Page A28 Southwest Spotlight January 2012SOUTHWESTJANUARY 2012 Vol.3, No.1 FREEEvents, things to do and opportunities to give back to our community in and around Bonita SpringsPRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDFT MYERS, FLPERMIT #980RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERECRWSSLetters to the editor A17Why I love livingin Bonita Springs B1ChildrensMuseum A9Events B2Sunset ofthe month B20Bonita Elections A11Inside20,000 circulation12,000 direct-mailedIzzy Havenick onDog Tracks futureBy Peter R. OFlinnprof@swspotlight.comBonitaSpringsInanimportantmomentoftransitionfor Bonita Springs, the owners of the Bonita Dog Track aremakingplanstointroduceslotmachines,amovethatrequires approval by Lee County voters. Isadore(Izzy)Havenick,amemberofthefamilythatowns the track, told the Spotlight that he plans to ask theBonita City Council for a resolution supporting the projectinJanuary.HewouldlikeLeeCountyCommissionerstoputthematterontheballotatNovembersPresidentialelection. InarecentextendedinterviewwiththeSpotlight,Havenickdiscussedthestateofthegreyhoundracingindustry and plans for the facility. TheBonitatrackisthelegacyofIsadoreHechtofMiami, who purchased the business and almost one hundredacresonthesoutheastcornerofBonitaBeachRoadandOld 41 in the late 1960s. He razed the existing building andbuiltthepresentthree-storystructureintheearly1970s,calling it the Naples-Fort Myers Dog Track. The centerpieceof Hechts business was Miamis Flagler Dog Track, whichhe purchased in 1952. Today Barbara Havenick, Hechts daughter, along withher daughter and three sons, including Izzy Havenick, runFlagler Dog Track, now called the Magic City Casino, andthe Bonita Dog Track. She took over upon the death of herhusband Fred in 2006.This is a family business, but not the typical Mom andPop variety. The total handle, or money wagered, at theBonita track totaled $21 million in the 2011 fiscal year, ac-cordingtoFloridasDivisionofPari-MutuelWagering.About $9 million was wagered on live dog races, with $12Continued on page A26By D.K. Christidk@swspotlight.comBonitaSprings Aheartconnection to place - a sanc-tuary within city walls - awayfrom the business of life andtransformedinapeaceful,healingspaceishowHeather Burch describes herexperience with the groundsatShangri-La,BonitaSprings. BeginningwithagrandopeninginDecemberthatincludedtoursandseveralevents,Shangri-Laisnolonger a mystery. It is open-ingforbusinessundertheguidingphilosophyofHeather Burch whose LanaHana Trust saved the historicresort from potential devel-opment that might have de-stroyed the healing environ-mentpassedonfromoneowner to the other since theearly 1920s. Peoplefeeltouchedwhen they walk the grounds,saysBurch.Thatfeelingneeded to be preserved.Burchemphasizedtheimportance of place, the con-nection to the earth and thepower to heal. Memories ofits heyday as a Natural Hy-giene resort with its own or-ganicgarden,freshgrownsprouts, raw foods and heal-ingmineralspringsreachbackfurthertoherownmother in Toronto, Canada,whodecidedattheageofShangri-La reopensContinued on page A22John Bartucz | Special to the SpotlightThe owners of the Bonita Dog Track on Bonita Beach road are making plans tointroduce slot machines.Use this Certificate for an extra 20% OFF the sale price of any area rug in-stock.20% OFFAdditional* ONE CERTIFICATE PER PURCHASE. OFFER EXCLUDES PRIOR PURCHASES AND DISCONTINUED AREA RUGS. EXPIRES 1-31-12.(SWS)239-596-5959naples.abbeycarpet.comRoyal Cove Plaza 13250 Tamiami Trail NorthNaples Finest Flooring ShowroomIOYAL COVE ILAZA 13250 JAMIAMI JRAIL ORTH CNE bLOCK SOUTH OF WIGGINS IASS IOAD APLES, ILORIDA 34110239-596-5959 NAPLES.ABBEYCARPET.COM MONDAY - IRIDAY - o SATURDAY - 5Come Visit the Flooring ExpertsAREA RUGSOn Sale Now!FREEDesign ServiceFREEDelivery & Set up 25% -75% OFF!IURRY! SALE NDS 1-31-12.100s of Closeouts & IISCONTINUED IUGS at 75% OFF!Why Ilove livingin BonitaWhy Ilove livingin BonitaSPOTLIGHTon BONITAELECTIONSSPOTLIGHTon BONITAELECTIONSPage A2 Southwest Spotlight January 2012Locally owned andoperated since 2010(239) 287-6474info@swspotlight.comPO Box 1946Bonita Springs, FL 34133Southwest Spotlight, LLCswspotlight.comSOUTHWESTPublisherPeter A. O'Flinnpeter@swspotlight.comThis monthA6 Rebooting theboat paradeA6 Old meets newA9 Childrens MuseumA11 Bonita ElectionsA11 From the publisherA11 EditorialA12 In their own wordsBen NelsonDave GrothausA14 In their own wordsBarb Barnes-BuchananRoger BrunswickA15 Wes NorrisPeter SimmonsA17 Letters to the editorB1 Bonita students helpsoldiersB7 Diving for golf ballsEvery IssueA5 Ben Nelsons columnA6 Up and Down the TrailA21 Spotlight Real Estate WatchA23 Opportunitiesto give backA25 Bonita Business BeatAudio InterventionsLa Fontanella RistoranteB1 Why I love livingin Bonita SpringsDave GrossiRene GardnerB2 EventsB9 BTV ScheduleB12 Artist SpotlightKitrick ShortB14 Teacher SpotlightZachary SchroederB16 Healthy NewsB18 Bonitas Best FriendsB20 Sunset of the monthB22 Restaurant GuideAdvertising SalesKathy O'Flinnkathy@swspotlight.comOffice ManagerKatie O'Flinnkatie@swspotlight.comContributing WritersBill BarnesCharles J. CavaliereD. K. ChristiMeghan EasterlyChad GillisMax Harris Dorota HarrisBen Nelson Jr.Peter R. O'FlinnHeather ThomsonContributing PhotographersChris GriffithWilliam L. MeyersDavid MichaelRobert L. SmithA11Win ticketsB18 and B20January 2012 Southwest Spotlight Page A3Page A4 Southwest Spotlight January 2012By Ben Nelson Jr.Special to the SpotlightBonita Springs The coolnightairandthesmelloffireplaces burning here andtherethistimeofyearmakes me want to go camp-ing...untilIreallythinkabout it for a while. I knowalotofyoustillenjoyit,but I have to say that I amnottheintrepidexplorerthat I was when I was say...12 years old. Back then, lay-ingonthehardground,swattingmosquitoesinatentpackedwithotherwoodsmokedkidswasactuallyfun,probablybecausewedidntcareabout sleep, safety, comfortor hygiene. Wewouldallhopintomydadsoldfourwheeldrive pick up, head out eastof town to the most isolatedpiece of dry ground in thewatersoakedwoodsthatwecouldfind.ItwasallLordoftheFliesfromthere. Staying up all night;playing with fire and fash-ioning spears. The numberone rule was Dont be thefirstguytogotosleep.Makinglifemiserableforthe guy who made that mis-takewasquiteoftenthehighlight of the trip. (SorryaboutpaintingyouredRalph.)The last boys campingtripthatIvebeenonwasjustafewyearsago.MybrotherinvitedmyfriendGeorge and me to join himandhisfriendsattheircamp near the North Canal.Ofcoursebycamp,hemeant a circle of rocks withafireinit,surroundedbycompletelybareground(mud)andcypresstreeswithafewrustynailsandropes decorating them. WhenGeorgeandIarrived with our tents, sleep-ingbags,coolers,oldguymedication, etc. it was justgetting dark. We quickly seteverythingupandjoinedtheotherguysaroundthefire. It was fun being youngboys again, sitting aroundthefire,tellingstories,talking...laughing.Thenaround midnight everyonestarted to fall asleep... basi-cally in whatever spot andpositionthattheylandedin. Soon, I was the last con-sciouscamper,soIstoodup,surveyedthebodyssprawledaboutthecamp,stretched, yawned and head-ed to my tent.And so began the longestnight of my life. I stuffed myself into thesleepingbag,breathedinthecoolnightair,listenedto the deafening quiet andthenclosedmyeyes.JustasIstartedtodriftoff...SNNNOOORRKkEE! Myeyes snapped open. PPPFF-FLBUT-BUT-BUT!Isatstraightupandlistened.George!Isneeredinawhisper.Ipeekedoutofthetent.Sureenough,thegrotesque snoring was com-ingfromhistentandnotfrom some other stinky ani-mal.Ilookedaroundmytent and gathered up every-thing I could find and thenwaited there with it pulledtightlyagainstmyhead.SNNNOOORRKkEE!Icouldstillhearhim!Afterwhat seemed like hours ofsquirming,cursing,cram-ming socks in my ears andwrapping shorts around myhead,Ikickedeverythingoffofme.Ilaytherewithmy hands clasped over myears. Finally, I said out loudThats it! I scrambled outof the tent, walked over andkicked my friends big feetthrough the side of the tent.George!PPPPPFF-F L B UT- B UT- B UT ! GEORGE! Nothing. ThereI stood at 2am with my fistsonmyhips,shakingmyhead.(Howcouldhebedeadandstillbemakingthat much noise?) I lookedover at the truck. Ah-Ha!I whispered as I opened thedoor and crawled inside. Ishutthedoors,rolledupthe windows and squirmedaround, trying to get com-fortable. Then I lay still fora moment; blanket over myhead,listeningasmyearsrangwithsilence,untilSNNNOOORRKkEE!Iyankedtheblanketdownoffofmyface.Areyoukidding me! I moaned. Itsounded like he was insidethetruck!Isatupandburied my face in my hands.OhforPetessakehispoor wife How could hestill be married?AtdaybreakIwasstillleaningonthesteeringwheellookingthroughbaggy eyes at the smolder-ing fire, my brother and allhisfriends.Theyhadntmovedallnightandwerestillsleepingsoundly,sprawled in every directionaroundthecamp.Then,just like the rising sun itdawned on me, and I slowlystartedbumpingmyheadon the steering wheel. Whenyourealloverage50,itsnolongerthefirstonetogotosleepthatsuffers...its the last one.January 2012 Southwest Spotlight Page A53705 BAY CREEK DRVisit us at TheFaganTeam.comDotti Fagan239-272-4946Bob Fagan239-272-3006Mike Fagan239-340-5455Sandy Kass 239-292-4044Ashley Wells239-992-910027690 MARINA ISLE CT19707 MADDELENA CIR 4140 BAYHEAD DR #205 26661 EGRETS LANDING DR #10126290 DEVONSHIRE CT #201 9400 HIGHLAND WOODS BLVD #5202 25941 NESTING CT #201 4363 SANCTUARY WAY26691 CLARKSTON DR #10526463 CLARKSTON DR28640 CARRIAGE HOMES DR #103 26811 S Tamiami TrailBonita Springs, FL 3413410482 AUTUMN BREEZE DR #202 NEW LISTINGPENDINGNEW LISTING REDUCEDREDUCED 3110 LAUREL RIDGE CT 8589 VIA GARIBALDI CIR #208

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149,000$#5202 D V S BLLV D WOO D IGHLANAnd so began the longest night of my life.Camp NotgonnadoitagainSpotlight Staff Reportinfo@swspotlight.comRebooting the boat paradeIttakesaboatguytomakeagreatboatparade.OverthelastfewyearsAdamBotana hadbeenconcernedwiththedwin-dling number of boats par-ticipating in Bonita SpringsannualChristmasboatparadeontheImperialRiver, a signature event ofseasonal festivities aroundtown.I was really upset, saidBotana. When I was a kid,thereusedtobe40boats.TheyusedtostartatBigHickory,goallthewaydowntheImperialRiver,and then end at Big Hick-ory. It was a big deal. BotanaisPresidentoftheBonitaSpringsNoonRotaryClub,whichspon-sorstheparade,andheruns Bay Water Boat Clubon Bonita Beach Road. Sohe was in a position to dosomething about it.This year we said, Wehavetogetmoreboatsinvolvedorthisparadesgoingtofallapart,saidBotana.Botanawenttowork.The entry fee was droppedand, he decided, cash prizeswouldbeawardedforthetopthreecategories,andeightotherawardsgivenout.Boaterswereheavilyrecruited. A Captains Partywas held at the Fish House. Someboaterslovetowatchtheparade,saidBotana.ItoldthemIknow that, but you have toget in the parade, or therewill be no parade.OnaSaturdayeveninginDecember,resultsofBotanas efforts were appar-ent,anddramatic.Thiswasthebestparadeever,said Mary Ann Spann, whowatched from her house inBonitaBay.Thatwastheconsensusalongtheriver,includingthosewhowatchedfromtheCitysRiver Park on new 41.In2010therewere12boats,saidBotana. Thisyearwehad27registered.Another seven just droppedin. Tomakemoreofanimpact, Botana decided toslow the pace of the parade.I told everybody, Just lineup behind my double deck-er, and we just did a crawl.Westartedat6oclockattheFishHouse.Wewerebarely over idle. That kepteverybody together, whichmade the parade great. Peo-plecouldreallyenjoytheboats going by.Itsreallyalotoffun.We had over 30 people onthe double decker. It was arocking time, said Botana.Eleven awards and prizeswere awarded, ranging fromBest of Show to the Bro-kenAnchoraward,foraboat that really looks thatbad. That went to a smalljohnboatwithasolitaryunlit tree.The Bonita parade is ina friendly competition withother cities like Naples, saysBotana. What is neat aboutour parade is that we actu-allygoupariver,andthehouses get involved. Otherparades pretty much go incircles around a bay.Whats next? Next yearwewanttogetevenmorehousesinvolvedalongtheriver,saidBotana.Wewant to have 45 boats, then50 boats. We want to makeit a really big event. Peoplearealreadycallingabout2012. The parade is alwayson the second Saturday inDecember.Old Florida meets New AgeThereweresmilesallaround as a crowd gatheredfortheopeningreceptionand ribbon cutting of his-toricShangri-LaontheeveningofDecember21.Ive never been to a ribboncutting, co-owner AddisonFischer had said that morn-ing at City Council cham-bers. But at 6 oclock therehewasonShangri-Lasfrontsteps,togetherwithHeatherBurch,holdingsuper-sizedscissorsasMayorBenNelsonheldasupersized ribbon. Fischer and Burch weregracioushosts,andlateroffered a champagne toastatShangri-Lasmineralsprings,whicharethesprings in Bonita Springs.May the spirit and richnessofthelandandhealingwatersatShangri-Labewith you. May it continueto bring you strength, puri-ty and joy, read a greetingon the event brochure. Among those attendingwere State Senator LizbethBenequisto,SheriffMikeScott, the entire City Coun-cil, Fire department brass,chamber of commerce lead-ers,andvolunteersfromthe morning Rotary Club,Historical Society and GulfCoastGardenClub,anddozens more.Shangri-La is a set pieceofoldFloridabeautifullypreserved.Itsaworldofopen breezeways, toweringbanyan trees, whirring fans,polishedwoodenfloors,expanses of grass, an opengazebo and a raised swim-ming pool, with Oak Creekmeandering on the bound-ary. How historic is Shangri-La?Togetanidea,walkdownthehallwaytothePresidentialsuite.Onthewallarephotosofthefounding family. One is ofaHeitmangirl,dressedasaflapper.Nexttoitisaframedbrochure,offeringa weeklong stay, includingtwo meals a day, for $69.95,plus 3 percent tax. Shangri-LaHealingWatersisnowtheresortsname,andnewfeaturesgive it bit of New Age feel.Thecyclonefenceiswrappedinbamboo. AdocentlookingafterthecandlelitOctagonLabyrinthWalkexplainedtoavisitor Ivegotalotof country in me, but thisthingreallyispeaceful.The swimming pool is nowthe Mineral Springs Soak-ing Pool.Proceeds from the open-ing events benefitted severallocalorganizations,in-cluding projects of morningRotary and Historical Soci-ety. ByronLiles,whoseknowledgeofBonitaSprings history is encyclo-pedic,wasoneofthevol-unteersstandingbythegazebooverlookingOakCreek.Lileswasaskedifthatspitoflandhadaname. This place has morehistory than I knew about,hesaidashethumbedthroughpagesoffactsheets.Thenhefoundit.ItscalledMeditationPoint. MeanderingsThere isa lot that is uncertain aboutelections.Butonethingacandidatecancountonisfindinghisorherownnameontheballotandhavingthesatisfactionofchecking that box.But notin Florida, and so not Boni-ta Springs, if you are unop-posed.Under Florida lawthenamesofunopposedcandidates shall not appearontheballot.Eachunop-posedcandidateshallbedeemedtohavevotedforhimselforherself.SoinJanuaryelectionsfordis-tricts 2 and 6, Janet Martinand Bill Lonkart, who havenoopposition,willbereelected but not find theirnames on the ballot. Thatsnoproblem,Martintoldthe Spotlight with a laugh.I felt kind of funny votingfor myself anyway.Page A6 Southwest Spotlight January 2012Up and Down the TrailJanuary 2012 Southwest Spotlight Page A7Fort MyersBonita SpringsNapleswww.finemarkbank.com239-461-5900Member FDIC. An Equal Housing Lender. Trust and Investment Services are not FDIC insured, are not guaranteed by the bank and may lose value.QUnLi1.. 1ir.Meaningful relationships offer significant rewards, but they take time to develop. At FineMark National Bank & Trust, our job is to invest time in you and your family. To get to know your goals and desires for the future. Because the quality time we spend understanding who you are today, will help us serve you better tomorrow. Choose FineMark. Make your mark. Page A8 Southwest Spotlight January 2012By Heather Thomsonheather@swspotlight.comCollierCountyTheGolisano Childrens Muse-um of Naples (CMON) hasbeen a project in the worksbyfounderAllysonLoosandherfoundingboardsince2002.Whenpeoplesay that the museum was adreamofAllysons,theymeanthatintheliteralsense.Thatdreamwillberealized this February withthe opening of CMON. ThemuseumislocatedattheNorth Collier Regional Park,right down Livingston Roadat Immokalee. This Naplesmuseum is closer to BonitaSpringsthantheCityofNaples.AllysonLooshasa14-year-oldson,andhadadaughter named Bianca whopassed away at a young age.One night, Bianca came toher mother in a dream andaskedhertobuildaplacefor families in Naples, specif-ically a childrens museum.Thenextday,Allysonwason the phone, calling closefriendswithheridea,whoin turn called more friendswith specific skills and expe-riencethatwouldhelpthedreamcometolife.Therecognition of much-neededqualityfamilytimeforallchildren became the catalystforamulti-milliondollarproject that Southwest Flori-daislookingforwardtoseeing. The project has requiredconstant work and dedica-tion for the past nine years,especiallybyboardmem-berswhoworkedtirelesslyto contact donors. One con-nected with Tom Golisano,founder of Paychex and for-mer co-owner of the BuffaloSabres and Buffalo Bandits.Golisanoproposedachal-lengegrantof$5million,with the promise to donatethemoneyassoonastheboard could raise the sameamount.Heather Patton, DirectorofExternalAffairsforCMON, explains the initialplansforthebuildingandthefuturekidswhowillcometoenjoyit.Thefoundersbroughtinkidsof all ages and backgroundsand asked them all the samethree questions. Its a placefor kids, so it was importantto know what they want. Thosequestionswere:When you were 6, what didyou love to do? If you couldhave anything in the world,costbeingirrelevant,whatwoulditbe?WhatmakesSouthwest Florida a specialplace?Thechildrensanswersto these three simple ques-tionssetinmotionplansfor thirteen different exhibitswhich will span two floorsofthenewbuilding.The13 exhibits will be the ABCLot; Art Studio and Gallery;AttheBeach;BeautifullyOutdoors; Green Construc-tion;JourneythroughtheEverglades;CuriousKids;MotherNaturesHouse;ProduceMarket;SpaceKidettes; The Banyan Tree;The Farm; and World Cafe.Theideaistoencouragekidstolearnandexplorewhile also having fun, saysPatton.MuseumdesignersMary Sinker and Jack Rouse& Associates are behind theconceptualdesignforthebuilding.Everythingatthesitewill be completely accessiblefor all kids, no matter whothey are or where they comefrom. It is wheelchair acces-sible throughout, and eventhe colors have been choseninaspecificway,sokidswith autism or similar con-ditions wont be affected bytoo much brightness or eventheitemsandexhibitsthroughout the facility, saysPatton.Therewillbefieldtripsmadetothemuseumbydifferent childrens programsand shelters, such as YouthHaven, and schools. Perhapsthebestpart,however,isthat after the kids experiencetheexhibits,liketheEver-glades,themuseumwillactuallytakethekidsoutto the environments so theycanexperiencetherealthing. There will be nightsforfamiliestocomeandwalk at their own pace andtime, and of course, every-one is welcome.The Golisano ChildrensMuseum of Naples has onemission:Toprovideanexciting, inspiring environ-mentwherechildrenandtheirfamiliesplay,learn,and dream together. Fromwhatwereseeing,that mission will not be hard tofulfill.January 2012 Southwest Spotlight Page A9Childrens Museum prepares for openingStaff Photo | info@swspotlight.comThe Golisano Childrens Museum of Naples is scheduled to open next month.When you were 6,what did youlove to do?Enjoy Real Freedom on the Water!Come to...BOAT CLUBFAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED5124 Bonita Beach Road S.W. Bonita Springs, FL 34134239-495-0455 Open everyday 8 am to 5:30 pmTired of Boat Maintenance? Join the Club!15 Boats Available