Happy New Year!

Wishing you and your family a 

Happy and Blessed New Year!

~John Petel teampetel.com

River District to hold annual New Year’s Eve Downtown Countdown

The 2013 Fort Myers New Year's Eve Downtown Countdown is set for Monday, Dec. 31, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event will offer entertainment for people of all ages in the River District at various stages and venues between Edwards Drive and Main Street.

The celebration includes live entertainment by 11 diverse and exciting musical acts, a DJ Tower with nonstop music, Florida's longest Conga line, food vendors, a craft beer garden, prizes, surprises and much more.

New this year will be a Kids Zone, sponsored by the Florida Everblades.

Southwest Florida's Famous Big Ball will drop at midnight to ring in the New Year, along with a spectacular fireworks show over the new river basin.

Admission is free. Also available are preferred viewing tickets for $10 and $15, and VIP tickets starting at $99 per person, which include special access, food and a champagne toast at midnight.

Tickets are available at www.fortmyersdowntowncountdown.com.

Entertainment will take place on five stages and includes the sounds of American Idol contestant Paige Miles; ZZ Top, Rolling Stones and Miami Sound Machine tribute bands; The Jewmaicans; Hands Up Music; Influential; and Son Salvaje.

Stage hosts include Univision's Jackie Figueroa, ABC-7 Meteorologist John Patrick, and dancing in the street with DJ Gentry Thomas.

The big bash is for people of all ages, including the little ones who will have a blast in the new Kids Zone complete with bounce houses, ball pits, obstacle course, giant slides, rock climbing wall, balloon typhoon, crafts and games. Plus, special activities sponsored by The Imaginarium, and Florida Repertory Theatre will present School House Rocks at 7 p.m. Tickets to the Kids Zone are free for children 6 and under, for ages 7 and above bracelets will be for sale at $12 for one, $20 for two and $25 for three.

The 2013 Fort Myers Downtown Countdown is brought to you by the River District Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the Fort Myers Downtown River District through art and culture.

Additional sponsors include Jet Blue, Suncoast Beverage Sales, Chico's FAS, Inc. The Wilbur Smith Law Firm, and more than 35 other local businesses.

Visit the 2013 Fort Myers Downtown Countdown to New Year's Eve web site at www.FortMyersDowntownCountdown.com

Island Reported (December 12, 2012)

Travel Channel To Film Golf Cart Parade

A production crew from the Travel Channel  will be on Captiva on Saturday, December 9 to film the island’s annual Captiva Village Golf Cart Parade as part of a proposed show based on unique Christmas events across the United States.

“We have a research office that was looking for stores but not your typical Christmas festivals,” Travel Channel creative producer Nicole Dunn said. “We are looking to showcase the best of the best across America but wanted to get away from the typical stores like the Radio City Rockettes or the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree in New York City.”

The show, which will also feature a festival in Jennings, Louisiana, a parade in New Mexico and Trappist monks in Missouri making fruitcakes for the holidays, has a tentative working title of Cross Country Christmas.

The Captiva segment will focus on the 3^rd annual Captiva Holiday Village Golf Cart Parade featuring the event’s history, organizers, judges, parade participants, including previous year’s winners, and participating resorts.

“This is such a great opportunity to bring our quirky island festivities to the world,” said Golf Cart parade chair Denice Beggs. “This is such a unique and fun event for locals to be involved in. the competition has really increased, and many participants plan their decorations a year in advance.”

“We’d love for as many people to come out to the even as possible,” Dunn said. “The segment will be filmed in the style of reality format as everyone is preparing for the event, decorating, watching and having fun. It will almost be like we weren’t there.”

Each year, Captiva locals try to outdo their neighbor by decorating their personal golf carts in lights, garland, hats and even plastic flamingos. Fun, festive and sometimes gaudy outfits go along with the tradition.

The three-weekend-long Captiva Holiday Village launched its 2012 spectacular the Friday after Thanksgiving with fireworks, tree lightings, holiday readings, and musical performance.

Each special-themed weekend is a fun-filled extravaganza of sight and sound set against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico and evening sunsets. In addition to the Golf Cart Parade, there will be the Lighted Boat Parade to Junkanoo and fire dancers, live music and even a marching Mullet Parade.

“Captiva is a remarkable island village known as a magnet for creative people,” said Paul McCarthy of Captiva Cruises. “It’s famous for its beautiful beaches, wildlife-filled waters, family-friendly atmosphere, and quirky, relaxed way of life. This island is a perfect place to unwind from holiday stress.”

All three weekends of events take place in Captiva’s village center, where its colorful restaurants and shops will be festively decorated.

As a highlight of this annual even, local hoteliers and restaurants have again teamed up to offer six free two-night Captiva Holiday Village weekends. Online entries are now being accepted at www.captivaholidayvillage.com

Capitva Island resorts, inns, cottages and vacation homes are also offering lodging specials in conjunction with this year’s event.

For a list of all vents and hotel packages, visit www.captivaholidayvillage.com

Island Sun (December 7, 2012)

Sanibel Luminary is Tonight!

It's that time of year again. Today, Friday December 7th is Sanibel Luminary night.

Be sure to join your friends and neighbors all along Periwinkle Way. Businesses and organizations will be hosting open houses with food, drink and entertainment. Partake in caroling and sightseeing!

We always have a wonderful time during Luminary, it just doesn't feel like Christmas without it!

Click Herewww.teampetel.com to visit our website!

Walk Through Bethlehem

Sanibel Community Church will present the Walk Through Bethlehem experience on Luminary Night, Friday, December 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday, December 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They recreate the imagined strees of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth. Different shops, clothing and customs of that era will be presented with encounters with Roman guards and the infamous Innkeeper.

“We present Walk Through Bethlehem to holiday weary families to remind them of the true reason for the season of Christmas. That is the birth of Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago. We strive to remain as true to historical data as possible,” said Elaine Donovan, chairwoman and wife of Senior Pastor Daryl Donovan. “This year, we have added Sunday as an additional viewing day. The Friday night performances, on Sanibel Luminary Night, always have long lines that people do not want to stand in.”

Sanibel Community Church was begun on Sanibel Island in the 1880s. It is a non-denominational church whose mission statement is: “That every  person would come into a life-changing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ.”

Sanibel Community Church is located at 1740 Periwinkle Way, next to Jerry’s Market. For more information call 472-2684.

Island Sun (December 7, 2012)