Southwest Spotlight - November 2011

Page A32 Southwest Spotlight November 2011
S O U T H W E S T
NOVEMBER 2011 Vol.2, No.11 FREE
Events, things to do and opportunities to give back to our community in and around Bonita Springs
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Issues and
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The Ship A9
Bonita Middle Center
for the Arts A12
By Peter R. OFlinn
prof@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs When asked for an opinion on competitors
in his City Council race, one candidate expressed a sentiment
echoed by all. Everyone running cares deeply about Bonita
Springs and wants to make it a better place, he said. All
of the other candidates bring something good to the table,
said another.
Welcome to the non-partisan District 4 City Council
race. Class of 2012. Its far from the nattering nabob land
of the flickering tube and, apparently, with none of the
partisan rancor. At least so far.
Barbara Barnes-Buchanan, Roger Brunswick, Wesley
Norris and Peter Simmons are vying to succeed John
Spear. Spear chose not to seek reelection, citing business
and family commitments.
District 4 includes Bonita Bay, Cedar Creek, Highland
Woods, San Carlos Estates south of Strike Lane, Bonita
Springs Golf and Country Club west of Paradise Road
and the Villages of Bonita to the west of that.
There are almost 6,000 voters registered in the district.
Forty-seven percent live in Bonita Bay, with Highland
Woods and Cedar Creek representing about 30 percent,
according to Lee County Supervisor of Elections office.
The four candidates tie the high mark for a City Council
election, set in District 6 in 2000. That year, the Citys first,
seven candidates squared off in the mayoral contest.
In early fund raising, Brunswick raised $5,586.03 from
25 contributors, Norris raised $3,025 from 16 contributors
and Simmons raised $1,425 from four contributors in the
three month period ended September 30, according to
campaign filings with the City Clerks office.
January 31,2012 is election day. Dave Grothaus is chal-
lenging incumbent Mayor Ben Nelson, Jr. for the mayoralty.
Continued on page A15
Four for four
Staff Photo | info@swspotlight.com
By Chad Gillis
info@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs Stack the flat packages
processed in the Bonita Springs Post Office
lengthwise on an average week this fall
and it would be as tall as the Empire State
Building. Add to that 2,340 linear feet of
letters and 10,000 parcels and it starts to
become clear just how much goes on at
the main office along Old 41, even during
the offseason.
A lot of people think it comes to us all
sorted and that they drive around all day
and hand out mail in the sunshine, said
Postmaster Cindi DeBrino. But its tougher
than that.
Bonita delivers
SS_NOV_A_Cover and 32 10/27/11 3:54 PM Page 1
Locally owned and
operated since 2010
(239) 287-6474
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
A6 A fun game
A6 The Elephant
in the booth
A9 The Ship
A10 Historical house
A12 Bonita Middle
A16 Issues and answers
A18 Project Hope
A22 Live from FGCU
A23 Magic diamond dust
A24 Blankets for Bonita
A28 Mayoral race update
B9 Taste of Bonita
B11 Woman of the Year
Trish Leonard
B12 RiverFest results
Every Issue
A5 Ben Nelsons column
A6 Up and Down the Trail
A21 Spotlight
Real Estate Watch
A25 Opportunities
to give back
A26 Bonita Business Beat
A31 Sunset of the month
B1 Why I love living in
Bonita Springs
B2 Events
B7 Bonitas Best Friends
B14 Artist of the month
Jan Piscitelli
B19 Teacher Spotlight
Joy Cooper
B21 Catch of the month
B22 Restaurant Guide
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
Chad Gillis
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
B7
B12
SS_NOV 2011_Section A 10/27/11 3:56 PM Page A2
November 2011 Southwest Spotlight Page A3
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SEASONAL CUSTOMERS.
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By Ben Nelson Jr.
Bonita Springs My father
was a good man and a hard
worker. But as I discovered
at a very young age, he was
perhaps a bit too anxious to
get someone elses hands
dirty. Im not being disre-
spectful, because he was real-
ly proud of it. One of his
favorite shirts had written
across the front So much
to do...So few people to do
it for me! Its a funny shirt...
unless you were, like me,
one of his chosen few.
The youngest of four
tough Florida Cracker
brothers, he had never for-
gotten that if you were the
smallest... then you had bet-
ter be the smartest.
Life on the family home-
stead in the woods of South-
west Florida in the 1930s
was brutal and the four
brothers had to earn extra
money for the family by
working part time for local
farmers. On one particular
day, the Nelson Boys and
two of their friends took a
job hoeing okra. As the griz-
zled old farmer handed out
brand new red shovels to all
the boys, he warned them.
Im goin into town, but
dont you worry... Ill know
who did the most work! And
Im gonna give that feller an
extra dollar! Now my dad
realized that being 10 years
old, he had no chance of
competing in an all day shov-
eling contest and likely
wouldnt get paid at all no
matter how hard he worked.
So when the farmer left, the
small boy scratched his chin
and thought for a moment
before walking over and sit-
ting down under a nearby
tree. His brother Charlie,
who was already hard at
work, looked over at the boy
under the tree. As he turned
another shovel full of dirt
over he taunted the appar-
ently dejected boy under the
tree Look at poor little
Benny! He aint gonna get
paid nothin! All the other
boys chuckled and kept dig-
ging... but my dad just pulled
his hat down over his eyes
and relaxed further back into
the tree.
Eight long hours later,
just before the farmer was
due back, my Dad sat up,
grabbed a rock that he had
carefully selected and casually
started scraping the paint
off the shovels blade. This
struck his brother as partic-
ularly bizarre behavior and
as he took the rag out of his
back pocket and wiped the
sweat from his eyes he yelled
What the heck are you
doin? Are you touched in
the head? After a few min-
utes all the paint was scraped
clean from the shovels blade
and without saying a word,
my dad stood up and started
digging furiously. The other
boys didnt know what to
think about this, but as they
all stood there with their
heads all cocked sideways...
here came the farmer around
the corner in his Model A
truck.
He crawled out of the
dirty black buggy and
hollered for the youngsters
to gather around him. All
right... let me see the workin
ends of them shovels! As
he went down the row and
came to my dads apparently
worn out garden tool, the
old farmer slapped his hands
together and hooted, Dang
boy! You might be the small-
est but you sure gave these
other boys a lesson! He
surely had. Dad collected his
extra dollar and as he was
walking off he looked back
at his brothers with a big
grin, tapping the side of his
head with his finger.
As I think back to my
Uncle Charlie telling me this
story several years ago, with
my dad sitting next to him
grinning from ear to ear, I
wonder exactly what the real
lesson might have been. The
farmer, my dad and his
brothers all came away telling
the same story but Im bet-
ting that they had different
takes on what they had
learned. One thing is pretty
clear though you cant
accurately judge a book, a
person, or a shovel by their
appearance.
Dont judge a shovel by its appearance
Neil Nelson | Special to the Spotlight
So much to do...
So few people to
do it for me!
Spotlight Staff Report
Janet Martin
gets good news
When the clock clicked 5
p.m. on October 20, it was
official. No other candidate
had filed to oppose Janet
Martin for the City Council
District 2 seat. So Martin
will serve a second four-year
term.
A couple of minutes after
5, we were looking at the
clock and saying O, my
Gosh, said an ecstatic Martin
when contacted by the Spot-
light about a half hour later.
The anticipation has been
killing us, it was almost like
we were back four years ago
when they were counting the
ballots.
It is exciting. You hate
the whole process of accept-
ing money for signs and
mailers, when I would really
rather tell everybody Give
the money to Bonita Assis-
tance Office or your favorite
charity, she said.
If competition had
emerged, Martin and her
team were ready to kick into
action. Her campaign Face-
book page was ready, as was
her website. I have been
optimistic, she said, but
they always say Run like you
are losing. So my team was
ready.
In 2008, Martin received
56 percent of the vote in
defeating Alex Grantt for
the District 2 seat. The district
straddles East Terry Street
in Old Bonita.
and so does
Bill Lonkart
Bill Lonkart will serve a
second four-year term as
District 6 Councilmember.
No other candidate emerged
to oppose his reelection bid.
District 6 runs east of Old
41 and south of Imperial
River.
When asked how he felt
at the moment he knew his
reelection would be uncon-
tested, Lonkart described a
feeling of quiet satisfaction
and accomplishment.
I felt that being on the
Council and working togeth-
er for the most part has
proved fruitful, he said,
because of the positive reac-
tion of the people I come
into contact with across the
City.
In 2008, Lonkart received
52 percent of the vote in
defeating Ronda Lyles
Lawhon for the District 6
seat.
Lonkart tried first in 2000,
the year of the Citys first
election. That was interest-
ing, he said. I was a novice
in terms of running for polit-
ical office. The crowded field
included another candidate
from his Worthington neigh-
borhood, Frank Howe.
Lonkart learned from the
experience, most importantly
the need to build a well-run
organization. It works, he
said. You need other people
to help you. You cant do it
by yourself.
A Fun game for children,
and candidates too
At least two candidates
in the crowded District 4
City Council race appear to
be enjoying an adult version
of a childs game, Musical
Chairs.
For months candidate
Roger Brunswickhas attend-
ed City Council meetings,
often seated in the aisle chair
in the second row of the
audience. But when Mayor
Ben Nelson called City
Council to order for a late
October meeting, Brunswick
was not in that chair. Instead
it was occupied by one of
his opponents in the District
4 race, Peter Simmons, who
is also a meeting regular.
Whats so important
about sitting in that chair?
Habitual viewers of Council
deliberations on BTV may
know, and see, the difference.
It turns out that when the
eye in the sky in Council
chambers pivots to focus on
the speakers podium, its field
of view clearly includes the
occupant of row 2 on the
aisle.
Face time for candidates
in the aisle chair is a time
honored City Hall tradition.
If you are going to attend
Council meetings, sitting
there for hours, you might
as well be in camera view,
just like City Council mem-
bers. With a chuckle, Coun-
cilman Steve McIntosh
recalled advice he received
when he ran for the District
1 Council position in 2010.
A former City Councilman
suggested McIntosh move to
row 2 on the aisle but I was
happy sitting in the back,
said McIntosh.
With Simmons planted
in the aisle seat, Brunswick
sat stage right barely in cam-
era range, near where Sim-
mons has sat in past
meetings.
The second row aisle seat
is a good spot to be in camera
view. Its not the best. That
distinction belongs to the
first row aisle seat, the
location of the Steinmeyer
Chair of Political Science,
as McIntosh dubs it. Rick
Steinmeyer, who sits there,
takes citizen participation
seriously. He dutifully reads
City Council packets in
advance and offers cogent
and sometimes colorful
remarks during public com-
ment periods. Steinmeyer,
who has not missed a City
Council meeting in memory,
is not about to be displaced.
The Elephant in the booth
What do Michele Bach-
man, Mitt Romney, Herman
Cain and Rick Perry have
to do with Bonita Springs
City issues? Nothing, it seems.
As far as we know, they have
not taken a position on
library expansion, develop-
ment in the DRGR, Old 41
redevelopment, staffing of
Bonita Nature Place, Eco-
nomic Development Council
funding, or who pays for
beach nourishment on Little
Hickory Island. Not to men-
tion agricultural zoning in
San Carlos Estates, the City
budget or the pace of dump-
ster enclosures on Old 41.
But there is nothing like
a main event to draw a
crowd. That is what the
Republican presidential can-
didates will do on January
31, 2012, the date of the
Florida presidential primary
election, a decidedly partisan
event.
If past is prologue, the
primary will boost the vote
for the undercard that day,
the decidedly nonpartisan
Bonita Springs City election.
City elections have been
nonpartisan from day one.
Bonita Springs City Charter
section 14 provides they shall
be nonpartisan without the
designation of any political
affiliation for any candidate
on any ballot.
The Citys Incorporation
Committee crafted the Bonita
Springs City Charter, enacted
by the Florida legislature and
approved by voter referen-
dum in November 1999.
Richard Becker, a chair
of the Incorporation Com-
mittee, recently recalled its
deliberations.
The notion of partisan
elections was discussed early
on but did not last very
long because it was almost
unanimous that the non-
partisan approach to life was
the way for the new city to
proceed, Becker told the
Spotlight, It has been work-
ing ever since.
The Incorporation Com-
mittee believed nonpartisan
elections eliminated the dis-
tractions of party politics,
and provided a level playing
field, he said, We had seen
a lot of what went on in par-
tisan politics large and small.
You are building a city from
the ground up. We wanted
to give the City the best
advantage to eliminate
Up and Down the Trail
By D.K. Christi
Bonita Springs After the
double-take as The Ship
comes into view on the west
side of US 41, you might
ask the same question
posed by a prospective work-
man during the 1994 con-
struction phase of The Ship
Restaurant, Once its built,
how are you going to get it
to the water? Rob Fowler,
of Fowler Construction
answered without skipping
a beat, Well build a canal.
Dom Trentadue of Bonita
Springs tells about his grand-
son asking, Grampa, how
did that ship get here? To
which he responded, It must
have been a hurricane and
no one has figured out how
to move it back.
Many stories are told
about the unique restaurant
built in the mid 1990s in
what was then unincorpo-
rated Lee County, 24080 N.
Tamiami Trail. The site pur-
chase included Springs Gar-
den Restaurant and the
owners home, 3.62 acres
from U.S. 41 to Walden Cen-
ter Drive. Now a Bonita
Springs landmark, its waiting
for launch, victim to many
changing trends in the econ-
omy, often wearing a for
sale sign.
The ship idea came from
seasoned restaurant owners
Alfredo Russo and Tony
Scialdone who also own
Anthonys on the Gulf and
Junkanoo in Ft. Myers Beach.
They saw a ship restaurant
in New England and brought
the concept to Floridas
southwest coast. We knew
Tony Scialdone had an imag-
inative spirit, for sure, when
he came to us with the idea.
We often face unique chal-
lenges in the projects we
undertake. This one was no
exception, said Rob Fowler.
Rob had just returned
home to join the family busi-
ness when his dad handed
him a set of blueprints in
Italian and said, Build this.
The plans for a 16th Century
Spanish Galleon originated
with a model located in a
museum in Spain. In those
days, models were construct-
ed first to sell the construc-
tion project. Once purchased
by a King or Queen, the
builders up scaled from the
model. The Italian plans
came from a 1950s Italian
movie production that
intended to build that Span-
ish Galleon.
Construction in Bonita
Springs required new tools.
An experienced carpenter
said from the bow, this is
the first time I worked on a
project for more than three
months without picking up
a level. The curvature and
attention to nautical details
required lofting lines for
measurement. The masts
came from telephone poles.
Marine engineers and ship
modelers provided technical
assistance. The details includ-
ed thick war boards at the
water line and special red
and yellow paint to project
the illusion of cannons. This
was a treasure galleon, not a
war ship.
The treasure was found
in the interior. Customers
at the original Ship Restau-
rant selected their own fish
or beef cuts from cases.
Dessert included an ice
cream and pastry bar. The
ship area was a comfortable
lounge while the original
but renovated Springs Gar-
den Restaurant provided the
dining and kitchen areas.
Wood finishes approximated
the look and feel of a ship.
Perhaps it was ahead of
its time; Bonita Springs had
not reached its zenith. It has
gone by many names since
it first opened as the Ship
Restaurant including The
Landmark Ship, the Bonita
Chop House, Bogerts Chop
House, the Bonita Rib Room
and Club Royale, the VIP
Club Bonita, and it was even
a bingo parlor. One tenant
changed the exterior by
painting over its close to
authentic colors with black
and white.
The changes just didnt
capture the imagination long
enough for new tenants to
gain a following. The open-
ing of Coconut Mall and the
growth along that US 41
corridor might yet lead to
treasure. A for sale sign
beckons. In the meantime,
if directions that begin with
just beyond the ship or
just before the ship seem
a little strange so far from
the Gulf, you know the rest
of the story.
Contributed | info@swspotlight.com
The Ship has gone by many names since it first opened as the Ship Restaurant
in the 1990s including The Landmark Ship, the Bonita Chop House, Bogerts
Chop House, the Bonita Rib Room and Club Royale, the VIP Club Bonita.
The plans for a 16th
Century Spanish
Galleon originated
with a model
located in a
museum in Spain.
The Ships treasure
By Chad Gillis
Bonita Springs Volunteers
and local businesses are mak-
ing a final push to raise
upwards of $8,000 for an
air conditioning system
needed to protect the historic
Joseph McSwain house along
Old 41 Road in downtown
Bonita Springs.
Bonita Springs Historical
Society President Donna
Nemsick said members and
volunteers have worked most
weekends this calendar year
to save and restore the 1915
home, which was donated
to the Society by Hudon and
Alice Humphries in January.
The Humphries family pur-
chased the home from the
McSwains in the 1970s,
according to Historical Soci-
ety records.
Nemsick said an anony-
mous North Fort Myers
foundation recently donated
$3,000 in matching grant
money to help pay for the
air conditioning system. Now
members must raise $3,000
from local individuals and
businesses to secure the
matching funds.
Backed by volunteers,
Society members hired con-
tractors to rip out walls,
install a completely new elec-
trical system as well as hand-
icapped accessible restroom
facilities and entry and exit
ramps.
Id be thrilled if it was
done by the end of the year,
Nemsick said. Then we can
raise funds easier because
people can actually visit the
house.
Nemsick said the
McSwain house will even-
tually include three facets: a
gallery in the home, a com-
munity meeting facility that
will be located in a detached
building and an open back-
yard for musical perform-
ances and public events.
In all, Nemsick said about
$25,000 of work needs to be
done before the facility can
be opened to the public.
Nemsick pleaded to Boni-
ta Springs City Council ear-
lier this year for $6,000 for
the air conditioning system.
Council member John Spear
said at the time that the city
didnt have a proper mech-
anism for funding charities.
He also said the Society
should approach individuals
and local businesses for
donations.
He backed that up this
week by writing a $100 check
to the Society.
Its $200 if the founda-
tion matches my $100, Spear
said. (But) I dont think
council should be passing
out tax dollars. Its a hard
situation to say no to some-
body even though we sup-
port what theyre doing.
Still, Spear has been a
long-timer supporter of the
Historical Society and said
hed like to see the McSwain
house turn into a successful
endeavor.
We can get this done by
the end of the year, Spear
said. We just need some
people to step up to the plate
and write small checks, $50
to $100.
According to historical
records, Joseph McSwain
and his family moved to
what was then the settle-
ment of Survey from Mis-
sissippi in 1901. They first
lived in a cabin along the
Imperial River before it was
washed away during a flood.
Joseph McSwain built
whats now referred to simply
as the McSwain home along
with the help of local fami-
lies. The family moved into
the structure in 1915 and it
was owned by the McSwains
for several generations.
Historical Society seeking to match grant
Contributed | Special to the Spotlight
The McSwain house, furthest left, on Old 41 was built in 1915. The Bonita
Springs Historical Society plans to save and restore the home.
We can get this done by the end
of the year. We just need some people
to step up to the plate and write small
checks, $50 to $100.
Councilman John Spear
The Plan
The Historical Societys plan
for the McSwain house
includes:
I a gallery
I a community meeting facility
I an open backyard for
musical performances
and events
(239) 992-2626
NO CREDIT CHECK FINANCING AVAILABLE!
Extended Warranty
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Old 41
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By Heather Thomson
Bonita Springs Out of
706 students at Bonita Mid-
dle, 90 percent are registered
for arts classes. Walking up
to the nondescript brick
building on West Terry
Street, there is a new poster
hanging that states Proud
to be an A school! Certainly
at this school there is much
to be proud of.
As of this academic year,
Bonita Middle is an Arts
School. They have all new
arts equipment in the art
wing of their building. All
the rooms existed previous-
ly, but everything has been
re-vamped. The dance room
has new floors and new mir-
rors lining the walls, and
soon the art room will be
remodeled as well. With a
renewed mission statement
of Expanding minds,
strengthening bodies, and
nurturing souls for life-long
success, it seems that Bonita
Springs Middle Center for
the Arts is working to make
their school not only a
premier Arts school, but
also one that the Bonita
Springs community can be
proud of.
But what is an Arts
school? What makes it dif-
ferent from the previous
curriculum? In the Bonita
Springs Middle Center for
the Arts brochure, it states
All students are provided
with an exploratory related
arts course such as: Band,
Dance, Drama, Chorus,
Handbells, Orchestra, Visual
Arts, Business Technology
Education, or Health and
Physical Education. And
most of the students that
you see filing in and out of
the school every morning
and afternoon are enrolled
in more than one of those
classes.
For the teachers espe-
cially, it is a very exciting
time at the school. Its great
because many of these kids
have never even picked up
instruments before, but you
walk past the orchestra
room and you can see them
playing the violin, says one
teacher. And the kids are
just as excited.
If you poke your head
into one of Ms. DeAngeliss
dance classes, you can see
the dedication and enthu-
siasm everyone talks about.
The students line up obe-
diently and perform
Thriller, and then they
dance a hip hop number,
everyone smiling the whole
time. At the end, even when
the bell rings for lunch, they
are all yelling, One more!
One more! Their teachers
say they never hear that
kind of thing from students,
except in the Arts wing. In
the orchestra and band
rooms, youll hear the
French horn and the guitar.
The students guide each
other through the notes and
expertly tune their instru-
ments, their teachers looking
on and helping them when
necessary.
Students performed
Thriller last month at
Riverside Park during Hal-
loween in the Park. Their
art work was also on display
during last months River-
fest.
The arts programs give
the students the opportunity
to exercise their creativity
and give them a break from
their routine classes. With
so many arts programs
being cut from curriculums,
Bonita Middle has managed
to revitalize its programs in
a way that will ensure
growth and vitality in their
students, as well as a greater
appreciation for the arts in
general. Parents, teachers,
and the Bonita Springs com-
munity can look on this
school and boast a vibrant
and enthusiastic community
of young adults.
Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts
Heather Thomson | info@swspotlight.com
Last month at Riverside Park, students performed
Thriller at Halloween in the Park.
Students at Bonita Middle guide each other through
notes and expertly tune their instruments.
As of this
academic year,
Bonita Middle is
an Arts School.
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F U L L S E R V I C E S F O R ME N & WO ME N
District 2 Councilmember
Janet Martin and District 6
Councilmember Bill Lonkart
are unopposed.
Before recent City Charter
amendments, a run off was
required if no candidate
received more than half of
the votes cast. Now, whoever
has the most votes wins.
The Spotlight conducted
extensive interviews with
each candidate. Their pro-
files follow. See the accom-
panying article for their
views on key citywide issues
including the budget, City
priorities, the library, social
services, Old 41 and eco-
nomic development.
A Planner planning to
change chairs
As Assistant City man-
ager and in other roles, Bar-
bara Barnes-Buchanan
spent eight years sitting
across the table from Bonita
Springs City Council mem-
bers. Now, she wants to
change her chair. I am for-
tunate that I have a lot of
the skills needed to be an
up and running member of
City Council, she said.
There is a common
thread in my views, said
Barnes-Buchanan. We need
to be more creative in ful-
filling our goals. That is
where I am coming from.
She stressed the importance
of consensus building
among residents, full time
and part time. They live
here almost half the year,
she said referring to the lat-
ter group. This is a big part
of their life.
And she goes a step fur-
ther. She is looking forward
to getting to know the other
candidates to see if we can
collectively come up with
some good ideas.
Barnes-Buchanan, a
native Floridian, has lived
in Bonita Springs for 25
years. A realtor, she is a cer-
tified planner with a masters
degree in business. During
the 1990s her work for the
Southwest Florida Interna-
tional Airport port authority
included projects like the
new midfield terminal and
runway extensions.
It would be quicker to
list the projects she did not
work on for the City than
those she did, said Barnes-
Buchanan. Among others,
she worked on the compre-
hensive plan, transportation
infrastructure, tourist devel-
opment and block grants,
acquisitions and special
events.
Barnes-Buchanan left her
Assistant City Manager posi-
tion under what some say
were less than fully harmo-
nious circumstances. It was
a situation of managerial
differences and approach,
she said, noting that budget
constraints and dwindling
grant proceeds put pressure
on funding her position.
Looking back on it, she
reflected that in tough eco-
nomic times, A good man-
ager has to do what he has
to do.
Learning to
improve the City
Roger Brunswick recalls
the stop sign at new 41 and
Bonita Beach Road. Thats
when you could drive
between Bonita and Fort
Myers in twenty minutes.
Then they opened the Mobil
gas station where you could
stop and get a bottle of
water.
After many years living
in southwest Florida, with
business experience and
community service under
his belt, Brunswick felt there
was still more to learn about
his community. He enrolled
in the Leadership Bonita
Program sponsored by the
Bonita Springs Area Cham-
ber of Commerce.
It all came together for
me when I went through
Leadership Bonita, said
Brunswick, It opened my
eyes to all the pieces of the
great puzzle that makes
Bonita such a wonderful
community. The curricu-
lum introduces leadership
minded community mem-
bers to all aspects of the
City, including government,
education, public safety,
social issues and the envi-
ronment. I would recom-
mend it to anyone who
wants to get involved in this
great city that we live in,
he said.
While I will represent
the people of District 4, I
will also always do what is
best for the people of Bonita
Springs, said Brunswick,
It does not stop at the dis-
trict line. That is my phi-
losophy. We have a great
City, and I want to keep it
great.
Brunswick is proud to
be a member of the morn-
ing Rotary Club, serves on
the advisory committee of
the Bonita Springs Com-
munity Development Fund,
and was a member of the
transition committee for
the Bonita Bay Community
Association. He has been
president of his homeown-
ers association for eight
years.
Since 2010 Brunswick
has been a member of the
Bonita Springs Zoning
Board.
A native of Cleveland,
Ohio, Brunswick is a realtor.
His earlier career was as a
manufacturers representa-
tive and in the office equip-
ment business.
A volunteer for all
seasons, particularly one
Wes Norris has an exten-
sive resume of volunteer
service in Bonita Springs,
but as he described one a
sparkle came to his eye. For
as long as he can remember,
he said, each December he
has played the part of a cer-
tain man in a red suit and a
beard at the Flesher Farm
Christmas display on Bonita
Grande Drive.
Norris served for nine
years as a member of Bonita
Springs Zoning Board, an
experience where he enjoyed
the learning curve. One
thing I learned on the Zon-
ing Board, he said. I would
get my (briefing) packet. I
would read it and think,
This is the way I feel. But
when I went in and listened
to both sides of the issue,
sometimes I would change
my thinking.
I am a good listener. I
know the problems and the
issues in Bonita Springs,
said Norris I think there is
a middle ground to most
every issue. Sometimes there
is not. Sometimes it has to
be no. But I will always try
to find the middle ground.
A native of Floridas pan-
handle, Norris served in the
101st Airborne Division of
the United States Army. He
came to Bonita Springs 30
years ago. For 25 years he
was a vice president of Hick-
ory Homes, a local builder.
He also worked in retail and
commercial insurance.
Norris is the founder of
the areas Optimist Club,
the international volunteer
organization dedicated to
bringing out the best in
kids. The Optimists golf
tournament, which he has
twice chaired, brings 650
children from 38 countries
and 48 states to PGA
National in Palm Beach Gar-
dens each year.
For more than 25 years,
Norris has helped organize
camping trips for over 120
children with Fort Myers
Police Department mem-
bers. Those kids learn that
police officers are human
beings too, he said.
A lifelong interest
in politics
Peter Simmons has a life-
long interest in politics. In
fact, almost literally, its in
his blood. When Simmons
father returned from serving
in Vietnam, he was elected
to the New Hampshire
House of Representatives.
At the age of six, Sim-
mons had what may be a
rosebud moment in his
political life. His dads work
required a trip to Concord
and young Peter went along,
right to the state capital, to
the governors office and
then to the governors chair.
There he sat, unscripted
and unattended, as Sim-
mons puts it.
Simmons has visited
southwest Florida since the
1970s, and several family
members live in the area. A
few years back he and his
wife decided to make Bonita
Springs their home. The
small town feel of Bonita
Springs reminds him of the
seaside town where he grew
up, he says.
People are coming here
because they want to be
involved and want to make
a difference, said Simmons.
That is why we are here.
I want to be a new voice,
a fresh voice. I know the
passion and drive that I will
bring to the position. I want
to be a voice for families,
children, education, small
business Simmons
expressed his belief in less
government and less per-
sonal interference.
My passion and my
interest is my family, said
Simmons, who volunteers
at his childrens school.
Simmons career has been
in and around politics.
While working toward his
masters degree he served
as a congressional intern in
Washington, D.C. He was
chief of staff to a Michigan
state senator. In 2003, he
started the Simmons Group,
which consults and fund -
raises for political and non-
profit groups locally and
around the country.
Four for Four
from page 1
We need to be
more creative in
fulfilling our goals.
Barbara
Barnes-Buchanan
While I will repre-
sent the people of
District 4, I will also
always do what is
best for the people of
Bonita Springs.
Roger Brunswick
I think there is a
middle ground to
most every issue.
Sometimes there is
not. Sometimes it
has to be no. But I
will always try to
find the middle
ground.
Wes Norris
I want to be a new
voice, a fresh voice.
I know the passion
and drive that I
will bring to the
position.
Peter Simmons
S O U T H W E S T
Bonita Springs
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By Peter R. OFlinn
Bonita Springs The Spot-
light conducted extended
interviews with each District
4 City Council candidate
about five topics of Citywide
interest, as well as District 4
issues. Barbara Barnes-
Buchanan, Roger Brunswick,
Wes Norris and Peter Sim-
mons are running. Here, in
their own words, are their
views.
The Library. City Council
concluded that the Lee
County Library in Bonita
Springs is not adequate,
and noted that City tax-
payers have paid many
millions into the system.
City Council has asked
Lee County to contribute
$4 million to an ex-
panded library. What is
your view?
Barnes-Buchanan: The
expansion of the facility is
definitely needed. Ive been
going there for 25 years. This
has been an ongoing issue.
Four years ago we commis-
sioned Johnson Engineering
to do a study.
From my perspective in
2011, the City should be
looking at how the library
could be used. Life has
changed and the library
needs to be looked at as a
multi resource center a
people place where groups
and organizations can actu-
ally meet. These groups
enhance our quality of life
and make the City smaller
and much more appealing.
Yes, we have been putting
our dollars into it and in a
perfect world they would be
available. Regardless of that
$4 million, there are ways
that the community can do
certain things. Obviously,
the elected officials would
need to buy into the process.
I dont think the City
should pull away from the
County library system. We
have put too much into it
and to give up access to a
huge inventory resource
would be foolish.
Brunswick: I have a little
different take on the library
in general. I see brick and
mortar libraries as the future
dinosaurs of this country.
The printed page is in jeop-
ardy. What I want to find I
can find in an instant online.
If the public thinks there
is a need for additional
capacity, then to me it would
make sense to have perhaps
a satellite branch that could
go into one of our many
vacant existing storefronts.
Perhaps we could have a
couple of them within walk-
ing distance of different
neighborhoods. These would
be virtual libraries, with
banks of computers where
the public could pull up all
the information they are
looking for.
The library funds come
from the County the way it
is structured now. It should
be the Countys responsi-
bility.
Norris: This is one of
those times that you may
not have an answer until
you get all the facts. You
have the group who say that
the library is inadequate,
and they were put in a posi-
tion to find that answer out.
On the other side of the
issue my question is Are we
seeing declines in the use of
the library with all the elec-
tronic media? I am guilty
as the next person using my
Kindle.
I would have to listen to
both sides of that issue, and
I would go with an open
mind. I dont know that you
can build a 36,000 square
foot building for $4 million.
If the County comes back
and says We have the $4
million we have to figure
how much more will the
City have to come up with.
I think we are foolish if we
say, I would do this or do
that at this point.
Simmons: I wholeheart-
edly support expanding the
existing library. I have
thought a lot about that.
The times I have been there
it has been packed; very con-
gested. Commissioner Ray
Judah has promised that Lee
County has $4 million for
the project and I whole-
heartedly support that.
We have to look at all
different avenues to get this
built and I want to start with
the benchmark of $4 million
and go from there. One of
the reasons I believe in
expanding the existing
library is to hold the line on
costs, but not sacrifice on
computers, study space, peri-
odicals, books, childrens sec-
tions. There is a lot we need
to add. I believe the passion
is there from the Mayor and
the existing City Council to
go get that money.
City Priorities. What do
you see as the City
Councils priorities over
the next 2 to 3 years?
Brunswick: My number
one priority is what can be
done to develop business in
Bonita Springs and sur-
rounding areas. I am all
about economic develop-
ment, working with entities
like the Bonita Chamber and
Issues and answers
Four candidates want the District 4 City Council seat
Barnes-Buchanan Brunswick Norris Simmons
the county and state level. I
want to galvanize many of
the retired business leaders
that live in the area. A lot of
them are tired of playing
golf and tennis. They have
good ideas and we need to
gather those people together
and get them more involved
in the community.
We need to fill all of the
vacancies. If we fill that we
create jobs.
Norris: We need to have
a two-pronged priority.
Number one is to focus hard
on filling up the 1.8 million
square feet of empty space
we have in this community,
built and ready to occupy.
I have been here since
1981 and it is very discour-
aging to see some of the
shopping centers with so
much vacant space. If there
is going to be a dentists
office do we waive some of
the impact fees we might
normally get? Maybe we will
not charge some property
taxes for a few years.
My second priority is that
we need to diversify from
the real estate, construction
and tourism based economy.
We have I-75, north and
south, and an airport cen-
trally located. We have a rail-
road here. We should look
at light manufacturing.
Simmons: One of my top
priorities is holding the tax
rate at .83, keeping it very
low. That is the lowest in
the County, by far. Bonita
Springs City Council has
done an outstanding job to
hold the line.
The library is absolutely
one of my top priorities. I
have a ten-year-old daughter
and a nine-year-old son.
I am very supportive of
less regulation and less gov-
ernment in peoples personal
lives and in their businesses.
This will keep Bonita even
business friendlier.
We need to maintain the
beauty of Hickory Boulevard
and the beaches that make
Bonita a destination spot,
and we need to maintain
roads for the town folk and
visitors.
Barnes-Buchanan: We
dont have the unlimited
resources. From a strategic
perspective it would be
important to research those
programs where there is rev-
enue the city can go after.
The City spent a lot of
money on properties, and
we have a real surplus of
properties that have been
sitting there that could be
utilized for a variety of
things. I feel that it would
be of interest to citizens to
go back in there and look at
some of the reuse options.
The Dog Track and
Shangri-la, two of the larger
properties in the City under
private ownership, could
hold a key to the Citys eco-
nomic development in the
future. It would be to the
Citys benefit to coordinate
closely with the property
owners.
Our relationship with
Florida Gulf Coast University
has been underutilized,
including the work they are
currently doing in what is
referred to as Crackerville
on Bonita Beach Road. That
is something that the City
could focus in on in the
form of aquaculture.
The Economic Develop-
ment Council. The City
has contributed $75,000
to the Bonita Springs Es-
tero Economic Develop-
ment Council. Do you
agree with this?
Norris: I am not opposed
to that. The more people we
can get in here the broader
that tax base is so that .83
millage rate can stay there.
But we need a goal, and a
date certain to see results.
Six months from now we
need to know what compa-
nies they have contacted,
what the results are and what
is the potential. There are
strings attached.
Simmons: I wholeheart-
edly support the efforts of
the Economic Development
Council and I support the
money the City gave to the
Council. At the same time I
want to closely monitor their
efforts and their progress.
Every six months we should
get an update on how they
are doing.
The Economic Develop-
ment Council has experi-
enced people. They know
what they are doing and I
look forward to working
with them.
concept of economic devel-
opment is very important.
As to the Economic Devel-
opment Council, it depends
on what uses the money was
earmarked for. Without hav-
ing the specifics I cannot
really tell you that. Is it
salaries and supplies and
office space? If I were on
Council and something like
that came up I would want
to know exactly what the
$25,000 plus the $75,000 to
$100,000 was for. I would
be surprised if that infor-
mation did not exist. I know
the Council members. They
are very smart people so
they would probably be ask-
ing similar questions.
Brunswick: I am in favor
of what the City has done
to support economic devel-
opment and the money that
they have allocated to it. It
is kind of a Save our City
situation. In order to prosper
we need to create economic
development.
The Old 41 Area. Old 41
redevelopment has been
on the table for at least
as long as the City is old.
Most people agree that it
needs work. What is your
vision for Old 41 and
what is the Citys role?
Simmons: Right now
there are a lot of different
ideas. There is not one clear
vision that I have heard at
the moment. You ask five
different people what their
vision is for Old 41 and you
will get five different answers.
But wouldnt it be nice
to imagine an Old 41 with
our existing beautiful park,
City Hall downtown, the
sheriff s office downtown,
one or two anchor businesses
downtown, where restau-
rants and shops and pedes-
trian foot traffic would
follow. The ebb and flow of
traffic would draw people
naturally to the area.
Think of Fifth Avenue in
Naples where people stop,
and shop and spend. That
is my vision for Old 41. Peo-
ple will enjoy the area and
the natural beauty that we
have there, while preserving
the historical significance
and wonderful history of
downtown Bonita.
Riverside Park side of Old
41 has been well utilized.
But on the other side of the
street you have Bamboo. It
is sitting there. There are a
variety of things that can be
done. At one time there was
a plan to enhance the river
opportunities. I would like
that to be more in the fore-
ground now. It will also lend
itself to economic develop-
ment there.
The true heart of the city
of Bonita is the Imperial
River. We have one of the
most natural and pristine
small rivers. The resource
potential is there. Lets use a
lot of things that we have.
You reuse things and you
get creative.
The vision for Old 41
that everyone has had for
close to 40 years was always
a good vision. I dont think
anyone anticipated changes
in the socio economic pop-
ulation and cultural differ-
ences. I think the City might
want to consider what might
be done to have some syn-
ergy between the different
cultures.
Brunswick: At the present
time the City has done all
that it can do financially.
The City needs to work
with the existing business
owners to help them expand
their business. The group
from Score is opening an
office at the arts cottages
and the Liles hotel. Their
efforts will help businesses
improve their bottom line.
We have some prime
property that is ripe for
development. Bamboo Vil-
lage is one of them. We need
to find the developer out
there who would be inter-
ested in that property. That
could be a beautiful resi-
dential neighborhood along
the river.
It would be great if the
folks who own Shangri-La
could get off dead center.
That could be the catalyst
that opens all of this up.
Norris: All the visual
improvements are helping
downtown. Riverside Park
is great. But in these eco-
nomic times are we going
to get a developer to develop
the Bamboo property? I
dont see that happening for
a while. I know that they
are trying to develop a mer-
chants association down-
town. We are seeing some
improvement. But at this
time I dont see the City
doing a whole lot more.
District 4 issues. Any
Special District 4 issues?
Barnes-Buchanan: One
of the biggest issues in Dis-
trict 4 has to do with the
Bonita Springs Golf and
Country Club. At one time
Florida Gulf Coast University
was looking at it. So I think
that discussions should be
entertained with FGCU to
see if they could utilize it as
a teaching facility for golf.
There may be an opportunity
in off peak periods for people
to play golf. Of course it is
privately owned.
There are water manage-
ment issues in that same
area, much like most of the
City.
Brunswick: The number
one priority I am hearing
about is to have the expan-
sion of Shangri-La Road go
forward. It will give the peo-
ple on the east side of the
district access to Imperial
Parkway from Old 41.
Some of the folks who
By Heather Thomson
Bonita Springs It was a
sea of pink at the Susan G.
Komen for the Cure South-
west Florida offices in Bonita
Springs. A harp was softly
plucked in one corner of the
room, and hugs were
exchanged often and earnest-
ly. Last month was Breast
Cancer Awareness Month,
and these ladies started it
with a milestone event for
our community.
Project Hope provides
newly diagnosed breast can-
cer patients with hand-knit-
ted tote bags filled with more
than 25 items, such as edu-
cational materials, support
information, and personal
comforts. Volunteers bring
the materials together, stuff
the bags, and distribute them
to patients in our region.
This simple, yet exceptional
idea all began with one
woman.
Kellie Burns of NBC-2
News welcomed the group
to the gathering, and
explained Project Hope to
everyone. Rosalie Seigel came
up with the idea with a group
of friends one day.
It is a great way, says
Burns, to take a simple idea
and shed light on someones
darkest hour.
Rosalie Seigel created and
introduced Project Hope in
2008, and this year Komen
is proud to have provided its
1000th bag to newly diag-
nosed breast cancer patients.
Rosalie passed away on April
16, 2011 of metastatic
melanoma, the morning of
the Relay for Life for which
she was the Vice Chair. She
dedicated much of her time
to philanthropic organiza-
tions, including the Relay for
Life, The Ladies of St. Agnes
Church, and of course Susan
G. Komen for the Cure of
Southwest Florida. Rosalies
family her daughter Jaclyn,
husband Bruce, and cousin
Karen were all at the dedi-
cation, and were presented
with a beautiful plaque com-
memorating Rosalies involve-
ment in Project Hope.
Mariann McDonald,
president of Komens Board
of Directors, spoke about
Rosalies dedication to Proj-
ect Hope and to Susan G.
Komen. At one time, Rosalie
wanted to quilt all the bags
herself! Anything you asked
her to do, she did, and she
did it well. The love for Ros-
alie in the room was infec-
tious, and everyone was
welcomed in it.
After being diagnosed
with breast cancer in Sep-
tember 2010, Sandi Shank
received her bag. She recalls
seeing the bags in her oncol-
ogists office and thinking
they were so beautiful. The
day she received hers, they
told her, You are not alone.
Sandi told the crowd, a
little teary-eyed but smiling
all the same, Even when
youre feeling ugly, the bag
is pretty. You know some-
body loves you. And the
love in the room was palpa-
ble. Everyone was smiling
and ready to give their love
to each other.
When the Seigel family
approached the podium,
there was a reverent silence
in the room. Bruce, Rosalies
husband, talked about Ros-
alies favorite buzz word:
hope. He told the room, Her
saying was, Get up. Get
dressed. Get out. We are
honored to represent her
legacy.
Bruce spoke fondly of
Rosalies dedication and her
love for helping others. She
thrived on instilling hope in
others, and would be proud
to see her legacy continuing
today. In closing, he said,
In honor of Rosalie, let
there be hope in all of our
lives.
3705 BAY CREEK DR
$
1,725,000
Visit us at
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Dotti Fagan
239-272-4946
Bob Fagan
239-272-3006
Mike Fagan
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Ashley Wells
239-498-9200
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$
1,495,000 9083 FALLING LEAF
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499,500
4140 BAYHEAD DR #205
$
279,000
4801 ISLAND POND CT #1103
$
749,000
8526 SEDONIA CIR
$
479,900 26661 EGRETS LANDING DR #101
$
445,000
26490 SUNDERLAND DR
$
215,000 9400 HIGHLAND WOODS BLVD #5202
$
149,000

25941 NESTING CT #201
$
599,000

4801 ISLAND POND CT #304
$
439,900

26201 SUMMER GREENS
$
379,000 26463 CLARKSTON DR
$
289,000
9400 HIGHLAND WOODS BLVD #5307
$
167,000 26330 SUNDERLAND DR #5102
$
159,000
26811 S Tamiami Trail

1,725,000
$
CREEK DR Y 3705 BA AY

1,725,000
$
SLE CT I 27690 MARINA

1,495,000 CT #1 D PON D SLAN I 4801

749,000
$
103 CT #1 ESTING CT #201 N 25941

ALLING 9083 F 599,000
$
ESTING CT #201

499,500
$
F EA L ALLING

279,000
$
DR #205 D YHEA 4140 BA AYHEA
479,900
$
CIR ONIAA CIR D E S 8526

279,000
479,900 #101 DR ING D AN L GRETS E 26661
DR D ERLAN D UN S 26490

445,000
$
#101
215,000
$
CT #304 D PON D SLAN I 4801
BL S D WOO D IGHLAN H 9400

439,900
$
CT #304 ER MM U S 26201
167,000
$
#5307 D V LLV ERLAN D UN S 26330

IGHLAN H 9400
379,000
$
REENS G ER 26463 CLARKST
159,000
$
DR #5102 D ERLAN

149,000
$
#5202 D V BL LV S D WOO D IGHLAN
289,000
$
ON DR 26463 CLARKST

279,000

279,000

215,000

167,000

159,000

149,000
Project Hope has distributed 1000 bags
Rosalie Seigel created Project Hope in 2008. Since its inception, 1000 bags have
been distributed to newly diagnosed cancer patients. The hand-quilted tote bags
are filled with more than 25 items, such as educational materials, support in-
formation, and personal comforts. Last month Seigel was honored at a dedica-
tion ceremony.
It is a great way
to take a simple
idea and shed
light on someones
darkest hour.
Kellie Burns
By Bill Barnes
Chief Executive Officer
Bonita Springs Estero
Association of Realtors
Bonita Springs The market,
based on the September MLS
report, continues to show an
increasing lack of balance in
comparing properties com-
ing into the market with
those being sold. A balanced
market is when the number
of properties coming on the
market is about the same as
the number being sold. Boni-
ta Springs-Estero is moving
toward a more unbalanced
market.
The most previous
extreme of an unbalanced
market was this February
when 448 units came on line
and 171 units or 38 percent
sold, resulting in a variance
of 277 units. The best balance
month was June when 264
units came on line and of
that amount 210 units sold
or 80 percent. Single family
homes being listed continued
to grow every month for
three months increasing from
139 in June to 207 in Sep-
tember. This follows a trend
nationally, some of which
are foreclosures, and the pro-
cessing of foreclosures of
more expensive homes takes
longer than for less expensive
homes so our higher average
price would naturally slow
the process in the Bonita
Springs Estero area. Secondly,
more families in all price
ranges are moving out due
to no jobs and some of the
families are moving into con-
dos where that is possible.
The arrival of the 2011 Lee
County Tax bills may have
contributed to the decisions
for many to move on, even
though many of the tax bills
were less than in 2010.
On single-family home
sales, 97 sales closed which
was better than every month
this year except April which
shows there are buyers out
there, even in a non-season
month.
Condominium units
coming into the market in
September continue a three
month climb to 199. The
trend line of declining
condo sales is the most con-
cerning with six straight
months of sales moving
from 175 in March to 77 in
September. Of all condo
sales 38 percent were in the
100 to 200 thousand price
range. The condo sales
decline seems to be based
on the decline in ownership
in secondary /resort homes
and in some cases the lack
of bank financing in condo
complexes where the num-
ber of renters exceeded the
number of owners.
The luxury home market
has bounced back from a
dip in August. There were 9
home sales over a million
dollars in value. Miromar
Lakes Beach had four sales
over a million, followed by
3 at Pelican Landing, 2 at
Bonita Bay and 1 at Shadow
Woods at the Brooks. In all
of 2011, over 21 condo/villas
have sold for over a mil-
lion.
Spotlight Real Estate Watch
Highlights
from Septembers top 10 sales
4851 Bonita Bay Blvd. #1202
Bonita Bay
$1.875,000
10391 Via Anacapri Ct.
Miromar Lakes
$1,600,000
25131 Ridge Oak Dr.
Pelican Landing
$1,280,000
Shadow Wood
at the Brooks
$1,089,000
2010
January 160
February 175
March 219
April 263
May 174
June 179
July 144
August 132
September 121
October 80

Monthly Transactions
Number of real estate transactions
in the Bonita Springs Estero market
December 177
2011
January 165
February 215
March 271
April 312
May 236
June 216
July 183
189 August
183 September
November 125

70

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60
50
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30
20
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60
50
40
30
20
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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

60

60
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20
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50
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0

Jody Burr, of the MLS Service/Data Department of BEAR,
contributed to the reporting in this article.
By Kathy OFlinn
WGCU Studios In the wee
small hours, tucked in bed
with the radio nestled beside
him, young Ros Atkins reg-
ularly tuned in to late night
talk shows. His favorite pro-
gram, called Up All Night,
featured small town stories
from all over the world.
Youd be lying in bed, wher-
ever you were in England,
listening to some guy in Aus-
tralia or Kentucky, or wher-
ever it was, telling you about
some event. I just absolutely
loved hearing about different
peoples experiences and that
has always really stayed with
me, said Atkins.
Today, that abiding inter-
est is played out every week-
day as Atkins hosts the BBCs
radio program World Have
Your Say which is carried
by radio stations worldwide
including our own WGCU.
Last month Atkins and
his production team broad-
cast live from the studios of
WGCU at Florida Gulf Coast
University when they visited
southwest Florida. Local
residents became part of
the cast during a lively dis-
cussion on the Wall Street
occupation.
Mary Anne Spann, a
Bonita Springs resident and
avid listener of the program,
said she enjoys hearing peo-
ple from all over the world
express their opinions. At
the broadcast, people from
Saudia Arabia, Egypt and
Tunisia called in and we were
able to see them on the
screen, she said.
World Have Your Say
is always a live broadcast,
whether from its London
studio or a far flung location.
Atkins acts as host as ques-
tions and comments are sub-
mitted via phone calls or
calls over the net, text mes-
sages, tweets, emails or com-
ments on their blog from
listeners worldwide. The lat-
est technology allows a global
conversation.
The production staff and
Atkins pick subjects people
are already talking about in
different parts of the world.
We are pretty confident
when we go on the air that
were going to have a lively
discussion. Were not in the
business of starting debates.
Were in the business of
reflecting and providing a
platform for the debates and
discussion to continue, said
Atkins.
Typically callers are not
just passionate about an issue
but informed and have rel-
evant opinions. Partly my
job is to make it informative.
Before we go on the air I
have a large amount of infor-
mation and make sure we
weave it into the conversation
providing context and rele-
vant facts, said Atkins.
This was not the first
time the program was
broadcast from WGCUs
studios. In early 2010 several
programs were scheduled at
WCGU when the earth-
quake shook Haiti. Instead
of the previously chosen
topic, the producers sought
out many Haitians in the
southwest Florida area. We
spent 2 or 3 shows connect-
ing them with people back
home and listening to them
talk about their worries and
their upset. That was an
astonishing couple of hours
to listen to, said Atkins.
Broadcasting from a loca-
tion does have the advantage
of taking the listener some-
where. When we did a pro-
gram from Soweto in South
Africa, part of me felt like
not saying a word for a cou-
ple of minutes and just let-
ting people hear what this
place sounded like, he
added.
In Soweto, we went to a
shantytown and gathered
together a group of young
mothersand sat in one of
their temporary homes
made out of corrugated iron,
brick and concrete. We just
talked about their day to
day lives and I remember
thinking this is something
not many broadcasters
would do and hopefully peo-
ple listening are getting as
much out of hearing these
women as I amthese are
just not the kind of people
who you would necessarily
hear on the radio, said
Atkins.
When he was younger,
Atkins did stints as a DJ in
London and South Africa,
played in a few bands and
did quite a lot of theater. He
admits that, hosting is a
performance to some extent
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Live from Florida Gulf Coast University
The BBCs radio show World Have Your Say was recently broadcast live from
Southwest Florida. Over 150 listeners packed the stations studio at Florida Gulf
Coast University to participate in the global discussion. The shows host, Ros
Atkins, encourages audience members to participate and utilizes Facebook,
Twitter and Skype to interact with listeners in 70 countries throughout the
world. World Have Your Say is broadcast Monday through Friday at 1 p.m. on
WGCU 90.1/91.7 FM.
unnecessary pitfalls.
We got that idea from
the state legislature, recalled
Hank Hochstetler, an orig-
inator of the idea of city
incorporation. We followed
that recommendation
because it made good sense
to us. We wanted more of a
grass roots participation of
all citizens, not just political
parties.
What do the current crop
of candidates think about
nonpartisan elections? The
Spotlight asked the four Dis-
trict 4 candidates.
I am glad it is nonparti-
san, said Roger Brunswick,
It needs to be. We are a
small city. Maybe the fact
that we are nonpartisan
brings us closer together as
a unit. We work together
better.
Brunswick, a registered
Republican, said he would
not be running if the elec-
tions were partisan. I have
a lot of friends who are
Democrats. I have a lot of
friends who are Republicans.
And I am proud of the fact
that I am a free thinker.
Wes Norris also likes the
current system. I dont want
it to be a mudslinging event
between a Republican and a
DemocratIts not political
issues that come before City
Council, he said.
Peter Simmons and
Barbara Barnes-Buchanan
also expressed views sup-
porting the current system.
In Bonita Springs, presi-
dential primaries have dra-
matically swelled voter
turnout in the past.
In the 2008 presidential
primary, 68 percent of the
registered voters showed up
in District 1 (generally cov-
ering Little Hickory Island
and Bonita Shores south to
the Collier line) and District
3 (generally Pelican Landing
and east through parts of
San Carlos Estates to Citrus
Park).
Compare that to the
turnout in the same districts
two years later. In 2010, with
only local elections on the
ballot, 17 percent of the voters
showed up.
The turnout has been bet-
ter for mayoral elections. In
the 2008 runoff between Ben
Nelson and Jay Arend, 45
percent of voters turned out
citywide.
In 2004, with a sitting
Republican president, the
donkey was in the booth for
the Democrat presidential
primary. Come January 2012,
its the elephants turn. Half
of Bonita Springs 25,000
voters are registered Repub-
licans.
On a pleasant evening
a few months ago, one Dis-
trict 4 candidate encamped
by the Bonita Bay beach
park, seeking petition sig-
natures.
He approached a woman
taking in the sunset, glass of
wine in hand. I only vote
for Republicans, she said.
When told that the city elec-
tion is nonpartisan and can-
didates run without party
affiliation, she simply
refrained, I only vote for
Republicans. Nonplussed,
the candidate assured her
that he believed in less gov-
ernment. He got the signa-
ture. He happens to be a
Republican.
Magic diamond
dust needed
Even the casual sports
observer could not miss the
collapse of the Boston Red
Sox this year. In the month
of September, they spit the
bit in epic fashion, surren-
dering a 9.5 game wild card
lead to the Tampa Bay Rays.
On most nights Boston fans,
praying for an end to the
slide, simply witnessed anoth-
er crime committed in the
name of baseball.
In February JetBlue Park,
the Red Sox new spring train-
ing facility, will open on
Daniels Parkway north of
the airport. To some thats a
good omen. In 2004, Lee
County took over the current
Red Sox spring facility, City
of Palms Park, from the City
of Fort Myers. The Red Sox
won their first title since
1918. In 1991 the Minnesota
Twins moved into the new
Lee County Sports Complex,
and promptly won the World
Series.
Some people think there
is a little magic dust in the
infield that we develop for
these spring training facili-
ties, joked Lee County Com-
missioner Ray Judah in a
recent interview with the
Spotlight. Of course, in 2004,
the Red Sox $100+ million
payroll may have helped. But
the suspension of reality is a
necessary ingredient for base-
ball fandom these days.
Lee County is picking up
the $77 million tab for
JetBlue Park. Some have
raised concerns about the
expenditure of government
funds for the park, particu-
larly in tough economic
times. On this topic, Judah
was all business.
The stadium is financed
solely by tourism tax dollars.
Unless you stay at a hotel,
motel or bed and breakfast
you dont pay for the new
Red Sox Stadium. People
need to understand that, he
said.
The spring training pres-
ence of the Red Sox and the
Twins generates close to
$75 million, if not more
each year in local expendi-
tures, says Judah. Money
flows through hotels, motels
and attractions. It increases
gas tax, sales tax and provides
jobs in the area. It is a sig-
nificant return on our
money.
The Red Sox had ex-
pressed concern that the
existing City of Palms Park
is two miles from their prac-
tice facility, and could not
accommodate their ongoing
player development pro-
gram.
I became very concerned
when I learned that the Red
Sox had made overtures to
Sarasota County, said Judah.
He recalls a phone call from
Frank Haskell. Ray, this is
really serious, said Haskell,
You need to make every
effort to get (a new park)
done. Haskell has operated
the City of Palms Park score-
board since it opened. He is
more familiar to Bonitians,
particularly at Bonita Bay
and Pelican Landing, as the
founder of Barbaras Friends.
That charity has raised mil-
lions for childrens cancer
care at Lee Memorial Hos-
pital.
Behind a glass case in
the lobby of the old Lee
County Courthouse, there
is a display of local spring
training memorabilia. It
includes a bag of sand, the
magic diamond dust. In
February perhaps some of it
will be transported to the
new Red Sox Park. But more
may be required. After this
years performance, a few
trailer loads of luck may be
needed.
MeanderingsThe US
Geological Survey and Lee
County maintain a gauge on
the Imperial River just east
of I-75. During the torrential
rains of October 18 and 19,
it showed the river rising
almost three feet, to about
eight feet in height. Just in
time for the Bonita Springs
Riverfest City Manager
Carl Schwing and Finance
Director Lisa Pace have fig-
ured out how to prevent
Road Impact Fees from
falling into a lock box. The
impact fees, paid in connec-
tion with large developments,
are required to be used for
road construction, but some-
times are received only after
roads have been paid for
with regular real estate tax
dollars. Under Florida law,
the impact fees cant be used
to reimburse those general
tax dollars even though they
were used to build roads.
The Solution? Lend general
tax dollars for road construc-
tion to the road impact fee
fund, to be repaid when
impact fees show up.
Up and Down
from page A6
By Kathy OFlinn
Bonita Springs When the
congregation of the Light-
house Fellowship Congre-
gational Church of Bonita
Springs decided they wanted
to support the community
with a holiday effort, they
approached the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office for
ideas. Maribel Slabaugh,
Executive Director of the
Bonita Springs Assistance
Office, thought a blanket
collection would be a great
effort. And so, Blankets for
Bonita was born.
For the past two or three
years we have seen families
able to cover their rent, util-
ities, a little bit of food and
any other emergencies but
they dont prepare for the
winters. They are used to
the heat for 10 months of
the year. A blanket is an extra
expense they cant afford,
said Slabaugh.
Many of the needy fami-
lies in Bonita live in trailers
or duplexes that are not well
insulated and dont have heat.
Blankets would give the chil-
dren warm places to come
home to and help prevent
colds, bronchitis and other
respiratory illnesses accord-
ing to Slabaugh.
Merrill Colgrove, a mem-
ber of the Lighthouse Fel-
lowship Congregational
Church, said, Its sad that
some people can barely
afford the basics. We are a
small church so we cant take
on a huge effort but our goal
is to collect 100 new blankets
for the needy of Bonita.
Maribel said she can use
every single blanket we can
get. They know who needs
it the most, said Colegrove.
New blankets are pre-
ferred for health and sani-
tary reasons. Blanket
donations can be dropped
off, Monday through Friday,
at the Bonita Springs Assis-
tance Office, 25300 Bern-
wood Drive, Unit 6 in Boni-
ta Springs. The church can
also arrange to pick up your
donated blankets by calling
239-267-6661.
So many wonderful peo-
ple live in this community,
and, unfortunately, many are
in need. The holiday time
of year reminds us of Gods
commandment to love and
help our neighbors. We hope
to make Blankets for Bonita
an annual event, said Lori
Munnerly, the churchs co-
Missions Director.
The final collection date
for Blankets for Bonita will
culminate at Bonitas Hol-
iday in the Park at Riverside
Park on December 6.
Little church, big heart
Blankets for Bonita
How you can help:
New blankets can be
donated to help the needy stay
warm this winter.
Where: Bonita Springs Assistance Office,
25300 Bernwood Drive, Unit 6.
For more information: Call 239-267-6661.
available at over 60 locations
in and around Bonita Springs
Real News. Real Distribution.
Real Results.
20,000 copies every month
12,000 direct-mailed
call to place your ad
239-287-6474
www.swspotlight.com
info@spotlight
Hope Hospice
November is National Hos-
pice Month. Hospice serves
anyone facing a life-limiting
illness, regardless of age or
illness. Joanns House at Hope
Hospice is located in Bonita
Springs. Ride 4 Hope, sched-
uled for November 20, is a
fundraiser for Hope Hospice.
See Events listing for details.
Zonta Club
of Bonita Springs
The Zonta Club of Bonita
Springs is an organization of
business and professional
women dedicated to improv-
ing the circumstances of
women at all stages of life,
locally and globally. The local
chapter will host the Third
Annual Glass Slipper Ball
November 18 to raise funds
to help victims of violence
against women. See Events
listing for details.
Blankets for Bonita
The Lighthouse Fellowship
Congregational Church, in
conjunction with the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office, has
launched Blankets for Bonita,
collecting new blankets to help
the needy in Bonita Springs.
New blankets can be dropped
off at the Bonita Springs Assis-
tance Office, 25300 Bernwood
Drive, Unit 6 in Bonita Springs
or the church will also arrange
to pick up your blanket dona-
tion by calling 239-267-6661
to arrange for a pick-up. The
final collection will take place
at Bonitas Holiday in the
Park at Riverside Park on
December 6. See article in this
issue for more information.
Bonita Springs
Assistance Office
For over 30 years the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office has
served as a primary social
service agency in Bonita
Springs. Their objective is to
provide emergency relief for
Bonita Springs residents to
lessen the impact of financial
and personal crises. Volunteers
are needed to lead food drives
around the area, to wrap and
distribute Christmas presents
to families, to do grant writ-
ing, office work, to translate,
and to help distribute food
in the food pantry. If inter-
ested email info@bonitaas-
sistance.org or call 239-
992-3034 between 1 p.m. and
4 p.m. weekdays.
Bonita Springs Lions Club
This local club has been rec-
ognized as a world leader-a
model club that funds chari-
table needs in excess of
$250,000 annually. Their
weekly farm markets, thrift
store and pancake breakfasts
during season help them
operate a charitable eye clinic
and contribute to the support
of many local charitable
organizations. For more infor-
mation visit their website
bonitalions.org.
Opportunities
to give back
Bonita Business Beat
Bonita Springs Like a well-
oiled machine the gears were
turning in sync. While the
City Council was deliberating
strategic priorities at a day-
long session at the Trianon
Hotel in late October, and
pushing Economic Devel-
opment to the top of their
list, only a half mile up the
road the wheels were turning
at the Economic Develop-
ment Council with research
task forces underway.
The creation of this pub-
lic-private partnership is at
this time very synergistic,
said Christine Ross, Executive
Director of the Bonita
Springs Estero Economic
Development Council. And
thats the way its been con-
sistently for the last three
years which is why there is
finally some investment
being made in the process,
she said.
At the Chamber head-
quarters, where Ross is also
President and CEO of the
ber of Commerce, new
office space is being readied
for Arleen Sheehan, Direc-
tor of Development Serv-
ices. In her new additional
office space, Sheehan, a city
employee, will be able to
collaborate and commu-
nicate more closely and on
a regular basis with the
EDC. She will have access
to the Costar data base
which provides compre-
hensive information on the
real estate market, going
rates for already improved
space, for raw space and
whats been leased and
what hasnt been leased,
according to Ross.
The EDC has already
started their research with
The Economic Development
Center of Florida Gulf Coast
University. Under the direc-
tion of Dr. Gary Johnson,
FGCU is working on an over-
all picture of who is in the
existing marketplace. In addi-
tion, a small task force from
the EDC, led by EDC Board
member Regina Eberwein
of Lee Memorial Health Sys-
tem, will begin a survey of
the business community
starting in January.
Using the initial research
performed by Dr. Jackson,
this task force will determine
whats important, who they
want to talk to and then, of
course, the questions to be
asked, explained Ross. Its
anticipated that 25 to 50
one-on-one interviews will
be conducted with annual
follow-ups over the course
of the next few years. The
number of interviews is
dependent on the manpower
available and the EDC hopes
to recruit and train volun-
teers for this initiative.
We have started meeting
with those potentially inter-
ested in being in this area
and weve had a couple of
meetings so far in which the
city has been right at the
table, said Ross.
A start up business pack-
age is now available from
the city. A new website,
www.bonitaedc.com, is in
the process and is expected
to be up and running this
month.
The creation of this
public-private
partnership is
at this time very
synergistic.
Christine Ross,
Executive Director of the
Bonita Springs Estero
Economic Development
Council
Some 72 people work for
the Bonita Springs Post
Office. The first mail of the
day arrives at 4:30 a.m. Clerks
clock in 15 minutes later
and begin arranging letters
and packages for the carriers,
who show up between 7:30
and 9 a.m. depending on
the length of the route. From
there, its work until all the
mails delivered.
The classic, unofficial post
office creed says that Neither
snow nor rain nor heat nor
gloom of night stays these
couriers from the swift com-
pletion of their appointed
rounds.
Major hurricanes, how-
ever, do stop them.
The regional office in
Tampa closed several loca-
tions when Hurricane
Charley hit the coast in 2004.
But other than major tropical
storms, DeBrino said mail
runs are super consistent.
I really cant think of
anything, DeBrino said. We
had one incident of flooding,
and we had to keep the mail
at the office for the day.
...Sometimes we wonder if
we should be out delivering,
but at least we dont have
snow.
There are 40 routes and
37 post office trucks serving
the Bonita Springs area.
Thats about 10 times the
number of routes and vol-
ume as the post office han-
dled during the early 1970s,
when Byron Liles father,
Glenn Liles, was postmas-
ter.
It was a personal thing,
Liles said. Everybody in the
community knew everybody
that worked at the post office.
There was a closeness, an
intimacy. It was more or less
a social setting. You didnt
have to tell people your name
when you walked up to the
window.
Liles said tourists of the
time didnt have a PO Box
or local address. So everyday
the tourists would gather at
the post office and wait in
line for their mail.
There would be a crowd
of people at the post office,
Liles said. Theyd wait in
line and visit with each other
and open their letters and
tell each other about their
families up north.
The post office was also
a regular Halloween target
for young pranksters. Liles
said kids would soap the
clerk windows, and it took
days for his father to clean
up the mess.
Theyd run bicycles up
the flag pole, Liles said.
One year a group of
teenagers picked up a small
car, carried it through the
post office front door and
sat it in the lobby.
It took several men to
get it back out, Liles said
with a laugh.
While some things are a
bit different at the Bonita
Springs Post Offie today,
you can still bump into a
friend and you can still
depend on delivery of your
mail, come rain or heat or
tropical storm.
and certainly it is when 200
people come along to see
you. Being up in front of
people was something I used
to quite enjoy I like the
highs and lows of it and the
pressure of it and the chal-
lenge of keeping people
entertained or informed or
at least making them glad
they came along to see what-
ever you were doing.
He believes the counsel-
ing he did years ago taught
him how to listen to people
and how to ask them to be
more frank without being
rude or hostile. He strives
to serve the listener and be
entirely fair to whoever is
on the program.
Atkins natural inquisi-
tiveness has served him well.
He admits, I am very inter-
ested in everyones lives
Im genuinely very curi-
ousI like hearing about
the day to day realities of
how people live. For many
people finding the time to
sit down with others and
explore their lives is a luxury.
Ros Adkins gets to do it
everyday.
We are pretty confident when we go on
the air that were going to have a lively
discussion. Were not in the business of
starting debates. Were in the business of
reflecting and providing a platform for the
debates and discussion to continue.
Ros Atkins
Live from FGCU
from page A22
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from page A1
live in San Carlos estates
want to put a gate at the
southern entrance to reduce
through traffic access. I
dont know if a gate will
work there. Of the people I
have talked to, more are
against a gate than for it,
but there are still a lot of
people who would like to
see that gated.
Norris: The people who
I have spoken with in District
4 have not brought forth
any. I would vote the way
my constituents want me to
vote. If I disagree I would
try to convince them, but
my job is to vote the way
they want.
Simmons: The Bonita
Springs Golf and County Club
has been closed. While I dont
think the City is in a position
to purchase or run the prop-
erty, I sincerely support private
enterprise and private busi-
nesses purchasing the property
as the way to go.
In that same area in Dis-
trict 4 Bonita Springs Utilities
years after the fact levied a
fee on the folks over there. I
think that was inappropriate
and mishandled. They
admitted their mistake but
a lot of people are suffering.
Its been done, the die has
been cast but I am extremely
disappointed in the way
Bonita Springs Utilities han-
dled that.
Social Services. What
is your view on social
services in the city?
Brunswick: A growing
city needs social services.
We need to take care of our
people. We cant shove them
under the rug and say they
are not there because they
are living homeless in the
woods someplace or in car
parked in the K Mart park-
ing lot. There are people
going through hard times
right now that need to be
able to have a meal. It is
not the Citys responsibility
but we need to allow a place
where a charity can feed
people, like the Caf of Life.
We need a social service
campus someplace. I under-
stand that nobody wants it
in their backyard, but we
need to find a place that
will work.
Norris: I dont know how
anyone can say they would
have voted this way or that
(on St Matthews House). I
cannot do that until I hear
the issues. I have heard that
St. Matthews House runs a
pretty tight ship. Is it right
for Bonita? You have to listen
to all the opinions and issues.
We have a good social
services program in Bonita.
Can it be tweaked a little?
Yes. Bonita Assistance has
been there as long as I can
remember. I know they do a
good job there. Could we
do it better? Maybe so.
Simmons: We have over
60 social services in the area
at the moment. If there is a
need I would be very willing
to look at it. But I would
have to see the need.
Barnes-Buchanan: Social
services are a hard issue to
focus on from a small geo-
graphical base such as the
City. Providing facilities for
social services is a regional
issue. Traditionally, because
the County was established
earlier, you basically have the
roots of everything within
the County. A lot of those
programs are entitlement
programs. I am not sure if
many people understand that
the facilities follow the rev-
enue stream. That money
goes to the County, not the
smaller cities.
There are private devel-
opments that are not neces-
sarily tied to entitlement
programs. You will always
have these special groups
that come forth. There are
nebulous provisions in the
land development code. As
a result, there have been zon-
ing questions not just on St.
Matthews House but also
Caf of Life.
The Budget. Would you
have voted to approve
the Citys $19.5 million
2012 budget? Should
reserves from prior
years surplus funds have
been used to balance
the budget?
Norris: In the last two
years our property values
have reduced over 20 per-
cent, a big difference. To
maintain the same millage
with such a reduction in
property values is an accom-
plishment. The City has
done an excellent job in not
having to lay anyone off or
reduce services.
You need to spend a long
time looking at and under-
standing the budget. On the
surface I believe it was a
good deal.
That is why you build
those reserves; to use them
during the times that you
need to use them.
Simmons: Certainly, the
City Council needs to be
commended in this econom-
ic downturn time for holding
the line on the .83 tax rate. I
think they were put into a
very tough spot; either raise
the .83 or slightly dipping
into the reserve.
The only thing different
I would do in the future is
to look at alternatives to not
have to dip into the reserve.
I would look at the entire
budget. You have to look at
essential services and
nonessential services. Where
the margin was so close, I
think you could find a lot of
different areas where nobody
would feel like they were
shortchanged.
Barnes-Buchanan: I
would have voted for it. A
lot of the projects are ongo-
ing, where contracts are
already let. As a Coun-
cilmember, I would have the
opportunity to go into it in
more depth and detail.
One question is whether
you have enough reserves
for any type of natural dis-
aster. We have been very for-
tunate in that we have not
had a lot of hurricane issues
in the past.
Brunswick: I applaud our
Mayor and Councilmembers
for holding the line on taxes
for the fourth year in a row.
Its a time to be austere. The
city has done a good job of
holding the line on budget
items without sacrificing City
services.
Reserves are there to be
used for good purposes.
Maintaining City services in
a difficult time is a good
enough purpose for me.
By Peter R. OFlinn
prof@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs Mayoral
candidate Dave Grothaus
recently offered his recon-
sidered view about the Citys
financial involvement in the
Bonita Springs Estero Eco-
nomic Development Coun-
cil, and its goal of filling
vacant commercial space in
the area.
It is a travesty that we
have 1.5 million square feet
of vacant space, said
Grothaus. It does not do
any of us in the City any
good to make it look like
we are a ghost town.
As reported in last
months Spotlight, Grothaus
previously had expressed
skepticism about the Citys
financial involvement with
the EDC. What is the benefit
for the citizens of Bonita,
Grothaus had said. The City
did not develop those build-
ings; somebody else did.
I think I came off as
anti development, and that
is certainly not my position,
said Grothaus, reflecting on
his prior comments. I
would do everything in my
power to remedy that situ-
ation. It would be one of
my top priorities.
The City has contributed
approximately $75,000 in
seed money and matching
grants to help fund the start
up of the EDC, the brain-
child of members of the
ber of Commerce and other
local organizations.
I have to credit the City
with the EDC that they are
building, said Grothaus. I
am in full support of that
effort. The City should
monitor the use of its con-
tributed funds, and the
progress of the EDCs
endeavors, he said.
So it looks like one item
can be crossed off the list
of policy disagreements
between Grothaus and
incumbent Mayor Ben Nel-
son Jr., who is running for
a second term.
Grothaus views on the
EDC now appear aligned
with Nelsons, with only
nuanced differences. Nelson
was an early proponent of
the EDC, as well as the Citys
investment in that organi-
zation to get it on its own
two feet. When vacant build-
ings are filled, the entire com-
munity benefits, he has said.
Nelson has emphasized
the benefit to the entire
community of filling vacant
space. Ask the people of
Bonita Bay whether they
like the fact that the Target
site and other buildings out-
side are vacant, he said.
*****************
Nelson announced his
reelection bid in early sum-
mer, and leads in fundrais-
ing. According to campaign
treasurers reports filed with
the City Clerks office,
he raised $12,249.33 in
the reporting period ended
September 30. Grothaus
announced his candidacy
late in the reporting period,
so his only reported contri-
bution was $500 of his own
money.
Nelsons campaign re -
ported over 60 contributors
including:
Bob and Jill Augustine,
Frederick Barber, Janine
Becker, Dr. and Mrs. Richard
Becker, Harland and Barbara
Beers, Richard Beightol,
Anthony Biancaniello, Black
Island Management LLC,
Bond, Schoeneck & King
PLLC, Thomas and Joyce
Briers, Buffalo Chips Restau-
rant, Keith Butterfield,
Barbara Carlisle, Dawn
Colecchio, C.M. Cook, Jr.,
Jeff Davis, Darcy Erdman,
David Farlow, Brian Farrar,
Tom Firth, Ed Fitzgerald,
Nigel Fullick, Thomas and
Sondra Gibbons, Gilkey
Organization LLC, Gilkey
Realty, Inc., Lucille and
Charles Gross, Elizabeth
Hagan, James Halverson,
Ryan Henyecz, Jeffrey
Holzinger, Jasen Berube PA,
John Jenkins, PA, John and
Patricia Joyce, F. C. and J.M.
Kozlowski, Stefan and Nancy
Krchniak, Thomas Long,
Joan McCarthy, Kathleen
McGrath, Angus Martinez,
Jacqueline and Arden
McCurdy, David McKee,
Karin Moe, A.K. Nanda, Lori
Nelson, Thomas Patterson,
Alberto Perez, William and
Bernice Pescosolido, Ross
Roberts, Dave and Kathy
Schmitt, Peggy Sims, Steven
Slachta, Maxine Smith, Karla
St. John, William and Lynda
Steere, Mark Suwyn,
Theodore Swanson, Robert
Thinnes, Victoria Terre, G.
Donald and Kim Thomson,
Donald Trew, Joshua Tuyls,
Norman and Nancy Vester,
Daniel and Suzanne Wagner,
Margaret Watters, Clifford
and Patricia Welles and Don
Zoppi.
EDC redux in mayoral race
Issues
from page A17
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Page B24 Southwest Spotlight NOVEMBER 2011
S O U T H W E S T S P O T L I G H T
NOVEMBER 2011 Vol.2, No.11 SECTION B
Whats missing in Bonita Springs
Why I love living
in Bonita
B
By Nigel P. Fullick
Special to the Spotlight
Bonita Springs Chamber
of Commerce and city leaders
would prefer that we con-
tinuously extol the virtues
of our town but, lets be hon-
est, Bonita Springs is missing
a lot. Over the past year,
much of this has become
more and more obvious. I
have to travel to the East
Coast every month and, be-
cause my family moved to
South Florida in 1970, I can
appreciate all those towns
have that Bonita does not.
Last month, as I drove
North on I-95 from Ft. Laud-
erdale to Florida Atlantic
Universitys opening game
in the brand new stadium, I
noticed the East Coast has
really simplified driving by
simply making instant lane
changes acceptable as long
as there are at least 3 inches
between your front bumper
and the merging vehicle. The
success of that maneuver of-
ten signaled by raising the
middle finger, Im sure sig-
nifying they are extending
the life of one turn signal
bulb. Unlike Bonita Springs,
they have made trash re-
moval from your vehicle
much easier. We are expected
to take our trash home, or
deposit it in a trash bin, while
on the East Coast you ap-
parently discard it on the
roadway. Many of their res-
idents appear to utilize this
service.
Bonita Springs is also way
behind the East Coast in tak-
ing advantage of our water-
ways. They are way ahead of
us on placing concrete sea-
walls along just about every
inch of navigable water. This
makes it easier for huge speed
boats to take advantage of
the wakes and launch them-
selves completely out of the
water just prior to entering
posted manatee zones. They
no longer have any problem
with eagles, osprey, cranes,
otters and other creatures
abundant here in Bonita and
you dont see any of those
pesky kayakers or paddle-
boards. They have plenty of
shade to avoid sunrise and
sunset, courtesy of the hun-
dreds of high rise buildings
unencumbered by pesky city
planners.
And what can you say
about our politicians? A may-
or who actually grew up here,
knows everyone in county
government and how busi-
ness works yet was dumb
enough to invest in a second
business in the Old 41 revi-
talization area. A city coun-
cilman who could make
more money in his consult-
ing business if he didnt com-
mit so much time to Rotary,
education programs, the
FGCU Board or to under-
standing how local govern-
ment actually works. A coun-
cilwoman who would rather
look for ways to beautify the
City and preserve the envi-
ronment than campaign.
And where is the fun in our
Council meetings? We never
get to see Council screaming
personal insults at each other,
sabotaging campaign signs
or amusing us with illegal
or inappropriate conduct.
They balance our budget,
hire hard-working, compe-
tent staff and cant seem to
raise taxes. They treat each
other civilly so, no cops need-
ed at Council meetings.
Wheres the fun in that? Cape
Corals meetings are far more
entertaining. Speaking of
cops, we have a Sheriff that
actually looks and acts like
one, deputies who are cour-
teous, professional and live
in our community. Why cant
they be edgy like TV cops?
Oh, yeah, about that new
stadium. We have a university
president who is an FAU
alumnus and loves football.
He buys season tickets,
months ahead, for the once
in a lifetime experience of
the inaugural game but, an
on-campus function asked
for his support, so he gave
his seats to an alumnus who
couldnt afford to attend.
Hed probably choose to
spend money on improv-
ing the quality of FGCU
academic programs over
starting football. Where are
his priorities?
Ive only begun to discover
all the things missing from
Bonita Springs, but hope to
spend the rest of this life dis-
covering everything else we
dont have
Do you love living in Bonita
Springs? Let us know why in
600 words or less and your
article could appear next
month as part of the Why I
love living in Bonita Springs
series.
By Kathleen Bradley
Bontia Springs Moving to
south Florida, we started out
in Ft. Myers as house parents
for a childrens home. My
concept of the area was lim-
ited to mountains of laundry,
dishes stacked to the ceiling
and an occasional visit to the
beach with ten children rang-
ing in ages from 5 to 17. Two
years later, we moved to Boni-
ta Springs at the request of
First Baptist Church, who
called my husband to pastor
their congregation.
Nestled into our pleasant
new community, we associ-
ated with friendly neighbors,
congregated with a loving
group of worshippers, and
chose our favorite grocer and
medical practitioner. We
Continued on page B10
Bonita Beach is a great place to view wildlife.
SS_NOV_B Cover and B24 10/27/11 3:55 PM Page 1
Page B2 Southwest Spotlight November 2011
Book sale
Fri., Nov. 4 & Sat., Nov. 5,
9a.m. to 4 p.m.
Come join the Friends of the
Library of Bonita Springs for
its book sale. A variety of
books including nonfiction,
fiction, childrens books, puz-
zles, tapes, CDs and more
will be for sale. Proceeds will
benefit the programs of the
Library. Where: the meeting
room at the Library, 26876
Pine Avenue, off West Terry
Street.
Veterans Day
Fri., Nov. 11, 11 a.m.
Come to Riverside Park on
11/11/11 at 11 a.m. to honor
our veterans. Where: Riverside
Park, Old 41.
Taste of St. Leo
Sun., Nov. 13, 1 to 4p.m.
Celebrating its 50th Jubilee
Kick Off, the Taste of St. Leo
will offer foods from around
the world. Live entertainment
by an 8 piece band, Uptown
Express, a 50s & 60s Doo
Wop group. For the kids there
will be a bounce house, laser
tag and a slide. Where: St.
Leo Church, 28290 Beaumont
Road, Bonita Springs. Cost:
$5 admission.
Glass Slipper Ball
Fri., Nov. 18, 6 to 11 p.m.
Glamorous evening spon-
sored by the Zonta Club of
Bonita Springs featuring the
Best of the Chefs gourmet
hors doeuvres and fabulous
desserts, presentation of
Woman of the Year Award to
Trish Leonard, bidding on
unique auction items and
dancing into the night with
entertainment by the Brett
Foreman Band. This event
will benefit local nonprofits
working with area women of
all ages to combat domestic
violence, sexual abuse and
human trafficking. Where:
Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort,
Naples. Cost: $100 per person.
For more information and
to purchase tickets, visit
zontabonitasprings.org.
Taste of Bonita
Sun., Nov. 20,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The 18th Annual Taste of
Bonita raises thousands for
local charities. Over 25 area
restaurants will highlight their
food during this day-long
event. Kids area and live enter-
tainment. Where: Riverside
Park on Old 41. Cost: Free
admission.
Farm Fresh Market
Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to noon
Come to one of the most
popular markets in the region.
Fully stocked farm-fresh veg-
etable vendors plus fish, baked
goods, cut flowers, orchids,
cosmetics, antiques, fashions,
jewelry, books and more.
Where: Promenade at Bonita
Bay. For more information,
visit bonitalions.org.
Sports
The Great Calusa Blue-
way Paddling Festival
Thur., Nov. 3 thru Sun., Nov. 6
This 6th annual eco-event
celebrates Southwest Floridas
190 mile marked paddling
trail, The Great Calusa
Blueway, which meanders
from its southern tip at
Bonita Springs to its
northern-most points around
Pine Island Sound and up
the Caloosahatchee River.
Festivities include competi-
tive canoe/kayak races, a
kayak fishing tournament,
paddling clinics and demon-
strations, seminars, family
activities, archaeological
and environmental events,
guided tours and more. For
more information visit
calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.
com.
Wounded Warrior
softball
Fri., Nov. 11, 7 p.m.
The Wounded Warrior
Amputee Softball Team will
take on the Bonita Springs
Fire Control and Rescue Dis-
trict. The WWAST is com-
prised of young, competitive,
athletic veterans and active
duty soldiers who have lost
limbs post-9/11, while serving
our country. Where: Bonita
Springs Community Park,
26740 Pine Ave.
Pelican Landing
Golf Classic
Mon., Nov. 14, 11:30 a.m.
The 2nd Annual Pelican Golf
Classic is a benefit for The
Childrens Hospital of South-
west Florida. Shamble format,
enter individually or as a
team. Price includes green
fees and cart, prize opportu-
nities, cocktail hour and hors
doeuvres, entertainment,
silent auction, dinner and
hole-in-one contest. Where:
Pelicans Nest Golf Club. Cost:
$175 individual player, $50
dinner only, sponsorships
available. For more informa-
tion, call Larry McPherson,
Chairperson, 239-992-8810.
Ride for Hope
Sun., Nov. 20, 7a.m.
The 4th Annual Ride for
Hope is in celebration of
National Hospice Month and
a fundraiser for Hope Hos-
pice. Riders have the option
to ride either the 40K, 80K
or 100K route. Raffle tickets
can be purchased for a Xenith
Comp bicycle. Where:
Joannes House at Hope Hos-
pice, 27200 Imperial Parkway,
Bonita Springs. Cost: $25 reg-
istration fee; $100 minimum
donation per rider. For more
information go to
hopehcs.org/ride.
Arts & Entertainment
The official concert band
Sun., Nov. 6, 2p.m.
The Bonita Springs bandshell
will come alive with music
as the Bonita Springs Concert
Band begins its 4th season.
Under the direction of Dr.
Dennis Hill, more than 60
talented musicians, profes-
sionals and non-professionals,
will perform music favorites
including marches, pop, rag-
time, big band, show tune
medleys and light classics.
Bring your lawn chair or a
blanket and have a picnic in
the park. Where: Riverside
Park on Old 41. Cost: Free.
EVENTS
SS_NOV 2011_Section B 10/27/11 3:49 PM Page B2
Serve as and active member of the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs
and former member of its Board of Directors.
Resident of Bonita Bay and recently completed serving on
the Homeowners Transition Committee where we successfully
converted Community management from the Developer to the
Homeowners.
Since 2001, I have served on the Board of the Cracker Cove
Homeowners Association and as its President since 2003.
Serve on the City of Bonita Springs, Board for Land Use Hearings and
Adjustments and Zoning Board of Appeals. 2009 to present.
Since 2005, Member of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce
Presidents Club and a 2007 graduate of the Chamber Leadership
Bonita program.
Advisory Board member of the Bonita Springs Community Fund
since 2009.
A member of the South Lee County Hospital Committee, looking to
develop a 24/7 Urgent Care facility in South Lee County. Our
long-range plan is to have a hospital established in South Lee County.
2008 to present.
November 2011 Southwest Spotlight Page B3
TOWN TALK
Realtor Softball Tournament
B.E.A.R. C.E.O. Bill Barnes and B.E.A.R. team coach Al
Speech of Select Real Estate. The Fort Myers Board of Realtors
won this years tournament.
Jennifer Barry of Orion Home Inspections, Alexa Flem-
ing and Joe Harris of Premiere Sothebys were having
a good time at the District V Softball Tournament last
month.
Jerry Bodart, Managing Broker at Downing-Frye Realty. Ricky Rivera of Costco is ready at shortstop as
B.E.A.R. President Pam Olsen delivers the pitch.
Contribute to Town Talk
Tell us whats going on in Bonita and well talk about it.
Email your photos to
towntalk@swspotlight.com
David Michael | towntalk@swspotlight.com
David Michael | towntalk@swspotlight.com David Michael | towntalk@swspotlight.com
animal wellness
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By Max Harris and
Dorota Harris
Bonitas Best Friends
Bonita Springs Normally
we are light-hearted in this
column, but this month
we will talk about some
more serious issues the
threats posed to our dogs
when they come into direct
contact with Floridas
wildlife.
This was prompted by
Blues discovery in a
flowerbed of a Cane Toad.
This enormous and ugly
non-native toad was intro-
duced to Floridas sugar-
cane plantations to control
pests. It entered the wild
unfortunately, since its
glands produce a toxin
harmful to many animals,
and fatal to dogs. We dis-
posed of ours, but their
presence presents a local
danger that dog-owners
should be aware of.
So we talked to Dr.
Rhonda Kirwan of the Ani-
mal Hospital of Bonita,
who has practiced here for
26 years. We talked first
about snakebites, although
building development has
greatly reduced their inci-
dence here.
The lethality of a snake-
bite depends on the size of
the snake and the size of
the dog, and interestingly,
on the time since the snake
last ate. If its last meal was
recent, the venom supply
will not be fully replen-
ished, and the dog is more
likely to survive. Rat-
tlesnake bites produce one
or two holes in which ooze
serum, and swelling is pro-
nounced. The bite of the
coral snake is characterized
by much smaller teeth.
Medical attention is needed
urgently the venom of a
timber rattlesnake can kill
even a large dog in 15 min-
utes.
Snake-bites occur most
commonly after heavy rain-
storms, or when snakes are
lying at night on a road
warmed by the daytime sun.
It greatly helps a vet to
know what caused an
injury. Dr. Kirwans advice
repeated many times
was that owners should be
with their dogs, so that
they know what happened.
The most challenging sit-
uation is to treat a dog that
is presented with no known
cause for its distress.
The first problem that
came to mind however was
not as dramatic as snakes
she talked to us first about
fire-ants! When a dog is
licking its paw and maybe
limping a bit, and the pad
looks a little red, the prob-
lem may be a fire-ant bite.
Of course it is a minor
condition unless there is
an allergy to fire-ant toxin,
which can be a serious
complication.
We asked about spiders
the University of Florida
identifies five species of
venomous spider in our
State. Dr. Kirwan homed
in on the Brown Recluse:
it may not produce imme-
diate symptoms, but after
some hours the skin
around the bite will start
to slough off.
Wild animals coyotes,
raccoons, bobcats, opos-
sums do not commonly
attack dogs (unless rabid).
But whereas two dogs in a
skirmish may each end up
with a bite or two, for a
wild animal, any encounter
is a matter of life or death.
So the damage to a dog in
those circumstances will
typically be severe or even
life-threatening.
Of course, any of these
events are rare. But owners
should remember the car-
dinal rule: be with your
dog, so that when you get
it quickly to the vet, you
will be able to explain what
happened.
Wild threats to our dogs
The glands of a Cane Toad produce a toxin that is fatal to dogs.
Bonitas Best Friends
If you have a dog that you think is particularly wonderful, con-
tact us at info@swspotlight.com, and he or she could be the
next dog featured in this column.
Ristorante
Enrico
Three years in the same location
26831 Tamiami Trail S.
off West Terry Street
(239) 949-2204
Hey, Welcome Back
and dont forget Enrico!
Mon-Sat 10-10, Sun 11-10
TOWN TALK
Gerry Teeven returned
to competitive swimming
last year at the St. Croix
5-mile Coral Reef Swim
Race. Teeven won the
race and returned to St.
Croix last month to suc-
cessfully defend his title.
Gerry, left, is pictured
with his son Lt. Casey
Teeven. Congratulations
Gerry!
The defending champion
Contributed | towntalk@swspotlight.com
Historic ornaments
The Bonita Springs Historical
Society is selling the 2011 Christmas
Ornament from the White House Historical
Association. The reverse side captures the
moment in 1903 when young Archie
Roosevelt reveals a Christmas tree he had
hidden in a seamstresss closet in the
White House. The tree defied President
Roosevelts Christmas tree ban, and its dis-
covery became a popular Christmas story.
The ornaments are on sale for $20 at the
Liles Hotel in Riverside Park from 1 p.m. to
4 p.m. Tues. through Fri. and by appoint-
ment, 239-498-0191.
Staff Photo | towntalk@swspotlight.com
AARP is offering free driver safety classes
for veterans and their spouses this month.
The courses are designed to reduce a dri-
vers risk for accidents and tickets. Registra-
tion is required in advance. Classes will be
held at Homewood Residences, 770
Goodlette Rd., Nov. 2, 732-5310; St. John
the Evangelist, 625 111th St., Nov.12, 593
9329; East Naples Community Center,
3500 Thomasson Dr., Nov. 15 & 17, 793-
4414; St. Williams Ministry Center, 750
Seagate Dr.; Nov. 17, 888-227-7669;
Golden Gate Community Center, 4701
Golden Gate Pkwy., Nov. 17, 455-0525.
Free classes for veterans
Bonita Springs Eighteen
years ago about 500 people
gathered at the Ace Hardware
parking lot for the first annu-
al Taste of Bonita.
When we started this we
had no idea what we were
doing, says Tony Valego.
Now, Valego and the
Rotary Club of Bonita
Springs Noon know what
they are doing and on
November 20 thousands of
people will gather at River-
side Park on Old 41 for the
18th Annual Taste of Bonita.
Its a great local event
supporting great charities,
says Valego. Its a fun day.
The first year the club
raised $3,800. Since then,
over $500,000 has been raised
for charity. In its biggest year,
$75,000 was raised. Money
raised goes back to the com-
munity through donations
to local charities and other
initiatives including donating
backpacks of school supplies
and dictionaries to local stu-
dents.
The Taste of Bonita is a
fun-filled day for the whole
family. Food will be served
from over 20 local restau-
rants. The childrens fun area
will keep the kids busy all
afternoon. There will also
be live music by The Manip-
ulators.
Its a great way to check
out all of the restaurants,
says Mary Shallies. Its inex-
pensive entertainment.
New for 2011 is a concert
the day prior to the Taste.
The Caribbean Chillers, a
Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band,
will perform at 5:30 p.m. on
November 19 at Riverside
Park. The Rotary Club will
be selling beer, margaritas,
and cheeseburgers in para-
dise.
The restaurants will bring
the food. The Rotary Club
will bring the beer, live music
and entertainment for the
kids. The only thing the com-
munity needs to bring is the
good weather.
Its usually a beautiful
day, says Valego. Weve only
had one day when it rained
in 18 years
The 18th Annual Taste
of Bonita gets underway at
11 a.m. November 20 at
Riverside Park with a kick-
off concert on the 19th at
5:30 p.m.
9070 8onlta 8each Poad - 8onlta Sprlngs, PL 34l35 - www.fitzgeraldspub.com -
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AFT TURED DR
Taste of Bonita
Over $500,000
has been raised
for charity
Chris Griffith | Special to the Spotlight
Thousands will gather at Riverside Park this month
for the 18th Annual Taste of Bonita.
If you go
Taste of Bonita
When: November 20, 11 a.m.
Where: Riverside Park, Old 41
For more information:
www.tasteofbonita.com
rented a park model in a
neighborhood, which includ-
ed a pool. I soon discovered
idyllic days in the nurturing
sun with good friends, green
tea and an engrossing book.
The clear water in the pool
reflected the cerulean hues
of a sky filled with birds
soaring on the air currents.
Snowy white egrets, ibis, and
great blue heron meandered
along our grassy lawns and
abundant ponds in search
of their morning meal or an
afternoon snack.
In Bonita Springs, abun-
dant history intermingles
with modern amenities,
because the area still retains
many of its Old Florida
homes and buildings. Verdant
greenery, swaying Spanish
moss and vivid flowers
bloom all year long and blend
with cool Gulf breezes and
afternoon rains to create a
quaint, hometown atmos-
phere. During sunset walks
on the beach we enjoy the
islands and their waters,
which are home to West Indi-
an manatees, bottlenose dol-
phins, roseate spoonbills,
marsh rabbits, and bald
eagles.
The Lions Club, Rotary
Club, Bonita Assistance
Board, Chamber of Com-
merce, Love INC, a devoted
City Government and the
Veterans Advisory Commit-
tee utilized our service ori-
entation by including us in
the myriad of ways in which
they value and celebrate life
by working together to pro-
vide for the needs of the cit-
izens of Bonita Springs. Using
a variety of programs to pro-
mote awareness, understand-
ing and acceptance, these
organizations supply college
scholarships, wheelchairs,
complimentary food, utility
bill payments, discounted
eye surgeries and free eye
glasses, as well as supporting
various charities, which meet
the needs of the mentally
and medically impaired in
Bonita Springs and sur-
rounding areas.
The numerous occasions
for professional, recreational
and personal interaction in
Bonita Springs keep my days
full and my nights bursting
with opportunities. I thor-
oughly enjoy this area, which
is committed to fostering
comprehensive and varied
multicultural activities. Intel-
lectually, lectures and con-
tinuing education from any
of our three colleges fill my
mind with new thoughts and
ideas. To relax, I pick from a
choice of movies and music
in Riverside Park, a trip to
Everglades Wonder Gardens
or a romp with my furry
friends at the dog parks. For
community involvement, I
frequent parades and festiv-
ities, veteran memorials and
community yard sales and
family activity days. During
outdoor adventures, boating,
swimming and scuba diving
fill the bill. When my muscles
needed toning, I joined one
of many athletic clubs in
order to benefit from indoor
cycling and exercise classes.
For my artistic disposition,
I sit in on art shows and
classes at the art league, plays
at the dinner theatre, and
musicals and Broadway pro-
ductions, as well as a mean-
dering trip through the
artists shops at Riverside
Park. For my culinary pleas-
ure, I imbibe in the annual
Riverfest and Fish Fry, peruse
outdoor fresh vegetable mar-
kets, and my personal
favorite, attend The Taste of
Bonita Springs.
With this variety of
opportunities and experi-
ences within our district, I
only have one question.
Whats not to love?
series.
Bradley from page B1
By Heather Thomson
Bonita Springs Trish
Leonard is a busy woman.
As Director of Marketing
for the Small Business Devel-
opment Center and President
of TLC Marketing and Cre-
ative Services, Leonards days
are about as full as they can
get. Leonard is the Zonta
Club of Bonita Springs 2011
Woman of the Year and will
be presented the award
November 18 at the clubs
Third Annual Glass Slipper
Ball.
On top of her everyday
jobs, Leonard is also involved
with many nonprofit endeav-
ors, including President of
the European American Net-
work, Vice Chair of City of
Bonita Springs Art in Public
Places Board, Board Member
of the Speakers Assembly of
Southwest Florida, Commit-
tee Member of the Boys &
Girls Club of Naples 2011
Golf Tournament and a
member of the Art League
of Bonita Springs.
For Leonard, her choice
to help others did not so
much fall upon her by
chance as it was fated. Even
as a young girl, she knew
she wanted to help others.
It all started, for me,
when I was eight years old.
I always knew growing up
that people should never be
treated badly, never be treated
in a way that you would not
want to be treated yourself.
So, I decided that when I
grew up I was going to make
a difference, says Leonard.
And she has done just that.
At 16, she was working
at McDonalds and the
Ronald McDonald House
Telethon was gearing into
motion. She and another
girl ran a fundraiser, and
throughout the girls were
neck and neck with funds.
The person with the most
funds in the end earned a
spot on the National
Telethon. She ended up win-
ning the spot, Leonard says.
I remember being so upset.
But that challenged me to
do better every year from
then on. But even with that
kind of competitive experi-
ence behind her, passion
became the most important
aspect of a charity or event
for Leonard.
Leonard has been asked
to serve on many boards for
fundraisers and charities,
and her biggest piece of
advice is to research them
first. I want to believe in
them and be as passionate
as they are about their cause,
and vice versa. Leonard also
says that it is okay to say
no to a charity or to some-
one asking for your help. It
doesnt necessarily mean that
you wont help on the out-
skirts of the charity, or that
you wont donate. Sometimes
your time is spread so thin
and between so many organ-
izations that you cannot ded-
icate yourself properly or
fairly to the people who need
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Woman of the Year
Trish Leonard is the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs 2011 Woman of the Year.
I believe God put
me on this planet for
a reason. I am here
to help others.
When I start my
day, I promise to do
one kind thing to at
least one person
before I go to bed.
Trish Leonard
Guys Night Out
for Charity
Tues., Nov. 8, 6 to 9 p.m.
Proceeds to benefit AFCAAM
(African Caribbean American
Catholic Center) which serves
the disadvantaged children
of the Dunbar and Harlem
Heights areas of Fort Myers.
Sorry Ladies. This is the Guys
Night Out. Tickets include 2
drinks, a cigar, music and
hors doeuvres by Carrabbas
Italian Grill. There will be
scotch tasting for purchase
as well as great raffle prizes.
This event is limited to the
first 130 guests. Where: The
World Famous Cigar Bar,
Gulf Coast Town Center.
Cost: $40. Resister at
eventbrite.com/event/226380
5102.
50s Sock Hop with
Night Train
Thur., Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
It will be a trip back in time.
The Center for the Arts will
deck out the Promenade like
your High School gymnasi-
um for the swinginest party
of the year with music by
Night Train. Prizes for dance
contests and the best 50s
dressed men and women.
Soda and wine fountain will
be open. Where: Live at the
Promenade Theater. Cost:
$15 members; $20 non-
members. For more infor-
mation, call 239 495-8989.
Season Kick-Off
Sun., Nov. 13, 2 to 6 p.m.
The Kathleen Bradford Stu-
dio/Gallery is celebrating the
beginning of another season
with a reception introducing
the most recent collections
of several local artists. Refresh-
ments will be served. Where:
4259 Bonita Beach Rd. Cost:
Free. For more information
call 239-776-6844.
Films for Film Lovers
Mon., Nov. 14 & 28, 6:30 p.m.
This film series offers foreign
and independent films meant
to offer insight into the lives
and cultures that exist around
the world. Chocolat, showing
Nov. 14, and starring Juliette
Binoche and Johnny Depp,
is a light hearted fable set in
a small French village. The
Girl in the Caf, showing
Nov. 28, is a British made
for television romantic com-
edy with a message. Where:
Promenade at Bonita Bay.
Cost: $8. For more informa-
tion, call 239-495-8989.
Bling It On!
Wed., Nov.16, 5:30 p.m.
to 8:30 p.m.
Gather your friends for an
evening of wine, something
to eat, and beaded jewelry.
Following a demonstration,
each participant will be guid-
ed in making her own bracelet
and earrings to take home.
Where: The Center for the
Arts. Cost: $50 per person.
Call the Center for the Arts
at 239 495-8989 to register.
Art Walk
Thur., Nov. 24, 5 to 8 p.m.
The last Thursday of each
month you can visit Artists
Studios, view their art,
demonstrations and enjoy a
live concert, light refreshments
and visit other merchants.
Where: Promenade at Bonita
Bay. Cost: Free. For more
information, call The Center
for the Arts 239 495-8989.
Meetings
Come watch the action
live and in person
Wed., Nov. 2, 5:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 16, 9 a.m.
Bonita Springs City Council.
Where: City Council Cham-
bers, 9101 Bonita Beach Road.
Republican Club of Bonita
& Estero
Thur., Nov. 3, 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Barefoot Boathouse
Club House, Bonita Beach
Road. For more information
contact Kathy McMichael,
239-248-3934.
Democratic Club of
Bonita Springs & South
Lee County
Tues., Nov. 15, 7 p.m.
Where: Bonita Springs Lodge
& Suites 28600 Trails Edge
Blvd. For more information
contact Larry Byrnes at 239-
634-6469.
All dates, times and prices
are subject to change.

Las Vegas Tribute Bands are Performing at the Stage
Call for upcoming schedule or check www.thestagebonita.com

Insert your email address
and get specials & updated
news every week!
OPEN 4PM WEDNESDAY,
THURSDAY, FRIDAY
& SATURDAY
BIG CAR SHOW &
JOE MARINO
and DEVILLES
Satuday,
November 5th
ELTON JOHN
Wednesday, November 9th
THE BEATLES
Thursday,
November 10th
SANTANA
A Latin Evening
Friday,
November 11th
NEIL DIAMOND
Wednesday,
November 16th
THE EAGLES
Thursday, November 17th
JIMMY BUFFETT
Friday, November 18th
THE ROLLING
STONES
Wednesday, November 23rd
THE DOOBIE
BROTHERS
Friday, November 25th
JIMMY HENDRIX
Wednesday, November 2nd
CLAIRE LYNCH BAND
Nominated for two Grammys
& Singer Album of the Year
for Blue Grass
Thursday,
November 3rd
DIVAS BY DAWN
Tribute to Diana Ross,
Whitney Houston
& Aretha Franklin
Friday,
November 4th

Events
from page B2
Small Town Charm.
Big Bright Future.
5th Annual RiverFest
Imperial River
Challenge Results
Single Kayak Women
1 - 33m 20s - Jan Taylor
2 - 35m 48s - Cristin Madden
3 - 37m 38s - Christi Vadnais
Single Kayak Men
1 - 24m 58s - Brint Adams
2 - 27m 01s - Doug Lindsay
3 - 28m 23s - Bill Nilsen
Tandem Kayak
1 - 41m 17s - Erin Marshall &
Gina Hein
2 - 44m 29s - Jennifer Palma
& John Kubicek
3 - 44m 52s - Michelle Palma
& Connor Chetwin
Canoe
1 - 35m 1s - Justin
Frederiksen & Jeff
Spencer
2 - 1hr 55m -Mary Adams &
Nigel Fullick*
*with motivational support from Rosie Ruiz
K-1- Surf Ski Men
1 - 26m 21s - Kim Kelsey
2 - 36m 34s - Jeff Moore
Mary Adams and Nigel Fullick make their way to the finish line aboard the H.M.S.
Rosie Ruiz at last months Imperial River Challenge.
TOWN TALK
LinC links Collier and Lee
Last month Lee and Collier counties celebrated the inauguration
of LinC, the new cross-county bus route connecting Lee and
Collier counties at Creekside Transportation Center.
Christine Ross, C.E.O. of the Bonita Springs
Area Chamber of Commerce and Maribel
Slabaugh, Executive Director of the Bonita
Springs Assistance Office, rode the bus to
the inauguration ceremony.
Many city and community leaders came from Bonita Springs to celebrate the new route.
Councilmembers John Spear, Steve McIntosh and Steve Slachta at the LinC
inauguration ceremony.
to fasten the
piece. Often
the clasp is
created out of
c r o c h e t e d
beads and may
resemble a flower and
loop or something similar.
In that way the clasp is
almost the focal point of
the piece.
You get a rhythm going
and you flow, Piscitelli said.
Its not exhausting, you are
just allowing yourself to go
with it.
The artist says because
she works with young chil-
dren all day, she finds she
does her best artistic work
at night. She also works in
her studio at The Center
for the Arts Artist Studios
at the Promenade on Sat-
urdays from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. There she says she does
wonderful work because she
doesnt feel pressured to
stop and clean the house or
do chores.
Currently, besides jewelry,
she is also doing a lot of
work with glass. Her history
with quilting and weaving
often shows in her work,
creeping up through pattern
and design.
I have a base knowledge
and in life you build on
that, Piscitelli said. You
just need that root and you
continue to support it so
that it continues to grow in
different directions.
She has created a tech-
nique of knitting with wire
that creates soft and pliable
pieces. One piece is a vibrant
copper scarf made out of
wire that she describes as
soft and drippy.
The artist isnt sure where
art will take her next, but
says she is enjoying the jour-
ney and it has become an
essential part of who she is.
I think that what hap-
pened was I met everyones
expectations for what I was
supposed to do; I think there
is a lot of pressure on people
to meet others expectations,
Piscitelli said. I think with
freedom or independence
you find you can branch
out more and you are more
relaxed, more in charge of
what you are doing, how
you are spending your time
and what you want to
explore.
Piscitellis work can be
found on her website at
www.JanPiscitelli.com and
at studio 118 at the Center
for the Arts Artist Studios
at the Promenade in Bonita
Springs.
Photos: Jason Easterly | Special to the Spotlight
Jan Piscitelli has never stuck with one medium. She
is currently working with jewelry and glass.
By Meghan Easterly
Bonita Springs For Jan
Piscitelli art gives her free-
dom from expectations. Her
art is a place where she can
let go and be free to make
happy accidents and learn
different processes.
Growing up in Con-
necticut, Piscitellis family
put a strong emphasis on
education. Art was a luxury,
something to be done after
educational requirements
were met. At university she
studied education for both
her undergraduate and
graduate degrees and has
spent the past 35 years
working in early education.
Im totally dedicated to
it; the thing I love most is
working with young chil-
dren and families and
watching the growth and
progress, Piscitelli said.
That is the essence of art,
exploring the medium, the
materials and finding what
you can do with it.
Always a lover of art,
Piscitelli began creating
when she was very young.
She never took a formal art
I never stuck with
just one medium...
As life goes along,
one medium flows
into another.
class, but taught
herself to work first in
the fiber arts and then pro-
gressed into other mediums.
She made a natural pro-
gression from knitting into
weaving and then into quilt-
ing. Currently her focus is
mostly in jewelry and glass.
I love the process of
putting pieces together, the
unlimited color combina-
tions and watching them all
take form, Piscitelli said. I
never stuck with just one
medium, one overlapped
the next. As life goes along,
one medium flows into
another.
She calls art life-long
learning. When looking at
her jewelry pieces, viewers
will notice the influence that
fiber arts have had on her
work. She crochets bits of
wire and beads into intrinsic
creations bursting with life
and color.
Its very relaxing for me
to figure out the complexi-
ties and find myself in a
certain zone where I am
totally focused and dedicat-
ed on what I am doing in
the moment, Piscitelli said.
For me that is the essence
of relaxation. I find that I
do my best problem solving
when I am in that emotional
environment.
Piscitelli is a puzzle-
solver. She likes to think
critically and uses this in
her art. She chooses mate-
rials based on color, texture
and feel and creates pieces
that are pleasing to her, not
worrying about what might
be commercial.
I have the ability and
the patience to focus on all
of those little finishing
details, Piscitelli said. If it
is going to be a final product,
I need to finish it. There is
a lot of trial and error for
me when I am figuring out
how to turn theory and
thought into reality and
have a concrete piece.
She says that it can take
just as long to finish the
details of a piece as it took
to create the major part of
the piece. This attention to
detail shows in her work
where beads perfectly flow
into one another, and the
clasp becomes a part of the
design instead of just a way
Freedom through art
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239-997-3784
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TOWN TALK
Dictionary
Day
Last month our local
Rotary clubs distributed
dictionaries to third grade
students in Lee County.
Lee County Superintend-
ent of Schools Joseph
Burke with the Bonita
Springs morning Rotary
Club Dictionary Day
chairperson Roger
Brunswick.
The Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the Ribbon Cutting
of Edible Arrangements last month in Bonita Springs. Pictured in the center holding
the scissors is John Kubicek accompanied by Jennifer Palma.
Now open
TOWN TALK
Business After Hours
Susan Mayer and Lewis the Duck welcomed
guests to the Homewood Suites by Hilton in
Bonita Springs at Business After Hours last
month.
Pat Goheen, of The Terraces of Bonita Springs, Rob Icard
and Christy Icard, of Comfort Keepers.
Shawn Kennedy, of Batteries Plus, and
Phil Soucy, of Northwestern Mutual.
Mark McCaw, of UBS, Karen McCaw, and Al Greenwood,
of Buffalo Chips.

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By Heather Thomson
Teacher Spotlight
Bonita Springs Joy Coop-
ers class is an eclectic col-
lection of mismatched
student art, drying projects,
and some of her professional
favorites. The long, black
tables in her room each seat
multiple students, with plen-
ty of space to spread out
and create. When students
enter her room, they are
met with 5 rules: come in
quickly and quietly and place
your belongings on the shelf;
sit by someone you can
behave by; respect each
other; respect supplies; and
create.
The space is welcome and
comforting for students,
open to creativity and new
ideas. And Joy would have
it no other way.
How long have you been
teaching at Bonita Middle?
This is my sixth year at Boni-
ta Middle.
Is Art a subject that you
have always been interested
in teaching?
My middle school art teacher
really discouraged me as an
artist. I thought that I was
not good and that art just
wasnt my thing. It wasnt
until I was in college that I
realized that I kept being
chosen to do the artsy stuff
by my groups. I knew I was
crafty but I never under-
stood how that translated
into art. I received my degree
in advertising, but then felt
the pull to move to the visual
side of advertising and got
a separate degree in graphic
design. Upon finishing my
degree the workforce was
very bleak. I ended up taking
an art teaching position at
an elementary school. I
thought I would do it for a
while and then go back into
advertising. It was through
the kids that I gained the
appreciation for art that I
currently have. They are the
true reason that I love what
I do and that I am still a
teacher 11 years later.
Is this a class that you find
students are willing to
invest their energy? Is there
a lot of interest?
I get a diverse group of chil-
dren in my classes. I
wouldnt have it any other
way. I have students that
have been sketching and
making art their whole life
and I get students that are
too scared to even try to
put pencil to paper. I work
hard to make them feel
comfortable with whatever
type of artist they are.
Does Art provide a good
outlet for your students?
I truly believe that all of the
elective courses at BSMCA
are imperative for students.
It is not only an outlet as it
is a chance for them explore
and enhance the core cur-
ricula education. It creates
an interactive learning envi-
ronment that is necessary
for the students to grasp
the given topic. It allows
them to explore themselves
and their thoughts in a way
that is free with no right
and no wrong answer. It
brings culture into their
lives that they may not see
within the city limits. It is
not just an outlet. It is the
seed that creates well round-
ed adults of the future.
Do the students get to put
their projects on display
for the community/do they
find that type of opportu-
nity exciting?
I made it my goal a few
years ago to get their artwork
out into the public as much
as possible. BSMCA has won
the county fair booth two
years in a row. We recently
painted a mural on the horse
stable at the Nature Place
in Bonita. We have painted
store windows and made
award winning rain barrels
as well. One year we made
ornaments for a local
womens auction. Each and
every year I get an amazing
group of children that really
put their hearts into what
they do. When the commu-
nity embraces their artwork
it is just that much more
affirming. They love it.
Are you and your students
working on any special
projects right now?
We recently finished working
on some poster contest for
Radon Awareness and the
Peace Poster Contest for the
local Lions Club. What lies
next is really in the hands
of the community. We will
work for ourselves but we
love working for others. I
always tell them that their
art has merit. Even if you
just hang it in your closet,
you need to take ownership
of it, you created it and it is
a piece of you. I encourage
them to keep all their work,
even the pieces they are frus-
trated with. Even our frustra -
tions can help us grow. Even
if all they teach us is what
not to do in the future.
What is your favorite medi-
um to work with, or project
to work on with the stu-
dents?
They always say they love
clay, but then after a few
days of clay they are ready
to move on. They really keep
me on my toes. Each and
every student is different
and each and every day is
different. I learn more from
them than I will ever be able
to teach them!
Teacher Spotlight: Joy Cooper
Heather Thomson
Contributed | catch@swspotlight.com
Bonita Springs resident Alexander Uzaga caught this 41 pound gag grouper
cath diving spear fishing 40 miles south of Marco Island. Send your photos to
catch@swspotlight.com and your fish could be the next catch of the month.
you. Sometimes people need
to take time and rejuvenate
their minds, ideas, and cre-
ative muscles.
Over the years Leonard
has dedicated her time and
energy to many other char-
itable endeavors, including
many Zonta programs for
women, Operation Cover
Up, and House Showers for
Habitat for Humanity, many
of which have been her own
ideas. She is a conceptual
person. She sees what is in
front of her, visualizes a way
to make it better, and makes
it happen.
Thats how it was done,
back in the day, she laughs.
People saw a need for some-
thing, and they just did it.
There was no right way.
There were no politics
behind it or anything like
that. And thats where I like
to think Im at now. I see
something that I think could
be a great event or a great
way to help someone, and I
set it in motion. Its like a
lightbulb. The end result is
always the ultimate goal,
with selflessness coming nat-
urally. She needs to know
that she has done the best
she can, to the best of her
ability, with everything avail-
able to her.
2011s Woman of the Year
has shown us that passion
and love for others can be
the driving force behind any
volunteers goal, however
great or small. For all the
great things she has been
behind and that she has led,
Trish Leonard has a simple
idea behind it all, I believe
God put me on this planet
for a reason. I am here to
help others. When I start
my day, I promise to do one
kind thing to at least one
person before I go to bed.
Leonard, deeply humbled
by her nomination and sub-
sequent gaining of the
Woman of the Year honor,
says she loves speaking for
and helping others. Its her
passion, after all.
Woman of the Year
from page B11
Catch of the month
A Table Apart
Angelinas Ristorante
24041 South Tamiami Tr.
Bella Colombia
Bernwood Grille
25221 Bernwood Dr.
Bice Grand Cafe
23161 Village Shops Way
Big Als Sports Grill
25101 S. Tamiami Tr.
Big Hickory Grille
26107 Hickory Blvd.
Blue Water Bistro
Bonefish Grill
British Open Pub
Brooklyn Oven
Buffalo Chips
Restaurant
26620 Old 41 Rd., . Where lo-
cals go! Home of the Wing King.
Daily specials everyday. Lunch
and dinner daily. 947-1000.
California
Pizza Kitchen
Carrabbas
Italian Grill
27220 Bay Landing Dr.
Chens
Chinese Buffett
Chops City Grill
8200 Health Center Blvd.
Cirellas Restaurant
25265 Chamber of Commerce Dr.
Coconut Jacks
Waterfront Grille
Featuring fresh seafood, steaks,
salads, sandwiches, kids menu.
Lunch and dinner daily.
676-7777.
Cruzin Caf
Docs Beach House
27908 Hickory Blvd.
Dollys Produce
Patch & Eatery
9930 Bonita Beach Rd. S.E.
Enzos Ristorante
Italiano
Figs Grille
The Fish House
4685 Bonita Beach Rd. Fish
and other specialties. Happy
Hour all day Saturday and Sun-
day. Lunch and dinner daily.
495-5770.
First Watch
Fitzgeralds Irish Pub
Home of the Famous Belly
Buster Burger. 12 and under eat
free from kids menu 3 to 5:30
every day. Lunch and dinner
daily. 949-2111.
The Grape
Hemingways
Island Grill
8001 Plaza del Lago Dr.
Home Thai Sushi Bar
Hurricane Grill
& Wings
Iguana Mia
IHOP
Johnny Malloys
Sports Pub
Johnny Rockets
23111 Fashion Dr.
La Fontanella
Ristorante
24600 S. Tamiami Tr., Pelican
Landing Publix Plaza.
Gourmet Italian Cuisine. Spe-
cializing in pasta, veal, chicken,
seafood and steak. Dinner daily.
498-6808.
Lansdowne Street
Lake House Bar & Grill
3401 Bay Commons Dr. at the
Trianon Hotel Bonita Bay. A
unique experience open-air
caf. Lunch and dinner daily.
948-4400.
Marsala Pizza
12870 Trade Way Four
Marias
Restaurant
27080 Old 41 Rd.
Mels Diner
28601 Trails Edge Blvd.
Mister Chile
26455 Old 41 Rd.
Molinos
Ristorante
26841 South Bay Dr. at the
Bonita Bay Promenade. Fine
Italian Ristorante. Delicious full
menu. Lunch and dinner daily.
992-7025.
Old 41 Restaurant
8091 Plaza Del Lago dr.
Olive Garden
Outback Steakhouse
Pagellis Italiano
8017 Plaza Del Lago Dr.
Paradise Buffett
25201 Chamber of Commerce Dr.
Perkins Restaurant &
Bakery
27941 Crown Lake Blvd.
The Pewter Mug
12300 Tamiami Tr. N.
One of SW Floridas legendary
restaurants. Prime Rib, seafood,
salad Bar. Dinner daily.
596-6844.
Pinchers Crab Shack
28580 Bonita Crossings Blvd.
Pinos Pizzeria and
Italian Kitchen
24600 S. Tamiami Tr., Pelican
Landing Publix Plaza. Hand-
tossed New York style pizza.
Serving moderately priced meals
in a casual setting. Lunch served
Mon. to Fri., dinner served Mon.
to Sun. 676-5332.
Randys Paradise Shrimp
25010 Bernwood Dr.
Ristorante Enrico
26831 Tamiami Tr. S. off West
Terry St. across from Bonita
Bay. Lunch and dinner daily.
949-2204.
Rodes Fresh & Fancy
Roys
26831 South Bay Dr.
Ruths Chris
Steak House
Sam-Bucco Bistro
14700 Tamiami Tr. N.
Sami Lees Deli
3501 Health Ctr. Blvd.
Senior Tequilas
26801 S Tamiami Tr.
Silver Spoon Caf
26851 South Bay Dr.
Skillets
Sneaky Petes
The Stage
9144 Bonita Beach Rd.Serving
dinner, live music and Las Vegas
Tribute Bands Wed. to Sat.
405-8566.
Stir Crazy
23106 Fashion Dr.
Survey Caf
10530 Wilson Ave. off Old 41.
A nostalgic Florida experience in
old Bonita! Breakfast and lunch
specials every day. Sunday
brunch. Dinner served Fri. &
Sat. 992-2233.
Teds Montana Grill
8017 Plaza Del Lago Dr.
Terris
Summer Breeze Caf
T.G.I. Fridays
Tijuana Flats
8350 Hospital Dr.
Tony Saccos
Coal Oven Pizza
Tuscan Bistro
4480 Bonita Beach Rd., Offer-
ing the best dishes and wines
from Tuscany, Italy. Dinner
served daily. 676-5555.
Waffle House
28100 Quails Nest Ln.
Zorbas
Greek Restaurant
9106 Bonita Beach Rd. S.E.
*CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS OR DISCOUNTS. CANNOT BE USED FOR DINNERS. NO CASH VALUE. EXP. 11/30/11
Dinners Start Nov. 4
th
! Friday and Saturday 5-9:00 pm
Breakfast & Lunch Monday - Saturday 8:00 am - 2:30
Breakfast now available all day!
Sunday Brunch served 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
10530 Wilson St Downtown Bonita Springs
thesurveycafe.com 992-CAF (2233)
Across from Riverside Park, one block east of Old 41
SIMPLE FLORIDA CHARM... CASUAL... LAID BACK... DELICIOUS!
Voted Best Key Lime Pie in Bonita!
Step back in time to when Bonita Springs was
known as Survey and enjoy old-fashion southern
hospitality in this historic home turned Caf
where local art and antique tools adorn the walls. A
nostalgic Florida experience
your new favorite place!
20% Off
Breakfast
or lunch
RESTAURANT GUIDE
B O N I T A S P R I N G S
Meet the Candidates for Dist. 4
Bonita Springs City Council

Sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Lee County, FL
(Making Democracy Work For Over 60 Years) & District 4 Informed Voters
Please RSVP
(239) 495-2944 or rgarner5@comcast.net
BONITA BAY CLUB
Tuesday
November 15, 2011
5-7 PM
Cash Bar - Soft Drinks Provided
Shoppes at Pelican Landing
24600 Tamiami Trail S#204
(239) 498-6808
Open Daily 5 - 10 pm
For menu & wine list visit us at lafontanellarestaurant.net
We specialize in Pasta, Veal, Chicken, Seafood & Steak
(Up to $18 value per couple)
18% gratuity added before
discount. Dine in Only
Exp. 11/30/11
Buy One
Entre and
2 beverages
Get second
Entre
FREE!
Molinos Molinos
# 1 I T A L I A N R I S T O R A N T E
OPEN DAILY FOR LUNCH & DINNER 11:30AM-9:00PM
RESERVE A PRIVATE WINE CELLAR DINING ROOM
Reservations Required - 992-7025
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26841 South Bay Drive - Bonita Springs
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Must Present Coupon ~ Everyday 4pm-7pm
DINNERS
2 FOR 1
Page B24 Southwest Spotlight NOVEMBER 2011
S O U T H W E S T S P O T L I G H T
NOVEMBER 2011 Vol.2, No.11 SECTION B
Whats missing in Bonita Springs
Why I love living
in Bonita
B
By Nigel P. Fullick
Bonita Springs Chamber
of Commerce and city leaders
would prefer that we con-
tinuously extol the virtues
of our town but, lets be hon-
est, Bonita Springs is missing
a lot. Over the past year,
much of this has become
more and more obvious. I
have to travel to the East
Coast every month and, be-
cause my family moved to
South Florida in 1970, I can
appreciate all those towns
have that Bonita does not.
Last month, as I drove
North on I-95 from Ft. Laud-
erdale to Florida Atlantic
Universitys opening game
in the brand new stadium, I
noticed the East Coast has
really simplified driving by
simply making instant lane
changes acceptable as long
as there are at least 3 inches
between your front bumper
and the merging vehicle. The
success of that maneuver of-
ten signaled by raising the
middle finger, Im sure sig-
nifying they are extending
the life of one turn signal
bulb. Unlike Bonita Springs,
they have made trash re-
moval from your vehicle
much easier. We are expected
to take our trash home, or
deposit it in a trash bin, while
on the East Coast you ap-
parently discard it on the
roadway. Many of their res-
idents appear to utilize this
service.
Bonita Springs is also way
behind the East Coast in tak-
ing advantage of our water-
ways. They are way ahead of
us on placing concrete sea-
walls along just about every
inch of navigable water. This
makes it easier for huge speed
boats to take advantage of
the wakes and launch them-
selves completely out of the
water just prior to entering
posted manatee zones. They
no longer have any problem
with eagles, osprey, cranes,
otters and other creatures
abundant here in Bonita and
you dont see any of those
pesky kayakers or paddle-
boards. They have plenty of
shade to avoid sunrise and
sunset, courtesy of the hun-
dreds of high rise buildings
unencumbered by pesky city
planners.
And what can you say
about our politicians? A may-
or who actually grew up here,
knows everyone in county
government and how busi-
ness works yet was dumb
enough to invest in a second
business in the Old 41 revi-
talization area. A city coun-
cilman who could make
more money in his consult-
ing business if he didnt com-
mit so much time to Rotary,
education programs, the
FGCU Board or to under-
standing how local govern-
ment actually works. A coun-
cilwoman who would rather
look for ways to beautify the
City and preserve the envi-
ronment than campaign.
And where is the fun in our
Council meetings? We never
get to see Council screaming
personal insults at each other,
sabotaging campaign signs
or amusing us with illegal
or inappropriate conduct.
They balance our budget,
hire hard-working, compe-
tent staff and cant seem to
raise taxes. They treat each
other civilly so, no cops need-
ed at Council meetings.
Wheres the fun in that? Cape
Corals meetings are far more
entertaining. Speaking of
cops, we have a Sheriff that
actually looks and acts like
one, deputies who are cour-
teous, professional and live
in our community. Why cant
they be edgy like TV cops?
Oh, yeah, about that new
stadium. We have a university
president who is an FAU
alumnus and loves football.
He buys season tickets,
months ahead, for the once
in a lifetime experience of
the inaugural game but, an
on-campus function asked
for his support, so he gave
his seats to an alumnus who
couldnt afford to attend.
Hed probably choose to
spend money on improv-
ing the quality of FGCU
academic programs over
starting football. Where are
his priorities?
Ive only begun to discover
all the things missing from
Bonita Springs, but hope to
spend the rest of this life dis-
covering everything else we
dont have
series.
By Kathleen Bradley
Bontia Springs Moving to
south Florida, we started out
in Ft. Myers as house parents
for a childrens home. My
concept of the area was lim-
ited to mountains of laundry,
dishes stacked to the ceiling
and an occasional visit to the
beach with ten children rang-
ing in ages from 5 to 17. Two
years later, we moved to Boni-
ta Springs at the request of
First Baptist Church, who
called my husband to pastor
their congregation.
Nestled into our pleasant
new community, we associ-
ated with friendly neighbors,
congregated with a loving
group of worshippers, and
chose our favorite grocer and
medical practitioner. We
Bonita Beach is a great place to view wildlife.
SS_NOV_B Cover and B24 10/27/11 3:55 PM Page 1

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