Southwest Spotlight - August 2011

Page 32 Southwest Spotlight August 2011
S O U T H W E S T
AUGUST 2011 Vol.2, No.8 FREE
Events, things to do and opportunities to give back to our community in and around Bonita Springs
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YMCA update 6
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Fire alerts 6
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Policing
paradise
Staff Photo | info@swspotlight.com
Lieutenant Dave Piasecki stands outside the Community Policing Unit off Old
41 in Bonita Springs. Frequent police contact with our citizens has developed a
reservoir of knowledge about our community in an effort to continue to en-
hance the safety and quality of Bonita Springs.
By Kathy OFlinn
kathy@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs As Lieu-
tenant Dave Piasecki stood
on line at a local fast food
restaurant, he noticed two
teenagers in front of him
ordering glasses of water and
two large fries. Are you guys
just snacking or are you guys
broke? he asked. After they
admitted being broke, he or-
dered two cheeseburgers for
each of them.
Fast forward four years.
The Bonita Springs Com-
munity Policing Unit re-
ceived a report of a scuffle.
Officers responded and
brought to the stationhouse
an inebriated young man,
spitting and kicking the win-
dows of the car.
When Lieutenant Piasecki
poked his head into the
patrol car, he warned the
man to stop. The man said
he would behave. Why
should I believe you? asked
Piasecki. Do you remember
four years ago? the man
said. You bought me two
cheeseburgers at Wendys.
A 16-year veteran of the
force, Piasecki heads the Lee
County Sheriffs Community
Policing Unit in Bonita
Springs, housed in a non-
descript cement block build-
ing squeezed behind the
citys Community Hall off
Old 41.
Piaseckis 6-foot-7-inch
frame can be intimidating,
but the candy jars on his
Continued on page 30
By Peter R. OFlinn
prof@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs Heres a
quiz. Name the United States
River that rises an average
of nine feet each year, from
its peak low to high water
level? The Colorado River
after the snow melt? No. If
you said the Imperial River,
as it meanders behind
Flamingo Island Flea Market,
you are correct.
OK, maybe the Colorado
is a bit wider and deeper,
but it is no more fun. So say
some who paddle the Im-
perial. In the late summer
and early fall the west bound
water flow is so intense that
Bonitas hidden parks
If I call them up,
theyre here.
They slow the race
car drivers. Theyre
the best.
Mike Augustine,
Owner of
Stans Super Subs
Kicking the ball 9
Advertising Sales
Kathy O'Flinn
Office Manager
Katie O'Flinn
katie@swspotlight.com
Contributing Writers
Bill Barnes
Charles J. Cavaliere
D. K. Christi
Meghan Easterly
Max Harris
Dorota Harris
Ben Nelson Jr.
Peter R. O'Flinn
Contributing Photographers
William L. Meyers
David Michael
Logan Newell
Robert L. Smith
Locally owned and
operated since 2010
(239) 287-6474
info@swspotlight.com
PO Box 1946
Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Southwest Spotlight, LLC
swspotlight.com
S O U T H W E S T
Publisher
Peter A. O'Flinn
peter@swspotlight.com
This month
5 Questionable advice
6 Father Stan saga
6 YMCA update
6 Fire alerts
9 Kicking the ball
10 Beautifiying Bonita
11 Literacy Council
merger
13 A quest
17 Feel-good
shopping spree
20 Ribbon cuttings
26 Bonitas new school
Every Issue
27
5 Ben Nelsons column
6 Up and Down the Trail
14 Spotlight Real Estate
Watch
15 Catch of the month
19 Events
20 Bonita Business Beat
21 Bonitas Best Friends
23 Artist of the month
Cynthia Wismann
27 Town Talk
28 Opportunities
to give back
31 Sunset of the month
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August 2011 Southwest Spotlight Page 3
Southwest Spotlight increases
distribution to 20,000 copies,
Feeling fortunate
As a Bonita Springs Silver Sneaker YMCA member I want to commend you on your
article on Page 13 and the excellent article about Richard Barber on page 14.
I feel fortunate to have received the publication in the mail. Keep up the good work.
Dom Trentadue, Bonita Springs
The Spotlight theres Nuttinglikit
Before any more time passes, I want to thank you for your colorful, enlightening and
creative publication.
My neighbors and I (here in downtown Old Bonita, our Grove Neighborhood, Nuttinglikit)
feel that there is nothing like your publication. It is refreshing and by the advertisements,
supported by the local community. I love that the stories are candid and so very personal.
We look forward to our new Local Newspaper arriving in our mail.
Thank you for your vision...we are enjoying the view!
The Boochers - Marc and Barbara
Nuttinglikit, Bonita Springs
Editors note: If youre not receiving the Southwest Spotlight on your doorstep or in your mail
please email your name and address to info@swspotlight.com to start receiving your free copy.
Tears in my eyes
Just what the doctor ordered made me laugh so hard. I had tears in my eyes when finished.
Thanks for the great TEE HEE! Apparently Lori drives like I do.
Sheila Wojtowicz, Bonita Springs
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By Ben Nelson Jr.
Bonita Springs When
youre new to an area it
takes a while to become
familiar with the vegetation
and creatures that inhabit
your yard. Your neighbors
will always be willing to
help, not only because
theyre nice people, but also
because its so much fun
for them to watch you try
to implement bogus advice.
Lori and I were just start-
ing to fix up our little place
in Georgia, planting trees,
mowing and such, when
our dog Molly and I had
our first experience with a
paper wasp nest. As she
watched us from the porch,
it took a while for Lori to
figure out what was going
on. All she could see was
Molly and me running for
our lives, spinning around,
snapping and swatting at
the air like cartoon charac-
ters. Loris laughter turned
into sympathy when she
saw Mollys golf ball sized
swollen, upper lip. Awww...
Look at her. She turned to
me, ignoring my one gigan-
tic red ear. Youve got to
get rid of that nest! (YES,
I thought... a mission!).
Three trips to the hard-
ware store and the hornets
were not only still alive, but
also really mad. Empty cans
of spray were scattered
everywhere and the pear
tree was soaked with poison.
Obviously I needed some
local advice if I was to avenge
our fat lipped Terrier and
take back our yard so I
jumped on my four wheeler
and began riding from
neighbor to neighbor, taking
a poll regarding the best way
to get rid of a paper wasp
nest. Just sneak up on it
and then slip a bag over it.
Then you can just carry it
away! said one neighbor,
who had obviously always
wanted to see someone try
it. Just knock it out of the
tree with a stick, said anoth-
er while partially covering
his mouth with his hand to
keep from laughing.
Finally I went to see Old
Billy, whose family had been
in Georgia so long they had
likely evolved there from
the very possums they now
hunted. Billy, whose favorite
expression is Right tween
the eyes! leaned over and
spit tobacco juice out, then,
eased back in his rocking
chair and said Ben, you
gotta put fire to it! Wait
til its good and dark out,
then get a long stick with a
kerosene rag on it, light it,
stick it up under there and
burn em up! Finally!... an
idea that made complete
sense to the teenager that
still resides inside of me. As
I rode back to the house I
thought how perfect this
plan was. It involved fire,
angry hornets, running
around in the woods in
pitch black darkness while
carrying a long stick and a
can of kerosene. It was per-
fect! I mean... What could
possibly go wrong?
Having already lost one
battle and an ear to the
wasps, I decided to wear
protective clothing for the
mission. So I put on sweat
pants and a hooded sweat
shirt, rubber boots and
gloves. Then, I cinched the
hood tightly around my face
and put goggles on. When
night fell... I was ready. I
snuck up on the sleeping
wasps, lit the torch at the
end of a twelve-foot long
pole and then held the flame
under the nest. It was soon
engulfed in flames. Of
course, so was part of the
tree. Collateral damage of
war I thought to myself as
I watched it burn.
Several cars stopped out
on the road, watching me.
(Neighbors!) As I waived
the still burning torch in
victory, they all immediately
sped off throwing gravel
with their spinning tires.
Well that was kind of
weird, I said to myself, as
I put down the torch, took
my goggles and white hood
off. I looked over at Lori
on the porch and shrugged,
but then turned to look at
the pear tree. It was engulfed
in flames right where the
trunk and two branches
intersected in the shape
of a burning cross! Since
that night we get very few
visitors in Georgia any-
more mostly just Billy.
For some reason, hes always
ready to help.
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Questionable gardening advice
What could possibly
go wrong?
Empty cans of spray were scattered
everywhere and the pear tree
was soaked with poison.
Neil Nelson | Special to the Spotlight
Staff Report
Father Stan saga
Its been over a year since
the Venice Diocese put Father
Stan Strycharz in adminis-
trative limbo. Now, with the
latest contretemps involving
Bishop Frank Dewane and
Father Stan, it may be feeling
a bit like purgatory for the
former pastor of St. Leos
Roman Catholic Church. It
appears that he may be more
comfortable with his status
being finally determined in
Rome, Italy rather than
Venice, Florida.
Strycharz was placed on
administrative leave by the
Venice Diocese, which over-
sees Church affairs in south-
west Florida, in July 2010.
While his status as a priest
is not affected he may not
publicly perform priestly
functions. He continues to
be paid salary and benefits.
While on leave, Strycharz
may not speak publicly about
his situation, giving rise to
a Catch-22. Among other
things, the Diocese is looking
into whether he has breached
his priestly vow of obedi-
ence. So, if Strycharz speaks
to explain his adherence to
the vow of obedience, he
may break that very vow.
Though he is not free to
speak, his views can be heard,
courtesy of Save the South-
west Florida Diocese. That
group, formed by St. Leo
parishioners who support
Strycharz, has engaged a
public relations firm as a
spokesperson.
Dewane recently wrote a
letter to St. Leo parishioners
about a review of the
Parishs financial records
conducted by Larson
Allen, LLP, an independent
accounting firm.
The letter listed certain
expenses mentioned in the
Larson Allen report, char-
acterized as unsupported
or questionable, for which
it said Fr. Strycharz has
offered neither justification
nor satisfactory explanations
to the independent auditors.
Shortly after release of
the letter, a statement from
Save the Diocese offered
rejoinders on the expense
items. We are shocked by
the malice and bad faith that
[Bishop Dewane] showed in
publishing his letter, it stat-
ed. Also, a defamation of
character lawsuit against
Dewane was being prepared,
it said.
The largest expense item
listed in Dewanes letter is
approximately $665,000 of
parish fundsused to pay
Father Strycharzs personal
credit card statements, for
which no sales receipts or
invoices were provided by
Father or were located at the
Parish.
As to this, all Visa state-
ments were delivered, said
the Save Our Diocese com-
munication, which cata-
logued various expenditures.
They included tiles for the
parish office, parish Christ-
mas trees, books for religious
education, prescriptions and
motel rooms for people in
need and an icon purchased
for Bishop Dewane.
Dewanes letter stated that
St. Leos paid $149,705 to
Royal Painting Services,
which is owned by Fr.
Strycharzs brother. For
these fees, Save Our Diocese
describes extensive work over
five years, including painting
and remodeling work on
various buildings.
For another expense,
tuition payments in the
amount of $171,877 for the
former church office man-
agers children, it should
be noted that tuition was
also paid for many children
of families active within the
parish, said Save Our Dio-
cese.
The eventual determina-
tion of Strycharzs status
within the Church is a matter
of Canon Law. No decision
has been made as to what
canonical procedure will be
followed, pending further
factual investigation, said
Billy Atwell, spokesman for
the Diocese of Venice.
Under Canon Law, cases
like Strycharz may proceed
in one of several ways, said
J. Michael Ritty, a New York
Canon Law expert contacted
by the Spotlight. Ritty, who
is not involved in the matter,
has represented over 250
priests in Canon Law pro-
ceedings.
In a typical proceeding
three Canon lawyers, nor-
mally priests, serve as judges
in a Canonical trial held in
the local diocese. Participants
include a Canon lawyer who
advocates for the priest and
a promoter of justice, who
presents the case. Witnesses
are called, evidence entered
and arguments heard. Ritty
emphasized that all partici-
pants in a trial are mandated
to search for the truth. Most
trials are expected to be fin-
ished within a year.
After a decision is ren-
dered, an appeal can be made
to an apostolic congrega-
tion in Rome, or in limited
situations directly to the
Apostolic Signatura, the
Churchs supreme court.
Alternative types of pro-
ceedings are available, involv-
ing the local Bishop acting
alone or with the assistance
of two Canon lawyers. In all
instances, appeals are avail-
able to Rome.
When asked for his view
on a defamation case in civil
court, Ritty, while empha-
sizing he was not familiar
with the specifics of the mat-
ter, stated: Normally that
is not permitted, because for
a priest to initiate a civil suit
he needs permission of his
bishop. He noted, however,
that a priest might vindicate
the right to a good reputa-
tion through the Canonical
courts.
YMCA
Hope, but no promises
With the Bonita Springs
YMCAnow in mothballs, it
appears there is some basis
for hope in the community
that the facility can reopen
as a YMCA. YMCA of the
USA officials travelled to
southwest Florida in late July
to facilitate a meeting of sen-
ior level representatives of
YMCA of the Palms, South
County Family YMCA of
Venice, and the Palms Boni-
ta Springs YMCAAdvisory
Board.
It was a positive meet-
ing, said South County
Chief Executive Officer Ken
Modzelewski, who attended
with the Chair of South
Countys Board of Directors.
We are still trying to work
through details to potentially
reinvigorate the current
Bonita Y and reopen it, but
nothing is firm as of this
point in time.
One way or another our
Y is trying to take ownership
of the Bonita Springs Y from
the Palms, said Modzelews-
ki. Whether or not that
would entail some type of
financial arrangement is
something we are trying to
work through with them.
William Burke, Chair of
the Palms Board of Trustees,
said he was hopeful for a
transaction with South
County but that no assur-
ances could be given.
The Palms, a Collier
County organization, closed
the Bonita YMCA in June
after balking at transferring
it to South County. At that
time, Palms said it wanted
to be paid for the property,
something South County
said it was not willing to do.
Fire District wants
to be heard on EMS
Three out of every four
ambulance rides that Boni-
tians take to the hospital end
in Collier County, but when
it comes to deciding who
runs those ambulances, all
Up and Down the Trail
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By Charles J. Cavaliere
Bonita Springs Its like being in
grade school again. Thats how
John Federici, Executive Chef at the
Survey Cafe on Old 41, describes
playing kickball in the Bonita Springs
Adult Kickball League.
Federici started the league in
2010 comprised of six teams. The
league has since grown to eight:
Bonita Benders, One Kick Wonders,
In One Ear-Out Your Mother, Jesses
Orphans, Dazed and Confused,
Bonita Barrachos, Ball Busters and
El Tortugas.
Anyone 21 years of age or older
can join the league. While the game
is somewhat similar to baseball there
are differences. The pitcher, 42 feet
from home plate, rolls a big rubber
ball towards the catcher, the batter
kicks it with his foot, then runs to
first base (bases are 60 feet apart).
The objective is to score runs by
running around the bases without
getting out. Like baseball, there are
three outs either by fly out, tag out
or force out (there are no strikeouts).
Unlike baseball which has nine play-
ers on the field with nine innings
of regulation play, kickball has eight
players on the field and seven innings
of regulation play. Games are usually
won by strategy and speed and not
necessarily brawn. While there is
no set reward for the winning team,
Federici said, the players gain an
internal sense of pride.
Three games are played on six
consecutive Friday evenings in front
of the band shell at Riverside Park
on Old 41 across from Bensons
Grocery at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 rain
or shine unless there is risk of a
severe storm. The season began July
8. Teams are responsible to get their
uniforms, most have a bye week
and a week where they are scheduled
to referee.
After the games, the players go
to a local pub for food, beer and
music. As Federici puts it, Food.
Drink. Kickball. What more can
you ask for?
At the end of the six-week season,
there are three weeks of playoffs
followed by the championship game.
Last years champ was Shear Unity
Salon and Spa.
When asked what the Bonita
Springs Adult Kickball League is all
about, Federici said, Its all about
competitive participation, fun and
social interaction.
New kicks
on the block
Max Deifik, a local Financial Advisor, plays kickball
at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.
Bonita Springs Realtor Jay Berube strikes a power-
ful kick at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.
Executive Chefs, Mortgage Brokers, Fi-
nancial Advisors, Realtors and other
adults gather Friday evenings at River-
side in Bonita Springs to play in the
Bonita Springs Adult Kickball League.
TOWN TALK
Staff Photo | towntalk@swspotlight.com
Josue Contreras was busy giving
the lampposts on Old 41 in
downtown Bonita Springs a fresh
coat of paint last month.
Beautifying Bonita
New crosswalks were recently in-
stalled near Riverside Park. Mo-
tion sensors at the crosswalk
entrances activate blinking lights
that alert drivers of pedestrians.
By Dan Chabot
Special to the Spotlight
Bonita Springs Literacy
efforts in Lee County will
take a new direction soon
with the merger of its two
major literacy groups.
The Literacy Volunteers
of Lee County, based in Fort
Myers, will be merged into
the Literacy Council of Boni-
ta Springs, creating a new
expanded organization that
will bring more literacy
programs to the people of
the county. After all legal
framework is completed, the
organization will be known
as the Literacy Council Gulf
Coast.
Susan Acuna, executive
director of the Literacy
Council of Bonita Springs,
will serve as executive direc-
tor of the new organization,
and Jim Kahl, president of
its board of directors, will
continue in that post with
the new entity.
Both agencies have skills
and experiences that will
enhance the others pro-
grams and services, Acuna
said. Each agency brings
to this process a shared
vision of literacy as a life
skill that transforms the lives
and communities of those
who learn to read, write and
speak English.
The Literacy Council of
Bonita Springs, a non-profit
agency founded in 1989,
serves more than 2,000 stu-
dents, making it one of the
largest literacy organizations
in the country. Its Carol
DeJoy Moms and Tots Fam-
ily Literacy program serves
more than 800 mothers and
their children at seven loca-
tions, including its new
building at 26820 Old 41
Rd. in Bonita Springs.
Approximately 600 vol-
unteers assist the council
in teaching group and indi-
vidual classes in English
language, pronunciation,
writing, conversation, com-
puter classes, GED readiness
and U.S. citizenship.
The agency also offers
worksite literacy programs
at 11 area golf communities
and at the Grande Oak Pub-
lix in Estero. Programs are
funded by United Way,
grants and individual dona-
tions.
Acuna said bringing the
two organizations together
will strengthen existing pro-
grams and even out a pro-
vision of services. The new
group will be able to provide
additional programs to exist-
ing students, while also
adding new students, she
said.
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By D.K. Christi
Bonita Springs We ven-
tured into the wilds of the
Everglades, Blair Audubon
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary,
in search of the internationally
famous ghost orchid (Den-
drophylax lindenii) of
Corkscrew Swamp. I was the
unofficial tour guide. Sum-
mer squalls surrounded us,
but our weather remained
rain free. With water, sun
hats and mosquito potions
just in case, we were well-
prepared for our quest.
As the crow flies, Cork -
screw Swamp would be right
where Bonita Beach Road
might meet US 29. We trav-
eled on Livingston to
Immokalee Road and turned
east for about 20 miles on
mostly four-lane highway.
We kept one eye on the
threatening sky and enjoyed
a lively conversation as the
distance flew by until we saw
the gate to the sanctuary, a
left turn just north of the
State Fair Grounds. A sign
in the main building said
Twelve Blooms. Most ghost
orchids have only one or
two. This ghost orchid pro-
duced up to 20 in a season
and nearly a dozen in one
blooming, a record-breaking
orchid plant worth visiting.
Mosquito preparations
were unnecessary. The eco-
logical balance allows an
occasional deer fly, gnat or
mosquito as an irritation;
but for the most part, a day-
light walk is always pleasant,
even on a scorching summer
day. Evaporation from veg-
etation under the cypress
canopy often creates a
swamp breeze that is more
comfortable than the unfor-
giving sun. Definite temper-
ature drops are noticeable.
About a mile along the
boardwalk, fifty feet off the
boardwalk and about seventy
feet into the high canopy,
was the subject of our quest,
the exquisite ghost orchid
plant. At least six of the
twelve blooms were dancing
in the swamp breeze at the
end of their slender, green
stems, as though floating
untethered in midair in the
crook of the tree. The parks
scope brought the details to
life. Binoculars helped. Once
we saw the ghost orchid with
these aids, we transferred
that detailed memory to
search for the ghost orchid
with the naked eye, the splash
of white. We remembered
the gossamer, white petals
with flowing tendrils, danc-
ing in midair that we saw in
the scope.
The ghost orchid has no
leaves. The chlorophyll is in
the roots wrapped tightly
around the tree. The super
ghost of Corkscrew Swamp
may be 50 years old. It was
discovered in early July 2007
when spotted by walkers
searching the sky for owls.
This is the only known ghost
orchid plant in Corkscrew
Swamp. Perhaps a storm
cleared away the branches
and foliage that previously
hid it from view. This rare
and endangered ghost orchid
is only found in the Florida
Everglades and Cuba. Their
unusual night pollination
by the sphinx moth and their
adaptation to unique habitats
make them difficult to cul-
tivate domestically. They are
treasured by collectors and
thieves. Ghost orchid loca-
tions are often kept secret
to protect them, especially
in the Fakahatchee Strand
where more are found. It is
illegal to remove this rare
and endangered species from
the wild.
Rare beauty and the
delicate appearance give a
feminine quality. Nearly
translucent petals and a cen-
ter resembling a face enhance
the ghostly apparition that
led to its common name.
Legend suggests that placing
ghost orchids on graves helps
the journey of the soul. Sen-
suous qualities are said to
represent loves perfection.
The ghost orchid takes on
personality that evokes
human emotions. Everyone
who looks through the scope
steps back with a smile. Its
beauty is catching so much
so that visitors arrive from
across the globe.
Most ghost orchids
bloom once in a season.
Since its discovery in 2007,
the super ghost has
bloomed at least three times
each year: early July, mid
August and late September.
One year there were five
bloomings: March, June,
August, September and
October. A few winter visitors
had the joy of viewing the
ghost orchid. Im partial to
this ghost orchid plant
because it blooms each year
on my July birthday. Caught
in its aura, I have watched
every nuance of its season
on daily strolls.
My little tour group
enjoyed their first ghost
orchid quest. Scarlet swamp
hibiscus and stark white
swamp lilies, a barred owl,
and the swamp symphony
were a bonus. Every season
is a perfect time to visit for
the change in flowers that
spread gold, lavender and
silver across the marsh. Sum-
mer is the time for gigantic
alligator flags turning the
swamp into a primeval expe-
rience. Winter is the time
for migrating wading birds
fighting over the fish that
find their way into the lettuce
lakes. Summer is the time I
love the most, the season of
the super ghost orchid.
A link to Blair Audubon
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
with information and driv -
ing directions is found
at www.dkchristi.com. A
glimpse of the swamp is seen
in award-winning environ-
mental filmmaker Darryl
Saffers trailer with original
flute music and video clips.
D.K. Christi is a Bonita
Springs resident and author
of the recent mystery novel,
Ghost Orchid, inspired by the
2007 blooming of the super
ghost at Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary.
Trendy Tours, LLC
Deluxe Escorted Bus Tours with Suzanne
AUGUST 9th - 12th - 4 Day Tour to Savannah - $599. ppdo, $799. single
Inc: 3 Nights Hotel on Historic Bay Street, 9 Meals (inc. Paula Deens, Mrs. Wilkes & Chart House),
Tybee Island Tour, Historic Savannah Tour, Savannah Theater Live Musical & more
AUGUST 16th - Sawgrass Mills and Festival Marketplace Shopping - $55. pp
AUGUST 24th - NEW Chihuly Collection Museum in St. Pete & Lunch - $89. pp
SEPTEMBER 7th, OCTOBER 12th - Isle of Capri Casino - $49. pp
Inc: $25 Slot Voucher - Clean, Non-Smoking Casino in Florida!
SEPTEMBER 8th - Tampa Aquarium, Ybor City, Dinner at Troyers - $89. pp
SEPTEMBER 12th - Hard Rock Casino in Tampa w/dinner at Troyers - $69. pp
Inc: $25 Slot Voucher, $5.00 Food Voucher, Delicious Amish Dinner in Sarasota
SEPTEMBER 17th -18th - 2 Day Tour to Mt. Dora - $229. ppdo, $279. single
Inc: Overnight Accomodations at the Historic Lakeside Inn, Dinner & Breakfast at the Lakeside Inn,
Tickets to Beatles tribute Show at Mt Dora Theater, Lakeside Winery Tour & more!
SEPTEMBER 21st - Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens & Lunch - $89. pp
SEPTEMBER 25th - 29th 5 Day Tour to Charleston - $729. ppdo, $929 single
Inc: 4 Nights Hotel, 11 Meals, Boone Hall Plantation Tour, Guided Historic Charleston Tour,
Narrated Boat Tour to Ft Sumter, Citadel & Rainbow Row Tour & More
OCTOBER 5th, NOVEMBER 17th Miami South Beach Tour - $75. pp
OCTOBER 20th - OPA! Tarpon Springs w/Lunch & Sponge Boat - $85. pp
NOVEMBER 14th -16th - 3 Day Deluxe St. Augustine - $499. ppdo, $699 single
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Quest for the ghost orchid
Contributed | Special to the Spotlight
The super ghost of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary may be 50 years old. It
was discovered in early July 2007 when spotted by walkers searching the sky
for owls.
As the crow flies, Corkscrew Swamp
would be right where Bonita Beach Road
might meet US 29
Ghost orchid
locations are often
kept secret to
protect them
By Bill Barnes
Chief Executive Officer
Bonita Springs Estero
Association of Realtors
Bonita Springs The local
market showed the usual
seasonal second quarter
decline in June, with single
family home sales bucking
the trend. They showed a
slight increase.
In the condominium
market, the number of con-
dos entering the market was
139 units in June from a
high of 255 in March. This
is the result of the end of
the season move outs who
hope to sell while they are
back up north. This corre-
sponds with the 193 condo
sales in March as compared
with only 121 in June. Many
of the well-priced condos
were bought up before the
bulk of the seasonal tourists
left and the rest remained
on the market.
Condo purchases in
Southwest Florida in June
were affected by buyers in
the north focusing on debt
reduction rather than real
estate purchases. These debt
reductions were mainly short
term debt reductions such
as home equity loans and
high interest credit card
debts. Once these are off the
table these buyers will refocus
on the opportunities in this
area.
Secondly, prospective
buyers will re-enter the mar-
ket via the internet as the
cost of homeownership and
maintenance looms big in
the coming winter months
in the north.
The single family home
market is in a leveling trend
for the past two months.
New homes listed in May
dropped from 136 to 121 in
June. Home sales increased
from 82 in May up to 89 in
June. The Bonita Springs
Estero market is more of a
true market in that it was
not as impacted as other
areas of Lee County with
short sales and foreclosures.
Again as in our condo
markets our upstream
markets of the Midwest are
somewhat frozen in high
unemployment rankings
which do not free people to
sell to others and thus move
to Florida.
On the high end of the
market our monthly Top
Ten again racked up 10 sales
over one million dollars. This
segment of the market seems
to be funded by stock market
sell offs and sales of compa-
nies by former owners who
do not see future profits to
be as large as they projected.
Bonita Bay continues to
rebound since last year and
holds six of the top ten slots.
Rookery Lake in Bonita Bay
took the top two sales with
over 4.7 million in volume
sales. Two smaller homes on
Hickory Blvd. sold in antic-
ipation of being tear downs
for larger replacement
homes; these two sold for
1.8 and 1.3 million.
Spotlight Real Estate Watch
In the first half of 2011,
transactions are up 20 percent from
the first six months of 2010.
June Closed Sales Price Range
SOURCE:
Monthly Transactions
Number of real estate transactions
in the Bonita Springs Estero market
2010 October 80
January 160 November 125
February 175 December 177
March 219 2011
April 263 January 165
May 174 February 215
June 179 March 271
July 144 April 312
August 132 May 236
September 121 June 216
Highlights
from Junes top 10 sales
26630 Rookery Lake Dr.,
Bonita Bay
$2,500,000
10009 Orchid Ridge Ln.,
Shadow Wood at the Brooks
$1,850,000
27664 Hickory Blvd.,
Bonita Beach
$1,800,000
28646 La Caille Dr.,
Quail West
$1,353,290
Contributed | catch@swspotlight.com
Angler Matt Booth with a 24-inch red grouper, caught on shrimp on a recent
offshore Fishbuster Charter with Captain Dave Hanson. Email your photos to
catch@swspotlight.com and your photo could be the next catch of the month.
Catch of the month
SS_AUGUST 2011 7/26/11 7:10 PM Page 15
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Staff report
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Estero Over 800 women
and a few brave men are
expected to swarm the ball-
room of the Embassy Suites
Hotel in Estero on August
31. They will snatch up new
and gently worn sundresses,
resort wear, business attire,
gowns and accessories at
nominal prices. And after
enjoying the cocktails and
the last dress is sold, theyll
go home thrilled with their
good deals, after spending
an evening with friends,
knowing it was for a good
cause.
Love That Dress is a ben-
efit for the PACE Center for
Girls of Lee County. This
year they hope to raise
$100,000, according to Melis-
sa Simontis, Director of
Development.
In 2009 a small group of
Lee County women founded
this event to benefit PACE
in Lee County and have since
trademarked the name. They
gave the trademark to PACE
which now annually runs
this successful event. Collier
County PACE will be holding
their first Love That Dress
on August 31 as well. Three
other PACE centers in north-
ern Florida have also planned
their own Love That Dress
events.
For the cost of admission,
$25, attendees can enjoy an
evening of cocktails and
camaraderie, do some bar-
gain hunting, and take their
chances with the silent auc-
tion.
There are 17 PACE Cen-
ters for Girls in Florida offer-
ing counseling and education
for abused and neglected
girls. Hundreds of girls have
come through their doors
looking for help and guid-
ance in turning their lives
around.
We have a girl who came
to us a few years ago, from a
broken home in Oklahoma.
She moved in with her aunt
here in Fort Myers while her
family was trying to get back
together She was a cheer-
leader and an honor student
who started skipping school,
developed unhealthy behav-
iors, making inappropriate
decisions and lost hope in
her life. She regained it at
PACE, said Simontis. Then
when she was here, she was
diagnosed with cancer and
had to go through treat-
ment so she had to fight
that battle as well. She did
and now she is at FGCU on
full scholarship. FGCU,
PACE and Make a Wish
foundation worked together
to make her education pos-
sible.
Tickets go on sale August
1 and can only be purchased
online while supplies last.
Donated dresses can be
dropped off at any one of
eleven locations in Lee and
Collier County. For more
information, turn to the
Opportunities to give back
listing on page 28.
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Shoppers peruse the racks at last years Love That Dress! The PACE Center for
Girls of Lee County hopes to raise $100,000 at this years event.
If you go
The ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year
Why: To raise funds for the PACE Center for Girls of Lee
County.
When: 6 to 9 p.m., August 31.
Where: Embassy Suites, 10450 Corkscrew Commons Dr.,
Estero.
Cost: $25, only available in advance at www.lovethatdress.org
For more information: Go to www.lovethatdress.org
Love That Dress!
Hundreds of girls
have come through
their doors looking
for help and
guidance
Theyll go home thrilled with their good
deals, after spending an evening with
friends, knowing it was for a good cause.
Arts and Entertainment
Art Camp for Kids
Weekdays,
first 3 weeks of Aug.
Kids ages 4 and up get to
try all kinds of arts and crafts.
Class choices include Mon-
ster Madness, Digital Draw-
ing, Cookonomics, Movie
Makers and more. Where:
Center for the Arts. Cost:
$136.50/week for morning
or afternoon sessions. Schol-
arships are available. For
more information, call 239-
495-8989.
Mix It Up
Fri., Aug. 5, 6 to 8 p.m.
Opening reception for a
mixed media and multime-
dia exhibition. In mixed
media artists might combine
acrylics with blown glass,
handmade jewelry with pot-
tery or any combination of
elements to create their art.
Where: Center for the Arts.
Cost: Free.
School House
Rock Live! Jr.
Fri. & Sat, Aug. 5 & 6, 7 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 6, 2 p.m.
The Center for the Arts Youth
Theater presents a musical
romp based on the favorite
songs from the educational
cartoon show Schoolhouse
Rock. Where: Promenade at
Bonita Bay. Cost: $5 per per-
son. Call 239-495-8989 to
purchase tickets.
Family Movie Night
Mon., Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Secondhand Lions is a com-
ing-of-age story about a shy,
young boy sent by his irre-
sponsible mother to spend
the summer with his wealthy,
eccentric uncles in Texas.
Starring Robert Duvall,
Michael Caine and Haley
Joel Osment. Where: Prom-
enade at Bonita Bay. Cost:
$8 adults/$5 children. For
more information, call 239-
495-8989.
Cirque du Soleil: Alegria
Wed.,Thurs., Fri. & Sat., Aug.
10 to 13 ,7:30 p.m.
Fri. & Sat., Aug. 12 to 13,
3:30 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 14, 1 & 5 p.m.
Alegria has been hailed as
a sensory delight. Its
gravitydefying acrobatics
and athleticism is a moving
piece of theater. Where:
Germain Arena. Cost: go to
cirquedusoleil. com.
Reggae dance party
Thurs., Aug. 11, 7 p.m.
Come hear the sounds of
Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and
other Reggae greats played
by the best Reggae band in
SW Florida, Cool Runnings.
The dance floor will be open!
Where: Promenade at Bonita
Bay Cost: $15 members of
Center for the Arts/$20 non-
members. For more infor-
mation, call 239-495-8989.
Art Walk
Thurs., Aug. 25, 4 to 7 p.m.
Visit Artists Studios, view
their art, demonstrations
and enjoy a live concert, light
refreshments and visit other
merchants. Where: Prome-
nade at Bonita Bay. Cost:
Free.
Fundraisers
Guys Night Out
for Charity
Tues., August 2, 6 to 9 p.m.
The guys raised $4,000 in
February to support the Boys
and Girls Clubs. This month,
the Bonita Springs Assistance
Office will be the beneficiary
of Guys Night Out for Char-
ity. Where: Hurricane Grill
& Wings, Coconut Point
Mall. Cost: $40. To register,
go to bonitaassistance.org.
Senior Fashion Show
Thurs, Aug. 4, noon
The free show will benefit
recent Midwest tornado vic-
tims. A raffle will be held
for door prizes. You must
pick up your free tickets
from the Bonita Recreation
Center prior to the day of
the show. Where: Bonita
Recreation Center. For more
information, call 239-992-
2556.
Love That Wedding
Dress!
Sun., Aug. 28, 12 to 3 p.m.
A spin-off on the popular
fundraiser, Love That Dress!,
this event, benefiting PACE
Center for Girls of Lee Coun-
ty, features donated gowns
which will be resold at
Crowne Plaza near Bell
Tower Shops at 13051 Bell
Tower Drive in Fort Myers.
The event is for brides-to-
be looking for an economi-
cally priced dream dress.
Professionals will also attend
to offer new ideas and advice
on event planning, invita-
tions, flowers, photography,
music and much more. Cost:
Free for brides-to-be. For
more information, go to
lovethatdress.org.
Love That Dress!
Wed., Aug. 31, 6 to 9 p.m.
Two dress parties will benefit
PACE Center for Girls. Thou-
sands of deeply discounted
new and gently worn dresses
and accessories will be up
for grabs along with a silent
auction and cocktails. Both
the Lee County event at the
Embassy Suites Hotel in
Estero and the Collier Coun-
ty event at the Naples Grande
Resort will be held on the
same evening. Cost: Tickets
are $25 and can only be pur-
chased on line while supplies
last at lovethatdress.org. For
more information, turn to
page 17.
Contact us
Is your organization holding
a fundraiser to benefit a local
charity? Let us know at
info@swspotlight.com.
Meetings
Come watch the action
live and in person
Wed., Aug. 3, 5:30 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 17, 9 a.m.
Bonita Springs City Council.
Where: City Council Cham-
bers, 9101 Bonita Beach
Road. For more information,
call 239-949-6262.
Business after Hours
Thur., Aug. 11,
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy networking, hors
doeuvres and door prizes.
Where: Zing Quality Close-
out Furniture. Cost: Contact
kim@bonitaspringscham-
ber.com for pricing.
All dates, times and prices
are subject to change.
EVENTS
Small Town Charm.
Big Bright Future.
Small wn Charm. T
Big Bright Future.
Small
Big Bright Future.
wn Charm. o TTo
Big Bright Future.
wn Charm.
Staff Report
Bonita Springs Fort Myers based T3
Communications, Inc. donated tele-
phone equipment and communications
services last month at the Bonita Springs
office of the Southwest Florida Affiliate
of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
We truly appreciate T3s commit-
ment to working with us to provide
a system designed for our needs, said
Miriam Ross, executive director of
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southwest
Florida.
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber
of Commerce was busy cutting ribbons
all over Bonita Springs last month.
Melissa Floydand Brad Lewis, own-
ers of Coconut Jacks Waterfront Grille,
cut their ribbon July 13 at 5370 Bonita
Beach Rd. The waterfront grille recently
screened-in its deck.
Joe De Simone, owner of Canine
Command, cut his ribbon at the Bonita
Springs Chamber of Commerce July
13. The mobile dog trainer firmly
believes in and teaches the three Ls
of responsible dog ownership leader-
ship, lots of exercise and lots of love for
your dog.
Bernwood Grille is now open for
breakfast and lunch in Bonita Springs
at 25221 Bernwood Dr. off Old 41.
Owners George Collins and BobTakash
cut their ribbon July 6.
Hillary Whelan of Our Lady of
Light Thrift Store cut the ribbon at a
relocation ceremony June 29. The non-
profit, upscale thrift store located at
The Shoppes at Pelican Landing boasts
5,000 square feet of fantastic deals.
Bonita Business Beat
Summer
Workshops
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of
Commerce is offering a free series of
workshops to help invigorate your
business this month. The workshops
are open to all members of the com-
munity and include lunch or snacks.
Registration is required in advance at
bonitaspringschamber.com or by calling
239-992-2943.
Networking at Your Best!
Aug. 11 - 4 to 5:15 p.m.
Snack Sponsors: Bank United and
Florida Gulf Bank
Marketing & PR Strategies:
Build Your Plan!
Aug.17 11:30 to 1 p.m.
The Secret of High Performance
Aug. 23 11:30 to 1 p.m.
Payroll: What you think you
know could be costing you money!
Aug. 31 11:30 1 p.m.
Contributed |
Special to the Spotlight
Marshall Howard,
of T3 Communica-
tions, with Miriam
Ross at the Bonita
Springs offices of
Susan G. Komen for
the Cure Southwest
Florida.
By Max Harris and
Dorota Harris
Bonitas Best Friends
Bonita Springs This
month we met a lady who
is a Spotlight reader, and
had invited us to meet her
dog Annabelle. We really
welcome it when readers
contact the paper, and always
encourage you to let us know
if you have a dog that you
think is special (and who
doesnt think that about their
dog?)
So we sat down with
Emily and Annabelle, who
turned out to be a very good-
looking four-year-old Ger-
man Shepherd. Emily and
her husband are long-time
owners of German Shep-
herds, and Annabelle is a
rescued dog.
Now we have great admi-
ration for owners who rescue
dogs, and for the organiza-
tions that make it possible.
Annabelle had first been res-
cued by the Caloosa Humane
Society. Then she was a skin-
ny, flea-ridden outcast,
whom they had named
Tracy. She had apparently
just delivered puppies,
although none were found
with her. She was collected
by Emily from the animal
shelter in April 2009, and
renamed Annabelle.
Emily was told before she
took Annabelle that she had
tested positive for heart-
worm. This is a disease trans-
mitted by mosquitoes, and
its consequences can be very
serious if it develops
unchecked. So taking
Annabelle home meant an
immediate commitment to
veterinary treatment, and
the bills that go with it.
Emily mentioned that she
had begun her search on
petfinder.com. We went to
the website to see what is
available. The selection of
dogs is huge. For example,
as we write, there are 7,998
entries under German Shep-
herd. Many of our friends
have rescued dogs, and we
have noticed in conversations
with owners at the dog beach
at Lovers Key just how many
people there have done so
too. And we see how much
satisfaction it gives to owners
to know that they have done
something good and useful.
It sometimes makes us feel
guilty that we bought our
dog from a breeder. So when
we look at the rescue website,
we are really tempted to get
him a companion and
they have nearly two hun-
dred standard poodles!
Of course adoption can
be difficult. One member of
our family has rescued many
dogs over the years, and has
four at present. They include
two German Shepherds, both
of whom are failed police
dogs, which were ejected
from their training pro-
grams. They are beautiful
strong dogs, but they are a
handful to control, and not
too friendly with strangers.
But like so many owners
of rescued dogs, Emily and
her husband were more than
willing to go the extra mile.
Emily and her husband did
that for Annabelle. And now
Annabelle has grown into a
beautiful young dog. We met
her in a sidewalk caf, where
passers-by would stop to pet
her. She looks good, and her
attitude toward people is
excellent. The German Shep-
herd is a breed that many
people find intimidating, but
clearly there is something in
Annabelles appearance that
gives strangers confidence.
And Emily can take real
pleasure in that.
So maybe we will go
back to that website and
look at standard poodles
again
animal wellness
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Admirable attitude from Annabelle
Max Harris | info@swspotlight.com
Before becoming a Bonita Springs resident,
Annabelle was rescued by the Caloosa Humane
Society.
Bonitas Best
Friends
If you have a dog that
you think is particularly
wonderful, contact us at
info@swspotlight.com,
and he or she could be
the next dog featured
in this column.
Her attitude
toward people
is excellent
The German Shepherd is a breed
that many people find intimidating
roads lead to Fort Myers.
That is where the Lee County
Board of County Commis-
sioners sit, and under Florida
law county governments
decide how to set up and
provide ambulance emer-
gency medical services.
In July Bonita Fire Chief
Phillip Kinsey formally
requested that Lee County
Commissioners hold a public
hearing on the Fire Districts
continuing request to provide
emergency transport serv-
ices.
Bonita Springs Fire Con-
trol and Rescue District is
licensed by Lee County to
provide emergency medical
services. In 1997, it was the
first fire agency in Lee County
approved. But its approval
was limited. While Bonita
firefighters provide on the
scene services, Lee County
has not licensed them to
transport residents to the
hospital. That job is per-
formed by the Lee County
Emergency Medical Servic-
es. In 2010 there were about
4,000 incidents in Bonita
Springs, with about 3,000
hospital trips.
For about fifteen years
Bonita Springs firefighters,
fully trained in advanced life
support protocols, as well as
Lee Countys Emergency
Medical Service teams, have
responded to medical emer-
gencies. According to the
Bonita Springs fire depart-
ment, its firefighters typically
arrive about two and a half
minutes faster than County
personnel.
Kinsey believes there has
to be a better way than two
agencies with two trucks and
five personnel responding to
emergency medical calls. As
he put in in a recent interview
with the Spotlight, When
one agency can do the job,
why have two agencies do
two jobs?
The Fire District has pro-
posed a plan to Lee County
under which the Fire District
would provide a full service
enhanced EMS transport sys-
tem to Bonita Springs resi-
dents. User fees would
primarily support the oper-
ational costs and, the District
has calculated, the service
would cost no additional tax
dollars.
Currently Lee County
EMS provides two around
the clock units in Bonita
Springs. The ambulances are
located in local fire houses,
one on US 41 across from
Pelican Landing; the other
on Bonita Grande Drive
north of Bonita Beach Road.
A third 12-hour daytime unit
is located at the Mango Drive
firehouse, south of Bonita
Beach Road.
Under the Fire Districts
plan, firefighters would staff
four around the clock ambu-
lances at four firehouses, pro-
viding faster patient delivery
to the hospital through short-
er response times. Also, Kin-
sey says, ambulance staffing
would be increased to three
personnel per ambulance
from the typical current
staffing complement of two.
Departmental restructur-
ing may be necessary to max-
imize efficiency, says Kinsey.
The District has investigated
a combination fire engine/
ambulance developed by the
Miami-Dade Fire Depart-
ment Logistics Division.
The Fire District considers
fire-based EMS the rule, not
the exception, dating back
to the Heartmobile, in 1969
the nations first mobile coro-
nary care unit staffed with
firefighters in Columbus,
Ohio. It points out that of
the 200 most populated com-
munities, 97 percent have
the fire service delivering
pre-hospital emergency med-
ical response. New York City
Fire Department, the worlds
largest and busiest, has a fire
based EMS transport system.
In Lee County, Fort Myers
Beach and Lehigh Acres have
fire-based EMS transport
systems.
There is a history to this.
At a Management and Plan-
ning session last fall, the Lee
County Commissioners
demurred on the Fire Dis-
tricts request, and opted
instead for a County staff
recommendation to consider
a collaborative effort under
which the Fire District and
EMS would share ambu-
lance-staffing responsibili-
ties.
Chief Kinsey is a polite
man with a thoughtful man-
ner, and he is politely frus-
trated with the process. The
Fire District was not invited
to speak at last falls County
Planning session, he said.
In his July letter to the
Lee County Commission
requesting a hearing, Kinsey
expressed appreciation to the
County for the opportunity
to work with County EMS
on a collaborative effort. But,
after two years Lee County
EMSs position is very much
the same as it was when we
started, he said. We believe
any additional efforts to con-
tinue negotiations would be
fruitless.
The Fire Districts request
for a hearing is triggered by
County ordinances. It states
that the County Commission
may grant approval for
ambulance transport services
only after a public hearing.
In its discretion, the County
Commission may appoint a
hearing officer to make fac-
tual findings and conclusions,
but the Commission makes
the final determination on
a request.
According to Lee County
documents, County staff
believes Lee County EMS
is providing adequate service
to the residents and visitors
of Bonita Springs, the Fire
District did not provide evi-
dence to demonstrate the
clinical need for faster service,
and the request would create
a de-consolidation of the
current delivery model.
The staff also noted, In
order for the Fire District to
provide this service, the res-
idents of the district will be
double taxed, reflecting
the notion that Bonita
Springs property owners
might not be relieved of taxes
supporting the Lee County
EMS system if the Fire Dis-
trict took over the job. This
heads I win, tails you lose
legal concept is familiar to
those lobbying the County
for better library service in
Bonita Springs. Under Flori-
da law, the County could
continue to levy taxes for
library services in Bonita
even if the city or an inde-
pendent district provided
the service.
County staff also indicat-
ed it would cost the Fire Dis-
trict a lot more money to
operate the ambulance serv-
ice. Not so, says Kinsey, it
would cost less. He has pre-
pared detailed financial pro-
jections to explain his view.
That is just one of the reasons
why he wants a hearing.
Fire District 2012 Budget
It is that time of year
when local governments are
getting out their calculators
to figure out finances for the
2012 budget year, which
begins October 1. And, with
assessed property values con-
tinuing to fall, revenues dont
come easy.
For Bonita Springs Fire
Control and Rescue District,
local property tax revenue
has dropped over $4.2 mil-
lion, or about 20 percent,
over the last two years. The
Fire District has met the
impact of declining property
revenues through a reduction
in amounts held in reserves
and operating costs.
Property taxes account
for over 95 percent of Fire
District revenue, the remain-
der coming from fees and
other smaller revenue
sources. The Districts prop-
erty tax revenues are about
$15.8 million in the current
year.
At its July meeting the
five Fire District commis-
sioners discussed property
tax rates for 2012. A final
decision on tax rates will be
made in September.
Property taxes are deter-
mined by multiplying the
tax rate, called the millage
rate, by every $1,000 of
Up and Down
from page 6
By Meghan Easterly
Bonita Springs A piece of
fabric can tell a thousand
stories. Anyone who has ever
held a hand-made quilt in
their hands has probably run
their hands across the small
pieces of fabric in the pattern
and wondered what the fab-
ric had been in a previous
life. Did it wrap a child in
warmth in those first pre-
cious moments on Earth?
Was it from a honeymoon
dress that a new bride wore
to begin her life? Could it
have been a grandfathers
favorite shirt that still held
that lingering smell of Old
Spice and tobacco?
Artist Cynthia Wismann
grew up under a quilt. She
learned not only that every
piece of fabric has a story,
but also how to tell stories
with fabric. She sat around
a quilting frame with her
mother and four aunts learn-
ing to piece and stitch, and
often tearing out the stitches
she had painstakingly made
when the work didnt meet
the aunts high standards.
Those long hours quilting
through the four seasons
gave her strong fundamentals
in quilting. She followed the
rules closely because she was
afraid to make mistakes, but
as she got older she slowly
began to color outside of
the lines. She began experi-
menting with exotic fabrics,
bringing subjects to life with
combinations of texture,
color and different stitching
patterns.
Anyone who walks into
Wismanns studio at The
Promenade at Bonita Bay is
dazzled by color. The light
fabrics create a happy atmos-
phere as patrons look at her
work.
I had a good friend who
is gone now that told me I
had to have no fear, to just
get out there and do it,
Wismann says. She was a
total inspiration to me
because it is a matter of not
being afraid. I grew up with
perfect
lines; if it
wasnt perfect it was ripped
out and you started over.
A free form tribute to her
teachers, her mother and
four aunts, hangs on her
studio wall. Each sister is
represented by a flamingo
in varying shades of pink,
with accessories to bring out
their personalities. Each rests
on a backdrop of blue, which
Wismann dyed herself, cre-
ating gradients of different
shades to set the mood of
each piece. The thread pat-
terns are also different on
each one, sometimes looking
like waves, other times taking
on patterns of
swirls or even glittering
like stars.
Nearby are three-dimen-
sional flowers created from
hand-dyed pink fabric and
many different colors of
thread which Wismann calls
thread painting. The different
colors of thread create depth
and dimension in her work.
Besides selling her fabric
artwork and creating quilts
for people, Wismann also
sells her own hand-dyed fab-
rics. Some are sold in squares
for quilters or artists to use,
and other larger pieces could
be used for sarongs or what-
ever the buyer would like.
Ive really gotten into
dyed fabric versus the com-
mercial fabrics and am
drawn to the fact that it is
not solid and it doesnt have
prints, Wismann says. Im
learning new techniques with
stamping and batiking and
creating my own designs. It
is just so original and there
isnt another like it.
Most of her fabrics in
Florida are light such as cot-
ton and silk and the colors
reflect the tropical atmos-
phere that the Southwest
Florida latitudes create.
Quilting has just
become more artistic for
me and I enjoy the art of
it, Wismann says. You
cant make a mistake, you
just go out there and do it.
If it works it works, if not,
you tear it apart.
Cynthia Wismann |
Special to
the Spotlight
Quilting
outside the lines
Meghan Easterly | info@swspotlight.com
Artist Cynthia Wismann cuts hand-dyed fabric that
she has created in her studio at The Promenade.
Meghan Easterly | info@swspotlight.com
Hand dyed gradation fabric pieces are wrapped
and presented in a basket for sale in the studio of
Cynthia Wismann.
Meghan Easterly |
One of a series of pink
flamingos, each who
represent an aunt of fab-
ric artist Cynthia Wis-
mann who comes from a
strong circle of quilting
women.
Meghan Easterly |
A quilted square by
artist Cynthia Wismann.
Different colors
of thread create
depth and
dimension
If it works it works,
if not, you tear
it apart.
Cynthia Wismann
Call for Artists
2nd Annual "Deck the Walls" juried art show
December 2 - 4, 2011
Deadline is September 15
The Literacy Council of Bonita Springs
Artists will be juried based on samples of their current work.
For more information go to bonitaliteracy.org
assessed valuation. So, for
example, at the current mill
rate of 1.99, taxes on a
$200,000 home equal $398
($200 times 1.99).
Because of declining
property assessments, a
millage rate increase in 2012
to 2.07, called the roll back
rate, would not increase
taxes for the typical home.
It would maintain the Fire
Districts total property tax
revenue at the current years
amount. Of course, not all
homes are typical. Some
will fare better than others
depending upon individual
assessed value adjustments
and the vagaries of the
homestead exemption.
The Commissioners
approved a maximum mill-
age rate for next year of
2.23, roughly representing
a $32 increase for the typ-
ical $200,000 home. The
final millage rate, to be set
in September, may be lower
but cannot be higher than
the maximum amount.
TRIM notices that property
owners receive from Lee
County in August will
reflect the maximum mill-
age.
The Commissioners
complemented Chief Phillip
Kinsey for his budget ini-
tiatives. Several expressed a
desire to whittle additional
savings in the final budget
when it is approved in Sep-
tember.
Kinsey has proposed a
retrenchment scenario
under which 11 employees,
primarily upper level
administrative staff, would
retire under early retirement
incentives. We are trying
to stay away from the line
as much as possible, said
Kinsey. That way we can
continue to provide our
service basically uninter-
rupted.
I am impressed that the
chief has an organizational
plan in mind that I agree
with, said Commissioner
Edward Fitzgerald, who
also emphasized the need
for eventual reassignment
of rescue unit personnel.
Nobody wants to raise
taxes, said Commission
chair Steven Lohan. But,
he said, it would be fiscally
irresponsible to overuse
existing reserve funds to
bridge budget shortfalls.
We are trimming a sub-
stantial number of positions
and have some pretty good
support from the union
that is going to save the
district substantial amounts
of money over time, he
said.
Commissioner Wayne
Edsell favored setting the
millage rate at the rollback
rate, with no tax increase.
I know the chief is trying,
he said, but expressed the
belief that there is more
room in some of the reserve
accounts.
Lets strive tosave the
taxpayers some money
now, he said. We can still
maintain our service and
make that cut. If the situ-
ation worsens in the future,
he said, we can recover
because of our ability to
raise the millage rate if we
really need to raise it.
For Bonita Springs prop-
erty owners, the Fire District
represents about 12 percent
of the property tax bill. Lee
Countys share is 30 percent,
State school board 34 per-
cent; local school board 13
percent, independent special
districts 6 percent and the
City 5 percent.
Ristorante
Enrico
26831 Tamiami Trail S.
off West Terry Street
(239) 949-2204
Mon-Sat 10-10, Sun 11-10
Three years in the same location
Up and Down
from page 22
you cant canoe the other
way, said Cullum Hasty. If
you are good, you can barely
do it in a kayak, it flows so
hard and fast.
Now, intrepid explorers
wending through the Impe-
rial River in outback Bonita
will come across a trail blaze
unknown in the days of
Lewis and Clark. A sign,
posted bankside facing the
river, welcomes paddlers to
The City of Bonita Springs
Canoe and Kayak Trail.
The map on the sign is 21st
century too. It gives direc-
tions to decidedly modern
necessities just a short
scramble away: a conven-
ience store and a fast food
restaurant.
The sign marks the spot
of Bonita Springs newest
park, Carpenter Lane Park,
hidden in the woods off
Oakland Drive. Traveling
east on Bonita Beach Road,
a driver can easily miss the
left hand turn onto Oakland
Drive, just after the flea mar-
ket. Two hundred feet in,
after the roadbed turns to
sand, Carpenter Lane Park
is on the left.
A rectangular observation
platform overlooking the
river has been constructed,
along with a shell path and
parking area. It is a quiet
place for passive recreation,
dominated by a towering live
oak tree. The park is a work
in progress. The city is work-
ing to prepare a kayak and
canoe launch area, and it
will eventually tie into a
planned walking trail along
the river, said Daryl Walk,
Bonita Springs Public Works
Manager.
October is the high water
month on the Imperial River.
For the last 50 years, the
average peak day is October
22, said Hasty. By then, sum-
mer rains have stopped but
the gentle movement of
water through the middle of
the state, called sheet flow,
continues to feed the river,
he said.
Hasty recalled the days
15 years ago when he started
paddling this stretch of the
river. It was a tough run,
he said. Dozens of dead sable
palms and oak trees were
across the river, blocking the
way. You had to portage
your canoe across logs a
dozen times to make it
through there.
The South Florida Water
Management District and
the City have cleaned up
debris in the river, aiding
flood control, said Walk. Pad-
dlers can now get through.
The Bonita Springs Canoe
and Kayak Trail is a gateway
to the Great Calusa BlueWay,
a nationally known 190-mile
marked paddling trail that
meanders through Estero
Bay, around Sanibel and Pine
Islands to the Caloosahatchee
River. The Calusa Blueway
Paddling Festival is held in
the first week of November.
The City plans another
launch area east of I-75, in
the area of Bonita Nature
Place off Kent Road.
For the record, there is no
Carpenter Lane. The road is
plotted on paper only, said
Walk. But thats enough to
give this park a five-figure
address, 12001 Carpenter
Lane.
Carpenter Lane Park joins
Island Park in the ranks of
Bonitas quiet, passive and
hidden parks.
Island Park is a hidden
gem, said Nicole Perino,
Bonita Springs Recreation
Manager. Tucked behind the
Everglades Wonder Gardens,
it is bordered by water and
railroad tracks. Years back,
children playing there called
it an island and the name
stuck.
Two footbridges lead the
way in, one from Depot Park
behind Riverside Park, the
other off South Riverside
Drive. Island Park is a good
place for a quiet lunch, a
game of Frisbee or just plain
relaxing. Several low impact
additions are in store, includ-
ing bike racks, shell paths
and shade structures, as well
as additional landscaping.
In developing these parks,
the City appears facile in sup-
plementing its parks budget
with grant monies. The Island
Park purchase was supported
by over $100,000 in Florida
Community Trust monies,
the Carpenter Lane Park proj-
ect received a $135,000 grant
from Florida Recreation
Development Assistance Pro-
gram. A grant application is
pending with the Florida
Office of Greenways and Trails
for the launch near Bonita
Nature Place. Funding has
not been received
not yet.
Charles Cavaliere contributed
reporting to this article.
Hidden Parks
from page 1
Intrepid explorers wending through the Imperial
River in outback Bonita will come across a trail
blaze unknown in the days of Lewis and Clark. A
sign, posted bankside facing the river, welcomes
paddlers to The City of Bonita Springs Canoe and
Kayak Trail.
Staff Report
Bonita Springs What is a
student to do when his or
her current high school is
not the best fit? The Richard
Milburn Academy South,
soon to open on August 8
on Brookwood Court in
Bonita Springs, is a free
tuition charter high school
that provides an academic
environment with individual
attention. Its small class sizes,
support services, flexible
scheduling and FCAT prepa-
ration are designed to help
each student achieve suc-
cess.
Irma Miller, school direc-
tor and former principal of
the Fort Myers RMA,
explained that RMA is
unique because it provides
an exemplary curriculum to
fit the needs of the student.
We help students achieve.
Im very very proud of that,
she said.
RMA has five schools in
Florida and eight in Texas
that serve the needs of stu-
dents who have been chal-
lenged in a public high
school setting. Miller said
that on average 85.7 percent
of RMA students graduate
or remain in school, suc-
cessfully working towards
high school completion.
The school is currently
interviewing prospective stu-
dents and Miller personally
interviews each one. If they
are eligible to enter high
school and are under 21,
they can enter this school.
They dont need a referral.
We serve all students. If
theyve heard of our school
and they are interested we
interview them and if theyre
a good candidate for this
school, we will accept them.
Miller went on to say that
a good candidate is someone
focused on academics, wants
to work hard to earn a diplo-
ma and graduate and has a
vocational, work force, col-
lege or military goal.
For the student who has
struggled in larger high
schools, RMA has small class-
es with nurturing teachers
working one on one with
the students. Average class
size is 15 to 20 students.
Juniors and seniors have
the option, for some of their
courses, to learn online using
the Nova-Net program
which has been very suc-
cessful. It provides teacher
supervised online learning.
For those students who want
to work part-time, flexible
schedules allow time and
credit for work experience.
Miller envisions the
school leasing even more
space as enrollment grows.
She wants to expose students
to the unlimited challenges
of the workforce by bringing
in local celebrities who have
success stories of their own
to share.
I want to instill in them
that it doesnt matter where
you start, its how youre
going to finish and you can
finish by staying focused on
education. She tells incom-
ing students, If you give
me the opportunity, I will
help you achieve.
ight
oves
the ll
Brenda Bergin
Downsizing & Moving Coordinator
NEED ASSISTANCE DOWNSIZING & MOVING?
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Member: National Association of Senior Moe Managers
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Schools focus is on success
Irma Miller is the school director of The Richard
Milburn Academy South, opening August 8 on
Brookwood Court in Bonita Springs.
I want to instill
in them that it
doesnt matter
where you start,
its how youre
going to finish and
you can finish by
staying focused on
education.
Irma Miller
A new charter high school
is opening in Bonita Springs
August 8 and is currently
accepting student applica-
tions. For information call
239-949-9049.
$40,000
from the Lions
The Bonita
Springs Lions
Club has do-
nated
$40,000 to
the City of
Bonita Springs
towards a new
playground at Depot Park on
Pennsylvania Avenue in Bonita
Springs. The park will include tra-
ditional playground equipment for
toddlers and will predominantly be
a natural playground. Natural
playgrounds are constructed like
miniature landscapes with features
such as stepping stones, rock
walls, soft hills and logs for climb-
ing. The remainder of the cost of
the $140,000 playground will
come from the city's Community
Park Impact fees.
TOWN TALK
Cpl. Bobby Hunter had a surprise
on-stage announcement for Arleen
Sheehan, Special Events and Park
Coordinator for the City of Bonita
Springs, at Star Spangled Bonita in
Riverside Park last month. Congratu-
lations Arleen and Bobby on your
engagement.
Congratulations
Smiling Schwings
Bonita Springs City Manager Carl
Schwing and his wife Brenda had a
great time at Riverside Park last
month at Star Spangled Bonita.
Couponing for a cause
Mary and Chadwick Saunders donated $400 worth of Bayer Aspirin to
the Bonita Assistance Office last month, as well as pasta, pens, scissors
and tape. The total cost for all of these items was $0 by using coupons
collected from newspapers, manufacturers and the internet. If youd like to
help in the couponing effort, you can drop off your unused coupons to the
Bonita Assistance Office at 25300 Bernwood Dr. Suite 6, next to the Lee
County Tax Collectors office in Bonita Springs.

BONITA
T A S T E O F
Sunday, November 20, 2011
SPONSORSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
S O U T H W E S T
Bonitas
Community Newspaper
www.tasteofbonita.com
SPONSORSHIPS NOW A

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y to the event. no cost for entr
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largest annual events, with attendance estimated between
downtown Bonita Springs. T
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y to the event.
ea and live music. Ther ens play ar estaurants, a childr
es food fr 8,000 and 10,000 people. The day featur
aste of Bonita is on rings. T Taste of Bonita is one of the city
ovember 20, 2011 at Rive

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of charitable causes and organizations which The Rotar
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, family with a worthy
publicized event. In addition, your business becomes associated
opportunity for considerable exposur
aste of Bonita p The TTaste of Bonita pr
y to the event.

oughout the year of Bonita Springs Noon supports thr
of charitable causes and organizations which The Rotar
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-oriented community cause. , family
e in a high-pr opportunity for considerable exposur
ovides your business with a unique aste of Bonita pr

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Staff Report
Calling all fashionistas
PACE Center for Girls is
seeking dress donations this
month, from wedding gowns
to sundresses for their two
dress parties in late August
called Love That Dress! and
a third called Love That Wed-
ding Dress! Go to lovethat-
dress.org to purchase tickets
and for a listing of collection
sites. PACE Center for Girls
is a non-residential preven-
tion program targeting the
unique needs of girls ages
12 to 18, facing challenges
such as abuse, school truancy,
academic failure, foster care,
exposure to substance abuse
or incarcerated parents. For
more information about
PACE, go to pacecenter.org.
St. Vincent de Paul
Thrift Store
Two thrift stores in Bonita
Springs and Naples are well
stocked with a variety of
household items, clothing,
furniture and collectibles that
have been donated to St.
Vincent de Paul for distri-
bution and sale. They are in
need of donations of autos,
boats, appliances, furniture,
household items and cloth-
ing. They will pick up fur-
niture, appliances, vehicles
and boats. The Bonita
Springs store is located at
3725 Bonita Beach Road.
For more information, call
992-1899.
Our Lady of Light
Thrift Shop
Bargain hunters can now
head to the new location in
The Shoppes at Pelican
Landing. OLOL Thrift Shop
is a non-profit, upscale bou-
tique filled with 5,000 square
feet of donated furniture,
clothing, housewares, jewelry
and books. All donations
are tax deductible and all
proceeds support charities
throughout the Diocese of
Venice. Open Monday
through Saturday. For more
information, go to ololthrift-
shop.com or call 992-1576.
Remember
The Bonita Estero Associa-
tion of Realtors and the City
of Bonita Springs are looking
for volunteers to help at the
Riverside Park memorial cer-
emony on September 11 at
9 a.m. B.E.A.R. is also col-
lecting books for the VA
clinic and non-perishable
food items for area food
pantries. Donations can be
dropped off at the B.E.A.R.
offices at 25300 Bernwood
Drive off Old U.S. 41 Rd.,
next to the Lee County Tax
Collector. For more infor-
mation, call B.E.A.R at 239-
992-6771.
Salvation Army
At its Bonita Springs location
the Salvation Army provides
counseling for victims of
domestic abuse. When it has
the funds, it can provide
assistance with rent, water
and electric bills. A Harry
Chapin mobile pantry takes
food to needy families. Vol-
unteers are always needed.
Their office is located at
25221 Bernwood Drive, Suite
2, Bonita Springs. For more
information, go to salva-
tionarmyleecounty.org or
call 948-5200.
Opportunities
to give back
TOWN TALK
Business After Hours
David Di Martino |
Photography by David Michael
Judi Gietzen,
Joe Taylor, Gayle
Nourse and
Scott Zehner at
Business After Hours
at Hampton Inn and
Suites last month.
David Di Martino |
Photography by David Michael
Don Thomson,
Lisa Spear, Bobbi Bird
and Rick Perry had a
great time at Bonita
Springs Area
Chambers Business
After Hours Event last
month.
desk are more telling of this
officer. He believes a kind
gesture may turn someones
perception of law enforce-
ment from a negative to a
positive. I try to do that
and Im sure these other
deputies try to do that as
much as they can, he said.
In the late 90s, as tomato
fields at the east end of Bonita
Beach Road were quickly
disappearing to make way
for growing subdivisions, all
areas of Bonita Springs expe-
rienced the pressures of
growth. The population
exploded, and policing
became a pressing challenge
that demanded extra time
and attention and more
deputies.
Bonita Springs city gov-
ernment was formed in 2000
and, in government lite
mode, it refrained from
forming its own police
department. Lee County
Sheriff personnel were
already in place, and so was
the infrastructure, including
record keeping, training,
canine assistance, helicopters
and a boat unit. So, the Sher-
iffs Department continued
to provide police protection.
Soon after its formation,
the city decided to put in
place enhanced police pro-
tection and it was determined
more cost efficient to sub-
contract out for extra deputies
from the Lee County Sheriffs
Department.
In 2002 enhanced law
enforcement services began,
with two deputies. Each year
more were added so that
today 16 deputies, two of
whom are undercover nar-
cotics agents, make up a full
complement of what is now
called the Community Polic-
ing Unit.
The results of community
policing were substantial.
Statistics show that crime in
Bonita Springs is now at its
lowest in ten years. From a
high of 1,468 crimes com-
mitted in 2003, crimes
dropped to 726 in 2010.
There used to be drugs,
prostitutes and all kinds of
people, said Susie Sayger,
owner of Heaven Scent Flow-
ers who has operated her
business on Old 41 for 26
years. Since the community
policing program was started,
theres been a huge drop in
incidences. No employees
have a problem working late.
The officers have been there
when you need them.
Ken Paszek, who has
worked at Bensons Grocery
for 25 years has seen massive
changes. The area has been
cleaned up tremendously,
he said.
Mike Augustine, owner
of Stans Super Subs, sums
it up, If I call them up,
theyre here. They slow the
race car drivers. Theyre the
best.
Bonita Springs Commu-
nity Policing Unit deputies
can devote attention to issues
that normal zone deputies
cant. They can stake out an
area for hours to solve a spate
of car burglaries. Since they
are not pinned to the radio
waiting for the next call, they
can be proactive and initiate
steps to prevent crime before
it happens.
According to Piasecki, six
to nine years ago many of
the nighttime pedestrian
based crimes stemmed from
alcohol. So the night shift
unit intensified enforcement
of the Lee County ordinance
against open containers of
alcoholic beverages. This
enforcement effort had the
intended effects. Business
break-ins went down.
DUI accidents went down.
Vehicular traffic accidents
decreased.
The day shift put foot
patrols in the community to
monitor traffic and to gather
intelligence. The day shift
seemed to find out who was
committing what crime. We
had the time to go to com-
munity meetings. I sit on
the committee for some of
the special events for the city
like Celebrate Bonita, the
Fourth of July, Holiday in
the Park, said Piasecki.
Deputies also attend com-
munity meetings and events.
In community policing,
frequent police contacts with
citizens can develop a reser-
voir of knowledge about a
neighborhood in the effort
to enhance the safety and
quality of neighborhoods.
People know whats
wrong in their neighbor-
hood, said Piasecki, and
if a cars there that doesnt
belong, theyll tell us, I saw
this brown Chevy Impala on
my street. It was rusted out.
Ive never seen it before. It
just so happened that three
streets over there were several
car burglaries. It gives detec-
tives a place to start. Were
looking for a brown Chevy
Impala. A week later, three
car burglaries. Did you see
anything strange? Yeah, a
brown Chevy Impala with a
rusted out bumper on the
right hand side.
Crimes are solved by the
sharing of information, from
the community and other
law enforcement agencies.
We have a good working
relationship with the Collier
County Sheriffs office
because their who-dun-its
are our who-dun-its. Crim-
inals dont stop at the county
line.
Illicit drugs have also been
a target of the unit, resulting
in dozens of drug arrests.
The Units two narcotics offi-
cers were particularly busy
from 2005 to 2007. Drug
dealers were either arrested
or they moved away. When
the drug dealers went away,
a lot of the thefts, robberies
and burglaries went with
them.
In my professional opin-
ion and from experience, 98
percent of crime by adults
is drug related, said Piasecki.
Its the hidden crime. Drug
dealing is everywhere. As
drug dealers move, so do the
customers, he added. As a
result, the City of Bonita
has gotten much much qui-
eter as far as crime stat wise.
Now Id say Bonitas safe.
In an interview with the
Spotlight just prior to his
departure from government
in June, former City Manager
Gary Price discussed the
Community Policing Units
2011 budget. It is substan-
tially less than much smaller
communities with their own
departments, he said. As a
point of comparison, Sanibel
with a population of 6,000
covering 13 square miles has
49.75 personnel including
29.95 sworn police officers
and an annual budget of
$4.1 million. The general
fund budget (for Bonita
Springs) is not much more
than that, said Price. The
units budget for 2011 for
Bonita Springs, a city of
46,000 covering 46 square
miles is $1.6 million. I think
its a great deal for our tax-
payers, he said.
Community Policing
deputies give back to the
community in various ways,
including the many gifts they
donate at Holiday in the
Park. In 2010 they adopted
a family whose father was
killed in Afghanistan and
helped them have a Christ-
mas they may not have oth-
erwise had.
In his years in community
policing Piasecki has seen
many cases of those who
have turned from crime. I
get phone calls from people
that used to be on the wrong
path whose names Ive even
forgotten. They say, Hey,
thank you. Do you remem-
ber when you came up
to me and you talked to me
and I think thats why I
stopped doing what I was
doing I would have been
dead by an overdose by
now.
Community Policing deputies give back to the com-
munity in various ways, including the many gifts
they donate at Holiday in the Park. In 2010 they
adopted a family whose father was killed in
Afghanistan and helped them have a Christmas
they may not have otherwise had.
Crime in
Bonita Springs
is now at its lowest
in ten years.
Police
from page 1
available at over 50 locations
in and around Bonita Springs
Real News.
Real Distribution.
Real Results.
20,000 copies every month
call to place your ad
239-287-6474
www.swspotlight.com
Sunset of the month
Vince Rigoni | sunset@swspotlight.com
Augusts sunset of the month was submitted by Vince Rigoni. Email your best sunset photos to sunset@swspotlight.com and your photo could be the next sunset
photo of the month.
S O U T H W E S T
AUGUST 2011 Vol.2, No.8 FREE
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
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PERMIT #980
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YMCA update 6
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Policing
paradise
Lieutenant Dave Piasecki stands outside the Community Policing Unit off Old
41 in Bonita Springs. Frequent police contact with our citizens has developed a
reservoir of knowledge about our community in an effort to continue to en-
hance the safety and quality of Bonita Springs.
By Kathy OFlinn
Bonita Springs As Lieu-
tenant Dave Piasecki stood
on line at a local fast food
restaurant, he noticed two
teenagers in front of him
ordering glasses of water and
two large fries. Are you guys
just snacking or are you guys
broke? he asked. After they
admitted being broke, he or-
dered two cheeseburgers for
each of them.
Fast forward four years.
The Bonita Springs Com-
munity Policing Unit re-
ceived a report of a scuffle.
Officers responded and
brought to the stationhouse
an inebriated young man,
spitting and kicking the win-
dows of the car.
When Lieutenant Piasecki
poked his head into the
patrol car, he warned the
man to stop. The man said
he would behave. Why
should I believe you? asked
Piasecki. Do you remember
four years ago? the man
said. You bought me two
cheeseburgers at Wendys.
A 16-year veteran of the
force, Piasecki heads the Lee
County Sheriffs Community
Policing Unit in Bonita
Springs, housed in a non-
descript cement block build-
ing squeezed behind the
citys Community Hall off
Old 41.
Piaseckis 6-foot-7-inch
frame can be intimidating,
but the candy jars on his
By Peter R. OFlinn
prof@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs Heres a
quiz. Name the United States
River that rises an average
of nine feet each year, from
its peak low to high water
level? The Colorado River
after the snow melt? No. If
you said the Imperial River,
as it meanders behind
Flamingo Island Flea Market,
you are correct.
OK, maybe the Colorado
is a bit wider and deeper,
but it is no more fun. So say
some who paddle the Im-
perial. In the late summer
and early fall the west bound
water flow is so intense that
Bonitas hidden parks
If I call them up,
theyre here.
They slow the race
car drivers. Theyre
the best.
Mike Augustine,
Owner of
Stans Super Subs
Kicking the ball 9

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