Post Comments, share Views, read Blogs on CaPe-Coral-daily-Breeze.Com Cut short Miracle lose 3-1 APE ORAL in 7 innings C C as rain kicks in DAILY BREEZE — SPORTS WEATHER: Partly Sunny • Tonight: Mostly Cloudy • Thursday: Partly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 48, No. 121 Wednesday, May 27, 2009 50 cents Browder seeking alternative to cutting programs “The best approach is to look carefully One-time tax hike remains option at our expenditures and costs and reducing wherever we can. If you can’t By MCKENZIE CASSIDY B before June’s budget workshop. increase is needed are split, yet the find $16 million in a $1.55 billion budg- A number of teachers and stu- community spoke clearly Tuesday [email protected] et you just aren’t looking.” The importance of arts and dents addressed the board on the by stating that the arts need to stay. arts in Lee County. Recently, the As a result, the board directed music in the school versus a poten- — Board Member Robert Chilmonik tial tax increase was the top discus- board agreed to save half of the dis- Browder to draft an alternative sion Tuesday night at a meeting of trict’s elementary arts programs as option that, according to Board the Lee County School Board long as voters approve a one-time Member Elinor Scricca, would not tax increase. cut programs or negatively impact A one-time tax increase is on the percent, forcing homeowners to pay where Superintendent James table. It would push the district’s anywhere from $18.75 to $68.75 Browder agreed to formulate a plan Opinions on whether a tax students. discretionary millage up by 0.25 See CUTS, page 16A Low enrollment may force private school to close up Like other institutions, Brick by brick Hibernian feels crunch Carlos Pinho, of By MCKENZIE CASSIDY Southern Pavers, works [email protected] “It is the lowest we’ve on the courtyard in front A small, private school in Fort had for a few years and of the new Faith Center Myers runs the risk of closing its 10 of those kids are grad- at Faith Presbyterian doors if it does not see an increase in uating. Like everyone Church. The church is student enrollment. else, we are struggling located at 4544 Coronado The Hibernian Private School, this year with the econo- Parkway. For informa- located on the second floor of First my.” tion, call 542-2858 or Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers — although not affiliat- — Yvonne McQuillan, visit: Hibernian Private www.FaithCapeCoral.org. ed with the church — offers one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios School founder in the county. MICHAEL PISTELLA Public and private schools across but according to founder Yvonne Lee County have felt the economic McQuillan, Hibernian Private pinch from decreased enrollment, See HIBERNIAN, page 3A Names of three ’08 hurricanes retired; new names selected Fla. watchdog: $15M in ‘turkeys’ Four retired from 2004 By MARIANNE PATON TALLAHASSEE (AP) — A state financial watch- of South Florida, the Diabetes Research Institute, Task dog group has recommended that only $15 million in Force on African American History, Miami Project to [email protected] 2008 retired spending “turkeys” get the veto ax Wednesday, when Cure Paralysis, Hillsborough Association of Retarded With this year’s hurricane season rapidly approaching, the National hurricane names Gov. Charlie Crist says he’ll sign the state’s next budg- Citizens, South Florida Charter Autism School and a I et into law. Holocaust museum in St. Petersburg, Crist’s home- Oceanic and Atmospheric Gustav Administration recently announced I Ike That’s the lowest amount since 2003 when Florida town. I Paloma TaxWatch found no turkeys. While the governor plans “They tug at your heartstrings,” acknowledged that three hurricane names from to sign the budget, he also can veto line items. TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro. 2008 have been officially retired by Names were replaced with: the World Meteorological TaxWatch officials on Tuesday cited the state’s He defended singling out those and other projects, I Gonzalo dire financial condition as a key reason they were able though, because most were added in conference com- Organization. I Any nation that has suffered the Isaias to identify only 10 turkeys in the tight $66.5 billion mittee. Some items were on the list because they had I Paulette budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. not been requested either by a state agency or the gov- impact of a severe hurricane can request that the WMO retire the Turkeys, as defined by the nonpartisan research ernor. spread damage, the name is often organization, include items put into the budget by cir- Those are the kind of veiled budget decisions that a name from the list that is cycled on a six-year basis. Once retired, the retired to eliminate confusion with cumventing established procedures. An item also may grand jury criticized last month when it indicted for- other named storms while there still be a turkey if it provides a noncompetitive benefit for mer House Speaker Ray Sansom, R-Destin, on a third- name cannot be used again for at least a 10-year period. may be pending legal actions and a limited special interest or part of the state, or failed to degree felony charge of official misconduct, Calabro property damage claims through get public review and debate. said. In addition to emotional reasons for retiring a name, there are also insurance companies. That largely procedural approach has resulted in a Sansom was charged with using his prior position During the summer of 2004, turkey list that includes money for Goodwill Industries practical reasons for doing so. In the See WATCHDOG, page 6A case of a big storm producing wide- See STORMS, page 3A Weekend Swamp Fest to feature motorcycle fun ABATE members are Rally promotes safety, aids charities preparing for the 1st Annual Swamp Fest. By ANDREA GALABINSKI public. Numerous vendors will be will start at 1 p.m., and Capt. Jack Pictured are Frankie [email protected] on hand displaying bike parapherna- and the Black Pearls will rock from lia, with bike games and other activ- noon-3 p.m. Sunday. Kennedy, Alberta The Shell Factory is hosting a “Berdie” Clark, Earl motorcycle rally Friday-Sunday, full ities. “Treetop Flyers are classic south- of bike fun, music, food, prizes and Music will also be part of the fun. ern rock and Capt. Jack is classic “Smokey” Clark, safety awareness at the Shell Factory “We have live bands, one rock,” said Ellis. Victor Piorkowski and & Nature Park in North Fort Myers. Saturday and one Sunday,” said The Swamp Fest event will start William “Willie Mac” The festival will feature a bike Donna Ellis, marketing manager for at 4 p.m. Friday and run though 4 McLandsborough. contest and a poker run. Admission the Shell Factory. p.m. Sunday. Gates will be open all is free and the event is open to the On Saturday, The Treetop Flyers ANDREA GALABINSKI See FEST, page 16A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Economic Development ‘Support The Troops’ Day Annie’s Mailbox........8A Nation ................9A Mayor Jim Burch will proclaim “Support Fla. Lottery Roundtable open to public The Troops” Day at 10 a.m. Friday at the Cape Life ..........7A Obituary ............2A The CFP, in partnership with the Women’s Cape Coral Central Post Office, 1030 S.E. CASH 3: Council of Realtors, Cape Coral Association Classifieds ............1-6B Police Blotter ....2A 6-7-6 / 4-1-4 Ninth Ave. of Realtors and the Chamber of Commerce of It also marks the first day of sale for the Comics ............12A Sports ........13-15A PLAY 4: Cape Coral, will present an Economic 3-8-1-9 / 5-9-8-1 Bob Hope commemorative postage stamp, Crossword........12A State ..................6A Development Roundtable on Thursday at the which will be available for purchase with a Fantasy 5 Cape Coral Realtors Association, 918 S.E. Dr. Donohue........8A Today in History....11A 6-12-13-14-20 limited edition stamp cachet envelope and 11-20-23-26 MB 12 46th Lane. local postmark. Editorial..............4A TV Listings............11A Lotto Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The presentations A “top packer” challenge will be held to will start promptly at 6 p.m., and there will be Horoscopes........8A Weather ............2A 22-25-26-38-41-49 see who can pack the most items in a Priority Florida Powerball a question and answer period at the end. The Mail flat rate box. Three winners will be 19-23-34-52-57 event is free, and open to the public. Hors PB 21 x 5 selected to win free postage for their package d’oeuvres provided. going to a military address. Bring unsealed Seating is limited, come early. For infor- packages in from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for judging. mation, contact Heather L. Mazurkiewicz at The event and activities are open to the 7 48445 46010 1 541-8619 or 470-2478. public. Refreshments will be served. Page 2A Wednesday, May 27, 2009 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL DAILY BREEZE Last week’s Web poll results OBITUARY Should the city of Cape Coral contribute money to the proposed premier aquatic center? Brotherhood Lodge 14, Knights of sister, Marguerite O’Hearn; three I Yes, we need economic development, 33 percent Thomas Walter Raven Columbus 973, American Legion brothers-in-law; and two sisters-in- I No, but Lee County should, 22 percent Thomas Walter Raven, 85, of 293 and Moose Lodge 286.