River Weekly News Will Correct Factual Errors Or Matters of Emphasis and Interpretation That Appear in News Stories
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FREE Take Me Read Us Online at Home IslandSunNews.com VOL. 14, NO. 25 From the Beaches to the River District downtown Fort Myers JUNE 26, 2015 Davis Art Center Goodwill And Boy Scouts Offers Summer Programs Partner To Retire American Flags his summer, the Sidney & Berne s Americans celebrate our nation’s Davis Art Center is open and already independence this July, Goodwill Tin full swing. This magnificent his- Aand the Boy Scouts of America are toric cultural center for the arts will host combining resources to collect used, soiled Theater Kids, summer drama classes for or damaged U.S. flags. On July 5 and 6, students in kindergarten through 12th select Goodwill stores in Lee, Collier and grade, held in the upstairs Capital Gallery. Charlotte counties will collect unservice- The Davis Art Center is located at 2301 able flags for a proper, dignified retire- First Street in the historic River District of ment. downtown Fort Myers. “People often donate their flags because The Davis Art Center recently opened they’re not sure what else to do with them,” the upstairs and since has hosted gallery said Rick Evanchyk, president and CEO of exhibitions, luncheons and theater perfor- Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida. mances in this newly renovated space. Staff “We want to reassure people that their at the center is ready to begin building the flags are being handled with the utmost Eclectic Education Programming, which will care. Through our partnership with the Boy include a variety of arts classes and work- Scouts Southwest Florida Council, we can shops for all ages. provide this needed service and also help The Theatre Kids Summer Program educate the community.” takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays and Collection containers will be placed at is an intensive acting workshop. Whether Goodwill Retail & Donation Centers in a beginner or a seasoned professional, the Cape Coral (Pine Island Road location), class will build on performance skills in Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers acting, movement and improvisation. The (Daniels Road and Island Park locations), StageShow program makes each student a and Naples (Towne Centre location). Stores Boy Scouts of America will properly retire star while teaching the value of belonging are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 5 donated flags in a theatrical company. Each student actor and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 6. will be given pieces to perform for the final Collected flags will be transported to Boy show; final pieces being monologues or Scouts of America for retirement. scenes, each monologue and scene will be Theater kids performance “Flag retirement has been a tradition for Boy Scouts for decades,” said Greg Graham, catered to the performer’s skill level. scout executive and CEO of the Boy Scouts of America Southwest Florida Council. “It Douglas Coventry, director of Theatre teaches our scouts respect for the country. They are retiring a symbol of honor, courage Kids, holds degrees in both Theater and K-12 and strength of our nation where many have selflessly sacrificed for others’ freedom.” continued on page 5 continued on page 7 Shell Point Concert Series Features River City Brass Ensemble hell Point Retirement Community’s Summer Concert Series continues with a patriotic program by the River City Brass Ensemble on Friday, July 10 at 7:30 Sp.m. in The Village Church on The Island at Shell Point. River City Brass Ensemble is an eight-piece band with a unique repertoire, virtuoso musicians and accessible performers. The ensemble’s mission is to entertain, educate and engage audiences about the American musical culture. River City Brass Ensemble will be accompanied by world-renowned tuba soloist Dr. James Gourlay on Shell Point’s stage. Tickets to this performance cost $20 and may be purchased online at www.shell- River City Brass Ensemble will perform a patriotic program at Shell Point Retirement point.org/concerts or by calling 454-2067. Community on July 10 at 7:30 p.m. photo courtesy of Shell Point Retirement Community Read Along the River on page 8 Food Fireworks Fun for a preview of Independence Day activities 2 THE RIVER - JUNE 26, 2015 Historic Downtown Fort Myers, Then And Now: Margaret Gets Her Story by Gerri Reaves, PhD n 1913, Margaret Mickle got her first scoop in at the age of 10, demonstrating the plucky spirit that future readers would Iappreciate. Anchored off her family’s Captiva Island’s beachfront home were scientist Russell J. Coles and Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. She set off in a skiff, determined to photograph the former Presi- dent of the United States. Her skiff overturned, but she swam while holding the camera over her head. As the crew helped her aboard, she asked, “Where’s Teddy?” and was told he was unavailable. Overhearing her, Roosevelt said, “Anyone who calls me Teddy can see me.” For her audac- ity, she was rewarded with dinner with the great men and a .22 rifle. Most important, however, is the photograph she took, in which Roosevelt (left) looks more like a scruffy fisherman than a former exalted President. To top off the serendipitous meeting, the men later sent her a unique pair of fish-skin slippers. In early adulthood, Mickle worked briefly for Lee Memorial Hospital. She is pictured during that period of her life, a somewhat impish woman who evidently found the drudgery of hospital work just too dreary. Her job description included wash- ing the windows! A gift for writing and reporting led her to pur- sue a newspaper career. Mickle snapped this photo of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and scientist Russell She wrote for the Tropi- J. Coles when she was only 10 years old, after swimming out to a boat anchored off Captiva cal News, and then the courtesy of the Southwest Florida Historical Society Fort Myers News-Press, after the News and Press She was a founding member of the Southwest Florida Historical Society. consolidated. To delight of readers, at age 83, she came out of retirement in 1986 and started She was society editor writing for the Fort Myers Observer. at the Press for 20 years, Visit the Southwest Florida Historical Society to explore part of Margaret Mickle’s where she wrote a popu- legacy. The all-volunteer non-profit organization is one of the area’s best research lar gossip-filled column centers. It is located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard on the campus of the Lee County called “Local Lowdown,” Alliance for the Arts. which appeared with an Contact the society at 939-4044 or drop by on Wednesday or Saturday between 9 illustration of a doghouse. a.m. and noon. She didn’t name names, Then find out more about the history of journalism in Fort Myers at the Southwest but would put deserving Florida Museum of History at 2031 Jackson Street. Be sure to see the exhibit on local character in that dog- Mid-Century Modernist architecture. house, and readers in the For information, call 321-7430 or go to www.swflmuseumofhistory.com. Museum know would understand hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. what she meant. Sources: The archives of the Southwest Florida Historical Society and The Story of A young Margaret Mickle, future society columnist Fort Myers by Karl H. Grismer. courtesy of the Southwest Florida Historical Society Read Us Online: www.IslandSunNews.com Contributing Writers Click on The River Jennifer Basey Marion Hauser, MS, RD Advertising Sales Graphic Arts/Production Photographer Kimberley Berisford Ross Hauser, MD Isabel Rasi Ann Ziehl Michael Heider Suzy Cohen Audrey Krienen George Beleslin Kristy See Ed Frank Capt. Matt Mitchell Writers Co-Publishers Rachel Atkins Jim George Patricia Molloy Gerri Reaves, Ph D Shelley Greggs Di Saggau Lorin Arundel Office Coordinator Anne Mitchell Tom Hall Cynthia A. Williams and Ken Rasi Patricia Molloy Jeff Lysiak The River Weekly News will correct factual errors or matters of emphasis and interpretation that appear in news stories. Readers with news, tips, comments or questions, please call (239) 415-7732 or write to: The River Weekly News, 1609 Hendry Street, Suite 15, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Fax number: (239) 415-7702. E-mail: [email protected]. The River Weekly News reserves the right to refuse, alter or edit any editorial or advertisement. PRINTED ON RECYCLED Independently Owned And Operated • COPYRIGHT 2015 The River Weekly News • LORKEN Publications, Inc. PAPER THE RIVER - JUNE 26, 2015 3 Fort Myers Art: Lithography Workshop, he But unlike the “brightly-colored inter- produced a portfolio of 10 litho- pretations of Jim Rosenquist, Takashi Artist’s Artist graphs. And as the shop man- Murakami, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons ager at Graphicstudio, he worked and numerous other artist-colleagues and Exhibit Compels with Richard Anuszkiewicz, Ed friends,” notes the Rauschenberg Gallery, Ruscha, James Rosenquist and Wujcik rendered friend and collaborator Out Presence Bob Rauschenberg. Rauschenberg in monotone white, grays by Tom Hall These collaborations inspired and black. On loan from Wujcik’s former Wujcik to feature the artists he wife Susan Johnson, it is this work that n view now worked with as a printer or knew greets BRG visitors as they pass through through as friends in a series of subtle the automatic storefront doors at the OAugust stipple engravings and metal- entrance to Building L. 8 at the Bob point black-and-white drawings. The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery was Rauschenberg Technically superior and uncanni- founded as The Gallery of Fine Art in Gallery at Florida ly lifelike, a number of the result- 1979 on the Lee County campus of SouthWestern State ing portraits were acquired by Florida SouthWestern State College/ College is Theo such prestigious museums as the FSW (then Edison Community College).