Baseball season kicks off for 49 youth teams involving 500

Steve Wetter, assistant coach of the Athletics, volunteers his time at Rutenberg Community Park in south Fort Myers at least three times a week. The Little League baseball season got under way Feb. 11.

The park lights went on, children ran onto the field in new uniforms and proud parents cheered from the stands.

Little League season began at Rutenberg Community Park.

The season kicked off Monday after months of tryouts, practice, registrations and making sure the fields were ready to play ball.

“When you look up and see those kids in uniforms, the lights, scoreboards and umpires on the field, the work is worth it,” said Howard Gold, the league’s commissioner. “The biggest work is getting ready for opening night.”

Gold spent months working with volunteer parents to get everyone ready to spend the next four months at the park playing, eating concession stand food and cheering.

“This is our 16th year and we only have two problems ... we are out of wall space for our banners and there is no more space in our dugouts,” said Gold, adding that he was glad that in 16 years the league had amassed enough titles to warrant these problems. “They are good problems to have especially since we won state last year in the 13 to 14 age.”

The league has grown to include 49 teams and more than 500 players and 1,000 parents.

“We have grown by 50 to 60 players since last year and from 28 to almost 50 teams in less than seven years,” said an enthusiastic Gold about the league that has gained respect and popularity among parents in the community. “We are busting at the seams with little kids in tee ball.”

The growth of the league is welcomed by Ann Marie Dailey, who volunteers her time and writes the league’s newsletter.

“It’s run really well and the parents are here a lot. As a parent, it’s crazy but it’s a good crazy,” said Dailey in between cheering for her son, who hit the ball in his first game of the season. “That’s why we parents do all of this ... for that hit right there.”

Chris Buzenius is glad her 11-year-old son Kenneth is back on the field but she isn’t necessarily looking forward to eating concession stand food a few times a week.

“It’s back to concession stand food for dinner ... we are here three nights a week and either you eat early or late,” said Buzenius, who volunteers her time for the league and takes photos of the players. “It’s a change now that the season has started again so from now until May it’s all about baseball.”

Despite eating hot dogs, hamburgers and chips for dinner, some parents are looking forward to the distraction the game provides them and their kids.

“It’s a lot of fun and there is a camaraderie for both the parents and kids and it’s a good relief from work,” said Kevin Winter, the parent of 11-year-old Phillies player Tim. “We’ve got a great bunch of parents and it’s going to be a good season.”

Bell Tower shoppers stroll through flower show

Carol Lowery of Fort Myers Beach looks at the floral creation of Lois Gressman of Fort Myers Beach. Gressman won the judges choice from her “Here’s the Beef” creation at the Edison Festival of Light Strolling Flower Show at Bell Tower Shops.

The idea of strolling through a garden on a lazy afternoon was brought to new heights at the 58th Edison Festival of Light Strolling Flower Show at the Bell Tower Shops.

Area shoppers were given an opportunity recently to walk through the mall and gawk at flower arrangements that were created by the area’s best flower designers and members of the Periwinkle Garden Club.

“It’s a great way to show off the local talent and we are the mall’s signature event,” said Pam Dorchak, the Periwinkle Garden Club president, about the two-day show. “All the mini garden clubs of Lee County participate.”

Participation in the judged show was easy for Lois Gressman, who took home the judges choice for the second year in a row.

This year, she created a flower arrangement with vegetables and the theme “Here’s the Beef.”

“I really worried about it because I couldn’t find the flowers I wanted so I said I’ll do vegetables,” said Gressman, who created a piece to be displayed at the Omaha Steaks store at the mall. “I don’t think they’ve ever had vegetables in a flower show before.”

The unique displays were themed to celebrate 70 years of Thomas Edison’s innovations and were showcased on storefronts to make it easier for strollers to see.

“It’s kind of like finding Easter eggs ... it’s a treasure hunt,” Dee Breunet of south Fort Myers said enthusiastically as she peered into shop windows and enjoyed the creations. “It’s gorgeous and I’m just so happy that I made a special stop just for this show.”

Madeline Wallace also stopped for the show because her friend Gressman wanted her to see her asparagus, tomato and cucumber creation.

“These aren’t just flowers, they are working on designing and her display is so unique ... it’s her all the way,” said Wallace, of Fort Myers Beach, while looking through the store window. “Having it strolling is an excellent way to show off the pieces and it adds interest to tie in to a specific store.”

Audrey Bynoe of Fort Myers brought her aunt Doris Bacchus to the flower show because she is a flower lover.

“It’s beautiful and it’s a good idea to have them because they are very unique,” Bynoe said.

Lazy Iguanas shutting down

Lazy Iguanas is going out of business and customers with a taste for the southwest will have to go elsewhere to buy their Mexican treasures.

The store will be shutting down for good in March but its inventory of interior and exterior home decor has to go before the shop closes for good on on McGregor Boulevard.

“I’m moving on to other things right now and I’d prefer to focus on my jewelry design,” said store owner Brigette Chandler, who sells her jewelry near the store’s cash register. “We’ve had great business but it’s just time to move on.”

The moving on means big savings for south Fort Myers customers looking for handmade and designed goods from Mexico. All items are on sale for 40 to 70 percent off.

“I think the style brings them back because we have so many interesting items,” said Chandler, who was introduced to the business through friends and has owned the shop for four years. “People really do enjoy the southwest look with earth tones and neutral colors.”

But the store also offers plenty of brightly colored accents including sinks, ceramic wall art and an array of Asian pottery.

“She’s got great merchandise, variety and she’s a pleasant lady too,” said Grace Duva, of south Fort Myers, who is a regular shopper at the store. “There is always something new and the prices are affordable.”

Duva said that she has decorated her house in Chandler’s earthenware and bright colored accessories.

“When my daughter comes to visit she always wants to visit Brigette,” Duva said. “She has things that aren’t cliche and I love decorating.”

Buying items for the store has always been a passion for Chandler especially when she gets good compliments from customers.

“We fly down to Mexico, buy everything and then drive the load to the store,” Chandler said about the many hours of driving she won’t miss once she closes shop. “The buying is fun but the driving (stinks).”

Salon now open in Presidential Court

Bernard Anthony Salon is looking for customers interested in a quality haircut, spa-like customer service and a skin and nail pampering to knock their socks off.

The shop, which is now open on Presidential Court in south Fort Myers, is a full-service hair, nail and skin salon that is owned by three partners with years of experience.

Becky Rogoszewski, Patricia Granado and Britt Gravley opened the salon a month ago and hope to share their more than 20 years of experience with their clients.

“We offer a friendly, relaxed atmosphere where elegance meets excellence and customers still feel pampered,” said Gravley who worked with her partners at another salon before deciding to open their own. “The staff is very well educated and we use top of the line products.”

But good products, fancy equipment and 1,200 square foot of space is not what the partners want customers to focus on, it’s the service.

“We are very open to customers and we focus on treating everyone with courtesy,” said Gravley about the salon that prefers customers to make an appointment before coming in. “We have Wi-Fi for clients to do business and we give them a beverage as well.”

Being able to give customers the best service is important to Rogoszewski because it’s what keeps them coming back.

“We have a lot of clients we have known for years and even after moving, they followed us here,” said Rogoszewski who is a licensed electrolysis and certified permanent make-up specialist. “I was a passed salon owner for 12 years.”

The salon was named Bernard after Rogoszewski’s husband because of its uniqueness. Customers, she said, seem to like it.

“We came here because it was close the previous location and we didn’t want our clients to drive out of their way,” said Granado adding that the group of employees has worked together for 7 years. “We have veteran, seasoned stylists and we have staff who have taken continued education to stay on top of the industry so we have no turnover.”

Granado said that clients appreciate being able to walk in to the salon and recognize the faces.

“I’m hoping we can please people,” Granado said. “We are not a spa but we are a full-service salon.”

Edison junior parade bigger than ever

This story ran in the Metro section the day after the parade.

A crowd gathered on the streets of downtown Fort Myers on Sunday to watch the single most participated Edison Festival of Light Junior Parade in 61 years.

The mini version of the Grand Parade amassed a total of 3,000 participants who danced, rolled, skipped, and marched to celebrate the 70th annual celebration to commemorate Thomas Edison's life of achievement.

"It was great! The parade was so big that if you take every entrant and add 2 or 3 friends, relatives ... it just grows and grows," said Diane Maddox, the chairman of junior events who oversaw the parade. "We had double the amount of entrants and it lapped itself before the first section had even passed."

Maddox estimated the crowd at more than 20,000.

The Bright Beginnings Early School was just one of the groups to enter more than 200 walkers pulling tropical-themed wagons full of children.

"Everybody was so excited that they all wanted to come ... we had a record number of kids in this parade," said Linda McGlashan, director of the early school that is part of the Cypress Lake Methodist Church in south Fort Myers.

The school used 310 feet of fringe, 38 pounds of glitter and 39 surfboards to create a flowing trail of wagons that took home a first place trophy in the commercial wagon division.

"We built everything at the school and it was the most wonderful parade," McGlashan said.

The parade also was wonderful for 6-month-old Andrew Spring whose parents dressed him as a cow and decorated his stroller with felt, flowers and frill to create an "I'm Cowzy for Edison" theme.

"He cried during the first half of the parade and slept through the second part," said Lynn Springs, of Fort Myers, whose son took first place in the stroller division.

The big announcement of the afternoon came during the junior coronation and awards ceremony. Matthew John Powell Jr. and Sydney Reece Hall were crowned new king and queen of the junior parade.

"It was a fantastic parade for all of us ... bikes, trikes, wagons and walkers," said Steve Stage, outgoing president of the Edison Festival of Light during a speech at the Harborside Convention Center. "I"m glad everyone came out and had such a good time."

The Edison Festival of Light festivities continue on Feb. 16 with Crafts on the River, Music from the Heart and the Grand Parade in downtown Fort Myers.

District launches firefighting boat

Iona-McGregor Fire District Commissioner Dee Rickard christens The John Becker, as is customary for new vessels that will be out on the water.

Seafarers in the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District are resting easy because a recent addition to the fire department will be keeping their boats and docks safer.

The district recently christened and launched the Iona 70, a 32-foot vessel with a 550 horsepower diesel engine and the ability to pump 1,000 gallons of water a minute.

"It fills a need that was previously not met along the Caloosahatchee waterway," said Chief William Elliott, about the vessel that pumps water at 150 pounds per second from two pumps. "With this boat we can get to a fire quickly and stop it before it gets out of control."

Iona 70, which was built in 1999, has the ability to get into waterways that are just two feet deep thanks to its jet drive capabilities.

"It weights 16,000 pounds and withstands all types of weather, which is important especially in narrower areas," said Wayne Ludington, the department's head Emergency Vehicle Technician.

The boat holds 120 gallons of fuel.

Ludington spent the last two years transforming the Iona 70 from a ferry vessel used for oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to a fire fighting boat.

"It's a very solid boat and you can bump it into things and it doesn't crack," Ludington said.

The boat's sturdiness and strength prompted the department to christen the Iona 70 "The John Becker" after a fellow firefighter who passed away three years ago.

"John Becker was a good man, and this vessel's being strong and sturdy is just how John was," said Chief Chad Jorgensen, who became a firefighter with Becker. "We wanted to name it after him and show that we haven't forgotten."

The John Becker will be stationed at the Fort Myers' Boat Club on McGregor and will carry a minimum of four crew members year-round.

"It will be part of the Marine Emergency Response Team and will head out to the Gulf if necessary," Elliott said about the boat that will work with multiple agencies including the City of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sanibel in emergencies. "We have so many marinas in this area that if one boat is on fire, it's not long before more are."

The vessel was purchased for less than $1000,000 and is now worth at least $200,000, Ludington said.

Faith-based freebies circulate at yearly event

Unity Church in south Fort Myers is extending an invitation to members of the community in need of home goods and accessories to attend their second annual Circulation Day on Feb. 16.

The congregation will spend the day offering a garage sale but there won't be any cash registers or price tags. Event attendees are only required to walk around and pick out what they like.

"It's like a Macy's department store except everything is free," said the Rev. Jim Rosemergy about the event that church members will set up on Feb. 15. "We put everything into categories and people walk through every section and take what they need."

Rosemergy is the mastermind behind the event he created; it's based on other ministries he has served in the past.

"The need is quite high in this area and I've done this in different places and in every community you have people in need," said Rosemergy who has served the church for a year and a half. "We set it up outdoors and they get what they need."

The needs are being met by other members of the church who are looking through their homes and donating items that are out of circulation.

"In everyone's home, there are items that are out of circulation and those are what we are asking for," Rosemergy said.

Last year's event allowed the church to partner with area organizations that are in direct contact with the needs of the community.

"We've already been getting people interested in getting things and they want help," said Joyce Niblick, administrative assistant. "Our plan is to give them help now and hopefully they will pay it forward and help their follow man later."

Helping is what the church is asking the community to do by dropping off items like washing machines or bed sheets at the church on Feb. 15.

"Last year was amazing. They pretty much filled our entire parking lot ... families came and were able to furnish their home and get that fresh start," said Niblick who has reached out to 19 area organizations to find people in need. "We are basically the middleman and the coordinators for the event."

Eagle Wash & Lube has new nest

A new name, a remodeled building and quality products are just a few of the improvements to hit the new Eagle Wash & Lube on San Carlos Boulevard in south Fort Myers.

The shop was purchased by Chris Heidrick last year and has been changed from a rundown garage to a state-of-the-art facility.

"We bought it because we knew that three years ago it was very successful and we wanted to bring it back," said Heidrick, who purchased the business in May and has worked to bring its old customers back. "We have been very successful so far and we are up 20 percent year over year."

The success though hasn't come easy for the shop that had to endure a new paint job, a replaced car-washing system and a change in services.

The company now uses name brand products featuring Castrol GTX, Castrol Syntec, Bosch and Interstate batteries to service cars, trucks and diesels of all sizes.

"We want to deliver the experience for the customer and give them good quality service," Heidrick said about the shop that was named after an eagle because he and some of his employees were Eagle Scouts as children. "We want customers to know us for what an eagle stands for ... it's patriotic and it's about trust and we feel that they can trust us."

Trust is a major factor for Heidrick, who hired Jeremy Smith to run the store and focus on customer satisfaction as well as quality work.

"We are dedicated to quality products, quality service and all at affordable prices," said Smith, the store manager, who moved from Detroit to run the shop.

But the shop staff wants to be known for more than just their work. Heidrick and his five employees hosted their first charity car wash recently.

"We hope it's the first of many and that we are able to offer customers a charity car wash every other weekend," Heidrick said about the car washes that also help the environment by reducing water usage and runoff. "We want to service customers that don't want to wash their cars themselves or just want to help others."

During their recent charity car wash, the shop helped the South Florida Lady Wildcats Basketball Team collect $480.80. Five dollars every oil change was donated by the shop to the cause that has an annual budget of $7,000.

"We were impressed at how much they raised. They washed about 65 cars and it was an ultimate success," said Oak Gregg-Donaldson, who drives the shop's fleet van that provides on-site vehicle maintenance for commercial fleets and motor home parks.

The Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce also participated in the festivities by hosting an official ribbon cutting for the shop's grand opening.

Snowbird season isn't helping shops in tough economic times

The snow birds are back and season is in full swing but as shoppers visit area malls, retailers say the numbers don't add up.

Retailers and restaurant owners throughout Bonita Springs, Estero and south Fort Myers are feeling the effects of a season they hoped would boost sales and revenue.

But the downturn in the housing market, the area's overdevelopment and a slow economy have retailers scratching their heads.

The Promenade

"Our sales are down. There is no doubt about it. There has been a slight increase in sales but we are still down 30 percent over last year," said Dara Hall, the co-owner of Bonne Nuit in the Promenade at Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs. "The economy and the slump in the housing market is [sic] not helping the situation."

The situation, Hall said, is that her high-end linens and bathroom accessories are no longer a priority for shoppers.

"We have a very loyal customer base ... but the people who are coming down and buying their second or third home are just not there anymore," said Hall adding that the market being saturated with stores isn't helping either. "We are all feeling it ... even the restaurants but if people don't buy new homes they don't need what I sell."

Bell Tower Shoppes

That reality is the same for Eyetopian Optical who specializes in high-end eyewear at the Bell Tower Shoppes in south Fort Myers.

"We miss our snowbirds and we need more of them. But my units are down, my sales are down," said Craig Chasnov, who owns a store in Bonita Springs and one in Naples. "My average transactions though are still up 70 percent because people need their eyewear."

Chasnov, who attributes the lack of sales to the housing market, said, "The parking lot is just not as full at Bell Tower as it used to be. For every one shop that was here before, there is one more now."

The overdevelopment of strip plazas throughout the area is making the sales figures fall even steeper but retailers say that the empty plazas shows the impact of the economy.

"There is just so much building going on in retail strip malls that I wonder where they are getting the businesses to go there when it's not warranted," Hall said. "There is not enough people to support all the different stores because they are just popping up all over the place. It's hitting us hard."

Chasnov said, "It will be interesting in the next couple years ... there will be a lot more businesses going out of business than staying in."

Gulf Coast Town Center

The hit though isn't being felt by retailers alone, restaurant owners at Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park say their patrons are thinning as well.

"We have a lot of regulars from last year but it's a mall and it's grown now but we are seeing a drop in the amount of people here," said Dave Nais of the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. "We are all seeing it and even the winter guests and locals say there isn't as many people."

The opening of new eateries at the mall has also placed a burden on Islamorada, Nais said, about the additional 18 places he competes with now.

"We expected the competition part in terms of sales but there is a difference in Lee County," Nais said about the restaurant that was the only one open a year ago. "It seems that people aren't traveling as much or they are here for shorter amounts of time."

The owner of 55 Degrees at Gulf Coast Town Center, is hoping to make it through their first season in one piece.

"The economy is definitely having an effect. I mean, this is our first season with snow birds but we aren't doing as expected," said Osmin Rodriguez, the owner of the wine and cheese seller. "January has been a pretty slow month and it's not the full swing season that we envisioned for sure but everybody is seeing that."

Coconut Point

A decrease in visitors hasn't helped Trek Bicycles at Coconut Point in Estero. Sales Associate Matt Erickson said sales of new bikes have slowed considerably.

"January has been slower than we expected but it's not dead by any means. People just aren't' buying new bikes," said Matt Erickson, a sales associate adding that the stores service department is busier than ever. "Our December was much busier but I think that people are saving their money a bit more."

Trek Bicycles numbers are good, Erickson said, but business is not what they saw last year.

Erickson said, "We won't really know until March if we had a good season or not. For now, we are steady but not like we are used to."

Fort Myers church requests affiliation switch

Story was written on deadline for the front of the Metro section the next day.

Members of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers have agreed to ask for dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination.

A Sunday morning vote with a 76 percent majority declared that church members want to realign with the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination.

The governing Peace River Presbytery, which is made up of 38 churches stretching from Naples to Sarasota and oversees the Covenant, will meet with church members today to discuss the results of the vote and set up a meeting date to approve or deny the dismissal. If approved, Covenant members will petition to join the EPC.

"We are ecstatic at the vote ... and that so many people showed up for it," said Jake Faasse, the church clerk just hours after the vote was tallied. "What's important to us is to follow what keeps us faithful in what we believe."

The move, Faasse said, is one that falls in line with what the church believes and going into another denomination is their best option.

"We have been going through this for one year and now we have done everything the presbytery's guidelines wanted," Faasse said about guidelines the Peace River Presbytery has created after hearing of the churches plans to change. "More than 1,000 people showed up to vote and we got the quorum we needed."

The Covenant Presbyterian Church on McGregor Boulevard has 1,300 members and church officials held the vote on Super Bowl Sunday because it's the "highest attended single Sunday other than the traditional Christmas or Easter," Faasse said.

Faasse expects the decision from to be made sometime in May.

Senior Pastor the Rev. Bill Stephens and other members of the church were unavailable for comment Sunday.

Beauty queen wears many hats

Maria DeMoya is the 2008 Miss Fort Myers USA but the beauty queen is more than a pretty face.

DeMoya, of Lehigh Acres, is the director of operations at Widespread Technologies in Naples and an avid businesswoman in charge of a more than $4 million budget.

"We are a small business of only seven employees and just because I hold that title doesn't mean that I don't answer the phone," said DeMoya about her involvement with the Xerox Agent company. "I have my hands in many other things other than just my job descriptions."

It's that modesty that pageant judges saw when DeMoya competed in front of a sellout crowd of 200 at the Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers.

"I've never been in a pageant but always had an interest in doing it," said DeMoya, who was scouted for the pageant during a business networking event for the Chamber of Commerce. "I had watched pageants on TV but I never even attended one."

It was now or never for the 26-year-old DeMoya, whose mother won her first pageant at the age of 18 in the Dominican Republic.

In order to compete, DeMoya had to be under the age of 27 and she wanted to ensure she took her last chance for a pageant.

"I didn't want to look back and say I didn't try it. My mom used to tell me stories about her experience," DeMoya said about being crowned in the mid-January pageant. "And they draw it out when they announce the winner so when I heard my name I got a little emotional."

And, so did her co-workers, who were in the audience screaming when DeMoya won. Her identical sister Anna was also in the crowd.

"We were there! On the video you can hear us screaming and Maria is just a wonderful person," said Molly Perez, the vice president of Widespread Technologies. "It couldn't have happened to a more positive, intelligent and hard-working woman."

DeMoya's crowning paid off in a big way because it gives her the chance to represent Fort Myers for a year and prepare for the state competition to be held in 2009.

"All the contestants were new and we were all on the same level with training and experience," said DeMoya, who answered judges' questions, wore in a bathing suit on stage and evening gown before being crowned. "When you win, it's right down to business ... people you don't know congratulate you so you don't have much time to ruin your mascara."

The business of being crowned though isn't getting in the way of DeMoya's job of currently setting up a new office in Fort Myers.

"She is an asset to our company and she gets something and runs with it," Perez said, adding that DeMoya started with the company in sales and was promoted twice since 2003. "We supported her and she is really a part of our family. She is making us proud to know her."

Planet Fitness now in orbit

A clean, spacious and welcoming atmosphere is what gym-goers can expect at the recently opened Planet Fitness in south Fort Myers.

The 21,000-square-foot gym opened on McGregor Boulevard in hopes of offering first-time gym users an experience unlike any other.

"We model ourselves after a judgment-free zone and we want people to come here for the atmosphere," said part-owner Ryan Rondina about the gym, which opened Jan. 17.

"We create an atmosphere that is fun, unique and you won't hear people dropping weights like at other places."

Being different from the competition is why Rondina and his business partner Mark Melancon opened their second national franchise. The first gym was opened in Naples.

"We did a lot of research in facilities and drove by here and the area is just growing a lot," said Rondina, adding that 1,000 memberships were signed before the gym even opened. "If this location continues to be successful, we might expand some more."

The possible expansion would spread the Planet Fitness model into North Fort Myers or Bradenton, areas that Rondina and Melancon hope will be as successful as the south Fort Myers location.

Rondina attributes the gym's success to a loyal customer base in which eight out of 10 members are first-time gym users.

"We offer group or individual instructional training and they get their own program that will help them succeed," said Rondina about the members, who range in age from 13 to 87 years old. "They won't hear grunting and we make sure that our employees are friendly and welcome everyone."

Creating a workout environment is why Rondina and Melancon installed 40 treadmills, 32 elliptical machines, 10 bikes and two rowers in the cardio area alone.

There is no time limit on machines and many plug into one of the 20 37-inch flat-screen TVs.

"We have machines for everything they want and we help them in every step of the process," Rondina said.

Gym memberships start at $10 a month for unlimited use and there is no contract to sign.

"We offer unlimited group fitness training and we allow you to cancel your membership at any time," Melancon said about the gym that he helped put together using his personal training background. "We give them the best experience for a competitive price."

Diamonds are a diva's best friend at grand opening

Bradley's Fine Jewelers hosted a star-studded event recently to announce its official opening at the Park Shops at Andrea Lane in south Fort Myers.

The 2,000-square-foot fine jewelry and art gallery were transformed into a night for divas complete with a red carpet and South Beach performers.

"The theme is very clever and it's lots of fun," said Barbara Snyderman of Fort Myers. She attended the elegant night with her husband, Jerry, who was helping her pick out a piece of jewelry. "We might buy something but we still have more to see."

The Snydermans weren't the only ones perusing the glass cases of fine jewels, including diamond earrings, necklaces and the shop's own earthly-friendly line called the Sea Reel Life collection.

"We wanted to create a reason to be happy with life and enjoy the moments ... nothing does that like divas," said Brad Congress, the store owner and jewelry designer. "We are even giving everyone name tags with diva names."

Congress, along with his wife, Colbi, hired a group of performers from South Beach who dressed in elegant dresses and wore big flashy jewelry.

"It's fabulous and we just wanted to bring that aspect of South Beach here with the drag queens," said Congress, who greeted about 250 guests who were escorted through a red carpet and had their pictures taken by "paparazzi."

Susette Weiss of south Fort Myers brought her friend, Denise Panunte, who was visiting from Canada, to the festivities.

"They have the finest jewelry in southwest Florida and the most knowledge in half the United States," said Weiss. who wore a black dress and feathers in her hair. "I just love the party."

The party also included musician Robert Williamson and door prizes.

"We are also saluting the military and giving the community a different event," said Congress, who is related to the Congress family but his store is not affiliated with Congress Jewelers.

ECS puts endowments to work

Students at the Evangelical Christian School are getting a boost in their education.

The school in south Fort Myers recently was awarded two grants that are allowing students to take their classroom lessons into the real world.

Students received two $500 grants from the ExxonMobil Education Alliance Program and Publix Charities, which help local schools with supplies or other endeavors.

“Everything that we are doing and every grant we received will be used for teaching the children a skill they can use later in life,” said Lisa Spearman, the director of development at the school.

Spearman wrote a letter to Publix Charities explaining the school’s need for a grant to purchase two digital cameras for the newsletter and other events.

“We have a growing wish list online and in the letter, I talked to them about it and said that we have significant needs at the school,” Spearman said, adding that Publix was quick to respond. “We were able to purchase two cameras, and the children are using this stuff, so we are teaching them how to use the photography in conjunction with the newsletter.”

The eight-page, quarterly ECS newsletter is mailed to parents, grandparents and school alumni.

“The cameras are a big help because we used to use the cameras of the students that worked with me on the newsletter,” said Denise Swafford, the technology coordinator, who oversees the newsletter and the journalism students who work on it. “Now, we can get the quality pictures that we need and it’s 8.1 megapixels and has 15 times the zoom.”

The $500 grant from the ExxonMobil program was used to purchase mats for the K4 program students.

“They had some mats but this gets them two-thirds of the way to what they need,” Swafford said. The mats are used for story time, game time and Bible lessons. “This gives them a place for children to gather indoors and they are not just on the carpet but have a special place to sit.”

The Evangelical Christian School is still in need of additional money to purchase more mats for the elementary school children.

Child-care center to close for week after shooting

This story was reported on deadline to run in the next day's paper

Bobbie Noonan's Child Care center preschool will be closed today as it undergoes repairs after Friday's shooting death of teacher and mother Christine Marie Lozier-Dunn.

Two meetings will be held this afternoon for staff, parents and children, who received word Sunday by phone the school, at 1217 Cape Coral Parkway, would be closed all week. The Bobbie Noonan Academy day care will remain open; it's located about four miles from the center.

"It's very difficult to process information like that ... this is beyond anything anybody could imagine," said Roberta Noonan, owner of the Cape Coral Parkway center, who was in Chicago on business when the shooting occurred. "I was in total disbelief."

Robert Dunn, 44, the man accused of shooting his 36-year-old estranged wife, allegedly forced his way into a bathroom at the center and shot Lozier-Dunn in front of toddlers. He was arrested and remains in custody, charged with first-degree murder. The couple were in the process of a divorce.

"It's hard to get your mind around it and when I finally did, I was so angry at that man, who was a father himself," Noonan said. "How anyone who is a father could do such a thing in a center full of children."

No children were hurt, but she credits the staff for their ability to protect the youngsters and risk their own lives.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of the staff and how they functioned the way they should have ... putting the children first," Noonan said.

Apart from offering individual and group counseling, the center also will be re-evaluating its safety measures, Noonan said. Staff also will figure out what else can be done to protect children.

"What those (security measures) will be I don't know because he tried the front door and it was secure. He tried the back door and couldn't get in," Noonan said.

She said she has plans to walk the building to figure out how Dunn breached an 8-foot fence near the playground.

One parent isn't comfortable.

"We don't know what we are going to do. This wasn't supposed to happen," said Fred Tavangar of Cape Coral, whose 3-year-old granddaughter, Jasmine Morano, was inside at the time of the shooting. "The day care was the best and safest place in Cape Coral for her, but right now the feeling is not the same."

Jasmine isn't fully aware of the situation, said Tavangar, who was one of two family members of students in the building when shots were fired.

"My point is that there was some stranger in the building. Jasmine just keeps saying, 'There was a monster inside my school,' " Tavangar said about his granddaughter, who has attended the center for two years. "I'm so sorry for that lady. I met her and she was Jasmine's teacher last year ... this shouldn't have happened."

Because of grandparents such as Tavangar, the center has plans to celebrate Lozier-Dunn's life by naming a classroom after her and placing a picture in the room.

"We need to make Christine's life a wonderful thing because she was a wonderful teacher ... she loved kids and never felt she was at work doing work," Noonan said, noting Lozier-Dunn also was a mother to Allison, 2. "We don't want her memory to be lost and right now ... parents and staff are really hurting."