»LAND REPORTER ISLAND LIVING AUGUST 21,2008 Annual event brings much needed funds for agency helping victims of domestic violence JESSICA MACHETTA By CLINTON BURTON "Marilyn" impersonator Sabrina Wise, right, stands next to "Think Green, Norma Jean," a painting by Sanibel [email protected] artist Myra Roberts, during last weekend's Arts For ACT event. They came in. tuxedos. They came is sparkling gowns. They came in jeans and porkpie hats. They now," she said Sunday morning. "That's less than ate and drank and celebrated the lives of some and what we were hoping, but with the economy the mourned the passing of others. They came as way it is, I understand. When all is said and done, artists or devotees, as politicians or spectators, but it will probably be a little more than that and we're they all came for the same cause. always grateful for the support we get." - Last Saturday night at the Coconut Point Hyatt The evening's 750 or so guests began arriving Regency Hotel in Estero, people from all walks of around 4:30 p.m., Saturday, many hoping to get a life came together at the Arts for ACT-2008 Fine head start on the silent auction. Mingling with Art Auction and Gala Fundraiser to raise money artists and volunteers, they perused the abundance for the victims of domestic violence. of creations donated to the event and bid on water- On any other night, the costumed greeters color and acrylic paintings, sculpture and other dressed as classic movie stars or scantily-clad items on display. young women in top hats and bathing suits might The event kicked into full gear at 6:30 p.m., have seemed frivolous, but the serious undertone of with the beginning of live auction hosted by local the evening .was pervasive. television personality Kellie Burns. Celebrity auc- ACT, the acronymic name for Abuse Counseling tioneer Neicy Nash strutted on the stage with her and Treatment Inc., a private, not-for-profit Fort trademark flower in her hair and cavorted with Myers agency dedicated to healing the wounds of potential buyers to up the bidding ante. domestic violence and sexual assault, has been Nash, star of Comedy Central's cop farce "Reno sheltering domestic violence victims in Southwest 911" and the Style Networks' "Clean House" is, Florida since 1979. Although ACT receives money unfortunately, no stranger to real-life violence. from the state and other private organization the, Her younger brother was shot and killed on his the annual Arts for Act fundraiser always plays an high school campus in 1993 prompting her mother important role in helping the group continue it's to create Mothers Against Violence in Schools mission of protecting, supporting and educating (M.A.V.I.S.), a not-for-profit group that educates the victims of domestic violence and their sur- the public about the violence posed to children at vivors and children. school, of which Nash is the spokesperson. Since the group's inception, ACT has grown to Notably absence from this year's gala was artist a 35-bed facility in Fort Myers with additional and former Captiva Island artist Robert shelters in Cape Coral and Glades and Hendry Rausehenberg, whose work dominated the annual counties. event for years. Although hoping to raise about a half a million Rauschenberg died May 12 after a prolonged dollars this year, the final tally fell short, said illness punctuated with his decision to forego fur- ACT's chief executive officer Jennifer Benton. ther life support. "We're looking at about $250,000 as of right However, Rauschenberg's presence was not absent from the charity fund raiser with artwork dedicated to his memory going up for auction including a raku ceramic bustier created by Cape WHAT'S INSIDE Coral artist Andrea Perisho. "Captiva Island Mermaid Bustier" raised $800 at auction for ACT. Artwork by Rauschenberg's long-time partner Island Faces and fellow artist Darryl Porttorf and abstract Arts For ACT expressionist Jasper Johns were also sold. Fine Art Auction "Still Life in Napthol and Rembrandt Rose" an oil and canvas composition by Fort Myers artist Coconut Point Caroline Krieger Comings fetched $500 on the Hyatt Regency block Saturday night. Hotel, Estero / Comings,, an active ACT volunteer, said the 7B work she does with the organization makes her more appreciative of the life she leads. "I'm so lucky that I live in peace. I just can't Sports Roundup imagine coming home to violence," she said. Unfortunately, domestic violence is a large part "Take Me Out to the Ball of a lot of people's lives. According to ACT's statistics, every nine sec- Game" commemorative onds a woman is beaten in the U.S. and a woman is stamp to celebrate the killed in Florida evefry 36 hours. Sometimes, the 100th anniversary of the violence spills out into the streets. baseball / 9B Fort Myers police officer Andrew Widman was Actress Neicy Nash, best known for her role on "Reno 911," performed as the celebrity auctioneer last Saturday night in See ACT, page 3B Estero. cq Enrollment up at Edison, FGCU likely to set record S By CLINTON BURTON kicking off four-year degree programs for public safety and ing semester. cburton @ breezenewspapers.com starting a four-year degree in education and business," "Attendance is trending up this semester. Classes don't CO Both Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison College Trask said. "A lot of those types of jobs are startring to start until August 25, but we have a lot of students going report an expected increase in students when classes begin require additional education. In order to better serve out through the registration process and it looks like we are on Monday, Aug. 25, and one school official said the recent students* we have to make these opportunities available going to have a very good year," Trask said. economic downturn may be a factor. because more and more employers are requiring more than Expected enrollment is expected to be at an all-time "Historically, when the economy isn't good people start an Associate's Degree." when students start hitting the books at FGCU this fall to decide that Trask said the college's nursing program is also growing University spokesperson Susan Evans, said enrollment they need to in leaps and bounds and is currently one of the most sought looks to exceed 10,000 students for the first time in the improve or after programs oh campus. school's history. increase their "We're on a waiting list. The program is popular because Preliminary enrollment figures were at 10,081 last week, education in of the national certification that we have. That can make a 8,726 of which were undergraduates and 921 students seek- order to get a big difference when it's time to look for a job," he said. ing a post-graduate degree. The remaining 434 students are not seeking degrees. 3 better job," Although some move on to other areas, many, he said, said Edison's use the skills they learn at Edison to improve the lives of Those numbers are up all around from last fall's final Chief those in the local area. enrollment numbers when undergraduate students totaled O Information "I was so proud. The last time I went to the doctor, the 7,986 students, graduates students filled 822 spots and the Office Mark nurse that saw me was an Edison Graduate. It wasn't the remaining 580 non-degree seeking students rounded out the Trask. first time that it happened, but it always makes me proud of total enrollment of 9,388 students. I To better what we do here at Edison,' he said. Although the projections for this semester's enrollment serve that Edison College received a $71,725 federal grant last are not final, Evans calls the number a 'rapidly moving tar- need, he said, May to purchase new hospital beds for the Charlotte get" that changes every day, but she is confident that once Edison College Campus nursing lab and additional training equipment. classes begin on Aug. 25 and students settle on final cur- is expanding The college has also been exploring the idea of adding riculum, FGCU will still set a record for enrollment this it's two and on-campus housing to better accommodate student needs, fall. four-year Trask said, "When all is said and done, we anticipate at the conclu- degree offer- "If that helps the students," he said. "It's something we sion of the drop/add period that FGCU will be the 10,000- ings. need to look into." student mark — a tremendous accomplishment for such a "We're For now, however, the college is focusing on the upcom- young university," Evans added. Art festival brings joy Time to party at 1st -a Danz Dance Studio 1st Danz Dance Studio of Fort Myers, located in the 9 Daniels Metro Commerce Park, is offering you the chance to Special Populations to step up to the dance floor with dance parties guaranteed to spice up your weeknights. By GRAY ROHRER Glue, glitter, ribbons and beads adorned many of the Fridays from 8 to 11 p.m., it's time to get in touch with grohrer® breezenewspapers.com artists' colorful shells, while graham cracker creations your I,atin side with such dances as the Salsa, Cha Cha, and apple smiles were some of the culinary confections. Bachala and Merengue. With only a $10 cover, you'll be More than 50 volunteers and participants took part in treated to hot music and an even hotter dance h the Special Populations Art Festival last Saturday, giving Marble painting seemed to be the favorite form of expression, as participants placed a piece of paper in a floor.