Winter Break in Florida

Our area is a destination for those college and school kids who can afford to come here for their winter break. With perfect weather , around 85 degrees every day and not a cloud, the beaches were filled to capacity. we often criticize our youth but this year they deserve an a plus for their behaviour.

Besides making money for various charities and being environmentally conscious they caused little action on the part of the policing authorities with a handful of misdemeanor's and only a few arrests. Underage drinking accounted for most of the few problems. The Fort Myers Beach association planned many activities and entertainment venues for the students. The exact number of students was not given but an estimation put it at many thousands

The local students also joined in and everyone had a good time. There was not one driving incident and this is rare. Overall this year the area saw a drop in all levels of crime and our city of Cape Coral was named as the safest city in Florida. We had a drop of nearly 20 percent in all levels of crime.

As a candid observer of the youth who came our way I would say we should be proud of them. It was a far cry to the rowdiness of past years where many communities banned students during the spring break. The economic benefit of this spring activity is enormous and weeks like we had here this year will help heal the wounds of the past. Well done Florida and students of the north.