 |
 |
 |
| |
Local businesses tackle need
Gifts help
restore family's faith in humanity
By Special to news-press.com
Originally posted on September 24, 2007
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
• Twin brothers Andrew, left, and Thomas Herrick show the fishing gear
that was given to them.
Order Picture
ALSO FROM NEWS-PRESS.COM
Column: Twins were robbed of childhood joy
DELIVERING YOUR WORLD
• Subscribe to The News-Press
• Place a classified ad
• Printer friendly version
• Email this article
KeyWestExpress
My husband and I moved here from the east coast of Florida 11 years ago
to raise our kids in a safe, hometown environment. All three of my
children proudly go to Cape Coral schools and are well mannered, all
around great kids! All of them love the outdoors and the frequent walks
through Six-Mile Cypress and the (Cape Coral) Eco Park. My husband and I
have taught them the importance of appreciating the natural beauty our
area has to offer. Being a middle income family, we try to do things
that do not cost a lot of money and things we can do together.
I have twin 11-year-old boys who live to fish. They spend countless
hours trying to catch the next "Big One." My son Thomas was thrilled to
catch his first tarpon last summer (small, but a tarpon none the less!)
and my son Andrew proudly shows photos of some prize redfish he has
reeled in. Every spare moment, every weekend, every evening, they just
talk and live fishing.
Two years ago, my husband, Jim, and I had saved enough money to purchase
a very small fishing boat so that he could get them out on Pine Island
Sound! All my guys were thrilled! Saving was hard, but we managed.
Amanda Inscore/news-press.com
• Twin brothers Andrew, left, and Thomas Herrick look at their new loot.
Jim is a drywall finisher and is struggling to find work. I work as a
receptionist for a local glass business in Fort Myers and we do what we
can for the kids.
For the last six years, every trip to Wal-Mart resulted in the purchase
of a lure or two. For holidays, we would get them a new rod or tackle
box. They had quite a collection. They could tell you what lures could
be used for what season, or what fish, and in what kind of water. They
worked on the rods constantly to keep them in great shape, to ensure
them working properly. They take great pride in the sport of fishing and
they both talked of someday running a charter boat of their own, as no
one knows the Southwest Florida waters better than the two of them!
"Twin Charters — Double the fish! Double the fun!"
Last week when I came home from work I was approached with the typical,
"Mom, is it OK if we go fishing later? Dad said he'd take us!"
Sure. I know how much they enjoy it! The only question involved was
whether or not I'd end up going or try to catch up on some laundry. From
the back room, I heard my husband tell the boys, "Load up the truck,
guys."
They both ran out front, around to the garage, and loaded the back of my
husband's pickup truck. They grabbed six of the best rods, rigs and all
their gear. They double and triple-checked that they had it all. I'm
sure it wasn't 10 minutes later that they were back inside, ready to go.
Dad made them wait a minute while he finished up a drywall estimate, and
we discussed times they'd be back. When the boys went back outside with
their father, bait in hand, they saw that everything they had loaded
into the pickup truck was gone!
All six rods and two tackle boxes full of lures, line, rigs, pliers,
everything they had collected and loved over the years — gone.
Now, can someone tell me, what the heck is happening here? I can't even
tell you what this act of thievery did to my kids.
What is happening to this good city of Cape Coral? It certainly is not
the city it used to be, and I can see it only getting worse, right
before my very eyes. In the recent past, we've had several bikes stolen,
as well as both cars broken into. I have to admit, however (and I don't
know why) but the last event just this past week has hit us the hardest.
In a time when business is slow and I can't afford to send my kids to a
movie, they could always go fishing! They could grab a rod and a few old
hot dogs and walk up to the corner and fish for a while.
I'd like to thank the person who felt it necessary to do this to my
children. I am so angry over this, I can't even express it.
Let's face it, times are tough. My husband is doing everything he can to
keep us afloat and for this to happen last week was just too much for us
to deal with.
Come on people. What happened to the hometown feeling? Bring back Cape
Coral — Paradise.
Thank you to my boss, Bill Schilk of A-Rite Glass who, when he learned
yesterday of the incident, bought my boys two new rods and tackle!
Thomas and Andrew Herrick are so grateful!
— Regina Herrick |
|
 |
|
 |
|
