3A | A HARD HIT
Collier: Property owners, not the county, will have to deal with effects of permit fraud
Withdrawal of eviction threat not last volley
Suit filed over Naples health center lease
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
In the midst of a tense legal standoff between two health care systems over a lease dispute, Golisano Children’s Health Center in North Naples — which serves thousands of Collier County families each year — will avoid an April 4 eviction from its location at the corner of Livingston and Pine Ridge roads.
The legal wrangling, however, is likely to continue.
Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s Hospital System, holder of the master lease on the space at 3361 Pine Ridge Road that houses the clinic, had threatened to evict Fort Myers-based Lee Health System, Inc., which runs the pediatric health center, prior to the end of its current lease that runs through September 2026.
But Lee Health, which has operated the clinic for more than eight years, filed a lawsuit in Collier County March 24 against Nicklaus Children’s and the landlord, Pine Ridge Livingston LLC, seeking an injunction to stop the eviction and to allow Lee Health to exercise an option in the lease for two five-year extensions.
The Lee Health System includes the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers, a 300,000-squareSee GOLISANO, Page 6A
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Surrounded by hats
Vanderbilt library’s supporters bring petitions to library budget-setting prelude
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
Public Services Department Director Tanya Williams came to the Collier County Public Library Advisory Board workshop Friday to educate it on formulating its requests for county commissioners’ upcoming 2026 budget deliberations. She wasn’t the only one bringing enlightenment.
A group of four residents joined with a letter, a petition and comments, representing nearly 1,000 people from the neighborhoods around the Vanderbilt Beach Library, 788 Vanderbilt Beach Road, in Naples, asking for assurances it will continue to operate as it has since 1981. No one has said the library will be closed. But Collier County, with advice from efficiency consultants Resource X/Tyler Tech, has emphasized cutting costs and monetizing assets while it pursues its priorities in the county’s
In an effort to snag a piece of the high-volume tourist season,
2025 strategic plan. That makes library patrons nervous for several reasons. Marsha Oenick, who organized the petition and procured a slot for it on change.org, pointed them out before the meeting:
• The Vanderbilt Beach building lies within the orbit of the Headquarters Library, 3.3 miles away at 2385 Orange Blossom Drive. Built in 2002, it has the designation of a regional library.
space of The Pearl; and Bella Atalia Ristorante in Real Seafood Co.’s vacated space along Vanderbilt Beach Road. In February, Sonny’s Pizzeria & Sports Bar completed its transformation of the former longtime Zookie’s on Immokalee
Road. In that same retail strip, the Wingstop fast-casual chain launched a new location in March. In late February, Jimmy P’s Burgers & More opened an anxiously awaited second North Naples location in Vanderbilt Commons on Vanderbilt Beach Road.
Jenna Bush Hager, second from right, pauses for a photo with attendees of the Hats in the Garden event held March 28 at the Naples Botanical Garden. Bush Hager was featured at this year’s event, which had the theme La Dolce Vita. See Page 11A for more photos. Photo by Liz Gorman
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SWFL INSIDER
Sugar companies lose appeal to revive EAA Reservoir lawsuit
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta denied the appeal of three sugarfarming companies in a lawsuit they lost against the Army Corps of Engineers over low water levels in Lake Okeechobee. The lawsuit, brought in 2021 by U.S. Sugar, Okeelanta Corp. and Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, claimed that the Corps’ approval of the $3.9 billion Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir project violated the “savings clause” of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, guaranteeing them a certain amount of water from the lake for irrigation purposes. Lawyers for the companies claimed the implementation of the project denied their clients of 160,000 acre feet of water every year that it operates on its own.
The claim was first rejected in federal district court in 2023. The EAA Reservoir is a critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, aimed at restoring the natural flow of water south, reducing harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries and bringing relief to Florida Bay.
Naples Airport Authority adds 3 new members to Noise Compatibility Committee
The Naples Airport Authority Board of Commissioners has selected three new members to the airport’s Noise Compatibility Committee, replacing outgoing members whose four-year terms ended. Julie Kapler will represent the airport’s southwest quadrant, while Charles Berkebile will serve as the representative for active commercial and general aviation pilots, and Mary Tatigian will represent the airport’s northeast quadrant. All three’s expertise and commitment will be valuable contributions to the committee.
Kapler, a retired electrical engineer and global business development professional, joins the committee following a distinguished career in sales and business development. As a senior executive at Accenture, Kapler was responsible for managing key relationships, overseeing sales teams and facilitating global development opportunities.
Berkebile, a captain with American Airlines, has more than 35 years of experience as a licensed pilot. He is also a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Tatigian, a Naples resident for 40 years, brings a strong background in healthcare and community advocacy to her role. A registered nurse for more than 30 years, she is also the founder of Quiet Florida, a
community group focused on addressing noise concerns related to aircraft and modified car exhaust systems.
Naples retail space sells for $6.3 million
ANR Stella Naples LLC purchased 7,014 square feet of retail space at 82 Ninth St. S., units 101, 103 and 105, in Naples from TBC 82 9th Street LLC for $6.35 million. David J. Stevens of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.
Humane Society Naples renamed in recognition of gift from Baker family
Humane Society Naples was renamed Patty Baker Humane Society Naples in recognition of the support of Collier County philanthropists Patty and Jay Baker. The renaming comes with a $5 million gift from the Bakers, the largest in the organization’s history. This gift brings the Bakers’ lifetime giving to the organization to more than $7 million. The Bakers’ gift will directly support the organization’s ongoing efforts in animal rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary care and adoption services. Jay Baker is the former president of Kohl’s Corp. in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, while Patty Baker is a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer.
Neighborhood Health Clinic raises $1.7M for patient services
Neighborhood Health Clinic raised $1.7 million for patient services at its Celebration of Hope and Healing. Each year, supporters gather for an evening to raise funds that enable the nonprofit to continue providing comprehensive health care, counseling and education for low-income, working but uninsured adults in Collier County. With 94 cents of every donated dollar spent directly on patient care, a significant portion of the clinic’s operating budget is dedicated to sustaining life-saving services.
Pace of Play charity golf tournament set for April 4
The Pace of Play charity golf tournament will take place April 4 at Ritz-Carlton, Tiburón Golf Club’s Gold Course in North Naples. Founded by philanthropists Ashley Santiago and Erin Otterbeck, Pace of Play is a collaborative initiative designed to raise critical funds for two influential organizations: the 4Girls Foundation and Pace Center for Girls, Collier County. Proceeds will directly support life-changing programs empowering and uplifting at-risk girls, providing them with resources to thrive.
The 4Girls Foundation Inc. invests in initiatives that amplify the voices of girls and women, offering opportunities for personal growth and supporting organizations dedicated to strengthening families and communities. Pace Center for Girls, Collier County provides vital education, counseling and support services to at-risk girls, helping them build brighter futures. Funds raised will go directly toward essential resources, such as transportation, educational materials and more. Tournament registration is $1,200 for individuals and $4,000 for foursomes.
Now & Forever Campaign aims to secure Conservancy’s protective role Conservancy of Southwest Florida launched its Now & Forever: The Campaign to Protect our Quality of Life. With a preliminary target of $70 million, this campaign is dedicated to enhancing and securing the long-term sustainability of the Conservancy’s vital environmental science, education, wildlife rehabilitation and public policy advocacy efforts. With more than 50% of its fundraising goal already achieved, this campaign catalyzed a $25 million lead grant from the John & Carol Walter Family Foundation to create the new John & Carol Walter Nature Experience.
NCH introduces DailyPay’s financial wellness to benefits package
Naples Comprehensive Health partnered with New York City-based DailyPay, a work tech company and provider of on-demand pay. With this voluntary benefit, NCH employees can track, spend or save their wages as they earn them instead of waiting for payday. DailyPay integrated with NCH’s time and attendance provider at zero cost, company officials said.
Naples-headquartered
Vetirus acquires Kansas biotech company
Naples-headquartered Vetirus Pharmaceuticals, which specializes in biologic therapies for humans and veterinary health, acquired biotech company Enso Discoveries LLC. The Manhattan, Kansas-based company specializing in regenerative medicine developed products Rebound PRP and Rebound PRF, which are widely used in veterinary and human health markets. The medicine kits provide accessible and validated therapies that promote optimal healing. In addition, Enso operates a histopathology laboratory offering rapid diagnostic services for veterinarians.
COLLIER COUNTY
County: Property owners, not county, will be dealing with effects of permit fraud
By Aisling Swift
Collier County’s top development official told the Board of County Commissioners on March 25 the county can’t be held liable for the widespread permit fraud that’s under investigation, but owners of homes and commercial structures will have to deal with the consequences.
Jamie French, Growth Management & Com-
munity Development department head, told commissioners that during the permitting process, county reviewers qualify an engineer’s or architect’s license through the state when they receive a permit application and again before issuing a certificate of occupancy, as required by state law.
If the state says the license is valid when a CO is issued, the county has no right to appeal, unless the county building official believes “there’s a willful code violation involving elements of construction,” French said.
“This was not the case. This is a licensing dilemma that is 100% controlled by the state of Florida,” French said. “… The only people that would actually be not in the clear would be those individual homeowners, because they have a responsibility.
“I don’t want to say, ‘Buyer beware,’ but in many cases, you may have a project manager, you may have an owner’s representative that actually does some of the validation both in the field [or] as a third party,” he said.
French provided the update at County Man-
AMPHIBIOUS INVASION
How cane toads affect Naples’ neighborhoods
By Alexandra Cavalier
With the rainy season right around the corner, the increased moisture in the air causes invasive cane toads to emerge in large numbers in Naples’ neighborhoods. Experts warn pet owners to stay on high alert, as even a small encounter with the amphibians’ bufotoxin can be fatal to dogs and cats.
Cane toads arrived in Florida in the 1940s and were used initially to control agricultural pests in sugar cane fields. Over time, the toads have made their way into urban areas.
In 2019, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the University of Florida and the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted a research study to understand cane toad behavior. At the time, no research on cane toads had been done in Southwest Florida.
“We realized we really should look into these toads and see how they’re behaving and learn a little more about them,” Melinda Schuman, a wildlife biologist at the Conservancy of Florida, said. “We initiated a radio telemetry tracking project where we put little trackers on the toads and followed them around to get to know their behavior a little bit more.”
Cane toads can commonly be found in ponds around buildings, or one’s yard. They breed year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches. Female cane toads can lay up to 36,000 eggs. They range in size from 6 to 9 inches, and their normal life span is five to 10 years.
The toads require constant moisture and will dry out and die if they aren’t around water. According to experts, this is what makes Florida a perfect habitat for them.
The toads are more active in the spring and summer, often at night — and if there is one cane toad in your neighborhood, there are
a lot of them.
“Honestly, if you just go out at night in spring, you can collect as many as you want because they’re usually all over,” Schuman said. “It’s rare to see cane toads in the bright sun, hanging out in the daytime. It’s not their behavior.”
The conservancy found that cane toads studied in Southwest Florida golf course communities did not travel far compared to cane toads studied in Australia, where the species also is invasive.
“In Australia, what they [wildlife biologists] found when they did a similar thing was that toads were traveling very far,” Schuman said. “They [cane toads] have the capability of traveling very far during the night. When we [Conservancy of Southwest Florida] started our study, we just didn’t know what to expect. We thought, ‘Oh, they’re just going to go,’ but they really
ager Amy Patterson’s request after The Naples Press published a story about a criminal and civil investigation into fraudulent architectural seals submitted to the county, Marco Island and Naples. At least 400 single-family homes and commercial buildings in the county were built and issued certificates of occupancy using fraudulent state-issued architectural seals, which provide assurance of safety-code compliance
Autism Collier Charter School to share space with BridgePrep
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
Autism Collier Charter School, scheduled to open in August, announced in late March that it will share space for its first year with BridgePrep Academy, another charter school, located at 3161 Santa Barbara Blvd. in Naples. ACCS was approved by the Collier County Public Schools Board in October, and a search for a location had been underway since then. The new charter school plans to start its first year with 80 students and is designed to offer parents of students with autism a new educational option.
In announcing the location, ACCS Board President Jen Mitchell expressed gratitude to BridgePrep Academy — also a Collier charter school with a current enrollment of 228 students — for partnering with ACCS “to bring this much-needed educational option to families in Collier County.
“Their willingness to share space with ACCS demonstrates a shared commitment to expanding access to specialized education for students with autism.”
She said that because the facility is already an established school, minimal modifications will be required to meet the needs of ACCS students.
“Additionally, it is centrally located, making it easily accessible to families from across the county,” Mitchell said.
Da’Nika Arnold, BridgePrep principal, said the partnership will be a positive collaboration.
“The partnership fosters a sense of community, encourages innovation and allows both schools to maximize their infrastructure while maintaining their unique identities while expanding access to specialized educational choice programs for families in Collier County,” Arnold said.
Sharing space for year one
ACCS Principal Emily Kafle said ACCS hopes to buy or build its own space in the
An employee with Toad Busters installs pet-protective fencing. Photo courtesy Toad Busters
Jen Mitchell
No one gets a pass from this scam
“Unpaid Toll Reminder: You have an outstanding toll payment. The payment is due [very soon]. If not paid by the due date, additional late fees may apply and it may result in the revocation of your driver’s license. To avoid any penalties, please make your payment promptly using the link below. Thank you for your immediate attention.”
You’ve probably gotten one of these texts. Indeed, they’ve gone out to thousands of people, and not just in Florida.
The first time you receive one it can be a shock and you may think you need to reply immediately.
But the scam is obvious: Once you click on the link the scammer gets information. Fill out the form and you hand over your personal information to unknown parties who can use it for all sorts of mischief.
“Don’t click on the link,” warned Sgt. Heather Nichols, head of the Economic Crimes Section of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. “When you get this, just slow down a second, just think about it. Look into where this message came from. Phone numbers can be spoofed. Emails can look legitimate.”
SunPass is acutely aware of the scam, Yasir Mercado, communications manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, which runs SunPass, told The Naples Press
“It is important for the public to know that SunPass will never
request payment or personal information through unsolicited text messages. If you receive a suspicious message, do not click on any links,” he wrote.
“These text messages were not sent by SunPass. SunPass does not ask customers via text to make a payment or take immediate action on their account. If SunPass needs to contact its customers, it will appear as follows:
Email: customerservice@sunpass.com or noreply@sunpass. com.”
The toll-pass scam is being perpetrated nationwide and users of other toll-pass platforms such as EZ-Pass have been contacted too, according to Mercado. Given the anonymity of digital communication and the vastness of the scam, law enforcement and SunPass aren’t able to pinpoint a particular
gang or country that’s generating the texts.
The scam uses a technique called “smishing,” a reference to the more familiar term “phishing,” which refers to getting individuals to click on links in emails, sending them to fraudulent websites or stealing their information. “Smishing” refers to “Short Message Service” (a text message).
Where do the scammers get the phone numbers to send out the texts? They can come from anywhere.
“We are from Michigan and visited your city last Thursday,” Linda Missler, of Cadillac, Michigan, told The Naples Press. “When we went to the Olive Garden for dinner, I chose for the receipt to be sent as text to me. I typed my number in.
The next morning I received a text saying I owed for a SunPass. I de-
leted the text immediately.”
Falling for one of these schemes can make for hours of headaches and misery trying to correct the mistake and change all your passwords, not to mention financial losses.
But you don’t have to fight this alone.
“Let your software work for you,” Nichols said. “Take your phone’s word for it when it says it’s a scam. They put that software on there for a reason.”
And remember: Never open a link you don’t recognize.
Stay safe out there.
David Silverberg is a journalist who covered security issues as editor of the magazine Homeland Security Today before moving to Naples. He currently blogs at TheParadiseProgressive.com.
Operation Fool’s Gold leads to Naples
‘courier’ arrest in nationwide gold bar scam
By Aisling Swift
A 72-year-old Gulf Shore Boulevard resident who lost $2.29 million was the latest victim in a gold bar scam that’s targeted elderly people in at least 10 states.
The woman, who lives in Windemere in The Moorings, believed she was under threat of arrest and that she was giving gold bars to a government agent.
Naples Police arrested Soyeb Sarfaraz Rana, 25, of Plainfield, Connecticut, on March 21 and charged him with felony counts of conspiracy, scheme to defraud, fleeing and eluding and a misdemeanor count of possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana (two joints). He posted $11,000 bond and was ordered to surrender his U.S. passport.
Naples Police Lt. Bryan McGinn said this is the only case police know of in the city.
“The victim was contacted via the phone with a ruse about a federal warrant for her arrest unless she complied with what they told her. First, they were told that they had a warrant and had to pay to have the warrant reversed,” McGinn said of the woman and her 87-year-old husband. “After they paid for the warrant, they were told that they needed to buy gold to transfer to the fraudsters for safe keeping.”
Anyone in the city who has fallen victim to a similar scam is asked to report it to the Naples Police Department at 239.213.3000 or call 911, if it’s an active emergency.
Last August, the FBI’s Tampa office reported an uptick in complaints from senior citizens, who fell victim to a well-orchestrated cash and gold bar scheme.
“We’ve had victims report losses in excess of $300,000,” FBI Tampa Field Office Special-Agent-in-Charge Matthew Fodor said at the time. “These criminals follow a well-rehearsed script and are skilled at pressure tactics. Your best defense is to hang up on the scammers, never click on suspicious links and report it to law enforcement immediately.”
Gold bar scams on rise
Last year, the FBI reported receiving more than 350 complaints related to gold bar scams, with losses exceeding $126 million. As of late March, the price of gold has risen significantly. It’s worth about $3,075 per ounce, up from roughly $1,943 in 2023.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that scammers use tech support and government impersonation scams to find victims and tell them to liquidate their assets into cash and/ or buy gold, silver or other precious metals to protect their funds. Fraudsters arrange for couriers to meet victims in person to pick up cash or precious metals, telling them they will “safeguard” those assets in a protected account on their behalf — but victims never hear from them again.
Some are contacted by phone, usually from a call center in India, while others received
malicious pop-up warnings about viruses on their computers, telling them to call someone identifying himself as an FBI agent. Some received cybersecurity task force emails that warn their name was implicated and they need to secure personal funds through an FBI program that would place them in a secure deposit for “safekeeping.” Others are threatened with arrest for a non-existent crime.
The FBI advises not to click on links, turn off your computer and don’t answer fraudsters’ calls or emails — and consult with a trusted family member before making financial decisions.
In October, five people were indicted and arrested on federal wire fraud charges accusing them of stealing at least $8 million from elderly victims in at least 10 states, including Pinellas County. Among them was Chintankumar Parekh, 51, who was living in the U.S. illegally — a “handler” Rana told police he was working with.
The wire fraud conspiracy charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. The case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa. The leaders — and most of the gold — are missing.
In January, a courier was arrested and another was awaiting extradition to Florida for gold-bar scams in Indian River Shores, Okeechobee and Fort Pierce.
Naples woman becomes suspicious
In the Naples case, the woman told police she gave gold to men who posed as govern-
ment agents. One fraudster, “Logan,” convinced her through phone calls to withdraw funds from various sources, including Roth IRAs at Charles Schwab and Fidelity, a Bank of America savings account, Series I Savings Bonds and gold from a personal collection, according to Rana’s arrest report. She used those funds to purchase gold coins and gold bars from Lief’s Coin and Jewelry, at 9331 Tamiami Trail N., and Gold Center, at 2400 Tamiami Trail N.
Between Aug. 13 and Dec. 13, 2024, at “Logan’s” instructions, she packed gold into boxes and sent him photographs of the process. On seven occasions, a courier met her at her driveway to pick up the packages. In mid-January, she became suspicious and contacted Naples Police.
Detectives devised a plan — Operation Fool’s Gold — to identify and question a courier. They arranged a photo shoot of 30 oneounce gold coins worth $80,000 borrowed from a gold store.
On March 19, the woman sent that photo to “Logan,” who told her she’d get the rest of her money back once she provided the gold. On March 21, “Logan” said he’d send a courier. Detectives gave the woman a weighted box, “fool’s gold.” As detectives waited, a 2023 Dodge Hornet with Florida plates pulled into the driveway, driven by a bearded Indian man —Rana — who was talking on a cellphone with the woman.
She gave him their codeword, “watch,” and he repeated it back to her. She then reached
Don’t Get Fooled
David Silverberg
Soyeb Sarfaraz Rana
City of Naples mulling return of memorial bench donor program
By Aisling Swift
Naples’ recycled plastic benches didn’t hold up well to the sun, and many floated away and disappeared during past hurricanes — with some found submerged months later, unusable and covered in barnacles.
Now, Chad Merritt, Naples’ director of Parks, Recreation & Facilities, is suggesting resurrecting the city’s memorial bench program with 6-foot, 550-pound heavy duty concrete benches going for a $3,000 donation to cover costs for the bench, shipping, etching and installation. The tribute would last 10 years and could be renewed.
The city’s Community Services Advisory Board on March 18 unanimously approved a draft plan, which Merritt will revise and bring to the CSAB for further discussion.
“The recycled planks broke … and they’re faded. They faded really bad,” Merritt said of damage after Hurricane Ian in September 2022. “When the storm surge hit them, they floated and they went bye-bye.”
After 24 hours of sitting in the bay, he said, they absorbed moisture, became waterlogged and were covered in barnacles. “We
“The recycled planks broke … and they’re faded. They faded really bad. When the storm surge hit them, they floated and they went bye-bye.”
—Chad Merritt, Naples’ director of Parks, Recreation & Facilities
couldn’t salvage them,” he said, adding people would call months later to report finding a bench, but it was “covered in barnacles.”
If new benches are concrete, he said, they can’t go far.
“We have some concrete benches that … lingered around, and they’re 25-plus-years-old, so this is kind of the new version,” Merritt said.
The CSAB placed the city Memorial Bench Program on hold in spring 2022 due to concerns about its structure and lack of de -
fined bench locations. After Hurricane Ian, most of the benches at beach accesses were lost, and several remaining benches were damaged or lost during Hurricane Milton last October. The pending reconstruction of city beach accesses means benches will return, so staff wants to revamp the program before installing benches, which already have been approved by City Council.
The CSAB’s past concerns were that there was no defined expiration of the original $1,200 donation; there were no defined locations or uniformity of placement; recycled plastic benches didn’t hold up well; and the donor spreadsheet didn’t contain con
tact information.
As a result, the bench total was unknown. The city spreadsheet showed one total, but an inventory tally conducted by the city’s engineering firm, GradyMinor, had a different total, and Google Earth showed a “completely different number.”
In 2018, a statement was added on the donor application to warn that benches aren’t meant to remain in perpetuity. However, many already had been installed, so Merritt said they need a plan to address replacements.
“A bench does not last forever and … this is your choice to make that donation to put this bench in
this location,” Merritt said, adding residents will be warned benches aren’t guaranteed to last.
CSAB members suggested offering more a tribute than a memorial; not to include photos or business logos; to focus on people, nonprofits and civic organizations, not business donations; and to increase Merritt’s suggested $2,500 cost to $3,000 to cover inflation.
Under the new program, if a hurricane or other acts of God damage a bench before 10 years is up, the city will replace it once without charge and continue the 10-year term, not extend it 10 years. The Parks Department will attempt to notify donors about damage or renewals, and a donor can renew the agreement with another donation — or the plaque will be removed and a new donor can apply.
The revised program is designed to pay tribute to a living or deceased person and isn’t intended for advertising, although a business can be mentioned as a donor — unless it conflicts with the city’s mission. Advertising and company slogans are prohibited and plaque content, with limited character counts, must be pre-approved by staff.
“Obviously, you don’t want something that’s going to create controversy because with contro -
versy comes vandalism. With vandalism comes the constant need to have to replace this,” Merritt said. “… It’s meant for somebody to be respected by a loved one or an organization.”
CSAB members agreed allowing business tributes could lead to misuse, and photos or faces won’t be allowed. “Having somebody’s photo on there, to me, that does look very gravestone-like,” CSAB member Tina Muracco said.
If major park or beach renovations and construction require a bench to be moved, staff will try to ensure it remains at the original site for 10 years, or provide other options. Installations will be scheduled based on workload and supply availability.
CSAB members suggested other donor programs since most people can’t afford to have buildings named after them.
Merritt said he gets calls weekly from donors whose benches disappeared, so he may consider picnic benches and possible naming opportunities at playgrounds. A tree memorial program didn’t work well, he said, due to too many hurricanes, and engraved pavers cost $1,500 to replace.
“However you word it,” CSAB Chair Nathaniel Smith said, “.… let’s make sure everybody can get included — everybody has a shot.”
Bowling, arcade games and laser tag reinvent bowling centers
By Jean L. Amodea
Largely long-gone are the onedimensional bowling centers — archaic by today’s standards — with ho-hum, unadorned lanes on which you, well, just bowled. By contrast, modern bowling venues have been transformed into full-service entertainment centers where LEDlit lanes are only one part of the full experience.
Today’s bowling facilities are virtual one-stop family fun centers, brimming with excitement. Here, you can bowl, enjoy a full array of arcade games, play a challenging game of laser tag, celebrate a child’s birthday, schedule group teambuilding events or indulge in classic sports bar fare.
Jacob Elliott, BMA, Bowland & HeadPinz Entertainment Centers’ marketing director, said that HeadPinz is the only bowling center in Collier County today; Bowland Beacon closed last year after operating in Naples for more than 60 years. “In 1989, current HeadPinz owners Pat and Lisa Ciniello took over Bowland Beacon until its closing last August,” he said. “Since then, our customers, leagues and staff have been transitioned to the East Naples location. We’re working on downsizing our Bowland brand and focusing more on HeadPinz, a focused family entertainment center model where you have multiple amenities and a bar and restaurant. We are creating a whole experience for guests rather than only bowling; kids want more, and we like bringing in families.” HeadPinz offers 32 LED-lit
lanes and a private VIP section with high-tech effects. “We employ QubicaAMF technology in our state-of-the-art ‘neoverse,’ a giant immersive center-wide LED, 5K video wall with hyperlighting and music soundtrack for a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional experience,” Elliott said. “The VIP area has a private bar, private servers, bartenders and a pool table.”
In another section of the center, GameZone offers captivating arcade games and basketball with a focus on virtual reality, including
the popular laser tag. Laser tag originated in the late 1970s — based on “phaser” guns from “Star Trek” — and is now adapted for play in purpose-built venues to the delight of preteens, teens and adults. Infrared-emitting light guns
“tag” opponents; points are won when you tag and lost when you are tagged. Coordination, speed, strategy and teamwork all come into play for fast interactive gaming.
“Our laser tag is not just a game; it’s a fully immersive experience,” Elliott said. “With a briefing room and state-of-the-art technology,
players can battle in a spacethemed arena. The round lasts around 15 minutes, broken down into a five-minute rule briefing and 10 minutes of intense gameplay.”
HeadPinz also hosts birthday parties, with per-person pricing ranging from $300 to $1,000 for a customized experience of bowling and games, with food as an add-on. Group events can run from 20 to 500 people celebrating holidays and special events or team-building. A fajita bar, farmto-table theme, barbecue and more can be ordered.
HEADPINZ NAPLES
What: Family entertainment center offering bowling, arcade games, laser tag, food and beverages Where: 8525 Radio Lane, Naples When: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday Contact: headpinz. com or 239.455.3755
HeadPinz offers a wide range of food and beverage options, including two bars, one in Nemo’s restaurant, which pays homage to the former Nemo’s on Fort Myers Beach. “Nemo’s is iconic and was voted numerous times as having the best wings in Southwest Florida by Gulfshore Life,” Elliott said. “We focus on the bar ambiance with a sports bar NFL and MLB package and host card nights, karaoke, live music and more. The other bar is in our VIP section.” A rewards program offers points on food and beverage purchases. “You get points after spending on food and beverage,” Elliott said. “After reaching certain points, you can get $5 or $10 off, free nachos, a free pizza or up to $50 off your entire bill. This program is designed to reward our loyal customers and encourage them to keep coming back for more fun and delicious food.”
foot, seven-story facility that opened in 2017, which the system said was made possible by a “groundbreaking” gift from philanthropist Tom Golisano.
Lee Health said in its lawsuit that it believed Nicklaus Children’s was attempting to end the lease for the Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples because of Lee Health’s conversion from a public to a private nonprofit system last fall. Nicklaus Children’s said it had informed Lee Health last fall that it was seeking to end the lease in order to utilize the space itself.
The complaint by Lee Health said that the eviction would “…[jeopardize] the health of thousands of children who could be left without vital services — often life-saving services.”
Nicklaus Children’s withdraws lease termination Prior to a decision by the court, on Friday, March 28, Nicklaus Children’s sent a letter to Lee Health President and CEO Larry Antonucci, M.D., saying it was withdrawing the notice of termination of the lease and asking Lee Health to confirm dismissal of its lawsuit.
“We are writing in the hopes that we may help to refocus the business relationship between Nicklaus Children’s and Golisano [Children’s Hospital] on what matters most — our shared vision to ensure the children of Collier County, Florida receive the best care and services that may be provided,” Nicklaus Children’s SVP and General Counsel Jodi Laurence said in the letter. “We are afraid that
vision has been blurred by the legal exchanges, which culminated in the lawsuit recently filed by Golisano [Children’s Hospital] against Nicklaus Children’s without any warning.”
Laurence’s letter said that Nicklaus Children’s had advised Lee Health in October 2024 that it would “not agree to assignment” of the lease.
“After almost six months of waiting for your transition plans and timeline, we had no choice but to start our own transition,” the letter said. “Even in the letter sent by our counsel on March 5, 2025, we stressed our goal was to ‘permit … a smooth transition to new premises.’
“At this time, we don’t want to revisit the history of our dispute,” the letter continued, “and would prefer to focus on the future. We suggest putting the legal back-andforth aside and remain focused on our collective vision. To that end, and without prejudice to, or waiver of, Nicklaus Children’s rights under the Sublease, we formally withdraw our March 5, 2025 Notice of Termination of Sublease.
“We look forward to confirmation of your dismissal of the lawsuit and wish you much success as you plan Golisano’s [Children’s Health Center’s] next phase,” the letter concluded. “We are hopeful we can all get back to our committed purpose, namely, the health and welfare of Collier County’s children.”
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital did not respond by press time to questions about whether the current Lee Health lease will remain in effect through September 2026, and if the lease would expire at that time so that Nicklaus Children’s can use the Pine Ridge Road space.
Lee Health says lawsuit remains active
In an initial statement sent to local media on March 29, Lee Health did not specify that it had dropped, or planned to drop, its lawsuit, but on March 31 said in response to questions that the lawsuit “is likely to remain active.”
“Miami-based Nicklaus Children’s action on Friday
provided short-term reprieve, not a resolution,” the March 31 Lee Health statement said. “Lee Health remains committed to collaborating on a long-term solution that honors Lee Health’s decade-long dedication to caring for the children of Collier County.
“The lawsuit is likely to remain active until these broader concerns are addressed. Outreach is occurring and we look forward to discussing how to best deliver uninterrupted care for the children of Collier County.”
The March 29 statement from Lee Health said the system “is pleased that the immediate threat to Collier County families’ access to health care has been addressed with a pause to the April 4 eviction of services at the Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples, ensuring access to essential pediatric care for our Collier County children.
“This decision ensures that thousands of families can continue to receive the specialized care they depend on, without immediate interruption.”
Lee Health said in its March 29 statement that while this “reprieve” allows Lee Health to “continue our mission in the short term, we remain deeply concerned about the potential for future disruptions that could put our patients at risk. Lee Health has spent nearly a decade building and expanding access to high-quality pediatric services in this facility. With the help of generous donors, Lee Health has invested millions of dollars to create a space that meets the needs of our Collier County families.”
Lee Health said it is “focused on ensuring a long-term solution that protects the continuity of care” for patients and their families.
“We are committed to working with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
to find a collaborative path forward that ensures Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples will remain a cornerstone of pediatric health and wellness offering Lee Health’s critical services in Collier County for generations to come.
“Lee Health is unwavering in its mission to safeguard the trusted care that families have come to rely on. We will continue advocating for a resolution that prioritizes the well-being of the children we serve and preserves the vital services provided by our dedicated care teams,” the March 29 statement concluded.
Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples provides treatment in 20 pediatric specialties, according to Lee Health, including cardiology, oncology, neurology and pulmonology, as well as services for children with autism, rehabilitation therapies and an urgent care clinic that the system said served more than 20,000 pediatric patients in 2024. The clinic saw 65,000 visits overall in 2023.
Nicklaus Children’s was the original lease holder on the space when the two health systems started a collaboration in 2017. That arrangement ended in 2019 and Lee Health has since paid the entire lease — currently just under $115,000 per month — on the 29,600-square-foot space.
After filing the lawsuit in late March, Lee Health said it had paid the April 2025 rent “into the registry of the court.”
Nicklaus Children’s has another connection in Collier County, through its collaboration with Naples Comprehensive Health since 2022 in providing inpatient services for the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units at the NCH North Naples Hospital campus.
Golisano Children’s Urgent Care is located at 3361 Pine Ridge Road, in Naples.
Photo courtesy Lee Health
COUNTY
Collier to hold hearing to discuss bicycle, e-bike and pedestrian safety
By Aisling Swift
With a proliferation of electric bikes on roadways and sidewalks, Collier County leaders plan to amend laws to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety.
The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously March 25 to ask staff to advertise an ordinance to amend the county Pedestrian Safety Ordinance, to include a new section on operating bicycles on sidewalks, crosswalks and intersections within the county’s unincorporated areas. The ad will provide a date for a future public hearing.
“We’re starting to see just an abundance of these things being used in roadways and along pathways and sidewalks,” Commissioner Dan Kowal told commissioners, noting some e-bikes can reach speeds of 35 mph. “And when you have that on a sidewalk congest-
“We’re starting to see just an abundance of these things being used in roadways and along pathways and sidewalks.”
—Dan Kowal, Collier County commissioner
ed with regular pedestrian traffic, mothers with children, things like that, I felt it was something we should probably start to take a closer look at.”
Collier County and its cities, through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, have been researching and working on updates to laws to increase safety, but concerns were heightened recently when 14-year-old Clayton Miller of North Naples was killed on March 15, after he rode into the path of an oncoming SUV in the Willoughby
Acres neighborhood.
The county’s ordinance was adopted in 2022, but since then, the use of e-bikes on public sidewalks and bike lanes countywide has increased, creating more opportunities for crashes and injuries involving pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles and e-bikes, said a memo to commissioners written by Kowal, who retired from the Sheriff’s Office after 28 years. He noted e-bikers may not adhere to the same traffic laws and etiquette as traditional cyclists, such as right-of-way
rules and signaling, and may weave through pedestrians and vehicles. The amendments, which don’t apply to electric wheelchairs, were suggested by the MPO and the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Enforcement Unit. The amendments say: Bicycle riding is allowed on public sidewalks, but e-bikes operated by anyone over age 16 must ride on bicycle lanes, when available.
Adults operating an e-bike when accompanying children under age 16 may lawfully operate an e-bike on the sidewalk to supervise the children.
Class-3 e-bikes operated by teens under age 16 on public roads, bicycle paths and shared roadways or pathways will be prohibited. Class-3 e-bikes are pedal-assist bikes designed to reach up to 28 mph and usually don’t have a throttle, so the motor only engages if a rider is pedaling.
Anyone operating an e-bike on a sidewalk or bicycle lane must
stop when approaching a school bus displaying a stop signal and remain stopped until it’s withdrawn.
• Passing a school bus on the side where children enter and exit while the stop signal is displayed is a violation of the ordinance.
Bicyclists traveling against traffic must come to a complete stop before entering an open intersection and must yield the rightof-way if a vehicle is already in the intersection.
• When a bicyclist reaches a signalized intersection, the rider must obey all pedestrian control signals and yield the right-of-way to vehicles already in the intersection.
• On shared pathways adjacent to roads, including those located in parks and recreational areas, all bicycles and e-bikes must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, and when passing a pedestrian, the bicyclist must sound an audible signal to alert pedestrians before passing.
Tragedy underscores need for bike safety
Local stakeholders want to help cyclists have a safe ride
By Ed Scott
ed.scott@naplespress.com
The news that Clayton Miller, 14, had died after a traffic crash involving his e-bike was tragic, and especially poignant for Meg Stepanian.
Fifteen years ago, Stepanian, now executive director of the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District, was the victim of a hitand-run while cycling on Immokalee Road.
She said she’s “heart-sick” over what happened to Miller on March 15. His death comes at a time when various jurisdictions and organizations are working to understand and improve issues regarding bicycle safety.
The Collier Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee recently presented its findings on e-bike regulations across different cities and counties. Meanwhile, the Naples Pathways Coalition, the Naples Police Department, AAA and the BID had previously scheduled an event March 19 to provide free bicycle helmets, locks and lights to the public.
While everyone was eligible to receive free equipment, the event was held in Cambier Park in downtown Naples to especially benefit the large number of cyclists who commute to work on Fifth Avenue South and neighboring streets.
“Often long distances away, early in the morning, late at night when the sun is not there to help them be visible,” said Michelle Avola-Brown, executive director of Naples Pathways Coalition, of those riders’ habitual journeys. “Everyone that I’ve seen walk up to get the bike lights and the helmets and the reflective vests and locks and the safety information that we are providing, they’ve all been in either black uniforms or navy blue. It makes it even harder for them to be seen.”
‘As safely as possible’
After the car that hit Stepanian’s 10-speed bike drove away, other motorists nearby tended to her needs. Likewise, she’s eager to help today’s cycling workers.
“As a community, we care for our essential
workers and making sure that they can get to and from work as safely as possible,” said Stepanian, who has been in her current position for about two years.
Moments before she spoke, two young people on bikes rode away from the pavilion smiling, wearing vests and carrying safety equipment they’d obtained. She doesn’t have corroborating data, but Stepanian believes more local workers are relying on bicycles to meet their transportation needs.
They don’t have a choice, she said. That’s their form of transportation.
Stepanian said community leaders need
to keep workers “as safe as we can.” Meeting their needs is “mission critical,” underscoring the importance of the safety equipment giveaway.
“Equal to housing, our essential workers need to have a way to get to and from work,” she said.
Stepanian emphasized that everyone on the road plays an equal role in keeping everyone else safe.
“If I am behind the wheel of a car, I have to be paying extra attention to all these new forms of transportation,” she said. “We have an audience that’s really not used to [them],” refer-
ring to e-bikes and bike sharing, in addition to traditional alternatives such as motorcycling, bicycling and, of course, walking. “Likewise, if I am riding on an electric bike … bikers also need to follow the rules of the road, too.”
The BID is comprised of 254 businesses. which Stepanian likened to a family.
“We love our businesses,” she said. “We’re like one big family down here and we’ll do whatever we need to do to keep our family protected.”
Cellphones as bike lights
Rey Reyes, a community policing officer with the Naples Police Department, became especially aware of bicyclists’ needs one evening when he saw a couple of them using their cellphone lights to ride in the dark.
Recognizing that as an unsafe practice, Reyes and the NPD joined forces with the Naples Pathways Coalition and — after securing donated safety equipment — held the first giveaway a number of years ago. The coronavirus pandemic precluded the group from having its second giveaway until March 19.
“We had a good turnout again,” Reyes said. “People are receptive to the program. I think we’re helping people; I think we are keeping them safe.”
Reyes and the other officers on hand distributed the flyers with 10 “essential bicycle safety guidelines” in multiple languages.
Similar to Stepanian, Reyes didn’t have any raw data, but he pointed at a full bike rack on the park’s perimeter.
“That’s 20 cars off the road,” he said.
Michelle Avola-Brown, executive director of Naples Pathways Coalition.
Rey Reyes, a community policing officer with the Naples Police Department. Photos by Ed Scott
COLLIER
From page 1A
Residents of Pelican Bay and Naples Park worry that they will be shifted toward the regional library and their own closed as a costsaving measure.
The building has neighbors who would be happy to have its property: the Pelican Bay Foundation, which could expand the Pelican Bay Community Center to it across the lake perimeter, and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s District 1 next door, which could expand its quarters.
Additionally, during the 2024 budget process, Collier County commissioners debated the idea of opening smaller libraries only four days each week. Vanderbilt Beach was among them.
Precedents breed jitters
This was not the first time the library has faced enforced shrinkage. During the last recession, North Naples residents raised funds to stave off Friday-Saturday closures at the library through 2009 and 2010. The continuing recession did shut its doors on Fridays for nearly three years after that, however, until libraries were funded to expand hours again in August 2014.
Oenick said their group knew of no concrete plans to shutter the Vanderbilt Beach Library.
“We’re starting early. We want to make sure everyone is aware of the support behind this library,” she said.
Her group brought along comments from petition signers that emphasized its neighborhood character, easily reached on foot or bicycle, and its 41-year history that is bringing second- and third-generation residents into it.
Williams and Library Division Director Catherine Cowser encouraged the group to make its wishes known. Both emphasized during the workshop that they want to keep Collier County’s libraries open.
Cowser said she had approached the county administration on Thursday to get assurance there will be a fair hearing on any cost-cutting initiatives. She received it, she said: “Nothing’s done without board approval — all five
From page 1A
In early March, Michoacana launched Swirls & Scoops ice cream and frozen yogurt shop in the former space of 16 Handles, which closed last quarter after operating for less than two years in Meridian Marketplace on the northeast corner of Livingston and Pine Ridge roads.
On March 19, Kelly’s Roast Beef finally opened its latest location in a new multiunit outparcel space in the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay at U.S. 41 North and Wiggins Pass Road.
Naples
In the city of Naples, Roma Italian Bistro & Pizzeria rebranded as the upscale Ottimo on 5th Cucina & Bar when it relocated less than three blocks west on Fifth Avenue South to the renovated former space of KJ Sushi & Asian Bistro. Backyard Fire Grill switched things up when it opened in the former Vegan Kitchen space in Neapolitan Way Plaza. The meaty new restaurant for barbecued chicken and ribs is owned by the Karakosta family, who has operated the nearby Mr. Big Fish seafood grill for more than 12 years.
East Naples
GG Brunch Haus has become a new local favorite since the breakfast-lunch spot launched in late January in the refreshed former La Rosa Pizzeria at Pelican Larry’s Plaza on Davis Boulevard in East Naples.
Bringing its taste of Chicago to the little red food cart on the corner of Airport-Pulling Road and Estey Avenue in early February, Mr. Beef started serving Italian beef and sausage sandwiches, Maxwell Street Polish and Chicago dogs. Moving into the Berkshire Commons space vacated last year by the longtime Naples Pizza, Santi’s New York
commissioners. Nothing’s done without public input.”
County commissioners will hold prioritybased budget workshops for FY 2026 on June 19 and, if necessary, June 20.
Financial needs run deep
In the 2.5-hour workshop, Williams explained the rationale behind commissioners’ insistence on cost-cutting, and none of it would alleviate the library supporters’ fears.
“A lot of the facilities you see in Collier County — this building that you’re in — were built just before the housing market bubble burst,” Williams told the group, which was meeting in the Headquarters Library. “We, as a county, had committed to latch onto that bubble and expand, expand, expand and expand.
“Well, the bubble burst. And we were kneedeep in projects. And then we had no taxable value,” she said.
“Even to today, we have not met the prebubble taxable values. We have had to temper our annual repair, maintenance and support of all of these facilities that we’ve acquired and brought online in 2006, 2007 and a couple of years after that. So we are behind in
maintaining those facilities.”
At the same time, the county has suffered at least tangential wrath from four hurricanes in the last seven years. Two of those, Irma and Ian, did major damage, she said.
“Why do people come to Collier County? We live in paradise. They come for our beaches. They come for our amenities. We have to maintain those. We’ve had two devastating hurricanes. We are still repairing certain beach access points from Irma,” she said. “We’re still restoring areas that we depend on to bring the tourists in.”
Library board advisory members, including the three present at the workshop March 28, have been tasked with reading the county’s 341page strategic plan, which includes prioritybased budgeting and a return-on-investment report. The board also will be required to understand the budget policy set by the Collier County Commissioners.
“The primary focus of your current sitting board of county commissioners is health, safety, welfare,” Williams said.
“So you’re going to see affordable workforce housing. You’re going to see heavy public health and safety — transportation, your infrastructure. Nobody likes the traffic in
Pizza locally introduced its bite of the Big Apple in late February. While not exactly a restaurant, local wholesaler Landert Bread satisfied taste buds when it started sharing its European breads, baked goods and pastries directly with the masses on Feb. 28 when it debuted its first retail store, off the beaten path at 4440 Domestic Ave.
Bonita Springs-Estero
Sugarshack Downtown live music venue, restaurant and bar rocked the region when it took
the local stage in late January. The state-of-the-art entertainment destination was created with an ultra-cool setting on Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs.
The popular Naples-based Neapolitan Gourmet Italian Market & Deli launched a second location in January in the former space of Mediterranean Paradise in Imperial Bonita Plaza at Imperial Parkway and Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. Fresh Catch Inland opened Feb. 10 as the latest
town. Everybody says there’s problems with the traffic, and it’s going to get worse because of the work going on,” she warned.
There are some 170 projects in process or planned for the coming year. Water resources, stormwater, utility partnerships and the continuing remediation of damage from hurricanes are in the mix of Collier County’s high priorities defined for its Strategic Initiatives Division.
“That’s not to say that every other project that’s occurring is not a priority,” Williams said. “It’s just that these are the ones that the board wants quarterly updates on.” The reports are to ensure the priority projects are “on time, on target and pressing forward.”
No breathing just yet
Nicole Rolando, who brought a letter of support for the library, said afterward this was her first request of a governmental body.
“I’m somewhat encouraged because the library personnel seem to be understanding,” she said. “They don’t seem to want to close the doors.” But it had energized her, she said, to write to an area homeowner association asking if it would alert its residents.
Jennifer Ashford, who represents the library’s district, District 2, on the board, said no one had an idea yet what their budget deliberations would yield. But she told residents to stay involved: “Pay attention to what your government is doing and what the library is doing,” she said.
Rebeca Seitz, who represents District 1 on the advisory board, worried aloud during the meeting about setting priorities on the basis of dollar-value measurables alone. She offered a written statement after the meeting that read in part:
“It’s my staunch hope that, while the commissioners benefit from the fresh expertise afforded by the outside entity Tyler Tech in guiding Collier County spending, they do so through the lens of love of Naples and greater Collier County. We are the incredible community that exists today because of those who came before us who faithfully adhered to that motivation.”
from prolific local restaurateur
Franco Russo, whose new place is in the former T42 and TGI Fridays outparcel on the northern edge of Coconut Point in Estero.
On the other side of Estero, Rush Inn Bar & Grille rushed into the Miromar Outlets unit that formerly was The Llama’s House. The Rush family expanded into Florida in late March after operating a couple of locations in the Cleveland area for 45 years.
Fort Myers
Sip & Sizzle elevated local dining when it debuted Jan. 6 in downtown Fort Myers. Kelly’s Roast Beef and Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill opened in late January and early February, respectively, on opposite ends of a new retail strip near Topgolf Fort Myers.
Elsewhere in Fort Myers, StuffA-Bagel started schmearing on Jan. 20, while Swamp Cat Brewing opened its taps on March 26. In south Fort Myers, Lan Xang Asian restaurant launched in January, while the anticipated Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant opened on March 28.
On Fort Myers Beach in January, Philly Express FL began serving cheese steaks and other sandwiches on the ground floor of Lani Kai Island Resort.
Cape Coral
The ever-growing community of Cape Coral continues to expand its hospitality offerings.
LadyCakes Bakery opened its new location there on Jan. 1, followed by Fat Boys Pizza & Subs, Clase Azul Mexican restaurant and Eagle Specialty Coffees coffee shop in January.
In February, Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders debuted the chain’s first of many regional locations, while the local Florida Boy Burger Co. opened a Cape Coral restaurant.
In March, Indian Breeze, The Cape Brazilian Grill and Yonutz
all opened in Cape Coral.
Sorry, We’re Closed After entertaining guests for nearly 20 years, Bambusa Bar & Grill in Naples closed Feb. 25. “Will there be another Bambusa? Time will tell. For now, we thank you for your patronage, friendship and unforgettable memories over the years,” Bambusa posted on its Facebook page.
That Empire Plaza anchor space on Goodlette-Frank Road is destined to be Old Town Saloon, which is targeted to launch in May.
Chef Asif Syed recently surprised local diners when he announced the March 31 closing of 21 Spices the upscale Indian restaurant he co-owned and operated for more than nine years in East Naples. The award-winning chef plans to leave the area to expand his culinary career in a larger market, but details about where he’ll land next have not yet been revealed. Also no word yet about what business may take 21 Spices’ 7,400-square-foot anchor space in Sugden Park Plaza.
The Warehouse Cuisine & Cocktails shuttered March 19 after a nearly eight-year run along Immokalee Road east of Collier Boulevard. The local Italian restaurant concept Two Meatballs in the Kitchen plans to open this summer in the vacated space.
In Lee County, Bonita Bill’s closed Jan. 5 after operating more than 30 years in Fort Myers Beach. The waterfront restaurant and bar will reopen soon as Bonita Fish Co., under new ownership from the local restaurant group behind Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and the neighboring Dixie Fish Co. Also, Divine Donuts closed Jan. 27 in Cape Coral, and Voodoo Brewing Co. shuttered March 30 in downtown Fort Myers.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim. aten@naplespress.com.
ABOVE: Backyard Fire Grill launched on Neapolitan Way in Naples.
BELOW: The Warehouse Cuisine & Cocktails permanently closed in March.
Photos by Tim Aten
A group of residents, armed with a petition representing nearly 1,000 people, asked for assurances the Vanderbilt Beach Library (above) will continue to operate. Photo by Ed Scott
future, but that in order to get started with year one the decision was made to pursue shared space with an existing facility.
ACCS and BridgePrep Academy will be the only CCPS charter schools to share space, according to Chad Oliver, chief communications officer for the school district.
According to Kafle, the layout of the building “aligns itself nicely,” dividing the space evenly between the two charter schools, with 11 classrooms on the front end of the building and 11 on the back end.
“We’re literally just kind of cutting it in half,” she said. “BridgePrep will have the front 11 classrooms and we will have the back 11 classrooms, which equals about 11,000 square feet.”
Regarding spaces such as the gymnasium and cafeteria, Kafle said they will be shared but not used at the same time. She said ACCS will use a “green space” outside the building that is not currently being used by BridgePrep.
“We want to incorporate that as much as we possibly can for our students daily, for activity, movement and gardening,” Kafle said. “We want nature to be a huge part of their instructional experience.”
Kafle, who served as the director of special education for Collier County Public Schools for more than five years, said the ACCS operating budget for year one, previously estimated at $2.8 million, will be $3.6 million. That funding comes from the Florida Department of Education and is “passed through” CCPS. Enrollment, originally planned for 65 students, has grown to 80 for the first year, Kafle said, chosen by lottery from more than 177 applications. She said the majority of applications came from parents whose students had previously been home schooled.
The 39-member ACCS staff will include eight classroom teachers and 16 exceptional student education assistants; support staff; a speech-language pathologist; occupational therapists; and board-certified behavior analysts, according to Kafle.
She said applications had been “highly concentrated” in the primary grades, with fewer applicants for middle and high school, so kindergarten through third are “standalone” grades/classrooms, while grades four and five are combined and grades six, seven and eight are combined. Ninth grade will be a standalone class, and grades 10-12 will be combined.
A tuition-free public option for students with autism ACCS, as are all charter schools in the county, is “sponsored” by the Collier County school district with the state, and enters into a contract with the district to pay an administrative fee that helps pay for the district staff that helps support charters.
The new charter school will be the only tuition-free public option in Collier County, — aside from enrollment in a traditional public school — for students on the autism spectrum. Able Academy is a private
school option charging tuition for grades K-12, along with clinics including Mindful Masterpieces, also K-12, and Stepping Stones, which covers only elementary grades.
Kafle said last fall when CCPS Board approval was announced that ACCS is meant to be not just a school, but a support system for both students and their families that will include extracurricular activities and other opportunities for entire families to be involved.
“We’re hoping for our students to experience growth in all areas — academic, social, emotional, behavioral, communication — while really homing in on that family aspect so it’s not just for the students but for their families,” she said.
“We’re excited to also offer before- and after-school care, which is something that’s not available for our kids with significant disabilities in the public school system.”
Mitchell, a former Collier County school board member, said last fall that she hopes CCPS will see ACCS as a “partner” in the district’s work to help meet the needs of all students.
“They [CCPS] do a fantastic job addressing their special needs population, but what we found is that when you really target that very specific audience, you can really improve outcomes for those students,” Mitchell said.
“We hope that the district will see us as a partner helping to take some things off their plate and allow them to continue to do the great work they’re doing while we provide a very targeted and innovative model at our school.”
Kafle added that as the plans developed, it was important to the founders that the school be a charter and not a private school.
“The reason that going the charter route was important to us is that it’s tuition-free, so parents do not have to pay for it,” Kafle said. “It also guarantees highly qualified teachers. In private schools, teachers don’t necessarily have to have state certification or even a degree in education. Being a public charter guarantees that our teachers are certified and also ensures that students are instructed in state standards.”
Kafle said ACCS will have Applied Behavioral Analysis principles in place and will have “high expectations and rigor” when it comes to academics, with parents and students protected by state and federal regulations, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, “and that was really important to us.”
Asked last fall when CCPS approved the charter how important this educational option will be for students on the autism spectrum, CCPS Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli said in a written response at the time that the ACCS charter application noted that while Collier County boasts excellent schools and strong support for students with disabilities, the charter school will provide another choice for parents “specifically tailored to the needs of students with significant autism and their families.”
“As an educator who started my career working with students with disabilities, I understand the unique needs of students with significant cognitive, motor and behavioral challenges,” Ricciardelli said.
“I support any program with the ability to provide children with the opportunity to meet their full potential both academically and socially.”
There are more than 7,500 students with special needs, including autism, enrolled in Collier County public schools, according to the district.
From page 3A
didn’t. They basically stayed in the vicinity for the most part.”
Cane toads have enlarged parotoid glands behind the eyes, which angle downward onto the shoulders. The glands secrete a potent milky-white toxin, known as bufotoxin, as a defense against predators.
“It’s a stress response [exuding bufotoxin], and they can do that as a protection for themselves. The main issue we have here is more of a social issue, and it’s that pets grab these toads,” she said.
Dogs seem to be the most vulnerable because of their tendency to attack wildlife, risking the toxin getting in their mouths.
If your dog encounters a cane toad, the best thing to do is take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
“The bufotoxin, it’s not liquid, it’s tacky,” Schuman said, “so when it gets in their mouth, it sticks. So, water isn’t just going to rinse it away easily, so you kind of want to wipe.
“But, honestly, and especially if it’s a really small dog, I would say your best course of action is to get to the emergency vet immediately. The clock is ticking.”
The toxin can activate nearly instantaneously, but the size of the dog determines how quickly it affects them.
Though the Conservancy of Southwest Florida isn’t practicing the removal of cane toads, local companies, such as Toad Busters, are.
Toad Busters owner Jeannine Tilford was once a veterinary technician who saw many dogs coming in that had bitten toads and were affected by the toxins. She then decided to start catching the toads to reduce their population in Southwest Florida neighborhoods.
Since the company started in 2015, Tilford has also founded Pet Protect Fencing, a mesh barrier that attaches to existing fences to help keep cane toads out of yards.
“So, you have kind of a safer place to have your pets run around,” Tilford said.
The barrier comes in various colors and can attach to different fence types, including wood, vinyl, aluminum and iron. The material is custom-sized and lets homeowners position the mesh at a height that fits their needs.
Lisa and Brett Coutlier moved to Naples about four years ago. Before their move, the couple was aware cane toads are deadly to dogs. They immediately contacted Toad Busters to install the Pet Protect Fencing at their new home.
Along with a French bulldog, the couple has a Great Dane, a breed that can be nosy and easily pick
lier officials have said they found three more seals were being used fraudulently, but have not named them.
and structural integrity. At least one CO was revoked, and the county is still reviewing about 200,000 permit applications dating back to August 2022.
Collier and its cities are first focusing on active permits — issuing stop-work orders if homes and commercial buildings are under construction — and asking that paperwork be resubmitted using a different architect or engineer.
The investigation, which includes the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI, involves the fraudulent use of an architectural seal belonging to retired architect Gene Cravillion, 91, who has dementia and has lived in a North Naples assisted-living facility since August 2022. Col-
Numerous firms, including drafting, planning, permitting and other contractors, were issued cease-and-desist orders by the state Department of Business & Professional Regulation. However, many were unaware the seal was being used fraudulently and are providing the state board’s investigator with evidence. Most point the finger at Dave Wainscott Designs and Octavio Sarmiento of ASSA, a permitting and planning firm that worked closely with Cravillion for several years. DBPR records show that Wainscott has a lengthy history of unlicensed activity. Neither have returned emails or calls from The Naples Press French said the county’s “only involvement” is to find the sealed documents and turn them over to the state, which he called a “very daunting task.” The division is paid for
by the industry through permitting and other fees paid, he said, and although the state doesn’t require local governments to track engineers’ and architects’ seals, Collier has upgraded its software to ensure this won’t happen again.
The county was required to issue a CO since the architect’s license was active at the time most permits were submitted. DBPR alerted Collier in February that the license wasn’t valid. Its website shows it’s current through February 2027 and Cravillion’s son, who said his father is mentally incapacitated, has said someone renewed it for two years.
French said the best thing the county can do is cooperate with the state and work with the county Code Enforcement Division, Contractors’ Licensing Board and Sheriff’s Office.
“A conviction against a license or defrauding someone is one thing, but … we can add to that and make that conviction even more painful [so] this can’t reoccur by this person
up a toad. The fencing provides the couple with peace of mind.
“We can be outside, no problem,” Lisa Coutlier said. “We can walk around barefoot. I just don’t ever worry about being in our yard because not only does it keep the cane toads out, it keeps other critters out, as well.”
She said the fencing has held up nicely over time. Every two weeks, a Toad Busters employee comes to the home and checks the integrity of the fence.
Along with the fencing, Toad Busters sells a Cane Toad Poisoning Emergency Response Kit. If a pet gets poisoned by a cane toad, the kit has emergency supplies that could save the pet’s life. It retails for $99.
The kit includes:
One water bottle with a fine nozzle to wash the poison from their gums
• Three rags to wipe the pet’s mouth
• Activated charcoal to help prevent the absorption of toxin from the stomach and intestine Syringe to administer charcoal
• Flashlight
• Gloves
• Goggles
• Instructional booklet
“The kit itself is not something amazing, but what it does is teach you what you need to do,” Tilford said. “It provides you with everything you need in a nice little package.”
After using the kit, Tilford warned, owners should take their pet to the veterinarian immediately. She said knowing how to help is a matter of life or death for your pet.
“We’ve already heard from several vets that people — because they had that education, because they had the products they needed — it saved the dog’s life. It’s a matter of time with the bites and how much toxin the dog got; I mean, they can die within a few minutes,” Tilford said.
Experts agree prevention is key.
“The licking, biting, anything that might occur, you know, that’s when a dog gets poisoned,” Schuman said. “So, the number one thing you can do is train your dog not to jump at wildlife. Which, I know, is very hard to do when you have one of those dogs that just attacks everything that moves, and that’s usually when the problem occurs.”
Schuman recommends keeping dogs on leashes and cleaning debris in your yard.
“When dogs put their faces into bushes and things like that, that’s where the toads are going to be,” she said.
Knowing how to help your pet is the best thing in an emergency.
“It’s education, knowing the products that you need to treat your dog immediately. You have a better chance of saving them,” Tilford said.
ever,” French said, referring to loss of a license or certification.
Commissioner Rick LoCastro, whose district includes East Naples and Marco Island, said he’s received numerous calls from worried homeowners who hired the firms involved, and Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr. asked that commissioners be briefed on such investigations before they read about them in the newspaper.
Records show many homeowners are going through arbitration, Code Enforcement or CLB hearings or have filed lawsuits. The use of Cravillion’s seal occurred after Marco Island’s Building Services Division in 2023 discovered the fraudulent use of a seal belonging to architect Leonard LaForest after he died in November 2021. Records show Wainscott and others then began using Cravillion’s seal. Collier officials have said once they finish that probe, they will search permits for LaForest’s seal.
Emily Kafle
A cane toad’s danger is its defense: It secretes a milky toxin that can be fatal to other animals, including household pets.
Photo by Getty Images
Collier County 100 Club a beacon of hope to first responders and families in times of need
By Jean L.
When a hurricane hits our area, flooding ensues; roofs collapse trapping those inside the house; or fires break out due to downed power and ruptured gas lines.
People need immediate assistance. First responders who put their lives at risk for the greater good are on the scene as soon as safety is determined, confronting hazardous conditions to serve their community. Their actions prompted Collier County 100 Club to pose a critical question: “Who is there for the first responders?”
The nonprofit organization has made it its mission to offer financial assistance to first responders and their families in their time of need. With clubs already in place throughout the country, Sheriff Aubrey Rogers and his staff were approached in 1985 regarding the need to support the families of fallen officers, and a Collier County 100 Club was organized. Since then, the club’s funding has extended to support not only fallen first responders but those in various states of need.
Identifying recipients for assistance
Financial assistance is granted to first responders and their families, including fire and emergency medical services staff, Collier County Sheriff’s Department staff, Naples Police, Florida Wildlife officers and any state or federal law enforcement
personnel assigned to Collier County. Funds are appropriated whenever an active first responder suffers a tragedy in the line of duty, said Emily Budd, Collier 100 executive director.
“It doesn’t have to be an on-duty-related death,” she said. “We also grant for extreme medical challenges or when they are critically affected by natural disasters like the last hurricane.”
The process
“We rely on the agency command-
ers to make the recommendation to our board, which is comprised of 10 community members with Patrick O’Connor as president,” Budd said. “The commanders vet potential grantees according to what they perceive as a tragedy and then they submit a request detailing the circumstances on behalf of the first responder. The board votes on whether or not to make a distribution. Criteria are based on the fact that the agency chiefs have assessed the need and find it appropriate for this request.”
Funds are dispersed quickly, within 24 to 48 hours, with most grants amounting to $5,000.
Funding sources
Money is raised through annual memberships of $200 and $100 for first responders who donate to benefit their fellows. Donations from the community outside of the membership are accepted, as are donations to the Collier County 100 Club’s endowment fund.
“We rely on one of our board members to speak at local clubs and other venues about the need,” Budd said. “President O’Connor often takes that role, as does Tom Storrar, a retired Collier County Sheriff’s Office captain and a dedicated professional.”
In addition, a dinner open to the community is held annually. This year, it was held on March 19 at Naples Hilton hotel, with featured speaker retired Air Force four-star General Timothy M. Ray, former Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
“First responders sacrifice so much for our community, and they do so much for us; it’s a great opportunity for our community to recognize that they need support, as well,” Budd said. “And becoming a member or donating to the club is our chance to respond to their needs.”
Amodea
Beth Haely, Joe McDonald of Mission BBQ (center) and Collier County 100 Club President Patrick O’Connor at the club’s March 19 annual dinner. Mission BBQ has been an ongoing supporter of the club, which offers grants to the county’s first responders in need.
Photo courtesy Collier County 100 Club
page 4A
Changing of guard atop Veterans Council
By Aisling Swift
After a decade of serving, U.S. Coast Guard Chief William C. Carl is stepping down as president of the Collier County Veterans Council. His second-in-command is taking over.
During the change of leadership ceremony at City Hall, Mayor Teresa Heitmann also proclaimed March 19 Chief William Carl Day.
“Chief Carl has selflessly devoted his time and leadership to the Veterans Council of Collier County for 10 years, advocating for veterans and ensuring their needs were met while providing a platform for their voices to be heard,” Heitmann said, reading the proclamation. “Chief Carl’s leadership has been instrumental in helping veterans and their families navigate the challenges they face and ensuring they receive the care, resources and the recognition they deserve.
“… Chief Carl’s dedication to service — both in the United States Coast Guard and in the veterans community — has left an incredible mark on Collier County, and his efforts will continue to inspire future generations of veterans and leaders.”
Carl, a Coast Guard combat veteran, spent 33 years in the military, the last 20 in Iraq and Afghanistan.
through the back window and placed the box on the seat.
After he drove off, detectives activated their emergency lights and sirens and stopped the car. An unmarked police car approached from behind, while two unmarked vehicles, with lights flashing, blocked the front of the car. But Rana drove around them and headed eastbound on Harbor Drive. Detectives ended the pursuit due to police policy.
During the ceremony, the council’s vice president, Sgt. Alexander Leoni, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, took the gavel from Carl. A large, 180-pound bronze bust of Carl, which will be featured in the City Hall lobby with the council flag and other military memorabilia, was unveiled by the mayor.
Instead of keeping it or passing it on to his children to share, he decided to take the mayor up on her offer to display it at City Hall.
“That was an honor all in itself I didn’t expect,” Carl said, adding it’s already traveled to the Pentagon, White House and many military bases, along with other statues, and was then given to him by the artist.
The council is an umbrella group covering 20 veterans’ councils countywide. It meets at City Hall at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. Carl’s last council meeting as president was held a day after the ceremony.
For information on the council, go to: collier-county-veterans-council.org
Soon after, Detective Troy Mennig spotted the Hornet in the parking lot of The Moorings Golf & Country Club, at 2500 Crayton Road. Its hazard lights were on and both passenger-side windows were rolled down, but the driver was gone. Detectives canvassed the area and found Rana, who waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak to Mennig and Detective Timothy Dolan. Rana said in January, he was introduced to Chintan from India on WhatsApp and he provided instructions on how to meet many victims in Florida. Rana picked up packages, ensured gold was inside and called for a pickup. He flew to Florida, received $2,500 weekly and made 15-20 pickups. Days earlier, he’d made a pickup in Clearwater and received $2,500. He said he was staying at a Tampa hotel when he was asked to collect the gold in Naples.
If you’ve been a victim of a financial crime, call your local law enforcement agency or report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov or 1.800.CALL.FBI.
OUT & ABOUT
The Naples Botanical Garden held its annual Hats in the Garden fundraiser on March 28. This year’s event chair was Joan Clifford, who chose a La Dolce Vita theme. The special event speaker, “Today Show” host Jenna Bush Hager, led the event, which ended with a fashion show of Etro designs, sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue.
Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann congratulates U.S. Coast Guard Chief William Carl for his 10 years of service as
the president of the Collier County Veterans Council after a changing of leadership ceremony at City Hall on March 19. Behind Carl is U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alexander Leoni, the council’s
Photography by Liz Gorman
Hats in the Garden 2025 event chair Joan Clifford, Eleanor Chabraja
Eva Aspergren, Cindy Dreyfuss
Naples Botanical Garden Vice President of Conservation Chad Washburn, Naples Botanical Garden Vice President of Education of Interpretation Britt Patterson-Weber
Cheryl Coleman poses with her watering can hat.
Susan Gohl, Tom Moran The
Collier agrees not to build emergency cell tower near Everglades
By Aisling Swift
After intense opposition from neighbors and nearby Native tribes, Collier County commissioners have agreed to abandon plans to build a more than 350-foot cell phone tower near Big Cypress National Preserve.
Opponents rallied on Facebook, Instagram, change.org and other social media outlets, citing health effects, the environment, disruption to tribal ceremonies and visual concerns. By the time the Board of
County Commissioners held its hearing March 25, Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr. — whose district includes the Ochopee site — asked commissioners to grant his birthday wish and remove the site from consideration.
“My first wish would be leave it on the Carnestown location, where the tower has been since 1942, but that can be something that we can ultimately discover as … we’re looking at these alternative sites,” McDaniel said, noting it will require negotiations with the federal government. “There is revenue that comes from this, as far as a rental goes, and the federal government will be the
one that receives that revenue.”
The current tower is about 5.4 miles to the west at the intersection of Tamiami Trail East and State Road 29, an area called Carnestown. It must be relocated because the National Park Service purchased the property and plans to tear it down to make way for a visitors’ center.
The tower is needed for 911 communication services, Greater Naples Fire Department in Ochopee, the Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, National Park Service and the State Law Enforcement Radio System, a network used by several state agencies and emergency service providers. Cell
phone providers also could use it.
County Public Safety Telecommunications Manager Nathan Hinkle told commissioners that trying to evaluate sites was “very difficult” and two deals fell through. This site was given to the county by the Shealy family to benefit public safety. Big Cypress also has equipment on the current tower and losing that would put the preserve in jeopardy, so the tower is critical for many. The tower was proposed for 5,217 square feet on a 5.34-acre parcel at Ochopee Fire
FIRST RESPONDERS UNDERGO TRAINING
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office conducted active shooter/hostile event response training on Monday, March 24, at Naples Church, 10910 Immokalee Road. ASHER training ensures that first responders are prepared to respond in a coordinated, effective manner in the event of a shooter/assailant. Participants in this exercise include CCSO, Naples Police Department, Marco Island Police Department, Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, city of Naples Fire Rescue, North Collier Fire Control & Rescue District, Immokalee Fire Control District, Collier County EMS, NCH Healthcare System and Physicians Regional Healthcare System.
Photography courtesy Collier County Sheriff’s Office
The training session underway, a CCSO helicopter carrying
HEALTH
Adding high-powered training method supercharges workouts
By Jean L. Amodea
High-intensity interval training workouts have gained momentum among fitness enthusiasts and have experienced a revival due to their benefits and efficacy. It is not a specific exercise or program; instead, HIIT is a training method that incorporates short bursts of concentrated movements with short periods of rest in a chosen activity that can be tailored to participants’ fitness levels. It purports to improve overall fitness in less time than traditional workouts. The usual formula is one minute of physical activity — for example, running — followed by one minute of a low jog or rest; gyms vary in their time sequences, with some recommending a four-minute on and four-minute rest schedule. Using free weights or resistance bands can boost the intensity of the activity for more gains. Two local fitness facility owners weighed in on the benefits of HIIT and the ways they integrate it into their workouts.
House of HIIT
Co-owners and fitness trainers Cynthia and Daniel Rodriguez have operated House of HIIT since November 2023 with three staff members and a membership ranging in age from 20 to 60. Their 45-minute sessions are powered by music and video monitors for guidance, and they augment workouts with slam balls, barbells, dumbbells, sandbags, battle ropes, resistance bands, kettlebells and TRX training.
“HIIT includes high motivation, a coaching element and accountability from the group, resulting in physical improvements,” Cynthia Rodriguez said. “With three different types of classes, members can build muscle and improve endurance, cardiovascular health, mobility, flexibility and their core.”
Sessions and offerings
“We tailored the acronym HIIT to represent ‘highly innovative interval training’ because we use HIIT with a timer, which drives the workouts,” Cynthia Rodriguez said. “On HIIT days, you may have 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest. Sessions are 45 minutes long and include a warm-up, a demo from the trainer about the activity, the workout and an ending stretch. The average attendance is five weekly sessions with a different focus each day to balance workouts between strength and cardio days.”
House of HIIT offers a diverse range of group classes and personal training for those who want to achieve more focused goals. Little Legends is a HIIT camp for elementary school kids, and nutritional coaching is offered to help members with weight loss that will change their physique and body composition.
“With our variety of classes, there’s always something new and exciting to try, keeping your fitness journey fresh and
or appropriate and would have a negative visual effect on the Everglades area.
Control Station 66, 40808 Tamiami Trail E., to the rear of the station and next to a Native village. It’s an essential-service site within the Conservation Zoning District and Big Cypress Area of Critical State Concern, so a conditional-use petition was required.
During a February Planning Commission hearing, when the petition was unanimously recommended, Jack Shealy, owner of the neighboring Trail Lakes Campground and Skunk Ape Headquarters, contended the tower would violate his family’s deed restrictions because it’s not necessary
It was Shealy who created the change.org petition, which drew more than 2,100 signatures, including by Ochopee, Miccosukee and Seminole Indians. A plea on Facebook by Betty Osceola, a respected elder of the Miccosukee Tribe, was shared by CollierDems, who urged residents to “stand in solidarity” and speak out — and they packed commission chambers and waited patiently on Zoom.
Brandon Copper, of Davidson Engineering, which worked with the county on the project, said the tower could extend 10 feet higher due to an antenna and
lightning rod.
engaging,” Rodriguez said.
Florida HIIT Factory
Chris Yettke assumed the operations of the Florida HIIT Factory in 2022 from a former owner. His classes are noteworthy in that most of them incorporate boxing and kickboxing. Each member works with their own heavy bag during 50-minute classes led by one of seven coaches.
“Members are from all experience levels and ages, with 99% having never donned a pair of boxing gloves,” Yettke said. “We do HIIT with boxing rounds lasting from 45 seconds to three minutes, during which we coach members how to throw certain combinations like jabs, cross hooks and uppercuts. Next is active recovery, which can include squats, push-ups or burpees to keep the heart up to its maximum aerobic rate. Then, we bring it down just a hair where you’re never resting, you’re just slowing down the heart rate. The movements are then restarted. We describe workouts as a series of progressions and regressions.”
Workouts
“Classes go by quickly; 700 calories are burned, you’re sweating and you feel good —
“There is no hiding this tower,” Copper said, adding, however, “Studies show that typically within three or so months, these fade into the background for those that are around them every day.”
Thirty-two people signed up to speak in person and via Zoom, with some ceding their three minutes to others.
Shealy said if the county sued to fight the deed restrictions, it would be “unacceptable” and a “slap in the face for the people that in their good graces deeded this property to be used for fire suppression.
“I think the best bet is to find another location,” Shealy said.
Speakers used public comment
HOUSE OF HIIT
What: High-intensity interval training fitness facility
Where: 3349 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
Classes: 5:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., noon, 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday; 6:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 5:30 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m. Saturday; 3:45-4:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Little Legends HIIT camp for elementary school kids Free pass: Naples residents can try out classes for three days (must be used within seven days); personal training available Contact: hohfitness.com or 239.281.6044
FLORIDA HIIT FACTORY
What: A high-intensity interval training group boxing fitness program
Where: 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Road #510, Naples Class hours: 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. Sunday; 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 1:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday Parkinson’s strength and mobility class Memberships: $25 for a one-off session; unlimited memberships (call for pricing) Contact: floridahiitfactory.com or 239.321.6764
suddenly, cardio is less boring,” Yettke said. “It’s a total body exercise using the core, stability, agility and stamina, and it’s a way to take out aggression while feel-good dopamine is released into the body. Workouts are as hard as you want to make them; it depends on the intensity, the amount you throw and the movement you do between the combos that includes a mix of dumbbells, kettlebells, bands and medicine balls. We also have speed bags, uppercut bags, double end bags and a functional boxing ring for one-on-one personal training sessions.”
The facility is certified as a Rock Steady boxing affiliate whose program addresses Parkinson’s disease symptoms. “It has been proven that HIIT with moderate to intense exercise 180 minutes a week slows down or decreases the effects of Parkinson’s with measurable metrics confirmed by members’ physicians,” Yettke added.
to talk about the devastation on the Everglades and effects on wildlife, while others cited studies that showed cell towers caused health problems, including dizziness, headaches and cancer.
Jen Cardenas, a lifelong area resident, said visitors and locals who visit the Everglades “expect a pristine natural environment when they come to this unique place.
“Let’s not blow it by building a 350, excuse me, 360-foot eyesore of a utility tower right along the scenic highway,” Cardenas said, noting April is Everglades Dark Sky Month, which will draw astronomers and stargazers to the area because it’s free of light pollution. “Imagine a 350-foot tower
with blinking lights in this Dark Sky area.”
McDaniel made a motion to delay a decision, which was seconded by Commissioner Rick LoCastro, but the board began a discussion. Commission Chair Burt Saunders suggested withdrawing that motion in favor of a motion to eliminate the site, consider others and to ask congressional leaders to determine if they could keep the existing tower.
“If it turns out that the federal government says, ‘No, you’ve got to move that tower and you’ve got a year to do it,’ then we have a problem and we’ll have to solve that problem,” Saunders said. McDaniel made that motion and it passed unanimously.
Maryann Moisant uses a kettlebell in a personal training session with co-owner and coach Daniel Rodriguez at the House of HIIT in Naples.
Photo courtesy House of HIIT
Coach Maddie Miller with Sally Strayton, a member of the Rock Steady Parkinson’s strength and mobility class at Florida HIIT Factory in Naples. Photo courtesy Florida HIIT Factory
Do you remember rotary phones? How about “Please be kind and rewind” posters at Blockbuster? Heck, how about Blockbuster itself? Technology is moving so rapidly that I knew a college student who did not know how to address an envelope; she never used the post office. The times, they are a-changin.’ In the real estate industry, technological advances have entirely altered property transactions. The days of paging through the newspaper and circling options in red are long gone. Endlessly perusing homes online is now a pastime. Realtors themselves have vibrant websites, videos and even drone images to highlight their listings.
Last month, Realtor magazine featured a story on the National Association of Realtors’ newly launched iOi collective. The magazine, published by the NAR, covered how iOi, short for “indication of interest,” is the latest in a sweep of technological advances in the industry.
Meant to serve as a bridge between the real estate industry and the technology landscape, this new collective utilizes the latest advances in digital communication to provide content, webinars and innovative resources.
There is now an app where agents can verify client identities, thus providing protection when they show homes alone. The Naples Area Board of Realtors will be offering training for its use next month. Just one more example of how useful high-tech resources can be.
MLS, short for Multiple Listing Service, permits any subscriber to access an expansive range of data on any property for sale. Dimensions, amenities, layout and other specifications are available among participating brokers through this service.
The term MLS is believed to have first been used in 1885 in California. Speed up to 1910 when a group in Illinois is credited with writing all listings on a large blackboard, to then be shared with agents on individual postcards. Truly cutting-edge stuff at the time. Imagine what they would think of Zillow, Redfin and all the data available at our fingertips.
Naples Realtor Deb Dolinsky has seen these changes firsthand during her 42 years in the business, working in both Naples and her native New Jersey. “When I started, Realtors were the primary gatekeepers and you had to go to a Realtor to get to view, and gain access to, a property,” she said. “We didn’t even have a fax machine when I started.”
Now fax machines themselves are obsolete. Online information is immediate and detailed.
“Buyers and sellers can now get instant in-
REAL ESTATE
High-tech house hunting still needs human touch
formation. Sellers get increased exposure,” Dolinsky said. “Buyers can do their own due diligence ahead of time; that was not available to them then.”
The internet is often the first place to turn for information. In the past, explained Dolinsky, it was not much better than that blackboard in Illinois. “We had no internet, so buyers and sellers did not have the same exposure. Technology was in its infancy and all listings were kept in a paperbound book that had to be updated daily, if not more frequently, on a manual basis. “
Now anyone eager to check out houses can log on and go window shopping; they can even specify how many windows are required. This is all due to the coordinated data within the MLS system. It connects agents, buyers and sellers with the latest specifications.
Way back in 1911, NAR President Samuel Thorpe cited the MLS as the most effective method for selling real estate. And that was in the blackboard era. Now, there have been “big, big changes in the process,” as Dolinsky said. “Before the internet, buyers and sellers either walked into the office or called the agents up, based on advertising and/or direct personal referrals,” she said. “Now, the business model is evolving on a daily, even hourly, basis.”
Helpful as technology is, Dolinsky stressed that it does not replace the experience of a human advocate. “Realtors have the hands-on expertise, knowledge and ability to navigate complex processes,” she said. “To me it is crucial, despite the availability of online resources.”
No one can argue that whiling away a few hours looking at beautiful homes is a pleasant pastime. For those genuinely in the market to move, technology now offers specifications, dimensions and amenities for properties worldwide. While the negotiating skills and market expertise of a Realtor are missing, the internet is a great place to start when considering what might fit the needs of you and your family.
Once the matter nears the legally binding stage, a good agent can step in, reducing the stress of complicated transactions. We now have the best of both worlds.
Gone are the days when runners would be used to hand out updated notices throughout the day, every time the status of a property changed.
“If you had a broken arm, would you set it back in place yourself and put on the cast?” Dolinsky pondered. “I don’t think so, we leave that to the expert. That is the way I feel about Realtors: We are the experts in our field.”
And now with that expertise, coupled with the comprehensive background knowledge easily gleaned from the internet, both buyers and sellers have more resources than ever.
Just try writing all that on a blackboard.
with Compass.
We take the number of “Active Listings” (the number of properties currently on the market) and divide it by the number of “Properties Sold” over the past year, then multiply the result by 12 to determine the number of months it would take to sell all active listings at the current rate.
Let’s do one together. As of March 2025, these are the current numbers for Naples, Florida:
Single-family homes: Active Listings: 3,378 Properties Sold in the past year: 4,052 Absorption Rate: (3,378 ÷ 4,052) x 12 = 10
On average, a single-family home in Naples will stay on the market for 10 months before it’s sold.
Condos: Active listings: 3,359
Condos in Naples are expected to take about 12.5 months to sell. A market with lower Absorption Rates — say, four months or lower — is considered a Seller’s Market, because it means homes are sell-
Jon Feins
By M. Melanie Pefinis
The internet and numerous apps have changed the entire method of house hunting.
Photo by M. Melanie Pefinis
Realtors and clients in the 1960s were limited in the ways they searched for homes.
Photo courtesy The National Association of Realtors Library & Archives
As an icon rises along the Vanderbilt Beach skyline, there will be a new address in Naples to surpass all others. With coastal residences of unrivaled space and finishes, 50,000 square feet of inspired amenities, and impeccable service by the first name in luxury, every moment of every day will be yours to enjoy at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Naples. A rare opportunity reserved for the few, the time to select your residence is now.
The best time to select one of these incomparable homes for yourself is now. 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road Suite 106, Naples, Florida 34109 Phone 239-249-6260 The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Naples Pricing from $5.2 million. RCRNaples.com
A rts & LEISURE
Ongoing events
Music classes ages 7-18
Ages 7-11, 4:45-6 p.m., ages 1215, 6:40 p.m., ages 14-18 scheduled individually, all Tuesdays in April and May 6, 13, 20. Hosted by Kumu Leilani, a cultural guide, the younger children not only sing and dance to several Hawaiian hit songs, they learn about the traditions, beliefs and languages of the land. The classes culminate in a minimusical from the youth choruses. At Scenes for Teens, ages 14-18, participants prepare and perform arias, duets and ensembles from operas and operettas under Opera Naples guidance. Rehearsals will be scheduled according to participants’ availability. Package is $70, scholarships available. operanaples. org or 239.963.9050
‘Lend Me a Tenor’
Various days and times through April 13 at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. Ken Ludwig’s laughout-loud, Tony Award-winning production comes to The Studio Players, and not one door is left unslammed in this classic farce.
$35. thestudioplayers.org or 239.398.9192
‘Man of La Mancha’
Various times through April 13 at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. The musical version of the famous tale, told by author Cervantes as a play within a play, of the deluded Alonso Quijano, who styles himself as Don Quixote, out to save fair maidens and right wrongs. The musical yielded the song that has become a standard, “The Impossible Dream.” $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
‘Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill’
Various times through April 19 in the Struthers Studio at Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples. Done with both seating and cabaret style, this musical memoir of Billie Holiday brings both her spellbinding music and her reminiscences of a hard life. $114-$144. gulfshoreplayhouse.org or 239.261.7529
Those historic little homes
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays through June 7 at the Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. Marco Island Historical Society presents “The Florida House,” a trip back in time to 1960s Marco Island. See the homes as the Mackle Brothers envisioned them, as the latest and greatest Florida architecture for Marco. Free. colliermuseums.com
Matisse at NAI
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays through April 13 at Naples Art Institute, 795 Park Ave., Naples. See featured item.
Everglades exhibition
10 a.m.-4 p.m. TuesdaysSaturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 21 at The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. “Entangled in the Mangroves: Florida Everglades Through Installation” features the work of nine Florida-based artists who explore the critical importance of the Everglades through diverse media, including painting, photography, ceramics, film, poetry and installation. The exhibition highlights its ecological and cultural
CALENDAR
MATISSE AND FAMILY
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays through April 13 at Naples Art Institute, 795 Park Ave., Naples. Next week is the last to enjoy “Art in Balance: Matisse and His Illustrated Works,” which features a selection of more than 140 works that reveal Henri Matisse’s genius as a printmaker and his unique approach to composition, color and form. The works span from the late 1930s through his final years, and it’s a special treat to time your visit to one of the docent tours here. And don’t miss the front-wall art of his great-granddaughter, Sophie Matisse, whose narratives are as insightful as her mixed media book works; her narrative with each explains the text that informed them. There’s also a work from her “Be Back in Five Minutes” series, a humorous look at the classics that may have benefited from having Marcel Duchamp as a step-grandfather. $15, $10 members. naplesart.org or 239.262.6517
importance and the urgent need for its preservation. Curated by Dianne Brás-Feliciano. $10, $5 students or full-time military with ID, $1 for SNAP benefits visitors. artisnaples. org or 239.252.2611
Florals exhibition
1-4 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays through April 30 at North Line Plaza, 2171 J & C Blvd., Naples. Viewers can see Melissa Belz’s acrylic floral paintings. Free admission. naplesart.studio or 239.821.1061
This weekend (April 4, 5, 6)
‘Four Old Broads’
Various times April 2-13 at Arts Center Theatre, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Unit 432, Marco Island. Life at the sanitized senior village where they live has dulled, so four friends sign up for a “Sassy Seniors” Cruise. But first they have to find out what’s happening to the residents of their little neighborhood since a new nurse with strange pills has come on board. Will they get to the ship? $30. marcoislandart.org/arts-centertheatre or 239.784.1186
Fashion Week finale
5-10 p.m. April 5 at Ferrari of Naples, 11291 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. International design show with live music, designers and other events. For tickets and more information, see naplesfashionweek.com See HOT TICKET information at right.
‘The Half-Life of Marie Curie’ Various times through April 27
in Price Studio Theater at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Trailblazing scientist
Marie Curie is already an unusual person, having won a Nobel Prize with her late husband and working long hours at more discoveries in the 19th century. But she was locked out of her own laboratory, picketed and shamed in public. To the rescue comes Hertha Ayrton, a fellow scientist who spirits her away from Paris so she can recover her destroyed identity and self-esteem. $50-$55. naplesplayers.org or 239.263.7990
Strauss and Storytelling
7:30 p.m. April 4 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. The Naples Philharmonic with guest artist Gabriela Montero performing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Two Richard Strauss works, Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks and his Suite from Der Rosenkavalier are also on the program. $15-$82. artisnaples.org
Naples Jazzmasters
2 p.m. April 5 at River Park Community Center, 301 11th St. N., Naples. Jazz in the key of Dixieland from this veteran group. Freewill offering. thenaplesjazzsociety.com
Mandy Barnett
Various times April 5 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Grand Ole Opry member Mandy Barnett will sing Patsy Cline’s music. SOLD OUT. artisnaples.org
Southland Bluegrass
Music Festival
Noon April 6 at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First
Next week (April 7-10)
‘The Simon & Garfunkel Story’ 7:30 p.m. April 7 at Artis— Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. This concert-style theater production tells the story of musical duo Simon & Garfunkel from their early days to their rise to fame in the 1960s, their split in the ’70s and reunion in the ’80s. $89. artisnaples.org
‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’ Various times April 9-13 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Based on the movie of the same name with songs written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and directed by Tony award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. artisnaples.org
Paint Pawty
6:30-8:30 p.m. April 10 at Mercato, 9110 Strada Place, Naples. For National Pet Day, Mercato is offering a paint-yourpet day in collaboration with Painting with a Twist. Included is a complimentary pinot grigio or pinot noir (must be 21+), a pre-sketched canvas of your pet’s portrait, all painting supplies, including paint, brushes and aprons and step-by-step guidance from talented artists. $65. experiencemercato.com
Next weekend (April 11, 12, 13)
Micky Dolenz of the Monkees: Songs and stories
St., Immokalee. Various bluegrass stars in the outdoor amphitheater, including headliners Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Del McCoury, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Travelin’ McCourys and Alligator Alley. Free admission. casino.hardrock.com
Village People
7 p.m. April 6 at Artis—Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Village People, the singers of popular songs “YMCA” and “In the Navy,” perform at Hayes Hall. $5979. artisnaples.org
8 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Seminole Casino Immokalee, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. Dolenz is an actor, singer, director, producer, writer, radio DJ, inventor and performer best known for being a member of the 1960s band The Monkees. He has toured and released music solo for years. $95. casino.hardrock.com
Mystic Masterpieces
3 p.m. April 12 at Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Drive, Naples. The season finale of the Naples Community Orchestra featuring David Taylor, assistant concertmaster. They will be playing pieces from Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy Op. 46, Faure’s Pavanne Op. 50 and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 Op. 105. $40. naplescommunityorchestra. org
FASHION WEEK FINALE
5-10 p.m. April 5 at Ferrari of Naples, 11291 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. It’s your last chance to catch up on the trends of tomorrow with the International design show closing Naples Fashion Week. There’s live music, designers and other experiences. Plan on spending an eye-opening evening with fashions of the future that you can wear. Ticket ranges include
‘La Tristesse du Roi,’ 1951, a color lithograph copy for the exhibition of Matisse drawings and lithographs at Naples Art Institute through April 13. Courtesy Naples Art Institute
Whitman Designs move to larger space proves bright idea for artist-entrepreneur
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
For 16 of his 32 years in business, David Alger operated a lamp, furnishings and art store on 10th Steet South.
Now he owns a lamp, furnishings and art store at 553 Airport-Pulling Road. With four times the space, room for his own art and a workroom for the metal furniture-making handled by his son, Cameron, Alger can breathe in his 4,000-square-foot building. So can the work Whitman Designs has become known for. The new showroom opened March 24. “I can count the chandeliers because I had to fill in all the holes I screwed into the ceiling at the old place. So it’s 225 chandeliers hanging over my head right now,” said Alger.
Beginning in wholesale Alger founded the business so long ago there was neither a Sugden Community Theatre nor a Naples Art Institute downtown. But his wholesale lamp supply business in the industrial park off Airport Road didn’t suit him either financially or aesthetically. So he turned to retail lamps — and it grew even more. Testimony to his emphasis on lighting as art is the new store’s windowed conference room. People can bring fabrics, architectural plans and color samples to coordinate lighting from Whitman Designs with him — “with all the daylight coming in, which is nice,” he said proudly.
To the right stands a glass art gallery carrying sparkling forms by Jeff McDougal, the Naples artisan who has blown glass for Alger’s custom products for years. You can have almost any color of glass for your chandelier or add some of the smaller flourishes of art — McDougal’s dish and sea life forms in striated, checkered, dotted or even ribboned glass.
Some vertical glass pieces whisper “abstract art,” but they’re actually tabletops in waiting, their raw glass undersides given explosions of color by Alger. Alger also has a lampshade room
here with products that go well beyond the standard white-androunds. On one wall are shelves of finials, those little screw-in toppers that add character while they’re holding on the lampshade.
To get to that room, you have to navigate a major distraction: two hallways covered nearly floor to ceiling with art, all of it Alger’s. He’s been painting since childhood, and his works range from a Wiggins Pass framed in seagrape to vertical-splash abstracts. Customers come to buy his paintings, most of
them small works, for their homes.
“Before, the paintings were all sort of shoved into the displays. Now I can separate it out,” he explained.
“I never wanted to be called an artist,” Alger mused. “But I guess at this point you could say I am. I think of myself as a creative entrepreneur.”
Furniture art
The Rhode Island native’s artistic tendencies reveal themselves in the furnishings realm of his business. Whitman Designs refinishes sin-
products that gave
his retail start, he acknowledged. At one time they were the store’s No. 1 product. But they’re time-consuming to build, Alger lamented. Demand has cooled with changes in trends, but fish lamps and chandeliers in tropical tones still make their way out of the store.
Those are rarities — almost all
Whitman Designs work is custom work, built or painted to serve customers’ needs from something they see in the store. Alger said he loves it when customers come in and do their own customizing; for example, borrow a feature from one chandelier to change another with a frame they like. The store has built every imaginable variety of lighting for customers; Alger recalls his Waterloo, a 10-foot birds-nest chandelier.
“We couldn’t fit the thing through door,” he said, laughing.
The reasons why
Whitman Designs carries vases in a crayon box worth of colors and can transform them into lamps, or customers can bring in their own lamps for some lighting alchemy. An outdoor drying area is another advantage of the expanded AirportSee WHITMAN, Page 4B
Marco spring-summer season ups entertainment ante here
By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
The tourist season is nearly over. Your fun is not.
Marco Island Center for the Arts has debuted a spring-summer entertainment season that ranges from theater to an evening of psychic marvels. Spend an afternoon at the island’s beach, art center and museum, then enjoy dinner and settle in for such treats as the biographical tale of humorist Erma Bombeck, whose “At Wit’s End” column took her from a Bellbrook, Ohio, weekly newspaper feature to a nationally syndicated columnist and writer. Or go for straight standup comedy with an evening of Peter Fogel’s droll observations in This Too Shall Pass … Like a Kidney Stone, which kicks off the series this spring. All events are at the Arts Center Theatre at Marco Town Center.
Some are encores of plays that were particularly well received over the last two seasons; others are new ventures.
This has been a gradual building of programming since the Marco Island Center for the Arts took over the space of the defunct Marco Players in 2023.
“The first summer we didn’t start anything because we had just taken over the lease. So we just did some play readings,” recalled Hyla Crane, executive director of the center. Last year a comedy series was added. This summer there are offerings fairly steadily from late April to Sept. 1, with two weeks out in mid-July for the children’s workshop performances.
“As more people who want to work with us come to the forefront, we want to program for our year-round residents,” Crane explained. “There are people who are here and looking for things to do.”
It’s a timely decision, given that The Studio Players has decided to forgo its summer play this year, and while the city-operated Norris Community Center may offer some summer entertainment, nothing has yet been announced past April.
There are two other summer theater events: Ghost: The Musical, an adaptation of the 1990 Academy Award-winning hit
From page 3B
Pulling Road space.
They are luxuries Alger didn’t have on 10th Street South, although he had stalked that location for years after the recession made him sell an 11,000-square-foot showroom on Enterprise Avenue and move to Third Avenue North.
“The charm of that building is what I loved,” he admitted, recall-
film, is June 5-15 at TheatreZone (one of its composers will sound familiar — Dave Stewart, founder of The Eurythmics). Then comes the June 25-July 27 Naples Players production of the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd, Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Sugden Community Center.
Still, the Marco entertainment is a welcome addition for theater lovers in Collier County. Tickets are on sale now through the Marco Island Center for the Arts website — marcoislandart.org/arts-center-theatre — or by calling the box office at 239.784.1186.
ing its origin as a feed store. Alger considers himself the father of the Design District: “I got heavily involved with the city as an adviser, as a CRA [Community Redevelopment Act] board member for the neighborhood.”
But after Hurricanes Irma, Helene and Milton washed into his business, destroying inventory, Alger decided he didn’t want to face more cleanup duty.
“We got flooded by Ian majorly, but this last summer there were
Arts Center Theatre Spring-Summer Series
2 and 6 p.m. April 16 – This Too Shall Pass … Like a Kidney Stone Peter Fogel returns to the Marco Island stage with his one-man standup show for two performances. Fogel’s storytelling has audiences laughing, crying and reflecting. $40
7:30 p.m. April 18 – Ladies Only Psychic Party. Jon Stetson, a master mentalist who has performed twice for U.S. presidents and appeared on CNN, NBC and PBS television,
will host a unique event at the Arts Center Theatre. Prediction: An engaging and funfilled evening. $40
Various times May 2-11 – Famlet. Local playwright Alex “Hubba” Costello depicts a modern domestic comedy using one of Shakespeare’s most notorious dysfunctional families with a contemporary twist. Famlet follows a young couple expecting their first child, navigating family dynamics with humor and wit and a good number of mangled soliloquies. $40
June 28, Aug. 2 and Sept. 20 – Stage 2 Improv. The long-running Naples-based improv group returns to Marco Island for three performances of its unique brand of unscripted comedy, fueled by audience suggestions. $20
Various times July 24-27 – Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End. Both comic and poignant, this tribute unrolls the life of star humorist Erma Bombeck, whose droll observations on everyday life led her from weekly newspapers to national syndication. She also wrote several wry bestsellers, including The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank and When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It’s Time to Go Home. 7:30 p.m. July 24, 25 and 3 p.m. July 26 and 27. $40 2 and 6 p.m. Aug. 6 – Til Death Do Us Part … You First. Peter Fogel, in the role he originated, is the eternal bachelor, dumped by his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. He ruminates on his horrible track record and his perspective on love and marriage, with his Conscience (Chazz Palminteri in a voiceover) forcing out his wacky anecdotes and treating us all to a bushel basket of one-liners about love and marriage. $40
Aug. 28-29 – The Swingset. By playwright Krysten Estes, a Marco Island resident, The Swingset delves into the titillating world of seniors-only resorts, as a newcomer couple learn the hard way its dirty little secrets. Or what sound like dirty little secrets. Or what could be dirty secrets. Confusion and fun abound. $40
two feet of water up against the building again,” he said. “Three strikes, you’ve got to think about being out.”
What does the name partner, Whitman, think of all these changes? Alger would laugh at the question: The store is branded with his middle name.
“Alger was just too hard for people,” he said. “They’d mispronounce and misspell it. I was Al-grrrr or Al-jar. And Whitman had a nice, dignified tone.”
Louise K. Cornetta reprises her role as the cheeky Erma Bombeck, who turned her everyday Ohio housewifemother-journalist careers into hysterical humor, at the Arts Center Theatre.
Photo courtesy Marco Island Center for the Arts
A handcrafted tropical-style hanging light on display in the showroom of Whitman Designs.
Photo by Liz Gorman
By Randy Kambic
STILL ON TOP
Another tie for FC Naples; team remains undefeated
FC Naples wasn’t victorious in its third home game, playing Portland Hearts of Pine to a scoreless draw last Saturday evening at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex. But there were plenty of positives that came out of the match.
The team remains undefeated and earned one point to stay atop the USL League One standings with a 2-0-2 record. It had the best of the play, finishing with seven shots on goal to Portland’s five, three corner kicks versus two and more near-misses. Matt “Gaffa” Poland, FC Naples head coach, provided valuable playing time for more players. Furthermore, 4,294 fans ventured out to support the local team amid light rain that abated just before game time.
“We had our chances,” Poland said afterwards, downplaying the wet surface and windy playing conditions. “We were a little slow in the first half, got stronger in the second. It’s still early in the season.”
A corner kick by FC Naples midfielder Chris Heckenberg in the sixth minute curled enough that rival goalkeeper Hunter Morse needed to make a leaping save. Later in the first half, forward Andrés Ferrin wowed the fans with some crossover dribbles before a Portland defender knocked away his centering
pass. Later, he ran laterally while controlling the ball across the goal mouth to open up space to hit a solid shot, forcing Morse to make another difficult save.
Ferrin is “a dynamic player. He can change a game,” Poland said.
Midfielder Luka Prpa entered the game in the 69th minute. Just two minutes later, he narrowly missed scoring when his left-foot drive skidded just wide of the net. Midfielder Kevin O’Connor had virtually the same experience five minutes later.
Forward Tyler Pasnik and defender Gustavo Fernandes were also inserted into the fray late in regulation time for some fresh energy.
There was a tense moment for the home team during stop -
page time when Portland’s Nathan Messer launched a long right-footed shot from a tough angle. In his most difficult save of the night, FC Naples goalie Edward “Lalo” Delgado quickly backed up a couple of steps and punched the ball over the crossbar, preserving the draw.
Instead of the wind, Delgado said the “[stadium’s] lights made it a challenge,” adding, “Seeing my teammates tired, I want to come through when I’m called upon.”
“Credit to him,” Poland said. “It was a great save.”
“We started a little slow [before] we found pockets of space to create more chances,” said Julian Cisneros, a FC Naples midfielder. “We need to keep our heads down and stay focused.”
Like FC Naples, Portland is a USL League One expansion team. It left several inches of fresh snow in Maine to play here in its first-ever league match. Portland recently won a first-round match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
“We created a fair amount of good opportunities,” Poland said.
“We need to finish them.”
FC Naples hosted the Little Rock Rangers in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Wednesday. Its next league home game will be against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, April 12, beginning at 7 p.m.
Without warning, Lyles stunningly walks away from FGCU women’s basketball
Speaking of Sports
I got my dream job once.
After years of toiling and succeeding in the world of newspapers, even running my own sports section, I was at a low point in life when an incredible opportunity came for me to work at ESPN. Less than six months after punching in for my first shift at the Worldwide Leader in Sports, I was laid off — disillusioned just a smidge by corporate media, upset that I was a long way from home and eager to find a new challenge.
I don’t pretend to know what Chelsea Lyles went through during her first season as the women’s basketball coach at Florida Gulf Coast University and definitely won’t pretend to do so here. But I do know she was the most qualified choice to take over when Karl Smesko left the program two games into the 2024-25 season for his WNBA dream job – as head coach of the Atlanta Dream.
Which is why my puzzlement echoed that of many onlookers when Lyles suddenly stepped down from her new FGCU post less than 48 hours after coaching the Eagles in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. What wasn’t known until the following Monday morning — seven days later — was that Lyles followed Smesko to the Dream. All that remained in her wake back in Southwest Florida was a nine-sentence quote in a release sent out by FGCU the Monday after the Eagles lost to Oklahoma 81-58 in the NCAA Tournament. I reached out to Lyles twice during that week via text message to no response, which is perfectly
fine and certainly understandable.
But in that period, without Lyles offering explanation why she one day was talking passionately about her maiden team and getting on the recruiting trail to reload the Eagles for the 2025-26 season, and another day handing in a brief, two-sentence resignation letter, having barely unpacked from March Madness, a lot of questions remained unanswered.
Lyles played at FGCU from 2008-10, before joining Smesko’s staff, first as a graduate assistant, then as an assistant coach in 2011 and later as an associate head coach starting in 2018. There is no doubt that she was groomed for the post. Smesko routinely allowed Lyles to coach a game by herself, taking the No. 1 assistant role to let Lyles helm the clipboard and argue with the officials.
And in my season working internally at FGCU in 2022-23, we prepared for the possibility of Smesko departing for a job opening at Pitt to the point that both a new online biography for Lyles and a press release announcing her ascension were live and ready to go on my monitor.
So when the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream came calling for Smesko just two games into the 2024-25 season, Lyles was quickly and seamlessly installed as just the second women’s basketball coach in FGCU history. That was the plan.
Smiles, photos and handshakes at half court during an official introduction with new FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis came and went. Lyles quickly got to work on the business of college basketball, doing so admirably — winning 25 straight games, going 18-0 for an ASUN regular season title, winning the ASUN Tournament and going 30-1 before losing to the Sooners.
That’s a 93.8% win rate in a rookie
coaching season, for those keeping track. And with the pedigree Smesko cultivated in her sails, it appeared Lyles was poised to keep FGCU’s Raining 3s persona going for years to come.
Until it all went away.
Speculation swirled right away that Lyles was headed to the Dream to reunite with Smesko as his assistant, a reality that became apparent the following Monday.
The revelation that Lyles never ended up signing her FGCU head coaching contract, operating as the head coach while still under her associate head coaching contract that expired March 31, instead of in the first year of a five-year deal running through 2030, made it seem that Lyles planned on a one-and-done campaign at Alico Arena and a Smesko reunion in the W all along.
That’s all speculation, but we do know that the only two women’s basketball coaches FGCU has ever known are now in Atlanta; the assistant coaching staff is scattering to new gigs around the country; and the 2024-25 roster is largely either graduating or transferring in the wake of all this. Whomever takes over now postSmesko/Lyles will find a program in theory, but in reality just a bunch of empty lockers and offices.
And Chelsea Lyles, a bright coaching star who in many ways saved a championship season this year for the FGCU women’s basketball program? She is gone from that spotlight just as suddenly as she arrived — walking away from what appeared to all to be her dream job.
Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson airs weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on Southwest Florida’s Fox Sports Radio (105.9 FM in Collier County) and streaming on FoxSportsFM. com.
David Wasson
Karsen Henderlong of FC Naples attempts to elude Portland defenders Saturday night. Photo courtesy FC Naples
COMICS & PUZZLES
1. TELEVISION: In the sitcom "Modern Family," Gloria is from which country?
2. LITERATURE: Which author wrote "The Kite Thief" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns"?
3. GEOGRAPHY: What is the deepest lake in the world?
4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which first lady's nickname was Lady Bird?
5. ASTRONOMY: How many stars make up the Big Dipper?
6. MOVIES: Which famous Hollywood couple played lead roles in the film version of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"?
7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of skunks called?
8. GEOMETRY: How many sides does a decagon have?
9. ART: Which American artist focused on women and children in her paintings?
10. ANATOMY: What substance gives skin its color? © 2025 King
Colombia
Khaled Hosseini 3. Lake Baikal, Russia
Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, wife of President Lyndon Johnson
Seven
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor 7. A surfeit 8. 10 9. Mary Cassatt
Melanin
OLIVE
By Emi Burdge
99
100
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