{"id":6088,"date":"2012-03-29T19:42:25","date_gmt":"2012-03-30T01:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=6088"},"modified":"2012-03-30T12:23:28","modified_gmt":"2012-03-30T18:23:28","slug":"i-feel-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2012\/03\/i-feel-great\/","title":{"rendered":"I Feel Great"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Ruth Anglickis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I Feel Great, I Want More Business, I Want To Make More Money<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Ruth Anglickis<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Where have we been?\u00a0 Where are we going?\u00a0 How do we get there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lehigh Acres started in 1950 as many of you know.\u00a0 Lee County Land and Title Company was formed to sell land to people up north with the hopes of getting them to retire here in years to come.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure if they ever thought someone would actually live here.\u00a0 Lots were sold for $50 down and $10 a month. Our medium age back then was over 68.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My parents actually bought a lot on Arthur Avenue in 1958 and my Dad came to the 10 room motel to see the area where they had made an investment.\u00a0 They moved here in the spring of 1962 and I followed that fall, while my husband was still in college.\u00a0 There were 1,200 people living here then and I thought I had fallen off the face of the earth having come from Chicago.\u00a0 There was only one road out of Lehigh \u2013 Anderson Avenue (now Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.) and then State Road 80.\u00a0 Downtown Ft. Myers consisted of a small group of old hotels and stores, including a Sears Roebuck catalog store.\u00a0 McGregor Boulevard was a narrow almost dirt road that led to a ferry boat you had to take if you wanted to visit Mosquito Island (Sanibel).\u00a0 You could buy land on the Gulf for $1,000 an acre.\u00a0 There was an outdoor movie theater by the Edison Mall and not much else on US 41.<\/p>\n

I got a job, at age 19, working for Harry Powell at the Charmed Circle, as his administrative aide.\u00a0 One Christmas Eve I actually typed 125 new home sales contracts.\u00a0 The corporation went from $1 million a year in lot sales to $30 million my first year.\u00a0 We brought prospects to Lehigh in planes and buses from the East Coast, advertized in northern papers and had satellite offices in Europe, Military bases, offices in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New Jersey,\u00a0 New York, Ohio, Illinois and more. \u00a0We even had a traveling house. \u00a0It was an amazing time for growth. We worked 7 days a week from 9 to 9. \u00a0We started planning our city of tomorrow with the development and platting of roads (yes, there actually is a grid), parks, shopping areas, churches and everything a \u201ccity in the making\u201d needed.\u00a0 We offered retirement seminars, built the first of many schools to come, offered free land to churches and organized over 125 clubs and corporations, including the Chamber, Council, Community Health Care, the Spring Festival and Community Services, all in an effort to create a vision of a community whose motto was, \u201cLehigh Acres \u2013 The land of opportunity \u2013 Where a handshake means a lasting friendship.\u201d\u00a0 We built a cemetery, bowling alley, utility plant, shopping centers, hospital (recruited doctors at a Miami convention to come to Lehigh Acres), restaurants, parks, recreation, nursing home and more.\u00a0 We put Lehigh Acres on the map and networked with surrounding areas, other Chambers, helped to form the Horizon Council, helped to form the States\u2019 Committee of 100, and hosted every politician in the State including the Governor and cabinet; many of whom appeared on Breakfast at the Matador Room.\u00a0 Our local Jaycees hosted Ronald Reagan in Orlando.\u00a0 At the time, Lehigh Corporation employed over 1,200 people who worked for 20 different corporations providing services to residents.<\/p>\n

My boss and I left Lehigh Corporation in 1981, where he had been President for over a decade, and formed Landex Corporation.\u00a0 We manage homeowner, property owner, condominium and timeshare properties. Lehigh Corporation changed a lot after 1981 (over 30 years ago) and it was the end of their making a profit.\u00a0 The land plan parcels and plats that had not been dedicated were sold to investment groups, erasing a lot of the pre-planning that was done for the community, as many of these parcels had been dedicated for future shopping centers, schools, parks and gated communities. \u00a0Before the new owners of Lehigh Corporation finally left Lehigh, the end of promoting Lehigh Acres also ended.\u00a0 That was more than 15 years ago.<\/p>\n

Since then we have become the largest unincorporated area in Lee County, maybe even the State.\u00a0 I hear numbers stating 87,500 people are living here; many of whom sleep here, but drive elsewhere to their job, entertainment and shopping.\u00a0 We do not have our fair share of development and growth, and we sometimes think we never will get it, so why even try.\u00a0 However, we are 1\/3 the land mass of Lee County (the size of Tampa) and we are over 15% of Lee County\u2019s population.\u00a0 We provide a lot of tax dollars to Lee County that we do not see returned to our community for improvements.\u00a0 Many of our tax dollars go to incorporated cities in Lee County and a lot of our school taxes are never returned as they go to other areas of the State for schools in counties who do not raise enough tax dollars.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Lehigh Acres has had to strongly make requests to the County for improvements; more schools (two new ones being built now), more parks, road improvements, and we had to fight Dump the Dump, not allow strip clubs on 82 entering Lehigh Acres, and we lost a huge parcel of land that Ft. Myers annexed which does not give us tax dollars.\u00a0 Lehigh Acres doesn\u2019t really start until Leonard Boulevard.\u00a0 But we also promoted and raised money to bring a Hope Hospice to Lehigh Acres, Arts for the Inland, improvements to Veteran\u2019s Park, roads, bike paths, Heron Pond, Lehigh Regional Hospital and much more by working with others in a positive manner. \u00a0It was part of influencing others to agree instead of disagree.<\/p>\n

Well, we know where we\u2019ve been, but do we know where we\u2019re going from here? And, more important \u2013 how do we get there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 14, 2012<\/strong> please come to Veteran\u2019s Park Recreational Center building and get involved in the Lehigh Acres Redevelopment Plan<\/strong> to see where we could be going if everyone gets on the train to become \u201cOne Voice\u201d <\/strong>and continue \u201cCommunity Action Forum\u2019s\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0 It starts at<\/strong> 9:30AM.<\/strong>\u00a0 The County has spent more than a half million dollars helping to develop a plan that will jumpstart future development in our area.\u00a0 It\u2019s an ambitious improvement project that can make a huge impact on the future of our city in the making.\u00a0 The Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, The Lehigh Acres Community Council and the Lehigh Acres Economic Development Board have agreed to band together to help promote this plan in order to attract development dollars that will bring more businesses to Lehigh Acres.\u00a0\u00a0 If you develop and improve the infrastructure and services, more people will move here.\u00a0 If more people move here, more businesses will come. If more business come to Lehigh, more jobs are created. \u00a0It\u2019s sort of a symbiosis or circle of life.\u00a0 It will need the strength of everyone<\/strong> (businesses and residents) working together to create circles of influence such as: \u2026.<\/p>\n

For many business owners, the work day isn\u2019t over when they leave their office.\u00a0 Leaders of our business community are also serving on local, regional and state organizations, as well as civic clubs.\u00a0 They are devoting time to cultivating the progress and growth of our community. Many are overwhelmed as they\u2019ve been serving and performing stewardship in Lehigh Acres, some for 50 years, like my husband and me.\u00a0 Economic development helps all businesses, old and new, and we must find ways to motivate new leaders.\u00a0 My boss always told me, \u201cYou can only<\/strong> be successful when you motivate others to do the job for you.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0 Old and new leadership is needed to create a better business climate. We can no longer afford to not work with one another, side by side.\u00a0 Old grudges, old gossip, old thinking must change in order to lead our community into the future.\u00a0 It\u2019s not about one person or one group.\u00a0 It\u2019s about One Voice <\/strong>
\n\u201cWorking together by doing well, by doing good.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s smart for all businesses and residents to be involved in the growth of our economy and our community.<\/p>\n

Leaders of our community have and are continuing to meet with the Board of County Commissioners, asking more leaders to get involved as members of all committees established by the County.\u00a0 The Council, Chamber and EDB are working on this now. Help is needed to establish a Community Redevelopment Agency and gain services from Lee County for \u00a0Municipal Services Benefits, Community Development Block Grants, County Staff Support, Range Transportation Plan, Priority Placement of Lehigh projects on the Lee County Capital Improvements Element and Capital Improvements Program, etc.<\/p>\n

Leadership in our community can and will come from various circles of influence\u2026Clubs, Organizations, Churches, Medical Community, Social Services, FEVRR (voter registration), LAEDB, GLAC of C, LACC, Government (Local, State, Federal), Schools and School Board, Infrastructure (ECWCD, FGUA, LCEC, Fire District, Sheriff, MPO\/CAC, DOT, SFWMD), Streetlighting District, Code Enforcement, Community Development, Zoning, Parks and Recreation, Community Redevelopment Agency, Keep LA Beautiful, Weed and Seed, Veteran\u2019s Associations, Youth Associations, other Civic Associations and more.<\/p>\n

There is a lot at stake if the leadership in our community stays fragmented, apathetic, or individualized.\u00a0 There is a lot at stake if we don\u2019t become One Voice<\/strong> and become educated in the process of how we can help make this plan a reality.\u00a0 Mahatma Gandhi once said, \u201cYOU<\/strong> MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.\u201d<\/strong> That\u2019s called \u201cWe the people<\/strong>\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

We must be about Selling Lehigh Acres<\/strong>. Our medium age today is under 45.\u00a0 We can\u2019t just sit in our offices waiting for change to come to us. \u00a0We must find ways to work with County Planners, Politicians, County Committees, Horizon Council, other Chambers, Lee County Economic Development which is marketed as the Fort Myers Regional Planning Council that does not incorporate unincorporated areas and we get no commercial referrals; and we must find ways to motivate more leadership to help us get to where Lehigh Acres becomes more than an<\/strong> \u201caffordable community.\u201d\u00a0 The County has given us a new vision. We thank our County Commissioners for this bold move.\u00a0 They want to see us succeed.\u00a0 Together we must create a new mission by forging our resources to create One Voice representing Enterprise Lehigh Acres.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

We have been told that we are the North\/South \u2013 East\/West corridor for growth in the State of Florida.\u00a0 We have been told that 62% of construction jobs were lost over the past 5 years and we know all about the foreclosures that resulted from loss of jobs and an overpriced market.\u00a0 But we have new companies coming to Lee County such as Gartner, a global IT Company adding 400 new jobs. Newcomer VR Lab is adding 200 jobs.\u00a0 Chico\u2019s is adding another 150 jobs.\u00a0 Southwest Florida Global Research Institute is bringing a tissue bank to Lee County that eventually will be the centerpiece of a high-tech health research center linked with area hospitals, FGCU and the Walter Reed Army Hospital.\u00a0 They will be located on Treeline Boulevard near the Regional Airport.\u00a0 Our Lehigh Acres industrial park is almost fully developed and we need to work on a new area to attract light industry in order to promote more jobs in <\/strong>Lehigh Acres.\u00a0 We use the economic downturn as an excuse as to why we must accept whatever we don\u2019t like about our community.\u00a0 But we have also been told to claim the Red Sox Stadium, FGCU, Edison State College and other assets of Lee County that are nearby.\u00a0 We have been given a positive development potential in the Lehigh Acres Redevelopment Plan, which will create the widening of Homestead Road with a beautifully landscaped median, as well as a turnaround at confusion corner with a clock tower.\u00a0 This alone will make an immediate impact on the look of our area.\u00a0\u00a0 Leaders are meeting with the Commissioners during their 2013 budget hearings to get this in next years\u2019 budget and several other items for the betterment of our community. \u00a0\u00a0There is a lot happening, a lot going on, and a lot to do. \u00a0We must communicate the needs to one another, to our members and the residents of Lehigh.\u00a0 \u00a0We deserve to have whatever we want.\u00a0 We have the population. We have the land.\u00a0 We can and are assimilating the land areas destined for renewal.\u00a0 There is a need for Senior Housing, Assisted Living, and branded businesses.\u00a0 There is a need to someday incorporate and to encourage positive thinking as to how we can accomplish the City of Lehigh Acres. \u00a0Now is not the time to lay back.\u00a0 Now is the time to forge ahead and let nothing or no one stand in the path of growth. It is our future, our children\u2019s future and our grand-children\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

We can sit back and continue our status-quo, or we can find ways to rededicate ourselves<\/strong> to create a new vision and a new mission, in order to make what we want to change by working together!\u00a0 My kids use to tell me they liked the words \u201cpretty soon\u201d better than \u201cin a little while.\u201d\u00a0 Pretty soon is at our doorstep.\u00a0 Remember the Bible says, \u201cAsk and ye shall receive.\u00a0 Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.\u201d\u00a0 Now is the time to thank our County Commissioners for the plan and to continue asking them to help us make it a reality.<\/p>\n

Gary and Members, thank you for inviting me to speak. I know you are<\/strong> the heart of Greater Lehigh Acres and are excited to be on the ground floor of a new enterprise.\u00a0 Our One Voice<\/strong> will make a difference by speaking out and motivating others to get on board the train now.\u00a0 It has a destination.\u00a0 It has tracks.\u00a0 Now is the time to say, \u201cI want to help make it happen.\u00a0 I want to help make a difference.\u201d Now is not the time to say, it can\u2019t be done.<\/p>\n

Please sign the form at your table and be a part of One Voice.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I Feel Great, I Want More Business, I Want To Make More Money By Ruth Anglickis Where have we been?\u00a0 Where are we going?\u00a0 How do we get there? Lehigh… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":2210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6088"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6088"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6088\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}