Easing off-season woes; More international visitors, Florida day-trippers may boost business on island

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Gasparilla Gazette 8/27/09






Island Bike ‘n Beach, located at 333 Park Avenue, remains open during the off-season on Boca Grande. Photo copyright the Gasparilla Gazette.

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Business on Gasparilla Island typically slows down from the gallop of the May through July tarpon fishing season to a soft trot in August and September, the height of the off-season. Though a number of businesses stay open year-round, several close up shop during this time, this year being no exception.

However, the area's chamber of commerce hopes to begin attracting more international travelers during the quiet summer months as well as encourage local businesses to remain open, steps Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Director Lynda Lancaster says will take some of the summer strain off the local economy in coming years.

"I can see a small beginning already taking place," Lancaster said. "It will grow exponentially if it's done right."

Business typically picks back up later in the year, but Lancaster sees lowered summertime prices on things like clothes, food and rental properties-prudent economical adjustments for many business owners-as an attraction to visitors.

Many European families, she said, enjoy visiting Boca Grande in the summer, and the chamber hopes to attract more of these families.

Additionally, Florida natives in nearby areas such as Sarasota, Englewood and Fort Myers are "staycationing" on the island, enjoying the tropical atmosphere of Boca Grande as opposed to traveling out of state at an increased cost.

"The economy, even though it seems dire, has been a plus for us this summer," Lancaster said. "People can drive just 20 minutes and they're on an island adventure that feels like a different area of the world. I think we could have a lot of return business."

Boca Grande has a lot to offer the visitor and resident alike, such as fishing, kayaking, local culture and a pristine natural environment. Though Lancaster believes more businesses staying open in the summertime would help the economy by attracting more return visitors, there were a number of businesses which did remain open this year.

"The Pink Elephant (Restaurant) stayed open all summer," Lancaster said.

"They've been very busy. There are still quite a few (businesses) that are open and my hat's off to them for doing that. It's part of what keeps the community alive."

Rita Proffitt manages Island Bike 'n Beach, one of the businesses which remains open year-round. The shop sells clothing and other items, while also renting golf carts and renting and repairing bicycles.

"I've had some kind of regular customers that have started coming in this summer that do know we're open," Proffitt said. "Our summer business is almost like a little tiny mini-season of people from the state of Florida. They're from Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, Miami. People are starting to find the island. They never even knew this place existed and they love it. I just think it would help everybody if more places were open."

According to Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Director Jim Cooper, the number of cash-paying visitors to the island as of Aug. 25 by comparison to August of last year is up by 1,000. That number equates to the total number of vehicles that pay cash tolls rather than use bridge transponders, meaning those making infrequent trips to the island or visitors.

July saw 225 additional cash-paying vehicles. However, commercial vehicles crossing the bridge are down by 50 percent this year, and bridge traffic overall from January to July is down by 1.8 percent.

"If you consider what the economy's been like, that's not too significant," Cooper said. "It's not as big an impact as a lot of people had thought. I think part of that has to do with the fact the weather's been good here, the fishing's been good, there's no red tide, and the beaches are nice."

Police: UPS driver’s wife also sold stolen goods; Neighbors report seeing garage sales

By CONNOR HOLMES
published by the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/27/09

The wife of a Cape Coral UPS driver, arrested earlier this month for reportedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of delivery items, was arrested on a related charge Wednesday.

Cheryl A. Podleski, 48, wife of Craig Podleski, was charged with dealing in stolen property after an investigation by the Cape Coral Police Department revealed her alleged involvement in the thefts.

Craig Podleski swiped various items he was supposed to deliver, then kept them or sold them from his home over the past two years, police reported.

Craig Podleski was charged with two counts of larceny theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and one count each of grand larceny over $100,000, larceny from a shipment of cargo $50,000 or more and organized dealing in stolen property.

He remains in the Lee County Jail in lieu of bond, records indicate.

Some of the items taken include various firearms, a Cape police badge, electronics, clothing and a marble-topped kitchen island.

According to police, Cheryl Podleski helped her husband sell the stolen items on Internet sites and at garage sales.

Neighbors told police that they had seen Cheryl Podleski running various garage sales from her home during the weekends.

She has been released from the Lee County Jail on $2,500 bond.

Three accused of drug trafficking; Two facing fed indictment

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/27/09

A traffic stop by Lee County deputies and a subsequent police investigation lead to the discovery of more than 1 kilogram of cocaine and tens of thousands of dollars in cash, as well as the arrests of three people on drug trafficking charges, officials said Thursday.

Kristy Pastore, 27, James Derisma, 33, and Anthony Lane, 21, have each been charged with trafficking cocaine as a result of an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit.

According to sheriff's officials, Pastore and Derisma were pulled over in North Fort Myers because their vehicle did not have working tail lights July 29. Deputies searched the vehicle and found more than 1 kilogram of cocaine, valued at approximately $30,000.

On Aug. 7 during a related investigation, detectives reportedly discovered Derisma had been using Acorn Storage, located at 337 Pine Island Road, to store cash and drugs. Detectives found 1 1/2 kilograms of cocaine and about $33,000 in cash during a search of the unit and Derisma's car.

Derisma was arrested and placed into federal custody.

Investigators were later conducting surveillance when they witnessed Pastore and Lane transporting about one-quarter kilogram of crack cocaine from Derisma's North Fort Myers home.

Pastore and Derisma have been federally indicted for trafficking cocaine, while Lane has been charged by the state with trafficking less than 150 kilograms of cocaine.

CERT offers Cape residents free emergency preparedness courses, volunteer opportunities

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/22/09

Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, terrorist attacks.

These are real things that Americans have experienced in the last decade whether nationally or on a local level.

That is why the city of Cape Coral offers residents the opportunity to learn to be prepared for these types of emergencies and others through their Community Emergency Response Team program.

The local CERT program will offer its last 8-week program of the year beginning Aug. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to about 9:30 p.m. The class is free to residents and city employees and runs once a week on Wednesday evenings.

“Now that we’re in hurricane season and the storms are starting, this would be the good time for everyone to refamiliarize themselves with disaster preparedness,” said Cape Coral Emergency Management Coordinator Mindy Blasetti. “But it’s not just a hurricane safety class, it’s for all kinds of disasters. It could be fire, tornadoes, floods. We’ve had them and we could have them again.”

After completing certification through the program, CERT members have the opportunity to volunteer for hurricane shelters, to do field work for FEMA points of distribution and to work for the Emergency Operations Center by attending events and promoting the program.

The CERT program, which began in Cape Coral in 1997, has seen about 500 people attend the program and currently has about 120 volunteers.

Though volunteering is 100 percent optional, CERT volunteers do important jobs that help emergency officials, Blasetti said.

For instance, volunteers in hurricane shelters help emergency workers from becoming overtaxed.

“It’s a great help because they’re there working in the shelters, so the fire department can be doing other things like helping people on the streets,” Blasetti said.

A large range of topics are covered in the program, including fire suppression, first aid, search and rescue, dealing with hazardous materials and others.

Betty Dill, a 30-year Cape Coral resident, completed the CERT program last fall and is a volunteer for the program.

“It makes you more capable of helping yourself and helping your neighbors out too, in case of an emergency,” Dill said. “It’s lots of fun. You get to know a lot of different people and learn a bunch of things that you didn’t get to learn when you were younger. I think everybody should take it, and see if they can’t help out their neighbors. That’s what it’s all about.”

Dill said learning about the inner workings of the fire department, the hurricane preparedness course and CPR course, offered after the completion of the program, were memorable to her.

“Frankly I’d like to see the whole city join into it,” she said.

Gail Bryant is also a certified member of CERT and a trained volunteer.

“I could not recommend it more,” Bryant said. “The staff was outstanding and they were able to answer any questions anyone had. It’s something I would love to see more people participate in.”

Bryant said her classmates ranged in age from about 19 to 70 or older.

She said not only do you learn how to react to a large-scale disaster from the program, but you receive hands-on training for small household tasks such as how to operate a fire extinguisher.

“It instills more confidence that you would actually know what to do in an emergency,” Bryant said.

Bryant learned anything from what to do if a car drives into a canal to how to handle suspicious packages containing hazardous substances.

“I was impressed with the wide scope of things that they taught us,” she said.

Bryant, an Indiana native, has shared her knowledge with co-workers and family members.

Classes take place at the Cape Coral Emergency Operations CEnter, located at 1115 S.E. 9th Ave. To join contact Blasetti at 242-3603 or email her at mblasetti@capecoral.net.

Oasis High set to open its doors today; 500 students expected at newest Cape charter school

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/24/09

A massive shark looms over the entrance to the newly built Oasis Charter High School in southwest Cape Coral, teeth poised to bite, eyes focused.

The shark, the school's new mascot, seems to reflect the enthusiasm school and city officials took toward getting the school up and running today as 500 new students stroll past the aggressive fish and into the 50,000-square-foot, two-story building.

Also aggressive about the project was McGarvey Develop-ment Company, which built the school in 110 days, at a cost of approximately $7.9 million.

During a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Cape Coral Charter Schools Administrator Dr. Lee Bush and various city officials spoke of the school, which they boasted as a great accomplishment.

"Children are the living messages that we send through our work into a time that we will never see," Bush said. "Part of this work in our last phase here has involved the building of this building. This was built with the sweat of many men and women, contractors and design and engineers. This does not complete the vision. We have more students waiting to come into our system than we have spaces now."

Prior to Oasis High's construction, the Cape Coral charter school system's highest grade level was 10. The new school will house students in grades eight through 12 until enrollment is higher for the typical high school grades.

The building can hold 700 students.

"It's just a tremendous story of how innovation can make savings, how volunteers can make things happen," said Mayor Jim Burch. "There's no secret why this charter system works. It's the people, the staff, the volunteers, the boards, everybody that makes it go."

City Manager Terry Stewart equated the newest addition to the charter school system to giving birth to triplets over a 7 1/2-year period - the time span over which the charter system has evolved.

"I think every step along the way, these schools have had significant challenges," Stewart said. "But at every point the people, the organization, the city, which I am extremely proud of, has managed to step forward and overcome those obstacles."

Project Superintendent Kurt Mauer, McGarvey Project Manager Ann Cemer and City Project Manager Mark Ridenour were recognized for their efforts during the ceremony.

Oasis Middle School Principal Chris Terrill is now the principal for Oasis High School, housed with various state-of-the-art technologies such as smart boards, projectors and document cameras.

The school boasts new programs, including culinary arts, graphic design and a college science program.

Oasis High School offers a college-level degree program called AICE, which allows students to earn college credits.

To learn more, residents can visit the school's Web site at c2cschools.com/oasissharks or see its Twitter page at twitter.com/oasissharks.

Residents get a ‘taste’ of what area has to offer; Over 5,000 sample local fare during annual event

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/24/09

Cape residents experienced the wide palette of restaurants their city has to offer Saturday as BJ's Wholesale Club held its second annual "Taste of the Town" event.

The event, held at 1929 N.E. Pine Island Road, offered free samples of food and drink from various restaurants as well as face painting and arts and crafts activities for families. The same event, at the same time, took place at the BJ's Wholesale Club in Fort Myers.

The Cape Coral store's general manager, Cindy Newmaster, estimated over 5,000 attended the event throughout the late morning and early afternoon Saturday. That number far exceeds the estimate of last year's event, which saw about 1,500 attendees.

"We had a fantastic turnout for all of the people in Cape Coral," Newmaster said. "We were able to promote over 27 area businesses for Cape Coral so that the people that were coming in today could taste their food and then potentially become patrons of theirs, which will actually help the economy of Cape Coral also, and to keep people in the Cape. That's really what we were looking for today."

Newmaster said not only could people enjoy free food and learn of the restaurants in the area, but some have become members of the store as a result of the event.

"We get a lot of people that have never been to BJ's before, that now get the opportunity to come into the store, go through the club and see some of the things that they would like to purchase," she said.

Ed Stathas, who owns Simply Sweets Treats with his wife, Marilyn, offered patrons various types of candies to sample from the North Fort Myers candy and ice cream shop.

Stathas' store is located in the Merchant's Crossing shopping plaza at the northwest corner of Pine Island Road and U.S. 41, and offers 160 bins of various candies.

"The event helps our business because we're local, and it looks like it helps all the other surrounding area merchants that are here, too," Stathas said. "We're finding out a lot of new customers have been to the shopping center but didn't even know we existed until today. It's great exposure."

More information about the shop can be found online at www.simplysweettreatsswfl.com.

A new local cafe, Ooo-la-latte Cafe, featured unsweetened ice coffee, homemade carrot cake and chocolate cake with cream cheese icing during Saturday's event.

The cafe, located at 1408 N.E. Pine Island Road, Unit 1E, offers a different flavored unsweetened coffee each day, along with a variety of other healthy foods and drinks such as salads, wraps, paninis, juices and smoothies.

Coffee is brewed in Cape Coral and a variety of the other items available at the cafe are made locally.

"We're all about supporting local people," said Dianna Scarano, who is part owner of Ooo-la-latte with Kevin Bisner.

Scarano, also owner of Scaranos Dat's Italian restaurant, said the event gave residents an opportunity to try new things they might have otherwise never known existed.

"It gets people to actually taste things that they probably are afraid to taste, to go out and try new places," she said. "Especially now with the economy being the way it is, people are afraid to go out and try something new. This gives us an opportunity to show the public what we have."

Food delivery driver reportedly robbed at gunpoint by two men

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/21/09

A Chinese food delivery driver told Cape Coral police that she was robbed at gunpoint during the delivery of a food order Wednesday evening.

The victim told officers that she was delivering an order from Haus Garden Chinese to a home in the 100 block of Southeast Seventh Place when a man holding a rifle and an unarmed man robbed her of her cell phone and cash, valued at $228.

The robbery reportedly occurred at about 8:50 p.m.

The victim told officers that the men, who wore black clothing and black bandannas over their faces, took $18 cash, $10 in loose change and her Samsung cell phone.

The armed man stated, "I know you have the money, give me the (expletive) money," the victim reported.

The two men then fled the area on foot, heading west on Southeast First Street, reports state.

Police dusted for latent fingerprints and lifted one print from the victim's vehicle, which was submitted to Cape Coral Police Department forensics.

Officers canvassed the area but did not find or arrest any suspects as a result of their search.

The incident remains under investigation.

Charges pending in fatal rollover as CCPD continues with investigation

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/21/09

Police continue to investigate an alleged drunk driving crash which took the life of Shawn M. Hough, 27, Wednesday evening.

Hough was killed in a fatal rollover that occurred along Santa Barbara Boulevard at about 10:52 p.m. According to police, Hough was a passenger in a 1999 Dodge Avenger from which he was ejected and pinned beneath, causing him fatal injuries.

Hough was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. Thursday.

The driver, Andrew Worner Curl, 26, had a blood alcohol level of .257 when the crash happened, more than three times the legal limit to drive in Florida.

Curl received minor injuries in the crash.

Charges are pending against Curl, police said Thursday.

Curl has previously been charged by police in Lee County, beginning in 2001 with domestic battery, robbery, violating open container liquor laws, battery and driving with a suspended license.

Court records indicate domestic battery charges were dropped in 2002, though Curl was also convicted of robbery the same year.

According to police, Curl was driving northbound on Santa Barbara Boulevard when he lost control of his vehicle. The car spun counterclockwise onto the property of 1236 Santa Barbara Blvd., where it ejected and rolled over Hough, who was not wearing a seat belt.

Hough is the fifth traffic fatality in Cape Coral this year.

Mother of hit and run victim asks for public’s help to find van driver; Investigation is continuing

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/20/09

Ryan Garrett likes to ride his bike to his girlfriend's house.

The 15-year-old Mariner High School student has made the same trip countless times. He takes El Dorado Boulevard to Tropicana Parkway, heads west. There are no sidewalks along the way.

According to an accident report, Garrett rode on the north shoulder of the outside westbound lane of Tropicana when he made that trip Tuesday at about 10:18 a.m.

He never made it to his destination, said Garrett's mother, Jill Kempa.

"He was riding his bike and somebody hit him from behind," she said Wednesday. "The passenger side mirror hit the back of his head and he flipped forward. He has road rash all over the front of him."

Garrett also suffered a serious bump on the back of his head, which ultimately had to be stapled at the hospital.

He was not wearing a helmet at the time.

The driver, who Garrett says hit him in a white work van, took off.

Someone had called 911 for her son, Kempa said, but the caller was not at the accident scene when police and emergency workers arrived.

When Kempa arrived on scene, she saw the various emergency vehicles and feared the worst.

"My first initial response was my son and making sure that he was OK and taking care of him," she said. "It's overwhelming. You don't know what's happening. All you see is a bunch of blood."

Garrett will recover from his injuries, but Kempa's fears let way to anger when she realized Garrett was the victim of a hit and run.

"I can't imagine leaving a child on the side of the road bleeding, like he was," she said.

Garrett told police that he was struck by a white work van with a red ladder attached to the roof. He described the van as a late 1990s or early 2000s model Ford or Chevy with a silver or gray grill.

He was unable to provide a description of the driver.

Kempa, who lives along Diplomat Parkway with her husband and three children, ages 17 months and 4 and 15 years old, hopes the public will help police find the driver or that the driver will turn himself or herself in.

If there is a lesson mothers should learn from all this, Kempa said it is to make sure their children wear a helmet while riding their bicycles.

Police are actively searching for the driver who struck Garrett, and are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact the Cape Coral Police Department at 574-3223 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 780-8477 (TIPS).

‘Cash Feenz’ receives 40 years for guilty plea; Defendant must give testimony

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/20/09




1.) Alleged “Cash Feenz” double murder defendant Paul Nunes pleads guilty Wednesday in the 2006 slayings of Alexis and Jeffrey Sosa in a Lee
County courtroom. Photo copyright the Cape Coral Breeze.

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Alleged "Cash Feenz" defendant Paul Nunes changed his plea Wednesday to guilty in the 2006 Cape Coral double murder of Jeffrey and Alexis Sosa, less than a week before co-defendant Kemar Johnston is scheduled to begin trial in Lee County.

The 21-year-old, on reduced charges of two counts each of second-degree murder, kidnapping and aggravated battery and one count of arson, will be sentenced to 40 years in prison pending his truthful testimony in the upcoming trials of co-defendants Johnston and Kenneth Lopez.

If gone to trial and found guilty, Nunes faced death.

"Obviously it's difficult to have that call made, but it's the decision that's in his best interest and he's going to do the best he can now," said Nunes' attorney, David Peckins of Miami. "We discussed it with him and he felt it was in his best interest to avoid going to trial and possibly getting the death penalty."

Both Nunes' mother and a younger female family member shared long, tearful hugs with Nunes following his guilty plea.

Family members declined to comment on Nunes' decision Wednesday.

"He's been in custody three years and I don't think he's had a chance to hug his mom in that time," Peckins said. "It meant a lot to him."

Peckins said Nunes is prepared to testify truthfully about the night the Sosas were killed in upcoming trials, as per a plea agreement with the state forged days earlier.

"Your right to a trial and your right to an appeal ends here today," presiding Lee Circuit Judge Thomas Reese told Nunes during Wednesday morning's hearing. "But with 40 years, there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

Reese insisted several times that Nunes be sure he wished to plead guilty. If Nunes does not comply with the state on the terms of the agreement, he can be sentenced from 50 years up to four consecutive life sentences plus 45 years in prison.

A similar agreement was struck between the state and co-defendant Alexis Fernandez for 26 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea and his testimony, days before the trial of co-defendant Roderick Washington in May.

Nunes is one of 10 defendants charged in the incident, during which the Sosas were tied and tortured at Johnston's home, then taken to a north Cape industrial site where they were shot and Alexis was burned in the trunk of a car. He is one of six to plead guilty.

Two others, Ashley Toye and Washington, have gone to trial and been found guilty. Both have been sentenced to serve life in prison.

When asked again how he would plead, Nunes told Reese, "I plead guilty."

Nunes' sentencing has been set for Nov. 16.

Governor visits tornado victims in north Cape with city officials

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/18/09

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist made an unexpected visit Monday to victims of an unexpected tornado, which passed through a north Cape Coral neighborhood Sunday evening.

The tornado caused various damages to 23 homes in the northwest Cape, some of those along Northwest Third Avenue, where a car had been flipped upright against the side of a home when the storm passed through at about 4:42 p.m.

Crist, along with Cape Coral Mayor Jim Burch, City Manager Terry Stewart, Councilmember Tim Day and Fire Chief Bill Van Helden, among others, visited several of the homes on Northwest Third Avenue Monday afternoon.

"This thing came out of nowhere," Crist said of tropical storm Claudette, which is said to have influenced the tornadic nature of Sunday evening's storm.

"We are definitely in the season. We need to be prepared, we need to be careful, and we need to be ready because there's a couple more storms in the Atlantic. As we learned this past weekend, in a 24-hour period all of a sudden we have a tropical storm in our backyard," he said. "I feel sorry for the people that have to deal with this kind of damage. It's incredible, thank God, that there was no loss of life."

The city of Cape Coral estimates damages to 11 of the most badly damaged homes at approximately $103,000.

Crist walked across the driveways of homes with freshly laid tarps patching their roofs, boarded up windows that had shattered and bent trees

"I kept telling my dad I saw a tornado," Michael Reis, 12, told Crist as they spoke in Reis' front yard.

"I was kind of surprised," Michael's father, Carlos Reis, said of Crist knocking on his door. "I think it's a good thing, but obviously that was kind of a surprise for everybody, a tornado in Florida."

"I think it's good that he's checking things out," said resident Robert Binder of Crist's visit.

Binder's home received roof, well and window damage from the storm. Binder said he would fix the well system himself, and would assess other damages in the days to come.

Burch said he was also thankful for Crist's visit.

"It's always good to have the state level leaders come down and be involved in our affairs," he said. "We certainly have to thank him."

The city does not anticipate state aid regarding damage from the weather event, Burch said.

"If the governor thinks there's something he can do, certainly we'll be all ears," he said.

Another tornado in recent memory passed through south Cape Coral June 13, 2008, damaging several homes along Pelican Boulevard and Gleason Parkway. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of that storm.

According to a report by Associated Press writer Melissa Nelson, tropical storm Claudette made landfall near Fort Walton Beach Monday morning with maximum sustained winds at about 50 miles per hour.

The storm, Nelson reported, was expected to bring in 3 to 6 inches of rain with "isolated areas getting up to 10 inches along the Panhandle, the Big Bend region, central and southern Alabama and southwestern Georgia ... "

The storm is expected to weaken as it travels into southern Alabama, the report states.

"We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Crist said Monday of the remainder of hurricane season.

Tornado damages 23 homes; Car overturned; lightning fires reported after storm passes through

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/14/09












1.) View of a funnel cloud from Northeast 1st Street. Picture courtesy of John and Janice Holmes.

2.)Robert Binder and his friend Robert Smith repair Binder’s roof after a tornado hit their neighborhood Sunday afternoon. Picture copyright the Cape Coral Daily Breeze.


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Cape Coral residents expect nasty weather during the summer months. They expect rain, lightning and thunder. Hurricanes are a staple here.

However, the Hill and Binder families, who live along Northwest 3rd Avenue, were not expecting a tornado to meander down their street and narrowly spare their lives - though that is what they got.

Jessica Hill's Honda Civic had smashed against the side of her home at 1813 N.W. 3rd Avenue. Diana Binder's roof was damaged, windows blown out, random objects scattered in her yard and sucked from her home to other yards.

These are the images of the aftermath of a tornado that passed through north Cape Coral Sunday at about 4:42 p.m.

"It hit the back of the car and flipped it onto its front end, onto the house," said Hill's husband, Steven, relaying the story his wife had told him. Steven was not home when the tornado hit, but noted the car had somehow flipped over a truck parked beside it, which remained undamaged.

Steven and Jessica live with their two children, 3 years and 3 months old.

The Hills also had some roof and landscape damage, though Steven said he was grateful no one was harmed.

"Everything can be fixed, everyone's OK," he said. "We're definitely good with that."

A few houses down from the Hills, Robert Binder and friend Robert Smith placed a tarp over their roof where the storm had caused damage. Plywood had quickly been placed over shattered windows after the weather cleared.

"I heard the noises," said Diana Binder, Robert's wife. "The famous freight train noise. I told my kids to get in the safe room that we have, and our front window blew in. It actually sucked a toy off the windowsill."

Diana said her husband and Smith attempted to close the garage door as the storm sucked items from inside the garage area, and even witnessed the Hills' car become airborne, but the power went out before they were able to pull the door down.

Diana, Robert and their four children also had damage to their well and gutters, and among the items in their back yard was a camper top, but they are also thankful for their lives.

"Everything's fine," Diana said. "We'll get it fixed."

Amazingly, the Binders rode out Hurricane Charley in their home with no damage.

The tornado ravaged their neighborhood only three days after the 5-year anniversary of the category-4 storm.

"This is the only time we've actually had damage to our home," Diana said.

According to city spokesperson Connie Barron, the tornado touched down near Northwest 18th Terrace and Northwest 3rd Avenue, damaging 23 homes and overturning a vehicle. Additionally, at least three structure fires were reported as a result of lightning strikes, all within a 30-minute period during the storm. The fire damage to the homes was minor to moderate.

Barron said the city was initially unable to receive mutual aid from other departments because of the severe weather issues in various nearby areas.

The tornadic activity was a result of a moist tropical southeasterly flow from the wake of tropical storm Claudette, currently located near the panhandle, mixing with daytime heating, according to Accuweather.com Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck.

"When you get near a tropical storm, it puts a little bit of extra spin in the atmosphere," Smerbeck said.

The rotating clouds increase the possibility of forming tornadoes, he said.

A tornado warning was lifted at 5:15 p.m. for parts of northwestern Lee and southwestern Charlotte counties.

As Cape Coral takes a reprieve from tornadoes, tropical depression Ana and tropical storm Bill are churning their way through the Atlantic.

However, it seems unlikely either storm will make landfall in the sunshine state, Smerbeck said.

Ana, which has been strengthening and weakening and most recently was downgraded to a tropical depression, could have been a survivor," Smerbeck said. "There's still some chance it will come back to life."

However, "We're pretty confident it's going to pass south of Florida," he said.

As for Bill, "Bill's going to be a big hurricane," Smerbeck said. "It has all the signs of a strong developing cyclone."

At this point forecasters believe Bill will travel west by northwest and will strike somewhere along the Carolina coast mid to late next weekend, though the travel paths of hurricanes are often difficult to predict with exactitude, Smerbeck said.

"Once these hurricanes get established, sometimes they can alter the environment ahead of them," he said.

Donation fund in works after girl’s death in accident; FHP still investigating

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/14/09

In the wake of a highway accident which ended the life of a 12-year-old Cape Coral girl, attempts are being made to open a donation fund on the family's behalf.

Amarilis Cardona was ejected from the third row seat of an SUV that had collided with a guardrail on a northbound Interstate 75 overpass Tuesday morning.

Amarilis, who was not wearing a seat belt, landed on U.S. 301 below the overpass when the accident occurred at about 8 a.m. in Manatee County, reports state.

She was later pronounced dead at Bayfront Medical Center.

A donation fund on behalf of Amarilis' family may soon be set up at a local bank, though no arrangements have been finalized, according to a family friend.

Reports indicate that driver Daniel Garcia, 29, and three other passengers, ages 7, 22 and 28, wore seat belts during the accident.

Two of the passengers were treated for minor injuries at Bayfront Medical Center.

The accident reportedly occurred when the tread of the SUV's left rear tire separated, causing the vehicle to rotate clockwise across several lanes and onto a paved shoulder.

Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Lt. Chris Miller said Thursday that the incident remains under investigation as troopers attempt to determine if charges will be filed as a result of the accident.

Miller said he could not comment on the specific nature of the possible charges as the investigation is ongoing.

Charges piling up for delivery driver accused of stealing; UPS pressing charges

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/14/09

What do assault rifles, a marble-topped kitchen island, a Cape Coral police badge and a framed picture of an Ewok from the popular "Star Wars" film franchise have in common?

According to police: Craig Podleski.

Podleski, 38, a local UPS delivery driver who resides in the Cape, has thus far been charged with two counts of larceny theft $300 or more but less than $5,000 and one count each of grand larceny over $100,000, larceny from a shipment of cargo $50,000 or more, and organized dealing in stolen property.

Podleski was charged Tuesday after allegedly swiping thousands of dollars worth of packages from his delivery job and selling the packaged items online.

He was held in the Lee County Jail Thursday evening on a combined $100,000 bond, jail booking records indicate.

Among the items Podleski stole were 26 guns, including pistols, rifles, assault weapons and a blowgun. He also stole four bulletproof vests, a Cape police badge and various items of jewelry, clothing and electronics, among other things, police said Thursday.

Detectives found the stolen items in Podleski's home after a loss prevention associate reported that a Sony PlayStation 3 video game system had not been delivered by Podleski on schedule, and that Podleski had not delivered a list of other items over the past two years, reports state.

UPS indicated that it would like to press charges against Podleski as a result of the discovered stolen items.

According to reports, Podleski's wife told police that her husband had brought packaged delivery boxes into their home and sold several of the items online.

Podleski was taken into custody and transported to the Lee County Jail in apparent good health, officers reported.

Additional grand theft charges are pending, police said.

Man reports robbery with knife at park

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/13/09

A 20-year-old Cape Coral man told police that he was robbed at knife point while jogging at a park.

The man, a Florida A&M student, said he was at Koza Saladino Park at 301 S.W. 30th Terrace when a Hispanic male grabbed him from behind and robbed him with a knife.

The incident reportedly occurred at 10:10 a.m. Monday.

The victim was told to hand over his gold chain and mp3 player, valued at $650. He was then told to lie down and not look at the suspect, reports state.

The suspect fled the area in a black Jeep Cherokee, the victim told police.

Police canvassed the area but were unsuccessful in locating a suspect. Officials said Tuesday afternoon that no arrests had been made.

A Cape Coral detective continues to investigate the incident.

North Fort Myers teacher faces third molestation charge; Police: Another victim in class says ‘touched’

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/11/09

A North Fort Myers teacher, accused in July of sex crimes against two second-grade females, has been accused of committing similar acts against a third victim from his classroom.

David Ashley McNabb, 51, of 11982 Glen Ave., Fort Myers, faces three counts of molestation of a victim under 12 years old. He also faces one count of sexual battery against a victim under 12 years old, a capital felony, according to records from the Lee County Clerk of Courts.

McNabb has been suspended from teaching at Tropic Isles Elementary in North Fort Myers pending the outcome of his legal case as well as a separate investigation by the Lee County School District.

In addition, he was ordered earlier this month not to leave Lee County, to stay away from public schools and day cares and not to have contact with anyone under the age of 18, court records indicate.

McNabb pleaded not guilty to the July charges, which stemmed from an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff's Office after two young girls from McNabb's class accused him of touching them inappropriately in the classroom.

A third victim said Thursday during an interview with Children's Advocacy Center workers that she had been touched by McNabb between December and June on several occasions.

McNabb had been released from the Lee County Jail on $135,000 bond from the July charges when he was arrested Friday. He was rereleased on $30,000 bond Saturday afternoon.

McNabb will be arraigned on the charges Monday before Judge Ramiro Manalich.

Shearod jury rejects murder, robbery charges; Finds Cape Coral man guilty of armed burglary

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/8/09

Damion Shearod is not guilty of felony murder in the shooting death of his friend, John Patrick Moore Jr., 21, during a 2007 botched robbery attempt.

The 22-year-old is not guilty of attempted armed robbery with a firearm.

He is guilty, according to a four-man, two-woman Lee County jury, of armed burglary of a dwelling.

State attorneys spent the better part of a week attempting to convince jurors that on May 16, Cape Coral resident Jacob Seckler shot and killed Moore with Moore's revolver as he and Shearod attempted to rob Seckler at gunpoint.

Shearod, they argued, was responsible for Moore's death because he was a principal to an attempted robbery on Seckler and his wife, Elizabeth Kachnic, at their home.

"For better or for worse, (Moore) got his justice," Assistant State Attorney David Maijala said during his closing arguments Friday. "Today I ask that you give Jacob Seckler his justice. Convict Damion Shearod on all counts."

However, after almost three hours behind closed doors Friday evening, the six jurors reached a unanimous verdict indicating Shearod was not criminally responsible for Moore's death.

"Obviously that wasn't the outcome we were hoping for, but burglary while armed is a serious offense and we were glad to get a conviction on that," Maijala said following the trial's conclusion.

Maijala said he wasn't sure what factors may have contributed to the jury's decision, nor would the jury members comment on the decision as they left Lee Circuit Judge Mark Steinbeck's courtroom late Friday evening.

"If I could read jurors' minds I would win every case," Maijala said.

Shearod's defense attorney, Maria Pace, declined comment Friday.

"One young man has lost his life because of this incident," Pace said during closing arguments. "Myself and Mr. Shearod ask you to go back to the evidence, the conflicts in the state's case, the lack of evidence in the state's case, and return a verdict of not guilty, and give back Mr. Shearod's life."

Shearod took the stand in his own defense Friday, telling his version of the events leading to Moore's death.

Shearod rode with Moore and Moore's girlfriend, Jazzmyne Carrol-Love, from Fort Myers to Seckler's Cape Coral home when told Moore needed to "pick something up," Shearod testified.

Shearod, Moore and Carrol-Love passed Seckler's home, circled the block then returned as Seckler mowed his lawn, Shearod said. Shearod testified that he and Moore got out of the car and Moore brandished a revolver, leading to a struggle between Moore and Seckler over the gun.

Shearod said he shoved Seckler and fled, at which point shots were fired.

"I didn't really know what was going on, I was just scared," Shearod said. "I took off running, because I didn't want to get shot."

Carrol-Love, who was detained by police after fleeing the scene in Shearod's car, was initially charged in the incident. According to court documents, the state did not file charges against Carrol-Love because of insufficient evidence.

Shearod and Moore had never discussed a robbery, and Shearod often gave his friend rides so he thought nothing of the trip to Cape Coral, he told jurors.

"I didn't know where we were going, I just gave him the keys," Shearod testified.

Kachnic also testified Friday, and was called by the defense as a hostile witness for purposes of questioning.

The legal definition of a hostile witness suggests that he or she is considered aggressive or adversarial to the party calling the witness to testify. The ruling allows attorneys to ask leading questions on direct examination, a line of questioning normally only allowed during cross examination.

According to testimony, Kachnic and Seckler both believed an acquaintance of Kachnic's named Carroll Cody was behind the incident leading to Moore's death.

Kachnic, who said Cody cleaned her home, said Cody admitted to stealing a watch valued at $5,000-6,000.

Cody has not been accused as a suspect or charged in the incident.

Neither Kachnic nor Seckler could immediately be reached by telephone Friday evening.

Kachnic was inside her home when Moore and Shearod approached Seckler in the home's front entryway, she said.

"I heard Jacob scream," Kachnic said. "He asked me to call 911."

Friday marks the second time Shearod has faced, but not been convicted of, murder charges.

A jury found Shearod guilty of second-degree murder in the 2005 shooting death of 18-year-old Giannis V. Avrampopulos in Lehigh Acres. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison, however the charge was later dropped, according to court records.

Shearod will be sentenced Oct. 5.

Defendant says he knew nothing about robbery; Police interviews played for jury

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/7/09

Jurors listened to audio Thursday of Damion Shearod telling police his version of events leading up to the fatal shooting of his friend during a botched robbery attempt.

An eight-person jury must decide if Shearod, 22, is guilty in connection to the incident that ended with the death of 21-year-old John Patrick Moore Jr., reportedly as the two attempted to rob Cape Coral resident Jacob Seckler at his home May 16, 2007.

Moore was killed when Seckler gained control of Moore's revolver and shot him, and Shearod has been charged as a principal in the death.

He faces the charges of second-degree murder with a firearm, attempted armed robbery with a firearm and armed burglary.

"I just don't want you guys to think I had anything to do with this," jurors heard Shearod tell officers in the recorded interview.

Shearod maintained that he knew nothing of the robbery or of Moore's .357-caliber Magnum Smith and Wesson revolver until Moore pointed it at Seckler.

Moore called him and asked that the two go to Cape Coral with Moore's girlfriend, Jazzmyne Carrol-Love, so Moore could run an errand, Shearod told police.

He said they talked about girls, not a robbery, as they waited for Carrol-Love to arrive at Moore's apartment so the three could leave together.

When the group drove past Seckler's home a second time, Shearod noticed but said he thought nothing sinister of it.

Even as Moore exited the vehicle to approach Seckler in his yard, Shearod said he thought Moore was only picking something up from the residence.

"(Moore) said (to Shearod), 'You better come up there with me,'" Shearod said.

"(Moore) pulls his gun out, says 'Lay down' (to Seckler). I won't ever forget that look. (Seckler) gave us a look like, 'Who are you guys?'"

Shearod said Seckler refused to lay down and a confrontation between Seckler and Moore occurred at the front door, at which point Moore's gun dropped to the ground.

As Moore and Seckler struggled for the gun, Shearod fled, he said.

"I heard three to four shots, and when I looked back I saw my car drive off. I thought (Moore) grabbed the gun and shot (Seckler), so I got scared," Shearod told the officers. "I thought, 'They're going to pin this on me.'"

According to testimony by Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Robert Pfalzgraf, one of the shots fired by Seckler hit Moore in the left side of his back. The bullet severed his pulmonary veins and aortic artery, causing him to bleed to death in Seckler's front yard.

The state rested its case Thursday against Shearod, and the defense will call its first witness at 9:15 a.m. today.

The defense anticipates Shearod will take the stand in his own defense, and council may call one additional witness.

The state may present a rebuttal, then attorneys will give their closing arguments. After the judge's instructions on the law, the jury will begin deliberations.

Murder trial opens for man in fatal foiled robbery; Victim and eyewitnesses take stand

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/6/09

The trial of a Fort Myers man charged as a principal in the shooting death of another during a botched armed robbery began Wednesday.

The robbery victim and eyewitnesses testified against Damion Shearod, 22, in connection to the May 16, 2007, incident.

Shearod is charged with second-degree murder with a firearm, attempted armed robbery with a firearm and armed burglary.

According to witness testimony, Shearod and 21-year-old John Patrick Moore Jr., armed with a revolver, attempted to rob Jacob Seckler at his Cape Coral home at 2125 N.E. First Ave.

Jazzmyne R. Carrol-Love, Moore's girlfriend, waited nearby in Shearod's car.

Seckler was mowing his lawn when Shearod and Moore confronted him with the gun, Seckler told the six-man, two-woman jury.

"I did what people do in wild west movies and put my hands in the air," he said. "I said, 'Are you kidding?' They said, 'You think we're kidding. We'll shoot you right here.'"

Seckler said Moore beat him with the gun in the entryway of the home, until Moore dropped the weapon and Seckler grabbed it, fatally shooting him in the front yard.

"I grabbed the gun," Seckler said. "I did not aim, I just turned around and started shooting."

Shearod fled, attempting to convince Cape resident Lisa Wright to give him a ride, then hiding in the back porch of another nearby home. He was found and detained by the police.

Seckler said he believed one of his wife's acquaintances, Carroll Cody, was behind the robbery, though Cody has not been accused or charged in the incident.

Cody reportedly admitted to stealing Seckler's expensive watch days before the robbery.

Seckler said Cody threatened to pour acid on his wife's face if she tried to get the watch back, though presiding Judge Mark Steinbeck asked the jury to disregard the information.

"I assumed that there was some connection (between Cody and the robbery)," Seckler said.

Carrol-Love also took the witness stand Wednesday, testifying that she saw Seckler shoot Moore.

"I just saw (Seckler) lift his hands and after that, all I remember is (Moore) coming to the end of the driveway and falling," she said. "I jumped into the front seat and I took off because I didn't know if the guy was going to shoot me.

"I had no idea where I was driving to, I just wanted to get from in front of his house because I didn't know what he was going to do," Carrol-Love said. "As soon as I got out of the neighborhood there was a policeman right behind me."

She said she did not realize Moore and Shearod had planned to rob Seckler until they approached him with the gun.

According to Cape Coral detective Walter Herman, Shearod also claimed that he was not initially aware of the robbery.

"He said, 'I didn't know my buddy was going to rob that white guy. I didn't touch the guy,'" Herman told the jury Wednesday.

Seckler testified that Shearod was an active participant in the robbery, and even bit him on the back during a struggle.

Shearod's trial resumes at 9 a.m. today.

Police: Cape man sexually assaulted teen girl on island; Reportedly occurred while cleaning home

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/4/09

A Cape Coral man sexually assaulted a teenage girl Saturday in a Captiva rental home that the two were cleaning, according to sheriff's detectives.

Jose Mariano Sandoval Escobar, 38, of 1021 N.E. Fourth St., was booked Sunday into the Lee County Jail on charges of kidnapping and sexual battery of a victim between 12 and 18 years of age by a custodian.

He remained in jail on $100,000 bond Monday evening, according to booking records.

According to reports, Escobar and the victim were in a bedroom on the first floor of the home when he pushed her to the ground, dragged her into a closet and sexually assaulted her.

Escobar reportedly told the victim that he "loved and cared for her."

The victim told a Child Advocacy Center case worker that she attempted to scream for help and tried to call for help on her cell phone, but the two were alone in the house and Escobar threw the phone out of the her reach.

The victim also attempted to escape by biting Escobar's arm and shoulder, an arrest report states.

Escobar offered to buy the victim a pair of shoes and undergarments in exchange for her silence, she reportedly said.

Deputies located Escobar at the rental home, located in the 1500 block of Captiva Drive, and detained him for questioning.

He was later arrested on probable cause, detectives reported.

Neighborhood Watch program to hold anti-crime poster contest

By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 8/1/09

Eleven-year-old Tim Serrano uses his art to express himself.

For instance: Last year, Tim expressed why he thinks drugs are harmful during the Neighborhood Watch of Cape Coral's "Give Crime a Going Away Party" poster contest.

"I drew all these different drugs, and all this different stuff that's bad," Tim said of his contest entry, for which he won third place in his age group. "They were walking down the street into a black hole. It said dead end."

The local Neighborhood Watch group will hold another poster contest this year, called "Team Up-Strike Out Crime and Drugs." The contest is for children and young adults from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Submissions are being accepted at the Cape Coral Art Studio at 4522 Coronado Parkway; the Cape Coral Police Station at 815 Nicholas Parkway; the Cape Coral Public Library at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace; and FOS Furniture at 790 Del Prado Boulevard. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 11.

Tim said he's considering entering the contest again this year.

"I think that all neighborhoods should get rid of all drugs, but not just neighborhoods, every place should get rid of drugs," he said. "It hurts people and if they have kids, it will get them addicted to it."

Drawing is a way for the Trafalgar Middle School 6th-grader to express his feelings.

"If you feel down or something you can draw your feelings, because it's a world of imagination when you pick up that pencil and start drawing," he said.

Tim also used his award-winning drawing last year to set an example for his 7-year-old sister, Megan.

"I thought it would teach her to be better and not do this kind of thing," Tim said. "I tried to make a good example of Cape Coral."

Tim's mother, Eileen Serrano, encouraged her children to enter the contest in 2008 and keeps an open line of communication in her household.

"We keep them very aware of what's going on," Serrano said. "They really like doing it because it really helps them to be aware of their community and trying to keep the crime and drugs and things out of our community."

Serrano said she supports Neighborhood Watch's efforts and understands the importance of residents to keep their community safe.

"I think the parents play a big role in what goes on in our community," she said. "We have to all look out for each other."

Last year, between 60 and 70 youths entered the contest, and more are expected to enter this year, according to Neighborhood Watch of Cape Coral President Pat Foote.

"It was a great success last year," Foote said. "It was amazing to see the work that was done."

Foote said the contest brought families together and highlighted the talents and knowledge of young people in Cape Coral.

"It surprised us on what a young age the kids know about drugs. You get your kids involved and they know what's going on," she said.

Contest entrants may use watercolor, crayons, pencils, markers, paints or other mediums on 8-inch by 11-inch medium to heavy-weight paper. A name, age or grade level and phone number should be included on the back of each poster.

The contest will be judged by a group of local artists, professionals and police officials.

First, second and third place winners will be recognized at a Sept. 29 ceremony. Their work will be displayed Oct. 3 at the "Celebrate Safe Communities" event between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Belks Department Store, 2342 Surfside Blvd.

Foote said the Neighborhood Watch program currently maintains more than 200 watches around the city, and has increased in numbers recently due to burglaries in north Cape Coral.

To learn more about Neighborhood Watch, residents can call 573-3048.

The Cape Coral Police Department will also perform a free safety inspection of residents' homes upon request, offering invaluable security tips, Foote said.

The Cape Coral Police Department's non-emergency number is 574-3223.