Ave Maria continues to meet a growing demand with restaurants, retail
Tim Aten Knows
Tim Aten
Q: I see they added the Aldi and AutoZone signs on the Randall Curve marquee. I see where Ace is going; what is the new building being built in front of it? Where are Aldi and AutoZone going? Thank you. — Luanne Skoglund, Golden Gate Estates
A: Vintage Naples Apartments, Aldi discount grocer, AutoZone and Brickyard Car Wash are the latest breaking ground in The Randall at Orangetree development on Immokalee Road’s Randall Curve between Randall and Orange Tree boulevards in Golden Gate Estates.
The Randall at Orangetree mixed-use development abuts Winchester Center directly to its north at the traffic signal intersection of Orange Tree Boulevard and Immokalee Road. So far, the separately owned and operated developments have built and opened only one business each: 7-Eleven in The Randall at Orangetree and McDonald’s in Winchester Center. Both franchises have been blessed with brisk business since opening last spring.
Winchester Center
The only vertical construction visible now on the Randall Curve is north of Orange Tree Boulevard in Winchester Center. The larger building taking shape will be Sunshine Ace Hardware; the smaller building under construction nearest Immokalee Road will be a
See ATEN KNOWS, Page 10A
SHARING THE WEALTH Golisano talks business, philanthropy
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
For billionaire businessman and philanthropist Tom Golisano, the closing months of 2024 were filled with reminders about the sometimes-fleeting nature of health and the importance of high-quality health care.
Within a period of six weeks, his 96-year-old sister had a hip replacement — and ended up as active as ever. His great-granddaughter underwent a successful heart transplant, and he himself needed to have a pacemaker installed.
Golisano shared these personal reflections on his and his family’s recent health events at a late-November announcement in Naples where he surprised 41 Southwest Florida nonprofits with unrestricted gifts totaling $85 million, including $15 million to health care systems. The gifts came just a couple of months after Golisano gave 82 major gifts totaling $360 million to organizations in upstate New York, including $52 million to the Golisano Foundation, increasing its assets to $120 million.
Those combined gifts brought Golisano’s philanthropy for 2024 to half a billion dollars and his lifelong philanthropy to $860 million, according to figures provided by the Golisano Foundation.
The gifts bestowed in Naples spanned five categories: Health care, education, intellectual and developmental disabilities, other critical community needs and animal welfare, with pledges ranging from $150,000 to $10 million over four to five years.
As The Naples Press reported at the time, Golisano told the nonprofit leaders assembled at the November event at arts venue Artis—Naples that he understood how difficult it is to raise money, and that he had been See GOLISANO, Page 8A
Bonita Springs, Estero councils affirm support for rail trail in Lee, Collier
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
As 2025 begins, recent actions by the Village of Estero Council and the City of Bonita Springs Council promise to keep the proposed Bonita Estero Rail Trail project on track as it seeks funding, according to Friends of BERT President Deborah Orton. The project would convert a 14.9mile segment of the unused Seminole Gulf Railway rail corridor stretching from Alico Road to Collier County into a hiking and biking trail, connecting to the John Yarborough trail to the north and the Paradise Coast Trail to the south. When complete, according to the Friends of BERT website, the trail would become part of the planned 42-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail and ultimately part of the more than 400mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail from Collier County to Tampa. Proponents of the trail see it as a way to provide pedestrians and cyclists with a safe alternative to the region’s increasingly congested roadways.
The Estero and Bonita Springs councils both previously pledged $5 million toward the project. They passed resolutions affirming their support for moving the project forward on Dec. 18, in their last meet-
See TRAIL, Page 11A
Tom Golisano is seated for a portrait in the courtyard of Artis—Naples after a Nov. 19 event at which he awarded 41 SWFL
$85 million in grant funding. Photo by Liz Gorman
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Tribute to Pavarotti replaces Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra
The first United States tour of the Czech National Philharmonic Orchestra has been cancelled, including the Jan. 14 performance at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. The inability to obtain visas to travel internationally is the cause of the cancellation, according to Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann. However, Mann worked Christmas Day to find a replacement: A Tribute to Pavarotti, featuring four American singers, will perform instead on the same day.
“We were very fortunate to find another group to perform on the same day,” Mann said. “Concert goers can use their existing tickets for admission to the concert.”
A Tribute to Pavarotti honors the great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti — one of the most famous singers, not only in the world of opera, but across all genres. The two-hour concert features an on-stage orchestra, projections and American soloists performing some of the most beloved opera and Italian folk songs associated with the late singer. Tickets are on sale at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers. Prices are $55 for orchestra and mezzanine seats, $35 for lower balcony seats and $25 for upper balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased at the Barbara B. Mann Hall box office at 239.481.4849 or visit bbmannpah.com
Glen Eagle unveils golf simulator
Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club is taking its golfing hi-tech. The golfing community located in southeast Naples recently held a ribbon cutting for its new Golf Simulator Room located within its clubhouse. The room features the Foresight Sports Performance simulator with GC launch monitor technology, which allows users to experience realistic golf simulation with FSX Play and FSX 2020. It offers an array of features, including precise ball-tracking technology, realistic 3D course simulation and detailed feedback on every swing. It provides data on ball speed, club speed, launch angle, spin rate and other metrics vital for improvement. Members will be able to track their progress over time and compete in virtual tournaments or group lessons; “play” the world’s best and most exclusive “courses;” practice skills on the range; or compete in skill-building competitions with players around the world — all in 4K resolution in the Golf Simulator Room at Glen Eagle. For more information, visit gleneaglecountryclub.com or call 239.354.3167.
Physicians Regional holds career panel and job fair Five Physicians Regional Healthcare System health professionals recently took the stage at Immokalee High School to address more than 250 Immokalee Foundation middle and high school students, their parents, Foundation Postsecondary Program members and Foundation alumni. The presentation was part of a multi-year relationship between the healthcare system and the non-profit educational foundation. Physicians Regional has unwritten the costs of the Foundation’s Healthcare Pathway Educational Summer Camp at Florida Gulf Coast University for three years; during the same period, Physicians Regional has hosted Immokalee Foundation student interns at its Pine Ridge and Collier Boulevard locations.
“As an organization, we have a responsibility to address present-day healthcare needs while proactively planning for the growing demand for care in the years to come,” said Scott Lowe, Physicians Regional Market CEO. “Through their Healthcare Pathway out-ofschool curriculum, The Immokalee Foundation has created a pipeline of dedicated talent, and it’s our obligation to make meaningful contributions to their educational process whenever and however we can.”
New executive chef at LaPlaya resort
Baleen Naples, a beachfront restaurant located within LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, announced the appointment of award-winning Chef John Beriker as the new executive chef. Beriker brings more than 30 years of international culinary expertise, refined through formal training at the Epicurean Cooking School in Los Angeles. His skills were honed under the mentorship of culinary icon Wolfgang Puck, Jean-Marie Josselin, Roy Yamaguchi and Martin Yan. Beriker spent much of his life in Canada before immigrating to the United States to establish his culinary career, which began at the Black Orchid Hotel in Morristown, New Jersey. Since then, he has held executive chef roles at globally distinguished five-star resorts, including Dusit Thani Resort & Spa and Sheraton Laguna Resort in Tumon Bay, Guam, Swissotel Merchant Court Hotel in Sydney, Australia, and the Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg, Germany, among many others. Over the years he has earned accolades such as “Best New Chef of the Year” in Hamburg, recognition as a culinary leader for the “Best Fine Dining Restaurant” in Singapore and the “Best Fine Dining
French Restaurant” in Bangkok. Beriker is the author of The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe Cookbook . For more information, go to laplayaresort.com/naples-baleen-restaurant
PRSA Gulf Coast chapter to host panel presentation with FC Naples Jan. 1 Kick off the new year with Public Relations Society of America’s Gulf Coast Chapter and FC Naples. The event — Game On: Inside the Community Connection Playbook with FC Naples — will be held 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Paradise Coast Sports Complex-North Suite. The address is 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. This panel discussion will feature FC Naples CEO Bob Moreno; Matt “Gaffa” Poland, FC Naples coach and sporting director; and Cyndee Woolley of C2 Communications. They will share insights on community outreach, research and strategy on the launch of the new professional soccer team in Naples. For more information and to register, visit gulfcoastprsa.org/upcoming-events.
Grace Place receives $10K grant from Baker Family Foundation
Grace Place for Children and Families was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Baker Family Foundation. This funding will directly support the organization’s elementary after-school program, which provides 220 students from Golden Gate with enriching educational opportunities and critical support to help them succeed academically and socially.
NAMI Collier County receives $25K grant
NAMI Collier County Inc. received a $25,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. These funds will support the HUGS Children’s Mental Health Program, which provides a clinical continuum of care to children and families living with mental illness. Staff screen more than 2,000 children per year and provide clinically driven care coordination to more than 900 children. The grant will fund individualized interventions carried out by board-certified behavior analysts, ensuring that children with autism, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses receive the care they need for free and with no waitlist.
Local professional panels look to rein in lawyer misbehavior
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
The Florida Supreme Court wants its unruly lawyers to face consequences. But its newest measure is trying to eliminate problems with an intervention before they become Florida Bar Association issues.
The Collier County Bar Association is educating its members on new provisions to its code of ethics effective Jan. 1 that send disre-
spect, dismissive behavior and temper loss to its professionalism panel to try to address the problem before it escalates.
The bar association is trying to make members aware. To get their attention, the group brought Frank Abernathy, nephew of civil rights advocacy legend Ralph Abernathy, to its December meeting to emphasize the need for restraint.
“I think it’s important that we as lawyers understand what is really supposed to drive our activity, and that is the Constitution — not the
political parties, not your personal ideas, but the Constitution,” he told the group.
“It is important how we carry ourselves when we are representing the law,” he emphasized.
That doesn’t always happen; the Collier County Bar Association gets as many as 15 complaints a year dealing with attorney behavior, according to Ita Neymotin, chair of its professionalism panel.
And the complainants are likely to be fellow attorneys, even judges, as well as clients, according to Neymotin.
Complaints that merit legal action — misuse of client funds, non-performance — come before the Florida Bar grievance committees. That can result in sanctions on the attorney’s record, suspensions and even disbarment. The professionalism panel, created in 2013, has dealt with lesser offenses.
Neymotin called it “more of a mentoring process. They’re not disciplinary in nature.”
“Our complaints deal more with rudeness,
TOWN GROWS TO MEET DEMAND
Ave Maria welcomes new restaurants, retailers
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
Ave Maria welcomed many new restaurants and retailers to its Collier County community in 2024 and prepares for more in 2025.
Many of the newcomers launched in Ave Maria’s Midtown Plaza, a newly built 21,000-squarefoot commercial strip on Ave Maria Boulevard between the town’s main entrance off Oil Well Road and its landmark Town Center. New businesses include Sunshine Ace Hardware, Ledo Pizza, Dunkin,’ Cold Stone Creamery and Ave Nails. In addition to these new businesses in the Ave Maria Park of Commerce, Vicky Bakery and Blue Agave Mexican Restaurant opened last spring next to the iconic Ave Maria Catholic Church.
The new shopping and dining opportunities make the small town more self-sustaining, providing convenient amenities for its residents and the students and staff of Ave Maria University. At buildout, expect 1.8 million square feet of retail, office and business park uses in the 5,000-acre Ave Maria, which has its main entrance on the northern side of Oil Well Road about 20 miles east of Interstate 75.
“As more people buy homes in Ave Maria, the demand for local goods and services increases,”
said Cee Cee Marinelli, vice president of commercial real estate for Barron Collier Companies.
“Midtown Plaza will help cater to the expanding population. As the town grows, we will continue to work with local and national brands to bring great businesses and providers to Ave Maria residents.” The master-planned community of Ave Maria
has had more than 5,000 new home sales since its founding in 2007. The master plan includes up to 11,000 residences at buildout.
“The strong sales numbers are a testament to the lifestyle, family-friendly amenities, conveniences and variety of new home types the town offers,” Marinelli said.
Ledo Pizza launched this fall in Midtown Plaza. The Maryland-based chain is known for popularizing Maryland-style pizza, which has a rectangular shape and a sweeter sauce than traditional pizzas.
Ave Maria resident Scott Taggart said his new pizzeria here is doing five times the amount of business his store does in his native Maryland, where he and his family have operated a Ledo Pizza location for 26 years. The concept origi-
By Aisling Swift
A long-anticipated boardwalk that will connect Bayshore Drive with Sugden Regional Park received the goahead to begin construction this year.
The Board of County Commissioners last month unanimously approved awarding a $3.33 million contract to Fort Myers-based Infinite Construction LLC, as well as an allowance of $37,000 for unforeseen site and other problems. All funds will come from the Bayshore Community Redevelopment Agency through taxes paid by property owners there. Construction is expected to take 12 months and could be completed by March 2026.
“The boardwalk … is expected to become a fantastic recreational destination that will create safe and attractive pedestrian and bicycle linkages, facilitate community events, invite additional desirable redevelopment activity and allow more citizens to better access the park,” Tami Scott, the Bayshore CRA project manager, told commissioners in a written summary.
Bayshore is the county’s up-andcoming arts-centric neighborhood. In 2022, Bayshore Drive won the Florida chapter of the American Planning Association’s “Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award.” The association cited its bike lanes, pedestrian walks and beautification amenities, as well as its “sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow.”
The boardwalk will be the latest improvement in a once run-down area improved by the Bayshore CRA, the Municipal Service Taxing Unit Beautification Committee, local artists, store owners and residents.
In 2006, six years after the Bayshore CRA was formed, it purchased the 17-acre property — about 10 acres of which is water — for $4.6 million, and began plans for a cultural arts center in 2010, but that part of the plan was put on hold. In May 2023, commissioners asked Naples-based Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to complete the boardwalk design. The project was put out to bid last July and Infinite Construction, the lowest bidder, was
BOARDWALK, Page 4A
COLLIER COURTS
Photo by Ave Maria Development
Medical Examiner’s office to grow through expansion, renovations
By Aisling Swift
The Collier County Medical Examiner’s Office will start a $4.58 million expansion and renovation this year to accommodate its growing needs.
The current facility, headed by County Medical Examiner Dr. Marta Coburn, was built in March 1998; staff has grown 50% since then, and growth in workload has been consistent with the growth in staff size. In 2023, the medical examiner worked on 5,326 cases, compared with 3,244 a decade earlier. Cases investigated included 3,959 death reviews to approve cremation, 342 autopsies and 647 reviews for other counties.
As a result, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed last month to award the construction contract to Fort Myers-based Rycon Construction Inc. and approved an additional $250,000 to cover potential unforeseen conditions, including potential site problems. Rycon, which was selected over nine bidders, already is involved with another county project, the $9 million County Fire and EMS Station 74 project.
The project will include a 2,086-squarefoot addition to the 11,847-square-foot office complex, as well as renovation of the office building and part of the autopsy facility at 3838 Domestic Ave.
The autopsy odor-removal system has reached the end of its useful life and a new air-filtration system will be installed, as well as working space to support current and future staffing levels.
Brian DeLony, the county’s director of facilities management, told commissioners the difficult part of the project is that the of-
fice must stay in operation round-the-clock during construction, so construction must be done in phases. Construction is expected to start in mid-February and be completed by April 2026.
The project budget totals $6.38 million, which includes construction costs and $1.55
Featuring Dennis Quaid
A Grateful Thank You to Our Sponsors
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million for related project expenses and soft costs such as design, permitting, information technology equipment, site preparations, furniture, fixtures and equipment.
In addition to Rycon, the project team includes ADG Architecture LLC of Fort Myers and Naples-based Exceptional Engineering Inc.
A total of $5.2 million was budgeted in a countywide capital project fund, but there’s a $1.18 million shortfall. In November, a facilities project manager asked the Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Committee for funds to cover that amount, but the committee rejected the request, saying they’re hesitant to recommend funding for additional projects until county officials de-
From page 3A
selected over three others.
A 15-foot hardscaped, lighted pathway, with benches and decorative trash cans, will be at the center of the property. A 400-foot promenade will turn into an elevated 1,350foot boardwalk that meanders through wetlands and uplands before connecting with Sugden Park. The pedestrian-only pathway will allow bicycles but no vehicles, except an emergency vehicle, if necessary.
The CRA and MSTU partnered with
tail their plan to expend the remaining sales surtax funds.
The 1-cent sales surtax was approved by Collier voters in November 2018 and took effect Jan. 1, 2019. It ended Dec. 31, 2023, after collecting $574.34 million in unincorporated Collier County, Naples and Everglades City, well over the $490 million target for planned projects, and it continues to grow, with $23.4 million in interest. County commissioners have discussed a referendum to ask voters to impose the sales tax again to fund needed projects, but no decision has been made. County staff plan to ask the surtax committee for the funds again after they establish a funding plan. A total of $303.57 million has been encumbered or spent so far.
Naples Botanical Garden, which selected easy-to-maintain landscaping and native plantings. There also will be osprey poles and lookout and fishing areas, but no kayak launch — because the water would only allow kayaks to go in circles. However, the boardwalk will be elevated so kayaks can go underneath.
The boardwalk is intended to be an amenity for the neighboring community because there’s no extra parking. It will be open from dawn to dusk; the entrance and exit will be controlled by gates. Maintenance will be handled by the MSTU Beautification Committee.
COLLIER COUNTY
A view from the street of the Collier County Medical Examiner's Office. The office will undergo a $4.58 million expansion and renovation this year. Contributed
The location of the Collier County Medical Examiner's office which will undergo a major renovation this year. Contributed
Going into the new year with positivity, self-awareness and
By Jean L. Amodea
As the holidays fade and the new year gets underway, many folks are left with the often-debilitating effects of post-holiday stress and regret over goals not realized. While 2025 offers yet another chance to start anew, some can fail without understanding or a plan for overcoming stress.
Stress is a state of physical or emotional tension manifested physically, behaviorally and mentally; few can escape its grip. It is a non-negotiable thorn woven into the fabric of daily life. It may emanate from business, family — or lack thereof — or unplanned medical or personal expenses, taxes, fees or fines. Stress may be the by-product of well-meaning visitors descending on our slice of paradise as an escape. They add stress while we are striving to entertain and meet workplace, familial and other responsibilities.
The Naples Press interviewed two area experts to find ways to navigate through mental health triggers and discover coping strategies to restore a sense of balance in one’s life.
Judith Belmont, a local wellness and emotional health guru and 40-year veteran psychologist, has coached thousands of clients, consulting online and conducting monthly webinars that address workplace issues. Belmont’s 11th and latest book, “110 CBT Tips and Tools”, is a self-help workbook readable by laypersons, as well as cognitive behavioral therapists and their clients. The book, set to be released Jan. 24 through Amazon, offers handouts, worksheets and a self-test following each chapter.
Jessica Liria, director of prevention and education services at David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, oversees community education and training in mental health.
Judith Belmont
The Naples Press: What are some tips for dealing with stressors triggered by the holidays?
Judith Belmont: Practice positive but realistic thinking. Don’t expect all of your childhood issues to be resolved. Life and relationships can be messy, and should be handled compassionately for others and yourself. People can be hard on themselves and don’t want to ask for help; they have high expectations of themselves and get very disappoint-
ed when the expectations don’t go well. You need to think rationally, be realistic about expectations and realize we are all a work in progress. Having a forgiving heart toward others and yourself will lessen the anticipation of expecting people to give you what they don’t have to give. Be realistic about what to expect; anticipating everything to be perfect without anything going wrong is a setup for failure. Don’t think in terms of “all or nothing,” which is a cognitive distortion. You can be resilient to stress, and you can learn from it, and you can grow from it.
TNP: What should the focus be on achieving realistic expectations about ourselves?
Belmont: Some people focus on their shortcomings instead of successes, which don’t have to be visible to anybody; we all have internal benchmarks. Be flexible and don’t expect things to go perfectly — strive to be authentic, not perfect.
It’s not about being who you think you should be, but being who you are and being true to yourself. The more you are authentic, the more you trust yourself and the more you love yourself. Often, people with high standards for others also have high standards for themselves.
That’s how much stress comes in because reality and standards don’t necessarily meet.
TNP: What is the optimal mindset going into the new year?
Belmont: Have a growth mindset of “I will learn” instead of the fixed mindset of “I have to be good at this.” When people define themselves by how good they are, they measure against other people, and they are doomed to a life of misery. But if you want to be better than you were yesterday and grow and learn from an experience, you won’t be defined by your worst moments but by your growth.
TNP: Can you suggest strategies for developing positive resolutions?
Belmont: Use your resolutions as goals, not absolutes. Some people decide to go to the gym but usually peter out, which is the same mentality as when you’re on a diet and say, “I already had one piece of cake, so I might as well have three pieces because I already blew it.”
* Don’t have “all or nothing” absolute thinking, but think, “This is what I’m striving for” — use the resolution as a goal or a jumpstart, and think of each day as a fresh start.
* Focus daily on being thankful and finding gratefulness, even in funny things or when things go wrong; there’s always some silver lining. The more you are grateful and count your blessings, the more you will see that they are more than your disappointments and the more thankful you can be.
* Develop a growth mindset and think, “Whatever setbacks I have, I can overcome.”
Post-holidays can be a bittersweet time for some who have suffered loss, whether a death, financial, a friendship or a sense of community. It is important to realize that it’s OK to be sad and see it as a time that could help you become deeper instead of weaker.
Jessica Liria
TNP: What are the most common ways you see clients present this time of year?
Jessica Liria: Whether before, during or after the holidays, we see an increase in anxiety, depression, loss, grief, challenging family dynamics — like a strain in the family or lack of support — and isolation and loneliness. We also see financial pressures from the expectations of gift-giving by financially over-burdened parents. There’s also some measure of social encouragement when it comes to substance abuse around the holidays. For those already struggling with addiction and who may be in periods of recovery, when faced with these pressures, it can be a triggering time that may lead to relapse.
TNP: How can we practically set goals?
Liria: Be realistic in goal-setting, and don’t set high expectations for
Judith Belmont Mental health coach, self-help author, speaker, webinar presenter
Social media: linkedin. com/in/belmontwellness/ and linktr.ee/belmontwellness
Jessica Liria Director prevention and education services, David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health What: Community education and training (topics: overview of mental health concerns, how to support others, how to identify warning signs) Where: David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health, 6075 Bathey Lane, Naples (24/7 emergency/crisis services available) Contact: davidlawrencecenters.org or 239.455.8500 to access care
yourself. Don’t set unreachable high goals; any improvement is an improvement. Other tips include: * Perform a self-assessment of how the previous year went and find ways to improve on things that may have been obstacles.
* Look for ways to focus on self-care; set aside one day a week, even 30 minutes. Those seeking to improve their self-image and lose weight by joining a gym should not be pressured into going every day. They should start off one or two times a week and try to aim for three days a week, looking for that slight improvement.
* Identify little ways to improve, and don’t push yourself to make huge changes that can seem daunting or can lead you off track. Think about small steps and small goals; nothing happens overnight, and goals can be readjusted and reevaluated as you go along.
Judith Belmont, a psychologist with more than 40 years of experience, is set to release her 11th book, "110 CBT Tips and Tools", on Jan. 24. This self-help book is designed for cognitive behavioral therapists, their clients and lay readers, showcasing Belmont’s extensive knowledge in the field. Contributed
Online auction set for Jan. 17-28
More than 100 exquisite, one-of-a-kind items are up for bid in the Naples Winter Wine Festival Online Auction.
Among the items are a luxury Napa Valley travel experience for six couples with VIP wine tastings and tours, private dinners and accommodations at The Amizetta Farmhouse; a six-bottle vertical collection of limited-edition Pappy Van Winkle bourbon; an exclusive dinner with drinks for eight guests at The Americano in Scottsdale, Arizona; and a VIP Orlando Magic Experience for four people, including roundtrip, private airline, courtside tickets, dinner and hotel.
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, announced that its popular online auction will return for an 11th consecutive year, allowing supporters from throughout Southwest Florida and beyond to bid on dozens of unique, one-of-a-kind wine, travel and food experiences.
Since its launch in 2015, the NWWF online auction has provided additional participation opportunities to the community, as well as bidders and supporters nationwide, raising nearly $4.5 million to help NCEF in its support of charitable programs that improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. The online auction gives bidders the chance to support NCEF by bidding on items such as rare collectible wines, VIP wine tastings, exclusive dinners with top chefs, luxury travel experiences and custom art.
“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our donors, our team has been able to curate some truly remarkable online auction lots that will attract bidders in all price ranges,” said Libby Germain, NCEF trustee and 2025 NWWF online auction chair. “In just 11 years, the online auction has grown to become an integral part of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, with every dollar raised going toward making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of children in our community.”
This year’s online auction lot highlights include:
• Lot #101: Experience the High Points of Napa Valley: Six couples will enjoy an exclusive visit to Napa Valley with three nights’ accommodations at the stunningly refurbished Amizetta Farmhouse with six ensuite bedrooms in Yountville, California. During their stay, guests will experience a private chef dinner in the Amizetta Farmhouse, a VIP wine tasting at Forman Vineyard, a Secret Garden tour with private wine tasting at Hill Family Estate, an estate tour including barrel tasting with the winemaker at Gamble Estate, a private wine
tasting at Aonair Winery and a tour and tasting at David Arthur Vineyards in Prichard Hill. The couples also will share a collection of rare collectible wines, including one 9-liter bottle of 2021 Aonair Mountains Proprietary Blend; one 1.5-liter bottle of 2020 Forman Vineyard
Special to the Naples Press
Eight guests will enjoy a four-course wine-paired dinner curated by Chef Beau MacMillan and Chef Peter McQuaid at The Americano in Scottsdale, Arizona. Contributed
• Lot #200: Six-Bottle Vertical Collection of Pappy Van Winkle: One bidder will take home a legendary vertical collection of highly sought after Pappy Van Winkle Kentucky bourbon, including one 750ml bottle each of Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year, Pappy Van Winkle 20-Year, Pappy Van Winkle 15-Year, Pappy Van Winkle 13-Year, Pappy Van Winkle 12-Year and Pappy Van Winkle 10-Year.
• Lot #201: 11 Bottles of Bordeaux First Growths from Stellar Vintages: One winning bidder will receive an ultra-rare collection of Bordeaux First Growths, including three 750ml bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild (one each from 2005, 2018 and 2019); four 750ml bottles of Château Latour (one each from 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2015); and four 750ml bottles of Château Margaux (one each from 2005, 2009, 2015 and 2016).
• Lot #305: Dinner and Drinks in a Scottsdale Secret Hideaway: Eight guests will enjoy a four-course wine paired dinner curated by Chef Beau MacMillan and Chef Peter McQuaid at The Americano in Scottsdale, Arizona. After dinner, they will enjoy a two-hour experience with a Champagne and artisanal chocolate pairing at the exclusive underground speakeasy Tell Your Friends located just beneath The Americano.
• Lot #411: A Bicyclette Built for Four: Four guests will experience a curated four-course wine paired dinner at the award-winning Bicyclette Cookshop in Naples.
• Lot #500: VIP Orlando Magic Experience: Do You Believe in Magic?: Four guests will travel roundtrip, private air on a Northern Jet Citation CJ3 from Naples to Orlando, where they will receive four courtside tickets to a 2025 Orlando Magic home game. The winning bidders also will receive two custom bomber or sports jackets by élevée by Rickey Lamitie, dinner in the Assured Partners Lounge for four people and one nights’ accommodation in two rooms at the Marriott Orlando Downtown with private ground transportation.
• Lot #614: Relax and Unwind at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point: One couple will enjoy two nights’ accommodations in a junior suite at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Their stay will include daily breakfast at Tanglewood — Southern Kitchen and one 50-minute couple’s massage at Stillwater Spa.
ABOUT THE WINE FESTIVAL
The 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival will take place Jan. 24-26 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. With three days of activities, the Festival will showcase fine wines, cuisine and unique, one-of-akind auction lots benefiting its founding organization, the Naples Children & Education Foundation, in support of its mission of making a difference in the lives of underserved children in Collier County.
• Lot #811: Beyond the Closet: What Does Your Closet Say About You?: One winning bidder will receive four hours of closet purge or organization and six hours of personal shopping with Amanda Miller, founder and CEO of Beyond the Closet in Naples.
Those interested in participating in the online auction are invited to go online to view all the items and bid high and bid often starting at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17 and running through 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. For more details, visit nwwfonlineauction.com
Travel is included where specified.
The weekend will pay homage to the past while looking forward to the future. Guests will enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and other landmark settings throughout Naples, curated by award-winning chefs and world-renowned vintners. Patrons also will be invited to bid on travel and wine experiences during a live auction.
Limited ticket packages are available for the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, starting at $17,500 per couple
One couple will enjoy two nights' accommodations in a junior suite at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs. Contributed
One winning bidder will receive four hours of closet purge or organization and six hours of personal shopping with Amanda Miller, founder and CEO of Beyond the Closet in Naples. Contributed
“I’ve said it many times, and lately more than ever: The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away. And since I applied for immortality and was denied, I’m here today to give some away.”
—Tom Golisano, speaking to the audience at a Nov. 19 event at which he gave out $85 million in awards to 41 area nonprofits
$85 million in awards to 41 organizations
Health – two organizations – $15 million
Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida – $10 million
“impressed with the dedication and innovation” of the organizations he has built relationships with across Southwest Florida.
“I’ve said it many times, and lately more than ever: The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away. And since I applied for immortality and was denied, I’m here today to give some away,” he told the crowd, to laughter and loud applause, adding that the amount would total $85 million.
The largest awards, $10 million each, went to Golisano Children’s Hospital and Ave Maria University in the fields of health care and education. Naples Comprehensive Health received $5 million (following another recent gift of $5 million from the Golisano Foundation).
Other organizations receiving $5 million each included Easterseals Southwest Florida, Family Initiative, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, LARC Inc. and STARability. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples received $4 million, and Guadalupe Center, American Red Cross Southwest Florida, Meals of Hope and Youth Haven received $3 million each.
In a wide-ranging late December interview at the Naples home he shares with his wife, retired tennis champion Monica Seles, Golisano talked about what motivated the surprise gifts in Naples in November; what led him to start Paychex, a payroll and human resources company; what he’s doing to help change business education — and how he wants to be remembered.
Surprising the nonprofits Golisano said the surprise nature of the $85 million bequests in November was “part of the fun,” with the nonprofit leaders invited to an event without knowing the purpose.
“The fun of it all, of course, was we sent them an invitation and wouldn’t tell them why they were being invited,” he said. “And of course we got numerous calls: ‘Why am I being invited to this thing?’ And Erica [Dayton], our [Golisano] Foundation director, merely told them, ‘You’d better be there; you’ll be happy you are.’ So, yes, that part of it was fun.
“But giving out the grant envelopes and having
Naples Comprehensive Health – $5 million
Education – two organizations – $13 million
Ave Maria University – $10 million
Guadalupe Center – $3 million
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities – 12 organizations – $32 million
Best Buddies Southwest Florida – $1 million
Beyond the Spectrum Inc. – $1 million
Easterseals Southwest Florida – $5 million
Family Initiative – $5 million
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida – $5 million
Guardian Angels for Special Populations – $1 million
LARC Inc. – $5 million
Protected Harbor – $1 million
Special Olympics - Florida – $1 million
STARability – $5 million
Sunrise - Naples – $1 million
The Haven – $1 million
Community – 5 organizations – $15 million
American Red Cross Southwest Florida – $3 million
Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida- $2 million
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples – $4 million
Meals of Hope – $3 million
Youth Haven – $3 million
Animal Welfare – 20 organizations – $10 million
Animal Rescue Coalition – $1 million
Cape Coral Animal Shelter – $1.5 million
Gulf Coast Humane Society – $1.5 million
Humane Society Naples – $500,000
SNIP Collier – $1.5 million
Anna Maria Island Pup Rescue – $150,000
Big Dog Ranch Rescue – $500,000
Florida Coastal Cocker Rescue – $150,000
For the Love of Cats – $150,000
Fur and Tails Animal Rescue – $150,000
Canine Castaways Inc. – $150,000
Guardians of Florida Animal Rescue – $500,000
Haven on Earth Animal League – $150,000
Humane Society of Manatee County – $500,000
Humane Society of Sarasota County – $500,000
Max’s Ark Rescue – $150,000
Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue Center – $500,000
Pawtcake Refuge – $150,000
Purradise Gardens – $150,000
Shy Wolf Sanctuary – $150,000
the people come up and shake my hand, and some of them gave me hugs and kisses, and there was a bunch of tears on a bunch of people’s faces — it was so rewarding for myself personally and for my family to see this happening. So it was a great event and we gladly surprised them all. We don’t know if we can do that again, if ever, but it was a lot of fun.” Golisano said he got “tons of letters and emails and cards” from nonprofits after the event thanking him for the “transformative” gifts to their organizations. But he was also in for a surprise of his own: He said that in both Rochester and Naples he never got a letter or a card or a text message from a local or regional politician.
“We spend our time thinking about direct services to people, whether it be medical or health or autism and so on,” he said about the selected nonprofits. “And we don’t try to lump them into one category. There are so many great organizations in our communities, and I don’t think they’re appreciated enough. So, this was another way for us to be able to show some appreciation for these organizations … I’m just sorry a politician didn’t recognize this as something beneficial to their community; it’s just surprising.”
Giving credit to Paychex and its people
At the November event in Naples announcing the $85 million in gifts, Golisano said that none of the philanthropy he has been involved in would ever have happened “except for one thing, and that was a company called Paychex,” and he thanked the almost 17,000 employees nationwide “because they really make it possible.”
Golisano, who served as CEO of Paychex for more than 30 years and continues to serve on the board, started the company — which provides payroll and human resources services for small- and medium-sized companies — when he was 30 years old, with $3,000 and a credit card.
At press time, the company had a market cap of $50.29 billion, according to Forbes
In his first book, “Built, Not Born”, he wrote that the $3,000 he used for the Paychex seed money was what he netted from selling a business publication he had started called “Bidders Guide.”
GOLISANO, Page 9A
Tom Golisano speaks to The Naples Press for an interview at his Naples home, Dec. 20. Photo by Liz Gorman
nated as Ledo Restaurant in 1955 in a suburb of Washington, D.C. Now headquartered in Annapolis, Ledo Pizza has more than 120 locally owned locations in seven states.
In addition to pizza, Ledo’s top-selling menu items include jumbo wings and cheesesteaks. The menu also features subs, soups, salads, pasta entrees, stromboli, calzones, gyros and desserts.
The 3,000-square-foot Ave Maria pizzeria has a spacious dining room, patio, event space and a full-service bar with flat screen TVs. Ledo, the official pizza of Ave Maria University, is open from lunch to late night daily for dine-in and carryout.
“We have created a fun spot for the community to gather and cheer on their favorite teams while enjoying fresh, delicious pizza and pasta dishes with family and friends,” Taggart said.
Nearby in Ave Maria Park of Commerce, Misty McWilliams revamped the former Dog Gone Cleaners this fall to create her new store, Backwoods Feed. What started as a local business offering grooming services for domestic pets expanded to include the sale of high-quality food products that prioritize nutrition for the health and longevity of pets and farm animals.
“Our goal here is to educate customers of our food products and what’s most suitable for their animal,” McWilliams said. “We want our store to be a convenience for patrons, and if you ask for it, we’ll order it to have in store.”
With the Backwoods Feed makeover, McWilliams wanted customers to enjoy her vision of incorporating rustic farm life with a modern farmhouse.
“The majority of Backwoods Feed’s design is made of refurbished items,” she said. “For example, our chandeliers are made from the cloth bags that initially stored animal feed.”
Meanwhile, NCH Immediate Care Center and Umami Ave restaurant are still coming soon to Midtown Plaza. The NCH medical center will be staffed by board-certified physicians, physician assistants and nurses who will be available daily to treat a wide range of ailments, from minor cuts
and colds to infections, as well as physicals and other health exams.
Umami will serve Southeast Asian cuisine. The menu for the local restaurant will include steak, tuna and salmon tataki salads and bowls; stir-fried rice and noodles; pho noodle soup; and chicken wings, shrimp tempura, California sushi rolls, egg rolls and rangoon or cream cheese wontons.
More commercial growth is coming to Ave Maria; outparcels are still available next to Midtown Plaza for restaurants or a freestanding retailer. Plus, a former sod farm near the town’s entrance has been rezoned, so expect additional opportunities there for residential and commercial projects with its redevelopment within the next few years.
“Bigger retailers are going to go in that location,” said Michelle Mambuca, marketing and public relations manager at Barron Collier Companies, the developer of Ave Maria. “With the growth comes more commercial interest. Just eastern Collier, in itself, is growing.”
During the December interview with The Naples Press, Golisano said the idea for Paychex came to him when he was working for another payroll processing company, and he noticed that there was an opportunity to serve smaller companies that needed payroll services.
“They had their goals set in a specific market — larger employers, 50 employees and above — and I realized nobody cared about the smaller companies,” he said. “And you drive down any street in America, and most of the companies are small: 98% of them have less than 100 employees: nobody was going after that marketplace.
“So, being sort of an entrepreneur, as a sales manager, I think I decided I could become an entrepreneur with this market niche that nobody was tackling. And if there’s anything you need to have in business, it’s industry knowledge. Industry knowledge is everything. I was fortunate enough, having worked for a payroll processor, I could identify a market niche that nobody was interested in.” Golisano said the people who ran the company he worked for decided it wasn’t a good idea to go after smaller companies.
“And that was the luck of my life,” he said with a laugh. “As a matter of fact, I went to them twice with the idea, you know, and I was willing to be just a part of it working for that company.
And they turned the idea down twice.
So that's when I made my decision. I was prepared to go out there and get it done.”
He said that as risky as becoming an entrepreneur can be, there are some advantages to being an owner rather than an employee, especially when it comes to what you can leave behind.
“You can’t sell a job, but you can sell a company,” he said. “You can’t pass it [a job] on to an heir. You can’t give your job to a son or a daughter or a niece or a nephew. So, what’s riskier? I think not being an entrepreneur for some people is riskier.”
For those who do consider taking the risk of starting a business, he said he would remind them of the risks inherent in working for someone else.
He recounted how he would talk to Paychex franchisees and partners about the risks of entrepreneurship.
“When I was talking to them about becoming an entrepreneur and leaving their somewhat comfortable job, risk was always in the back of their mind and probably their wife’s or husband’s mind,” he recalled.
“So, I went through the vocabulary of saying ‘Well, what happens if you do a good job and your boss does a lousy
job and it affects your career? Or you and your boss do a good job, but the division does terrible, or your division does great, and the rest of the company does terrible?’ All these things are going to affect or potentially affect your livelihood. That’s what I call risk.”
Asked what kind of business he would start if he were 30 years old today, his response came quickly.
“Oh, I think I'd go into the payroll business,” he said, laughing. “I know I can make a success of it. It’s a huge market.
“I would do it all again. Maybe some of the ways I did it would be different, and that’s true. But for the most part, the idea of doing it, absolutely. I mean, whoever thought this little payroll processing company could grow to 16,000 employees, you know, with a $50 billion market cap?”
Reinventing business education
When it comes to educating future entrepreneurs, Golisano envisions a better way than how higher education currently handles it — which is why last year he started the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship in Rochester.
The Institute is endowed by the Golisano Foundation and offers students a two-year program with what the website, golisanoinstitute.org,
calls a “hyper-focused curriculum” at a cost to students of $8,900 per year, with a goal of graduating with no debt.
“I think we have a fairly significant problem in this country when it relates to college education or higher education,” Golisano said. “It’s expensive. It’s time-consuming, because it gives you so much time off; the state mandates that to me, are totally unnecessary. Our calendar is based on an agrarian society, farming, when the kids had to go back for the summer to work on the farms. So, the school year, both public and private, is totally expanded, and it costs too much.”
Golisano said the Institute, which currently has 100 students, has only one curriculum, business — “but it’s very comprehensive.
“There are classes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and Wednesday is ‘speaker from experience’ day,” he said. “We have a speaker every Wednesday, speakers with entrepreneurial backgrounds … But here’s the key thing: In two years, because of our calendar, a student at our institute would get 140% of the curriculum that you would get in a four-year business major.”
“The only wealth you keep …”
In Golisano’s long lifetime — he is now 83 — his reach has gone far be-
yond business and philanthropy. In the political arena, he ran for governor of New York three times as an Independent and has been a fierce advocate for tax reform. In sports, he bought and sold the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team. He continues to invest in companies he believes in, and the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship obviously is something he is passionate about.
But asked about his legacy — and how he wants to be remembered — he keeps it simple, reflecting what he told the audience of grateful Southwest Florida nonprofit leaders in November about how the only wealth you keep is what you give away.
And with a current net worth that Forbes estimates at $6.5 billion, giving it away is what Golisano wants to do.
“I have a huge problem,” he said. “What do I do with it? So, I’m trying to give it away to people who need it, that can use it. It’s an issue. I certainly don’t want to give it to the U.S. government.”
As for that legacy question: How does he hope he’s remembered?
“I hope I left it [the world] better than when I came,” he said, smiling. “I hope the world’s better off because I was here rather than being a nuisance.”
Ave Maria's Midtown Plaza, on Ave Maria Boulevard between the Oil Well Road entrance to the town and its Town Center, launched in 2024. Its businesses include Sunshine Ace Hardware, Ledo Pizza, Dunkin,' Coldstone Creamery and Ave Nails. The Umami
Photos by Ave Maria Development
Misty McWilliams recently revamped her Dog Gone Cleaners pet grooming business in Ave Maria. After adding healthy food for pets and livestock, she changed the name of her business to Backwoods Feed.
ATEN KNOWS
three-unit outparcel anchored by a Heartland Dental office, which is taking two units. A tenant has not been named yet for the remaining 1,827-square-foot space adjacent to the dental office.
Vertical construction recently begun on the retail strip that will adjoin the south side of Sunshine Ace Hardware. Five of its seven units have prospective tenants. Anytime Fitness is taking the 3,465-square-foot endcap unit. Other tenants signed on for roughly 1,500-square-foot units are Little Caesars pizzeria chain, Orangetree Hibachi & Sushi restaurant, Cold Stone Creamery ice cream and Luxury Nails, plans show.
Other spaces are still being negotiated, said Kalayah Sargeant of Metro Commercial Real Estate, the firm leasing units for Naples-based Barron Collier Companies, which owns and manages Winchester Center.
“We’ve had a lot of interested users. We are just working on finalizing them,” Sargeant said. “It’s been going really, really well.” Winchester Center will have three other freestanding buildings, two of which will be healthcare centers independently operated by Healthcare Network and NCH Healthcare System.
Immediately south of McDonald’s will be Healthcare Network’s 20,000-square-foot Orangetree Community Health Center, which will offer pediatrics, adult and senior care, obstetrics and gynecology, dental care, lab and X-ray services, behavioral health counseling and a drive-thru pharmacy. NCH is building a two-story medical office complex behind McDonald’s, but details are not available yet.
On a 2.8-acre lot directly south of the future NCH building, a two-story commercial building is proposed for 40,000 square feet of self-storage units. The project is in for permits, said Rod Castan, a principal of Metro Commercial and president of Barron Collier Investment Partners.
“The demand has been really strong for the Winchester. We’re hoping to open it by the fall of this year and we’re on schedule,” said Castan, who hopes to add a Cuban bakery to the retail mix.
The Randall at Orangetree
Winchester Trail, an interior road built parallel with Immokalee Road, connects Winchester Center to The Randall at Orangetree, a much larger commercial development stretching south
nearly to Fourth Street Northeast, with two right-in/right-out access points off the Immokalee Road curve.
The majority of The Randall at Orangetree’s 50 acres are reserved for the 400-unit Vintage Naples Apartments, which will have four buildings of four stories each on Winchester Trail, site development plans show. In preparation for construction, a silt fence was erected last month at the perimeter of the future apartment complex along the western edge of Winchester Trail.
That 33-acre vacant commercial tract was acquired in early December for $18.5 million by Tennessee-based TDK Construc -
tion and Development, doing business as Vintage Naples Owner LLC, property records show. TDK builds and develops residential projects throughout the Southeast and Southwest, including other Vintage Florida properties in Amelia Island, Destin, Horizon West, Lake Mary and Winter Park.
Although the Vintage Naples apartment complex does not include the word “luxury” in its promotions or name, its “Dwell Well” slogan implies it, and TDK’s other Vintage properties are upscale. Additional details are not available yet for the one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
A silt fence also went up in December around the 2-acre lot for
a freestanding 19,682-square-foot Aldi grocery store. Collier County’s fifth location of the discount grocery chain will occupy the middle of three lots between McDonald’s and 7-Eleven.
South of 7-Eleven, the next three lots are reserved for Chase Bank, AutoZone and Brickyard Car Wash. These three businesses will be built between the two access roads, Elaine Drive and Isabel Lane.
Chase Bank proposes a 3,333-square-foot office building with a drive-up window. Adjacent to the bank branch, completion is expected this spring on a 7,381-square-foot AutoZone store. Next to the auto parts store, a permit extension request was granted in December for Brickyard Car Wash, which will have a 4,453-square-foot automatic car wash and 20 vacuum stations, plans show.
Three other vacant lots are still available south of Isabel Lane. These lots are being marketed by Trinity Commercial Group, which is responsible for the leasing and selling of properties in The Randall at Orangetree for the developer, The Davis Group, a land acquisition, development and real estate investment firm based in Alpharetta, Georgia.
“We still have significant interest from coffee groups. We are seeing some interest from QSR [quick-service restaurants]. I know the community would like to see a sit-down restaurant,” said TCG partner Tony Mangione, who noted that he has had interest from auto repair groups, self-storage groups and other businesses.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim. aten@naplespress.com.
Photos by Tim Aten
Brickyard Car Wash will be built on an outparcel lot that is part of The Randall at Orangetree, a 50-acre mixed-use development on the Randall Curve of Immokalee Road in Golden Gate Estates. TDK Construction is building the 400-unit Vintage Naples Apartments on more than 30 acres shown at left.
ings of 2024. They face a March 2026 deadline to raise $82 million to acquire the land necessary for the trail.
The $10 million from Estero and Bonita Springs represents the total raised to date toward that goal, Orton confirmed.
The nonprofit Trust for Public Land negotiated the purchase and sale agreement with Seminole Gulf Railway in February 2024, with funding expected to come from local, state and federal levels, along with TPL and organizations including Friends of BERT raising funds philanthropically.
Orton, who was a co-founder of Friends of BERT in September 2022 and has served as president since then, calls it “a transformative project for Southwest Florida” and said the recent affirmation of support from the Estero and Bonita Springs municipalities is significant in how the project will be perceived at both the state and federal levels as the organization seeks grants and other funding. Presentations will also be made soon to Lee and Collier counties seeking support and funding.
She said the fact that Estero and Bonita Springs have made the proj-
From page 3A
LAWYERS
discourteous communications, yelling at someone — anything that we can take care of before it gets to disciplinary,” she explained. But until now, they weren’t mandatory for the accused.
“The biggest issue is when an attorney is referred to the panel, since it’s not disciplinary, it’s up to them whether they want to participate,” she said. “When they choose to participate, we’ve always had a good outcome.
“Sometimes they come in with an attorney, which they’re entitled to do, and we have no problem with that,” she said. The ones that have been troublesome are the attorneys who don’t respond.
If they refuse to respond, the panel returns to the complainant with the offer that they can take their complaint to the grievance committee, but the new code emphasizes the role the local panel can play, she said: “A lot of times if we can deal with the violation of professionalism within the panel, there’s no real stain on the
ect a “top legislative priority” in their resolutions for the upcoming Florida legislative session will be helpful as her group and others meet with state leaders and seek funding from the Florida Department of Transportation’s state-funded SUN (Shared-use Non-motorized) Trails program.
“We have been so fortunate to have such a supportive state delegation,” Orton said. “Every one of
them as voiced their support, led by
Rep.
Botana. We will be in front of them on Jan. 9 asking for their support during the legislative session.”
Orton said the organization will also apply for a federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grant, which is due in January.
The project’s challenges won’t
end with the acquisition of the land, Orton acknowledged, as another $2 million would be necessary after the purchase from Seminole Gulf Railway to fund an FDOT PD&E (Project Development and Environment) Study, and another $35 million for the actual construction of the trail.
Orton said Friends of BERT continues to grow, with 3,600 members and 27 HOAs representing 24,000
attorney’s Florida bar profile.”
Dealings with the Florida Bar Association lead to serious consequences: It disciplined some 90 at-
torneys last year with sanctions or suspensions and disbarred around a dozen of them.
“Our goal is to get the information
out to the public, and to ensure that if someone has a complaint that can be dealt with within the panel, they refer, versus jumping straight to
homes in Lee and Collier counties that have endorsed the trail. She also noted that there are 11 schools along the proposed trail “that would really like to be able to have safe routes to school.”
She said Friends of BERT will be working in 2025 “to keep in front of people how unsafe our roads are for cyclists and pedestrians, and that this offers a great way for people to stay safe.”
grievance.”
A special committee wrote, and the Florida Supreme Court approved, a new 14-page code for resolving professionalism referrals that treats local professionalism panel cases as confidential. It’s another incentive for attorneys to work with the panel and for complainants to file charges of unprofessionalism without fear of reprisals.
It is also the kind of intervention that might have helped Abernathy when he was suspended temporarily from law practice in his state in 2003, he said after his talk. The suspension came from a conflict-of-interest charge over being named a trustee on a client’s will, which Abernathy said was done by one of his employees. But he was the lawyer on the case and ultimately bore the responsibility, he said.
“I took my punishment. I was too smart to have gotten into that,” he conceded. Abernathy returned to law practice after the suspension and eventually became a representative on the international committee who helped establish a justice system for Ukraine after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Bonita Estero Rail Trail aerial view near Coconut Point Mall. Photo contributed by Friends of BERT organization
Deborah Orton
Sen. [Kathleen] Passidomo, Sen. Jonathan Martin and
Adam
Frank Abernathy speaks at a Collier County Bar Association event in Naples on Dec. 20. Photo by Liz Gorman
OUT & ABOUT
1980s fashion returned in full force Dec. 7 at the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples' annual Matzah Ball. The event, which included a night of food and dancing, was aimed at those ages 55 and younger, a growing demographic in the local Jewish community as well as across Southwest Florida.
Photography by Nate Lane Photography
Event committee, back: Julie Forsher, Fabiana Kivilevic, Mia Hyatt, Alicia Feldman, Marianna Clark, Susan Solomon. Front: Daryl Berg, Michael Rubinstein, chairman
Korrin Wager, Dani Papa, Marc Browner
Anna Wells, John Wells Donna Azu, Morgan Fishbein, Orly-Ben Lawler, Julie Forsher
Jonathan Karnilow, Amy Karnilow, Monique Tsipursky, Maria Lamb
Eric Cooper, Jenn Wideberg
Lisa Ichilov, Nammie Ichilov, Alicia Feldman
Evan Kuperman, Anat Kuperman, Matt Boggan
Sophie Jaffe, Morgan Fishbein, Anna Wells
Joel Hyatt, Ben Lawler, Michael Rubenstein
Victoria Tiflinsky
Doug Creech, Lyndsey Creech, Max Deifik, Cassie Deifik
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
A recently renovated commercial strip in North Naples is a real estate success story.
Although it’s off the beaten path, the unnamed center at 5400 Taylor Road no longer looks as if it’s offbeat. A recent facelift modernized its facade and has given it a welcome boost.
“It probably went from being one of the ugliest centers in town to being the nicest in town,” said Doug Olson of Trinity Commercial Group, which leases and manages the 16,737-square-foot center.
The new contemporary exterior sports a fresh paint job, a new roof and new windows. The center’s newfound durability and appearance are night and day from where it started.
“It was the worst plaza you could possibly imagine. It was gosh-awful,” said owner Jim Langeloh, who operates the center’s anchor store, Home & Salvage, with his wife, Tina. “It was a long process trying to get the appearance to look better — and the parking lot. We’re still going to do landscaping.”
The acquisition and comprehensive renovation of the industrial flex property was led by commercial real estate professionals Olson and John Paulich of TCG, who secured it with an assertive offering strategy.
“The property — now a revitalized, design-focused center — reinforces TCG’s commitment to delivering investment strategies that maximize client returns and asset stability,” Olson said. “Within the first 90 days, TCG’s analytical approach positioned the asset at competitive market returns.”
The center’s nine units are predominately home to Home & Salvage’s retail and warehouse space. A few units host stores such as North Naples Upholstery and Fabric ‘N Trim, and the center formerly was home to a gun shop and stores for painting supplies, floral design, window treatments and men’s suits. One of the best-known tenants in that Collier County industrial park area north of Pine Ridge Road is in the plaza’s center square: Goldies Restaurant, which has been a popular breakfast-lunch spot there for nearly 30 years.
“We have really secure, good people in place,” Langeloh said.
The center’s success lies at its heart. After growing their Home & Salvage business there for the last decade, the Langelohs purchased the retail strip and partnered with Olson of TCG to manage it. The couple’s company, ARL Group LLC, spearheaded the $1 million in capital improvements, including upgrades to the façade and roof and the
REAL ESTATE
Salvage success: North Naples center turns the corner
installation of hurricane-resistant windows and doors.
“These enhancements have substantially bolstered the property’s resilience, aligning with TCG’s focus on long-term value creation and dependable investment performance,” Olson said.
Home & Salvage
What began 12 years ago as Home & Salvage’s 2,000-square-foot showroom in the plaza has expanded to 10,000 square feet to showcase the Langelohs’ one-of-a-kind collection of curated pieces of furniture, art, home decor accessories and gifts.
“The name is confusing to a lot of people. They come in and expect it to be very different than the name, and then we explain the story of how we started and we never changed the name,” Tina Langeloh said. Home & Salvage started as a consignment store in 2013. It launched in an endcap unit that used to sell men’s suits and tuxedos. When future units became available, the couple rented them, too.
“We changed. We evolved,” Tina Langeloh said. “Every season we do new things and we try new things. I never expected to have this amazing gift shop, and I never expected to open the front doors to our store and go into the gift shop. But, to our surprise, that gift shop has a huge following now. A lot of people come from all over just for the gift shop.”
After its first eight years, the local business grew and introduced an expanded inventory and additional services.
“Interior designers found us and started asking us to order things for them. So, we started ordering for designers and then we would order one for the floor and kind of grew with ordering and going to High Point [North Carolina] and shopping in Atlanta,”
Week of Nov. 18-22
SALES KAB Real Property Holdings LLC purchased a 5,336-square-foot office in Cambridge Square, 3431 Pine Ridge Road, in North Naples from Parimoor Dev LLC for $1,632,907. Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR, of LQ Commercial represented the buyer.
Cambridge Square LLC purchased a 3,600-square-foot office in Cambridge Square, 3447 Pine Ridge Road, in North Naples from Parimoor Dev LLC for $937,093. Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR, of LQ Commercial represented the buyer.
LEASES Chesterdale’s Home & Garden LLC leased a 7,949-square-foot space in Tanglewood Marketplace, 4910 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 314, in Naples from Tanglewood Naples LLC. Bill Young and Biagio Bernardo of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor.
Gorkas Food Equipment LLC leased a 4,490-square-foot industrial flex space in Rail Head Commerce Park, 14001414 Rail Head Blvd., units 1408 and 1412, in North Naples from Old 41 Flex LLC. Randy Mercer of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and lessee.
Del-Tile Distribution LLC leased 2,912 square feet of retail space at 990 First Ave. S. in Naples from 990 Partners LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Brad DuHamel of CBRE represented the lessee.
MediaBrains Inc. leased 2,082 square feet of office space at 4501 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 214, in Naples from FLP 4501. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Jon Kepple of Diversified Real Estate Group represented the lessee.
Florida Personal Training LLC leased a 1,600-square-foot space at 3112 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 3112, in Naples from Sandbanks LLC. Zachary Tillery of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessee, and Felipe Arcila of KOVA Commercial represented the lessor.
Ardent Insurance Group Inc. leased a 742-square-foot office space at 1004 Collier Center Way, Suite 204, in North Naples from Triple C Partners LLC. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and WT Pearson of Premier Commercial Inc. represented the lessor and lessee.
Adams Holdings I LLC leased a 906-square-foot office space at 6621 Willow Park Drive, Suite 3, in North Naples. Matt Stepan, CCIM, and WT Pearson of Premier Commercial Inc. represented the lessor and lessee.
Driftwood Renovation & Design LLC leased a 559-square-foot office space in Anglers Plaza, 870 Bald Eagle Drive, Unit 2B, on Marco Island from Carmela Gagliano. Dave Wallace, CCIM, SIOR, and David Wallace of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and lessee.
Tassara Industries Corp. leased 313 square feet of commercial space at 1133 Industrial Blvd., Suite C-13, in Naples from Ovidiu Lovin. Shawn McManus of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.
Tina and Jim Langeloh own and operate Home & Salvage,
Photos by Tim Aten
BRIEFS
ASK A REALTOR
With each issue of The Naples Press that includes a real estate page, we will ask a Realtor a question about issues of the day. For this edition, we spoke to Jeff Buckler, senior vice president at Lee & Associates.
Q: How are sale prices and lease rates affected by the current industrial inventory?
A: Collier County is going to be a tighter market than Lee County this year. That’s why you are seeing the lease rates higher, the sale prices higher. Also too, the address of “Naples” is driving up costs. There is a lack of industrial land in Naples, where we are seeing $2 million an acre for a sale price. You move that up into Lee County — call it along Alico Road, where you are seeing all of the development around the airport and around Alico — you can buy property for $500,000 an acre.
Also of concern is the lack of small buildings with yard space. Since the Southwest Florida market primarily is focusing on service industries — your plumbing outfits, your electricians, your flooring companies, your landscapers — a lot of these companies require a small building for their staff and maybe some trucks and the remainder is yard space. It’s very difficult to find that type of product. So when we put rents on those type of products, we evaluate the land as X amount of dollars per acre to lease per month. Then the building is another square footage per month. When you blend them, you can see there have been some recent comps on a 2,500-square-foot building on an acre for $40 a foot on the building. It’s just a monster number, but that’s because you need to blend in that land. Finally, industrial landlords are now putting a premium on their dirt, and rightfully so because it’s very difficult to locate.
Buckler, a native of Michigan who began his involvement in Collier County real estate in 2019, can be reached at 248.789.7234.
NABOR installs new president, Board of Directors
The Naples Area Board of Realtors held its 75th annual Installation Banquet to celebrate the 2025 Board of Directors and officers on Friday, Dec. 6, at Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. The event included participation by 15 past presidents. As the newly installed president, Terrilyn VanGorder expressed enthusiasm for the year ahead and spoke about her vision to foster strategic teamwork and collaboration with members and volunteers, and strengthen its suite of leadership and educational opportunities.
“I am inspired by what I learn from our members and volunteers and intend to take this knowledge to our committees so we can build a framework that will enhance our services to members,” said VanGorder, broker associate at John R. Wood Properties. “I also believe it’s essential to keep public dialog open and frequent to increase awareness of the value of a Realtor and NABOR’s impact on the future of the community.”
Jeffrey Levine, Florida Realtors secretary 2024, installed the following 2025 NABOR officers: VanGorder, president; Christine Citrano, president elect; Shaun Garry, vice president; Izabela Wright, treasurer; and directors: Sara Brand, Christina Davidow, Tina Falzarano, Amy Reinholdt, Marcie Roggow, PJ Smith and Debbie Zalewski. Immediate past president PJ Smith thanked the 2024 committee leaders and staff for their hard work during the year. She also recognized the support of NABOR’s business partner members, who provide vital and valuable services to its Realtor members.
Emcees Shannon Livingston and Joe Nugent heightened spirits with their comical on-stage revelry. In her first presidential address to NABOR members, VanGorder explained her plan to collect feedback from members to stay relevant; increase opportunities for teamwork through leadership and education support; and ensure that NABOR continues its mission to help members grow their real estate businesses. VanGorder was born in St. Petersburg and grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia. After relocating to Naples nearly 30 years ago, she worked in real estate first for residential home developers and then as an onsite sales agent with several local builders. Her professional experience also includes working with small, independent boutique brokerages.
In 2012, with encouragement from mentors like NABOR past presidents Brett Brown, Al DiNicola and Rick and Brenda Fioretti, VanGorder joined the membership committee. She has volunteered and held leadership roles in more than 15 NABOR committees and eight Florida Realtor committees. In 2014, VanGorder participated in the NABOR Leadership program, and is entering her ninth year on the NABOR board of directors and eighth year on the Florida Realtors board of directors. VanGorder’s vision for 2025 will provide:
• A better understanding of what members expect and desire from NABOR
• More opportunities for teamwork and collaboration
• Enhanced access to education, especially for leadership skill building
• Additional support to fuel advocacy efforts
• Improved REALTOR value awareness; and
• Increased participation in activities to help the community.
• Naples Press staff
Tina Langeloh said. “We still like to take consignment if it’s unique.”
The store sells furniture and other items off the floor from new inventory that is delivered daily.
“That is the key. A lot of people don’t know that. We sell right off the floor, so you don’t have to order it. You just take it and go,” Tina Langeloh said. “But then when they do, we have to replace it, and I have to have a constant stream of things coming in that are unique and different and interesting.”
Because their retail venture is off the beaten path, though, the Langelohs initially were concerned about the financial risk and weren’t sure if their investment was going to pay off.
“That’s why we didn’t quit our jobs right away,” Jim Langeloh joked. When the Langelohs relocated from Michigan nearly 20 years ago, they both were in
the corporate world. He ran a dental company; she was a human resources manager. The consignment shop was initially a weekend business that grew to engulf more of their time and lives.
“Now we’re kind of married to it,” Jim Langeloh said. Their focus on customer service and building relationships in town has paid off. It surprises them how loyal their customers have become.
“We still make phone calls; we answer the phone. We still have a small business mindset,” Tina Langeloh said. “We know people’s names. They appreciate that.”
Home & Salvage’s 16 employees also have been loyal. The store has had minimal staff turnover. Five designers incorporated into the business within the last couple of years work directly with clients in the store.
“Customers come in all the time and say, ‘I want my condo to look like this. How can you help me?’” she said. “They might have a few things already, but then our designers will help them make it better.”
Jeff Buckler
Terrilyn VanGorder
A gift shop greets customers at the entrance into Home & Salvage at 5400 Taylor Road in North Naples.
Photos by Tim Aten
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rts & LEISURE
Ongoing events
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 26 at Arts Center Theatre, Marco Town Center, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Neil Simon’s witty comedy about a middleaged man who wants to chuck being married, overworked and overweight to join the sexual revolution. He quickly learns revolutions are full of explosives. $40. marcoislandart.org or 239.784.1186
Matisse at NAI
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays Jan. 18 through April 13 at Naples Art Institute, 795 Park Ave., Naples.
Art in Balance: Matisse and His Illustrated Works features a selection of more than 140 works that reveal Henri Matisse’s genius as a printmaker and his unique approach to composition, color and form. Spanning from the late 1930s through his final years. $15, $10 members. naplesart.org or 239.262.6517
Paul Arsenault retrospective
9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays now through Feb. 15 at Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. See Featured Event.
Art mascots at Revs
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays at the Revs Institute, 2500 Horseshoe Drive S., Naples. Roaring Twenties, Rolling Art: French Automotive Mascots, exclusive French car mascots (often called hood ornaments in the U.S.) from the Jon Zoler collection that are artist-designed small sculptures created for customers including Hermès. $20, $15 for military, students, educators; ($10 more for docent-guided tours). Advance tickets required for entry. revsinstitute.org or 239.687.7387
Shroud of Turin sculpture On exhibition indefinitely at Canizaro Exhibit Library, Ave Maria Library, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd., and The Ark Chapel, Ave Maria. A commissioned 14-foot sculpture. Free. 239.280.2500
At Baker Museum
10 a.m.-4 p.m. TuesdaysSaturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays at The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. Through June 15, Obra Sonora, an exhibition of works by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. To Feb. 2, Alex Katz, Theater and Dance, artist’s collaboration with staging; As We Rise: Photographs from the Black Atlantic. $10; student or military (with I.D.), $5; SNAP benefits (with EBT card), $1; ages to 17 or younger, free. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
This weekend
(Jan. 10, 11, 12)
The Movies of William Wyler, Part I 10 a.m. Jan. 10 in the Rowe Center, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Rick Harris, film critic, begins part one of a two-part series on William Wyler, who directed Jezebel, Dodsworth, The Best Years of Our Lives Ben-Hur Wuthering Heights The Letter
Mrs. Miniver, Roman Holiday and
CALENDAR
FROM THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY
Talk at 6 p.m. Jan. 15, exhibition 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 15 at Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. Perhaps no one has seen as much of Collier County as artist Paul Arsenault, whose exhibition there, Reflections of South Florida: A 50-Year Art Adventure , chronicles its memorable places and people. Arsenault is in the Rose History Auditorium to talk about his current exhibition and his 50-year artistic career, which has taken him around the globe since 1974. There’s a signing for his book, “My Journey as a Painter,” afterward. Free; refreshments. themihs.info/ museum or 239.389.6447
Funny Girl. $59. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Renée Fleming: ‘Music and Mind’
4 p.m. Jan. 10 in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Soprano Renée Fleming hosts “Music and Mind,” a discussion exploring the profound connections among music, the arts and wellness. Drawing on her work as an advocate for arts in health — including her collaborations with the National Institutes of Health and the Kennedy Center — Fleming shares insights into how music influences brain health, aging and the human experience with visual art and music therapists. $59. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Masterworks: Carmen, La Mer
7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican ºBay Blvd., Naples. Masterworks concert with the Naples Philharmonic. Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director; and Javier Perianes, piano, on Ravel — “Mother Goose Suite”; Jimmy López — “Ephemerae Piano
Concerto”; Bizet — “Carmen Suite No. 1”; and Debussy — “La Mer.” $29-$72. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Raiford Starke and more. The weekly Florida Folk Show will be broadcast live there starting at 10 a.m. (hear audio on radiostpete. com). There are arts and crafts, food and entertainment. $20, $50 reserved seating benefits the Everglades Bank building restoration fund. eshp.org
‘Songs of the Vagabond’
7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Unity of Naples, 2000 Unity Way, Naples. Cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin, who sings in 37 languages, is on his “Songs of the Vagabond” tour. He’ll take his audience around the world in vocals and performance. $35; 3 or more tickets, $30; reserved front two rows: $45; student (with valid ID): $20. eventbrite.com
Concert for medical center
4 p.m. Jan. 12 at Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Drive, Naples. Soprano Hanna Golodinskii and pianist Pavlo Gintov, both Ukrainian-born, will present opera arias, sacred songs and piano compositions by Ukrainian and world composers, including a performance of Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise in A flat Major. The entire freewill offering goes to Liberty Ukraine Foundation, supporting the Children’s Medical Centre in Lviv, Ukraine. mooringschurch.org or 239.261.1487
Piano-cello duo
4 p.m. Jan. 12 at First Presbyterian Church of Naples, 250 Sixth St. S., Naples. Amit Peled, internationally known Israeli cellist, and pianist Solomon Eichner, prizewinner of the Liszt-Garrison International Competition, perform a program of American composers, including Florence Price, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber. fpcnaples.org or 239.262.1311
Renée Fleming special performance
7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples.
Jimmy Mazz
7 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Norris Community Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Comedian and impressionist Jimmy Mazz brings his take on your favorite celebrities, as well as his own laugh-out-loud comedy routines. $33.85 includes fees. eventbrite. com
Memory Care Resource Fair
11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 11 at Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples. In tandem with its exhibition, “Portraits of Dementia,” the museum has invited local resources for care, respite and support to gather for a one-day, one-stop shop for information about memory loss. Discover new ways to make the lives of those with dementia, and their caregivers’ jobs, easier and more meaningful. Free. 239.252.8476
White Pelican welcome 10 a.m. throughout the morning and afternoon, at the Smallwood Store, 360 Mamie St., Chokoloskee. Members of the Seminole Tribe and Florida folk musicians will join the White Pelican Celebration to welcome these gigantic snowy birds as they settle on a sandbar for the winter. Native entertainers include Aubee Billie, daughter of former Chief James Billie, with Spencer Battiest, Charlie Pace,
Star soprano Renée Fleming joins the Naples Philharmonic, with Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director, to perform from Voice of Nature — The Anthropocene, inspired by her recent Grammy-winning solo album exploring the peril and fragility of the natural world. An original film by the National Geographic Society accompanies part of it in a multimedia experience that spans music from Handel to Björk. $129-$165. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Dial M for Murder
Various times, beginning with the 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 preview, Tuesdays-Sundays through Feb. 6 at Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples. Frederick Knotts’ edgeof-seat thriller, known in the U.S. from the tense Alfred Hitchcock film, was originally a play, and it returns, even more gripping live, with a few surprises. $39$119. gulfshoreplayhouse.org or 239.261.7529
Next week (Jan. 13-16)
The Movies of William Wyler, Part II 10 a.m. Jan. 13 at the Rowe Center behind The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The second of two lectures on the legacy of American director William Wyler, who guided such notable films as The Best Years of Our Lives, Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday and Funny Girl. Rick Harris, Grammy-winning film critic, presents. $55. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
Blind Boys of Alabama 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Masters of R&B, gospel and blues, the Blind Boys of Alabama group has a seven-decade legacy of outstanding music. $49-$72. artisnaples.org or
See CALENDAR, Page 10B
WINDY CITY WONDER
7:30 p.m. Jan. 14-15 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. It’s hard to find an orchestra that gives more than the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which comes to Naples with:
— Master classes for local students each day that are open to the public.
— Two different programs from de Falla’s “The ThreeCornered Hat (Suite 2)” and the contemporary “Golichov Megalopolis Suite” to Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony No. 8” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4.”
— A touring conductor who is a favorite here, Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti.
Tickets, $104-$161 Jan. 14, $135 Jan. 15. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
An exhibition of Collier artist Paul Arsenault's work, "Reflections of South Florida: A 50-Year Art Adventure," chronicles the county's memorable places and people. Photo by Liz Gorman
Riccardo Muti comes with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Jan. 14-15. Photo by Todd Rosenberg
HOT TICKET
COVER STORY
ARTIST PROFILE
A LIBRARY OF ART
Artist’s sketch assignment became his life
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
The walls of the Norris Community Center gallery are full of books this week. Their stories are told not in typeface, but in art.
Dani Papa (his full name is Papanikolaou) is the Naples artist who created them over the last four years as he studied for the master’s degree in art he graduated with last month, using them in ruminations for his thesis. But far from stacking the books on a shelf, Papa has brought them to the center to share their autobiographical revelations of an artist at work.
Because of the amount of sketching in those books, the center will actually have a new exhibition each week in January; Papa plans to come in weekly and change the page spreads.
Both Papa and his sister, Karina Papanikolaou, are known in Naples; him for what he calls his urban tribal art, and her for her fashions that upcycle everything from magazines to Publix shopping bags. Her works star in events such as Scene to be Seen and Embellished.
Papa creates live art for group events from fundraisers to birthday parties. In fact, the Norris Center had to delay his reception to Jan. 31 because he was scheduled to create art on that date for the now-cancelled Harvest Nights Music Festival in Immokalee.
Papa said he draws from the energy of the crowd and what he sees around him rather than coming in with a theme in mind, but he’ll also work in colors requested by the group commissioning him. Papa still remembers, with a bit of agony, a wedding at which the couple wanted only blacks, whites and grays.
“That was a real challenge for someone like me,” he conceded. “I did sneak a little green into it.”
Anyone who has seen Papa’s full works would understand: He thrusts bold colors together, often in exuberance that may not be material for Better Homes and Gardens, but that works beautifully for Papa. Turquoise and coral. Violet and burnt red. Fuchsia and a chrysanthemum yellow. He loves lines, as well, which enrich a lot of the work in his sketch books in addition to the finished ones.
Teacher to student
Papa has been an art teacher, primarily at Gulf Coast High School for 10 years and next at Seacrest Country Day School, and he’s proud of the work his students have done. He envisioned his future as teaching at the college level, however, as well as creating more art, so he returned to FGCU for his master’s. That’s where he adopted sketch books.
“My first graduate course, my professor was saying, ‘I want you guys to create 100 sketches a week. I was like, ‘Oh, my Lord,’” Papa recalled. “But, ‘OK,’ I said, ‘Challenge accepted.’”
That was close to 15 sketches a day, and Papa was still teaching full time. But he met the requirement
of the 10-week class — some 1,000 entries.
“(It was) very diversifying and very freeing. Actually, it allowed me to pour myself into the sketch book, so no way I can have that preconceived notion of ‘Oh, is it good, is it not?’” he said.
The class ended. Papa kept sketching.
“There’s actually over 3,100 pages filled here over the span of four years, and it has everything from, I guess, my ideation of my larger works to brainstorming, nonsense doodling, a lot of figure practice, drawing sketches,” he said, his eyes resting on one of walls full of books.
“It’s sort of my biography.
“For me, literally everything is inspiration — listening to live music, sitting there, just thinking, playing around with watercolor or just watching my friend play with
What: Dani Papa’s sketchbook series
When: Now through Jan. 31: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays; artist’s reception, 4-6 p.m. Jan. 31
Where: Norris Community Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples
Admission: Free
Information: naples.gov under parks and recreation or 239.213.7120
Artist information: danipapa.com
his Rubik’s cube,” he said, standing next to pages that show hands transforming the puzzle’s multi-colored columns into monocolor segments. Other pages pull in the viewer purely with colors that witness Papa’s fascination with them. Swatches of grape and lemon dance around each other on one set of pages. Another set, with a gold-leaf puddle and circular geometrics, is an incidental homage to 19th-century Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt. Klimt is an influence, Papa said, as is Jean-Michel Basquiat, with his semi-hieroglyphic, colordaubed works.
Mythology as a life story
The north wall, however, is dedicated to the books that led up to his creation of “Medusa,” an 8-foot by 4-foot work, for Art Basel in Miami. It shows the changes — and they are substantial — from early concepts to completed work, with a snake body, as well as serpents rising from the famous gorgon’s hair. The work is currently on display at Landolac Designs in Bonita Springs.
“I’m a storyteller by nature,” he said. “I do a lot of mythmaking and storytelling as a teacher.”
Papa’s art has even reached the Mile Marker 1 of mythology: His “The Three Graces” was exhibited in an art show in Athens, part of a Greek mythology series. That theme culminated in the Greek pantheon, a 6-foot by 26-foot panel of all the Greek gods. Each, he said, is an aspect of his own personality in formation: “It’s kind of like an indirect self-portrait.”
Even the type of sketch book Papa prefers has significance: It’s the same type of Moleskine bound book Picasso was known to use. One slips easily into the backpack that is his wardrobe essential.
Inside are pouches brimming with colored markers, boxes of pens, a well-used kit of 24 watercolor blocks, brushes and a towel that has become its own abstract work of art from the colors smeared on it. Papa wears the backpack everywhere.
“My turtle shell,” he joked.
Dani Papa shows one of his sketchbooks outside the Norris Center, where an exhibition of his work will be held. Photos by Liz Gorman
LEFT: One of Papa's sketchbooks, filled with his drawings.
Centuries-old head treatment finds growing devotees in the U.S.
By Jean L. Amodea
If you have resolved to take some “me time” for the new year, indulging in a head and scalp treatment may be a good route to self-care. We all know the near-bliss of a good hair salon shampoo, during which the shampooer takes time to massage with fingers deftly working through your scalp. Imagine that experience multiplied in a relaxing one-hour session: Warm water pulses over your head, deep massage invigorates and loosens product buildup, and dead skin cells are eliminated for the ultimate pampering experience.
Japanese head spa scalp treatments, long-used by that culture’s practitioners, represent a growing trend that has spread on TikTok and across the United States, coveted as luxury spa services by men and women alike, especially those who are in step with personal skin care. A head spa employs techniques such as deep cleansing, exfoliation, detoxification and massage to improve scalp and hair health — the therapies aim to aid in hair follicle repair and regrowth.
For many locals, such as Holly McKee, an enthusiast of handson therapy, the benefits go beyond the physical. McKee frequents Unwind Head Spa in Naples and is enamored with the distinctive spa service.
“A head spa experience provides Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response benefits of self-care with a sense of complete serenity,” McKee said. “It offers me the energy to reboot, elevates my mood and helps me to focus better. It relieves stress and fatigue and increases blood circulation; it creates the ultimate inner peace.”
ASMR is described as the tingly sensation one gets in response to certain stimuli, such as sound (think scratches on a blackboard) or touch. A head spa treatment technician often elicits ASMR responses through the skilled touch of their hands or with tools, some fashioned from jade and unique to the treatments.
Two local head spa owners, Sylvia Etienne of Unwind Head Spa and Zoraida Acosta of Sahir Beauty (“sahir” means “enchanting” in Arabic), discussed the techniques and benefits of this age-old hair care regimen.
Unwind Head Spa
After working at the Ritz-Carlton Naples spa for 23 years, Sylvia Etienne wanted to open a spa strictly for head and scalp services. Etienne believes her spa is unique in that she is attuned to clients’ particular needs and strives to create a relaxing ambiance where the client can feel open about sharing scalp issues, whether dry, oily, itchy or irritated skin, or if they have psoriasis or dandruff.
She uses Oway’s non-chemical, organic product line, and her signature sage and peppermint face mask pays homage to her spa’s logo, which is sage leaves arranged in a crown; sage represents protection.
“My goal for each client is to feel my passion for my work and instill a sense of calm and relaxation — a time to unwind,” Etienne said. “I hope they feel my love and genuine care for their well-being through my treatments, which I consider a facial for the scalp.”
Lavender leaf aromatherapy; spa music or white noise; and a Himalayan salt lamp create a relaxing ambiance. The lamp emits natural ions and a feel-good calming energy. Clients are encouraged to relax, not chat, and focus on unwinding and leaving their daily cares behind.
Etienne offers three services:
1. Signature Mind Unwind (60 minutes)
The 60-minute treatment begins with a warm oil massage to calm the central nervous system, including pressure points to induce relaxation. Next, exfoliation with a massage stimulator and red-light therapy stretches the hair bulb and eliminates product buildup. Water halo therapy then activates nerve endings, providing a sense of calm and tranquility. A high-frequency device, oxygen infusion and steam using essential oils and plant
Sahir Beauty
Zoraida Acosta, an esthetician for five years, has borrowed many of the scalp and head care techniques she uses, which provide the ultimate in relaxation, from Japanese culture.
What: Unwind Head Spa
Where: 412 Bayfront Place, Suite 125, Naples
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday Contact: unwindheadspa.com or 239.398.9460 for information on services, prices and bookings
What: Sahir Beauty
Where: 2335 Tamiami Trail, N., Naples, Suite 208-3
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Sunday Contact: sahirbeauty.glossgenius.com or 239.677.5046
extracts help eliminate toxins. The treatment concludes with a hyaluronic collagen eye mask to minimize fine lines and dryness around the eye area.
2. Ultimate unwind (90 minutes)
All of the package one service plus an Ayurvedic technique, the Indian-inspired Shirodhara, whereby warm oil is poured onto the third eye chakra to help improve circulation, nourish hair follicles and alleviate stress, anxiety, headaches and insomnia. This is followed by a facial, neck and décolleté cleansing massage, moisturizer and hydrating lip balm.
3. Gentlemen’s escape (45 minutes)
Warm oil massage with red light therapy, a micro-stimulating plant stem cell bath and a high-frequency device help stimulate blood circulation to the scalp and produces new hair growth.
Other services include a trio of facial services (hydra infusion, lymph drainage, mini-glow) and enhancements (mask, lip, exfoliation and extraction).
“I am very conscious of how my clients feel,” Acosta said. “I connect with each one, and my primary goal is their full relaxation and letting them know they will not be rushed. The scalp is part of the skin and must be cared for as much as we care for skin with various cleanses and protective products.”
She uses Arete, an organic product line.
Each service begins by discussing concerns such as dryness, hair growth or thinning. Acosta noted that the Japanese believe the feet should be cleaned first; you can’t enter a Japanese home or enjoy a meal in Japan without removing footwear. So, first, Acosta applies a hot towel to the client’s feet and performs a foot massage, kicking off a 100% cleansing and detoxifying experience.
A double cleanse starts by using a halo, a crescent-shaped tool with spikes that emit a warm water flow. Various specialized tools and stimulating scalp massage techniques are employed for a scrub and micro-exfoliation, followed by a conditioning treatment. A mask using steam to penetrate the hair is then applied while Acosta performs a neck and shoulder massage.
“The head massage techniques allow the blood to circulate to the hair follicles and balance the scalp health,” she said. “Most of my clients report positive benefits such as less hair shedding, hair thinning, increased hair growth and stronger and thicker hair strands with continual services.”
Services to men, who make up 50% of her clientele, are typically every two to three weeks, while women book facials and scalp care every four, six or eight weeks.
Packages:
1. The head spa includes a full head treatment with a cleanse and scrub, conditioning, a deep mask treatment with a hair serum and a neck, shoulder and hand massage (60 minutes, $120).
2. All the services of package one, plus a mini-facial with a mask, moisturizer, SPF and hydrating serum (60 minutes, $160).
3. All the services of package one, plus a full European facial with extraction and exfoliation (90 minutes, $230).
Additional services include enhancements such as facial cupping, dermaplaning, enzymes, microdermabrasion, peels and hand and foot treatments.
Sylvia Etienne, owner of Unwind Head Spa, uses a massage stimulator with red light therapy on Imelda Del Sordo as part of the scalp treatment protocol. Contributed
Zoraida Acosta, owner of Sahir Beauty, uses a halo water tool on client Emily Paredes. The halo emits a gentle stream of warm water that hydrates the scalp. Contributed
By Samantha Garbarini
Two months ago, my fiancé and I grabbed lunch at our local greasy spoon. I had a no-frills patty melt with fries. He ordered a breakfast plate with scrambled eggs, sausage links and buttermilk pancakes. With two soft drinks, the meal set us back nearly $40 — and that was before a 20% tip. It wasn’t an unreasonable sum, but for what it was, it felt steep.
The meal was the latest in a string of recent experiences that emphasized how expensive dining in Naples has become in recent years. With that in mind, I pitched my editor at The Naples Press an idea for a monthly column: Let’s see how well two people can dine out on $100.
The hope is this column will alternate between feasting at budget gems, such as Cuban sandwich shops and really good ramen joints, and discovering hacks to get the best bang for your buck at ritzier restaurants. For our first foray, I wanted to do the latter — visit an atmospheric fine-dining institution that’s emblematic of the indulgent nights out Naples does so well, but on a relative dime. Earlier this month, haute steakhouse
The Continental celebrated its 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, the Third Street South restaurant offered a $50 per person, three-course menu that included steak and lobster. In-theknow Neapolitans took full advantage of the limited-time deal, judging by the many times I saw it pop up in friends’ and colleagues’ social media posts. The promotion has since ended, but anyone can have almost the exact same experience (minus the anniversary-only caviar amuse bouche), if they’re willing to dine early.
I’ve been to the Richard D’Amico restaurant several times, always on special occasions. The steak I’ve ordered in the past — a 12-ounce, ultra-marbled, top-tier Gold Label New York strip from American Wagyu pioneer Snake River Farms — would blow the entire $100 budget for this story. So I was curious to see how the $50 prix-fixe menu, offered daily from 5-6 p.m., would stack up. Could The Continental still deliver a luxuriant experience at a lower price point?
For the most part, the answer is yes. From a choice of three salads, we had the escarole Caesar, a solid riff on a steakhouse classic, and the heirloom tomato carpaccio. The latter was a perfect light starter with paper-thin slices of colorful tomatoes bathed in olive oil and topped with dollops of ethereally smooth ricotta. Of the four entrée selections, the surf
and turf best captures The Continental experience. A five-ounce Piedmontese New York strip, cut from a breed of cattle prized for lean, tender meat, is served alongside a broiled lobster tail and a little silver pot of clarified butter. It came with asparagus and a miniature version of the restaurant’s decadent potato gratin, a crispy edged round of shredded potatoes in a Parmigiano Reggiano-enriched cream sauce studded with Spanish serrano ham. Warm cinnamon sug-
ar doughnuts with bourbon caramel sauce were a sweet finish.
The Continental also is beloved for its exceptional service and setting, and those remain the same, whether you’re spending $50 or $500. It’s easy to snag an early-bird spot on the popular patio at 5 p.m., where you’ll likely have your choice of sitting under the sprawling central tree, strung with twinkling lights, or beneath the bougainvillea-covered trellises fronting Third Street.
The patio is known for its see-and-beseen atmosphere, particularly on weekends during season, and this is the one area where the early-dining experience doesn’t quite have the same panache as coming for a prime-time dinner. But if you don’t mind a more serene vibe, $50 per person is a phenomenal value for similarly indulgent cuisine, doting service and a romantic setting that no longer has to be reserved only for special occasions.
COMICS & PUZZLES
1. TELEVISION: Which popular spinoff series originated with the drama "Breaking Bad"?
2. HOLIDAYS: What is another name for Three Kings Day, celebrated on Jan. 6?
3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase "bona fide" mean?
4. MOVIES: In the movie "Babe," what kind of animal is the title character?
5. MEASUREMENTS: How many grams are in a kilogram?
6. GEOGRAPHY: Which strait separates Saudi Arabia from Africa?
7. SCIENCE: What are the three layers that make up the Earth?
8. FOOD & DRINK: Which breakfast food is associated with the retro series "Stranger Things"?
9. MEDICAL: What is the common name for muscae volitantes?
10. LITERATURE: Which poet wrote a six-volume biography of President Abraham Lincoln?
OLIVE
By Emi Burdge
HARRY ZHENG
THE NAPLES PRESS CROSSWORD
LEADERS IN quality care.
THEATER ARTS
GUY, GIRL AND GUITARS
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Under duress, Ms. Wrong can be Ms. Right. But perhaps she should have been Ms. Right all along? It’s a question some of us ask into our dotage about a lost love.
In Once, which opened at TheatreZone Thursday, all the circumstances point toward that future for its characters — perhaps.
We only know the protagonists as Guy and Girl. But their anonymity allows the risks they take in getting to know each other. One grabs abandoned music and drags its composer into a performance, the other moves in for a kiss at the not-now time. They’re blunt and they’re bruised from their past relationships, and it brings in an honesty that could portend a mating of souls. Or it could be a detour from their personal realities.
A unique history
Once is the rare musical with a Hollywood-to-Broadway trajectory: The John Carney story became known from its indie Irish film version, with its songwriter, Glen Hansard, in the role of the Guy and lyricist Markéta Irglová as the Girl. There was music in the film, as well; it scooped up a lot of award nominations and the 2007 Oscar for best original song. Broadway paid attention, and by 2011 Hansard and Irglová had supplied a dozen more songs for a musical that won eight Tony awards the next year.
Still, the musical makes few appearances on stages, possibly because its cast must be both the characters and the orchestra. Everyone plays at least one instrument — even the two stars — and there are a dozen characters on stage. (There’s one exception: Penelope Martone, who plays the Girl’s 6-year-old daughter.)
“Maybe,” said director Mark Danni of that theory, “But nobody knew about Chicago until [New York] City Center Encores pulled it out of their lost musicals and then they revived it. And now it’s been running for 25 years.”
He sees Once as an eye-opener for its audiences: “You sit there and listen to the music and you’re going to go, ‘Oh my God, this is so really beautiful.’
“I think it redefines what’s a relationship, what’s a friendship and what is love,” he said of the musical.
“This is a love story. But it’s not a traditional love story.”
And what about the more melodic elements?
“The music is just refreshing. It’s rooted in Irish. There are several songs that are in 5 [5/4 tempo],” Danni said. “Then you have these people who are playing guitars and mandolins and a cello, two violinists. It’s just filling the place and people are singing harmonies at the same time.
“It’s very Brechtian,” he said. “You notice these chairs that are sitting on the side? These are the stations, because everyone who is sitting there is a character and at times they’re in the scene. But they’re always there, and they’re always playing.
“It took time in auditions,” he allowed. “You had to see if they could read. You had to see if they could do
‘We want a role’ It was helpful to have actors clamoring for parts in it. Eric Gutman, who said he fell in love with Once after seeing it on
Broadway, sent tapes to Danni for both Once and Jersey Boys. He won the latter role but couldn’t take it because he was committed elsewhere.
“I told Mark, ‘Quite honestly, I really wanted to do Once for you, so if something happens and you need an actor, please let me know.’ And I thought that was it. But two weeks later he called me,” Gutman said, beaming.
He plays Svec, one of the Czech characters, and cycles through guitar, mandolin and drum work, all onstage. Gutman’s dream musical has been somewhat overwhelming, he conceded, because there’s so much to learn — the actors must play their instrumental parts from memory — and little time.
“But sometimes I can sit back and watch the other folks and fall in love with the music over and over again even when I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
Cody Craven, who is the main male character, Guy, has been in six productions of Once. He, too, was a
at Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Road, Naples Tickets: $50-$65 at theatre.zone or 888.966.3352, ext. 1
fan of Hansard’s music.
“I saw the original Broadway cast, and I turned to my partner at the time and said, ‘If I ever have a chance to do this show I will do it for the rest of my life,’” Craven said, and chuckled. “Watch what you wish for, right? It is now the show I’ve done more than any other show.
“But I feel lucky every time,” he added. This particular production has been “incredible” for him, thanks to his costars. “We collectively agreed that this is the best — even the folks in the cast who have done the show before — that this is the finest cast we’ve worked with.”
“Everyone here is very talented and very prepared,” said Lexi Rae Smith, who is Girl, his costar, and is in her first production of Once. “It's really inspiring to be around people who genuinely love what they do and love this show.”
Although “Falling Slowly” is the musical’s winning song, “Gold” resonates with both Danni and Craven. The latter is especially taken with an a cappella version the entire cast sings in the second act.
“To me this show is about community, and how music can heal community, [how] it can heal love. And this show embodies the love that is required to keep up a community.”
Cody Craven, left, and Lexi Rae Smith in Once, performed at Theatrezone in Naples. Photos by Liz Gorman
Musicians await their cues in TheatreZone's performance of Once
Lexi Rae Smith in Once
Navigating Collier’s singles scene
By Jean L. Amodea
Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch, Matchmaker, matchmaker, look through your book and make me a perfect match.
These lyrics, from “Matchmaker” in the Broadway show Fiddler on the Roof, bemoan the difficulty in finding the perfect mate.
Finding a way to meet others can be daunting for many who feel unfulfilled from a lack of companionship or love. Some prefer seeking new connections at a physical location such as a church group — placing emphasis on a shared sense of spirituality — or at a local night spot, happy hour bar or coffee shop. Alternately, you can identify your interests and hobbies and join clubs, classes or outings that cater to those activities; if you meet someone, you will automatically have that interest in common.
We compiled a listing of Facebook groups, a matchmaker’s site, online dating sites, popular local bars and more, conducive to singles finding other singles. We also list safety tips best heeded by all casting their nets upon the waters.
Facebook listings
Check Facebook for private and public sites such as:
• Naples Area Singles, a private group of Naples residents “tired of what we are finding in the local dating scene.”
• Florida Over 40 Single Mingle (private)
• South Florida Singles Meet-Up (private)
• What’s Happening Naples, Florida and Collier County (private)
• Love2Laugh (public)
• Crazy for Coffee (public)
Over 60
For a Naples singles meetup group for ages 60-plus to “find new friends, enjoy social events, dinners and outdoor activities for companionship and support in a fun and relaxed environment,” visit meetup.com/naples-singles-meetup-group-for-60-plus/
Jewish singles
Single members (ages 55-plus) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples (jewishna-
ples.org) enjoy programs such as museum visits, brunch, shows and performances, dinner, movies and beach walks. To be added to the singles social group email list, email rbialek@ jewishnaples.org
Local singles bars
According to Yelp reviews, the top 10 singles bars in and near Naples are:
1. Blue Martini (bluemartini.com or 239.463.3257)
2. Campiello (campiellonaples.com or 239.435.1166)
3. The Continental (damicoscontinental. com or 239.659.0007)
4. Seasons 52 (seasons52.com or 239.594.8852)
5. Barbatella (barbatellanaples.com or 239.263.1955)
6. Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar (roccostacos.com or 239.500.8226)
7. South Street City Oven Bar and Grill (southstreetnaples.com or 239.435.9333)
8. Felipe’s Taqueria (felipestaqueria.com or 239.302.1444)
9. Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill (sidelinesftmyers.com or 239.939.3003)
10. Parrot Key Caribbean Grill (myparrotkey.com or 239.463.3257
Other local favorites include Gulfcoast Inn, Bahama Breeze, Giuseppe and the Lion, Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill and Yard House.
Matchmakers
Website thelovearchitects.com matches singles in a private, invite-only online dating club. The singlesover50.com database will recommend a local professional matchmaker. The process starts with a free consultation based on a questionnaire about age and locale to determine if you qualify and if the service fits. If you decide to proceed, a professional matchmaker will work with you to understand your preferences and find potential matches. With a professional matchmaker, your chances of getting the best outcome increase. Persons best suited to the applicant are chosen from persons in groups such as: active older singles, affluent singles, Catholic singles, Christian singles, divorced singles, Jewish singles, “Meet mature men,” “Meet mature women,” “Men seeking women,” professional singles, singles over 50, single
parents and “women seeking men.”
Online dating sites
There is a dizzying array of choices for those choosing to peruse online dating and meet-up apps. Online sites such as elitecupid. com, for those who seek “long-term relationships with someone who is their equal,” use matching algorithms and in-depth profiling to find matches.
Other top sites include:
• eharmony.com touts a unique matching system with personalized matches.
• match.com offers virtual events and personalized matches.
• tinder.com asks users to swipe right to like or swipe left to dislike other users’ profiles, which include photos, a short bio and users’ interests.
• pof.com (Plenty of Fish) allows you to swipe left to forget and swipe right to get to know a user better. If the user responds, the app opens a chat, and the quest begins.
• bumble.com includes Bumble date, Bumble for finding new friends or Bumble to make your next career move.
• hinge.com self-describes as “love scientists,” and is built on a “Nobel-Prize-winning algorithm” to get users on “promising dates,” with the tagline, “Go on your last first date.”
• okcupid.com uses one-of-a-kind algorithms that “match you on what actually matters.”
• zoosk.com offers a database of 40 million singles in more than 80 countries and uses “Zoosk’s Behavioral Matchmaking technology to deliver better matches.”
• mingle2.com is free online dating with more than 39 million members that says it is safe and secure, and users can browse by category.
• meet-seniors.com is for singles aged 50plus to find others of interest.
Online safety tips
When it comes to online dating, safety is a top priority. Following advice from hinge.com will help you navigate the digital dating world with confidence and peace of mind. The site’s top tips include:
• Never send money or share financial information.
• To avoid romance scams, check out the U.S. Federal Trade Commission advice on the FTC website.
• Protect your personal information; don’t share your Social Security number, home or work address or details about your daily routine.
• Stay on the dating platform, and do not move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email or phone.
• Be wary of long-distance and overseas relationships or of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone or video call; they may not be who they say they are or may be scammers who claim to be from your country but are somewhere else, especially if they ask for financial help to return home.
• Report all suspicious and offensive behavior while using apps, such as requests for money or donations, underage users, harassment, threats, offensive messages, inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person, fraudulent profiles, spam or solicitation, including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services.
• Don’t rush. Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off the online app; meet in and stay in public.
• Tell friends and family about your plans and when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
• Be in control of your transportation to and from your date. If you’re not driving yourself, have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.
• Know your limits and be aware of the way drugs or alcohol affect you. If you are pressured to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.
• Don’t leave drinks or personal items unattended. Be aware of where your drink comes from, and always know where it is. Only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server.
• Keep your phone, purse or wallet on you at all times.
• Leave the date if you feel uncomfortable. If you feel something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.
• Protect yourself. Before you get physically intimate with a partner, talk about sexual health and testing for sexually transmitted infections.
• Don’t start any sexual activity without consent and include ongoing check-ins with your partner.
Grocery stores and bars are excellent places to meet singles. Getty Images
239.597.1900
‘Taj Mahal: From Mausoleum to Monument’
10:30 a.m. Jan. 14 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Lecture. SOLD OUT.
Chicago Symphony master classes
4–5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 and 15 in the Ubben Signature Event Space, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Jennifer Gunn, piccolo and flute, Jan. 14; Robert Chen, concertmaster, Jan. 15. Free, but reserved tickets are required. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Jan. 14-15 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. See Hot ticket. p. 2B Jazz and the Broadway musical
10 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Rowe Center behind The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. In the 1920s and early 1930s, theater writers and composers such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Vincent Youmans and Eubie Blake created shows that developed today’s Broadway musicals. Greg Brown, music director and musician who has played or directed music for Broadway and Broadway tour productions from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to Evita and Kinky Boots, presents the role the Jazz Age played in that legacy. $41. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ Various times WednesdaysSaturdays Jan. 15 through Feb. 16, Kizzie Theatre at the Sugden, 701 Fifth Ave. S. Naples. The Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production starts to go wrong before the curtain even opens — and just goes wronger after that, with falling sets, botched lines, a corpse that keeps resurrecting and more. Every director’s nightmare, and every audience’s evening full of laughs. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
Paul Taylor master classes 5–6:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Spotlight Dance Company, 2434 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Sponsored by Artis—Naples. Austin Kelly and Emmy Wildermuth, dancers. Free registration at artisnaples.org
Jodie DeSalvo: Dueling Pianos
7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Concert. SOLD OUT
Next weekend (Jan. 17, 18, 19)
Happy 100th, Jazz Greats
10 a.m. Jan. 17 at the Rowe Center behind The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Charles Bergeron, professor of jazz history and program director for jazz pedagogy at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, explores the lives of jazz greats born 100 years ago this year, from Mel “The Velvet Fog” Tormé, Zoot Sims, Art Pepper and eight-time Grammy winner Oscar Peterson to the living legend Roy Haynes — one of the most frequently recorded drummers in jazz. $42. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Alex Katz and Paul Taylor
7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Paul Taylor Dance Company with the Naples Philharmonic in an evening of Paul Taylor classics with music that ranges from Elgar to Bach. $65-$110. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Don Pasquale at Wang
7 p.m. Jan. 17 and 2 p.m. Jan. 19 at Wang Opera Center, 2409 Linwood Ave., Naples. The comic opera Don Pasquale takes us with the don as he learns the hilariously hard way that September bridegrooms should not be looking for May brides. It stars a cast from the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples Academy, who have worked with international opera stars in forming their roles.
$39-$119. operanaples.org or 239.963.9050
Paul Taylor Dance Co, performance
7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Paul Taylor Dance Company with the Naples Philharmonic in an evening of Paul Taylor classics with music that ranges from Elgar to Bach. $65-$110. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Rockabillaque Daylong, opening at 10 a.m. Jan. 18 outdoors at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Live music from a wide array of rockabilly bands including the Surfragettes, Southern Culture on the Skids, Sasquatch and the Sick-abillies, Shanda and the Howlers, more. Free admission. rockabillaqueflorida.com or casinohardrock.com
Piano-violin interlude
Noon-1 p.m. Jan. 18 in the sanctuary, Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Road, Naples. From one of Schubert’s greatest works for violin and piano to Ukrainian and Spanish
2 p.m. Jan. 18 at U. Tobe Recital Hall, FGCU, 10501 FGCU Blvd., Fort Myers. The finalists perform and the winners of the first competition are announced at this inaugural Southwest Florida competition organized jointly by the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation and Opera Naples. The prizes are roles in operas around the U.S. $35. operanaples.org
Redoubtable Russians
3 p.m. Jan. 19 in the Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Members of Naples Philharmonic perform Taneyev’s String Trio in E-flat Major, Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 2. Part of the Wang Chamber Music Series. $51. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Brahms’ versatile sonatas
4 p. m. Jan. 19 at Trinity-bythe-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples. Jane Mitchell, viola; Eri Anderson, clarinet; Alexandra Carlson, piano, perform Brahms’ two sonatas that were written in alternate versions for the clarinet and the viola. Freewill offering. trinitybythecove. com
Duo Arpeggione
4 p.m. Jan. 19 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church. Pianist Catherine Lan and cellist Claudio Jaffe, a longtime duo known as Duo Arpeggione, perform SaintSaens, Chopin and Faure. Freewill offering. vpcnaples.org
This wall shows some of the Joe Wallace portraits of people with dementia in the current exhibition at the Collier County Museum at Government Center, where there's a dementia resources fair Saturday (see p. 2B). Photo by Harriet Howard Heithaus
SPORTS
In bowl game, Ward shines, but defense lets offense down
Speaking of Sports
David Wasson
Expectations in sports are always a tricky thing.
On one hand, a college football team contending all season long in a power conference en route to a 10-3 season is usually cause for celebration. Add on the huzzahs if that team went 7-6 the year prior, and you can pile on extra happiness if said program also sported a record-setting quarterback who provided electrifying offense from Week 1 to bowl season.
All that adds up to a pretty solid campaign — one that just about any fanbase would accept without a second thought. But what about when expectations were for more?
That’s precisely how the Miami Hurricanes closed the book on the 2024 season. Was it good that bordered on great? Yes. Could it have been so much more? Also yes. Did the outcome approach what could have been? Absolutely not.
The Hurricanes were projected to be one of the elite ACC teams entering 2024, both from outside the walls in Coral Gables and from within. Coach Mario Cristobal assembled a tremendous roster via shrewd navigation of the transfer portal and negotiation via the Wild West that is the current Name, Image and Likeness landscape.
All that work was out of necessity, of course, as Cristobal’s 2023 club struggled on both sides of the ball en route to a 7-6 mark and a pre-New Year’s Day bowl loss to Rutgers. Even with Miami’s recent spate of mediocrity, Cristobal turned the calendar to 2024 with the heat on simmer underneath his backside.
Offense isn’t everything in college football, no matter how dominant that offense is. Miami learned that lesson the hard way in 2024, and in the process underwhelmed down the stretch ...
But Miami’s offensive fortunes received a huge boost on Jan. 13, when Washington State quarterback Cam Ward changed his mind about heading to the NFL Draft and instead committed to a final season at Miami. Pairing Ward with budding superstar Xavier Restrepo, the Hurricanes found themselves sprinting up the preseason polls and piling up those pesky expectations.
Cristobal’s ’Canes began the season ranked No. 19, and promptly thumped Florida 41-17 in Gainesville to begin a weekly wave of offensive dominance. The Ward-led offense piled 56 points on Florida A&M, 62 on Ball State and 50 on South Florida before escaping 3824 at home against Virginia Tech and surviving 39-38 a week later at California.
Ward might have been racking up passing yards and touchdown passes at a record rate, but the cracks in the Hurricanes were showing — specifically in the defense. In the next outing after Cal, Louisville
went up and down the field on Miami before falling short 52-45. A 36-14 victory over arch-rival Florida State settled things down for a week, but another home shootout against Duke (53-31) kept putting on tape for opponents what the naked eye could also see.
Miami couldn’t defend at an elite level, and that finally jumped up and bit the Hurricanes at Georgia Tech on Nov. 9. The Yellow Jackets were a middling ACC team in 2024, but they looked like world-beaters against the fourthranked 'Canes, earning a 28-23 victory that stopped Miami’s perfect season in its tracks.
Still, Miami was in the driver’s seat for both a berth in the ACC Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth even after the loss in Atlanta. All the 'Canes had to do was get past Wake Forest and Syracuse — two ACC teams that were even more middling than Georgia Tech.
Simple, right?
Miami got half the equation right, thumping the Demon Deacons 42-14. But against the Orange, the defense again faltered, coughing up a first-half lead to squelch both ACC title hopes and College Football Playoff dreams via a 42-38 loss.
Instead of booking a trip to Charlotte to play for a conference championship, Miami instead awaited yet another pre-New Year’s Day bowl game. This season, it was a trip up the Florida Turnpike to Orlando to play Iowa State for a football-shaped toaster. Even that didn’t go as planned, as Miami again failed time after time on defense in a 42-41 loss that netted only a couple cases of untoasted Pop-Tarts.
Cristobal didn’t waste any time before firing defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, who coached a unit that ranked 46th nationally in yards per play allowed and was 68th in the country in allowing 25.3 points per game.
Ward? The Miami offense ranked No. 1 nationally all season long, and Ward finished with the all-time Division I record with 158 career touchdown passes. He also leaves Coral Gables as Miami's single-season leader in yards, completions and touchdown passes.
But offense isn’t everything in college football, no matter how dominant that offense is. Miami learned that lesson the hard way in 2024, and in the process underwhelmed down the stretch — going from contenders to extras in a four-hour breakfast pastry advertisement.
Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson airs weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on Southwest Florida’s Fox Sports Radio (105.9 FM in Collier County) and streaming on FoxSportsFM.com.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward, shown here earlier in the season. Ward sat out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State, but it was the defense that came up short in a 42-41 loss. Photo courtesy University of Miami Athletics
