thrEE Days a WEEK Post CoMMEnts at CaPE-Coral-DaIly-brEEzE.CoM Tritons CAPE CORAL gals win Mariner squad toomuch for visiting Estero BREEZE — SPORTS MID-WEEK EDItIon WEATHER: Scattered Storms • Tonight: Partly Cloudy • Friday: Scattered Storms — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 108 Thursday, September 9, 2010 50 cents Cape Council approves $6.2 million slash to budget proposal Reduction to come from city payroll, giving rise to layoff debate ... No cuts in ... It’s unlikely By DREW WINCHESTER 6.7 percent cut in payroll costs, mately is what’s going to have to e m p l o y e e savings can be [email protected] employees don’t believe jobs will happen.” positions con- realized with- The day after Cape Coral City not be lost if council gives its final King’s amended budget calls for templated ... out layoffs... Council tentatively approved a nod to the plan on Sept. 21. cuts of roughly $3.6 million to be budget proposal that slashes $6.2 “The city workers as a unit — made in police and fire, and “dis- — City — Council million from the plan previously all of them — are obviously frus- mantles” parks and recreation, Manager member Marty presented, city employees fear lay- trated and demoralized,” said McClain said, adding there will be a Gary King McClain offs are in the making. Councilmember Marty McClain significant impact on programs, the Although newly appointed City Wednesday. “They feel betrayed water park and the Yacht Club area. Manager Gary King said twice because they have been made “They’re downplaying it by say- Tuesday night that he does not con- promises, as they conveyed last ing it’s pay cuts but ultimately it’s Chulakes-Leetz, though, said the 2012 budget cycle. template cutting jobs as a result of night. No one has said pointblank going to come down to layoffs,” he Tuesday night that using reserves to “If I approve using these his amended budget plan that main- there would be layoffs but, just said. adopt next year’s budget would def- reserves this year and it does get initely equate to loss of jobs during tains reserves through a proposed glancing at this budget, that ulti- Councilmember Chris See BUDGET, page 10A Bond set for Cape teen charged with manslaughter By TIFFANY REPECKI [email protected] A judge set the bond for a Cape Coral teen accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend in the head at one-quarter of a million dollars Wednesday. Lee County Judge John Duryea set the $250,000 bond for Dylan Stanley Wisniewski, 18, of 2125 S.E. Sixth Lane, during a hearing at the Lee County Justice Center. Wisniewski was arrested Friday on one count of manslaughter with a firearm in the death of 15-year-old Ashlee Swazey. See BOND, page 10A Wisniewski Plans for Cape veterans museum move forward MICHAEL PISTELLA By DREW WINCHESTER Cape Coral firefighter Justin Smith uses an extrication tool to cut away part of a win- [email protected] dow on a bus during a training session Wednesday. Looking on is firefighter Cody The Invest in America’s Veterans Lauer. Foundation has a lot happening right now. As they prepare to open their museum/memorabilia annex on Candia Street Saturday with a block party, the non- profit veterans group is also zeroing in on final negotiations to turn the former Cape Coral firefighters Sweetbay Supermarket into an ambitious mega-complex that will house a full-blown museum and library, ballroom, hall of honor, undergo rescue training See MUSEUM, page 3A Ralph Santillo By TIFFANY REPECKI start cutting into buses,” Spicuzza said. [email protected] Training in sessions, the firefighters have been Mariner High to offer Rescuing passengers from a vehicle after a traffic tearing apart a Lee County school bus and a LeeTran accident is one thing, rescuing people from a school bus located outside of the fire station. They have dis- bus or public transportation is another. mantled seats inside the buses to determine the quick- math classes to parents For the past few weeks, members of the Cape est and safest way to free trapped passengers, and they Coral Fire Department have been participating in bus have used power saws and glass cutters to create new their math homework. exits for passengers, as if the doors and windows were By MEGHAN McCOY extrication training at Fire Station 8, at 707 S.W. [email protected] “I am going to start the class for First St. Firefighters receive hands-on training with blocked. parents to help them in their job sit- “Some of the tools have limitations,” Spicuzza A Mariner High School math the equipment, including the Jaws of Life, and learn teacher will provide free math class- uation; maybe they have to take a which works best in different rescue scenarios. said. test to keep their job, enhance their School buses and public buses are constructed dif- es for parents beginning on Sept. “It’s an opportunity to get their hands on the 15. job or get a better job,” MHS math tools,” Battalion Chief John Spicuzza, of the Cape ferently, so firefighters have to learn where to cut on teacher Cindy Burke said. each bus to gain entry. They have to question what Relax...Refresh...Relearn, other- Coral Fire Department, said. “To use all of the tools wise known as R^3, is a free math Burke said she also wanted to that are available to them.” other options they have available, he said. By know- start the class for the Mariner High ing what equipment is necessary in each situation, class for MHS parents to help teach He added that vehicle extrication is different than them skills they can use at their cur- Schools parent population because bus extrication. See TRAINING, page 10A rent job, or to find a better job, or to “This happens to be a different animal when you simply help their child understand See MATH, page 10A ‘The Aquarium’ exhibit opens By MEGHAN McCOY exhibit artists. Bell said there also will be awards hand- [email protected] ed out for the artists during the reception. The Cape Coral Arts Studio kicked off its season The first place winner was Dean Coon for his alu- with the 18th annual “The Aquarium” exhibit Friday. minum piece of artwork “Hammerhead Shark. Second Cape Coral Art Studio Supervisor Cher Bear Bell place was awarded to Scott Novello for his mixed said the exhibit is “back by popular demand.” media piece of artwork “Psycho-Delic” and the third Forty-six artists submitted 78 pieces of artwork for place was given to Chris Pesce for his watercolor the “Life Beneath the Waves” themed exhibit, which “Dolly: Long-Necked Weedfish.” will be on display until Sept. 31. The exhibit features special lights, so when you She said the submitted pieces were jury-selected walk in you feel as though you are walking under water, down to 48 pieces, which include acrylic, watercolor, Bell said. It also features sound effects to give the full fused glass, clay, photography, wood, raku, stone, silk, experience of being beneath the water. mixed-media, silver, aluminum, oil, fiber, lampwork “It is a relaxing experience,” she said, and it only and wire. “takes about 30 seconds for your eyes to adjust.” “It’s actually the first show of the season for us,” she The “The Aquarium” exhibit will be on display until MICHAEL PISTELLA said, adding that the children used the gallery through- Sept. 31. “It’s really enchanting,” Bell said. Ricki Howie’s fiber art entitled “Blue Ovum” is one of the out the summer. “We will have exhibits every month The Cape Coral Arts Studio is at 4533 Coronado pieces on display in the 18th annual Aquarium exhibit at until next June.” Pkwy in Rubicond Park and is open Monday through the Cape Coral Arts Studio. The studio is at 4533 A free artists reception will be held on Friday from Saturday. For more information call (239) 574-0802 Coronado Parkway. For more information, call 574-0802 or 5-7 p.m. for the public to meet the “The Aquarium” or email Cher Bear Bell at [email protected]. log onto www.capecoral.net. ATAGLANCE NEWS OF NOTE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Police: Cock-fighting ring No swim advisory continues Annie’s Mailbox......9A Horoscopes......9A at Yacht Club Beach busted in Lehigh Acres The no swimming advisory at Cape Classifieds.............1-4B Obituaries..........2A A major cock fighting ring in Lee CASH 3: County was broken up this week with the Coral Yacht Club remains in effect. Comics.............12A Police Blotter......2A 8-3-4 / 4-6-2 arrest of at least one man, officials said Water quality tests completed Crossword........12A Sports.........14-15A PLAY 4: Tuesday. Wednesday indicate that the beach water 6-2-6-3 / 0-7-9-1 Hundreds of chickens were rounded up quality at Cape Coral Yacht Club does not Dr. Donohue......9A That’s Racing.......13A Fantasy 5 meet the criteria for enterococcus bacteria 7-14-16-26-35 in two locations, one just outside Lehigh Editorial...........4-5A TV Listings............11A Acres about two miles south of SR80 on recommended by the United States Lotto Environmental Protection Agency. Education...........7A Weather..............2A 4-15-23-24-42-46 Kentara Way near Sunshine Boulevard and another in Fort Myers at 1530 Apollo This indicates that water contact may Health................8A Web Poll.............4A x 4 pose an increased risk of disease, particu- Florida Powerball Drive. 10-35-39-51-57 Dozens of deputies, including narcotics larly for susceptible individuals, officials PB 20 x 5 agents, were on hand to sweep up the said.