noW thREE dAYs A WEEK Post CommEnts At CAPE-CoRAL-dAiLY-bREEzE.Com Tournament CAPE CORAL showdown Cape teams vie for county Senior Little League Softball crown BREEZE — SPORTS EARLY-WEEK Edition WEATHER: Partly Cloudy • Tonight: Partly Cloudy • Wednesday: Chance of Rain — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 53 Tuesday, May 4, 2010 50 cents Staff to whittle down city manager candidate list Council turns to city attorney in pursuit of MWH documents “If we see someone “I’m not com- By DREW WINCHESTER they wanted flexibility when administration, business adminis- who’s a good fortable put- [email protected] pooling the potential city man- tration, economics or a related candidate ... ting a new Cape Coral City Council will agers, allowing them to look out- field. we should city manager lean on the experience of its side of the pre-ordained qualifica- “I don’t believe we should have the in place Human Resources Department in tions requested in the city manag- have our hands tied. We should choice to before we go choosing not more than 12 final- er job listing. be able to use judgement,” Mayor push those on hiatus ...” ists for the city manager position That could mean that someone John Sullivan said. “If we see people for- before choosing eight finalists of without a minimum of 10 years someone who’s a good candidate, ward.” — Councilman its own. experience in government or whether they’re eligible or ineli- — Mayor John Council members said during business management, or without Kevin McGrail Sullivan Monday’s special meeting that a master’s degree in public See MANAGER, page 3A Cape council Dressed discusses employee for the occasion benefits shortfall Anthony Meady, Board will likely go on summer hiatus 2, of Cape Coral, proudly wears By DREW WINCHESTER Finance Director Linda Senne. his sombrero [email protected] City staff identified four With the number of city options to fund the shortfall. during the employees due to receive lifetime The city can continue a “pay Southwest post employment insurance as you go” method, which would Florida Hispanic expected to double in the coming lead to larger unfunded liability; Chamber of years, the Cape Coral City start a fund with annual contribu- Commerce’s Council said it has to find a way tions to defray the cost; slow the annual Cinco de to fund the $13 million shortfall growth of the liability by reduc- Mayo celebration in OPEB (other post employment ing benefits for new employees held Saturday at benefits) before that number gets who have not retired; or reduce Cultural Park. worse. the benefit for all current and More photos are Council discussed the issue at future retirees. its workshop Monday, though no Senne mentioned Fort Myers available online decisions were made. and Fort Lauderdale as examples at: cu.cape-coral- City staff said the shortfall of cities that have not funded their daily- could damage the city financially OPEB. breeze.com. in the long run but for now the Councilmember Bill Deile — city is not in trouble. who called attention to the matter MICHAEL “Currently we are not in a state PISTELLA of emergency,” said Interim See SHORTFALL, page 3A More than 100 athletes New location for Cape take part in Special Cinco de Mayo a hit Olympic bocce event By MCKENZIE CASSIDY John Sullivan ceremoniously By MCKENZIE CASSIDY was downtown, the chamber had the city still helped make the [email protected] throwing the first ball during the [email protected] to use vendors already contract- festival possible. The Special Olympic State official opening ceremony on Even with a new venue, the ed with the city for events. The new spot was easier for Invitational Bocce Tournament Saturday morning. Southwest Florida Hispanic In the past there were com- organizers as well because was held in Cape Coral for the Sullivan, as well as the four Chamber of Commerce’s annual plaints that instead of selling streets didn’t have to be blocked first time this weekend. athletes chosen to compete at the Cinco de Mayo celebration paid Hispanic food for Cinco de off and she said that switching More than 100 athletes national tournament in Lincoln, homage to the culture and boast- Mayo, the festival had booths from asphalt to grass helped descended upon Veterans Park on Nebraska from July 18-24, each ed crowds as large as year’s past with hot dogs, pizza and ham- keep everyone cooler. Coronado Parkway to play either threw one of the first balls in the Held the Saturday before burgers. Cinco de Mayo was open singles or doubles matches in ceremony. Attending the nation- May 5, this year’s celebration “We have more Hispanic from 5-10 p.m. When it opened Bocce Ball. The tournament als will be Ronnie Eldridge, Bob was moved from the downtown food, we didn’t have control of not many people had shown up, opened Friday and concluded district to Cultural Park, and, as the food last year,” said but Culbertson said they usually Saturday afternoon with Mayor See BOCCE, page 3A a result the chamber had more Culbertson. didn’t get crowds until later. The say over logistics and vendor Overall, there were 40 ven- weather on Saturday was partly choices. dors set up in around the cloudy and 90 degrees. Chamber President Veronica grounds of Cultural Park. “Usually when the sun starts Culbertson said there were more While the chamber had more going down, that’s when people vendors selling Hispanic food control of the organizing of Chrissy Billante Cinco de Mayo, Culbertson said this year because when the event See LOCATION, page 3A celebrates a good throw dur- ing the Special Olympics Florida ‘Love Your School Day’ Invitational Bocce Tourna- ment this week- benefits environment, local center end at Veterans Park in Cape the month. The adults helped Coral. More pho- J. Colin English hosts special activities landscape the school at J. Colin tos are available By ANDREA GALABINSKI parent involvement specialist English,” Callahan said. She con- online at: [email protected] Jody Callahan helped spearhead tacted Disney Corporation, who cu.cape-coral- Local children, teenagers and the event. — Get a Disney Day” then, over several months, daily- adults all pitched in at the recent event.They gave away free received over 110 volunteers at breeze.com. “Love Your School Day” at J. Disney tickets to adults and chil- the school to read with the chil- Colin English Elementary in dren who did the community dren and assist teachers and then MICHAEL North Fort Myers. service. they there were other volunteers PISTELLA Not only did they help beauti- “The children made cards for for the actual event day. fy the local environment, they Grace Community Center for “Recipients had to go on a also did projects for local Grace their Saturday Food Bank, which Community Center. The school’s they do every third Saturday of See LOVE, page 3A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Sun Splash special events County officials continue Annie’s Mailbox......11A Horoscopes......11A Sun Splash Family Waterpark is offer- ing a variety of special events for families to monitor oil spill Cape Life ..........7A Obituaries ..........2A CASH 3: this weekend. Lee County Emergency Management Classifieds........1-6B Photo page ......14A 4-9-6 / 4-8-8 The park will be open from 5-9 p.m. continues to monitor the Deepwater Hori- zon oil spill, staff reported Monday. Comics ............10A Police Blotter ....2A PLAY 4: Friday, May 7 for “Fiesta Friday” featuring 8-4-4-4 / 3-9-1-9 piñatas for the kids, festive music and dis- Emergency management remains in Community ..........8A Sports ........12-13A Fantasy 5 counted after 2 p.m. admission rates. contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, Depart- Crossword........10A TV Listings ........9A 3-8-9-12-16 On Saturday, May 8, Sun Splash will ment of Environmental Protection, Depart- Lotto offer its first “Family Fun Night” of the ment of Health, as well as other federal, Dr. Donohue ......11A Weather ............2A 1-10-22-26-29-32 x 4 season from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with raffles, state and local groups, regarding protection Editorial ..........4-5A Web poll ............5A Florida Powerball food specials and music at the discounted of the shoreline and potential oil clean-up. 16-23-25-49-58 admission price. Earlier Monday, Gov. Charlie Crist PB 20 x 4 On Sunday, May 9, mothers will be signed Executive Order 10-100 expanding admitted into Sun Splash for free all day the state of emergency for Franklin, with the purchase of a regular priced child Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, or teen ticket. Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hills- 7 48445 46010 1 Call (239) 574-0558 for information. borough, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Page 2A Tuesday, May 4, 2010 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL BREEZE POLICE BLOTTER (The police blotter contains public session. emergency vehicle unarmed, fraud false ver’s license. information obtained from the Cape Coral I Cassie Melinda Evans, 26, of 806 owner information pawned items $300 or I Yesika Maria Rentas, 33, of 4005 Police Department, the Lee County N.E. Eighth Terrace, was charged Sunday more, larceny law enforcement officer N.E. 17th Ave., was charged Saturday with Sheriff’s Office and the Lee County Jail with petit larceny. equipment from emergency vehicle $300 marijuana possession not more than 20 booking log. Arrests made are suspicions I Carlos M. Garcia, 44, of 1515 N.E. and dealing in stolen property. grams, narcotic equipment possession and of crime(s) committed.