THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM Teeing CAPE CORAL off Youngsters attend Junior Golf Clinic at Coral Oaks BREEZE — INSIDE EARLY-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Chance of Storms • Tonight: Partly Cloudy • Wednesday: Chance of Storms — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 50, No. 83 Tuesday, July 12, 2011 50 cents Lee Memorial Blood Center continues donation drive units on July 6 and 88 units on Although 257 units were collected last week, more blood needed July 7. Blood Drives The blood drive held at By MEGHAN McCOY rently experiencing. Lee Memorial Blood Center, said. ■ Lee Memorial Hospital, [email protected] “We really need to ask the “Bottom line is, we’re still in Christian Life Fellowship Church collected 18 units of blood the today from 8 a.m. Although a total of 257 units community if they haven’t had great need of all blood types, so until 4 p.m. of blood were collected during the chance to come in and donate come on down and give the gift of day before the Fourth of July, five blood drives held last week, to please do so, or if they have life.” seven units of blood were collect- ■ Edison State College, the Lee Memorial Blood Center is any questions to please call and The Fun in the Sun Hospital ed from the blood drive held at still asking residents to donate find out if they can be a lifesaver Blood Drive at HealthPark gener- Curves and three units of blood Wednesday, July 13, blood, so it can continue to tackle for someone,” Nancy Hendrick, ated the most donations over the were collected from Sweetbay from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. in parking lot three. the blood shortage the area is cur- community relations director of two days it was held with 129 See BLOOD, page 6A City assist allows veterans group to start hydroponics program By DREW WINCHESTER that would, hopefully, create [email protected] “business opportunities” for local Back in The city of Cape Coral is buy- veterans looking to improve their ing $1,600 worth of hydroponic lives. the Cape equipment for the Invest in Described as a pilot program, America Veterans Foundation, Santillo said a Vietnam veteran is U.S. Army Pfc. and allowing it use of land at going to be the first person to Corey Kent Ecological Park to set up the learn and utilize the equipment. gets a hero’s equipment and begin growing Santillo said the equipment welcome home food. and the program could be up and Saturday at City spokeswoman Connie running soon. the Leapin’ Barron confirmed the purchase of “We hope to have it up and running pretty quickly. We’re Lizard in the equipment Monday following a press release issued by the foun- going to give the food away and downtown dation announcing its partnership some of it we may be able to use Cape Coral. with the city. ourselves,” Santillo said. Barron said the city is purchas- Foundation and Community TIFFANY ing hydroponic “stackers” for the Redevelopment Foundation REPECKI group but is acting more in an Agency board member Lou “organizational” capacity than Simmons said the whole enter- anything else. prise could be up and running Foundation President Ralph within two months. Santillo said the hydroponic Cost efficient and easy to equipment is part of a larger effort on behalf of the foundation See GROUP, page 6A Spongebob Squarepants soaks up the attention Community welcomes at Sun Splash Waterpark By TIFFANY REPECKI page using his smartphone. [email protected] “He’s a huge fan,” Arlie Won The water slides at Sun Splash said, adding that his son has every a wounded hero home Family Waterpark took a back Spongebob DVD. seat Saturday to a special guest Arlan said he has been a fan appearance. since he was about 3 years old. Pfc. Corey Kent greeted at airport, at special downtown gathering Spongebob Squarepants, one “He’s always happy,” he said of why he likes Spongebob. “And By TIFFANY REPECKI vised explosive device, or IED, seemed to come from the com- of Nickelodeon’s biggest stars, exploded on July 12, 2010. The munity. Attending to show their held a meet and greet from noon he goes jellyfishing.” [email protected] Cape residents Benjamin and U.S. Army Pfc. Corey Kent explosion took both of his legs support, people offered Kent to 3 p.m. at the Cape Coral park. and all of the fingers on Kent’s handshakes, hugs and warm Parents and children waited Samantha Larson also got in line returned home Saturday after- Saturday with their daughter, noon to a hero’s welcome. left hand. Over the past year, he thanks for his service. patiently in a line to spend a few Elizabeth. Greeted at Southwest Florida has been at the Walter Reed “I wasn’t expecting anything minutes with the famous cartoon International Airport by a crowd Hospital in Maryland, where he like this,” he told the crowd. character and get their picture “She loves Spongebob,” ranging from family and friends had been recovering and under- His parents echoed that senti- taken with him. Temporary Samantha Larson said of the 1- to complete strangers, Kent was going rehabilitation therapy. ment Saturday. Spongebob tattoos were also year-old girl. first whisked away to the At the Leapin’ Lizard, Kent “It’s absolutely amazing,” given to park visitors. “We decided she needed to Harley-Davidson of Fort Myers, was presented with awards, cer- Dan Ashby, Kent’s stepfather For Arlan Won, Saturday was meet him,” she added. before arriving at the Leapin’ tificates for food and lodging, said. “It’s overwhelming.” not just his seventh birthday, it Asked about the cartoon tele- Lizard in Cape Coral by way of and monetary donations collect- Mother Tiffany Kent was a chance to meet one of his vision show, Larson admitted police escort. This is his first trip ed through local fund-raisers. explained that she and her son favorite cartoon characters. with a laugh that she also gets a home to the Cape since he was Mayor John Sullivan presented were both raised in the local Fittingly wearing Spongebob kick out of watching it, and said injured last year while serving in him with a key to the city, while community, and that the out- swimming trunks, the now 7- she has been known to have Afghanistan. Sam Galloway Ford surprised pouring of support means a lot year-old boy got to take his pic- Spongebob ring tones on her cell Kent was three weeks into his Kent with a 2012 Ford Focus. ture with the Nickelodeon star, phone. She called the show enter- first tour of duty when an impro- The most touching gift, though, See HOME, page 3A which Arlan’s father immediately posted on the family’s Facebook See SPONGEBOB, page 6A 20th Annual Platinum Coast Cat Fanciers show July 23-24 open to everybody and you don’t All cats are welcome to enter event to be held at Araba Temple need an animal from a special To go By DREW WINCHESTER Household pets will have the out and be able to show off their bloodline to compete. [email protected] chance to compete along side kitty,” Campbell said. “I’m really excited about that,” What: 20th Annual If you think your tabby cat vaunted breeds like Persians, Of course, the main attraction Campbell said of the household Platinum Coast Cat looks like a pedigreed show kitty, pixie bobs and ragdolls, although will the rare and exotic breeds of pet competition. “I’ve gotten a Fanciers cat show the household cats will only face cats in competition, which brings couple of calls but there’s still than you’re going to have a When: July 23 - 24, chance to find out if your pet has off against each other, not their people from all over the southern plenty of time to enter your pets.” what it takes to be a champion fancy brethren. United States to attempt winning Shelters from five area coun- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the 20th Annual Platinum Organizer Charlene Campbell the coveted “Best in Show.” ties — including Charlotte, Where: Araba Temple, Coast Cat Fanciers brings its cat said it is important to include all But Campbell said it is impor- Sarasota and Lee — will be on 2010 Hanson St., show back to Fort Myers July 23 cat owners in the festivities. tant for people to know the Fort Myers - 24. “We want everyone to come Household Pet competition is See SHOW, page 6A ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Next Rain Barrel Workshop Southland Express Annie’s Mailbox ....9A Horoscopes........9A July 23 in Cape Coral hosting hurricane seminar Cape Life ..........7A Obituaries ..........2A The next Florida Yards & Neighbor- Southland Exteriors is putting on a hur- CASH 3: hoods Rain Barrel Workshop will be held ricane seminar that is free to the public. Community ........8A Police Blotter ....2A 9-9-5 / 3-9-1 Saturday, July 23, from 9-11 a.m., at the The focus of the event will be what to do Classifieds........1-4B Sports ........12-13A PLAY 4: Cape Coral Rotary Park. 5505 Rose with your pet, how to prepare your home 1-6-9-0 / 2-7-1-1 Garden Road, Cape Coral. and hurricanes issues in general. This will Comics ............10A Tides ..................2A Fantasy 5 A rain barrel can collect water from be a 2-hour event (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at the Crossword........10A TV Listings ......11A 7-18-20-22-34 your roof.