Southwest Spotlight - September 2011

Bonita Springs September 11, 2001 was a
crystalline day, with the kind of crisp, clear

and cloudless weather you can get in Man-
hattan when summer is not quite over but
fall has not arrived. Like millions of other
New Yorkers, I paced through a morning
ritual commute; in my case, the reliable
8:15 train to Grand Central Station and
then the walk to work.
That day, as I remember it, I walked up
Madison Avenue, and then crosstown
through Rockefeller Center to my office at
a law firm that had moved uptown 20 years
earlier from its previous location near the
World Trade Center.
Along the way, I briefly noticed an
alert flashing on a television screen in
the window of a Bank of America branch.
But wasnt there always some kind of
breaking news on TV? I moved on. On
the elevator, a woman said a sightseeing

S O U T H W E S T
SEPTEMBER 2011 Vol.2, No.9 FREE
Events, things to do and opportunities to give back to our community in and around Bonita Springs
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
FT MYERS, FL
PERMIT #980
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
ECRWSS
Ray Judah
on Bonita 13
St. Matthews
explained 30
Splash Dogs 23
Inside
20,000 circulation
12,000 direct-mailed
By Peter R. OFlinn
prof@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs Lisa Paces
office at City Hall is filled
with neatly arranged budget
books, financial statements,
and scores of other financial
reports dating to the Citys
founding 10 years ago.
Numbers surround Pace,
Bonita Springs Finance Di-
rector for six years, and she
likes it that way. I went
into accounting, she says,
because numbers dont ever
have a bad day.
Paces days are busy lately
as she and her staff put the
finishing touches on the
budget for the Citys next
fiscal year, which begins Oc-
tober 1. In September City
Council will hold hearings
and approve a final budget
package. In late July, City
Council held its first budget
workshop.
We are in good financial
condition, despite the econ-
omy, said City Manager
Carl Schwing at the budget
workshop. He credited the
Citys sure financial footing
to the efforts of City Coun-
cil, former City Manager
Gary Price, and Pace and
her staff.
Property taxes
and revenue
Property value decline is
one yardstick of financial
pain felt in the last four
years. At $7.5 billion,
assessed value of property
in the City is now at 2004
levels.
As property values have
fallen, so have property tax-
es. The City has tightened
its fiscal belt and given prop-
erty owners a break rather
than increase the tax rate
to fully compensate for de-
clining property values. Un-
der the proposed budget
property taxes will be $2.5
million less than in 2007,
when property values
peaked at over $13 billion.
This year, average prop-
erty values have declined 3
percent but the tax rate will
stay the same. As a result,
taxes will decrease on the
typical home. Some will fare
better than others depend-
ing upon assessed value
Continued on page 28
Couponing
for a cause 25
City
reorganization 6
Bonitas
balanced budget
In Remembrance
Staff Photo | info@swspotlight.com
Page 2 Southwest Spotlight September 2011
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 Sixteen crayons
6 City reorganization
9 First grade
10 Economic
development
11 Woman of the Year
13 Ray Judah
on Bonita
14 Edible landscaping
19 Learning by
teaching
22 Coastal Cleanup
23 Splash Dogs
25 Couponing
for a cause
30 St. Matthews
explained
Every Issue
23
11
5 Ben Nelsons column
6 Up and Down the Trail
9 Teacher Spotlight
Beverly Laney
10 Bonita Business Beat
11 Town Talk
17 Events
19 Artist of the month
Patty Kane
20 Spotlight Real Estate
Watch
22 Opportunities to give back
23 Bonitas Best Friends
27 Catch of the month
31 Sunset of the month
Advertising Sales
Kathy O'Flinn
kathy@swspotlight.com
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
Heather Thomson
Contributing Photographers
William L. Meyers
David Michael
Logan Newell
Robert L. Smith
September 2011 Southwest Spotlight Page 3
For the first time
I read the Southwest Spotlight today for the first time and enjoyed it immensely. The layout,
articles and writing are excellent and I wish you great success. Your paper is what good news
reporting should be, i.e., reporting the news without the personal opinion of the writer. Keep
up the good work!
Peter Paul , Bonita Springs
Tranquility and beauty
Thank you for a great paper, you always have so many interesting articles. I really enjoyed
the recent one on our hidden parks such as Island Park. The different parks are all unique;
however they are all assets to the City and locations for people to enjoy tranquility and the
beauty of the outdoors. I call Nature Place an urban oasis and thats what they all are.
Kathy McGrath, Bonita Springs
Suffering from dual response
I praise you for the coverage of the Bonita Springs Fire Departments desire to expand its
city-wide emergency medical treatment up to and including transporting patients to the
hospital.
I dare to say that the residents of Bonita Springs, Lee County Emergency Medical Services
and the Bonita Fire Department have suffered the problems associated with dual responses of
Fire Department trucks and Lee County EMS ambulances for over two decades. That is not to
say that the public is not well served with the cooperative effort of these agencies but it must
be recognized that the public does not accept dual responses as being cost effective, nor an
efficient use of their tax dollars. They want the present system changed to guarantee that
response times are low and the unit arriving has the total capability to treat the patient and get
him/her to the hospital as soon as possible.
The Bonita Springs Fire Department believes that the best way to serve the combined
critical Fire and Medical Emergency needs of a community is to have that responsibility in the
hands of one agency the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District. The Bonita Springs
Fire Control & Rescue District has that capacity, desire and commitment, and most importantly
the confidence of the public, to deliver a much improved total emergency response system to
the taxpayer at a lower total cost.
We have petitioned the Lee County Board of Commissioners for approval to demonstrate
our ability to provide the most efficient and effective Advanced Life Support treatment and
transport service that is available today. With the support of the citizens of Bonita Springs we
will obtain the approval to fully serve and satisfy the needs of this community far into the
future.
Ed FitzGerald, Fire Commissioner, Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District
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Letters to the Editor
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By Ben Nelson Jr.
Bonita Springs Out of
paper! I got up from my
desk and snagged a brand
new legal pad from the stor-
age closet. As I fanned
through the crisp new leaves,
I was struck by the familiar
smell of fresh ink and paper.
I smiled. The first day of
school! The beginning of
another school year meant
new things. New paper, new
pencils, a notebook, clothes...
Everything was different,
even me. I was taller, skinnier,
my ears were bigger and my
hair shorter.
Fourth grade was Mrs.
OConners class at Bonita
Springs Elementary. She was
tough I heard... so I wanted
to be ready. My Mom had
taken me to the department
store and I had filled the
required supply list enthu-
siastically... except for the
crayons. A box of 16 is what
was required, but then there
on the shelf was the new
Crayola box of 64 with
a built in sharpener! Being
a budding artist, I saw no
point in limiting myself to
16 colors, but my mother
said Ms. OConner had other
ideas and she placed the
puny box in the cart. As I
rode home, sulking next to
my mom, I tried to think of
a reason that someone would
even create a rule that limits
how many crayons you could
have. I finally blurted out.
I just dont get it...Are you
sure its a rule? I mean, it
sounds like a suggestion,
because why would she make
it a rule? Does she think
having too many colors will
confuse kids? Shouldnt we
be able to color whatever
color we want? My mom
rolled her eyes. Look, I dont
know why its a rule... its
just a rule, OK? I looked
out the window with my
arms crossed, watching the
water filled ditch next to the
Tamiami Trail go by. I mum-
bled. Well its a pretty stupid
rule. My mom just stared
straight ahead and drove a
little faster. Apparently I
would have to argue my case
to the teacher.
The next morning I was
on my way to school, with a
new crew cut, complete
with a single butch-waxed
tuft of hair on my otherwise
barren head, a huge brand
new pair of dark blue jeans
that had room enough for
me to grow into (they fit
great now!) and my new
school supplies, including
16 stupid crayons. On the
bus, as we were all comparing
our supplies and I was taking
a ribbing for my dispropor-
tionate head to ear ratio, I
noticed that one of the boys
had the 64 pack of crayons.
Arrrgh! I yelled grabbing
at the hair on top of my
head that I still dont have.
You cant have those! Youre
supposed to get the 16 pack
Joey! Joey shrugged as he
put them away. Theyre just
crayons man. I looked at
him like he had two heads.
What? You dont care?
Nope. said Joey casually
shrugging. I sized Joey up
for a second and then instinct
kicked in and I became...
my father! Okay Joey. But,
how do you feel about...
IRON MAN! And I pulled
out a brand new comic book
from my note book. Whoa!
said every boy on the bus.
(Id seen my dad horse
trade in the store hundreds
of times.) I dangled the
comic by one corner. Joey,
Ill trade you this comic book
and my box of crayons for
your box of crayons. Joey
jumped at the deal, which
made us both happy. Now
all I had to do was to con-
vince Mrs. OConnor.
For days I waited for my
opportunity to argue for
crayon freedom and then
finally as she was slowly cir-
cling the room inspecting
our work, Mrs. OConnor
stopped at my desk. I kept
coloring, looking down, my
giant box of crayons sticking
out like a sore thumb on
the top of my desk. Nice
job Benny. she said. (Wow,
Im in the clear!) I thought
and then she tapped gently
on the crayon box. Are these
the crayons you traded with
Joey? I turned slowly and
glared at Joey who was
slouched in his chair, his
face red as a beet.
Although my interpreta-
tion of Mrs. OConners
guidelines had been cor-
rect, Joeys parents apparently
didnt attach the same value
to Iron Man as their son.
So, I ended up with a dog-
eared comic and a box of 14
blunt and broken crayons.
My parents werent exactly
happy, but they must have
had some appreciation for
my impassioned argument,
because I finally got a brand
new box of 64 crayons.
Sweet Crayon Free
dom!
Sixteen crayons
Contributed | Special to the Spotlight
Ben Nelson Jr., 4th grade, Bonita Springs Elemen-
tary
Shouldnt we be
able to color
whatever color
we want?
Spotlight Staff Report
City adds economic
development post
Sometimes someone
strides onto the stage of life
and performs a role in such
a singular fashion that he
defines it. Following that
persons footsteps can present
a challenge or two. Carl
Schwing may not have the
same challenges as Frank
Sinatra, Jr. But, in a recent
City Council meeting, he
found it necessary to inform
one Councilmember, I am
not Gary Price.
Gary Price, Bonita
Springs first and only City
Manager until he retired in
June, left his imprint on the
City in many ways. Schwing,
a pros pro, readily and pub-
licly acknowledges the con-
tributions of his predecessor
(see, for example, this
months article on the City
budget.)
But Schwing has been
around the block too, with
over thirty years of city gov-
ernment experience before
he stepped into City Hall.
Now, just three hot summer
months into his tenure,
Bonitians are starting to see
the first tracings of Schwings
imprint.
As part of City staff reor-
ganization announced in
August, an economic devel-
opment position has been
created. Schwing tapped
Arleen Sheehan, formerly
Special Events and Parks
Coordinator, for the job. His
reorganization plan, intend-
ed to improve efficiency in
addressing city priorities,
was approved by City Coun-
cil.
The Council has made
it clear ever since I have had
contact with the City that
economic development is
big on the radar screen,
Schwing told the Spotlight.
It is important for the com-
munity now for jobs, for fill-
ing vacant space as well as
developing new properties
and bringing in new busi-
nesses.
He said it was important
to partner as closely as we
can with the Bonita
Springs/Estero Economic
Development Council and
the Chamber of Commerce
in attracting businesses to
the City.
But, Schwing said, attract-
ing business is only half the
job. The other half is a
streamlined development
process. You can sell it all
day long, but if you cant
deliver something that is
easy to navigate for the cus-
tomer, we will not have a
good reputation.
Sheehan is well prepared
for her new responsibilities,
with a Masters degree in
Urban and Regional Plan-
ning from Florida State Uni-
versity. She is a certified
planner through the Amer-
ican Institute of Certified
Planners. I am very exited
about the opportunity, said
Sheehan, I have greatly
enjoyed the events position
and the experiences I have
had in the community.
In announcing the reor-
ganization, Schwing said,
We have a lot of very dedi-
cated talented people on our
staff. Several other City
employees now have new
positions and responsibilities,
including City Clerk Dianne
Lynn, Director of Admin -
istrative Services, Lora Tay-
lor, who added Special
Events responsibilities, Meg
Weiss, Human Resources
Manager, Nicole Perino,
Parks and Recreation Direc-
tor; Daryl Walk, Public
Works Director and Chris
Campbell, Code Enforce-
ment Manager. Assistant City
Manager John Gucciardos
portfolio was expanded.
City Charter contretemps
Two years ago, Stevie
Tomatos applied for a spe-
cial exemption under the
Citys zoning law to allow
consumption of alcohol out-
side its premises. The process
took about five months, too
long in the view of some
City Council members. They
felt, to facilitate business, the
time taken to process future
special exceptions should be
shortened. In February, after
considerable debate, a 4-3
vote of City Council
approved changes to stream-
line the process.
Stevie Tomatos is gone
from the Prado shopping
center, but the dispute over
streamlining lingers, in the
form of a lawsuit against the
City by a group called Bonita
Citizens for Responsible
Government. Its members
include Patrick McCourt,
former Bonita Springs City
Councilman, Marty Roach
and other Bonita Springs
residents.
Why did the Stevie Toma-
tos process take up to five
months? Since the Citys
inception in 2000, the
approval of special exemp-
tions and most variances
required the passage of an
ordinance, or law. Significant
waiting periods were
required before, between and
after public hearings and
final adoption of the law.
The City Councils action
to change the process per-
mitted variance and special
exemptions to be approved
by City Council resolution
rather than adoption of an
ordinance. Proponents of
the change emphasized that
the rigor of review would
be maintained, including
public hearings. Only notice
periods and waiting times
would be shortened, by up
to three months. The result,
they said, would be a process
more responsive to area busi-
nesses without curtailing
public participation.
In its lawsuit, Bonita Cit-
izens takes no issue with the
the goal of increased effi-
ciency in the approval
process, but it objects to the
means by which that was
accomplished. It says allow-
ing approval of a special
exception or variance by res-
olution, rather than an ordi-
nance, requires voter
approval to change the Boni-
ta Springs City Charter. That
change, it says, would not
pass muster with its citizen-
ry. It draws attention to
the plain language of the
Charter that lists Regulate
land use and Development
as among those acts of the
City that shall be by ordi-
nance.
Not so, says the other
side. The City Council can
interpret the Charter, and
by the way, some variance
and other changes have
always been approved by
resolution.
Before any substantive
arguments can be heard,
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By Heather Thomson
Bonita Springs In 1921,
Bonitas first school opened
its doors to its first students.
Last month, ninety years
later, that same brick building
welcomed a new generation
of over 400 youngsters. Mon-
day through Friday morn-
ings, students fill the brick
hallways of this historic
school; and for two weeks
prior, impassioned teachers
prepared for their students
arrivals.
Early morning in the
front office, phones are ring-
ing and teachers are bustling
in and out of offices, prepar-
ing for the start of another
day. At 8:30 am, one teacher
in particular makes her way
to the principals office before
shes even had her first cup
of coffee. Meet Beverlee
Laney: first grade.
How long have you been
teaching at Bonita Springs
Elementary?
I started in 1987, so this
is my twenty-fifth year here.
I have been teaching for 30
years total.
Have you always imag-
ined yourself teaching in a
smaller area like Bonita
Springs, or did you teach
in a bigger area before this?
I started teaching in Jack-
sonville, but I taught in a
small school there, so I really
liked the small school feel. I
first came to Naples, but
they had a hiring freeze at
the time. So I went to Lee
County and they were very
good to me so I taught at
Pelican, which is a big school.
I had a very good expe-
rience there, but I was driving
fifty-five miles one way to
school. The next year there
was an opening here (at
Bonita Springs Elementary
School) and at the time I
didnt even know this school
existed. But I came and I
got such a good feel for the
school and the size, and it
seemed like everybody knew
each other. I just liked it. So
I interviewed for a first grade
teaching position the
teacher was retiring and
Heather Thomson | info@swspotlight.com
Beverlee Laney has been teaching first grade at
Bonita Springs Elementary for 25 years.
Brick walls and butterflies:
Welcome to first grade!
Ive been here ever
since.
What do you find is
the toughest part of start-
ing a new school year?
I think the kids are really
ready to come back to school
even if they dont say they
are. They want to see their
friends; they want to get into
a different routine. The
toughest part is getting them
back into the school routine,
especially the little ones. Their
fondest memory is their last
teacher.
But being the age that
they are, they acclimate so
quickly and so readily. Its
exciting, kind of
like getting ready for
Christmas: its hectic
and crazy but in the end
it pays off and if someone
were to tell you not to do
something you always do,
you would miss it.
The brick schoolhouse
holds a lot of significance
for Bonita Springs as a city.
Do you find it symbolic or
interesting as a teacher to
have a historic building like
this to come to every day?
Its funny because when
I first started working here
this (the interior of the orig-
Bonita Springs Bonita
Springs/Estero Economic
Development Council chair
Richard Mancini recently
reported to City Council
on developments. He is
cautiously optimistic that
contacts developed with a
$50 million organization
looking to relocate into the
area may bear fruit. Stay
tuned.
The internal structure of
the EDC has been finalized,
said Mancini. In the early
stages, the small business
development center at Flori-
da Gulf Coast University is
meeting with businesses in
existence three years or more
that have at least five employ-
ees and revenues of at least
$500,000.
A demographic and busi-
ness profile of the area is
being developed, and an
existing business survey is
being planned. The EDC
wants to identify what we
as a community do right
and what we as a community
dont do as well as we could
to make the area more con-
ducive for business growth
and development, said
Mancini. A marketing and
branding campaign is also
in the works.
In August, City Council
approved $50,250 to match
donations the EDC has
received from donors. That
supplements $25,000 in seed
money the City contributed
earlier this year.
The Bonita Springs Area
Chamber of Commerce
will hold its annual meeting
and awards luncheon
September 21 at 11:30 am
at the Bonita Bay Club. Out-
going Chair of the Board
Sabra Smith will give the
State of the Chamber
address. Incoming Chair of
the Board James Dati will
layout his vision for the
future.
inal building) didnt look
anything like it does now. It
had been seventies-ized,
with lowered ceilings and
the floors covered in
linoleum. It looked very out-
dated. And then we had the
renovation 13/14 years ago
and they got rid of those
ceilings and exposed the
wood floors. They brought
it back to what it used to be.
It was like walking into a
page of a design magazine
or something. It was just so
beautiful. They kept the his-
toric integrity, but made it
look new and fresh.
Do a lot of the students
here know about the history
of the building, and do they
seem to think its pretty
neat?
I think the ones that really
get it are the older kids; they
are a bit more exposed to
that. We have a lot of pictures
from when this was just a
one-room schoolhouse and
there was a fence around it
to keep the cows out, and I
think they kind of get it.
I had a little girl yesterday;
she came up to me and said,
Mrs. Laney, you taught my
mother! (laughs) But those
students kind of understand
it a little more because their
parents talk about what it
was like. And some of them,
its the grandchild thats com-
ing through here, so thats
pretty cool.
Is the Bonita Springs
community very involved
with the school?
We have so many friends
and partners and organiza-
tions that have taken us
under their wing. We just
have to think it, and we have
it. We just put out a little
blurb, whether it be by word
of mouth or newspaper, and
we get it.
Christmas around here
is what you think a true
Christmas should be. We
have people bringing in
boxes and boxes and crates
and crates and gifts for the
kids. Just about everybody
goes home with presents:
clothes, everything.
Are there any big projects
you have planned for your
students this year, or any-
thing you are encouraging
them to get involved in?
Well, every year I kind of
like to feed into what the
class is interested in. One
thing we like to do with
them because we have estab-
lished a butterfly garden on
the campus and weve done
a lot with the landscaping
with the children and with
community partners, is a
butterfly project. We have
the children witness the
stages of the monarch but-
terfly in its natural environ-
ment. We do a lot of things
outdoors, simply because we
can.
Ive spoken with many
teachers who have wished
for more hours in the day.
If you could have one wish
granted as a teacher what
would it be?
That I didnt have to sleep.
(laughs) That would give
me more time. I would have
those quiet moments when
everyone else is sleeping to
get all that paperwork done
that needs to get done. As a
teacher, you really have to
think of the one thing you
will not let go of during the
day, and make sure that that
gets priority.
Brick walls and
butterflies
from page 9
Bonita Business Beat
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening
of McLogan Photography last month. Holding the scissors is Logan Newell, he
enjoys capturing moments, not just taking pictures.
City Council
approved $50,250 to
match donations the
EDC has received
from donors.
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9!ransmissions
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UP
TO
TOWN TALK
Woman of the Year Young artists show
The Zonta Club of Bonita Springs
has named Trish Leonard the 2011
Woman of the Year. She is a
dynamo of a woman with endless
energy and a positive, can-do
attitude She is a perfect role
model for area women and through
her example will surely encourage
others to become involved in civic
and fundraising events, says Patty
Gift, Zonta Club President. Leonard
will be presented her award during
the Clubs Third Annual Glass Slip-
per Ball in November.
Budding young artists in Childrens Home
Societys summer programs presented
their works during an art show at Florida
Gulf Banks Coconut Point banking office in
Estero last month. Lianny Velaquez
displays her painting Brown Owl.
Contributed | towntalk@swspotlight.com
Contributed | towntalk@swspotlight.com
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By Peter R. OFlinn
Fort Myers In a recent
interview with the Spotlight
at his Old Lee County Court-
house office, Lee County
Commissioner Ray Judah
talked about Bonita Springs
issues, including the library
expansion, use of 20/20
funds and the Bonita Springs
Fire Districts proposal to
provide ambulance emer-
gency transport services.
Library expansion
The Lee County proposed
budget for Library projects
now contains a line item for
Bonita Springs Library
expansion. That is a piece
of good news for those who
have worked hard to improve
the Bonita Springs Library,
which Judah called insuffi-
cient, size wise, for the cur-
rent population of Bonita
Springs, at a joint meeting
of Bonita Springs City Coun-
cil and the County Com-
mission in May. At that time,
he reiterated his past support
of $4 million for library
expansion.
However, it may be a bit
early to declare, mission
accomplished. The Lee
County budget notes, The
amount and timing of the
project to be determined.
In 2007 the Lee County
Library fund, which covers
capital projects as well as
operations, totaled almost
$60 million. Not anymore.
The new County budget
projects library fund reserves
at just $9.5 million. That is
your worst fund, said assis-
tant county manager Pete
Winton at a recent County
Commissioners meeting,
referring to the sufficiency
of fund reserves.
Starting in 2008, the
County reduced the library
tax rate and tapped reserve
funds to support spending
for operations, as well as
library construction on Cape
Coral and in downtown Fort
Myers. Judah has been a pro-
ponent of maintaining
reserves. Last year, library
tax rates were adjusted to
compensate for assessed
value decreases.
So then, how will library
improvements in Bonita be
funded?
Judah referred to a com-
mitment that had been dis-
cussed over time by several
members of the Board. If
it means that I will have to
support pulling $4 million
from general fund reserves,
or unincorporated MSTU
(municipal service taxing
unit) reserves or increasing
the library millage in order
to achieve that, I am sup-
portive of all those options
to make the commitment
to Bonita Springs, he said.
Some commissioners are
probably going to say we
never made the commit-
ment, said Judah. I am
going to have to remind
them that (Bonita Springs)
is a contributing member
of our system and we are
better off to have them as
co-partners as opposed to
going off on their own. It
behooves us to see this as
an investment in the part-
nership. I remain hopeful
that other members of the
Board will see the wisdom
of that and support Bonita
Springs request.
As to the path forward,
Bonita needs to have a sin-
gular focus on what they
want to do, said Judah. Do
they want to expand on the
existing facility, about which
I understand there are some
talks, or do they want to
build a whole new facility?
Once they get focused on
the approach they want to
take, then they can make
their submittal to this Board.
He said that until a defin-
itive plan is developed it
would be premature to set
aside funds in the budget.
City and Lee County
staffs have been working
together to review different
options for library expan-
sion, including the viability
of using the existing library
site on Pine Avenue, said
Assistant City Manager John
Gucciardo.
Bonita Fire EMS bid
In July Bonita Springs
Fire Control and Rescue
District requested Lee Coun-
ty Commissioners hold a
public hearing on the Fire
Districts continuing request
to provide emergency trans-
port services. That job is
currently performed by Lee
County Emergency Medical
Services.
I am fine with a hearing,
said Judah. I am perfectly
fine with closer scrutiny of
the numbers presented to
the Board by Public Safety
and the numbers being pre-
sented by the Bonita Springs
Fire District. I am happy to
review those numbers.
Lee County Public Safety
staff analyses show the cost
for Bonita Fire District to
provide the services would
significantly exceed the cur-
rent County EMS costs.
Bonita Fire District analyses
show it would cost less, not
more, for it to run the service.
It says estimates prepared
by County staff inflate Bonita
Fire Districts cost by
improperly including fire-
fighting and related expenses.
20/20 Priorities
Judah was present at the
creation when, he recalls, a
bipartisan group led by those
he calls some of the greats,
like Porter Goss, helped forge
a County comprehensive
plan that fostered growth
while protecting the envi-
ronment. Goss, a County
Commissioner in the 1980s,
went on to the U.S. House
of Representatives and, even-
tually, to the post of CIA
director in President George
W. Bushs administration.
Judah was Lee Countys
first environmental planner.
After his election to County
Commission in 1988, he
helped craft the Countys
20/20 program, approved by
the voters, among many
other environmental initia-
tives. We need to protect
our water supplies and open
space, said Judah. Today,
there are 42 preserves in the
20/20 program, formed from
the acquisition of 24,000
acres of land.
The acquisition criteria
for 20/20 properties favors
large parcels, a concern to
cities like Bonita Springs
where many environmentally
sensitive parcels are smaller
in size. I vehemently dis-
agreed with our County staff
on that issue, said Judah, I
have always supported buy-
ing small pieces of land.
He explained that, with
the recent precipitous drop
in funding for the program,
there is a huge laundry list
of tracts of land and limited
dollars to buy them.
Ray Judah
on Bonita Springs issues
Lee County Commis-
sioner Ray Judah
By D. K. Christi
Bonita Springs What hap-
pens when Florida Friendly
Landscaping meets Edible
Landscaping? Its a perfect
match made in nature.
Snap peas and beans
have beautiful flowers; pep-
per plants are stunning; a
border of cabbages, cauli-
flower, broccoli and kale is
low maintenance with high
taste value. In winter, I fill
my pots with root crops:
carrots, radishes, onions and
garlic. Five lettuce varieties
add color. Growing sweet
tasting vegetables also saves
money and provides relax-
ation when I get home from
work, says Bonita Springs
resident Tom Umscheid.
Umscheids edible land-
scaping provides his family,
friends and neighbors with
healthy, fresh produce. He
had some failures; an ECHO
(Educational Concerns for
Hunger Organization) class
confirmed that cucumbers,
zucchini and squash are a
challenge. Start small, he
suggests. Break open a garlic
clove and plant it in a pot.
Grow herbs.
Becky Pomerson at Key-
stone Garden Center also
likes herbs. Keep them just
outside your door for the
fragrance, the flowers and
the butterflies. Fennel and
dill in particular attract but-
terflies. Rosemary has a
strong fragrance. You can
also create a decorative veg-
etable wall. Use climbing
peas and beans and hang
decorative herb and vegetable
pots on a trellis and engage
the whole family. I helped
eager Bonita Springs Ele-
mentary School children pre-
pare decorated pots of seeds
to grow flowers and vegeta-
bles for a Mothers Day gift.
ECHO has also helped the
school with a garden and
the Keystone Garden Center
often donates seeds.
Umscheid prepares his
own compost. Suzy Valen-
tine, President of the Gulf
Coast Garden Club uses four
rain barrels to conserve
ground water.
Just go to the local creek
to scoop up enough mos-
quito eating fish to keep bar-
rels mosquito free. Add water
plants to the top for deco-
ration, says Valentine.
Her cacao beans, vanilla
bean orchid and kumquats
tease the palate. Heartland
Gardens, a not-for-profit,
one-acre community garden,
shaped in a labyrinth, grows
organic vegetables, herbs,
fruits, nuts and fungi, and
teaches classes. Their 500
Gardens Project helps new
gardeners grow 300 lbs. of
food in 100 square feet in
15 minutes a day, said Benny
Pena, CEO of Heartland Gar-
dens.
Thomas Becker, Florida
Yards and Neighborhoods
Extension Agent, IFAS, and
volunteer Master Gardeners
help homeowners and com-
munities develop Florida
Friendly landscapes. Initially,
the costs to buy specific
plants may seem higher than
grass; but over time, the
beauty and benefits pay off
start small, but the ultimate
goal is to incorporate food
crops in decorative land-
scaping so the effort pays
off twice: once in benefits
to the environment and sec-
ond, in benefits to the eye
and the palate.
The growing season in
Florida is nearly 365 days a
year. The heat of summer
can be a detriment unless
careful planning provides
for shade part of the day.
Many gardeners combine
Florida Friendly ornamentals
with edible plants to balance
the year and provide rooms
in their landscape with plants
needing shade near fruit trees
or in other shaded groupings.
Pathways often wind through
the gardens with benches
for contemplation. Raised
beds and colorful pots are
often mixed for eye appeal.
September is the start of the
main vegetable growing sea-
son. Nurseries receive their
stock while gardeners prepare
their soil for seeds and bed-
ding plants. The non-profit
organizations offer classes
in locations with sufficient
requests. The costs are gen-
erally low. Check their web-
sites (in the sidebar) for
current class schedules.
Becker cautions, A major
challenge is overcoming
Floridians expectation of
grass and palms, when they
could enjoy shade, wildlife
and a bounty of edible fruits
and vegetables with a little
pre-planning and instruc-
tion.
Fifteen minutes a day to beauty and bounty
For more
information
Florida Friendly
Landscaping
www.floridayards.org
Educational Concerns for
Hunger Organization
www.echonet.org
Heartland Gardens
www.heartlandgardens.org
University of Florida
Institute of Food and
Agriculture Sciences
http://ifas.ufl.edu/
Jalapeo plants require little maintenance and love
the sun.
Mango
Pomegranate
Lemon
Banana
Basil is a great herb to grow in a pot in your back-
yard or on your lanai.
Orange
Patriot Day Service
Sun., Sept. 11, 9 a.m.
The Bonita Springs Fire and
Control Rescue District, Lee
County Sheriff s Office and
the City of Bonita Springs
invite the public to a remem-
brance service in observance
of the 10 year anniversary
of the September 11 attacks.
The program will be hon-
oring all emergency response
personnel. There will also be
a special presentation hon-
oring fallen flight crewmem-
bers. The ceremony will
include a Final Alarm Bell, a
21 Gun Salute and a per-
formance by Bonita Springs
Elementary School students.
Where: Riverside Park. Cost:
Free. For more information,
call 239-949-6262.
Coastal Cleanup
Sat. Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to noon
Volunteers are treated to
breakfast by Docs Beach
House, then are supplied
with bags, gloves and a data
collection form. Nelson
Marine Construction is the
site coordinator. Garbage is
brought back to the park
and weighed, then volunteers
enjoy a hot dog or ham-
burger from Buffalo Chips
and Royal Scoop ice cream.
Where: Bonita Beach Park
Arts & Entertainment
Portrait and Figure
Exhibition
Fri., Sept. 2, 6 to 8 p.m.
Member and guests can
enjoy an evening of social-
izing, art and light hors
doeuvres. Where: The Cen-
ter for the Arts. Cost: Free.
Auditions Youth Theater
Wed. & Thur., Sept 7 & 8, 5
to 7 p.m. Ages 10 and up
will have an opportunity to
audition for the next pro-
duction, Dress Rehearsal
for Murder. Auditions are
by appointment. Where: The
Center for the Arts. For more
information, call 239-495-
8989.
Films for Film Lovers
Mon., Sept. 12 & 26, 7 p.m.
This 22 film series offers for-
eign and independent films
meant to offer insight into
the lives and cultures that
exist around the world. The
theme of this months two
movies is living under com-
munism. The Lives of Others
on Sept. 12 and Goodbye
Lenin on Sept. 26. Where:
Promenade at Bonita Bay,
Space 114. Cost: $8. For more
8989.
Acoustic evening
Thur., Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
Kelvin Fischer presents an
evening of acoustic music
from his new CD Drawn
to the Light, as well as other
favorites from the band Love
Hunter. Where: Promenade
at Bonita Bay. Cost: $15
members/ $20 non-mem-
bers. For more information,
call 239-495-8989.
Raku & You
Tues., Sept. 27, 5:30 p.m.
Learn how to glaze pottery
using a centuries old glazing
and firing process.
Enjoy a picnic-style meal
while waiting for the kiln to
heat up. Bring home your
own masterpiece. Where:
The Center for the Arts. Cost:
$40 per person. Call the Cen-
ter for the Arts 239-495-
8989 to register.
Art Walk
Thur., Sept. 29, 4 to 7 p.m.
The last Thursday of each
month you can visit Artists
Studios, view their art,
demonstrations and enjoy
a live concert, light refresh-
ments, and visit other mer-
chants. Where: The
Promenade at Bonita Bay.
Cost: Free. For more infor-
mation, call The Center for
the Arts 239-495-8989.
Sports
Title fight
Sat., Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.
Welterweight Title Fight,
Amaya vs. Lawrence. Where:
Germain Arena. Cost: Tickets
available through Ticket-
master.
Fundraisers
Patriot Golf Tournament
Fri., Sept. 2, 9 a.m.
The primary fundraiser for
the Folds of Honor Foun-
dation, is an annual event
to raise money for post-sec-
ondary educational schol-
arships for children and
spouses of military service
men and women killed or
disabled while serving our
great nation. The mission
of Folds of Honor is to help
ensure that no family is left
behind in the field of battle
by honoring their sacrifice
and educating their legacy.
Where: The Colony Golf &
Country Club. Cost: $95
guest/$65 members. For
more information call 239-
390-471.
Dog Days of Summer
Thur., Sept. 15, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
A hot dog barbecue with
free food, beverages and
music. Raffles and a 50/50
will benefit the Make-A-
Wish Foundation of South-
ern Florida. Where: Classic
Floors & Countertops, 25150
Bernwood Drive #7, Bonita
Springs. Cost: Free. For more
1570.
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., Sept. 7, 5:30 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 21, 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
Thurs., Sept. 8, 5:30 to 7:30
Enjoy networking, hors
doeuvres and door prizes.
Where: Worthington Coun-
try Club. Cost: Contact kim
@bonitaspringschamber.com
for pricing.
All dates, times and prices
are subject to change.
EVENTS
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By Meghan Easterly
Bonita Springs Artist Patty
Kane is living her dream.
Her life is filled with creativity
and simplicity, the two things
that give her breath and
make life perfect.
Kane splits her art career
between teaching and selling
her own work. In her water-
color paintings, people get
a view of the things Kane
loves. Her work is filled with
snippets of people at the
beach or at the pool enjoying
the Southwest Florida sun.
Her nature paintings may
show the same place many
times, but as in life, each
painting is different on each
new day. With her Every
Day is a New Sky series,
Kane takes the same scene
of palm trees and paints it
each day. Every painting is
different, depending on the
colors of the sky. As most
Southwest Floridians know,
the sky is never the same.
Number 21 of this series
won the Congressional
Award.
If you paint every day,
why is it that that one got
the recognition? Kane says.
That is all part of my
process; I dont hit a home
run every day.
In Kanes studio at The
Rosen Gallery & Studios in
Naples, the walls are filled
with works in progress. Often
the paintings are the same
subject painted over and over
again. Each one is different,
with its own personality.
You have to play, Kane
says.
Kane wasnt always a
painter; she had a day job
and a family. As her kids got
older, she had more free
time.
I always had creativity
in my life with my children,
but once they started getting
older, they didnt need
me to feed them that cre-
ativity, Kane says. I started
getting bunched up and said,
how do I channel that cre-
ativity?
She enrolled in a drawing
and painting class and stud-
ied at the Creald School of
Art in Winter Park. The next
thing she knew it was time
to quit her day job and go
full-time with her art.
It was a leap of faith,
Kane says.
This made all the differ-
ence. Kanes creativity had
an outlet and this fulfillment
led to a richer and happier
life. Seeing this joy, Kanes
husband Tom followed suit.
After years as an automotive
executive, he decided to leave
his high paying job and seek
out his joy of coaching high
school basketball. The couple
downsized, moved to South-
west Florida in 2006 and
now enjoy the beach and
the sunset and every breath
of their lives.
I pinch myself every day,
Kane says. I am so grateful
to be living this close to the
coast and I dont take it for
granted. I see beauty in my
everyday life.
Kane brings this gift into
her work. She works in a
watercolor technique of lay-
ering transparent color on
paper. This allows the paint
to do the work and produces
unexpected bursts of color.
My favorite thing to
teach is layering of trans-
parent; its a simplified
approach to watercolor,
Kane says. This is not to be
confused with easy.
In Kanes watercolor class-
es students dont have to buy
a rainbow of colors, they
buy three tubes of primary
color and create the rainbow
on their pallets. She teaches
them to see the white of the
paper and how to layer color
to create dramatic effect.
I get more out of teach-
ing than my students do,
Kane says. I teach what was
the hardest for me to learn
and I always do things more
than once.
The artist says she loves
teaching and learning from
her students. She meets peo-
ple from all walks of life that
come to her because they
like to learn.
Its the best job in the
world, Kane says.
She teaches at The Center
for the Arts in Bonita
Springs, at the Von Liebig,
at the Fort Myers Beach Art
Association and at Big Arts
Sanibel. Her work can be
viewed in shows throughout
Southwest Florida, at the
Rosen Gallery in Naples and
at the Turtle Shop and the
Survey Cafe in Bonita.
At Survey Cafe, it is in
the Ladies Room, Kane says
laughing. I wanted to be
somewhere where I had their
full attention.
Her work is also found
at galleries in Orlando and
Jacksonville as well as private
and corporate collections
throughout the United
States.
I paint things I know
and love, Kane says.
We live small and make
those tiny safe havens for
ourselves. There is joy in
simplicity.
Learning by teaching
Meghan Easterly | info@swspotlight.com
Patty Kane teaches at The Center for the Arts in
Bonita Springs, at the Von Liebig, at the Fort Myers
Beach Art Association and at Big Arts Sanibel.
Artist Brushes watercolor by Patty Kane.
Alexa at Poolside watercolor by Patty Kane
Florida Beauty watercolor by Patty Kane
By Bill Barnes
Chief Executive Officer
Bonita Springs Estero
Association of Realtors
Bonita Springs The Real
Estate Market locally and
nationally especially on the
buyer side of transactions is
very affected by daily national
news. This year we have seen
the graphs of sales and listings
show a choppy line of
responses. Traditionally real
estaate has been a chart of
slow rising or descending lines.
The most important data
for our area is that condo
sales in 2011 compared to
2010 are up from 84 in 2010
to 108 in July of 2011 a rise
of 24 units. Along with the
condos, single family homes
sales are up from 56 in July
2010 to 71 in July of 2011.
There is truly a slow return
of the market area.
Comparing 2011 to 2010
we have sold 129 more single
family homes in 2011 than
in 2010. Prospective buyers
tell us that their interest in
buying here is slowed or
stopped by their ability to
sell in their former towns of
the Midwest.
The single family homes
entering the market in July
were 133 which continue in
the 143-133 range which is
the same as the past three
months. The Bonita Springs-
Estero area still is consistent
in its number of single family
homes entering the market
as we were not as impacted
by foreclosures as other parts
of the county.
The Condominiums
entering the market in July
was 139 which is a nine unit
increase after three months
of condo listings decline.
July sales of condos contin-
ued a five month decline
from 175 in March down to
108 sales in July. The sales
of Single Family Homes were
71 units which was the lowest
since January when it was
69. The price range of
$100,000 to $200,000 con-
tained 75 percent of all the
condo and home sales in
July.
Julys top 10 closed sales
show a very strong market
for expensive homes. Nine
of the months Top Ten
were over one million dollars
in price. Pelican Landing
and the Brooks both hosted
three sales over one million.
Quail West hosted two mil-
lion plus including the Top
Closed Sale of $1,900,000.
The market research
department at B.E.A.R. has
expanded the data that will
appear in our monthly mar-
ket reports to include all areas
South of Alico Road.
Spotlight Real Estate Watch

70

70

CE: SOUR

60
50
40
30
20
10

60
50
40
30
20
10

ck o D t a o B & d n a L , t o L

0

lla i /V o nd Co
ily m a F e l Sing

Highlights
from Julys top 10 sales
13630 Pondview Cir.,
Quail West
$1,900,000
9540 Lakebend Preserve Ct.,
Shadow Wood at the Brooks
$1,800,000
4875 Pelican Colony Blvd.,
Pelican Landing
$1,800,000
26732 Hickory Blvd.,
Bonita Beach
$1,335,000
2010 November 125
January 160 December 177
February 175 2011
March 219 January 165
April 263 February 215
May 174 March 271
June 179 April 312
July 144 May 236
August 132 June 216
September 121 July 183
October 80

Monthly Transactions
Number of real estate transactions
in the Bonita Springs Estero market
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info@swspotlight
Coastal Cleanup
Sat. Sept. 17,
9 a.m. to noon
Volunteers meet at Bonita
Beach Park and are treated
to breakfast by Docs Beach
House, then are supplied
with bags, gloves and a data
collection form. Nelson
Marine Construction is the
site coordinator. Garbage is
brought back to the park
and weighed, then volun-
teers enjoy a hot dog or
hamburger from Buffalo
Chips and Royal Scoop ice
cream.
Music for Minors
Foundation
The Foundation works
close-
ly with middle school string
orchestra and band leaders
to identify qualified seventh
grade students who have had
a year of orchestra or band,
that demonstrate a sincere
desire, and that have a finan-
cial need. The candidates
are then interviewed for par-
ticipation in the MFM pro-
gram. The students that are
accepted into the program
are notified and invited to a
reception where they are
honored with a yearly grant
for the instrument of their
choice. Each year the stu-
dents are re-certified to
ensure they continue to meet
Foundation requirements.
The organization offers a
variety of volunteer oppor-
tunities for individuals or
groups who have an interest
in furthering the musical
education of children. For
more information, call 239-
947-1943.
Meals on Wheels
Meals-on-Wheels serves the
infirm and homebound by
providing one meal a day to
those in need. Monday
through Friday recipients
receive hot meals. For week-
ends they receive frozen
meals. Almost 200 volunteer
drivers make the program
possible by providing their
own cars and gasoline. In
an average month, drivers
cover almost 4,500 miles,
delivering over 6,000 meals.
If you would like to become
a volunteer delivering meals
to the homebound, call 239-
775-0443.
Friends of Barefoot
Beach Preserve
Barefoot Beach is one of the
last stretches of undeveloped
beachfront land in South
Florida. It remains as natural
and unspoiled as it was hun-
dreds of years ago. The pre-
serve consists of 342 acres
on a barrier island, separated
from the mainland by man-
grove swamps and tidal
creeks. For information on
how to become a volunteer,
call Margaret Winn, Presi-
dent of the Friends of Bare-
foot Beach Preserve, at
239-495-9100, or visit
fobbp.org.

BONITA
T A S T E O F
Sunday, November 20, 2011
SPONSORSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
S O U T H W E S T
Events, things to do and opportunities to give back to our community in and around Bonita Springs
Bonitas
Community Newspaper
www.tasteofbonita.com
SPONSORSHIPS NOW A

A VVAIL RSHIPS NOW A AV

ABLE AIL

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y to the event. no cost for entr
estaurants, a childr ea r ar
8,000 and 10,000 people. The day featur
largest annual events, with attendance estimated between
downtown Bonita Springs. T
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es food fr 8,000 and 10,000 people. The day featur
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of Bonita Springs Noon supports thr
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
aste of Bonita go towar m T Taste of Bonita go towar
-oriented community cause. , family
e in a high-pr opportunity for considerable exposur
ovides your business with a unique aste of Bonita pr

, including oughout the year
y Club of charitable causes and organizations which The Rotar
d a wide range aste of Bonita go towar
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www.tasteofbonita.co
Full sponsorship details ar
and many others.
Hospital), Shelter Box USA, Gif
ehab of pediatric oors at L Ofce, Jenns Kids (r
o High School scholarships, Bonita Springs Assistance Ester
of Bonita Springs Noon supports thr

om. For questions, call 239-331-1432.
e available on line at Full sponsorship details ar
t of Life, Wheelchair Foundation Hospital), Shelter Box USA, Gif
ehab of pediatric oors at L
o High School scholarships, Bonita Springs Assistance
oughout the year of Bonita Springs Noon supports thr

9-331-1432.
t of Life, Wheelchair Foundation
ee Memorial L Lee Memorial
o High School scholarships, Bonita Springs Assistance
, including oughout the year

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Opportunities
to give back
By Max Harris and
Dorota Harris
Bonitas Best Friends
Santa Rosa, CA This
month we are writing our
column from California. The
trip has turned into a voyage
of discovery so far as dogs
are concerned.
At the Sonoma County
Fair, we came upon a Splash
Dogs contest. This is a high-
ly-organized competitive
event, in which dogs leap
from a dock into a swim-
ming pool-sized tank of
water, and gain points for
the distance achieved. Dogs
not only compete to win
their local competition (in
this case, the County Fair),
but also participate in a
national ranking table.
In Sonoma the main
breeds we saw participating
were (predictably) Labradors
and Retrievers, plus German
Shepherds. The enthusiasm
of all the dogs knew no
bounds, and they threw
themselves from the edge of
the dock with the most enor-
mous determination. They
were encouraged to leap
towards a small barbell sus-
pended over the pool, which
would detach if they suc-
ceeded in taking it in their
mouths. Those who did so
would paddle in circles wait-
ing for the applause to die
down before swimming to
the exit ramp. Those who
failed would look comically
upwards from the water with
an expression that clearly
said I cant believe its still
hanging there.
The website of Splash
Dogs has some interesting
information. The all-time
record jump is logged at 27
feet 8 inches. And here comes
another discovery; the breed
that holds this record is the
Catahoula. Now maybe you,
our knowledgeable readers,
know what a Catahoula is,
but we did not. It turns out
to be the Catahoula Cur,
also known as the Louisiana
Catahoula Leopard Dog. Yes,
really it is named after
Catahoula Parish in the State
of Louisiana, was a favorite
breed of Jim Bowie who
allegedly slept with one at
his feet, can have patchy coat
colors like a leopard, has
been the official State Dog
of Louisiana since 1979, and
can jump 27-plus feet. And
we never heard of it until
now!
Of course it may just be
that we dont hang out in
the right places! Friends here
tell us that Catahoula Curs
can be found on farms and
ranches across North Amer-
ica.
The Splash Dogs website
also tells us that the breed
with the shortest jump
record, of 2 feet 6 inches, is
the Norfolk Terrier. We dont
want to be rude about Nor-
folk Terriers but if you
had a dog whose leaping
abilities topped out at 2 feet
6 inches, would you enter it
in competitions? Our stan-
dard poodle can inadver-
tently achieve that, by
walking to the edge and
falling in. By contrast, the
record leap by the much
smaller Chihuahua is 5 feet.
But the bottom-line is
that the event was highly
entertaining hugely enthu-
siastic dogs which could
scarcely wait to take the
plunge, highly motivated and
competitive owners, and
great cooperation and team
spirit between the two. A
real pleasure to watch
and a spectacle that can keep
small children (we had three
with us) enthralled to the
point that they simply dont
want to leave!
Splash Dogs is coming
to Fort Myers October 21
to 23. For more information,
go to splashdogs.com.
animal wellness
center of bonita
www.animalwellnesscenterofbonita.com
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Proof of Vaccination & Exam Required
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Now open Wednesday
evenings from 4 to 8 pm
Dogs will throw themselves from the edge of the
dock next month in Fort Myers.
Splash Dogs
there are procedural objec-
tions to be resolved. Papers
filed by city counsel James
Humphrey assert that Bonita
Citizens has no legal right,
or standing, to bring the
case. That, he asserts, would
require an actual controversy
where those complaining
suffered harm through the
use of the new resolution
procedure.
They may or may not
be right on the standing
issues, said McCourt, but
in my view that is not the
pointThe point is this is
a simple case of whether
they broke the law, or they
didnt. That is all we want
the judge to determine for
us.
A court hearing on the
case is anticipated in late
September or early October.
Meanderings
At a recent City Council
meeting, Captain Kathy
Rairden of the Lee County
Sheriff s Office said that in
Florida an average of seven
people a day are dying in
Florida from overdose of
pills dispensed from pain
management clinics. We
have our thumb on the prob-
lem here in Bonita and are
doing everything we legally
can to address that issue,
she saidIn a different vein,
she reported that that an
arrest was made for molest-
ing a sea turtle nestUnder
the new census counts, leg-
islative district lines are being
redrawn. City Council wants
the entire city to be contained
in one State Senate district
Councilman Stephen McIn-
toshs new book, The Art
and Science of Leadership,
comes out this monthFred
Partin of Bonita Springs
Utilities said water levels are
still low in spite of recent
rains.
Voted
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ight
oves
the ll
Brenda Bergin
Downsizing & Moving Coordinator
NEED ASSISTANCE DOWNSIZING & MOVING?
Call: 239-248-7284 or email: BrendaBergin@earthlink.net

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Up and Down
from page 6
TOWN TALK
Business before Business
David Di Martino | Photography by David Michael
Trevor Watson of the Diamond District
and Dallas Revord of First Community
Bank at the Chamber of Commerces
Business before Business event last month
at The Salon Corinnes as you like it.
Debbie Helman of the Villages at
Country Creek and Karyl Walter of Eye
Centers of Florida at the Chamber of
Commerces Business before Business
event last month.
New name
Evelio Rodriguez and
Sylvia Conner of Capital
Bank were at B.E.A.R.s
5 oclock somewhere
event last month. TIB
Bank recently changed
its name to Capital Bank.
*UP TO $3.00. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS OR DISCOUNTS. NO CASH VALUE. EXP. 9/30/11
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New September hours... (regular hours resume in October)
Open for Breakfast & Lunch 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays in September)
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Bonita Springs The first
time Mary Saunders saw peo-
ple saving thousands of dol-
lars on the reality TV show
Extreme Couponing she was
intrigued.
I said, if these people
are saving thousands and
thousands of dollars on gro-
ceries, I can do the same
thing, recounts Saunders.
Mary and her husband
Chadwick have since donated
over $1000 of groceries to
the Bonita Springs Assistance
Office. All of those items cost
them $0 by combining
coupons and sales. Many gro-
cery stores accept competitor
coupons, online coupons and
manufacturer coupons all
while still having their own
sales. Combining coupons
with other sales leads to get-
ting food for free.
Sometimes reading the
fine print on a coupon can
make the store be the one
that pays at the end of the
transaction.
There was a manufac-
turers coupon for 2 dollars
off and it didnt have any
limitations on the size of
item, said Mary.
Most coupons restrict size.
The trial size Dial soap at
Wal-Mart was 97 cents. After
tax, Wal-Mart paid them 97
cents for each bar.
A similar occurrence hap-
pened in July when they
made their first donation of
over $400 worth of Bayer
aspirin. The overage was then
used to purchase additional
donated items including
pasta, pens and scissors.
They look at a few websites
several times a week where
users post and identify deals.
Ill check out multiple
sites, said Mary. Theres not
really one 100 percent reliable
source to always go to
Sometimes they miss a deal.
Last month Mary and
Chadwick donated 500 Ger-
ber Graduates meals. Once
again, the food was free. Nor-
mally sold for $1.50, the meals
were on sale at Publix for 75
cents. This was combined
with a $1 off coupon found
in the Publixs Big Baby Bar-
gains coupon book. They
made a special order with
the Publix store at the
Shoppes at Grand Oaks.
Clearing the shelves would
prevent other people from
participating in the sale. The
additional 25 cents per meal
that Publix would have paid
them was used to purchase
more donated food.
Were taking this oppor-
tunity to give back to our
community because we know
the need is real, said Mary.
Mary and Chadwick are
both graduates of the Lead-
ership Bonita Program. Part
of the social issues day of
the leadership program
included visiting the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office.
Im so grateful that Chad
and Mary are taking the lead,
taking the time they are
making the effort and they
look for the best things that
they know we need in the
pantry, said Maribel
Slabaugh, Direct of the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office.
The only thing that they are
asking us to do is ask the
community to bring the
coupons and they will do the
rest.
Unused coupons can be
dropped off at the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office at
25300 Bernwood Dr., Suite
6, next to the Lee County
Tax Collectors office in
Bonita Springs.
Couponing for a cause
Were taking this
opportunity to give
back to our
community
because we know
the need is real.
Mary Saunders
Mary and Chadwick Saunders have donated over
$1000 of groceries to the Bonita Springs Assistance
Office. It all cost them $0 by combining coupons
and sales.
adjustments and the vagaries
of the homestead exemption.
Property taxes fund about
a third of the Citys budget.
Another third comes from
gasoline, sales and other taxes
that the state collects. Impact,
permit and franchise fees
fund an additional 25 per-
cent.
The City receives about
5 percent of property taxes
paid in Bonita Springs, an
amount that is dwarfed by
the share of other taxing
authorities.
Reduced spending
In the proposed budget,
expenditures will be about
$18.9 million, around $900
thousand less than antici-
pated current year spending.
To support spending, the
City will reach into its piggy
bank, but not break it. About
$1.2 million of the new
budget will be funded from
surplus accumulated in bet-
ter times, about the same
amount as this years surplus
spending. Surplus funds total
almost $8 million, in addi-
tion to operating and disaster
reserves of $5 million.
The biggest cut in the
proposed budget, as com-
pared to current year spend-
ing, is in road capital project
spending.
City employees, who have
not had a general salary
increase or cost of living
adjustment in over three
years, will see their take home
pay decrease this year. In the
spring, Governor Scott
signed legislation requiring
state employees to contribute
three percent of their salaries
to fund pensions. Since City
employees participate in the
same pension system, they
are dragged along for the
ride. Their contributions will
save the City about $180,000.
Expense increases include
costs for 2012 City elections
and replacement of three
community-policing vehi-
cles, and increased health
insurance and Florida unem-
ployment tax costs.
$12.9 million
operating budget
The Citys operational
budget totals about $12.9
million. Some highlights:
Public works, which covers
maintenance of roads,
storm water drainage,
canals and some park
maintenance, is slated for
$2.7 million.
Community development
and code enforcement
expense is $3.1 million,
before fee income of $1.4
million.
The community policing
operation, for which the
City contracts with the Lee
County Sherriff, will cost
$1.7 million.
Operational costs for all
City parks and property
total $1.5 million, before
fee income of $150,000.
Included are the recreation
center, pool, ball and soccer
fields, Community Hall,
Liles Hotel, Nature Place,
Riverside Park and other
public parks.
$5.9 million for capital
projects and debt
The proposed budget
allocates about $3 million
for capital projects and $2.9
million for debt service.
A few short years ago U.S.
41, then seemingly under
perpetual construction, was
a parking lot in season. The
improvement of traffic flow
has been an ongoing priority
for the City, including proj-
ects like the construction of
Imperial Parkway and Bonita
Beach Road widening.
Accordingly, roads are a
major capital expense for
the City. The City is finding
that money spent while times
are tough can be well spent.
For example, the six laning
of Bonita Beach Road
between Imperial Parkway
and Old 41, a joint City and
Lee County project, was fast
tracked several years earlier
than budgeted. The project
came in about $3 million
under budget, saving the
City $1.5 million, said
Mayor Ben Nelson Jr.
The new budget allocates
approximately $2 million for
road construction, paving
and related projects. The
largest share is $1 million
for an ongoing project to
connect Shangri-La Road to
Three Oaks Parkway. Old
41 widening, West Terry
Street improvements and
assorted street paving proj-
ects are also planned.
The City estimates that
about 85 percent of debt
service expense is attributable
to previous road construc-
tion and improvements,
principally Imperial Park-
way.
Impact fees pay for a por-
tion of road construction
expense. In addition, state
law requires that other funds,
like the gas tax, be used to
fund road projects.
Capital projects in City
parks will total $400,000.
The largest share is $110,000
for Riverside Park improve-
ments.
and a few
dollars more
During the first budget
workshop, City Council
reviewed a score of depart-
mental operational and cap-
ital budgets. It then turned
to a discussion of whether
there was room to spend a
few more dollars in a $19
million budget.
During the public com-
ment period Heather Thom-
son and Dallas Revord spoke
in favor of a $6,000 request
for part time staff at the
Bonita Nature Place during
peak season, supplanting a
full time position removed
from the budget.
During Council deliber-
ations, Councilmen John
Spear and Bill Lonkart
expressed the view that vol-
unteers should perform this
task. We have tried, said
Councilwoman Janet Martin.
The demographics of the
supporters are young work-
ing people with families, and
they could not get a set
schedule. After discus-
sion all Council members
approved the request.
A part time soccer co-
ordinator costing $12,000,
$5,000 for curbing at the
north end of Hickory
Boulevard, and $10,000 to
match two state grants for
historic preservation pro-
grams were also unani-
mously approved.
A five to two vote, with
members Lonkart and Spear
dissenting, approved a $5,000
increase for the Art in Public
Places Board, bringing its
total budget to $10,000.
Budget
from page 1
I went into
accounting because
numbers dont ever
have a bad day
Lisa Pace, Bonita
Springs Finance Director
We are in good
financial condition,
despite the
economy
Carl Schwing,
City Manager
www.swspotlight.com
Catch of the month
Contributed | catch@swspotlight.com
Recreational Angler Gregg Bedell, Owner/Manager of Captain Ed's Charter
Boats, Dean Polley, Dock master of Bonita Bay Marina and Tibe Larson, Man-
ager of Bonita Bay Marina with Mahi Mahi caught trolling with fresh bait ear-
lier this summer in Marathon in the Keys.
plane had hit the Trade Cen-
ter.
But, while standing on
the coffee line in the the
cafeteria, it became clear
that something really wrong
had happened.
The twin towers were
hit, said one secretary. I
know, a small plane No,
no, there were two planes,
one in each building.
That was the beginning
of creeping horror and con-
fusion, though nothing like
the agony suffered 80 blocks
downtown.
My colleague in the next
office waited to hear from
his wife. Liz worked in the
World Trade Center. Hours
went by until, safe at home,
she was able to reach John.
On any normal day, she
might have been sitting at
her desk at the time the
planes hit, but this day was
a primary election day in
New York. Liz had stopped
to vote. The line was long
enough that she was late to
work. She exited the subway
just after the first plane hit.
Then, as subway service shut
down and with cell phone-
service inoperable, she
worked her way back
uptown amidst the chaos.
As we discussed the
advisability of sending staff
home, we received instruc-
tions that no New Yorker
ever expects from the New
York Police Department.
Until further notice, we were
told, all employees should
stay near work and should
not attempt the commute
home. Subway and train
service had been suspended,
and bridges and tunnels
were reserved for emergency
vehicles.
Further notice came at 3
p.m., and the trek home
began. Like many, I avoided
the main concourse of
Grand Central and instead,
used the discrete northern
entrance.
That night I called a dear
friend, my mentor at the
firm for many years. I knew
his daughter worked in the
Trade Center. Even as the
phone rang, I was unsure
of what I would say, or ask.
But when I said hello, he
said simply, She did not
come home from work
today.
You never knew his
daughter, but yet you do.
She lived next door, around
the corner, or across town.
The one who was achieving
right through high school,
she went away to college
and finished at the top of
her class. She was editor of
the school newspaper, a fero-
cious field hockey player.
She was thoughtful, and
pretty too.
When asked by the New
York Times if she had any
faults, her boyfriend
responded, She was not
great with driving directions
and wed get lost quite often.
But that was a bonus. It
allowed us to spend more
time together.
Hundreds attended her
memorial service, held at a
beautiful church on the
dunes of Southampton, New
York.
In the evening of Sep-
tember 11, Mayor Guiliani
said, The number of casu-
alties will be more than any
of us can bear. He was right.
Bonita Springs will com-
memorate those who died
on 9/11 at Riverside Park at
9 a.m. on September 11,
2011.
If you get a chance that
day, you might say a short
prayer for a girl you never
knew. Today she would have
been 33 years of age, with
plenty of bright tomorrows
ahead of her.
Peter R. OFlinn
In Remembrance
from page 1
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Bonita Springs In Bonita Springs City
Hall there is an artifact from the World
Trade Center. It is housed in a display case
in the back corner of City Council chambers.
The four by two-inch piece of scorched
steel passed through several hands on its
way to Bonita Springs. It is a gift of Mike
Barry of Morristown, New Jersey. Barry
received it through the efforts of a former
sheriff of Morris County who was involved
in clean up efforts at the Trade Center.
Barry gave it to a good friend, Honey
Belton, a Bonita Springs area resident. We
went to a 9/11 ceremony in the park in
Bonita, and Mike was impressed by the cer-
emony, said Belton. Barry
has been a volunteer fire-
man in Mount Kemble,
New Jersey for over thirty
years.
Belton and her hus-
band Roger eat at Dollys
on Bonita Beach Road
most Mondays. They
became acquainted with
former Mayor Jay Arend
over lunch there, and pre-
sented the artifact to him
several years ago.
World Trade Center
artifact at City Hall
Staff Photo |
This piece of steel
from the World
Trade Center is on
display at City Hall
in the back corner
of City Council
chambers.
By Peter R. OFlinn
East Naples St. Matthews House, the
Collier County based organization that pro-
vides transitional housing for the homeless,
recently announced that it was dropping
its plans to open a new facility at the Cause-
way Lumber yard site, located on Old 41,
about a quarter mile below Bonita Beach
Road.
In an interview with the Spotlight several
hours before the announcement, St.
Matthew's House chief executive Reverend
Vann Ellison described factors leading him
to reconsider the Causeway site and his
criteria for selection of a replacement site.
The decision to reconsider the Causeway
site was influenced by mounting expenses
for the zoning appli-
cation process
required "to get to a
City Council vote,"
he said. These
expenses, he said,
were exacerbated by
requirements out-
side the scope of
what would be nor-
mal in zoning appli-
cations.
Under the Bonita Springs zoning law,
light industrial uses are permitted at the
Causeway site. As a result, St. Matthews
application for its facility required a change
in the zoning law, in addition to normal
approvals required for a planned develop-
ment. The process for an application of
that type must follow a path through the
Bonita Springs Community Development
office, and then to the Citys Zoning Board
with final decision-making by Bonita Springs
City Council.
When the application was filed, all of
this was known. But as the process evolved,
Ellison said, St. Matthews became increas-
ingly concerned with mounting costs
incurred, and, he believed, would continue
to incur, in connection with the zoning
application process.
Initially, City Community Development
staff asked 17 pages of questions to which
St. Matthews responded with 35 pages of
answers. That generated another 10 pages
of questions from the City.
As compared to a typical zoning case,
most of those questions do not relate to
zoning issues, Ellison said, referring to the
Community Development Offices inquiries.
They are not land use type questions
How a business operates, the structure of
the program, is not really a zoning issue.
Many questions were based on perception,
not reality, Ellison said. Requirements for
expanded traffic studies, and questions
about law enforcement services and com-
mercial property values increased the cost
of the process by tens of thousands of
dollars. It is a burdensome situation. We
are being asked questions you would not
be asked in a land use case.
St. Matthews would need to invest lit-
erally a couple of hundred thousand dollars
to get to a City Council vote, to find out
whether we get a yes or a no vote, said Elli-
son. That is an unreasonable burden to be
placed on a not-for-profit.
Economic issues relating to the viability
of the Causeway site were also a factor, he
said.
Jacqueline Genson, senior planner at the
Bonita Springs Community Development
Office, said that questions asked of St.
Matthews House were consistent with
requirements of the
Citys land develop-
ment code, including
those dealing with
compatibility and
adverse impact on
surrounding uses. In
that regard, it was
not atypical to ask
how a facilty would
operate, she said.
Questions regard-
ing law enforcement were from a level of
service standpoint, said Genson. You need
to make sure there are appropriate levels of
service for certain facilities, she said.
While committed to the Bonita Springs
area, Ellison said, we have never felt that
we need to be within the City limits of
Bonita Springs that it must be one site
over another site. We want to do what
makes the best sense for the community
and what makes the best financial sense for
the organization.
St. Matthews will consider possible sites
in southern Lee County, including Bonita
Springs and Estero, as well as northern
Collier County. It needs to be practical
zoning-wise and use-wise, and economically
viable, he said, If it is in the middle of the
Everglades, it makes no sense. I cant put it
in such a remote location that it makes it
impractical for someone to utilize it.
Apparently, the experience with the
Causeway Lumber site is considered a lesson
learned. Any new site needs to fit within
the current city code or county code depend-
ing upon the body with jurisdiction over
it, said Ellison, or appropriate amendments
to the relevant code must be deemed feasible.
If there are good sites we would certainly
like to look at them, said Ellison. About 50
to 70 sites have been evaluated. We have
not taken any viable sites off the table
When we do have a site under contract, we
would make a public disclosure on it.
St. Matthews explained
St. Matthews will consider
possible sites in southern
Lee County, including
Bonita Springs and Estero,
as well as northern
Collier County.
St. Matthews House recently announced that it was dropping its plans for
opening a new facility at the Causeway Lumber yard site, located on Old 41,
about a quarter mile below Bonita Beach Road.
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