Man hurt in Bonita explosion

This story appeared on the front of the Local & State section. I got the call to come out to the scene within minutes of the explosion. I was the first reporter there and got pictures of the truck being doused with water. By the time the media was asked to stand behind the yellow tape, I had the story, the pictures and dictated the story to my editor over the phone. I later arrived at the office and put a complete story online. Also an online picture gallery was created to support the story.








A propane truck explosion occured Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at the Dixie Moon Cafe in Bonita Springs. One person was injured in the explosion.

An explosion at the Dixie Moon Cafe in Bonita Springs sent one person to the hospital Wednesday.

Daniel Velez was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital, according to hospital officials. As of late Wednesday, Velez was in critical condition and was in the burn unit.

Firefighters received the call at 2:15 p.m. about an explosion at the restaurant at the corner of Dean Street and Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs, said Bonita Springs Fire Department Public Information Officer Debbi Redfield.

When firefighters arrived they found that the driver of a propane truck belonging to LB's Gas of Bonita Springs had been filling a tank behind the cafe when a leak near the nozzle apparently caused a fire, Redfield said.

The explosion is the second problem to occur at the restaurant in recent months.

Last September, Dixie Moon Cafe waitress Karen Tate accidentally crashed her car into the historic 80-year-old building. The restaurant reopened Nov. 3.

The string of bad luck continued Wednesday with what Dixie Moon Cafe waitress Lora Reece called "a few booms."

Reece said that, although she didn't see much at the time of the explosion, a kitchen worker heard something banging on the door and "when the door opened, she saw fire and ran out.

"... Then I ran out, yelling 'run, run' to the people there."

When Reece ran to the back of the building to investigate, she saw flames.

There were two employees and four customers inside the restaurant at the time of the explosion.

The founder and chief executive officer of the Liberty Youth Ranch, Alan Dimmitt, was in his office near the restaurant when he heard what sounded like a bomb.

"I heard two loud booms and it looked like a tire exploded and it was impressive how fast the firetrucks responded.''

Redfield said damage to the cafe was minimal.

LB's Gas owners could not be reached for comment.

Bonita Bay residents relax at Tai Chi class

This story was written for the Friends & Neighbors center piece. The page is dedicated to covering community news and events within gated communities in Bonita Springs and Estero.


(right) Nancy Ward and (center) Sharon Burton take Tai Chi at the Estero Bay Park within Bonita Bay.


Sonny Panpakdeediskul leads a class of participants including Brian Burton (far right) who follows the slow 108-movement "yang style" of Tai Chi that takes up to 15 minutes to complete.

Tai Chi is relaxing for the mind and body and that’s why Sonny Panpakdeediskul began offering Bonita Bay residents a chance to stretch their muscles and spend time enjoying the Chinese discipline.

“Everybody can do it and it has so many health benefits,” said Panpakdeediskul who began offering the classes in October of 2006. “During the season we have everybody sign up because it is so good.”

But good for you is an understatement according to class attendee Nancy Tait.

She has been taking Tai Chi since Panpakdeediskul started to offer it at the community’s Estero Bay Park in Bonita Springs.

“It does make a difference. It helps relax the muscles and you get in the zone and it keeps you from feeling pain,” said Tait, about the class that is only available to Bonita Bay resident.

Sharon Burton joined the class and has also seen a difference. It’s a work out like no other, she says.

“It makes you feel good,” Burton said. “It doesn’t look like you are exercising but I’ve been in pain afterwards.”

The “pain” some experience is unexpected because the class, which is taught in the “yang style” is composed of 108 slow movements that can take up to 15 minutes to finish.

“I used to have pain and my arm was numb so my doctor told me to go back to doing it and it has really helped,” said Panpakdeediskul, who learned the discipline from his mom when he lived in Thailand.

After living in the states for many years, his body started to feel pain until 1999 when he began doing Tai Chi again.

“He is so generous with his time and he wants everyone in the world to know Tai Chi,” said Johne Mc Tavish, of the instructor who has worked in Bonita Bay for two years as a landscaper.

Panpakdeediskul devotes so much time to his students because he understands the value of the class.

“This will make all your muscles stronger because all the joints have to work together for balance,” said Panpakdeediskul who will be offering a class open to the public at the Estero Community Park in July. “It’s just very relaxing and good for you.”

Picture Factory aims high

This framed art piece is just part of the 15,000 accessories the Picture Factory offers.


Barry Donovan and his wife, Barb, talk to Shelby Ward, right, the fine arts specialist at the Picture Factory about pieces of art that would go well in their eight-room house at Shadow Wood at The Brooks. Earlier in the day, Ward visited the Donovan’s home and took pictures of their wall space to use when the Donovan’s went to the store to pick out art pieces.

Selecting the right home accessory is the best way to make a house a home.

But with thousands of colors and a variety of styles, wanna-be decorators could be breaking a sweat before they even figure out what to buy.

That’s why decorators and home specialists at The Picture Factory want to help people accessorize with little stress and without breaking the bank.

“We cover the whole gamut of home accessories ... we sell framed art, original oils, silk florals and speciality furniture,” said Terry Worden, the manager of the Picture Factory in Bonita Springs.

“We are the store to come to after you bought the house and need to fill it.”

And filling that need is why the store is expanding throughout Florida with six locations including Bonita Springs, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Boynton Beach.

The company is working to expand nationwide.

“Bonita Springs is a growing area and the little time we have been here, we have done very well,” said Worden, of the store that opened in April. It’s newest location is in East Naples. “We are looking to capture a national chain eventually.”

But that growth of the company, Worden says, will come from working hard to please customers.

“You just won’t find this service anywhere,” said Barry Donovan, who has been shopping at the Picture Factory in hopes of filling his eight-room house in Shadow Wood at The Brooks.

“This is the best store ever,” added his wife Barb, who wasn’t sure where to start her redecorating project. “We knew we could come here and they would help.”

And helping goes beyond the walls of the store.

The Picture Factory has a fine arts specialist in Shelby Ward and a design consultation specialist in Lori Dopslaff to help customers even at their home.

Their services include taking pictures of the space and even bringing items with them for customers to try out.

“We have a wealth of information and everything under one roof,” said Shelby Ward, who visited the Donovan’s at their home and was showing them around the store, all in the same day.

The store also offers a unique custom framing service in which a frame is added to a customers photo digitally.

“The computer does it instead of just putting a real frame next to the picture and imagining what it will look like,” Worden said. “It’s unique and we might be the only place in the area that has that.”

PHOTO: Bonita offers grants to help restore history

This picture ran as center piece art for a story about saving old structures in Bonita Springs. The picture ran in the Sunday Growth section of the News-Press.


Sydney Sheaffer bought this property at 27111 Riverside Drive and is remodeling it from an old four-wall fishing shack to a home he will live in.