It seems like yesterday when Hurricane Charley came ashore and devastated our area. Call it complacency or just lack of experience, but I haven’t come across anyone who thought that storm was going to take a right-hand turn into Charlotte Harbor and create the devastating damage that it did. Perhaps it was due to having a Governor whose brother was the President of the United States at the time, but the speed at which our area was back on its feet was miraculous, and one that was well-documented in the media. The community came together and with the help of a master planner, our city came back better and stronger than anyone could have imagined. What struck me most was the heartfelt compassion so many had who came to our rescue. Those who tried to gouge, or take advantage of us were quickly dealt with, while others came from all over the country to lend their support.
Our friend and insurance agent was Bill Martin, who owned the State Farm Agency in Punta Gorda at the time. I remember seeing him manning the makeshift State Farm command center that was set up in the Publix Shopping center parking lot in Port Charlotte. People were searching for answers on what to do, still somewhat in shock from the devastation that came upon us almost without warning. Watching Bill handle each person with such style and grace was like having your security blanket. You couldn’t help but feel his sincerity that we would get through this together. For us, it was a seamless transition, as the field adjuster who came to our home was equally caring and conveyed that same feeling that we would be well taken care of, and we were.
Having a home 15 ft. from a seawall doesn’t give you much hope if a storm surge is in the forecast, and just like Charley, we weren’t expecting to come back to a home with Hurricane Ian either. Fortunately for us, we were spared however, our sense of being in good hands was to be short-lived.
Most would agree, Hurricane Charley, inflicted more damage to our area than Hurricane Ian. Perhaps it is due to newer building codes or after going through one hurricane we protected our homes and businesses much better, but overall I think for the exception of some, most fared a bit better. Having dodged a bullet of sorts, I felt based on our past claim experience with Charley, this would be handled with the same compassion. Unfortunately, Bill had retired and the field adjuster we had this time had an agenda. It was very apparent from the outset his goal was to help us as little as possible in recovering from the loss we incurred.
I’ve never been an ambulance chaser and don’t believe in cheating the system to claim things we are not entitled, but when you don’t put in for claims and still get increases in your premiums, it is a hard pill to swallow when in your time of need you are treated like the adversary.
Having been a Realtor for 18 years, we’ve helped many clients over those years navigate inspection reports and repairs so they can enjoy a smooth closing. We’ve learned a great deal from inspectors and contractors alike, and the difference between a repair and replacement. So you can imagine my frustration when our insurance field adjuster went on our 18-year-old roof and after surveying all the broken tiles said, “This can be repaired.” When I asked him about all the loose tiles he missed he replied, “Let me know if you see anything and I’ll add it to my report.” Anyone who knows me, knows I don’t like heights. Unless my roof was the height of my dining room table I wasn’t going to climb my roof to point out all the tiles he missed….thus began my “Art of War.”
Sun Tzu’s, “The Art of War,” is a philosophy that war should be avoided and if it can’t it should be fought psychologically and strategically to minimize loss or damage. Having worked in cut-throat industries in New York City, applying the principles of Sun Tzu’s approach would be the last thing I would have been taught to consider. Do I take the field adjuster’s ladder away and leave him up on the roof so he can see all the damage the roofers who did go up on the roof point out to me? Do I toss him up a stronger pair of glasses? Maybe I even ask if he’s even done this before? I’m sure those approaches wouldn’t work in my favor, but when your insurance company tells you that you need a repair and the suppliers for roofing materials they gave you say “Your tile was discontinued a “long, long time ago,” you realize you have to fight for yourself. So like many, I now have to fight my battle with contractors I have little or no experience with, and for someone who doesn’t know where to turn, this can be frightening.
How do you know which roofer is being honest with you and not just looking to gouge the insurance company, when all you need is a repair? What about all the other damage to your pool cage or other items that were destroyed? It starts with having a good insurance broker who can guide you through the claims process. Then if you aren’t fortunate enough to get an adjuster who is keeping your best interests in mind, you have to get as many opinions and references as possible before signing anything. Whatever you do, don’t sign over your benefits, otherwise known as A.O.B., and not to be confused with New York Congresswoman A.O.C.
A.O.B. is the acronym for “Assignment Of Benefits” and some people have unwittingly fallen victim to signing these over to a third party, who can be a roofing contractor or someone claiming to be working in your best interests. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, by signing over your claim benefits you are now on the outside looking in as all decisions and reimbursements will be going to the third party. You are no longer in control of your insurance benefits or reimbursements. In Florida, you do have a 14-day rescission period in which to cancel that agreement, but it is best to seek the advice of an attorney or your insurance broker before signing anything. Some people will automatically engage the services of a public adjuster to fight their battles. I look at this as more the last option than my first. Public adjusters on average will make ten percent of the total claim. If the insurance company doesn’t reimburse you enough to cover their “commission” you are on the hook. If you have a deductible of $5,000-10,000 and you have $60,000-100,000 in damages, and the insurance company is only looking to cover the cost for damages and nothing more, you could be out of pocket another $6,000-10,000 on top of your deductible. Another thing to consider is the contract you are signing with a roofer. Are you bound to them regardless of whether they get enough money to complete your roof repair or replacement, or are you responsible to make up the difference? Questions you need to ask aside from getting a quote and an estimated time of completion to complete the job are 1. Is there a cancellation period in the contract should I decide to terminate this agreement? 2. Am I bound to you if the insurance company is unwilling to agree to your estimate?
While I’ve been sharing my experience with a roofer and an insurance company that seems more concerned with their interests than helping us through this time, there is a reason many of you may be experiencing what we are. Ask any insurance broker how many questionable claims for new roofs were submitted years after Hurricane Irma impacted Florida. They’ve shared with us the weather-related causes we just didn’t experience, but that it was cheaper to pay the claim than battle in court. As a result, insurance companies are now insuring roofs for less time than the projected lifespan from the manufacturer. On average, an insurance company will insure a shingle roof for 10-15 years, a tile roof for 20-25 years, and a metal roof for 25-30 years before requiring you to replace it to continue coverage. The question becomes, “Is the insurance company looking to “repair” when you need a replacement, knowing in a few short years you’ll need to incur the cost of replacement yourself?” The important thing to keep in mind is to get several estimates from respectable contractors who have good reviews and standing with the Better Business Bureau. For those living in the general area, you can always reach out to the Charlotte Desoto Building Industry Association otherwise known as the CDBIA. They are comprised of local contractors, lenders, and related trades and services that can give you guidance and resources when needed. While none of us want to wait for a prolonged period to get our homes put back together, don’t feel pressured to sign a contract until you’ve thoroughly researched the company and the contract. Our understanding is you have up to a year to file a claim, but check with your insurance broker to verify the details of your policy.
Despite going through a major storm for the second time in 18 years, we are safe and just like last time, our homes and our community will come back better than before, and we’ll all grow a little closer to each other.
-Gary Cardillo
I always thought of myself as a real summer kid. Growing up in New York I was willing to sacrifice all the other months just to get to the summer season that started with Memorial Day and ended on Labor Day. That’s when I felt the most alive, and it was almost like watching life through a black and white t.v. that just transitioned to color. While my father claimed his favorite time of year was the fall, he would often say, “If you took out January, February, and March you would have perfect weather.” With a puzzled look on my face, I would reply, “You just cut out a quarter of the year like it was nothing.” Then I thought to myself, “I was willing to give up three quarters of the year just to get to my favorite 3 months.” I had to ask myself, “Which of the two of us was really nuts?”
Don’t get me wrong, we had lots of great activities and music that occurred throughout the year, but the fun we had, and the music that played throughout the summer was something very special. I bet my “championship” music trivia teammates, Greg and Toni White would agree “The Twist” by Chubby Checker, “Summer In the City” by The Lovin Spoonful, and the Beach Boys, “California Girls” never sounded better than in the summer months. I’ll even add Sly and The Family Stone’s “Hot Fun in the Summer Time” and what kid wouldn’t feel his summer was just starting when listening to Alice Cooper’s “Schools Out?” It didn’t matter the era you grew up in, the music never sounded better than it did in the summer, especially if the windows in your car were rolled down or you were driving in a convertible on your way to the beach!
When I was young the summer seemed to last a lot longer than it does now. Maybe it was our carefree attitudes where we crammed lots of activities into one day. We swam, water skied, and had endless games of Frisbee and flashlight tag, and those beach parties were second to none. Perhaps it’s me, but did this summer seem to be missing a month? Friends of mine up north are already dreading the end of summer. Stores have already put out their fall and early winter merchandise, and soon they will be experiencing “Tumbleweed Tuesday,” which is the day after Labor Day when it seems like summer came to a sudden stop and the merchants are desperately looking for those last customers seeking to stretch their summer vacation out a few more days. While my northern friends are starting to mourn the passing of summer, those of us living here feel like our summer with its fun activities is soon to get started. Think about it.
When we were under travel restrictions from Covid, many flocked to Florida in an attempt to move to a more desirable climate and lifestyle. Instead of people returning north for the summer they remained here with us. We may have social distanced, but we got creative and put together impromptu potluck dinners on our streets, and figured out how to enjoy each other’s company….from a distance of course. It was as if summer gained a few extra months. Then as life returned to normal many of our friends and neighbors resumed their trek north for the summer where the season was just kicking off, and we settled into the more quiet days of summer, which wasn’t such a bad alternative considering all our area has to offer. With boating, beaches, golf, tennis, pickleball, entertainment venues, waterfront shops, and restaurants why would anyone want to leave? Isn’t this what people are going north to enjoy and from what I hear, it was just as hot up there this summer! With even more activities planned by our local Chambers of Commerce, Country Clubs, and Charitable Organizations in the upcoming months, it seems like our summer may just be going into its second phase as there are a host of activities and events I’m looking forward to enjoying.
As for those who are returning now that summer is in their rearview mirror, I’m sure my music trivia teammates Greg and Toni could put together a playlist for you that would include “See you in September.” The great news is our summer is not over, and as a kid at heart who loves the excitement of summer, I couldn’t be happier.
I have often been amazed at the talent all around us, and if you’re like me, you often ask yourself, “How do they do it?” Sometimes those with these unique gifts make it look so easy we think, “I can do that.” I remember when the Beatles first came to the states and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. While many artists appeared years before the Beatles, they were credited with ushering in what is referred to as the “British Invasion.” There was something extraordinary about them that everyone wanted to emulate and ride their coattails to success, including us kids. I was in elementary school then, and my father thought it would be a grand idea for my brother and me to learn the accordion. So periodically, we would bring our accordions into school and play for our classmates.
Unfortunately for me, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Doors ruined my career on the accordion as my classmates didn’t want to hear me play “Fascination,” or “The Volga Boatman;” they wanted to hear “She Loves You,” “Satisfaction” or “Light My Fire.” Despite my father’s urgings, I quickly ditched the accordion for the more popular guitar and later got into a band. My father said I could take guitar lessons only if I continued with the accordion. I guess he wanted to carry on the rich musical tradition of his father, who attained fame as a composer of opera and was the voice coach of world-renowned opera singer Enrico Caruso. After a half dozen lessons, my accordion/guitar teacher said, “It is very apparent you are no longer practicing the accordion. What puzzles me is you can’t play “Little Brown Jug,” which I gave you to learn on the guitar, but somehow you can play “Light My Fire.” I knew I had reached my right of passage and was on a journey with my friends to a musical career as a rock and roll band guitarist. My bandmates and I thought fame and fortune were just around the corner, as we could now tell our classmates we were in a rock n roll band called “The Illusion.” I never realized how fitting that name was until my father, after hearing one of our band practices in our basement, came down and said, “If my father was still alive and heard this trash you call music, he would destroy the instruments.” I guess it was an illusion; we just didn’t realize it at the time. For someone like myself who was pretty much self-taught how to play the guitar, I compare myself to some musicians today who are self-taught and think, “I would have been better off picking up a rake.
To me, nothing sings more to my soul than music from those British Invasion years and the groups who followed them. However, when I hear some bands cover these songs, I want to listen to them played like the original artists who recorded them. Perhaps I have some of my father in me, as he wasn’t so interested in hearing the interpretation as much as how the song was originally performed. Don’t get me wrong; many artists have done excellent jobs covering songs written and performed by the original artist. Still, when it comes to rock and roll, I love to hear it performed as close to how it was originally written. Two groups come to mind where the members were self-taught on several instruments or took their skills to a higher level that went well beyond the lessons learned. They are “The Alter Eagles” and “Mike Imbasciani and his Bluez Rockerz.”
I’ve followed Mike since he was a solo act and so young they had to pass around a hat for people to tip him for his performance. Over the years, this guitar virtuoso astounds me each time I see him. Talented and highly personable, I find it amazing that he can play lead guitar solo riffs without missing a note, all while walking through the crowd and periodically stopping to engage people in the audience in a short conversation. Most people haven’t mastered the art of walking and chewing gum at the same time, yet Mike can hold a conversation with you while entertaining the rest of the audience. And if you have enjoyed the music of Eric Clapton over the years, Mike’s tribute to this famed artist takes you on a historical journey where he masterfully weaves the inspiring moments of Clapton’s career with the music of that time.
Over the years, I’ve learned the difference between a “cover band” and a “tribute band,” The Alter Eagles are a tribute band that vocally and instrumentally sound precisely like the original Eagles. Todd Pitts, the founder of the band, is self-taught on multiple instruments and has an exceptional vocal range. To read the bios of band members Todd McNamee, Ken Custalow, Tim McMaster, Guy Ruvolo, and Michael Beattie, you will quickly appreciate how they execute each song. Equally engaging and entertaining, I’m amazed at how not one but an entire group of individuals can come together with such precision yet make it look so easy and not just on their instruments. Guy slides over from his drums to keyboard, and guitarists Todd Pitts and Ken Custalow take turns putting aside their guitars to move on to the drums without missing a beat, leaving the audience astounded at the talent on display. I then think of my father’s comments and realize he wasn’t trying to discourage us but to let us know in his way that there is a great deal of passion and innate ability that create those pieces that move us, whether it is in the form of a painting, writing or song. I also realize that we are all born with unique gifts.
When asked how we can create the things we do, we often find ourselves at a loss for words in trying to explain what comes naturally to us but would be a challenge for others. I learned that lesson the hard way while building a deck with my son. While my father was not handy, somehow, I picked up an ability to see things and create them. Our son, who was helping me, asked, “Dad, how do you know how to do this? You make it look so easy?” I was at a loss for words and replied, “I don’t know, I just do.” Unfortunately for me, my wife was within close earshot of my response and, giving me “the look,” said, “That taught him absolutely nothing.” I then shared with him that there is often much thought before the project, making the result look more effortless. You have a mental image of how you want it to look, and then you mentally figure out how to accomplish it; almost like solving a puzzle in your mind.”
Some people can visit a cemetery and feel a special bond with loved ones who have passed. Others are terrified at the thought and equate it with the ghoulish night of Halloween, where evil spirits lurk. Then there are others who have turned the page and don’t see any point in visiting loved ones or friends who are no longer with them.
One of the most memorable walks I’ve taken there has been on Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day, where small flags adorn the entire cemetery like a carpet of spring flowers, commemorating the service of our fallen or deceased veterans. It is inspiring to see just how many people who have had some connection to this quaint island have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. There are World War I and II veterans, those who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, and even a dear friend of ours whose son was disarming bombs in Afghanistan ahead of his platoon when he stepped on an IED and sacrificed his life to save the 20 members of his team. We all have stories like this of people we know who “gave all” for their country, and then we have others who “gave all” differently.
One of my first interviewees was Punta Gorda’s first female mayor, Marilyn Smith-Mooney. Formally from Long Island, New York, Marilyn lived a life of accomplishments that would have spanned at least two lifetimes. The first half of her life was in the private sector, focused primarily on architecture, interior design, and ownership and management of a commercial construction corporation. The latter half of her life centered around executive management team positions in human resources and corporate development. She was a pilot and an Amelia Earhart award recipient. She was a graduate of the Advanced Institute for Elected Municipal Officials, Leadership Charlotte, and Local Government Leadership Florida. For eight years, Marilyn served as executive director and vice-chair of the Tetrault Family Foundation. This private non-profit provided $30 million in funding and development of the 27-acre Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, where breathtaking sculptures from artists worldwide are displayed among specimen floral fauna from the area.
She also obtained her Florida Supreme Court certification as a county mediator, which only scratches the surface of this talented woman’s accomplishments and awards. In 2017 Marilyn was honored with the award from the Punta Gorda Rotary for “Service Above Self,” acknowledging her work for so many non-profits and individuals “needing a caring heart.” However, one award Marilyn was most proud of was being the first recipient of the “Distinguished Civilian Award” from the Military Heritage Museum, which she received in August 2021.
There is a military saying I came across, “All gave some, some gave all,” and while that may imply those that haven’t fought in wars “gave some,” Marilyn Smith-Mooney is a perfect example of someone who may not have marched off to war, but to me, she “gave all.” Thankfully, I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to thank her for her “service” before she passed shortly after receiving her Distinguished Civilian Award from the Military Heritage Museum.
While most people would like to talk about themselves, Gary and Gail have always put their clients first, and their diverse backgrounds have provided their clients an unparalleled level of service and knowledge throughout the past years.