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More than 300 people came to the
Hyatt Regency in Estero on Saturday to get a glimpse of the
community's future as a cultural destination.
The first "Arts in Estero" event, produced by the
volunteer Estero Council of Community Leaders, was a showcase
for Estero's own performing and visual arts groups as well
as regional groups that may use Estero facilities.
The foyer outside the Estero Ballroom was lined with booths
from existing groups such as Estero Art League and Estero
Historical Society as well as the upcoming Gulfshore Playhouse
and Oak Hill Community Park.
Kimiko Niskala has lived in Lighthouse Bay in Estero for four
years. She said Arts in Estero was informative as well as
entertaining.
"This is wonderful," she said. "It's an introduction
of what's going on in the future. I knew about the historical
society, but I didn't know anything about the playhouse."
Free live performances, scattered throughout the four-hour
event, were the highlight for Ann Beaulieu, 45, who was visiting
her parents from Vermont.
"It's unbelievable," she said. "It's professional
and entertaining. It's like a Broadway production. ... Everybody
should visit Estero. It's a breath of fresh air to see so
much talent."
Performers included singers Leslie Ahlvers from Naples and
Alexandrea Tocco, 15, of Cape Coral; pianist Crawford Wiley,
17, of Estero; trombonist Scott Layman and pianist Mike Mendelsohn
of Gulf Coast Symphony; and Voices, a 12-member a cappella
group from Sweet Adeline's Spirit of the Gulf.
Between performances, people chatted with booth representatives.
Many visitors to Oak Hill Community Park's booth made it clear
they preferred the old name (Estero Community Park), but they
were still excited about using the new amenity.
"We've been asked a lot about the use of the facility,"
said recreation supervisor Colleen Gierut, referring to the
40,000-square-foot recreation center with outdoor amphitheater.
"There are still a lot of people who haven't heard about
(the park), which is good, because we're getting the word
out."
That's the goal of the event, said Estero Council Chairman
Don Eslick.
"Our purpose is to help existing and proposed arts groups
to get more volunteers," he said. "I think all of
them got large numbers. It exceeded our expectations."
Eslick said his council plans to assess the benefits of the
event for the groups involved to determine if it should become
an annual event and, if so, how it can be improved.
Heidi Bates, president of Estero Art League, said her group
got great exposure. She said some joined, others bought paintings
and even more took pamphlets to learn more.
"As artists, it is wonderful to see other artists and
other mediums," Bates said. "It's a nice get-together
of artists."
Gulfshore Playhouse also benefited from the exposure. About
100 people signed up for the theater's mailing list, and others
pledged to volunteer or donate money.
"I am grateful to the Estero Council of Community Leaders
for initiating the idea," said Kristen Coury, the theater's
producing artistic director. "This is a phenomenal way
for Estero to establish itself as a center for the arts."
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