Businesses ready for Valentine's Day onslaught

Denise Shreve is a flower designer at Heaven Scent Flowers in Bonita Springs. The flower shop
will deliever more than 500 orders on Valentine's Day.

Roses and jewelry continue to be the “it” gifts this Valentine’s Day and businesses in Bonita Springs are making sure everyone keeps their mind on the day’s meaning — love and showing you care.

Heaven Scent Flowers of Bonita Springs has had orders pouring in since late January. They want to make sure everyone gets what they asked for.

“We start early and work, work, work to get it all done,” said Susie Sayger, the flower shop’s owner.

The store, which has been in Bonita Springs for 22 years, is offering a $69 special that includes a teddy bear, chocolates, flowers and a balloon. “It’s never too early to order and these specials help people get everything in one.”

Heaven Scent Flowers will deliver more than 500 flowers and gifts to homes and offices from Naples Hospital to San Carlos.

During the weeks prior to Valentine’s Day a lot of men will be the ones shopping. And to make sure they’re safe Sayger always suggests roses.

“Roses are the standard. A lot of my customers are guys that give roses to their wives,” said Sayger, who also offers basket sets to make gift giving easier. “We have long lasting flowers and we are renowned for it.”

To ensure that long-lasting love, Hendricks Jewelers in Bonita Springs insists that jewelry is the only way to go if a guy wants to stay off the couch and in a woman’s arms.

“Valentine’s Day is a big jewelry day. I may be a romantic, but it’s a day of saying ‘I love you’,” said Lenny Greco of Hendricks. “Nothing says ‘I love you’ to somebody like jewelry.”

And the jewelry giant has everything from diamond bracelets to earrings and rings.

“So far we are seeing that diamonds are still the most popular item for Valentine’s Day. It’s traditional,” said Greco, who suggests shoppers come in early for the best selections.

Circle pendants, or journey necklaces, are also a hot item for Valentine’s, said Greco.

“It has become what the tennis bracelet was 10 years ago. It’s a never-ending circle which is for never-ending love,” Greco said. “It’s what every woman should have in her jewelry box.”

Because of the pendants’ popularity, Hendricks is taking bids today on a specially designed 10-carat pink sapphire journey necklace valued at $20,000 with all proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation of Southwest Florida.

Selecting the perfect piece of jewelry is just as important as presenting it and Vincenzo’s on the Bay in Bonita Springs is offering a quiet dinner setting on Valentine’s Day.

“We have very intimate, candle-lit dining with Italian cuisine,” said Diana Curth, a server at the restaurant. “It’s a very nice romantic place. A lot of people propose here and we can help.”

Target in Bonita Springs wants to help make this Valentine’s Day special by offering a unique twist on traditional items.

“We are selling a lot of chocolates, stuffed animals galore and cards,” said Ashley Schleusner, an executive team leader at Target. “Target has an interesting collection of unusual Valentine’s gifts instead of just boxed chocolates.”

The store carries its own brand of Choxie chocolates and will have fresh roses delivered just in time for the big day.

But home accents are surprisingly popular this year, said Schleusner.

“Customers are buying heart-shaped pillows, hand lotion pumps and even place mats,” Schleusner said. “Decorating is a big aspect of the holiday and we are ready with everything you might want.”

Annual Shell Show this weekend

Betty Schultz, 82, of Bonita Springs glues plastic eyes on "shell critters" in preparation for the
Annual Shell Show.


The Bonita Springs Shell Club is hosting its Annual Shell Show at 10 a.m. today and Sunday.

The nonprofit group, which has been around since 1985, is dedicated to the study and craft of conchology — the scientific study or collection of mollusk shells — and shell crafts.

That’s why the mostly female club has spent the last couple of months preparing crafts to sell this weekend to raise money for charity.

“Everything goes to charity but it’s the fun we have making everything that is great,” said Barbara Hicks, the club’s president.

During the show, participants can buy shell creations such as jewelry, arrangements, candles, dolls, accessories or shell critters with plastic eyes.

“I have been collecting shells for a long time and I wanted to know what to do with them so I came here,” said Ann Marie Kogos of Fort Myers Beach.

Kogos drives to the club’s meeting spot at the Bonita Beach and Tennis Club regularly and has spent her time hot gluing moss to plants, arranging shells and preparing for the show.

“It’s a lot of fun. I love crafts and my daughter wanted me to have something to do,” said Betty Schultz, 82, of Bonita Springs. The shell show will be the first Schultz participates in. “It’s wonderful and I like to make everything.”

In the past, proceeds from the annual Shell Show have gone to such organizations as the Citizens Association of Bonita Beach, the Barefoot Beach Preserve Learning Center and the Lovers Key State Recreation Area.

“We will have all sorts of things. These are nice for a little kitchen shelf,” said Marcia Doherty, pointing to small apples decorated with shells.

Doherty has been with the club for six years and is looking forward to another weekend of good sales.

“We take checks but no credit cards,” said Flo Alexander, the co-coordinator of crafts for the club. “We will have very nice items for sale and it all goes to charity.”

Student raises funds to send 50 young patients on trip

Valentine’s Day is about flowers, candy and showing you care and this Feb. 14 Ian Waterhouse wants to see the love — and the cash.

The Estero High senior along with his classmates is heading up a fundraiser to send 50 pediatric oncology patients from Healthpark to Walt Disney World, in Orlando, in mid-March.

“We need as much as people can donate,” said Waterhouse, 17, of Bonita Springs, at a recent principal’s breakfast to honor his efforts. “These kids wouldn’t get to go otherwise.”

And, to Waterhouse, helping children is important since he is serving as this year’s Florida Association of Student Council State President.

The position includes duties that challenge middle and high school students across the state to “give a child a wish,” the association’s theme.

“We wanted to do an extra special project and show all schools what we can do if we work hard,” said Waterhouse, who will also oversee similar projects at schools in the state. “We are getting a lot of support from the community and I’m grateful for that.”

Waterhouse has to raise $30,000 for the trip to ensure all patients and one parent are allowed to attend.

“Disney is working with us but they aren’t giving us the best discounts so we need help,” said Waterhouse, adding that doctors will choose who gets to go on the one-day trip based on their treatment schedules. “We need to get it in as soon as possible so we can set everything up.”

Three buses have already been arranged and local businesses have donated $22,000 to the cause.

“The students at Estero High are really helping too. They are doing more fundraisers to help,” Waterhouse said.

If you would like to help, call Student Council Adviser Judy Avant at 947-9400.