PHOTOS: Ultimate Ski Lake community in Estero

Jerry Nunn, 46, of Estero, water skis on a man-made lake at the Ultimate Ski Lake community in Estero.
This photo of Jerry Nunn was shot by Alejandra Diaz and ran on the front page of the Sunday Growth section with a story written by another reporter.

Family home must move 50 feet back

Maria and Felix Gonzalez’s home sits on top of metal structures because of a road project that caused them to move their house back 50 feet.

Tom Doyle says it takes magic to move a house, but Maria and Felix Gonzalez know it takes much more than that.
Money being the No. 1 thing.

The Gonzalezes have spent $200,000 to move their three bedroom, two bath home 50 feet into the backyard.

It wasn’t the ideal situation for the family but Lee County officials are expanding East Terry Street and offered to buy their home for $275,000.

The house would then be demolished to make space for the road.

“I think the street expansion is needed because there is so much traffic but the problem is that we have to move our house so it can happen,” said Maria Gonzalez, 44.

The Gonzalezes also opted to move the house because the county’s money wasn’t enough to buy a similar house in the area and they still owe the bank $340,000 for the home.

In essence, they’d have to use the county’s $275,000 plus an additional $65,000 of their own money to pay of their mortgage.

“What the (county) gave us just wasn’t enough to pay the bank and find another house. We would be in worse shape,” said Maria, who has lived in Bonita Springs since 1979. “I love this area, too, and it would be hard to relocate. We are used to being here.”

The home is being moved by Flint and Doyle Inc., who not only lifted the house but also the family swimming pool, which was installed just two years ago.

“You move a pool the same way you move a house ... disconnect the water and electricity and with dollies, move it back,” said Doyle, the part-owner of the trucking and house moving company.

But moving a house and pool isn’t as easy as it sounds. Doyle, who joked that it takes magic to move houses, had crews lift the house by placing a steel supportive system under the building, jacking it up and moving it with a dolly system.

“We put it in the air and then the foundation will be raised so plumbers and electricians can come and connect the utilities,” said Doyle, adding that the process normally takes a month or two to complete.

Unfortunately, for the Gonzalez’s it’s been three months and counting while they continue to pay rent on a small Naples apartment. Most of their things are still in the house.

It could be March before they can move back home.

“It’s taking longer because the other jack we have is tied up in a project in Fort Myers,” Doyle said.

Maria hopes to get back into her home soon because the couple’s housecleaning and landscaping jobs aren’t covering the bills — the county’s money is not only paying for the house move but lawyer fees as well — the rent is coming from their own pockets.

“Sometimes necessity shows you what you are made of,” Maria said. “My son started ninth grade at Estero High and we moved him to Gulf Coast High (in Naples) in the middle of the year and then we will have to move him back in March.”
Her other son, Felix, 22, is living in Bonita Springs.

“We are broke right now and it’s upsetting that we pay taxes and the mortgage on our home and they just put us out,” she said.

But the family isn’t alone. Two other homes were acquired by Lee County as part of the project that extends from Old 41 to Imperial Street, said Nicole Maxey, the engineering manager I for Lee County.

Once the house is lowered, the Gonzalezes hope the noise from the street traffic doesn’t keep the family up at night.

“The noise might be unbearable but we have to make the best of it,” said Maria, adding that they could have lost their home altogether. “I like my house. It’s beautiful but now it won’t be the same so close to the street. It’s crazy.”

Gallery sells supplies to area knitters

Knitting isn’t for grandmas anymore and the Golden Knitting Gallery in Bonita Springs is out to prove that to their customers.

The store, which moved to the Bonita Springs area in August, sells the latest in yarns, needles, and knitting supplies including kits to make children’s clothing.

“We have everything you could want for knitting. But we only sell the supplies not knitted items,” said Layne Cook, the store’s manager and owner.

Cook makes sure that all her supplies are organized in bundles, shelves and baskets throughout the 1,900-square- foot space to ensure people get what they want.

“We have beautiful yarns and that makes it even easier for someone who is starting out,” said Cook, who knits and has been an artist for 25 years.

Anyone who is interested in learning to knit can take classes at the gallery that offers advanced knitting as well.

“Knitting is popular all over the country. And, we want to teach those who want to try it out,” said Cook, who hosts a knitting group on the second floor of the store.

Cook hosts the knitting groups because people get together and teach each other about different knitting techniques.

“It’s a social thing and the (knitters) get together and yak. It’s creative and it’s relaxing but the most important thing is that it’s portable,” she said.

The portability of the craft has caused its popularity to skyrocket in Bonita Springs with customers coming from other places to buy yarns.

“We have a nice selection but what sets us apart is the kits for babies,” said Cook, referring to the other knitting stores in the area.

The kits, which give knitters the opportunity to make baby hats, ponchos and sweaters were created by Kim Dickerson, the store’s previous owner.

“Everybody else sells what we sell but none have Kim who designs exclusively for us,” Cook said.

Cook used to purchase knitting supplies from Dickerson when the store was located in Naples Park. But after Cook bought it and owned it for five years, the landlord passed away and she was forced to find another location.

“I looked all over but Bonita Springs was the perfect location. I love it here and our Naples customers are still able to come and buy items,” she said.

Having her customer base follow the store is a testament to Cook’s love of all things knitting.

“Knitting is very creative and it’s something everyone can do,” Cook said.

Culinary center inspires interest in cooking

Martin Murphy, executive chef at the Robb & Stucky KitchenAid Culinary Center, pours corn cake batter into a pan during an informational class.


Neil and Kate Armal enjoy a coriander crusted scallop over a sweet corn cake with saute of sweet peppers during a class at the Robb & Stucky KitchenAid Culinary Center.

Martin Murphy is cooking up unique eats at the Robb & Stucky KitchenAid Culinary Center in Bonita Springs and everyone is invited to come out, eat and learn about food.

Murphy, the center’s executive chef, is offering interactive classes in which students are invited to ask questions, learn about food, ways to prepare it and how to spice up their daily meals.

“My philosophy is to get you to appreciate and enjoy cooking,” said Murphy, to more than 25 attendees.

The culinary facility, which opened in March 2005, is the first of its kind in Bonita Springs.

“He writes all the menus and researches everything so when he talks about the food, everyone learns so much,” said Jan Secrest, Robb & Stucky’s marketing coordinator.

Built within the Robb & Stucky store, which sells kitchen appliances and other home decor items, the center has a kitchen equipped with cameras and screens that show students exactly what’s going into Murphy’s food.

“I want new flavors, techniques, new equipment and new ideas,” said Nancy Spence of Marco Island, who has changed her way of cooking since taking the classes. “There aren’t that many cooking classes in town and this one comes with history about the food.”

In the class, which costs around $40, students are given recipes that detail what will be made based on the day’s theme.

“I put together these menus on a plane ride but it is just as easy for you to do the same,” said Murphy about a recent class about cooking appetizers. “I try to share my experiences in the kitchen, my philosophy and ways for you to cook at home.”

During a recent class, Murphy cooked a coriander crusted scallop over a sweet corn cake with saute of sweet peppers and showed students that it’s creativity that makes the dish.

“You can make anything an appetizer; it’s all about portions,” said Murphy, who’s been a chef for 25 years. “Appetizers are very trendy right now and people like to eat smaller foods with different tastes.”

Neil Arnal and his wife Kate have tried Murphy’s recipes at home and stand by them.

“We love it; we’ve been to several (classes) and it’s always extremely educational,” Neil Arnal said. “We’ve tried them at home with guests and things always work extremely well. We love the class.”

Furniture studio to support art scholarship

The Art League of Bonita Springs and Design Within Reach have teamed up to provide scholarships to give thriving young artists, designers, and architects a chance to go to college, technical programs or additional classes at the Art League.

“We have a lot of kids in our program that wouldn’t be able to go to college or even pay for our classes if we didn’t have these scholarship opportunities,” said Joni Loehnis, Art League spokesperson.

Design Within Reach, a classic modern furniture store, is donating money to the scholarship program because, after opening a new studio at the Coconut Point shopping district in Estero in November, the studio realized it wanted to give back to the community in a big way.

And, it is allowing the community to give back as well until Jan. 15.

Following its grand opening celebration on Thursday, the studio began its “Percent for Art” program in which 10 percent of all sales between Jan. 8 and Jan. 15 are awarded to high school students who intend to study art or design at the college level.

“We invite the community to come out and purchase the very, very cool looking furniture we have,” said Nanette Dorbeck, the studio account executive, who won’t give an estimate on how much the studio will be able to donate until sales end on Tuesday. “We are all about what the Art League does because we are supporters of design, too. We are thrilled that we can do this for them.”

Art students are the ones who will be seeing the big rewards but not until mid-March after the Student Showcase at the Art League.

“We get kids from Collier and Lee counties that come out to our classes and all participating students have a chance to be in the show,” said Loehnis, about the showcase that includes a gallery exhibition and awards ceremony. “This partnership will gives us an additional scholarship and give one more kid a chance to study art and that’s important to us.”

Last year the Art League handed out more than $12,000 worth of college tuition scholarships and other students received more than $9,000 to attend classes at the Art League.

“We know that this money will help local artists and that’s what we want. We wanted to support the nonprofit group as well,” Dorbeck said.

“It’s always good to have more money to go to school. It’s part of our mission statement to help enrich the culture of our diverse community,” Loehnis said. “We will be able to stick with that mission with the studio’s help.”