The Dodgers Little Leaguers at Rutenberg Park in south Fort Myers have an unlikely new mascot.
And, to the best of their knowledge, it had big yellow eyes and a heck of a grip.
During a pre-season practice, Kenny Hernandez, 12, was hitting baseballs at the park’s batting cages.
The balls whizzed past his bat a few times and when he went to retrieve them, something jumped under the batting cages netting.
“I was batting and I saw something jump,” Kenny said, adding that he then ran for his coach Steve Belcher and parent Steve Wetter. “It had big yellow eyes.”
The coaches ran over and discovered that the jumping animal was a ground owl that had somehow trapped itself in the nets.
What baffled the coach and players most was that the owl had to have flown in through a small break in the tightly woven and tried to escape and got stuck.
They knew they had to rescue it.
“The more we tried to get it freed ... the more it struggled and just gripped to everything,” said Wetter adding that they had to use gloves and a pocket knife to cut the bird loose.
Cutting the bird loose was difficult because the owl, which has been nicknamed Dodger Blue, was resisting.
“He was fussing around ... an owl doesn’t want to be touched,” said Brian Batiz, the assistant coach of the Dodgers who was present the day of the rescue.
The owl was eventually freed and the players cheered the bird on as it flew into the air and disappeared.
It hasn’t been seen since.
But the experience was one many of the players haven’t forgotten.
Josh Schneider, 12, said it was a unique experience to come for practice and leave with a good story.
“I was the next in line and all I saw were big yellow eyes,” he said.
Schneider’s brother Jake, 10, was happy to see that the owl didn’t sustain any injuries.
But, Julius Forbes, 11, and Jacob Wetter, 10, put it best.
“I felt good that we saved it and we got to see it fly away,”they said.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Summer camp options plentiful in south Fort Myers
Children in south Fort Myers are gearing up to take their final exams while their parents and grandparents scramble to get them signed up to area summer camps offering something fun, safe and educational.
Lucky for parents, the south Fort Myers area has plenty of summer camp options if they sign up early.
“We fill up very quickly,” said Debbie Derums, the program manager for Lee County Parks and Recreation. “We’ve been around for years and we have very popular camps and people like to send their kids to us.”
Sending your kids to area summer camps might be a challenge if parents become too picky or indecisive.
“A couple of our camps are sold out ... Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center was full by the second day of registration,” said Derums, who oversees programs throughout the park system and makes sure there is something for ages 6 to 16. "All of our camps are similar but it’s the location of Wa-Ke Hatchee that is popular. Anybody who lives in that whole south Fort Myers area picks it as their biggest choice.”
There are several other options.
At Canterbury School in south Fort Myers there is a traditional summer camp and academic programs for ages 4 to 18.
This year the school has added a few new programs including an actors basic combat skills class for the stage and a soccer school taught by John Robinson, a professional soccer player from the United Kingdom.
“Parents want somewhere that their kids can have good supervision and learn something,” said Kathy Edwards, the school’s spokeswoman. “Summer shouldn’t be just a time to let your mind go slack. You should keep exercising your mind, and that’s what our summer camps and academic programs are about.”
Edwards said there is an added benefit to exposing children to Canterbury.
“It's a good way to see if Canterbury is a good match for their child. And I don't think many schools offer academic programs anymore,” Edwards said. “Canterbury has a tried and true reputation and parents bring their kids back year after year.”
Some of Canterbury’s offerings are selling out quickly, though. The marine biology and beginning band classes are filling up.
The Alliance for the Arts summer camps are also a big hit in the area because some children like to spend their summer in theatre, dance, voice and literary arts.
“We’ve been taking registration for two months and we always sell out,” said Amy Smith, the education coordinator for the alliance, who urges parents to make a reservation as soon as possible. “Our camps are really an opportunity for kids who are interested in experiencing something they wouldn't ordinarily get to do.”
And to give kids something out of the ordinary, the Alliance has partnered with the Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre to offer a month long musical theatre program.
Middle school aged children will spend time with professional actors and have a chance to perform on a professional stage.
“People usually can’t wait to sing up for camp because we have been doing it for so long ... we have it down,” said Smith adding that the new program will allow the Alliance to accept an additional 25 children a week.”It’s summer and kids should be having fun.”
But it’s up to parents and grandparents to ensure that summer fun.
“If people wait to long, those openings will be gone,” said Derums. “Summer camps fill up very quickly. If people wait to sign up two or three weeks before school is over ... it’s too late.”
Lucky for parents, the south Fort Myers area has plenty of summer camp options if they sign up early.
“We fill up very quickly,” said Debbie Derums, the program manager for Lee County Parks and Recreation. “We’ve been around for years and we have very popular camps and people like to send their kids to us.”
Sending your kids to area summer camps might be a challenge if parents become too picky or indecisive.
“A couple of our camps are sold out ... Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center was full by the second day of registration,” said Derums, who oversees programs throughout the park system and makes sure there is something for ages 6 to 16. "All of our camps are similar but it’s the location of Wa-Ke Hatchee that is popular. Anybody who lives in that whole south Fort Myers area picks it as their biggest choice.”
There are several other options.
At Canterbury School in south Fort Myers there is a traditional summer camp and academic programs for ages 4 to 18.
This year the school has added a few new programs including an actors basic combat skills class for the stage and a soccer school taught by John Robinson, a professional soccer player from the United Kingdom.
“Parents want somewhere that their kids can have good supervision and learn something,” said Kathy Edwards, the school’s spokeswoman. “Summer shouldn’t be just a time to let your mind go slack. You should keep exercising your mind, and that’s what our summer camps and academic programs are about.”
Edwards said there is an added benefit to exposing children to Canterbury.
“It's a good way to see if Canterbury is a good match for their child. And I don't think many schools offer academic programs anymore,” Edwards said. “Canterbury has a tried and true reputation and parents bring their kids back year after year.”
Some of Canterbury’s offerings are selling out quickly, though. The marine biology and beginning band classes are filling up.
The Alliance for the Arts summer camps are also a big hit in the area because some children like to spend their summer in theatre, dance, voice and literary arts.
“We’ve been taking registration for two months and we always sell out,” said Amy Smith, the education coordinator for the alliance, who urges parents to make a reservation as soon as possible. “Our camps are really an opportunity for kids who are interested in experiencing something they wouldn't ordinarily get to do.”
And to give kids something out of the ordinary, the Alliance has partnered with the Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre to offer a month long musical theatre program.
Middle school aged children will spend time with professional actors and have a chance to perform on a professional stage.
“People usually can’t wait to sing up for camp because we have been doing it for so long ... we have it down,” said Smith adding that the new program will allow the Alliance to accept an additional 25 children a week.”It’s summer and kids should be having fun.”
But it’s up to parents and grandparents to ensure that summer fun.
“If people wait to long, those openings will be gone,” said Derums. “Summer camps fill up very quickly. If people wait to sign up two or three weeks before school is over ... it’s too late.”
Center hosts Moovie in Park
The Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center in south Fort Myers is hosting a “Moovie in the Park” on April 5 for south Fort Myers parents and children to spend quality time together.
The movie night, which begins at 5 p.m. will feature “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown”and will be played on a two-story inflated screen with professional stereo sound.
“It’s a nice family-oriented activity and the kids can run on the field and have a good time,” said Steve Cox, of the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center.
The Chick-fil-A at the Cypress Lake Plaza is the title sponsor of the event and will be selling food and hosting other activities until the movie begins at 7 p.m.
“This is an opportunity for us to connect to the community and the children in the area,” said Steve Bishop, the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A at Cypress Lake Plaza.
Bishop got involved with the Wa-Ke Hatchee center because his son attends the after school program and summer camp.
“We got to know the people there and they knew that I owned the Chick-fil-A and we discussed opportunities for sponsorship,” said Bishop, who has worked with the recreational center for the last three movie events.
The event is $5 and includes free popcorn courtesy of Lexington Country Club and activities like pony rides, family style games and Miracle’s Bat-A-Ball.
“It's always a G-rated movie that is family oriented and that's the type of restaurant we like to operate here,” Bishop said.
The recreational center has plans to host the movie event every year in the spring, Cox said.
The movie night, which begins at 5 p.m. will feature “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown”and will be played on a two-story inflated screen with professional stereo sound.
“It’s a nice family-oriented activity and the kids can run on the field and have a good time,” said Steve Cox, of the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center.
The Chick-fil-A at the Cypress Lake Plaza is the title sponsor of the event and will be selling food and hosting other activities until the movie begins at 7 p.m.
“This is an opportunity for us to connect to the community and the children in the area,” said Steve Bishop, the franchise owner of Chick-fil-A at Cypress Lake Plaza.
Bishop got involved with the Wa-Ke Hatchee center because his son attends the after school program and summer camp.
“We got to know the people there and they knew that I owned the Chick-fil-A and we discussed opportunities for sponsorship,” said Bishop, who has worked with the recreational center for the last three movie events.
The event is $5 and includes free popcorn courtesy of Lexington Country Club and activities like pony rides, family style games and Miracle’s Bat-A-Ball.
“It's always a G-rated movie that is family oriented and that's the type of restaurant we like to operate here,” Bishop said.
The recreational center has plans to host the movie event every year in the spring, Cox said.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Record 12,000 people turn out for Dunbar parade
Story was written on deadline for the next day's Monday paper. It ran on the front of the B section.
Velda Morgan came to the 61st annual Dunbar Easter Parade and Celebration to have a good time and mark the holiday.
While walking around, she bumped into an old classmate she hadn’t seen since they graduated in 1980.
“I couldn’t believe it! We went to Riverdale High school together and it was like a class reunion for me,” said Morgan, whose husband, Fred, organized the parade.
“We caught up and it was very nice to have that quality time. The day was just beautiful,” she said.
Parents, children and grandparents gathered along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and nearby streets Sunday to watch 150 floats, customized cars with spinning rims and street performers march to rap, gospel and hip-hop.
More than 12,000 people came to the parade, the biggest crowd in its 61-year history.
“I’ve never seen this many people come out,” said Fred Morgan, noting that last year’s parade boasted a crowd of 10,000. “The community comes together for this home-driven event because it unites this community.”
This year’s event, Fred Morgan said, was revamped to be more organized and to include more activities.
“The theme of this year’s parade was ‘The Dunbar Family Rebirth’ and that’s why we worked hard to give people something better,” said Fred Morgan, adding that a committee of 20 people helped him reorganize the parade to include 35 food vendors.
“This parade was founded to celebrate the youth of our community, and it’s easy to see that it’s respected and well-received,” he said.
Keeping the parade organized wasn’t always easy, though.
Several paradegoers, in their Sunday best or in bunny outfits, handed out candy, T-shirts and CDs to the crowd. The interaction led Fort Myers police officers to ride by on motorcycles and ask the crowds to stay off the road and make way for the floats.
The fun literally rolled by as people gathered on street corners, sidewalks and on their porches to look on as brightly colored floats, customized cars and motorcycles cruised by, roaring their engines and blaring music.
“People come from all over for this parade to see people, eat and be together,” said Ivory Scott, organizer of Saturday’s basketball tournament that’s part of the Easter weekend festivities. “It’s good to get the young people in our community involved to do something positive and have a good time.”
The parade brings many people together, and that’s what Velda Morgan appreciates.
“You see a lot of people you haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.
Velda Morgan came to the 61st annual Dunbar Easter Parade and Celebration to have a good time and mark the holiday.
While walking around, she bumped into an old classmate she hadn’t seen since they graduated in 1980.
“I couldn’t believe it! We went to Riverdale High school together and it was like a class reunion for me,” said Morgan, whose husband, Fred, organized the parade.
“We caught up and it was very nice to have that quality time. The day was just beautiful,” she said.
Parents, children and grandparents gathered along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and nearby streets Sunday to watch 150 floats, customized cars with spinning rims and street performers march to rap, gospel and hip-hop.
More than 12,000 people came to the parade, the biggest crowd in its 61-year history.
“I’ve never seen this many people come out,” said Fred Morgan, noting that last year’s parade boasted a crowd of 10,000. “The community comes together for this home-driven event because it unites this community.”
This year’s event, Fred Morgan said, was revamped to be more organized and to include more activities.
“The theme of this year’s parade was ‘The Dunbar Family Rebirth’ and that’s why we worked hard to give people something better,” said Fred Morgan, adding that a committee of 20 people helped him reorganize the parade to include 35 food vendors.
“This parade was founded to celebrate the youth of our community, and it’s easy to see that it’s respected and well-received,” he said.
Keeping the parade organized wasn’t always easy, though.
Several paradegoers, in their Sunday best or in bunny outfits, handed out candy, T-shirts and CDs to the crowd. The interaction led Fort Myers police officers to ride by on motorcycles and ask the crowds to stay off the road and make way for the floats.
The fun literally rolled by as people gathered on street corners, sidewalks and on their porches to look on as brightly colored floats, customized cars and motorcycles cruised by, roaring their engines and blaring music.
“People come from all over for this parade to see people, eat and be together,” said Ivory Scott, organizer of Saturday’s basketball tournament that’s part of the Easter weekend festivities. “It’s good to get the young people in our community involved to do something positive and have a good time.”
The parade brings many people together, and that’s what Velda Morgan appreciates.
“You see a lot of people you haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.
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