southwest spotlight january 1 2013

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January 1-15, 2013

15 Town TalkB.E.A.R. installs new officers and honors one of their own

16 When a Smile Can Change a Life

Norrie Oelkers helps to transform children’s lives

18 Georgia Bulldogs Pounce on Parks

University students spend winter break cleaning up parks

8 Bow WOW! Park Planned Community gardens and dog park planned for Mayhood property

11 Gitmo, the Bird of Bonita Beach

Bonitian has bird eating out of his hand

11 A Kid Helps Other Kids Mayor recalls early childhood fun under a new bridge

12 Bonita’s Selfless Neighbor

Ray Faubion gives quietly to local organizations

News & Features

S O U T H W E S T™

Locally owned and operated since 2010

(239) [email protected]

PO Box 1946Bonita Springs, FL 34133

Southwest Spotlight, LLC

swspotlight.comPublisher & Editor

Peter A. O’[email protected]

Advertising SalesTeri LamaineKathy O’Flinn

Office ManagerKatie O’Flinn

Contributing WritersCharles J. CavaliereD.K. ChristiMartha CriderMeghan EasterlyMark GeneralesMax HarrisJoyce McDonaldJosh MusselmanBen Nelson, Jr.Peter R. O’FlinnStan J. Strycharz, Psy.D.

Contributing PhotographersDavid Michael

Business14 Pure Elements Salon Offers Fresh Air

Local business committed to of-fering organic products

Commentary20 Don’t Lose Sight of What We Have

Civility and common bond shared among City Council members

Arts & Entertainment22 Calendar

What’s happening this month?

24 Students Experience Cottage Industry

FGCU art students have a new venue to display and sell their work

Columns26 The Other Ben

A Florida boy challenged by the snow

28 Bonita’s Best Friends Gentle giants share home with cats and parrot

31 Then & NowWoodwork fit for a President in this historical home

32 Tee Box Tips Drawing the ball is a golfer’s dream

32 Spanish Wells SnippetsWhat’s happening in Spanish Wells

Restaurants34 Restaurant Guide

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TOWN TALK

Spotlight in CubaBonita Springs attorney Scott Duval brought the Spotlight with him on a recent trip to Cuba. Send us your photo with your favorite news magazine in Cuba, Bonita, or wherever you are and you’ll be in the next issue!

Contributed | [email protected]

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January 1-15, 2013

Bow WOW! Park Planned By Peter R. O’[email protected]

Bonita Springs – For green thumbed Bonitians, there is good news. Bonita Springs will soon have public commu-nity gardens.

There’s good news for dog owners too. The days of sneak-ing Fido onto a golf course or driving him to Estero so he can run free are coming to an end.

Community gardens and a dog park are part of the City’s plan for its Mayhood proper-ty, a 17-acre parcel located on the north side of Terry Street between Old 41 and Imperial Parkway.

“I am extremely excited by these projects,” said Nicole Perino, City Parks and Recre-ation Director. “We are trying our best to give the citizens of Bonita what they want in their parks.” A community garden and dog park were top ranked at a public workshop in 2011.

Community Gardens“At the community gar-

dens, people will be able to grow vegetables, plants and flowers, anything within rea-son that is compatible,” said Perino.

Current plans call for 96 planting spaces, each mea-suring three feet by six feet. Shell pathways will separate them. A potting shed will be constructed, and soil trucked in. The area will be fenced to keep animals away. Monthly or yearly leases will be at af-fordable rates.Help from Friends

To build the community gardens, the City is getting more than a little help from its friends.

Bonita’s two Rotary Clubs will pay the set-up cost, esti-mated at $30,000 to $40,000.

Stephanie Kissinger and Mary Shallies, Presidents of our local Rotary Clubs, are highly supportive of the proj-

ect. Shallies has extensively researched community gar-dens, and Kissinger has hands on experience with a thriving project in Charlotte County.

They see a benefit to Bo-nita beyond the ability to grow needed vegetables.

Throughout the country, community gardens serve to strengthen community bonds. “In community gardens, resi-dents can socialize and share their interests,” said Kissinger. “ It can bring people together, from various socio-economic backgrounds,” said Shallies.

“We have been blessed by the participation of not for profits in this town,” said City Manager Carl Schwing when asked to reflect on the Rotaries’ contribution. “Their investment in the community is a great legacy. That is very, very cool.”The Dog Park

The fenced dog park will have two areas where large and small dogs can run free. Other features include dog drinking fountains and a dog wash station.

The area will be sodded. “You have to do that,” said Perino. ”You don’t want it to be a giant mud pit.”

When completed, Bonita will have a distinction befit-ting its many dog lovers, a beach park and a community park set aside for the animals.

Saving Second Homes Community garden

ground breaking is planned for this spring, with a targeted completion in the fall.

The City hopes for dog park completion in 2014 and must first work through several issues, according to Schwing. Its precise location and size will depend on the City’s final plan for a dry re-tention pond in the northeast-ern corner of the Mayhood property. Exotic vegetation, mostly Brazilian pepper, must

Contributed | Special to the Spotlight

Preliminary site design for Mayhood Community gardens and dog park.

be removed. And a parking lot, whether of shell or asphalt, must be constructed.

Lastly, before inviting dogs to the property, a fence is needed to protect the burrows of gopher tortoises on the west side of the property.

The tortoises are an en-dangered species, but there seems to be no shortage these days in Bonita, at least when the City starts digging. There are about 45 active burrows on the Mayhood property.

Experts have advised the City Manager that each tor-toise maintains about two burrows.

“That seems right,” quipped Schwing. “After all, this is the land of second homes.”

A Mayhood EvolutionWhile it awaits the park

project, the Mayhood prop-erty is bucolic. Leitner Creek meanders through it, and a canopy of mature shade trees surrounds broad open areas. A sandy walkway connects the property to Rosemary Park on the north.

Standing in the middle of the parcel, just after crossing a small footbridge over Leit-ner Creek, a visitor quickly feels removed from the bustle outside the gate. It seems like a perfect spot for a park.

That was not always the plan.

When the City bought the former trailer home park for $2,320,000 in 2001, it was slated for a north south road connecting to Imperial Park-way. But the plans for Impe-rial changed. It was routed to the east, wrapping around the back of the Southern Pines community.

Over the years various uses were proposed for the Mayhood property, includ-ing a social services campus and library site. City Coun-cil decided on the park use in 2011.

Future Small Dog Park

Future Large Dog Park

Entrance

Future Small Dog Park

Future Large Dog Park

Entrance

CommunityGardensCommunity Gardens

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January 1-15, 2013

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News and ViewsBy Peter R. O’[email protected]

Gitmo, the Bird of Bonita Beach

Rex Harrison had nothing on George Shary.

As Dr. Doolittle, Harrison may have talked to a few seals and chimpanzees, but he never befriended a snowy egret.

On any given day, visitors to Little Hickory Island’s north end can find Shary lounging in his beach chair with Gitmo, a snowy egret, perched on his leg. (See Town Talk, page 18, for their photo.)

They’ve been friends for four years.“I have always been a bird guy,” said

Shary, who has 25 birdhouses outside his Chicago area home.

In 2009, Shary stopped by Master Bait and Tackle for fish. He wanted to try feed-ing a bird he had spotted on the beach.

“She became accustomed to me,” he said. “But it took about a year and a half be-fore she would take fish out of my hand.” He named her Gitmo after the controversy of the time.

A few months later, Gitmo jumped up on Shary when he fell asleep on the beach. That cemented their friendship.

When Shary returns to Bonita Beach each November, Gitmo soon flies to his side, recognizable by four black freckles on her yellow feet.

These days, Shary makes a small sand mound to rest his feet each morning. Gitmo perches on the mound, and then hops up on Shary for her breakfast, silverside fish about the size of a forefinger.

After eating, Gitmo flies down to the water, and then spends time standing by Shary.

While sitting on the beach, he often plays Andrea Bocelli recordings on his IPhone. “Gitmo loves it,” he says. “But on Sundays she gets mad when I listen to the football game.”

“She is really the talk of the beach as people go by,” said Shary. “I always joke that she is the best chick magnet on the beach.”

It turns out George and Gitmo are neighbors. The Shary’s live in Bay Harbor at Little Hickory’s north end. Gitmo lives in the mangroves nearby. Shary and his wife wonder about Gitmo as they spend the sum-mer months in their Chicagoland home. “Whenever there is a hurricane threat, we worry,” he says.

A Kid Helps Other Kids, 50 Years Later

In December, Bonita Springs dedicated a pedestrian bridge that may be one of the smallest in southwest Florida.

It’s also one of the most important, par-ticularly to the scores of students who walk

to Bonita Middle School on Terry Street each day.

The bridge now spans a small ditch, that some call Rosemary Creek, near the rail-road tracks. Previously, the narrow road-way there forced pedestrians to walk near traffic for a 20-foot stretch.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see this hap-pen and to see these kids coming from the school walking safely out of the traffic,” Mayor Ben Nelson said at the ribbon cut-ting. “It’s not just for the kids. It’s for all pe-destrians and people riding bikes or roller-skating. It’s about quality of life.”

“This project was on the radar for a long time,” Nelson told the Spotlight. Previously proposed designs, which called for the ex-tension of large box culverts under Terry Street, came at a high cost.

Several months ago Nelson, who is a dock builder, scrambled down the embank-ment to take a good look. He figured that the concrete wing walls attached to the cul-verts could serve as abutments. “Maybe we can just throw a little bridge across there,” he told City engineers. The idea worked, saving the City several hundred thousand dollars.

“City staff did a great job,” said Nelson, who was reluctant to take any credit for the brainstorm that “just kind of hit me” as he stood in the ditch.

Nelson had been there before. “When I was a kid that ditch ran like

the rapids,” he said. At that time, farmers east of town in what is now Citrus Park pumped large amounts of excess water out of their fields. “We would get in our inner tubes and ride all the way down beside the railroad tracks,” said Nelson. “It was awe-some.”

Fifty years later, the man who first played in that ditch as a child stood there again, thinking. And the idea came to him, about how to help out some other children.Meanderings… The glint of the shiny silver railings on City projects around town has caught the eye of at least two City Coun-cil members. “In the future, we should try to find something more attractive,” said Martha Simons at a recent Council meet-ing. Steve McIntosh agreed, calling at-tention to silver railings recently installed on Terry Street…Motorists on US 41 may have noticed earthmoving equipment fill-ing swampy land just south of the Imperial River Bridge. A storage facility for RVs and boats is being built on the site, according to John Dulmer, head of City community development…The Bonita Lions are top-ping off their gift of the $40,000 Lions Pride Playground at Depot Park with a Lion’s wa-ter fountain. “I first thought, ‘My goodness, these kids are going to stick their heads in a lion’s mouth?’” said City parks honcho Nicole Perino. “But then I realized it’s a happy lion, more Disney than real. It’s really cute.”

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Neighbors January 1-15, 2013

Staff | [email protected]

Ray Faubion is this year’s recipient of the Love of Bonita award.

Neighbor Spotlight

Ray Faubion

‘We love Bonita and in my own way I have wanted to do the things it takes

to help keep the small town feel of our community.’

— Ray Faubion

By Mark [email protected]

Bonita Springs — Some people have a seminal mo-ment that brings them to fame and fortune. Some ex-cel in certain specific areas and gain notice as a result. And then there are those in our community whose lives are solid reminders of the quiet strength in our midst – the people that are the backbone of what makes a “community”. Ray Faubion is just such a person.

Ray is this year’s recipi-ent of the “Love of Bonita” award given by the mem-bers of the Bonita Springs Community Fund. This is just one more award given in consideration of years of guidance and care for the Bonita and SWFL commu-nity. Ray’s list of accom-

plishments is significant: current Board Chair of the Bonita Assistance Office, former President of the Bonita Chamber of Com-merce, former President of

that Ray met Jeanne in his junior year. Their first date was a doozy. After the foot-ball game they went for a ride with friends and ended up passengers in a high speed accident. Fortunately for Ray, Jeanne’s fisherman Dad was working in Texas at the time and he escaped

the Bonita (morning) Ro-tary Club and its separate Foundation and Rotarian of the Year in 2003, a former Kiwanis member, Kiwan-ian of the Year in 1994 and of course – Bonita Citizen of the Year in 2006.

Born in Miami, Ray was 2 when his Dad moved the family to Fort Myers. It was at Bishop Verot High

his fully anticipated wrath.Upon graduating from

Florida Southern, Ray re-turned to Fort Myers, en-tered the insurance business with Met and eventually joined the family insurance business with Dad running the show, Mom handling bookkeeping and his sister being the customer service representative. Fourteen

years later Dad retired and Ray found his way to the Oswald Trippe Agency, now BB&T, and a great opportu-nity in Naples. Meanwhile, now wife Jeanne was off to Lee Memorial and her ca-reer in pediatric nursing.

During those long drives from Fort Myers to Naples, Ray was lured to Bonita. He and Jeanne now had a family of three boys and the “small town” feel of Bonita had strong appeal. Ray met friend Mark Mc-Caw who introduced him to the Chamber and Ro-tary and it was after two of their children had finished school at Bishop Verot that Ray and Jeanne finally built and moved into their home in Bonita.

During their first year in Bonita, the Faubion’s hosted an exchange student from Switzerland for 1 ½ years. Maria was the daughter they never had and a new sister to their sons. So en-

amored with SWFL were Maria’s parents that when retired, they moved here.

Even with raising 3 Eagle Scout sons, build-ing a strong Property and Casualty business, hosting exchange students, and of course sharing all of this with Jeanne, Ray has found time to serve the commu-nity. “We love Bonita and in my own way I have wanted

to do the things it takes to help keep the ‘small town’ feel of our community.”

His involvement in everything from the “Y” to Bonita Assistance is felt by so many here. Ray gives unselfishly and, in his quiet manner, makes a huge statement about the “small town Bonita” that he and Jeanne love to call home.

Bonita’s Selfless Neighbor

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Bonita Business Beat

Pure Elements Salon Offers Fresh Air

‘Clothes may make the man or woman but…hair makes the real difference in

confidence and self esteem.’— Penny Michitsch

Pure Elements Organic Hair Salon, located in Pelican Landing, offers organic products that bring repeat customers.

By D. K. [email protected]

Bonita Springs – Pure Ele-ments Organic Hair Salon, 24830 S. Tamiami Trail, has a surprise for custom-ers - fresh air. “We are so conscious about the salon environment for customers and staff that nail care is not a service. We refer customers to a nearby nail salon,” said Penny Michitsch, owner. “Spavana Skin Care, the or-ganic skin salon in the back, sometimes adds a pleasant, lemon scent.”

Michitsch, a New Yorker, moved to Bonita Springs from Connecticut two years ago (for the weather) and opened the salon without one customer. Her spouse, Daniel, Executive Chef at Trianon said, “I have faith in your talent; go for broke; it’ll either be a success or it won’t.”

Michitsch met her business goals to date. “I love this loca-tion,” she added. “Businesses help each other, refer custom-ers and provide a congenial atmosphere. We have a good landlord, and our location near Coconut Point helps too.”

“My mother died of lung cancer. People who use strong medicines to recover from debilitating illnesses develop an aversion to chemicals, any chemical,” said Michitsch. It is the commitment to organic products that brings repeat customers. Her career in hair care began twenty years ago with her own hair challenges. She also ran a floral busi-

ness. A flair for design was a transferable skill. Her salon’s organic, safe and environ-mentally friendly products are made in the United States. Pure Element’s commitment to their community includes supporting Susan G. Komen and charitable events that benefit children.

A potential customer, concerned about the effects of a hair color product pur-chased at a health food store, sought Michitsch’s expertise. Michitsch knew immediately which ingredient caused the customer’s allergic reaction and had a potential solution. “You know, manufacturers hide chemicals with differ-

ent names,” said Michitsch, “but I don’t give up until I have cleared every ingredi-ent. They can’t fool me.” The idea that organic hair services are more expensive is a myth, though. Pure Elements Salon services are priced similar to other local, high quality sa-lons.

Michitsch and her spouse attempt a healthy lifestyle. Their extensive lanai garden includes heirloom tomatoes from seeds passed down from her 87 year old father-in-law,

herbs, cucumbers, peppers and more. Potted fruit trees include mango, avocado, li-tchi nut and fig. “Our lanai looks like a botanical gar-den!” says Michitsch. Their mutual love of trees has led them to bring favorites with them through eight moves.

A selection of handmade purses and jewelry on con-signment rounds out the feeling of an intimate salon experience. “I like helping talented friends and custom-ers have quality choices with

no capital outlay from me,” said Michitsch. The salon is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

She said her goal for the future is to, “offer the best organic salon experience in the area. Clothes may make the man or woman, but their hair makes the real differ-ence in confidence and self esteem.”


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TOWN TALK

Realtors Install New BoardThe Bonita Springs Estero Association of Realtors installed its 2013 Board of Directors at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club last month. From left, Joe Harris, Anita Colletti, Bob Vreeland, Heather Wightman, Garren Grup, Saundra Hinton, Judi Gietzen, Al Speach, Terri Speach, Tom Mannion and Cindy Kruesi.

David Michael | [email protected]

Igoe Honored with Humanitarian AwardJeanette Igoe received the Pat Lord Memorial Humanitarian Award. Igoe is the Chair of B.E.A.R.’s community relations committee. Thank you Jeanette for everything you do for our community.



Gerry Teeven, Suzie Urban and Nigel Fullick at B.E.A.R.’s installation event.

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Neighbors January 1-15, 2013

When a Smile Can Change a Life


Norrie Oelkers and another member of the Operation Smile medical team examine a patient in Brazil.


Norrie Oelkers and a young patient in Honduras with Operation Smile.


Norrie Oelkers and a young patient in the Philip-pines with Operation Smile.

Over 300 people were waiting for us at the hospital that

first day.

For More Information: For more information on Operation Smile visit www.operationsmile.org

By Norrie Oelkers RNSpecial to the Spotlight

Bonita Springs – When a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, what are the chances that he will live to see his first birthday? And if he survives, what will his life be like? In many countries, one in 10 will not survive their first year. Those who do survive of-ten can’t speak or eat prop-erly. Many live in isolation, completely shunned in their communities, with very little hope.

With a surgery that takes as little as 45 min-utes, these children’s lives can be transformed for-ever. I have been blessed to be able to share my skills as a nurse and give back to thousands of children and young adults who live in developing countries, who suffer with facial deformi-ties and have no means to find help on their own. I recently returned from an Operation Smile mission to the Philippines the day before Thanksgiving and it truly gave a special mean-ing to our Thanksgiving Day blessings.

I am a surgical nurse and work as a Clinical Coordinator on our team. Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity and we travel to over 60 coun-tries, mostly developing countries and even in the United States to perform

surgery on children who suffer with cleft lip, cleft palate and facial deformi-ties.

I learned about Opera-tion Smile when my son was a high school student and a member of the Smile Club, a student-oriented community service activ-ity to help with awareness and fundraising for Op-eration Smile. He asked me to join as a volunteer nurse.

I went on my first mis-sion in 1997 to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It was an inau-gural mission and neither

the patients, the families nor the medical volunteers knew what to expect. Over 300 people were waiting for us at the hospital that first day. Many families trav-eled for hours and even days, some walking, others traveling by bus or boat and even horse. Every child was examined by our surgeons, anest hesiolo-gists, pediatri-cians, nurses, a dentist and speech patholo-gist. For many children, this is the first time they have been seen by a doc-tor.

We chose the children for sur-gery based on a priority system which we use on every mis-sion. And I must tell you that the saddest day on our mission is when we hang the schedule on the wall outside of the hospital and we watch the families who were not chosen for surgery. The look in their eyes of sadness and desperation stays with me when I

return home. We tell them that we may return the following year if possible and they hold on to that

promise. In these coun-tries there is no chance for the poor to have surgery and they must hope that a volunteer group will help them. I came home after that mission and made a commitment to myself and Operation Smile to continue to go on missions and help these children.

I am now starting my

the earthquake in 2010. I never grow tired of

seeing these children be-ing transformed by our surgeons. It is truly a mir-acle to see the “before and after” of their surgery. The best part of the mission is when the child is brought to the Recovery Room af-ter surgery and we bring the parents to see their

17th year volunteering for Operation Smile and I have been on 35 missions. I have traveled to five countries in Africa, multi-ple missions in Viet Nam, China, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Jordan, coun-tries in Latin and South America, Mexico, India and even Haiti following

child for the first time. The look on the faces of those parents will melt your heart. Every team mem-ber is moved to tears and all the long hours of hard work in the least favorable conditions all seem irrel-evant at that moment. A child has been given a new smile and a new life.

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Opportunities to Give BackDr. Piper Center for Social Services

This nonprofit social service agency provides multiple programs and services for adults over 55 and children with special needs. Through their Fos-ter Grandparent Program children and youth receive one on one mentoring and tutoring by a trained volun-teer. Their Senior Compan-ionship Program helps frail elderly clients with meal preparation, transporta-tion, grocery shopping and simple housekeeping. Volunteers are needed for these programs in the Bo-nita Springs area. Call Steve Nemazie 332-5346 for more information.

Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida

Did you know that 75% of the net income from Komen Southwest Florida stays in the local com-

munity to fund mammo-grams, support services and treatment? It’s also a fact that 25% of the net in-come supports the national Komen for the Cure Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research around the world. Mark your calendar for the Race for the Cure March 9, 2013 to be held at Coconut Point Mall. Visit komenswfl.org for more information.

Liberty Youth RanchLiberty Youth Ranch

is a long-term children’s residential home for Flor-ida’s orphaned, abused, abandoned, neglected and homeless children, designed to ensure each child’s education and eventual high school graduation with an em-phasis being placed on the uniqueness and inherent worth of each child. The Ranch depends on hun-dreds of volunteers each

year. They have a thrift store on Old 41 just north of Bonita Beach Road. For more information on be-coming a volunteer, call Ruth Martin, Executive Administrator at 239-597-7070 or email [email protected]

Friends of Barefoot Beach Preserve

The purpose of this not-for-profit organization is to preserve, protect and en-hance the natural features of the preserve; to foster research and education endeavors at the Preserve; to secure volunteers to as-sist the County at Barefoot Beach Preserve. Activities include the Saylor Nature Trail, Saturday morning lecture series, canoe trips, the Learning Center with displays, literature and an extensive shell collection. To learn more, to join or to volunteer, visit friendsof-barefootbeach.org

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January 1-15, 2013

Staff Report

Bonita Springs – Nineteen University of Georgia stu-dents spent their winter break cleaning up parks in Lee County including one day in December in Bonita Springs at the Imperial Riv-er Boat Ramp extricating undergrowth that was en-croaching on the perimeter of the parking area, gather-ing an impressive pile of de-bris.

According to third year student Sarah Ginsberg, this was just one of several Impact groups. As many as 400 University of Georgia students participate annu-ally. Winter and Spring breaks are devoted to vari-ous focused proj-ects that include env i ron ment a l awareness, animal husbandry, HIV, homeless assis-

tance and human traffick-ing. Some groups work lo-cally and others travel as far as Chicago.

Twenty-three trips are planned this year by the Im-pact students who choose their area of concern, pay a $155 fee to participate and rely on local churches for housing and donations to help cover their expenses. Sleeping bags are the norm. This is not a cushy, beach va-

cation.“All the students knew

what they were doing when they volunteered. No one is forced and no class credit is given. We have a full sched-ule of projects this week. Months go into the plan-ning,” explained Paco Payne, a fourth year student.

To thank them for their hard work, Al Greenwood of Buffalo Chips was treating them to lunch.


University of Georgia student volunteers helped clean up local parks.

Georgia Bulldogs Pounce on Parks TOWN TALK

Gitmo, the Bonita Beach BirdGitmo, a snowy egret, hangs out with George Shary by beach access 9 on Little Hickory Island’s north end. They have been friends for five years. See story, page 11.


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January 1-15, 2013

Commentary

By Peter A. O’FlinnPublisher

E D I T O R I A L

Don’t Lose Sight of What We Have

Ours is a time of con-stant partisan bickering on almost every politi-cal stage in the country. Name the issue or the event, and you know the raucous argument. It’s just about guaranteed.

checked at the door.Unless you happen to

know, you can’t tell the Republicans from the Democrats. The most conservative and the most liberal in this group don’t just talk to one another, they invariably agree on

important Council deci-sions. It shows that when people take the time to really understand issues, there’s a lot of common ground.

At least three times during City Council meetings residents are

invited to express their views on agenda items, or any item at all.

This is a throw back to what we were taught par-ticipatory government was supposed to be.

While we all may have our differences with some

Bonita Springs City Council meets on December 19, 2013. From left to right, Steve McIntosh, Janet Martin, Steven Slachta, Mayor Ben Nelson, Peter Simmons, Martha Simons and Bill Lonkart.


of City Council’s decisions, we shouldn’t lose sight of what we have.

Peter O’Flinn is the pub-lisher of the Southwest Spotlight News Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]

That’s how political pro-fessionals make their bones today.

For something differ-ent take a drive over to City Hall for a Wednes-day City Council meet-ing. You will find an air of civility and a common goal among our seven member Council. That is, doing what they sincerely believe is best for Bonita.

Is there disagree-ment on our City Coun-cil? There should be, and there is. But differences are expressed respect-fully along substantive, thoughtful lines. There’s no sloganeering and, for the most part, egos are

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Spotlight Sunset

Michone Kastelitz and her husband just moved to town from Washington State. They brought their camera and tripod to Barefoot Beach to watch their first sun-set. Welcome to Bonita Springs! Send your best sunset photos to [email protected] and your photo could be the next Spotlight Sunset.

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January 1-15, 2013

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CALENDARB: Bonita Springs E: Estero FM: Fort Myers N: Naples

4 FridayOpening reception for pho-tographer M. E. Parker 6 to 8 p.m.Meet featured artist of the month, M.E.Parker, “Fine Art Photography Montages”. Enjoy complimentary refresh-ments and lively conversation. Exhibit continues through January 25. Where: Artist Kathleen Bradford Studio/Gallery 4259 Bonita Beach Road B. Cost: Free. For more info call 239-776-6844.

5 & 6 Saturday & Sunday11th Bi-Annual Estero Fine Art Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.World-renowned and top-notch Florida artists will be selling their art at this juried fine art and craft show. Sculp-ture, paintings, clay, glass, fiber, wood, jewelry, photog-raphy and more. All work is original. Youth Art Competi-tion both days. Free live en-tertainment and great food available at Miromar Outlets restaurants. Where: Miromar Outlets, on southeast corner near corner of Ben Hill Griffin and Corkscrew Roads E. Cost: Free admission, free parking.

6 SundayTownsmen Band 2 p.m.Enjoy the sounds of the Big Bands in Riverside Park at the band shell. Bring your lawn chair for an enjoyable after-noon of music. Where: River-side Park off Old 41 Road B. Cost: Free.

8 TuesdayAfternoon Tea 2 p.m.

The quintessential afternoon tea will be served on the Planetary Court Porch in the Settlement at Koreshan State Historic Site. Savor freshly cut sandwiches, home baked scones served with cream and home made jelly, a selection of tea pastries and desserts, and fine English tea. Where: Kore-shan State Historic Site, US 41 at Corkscrew Road, E. Tickets: $25 per person includes park entry fee. Call 239-992-0311, credit card purchase, limited seating.

R.E.A.D. to Dogs 4 to 5 p.m.Independent readers, Grades K to 5 and Middle School, can practice reading in a fun way. The Reading Education As-sistance Dogs will be on hand to listen to you read. They’re great listeners. First come, first served. Where: Bonita Springs Branch Library, Pine Street, B. For more info call Dana Brown 533-4860. Cost: Free.

10 ThursdayRefuge Holocaust Docu-mentary 2 p.m.Film and discussion for adults. This one hour docu-mentary reaches back more than 70 years to give voice to the last generation of victims of Nazi persecution and tells the story of a singular com-munity in Chicago that has provided a safe haven to more than 1,000 Central European Jewish refugees and survivors. The film weaves together nar-rative by historians, archival footage and deeply personal testimony to trace the lives of six Chicagoans. Registration required. Contact library at 239-533-4861. Where: Bonita Springs Branch Library, Pine St., B. Cost: Free.

11 Friday7th Annual Wishmaker’s Ball This benefit for Make a-Wish Southern Florida will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner and an opportunity to bid on an array of sought-after items, experiences and pack-ages. Entertainment by The Steve Chase Society and their Motown sounds. Where: The Hilton, N. Tickets: $225 per person. Contact Lesley Colan-tonio 239-992-9474 or [email protected]

12 & 13 Saturday & SundayBonita Springs National Art Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Enjoy the juried artwork of 211 national and international artists at this fine art/fine craft festival plus the ambiance of the Promenade while sup-porting the many programs of the Center for the Arts. Paint-ings, glass, jewelry, clay works, photography, sculpture, wood and more. Rated one of the top Fine Art Festivals in the coun-try. Where: The Promenade at Bonita Bay on US 41. B. Cost: Free admission, donation re-quested.

13 SundayArt Buzz Sessions 2 p.m.M.E.Parker, photographer, will facilitate art discussion and questions exploring the use of included and excluded objects in a composition. Both artists and art lovers will en-joy this 10 minute talk and 20 minute discussion, the first of 3 consecutive Sunday “Art Buzz Sessions”, exploring the world of art. Where: Kathleen Bradford Studio/Gallery 4259 Bonita Beach Road, B. Call 239-776-6844 for reservations.

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Calendarfrom page 22

Seating is limited. Cost: Free

Bonita Springs Concert Band 2 to 4 p.m.Dr. Dennis Hill conducts the Bonita Springs Concert Band in its third concert of the sea-son. The program will feature Matthew Sonneborn, Prin-cipal Trumpet of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, as its guest soloist. Mr. Sonneborn will perform The Carnival of Venice by Jean Baptiste Ar-ban. Bring a chair and a hat and plan on an afternoon of sheer enjoyment. Where: Riv-erside Park bandshell, Old 41 Road, B. Cost: Free

14 MondayFilms for Film Lovers 7 p.m.In a Better World, winner of 2011 Academy Award for best foreign film, weaves two strong and parallel sto-ries, one on Africa and one in Denmark. Enjoy the film and a lively discussion after the film, led by a Film Society Chairman and a Film Society Member. Refreshments are available. Where: Center for the Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, B. Cost: $8 per person.

15 TuesdayJoffrey Balley 8 p.m.The world-class Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 100th anniver-sary of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Where: Philharmonic Center for the Arts., 5833 Peli-can Bay Blvd., N.Tickets: from $69. To order call 239-597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org.

15 Tuesday thru 20 SundayMary Poppins The Hit Broadway MusicalVariety is raving, “This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level!” Featuring an irresistible story

and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Dis-ney films of all time. A high-flying musical. Where: Barba-ra B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Parkway, FM. Tickets: from $45. To order visit www.bbmannpah.com or call 239-481-4849.

17 ThursdayAll That Jazz 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.Features the talented and ver-satile jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker with the Naples Phil-harmonic Jazz Orchestra. Where: Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., N. Tickets: from $42. To order call 239-597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org.

18 & 19 Friday & SaturdayMelissa Manchester 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.Favorite hits including You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Don’t Cry Out Loud and the theme from Ice Castles and more. Where: Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., N. Tickets: from $49. To or-der call 239-597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org.

19 Sunday Southwest Florida Big Band 2 p.m.Come to Riverside Park with your lawn chair for an after-noon of the sounds of the 30’s and 40’s. Where: Riverside Park off Old 41 Road B. Cost: Free.

ONGOINGSaturdaysThe Farm Fresh Market- 7:30 a.m. to noonCome to one of the most popu-lar markets in the region. Fully stocked farm-fresh vegetable vendors plus vendors selling frozen fish, baked goods, cut flowers, orchids, cosmet-ics, antiques, fashions, jew-elry, books, and more. Where:

Promenade at Bonita Bay B. Cost: Free. For more informa-tion, visit bonitalions.org.

WednesdaysFarm Growers Market-8 a.m. to 1 p.m.If you can eat it and watch it grow, it’s here! Where: Old 41 and Childers St. B. For more information, visit bonitalions.org.

MeetingsDemocratic Club of Bonita Springs and South Lee CountyTues., Jan. 15, 7 p.m. and 3rd Tuesday of each monthWhere: Center for the Art of Bonita Springs B. For more information call Larry Byrnes 239-634-6469.

Bonita Springs City CouncilWed. Jan. 2 meeting cancelled; Wed. Jan. 16, 9 a.m.Come watch local govern-ment in action. Where: City Council Chambers, 9101 Bo-nita Beach Rd. B.

Bonita Springs Newcomers Club Luncheon MeetingThur., Jan. 17, noon and the 3rd Thur. of each monthMembership is open to women who reside in Bo-nita Springs and surrounding communities. The club offers an opportunity to meet other women, develop friendships, share common interests, and participate in a variety of oth-er activities organized by club members. Where: community clubhouses is the local area B. For more information, visit bonitaspringsnewcomersclub.com. To attend a luncheon, e-mail [email protected] or call Joan at 239-947-2944.

All dates, times and prices are subject to change.

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January 1-15, 2013

Artist Spotlight

Students Experience Cottage Industry

‘I want to encourage students to expand their horizons in the art of exhibiting, placing

and selling their work.’ — Kel Campbell


FGCU student artists now exhibit at Cottage 2 in Riverside Park.


“Ade” dancing sculpture, welded found steel by Kel Campbell.


White ceramic by Michelle Manta


FGCU student artist Lauren Sinett working at the potters wheel at Cottage 2.


Stoneware by Kel Campbell fired at cone 10.

By D.K. [email protected]

Bonita Springs – Student artists have a new venue to display and sell their work in Bonita Springs. Florida Gulf Coast University now spon-sors a resident artist and curator at the Art Cottages in Riverside Park. Each Sun-day and for every Riverside Park event since July 4, 2012, Kel Campbell, FGCU senior

and Art Cottage curator and Bonita Springs resident, wel-comes visitors to Art Cot-tage number 2, an extension of the FGCU Gallery.

Campbell calls herself an

“older, returning student” who epitomizes today’s modern woman: student, wife, mother and working woman. The Art Cottage provides a venue to display her multi-media art work and that of FGCU students. All work on display is for sale. “I want to encourage students to expand their ho-rizons in the art of exhibit-ing, placing and selling their work, a very important as-pect of their chosen career,” said Campbell. If the cottage is full for an event, students set up display tables outside the cottage to attract cus-tomers.

“We also sell artwork as a fund raiser for a planned March trip to rural Guyana, where ten FGCU students will work with and learn

from the Macushi people. Our goal is to assist them in using their art as an eco-tourism business to help im-prove their economic base.” The FGCU art students sell nature plates, ceramics with natural materials imbedded in layers of glaze, in support of their fund raising efforts.

Campbell changes dis-plays frequently to highlight the variety and themes from the artists and also works on her pieces at the Art Cot-tage. Currently on display

are multi-media sculptures and two-dimensional works by Kel Campbell, Cam De-may’s sculptures, and ce-ramics by Lauren Sinett and Michelle Manta. “Many of the stoneware pieces are fired at cone 10 which means the clay is fired at a tempera-ture of 2400 degrees in a gas kiln which makes the pieces super strong,” explained

Campbel l . Additional s t u d e n t works are added often.

“I am c u r r e nt l y working on a series in mult i-me-dia for my project final that includes w o m e n from many c u l t u r e s who carry

objects on their heads, a metaphor for their strength and the many roles that women juggle. One two-dimensional painting sold already.” Campbell also as-sists Patricia Fay, Ceramics Professor at FGCU, “which has enhanced my interest in ceramics,” added Campbell. Her talents also include two-dimensional figures in clay and welded sculpture.

Michelle Manta works with a process in white ceramic that includes “drizzling horse hair” on the glaze as it is removed from the kiln. The effect is curved, black lines in a bril-liant white surface. One of Campbell’s multi-media sculptures includes printed paper, nesting baskets that hold tiny pieces of porcelain inside, held together by a welded frame.

To help spread the word about the FGCU cottage,

Campbell set up a Facebook page, FGCUStudyAbroad-Guyana2013, to post events at the FGCU Art Cottage and photographs of the art on display. Currently, the list of events for Riverside Park is the best guide for the open days at the FGCU Art Cot-tage. Additionally, it’s open every Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Campbell is there as a “working artist in residence,” sharing art with visitors.

The FGCU students will join the other artists and the public at the Cottages on February 10 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. in a sidewalk art contest called “Chalk Your Art Out”. Each artist or aspiring artist will be assigned a measured space on the sidewalk which will become part of a giant sidewalk mural. There will be judging and prizes.

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January 1-15, 2013

S’No FunThe OtherBEN

BEN NELSON JR.

Bonita Springs–You would think that since I’m a na-tive Floridian and an avid boater, that I would also be able to waterski. You would be wrong. Quite a long time ago my friend John tried to teach me and after drag-ging me the length of the Imperial River several times behind his boat (mostly underwater) he came to a conclusion. “Ben, you can’t ski!” And that was it for ski-ing. That is, until my sister invited me on a snow ski-ing trip to Vermont. Now, I had barely even seen snow, but since the ski resort pic-

Neil Nelson | Special to the Spotlight

I couldn’t believe it… I was sliding backwards

down a hill again.

tures made it seem soft and friendly, and I didn’t see a boat dragging people help-lessly behind it, I accepted.

After flying to my sis-ter’s house in New Jersey, we split up into different cars and left for Sugarbush, Vermont. For some strange reason I was select-ed to drive. Strange, because we were driving straight into an ice storm and I wasn’t even sure what an ice storm was. By the time the poor people that fate chose as my passen-gers discovered this little tidbit, we were three hours into the trip, the windshield wipers were the size of frozen baseball bats and we had slid past dozens of cars left deserted in the ditch. About the time they had all grown tired of scream-

ing in terror, we started up a long steep hill. But every few seconds the car’s wheels started to spin on the ice and I had to let off the gas. This kept happening until we were almost to the top and traveling about five miles an hour. Then, they

spun once more... and we were stopped. I put my foot on the brake and we just sat

there in the middle of the road. I had no idea what to do so I turned around and looked at my “snow expe-rienced” passengers for ad-vice. “Well, now what?” I said. And just as the words left my mouth the car began sliding backwards down the

hill. This time when everyone started screaming, it seemed like the right thing to do, so I joined in. Luckily, we only slid about thirty feet be-fore the car hit the shoulder of the road and the car and the screaming suddenly stopped.

The screaming had already turned to cheering when out of nowhere, a salt truck drove ef-fortlessly past us, the

road magically thawed and we were able to drive away. Soon after, we were at the

cabin, the fire was crackling and we were all fast asleep under cozy down comfort-ers.

The next morning I looked out the window at the thermometer to find that it was 40 below zero. I thought everyone had

lieved, I sighed and waved to the others. “I’m OK!” I proudly yelled. Then... I started going backwards. “WHAT? NO!” I couldn’t believe it... I was sliding backwards down a hill again. “NOT AGAIN!” I didn’t know what to do, so I just plopped down on my rear and stopped. Not pret-ty or dignified, but nothing broken either.

The following Christ-mas I opened a gift to find... rollerblades. I thanked the person that gave them to me, walked to the kitchen... and threw them in the garbage. A person’s got to know their limitations.

gathered at the bottom. I had no desire to share the fate of the people that I had, just moments ago, laughed at as they plowed into that same crowd, so I turned to the left, perpendicular to the slope and mercifully, slowly came to a stop. Re-

lost their minds, but they couldn’t wait to “get out there.” So we suited up and headed to the slopes, where I was, of course, the only one scheduled to take lessons on a mountain that had over-night, frozen solid.

By noon, I was zigzag-ging down the slope with my classmates, single file. I was at the very end and do-ing rather well until I real-ized that I was slowly over-taking the person in front of me. Try as I might I couldn’t get the skis to cut into the ice enough to slow me down, so I turned past everyone. Just ahead of me was a steep slope with a crowd of people

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January 1-15, 2013

DOROTA AND MAX HARR IS

Max Harris | [email protected]

Lochie and Lucky seem to dwarf other dogs includ-ing the writers’ standard poodle Blue.

Cathy’s dogs attract attention wherever

they go.

Bonita’s Best FriendsIf you have a dog that you think is particularly wonderful, contact us at [email protected] and he or she could be the next dog featured

in this column.

Bonita Springs – This month we visited Cathy and her daughter Cydney, the keepers of two Irish Wolf-hounds, who had kindly written to Spotlight about their dogs.

We knew that the Irish Wolfhound is the world’s tallest dog breed, and we had seen them in dog shows. But that did not prepare us for the sight of two wolfhounds answering the door-bell. In a home setting, these dogs are huge.

That said, these five-year old brothers, Lochie (for Lochinvar) and Lucky, fit beautifully into their do-mestic role. Big and gentle around people, they roll onto their backs with paws in the air like any lap-dogs.

Both are wheaten colored, and the larger brother, Lucky, weighs 185 pounds. Cathy used to own Arabian horses – when she was eigh-teen, an Irish Wolfhound walked into the show barn, and she knew she had to own one.

But these two gentle gi-ants are not the only ani-mals in their home. They share with four cats and an African grey parrot. And amazingly, they all mingle freely and enjoy one anoth-er’s company. I wrote notes with a cat on my lap while Lochie stood over us. Later I watched the parrot walk between Lochie’s front paws as he lay on the floor, to stare him in the eye, head-to head. The parrot (also

five years old) is a talented speaker, who appears to ad-dress the two dogs correctly by name. He also does an excellent impression of the sound of a dog’s squeaky toy. Now, if I were a parrot between the paws of a wolf-hound, I don’t think I would do a squeaky toy impression

. . . but it works perfectly for him.

The breed has a long history. They were bred in Ireland to hunt wolves and elk, and Julius Caesar wrote of the giant dogs that ac-companied Celtic warriors in battle. The dogs were of-ten exported in mediaeval

times as gifts to foreign no-bility. In 1652 Oliver Crom-well restricted this practice, for fear the Irish wolf popu-lation would run out of con-trol. But by the 1870’s, Irish wolves were extinct, and the Wolfhound was almost extinct too. It was rescued by a British Army Captain, who bred the few remaining dogs with Great Danes and Mastiffs to create the mod-

nobody else would . . . and when the breeder turned up to deliver her dog, Cathy was surprised to find she had two of them. The runt is now Lucky (yes, the big one!)

Cathy’s dogs attract at-tention wherever they go. A visit to Petsmart takes over an hour because peo-ple want to talk about the dogs. What are they, what do they weigh, can I touch them, what do they eat? (In fact they eat very well. Their kibble is accompanied by scrambled eggs for break-fast, and a typical dinner is chicken plus green beans, carrots, and brown rice . . . but they spit out peas.)

We were so impressed by these dogs we went back to get a photo with Blue. He’s not a small dog, but he cer-tainly looks small against them.

ern Irish Wolfhound.Cathy did not intend to

get two wolfhounds. They were bred in Arkansas, where Cathy chose Lochie, but was also sympathetic to the runt of the litter. She said she would take him if

Gentle Giants

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Spotlight Dogs

Magda Maes | [email protected]

Magda Maes is the proud mom of two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Sophie (left) and Cherry (right) love to go shopping at Home Depot because they get so much attention and compliments from the other shoppers! Email your fa-vorite photos of your best friend to [email protected] and your dog could be the next Spotlight Dog.

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January 1-15, 2013

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Then and Now

Woodwork Fit for a President

Bonita Springs Historical Society | Special to the Spotlight

The Williams-Packard House today

Early photo of Williams-Packard House

Bonita Springs Historical Society | Special to the Spotlight

The original interior woodwork

is exquisite.

By Ronda LawhonSpecial to the Spotlight

Bonita Springs – The Wil-liams-Packard House, lo-cated at 27324 Tennessee Street, is designated, un-der local ordinance, as his-toric by the City of Bonita Springs.

The Williams-Packard house was built in 1914 for the Clemments family. It was originally located off Dean Street, across from the Elementary School, nestled amongst a large wooded parcel of land along Oak Creek. For the sake of preservation, the home was moved out of harm’s way.

Thankfully so, because the original interior wood-work is exquisite and was actually crafted by an ar-tisan who built cabinets

for the White House. The exterior features of the two story home are the gabled roof, deep eaves with ex-posed rafters, large covered front porch, and double hung windows through-out. The home is an excel-lent example of Bungalow style architecture.

The second owner of the home was Isaiah Wil-liams, known around town as “Three barrel Williams” because of an unusual gun he owned. Isaiah, his wife, and 11 children moved to Survey from Arcadia after the big freeze of 1894/95. It’s unclear exactly when and how many years this

large and colorful family lived in the home.

From 1940-1980, the house was owned by the Packard family. It was the site of many parties where guests enjoyed the warm tones of the Florida pine wood interior comple-mented by the beautifully wooded land outside. But I guess you can’t stop prog-ress, so in 2001, in order to clear the land for a new housing development, the house was moved to this site on Pennsylvania Av-enue. It’s been beautifully restored by Christian Busk and, ironically, the house is still located along the banks of Oak Creek.

This article was adapted from the script written by Ronda Lawhon for the Bonita Springs Historical Society’s DVD Historical Walking Tour.

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January 1-15, 2013

Spanish Wells Snippets

TEE BOXTIPS

JOSH MUSSELMAN

By Martha CriderSpecial to the Spotlight

Spanish Wells–Activities continue to increase as more people arrive for “Season.” The Men’s Golf League will host the an-nual Member Guest event January 31 to February 2. The 18 hole women’s league has scheduled the Solheim Cup tournament for January 9 and 10 and the annual Old Pal Tour-nament January 23 and 24. If you have not scheduled your partner for Old Pal, you need to do so.

Tennis League Matches continue. Team clinics as well as private lessons are available. Please contact the tennis pro shop. The bocce courts are busy as competi-tion continues.

The 18 hole women’s league will host its Mem-ber Guest on March 6. This year’s theme is “Going Green and Glorious.” Invite your guest and keep the recycling/reuse theme in mind as you plan.

Save the Date for the an-nual Spanish Wells Char-ity Weekend. The Spanish Wells Cares Foundation is

planning a Saturday ten-nis tournament and Sun-day golf tournament the last weekend of February, February 23 and 24. There will be a few surprises this year, so make sure you put this on your calendar. Best of all, the proceeds will help our neighborhood children. Shoes That Fit and the Gar-giulo Education Center provide shoes and clothing for needy children and af-ter school tutoring. These are two very worthy orga-nizations, helping children mature into productive citi-zens.

Drawing the ball is every golfer’s dream.By Josh Musselman

[email protected]

Bonita Springs – If you fade or slice the ball often during a round of 18, rest assured you are not alone. At least 75 percent of the students I have worked with through-out the years fade or slice the ball on a regular basis. This type of shot can really hurt your score though, not just because it doesn’t travel straight but also because it greatly reduces the energy transferred to the golf ball. A slice or fade is a huge contributor to losing yard-age, so if you can learn how to draw the ball, you will quickly gain distance.

Hitting a draw starts with a relaxed setup, loose shoulders, forearms and hands. I will often tell my students the more you try to control the golf club the less control you have of the golf ball. Another impor-tant lesson tip is that golf is also a game of opposites.

right of your target (3:00-4:00). You can also put a tee as a marker on the target line about 2 feet away from your ball and swing out to the right of it or visualize curving the ball around it. During these swings you should feel the club head rollover, but if you do not, then it is probably because you are gripping too tightly.

Remember the farther right the path, the more the ball will tend to draw left, resulting in more distance and more energy since it takes less effort to hit it. Drawing the ball is every golfer’s dream; make it a re-ality with these visuals and swing techniques.

Josh Musselman is a PGA professional, 2008 Horton Smith Award recipient, 2006-2012 “World’s Top 100 Club Fitter” recipient and can be reached via email at [email protected].

The more you cut across the golf ball (outside-in swing path) the more it will fade or slice. On television, a tour player’s golf ball looks as though it starts right of the fairway or visually over the crowd from a down the line camera angle (right handed example). It doesn’t land there however, because the ball draws and curves back to the left toward the center of the fairway. This is due to the side spin from right to left which curves the ball. Another example is to pic-ture the golf ball as a clock when you are addressing it. When you look at the ball, imagine 3:00 is on the back of the ball. If you fade or slice, you are likely striking the golf ball on the outside of 3:00, and closer to the 2:00 position.

a fade or a slice golf swing, this person would have to throw the stone more down and across the front of their body to the left. Of course this would just cause the stone to go directly into the water. So keep this in mind when you swing your golf club, first drop the club down to your right pocket and then let the club strike the ball in a direction at or

Another visual is to pic-ture someone skipping a stone on top of water. They would take their arm and drop it down their right leg and throw the stone paral-lel to the water in the di-rection they intend to skip it. To throw the stone like

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Cointinued on page 35

A Table ApartChef Jeff Acol’s profound love for the ocean is rooted in his early child-hood years growing up in Hawaii and helps explain his commitment to serving sustainable seafood and seasonal ingredients. This talented chef offers a limited but diverse menu. Dishes offer global fair with Asian and French influence. Open for dinner 7 days a week 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.4295 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 239-221-8540. www.atableapart.com

Bellissimo RistoranteChef Jose Benavides and partner Ed Falcone are looking forward to their first season together in Bonita Springs. Chef Benavides has fine-tuned his culinary skills in area restaurants for years. Together he and Ed Falcone, a former restauran-teur, will be offering specialties like Bellissimo Paella and Veal Scallopini Di Vitello Alla Pizzaiola. Open for lunch Mon thru Sat and dinner 7 days a week. 26251 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 9, Bonita Springs. 239-405-8957. www.bellissimobonita.com

Hemingways Island GrillExperience a taste of the islands with Caribbean inspired dishes. The tropical flavors will take you on a sea cruise with seafood, chicken and steaks infused with coconut, key lime, rum sauce, cilantro or jerk barbecue sauce. Make your selections from an extensive menu. There’s even a kid’s menu. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Shops at Coconut Point 8001 Plaza Del Lago #113 Estero. www.hemingwaysislandgrill.com

Hot Caboose Island GrilleFeaturing foods from the Caribbean and American South. For lunch, try the Island Paradise – grilled jerk chicken with homemade southwest dressing, avocado and red onions wrapped in a garlic–crusted naan. Enjoys indoors or outside patio. Open Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m. to midnight; Sat. & Sun. 7 a.m. to midnight. 27755 Old 41 Road at the corner of Dean Street. 239-676-7997.

Buffalo ChipsAl, Chip and JC Greenwood’s Old 41 original for 30 years strong. It’s “where locals go.” 1st place winner, Florida State chicken wing and chili cook-offs. Full menu including burg-ers, fish and steak and spuds. Boars Head premium deli sandwiches. Featuring Bonita’s Hall of Fame. “If it looks good, we’ll find a place for it on the walls or ceiling,” says Al. Lunch and dinner daily. 26620 Old 41 Rd. 239-947-1000. www.buffalochipsrestaurant.com.

Don Pancho’s Mexican RestaurantOwner Javier Moya says he has the best tacos in town at his new Mexi-can eatery. Handmade tortillas and the freshest ingredients await diners to this nicely renovated location next to the railroad tracks in Bonita. Alambres, a delicious dish with steak, chorizo, onions, jalapenos and cactus, is a specialty offered daily. Prices are very reasonable with burritos only $5.99. Open daily. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sun. to Thur; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri.; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat.10401 West Terry St. 221-8681.

10530 Wilson Streetthesurveycafe.com992-CAFÉ (2233)

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cook like my mother, with only the freshest ingredients.” Fresh pasta, seafood and Italian specialties. Antipasto salad, penne, lasagna, lobster ravioli, linguini with white clam sauce, zuppa di pesce, veal, chicken and shrimp. 18 pizza and calzone creations. Lunch and dinner specials. Open daily Mon-Sat 10am to 10 pm; Sun 11am to 10pm; 26831 S. Tamiami Trail near Publix across from Bonita Bay. 239-949-2204.

Royal ScoopLife’s short…eat dessert first! The oldest homemade ice cream store in Bonita. 35 ice cream flavors, 12 lowfat and sugar-free choices. Their scoopologists make the thickest shakes, biggest sundaes and best cones. Delicious lunches featuring Boar’s Head meats and cheeses and fantastic family recipes for chicken, egg and tuna salad. Kids menu. Open til 10 p.m. at Vanderbilt Dr. & 8th Street in Bonita Springs 992-2000; open til 9:30 at Pavillion Shoppes (Vanderbilt Beach Road & 41) 239-597-4043. www.royalscoop.com

The Fish HouseA Bonita bayside bistro. Come by car or boat. Fresh seafood in a relaxing environment, dining inside or out, with a pet-friendly outside patio. Specialties include blackened tuna bites, hot blue crab and shrimp dip, oyster baskets, grouper tacos and lobster tacos. Alternative choices, including heart healthy items. A key lime pie that “melts in your mouth.” Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 4685 Bonita Beach Road 239-495-5770. www.thefishhouserestaurants.com.

The Survey CaféLori Nelson’s tribute to old Florida, oozing with southern charm and updated with an organic sensibility. Fresh ingredients, wraps, salads, panini, flatbreads and the house spe-cialty…Grandpa’s Gator gumbo. Try the Chokoloskee Chicken sandwich. Shade grown coffee from Grounds for Change. Dine inside or out. Breakfast & lunch Tues.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner Fri. & Sat. 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday brunch 8 to 2:30 p.m. 10530 Wilson Ave. off Old 41. 239-992-2233. www. thesurveycafe.com.

Cointinued from page 34 the Bonita Springs restaurant scene. The extensive menu includes fresh catches such as grouper, tuna and jumbo Maine lobster. Ask about their extensive wine list. Open daily for dinner 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. 24940 S. Tamiami Trail #103 (Behind Zazou in Bonita) Reservations are required. 239-676-8687. www.manhattan1-steakhouse.com

Molino’s RistoranteClassic Italian in a beautiful indoor room and an al fresco patio setting, featuring pasta, meat and fish dinners. Family owned since 2003. Try the Vitello alla Saltimboca or one of the many other specialties of the house. Full bar and wine cellar. Summer hours, serving dinner only. Smoking section available. Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 9 pm. 26841 South Bay Dr. at the Bonita Bay Promenade. 239-992-7025. www.molinosristorante.com.

Old 41 Restaurant A sure bet since the day it opened in Bernwood. Specialties include eggs, omelets, pancakes, waffles, home-made soups, salads, sandwiches, Angus burgers, chili, Taylor pork roll, sausage gravy, creamed chipped beef, home cooked roast beef and turkey and “real” Philly cheese steaks. Open daily 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Corner of Old 41 and Bernwood Parkway. 239-948-4123. www.old41.com.

Pino’s Pizzeria Joe and Linda Russo, are the owners and operators of Pino’s where, “It’s all about the taste.” They offer the kind of Brooklyn family owned and operated business you don’t often find these days. Their big portions, low prices - and friendly attitude will have you coming back for more...and more…and still more! Open Mon. thru Fri. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sat. & Sun 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pelican Landing Publix Plaza, 24600 S. Tamiami Trail. 239-676 5332. www.pinospizzeria.net.

Ristorante EnricoOwner Enrico Costagliola was born in his mother’s restaurant in Torre-gaveta, Italy, south of Naples. “I still

Hungry Hound DawgsOutdoor picnic tables invite Bonitians to enjoy locally made frankfurters and sausages with only the freshest ingredients. Owner Rick Price, a 30 year Air Force veteran, dreamt for years of owning a hot dog vending company. He developed his passion for German sausages while stationed in Europe and now offers a full menu of dawgs and sausages. Pick one of his specialties or create your own! Open Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat until 2pm, closed Sun. Corner of Old 41 & Abernathy Street. 239-877-6501. www.hungryhounddawgs .com.

La Fontanella Ristorante Owner Moe has over 35 years in the business, and the experience shows. He and his staff assure customers the finest dining experience. Serving gourmet Italian cuisine, specializing in pasta, veal, chicken, seafood and steak. “If you can’t cut the veal with a fork, the meal is free.” Specials daily. Open daily 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. 24600 S. Tamiami Trail at the Shoppes at Pelican Landing. 239-498-6808. www.lafontanel-larestaurant.net.

Lake House Bar and GrillAn open air café with one of Bonita’s finest water views. A hot spot for lunch and dinner, popular among both locals and tourists. Featuring the Bonita Burger, veggie rollup, tuna salad and sandwiches and more sandwiches. Plus tacos, fish and chicken dinners. Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., happy hour 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Located next to the Trianon Hotel. 3401 Bay Commons Dr. 239-948-4400. www.lakehousebarandgrill.net.

Manhattan SteakhouseSpecializing in USDA Prime Dry Aged steaks and sizzling platters up to 1800 degrees. Enjoying its second season, Bella Purisic oversees this relative newcomer to

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IN THE PROMENADE26841 South Bay Drive - Bonita Springs

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IN THE PROMENADEIN THE PROMENADERESERVE A PRIVATE WINE CELLAR DINING ROOM

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