in turmoil. His eight-year marriage was ending. And Pettit missed his old soul mate.

It was time to reconnect. And thanks to Google, he did.

He just needed the courage to make the first call.

It took him a week.

“I looked at the story and I saw it had a phone number but I didn’t want to call. I just wanted to fly down there and see her,” he said.

“But my friends talked me out of it. I called that Thursday and she wasn’t at work.”

“I said her name and some guy on the beach had no idea what I wanted ... so I said ‘I’m looking for the girl from the newspaper’ and that did the trick,” he said about finally leaving a message with Lonnie Clark, the boat captain who worked with Clydesdale.

Clark forgot to pass the message along and it wasn’t until July 16 — Petitt’s birthday — that Clydesdale got the message and returned the call.

“I was shocked to get a piece of paper with his name on it. We talked for 20 minutes and it was just as it had been years ago,” said Clydesdale, who had thought about Pettit after realizing it was his birthday. “I wondered just that morning how he was and little did I know, he had called days earlier.”

They chatted constantly by phone for the next two weeks catching up.

That wasn’t good enough for Clydesdale. She quit her job at the beach and went to Delaware, to see first hand if two could really reignite their love affair.

“We talked about so many things and what we wanted out of life and everything just matched,” said Clydesdale about feeling relief that she got one more chance with Pettit.

For love, even Florida

Her intention was to move back to Florida. Not his, though.

“I had no intention, want or desire to move to Florida because it’s so damn hot but she said I could fish and I wanted to be with her so here I am,” Pettit said.

The two have settled in Bonita Springs with their five labrador retrievers and two cats.

“We’ve been having fun ever since,” Pettit said.

He’s found work here as an accoustic ceiling installer, and she went to work at a boat dealership in Bonita.

The fun has included a trip to a New Jersey theme park, parasailing on Bonita Beach and spending every Sunday on Dog Beach with “the kids.”

Their plan is to get married once Petitt’s divorce is finalized but the details of the wedding are still being worked out.

“She said I had to get her a ring before she came up to see me. We are thinking of getting married in Las Vegas but she said Elvis isn’t invited,” said Pettit teasingly as Clydesdale looked on and smiled. “She is what I wanted out of a relationship and I’m finally happy.”

System identifies sexual offenders

Barr Security of North Naples has an eye, a scanner and a list to identify sexual offenders on a national level.

Just ask Jennifer Boocock, the director of the Wonder Years Preschool at the First Presbyterian Church — the first school in Bonita Springs to catch a glimpse of the new technology.

Boocock got a first hand look at the new kiosk that was installed at her school by Barr Security as part of a visitor management system meant to stop sexual predators at the door.

“Our parents see safety as a priority and they ask us about it a lot so anything we can do to add an extra layer of security is a good thing,” said Boocock, who agreed to have the machine installed to supplement their current camera and keypad entry system.

The preschool was selected as a test site for the system because it gets enough traffic that Barr Security will be able to see the system work and test improved software. It is also close to Barr Security’s office on Tamiami Trail.

“This provides a level of security that you can’t beat. Even if you have a sexual offender list on the wall, it’s no good if you don’t look at it,” said Shaq Mughal, the owner of Barr Security.

Barr Security offers three models that screen visitors but its built in self-service feature allows visitors to check in without tying up office administrators.

“Visitors come in and check themselves in. I think people are more susceptible to self-service type technology and this lets them get in and get out,” said Mughal of the system that costs between $6,000 and $8,000.

Visitors are asked to use a touch-screen screen to put in their name, destination and scan a government issued ID before entering the school.

The system also asks for a fingerprint and a photo is taken of the visitor while the system scans the national database of registered sex offenders and a separate local watch list to ensure that the visitor is allowed on the premises.

The national database checks through more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States.

“It automates the whole check-in process and runs background checks. Schools can even keep their own watch list or make notes based on parent requests or their own observations,” said Kristen Morse, the Barr Security vice president of marketing.

If a visitor were to be blocked from entry, the system alerts school personnel and they decide if security needs to be called.

“We just need to be sure about who our visitors are. The church will also be using the system when the preschool is closed,” said Boocock, who can have as many as 140 students at any one time.

Barr Security is talking to the Lee County school system about making their system a staple throughout the county, copmpany officials said. The Collier County school system has a similar visitor system.

“You can’t put a price on safety and schools know that,” Morse said.

Sensors warn of trouble at home

No matter where homeowners are, Global Security has figured out a way to keep them connected to their homes — be they next door or even out of the country.

Gregory Coury is the president of the company that is changing the way people view home security by introducing a digital home watch system that alerts homeowners of potential problems.

“Having a home watch system where people check on your home in Bonita Springs is really popular, but sometimes it’s not enough,” said Coury, who originally open the company in Miami in 1983. “A weekly home watch system will discover problems but our system works to prevent it.”

The system uses a series of sensors, an alarm, a temperature reader and a phone connection that watches over the house and contacts homeowners in case of floods, mold or heat.

“This is great for even people who just go to work and leave the house empty because it will send you a text message or call your work if the air breaks and floods the house or the temperature rises,” said Coury, who opened a Bonita Springs office in 1999.

Coury came up with the system after hearing stories of people who discovered water seeping into their homes too late to prevent costly damage.

A basic unit starts at $500 and the monthly monitoring fee is $25.

“I’ve heard lots of stories. This product can be utilized by everyone and we can even tie the system to the alarm they have or install a basic model,” Coury said.

Global Security also offers burglar alarms, fire alarms and a camera system that allows home or business owners to keep on eye on things from around the world.

“As long as you have the Internet we can set up cameras and watch from anywhere in the world using an IP address,” said Coury, who personally tested the system earlier this year during a trip to Moscow. “You can see everything that is going on and that gives people comfort.”

Global Security is a state licensed company and Coury offers a month free for customers who choose to pay annually instead of monthly.

The system, which was created more than a year ago, will be on display at the Naples Home Expo on Nov. 17-18.

“I knew there was technology out there that could keep people more connected and sometimes having somebody check out your home once a week or monthly isn’t enough,” he said.

Auxiliary plans Vets Day ceremony

American Legion Auxiliary Unit #303 will hosting a special Veterans Day ceremony at Riverside Park at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The ceremony will honor veterans and remember those who have lost their lives by securing 100 flags that represent fallen soldiers.

“These flags are from veterans and their families that donated them to the American Legion for (memorial day) ceremonies,” said Kay Pirucki, president of the Ladies Auxiliary from the American Legion Post, during a memorial day celebration that was held at Riverside Park earlier this year.

The Legion collected flags for the last two years until reaching 100 and is going to put them on display for the public during major holidays such as Veterans Day.

“It’s a lot of work for us to put them all up but we made sure that the city allowed this space just for us when they were building the park,” said Rudy Zannoni, the Legion’s post commander.

The Legion will also host a luncheon at 3 p.m. to collect proceeds to buy phone cards for troops overseas.

Other business owners not worried about new mall

Coconut Point in Estero is the new kid on the retail block in south Lee County, but business owners at the Promenade at Bonita Bay aren’t worried.

They figure a huge mall in Estero will draw crowds but won’t be a big enough threat to bully them out of business.

“The curiosity factor always attracts people to a big mall like that but hopefully we won’t feel much of a squeeze,” said Danielle Weiner, the owner of the Promenade Ben & Jerry’s since 1999.

Some impact could be felt this month as more stores open for the holiday season, but shop owners say the Promenade offers quality instead of quantity.

“Coconut Point is a wonderful mall for the masses but when people really want personal attention and to be taken care of we will do a better job,” said Michelle Buonocore, who has been the owner of The Paper Merchant at the Promenade for seven years.

“I’m in the business of service, and personal attention is something I’m very fussy about.”

Buonocore has a reason to be fussy. She owns two other stores in Naples and knows that her customers come back for good service.

And, that’s just a unique experience that a gigantic mall like Coconut Point can’t offer, she said.

“All the stores at the Promenade are on the whole, individually-owned smaller stores. We give people good service and have a reputation for it,” Buonocore said.

Unlike Coconut Point, the Promenade in Bonita Springs on U.S. 41 offers clothes boutiques, art galleries and stores that specialize and customize gifts.

“I don’t think that it will have a big effect although there will probably be a lot of interest,” said store manager Diane Shaw of Jamie’s, a contemporary clothes store for ages 40 to 85.

Jamie’s sister store JCC, also at the Promenade, offers high quality fashion but Shaw insists that Coconut Point won’t be suitable for those with little time.

“I think people will come back here because I’m certain that it’s enjoyable to go through racks but sometimes people don’t have time for that,” Shaw said referring to large stores like Dilliard’s and Ross Dress for Less, which are at Coconut Point.

These larger stores also don’t offer personal service such as coordinating outfits and talking to people about their personal style in the way that Jamie’s does, said Shaw.

“We have time for customers and that will keep bringing them back,” Shaw said.
Kelly Chasnov, the owner of Eyetopian Optical at the Promenade, feels that Coconut Point will be good for business owners at the Promenade.

“It won’t bother us. If anything, it will bring more peoplte to the area so it benefits us. They are huge but in the end, it will be good for us,” said Chasnov, whose store offers luxury eye wear and custom frames.

“This is going to put Bonita Springs on the map as a place to shop. I don’t view it as a threat by any means.”

The Mole Hole’s Holly Oakes agrees that the differences between corporate stores and private ones are too great for the Promenade to see a change.

“Any retailer will be concerned to a certain point but we have loyal customers here and they know that we are individually owned and more personal,” Oakes said.

Weiner sees the positives, too, and understands that Coconut Point is big business but not big enough.

“The new kid on the block always gets business at first but we will all be okay,” she said.

Stage 88 fits the bill for downtown

The show must go on and Stage 88 is doing what it can to make sure its original shows and musicals are displayed for all to see — especially those in the downtown area of Bonita Springs.

Stage 88, a local theater company out of Naples, recently found itself searching for a new venue after its Naples location began offering too many activities.

At the same time, the city of Bonita Springs began working on a community redevelopment plan that would draw full-time residents, seasonal residents and visitors to the downtown Bonita area.

“A downtown district is the heart of the community and a gathering place for Bonita residents and visitors,” said Mark McClellan, the artistic director for Stage 88.

Stage 88 had exactly what the city had been looking for because the community theater group runs shows year-round and offers art lovers a unique opportunity to hear and see local writers’ work on display.

“The ultimate goal is to get downtown to be a thriving district like Fort Myers and Naples are. Bonita Springs is one of the faster growing parts of the area and we are between Naples and Fort Myers,” said McClellan, who has two shows scheduled for the winter season.

The season, which started Nov. 2, includes “Friday’s” and two productions written by locals called “Four-Part Thunder” and “There Ain’t No Women in Heaven.”

“Bonita Springs doesn’t lack culture because there are a lot of avenues for it, but this will be a focal point for it because everybody can come,” said McClellan, who added that the company will perform community outreach and host other local theatre groups for the summer season.

The new home of Stage 88 will be at the community hall in the Old 41 corridor of downtown Bonita, and officials are hoping to draw a crowd.

The venue will seat 97, and Stage 88 has built a modular stage.

“A lot of things are happening and there really is a great desire and motivation to get people back into the downtown area and revitalize it,” McClellan said. “We are glad we can be a part of what is to come in the future of Bonita Springs.”

Spring Creek gets donation for school sign

The Parent Teacher Organization at Spring Creek Elementary got an offer they couldn’t resist when the phone rang and NCH Healthcare wanted to donate $12,600 to pay for a new school sign.

“It’s wonderful! We are ever so grateful,” said Karen Leonardi, the school’s principal.

The offer puts to rest years of efforts by the parent-led organization to raise money to purchase a new sign that would replace the current sign that is hardly recognizable.

“We just really needed this because the sign that we have is kind of old and it’s got plants growing out of the center of it,” said Jennifer Schaffer, the PTO president who pushed to have the sign donated to the school.

Schaffer had heard that NCH donated money to schools because her daughter used to attend a Collier County school and figured she had nothing to lose by asking them to donate to a Lee County school.

“I called them and they said yes. They wanted to break into the Lee school market and Bonita Springs is closest to their hospital on Immokalee,” Schaffer said.

The donated sign will carry the name of the school and will be broken up into three parts, said Leonardi. It will also include an area to put up announcements about school events.

“We are so very excited because one part is a pencil, then a book and the third part will be a ruler. And it has our school colors of blue and white and has our panther on it,” said Leonardi about the sign that will be installed after it’s designed and built. “We just don’t have that amount of money to spend on a sign, we use our money for school materials, personnel and other things in the school.”

The school plans on having a ceremony with NCH Healthcare representatives and other members of the school after the installation is complete.

But the sign isn’t the first new addition students are seeing at their school. Ground cover has been removed in the playground area and officials are waiting for a slide to be shipped before installation begins.

“They are missing the side-by-side slide and from what I understand the mold for the fiberglass slide was damaged and its being repaired. We should have our slide soon,” said Leonardi, who is working to have the rest of the play equipment installed with safety precautions around the area where the slide goes.

The slide should be delivered and installed by mid-November.

The installation of the new playground equipment might coincide with the completion of the second covered bus ramp at the front of the school.

The posts that hold up the structure have been cemented in but yellow caution tape still surrounds the benches and keeps kids out of the plants in the area.

“The canopy that will cover the posts is still being fabricated but once that’s put in it will be nice to have that out there because it will keep our boys and girls dry when they get on the bus,” said Leonardi, who added that the covered bus ramp at the back of the school has already protected kids. “It’s really designed well because the covered area is over the benches out there so the kids are kept away from the edge and the moving cars.”

Leonardi had a say in the design of the ramps and is glad that before the end of the year, all work might be completed.

“We are all anxious to see it completed. We’ve been waiting a little while for (the canopy) but this will be ever so much better than walking the kids out with umbrellas,” she said.

Bonita YMCA offering parent-toddler class

The Bonita Springs YMCA is offering a new program for parents who want to be more active with their toddlers.

“We have a lot of parents who like to come to the gym and workout but wanted a little something extra to do with their kids,” said Robin Siewers, the YMCA spokesperson.

The “Toddler Tumbling” program became the answer to member requests for classes they could attend with their toddlers, ages 3 to 5.

The Y will offer youth movements where kids will learn to stretch, jump, basic floor gymnastics and get an introduction to tumbling.

“Parents want to have a class that they can share with their children before or after they work out in the morning, luckily we were able to start this,” said Siewers, who added that only one session is offered at this time but more may be offered because of a high demand from members.

The class will be taught by gymnastics teacher Camille Arciere who is also a member of the YMCA and has two young children of her own.

“She showed interest in starting the program because she has eight years of experience in teaching gymnastics,” said Siewers, who said classes may be capped at 15 children and their parents.

“It's a great introduction for kids into some type of physical activity and that fits with what we are trying to promote in keeping a healthy lifestyle for kids,” she said.

The program is filling up fast and parents are asked to speak to the YMCA soon to guarantee their child a spot.

“This gives parents that special time to interact with their kids and from a social perspective it's good too,” Siewers said. “This is just something new to get the kids involved.”

Games, activities enjoyed at school's fall festival

Bonita Springs Elementary School welcomed the fall season with a festival complete with a bounce house, talent show and carnival food.

Kids roamed the school’s campus with lunch bags of red tickets that parents helped purchase at one of the ticket stands manned by school staff and volunteers.

“It’s just plain fun — a good place to bring the kids,” said Saja Burgess, 51, one of the parents who brought her two daughters to experience the fun.

Students, parents and school staff members spent the afternoon “spending” their red tickets by participating in carnival games such as the dunk tank, a smaller version of a Plinko, a popular Price Is Right game, and a football toss.

Kids also bought popcorn, got their faces painted and drank island smoothies prepared by teachers.

“We even got little umbrellas for our smoothies,” said Lynda VanBibber, the secretary to Principal David Short.

The campus was decorated to resemble a miniature state fair with colorful signs directing visitors to areas like the petting zoo, the sand sculpture booth and a table where children received a free helmet and learned about bike helmet safety.

“We came to support our neighborhood school,” said Stacy Reed, whose children attend Bonita Springs Charter School. “It’s great! We came last year too.”

Short also gave kids a reason to attend the festivities by allowing them to see him get knocked into the dunk tank.

“Kids really enjoy that for some reason,” he said jokingly. “I always look forward to it.”

Bonita chamber ushers in new leader

The football rivalry between outgoing chairwoman of the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce Diane Lepola and incoming chairman Doug Congress will continue even now that Lepola has handed over her gavel at the Annual Chairman’s Gala at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa.

Lepola, a Louisiana State University fan, stood before more than 250 chamber members and stepped down as chairwoman of the board.

But she didn’t let Congress take over the position without a few light jabs to his beloved University of Florida football team.
He responded by pointing out his bright orange tie and blue handkerchief.

“For the record, Florida did win this year,” Congress said before the awards portion of the gala.

Lepola quickly jumped in to complete Congress’ sentence by pointing out “but LSU did win last year!” she said.

The pair have been at odds over their college football teams’ success since last year when Lepola’s Tigers pounced Congress’ Gators during the Annual Gala.

Congress attended the event with a tiny TV so he wouldn’t miss the game.

“She was trying to put on a show, and I just couldn’t miss the game,” said Congress, the vice president and co-owner of Congress Jewelers.

Now that Congress is the chairman of the chamber, he gave his first speech at the gala and told members that this year’s theme was “Take it to the Limit” based on an Eagles song he said he had on his iPod.

Taking it to the limit will mean revamping the chamber’s Web site, increasing member participation, keeping the chambers accreditation status and increasing retention rates among members.

“We need our members to get involved because the chamber can only be as good as the efforts of its member,” said Congress, who had “Hail to the Chief” played as he took the gavel from Lepola.

Lepola stared him down much as their football teams do when they face each other on the field, but Congress laughed and the two embraced in a hug to audience applause.

The night continued with awards honoring several members of the community including citizen of the year Ray Faubion and Sabra Cecil as the chamber's director of the year.

Awards also were handed out to the Schumann Law Group and Colonial Bank for being members of the year in business.

Chamber President Nancy Keefer said the gala was a night to show appreciation for Lepola and welcome Congress.

“It’s a celebration to get everyone pumped up about the upcoming year and a celebration of the business and what they can do for the community,” Keefer said.

Even Keefer knows that the rivalry between Congress and Lepola will continue and Congress made sure to remind everyone.
“This night brings it all together with the old and the new ... the past and the present,” said Congress at the conclusion to his speech while looking at Lepola. “The gators are winners during my year and it will surely stay that way.”

Citizen of year winner is stellar volunteer

Ray Faubion is the new Citizen of the Year voted on by members of the community and the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

The honor comes just a couple of years after he presided over the chamber and vowed to give back to the community any way he could.

“My parents, Ray and Jeannine, were both active volunteers with many organizations while I was growing up. I think their example ... has given me the direction to become involved,” said Faubion, 47, who has lived in Lee County since the age of 2.

He received the Citizen of the Year award at the Annual Chairman’s Gala at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa last Saturday but didn’t believe his name had been called until his wife, Jeanne, leaped out of her chair.

“I was in shock and I had to look over at my wife to see if I had heard correctly that they said my name. She jumped and I was totally shocked,” he said after having heard his own accomplishments announced prior to his name being called. “I absolutely wasn’t expecting it and when they were reading everything off I was wondering who they were talking about.”

But it was Faubion they were talking about and his accolades sounded impressive, even to him.

He has been a member of the Kiwanis club for 10 years, has been involved with Relay for Life, the United Way, the Bonita Springs YMCA and has worked with the Boy Scouts of America as a Den Leader, Committee Chair and Scoutmaster.

Faubion admits that he keeps a busy schedule between volunteering and raising his three sons, Addison, Collier and Hunter. But there is always time to do more. He and his wife recently gained a “daughter” in an exchange student from Switzerland whose name is Maria, 17.

“She is practically my daughter and will be here for at least a year, and possibly longer,” said Faubion, who credits his family with his success because they support him.

Faubion also works full-time as an insurance agent but in his down time enjoys spending time with his family, camping in their RV and being a Miami Dolphins fan.

“I’m just so proud of him. I can’t believe they picked him,” said Jeanne, shortly after seeing her husband on stage receiving a standing ovation from chamber members. “I’m so touched for him.”

The selection process for the award includes a nomination process which is coordinated in a joint effort through The News-Press and the Naples Daily News.

Readers submit nomination forms that are then reviewed by a committee and a winner is selected and announced at the gala.

“I’m at a loss for words still and I keep pinching myself to see if it’s real,” Faubion said. “It’s very humbling and it’s the best award I’ve ever received.”

Bonita library transforms into a painting classroom

Nancy Bryant had never picked up a paint brush until she attended the “Learn to Paint” session at the Bonita Springs Public Library.

She spent an hour learning to properly load a paint brush, mix paints and use a thin brush.

“I didn’t know I could paint!” said Bryant, 54, who brought along her mother Beulah Eby for the class that showed first time painters how to decorate a holiday card with style.

“Our mission is to spread the love of painting and these classes help people figure out if painting is for them,” said instructor Suzanne Mikulka, who teaches painting as part of the Society of Decorative Painters.

The society sponsors the classes hoping to gain more members but ultimately to show people alternative ways to paint decoratively.

“There is more to painting than picking up a paint brush ... you can paint all kinds of stuff. We teach them that they can paint boxes, frames and other things,” said Mikulka who taught her third class at the Bonita Springs library as part of a series for Lee County libraries. “Decorative painting has a lot of options.”

During the class Mikulka taught students how to properly load paint onto a brush and ways to prevent paint from smearing.

“I’m in shock! This is awesome that I can do this so well. I didn’t know I could paint,” said Bryant of Bonita Springs.

Being able to give her students a piece of art they could be proud of was Mikulka’s goal as well as increasing membership for the Society of Decorative Painters.

And to remind students that their first attempts at painting may not always be successful, she handed out name tags.

“I want everyone to write their name using the hand they aren’t used to writing with,” she said to the group of close to 20 women. “This shows you that you aren’t supposed to get painting right away, it takes practice.”

Bryant’s mother Eby created the holiday card that included a sponged border and holiday flowers with ease but says she will continue to practice what she learned at the session.

“This is very good. I’ve done it before but I think I’m pretty good at it,” said Eby, 83, of Bonita Springs.

Firefighters speak to kids about safety during show

Kindergarten students at Spring Creek Elementary got a visit from an unlikely set of puppets, including a dog with sunglasses, a smoke detector and a big frog named Frank.

The puppets were part of an educational session by the Bonita Springs Fire-Rescue Department meant to educate students about fire safety and the importance of having a plan in place in case of a fire.

“It’s fun because they learn something and they have a good time learning it,” said Debbi Redfield, spokeswoman for Bonita Springs Fire-Rescue.

Throughout the show firefighter Dana Hoenie interacts with the kids as he explains how a fire detector works, ways to escape a fire and what to do if you see matches.

The fire-rescue department has been putting on the puppet show for 10 years and has adapted the show during the years to make sure it appeals to all students.

“Every grade level gets a different version of the same lesson and we build from year to year,” said Redfield, who plays several of the characters.

The show focuses on several lessons that are taught through song and dialogue between Hoenie and a frog, a firefighter dog and a few others who crack jokes about his bald head and kids laugh.

“We do videos and discussions as they get older but with these young kids we give them what they can handle now and the puppet show gives them that,” Hoenie said.

At the conclusion of each show children are given smoke detectors and asked to talk to their parents about changing the batteries and a place to meet outside the home in case of a fire.

“Teaching young children about fire safety lessons is difficult enough just to keep their attention but if it’s a show and engaging they learn more,” Redfield said.

Pictures of Lovers Key State Park

Lovers Key State Park is secret jewel in Bonita

Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park is a nature lovers paradise and a visitors dream getaway.

Boasting an average of nearly a million visitors per year, the park offers something for everyone including hiking, fishing, sun bathing and wildlife viewing.

But over the course of several decades the park has become much more than a place to appreciate nature’s splendor.
Park officials say Lovers Key is an almost secret but special jewel in Bonita Springs.

“We are special because of the variety of things visitors can do here. There are so many opportunities to see wildlife,” said park manager Michael Hensley.

The 1,616-acre park sits between Fort Myers and Naples and is comprised of four barrier islands.

Visitors travel from all over the world to see Lovers Key, which got its name in the early 1990s in honor of the efforts lovers made to get to the romantic island that was only accessible by boat at the time.

“We are one of the last pristine beaches in the area,” said Brie Jamison, the park services specialist.

The islands became more accessible and popular in 1965 with the building of a road and a because of a peculiar legend that a pirate named Black Augustus had been captured by authorities and later escaped.

It’s believed that he lived the remainder of his life on what is called Black Island — a high land area of the park that now features hiking and biking trails.

“This park has a huge history. After Black Augustus escaped authorities in Grand Pass, locals believe he left a treasure behind,” Hensley said. “Although there hasn’t been any link to the pirate and no treasure has been found, the locals and visitors enjoy looking for it.”

The legends are also enriched by the fact that Black Island became a popular fishing destination until the 1960s and ‘70s when the area was slated for development.

“They wanted to put condos in and that just set people off in the area. A grass roots effort was born to save the park,” Hensley said.

Despite the local community pulling together to push the state to save the area from greedy contractors, preparations for development were already damaging to the islands.

“Mangrove swamps were ruined by dredging of the canals through Black Island,” Jamison said. “We are still in the process of fixing everything and getting rid of the exotic species that were brought in to create shade.”

The damage was done but Jamison said the state’s purchase of the land in 1983 helped the changes that were made to the natural environment.

After acquiring Lovers Key, the state decided to merge in 1996 with the adjacent Carl E. Johnson County Park.

“I was here when the park was still a county park. It was so gorgeous and it just continues to grow in popularity,” said Susan Smith, 68, of Cincinnati.

Smith has been visiting the park for 36 years and calls it her “home away from home.”

The joining parks now make up Lovers Key Carl E. Johnson State Park, which has helped the Florida Park System receive its second Gold Medal award as the nation’s best park system.

“This park has a lot of history. This area is growing very rapidly and Lovers Key has established a name for itself in the community,” Jamison said.

Establishing a name for itself nationally also gave the parks’ beach exposure on TV and was selected as the fourth best beach in Florida by the Travel Channel.

First time visitor Ann Johnson who was staying at Sanibel Island heard about Lovers Key beach on TV and had to see what all the fuss was about.

“I heard it was one of the top beaches on Travel Channel and I just had to come to check it out,” said Johnson, of Colorado. “It’s all very nice and they were right, it is beautiful and everyone is very helpful. They know how to take care of tourist in Florida!”

Taking care of tourists is why the park offers amenities such as showers, restrooms, picnic areas and a gazebo on the south end of the beach.

Trams are also available for those who don’t want to haul their beach chairs over the two bridges that take visitors to the two and a half mile stretch of beach.

“I came to look at the sites and see what was on the island,” said Dolores Craig, of Wisconsin. She visited the park for the first time with her son, granddaughter and daughter-in-law who took came for the canoeing. “I had to see what the Travel Channel was talking about ... I like it here.”

Smith agrees with Craig’s sentiment but adds that the difference she has seen in the park over the years is huge.

“It’s kind of nostalgic for me because it’s gorgeous with all the wildlife and I have been coming here for so long,” said Smith, who used to visit the park with her husband until he passed away. “It’s much more populated but it’s just so beautiful everybody should come see it.”

Butterflies roam at Lovers Key

Park Ranger Mike Simmons wants visitors to walk away from Lovers Key State Park with a newfound appreciation for butterflies and their environmental needs.

He put together a program on Florida’s butterflies with a focus on butterfly gardening and native plants that attract them.

But there are a few things visitors need to know before digging up the soil and planting plants they believe will attract butterflies, he says.

“Butterflies are a little pickier than that. A lot of people can have a butterfly garden in their home but they have to learn about it before they do,” said Simmons, who has worked with the park for almost two months.

He encourages people to have a butterfly garden because some find it very relaxing to watch butterflies fly around and feed on plant nectar.

“It’s relaxing for people who have stress and it can even bring up the property value of your home if you have a good garden,” Simmons said adding that butterflies are a great conversation piece during parties too.

During his program, Simmons teaches visitors about the life cycle of a butterfly, how to identify native butterflies and what attracts them to certain plants.

“Butterflies don’t always lay their eggs on the same plants they eat,” said Simmons who used to work at the Indianapolis zoo as a butterfly handler. “There are certain things to consider and my program lets people ask questions and get a new perspective on butterflies.”

Visitors also learn how to keep butterflies flocking to their homes by choosing plants that are native to Southwest Florida.
The program takes place at the parks butterfly garden.

“It’s awesome that we have a butterfly garden and now we have something to do with it,” said Brie Jamison, the park services specialist.