Post Comments, share Views, read Blogs on CaPe-Coral-daily-Breeze.Com Inside today’s SERVI NG CAPE CORAL, PINE ISLAND & N. F APE ORAL T. MYERS Breeze C C RR e eal MARKETEE sta Your complete teR Cape Coral, Lee County Gu ulf A Po cce real estate guide ol H ss N o OR m TH m AAUG EDIT e U ION e ST 27, AILY REEZE 2009 COVER PR D B ESE NTED BY JOHN TONEY, See Pag C-21 SUNBELT REALTYe 16 WEATHER: Partly Sunny • Tonight: Partly Cloudy • Saturday: Partly Sunny — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 48, No. 201 Friday, August 28, 2009 50 cents District 6 candidates debate UEP, cuts to budget attract businesses, those chal- economy and the high costs of lenging him expressed their the project. All in favor of FAC suggestion to reservations toward the project. “I believe in utility expan- Frank Antos Jr., a 67 year- sion, however it has to be done old retired publisher, said the at the right price, at the right next phase of the project to time and for the right reasons,” have employees pay $50 a month bring water, sewer and irriga- he said. tion utilities to Southwest 6/7 The panel was able to agree By GRAY ROHRER a debate, but only one will has been personally affected by retain a permanent seat. the city’s most controversial should be rebid. on one key budget issue, how- [email protected] “If it were rebid, it’s over a ever, with all the candidates Cape Coral City Council Although they found com- issue: the utilities expansion mon ground on many issues, project. 35 percent reduction,” he said. concluding that employee ben- District 6 candidates got a John Cataldi Jr., a 69 year- efits and salaries need to be cut chance Thursday night to see one candidate took the chance “I’m the only candidate on to chastise his opponents. this dais that’s paid an assess- old retired police detective, to some degree. what the other side of the dais supports the UEP but said it All three were in favor of the looks like. Kevin McGrail, a 53 year- ment,” he said. old medical technologist, noted While McGrail spoke in should only go forward in main Financial Advisory The three candidates were business corridors in the city seated in council chambers for that unlike his opponents, he favor of the UEP as a means to due to the downturn in the See DEBATE, page 16A Wildlife society awarding grants to science classes ‘Ding Darling’ to give out five each at $1,000 By MCKENZIE CASSIDY “With environmental [email protected] education funding being Science classes in Lee County are eligible to receive cut throughout the one of five $1,000 grants from school district, teachers the “Ding” Darling Wildlife and students are so Society-Friends of the Refuge. grateful to receive our The society, located on grants to fund special Sanibel Island, has been pro- projects.” viding educators with the — Doris Hardy, chair of grants for the past four years to environment education be used in the classroom for materials or books, or on edu- cation-related field trips or can submit a grant proposal to projects. the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Any school in Lee County See GRANTS, page 16A Top LMHS staffers honored by annual Doc Coggins Award Twelve 2009 recipients By MCKENZIE CASSIDY Memorial Health System board [email protected] of directors, it is presented to Twelve employees with the employees at physician offices, MICHAEL PISTELLA Lee Memorial Health System hospitals and other health cen- were honored this year by win- ters. ning the Doc Coggins Award of Coggins was originally Cool down Excellence. appointed to the board of direc- The award, introduced in tors in 1984 and served as Charlie, a 9-month-old yellow lab, cools down with some water courtesy of his owner board treasurer until he Nancy Ellis after playing at Wagging Tails Dog Park Thursday morning. The park, 2003, is presented to top employees in the health system resigned in 1997. located at Rotary Park at 5505 Rose Garden Road, offers a fenced area for large dogs, each year. “We are very proud of our as well as another area for small dogs. Registration is required to use the park as well Named after Lester “Doc” Doc Coggins winners,” said as an annual fee. Forms and dues can be dropped off at the Rotary Park office from 8 Coggins, a leader in the com- Richard Akin, chairman of the a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily. For more information, call 549-4606. munity and member of the Lee See AWARD, page 16A Police: UPS driver’s wife also sold stolen goods Neighbors report seeing garage sales By CONNOR HOLMES Craig Podleski swiped various Some of the items taken include [email protected] items he was supposed to deliver, various firearms, a Cape police The wife of a Cape Coral UPS then kept them or sold them from his badge, electronics, clothing and a driver, arrested earlier this month for home over the past two years, police marble-topped kitchen island. reportedly stealing thousands of dol- reported. According to police, Cheryl lars worth of delivery items, was Craig Podleski was charged with Podleski helped her husband sell the arrested on a related charge two counts of larceny theft $300 or stolen items on Internet sites and at Wednesday. more but less than $5,000 and one garage sales. Cheryl A. Podleski, 48, wife of count each of grand larceny over Neighbors told police that they Craig Podleski, was charged with $100,000, larceny from a shipment had seen Cheryl Podleski running dealing in stolen property after an of cargo $50,000 or more and various garage sales from her home investigation by the Cape Coral organized dealing in stolen property. during the weekends. Police Department revealed her He remains in the Lee County She has been released from the alleged involvement in the thefts. Jail in lieu of bond, records indicate. Lee County Jail on $2,500 bond. Cheryl A. Podleski Craig Podleski ATAGLANCE AROUND THE CAPE NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE ‘Summertime Senior Men sought in robbery Annie’s Mailbox ....8A Nation ................6A Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is ask- Florida Celebration’ planned ing for the public’s help in locating two men Business ................7A Obituaries ..........2A The First Annual “Summertime Senior involved in an armed robbery Sunday at the Celebration” will be held from 10 a.m.-3 Classifieds ..........1-6B Police Blotter ....2A Lottery Circle K, located at 3704 Skyline Blvd. CASH 3: p.m. today at Lake Kennedy Center, 400 According to police reports, at about 5:30 Comics ............12A Sports ........13-15A 6-2-9 / 2-2-8 Santa Barbara Blvd. The event offers free a.m. the two entered the store, one pointing a Crossword........12A State ..................5A PLAY 4: parking, admission, food and drink samples, firearm at the clerk behind the counter. Both 7-8-9-7 / 3-6-9-4 entertainment, health screenings and prizes Dr. Donohue ......8A Today in History ..3A then scaled the counter and demanded the cash Fantasy 5 and giveaways to seniors. More than 50 drawer from the register. The men fled the Editorial..............4A TV Listings......9-11A 12-21-22-25-28 “senior-friendly” exhibitor booths with infor- Lotto store southbound on foot with an undisclosed mation on senior services, lifestyles, health amount of cash. No one was hurt. Horoscopes........8A Weather ............2A 3-22-32-35-43-48 and wellness, finance and travel. Health Florida Powerball Both are described as black males, dressed 1-21-23-30-43 screenings include vision check, blood pres- in all black and wearing black masks. PB 11 x 3 sure check, hearing and balance. Dress for Anyone with information is asked to call summer — grand prize for best summertime the hotline at (800) 780-TIPS (8477). All outfit. For information, call 823-3542 or callers will remain anonymous and will be eli- 7 48445 46010 1 visit: www.swfseniorproductions.com. gible for up to $1,000 in cash rewards. Page 2A Friday, August 28, 2009 cape-coral-daily-breeze.com CAPE CORAL DAILY BREEZE OBITUARIES Roy Hobbs Wood Bat Baseball (Lasco) Schmidt. of Cape Coral; sister, Paula Anthony Corti Tournament. Lisa Christine She grew up in Riverton, Pa., Franklin of Owing Mills, Md.; Anthony Corti, 75, of Cape He was preceded in death by and graduated from Bangor and nieces and nephews. Coral, passed away Tuesday, Schmidt A funeral service will be a sister, Rose Salerno. L i s a Area High School in Aug. 25, 2009, at Cape Coral He is survived by his wife, Pennsylvania and the Lincoln conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at C h r i s t i n e Horizon Funeral Home, 1605 Hospital. He was born July 22, Mary C. Corti of Cape Coral; Technical Institute. After grad- 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son Schmidt, 51, Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, children, Kevin M. Brown, of Cape Coral, uation she moved to the Hudson where the family will receive of Silverio and Josephine Josephine Hinks, Mark Brown Valley area of New York state friends after noon. Ferrera Corti, now deceased. passed into and James Brown; six grand- God’s hands and worked for IBM and the In lieu of flowers, memorial He retired in 1981 from the children; two great-grandchil- N.Y. State University System. gifts may be sent to the New York City Transit Police W e d n e s d a y , dren; and sister, Mary Campo.