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Volume 1, Issue 3 - March/April 2002
   Welcome!

Welcome to the third issue of our bimonthly newsletter! This issue is packed with local events and information, with a spotlight on golf in our area. We hope you find this issue helpful and informative. You can always explore past issues by visiting the newsletter archive.

The realty company is now home to 18 real estate agents! Each agent brings different area of specialty knowledge and expertise. For instance, did you know that our agents speak over a dozen languages collectively? Whatever your particular need, we are here to serve you!

All the members of the Carla Bonten team are looking forward to assisting you with a home or investment property purchase or sale, helping you book your vacation rental or finding the perfect executive property rental home.

If you would like to be notified of new communiqués monthly, just send your email address to newsletter@carlabontenrealty.com. Don't forget to include your email address! Enjoy!

Real Estate Market News

The State of Florida is considering a tax bill aimed at reducing the State's sales tax fro Your browser doesn't support Java 1.1, or Java is not enabled! m 6% to 4.5%. Central to this bill is the removal of tax exemption for various services previously untaxed. Examples of these services would include rental fees for certain properties, interior design and some miscellaneous business services, residential cleaning, beauty and barber shops, pest control and accounting services, just to name a few. You can read the entire tax bill by clicking here.

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Our web site offers several FREE & handy tools, such as current mortgage rates (on the lower left of every web page), a mortgage calculator and a real estate glossary. Be sure to take a look at these.

Carla Bonten Realty News

Carla Bonten Forges Alliances
In Central America

Are you interested in buying commercial real estate or a second home in Central America? Carla Bonten Realty and her associates work very closely with respectable agencies in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, The Dominican Republic and more. We can help you negotiate and close the best deals! The time is perfect to invest in Central America as they just started the infrastructure for future development and tourism. Our agents are Number ONE in negotiating your deal in Spanish and translating everything back to you when needed in English, German, French, Dutch, Italian, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Japanese.

Don't miss our fine selection of International properties. From a Swiss chalet apartment to a Costa Rican hacienda - and even a Belgian mansion. Don't miss our exclusive private oceanfront villas in tax-free Cayman Islands!

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CarlaBontenRealty.com was awarded sixth place as a 2001 Best Broker Web Site by Florida Realtor Magazine. We're proud of our web site and are always striving to provide more resources and information to you, our web visitors. Be sure to tell your friends about us!

Have you visited our new FREE web greeting card page? If not, then hurry right over and send one of our beauties to someone you care about.

Are you planning to visit our area or know someone who is? You will want to visit our vacation property rentals web site. Each vacation property is listed complete with photos and a description. And best of all, our vacation properties are all gorgeous! We also have vacation packages to choose from. Let us help you have the vacation of a lifetime.

Enjoy Our Area!

Golf
Our area boasts over 200 golf courses, which awards the Ft. Myers/Naples area the distinction of having the most golf courses per capita in the nation. You will discover that this area is home to some of the finest golf in the world, including many signature courses. This area is also home to some of the finest golf course community real estate to be found.

Worthington Country Club, where tradition and craftsmanship meet with impeccable style. A master-planned community designed for comfort, convenience and casual living, Worthington brings you maximum enjoyment and value in a true country club tradition. Treat yourself to one of a limited number of Worthington homes - each created with its own private golf course and/or lakefront view.

Worthington Country Club is probably one of the best values right now. Each home purchase includes a golf equity membership for two members. Championship golf, tennis and swimming all serve to enhance the Worthington community. And at the heart of its all, a spectacular clubhouse and grill room for dining, dancing, swimming, or just relaxing with friends. Ideally located in Bonita Springs, it is just minutes from Naples and Ft. Myers and best of all, our gorgeous beaches.

The course at Worthington, built in 1991 and designed by Gordon Lewis, consists of 6,691 yards, Par 72, Rating 72.7, Slope 129.

Worthington boasts more than 300 acres of shimmering lakes, lush fairways and a wide variety of luxury homes. Indeed, Worthington offers the finest selection of Arthur Rutenberg Homes, each in its own beautifully landscaped community neighborhood. These include superb single family estates, single family villas and two condominium lifestyles.

The climate, natural beauty and convenience of the region are spectacular. From quaint shopping areas to magnificent cultural centers, from beautiful beaches to bustling businesses districts, Worthington offers the best of both worlds, and all just minutes from your doorstep. Worthington . Exclusive. Private. In a class by itself.

Spanish Wells Country Club, located in Bonita Springs, is a centrally located, gated golf course community offering exquisite gourmet dining, a 27-hole championship golf course, Har-Tru tennis courts, crystal blue swimming pools and a new activity center.

Designed by Bill Maddox and redesigned by Corral/Howard, this 18-hole, 6,891 yard championship golf course offers the combination of challenge and strategy that will impress golfers at every skill level.

Spanish Wells is great for rental and investment properties. We are the leader in Vacation Rentals in Spanish Wells, so be sure to give us a call for a vacation booking or tour of our available properties for sale.

We will be profiling some of the many other fabulous golf course communities in future newsletters. Until then, be sure to visit some of these great area golfing web sites:

Area Golf Course Info (including public courses)

GolfWeb.com - follow the PGA Tour

Golf.com - "Everything Golf"

Guest Article

Technology & You

Introduction To Computer Security Issues
by M.E. Parker, President, Computer Insite

                (continued from Part 1)

One of the most daunting challenges facing individual and business computer users today is security. Security breaches can be costly; repair is expensive and the cost of rebuilding a reputation is often beyond estimation. The primary categories of security breaches are viruses, hackers and denial of service (DoS) attacks. In today's computer world, being under-informed and vulnerable can be catastrophic. Part 2 of this article on computer security issues discusses security breaches from the outside.

Hackers
As high-speed Internet access and business/home networks become more commonplace, security breaches by hackers become more of a concern. Here's how it works: when you are connected to the Internet, or if any computer in your network is connected, you have various "ports" or doors open to the outside. Hackers typically use software that tries to "sniff" or detect these open doors. Once found, they can walk right in and have full access to data on your computer or network. Broadband users are more at risk because their door is open all the time. People who use typical "dial-up" connections are a little less at risk because they shut their connections down at the end of their Internet session, thus closing the door. If you have any sensitive data on your computer at all, you'd be wise to become educated about personal or business firewalls.

There are a host of software products that will provide a firewall for your computer or network. A firewall acts as a virtual gatekeeper - if someone tries to come in or out one of your open ports, the firewall software will either block it completely or ask you if you want to allow entry. ZoneLab's Zone Alarm provides a rock-solid, user-friendly and award-winning free package for individual users as well as an enhanced retail version for business users. Another superior product is Tiny Software's Tiny Personal Firewall. It is free for personal use as well. Windows XP has a firewall built in, although this particular feature has come under some controversy lately. Patches are available, but the jury is still out on how reliable they are.

Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks
A DoS attack sets off a massive flood of email or attempts to access a web site on the server; the server quickly becomes overwhelmed and shuts down either the web site or email server. Web hosts and companies who run their own web servers are typical victims of DoS attacks rather than individuals and small businesses. In the recent past, both Yahoo and Microsoft have experienced DoS attacks and were shut down. I mention this form of security breach because if you do have your own web site and use email for business - especially if your web site generates revenue or is a doorway to your business - you should know what your web host's DoS prevention plan is. A web site that is not accessible is like having your business phones shut down - it does not enhance visitor trust and can cost sales. A reliable web host is one that ensures the security of your information and your uptime!

In the days to come, we are likely to see security precautions become even more important. Although providing very basic information, I hope this article has provided a useful introduction to this complex topic.

Bonita Springs News

The Art League of Bonita Springs is breaking ground for Phase II expansion. Costs are $1,500,000. They are within $400,000 of that goal. Naming opportunities are available for pottery, sculpture, graphic studios and the library, etc. Call the League at 495-8989 and arrangements can be made to have someone meet with you and discuss the various options or you may request an information packet about donations.

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Need an idea of what dining experiences are in our area? Click here for a list of some of the best!

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Area Events:

The Art League Of Bonita Springs reports that due to the resounding success of the last two year's winter art festivals a new spring art festival is scheduled for Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10 at the same location in the Promenade shopping center in front of Bonita Bay from 10am to 5pm each day.

There will be 200 nationally and internationally acclaimed artists participating in this show selling paintings, glass, jewelry, clayworks, photography, sculpture and more. This festival provides critical financial support for the day-to day activities, programs and operations of the Art Center. The League now has 1300 members and provides art instruction to adults and children in all mediums plus clay and stone sculpture.

Sunday, March 24, a European Street Festival will be held on the grounds of the beautiful Mediterra Country Club. Wine tasting, buying, food, entertainment and fun will take place that afternoon. There will be a drawing for a 2-year lease on a 2002 Jaguar offered by Naples/Ft.Myers Shelton Jaguar! For $100 you can buy an opportunity to win a lease on this classic automobile. Only 300 chances will be sold.

For further information about activities of the Art League or the above events you may call the center at 941-495-8989 or visit the Art League's web page.

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Things To Do!

Edison-Ford Winter Estates

FleaMasters FleaMarket

The Shell Museum

Caribbean Gardens

Aviary of Naples

Dinner Train Theater

Nature Tours

Barbara B. Mann Theater

Naples Philharmonic

Naples Museum Of Art

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Lover's Key State Park Opens New Trail
Lover's Key State Park recently opened a new, 2. 5 mile trail along with a new playground and picnic area. The Black Island Multi-Use Trail has already become very popular with bikers and hikers. Click here for more Park information.

Next issue: Real estate news, Area Golfing information, and more wonderful web sites to visit!