County officials to honor Cape man
Lee County commissioners are set to immortalize one of Cape Coral’s longtime citizens and civic leaders.
Commissioners will declare Tuesday as “Klaus Kohl and the German-American Social Club of Cape Coral Day” at their meeting next week, honoring one of the German-American Social Club’s founding members and a driving force behind the immensely popular Oktoberfest celebration.
Kohl’s friend, Dick Kalfus, said Oktoberfest has become an “economic engine” for Lee County, drawing people from around the world.
“Here’s what has become obvious to the commissioners — over the last 24 years, Oktoberfest has brought hundreds of thousands of people to the event,” Kalfus said. “The entire Lee County infrastructure has benefited from the event.”
The word of Kohl’s success has spread as letters from places as far away as Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., have been pouring in.
Sheriff Mike Scott, Cape Police Chief Rob Petrovich, state Rep. Gary Aubuchon, Sen. Bill Nelson, Gov. Charlie Crist and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have all sent their best wishes.
“I salute your dedication and hard work in organizing Oktoberfest events at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral for the past 24 years,” Pelosi wrote. “Please accept my best wishes for continued health and happiness, surrounded by family and friends, for many years to come.”
Commissioner Bob Janes will read the proclamation Tuesday. He said he is a “great supporter” of Oktoberfest and Kohl.
“Klaus has been extremely active in the community. He’s almost the father of the German-American Club,” Janes said. “Oktoberfest has a great impact on the county. It’s well attended and a great fund-raiser for the club.”
Every year, proceeds from Oktoberfest benefit a multitude of area non-profit groups, including Hope Hospice, the Cape Coral Caring Center and the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund.
Kalfus said the fund-raising aspect of Oktoberfest is but a fraction of Kohl’s legacy and impact on the county, something commissioners have understood.
“They realized Oktoberfest is a godsend for Lee County,” he said. “It didn’t just happen once, it happens year in and year out.”
Kohl did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.
County officials to honor Cape man
Lee County commissioners are set to immortalize one of Cape Coral’s longtime citizens and civic leaders.
Commissioners will declare Tuesday as “Klaus Kohl and the German-American Social Club of Cape Coral Day” at their meeting next week, honoring one of the German-American Social Club’s founding members and a driving force behind the immensely popular Oktoberfest celebration.
Kohl’s friend, Dick Kalfus, said Oktoberfest has become an “economic engine” for Lee County, drawing people from around the world.
“Here’s what has become obvious to the commissioners — over the last 24 years, Oktoberfest has brought hundreds of thousands of people to the event,” Kalfus said. “The entire Lee County infrastructure has benefited from the event.”
The word of Kohl’s success has spread as letters from places as far away as Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., have been pouring in.
Sheriff Mike Scott, Cape Police Chief Rob Petrovich, state Rep. Gary Aubuchon, Sen. Bill Nelson, Gov. Charlie Crist and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi have all sent their best wishes.
“I salute your dedication and hard work in organizing Oktoberfest events at the German American Social Club of Cape Coral for the past 24 years,” Pelosi wrote. “Please accept my best wishes for continued health and happiness, surrounded by family and friends, for many years to come.”
Commissioner Bob Janes will read the proclamation Tuesday. He said he is a “great supporter” of Oktoberfest and Kohl.
“Klaus has been extremely active in the community. He’s almost the father of the German-American Club,” Janes said. “Oktoberfest has a great impact on the county. It’s well attended and a great fund-raiser for the club.”
Every year, proceeds from Oktoberfest benefit a multitude of area non-profit groups, including Hope Hospice, the Cape Coral Caring Center and the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund.
Kalfus said the fund-raising aspect of Oktoberfest is but a fraction of Kohl’s legacy and impact on the county, something commissioners have understood.
“They realized Oktoberfest is a godsend for Lee County,” he said. “It didn’t just happen once, it happens year in and year out.”
Kohl did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.
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