Keep Your Bonita Springs Home Safe During the Holidays

There would be nothing worse than watching your Bonita Springs Home go up in smoke just before the holidays.

To keep your holiday safe the Bonita Springs Fire Rescue suggests following these safety tips to help protect your family:

Test all lights and cords for broken sockets or bare wires before decorating the tree or house. Place lights on a fireproof surface, leave them switched on for at least 15 minutes, and watch for any danger signs, such as smoke or melted wires. Use only lights that have an Underwriter's Laboratories or similar approval tag.

• Place your Christmas tree close to an electrical outlet to reduce the need to use extension cords. If you do use extension cords, use only heavy-duty cords. Never overload electrical sockets.
• If you choose a fresh tree, check the water level daily.
• If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire resistant.
• Place trees away from any heat source. Use cool-burning lights on fresh trees.
• Make sure your tree doesn't block any exit from your home. Always have two exits from each room in case of fire.
• Always unplug all lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
• Place small ornaments near the top of the tree. Children and pets may mistake ornaments for toys and can easily choke on small decorations.
• A large number of home fires begin in the kitchen. Never leave cooking unattended.
• If you host a party and have guests who smoke, use only heavy, deep ashtrays. Never empty ashtrays without letting them sit for several hours. Hot ashes emptied into a trashcan may ignite a fire.
• Poinsettia, holly and mistletoe can be poisonous if ingested. Keep these away from children and pets.
• Never discard wrapping paper or a live tree in a fireplace or wood stove. These materials burn very hot and may start a chimney fire.
• Always use a screen or some type of protective cover when using a fireplace. Don't hang stockings or other decorations near a fireplace that will be used.
• Avoid operating space heaters for long periods of time. Electrical cords may overheat and start a fire.
• Never remove a battery from a smoke alarm to use for other purposes, such as for a toy or remote control.

Most importantly, keep a fire extinguisher on hand and/or check to make sure the extinguisher you have is current and operational.

Spring Run at The Brooks Condo

Enjoy the peace of mind and security of a gated community in the heart of Bonita Springs. This nicely appointed ground floor condominium home is located in Spring Run at the Brooks. Spring Run offers swimming, tennis, country club, dining and access to an optional membership to The Brooks Commons Club of Bonita Springs Florida.

Walk right in! This gardenia model, condominium home is offered turnkey furnished and the golf membership is included. Every home owner is a golf member at Spring Run at the Brooks. Upgraded features include extensive tile throughout the main living area and lanai. The lanai has private views of preserve and golf course. This two bedroom, two bath, condo is offered at $225,000. Be sure to look at the additional photos and take the visual tour at my website: Spring Run Condo.

This condominium offers ease of use, low maintenance living. Just lock the door and go with near worry free home ownership in sunny Bonita Springs, Florida.

The Brooks is located just minutes to gulf beaches, SW Florida International Airport, FGCU Florida Gulfcoast State University and within biking distance Coconut Point Mall. Homes in Spring Run are priced from the mid $200,000's to the $600,000's.

For a complete visual tour of the Spring Run community and further information also visit: Spring Run at the Brooks.

The Brooks has four distinct gated communities which includes:

• Copperleaf at the Brooks
• Lighthouse Bay at the Brooks
• Shadow Wood at the Brooks
• Spring Run at the Brooks

For more information about this condominium in Spring Run contact Chris Griffith.

Another Bonita Springs bumper sticker sighting in the parking lot on my way into Terri's Summer Breeze Cafe for breakfast.  I've found a few classics in that lot.  Now don't kill the messenger.  I'm just reporting the news, I don't believe the news.

Christmas Lights & Snow in Bonita Springs 2007

Click here for  The Holiday in the Park 2012 - This is just a taste of what you'll see if you stop by Riverside Park tomorrow, December 4th, 2007 from 5-8 p.m.  The City of Bonita Springs kicks off its Holiday in the Park Festival featuring 20 tons of snow.  I stopped by this evening to see the elves decorating the park with tens of thousands of Christmast Lights.  It's absolutely beautiful!  The Lyles hotel is dripping with lights and looks fantastic, also.  It's worth a night time drive just to see.

At the Holiday festival Santa Claus, Mrs. Clause and elves are rumored to be stopping by at 5:45 p.m., with an escort from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, the Bonita Springs Fire Department, Car-1 and other professional emergency personnel.

Here's what you'll find at the event:

— 20-foot Colorado blue spruce
— Over 2,500 Christmas lights on the tree
— As pictured, inflatable characters, like Santa and Mickey Mouse, as part of the winter wonderland presented by Keystone Renaissance Center
— 20 tons of Bonita Springs snow
— ferris wheel
— sleigh rides on Santa's sled
— purchase foods from Royal Scoop, Russell's Clambakes and Zesty Pizza
— free coffee from AmericInn
— free cider and cookies from the city of Bonita Springs

Also read:  Chanukah Festivities & Menorah Lighting in Bonita Springs, Florida

Recent Riverside Park events include:

• Bonita Springs Bluegrass Festival - Riverside Park
• Taste of Bonita Festival- Riverside Park
• Bonita Springs Riverside Park - An Evening in The Park

 How to Trap a Possum in Bonita Springs Florida

[no injuries reported]

Thump, thump dragging in the night is the creature from the black lagoon somewhere near the foundation of my house.  Lucky for us whatever it is, it is nocturnal.  Oh goodie! 

Finally, at the end of my rope and being the anti-animal killer I am I called a Bonitian named Lumberjack and asked him:

1. Do you have any good ol' boys that can capture it...without killing it or without eating it.
2. If you don't have said friend, where can I buy a Havahart trap. 

Listen, I have no problem with whatever IT is, but it has to go.  Go peacefully, it will, but it has to go.  Lumberjacks says head north.  So I head norht and I ended up ordering a Havahart trap from the Northern Store in South Fort Myers, about 10 miles north of Bonita Springs.  It took about a week to come in.  We picked it up yesterday and put it outside with a slashed in half apple inside as bait.  (there is a bait guide that came with it in case you know what your nemesis is)  I rolled the dice and threw in an apple by default.

This morning at 5:30 when IT was coming home I realized IT must not like apples.  I never heard the trap but I heard him wiping his feet as he went into his den or whatever you call it.  I ended up poking my head out back just to see what the status of the apple was...maybe it was light enough to sneak in and get it without tripping the snare.  True enough, the apple was gone and in its place was Hector.  Hector - Possum Extraordinaire, with a face only a mother could love and chompers that commanded every bit of respect they were definitely going to get.  (I was SO relieved it didn't have a white stripe down it's back, actually.)

I called Lumberjack and made a deal.  I'll cook you two egg, cheese bagel sandwiches for breakfast if you take Hector out past Bonita Grand Road.....like waaaayyy out, past Village Walk and San Remo even.  Out by the state land, is more like it.  Our deal was struck and Hector is free to roam on the great prairie in East Bonita Springs.

Viva la Hector .... In the wilderness, not under my house.

Yes, if you are dealing with your own Hector and need Lumberjack to make a house call just email me and I'll give you his cell number.  I gave him the trap as a bonus.

You Sandy Hollow people might be on your own....we have no clue what bait is used for Iguanas!

It's almost a game at this point - photographing license plates, decals and bumper stickers.  You don't know how many times I'm at a traffic light in Bonita Springs wondering if I have time to get out and take a picture before it turns green.  I caught this little cutie today.  I figured this truck belongs to some of my son's "kin" in Bonita Springs.  It was on a rather large 4x4 truck that those good ol' boys drive out into the woods and a place they call the prairie in East Bonita Springs.  East of Bonita Grande Road, and I think even further than San Remo or even Village Walk.  I'm sure they're not going on that state land, though.

So, he casually mentioned starting a

home watch business in Bonita Springs Florida...

Almost everyone knows someone in their neighborhood that is just the greatest person.  My neighborhood is no exception.  More than half of the residents of Bonita Springs, likely, know my favorite neighbor.  Ron Clase was a teacher at Bonita Middle School for almost 1,000 years.  I think every kid just loved him.  I know my kids love him to pieces.  He's been retired from educating for a few years and mentioned to me that he was starting a home watch business.

One random day I received a call from a young lady that was in need of services that a home watch expert can provide - Keeping your home safe, accepting deliveries, meeting repair people, meeting a tenant to pick up keys, etc.  I passed his name on to her.  Minutes later my door bell rings and it's Ron, nearly breathless and clearly surprised that his business phone is now ringing.

OK, so I made his home watch business wheels turn a little faster than he had anticipated....and the rest, as they say, is history.  I've given Ron a few more referrals since then, too.  I ran into Ron's wife this evening and she says that things are going smashingly well with their new business kicking off.   "So, you're ready for more business?"  I asked.  Kathy cheered, "Yep, we licensed and insured and ready to roll." 

So, I told her he's fair game for this blog and business that finds him through it.  So here goes.  Ron is a great person.  You couldn't ask for a more respectable, respected person to watch your home while you're not in the Bonita Springs area able to enjoy it.  If you are looking for someone to care for your Bonita Springs home or condo the home watch company you need to call is Ron Clase Home Watch.  Tell him Chris sent you.  (I really owe him for helping me raise my twins and being such a great influence on them.) 

I've trusted Ron with my children, your Bonita Springs home is going to be in great hands.

Take a look at this Oakwood model, single family home in Caraway Lakes in Copperleaf at the Brooks. This home has been impeccably cared for and it is in superb condition and ready for the choosiest home buyer.

The eastern exposure allows for warm sunshine to wash the pool and oversized deck with summer kitchen. Features include tile throughout the main living area, nearly 12 foot ceilings, solid surface counter tops and raised panel cabinets.

This home is furnished beautifully, the furniture is negotiable. Copperleaf is a secure, gated, bundled golf community just minutes to the white sandy beaches of Bonita Beach, the new Coconut Point Mall and SW Florida International Airport.

Commons Club - Enrichment Center memberships are available providing access to a private beach club.

The new clubhouse addition at the Copperleaf Country Club will be complete in several weeks. Imagine entertaining your friends and family with the awesome amenities package offered at Copperleaf and the Brooks. Be sure to take the visual tour of this beautiful Caraway Lakes home!

To learn more about Copperleaf at the Brooks, take a visual tour of the community and find a community mapread also: Copperleaf at The Brooks - Bonita Springs, Florida.

Copperleaf is one of the four boroughs of the community The Brooks of Bonita Springs, Florida.

• Copperleaf at the Books
• Lighthouse Bay at the Brooks
• Shadow Wood at the Brooks
• Spring Run at the Brooks

The information contained in the articles on this, blog is the property of Chris Griffith, Realtor. Comments posted in response to individual blog posts are the opinions of the respondents. Chris Griffith, Realtor and Downing Frye Realty is not responsible for the opinions, thoughts or ideas expressed by visitors to this blog nor for any liability for any damages or losses direct or indirect that may result from the use or reliance on information contained herein. The information provided is deemed reliable, subject to change but not guaranteed. This blog is provided for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to contact a real estate professional for specific counsel related to their individual real estate needs. Buyers and sellers of real estate are encouraged to contact a real estate attorney and their financial planner/C.P.A. for detailed advise regarding short sale and foreclosure information due to the volatility of the market and frequent changes in law and lending and foreclosure guidelines.

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. All information on this site is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Equal Housing Opportunity - Chris Griffith, LifeInBonitaSprings.com and Downing Frye Realty, Inc. are dedicated to the spirit and law of Fair Housing for all home buyers and follows Fair Housing in employment and housing.

The lighting of the Menorah of Freedom will take place at the Promenade Shops at Bonita Bay on Tuesday, Dec. 4 2007, at 5:30 pm.

State Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, will have the honor of lighting Bonita Springs' Largest Menorah.

A proclamation from Lee County as well as the City of Bonita Springs will be read and presented at the event also.

This event is open to the entire community and will be featuring:

• Live Music & Entertainment
• Fun for the whole Family
• Hot Latkes & Donuts
• Falafel & Israeli Food
• Free raffle of Chanukah gifts
• Arts & Crafts

This is the largest Jewish event throughout the year in Bonita Springs and South Lee County.

For more info please contact 239-949-690 or http://www.jewishbonita.com/

For an array of information on the Holiday of Chanukah log on to www.jewishbonita.com/chanukah