Agencies Offer Assistance for Those in Need
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THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM Taking CAPE CORAL the shot Mariner boys down Venice in local hoops action BREEZE — SPORTS MID-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Mostly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Mostly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 153 Thursday, December 23, 2010 50 cents Agencies offer assistance for those in need Vineyard’s Sarah Lau said “We get a lot of our stuff ish with close to 11 million Food, Christmas meals available they provide the same lunch serv- donated from the community,” pounds of food distributed ice every Thursday, and they usu- Lau said. “Sweetbay Supermar- throughout the community. By DREW WINCHESTER ferent. ally serve 200 - 300 people. She ket, Publix and Harry Chapin “The need is so incredible,” [email protected] Here in Cape Coral, Vineyard expects the same on Christmas Food Bank all donate items.” Jacobs said. “Middle income fam- Lee County non-profit agen- Community Church will be offer- Eve. Harry Chapin is having a ilies have never been in situations cies and churches have worked ing lunch on Christmas Eve. She said the church’s efforts to record year for food donations. like this before.” overtime to provide relief to those Those people who take advantage provide help to the less fortunate In 2009, the center collected Harry Chapin serves most of in need this holiday season, and of the lunch service will also are made possible by several and distributed 9.5 million the area’s non-profit food banks, the next couple days leading up to receive a boxed dinner for sources throughout the communi- pounds of food. Spokeswoman Christmas are going to be no dif- Christmas. ty. Joyce Jacobs expects 2010 to fin- See AGENCIES, page 6A Only two Over 13 percent shopping of workers in county days left remain unemployed By DREW WINCHESTER have a Fort Myers office, but Shoppers, business [email protected] closed that location when the The unemployment picture in economy began heading south. managers pleased Lee County is still bleak, but one Now it’s back, albeit temporarily, local official says the numbers hiring for Sysco Foods. with holiday season don’t really tell the whole story. “They closed their Fort Myers Barbara Hartman from branch office because the econo- By MEGHAN McCOY Southwest Florida Works said my was very bad, and they [email protected] Lee’s unemployment rate — at weren’t getting enough clients to With only a two days left 13.3 percent in November — has justify having an office,” until Christmas, shoppers and not improved year over year, but Hartman said. “They were just businesses alike are happy with some companies are returning to one of many.” how things are going this holi- the county looking to hire. With Spartan looking to hire day season. Temporary agencies are big for Sysco Foods, and Staffing Many shoppers were more barometer of the of local econo- Connection looking for crossing organized this year, which left my, she said, and two temporary guards, Hartman said that is an them with shopping for small service companies have used her indicator that employers are once last-minute items a few days office to recruit. again thinking of expanding their before Christmas. Spartan Staffing, which has workforce, but aren’t ready to Linda Montgomery was regional offices in the Tampa Bay commit fully. among the many shoppers who area, and Staffing Connection out “It really shows us that ventured out Wednesday after- of the Houston area, were two employers are interested in hiring noon to the stores to pick up a companies recently hiring in Lee. few last-minute Christmas pres- Spartan, in particular, used to See WORKERS, page 6A ents. This year her family decided to pick names out of a hat for Christmas presents to cut back A dozen finalists on the money spent on the adults, although they all decided MICHAEL PISTELLA to still buy presents for the kids. Since Maria Riccardi began Pine Island resident Julia Simpson gets into her truck chosen for Leader her Christmas shopping two after doing some last-minute shopping Wednesday at weeks ago, the only items she the Target on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral. had left to buy a few days before 4 Life Fellowship Christmas were cards because Montgomery said about this hol- to be visiting to put them in a she was more organized this iday season. “There is more pos- better mood.” year. itive energy.” Local businesses also shared Scholarship part of Take Stock in Children Dennis Tluczek began his Riccardi said the crowds of an excitement about this year’s shopping a month ago because people were not bad this year holiday shopping due to good By MEGHAN McCOY scholarships are kind of possi- he said he has more time now and they were very nice. and steady crowds making their [email protected] ble,” he said. that he is retired. He said he “Maybe they can spend more way through the stores. Twelve students from Florida The Leader’s for Life spent about the same as last year and be grateful,” she said about “Business has been good and were selected last week as final- Fellowship was created in part- even though his grandchildren the positive mood of everyone. steady,” Beall’s Outlet Store ists for the Take Stock in nership with the Asofsky Family are getting older and their pres- Manager Meris Chancer said Children’s Leader 4 Life Foundation. ents cost more. about this year’s shopping sea- Fellowship, which included one Mark Asofsky said he formed “You have to keep the econo- There are “wiser shoppers son. student from the Lee County the Asofsky Family Foundation my going,” he said. this year,” and “they have She said every year they have Public School District. in 2006, which primarily Suzanne Sorg also began and been more particular with last-minute shoppers stopping South Fort Myers High senior addresses children issues, after he finished her shopping a month what they want.” by to pick up their gifts, with the Michael Burris received a had been involved in various ago. majority of shoppers being men Macintosh laptop computer for charitable activities for a good — Beall’s Outlet Store amount of time. He explained that “Everything is wrapped and Manager Meris Chancer on Christmas Eve. being selected as one of the top everything is sent on its way,” There are “wiser shoppers 12 finalists. he and his wife wanted to formal- she said. this year,” Chancer said, and “I didn’t even know about ize their charitable giving and Shoppers expressed that Sorg also shared that she did “they have been more particular that,” he said about receiving the create a legacy for his family. when they were out shopping not feel the crowds were as bad with what they want.” computer. “That was crazy.” Asofsky said after attending this year during the holidays, the this year as in previous years. Chancer said everything in Burris said to be chosen as one an annual conference for Take crowds were not as bad and peo- “It is very pleasant this year,” the store is currently on special, of the top 12 students provides Stock in Children, he was moved ple were generally in a better she said about the shoppers. “It which includes great gifts for him with assurance that when he by the children who spoke, which mood. could be that they are eagerly applies for a scholarship, it is pos- intrigued him to look into offer- “I think there is more hope,” waiting for friends and relatives See SHOPPING, page 6A sible that he will receive one. “Being accepted, you think See FINALISTS, page 16A Teens’ quick action helps save home from severe fire damage By TIFFANY REPECKI ly strong,” Quijada said. a water hose and sprayed the fire “We managed to keep it down Alan Carter of the Cape Coral [email protected] Following the smell, the teens through the screen. Quijada told until the fire rescue got here,” Fire Department said. When cousins Daniel Quijada found that a large fish tank was on his mother to call 911. Quijada said. While the fish tank was cool- and Lazaro Pena discovered a fire fire on the lanai of the home at Cape dispatch received the According to officials, fire- ing down, it shattered. Fire crews Tuesday on a neighbor’s back 2215 N.E. 15th St. Quijada said 911 call at about 11:34 a.m., fighters were able to extinguish located an empty trash can to put porch, the two teens quickly the porch was filled with “a lot of officials reported. the fire within 10 minutes and the fish in, and filled it with water sprang into action. smoke and flames,” and he and “There was a big fish tank that kept the fire damage to a mini- from the hose. According to the Quijada, 17, and Pena, 18, Pena shouted out for the resi- was on fire,” Quijada said. “The mum. The fire was determined to CCFD fire report, the estimated were playing soccer outside of dents. rubber on the top was melting have been started by a rug placed property loss is $500. Quijada’s residence, located at No one was home at the time because of the flames and the wall on top of fish tank light and water “The firefighters said we 2218 N.E. 15th Terrace, when of the fire. was on fire too.” pump. saved Christmas and the house,” they smelled something burning.