Chocolate lovers explore world of chocolates

Ruth Konkwski, of south Fort Myers, and her neighbor Sally Cooper taste chocolate and drink Assam tea during a chocolate and tea pairing session at Lakes Regional Library.


Ginny Lai, of south Fort Myers, discusses chocolate with Marlene King, 62, of Cape Coral, during a lecture on chocolate at Lakes Regional Library in south Fort Myers.

Chocolate and tea lovers at Lakes Regional Library recently spent the afternoon savoring and learning about the elixir of the gods.

The program, which was sponsored by the Friends of Lakes Regional Library, brought out a crowd of more than 30 looking for a sweet treat.

“Chocolate is a taste embedded in the brain but what American’s eat every day is not chocolate, it’s candy,” said Laurie Nienhaus, a local speaker and author of a few books on tea. “The chocolate being tasted today is intense, dark but doesn’t have much sugar.”

And that was the first line that surprised the audience who sat eagerly in their chairs as Nienhaus took them through the history, flavors and regions related to chocolate.

“It was very informative and I didn’t know all of these things about chocolate ... I had never thought about it,” said Kathy Drier, 66, of south Fort Myers.

She came out to the program with a few friends and wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I’ll be reading more about it and seeing what kind of cocoa beans are in there,” Drier said adding that she is changing the way she shops for chocolate.

Giving people that extra knowledge about chocolate was the speakers goal. Keeping their attention was easy as she spoke poetically and narratively throughout the presentation.

“The presenter was spellbinding,” said Sally Cooper, 71, of south Fort Myers, adding that the chocolate facts were fascinating. “It was so informative and really added a lot of reasons as to why dark (chocolate) is best.”

The program also gave tasters a chance to experience pure Assam tea, which is often blended in English morning teas.

“We aren’t having a traditional chocolate tasting because we won’t taste things in between each piece,” said Nienhaus, who gave participants six pieces of different chocolates with higher and higher percentage levels of cocoa beans. “Chocolate tasting has a lot of the same word play that wine and tea have.”

The word play was used throughout the lecture as people tasted and talked about it’s aroma, texture, and balance. Others used words like buttery, fruity, and reminiscent of soil or mushrooms.

“I didn’t know what to expect but it was so very interesting,” said Fox Valery, 40, of south Fort Myers. “She really knows her chocolates.”

Trees for Troops

Russ Whited, owner of Russ Whited Fresh Christmas Trees, watches on as a truck is unloaded
with the first shipment of Christmas trees. Renato Medina, 39, unloads from the truck while Lazaro
Mendez, 21, takes the trees to holding area where they are watered and then sold.

South Fort Myers residents have a new opportunity to support troops in the United States and abroad during the holidays.
Russ Whited Fresh Christmas Trees is hosting its third annual “Trees for Troops” event today.

“It’s giving back to the community and helping take care of families that are sacrificing for our country,” said Russ Whited, the event organizer who hopes to sell 200 trees for the cause. “

The trees, which can be purchased for $30, will be put onto a truck and FedEx has agreed to ship them to 36 bases in the United States and overseas.

“I know what it means at Christmas to have family ties,” said Whited who is a veteran and got involved in the program to show his support. “This gives you that holiday feeling and they know that they aren’t forgotten.”

Whited hopes to be able to ship 200 trees to the troops but if the goal isn’t met, he said, he will donate them anyway.

“We will have a semi-trailer and when people purchase the tree, they can attach a message tag so the soldiers families can see it,” Whited said. “I personally have shipped an artificial tree to Baghdad with ornaments and lights.”

Helping soldiers and their families is important to Whited who said the holidays can be a lonely time.

“A normally $59 tree can be purchased for $30 and with FedEx shipping it ... it makes it easier for us,” said Whited adding that a plane load of 300 trees can cost $27,000 to ship.

The trees that are purchased in south Fort Myers will be shipped to a base in Tampa.

“It’s lonely to be at war and not get Christmas but it helps to know that people are taking care of your family,” he said.

Trees for Troops is a national program with retailers from around the country donating to the cause.

“In 2005 they delivered 4,300 trees to five bases. In 2006 they delivered 11,845 trees to 25 bases,” said Jessica Barton, a spokesperson of Spiro & Associates who is helping get the word out about the event.

ForeverLawn needs no water, mowing

The grass is always greener on the other side but ForeverLawn Southwest Florida is working to change that perception.

The synthetic turf dealership is expanding its offerings into the south Fort Myers area in hopes of giving customers a lawn their neighbors will admire.

“It's a seasonal market down here and you have a lot of snow birds that stay until April and they want that low maintenance lifestyle,” said Owner Steve Cianflone, who bought the franchise and moved it to the area a few months ago.

The turf Cianflone gives customers a chance to have grass that requires no watering, mowing and is bug free.

“Our product doesn’t have to be cut and it still looks like grass,” he said adding that seasonal residents won’t have to move into condos to avoid yard work. “We don’t want people to give up their homes and privacy and live with noise.”

The lawn, which is priced at $2 to $7 a square foot, can be installed fairly quickly.

“The lawn comes in rolls and it rolls out just like carpet,” said Cianflone adding that the product can be installed in a few days.

Cianflone employs a crew that removes the existing grass, lays down a base of crushed shells and concrete that is compacted, and a weed barrier is put down. The blades of grass are than bonded to that barrier.

“We put a weed barrier to protect the turf from vegetation growing underneath it ... our base is much deeper than other companies,” said Cianflone adding that the turf can’t be dug up by dogs or lifted by children.

The lack of watering needed to sustain the turf is also a benefit for people under strict watering restrictions and commercial locations as well.

“People here enjoy being outside and having that hamburger and having their children play and dogs run around,” he said.
That’s also why the company designs yards that enhance the look of the turf.

“We aren’t in the business just to sell turf ... we are here to make the lawns nice and make it aesthetically pleasing,” he said.
“We will work with the clientele to design that person’s yard with rock, waterfall or put in some decorative mulch.”

The company is the only one of its kind that is licensed to sell the synthetic turf and not even landscaping companies can purchase it.

“You have to be trained and certified and that makes our product better,” he said about the turf that is guaranteed for eight years.

The quality and warranty is why the turf has also garnered attention from city officials in Punta Gorda who are changing their zoning codes to accommodate the new turf.

“This isn’t the old astro turf from the past ... and hopefully people will see all of it’s benefits and follow suit with Punta Gorda,” said Cianflone who is working on his first project in the area this week. “Our turf really stands out and your neighbors will see that.”

Community brings holiday spirit to bazaar

Rita Zucal, 78, of Cape Coral, poses with her creation during the Reflection Lakes Holiday Bazaar. Zucal was just one of 60 vendors at the bazaar. Her christmas trees light up and are created using safety pins, beads and wire.

Reflection Lakes residents jumped into the holiday spirit recently by inviting all their neighbors and the public to the third annual Holiday Bazaar in south Fort Myers.

The bazaar brought more than 60 vendors from Port Charlotte to Bonita Springs to sell everything from baked goods to bejeweled shirts and crafty goods.

"This lets me know that it's the holidays and it gives you that feel ... especially because it's hot," said Jackie Hupperts, the event co-chair for two years. "It's not just our neighbors, we invite everybody to share in this."

The event that invites all residents to sell their crafts is decorated with holiday reds, greens and golds.

"We came last year and they had a lot of vendors. It's just incredible with such great stuff," said Simone Rice, 73, of south Fort Myers. "This gives you that holiday feeling."

The feeling is one that Reflection Lakes resident and bazaar vendor Laura Sargeant enjoys.

"It's wonderful to see the community spirit and be able to get together ... that's something that a lot of other communities don't offer," said Sargeant, the owner of The Bejeweled Penguin in south Fort Myers.

"It's nice to see everyone's creations and it's a chance for me to meet neighbors and new people."

The bazaar's baked goods are what tempts Maryann Konrad every year.

"It's one of the best shopping and the baked goods are fabulous," said Konrad, 72, of south Fort Myers.

She attended the bazaar with Reflection Lakes resident Kathy Shemes, 51. "The rum cakes are just to die for ... they sold out already but I put my order in."

The bazaar is a two-day event and co-chair Marie Nelson, 58, said she is glad that it appeals to so many people.

"Everybody enjoys coming up and getting to know each other and show off their wares," said Nelson, who spent a year planning the event and the last two months baking.

"We work hard to keep it upscale and everything is hand-made. We get good support and we will keep doing it."

Majestic Nails welcomes customers

Majestic Nails & Spa part-owner Michelle Vu gives Karen Stacy, of north Fort Myers, a manicure.
Stacy drives to the salon in south Fort Myers because of the service and prices.

A large inflatable balloon on U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers is announcing the grand opening of Majestic Nails & Spa.

Customers have been filing into the spa to take advantage of a 20 percent off special the shop is offering on its services.

"We feel like the customer should feel a very welcoming and warm environment," said Tony Vu, the owner of the shop that occupies 2,400 square feet of space on Lakeridge Drive. "We want them to feel special when they come in."

The shop that offers nail and skin services has six nail technicians and a general manager that is in charge of greeting every customer that comes in.

"The quality is important too but the service is even more important ... people expect that and they don't want to be ignored," said Vu, who runs the shop with his wife Michelle who is also a nail technician.

The salon, Vu said, is one of the biggest in the area and is easily seen from U.S. 41.

"All our customers are really happy about us opening and it's right on 41 and in the middle of so many communities surrounding it," said Vu, who said he services the needs of customers who don't want to drive to get their nails done.

The store took three months to build including installing 12 spa chairs, a beverage bar, and a station for waxing and facials.

"It's the quality of the work they do and the reasonable prices," said Karen Stacy, of north Fort Myers.

Stacy doesn't mind the drive because she said that the Vu family is worth following. She met them three years ago at one of the two other salons that Vu owns and said his service is unlike any other.

"The manicures and pedicures last and that's good," Stacy said. "Michelle and Tony go above and beyond."

And that extra mile is why Tony Vu offers each customer a free beverage and does his best to keep the shop clean.

"The atmosphere, service and cleanliness are things that we focus on and I know that other salons aren't going to do that," Vu said, adding that each of his foot spa tubs are disinfected after each customer and nail techs initial each station that is cleaned. "We use disinfectant tablets that cost extra but we are willing to spend it for the safety of our customers."

Vu said that the shop has been a success so far because of his degree in electrical engineering and his wife's finance and business administration degree.

"I got here from Vietnam when I was 11 and I didn't even know English or had money but I made it," said Vu who has two children and got into the nail profession after being convinced by his sister. "This shop is very special and we want people to feel that."

Clifford Paxson honored in last meeting as fire chief

Chief Clifford Paxson was honored with a plaque during his last meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Paxson’s last day in office is Nov. 30 and he has plans to move and work to earn a master’s degree.

Chief Clifford Paxson attended his last South Trail Fire & Rescue Station Board of Commissioners meeting recently with a group of his peers in south Fort Myers.

The chief, who has held the position for 10 years, was presented with a plaque of his badges since he began working for the station 25 years ago.

"It's difficult to put into words how I feel and no one individual can take credit for what has happened here," said Paxson before giving his last report to commissioners at Station No. 3.

"It takes a good group of people who work hard to service this community and do what we've done."

During Paxson's time in office, he has worked as a fire inspector, fire marshal, deputy chief and assistant fire chief.

He has used that experience to collect a surplus of $1 million and made significant efforts to get equipment needed to keep his staff of 85 safe as the fire chief.

"It will be a loss. Not only am I losing a good leader. ... I'm losing a friend," said Craig Brotheim, the fire marshal, who has known Paxson since he was 16.

William Lombardo will take over Paxson's job on Dec. 1.

"It was difficult to prepare for this meeting because I have mixed emotions ... it will be a difficult transition for me," said Paxson, 47, who will spend his retirement as a student.

He is moving to Kansas and will be working toward his master's in Public Administration.

"It's bittersweet ... it's a new phase of life" Paxson said.

The Board of Commissioners also took a few moments during the meeting to hold its annual November election.

Commissioners Richard Neville, Robert Gaskill and John Anderson were re-elected to their current positions as chair, vice chair and secretary-treasurer respectively.