Life In Bonita Springs

Mobile Post Office in Bonita Springs - Estero Area 

Look what I stumbled upon today.  While cutting through the parking lot at the Coconut Point Mall (between Sports Authority and the Trek Store).  This little beauty was sitting there just as cute as can be!  If you're not 100% familiar with the area, The Coconut Point Mall is located near the Brooks of Bonita Springs on US 41 at the Estero & Bonita Springs city lines.  It's easy access from either city to this handy find.

If you live in Bonita Springs or Estero I don't have to tell you how hectic it has been at the local post office or even the pack and ship style stores.  Lines are stretching out the doors - bursting at the seams.  If you need to mail a parcel or pick up stamps and want to outsmart the rest of the village hit the mall parking lot and look for little USPS truck.   Check out the sign, Full Service Post Office.  What a time saver and there was absolutely no line when I stopped by.  Nobody has found this little gem, yet.  Today it was parked by the north entrance across the street from Marsh Landing.  I don't know if it scoots around to different spots, but I'd check the north side first if you are looking for it.

If you're yearning for a good old fashioned, wait in the holiday line sort of post office they are located at:

• - Bonita Springs US Post Office - 26150 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs - (239) 948-0467
• - Bonita Springs US Post Office - 9071 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs
• - Estero US Post Office - 8111 Broadway Ave E, Estero - (239) 948-2402

How to Trap a Possum in Bonita Springs

Part Deaux

As you man recall, Lumberjack the Bonita Springs Animal Trapper carried off Hector the Possum to greener pastures, just a few weeks ago.  It was a Havahart trap, so don't get upset.  I love critters, just not under my house. 

Well now, the saga continues.  I have heard strange noises under and around the  house the last few nights.  Armed with a hockey stick and a flashlight I have not been able to find out what it is.  5 Days of Havahart trap stocked with an apple produced nothing...until this morning.  Meet Lucrecia, Hector's wife (i'm guessing by the lonely, yearning look in her eye).    See Lucrecia, see Lucrecia get relocated to Bonita Grande Road to be reunited with Hector, her stud muffin.

Lumberjack is on his way over right now.  Bless his heart, he's a big softy and animal lover, too.  He promises to let her go at the same place Hector is now calling home.

I hope they didn't have children. 

Cancer, Cosmetics and Frozen Peas 

Today I stopped into Ulta in Estero Florida at the Coconut Point Mall.  It's a make up, accessory, beauty product store. I'm not really sure how it's classified.  I just know they have isles and isles of make up by literally dozens and dozens of different manufacturers. 

I'm not a huge make up wearer.  I actually stopped in to get concealer.  (For you guys, it covers up blemishes, like pimples).  The concealer isn't for me, but for my friend Donna.  She's going through cancer treatments and takes a lot of medication, which has made her skin and circulatory system quite fragile.  In the midst of a coughing and puking fit (sorry, cancer is ugly) a blood vessel burst in her face.  As if life isn't hard enough for some people, Donna now looks like a battered woman because the whole area around her left eye and most of her cheek is about as black as coal.  It's just awful looking and she wouldn't leave the house out of embarrassment. Bald, skinny and now a black eye - talk about being kicked when you're down.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went to Ulta but just walked up to a woman working there and explained the situation and showed her a spot on my upper arm that I had calculated to be the closest color to my friends skin tone.  The clerk took me to make up that was made for people with serious scars, burns, strawberry birthmarks, etc. explained the application and sent me on my way.

The make up covers the black eye about 95 percent and now my friend isn't quite so sensitive about going out with friends.  It's amazing how a simple tube of make up improved the quality of life for someone in such a difficult position.

If you or someone you now is struggling through the side effects of cancer and cancer treatments know that there are some comfort tools out there to cover skin disorders, scars, black eyes and other issues that come up with cancer treatment.

If you are a cancer survivor or struggling with the fight, I invite you to follow the online crusade of Susan Reynolds and her Boobs on Ice blog to find a little humor or support during your difficult time. 

Today is Susan's surgery.  Everyone should have peas for dinner in support.

Oh, and if you're looking for the Ulta Store is over by the Super Target beside DSW and Pier 1 Imports at the Coconut Mall.

Palmetto Dunes at Pelican Sound | Estero Florida

Palmetto Dunes condominiums live like a single family home.  Enjoy ample living space with three bedrooms plus a den and two baths plus a two car garage combined with the easy of "lock it and leave" condominium lifestyle.  This particular Palmetto Dunes home comes with designer furnishings with custom painting, custom window treatments, fine art, custom accessories, and much more.  Enjoy the beautiful lake and golf course views that surround you from the oversized lanai featuring oversized tile. It's quite a panorama!  

Interior features include neutral tile throughout the living area, dining area, entry foyer, hallways, master bath and guest bath, plus upgraded carpet, faux painting, upgraded countertops and appliances.  This home has been completely professionally decorated and is offered turnkey furnished, too.  List price $585,000 Sunshine MLS - ML# 207048870

This ground floor home Palmetto Dunes condo offers nearly 2,200 square foot of living space.  All home owners in Palmetto Dunes enjoy unlimited access to the amenities of Pelican Sound Golf and River Club.  To take a visual tour of this condominium home click HERE.

Pelican Sound of Estero Florida offers one of a kind location in the best bundled golf community in SW Florida. Pelican Sound offers nature preserves, an extensive amenity package and central location. To learn more about the Pelican Sound Community also read:  Pelican Sound Golf & River Club | Estero, Florida

Palmetto Dunes of Pelican Sound is located only minutes from SW Florida International Airport, Miromar Outlets, Coconut Point Mall and the new Estero Community Center.

Pottery as Art | Mexican Pottery

During the last couple of weeks I've watched the inventory get placed at a new business on Old US 41 in Bonita Springs.  The building was once the Jacob's Interlock Paving of Bonita Springs building and The Village Haus a while back.  Since it's been empty for a spell the spark of life was fairly obvious when the bright colors started hitting the bricks.

Today, after stopping by the Art League of Bonita Springs for the needle art exhibit I stopped in to tour the new store to see what it was all about.  The store is called Pottery as Art and has to be just about the most fun store in town.  It' a store with the look and feel of a garden store.  The back area behind the building is fenced and stocked with thousands of square feet of merchandise for you to stroll through.

Be careful, you can get pulled in here just like shopping at a book store.  Everything is so colorful, neatly arranged and striking.  It's one of the few places I've ever seen Mexican pottery so large and bold in all of Bonita Springs and SW Florida.  If you're looking for something for the home that will make an impact inside or out this should be your first stop.  There are some great pieces that are perfect for any entry way, pool deck or lanai, too.

Pottery as Art is just taking off and it's off to a roaring start.  The selection is great and expected to get even better.  From Mexican pottery art for table tops to plant pots or vases up to five foot tall you're sure to find unusual decor for your Bonita Springs home.

Pottery as Art is located just south of Riverside Park and the Banyan Tree at 27570 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Fl 34135  Phone: 239-947-8383 stop in and say hello to Susan, the manager.

Bonita Springs Art Show | Art League of Bonita Springs

Today was the day. Together with my Mini-me I made a trip to the Art League of Bonita Springs. It's one of those places I pass almost daily but I've never stopped in. Spurred on by a Google news alert about the gift shop I decided to make my way to the Art League.

This month's featured event at the Bonita Springs Art League is called Twist and Shout: The New Needle Art. Admission is free. You just walk in, tour the gift shop (there is some great jewelry) and hit the gallery.

The artists used all sorts of mediums in the needle art which included all sorts of embroidery, knitting, mesh fabrics and textiles. Most interesting and quite an attention getter was a hand knitted mitten with a ball of thread and the knitting needles. Here's the thing that is so amazing: The mitten is about 10 feet long and 3 feet wide, the knitting needles are about three feet in length. The yard was actually upholstery welting. My mind was turning: No disrespect to the artist, but I imagined it immediately as a most excellent sleeping bag.

The exhibits at the league do change keep an eye to their website for the next exhibit.

The Art League provides a wide variety of programs such as art appreciation, dance, drawing, glass, pastels, painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking, pottery, and theater arts. Visit the Art League website for details, schedules of classes and hours of operation. If you're looking for things to do in Bonita Springs, this may be a great place to start - from free things to do to low cost things to do.

The Art League of Bonita Springs is located at 26100 Old US 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Florida, 34135. The Art League is just north of the Post Office at the traffic signal, turn as if you are going into the community Imperial Harbor.

The next major event held at by the Art League is the Bonita Springs National Art Festival held at The Promenade in Bonita Springs, Florida. January 12-13, 2008 & March 1-2, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bonita Springs Amber Alerts | Sex Offenders | Missing Children 

The nation has had another wake up call.  Another college student has gone missing.  This isn't a local girl from FGCU but I'd still like you to read her story and see Leah Hickman's face.  Her mother would like you to take a good long look at her, too.  She'd like to have her home for Christmas.

Southwest Florida hasn't been without incident of missing or exploited children, either.  We've still not found Baby Brian, an infant snatched from his mother's arms in broad daylight.  Statewide, Florida has had 34 youngster reported missing and not found in the last year, alone.

Southwest Florida, Bonita Springs, Estero: Pay attention and do the following: 

1. If you have any information about Leah or Baby Brian call someone, 911, the local sheriff office or the Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. 

2. Protect your neighborhood and protect the children in your Bonita Springs neighborhood.  Immediately go to http://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/ and register.  Register your phone to receive text messages reporting future Amber Alerts to your cell phone the moment a child is reported missing.  Time is of the essence in missing children cases.  If you're mostly at a computer you can opt to have email alerts, also.

3. If you're a business owner make your sure your work force knows about Amber Alerts, especially if you have a fleet of vehicles on the streets.  Every set of eyes counts when every minute counts.

4. If you manage or if you are an officer of a home owners association make sure the residents know about this important information so they can register for Amber Alerts.

Take advantage of technology and help protect and serve your community.  It's the easiest possible thing you can do.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers

Looking for something to do with the family, visitors or kids? Visit the Six Mile Cypress Slough, (pronounced slew) a 2,200 acre wetland preserve in Fort Myers, Florida just south of the Heritage Palms community. This tour was taken in mid August during a somewhat unseasonably dry summer. The foliage and wetlands were active with wildlife and the landscape featured lush swamp plants.

The Slough measures 9 miles long and 1/3 mile wide. It's located right in the middle of Ft. Myers. It is easier to get to but you do hear more "human" noise than at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - Naples Florida.

I've driven by the Slough dozens of times and never went in. Living in Bonita Springs for two decades, I always figured I'd be a chaperon on a field trip, eventually - not. The Slough is home to a diverse population of plants and animals, including a few considered to be endangered species. The Slough also serves as a corridor for wildlife by providing a safe route of travel. The Slough serves as a rest area for migrating birds seeking abundant food sources. The birds replenish their fat reserves that will later be used to fly south over the Gulf of Mexico. Because the land is protect the birds are free of harm. Other wildlife that can be seen in the Slough include:

• Raccoons
• Deer
• Bobcat
• Squirrels
• Snakes
• Bear
• Lizards
• Owls
• Butterflies
• Turtles
• Alligators
• Fish
• Water Beatles

Hours of Operation
8 a.m. - Sunset (No admittance is permitted one hour before sunset as there isn't enough time to complete the tour before it's dark)
Open 7 days a week

Facility Features

• Fully accessible, 1.2 mile long boardwalk trail; stroller and wheelchair friendly.
• Seating enclaves, shelters, observation decks and a photo blind
• Pond areas have tented tops for shade
• Amphitheater and pier
• Guided walks (see times below)
• Educational displays and "Explorer's Companion" self-guided trail brochures
• Picnic areas, restrooms and water fountain

Parking Fee - Basically visiting this preserve area is a freebee!

You do not have to pay for admittance to the park. However, your vehicle parking fee of $1 an hour or a maximum of $5.00 per stay is used for maintenance and programming for the preserve. A donation box is on site.

Guided Walk Schedule

January-March: Daily - 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
May-October: Wednesdays only - 9:30 a.m.
April, November and December: Daily - 9:30 a.m.

The Slough is only 20 minutes north of Bonita Springs and Estero Florida. It is an excellent afternoon or morning trip. Great for all ages and all physical abilities.

The following add below features Bonita Springs Real Estate. To enlarge and print the add click here: Bonita Springs Real Estate

Bonita Springs and Estero properties featured in the December Keller Williams of Bonita Springs add include homes and condos in:

• Colony Golf & Bay Club

• Fairway Dunes

• Verandah

• Villages of Bonita

• Gateway

• Shadow Wood

• Copper Oaks

• Grandezza

• Rapallo

• Copperleaf at the Brooks

• Bella Terra

• Gardens of Bonita Springs

• Stratford Place

• Pelican Sound

• Grandezza Golf & Country Club

• Wildcat Run

• North Star Yacht Club

• Lehigh Acres

• The Enclave

• Island Park

• West Bay Club

• Bonita Springs Golf & Country Club

• Bonita Springs Short Sale Assistance

For further detail call Chris Griffith at 239-273-7430

All information is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Bermuda Park Anguilla Model

Looking for an opportunity for a 1031 exchange? Planning for the future? A great price is on this Bermuda Park condominium and a wonderful tenant is included with this residence.

This Bermuda Park "Anguilla" floor plan offers preserve views from the second floor. This condo offers two bedroom, plus den and covered parking. The second floor offers a roomy feel with cathedral ceilings. Enjoy the security of a gated community and enjoy the amenities which include: tennis, pool, shuffleboard, cabana and clubhouse. A printable flyer with pricing and additional photos can be found HERE.

Bermuda Park offers a great central location, located just minutes to Bonita Beach and the new Coconut Point Mall. Florida Gulf Coast University and the airport is only about 15-20 minutes away.

If you're looking at condominium homes in Bermuda Bay, Bermuda Links, Bermuda Pointe, Bermuda Ridge or the Manors at Fountain Lakes, this Bermuda Park condo is the same exact product, just in a different location and possibly at a better value. This floor plan is available in various communities throughout Bonita Springs, Estero and Naples, Florida.

If you'd like to take a visual tour of the community read also: Bermuda Park and Villages of Bonita

Call today to get more information about this Bermuda Park condo or to get current inventory and pricing in the Bermuda Communties across SW Florida. Chris Griffith 239-273-7430