January 2013

Alva Inc. greets the New Year with hopeful anticipation that the news-letter will become more of a monthly showcase for the residents, schools, churches, services and business peo-ple who live or work in northeast Lee County. To that end we invite you to email your comments, anecdotes, histori-cal insights, event notices, and reun-ions and so on to newsletter editor Don Ruane by the 15th of each month.

Written material should be sent as a Microsoft Word file. Photos should be in a PDF format. Submis-sions are subject to editing. Email your contributions to: druane@aol.com. Don also can be reached at 693-8563.

Don began editing the newsletter in May as a volunteer. He retired in April from a journalism career that See Newsletter ….. P2

Getting to know you

Ruane

Important dates Inside info

Jan. 14: Alva Inc. general meeting Renewing the spirit ………… Page 2 7 p.m. Alva Community Center Jan. 17: North Olga Planning Panel, North Olga photos …………. Page 3 6 p.m. Bayshore Fire Station. Feb. 2 Alva Craft Show 10-4 p.m. Alva students in tune …….. Page 4

Alva Inc. members enjoyed a holiday potluck dinner Dec. 10 at the Community Center. The next meeting for members will be Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.

Broadlands property recommended for 20/20 purchase

Lee County will add 451 acres in North Olga to its Conservation 20/20 program if a reasonable price can be worked out with the property’s owner.

An advisory committee voted unani-mously on Dec. 13 to start the talks with R&D Cattle Company.

See Broadlands …..Page 3

Renewing the spirit The Mother of God House of Prayer brought the year-long celebration of its 30th anniversary to a close Dec. 2 with a “Music Under the Oaks” afternoon. The celebration included crafts, jewelry, ceramics, raffles, a snack table with homemade cookies and oth-er treats along with music by “Fish ‘N Tips” and “Mike Kennedy and Friends.” The House of Prayer offers retreats, semi-nars and other programs for individuals and groups seeking spiritual renewal or guidance. The activities are available to people of all faiths. The House is at 17880 Cypress Creek Road in Alva. Call 239-728-3614 for more information.

Photos by Laura Ruane

Services Provided by

Matthew Miller: 239-872-0690

M &M Horticulture: debris removal

Matthew Miller Tractors:

Tractors, Trailers

Com Ag Inc.: Tree trimming, Excavating

M & M Farms: Organic Soil, plants and ma-

terials

DBI Limousine: All occasions mild to wild

M&M Dumpsters: Commercial dumpsters

Millers Lawn Service: Lawns, Landscaping,

ponds, waterfalls

Tad Miller

Broker Associate

West Coast Realty Inc.

239.281.6692

tm@tadmiller

Newsletter needs you... started in the 1970s at the Atlantic City Press and continued with the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch and The News-Press. He has a bachelor’s degree in soci-ology from the University of Notre

Dame and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Don and his wife, Laura, have lived in Alva 20 years and attend St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church. He looks forward to getting to know you.

Residential * Commercial

Creek Land * 239-728-5481

North Olga celebrates its culture, history

Mother of God House of Prayer

Spiritual Renewal Center

Spiritual Direction * Retreats * Group Presentations

17880 CYPRESS RD * ALVA, FL 33920

(239)728-3614 * FAX (239) 728-3760

For a good cause

Students need money Alva Middle School’s concert band wants to travel to Orlando May 4 to entertain terminally ill chil-dren and their families. The band will play at the Give Kids A World Foundation’s 70-acre storybook resort. The non-profit provides free, weeklong vacations for families with children who have life-threatening illnesses. Following their performance the band plans to spend some time nearby at Disney-World, according to band director Shannon Golden. There are about 60 students in the band, and contributions are needed to defray the costs, Golden said. Contact Golden at the school if you want to help. His phone number is: 239-728-2525.

Save your space Now’s the time to call to reserve space for the annual Alva Communi-ty Center Craft Show on Feb. 2. Spaces measuring 10 feet by 10 feet are available. But crafters and others who want to showcase their products need to bring their own chairs, tents, tables and so forth. Space can be reserved by calling the community center at 239-728-2882.

Please support our

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Tractors, alpacas and more attracted people to the 31 Produce market Dec. 8 and 9 for North Olga Days. Beatriz Ortiz, 11, and her brother Eduardo Ortiz Velasco, 6, fed the alpacas. Ed Lytle of LaBelle showed his big red engine once used in oil production.

Broadlands, Kitson proposal expand preservation areas

The committee also recommended more review of another parcel offered for purchase by Syd Kitson, the developer behind the Babcock Ranch project. Broadlands is on the north and east side of North River Road . It abuts the south side of the Telegraph Creek preserve. Kitson’s offer would add 2,250 acres west of the Bob Janes Preserve and the Telegraph Creek Preserve. Alva Inc. president Ruby Daniels expressed the group’s support for both acquisitions. So did Steve Brodkin of the Concerned Citizens of Bayshore. Once a price agreement is reached the county’s land division will forward the Broadlands proposal to the county commission for a decision on purchas-ing the land.

Alva schools reach out, celebrate holidays Alva Middle and Riverdale High schools helped make Christmas more special for visitors to the Edison-Ford Winter Estates and the Bell Tower mall. Each school decorated a tree for the Edison-Ford forest. Alva Middle’s concert band entertained at the Bell Tower on Dec. 6. with a variety of seasonal music.

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Alva Real Estate – Year End Sampler from Santa Jim Green - Jim Green Realty.

More and more buyers are seeking the good life in Alva and willing to pay for it. With sales volume remaining steady, sale prices continue their upswing. The following is a preview of year-end expectations. Based on known sales scheduled to close prior to year end, volume of sales will slightly exceed the prior six month volume, and year over year volume will also be slightly higher. More in-teresting are the home sales prices.

Advertisement Comparing the first six months of 2012 to the last (through December 22), the average sales price doubled – from $243,739 to $488,478. The average price per square foot also doubled from $86 to $198/square foot. The median price improved from $173,000 to $213,500. These pre-year end statistics include four sales over $1,000,000, one over $8,000,000. Only 10 percent of sales were under $100,000. Midst our euphoria with these significant increases, the more sober among us will recall that gross area-wide numbers such as these can play tricks on us regarding their relevance to our indi-vidual home value. The February newsletter will tell the Rest of The Story,

ALVA INC. WANTS YOU To join now and get your free newsletter by email each month.

Send you email to:

rubydaniels@embarqmail.com

or visit alvafl.org for the membership form

Major leadership change ahead for Alva schools Students are getting back into the swing of classes but the conversation in the faculty lounges is how the big change will be accomplished for the Alva schools. The district plans to bring Alva Mid-dle and Alva Elementary under one principal after Middle principal Steve Hutnik retires at the end of the school year. Hutnik is winding down a 20-year term as the head of the school. No change is expected in how the 936 children in the two schools are taught, according to school district officials quoted in a Dec. 19 story in The News-Press. The change is ad-ministrative only and intended to save the district some money by elimi-nating one of the two principal posi-

COMMUNITY CONTACTS FIRE/RESCUE/SAFETY 9-1-1 EMERGENCIES 1-800-222-1222 Poison Control NON-EMERGENCY 728-2223 Alva Fire Department 543-3443 Bayshore Fire Department 694-2833 Fort Myers Shores Fire Depart-ment 344-1600 Lehigh Acres Fire Department 477-1000 Sheriff’s Office 728-2882 Alva Community Center 728-2882 Olga Community Center 694-0398 Caloosahatchee Regional Park 728-2494 Alva Elementary 728-2525 Alva Middle 693-0349 Riverhall Elementary

ALVA: Facts and FAQ’s

Here are answers to some common questions about ALVA, Inc.

What is ALVA Inc.?

ALVA, Inc. is a local civic organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the

unique historical, rural, agricultural and equestrian ambiance of Alva. Membership is

open to all residents, business and property owners of Alva, It is incorporated under

Chapter 617 of the Florida Statutes and has tax-exempt, not-for profit status.

What is the purpose of ALVA Inc.?

The purpose of ALVA, Inc. is to provide a forum for community planning in conso-

nance with the mission statement. Examples of activities include development of a

Community Plan, Standards of Development Within The Alva Planning Area, an

“Overlay” to protect the rural and historic ambiance of North River Road, and estab-

lishment of commercial development standards for the SR 80 corridor. ALVA, Inc.

strives to become aware of development, zoning, and other proposals and plans that

will impact the area, bring about community awareness, and work toward constructive

solutions consistent with community goals.

Where is Alva?

Central Alva, or the Historic Core, is a small rural community ten miles east of Fort

Myers at the Alva bridge and school, where Broadway Avenue connects CR78 and

SR80.

Is ALVA concerned only about development?

No. ALVA is interested in many activities and issues that affect our community. Mem-

bers of ALVA donate their time addressing issues such as the Wayside Park, the Alva

Cemetery, SR80 intersections and sidewalk placement, and sponsoring community

events such as community clean-ups, picnics and fairs.