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.”