FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Booch DeMarchi, Lee County Public Resources
(941) 335-2481
MILLENNIUM TIME CAPSULE BURIAL CEREMONY SET FOR NOVEMBER 14
FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 8, 2000) – Twenty-seven items will be buried in Lee County’s Millennium Time Capsule at a ceremony Nov. 14 (Tuesday).
The ceremony will be at 9 a.m. in front of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street, in downtown Fort Myers.
The project is the result of a request by the Board of Lee County Commissioners that a time capsule be developed and buried to coincide with the end of the millennium. It is to be opened by future citizens of Lee County on November 14, 2100.
The county solicited nominations from the public in August and September for items to be included in the capsule. Nearly 100 suggestions were received and a citizens committee appointed by County Commissioners selected 18 items for inclusion. In addition, nine VIP organizations responded to an invitation to submit an item for the capsule. A list of all of the items is attached.
The theme of the time capsule project is "Moving Forward into the New Millennium" and focuses on local items that may be of interest to future generations. The airtight capsule is approximately one foot by two feet by one foot, and is made of stainless steel. It will be buried in a monument across from the 1987 monument that celebrates Lee County’s centennial.
During the last two weeks of October, the time capsule items were part of a traveling exhibit on display at five county public libraries to allow for viewing by residents. The time capsule construction cost $3,000 and is being sponsored by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
The ceremony will include readings by 5th grade students from Franklin Park Magnet School who – as a project in teacher Carey Montalvo’s class – did essays and drawings predicting life in Lee County in 2100. Those essays and drawings will be included in the capsule.
This will be the second time capsule on the courthouse grounds. A 1989 time capsule was sealed in the cornerstone of the Old County Courthouse to commemorate Lee County’s centennial in 1987 and rededication of the renovated courthouse in 1989.
TIME CAPSULE ITEMS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC
On October 2, 2000, the following 18 items were selected by the Citizens Selection Committee from the 97 suggestions and nominations offered by the citizens of Lee County for inclusion in the Lee County Millennium Time Capsule.|
ITEM |
CITIZEN DONATING ITEM |
|
|
1. |
2000 dated coins |
Harry & Marian Balke |
|
2. |
Uncommon Friends , Jim Newton |
Reggie Knight |
|
3. |
Gasparilla Pirate Genius , James Kaserman |
James Kaserman |
|
4. |
Aerial photo of downtown Fort Myers |
Lee County Property Appraiser |
|
5. |
Brochure on cancer |
American Cancer Society |
|
6. |
The Lee County Courthouse Through the Years |
Booch DeMarchi |
|
7. |
Photo of a manatee |
Bernie Braden |
|
8. |
Photo of a Florida panther |
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau |
|
9. |
Essay predicting life in Lee County in 2025 |
Andrew W. Coy |
|
10. |
Official $2.00 Millennium note from the U.S. Treasury Dept’s Bureau of Engraving |
Holly Schwartz |
|
11. |
Copies of the Lehigh Acres News Star and Lehigh Acres Citizen |
Tom Wason |
|
12. |
Aerial photo of Southwest Florida International Airport |
Lee County Port Authority |
|
13. |
Photos of the Lee Blvd. Beautification Project |
Lee Downs |
|
14. |
Shared Memories , Myra Kessler, Tom Williams, Curt Middleton |
Tom Williams |
|
15. |
Lies That Came True , Eileen Bernard |
Paul Sanborn |
|
16. |
Photos displaying the growth & development in the City of Cape Coral |
Bernie Braden |
|
17. |
Yesterday Ft. Myers , Marian Godown & Alberta Rawchuck |
Charles Foster |
|
18. |
Newspaper articles and program from the Bay Oaks Recreation Center Anniversary Celebration |
Vicki Massey |
NOTE: Citizens Selection Committee Roster -
Bernie Braden, Charles Foster, Lillian Fulmer, Myra Kessler, Paul Sanborn
(as selected by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners)
TIME CAPSULE ITEMS FROM VIP ORGANIZATIONS
The following 9 items were donated by these VIP organizations for inclusion in the Lee County Millennium Time Capsule.
|
VIP ORGANIZATION |
ITEM |
|
|
1. |
Alliance of the Arts |
Arts & Cultural Directory of Lee County |
|
2. |
City of Bonita Springs |
Resolution confirming city incorporation |
|
3. |
City of Sanibel |
City lapel pin |
|
4. |
Edison-Ford Winter Estates |
Souvenir facility & tour book |
|
5. |
Florida Gulf Coast University |
Property deed & school charter |
|
6. |
Lee Memorial Health System |
Discovery Chart |
|
7. |
Minnesota Twins |
Kirby Puckett autographed baseball |
|
8. |
School District of Lee County |
Essays & drawings predicting life in Lee County in 2100 by Carey Montalvo’s 5th grade class, Franklin Park Magnet School |
|
9. |
Greater Ft Myers Chamber of Commerce |
Letter |