Post Comments, share Views, read Blogs on CaPe-Coral-daily-Breeze.Com Big splash Season opener for CAPE CORAL Cape and Mariner DAILY BREEZE — SPORTS WEATHER: Partly Sunny • Tonight: Partly Cloudy • Friday: Partly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 48, No. 206 Thursday, September 3, 2009 50 cents Edison State reports record enrollment numbers “I am impressed with the community’s positive response Estimated 16,000 attending in fall to our new offerings and our continued success in our core programs.” By MCKENZIE CASSIDY has expanded over 47 years to five campuses. [email protected] include multiple campuses, as “I am impressed with the — Dr. Kenneth P. Walker, Edison State College president Officials announced well as various associates’ and community’s positive response Wednesday that Edison State bachelors’ programs. to our new offerings and our enrolled 9,358 students for the percent. According to the College has enrolled the largest This semester’s head count continued success in our core fall, and its growing online edu- Florida Department of student population ever. increased 18.5 percent from the programs,” said Dr. Kenneth P. cation program now includes Education, it was the largest Edison first opened in 1962 fall of 2008, and now there are Walker, president of Edison 1,224 students. enrollment spike of any public as a two-year community col- approximately 16,000 students State College. Last year the school college or university. lege. The educational facility enrolled at one of the college’s The Lee Campus has increased its enrollment by 15 See EDISON, page 6A Blue waters VA Clinic to host informational fair for returning vets Event to include health care, education options By MCKENZIE CASSIDY [email protected] Lee County veterans of To go What Operation Enduring and Iraqi Welcome Home Freedom are invited to a Welcome Informational Fair Home Informational Fair at the Who Fort Myers VA Clinic next week- Fort Myers VA Clinic end. The Department of Veterans When Sept. 12 Affairs and other organizations from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. are offering the informational fair from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 12 to Where 3033 Winkler Ave., educate returning veterans about Fort Myers MICHAEL PISTELLA available benefits and services. Besides receiving information Mike Garlach, of the Cape Coral Arts Studio, works on the special effects for the stu- about health care, veterans can 9/11 GI Bill, employment and dio’s Aquarium Show which opens Friday. also learn about educational other services in the community. opportunities through the post See VETERANS, page 6A ‘Aquarium’ show opens at studio Pageant still taking Artists’ reception To go What 17th Annual “Aquarium” exhibit entries for Miss Lee set for next week Who Various artists in variety of mediums By DREW WINCHESTER Where County competition [email protected] Cape Coral Arts Studio, The sounds and sights of the sea are return- 4533 Coronado Parkway ing to the Cape Coral Arts Studio next week as Information the “Aquarium” themed exhibit sets up shop Call 574-0802 $200 fee can be paid or for its 17th year. Opening today, the exhibit will depict life their ideas year after year. beneath the waves, whether real or imaginary, “They love being involved in it,” Bell said. sponsorship is accepted realistic or abstract, over a variety of mediums. “It’s the theatrics of it ... it really is something Studio supervisor Cher Bell created the different, and people come back year after year By ANDREA GALABINSKI event nearly two decades ago. The Aquarium’s to see it, too.” [email protected] To go genesis took place at the Cultural Park Theater. Studio volunteers were hard at work Calling all young beauty pag- Bell said the inspiration for the show came Wednesday putting up the finishing touches on eant hopefuls. What from a combination of theatrical and visual the sound and lighting effects. The show uti- The Shell Factory & Nature Miss Lee County U.S. arts. lizes elements, including blue tinted lights and Park will host the Miss Lee International and Miss “Working at the theater I saw the opportuni- ocean sounds, to create the overall mood of the County U.S. International and Lee County Teen World ty to combine the gallery space (at the theater) aquarium. Miss Lee County Teen World When and theatrics,” she said. “I thought it would be Bell thinks the effects are what have helped pageant Sept. 12. Sept. 12 beautiful.” the exhibit endure over the years, creating a Organizers are looking for Where With no constraints except for the exhibi- total experience. During the summer, especial- more pageant entries. Shell Factory & Nature tion’s theme, artists are challenged to construct ly, the exhibit acts like haven from the hot, The titles the winners will walk their personal visions using any number of humid days. away with in the “Capture the methods. “You literally walk in there and it’s like Crown” event are Miss Lee The deadline to apply to be in The artists often return year after year walking into different world. You feel like County U.S. International and the competition is Sunday. “There are two divisions: the because of the challenge, attempting to reshape See EXHIBIT, page 6A Miss Lee County Teen Florida World. See PAGEANT, page 2A Area man, his family are living American dream An agricultural Family trip in ’98 turns into new life teacher in By JEFF LYSIAK But he is. America, however, fate inter- Lithuania, Valdy [email protected] Gedvalas, the versatile vened. Gedvalas More than a decade ago, mechanic and jack-of-all-trades “We were in a serious car demonstrates Valdy Gedvalas could never at Billy’s Bike Shop for the accident,” Gedvalas said. “My his mechanical have dreamed that he would be past 10 years, traveled with his back was hurt, and it took about skills in the living in the United States, family from Lithuania in 1998 one year of chiropractic care to shop at Billy’s to St. Petersburg for a vacation fix it.” working on a tropical island Bike Shop. sanctuary and doing something to visit his wife’s uncle. While he was recovering They only planned on from his injuries, they decided that he truly enjoyed for a liv- JEFF LYSIAK ing. spending two weeks in See FAMILY, page 6A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Sarasota trip, lunch cruise CCPD seeking volunteers Annie’s Mailbox........5A NASCAR..........14A Take a lunch cruise on the Marina Jack II The Cape Coral Police Department is Florida dinner boat and a trip to St. Armands Circle accepting applications for the Community Classifieds ............1-4B Nation ................8A in Sarasota on Friday. Arrive at the Lake Volunteer Academy. Classes will be held Comics ............10A Obituary ............2A Lottery Kennedy Senior Center, 400 Santa Barbara from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 5–9. CASH 3: Blvd., by 9:30 a.m. Cost is $69 for mem- After training is completed, volunteers Crossword........10A Police Blotter ....2A 0-9-7 / 4-9-7 bers and $79 for non-members. For infor- are placed on a short probationary period. Dr. Donohue........5A Sports ........11-13A PLAY 4: mation and reservations, call 574-0575. Volunteers then are issued uniforms and are 6-9-4-4 / 5-0-7-6 Editorial..............4A State ..................3A required to work a minimum of 16 hours Fantasy 5 per month to remain current in the program. Health ................7A TV Listings..............9A 2-3-5-15-25 Honor loved one with brick Lotto To be eligible, applicants must possess a Honor a veteran, serviceman, service- valid Florida driver’s license, be a resident Horoscopes........5A Weather ............2A 3-14-28-32-34-35 woman or loved one by buying a 12-by-12 Florida Powerball of Lee County and be willing to undergo a 18-23-36-47-59 brick by the flag array at Eco Park. Proceeds background check. PB 36 x 4 are used to maintain the flags and bricks for Applications must be submitted by a future memorial pavilion. Cost is $135 Friday. They are available at the Cape Coral plus tax. Stop by the site for an application Police Department, 815 Nicholas Parkway. 7 48445 46010 1 or call Gary Bowler at 549-2822. For information, call 242-3346. Page 2A Thursday, September 3, 2009 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL DAILY BREEZE POLICE BLOTTER (The police blotter contains sion of controlled substance tion given to law enforcement ic equipment. public information obtained Arrests without prescription includes officer. I Ashley Alene Bills, 21, of I Incidents from the Cape Coral Police marijuana over 20 grams. Bret Joseph Ryan, 42, of I Department, the Lee County 724 N.E. 11th Terrace, was I William Walter Kirk, 46, 1507 N.E. 15th Lane, Apt. 3, In the 2200 block of Sheriff’s Office and the Lee charged Tuesday with child neg- of 3024 S.W. 23rd Place, was was charged Tuesday with traf- Northeast 17th Avenue, County Jail booking log. Arrests lect without great harm, resist charged Tuesday with larceny fick opium or derivative 4 unknown person(s) reportedly made are suspicions of crime(s) property recovery by retail mer- theft $300 or more but less than grams to under 30 kilograms. removed items valued at chant or farmer and petit larceny I $1,300. committed. All persons are $5,000. Gary Leonard Wheeler, I innocent until proven guilty in a $100 to under $300. I Denis J. Pediraja, 34, of 39, of 1104 N.E. Van Loon In the 600 block of I court of law.) Samantha Jo Corrie, 32, of 4813 Tudor Drive, was charged Terrace, was charged Tuesday Southeast 13th Street, unknown 512 S.W.