Bonita Springs Florida Central

The Visiting Nurses Association is offering the flu vaccine throughout Bonita Springs, Lee County and Southwest Florida during the month of November.

The locations and times are available on the group's Web site at www.visitingnurseswfl.com.

Medicare beneficiaries need to bring their Medicare cards so that Part B can be billed. For all others, the vaccine is $30. The flu shot is available to anyone 9 and older.

This is hardly  real estate related even though it involves the Keller Williams Running and Limping Club.  The Knights of Fright run was on Saturday morning.  7:30 start time - Booo!  I hate those super early ones.  I was the only KW in the pack.  Adam W. from Wells Fargo came and kicked my butt, again.  No photos, this time, because Al Gorithm, our photographer RAN THE RACE!  He kicked my butt, too.  My time was off and I suffered through the race two minutes longer than I usually run, even.  No, I'm not disclosing that time out of vanity.  Now, imagine my surprise when they were announcing the winners of the "old nag" division and I took third.  Al, being the smartie that he is, said he entered me in the 65 and over catagory - which turned out to be a lie, because I checked.  Our relationship is built on trust. 

Saturday I was a champion - pronounced "champyohn!"  so it sounds French!  We had several good laughs over my medal.  Even the chics at Terri's Cafe in Downtown Bonita Springs had fun with it.   Yes, Al told them.  Payback is always just around the corner, right?  We ended up at my third least favorite place to be, after Home Depot and Best Buy - Ace - Sunshine Ace Hardware.  Don't get me wrong, the store is great, I'm just not so into nuts and bolts.  Ace is the place with the helpful hardware man, right?  After the third guy asked, "Can I help you find something, Maam?"  (!! maam !!)  I said, "I need a favor."  I need you to go up to that guy, over there, and ask him if he needs help.  Ask him this:

Sir, can I help you locate a champyohn! in our store today? 

He did it.  With the accent and everything!  My helpful hardware man did it!  He laughed and turned beat red after he did it, but he did it.  I now love Ace and my helpful hardware man.  Al, is used to my ridiculous behavior.  At checkout, lo and behold, the helpful hardware man was running the register.  "Find everything you need?", he asked and then realized who he was talking to. 

Al explained to him that I had just eaten and I get drunk on food, which is sort of true.  I have roller coaster blood sugar.  I was in full 90 mph motion when he said that and at precisely that moment I happened to be reading an email that I got from Dena (Treo).  My brain just works too fast when I'm sugared up and literally said it out loud (want to see my boobies) and then I just showed the helpful hardware many my boo-bies.  Right there in the check out line.  He turned a little pink - poor thing. 

Dena, thanks for the laugh - the hardware man thanks you, too!
 

I need to stay out of hardware and electronic stores.  I just don't behive.  If you're really looking for Ace and you found this brain dump, click: Ace in Bonita Springs.

Happy Halloween Bonita Springs!

Related Running and Limping Events:

110th Place !! Is there a medal for that?

Fort Myers Jingle Bell Run - DDD 5K

I've been patiently waiting for the sun to come out for days.  I like sunny pictures of swimming pools and lakes in my listing photos and add copy. 

Today, AGAIN, it's not raining but it's not sunny either.  I need to take pictures of new listings and I like to sell Bonita Springs sunshine.  I've heard of a "rain dance"....is there such a thing as a "sunshine dance"?

I remember growing up in Ohio and not seeing sunshine for weeks at a time. 

Are you Ohio agents sunshine challenged too? 

Updated, I'm no longer selling anything as someone that claims to have trade marked the title of the blog post and see's my weather report as a threat. 

Do you know what a pop tart agent is?  If you're a buyer a seller or another agent, you need to know if you don't know.  Here's the skinny:

1. A pop tart agent gets a phone call and runs out the door to let someone in a property know little to know information about a buyer, their history, their financial/creditworthiness or ability to buy.  Just like a toaster ~ Pop!
2. A pop tart agent has car load of buyers and they drive by a home with a for sale sign and call while sitting in front of the home.  They want to see it without knowing any information about it, size, price, number of bedroom, if it remotely fits their buyers needs.

I've dealt with a few pop tart agents in the last 24 hours with regard to one of my listings.  My seller's have been good sports about, so far.  I feel pressured into the showing because in some areas our market languishes and every buyer is to be valued, no matter how unqualified.  I do let the seller choose whether or not to accomodate short notice showings.  They can always say no.  Basically, it's a crap shoot and the odds really stink that a buyer is going to be found like this.

A few days ago a pop tart number called me AFTER speaking to MY SELLER in the front yard.  She wanted in RIGHT AWAY with her car load of buyers (four adults and two children).   I first thanked her in advance to NEVER speak to my seller again without my permission. 

• She then informed me that she was from a city over one hour away. 
• She is not a member of either of our board's of Realtors.
• She cannot access our lockbox.
• She wants me to take her word for it (on the phone) that she is, in fact, a licensee and wants my seller to vacate for the showing and leave the door unlocked for her.
• She calls me from a location that is so loud I can barely understand her.

What are the odds that this is a sale in the near future? 

Does it sound like ANY research was done to help the buyers really find the RIGHT house for them?  It's aggravating for me because I have to drop everything I'm doing to accommodate the pop tart showing, knowing full well that I'm dealing with a licensee, not a professional real estate agent.  Professionals don't do stuff like this.

This whole event inspired me to fully explain pop tarts to my seller and not only to not get their hopes up but to not believe that everyone is a home shopper.  Some people aren't honest and that's ANOTHER job good listing agents have.  Anyone can be a target for pop tart posers but here are a few examples of those that should be especially vigilant.

• Young pregnant mothers
• Mothers of newborns
• People who may have weaknesses or illness 
• People that may have valuables, collectibles or expensive pets 

Seller's of real estate need to understand how to and protect themselves and their homes. 

By popular demand and special request from one of our northern Michigan friends I took a trip through Coconut Point which includes The Coconut Point Mall, The Residences at Coconut Pointand Rapallo.  A buyer of one of the condos (which are mixed use  and built at the mall) lives thousands of miles away and wants to see what stage the development is in.  We chatted for about 20-30 minutes this morning and I told him I'd be in the area and it wouldn't be a big deal at all to take some new photos to share.  He was my third call in so many days asking about the Residences at Coconut Point.

Unfortunately, the sun hasn't cooperated for two straight days.  Bummer, it's cloudy in Bonita Springs but the work still goes on.  They're wrapping up the buildings right now.  The streets have opened and most of the construction materials, dumpsters and supplies have been removed from the site.  The gates to under building parking are closed and locked.  The Residences pool is full and sparkling.  The mall is just as busy as ever.  You'll notice that the photos of the shopping area have apartments over them in some areas.

Although I only posted one photo of The Residences at Coconut Point I that you can see, you can CLICK HERE for a complete visual tour of the Mall, The Residences and Shoppers milling around.  Enjoy!

You can compare them to the photos taken at the end of August '07:  Residences at Coconut Point 

Also Read: Dozens of related articles about Coconut Point Mall and The Residences.

This morning I was about to hi the ground running when I noticed the v-hickle had a janky hoopty tire.  *teehee*  This was a first class Bonita Springs real estate derailment.  I was suppose to take the exterior photos of my new listing in Copperleaf at the Brooks but seriously got clipped by a drywall screw in my tire.

Baby A, my boy twin came to my rescue. He's so dern cute!  He's a typical "Bonitian" good old boy.  He isn't old enough to be on company insurance where he works (21) so they've purchased him his own truck, titled it in his name and let him self insure.  He has every tool you need strapped on back!  I hadn't seen it until today.  I told him he looked like Sanford and Son.  His name is Jon and I just love him.  (that's his wife Lilly behind him and she even goes to work with him!)  He fixed my tire, checked the air in the rest of them and upgraded my chromies from plastic to metal.  All of that and it only cost me a bagel with egg and cheese.

My own pit crew!  Dang!  He is so changing tires for all of the single chics at my Keller Williams from this point forward.  LOL

Take a lQQk at this Oakwood model, single family home in Caraway Lakes in Copperleaf at The Brooks. Impeccably cared for, this home is in superb condition & 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 gulf beaches, 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 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 read also:

Copperleaf Site Plan

Copper Leaf Golf and Country Club

Related Articles: 

Spring Run at The Brooks

Bonita Springs Real Estate

Friday October 26

Halloween Book Sale The Friends of the Bonita Springs Library have lots of gently read books in all genres in hard cover, paperback and trade paperback along with videos, DVDs, puzzles, and children's books, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. 498-1903.

Sunday October 28:

Monster Bash Halloween Skate Party Children in their Halloween costumes will receive free admission and skate rental. Skate to haunted music, win prizes and candy, 6:45 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. 948-7825 ext. 1302.

Tuesday October 30:

Double Dose of Horror the psychotic murderer Michael Myers returns to select movie theaters nationwide in "Halloween 4 - The Return of Michael Myers," and "Halloween 5 - The Revenge of Michael Myers." Fans will also be treated to two featurettes, "Halloween: Faces of Fear" and "Meet the Michaels." Shown also at Bonita Springs Stadium 12, Gulf Coast Town Center, Hollywood Stadium 20 in Naples, and Town Center Stadium 16 in Port Charlotte, 7:30 p.m., $10. Regal Bell Tower 20, 13499 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers. FathomEvents.com for tickets or the box office.

Tuesday October 30:

Holiday Pet Photographs Have pooch's photo taken in holiday costumes, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Paws, Claws, and Tails Bonita Hills Boutique, 3525 Bonita Beach Rd. #106, Bonita Springs. 498-1198 for reservations.

Wednesday October 31:

Mall-O-Ween Halloween events throughout Miromar Outlets mall include costume contests for both children and pets, 5-9 p.m., Miromar Outlet Mall, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 948-3766.

Bonita Springs' major waterway now has a festival all its own.

The Bonita Springs RiverFest celebrates the Imperial River on Saturday, Oct. 27, and is part of Lee County's Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, celebrating Southwest Florida's 100-mile marked paddling trail.

The festival will be fairly small and expected to grow through the years.

The fishing cottages turned artists' space at Riverside Park will be open as part of RiverFest, encouraging the public to appreciate local art.

The Bonita Springs Historical Society will have a presentation about the Imperial River's history, Simons said. The society's headquarters, the Liles Hotel, also will be open to the public.

Local merchants, including Buffalo Chips owner Al Greenwood (who doesn't love Al?), will be on hand to serve up fried green tomatoes, hot dogs and other treats.  Certainly, the classic buffalo wings will be there, also.

All monies raised will benefit The Bonita Springs Waterways Conservation Fund, dedicated to preserving the city's waterways. RiverFest will include kayak and canoe races along the Imperial River and a litter cleanup along the riverbanks.

The 2-mile time trial races start at Kent Road and end at Riverside Park. There are four races: single kayak female, single kayak male, tandem kayak and canoe. Each race has a $250 first place prize.

Here's the skinny:

• What: Bonita Springs RiverFest
• When: 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 27
• Where: Riverside Park on Old 41 Road
• Events include: Imperial River Challenge time trials, Imperial Conservancy river cleanup, paddling safety for kids

If you live on or near East Corkscrew Road, let's face it:  Traffic and most especially heavy equipment construction traffic is a big, fat issue.  I have heard the story before.  Just yesterday I was behind a beige truck on Pennsylvania Avenue in Bonita Springs, yesterday, and thought:  "This person believes so much in the Corkscrew protest that she tattooed her truck"!  For the record, Corkscrew Road is in Estero, Florida, but it's a stone's throw...a matter of a mile or two from Bonita Springs, Florida.

The East Corkscrew Road rural community is protecting and preserving the rural nature and quality of life that defines the neighborhood.  A website has been established to provide timely news and information about local issues and events, as well as a means for improved communication among neighbors.

The latest plight is about this:

Westwind Corkscrew Mine

Westwind Corkscrew Mineproposes an amendment to the existing Industrial Planned Development (IPD) zoning to:

• increase the depth of the mining operation to 95 feet or confining layer
• add a new connection to Corkscrew Road
• eliminate the condition requiring 9.5 acres of native open space
• add the use of air curtain incinerator
• add the use of asphalt plant
• add the use of concrete block plant
• add the use of ready-mix concrete plant
• clarify condition addressing dewatering

 If you are from the Bonita Springs or Estero, Florida area and you would like more information contact: 

http://www.corkscrewroad.com/