Medieval Faire continues today

Medieval Faire performers put on a show for an audience of event attendees at the Medieval Faire held at Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers.


Ryan Murphy, 9, of north Fort Myers, gives the swords a hand. The Medieval Faire continues today and Sunday.

A traveling show with 12th century human-powered rides, jousting, stage acts and acrobats has rolled into Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers for two weekends of merriment during the Kiwanis 12th annual Medieval Faire.

The Faire, which opened at the park last weekend, will continue Jan. 19 and 20 in hopes of raising money for children in Lee County.

“Kiwanis is here for the children and that is why we are doing this ... we all do it as volunteers,” said Terry Short, the chairman of the faire and past president of organization. “There are children in our area who are in first, second, third and fourth grade who are going to school without socks and underwear.”

The need in Lee County is so great, Short said, that volunteers didn’t mind spending the last 11 months planning the faire in hopes of fundraising an average of $150,000.

“It’s interesting who we accomplish what we do with a staff of volunteers,” Short said about the faire that will be visited by more than 1,500 people. “We make a real effort to make it better and this year we have.”

The medieval faire boasts 88 vendors, 22 stage acts on seven stages, full contact jousting and live chess match.

“It’s a great time ... it takes you out of reality and puts you in the twelfth century,” said Sandy Wheeler, the Kiwanis volunteer coordinator.

The characters, Wheeler said, are professional performers hired to entertain the public by dressing in medieval attire and talking the part.

“I love it and you meet a lot of different kinds of characters from all over the world,” Wheeler said.

Many faire attendees also dress in medieval garb and spend the day purchasing items like hand made swords, jewelry and metal items.

“It’s fun ... there is a lot of old stuff here and metal things you don’t see anymore ... stuff that is extinct,” said Ryan Murphy, 9, of north Fort Myers.

Along with medieval vendors, attendees also enjoyed children’s games, comedy acts and artists from around the country.

“You can buy anything here from a sword, to a catapult to a candle,” Short said about the event that also included war horse rides and an expanded joust.

Peggy De Palma, 26, of San Carlos Park, happened to be at Lakes Regional Park with her daughter Olivia, 2, during the faire.

“We didn’t know it was here ... we were just going to play but we decided to come in anyway and she likes it,” said De Palma, of San Carlos Park. “She likes looking at the people in the clothes.”

New BMW dealership looks more like a resort

A putting green, movie theatre, massage chairs and golf simulator are just a few of offerings clients of BMW of Fort Myers will be able to enjoy beginning in March.

The high-end car dealership will be opening the doors to a new 52,000-square foot building equipped with the latest technology next door to the Mercedes showroom.

“We will be able to carry more inventory and be able to satisfy customer needs quicker,” said Troy Arch, the general sales manager of the BMW Center, adding that customers will be able to choose from 500 cars at any one time.

Satisfying customers will be easier, Arch said, because the new building will accommodate all types of customers and prospects.

“It will be a lot more comfortable for customers and we are the only ones in southwest Florida with a golf simulator and theatre,” Arch said.

The more than $13 million dealership will also offer wireless Internet access, private work areas, a conference room and a Bear Rock Cafe eatery.

“The cafe will have a glass opening that will look out into our shop and customers can see what the technicians are doing,” said Arch adding that the customer lounge area will also offer free coffee and snacks. “We will be able to offer a lot of different things and customers won’t feel rushed to leave.”

Nick Firrincieli, part-owner of the Bear Rock Cafe in south Fort Myers, is looking forward to offering a limited menu at BMW.

“We are very excited about being a part of it and offering a hand full of salads, sandwiches and four soups off our menu,” said Firrincieli, adding that the cafe will also offer items not on their restaurant menu such as desserts and fruit cups. “Having a cafe at BMW will introduce us to a new group of people that may not know that Bear Rock exists.”

Customers looking for more entertainment can visit the movie theatre that will play family-friendly movies on high definition, Blu Ray discs with surround sound or shop the BMW boutique.

They will be further comforted by a variety of massage chairs and LCD screens. Arch hopes to offer a once a month spa day for customers in need of a manicure, pedicure or massage. The second floor of the building will have a golf simulator in which customers will be able to spend time with a golf pro once a month.

“This is going to modernize us and create an environment that our customers are accustomed too,” said Arch from the 35-year-old BMW Center near Daniels Parkway. It will eventually be handed over to Honda after BMW moves out.

Meeting customers’ high expectations will also help BMW keep up with the car dealership competition along U.S. 41 in south Fort Myers.

“The facility will allow us to meet their needs and we will be able to do what is expected,” Arch said, adding that an additional $1.5 million has been spent on equipment to diagnose and service cars.“We will have 40 service bays that will be air conditioned and more comfortable for technicians ... the technology in the shop will be able to perform at a higher level."

The dealership is slated to host a grand opening on March 24, which will include a silent auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“We will become a destination place with the golf, theatre and work area,” Arch said. “We are sandwiched between two of the busiest intersections and most of our clients are in south Fort Myers so we can better serve their immediate needs.”

Jimmy John’s subs come to Fort Myers

Seth Mankin, Kyle Littlety and Jerry McCarthy prepare sandwiches at Jimmy John’s in south Fort Myers.

Sandwich makers at the new Jimmy John’s sub shop in south Fort Myers are serving them up fresh, fast and tasty and that’s how Tim and Seth Mankin like it.

The brothers recently opened the shop on Andrea Lane after deciding that the area needed a place that reminded Seth of home.

“My brother loves Jimmy John’s, and we were looking to open a business and we found the right spot for it,” said Tim Mankin, 37, about his brother who moved to south Fort Myers from Michigan. “Jimmy John’s is huge in college towns and it has been popular here so far.”

The franchise is known for their quick service, fresh-baked bread and sandwiches that are topped with alfalfa sprouts, hot peppers and assorted meats.

“It’s the first time we came here but we like it,” said Angie Ursitti, 26, while enjoying a sub and waiting for her car to be repaired at a nearby dealership. “They told us to come here and we like it. I hope they open one in Cape Coral.”

And, so do other customers from up north who have eaten at other sub shops but say Jimmy John’s is unique.

“Jimmy John’s is a national franchise but our motto is that we get it done really quickly and all our food is designed that way,” said Mankin, of south Fort Myers, about the store that took more than five months to open. “We get a lot of customers that ate at Jimmy John’s in college and know that everything is fresh.”

Freshness at Jimmy John’s means the vegetables are cut in the store daily and the bread is baked throughout the day.

“We use the best ingredients to make the best sandwiches and that’s what people expect,” said Mankin about the shop that delivers seven days a week.

The shop offers a wide assortment of sandwiches including the J.J. Gargantuan, which has salami, ham, capicola, roast beef, turkey and provolone cheese. It’s then smothered with onions, mayo, lettuce, tomato and Italian dressing.

“We’ve been busy without doing any advertising because people know us,” Mankin said about the shop that offers catering, boxed lunches and subs starting at $4.75. “Everything is designed to be fast and they get the best sub at a reasonable price.”

Insurer expands services at Summerlin intersection

Lykes Insurance Inc. is expanding its offerings in south Fort Myers and the firm’s commitment to the area has led it to build the new Summerlin Partners building on Summerlin Commons Boulevard.

The 12,700-square-foot building houses 21 executive offices, meeting rooms and will allow the Tampa-based insurance brokerage firm to offer workshops for local businesses.

“Because of our commitment to this area and desire to expand our services, we have moved into this new building and we think it’s a great location for us,” said Mark Webb, the vice president at the firm, about the building on the intersection of Boy Scout and Summerlin. “It will not only be used for the insurance operation but to benefit our clients and prospects in one place.”

The building, which was designed by Alliance Design Group, took 11 months to build.

“On the outside there was a lot of attention to detail into the moldings, the stucco and paint scheme,” said Jerry Dunn, the project manager of GCM Contracting Solutions.

Dunn oversaw the construction that included interior marble and granite countertops, maple cabinetry, ceramic tile, high end light fixtures and hardwood moldings throughout.

“It’s a high visibility location at the intersection ... and part of the reason why the building was done to the standards that we used on it,” Dunn said. “There is a lot of upgrades to the building like architectural pre-cast stone that was used on the outside.”

The building, Webb said, goes along with Lykes Insurance having expanded its services in Orlando in May of 2007 and then decided to do the same in Fort Myers.

“Having the space available helps us partner with our clients to help them manage their total cost of risk and that is the core of our commitment,” Webb said about the firm that was first opened in 1925. “It’s more than an office to house an insurance company but also a place to bring clients and prospects.”

Crowne Plaza goes for the green

Crowne Plaza General Manager Jim Larkin shows off the hotel's new recycling bins to Green Lodging inspector Terry Crossett.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel in south Fort Myers is becoming environmentally conscious in hopes of reducing waste and energy and being awarded a Green Lodging designation.

The hotel opened its facilities, guest rooms and even recycling bins this week to visiting inspectors from the Florida Green Lodging Program.

"Green is popular right now and eco-tourism is a big draw for hotels especially in Florida," said Laura Comer, an inspector and coordinator for the Green Lodging program.

She spent a few hours at the Crown Plaza hotel making recommendations about energy efficiency and waste reduction and inspecting the hotel's current efforts.

"It's a voluntary program but as more and more people do it, it will become even more popular," said Comer about the program that is run by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The program, which was started in 2004, is aimed at rewarding environmentally conscious facilities in the state based on a three-tiered system.

To become a Green Lodge, a property must meet a minimum set of standards on communication, water conservation, waste reduction and energy efficiency.

"This gives us real credibility and the bottom line is that it's the right thing to do," said General Manager Jim Larkin, who was hoping to gain a One Palm certification after the inspection was complete. He will then work to gain the Two Palm designation. "We started the program a few months ago and the interest is growing in the amount of companies that have green facilities on their radar."

The radar seems to be expanding, Comer said, because state laws are changing and many companies are choosing to have meetings in environmentally friendly facilities.

"This program was born from the recycling program and we are trying to gather information that shows just how much money can be saved by doing it," said Comer who oversees the Green Lodging certifications in the south district.

Prior to an inspection, the Crowne Lodge that is 20 years old and has 226 guest rooms, was given a comprehensive checklist of items that could be changed to reduce energy and waste.

On the top of the list are energy saving appliances, using 30 percent post-consumer recycle paper, informing guests and staff of their efforts and using energy efficient light bulbs.

"We are a moderately sized hotel that is really making a concentrated effort to recycle and reduce waste and I'm astonished by how much recycling we collect," said Larkin, who has had to increase the number of times the bins are emptied per week.

James Marsh is the hotel's chief engineer who has been working with Larkin to install items that reduce energy use.

"I've already started laying the groundwork for lighting and we're doing it all in phases," said Marsh, who is a member of the Green Team that was assembled by the hotel in their bid to become green. "It can be costly but we are saving money by reducing our waste and it helps the environment."

Being able to implement green programs in Florida's largest commercial sector is why Comer hopes more lodges jump on the green bandwagon.

"We can work with properties of all sizes and types and it's a free consultation for them," Comer said. "They can start small and then work on goals of how they can be more efficient and conservative."

In the last six months, Larkin said, he has received numerous calls about the hotel's green efforts.

"It's the right thing to do and we are really making a difference," said Larkin, adding that the hotel was renovated in 2006 and some of the property was already up to Green Lodging standards. "We want to be the first hotel in Fort Myers with the green designation."

Kids learn about forestry occupations

Senior forester Mike Weston shows Legend Gaddy, 8, of south Fort Myers, how to adjust a fire suit at Lakes Regional Library in south Fort Myers.

A helicopter landed at Lakes Regional Library in south Fort Myers and area children had an opportunity to meet Extreme Heroes from the Division of Forestry.

The division spent three days at the library, which hosted a program to teach children about fighting fires and fire prevention.

"He loves the police and helicopters and I'd like them to understand the job ... and that they are heroes" said Bibiana Paez, who brought her children to the last day of the program. "I want them to appreciate the work that they are doing."

The jobs that students heard about included a discussion on Smokey the Bear and wildfire fighters. The division brought a mock helicopter to the library to better explain to children how it works.

"He loves helicopters and I'm hoping to get him on a helicopter ride in Alaska soon," said Jennifer Manekin of south Fort Myers, the mother of 2-year-old Ben. She brought her son to the library in hopes of giving him a better understanding of how a helicopter works. "I want him to have a familiarity with it and that way he knows about it."

Children were allowed in the cockpit and dressed in firefighting gear. They also had the opportunity to see a water bucket up close.

"We connected with the forestry department and we thought it would appeal to all ages," said Kristy Sutorius, the senior children's librarian for the Lakes Regional Library. "Our idea was to give families an activity during the holiday break."

The activities included informal talks with children and parents about different pieces of firefighting equipment and games about fire awareness.

"They were really excited when they heard the library was offering this," said Jonel Gomez of south Fort Myers, who brought her two children to see the helicopter. "The kids both said they want to be pilots together."

Gomez's children were inspired to become pilots because they have an aunt and a retired grandfather who are pilots.

"They were really excited and this is the first time that they get near a flying machine," Gomez said.

Volunteers cheer up patients

Victor Gabriel Thomas Phonaz, 8, of Lehigh Acres, fills out his new stuffed animal's birth certificate while Joey Rambow, 14, of Cape Coral, and Chris Ramos, 14, of Fort Myers, assist the patient at HealthPark Medical Center.

Young patients at the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida made new friends recently when volunteers helped children build a stuffed bear.

The patients, who didn't get to go home for the holidays, attended a workshop at the hospital's atrium where they chose to build puppies, kittens and bears.

"It's a good feeling and it puts a smile on their face," said Dawn Broomfield, a parent whose two children stuffed a kitten and a unicorn with volunteers.

Parents were grateful that First Florida Bank's staff, family and friends donated their time because it gave them a break from the everyday hospital run.

"I love children and I think that any kid likes toys and if I can brighten their day it's good," said volunteer Denise Gentile, who works at the bank's Bonita Springs branch. "This helps them have something else to think about other than being sick."

And, sickness was nowhere near anyone's mind as volunteers later visited with children who were bound to their beds.

"This is an opportunity for the business community and people to give back and there are so many sick children that come in and are here through the holidays," said Connie Ramos-Williams, who helped coordinate the event for the hospital and bank.

"The parents have trouble consoling their ailing child and this is a nice half-hour break for them too."

The break was welcomed by parents like Silas Thomas of Lehigh Acres.

His son, Victor, 8, wasn't able to attend the workshop but the volunteers came to him.

"It's very nice and great for him," Thomas said, adding that his son was very excited about hearing he could build a bear.

The patients also had the opportunity to stuff the animals, insert a make-a-wish star or guardian angel inside and design a personal t-shirt for their new friend.

"It's a little break for the child and it's a blessing for the parents," said Ramos-Williams, adding that each child was given a birth certificate for their new friend. "The people giving get so much out of it and as the children come in, they have agreed to come back with more animals."

Debbie Regnone, CEO of locally owned and operated Resorts Sports Inc. located the 50 unstuffed animals for the event.