Neapolitan Family November 2017 Digital Issue

November 2017 neafamily.com

COMPLIMENTARY

Our Annual Guide to Local Nonprofits Meet our MOMentum Mom! Children’s Authors in SWFL Discover Vanuatu Raising Grateful Children

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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KIDS’

URGENT CARE When kids need immediate care for minor emergencies, we are here for you in Collier County.

SEE US FOR: • • • • • • •

Minor cuts, scrapes and burns Fractures Flu Infections Colds and fever Upset stomach Sunburn

KEEPING KIDS CLOSE TO HOME FOR SPECIALIZED CARE. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: • • • •

Pediatric specialists Pediatric pharmacy Pediatric lab Pediatric rehabilitation

I-75

Livingston Rd.

Airport Rd.

Pine Ridge Rd.

Golisano I Nicklaus Children’s Health Center 3361 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101, Naples, FL 34109 239-254-5920

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Christmas Tree Sales!

Collier County Fairgrounds, under the pavilion Starting Friday, November 24 at 9 a.m.

Location: 731 39th Avenue N.E. Naples, FL 34120 Days & Times: Monday - Friday: 9 am to 5 pm

We have the best Quality Frasier Fir Christmas Trees from North Carolina, at low prices. Trees range from 3 feet to 12 feet Tall. tree stands also available.

Come early - we will be selling trees until they are gone.

Christmas Card Photo Opportunity The Collier County Agricultural Fair & Exposition, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides support for such community groups as the Collier County Sheriff’s Junior Deputy Program, Catholic Charities, 4-H Foundation, Open Youth of Collier County, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Naples Bears, Immokalee High School Band, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Youth Haven, and the Palmetto High School Fishing Club, Marching Band, and Band Boosters. In addition, our Making Life Fair Fund supports local individuals with life-altering illnesses or hardships.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our

Big Swamp Smoke Off January 5 & 6, 2017!

colliercountyfair.com Collier County Fair

Proceeds benefit the Making Life “Fair” Fund colliercountyfair.com TheThe TealTeal Pumpkin Project® and and the Teal Pumpkin Project® logologo are registered trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education Pumpkin Project® the Teal Pumpkin Project® are registered trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

CollierCoFair neafamily.com

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November 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS

in every issue . . .

07

FROM THE PUBLISHER

08

REEL LIFE WITH JANE Movie previews for the month

13

FAMILY LAW

14

CITY CONNECTION City of Naples Parks News & Events

15

COLLIER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE

20

ESTATE PLANNING

21

THE OUTNUMBERED MOTHER Advice from Amy Hunter

on the cover…

16 Local Children’s Authors. A look at five of the growing number of children’s authors living and working in Southwest Florida.

by Evelyn Hunter 18 MOMentum Moms. Find inspiration from moms with momentum. This month, get to know Yuderca “Yudy” Barbera.

22 Raising Grateful Children. Advice from local parents on how to instill a sense of gratitude in our kids.

by Anna Snyder 23 Celebrating Adoption in Collier County. One family’s adoption story, and what the 10th anniversary of National Adoption Day in Collier means to them.

by Tamara Lynn Nicola

Ava Halisky is 7 years old and attends Big Cypress Elementary. Gabriel, 3, is a student at Vineyards Elementary. They are the children of Linda and Chris Halisky.

Ava enjoys anything science related, puzzles, and riddles. Gabriel likes to play with his musical toys and show off his cool dance moves. Thank you to C’mon for hosting our cover shoot this month!

36 Destination: Vanuatu. If you’ve never heard of it, you are not alone. Learn about this little-known island chain in the South Pacific.

by Karen T. Bartlett 38 Nonprofits. A list of 75 nonprofits in Southwest Florida that are making a difference in the lives of children and families.

Cover photo by Peggy Farren of Avant Garde Photography • 239-263-7001

A Christian private school dedicated to students with Dyslexia

educationalpathwaysacademy.com EPA accepts McKay, Step up, & Gardiner Scholarships Located at the Salvation Army Campus, 3180 Estey Ave., Naples The mission of Educational Pathways Academy is to educate, equip, and empower students with a primary diagnosis of a language-based learning difference such as dyslexia.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

COMING SOON!

PENGUINS IN

PARADISE

New TRAVELING Exhibit OPENS NOVEMBER 15!

Come meet these playful African Penguins before they’re gone! At Naples Zoo from November 15, 2017 through April 15, 2018.

NAPLESZOO.ORG NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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Providing Care for Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, VPK NOW OFFERING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS K-5th GRADE



Children guided by a balanced curriculum of thirty-eight objectives that incorporates academics, and the individual needs of the child



Educated, compassionate, and skilled teachers



Baby Sign Language used in all infant and toddler classrooms



 



Instilling school preparedness through mathematics, science, literacy that enforces sight words, phonics, letter recognition, and a Kindergarten Readiness Program Parent Trainings and Workshops available!

Field trips including: Barnes & Noble, The Artis Naples, The Children’s Museum, Naples Zoo, The Conservancy of SWFL, The Glenview Naples, and the Naples Botanical Gardens Afterschool Program that includes homework time, tutoring, games, crafts, and snacks!



Secure gated entrance, cameras, and a staff training program dedicated to safety



Nationally Recognized Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Center

Call today to schedule a tour! 239-261-7442 PHONE

Precious Cargo Academy, a Mission of Naples United Church of Christ WEBSITE: Preciouscargoacademy.org

EMAIL: Leanne.badham@outlook.com

Find Us on Facebook!

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

from the publisher… the parenting magazine devoted to collier county

P.O. Box 110656 Naples, FL 34108 info@neafamily.com

THIS MONTH: Giving thanks and giving back

Co-Publisher Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com 239-370-5333 Co-Publisher Leigh Ann Newman lanewman@neafamily.com 239-272-0529 Travel Editor Karen T. Bartlett mostlykidsguides@gmail.com 239-595-9026 Feature Writer Anna Snyder Cover Photographer Peggy Farren www.naplesportraits.com Field Photographer Lisette Morales lisettemoralesart@gmail.com Intern Rebecca Barton Editorial submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all material contributed.

We cannot be responsible for return of any unsolicited materials. Articles and advertisements in Neapolitan Family do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher nor does the publisher assume responsibility for statements made by our advertisers or editorial contributors. Acceptance of advertising by Neapolitan Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Neapolitan Family is available free of charge at more than 200 distribution points throughout Collier County as well as digitally at neafamily.com. Neapolitan Family is ©2017 by Neapolitan Family Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

This November, gratitude and generosity have taken on a whole new spirit since Hurricane Irma made landfall two months ago. Everywhere you look in Collier County, you can’t help but think: this place is not the same. Our roofs are patched with blue tarps, street and shopping center signs are still bent, broken or missing, and the gorgeous green trees that canopied over our streets and parks are sadly lying on their sides with their hopeless roots exposed. The roadsides and sidewalks are lined with dying debris, giving Naples a sort of autumn look, but without the flair.

Farther out in the county, in towns such as Immokalee, Everglades City, and Chokoloskee Island, entire homes and crops still languish in ruins, and the rebuilding has only just begun.

Even if our new autumn look isn’t very colorful, the spirit of our community remains vibrant and alive. Everywhere you look, you see neighbors helping each other, and our local nonprofit community has welcomed citizens to volunteer to help those who lost so much replenish their homes and pantries. For our annual nonprofit directory, we asked area nonprofits to submit their contact information and let us know how they improve the lives of the children and families of Collier County. You will find 75 listings starting on page 38, and the entire directory will be on www.neafamily. com for you to refer to all year.

If your kids aren’t acting grateful for the (new) roof over their heads and the food on your Thanksgiving table, writer Anna Snyder can give you ideas on how to infuse gratitude into your family routines on page 22.

Finally, we are thrilled to announce our new series, “MOMentum Moms” on page 18. Collier County is full of strong, dynamic women who find the time to improve our communities, while building their careers or volunteering, and raising families. Our first MOMentum Mom, Yudy Barbera, hopes to celebrate National Adoption Day with her family by finalizing the adoption of her sixth child in time for the holidays.

We are grateful for YOU, our readers and advertisers, and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

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REEL LIFE WITH JANE

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Family Movie Previews for November Movies for kids and teens in November include a new Thor movie, an Agatha Christie adaptation, a story of Charles Dickens, and more. Let’s take a closer look.

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

WONDER Rated PG for thematic elements, including bullying, and some mild language • Ok for kids 9+ In Theaters 11/17 Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels Based on R.J. Palacio’s New York Times bestseller, “Wonder” tells the story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that until now have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie’s extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. Directed by Stephen Chbosky, this movie stars Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson.

THE STAR Rated PG for some thematic elements Ok for kids 6+ • In Theaters 11/17 Reel Preview: 3 of 5 Reels In this sweet, faith-based movie from Sony Pictures Animation, a small but brave donkey named Bo yearns for a life beyond his daily grind at the village mill. One day he finds the courage to break free, and finally

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language Ok for kids 9+ • In Theaters 11/22 Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels This family movie tells of the magical journey that led to the creation of Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), Tiny Tim, and other classic characters from “A Christmas Carol.” Directed by Bharat Nalluri (“Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”), the film shows how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) mixed real life inspirations with his vivid imagination to conjure up unforgettable characters and a timeless tale, forever changing the holiday season into the celebration we know today.

goes on the adventure of his dreams. On his journey, he teams up with Ruth, a loveable sheep who has lost her flock, and Dave, a dove with lofty aspirations. Along with three wisecracking camels and some eccentric stable animals, Bo and his new friends follow the Star and become unlikely heroes in the greatest story ever told – the first Christmas. Directed by Timothy Reckart, this movie stars Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Kelly Clarkson, Keegan-Michael Key, and Patricia Heaton.

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM 1 Reel–Even the Force can’t save it.

2 Reels–Coulda been a contender.

3 Reels–Something to talk about.

4 Reels–You want the truth? Great flick!

5 Reels–Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

JANE LOUISE BOURSAW is the editor of ReelLifeWithJane.com and OldMission.net.

The Gentle Veterinarians

Laser Pain & Surgery Center Dentistry Boarding Dr. Carin Corbo Dr. Ben Palmer 8

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239-513-0213

www.AMHofNaples.com

11980 Tamiami Trail N., Naples NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Dance Classes

for all Ages!

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1. Facilities - Our professional sprung dance floors reduce fatigue and prevent injuries.

oo t t o ill n ister! t s s It’ reg o t late visit us at

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3. Family Plans - We make dancing

affordable for families with more than one child.

4. Family Friendly - We are very sensitive to age appropriate music, costumes and dances.

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COLLIER CHARTER ACADEMY

TUITION–FREE Public Charter School Serving Grades K-8

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COLLIER CARDINALS

For more information or TO APPLY visit

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12101 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34120 | 239.330.3810 NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

C’mon China Exhibit Celebrates Culture, Character, and Confucius

F

amilies now can take an overseas adventure without ever leaving Naples as The Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) hosts its latest traveling exhibit, Children’s China: Celebrating Culture, Character, and Confucius. C’mon was selected as one of just 10 children’s museums – and the only one in Florida – to host the exhibit.

This interactive exhibit, designed for children 3 to 12 years, explores what life is like for children in China today through six different immersive environments. In the school, children will celebrate the annual holiday, National Teachers’ Day, while learning to write “thank you teacher” in Chinese characters on a touchscreen notepad. Visitors will take on the role of a researcher at the panda reserve and discover how the people of China are caring for this endangered species. The entire family will find exercise fun at the park by using playful equipment that encourages fitness for all ages.

As food is an important cultural experience in China, children will shop in a traditional neighborhood market filled with a variety of fish, fruits, and vegetables and then prepare a healthy meal while working in the restaurant. In the home, visitors will learn how families celebrate the Chinese New Year and then will participate in a daily dragon parade led by a traditional dragon headdress at the Great Achievement Hall.

Ancient practices will be explored in modern ways as computer interactives invite children to experience the art of paper cutting, discover their lunar calendar animal, and play traditional musical instruments.

A key focus of the exhibit will be the story of Confucius, the inspirational teacher and moral leader still considered to be a hero to children in China today. Confucius’ beliefs about the importance of family, education, and traditions have been at the center of Chinese culture for over 2,500 years and served as a foundation for the development of Children’s China.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Traveling with this exhibit is a dedicated docent who will spend four days a week at C’mon interacting with guests.

For details, visit www.cmon.org or call 239-514-0084.

Lee Health Sends Supplies to Children’s Hospital in Puerto Rico

G

olisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida sent approximately $25,000 worth of supplies to the University Pediatric Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in response to an urgent request for medical supply aid. Nine palettes, packed with 592 cases of requested supplies weighing more than 5,000 pounds, were shipped to Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico late in September. Last month, the San Juan children’s hospital sent an appeal letter to multiple health care providers in Florida, with a lengthy list of supply needs ranging from general medical supplies like hand sanitizer, gloves, and non-sterile gauze to more critical, life-saving items like suture kits, medications, and infant ventilators.

University Pediatric Hospital is a tertiary facility with an emergency department, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, oncology ward with bone marrow transplant unit, surgical and general pediatric units, and the only pediatric dialysis unit on the island.

“Our hearts go out to the children and families of Puerto Rico who are suffering from the impact of the recent hurricanes,” said

Alex Daneshmand, D.O., Acute Care Medical Officer for Golisano Children’s Hospital. “As soon as the request was received, several local, concerned physicians and Lee Health leaders were putting plans in place to respond. We hope this shipment of supplies will help heal the individuals in need of medical attention and ease the burden of the physicians and staff providing the needed care.”

Diabetes Conference Slated for Nov. 5 at Greater Naples YMCA

T

he Third Annual Southwest Florida Diabetes Conference is set for Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Greater Naples YMCA. Co-founded by Naples-based Help a Diabetic Child Foundation, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida, and the Greater Naples YMCA, the conference expects over 300 attendees this year.

Several prominent doctors, researchers, and speakers from around the country will present this year.

Attendees can expect a full day of educational and hands-on workshops including cooking demonstrations, research updates, and separate tracks for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Continuing medical education credits are available for physicians and nurses attending a separate professional track.

Admission starts at $10 per person and need-based scholarships are available from the Naples YMCA. To register, visit swfldiabetes.org or call 239-821-5051.

After-School Fall 2017 Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead

Held @ St. John the Evangelist and Community School Naples arts and SCience Enrichment program taught by certified teachers

Included: An arts or STEM class, guided arts & STEM free explore, participation in our unique challenge system, snack, homework help, & optional private music lesson (add-on) Mondays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: Thursdays: Fridays:

Classes at SJE

Minecraft, Music Makers, Perfect Pitch 3D Printing, Robotics, Piano, Art Makerspace, Art 3D Printing, Robotics, Guitar, Art Rotating STEM, Rotating Arts

AFTER SCHOOL Program

Transportation to SJE provided from: Osceola, Sea Gate, Pelican Marsh, Veterans Memorial, Naples Park

*Students not from above schools need their own transportation.

Times: 3:00 - 6:30 Fee: $18-25/day *Tuition Assistance Available*

www.fullsteamaheadFL.com

(239) 451-3142

info@fullsteamaheadFL.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Now at 2 locations!

SJE and CSN neafamily.com

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

EPN Urgent Care Collecting Candy for Troops and Veterans

I

nstead of eating your kids’ excess Halloween candy this year, donate it to our troops and veterans. EPN Urgent Care in East Naples is collecting this candy for Soldiers’ Angel’s program Treats for Troops. Candy can be dropped off Nov. 1-5 at EPN Urgent Care, 6400 Davis Blvd., Suite 103, Naples, during regular business hours. Hours are M-F, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call 239-775-2300.

Farm City BBQ Bringing Food and Music to Cambier Nov. 22

T

he Farm City BBQ, a long-standing tradition in Naples and Immokalee, returns to Cambier Park on Wednesday, Nov. 22, and welcomes country artist Maggie Baugh to the stage.

The Farm City BBQ had its start when farmers in Immokalee had a bad year of crops and local business leaders reached out, inviting them for a BBQ in Naples, sharing the produce that was available so their families wouldn’t go hungry on Thanksgiving Day. The following year, the farming community wanted to reciprocate the

sp y a d holi e h to t n i t Ge th $25 per person $35 race day $15 students (22 & under) $5 Santa Sprint (9 & under)

Thank you current sponsors!

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hospitality, so they invited the business leaders for a BBQ in Immokalee. The event continues to rotate between Naples and Immokalee.

In recent years, the BBQ has grown to attract over 2,400 guests and donated more than $300,000 back into the community through the Collier County 4H Association, Youth Leadership Collier, Collier County Junior Deputy League, and the Collier chapters of Key Club International. These funds have helped these organizations provide hands-on classroom education for students in elementary through high school.

Tickets are $20 and includes steaks provided by Shula’s Naples, corn on the cob, and Immokalee salad from Lipman Produce, and baked beans from Russell’s Clambakes. Fresh produce is available to purchase for $10 per bag. Raffles will be held throughout the day, including the grand prize of a Big Green Egg Grill.

Tickets are available at www.FarmCityBBQ.com.

Annual

NAPLES, FL

December 16, 2017 • 8:00am Community School

ire ay att Holid e g ra d encou

Swag

will ipants par tic stive swag e fe receiv

A l l ra c e p ro c e e d s benefit :

A race for the whole family! Come dressed in your most festive holiday attire and join us for a 5K fun run!

Paragon Theater 12

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Re g i s t e r : G OT RC C . o r g / eve n t s NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

FAMILY LAW

By Sarah Oquendo Martin

Co-Parenting and Afterschool Activities

C

hildren’s extracurricular activities are a common source of contention between divorced parents. Disagreements often arise over the type and number of activities the children participate in, how to divide the costs of the activity, and who can attend the activity. The best way to prepare for these potential conflicts is by addressing these issues in the Parenting Plan for the children at the time of the divorce.

The vast majority of Parenting Plans provide for Shared Parental Responsibility, which requires that parents coordinate and work together to reach an agreement on the type and number of extracurricular activities in which their children can participate.

Neither parent should unilaterally enroll a child in an activity; rather the parents must discuss the options and come to a mutual agreement on the issues in the best interests of the children before either parent acts. In some circumstances, it may be preferable to allow either parent to sign the child up for an activity so long as it does not interfere with the other parent’s time, but that should be the exception and not the rule.

Most organized sports have an attendance policy. If one parent is not in agreement on the activity or does not want to give up his or her time in order for the child to attend practice, the child may not be able to fully participate in the activity.

A well-crafted Parenting Plan should also state that consent for the agreement should not be unreasonably withheld. This

is a reminder to parents that they should put the interests of the children first and not use their divorce conflict as a reason to not allow the child to participate in an activity.

Once the parents have agreed to an activity, the next issue is the division of the cost of these activities. Typically, the costs of the activity are split between the parents as they are due, either equally or in proportion to their incomes. It is also important to anticipate what types of costs should be divided and provide for that division. For example, there may be a registration or enrollment fee, uniform costs, equipment rentals, and transportation costs. It is good practice to identify and define what expenses the parties are willing to split so that one parent is not stuck with buying all of the extra items that go along with participating in an extracurricular activity.

Finally, at times there are disputes over who is responsible for taking the child to an activity, or who can attend. Absent any extraordinary circumstances, such as domestic violence between the parents, both

B counseling & play therapy

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parents should be encouraged to attend their children’s activities, regardless of who has the child that day or night. Both parents should be in contact with the instructor or coach and have equal access to the child’s schedule.

It is important to recognize that parenting time is priceless, especially if your time with children is limited. You must also remember that extracurricular activities are for the benefit of the children, so even though the activity may fall on one parent’s time or only one parent paid for the activity, that does not mean that the other parent cannot attend or participate.

Whether it is for socialization, exercise, learning how to be a part of team, or perfecting a new skill, your children are developing memories and having experiences that will stay with them the rest of their lives. Being able to experience those memories and look back fondly and see both their parents in the audience cheering them on is one that will stay with them long after their first homerun or perfect pirouette.

SARAH OQUENDO MARTIN is an associate at Klaus Doupé, a leading law firm in Naples focusing solely on marital and family law. Visit MaritalFamilyLaw.com or call 239-403-9800.

Age s: 2 & up

400 5th Ave. S.

Licensed marriage & family therapist

N A P L E S NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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CITY CONNECTION PARKS DEPT.

By Laura Tichy-Smith

Fall Back Into City Park Events While not every city tradition is back up and running this fall, many of the events typically sponsored by the City of Naples Community Services Department and local organizations during our fall season have returned and are happening on schedule. You and your family have worked hard these past couple of months, so take some time to relax and enjoy these events.

School’s Out Fun Day for Elementary School Kids Need childcare when school is closed but you have to work? Fleischmann and River Parks have you covered. They have planned fun activities for your child’s day off from school, including crafts, games, and sports. Send lunch and snacks with your child. Fun Day runs 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. You must register no later than two weeks prior to the event Space is limited. Nov. 22. $30 per child. To register, call Fleischmann Park at 239-2133020 or River Park at 239-213-3037.

living, the Heart Walk is fun for the entire family. Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8-10:30 a.m. at Cambier Park. For more information, call 498-9288. (755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples) Take a Class Fleischmann Park boasts a variety of classes and sports leagues for both adults and children (including kids as young as 3 or 4).

Offerings for children include gymnastics, ballet, soccer, baseball, golf, tennis, martial arts, flag football, cheerleading, modeling, and charm. Adult offerings include line dancing, tap dance, GiGi Rocky Gong,

Free Concerts at the Bandshell Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free Sunday afternoon jazz concerts at 2 p.m. in Cambier Park in November.

Concert schedule: Gulfcoast Big Band on Nov. 5; Naples Concert Band on Nov. 12; and Naples Jazz Society on Nov. 26. For more information, call 239-213-3058. (755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples)

CEDR 1003 NeaFamily 1-4 pg Horiz.4_Layout 1 2/18/13 9:45 AM Page 1

I love my

Empowering and inspiring children to reach their potential with: - Programs for 6 months to 6 years of age with full or parttime days - Florida VPK programs & Private chef’s delicious full meal program - Residential campus setting with 2-large play yards and much more

Call today for a campus tour: 239-597-7190 www.cedarmontessori.org e-mail: office@cedarmontessori.org

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Get in the Holiday Mood With Free Celebration of Lights Do your kids miss the snow falling around the Christmas tree? Then take them to the Celebration of Lights, Third Street South’s official launch of the holiday season running nightly Monday, Nov. 20 through Saturday, Nov. 25 (except Thanksgiving Day) from 6-9 p.m. Live music and bells resound from every courtyard and plaza as Santa arrives. For more information, call 239-649-6707. (Third Street S. and Broad Ave., Naples) Venetian Village Holiday on the Bay

Take a Walk From the Heart Join the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk fundraiser. Intended to promote physical activity and healthy

Zumba, folk dance, belly dance, Irish dance, dog obedience, fitness boot camp, softball, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, racquetball, and table tennis. Call 239213-3020 for prices, dates, and registration.

(1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples)

The Village on Venetian Bay invites your family to visit on Saturday, Nov. 25 from 5-8 p.m. for their annual holiday festivities, which include a tree lighting ceremony sure to delight the little kid in everyone.

For more information, call 239-961-2975.

(4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples)

the things he sees are not just remembered, they form a part of his soul.

Maria Montessori

inspiring the love of learning since 1984 NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

I

By Amanda Jackson, Communications & Community Engagement

Oakridge Middle Students Rock

f a multi-colored rock catches your eye somewhere across town, make sure to pick it up. You’ve just found a Collier Kindness Rock. Andrea Polanco’s seventh grade civics classes at Oakridge Middle School have been creating these rocks of positivity to spread kindness across the community.

Polanco says she was inspired to start the Collier Rocks project while in North Carolina during Hurricane Irma. She was finding painted rocks with inspiring messages left and right.

When she started researching her discovery, she realized the rocks were part of a bigger kindness project spreading across the country.

“When we came back to school I told my students, ‘I know we’ve all experienced different things during the storm and I think creating these kindness rocks will be a good way to get our emotions out about the storm but also spread kindness to the community’,” Polanco said.

Over the following days, her classes painted more than 600 rocks to be placed throughout the community. On the back of each rock is a laminated message with instructions. If found, upload a picture on social media using the hashtag #CollierRocks and then hide the rock elsewhere for someone else to find.

“I explained the hashtag and how people were going to post pictures and hashtag them, but it wasn’t until they actually started seeing them on social media that the students really got excited.”

While this started as a classroom project, Polanco has been hosting students twice a week to paint more rocks.

“There’s so much negativity in the news and world so I just told my students that something as small as the word smile painted on a rock may make someone feel better or a little bit more positive. That little simple act of kindness can make a difference.”

www.Marital-FamilyLaw.com 225 Banyan Blvd · Naples, FL 239·403·9800 NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Since then, other schools and organizations have been getting involved in the project as well, but Polanco’s students have no plans to slow down.

“I want to encourage others to spread kindness,” said seventh grader Grace Tort.

“There are people in the community that don’t even have houses anymore. I think that people need a small message of happiness after everything that’s happened recently.”

She left her first rock at the beach. Now she’s working on three others. ‘Be Kind,’ ‘Kindness is like Confetti, Throw It,’ and a yin yang painted rock that says ‘Life is a Balance of Happiness.’

“I just think it’s a fun way to relax, and painting is fun, so not only can I relax but I can also send a great message out to people who need it and need extra encouragement,” said seventh grader Brandon Sovajni. “This is important because some people are down and they want to give up, so I think by doing this you can give people a chance to be happier, to keep going and not give up, and to help people persevere.”

If you find a rock around town, be sure to upload a picture to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and use #CollierRocks. Where will you find yours?

“Exceptional attorney who exemplifies truth, integrity and compassion” - A DIVORCE CLIENT

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LOCAL AUTHORS

I

By Evelyn Hunter

Local Children’s Authors Working Together to Entertain and Inform

t’s not surprising to find discussions of kindness, curiosity, cooperation, bravery, imaginative play, and how to make healthy choices when parents, teachers, and other caregivers are recommending or choosing children’s books. It’s perhaps more surprising, however, to find that those values inform the large and growing community of children’s authors here locally.

Many of them know one another, and they support each other in their creative and business pursuits. It’s also surprising to discover just how many children’s authors are living and working here in Southwest Florida, so there’s a local book to give as a gift for nearly every occasion for the children in your life. While some of the local offerings are location-specific and celebrate Naples and Southwest Florida, there are plenty of other options that are fun and educational for the children in your life this holiday season, no matter where they may live.

Karen T. Bartlett Karen T. Bartlett (Neapolitan Family’s travel editor) emphasizes that her books, the Mostly Kids’ Guides, are NOT storybooks.

They aren’t meant to be read only while snuggling on the couch together, but are instead intended to be an educational guide for moms, dads, grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers in a child’s life to help create the next local adventure for kids of all ages, including adults who are adventurous kids at heart. Teachers and librarians will find these books helpful in creating local programs and field trips, too. Both A Mostly Kids’ Guide to Naples, Marco Island, and the Everglades and its companion, A Mostly Kids’ Guide to Sanibel and Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast, contain quizzes, backstories and overviews of the featured locations, local event calendars, and visitor information, including contact information for some of the most interesting local events and businesses, and would be ideal for local realtors to present as welcome gifts for new Neapolitans, as well as for longtime locals looking for new ways to look at our familiar hometown.

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Julie Frizzi The ideas that eventually became Julie Frizzi’s Powerful You originated in her experiences over the last 30 years working with children as an elementary school guidance counselor. Her students and their struggles showed her both the need for a set of tools to help children self-regulate and practice daily mindfulness, and the opportunity to practice the techniques with great success. Powerful You includes simple, step-by-step lessons in how to meditate, ways to reframe and refocus a difficult situation, and tips on how to be a better friend and leader for your peers, regardless of your age.

Educators, parents, and other caregivers, in addition to counselors, social workers, and anyone in a support role in a child’s life will find Powerful You to be an effective and empowering resource to help create kinder, more empathetic, and more connected interactions in children’s lives.

Sandra Sahli Sandra Sahli, a kindergarten teacher at Seacrest Country Day School, knows her audience well, and understands that teachers can have a lasting influence on children’s lives as they grow. She was encouraged by her own teachers to pursue her imaginative work and to follow her heart to a career that allows her to help others through kindness, patience, and teamwork, which are the qualities her series, beginning with The Quig Arrives, hopes to inspire in readers of all ages. The Quig is a visitor from another planet who arrives one day on a Florida beach to work with three siblings to bring more love to the world, one act of kindness at a time, and to encourage children to love unconditionally. What began as a story from a dream her sister had one night in the 1980s has now become a two-book series, with a third in the works, and plans for expansion to seven books. The process of creating The Quig Arrives has been a collaborative work of love between Sandra and both of her siblings that has spanned decades of their lives, demonstrating how love, kindness, patience, and teamwork create community and nurture imagination – inside a family and outside in the world around us.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

unnecessary candy (minus a few pieces, of course – no one is being crazy here, people) for some other small joy. The Story of the Sugar Fairies helps caregivers of any kind – grandparents, teachers, or even nurses – to encourage healthy choices from as early as three years old.

Robin’s artistic gifts also include singing, and she models bravery for her daughter through her public performances, and by writing her book. Don’t be afraid to get out there and DO STUFF, especially creative work because, as Robin wisely tells other wouldbe writers, it doesn’t cost anything to write the book (or song!), so go do it anyway, even if you’re scared.

Lisa Trebilcock Lisa Trebilcock never planned on being a children’s author, but she found her way to writing by taking a local course in children’s writing in 2000, where she realized that she wanted to leave her daughters a memory book of their hometown. N is for Naples began in that class, was published in 2012, and is now one of the most recognized local books in Southwest Florida. Lisa published E is for Everglades in 2014, and both are celebrations of the special plants, animals, places, and people you can find in South Florida.

N is for Naples is also an extension of the work Lisa has been doing as a long-time volunteer at Sea Gate Elementary for its Young Authors, Young Artists event. She also volunteers as a guest educator at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, guiding kids through the writing and publishing process.

N is for Naples and E is for Everglades are ideal storybook gifts for pre- and early readers, for tourists and residents alike, and for all parents, caregivers, and educators who want to share some of the fun, interesting, and sometimes surprising local people and places.

Robin Mizwa When faced with what to do with the mountains of candy her daughter received at each birthday and holiday party, Robin Mizwa used a fairy story to help encourage her daughter to make healthier choices by trading her bag of candy for a different kind of prize – a coloring book, a small stuffed animal, or a game, for instance.

The Story of the Sugar Fairies explains how the Sugar Fairies come to reward children’s efforts and good choices by exchanging the NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Jacqueline Buyze While A Story of Lawyers may not strike you at first as being a fun and interesting children’s book, Jacqueline Buyze’s quick wit, joy, and love for her profession and her colleagues will win you over immediately. She was inspired to write the book, and its companion about judges, A Story of Lawyers with Views From the Bench, when she realized that her nephew had no idea what she meant when she said she was a lawyer. Lawyers are often misunderstood and seldom appreciated for the ways that they strengthen our democratic processes and help protect our rights. In fact, Jacqueline worked in conjunction with the Florida Bar Law-Related Education Committee and iCivics organization to make sure that A View from the Bench included the components of the State of Florida’s approved civics curriculum.

Although children with lawyers in the family will appreciate these books, librarians, teachers, and anyone interested in the basics of how U.S. government works will find them to be a useful tool to get kids interested in civics and civic responsibility. Jacqueline also has a book – A Joyful Royal Debut: Presenting Prince George! – that is a sweet memento and message to any family expecting the arrival of a baby.

Book signing fundraiser Bartlett, Buyze, Sahli, and Trebilcock are teaming up with other local authors and Classroom Plus to raise money to help area children still recovering from Hurricane Irma. The event will be held at Classroom Plus on Nov. 12 from 1-5 p.m. A portion of book sales and store sales will be donated to relief efforts in Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island, and each author is donating a copy of her book(s) to the Everglades City School. neafamily.com

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MOMentum Moms

Meet our first MOMentum Mom, Yudy Barbera. In addition to running her own business with her husband (Business Plus Tax Solutions), Yudy is the chairwoman of the Collier County Democratic Party, the treasurer of the Collier County NAACP, mother of five (almost six!) children, and grandmother of four.

Photographs by Lisette Morales

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orn in 1965 in Santa Domingo, Naples mom Yuderca “Yudy” Barbera lived in the Dominican Republic for four years before spending the rest of her youth in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After moving to New York City with her family at the age of 15, Yudy became both a single mom and a US citizen at the age of 21. With a small child to care for, she graduated with an Associates Degree in Art and later a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Lehman College of the City University of New York.

On a vacation to Miami, Yudy fell in love with Florida. She sold most of her belongings, found a job, and moved to Hialeah, where she later met the love of her life, Angel Barbera, in 1993. They married and blended their families (his two daughters and her son) and eventually moved to Naples in 2002.

While the three older children (Kenneth, Darlene, and Michelle) are now adults and have children of their own, 18-year-old Katarina is at Florida International University and 14-year-old Natalie is a freshman at Palmetto Ridge High School. The Barbera family is in the process of adopting 11-yearold Chary from the Dominican Republic.

While Chary is Yudy’s niece, the adoption is still being conducted as an international adoption with the exhaustive processes, interviews, and evaluations that all international adoptions require. Because her only parent can no longer care for her, the Barbera family hopes to bring Chary “home” very soon, so she can begin school and adapt to American life.

How do you balance being a mom and wife with your professional and volunteer obligations? I can do it with the help of my family. I can work and participate in the different volunteer organizations because I don’t watch TV. Not everything I do is 100%, but I have never missed one of my children’s events. You have to know what NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

is important, and focus on quality time together.

What is a typical week night like for your family? I usually get home at 7, 8, or 9 depending if I am attending a meeting. I sit and talk to my daughter about her day.

Usually my husband or my daughter cooks.

I usually cook on the weekends.

What does your family like to do for fun? We like to watch movies, BBQ, go on short trips.

Typical date night for you and your husband? My husband and I work together, so we see each other all during the day. At home we usually talk about the kids and what they need in school. We also talk about what is happening in the country or local news.

Favorite restaurant to go to as a family? We love to go to Pinchers. I love seafood. We also like Perkins when we are in the mood for breakfast. We can eat breakfast at any time of the day!

Best parenting advice you ever received and from whom? My mother was always an inspiration. The best advice is that as long as children know that they are loved and wanted, they will do better in life.

Also, as parents we have to let them know that making mistakes is okay because that is what will make you a mature adult and will give you the strength to handle many difficult situations.

Proudest moment? I have many: Each time I became a mother. Each time I see my kids doing the right thing. Each time I fall but I manage to get up and rebuild my life.

Every time I look at my mother and the feel how lucky I am to have her as a mother.

The fact that I found my faith on my own.

Being able to finish college and have my degree against all odds. The day I married my husband.

Biggest regret? Not being able to do more for my family.

Do you feel a conflict between wanting to help our community after Irma and helping Puerto Rico after Maria? It is difficult to see what is happening in Puerto Rico, especially because I lived my childhood there. I know how caring and hard working Puerto Rican people are. The important thing as Americans is to be neighbors helping neighbors. There are enough resources to go around; we can rebuild both.

What is the best part about living in Naples/Golden Gate Estates? I love the town. I love the community. I have met NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Left: Yudy proudly displays a photo of Chary, who will be joining the family as soon as her adoption is complete. Above: Yudy (center), with her family (L-R), Katarina, Natalie, and Angel Barbera; Linda Mlambo Duffy and Kenneth Duffy, holding Nahla Mia Duffy.

Below: Yudy at work at Business Plus Tax Solutions.

so many wonderful people here. I love the school system and how music and art are an important part of the curriculum here.

Best advice for parents going through the adoption process? You really have to sit down and talk it over with everyone in the family. You also have to prepare for the financial burden because the process is costly.

What is the hardest part about the adoption process? The hardest part is the wait. A child is in danger but you still have to go through a rigorous amount of paperwork and the child keeps suffering. Also, the more time passes, the bigger the child gets, and then it will be harder for the child to adjust. The Dominican Republic and the U.S. have an agreement call the Hague Convention, where the countries agree that

a inter-country adoption will only happen in the best interest of the child. These countries will always look for a family in their country to adopt the child before allowing a different country to do it. The law doesn’t differentiate between a family member or an unknown parent.

What will Thanksgiving be like with your family this year? Every year, everyone comes to our house. My daughter Katarina and I prepare the turkey and the sweet potatoes dessert. My son prepares the mashed potatoes and all the pies from scratch. His wife, Linda, prepares collard greens and corn bread. My daughter Natalie prepares all of the green salads and gets the tables set up ready. We prepare all American recipes. No Hispanic food allowed! neafamily.com

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ESTATE PLANNING

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By Norell Albanis

Is Your Family Too Young to Need an Estate Plan?

oung families face different estate planning needs and challenges than those who have had a long life behind them. While established families may be concerned about what will happen to their family when they pass on, young, growing families tend to be more focused on what is happening to their family in the present. And you may even find it hard to justify planning for an “estate” you haven’t yet established.

But here’s the thing … if you have children, or anyone else you care about, you may not have an “estate”, but you do need estate planning if you want to ensure your loved ones wouldn’t be stuck in court and/or conflict, if anything happens to you.

Here are a few important estate-planning issues for young couples to consider as soon as they start a family.

Care and custody of your children If you die or become incapacitated before your children reach 18, they will need a legal guardian. To ensure your children are only ever in the care of people you want and choose, you need to name both temporary and long-term guardians for your children.

What if the long-term guardians you have named are not local? If something happens to you and your child is home with a babysitter, or at school, you want to also name local friends or family who would immediately be able to be called upon by authorities.

Keeping Naples

Smiling!

And you need to legally document your guardian choices. Many people mistakenly believe that identifying friends or family as the “godparent” of their child is enough – it’s not. Further, naming just one person or a couple won’t cover it either. Name at least three options, in case back-ups are needed.

It’s also wise to name guardians not just in your will, but also in a standalone document that is easily accessible for authorities.

Your children’s babysitters and temporary guardians should have legal documentation on hand to step in and make immediate, short-term decisions for your little ones.

Your children’s inheritance Remember, when you die, the assets left to your minor children will need to be managed by someone at least until they turn 18.

If no one is identified for this task, the court steps in and may appoint “professionals” to take over the role, which could deplete much of your children’s inheritance. And, it’s totally unnecessary. With just a bit of prior planning, you can keep your loved ones out of the court system and give total control to the people you know, love, and trust.

decisions for you, if you cannot make your own decisions. Many people think of estate planning as planning strictly for death, but you also need to think about what would happen if you lacked capacity to communicate your wishes.

Without a Durable Power of Attorney, who would take care of your financial affairs if you couldn’t manage them yourself?

Without Advance Healthcare Directives, who would make tough medical decisions on your behalf? And how would they know what your wishes would be? Once again, the focus here is on keeping the people you love out of court during what would be a hugely stressful time for them.

Estate planning is a key part of growing up, and showing up for the people you love.

So, yes, you may be a young family, but once you’ve become a family, you’re not too young to plan well to make things as easy as possible for the people you love.

NORELL ALBANIS is an estate planning attorney, and can be reached at 239-314-2353 or by visiting albanislaw.com.

Who makes decisions for you?

Finally, no matter what your age is, or how big or small your assets are, you should put in place the documentation that appoints the people you would want making

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239-260-2100 | NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

ASK THE OUTNUMBERED MOTHER

By Amy Hunter

Advice on Balance and Thanksgiving

Hello November! I just wanted to take a minute to thank the editorial staff of Neapolitan Family Magazine for giving me a couple of months off after the sudden death of my father. While my heart is still filled with grief, I know he wouldn’t want me to waste another minute of my own life in mourning him. I’m happy to be back in the column this week, and we have crazy questions to tackle.

excited. Is there anything special I need to cook for the kids and do you have any advice for cool things to put on the kids’ table?

Q: I have four kids (two boys, two girls) and everything I do is with them in mind.

The problem? I hate the way I look; I hate what I’m eating; I hate the way I always have to put myself last. How do I balance loving my kids and loving myself?

Amy: Whoa, I’ve been going through the same thing this last year. What you need to do is figure out a plan for yourself that is easy and low maintenance that fits into the schedule you already have in place with your children. When it comes to exercise, you need to find something that you will like enough to do all the time. If you have kids that aren’t yet school age, you’ll need to find a stroller class (these meet at local parks and involve walking/running/strength training with your stroller), a gym with childcare, or one of those exercise programs from home.

For the diet part, I found that I was eating leftovers off my kid’s plates all the time while I was cleaning up the kitchen. Come to find out, this isn’t what they mean when they say “clean eating.” Who knew? If you are

exercising, the best thing for your body is a high protein diet packed with vegetables and fruit and low in carbohydrates. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a cheat day or some wine; it just means everything in moderation. You can find loads of these diets on Pinterest or the Internet. The hardest part is sticking with it because cheese and bread are delicious. Good luck, sister. I’ll be thinking of you while I gnaw on these carrot sticks.

Q: I’m in charge of Thanksgiving this year for the entire family, and I’m so

Amy: Yay! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday partly because I love cooking but mostly because it falls on my birthday occasionally.

This year is one of those occasions! Unless a kid at your Thanksgiving table has a food allergy, I tend to serve them the same food the adults eat (but we obviously cut everything smaller and let them eat appetizers and all that). I also don’t usually make a massive fuss if the kids don’t clear their plates on Thanksgiving. It’s one of those big holidays where everyone deserves pie. As for the kid table, I’ve found these fabulous paper tablecloths at Target that are basically a Thanksgiving coloring book. I add mason jars filled with crayons, stamps, and stickers, and barely look at those little crazy people until dinner is served. Happy Thanksgiving!

Amy Hunter grew up in the suburbs of Long Island singing Barbara Streisand hits into her hairbrush. When she’s not writing her hilarity-fueled parenting memoir as The Outnumbered Mother, she’s a Naples-living, butt-wiping, soccer-team carting, gourmet-chef attempting, tennis-skirt wearing, non-tennis playing, self-proclaimed bad mamma jamma to three sons and a very understanding husband.

You can find Amy online at the Theoutnumberedmother.com.

Riding Lessons

Riding Lessons Register Today!

(239) 948-7669 www.ProvidenceEquestrianCenter.com NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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THANKSGIVING

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By Anna Snyder

Raising Thankful Kids

hanksgiving is again upon us.

As parents, we recognize it takes intense effort at each stage of our child’s development to instill an “attitude of gratitude.” While Thanksgiving represents just one holiday on our calendar, many of us are striving to raise children who are truly thankful each day of the year.

Intergenerational Thanksgiving Two Naples families, the Shaffers and the Potters, have worked across four generations to raise thankful children – in spite of shifts in culture.

Beth and Terry Shaffer raised their three children in Naples, where Beth grew up and her parents live. Her own upbringing instilled that sense of gratefulness that she has passed on. “In our home, saying ‘thank you’ was like breathing. We had to work for things,” she recalled.

The Shaffer family also practiced gratitude outside the home. “We demonstrated thankfulness to our children, letting them hear us thanking the grocery bagger, waiter, and each other. From before our children could talk, we instructed them to say ‘thank you.’ From the time they were toddlers to when they were in high school, we didn’t give them everything. It didn’t mean we never got them things, but when we did they were grateful,” Beth explained.

“I am blessed to have very appreciative children and grandchildren,” Beth said.

“For us, not having a lot of money was such a blessing. We had so many opportunities to thank the Lord and people for their generosity. I fought against any sense of entitlement in our home.”

Beth and Terry’s three adult children are continuing the tradition of gratitude.

Nick and Samantha Shaffer have two boys, ages two and five. “We want our children to be thankful and develop a feeling of contentment. We like to have conversations with our boys periodically about the things for which we’re thankful: from a small toy they’re enjoying, to an upcoming trip, or the van we have the privilege of owning.

Our hope is that our kids will learn to appreciate the blessings in our lives, so that we 22

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Above: Sharla and Bill Potter with their eight grandchildren.

can rejoice with others when they receive, purchase, or experience something special,” Samantha shared.

Andrew and Jenna Shaffer live in Naples with their two girls, ages six and three. “We want our kids to have fulfilling relationships and put others before themselves. Life isn’t about them,” Jenna said.

The Potter family For Bobbie Angstrom, great grandmother of 23 and matriarch of the Potter family, instilling thanksgiving and gratitude continues to be a theme throughout the four generations of her family.

“As a great grandmother, it pleases me so much to see thankfulness practiced in their young lives,” she said. “My late husband and I started modeling gratefulness in our conversations and beginning early with pleases and thank yous. Today, it is easy to unintentionally overindulge children.

I am thankful to see my grandchildren raising their children to be grateful in all circumstances.”

Bobbie Angstrom’s daughter and sonin-law, Sharla and Bill Potter, shared some of the tips they’ve learned from encouraging these values in their three children and eight grandchildren. “We taught our kids to say ‘thank you’ from a very early age on through high school. Doing simple chores to help around the house (without pay!) was a healthy habit for our children. They saw what it takes to run a household and it gave

them a sense of gratitude for all that we did for them. We encouraged our children to serve through the church as well.”

Nate and Ashley [Potter] Johnson have three children and explained, “We believe perspective is key and to understand how blessed we are as a family. Life is not all about our children, but about loving and serving others. Our children don’t get everything they want, and I explain why, and that it’s ultimately for their good. We serve regularly as a family, and we discuss issues in the world so that our children can gain perspective,” Ashley said.

Bill and Sharla’s other son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Kristen Potter, have three girls and a boy on the way. Even in a relatively affluent environment, “We want them to know the needs that exist around us,” Kristen said. “We thank God with our girls for clean water, food, our beds, and our house. We seek out opportunities to share what we have with others.”

Tom and Ashley Potter have two young boys, and they are striving to continue in this vein. “We live in a culture that struggles with distraction and discontentment. And we live in a community where need is not the norm.

We look to train our kids to wait and work for things they want, and we model finding joy in relationships and generosity.”

While much has changed over four generations, these families have retained a steadfast dedication to a humble perspective and thankful heart.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

ADOPTION

By Tamara Lynn Nicola

Celebrating National Adoption Day

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veryone who adopts a child has a story. Some of us adopt through foster care, some of us through family, some through an independent private adoption, and some through other circumstances. In 2006, I adopted my daughter, Gabriella, through a private adoption and started my adoption story.

Because I lived in Naples, and was a practicing attorney here, I did not want my life story to be played out in Naples. I filed the adoption in Tampa and finalized the adoption at the Tampa Courthouse.

Once our adoption was finalized, I learned that there was a national event being held in Tampa to celebrate adoptions. National Adoption Day is held each November and focuses on the adoption of children from foster care. Intrigued with the event, I began checking into what we did in Collier County to celebrate National Adoption Day. I found that while Lee County celebrated the day, Collier County did not. Thus, a perfect partnership was formed with the Children’s Network of Southwest Florida to promote National Adoption Day in Naples. In Collier County, the adoptions occur the day before National Adoption Day, on Friday, and the Lee County adoptions occur the next day, on Saturday. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of National Adoption Day in Collier County, and this special event will be held at the Collier County Courthouse on Friday, Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m.; it has not yet been determined how many children will be adopted that day but, currently, there are seven.

Adoption proceedings are normally closed to the public; the courtroom is cleared to allow the families privacy and the adoptions themselves are sealed, which means that no member of the public

can look at the court records and determine who was adopted or by whom. On National Adoption Day, the proceedings are public and the courtroom is not closed (although the records are still sealed).

While some families choose to keep their adoptions private, those who place their adoptions on the National Adoption Day docket agree that members of the community can attend and be a part of their story.

This day is a celebration of adoptions. Most people who are adopting children bring their entire family.

Oftentimes, this means 10 to 15 family members all joining in to celebrate these children finding their forever families.

There is a celebration afterwards in the courthouse atrium, with all of the children receiving gifts, participating in face painting, receiving balloon animals, and enjoying light snacks. It is truly a joyous occasion.

There are so many children out there who still need homes. Heartgalleryofamerica.org showcases children who currently are available for adoption. There are also always opportunities for people to foster a child or children. You can find information on becoming a qualified foster parent at www.childnetswfl.org. Many adoptive parents are those who fostered children during their time of need and, during the process, had an opportunity to provide the child with a permanent home.

Last year, I took my daughter, Gabriella, who is now 11 years old, with me to the National Adoption Day event. Not only did it allow her to experience what it was like when her dad and I adopted her, but it allowed her to participate in the process and give back to the community.

For more information on this event, email Tamara at Tamara@ nicolafamilylaw.com.

Covenant Church of Naples Fall Festival Just good, family-centered fun for free!

Friday, November 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Bring Friends and Family to: 6926 Trail Blvd., Naples Climbing Wall J Inflatables J Hay Ride J Crafts Corn Pit J Carnival Games J Hamburgers & Hot Dogs Nachos J Cupcakes J Drinks For details, call 239-597-3464 or visit covenantnaples.com NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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1:00 p.m. Book Signing for Hurricane Relief. Local children’s authors are signing books to benefit area children recovering from Hurricane Irma. Classroom Plus, 650 Goodlette Rd. N., Naples. Call 239263-6101 or check www. classroom-plus.com.

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4:30 p.m. Family Tech Night. Fun-filled family night of activities with the newest tech gadgets. Program and play with a variety of robots and use OSMO. East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239775-5592 or check collierlibrary.org.

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4:00 p.m. Playful Interactions. All children that participate need to be accompanied by an adult caregiver so that 1:1 assistance is maintained. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

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10:00 a.m. Safari Squad: Animal Architects. Learn about how animals build things and why. Build some fun things, too. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check www.caribbeangardens.com.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. In the YMCA parking every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need. 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Call 239597-3148 or check greaternaplesymca.org.

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10:00 a.m. Naples Diabetes Conference. Brings together doctors, medical institutions, patients, parents and caretakers whose lives have been affected by diabetes.

Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples.

Call 239-597-3148 or visit greaternaplesymca.org.

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4:00 p.m. Turtle Tales. Learn all about these amazing reptiles, then make a turtle craft out of recycled materials.

Ages 7-11. Registration required. South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

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1:30 p.m. National Adoption Day Event.

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of this event in Collier County. Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples.

Check www.collierclerk. com/clerks-office/officelocations/2-collier-countycourthouse.

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5:30 p.m. Fall Festival at Covenant Church. Free fun for the entire family. Climbing wall, inflatables, entertainment, hay rides, crafts, corn pit, carnival games, and food. Covenant Church, 6926 Trail Blvd., Naples.

Call 239-597-3464 or visit covenantnaples.com.

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2:00 p.m. Cars 1,2,3 Party. Play Cars (the movie) inspired games, create crafts, build a Lego race car to compete on the Snapology racetrack, and have fun. All ages.

South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

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11:00 a.m. BaconFest. Features baconthemed food and vendors, games, activities, live music, and a bacon-eating contest. Located at Naples Airport, 526 Terminal Dr., Naples. Visit baconfestnaples.com.

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3:30 p.m. Manatees, Manatees.

Learn all about the West Indian Manatee: its diet, bone structure, and what it needs to survive and thrive.

Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island. Call 239-394-3272 or check collierlibrary.org.

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4:00 p.m. Lego Club. Share ideas, be creative, make new friends, and have fun. Bricks provided. Ages 5-11 years.

Registration is not required. Estates Branch Library, 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. Call 239-455-8088 or check collierlibrary.org.

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9:00 a.m. Florida Panther Festival.

Enjoy special presentations, children’s activities, a panther-themed nature hike with park rangers and panther biologists and more. Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check www.caribbeangardens.com.

6:00 p.m. Fall Carnival. Nov. 3-6. Complete with rides and your favorite carnival foods and treats. Located at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-4180 or check collierparks.com.

10:00 a.m. Little Explorers: The Very Little Spider. Find out just how busy the spider actually is. Meet all of her friends along the way, and bring home a spider web dream catcher. Conservancy, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239262-0304 or check www. conservancy.org.

5:30 p.m. Sewing Classes for Kids.

Come and learn to sew by hand every Wednesday.

Sew stuffed animals, modern characters, bags, and much more. $20 per child.

All materials included.

Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples.

Call 239-213-3020.

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4:30 p.m. Maker Space for Little Makers. Create and build with different kinds of materials.

Make a craft or teach a robot how to find a treasure. Register required. East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-7755592 or check collierlibrary. org.

8:45 a.m. Private Bounce Session for Children with Additional Needs and Siblings. Doors opening at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $10 per child and supported by Table Of Grace Church and local businesses. Located at Bounce, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples.

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19 5:00 p.m. Sensory Night. For children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory integration disorders. Limited participation. Registration is required. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon.org.

5:45 p.m. Mercato Movies on the Lawn: Moana. Movie starts at dusk. Food and outdoor bar provided by Naples Flatbread. Please leave coolers at home. Mercato, 9128 Strada Pl., Naples. Call 239-594-9400 or check www.mercatoshops.com.

2:00 p.m. Alice in Wonderland. Nov. 17-19. Join the CFABS Youth Players for Alice in Wonderland. Centers for Performing Arts-Moe Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs.

Call 239-495-8989 or check artcenterbonita.org.

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5:30 p.m. Creative Writing Club. Whether you write poetry, stories, or just scribble, this is the group for you. Play games, hone your skills, share your work. Ages 14-18. Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Call 239-262-6853 or check collierlibrary.org.

7:30 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street Opening Night. Through Dec. 23.

A holiday tradition. The Naples Players present the musical comedy “Miracle on 34th Street”. Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or visit naplesplayers.org.

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11:45 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. The classic 1983 movie A Christmas Story is brought to life from Nov. 23 through Dec. 25.

Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. For times and tickets, call 239-278-4422 or visit www.BroadwayPalm.com .

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2:00 p.m. Movie Day. Join us for an afternoon movie. First come, first seated. All ages. Registration is not required.

Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Call 239-657-2882 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:00 p.m. Grand Illuminations Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Enjoy a snow show, carolers, magician, face painting, free photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, and much more. Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Venetian Village, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples. Check venetianvillage.com. 24

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9:00 a.m. Rookery Bay Adventure Race. Enjoy a 3k kayak along Henderson Creek and a 5k trail run at Rookery Bay to benefit Rookery Bay Research Reserve.

Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239417-6310 or check www. rookerybay.org.

YOUR COMMUNITY November EVENTS CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS:

1 WEDNESDAY

To submit your event for both our online and print calendars, go to the Calendar at neafamily.com and follow the instructions for inputting event information.

10:00 a.m. Free Kids Crafts. Kids from toddlers to 12 are invited to participate in fun activities. Located at Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-948-3766 or check www.miromaroutlets.com.

10:00 a.m. Preschool Story Time. Parents and caregivers encourage independence by waiting nearby in the library for this program. You must register for each week of the six-week session. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 for additional information.

5:30 p.m. Sewing Classes for Kids. Come and learn to sew by hand every Wednesday. Sew stuffed animals, modern characters, bags, and much more. $20 per child. All materials included. Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples.

Call 239-213-3020.

5:30 p.m. Parent/Teen/Child Mental Health Support Group. Opportunity for diagnosed youth ages 6-18 to socialize and receive support. Located at NAMI of Collier County, 6324 Trail Blvd., Bldg. C, Naples.

Call 239-434-6726 or check namicollier.org.

The deadline for print calendar events is the 12th of the month preceding publication. You can submit events anytime for the online calendar.

Note: Please check dates and times before attending events. As Neapolitan Family staff does not enter all calendar data, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

2 THURSDAY 6:30 a.m. Fitness Camp. A 60-minute fitness class offered by a certified fitness professional and designed specifically for women. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at the WINK Playland. Located at Miromar

Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-9483766 or check www.miromaroutlets.com.

9:00 a.m. First Baptist Academy Open House.

Visit FBA’s campus and take a tour, talk to teachers, and learn more about the rigorous academics. Located at First Baptist Academy, 3000 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. For additional information, visit fbalions.org.

10:00 a.m. Toddler Tales. Storytelling, wordplay, fingerplays, and music-making designed to advance pre-reading skills. Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636.

10:00 a.m. Tai Chi in the Garden. Instructor Karen McNeil hosts this energy-flow exercise in the South Grove of the Garden. Every Thursday. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples.

Call 239-643-7275 or check www.naplesgarden.org\.

10:00 a.m. Little Explorers Program: The Very Little Spider. Find out just how busy the spider actually is. What is she up to? Meet all of her friends along the way, and bring home your very own spider web dream catcher. No registration required. Located at Conservancy of SW Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www. conservancy.org for additional information.

11:00 a.m. Breastfeeding Club Golden Gate.

Meet other breastfeeding mothers and share your breastfeeding experiences, advice, and tips. These clubs are open to any breastfeeding mother. Located at Golden Gate WIC, 4945 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples.

Call 239-455-1931 or check collier.floridahealth.gov.

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Accepting New Patients NowNow Accepting New Patients Helping Naples smile A Family Practice Helping Naples smile “This office is a rare refreshing environment with knowledge, since 1980!

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kindness, and compassion.” – E

www.TheNaplesDentists.com 26

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

3:30 p.m. Lego Club. Join the club and share ideas, be creative, make new friends and have fun. Bricks will be provided. Ages 5-11 years. Registration is not required.

Located at Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island. Call 239-394-3272 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:00 p.m. Fort Myers Day of the Dead. A colorful, Mexican-themed festival that will include vendors, music, dancers, a kids’ area, and entertainment in Centennial Park on Nov. 2-3. The parade is on Nov. 2 only. Located at Fort Myers River District. Call 855-732-3836 for additional information.

5:00 p.m. Dia de los Muertos. Learn about the traditional Mexican festival honoring the memories of departed relatives and friends. Decorate sugar skulls and spend time reminiscing. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Call 239-657-2882 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:30 p.m. Meet Comic Book Creator James Haick. Meet the author of Solar Flare, published by Scout Comics. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write one yourself?

Ages 14 years and older. Registration is not required. Located at Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples.

Now Enrolling!

3 FRIDAY 10:00 a.m. Drop In Baby Fitness Mommy and Me. Instill healthy habits for life in your toddler by attending class every Fridays. $5 per child. Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Call 239-213-3020 for additional information.

11:00 a.m. St Monica’s Farmers Market. Great local produce, honey, food, herbs and spices, and local handmade items. Every Wednesday afternoon, November through April. Located at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, 7070 Immokalee Rd., Naples. For additional information, visit www.stmonicasnaples.org.

5:30 p.m. Mommy/Daddy & Me Painting Afternoon. Parent and child(ren) will paint their own canvas, every month a different theme. All materials included.

Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Call 239-213-3020.

6:00 p.m. Fall Carnival. Nov. 3-6, from 6-10 p.m. Complete with rides and your favorite carnival foods and treats. Located at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-4180 or check collierparks.com.

4 SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. Community Yard Sale. Find yard sale bargains with the convenience of having all the sales in one location. Call to reserve a spot to sell used items. Located at Immokalee Community Park, 321 North 1st Street, Immokalee. Call 239-6574449 for additional information.

8:00 a.m. Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday. Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, honey, prepared foods, wears, specialty foods, and more. Located at Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Call 239-273-2350 or check Facebook for additional information.

8:00 a.m. Southwest Gulf Coast Walk for Apraxia. There will face painting, activities for the kids, and awesome items for auction. Located at Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. Visit casana.apraxia-kids.org.

9:00 a.m. Florida Panther Festival. Enjoy special presentations, children’s activities, a panther-themed nature hike with park rangers and panther biologists and more.

Located at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples.

Call 239-262-5409 or check www.caribbeangardens.com for additional information.

9:30 a.m. W.O.N.D.E.R Kids. Drop in anytime between 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday to the Smith Children’s Garden for fun activities. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. Call 239-643-7275 or check www.naplesgarden.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Historical Tours. Explore the 19th century religious Koreshan settlement, its structures and gardens, and learn about these idealistic pioneers. $2 for adults, $1 for children over 6. Located at Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-992-0311 or check www.floridastateparks.org.

10:00 a.m. Swamp Buggy Parade. The Annual Swamp Buggy Parade returns to Downtown Naples. Enjoy Collier County’s longest living tradition, the opening of the Fall Swamp Buggy Racing Season. Located at Fifth Avenue South, Naples.

Call 239-692-8436 or check www.fifthavenuesouth.com.

10:00 a.m. Superhero Saturday. Two Happy Hands Signing Academy will be having a Superhero themed fundraiser to benefit their scholarship/outreach fund.

Located at Two Happy Hands Signing Academy, 3440 Marinatown Ln., Fort Myers.

Call 239-233-6517 for additional information.

11:00 a.m. Eva’s Closet Food Truck Fundraising Event. Free golf with $10 admittance donation for adults, $5 for kids. Face painting, beer samples, and live music.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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239-775-KIDS (5437) sunshinelc.com 4143 Tamiami Trail, Naples Family owned and directed small private school Degreed teachers • Low student-teacher ratio VPK enrollment available neafamily.com

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We buy & sell gently used kids stuff • Clothing (newborn to size 16), toys, baby furniture, equipment and more.

• We pay cash on the spot.

• No appointment necessary, clothes must be freshly laundered and brought in a plastic container.

13560 Tamiami Trail N #4, Naples,

239-596-6096

Also in: Fort Myers at 239-274-0039 Port Charlotte at 941-764-8121

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• Serving ages 1-5 • Licensed quality early care & education • Reggio Emilia inspired philosophy with a daily focus on the arts & music • Safe learning environment with credentialed teachers • High-quality, experiential, child-centered curriculum • Scholarships available • School Readiness & VPK vouchers accepted • Open Monday-Friday, 7 am–5:30 pm

Now Enrolling! Call 239.980.9021

Located in Emmanuel Lutheran 777 Mooring Line Dr., Naples, FL Visit www.collierchildcare.org 28

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Located at Alico Family Golf, 16300 Lee Rd., Fort Myers. Check evas-foundation.org.

1:30 p.m. Beading for Teens. Come make a simple beaded bracelet. Ages 1117 years. Registration is limited and required. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

2:00 p.m. Festa Italiana. Come enjoy Italian culture with our guest presenter, Dr. Cimarusti, who will share with us Italian music and basic musical instruction on the accordion. Enjoy a craft and an Italian sweet as well. Ages 4 and older. Registration required. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

4:00 p.m. Improv Cafe. Bring your family out to “Little Shop of Improv”, the first Saturday of every month. Located at Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check artcenterbonita.org.

5:00 p.m. Parents’ Night Out. Why scramble for a sitter when you can bring your children ages 3 months-12 years to the YMCA for Parents’ Night Out? First and third Saturday of each month. This service is available to all YMCA Family Membership holders. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples.

Call 239-597-3148 or check greaternaplesymca.org for additional information.

5 SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. Farmer’s Market and Native Plant Sale. Local fresh produce, seafood, honey, arts and crafts, native plants and trees, and more. $1 per vehicle admission.

Located at Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-9920311 or check www.floridastateparks.org for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Sunday Birding at the Conservancy. Join a Conservancy volunteer naturalist on the beach near Clam Pass to view birds through a scope and ask questions. Call 239-262-0304 or visit www.conservancy.org. Located at Clam Pass Beach Park, 410 Seagate Dr., Naples.

9:30 a.m. W.O.N.D.E.R Kids. Drop in anytime between 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday to the Smith Children’s Garden for fun activities. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. Call 239-643-7275 or check www.naplesgarden.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Naples Diabetes Conference. The Annual Naples Diabetes Conference aims to bring together doctors, medical institutions, patients, parents and caretakers whose lives have been affected by diabetes. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Call 239-597-3148 or check greaternaplesymca.org.

11:00 a.m. Koreshan Baking. Join us for a pinch of history and a taste, too.

Located at Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-9920311 or check www.floridastateparks.org for additional information.

11:15 a.m. Spanish Church Service. St. Monica’s Church will hold a Spanish speaking service every Sunday. Located at St. Monica’s Church, 7070 Immokalee Road, Naples. Call 239-591-4550 or check www.stmonicasnaples.org.

2:30 p.m. Kristallnacht Commemorative Service. Presented by the Catholic and Jewish Dialogue of Collier County. The service commemorates the 79th anniversary of Kristallnacht, “The Night of Broken Glass”. Located at St. William Catholic Church, 601 Seagate Dr., Naples. Visit jewishnaples.org for additional information.

4:00 p.m. Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus Fall Concert. This chorus of 100 voices performs its annual fall concert. Located at First Presbyterian Church, 250 6th St. S., Naples. Check www.artisnaples.org.

6 MONDAY 4:00 p.m. Playful Interactions. All children that participate need to be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

4:30 p.m. Pups ‘n’ Books. Stop by to read to a pup or just pet one. The service dogs-in-training are provided by PAWS Assistance and Therapy Dogs. All ages welcome. Registration is not required. Located at East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-775-5592 or check collierlibrary.org.

6:00 p.m. Art Classes. Kids will learn and explore art in a fun environment applying different methods and media, encouraging them to discover their creative voice.

Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Call 239-213-3020.

7 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Moms and Tots Storytime with Miss Jessica and Miss Mary Ellen.

A toddler favorite, the girls read, sing, dance, and color, creating a fun atmosphere

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

of learning and lots of laughter. All ages are welcome. Located at Barnes & Noble, 5377 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. Call 239-597-2040 or check bn.com.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. The Meals of Hope Mobile Pantry will be in the YMCA parking every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need.

Everyone is welcome. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples.

Call 239-597-3148 or check greaternaplesymca.org for additional information.

6:00 p.m. Chess Instruction K-12. Join Antonio as he shares his skills at chess with students entering K-12. Only for beginner players. Registration is not required, but space is limited to the first 24 walk-in students. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

8 WEDNESDAY 2:00 p.m. Free Clinic. Free clinic every second Wednesday of each month from 2-6 p.m. Call 239-529-5580 to schedule an appointment and verify eligibility. Walk-ins also accepted. Located at PANIRA Healthcare Clinic, 5039 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples.

3:30 p.m. Lego Club. Join the club and share ideas, be creative, make new friends, and have fun. Bricks provided. Ages 5-11 years. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

4:00 p.m. Lego Club. Share ideas, be creative, make new friends and have fun.

Bricks will be provided and your creation will be put on display. Ages 5-11 years.

Registration is not required. Located at Estates Branch Library, 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. Call 239-455-8088 or check collierlibrary.org.

9 THURSDAY 3:30 p.m. Manatees, Manatees. Did you know that the West Indian Manatee is a fun and important part of Florida?. Join Everglades Park Ranger Helen Johnson to learn all about their diet, bone structure and what they need to survive and thrive.

Located at Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island. Call 239-394-3272 or check collierlibrary.org.

4:00 p.m. Make a Stained Glass Picture. Capture the beauty and wonder of nature in our “Stain A Frame” pictures that we will paint and then hang them in our windows. Ages 11-17 years. Registration required. Located at Golden Gate Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Call 239-252-4542 or check collierlibrary.org.

10 FRIDAY 5:30 p.m. Fall Festival at Covenant Church. Free. Features a climbing wall, inflatables, entertainment, hay rides, crafts, corn pit, and carnival games. Their food area will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, cupcakes, and drinks. Located at Covenant Church of Naples, 6926 Trail Blvd., Naples. For additional information, call 239-597-3464 or visit www.covenantnaples.com.

11 SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. Veterans Day Car Show. Cool Cruisers group and food vendors.

Parking and admission are free. Located at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, 5225 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples. Check www.stelizabethseton.org for details.

11:00 a.m. Science Saturday. Join Mr. Glen and his science and engineering team for interactive science projects. Located at Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-948-3766 or check www.miromaroutlets.com.

11:00 a.m. BaconFest. Features bacon-themed food and vendors, games, activities, live music, and a bacon-eating contest. Located at Naples Airport, 526 Terminal Dr., Naples. For additional information, visit baconfestnaples.com.

1:00 p.m. Needlework Makerspace. Come learn some simple sewing techniques.

We’ll be making a small stuffed animal and a bag to carry it in. All ages. Registration is recommended. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

Do

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS • Certified Reading Specialist • 25 Years Experience • Methods: Orton-Gillingham & Reading Recovery • Children with Dyslexia, ADD and other challenges • Approved service provider for the Gardiner Scholarship • Downtown Naples Location • All Ages

239-233-9400

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A life-long joy of learning, an education for life INFANT * TODDLER * CHILDREN’S HOUSE VPK * ELEMENTARY * ADOLESCENT

Join us for Open House Tuesday, November 7, 2017 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

or

Call to schedule a private tour

239-597-2255 More information can be found on our website

www.naplesmontessori.org

2659 Professional Circle, Suite 1118, Naples, Florida 34119 License #C20CO0026

Daily hours from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! Dr. Jennifer B. Hughes, DMD Pediatric Dentist

12 SUNDAY 8:45 a.m. Private Bounce Session for Children with Additional Needs and Siblings. A bi-weekly private session for children with additional needs and their siblings at Bounce Naples with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. $10 per child. Located at Bounce, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

239-260-7672

1879 Veterans Park Dr., Suite 1203, Naples, FL 34109 neafamily.com

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9:30 a.m. Donation Yoga. Seacrest Country Day School and Donation Yoga are partnering for a three-part community-wide yoga fundraising event. Seacrest family members, community supporters, and the general public are invited to bring their yoga mats and enjoy a morning of yoga. Located at Seacrest Country Day School, 77100 Davis Blvd., Naples. Visit seacrest.org.

1:00 p.m. Bark for Life. Come out for a great day of fun, pet-friendly afternoon in support of the American Cancer Society on the Mercato lawn. Located at Mercato, 9128 Strada Pl., Naples. Call 239-594-9400 or check www.mercatoshops.com.

1:00 p.m. Book Signing Fundraiser for Hurricane Relief. Local children’s authors will be signing books to benefit children recovering from Hurricane Irma.

A portion of book sales and Classroom Plus store sales will be donated to relief efforts in Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island. Located at Classroom Plus, 650 Goodlette Rd. N., Naples. Call 239-263-6101 or check www.classroom-plus.com.

13 MONDAY 4:30 p.m. Family Tech Night. Enjoy a fun-filled family night of hands-on activities with the newest tech gadgets. Program and play with a variety of robots and use OSMO, the award winning educational game system. Adults and children of all ages welcome. Located at East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-775-5592 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:30 p.m. Living with Florida Panthers. Learn about panthers and how we can coexist with them. Grades K-5. Registration required. Located at Estates Branch Library, 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. Call 239-455-8088 or check collierlibrary.org.

6:30 p.m. Evans Entertainment Magic Show. Joey, Alexandra, and Sydney the parrot are back by popular demand for another award-winning comedy, magic, and music show. Ages 5+. Registration required. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

14 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Safari Squad: Animal Architects. Learn about how animals build things and why. We will build some fun things, too. Safari Squad programs feature an animal encounter, storybook reading, an arts and crafts project, and free-choice play stations. Located at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check www.caribbeangardens.com.

3:30 p.m. Where do Florida Panthers Live?. Come to the library to learn about the Florida Panther from a panther specialist. She will tell us how to avoid contact with these wild animals and what to do if we happen to find one. Ages 5-11 years.

Registration required. Located at Golden Gate Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples.

Call 239-252-4542 or check collierlibrary.org.

4:00 p.m. Bushels of Fun. Join us as we celebrate fall with fun activities and crafts.

Rake some leaves, hunt for fall shapes, and play fun games. Ages 3 years and older.

Registration required. Located at Vanderbilt Beach Library, 788 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-597-8444 or check collierlibrary.org.

15 WEDNESDAY

Join andand PurePure NaplesNaples on a relaxing cruise on the JoinWNOCC WNOCC on a sunset relaxing sunset beautiful Naples and mingle with exciting cruise on thewaterways. beautifulMix Naples Waterways.

Mixwomen and mingle with exciting womenWe while raising money for while raising money for education. will have hor d’oeuvres and education. d’oeuvres sangria aboard, We so allwill you have need tohor bring is yourselfand and aSangria friend. aboard so all you need to bring is yourself andBoarding a friend.

Sangria When: November 6 at 4 p.m.

Sponsored by: When: August 24, 2017 6:00pm Where: Tin City – Pure Naples Boat Leaves 6:30pm Tickets: $40 per Where: Naples Tinperson City- Pure Naples Sponsorship Tickets: $40 Per Person opportunities are available.

Follow us for more details or visit www.WNOCC.org.

4:00 p.m. Turtle Tales. Come learn all about these amazing reptiles with Tish Roland from Collier 4-H, then make a turtle craft out of recycled materials. Ages 7-11 years. Registration required. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

16 THURSDAY 6:00 p.m. Third Thursday on Third Street South. Live music in the Fleischmann Courtyard. Located at Third Street South, Naples. Call 239-434-6533 or check www.napleschamber.org for additional information.

7:00 p.m. PFLAG Support Group Meeting. The Naples chapter of PFLAG (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meets on the third Thursday of each month. Call 239-513-4568 for location.

17 FRIDAY 1:30 p.m. National Adoption Day Event. This day is a celebration of adoptions.

There is a celebration afterwards in the Courthouse Atrium. Located at Collier County Courthouse, 3315 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Check www.collierclerk.com/

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

clerks-office/office-locations/2-collier-county-courthouse for additional information.

3:00 p.m. Breastfeeding Club East Naples. Meet other breastfeeding mothers and share your breastfeeding experiences, advice, and tips. These clubs are open to any breastfeeding mother. Located at East Naples WIC, 3339 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-252-6875 or check collier.floridahealth.gov/events.

6:00 p.m. 5th Grade Dance. Dance the night away at our elementary School dance.

Tickets include pizza and a drink. Located at Max A. Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-348-7500 or check collierparks.com.

6:30 p.m. Buddy Break Respite Program for Kids With Special Needs. Threehour monthly session of free respite care for children with special needs and their siblings. Every third Friday at Naples Seventh Day Adventist Church. Registration required. Located at Naples Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5050 Davis Blvd., Naples.

Call 239-213-3351 or check www.naplessdachurch.org for additional information.

7:00 p.m. Alice in Wonderland. Join the CFABS Youth Players for Alice in Wonderland. Chasing the White Rabbit, Alice tumbles down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Located at Centers for Performing Arts-Moe Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check www.artcenterbonita.org.

10:00 a.m. Old Florida Festival. Nov. 18-19. Travel back in time over 10,000 years of South Florida history at one of the largest living history gatherings in the state. Located at Collier County Museum, 3331 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239252-8476 or check colliermuseums.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Junior Ranger Programs. Discover and learn about plants, animals, and other secrets of the park. Meet in the picnic area. Ideal for children ages 6-12.

Parental presence required. Located at Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-992-0311 or check www.floridastateparks.org.

1:00 p.m. Glow in the Dark Jellyfish & Bugs. Free family activity day. Families will create art projects to take a home and contribute to group artworks that will be displayed during the Bonita Springs Light Festival. Located at Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check artcenterbonita.org for additional information.

1:30 p.m. Pups ‘n’ Books. Stop by to read to a dog or just to pet one. Dogs are provided by PAWS Assistance and Therapy Dogs. All ages. Registration is not required. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

18 SATURDAY 7:30 a.m. Giant Yard Sale. Fleischmann Park is hosting the semi-annual gigantic yard sale. If you have things you want to sell, get them ready now and rent a space at the park. You must pre-register and space is limited. Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Call 239-213-3020 for additional information.

8:00 a.m. Community Yard Sale. Find yard sale bargains with the convenience of having all the sales in one location. Call to reserve a spot to sell used items. Located at Max A. Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples. Call 239348-7500 or check collierparks.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. SW Florida Comic Con. The show has over 100 exhibitors that cater to a wide-spectrum of interests including comic books, magazines, toys, games, movies, television, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel plus much more. Located at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport-Town Center, 9931 Interstate Commerce Dr., Fort Myers.

Full & Part Time Programs 8:30 am - 2:30 pm Extended Hours Available NOW ACCEPTING SUMMER VPK

239-593-6668 www.childmont.com 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Dr.

Naples, FL 34119 childmont101@gmail.com (Across from Super Target)

little hands...BIG achievements

(239) 593-6668 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Dr. www.childmont.com Naples, FL 34119 License # C20CO0018 Toddlers 12-36 mons Primary 3 yrs to Kinder VPK 4/5 yrs License # C20CO0018 NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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When you join the Y, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier.

You are supporting the values and programs that strengthen your community.

At the Y, children learn what they can achieve, families spend quality time together, and we all build relationships that deepen our sense of belonging.

For more than a workout. For a better us.

239.597.3148

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5450 YMCA Road • Naples, FL

www.GreaterNaplesYMCA.org

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

2:00 p.m. Cars 1,2,3 Party. Are you a fan of Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera and Mater? Then come to our party. Play Cars inspired games, create crafts, build a Lego race car to compete on the Snapology racetrack, and have fun. Bring your camera or phone for pictures. All ages. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-252-7542 or check collierlibrary.org.

2:00 p.m. Asian Dance Medley. Sultan’s Dreams is a triad of Latin flare, Asian wave and Moroccan rhythm. Located at Golden Gate Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Call 239-252-4542 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:00 p.m. Parents’ Night Out. Bring your children ages 3 months-12 years. This service is available to all YMCA Family Membership holders. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd. Call 239-597-3148 or check greaternaplesymca.org.

19 SUNDAY 11:00 a.m. Taste of Collier. An afternoon of family fun featuring live performances by area musicians, ice-carving demonstrations, cooking competitions with local top chefs, and savory samples from local restaurants. Located at Bayfront Place, Naples.

Call 239-272-1907 or check www.napleschamber.org for additional information.

1:00 p.m. Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Chamber Concert. Enjoy a variety of classical works in this performance. Located at Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Call 239-597-1111 or check artisnaples.org.

20 MONDAY 4:00 p.m. Lego Club. Join the club and be ready to accept the monthly building challenge. Share ideas, be creative, make new friends and have fun. Bricks will be provided. Ages 5-11 years. Registration is not required. Located at East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-775-5592 or check collierlibrary.org.

21 TUESDAY 5:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Treats. Join us to celebrate Thanksgiving early. Assemble a tasty treat, then construct a crafty item to place it in. All ages welcome, best for elementary students and older. Registration is not required. Located at Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Call 239-262-6853 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:45 p.m. Mercato Movies on the Lawn: Moana. Food and outdoor bar provided

by Naples Flatbread. Please leave coolers at home. Located at Mercato, 9128 Strada Pl., Naples. Call 239-594-9400 or check www.mercatoshops.com.

Temple Shalom Preschool

22 WEDNESDAY Library Hours. Thanksgiving Crafts and Games. Drop by the Children’s Library and play some games and make a craft to decorate your Thanksgiving table. All ages.

Registration is not required. Located at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples, and at Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island. Check collierlibrary.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Thanksgiving Crafter’s Choice. Stop by and choose some crafts to make. All ages. Registration is not required. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

11:30 a.m. Farm City BBQ. Enjoy steaks from Shula’s and live music. Located at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-571-3174 or check www. farmcitybbq.com.

2:00 p.m. Movie Day. Join us for an afternoon movie. Popcorn and water will be served. First come, first seated. All ages. Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Call 239-657-2882 or check collierlibrary.org.

23 THURSDAY Call for Times. A Christmas Story. Broadway Palm brings the classic 1983 movie A Christmas Story to life from Nov. 23 through Dec. 25. Located at Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. For times and tickets, call 239-278-4422 or visit www.BroadwayPalm.com .

7:00 a.m. Thanksgiving 5K at Cambier Park. This beautiful 5k course will wind through downtown Naples with festivities staged from the picturesque Cambier Park.

Pumpkin pie and apple cider will be served after the race. Plenty of free parking.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Planting the Seeds in the Minds of our Future Exceptional Education for ages 2 - 5

i NOW REGISTERING i

for Little Cubs, from 18 months to 2 years

the

TSP

experience

TempleShalomPreschool.org

239-455-3227

4630 Pine Ridge Road

i

Naples, FL 34119

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November Picks inLeeCounty

Taste Of The Town

JetBlue Park, Fort Myers Sunday, November 5 • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Each restaurant will present a “taste” of their best and most popular dishes. All food and beverage items will cost between $2 & $5 worth of tickets. www.jlfmtaste.com

Cape Coral Coconut Festival

Sun Splash Family Waterpark, Cape Coral November 9 - 12

This four-day event includes bands, entertainment, carnival games, rides., food, contests, crafts & more. www.cocofest.com

American Sandsculpting Championship Festival 6890 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach November 17 - 26

Fort Myers Beach behind Wyndham Garden Hotel.

Over 1,000 tons of sand will be piled and sculpted! www.sandsculptingfestival.com

Alice in Wonderland

Center For the Performing Arts, Bonita Springs November 17 -19

Experience the wonders as CFABS Youth Players present this wildly fantastic tale about going down the rabbit hole.

239-495-8989 .

Holiday Nights

Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers November 24 - December 31 www.edisonfordwinterestates.org

Lee County’s Original Family Publication

FOR 26 YEARS!! www.leefamilynews.net

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Located at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-213-3058 or check www.naplesgov.com.

24 FRIDAY 5:00 p.m. Grand Illuminations Tree Lighting Ceremony. Enjoy a snow show, holiday carolers, a magician, face painting, complimentary photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, and much more. Tree lighting at 7 p.m. Located at Venetian Village, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples. Check venetianvillage.com.

25 SATURDAY 9:00 a.m. Rookery Bay Adventure Race. Enjoy a 3k kayak along Henderson Creek and a 5k trail run at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center to benefit Rookery Bay Research Reserve. Located at Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples.

Call 239-417-6310 or check www.rookerybay.org for additional information.

5:00 p.m. Holiday on the Bay. Complimentary Santa photos, caroling, stories with Mrs. Claus, Snow Shows, and More. Located at The Village on Venetian Bay, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples. Call 239-261-6100 or check www.venetianvillage.com.

LITTLE PEOPLE’S SCHOOL • For 2-5 year olds 868 94th Ave. N, Naples 239-597-5064

• Top Rated VPK • Preschool Classes • Summer Camp LittlePeoplesSchool.info

26 SUNDAY 8:45 a.m. Private Bounce Session for Children with Additional Needs and Siblings. A bi-weekly private session for children with additional needs and their siblings at Bounce Naples with doors opening at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $10 per child.

Located at Bounce, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples.

27 MONDAY

Miguel Argumosa, DMD., Erin M. Taylor, DMD, Nicole Eastham, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists

Three Locations to Serve You. BONITA SPRINGS

9510 Bonita Beach Rd. Ste. 101

239.333.2990

CAPE CORAL

1508 S.E. 12th Terrace

239.322.5222

PORT CHARLOTTE

3872 Tamiami Trail, Unit D&E

941.391.8090

4:30 p.m. Maker Space for Little Makers. Have fun creating and building with different kinds of materials. Make a craft or teach a robot how to find a treasure.

Register required. Children 2-5 years accompanied by an adult. Located at East Naples Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-775-5592 or check collierlibrary.org.

28 TUESDAY 4:00 p.m. Gingerbread House Party. Come make a holiday gingerbread house.

Registration required. $10. Located at Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Dr., City of Marco Island. Call 239-394-4221 or check marcoislandart.org.

5:00 p.m. Sensory Night at C’mon. For children on the autism spectrum and/ or with other sensory integration disorders. Limited participation to minimize crowds, and registration is required. Located at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon.org.

7:00 p.m. The Nutcracker. Join Marie and her Nutcracker Prince as they travel through a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes, sugar plum fairies, and epic battles between heroic toy soldiers and mischievous mice. Located at Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Call 239-597-1111 or check artisnaples.org.

29 WEDNESDAY

Most Insurances Accepted

7:30 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street Opening Night. Through Dec. 23. A holiday tradition. The Naples Players present the musical comedy Miracle on 34th Street.

Located at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. For additional information, call 239-263-7990 or visit naplesplayers.org.

30 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Art Smarts. Join us for a story time focusing on process art. We’ll read a story, sing some songs, and then have some creative fun. Ages 2-5 years. Registration required. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples.

Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

5:30 p.m. Creative Writing Club. Whether you write poetry, stories, or just scribble, this is the group for you. Play games, hone your skills, and share your work. Participants who attend all four workshops will be rewarded. Ages 14-18 years. Registration required. Located at Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Call 239-262-6853 or check collierlibrary.org.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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TRAVEL

By Karen T. Bartlett

Destination: Vanuatu

All photography by Karen T. Bartlett. View her spectacular Vanuatu album at karentbartlett.com

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

C

lose your eyes and imagine it: James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific. The legendary Ring of Fire. Bali H’ai. Missionaries in cook pots. Coral reefs, desert islands, coconut and coffee plantations, giant clam shells half-buried in the sand. Volcanoes shooting molten red lava bombs into the night sky. Grass-skirted (and less) natives.

Bamboo and palmetto treehouses and jungle bungalows. Banana leafwrapped feasts cooked in hot stones in the ground. Sensuous trade winds and billowing sails. Soft breezes scented with ripe mangoes, papayas, frangipani and jasmine, and vines heavy with passion fruit.

Past centuries merge with the present here on the Melanesian islands of Vanuatu, and with the exception of missionaries in cook pots, all these things still exist, in one of the most exotic and least explored places on Earth.

I can tell you that James Michener didn’t lie when he wrote about his time in the U.S. Navy when these islands were a World War II staging theatre. In many ways, nothing has changed, and the keepers of the culture intend to keep it that way.

Originally named The New Hebrides by Captain James Cook in 1774, these 83 exotic islands floating in the Coral Sea about 750 miles west of Fiji became a sovereign nation only 37 years ago. Although it’s now a republic with a prime minister and a parliament, island life revolves around chief-run villages and ancient customs.

Even in the capital city of Port Vila, men still drink locally ground kava from half-coconut shells, and women still wear the boxy, puffy sleeved floral dresses mandated by Scottish Presbyterian missionaries in the late 19th century. (Only the first few were eaten, apparently).

Stop signs and traffic lights don’t exist, even on the rare paved roads on half a dozen of the islands.

Still, a small handful of resort properties – some on tiny movie-set islands – dot the archipelago, and more than a handful of excellent international restaurants are scattered throughout Port Vila.

A few Australia and New Zealand-based cruise ships only recently discovered the islands; before that, only a rare National Geographic Explorer vessel anchored offshore. Politically, the country is very progressive. As a member of the United Nations since its first year as a sovereign country (with the same number of votes as the U.S.: one), Vanuatu hosts a surprising number of international embassies, and is an active advocate for sustainable development, climate change mitigation, human rights, disarmament, and self-determination. For American travelers with a few weeks to spend, Vanuatu offers the best of both these worlds. If you wish you’d experienced the South Pacific islands of Hawaii or Tahiti before their 20th century cultural homogenization, it’s not too late.

Is Vanuatu a destination for families with children? Absolutely, if you’re into finding Nemo and Dory (a clownfish and a blue tang, respectively), snorkeling among giant hawksbill turtles in the wild, paddling in a real dugout canoe, exploring waterfalls and caves and shell-strewn beaches, and dancing with the natives in authentic cultural ceremonies. Prepare to smile constantly, shake a lot of hands (even children and babes in arms are taught to shake hands when welcoming guests), let go of the Internet but definitely not your camera. Without pictures, I promise you – people won’t believe the stories you bring home.

Getting there from Southwest Florida requires a flight to San Francisco or LA, with connections to Fiji and on to Port Vila. Plan on more than 24 hours door to door. Best weather is the May-October dry season. Visit vanuatutravel.info.

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NONPROFIT

Giving Back A Guide to Nonprofits in SW Florida Every November, Neapolitan Family shines a spotlight on a number of nonprofits hard at work helping Southwest Florida families and children. This year, we’ve provided you with details on 75 organizations. If you are fortunate enough to be able to give back to our community, please consider committing your time, attention, and/or donations to one of these worthwhile causes.

ABLE Academy 239-352-7600 • www.theableacademy.org The ABLE Academy is committed to the study of human behavior and development and its effective application to persons with identified needs. ABLE Academy includes a full-time school program for preschool through high school, social skill classes, and an early intensive intervention clinic.

Additional Needs Incorporated 239-298-1499 • info@additionalneeds.info Additional Needs Inc.’s mission is to provide a user-friendly and time-saving website (which is currently under construction) providing current and comprehensive information on available resources to assist children and adults with additional needs and their families in finding appropriate services. We also work to employ individuals with additional needs to research and maintain the website.

Angels Undercover 239-596-0690 • www.angels-undercover.org Promotes education by providing clothing (school uniforms, underwear, and socks) to those who otherwise would come to school inadequately dressed.

By giving the children school clothing and undergarments, Angles Undercover helps them arrive at school ready to learn.

Baby Basics of Collier County 617-510-4468 • info@babybasicscollier.org • www.BabyBasicsCollier.org Baby Basics of Collier County is an all-volunteer organization that, since its inception in 2004, has provided over six million diapers to babies from hardworking, low-income families in Collier County and Bonita Springs who do not receive any federal or state cash assistance.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast, Collier County Chapter 239-331-7133 • www.bbbssun.org Big Brothers and Big Sisters provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-on-one relationships that change their lives for the better.

Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts 239-207-5366 • jamesg@scouting.org • www.beascout.org Children in grades K-12 enjoy great adventures and fun activities with kids their own age in a familly-friendly environment. They learn leadership, morals, and values while maximizing their ability to succeed in life.

The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County 239-325-1700 • www.bgcc.com The Boys & Girls Club serves 3,000 children and teens by offering a safe place for young people to learn, grow, and develop ongoing relationships

Helping parents protect the ones they love the most 5660 Strand Court Naples, FL 34110 (239) 314-2353 38

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Estate Planning v Wills v Trusts v Families

www.albanislaw.com

Norell Albanis, Esq. NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

with caring adult professionals who support their educational, emotional, physical, and social development. The Club offers many programs in the arts, sports, fitness, health, life skills, education, and career development to help youth build self esteem and values.

Books for Collier Kids 239-394-4062 • www.booksforcollierkids.org Books for Collier Kids (formerly First Book-Collier County) is dedicated to putting a steady stream of new books into the hands of children living in poverty in our community – books for them to read and own.

Buddy Break Naples 239-272-8031 • BuddyBreakNaples@gmail.com • www.NathanielsHope.org A monthly free and fun respite program offered to families with children who have special needs and their typical siblings. Three hours offered to parents/ caregivers typically the third Friday evening of each month.

Cancer Alliance of Naples 239-643-4673 • cancerallianceofnaples.com Every dollar raised stays locally to help people touched by cancer by providing financial aid with non-medical bills (rent, utilities, automobile costs), support, education, and information services. CAN also offers free group counseling, free nutrition programs, college scholarships for graduating seniors who are cancer survivors, and an extensive library for anyone in the community to use.

Catholic Charities of Collier County 239-793-0059 • star@catholiccharitiescc.org • catholiccharitiescc.org Catholic Charities aims to fight poverty, strengthen families, and build communities through agency services and programs that ensure human dignity and enhance the quality of life for all persons regardless of race, creed, color, or religious affiliation.

Collier County Public Schools Community Education 239-377-1234 • communityedinfo@collierschools.com • collierschools.com/ace The CCPS Community Education program has served Collier and Lee County residents for over 45 years. We offer life-long learning courses in computers, foreign languages, finance, computers, writing, arts and crafts, real estate, phones, cooking, business, and career. All ages welcome.

Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs 239-495-8989 • www.artcenterbonita.org After school and weekend classes as well as exciting camps for ages 4-18 in art, dance, theater, and music. Generous scholarships and discounts available and every applicant receives a scholarship for 10-90% of the class price.

Charity for Change 239-592-6787 • www.charityforchange.org This program engages students in volunteer activities while teaching character development, community involvement, educational activities, and etiquette.

The mission is to create and promote opportunities for charitable giving as a way of living through character education and community engagement.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County 239-263-8383 • www.caccollier.org Its mission is to improve the lives of abused children in Collier County. CAC’s major fundraisers in 2018 both will be held at Naples Botanical Gardens: Naples City Live (March 2) and The Beach Ball (March 3). CAC also hosts the Planting of the Pinwheel Garden at Naples Pier.

Children’s Network of Southwest Florida, LLC 855-933-KIDS (5437) • ChildNetSWFL.org Children’s Network of SWFL’s mission is to ensure that our communities’ children are safer, have better access to local resources and are able to have a stable, loving, and secure home environment.

Happy kids. Sparkly smiles.

Try it at our office.

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Dr. Marilyn C. Sandor, DDS, MS, PA NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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239.592.0800 neafamily.com

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Collier County Fair and Exposition, Inc. 239-455-1444 • colliercountyfair.com The Collier County Fair and Exposition, Inc. is dedicated to enriching our community by promoting education and Southwest Florida agriculture while showcasing and rewarding youth achievement.

Collier Childcare Resources, Ind. 239-643-3908 • niccoleh@collierchildcare.org • Collierchildcare.org CCCR provides high-quality early childhood care, education, and resources to children, families, and early learning professionals in Collier County. CCCR operates four early learning programs, including VPK, for children ages 0-5 and offers tuition assistance to those that qualify. CCCR’s primary goal is to ensure that ALL children enter kindergarten “ready to learn”.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida 239-262-0304 • info@conservancy.org • www.conservancy.org The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is an environmental protection organization with a 50-year history focused on the issues impacting the water, land, wildlife, and future of Collier County and all of SWFL. The Conservancy accomplishes this mission through the combined efforts of its experts in the areas of environmental science, policy, education, and wildlife rehabilitation, and operates a world-class Nature Center and von Arx Wildlife Hospital.

Covenant Church of Naples 239-597-3464 • info@covenantnaples.com • www.covenantnaples.com Covenant Church loves children and families. In addition to our weekly programs and activities, there is a Mom’s Morning Out Program, Monday– Thursday. Annually, there are several events for the family. These include a Fall Festival, an Easter event, and a summer camp week.

David Lawrence Center 24/7 Access: 239-455-8500 • info@dlcmhc.com www.davidlawrencecenter.org The David Lawrence Center provides numerous programs for intervention and treatment related to mental health and addiction recovery. Mental illness affects 1 in 4 families. In addition, 1 in 9 will become substance abusers.

Mental illness is often at the root of problems related to alcohol and other drugs. The Center’s mission is to inspire and create life-changing wellness for every individual through innovative behavioral health solutions.

The Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida 239-935-6100 • www.elcofswfl.org The goals of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida include improving access to high quality child care and preschool options, collaborating with community agencies to achieve their mission, and to provide professional development for those engaged in early learning services.

Easterseals Academy and LEAP 239-403-0366 • mturchetta@fl.easterseals.com • Easterseals.com/florida Easterseals is the first organization in Collier County to provide a seamless program for students with developmental disabilities as they transition from school to work (including a free after school work readiness training). We offer unique opportunities for students ages 11 and older.

Drug Free Collier 239-377-0535 • www.drugfreecollier.org Our mission is to be Collier County’s primary resource for information and tools to prevent juvenile alcohol and substance abuse. Programs include Operation Medicine Cabinet, Alcohol Vendor Training, and The CORE Society, where students teach alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free alternatives to their peers.

Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida 239-935-6100 • www.elcofswfl.org Our mission is to enhance the quality of children’s lives by providing families, early childhood educators, care givers, and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties with opportunities to positively impact the future.

Farm City BBQ, Inc. of Collier County 239-571-3174 • www.FarmCityBBQ.com This event supports our next generation of leaders through local youth programs at Collier County 4H Club Association, the Leadership Collier Foundation, the Collier County Junior Deputy League, and Collier County Key Clubs.

Friends of Foster Children Forever 239-262-1808 • www.friendsoffosterchildren.net When children are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect, they often are confused and take few belongings. Friends of Foster Children Forever seeks to provide financial, educational, and social support for these children.

Friends of the Library Collier County 239-262-8135 • mkern@collier-friends.org • collier-friends.org To support the public services provided by Collier County’s 10 libraries including technology upgrades, educational programs, staff training, and providing resources to children’s reading and adult literacy programs.

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy 239-261-8284 • MoreInfo@FunTimeAcademy.org www.FunTimeAcademy.org Fun Time Early Childhood Academy provides safe, quality, affordable education and care for children and parents from low-income working families and to prepare the children for kindergarten, ready to read and ready to learn.

www.reedorthodonticsnaples.com

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GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Myers 239-703-796 • fortmyers@gigisplayhouse.org gigisplayhouse.org/fortmyers GiGi’s Playhouse is an achievement center for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. We provide therapeutic and educational programs that advance literacy, math skills, motor skills, and more; all of our programs and tutoring are free and support all ages.

Grace Place 239-234-2400 • www.graceplacenaples.org The vision of Grace Place is to break the cycle of poverty for Golden Gate families through access to education. Grace Place offers many programs, including parenting classes, Mom and Tot Literacy, Kindergarten Readiness summer programs, school-age and high school leadership academies, adult financial and literacy classes, and a Friday Food Pantry.

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) 239-514-0084 • info@cmon.org • www.cmon.org.

C’mon is a brain-building powerhouse fueled by STEAM! We provide an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families can play, learn, and dream together.

Guadalupe Center 239-657-7711 • www.guadalupecenter.org Guadalupe Center is a purpose-driven organization with proven results in creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee through education and fostering personal and academic success, which leads to economic independence.

Girls on the Run of Collier County 239-777-3720 • christine.mcconnelee@girlsontherun.org • www.gotrcc.org Girls on the Run is a life-changing character development program for girls in grades 3-8. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime of health and fitness.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. 800-232-4475 • customercare@gsgcf.org • www.gsgcf.org Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls.

We serve over 1,000 girls and 130 adult volunteers in Collier County, offering every girl a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.

Good News Club 239-404-8528 • cefofcollier@gmail.com • www.cefonline.com The Good News Club is a free afterschool program offered in 15 Collier County schools. Elementary-aged children love the Bible lessons, inspiring missionary stories, songs, and fun, all while learning respect for authority, moral values, character and Biblical principles.

Gulf Coast Charter Academy South wstaros@gccas.org • www.gccas.org We are a tuition free K-8 STEM Charter School that offers bus transportation, clubs, sports, aftercare, and VPK in a small family atmosphere. “Giving Parents a Choice and Children a Chance” Gulfshore Playhouse 239-261-7529 • www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org Gulfshore Playhouse is committed to bringing quality professional theater to our community while providing unique educational opportunities to diverse groups of people and students.

Help a Diabetic Child Foundation 239-821-5051 • www.helpadiabeticchild.org • hlpdiabeticchild@aol.com Help A Diabetic Child Foundation is dedicated to purchasing diabetes supplies and insulin for children and college students who unable to get these life savings supplies because of financial difficulties.

Investing in the Future of Our Community.

Academics, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Sports and More!

after school youth enrichment activities 6 to 14 years old Monday through Friday after school - 6:30 pm (239) 210-4019 Paul Conklin The Fran Cohen Youth Center is CCPS i-Ready Approved Neopolitin Ad Afterschool.indd 1 NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida 239-263-9200 • www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org The mission is to promote respect and understanding by teaching the history and lessons of the Holocaust through artifacts that tell the individual stories of the Holocaust. The museum conducts educational programs and activities for students at all grade levels and public programs that highlight stories related to the Holocaust and other genocides.

A New Montessori Preschool Opening Fall 2017 in East Naples.

Hope PACE 239-985.6400 • email@hopepace.org • www.hopepace.org Hope PACE, a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, is a comprehensive healthcare program designed to meet the social, emotional and practical challenges of older adults.

Immokalee Child Care Center info@icccnaples.org • www.immokaleechildcarecenter.org Immokalee Child Care Center is dedicated to providing exceptional educational programs and the highest quality childcare. Through its START program, the ICCC has helped thousands of underprivileged children enter Collier County Public Schools with the literacy and tools they need to thrive.

Additionally, the center provides each child with three meals a day during the week and a shopping bag of food to ensure they are ready to learn and grow.

The

G ard e n School of Naples

Montes s or i Ear ly Educ at ion

An environmentally-conscious academic preschool program for children aged 2-6.

Accepting applications for enrollment now!

www.gardenschoolnaples.com

info@gardenschoolnaples.com • (239) 424-9084 • 6051 bayshore drive, naples

THE PREMIER YOUTH THEATRE PROGRAM OF THE NAPLES PLAYERS

HOLIDAY 2017 PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION AGES 3+

Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida 239-325-4444 • info@jfcsswfl.org • jfcsswfl.org The mission of JFCS, a non-sectarian human service agency, is to support individuals and families of all ages by providing a wide range of social services, including mental health counseling, case management, financial assistance, and crisis intervention.

K is for Kids Foundation 239-596-5437 • www.kisforkids.org K is for Kids is a student-led volunteer-based organization that puts kids on both the giving and receiving ends of its mission to build readers and leaders.

Laces of Love www.boldsolutionsonline.com/lacesoflove2 Laces of Love’s mission is to provide new shoes (especially sneakers) to low income and disadvantaged children in Collier and Lee Counties, and to educate the public on the needs of these children. To date, Laces of Love has donated more than 30,000 pairs of new shoes.

MUSICAL COMEDY THROUGH DECEMBER 23

TICKETS: NAPLESPLAYERS.ORG DECEMBER 2-11 (239) 263-7990 KIDZACT YOUTH THEATRE OF THE NAPLES PLAYERS TNP @ SUGDEN THEATRE • 701 5TH AVE SOUTH • NAPLES • FL 34102 NAPLESPLAYERS.ORG (239) 434-7340 EXT. 125 42

The Immokalee Foundation 239-430-9122 • info@immokaleefoundation.org www.ImmokaleeFoundation.org The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education programs that focus on building pathways to success through college and post-secondary preparation and support, mentoring and tutoring, opportunities for broadening experiences, and life skills development leading to economic independence.

Lighthouse of Collier, Inc. 239-430-3934 • info@lighthouseofcollier.org • lighthouseofcollier.org Lighthouse of Collier promotes the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of programs and services to foster independence and enhance the quality of life for the blind and visually impaired children and adults.

Literacy Volunteers of Collier County 239-262-4448 • www.collierliteracy.org • info@collierliteracy.org Literacy Volunteers of Collier County teaches English as a second language to adults and children to enable them to improve their lives and be productive members of society. We serve Collier County and rely on volunteer tutors to teach English.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

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TNP KIDZACT DECEMBER 2017 QUARTER PAGE AD.indd 1

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Make-A-Wish Southern Florida 239-992-9474 • www.sflwish.org Every 37 minutes, Make-A-Wish America grants a wish children battling critical illnesses.

Meals of Hope 239-537-7775 • info@mealsofhope.org • mealsofhope.org Meals of Hope food packages, which are distributed by its accredited food bank partners, offer more than nutrition. All meals that are packed by sponsors and volunteers are provided to recipients free of charge through wellestablished food banks throughout the United States.

Naples Art Association 239-262-6517 • info@NaplesArt.org • www.NaplesArt.org As Southwest Florida’s only dedicated art center for over 60 years, the Naples Art Association prides itself on providing exciting, unique opportunities to experience and display art. Whether it is partnering with area nonprofits to engage those with disabilities or providing scholarships for underprivileged children to experience the area’s best arts programming, the NAA makes art education accessible for everyone in SWFL – and beyond.

The Naples Players and KidzAct 239-434-7340 • info@naplesplayers.org • naplesplayers.org KidzAct is the premier Youth Theatre Program of The Naples Players providing performing arts education for ages 3 and up including Sensory Friendly classes for students with autism, Down syndrome, and other sensory processing disorders. Education includes free theater programming for local schools and scholarships are available for all programs.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens 239-262-5409 • napleszoo.org Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens wants to inspire people of all ages to respect, value, and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. Collier County residents get in free the first Saturday of every month, and also get discounts on memberships.

NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition of Collier County 239-552-7788 • Info@Safehealthychildren.org • SafeHealthyChildren.org The Coalition implements programs to combat childhood obesity, prevent childhood drowning, and reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Through its swim lessons and wellness programs, the Coalition aims to keep children safe.

Naples Botanical Gardens 239-643-7275 • info@naplesgarden.org • www.naplesgarden.org Naples Botanical Garden is a world-class paradise that combines delightful cultivated tropical gardens with beautifully restored natural habitats on 170 acres near downtown Naples. The Garden aims to connect people and plants through interactive display, education, conservation, and science.

Northside Naples Kiwanis 239-572-3269 • info@northsidenapleskiwanis.com www.NorthsideNaplesKiwanis.com Kiwanis and its family of clubs (Circle K International, Key Club, Builders Club, K-Kids, and Aktion Club) dedicate over 18 million hours and raise over $100 million annually to strengthen communities and serve children.

Naples Therapeutic Riding Center 239- 596-2988 • info@ntrc.org • www.naplestherapeuticridingcenter.org Naples Therapeutic Riding Center improves the lives of children and adults with special needs through therapeutic riding and other equine-related programs.

Organization Survive & Thrive 828-273-6354 • wendy@survivethriveyoga.org • wendycampbellyoga.com Survive & Thrive’s mission is to empower those affected by cancer with accessible yoga and mindfulness techniques.

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PACE Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee 239-842-5406 • www.pacecenter.org/collier PACE Center for Girls is the only nonresidential, gender-specific, juvenile delinquency intervention and prevention program for girls ages 12 to 18 in our county to reduce recidivism while improving school success, employment, and self-sufficiency. The foundation of PACE is its gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and strength-based culture.

Project Help, Inc. 239-649-1404 Office • 239-262-7227 Hotline 24/7 • ProjectHelpNaples.org Project HELP works with dignity and compassion to ease the pain of those affected by rape, violence, crime, or loss of a loved one. A crisis phone line is staffed 24/7. We serve as advocates in court and work with the Naples Police Department to deliver tragic news and provide immediate support.

Providence Compassion Foundation 239-948-7669 • Godscreatures@ProvidenceEquestrianCenter.com www.ProvidenceEquestrianCenter.com PCF’s role is to help provide funding for the rescue and care of horses, farm, and companion animals as well as funding for need- and merit-based equestrian scholarships.

Providence House 239-692-8779 • providencehousenaples.org Providence House is a Catholic faith-based program for vulnerable women with young children in Collier County who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The two-year self-sufficiency program offers the opportunity to make important long-term changes so moms can realize economic independence.

The Revolutionary Learning Center www.revolutionarylearningcenter.com The Revolutionary Learning Center helps families in Collier County by pro-

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viding a safe environment (bully-free zone) for students to receive social skills training, learning how to create happiness in their lives, learn stress management techniques, and executive functioning skills training while receiving tutoring and academic support. We are a wrap-around program for homeschool and virtual students.

Royal Palm Academy 239-594-9888 • somalley@royalpalmacademy.com • royalpalmacademy.com RPA is the only private, independent Catholic school in Collier County. We teach the mind, educate the heart, and form the character of tomorrow’s leaders from Pre-K through 8th grade.

Saint Ann Latino Contemporary Art Auction 239-262-4100 • chair@salcaa.org • www.SALCAA.org The Saint Ann Latino Contemporary Art Auction, developed in collaboration with the Cultural and Performing Arts Center, supports the Saint Ann Latino Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance for underprivileged Latino children to receive a quality education of spirit, mind, and body.

The Salvation Army 239-775-9447 • www.salvationarmyflorida.org/naples The Salvation Army Naples offers a full-day program for children in our Child Development Center for ages 1-5, an afterschool program at the Fran Cohen Youth Center for children ages 6-14, as well as a summer camp program and School for the Performing Arts.

Seacrest Country Day School 239-793-1986 • communications@seacrest.org • seacrest.org Seacrest Country Day School is a preschool through Grade 12 independent school in Naples committed to fueling intellectual engagement, teaching ownership of the educational experience, cultivating quality of character, and inspiring students to lead lives of significance.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children Confidential 24-hour crisis line: 239-775-1101 • naplesshelter.org The Shelter’s mission is to lead the community to prevent, protect, and prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment, and social change. More than just an emergency safe haven, the Shelter provides education, counseling, legal aid, transitional housing, support groups, and healing arts such as yoga, creative writing, and art.

Special Olympics of Southwest Florida 239-775-1991 • www.specialolympicsflorida.org/collier The Special Olympics provides year-round sports training in 11 sports for over 400 hundred Collier County children and adults living with disabilities.

S E LE C T M AT I N E E S

OCT 20 - NOV 17

SWFL Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, Inc. 239-410-6090 • swflfapa@embarqmail.com • floridafapa.org/swfl-fapa The SWFL Foster & Adoptive Parent Association advocates for foster/adoptive children and caregivers through outreach, mentoring, and support.

Valerie’s House, Inc. 239-841-9186 • info@valerieshouseswfl.org • www.valerieshouseswfl.org Valerie’s House provides grief support groups for children and their families who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling at no cost to them.

Groups meet in the evenings, twice a month in Collier County, and require an intake assessment before attending the group session.

Wellfit Girls Program SWFL, Inc. 239-529-0366 • info@wellfitgirls.org • www.wellfitgirls.org The mission of Wellfit Girls is to inspire, challenge, and empower teen girls to climb high in all areas of life through transformational leadership programs.

The curriculum challenges teen girls to step out of their comfort zone and into confident and empowered leaders.

1380 Colonial Blvd, Ft Myers • 239.278.4422 • BroadwayPalm.com

NOW - NOV 18

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The Women’s Network of Collier County wnocc.org • vp@wnocc.org The WNOCC empowers women via networking, education, seminars, and raising scholarship funds for single women and mothers.

Xcel2fitness SWFL 239-450-5501 • melissa@xcel2fitness.com • Xcel2fitness.com/swflorida Xcel2Fitness uses the fundamentals of fitness to develop the character boys need to chase their dreams.

YMCAs of Greater Naples, Marco Island, and Bonita Springs Greater Naples YMCA • 239-597-3148 • greaternaplesYMCA.org Marco Island YMCA • 239-394-3144 • greatermarcoy.org Bonita Springs YMCA • 239-221-7560 • swflymca.org The YMCAs are dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected, and secure children, adults, families, and communities by providing resources available to all persons regardless of status or ability to pay.

Youth Haven 239-774-2904 • info@youthhaven.net • youthhaven.net Youth Haven is Southwest Florida’s residential emergency shelter for boys and girls ages 6-16 who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Youth Leadership Collier 239-403-2903 • www.napleschamber.org/youth-leadership.html The mission of Youth Leadership Collier is to develop ethical leaders committed to active community involvement. YLC empowers students to become effective leaders through hands on experiences and field work with key organizations, while encouraging returning or staying in Collier County to begin careers and community leadership.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2017

Our Educated and Dedicated Staff Encourages Creative, Expressive, Hands on Learning Your child will receive quality interaction with our low student-teacher ratios and will enjoy our spacious, shaded, fun-filled play area.

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Full-day, Half-day and partial week schedules available Where your child’s needs are our only priority.

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RED CROSS SWIM LESSONS

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