The River Weekly News Fort Myers
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FREE Take Me Read Us Online at Home IslandSunNews.com VOL. 11, NO. 10 From the Beaches to the River District downtown Fort Myers MARCH 16, 2012 Southwest Florida Seafood Festival, Classic Car & Bike Show This Weekend he Matlacha Mariners will host Tthe 11th annual Southwest Florida Seafood Festival, Classic Car & Bike Show from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 17 at the German American Club, 2101 SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral. The event will showcase a wide variety of fresh seafood, live music and the area’s best classic cars. New Redemption SWFL this year are custom and classic bikes. Classic Rock At Davis Art Center This year’s event will edemption SWFL, a classic rock band and local favorite, will play on the out- feature the doo-wop side stage at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center on Friday, March 16. The sounds of Brylcream and RMusic Walk performance will begin at 7 p.m. and continue until about 11 p.m. local favorite Ground The Davis is located at 2301 First Street in downtown Fort Myers. Zero. There will be Redemption SWFL covers songs from the ‘60s through the ‘90s. They are known for seafood and landlubber continued on page 7 specials, together with plenty of ice cold beverages to wash it all down. No coolers will be admitted. Activities are planned for the whole family with arts and crafts vendors, 50/50 draw- ings and new games and entertainment for the kids. Car and bike trophies and award Fairly Lovely Afternoon At The presentations will begin at 4 p.m. Burroughs Home & Gardens continued on page 7 Moliére Comedy At Theatre Conspiracy heatre Conspiracy will open the comedy The School For Wives by TMoliére on March 23 at 8 p.m. at the Foulds Theatre in Fort Myers. The School For Wives was written by the 17th century French playwright Molière and considered by some critics to be one of his finest achievements. A pompous middle-aged bachelor thinks he’s established a surefire antidote to adultery in a wife. Can his scheme create the perfect wife – docile, adoring, amorous on demand, or will his plans fall prey to a determined rival suitor, a pair of inept servants, and true love? Girls may come dressed as fairies at the special Burroughs Home event The show is directed by Theatre Conspiracy’s Producing Artistic Director A scene from The School For Wives others, grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters – all are invited to Bill Tayor who last year brought Medea, The School For Wives plays through attend a whimsical afternoon tea on the grounds of the Burroughs Home on another classic, to life. Scott Thomson, April 7. Shows are Thursday, Friday and MSunday, April 1. Girls will be delighted with a variety of fairy activities and last seen in Becky’s New Car, takes on Saturday at 8 p.m. with one Sunday mati- dessert fare guaranteed to delight even the most skittish of these creatures. Fairy cos- the lead role of Arnolphe. The rest of nee at 2 p.m. on March 25. Tickets are tumes are encouraged for the fairy parade. the cast includes Rick Sebastian, Pam $18. Opening night March 23 is “pay Cost to attend is $25 for adults and $30 for children. Reservations must be made by Erdman, Thomas Marsh, Bernard Gomez, what you will,” where you name the ticket March 26. Robert Feigenblatt, Brittany Albury and price. To purchase tickets, visit www.burroughshome.com/events.cfm, call 337-0706 or John Saco. continued on page 7 send an e-mail to Christine@burroughshome.com. 2 THE RIVER - MARCH 16, 2012 Historic Downtown Fort Myers, Then And Now St. Michael Lutheran Church by Gerri Reaves he quaint church in the historic photo suggests an earlier era than early World War II. T The original St. Michael Lutheran Church at Lafayette Street and Grand Avenue resembles many “starter” sanctuar- ies built by newly formed congregations decades earlier in Fort Myers – the first St. Luke’s Episcopal, for example, which was built in 1889 at Second Street and MLK Boulevard (then called Anderson Avenue). Two crosses have been removed and the front entrance modi- fied, but otherwise, the church’s exterior looks basically the same. Even the pretty stained glass windows remain in the building that is now the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The largely residential neighborhood of the 1940s has changed, however. The City of Palms Park lies only a block away, and heavily traveled U.S. 41 two blocks east pro- vides continual background noise. How did this diminutive sanctuary come to be? Around the turn of the twentieth century, Lutheran missionaries visited the small town of Fort Myers and considered forming a congregation. By that time, several other denominations had well-established churches. However, it was not until 1931 that a Lutheran congregation was formed. The The original St. Michael Lutheran Church is now home to the St. Vincent de Paul Society event coincided with the official opening of the Edison Bridge, which made it possible photo by Gerri Reaves for new members to travel to Fort Myers to worship. Those emissaries canvassed the town and held services attended by as few as seven the organization of a Lutheran people. But that effort eventually culminated in the birth of St. Michael Lutheran mission. Church in 1939, when Rev. H.E. Hartman of Trinity Lutheran in Delray Beach Until the Rev. Art Weber was brought a delegation of 38 Walther Leaguers – or young adults – to Fort Myers. assigned the job of full-time pas- They took on the daunting task of calling on 800 families, work that would lead to tor, various pastors shared the job. Weber assumed his post in September 1941. In those early days before the church had built a sanctuary, they held services on the Municipal Pier downtown, also known as the Pleasure Pier, which had an auditorium. The church was formally char- tered as St. Michael Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Myers on September 29, the day the Lutheran Church celebrates the festival of Archangel Saint Michael and all Angels. About six months later, the congregation dedicated the sanc- tuary on the northwest corner of Lafayette Street and Grand Avenue. St. Michael sold the church in 1953 and moved to larger accommodations. The church’s exterior has changed little, as evi- continued on page 12 denced by the stained-glass windows The first St. Michael Lutheran Church was built on Lafayette Street at Grand Avenue circa photo by Gerri Reaves 1945 courtesy of the Southwest Florida Historical Society, Sara Nell Gran Postcard Collection Read Us Online: www.IslandSunNews.com Contributing Writers Click on The River Jennifer Basey Joan Hooper Kimberley Berisford Audrey Krienen Advertising Sales Graphic Arts/Production Photographer Suzy Cohen Scott Martell Isabel Rasi Ann Ziehl Michael Heider Ed Frank Capt. Matt Mitchell Sarah Crooks Office Coordinator Writers Max Friedersdorf Patricia Molloy Co-Publishers Kris See Patricia Molloy Gerri Reaves, Ph D Priscilla Friedersdorf Laura Zocki Puerto Lorin Arundel Anne Mitchell Jim George Di Saggau and Ken Rasi Jeff Lysiak Dr. Dave Hepburn Scott White 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: press@riverweekly.com. The River Weekly News reserves the right to refuse, alter or edit any editorial or advertisement. PRINTED ON RECYCLED Independently Owned And Operated • COPYRIGHT 2012 The River Weekly News • LORKEN Publications, Inc. PAPER THE RIVER - MARCH 16, 2012 3 Spring Egg Hunt In The Park he City of Fort Myers Recreation Division, Fort Myers Metro TKiwanis, and Elevation Ministries at the First Baptist Church in down- town Fort Myers, invite children (six and under) to join in for the annual Spring Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 1 at Centennial Park. Four thousand eggs will cover the park grounds, and a flop- Excellent birding opportunity py eared visitor is expected. Thompson for his agriculture plans, and The fun begins at 10 a.m. with free Estates Director’s the friends explored the Caloosahatchee children’s activities including face paint- and neighboring waterways. ing, a sidewalk chalk area, bean bag toss, Tour In Clewiston Plans for the day include a windshield and a pre-egg hunt warm up with Mr. tour of the sugar factory, then on to the Gary. Concessions will be available and xperience the history, nature and there will be photo opportunities with the agriculture surrounding Florida’s historic Herbert Hoover Dike followed by a lecture and lunch with Clewiston Mayor bunny. Emost important water source, Lake The egg hunt begins promptly at 11 Rich Miller, and tour of the Clewiston Okeechobee with president & CEO Children should bring their own basket to Museum (from mammoths to prisoner a.m. Children must be able to walk on Chris Pendleton, Edison & Ford Winter collect the eggs. There is no registration of war camps, sugar cane agriculture their own. Parents will not be able to Estates; Phil Flood, South Florida Water or fee required. Bring the whole family. and plans for the city). Wilson will take assist them. There will be a drawing for Management District; Hunter Lathan, special prizes following the egg hunt. Clewiston Chamber, Sugarland Tours; the group through areas not open to the and Butch Wilson, director of the public including USSC sugar factory and Clewiston Museum.