Editorial: Stars and spurs, coconuts and dollars

A starfish to "Santa-bel.''

Some 30 students at Immokalee Community School and families at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church received Christmas presents from the Sanibel Bicycle Club.

The club several years ago began organizing a community drive to collect used bikes for distribution to the needy. Since 2008, the bicycle club has brought almost 500 bicycles from affluent Sanibel to share with residents of Immokalee.

"The bikes keep rolling in," says Patti Sousa, who coordinates the effort for the 200-member club. "We've been really touched to see the reactions of people in Immokalee when they get a bike. The need is unmistakable."

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A starfish to a public servant and a public advocate for the troubled.

The Collier County Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has recognized Sgt. Leslie Weidenhammer as Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year for 2011.

She was selected from the more than 500 CIT-trained officers in the county. During her career she has responded to hundreds of calls involving persons with mental illness — always calm, sincere and conveying the message of help and hope, NAMI says.

Among those calls was one this year involving a North Naples man who had grown increasingly despondent. He was no longer eating properly, was not taking care of himself and was barely getting out of bed each day.

The man's elderly father called NAMI asking for help.

NAMI reached out to Sgt. Weidenhammer, who responded to the man's home and ultimately convinced him to be transported for in-patient treatment.

This man recently stopped by the NAMI office and thanked the staff for "calling the cops" on him. He reported that his life was back on track thanks to the treatment he received following his visit from Sgt. Weidenhammer.

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Tuition scholarships are to be awarded to degree-seekers who are at least 21 years older, already enrolled at an accredited college or university with good grades and a demonstrated need for assistance, and residents of Collier or southern Lee County.

For more information or to apply, go online to aauwgnb.org; or call Rose DiBiasi, chair of the scholarship committee, 239-254-1371; or email rosed7172@gmail.com.

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Starfish to old pros helping the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Scholarships have been awarded to four local students. George Ahearn, chairman of the local SCORE chapter, says sponsors/donors of the $2,000 grants are Fifth Third Bank, Shamrock Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors and SCORE members. Recipients are business majors Shyim Robinson of FGCU, Reinaiddyn Reyes of Hodges University, Matthew Vicinanzo of Ave Maria University and Tammy DesOrmeau of the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology.

For more information about SCORE scholarships or other services, call (239) 430-0081 or email infor@scorenaples.org.Headline

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All the better to see you with ... in 3D. K IS FOR KIDS FOUNDATION

A starfish to efforts to broaden horizons.

Thanks to the K is for Kids Foundation's Rising Readers program, the entire second grade at Village Oaks Elementary School in Immokalee was able to enjoy a 3D read-aloud with media specialist Stephanie Griffin.

Students were rewarded for their work with a new reading program — which helped them understand what 3D means.

Each child received his own 3D book, which included two pairs of cool blue 3D glasses.

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A starfish to Janet Glancy.

The veteran teacher, who has spent 35 years of her 42-year career at Naples High School, was one of five educators saluted as a University of Florida Distinguished Educators at UF fall term commencement ceremonies.

Janet Glancy with UF award

Recipients do not have to be UF grads, but they do have to be outstanding. which Glancy certainly has been for two and maybe three generations of young people at Naples High, where she now focuses on English and debate.

Glancy is a 2007 Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction and two-time Collier teacher of the year.Headline

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A starfish to everyone who put up holiday lights on their homes and businesses this season.

An unofficial, unscientific, random survey shows more lights than ever — in more shapes and sizes.

It's a nice way of sharing, giving all of us something to enjoy.

And the price is right.

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A Daily News reader gets a starfish for speaking up, but we cannot decide whether his views merit a sand spur or another starfish.

James K. Johnson of Naples says: "I recommend you award a sand spur to politicians and others riding in parade who continually throw candy at onlookers.

"For weeks the candy remains in the streets and on boulevards and is unsightly to local residents and hazardous to some pets.

"If we can require diapers for horses in Old Naples, perhaps we can have a candy clean up crew following parades.

"Better yet, stop candy-throwing in the first place!''

You?