North Fort Myers Living

Civic center faces a crossroads

Story by Chuck Ballaro

For Bobbi Harrison, a fifth-generation Floridian who’s lived in North Fort Myers since 1968, there are a lot of great memories associated with the Lee Civic Center, from concerts to high school graduations and, of course, the Lee County Fair

What the future holds for the next generations, though, is as yet undetermined as the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted in March to take over the facility, citing concerns over the safety of the buildings

While county-approved and countyfunded, repairs are in the works, the county has closed all the buildings at the more than 100-acre Bayshore Road facility. It will be surveyed for future discussion.

“I don’t want to see it go. It's been a staple here, and next year is the 100th fair and that kind of blows everything out of the water,” Harrison said “Are we having a fair and where is it going to be ”

But permanent closure, at least in its current configuration, could be a possibility.

The April 1-2 Florida Gun Show was the last event at the big old building, at least for a while and perhaps ever as the county, which owns the building, de-

cides what to do next with the aging facility

The Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair Association has run the property over the past 25 years, pouring millions of dollars into its upkeep. But it’s been running the grounds on a yearby-year basis the past couple years and its latest deal expires in September

Mike Peak, president of the fair board, said they support anything the county will do to improve the facility

“We knew this was coming a year ago when they voted to fund the studies of the buildings that they would be making decisions,” Peak said. “I applaud them, whatever they want to do. That’s great for the community and the board feels that way ”

The Lee Civic Center opened in 1979 and hosted a myriad of events from rock concerts to pro wrestling to the circus

However, when the stands were condemned nearly a decade ago, it severely limited what the big building can do. It could only do floor shows like the gun show, home shows and events during the fair

Meanwhile, the rest of the grounds are aging as well, with Whaley Hall being severely damaged by Hurricane Ian last year. The county must now decide what to do next, either renovate or replace. It is expected to cost around $15 5 million to renovate the civic center building and $42 2 million to rebuild it

The renovation of the entire complex will be around $22 million, with replacement being more than $53 million

This is not the first time the civic center ’s future has been explored In 2021, when the fair association was up for an-

other contract, it got competition from Kitson & Partners, which has been developing Babcock Ranch on the Charlotte side of the Charlotte-Lee County line

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community connection

Get ready for Civic’s Clash of the Irons golf tourney

By the time you read this our Community Service Awards will have already been celebrated.

Captain Joe More, LCSO North District, was named the Tom Cronin, Person of The Year 2022 Finalists Wendell Williams and George Sand also received awards

Deana Campbell received the Diamond Award Finalists, Lisa Snyder Johnson and Mary Wildman

North Fort Myers High Athletic director, Bobbi Dewey was awarded the Ron Hoover Legend Award.

Our guest speakers were Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, LCSO Chief Jim Rankin, Pastor Lucy Bonsanto aka Ma Ma Lou, – Lucy’s Love and Light Ministries and Reid McDaniel from Ro-

tary and the Chamber of Commerce.

Our second annual EGGSTRAVAGANZA again this year brought a chance to win a prize. ChristyLee Iwanow, our vice president, rallied all her area leaders to “throw eggs” to 2,000 homes in North Fort Myers We electronically selected 100 winning tickets

The North Fort Myers Recreation Center invited us to participate in their annual Spring Fling on April 8.

Tanya Jones, our newest director, hit the floor running and along with some volunteers handed out Easter treats to the children of North Fort Myers

Get your team together for our second annual golf tournament, NFM Civic Association CLASH

OF THE IRONS

Where and When?

Magnolia Landings

June 17, 8 a m start

More information to follow You can contact Danny Ballard 239-633-3064 or Bob Hill 239-3144212 for more information or any NFMCA Board member

Civic meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way

Happy Spring

Everyone!

How to protect your home from burglars the pulse

A very recent conversation with residents at a local community homeowners’ gathering prompted me to take this opportunity to share important information regarding nationwide burglary trends

While burglars and prowlers most definitely benefit from the cover of darkness, nationwide statistics clearly indicate that the vast majority of home break-ins occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Burglars do make every attempt to operate covertly and the dark of night generally enables them to do so However, a burglar ’s preference, far greater than darkness, is an empty residence

Rigid work and school schedules make it difficult to be at home during the day and homes are often unoccupied for many daylight hours. Criminals are observant and many of us leave our homes at a specific time each day.

It is no coincidence that national home burglary statistics show a decrease since the start of the pandemic as the number of people working from home has tripled

With no one home, it is far less likely that the sounds of forced entry will be heard and/or reported. Additionally, neighbors are seemingly less concerned about loud noises that occur during daylight hours.

Additionally, rental properties are more frequently burglarized than homesteads Rental prop-

erties are less likely to be protected by security cameras and alarm systems making them more vulnerable

Some thoughts…

Landscaping and fences allow residents to establish privacy in and around their homes. However, those shrubs and tall fences may allow burglars to gain access to your home without being observed from the street Consider home security when choosing tall, thick landscaping and fencing that completely obscures vision

High-mounted security cameras, visible to all, do tend to deter criminals Mount cameras around the perimeter of your home at heights that require ladders to move, cover or remove.

Security systems are now wireless, easily installed and relatively inexpensive. Monitored systems do incur a monthly fee, however, response time is significantly faster

Quality locks are important as many inferior locks are easily overtaken by cordless drills and blunt force Interestingly, experts recommend that we focus on the quality of the lock’s strike plate and the screws used to secure them. Robust strike plates installed with three-inch screws hold up far better to most types of force.

Sliding doors are often the chosen point of entry

They are generally located in the rear or on the side of the residence, making them less visible There are numerous sliding door security devices on the market including security pins, loop-locks and security bars to name a few These devices are inexpensive and work well to prevent glass-door break-ins.

Lastly, be aware that hollow-core doors, while less expensive, are not intended for exterior use and are extremely vulnerable Solid doors, whether wood or steel, are significantly more secure, reduce street noise from entering your home and are more energy efficient

As always, ensure that all windows and doors are covered to prevent burglars from peering inside and check to be certain that all potential entries are locked prior to leaving your home.

Perhaps the greatest form of security is an intangible one; caring neighbors Be alert to the activity next door, across the street, down the block Never hesitate to report suspicious activity or incidents that concern you “See something… say something…make the call!”

Toni Hill President NFMCA

Carmine Marceno, Lee County Sheriff

Kitson & Partners proposed buying the civic center property, pairing it with the 62 acres it owns adjacent to the site, and building a large-scale development off Bayshore Road where it ends at SR 31

After hearing the outcry from residents, the county cancelled the Invitation to Negotiate and extended the fair contract by another year

Last year, the BOCC approved an architectural and structural assessment of the buildings, which has led to this moment

Peak said they don’t need the civic center to hold the fair, whether that means at the current location or some-

where else

“It’s nice to have it, but we don’t need it to do the fair or a reduction in the things we do,” Peak said “We can bring in a portable for the fair office during the fair The main thing would be the bathrooms, which I think are usable.”

The county meanwhile, is also accepting public input. Lee County residents are invited to participate in a survey to share ideas about the features and amenities important to a reimagined Lee Civic Center Go to www leegov com/CivicCenter for the survey and related information

NFMNL

Lee County residents are invited to participate in a survey to share ideas about the features and amenities important to a reimagined Lee Civic Center Go to www leegov com/CivicCenter for the survey and related information

The Lee Board of County Commissioners is working with county staff to visualize a new, reimagined future for the Lee County Civic Center complex at 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. This includes a commitment to maintaining activities for 4-H and the

Southwest Florida Fair This also includes a process to see what shortterm repairs can be made to keep the site operational

An assessment study of the property was conducted last year by a team of specialized local architects and engineers licensed in Florida The study evaluated all 14 buildings of the 96-acre property

With input from the community, the board will keep as many activities as possible while envisioning a brighter future for what it can provide to the community, county officials said.

Lee County Band to present ‘April in Paradise’ April 23

The Lee County Community Band will present “April in Paradise,” its last concert of the season, at 3 p m on April 23 at Cape Coral High School

Get ready for an afternoon of exuberant, toe tapping, sing-a-long fun! Under the baton of Richard Bradstreet, the band will be in top form as it performs Dixieland, lively marches, patriotic favorites, Broadway hits, and more Selections include Dixieland Front and Center!; Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a march by John Philip Sousa; Highlights from Jersey Boys; In the Miller Mood; Frenesi, featuring vocalist Jan Fenn; Love Is…, featuring vocalist Norman Jones; and Come Fly with Me, featuring vocalist Fred Lamb

In addition to concluding the Lee County Band’s 137th concert season, the April 23 program will serve as a bittersweet moment for the 60-member ensemble, as it bids farewell to Emcee and Vocalist Norman Jones, who has served in this role for 43 years; and to long-time Director Richard Bradstreet and his wife, Sara, band librarian.

Music teachers and owners of a music store in Norwalk, Ohio, Richard and Sara moved to SW

Florida in 1978, opened Educators’ Music in Cape Coral, and began entertaining local audiences as a duo – he on percussion and she on piano and organ Richard and Sara joined the Lee County Band in 1979; he played trumpet (and other instruments as needed, including trombone, French horn, baritone horn and drums), and she played clarinet. Later, Sara switched to bassoon, her current instrument Richard accepted the baton as Director in 2003 and is retiring after the April 23 concert Southwest Florida’s original concert band, the Lee County Band has been regaling regional audiences since 1885, and enjoys a large, loyal, and en-

thusiastic audience Plan to arrive early and enjoy this final concert of the season Admission is free; donations are welcomed

The band will resume rehearsals in October, and its first performance of the 2023-24 season will be in mid-November. Concerts take place at Cape Coral High School at 3 p.m.; the school is at 2300 Santa Barbara Boulevard, one block north of Veterans Parkway

For more information, please phone Frances Pace, President, at 239-691-3115; or visit us on Facebook at Lee County Community Band or on the web at www leecountyband org

FILE PHOTO

Civic association gives awards to area ’ s finest

fore the awards were handed out, which is what people wanted to see

by Chuck Ballaro

For the past three years, the North Fort Myers Civic Association has presented awards to those who have made a difference in the community through charitable work, working in the community or in other ways

On March 28 the NFMCA once again held its annual Community Service Awards ceremony, with dignitaries, friends, and a lot of law enforcement workers in attendance, making it the safest place to be that evening

NFMCA president Toni Hill spoke in her opening remarks about the virtues of recognizing someone’s great achievements

“Ask yourself why do we recognize? Because recognition is a powerful but often overlooked way to celebrate people and let them know they are appreciated and valued,” Hill said. “Think of it as a big hug or a dozen roses from the community. We can build a better world by recognizing the qualities we think are awesome ”

Lucia “Mama Lu” Bonsanto, last year ’s Tom Cronin Award winner, Honorary Mayor of North Fort Myers Reid McDaniel and County Commissioner Brian Hamman served as guest speakers be-

George Sand, who was also a finalist for the Tom Cronin Award, was given the Service Award Medal by Bob Hill for his service to the NFMCA, for which he is the longest serving member.

The Ron Hoover Legends Award, given to someone who served the community in the previous millennium, was awarded to Bobbie Jo Dewey, the first female athletic director in North Fort Myers High School history and for whom the school’s softball field is named

Lindsay Hoover spoke about her father, with an occasional tear in her eye, about how everyone had a story to tell about him.

“It amazes me how one person can impact so many lives, and all these great stories carry his legacy,” Hoover said “Which is something I can say about Bobbie Dewey with her stores and her legacy ”

John Dewey, her son, said he could talk about his mom for hours and she touched many people’s lives.

“I wish she could meet my kids, but it didn’t work out that way It is what it is Just like Lindsay, everywhere I go, they talk about my mom,” John said with emotion “She was my hero and a lot of people’s hero She was my mom, she was everyone’s mom who went to North High ”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

ABOVE: John Dewey accepts the Ron Hoover Legends Award on behalf of his late mother,

TOP PHOTO: From left, Lucia “Mama Lu” Bonsanto, Danny Ballard, Tom Cronin Award winner Capt. Joseph More of the Lee County Sheriff's Office and County Commissioner Brian Hamman, at the North Fort Myers Civic Association's Community Service Awards at the North Fort Myers Community Center.

Bobbie Dewey.

Echo’s Food & Farm Fest draws crowd

Story & Photography

by Chuck Ballaro

One of the area’s biggest culinary and educational experiences returned to ECHO in March as the global farm hosted its 31st annual Food & Farm Festival

The March 7-11 festival was the biggest one yet, with five days of hands-on classes, seminars, cooking demonstrations, tropical lunches, fun for the kids and samples of some the food made with what is grown at the farm

Danielle Flood, ECHO’s communications director, said it was great to include more days of hands-on activities to give people a chance to get more out of the festival

“Visitors were able to gather tips for their own backyard. They got to try a tropical-tasting lunch, which sold out almost every day,” Flood said. “We also hosted a beekeeping workshop, food preservation workshop and how to build a kid-friendly food forest ”

Saturday was the busiest day, by far, with plenty of cooking demonstrations, starting with the traditional coffee tasting with Bones Coffee of Cape Coral, which brought in both hot and cold brews.

“We brought in a couple of cold brews and hot coffee from Ethiopia and dark roast,” “Coffees are differ-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Address: 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers Info: www echonet org

Tai Carrot Salad with Curried Cashews during ECHO’s 31st annual Food & Farm Festival.

ECHO intern Sammi Brittain, in the green shirt, speaks with, from left, Haven, Brad and Stephanie West in the Urban Garden during ECHO’s 31st annual Food & Farm Festival.

Colton Siemers , 9, and his brother, Landon, 12, make a craft during ECHO’s 31st annual Food & Farm Festival on Saturday.

North Fort Myers: Paradise for horse lovers

Story & Photography

by Chuck Ballaro

Saturdays are usually very busy at the Lee County Posse Arena Dozens of horse owners come with their trailers, hauling their animals to the arena for a day of galloping (and often competing) on the fast sandy track that has been home to horse lovers for more than 50 years.

For these people, young and old, they wouldn’t want it any other way. Though owning and caring for a horse is hard work, the horse lifestyle, being one with your equine and taking it for a trail ride at Pop Ash Creek or Prairie Pines or speeding down the alley at a jackpot barrel race on a Friday night is the life for them

But it’s one of those things you have to be born with. There could be four generations of horse enthusiasts in your family. That doesn’t mean your son or daughter is going to follow. It’s either there or it isn’t

For those who came to the arena on a hot Saturday in March for the Lee County Junior Posse Speed Show, that love for horses was evident, even at the youngest ages

Riders competed in speed events such as keyhole, barrels, poles and hairpin. Mostly, it was for the kids, some as young as 3 years old, who were

helped in their events by friends and family as the little ones tried to figure out how to handle the animal, whether it be a full-sized horse or a smaller pony

Bobbi Harrison, who has worked as a volunteer for the arena for years getting events together, said the people at the area are law-abiding, God-loving Americans, who love the horse lifestyle

“People who come here to compete acknowledge American values. People have become a little disillusioned and they have come to find rodeo is an original ranching sport that never left and it’s based on family,” Harrison said “These animals are so well treated They get brushed and manicured and everything else ”

The Lee County Posse Arena has helped young horse lovers fall in love with the lifestyle for more than 60 years and is the only non-profit horse arena in Southwest Florida.

The original board was founded by Sheriff Snag Thompson in 1960. A group of volunteers wanted kids to go out and learn to ride horses instead of other things that could get them in trouble

The organization originated at Terry Park in Fort Myers when it had a horse arena It then moved to Page Feld for a brief time, but found itself homeless when Page Field wouldn’t let them stay, having to set up behind the airport at Sue Parker ’s place.

“They came looking for property and ended up buying this in the early '70s and this is where we have been ever since,” said Bobbi Harrison, who has

Lee County Posse Arena

Address: 17401 Palm Creek Dr., North Fort Myers

Info: www leecountyposse com

worked as a volunteer for the arena for years getting events together “A group of people laid their money on the line to buy the property. Of all the people on the founding board, there’s only one member who’s still alive.”

The Lee County Posse Arena, at 17401 Palm Creek Drive, assists youth organizations such as Lee County Junior Posse, 4-H, Jr and High School Rodeos and other equestrian organizations

The Junior Posse helps its members develop a sense of responsibility and a respect for the rights of others and the ownership of a horse can help foster those objectives.

“The arena teaches them responsibility, gives them something to do, and one of the best things is that the parent has to be here with the child,” Harrison said “They’re on an animal and it’s a more family-oriented situation ”

Of course, adults are more than welcome You can even compete in divisions such as young adult, “Jack Benny” for those over 35, and novice, which is open to any age, Harrison said.

All this is important because the arena has in-

From left, Stella Crowther, 10, Paige Ellis , 13, Leighton Devey, 11, and Summer Rongish, 14, on their horses at the recent Lee County Junior Posse Speed Show at the Lee County Posse Arena.

stilled the love of horses to so many that their children have been instilled the same thing

Anne Peters has four generations of horse lovers in her family, from her father, herself, NFR qualifier daughter Margo Crowther, and now two granddaughters, Stella and Sailor

“We just have a lot of enthusiasts and the arena has been a mainstay for all of us. It’s been something going on continually, it’s the jackpots, the posse, everything you would want in an arena, Peters said

Peters, who started as a child riding at Kickapoo Ranch, where the Lee Civic Center now sits, now knows people who she competed with coming to the Posse with their kids and grandkids

“My father started me and Margo would come with me to the stables. It was a progression. You either love it and have the ability, or you don’t,” Peters said “You can’t push children to love horses ”

Jeanne Shadduck, from Buckingham, fell in love with horses at age 5 Sixty years later, she’s still riding and enjoying the horse “illness ”

“I was born insane You’re either born with the illness or you’re not I was born with the horse illness. I started running barrels at 10 when the arena

was at Terry Park,” Shadduck said “I ride English, Western and have shown in everything you can imagine and I ride on the Lee County Mounted Patrol for the sheriff ”

Tara Fazio, from Punta Gorda brought her daughter to the arena Tara started when she was 5 and did mostly English riding while her daughter started roughly 15 minutes after leaving the womb.

“I had a friend taking riding lessons and she brought me along I asked my grandfather for $20 so I could go and fell in love with it,” Tara said, meaning grandpa had to have a lot of $20 bills handy “God created these amazing animals They can speak to and connect with people and bring them closer to God It’s what they’ve done for me ”

Ruby, 8, started as an English rider until she went to her first barrel race. She traded in her English saddle for a Western one and rides pretty much every day

“I like that horses like to be ridden and that they love people so much You have to work with your horse for a long time and know its speed and patience,” said Ruby, who owns three horses, a racer, a jumper and a hunter “He’s likes going fast so I have to get used to his speed. I love it and Chase loves it,

too ”

Horses are also something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages Tracey Green brought her two daughters, Kelia Thompson, 14, and Kasiya Green, 8, who caught the horse bug a couple years ago

“My oldest daughter saw something on Craig’s List and decided she wanted to ride. We got her lessons and then her own horse two months later and has been riding ever since,” said Green, who added that Kelia’s dream is to ride in the NFR “We’re animal lovers and horses were just added to our list ”

Some young riders aren’t just given horses Adreonna Rushlow, 15, from Labelle, has been riding for nine years However, she had to work on her own to get her own horse, a decision she does not regret.

“Horses are awesome animals. Barrel racing can be a dangerous sport, but it’s all worth it. Just being there and having a partner with you doing rodeo,” Rushlow said, who was working with a new barrel horse “The Posse Arena is where I started with my first horse, so I’ve been doing this arena for a long time and I know it ”

Ruby Fazio, 8, rides poles at the recent Lee County Junior Posse Speed Show at the Lee County Posse Arena.

South West Florida Horse Rescue gives horses a second chance at life

Story by Meghan Bradbury

What started as a pr vate rescue operation on five acres in 2010, has since grown in size both in the number of horses helped and the land to do so with a nonprofit status

South West Florida Horse Rescue brings horses under its care if there is not a human currently responsible for them or f they have been seized due to mistreatment or neglect

"We know we can't save the world Those that we can save we will provide the best qual ty we can possibly do " South West Flor da Horse Rescue Co-Founder and Director Matt Vanaleck said

As of the beginn ng of March, the rescue off Babcock Ranch Road was car ng for 15 horses Each horse's well-being dictates how long they have to stay at the rescue before they become adoptable

"It's not uncommon to expect them to stay here at the earliest, for s x months," he said

He said the horse being r deable is imperative for its future, as 99 percent of ndividuals who want to adopt want to ride the horse

"Out of our 15 horses that knocks out 11 r ght away We have four rideable horses and that is it They were stallions and no longer reproduce They are stil in the rehabilitating state and not yet availab e I have zero horses ready to be r dden ready to be adopted," Vanaleck said.

Some of the horses that have cancer COPD or massive arthritis while one has its tendons torn from umping.

"We have had horses come in 400 to 100 pounds underweight," Vanaleck said

South West Florida Horse Rescue

Address: 14811 State Rd 81, Punta Gorda, Fl 33982

Info: 239-567-4111, info@swfhr org, www swfhr org

Before horses can be adopted a veterinarian does evaluations and sends them through a professional training program with a bonaf de tra ner who can vouch if the horse can be ridden

The adoption process takes three months, as the person who wants to adopt has to answer questions have social zation visits at the facil ty and interact with the horse

"We adopt local " Vanaleck said "We go off the premise of loca , ocal local "

They have a two-strike rule of horses be ng returned to them

Only six have been returned

"Those returned were because of family issues " he said, such as a fam ly losing their property or other f nancial crisis. "Financially they were in troub e We will bend over backwards for that horse to come back to our care "

The last year the rescue took willingly owner surrenders was n 2017

"We will aid and assist peop e who are willing to work with us

The result is what they put into t " he said

Some of that assistance is connecting someone who can no onger care for the horse with someone will ng to adopt

"We create a connection base for higher exposure for the person ooking for a home for their horse " he said

Although running the organizat on can wear on your emotions and take a lot of time, Vana eck said seeing the effective change on horses that were wronged by man at some point is the biggest reason he keeps going

The biggest case they had was with a horse named Sammy who was 780 pounds instead of 1,100. The rescue struggled with keep ng him alive for the f rst month

"I don t have a favor te horse The ones that I have a h gher connection with are the ones I struggled with " he said of feeding Sammy every two hours "He recovered quite well It s remarkable to see h m nowadays. When he would go down he couldn t get back up I would grab his pelvic bone to get him up Now he lays down and gets back up You can t understand how that tickles your heart "

Histor y of South West Florida Horse Rescue

Vanaleck sa d he and founder Tina Garrett decided to begin rescuing two horses at a t me, which quick y became three horses once they immersed themselves into that world

"Three kind of put us at a limitation We owned four personal horses at the time on five acres That s why we chose

Max and Chance, in one of the pastures at the South West Florida Horse Rescue off SR 31, also known as Bobcock Ranch Road. As of of March, there were 15 horses being cared for by the rescue team and its volunteers on acreage that includes 12 paddocks and 11 barns .

to do two " Vanaleck said as one horse needs an acre of land

The very first horse rescued was Jeannie who was in their care for roughly four months before they lost her to a staph infection in her leg

"We really questioned if we were going to be a good horse rescue or not We took a break for about six months," he sa d

The founders stumbled upon more horses that needed help when Garrett s golf cart broke down near their property There was a Paso Fino horse breeding farm with 50 horses a l "skeletons," Vanaleck sa d. The man had been h t by the economic crash he said "Over the course of four months we took 18 physical horses from that man One was pregnant This was by his admittance and allowance unt l he told us no more, " he said From there they began creat ng a footprint of a horse rescue and began a website

"We started promoting what we were do ng and try ng to find homes for the horses Out of 19, we were able to rehome all of them. The rest of the horses dealt with the sher ff's department " Vanaleck sa d.

W th so many horses, and not a great dea of room on their own property foster farms began w th a total of seven from Golden Gate Estates to North Port "For the next two years we ran a foster program while still mainta ning operat on at five acres, " Vana eck said "We sacrificed everything we had to keep it go ng "

In 2012 fundraisers began to help support the rescue and the path to obta ning their nonprofit status began. He said a para egal offered her services to file for a nonprofit and money was donated as it was $1 000 to apply, money they used to buy feed for the horses

Another bless ng was provided after a pr vate fami y foundat on took an nterest in their rescue, particularly Freedom the baby that was born from the pregnant horse they rescued "Carol kept coming by and checking on Freedom She was a horse person A year later she had said I am going to bring my husband We want to help you out on a d fferent wavelength, rather than feed and hay " Vanaleck said of the Fred & Jean Al egrett Foundation that provided a grant to establish a nonprofit facility "We did not str ve, or make any efforts to go that way. Things fell into place the way they did "

In April 2014, they closed on their 40-acre State Road 31 property which was 10 to 15 years unmaintained, as it was a prior golf course A few years were spent on building the structures, fencng add ons and ad ustments

A volunteer program began in 2016 Volunteers are a huge backbone to the success of the organization which fluctuates in season

"We teach people the process and through that process they earn by osmos s. They learn by sen or volunteers who teach them processes of expectations in a given day " Vanaleck said "People come here wil ing, free and willing to prov de the r t me and availabi ity Come when you want and go when you need during daylight operations "

"There were good souls along the way that really he ped out a ot with some advancements," he said "We are n a f uid form of an operation 160 horses ater and a volunteer program sponsor program "

The foundation continues to support South West F orida Horse Rescue, but now it s only about 10 percent of their budget, about $20,000 a year

Above, A volunteer conducts a tour at the South West Florida Horse Rescue. Tours are available by appointment and for a small donation to aid the rescue’s efforts in providing rehabilitation, and a home, to horses in need. Below, Co-founder and director Matt Venaleck shares some horse history./VALARIE HARRING

With a 40-acre faci ity, Vanaleck said their nominal number of horses is around 20 as Florida living for horses on one acre is not ideal since there s ittle but sand

The and includes 12 paddocks and 11 barns

"We built our rescue two horses per paddock and not much more, " he said "We operate at ha f the total and size Five to 20 acres was plenty to focus on "

Vanaleck said there are horse owners that have problems, such as financ a , medical no longer wanting a horse which is not their emergency

"You have to figure something out," he sa d, adding that they will not take their problem r ght off their hands, as t will on y happen again n a couple of years

For more nformation or to make a donation visit https://swfhr org/

Bella eyes visitors passing by at the South West Florida Horse Rescue. The non-profit works to rehabilitate horses , including those have been subjected to mistreatment or neglect. Donations are welcome./VALARIE HARRING

SOUTH WEST FLORIDA HORSE RESCUE

South West Florida Horse Rescue gives horses a second chance at life

Story by Meghan Bradbury

What started as a pr vate rescue operation on five acres in 2010, has since grown in size both in the number of horses helped and the land to do so with a nonprofit status

South West Florida Horse Rescue brings horses under its care if there is not a human currently responsible for them or f they have been seized due to mistreatment or neglect

"We know we can't save the world Those that we can save we will provide the best qual ty we can possibly do " South West Flor da Horse Rescue Co-Founder and Director Matt Vanaleck said

As of the beginn ng of March, the rescue off Babcock Ranch Road was car ng for 15 horses Each horse's well-being dictates how long they have to stay at the rescue before they become adoptable

"It's not uncommon to expect them to stay here at the earliest, for s x months," he said

He said the horse being r deable is imperative for its future, as 99 percent of ndividuals who want to adopt want to ride the horse

"Out of our 15 horses that knocks out 11 r ght away We have four rideable horses and that is it They were stallions and no longer reproduce They are stil in the rehabilitating state and not yet availab e I have zero horses ready to be r dden ready to be adopted," Vanaleck said.

Some of the horses that have cancer COPD or massive arthritis while one has its tendons torn from umping.

"We have had horses come in 400 to 100 pounds underweight," Vanaleck said

South West Florida Horse Rescue

Address: 14811 State Rd 81, Punta Gorda, Fl 33982

Info: 239-567-4111, info@swfhr org, www swfhr org

Before horses can be adopted a veterinarian does evaluations and sends them through a professional training program with a bonaf de tra ner who can vouch if the horse can be ridden

The adoption process takes three months, as the person who wants to adopt has to answer questions have social zation visits at the facil ty and interact with the horse

"We adopt local " Vanaleck said "We go off the premise of loca , ocal local "

They have a two-strike rule of horses be ng returned to them

Only six have been returned

"Those returned were because of family issues " he said, such as a fam ly losing their property or other f nancial crisis. "Financially they were in troub e We will bend over backwards for that horse to come back to our care "

The last year the rescue took willingly owner surrenders was n 2017

"We will aid and assist peop e who are willing to work with us

The result is what they put into t " he said

Some of that assistance is connecting someone who can no onger care for the horse with someone will ng to adopt

"We create a connection base for higher exposure for the person ooking for a home for their horse " he said

Although running the organizat on can wear on your emotions and take a lot of time, Vana eck said seeing the effective change on horses that were wronged by man at some point is the biggest reason he keeps going

The biggest case they had was with a horse named Sammy who was 780 pounds instead of 1,100. The rescue struggled with keep ng him alive for the f rst month

"I don t have a favor te horse The ones that I have a h gher connection with are the ones I struggled with " he said of feeding Sammy every two hours "He recovered quite well It s remarkable to see h m nowadays. When he would go down he couldn t get back up I would grab his pelvic bone to get him up Now he lays down and gets back up You can t understand how that tickles your heart "

Histor y of South West Florida Horse Rescue

Vanaleck sa d he and founder Tina Garrett decided to begin rescuing two horses at a t me, which quick y became three horses once they immersed themselves into that world

"Three kind of put us at a limitation We owned four personal horses at the time on five acres That s why we chose

Max and Chance, in one of the pastures at the South West Florida Horse Rescue off SR 31, also known as Bobcock Ranch Road. As of of March, there were 15 horses being cared for by the rescue team and its volunteers on acreage that includes 12 paddocks and 11 barns .

to do two " Vanaleck said as one horse needs an acre of land

The very first horse rescued was Jeannie who was in their care for roughly four months before they lost her to a staph infection in her leg

"We really questioned if we were going to be a good horse rescue or not We took a break for about six months," he sa d

The founders stumbled upon more horses that needed help when Garrett s golf cart broke down near their property There was a Paso Fino horse breeding farm with 50 horses a l "skeletons," Vanaleck sa d. The man had been h t by the economic crash he said "Over the course of four months we took 18 physical horses from that man One was pregnant This was by his admittance and allowance unt l he told us no more, " he said From there they began creat ng a footprint of a horse rescue and began a website

"We started promoting what we were do ng and try ng to find homes for the horses Out of 19, we were able to rehome all of them. The rest of the horses dealt with the sher ff's department " Vanaleck sa d.

W th so many horses, and not a great dea of room on their own property foster farms began w th a total of seven from Golden Gate Estates to North Port "For the next two years we ran a foster program while still mainta ning operat on at five acres, " Vana eck said "We sacrificed everything we had to keep it go ng "

In 2012 fundraisers began to help support the rescue and the path to obta ning their nonprofit status began. He said a para egal offered her services to file for a nonprofit and money was donated as it was $1 000 to apply, money they used to buy feed for the horses

Another bless ng was provided after a pr vate fami y foundat on took an nterest in their rescue, particularly Freedom the baby that was born from the pregnant horse they rescued "Carol kept coming by and checking on Freedom She was a horse person A year later she had said I am going to bring my husband We want to help you out on a d fferent wavelength, rather than feed and hay " Vanaleck said of the Fred & Jean Al egrett Foundation that provided a grant to establish a nonprofit facility "We did not str ve, or make any efforts to go that way. Things fell into place the way they did "

In April 2014, they closed on their 40-acre State Road 31 property which was 10 to 15 years unmaintained, as it was a prior golf course A few years were spent on building the structures, fencng add ons and ad ustments

A volunteer program began in 2016 Volunteers are a huge backbone to the success of the organization which fluctuates in season

"We teach people the process and through that process they earn by osmos s. They learn by sen or volunteers who teach them processes of expectations in a given day " Vanaleck said "People come here wil ing, free and willing to prov de the r t me and availabi ity Come when you want and go when you need during daylight operations "

"There were good souls along the way that really he ped out a ot with some advancements," he said "We are n a f uid form of an operation 160 horses ater and a volunteer program sponsor program "

The foundation continues to support South West F orida Horse Rescue, but now it s only about 10 percent of their budget, about $20,000 a year

Above, A volunteer conducts a tour at the South West Florida Horse Rescue. Tours are available by appointment and for a small donation to aid the rescue’s efforts in providing rehabilitation, and a home, to horses in need. Below, Co-founder and director Matt Venaleck shares some horse history./VALARIE HARRING

With a 40-acre faci ity, Vanaleck said their nominal number of horses is around 20 as Florida living for horses on one acre is not ideal since there s ittle but sand

The and includes 12 paddocks and 11 barns

"We built our rescue two horses per paddock and not much more, " he said "We operate at ha f the total and size Five to 20 acres was plenty to focus on "

Vanaleck said there are horse owners that have problems, such as financ a , medical no longer wanting a horse which is not their emergency

"You have to figure something out," he sa d, adding that they will not take their problem r ght off their hands, as t will on y happen again n a couple of years

For more nformation or to make a donation visit https://swfhr org/

Bella eyes visitors passing by at the South West Florida Horse Rescue. The non-profit works to rehabilitate horses , including those have been subjected to mistreatment or neglect. Donations are welcome./VALARIE HARRING

SOUTH WEST FLORIDA HORSE RESCUE

Boarding, training, trail rides, summer camps

Story by Meghan Bradbury

With Florida ranked third for the best states for horse lovers, according to Lawn Love, there are many farms throughout the community that offer boarding options and trainers

A new farm as of May 2022 is Thunder Acres Farms, LLC

Heather Davis said they offer three boarding options for horses full boarding, partial boarding and pasture boarding

"We live on the property, so somebody is there 24/7 We are a small family-owned operation," she said

The full board, which is $800 a month, includes turnout, stall cleaning, grain twice a day and hay provided by Thunder Acres Farms, LLC. There is also stall bedding, water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask or fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off

The partial boarding, $650 a month, includes

turnout, stall cleaning and grain twice a day, hay provided by the owner There is also stall bedding, water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask or fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off.

For $450 a month owners can choose the pasture board, which includes grains twice a day, and hay provided by the owner There is also water bucket cleaning, fly spray, fly mask and fly sheet on/off and blanket on/off

"The horse remains out in the pasture and doesn't have a designated stall," Davis said

The farm has 12 stalls, with stalls still available

In addition, the farm offers lessons from a trainer who is on property two to three times a week mostly during the afternoon hours and Saturday mornings

"Available for mostly English hunt seat, saddle seat and she does have some experience with jumping," Davis said, adding that you have to call in advance to set up an appointment

The family purchased the property, as her daughter shows saddle seat.

"We bought a horse that was a rescue from a lady that was in Lakeland. He was born at a very famous breeding barn and was trained and shown as a yearling and a little bit older," Davis said

From there the horse was sold to a boarding school and shown, doing well, until it was sold and

Thunder Acres Farms

Address: 11940 Fox Hill Rd , North Fort Myers Info: 785-554-3114, h77rene@yahoo.com, www thunderacresfarms com

White Horse Farm

Address: 17840 Shelby Lane, North Fort Myers Info: 631-644-2859, whitehorsefarm com

used as a buggy horse in Pennsylvania

"He actually ended up in a slaughterhouse He was just skin and bones, not doing well at all and was rescued," she said "He spent about five months at the rescue rehabbing She had about 600 inquiries for him. We were chosen as his forever home. He is doing really great. He is an amazing show horse."

With the purchase of the horse, and he being shown for the past 18 months, the family decided to help others ride saddle seat

"That is really the goal Most saddle seat riders are Tampa north," Davis said "We are really the only ones in this direction "

Two years ago Manny Termini began White Horse Farms after selling his big riding stable in New York. He said his nephew who lives here told him about the old DJ Ranch in North Fort Myers and told him to check it out.

"I fell in love with it," he said of the property that had been abandoned for many years

The farm offers boarding, English riding and barrel lessons, public trail riding, summer camps, as well as opportunities for Girl Scouts and homeschool outings on the farm

The lessons are offered seven days a week by appointments only. Most kids come every week to do their lessons.

Regular boarding is offered for $400 a month with the owner supplying the food

"I do have stalls after the month of May I have a

lot of people that come from cold weather with their horses," Termini said

With the farm connected to Prairie Pines Preserve, trail riding is offered for those 10 years old and older Saturday and Sunday by appointment only The trail ride is offered every hour on the hour from 10 a m to 3 p m White Horse Farms provides the horse for $45 an hour

"It's a very scenic ride You go through parts of the woods they didn't know existed in Fort Myers," Termini said

The Summer Camp is offered for youngsters 7 years old and older from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 1216, June 26-30, July 10-14 and July 24-28.

"We try not to do more than 15 kids a week Some of the weeks are closed and some are open, " he said

Termini said campers learn horse management, bathing and grooming, handling and are able to ride, as well as games on horseback and arts and crafts.

The Girl Scout troops participate in The Day on the Farm and learn about the responsibilities of a horse, grooming and eating to leading a horse and riding them

"Everybody gets a couple laps around the arena, " he said

Homeschool groups have been a big draw for White Horse Farm, as 20 to 30 homeschoolers visit a week.

"The moms organize all of it and we follow their curriculum," Termini said NFMNL

The Davis family Dion holding Ecko, Heather, son Hudson, and daughter Kamryn holding Axel at Thunder Acres Farms . At left, horses queue up at the farm, which offers boarding, in North Fort Myers . /MARISSA JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Lee County offers equestrian trails

Many in North Fort Myers

Story by Meghan Bradbury

There are an assortment of equestrian trails offering scenic views for the rider in Lee County, many of which are under utilized Lee County Natural Areas Coordinator Lee Waller said although the majority of the equestrian trails are located in North Fort Myers, there are other trails throughout Lee County

Waller said it is an excellent time of the year to use the equestrian trails, as Southwest Florida is in its dry season.

"We don't close the trails down when they get flooded Most of our sites, the trails do go under water during a significant time of the year, " he said

It is important to stay on designated trails while riding Waller said with equestrian users being high up, they can see more, making them curious to go off the trail and check things out.

"The next thing we know, new trails are popping up, " he said, adding that sensitive vegetation is trampled in the process "Please don't go off the trail Rules are there for a reason "

The largest trail is located in North Fort Myers at Prairie Pines Preserve This 17-mile equestrian trail opens into a network of trails after going about two miles to a ditch crossing

"We have a lot of ' you are here' trail signs and then there are markers. The trail system is color coordinated. We have posts out there with the color of the trail you are on There are major intersections

Lee County

Equestrian Trails:

that show the whole network and exactly where you are, " Waller said.

This site has a large asphalt parking lot with plenty of space for horse trailers

Another longer trail of almost 7 miles can be found at Telegraph Creek Preserve in Alva This preserve includes two entrances, with the western one dedicated to horses

"It is kind of tucked away on Argo Drive, which is not even labeled. It looks like this little driveway. You have to GPS it, search for Argo Road," Waller said.

This trail system is a cool one for riders.

"You have a little bit of a ride to get out to the prairie It is a prairie plant community that has extremely low vegetation, so you can see miles out across the prairie It's one of the plant communities that we really don't have much of anymore in the state of Florida That is one of our really good examples of an old prairie system that definitely should be seen to be enjoyed."

Pop Ash Creek Preserve offers 6 miles of equestrian trails that goes around a filter marsh, which cleans the water before going into the Caloosahatchee River This trail is primarily grass trails that are mowed every so often It gets wet during the rainy season

"It's a more scenic site because there are so many ponds. It's all weaving around the different portions of the filter marsh. It is kind of a mix of sun and shade." Waller said. "The site is cut into two pieces. (There is a) dividing fence that goes through the middle, but there are walkthroughs available, not restricted to one side or another "

Pop Ash Preserve is among the busiest for equestrian users Waller said the trails are pretty quiet during the week

This site includes cattle on the north side, which he said are barely ever there.

Another option offers 6.35 miles of equestrian trails at Caloosahatchee Regional Park

"Because bikes are allowed in the same area, everyone has to be cautious. A lot of equestrian users don't go to Caloosahatchee Regional because of that issue They are very under utilized especially during the middle of the day when there are fewer bikers out," Waller said

He recommends checking the county website, www leegov com/parks, before they head out to Caloosahatchee Regional Park

"They have to shut down the north side, which is the horse and bike section because of clay material," Waller said of the trails when it rains. "They have to close it down to not damage the trails from use The bikes and horses can chew up the trails immediately, plus slip and fall "

The Buckingham area also offers 5 miles of equestrian trails at Buckingham Trails Preserve

"It is a sunny, not much shade trail system and it tends to be white sands walking on the trails," he said.

Waller said this preserve weaves through some military cultural resources, as it was part of a gunnery training base at Buckingham Army Airfield in the 1940s

"There are remnants of a track system," he said, which included jeeps driving around with targets during training "They would have to aim for moving targets on top of the Jeep. We also have some bunkers out there. There are trap throwing enclosures. They are cool old military structures low in the ground "

There is also a smaller, more limited trail system at Alva Scrub Preserve, offering equestrian users 2 8 miles to ride Waller said this one also closes during the rainy season as the trails are clay

"It is open now and will be for quite a while until it rains heavily and regularly," he said. "It does have a designated crush shell parking lot that is kind of small."

Lee County mainatains a numer of trails . The largest trail, at 17 miles , is in North Fort Myers at Prairie Pines Preserve. /LEE COUNTY

Horse lovers have places to go to shop

Story & Photography by

It’s great to own a horse, but it is also a tremendous amount of work You have to feed it, house it, ride it, clean up after it, and so on.

In North Fort Myers, Lee County horse country, there are many places horse lovers can go to help them care for their horses, and maybe even look good while doing it

The country look is in. TV shows like “Yellowstone” and country fashion icons like Lainey Wilson have made even the casual country person want to look the part

Now, you can go across the river to the Hayloft off Palm Beach Blvd. in Fort Myers, which has been in business more than 50 years, or go north to Arcadia

Locally, Mary Lou’s Western Wear, Fed & Tack at 8050 Bayshore Road has everything you need to enjoy the horseback life

Chuck Ballaro

Established in 1978, this family-owned business has been the leading apparel and animal feed store in North Fort Myers.

They not only offer horse feed, but riding gear like saddles and reins, and riding helmets. They also have a countless variety of boots, western wear and can even shape your hat to make you look good if you want to wear it for a night on the town

“We’re more mainstream western We do have some purses and accessories for women and jewelry We also have a whole line of tack, saddles, bridals, halters, pads and anything you need for the equine,” said owner Amanda Duet “The western industry in general is trending I think part of it is Yellowstone Everyone wants a cowboy hat and boots. Also, country music ”

Amanda Duet, owner of Mary Lou’s Western Wear at 8050 Bayshore Road, at her store recently.

The local Tractor Supply down the road at 5881 Bayshore Road also offers horse feed and equipment for the horse stalls, though they can’t quite match what Mary Lou’s does regarding clothing and riding tack

But places like Purses and Accessories Western Boutique, at 9521 Bayshore Road, is the place to go for the western Boho chic look They have all the outfits, hats, purses and jewelry you need to achieve that trendy look for when the PBR or rodeo comes to town.

And, yes, you can get your feed there for the horses, too

“We’re more boutique style. We have everything for everyone, children, adult, ladies, juniors and all the horse care products you need,” said owner Jenny Vought. “We keep up with the trends. Right now, it’s the country chic look with the boots and shoes and cowhide ”

But if the hat really makes the outfit, you can go to one of the places just mentioned and get a $30 straw hat You can also have a hat that’s custom made for you if you’re willing to spend the extra money.

Halo Custom Hats can create a hat specifically designed for your head and style It’s the hat Margo Crowther wore at the National Finals Rodeo last year and one you can have for your collection that can even be passed down from generation to generation

“We bring a high-end hat according to someone’s wants or needs. From start to finish, it takes about three days to make a custom hat,” said Charlie Rothwell, owner of Halo Hats “A top-of-the-line hat can last 15 years or more and even become heirlooms.”

NFMNL

Jenny Vought, owner of Purses and Accessories Western Boutique at 9521 Bayshore Road, at her store recently.

civic awards

The Cheryl Diamond Award, named after the first female president of the NFMCA from 2001-02, went to Deana Campbell, who runs a local daycare center, Deana’s Country Kids

Campbell said that the people who know her said that it was unlike her to be speechless She was this time.

“Sometimes hard work can get you down, but something as simple as this makes me want to fight all the more for my people,” Campbell said “I was just hoping to be a nominee I just had to come to find out if I was a winner When I found out, my heart sunk ”

Finalists were Lisa Snyder Johnson, of Grace for Chase, an area teacher and community leader, and Mary Wildman, owner of Miss Mary Daycare.

The Tom Cronin Award winner, which serves as the 2023 Person of the Year, was given to Capt. Joseph More of the Lee County Sheriff ’s Office, North District

More started his career in Charlotte County in 1982 before coming to Lee County to work in corrections from 1993 to 1997 He rose through the ranks before becoming commander in the North Division in 2019.

Finalists included Wendell Williams, a longtime Lee County community volunteer, and Sand, a Navy veteran, and the longest serving member of the NFMCA

More said he was humbled to see all those whom

he works with were there to cheer him on.

“These people have been great to work with. People like Brian Hamman, Mama Lu and Danny Ballard have helped the community and helped me get

the community where we want it to be,” More said. “I didn’t realize how much of a big deal this was. I’m so thankful.”

NFMNL

Deana Campbell accepts the Cheryl Diamond Award from County Commissioner Brian Hamman at the North Fort Myers Civic Association's Community Service Awards at the North Fort Myers Community Center.

echo FROM PAGE 9

ent in each country Sumatra is a dark, flavorful coffee, Ethiopian is very mellow,” said Frank Barbato, retail specialist with Bones It’s like wine and grapes, it's where it comes from.”

From there, it was on to try something tasty, from the homemade peanut butter to the juice from sugar cane, which Barry Gentile squeezed out of the stalk and longtime volunteer Hank Frechtling mulched using a bicycle to create energy to run the mulcher

“As soon as I retired in 2013, I started as a volunteer. I love what ECHO does. The people are Christians who make the world a better place as God intended,” Frechtling said “I like how they provide options to the less fortunate in developing countries in the Tropics to have less hunger ”

Visitors also learned different kinds of gardening methods, such as urban gardening. It was the job of intern Tammi Brittain to provide instruction.

“We teach people to grow things on little or no soil or land We use contain-

ers for gardening, especially reusing things like old tires or kiddie pools,” Brittain said “They also use old carpets as wicking beds and other resources ”

Visitors were learning a lot. Laura Siemers brought her two sons, Landon, 12, and Colton, 9. Landon came on a field trip when he was younger and fell in love with it She said she learned a lot about natural plants that serve medicinal purposes

“We’ve come every year for the festival My boys are scouts and they said we can learn some things so Landon can get a badge,” Laura said. “He learned about another way to filter water besides the way they teach the Boy Scouts ”

“It’s pretty good It’s a hard choice to decide what I learned the most I learned about different kinds of fertilizer and water filters There was a lot to learn,” Colton said.

ECHO is at 17391 Durrance Road. For more information, visit echonet.org. NFMNL

Hank Frechtling mulches up some sugar cane stalks with help from fellow volunteer Barry Gentile during ECHO’s 31st annual Food & Farm Festival.

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