thrEE Days a WEEK Post CoMMEnts at CaPE-Coral-DaIly-brEEzE.CoM Tourney CAPE CORAL time 9 and 10-year-old District 9 All-Stars in action BREEZE — SPORTS MID-WEEK EDItIon WEATHER:Partly Cloudy • Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Partly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 49, No. 75 Thursday, June 24, 2010 50 cents ‘Free Food Fridays’ available for families in need Acres, Fort Myers Beach, Alva, different schools will open their making sure children are getting Agencies team up for food give-aways Fort Myers and Pine Island, and doors each day to provide free meals during summer break, the Community Cooperative local food pantries are opening on breakfast or lunch to any child Free Food Friday program is pro- By MCKENZIE CASSIDY Friday for families who qualify under the age of 18, as long as viding food for whole families. [email protected] Ministries Inc. are working together to make sure they are for assistance. they live in a geographic area “The intention is to help the Lee County agencies are team- Megan Spears, resource man- where more than 50 percent of family throughout the weekend,” ing up this summer to make sure stocked up this summer with a program called “Free Food agement director for The students get free or reduced said Spears. families don’t go hungry. Salvation Army, said that Free lunch. And the need exists, she said. Many local families are strug- Fridays.” The Salvation Army is sending Food Fridays are meant to aug- Overall, 67 percent of students Last year in Bonita Springs, gling to pay bills and buy food, so ment the food program offered enrolled in Lee County receive some 700 people came looking The Salvation Army, United out mobile feeding units to differ- ent communities this summer, this summer by the Lee County free or reduced lunch because of for assistance during a similar Way, Harry Chapin Food Bank, School District. their family’s level of income. Lee County Schools and including Cape Coral, Lehigh Under the district’s program, Although the school district is See GIVE-AWAYS, page 9A Habitat helps mom realize Survey: 40 percent dream of home ownership of area companies Ceremony held have experienced to present keys to Cape residents decline in business By DREW WINCHESTER [email protected] Horizon Council reports economy, Leshaun Harrison stood in the kitchen of her new home ‘BP factor,’ other issues cited as causes Tuesday, holding her four- By TIFFANY REPECKI According to Jennifer Berg, com- month-old daughter Amiah [email protected] munications director for the coun- while smiling from ear to ear, An informal online survey of ty’s Office of Economic thankful to be a homeowner. area businesses found that nearly Development, it was a “simple, “It was a struggle but I did 40 percent are seeing a decline in three- or four-question survey.” it,” she said. “I wasn't going to business, mostly due to the econ- “The Horizon Council simply give up.” omy and the oil spill in the Gulf wanted to survey the people that Habitat for Humanity of Lee of Mexico. we typically survey for our busi- and Hendry counties teamed up The Horizon Council, a pub- ness climate survey. Not as a sci- with Winn Dixie and Kellogg's lic-private advisory board that entific study, but more as a base- to help rehabilitate the home on operates as part of the Lee County line,” she said, adding that the cli- Northwest Juanita Court. Office of Economic mate survey is done quarterly. Harrison contributed more Development, created the survey “The oil spill impact survey than 250 hours of her own hard to get a general idea of whether went out last week and the results work rehabilitating the property. the BP oil spill is having an She also completed all the impact on local industries. See SURVEY, page 9A necessary training classes through Habitat for Humanity that taught her the necessary skills of being a full time home- Sea plane makes owner. “The program is a blessing,” she added. Known for building new crash landing off homes from he ground up, Habitat for Humanity President and CEO Kitty Green said the DREW WINCHESTER organization is now looking into Bowman’s Beach rehabilitating existing homes. Leshaun Harrison and her 4-month-old daughter Amiah. She said all applicants have after receiving the keys to her new home on Tuesday. By JEFF LYSIAK Ohio. “It was flying very low and to go through a rigorous process [email protected] it was flying very close to the - including volunteer work and Humanity.” their new refrigerator with food. A small sea plane made an shore. We knew something was- the aforementioned classes - Green said applicants have a Harrison said it was difficult emergency landing in the waters n’t right because we could see the before the key are finally handed year to complete all the class balancing family, work and off Bowman Beach Wednesday pilot waving his hands, like he over. and volunteer work. school during her time in the afternoon, with the pilot and his was signaling to people to move But all new homeowners Classes focus on all aspects Habitat for Humanity programs. passenger escaping serious away.” aren't simply handed a house of owning a home, including At one point she thought she injury. Around 2:30 p.m., the pilot — free and clear, they have to be budgeting and maintenance, couldn't make it, but eventually According to eyewitnesses to identified as John Parks — land- willing to work, and pay, for among others. made it over the hump. Now she the incident, the aircraft appeared ed the plane in the Gulf of their dreams to come true. Green added, “We're not a praises the program for giving to be in distress as it approached Mexico, approximately 100 “Our mission is to provide charity, we're helping, but peo- her family a chance at owning the Sanibel shoreline, which was yards off the coast and one-half housing to low-income families ple are earning this. It's a big their own home. filled with hundreds of beachgo- mile north of the public beach ... but it doesn't say we have to to commitment.” “If you're not a homeowner, ers enjoying a warm summer day access of Bowman’s Beach. build them,” Green said. “And Harrison and her two chil- go to Habitat for Humanity. This in Southwest Florida. “He did a pretty good job land- the families need to have an dren, Amiah and son Keondre, is the best program ever,” she “We were in the water, and we ing it,” added McCauley. “The ability to pay, and a willingness 3, also received a $200 gift card said. saw the plane coming up the belly of the plane hit first, and to partner with Habitat for from Winn Dixie to help fill beach,” said Gloria McCauley, who was visiting from Columbus, See PLANE, page 9A Ham radio operators to conduct ‘Field Day’ this weekend 24-hour event to help group prepare for possible disasters “We always jump in in any emergency,” Niccum said. To Go By DREW WINCHESTER to ensure they will be ready when Saturday, June 26, until 2 p.m. Field Day is also used as a tool to entice new members by giving [email protected] called upon. Sunday, June 27. What: Fort Myers Amateur To prepare, the club, like oth- Niccum said he’s always had them a hands on trial at ham Ham radio operators are often Radio Club “Field Day” called upon to act like first ers across the United States, will an interest in radio, but didn’t radio. responders, restoring some sem- take part in “Field Day,” a 24- truly dig into it until he retired to Niccum said there are several blance of communication in areas hour event of continuous radio Lee County 25 years ago. levels of classification a ham Where: North Fort Myers laid to waste by disasters. transmission, testing equipment He said ham, or amateur, radio radio operator can obtain, but Community Park Members of the Fort Myers and prepping for emergencies. operators communicate with each everything starts with obtaining a Amateur Radio Club have uti- “We’re there for people in other globally, though Saturday’s license from the Federal When: 24 hours, 2 p.m., lized their skills in south Florida case of emergencies,” Niccum event will focus primarily on Communication Commission. June 26, until 2 p.m., and New Orleans, responding to said. “We’re ready, willing and chatting with other operators After that, Niccum said people June 27 needs in the aftermath of hurri- able to help.” across the United States. can outfit themselves with radio equipment at a cost of $200 - canes Andrew and Katrina. The club will set up shop in the The focus, of course, is being Cost: Free and open to North Fort Myers Community to able to assist during emergen- Honing those skills is a must, the public said club member James Niccum, Park, transmitting from 2 p.m. cies. See RADIO, page 9A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE AREA NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE ‘Red, White & Tunes’ SW Florida International Annie’s Mailbox......16A Health ..................8A charity concerts July 2-5 Airport reports May traffic Cape Fare..........5B Horoscopes......10A The Naples Parrot Head Club’s 1st During May, 552,105 passengers trav- CASH 3: Classifieds........1-4B Obituaries ..........2A 4-1-6 / 8-8-2 Annual Charity Concerts, “Red, White & eled through Southwest Florida Inter- Comics ............11A Police Blotter ....9A PLAY 4: Tunes,” will be held July 2-5 at The Resort national Airport, an increase of 5.3 percent 6-3-1-3 / 9-9-5-0 at Marina Village, 5951 Silver King Blvd., compared to May 2009.