This report reached us at press time. Please prepare your home for this night time visitor.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"
by Clement Clarke Moore
We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Reprinted from the original that originally ran before the turn of the last century
With all which has happened since September 11, it seemed appropriate to publish this version of T'was The Night Before Christmas
A Sentinels Christmas
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE. I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE. NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND. FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED? I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, "SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE; I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS; MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP. I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT. THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
Boy Scout Troop 82 is holding their 6th Annual Christmas Tree Sale starting Saturday, November 24 till Sunday December 26 at Grace United Methodist Church located at 13 SE 21 Place, one mile west of Orange Grove Blvd, on Hancock Bridge Pkwy. The troop will be selling 5 to 10 foot Fraser Firs priced form $35 to $80 and 14 inch wreaths for $15.
One may begin ordering trees and prepaid trees before November 13 will receive a $5 discount. To order a tree or wreath call 690-2448.
The InterPark Council met last Friday, December 7 at Del Tura. Guest speaker Terry Pye, Chief of the N. Ft. Myers Fire Department made a presentation of the CERT Program.
CERT is an acronym for Community Emergency Response Teams, began in Los Angeles in 1994. CERTs have been established in hundreds of communities and more that 60,000 people have completed the training. Emergency Response Agencies see this grass roots partnering effort as a way of preparing the community for hazards and meeting immediate life saving needs following a major disaster.
Emergency management organizations realize that after a major disaster, they will not have the resources or capability to meet the demand for services. Professional emergency response teams will have to prioritize the use of their equipment and manpower. Recognizing this, agencies find that CERT empowers its trainees with the means to care for themselves and their community until help arrives. As Chief Pye put it, "People helping people."
If a Category 3 hurricane should hit Fort Myers, major flooding would occur and with the amount of manufactured homes in this area, major damage also, many will be without a home. All rescue equipment would be moved to Station 4 on Trail Dairy Road according to Pye. "Some may not see rescue vehicles for up to three days," Pye added. "CERT will train people to help look after their neighborhoods until professional help can arrive."
CERT training encompasses six areas:
1) Disaster preparedness
2) fire suppression
3) Disaster Medical Operations, triage and treating life threatening injuries
4) Disaster Medical Operations, assessment, treatment and hygiene
5) Light search and rescue
6) Team Organization and Disaster Psychology
It takes seven weeks to complete the training, meeting weekly for 2 to 3 hours, one must pass a test at completion.
A CERT team may consist of three to ten members and according to Chief Pye, most of the manufactured home parks in N. Ft. Myers should have three to four teams. Buccaneer Estates and Lake Fairways already have one CERT team.
Rod Lundstrom, from Buccaneer Estates asked about the rent survey from last month's meeting. He pointed out that the complete survey was long and very thorough and asked if everyone had a copy of it.
The next InterPark Council Meeting is January 11 at Buccaneer Estates.
Have you seen the changes? Drive down US 41, new businesses are being built between Pine Island and Pondella Roads. Four new restaurants have opened in the past two weeks. Pinchers Crab Shack, at the Best Western Hotel on North Key Drive, Hurricane Harrys and The Crooked Fork Cafe both on Hancock Bridge Pkwy, and O'Sullivans on Cleveland Ave.
More places to eat means more traveling on our roads, and more traveling on the roads means more exposure to the other businesses of North Fort Myers. The more we can offer to our residents the better off we are as community.
The Chamber is planning to provide more special events for the residents and businesses of North Fort Myers. In November they had a Thank You North Fort Myers block party, which was a great success. Last weekend they teamed up with Pinchers Crab Shack, Shuckers, Hurricane Harrys, Wallys Waterfront Restaurant, Best Western Waterfront, Howard Johnson's Riverfront, 102.9 Groovin Oldies, Budweiser, and Seatow for 1st Annual North Fort Myers Holiday Boat Parade.
The Chamber is now in the preliminary stages of organizing its second Community Festival on March 16th, 2002 at North Fort Myers Community Park. As the chamber plans to put on more events for the community they are in communications with other organizations, such as the North Fort Myers Civic Association and the Suncoast Neighborhood Task Force, both groups that care about our community and want to make a better North Fort Myers. The common denominator with all three groups is that they all truly love this community and are willing to put forth the effort to make it better. It doesn't get much better than that.
The North Fort Myers Chamber wishes Happy Holidays to North Fort Myers and a safe and prosperous 2002.
A new award to recognize outstanding service to humanity will honor a retired Fort Myers attorney.
The John W. Sheppard award was created by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation to honor the lifelong contributions of Mr. Sheppard. Mr. Sheppard was named the first recipient of the award by the Foundation's Trustees.
Mr. Sheppard, a Fort Myers native to practiced estate planning law for his entire career, was honored as a philanthropist and for his kindness to fellow human beings. Sheppard was a graduate of Ft. Myers High School, the University of Florida and the University of Florida Law School. He is one of the founders of the Community Foundation and has contributed countless hours to the Foundation's projects.
The Sheppard Award will be made at the discretion of the Trustees of the Community Foundation.
A Self help course for people with Fibromyalgia will be held starting Monday, January 7 at the Wellness center in Cape Coral from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The course is a series of seven weekly classes designed to teach people with Fibromyalgia how to take a more active role in their healthcare. It offers information about pain control, relaxation, exercise, doctor/healthcare, professional/patient relationships, fatigue and depression.
Pre-registration is required in order to attend the course, deadline is January 3. To receive an application form call the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-741-4008.
The N. Ft. Myers Civic Association has established a priority to seeing if incorporation is a feasible as well as practical for our community. They have formed a Fact Finding Committee chaired by Fred Schilffarth, one of the Directors. In order to accomplish this task, they need twelve more citizens of N. Ft. Myers from each of the following areas:
Sheriff's Department; Fire Department; Education; Large Business 50+ employees; Small Business 5-10 employees; Homeowners Association Presidents; Utilities; Building/development Industry; Real Estate and Media.
The first goal is to get answers from all the citizens questions, to facilitate this an e-mail address has been set up to send your concerns to nfmcityqa@hotmail.com, please be brief and to the point.
The legislature has established 17 elements that must be net in order to be considered for incorporation and these are mandatory. The final stages could be expensive, however no money can be spent unless the citizens of N. Ft. Myers decide what they want by a straw vote (referendum).
The second goal is to provide all the information necessary to place this concept on the November 2002 ballot and let the 29,000 registered voters in N. Ft. Myers say "let's move forward."
The NFMCA would like to thank you in advance for all your help and even prayers in undertaking this important task which will probably take three to five years.
The Anne Morrow Lindbergh Shell Coast Poetry Festival is accepting poetry submissions from Lee County public and home schooled students, grades K-12, now through Wednesday, February 27, 2002. Conceived in 1999, the Festival celebrates young peopleŐs poetry by emphasizing the joy and creativity that comes from writing. Selected submissions are published in an annual anthology which is available in local bookstores and libraries as well as the Lindbergh Foundation book list. The Festival culminate in a poetry reading to be held on Saturday, April 27.
Poetry submissions should be mailed to: Anne Morrow Lindbergh Shell Coast Poetry Festival, c/o Margaret E. Morgan, 7000 Estero Blvd., #301, Ft. Myers Beach, FL 33931.
The North Fort Myers Public Library is offering great programs this month for adults and children. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information or to register, please call 997-0320. The North Fort Myers Public Library is located at 2001 North Tamiami Trail. NE in North Fort Myers.
The Lee County Library system will be closed December 24, 25, 31 and January 1 for county holidays.
Teen Poetry Cafe, Tuesday, December 18, 6:30-7:30 PM Teen Poetry Cafe Teens can share a poem, win a prize, and enjoy refreshments in a relaxed cafe atmosphere. Kids' Club: The Giving Cactus, Friday, Dec. 28, 3-4 PM "The Giving Cactus" and other audience participation stories about sharing will be presented. This program is for ages 6 and up. Pre-registration is requested.
Sign language interpreter available with 48 hour notice. Call the Deaf Service Center at 461-0334 (voice or TTY). Assistive listening systems are available upon request at the desk.
Southwest Florida International Airports 14th annual Holiday Park & Fly program will run from Friday, Dec. 14, through Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002. The off-site parking program reduces traffic and parking congestion at the airport during one of the busiest times of the year while offering travelers the convenience of curbside drop-off and savings on parking fees.
"Short-term parking at the airport costs $8 a day, long-term parking is $6 a day, and the economy lot is $5 a day or $25 per week," said Susan Sanders, director of aviation marketing for the Lee County Port Authority, operator of the airport. "The Park & Fly program offers real savings as well as convenience for travelers parking their vehicles for more than four days."
Travelers departing from the airport from Dec. 14 through Dec. 24 and returning anytime from Dec. 26 through Jan. 3 are encouraged to Park &Fly. In light of heightened security measures, travelers should contact their respective airlines to confirm how early they should check in at the airport and then add an additional 30 minutes to their schedules in order to use the Park & Fly program. Program participants park their vehicles at the Lee County Sports Complex between 4 a.m. and 5 p.m. and pay a flat fee of $19.95 in cash when parking. Complimentary shuttle service transports travelers to the airport terminal curb. Return transportation to the Sports Complex is provided from Dec. 26 through Jan. 3. No parking or shuttle service will be available Christmas Day.
The Park & Fly program, hosted by the Lee County Port Authority, has accommodated more than 2,000 vehicles during each of the past six years. For more information, please call the Park & Fly Information Hotline at (941) 768-4477, or visit the airport's Web site at www.SWFIA.com.
The Board of Lee County Commissionersapproval Tuesday the initial contract for building a marsh that will filter and cleanse the water running through the Ten Mile Canal in southern Lee County that eventually empties into Estero Bay.
The $300,000 contract is for ECT Environmental Consulting & Technology to provide professional engineering and environmental services for the design, permitting and construction of the project. Ten Mile Canal runs north to south through much of Lee County, collecting drainage and runoff along the way. Studies have shown that stormwater runoff carries nutrients, metals and other pollutants and is a significant factor in the health of our natural creeks, rivers and estuaries.
The project is one of several steps being taken to mitigate county public works projects in the southern part of Lee County and take a more comprehensive approach to the mitigation and permitting of those projects. Other steps have included panther habitat mapping, stepped up water quality testing and purchases of environmentally sensitive lands through such programs as Conservation 2020 and the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW).
The project also is being done in partnership with the private sector through an organization called the Water Conservation and Enhancement Council, which was formed earlier this year. The 15-to-20 acre marsh - to be built east of the canal and south of Daniels Road - is intended to have dense vegetation that will filter out pollutants from water diverted to it before they reach Mullock Creek and Estero Bay. Ten Mile Canal runs from the Hansen Street area in Fort Myers to Mullock Creek near San Carlos Park.
The $2.8 million project is included in the countyŐs capital construction budget. The private sector is expected to contribute $500,000 toward the cost and the South Florida Water Management District may reimburse another $800,000.
Using the Ten Mile Canal Filter Marsh as a pilot project, the county hopes to develop a Master Natural Resources Preservation/Mitigation Plan to proactively address potential cumulative impacts to the countyŐs natural resources such as water supply, water quality and wildlife habitat due to existing and future development including both private and public works projects.
The Board of Lee County Commissioners will be discussing such a strategy at its January 7 Management and Planning meeting.
A proactive and comprehensive approach could address environmental concerns through implementation of retrofit and restoration-type projects instead of engaging in the continual technical debates and legal challenges on a case-by-case basis that now characterizes the process.
For those who picked up this issue for more on our local schools or turned here for our regular ranting, we apologize, this is our annual Christmas Issue. For six years the Examiner has been printing Twas the Night Before Christmas and Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus, our way of saying Happy Holidays to our readers. And, if by some stroke of luck, one of these old tales rekindles the Christmas Spirit in just one person, it is well worth it. It is easy to write a holiday editorial about the Christmas Spirit and how one wishes it would last all year long. Or how Christmas has been commercialized. This year I'd like to write about the children.
Somehow, over the past few decades, adults have been forgetting what all the holidays are about. Yes, Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth, Easter the resurrection, the 4th of July our country's birthday and so forth.
To me, holidays are for the children, that simple. Adults have ruined Halloween for some children with adult hang ups of Satanic Rituals. To a child, Halloween is very simply a night to get free candy, they could care less about anything else.
Christmas is that time of year a child has to be especially good so Santa will bring presents. Yes, as adults we mix in the story of Christmas, so our children will have a well rounded reason to celebrate. Yet take a close look at how we celebrate Christmas. We have taken many different customs from many different areas and combined them into a joyous time of year.
No matter how religious we attempt to make the holiday, is there one of you out there who hasn't mentioned Santa Claus to child? Kris Kringle, that jolly old man who never ages and has brought the Christmas Spirit into every place he goes, from the shopping mall, to the parades, to office party and to a few, even their home.
What a symbol. Recognized by every child and adult in our country. Followed closely by the Easter Bunny, Uncle Sam and Tom Turkey.
No national figure, from any President, including Washington, to any movie star nor any singer, has enjoyed the popularity and fame as that jolly old elf. No one has spread the joy and happiness he has. From the poorest home to the richest, St. Nick transcends them all. He is quickly forgiven if he brought the wrong present or no presents at all. No child stays upset at Santa Claus.
In these times of national concern, a country at war, the economy faltering, our future no longer certain, may be it is time we take a lesson from our children. Instead of getting caught up in trying to understand global politics, or wallow in our woes over the economy, enjoy the season! Place all your faith in Santa Claus. Look at the season the same way you did as a child. The anticipation, the excitement, the joy.
And remember, the holidays are for the children, and the child in each of us. I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, a peaceful and joyful Hanukkah and a special Kwanzaa.
***
For those of you who actually read this paper for its news worthiness, we will continue our look into the School System of Lee County in our January 16 issue. That issue will focus on the special schools and monies being spent in them. Next will be asking questions about the over 900 courses being offered in our school system. Then the costs of bussing followed by the school lunch program.
Last week parents rallied to show support for not cutting back taxes to our schools. I'm sure the cry will soon rise for a new tax to help our schools. At over $10,000 per child already being collected, when do we ask how they are spending it instead of giving them more?
How many Administrators do we need? How many teachers do we need that do not teach? Is School Choice costing us more than its worth? Why do our high schools not all teach the same courses?
Is it time to do away with the elective courses and teach just the basics? Should these decisions be left to "Professional Educators" or brought to the people footing the bill, the taxpayers, as a ballot issue?
by Tom Comingore (token democrat)
I do not often repeat my stories but at Christmas time I make it a habit to go to the different stores where I usually shop and wish the different employees a sincere Merry Christmas and I really canŐt keep from telling my favorite Christmas story over and over again. Readers from a couple of years ago will remember this story but that is alright I truly think it stands to be repeated again and again at this time of the year. Perhaps you will want to send it to a friend. We all admire the rags to riches stories but the from riches to rags stories are not often told or admired. This being a true Christmas story is certainly a very unusual riches to rags story.
One of my favorite stories at Christmas time is about John Pierpont. Very few people recognize his name, but his story is certainly one of interest and personal struggle. Johns parents were fairly well to do. He studied at Yale and became a teacher but did such a poor job teaching that he left teaching and went back to school to study law. He was admitted to the bar but proved to be totally inept and was disbarred. John then went into business and as you might guess, he ended up bankrupt. John suffered a bout of depression and after he recovered studied theology.
Reverent Pierpoint at first was very popular with his rather prosperous congregation but begin to preach on the evils of barleycorn. If he had just stopped with his views on temperance he might have kept his job but he also took on strong anti slavery views and other reforms. His congregation dismissed him and later he became a pastor of a less affluent Unitarian Congregation, began to write poems, and was able to get several published.
When the civil war broke out he joined the Union army as a preacher and really tried to keep up but at 70 years old he just was not able to make it. He had to return home, completely broke. The only job he could find was as a clerk in a government office. John's wages were so low he could hardly pay his rent on his small room and feed himself. As Christmas approached and the cold winds and snow came down John felt somewhat saddened over the fact that he had no money left to buy presents for his friends, so he wrote a new poem and gave it to his friends. It was:
Dashing through to snow, In a one horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go, Laughing all the way;
Bells on bobtail ring, Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to sing A sleighing song tonight!
Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way!
WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
TOM COMINGORE
You can Email Tom TComin1551@aol.com
November 29 5659 Pine Island Road, Marty Lincoln Brunner was arrested for a warrant. November 30 18900 N. Tamiami Trail, Phillip A. Liller was arrested for retail theft. 8027 Grady Dr., Paul F. Coldwell was arrested for battery/domestic violence. December 1 N. Key Drive, Michael Bryar was arrested for operating a vehicle with no drivers license. West North Shore Drive, Carl Warning Brinson was arrested for DUI and driving with no license. December 2 6326 Beau Drive, Patricia Ann Peterson was arrested for trespass after warning. Laurel Lane, Fredrick Alan Adkinson was arrested for DOS habitual offender. December 3 1064 N. Tamiami Trail, Donald Ashley Phillips was arrested for battery. 8280 Nault Dr., Fletcher S. Whidden was arrested for battery/domestic violence. December 4 Pine Island Road, Jason Dale Townsend was arrested for driving while license was suspended and discarding burning ember from a moving vehicle. 15201 N. Cleveland Ave., Sammie Jackson/Franklin Dupree/Joseph Capps was arrested for loitering and prowling and providing false name to a law enforcement officer. 2170 Laurel Lane, Marcia Springate was arrested for grand theft. Seminole Campground, Richard Paul Ebaugh was arrested for violation of an injunction against domestic violence. December 6 101 Daniels Lane, Larry Carroll Peacock was arrested for criminal mischief. December 8 1 N. Sheub Lane, Kris Trathen and Zack Phillips were arrested for burglary of an occupied dwelling and grand theft auto. 7869 Ebson Drive, Eric Ray Creese was arrested for resisting arrest without violence and obstruction of justice. 7869 Ebson Drive, Sommer R. Theobold was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance. December 9 Nall Road, Nicholas W. Bach was arrested for a bench warrant. December 10 I-75, Pablo G. Castoneda was arrested for DUI. December 11 7769 Marx Drive, Robert Paul Frederiksen Sr. was arrested for a bench warrant. Hancock Bridge Pkwy. and Orange Grove, Alberto Nieves was arrested for driving while license was suspended. Pine Island Road, Ismael Dilan was arrested for failure to appear and a bench warrant. Pondella Road, Arthur LaVallis Nance was arrested for a warrant, failure to comply, loud music. December 13 Bayshore Road, Tonya S. Conroy was arrested for driving while license was suspended and obstruction without violence. 8010 Ebson Drive, Richard Caitrider was arrested for abuse of 911. December 14 Laurel at Garden, Keiley Eugene Herrin was arrested for aggravated assault and CCF. 345 Santa Barbara, Johnny Day was arrested for battery/domestic violence.
Note Dates On Christmas Vacation
We want to make sure all parents understand that December 18, 19 and 20 are early dismissal days with school dismissal at noon on those three days. If your child is normally parent pick-up, make sure you note these dates on your calendar.
Also note that school is out for vacation on the 20th, a thursday. in addition, students do not return to school until Tuesday, January 8. This is quite different from past years and we want all aprents to make note of this change.
Don Gill - E-mail VFVflorida@aol.com
by John Ketchum
Vets Who Need Help During the Appeals Process.
The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) is a part of the VA, located in Washington D.C. The "new" BVA certainly tries to do a good job, but it is difficult for it to be better than the information it receives. If you are not satisfied with the results of a claim for veteran benefits (determined by VA Regional Offices, medical centers, or other VA offices) get a copy of "Understanding the Appeals Process" pamphlet. It will explain the steps involved in filing an appeal and to serve as a reference for the terms and abbreviations used in the appeals process. Florida Regional Office in St. Petersburg (Bay Pines) is quick to take refuge behind "the back log" hysteria. Self-proclaimed lawyers may require you to "fight fire with fire."
It should be recalled that the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates (NOVA) is a group whose members are allowed to practice before the Court of Veterans' Appeals. This group also maintains an Advocate Referral Service, which provides interested veterans with a list of its members who will represent them on a contingency basis. If you have reached that point in the claims processing procedure where you are now entitled to, and believe you need, a lawyer, contact: 1-800-810-8387. You will probably need to provide a copy of the BVA's denial if you apply for representation.
Never Too Old To Learn.
New and old veterans should be reminded that as of March 2001, the VA became empowered to reimburse eligible applicants for the cost of licensing and certification examinations below $2000.00 dollars per test. The requirement is that these licensing and certification exams must be considered necessary in order to pursue a trade or profession. Eligible veterans who are interested in this benefit should submit the following to: VA Regional Processing Office, P.O. Box 100022, Decatur, GA 30031-7022
Include:
1. Name and social security number. 2. Name of the test taken, and date it was taken. 3. Name and address of the organization which administered the test. 4. Cost of the test. NOTE: registration fees, preparation guides, processing fees, etc. will not be reimbursed. 5. The following statement: "I authorize release of my test information to the VA."
If you wish further information regarding this benefit, please call toll free: 1-888-442-4551.
The North Fort Myers Lions Club meet the first and third Mondays of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Visually Impaired Persons Center located at 35 W. Mariana Road, just west of the N. Tamiami Trail.
The Southwest Florida Combat Infantrynen's Association, an elite group of veterans will be holding their monthly meeting on December 20 starting at 11:30 a.m. at the Elk's Lodge, 4351 SE 10 Place, Cape Coral. Veterans who were awarded the Combat Infabtryman's Badge in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama or Desert Storm are eligible to join this elite group of men.
For more information call Dan Sankoff Adjutant, 941-368-5006 or email to :SilverFoxx236@aol.com.
The Southwest Florida chapter of the Destroyer Escort Association {DESA} will meet for lunch Thursday, December 20, 2991 at noon at the Quality Inn Ft. Myers, 2431 Cleveland Ave. [US 41, three blocks South of the bridge]. Wayne Smith, former USAF pilot and POW at the "Hanoi Hilton" for five years will be the guest speaker. Reservations necessary. Ft Myers 458 8471, Port Charlotte 629 3481, and Sarasota 355-1935.
The Democratic Party of Lee County holds their monthly meeting the second Wednesday of each month in the County Commission Chamber of the Old Lee County Courthouse. Enter the building via the 2nd Street entrance. Themeeting begins at 7:00 P.M. and is open to the public. For more information contact the headquarters at 334-0908 or e-mail LeeDems @Juno.com.
Calling all teens 13 years old and older, Friday nights will never be boring again! Friday nights from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Lee County Parks and recreation and the Lee County Sheriff's Department will sponsor "pick-up" basketball games at J. Colin English Elementary Schools outside basketball courts.
Everyone must sign up to play and have a signed permission slip. Pick up the permission slips at N. Ft. Myers Community Park.
For more information call 652-6002.
The Acoustic Music Society of Southwest Florida will sponsor Basically Bluegrass Concert and Pick In at the Buckingham Community Center on Sunday, January 6 beginning at 2:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 per person and free for children under 12.
The Buckingham Community Center is located at 4940 Buckingham Road.
Scheduled to appear are: The Sawgrass Drifters, The Peace River Band, Wild Flowers and Curt Dunn & Company. Acoustic musicians are invited to bring their instruments and join in various jam sessions. The concert will be outside, so bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.
For more information call 626-5399.
Kids Conspiracy will present Goldilocks and the Three bears by Tom McCabe at the Riverside Community Center on December 15 at 10 and 11:30 a.m. The Foulds Theater in Ft. Myers on December 22 at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $5.00 with group rates available.
This classic takes a different look at the bear facts of summer camp life. It is full of eating chairs, talking bears and a nervous Ranger Roger, with a dash of vaudeville and lots of laughter. This is a super show for grandparents and children together.
The Riverside Community Center is located at the corner of Palm Beach Blvd. and Seaboard and Foulds Theater is located at the Lee County Alliance of the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd. For more information or tickets call 936-3239.
County Commissioners Andy Coy and Bob Janes will host an Open House on Thursday, December 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Lee county Government Center in Cape Coral located at 1039 SE 9th Place, o the third floor.
Come spend a few moments with your Commissioners to discuss ideas, goals or concerns you may have.
Every Monday from Jan 7-Jan 28th (four classes) from 10-11:30am, Every Wednesday from Jan 9-Jan 30 (four classes) from 10-11:30 am. Cost is only $30 for four classes. Even if you have never even seen a computer, these classes are for you! Classes are held at the North Ft Myers Community Center located behind the NFM Library. Space is Limited so sign up today. Register by calling 461-7400. For more info call Kathy at 652-6002. Come catch the computer craze.
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