3A | LOCK UP
In light of plane crash, Naples residents urge airport to secure parking
Water tank, not tower, part of new school
Q: I live off Immokalee Road just past the new Bear Creek Elementary School that the county is currently building. I was curious if you know what the big, round structure on the school property is for. It looks like it might be a big water tank. If so, what is the purpose? Also, a cell tower has been erected on the property. Any idea what providers will be on the tower and when it will go live?
Cliff Marano, Naples
Q: Can you find out how this eyesore was approved right on Immokalee at the new school being built just west of Valencia Trails development? They couldn’t have pushed it farther back? —
Michael Losurdo, Naples
A: Passersby can’t miss the monumental tank and pine tree cell tower under construction at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Cornerstone Drive, about 3 miles east of Collier Boulevard.
The more than 28-foot-tall tank is part of Bear Creek Elementary School, which is targeted to open in August for the 2025-2026 academic year; the 185-foot cell tower is not on school property, nor does it have any association with the school district.
Bear Creek Elementary, under construction on 22 acres at the southeast corner of Immokalee Road and Moulder Drive, is the first new elementary school built since 2008 by Collier County
See ATEN KNOWS, Page 6A
Opera Naples set to make land offer with million-range gift
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
A seven-figure gift has provided the base for Opera Naples, Theater in the Garden and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation to build an international center for the arts, the groups announced recently.
Any information beyond that, however, awaits a firm contract. The organizations said the location is to be kept undisclosed until negotiations for the land it has selected are finished. The donor has requested anonymity, and that the dollar amount not be disclosed until the contract is signed. The opera would say only that it is seven figures.
‘A
Discussions for a multi-use center began in November 2023, when Nicoletta Pavarotti, president of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, accepted an invitation to create a U.S. home for her organization on the land. According to the organizations, it
is planned to be a multi-purpose space designed to honor the legacy of the world-famous tenor while also filling the need for such a facility in Naples. Plans for the property have targeted a 900-seat state-of-the-art indoor theater, an outdoor amphitheater, an opera museum, space for The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Opera Naples International Voice Competition and an opera-themed
price tag on free speech’
Naples Pride Fest set for June, but drag show will remain indoors
By Aisling Swift
It’s an issue that divides the community, pitting inclusion and support for the LGBTQ+ community against people who oppose them.
In the end, Naples City Council on Jan. 15 agreed the annual Naples Pride Fest will be held at Cambier Park this June, but the nonprofit’s request to return the drag-queen
show to the park’s main stage was rejected.
At issue is whether drag-queen shows are “family friendly.”
The annual festival, which started in 2017, held the show outside until 2023, when Florida’s “Protection of Children Act” made it a misdemeanor to expose children to “sexually explicit live performances” — a law that’s since been ruled unconstitutional. Event organizer Naples Pride said that law never should
have applied to its show.
Naples Pride Fest is the nonprofit organization’s major fundraiser, an annual event that brings together religious and secular communities, nonprofits, banks, health professionals and other vendors, along with music and entertainment.
After hearing comments from supporters and opponents during eight hours over two days, Jan. 13 and Jan. 15 — some remarks violent and threatening — Naples City
Council voted 5-2 to grant Naples Pride’s permit to hold the festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 7. Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison and Councilman Bill Kramer opposed any permit. The vote mandates that the drag performances must be held indoors at Norris Center or another indoor venue, and restricts attendance to people ages 18 and older.
Security costs for Naples Police,
Corey Lazar Rachel Cox-Rosen Zach Maloch Lindsey Sablan Taylor Petras
A man conveys his opinion through his signs. Photo by Annalise Iraola/WINK News
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New Publix exhibition opens at museum
A new exhibition at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples called Publix is sponsored by Publix Charities. Patrons will be able to experience a play-based shopping experience, including Publix bakery, deli, seafood, produce, grocery, dairy and frozen sections. Children will enjoy filling up their shopping carts from their grocery list, working at checkout just like a real cashier and even creating their own Publix Subs, sushi rolls and pizza. According to information provided, this hands-on exhibit provides children and their families with an engaging experience that encourages imaginative play and life-skill building in an environment many already experience together each week — the grocery store.
Waxin’s restaurant launches at Mercato in North Naples
Waxin’s, a Swedish-American upscale restaurant and bar, launched this month at Mercato in North Naples. The restaurant celebrated its grand opening Jan. 16 in the former space of The Counter custom burger bar, which closed in May 2022 after operating for a decade on the edge of Mercato’s Piazza. Waxin’s opened its first location in 2020 in Palm Beach Gardens. The upscale dining spot that features classic Swedish and American cuisines is especially known for its Swedish meatballs, a Scandinavian specialty. Its new location at 9110 Strada Place, Suite 6130, serves lunch and dinner daily in a 3,350-square-foot space for up to 300 guests in a restaurant with an indoor-outdoor bar and patio.
Naples Airport Authority seeks volunteers
The Naples Airport Authority is seeking applications to fill three volunteer positions on its Noise Compatibility Committee. Members will serve a fouryear term ending March 31, 2029. Open positions include: One member resident who is active in general aviation or is a commercial pilot; one member resident from the airport’s northeast quadrant; and one member resident from the airport’s southwest quadrant. The nine-member NCC monitors aircraft noise impacts, receives public input and makes recommendations about noise mitigation procedures for consideration by the NAA. NCC members donate their time and expertise, and work alongside NAA stakeholders — including the Collier Board of County Commissioners, staff, consultants and residents — to maintain a high quality of life in Naples, according to information provided. De-
tails about the positions, the criteria for applying and the application can be found at flynaples.com/ncc-about
Church donates $10,000 to Grace Place
Grace Place for Children and Families announced a donation of $10,000 from First United Methodist Church, ensuring the operation of one of its school buses for an entire year. The donation effort was spearheaded by the United Methodist Women of FUMC following their visit to Grace Place. To add some excitement, the women’s group challenged the men’s group to a friendly fundraising competition, sparking enthusiasm throughout the congregation. Inspired by the work being done to provide pathways of education and opportunity for the Golden Gate community, the group issued a challenge to its congregation: raise $10,000 to cover the operational costs of a school bus for the year. For more information about Grace Place and its programs, visit graceplacenaples.org
Tigress restaurant opens atop new Perry Hotel Naples
Tigress Restaurant & Rooftop Bar is now open atop The Perry Hotel Naples, a seven-story hotel that launched this month at 12155 Tamiami Trail N. next to the Bay House restaurant along the Cocohatchee River in North Naples. Celebrity Chef Dale Talde, known for his innovative culinary style and “Top Chef” appearances, brings his Asian American experience to Tigress, a Cantonese chophouse. Easy Tiger, an open-air lounge next to the rooftop pool adjacent to Tigress, offers a view of the region. Tigress
a.m.-11 p.m.
Bella Atalia Ristorante replaces Real Seafood in North Naples
Bella Atalia Ristorante launched Jan. 6 in the North Naples space off Vanderbilt Beach Road where Real Seafood Co. had operated for 20 years. The commercial condominium at 8960 Fontana Del Sol Way was acquired for $3,375,000 in September by Bonita Springs residents Ronald Hechter and Nedzad “Chef Kenny” Purisic, who also own and operate Molino’s Ristorante in the Promenade at Bonita Bay. Bella Atalia includes a bar, patio seating and private dining. The new business is open daily for lunch and dinner with menus of Italian and seafood options for appetizers and entrees.
Better Together to host gala on Feb. 20
Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, is hosting A Night of a Million Dreams Gala 6-10 p.m. Feb. 20 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. The fourth annual gala will raise funds to support Better Together’s mission of helping parents find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children. The evening will include a dinner, dueling pianos, live and silent auctions and stories of lives transformed across Southwest Florida. Proceeds will raise funds to benefit Better Together programs across Florida. Tickets are $500 per person and $5,000 for tables of eight, and are available at bettertogetherus.org
Children visiting the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples can now experience a play-based shopping experience with the grand opening of the museum's newest exhibit, Publix, sponsored by Publix Charities. Submitted
Collier creates park policy for food trucks
offering amplified outdoor entertainment.
The amendment applies to 4,737 parcels countywide, including regional parks, and parcels within several zoning districts: industrial, business park, public use, commercial intermediate, general commercial and heavy commercial.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Naples selects city CFO as next city manager
Naples’ deputy city manager and chief financial officer, Gary Young, will become the next city manager, averting a lengthy, expensive national search for a replacement. City Council unanimously voted Jan. 15 to appoint Young and to skip an interim manager, formalizing its decision at a council workshop two days earlier. Mayor Teresa Heitmann will finalize contract negotiations before council approves Young’s contract at its Feb. 5 meeting, when he’ll be sworn in.
He’ll take over on Feb. 1 for City Manager
Jay Boodheshwar, who is retiring from public service after roughly 30 years in three states, including nearly three years with Naples. He accepted a job as director of major gifts at Oxbridge Academy middle and high school in West Palm Beach, where his two daughters graduated in 2015 and 2018, and where he serves on the board and search committee.
Boodheshwar told council he’s already begun the transition process with Young, noting the city has several major capital projects pending.
“Fortunately, Gary has been by my side with many, if not most, of these items, so over the next couple of weeks, we will be spending a lot of time together to make sure that the knowledge transfer that needs to happen is done so smoothly,” Boodheshwar said.
Young thanked council for their vote and support, adding, “I’m honored and humbled to serve.”
He’ll oversee about 525 city employees and a $208.8 million budget. Boodheshwar’s yearly salary is $297,675, in addition to a housing allowance, city vehicle and other perks.
Food trucks have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, affordability and unique offerings, especially for employees seeking a quick breakfast or lunch at businesses and commercial areas.
As a result, Collier County is amending its land-development code to allow permanent mobile food-dispensing vehicles, including food trucks, at certain locations, including commercial areas and county parks.
The Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 14 voted unanimously to amend its code and will hold a second public hearing on Jan. 28 to finalize the change. The amendment required a supermajority vote, four of five commissioners. It was passed with a revision requested by Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr., who wanted it to require a conditional-use application, and not to be allowed “by right” in certain areas.
“There are people that live in proximity to industrial and public use and PUDs … that need to be able to have a voice,” McDaniel said of planned-unit developments, asking that staff review applications individually.
County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow agreed commissioners could make that revision, noting the change would protect surrounding communities. Before that change, a conditional-use application was only required for certain areas, or if a food truck park was selling alcohol or
As of Oct. 1, county records say, 17 food-truck zoning certificates have been issued. Approved permits include Celebration Food Park, Ankrolab Brewing Company, Mother Trucker Chicago Café and the Collier Area Transit station in Immokalee.
State Department of Business & Professional Regulation records show that in District 7, which includes Collier, Lee and nine other counties, there were 1,208 mobile food-dispensing vehicle licenses as of this month, including food trucks, in addition to 52 hot-dog cart licenses.
Planning and Zoning Director Mike Bosi noted that regardless of the zoning district, food trucks will be allowed in connection with temporary-use permits and special events for up to 28 days yearly.
State law allows food trucks affiliated with restaurants to operate outside restaurants.
The county began working on guidelines in October 2021, after the county Board of Zoning Appeals prohibited permanent mobile foodtruck applications that involve other entertainment activities, such as a bar, dance pavilion, music and outdoor seating.
The appeal filed by FCC Beach & Yacht LLC involved the Isles of
AIRPORT
Young has been the city’s CFO for nearly four years, after serving as deputy finance director. He joined the city in February 2016 after 30 years as chief deputy auditor for the City of Canton, Ohio. He’ll reach 40 years in public service on June 5 and was mulling retirement, but after being urged by the city manager, mayor and council, agreed to take the position, possibly until the mayor finishes her term in three years.
It was Heitmann who suggested Young become manager, not just interim city manager, during workshop discussions.
“Throughout Mr. Young’s tenure, he showcased his outstanding financial accounting and successes in managing our city’s budget and ensuring fiscal responsibility,” Heitmann said, adding he works tirelessly and can analyze complex financial data, make informed, ethical decisions and build transparency and
In wake of crash, residents urge NAA to secure airport parking lot at night
By John L. Guerra
The president of the Old Naples Association called on Naples Airport Authority to lock the parking lot so pilots won’t be tempted to fly when the airport tower is closed.
She made her suggestion following a private plane crash at Naples Municipal Airport on New Year’s Day.
“Consider: The airplane lost power, he tried to land on the runway, but crashed into several buildings,” Mary Young, ONA president, told the Naples Airport Authority during public comments in a meeting Thursday, Jan. 16.
Though the pilot and three passengers are OK, Young called the pilot’s decision to fly “unfortunate.”
“Why make it easy for these people to break our curfew?” Young asked the authority board. “Why not lock the parking lot at night? If some-
one wants to land at night, don’t expect to get your car out of our parking lot.”
The Naples airport has a voluntary curfew — for noise and safety reasons — from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The Naples Police say the pilot of a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza 36 took off at 1:20 a.m. New Year’s Day in dense fog. The pilot reported engine trouble near the airport and had to make an emergency landing. The aircraft slid off the runway and damaged the RexAir flight training
hangar, the airport perimeter fence and the lobby of the Naples Jet Center, airport officials said.
According to the police report, the six-seater climbed a bit, stuttered, then began to lose power. The pilot, Ronald Calugar of Bunnell, Florida, put it down gently in the fog but ground visibility was poor. Naples Police Lt. Bryan McGinn said there was no indication that Calugar had been drinking.
Johnny Mesta owns Juanchitos Grill and has been operating a food truck in Collier County for about three years. He is pictured at right with his son, Johnny K., and his daughter, Aeli. Contributed
By Aisling Swift
Gary Young
By Aisling Swift
Uncivil behavior rewarded in current political environment
That’s so Naples
Jeff Lytle
The new year was ushered in by the death of a former U.S. President and some un-Floridian cold weather. The two seemingly unrelated occurrences provide food for thought.
In my working days, I was always delighted when it was cold — or at least brisk — on days that I was invited to give talks to service and civic groups. Until I retired in 2014, I was lucky to make the rounds of breakfast and lunch gatherings, and a funny story was a good way to start. Chilly weather was a perfect lead-in for a vignette from my career’s early days as editor of the weekly Englewood Herald, serving the former sleepy fishing village straddling the Sarasota and Charlotte county line.
The town’s leading banker displayed a framed front page of the Miami Herald from January 1977 on an office wall. I tried to solve the riddle every time I was there: Why
would a Miami front page, from that time, be in Dan McLeroy’s office — and in a place where you could not miss it?
Curiosity got the best of me when I moved on to a promotion, to Port Charlotte-Punta Gorda, to be editor of a small daily paper owned by the same company. On my “goodbye” visit to McLeroy’s office, I asked the rock-ribbed Republican about the framed front page. The two historic top stories were about snow in Miami and Jimmy Carter becoming president.
McLeroy chuckled, as if to say he thought I’d never ask. And then he explained: “I always said it would be a cold day when that guy moves into the White House.”
The memory of the moment came back to me with Carter’s passing at age 100 and our frosty weather.
Carter’s legacy, in my mind, was that of a humble man with a solid record of military, civil and civic service. He could engage friends and foes alike to discuss issues on their merits. Facts mattered.
His personal and political style could never succeed today. And par-
tisans such as McLeroy would not have the confidence, good will and good humor to display that framed front page. Today that would be construed as a sign of weakness — recognizing someone across the aisle with anything other than contempt.
My sense of homage to the politics of a bygone era got a second serving when only a few days later, Buddy McKay passed away at age 90 in his Ocala home. Also a Democrat, he was cut from the same cloth as Carter and conducted himself as a homegrown public servant while serving in Congress and as lieutenant governor to Lawton Chiles — yet another plain Joe at heart — and as his successor for a few weeks after Chiles’ death in 1998. McKay would go on to lose the governorship to Jeb Bush that same year.
Upon further review, we have to go back only to April of last year to note the passing of still another man of the people, Bob Graham, who went on to the U.S. Senate (1987-2005) after occupying the Governor’s Mansion (1979 to 1987). He served with quiet strength,
for example, leaning on the Pentagon to join Florida’s coastal war on drugs, while actually listening to constituents and jotting notes like a schoolboy in pocket-sized spiral notebooks.
He also was famous for “workdays,” punching the timeclock for various blue-collar jobs. Republicans called it a stunt.
Personalized, grassroots politics were embodied years earlier by Reubin Askew, a Democrat who served as governor from 1971 to 1979. Five years later he stepped away from a presidential bid when the voice on his shoulder told him to.
I was in the room when Askew told journalists after an interview in Naples that while he cherished engaging on issues, he had grown weary of asking people for money, as in campaign donations. His audience politely smiled and waved goodbye — and was shocked to learn a few days later that he was quite serious. He dropped out of the race, for that very reason. Imagine: Conscience prevailing over ambition.
Interestingly, those engaging Democratic politicians were always in Collier County despite the ongoing Republican tilt in voter registration. Partisanship was not yet a line pre-drawn in the sand.
I blame the change away from campaigns — and robust news coverage of them — to political TV commercials that give candidates unfiltered access to voters. And that’s expensive: Money really does talk.
Add to that, the splintering of TV news channels into competitive partisan camps, with unbridled Internet exploitation that throws truth and accountability to the wind.
Bad, uncivil behavior is rewarded. He or she who throws the ugliest insult wins.
It will be a cold day on the political landscape when that changes. And that is partly because there is no incentive to change amid a generation of voters who know nothing else.
Jeff Lytle has covered and commented on Southwest Florida since 1975.
Blood donors give so others can live
By Jean L. Amodea
January is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, which recognizes altruistic blood donors such as Judy Richter and Erika Kemp, who donate blood for the community good. According to Laura Rosen, community relations manager at NCH Community Blood Center, every two seconds someone in America needs blood, but only 3% of the population are whole blood donors.
“Over 50 years ago, January was the month designated to spotlight volunteer blood donors, primarily because much of the nation has weather-related activities and seasonal illnesses that have precluded donors from giving,” Rosen said. “People are reminded to give after the holidays when the needs are great. Locally, we are experiencing illness with respiratory syncytial virus, the flu and norovirus, so we encourage people who are feeling well and healthy to donate.”
A whole blood donation is most common, especially for beginners. It takes about 3045 minutes, and the actual blood draw takes five to seven minutes. A blood platelet donation takes 90 minutes to two hours. Platelets are necessary for normal blood clotting. The small pin-prick needed to start the donations is minimal, like getting a vaccination or blood test.
Richter has donated some 600 times. For her, giving blood is akin to having a spa day. You can find her donating platelets every other Thursday. Her father was a whole blood donor and then became a platelet donor, recruiting Richter to also donate platelets.
“With a platelet donation, your blood circulates through a ‘one-arm machine,’ and platelets are taken out,” Richter said. “You also get some fluid that is tracked, and then your whole blood comes back into your body, and you feel a sensation of coolness. You are pampered, made comfortable, wrapped in a warm blanket, and they give you a little warm hand squeezer.
“When I donate, the rest of the world melts away, and it’s a time to myself, undisturbed, without interruptions or demands on me. It’s my time to do my thing like puzzles, read, watch movies or stream television.”
Richter donated in her native Ohio and Arizona, where her grandchildren were born, and now in Naples. She said that she gives “because she can, because she has been blessed
with good health and has the time to donate,” which can be up to 24 times a year.
“At a recent tribute to President Jimmy Carter, he was quoted as saying, ‘I do whatever I can, wherever I can and for whoever I can,’” Richter said. “That is similar to my reply to those asking why I donate; I’ve always believed that you should pay it forward, and I give for those who can’t, like some of my family and friends.”
Erika Kemp has been donating whole blood for more than 25 years and has only good things to say about her donations.
“My blood donation experiences have been professional and pleasant, and I have always received wonderful care,” she said. “Giving blood is an uplifting experience that enables me to help people personally. It is so easy, and it’s the least I can do — it’s my way of giving back. If I were in need, I hope someone would step up to the plate and donate.”
Eligibility and exam
Donors fill out a medical history questionnaire designed for the safety of the donor and the patient. Eligibility includes:
• Age 17, with no upper age limit; age 16 with parental consent
• Minimum weight of 110 pounds
• A photo identification card
Eligible donors are those who have been cancer-free and have completed treatments for 12 months. You can also donate if you take aspirin or hormone replacements and medications for blood pressure, thyroid and antidepressants. Most medications will not prevent someone from donating blood. Those with blood-related cancer cannot donate blood; certain restrictions apply, so a call to the Center is encouraged.
Rosen said a mini medical exam is conducted that checks blood pressure, pulse, hemoglobin, body temperature, total cholesterol levels and blood type. (Donors can call later for the last two results.) Those who pass the medical exam and history questionnaire can donate. Donors can prepare by eating a meal before the donation and being well-hydrated with water or juice.
Two types of donations
“When you donate whole blood, the blood is broken down into red cells, plasma and platelets that can benefit up to three people with one donation,” Rosen said. “The shelf life of whole blood units is 42 days, and people can donate every 56 days. What’s collected here by the Community Blood Center stays here.”
Platelets are short-lived blood cells essential for normal blood clotting. Rosen explained
that platelet donors must be aspirin-free for 48 hours before donating and meet eligibility requirements. If qualified, the donor is hooked up to a tube that goes into a machine that draws out the donor’s blood, which goes into the machine. A centrifuge can separate the blood into the needed components and then return it to the donor. With a shelf life of only five days, the platelets must be used right away, so they are transported to five local southwest Florida hospitals, often for cardiac patients. Platelet donors may give every 14 days.
The Community Blood Center
Bloodmobile
Blood drives are scheduled at communities, churches, businesses, high schools, colleges and other locations. Twenty units of blood is the target number for collections, so if 20 donors can be assembled, the mobile unit will schedule a date. The mobile unit goes out an average of five days weekly.
Benefits of giving blood
• It is a way to give back to the community
• Donors receive a mini medical exam
• When you give blood, you are generating new heavily oxygenated red cells for yourself
Those who cannot donate blood can offer financial assistance or host a blood drive. “What else can you do that has such a big impact on people?” Rosen said. “You can literally create a lifetime or give a lifeline to someone who can celebrate another day of life. Donating blood makes a difference. Giving where you live is important, and donating with us ensures the resources are adequate for our community.”
Community Blood Center, affiliate of the NCH Healthcare System
Where: 1100 Immokalee Road, Naples (inside the NCH Business Center)
Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; 8 a.m-4 p.m. Thursday-Friday
Information: givebloodcbc.org facebook. com/givebloodcbc #givebloodcbc or call 239.624.4120. Walk-ins are invited for whole blood donations. Platelet donors must call for an appointment.
To find blood drives: visit givebloodcbc.org for locations, dates and times
Current acute needs for blood
Type O and A
Platelet donors with type B and type AB blood are urged to give platelets instead of donating blood.
Erika Kemp donates whole blood at the Community
Judy Richter has donated blood platelets more than 600 times so far, and donates at the Community Blood Center in North Naples every other Thursday.
First workforce apartments atop commercial building approved for Marco
By Aisling Swift
As new affordable workforce
apartments are being built on undeveloped land in Collier County, Naples and Marco Island are searching for ways to squeeze affordable housing into these already built-out cities.
This month, Marco Island City Council unanimously approved a conditional use to allow restaurateurs Joseph and Doreen Oliverio to build three apartments on the upper level of their building at 287 N. Collier Blvd., and a 10-year agreement to allow residents to park at another building they own at 297 N. Collier Blvd., where Doreen’s Cup of Joe and La Mesa Taqueria are located. Two on-site, designated parking spaces will be provided for each apartment.
“The use is less intense with residential on that second floor than it would be if it were commercial,” City Planning Manager Mary Holden told councilors on Jan. 6.
It’s the first application to be approved under a 2024 conditional-use approval process that allows commercial building owners to convert upper-level offices into affordable apartments. State statutes define “affordable” as housing cost-
ing no more than 30% of the median household income, including monthly rent, taxes, insurance and utilities.
However, Oliverio won a reversal of the city’s 2006 rent-restriction requirement for 18 addresses along Collier Boulevard, meaning he can seek market-rate rents. The median rent on Marco Island is $6,750, according to Zillow, which shows
156 available rentals; apartments. com places the average rent for a 604-square-foot apartment at $3,783 per month on the island.
The Oliverios own another restaurant on Collier Boulevard, Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House at 257 North Collier Boulevard. They purchased a building between the restaurants for employee parking and to convert upstairs offices to
affordable apartments for their employees. It was Joe Oliverio who suggested the conditional-use process that council approved last March.
City staff said the ability to convert upper-level space typically used for offices into workforce housing benefits employers, employees, residents and visitors by providing affordable housing conveniently lo-
cated to jobs on the island.
A condition of approval is that the Oliverios must bring the old building into compliance to the greatest extent possible. Their land-use attorney, Zachary Woodward, said that it includes a fire-sprinkler system. He noted 12 apartments are allowed per acre and this site is 0.4 acres, so that allows five apartments and they’re asking for three.
The parking agreement will allow the Oliverios to seek staff approval to increase La Mesa’s seating from 84 to 120, but that’s a separate application.
Under the city’s conditional-use process, efficiency and one-bedroom apartments would be a minimum of 450 square feet, while a two-bedroom unit would be at least 650 square feet and a three-bedroom apartment would be 900 square feet or more.
The process also requires that the building remain 50% commercial or more, at least 24% of the mixeduse development be used for open space, and that the property owner hold a neighborhood information meeting. Oliverio hosted a meeting, but no one attended, and the plan wasn’t opposed.
Council held a final public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, a day later than normal due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
Welcoming new leadership to head Jewish Federation of Greater Naples
“Relationships, relationships, relationships.” That singular value, thrice enunciated by newly installed Jewish Federation of Greater Naples President and CEO Nammie Ichilov, will be the foundation upon which he plans to erect a stronger community entity.
Building upon the work left by outgoing President and CEO Emeritus Jeffrey Feld, Ichilov is poised to bring his perspective and leadership, honed from decades of inter- and intra-community experiences, to bear on the future programming, support, development and outreach that will carry the Federation into the years ahead.
Raised in Israel and educated in the United Kingdom (Cardiff, Wales), Ichilov and his wife are now full-time Naples residents. The couple are empty-nesters with two adult daughters who reside in Chicago and Boston. Ichilov comes from a background of 30 years in education, having served as a substitute teacher in college and a superintendent in the private sector. Early into his career, Ichilov spent time in Orlando as an associate head of school, then in Palm Beach County as a head of school, and knew he’d return to Florida at some point. As his roles, responsibilities and school sizes increased, he eventually landed in San Antonio, Texas, invited to serve as the founding head of a charter school that today has 1,500 students from preschool to high school.
In March of 2020, the Jewish Federation of San Antonio hired Ichilov as director of the Holocaust Museum. Later, he was tapped as the organization’s CEO, his most recent position before returning to Florida.
“The umbrella organization of Jewish Federations of North America — I lovingly call them ‘the mothership’ — called me about the open position in Naples, and here I am,” Ichilov said.
Ichilov spoke about his goals, thoughts and aspirations for steering the local Federation toward new horizons.
The Naples Press: Can you recall an incident that made you proud of being Jewish?
Nammie Ichilov: Looking back at my daughters’ life cycles, seeing them graduate from kindergarten and their Jewish day school, which underscored their growth intellectually as Jews, spiritually, and as a member of the Jewish community, cemented that sense of pride in my Jewish heritage.
TNP: What incident or recollection has left a stain of hurt in your heart?
Ichilov: The most significant recent occurrence was on Oct. 7, 2023. Having extended family and heritage in Israel, on a personal level, the events of that date definitely tore at my heartstrings. But even so, it’s like a beautiful piece of literature. At the same time, the diaspora and Israeli Jewish communities came together, which was an incredible blessing and statement of our fellowship and sense of family. Since that moment, the ongoing struggle to release the hostages has pulled and ripped my heart because we still struggle with each other communally, battle from within and disagree on public terms.
TNP: What would you like the
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NAPLES
4720 Pine Ridge Road, Naples jewishnaples.org, 239.263.4205 or info@ jewishnaples.org
Federation members to know about you?
Ichilov: I have a passion for building community. It’s the opportunity to collaborate with our Jewish organizations, reach out to our interfaith and general community leaders and help build a vibrant, meaningful, safe community for the Jewish Greater Naples community.
TNP: What are some of your short-term goals?
Ichilov: I need to get to know the community before I can make recommendations on adjustments, changes, tweaks and direction. I need to better understand and get to know who I’m working with and for.
TNP: What are your thoughts on programming?
Ichilov: As an educator, I believe education is the opportunity to solve most of the challenges in everyday society and our communal and personal lives. However, advocacy for the Jewish community is also critical. I came from a community where we had a vibrant Jewish Community Relations Council, which does a lot of outreach for the community, and I would like to see the Federation here go beyond programming to advocacy.
TNP: What’s the most minor change you would make that would make the most significant difference?
Ichilov: To nurture a service
mentality; I’m a huge believer in service, leadership and the notion of the servant leader. I’m a big student of Robert Greenleaf, who coined that concept and wrote Servant Leadership, a book that discusses servitude as the legitimate base of power and greatness.
TNP: Where do you see the Federation in five years?
Ichilov: I don’t yet fully know where we are as a community. I see the incredible amount of programming, how busy the Nina Iser Cultural Center is and the opportunities for Jewish community building that takes place. To better the project, five years from now, I hope that the community is saying that they’re getting their needs met.
TNP: What role will the Federation play in supporting Israel?
Ichilov: Israel is a staple and having a healthy and positive relationship with it is part of being Jewish. As we build the Jewish community and provide opportunities for engagement in it, that implicitly includes developing and nurturing people’s relationships with the state of Israel.
TNP: What is the role of security in the Federation’s building and events?
Ichilov: The Jewish community always has safety and security on its radar. There’s never a moment where the safety and security of the Jewish community are not being considered, planned for and addressed. Security is part of how we operate as a Jewish faith group. We are in a time when there are many other “isms.” Sadly, there’s a lot of partisanship and a lot of “If you don’t agree with me, then you’re my enemy.” The key to security is developing healthy partnerships and relationships with our extended community so we can-
not be bothered by others.
TNP: How will you get the next generation involved or more interested in their faith?
Ichilov: We’re involved in developing the pipeline of professionals and lay volunteers. For example, I recently had an extraordinary meeting with the teen youth group leaders of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. They shared some of the struggles, challenges and opportunities that exist in meeting the needs of their peers. We discussed their aspirations and ways that I and the Federation can help. We need to engage more of their peers; to that end, I attempt to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
TNP: How important is it to reach out to those of other faiths in the community?
Ichilov: As I see it, the five pillars of the Jewish Community Relations Council advocacy arm are relevant to community outreach. They are:
1. Nurturing Interfaith Partnerships — reaching out to our interfaith community, helping to develop common understanding and fellowship.
2. Enhancing Government Relations — working with our elected officials to address policy issues essential and relevant to the Jewish community.
3. Increasing Educational Outreach — educating our K-12 and higher education teachers and administrators on the importance of issues facing the Jewish community.
4. Advancing Israel Advocacy — nurturing our relationship with Israel and educating the broader community on Israel-related issues and opportunities.
5. Combating antisemitism — in all its forms; locally, nationally and across the globe.
Condominiums are expected to be built above 287 N. Collier Blvd. Downstairs is a nail salon. Photo by Ed Scott
By Jean L. Amodea
Nammie Ichilov
From page 1A
ATEN KNOWS
Public Schools. The tank in question is part of the school’s thermal energy storage system, which produces and stores chilled water during off-peak demand hours, for use during peak demand hours to cool the school through even the hottest day of the year.
Of the school district’s 60 school and support sites, thermal energy storage tanks are being used on 21, including Aubrey Rogers High School and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Administrative Center, said Marc Rouleau, chief facilities officer at Collier County Public Schools. The use of the thermal energy storage system enables the school district to be more fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable, Rouleau said, by reducing energy consumption during peak hours, lowering electricity costs and enhancing the long-term efficiency of school facilities.
The school will cost more than $80 million to build. The $1.1 million cost to build the tank at Bear Creek is expected to be recouped within less than 3.5 years of operation because of $103,000 in estimated annual electric bill savings; an estimated $440,000 in Inflation Reduction Act savings from the federal government; and an estimated $323,000 rebate from Florida Power & Light.
Several factors influenced the placement of the tank, Rouleau said, including its proximity to the adjacent chiller plant, which is next to the rear of the school along Immokalee Road. This synergistic positioning minimizes the distance for underground pipes, which lowers costs and increases efficiency.
“We want to have minimally sized pumps that can deliver chill water to the building, so the chiller plant is placed as close to the building as possible to keep the chill water lines short,” he said. “Also, the chill water plant is located next to the main electrical room. It requires a tremendous amount of power, so it makes sense to place that near the main electrical room, and FPL’s electrical service enters the campus not far from that point.”
The positioning of the thermal system, though, began with the school site determination, which was especially influenced by planning for vehicle traffic from school buses and parents dropping off and picking up children, Rouleau said.
The two-story, 128,000-squarefoot school building is being built to serve 919 students in kindergarten through fifth grade and 80 pre-kindergarten students. Bear Creek will be the first public elementary school in Collier with a pre-K wing.
“We felt that it would be safer to have the building rotated where the back of the building shields them from the roadway,” he said.
“When you have a large volume of cars, you have to consider how you’re going to manage that traffic without it becoming a hazard to the community. So, one of the things we had to very carefully consider is how we’re going to put much of that traffic onto Bear Creek Elementary campus rather than allow it to drift out into Immokalee Road.”
That was achieved through a series of interior roads that serpentine around the campus to stack vehicles while attempting to keep bus and car traffic separated as much as possible. Moulder Drive will be
considerably widened, and a traffic light will be erected at its intersection with Immokalee Road.
“The reason the tank is positioned where it’s at goes back to the building location,” Rouleau said.
“I had to place the chiller plant as close to the structure as possible — with access roads, of course, into consideration. The reason for that is we want to minimize the cost of construction and also we want to reduce the amount of pressure generated by long, long chill water lines.”
Building permit review and issuance, as well as site inspections and building inspections, are regulated by the Florida Department of Education, so the county government
was not involved in the process for the new school. The state of Florida has essentially pre-empted local jurisdictions from plan review and inspections for educational facilities with the exception of utilities, roadway improvements and environmental considerations, said Mike Bosi, Collier County planning and zoning division director.
Landscaping, including palm trees, will be added parallel to Immokalee Road so that the view of the thermal energy tank will be minimized for passersby. The intent is to plant mature palms so that the palms are at least as tall as the tank, Rouleau said.
“I've got other tanks where community members were very con-
cerned about its placement. At the end of the day, we want to be good neighbors, so one of the things that we will be doing, in addition to painting the tank a relatively different color — it will be like a tan color to help it kind of blend in with the background and also the school a little bit — we'll be adding some landscape breadth and depth,” said Chad Oliver, chief communication officer for Collier County Public Schools.
Bear Creek Elementary’s first principal has been named: Margaux Horne will lead the new school. Horne was named the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year for the school district. She previously was principal at Highlands Elementary School in Immokalee and assistant principal at Lake Trafford and Estates elementary schools.
Towering above
The highly visible communication tower under construction on Cornerstone Drive near Immokalee Road is not affiliated with Bear Creek Elementary School, being built immediately west of the tower.
Gulfstream Towers LLC, based in Winter Park, is erecting the towering monopine at 11160 Immokalee Road to “serve as the infrastructure for multiple mobile communication networks that provide personal communication services and enhanced E911 service along Immokalee Road and surrounding residences and businesses,” Collier County permitting public records show.
The monopole cell tower is disguised as a towering pine tree for more than aesthetic reasons. The tree design allows its tenants to use additional antenna equipment, which ultimately delivers better network coverage to its users, said Michael Burkhead of Gulfstream Towers.
Once activated, the tower will host communication transmission equipment from various wireless carriers.
“T-Mobile has signed an agreement to place equipment on the tower; Verizon and AT&T have made application to start that process,” Burkhead said.
The new tower does not replace an existing tower, but will bridge the gap between towers operating 2.5 miles east and 3 miles west along Immokalee Road, Burkhead said. The new tower’s range depends on the number of users and amount of data being transmitted at the time, he said, but the tower will generally serve customers within a range of 1.5 to 2 miles.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim. aten@naplespress.com.
Rising more than 28 feet above ground, this thermal energy storage tank on the corner of Immokalee Road and Cornerstone Drive stores chilled water to cool the adjacent Bear Creek Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in August. Photo by Tim Aten
Plans for Bear Creek Elementary School, under construction on the corner of Immokalee Road and Moulder Drive, include a chiller plant and thermal energy storage tank, shown at the top of this image. Rendering by Harvard Jolly Architecture
From page 1A
PRIDE FEST
Collier County Sheriff’s deputies and SWAT team members will be $30,600, a cost to be incurred by Naples Pride, to ensure safety for up to 3,000 attendees, including protesters.
Reaction to the meeting was swift.
“The public comments were filled with misinformation and, at times, blatant hate speech,” Naples Pride said in a statement afterward. “Naples Pride is being asked to pay for hostility toward LGBTQ+ inclusivity, a textbook example of viewpoint discrimination — essentially placing a ‘price tag’ on free speech.
“Despite the Naples Police Department confirming the event — including drag performances on the main stage — can be held safely under their security plan, the city relied on their own subjective views over this objective information. This is discrimination,” Naples Pride added.
Naples Pride, whose center is on Airport-Pulling Road South, is seeking input from the community. Its board of directors will discuss next steps, said Callahan Soldavini, a board member who serves as legal counsel. She added she’s “disheartened” it wasn’t given a chance to pay $44,000 for drag performances on the main (outdoor) stage, which the police chief said they could handle.
“It’s really culturally significant,” Soldavini said outside City Hall, calling drag shows a core part of Pride events. “For some reason, that’s either not translating or city council members just prefer their own viewpoints rather than opening their minds. They’re all saying they’re defaulting to safety.”
The event celebrating unity and diversity is a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which provides counseling and other services for LGBTQ+ adults and children in crisis, including those being bullied at school, evicted by parents or at risk of suicide. The organization has gone beyond its core mission, helping many others throughout the larger community, including after hurricanes.
Drag history
Drag queens date back at least to 1869, when drag-queen balls began in Harlem’s Hamilton Lodge, where queer and trans Black residents could perform in a safe place. Performances spread to underground gay speakeasies in the 1920s and since then, drag has been a mainstay in gay bars.
The first Pride event occurred June 28, 1970, in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Now called the Gay Pride Liberation March, it commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which followed a raid and police brutality at Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. It was a turning point for gay rights.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton proclaimed June Gay Pride Month. Years later, when the festival was canceled due to the pandemic, Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann proclaimed June 16, 2021, Gay Pride Day to celebrate LGBTQ+ achievements, to promote visibility, social and self-acceptance, legal rights and equality, and to honor those who fought for their rights.
Soldavini said the “family friendly” performances feature lip sync and dancing, with drag queens wearing more clothing “than a Dallas cheerleader.”
“Excluding drag erodes the values of authenticity, visibility and the freedom to express oneself without fear of discrimination,” she said. “Whether people attend or parents bring their children to a drag show should be their choice.”
Hatred, fear vs. kindness, acceptance
The scheduled vote divided the community, prompting opponents from as far as Marco Island and Fort Myers to pack council chambers for a workshop two days earlier, and for the vote. City officials received about 200 emails. Most supported Naples Pride, but many opponents asked to keep the drag show indoors.
Because permit approval wasn’t on the Jan. 13 agenda, only opponents spoke out. They held Bibles, quoted scripture and called themselves Christians and patriots. They said they wanted to protect children and contended drag queens performed “lewd, lascivious, criminal acts.” Some contended Naples Pride isn’t based in the city so council should vote no.
Cody Davis, who founded the Jeffersonian Party of Florida, called it a “homosexual event.” He detailed the nation’s history of sexual immorality, how castration and execution were once considered an appropriate punishment for homosexuality and said lynching still is.
“The consensus of Americans for centuries was that lynching, when done correctly, is both completely lawful and appropriate,” Davis said, arguing that law is embedded in the legal system and “no legislature, executive order or judiciary can ever change that.”
“Americans of Thomas Jefferson’s persuasion have no other logical conclusion to draw, but that lawful violence is acceptable in response to the kind of savage behavior being proposed to take place here at Cambier Park — and I pray that God will remove the people that are trying to do these horrible things in my community,” added Davis, who doesn’t live in the city.
Vicky Lindsay said Naples should be a “pure, safe place” and this event would confuse children. “LGBTQ have been saying, ‘We are coming for your children,’” Lindsay warned.
On Jan. 15, a man wearing a “Jesus Saves From Hell” T-shirt set up signs outside City Hall stating: “Ask Me Why You Deserve Hell,” “Repent, Come to Jesus” and “Wake Up, God’s Judgment is Coming. Repent.”
Pride advocates packed chambers, showing support with Pride flag stickers. Many opponents returned to speak again.
The mayor read the city’s pledge of civility, urging an “open exchange” of ideas and discussion and asking everyone to be respectful and avoid personal attacks.
Parting perspective
City Manager Jay Boodheshwar reminded everyone: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
“Words do hurt,” Boodheshwar said, noting it’s his last meeting as he retires from the public sector.
“Yeah, they do hurt and I want to say a couple of things because [soon] I will not have an opportunity, a public forum like this, to speak on issues that I think can either divide communities or bring things together,” he said. “As a person of color, a first-generation immigrant and someone in a mixed-race marriage, trust me when I say I know what that looks like and feels like. I’ve endured it all my life.”
He said his job is to improve the lives of others without hurting them through his actions, and noted everyone is influenced by different life experiences. He cited the roughly 200 emails city officials received.
“Some of what I read — and it was the minority — frankly, made me cry because words do hurt, so I’d like to implore all of us to follow the mayor’s guidance today and be our best selves by drawing on the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ... with one of his famous sayings: ‘Love is the only force capable of turning an enemy into a friend,’ ” he said.
No issue with past events
Parks Director Chad Merritt told council the department had no issues with the event, just a few protesters when it was held inside Norris Center in 2023 and inside the Woman’s Club last year.
Police Chief Ciro Dominguez said he’s elevated city standards to the national level and due to the controversy, he’s planning for the worstcase scenario by considering many factors, including intelligence, past events, crowd size, accessibility and potential for conflict. He said fees had to be raised because the department is planning better, with more staff, and started being charged for deploying SWAT team members from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
“It costs more to have events because there are more threats out there — and that’s the reality,” he said, citing the truck attack that killed 14 people and injured dozens on New Year’s Day in New Orleans. “They had the equipment; they did not use it,” he said. “We have the staff; we’re going to have a park and an open-air event and we’re going to use all the resources that we have available, including the Sheriff’s Office.”
He noted charges increased for all
community. That does not make them abusers. They are not grooming your children. They are not pedophiles. They are people who are coming to celebrate an event.”
She urged council to put personal beliefs aside, do their duty and not pander to politics.
Judy Freiberg noted that in the late 1970s, the village of Skokie, Illinois, where many holocaust survivors lived, tried to ban a neo-Nazi march, or deter it with exorbitant security fees. But in a landmark case, the Supreme Court agreed Nazis had a right to free speech and could march. She urged council to approve the show and suggested reducing security costs to 20% of festival revenues.
Leo Dorn, a high school senior, said his parents instilled in him civic responsibility, respect for others, fairness, honesty and compassion and, at school, he gained an appreciation for the U.S. Constitution. He went to Pride Fest last year with his family.
events during the past year but said Naples PD can provide security for an outdoor drag show for $44,000, less if it’s indoors.
Naples Pride Executive Director Cori Craciun told council that people with “political aspirations and hunger for power” started using the LGBTQ+ community, family friendly drag show and festival as “fodder for their ambitions.”
“I wish our elected officials could focus on addressing real needs for their constituents instead of framing bigotry as a way to protect children, all while putting our entire community at risk,” Craciun said, her voice choking with emotion.
“I’m tired, tired of coming here over and over again … wondering if our permit will be approved or denied.
“Will we have to close the doors of Naples Pride Center, the only space in town where anyone on the rainbow spectrum can find love and acceptance without judgment?”
Soldavini said she understands security concerns, but the organization is willing to pay.
“Your vote to approve our permit is not necessarily an endorsement for drag; it is a vote to uphold our constitutional freedoms, allow artistic expression and respect parental choice,” she said. “It is a vote for fairness, inclusivity and the values that make the city of Naples great.”
She urged council to set a precedent for other cities, adding: “Let’s show them how Naples leads, with a commitment to fairness, a rejection of censorship, a willingness to collaborate, respect for the Constitution and respect for the Pride community and the significance it places on drag performances.”
Supportive organizations
Supporters tempered the hatred and fear, urging acceptance and kindness. They included the Interfaith Alliance of Southwest Florida and League of Women Voters. Some questioned why costs were being increased and called it unconstitutional to ban the drag show, while others said speakers who claimed children placed dollar bills in G-strings, or that drag queens preyed on children, were lying.
Maria Mair said the city and state investigated those allegations about the festival in 2022 and she was among those who heard the evidence on the Code Enforcement Board.
“It’s unacceptable,” Mair said of speakers who suggested execution and castration, adding it brought many to tears. “There are many, many gay people, trans people, people who want to wear a dress in our
“It was a wonderful festival filled with smiling faces and happy people of all ages,” Dorn said. “The only unhappiness and nastiness was outside the event, with protesters [and] … their hateful signs. I felt safe but found it sad that some people tried to bring ugliness to an otherwise beautiful day.”
Due to his age, he had to sit outside while his family enjoyed the drag show, he said, adding, “Having an all-ages drag show on the main stage would allow parents to share this experience with their children.” Of 48 speakers, 23 urged council to vote yes, while opponents asked council to say no — or keep the drag show indoors.
‘The gulf that exists’ Hutchison, who voted no to “protect residents,” contended “family friendly” is the “new woke label” for drag shows around children and called it “hypersexualized.”
Councilman Ray Christman suggested approval, but because an outdoor drag show “accentuates” public safety risks, he recommended it be held inside. He said Naples Pride isn’t the only group that has complained about rising security costs. He attended the event several times, calling it a family friendly event similar to others nationwide, and said Naples should hold one. He said the passion and support contrasted with “a lot of misinformation, offensive remarks and outright hate speech” that “sullied” council.
“What’s also clear is that the gulf that exists is very wide,” Christman said. “I’m personally offended by some of the comments that suggest that [drag shows] are nothing but Trojan horses for grooming children.”
Councilman Bill Kramer called many speakers “ugly, hateful, mean and extreme” and noted most aren’t city residents, but said an outdoor drag show is an unsafe event that attracts “bad actors.” He suggested the festival be held elsewhere and recommended decreasing Naples’ 300 yearly events.
Councilwoman Beth Petrunoff noted the city canceled this year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks due to high security costs, so she expected security costs to be higher for an outdoor drag show, which she didn’t consider a pornographic or grooming event. However, she agreed council should review what events city residents support.
Councilwoman Linda Penniman said council’s job isn’t to “adjudicate life choices or personal taste,” but to prepare for and guarantee safety of the people they serve. Most emails they received support the festival, she said, but most opponents wanted the drag show inside.
The mayor agreed, adding residents’ position was “loud and clear” during last year’s elections.
Supporters and opponents attended the meeting. There were 48 speakers. Others stood outside as well. Photo by Aisling Swift
Lujacks All-American Grill kicks off in North Naples
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
Lujacks All-American Grill celebrated its North Naples launch Jan. 9; the same day Notre Dame won the Orange Bowl to advance the Fighting Irish to the national college football championship game on Jan. 20.
This is especially notable because Lujacks honors football legend Johnny “Louie” Lujack, the 1947 Heisman Trophy winner, Notre Dame hall of famer and former quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Lujack died in Naples in July 2023 at the age of 98.
Lujack’s actual Heisman trophy is on display in a protective glass case between the restaurant’s main entrance and bar — so, of course, selfies with the prestigious 45-pound cast bronze trophy can be shared via social media.
Even beyond its legendary namesake’s history, Lujacks has a great backstory. Lujack’s grandson, Grant Pohlmann, is co-owner of the new restaurant and owns its retail center, Fountain Park, near the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads. Pohlmann co-owns Lujacks with Ted Kasemir, co-founder of Bar Louie and Zza Baby Pizza Bar, both of which had locations in Southwest Florida.
Lujacks’ sizeable space most recently was The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant for more than five years, but the new restaurant compares more closely to The Pearl’s predecessor, Stonewood Grill & Tavern, a Florida chain that had a 17-year run there.
“We have a great atmosphere, a great product, a back-to-basics menu — not something crazy,” Kasemir said.
Before its public opening, Lujacks had a private fundraiser earlier this month to benefit the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization that Lujack and Pohlmann have been passionate about. From that kickoff, the initial reaction has been good, Kasemir said.
“They love the nostalgic photos from the ‘40s and the ‘50s. That’s the era for a lot of the clientele we have here,” he said. “It brought it home. It’s an elevated ‘40s-’50s steakhouse.”
Pohlmann has noticed a lot of smiles and a lot of happy people at the new restaurant. He is thrilled with the reception and feels the bar has been set high.
“Naples is a great town that appreciates good food and good service,” he said. “I think they are really pleased and excited about what they see in the food.”
Besides steaks, Lujacks’ most popular menu items include seafood, and even some fare with a nod to Chicago, where Lujack played professionally.
“We have this miso-glazed salmon everyone is raving about, this pan-seared grouper we brought out,” Kasemir said. “We have a traditional Chicago Dip, my spin on a Chicago Italian beef made with prime rib and a little hot giardiniera from Chicago.”
That’s not the only elevated sandwich on the menu.
“Our Heisman Burger I think will knock your socks off,” Kasemir said. “A prime blend, we’re making our own patties, two 4-ounce
patties with some American cheese and this maple-glazed bacon that we’re bringing in — real thick, thick slabs — and then we put a fried egg on it and we put it all together at the table. It’s really an impressive burger.”
The menu also features specialties such as baby back ribs, braised short rib and Chicken Vesuvio — airline chicken marinated with garlic and white wine. In addition to salads, sweets and sides, appetizers include ahi tuna tartare wontons, “diabolical” deviled eggs, Louie’s meatballs and a chilled seafood tower.
Lujacks will be a dinner-only restaurant until it opens for lunch beginning Feb. 6. The new destination also sports a full bar with some signature craft cocktails.
“My favorite’s the Cherrywood Smoked Old Fashioned,” Kasemir said. “We put a little Woodford cherry bitters, a little Woodford bourbon, some vanilla and we smoke it in a glass with a special ice cube.”
Cocktails also include “The Champ” with Grey Goose Vodka, lemonade, Chambord and raspberry garnish; and the Heisman Spritz with prosecco, Aperol, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, tangerine juice and an orange wheel.
Lujacks, 7935 Airport-Pulling Road, Suite 20, will open daily 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. The restaurant seats 190, which includes a private banquet room with about 70 seats.
Lujacks All-American Grill launched Jan. 9 in Fountain Park, near the southwest corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads in North Naples. The large restaurant space previously was home to The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant and Stonewood Grill & Tavern. Photo by Tim Aten
The 1947 Heisman Trophy awarded to Johnny Lujack is on display at the new Lujacks All-American Grill in North Naples. The former Naples resident was a Notre Dame hall of famer and former quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Photo by Tim Aten
Maine Shack shares taste of New England in North Naples
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
A new local restaurant in North Naples showcases New England comfort food.
Specializing in lobster rolls, fried clams and roast beef sandwiches, Maine Shack quietly launched Dec. 23 in the former space of Kruk’s Philly Steaks in the Promenade at Naples Centre on the corner of Naples Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road. That unit next to Moe’s Southwest Grill previously was Beefstro’s Gourmet Beefs, Fabulous Pita and Quiznos within an 18-year run of sandwich shops.
Patrons are discovering the New England favorites served at the new restaurant. “They’re loving the fried clams and the lobster rolls. The lobster is flown in fresh, and the fried clams and steamers, as well — so all authentic New England seafood,” said Maine Shack owner Drew Ryan, a Maine transplant.
Ryan recently closed his Maine Shack eatery in Colorado to focus on his new brick-and-mortar location in Naples. He previously had a food truck for a few years at Celebration Park and South Collier Farmers Market in East Naples and is starting the fourth season for Red Sox spring training at Fenway South in Fort Myers.
“We have a Brown Butter Roll and a Connecticut Roll. Those are both warm rolls. Then we have the Maine Shack Roll, which is mayonnaise cut with saltwater and drizzled with warm butter on top” said Ryan, noting that the Maine Shack Roll is his favorite. “That’s the best of both worlds with a warm bun, cool meat and warm butter on top. We also have a Fancy Roll, which has cucumbers and celery and lettuce. You also can just get it naked and dress it up yourself.”
and crab, haddock,
and whole
rolls also are available.
“Our price is more expensive than most places, but we’re not buying frozen lobster from Canada that’s been processed from who knows where,” Ryan said. “We’re buying stuff straight from Maine fresh, so with that comes a price. We’re shipping it down here, we’re not using a distributor for the lobster; so that costs money.”
Maine lobster not only stands out on the restaurant’s logo and signage, it dominates the menu with lobster tail skewers poached in brown butter; lobster mac and cheese with a mascarpone cheese blend and toast-
Another speaker said the crash could have been far worse. “It could have come down on somebody’s house,” he said.
Another resident told the NAA that “flying without Instrument Flight Rules flight plan is reckless. Flying in a dense fog with zero visibility is a very serious violation of air regulations.”
Jose Cabrera of Naples Jet Center gave the pilot a break.
“One pilot made a wrong decision; it happens every day with cars,” Cabrera said. “Perhaps we should lock community parking lots after hours.”
Members of the public also called for more noise abatement measures.
Eileen Lowery told the NAA board that air traffic has increased to “unacceptable” levels in recent years. The NAA has sought to reduce noise by instituting the flight curfew, adopting
higher-altitude approaches and other methods.
The City of Naples and the airport authority
“both agree we have a noise issue here in Naples,” Lowery told the board. She suggested using dispersed departures on some runways and instituting a left-hand turn on takeoff for Runway 05/23.
“We must strive for more noise relief for residents,” she said. “The season is sure to be a frustrating one with a jet overhead every one to three minutes.”
ed Parmesan bread crumbs; lobster lettuce wraps with slaw, avocado and 3 ounces of lobster; lobster grilled cheese with sharp cheddar and white American; a lobster B.L.T. and “Lobsterado,” a 3-ounce brown butter lobster roll with a 3-ounce poached lobster tail on top.
“We just try to keep it as authentic as we possibly can and bring in the best, freshest ingredients,” Ryan said.
That includes the North Shore 3-Way roast beef sandwiches made with rare roast beef, James River BBQ Sauce, mayonnaise and American cheese on an onion bun.
“More people eat North Shore roast beef than they do lobster rolls and fried clams combined north of Boston,” Ryan said.
The menu also includes clam chowder, whole body clams, fish n’ chips, fried shrimp, haddock sandwiches and the Maine Shack Burger, which is made with brisket, short rib and chuck on an onion bun. Desserts include gluten-free whoopie pies made by Cak’d in Naples. Beer and wine are available, too.
“All of our fried foods have very little batter on it,” Ryan said. “We try to use the least amount of batter possible and let the seafood do the talking.”
Joining Drew and Tina Ryan at Maine Shack’s grand opening celebration Jan. 4 were their good friends Ashley and Ryan Eldridge, stars of the “Maine Cabin Masters” cable TV show. “Maine Cabin Masters” helped with the buildout of Maine Shack, sourcing reclaimed barn wood for the restaurant’s walls.
“They’ve been a big part in helping us,” Ryan said. “All this decor in here is all from Maine.”
Maine Shack, 6434 Naples Blvd., Unit 404, is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
“One pilot made a wrong decision. It happens every day with cars.”
—Jose Cabrera, of Naples Jet Center
Photo by Tim Aten
Reclaimed barn wood, buoys and lobster traps line the interior walls of the new Maine Shack on the corner of Naples Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road in North Naples.
Photo by Tim Aten
The four options of lobster rolls feature claw and knuckle lobster meat on a toasted New England bun. A lobster roll trio
shrimp
belly clam
HEALTH
Personal experience leads to premier pelvic floor physical therapy clinic
By Melanie Pagan
Jacob Nassberg had not even gone three years from losing his children’s mother to cancer before the then-single father of two boys also received a cancer diagnosis in 2018.
He was just 42 and had to navigate pelvic floor therapy following his prostatectomy; his doctor strongly recommended the therapy to avoid incontinence and loss of sexual function, he said.
At the time, Naples had very few pelvic floor physical therapists, Nassberg recalled. NCH had a 6-8 month waiting list, which wasn’t feasible for his recovery needs.
He found treatment at Jaffe Sports Medicine, where the entrepreneur, who launched a private duty home health care company in 2006, saw an opportunity to make the services more accessible to the Collier County community, with help from his former physical therapist turned business partner, Lesley Jones.
Together, they opened Southwest Florida Pelvic Health Clinic in May 2022 as the only clinic in Southwest Florida that is devoted to pelvic floor physical therapy, Nassberg said.
Since then, the facility has grown and treated patients of all genders and ages for anything associated with pelvic floor dysfunction, from 3-year-olds with constipation to 97-year-olds with urinary issues, and for prenatal and postpartum care, pelvic organ prolapse, specific post-cancer rehabilitation and various pelvic pain, from endometriosis to vulvodynia.
While pelvic floor physical therapy has existed for more than 25 years, it’s been more prevalent in northern regions and is still expanding southward. Jones had a pelvic floor therapy
practice in Canada after treating her own pelvic floor concerns following the birth of her first child and before moving to Naples.
“It’s gotten to be a little more well-known here, which is great, so people understand that we can help with all these different conditions,” she said.
But it’s not just limited awareness that can lead to treatment apprehension — it’s fear.
“Some people are very nervous. This is a delicate, sensitive area of the body,” Jones said.
However, results can be transformative once a person seeks help.
A typical scenario involves post-menopausal women with urinary incontinence who stop participating in activities such as pickleball due to embarrassment. This can lead to sedentary weight gain, anxiety and social isolation, Jones said. By addressing the incontinence, they can return to an active lifestyle.
“It’s totally curable, but a lot of people don’t know that,” Jones said.
Another example: Patients with vaginismus — where involuntary muscle spasms of the pelvic floor muscles cause the vaginal muscles to tighten, making penetration difficult or painful — who believe they’ll never have relationships or children. Through careful, gentle, holistic treatment, they become able to have pain-free intercourse, “and they’re like, ‘You saved my life,’” Jones said.
In essence, Southwest Florida Pelvic Health Clinic does not just treat issues around pelvic floor dysfunction for all ages and genders. It brings independence, autonomy and comfort back to the patients, just as it did for the duo who began the business to fill a critical gap in the life-enhancing service, breaking barriers of hesitation and misconception in the process.
Finding solutions for perimenopausal symptoms
By Melanie Pagan
Perimenopause is often overshadowed by its better-known counterpart, menopause — a point in time for menstruators after going 12 months without a period. But for millions of period-havers, typically in their late 30s to early 50s, perimenopause marks a transitional phase toward menopause, signaling the end of reproductive years. Multi-faceted symptoms such as irregular cycles, hot flashes, mood swings, brain fog, sleep disturbances and low libido can make the journey challenging, with limited expert guidance available.
In fact, 75% of women who seek medical care for menopause-related issues do not receive treatment,
Comprehensive treatment addressing hormonal shifts early may reduce symptom severity and limit the need for pharmacological mood treatments.
and 80% of OB-GYN residents feel unprepared to discuss menopause with patients, according to the nonprofit Let’s Talk Menopause.
In an era when perimenopausal and menopausal concerns can be easily overlooked, Collier County medical professionals are stepping forward with solutions.
Hormone replacement therapy is often the first option, supplementing declining estrogen and progesterone to stabilize hormones and ease night sweats, vaginal dryness, emotional fluctuations and more.
“Hormone replacement is always going to be the most effective, but it’s not right for every-
body,” said Dr. Lorna Fedelem, a board-certified family medicine physician at Lorna Fedelem, MD and Associates in Naples. For example, Fedelem cited certain risk factors: “If women have had breast cancer or have a family history of breast cancer, they might not be the right candidate for hormones.”
(These are nuanced cases.)
For patients seeking alternatives, Fedelem might recommend herbal supplements, favoring the brand Bonafide Health, or other medications, all of which should be discussed with a doctor before use.
Michelle Ham, advanced registered nurse practitioner and own-
er of Optimal Wellness in Naples, said 75% of her patients are in a perimenopausal state. In addition to bioidentical hormone replacement, she uses medical devices to treat issues such as vaginal dryness, stress incontinence and sexual discomfort.
“I have patients who are 80 doing these procedures because they’re still sexually active,” Ham said. “If their minds are healthy, they want their bodies to match, too, and I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to treat them because they want to be there; they just need structural help.”
Comprehensive treatment addressing hormonal shifts early may reduce symptom severity and limit the need for pharmacological mood treatments.
“We try to get people away from antidepressants because they’re feeling insignificant or that they’re not performing the way they did in their 20s and 30s” by offering various treatment plans, Ham said.
However, some women may feel they need antidepressants for
mood stabilization or depression during perimenopause, which is not inherently negative. Some antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs and SNRIs, can alleviate the occurrence and intensity of hot flashes, according to a 2015 North American Menopause Society study, adding to the complexity regarding perimenopausal treatment choices.
Those experiencing perimenopause needn’t throw up their hands and succumb to symptoms, symbolically waving a white flag in surrender.
As understanding and access to perimenopause care expand, finding a health care professional who provides a safe, candid space and personalized solutions is key.
“I don’t want women to think that there’s just no hope in this, because we can always do something to at least quell some of those symptoms if we can’t get them to go away completely,” Fedelem said. “We can at least get some quality of life back. There are a lot of options out there.”
RIGHT: Lesley Jones, co-owner of Southwest Florida Pelvic Health Clinic, says people are reluctant and afraid to seek pelvic floor physical therapy as it is a sensitive area of the body. But, the results can be transformative, she says, once a person seeks help. Submitted
Dr. Lorna Fedelem
OUT & ABOUT
Empty Bowls is a fundraiser to raise money and awareness to help end hunger. Volunteers work to create handcrafted bowls; local restaurants donate soup and bread to serve; and guests are invited to contribute each year by enjoying a soup meal at Cambier Park. This year’s event was held Jan. 19.
Photography by Liz Gorman
Empty Bowls volunteer Nan Wright, left, assists attendees with picking out a bowl.
A handcrafted platter with an elephant design sits available for purchase.
Colorful
A young girl named Sloane paints a bowl. Attendees
Colorful bowls await participants, who will purchase them and fill them with soup from local restaurants.
Attendees
From page 3A MANAGER
trust in the community.
“Beyond his technical skills, Mr. Young possesses the remarkable interpersonal qualities that make him the only candidate for city manager at this time,” she added. “He is a collaborative leader who values input from all stakeholders and he has a proven track record of building strong relationships with both staff and our community. His approachable demeanor and willingness to listen has made him a respected figure in our organization.”
In a memo to council, Boodheshwar said it could take six months to hire a search firm and conduct a search and interviews, or at least three months if the city’s Human Resources Department conducted the search. In addition, national search firm costs when he was hired totaled $55,000, and it could take two months after a candidate is selected to move to Naples.
Before Naples, Young spent 30 years as chief deputy auditor for the city of Canton, Ohio, and earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from
Malone University in Canton. The city will now have to fill his finance director position.
Councilwoman Linda Penniman noted she’s probably worked longer with Young than others on council and has seen a “consistent quality of effort,” including guiding Naples through the economic downturn and recovery. “This is a remarkable man and we are really very, very fortunate that you are willing to step forward — and we will be better off for it,” Penniman added.
Councilman Ray Christman said the timing works well because Young was considering retiring and he stood out as the logical candidate.
“Mr. Young has the trust and confidence of the people who work here and the people who will be reporting to him, which is a hugely important asset,” Christman added.
Councilman Berne Barton called it “extremely fortunate” to have a deputy manager willing to step into the role, noting Naples faces many short- and long-term expenses, including resiliency projects and stormwater improvements.
Young said it wasn’t his intent to spend three more years with the city because he’ll reach 40 years in public service on June 5, but he agreed
Jay Boodheshwar
to be a bridge and to continue discussions with council and his wife Rebecca about his tenure.
“I would feel privileged to carry the ball forward for you and to do it in a way that puts all of us in a better position,” Young said of major initiatives over the next 10 to 20 years, including completion of Naples Pier. “We’re going to keep that going and see if we can’t get through another 36 months or so together and get us all in a wonderful place and know that we made the right decision today.”
Boodheshwar, who was Palm Beach’s deputy town manager before he was hired in Naples, will return to that area so he and his wife can be close to their daughter, Haley, in West Palm Beach, and have more life balance. Records show he applied for the Juno Beach town manager job before accepting the job at his daughters’ high school.
Boodheshwar called Young’s 40 years of public service “impressive.”
“He could have been a city manag-
er anywhere many, many years ago,”
Boodheshwar told council, adding that Naples has a “very impressive team” that works well together. “I have a personal attachment to this community and this team and knowing that it’s going to be in great hands with someone I know really well and trust makes me feel good, so I congratulate you on this decision to skip the search because sometimes the best candidate is right under your nose.”
He said he’d remain available to city officials if they needed anything.
Boodheshwar, who was born in Guyana, was the first immigrant and person of color to be hired as city manager. He was hired in May 2022 after his predecessor, Charles Chapman, resigned suddenly after surviving a 4-3 no-confidence vote that month. Boodheshwar served 16 years in Palm Beach, seven years as deputy town manager after serving as director of special projects and recreation director. Before that, he held leadership roles in Ohio and Indiana.
Boodheshwar and his wife Anne plan to keep their new home in Seychelles in East Naples, which they purchased in late November, and will use it to visit the area and
Bike taxi booted: City of Naples not moved by what man was peddling
By Aisling Swift
A six-passenger eco-friendly bicycle taxi service, designed to reduce traffic and parking congestion in downtown Naples, has lost its bid for a city franchise.
City Council on Jan. 15 unanimously denied Naples Bike Taxi LLC’s franchise proposal for two electric-assisted pedicabs with a six-passenger area in the rear to operate downtown, agreeing a 1987 ordinance allowing horse-drawn carriages and two pedicabs was outdated.
“There’s a general consensus here that you have a lot of traffic, a lot of congestion and for me, it’s a safety issue,” Mayor Teresa Heitmann said after a presentation and discussion.
Councilman Ray Christman made the motion to deny, saying the service was tailored more for tourism and increases commercialization — and the key word was 1987.
“It takes us in a direction we don’t want to go,” Christman added, noting Naples “didn’t have much going on” back then.
Council shot down a prior pedicab proposal in 1996, and in 2002, agreed to a three-month trial for Sunset Pedicabs, which operated out-
Park’s application and directed staff to develop a policy.
side downtown; further information wasn’t immediately available.
Slidr, a free, eco-friendly, on-demand electric-vehicle shuttle service that has operated since 2017, is funded by businesses and other sponsors and goes as far north as Venetian Village and south to Port Royal. City code allows for a maximum of two pedicabs, but there currently are none.
Naples Bike Taxi LLC’s proposal said it provides an alternative way to visit restaurants and bars downtown. The expanded tricycles have a wheel span that’s less than 9 feet and are about 4 feet wide.
tions for less than two hours.
Capri Food Truck Park. The board expressed concerns over the effects on neighboring properties, including noise, glare, odor, traffic and buffer setback requirements.
The board directed planning staff to bring back a land-development code amendment to allow for a conditional use of multiple food trucks within certain zoning districts on specific parcels, and asked that they set parameters, including hours of operation, traffic volume and parking requirements, and look at best practices.
That month, county commissioners also agreed to deny Isles of Capri Food Truck
Staff reviewed regulations in 20 communities statewide, including five counties, and five states — Texas, California, North Carolina, Arkansas and Oregon. The process went through the Development Services Advisory Board and its Land Development Review subcommittee, as well as the Planning Commission. The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District also suggested changes and county commissioners provided more input last year.
To operate, applicants must pay up to $10,140 in county fees, including a $4,000 conditional-use application. The amendment defined permanent mobile food-dispensing vehicles as non-transient, meaning they don’t stop temporarily at various loca-
The standards include parking and restroom requirements, maximum intensity, trash receptacles, hours of operation and appropriate locations. Conditional-use applications require notifying nearby properties about the application, a neighborhood information meeting and a public hearing, usually before the county hearing examiner.
They are not permitted in a PUD unless the PUD specifically lists them as a permissible use, as Emmanuel Lutheran Church did. To add that use to a PUD requires an amendment, a neighborhood information meeting, a Planning Commission hearing and two public hearings before the Board of County Commissioners that require a supermajority vote.
From page 1A
as a vacation rental. Records show it’s being offered for rent at $3,000 monthly and their prior Cedar Hammock home is up for sale at $1.14 million.
The Boodheshwars were active in Oxbridge Academy while their daughters, Haley and Miranda, attended and he has continued to be a dedicated member of the Board of Trustees and head of the School Search Committee, the school’s Facebook post said in announcing his hire. He’s joining the academy as it embarks on a new strategic plan and comprehensive capital campaign.
“Jay brings with him an impressive 30-year career of dedicated public service, including leadership roles across six communities in three states,” the post said. “His extensive background in community redevelopment and organizational leadership will be pivotal as we pursue these ambitious goals. From his leadership in the Palm Beach County City Management Association [and] approximately $81 million during his tenure with the Palm Beach United Way, Jay has a proven track record of inspiring collaboration and driving meaningful change.”
NAPLES
restaurant. It will be the first such Foundation location outside Modena, Italy.
“I am beyond grateful to our anonymous donor for guaranteeing the funding to purchase the land for our grand vision,” Nicoletta Pavarotti said in a recent news release announcing the gift.
“The Luciano Pavarotti Foundation has greatly enjoyed our partnership with Opera Naples over this past year, including our exciting performances … of “Don Pasquale” and our International Voice Competition. We believe we have tremendous momentum started as our partnership continues to blossom, and we can all dream together with Theater in the Garden about the artistic greatness we will achieve in the years to come.”
“I’m thrilled,” said Livio Ferrari, director of the Theater in the Garden project. “We’re finally making into reality a dream this community has had for so long.”
Two of the organizations have already collaborated to create the Luciano Pavarotti Opera Naples International Vocal Competition, which named four finalists Jan. 18. Each will receive $10,000 in performance contracts.
Opera Naples has searched for a location for a large performance house on Collier County-owned property on Bayshore Drive and at another property east of the city. The former location was one that was earlier in the sights of CAPA, the Cultural and Performing Arts Center group, before it merged with United Arts Collier. Collier County’s price for that land at the time was deemed prohibitive.
Opera Naples does have a performance space at its Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave. But it can only hold studio-size operas for 320 or fewer people.
New rules open door to transparency in homebuying
By Melanie Pefinis
A lot was happening in Southwest Florida in August 2024. The temperatures were in the 90s, Tropical Storm Debbie had saturated the region and we still had two months to go before the devastation of Hurricane Milton. For Realtors, though, the month marked an industry milestone more memorable than the weather.
Aug. 17, 2024, was the day when fundamental changes were implemented to the standard buying and selling process. A new policy is revolutionizing the former norms: The National Association of Realtors has agreed to a new standard that will pave the way for more transparency in the industry. Agents, buyers and sellers all will be affected by these new rules, changing how commissions are paid.
In March 2024, the NAR reached an agreement, ending litigation claims of participating plaintiffs related to real estate transactions, negotiations and commissions. Now, a written agreement is required, changing the environment of the real estate industry.
“This settlement is the topic with Realtors right now,” said Susan Pinky Benson of REMAX, a Naples Area Board of Realtors member. “Sellers now have to budget class action lawsuit commissions” into their asking prices.
The lawsuit stated that it was unfair for sellers to be responsible for paying the buyer’s real estate agent.
Benson, who is also a noted speaker at real estate conferences nationwide, knows Southwest Florida is a unique area for the market, having also previously sold real estate in the Tampa area. She sees the mix of demographics in Collier County as a challenge for agents.
“The buyer and broker relationship is different here,” she said. “We have those people buying their second and third homes; a luxury mindset alongside the workers of the area who keep the hospitality industry alive. The guy pouring your martini needs to be able to live here to work here.”
Benson explained that during the coronavirus pandemic, when the industry was uniquely challenged, many experienced Realtors closed up shop, and transactions were handled by less-seasoned agents who had not developed the skills for nuanced interactions.
“Now we are in season,” she said. “These new policies will be applied. The written agreements with buyers are important since I can say which services have been agreed to, my responsibilities and the amount
we negotiate.
“The buyer needs to sign this written agreement with their real estate agent, laying out all services to be provided and the cost, which is negotiable.”
This is a radical shift in the standards.
Buyers used to be able to tour properties alongside an agent with no written agreement. Now a formal decree must be in place outlining how your agent will be paid and the negotiable amount.
This is especially important for buyers with less financial security who might have difficulty enlisting the help of an agent to represent them in their search. Even though the written document does not obligate them to any purchase, in a market such as Naples, these buyers might find it hard to enlist the help of an agent to represent them. They will now need to pay the agent with their own money, potentially unfeasible for some
home shoppers.
Sellers are also given a new opportunity to set property aside from similar houses for sale; they have the choice to attract more buyers by offering to pay the buyers’ commission. It might prove a selling point.
But ultimately, said Benson, the policies make for a clearer negotiating process.
“Let’s say Sally from Idaho wants to come and buy a house in Naples,” she said. “She will now be required to negotiate my fee and I provide her a list of what I will be doing for that fee in order to tour properties.”
Newer agents who entered the industry during the pandemic may need to sharpen their business skills to navigate this new environment. But ultimately, the new rules usher in a period of transparency in the field.
With more clarity and detailed guidelines, this free market approach to buying and selling homes has a sunny forecast.
Real estate transactions in Naples and across the country are being handled differently after the settlement of a lawsuit ended antitrust legal claims. Contributed photos
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate Agents named to leadership roles
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate has announced the appointments of six of its agents to leadership positions within Southwest Florida’s most prominent real estate industry organizations.
The following agents have been recognized for their leadership and service:
• Melanie Holaway, Sanibel Island Office – Appointed as a three-year director for the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of REALTORS®.
• Terrilyn VanGorder, Broad Ave. South Office – Elected president of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR).
• Christine Citrano, Fifth Ave. South Office –Appointed president-elect of the Naples Area Board of REALTORS® (NABOR).
• Lauren McIntyre, Fort Myers Office –Named to the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Federal Technology Policy committee; named as a one-year director for the Florida Association of REALTORS®, appointed vice chair of the public policy committee for the Royal Palm Coast REALTORS® Association.
• Karen Borrelli, Cape Coral Office – elected president of the Royal Palm Coast REALTOR® Association.
• Brent Greer, Bonita Springs Office named director of Bonita Springs-Estero REALTORS®.
These appointments underscore the agents’ dedication to service and professional excellence and their commitment to shaping the future of the region’s real estate market.
“We are incredibly proud of all of our agents for their accomplishments and the positive impact they continue to make in our industry and community,” said Corey McCloskey, president of John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate. “Their leadership exemplifies our core values of integrity, excellence and service, and we look forward to seeing the great work they will achieve in these roles.”
TDK Companies and Rail Gauge Partners break ground on Vintage Naples
TDK Companies and Rail Gauge Partners have broken ground on Vintage Naples, a 400unit upscale apartment community located inside the Randall at Orangetree mixed-use development. The project is located at 13641 Immokalee Road, at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Orange Tree Boulevard in Eastern Collier County. Pinnacle Bank is the lead lender, with Trustmark Bank and Old National Bank also participating in the construction financing. Houston based Marble Capital provided equity alongside Mill Green Partners.
When completed in the fall of 2026, Vintage Naples will offer upscale apartment homes, in four-story, elevator serviced buildings featur-
ing a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom options. Each unit will include full-size washer and dryer, hardwood-inspired flooring, ceiling fans in living rooms and bedrooms, pendant lighting, quartz countertops, kitchen islands, screened-in patios or balconies, framed bath mirrors, frameless glass walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, stainless steel appliances, designer tile kitchen backsplashes and soft-close cabinetry with built-in wine racks and brushed nickel hardware.
Vintage Naples sits on 33 acres, including two ponds and an on-site nature preserve which residents can enjoy by way of a paved, multiuse trail that winds around the community and through the preserve. An integrated club house boasts nearly 21,000 square feet of common area amenities that includes a resort-style pool with an expansive deck, sun shelf, Wi-Fi and shaded cabanas; state-of-the-art fitness center with cardio, resistance, spin and free weights; a plunge pool, a dedicated spin/yoga room; outdoor grilling stations; a pet spa and dog park; indoor bike storage; and corridor-attached garages and storage units available for rent.
The two-story clubhouse will provide numerous lounge areas, premium flat-screen TVs, a pool table, co-working and office suites, gourmet coffee bar and cyber lounge. Vintage Naples will offer the first and only Naples apartment community with an indoor pickleball court exclusively for resident use and their guests that has a connected entertainment and lounge area where residents can gather, socialize and play indoor pickle ball at the same time. The clubhouse area will also include four guest-suite units which residents can book for their out-of-town guests on a nightly basis.
Tim Keach, Managing Principal/CEO of TDK Companies, said, “The Naples market is among the most sought-after markets in the U.S., boasting an impressive array of live, work, and play opportunities. The area is booming with a diverse population of working families, young professionals and retirees. TDK is excited to build this upscale community that’s going to stand out as a premier mixed-use community.”
Vintage Naples is the centerpiece residential component to the Randall at Orangetree mixed-use development which is well underway.
Rail Gauge Partner Zach Schaumburg commented, “Naples is special. People from all over want to be in Naples, and we’re excited to offer an upscale community within a walkable mixed-use development that’s in the direct path of growth.”
Alico Inc. to wind down citrus division to focus on real estate development
Fort Myers-based Alico Inc. plans to wind down Alico Citrus’ primary operations as part
TRANSACTIONS
Week of Jan. 6-10
SALES
InfraUS Wireless I LLC purchased 2.27 acres at 5651 Shirley St. in North Naples from Surely Do Realty LLC for $950,000. Zachary Tillery of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the seller and buyer.
Kathleen M. Marino Living Trust purchased 3,000 square feet of commercial space at 3888 Mannix Drive, suites 309 and 312, in East Naples from Tollgate 312 Inc. formerly known as CNR Air Conditioning Inc., for $900,000. Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.
LEASES
BCR Construction & Development Inc.
leased a 3,000-square-foot space in Kelly Plaza, 3209 Van Buren Ave., Suite 2, in East Naples from 3209 Van Buren LLC. Brock Rasmussen of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor and lessee. Revital Med Spa and IV Drip Bar LLC leased 1,500 square feet of office space at 868 99th Ave. N. from Three Eyed Shrimp LLC. Tara L. Stokes of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.
Week of Dec. 23-27
LEASES Eagle Engineering & Land Development Inc. leased a 1,122-square-foot office space at 1706 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Golden Gate from Dane Group Holdings LLC. Matt
of a transition to becoming a diversified land company, and will reduce most of its citrus production workforce effective immediately, company officials announced.
The company owns approximately 53,371 acres of land across eight counties in Florida, as well as approximately 48,700 acres of oil, gas and mineral rights in the state. Alico Citrus officials said it has faced increasing financial challenges from citrus greening disease and environmental factors for many seasons.
After the current crop is harvested in 2025, the company decided not to spend further cap-
ital on its citrus operations. It expects that approximately 3,460 citrus acres will be managed by third-party caretakers for another season through 2026. Alico expects to diversify farming operations on nearly all its land holdings following this citrus production transition and entitle certain parcels of its land for commercial and residential development. Company officials estimate the value of current land holdings could be approximately $650 million to $750 million, with 75% of these acres valued for agriculture usage.
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 Chad Commers of Strongpoint Commercial Group.
Q: What is the most difficult issue facing property owners and landlords right now?
Stepan, CCIM, and WT Pearson of Premier Commercial Inc. represented the lessor and lessee.
The Lane Construction Corp. leased 1,040 square feet of office space at 5150 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 207, in Naples, from Tamiami Newgate Ltd. Tara L. Stokes of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.
LEASES
Week of Dec. 16-20
L&W Supply Corp. leased 31,948 square feet of commercial space at 4720 Radio Road in East Naples from Sandal Real Estate Holdings LLC. Christine McManus, CCIM, SIOR, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessee, and Brandon Stoneburner of Colliers International represented the lessor.
Aries Business Holdings Inc. leased 2,800 square feet of retail space at 2415
Tarpon Bay Plaza, Suite 9, in North Naples from Brentwood Land Partners LLC. Tara L. Stokes of Investment Properties Corp. and Ryan Joyce of KRG Management LLC represented the lessor, and Nick Zarins of Atlantic Retail represented the lessee.
Complete Property Management of SW Florida Inc. leased a 654-square-foot office space in Collier Park of Commerce at 3050 Horseshoe Drive N., Unit 172, in Naples from Helios Colliers LLC. Dave Wallace, CCIM, SIOR, and David Wallace of CRE Consultants represented the lessor and lessee.
A: Generally, the problem is the cost of operating properties and businesses in this area, whether it’s insurance, hiring, etc. What is the solution? The biggest solution is all of the housing that is coming online over the next two years. Hopefully it will provide relief to those employed in Collier County so they can live near where they work. That would provide more employment and help mitigate costs across the board as employers have more access to employees. That’s my hope. I think we should call what we need not “affordable” or “workforce” housing but housing that is affordable to normal people; somewhere people who have a dual-income household can live without spending 40% of their income on shelter. It’s just so expensive. We just need more supply.
From an investment properties perspective, for larger commercial deals and the market as a whole, another challenge that property owners and landlords are facing right now is the lending rates for properties. On the commercial side, as more five- and 10-year mortgages come due, those rates are much higher than they were assigned a couple of years ago. I know this is an old story. It’s especially difficult for those who have owned properties for a long time and are operating under a gross lease payment structure versus a more market-standard, triple net lease structure that does not allow them to pass on increased costs to tenants and operate the property efficiently. Those owners who operate under a gross lease are incentivized to cut services and cut maintenance in order to try to retain a profit.
The only solution is that rents have to go up. Rents are nominally higher than they were in recent years, but so are a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk and hiring people. We’re just going to be facing a $20 cheeseburger here in Naples at some point soon. It’s just expensive to operate here; it’s an expensive place to live because it’s a great place to live.
Commers, a native of Minnesota, began his involvement in Collier County real estate about 20 years ago.
Chad Commers
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A rts & LEISURE
This
NWWF Honored Vintners, Louis-Michel
Ongoing events
‘Last of the Red Hot Lovers’ 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday 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
‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ Various times WednesdaysSaturdays through Feb. 16 at Kizzie Theatre at the Sugden, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. The Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, starts to go wrong before the curtain even opens — and goes on a fast ride downhill from there, with falling sets, botched lines, a corpse that keeps resurrecting and more. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
‘Dial M for Murder’ Various times TuesdaysSundays through Feb. 6 at Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples. Frederick Knotts’ edge-of-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
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 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
‘Transparency’ at Art Center
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through Feb. 25 at Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. “Transparency” delves into the visual and conceptual impact of light passing through materials, transforming how we perceive color, form and texture. The show features works by six artists, and Art David’s “From the Street” photography is in La Petite Galerie through Jan. 28. Free. marcoislandart.org or 239.394.4221
Paul Arsenault retrospective
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. Free. themihs.info/museum/or 239.389.6447
CALENDAR
GET STONED — OR MARBLED
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. four Tuesdays each month, beginning Feb. 4, at Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. Knitting is not for you. You want a really big hobby. Go break rocks, says the Marco Island Center for the Arts. The center, with awardwinning sculptor/glass artist Joel Shapses as instructor, is offering stone sculpture classes in four-week segments. It’s outdoor work with the stone you’ve chosen, and Shapses has experience with all of them. Students will take home a polished work of their own creation. $165. marcoislandart.org or 239.394.4221
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., Naples. 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; and “As We Rise: Photographs from the Black Atlantic.” $10; student or military (with I.D.), $5; SNAP
Mercato Art Celebration
10 am.-6 p.m. Jan. 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 26 on the lawn at Mercato, 9110 Strada Place, Naples. Hosted by Naples Picasso Events, the Mercato Art Celebration is a juried art show with art ranging from twodimensional to wearable. Free admission. experiencemercato. com
Naples Community Orchestra concert
3 p.m. Jan. 25 at Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Drive, Naples. Guest artist Aristo Sham performs Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra, Music Director Alvin Ho conducting. Also on the program, the overture from Verdi’s Nabucco and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 (“Fate Knocks at the Door”). $40. naplescommunityorchestra.org
Rogers, Richie and Robinson
5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. The music of three groundbreaking artists in country, soul and pop — Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson — interpreted by The Undercovers. $30. marcoislandart.org or 239.784.1186
Live in Concert: Kansas
8 p.m. Jan. 25 at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Kansas, American classic rockers (“Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind”), performs from its 16 albums. Gates open at 7 p.m. $120-$130. casino.hardrock.com
Candlelight tribute: Hans Zimmer
8:30 p.m. Jan. 25 (doors open
Heather Ivy in a program that includes “Stardust,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Kentucky Sunrise” among others. Freewill offering. Bring seating. naplesconcertband.org
‘The Lehman Trilogy’ 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays Jan. 26 through Feb. 16 in the Struthers Studio theater at Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road., Naples. Following the rise of one of America’s most powerful businesses, founded by three penniless immigrants who came to the New World. $40-124. gulfshoreplayhouse.org
Next week (Jan. 27-30)
4 O’Clock at the Movies: ‘Conclave’ 4 p.m. Jan. 27-28 at Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Elaine Newton, Professor Emeritus of Humanities at York University, Toronto, and resident critic for Artis—Naples, analyzes and invites discussion on the most talked-about movie of last year. The pope has died, and the time has come for the College of Cardinals to elect a successor. Tradition gives way to intrigue as secrets surface and power struggles emerge within the Vatican’s walls. $48. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
benefits (with EBT card), $1; ages to 17 or younger, free. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
This weekend (Jan. 24, 25, 26)
The Beatles Part II 10 a.m. Jan. 24 in the Ubben Event Space behind The Baker Museum at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Charles Bergeron, Ph.D., professor of jazz history and program director for jazz pedagogy at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, explores the evolution of the Fab Four from 1965 to 1970, when they produced the albums Rubber Soul , Revolver , Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the White Album. $36. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
Norm Lewis’ Broadway
7:30 p.m. through Jan. 25 and 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Norm Lewis has starred in iconic roles on Broadway, including Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Javert in Les Misérables. He recreates some of his favorite moments from his musicals and more with the Naples Philharmonic, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly directing. $70-$111. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
7:45 p.m.) at Naples United Church of Christ, 5200 Crayton Road, Naples. The Listeso String Quartet, a floating mix of professional performers, offers string arrangements of works by movie composer Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, The Gladiator suite, The Dark Knight and more) with atmosphere provided by thousands of candles. $30-$42 at feverup.com
Voices of Naples concert
4 p.m. Jan. 26 at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1225 Piper Blvd., Naples. The 65-member Voices of Naples ensemble presents a concert including the Haydn Little Organ Mass, featuring soprano Michele Byrd; music of Beethoven and Mozart; and hits by the Beatles and John Denver. All are led by Brice Gerlach with Kelly Utterback, pianist. Freewill offering for local scholarships. vpc.org or 239.597.5410
Melissa Etheridge
7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Known for her hits “I’m the Only One” and “Come to My Window,” Melissa Etheridge creates a highenergy show with her storytelling lyrics and passionate music. $109-$129. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Naples Concert Band show
2 p.m. Jan. 26 at Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave S., Naples. Themed “Stars over Naples,” the Naples Concert Band, Music Director J. Steven Moore conducting, welcomes soprano
Films: ‘Enchanted April’ 10-11:30 a.m. Jan. 28 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. First of a series of classic and independent films sponsored by Marco Island film lovers, with discussion afterward. Enchanted April follows four women who book a sunny Italian cottage after World War I and find much more there. Discussion follows. Free. marcoislandart.org
The stories of Angkor Wat 10:30 a.m. Jan. 28 in the Ubben Signature Event Space, Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. SOLD OUT
‘A Cracker at the Ritz’ 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at Norris Community Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Compton and Bennett are back with their wacky look at Florida, its natives, its tourists and its crazy critters, done in skits and song parodies. $35 online at eventbrite.com or call the box office with specific seat requests.
Storytelling through Sound
6 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Ubben Event Space at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Alexander Shelley, artistic/ music director for Artis—Naples, and artist Rafael LozanoHemmer discuss the artist’s groundbreaking exhibition, “Obra Sonora,” in The Baker Museum and its use of music, bird and oratorial sounds to bring meaning to the visitor. $30. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
A Night in Vienna 7 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Gulfshore Opera. SOLD OUT.
Joel Shapses, right, watches a sculptor as he smooths the edges on his piece. Photo courtesy Marco Island Center for the Arts
COVER STORY
POURING HERITAGE
By Lane Nieset
Louis-Michel and Constance Liger-Belair usher their family’s legendary Burgundy estate into a new era
When Constance Liger-Belair first traveled from Paris to Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy, she was surprised to find the hometown of her husband’s esteemed family vineyard to be so remote. “She joked she was going to become the town bartender — there was nothing here,” said Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, who took over Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair in 2000.
Vosne-Romanée, in Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or, may be small (it counts only a few hundred residents), but it claims some of the region’s most prized pinot noir producers, including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Méo-Camuzet. “We’re in the center of the wine world, but there was nowhere to have a glass of Vosne-Romanée wine in Vosne-Romanée,”
Louis-Michel said, adding that before they opened La Cuverie — a combination market, cafe, wine bar, post office and four-suite inn — the area was a ghost town in the evenings.
Louis-Michel, an agricultural engineer and oenologist, and Constance have placed community at the core of the winery’s driving philosophy since taking the helm of the more than two-century-old family estate. They’ve expanded the domain from around 3.7 acres of family vines to nearly 26 acres across the villages of Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-Saint-Georges and Flagey-Echézeaux, and they now produce 15 cuvées. All are certified biodynamic, a holistic approach to farming and winemaking that goes a step beyond organic practices, with vineyard growing processes rooted in an ecosystem balanced among soil, plants and animals. “I have a team working all day in the vines, and my children grew up here; I didn’t want them growing up in a community pressured by chemicals,” Louis-Michel said. The vintner converted the estate to follow biodynamic practices in 2008.
Other wineries in Burgundy are catching up. While there were few organic producers in the late 1990s and early 2000s, about a quarter of them are certified organic today, he said. “Now people don’t look at you like you’re a foreigner if you’re farming organically — there’s a market demand, especially from the younger generation,” he said. “If you have to use chemicals to produce wine and play with nature, sometimes you win, but sometimes you lose. But with organic farming, the quality of the fruit will always be better.”
At this year’s festival, Louis-Michel showcases his family’s wines at the pre-festival The Vintage Cellar tasting and luncheon. At the tasting, he pours three Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair wines (Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée Clos du Château Monopole and Vosne-Romanée La Colombière) spanning three years, from 2017 to 2019. The tasting showcases the differences in vintages and how the wines evolve in the bottle.
Constance and Louis-Michel are as philanthropic as they are committed to bringing their family legacy into the future. This year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival Honored Vintners often look to support small, local charities, many within a 20-mile radius of the vineyard. Two key projects for the couple include a food market and delivery service for impoverished individuals in the countryside, and a job placement agency and vocational school for people living with disabilities.
They’re always willing to travel for a great cause. This year, Louis-Michel returns to NWWF for the second time. The vintner appreciates how the festival unites major figures in the wine world from around the globe toward a common, powerful purpose. “We know the money raised will go to the local community in Florida, and that’s what’s important to us.”
Contributed by Gulfshore Life
Vosne-Romanée, in Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or, may be small but it claims some of the region’s most prized pinot noir producers. “We’re in the center of the wine world, but there was nowhere to have a glass of Vosne-Romanée wine in Vosne-Romanée,” said Louis-Michel Liger-Belair. Photos provided
La Cuverie is a combination market, cafe, wine bar, post office and four-suite inn.
Louis-Michel, an agricultural engineer and oenologist, and Constance have placed community at the core of the winery’s driving philosophy since taking the helm of the more than two-century-old family estate.
OUT & ABOUT
Critics consider the Chicago Symphony Orchestra the best symphony in the United States and the only American symphony in the top five worldwide. The CSO recently came to Naples for a bounty of concerts and more. It was at Artis—Naples Jan. 14-15 to offer master classes for local students that were open to the public, along with two programs that ranged from the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 to the contemporary Golijov “Megalopolis Suite.” In the packed concert halls were audience members waving City of Chicago flags for the symphony.
Flute player Emma Gerstein warms up for the first rehearsal of the tour in Frances Pew Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples.
CSO horns, featuring principal horn player Mark Almond, in a performance of Falla’s Suite No. 2 from "The Three-Cornered Hat" (Three Dances) led by Riccardo Muti.
Photography courtesy Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO piccolo player Jennifer Gunn in a performance of Donizetti’s Overture to "Don Pasquale."
The CSO’s Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti leads the Orchestra in the Naples premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’s "Megalopolis Suite," commissioned by the CSO.
Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Verdi’s "The Four Seasons" from "I vespri siciliani."
Chicago flags wave during audience applause following the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Falla’s Suite No. 2 from "The Three-Cornered Hat" (Three Dances).
CSO piccolo player and flute player Jennifer Gunn works with masterclass student Josue Alarcon-Osorio at Artis—Naples’ Ubben Signature Event Space.
Piccolo player Jennifer Gunn and principal tuba player Gene Pokorny perform at the Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples.
Naples woman’s book about her assault, and its aftermath, headed to film
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Peace would not come for Shirley Watral after the police had arrested the boyfriend who had beaten her, bit her, threw her in a closet and held her prisoner for nearly 15 hours. It wouldn’t come with a restraining order, which Watral called “just a piece of paper.”
How could it come when the Naples woman found herself, in high heels and business suit, having to crawl beneath her car to search for the explosives she learned he had?
He had already poured sugar in her gas tank to create an explosion after the car started. It certainly wouldn’t come after he hired a friend to create a sordid video with implications of showing her in sexual positions.
Finally, that peace would not even come after he was charged, found guilty and imprisoned for an attempt to commit murder, among other charges. Even incarcerated, he had power over Watral, she remembers. She was afraid to trust people, especially men; she doubted her own judgment; she didn’t feel safe anywhere.
Eventually Watral took matters into her own hands. Literally. The Naples woman began learning to shoot. Later she began, at her friends’ urging, to write. Camped out at Angelic Desserts bakery, she began writing several hours a day to put her story on paper — another hard decision.
The result was her self-published book
“Heels to Holster,” which now is on track to become an independent film made where it happened, in Naples.
Steps toward freedom
“Heels to Holster” covers in detail what Watral had gone through, and how she had survived it with friends, family and faith. It was a hard project emotionally, she said.
“There was so much going on in the background I hadn’t known about,” she said, recalling her ex-boyfriend's trial and the transcripts she had to study. “In the beginning, all I could stand to read were one or two pages at a time.”
“Heels to Holster” suffered from a release date in March 2020 – just as the coronavirus
DR. ROBERT CUBEDDU
President, NCH Rooney Heart Institute
pandemic began cloistering the world. But it began racking up five-star reviews on Amazon.
Encouraged by friends to go a step further, Watral showed “Heels to Holster” to filmmaker Jason Campbell, whose JC Films specializes in educational and values-oriented features. He and his cinema company are planning to film her book. The company is currently seeking backers because, according to Campbell, this will be a bigger film than most of its others.
That’s certainly true if the film includes Watral’s several months of laying low in a friend’s apartment, frightened return to her own workplace with the bruise marks still showing; the courtroom scenes; and her first timid venture to a shooting range. Watral remembers years of trying to regain her self-confidence and her trust in others.
“Mentally, your self-esteem is down. You feel like it was your fault — ‘What did I do wrong?’ — for the longest period,” she recalled.
Empowerment from the beginning
Watral finally found the courage to pick up the gun she owned and take a lesson to earn a concealed-carry permit. She was one of a few women in the class, and she found herself in the group that was doing more than stand in place to shoot. It was her first taste of empowerment.
“When I left, I felt totally courageous, like I did something that let me now start to believe in myself.”
It was a major step for Watral in moving from victim to survivor.
“A survivor, for me, is someone who takes what you went through and builds on it and becomes even a better, stronger person,” she explained.
Watral even left the world of IT work to become a firearms instructor; she has overcome her reluctance to speak in front of people and she’s giving motivational talks on self-protec-
tion and security. She is, she adds, a Second Amendment advocate and Florida state director of Women for Gun Rights.
But Watral has also acknowledged owning a gun may not be the answer for everyone.
“For me, it was a firearms class. For someone else it could be something, anything that makes you step out with courage — do something out of the ordinary that you don’t feel comfortable with,” she said.
“I’m not a big gun person, but I thought this was a really good mix. That gun gave her power, freedom. It enabled her to know she had something to protect her,” said Campbell, the filmmaker. Both he and actor Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), who has taken an interest in the project, will be at a Feb. 6 fundraiser for the project.
Most important, Campbell said, is that the progression of events in “Heels to Holster”shows the way abusive relationships build without the victim’s realization. That’s important for people to know, he said, “the fact this relationship started so innocently and it turned so horrible so quickly.”
There is a lot of education needed, both he and Watral would add. Among the statistics Watral cites is that one in four women is a victim of serious physical abuse.
Further, the damage to the victim is hard to heal. Watral’s day of terror was in 1993, but it was another 20 years — even years after her abuser’s death — before she took the steps to feel confidence in herself again.
“I took my first firearms course in 2013 and never looked back. Hopefully people won’t wait that long to change their lives,” she said.
A fundraiser to support the film version of “Heels to Holster,” with the author, film director Jason Campbell and actor Dean Cain, will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Social Room, 1111 Central Ave., Naples. $50 or $90 per couple. Tickets at eventbrite.com
NCH Wingard
Institute John & Susan Morrison Endowed Chair
DR. MAZEN ABUAWAD Executive Director,
Stroke
Shirley Watral in the angel wing corner at Angelic Desserts, where she wrote most of her book "Heels to Holster." Contributed photo
NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL 2025 Faces of NCEF
Three
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
alumni giving back to organizations that helped shape them
Through 2024, Naples Children & Education Foundation — with funds raised by the Naples Winter Wine Festival — has helped more than 350,000 area children achieve their dreams through its support of child advocacy, early learning, education programs, health care and more.
And for anyone looking to measure the profound effect that the programs funded by NCEF have had on children in need in Collier County, proof can be found in the lives of three young adults. They are all alumni of at least one program funded by NCEF — and all three are now contributing as adults to the programs that helped shape their lives.
In advance of the 25th Naples Winter Wine Festival, The Naples Press spoke with Elizabeth Cuevas, 28, community and volunteer engagement manager at the Guadalupe Center; Leslie Gallegos, 25, now in her fourth year as a teacher at Eden Park Elementary School in Immokalee; and Jeffrey Zacarias, 20, a college student and assistive technology assistant at Lighthouse of Collier.
‘Paving the way’ Elizabeth Cuevas Community and volunteer engagement manager, Guadalupe Center
Born in Naples to a migrant family and raised in Immokalee, Elizabeth Cuevas remembers “chasing the crops” with her parents and siblings, always traveling with the seasons to pick fruits and vegetables.
Eventually, her mother decided to stay in Immokalee so that the children would have a more consistent school experience while her father continued to follow the agricultural seasons.
“That was very important, because you can imagine that moving everybody in the entire family, it can cause disruption,” Cuevas recalled in a phone interview. “Thankfully, throughout my elementary school years, my mom would stay behind with myself and my siblings so that I could stay in school and receive the education that I needed.”
Throughout middle school, she continued going north in the summers with her family to pick crops. But her hope was to become a tutor at the Guadalupe Center — the place that had provided tutoring to her in elementary school.
When she was a freshman in high school, she joined the Guadalupe Center Tutor Corps, an experience she says helped change the direction of her life.
“I think I could speak not only for myself, but for many of the students, too: You wait for that ‘golden ticket’ opportunity, and that’s what Guadalupe Center did,” she said. “That’s what it does, and what it continues to do.”
Cuevas said the Guadalupe Center gave her “a different way of viewing the world through another kind of lens.”
She credits the resources at her disposal through the Guadalupe Center for her success in high school, which led to a full-ride scholarship to Arcadia University in Pennsylvania. At Arcadia she had the chance to study abroad in Paris, which was a dream come true for her.
“I remember vividly when I was a little girl, I want to say fourth grade, I wrote this little story and it said that I was going to go to Paris one day,” she recounted. “And look: I did. I’m telling you, that’s what the Guadalupe Center does. It makes dreams come true.”
In what she called a “full cycle” experience, Cuevas — who also was one of the founding students of Taste of Immokalee — is now on staff at the Guadalupe Center, working to help other children make use of the resources that guided her along the way. She also serves on the recently established alumni council.
“Seeing other members, too, that are coming back [to serve], it really resonates with me,” she said. “For me, personally, coming back and serving in the role that I am now, it’s taught me that through hard work you can end up doing things that you truly do love.”
She said she is most grateful for that initial opportunity to be a tutor at the same school she attended when she was younger.
“Being able to come back and being a tutor, to me, was immense,” Cuevas said, “because I’m paving the way for another little girl or another little boy.”
‘Coming from nothing … I have everything’
Leslie Gallegos
First-grade teacher, Eden Park Elementary School, Immokalee
Leslie Gallegos, born in Immokalee in a family of migrant workers, developed a passion for learning early in life that led to a dream of becoming an educator herself.
Her parents prioritized education for Leslie and her siblings, and she became the first person in her family to attend and graduate from high school. With support from Immokalee Foundation programs and a scholarship from Take Stock in Children, she went on to graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in child and youth studies with a concentration in education. She is now pursuing a master’s degree at FGCU in educational leadership, with a goal of working in school administration at a leadership level.
In a phone interview, Gallegos recalled how her parents wanted to provide a better life for their children, putting an emphasis on education, which they saw as the “ticket
to get out of working in the hot sun.”
But while pursuing her education, Gallegos continued to join her family seasonally in the fields even through her first year in college.
She credits the Immokalee Foundation programs with helping her learn how to focus on goals and aspirations and with providing experiences that kept her inspired.
“In my family, no one had ever graduated high school; no one ever went to formal school,” she said. “So, at least for me, if I had not gotten my scholarship and been involved with them, I would not have attended school. I would not have graduated [from] high school, and I wouldn’t be the successful professional that I am today.”
In an Immokalee Foundation program in middle school, Gallegos said she was impressed with the panels of professionals who would come and talk to the students about their life paths, and started thinking about her own goals. She also had the opportunity in eighth grade to attend a summer camp in Maine for three weeks, and in junior year was able to visit colleges across the state.
“That was a big turning point in my life,” she said. “When I was in 11th grade, I had never set foot on a college or university [campus]… I feel like that’s where it really hit me that there are locations for me to pursue something and do something with my life.”
Gallegos said she feels she can help the children she teaches dream big because they see her as someone from Immokalee who has succeeded despite the odds. She said she thinks a lot about a quote by the boxer Canelo Alvarez that says you can do anything, even if you come from nothing.
“That resonates a lot with me because it is true: Coming from nothing and through or-
ganizations like this, I have everything,” she said. “I have a job; I have employment; I have health benefits. And bottom line, I’m not [working] in the sun, you know?”
Asked what she is most grateful for when it comes to the support she received as a child, she thinks back to the person who approved her Immokalee Foundation application in seventh grade and made everything that followed possible.
“I’m most grateful that a complete stranger gave me a chance,” she said. “Based on an application that seventh-grade me wrote, somebody gave me a chance to be in this program… Just having a fighting chance is what I’m grateful for. All the opportunities that they’ve given me has literally built me to who I am.
“It’s because someone gave me a chance. Someone wanted me to be successful. Someone saw success in that kid.”
‘Enjoy giving back’
Jeffrey Zacarias
Assistive technology assistant, Lighthouse of Collier
For Jeffrey Zacarias, his work at Lighthouse of Collier — which provides education and rehabilitation services to people who are blind or visually impaired — is especially rewarding because he knows firsthand what his clients are experiencing.
His vision grew progressively worse as a child, with a retinal detachment leaving him completely blind in his left eye.
Zacarias, who was born in Naples, was a patient at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which also receives support from NCEF, and also became a Lighthouse of Collier client through attending summer camps and enrolling in transitional programs.
As he grew older, he started volunteering at Lighthouse during summers before joining the staff part-time as an assistive technology assistant, helping clients learn to use a variety of assistive technology devices that can aid them in living independently.
“Some of the work that I have done includes demos of magnification devices and scanners,” Zacarias explained in written answers to questions from The Naples Press. “Scanners are devices that read a document to blind individuals. I also teach people how to navigate their phones, focusing on the accessibility features that come with Android and Apple phones such as screen readers, which blind users can use to navigate their phones through gestures and speech output.”
He also teaches Lighthouse clients how to use the screen readers on their computers.
“Blind users can navigate their computers through a series of keyboard commands and speech output,” Zacarias said.
In recent months, Zacarias said he has been providing instruction on how to use the new Ray-Ban™ smart glasses.
“The Ray-Ban™ smart glasses were developed as a fashion trend,” he said, “but the visually impaired community has used them to get information about their surroundings through the use of artificial intelligence.”
Zacarias said he finds it extremely rewarding to see the improvement of clients he works with.
“Some clients come in the Lighthouse without knowing how to navigate their computers,” he said. “Seeing them progress from learning how to type to independently navigate their computers. I enjoy giving back because when I was younger, I did not have anyone to teach me any technology … I don’t want any blind person to feel like they do not have anyone to teach them technology. I don’t want them to feel like they have to teach themselves, because it’s extremely hard.”
He said he also enjoys contributing to Lighthouse by providing “a voice to those
Elizabeth Cuevas joined the Guadalupe Center Tutor Corps as a freshman in high school. The experience, she said, changed the direction of her life. Contributed photo
NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL 2025
WINE FEST BY THE NUMBERS
$301+ million – raised by Naples Winter Wine Festival since 2001
$33 million – raised by the 2024 live auction
$2.7 million – winning bid in 2024 for 7-night voyage aboard Whisper mega yacht
$2 million – winning bid in 2007 for Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé
350,000 – children’s lives influenced by festival proceeds since 2001
24,043 – wine glasses on hand for this year’s live auction event
22,000+ – total bottles of wine auctioned off at all festivals
650 – approximate number of guests attending the three-day event
350 – volunteers who help make the festival successful 250+ – vineyards participating in the festival over the years
200 – chefs who have participated in the festival over the years
85+ – organizations that received grants from NCEF
55 – percent of Collier County children served by NCEF
52 – live auction lots at 2025 festival
26 – vintners at 2025 event representing six countries and four continents
19 – sommeliers at 2025 event
19 – celebrity chefs at 2025 event
From Bergamo to Naples
A longstanding NWWF supporter, Italian chef Angelo Auriana
By Nikki Miller-Ka Contributed by Gulfshore Life
Over the years, chef Angelo Auriana’s path has taken him from Italian kitchens to the U.S. culinary scene, where he’s made his mark at restaurants such as the now-shuttered but iconic Valentino Ristorante in Los Angeles. Auriana now co-owns Factory Place Hospitality Group, with celebrated restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, including The Factory Kitchen and BRERA Ristorante. Despite his success, Auriana remains humble, driven by familial love and an appetite to bring people together through food, whether in his restaurants or at such philanthropic events as the
proves giving back is always on the menu
Naples Winter Wine Festival. The chef’s gastronomic roots run deep. Born in Bergamo, Italy, he first journeyed into the food world in his early teens when he had to choose between continuing his studies or joining the workforce. At 17, Auriana graduated with honors from the historic San Pellegrino Terme Hotel School, one of the first hotel and catering schools in Italy. Auriana started his formal training in his hometown under Michelin-caliber chef Pierangelo Cornaro, known for helming esteemed Italian restaurants Taverna Del Colleoni and dell’Angelo. This early experience, coupled with his travels across Italy’s diverse regions and wine countries, shaped the chef’s preference for authentic, regional flavors — an enthusiasm he carries into each dish he crafts today.
Auriana prioritizes the balance and a harmony of flavors, as seen in his signature dishes, such as mandilli di seta, a silky handkerchief pasta lacquered with Ligurian
By Samantha Garbarini chefs and winemakers.”
The Naples Winter Wine Festival returns for its 25th anniversary Jan. 24-26 with a distinguished roster of winemakers and culinary talent.
“We are extremely excited to welcome many of the best names and most trailblazing chefs representing several of the most popular restaurants across the country,” Kelley Bailey, this year’s chef committee chair, said in a statement. Joining the coterie of Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning chefs is a Food Network personality, chef Beau MacMillan.
A two-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef: Southwest, MacMillan is the culinary force behind high-end Italian-inspired steakhouse The Americano in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a frequent fixture at food and wine festivals across the country.
“Naples Winter Wine Festival is such a national marquee event that brings so many like-minded individuals together in the world of philanthropy, food and beverage at the highest level,” said MacMillan, who returns to the festival this year. “I feel so honored to be included in a list of [such] amazing
On the Friday leading up to the live auction, MacMillan and this year’s other 19 featured chefs will partner with NWWF honored vintners to craft intimate Vintner Dinner experiences for festival-goers at the spectacular homes of local philanthropists. “I have hit the jackpot with wineries,” MacMillan said. “[Two years ago] I got to work with Domaine Serene. This year, it’s Peter Michael, one of my favorite wineries on the planet.”
Planning a vintner dinner requires extensive collaboration between MacMillan and the team at Peter Michael Winery, a multigenerational Napa Valley producer known for its celebrated, terroir-driven estate wines. MacMillan and his team had the enviable task of tasting their way through the entire portfolio as the jumping-off point for this year’s menu. Each component of the plate is chosen to complement the wines, with an eye toward luxe ingredients such as bluefin tuna, caviar and Colorado lamb.
“I look at my presence and the food component as a spoke in the gear of the whole experience,” MacMillan said. “My goal is to look at the wine lineup and consider that the star of the show. So very few times you get to really cook, showcase your skillset and purchase products that are truly high-end and
pesto, or tagliolini al limone,
tossed in a delicate lemon sauce.
Auriana has been a steadfast supporter of the festival since its inception 25 years ago, laying the foundation for a lasting partnership. “I came back every time I was asked because helping the children in any possible way is the goal of NWWF and a wonderful mission to be part of,” Auriana said. As a father, he holds the festival’s cause — supporting children’s education and well-being — close to his heart. He believes chefs can give back in meaningful ways, using their talents to inspire change.
For the culinary master, meals are powerful unifiers. “Food and wine are [among] the greatest pleasures in life,” Auriana said, emphasizing how breaking bread and raising a glass create a sense of togetherness. He said the combination of world-class chefs, top-tier vintners and a stunning setting adds to the festival’s fundraising power. He’s honored to play his part.
unique. You get the opportunity to really bring it.”
Among this year’s featured ingredients is Snake River Farms Wagyu beef. A pioneer in the ranching of American Wagyu, the producer holds special meaning for MacMillan.
“I was victorious on ‘Iron Chef America’ when I battled Bobby Flay, but I was also one of the luckiest chefs to appear on the show at that point because my ingredient was Snake River Farms Wagyu beef,” MacMillan said, noting that the richly marbled beef requires little more than salt and proper preparation to shine.
As NWWF reflects on a quarter-century of excellence, with nearly $302 million raised and distributed by the Naples Children & Education Foundation to local organizations that serve Collier County children, MacMillan is similarly looking back at the trajectory of his career. The 53-year-old is curating a traceable culinary evolution by inviting his mentor, renowned chef and Bocuse d’Or winner Jeff Jackson, and his protégé, The Americano executive chef and recent Food Network “Chopped” grand champion Peter McQuaid, to cook alongside him at the Vintner Dinner.
“It’s really about the storytelling,” MacMillan says. “There’s a story in every bite.”
thin ribbons
Angelo Auriana
James Beard Foundation Award-nominated chef and restaurateur Angelo Auriana infuses elements from his native Italy into every endeavor. Courtesy image
NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL 2025
Boys & Girls Club alum returns to help guide next generation
By Kristine Gill Contributed by Gulfshore Life
When Jakella Davis arrived at the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County headquarters for a job interview in early 2024, her attention was immediately drawn to a mural in the lobby. A lone figure lies on the ground, arm raised, reaching out. Another person’s hand stretches to grasp this one.
“I was one of the kids who got to paint certain areas,” she said. She and her classmates’ small hands painted the mural of people coming together to support each other, creating something beautiful under the guidance of their art teacher.
Now nearly 29 years old, Davis is back as program director for the Naples Nichols Club on Davis Boulevard. It’s a full-circle moment, and the Naples native attributes her personal and professional growth to her time spent there.
As one of NCEF’s first beneficiaries, dating back to the 2001 festival, BGCCC provides crucial out-of-school services for kids, from educational support through ready reading programs to recreational sports leagues.
In 2024 alone, NCEF granted the nonprofit $450,000 to support academic and youth development plans for more than 800 at-risk children in Golden Gate and East Naples. The club provides daily after-school and summer enrichment activities designed to inspire and empower kids; it’s a place for them to make exciting self-discoveries and thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
The pages of Davis’ formative years are filled with such experiences. From second to seventh grade, Davis, along with her twin sister and younger brother, regularly attended the Club after
school. The siblings came from a single-parent household where their mother juggled work as a nurse while pursuing an advanced degree; they found sanctuary at the institution. The trio spent afternoons tapping into their individual interests, exploring artistic pursuits, joining the travel basketball team and learning to play chess.
The breadth of diverse opportunities made space for Davis to dream big, nurturing her passions and aspirations for the future.
“[Without BGCCC], I would have never known how much I had access to or the limits that could be pushed if you just try different things,” she said.
Rejoining the program in a professional capacity feels like a homecoming.
“In my family dynamic, we’ve
always had to adjust, not knowing if things were steady,” Davis said. “Even with the jobs I’ve had previously, I’ve known they’re not longterm, but here, I feel at home.”
As program director, she imparts guidance to the students under her tutelage, emphasizing the value of new experiences, even if they initially seem unappealing.
“I tell them, ‘You’re going to wish you’d sat there and learned more,’” she said. Mentoring the next generation holds extra weight these days as she prepares to welcome her first child in February. “Now, I’m really thinking about my child and the kids I’ve been entrusted with here,” she said.
Megan McCarthy Beauvais, club president and CEO, said Davis has a unique ability to connect with kids — a trait she first
who may feel less represented,” noting the growth in the number of Spanish-speaking clients over the past few years.
“As a Spanish-speaking instructor, I am able to provide instruction to these clients in their native language,” he said, “and I am able to advocate for them because they may find it difficult to state their needs due to the language barrier.”
In addition to working part-time at Lighthouse, Zacarias is majoring in business management and minoring in real estate at the University of Central Florida, with a goal of developing products that help the visually impaired; he would also like to make financial apps more accessible for screen readers and other accessibility tools.
Zacarias said he is grateful to Lighthouse of Collier for many things, including kayaking and fishing trips as he was growing up.
“Lighthouse of Collier has helped me in so many ways because it provided me with unforgettable experiences as a kid and also allowed me to build relationships that I can now use years later to progress in my career goals,” he said. “By surrounding myself with other visually impaired people, my mental health has improved because I have found a sense of belonging. I have begun to accept my vision loss and embrace the things about me that make me stand out.”
noticed when the program director crouched down to talk to one of her students at eye level. “It takes it from being talked down to, to being talked to. That little switch is so impactful in relationship-building with kids,” McCarthy Beauvais said. “You can teach it, but when you find people for whom it comes naturally, that’s something extraordinary.”
Davis’ journey is a testament to what can happen when children get the attention they need.
The investment in young lives also creates a sustainable system for the nonprofit to thrive in the long term, with former students such as Davis returning to pick up the mantle of tutelage. Tomorrow isn’t promised, but Davis hopes to inspire the young children of today, just as the club inspired her — two hands reaching out.
Photo by Brian Tietz
Leslie Gallegos developed a passion for learning early in life that led to a dream of becoming an educator herself. Photo by Liz Gorman
HOT TICKET
‘SCENE TO BE SEEN’
6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Naples Grande, 475 Seagate Drive, Naples. Naples Art Institute’s “Scene to Be Seen” is part fashion show, part art, part oohmeter competition, with dresses made from can tops and floral woven wear. The runway brims with ingenuity and members of the audience often come dressed in their own head-turning aspirational fashion. The event benefits the art institute in a beautiful way. There’s an afterparty so you can see the creativity up close. $200; $700 for VIP runway box seats. naplesartinstitute.org
Debby Boone
6 and 8:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Debby Boone, known for her record-breaking hit “You Light Up My Life,” offers pop, country, Broadway and jazz from her latest disc, along with reminiscences of growing up in a family headed by her famous father, crooner Pat Boone. $62. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
Masterworks: Two fates
7:30 p.m. Jan. 30-31 at Hayes Hall, Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic with Alexander Shelley, artistic/music director, perform Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, the “Fate” Symphony, as well as a new work, "Songs for Murdered Sisters," with verses by novelist Margaret Atwood and music by Jake Heggie, remembering the stories of women lost to violence. It is sung by Joshua Hopkins, baritone, who initially commissioned the work to memorialize his own sister, murdered by an ex-boyfriend. $15-$79. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Next weekend (Jan. 31-Feb. 2)
The White Collar Comedy Show
5 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Arts Center Theatre, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Who says neckties can’t be fun? Vien Phommachanh, Mark Christopher and Jared Stein, a trio of comedians with day jobs as doctors and corporate execs, plumb their own worlds for laughs. $30. marcoislandart. org or 239.784.1186
‘Tainted Love’
7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays Jan. 31 through Feb. 9 at Joan Jenks Auditorium, Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. The Studio Players’ production of a truth-telling comedy that can get a bit hair-raising when four women gather — ostensibly to christen a new gazebo, but with a little wine and time, things begin to come out. $35 at 239.398.9192 or $37.75 at ticketleap.com
Bronx Wanderers
6 and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 5 and 7:30 p.m. Feb 2 in Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Family-led musical act known for fiery renditions of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. $68. Few tickets left. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Feinstein sings Bennett 7:30 Feb. 1 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Pop crooner Michael Feinstein offers an array of Tony Bennett favorites in his show, “Because of You,” featuring the Carnegie Hall Big Band. $98-$113. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Yacht Rock the Dock
8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Remember “Brandy” and “Magnet and Steel”? Elliot Lurie and Walter Egan, the two voices behind them, are in this concert of smooth rock radio staples that developed in Southern California in the late ’70s and early ’80s and has become known as “yacht rock.” Also among the star lineup: Ambrosia (“Biggest Part of Me,” “How Much I Feel”), John Ford Coley (“I’d Really Love to See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever Without You”) and Peter Beckett (“Baby Come Back”). $75. ticketmaster.com
Timothy D. Hogan, D.M.D., T.J. Tejera, D.M.D., M.D., Bernardo F. Brasileiro, D.D.S., M.S.D., PhD, William M. Summey, D.D.S., Harvey S. Satz, D.M.D.
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With
TIMOTHY D. HOGAN, DMD
• Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Fellow, American College of Dentists Fellow, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• Past President, Florida Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Past President, Florida Society of Dental Anesthesiology
• Past President, Lee County Dental Society
• Voted TGopo Doctor 2023 and 2024
•
BERNARDO F. BRASILEIRO, DDS, MSD, PhD
•
• Past Associate Professor of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Brazil
• Author, 45+ Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Articles
WILLIAM M. SUMMEY, DDS
• Board Eligible Candidate, American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Member, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Member, American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Past Vice-President & Treasurer, Miles for Smiles at UNC
HARVEY S. SATZ, DMD
• Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Fellow, American College of Dentists
• Past President, Florida Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
• Past President, East Coast Dental Society
Established in 1965 as the first oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Southwest Florida. Currently the largest oral surgery practice in Southwest Florida, we are continuing to expand to meet the growing needs in our community. From extractions and implants to TMJ and facial cosmetic surgery, we provide our patients with the highest level of quality care.
The couture at Scene to be Seen ranges from blossoms to can tops, with a good number of fabric fashions, as well. Photo by Harriet Howard Heithaus
COMICS & PUZZLES
1. TELEVISION: Who created the retro TV series "Stranger Things"?
2. U.S. STATES: Which state is the home of Yellowstone National Park?
3. ASTRONOMY: Which is the only planet in our solar system to rotate on its side?
4. MOVIES: What is the given name of the large bird in the animated movie "Up"?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which three zodiac signs are considered earth signs?
6. LITERATURE: What is the name of Hagrid's half-brother in the "Harry Potter" book series?
7. GEOGRAPHY: What is the capital city of Australia?
8. FOOD & DRINK: What type of nut is used in the chocolate spread Nutella?
9. SPORTS: What kind of sports match is divided into 7-minute periods called chukkas?
10. ADVERTISEMENTS: What type of horses often are used in Budweiser beer ads? © 2025 King
OLIVE
By Emi Burdge
THE NAPLES PRESS CROSSWORD
Another boon for pickleball
Indoor offerings alleviate some weather, injury concerns
Speaking of Sports
David Wasson
Pock, pock, pock, pock…
Pickleball is having a moment.
Pock, pock, pock, pock …
Maybe even more than a moment.
Pock, pock, pock, pock …
But pickleball is definitely having a moment.
Pock, pock, pock, pock …
Depending on your point of view and how close you live to the incessant pock, pock, pock, pock … of nearby courts, pickleball is either the world’s fastest-growing sport, or the world’s most annoying sport. But what is inarguable is that pickleball (including the sound and the sport itself) is on the verge of becoming a bona fide pastime.
And Collier County, well, we are at one of the hubs of pickle-madness. The Minto US Open Pickleball Championships will be celebrating its ninth year in Naples this April as “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World.” Contested annually at East Naples Community Park, the event Pickleball Magazine calls the “Tourney for the People” drew players
from all 50 states and from 31 countries last year to our community.
A huge part of the allure of the US Open is its venue. Collier County built and maintains the vast pickle-plex at East Naples Community Park — 65 courts in all, including the covered stadium courts, along with a welcome center, pro shop and equipment store. Put another way, East Naples Community Park is to pickleball what the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City is to tennis.
Simply said: With close to 300 public and private courts (a number that seems to grow every day), there
is no spot on the face of God’s green earth that lives and breathes pickleball as much as Collier County.
And now, you can start adding indoor pickleball to the offerings.
Pock, pock, pock, pock …
Oasis Indoor Pickleball has opened inside the Naples Pong building in East Naples, affording picklers a rare opportunity to stay out of the kitchen and the elements at the same time.
The facility — the first public indoor venue in Collier County — celebrated its grand opening Jan. 14 with events and open play throughout the day. It is now available for lessons,
open play sessions and private bookings.
Founder Pat McAllister said that Oasis Indoor Pickleball was born after observing that pickleball players initially came to Naples Pong to improve their game using ping-pong drills. Seeing a need for an indoor pickleball court that anyone could access, McAllister and his team transformed part of the building into a multi-use space that combines the paddle sports.
“This court is about more than just convenience ... It’s designed to keep people playing longer, safely,” McAllister said. “The softer surface is easier on the ankles, knees and hips, and it’s perfect for all ages and skill levels.”
The playing surface was devised with player safety and comfort in mind, and McAllister said that 12 different options were tested throughout construction to find one that best mirrors an outdoor surface without the harm of concrete.
“It’s a world-class surface ... It’s softer than outdoor cement, so there’s less chance of injury,” McAllister said. “We wanted to create an environment where people can enjoy the sport without worrying about wear and tear on their bodies.”
Oh, and there is the entire concept
of avoiding the beating sun, oppressive humidity and frequent thunderstorms that are right around the corner in the summer. As we know, heat can cause fatigue and hydration concerns, and adding humidity to it is not a good recipe for outdoor physical activity. And when Mother Nature adds electricity, all bets are literally off.
Oasis Indoor Pickleball is open mornings, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., with extended hours on Tuesdays until 8 p.m. and a shortened Saturday morning slate. The single court can be reserved for $40 an hour, and instruction from McAllister is available for $35 an hour plus $10 for each additional student.
Oasis Indoor Pickleball (at Naples Pong) is located at 12725 Tamiami Trail E., in the Freedom Plaza at the corner of US 41 and Collier Boulevard. Contact Karen McAllister at 317.417.1743 to schedule and visit oasisofnaples.pickleplanner.com for more details.
Pock, pock, pock, pock…
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.
A healthy, fun ‘ripple effect’: Rowing association affords unique recreation
By Randy Kambic
The silver anniversary of an area organization affords a golden opportunity for experiencing the distinctive sensation of knifing through the water.
The nonprofit Rowing Association of Naples, currently celebrating its 25th year, welcomes new members in traversing a scenic stretch of the beautiful Gordon River. So scenic, in fact, that third-year President Steve Jaron cautioned that the rhythmic dynamics of rowing — using two 9-foot-long paddles, sitting backward and sliding back and forth in uniform motion — need to be seriously addressed for safety and attaining proficiency.
“It looks beautiful, but it isn’t easy,” said Jaron, who plied the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia while attending Drexel University and has been an avid rower for nearly four decades including earning a bronze medal in the U.S. Rowing Association National Championships in 1991. “It’s kind of an odd motion.”
Rowing successfully and reaching speeds of up to 10 miles per hour “can be addictive” and poses tremendous health benefits, he said, as it uses “86% of your muscles and is great for cardio.”
The association currently sports nearly 40 members — many of whom rowed in college and at national, world and Olympic competitive levels — who glide along approximately 4 kilometers of the river from their access point.
“It gets wider going south; it gets narrower with some twists to the north,” Jaron said.
Their boatyard and dock launch on a canal within Charles C. Anthony Park, which stocks about 20 single and double boats (known as shells), evokes the culture of some other historically steeped hotspots for the recreation including in Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle and, more recently, Sarasota.
“We’re a microcosm of those scenes,” said Jaron, who also served on the association’s board of directors for 15 years.
“We share lots of stories,” said five-year member Jeff Allen, who learned rowing on the James River
in Virginia. “I’ve run marathons and have done triathlons. Rowing is better! It’s also therapeutic.”
Levon Touryan brought his love of the recreation sport here from Lake Tahoe, California. He has taken part in rowing marathons. On synchronizing all of rowing’s movements, “it’s a Zen feeling,” he said.
Rowing Association of Naples can accommodate guests, along with individual memberships. Private U.S. Rowing Association-certified lessons are offered; free rowing orientation sessions are held periodically. It can also store participants’ boats.
Single boats for beginners are 20 to 24 feet long and are about 4 feet longer for advanced enthusiasts. Add about 5 feet for doubles’ rowers for both categories. The shells and paddles are made of a lightweight carbon fiber material.
The association’s members “pretty universally enjoyed” the 2023 movie The Boys in the Boat about the University of Washington rowing team competing in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Munich, Jaron said.
Natural wonders often seen on cruises include manatees, dolphins, tarpon and mullet, with osprey, eagles and great herons in the skies above or perched in shoreline trees. Newcomers should be comfortable and able swimmers, and not prone to panic, as shells can turn over, especially in the first few sessions. Slightly wider training boats are available for first outings. Wind and tide conditions need to be calm, as well.
“We’ve had several locations. We love this one,” Jaron said. “You can do it your entire life.”
From left, Rowing Association of Naples President Steve Jaron and member Levon Touryan watch member Jeff Allen tighten the rigger device that holds the two oars of his boat. Photos by Randy Kambic
Rowing Association of Naples member Michael Grappone plies the canal that leads to the Gordon River during a recent morning cruise.
Pickleball is an ever-growing sport, with the US Open Championships celebrating its ninth year in Naples this April. Contributed photo
