Christmas collectors crowd Hallmark stores

Christmas in August is showing up at Hallmark gold crown stores throughout the area. Santa Claus ornaments such as the one seen above have been snatched up by ornament collectors since mid-July.


Ornament at Hallmark.


Ornament at Hallmark.


Though it’s early for some, Christmas ornament collectors are out shopping for the holiday that is still more than 4 months away. Lisa Hadley, acting manager at the Hallmark in Fort Myers, holds up the more popular 2007 Keepsake Ornaments.

Christmas in August.

Yes, it has arrived in Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers and everywhere Hallmark gold crown stores are located.

The card stores, which have been celebrating Christmas early for more than 10 years, hosted “premier weekend” on July 14 and 15.

Collectors and ornament lovers wait all year for the weekend in which Hallmark debuts the first half of its 272 keepsake ornaments.

“It’s a big weekend for collectors who want to complete their sets and buy more,” said Shirley Pflieger, a sales associate at Kimberly’s Hallmark in Bonita Springs.

Stores put up posters of Santa Claus on window fronts, decorated Christmas trees and stocked shelves with ornaments in preparation for shoppers.

“We have people who line up to pick up their ornaments early,” said Lisa Hadley, the acting manager at the Hallmark in Fort Myers, about regulars who will visit the store up to twice a week until Christmas.

The store opens an hour earlier on early collection days and then again when more ornaments are released in October and November.

“We have a regular, Paula, she gives us her wish list early and she waits until the day,” said Hadley about the customer who spends about $700 every year on premier weekend alone.

“Paula makes several trips to her car after she picks up her reserved ornaments and then comes back for what she likes.”

Ensuring customers get what they want — especially limited edition ornaments — is why the store offers a wish list in which collectors write down ornaments they want reserved in advance.

“They order early and if they don’t get the invite to attend the weekend ... they get (feisty),” said Theresa Pokinchak, a sales associate at the Hallmark in Fort Myers.

The same happens at the Hallmark where Pflieger works.

She saw throngs of people snatching up ornaments within hours of their debut.

Dozens more trailed in in recent weeks.

“We have one lady who came from California to get the limited edition ornament and then had it shipped back,” Pflieger said.
Pflieger understands the need to get certain ornaments as soon as possible.

She has been collecting ornaments for herself and her children since the early ’80s.

“I’ve been collecting different ornaments like “Frosty and friends” for my daughters since they were babies,” she said about the Frosty the snowman collection, Hallmark’s most popular series. “(Daughters) take them and put them on their own trees.”

The ornaments range from $4.50 to $40 a piece, but it’s the tradition some are really shopping for.

“Buying ornaments represents the traditional Christmas and that’s why they make sure they get them early,” said Hadley who also collects ornaments. “It’s addicting ... they sometimes buy for Christmas a year ahead of time.”

August’s sizzling temperatures and sometimes muggy weather may not stop serious ornament collectors but Len Wise said it’s just too early.

“We don’t start this early,” said Wise, of Estero, while shopping at the Hallmark in Bonita Springs.

Christmas was so far from Wise’s mind that he didn’t even see the ornaments on the aisle next to the birthday cards when he walked in.

“We collect ornaments as a family,” he said while shopping for his wife’s birthday card. “But we aren’t even thinking about it this early.”

Move allows better service at Caring Touch

Caring Touch Auto Repair & Towing in Bonita Springs. The shop relocated to Old 41 and now offers 24-hour towing assistance, minor auto body repair and oil changes. The new shop also features a nicer waiting room and four car bays.


Mike Davis, 26, looks under the hood of a car Caring Touch Auto Repair & Towing in Bonita Springs.

Customers whose cars need a little tender love and care will be driving to a new location to get it.

The Caring Touch Auto Repair & Towing in Bonita Springs has moved to a larger shop on Old 41 and customers are sure to notice the difference.

“We are more affordable ... this new location is a lot nicer,” said Jeanne Bitsura, the part-owner of Caring Touch. “We now do all types of work and we can get it done faster because we have more space.”

The added space gives the shop, Bitsura said, more room to work and keep customers happy.

“We were able to set our rates lower to make it more affordable for customers because we can do more now,” said Bitsura about the business she owns with her husband, Shawn.

Prior to moving into the new location, the Bitsuras had set up shop on Bonita Drive.

“We were doing auto repair for about eight years in Bonita Springs but then the building we were in was sold and (rent) became too expensive,” said Bitsura about having to relocate.

The relocation forced Bitsura to focus on towing and keeping contracts with club towing companies like AAA.

“We closed up auto repairs and did towing for nine months but when this building opened we got it all up again,” said Bitsura, who offers 24-hour towing.

Caring Touch also offers faster oil changes, auto repairs and fixes minor auto body problems.

“We assure accuracy and we double and triple check everything we do to make sure it’s done right the first time,” said Bitsura, of Bonita Springs. “We even do evening appointments.”

The new space has allowed Caring Touch to add four car bays, new equipment and a bigger waiting room.

Bitsura said Caring Touch isn’t a franchise and that’s what allows customers to pay less for more.

“We have a small staff and that’s how we keep our prices a lot lower ... we aren’t a big franchise that has to pay fees,” said Bitsura. “My husband has been doing this so long he can almost diagnose the car over the phone.”

Class allows Bonita Bay residents to have a bead on jewelry making

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.


Roberta Grayson, left, teaches Shirley Mueller how to make a beaded necklace at Bonita Bay.


Ruth De Luca, a Bonita Bay resident, shows off her latest beaded necklace creation at a class held for residents at the Community Activities Room at Bonita Bay.

Making beaded jewelry is one of Ruth De Luca’s favorite pass times.

The Bonita Bay resident recently attended a “Creating your own beaded necklace” class at Bonita Bay.

The experience was exciting.

“I love to do crafts and I was excited about jewelry making ... beads,” said De Luca, who has taken several of the classes offered at the Community Activities Room.

The class is open only to residents but De Luca said she looks forward to it every time.

“I just love it,” she said.

Roberta Grayson is the instructor of the informal class that takes place over the course of two days.

“It’s a beginners and advanced class and it’s over when they finish their necklaces,” said Grayson, who teaches the same class at the Art League of Bonita Springs.

A typical beaded necklace class lasts 3 hours but time flies as the women sit and chat about beads, their families and backgrounds.

“You made a glass(es) holder ... aren’t you just clever,” said De Luca to participant Jo Anne Lyall.

Lyall finished her necklace early and made one to hold her eye glasses.

“Jo Anne hadn’t done beading before and has done a very difficult necklace with beads,” said Grayson while teaching other students different beading techniques. “Age is not a factor here because anyone can do this.”

Trying something different is why Shirley Mueller signed up for the course.

“I always wanted to see what beading was all about,” Mueller said. “I was a beginner and now I have made a lot of things. Learned a lot.”

De Luca feels the same.

“I like doing the variations and necklaces with a pendant,” she said. “I have to make earrings to match now.”

Simon VP recognized for mall efforts, vision

Meg Judge, the Estero Chamber of Commerce CEO and chairman of the board, congratulates Tom Schneider, the 2007 Person of the Year award recipient, during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. Schneider is the executive vice president for new development of Simon Property Group Inc.

Tom Schneider is the 2007 Person of the Year in Estero.

He was selected by the Estero Chamber of Commerce for his efforts and vision in bringing Coconut Point mall to Estero.

"It was humbling to get the call because I look at this as a team effort," said Schneider, the executive vice president for new development of Simon Property Group Inc. "A lot of work went into it and it's a terrific project."

Schneider's effort is what promoted the chamber's Board of Directors to select him for the award he was given during a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa on Wednesday.

"We always pick a person who is in charge of development that has impact in
the community," said Meg Judge, the chamber's CEO and chairman on the board.

Judge credits the developer with picking Estero as the location for the new 1.2-million-square-foot mall at U.S. 41 and Coconut Road.

And, causing the big surge of business and growth in the area.

"He is part of the reason we say this area is the retail capital of Southwest Florida," she said. "We have three regional malls .... in this area alone."

The kind of interest Schneider showed when first selecting Estero as the development site is why he was recognized, said Dave Anderson.

"This pays tribute to his efforts ...," said Anderson, the general manager at Coconut Point. "It's a time to give thanks to someone who helped make Coconut Point a reality in Estero."

During his acceptance speech, Schneider spoke about his first seeing the area in 1992 via helicopter.

"I could never have imagined how quickly the area has grown ... from that first helicopter ride to now," he said. "One of the things that impressed me is how many people get out there and work for the community. That made this project easier."

Coconut Point mall had its grand opening in November.

Although he was honored by the award, Schneider said there is still work to be done.

"I just hope people in the community enjoy it for years to come," he said. "We will continue to do things there to keep it everything it can be."

City hosts night out picnic

Preventing crime, informing citizens and learning about ways to keep safe is what Bonita Springs officials hope to get the word out during their Night Out Against Crime picnic on Aug. 4.

The event, which starts at 10 a.m. at Riverside Park, will give the community an opportunity to collect information and spend time with their families.

"The Mayor will be cooking hot dogs and we will have booths for everyone to visit and learn about crime prevention information," said Arleen Houston, the special events and park coordinator with the city.

The city of Bonita Springs is paying $3,000 for the event that is being combined with a Back to School Bash. The city is also co-sponsoring that portion of the event for $3,000.

"Last year, we did it on Tuesday evening but this year to attract more people we are combining the school bash and the night together," said Houston, about the night against crime will be celebrated nationally on July 31.

"It's a way to prepare everyone for a new school year and combine efforts with giving important crime prevention information."

The information will be given out by several organizations who will set up booths for finger printing, social services and giveaways.

"We'd like to have the whole family there to do the community policing projects and it's a great opportunity for a lot of information to be expressed ... ," said Lt. Morgan Bowden of the Sheriff's Office.

The Lions Club will also be doing free hearing and eye exams at Community Hall across from the park.

"We will be out there for information, education and to let the citizens of Bonita Springs know that we are here and local," said Bowden referring to the new community policing substation near the park. "And, we want them to know that they can contact us with any problem they have."

Musical entertainment, food and activities will be offered at the event that concludes at 2 p.m.

Estero woman wins boat package

Gerda Werkman, center, of Estero, stands with her family in front of the Beall’s department store in south Fort Myers on July 20. Werkman won a boat from the store during a Father’s Day promotion.

Gerda Werkman doesn't usually drop her name in boxes for giveaways at department stores.

And recently she had no intention of signing up for a giveaway, but while waiting in line at a Beall's department store in Bonita Springs she filled out a slip.

"I didn't expect to win!" said a stunned Werkman, of Estero, after getting the call that she was the winner of a Father's Day promotion of Beall's.

The windfall from that off-chance entry: a 20-foot sport boat with trailer and a 135-horsepower motor, a package valued at $28,817.

"It's great and not so bad really to own a boat in Florida," said Werkman, a native of The Netherlands, who had never previously owned a boat.

Beall's frequently raffles off different "Florida style" items, including trips, but wanted to try something different.

"We've given away trips and hotel stays but never anything of this value," said Karen Filips, Beall's director of store promotions from the corporate offices based out of Bradenton.

"We thought it would be really cool for Father's Day and we called (boat dealer) and everybody got on board."

The boat was purchased from a local Pro Line dealer and delivered to Werkman at the Beall's department store in south Fort Myers.

"I was waiting in line and said 'what the heck?' and filled it out," said Werkman while shopping at the store and waiting for her new boat to arrive. "We filled out the papers already."

She visited the store with her family and some friends that were visiting from Holland.

"I'm going to take them on the boat this weekend," said an excited Werkman. "It's a nice way to spend the weekend."

Spending the day on the water is part of the lifestyle Beall's likes to promote.

"(Promotion) ties in with living the 'Live the Florida lifestyle' that we promote ...," said Filips, adding that the promotion ran in 78 stores in Florida.

"We are really happy that the winner is from the area and that she is a loyal Beall's customer, too," said Denny Ariola, the assistant manager at the Beall's in south Fort Myers.

"She is so loyal that look she is holding a bag of things she just bought today. She is the kind of person we wanted to win," he said.