News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 135

li Maples KmmI Tree spree Rotary sells Christmas cheer 21 Fire column 41, NEWS-PRESS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1989 Program helps bad-check writers bounce back By DENES HUSTY News-Press Staff Writer "A lot of people get in trouble because they don't keep their checkbooks up to date" and write checks for which there are no funds. Robert Zachary assistant state attorney UP CLOSE and habitual bad-check writers need not apply, he said. The program, Zachary said, is for people who don't have extensive records as bad-check writers. "A lot of people get in trouble because they don't keep their checkbooks up to date" an" write checks for which there are no funds, said Zachary, who heads the Collier County program. In the eyes of the law, however, sloppy bookkeeping is no excuse.

The person writing the bad check "knew See CHECK, page 21 ecution. The program is similar to a program already in operation in Lee County. The Worthless Check Diversion Program, stressed Assistant State Attorney Robert N. Zachary, isn't for everybody. Chronic Some people who have trouble keeping their checkbooks balanced write checks that bounce.

And, sometimes, they find themselves being hauled into court on worthless-check charges after angry merchants swear out complaints against them. It used to be that there was no alternative to criminal prosecution for people charged with writing worthless checks. Such people faced being fined and jailed. But now, in Collier County, there is an 7 it i. 3 iff rl i 4 I Claus, happily obliged.

The curb between 7th and 8th Avenue South on 8th Street was jammed with bed-race watchers who cheered, jeered and shouted as the beds raced two-by-two down the 100-yard course. Special Olympics athlete Tadd Myers, 31, sat in his wheelchair at the finish line, stretching his neck to watch the beds careening by. Myers' mother, Kay, says they always support Special Olympics events because Tadd enjoys bowling in the Special Olympics. "His highest score is 158," she said. "His aunt and I usually take him bowling on Saturdays, and he always beats us." Saturday's fund-raiser should generate $15,000 to $20,000 that will be used for the training and competition of Special Olympics athletes like Tadd, Werner said.

The fund-raiser, which took place at Cambier Park in Naples, also featured an arts and crafts festival, live bands, refreshments and an auction of 50 items donated by various businesses in the community. But it was Naples' first-ever bed race that 1V BUNNIE NICHOLS Businessman gets show on road for Bonita group t's not surprising that George M. Cohan III got the show started for the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce's new financial support group the President's Club by taking center stage as its first member. His red, white and blue community spirited gesture is probably something his famous showbiz ancestor George M. Cohan would have done.

Yes, the Bonita Springs businessman, owner of George M's men's shop in Springs Plaza, is a direct descendant of the legendary actor and producer who really knew how to get the show rolling. He was born in 1878 and died in 1942. Cohan said George Michael Cohan was his grandfather's first cousin. "My son, George M. Cohan IV, and I are both named after him," he said.

Cohan said he became the first member of the chamber's President's Club as soon as it was announced to get things rolling right away and encourage others to do the same. "The $30,000 that was donated to the chamber through its Take Stock Program, which solicited donations that were given over a three-year period, is gone," Cohan said. "The chamber needs money right now to do things such as push for the state to fund improvements at Lovers Key State Park right away and pursue better extended area phone service." He said Bonita Springs business people need to buy a stake in Bonita Springs through the new program. "It's a small price to pay for a better community," he said. The new fund-raising program, which allows members to make a special annual contribution in addition to their annual membership fees and receive special recognition, was announced by Vickie Meyer-Manz, current chamber president, Thursday during a special luncheon that was hosted by the chamber's past presidents.

Past presidents who attended included John Spear, Gary Armstrong, Bobby Pittman, Monica Fernandez Hill, Ralph Richardson and Bob Mantle. The extra funds will also be used for additional office staff, expanded office equipment capabilities and assistance in funding a permanent site and facility for the rapidly expanding organization's office. The 600-member group is currently based in a small modular building that's temporarily located on Bonita Bay property that's leased per year. Cohan's community spirited gesture apparently did encourage others to do the same. Quite a ft members lined after the luncheon to sign up.

Paul Vrooman, chamber manager, said charter club members will be announced soon. Push for polo The sport of kings is about to become a permanent part of the this area's sport scene, according to John Zeller, business manager for Naples' Community School and organizer of its popular annual fund-raising exhibition polo match. Zeller said he will make an announcement in about a week concerning the formation of a world-class Naples Polo team and a major sponsor who will back it. He said an announcement will also be made concerning plans for a regulation polo field in the NaplesFort Myers area. Clarification Due to space problems, portions of an item in Thursday's column were omitted, causing some confusion.

Here's the entire item. Paul Easton, director of ABA Entertainment Consultants in Naples, said he was disappointed by the turnout for Barry Ma-nilow's Nov. 15 concert at the Lee Civic Center. Easton attended the concert with his father, Eric Easton owner of Easton's Music Center in Naples and the Rolling Stones' first manager. Both are former London residents.

"Only about two-thirds of the seats were filled," Easton said. Easton, a booking agent, said this area is very difficult and unpredictable for concert promoters. "Barry sells out in England," said Easton, who had nothing to do with the Manilow show. "He's taking the same show he presented in Fort Myers to the London Palladium for a two-week, sold-out run." (Clarification: Easton said he loved the show.) "I don't understand it," he said. "It was a very interesting, well-produced show.

Barry gave a really good performance. I was amazed by his medley of hits. It went on and on." Bunnie Nichols' Close Up column appears in the News-Press Tuesday through Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. If you have an item for Bunnie, please send it to her care of the News-Press, 28441 Tamiami Trail 1 Suite 214, Bonita Springs, 33923, or call The team from Diagnostic Services races to the finish line during the bed race Saturday at the Christmas in the Park festivities at Cambier Park in Naples to benefit Collier County Special Olympics. Fund-raiser makes bedlam of Naples street alternative.

Under a new program begun last month by the state attorney's office, people charged with writing checks can avoid criminal pros 4 It twisted the joints of a bright green balloon animal in eager anticipation. A clown fashioned colorful balloon figures for children as part of the festival. "I like No. 8," Lee said, indicating that his favorite was the team that had dressed as el ves and Santa's helpers. Each of the entries was eye-catching in its own way.

The Collier County Sheriff's Department bed was of the nondescript roll-away variety the only modification being the addition of a stuffed moosehead attached to the front, no doubt serving as a substitute reindeer. "Can I get a picture of your bed?" ased Florence Titone before the race. Titone and her husband, John, had come to see the bed race from their vacation home on Marco Island. "This is the only one that's a real, fold-up bed and we have one just like it at home." The team, whose members had dressed as two jailbirds, a Keystone Cop and a Santa said. "These are not your run-of-the-mill hobbyists.

They're craftsmen." "They have some lovely crafts here," said Al Holland, as his wife, Shirley, bought a hand-painted purple and blue silk scarf from guild-member Ann Babineau. "She's buying that so she can pull it through this," Holland said as he pulled from its bag a handcrafted wooden buckle the couple had purchased at another booth at the festival only minutes before. The impending Christmas holiday meant extra business for Harriet and Phil Ives, husband-and-wife members of the guild. His silverwork is nationally known, and her cloisonne was catching a few eyes at Saturday's show. Clay snakes and critters at Fran Burrill's pottery display attracted Janet and Gerald Edgerly.

"Isn't that beautiful?" Gerald Edgerly said, pointing at a lamp with greenish gray clay salamanders affixed to its base. Burrill, who is so fond of the snake motif that she wears glasses with snakeskin textured frames, has been a guild member for more than a year, since she moved from Marathon in the Keys to Port Charlotte. "This is a wonderful group. They're really high-energy people," she said. By VALERIE HERSCH News-Press Staff Writer A few participants at the "Christmas in the Park" fund-raiser for Collier County Special Olympics didn't even bother to get out of bed Saturday morning for the main event but not because of any lack of enthusiasm for their cause.

The program's focal point this year was a bed race, in which one person "rides" a bed on wheels pushed by several other people. Nine Naples-area businesses designed and built racing beds and entered teams in Saturday's competition during "Christmas in the Park." "We thought it would be a unique way to get the community's attention and still raise money for the Special Olympics," said Lois Werner, the organization's county coordinator. The prospect of watching beds roll down 8th Avenue certainly got 9-year-old Lee Yarberry's attention. As he stood on the curb waiting for the race to begin, Lee MARC BEAUDINNews-Press drew a crowd of more than 3.000 people to the all-day event, according to organizers' estimates. Organizers timed the racers in the first heat, and held a run-off to determine first-, second-and third-place finishers.

Ultimately, The Dock restaurant at Crayton Cove took the top honors, posting a winning time of 14.84 seconds. "The guys really took it took it to heart," said the Dock's manager Phil DePasquale of his winning team. "We had a challenge from Riverwalk (Fish and Ale House, another team that entered the competition Bed rider Joe Dietz attributed much of the team's success to the design of their bed racer, which sported a red frame with bicycle tires, handle bars for the bed pushers, and a speedometer. Dietz would not reveal any specific design details, however. "It's top-secret stuff," hesaid.

"Next year, we're planning a lightweight, aerodynamic model," added Robin Shrock, who designed and built the winning bed for the Dock's team. MARC BEAUDINNews-Press patiently for Frisbee the clown to finish is Fred Hemingway and he is a Shriners 4 i Guild throws pottery, art show A i Mi More photos 31 By VALERIE HERSCH News-Press Staff Writer Pottery with a southwestern flair dominated the drive-through lanes of the NCNB bank in the Center of Bonita shopping plaza Saturday, and handwoven artifacts took up most of the handicapped parking spots. But no one complained. The bank is closed on Saturdays anyway. And these works were from two of 23 area artists who displayed their work and offered it for sale at the Southwest Florida Art Guild's arts and crafts festival.

Several hundred people turned out for the art festival, estimated Grace "Danish" McGurl, a guild member and chairman of the show. This is the first time the show had been held at the Center of Bonita. For the past seven or eight years, it was held in the courtyard at Springs Plaza. "But we thought we'd have a change this year," said McGurl, who is known locally as "the bird lady of Bonita" for her colorful, carved avian creatures. "Most of (the artists participating) have shown in galleries, they're teachers," she ill Jenni Davis, 7, of Golden Gate, waits her balloon hat.

Frisbee's real name Club member..