The bags pile up day by day into a mountain that almost touches the ceiling. The bags, full of books, electronics, toys and clothes, get sorted with most going out onto the sales floor of the Kiwanis Club thrift stores. But that’s only the beginning.
“We get a huge amount of items,” said Sam Huber, president of the Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral. “The sheer amount of clothes we get is phenomenally more than could be sold.”
This is when a little creativity comes into play for the organization. The Kiwanis Club is using some unique recycling tactics to get the most money for charity through their thrift stores. These techniques have saved the organization $75,000 over the past year, according to Huber.
One of the main recycling strategies comes into play when the volunteers sort out clothing. Huber estimates that the stores receive on average two tons of items each day, with most of that being clothing.
Volunteers such as Jackie Kahlke and Fran Leer spend countless hours sorting through the unending mounds of blouses, pants, jackets and skirts. These women have been volunteering for 12 and 25 years, respectively.
“It goes to a great cause. We work as quickly as we can,” Leer said.
Kahlke added: “We’re just happy people donate. We don’t care how high (the pile) is.”
Most of the clothing goes out onto the sales floor. Those that do not make the cut get tossed into red bins waiting to be salvaged. The club takes these bins and two-thirds of the remaining surplus gets sold to salvagers at a per pound weight. Huber said this earns the club $20,000 to $25,000 a year.
The other one-third of the items are shipped off in box trucks to local charities such as the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee. The club also donates to the center all of the thrift stores’ excess shoes.
“The last thing we ever want to do is be wasteful,” Huber said. “It’s not just about the money. It’s about the creative giving.”
The club also donates excess linens and mattresses that can’t be sold to the Animal Refuge Center in North Fort Myers.
“Because of the nature of our giving, we’re a children’s charity,” Huber said. “We don’t have cash in the budget to spare them some money but we can give them blankets and mattresses.”
Recently, the club has started salvaging donated, non-working electronics for scrap metal. The idea was presented two years ago. The club started off small but now makes $10,000 to $12,000 a year on the scrap metal in bi-monthly hauls to the scrap yard.
“Guys were waiting outside of the store (Dumpster) for our items and pouncing,” Huber said. “There’s value in that.”
What can’t be salvaged for monetary gain in turn goes into the community as donated items.
Children’s books and small stuffed animals get piled into boxes and barrels. These items are handed out to children during events where the Kiwanis are in attendance, such as the Red, White and Boom event each Independence Day. These books are also donated to local schools. The club estimates it has donated 20,000 books this year to local children.
Ann Vaughn is in charge of the book program. She said volunteers spend four hours daily sorting through the donated books looking for items that would be appropriate for children. She said she thinks the thrift store gives as many items away as the items it sells.
“It all goes back to Cape Coral residents. It helps the community,” Vaughn said. “This is a strictly local charity and means a lot to people.”
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Veterinary clinic complete with pet pool
Small paintings of pugs, Labradors and other breeds dot the pale green walls of the lobby at Pet Coral. The terracotta floors and soft dark brown leather couches welcome guests of both the two- and four-legged kind.
Pet Coral is a full-service veterinary clinic, boarding and day care facility that opened in late October on Del Prado Boulevard near Viscaya Parkway. The 30,000-square-foot facility features different fenced-in yards and a doggy water park with a pool.
“We’re trying to do all in one,” owner Lorena Rapoport said.
The center also offers grooming, as well as training courses and a retail area. Rapoport said she and her business partner, Dr. Baoz Rogan, have been planning the center for three years. She said business has been steady for the first few months.
“We’re getting clients every day,” Rapoport said. “We’re trying to be very competitive in prices with good quality care.”
The veterinary clinic houses a surgery center and offers dentistry services. Dr. Vicki Scott is one of the veterinarians in residence at the center. She’s been practicing in the Fort Myers area for 27 years and has made the move over the bridge. She said her previous clients are pleased with Pet Coral.
“They think it’s great,” Scott said. “What I heard is that they’ve never seen anything like it.”
Teresa Oliver, a Fort Myers resident, was there for the grand opening. She said she loves how she can go to one facility that houses so many options. Her three cats and most of her 11 dogs have visited Pet Coral.
“They’re very clean and they’re so nice,” Oliver said. “The animals love it.”
Scott said the facility is not just for canines. She’s also seen rabbits, ferrets and felines.
“So many clients have more than one species, so it makes sense,” she said.
Pet Coral also boards dogs and cats for short trips or extended stays. The center even has suites for dogs to live in the lap of luxury. Book your pets in the Royal Suite, $55 a night, and they’ll be spoiled with their own TV to watch, premium bedding and soft music.
Rapoport said the doggy day care program has also been popular with dog owners and the pets visit the water park three times a day during their stay.
“They love to come to the water park. It tires them out,” said Renee Temporale, an attendant.
The water park area features a bone-shaped pool where dogs can jump and play in the water. Temporale said that even the smaller dogs or ones who are a little uneasy around water like the play area.
Pet Coral is a full-service veterinary clinic, boarding and day care facility that opened in late October on Del Prado Boulevard near Viscaya Parkway. The 30,000-square-foot facility features different fenced-in yards and a doggy water park with a pool.
“We’re trying to do all in one,” owner Lorena Rapoport said.
The center also offers grooming, as well as training courses and a retail area. Rapoport said she and her business partner, Dr. Baoz Rogan, have been planning the center for three years. She said business has been steady for the first few months.
“We’re getting clients every day,” Rapoport said. “We’re trying to be very competitive in prices with good quality care.”
The veterinary clinic houses a surgery center and offers dentistry services. Dr. Vicki Scott is one of the veterinarians in residence at the center. She’s been practicing in the Fort Myers area for 27 years and has made the move over the bridge. She said her previous clients are pleased with Pet Coral.
“They think it’s great,” Scott said. “What I heard is that they’ve never seen anything like it.”
Teresa Oliver, a Fort Myers resident, was there for the grand opening. She said she loves how she can go to one facility that houses so many options. Her three cats and most of her 11 dogs have visited Pet Coral.
“They’re very clean and they’re so nice,” Oliver said. “The animals love it.”
Scott said the facility is not just for canines. She’s also seen rabbits, ferrets and felines.
“So many clients have more than one species, so it makes sense,” she said.
Pet Coral also boards dogs and cats for short trips or extended stays. The center even has suites for dogs to live in the lap of luxury. Book your pets in the Royal Suite, $55 a night, and they’ll be spoiled with their own TV to watch, premium bedding and soft music.
Rapoport said the doggy day care program has also been popular with dog owners and the pets visit the water park three times a day during their stay.
“They love to come to the water park. It tires them out,” said Renee Temporale, an attendant.
The water park area features a bone-shaped pool where dogs can jump and play in the water. Temporale said that even the smaller dogs or ones who are a little uneasy around water like the play area.
Cape Coral Festival of the Arts set for weekend
Crowds of art lovers will meander through white tent booths along Cape Coral Parkway this weekend for the 27th annual Cape Coral Festival of the Arts.
The event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, will feature 300 artists and craftsmen. Chair and founder John Jacobsen said the event always brings in heavy crowds with many repeat attendees.
“If the weather is nice, we’ll have about 100,000 for the weekend,” Jacobsen said. “People plan their vacations around it.”
Jacobsen said the Rotary Club aims to create a balanced show every year with different forms of arts and crafts at various prices.
“There will be sculptures or art that are eight to 10 thousand and some for $100 or $50 or even $5,” he said.
Artist Dawn Weber, a Cape Coral resident, said she is always happy with how the festival is run and the works featured.
“It has a really good variety of homespun talents like us and artists who are famous all over the world,” Weber said.
Weber and her partner, Cindylee Sly, are bringing hand-carved pens, wine bottle stoppers and other functional items using exotic woods and colored resins to the festival. Weber, a retired police officer, said the pair started to hone their craft as a way to relieve stress.
“Probably the most common feedbak is, ‘Do we really make this?’” Weber said. “We keep our standards high. It’s our biggest compliment.”
Jacobsen said the Rotary Club started this event nearly three decades ago for the community to become acquainted with art without the intimidation factor sometimes associated with an art museum or gallery.
“It was a chance to bring art and culture to the community in a non-threatening manner,” he said.
Festival-goers walk from booth to booth on a closed-off section of Cape Coral Parkway and often communicate with the artists themselves. They often ask questions about the subject of the piece or what inspires the artist.
“Having that opportunity is rare,” Jacobsen said. “(It’s) a real chance for people to have a true one-on-one.”
The feedback is also appreciated by the artists. Cape Coral resident Gretchen Kish Serrano said these conversations help keep her motivated.
“The best part to me is seeing the pet lovers and the reaction to my work,” she said.
Serrano paints pet portraits imitating works from master artists. She has works from more than 15 master artists featuring 40 different dog breeds.
“This year I have three new art styles, Gustav Klimut, Jackson Pawlick and Salvador Doggy,” she said.
Cape Coral resident Shirley Hales also receives feedback from attendees about her watercolor paintings of nautical, beach and nature scenes.
“A lot of folks do comment on the quality of my work and that always makes me feel good,” Hales said. “If it wasn’t worthwhile I wouldn’t do it. It’s a lot of work.”
The festival picks one artist’s work to grace the posters and advertisments for the festival. This year David King’s watercolor piece Blue Heron with its muted colors and majestic pose is featured. He said he hasn’t seen the poster yet but he has seen some advertisements.
“It looked beautiful on the billboard,” he said. “It was really well done, I thought.”
King, a retired dentist, said he’s inspired by landscapes and nature scenes. He works only with watercolors and works on his paintings in sections, having the color dry before adding to the piece. The self-taught artist said it normally takes him two to three days to complete a painting and he usually works on two to three at a time. He said he’s always impressed with this festival.
“It’s one of the better ones we’ve seen quality-wise, size-wise. It basically has something for everyone,” King said.
The event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, will feature 300 artists and craftsmen. Chair and founder John Jacobsen said the event always brings in heavy crowds with many repeat attendees.
“If the weather is nice, we’ll have about 100,000 for the weekend,” Jacobsen said. “People plan their vacations around it.”
Jacobsen said the Rotary Club aims to create a balanced show every year with different forms of arts and crafts at various prices.
“There will be sculptures or art that are eight to 10 thousand and some for $100 or $50 or even $5,” he said.
Artist Dawn Weber, a Cape Coral resident, said she is always happy with how the festival is run and the works featured.
“It has a really good variety of homespun talents like us and artists who are famous all over the world,” Weber said.
Weber and her partner, Cindylee Sly, are bringing hand-carved pens, wine bottle stoppers and other functional items using exotic woods and colored resins to the festival. Weber, a retired police officer, said the pair started to hone their craft as a way to relieve stress.
“Probably the most common feedbak is, ‘Do we really make this?’” Weber said. “We keep our standards high. It’s our biggest compliment.”
Jacobsen said the Rotary Club started this event nearly three decades ago for the community to become acquainted with art without the intimidation factor sometimes associated with an art museum or gallery.
“It was a chance to bring art and culture to the community in a non-threatening manner,” he said.
Festival-goers walk from booth to booth on a closed-off section of Cape Coral Parkway and often communicate with the artists themselves. They often ask questions about the subject of the piece or what inspires the artist.
“Having that opportunity is rare,” Jacobsen said. “(It’s) a real chance for people to have a true one-on-one.”
The feedback is also appreciated by the artists. Cape Coral resident Gretchen Kish Serrano said these conversations help keep her motivated.
“The best part to me is seeing the pet lovers and the reaction to my work,” she said.
Serrano paints pet portraits imitating works from master artists. She has works from more than 15 master artists featuring 40 different dog breeds.
“This year I have three new art styles, Gustav Klimut, Jackson Pawlick and Salvador Doggy,” she said.
Cape Coral resident Shirley Hales also receives feedback from attendees about her watercolor paintings of nautical, beach and nature scenes.
“A lot of folks do comment on the quality of my work and that always makes me feel good,” Hales said. “If it wasn’t worthwhile I wouldn’t do it. It’s a lot of work.”
The festival picks one artist’s work to grace the posters and advertisments for the festival. This year David King’s watercolor piece Blue Heron with its muted colors and majestic pose is featured. He said he hasn’t seen the poster yet but he has seen some advertisements.
“It looked beautiful on the billboard,” he said. “It was really well done, I thought.”
King, a retired dentist, said he’s inspired by landscapes and nature scenes. He works only with watercolors and works on his paintings in sections, having the color dry before adding to the piece. The self-taught artist said it normally takes him two to three days to complete a painting and he usually works on two to three at a time. He said he’s always impressed with this festival.
“It’s one of the better ones we’ve seen quality-wise, size-wise. It basically has something for everyone,” King said.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Cape beach-building begins on Monday
The city of Cape Coral will begin construction Monday on its second public beach, this one at Four Freedoms Park.
The 16,000 square-foot beach will be constructed by CW Roberts Inc. and is expected to be completed in early February. The total cost is $48,785, with the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency contributing $41,785.
John Jacobsen, executive director for the CRA, said he’s looking forward to the completed project. He said that one of the things Cape Coral is lacking is more access to the waterfront.
“We are looking forward to getting this done and enjoying more activities in downtown,” Jacobsen said.
Jacobsen hopes this new project will be an attraction for people in the area and will help make downtown Cape Coral a destination. The new beach will also open up the park to water activites such as kayaking or small-craft sailing.
“The beach attracts new residents, new residents attract new businesses and new businesses create jobs and economic growth,” he said. “On any 70-degree day, you’ll see lots of people there.”
The project design will incorporate existing picnic shelters and landscaping while adding additional landscaping and access to Bimini Basin. Activities at the park will not be impacted, but the city warns visitors to be aware of the project and to maintain a safe distance from the work area.
City Councilman Marty McClain, who backed the project, is excited to break ground on the beach, which is only about three miles from the city’s other beach at the Yacht Club. He said he feels city officials took their time with making sure the project will run correctly and smoothly.
“It’s a great (addition) to the area. I think people will truly enjoy it,” McClain said.
McClain said the beach’s appeal will only grow as the city moves into the warmer months.
Joan and Tim Hanson, visitors from Connecticut, said the new beach will absolutely add to the area around the park. The couple said they already enjoy the beach area at the Yacht Club.
“We’d definitely come by to the new beach,” Joan Hanson said.
Elaine Elliott said she would use the new beach. She was visiting the park with her grandson to look for small sea animals in the exposed oyster beds.
“The kids have always liked it here,” Elliott said.
The response hasn’t been all positive.
Jim Mitchell, a Cape Coral resident, said, “I’ve been fishing here for 11 years and I enjoy it the way it is now.” He said he doesn’t understand why the city is spending the money with the Yacht Club nearby.
“I can’t comprehend why taxpayers’ money is being spent for a beach,” Mitchell said. “With that 40 or 50 thousand, it will hire a firefighter or a police officer for a year.”
The 16,000 square-foot beach will be constructed by CW Roberts Inc. and is expected to be completed in early February. The total cost is $48,785, with the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency contributing $41,785.
John Jacobsen, executive director for the CRA, said he’s looking forward to the completed project. He said that one of the things Cape Coral is lacking is more access to the waterfront.
“We are looking forward to getting this done and enjoying more activities in downtown,” Jacobsen said.
Jacobsen hopes this new project will be an attraction for people in the area and will help make downtown Cape Coral a destination. The new beach will also open up the park to water activites such as kayaking or small-craft sailing.
“The beach attracts new residents, new residents attract new businesses and new businesses create jobs and economic growth,” he said. “On any 70-degree day, you’ll see lots of people there.”
The project design will incorporate existing picnic shelters and landscaping while adding additional landscaping and access to Bimini Basin. Activities at the park will not be impacted, but the city warns visitors to be aware of the project and to maintain a safe distance from the work area.
City Councilman Marty McClain, who backed the project, is excited to break ground on the beach, which is only about three miles from the city’s other beach at the Yacht Club. He said he feels city officials took their time with making sure the project will run correctly and smoothly.
“It’s a great (addition) to the area. I think people will truly enjoy it,” McClain said.
McClain said the beach’s appeal will only grow as the city moves into the warmer months.
Joan and Tim Hanson, visitors from Connecticut, said the new beach will absolutely add to the area around the park. The couple said they already enjoy the beach area at the Yacht Club.
“We’d definitely come by to the new beach,” Joan Hanson said.
Elaine Elliott said she would use the new beach. She was visiting the park with her grandson to look for small sea animals in the exposed oyster beds.
“The kids have always liked it here,” Elliott said.
The response hasn’t been all positive.
Jim Mitchell, a Cape Coral resident, said, “I’ve been fishing here for 11 years and I enjoy it the way it is now.” He said he doesn’t understand why the city is spending the money with the Yacht Club nearby.
“I can’t comprehend why taxpayers’ money is being spent for a beach,” Mitchell said. “With that 40 or 50 thousand, it will hire a firefighter or a police officer for a year.”
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