FREE Take Me Read Us Online at Home IslandSunNews.com VOL. 12, NO. 3 From the Beaches to the River District downtown Fort Myers JANUARY 25, 2013 Concert And Reception At Shell Point he Concerts and Conversation Series Tat Shell Point Retirement Community is open to the public, and the next concert in this series will be pianist Thomas Pandolfi on Thursday, January 31 at 7 p.m. This concert is unique in that following the concert, participants can attend a beverage and dessert reception with The Kiwanis Taste of Pine Island event goers at last year’s Taste Pandolfi. photo provided by www.AdandPrintCraft.com Pandolfi is piano vir- tuoso who has passion- which features live music, entertainment ate artistry and amazing Taste Of Pine and food. technique. His orchestral The event will feature over 100 food appearances often feature Island Returns and craft vendors. Live entertainment beloved masterpieces by will include The Whole Tones, Strange Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, This Weekend Arrangement, Pine Island Dance, Pine and Liszt. Pandolfi’s career he Kiwanis Club of Greater Island Steel and Kip & Trailer Park Barbie. experiences include perfor- Pine Island will hold the annual The Taste of Pine Island is family-friendly mances with such European TTaste of Pine Island on Saturday, event with children’s activities includ- orchestras as the George January 26 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. ing rock climbing, face painting, bounce Enescu Philharmonic and and Sunday, January 27 from 11 a.m. houses and rides. the Cluj Philharmonic of until 5 p.m. The event will take place The 10th annual Southwest Florida the Republic of Moldova. at Phillips Park, 5675 Sesame Drive on Chowder Cook-off Contest and the 2nd He has also performed Thomas Pandolfi Pine Island Road (behind the Pine Island annual Chili Cook-off Contest will also be with American symphony Fire Station). Tickets are $5 each, with held, which the public can judge. orchestras throughout the country. children 10 and under admitted free. The Fish Drop Drawing will also take Pandolfi is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where he earned both his bach- Two-day passes are available for $8. place at the event with a $2,000 grand elor’s and master’s degrees as a scholarship student. The Washington Post acclaimed Event planners expect more than prize, $500 second place prize Pandolfi as “an artist who is a master of both the grand gesture and finesse.” 5,000 people to attend the two-day event, continued on page 9 continued on page 25 afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m., Fenway Training season and just another one of 11. Elfie’s Deli – german deli foods Fenway South South Drive in front of JetBlue Park will the unique ways Fenway South is being 12. Ernesto and Luigi Sauces – home- be host to the Fenway South Farmer’s utilized for the Southwest Florida com- made marinara sauce and pastas Farmer’s Market Market that will include local produce, munity.” 13. Farmer Mike – Bonita Springs cheeses, flowers, fresh pastas, seafood, According to Baer, they are expecting farmer’s fresh fruit, veggies and flowers all Opens February 4 baked breads, meats, herbs, organic veg- to add more vendors leading up to the locally grown etables, crafts, soaps, candles, ready-to-eat February 4 start date. Anyone interested 14. Frills – jewelry, art and funky meals and live music. in becoming a vendor or providing live clothes JetBlue Park at Fenway South, the Red entertainment can call 691-9249 or email 15. Gallego’s Farm Fresh – local pro- Sox’s new 106-acre Spring Training and [email protected]. duce Player Development Complex, is located The current list of vendors for the mar- 16. Gone Nuts – homemade peanut at 11500 Daniels Parkway. ket include: butters and roasted peanuts “The vendors are very excited to be 1. Barkies – organic dog treats 17. Green Ivory – fair trade jewelry and able to utilize the space and location of 2. Beignets – made-to-order Beignets, hand-woven market baskets JetBlue Park to promote their locally pro- a New Orleans treat 18. Happy Pickle – many verities of duced products and wares to neighboring 3. Big Cheese – artisan cheeses pickles and olives communities as well as the Boston Red 4. Blue Sky Jewelry – hand-crafted 19. Hemp Bamboo Clothing Sox fans,” said Betsy Ventura, who along jewelry 20. Heritage Honey – local honey sold with Jean Baer owns Local Roots, LLC 5. Calamondin Café – homemade by the beekeeper and will run the market at JetBlue each treats made from the Calamondin fruit 21. I love Oils – essential oils Monday. “Farmer’s markets have been from Pine Island 22. Irene Veggies – fresh produce growing in popularity, and this is the per- 6. Cat Paws Designs – hand-sewn pet including organics and Asian veggies fect time of year to shop local in the open beds 23. JC’s Bakery – artisan breads, dan- ore than 35 vendors selling local- air and beautiful Florida sunshine.” 7. Chef Roberts Kitchen – ishes and cookies ly produced vegetables, native Ventura and Baer also operate the Mediterranean foods including 11 types of 24. Jones Barbecue – ready-to-eat or Mplants and flowers, prepared Lakes Park and Sanibel Farmer’s Markets. hummus take home ribs and pulled pork foods, fresh baked goods, all-natural “We are very excited that Lee County’s 8. Dominga Flowers – fresh-cut flowers 25. La French Gem – handmade products and crafts will converge on newest open-air market is coming to and potted plants Bohemian jewelry JetBlue Park for eight weeks in February JetBlue Park,” said Katie Haas, director 9. Dragon Fly Soap – handmade soaps 26. Madagascar Hats – hand-woven and March. of Florida business operations. “This mar- 10. Dynasty Guacamole – freshly made continued on page 4 Beginning February 4, each Monday ket is a great way to kick off the Spring guacamole and salsa on site 2 THE RIVER - JANUARY 25, 2013 Historic Downtown Fort Myers, Then And Now: Old Times At The Hall Of 50 States by Gerri Reaves Old Timers his 1992 photo taken at the Hall of Fifty States captures only one of countless events that made it central to the Tsocial and civic life of Fort Myers for many years. The occasion was the Southwest Florida Historical Society’s annual fundraiser, “Old Times in Southwest Florida” or, alter- nately, “Old Timers Night.” The society was then in its 29th year and regularly held the event at the hall each February. The hall, on the other hand, was 65 years old, but going strong. In fact, only 10 years before, it had been remodeled and a grand opening held. It was marketed as equipped for everything from banquets and parties to conferences and dances. It also had catering facilities. The Hall’s pedigree dates from the boom-times of 1927, when it was a second- story auditorium, a segment of the grand Moorish-style Pleasure Pier that extended into the Caloosahatchee River near the foot of Heitman Street. The hall was moved to Edwards Drive in 1943 and renamed the Hall of Fifty States, thus the many flags in the photo. The Old Timers night had been held at the hall for many years. Typically, the for- mat featured several speakers who spun yarns of old Fort Myers, as well as historical Today, the Hall of Fifty States looks ready to be pressed back into service. Move some facts worthy of sharing and recording. things out of the way, give it a good cleaning, set up the chairs, turn on the stage lights, The 1992 event opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Vice-president Jim and get on with the program photo by Gerri Reaves Congdon, and words of welcome from President Sara Nell Hendry Gran. Nickson (center), a Fort Myers native with local roots going back to the 1890s, had Prior to the main program, awards were presented to the winners of the Lee taught in the public schools for 38 years, 22 at South Boca Grande Elementary, a County Student Historical Essay Contest. one-teacher black school. Among those onstage in the February 1992 photo are speakers Tommy Pursley, Jimmy P. Porter spoke about his 25 years in the Fort Myers Fire Department. Mae Ola Nickson, Jimmy P. Porter and Joan Pigott Porter. In addition, his wife, Joan Pigott Porter (second from right), teacher and Fort Myers Pursley was the great grandson of Capt. Francis A. Hendry, “the father of Fort City Council member, joined him in sharing their extensive research on the history of Myers,” and grandson of Capt. J. Fred Menge. Buckingham Army Air Field. The evening ended with closing remarks by Stanley Hanson and raffle drawings for a painting of the historic Gardener-Kelly home and other items. The historical society’s traditional event lives on, but has evolved into today’s Cracker Lunch and Cracker Dinner, which every February bring people together for food, socializing and a celebration of Fort Myers, past and present. While the hall has not been open for several years, many lovers of Fort Myers hope for its renovation and return to a vital role in downtown life. Walk down Edwards Drive and see a much-loved public building just waiting for a chance to help the community make more good memories. Then walk a few blocks the Southwest Florida Museum of History to learn more about the history of the city’s last remnant of the Pleasure Pier. Among those onstage for Old Times in Southwest Florida in February 1992 are speakers Tommy Pursley, Mae Ola Nickson, Jimmy P.