We will be collecting gifts for the children in our community from now until December 1^st. If you would like to participate, please ask a staff member for more information. We thank you for your kindness and generosity.

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The mayor began the countdown.

“Five,” Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said.

The crowd chimed in.

“Four, three, two, one.”

And then, the electrical line buried into the ground by city workers functioned correctly, lighting Dunbar’s first public Christmas tree.

The crowd gathered at Roberto Clemente Park gasped in fascination and applauded as the 4,000 light bulbs streamed across the 35-foot fir tree shown brightly against the darkening sky.

“I never thought in a million years they would put a Christmas tree in Dunbar,” Gregory Ford said about the city of Fort Myers. “It’s very inspiring to have something like this, to have something here.”

The tree was paid for by a Community Agency Support Program grant that gave the park $53,000 for improvements. Some of that was used to route electricity to the park that would light the tree, said Saeed Kazemi, interim city manager.

“It’s important because we have a beautiful park and we wanted to have a Christmas tree lit in that area,” Kazemi said. “The message is we are one city and being one city, we just want to extend our Christmas spirit.”

About 1,000 people attended the fifth annual Holiday in the Park Saturday, said Jarrett Eady, chairman for the Lee County Black History Society, which hosts the day’s festivities. The society runs the Williams Academy Black History Museum located at the park and dedicated to historic black figures in Fort Myers. The park is located alongMartin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a busy thoroughfare that many people commute on, Eady said.

“It’s a symbol to show that the holiday spirit is alive in spite of the recent violence,” Eady said.

Violence has plagued the community of Fort Myers in recent months, leaving behind bodies and injuries. While the atmosphere was festive, many people commented on how nice it was to share an evening together of laughter and joy without something terrible happening. Fort Myers police officers, who provided the bounce houses, interacted with children. During one instance, a young boy asked the officer to protect him from a drone that recorded the event from the air.

“This is something that is good,” said Fort Myers police Capt. Jim Mulligan.

Families watched tiny dancers perform, listened to choirs sing, but it was the tree-lighting that had 9-year-old Te’Kara Lynom the most excited.

“It’s pretty,” Te’Kara said. “I like the feeling of Christmas.”

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1. Make sure everyone is fine and move to a safe spot.

Safety should always be your main priority when an auto collision occurs, so before doing anything else, ensure that everyone who is involved is okay. If someone is injured, or appears unresponsive or groggy, don’t hesitate to call 911 right away. Internal injuries can happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Remain calm.

If you weren’t at fault, you may feel angry and want to yell at the other driver but try to restrain yourself. Getting angry will make it more difficult to think clearly. Remember, you still need to exchange information with the other driver, file a police report, record the damage to your vehicle, and get in touch with your insurance company.

3. Call the police to file a report.

When everyone is safe, it’s time to contact the local police even if it’s only a minor accident. When they arrive, you’ll need to provide:

• Driver’s license;
• Vehicle registration;
• Proof that you are financially accountable for the vehicle;
• Your current address.

The type of report you file when the officers arrive varies between states, but you can view information for your local area with DMV.org’s accident guide.

4. Record the other driver’s information.

While waiting for the police to arrive, it’s important that you get the other driver’s personal and insurance information. At a minimum, make sure you take note of these things:

• Their name, address, and phone number;
• The make and model of their car;
• Their license plate number;
• Their insurance carrier and policy number.0

Be careful about the information you give the other party – never give out your social security number and sign a document unless it’s for the police or your insurance agent.

5. Don’t apologize or admit guilt.

It’s important that you never admit that the accident was your fault, even if it was. Regardless of how emotional you might be feeling, admitting guilt or saying that you’re sorry can make things a lot more difficult for you in the future.

6. Take photos and record notes for your insurance claim.

In the moments following the auto collision, you might feel like there’s no way you’ll forget the details about what happened, but don’t take any chances. Take photos of the scene, any damage to your and their vehicle, and any injuries. Also, take a moment to record exactly what happened in as much detail as possible, then contact your insurance agent.

7. Visit or talk to a doctor.

Even if you feel fine following the accident, you should still take the possibility of injury seriously. There are a number of injuries commonly related to car accidents that don’t reveal symptoms right away. Be sure to watch for any pain or stiffness as time passes. Even if you think you’re fine, at least call your doctor to talk about the accident and get medical guidance.

An auto accident can leave even the most seasoned driver shaken, but following these steps can shield you from unnecessary worries so you can focus on working with your insurance company to get your vehicle repaired as quickly and stress-free as possible.

Don’t take any chances with your safety or that of your family. Contact us today to schedule a consultation so we can review your car insurance coverage to ensure that you are taken care of should the unexpected happen.

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Allstate Foundation donation in her honor 

Fort Myers, FL June 1, 17 – For the last ten years, Cathy Sink has pulled double duty. By day she runs her Allstate agency helping customers and residents with insurance solutions for their household. During her free time, you’ll find Sink helping to find solutions for people in need at the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic, delivering Christmas presents to children with parents in prison, serving on the Board of Directors of the Fort Myers Police Foundation, and more. For her outstanding contributions and volunteer efforts, Sink has been named one of 14 regional winners of the 2017 Ray Lynch Community Service award – Allstate’s top national honor recognizing an agency owner or financial specialist for the way he or she gives back and makes a difference in the community.

“Cathy Sink supports her community in every way possible,” said Regional Sales Leader Jim Uschelbec. “As a local business owner, Cathy believes in going above and beyond the call of duty to do what’s best for customers and the community. She wants to make a positive impact because it is the community where she works and lives.”

“I am truly honored to receive this award,” said Sink. “I have been proud to be an Allstate agent for over 20 years and being able to get out and help to make positive changes in our community is very rewarding to me.”

Sink, who opened her Allstate insurance business twenty years ago, serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic and the Fort Myers Police Foundation in addition to volunteering for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Angel Tree Ministries, Lee County Housing Authority, and The Make a Wish Foundation. Part of her volunteer work includes coordinating fundraisers for lifesaving equipment for the Fort Myers Police Foundation, sorting and packing food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, and helping unload trucks, set up tables, and decorate the City Park for holiday events. She also delivered Christmas presents to children with parents in prison for Angel Tree Ministries, helped at community events in support of the Wounded Warrior Fund, and joined community members in making a human pink ribbon to support the Partners for Breast Cancer Care.

“We are so proud of Cathy that she received this award from Allstate”, said Alan Gruning, DO, Board Chair and Medical Director of the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic. “She is truly a dedicated volunteer, serving on our Board of Directors and helping in the expansion of our services so that we can help more people suffering with painful conditions and without insurance or the financial resources to get needed help. Cathy is making a difference in our community, one person at a time, with her perseverance, energy, and compassion.”

The Ray Lynch Community Service award is dedicated to the memory of former Allstate agent Ray Lynch of Fayetteville, N.C. Lynch built a successful agency around a remarkable record of service to his community. During his 32 years as an Allstate agent, Lynch earned many company honors. In 1999, Lynch passed away. Inspired by his leadership, Allstate created this community service award in his honor.

As a winner, Sink receives a $2,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation that she is donating to another organization she supports, the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic, which helps people in chronic pain who have no insurance or money for the care they need.

Since 1997, Sink has been serving her customers insurance needs with two thriving agencies in Fort Myers. One location is at 11841 Palm Beach Suite 111 and can be reached at 239-693-2255. The other location is at 13650 Fiddlestick Boulevard Suite 203 and can be reached at 239-561-8600.

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out the good in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.

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