The Naples Daily News from Naples, Florida • 23

Sally Ream Tuesday October 31 2006 7B State Greek presence still strong in Daytona after 300 years Bush finishing second term on positive note By JONI JAMES St Petersburg Times His older approval ratings may be abysmal out a new poll snows Florida Gov Jeb Bush likely will leave office in January as popular as ever In the St Petersburg Times poll voters were asked to rate the two-term Republican governor's performance by assigning a letter grade Fifty-six percent of likely Florida voters gave him an A or Another 23 percent gave him of Greeks have felt over the years Here's what historians and local people up on their history say happened Some of the first Greeks known to have come to Volusia County arrived in 1768 when Dr Andrew Turnbull began a colony in what is now New Smyrna Beach Turnbull a Scot used a land grant to begin a settlement that produced indigo and other crops He named foe 101400-acre British colony after his birthplace Smyrna then a Greek town in Asia Minor Turnbull rounded up 200 Greeks 120 Sicilians and Italians several hundred Minorcans and more from other Mediterranean nations who agreed to leave their countries to work for seven years in exchange for 50 acres each The colony began with 1200 people but within three years about 700 had died from disease and harsh living conditions The colony eventually aged to produce bountiful vests but by 1777 the settlement wien many of the in- fell apart Family members from right Jimmy Pitenis 10 mother Elaine Victoria 12 Connie 15 father Jim and Angela 16 of Daytona Beadi an average or Cgrade and 10 percent! anF failed gather to practice golf at Riviera Country Club in Ormond Beach on Oct 3 When most people think of Volusia County they probably conjure up images of tattooed bikers lightning fast race car drivers and bikini-dad Spring Breakers Odds are they're not envisioning the Greeks who have been drawn to this area since the 1700s Associated lYess Republicans and independents both genders all age groups and whites and Hispanic even as his most prominent policy position reliance on the standardized Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to give letter grades to public schools continues to lose favor across all voter groups the reason independent voter Jefferey Kelley 55 a disabled engineer in Seffncr gives the governor a His wife is a teacher "I see what she goes Kelley said There Is a disconnect between the test material and what students are learning in the classroom he said "I have fond memories of Other voters give Gov Bush credit for trying "It stunk back before he got here but he made an effort an effort in foe right direction" said independent voter Sharon Kink-ead 64 of Port Orange She gives him a B-plus As expected approval ratings are highest among Republicans: 70 percent give him an A or and only 1 percent give him anF He also enjoys a loyal following among independent voters with 66 percent giving him an A or ana among Hispanic with 62 percent awarding an A or Bush is fluent in Spanish Among Democrats only 32 percent give Bush an A or llnies staff writers Alisa Ujferts Anita Kumar Aikun Smith and Wes Allison contributed to this By EILEEN ZAFHRO Daytona Beadi News-Journal DAYTONA BEACH When most people think of Volusia County they probably conjure up images of tattooed bikers lightning fast race car drivers and bikini-clad Spring Breakers Odds are they're not envisioning the Greeks who have been drawn to this area since die 1700s But those who know their Florida histoiy can tell you that some of the first European settlers along the Volusia County coastline hailed from Greece and Its 1500 islands They can also tell you the Daytona Beach area continues to be a draw for Greeks who are enticed by plenty of sun sultry i tunes an ocean full of and a solid Greek Orthodox Church community Those are some of the main reasons Elaine and Jim Htenis decided to call Daytona Beach home seven years ago By 1999 fun had retired as an executive in the graphic arts industry and Elaine had wrapped up a career as a microbiologist including a stint at Harvard Without money and jobs as a consideration die couple could choose virtually any location on the planet This is the place that felt right Jim said he and Elaine both of whom are 100 percent Greek settled on Daytona Beach for the same reasons Greeks have over the centuries "The sun and sea has been in their blood fin 2300 years" said Jim who has paintings of Greek islands throughout his home "They were always looking for a place that looked like The Pitenis family also had a few reasons unique to them The couple and their four children who range in age from 10 to 16 are avid golfers who hit the links every day possible Getting in IB holes was a lot tougher and more expensive when they lived in Boston and Toronto "Florida really is the tale of two said pollster Kelly anne Voters have deep and praise for Jeb The results come from a statewide telephone survey of 800 voters conducted Oct 22-25 for the Tunes by Republican firm foe Polling Company and a Democratic firm Schrofo Eldon Associates The margin of error is 35 percentage points Hialeah Republican Gloria Evans 73 awards the governor an think he's sincere He has integrity Anything he's done has been for the good of Florida" For years Jeb Bush's approval ratings have tracked higher than those of the president particularly in 2005 when his steadfast re-to two years of eight hur-was in sharp contrast with Washington's response to Hurricane Katrina But the new poll shows the governor remains popular among dentured laborers unhappy with their situation left for St Augustine Now there are about 400 Greek families in Volusia County most on the east side of the county- Daytona Beach will never be Athens but the Pitenises say always work to keep Greek heritage alive here ana make it a nice place far all cultures very Jim Pitenis said reaping foe benefits of earlier Greeks here always thinking what we can do to perpetuate it for the next generation" "Our family intended to live in Greece for one year to immerse ourselves in the Greek language and Elaine said "But after five months we decided Florida would be better for the They plan to continue vacationing in Greece in the coming years but have no plans to move again greatest country in the world is the United said Jim who has been to Greece 16 times and traveled all over the world "I would never have chosen any other country including Greece This is the plan to Apparently foe way a lot move here" fun said "This is a great area to raise also been able to educate the kids in their heritage and religion since moving here Part of foe credit goes to St Demetri-os Greek Orthodox Church where they're regulars in the front row every Sunday Their kids have taken Greek language and dance classes at foe church and they attend Sunday school where Elaine teaches "We made sure there was a Greek school and church Jim said There are only about two dozen Greek churches throughout Florida Elaine said They also do informal teaching at home "If they want something we tell them to ask for it in Elaine said Their home even has Greek ties The builder of their ocean-side tower of condos was Andy Xepapas who named the structure after his wife AlikL Intent on their kids learning Ik Hw Hdtatrii NwSwM Fraun fa SNEAD Cataract CURE CATARACTS 936-8686 Locations Lee Collier Charlotte Counties 1 -877-936-8686 toll free) fluent Greek in 1999 they jetted Europe with a plan of fivir Greece for a year to Europe with a plan of living in Education also is a very priority for the dan and they i Elementary Ormond Middle and Spruce Creek High schools "It was an easy decision to msm eft Mm VJ i Health Screenings Upcoming Seminars 1 5 Pre-Owned Registration required call (239) 436-6878 Cholesterol Blood Sugar Lipid Profiles Naples-Nov 8 10am Wellness Center South North Naples-Nov 1 Wellness Center North Marco Island-Nov 17 Marco Healthcare Center Total cholesterol blood sugar $10 Cholesterol HDL (good cholesterol) and blood sugar (a non-fasting test) for $15 Lipid Cardiac panel: total cholesterol HDL LDL triglycerides and blood sugar (12 hour fasting required) $25 Skin Cancer You Presented by Caren McKesh MD Do you need to be concerned about skin cancer? Learn about the warning signs of skin cancer and the treatment options available November 2 2-3pm Orange Blossom Library 593-0177 to register Depression in the Aging Process Presented by Badalin Helvink MD As we age there may be stressors which sometimes cause depression to occur which might require a treatment plan Educating yourself on available will assist you to make decisions if you or a loved one find yourself in this situation November 8 2-3pm East Naples Library 775-5592 to register November 9 2-3pm Orange Blossom Library 593-0177 to register 01 FORD MUSTANG DELUXE 2DR CONVERTIBLE 43KmlStkS6221B 10995 Diabetes Programs The von Arx Diabetes Center of Excellence Nutrition Health offers these programs: Now providing services at our new location NCH Briggs Pavilion 399 9th Street Naples Located on the second floor All Programs Require Registration Call 436-6755 Diabetes Self Management Classes Learn how to better manage your diabetes Free Glucometer one-month Wellness membership included Fee coverage by Medicare most insurance plans Bonita Springs: Nov 13-15 Wellness South: Nov 6-8 9am- Nov 13-15 Nov 27-29 1 Diabetes Support Group "How to Stuff the Turkey But Not Yourself Come taste some Thanksgiving recipes you can enjoy for the holidays All those with diabetes are welcome to attend No reservation required Bonita ADSG 3860 Via Del Rey 102: Nov 14 Naples Briggs Pavilion Diabetes Center: Nov 14 Pre-Diabetes: Do You Have It? Fri Nov 10 8-9am 41 Million Americans are Pre-Diabetic Free info given by our Certified Diabetes Educator Free blood sugar testing -you must FAST for 12 hours Breakfast served L98 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2DR MjXl CONVERTIBLE V6995H How Well Do you Sleep? 03 SATURN L-SERIES L200 4DR SEDAN 24K ml StkQM5221 $10995 A good sleep is something that most of us take for granted But for millions of Americans getting a good night's sleep and waking up rested can be extremely difficult It is estimated that up to one-third of all American adults suffer from some form of sleep disorder or disturbance While many of these disturbances are minor some such as apnea narcolepsy chronic insomnia can have serious repercussions For information call the NCH Sleep Medicine Center at 436-5400 How to Recognize if You Have Atrial Fibrillation Presented' by Scot Schultz MJ 24 million Americans are affected by Atrial Fibrillation Educate yourself on' what it is its symptoms and new minimally invasive treatments' to cure it light appetizers beverages will be available at this seminarV November 9 NCHTelford Building 436-6067to register' CHEVROLET EXPRESS CARGO 1500 SDR 17K ml StkQM5228 $15995 CHRYSLER SEBRING LIMITED 2DR CONVERTIBLE StkLS6200A $16995 Referrals Information i '-It S' -HI For physician referrals and information on the services of the NCH Healthcare System call the NCH Access Healthline at (239) 436-5430 or visit us on the web at NCHmdorg Elite Healthy Plate Weight Management Weight management program tailored to you Five 1:1 counseling sessions Easy meal plans FREE One week Wellness Center pass Program fee $245 NCH Staff Wellness member discounts 04 V01V0 V70 24 FWD4DR 9KrrtStkS6248A $22995 Saab Isuzu Suzuki Pre-owned Center UIISolanaRd Naples rsxm.