Naples considers “Old Florida” look in rebuilding public beach access locations
Tim
Aten Knows
Collier details road projects in Estates
Q: Could you give me information regarding the start of Randall Boulevard widening? I had attended a meeting back in 2018. It was supposed to start already.
—Sonia C., Naples
A: Design of the Randall Boulevard widening and Randall-Immokalee Road intersection project in Golden Gate Estates began in mid-2022, but construction is not expected to start for another two years.
A Nov. 6 public information meeting provided area residents and business owners with the opportunity to review project plans at the 30% design stage and provide input on proposed improvements for the infrastructure changes. The project includes widening Randall Boulevard from two to four lanes on a six-lane footprint for about three-quarters of a mile from Immokalee Road east to just past Eighth Street NE. Creating a twolane, 44-foot median between the eastbound and westbound lanes will allow possible future expansion of Randall to six lanes. Also affected by the intersection changes will be a half-mile stretch of Immokalee Road from east of Wilson Boulevard North to the Publix-anchored Neighborhood Shoppes at Orangetree.
The project is designed to address traffic congestion on Randall Boulevard, a major east-west road in Golden Gate Estates that especially jams during morning and afternoon drive times.
“I think it’s operating at like a level of a service D road right now,
3B | SEASONAL OUTINGS
11B | GRIDIRON GRIT
NAA TO CONTINUE NAPLES AIRPORT STUDY
By Aisling Swift
Naples City Council agreed the Naples Airport Authority should continue its exploratory study of other possible airport locations as due diligence, but not necessarily plan to move the airport. As both sides neared the end of a marathon eight-hour joint workshop on Nov. 7 without focusing on why the meeting was requested, City Attorney Matthew McConnell pressed Council to give the NAA an answer on wheth-
By Aisling Swift
Council: Study of other possible sites
er it should continue with its $398,000 exploratory study, which identified four possible sites to move the airport in eastern Collier County. NAA Chair Rick Ruppert said the organization needed to know Council’s posi-
Federal agents raided grocery magnate Francis Alfred “Alfie” Oakes III’s North Naples home and Immokalee produce packing plant, carrying out boxes all day and through the night Nov. 7.
The raid involving the U.S. Secret Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Services and IRS occurred a week after Oakes’ wife, Deanne, was served with foreclosure papers for the second time on a $4.1 million federal farm loan, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 14 that seeks $2.78 million from the couple and Oakes Farms OP. They faced seizure of collateral, including farm equipment and crops, if they didn’t pay the amount they defaulted on by Aug. 30.
tion to determine its next steps at its Nov. 21 meeting.
Council and the NAA agreed they need to fix noise and pollution problems that prompted the request for an exploratory study to seek alternate airport sites.
After much discussion, Council informally agreed 4-3 the study should continue. Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison explained the need to complete due diligence.
“Let’s get this done,” Hutchison said. “No-
Federal agencies wouldn’t say if the raid involved the foreclosure or $282.9 million in U.S. Department of Defense contracts 56-year-old Alfie Oakes has been awarded since 2008 that involve fruits, vegetables, dairy food and eggs.
“I can confirm that DCIS, the law enforcement arm of the [Department of Defense] Office of Inspector General, conducted law enforcement activity yesterday at 925 New Harvest Road in Immokalee. We have nothing further to add at this time,” spokesperson Mollie Halpern said.
The Secret Service said only: “We are unable to provide comment as the U.S. Secret Service will not confirm the existence or the status of an investigation.”
Alfie Oakes didn’t respond to calls or texts seeking comment, but left the South Florida Produce packing
Mary Tatigian, the founder of Quiet Florida, outside her home in Naples. Quiet Florida and other groups contend the Naples Airport's growth and increased flights pose a health and safety risk, especially to children. Photo by Liz Gorman
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SWFL INSIDER
Building Dreams Foundation
Golf Scramble raises $70K
Diamond Custom Homes’ third annual Building Dreams Foundation Golf
Scramble, held Oct. 17 at Quail West Golf & Country Club in North Naples, raised more than $70,000 to benefit local charities focused on improving the lives of underprivileged families through affordable housing and education. Previous proceeds have supported Habitat for Humanity Collier County, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Valerie’s House, Community School of Naples Financial Aid Program, First Tee, Chubb Classic, A Swing of Grace, STARability Foundation, Compassion International and the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center.
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry’s Rhinestone Rodeo set for Jan. 5
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry will host its second annual Rhinestone Rodeo 5-9 p.m. Jan. 5, at Island Country Club on Marco Island. The fundraising event will be a night of music, auctions and community spirit in support of ODBFP’s efforts to combat hunger in the area. Since the beginning of this year, ODBFP has seen unprecedented growth, serving more than 1,000 households each week during its Saturday morning food distribution.
Avow receives $40K Collier Community Foundation grant
Avow received a $40,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation to directly support its nonhospice outpatient palliative care program. This program treats the physical, psychological, emotional and existential symptoms of individuals living with chronic and serious illnesses. Through a holistic approach, Avow’s palliative care program gives patients peace of mind, reducing anxiety, addressing uncomfortable symptoms and improving quality of life.
Residential real estate inventory in Naples area grows 37% in September
Overall inventory of homes in the Naples area increased 37.3% in September to 4,288 properties, according to data from the Naples Area Board of Realtors. The rise in inventory was met with increased buyer interest, as indicated by 622 pending sales during September, a 1% year-over-year increase. While overall closed sales decreased 13.2% to 527,
the 41% rise in days on the market to 83 means it is taking longer for homes to go from pending status to closed status, broker analysts said. The overall median closed price in September increased 2.4% to $588,560. Compared to previous market reports in 2024, September’s median closed price was the lowest reported so far. However, it is still far above the $325,000 median closed price reported in September 2019.
LaPlaya reopens towers, restaurants after hurricanes LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in North Naples opened the 70-room Gulf Tower and 40-room Bay Tower along with Baleen Naples restaurant and bar Nov. 1 following restoration from hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials from Pebblebrook Hotel Trust said. LaPlaya’s 79-room Beach House building remains closed for repairs, primarily due to water and sand infiltration affecting ground-floor guestrooms. The resort’s pools also are closed for temporary clean-up and repairs, with reopening expected soon. The company anticipates that repair costs will not be material and expects that property, flood and business interruption insurance, net of deductibles, will substantially mitigate the financial impact. Assuming normal and customary local approvals, the company estimates the Beach House will reopen partially over the coming months and be largely operational by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
HR Collier to host Nov. 21 meeting
HR Collier, local affiliate of Society for Human Resource Management, is presenting Thriving Together: Balancing Business Success & the Needs of Family Caregivers at its Nov. 21 lunch meeting. The event — 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Vineyards Country Club, 400 Vineyards Blvd. in North Naples — will feature Sue Ryan, author or co-author of four international bestselling books, discussing how to empower teams with the framework to build a thriving and caregiving-inclusive workplace. This is achieved through actionable strategies, precedent-setting examples and approaches that foster engagement across the organization, going beyond the feelgood to the bottom line.
Naples-based Beasley
Broadcast Group reports
$3.6M net loss in Q3
Naples-based Beasley Broadcast
Group reported a net loss of $3.6 million, or $2.33 per diluted share, in the third quarter, according to an earnings report. That compared to a net loss of $67.5 million, or $45.08 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023. Net revenue during the third quarter of 2024 decreased 3.2% to $58.2 million, which company officials said primarily reflected a year-over-year decline in audio advertising and other revenue due to Beasley’s Wilmington, Delaware, station divestiture and esports and Guarantee Digital closures, partially offset by $2.7 million in political advertising revenue. Beasley reported an operating income of $1.2 million in the third quarter, compared to an operating loss of $85.5 million in the third quarter of 2023, reflecting non-cash impairment charges and the year-over-year decrease in operating and corporate expenses.
Tigertail Lagoon/Sand Dollar Island restoration work to begin Nov. 15
City of Marco Island is planning emergency repair and maintenance work to address impacts on Sand Dollar Island from Tropical Storm Debby and hurricanes Helene and Milton. Contractor EarthTech Enterprises will start repairs Nov. 15 and continue for approximately two months, city officials said. Work may extend longer due to weather, but all construction activities will be completed before the beginning of bird nesting season Feb. 15. The work plan includes mechanical excavation of overwash areas to replace beach sand along the west portion of Sand Dollar Island. In 2023, the Hideaway Beach Tax District and Collier County funded the ecosystem restoration project, which included restoration of the collapsing part of the island and lagoon using approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand. The project also restored wetland areas and tidal flow to the southern part of Tigertail Lagoon, improving water quality and enhancing environmental habitats and recreational benefits.
Operation
Light Shine receives $30K grant
Operation Light Shine received a $30,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. These funds will support the Southwest Florida Intercept Task Force, which comprises 14 participating law enforcement agencies. It will use this grant to purchase cutting-edge technology that enhances investigations and supports arrests in cases of trafficking and exploitation.
COLLIER NOW
2 incumbents unseated in City Council elections
Four challengers won Marco City Council seats in the Nov. 5 election, ousting two incumbents and filling two vacant seats — and now the city is seeking applicants for another fouryear seat.
Stephen Gray won 18% of the votes, while other newcomers Bonita Schwan and Deb Henry each garnered 17.4% and Tamara Goehler received 16.7%. Ousted were incumbents
Rich Blonna and Becky Irwin, who won 14.7%
and 15.9% of the votes respectively, and were seeking second terms. The salary is $6,000 yearly, $9,000 for the chair.
The four join Vice Chair Erik Brechnitz and Councilor Darrin Palumbo on the dais.
The election upset came after months of divisiveness and accusations against candidates, often pitting business owners against residents, especially during discussions about a controversial bus trolley service. The city’s
biggest issues are traffic, controlling growth, beach renourishment and water quality.
The two vacancies are due to Chair Jared Grifoni terming out of office after two terms and Councilor Joe Rola opting not to seek re-election after one term. After four years, Councilor Greg Folley was required to resign on Nov. 5 after a bid for State House District 81. He lost to Yvette Benarroch in the August primary.
The Naples Community Redevelopment Agency will hold off on seeking developers’ proposals to transform an old auto repair shop property into affordable housing, opting to lease the building while considering options.
City Council, acting as the CRA, agreed on Nov. 6 to use CBRE as the leasing agent for the 0.58-acre city-owned property at 160-190 10th St. N. Council members also agreed to use CRA funds to pay the utility bills.
“We’re trying to monetize an asset that we have while we’re figuring out what to do with it long-term,” City Manager Jay Boodheshwar told the CRA. “We can just have it sit there, or we could produce some income for the city with something that makes sense.”
The city, using CRA funds, purchased the 8,960-square-foot auto repair shop property for $4.9 million in February. The intent is to build affordable, workforce housing for teachers, police officers and other essential-services workers within city limits. Council wants to target those earning $62,580 to $125,160 — 60% to 120% of Collier County’s $104,300 area median income.
CBRE was hired in September 2023, when Council agreed to spend up to $100,000 for various tasks. The Naples real-estate
company was asked to evaluate and secure real property for additional parking, open space and redevelopment, or to develop affordable housing.
It’s the first property the 30-year-old CRA has purchased, and is located near Central Avenue between U.S. 41 and Goodlette-Frank Road in the CRA District, which is bounded by Seventh Avenue North, Gordon River, Sixth Avenue South and Third Street South. The CRA is funded by taxing homeowners and businesses within the district.
In June, the CRA agreed to pay CBRE $3,500 to seek options to develop the property under existing zoning regulations, the city’s comprehensive plan or the state Live Local Act, and to consider adding half an 80-foot right-of-way on Second Avenue North to increase density and units. Existing zoning regulations and the comprehensive plan allow 11 townhomes, 12 if the rightof-way is vacated. However, they’d have to be sold as “fee simple” — and most seeking affordable housing can’t afford that.
In August, CBRE’s team, which includes Estero-based Trinity Commercial Group and Gridics in Miami, recommended a mixed-use concept: 3,600 square feet of commercial space and parking on the ground floor, with 26 affordable condos above. That would require amending the city’s comprehensive plan. CRA Vice Chair Penniman questioned whether anyone would want to lease the space for only a year. But Dan O’Berski, of
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Nov. 19. To apply, go to: bit.ly/miccapplication
Folley, who has served in all three branches of the federal government, including as White House staff, was appointed to fill a council vacancy in June 2020 and was elected that November to finish the balance of the term. He was re-elected in November 2022 and became the chair.
Naples is considering a simpler, “Old Florida” design after rebuilding public beach accesses following Hurricane Ian only to have them damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton in September and October.
Naples City Council on Nov. 7 approved a staff recommendation to proceed with a simpler design on 12 of 40 public beach-access areas: First, Fourth, Ninth, 10th, 11th 13th, 14th and 32nd Avenue South; and First, Third, Fourth and Seventh Avenue North.
“If we put all of them back out as we had intended with their original design, with the next storm surge … I’ll be placing another order to put new ones back out and it’ll be an ongoing cycle,” City Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director Chad Merritt told Council before the vote.
Hurricane Ian destroyed all city beach accesses, and over two years, city staff added temporary signs and worked to restore them so they could be used, Merritt wrote in a memo to Council, noting some accesses were permanently restored while most received temporary improvements.
After the county’s emergency berm project last year, adding dunes to protect against storm surge and flooding, city staff hired engineering and architectural firm GradyMinor to design and improve 31 accesses. Permitting began this summer and staff worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will reimburse some funds, to move forward.
But Hurricane Helene hit in September and Hurricane Milton the next month, leaving beach accesses filled with “mountains of sand” that reached three to four feet, Merritt told council, noting vegetation “took a beating” and contractors and staff are still working. Signs, 450-pound benches, trash cans and bike racks floated away with storm surge, which also wiped out improvements.
“Some of them have not been recovered and the temporary signage on most of the accesses are missing,” Merritt said, adding that only 10 of roughly 100 benches remain in usable condition. Staff recommended that Council consider a simpler design for some accesses. Although GradyMinor’s design was more surge-resistant, staff was concerned after hurricanes Helene and Milton. If the city rebuilds all accesses with
The site of future affordable housing on 10th Street North in Naples. Photo by Liz Gorman
~Aisling Swift
By Aisling Swift
MARCO ISLAND
By Aisling Swift
CITY OF NAPLES
AFTER DELAYS, SHOW GOES ON FOR FIRST AVENUE GARAGE
By Aisling Swift
Naples’ $16 million First Avenue parking garage is expected to open in February after experiencing delays due to hurricanes and heavy rains.
City Construction Manager Brad Hefner provided the Naples Community Redevelopment Agency with a construction update Nov. 4, saying the schedule and contracts were affected by rains from August through October — Tropical Storm Debby and hurricanes Helene and Milton — that led to levels 28.99 inches above the 10-year average.
“This is abnormally wet and … we’re doing everything we can to address it,” Hefner told the CRA, which is composed of the seven City Council members.
The four-level, 364-space public garage, the city’s third, is being built on the south side of First Avenue, west of Goodlette-Frank Road and next to Naples Square. The land was provided by the Wynn family (Downtown Naples LLC) and Gulfshore Playhouse, whose new $60 million theater will benefit. It’s being paid for by CRA funds — from taxpayers whose homes and businesses are within the 550-acre CRA district, which is bounded by Seventh Avenue North, Gordon River, Sixth Avenue South and Third Street South.
It’s the second delay since the Dec. 31 groundbreaking for the garage, on the south side of First Avenue South and 12th Street South in the city’s Design District. An earlier delay during digging pushed the Dec. 31 completion to Jan. 31, and it’s now being delayed to Feb. 7. Crews have been working six days a week.
Last spring, while digging, workers found petroleum tanks, shock absorbers and a toxic chemical. Groundwater testing showed Dibenz[a,h]anthracene, a hazardous substance. Thousands of gallons of groundwater were removed, but testing showed it was below Florida Department of Environmental Protection groundwater cleanup target levels.
A total of 308 precast pieces, designed by Bartow-based
Facility for use by both Playhouse, general public
Metromont, were trucked to Naples and Pre-Con Construction workers began erecting them Aug. 9 and finished Sept. 14. On Sept. 6, various trades — electrical, plumbing, fire sprinklers, communications and others — began work in various zones of the structure.
“I've been going by it every week and it really is shocking. You can actually see the progress every single week.”
—Beth Petrunoff, a member of the Community Redevelopment Agency
The exterior has been painted white and installation of aluminum lattice on the sides has begun, Hefner said. The ground-floor slab was poured after the ground was fine graded and compacted and a moisture barrier was installed.
The biggest challenge, he said, was ensuring the transformer was trucked to the site without being affected by hurricanes. It’s now wired to Florida Power & Light electricity.
There will be two vehicle entrances, 12th Street South and First Avenue South, and the southeast corner of the second level will house a covered pocket park.
CRA member Beth Petrunoff commended workers for trying to adhere to the schedule after unforeseen delays, noting the structure went up quickly.
“I’ve been going by it every week and it really is shocking,” Petrunoff said. “You can actually see the progress every single week.”
Hefner said once the structure is up, there’s still a lot of work required before people can park there, including caulking joints. “For some consultants and our main consultant on-site, we’re doing a punch list as we build it,” he said.
The garage was designed by BSSW Architects (now Grace Hebert Curtis Architects after a 2024 merger) and is being built by Kaufman Lynn Construction. Goetz+Stropes Landscape Architects, Stantec Consulting, Desman and Velocity Engineering also are involved. Southwest Construction Services, other project-team members and city staff are conducting quality-assurance and quality control.
The CRA also approved a change to valet parking for Gulfshore Playhouse, 123 spaces on the first two floors, instead of the top floor, three hours before each theater show date. The change was required after Valet Pros LLC advised the theater that top-floor parking would cause delays, traffic congestion and safety issues.
“While the service will be targeted to performance times, it will be available to any member of the public, whether going to a restaurant or other event or facility in the area — or attending a production at the playhouse,” Gulfshore Playhouse’s attorney Noel Davies told the CRA.
CRA member Berne Barton said the city needs to make sure the public understands the structure benefits the theater, which provided some land, but that it’s a public garage. “We need to make sure that this is done properly so that we don’t have an outcry from those who think that the public garage is not being used for the public purposes,” Barton said.
A temporary certificate of occupancy is expected by Feb. 7, but may occur earlier.
“So, let’s hope we can meet it or better it,” CRA Chair Ray Christman said. “And if we can, that will mean that the garage will be available to the Gulfshore Playhouse for the second half of their season.”
NEW BUSINESS CLUSTERS FORMING AS COLLIER GROWS
By Melanie Pagan
As Collier County’s community expands, so do primary economic drivers such as hospitality and construction, creating more places for people to live, work and enjoy.
“You’re going to see a lot of development as the population continues to grow,” Kristina Park, president and CEO of Greater Naples Chamber, said in a phone interview.
From 2010 to 2020, Collier County’s population increased by 16.9%, from 321,520 to 365,752, according to The 2022 Collier County Economic, Demographic & Community Profile by the Collier County Growth Management Community Development Department.
Also, 2020 was the year the pandemic hit and more people could work remotely, making it easier to relocate to the perpetual summer that is Southwest Florida.
“People have the flexibility now, especially post-COVID, where work can be done in a variety of sectors,” Park said. “People can live anywhere, and they choose to live here.”
It’s no surprise, then, that offices of real estate agents and brokers led the list of top 10 business clusters based on the number of
From page 1A
body’s saying we’re going to move the airport. We just need to complete our due diligence while we concurrently look for ‘solves’ on the primary issues that our residents have brought forward today.”
Council members Ray Christman, Berne Barton and Bill Kramer adamantly opposed that stance, with Christman noting 12 people on the dais won’t solve the complaints. A coalition of airport business owners is needed to speak to elected officials about changes that are good for the community.
“That would … make the difference,” Christman said. “The folks who would be most likely to have the ear of those elected officials would be many of the folks in the business community, the aviation business community.”
Mayor Teresa Heitmann noted residents were upset when JSX moved to the airport after residents asked to stop growth. JSX, which begins service Nov. 21, will offer flights to New York and New Jersey five days weekly.
“The reason people said move the airport was because we were getting no relief in flights,” Heitmann said. “We got triple the flights.”
payroll locations in 2023, with 969 locations, according to LightCast data provided in partnership with Collier County. Full-service restaurants came in at No. 2 with 499 locations. Physicians’ offices were third at 468 locations, followed by landscaping services at 418 locations.
In descending order, other business clusters were lawyers’ offices, janitorial services, residential remodelers, administrative management and general management consulting services, new single-family housing and construction and limited-service restaurants.
Two decades of growth
The top 10 business clusters that have grown in the number of payroll locations between 2004 and 2023 included software publishers at No. 1, remediation services at No. 2 and education support services at No. 3, followed by services for older adults and persons with disabilities, barber shops, mobile food services, temporary help services, miscellaneous financial investment activities, scientific and technical services and continuing care retirement communities.
Businesses that are more prepared for shifts that come from technological advancements are the ones that may be “more resilient for what’s to come,” Park said. That’s partly what
The 81-year-old Naples Airport, which began as a military airfield, is located on roughly one square mile on Airport-Pulling Road. It’s self-sustaining, uses no taxpayer money and leases most of its 733 acres from Naples for $1 yearly. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, it generates $781 million annually for the area.
Under an interlocal agreement, the NAA pays the city roughly $2 million to provide services at the airport, including police, fire, emergency services and utilities.
The NAA has spent years improving and monitoring noise and rewards pilots for adhering to Fly Safe, Fly Quiet voluntary 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfews. It continues to make improvements, including offering discounted unleaded fuel and banning Stage-2 jets (Stage-4 are the quietest).
But after years of noise complaints by neighbors and residents under flight paths, Council requested the NAA study a possible move.
Last year, the NAA hired California-based Environmental Science Associates, which looked at four sites, including Immokalee Regional Airport, but didn’t rank them.
All have environmental obstacles, and all require rezoning by the county, which isn’t on board. Con-
“You're going to see a lot of development as the population continues to grow.”
—Kristina Park, President and CEO of Greater Naples Chamber
the chamber has been assisting executives with. “We are continually helping our businesses evolve to be more future-ready for the coming trends so they’re ahead of them, rather than behind them and playing catch-up, and then finding themselves in an area where they can’t succeed.”
The other primary factor that helps companies find success is affordable housing.
“It’s almost 20% more expensive to live and work in Collier County than other comparable areas in 2023. Therefore, businesses with higher profit margins are more likely to succeed here,” according to the LightCast report.
“There’s an affordability component we’ve got to work better to do something for. That’s
struction wouldn’t start for eight to 12 years, and completion wouldn’t be until 2040 or later. Estimates range from $790 million to $1.6 billion, depending on whether it’s a general aviation or commercial airport — and those 2024 estimates are expected to increase.
The Board of County Commissioners declined the NAA’s offer to hold a joint workshop, saying it wasn’t interested in discussing moving the airport, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida noted environmental and ecological reasons, such as panthers, make the four potential sites not feasible.
Council chambers were packed with residents and groups that wanted to present their positions during the joint workshop. Quiet Florida, Old Naples Association and Reduce Jet Noise Naples focused on noise, health and safety. They cited the impact of noise on health, including delayed cognitive development in children, hypertension, heart disease and failure, arrhythmia and strokes.
They asked to improve residents’ quality of life by reducing noise, moving the two flight schools— Rexair and Naples Flight Center — to Immokalee Regional Airport, moving some flights to Immokalee, Page Field or RSW Airport in Fort
going to create a challenge when it comes to finding a bright, qualified workforce,” Park said. “We’re a very seasonal market, but home ownership and all of the tenets of success for our employees depends on a year-round income stream.”
The business clusters struggling most with high mortality determined by declining payroll locations between 2004 and 2023 include book retailers and news dealers, with a 61% decline; wood kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturing (50% decline); shoe retailers (35% decline); dental laboratories (31% decline); furniture retailers (27% decline); art dealers; poured concrete foundation and structure contractors; scenic and sightseeing transportation and land and bus and other motor vehicle transit systems (25% decline); and motorcycle dealers and fruit and vegetable markets (22% decline).
With continual shifts in the market, Park reminds business owners they can navigate new seasons with support.
“For those trying to do it alone, you don’t need to,” she said. While the chamber offers certain tiered solutions to members, free assistance is available to drive county-wide economic growth. “Our job is to try to connect you with the resources you need specifically to be successful.”
Myers and ending or amending the airport’s lease when it expires in 2068. One speaker suggested eliminating unleaded gas discounts to discourage planes from using the airport.
Several residents and groups contended the airport’s growth, increased volume and flights pose a health and safety risk, especially to children, while Reduce Jet Noise Naples asked to ban stage-3 aircraft, implement no-fly zones over downtown during events and concerts and prohibit touch-and-goes, an exercise to practice takeoffs and landings. It suggested not pursuing FAA grants and ending the lease, and noted the airport, ranked the 14th busiest small airport nationwide, has had 123,171 operations this year, compared to 21-squaremile RSW, which had 87,685 last year.
On the other side was Friends of Naples Municipal Airport, which presented the airport’s business interests. Its president, Elite Jets VP Stephen Myers, noted many suggestions aren’t allowed legally and that the Federal Aviation Administration has ultimate control, not Council or the NAA. He noted Rexair doesn’t even perform touchand-goes there.
And NAA Executive Director
Chris Rozansky said the facility has fewer flight schools after one left for Page Field, finding Naples Airport wasn’t conducive to training. He estimated the airport was at 75-80% of its capacity and said residents need to understand some flights are services, such as Rexair, which has a Florida Fish & Wildlife contract to conduct wildlife tracking in the Everglades.
In the end, everyone agreed more work was needed, including asking for a ranking of the proposed sites and solutions to reduce noise and lead gas.
NAA Attorney Peter Kirsch recommended that if anyone has a member of the United States Congress on speed dial or in their Rolodex, to reach out for assistance. “That’s a good place to start,” Kirsch said, noting the NAA and airport management already did that.
Ruppert said the joint meeting allowed everyone to identify “points of commonality,” what was needed and how to proceed.
“We’re aligned more than we’re different,” Ruppert said. “… We want to do the best we can as soon as we can, because the noise does in fact bother people and we’re all in agreement with that and we want to mitigate that.”
Trinity Commercial Group, said several parties expressed interest in a year — the baseline — or longer, and the city would have a right to terminate.
“We’re talking about probably closer to 24 to 36 months of time before the development would begin, so we would be trying to navigate the most flexible term that we could without diminishing the potential income completely,” O’Berski said, adding that’s why the suggested rent structure is low, $20 per square foot.
If Trinity finds a tenant, it will get a 4% commission, but with a co-broker, the commission would be 6%. O’Berski said rents nearby are $40 to $60 per square foot, but this isn’t a finished space, so the lower rent allows improvements.
The building, which was built in 1976, has three 20-foot roll-up doors, one office and two bathrooms, and was last used as a vintage shop.
Chair Ray Christman said Michigan-based American Community Developers, which operates the city’s low-income George Washington Carver apartments, is interested in expanding, so it will be responding to the city’s request for proposals once it takes that step. Penniman called
“If we're going to be able to facilitate new workforce housing on this site or any site ... in the CRA, we're going to have to show some flexibility on density.”
—Community Redevelopment Agency Chairman Ray Christman
that option “compelling.”
It’s the only U.S. Housing & Urban Development Section 8 complex in the county.
Mayor Heitmann said it makes her nervous to move forward without reviewing the city’s comprehensive plan and maximum heights, and understanding what’s occurred in that area. The increased density would allow a three-story building up to 42 feet high, the maximum for commercial projects, or more for mixed-use and residential projects.
“I want to approach this very carefully, because this is the last of our area where we could make a radical change,” Heitmann said, noting residents in Naples Square, a mixed-use development, have complained about disruptions living above restaurants and businesses.
two concrete walkways, benches, trash cans, bike racks and showers, it could set the city up for more damage after future storms, so staff considered ways to scale back while maintaining beauty.
That includes “beach rules” signs, trash cans, bike racks and fewer concrete walkways, if any, to create an “old Florida” look that can be easily rebuilt. Some accesses would get more land-
Christman noted more information is needed about changing the comprehensive plan and zoning to facilitate development, and didn’t want to “open the barn door” to increasing density in a broader area.
“We just need to know that and understand the implications,” he said, adding that Council shouldn’t proceed with soliciting developers’ proposals.
Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison wasn’t in favor of vacating the right-of-way, which floods, to provide more land — or increasing density more than 12 units — but Christman said the city has to be flexible.
“If we’re going to be able to facilitate new workforce housing on this site or any site … in the CRA, we’re going to have to show some flexibility on density,” he said.
Low-income units are scarce in Naples,
scaping while others wouldn’t have benches.
Mayor Teresa Heitmann opposed eliminating benches. “Historically, that’s where people go,” Heitmann said. “They go and they sit on these benches.”
But she conceded after her six colleagues agreed the city needs to move forward quickly and improve resiliency, even if it means fewer benches.
Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison said the city needs to look at better-designed benches and discuss that and other plans with FEMA and the county Tourist Development Council, both of which provide funding. But Council member Ray Christman,
which is built out, unlike Collier County. The affordability period for 70-unit George Washington Carver Apartments expires in 2037, while 72-unit Jasmine Cay Apartments’ agreement expires in 2044.
Naples Comprehensive Health has said seven to nine job offers weekly are turned down due to housing costs, and a 2023 survey of 1,134 NCH employees found nearly 30% lived outside Collier because they can’t afford it, 44.42% are considering moving elsewhere in Southwest Florida and 40.3% may leave the area entirely. A Collier County Public Schools survey this year found half of employees work a second job to get by and 64% fear they’ll be forced to leave the district due to housing costs.
O’Berski said any income-restricted apartment will result in a waiting list, no matter the apartment size. “It’s such an excessive demand,” he said, noting a recent Fort Myers development has 2,200 on its waiting list.
The CRA agreed to “pause” its decision to move forward on seeking developer proposals to determine options, and to rent the building for now.
“We know there’s an affordable housing challenge in Collier County, which includes the city of Naples,” Christman said. “We’re part of that challenge — and what steps, if any, do we want to take to be part of the solution?”
who suggested simplifications at a past meeting, liked the idea and suggested more vegetation to protect against surge. Council member Barton agreed.
“We need to make a change,” Barton said. “We can’t go back to the way we were. We can’t have all these concrete pads. We need to pay attention to resiliency; we need to think about ways that we can maintain our beaches and the proper way to design these beach ends.”
The new design and project is expected to cost $2 million to $3 million, and staff will likely return to Council for contractor approval in January, with completion in about six months.
so we’re basically trying to improve the road capacity,” said Dennis McCoy, a senior project manager for Collier County. “This is one project of many in the whole eastern Collier area: 16th Street, Oil Well [Road], Everglades [Boulevard and] the Vanderbilt Beach Road project that’s going on now and under construction.”
The proposed improvement will provide three left turn lanes from westbound Randall onto westbound Immokalee Road. The expanded road will have 11-foot travel lanes and 5- to 7-foot bike lanes. The north side of Randall will retain its existing 5-foot-wide sidewalk, and the south side will have a 10-footwide shared-use path.
Earlier plans to possibly elevate some lanes to fly over the intersection are not part of the latest project, said Tony Khawaja, chief engineer of traffic operations for the county.
“This is at grade,” said Khawaja, noting that a partial overpass could be considered there in the future. “It’s still on the table but it’s not planned now.”
A partial flyover could still be a possibility in a second phase of the Randall-Immokalee project, but it would be many years away, McCoy said. “When we get to the end of the design for this project, I think we’ll have a decision whether we’re going to do a flyover, not going to do it or what the option is going to be.”
The flyover decision will be important to how the nearby intersection of Immokalee Road and Wilson Boulevard will be designed when Wilson also is widened to four lanes, McCoy said. “We were basically at 30% [design], but we had to redesign that intersection,” he said.
Expect more than a year before signs of construction are seen for the Randall-Immokalee project.
“We are currently in design for 30%,” Khawaja said. “We’ll be going into the construction bid letting process in early ’26 and be in construction in ’26. We think that it’s going to
take about two years to build, and that would take us to ’28.”
The work on Randall will be isolated to the south side of the roadway. Both lanes of the existing Randall Boulevard will remain as the two westbound lanes. Two new eastbound lanes and the wide median will be built south of the existing road. Only right-of-way property on the south side of Randall will be acquired or purchased to allow for the widening project. Acquisition of right-of-way required for the project is expected to begin next spring.
A new access road will be constructed to connect Randall traffic to the Mobil gas station, Armando’s Supermarket, L’Appetito II Pizza & Deli and other small businesses on the southeast corner of the intersection.
The project also will upgrade the temporary traffic signal at Eighth Street NE to a permanent signal with a mast arm. The project extends a short distance east of Eighth to alter the traffic on Randall from two to four lanes.
The Vanderbilt Beach Road extension, which will add about 7 miles onto the route’s
eastern end to 16th Street NE in the Estates, is targeted for completion next fall. The building of a bridge over the canal on 16th Street is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, said McCoy, who also is the project manager for that infrastructure addition.
“We are waiting on an Army Corps permit,” McCoy said. “We had to resubmit because of changes in the [environmental dredge and fill] 404 permitting process that happened last minute. All the plans were ready to go out to bid and we had to resubmit for the permit. We’re hoping to have the permit by the end of the year and then we can go out to bid at the end of this year. It will probably be sometime around mid-year [of 2025] when we start construction.”
The bridge is expected to be completed within 18 months of its construction starting.
Old Naples 7-Eleven reopens
Shuttered since Hurricane Ian’s storm surge flooded the Gulf Coast more than two years ago, the 7-Eleven store on Third Street South in downtown Naples is back in business. The 24/7 convenience store reopened Nov. 6 and planned its reopening celebration for Nov. 15.
“Oh, thank heaven,” said Naples Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison, franchisee of the longtime store at 1353 Third St. S.
The interior of the nearly 60-year-old store was completely rebuilt with major changes, Hutchison said. “Completely new concepts along with a stunning layout and the best hot beverage program available anywhere,” he said. “We are also offering a unique fishing program for Gulf fishing enthusiasts. This includes bait and tackle.”
The store also features beach accessories, unique Naples souvenirs and a large selection of cold drinks, including nitro and cold brew coffee. Fresh breakfast and lunch sandwiches, cut fruit, salads and more are made fresh daily, Hutchison said.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
ABOVE: Tony Khawaja (right), the chief engineer of traffic operations for Collier County, talks with a Golden Gate Estates resident about changes planned for the intersection of Randall Boulevard and Immokalee Road.
Photo by Tim Aten LEFT: The county's map for the project is shown at left.
ALFIE OAKES
A POLARIZING COMMUNITY FIGURE
By Aisling Swift
Grocery magnate and farmer Alfie Oakes is a galvanizing personality in Naples, with many loving him for his stores or politics — or denouncing him for his stores’ prices or his outspoken criticisms and behind-the-scenes work in support of Republican Party causes. He speaks out on many topics, from Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 to Collier County government and schools. His monolithic North Naples store, 77,000-square-foot Seed To Table, is a hotbed of GOP activity and Trump memorabilia — causing many to flock there and others to be repelled — while his Food & Thought supermarkets and restaurants are beloved by the organic foodie community.
And he’s no stranger to legal tussles or investigations, each of which either brings more fans or others who boycott his stores due to his political views and actions. Last week’s raid on his Immokalee produce-packing business and North Naples home wasn’t his first. In July 2014, state agents raided Incredible Fruit Dynamics at 4206 Mercantile Ave. in East Naples, arresting 105 workers for fraudulent documentation, use of personal identification, identity theft and workers’ compensation fraud. Oakes said he had no knowledge of fraudulent paperwork.
The state Division of Insurance Fraud Law Enforcement Operations began investigating a year earlier, when an employee sought medical treatment for a job-related injury under a Workers’ Compensation claim and told his attorney he’d used a false identity and paperwork to get hired. Oakes said he purchased that company and kept its longtime employees and never knowingly hired an undocumented worker, which the state confirmed.
In 2012, the driver of an Oakes Farms 18-wheel truck struck and killed a mother of two as she bicycled to Oakes Farms Market on Estey Avenue, which Oakes Farms trucks used as a shortcut, despite a sign prohibiting trucks of 1 ton or more. Sheriff’s deputies found the truck using surveillance cameras, and bloody tire-track marks matched the truck. However, the driver said he didn’t see any bicyclist, and never hit anything. Oakes, who was initially uncooperative, denied it was his truck.
From page 1A RAID
house in his royal blue Range Rover that afternoon, telling a WINK News reporter: “Go Trump.” When asked what agents were doing there, he replied: “Everything is all good.” Later, at his home, he told another WINK News reporter, “Go Trump, fight, fight, fight.” Alfie Oakes’ lawyer, Steven Bracci of North Naples, didn’t return a call or email seeking comment. Attorney Ryan Mittauer, of The Liles Firm in Jacksonville, said “Farm Credit of Florida ACA’s pending litigation … is not related or connected to any known lawful enforcement activity or investigation.”
Retaliation for GOP support?
Local Republicans speculated the raid targeting Oakes — a staunch supporter of former President and current President-elect Donald J. Trump, and a former state GOP committeeman — was politically motivated. Oakes, who owns Seed to Table, Oakes Farms, Food & Thought and other businesses, paid for two buses to drive Trump supporters to the U.S. Capitol to protest the 2020 election results a day before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Several attendees were later arrested and prosecuted, but Trump has said he will pardon them and release them from prison.
“We know that he was raided. They will try to destroy him like they did with Gen. [Michael] Flynn and Roger Stone,” Kathi Meo, secretary of the Collier County Republican Executive Committee, said in an email, referring to two men previously investigated by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and imprisoned, but pardoned by Trump in 2020. “Just pray. They will use these next few months to do whatever they can before they are fired.”
Federal agents swarmed the Oakes home
The Florida Highway Patrol said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge the driver, but the widower sued Oakes Farms, and the case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
The year 2020 was busy for litigation. Oakes sued Collier County commissioners over the county’s pandemic mask mandate, calling it unconstitutional and invalid. He allowed shoppers at Food & Thought, Oakes Farms Market and Seed To Table to shop without masks because he didn’t believe they helped. He called COVID-19 “a hoax.” There were protests for and against and eventually, a federal judge dismissed his lawsuit in February 2023.
Also in 2020, he posted on Facebook that COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement were hoaxes, and that George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police in May 2020, was a “disgraceful career criminal.”
He said all lives matter. His stance prompted protests at Seed To Table, with protesters facing off, holding signs outside the store and on Immokalee and Livingston roads. Another
on Santa Cruz Court in the Villages of Monterey and one of his Immokalee businesses, South Florida Produce, the morning of Nov. 7. Florida Highway Patrol assisted with securing the scene. Agents walked in and out, wearing gloves and carrying paperwork and boxes. While at the home, they left with paperwork, boxes and a computer after Deanne Oakes let them in. Agents left the home in the afternoon but remained at the packing house.
Local business owner Danny Gonzalez, former Immokalee Chamber of Commerce president and Immokalee’s unofficial mayor, said agents were still there when he drove home from work at 8:30 p.m.
DCIS typically investigates fraud, bribery and corruption cases involving the DOD to ensure federal money is properly spent. It also stops cybercrimes and hacking, investigates terrorism, prevents the illegal transfer of sensitive defense technologies to nations and criminals and investigates companies using defective parts in weapons systems and military equipment.
Federal records show Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services LLC received $18.1 million in Department of Defense contracts since 2008, 21,065 transactions involving produce, eggs and dairy products, with the largest payments occurring in 2021, followed by 2022 and decreasing through this year.
The awarding agencies were the DOD and the Department of Justice, while the Defense Logistics Agency and the Bureau of Prisons were listed as sub-agencies.
There were two other small DOD contracts to Oakes Farm & Distribution Services LLC. All add up to $36.3 million for fruits, vegetables and perishable foods, with $3.3 million already paid to Oakes, federal records show.
In October 2022, Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services won another five-year, $238.5 million DOD contract with Defense
protest in Immokalee, for Black Lives Matter, pitted BLM protesters against Oakes’ supporters, his employees.
Also in that year, a Change.org petition demanded that Lee County School District terminate its contract with Oakes. Three days later, the district’s procurement director contacted Oakes, telling him the district was terminating its contract “for convenience,” but offered no further explanation.
Oakes then filed a federal lawsuit against the superintendent, procurement director and school board, alleging the termination violated his right to free speech and the Florida Sunshine Law. In October 2023, a federal judge dismissed it, ruling his Facebook comments involved a “matter of public concern.”
Another 2020 lawsuit against Oakes, Oakes Farms and employee Steven Veneziano, filed in Collier Circuit Court by employee Andrew Moste, alleged Veneziano asked Moste if he could use his name and Social Security number on DraftKings, a fantasy sports betting site. Moste, unaware Veneziano was banned
Logistics Agency Troop Support to deliver fruits and vegetables to USDA-supplied schools and Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard installations.
Foreclosed on The foreclosure lawsuit, filed in Collier Circuit Court by Farm Credit of Florida, says Oakes Farms Inc. and the Oakeses borrowed $467,500 from Florida Federal Land Bank Association on Dec. 28, 2016, a loan modified in October 2018 and again in December 2018, when it was assigned to Farm Credit of Florida. Oakes Farms OP LLC, 925 New Harvest Road, Immokalee, was added as a borrower and the amount was increased to $4.1 million. Six properties, including crops, 114 pieces of equipment, machinery and fixtures on four farms, were used as collateral. They included 925 New Harvest Road, farms at 7455 and 7526 Sanctuary Road; crop land at 1260 Deer Run Lane in Naples and 6157 Pringle Lane in Immokalee; and a packing plant at 837 E. Main St. in Immokalee. The collateral includes everything in all buildings, such as doors, windows, cabinets, carpeting, beds and drapes.
Equipment and crops on a farm Oakes leases, Half Circle L Ranch, which straddles Collier and Hendry counties, also were used as collateral, as were crops and a storage facility at Gargiulo Produce property he uses. The farm properties total 2,320 acres in Collier and Hendry counties, including crops grown on leased properties owned by SR846 Land Trust, Education Foundation of Collier County Inc., Barron Collier Partnership and Barron G Collier III. The lawsuit also lists Synovus Bank as a defendant due to another loan Oakes obtained for Oakes Farms on Davis Boulevard, which was flooded by storm surge after Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022. The farm loan matured on Jan. 1 and wasn’t paid. In May, the couple delivered a forbear-
from the site, felt coerced into agreeing because Veneziano was his boss. Moste later asked him to stop due to the tax liability from the winnings.
But Veneziano continued, winning $216,121.31 that year, ending in Moste receiving an IRS notice about the winnings, and a $93,000 tax liability. The lawsuit, which sought $93,000, alleged Oakes told him not to report the winnings and promised to pay Moste yearly checks, but not to cash them unless he was audited. Moste refused to sign an agreement. The case settled just before trial 13 months later for an undisclosed amount.
This June, Oakes, a state Republican Committeeman for four years, wasn’t able to run in the August primary. Minutes before the June 14 noon deadline, he filed the wrong form and was disqualified. He threatened legal action, telling the media it was political, but the Supervisor of Elections said that was the law.
Oakes has also had a few brushes with law enforcement. Court records list multiple tickets, including speeding, driving on a suspended or revoked license for a second time and two DUIs. In 2022, he was arrested on a misdemeanor drunk and disorderly charge at Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, where he screamed at employees and shoved his cellphone in their faces. He pled no contest in absentia, was sentenced and fined, but never paid fines or court costs, which went into collections. He was banned from going there. He’s also been sued for non-payment and filed for bankruptcy years ago.
Oakes owns numerous Collier properties worth millions, according to county property appraiser records. Among them are the $3.24 million Oakes Farms Market, and $12.9 million Seed to Table, which he spent millions more building after paying $5 million in 2014 for a former Albertson’s supermarket on seven acres. He also owns Food & Thought, the popular organic supermarket started by his late father, Francis “Frank” Oakes. Two years after opening Seed To Table, he rebuilt a leased space at Fountain Park Retail Centre in North Naples and opened Food & Thought 2 restaurant and market. Six months later, Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage to Oakes Farms Market, which he’s rebuilding.
ance agreement to Farm Credit of Florida. The one-month agreement paused payments, allowing the couple to seek refinancing to pay off the loan from May 10 to June 14, but it was amended, and they were asked to pay $945 and make $44,444.44 weekly payments in July. The lawsuit and summonses served on the couple in October and this month were the last step before seizure.
During the pandemic, Oakes Farms Inc. received $3.2 million in federal Payment Protection Loans through Synovus Bank for payroll expenses, according to U.S. Small Business Administration records. Companies and nonprofit organizations that receive PPP loans may have loans forgiven if they meet certain criteria, including not laying off employees during the loan period. Applicants must attest that the loans are necessary to continue operations. The loan was forgiven and never had to be repaid.
Oakes received two payments, one for Oakes Farms Market LLC to retain 146 retail jobs and another to help Oakes Farms Inc. keep 355 farm workers on payroll. His loans were among 8,845 PPP loans in Collier that saved 7,216 jobs during the pandemic.
Oakes also has two pending federal lawsuits that were filed last month. New York-based Seedway LLC, a seed provider with two Florida warehouses, sued over $384,333 in unpaid products. The lawsuit says Alfie Oakes, Oakes Farms and employee Steven Veneziano owed payments by Dec. 31, 2023. Another lawsuit was filed against Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services LLC, 4206 Mercantile Ave., by an employee whose wife had a baby in August, and he was allowed out on Family Medical Leave; the baby experienced complications and he asked to return to work Sept. 18, but Oakes terminated him Sept. 14, saying there was no work for him.
WINK News contributed to this report.
Oakes Farms founder and CEO Alfie Oakes stands for a portrait in his Seed to Table store while it is still under construction in October 2019, a couple of months before the 77,000-square-foot store launched on the northeast corner of Livingston and Immokalee roads in North Naples. Photo by Tim Aten
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
Two months after closing as Burntwood Tavern, the rebranded Taberna Burntwood opened Nov. 5 at Mercato in North Naples.
Taberna launched on Election Day to replace Burntwood Tavern, which had operated for seven years in a Mercato space that previously had been the Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern.
“We’re real excited about the concept and opening in Mercato and being down here in Naples,” said Bret Adams, founder of the Monven Group, an Ohio-based company that operates Taberna Burntwood, Burntwood Tavern and three other restaurant concepts.
The Mercato restaurant’s difference in decor is clear and striking: Taberna is less rustic and more modern.
“We were working on this concept for quite a while and it was part of the Burntwood family, but it’s a total different look and feel,” Adams said. “It’s a little more elevated, a little more modern.” The chef-driven quality that has been the foundation of the 15 Burntwood Tavern locations remains, Adams said, but the Taberna concepts gave the company an opportunity to reimagine the original approach.
“This is our chance to do our first restaurant again,” he said. “It’s very exciting.”
The glass-blown light fixtures, wagon wheel chandeliers, whitewashed barn wood and coppertop bar have been replaced. Wooden dividers were removed to create a more open dining room, and the full bar was expanded.
“It’s mid-century, a little more modern, a little more clean lines, really accessible. You can see everything from one spot, so it’s real -
ly more social and people feel like they’re part of an event or part of a happening,” said Peter D’Amelio, president of the Monven Group.
“The Burntwoods are beautiful in their own right. This is unique.”
The refresh extends to the exterior, as well, where the 4,300-square-foot space between the longtime Bravo and future
Waxin’s restaurants has been changed with a more modern facade and a new logo and signage.
“The guests that have come in — and there have been quite a few — are pretty amazed at the design and very happy with the menu,”
D’Amelio said.
The menu is mostly different, with new appetizers, salads, sandwiches, desserts and specialties such as steak frites, a double-cut pork chop and
chargrilled fresh fish.
“We have the smash burger, we have some great apps, but we’ve
we have a roast chicken; we have probably the best prime rib sandwich that you’re going to have in the Naples area.”
The enhanced service model at Taberna introduces a “silent service” approach, prioritizing elevated, unobtrusive service, Adams said.
“We’re aiming for a polished casual environment that doesn’t cross into fine dining but offers a distinctly upgraded dining experience,” he said.
The North Naples location is the first Taberna Burntwood conversion, but the company does not have immediate plans to convert the other Burntwood Tavern locations in northeastern Ohio or Florida, which include restaurants at Bell Tower and Gulf Coast Town Center in the Fort Myers area.
“We’ll assess the other four locations in Florida and identify if the market and the guest space … would be receptive to this,” Adams said. “And if not, we are planning for the rest of the Burntwoods that don’t get converted to Taberna [to get] a refresh there, where we’ll still maintain some of the handhewn beams and the rustic [ambiance] but we update the menu, refresh the menu and introduce some of the service standards we rolled out here — but still keep it a little more casual.”
Calling Taberna a work in progress, Adams said customer reaction to the new concept will be a key to its success.
“The guests are going to tell us,” he said. “As long as we listen and pivot and react, I think we’ll have a good thing going here.”
chosen to move in a little more seasonal, a little more healthy [direction]. We have a tuna crudo;
Taberna Burntwood, 9110 Strada Place, is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The bar social hour is 3-6 p.m. daily.
Taberna Burntwood launched Nov. 5 at Mercato, rebranding the menu and decor of Burntwood Tavern, which had operated there for seven years. The owners of the restaurant replaced the tavern's rustic look with a much more modern ambience. Photo by Tim Aten
Slow-roasted prime rib with whipped potatoes and haricot verts are a weekend specialty at the new Taberna Burntwood in Mercato. Photo by Monven Group
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ELECTION 2024
The Collier County Canvassing Board met to cure ballots Nov. 5 as members of the public observe. From left: Everglades City Council Member Michael McComas; Collier County Judge Janice Martin; and Collier County Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier.
Photography by Liz Gorman
Sen. Rick Scott speaks, accompanied by his family, after winning another term in the U.S. Senate.
Margo Vincent, left, and Theo Bailey hold up flags for their chosen candidates outside of the Naples Headquarters Library voting location Election Day.
Supporters of Donald Trump cheer as results come in on Election Night.
Petar Ristovski, left, and Ognjen Cetkovic at an election results watch party at Seed to Table on Nov. 5.
Andrea Noyes dresses up with MAGA inspired accessories on Election Night at Seed to Table.
Supporters of Donald Trump Ava Lichter (left) and Mackensie Kohl (right) at Seed to Table on Election Night.
Jim Clinton and Barbara Clinton pose for a photo at Seed to Table on Election Night.
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A rts & LEISURE
Ongoing events
‘Every Brilliant Thing’ at Gulfshore Studio
7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 15 at Baker Theatre and Education Center, Struthers Studio, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples. A young boy begins his own list of wonderful things at age 7 and it transforms the way he sees the world. Gulfshore Playhouse production. $40 and up. gulfshoreplayhouse.org or 239.261. PLAY
‘Witness to Oradour’
1-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays through Dec. 15 at Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Suite 108, Naples. “Witness to the Memory of Oradour — The Photography of Martin Graf” depicts the tragic story and ruins of a small French town whose inhabitants — 642 of them — were victims of a Nazi reprisal action in June 1944. Graf, a Fort Myers resident, chronicled it with the help of the last of only six survivors. Free reception Nov. 14, with the photographer; RSVP required at hmcec.org. Regular admission: $15, $13 senior, $8 student 12 and older with ID; $7.50 military veteran. 239.263.9200
This weekend
(Nov. 15, 16, 17)
Backyard Bash
6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Road, Naples. An evening of fun backyard games, food trucks, prizes, live music, curated beers and wines to support the museum. For 21+. $125. cmon.org or 239.260.1707
Trinity Christmas Market
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 16 in the parish hall of Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples. This 68th annual The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Market features everything from paddleball outfits to chocolates, orchids, custom tea towels, baked goods, jewelry and pet items. Free admission. trinitybythecove.com
Classic Car Show
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Florida SouthWestern State College, 7505 Grand Lely Drive, Naples. The 6th annual Rookery Bay Classic Car Show has more than 100 cars representing everything from pre-1930s antiques to exotic/ high performance race cars. Food, specialty vendors, family-friendly activities and entertainment. Pet-friendly. $10, $5 for ages 3-12 and free for ages 3 and younger. rookerybay.org
Family Trees and Memories Family Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m. drop-in Nov. 16 at the Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples. In correlation with its exhibition “Portraits of Dementia,” the museum offers this session on family histories. Kids will learn how to interview their elders, and you can take home a template to fill out your family tree and learn how to preserve old family photos. colliermuseums.com or 239.252.8476
Rachmaninoff and more
7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican
CALENDAR
AN EVENING TO BE SWAYED
5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. Traditional Cuban music runs in her veins, and jazz and American funk have shaped the artistic personality of performer Leslie Cartaya. Caribbean, Afro American, Afro Latin and Latin American musical rhythms inform the music in her lively concerts, and she’ll bring her own works plus those of others for you to sway to. $25-$30. marcoislandart.org or 239.394.4221
Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic with Joana Carneiro, conductor, and Yeol Eum Son, piano, perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3, among other favorites. $15 (student) to $74. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Paula Poundstone
8 p.m. Nov. 16 at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Comic Paula Poundstone offers the pithy commentary that has won her the ACE award for best comedy special, brought her two TV series and put her book on the list of semi-finalists for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. $59. casinohardrock.com or 239.658.1313
‘From Opera to Broadway’
4 p.m. Nov. 17 at First Presbyterian Church, 250 Sixth St. S., Naples. Voices of Naples opens its season with a concert of “greatest hits” from both opera and Broadway. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 239.293.0645
Wang Series: Dvořák & more
3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Members of the Naples Philharmonic join guest pianist Yeol Eum Son in the Dvořák Quartet No. 2, a contemporary brass quintet and more. $51. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
Ruckus concert of early music
4 p.m. Nov. 17 at Trinity-bythe-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples. Ruckus seamlessly blends early music with American roots music for a unique show. Free, but tickets are required. trinitybythecove.com or 239.262.6581
Fall Youth Orchestra concert
4 p.m. Nov. 17 in Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Manuel López-Gómez conducting. Free but reservations are required. artisnaples.org
Alvin Ho conducting. $79-$108. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
98 Degrees at casino 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the outdoor stage of Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. 98 Degrees is a multi-platinum, multi-award winning vocal group, with four Top Five Billboard hits, including “The Hardest Thing” and “Because of You.” $49-$97. casinohardrock.com or 239.658.1313
Dirt Diggin’
10-11 a.m. Nov. 20 at Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples. FULL. Dirt Diggin’ is a program for preschool kids’ exploration of all things construction with handson and STEM-based activities. Free. colliermuseums.com or 239.252.8476
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Amsterdam-based Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is among the top five in most lists of the world’s great orchestras. Its members perform a program of Glinka, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev with Klaus Mäkelä, chief conductor designate, and rising star Lisa Batiashvili, violinist for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. $104-$176. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Next week (Nov. 18-21)
Forest bathing on a fruit farm
9:30-11:30 a.m. Nov 19 at Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm, 1255 Dove Tree St., Naples. Go Forest Bathing, a company with certified forest bathing therapy guides, takes 15 participants for a private session among the colorful, scented orchards of Jessie’s Tropical Fruit Farm outside Naples. $45; includes a Jessie’s tote bag and a lemongrass plant. Pre-registration required. goforestbathing.com
‘Wheel of Fortune’ at casino
8 p.m. Nov. 17 at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Adapting the longtime TV show, “Wheel of Fortune LIVE!” will be on stage, with games and prizes for both contestants and the audience. $93 and up. moreinparadise.com
‘Faust’ film and lecture
3 p.m. Nov. 19 at Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples. Filmed Opera Naples production with Anthony Kearns, plus a 15-minute introduction with background and discussion. $20 donation or refreshment purchase supports Opera Naples productions and youth programs. operanaples. org or 239.253.8936
Art advisor talk
5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. Matthew Blong, contemporary art advisor and founder of Charting Transcendence, Inc., will conduct a brief presentation on today’s art market and provide general observations on art collecting and the work of a professional art advisor. Free but RSVP required. marcoislandart.org
Dance Theatre of Harlem
7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 in Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Dance Theatre of Harlem in a virtuosic program of dance with Naples Philharmonic,
singer with multiple Dove and Grammy awards, known on the pop side for hits including “That’s What Love Is For” and “I Will Remember You.” $69-$93. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
R.C. Smith and Angela Nacca
7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Arts Center Theatre, 1089 N. Collier Blvd Suite, #432, Marco Island. It’s double the laughs in this early concert of the series. $30. marcoislandart.org or 239.784.1186
Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus
5 p.m. Nov. 23 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Fall concert. Free, but tickets are required. artisnaples.org
‘Death and the Maiden’
3 p.m. Nov. 24 and 26 in the Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Members of the Naples Philharmonic in a program of Schubert’s Death and the Maiden and Couperin. $59. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
‘A Night Honoring
‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’
7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 20-Dec. 22 at Kizzie Theater inside Sugden Community Theater, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. A musical version, produced by Naples Players, taken from the sweetly famous film. It follows young Ralphie Parker on his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun — which everyone insists he shouldn’t have — for Christmas, moving through a holiday season of dad-ly accidents with the Christmas lights, abominable gifts and school bullies. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
Florida’s First People
2-3 p.m. Nov. 21 at Museum of the Everglades, 105 Broadway Ave. W., Everglades City. Calusa artifacts found on Marco Island are just some of evidence of these early inhabitants of the 10,000 Islands found everywhere around Everglades City. Learn more at the museum’s talk. Free. colliermuseums.com or 239.252.5026
Musical Interludes: Leslie Cartaya 5:30 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. See featured item.
Dueling pianos
6 and 8:30 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Daniels Pavilion at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Members of the cast of the musical feature film Duelers, winner of the Indie Spirit Award at the 2023 Naples International Film Festival, promise a lively night of live dueling pianos. $68. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Next weekend (Nov. 22, 23, 24)
Amy Grant
7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Starring the crossover
Tina Turner’ 7 p.m. Nov. 24 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic and Adrienne Warren share a night of singing legend Tina Turner’s biggest hits, including “Private Dancer,” “You Better Be Good to Me,” What’s Love Got to Do With It” and more, reimagined for a full orchestra. $75-$109. artisnaples. org or 239.597.1900
Plan ahead
An Evening of Overtures 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic, with associate conductor Manuel López-Gómez, plays favorites from Star Wars to Die Fledermaus to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
‘The First Thanksgiving’ Family Program
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 27 at Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. Did you know the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in St. Augustine in 1565 by the Spanish and Timucuan natives? This drop-in with the kids and grandkids — preschool and elementary — offers classic Thanksgiving crafts, with a Florida twist, and revelations on what was probably for dinner at Florida’s first Thanksgiving. Free. 239.252.1440
Encanto: The Sing-along Concert
7 p.m. Nov. 27 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The newest Disney classic film with a live band, Banda de la Casita, and a sing-along to its biggest hits. Kids are encouraged to come in costume if they’d like to. $39-$89. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
‘The Nutcracker’ with Naples Ballet
7 p.m. Nov. 30, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in Hayes Hall at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic, performed by the Naples Philharmonic, student dancers of Naples Ballet and guest professional soloists from American Ballet Theatre and Miami City Ballet. $25-$68.
Leslie Cartaya, vocalist and musician, comes to the Marco Island Center for the Arts Nov. 21. Publicity photo
HOLIDAY SEASON
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
If we took advantage of half the events Collier County offers during the holiday season, our only New Year’s resolution would be to sleep. Still, it’s a temptation to try to reach that satiated point with the bounty of music, theater, food and lights being planned. Save this calendar for your holiday outings and you’ll never ask what we should do, but which we should do.
November
Nov. 20-Dec. 22 — Trees and Tea Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Even bigger with the lobby expansion, decorated trees for photo ops and mini-trees, wreaths and refreshments for sale. Proceeds to Naples Players programs. Free admission. naplesplayers.org
Nov. 20-Dec. 22 — ‘A Christmas Story, The Musical’: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 20 – Dec. 22 at the Kizzie inside Sugden Community Theater, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Musical version, produced by Naples Players, taken from the familiar film of young Ralphie’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun at Christmas. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
6-9 p.m. nightly Nov. 22-Jan.
4 — The Magic of Lights: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples. Displays in this drive-through show of more than two million lights include a 32-foot-tall, animated Mattel Waving Christmas Barbie, a prehistoric Christmas scene with life-sized celebrating dinosaurs and a Bigfoot Monster Truck display. Advance: $19 car, $64 limo or bus; at the gate: $32 car weekdays, $37 weekends. playparadisecoast.com
4-7 p.m. Nov. 26-Dec. 1 — Thanksgiving week North Pole on Third: Paused on Nov. 29, Thanksgiving Day. Fleischmann Plaza. Live Christmas music (minus Thursday and Sunday). Snowfall 7 p.m. nightly.
10 a.m. Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 20, 21; 1 p.m. Nov. 30 — Gingerbread house decorating class: Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tíburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive. Includes ingredients, chef guidance, coffee and hot chocolate. About three hours. $340.50 for a group of four includes service charge and taxes. naplesfestive.com
5 p.m. Nov. 29 — Santa’s Arrival on Marco: Marco Island Academy, 2255 San Marco Road, Marco Island. Santa’s arrival, with fanfare. christmasislandstyle.com
Beginning 6 p.m. Nov. 29-Jan. 5 — Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden: Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Hours vary; closed Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31. Naples Botanical Garden is transformed into a world of color with light displays everywhere. Food at the Fogg Cafe, and a glow bag option available at a higher price. $34, children $18 through Dec. 12, $40 and $20 after that. Members halfprice. Discounted tickets after 8 p.m. naplesgarden.org Nov. 29-Dec 8 — ‘A Nice Family Christmas’: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. The Studio Players production of a writer who’s ordered to write a
THE ARTS THE HOLIDAY GUIDE
Southwest Florida has it all, including snow
personal article about Christmas at home, but his dysfunctional family wants none of it. $35, $37.75 online at thestudioplayers.org or 239.398.9192
8 a.m. first seating Nov. 30, Dec. 13, 21-23 — Breakfast with Santa: Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tíburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive. With Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves. Buffet, keepsake photo. Reservations end Nov. 29. $119.70; ages 2-12, $94.50; younger than 2, $18.90. Seatings on the half hour. Fees apply to all. ritzcarlton.com
7 p.m. Nov. 30, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1 — ‘The Nutcracker’ with Naples Ballet: Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd.,
Naples. Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic, performed by the Naples Philharmonic, student dancers of Naples Ballet, guest professional soloists. $25-$68. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Week of Dec. 2-8
4-7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays
The North Pole on Third: Fleischmann Plaza. Live Christmas music Thursdays and Fridays, snowfall at 7 p.m. all three days.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 — Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour: Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Sax star Dave Koz brings in Jonathan Butler, guitar and
vocals; Vincent Ingala, saxophone; Adam Hawley, guitar; and Rebecca Jade, vocalist, for this Christmas jazz special. $114. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3-5 — Festival of Trees: Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. Decorate and donate a tree for this fundraiser (deadline to register Nov. 29) for a silent auction over two days. Proceeds are split with the designer or can be donated to Marco Island Center for the Arts. Free admission. marcoislandart.org or 239.394.4221
6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 — City of Naples Christmas Parade: A Naples
tradition, a night parade with fully decorated and illuminated floats, organizations and bands, with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the finale, traveling east down Fifth Avenue South to Eighth Street South down to Broad Avenue.
4-8 p.m. Dec. 4 — Naples Design District Holiday Stroll: Naples Design District, 10th Street South from U.S. 41 to Seventh Avenue North. Open house at design businesses and galleries with food, ice cream, Santa, holiday decor ideas and a antique train display. Free, but RSVP at naplesdesigndistrict.com
Dec. 4-22 — ‘The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)’: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 3 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays at Arts Center Theatre, Marco Town Center, 1089 Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Three actors, fed up with another year of A Christmas Carol, decide to throw together an abridged version of every great Christmas story they know. $30. marcoislandart. org or 239.784.1186
7:30 p.m. Dec. 5-6 — Celebrate VII: Marco Lutheran Church, 525 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. A collaborative grouping of seasonal solo and ensemble works. Free tickets at the church office. 239.394.0332
6 p.m. Dec. 5 — A Holiday Taste of Opera: The Club at the Strand, 5840 Strand Blvd., Naples. Dinner at the exclusive club with Gulfshore Opera artists performing holiday melodies and more. $175. gulfshoreopera.org
7 p.m. Dec. 5 — Naples Brass, A Christmas Celebration: North Naples Church, 6000 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Christmas Brass Music, featuring brass players from The Naples Philharmonic. Free; $25 VIP, including a Naples Brass Christmas CD. eventbrite.com
5-10 p.m. Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 7 — Christmas on Fifth: All along Fifth Avenue South. Tree lighting at Sugden Theatre plaza at 6 p.m. Dining on the avenue (reservations with participating restaurants necessary; see fifthavenuesouth. com), al fresco shopping, entertainment.
5-8 p.m. Dec. 6 — Ugly Christmas Sweater Cocktail Party: Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tíburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. Prize for the ugliest sweaters, music, dancing, specialty cocktails. Free admission but reservations required by Dec. 5 at naplesfestive.com
9-11 a.m. Dec. 7 — Breakfast with Santa: Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. First St., Immokalee. Kids enjoy decorating cookies, sweet treats, crafts and pictures with Santa. $5. Pre-registration required at collierparks.com
Noon and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 — ‘The Nutcracker’: Pulte Family Life Center, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Ave. N., Naples. Gulfshore Ballet presents the Tchaikovsky ballet. $50, VIP tickets available at eventbrite.com
3-9 p.m. Dec. 7 — Snowfest: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples. Snow for kids to play on, games, food for purchase, snow slides, radio-controlled cars and a holiday fun bounce land. Santa Claus will greet children. Free holiday film at 7:30 — bring blankets for seating. $8, free ages 3 and younger. playparadisecoast.com
6 p.m. Dec. 7 — Marco Tree Light-
This happy dog was ready to pull Santa's sleigh, complete with bells on his paws, at the 2023 Christmas Pet parade on Marco Island.
Photo by Harriet Howard Heithaus
TAKEAWAY FEASTS, SWEET TREATS FROM NAPLES EATERIES, MARKETS
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
Are you hoping to make Thanksgiving dinner a bit less stressful this year? Frankly, between multiple hurricanes and a national election, many Paradise Coasters might be craving the tastes of Thanksgiving without the time-consuming hassle of cooking at home.
And while most Naples restaurants are already fully booked for in-house dining on Thanksgiving Day, several favorites offer the option of takeaway family style meals with a variety of price points and menu selections — from downhome to gourmet — that can help ease the strain of feeding a houseful of guests.
In addition to restaurants, several grocery stores/markets, including Fresh Market, Publix, Seed to Table and Wynn’s, offer full Thanksgiving dinners designed to feed gatherings of various sizes.
Ordering deadlines and pickup times vary, as well, and customers can call or go online to the restaurants’ and stores’ websites for details on vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free options, as well as the all-important dessert options.
The Naples Press presents a range of takeaway options below for Thanksgiving feasting with all of the basics taken care of, meaning you can heat, serve and relax with family and friends while enjoying your Neapolitan holiday. As a special bonus, we threw in two options just for pies and other sweet treats (you’re welcome). Be sure to check out our suggestions for wine pairings, too.
The Bistro will feature both its full regular menu and a traditional holiday dinner for takeout on Thanksgiving Day. The dinner option includes turkey and “all the trimmings” for $45 per person.
Order by Thursday, Nov. 21, by calling restaurant at 239.261.5821; pickup time will be arranged when order is placed
Cooper’s Hawk offers a “Heat and Serve Thanksgiving Take-Home Kit” featuring traditional menu items including butternut squash
soup; homemade cranberry sauce; three signature pretzel breads; roasted carrots and green beans; mashed potatoes; white and dark meat turkey; stuffing; gravy; and Eli’s pumpkin praline cheesecake.
Price: $199.99; serves 6 Order by Friday, Nov. 22, or while supplies last; online orders only through Eventbrite at chwinery. com
Pick up in the restaurant or curbside on Wednesday, Nov. 27; choose between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Note: Individual takeout dinners available on Thanksgiving Day while supplies last; $34.99 for adults and $14.99 for children 12 and under; call restaurant to order
Bakery at Grappino, 90 Ninth St., Naples, 239.331.4325, grappinonaples.com
Grappino’s brand-new Bakery at Grappino offers to-go a la carte options and a “Complete Feast”
featuring charcuterie and antipasti; soup; boneless sliced turkey breast; chestnut and sausage stuffing; gravy; cranberry sauce; choice of four sides; and choice of four bakery items. Sides include classic mashed potatoes; Lyonnaise potatoes; mashed sweet potatoes; black truffle green bean casserole; Brussels sprouts with maple syrup; roasted pumpkin; asparagus. Bakery choices include variety of cookies; bomboloni; pumpkin or apple pie; cherry or pecan pie; brioche, dinner roll, sourdough bread; cream cheese pumpkin bread; caramel and chocolate bread pudding.
Price: Complete Feast dinner for 2 $120; for 4 $230; for 8 $440; for 10 $530
Order by Wednesday, Nov. 20, by calling Angel at 239.231.4568 or email catering@aielligroup.com
Pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27, noon to 6 p.m.
Le Colonial, 457 Fifth Avenue S., Naples, 239.372.9700,
lecolonial.com
The French-Vietnamese restaurant that opened in 2023 offers a “lavish” Thanksgiving menu, featuring lemongrass and chili-roasted Amish farm turkey; roasted Vidalia and ginger-scented turkey jus; signature stuffing with French brioche, chestnuts, roasted winter squash, caramelized onions, mushrooms, fresh thyme and roasted turkey jus; Japanese sweet potato casserole with five spices, organic honey and candied pecans; Brussels sprouts with caramelized organic palm sugar, fish sauce, lemon and peanuts; Meyer lemon and Yuzu tart with citrus meringue; Japanese milk Parker rolls.
Price: $385.25; serves 10
Order by Monday, Nov. 18, by email at info@lecolonialnaples. com or call 239.372.9700
Pickup in the restaurant on Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27
Mel’s Diner offers a down-home Thanksgiving menu including a choice of fresh roasted turkey, fresh roasted loin of pork or baked all-natural Virginia ham, served with traditional sides, including homemade stuffing; mashed potatoes and gravy or mashed sweet potatoes; green beans and corn.
Price: $79.99; serves 4-6
Order by Thursday, Nov. 21, by phone or in person
Pickup: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 28; call to ask about pickup prior to Thanksgiving Day
If you order your Thanksgiving feast from Naples Grande this year, you’re also supporting a cause: For every heat-and-serve takeout dinner purchased, the resort will donate one turkey to St. Matthew’s House. The traditional menu includes cider-brined turkey; sage, apple and brioche stuffing; green salad with sherry vinaigrette; French butter-whipped Yukon Gold potatoes; brown butter and honey-glazed carrots; French beans with caramelized shallots; traditional cranberry sauce; rolls; pumpkin pie and Dutch apple pie
Price: $349; serves 8 Order by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, online only at naplesgrande.com/ giveback; orders will be confirmed via Eventbrite
Pickup: Thursday, Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. or noon
Grocery stores/markets
The Fresh Market, 4129 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, 239.430.2444; 12628 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, 239.732.0237 thefreshmarket.com
The Fresh Market offers several traditional heat-and-serve options, including the “Ultimate Holiday Meal” that features both turkey and ham, along with sides including Yukon Gold whipped potatoes; traditional herb stuffing; roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries; green beans; homestyle turkey gravy; cranberry relish with walnuts; The Fresh Market butter and egg dinner rolls
Price: $199; serves 12-14 (Loyalty member price $189; discount applied at checkout)
Order: by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, online at thefreshmarket. com
Pickup: Monday, Nov. 25, through Thursday, Nov. 28; call store for details
Publix, various locations, publix.com
Publix takes the stress out of Thanksgiving with quite a few options, including the heat-andserve Complete Turkey Dinner, which includes a fully cooked 10to 12-pound turkey (comes with heating instructions); Publix Deli old-fashioned cornbread dressing; homestyle Yukon Gold mashed potatoes; cranberry orange relish; marshmallow delight; homestyle gravy.
Price: $69.99; serves 7-10
Call or visit your local Publix for details on ordering and pickup deadlines. General details can be found at publix.com
Seed to Table, 4835 Immokalee Road, Naples, 239.310.7333, seedtotablemarket.com
Three different menus offer choices of ham, turkey or beef with traditional sides. Menu 1: Glazed spiral ham with cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, Yukon Gold potato puree and Parker House rolls; Menu 2: Plainville turkey with brown gravy and cranberry with same sides; Menu 3: whole-roasted Braveheart beef tenderloin with horseradish cream sauce and red wine demi-glaze with same sides.
See TAKEOUT, Page 5B
Mikkelsen's Pastry Shop offers Thanksgiving desserts ranging from classic pumpkin and apple pies to chocolate pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake.
Photo by Therese McDevitt
DEMYSTIFYING HOLIDAY WINES THAT PAIR WELL WITH MEALS
By Samantha Garbarini
From a wine-pairing standpoint, the fully loaded Thanksgiving plate is a challenge. Turkey is lean and mild, while stuffing is deeply savory and rich with butter. Green bean casserole calls for something totally different than tart cranberry sauce. And what even goes with a marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole?
“You really can’t apply typical wine-pairing standards,” said Peter Rizzo, owner of natural wine bar and bottle shop Nat Nat in Naples. “What makes it difficult is the bounty of everything. All the side dishes are different. It’s overwhelming for people, but it doesn’t have to be.”
To that end, The Naples Press tapped Rizzo and sommelier Clément Cariot, who oversees the Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning cellar at Bleu Provence and its adjacent wine store, as guides through the options for the holiday meal.
With a full table and a cornucopia of different dishes, variety is your friend.
“You’re having lots of guests over and they all have different likes,” Cariot said. “It’s good to have dif-
Price: Menu 1-$129.99; Menu 2-$149.99; Menu 3-$249.99. All menu options serve eight. Order in store or by phone; orders taken while supplies last
Pickup: Wednesday, Nov. 27, only, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving Day
Wynn’s Market, 141 9th St. N., Naples, 239.261.7157, wynnsmarket.com
Wynn’s Deli keeps it traditional with turkey and a variety of sides, including mashed potatoes; stuffing; gravy; green bean casserole; cranberry relish; pull-apart rolls; pumpkin or apple pie.
Price: $245 ($15 carving fee); serves 4-6; also available as a dinner for two at $70 each Order by Friday, Nov. 22, by phone or in person, or online at wynnsmarket.com
Pickup: “Drive through” pick up behind Sunshine Ace Hardware next to Wynn’s Market between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 27
Pies and sweets
Mikkelsen’s Pastry Shop, 1068 Business Lane, Naples, 239.596.5996, mikkelsenspastryshop.com
Mikkelsen’s delectable pies/tarts (all 9.5 inches) include pumpkin, pecan, apple, apple raspberry cranberry, Key lime, chocolate, chocolate pecan, white chocolate banana, raspberry almond linzer and pumpkin cheesecake
Prices: Pumpkin, apple, all fruit pies $24; Key lime with graham cracker crust $28; pecan and chocolate pecan $30; 10-inch pumpkin cheesecake $49
Order by Monday, Nov. 25, at mikkelsenspastryshop.com or by email at cakes@mikkelsenspastryshop.com (look for an email response confirming order, and call with any questions)
Pickup: Monday, Nov. 25, through Wednesday, Nov. 27, in time slots starting at 9 a.m.; closed on Thanksgiving Day
Warren, 111 10th St. S., Naples, 239.330.2611, warrennaples.com
The Warren offers pies by Damn Good Sweets, including apple, pecan and pumpkin for $40; banana cream cheesecake and pumpkin cheesecake for $65; s’mores tart for $40 and pumpkin Bundt cake for $30
Order by Thursday, Nov. 21, at warrennaples.com
Pickup: Wednesday, Nov. 27, between noon and 10 p.m. at the restaurant
ferent wines. In an ideal world, everyone should have one sparkling, one white and one red.”
For whites, Rizzo recommended a medium- to full-bodied wine. Instead of the ubiquitous Italian pinot grigio, which is too light and crisp to stand up to the big meal, try pinot gris from Oregon or Alsace in northeastern France. Made from the same grape as pinot grigio, pinot gris is typically richer and more corporeal with notes of spice that hold their own against the battery of buttery sides. Gewürztraminer, a pink-skinned varietal that thrives in cold climates, is worth seeking out, as well.
“It’s a grape that produces very high sugar, which creates an opulent mouthfeel,” Rizzo said. “It’s not a wallflower, and I think that’s important when it comes to the Thanksgiving table.”
The “bigger is better” philosophy does not apply to reds. “Turkey doesn’t have fat like beef or lamb. It doesn’t have anything to offset the tannins in wine,” Rizzo said. “That’s why cabernet and syrah would never work.” Bright, fruit-forward wines with plenty of acidity strike the ideal balance, providing enough contrast to refresh the palate without overwhelming it. Both Cariot and Rizzo love Beaujolais, a ver-
satile, fruit-driven French gamay.
“You have the red berry, but also a tart, almost cranberry flavor,” Rizzo said, noting that he likes to slightly chill the red before serving. “It’s refreshing, almost like biting into an apple.”
Of course, there’s always Champagne. “If you want one bottle that goes for everything, get the most expensive bottle of sparkling wine you can afford,” Cariot said.
“That’s kind of a cheat code.” Sparkling wines can carry you from the pre-dinner aperitif through dessert, and while a bottle of French Champagne, such as Bollinger or Krug, is a festive splurge, there are plenty of wallet-friendly options, too. Champagne-style French wines, including crémant d’Alsace and crémant de Loire, which are produced outside of the Champagne region, carry a much more affordable price tag, and Italian sparkling prosecco offers tons of variety under $20. After dinner, why not uncork something special to serve with pie? “It’s a perfect time for a sweet wine like Sauternes,” Cariot said. “They’re often overlooked, but they’re incredibly hard to craft, and the people who do, do it because they love them so much.” Just one more moment to be thankful for.
Peter Rizzo at Nat Nat. Photo by Anna Nguyen
Kevin Cariot and Clément Cariot of Bleu Provence. Photo by Brian Tietz
From page 4B
Thanksgiving cupcakes can add a festive note to your holiday table.
Photo by Therese McDevitt
COMICS & PUZZLES
1. MOVIES: In the movie "The Shawshank Redemption," what is Andy Dufresne's occupation before he was imprisoned?
2. LITERATURE: Which of Shakespeare's plays features the characters of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
3. TELEVISION: Which 2000s TV drama starred a character named Jack Bauer?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: What was First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name?
5. HISTORY: Which dynasty built the Forbidden City in China?
6. MYTHOLOGY: What is the name of the mythical creature who is half man and half horse?
7. CHEMISTRY: What is aqua regia?
8. GEOGRAPHY: Where was the ancient region of Mesopotamia mostly located?
ing and Community Celebration: Veterans Community Park, 901 Park Ave., Marco Island.
7:30 Dec. 7 and 7 p.m. Dec. 8 — Handel's ‘Messiah’: Dec. 7 at Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples; Dec. 8 at First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, 9751 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. Naples Philharmonic, Naples Philharmonic Chorus in the classic oratorio. $29-$77 Dec. 7, $35 ($15 student with ID) Dec. 8. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Dec. 9-24 — 2024 Ritz Gingerbread House: Weekdays 5-8 p.m.; weekends 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Executive Pastry Chef Lerome Campbell and the Ritz-Carlton chefs present their 2024 Gingerbread House Experience. Free for local residents and resort guests. Valet parking fee of $10 applies.
7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 13 — Voices of Naples Christmas Concert: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Drive, Naples, then Grace Lutheran Church, 860 Banyan Boulevard, Naples. Christmas classics, carols, holiday favorites from Voices of Naples. Freewill offering. voicesofnaples.org
5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 — Marco Canine Holiday Pet Parade: The Esplanade, 760 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. Dogs in seasonal costumes compete for pawsitively wonderful prizes. christmasislandstyle.com
7 p.m. Dec. 12 — Home for the Holidays: Daniels Pavilion, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Concert pianist Jodie DeSalvo, vocalists Mark Sanders and Carol Sanitas perform a variety of holiday songs. Part of the Piano Talks Series. $64. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
5-6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 — Build a candy house: Vineyards Community Park center, 6231 Arbor Blvd. W., Naples. Kids ages 4-12 use candy, cookies and frosting to build their own Christmas candy house. All materials included. $12. Pre-register by Dec. 6 at collierparks.com. 239.252.4105
6-7 p.m. Dec. 13 — ‘Holiday Eats’ cooking for kids: Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, 810 39th Ave. NE, Naples. Kids learn to maneuver in the kitchen and recipes for simple holiday treats. $10. Reservations required at collierparks.com
6-8 p.m. Dec. 13 — Golden Gate Jingle Bells Bash: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. An evening of music, games, inflatables, photo opportunities, vendors and more. $10. Call for registration, 239.252.4000.
6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 — Tuba Christmas: Holiday favorite concert on Sugden Theatre Plaza of an all-tuba orchestra. Bring seating.
6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 — Christmas Party Mix and Mingle: Max Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. For ages 5-12, with games, crafts, music pizza and drink. $10. Preregistration required at collierparks.com
9-11 a.m. Dec. 14 — Cookies and milk with Santa: Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 U.S. 41 E., Naples. Meet Santa and enjoy a cookie breakfast with him. $3. Preregistration required at collierparks.com
6 p.m. Dec. 14 — Naples Boat Parade: Lighted, decorated craft traveling between Morgan Cove and Tin City at the Gordon River bridge. Select viewing spots at Naples City Dock, $20. Proceeds to Ricky King Fund and Marine Industries Association of Collier County Foundation. For route, other recommended viewing spots, Dock tickets, see miacc.com
6:30 p.m. Dec. 14 — Annual Marco Street Parade. Starts at San Marco Road/Balfour Drive and ends at San Marco Road/Barfield Drive. With floats, marching units, music, organizations in seasonal costume.
6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 14 — Holiday cookie decorating class: Registration closes Dec. 7. Kava Culture Kava Bar at Marco Town Center, 1017 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island. suited for adults, ages 12 and up. All participating must register. Includes cookies, materials, swag bag, prize drawing, free bar drink. $60. eventbrite.com
7 p.m. Dec. 14 — Voyces of Christmas: Norris Community Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. The Carl Granieri Orchestra Voy-
ces apply their five-part harmony to Christmas songs from American tradition and other world cultures. $30-$35. eventbrite.com
5 p.m. Dec. 14, 4 p.m. Dec. 15 — Christmas Music at Trinity Concert: Trinity-bythe-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples. Ancient, traditional and contemporary hymns from the chorus. Free but tickets required, at trinitybythecove.org
Week of Dec. 16-22
5-7 p.m. Dec. 18 — Christmas at North Naples Church: North Naples Church, 6000 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Music timed to Christmas lights, Santa appearances, live Nativity scene, children’s Christmas experience and holiday concert with praise band, Naples Philharmonic brass and strings at 7 p.m. Free. VIP tickets, $25. eventbrite.com
7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-21, 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 22 — Holiday Pops Concert: Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic, the Philharmonic Chorus and the Youth Chorus with vocalist Morgan James. $55-$85. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
5:30 p.m. Dec. 20 — Holiday Movie in the Park: Veterans’ Community Park, 901 Park St., Marco Island. Sponsored by Christmas Island Style and Marco Island Parks and Recreation. Free. christmasislandstyle.com
6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 — Seventh Annual Candlelight Christmas Carols: Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Pre-caroling food/ beverage concessions available at 5:30 p.m. Lyric sheets and electric candles provided. Bring seating. Donations to Hope4Kids of Southwest Florida, hopeswfl.org
6-8 p.m. Dec. 20-21 — Unity of Christmas Extravaganza: Unity of Naples, 2000 Unity Way (off Davis Boulevard), Naples. Children’s activities of designing an ornament or stocking; music; prize wheel; walkway of 25 dec-
orated trees and 80,000 lights; free hot beverages, cookies, popcorn. Sanctuary open for meditation. Free admission. unitynaples.org
Dec. 20-22 — ‘Home for the Holidays’: 7:30 p.m. Dec 20, 21; 2 p.m. Dec. 21, 22. G&L Theatre, The Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Road, Naples. TheatreZone’s original musical extravaganza, traditional and popular Christmas songs, elaborate costumes and Christmas-themed scenery. $50-$85. theatre.zone or 888.966.3352
10 a.m.-noon Dec. 21 — Cookies & Milk with Santa on Marco: 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island. Sponsored by Christmas Island Style and Marco Island Parks and Recreation. Free.
5-10 p.m. Dec. 21 — Christmas Around the World: Immokalee Sports Center, 505 Escambia St., Immokalee. Vendors, games, prizes, food available. Free admission.
6 p.m. Dec. 21 — Marco Christmas Island Style Boat Parade: To and from the Jolley Bridge through Collier Bay, boats bedecked with Christmas lights and themes. Route at christmasislandstyle.com
7 p.m. Dec. 21 — Mr. Glen’s Holiday Science Show: Norris Community Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Educational content onstage with a sense of humor this holiday season. Participants come on stage for wacky winter-themed science experiments. Family show. $17.85. eventbrite.com
Week of Dec. 23-29
5-6 p.m. Dec. 26 — Chanukah Celebration: Mercato on the Lawn, 9110 Strada Place. Celebrate Chanukah and light the Menorah with music, food and fun. The Naples Klezmer Revival Band entertains, and Chef Dalia will offer Israeli food, including donuts. There are gelt and balloon creations for the kids. Free, but registration is required at jewishnaples.org
HANDMADE HOLIDAYS
A number of organizations are offering the goods to make your holiday handmade. Here are upcoming ones, all offering free admission and parking.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 16-17: Empty Bowls Holiday Open House at 6300 Janes Lane (off J&C Boulevard, Suite 4, Naples. Holiday and other locally designed wares, all to benefit nonprofit hunger organizations. emptybowlsnaples.com 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 16: Holly and the Ivy Christmas Market at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Drive, Naples. The 68th annual market in the parish hall features pickleball couture among traditional holiday fare including the seasonal chocolates from Olde Naples Chocolate, jewelry, tea towels, art and locally written children’s books such as Karna Small Bodwin’s first-pet tale, Wrigley at the White House
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 14: Community Christmas Market at Unity of Naples, 2000 Unity Way (off Davis Boulevard), Naples. Local vendors bring their items, from baked goods to gifts and more. unitynaples.org
Naples Ballet brings its production of 'The Nutcracker' to Artis—Naples Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Photo courtesy Artis Naples
Handpainted holiday wares will be sold at an open house Nov. 16-17 to support the Empty Bowls work for hunger organizations. Contributed photo
Crowds enjoy the entertainment on Fifth Avenue newly lighted for Christmas. Photo courtesy fifthavenuesouth.com
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