Q: Any idea what’s replacing Saks Off 5th on 41? – Jennifer Evans, Naples
A: TJ Maxx discount department store is coming to the 27,000-square-foot space that Saks Off 5th vacated this spring after operating for 10 years at Park Shore Plaza on U.S. 41 in Naples. Saks Global shuttered all but 12 of its 50 Saks Off 5th locations nationwide this year during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
TJ Maxx is the flagship chain of TJX Companies Inc., which also owns the retail store brands HomeGoods, HomeSense, Marshalls and Sierra. Coincidentally, Sierra also is coming soon to Park Shore Plaza in the 18,676-square-foot space vacated last year by Party City.
“We can confirm that Sierra and TJ Maxx will be opening at Park Shore Plaza in Naples. These additions further strengthen the center and complement the lineup of national retailers already serving the community,” said Maria Pace, vice president of marketing for Brixmor Property Group, the New Yorkbased company that owns Park Shore Plaza.
A TJX spokesperson could not confirm opening dates for these new stores, but based on the latest information available to Brixmor, Sierra is expected to open before the end of this year between Burlington and Kirkland’s Home, and TJ Maxx is anticipated to open during the first quarter of next year
See ATEN KNOWS, Page 9A
New schools kick off school year
By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
Helping increase the tide of international tourists
By Aisling Swift aisling.swift@naplespress.com
Many candidates in Collier County’s unopposed races already have won their seats, but there are several contested local races that will be decided by voters in the Aug. 18 primary.
Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Republicans can vote in Republican primaries, while only Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries. Voters registered with no party affiliation, Independent or other party cannot vote in partisan primaries.
However, all county voters can vote in nonpartisan elections for two 20th Circuit Court judges and one county school board member, races that will be decided in the primary. And because the race for the County Commission District 4 seat had no Democratic or other candidates who qualified by June 11, it will be an open primary, meaning all registered District 4 voters can cast a ballot — and the winner will be decided.
“Voters sometimes underestimate the importance of primary elections, so voter turnout is usually low,” said Teresa Stohs, president of the League of Women Voters of Collier County. “Consequently, a small increase in voters can have a large impact. In Florida, many elections are decided in the primary because candidates are from only one party.
“Primaries are the opportunity for voters to take control and weigh in on the issues that matter most to them,”
Tim
Alexandra Cavalier
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Steve Gill
COPY EDITOR
Martin Albertus ART DIRECTOR
Jorge Méndez Calás
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
J.C. Amodea, John Guerra, Randy Kambic, Melanie Pagan, M. Melanie Pefinis, Nanci Theoret, David Wasson
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Olga Hayes, Irene Pérez, Casey Shepherd, Chris Tilley
Naples Airport has completed a solar installation featuring 270 panels on the roof of a newly constructed warehouse storage building on airport property.
The 100-kilowatt system cost $249,665 and is expected to pay for itself in about 5.7 years through energy savings and government rebates.
“The cost savings by adding solar are substantial, but the environmental impacts are even greater,” Naples Airport
Executive Director Chris Rozansky said. “Naples Airport has been ‘going green’ for many years, and this solar installation is yet another example of how an airport can be good stewards to the environment while simultaneously making sound financial decisions.”
The project is part of the airport’s ongoing sustainability efforts, which include cleaner-burning fuels, electric ground vehicles and a water management system that filters stormwater before it flows into the Gordon River and Naples Bay.
Naples Zoo lease changes discussed
The Naples Zoo is in talks to amend its lease with the Board of Collier County Commissioners as officials consider creating an endowment to help support the zoo after hurricanes.
The Zoo leases its 43-acre property from the county for $1 per year under a 30-year agreement approved in 2009. Collier County purchased the land in 2005 after voters approved the purchase in a 2004 referendum. The county owns the property, while the nonprofit zoo operates and maintains the facility without county funding for daily operations.
County officials said the current lease allows the county to require the zoo to vacate the property, creating uncertainty that has made some donors hesitant to contribute because they fear the lease could be reversed.
However, the donor-funded endowment would help cover animal care and other essential expenses if the zoo is forced to close after a hurricane and lose the revenue needed for daily operations.
County commissioners agreed to place the item on a future meeting agenda.
Water disinfection continues
Collier County is temporarily modifying its water disinfection using free chlorine as a disinfectant instead of wwchloramines.
Although county water meets or exceeds state and federal standards, the routine practice, which occurs July 31 to Aug. 28, is recommended by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for utilities that primarily
use chloramines.
Flushing of mains and hydrants began Aug. 2 and will continue through Sept. 18, when free chlorine will quickly flush the distribution system, improving quality by removing collected sediment.
Temporary changes in taste, odor and color are normal and it’s safe to drink. If there’s cloudy or discolored water, run the tap for several minutes, and avoid doing laundry to prevent possible staining.
Those on kidney dialysis should contact suppliers or doctors for advice, and customers with fish tanks should contact a pet store about pretreating water before adding it to tanks. Water quality information is at: collier.gov/notifynow For questions about the disinfection or flushing, call 239.252.6245.
Keep pets safe this summer
With summer heat and humidity increasing health risks for pets, Patty Baker Humane Society Naples reminds pet owners to take precautions.
Keep pets in air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day and provide fresh water and shade when they are outside. Walk dogs in the early morning or evening and check pavement before walks. If it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog’s paws.
Never leave pets in parked vehicles, even with the windows open. If you see a pet in a hot vehicle, call 911 or Collier County Domestic Animal Services at 239.252.7387.
Short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, boxers, pugs and Persian cats, as well as senior, overweight pets and those with heart or respiratory conditions, face a greater risk of heat-related illness.
Watch for signs of heat stress or heatstroke, including heavy panting, abnormal gum or tongue color and a rapid pulse.
For more information, visit pbhsnaples.org
Help conserve manatees with an FWC decal
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has released its annual manatee and sea turtle decals, which raise money for manatee recovery statewide. This year’s decal commemorates 25 years of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, a network of more than 20 organizations that team up to rescue, rehabilitate, release and monitor manatees. The decal features a satellite-tracking tag on a manatee. Since 2001, the partnership has successfully rescued more than 2,350 manatees.
Building permit fees, timelines cut
Building permit fees have been reduced 25% to 50% under a new law that took effect recently.
Under House Bill 803, building department permit fees are cut 50% when a licensed private provider — an engineer, architect or code administrator — is hired to handle qualifying plan reviews and inspections, while fees are reduced 25% if a private provider handles a portion.
The law affects structural, floodplain, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical, solar, inspection and reinspection fees. Most fees are based on construction costs, but small non-structural residential projects under $7,500 don’t need a building permit, except for electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical and structural work.
Review timelines were cut from 20 to 10 days if private providers are used and five days for single-trade jobs involving single-family homes. If the department misses the deadline, the permit is considered approved. Homeowner associations can no longer demand a government building permit before they review an architectural proposal.
PayOli Energy has completed installing 270 solar panels atop the new facilities building at Naples Airport. Photo courtesy Naples Airport Authority
Collier considers European tourism contracts
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
After nearly two years of declining international visitation, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners will vote Aug. 25 on whether to approve two contracts for travel representation in several European countries. Hospitality industry experts say the partnerships are key to helping reverse the decline and keep the Paradise Coast competitive with other destinations.
At its July meeting, the county’s Tourist Development Council recommended renewing a contract with Stuttgart, Germany-based travel representation agency DiaMonde for $180,000 annually over three years, with two one-year renewal options, to represent the Paradise Coast
Data shows nearly 79,000 travelers from the United Kingdom and Germany visited Collier County in fiscal year 2025, generating more than $98 million in total economic impact.
in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
The TDC also recommended renewing a contract with London-based OMMAC Ltd. for $200,000 annually over three years, with two one-year renewal options, to represent the destination in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
During the July TDC meeting, Russell Meara, CEO and founder of Hablo, a global travel trade engagement platform, presented remarks on behalf of James Killick of Virgin Atlantic Hol-
Immokalee and Livingston roads
idays, who warned that cutting international marketing investment would “result in the Paradise Coast becoming Florida’s forgotten coast.”
Data from Tallahassee-based Downs & St. Germain Research shows nearly 79,000 travelers from the United Kingdom and Germany visited Collier County in fiscal year 2025, generating more than $81 million in direct spend-
Design contract for flyover approved
By Aisling Swift aisling.swift@naplespress.com
It’s not even rush hour and traffic heading north on Livingston Road is backed up due to bumper-to-bumper traffic on Immokalee Road, where — east of the Interstate 75 ramps — vehicles are moving at a crawl.
It will take about six years, but future roadwork — a flyover, a Livingston Road overpass and a diverging diamond interchange to ease traffic around the I-75 ramps — will eventually move that traffic, cutting time off commutes and shopping trips.
The Board of County Commissioners on July 28 voted unanimously to award a $7,594,351.10 design contract to Fort Myers-based DRMP Inc., the top-ranked firm among three responsible bidders, to design a Livingston Road flyover above Immokalee Road to reduce traffic congestion. The cost includes possible relocation of county-owned water systems.
The design phase will take roughly 30 months and is part of a $111 million project that will take five or six years before construction is completed. And it won’t start until after a diverging-diamond inter-
change east of that at I-75 and Immokalee Road is completed.
“Immokalee Road has long been faced with congestion challenges,” Marlene Messam, county Transportation Management Services project manager, told commissioners before the vote. “… The point of the project is to alleviate congestion that we’re seeing now … We will efficiently design the project so that we are solving the problems.”
In August 2021, the Immokalee Road Corridor Congestion Study recommended constructing a four-lane flyover carrying Livingston Road over Immokalee Road, she said, and in January, the county issued a request for professional services for design work, which ended in commissioners last month authorizing staff to negotiate with DRMP.
Commissioner Chris Hall, whose district covers the project, questioned how much eastbound and westbound traffic Immokalee Road could handle beneath the flyover with the one traffic light.
Messam said the light will be replaced with a signalization system similar to the one at Golden Gate Parkway and Airport Road that will move traffic.
That system will enable the county to reallocate “green time,” Transportation Management Services Head Trinity Scott explained.
“Instead of having the length of time that you would typically give to the northsouth movement, you will now give that green time to the east-west movement,” Scott said. “And what you would give to that north-south movement will be much less because you will have less traffic going to the north-south.”
She likened it to traffic congestion being alleviated when the Golden Gate overpass was built over Airport Road.
“We used to have miles of backup for both roadways, but once that overpass went in, now Golden Gate Parkway flows very freely and Airport Road benefits from that because it gets significantly more north-south green time from that and you can still go at grade on Golden Gate Parkway. You still get that green time and you’re not sitting there,” she said, noting the benefit is that it pushes more traffic through on both roads.
The congestion study’s initial traffic See FLYOVER, Page 7A
Mayor sentenced for violating probation
By Aisling Swift aisling.swift@naplespress.com
A Collier County judge sentenced Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann to 10 days in county jail after finding her guilty of violating probation for DUI by testing positive for cannabinoids.
Teresa Heitmann
County Judge Rob Crown made his ruling July 27 after a two-hour hearing in which the mayor denied using marijuana, cannabinoids or gummies, or ingesting THC in any form, and provided tests to prove that. The judge gave her credit for two days’ time served in jail after her April 20 arrest for the violation and said she could spend weekends in jail or perform community work, which she chose.
Defense attorney Derek Verderamo disputed the violation by presenting evidence showing Heitmann took a urine test at a lab within an hour of the positive test, and a hair test days later, and both were negative. He also pointed out subsequent drug testing by the probation department was negative.
As she left court with friends, Heitmann contended she didn’t violate probation and wasn’t guilty.
“It’s a shame, it’s not true,” Heitmann said.
A day later, she told The Naples Press “I’m still in shock.”
The violation stems from a one-year probationary sentence on Feb 16 for a DUI charge that could have been terminated in six months if she adhered to all conditions, but it’s now been extended to May 16, 2027. Among other terms of her original sentence were a DUI class, random drug testing and community work. Testimony showed she’d complied with all.
A probation hearing uses a preponderance of the evidence standard — more than 50% — a lower standard than the guilt beyond a reasonable doubt required in a criminal trial.
Arrested in August 2024
Heitmann was arrested 10:45 p.m. Aug. 28, 2024, after a couple called
The design phase for the flyover will take about 30 months and is part of a $111 million project that will take five or six years before construction is completed.
Photo by Aisling Swift
Relaxing on a Collier County beach is a pastime for many. Photo by Irene Pérez
Building a better business bulwark
Most warnings about online scams and hacks focus on individual victims, and that’s especially true in Southwest Florida, with its high proportion of seniors.
But businesses are also the target of scams and hacks — which present unique challenges.
Once their businesses have been breached, owners and managers are often very reluctant to report problems. The reasons are numerous: fear of bad publicity, customer rejection, increased insurance costs, legal liability, contractual complications … and there’s little confidence that law enforcement can catch any criminals.
Under Florida law, if a breach affects 500 or more state residents, they, as well as the state Attorney General, must be notified of it within 30 days.
Instead of all those complica-
Don’t Get Fooled
David Silverberg
tions, businesses often shrug incidents off, eat the expense and try to keep it secret. But their expenses can be big: A single breach can cost a small- to medium-sized business an average of $120,000 to $254,000, according to CrowdStrike, a software security company.
Jeff Minnis is president of JeffComputers, a cybersecurity and computer company in Osprey, just north of Venice.
“We’re seeing a lot of hackers break into businesses and take over keystrokes and mouses,” he told The Naples Press. “It’s pretty huge. What happens then is they take
over bank accounts. We’ve seen a lot of wire fraud, where the hackers take over an email address or create a similar one and then drain the funds.”
Carrie Kerskie, a local cybersecurity expert, pointed out that not all breaches involve the same kind of data: Hackers may be trying to steal trade secrets, receipts, suppliers and clients.
On top of that, there are special local issues.
“Florida businesses face some unique challenges,” Minnis writes on his blog. “Seasonal population swings, hurricane-related power and network disruptions, and a high concentration of small businesses in tourism, real estate, healthcare and retail — all attractive targets for cybercriminals.”
But it’s not just the primary business that can be breached;
Private partners eyed for public airports
By John Guerra
Collier County commissioners — sitting as the Collier County Airport Authority — have agreed to create a procedure for soliciting private companies and individuals to help it improve facilities at two of its three airports.
Commissioner Vice Chairman William McDaniel asked the commission to approve his concept for soliciting private-sector partners in the delivery of those airport improvements. McDaniel wants to determine whether private partnerships would provide greater value and efficiency than government-funded improvements.
The idea is to eventually solicit proposals for improving Immokalee Regional Airport and Everglades Airpark, both of which could attract outside investors and developers.
Everglades Airpark, for instance, faced potential closure in early 2025 because of a chronic annual operating deficit of roughly $150,000, low traffic volume and high storm-repair costs. Meanwhile, Immokalee is building new airplane hangars and increasing jet storage and other capacity. The county closed the adjacent Immokalee Regional Raceway to repurpose the land for aviation growth and hangar development..
At its July 14 meeting, the commission considered seeking similar ideas from private companies for Marco Island Executive Airport, but Commission Chair Rick LoCastro, citing the airport’s financial success and capital improvements, pulled the successfully run airport off the table for outside vendors.
While Everglades Airpark has faced financial shortfalls, Marco Island operates profitably and generates a local economic impact estimated at more than $258 million, according to Collier officials.
“The Marco Island Executive Airport was rolled into this,” LoCastro said. “It’s in my district and I didn’t feel like we needed a concept out there. The focus [should be] on these two airports.”
McDaniel detailed what he’d like to see improved at each of the two airports.
At Immokalee Regional Airport, the primary area of interest is the 30-acre, planned terminal/fixed base operator development area near the intersection of the airport’s runways, together with supporting lands, access, apron, utility and infrastructure.
At Everglades Airport, the airport authority would evaluate whether private-sector participation would support the financing and development, operation and management of a new terminal or FBO-related facility while preserving the safe, efficient and public-serving
character of the airport.
The solicitations would notify investors and developers that portions of the airport are subject to existing leases, development agreements and operational commitments, and that any proposal must be compatible with those obligations. Any proposals from outside parties must not conflict with Federal Aviation Authority, Florida Department of Transportation or other government grants.
The companies and individuals that respond to such proposals can address either one or both airports. They can submit a single integrated concept, separate concepts for each airport or alternative approaches.
There are a lot of steps before the airport authority entertains proposals from outside parties to improve the airports.
The staff also has to prepare a scope of a proposed solicitation for development, financing and other opportunities at the two airports.
Anyone who proposes partnership with the airport authority will have to pass county commission muster by presenting their ideas to the airport authority. Any negotiated agreement would be brought back to the board for consideration and approval.
The authority would not be obligated to enter any agreement and can instead pursue traditional public funding and delivery, negotiate with one or more outside parties, reject all proposals or take no action.
Commissioner Burt Saunders, who ultimately approved McDaniel’s concept, wanted more information.
“I’m reluctant to go along with this at this point,” he said. “It seems like a bad idea to take public assets like an airport and hand them over to private enterprise. Before we hand it over, we should have a workshop on the airports [to learn] what are the potentials for this before we solicit private interests.”
Commissioner Chris Hall supported seeking outside investors for the airport.
“I kind of like knowing we’re going to open it up for a broader array of thinking when it comes to the airports,” he said. “I don’t think we’re talking about turning it over to the private sector. I would be interested in hearing about, ‘Here’s what we can do for you’ and have it run efficiently and maybe even better.’”
McDaniel came up with the idea after the county received an unsolicited letter of intent from Four Springs TEN31 Xchange LLC to acquire 13 of the airport’s 140 acres and perform 43,000 square feet of aviation-related improvements to that property. McDaniel suggested the commission write its own procedure for soliciting private-sector offers for the county’s other airports.
subcontractors can be infected or scammed too. Minnis said that construction companies are frequent targets. In a recent case he handled, a large company had a problem when one of its contractors was breached. Minnis had to do a forensic analysis, dig deep into both the company’s and contractor’s systems and do a complete cleaning of all the software.
Warning signs that a company is being targeted include suspicious emails repeatedly sent to numerous employees, false demands for urgent or immediate payments, login pages that seem “off” when clicked from links and an increasing number of spam messages or emails with unusual attachments or links.
Other indications include unusual slowdowns, the sudden appearance of unusual programs or toolbars and unusual login activity or unre-
quested password resets.
Minnis urges businesses to upgrade their software, retain cybersecurity professionals and have clear backup and recovery plans. Cybersecurity has to be a line item consideration.
“If your business handles customer payment information, personal data, medical records or financial transactions and doesn’t have a dedicated cybersecurity plan, you’re operating with significant exposure,” he warns.
The online world is as scary a place for businesses as it is for individuals. It pays to be cautious, be prepared — and don’t get fooled!
David Silverberg is a journalist who covered security issues as editor of the magazine Homeland Security Today before moving to Naples.
rely on trusted travel agencies than book trips on their own.
ing and nearly $98 million in total economic impact.
However, the latest available data shows international visitation declined 5.7% year over year in May, although the pace of the decline has slowed, said James Brendle, project director and economic research lead for Downs & St. Germain.
Jay Tusa, executive tourism director of the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the travel representation agencies maintain relationships with tour operators, travel advisers, airlines, media outlets and other partners that influence how international travelers choose and book destinations.
He said international representation is more than a marketing expense — it is an extension of the destination’s sales effort.
“They identify new business opportunities, provide current market intelligence and help ensure that the Paradise Coast remains visible and competitive,” Tusa said.
Supporters of the contracts say in-market representation is especially important because of the way many European travelers book their vacations. Michael Collins, associate professor in the School of Resort and Hospitality Management in the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University, said European visitors are more likely to
“Travel is a relationship buy,” Collins said. “Europeans coming to the U.S. are much less likely to hunt and search and book on their own than to go to a quality tour operator who has relationships here. They can book through them with confidence that they are going to arrange a vacation in Florida that is satisfying to them.”
Collins, who spent 25 years in the luxury hotel industry, said the agencies also play an important role in sustaining visitation during the offseason, benefiting hotels, restaurants and other local businesses.
Kristina Park, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber, said continued international representation is essential because Collier County competes with destinations around the world and depends on attracting European travelers, who typically stay longer, and spend more than domestic visitors, during the slower months.
Park said shoulder-season tourism helps support a more year-round economy, allowing businesses to plan more sustainably while creating more stable employment opportunities in the hospitality sector.
“We’re in a globally competitive marketplace,” she said, “and if we take our name out of that equation, travelers will pick other destinations.”
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From page 3A
The latest data shows international visitation declined 5.7% year over year in May.
Photo by Irene Pérez
County wants Cars on 5th; Fifth Ave. might create its own
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Cars on 5th could make a shorter move than planned: from Naples to Collier County. At its July 28 meeting, the Collier County Board of Commissioners said its staff is in talks with the high-end automotive event, which has been handed such strict limits by the City of Naples that it will not apply to be on Fifth Avenue South in 2027.
In the same week, the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District, which advocates for downtown businesses, indicated it may seek out or create an alternative car show if this one doesn’t return. That’s not its first choice, however.
“Our preference is for the current organizers to continue producing a successful event on Fifth Avenue South,” said a statement released by the BID last week.
“If that is not possible, we will work to ensure an exceptional automotive event remains on the Avenue. The BID’s responsibility is to protect the interests of the businesses and property owners we serve, and we intend to do exactly that.”
There has been no report of movement with the City of Naples or from Cars on 5th to find a compromise.
Keeping a tradition
Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro said he had contacted Tom O’Riordan, a local organizer for the event, after learning its permit had been denied by the city.
“If they have issues with it, I support their senior leadership,” LoCastro said of Naples. But he felt the county should make some effort to keep the show, which has been here since 2003.
“I didn’t want him to just sort of move it to another county and say ‘Well, we didn’t hear from anybody,’” he said. LoCastro said O’Riordan has talked with each of the commissioners and that “key people” in the county government were developing options.
“We have some locations — and they may or may not fit — in the county that are being fleshed out, and they will be presented in short order,” LoCastro said. Those locations weren’t revealed, however.
LoCastro chastised social media wags who
ask why the county couldn’t simply turn over space at Coastland Center or the Paradise Coast Sports Complex to the show.
First, he said, Cars on 5th wasn’t simply looking for a location to display cars.
“That organization isn’t looking for just a big parking lot. They’re not looking for a big fairground. They’re looking for a venue that’s similar to Fifth Avenue, that creates an experience,” LoCastro said, citing the Fifth Avenue South shopping, restaurants and hotels.
Further, he continued, only the Cars on 5th organization can determine the location.
“We can’t tell these guys where to have their private event. We can only present the options on what the cost will be, what the requirements are, what the logistical lift is,” he said.
There is apparently interest from Cars on 5th, and LoCastro said he thought some movement may be coming in the next two weeks.
ucts containing less than 0.3% THC — a type of cannabinoid — can test positive. But the mayor denied taking, drinking, eating or using cannabinoids or THC.
O’Riordan said via correspondence that Naples has been silent since he turned down its proposal for a show one-fifth its current size. The show, which has been on Fifth Avenue South for 21 of its 23 years, annually brought in 15,000 car lovers who paid admission to see its spread of more than 700 high-end cars and talk with owners. It also has been a boon to local charities, including St. Matthew’s House and, now, Habitat for Humanity.
Solutions at odds
But the show has been plagued by gate crashers who have swollen the crowds by as much as 7,000 and parked illegally, despite the fact Cars on 5th offers a free shuttle from open Collier County Government Center parking to Fifth Avenue South.
The city’s proposed solution of restricting admission to 3,500 would not eliminate
what O’Riordan saw as the major problems of illegal parking and gate crashers at porous spots in the city barricades. Further, it would not bring enough income to make the show break even, he said.
At this point, O’Riordan said there’s been no decision on a new location for Cars on 5th. But he praised the county’s work: “Everyone at the county has been solutions-driven. We have RFPs [requests for proposals] out to five cities and venues of the 33 that have reached to us.”
He said a new show is being planned for the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. But the show that was on Fifth Avenue South will at least stay close to home, he wrote: “We will have a show on Feb. 6 in SWFL.”
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911, saying she followed them to their home on the 500 block of 16th Avenue South. They told Naples Police a silver Porsche nearly drove through a stop sign, causing them to hit their brakes; the driver tailgated them, flashing headlights, and followed them, parked at their home and confronted them. They called 911 after the driver claimed to be the mayor, seemed drunk and urged them to call police.
When an officer arrived, police reports show, Heitmann denied flashing her headlights and said the couple cut her off in a roundabout on her way home, nearly hitting her car. She apologized to the public at a City Council meeting days after her arrest.
Two months after sentencing this year, she was arrested April 20 on charges she failed a urine test conducted March 26 by Counseling of Southwest Florida and confirmed on March 30 by Clinical Science Laboratory after she requested that the lab confirm the test. The violation occurred after Heitmann, who wasn’t required to be on intensive probation, requested permission to travel outside the county. Her probation officer testified that probationers must be up-to-date on all conditions and she needed to come in to pay two months of probation fees. While there, Heitmann was asked to take a urine test. Her probation prohibits alcohol and drugs and positive tests are considered violations, whether due to marijuana, hemp or CBD. The prosecution needs only to prove a positive test occurred, not that a defendant intended to violate guidelines. Even legal CBD prod-
Mayor was adamant
During a nearly 2½-hour hearing, Heitmann, the probation officer and a lab employee were questioned by Assistant State Attorney Sabsina Karimi and cross-examined by defense attorney Derek Verderamo.
“When she informed me that it had THC, I said, ‘That can’t possibly be, I haven’t had any contact with any THC,’ would she please do another urine test?” Heitmann said of her request to the lab employee. “And she said, ‘No,’ and so I said, ‘Well, it’s absolutely not correct. It can’t be positive … What can I do?’”
The lab worker said she could send it to a lab for confirmation; Heitmann agreed to pay an additional $60 for that. Karimi asked if she’d traveled to Colorado for 10 days just after being sentenced. The mayor said she had, but Karimi didn’t pursue why she brought up Colorado, a state where it’s legal to purchase medical and recreational marijuana; there was no evidence Heitmann made a purchase.
The test also was positive for amphetamines, but Heitmann provided a prescription to show that was due to Vyvanse, a prescription she sometimes takes for ADHD. She was uncertain whether she’d taken it that day or when she’d last taken it. The lab worker testified they won’t conduct a second urine test unless a probationer admits using marijuana, and the first test is the only one they send to the judge.
During cross-examination, Heitmann testified she wanted to prove she hadn’t used
cannabinoids, so she called Verderamo and they agreed she should immediately get retested. Within an hour of the positive test, she was tested at Advance Medical, the lab under the city’s health plan, and took a urine test; it was negative.
She notified her probation officer, but she told her it didn’t matter: “It is what it is.”
Over the weekend, she testified, she considered how to prove she hadn’t violated probation and she and Verderamo decided on a hair test, which shows longer-term use. She did that Monday, March 30; it was negative. She testified she has no knowledge on how to beat urine tests and was always accompanied by a lab worker.
Karimi suggested that by getting tested at Advance Medical, there was a financial gain and benefit for the city’s lab to provide a negative test, but during cross-examination, Verderamo showed the lab wasn’t notified the mayor was coming in, she didn’t know anyone there and wasn’t given special treatment.
Karimi pointed out the hair test says it takes five to 10 days from the time of drug use for hair containing a drug to grow from the scalp. The mayor said she wasn’t aware, but testified she asked for a test to show if she’d used marijuana or THC. Heitmann testified she’d taken Vyvanse in the days before the hair test.
Denied THC, CBD use
The probation officer testified Heitmann said she had no medical marijuana card, didn’t consume gummies or marijuana, didn’t drink anything unusual or vape a cigarette. She said Heitmann tested negative for alcohol. The lab employee testified she
didn’t know the cutoff levels for testing, the amount of a drug that must be present for a test result to be reported as positive.
Verderamo questioned the chain of custody after the urine was tested, sealed and sent by FedEx, but the judge accepted that evidence, and also considered the many years of experience the probation officer and lab employee had. He noted fewer than 0.08% of tests administered by a trained lab worker contain errors.
Crown said he didn’t consider Heitmann’s private testing contradictory, noting it takes time for THC to show up in hair or the urine test, and considered the probation test more reliable because it detected amphetamines.
“We have not one but two tests that say positive for THC,” Crown said of the first test and confirmation by an out-of-state lab. “Within the hour, she takes the test and she’s negative for metabolites. That’s not inconsistent in my view. That just shows recent use … These lab reports tell a story. The story they tell is of recent marijuana use, so recent that metabolites don’t show up, so recent that it doesn’t show up in the hair.” He found her guilty of violating probation. Despite the prosecutor’s request that she not be allowed to travel outside Collier County, Crown said he saw no purpose in restricting travel because testimony showed she’d been a model probationer. He ordered her to begin her sentence no later than Aug. 10.
WINK News contributed to this report.
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Naples wanted Cars on 5th to cut way back on attendance, but organizers said gate crashers are causing much of the crowding problems. File photo
ELECTION 2026
Four referendums on primary ballot
By Aisling Swift aisling.swift@naplespress.com
When voters countywide head to the polls for the Aug. 18 primaries, they’ll not only elect their representatives, but shape their own futures by deciding four local referendums.
Voters in Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City will weigh in on important issues and funding, while residents served by the Greater Naples Fire & Rescue District will be asked whether to change how the state’s largest independent special-purpose fire district is governed. A ballot referendum takes the decision out of the hands of representatives, such as city councils and fire district boards — allowing residents to decide a proposal, law or governance issue.
Residents served by the fire district will vote on a referendum that will determine how their fire commissioners are elected. It’s a district that serves more than 160,000 permanent residents, but that number swells to up to 200,000 including seasonal visitors and broader service-area boundaries.
In November 2014, the Golden Gate, East Naples and Isles of Capri fire districts and Ochopee Fire Control District merged to form the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District. As the state’s largest independent special-purpose fire district, it covers 1,512 square miles — more than half the county’s land. It employs more than 250 people in 15 fire stations that provide fire suppression, advanced life support and emergency medical services in cooperation with Collier County. Under the current system, two commis-
From page 1A
sioners are elected by voters in East Naples, two are elected by Golden Gate voters and one is elected at-large by voters districtwide; commissioners don’t have to live in the areas they represent.
As district boundaries grew and more homes and businesses were developed, fire commissioners felt at-large voting would better serve residents. The Board of Fire Commissioners discussed the idea in 2021 and abandoned it. But in August 2024, the board unanimously voted to draft the language and ask voters to make the final decision.
A “yes” vote would change the current system, meaning that beginning with the November 2028 election, all five commissioners would be elected at-large by all district voters.
Naples City Council salaries
Naples’ City Charter specifies the mayor’s and City Council members’ exact salaries, but voters are being asked whether to give City Council the future authority to adjust compensation by ordinance based on Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations. Since 1988, the seven-member committee of residents has compared Council salaries with other similar municipalities every four years to determine if they should be adjusted.
Salaries have traditionally been low. Last October, Council accepted the committee’s recommendation and voted to increase salaries 22% and monthly stipends by $100. As it had in the past, it didn’t recommend a pension; health benefits match those of city employees.
Council agreed Mayor Teresa Heitmann’s yearly salary would rise to $66,002, with a $500 monthly stipend, bringing it to $72,002,
she added, urging residents, “Vote in the primary election to help ensure that candidates in the general election are more representative of the people.”
Dan Kowal
Incumbent Dan Kowal, current chair of the Board of County Commissioners, oversees District 4, which covers the city of Naples, parts of East Naples and areas west of Interstate 75 and south of Pine Ridge Road. The five-member commission is the county’s governing body and is split into districts.
Kowal considers public safety, infrastructure and development key issues. Commissioners have always maintained funding for public safety workers, first responders and the community, ensuring Collier remains safe, he said, and they’re taking steps to handle future growth. He pointed to a recent vote to rezone land in Ave Maria to add nearly 1 million square feet of commercial development and more than 6,700 homes — growth planned years ago that’s now moving forward.
“What that did was it triggered rooftops for a hospital out there,” Kowal said of a 150-bed full-service hospital and emergency room planned by Naples Comprehensive Health. “They’ve got a 30-mile drive from out there, from Immokalee and all those areas that far east and northeast.”
while Council members’ salaries would increase to $52,826, with a $400 monthly stipend, $57,626 annually. Council planned to memorialize the salaries in the charter last December and January. They became effective after the February 2026 city elections.
At its May 6 meeting, based on guidance by City Attorney Matthew McConnell, Council unanimously approved a charter amendment ordinance that removed exact dollar figures and gave Council authority to adjust compensation by ordinance going forward, based on future Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations. Council then voted to place the charter amendment on the primary ballot.
All registered city residents are eligible to vote on the referendum, which will pass with a simple majority. A “yes” vote would remove exact salaries from the city charter and amend it to allow Council to follow future committee recommendations.
Marco Island referendum
In May, Marco Island City Council voted to place a $23 million bond referendum on the August ballot for city voters. If approved, the funds would support a 10-year infrastructure plan that would replace the 53-year-old Caxambas Bridge, which received the lowest sufficiency rating among 370 countywide. The Florida Department of Transportation rated its deck and superstructure as “serious.”
The city repaired it in 2017, extending its life by a decade. In 2024 and 2025, Council approved funding to design a new bridge and relocation of water and sewer mains below. A new bridge would cost $12 million, but the city would receive $7.5 million in FDOT grants. The project is scheduled for 2027.
Despite an outcry over increased development, Kowal said, expanding in eastern Collier and adding activity centers that provide retailers, grocers and other services reduces traffic heading to Naples and downtown because residents can shop and get services closer to home.
“The reason we want to go out east is we don’t want to create a Miami, because if you restrict where we can build out east, guess what? There’s no limit to go but up,” he said of the county’s 130foot height limit. “When you restrict the footprint, you can only go up and that’s what happened to cities like Miami early on.
“When they went up, they created this city that exists now,” he said of their intent to conserve land and protect the Everglades. “So I take offense to people saying, ‘You’re going to create a Miami.’ No, I’m trying not to create a Miami. That’s why I want a bigger footprint to work with, and I can restrict the heights if I have a bigger footprint.
“If we stopped every person moving to this area tomorrow, we would still increase in population over the next 20 years, just from within,” he said of children growing up here and wanting to live here. “I just don’t understand why people can’t see that vision.”
He pointed to the commission’s record over the past three years convincing developers to include affordable housing and keeping price points low, 60% to 80% of the Area Median Income, which is now $121,000 for a family of four. That will ensure teachers, phlebotomists and other essential workers have homes, he said, adding, “That’s what we’ve got to think about.” He noted studies show 50,000 employees working within Collier live outside the county due to the high cost of living.
Campaign records show Kowal has raised $56,851, including $21,000 from himself and his wife, and has spent $33,338.53 for his second four-year term; commissioners can serve three consec-
The bond funds also would be used to replace the Goldenrod Bridge, one of Collier’s lowest-rated bridges, in 2029. The cost is estimated at $10 million, but the city will receive a $3.75 million FDOT grant. Three other bridges would be repaired for $1.5 million in 2028 — Blackmore, Sandhill and South Seas — and $7.2 million would be allocated to 36 miles of roadways that haven’t been paved in more than a decade.
The costs to each homeowner for the bond would be $48.72 yearly for a resident with a $500,000 home or $97.44 annually for homeowners with a $1 million home. A “yes” vote would pave the way for the replacements and repairs.
Everglades City
Registered Everglades City voters will decide whether Collier Mosquito Control District’s boundaries should be expanded. The question is being put to voters due to severe mosquito populations surging around Everglades City and surrounding Chokoloskee and Plantation Island, prompting local leaders on June 9 to ask the county for help spraying; it was the second request in two years.
The Board of County Commissioners agreed to provide $50,000 in spraying services. That day, Council approved putting it on the ballot as a referendum. If approved, it would give Council direction to ask that Everglades City be included within the Collier Mosquito Control District’s boundaries, which requires approval by the state Legislature; that could take about three years. For more information on the referendums, go to bit.ly/CCRefsElections
utive terms. He’s a U.S. Army veteran, a combat medic, who later served as a Special Agent in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Capitol Police’s Dignitary Protection unit, during and after the Sept. 11 attacks.
He moved to Naples in March 2003, was hired by the County Sheriff’s Office and spent much of his career assigned to vice-narcotics teams. He won the Distinguished Service Medal in 2004 for saving a man during an imminent explosion, and won two Phoenix Awards for saving three lives during two incidents. For information, go to votekowal.com
Dan Zegarac
Kowal is being challenged by Republican Dan Zegarac, a retired automotive executive who served on city councils in Ohio from 2010 to 2013, including as president, and again from 2020 to 2021. During his tenure, he worked on major public-private partnerships, including efforts that brought a Cleveland Clinic hospital to his community, a project that required a new interstate interchange. Zegarac said he helped ensure that developers, not taxpayers, paid a significantly larger portion of the cost. He also helped lead his community during the pandemic by spearheading a CARES Act-relief program for small and micro-businesses, and served on committees responsible for hiring police chiefs and senior level city staff. He moved to Naples in 2021 and has been closely observing county government. He believes Collier must focus on disciplined spending, collabora-
See PRIMARY, Page 7A
Dan Kowal
Dan Zegarac
ELECTION 2026
Primary to help shape Florida politics
By Sheldon Zoldan
A psychiatrist might diagnose Collier County with schizophrenia if it were a patient, but it wasn’t always that way. The Florida Legislature created Collier’s split personality in the spring when it redrew congressional districts and divided the county into two new districts.
The county is almost evenly divided — with 138,226 voters in District 19, which spans much of Lee County and Collier’s coastline, and 123,937 voters in District 22, which encompasses eastern and central portions of the county.
The redistricting has created some confusion, said Trish Robertson, communications director of the Collier County Supervisor of Elections.
“Any time changes are made to voting districts, we see some confusion among voters,” she said. Besides sending mailings, the office is using media outlets to make voters aware of the changes.
Based on previous elections, the office is predicting a 25% to 30% turnout. Collier has 216,118 registered voters; 55% Republican, 19% Democrat and the rest not affiliated with either party.
The congressional primaries highlight an otherwise underwhelming Aug. 18 state primary.
A Republican and Democrat are heavy favorites to win their gubernatorial primaries. Incumbent Republican Ashley Moody is the overwhelming favorite to run for U.S. Senate, but the Democratic nomination is up for grabs.
Democrats and Republicans are competing in the primaries for agriculture commissioner and chief financial officer. Two Republicans — Bill Poteet and Liesa Priddy — are vying for the state House 82 seat left vacant because Rep. Lauren Melo is running for the Florida Senate seat vacated by Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, who can’t run again because of term limits.
The 2026 primary is unique because it’s the first time in many election cycles that both congressional seats don’t have incumbents seeking
From page 6A
Primary Election Dates
Aug. 8 to 15 — Early voting Aug. 18 — Primary
General Election Dates
Oct. 5 — Voter registration deadline Oct. 22 — Last day to request mailin ballot
Oct. 19 to 31 — Early voting Nov. 3 — General election
Because Florida is a closed primary state, only registered Republicans can vote in Republican primaries and registered Democrats can vote in Democratic primaries. Voters registered with no party affiliation, Independent or other party may not vote in partisan primaries.
re-election. District 19 Rep. Byron Donalds is running for governor and District 22 Rep. Lois Frankel is running in District 23 after her district was re-drawn. District 22 now stretches from parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties to include all of Hendry and parts of Collier. The district was reliably Democratic, but now it’s leaning Republican.
“It’s not a guarantee that a Republican will win in [District] 22, it just makes it a little bit easier for them to compete in a district where in the past it was pretty reliably Democrat,” said Bethany Conrad, FGCU assistant professor of political science.
Seven Republicans are running, but three Naples residents — Casey Askar, Belinda Keiser and Michael Carbonara — are spending and loaning themselves the most money. Carbonara has loaned himself $3.8 million and has spent $4.2 million. Keiser has loaned herself $3 million and spent $1.3 million, and Askar has loaned himself $2.5 million and had spent about $260,000 as of June 30.
Prediction markets such as Kalshi are putting
tion with the City of Naples and policies that support small businesses, “the backbone of the local economy.”
If elected, he said, he’d focus on traffic and infrastructure solutions, fiscal oversight, workforce housing, public safety and support for small businesses.
“People want to see progress,” Zegarac said. “They want traffic solutions that work, responsible growth and a county government that respects taxpayers. I’m running to bring common sense, oversight and proven leadership to Collier County.”
Zegarac has raised $24,400, including $24,100 that’s self-funded, and has spent $17,345.10 on his campaign. For information, go to danforcollier.com
School board race
Of three races for seats on the five-member Collier County School Board, one is contested: District 5, which covers eastern Collier and rural areas. The board operates, controls and supervises all free public schools and appoints the superintendent, who administers the district’s daily operations. Members serve staggered four-year terms and elect a chair and vice chair every November.
Incumbent Tim Moshier, who has held the seat since 2022, promises voters he’ll continue fighting for a balanced budget, strong academic outcomes, more parental involvement and a safe, supportive student environment. Moshier, who retired from Ryder System, where he handled transportation and logistics, believes the foundation of a strong district is getting back to basics, “fiscal responsibility, safe schools, high academic standards and support for students, teachers and families.
“Strong schools start with strong fundamentals — fiscal responsibility, safe classrooms and unwavering support for our kids,” Moshier says on his website, timforcollier.com County records show his campaign donations total $39,203, while he spent $26,812.10. He’s being challenged by Ford Dalusma, who raised $2,850 in donations — $2,350 self-funded — and spent $2,094.74. Dalusma promises to fight for competitive teacher salaries.
“Our teachers are the foundation of every student’s future,” Dalusma says on his website, ford4schoolboard.com. “Right now, Collier County is losing experienced educators because our salary structure fails to compete.”
Dalusma promises to push for a pay structure that rewards years of experience and attracts veteran talent; advocate for housing subsidies to help teachers afford to live in the county; make the district the most competitive in the region by recruiting and retaining the best teachers; end the “gold-medal expectations, minor-league pay” culture that drives away great educators; and ensure teacher
their money on Carbonara. If ads are any indication, Keiser sees Carbonara and Askar as her biggest competition; she has taken aim at both of them in a negative ad. Pia Dandiya is the favorite to defeat Kaysia Earley in the Democratic primary. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced in July that District 22 would be one of the races it will focus on. Keiser, if she wins the GOP primary, leads Dandiya by 1 percentage point, according to a July 24 poll.
District 19, unlike 22, is as sure a Republican seat as there is in the country. The district has never elected a Democrat for Congress.
Ten Republicans are seeking to win the primary, though only about half are serious candidates. The open seat has attracted several candidates who have run in other states but are newcomers to Southwest Florida. Coincidentally, Jim Oberweis and Catalina Lauf faced each other in an Illinois election. Chris Collins was a congressman in New York and Olma Hawatmeh ran unsuccessfully in New York.
Like District 22, the most well-known candidates have lent themselves the most money. Oberweis has loaned himself $4.9 million. Collins has given himself $2.9 million, Jim Schwartzel has loaned himself $1 million, Madison Cawthorn $800,000 and Hawatmeh, $124,000. Lauf has raised nearly $1.5 million without using a loan, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Schwartzel owns and operates Gulfshore Life Media, which owns The Naples Press. Through Sun Broadcasting, he owns 92.5 FOX News (WFSX-FM) and other radio and local television assets.
The candidates are campaigning mostly on the same issues: making housing more affordable, lowering inflation and being tough on immigration. They are making sure voters know they agree with and love President Donald Trump, though he has not endorsed any candidate.
“At the end of the day, it kind of comes down to just which candidate can sell themselves the best to the voters,” FGCU’s Conrad said.
The frontrunner is anyone’s guess. A Vic-
retention is a budget priority.
2 Collier Circuit Judge races
Two Collier Circuit Court judgeships are up for a vote in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which covers Lee, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties. Because they’re nonpartisan races that don’t involve political parties, all registered voters in those counties are eligible to vote. Two incumbents, circuit judges James Stewart and Amanda LevyReis, were appointed to the bench by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2025 and are seeking their first elected six-year terms.
For the Group 19 seat, Stewart is facing challenger Vera Bergermann, a family-law attorney. Stewart’s roughly 20-year career involved about 17 as an assistant county prosecutor before he was named deputy chief assistant state attorney. He prosecuted more than 100 trials, and as deputy chief, served as a liaison to local agencies, supervised an office of more than 40 employees and trained and mentored prosecutors. He now presides over family court cases, including juvenile dependency and delinquency, civil domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual violence. For information, go to keepjudgestewart.com
Bergermann, an attorney for more than 45 years, started as an intern in the State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, moved to corporate work for major technology and telecommunications companies, opened her own tax office and moved to Fort Myers in 1992. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1994, and became a family law mediator in 1996, when she founded Bergermann Law Firm. She’s practiced family law circuit-wide and her trial experience is before judges, not juries, which aren’t allowed under Florida family law. Her website is veraforjudge.com
For the Group 27 seat, Levy-Reis is facing challenger Ryan Kuhl. Levy-Reis presides over family court cases, including domestic relations, civil domestic violence and probate. She spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers before practicing commercial civil litigation while serving as a traffic-court hearing officer in Lee and Hendry counties. Before being appointed to the bench, she was a legal-aid attorney at Florida Rural Legal Services, handling family-law cases and recruiting private attorneys to assist legal-aid clients pro bono. Her website is judgelevyreis.com Her challenger, Kuhl, was a prosecutor in Phoenix, Arizona, and later in Fort Myers. He then became a partner in a multi-state law firm specializing in personal injury litigation. He’s also handled insurance defense and FINRA arbitration. He’s lived and practiced here since 2003 and since 2012, he’s been recognized by the Florida Bar as a board-certified civil trial attorney, an achievement held by fewer than 2% of attorneys statewide. He said his more-than-20-year career as a prosecutor and civil trial attorney give him a unique understanding of the responsibilities carried by all parties who enter the courtroom. His website is kuhlforjudge.com
To read more about the primary, go to Sparker’s Soapbox at bit.ly/ sparkerssoapboxncc. To receive election notifications, text COLLIERVOTES to 91896.
tory Insights poll taken June 20 and 21 showed Schwartzel ahead with 13%, Oberweis with 12%, Cawthorn and Lauf 5%, John Strand and Mike Pederson 4% and Collins 3%.
An internal poll by Hawatmeh, however, painted a different picture. Hawatmeh, who was at 0% in the Victory Insights poll, received 13% in the Action Solutions poll taken from July 7 to 19. The sample included 96 registered voters. The report did not provide a margin of error, according to a story at floridapolitics.com
Fifty-four percent from the Action Solutions poll said they were undecided. Collins finished a percentage point behind Hawatmeh. Schwartzel received 10%, Oberweis 5%, Lauf, 4% and Cawthorn 3%.
Three Democrats are seeking to face the GOP winner in November. Victor Arias is running for the first time. He has nearly $134,000, which includes a $99,000 loan. Perennial candidate Robert Neeld had $15,000 in his coffers, all from a self-funded loan. Harold Sapp had raised more than $52,000. None of the money has come from loans.
Poll predictions Donalds, a Collier County resident, is the heavy favorite to win the Republican primary for governor, while David Jolly, a former Republican, is the heavy favorite to win the Democratic primary. A University of North Florida poll in mid-July showed Donalds five points ahead of Jolly in the November general election.
Ashley Moody, who was appointed to fill Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat when he became U.S. Secretary of State, is the heavy favorite against three other candidates to get the GOP nod to run in November to finish out the six-year term. The Democratic race between state Rep. Angie Nixon and Trump whistleblower Alex Vindman is much closer.
A July poll by Change Research, sponsored by the Democratic Party, showed Vindman leading Nixon 34% to 24%, but 41% remained undecided. A University of North Florida poll done in mid-July showed that Nixon would do slightly better against Moody, but still eight points behind her.
From page 3A
FLYOVER
modeling showed that building an overpass over Immokalee Road would shave six minutes off wait time, she said.
Vice Chair Bill McDaniel Jr. noted it’s all part of a larger traffic system in North Naples that includes the expansion of I-75 with new lanes, improvements along Immokalee Road for directional management and the extension of Veterans Memorial Parkway to U.S. 41, which is expected to start construction in 2028.
Scott said the project is listed in the county’s fiveyear Annual Update & Inventory Report and design is expected to take 30 months, followed by construction, which would start in the third or fourth year of the county’s five-year AUIR work program.
“We’re probably looking at about 5½, maybe six years, for construction completion,” she said, noting construction would follow completion of the diverging diamond at Immokalee Road and I-75, which is expected to start in early 2027.
Saunders questioned whether there will be work on other congested intersections west of the flyover to alleviate traffic heading to the flyover.
“You’re going to get more flow going west in the morning,” Saunders said. “Are there plans to improve traffic along the way there? We get more traffic, but it gets blocked up at other locations.”
Scott said no more improvements are planned west of the flyover, but there are several scheduled for east of the flyover on both sides, at Juliet Boulevard, the entry to Walmart and TownPlace Suites by Marriott Naples, and across from Juliet at Northbrooke Drive, which leads to Huntington Lakes, Cypress Woods Golf & Country Club, Mason Classical Academy high school and the planned STARability campus.
The only business entrance and exit affected by the flyover would be Seed To Table on the northeast corner of Immokalee and Livingston roads. County staff said drivers heading north on Livingston Road will remain at grade, cross the intersection and turn right into Seed to Table’s entrance. Motorists southbound on Livingston Road will go through what’s known as a “Texas U-turn,” a dedicated roadway that will allow drivers at grade to turn under the overpass and in to Seed to Table’s Livingston Road entrance.
Caymas, Naples’ premier luxury lakefront community, is building something extraordinary—a spectacular 30,000-square-foot social clubhouse opening Fall 2026.
Caymas,
BUSINESS
Fleet Feet bets on N. Naples running community
By David Dorsey david.dorsey@naplespress.com
Three and a half years after becoming part of the Lee County running community, Fleet Feet is looking to do the same in North Naples.
This time, building a loyal following may prove more like a marathon than a sprint.
When husband and wife Brian and Janene Urichko opened Fleet Feet in November 2023 at Bell Tower shopping center in south Fort Myers, they also acquired Run Florida, which had its roots as On the Run, a longtime specialty running store with a built-in local running club clientele. They inherited a large number of loyal customers when they opened at 13499 S. Cleveland Ave.
The Urichkos didn’t have that advantage when they opened their second Fleet Feet store June 1 at 8961 Tamiami Trail N. in North Naples. The location, one of about 300 Fleet Feet stores nationwide, is behind Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in The Pavilion shopping center at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road, across from Mercato.
“Very gently,” Janene Urichko said of how she plans to build a loyal customer base. The 2,300-square-foot space previously housed Happy Feet Place, a shoe store that wasn’t dedicated to running and fitness footwear. “There are a lot of running clubs — mainly geographically. ‘What can we do to support you guys? Hey, we’re here for you.’”
Last year in Lee County, Fleet Feet partnered with five local microbreweries. Customers tested Fleet Feet products during group runs before grabbing a beer. The Urichkos plan to host similar events in Collier County and already have reached out to nearby running clubs, including Early Birdie Run Club, North Naples Runners, Bonita Springs Run Club, Vandy Run Club and Park Rats Run Club.
“It’s just wonderful to have another choice and another small business we can support — and get specialized products and service that you can’t get online,” said George Pope, president of North Naples Runners. He has yet to visit the store but said he planned to do so soon. Fleet Feet offers an in-store Volumental foot scanner that creates a three-dimensional measurement of each foot. Those measurements help staff determine which shoes in the store
are most likely to provide the best fit.
“Nationwide statistics show that 84% of people are in the wrong-sized shoes,” Brian Urichko said. “Therefore, our goal is to meet the needs of the customer. When they come in, we ask them some questions. What are they going to use the shoes for? What are their goals? Do they have some aches and pains? What kind of shoes have they used previously? Did they like them or dislike them? We use that data, along with the measurements we take, to find the best fit.”
While most people replace their running shoes every five to six months, avid runners tend to buy a new pair every three months.
“Your feet take a lot of pounding,” Pope said. “I always tell people, running is the cornerstone of all physical fitness. Nothing [else] works hearts, arms and legs.”
Pope prefers the Saucony Ride shoe. He said he’s on pace to run about 2,300 miles this year.
But the overall pace of shoe purchases has slowed in 2026. Brian Urichko said business began slowing after the U.S. launched airstrikes
on Iran in February. In June, Fleet Feet analyzed data showing the average customer replaced running shoes after five months a year ago. This year, that number has risen to six months.
“If all your customers are waiting a little bit longer to buy shoes, you’re going to have fewer customers in the store,” Brian Urichko said.
The Urichkos also face the ongoing challenge of convincing customers to buy shoes in the store instead of online.
“I can’t stop the internet,” Brian Urichko said. “We’d like to educate customers about how their dollars stay in their communities. People don’t realize that when they buy from an online retailer, those dollars don’t stay local. When you’re buying from a family-owned business, it benefits someone local.”
The new Fleet Feet has three employees, plus two who rotate between the North Naples and south Fort Myers stores, in addition to Brian and Janene Urichko, who also split their time between both locations.
“We have a lot of customers who would
drive up from Naples and Marco Island,” Brian Urichko said of the south Fort Myers store. “They begged us to open up a store closer to them. We kind of kept that in our back pocket. And when the timing was right, and the opportunity presented itself, we decided to come down to Naples.”
Ideally, the new Fleet Feet would have been closer to Interstate 75 to take advantage of the population growth in eastern Collier County. But rents in that direction were much higher than in the 1980s-era shopping center the family chose. The store needs about $2,000 in daily sales to break even. Brian Urichko said he expects the Lee County store to support the Collier County location during its first few months, with the hope that the North Naples store becomes financially self-sufficient as more seasonal residents return by the end of the year.
“We’re always willing and ready to help local runners,” Urichko said. “We just appreciate the support we’ve seen from the community so far.”
Collier Boulevard.
between The Fresh Market and Barnes & Noble stores.
Sierra primarily sells discounted activewear, footwear, outdoor gear and sporting equipment. The retail brand operates more than 150 stores across the United States, but its lone location in Florida is in Jacksonville, its website shows.
Inventory at TJ Maxx includes family apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty products and home goods. The brand has more than 1,300 locations nationwide, including area stores at Carillon Place retail center in Naples and Coconut Point mall in Estero.
More Brixmor
One of the largest owners and operators of open-air neighborhood shopping centers in the nation, Brixmor continues to see significant demand from retailers across its Southwest Florida portfolio, which includes Park Shore Plaza, Naples Plaza, Granada Shoppes in North Naples, Freedom Square in East Naples, Marco Town Center on Marco Island and the Center of Bonita Springs.
“The leasing activity at Park Shore Plaza reflects the strength of both the center and the Naples market,” Pace said. “Following the recent Saks Off 5th closure, we saw strong retailer interest and were able to quickly backfill the space.
The addition of Sierra and TJ Maxx, alongside HomeGoods, means Park Shore Plaza will be home to three TJX brands.”
Although Kirkland’s announced
that it was closing its home decor store in Park Shore earlier this year and even had an everything-must-go sale, the store continues to operate with new inventory. Last fall, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. acquired Kirkland’s Home brand assets with plans to rebrand the chain in the next year or so.
This May, Juice Society opened a new juice bar and eatery in Park Shore Plaza. The local business built out the former space of Duck Donuts, which closed last summer after operating for five years. Founded and owned by Kallie and Matt Isadore, Juice Society features a menu of superfood bowl creations, organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, aqua frescas and other healthy options. Its first regional location is in Coconut Point.
Elsewhere in Brixmor’s local centers, Just Salad is coming this fall
to a 2,478-square-foot outparcel space fronting Immokalee Road in Granada Shoppes. The salad-based, fast-casual restaurant chain is building out two units that previously were home to Coffee Bar, Starbucks, Supercuts and Metro by T-Mobile.
Moving into the Granada Shoppes’ longtime end unit vacated this spring by Moe’s Southwest Grill, Vero Ristorante Italiano also is targeted to open this season. The local restaurant will be operated by a couple relocating from Italy.
Freestanding outparcels at Granada Shoppes remain vacant where Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and Red Robin most recently operated restaurants. In Freedom Square at U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard, the 4,000-square-foot former space of Z’s Music Kitchen has been gutted in order to create the future Bora Med-
iterranean Cuisine. Bora, named for the north wind that blows through the Mediterranean in winter, will be a locally owned modern dining spot and bar with Mediterranean cuisine made for family-style sharing. Bora is owned by Clirim “Jimmy” Bilaj and Karmela Brisku, who also have owned and operated Mela’s Cafe in the Shops at Hammock Cove for more than two years.
Dropping anchor
Q: Do you know what is going to be going in at the Michaels store on U.S. 41 at Tamiami Crossing? The store sign says it is “permanently closed” now. – Anne Marie H. Bularzik, Naples
A: Total Wine & More is planned for that large space vacated this summer by Michaels near the intersection of U.S. 41 East and
It will be the second location in the Naples area for the Maryland-based Total Wine chain, which also has a store in Promenade at Naples Centre, 6424 Naples Blvd., in North Naples. The wine retailer operated for 15 years nearby in Carillon Place before relocating in 2022 to a larger space vacated by Lucky’s Market.
Total Wine’s 16,995-square-foot unit in Tamiami Crossing will be only about half the size of its superstore in North Naples, but will be convenient for residents of Marco Island and the growing region of southern Collier County. Store plans show a mezzanine with a 40-seat wine education room, a wine information center on the sales floor, as well as walk-in spaces for a beer cooler and a cigar humidor. Except for new signage, exterior changes are minimal, architectural plans show. Construction plans have not been approved yet and a target opening date is not available.
Michaels craft store permanently closed June 6 after operating 10 years at 13100 Tamiami Trail E., Unit 105, in Tamiami Crossing, the retail center owned by Indianapolis-based Kite Realty Group. Michaels opened in 2016 as part of Tamiami Crossing’s inline retailers that also include Bealls Home Centric, Ross, Marshalls, PetSmart and Ulta. Regional stores for Michaels remain open on Pine Ridge Road in North Naples and in Coconut Point in Estero, as well as in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim. aten@naplespress.com.
Brian and Janene Urichko, owners of Fleet Feet, stand inside their new North Naples store. The family-owned specialty running retailer opened its second location June 1 and is working to build relationships with local running clubs and customers. Photo by David Dorsey
Sierra is coming to this vacated retail space next to Burlington at Park Shore Plaza in Naples. Photo by Tim Aten
MARCO ISLAND
Hilton one step closer to 2nd tower
By John Guerra
During a July 31 special hearing, the Marco Island Planning Commission, in a 6-1 vote, approved the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa’s request to rezone from Residential Tourist District to Planned Unit Development. Instead of adhering to standard, rigid zoning rules for a single lot, a PUD creates a customized, master-planned community where rules for building heights, land use and densities are negotiated between the developer and the county.
Though Hilton ultimately hopes to double its rooms from 310 to 626 and build a second tower to 150 feet under a PUD zoning, it still does not have permission to do so. It still must go through the rezoning process with the City Council and provide site plans and other planning documents for the city’s approval. That can only begin if the City Council follows the planning commission’s recommendation to OK the rezoning.
The planning staff overwhelming-
From page 1A
SCHOOLS
students during its inaugural year. Its expandable design has infrastructure in place for future growth.
The building features abundant natural lighting, floor-to-ceiling windows in some learning spaces, and flexible instructional areas. Designed and built to serve as a storm shelter, the school includes “The Nest,” a flexible multipurpose space for the Ave Maria Cardinals.
Ave Maria resident Bev Budzynski came out of CCPS retirement after 40 years in education to serve as the school’s first principal. She previously was principal of the year and led Naples Park, Seagate and Immokalee elementary schools. Nearly twothirds of the new school’s staff live in Ave Maria.
Mason Classical Academy
The K-8 students and faculty at Mason Classical Academy are moving into an expansive new school this month. Classes start Aug. 10 at the public charter school’s new 108,000-square-foot, two-story building on a 17-acre campus at 7170 Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples.
The new location replaces the original campus near Naples Airport.
The milestone comes just 12 years after Mason Classical Academy opened its doors with slightly more than 400 K-6 students. During a July 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony, CEO David Hull reflected on the school’s monumental growth since its founding in 2014.
“Our students, faculty, staff and families have built something truly exceptional — a school that stands among the very best in America,” Hull said.
MCA remains an A-rated public charter school while earning recognition among the highest-performing public schools in the nation.
The local academy now provides a tuition-free public education with a classical curriculum model on two campuses for more than 2,000 K-12 students from families throughout Collier County.
Governed by its own board of directors, MCA is a Florida charter
Hilton ultimately hopes to double its rooms from 310 to 626 and build a second tower to 150 feet under PUD zoning.
ly recommended rejecting Hilton’s request, stating that the density on the beachfront property is limited to 16 units per acre. It also determined that traffic around the hotel would double and stress roads and other infrastructure.
Dan J. Smith, director of community affairs and growth management, told commissioners that Policy 3.1.5 sets the maximum density on the Hilton property at 16 dwelling units per acre. He said the company would have to seek an amendment to the comprehensive plan rather than take the planned unit development approach.
“The proposed rezoning does not follow the city’s comprehensive plan … which says maximum density is 16 dwelling units per acre,” he said.
“The proposal would be better processed through the city’s comprehensive plan amendment.”
Land-use attorney Zach Lombardo, who represents the Olsham Family, which owns the Hilton, told the planning commission that density language in the city’s land develop-
ment code and the comprehensive plan is inconsistent. He agreed that the comprehensive plan is the commanding document.
“This is a direct ask for a very specific amount of units based on the fact that hotel units are not [considered] residential density under your comprehensive plan,” Lombardo told the commissioners. “Before and after 2015, this site had more than 26 units per acre. There are no restrictions or density caps on hotels in this category.”
He also argued that the stretch of beach where the Hilton sits already has tall hotels with hundreds of rooms in each.
“You can’t look at the skyline in this zone … and say putting another 12-story building on the beach is inconsistent with what’s already there,” he said.
City Attorney Alan Gabriel agreed with planning staff that allowing Hilton to build another 316 or so hotel rooms goes against the city’s goal of maintaining Marco Island’s small-town atmosphere by reducing
school authorized by the Collier County School Board.
Autism
Collier Charter School
After an inaugural year last year with 80 K-12 students in a building on Santa Barbara Boulevard that it shared with BridgePrep Academy, Autism Collier Charter School moved this year into part of Mason Classical Academy’s former building at 3073 Horseshoe Drive S. in Naples.
Autism Collier’s second year begins Aug. 11 with additional growth that includes 170 students and 75 teachers and aides, said Gary Price, vice chair and treasurer of the school’s governing board.
“Obviously, it’s going really well.
We are able to expand now,” Price said. “It’s really exciting. It’s beautiful to see how the students do, how the families do. It’s been better than I could ever imagine.”
density over time.
“This goes the opposite direction to the policy that was approved in 2021,” Gabriel said.
Resident Lisa Foster urged the commissioners to reject Hilton’s rezoning request, hinting at a lawsuit.
“As stated by others, our number-one goal is a livable small-town community,” Foster told the commissioners. “If approved, I would be wanting to open conversations with my neighbors about suing the city.”
Commissioner Hayden Dublois was the lone no vote.
“I don’t think I’ve seen such a divergence between staff and an applicant,” he said. “I have a very hard time [voting for it] if the city attorney and staff say this doesn’t meet the comprehensive plan. I don’t see how we can dismiss that.”
A Hilton official told the commissioners that the land’s original intent was as an anniversary gift for a member of the family. Dublois took umbrage at the statement.
“Someone characterized this as an anniversary gift,” he said. “I wish I could gift a piece of land to a relative.
I don’t appreciate it being characterized like that. It felt flippant.”
Hilton is actively expanding its Florida portfolio through major new resorts, brand conversions and property upgrades. Recent developments include the debut of the Hil-
includes a library, collaborative student spaces and outdoor learning areas designed to encourage connection and creativity. The achievement expands the academy’s capacity, enabling the school to serve more Collier County families seeking a wholechild education.
“This new building is the answer to years of families who believed in this mission and waited for more space to open,” said Michael Bussman, head of school at Royal Palm Academy for more than five years. “We are not just opening a building on Aug. 10; we are opening our doors to an entirely new group of Naples families who have been waiting for exactly what Royal Palm Academy offers. That is what makes this moment so meaningful for our entire community.”
The Freedom Institute
Paralleling its flagship Freedom Naples campus, where its award-winning model began three years ago, The Freedom Institute of Collier County will welcome students starting Aug. 11 to its new high school campus in Ave Maria.
ton Key West Resort & Marina and the opening of the Signia by Hilton Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood following an $80 million renovation. A landmark oceanfront hotel on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach will undergo renovations to reopen as a 348-suite Waldorf Astoria resort in winter 2027.
Now leasing 40,000 square feet of space, Autism Collier intends to be able to eventually enroll, serve and inspire 300 to 350 students on the autism spectrum because the local need is already there, a waiting list shows.
“Our goal is to have a place and a home for every student, every child who needs it,” Price said.
For additional information, go to autismcolliercharter.org
Royal Palm Academy
Faith-based Royal Palm Academy will accomplish a major milestone this month with the launch of a middle school building on its Livingston Road campus in North Naples. The 22,000-square-foot permanent addition is part of an $8 million community-funded campaign for the independent Catholic school founded in 1998 to serve students from pre-K through eighth grade.
The new middle school building
From support by strategic partnerships with Barron Collier Companies and Ave Maria Development and a $1 million matching grant from The Dekko Foundation, Freedom Ave Maria expands the institute’s values-driven education model to northeastern Collier. Freedom’s commitment to a classical, future-focused education pairs rigorous academics with concierge-style support and personal mentorship for each student.
More than 120 students in grades nine through 12 eventually will be served each year by the more than 10,000-square-foot school at 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd., above the iconic Ave Maria Town Center. CEO Christopher Marker said the Freedom Institute feels truly blessed to become part of the landmark community.
“Ave Maria is a remarkable place, rooted in strong values, family life and a shared vision for the future, and it’s an honor to bring our high school program into such an extraordinary community,” Marker said.
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Notice of Action re Dissolution of Marriage IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF: ERIC CONCEICAO, Petitioner/Husband, V. FAMILY DIVISION Case No.: 25-DR-2170 HANNA JUSTINE OCLARIT, Respondent/Wife. NOTICE OF ACTION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE TO: HANNA JUSTINE OCLARIT 5070 MADISON AVENUE TRUMBULL, CT 06611 YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action for a Dissolution of Marriage has been filed against you and that you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on Eric Conceicao, through counsel, Meagan A. Culpepper, Esq., whose address is the Law Office of Meagan A. Culpepper, P.A., 8270 Woodland Center Blvd., Tampa, FL 33614, on or before 8/14/2026 and file the original with the clerk of this Court at Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Trial, Naples, FL 34112, before service on Petitioner or immediately thereafter. If you fail to do so, a default may be entered against you for the relief demanded in the petition. Copies of all court documents in this case, including orders, are available at the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. You may review these documents upon request. You must keep the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office notified of your current address. (You may file Designation of Current Mailing and E-Mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in this lawsuit will be mailed or e- mailed to the addresses on record at the clerk's office.
WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain automatic disclosure of documents and information. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including dismissal or striking of pleadings.
Dated: 07/15/2026
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT By: 11-2025-abades 3:4 3:46 PM
{Deputy Clerk}
STATE OF FLORIDA CLERK
SOF THE CIRCUIT COURT July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2026
The K-8 students and faculty at Mason Classical Academy are moving into this new school this month at 7170 Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples. Photos by Tim Aten
The Freedom Institute of Collier County is launching a second high school campus at 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd. in Ave Maria.
Zach Lombardo
‘Quiet luxury’ making noise
Home sales in Naples defy national trends of subdued buyer demand, activity
By Nanci Theoret
Sometimes it seems the Naples real estate market is the exception to everywhere else. While home sales nationally stumble under high interest rates, economic uncertainty and cooling buyer demand, Naples is the anomaly, a homebuying destination where month after month of closed and pending sales are trending upward, following a multi-year decline during the post-pandemic slump. Fueled by cash buyers, remote-work opportunities and so-called “quiet luxury” — the catchphrase of 2026 — Naples’ luxury real estate, in particular, is outperforming most of the country. The city is now the fourth top high-end market in the U.S., according to realtor.com
The Naples Area Board of Realtors’ recent market report paints a resilient picture of June single-family and condo sales in Collier County. Not only was it one of the strongest Junes in five years, but many of the parameters measured by NABOR — from pending and closed sales to median closed prices and inventory — trended favorably compared to June 2025.
Year-to-date closed sales reached 5,229 transactions — a 17.9% gain over the same period in 2025. Inventory declined 23%, partly attributable to the slower summer months when sellers tend to pull their homes from the market.
A notable weak spot was days on the market, a metric closely watched by sellers, which jumped 13% to 103 days. Additionally, the year-to-date median closed price dipped 0.8% to $610,000, down from $615,000 during the same period in 2025. With some areas carrying up to 18 months of inventory, NABOR noted that home values may begin to decline depending on location, condition, age and local competition.
The North Naples area, home to new development projects, was one of the strongest-performing areas in June. Single-family home sales there increased 22.8% with the median closed price rising 10.8% to $1,030,000 from $930,000 in June 2025.
To understand Naples as the paradox is to understand the area’s buyer profile. Unlike traditional markets where interest rates dictate purchasing power, Naples runs primarily on cash, creating a bubble-proof ecosystem.
“Naples is a very unique market that doesn’t translate to the rest of the world,” said Sean Cohane, a Naples-based developer and real estate professor at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business. “A large share of buyers aren’t financing, so they have leverage. Markets crash because of leverage problems like in 2008. We aren’t seeing a typical housing bubble here.”
Although national housing sen-
timent ebbs under broader macroeconomic pressures, Naples continues to attract high-net-worth families, tech entrepreneurs and executives who no longer need to reside in traditional corporate hubs, noted Cohane and Richard Prebish, broker associate with Campbell Prebish at William Raveis Real Estate. Luxury buyers are seeking a lifestyle that few other coastal markets can replicate.
“Younger generations and the tech sector have geographic freedom,” Prebish said. “They no longer have to choose career success in a big city over a desirable location. This has expedited a move for people who were considering Naples. People comment on how safe, quiet and private Naples is. They’re coming here for the quality of life.”
Prebish and his business partner have handled closing and pending sales totaling more than $235 million in transactions since early May alone, half of them unlisted homes.
“We have unique fundamentals that separate Naples from the rest of the continental U.S.,” said Prebish, who specializes in luxury beachfront and Port Royal properties. “The market was stagnant for three or four years. Now, there’s a sense of urgency that was all but gone for the longest time. It has reemerged, and we’re seeing a tremendous amount of activity in Port Royal, where inventory is starting to dwindle. This calendar year has picked up. There’s an excitement and buzz in the marketplace that’s invigorating.”
Prebish attributed increasing
Community Foundation opens new HQ
demand in the exclusive neighborhood to October’s anticipated soft opening of the new $100 million Port Royal Club, rebuilt following extensive damage from Hurricane Ian. In a quest for “quiet luxury,” more buyers are opting for Naples over flashier Miami and Palm Beach, he said, also pointing to a shifting increase in buyers from the Northeast during the past decade.
“The common thread is that buyers are wealthier than ever,” he added. “The wealth here is unprecedented. People, in most instances, don’t want you to know who they are. They choose Naples as escape, for its privacy and the opportunity for genuine new relationships.”
When evaluating the local market against broader regional and national studies — such as research from the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida and the Harvard University Joint Center on Housing Studies — a stark contrast appears. While Shimberg focuses heavily on state-
wide workforce housing deficits and cost-burdened households, the Naples coastal area functions in an entirely different financial stratosphere. Statistics from the organization’s state housing data clearing house show median single-family home prices in Naples remaining near $5.8 million in mid-2025 based on 113 sales, demonstrating how hyper-local luxury demand differs from broader housing trends. The statewide median is $410,000.
“What we’re seeing statewide is a stabilization of home prices after big increases earlier in the decade,” said Anne Ray, clearing house manager, referring to the pandemic buying frenzy from 2020 to 2022. “Naples has been above the $5 million mark for three or four years. It’s really small and there is not a lot of new construction.”
Harvard’s annual state of the nation housing study, released in June, reported an overall malaise in buyer activity and demand due to higher housing costs, affordability and stalled appreciation. Home sales in 2025 remained near a three-decade low. Slower employment growth and weakening consumer confidence have depressed buyer demand. National median list prices fell 2.4% to 2.5% year-over-year, marking the sharpest contraction in listing prices in nearly a decade.
“Nationally, buyer activity is waning mostly because people can’t afford the average cost of a home, interest rates are high and there’s instability in the macro geo-political climate,” said Cohane, who developed 18 buildings in New York City, visited Naples during the pandemic and never left. “It’s not a good job market and a bad market for first-time homebuyers. But Naples is Naples. It’s a hard place to leave. I bought myself after six years because of the trends I was seeing.
“A lot of developers and single-family buyers are noticing the same trends. Very wealthy people are driving the values, and I think will continue to do so.”
This estate at 3430 Gin Lane in Port Royal closed for $17 million in June. Photos courtesy Nick Shirghio Photography
Sean Cohane
Richard Prebish
Realtor Richard Prebish’s sale of 3525 Fort Charles Drive in Port Royal is pending at $28 million.
The Final Opportunity Awaits
A Few Select Residences Remain
A rare opportunity is nearing its close at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Naples.
As owners prepare to move into the Bay and Tower Residences, only a limited collection of homes remain—including the newly released Park Residences, the final offering within this extraordinary community. From the owners-only club and full-service marina to exceptional dining and legendary service, this is Gulf-front living without equal.
Secure your place before this final chapter is complete.
Naples summer dining at The Claw Bar features chilly delights such as
Ongoing events
‘Through the Light of the Estuary’ exhibition
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays through Oct. 29 at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. The art gallery hosts several exhibitions each year. A partnership with United Arts Collier brings annual exhibitions of painting, photography and mixed media by artists from Collier and Lee counties. The exhibits are juried by local art experts and follow Rookery Bay’s environmental mission with a central theme of “plants, waters and wildlife of Southwest Florida.” Most works are available
for purchase. Entry free with admission to Environmental Learning Center. Adults, $10. Children ages 4 to 12, $5. Children 3 and under, free. Members, free. rookerybay.org
Venturino’s comedy series
7:30 p.m. various days at Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. Laughter takes the stage this summer with this lineup of comedic talent at the Arts Center Theatre. These comedians have been featured on cruise ships, in television appearances and at major music and comedy festivals. Space is limited. Advance ticket purchase required. Member ticket including fees, $27.10. Nonmember ticket including fees, $32.25.
Aug. 7 — John Charles and Jim Moran
• Sept. 25 — Bob Lauver’s comedy hypnosis
Kids bowl free
11 a.m. to midnight weekdays and until 5 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 28 at HeadPinz Naples, 8525 Radio Lane, Naples. Your kids ages 2 to 15 can bowl two free games daily on weekdays. (You do have to rent shoes if you don’t have acceptable bowling shoes.) Sign up to receive weekly coupons and a Family Pass that adds two games daily for accompanying adults through the summer, beginning at $34.95, at kidsbowlfree.com under its Naples HeadPinz location. Information: 239.455.3755
Animal shows at Naples Zoo
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily through summer at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Come for the animals, stay for the shows at Naples Zoo, which is free to Collier Countians the first Saturday of each month. There are education sessions almost every hour that allow you to learn, for example, from the orangutan keeper or the staff who work with the capybaras. Another mustsee: gator feeding time. And add
CALENDAR
‘LES
MISÉRABLES’: TEEN EDITION
7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and 8; 2 p.m. Aug. 8 and 9 at The Naples Players, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. This show is an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of redemption and revolution, featuring the same iconic score as the original production but tailored for student performers. Space is limited. Advance ticket purchase required. $25. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
in the primate expedition cruise and possibly lunch at Lakeside Café overlooking the giraffe environment. Admission is only free first Saturdays for Collier Countians; other days, $26.95 ($25.95 seniors), $17.95 ages 3 to 12. napleszoo.org
Garden free, discounted 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily through Sept. 30 at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Residents of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties can bring children ages 17 and younger for free and receive $20 admission ($7 off) adult tickets. Check online at naplesgarden. org for daily activities and workshops that can enhance your visit. Proof of residence is required for discounts, so bring a driver license or other ID.
(Note: Naples Botanical Garden will be closed Tuesdays during August and September.) If you’re active-duty military, admission for you and your family is free; see qualifications at arts.gov/ initiatives/blue-star-museums.
Days, nights at the museum
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays
through Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Baker Museum has always opened its doors free to art lovers 6 to 9 p.m. on last Wednesdays, when there’s entertainment and its café is open. But it is also offering free admission on Sundays through Sept. 6. Marvel at the Ansel Adams exhibition, the Florida Contemporary show, the expansive Sibrack glass collection, a roomful of intriguing Magrittes and more; then nosh at Heidi’s Place or visit the gift shop.
‘Forged & Found: A Celebration of Metal in Art’ exhibition 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays through Aug. 27 at Arts Bonita Center for Visual Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. Forged & Found explores how metal transforms twodimensional art, adding texture, depth and brilliance to paintings, drawings, collages and mixedmedia works. Featuring metallic leaf, pigments, found materials and other surface treatments, the exhibition highlights the versatility of metal and the unexpected beauty it brings to
themihs.org or 239.389.6447
This weekend (Aug. 7-9)
‘Les Misérables’: teen edition 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 and 8; 2 p.m. Aug. 8 and 9 at The Naples Players, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. See featured item.
This week (Aug. 10-13)
Passport to Barolo 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 12 at The Dining Room at the Supper Club, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Travel around the world with the Supper Club’s Passport Wine Dinner Series, a culinary journey through world-renowned wine regions. This session is based in Barolo, one of the most legendary wine-producing regions in the world. Guests will explore the history, development and nuance of the storied “wine of kings, and kings of wines.” 21+. Space is limited. Advance ticket purchase required. $150 per person. oldvines.net/ supperclub or 239.591.5749
Nathan Chester & The Old Souls Motown Revival 6 and 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Known for his performances on NBC’s “The Voice,” Chicago native Nathan Chester brings his soulful Old Souls Motown Revival to Daniels Pavilion for the first time, channeling the timeless sounds of Stevie Wonder, Al Green and Otis Redding. Space is limited. Advance ticket purchase required. $52. artisnaples.org
Evening on Fifth Avenue & sidewalk sales
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Fifth Avenue South, Naples. An array of live musical performances up and down the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue South, plus dining, shopping and more. Free admission. naplesgov.com
Next weekend (Aug. 14-16)
the picture plane. Free admission. artsbonita.org
‘SELF DOCUMENTED:
Community Memory & Lived Experience’ exhibition
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays through Oct. 24 at Immokalee Pioneer Museum, 1215 Roberts Ave. W., Immokalee. This community exhibition is centered on storytelling, memory and lived experiences within the immigrant community of Immokalee and neighboring communities. Free admission. colliermuseums.com
‘Underwater World: The Beauty Beneath’ exhibition
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays through Oct. 31 at Marco Island Historical Society, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. Explore the vibrant underwater world through the paintings of Inez Hudson, a self-taught, awardwinning artist inspired by dive videos and the beauty of marine life. Hudson teaches oil painting at the Marco Island Center for the Arts, and her work is featured in private collections across the U.S. and abroad. Free admission.
Chris MacDonald’s “Memories of Elvis in Concert” 8 p.m. Aug. 15 at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, 506 S. First Street, Immokalee. Chris MacDonald is the star and creator of “Memories of Elvis in Concert,” a national touring tribute show celebrating Elvis Presley’s music and career. MacDonald, the only tribute artist hired by Elvis Presley Enterprises to perform at Graceland’s Heartbreak Hotel, brings Elvis’ iconic sound, style and story to life through a fullproduction multimedia performance. Space is limited. Advance ticket purchase required. Tickets start at $45. casino.hardrock.com
Retro Skate Naples 3 to 7:30 p.m. at Dimension Event Center, 2634 Tamiami Trail E., Naples. Roller skating is coming back to the area for a oneday event with Retro Skate Naples. This high-energy music event features two skating sessions: a kids and family session from 3 to 5 p.m. and an adults-only session from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Skate rentals are included with each ticket, and advance purchase is required. Admission is $32 for both the kids and family session and the adults-only session. Spectator/non-skater passes are $11.50. tickets.vibeznation.com
Watch the teen actors of The Naples Players put on Les Misérables this weekend. Photo courtesy The Naples Players
“Beyond the Light” by Adorable Monique is on display at the Through the Light of the Estuary exhibition.
Photo courtesy Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
Blue eyes for ‘Les Miz’ hero
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Thousands of Naples theatergoers have only seen Peter Caporal as the face of angst.
He was the high-strung accountant in The Naples Players’ production of Rumors. The following summer he returned as the vengeful central character of Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Through July 26 this year, Caporal was fleeing the exceedingly long arm of French law as Jean Valjean in its summer blockbuster, Les Miserables.
But barely two days after the last show closed, Caporal had taken on an entirely different role: crooner par excellence for Tulia Italian Steak on Fifth Avenue South. As Caporal’s voice wafted toward its plaza Tuesday, carrying familiar Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin ballads, the bar filled with patrons who perhaps came for happy hour tuna cones and filet mignon sliders but stayed for the music.
For this role, he’s all smiles. Caporal is singing his childhood memories from Connecticut, where he grew up in a Greek and Italian American household.
“The Rat Pack was always playing,” he recalled. “I remember hearing it from the time I was 4 years old.” Young Peter learned the melodies of that legendary group –Sinatra, Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. — early.
A little love for Dean
Caporal has nailed the Sinatra timbre; turn your head and you’re sure Ol’ Blue Eyes is behind you. There are few songs from the three Rat Pack singers he doesn’t know. On July 29, he had a healthy helping of Sinatra — “Strangers in the Night,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “That’s Life,” “It Was a Very Good Year.” But there are ballads that range from Fats Domino’s “Blueberry Hill” to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Carole King, Bobby Darin and James Taylor are in his repertoire, as well. There’s a special affection for
Caporal
changes moods as Tuesday crooner at Tulia
songs popularized by Dean Martin, a singer whom Caporal thinks is underrated. On his playlist July 28 were at least several, such as “That’s Amore.” He sings Martin’s version of “For Once in My Life,” a patron request.
“I love it when people come to me and say, ‘Can I hear this?’ If I don’t know it, I tell them to come back next week,” he said. And Caporal will have it; “The hard part is finding an arrangement behind it,” he explained. Because of tight stage space at Tulia Italian Steak, he uses recorded music.
Caporal does have other ties to Tulia; he occasionally tends bar. He has also sung elsewhere, most often for private clubs and parties in Naples.
“But I’m an actor by trade,” he declared. Caporal began acting at age 11 and earned his bachelor’s of fine arts in drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. He has several films to his credit and
regional theater galore — even an off-Broadway show, How Alfo Learned to Love.
“I played the raucous cousin,” he said with an impish grin that says he enjoyed it way too much.
It’s among the many works Caporal has seen, heard or even starred in that have potential but couldn’t get their heads above the crowd: “There’s so much theater out there,” he lamented.
Naples: sunshine, theater, too
After 15 years in New York, Caporal moved to Boston, but he and his wife, Jen, suffering through both the COVID restrictions and Boston’s fierce winters, decided to move to Naples in 2021. Naples had family; it had sunshine; it had room in Golden Gate Estates for the two of them to garden seriously. And there was more world-class theater here than he ever imagined.
“No one puts up such
professional-quality theater. I admire it so much,” he said of The Naples Players. He has brought professional quality to them, as well; Caporal teaches acting and — not surprisingly — song performance, along with classes in tai chi and yoga.
As a fitness advocate, he has been at the gym at 6 a.m. during the school year to stay in shape. That may be harder when he takes on a full teaching load next year.
With his experience, Caporal would seem an excellent prospect for Actors Equity. But with only two Equity houses here, he’s staying put because of the rich opportunities at Sugden Theatre. He can cross off two of his bucket list roles after having played Sweeney Todd and Jean Valjean in Les Miz, “but I’d like to play Javert, too!” he declared of the French detective who hounds Valjean through the entire musical.
He has his fingers crossed that The Naples Players will reprise the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors.
Even at over 6 feet tall, Caporal would try out for the role of Seymour, the nebbish who creates a plant with an appetite for homo sapiens. The characters of Amos or Billy Flynn in Chicago and the ultimate “fixer,” Petruchio, in Kiss Me, Kate are two more on his list.
They’re wishes, not demands, he emphasized.
“If I can have my employment be in the arts,” he said happily, “I’ll take whatever comes.”
That last phrase could be a song title. And Peter Caporal can definitely sing it.
Tuneful Tuesdays
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays
Where: Tulia Italian Steak, 365 Fifth Ave. S., Naples Information: tuliaitaliansteak. com or 239.315.4019
Good to know: Vocalist Peter Caporal entertains 5 to 8 p.m.; the restaurant offers happy hour specials 4 to 6 p.m.
The bar at Tulia Italian Steak filled up quickly Tuesday night, including seating behind the singer in a tabletop area.
Peter Caporal, who may be familiar to most of Naples for his stage roles, loves to sing pops and the Great American Songbook, too. Photos by Olga Hayes
Follow the paper trail to Marco Island
By M. Melanie Pefinis
In Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, Lucy Steele hopes to impress Lady Middleton with her filigreed art skills. This compels Elinor to remark, “I may be of some use in rolling her papers for her.”
Those papers, thin strips which are coiled and crafted into intricate artwork called quilling, will be the subject of an upcoming workshop Aug. 11 at the Marco Island Center for the Arts. Artist Marjorie Pesek will instruct a class on the intricate art of quilling, teaching students how to coil and arrange paper strips into patterns of three-dimensional art.
“The craft got its name because people originally coiled the paper
around a bird’s feather quill,” said Pesek, who goes by Betsy. “Quilling is an art and craft hobby where you roll, shape and glue thin strips of paper together to make decorative designs.”
Pesek, who is also a fine artist and portraitist, is as multi-layered as the art she creates.
“I call my work ‘layered imagery,’” she said of her collage work. “I am trying to capture the layers of life.”
This multi-talented artist brings years of experience to the workshops she teaches and the art she creates.
“I became friends with Hyla,” she said, referring to Marco Island Center for the Arts Director Hyla Crane.
“I started teaching a children’s class over the summers. Then it expanded into teaching adult classes on magazine collage. That turned out to be
a lot of fun, so we decided to offer a different type of paper art: quilling.”
For nearly three decades, Pesek has worked with paper and layering, creating more than 800 custom pieces of art. After originally studying business, by her sophomore year she had switched to art as a major and began selling her work.
After graduating, she started to show her art in galleries in Minnesota, her home state. Her work is now seen in collections and galleries throughout the U.S. and Europe. Pesek has been commissioned by both Warner Brothers and Disney and she has created unique layered works based on old masters, celebrities, musicians, nature and animals.
“I saw that most people over the years loved my dog portraits, and I
School-year essentials for your shopping list
By Melanie Pagan
Summer vacation ends Aug. 11 for Collier County Public Schools students, and back-toschool season comes with enough to keep track of. To assist, we’ve compiled creative and essential items to add to your child’s school supply list. Below you’ll find practical finds from local shops and national retailers that can help keep kids organized, comfortable and ready to learn.
All tied up
For families racing through the backto-school routine, this small switch could eliminate one daily interruption. BRCĒ (pronounced “Brace”) uses patented Lattice Grip fibers to help shoelaces stay tied without double-knotting. Created by two Michigan State graduates, the laces are made for children ages 3 to 12, helping them keep their shoes secure with fewer loose laces and less chance of tripping. That also means parents and teachers can spend less time stopping to retie shoes. The company says the snug fit may also help reduce ankle rolls. They’re on sale as of this writing for $9.99. brce.shop
Sustaining study space
Back to school often means carving out a better place for homework, reading and staying organized. At Naples-based Mega Kids, solid wood loft beds, bunk beds and study centers combine sleeping, storage and desk space in one setup designed to last beyond a single school year. Twin loft beds start at $1,599, while larger custom configurations with desks, storage stairs or trundles can reach about $2,999. Every bed is built for being reconfigured — as children grow — instead of being replaced.
Special small touches
Ah, the first-day-of-school outfit, where every detail down to the buttons matters.
Naples children’s boutique All About April stocks colorful Wee Ones hair bows starting at $10 and Charm It! bracelets, necklaces and collectible charms that start at $8. These extras can make entering a new classroom feel a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting for your little one. Parents: If you mention this blurb in-store, you’ll receive 25% off your entire purchase through Sept. 1. allaboutapril.com
love dogs,” she said. “So, after 30 years doing layered imagery, I like to focus on dogs a lot, but it is collage. Now it has three dimensions added and uses handmade paper, no detailed cut-out magazine paper like I once did.”
Only one kind of paper will be on her mind and in her hands on Aug. 11, when she shares her quill skill with the eager students. Pesek will demonstrate how thin strips of paper, usually measuring anywhere from 3 mm to 10 mm in a broad range of colors, can be shaped, rolled and glued to create decorative designs.
“Monks and nuns used gold-edged paper strips during the Renaissance to decorate religious objects,” Pesek explained. The results are surprisingly detailed, with no paint, brush or canvas needed.
Calling all nonconformists
Smartphones all start looking the same once they’re buried in bins or backpacks. With Florida’s updated school phone rules and district decisions, elementary and middle school students must keep their phones put away throughout the school day, while high school students can’t use them during instructional time. A personalized phone case with a child’s name, initials or favorite colors makes it easier to spot and harder to accidentally swap with someone else’s. Options at etsy.com printful. com, walgreens.com, zazzle.com and more.
It’s in the bag
A personalized backpack can save time during the morning rush and hectic afterschool pickup, especially when half the class is sporting the same trending styles. Adding a child’s name or monogram also makes lostand-found searches more straightforward. Custom monogram or embroidery services on various items are offered locally at monogramgoods.com, msembroiderynaples.com and personalizeitwithsuzi.com
Always in the know
Backpacks and gear have a habit of disappearing between school, after-school activities and home, so a slim Bluetooth tracker can offer some peace of mind. Credit card-style options, including Spotminders, slide into an inside pocket where they’re harder to remove, while speaker-equipped trackers can play a sound when the item is hiding somewhere around the house. Just make sure the tracker works with your family’s phone before buying.
“I think paper art is so appealing because of the multiple textures and variations to work with. I have met so many people who just love paper. You never know what you can explore with it.”
Quill Workshop with Betsy Pesek
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 11
Where: Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island Fee: $120 to $150; supplies provided Information: marcoislandart.org
More information on Marjorie (Betsy) Pesek: botanicalsbybetsy. com marjoriepesekfineart.com and dogeyesbybetsy.com
apple.com bestbuy.com spotminder.com and target.com
Stay cool
A good thermos can mean the difference between warm chicken noodle soup and a snack that returns home soggy and untouched. Kid-friendly insulated containers such as the Thermos FUNtainer come in character designs, including Pokémon or Lilo and Stitch. One simple trick: Fill the thermos with boiling water for hot foods, or ice water for cold foods, about three to five minutes before packing lunch. Empty it, then add the food to help it stay at temperature longer. target.com staples. com or walmart.com
Artist Betsy Pesek uses mixed media to create whimsical animal portraits. Photos courtesy Marjorie Pesek
COVER STORY
Chill choices for hot-weather dining
Beat the summer heat; skip the stove and eat out
By J.C. Amodea
It’s the ultimate seasonal relief for the home cook during sweltering summer days, when cooking is the last thing on your mind. Seek out local eateries that offer chilled entrées and crisp appetizers designed to help you keep your cool.
Of course, if dressing up — even minimally — sounds like too much effort, you can still whip up easy dishes that don’t require heating up the kitchen and are sourced from the fridge.
Think fruit salads including pineapple and cucumber with a limebased dressing or my favorite: cubed and drained watermelon tossed with tangy feta cheese, dressed with chopped mint and drizzled with thick balsamic vinegar.
For out-of-the-kitchen relief, we canvassed local spots with light, refreshing dining options that won’t leave you breaking a sweat.
Noshing and full-on dining
For a special take on menu ordering, head to Nosh for waterfront dining at the Naples Bay Resort & Marina, where Executive Chef Todd Johnson features small plates in his open-concept restaurant.
Bring a friend and share the coolest options on the happy hour, vegetable, seafood and salad nosh menus. The first was voted Southwest Florida’s number one “Best Happy Hour” four years running by Gulfshore Life
The happy hour features tuna sashimi of mixed greens tossed with house-made miso dressing, avocado, cucumber and edamame, topped with seared bluefin tuna ($18), or try the skewered blackened shrimp over tropical greens with house-made tropical citrus coconut dressing ($24).
“Our tropical dressing is the most requested on a salad that I made at
the restaurant I had for 18 years,” Johnson said. “Today, I blend ingredients like key limes, tangerine and lemon oils, add coconut milk and a splash of orange juice and garnish with toasted macadamia nuts and Mandarin oranges.”
Other popular Nosh choices include hummus topped with toasted pine nut gremolata; a tomato and burrata salad; and a charred vegetable and lime gazpacho with tiger shrimp served in a martini-style glass ($24). Another nosh is noriseared tuna, seared for 30 seconds, then chilled and served with peanut soba noodles, whiskey-barrel-aged soy and yuzu ($16).
If you are up for an upscale seafood dinner experience, visit The Claw Bar, the in-property restaurant at the Bellasera Hotel in the historic Old Naples district of downtown Naples. Whether you dine indoors or alfresco, the sights,
smells and tastes of the freshest treasures from the sea await, prepared by Chef David Peck.
“For cold appetizers, our most popular dishes are our seafood towers, the watermelon salad and tomato carpaccio. They are perfect to start a meal or to enjoy on their own,” General Manager Pal Ladanyi said.
Start your seafood feast with appetizers including carrot gazpacho ($15) or the tuna stack with avocado, cucumber, tuna and kimchi ($24), then move on to a salad such as charred watermelon ($19); the sea BLT, a chilled lobster, crab and shrimp salad ($29); or the tomato carpaccio ($19).
Move on to a seafood tower of shrimp, oysters, snow crab, Maine lobster and scallops ($125 low rise; $195 high rise); shrimp cocktail ($26); whole Maine lobster ($55) or sashimi scallops ($21).
Soup’s on
If lighter fare is what you crave, a bowl of chilled soup is in order. The most popular cold summer soup is savory gazpacho, which originated in Andalucia, Spain, and uses seasonal garden vegetables.
For this satisfying lunch or dinner option, head to Alice Sweetwater’s Bar & Grille, where Chef Jose Vergara, who has been with the restaurant for 25 years, stirs up the popular chilled Caribbean seafood gazpacho — a vibrant blend of shrimp, clam, tomato, cucumber and white onion ($11.95), that is served in a glass goblet and is the most requested menu item.
“This summer soup is one that we serve year-round. We use the freshest ingredients, vegetable and seafood,” Vergara said. “I have tried to add other ingredients but always return to the original house recipe and follow it exactly for perfect results every time.
“The mildly spicy combination of ingredients are stirred — we don’t use a blender, which delivers a better slightly chunky texture. Chilling the soup overnight allows the flavors of the ingredients to develop, and we serve it with sliced onion and a dollop of sour cream that gives it a cooling bite.”
Pair the gazpacho with Alice’s shrimp salad, a mix of chilled shrimp and crab meat with tomato,
cucumber and artichoke hearts, topped with three cocktail shrimp and red onion ($20.95); or the South Florida salad that combines artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion and two cheeses tossed with mixed salad greens and Alice’s sweet vinaigrette ($10.95).
Other menu items include appetizers such as chilled oysters ($16.95 half-dozen, $24.95 dozen) and Gulf shrimp ($13.95 quarter-pound, $18.95 half-pound, $29.95 a pound). Finish with a slice of creamy, French-custard key lime pie ($7.95).
Bowls are in
If bowls are to your liking, True Food Kitchen in the Waterside Shops is advertised as “rooted in nutrition” and uses whole-food ingredients. It is a must-visit. Featured no-cook bowls are the ancient grains bowl with miso sesame glazed sweet potato, charred
Chef David Peck preps some of the chilled seafood tower, a shareable delight with shrimp, oysters, lobster and crab at The Claw Bar, with its heirloom tomato carpaccio (inset) as a salad. Photos by Olga Hayes
True Food Kitchen offers a tender organic kale salad with tangy shaved Parmesan, lemon and garlic. Photo courtesy True Food Kitchen
onions, snap peas, portobello, avocado, organic grains, pistachio pesto, hemp seeds and turmeric ($18.50); or the teriyaki quinoa bowl with broccoli, rainbow carrots, bok choy, snap peas, pickled shiitake and sesame seeds ($17.95).
“The ancient grain bowl is our most popular bowl, made with golden-orange turmeric, a spice from the ginger family considered to be calming to the system,” General Manager Max Bartolomeo said.
Featured salads include chopped salad, an organic Tuscan kale salad with kale, parmesan, breadcrumbs, lemon and garlic, and a seasonal market salad.
For the best of both worlds — staying home without going near the kitchen — order online from The Bowl; of course, you can also visit the Central Avenue Naples location to sit and be served.
Choose from six organic acai
For relief out of the kitchen, we canvassed local spots with light, refreshing dining options that won’t leave you breaking a sweat.
matcha ($5 to $6.50), bottled kom bucha ($4.75) and wellness shots ($4.25).
Lunch starting at 2:39 p.m. at The 239 in Mercato (visited by Guy Fieri for an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”) promises three gluten-free, vegan-friendly bowls ($20.50). The light, plant-powered bowl combines farm greens, tri-colored quinoa, avocado, cucumber, roasted sweet potatoes, heirloom tomatoes and almonds, finished with a citrus vinaigrette.
The ginger teriyaki farm bowl with house-made, gluten-free teriyaki has brown rice, farmed vegetables, tamari-grilled pineapple, almonds and toasted sesame, while the harvest bowl is made with tri-colored quinoa, brown rice, Brussels sprouts, seasoned vegetables and sweet potato. A 239 farm or little gem Caesar salad also is available.
Find the plant or teriyaki bowls for a reduced price ($16) during happy hour that runs from 2:39 to 6 p.m., and enjoy them with specially priced icy-cold cocktails such as a SKYY martini, the 239 Margarita,
to Saturday Contact: alicesweetwaters.com or 239.793.3700
Nosh on Naples Bay Where: 1490 Fifth Ave. S., Suite 101, Naples (in the Naples Bay Resort & Marina)
Hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; 3 to 9 p.m.; 3 to 6 p.m. happy hour Friday-Sunday; 3 to 9 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday extended happy hour; 5 to 9 p.m. dinner Contact: noshonnaplesbay.com or 239.384.9208
The Claw Bar Where: 221 Ninth St. N., Naples (in the Bellasera Hotel)
Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. brunch/ lunch; 3 to 5 p.m. happy hour Monday through Sunday; 4 to 9 p.m. dinner Tuesday through Saturday Contact: theclawbar.com or 239.231.3912
Alice Sweetwater’s Bar & Grille Where: 1996 Airport-Pulling Road S., Naples
The Bowl Where: 1200 Central Ave., Naples Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday Contact: the-bowl.com or 239.231.3324
The 239 Where: 9108 Strada Place, Naples (in Mercato shopping center) Hours:
bowls made with combinations of acai, fruit, berries, banana, peanut butter, coconut and more ($12.30 small and $14.30 large), all available with toppings including raw local honey or hemp hearts, cacao nibs and add-ons for an extra charge such as bee pollen, chia seeds and more ($1 to $2).
Other organic options include a pair of pitaya bowls with toppings and add-ons. Pitaya is a low-calorie fruit considered a hydrating superfood, rich in vitamin C and iron, high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
Two bowls featuring exotic fruit are the Islamorada and the beach bowl, which combine pitaya with berries or coconut water and fruit for an island-style vacay in a bowl ($12.30 small; $14.30 large).
Beverages include smoothies with mint, mango or coconut to pineapple and more ($9.30 to $11.29), iced and hot coffee drinks ($3.50 to $7), iced
through Sunday Contact: the239naples.com or 239.631.1902
Alice Sweetwater’s Seafood Gazpacho makes 11-12 servings* • 6-7 cups or 1½ quarts canned diced tomatoes
(2¼
and
or 23 ounces V-8 juice
*(Note: Recipe is half the amount of ingredients of the original recipe that serves 22 to 25.)
the 239 OG mojito or the citrusy tangerine mule ($7).
The tuna sashimi salad, brimming with avocado and greens in its edible crispy bowl, is a happy hour favorite at Nosh. Photo courtesy Chef Todd Johnson
The Caribbean seafood gazpacho at Alice Sweetwater's Bar & Grille is its menu's zesty star. Photo courtesy Alice Sweetwater's Bar & Grille
Everblades return plenty of veterans
By David Wasson
The Florida Everblades are preparing to embark on yet another defense of the ECHL Kelly Cup championship — only this upcoming season will begin with the team aligned with a new NHL franchise.
The Everblades are now the official affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, mirroring the ownership of both franchises: the Hoffmann Family of Companies. Hoffmann purchased the Everblades in 2019 and assumed control of the Penguins when the NHL ratified sale of the team in June.
“The Penguins are excited to partner with the Florida Everblades, who are one of the premier organizations
in the ECHL,” Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza said in a news release. “As an organization, our player development system puts a strong emphasis on a threetiered development model between the NHL, AHL and ECHL, and we feel that Florida’s championship pedigree and winning environment will help our players reach their maximum potential.
“Under the leadership of Craig Brush and head coach Brad Ralph, the Everblades have won four of the last five Kelly Cup championships and our goal [is] to provide Coach Ralph with quality prospects that can continue to help the Everblades bring championship hockey to Southwest Florida.”
As is the case with most
year-over-year evolutions, the Everblades will have some new talent on their roster when the 2026-27 season begins Oct. 17. But Blades fans will be delighted to know several key components of the current dynasty will be back on the ice at Hertz Arena.
Among the key returners is goaltender Cam Johnson, though it is possible that the Blades may have to share the four-time Kelly Cup winner and three-time ECHL Playoffs MVP with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Johnson signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton over the offseason, but NHL and AHL development systems routinely keep players on ECHL rosters so that they are available if teams need to temporarily call them up.
“It’s common for NHL teams to have six or seven goalies in their organization under contract,” Ralph said. “I’m sure the plan is for Cam to be back with the Everblades, but obviously he is in their organization, so we’ll see how that works.”
The 32-year-old Johnson could end up sharing more crease time in 2026-27, as the Blades traded defenseman Hunter Sansbury to the Wheeling Nailers for goalie prospect Gabriel D’Aigle. The 19-year-old D’Aigle was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round (84th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.
The Everblades will have to evolve without captain Oliver Chau, as the 28-year-old forward is likely retiring from professional hockey. But
alternate captain and center Carson Gicewicz has re-signed with the team for a third season in Florida and ninth as a pro. And even though his 202526 was shortened by injury, Gicewicz was a special teams asset in the playoffs — scoring three power-play goals and two shorthanded goals.
Bruising forward Jesse Lansdell will return for a fourth season after leading the Blades with 87 postseason penalty minutes. The two-time Kelly Cup winner scored 11 goals and tacked on 21 assists for 32 points across 69 games before a strong playoff run that included four goals and seven assists over 19 playoff games.
Another veteran forward — Isaac Nurse — returns in 2026-27. Nurse enters his third season in Southwest Florida coming off a postseason that saw him score three goals in nine games, which included the Kelly Cup-clinching goal in double overtime in game six of the Finals against the Kansas City Mavericks.
The Everblades also return a pair of talented defensemen in Sean Allen and Jordan Sambrook. Allen returns for a third season after totaling three goals and 14 assists last season — and his 164 penalty minutes were good for second in the ECHL. Allen now has six goals, 26 assists and 314 penalty minutes across 113 games in an Everblades sweater.
Sambrook returns for a sixth season in Florida after playing in every game for the Blades in both the regular season and postseason in 2025-26. Sambrook led Florida’s blue line with nine goals and 38 assists for 47 points, setting new career highs in all three categories, and finished the season with a plus-62 rating, the greatest in the 38-year history of the ECHL.
Everblades goalie Cam Johnson likely
on multiple teams this season.
Photo courtesy Florida Everblades
High school football is finally back
Some things simply never change.
Those are the things that keep us from spinning clean off this planet — knowing the taste of your favorite food that mom made as a kid, remembering your high school locker combination and where you were when you experienced your first kiss.
Some things simply never change, no matter how much we evolve and how much AI infiltrates our lives and how much a gallon of gas may be and how much/how little rain we might get this year.
Those things that never change should be protected and cherished at any and all costs, against all threats, and not just for memories past but also for memories present and future.
High school football is one of those precious things. And it is here yet again to grace Friday nights in neighborhoods across our county and around the country. And if only for those upcoming Friday nights this fall, the world is simply a little bit better because of it.
Sorry if this feels rhapsodic or sentimental, but that’s simply how the experience of high school football ends up registering within those who enter
Speaking of Sports David Wasson
its orbit. I might struggle to remember which driveway to pull into after a long day’s work, but I can remember the uniform numbers of my high school teammates — to the point that when I get a random food receipt with a twodigit number on it I go, “Hey, yeah, 22 was Jewel Simmons.”
If I had a dollar for every sentence I utter that starts “Kids these days …,” well, I’d be a lot more liquid than I am now. But kids these days — just as kids in the days when I was a kid — don’t truly understand what the high school football experience means to them until far after it’s gone.
Which is why I glance wistfully out the car windshield when I pass by an area high school team practicing early in the morning before the searing heat of the day sets in. Which is why the thought of pep rallies and wearing your uniform top to school on Friday afternoons and the sweatstained smell of a locker room makes
me yearn for the time I experienced those very things.
My high school football life was largely sideline-driven due to a startling lack of ability, but my meager amount of journalistic talent allowed me to experience those Friday night lights soon after through the eyes of a reporter. And later on, under a headset with a live microphone attached, I was blessed to describe the action to radio listeners from a press box near you.
In so many ways, I haven’t escaped all that far from the orbital pull that is
New sporting director sought after team, Poland part ways
Naples Press Staff Reports
FC Naples announced recently the launch of an international search for a sporting director, a dedicated executive position that will oversee the club’s soccer operations, with a view toward meeting medium- and long-term strategic goals. The move reflects FC Naples’ ongoing commitment to strengthening its technical infrastructure for sustained competitive success, according to information provided.
“The sporting director will work closely with the club’s front office leadership to guide all aspects of the football operations,” a news release stated.
Responsibilities will include roster construction and player recruitment, domestic and international scouting, contract and transfer management, technical staff oversight and longterm competitive strategy for the USL League
One franchise. FC Naples’ intent is to expand its soccer operations infrastructure as the club matures, the release stated.
“As FC Naples continues to grow, we are committed to building an organization with foundational strength,” said Roberto Moreno, FC Naples CEO. “Bringing on a sporting director is about ensuring that everything we do on the technical side with recruitment, roster building and our football strategy is held to the same world-class standard our fans deserve. Southwest Florida has shown us time and again what this club means to them, and we owe it to this community to build a soccer operation capable of competing for championships year after year.”
FC Naples is reaching out through its international network for top candidates.
Matt Poland previously served as the team’s head coach and sporting director. He parted ways with the franchise in early July. FC Naples then named Zak Gordon interim head coach for
Mussels set team record for home runs
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels set the franchise’s single-season home run record in an 8-7 walk-off win over the Palm Beach Cardinals in 10 innings on Aug. 1 at Hammond Stadium. JP Smith II’s walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning broke a tie with the 2023 Mighty Mussels for the most home runs in a single season in franchise history (since 1992) with homer No. 104.
“We have some hitters, man,” Smith said after the game. “We’ve all gotten better … it’s cool to see everyone develop and that your work will pay off one day.”
Smith’s swing set a pair of records. The first baseman now stands alone in the Mussels era (since 2020) with 15 home runs on the season, passing Brandon Winokur (2024). Smith accomplished this feat in 97 fewer at-bats and 22 fewer games played.
“Records are meant to be broken,” he said. It was the first walk-off home run of Smith’s amateur or professional baseball career.
2026 Mighty Mussels home run breakdown (twhrough Aug. 1)
JP Smith II 15 (single-season Mussels era record), Quentin Young 13, Jayson Bass 13, Luis Fragoza 10, Ramiro Dominguez 9, Byron Chourio 7, Yasser Mercedes 6, Ryan Sprock
high school football — and that’s just fine with me. Having experienced the biggest of big-time events (Final Fours, The Masters, etc.) as a journalist is great and memorable, but the purity of a good high school football game in front of a packed stadium under the glow of those Friday night lights is even better.
Why? Because the kids of my day and the kids of today are playing not because they are getting a free college education or because they’re earning NIL cash or even lucky enough to make it a career … but because they
the remainder of the 2026 season. Gordon had served as the first assistant coach since February of 2025, when the franchise was born.
FC Naples’ next match will be at Westchester SC on Aug. 15 in Mount Vernon, New York.
The local team, which hosted AV Alta FC of Lancaster, California, on Aug. 5 at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, had lost nine consecutive matches when its Aug. 1 match at Sarasota Paradise was postponed due to severe weather. Its last victory was a 1-0 win at home on May 23 against Westchester SC.
FC Naples signs Uderitz to boost back line
FC Naples announced on Aug. 1 the signing of defender Hal Uderitz to a 25-day contract, pending league and federation approval.
Uderitz joins FC Naples after gaining professional experience in MLS NEXT Pro, bringing size, athleticism and defensive versatility to the club’s back line, a news release stated. Standing 6-foot-3, the 26-year-old center back adds depth as FC Naples enters an important stretch of the 2026 USL League One season.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Snohomish, Washington, Uderitz developed
likely won’t do any of those things. They’re enduring sweltering preseason practices and dripping-wet weight room lifting sessions and wind sprints until they’re gasping for air because they love it.
It is said that sports teaches young people the value of teamwork, perseverance and how to problem-solve when life gets sideways. And that’s all 100% true. Football also, for far too many, also gives a participant not only brothers for life but also a family they might not have and a father figure that might not exist.
The players and teams are ready. The fields are freshly lined. The cheerleaders are poised and the bands are prepped to march and shimmy and play the soundtrack of our youth. High school football is back yet again — as preseason games start Aug. 14. Some things simply never change.
A 35-year Southwest Florida sports journalism veteran, David Wasson hosts Mic Check Sports weekly on YouTube, on the Apple, Spotify, iHeart and Amazon podcast platforms, and at MicCheckSports. com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @JustDWasson.
through the Crossfire Premier academy after helping Snohomish High School capture a Washington state championship in 2015. He is the son of former Major League Soccer player Scott Uderitz. Uderitz enjoyed a standout collegiate career at Seattle University, where he appeared in 69 matches over four seasons while contributing 13 goals and eight assists from the back line.
During his time with the Redhawks, he earned WAC All-Freshman Team honors in 2018 before being named to the WAC All-Tournament Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region Second Team in 2021.
During his collegiate career, Uderitz also competed with Crossfire Redmond in the National Premier Soccer League, continuing his development at the senior level.
Following college, Uderitz was selected 76th overall by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft before signing with Tacoma Defiance in MLS NEXT Pro. During his rookie professional season, he made 19 appearances and scored two goals while continuing to establish himself as a reliable presence in central defense. He has since continued his professional career within MLS NEXT Pro, spending time with Colorado Rapids 2 and Sporting Kansas City II.
Barron Collier cheerleaders know Friday nights are the best nights.
Naples Press Staff Report
J.P. Smith II had hit 15 home runs for the Mighty Mussels when the team broke its all-time single-season record on Aug. 1. Photo courtesy Mighty Mussels
5, Irvin Nunez 4, Eduardo Beltre 3, Harry Genth 2, Merphy Hernandez 2, Enrique Jimenez 2, Quinn McDaniel 2, Graham Brown 1, Ian Daugherty 1, Luis Hernandez
1, Yilber Herrera 1, Walker Jenkins 1, Henry Kusiak 1, Ricardo Paez 1, Dameury Pena 1, Ricardo Pena 1, Alan Roden 1 and Jake Rucker 1.
