Q: Years ago, you reported that the Publix at Neapolitan Way here in Naples was going to go under renovation. Obviously, it’s been some time since then, but it has yet to happen. I’ve heard rumors now that it’s going to close down for renovation in November. I’m wondering if there is any truth to that. It’s definitely much needed! —Mariana Lara, Naples
A: Two days after Thanksgiving, the 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza will close, to begin a Naples redevelopment project that has been planned for years. The supermarket and the adjoining vacant retail space that previously was home to PetPeople and Hallmark stores will be demolished and replaced by a new, larger Publix within the same footprint.
Publix recently sparked confusion by posting on its online page for the Naples store that it is “permanently closing soon.” That’s because the Florida-based supermarket chain is retiring store number 172 and launching replacement store number 1782.
The existing store will close at 7 p.m. Nov. 30.
What Publix is not able to communicate about is precisely when demolition will begin and when the new supermarket is targeted to open.
“As you can imagine, there are a number of variables that factor into the timeline for store openings. To ensure we are sharing the most accurate information with
See ATEN KNOWS, Page 7A
COUNTY TO LEASE 2 HOMES TO VETERANS PROGRAM
Warrior Homes of Collier, which has a waiting list of homeless veterans, just added two homes to its four-home inventory after Collier County commissioners unanimously agreed the county should rent two vacant East Naples homes to the non-profit veterans group.
The Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 12 approved an initial one-year lease for two vacant, county-owned homes near Bayshore Park that had been used by the county to temporarily house employees. Warrior Homes will pay $1,000 monthly per bedroom under the lease, which has annual options to renew, allowing it to house six more veterans.
“That will bring the number of beds we have up to 39 beds, which is just
By Aisling
Collier County will dramatically increase its tourism spending this fiscal year, increasing it to $11.45 million, to remain competitive with other markets after hotel occupancy dipped and then two hurricanes hit.
The Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 12 unanimously approved the Tourist Development Council’s enhanced marketing funding request of up to $5.45 million to remain competitive and to promote tourism after tourism-development tax collections dipped about $250,000.
phenomenal in trying to address this issue,” Thomas Buckley, Warrior Homes’ board treasurer, told commissioners. “We recognize that it could be just a temporary or an interim lease, but we have people right now that are ready to move in. … Our goal is to end homelessness in Collier County.” Warrior Homes, founded 10 years ago by veteran Dale Mullin as Wounded Warriors of Collier County, assists men and women veterans who need housing, mental-health support and access to higher education. The number of homeless veterans in Collier is now 30 to 40, but there were 90-95 until Warrior Homes created four residences over the past five years.
Commissioner Rick LoCastro, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, noted the lease agreement came a day after Veterans’ Day — the same morning the
See HOMES, Page 8A
“We’ve obviously had to address negative perceptions with storms, but we’ve also had to address negative perceptions with red tide, the economy, certainly the pandemic … and hurricanes, hurricanes, hurricanes,” county Tourism Director Jay Tusa said before the vote.
The money comes from the county’s 5% bed tax — revenues from hotels, Airbnbs and other rentals of six months or less. Although they’re tourism funds, commissioners’ approval is needed to add to the already approved $6 million tourism budget.
The two votes involved up to $390,000 from TDC Disaster Recovery Fund, which has $1.5 million in reserves. That will be used for emergency hurricane recovery marketing to address negative
perceptions after hurricanes Helene and Milton in September and October. Up to $5.06 million in operating reserve funds from the TDC Promotion Fund will be used to enhance tourism marketing. Commissioner Rick LoCastro, the TDC’s chair, called the additional spending an investment and made both motions.
In September, the TDC urged Tusa to boost marketing and advertising due to waning occupancy rates over the summer, noting it had surplus funds, $12.2 million in reserves. The next month, Tusa presented a plan that was approved by the TDC, which then held an emergency meeting to
See TOURISM SPENDING, Page 4A
Greg Tinsley, left, veteran peer specialist of Warrior Homes, listens to veterans at Warrior Homes of Collier's Alpha House in July. Photo by Liz Gorman
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WARRIOR HOMES OF COLLIER
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Naples Lions Club establishes Hispanic branch
The Naples Lions Club has established a new Hispanic branch at Pelican Church in Naples. This new branch will focus on delivering critical services to the Hispanic community, with a special emphasis on immigration support, along with free eye and hearing screenings. It will provide information and education on the initial stages of immigration, offering referrals to reliable immigration experts, to ease the complexity of the immigration process.
The Hispanic Branch is located at Pelican Church, 5800 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. For more information, call Kathy Heldman, First Vice President, Naples Lions Club, 312.203.6418 or email kathyheldman167@gmail.com
Celebrity chef to open Tigress restaurant
The Perry Hotel Naples, a 160-room hotel opening this year along Tamiami Trail and the Cocohatchee River, plans to open an open-air rooftop Cantonese chophouse called Tigress, helmed by celebrity Chef Dale Talde. Talde is known for his innovative culinary style and appearances on “Top Chef: Chicago” and “Top Chef: All-Stars.” Talde brings his distinct Asian American experience to Tigress, blending the boldness of steakhouse fare with the intricate flavors of Cantonese cuisine. The hotel also will launch Easy Tiger, a mixology lounge, curated by Lynnette Marrero, a mixologist and co-founder of Speed Rack.
Renovation begins on La Mer condo complex
Naples-based construction firm Studio CGU has begun renovation on La Mer Condominium in Naples. Built 45 years ago at 4501 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., the beachfront complex experienced damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022 to the building’s ground floor, electrical, generator and mechanical systems. The renovation project includes rebuilding and relocating its entire electrical infrastructure system above flood level and updating various aspects of the building to make it more resilient for the current and future residents.
Grace Place receives $10K grant from Publix
Grace Place received a grant of $10,000 from Publix Supermarket Charities to enhance its meals and snacks for students in the Golden Gate community. This funding will help provide
nutritious food options to children enrolled in various educational programs, ensuring they have the nourishment needed to thrive academically.
$350M residential, marina development planned London-based private equity investment company Henley Investment Management, in a joint venture with Naples-based Gillette Development, acquired waterside land a mile east of downtown Naples with plans for a $350 million condo residential development. The 350,000-square-foot development in the Bayshore Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Area will include 60 to 70 condominiums and more than 100 boat slips with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico through the city’s intercoastal network. MHK Architecture and interior designer Megan Sherwood will design it.
Surgery, medical spa opens second location
Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa opened its second Collier County location in the Park Shore area of Naples to serve the central Naples area, including downtown and Waterside. Located at 4850 Tamiami Trail N., the 5,000-square-foot facility features nine treatment rooms, a surgical procedure room, a conference room and an outdoor patio for special events. Under the guidance of Medical Director Dr. Patrick Flaharty, the Park Shore location initially specializes in medical spa treatments, including injectables, such as Botox and fillers, Hydrafacial, DiamondGlow, CoolSculpting and laser treatments. Operating hours are 9 a.m.5 p.m. weekdays.
Schoonmaker Foundation donates $5M
The James M. Schoonmaker II Foundation made a $5 million gift to the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, furthering its mission to support advanced health care initiatives. The donation will help expand NCH’s cardiac-care services and directly support the new home for cardiac and stroke services on the NCH Downtown Baker Campus, which will be known as the R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center. The $265 million facility, funded almost entirely by philanthropy, will integrate complex and specialized care under one roof. The gift continues the Schoonmaker Foundation’s longstanding partnership with NCH. In previous
years, the Foundation has supported multiple projects, including the naming of a physician conference room and contributions to expand orthopedic care.
Help a Diabetic Child receives $25K grant
Help a Diabetic Child, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families who are dealing with diabetes, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Collier Community Foundation. The grant will benefit local children and young adults in securing life-saving insulin, diabetes supplies and medical services.
STARability Foundation launches Home Collection store
STARability Foundation has announced the launch of Home Collection, a new upscale resale store located at 470 9th Street N., Naples. The new store opened to the public on Friday, Nov. 8, with regular store hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday; it is closed Sunday and Monday. STARability recently relocated its popular resale store to an expanded location, allowing the organization to showcase a wider range of products across a variety of price points. Curated by top designers, the new Home Collection features an array of products — from luxurious furniture to statement décor. Every purchase supports the STARability Foundation and its programs to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Avow fashion show generates more than $150K
Avow hosted its first ticketed fashion show fundraiser on Nov. 2 at The Players Club & Spa, receiving more than $150,000 in cash and in-kind donations to support its mission to provide hospice, palliative care and grief and loss support services to the community. Attendees enjoyed a fashion show featuring local clothiers, a silent auction showcasing some of Naples’ finest offerings and the lively energy of event emcee Corey Lazar from WINK News. The event was made possible through the generous support of key sponsors, including presenting sponsor Genesis of Naples, and the dedication of the fashion show committee, which was led by honorary chair Samantha Bloom and comprised of Avow community partners.
Some places you’ve gone to only in your wildest dreams. Now there’s a ticket available, through the live auction lots of the 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival.
“This year’s live auction features a number of exclusive wine, travel and culinary experiences that have never been offered before,” declared Valerie Boyd, 2025 NWWF auction lot committee member, in a news release accompanying the first round of lots to be announced. “We encourage everyone to bid high and bid often during our Silver Anniversary so that we can fulfill our mission of improving the lives of children in our community.”
The NWWF is one of the world’s hardest working charity wine auctions, raising almost $302 million to make a difference in the lives of 350,000 children in Collier County since its inception in 2001. Its organizers are hoping the 25th anniversary will bring extra generosity for the children being helped.
On Tuesday the festival released the first of three auction lots to be announced for the Jan. 24-26 festival at the Ritz-Carlton Tíburon:
‘Voyage Through the Vineyards’: The winners visit the Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair and La Réserve, the estate of this year’s honored vintners. Three couples will enjoy six nights of
wining and dining through Geneva, Burgundy and Paris. There’s a proprietor’s tour of the vineyards and a hot air balloon ride over the fabled Cote d’Or vineyard. The coup de grace souvenir: six 3-liter and six 1.5-liter bottles of Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair Aux Brûlées Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru (both 2008 to 2013 vintages).
‘A Silver Celebration and Indonesian Escape’: One couple will travel to Indonesia for eight exotic nights in Bali and Tambolaka, Indonesia, staying in villas at each. They’re invited to a VIP experience at John Hardy’s boutique in Seminyak and a full-day Bali immersion, including a traditional Kecak dance. They take home a bespoke John Hardy necklace of 18-karat white gold, pearls and gemstones, and 25 magnums of Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon.
‘Set Sail Along the Croatian Coastline’: Four couples will embark on an eight-night yachting voyage along the coast of Croatia, with luxury hotel stay in Dubrovnik or Split before their seven-night journey aboard the 122-foot Navilux private charter yacht. On board there’s watersport equipment, a jacuzzi, a private chef and a crew of eight, plus intriguing ports to explore: Brač, Hvar, Korčula, Mljet and Šipan, before they take home a Magnum of 2022 Knights Bridge Draco Dormiere, Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley.
‘A Tour of Paradise in Cuvée’s Luxury Villas’: The winning bidders will enjoy a curated vacation in Tuscany, Italy; Telluride,
Colorado; and either the Big Island, Hawaii, or Los Cabos, Mexico. It moves from suites in Italy to five nights at the Cuvée Hood Park Haven on the Telluride Mountain, along with golf, fly fishing and a private chef dinner. Then they choose between among five nights at the Cuvée in Hawaii Makai Estate, at the Four Seasons Hualalai or the Los Cabos Seaside Casita, with breathtaking ocean views.
‘The Art of Time with Staglin and Panerai’: Two couples travel to Switzerland, hosted by California vintners Shari and Garen Staglin and luxury watch designer Panerai, for private dates at Watches and Wonders in April 2026 and a lunch tour at the Panerai Manufacture in Neuchâtel. Then it’s on to Lausanne for a private tour of the Olympic Museum, a lunch cruise on Lake Geneva, wine tasting at Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces in Grandvaux and a visit to Chamonix. Each couple receives a designed 6-liter bottle of 2022 Staglin Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
‘The Sicilian Legacy of Tasca d’Almerita’: Two couples will spend five nights in Sicily, Italy, with family-run winery Tasca d’Almerita. There is one night at Villa Tasca with dinner hosted by the Tasca family and a private tour of historic Palermo. Next is Contrada Regaleali for two nights at its estate, two dinners, a tour and tasting at Tenuta Regaleali and a hands-on Sicilian cooking class.
By Aisling Swift
Twelve years after suspending the use of red-light cameras, Collier County has agreed to pay a Pasco County company $160,000 to install 20 blue lights at intersections to capture red-light runners — not to send them tickets, but to capture evidence for law enforcement. The Board of County Commissioners, without discussion, unanimously agreed to pay Southern Signal & Lighting Inc., an existing county vendor that estimated it would cost $130,787.40. The county added a 20% budget contingency to address unforeseen conditions.
The cameras, also known as police observation devices, feature multiple camera lenses that provide panoramic views, often capturing who’s in the car and a license plate. The flashing blue light is meant to deter red-light runners and other criminals while the cameras provide real-time footage that can be used as evidence.
The county is taking steps to lengthen the timing of lights and educate the public about red-light running following a Sept. 4 crash that killed a 47-year-old Naples woman and injured two children. A westbound tanker truck ran a red light at Immokalee Road and hit the woman’s SUV as she was turning left from Logan Boulevard, pushing it into another SUV.
That month, Commission Vice Chair Burt Saunders made a motion that passed unanimously to address traffic concerns: Add bluelight cameras at dangerous intersections; add deputies to improve safety at problem intersections; and ask the county Productivity Committee to weigh costs and benefits of reintroducing red-light cameras at major intersections.
After last week’s vote, Saunders said the committee is leaning against red-light cameras and also wants to evaluate blue lights.
In December 2012, commissioners voted 3-2 to end a red-light camera contract in February 2013 with American Traffic Solutions, which sent violators tickets and received a cut of money. The county had cameras at 19
areas approaching intersection signals and at 10 intersections. By law, red-light camera tickets provided millions to fund trauma centers statewide. For the current project, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office identified 20 high-crash intersections out of 233 intersections with signals where blue lights should be installed. Logan Boulevard and Immokalee Road was among the intersections and was ranked last, with 59 crashes. Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard topped the list with 158 crashes from September 2022 through August 2024, followed by Vanderbilt Beach and Livingston roads, with 142. In all, there were 2,042 crashes at 20 intersections during that period.
By Naples Press Staff
GIVING THANKS FOR LEADERS LOYAL TO THEIR CONVICTIONS
That’s so Naples
Jeff Lytle
This season of giving thanks is made for Naples, with its bounty of family, nature, business and civic blessings. Examples are all around us, but worthy of special thanks are the efforts by leaders to tough it out when projects took a long time, which can happen to even the best of ideas.
A prime example comes from local headlines as the bright, shiny new $72 million Gulfshore Playhouse/Baker Theater and Education Center debuts. That latest gem in the local arts crown took CEO Kristen Coury 20 years to achieve, with humble beginnings at Cambier Park’s Norris Center and no help from Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Likewise, the nearby Gordon River Greenway since 2014 offers fresh opportunities for hiking and biking on previously inaccessible acreage meandering from Golden Gate Parkway south to Baker Park, thanks to 25 years of behind-thescenes work by Ellie Krier. She brought vision and patience to connecting a network of public and private landowners, navigating nature-sensitive permitting and even building consensus on directional and educational signage.
It is ironic that a much larger environmental endeavor, dynamite-blasting the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades, happened much more quickly — about 13 years after the project was proposed and launched in 1915. Naples might still be in Lee County without Barron Gift Collier bailing out the cash-strapped state to finish the east-west sector and gaining the naming rights to a newly carved out county.
Another, smaller Collier family project took nearly 20 years to
happen. You cannot tell today that the idyllic marina and yacht club at Hamilton Harbor was first proposed in 1986 as a project so oversized and environmentally damaging that Port Royal neighbors mounted protests.
Tests of time
Topping the list of talked-about community needs for decades has been affordable or workforce housing for modestly paid essential workers. Most past efforts, except
employers seem to fade with time, because it is easier to stick with our three-legged stool of development, tourism and agriculture that is so profitable.
Despite referendum approval in 1992, spring training baseball was called out by litigious hoteliers who generated the tourist tax funding and argued their rooms were already full in spring. Baseball is now off the Collier public agenda, especially with two teams training up the road in Fort Myers
became an insult to the heroes it sought to honor.
A civic rescue was launched in 2014 by a coalition of civic leaders who understood the need for serious fundraising, with key contributions from Jay and Patty Baker and Naples and county officials. The long-awaited dedication ceremony was held two days shy of a fitting anniversary, Sept. 9, 2016.
Coincidentally, the lack of a business plan also caused delays for a much larger civic landmark.
Naples might still be in Lee County without Barron Gift Collier bailing out the cash-strapped state to finish the east-west sector (of the Tamiami Trail) and gaining naming rights to a newly carved out county.
for those by Habitat for Humanity and an occasional entrepreneur, have amounted to repeated searches for sites with friendly neighbors and debates on who should pay to build it. But now, with the issue hitting public and private employers struggling to fill job vacancies, coalitions of business and civic groups are teaming up to make a dent in the shortfall.
Affordable pre-schooling joins housing on the Collier Community Foundation’s latest survey of public priorities. For every addition to the pool of new, private enterprise early childhood education, there is a growing awareness of the need for economical, quality programs run by accomplished non-profits and even employers.
In the same league of long-standing issues is diversifying our economy to withstand downturns in any single sector. Yet, we have a short attention span. Organized efforts to recruit new and varied
polish its presentation to county commissioners to ensure it passed.
This week, Tusa told commissioners Collier County, called Florida’s Paradise Coast, was nearly last in hotel occupancy compared with eight competitors, just above Bradenton. Sarasota’s advertising budget topped the list at $14.99 million, followed by Tampa Bay at $14.90 million and Fort Myers/Sanibel at $14.3 million. He noted several areas had already increased marketing efforts after hurricanes, including Visit Tampa, which just raised its budget by $6 million, and Amelia Island, by $5.2 million.
Tusa noted Collier ranks second to last in full-time tourism employees, nine, just above Florida Keys, which has eight; Bradenton numbers weren’t available. In comparison, The Palm Beaches has 40, Tampa Bay has 41 and Fort Myers-Sanibel 33.
Collier’s average occupancy rate for leisure travel and group business dropped to 64.3% and it’s forecasted to drop to 41% without enhanced marketing. Tusa said more than 1,000 new hotel rooms will be added during the next year, meaning hotels must fill 147,000 room nights to maintain the current occupancy rate.
“Without increased demand, we could fall by an additional 5%, so it’s really important that we really try to stay ahead of this with our marketing efforts,” Tusa added.
The funds will be used to increase visitation from markets Collier targets; boost research, data and insights; and strengthen sales efforts, especially off-season, June through October. Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Indianapolis, the Northeast and the Midwest will be targeted for expansion.
and three more in Sarasota and Charlotte counties.
The business of success
Something smaller in size did manage to reach the finish line in Naples, though not without years of headaches. It sounded so simple in 2004 to build a memorial monument to veterans and first responders. With Naples’ legion of military retirees and strong fire departments to support it, what could go wrong?
Plenty, starting with a county-sponsored design contest choosing an expensive and challenging material — granite — for carving an ambitious statue of Old Glory blowing in the wind atop a map of the United States, with an eagle guarding it all. Without a business plan or tax-exempt status for donations, and with a recession, the construction ground to a halt nearly halfway through. The eyesore on a busy road, Golden Gate Parkway,
LoCastro urged fellow commissioners to approve the increase, noting they made a similar approval after Hurricane Ian, and other counties already used emergency funds to boost marketing after hurricanes. He cited the economic impact; more than 28,000 tourism-related jobs, with $1.2 billion in wages.
“People make their livelihoods off their tourism jobs,” LoCastro said. “It’s how they feed their families and give them shelter, pay their rent, their mortgage, so I think these are really important numbers.”
Mark Ferland, general manager of Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, praised Tusa and his team, saying he met with them after the hurricanes and found they already had a marketing plan to combat visitors’ perceptions after the hurricanes.
Industry members packed the chambers to urge approval, but commissioners assured them it would be approved. Among those lining up to speak were Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District, professional soccer team FC Naples, Hilton Naples and Marriot International.
Chris Lopez, the Florida Restaurant Lodging Association’s regional director, commended commissioners, adding, “Collier County is leading this charge across the state. A lot of eyes are on this meeting this morning, not just from this area but from across the state and other TDCs and other counties and in Tallahassee specifically, so thank you.”
Mick Moore, co-owner of the Vanderbilt Beach Resort and Turtle Club Restaurant, called the county’s work to increase marketing, maintain beaches and expand tourism opportunities important. He added: “I think everyone realizes now, after a year like we’ve had, that part of storm resiliency is coming up with a marketing plan, so I appreciate your efforts.”
of discussion. The notion of an additional bridge across the Gordon River even advanced as far as a referendum, which was defeated by voters countywide though commuters going that way every day knew all about the traffic jams.
Two more transportation-related topics dot the extended historic landscape: The Collier Area Transit system took 21 years to get rolling, even after a supportive 1980 referendum; and Naples Airport endures a new round of public discussion about moving it, despite having solved a key problem — older and louder generations of jets.
A fitting climax
When it comes to civic efforts paying off after years of trying and failing, there is a single achievement that the whole community shares.
It seems incredible now, but the original supporters of a botanical garden in Naples in 1993 believed a developer would donate the land because, they reasoned, a garden would be better than just another golf course. That, of course, did not work, and the garden dream languished until 2000 when a single donor, Harvey Kapnick, came forward with $5 million — a breathtaking amount for the era — and insisted on a site big enough to flourish as a showcase of beauty.
That set the tone for what we see today at the 170-acre Naples Botanical Garden, visited by a quarter of a million people per year.
A much quicker timeline, despite haggling, is connected with projects as diverse as the original expansion of Coastland Center, widening Interstate 75 and adding a flyover at Airport-Pulling Road and Golden Gate Parkway.
At least one road project did run completely out of gas after years
It is impossible to over-estimate the effects of landmark approval in 2018 by countywide voters for a local-option sales tax to raise nearly half a billion dollars to fund a laundry list of needs including workforce housing, job training, expansion of recreation and mental health services, a veterans nursing home, storm readiness, crime fighting, bridges and much more.
The vote came after resistance to tax referenda since 1975. For every victory for saving green space, including Naples Zoo, and tourist taxes, there were defeats for children’s services, roads, a work-release center and even ambulances. Sales taxes specifically were rejected in 1990 and 2001.
When great ideas meet money, good things can happen. But not always right away. Thank goodness for leaders who are loyal to their convictions and keep their eyes on the prize. Everybody wins.
Jeff Lytle has covered and commented on Southwest Florida since 1975. Reach him at jlytle1951@ gmail.com.
COMMISSION EXTENDS SNIP COLLIER’ S LEASE
By Aisling Swift
SNIP Collier Inc. now has a 60-year lease with Collier County, allowing it to provide more services in Immokalee and countywide, as the non-profit raises funds to build a medical-rescue facility.
The Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed on Nov. 12 to extend a 30-year, $1-per-year lease negotiated in July 2020 for the county’s former Domestic Animal Services Immokalee facility at 405 Sgt. Joe Jones Road, near Seminole Immokalee Casino. The extension broadens terms to add adoptions and routine and emergency veterinary care to the lowcost clinic, which already offered vaccinations, spay and neuter services, educational classes and intake for animals legally relinquished by owners.
Founder Tom Kepp, who incorporated the Spay & Neuter Initiative Program in 2015, said he appreciates the county and Growth Management Director Jamie French working with him. In 2020, they allowed him to take over and lease the DAS building after DAS consolidated all operations at 7610 Davis Blvd. in Naples.
“I think it really shows that the county is recognizing us as a bigger organization and one that is taking the problems and trying to solve them — instead of just being PR — because they know we’ll do it,” Kepp said in an interview last week. “So I take
it as a good sign. I never understood why they abandoned it, because that’s where it’s needed, that whole rural area.”
Kepp called the feral cat situation in Immokalee and countywide “overwhelming.” He operates one of the county’s TNR (trap, neuter and release) programs. SNIP pays some vets, while others volunteer.
Kepp needs to raise $1.5 million more to design and build the 3,000-square-foot facility, but that was difficult with only about 25 years left on the lease, so he asked county officials to extend it and allow him to provide adoptions and other services.
Since signing the first lease, he said, his site-development plan was approved about two years ago and last year he started the mobile veterinary clinic, which helps with feral cats, and SNIP is still raising money to pay that off. The mobile unit allows operations to continue while work proceeds on the new building. He’s now working with an architect on the design.
The lease extends the county’s commitment to July 14, 2080, allowing SNIP to provide additional surety to donors and lenders, and allow it to make long-term strategic decisions to benefit residents and animals in Immokalee and countywide. SNIP, which accepted the building “as is,” is responsible for all costs associated with the clinic’s operation and maintaining the building.
To learn more about SNIP Collier or to donate, go to: snipcollier.org/donate or gofundme.com/charity/snip-collier
COLLIER COUNTY
NEAPOLITAN NEIGHBORS
SEASON OF GIVING
CHARITY’S BIG WHEEL PUTS CYCLISTS ON THEIR WAY
By Dayna Harpster
You won’t have any trouble finding him, Darrol “Skip” Riffle said, among dozens of photos of his Bikes for Tykes charity in action: “I’m the guy with one leg.”
After a run-in with a brown recluse spider and 11 subsequent surgeries, his own bike-riding days are over, he said. But not so for cyclists and potential cyclists in the Naples area. In that, he’s a first-class enabler.
Bikes for Tykes, with Riffle as founder, has matched up nearly 50,000 bicycles with riders in the past 38 years in Naples.
He got his start as a tyke himself.
“I grew up in a small farming community,” he explained. “My dad was a maintenance man at a local factory. One Thanksgiving he said, ‘You know, we have it better than some of our neighbors. Anybody have any ideas?’ And I said, ‘Bikes.’ The next day we went to the junkyard and found four bikes.” Those donated, the family kept up the bike repair and donation gig for years.
“I did that till I was 16 and discovered cars and girls,” Riffle said, laughing. But going the extra mile for a couple of neighbor kids who didn’t have bikes that year led to a lifelong road that Riffle — retired from the auto sales business — is happy to travel.
In 1985, he started Bikes for Tykes. Now, the nonprofit partners with dozens of local businesses and charities.
“It’s still fun. That’s what gets me up in the morning,” he said.
There’s still nothing better than the smile on kids’ faces when they get their first bikes, Riffle contends, but his charity has become important to adults, as well.
Throughout the years, the tykes grew up, he said. “But everybody’s somebody’s tyke.
“When we started out 40 years ago, we started building only 20-inch bikes. But over the years the demand came for adult bikes and now that’s 70% of what we do,” he said. “A lot of it is transportation for work and migrant people. Some don’t have driver’s licenses and can’t get them. But they still need to get around.”
The Bikes for Tykes van recently occupied a small slice of asphalt next to the door of the Golden Gate Community Center, where free repairs were being offered — as always, once a month on the fourth Saturday. Edwardo Nunez was having his Huffy bicycle fixed so he could ride it to work.
Once a month on the second Tuesday, Bikes for Tykes volunteers are at Catholic Charities Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center on East Tamiami Trail.
Most of the work is done at the workshop on Riffle’s property on Tuesday through Thursday afternoons. And from the sounds of things, it’s a party most of the time.
“All of us guys are over 60. We have oldies on the radio and a refrigerator full of soft drinks and we have fun,”
“I grew up in a small farming community. My dad was a maintenance man at a local factory. One Thanksgiving he said, ‘You know, we have it better than some of our neighbors. Anybody have any ideas?’ And I said, ‘Bikes.’ ”
—Darrol
“Skip” Riffle, On how he got started donating bikes
Riffle said. “If you volunteer and you don’t know anything about it, we team you up with a guy and what you don’t know we’ll teach you. We have fun, people get bikes and it all works out.”
Bill Burton of Naples agreed. He saw an article in the paper about Bikes for Tykes, he said, and found out that, as he put it, “It’s kind of a great place for old, retired guys to go, with stereo speakers and seven or maybe 10 stations for bicycle repair. It’s probably the most well-equipped bike shop in the area.”
When they’re not at out in the community servicing bikes or working in the shop, volunteers help on bike builds, often at local businesses. One build held at Hertz recently was a team-building exercise for the employees that resulted in 50 bikes going to those in need.
Riffle said Bikes for Tykes will work with a civic or commercial group. If, for example, the group or company donates $300 per bike for bike parts and tools, the group builds the bikes, then donates them to children or adults in need. Leftover funds support Bikes for Tykes.
Volunteers have served as “sag wagon” (support vehicle) helpers for sponsored rides, helped with bike safety days and supported sheriff’s department events.
One customer at the Golden Gate Community Center was a 5-year-old who had received a bike last month and was having a few mechanical issues. Bikes for Tykes decided he wasn’t too little to help and put him to work with an inflator for his tires.
“Back on the road,” said Omar Aguilar, there with his young daughter, Amani. He works at The Boost juice bar and since his bike tire had been flat and is now fixed, he can resume riding to the job. “So, these people really helped me out a lot.”
Darrol Riffle, right, offers free bike repairs through his Bikes for Tykes charity. Contributed photos
Riffle gets an overisized card of thanks from children after delivering bikes to the YMCA.
FORT MYERS BUILDER SELECTED FOR SHERIFF’S FORENSICS BUILDING
By Aisling Swift
Construction of the $68.2 million Collier County Sheriff’s Office forensics building in East Naples is set to begin next month after county commissioners approved a local builder.
The Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 12 approved the staff’s selection of Pittsburgh-based Rycon Construction Inc., a Florida corporation with offices in Fort Myers, and agreed it will be paid $51.93 million, with an owner’s allowance of $4 million for potential unforeseen conditions. Project costs are fully covered by the county’s infrastructure sales surtax, which ended Dec. 31, 2023. The project was among several listed when voters approved the tax referendum in 2018.
“We received four bids on this, with Rycon providing the lowest bid,” Brian DeLony, the county’s interim Facilities Management director, told commissioners, noting Rycon is employee-owned and has another county contract.
“They had $1.1 billion in revenue in 2023 and they were reported in Engineering News-Record as a Top 400 contractor in 2023 and 2024.”
Rycon is currently building the county’s Emergency Management Services Station 74 and has adhered to construction schedules. Engineering firms Emmons & Olivier Resources, Stantec and Manhattan Construction Group have done work there, with Manhattan transporting dirt to the site and overseeing the project from beginning to end as the construction manager at risk.
The sheriff’s office, which stores equipment in several locations, outgrew its space. The new building will allow the CCSO to move its Criminal Investigation Division, Youth Relations and Patrol Administration from an old building at 2373 E. Horseshoe Drive.
It will be built off City Gate Drive, just north of Paradise Coast Sports Complex and Great Wolf Lodge, east of Collier Boulevard and north of Interstate 75. The state-of-the-art forensics-evidence and Criminal Investigations Division building will be built on about 29 acres of a 344acre parcel the county acquired in 1999.
Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and his predecessor, Sheriff Don Hunt-
er, had asked commissioners for a new building for 20 years before the county Infrastructure Sales-Surtax Committee approved $33 million for the project in May 2019.
But the project encountered challenges, including the pandemic, rising costs and market rates.
In January 2022, commissioners approved adding 40,000 more square feet to the space so CCSO operations could be consolidated in one location and could leave the
Drive building. In September, the Infrastructure Sales Surtax Committee approved $35.2 million more for the project.
“It will enable us to increase efficiency, consolidate evidence and accommodate the growth of our agency and our community,” Rambosk said in an interview in September.
The forensic-evidence facility will feature a two-story, 95,000-squarefoot main building that will house the Crime Scene Investigation lab, office space, the Evidence Bureau and garage
bays. The Criminal Investigation Department offices and administrative support will be on the second floor. A separate 19,000-squarefoot, one-story, pre-engineered metal building that’s temperature controlled will store evidence vehicles. Other buildings include a generator enclosure.
Sean Williams, the CCSO Central Services director, told commissioners the building will allow the CCSO to leave some leased storage space, and it will be used by the CCSO and
The new building will allow the CCSO to move its Criminal Investigation Division, Youth Relations and Patrol Administration from an old building at 2373 E. Horseshoe Drive.
its Corrections Department. Commissioner Dan Kowal, a retired CCSO employee, asked what the county would do with the East Horseshoe Drive building. County Manager Amy Patterson said it’s old, but the space can be reallocated to other needs — such as the Transportation Department and Community Development Division, which lease space on Horseshoe Drive, a road annexed by the county from the city nearly two decades ago.
Photos courtesy Collier
Horseshoe
ATEN KNOWS
your readers/viewers and our customers, we only share the opening date once it is confirmed,” said Lindsey Willis, media relations manager for Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc.
Judging from similar Publix rebuilding projects, the new store’s construction most likely will require eight months to a year. So, we can expect the new supermarket to launch sometime in the latter half of 2025.
Originally opening Aug. 28, 1986, at 4601 Ninth St. N., the Neapolitan Way store is the oldest Publix in Collier County that hasn’t been rebuilt yet. Area Publix stores were previously demolished and rebuilt in Naples Plaza in 2012, Kings Lake Square in East Naples in 2014 and the Shops of Marco on Marco Island in 2020-21. The Publix store in Riverchase Plaza, built in 1991 at U.S. 41 and Immokalee Road in North Naples, is expected to be next in line for redevelopment.
Shoppers can anticipate some major changes at the Publix store in Neapolitan Way Plaza. Expect a reconfiguration and the latest look for a vintage Publix store that hasn’t been redesigned for nearly two decades. The 40,120-square-foot existing store will be rebuilt as a 51,908-square-foot supermarket with a mezzanine. The store’s deli is expected to be relocated from the back wall of the building to a more prominent spot as an island within the store.
The new store is not expected to have a pharmacy drive-up lane or an adjacent Publix Liquors store, as do most new Publix supermarkets. The rendering for the new store does not show a pharmacy window, and Walgreen’s already has a liquor store in that retail center.
Bowl over
A beloved Naples area landmark was demolished earlier this month: The North Naples site of Bowland Beacon for more than 65 years has been leveled to prepare the property for a hotel redevelopment project.
Collier County issued a demolition permit Oct. 24 for the former longtime bowling alley and adjacent veterinarian office at 5400 Trail Blvd., across U.S. 41 from Waterside Shops. Naples Excavating began demolition work Oct. 28 and site work was finished Nov. 9, ahead of schedule, said Nick Radick, director of sales and marketing for the local contractor.
The Beacon property was sold and the bowling alley permanently closed Aug. 18. While the entertainment center’s owners have yet to find another North Naples spot to relocate the local business, plans are being finalized for The Carnelian hotel.
The new redevelopment project provides a stark contrast to the old bowling alley. Expect a six-story boutique hotel with a luxurious private club and an upscale public restaurant.
Local entrepreneur Phil McCabe is developing The Carnelian and its Sterling’s private club with his sons, Philip and Joseph, as part of their Naples-based Gulf Coast Commercial Corp. The McCabe family has worked during the past year to formalize plans for the vision, design and interior decor of the hotel and its exclusive club.
“It’s evolved in design. We’re aiming for a five-star boutique hotel of 70 rooms,” McCabe said.
Public interest in Sterling’s has been significant, greater than anticipated.
“We’re very pleasantly surprised. The interest is very, very strong,” McCabe said. “We’re moving along rapidly now. We’ll be going public with it very, very soon here in the next month or so.”
Vertical construction will not begin immediately, though. The project’s site development plan still needs to be finalized.
“I’m hoping to have an SDP [site-development plan] in hand in December,” McCabe said. “Now, will we start when we have the SDP? No, we won’t. There’s still more that has to happen. So, I’m guessing that it will be in the middle of the winter when we go vertical. That’s what I’m thinking.”
But don’t expect to enjoy Gulf of Mexico views from the top floors of The Carnelian for about two years.
“I think it will be about 19 months of construction, or something like that,” McCabe said. “If all were to go well, I would want to
open in the fall of ’26, late fall of ’26.”
Since initially announcing the hotel project, plans for two first-floor restaurants have been reconfigured to one large public restaurant.
“Continued refinement and reimagining of the development, we moved our meeting space, boardroom and ballrooms down to the first floor on one side, and then we’re only going to do one restaurant — one large restaurant, a significant restaurant in size.”
It’s too early to know other details about the restaurant, other than that it will most likely be a regional or national fine-dining concept. Although there has been great interest for the restaurant tenant, McCabe said they have not had time to focus on it yet.
The hotel already has its necessary entitlements to start; the only issue that will be before
the Collier County commissioners early next year is a consent agenda item for a companion proposal to install brick pavers and landscaping on Trail Boulevard, south of Ridge Drive and along the front of the hotel.
Artis—Naples and many of the stores in Waterside Shops have reached out to the McCabes for a possible partnership with the hotel. “We want to introduce a lot of culture into the club,” McCabe said, noting that it will have a collaboration with the local cultural arts center. “I think we’re going to be very, very successful with that. The neighborhood is sort of all coming together.”
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
A rendering shows the facade of the new Publix supermarket that will replace the old one in Neapolitan Way Plaza in Naples.
Naples Excavating was contracted to demolish the iconic Bowland Beacon bowling alley in late October and early November. The Carnelian hotel will be built on that North Naples site across from Waterside Shops. Photo by Nick Radick
The 38-year-old Publix supermarket in Neapolitan Way Plaza in Naples will be demolished soon and a new, larger Publix store will be built in its place. Photo by Tim Aten
Board approved two resolutions honoring veterans, including one that said it’s Collier’s goal to be Florida’s most veteran-friendly county.
“This couldn’t come at a better time,” LoCastro said, noting it was the culmination of many meetings with state Rep. Bob Rommel, veterans groups, Warrior Homes founder Dale Mullin, senior county staff and others. “That would at least get some people off the streets and allow the county to continue to be part of the solution.”
The vote came three days after Warrior Homes raised more than $1 million at its annual Hope and Honor Gala to pay off its 2022 purchase of Delta House, a home for elderly vets. Warrior Homes also recently received $110,000 from The Schoen Foundation, created by late Naples businessman and healthcare executive Bill Schoen, a Korean War veteran.
The two homes were among seven lots the county purchased east of Bayview Park in 2004 for future beach and boat access areas, which aren’t needed now. Two lots, 1973 and 2015 Bay Street, are single-family, three-bedroom homes with two bathrooms. In 2006, Collier created a program to offer temporary housing in unoccupied county-owned homes for new employees, existing employees under special circumstances and interns, but the two homes were underused and are vacant.
Under the lease, Warrior Homes will handle minor repairs, such as clogged drains, and the county will be responsible for repair and replacement of major structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing failures.
Warrior Homes’ four homes serve various needs: Alpha House is a short-term, transitional residence for veterans recovering from substance-use disorders; Bravo and Charlie houses serve seniors on fixed incomes who receive supportive-housing rent subsidies; and Delta House is a supportive-housing, 10-apartment complex for up to 20 veterans.
Warrior Homes also connects veterans with support services, including mental-health counseling and peer support at David Lawrence Centers, and educational opportunities, such as college scholarships. Residents pay rent on a sliding scale, no more than 30% of their income.
“Someone on Social Security might only make $1,200 a month. … The most they’re going to pay is $360, so they will have some money invested, but we’re not going to turn anyone away because of the lack of resources,” Buckley said.
He assured commissioners that all vets will be fully vetted by a management company that also reviews their military discharge papers. The homes wouldn’t be used for transitional housing but would allow veterans to move to permanent housing.
Commissioner Dan Kowal, a U.S. Army veteran, asked what programs the veterans go through to ensure success. “We want to see all our veterans get to a point where they can stand on their own two feet and be positive in
our community,” Kowal said.
Delta House is for elderly veterans, a “last stop,” Buckley said, but veterans in Alpha and Bravo houses go through programs to get them back on their feet, with a job and a permanent home. He cited an Alpha House resident who spent 41 months in the Middle East, returned with many problems, went through Veterans Treatment Court and is now working with Warrior Homes to counsel veterans, mostly from the Middle East. And a Delta House resident, a retired Navy officer, is earning his master’s degree, and will get a job and move out.
“We’re not pushing anyone out,” Buckley said, noting, however, that some elderly veterans will probably live in Delta House forever because they don’t have families they can live with. “But to the extent that people are younger and motivated, that’s certainly what we encourage them to do — and we’ll do what we can to help them.”
To donate or learn more about Warrior Homes, go to: wwcollier.org
OUT & ABOUT
Guadalupe Center hosted its third annual Seeing the Bigger Picture event with a Paint the Town Red theme on Nov. 14 at HobNob Kitchen & Bar in Naples. The fundraiser highlights the impact of the nonprofit’s educational programs.
Photography by Liz Gorman
Claire Miller, president of Guadalupe Center Dawn Montecalvo, Buck Miller
Kelly Krupp, Ashley Lopez, Juan Lopez
Ralph Munsen, Martin Davis
Fundraiser patrons enjoy the night.
Kelli Corwin, Chris Corwin
Tom Hogenkamp, Jane Hogenkamp
Rebecca Stalek, Iriną Munsen
Nick Antoniou, Max Deifik
BUSINESS &REAL ESTATE
SUPER 8 NAPLES HOTEL TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO APARTMENTS
By Aisling Swift
The old Super 8 Naples hotel will be transformed into 110 contemporary, fully furnished multifamily apartments primarily for employees of the Moorings Park senior living community, with 33 reserved for income-restricted, affordable housing.
If there are vacancies, Moorings Park will have long-term leases with employers countywide whose eligible employees can lease units. Occupancy will be limited to two people.
“The Moorings Park Foundation is really excited about this initiative,” Dan Lavender, CEO of Moorings Park Communities, said in an email. “When it comes online in late 2025, it will provide our partners, the people who serve our seniors, an important option that could shorten their commute and improve their lives … making Naples a much more attractive place to work.”
The Board of County Commissioners, without discussion, on Nov. 12 unanimously approved a small-scale amendment to the county growth-management plan to allow 110 affordable housing units on five acres at 3880 Tollgate Blvd., instead of a commercial use. They also approved amendments to a county ordinance and master development plan for the Tollgate Commercial Center Planned-Unit Development to allow the conversion by K2 Housing Naples LLC.
The growth-management plan amendment still requires state approval by the state Department of Commerce.
The vacant hotel, which was built in 1990, is located on the east side of Collier Boulevard near Interstate 75, north of Beck Boulevard. It’s a similar conversion to one being done at the Golden Gate Golf Course by Styx Cos., which is transforming Golden Gate Inn into 230 affordable, contemporary studio apartments.
The approval came nearly two months after the Collier County Planning Commission unanimously recommended the amendments Sept. 20 once land-use attorney Rich Yovanovich said K2 would agree to increase affordable units from 22.7% to 30%. The county has been requiring developers seeking additional density to set aside 30% as affordable, split between 80% and 100% of Collier’s area median income (AMI), which is $104,300.
“There will be significant renovations to the rooms,” Yovanovich told the Planning Commission in September, adding that em-
is included. They take home a collection of Tasca d’Almerita vintage wines.
‘The Height of Fashion in Paris with Balmain’: One couple will enjoy a five-night Paris fashion experience, with a suite at the five-star Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal. It includes two tickets to the Balmain Paris Fashion Week ready-to-wear show, plus its party and reception, plus two dinners and lunches hosted by
‘A
ployees prefer multifamily apartments over an extended-stay hotel. “We anticipate people will be coming and staying and probably at some point moving on to something larger.”
Moorings Park is an investor with the developer, an affiliate of Denver-based K2 Developers, which creates workforce-housing communities nationwide by acquiring motels and hotels that it converts into residential units with kitchenettes. The process takes only months, as opposed to ground-up construction, which can take years.
The county’s restrictions will remain for 30 years and Moorings Park will be required to specify in advertisements that essential-services personnel will get preference over other employees.
K2 Housing Naples LLC purchased the two Tollgate properties totaling 5.08 acres for $7 million in September 2022. The hotel is currently being used as transitional housing by NCH Health Care System and Moorings Park as part of an earlier conversion by K2. Rooms
were set aside for employees on a first-come, first-served basis.
The hotel is near Forest Glen Golf & Country Club and Bishopwood Court East condos, which worked with K2 to satisfy residents’ concerns. Parking will be reconfigured and Bonita Springs-based Ravi Planning + Landscape Architecture will add landscaped buffers. In this conversion, K2 will add six units to 104 existing rooms by consolidating and reusing unneeded spaces. Most are 250 square feet and will remain that size. Twelve units will be restricted to rents and incomes up to and including 80% AMI ($83,440), while 21 will be restricted to rents and incomes up to and including 100% AMI. For 100% AMI and less, a one-bedroom apartment would rent for $1,958, while a studio rental would lease for $1,828. At 80% AMI, a one-bedroom lease would be $1,566, or $1,462 for a studio. The remaining 85 apartments will be limited to rents only, of no more than 120% AMI ($125,160), meaning a studio would rent for $2,193 and a one-bedroom for $2,349.
The old Super 8 hotel, site of 110 future affordable housing units. Photos by Liz Gorman
Dave Rutstein, board chair of the Moorings Park Foundation, outside a former Super 8 motel in Naples, which will be turned
VETERANS DAY
COLLIER SALUTES ITS VETERANS
Collier County is very welcoming to veterans. In fact, the Collier County Commission recently approved two resolutions honoring veterans, including one that said it’s Collier’s goal to be Florida’s most veteran-friendly county.
Collier County celebrated with veterans on Nov. 11, including a breakfast hosted by Elks and a luncheon hosted by Ed Wheeler, both in Naples; a concert featuring the Dave Bray Band at Veterans Community Park on Marco Island; and complimentary museum admission to the Holocaust Museum & Education Center on Marco Island, with a special WWII flag display and three short films.
RIGHT: The Naples Police Department Honor Guard performs the color guard ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 during the Veterans Day event at Cambier Park, which was hosted by the Collier County Veterans Council to honor veterans who have served their country, past and present. Front to back: Veterans Matt Doyle (U.S. Army), Jason Collins (U.S. Marine Corps), Genna Brugal (U.S. Coast Guard) and Greg Sheridan (U.S. Army).
GREAT WOLF LODGE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING, ECONOMIC BOOST TO COLLIER
By David Dorsey david.dorsey@naplespress.com
With pomp, circumstance and an appearance from retired NFL player Rob Gronkowski, Great Wolf Lodge celebrated both its grand opening and its economic benefit for Collier County.
Great Wolf Lodge had a soft launch, opening Sept. 18, before officially unveiling its 92,000-squarefoot indoor water park Nov. 14 with Gronkowski on hand, having test-ridden down all 12 waterslides on a raft with several children.
“I felt like a big kid,” said Gronkowski, who won four Super Bowl rings — three with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His mother lives in Lee County.
“I mean, I am a big kid, you know, deep down,” Gronkowski said. “So, it just perfectly fit me. The kids were so great. We had the Make-AWish kids here, and their families, and they were just having such a good time just going down all the slides.”
Great Wolf Lodge pledged $60,000 — $5,000 per slide — to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Great Wolf Lodge CEO John Murphy thanked Collier County commissioners for their support, noting they granted $15 million in economic incentives to get the project going.
“First of all, this is a $250 million development,” Murphy said. “So, our partners at Blackstone and Centerbridge really are helping fuel our growth. And we couldn’t be in a better place than Collier County.”
Murphy quoted from a third-party study that said the seven-story,
500-room resort would bring about $5 billion in economic impact to the area over the next 30 years and about $150 million over that span in transient occupancy taxes.
Although the region is known to locals as Southwest Florida, Great Wolf Lodge used South Florida in its branding for the strategic reason of attracting visitors from across Alligator Alley, which is just south of the lodge’s 3900 City Gate Blvd. N. address.
“Our typical drive time is anywhere from three to four hours,” Murphy said. “So, we will pull people from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, as
well as all the way up from Tampa, of course, Fort Myers and maybe even some from Orlando. I think our bookings to date, since we’ve been open, would indicate that 80% of the people that have booked into this resort so far are outside of Collier County.”
Representatives from private equity companies Blackstone and Centerbridge also were on hand.
“If the demand we’ve seen at Great Wolf’s 21 other resorts across North America is any indication, we’re confident that this lodge will become a special destination for countless families in the years to
come,” said Jacob Werner, managing director at Blackstone.
County Commissioner Chris Hall wasn’t elected when the Great Wolf agreement came to pass, but he said he was thrilled to be on hand for the grand opening.
“When you think about the impact this will make, it’s trickle-down economics at its finest,” Hall said.
Great Wolf Lodge also has a 61,000-square-foot adventure park with a ropes course, miniature golf and MagiQuest, a live-action, interactive fantasy adventure game.
Rates start at $199.99 per night and include water park access after 1 p.m. on check-in day and the following day.
Jason Bays, general manager of the Collier County location, said the number of jobs far exceeded expectations.
“So, originally we anticipated 500 jobs,” Bays said. “We hired 670 pack members for this project, and that’s because we’ve just had a lot of people looking to book rooms, our water parks full every day, our adventure parks busy. And so, we had just an incredible guest demand, more than we thought.”
Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski and friends enjoy the official unveiling of Great Wolf Lodge on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy Great Wolf Lodge
Photo courtesy City of Naples
The sixth annual Rookery Bay Classic Car Show took place Saturday, Nov. 16, at Florida SouthWestern State College. The annual event raises money in support of the Friends of Rookery Bay, and included more than 100 exotic, classic and high performance cars.
Photography by Liz Gorman
Friends of Rookery Bay volunteer Alan Scheider, executive director Athan Barkoukis and volunteer John Lunday stand near classic cars at the annual Rookery Bay Classic Car show.
Lee Bakakos stands with his 1957 Ford Thunderbird
The car show included more than 100 classic and high performance cars.
Garland Pobletts stands with his 1915 Ford Model T.
Rudy Socey stands with his 1930 Ford Model A.
Admirers look over a 1957 Chevolet Bel Air.
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A rts & LEISURE
TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION
Ongoing events
‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’ 7:30 p.m. WednesdaysSaturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 22 at the Kizzie inside Sugden Community Theater, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Musical version, produced by Naples Players, taken from the sweetly famous film of young Ralphie’s quest for a Red Ryder BB gun at Christmas. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
‘Anything Goes’ at Gulfshore Playhouse
2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through Nov. 24 at the Gulfshore Playhouse Baker Theater and Education Center, 100 GoodletteFrank Road S., Naples. The effervescent music of Cole Porter in a romance at sea opens its new facility. $44-$114 ($25 student seats). gulfshoreplayhouse.org or 239.261.7529
‘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
Arsenault’s South Florida reflections
9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays now through Feb. 15 at Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. Local artist Paul Arsenault’s retrospective on his “Reflections of South Florida: A 50-Year Art Adventure.” Free. themihs.info/ museum or 239.389.6447
Shroud of Turin sculpture at Ave Maria On exhibition indefinitely at Canizaro Exhibit Library, Ave Maria Library, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd., and The Ark Chapel, Ave Maria. “The Shroud of Jesus: And the Sign John Ingeniously Concealed” has detailed photos, descriptive panels, a sculpture of the shroud commissioned by Dr. Gilbert Lavoie and a 14-foot shroud replica. Free. Information 239.280.2500
‘Timeless!’ women’s art on Marco Island
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays through Nov. 25 at Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. In the main gallery: “Timeless,” the National Association of Women Artists Florida Chapter exhibition. In La Petite Galerie: Lynn Nathanson (through Dec. 3). marcoislandart.org or 239.394.4221
Baker Museum: contemporary art, photos
10 a.m.-4 p.m. TuesdaysSaturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays at The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Art after Hours, with free admission, music, tours and café 6-9 p.m. Nov. 27. Through Feb. 2, “Alex Katz, Theater and Dance,” works across six decades of the artist’s
CALENDAR
ARTIS—NAPLES WILL BE WELCOMING AMY GRANT
7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Hayes Hall at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Mention Amy Grant and one of her catchy hits is likely to pop into your head and stay there all day. The good news is you can hear them live when she comes to Artis—Naples. The crossover singer with multiple Dove and Grammy awards is known on the pop side for hits such as “That’s What Love Is For,” “Baby, Baby” and “I Will Remember You.” $69-$93. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
collaboration with dance staging; “As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic,” photography from the Wedge Collection, and through Jan. 5, “Becky Suss: The Dutch House,” paintings inspired by Ann Patchett’s 2019 novel, The Dutch House. $10; full-time student or military (with I.D.), $5; SNAP benefits (with SNAP EBT card), $1; ages 17 and younger, free. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
This weekend (Nov. 22, 23, 24)
Amy Grant
7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 in Hayes Hall at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. See Featured Event, this page.
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
‘The Magic of Lights’
6-9 p.m. nightly Nov. 22Jan. 4 at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd. N., Naples. Displays in this drivethrough show of more than two million lights include a 32-foottall, 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
BYO Bicycle
Backcountry Bike Tour
8:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples. Pedal approximately eight miles over gravel and dirt paths, while exploring different habitats in the 13,000+ acre preserve. $55; ages 15-18, $30. corkscrew.audubon.org under Events.
Gulf of Mexico as its backdrop, with live music, exhibitions, art making, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and more. $250, $300 VIP.
‘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 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
Next week (Nov. 25-28)
Thanksgiving week North Pole on Third 4-7 p.m. Nov. 26-Dec. 1 (paused on Nov. 29, Thanksgiving Day) at Fleischmann Plaza. Live Christmas music (minus Thursday and Sunday). Snowfall 7 p.m. nightly.
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 at artisnaples.org
Seaside Soiree
6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Seagate Beach Club, 81 Seagate Drive, Naples. Celebrate beach life and support the arts at the United Arts Collier Seaside Soirée. Sandals, shoes, bare feet — all acceptable in this seaside-chic party with the
Mike Huckabee is coming to the Parkinson’s Association luncheon. Publicity photo
Parkinson’s group presents Huckabee 11:30 a.m. March 27 at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and probable ambassador to Israel nominee, is keynote speaker for the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida signature fundraising luncheon, “A Step Forward: Overcoming Obstacles” 2025. Huckabee hosts the TV show “Huckabee” on TBN, is a frequent commentator on Fox News and Newsmax and is a New York Times best-selling author of 14 books. Attendees will hear Huckabee followed by a luncheon while supporting PASWFL’s mission to assist those affected by Parkinson’s Disease in Southwest Florida. $500. parkinsonassociationswfl.org
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. Children are encouraged to come in costume, if they like. $39-$89. artisnaples.org or 239.597.1900
Next weekend (Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1)
Gingerbread house decorating class
10 a.m. Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 20, 21; 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at The RitzCarlton Naples, Tíburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. 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
Santa’s Arrival on Marco 5 p.m. Nov. 29 at Marco Island Academy, 2255 San Marco Road, Marco Island. Santa’s arrival, with fanfare. christmasislandstyle.com
Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden
Operetta series: ‘Mlle. Modiste’ 3 p.m. Nov. 26 at Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples. Opera Naples autumn opera and lecture series continues with a film of the work by Victor Herbert, Mlle. Modiste. It depicts the quandary of a millinery clerk who longs to be an opera singer and to marry the man of her dreams, whose gentryclass father forbids the union. Donation $20. Proceeds to Opera Naples programs and education. operanaples.org or 239.963.9050
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 dropin 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
Farm-City BBQ
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Collier County Fairgrounds, 751 39th Ave. NE, Naples. Elected officials, such as county commissioners like Dan Kowal and Burt Saunders, state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and Collier County Public Schools Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli, are the celebrity servers for the 67th annual Farm-City BBQ. There’s music by the Back Country Boys and a raffle and fresh produce bags for sale. $30. farmcitybbq.com
Beginning 6 p.m. Nov. 29-Jan. 5 at 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 half-price. Discounted tickets after 8 p.m. naplesgarden.org
‘A Nice Family Christmas’ Nov. 29-Dec 8 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays in Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. The Studio Players production of a writer who is ordered to write a personal article about Christmas at home, but his dysfunctional family wants none of it. $35, $37.75 online. thestudioplayers.org or 239.398.9192
Breakfast with Santa 8 a.m. first seating Nov. 30, Dec. 13, 21-23 at the 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
‘The Nutcracker’ with Naples Ballet
7 p.m. Nov. 30, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at 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
Chancel Choir
Christmas Concert
4 p.m. Dec. 1 at First Presbyterian Church, 250 Sixth St. S., Naples. Church soloists and choir sing Christmas hymns, anthems and favorites as well as an audience sing-along of well-known carols accompanied by a professional chamber orchestra. Free. fpcnaples.org
Singing star Amy Grant is at Artis—Naples on Nov. 22. Contributed photo
HOT TICKET
THE ARTS
COVERING THE ARTS WITH HEART
Harriet Heithaus receives Stars in the Arts award from United Arts Collier
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
During her decades as a journalist, Harriet Howard Heithaus has pretty much seen it all.
Whether chasing politicians down on deadline, bungee jumping for a story or interviewing Dolly Parton, Heithaus has often found herself in the center of the action, always ready to tell her readers the news of the day no matter the subject.
But for all the excitement of chasing breaking news stories, her journalistic heart has long been with the arts, a beat she has been covering in Naples for almost 25 years. Heithaus’ work, now as a senior editor at The Naples Press after 22 years at the Naples Daily News, highlights the wide array of visual and performing arts that make Southwest Florida such a culturally vibrant place to live or visit.
For her role in keeping the arts in the spotlight during a time of challenges including a global pandemic, numerous major hurricanes and deep cuts to state funding, United Arts of Collier is presenting Heithaus with its “2024 Stars in the Arts” award at a Seaside Soiree event on Nov. 23.
UAC is the official state-recognized local arts agency in Collier County and works collaboratively with other arts organizations, while also presenting its own slate of programming and events. Elysia Dawn, executive director of UAC who grew up in Naples and moved back from New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Heithaus has been “the voice of a generation here” for journalism and the arts.
“That voice is something that’s been important in my understanding of what’s happening in the arts in this community — and not just for myself, but for everyone here,” Dawn said in a phone interview.
She said Heithaus’ “impactful reporting” shines a light on the work that’s happening in the arts in SWFL and stimulates needed dialogue.
“We (UAC) are looking at everything that’s happening here in the arts as an arts ecosystem, and Harriet is such an important part of that ecosystem,” Dawn said. “She has got such a clear passion for the arts, which I think shines brilliantly through her writing: She’s offering us all information, perspective and analysis that is just invaluable to this community. Her deep commitment really resonates, as well, and certainly identifies her — in our minds — as a true champion and a treasure, too.”
Asked about Heithaus’ recognition with the UAC award, longtime Naples arts leader Kathleen van Bergen, CEO and president of Artis—Naples, said in a statement that Heithaus has been “a steadfast presence in Southwest Florida’s arts and culture scene, bringing
important visibility to the area’s rich and diverse cultural offerings.
“Her personal and professional commitment reflects a deep belief in the arts as a source of inspiration and enrichment, and her work has helped illuminate the flourishing cultural scene in Naples,” van Bergen said. “Thanks to Harriet’s dedication, the growth and vibrancy of the community’s evolving artistic landscape have been brought into sharper focus. We are fortunate to have enjoyed her stalwart support of the arts over the years.”
An early passion for the arts and journalism
In an interview over lunch at Simit, one of her favorite Mediterranean restaurants in Naples, Heithaus credited her mother’s nightly reading of nursery rhymes to her and her siblings with sparking an early interest in language
and the arts.
Growing up in Piqua, Ohio, she attended high school plays to see a family friend perform, played trumpet in the marching band and served as editor of her school newspaper, which furthered her interest in the arts. She majored in English with a minor in journalism at the College of Mount St. Joseph, now Mount St. Joseph University, and was editor of her college newspaper, as well.
Her first paying journalism job was as a summer intern at the Troy, Ohio Daily News, now the Miami Valley News, which she described as a “wonderful experience” that got her hooked on journalism.
“I was a goner,” she said with a laugh. “I loved it. I was covering municipal government and there were so many different personalities and so many features coming out of those meetings, and just the
difference in people and the ideas that they had — it was invigorating and addictive.” She married John Charles “Chick” Heithaus in 1971 and they were married for 46 years until his death in 2017. (She describes herself as a step-grandmother to “three terrific grandsons.”) Chick’s parents had lived in Naples and the couple spent many visits here before buying a condo in 1996 and making the permanent move in 1999. In 2000 she started at the Naples Daily News and soon was covering the arts and culture scene, writing features and editing the newspaper’s home magazine. Chick Heithaus, who had retired after a long career in marketing and serving in the Guardian Ad Litem program, also became involved in the arts locally with the CAPA Cultural and Performing Arts Center in Naples, and the cou-
ple shared a love of travel, opera and concerts running the gamut from classical to rock and roll.
“We tended to reflect each other,” Heithaus recalled, smiling.
“Chick was a [Barry] Goldwater supporter in the early ’60s, and I was one of Hubert Humphrey’s ‘happy warriors,’ so that made for a lot of lively discussions. And we both loved to travel, but in different ways. He liked to see certain things, and I was going out on the street saying, ‘I want to go into a German grocery store and see what it’s like.’ So, between the two of us, when we swooped in on a country, no one was safe.”
Covering the arts as a unifying force in the community
When it comes to covering arts and culture, Heithaus said she sees the arts as a unifying force in any community.
“I think the arts make us more sensitive to what’s going on in our own lives and what’s going on in the lives of people who are totally unlike us,” she explained. “We get to know the rest of the community through the arts here, and that’s very important because we have such a diverse community. We have an Albanian community, a Romanian Baptist church, many Ukrainians, not to mention Germans and Swedes. The arts just heighten our understanding of everything.”
Her years covering arts and entertainment have found her interviewing a plethora of stars across a wide range of genres, including country and pop legend Parton, rock icon Alice Cooper, renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin, superstar soprano Renée Fleming and, recently, comedian Jay Leno in advance of his upcoming appearance as part of “Cars on Fifth” in February.
She said she is excited by the breadth and depth of this season’s visual and performing arts programming at venues including the Bayshore Arts District, Artis—Naples and The Baker Museum, the new Gulfshore Playhouse theater and The Naples Players’ recently renovated theater. She also noted Opera Naples’ partnership with the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, which will bring a two-week vocal academy for aspiring opera singers to Naples in 2025.
Asked what this award from UAC means to her, Heithaus said she is honored and excited, and that she remains motivated to help bring the arts to life in the community.
“On one level I’m afraid it means they think I should retire,” she said with a wry smile. “But on the level that I like to think about, it’s that they feel I am carrying the torch for something that’s very important to this town’s well-being, to this whole county’s well-being. And I look on that as a major responsibility, and I’m extremely honored that they think of me that way.”
Harriet Heithaus at her workspace in her home in Naples, accompanied by cat Keanu. Photo by Liz Gorman
FOOD & FLAVOR
NAPLES CHEFS TURN TO PLAN B: BRINING, BRIOCHE, BUTTER
By Jean L. Amodea
One holiday with a menu we’re pretty sure of is Thanksgiving. Creative home cooks struggle to develop inventive variations on traditional dishes, however.
While the requisite turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes — sweet and/or mashed — with assorted sides and pumpkin-centric desserts are expected, special prep methods and ingredients can elevate the ordinary into the exceptional. We consulted a trio of local restaurant chefs, each with their own unique expertise, who share their insights on how they prepare their birds and how they tweak their stuffing and sides.
The French
Chef and owner Vincent Betulia will be serving the traditional turkey dinner at The French restaurant on Thanksgiving Day. Its fare showcases early American food stylings by paying homage to the early pilgrim settlers who reaffirmed their English roots with a “hearty, rustic and simple meal,” he said.
“We order free-range heritage turkeys months in advance. We do a 24-hour brining of water, salt, brown sugar, strong herbs and spices,” Betulia explained. “At cooking time, we season the bird simply with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and then begin a slow cooking process to ensure we achieve a succulent final product and golden skin. A turkey ‘jus’ is house-made from the turkey drippings.
“Our traditional stuffing is made with soft brioche bread, so it keeps the weight of the stuffing as light as possible. We add carrots, onions, celery, walnuts or chestnuts, and bake the brioche stuffing bread pudding-style with the turkey drippings.”
Using as many local products as possible, the meal’s traditional trimmings include a specially prepared potato dish, a French-style Potato Mousseline (potato puree) that blends Idaho and Yukon potatoes, cream, European butter and garlic confit.
Chef Betulia will whip up a yam puree scented with cinnamon, nutmeg and butter, and offer crispy Brussels sprouts dressed with honey, applewood bacon and sea salt. But his director of operations offers an equally tantalizing version done with sausage (see the side story).
Wood-roasted carrots bring their earthiness to the forefront. A fresh-made tangy cranberry-and-orange relish rounds out the menu.
Fuse Gastrobar
While Executive Chef Greg Scarlatos has cooked his share of turkey dinners over the years, he has decided to forgo opening on Thanksgiving Day. He cited the combination of the soaring cost of high-end organic turkeys and diners’ disconnect about actual food costs as the reason his guests don’t want to pay “exorbitant prices” for the holiday fare.
However, reflecting on the annual feast, Chef Scarlatos said all the traditional dishes play their part in making the meal special.
His turkey prep method secret is using a brine that produces a more juicy and flavorful turkey.
“Brines may include some type of vinegar or pineapple juice, the latter a good choice due to the enzymatic quality of the juice’s bromelain. You can use a saline solution, from three-quarters to one cup per gallon for the brine, depending on the salt you’re using. Different salts have different levels of salinity. If you are using Himalayan salt, you would use a little bit less than the typical kosher salt,” he said.
“For a 14-pound turkey, allowing for the displacement of the water, a two-gallon brine is sufficient, submerged overnight. It is rinsed in the morning, pat-dried and the skin can be additionally seasoned if desired, remembering that the meat has been seasoned through the brining process. Ovens vary, but cook the foil-covered turkey in a 160-degree slow oven. Toward the end, uncover it and raise the temperature to 300
Pre-orders for Thanksgiving to go: Order a Green Box online until Nov. 25 ($230, serves four to six); pick up 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 27. Includes turkey, salad, sides and dessert
Reservations: seasons52.com or 239.594-8852
SPROUT A HEAD START ON A YUMMY HOLIDAY
This recipe is courtesy of Marcello Palazzi, Director of Operations, Campagna Hospitality Group (Osteria Tulia, Bar Tulia, The French, Bar Tuli Mercato, Tulia Catering & Event).
Brussels sprouts with sausage (makes six servings)
2 lbs. Brussels sprouts, tops removed and halved
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 oz. olive oil
2 links of spicy Italian sausage, casing removed, and hand pulled into marble-sized chunks
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large sauté pan, add one ounce of olive oil. Briefly heat the oil and then add the sausage. Allow the sausage to cook to golden brown on all sides. Once the sausage has taken on a nice caramel color, remove from the pan and reserve on a small plate with a paper towel.
Add the butter and olive oil to the pan. Heat over high heat until the butter melts.
Add the sprouts. Quickly toss to coat the sprouts with the butter and oil mixture. Lower heat to medium-high and allow sprouts to caramelize without agitating the pan. As the sprouts take on color, gently toss to prevent burning the outer leaves.
Once most of the sides reach an even golden brown, add the reserved sausage and finish cooking the dish in the oven, until tender. Season with salt and pepper.
Chef Greg Scarlatos
Chef Vincent Betulia
Chef Kyle Bellissimo
THEATER
NORRIS’ NEXT STAGE
Norris Center’s new look every bit as busy as the last one, but with more variety
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
As Gulfshore Playhouse planned its major move into its own new building, the Norris Community Center, its home for more than 16 years, planned right along with it.
When the theater organization moved out, the center was going to have nearly six months of open evenings that had previously been used for Gulfshore rehearsals and performances.
So a year ago Chad Merritt, Naples director of parks, recreation and facilities, and his department brought in Alec Boccaccio as a supervisor, and two employees to handle marketing and booking, registration and customer service. They’re planning to add another staffer who can coordinate programs and events, too.
They forged a capital improvements plan, of which one space is complete: an airy, repainted conference room that once held a warren of Playhouse offices.
They are slowly updating the auditorium’s vintage lighting, and a new sound system and controller.
And within a month of the Playhouse move in October, the center had a calendar with events scheduled at least once a week through May 30.
“We felt we could put together a good lineup of entertainment and things to meet the needs of the community. That’s what we do. We’re planners,” Merritt said.
More varied entertainment
What the community will notice most is the variety of entertainment coming to this roughly 200-seat auditorium:
• Comedy. Jimmy Mazz brings “Legends and Laughter” Jan. 10 and Venturino’s Comedy Night takes the stage Feb 8 and April 12, while the Comic Cure of Richy Leis is here four times, beginning Jan. 31.
• Concerts. Just a few among them are “Legendary Ladies of the ’70s and ’80s” with vocalist-guitarist Susie Hulcher (Dec. 6 and Jan. 9), Martina Long’s evening of favorites in “Life is a Cabaret” (Dec. 7) and Carl Granieri’s Orchestra and his Voyces ensemble (Dec. 14, Jan. 18, Feb. 14, March 15). Musical styles range from American Songbook to jazz, with Eirinn Abu’s and Manny Lopez’s Tunnel 2 Tower benefit (Dec. 13), and “A Night at the Ryman with the Nashville Imposters” (Jan. 24).
• An open mic night (Feb. 3) and Friends of the Library lecture series (April 3), and an Italian Cultural Society movies series twice monthly.
• The venerable Compton & Bennett with their satire revue of Southwest Florida life, A Cracker at the Ritz (twice monthly beginning Jan. 14).
• Even an opera. Gulfshore Opera stages its production of Dvořák’s haunting Rusalka, in English, with its famous “Song to the Moon” March 27 with the Florida Philharmonic.
“We went from being a theater to being an entertainment venue that has a wide variety of things now,” Boccaccio said.
Using a three-pronged approach, the center surveyed community members to hear what kinds of events they were interested in. Boccaccio contacted groups that had been successful at the center before, to book them again, and the staff considered requests from people who wanted to bring their shows or events to the center.
“Knowing that this space is open, there’s a ton of people who come in and present ideas or want to rent the space,” Merritt said.
DISCOVERING THE NORRIS CENTER
Where: 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples Information: naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/norriscommunity-center or 239.213.7120
“The timing couldn’t have probably been better,” he added. “We have our update to our department plan, and within that is a needs assessment. During the needs assessment, that’s what allows the community to provide us input on each one of the facilities and what they would like to see — what kind of programs, what kind of events.”
A complete schedule to date of events that are coming to the center can be found on its web page (see the information box with this story).
Ideas from everywhere
“We’ve had a lot of ideas that have come out,” Merritt said. “We entertain those ideas, but when it comes to what people have attended in the past, we use the data that we have that shows what
the attendance is.” Staff members do some idea sleuthing for trends, too, he said.
“When we go to conferences, we hear ‘This is what the trend is — this is what people are attending,’” Merritt said. Still, they’re attuned first and foremost to what people want, he continued.
“We don’t want people to have to leave and go to Fort Myers, go to Miami, to do that. We want to be able to provide that here where they can take a bike ride down the street and be able to do those things.
“I feel like we’ve got a very diverse audience, in a sense, from age to whether it’s male, female, 15 years old to 70, 80 years old,” Merritt added.
Among that diverse audience’s needs are not only performing arts in the eve-
ning, and the center is ready for the rest of those, too:
• Three levels of Italian language classes and watercolor lessons, also tailored to several skills, are available at the center. It is open to more daytime ideas, as well, Boccaccio said.
• The center is available for rentals and meetings. A rental form, with rates, can be found on its website listed under naplesgov.com/parksrec
• A display space for local artists. Artists can apply to be in its gallery, open to the public, facing Eighth Street South. It’s screened by staff for its alignment with the center’s mission, and each artist accepted is given a monthlong show. The exhibition space is popular with local artists hungry to show their works.
“We have a year waiting list,” Boccaccio said.
The entertainment season has been split nearly evenly between entertainment that is renting and the center’s own partnered and in-house events — it’s bringing in local acts such as Carl Granieri’s Orchestra and Martina Long’s cabaret
“We have people who love arts, and this is kind of our center,” Merritt said. “This center is such a great asset to Naples, and we feel like now, with what has happened with Gulfshore Playhouse, it’s opened up even more to allow the community to be able to utilize it, and we want to be able to facilitate some of that usage. I feel like we’ve got a pretty good plan to be able to do that.”
Compton & Bennett will bring their satire review of Southwest Florida life, A Cracker at the Ritz, to the Norris Community Center, twice monthly beginning Jan. 14. Contributed photo
COMICS & PUZZLES
1. MOVIES: What is the name of the necklace that Rose throws into the sea at the end of “Titanic”?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Where was the ancient city of Carthage located?
3. TELEVISION: What are the names of the FBI agents on “The X-Files”?
4. LITERATURE: Who wrote the short story “The Gift of the Magi”?
5. HISTORY: When was the United Nations organization created?
6. SCIENCE: What is the addictive substance in tobacco?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president signed into law the Sherman Antitrust Act?
8. CHEMISTRY: What is the lightest of metallic elements?
9. MYTHOLOGY: What is the name of the half-man, half-bull creature that inhabits the Labyrinth?
10. FOOD & DRINK: What is challah?
OLIVE
By Emi Burdge
____ Holy Grail’’
79 Annual river thawing
81 Avian rhyme of ‘‘hawk’’
84 N.Y.C.-based sports channel
85 Tiny pieces 86 Agcy. overseeing reactors
87 Something in a doomscroller’s feed?
91 ‘‘Didn’t mean to do that!’’
94 City on the Nile
95 Hardy follower
96 Shift units: Abbr.
98 Features of two Super Bowls, for short 100 Asia’s so-called ‘‘____ countries’’
THE NAPLES PRESS CROSSWORD
FRONT ROW SEAT
NICHE FILM HAS FRIENDS IN NAPLES CINEMATHEQUE, OPERA NAPLES SERIES
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Cinema is at its best experienced with others — when the audience is gasping together or guffawing in shared delight at a medium that is larger than life. An understanding of that truth still sells tons of buttered popcorn and makes film festivals practically their own genre of visual art.
The allure isn’t lost on Southwest Florida, where two film festivals, the broad-appeal Naples International Film Festival and the niche Manhattan Shorts on Marco, are annual staples.
One of those could be called a roots cinema series, plumbing niches such as the surprising virtuosity of Caribbean cinematography or contemporary Italian films. But then, there’s simply an excuse to get giddy with the raft of singable comic operettas in the other series or weep at the drama in the operatic offerings.
Pass that popcorn bucket, please.
Film Series at Paragon
Name a film for David Garonzik and he’s seen it, can talk about it, has an opinion on it. His consuming enthusiasm for film has put him into the role of curating special film series for Paragon Theater in Naples, and he’s as happy as a director with a new megaphone.
The Naples film industry veteran unearths niches most people might be unaware of, such as his Carib Film Fest set for Feb. 20-23. Garonzik began paying attention to it himself as Perry Henzell’s restoration producer for The Harder They Come (1972), which rolled reggae out to the world with its title tune and star, reggae artist Jimmy Cliff. Since then, he’s moved to other Caribbean countries to see their filmmaking and has come away impressed, screening 75 films for the upcoming weekend.
“Really, fantastic films — short films, features and documentary,” Garoznik said. “The big one (common thread) for me was how many women directors there were.
“And top tier — better than 90% of the independent American films that I get. They were phenomenal films,” he added. “My Haitian film for Saturday night (Feb. 22), Kidnapping Inc., is amazing, and with an amazing cast.”
Garonzik is the entrepreneur behind Naples Cinematheque, a planned movie house for themed film series that would be located in
ABOVE: A student works on the unusual project that inspired Art Connect, one of the documentaries in the Carib Film Fest coming next February. Contributed photo
RIGHT: Humphrey Bogart, left, and Peter Lorre are not have a meeting of the minds in To Have And Have Not, one of most acclaimed films pairing Lauren Bacall with Bogart, her husband-to-be. Bacall films are at the Naples Paragon Theater in January, following Donna Reed films in December. Publicity photo
the Bayshore Arts District. It is still in the formative stages, but Garonzik hasn’t stopped promoting classic cinema. He is in the midst of starand theme-centric groupings for the next three months at Paragon:
• November and December stars:
Elizabeth Taylor films are in a weekly daytime slot during November and Rock Hudson is in the evening slot. The two of them even join forces, although James Dean grabs the spotlight whenever he’s in a scene, during a vivid, big-screen showing of the 1956 blockbuster Giant. It plays Nov. 25 and 27.
“It’s amazing how many people know nothing about Rock Hudson or his films, so that’s been a real treat,” Garonzik said.
During December, the daytime star is Donna Reed (The Benny Goodman Story, From Here to Eternity).
• There’s a break in December programming for Paragon to bring in “flashback films” with holiday stories for intermittent screening: Elf; National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; Love, Actually; Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christ-
mas; The Polar Express; and It’s a Wonderful Life
• Also in November, stretching over the next six months, is an Italian film series the second weekend each month. New Naples resident Tony Mangione, who hosted Italian film screenings in New York, teamed up with Garonzik to bring a series of high-quality, contemporary Italian flicks here.
“These are all contemporary Italian box office hits that get absolutely no U.S. play because it can be difficult to negotiate with Italian distributors,” he said. There are subtitles so the films are accessible to all.
• January — a month of all-star cast films includes from A Bridge Too Far and Judgment at Nuremberg to Murder on the Orient Express and How the West Was Won. And for afternoon filmgoers, there are the best of Lauren Bacall’s films.
• Two weeks in January will be devoted to documentaries that cross the political spectrum, from Sanibel, winner of the Naples International Film Festival documentary award, to Uncle Tom and Uncle Tom II, documentaries on the Black con-
butternut squash with walnuts or currents. Raised traditionally, he elevates tradition with unconventional additions.
to 325 degrees to finish cooking and crisp the skin.”
For his stuffing, Chef Scarlatos prefers day-old bread, such as storebought white bread, dinner rolls or sourdough bread: “It soaks up the stock with the turkey bones a lot better than fresh bread because it has a higher moisture content from the water.”
For sides, he would offer roasted
Seasons 52
Acknowledging that the star of a Thanksgiving meal is the turkey, Executive Chef and partner Kyle Bellissimo of Seasons 52 claimed his brioche stuffing is a mainstay of the restaurant’s holiday menu. It has been consistently served over the years and is one that he wouldn’t try to change.
“The secret in my stuffing is in the use of aromatics. We order them through a local produce company that delivers the freshest herbs and aromatics available; we also use a good amount of sage and rosemary in the mix,” Bellissimo said.
“The key is to balance the plate between the fresh herbs that provide the savory component and the sweet potato mash and the cranberry sauce made with orange zest cinnamon sticks that add that bit of sweetness to the plate.”
His preferred method is roasting
servative movement. There is even a narrative film, In the Rough, based on the true story of a Black female golf coach who took her team to a championship. Garonzik felt it was an outstanding film that slipped under the radar.
No matter which side you hew to on the political spectrum, Garozik said, they’re “brilliant.”
• Feb. 20-23: The Carib Film Fest comes to Paragon with No Place Like Home, A Filmmaker’s Odyssey on the life of Jamaican director Perry Henzell, and Friday-Sunday new films from the Caribbean.
Cinematheque-curated series at Paragon: Various times, at Paragon Theater, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Information at naplescinematheque.com
Flashback Films holiday series at Paragon: Information and tickets at paragontheaters.com/flashbackcinema
Opera Naples Autumn Film Festival
The Opera Naples Opera and Lecture Series actually began back in 2020 when the organization started
the turkey, which he will baste with its natural juices — the best way, he said, to keep it flavorful and juicy. The chef generally advises looking for peak seasonal ingredients for veggies and sides.
“If you purchase produce in its peak season, at its best, you don’t have to do much flavoring, which keeps things simple. If you can’t source the freshest ingredients for a dish, leave it out,” he added.
The end of the matter
All three chefs agreed on several
offering HD summer series productions from Salzburg and other European mega-festivals. Then came drama even Tosca and Don Giovanni couldn’t top: The waters of Hurricane Ian slammed the Wang Opera Center in September 2022, destroying floors, furnishings, lower walls and filing cabinets.
The organization finally has been able to restore its tiered seating this year, and, even before that, dipped its toe in the water — figuratively, please — with an operetta video series. That is continuing into December, with a mix of quality operas filtered in, plus a 15-minute lecture to bring listeners into the work’s history, some of it pretty dishy stuff. The series resumes in January, with a pause for the opera’s Festival Under the Stars beginning Feb. 27.
Kent Kyle, director of administration, said these new series have a theater-house ambience: “Our brand-new theatrical quality tiered seating, and a 20-by-40 HD LED screen.” There’s a new sound system, as well, and refreshments, he added.
The last film being shown in November, Mlle. Modiste, comes fromcomes from one of the best-known U.S. operetta theaters, Ohio Light Opera. Victor Herbert, famous for his Naughty Marietta, gives the women a chance to win in his comic works. But it will not be easy for the young milliner’s clerk, Fifi, who has two goals: become a music star — albeit without the money to study — and marry her beloved Etienne, despite his father’s disapproval.
Most of the operettas shown are door-slamming farce, with laughout-loud scenes and music from big names including Victor Herbert, Franz Lehar, Jaques Offenbach and Johann Strauss II.
“And you get some happy endings here,” Kyle quipped. He emphasized all operettas and operas offer educational, explanatory time that adds extra savvy to what viewers are seeing: “It always starts with a 15-minute lecture.” There are questions and answers afterward for those who want more information.
The series is free, but Opera Naples is asking for a $20 donation. All proceeds support the Opera Naples education program, which operates a children’s chorus and brings opera into the schools. Refreshments are available.
Opera Naples Autumn film Series: Mlle. Modiste, 3 p.m. Nov. 26, at the Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples. Tickets and a complete opera schedule are at operanaples. org
principles:
• Sourcing wholesome, real-food ingredients is a must.
• A brining process will tenderize and season the meat throughout, providing a succulent end result.
• Brioche is the way to go for the stuffing; it holds moisture best. Made with egg, milk and butter, it keeps the stuffing soft and lends a slightly sweet flavor profile.
• Research and use a standout recipe for the potatoes, including sweet potatoes. Keep the marshmallows in the cupboard.
Game on!
Catch the live action of
WEEK 1 - Aug. 23 North Fort Myers at Cape Coral 7 | 0
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WEEK 3 - Sept. 8 Fort Myers at Cypress Lake 55 | 28
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FGCU NEEDED DOUBLE-WIDE TROPHY CASE FOR COACH’S TENURE
Speaking of Sports David Wasson
There were piles of dirt and double-wide trailers scattered about when Karl Smesko set foot on what was — at least in name — the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University.
It was 2002, and FGCU was barely 10 years old and in the process of building Alico Arena out of a parcel of swampland on the edge of, well, the swamp off Ben Hill Griffin Boulevard. What existed of the school’s athletic department was operating out of those trailers while its forever home was emerging out of the ground.
Thing is, Smesko didn’t see dirt piles and double-wides. He saw an opportunity to put into motion his grand vision of how women’s college basketball should be played.
He was practically a kid then himself, this 32-year-old from Bath Township, Ohio, who played some high school ball on the team his dad coached and went to Kent State to get a communications degree. Smesko wanted to coach ball after school, and with a head full of statistics and common sense, he was full of ideas of how the game should be played. A radical way.
As it turned out, nearby Walsh University needed an assistant
women’s basketball coach — so there he was. That lasted a year until Walsh’s coach left, and the team basically begged AD Jim Denison to give Smesko a shot.
The rest, literally, was history.
Smesko went 29-5 at Walsh and won the NCAA Division III title in his only season before being lured to Maryland as an assistant coach and then to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Smesko notched 32 wins in two seasons there before this school barely anybody had ever heard of in a swamp in Southwest Florida reached out.
FGCU was starting a women’s basketball team, lacking a home arena but full of dreams. And Smesko was their guy — the perfect alchemy of opportunity, talent and inge-
nuity converging. Smesko worked out of one of those trailers that first year, persuading players to come to FGCU despite the program holding workouts on outdoor courts as Alico Arena was being built.
And inside his head, he was formulating the plan that he would unleash upon the sport: only three-pointers and layups. Absolutely no mid-range jumpers. Attacking defenses with picks and screens and spacing and a non-stop barrage from beyond the arc that would be dizzying to opponents and must’ve looked like nirvana to shooters nationwide.
The success didn’t take long, and it came in bunches. The team competed in Division II as an independent for five seasons, with Smesko going 30-1 his first season, winning
132 games and making two deep runs in the NAIA tournament before taking the leap to Division I.
Once inside the Atlantic Sun Conference starting with the 200708 season, FGCU blossomed into a mid-major force. The Eagles made the WNIT each of the first four years, then cracked the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2011-12. Nine more trips to the Big Dance followed, with Smesko’s team absolutely torturing higher seeds en route to winning four games — three alone as a No. 12 seed against 5 seeds — for second-round berths.
From that first year in Division I to last season, FGCU never had a double-digit loss total in a season, and won 30 games in a single season six separate times — including 33 in 2015-16 and again in 2022-23 — without ever winning fewer than 24 games. And those threes. FGCU ratcheted up the long-range barrage every year, Smesko as the mad scientist on the sideline. The Eagles led the nation in made three-pointers per game five out of the last seven years. And since 2012, FGCU has led the nation in the category six times and has finished no lower than sixth.
FGCU broke the NCAA record for the most threes in a single season in 2017-18, raining 431 on opponents for a mark that still stands.
Smesko’s style of play brought 14 ASUN regular season titles to Fort Myers, and led the Eagles to 84 wins in their first 85 conference home games, 11 ASUN Tournament
titles and an absurd .845 winning percentage (611-112) — the highest winning percentage in D-I history.
Ever the teacher, Smesko had been close to being lured away from FGCU before, by bigger college programs, as well as the WNBA. But that lure became reality on Nov. 13, when the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream announced that it had hired Smesko away from FGCU and Southwest Florida as its head coach.
FGCU moved quickly, as athletic director Colin Hargis almost immediately named former Eagles player and assistant coach Chelsea Lyles as Smesko’s replacement. And Hargis confirmed that, at some point in the future, FGCU will “appropriately honor” Smesko on campus with some sort of permanent acknowledgement of his legacy.
But that acknowledgement, whether naming the Alico Arena court in his honor, placing a statue outside the entrance or manifesting in some other way, will be just another way for FGCU to remember Smesko. Because you can always look up in Alico at the green and white banners that signify all those titles, all those wins — and remember when he was the coach, when there was nothing but dirt and double-wides scattered about.
Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson airs weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on Southwest Florida’s Fox Sports Radio (105.9 FM in Collier County), and streaming on FoxSportsFM.com.
MOURATOGLOU CENTER’S POSITIVE COURT APPROACH
By Randy Kambic
Given that pro stars Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas are proteges, the teaching approach of Patrick Mouratoglou is an acknowledged success. Now, recreational players of all ages and abilities can experience it at the Mouratoglou Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Tiburón.
The first of its kind in Florida, the center began operations in mid-August, providing private and group lessons, clinics and more for resort guests, center members and the public on four Har-Tru courts. Other offerings include youth development programs, monthly weekend and holiday tennis camps and league and round robin tournaments.
Director Claudio Adolfssen, a top-ranked junior player in his native Chile who competed in International Tennis Federation events across South America before becoming a coach, said that while adults often seek help improving particular shots, coaches usually first try to “target the strengths of players as a starting point, then create patterns and strategies to keep improving all aspects of the game.”
Along with this highly positive approach, another hallmark of the Mouratoglou methodology is “focusing on building confidence through a progression of steps,” Adolfssen said, as opposed to clinics that often focus on one topic. Adult doubles’ coaching sessions start with participants hitting put-aways from the forward position to establish confidence in it, then have the four players hit cross-court rallies for an extended period, and then bring back executing the shot and employing a point system.
The result: Players lose most of the anxiety and apprehension they may have previously had with coaching and end up
“realizing greater opportunities and possibilities with using it,” said the Professional Tennis Registry-certified coach, whose previous accolades include notching men’s and women’s national titles at Georgia Gwinnett College and a 7A state championship for Brookwood High School in Georgia.
The Moratoglou Clinic’s instructors assess each person’s goals and needs, and then a customized, 10-minute warmup precedes initial sessions.
“People appreciate our professionalism, understanding their needs first,” Adolfssen said. “It makes them even more receptive to our instruction.”
On fellow pro at the center Lena Babunski, a former highly ranked junior player for Serbia, Adolfssen said, “She took the Mouratoglou training seriously and transfers it to our clients.”
She played Division I tennis at Miami University, coached the Wagner College (Staten Island, New York) women’s tennis team and was tournament director for the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in Roslyn, New York.
“We make sure the steps are being followed, that they are improving,” Babunski said, adding, “it’s a dream come true to work with Patrick,” who hails from Nice, France.
Adolfssen, who expects to enlist additional teachers soon, is pleased with how the center has been received so far. It has welcomed area adult recreational players looking for a different learning experience; players from Miami and the Midwest have attended adult lessons and youth camps, respectively. It can connect people here with the other Mouratoglou center in the U.S. — near Austin, Texas — and to additional ones overseas.
“You come here for an experience; it’s much more than a hitting session,” he concluded. “We build trust with the players, increase their passion for the game. It’s a super-intimate program.”
FGCU women's basketball coach Karl Smesko. Contributed photo
Tennis Pro Lena Babunski and Director Claudio Adolfssen lead lessons, clinics and more for all ages at the new Mouratoglou Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Tiburón. Photo by Randy Kambic
