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It seems like yesterday when the New Year started with a bang. The real estate market got off to its fastest start than we had seen over the past couple of years. People were giddy watching the stock market on its meteoric rise reaching an all-time high on February 14th of 29,398.
 Restaurants were packed; sports bars were getting ready for college basketball’s March Madness and people were shopping and enjoying life “as usual.” Then came news out of China of a Coronavirus and since then the world has been in turmoil, or so it seems.As I look back over my life I think of all the upswings and downturns in life I’ve personally experienced and Billy Joel’s 1989 hit song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” comes to mind. In just over 3 minutes, he takes us through a recap of history, highlighting man’s greatest achievements and the devastating events that impacted us all from wars, and worldwide epidemics, to political and social unrest. Nothing summarizes this better than his choral lyrics:
We didn’t start the Fire
It’s been always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.
 So what have we learned from our experiences? Apparently, not much! Instead of looking back to how we overcame Polio, SARS, Ebola, H1N1 (Swine Flu), Aids and Influenza, we have driven ourselves into a panic that is being heightened by the media and the emotional roller coaster inherent in the stock market.Now before you think I’m making light of this pandemic and oversimplifying the cautionary steps that need to be taken,
this newsletter is being written by someone who during the seventh grade missed over a month of school due to Whooping Cough. Back then it wasn’t common for someone to be out of school for over a month where homework, class notes and assignments had to be brought home with the expectation that I had to keep up as if I were attending class daily.
Throughout the years, I’ve not only experienced the same worldwide epidemics as most of you, but I’ve gone through economic downturns in the Texas economy in the late ’70s with the devaluation of the Peso and plummeting oil prices. While the rest of the country was experiencing great economic growth, Texas was in a recession. I remember gas lines, as do most of you, the stock market crash in 1987, subsequent recessions, Y2K, the crash in the housing market, and who can’t remember the devastation caused by Hurricane Charley with almost no advanced warning and how our area came back better and more improved than ever? Wow, with that recap I’m starting to sound like Billy Joel myself!
 Writer and philosopher George Santayana wrote in his book, Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” You would think our past experiences would have enhanced our coping mechanisms, but the example we are setting for this next generation is that of panic and hoarding, instead of seeing the opportunities afforded in challenging times and taking advantage of them.One of my clients who does financial consulting, restructuring and sales growth for businesses recalls the 1987 stock market crash. He was working on Wall Street at the time and ready to go into a corporate meeting when it was delayed by 45 minutes due to brokers actively working the phones. Conventional wisdom would have you think there was a frenzy with everyone looking to sell, but they were swamped with investor calls from those looking to capitalize during the markdown downturn. He said it was during those times the “men were separated from the boys.”
 If you were to speak with the likes of Rich Dad, Poor Dad writer, and Entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki and Warren Buffet, they will both tell you the times we are presently going through are the times that savvy investors wait for and then jump back into the market.We saw the same thing in the housing market when Hurricane Charley scored a direct hit on Punta Gorda in particular. Most won’t recall that home prices within a week increased by $50-100,000 due to the demand and limited inventory. Then when the housing bubble burst, again some took advantage of great opportunistic buys in a market that had been over-inflated. Those who had bought their homes years before the unprecedented upswing in the market, found themselves still ahead of the game when the market corrected itself.
I feel when the economy is robust and we are seeing meteoric rises in the stock and real estate markets, for example, we get caught up in the excitement, much the same way we do when the team we are rooting for seems to be scoring at will. What we lose sight of during our euphoria is that adjustments or events are going to occur that are going to temper those gains, and those that anticipate those adjustments insulate themselves to a degree from the drastic downturns we are currently experiencing.
 In speaking with Faiza Kedir, Director, Business Development Financial Advisor of the nationally recognized Private Wealth Asset Management company of Lansberg Bennet, she stressed how they are a non-commission based fiduciary, whose sole focus is protecting their client’s investments.In a letter written to their clients a few weeks ago by Principal Financial Advisor and the company’s Chief Investment Officer, Michael Lansberg CIMA, CFP, it read in part:
Your performance is different than what you see on TV.
Does CNBC have you scared to look at your portfolio? You should sign onto the Landsberg Bennett client portal or the fidelity.com webpage and look at your balances instead of listening to all the gloom and doom on TV. Although you will be down from where we were January 1, we think you will be pleasantly surprised by your portfolio’s performance.
In every balanced account (where we own any amount of bonds), we trimmed our stock positions in January to protect some of the gains from a superb 2019. This has given us some more downside protection in this recent sell-off as well as giving us some “dry powder” for when we see some attractive opportunities in the market.
We have been watching market metrics over the last week or so hoping for an opportunity where we would see an abundance of fear creep into the market.
This morning, a number of our metrics gave us a clear sign that a great deal of fear and anxiety had entered the market and provided us an opportunity to start slowly buying at these lower levels.
Baron Rothschild, an 18th-century British nobleman and member of the Rothschild banking family, is credited with saying that “the time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” It appears to us as this may be starting to happen, figuratively not literally.
We are not suggesting that the market
cannot go lower from here, but we believe this is a good entry point to start adding to existing positions. For long term investors, volatility is a good thing that allows entry points into the market for those that have prepared ahead and have liquidity. We did and you do.
Michael W. Landsberg, CFP®, CIMA®
Principal, Chief Investment Officer Not being one to make light of the current situation, just as there is a big difference between calm and complacency there is between panic and preparedness as you see from Michael Landsberg’s letter above.
 As consumers, we are always in the market looking for good buys and now we are seeing sellers reacting to the market and making price reductions in their list prices.Don’t think for one second the real estate market is only open a few months of the year. Some of our strongest selling months have been during the summer and fall, as buyers are not going to let the time of year dictate when they will pounce on an aggressively priced home. With affordably priced airfares we’ve seen more and more clients fly down in a matter of days so as not to miss a great buying opportunity. Just remember, this current situation will pass, but inclement weather and high taxes in many northern cities and states will remain and that is what has led to a very active real estate market these first few months.
The silver lining in all this is our real estate market is not characterized by over-inflated pricing, excess inventory and over-leveraged banking industry.
Our industry is very healthy and to coin a phrase from Denny Grimes, a Realtor who I have great respect, “We are selling water, warmth and a way of life,” and that is what will enable our state to thrive better during this time than those from other parts of the country.
-Gary Cardillo
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A Valentine’s Day Message and the True Meaning of Love
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We’ve all come across people who seem to leave a lasting impression on us long after we meet. Some offer a smile or encouraging word during our greatest time of need; others are always there to celebrate our accomplishments. Then there are those rare few that provide an uncommon insight into the true meaning of life. Such people encourage us to gain that deeper spiritual perspective instead of just surviving the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is this one of a kind person I recently met who has left an impression on me that will last the rest of my life.
 His name is Jerome Kaywell, and to those who know him, his name is simply “Father Jerry,” Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Now before you think this is going to be a “Sermon on the Mount” as told by me, let me assure you this is not a lesson about religion, but an exciting adventure in life told by someone who has experienced tremendous setbacks, enjoyed success at its highest level, and discovered an inner peace and fulfillment he wants to share with all he meets.Father Jerry is not the kind of Catholic Priest I knew growing up as a public school kid who went on Thursdays to religious instruction classes. Back then, the brothers and sisters would always keep us in check with threats like, “You don’t want to upset Father.” Going to confession was like taking a trip before a firing squad where you hoped you would get a light penance. The mass Father Jerry conducts is more like a conversation with God who not only seems like a friend, but also appears to have a sense of humor I never knew.
 Over the last few years, I’ve interviewed some pretty amazing people who have given much of themselves to benefit our community. The common thread was that many of those I interviewed were personal friends. Father Jerry was a complete unknown; however, in a few short minutes, I felt as if we were two close friends catching up on our life experiences after not seeing each other for many years.
Father Jerry’s life is well documented, and if you Google his name, there are countless articles depicting his life growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida as a young child, who at age three told his parents he wanted to become a priest and at five started composing his early songs. He studied classical piano and pursued a role as a priest through his seminary studies.
Throughout these journeys, his underlying love for music that began as a child was now taking him on a trip to the music and film mecca located in Los Angeles, California. Soon, he was performing to cheering audiences, which included numerous celebrities, the likes of Billy Preston, and other recording stars of that time.
 In the early 1980’s he partnered with Dale Herigstad,and they became pioneers in the digital animation and digital music industries. They worked with singers like Kim Carnes, creating TV commercials for major brands such as Honda, 7-Up, American Airlines, Mercedes-Benz, to name a few. The pair won numerous Clio Awards for creative excellence in advertising, design, and communication. Father Jerry said, “There was a time when we couldn’t go into a place where one of our commercials wasn’t on TV.” During those ten years in Los Angeles, he was a composer and music producer for film and television. He was credited as keyboardist for the Grammy award-winning album “Let My People Go,” by the gospel singing group The Winans. Life was indeed grand, however in 1985 a diagnosis with cancer changed his life. No longer was the glitz and limelight of LA’s music and television industries satisfying his appetite. He was looking for something deeper and more spiritually fulfilling.
 In reading several articles on Father Jerry’s life, I found instances where there was, what many would consider, a divine intervention of sorts that touched his life. Shortly before Jerry’s mother’s death, after hearing of her son’s diagnosis with lymphoma, she had written in her diary a message to God asking Him to “Take my life and spare him.” A week after she passed from a tragic accident, Jerry went into “spontaneous remission.” His Oncologist told him, “Do what you really want to do for the rest of your life, and don’t wait.”
After two bouts with recurrent cancer in the late 1990’s that left him with a prognosis of only a few months to live, today Father Jerry is not only cancer-free but has composed ten spiritual albums, written two books, and remains an inspiration to others with this dreaded disease.
 Rather than asking questions about his personal life that had been widely documented, I decided to ask him questions that are on all our minds today and what has helped make him such an inspiration to so many others.
Gary: With as creative as you are and how historically conservative the Catholic church is seen, what made you decide to pursue being a Catholic Priest?
Father Jerry: “Growing up, the Adrian Dominic Sisters showed us love, beauty, and encouragement, and that was the kind of vocation as a Priest I wanted to pursue.”
Gary : Has there been a teaching moment that has left an impression on you?
Father Jerry : “It was a teaching from Buddha who said, “Remain with the faith you were born with…. don’t jump around, and we’ll meet at the summit.”
Gary: In our conversation, you have mentioned the term “mysticism” several times, how do you describe its significance to you?
Father Jerry: “The first time I experienced it, I was 17 years of age, and our family had gotten into a huge fight. I felt God’s presence; he was right there in the midst of this fight. I could see him and felt this inner peace that God knew me thoroughly and loved me infinitely. This mysticism takes you to the inner indwelling God. It used to be ‘pay, pray, and obey.’ Today I am inspired by the love we share with one another.”
Gary: With such polarizing views and media influence we as a society are witnessing today, we are also seeing a generation that seems to be overly sensitive to opposing viewpoints and in search of a “utopia” of sorts. What is your advice to this generation in how to cope and find inner peace?
Father Jerry: “My way is to promote the consciousness that we are One World, One Planet, that we all have red blood and salty tears. It is time for the entire planet to embrace this reality of a global village and share the resources of this tremendous planet in peace and with justice.”
 Gary: Coming from such a creative background, what do you find that gives you that sense of fulfillment as a priest with unique creativity?
Father Jerry: “I still have a passion for music and am able to continue being a composer and recording artist during my free time. I have a beautiful recording studio in the rectory.”
Gary: Is there anything you still feel you would like to accomplish?
Father Jerry: Yes, I want to finish the next album of music I have been working on for the last three years.”
Gary: Joel Osteen once said, “There are many great ideas and inventions buried in our cemeteries that never came to fruition.” Being that you were able to pursue and successfully achieve your creativity at such a high level, what advice do you have for those who don’t have the confidence to do the same?
Father Jerry: “The perennial wisdom is to do what you love to do. Money and resources will always follow. My father always reminded me, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Just keep at it every day and never give up!”
Gary: Any advice you can impart on those searching for the meaning of life and using the gifts God gave them?
Father Jerry: “Refuse to accept the image of God presented to you from a Catechism or a classroom; rather, find God by entering deeply into your own heart and experience. Meaning will follow as a person becomes more and more aware of the Devine Milieu in which we live and breathe.”
Gary: Do you have a message you would like to share?
Father Jerry: “Love is everything, beautiful, happy, peaceful, joyful and blessed.”
 As we were coming to the end of our interview, Father Jerry said, “What I admire about this Pope is that he stresses to his bishops, ‘Listen to your people; that is where the Holy Spirit is.‘ It isn’t in the notoriety of the position held; it is in the role of service. Celebrate the unique love that connects people.”
As I reflect on our conversation, I can’t help but think, “Here’s someone most would consider had it all. Fame, fortune, and notoriety were his. Yet what eluded him was the inner mystical spirituality rooted in love and service to others.
I walked away that day with a deeper understanding and appreciation of life’s true meaning, and where the stresses and clamor of the world couldn’t reach. It is Father Jerry’s weekly reminder the outward expression of love we share on Valentine’s Day needs to be celebrated year round. This is not only the greatest gift we could give, but one of the most gratifying gifts we could receive.
-Gary Cardillo
For a detailed bio on Father Jerry written by Lew Morrissey for Harbor Style Magazine January 2012 edition, Click Here.
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However, it was during those studies, a Spiritual Director and Psychologist noticed his inner restlessness and struggle with the thought of celibacy that suggested he take time out to “live in the world.” It is from here his life takes some extraordinary twists and turns. He has been a religion and music teacher, driven a furniture truck, and with his brother John, formed the Kaywell Brothers Band that toured for two years.
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A Life Lesson in the True Meaning of Thanksgiving
Do you ever feel it is easier to express your feelings of gratitude when things are going your way? You received a good medical report. The job you were hoping for came to fruition. The item you were saving to buy just went on sale and what about the prayers that were answered when your team won? While it is easy to be appreciative when it seems everything we touch turns to gold, I’m amazed at how complacent we become when the blessings we receive are met with a sense of expectation and less about appreciation.
One person who through the years has shown me an attitude of gratitude is my very dear friend Donna Gill Cardenas. For those who don’t know Donna, she and her brother Dennis are the owners of Port Charlotte Florist, and in one way or another most likely you’ve either seen or received some of this special lady’s floral arrangements.
One person who through the years has shown me an attitude of gratitude is my very dear friend Donna Gill Cardenas. For those who don’t know Donna, she and her brother Dennis are the owners of Port Charlotte Florist, and in one way or another most likely you’ve either seen or received some of this special lady’s floral arrangements.
Donna grew up in Warwick, New York where her parents owned a garden center and farm. Donna said it was like a predecessor to Home Depot as they carried everything for your landscaping needs from mulch and landscape pavers for walkways and patios to plants and flowers. Donna said we also had every kind of animal you could think of, “you name it, we had it, and all five of us kids worked in the business.”
When she turned thirteen Donna’s father decided to move the family to Florida as the cold upstate New York winters were taking a physical toll on him and Florida looked like the perfect place to retire, a retirement that didn’t last very long. Her mom went to work for Charlotte County Clerk, Barbara Scott, while her dad bought a small flower shop. Being the entrepreneur he was, Donna’s dad expanded the business to five locations throughout Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. While her three brothers owned and worked in their wholesale garden center, Donna worked for her dad. However, as the business grew her dad felt with perishable items such as flowers it would be more beneficial to consolidate everything into a centralized location. So in 1983 he built the store at 900 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte where the business operates today.
When she turned thirteen Donna’s father decided to move the family to Florida as the cold upstate New York winters were taking a physical toll on him and Florida looked like the perfect place to retire, a retirement that didn’t last very long. Her mom went to work for Charlotte County Clerk, Barbara Scott, while her dad bought a small flower shop. Being the entrepreneur he was, Donna’s dad expanded the business to five locations throughout Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. While her three brothers owned and worked in their wholesale garden center, Donna worked for her dad. However, as the business grew her dad felt with perishable items such as flowers it would be more beneficial to consolidate everything into a centralized location. So in 1983 he built the store at 900 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte where the business operates today.
Donna’s oldest brother Bobby passed away at 36 and shortly thereafter the boys sold their wholesale nursery business. Her next oldest brother Mike continued in the nursery business while in 2007 Donna and her brother Dennis bought the floral shop from their parents. While Donna’s creative floral handprint can be seen on most of the major events throughout the area, not to mention the scores of weddings and other social events she has designed, I can tell you first hand, having been in this industry myself, this is not an easy business to run, especially when life presents you with lemons. People used to ask me, “This must be such a fun business to be in. You get to design and create a host of special events.” My reply was always, “If you only knew what went on behind the scenes to create these events you would wonder how we could still have a hair left on our heads.” If you know Donna, you know she makes a very difficult job look easy. She is the consummate problem solver who thinks quickly on her feet and who has that uncanny ability to turn someone’s tears into smiles in anticipation of their special day. It is this gift that has served her well through the challenges she’s faced personally and as a business owner.
In 2007, Donna met her husband Steve. At the time she was a foster parent having already adopted one child of her own however, once Steve became her husband Donna became an instant mother to five children. She joked, “No longer was I able to foster as we literally ran out of room!” She added with a smile, “I always wanted a large family and suddenly I had one. Steve’s kids meant the world to me and I was blessed beyond measure, taking my role as being a Mom very seriously.”It is hard enough to grasp the challenge of balancing the needs of a large family and running a business at the same time however, few can appreciate the tremendous struggle one faces when they are trying to create a special day for someone while they themselves are working through a debilitating pain or illness. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened to Donna. Having been misdiagnosed as having Trigeminal Neuralgia, an excruciating facial nerve pain, Donna underwent two brain surgeries in six years with no relief, only to be referred to Johns Hopkins hospital who then diagnosed her as having a severe case of TMJ that didn’t require brain surgery in the first place. It was around that time her son Dominic was diagnosed with Stage 4 Glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer. For four years her son valiantly fought this illness, surpassing the average one and a half year lifespan for someone with this type of cancer however, in June, Dominic finally succumbed to his illness. Also during this time her husband Steve, was diagnosed with kidney cancer and just recently her four year old grandson was diagnosed with Leukemia.
When I asked, ” With wave after wave of debilitating challenges, how do you maintain such a positive attitude of gratitude? ” Donna replied by saying, “God always provides, but it was also lessons learned through Dominic that despite his poor prognosis. “ She said, Dominic often stated that he didn’t want to be a burden to anyone and that given the choice to be either depressed and feel that life was unfair, or be an inspiration and uplift others, he would choose to be the latter . Donna went on to say, ” God also has always provided family, friends and even strangers to help.”
Her business partner and brother, Dennis, was there to take care of things so she could care for Dominic. Her sister Mary, who also works with them, was a tremendous help as were the countless other family members and friends who were always willing to lend a hand. It was through their generosity that enabled Donna to be where she needed to be, caring for her son and family.However, it was years ago on a Mission trip to Ecuador that Donna was inspirationally touched by a man named Chavez. Donna said, “Here was a man who lost his entire family to a guerilla militant group and was surrounded by poverty, but he looked like he had a hanger stuck in his mouth as he had the widest smile I had ever seen.” Today she says, “Each day, during my thirty minute drive time to and back from work I use this time to think of Chavez who lost everything and think how fortunate I am.”
Despite the challenges Dominic faced, Donna said he always felt so sad for the small children he saw in the hospital fighting cancer. He would often tell her, “I got to go to high school. I had the opportunity to play sports and be with my friends, these children don’t have those same opportunities.” It was those life lessons from Dominic that enables Donna to put her challenges into perspective, while being an inspiration to others. Running a floral shop, along with coordinating other entities such as lighting and linens to create an entire event package is extremely time consuming, but somehow Donna has carved out time to be on the Board of The Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Center and a financial supporter for virtually every non-profit organization in the area such as the Homeless Coalition, The Boys and Girls Club and Crossroads Kids, in addition to the Chambers of Commerce, Younglife and the area churches. She said, “While it is hard to financially give to so many organizations that have legitimate needs, Dennis and I both discount our services and donate our time and energies to helping wherever we can.”
Another great example of their creative giving, Port Charlotte Florist is hosting a special class where they donate the time and flowers for 50 people to create two floral arrangements each and these 100 arrangements will then be delivered to families who wouldn’t have flowers for Thanksgiving. Donna said, ” The premise behind this gift is many times special loved ones can’t be together, but the person on the receiving end feels those that couldn’t be present physically were there emotionally to share in this special day of Thanksgiving .” She added, ” It also teaches the giver the reward they receive will be even greater than the receiver, and I for one have always felt we were blessed ten times over the amount we gave.” Donna continued her thought by saying, “I was always fortunate to have parents who were very giving and gracious. I married a man who embodies the same principles in giving of your talents and treasures to comfort others. I’m blessed to be in business with family that also shares the belief we should bless those around us, and to share our love.” With humility Donna said, “Having all these people in my life is what makes me look so good, and that includes Dominic.” “Dominic always wanted to help everyone,” Donna shared with me, and to perpetuate “Dom’s” desire to give, especially in a sport he loved, Donna and her husband Steve have started the Dominic Cardenas’ Scholarship Fund which awards a scholarship to a high school male and female cross country or track runner.
I asked Donna if she had any final thoughts, especially for this time of year when we sit around the Thanksgiving table giving thanks for the blessings we’ve received. She replied by saying, “I think about the day I will die and go to heaven and God says to me, “I gave you a gift. What did you do with the gift I gave you?” Her reply made me realize there is a lot to be thankful for that we take for granted, and that I too need to use the gifts I have to help brighten the lives of others.
We send our wishes to you and your family for a blessed Thanksgiving, and if you would like to give to the Dominic Cardenas Scholarship Fund you can do so by going to https://charlottecf.org/dominic-cardenas-memorial-fund/
-Gary Cardillo
Teamwork Makes the Scream work
As October rolls around, you see the tents go up in downtown Punta Gorda. The true mystery lies behind the curtains where they are assembling the largest haunted house in Southwest Florida. Since 2010, the Smuggler’s Event team has been orchestrating this popular community festival “Haunting on the Harbor.” This year the fright begins Friday, October 25th.
Sitting down with Kelly Liscum, the Vice President of Smuggler’s, I was able to get a behind the scenes take on this annual event. When creating a 6,000 sq. ft. haunted house, the planning process starts as soon as the event of the previous year concludes. Designing and production is all done by the Event Manager, Jerry Cleffi. Each year the haunted house theme is changed around so you are never walking in experiencing the same thing twice from the previous years. In true Smugglers fashion, this is a family affair with Jerry’s family being his biggest sidekicks in the design and production process as well. Three weeks leading up to the event is when the Halloween magic is implemented and taken off paper and put into production in city square. It’s an “Enter If you Dare” event with lighting, characters, and props that are one-of-kind in our area!
Although the Haunted House is more suitable for ages 10 and up, there is truly something for everyone when you come to this multi-day family festival. This year there will be FREE Gate admission, Carnival Games and Rides, Food Trucks, Live Music and Entertainment, Costume contests with over $750 in Prizes for Men, Women, Children, and Groups. Mrs. Liscum said her favorite part of this event is “Getting the first-hand look at the creativity and being blown away by every aspect of the newly designed rooms and themes in the haunted house. It is amazing to see how they have been enhanced and taken up a notch with the fear factor each and every year. However, when I am guided through all the lights must be turned ON “ she said.
Located in the heart of Punta Gorda is one of the things that makes this event that much more special. The Smuggler’s Foundation plays an integral part in our community and is comprised of: The Captain’s Table, Harpoon Harry’s, Laishley Crab House, and Harpoon Harry’s Crab House. Together, they contribute over $100,000 annually back into Charlotte County with a percentage of their daily restaurant sales. Their Event Team is no different in their contributions and this year a portion of the net proceeds from the Haunted House will be contributed directly to Charlotte County Athletics. Each year, they also work with the “Holiday for Hero’s” organization and sponsor a member of our military that has family ties back to Southwest Florida. They then create care packages and send messages of thanks to that military member and their troop. At Harpoon Harry’s, they create a huge banner that gets signed by customers during the holiday season and then sent as a big Christmas Card to their Hero overseas.As you venture out to celebrate Halloween this year and choose to take the risk of getting a fright at Haunting on the Harbor, know you are also contributing to a company that’s philanthropic efforts are full circle for our community.
Friday, October 25th 5pm-11pm
Saturday, October 26th 5pm-11pm
Sunday, October 27th (Haunted House only) 7pm-10pm
Thursday, October 31st 5pm-11pm
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Charlotte County Schools…A Safe, Cutting Edge Academic Environment
Recently the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area (which includes all of Charlotte County) was recognized from the “Business Insider” as the number three location of the top 20 national MSA’s where people are relocating. The article was expanded on by Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Julie Mathis, who said, “We know that people are moving here to enjoy an affordable waterfront community, educational opportunities for all ages, downtown Punta Gorda, boating, golf, biking and so much more.“ As a Realtor, oftentimes we are the first point of contact by those considering a move to our area. Aside from the obvious questions regarding the local activities and points of interest previously mentioned, the question on everyone’s mind is “What are the area schools and medical services like in the area?” Having a son, family members and watching their fellow classmates graduate from our school system with honors, we’ve seen them go on to pursue careers in medicine, finance and as mechanical engineers with top national corporations. We knew how good our school system was in preparing our children for higher forms of education and beyond. However, I wanted to get a better insight as to what it takes to become an “A” level school and the programs being created to address the careers of the future, and who better to provide that insight than Steve Dionisio, Superintendent of the Charlotte County Public School system.
Growing up in the area and going through the school system himself, Steve returned after college with a passion for teaching and preparing children for their future endeavors. Now in his 28th year with the Charlotte County School system, he looks fondly at the over 12 years he served as principal of Port Charlotte High School, and for the past 5 as Superintendent overseeing 15,500 students and 2,400 employees that include up to 100 new teachers per year. While this would be a hard task to manage for any Fortune 500 CEO, one look at the artwork adorning the walls of Steve’s office and you can tell it is all about the children.
Steve makes a point of visiting every classroom of the 22 schools in the district and speaking to each of the 1,300-1,400 teachers throughout the school year. “I watch and see how kids grow and learn quickly through their mistakes. I see how teachers also grow and adapt to the daily challenges in running a successful classroom.”
 Steve added, “I don’t go in with a speech, I speak from the heart and hear what they have to say.” It is that kind of concern and passion the district was looking for that resulted in awarding Steve the Supervisor’s position without the required interview. He has set a very high bar in that he not only wants the Charlotte County Public School system to attain and maintain an “A” level status in every one of the schools within the district, he wants CCPS to become the number one school system in the state. Currently, the graduation rate of 88% is the highest it has ever been in Charlotte County Public School history , and would be higher if counting those children who attend the Academy or who have a delayed graduation were included in those graduation figures.Recently, I responded to a letter sent to the Editor of our local newspaper written by an individual who was critical of the school system and its teachers.
 With no facts to back up his assertions, I replied by citing the academic and athletic achievements our students have attained and the careers they had already pursued. However, one key point I made in the letter was how different the educational environment is today than it was when I was growing up. While we had our share of schoolyard fights and differences with our classmates, but today school security has become just as important as the academic curriculum. “Safety,” as Steve points out, “Is the biggest challenge we face today. When the state mandated increased security for schools establishing minimums for staffing of “School Resource Officers,” (SRO’s) after the Parkland school shootings, Charlotte County Public Schools already had those minimums in place and increased the security staffing and presence even further.” He continued by saying, “Safety of the child and staff is my first concern. We conduct active assailant drills and teach the children where the safest area is in the classroom and how to barricade a door.” Steve adds, “It is heartbreaking that a kindergarten child has to learn how to survive.” With updated phone systems in place, and the ability to lock down the campus instantly, every parent and student can be updated during a crisis in a matter of minutes. Since many of the previous school and mass shootings have been traced back to a shooter who had a history of mental health issues, or has come from a background of heightened emotional distress, Steve said, “This community talks to each other. The school system, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Department, Police Chief and Charlotte County Mental Health department all move in the same direction with a game plan in place.” Together, they work in concert to provide a model for a safe learning environment. W hen I was attending school, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, the course curriculum was based around the three basic components, reading, writing and arithmetic.  Our exposure to the national and international events didn’t seem to be as polarizing as they are today. Today we are hearing where many of the educators, particularly those in the higher learning levels (college), are integrating their personal opinions into the course curriculum. Steve’s replied by saying, “We want our students to have a voice, as long as they aren’t breaking any of the school system’s rules. Kids today are watching and learning how those in position react to scenarios presented to them and respond accordingly.” He went on to say, “We didn’t have social media when we grew up, (Steve still doesn’t have facebook and social media accounts), and unfortunately, much of what is being posted on these sites is not based on fact. Unlike having a direct dialogue, with social media you can post without having to defend your position.” For years I’ve often felt our county didn’t offer many career opportunities outside of medical, law, real estate and the building trades. I have thought for years we were training our young bright minds to benefit someone else’s city or state. Steve perhaps put it much more succinctly when he said, “We are exporting our kids,” and to address this need our technical school, together with new programs being created will give our kids an instant opportunity for employment in cutting edge industries. Working in concert with Charlotte County and the Charlotte County Economic Development team, (that also has representation on the school board), new career opportunities are being created in airframe and airline mechanics, solar energy, HVAC, small engine repair, technology, dental and nursing . These programs have all been created, at great cost, so graduating students can immediately feed the growth of specific industries. In fact, just in the nursing program alone 98% of those graduating find almost immediate employment. With the new Sunseeker Resort due to be completed in late 2020, new programs with be designed with the goal of feeding a diversity of job opportunities that will be created by this 450+ million dollar resort development.In closing, Steve shared with me that we have many talented individuals that sit on the school board who bring a wealth of experience, energy and tireless support with the goal of making the Charlotte County School System a model educational environment however, it takes even more support from our community.
 Steve noted very soon the entire school system will gain its “A” rating, but that it takes mentors and positive role models and mentoring programs to augment what the school provides. Steve stressed the importance of going to school events, “even if you don’t have children in school.” “Support their sports, school plays and other events, and be supportive of the school system even when there are things we could do better, as that is what makes our school system better.”This year the Charlotte School System will once again graduate approximately 2,000 young bright minds and from the personal insight I gained from my conversation with this very caring and gifted Superintendent, I get the impression there are few things in life that bring him more joy than watching the sense of accomplishment on the faces of these students as they walk across their graduation stage knowing they are well prepared for the next chapter in their lives and equipped with the ability to make an impact in their career path of their choice.
-Gary Cardillo
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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.