U.S. 41 project on schedule

Marco Davila works on the turn-signal controls in a closed lane at U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway as part of a resurfacing project to be completed in the spring.


Gary Marle stands on a CAT paver machine that is used to place asphalt onto U.S. 41 as part of a resurfacing project headed by the FDOT. Martin Byrd, Moses Diaz, and Gary Marle Jr. uses rakes to properly align the asphalt.

Drivers on U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers are feeling the bumps in the road as work crews work overnight to resurface the street that is traveled by an average of as many as 62,000 cars a year.

The Florida Department of Transportation began the 4.1-mile resurfacing project in mid-August and plans to have it completed by Spring of 2008.

“The number one priority of the FDOT as an agency is safety and the second priority is preservation and that means keeping the state highway system maintained,” said Debbie Tower, the Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

The project includes resurfacing U.S. 41 from Winkler Avenue, near the Edison Mall, south to Daniels Parkway. This will keep the six-lane roadway smooth and working efficiently.

“This has been a good running job and with weather permitting we can do it aggressively,” said Jack Keller, the superintendent of Better Roads Inc., the contractor on the project.

Better Roads has been working on the $8.6 million project at night to avoid disrupting traffic and the commercial businesses that line U.S. 41.

“U.S. 41 is heavily traveled and is very commercial ... there is a plan to their approach and we are really trying to minimize any impact to area businesses,” said Tower about the project that has been in the works for several years.

The project is expected to be completed in the spring, weather permitting

In the meantime, access to businesses remains available during the night work that begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m.

That is a relief for Barnes & Noble manager Kathleen Pheriault who hasn’t been affected by the project so far.

“Our access has been fine so far. They haven’t done too much work here yet but call me in two weeks and I’ll let you know,” said Pheriault adding that her sales haven’t been affected by the project yet.

The project is on schedule and the smooth riding surface won’t need to be replaced for a number of years, Tower said.

“It improves the condition of the pavement,” she said. “It serves drivers in Southwest Florida with an enhanced U.S. 41.”

Salvation Army to open new store

The Salvation Army has purchased the former Spectrum Furniture Building in south Fort Myers. The purchase price was $3.5 million.

The Salvation Army has plans to open a 20,000-square-foot Family Store on U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers.

The $3.5 million building, which was formerly owned and occupied by the now-closed Spectrum Furniture, will offer the community a new place to shop for items such as clothing, furniture and cars.

“We did a non-scientific study and that’s a very good location because it’s a point of destination for the clientele that we attract,” said Meg Geltner, general manager of the Salvation Army of Lee County.

The store is scheduled to open between January and February 2008 but donations such as vehicles and other items are needed.

“We have seen a downturn in sales because of the economy so people instead of buying new stuff and giving us the old items, aren’t,” said Geltner, about the economy that is making it harder for the Salvation Army to raise funds. “We have family stores that are designed similar to Target.”

The faith-based organization is making minor repairs to the 20-year-old Spectrum building but is also working to find alternatives to closing their Fowler Street family store.

“The Florida Department of Transportation is coming and is taking Fowler and making it a one-way street,” said Geltner about the store that will be replaced by the U.S. 41 store. “We can’t close it down yet because there is still a need in the area and it’s real convenient.”

Geltner is scouting out an alternate location but said it would be easier if a patron from the community could offer the Salvation Army a location at lower-than-market cost.

“We have a very low overhead and we need patrons that could give us facilities in (Fort Myers),” said Geltner about the organization, which prefers to buy a location instead of rent it because it keeps costs down. They are currently paying $8,500 to FDOT for their Fowler store. “The Fowler location is beneficial because the Spectrum building is farther south.”

The Salvation Army purchased the building in full to avoid paying rent and use the money for programs including a Crossroads drug and alcohol treatment program for men in Fort Myers.

“The Salvation Army has the tools here to benefit anybody who wants to come and get help,” said Tom Lizotte, 58, who entered the program in 2002 and has been sober for five years. “It’s a good idea that they open stores because it gives them the ability to help people.”

Geltner expects to have as many as 3,400 people a year visiting the new store based on the visitors to the Fowler store.
“We are a good neighbor and the family store concept is very upscale,” she said.

Grounds for personal fitness

Trainer and The Training Ground owner Michael Lias works with gym trainer Ryan Lemley, 27, of Estero.


Rob Stoltz, 35, is a client of The Training Ground in south Fort Myers. He trains at the gym because of the personal service and because he has a doctor's office next to the gym.

Michael Lias and his partner Donald James are working south Fort Myers out at The Training Ground Advanced Human Performance Systems.

The pair bought and opened a gym on Winkler Road five months ago and have transformed it into a training facility for athletes or those just looking to get fit.

“We are a totally different concept from other gyms. It’s not about human performance, said Lias, 35, about the gym that caters to all age and fitness levels. “It’s about the good things we can do. It’s to change the community and change people’s minds.”

The partners, which also include founder and owner Markus Sherry, are working to change traditional perceptions of gyms by offering a comfortable atmosphere with a focus on the individual.

“Performance enhancement is for everybody to better their self-esteem, gain more confidence, and there is a mental factor too,” said Lias, of Estero, adding that the they opened the gym after seeing people get hurt at other gyms. “We got sick of watching people doing it wrong and we stepped up to fix it.”

Clients who sign up with the gym are trained based on the activity they are interested in.

“We can work with people just for running and how their body needs to work properly to do it,” said Lias, who will be offering a running store within the gym.

The store will be operated by Run Florida and will sell running shoes and organize running events. “There is a niche of people in this area with families with kids and older people who want to train.”

The 5,000 square foot training facility is equipped with free weights, cardio machines and a back room where clients can focus on sport specific training.

“With smaller facilities, you can give 600 members a lot of your attention and build that personal bond,” said James, who came into personal training after working with Red Sox players. “We aren’t trying to be (other gyms), we want this to be our Cheers.”

Rob Stoltz, a doctor whose office is next to the gym, said he joined because of the personal feel of the gym.

“The service is excellent and it’s personal one on one service,” said Stoltz, 35, of south Fort Myers while working out.

Apart from working to make bodies work properly for running, baseball or just simple walking after a heart attack, the trainers also offer a variety of programs.

The Iron Kids program is for children 7 years old and up and focuses on health habits and teaching children how to do exercise that can be fun.

“We do dance revolution and we use machines in a new way to show them how their bodies work,” said Lias, who also mentors local athletes and is looking for students interested in more training. “Our talents come from personal training, strength conditioning and rehabilitation.”

The challenge, said Lias, is that some people get injured because they don’t work on the body in ways that will help them in their chosen sport.

“We can do all kinds of things ... if you can prepare for it than we can put it together,” Lias said.

The next step for the gym is expanding the gym without losing the personalization.

“We are looking for female trainers ... we want to add more programs and get even more involved with the community,” Lias said. “It’s about the clients needs.”

Cypress Lake teen wins state art honor

Paper towels, ink, paint and fabric are just a few of the items Etienne Wasson, 13, of Cypress Lake Middle school used to create a piece of art that won her top honors.

Wasson, a seventh grader, placed second for middle school mixed-media as part of a Designs & Dreams student artists competition.

“I didn’t even know that it was for a contest and when I won ... I was like ‘wow,’” said Wasson, who created a still life collage as a class project in art class. “I tried my best on that.”

Carolyn Gora, the art teacher at the middle school, submitted 30 of her students’ pieces for the competition that is the largest annual art show in the state.

“I sent in pieces and ten of my students were selected,” said Gora, who selected the art based on something that would be colorful and appealing. “The art is just very important because art is so visual and it’s our way of reminding everybody how important it is.”

Picking the right pieces for the competition, Gora said, was important because the art will be hung at the Public Education building in Fort Myers.

“The building is new and it’s great because the space is four hallways that intersect,” said Gora about the exhibit that will host a grand opening on Oct. 23. “It’s a revolving art show because every year we put up new artwork and put away the old art.”

The art Wasson created not only earned her an award but she will get the opportunity to share it with the community.

“I basically tried my best on it because I like art,” said Wasson adding that art has been a part of her life since she was younger and used to color with markers.”

The Dreams & Design student awards focus on two dimensional and three dimensional artwork including drawings, paintings, collage, print making and ceramics.

“It’s a way for us to show off the art and allow our students to be in the largest exhibit in the state,” said Gora adding that artwork submissions pour in from around the country. “I’m thrilled that she won. She is somebody who is a hard worker and meticulous.”