Neapolitan Family October 2018 Digital Issue

October 2018 neafamily.com

COMPLIMENTARY

Fall & l a v i t s Fe n e e w o l l Ha Guide

Stopping SIDS MOMentum Mom Tamara Nicola Getting Started With Tennis

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Demystifying Medical Marijuana Haunted History Flu Facts neafamily.com

1

Our Parent Café will help support you on your parenting journey, whether you’re a first-time parent or an experienced parent.

A collaboration between Collier County Library System and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, the Parent Café offers useful information and an opportunity to create connections and share experiences! A light dinner of pizza, salad, and drinks will be served.

Online registration is required.

Parent Café at South Regional Library 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway Naples, FL 34113 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, October 22

To register, go to collierlibrary.org.

For more information or if you have questions, contact Tara Tallaksen at 239-254-4279

©2018 Lee Health • 6000.360 9-18

2

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

The Haunted ‘Gross’ Walk October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 Collier County Fairgrounds 751 39th Ave NE Naples, FL 34120

Events & Times Gates Open 7:30-10:30 PM Hayride starts at 8:00 PM Haunted Walk Tickets $15 Starts at Dark Bring the little ones out for: Haunted Hayrides, Cake Walk, Pony Rides, Kids’ Games, & all Your Favorite Food Vendors!

On Saturday, October 27: Trunk or treat 7:30-8:30 PM non-food treats offered for kids with allergies. #tealpumpkinproject

Costume Contest 8:00 PM Proceeds benefit the Making Life “Fair” Fund

Collier County Fair CollierCoFair

colliercountyfair.com colliercountyfair.com Proceeds benefit the Making Life “Fair” Fund 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 • October 2018

neafamily.com

3

October 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS

in every issue . . .

07

FROM THE PUBLISHER

12

CITY CONNECTION

13

ESTATE PLANNING

14

COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

15

FAMILY LAW

23

COLLIER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE

on the cover…

16 Demystifying Medical Marijuana. Why one Naples mom is determined to change the stigma and public perception surrounding cannabis as medicine.

by Leigh Tahirovic 18 Stopping SUIDS. Learn how one family is fighting to eradicate Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (also known as SIDS).

by Anna Futrell 20 Momentum Moms. Meet Tamara Nicola, and learn about her journey to the circuit court bench.

22 Flu Facts. Get the facts about influenza, and some tips on prevention and treatment, from a pediatrician.

by Dr. Reisha Brown 34 Destination: The Spirit Zone.

Visit any of these monuments to Florida’s fascinating haunted history to give yourself a good scare.

by Karen T. Bartlett

Kyron Phillips, the son of Tonya Phillips and Scott Marcotte, is 4 years old and in VPK at ABC Academy Learning Center in Naples. Kyron loves to loves to swim, snuggle, and dress up in costumes. He also loves anything related to Toy Story and taking things apart and putting them back together. Kyron loves to met new people and introduce himself by shaking hands or giving hugs. Thank you to Farmer Mike’s U Pick in Bonita Springs for the use of your cornfield for our cover shoot!

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

36 Pumpkin Decorating Made Easy. 10 no-carve ideas to help make your Halloween mess-free this year.

by Christina Katz 38 Fall in Florida. It might feel like summer, but that won’t stop us from showing you how to get that autumn feeling in SWFL.

by Anna Futrell 40 Fall Festivals and Fun. We’ve rounded up the best fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and haunted houses.

45 Getting Started With Tennis. How to give you child the proper introduction to the game.

by Spike Gonzales

Now Registering Lil’ Cubs 2 years old by March 1, 2019

4630 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples DCF License #C20C06167

4

neafamily.com

239-455-3227

TempleShalomPreschool.org NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

5

We’ll help her smile again. © Bigstock

The physical and emotional changes that

leading provider of behavioral health solutions

come with growing up is no easy feat. Add

— offer cutting-edge treatments to help kids

to that the anxiety today’s fast-paced culture

better manage life … and smile again.

throws at our kids and the effect can be crippling. Then there’s depression, which is

To learn more, visit davidlawrencecenter.org or call us today.

on the climb and rising fastest among teens and young adults.

But there is hope. The experts at David Lawrence Center (DLC) — a not-for-profit

Request your FREE #StandUp wristband today at StandUpDLC.org 239.455.8500 IMMOKALEE 239.657.4434 StandUpDLC.org NAPLES

6

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

from the publisher… the parenting magazine devoted to collier county

P.O. Box 110656 Naples, FL 34108 info@neafamily.com 8

8

8

THIS MONTH: Fall Fun

Co-Publisher Leigh Ann Newman lanewman@neafamily.com 239-272-0529 Co-Publisher Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com 239-370-5333 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 Ginny Lundstrom 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 ©2018 by Neapolitan Family Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Autumn. It’s what I miss the most about living up north. They can keep their snow and ice and potholes, and even their pleasant summers (my favorite time in Naples!), but I want fall, and I want it now.

However, since my wish has yet to come true, I’m going to try some of the ideas from writer Anna Futrell on page 38, on how to get that fabulous feeling of fall in Florida. One suggestion is to attend one of the many fall festivals and Halloween events in Southwest Florida, and you can find our annual guide to these happenings on page 40. If getting scared witless puts you in the autumn mood, Travel Editor Karen Bartlett offers some haunted destinations in Florida on page 34, while our intern Ginny Lundstrom gives us a list of ghostly experiences perfect for a day trip on page 35.

We also touch on more serious topics this month. The story of one family’s loss of a child and how they’ve made it their mission to eradicate Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome will both touch your heart and provide you with the facts you need to keep your baby safe on page 18. And you won’t want to miss Leigh Tahirovic’s article on medical marijuana on page 16. I have to admit, I knew little about the subject before reading Leigh’s interview with a Naples mom who is working to educate the public about cannabis as medicine. Regardless of your views on this controversial topic, take a few moments to learn about Shannon Livingston, and why this has become her life’s work.

Happy Fall!

neafamily.com

7

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

APPLE Accredited



Gold Seal Recognized by the Department of

Children and Families 

Family Friendly Business Award Recipient



Nationally Recognized Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Center & Gold Level Employer



Two Year FACCM Center of the Year Winner



Secure Gated Entrance, Security Cameras, and a dedicated safety trained staff



Parent workshops and trainings



Balanced curriculum of 38 objectives including extracurricular activities such as STEAM, Music Lessons, Soccer, Dance, Zumba, Spanish and Baby Sign Language



On Campus Garden, STEAM Laboratory, and Library with over 4,500 books!



Family friendly events such as Halloween Parade, Scholastic Book Fairs, Spirit Nights, Family Dinner Nights, Mothers Day Performance, Fathers Day Dance, VPK Graduation & Prom, and more!

Weekly Yoga, Music, Piano, Soccer, Dance, Zumba, Foreign Language & Sign Language Classes Monthly field trips to destinations such as the Conservancy, The Children’s Museum, the Artis Naples, Barnes and Noble, the Botanical Gardens, Naples Zoo and more!

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

Precious Cargo Academy 5200 Crayton Road Naples, FL 34103 WEBSITE: PreciousCargoAcademy.org

EMAIL: Leanne.badham@outlook.com

A Mission of Naples United Church of Christ 8

neafamily.com

Find Us on Facebook!

@PCANaples

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Register for Fall Classes Today!

Why choose us?

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

2. No Fund Raisers - Students or parents

are never required to fund raise for studio events.

3. Family Plans - We make dancing

e nd M a y m in Mom ses beg th !

Clas mber 7 Nove visit us at

www.bdaNaples.com

affordable for families with more than one child.

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

New Teachers!

New Classes!

Even more Fun! Get Our Brand New Schedule Today! www.bdaNaples.com

5385 Jaeger Rd Naples, FL 34109

239.566.3535

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 mos Primary 3 yrs to Kinder VPK 4/5 yrs License # C20CO0018 NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

9

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Registration Now Open!

Collier Students Named 2019 National Merit Semifinalists

S

even students from schools in Collier County have been named semifinalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program, based on their scores on the PSAT last year. Gulf Coast High School leads the way with three semifinalists, while four other schools each have one student on the list.

Collier students include: • Mallory Eisel, First Baptist Academy • Wyatt Focht, Gulf Coast High School • Aditii Makwana, Gulf Coast High School • Michael Mizell, Gulf Coast High School • Laura Poelstra, Lely High School • Michael Moll, Naples High School • Adam Feins, Seacrest Country Day School These students can continue on to compete for National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring.

3510 Kraft Rd., Naples hello.pineridge-naples@logiscool.com Davis Blvd. Area Location Coming Soon!

logiscool.com

10

(239) 673-0051

NEAPOLITANfamily • September 2018

neafamily.com

THE NAPLES PLAYERS PRESENT

THE PETER AND A MAGICAL ADVENTURE FOR ALL AGES

OCTOBER 3 - 28 SENSORY-FRIENDLY: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16

TICKETS: NAPLESPLAYERS.ORG · 239-263-7990 10

neafamily.com

Autism Speaks Walk Set For Oct. 6 in Estero Community Park

W

ith more than 70 locations, the Autism Speaks Walk is the world’s largest autism fundraising event dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism. The local walk will be held on Oct. 6 at Estero Community Park in Estero.

Registration opens at 9 a.m. and opening ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. The walk is 0.59 mile long for the 1 in 59 diagnosed with autism.

In addition to the walk, the event features sensory activities, calming music, and free snacks. Each participant will receive a pom-pom to shake instead of clapping.

For information, visit autismspeakswalk.org or contact Melissa DiNuzzo at 561-465-0054 or melissa.dinuzzo@autismspeaks.org.

Charity for Change Celebrates With Giver Challenge Gala

C

harity for Change is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year at the Jammin’ in the Jungle Giver Challenge Gala on Nov. 3 at the Quail West Golf & Country Club.

Charity for Change is a Naples-based nonprofit that teaches character, charity, and community involvement through academic and charitable activities. The organization’s Giver Program is a 29-week curriculum that serves 4,700 Collier County children and 9,700 students nationwide.

For more information, visit ​www.charityforchange.org or call 239-592-6787.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Piano

Theatre

Vocals

Sign Up for 2018-2019 Performing Arts Classes Class Instruction in piano, brass, percussion, guitar, dance and theatre.

Private Lessons Offered.

The Salvation Army School of Performing Arts provides excellent instruction in the performing arts to ALL AGES in Collier County.

Brass

Dance

Contact us for more information! regan.love@uss.salvationarmy.org (239) 210-4008

COLLIER CHARTER ACADEMY

TUITION–FREE Public Charter School Serving Grades K-8

CC

COLLIER CARDINALS

For more information or TO APPLY visit

CollierCharter.org

12101 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34120 | 239.330.3810 NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

11

CITY CONNECTION PARKS DEPT.

By Laura Tichy-Smith

Autumn Days at Naples City Parks

Whether you are looking for a new sport, a concert, or a chance to relax in nature, the City of Naples Community Services Department and local organizations have planned the perfect activity for your family.

First Friday Family Art Night

Learn to Swim

Bring your kids to the Norris Center every month and spend a fun evening together learning a new art form. In October, you’ll sculpt a Halloween ornament. Oct. 5, 7-9:30 p.m. $30 plus $5 supply fee. Preregistration required. Call 239-213-3058. (730 8th St. S., Naples)

The Aquatic Center at River Park offers a range of options for ages 6 months to adult to learn how to swim, including group and private lessons. New classes start Oct. 8. Call 239-213-3040. (451 11th St. N., Naples)

School’s Out Fun Day for Elementary School Kids

At Fleischmann Park, your kids will enjoy dinner, games, and a movie while you have a night out. Oct. 19 from 6-9:30 p.m. $22 for first child and $17 for siblings with preregistration; $27 for first child and $22 for siblings with day-of registration. Call 239213-3020. (1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples)

Need childcare when school is closed but you have to work? Fleischmann and River Parks have planned fun activities for your child’s day, including crafts, games, and sports. You provide lunch and snacks. Fun Day runs 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You must register no later than two weeks prior to the event.

Oct. 15. $30 per child. Call 239-213-3020.

(1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples) Holiday Workshops for Kids Your child can enjoy a themed craft workshop at Fleischmann Park. Age levels vary by date and craft. For October, the offerings are “Freaky Friday” for grades K-5, Oct. 26 from 3-5 p.m. “Mummy & Me” for ages 18 months to 5 years (with adult) on Oct. 29 from 10 a.m.-noon. $25 includes craft supplies. Call 239-213-3020. (1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples)

Parents’ Night Out With Miss Cricket

Spooktacular Halloween on Fifth Avenue Bring your family to the free party as a blocked-off Fifth avenue is transformed.

Trick or treat the merchants, get your face painted, and play games at pumpkin patches staffed by local organizations. Enter your pet or your parent in the costume contests and enjoy musicians and magicians. Oct. 31 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Call 239-692-8436.

Tennis for Kids Red Ball tennis classes are for children ages 4-6, and will help your child learn stroke mechanics, hand-eye coordination,

footwork, and ball trajectory. Mondays and Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m. or 4-5 p.m. Orange/ Green Ball classes are for ages 7+ and Challenger classes are for ages 9+. These classes emphasizes advanced skills, strategies, and competitive play. Mondays and Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. Call 239-213-3060 (Arthur Allen Tennis Center, 730 8th St. S., Naples) Mommy/Daddy & Me Painting Enjoy painting night with your child for ages 5+. One parent and one child will paint a canvas, and both of the paintings will combine to create one unified masterpiece.

Supplies are included and step-by-step instruction provided. Oct. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. $38 for one parent and child ($5 extra for day-of registration). Call 239-213-3020.

(1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples) Yoga for Kids Ages 7-12 Start your children on the path to lifelong wellness by introducing them to yoga at a young age. This 45-minute class at Fleischmann Park is geared toward discovering what your body can do. We will have fun exploring the mental and physical poses of yoga in safe and fun way. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Sept. 4, 4:30-5:15 p.m. $50 per month or $8 drop in. Call 239-213-3020.

(1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples)

The Moorings Presbyterian Preschool A vibrant learning community with a highly qualified staff

Now accepting applications for enrollment, ages 2-5!

Come Grow With Us!

VPK Provider No Wrap-Around Fees Creative Arts Letter People

791 Harbour Drive, Naples, FL 34103 12

neafamily.com

Hands-On Learning Small Class Size Chapel Discovery & Exploration

www.mooringspreschool.org

(239) 649-1811

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

ESTATE PLANNING

By Norell Albanis

Queen of Soul Dies Without a Will

A

retha Franklin, heralded as the “Queen of Soul,” died recently from pancreatic cancer at age 76.

Like Prince, who died in 2016, Franklin was one of the greatest musicians of our time. Also like Prince, she died without a will or trust to pass on her multimillion-dollar estate.

Franklin’s lack of estate planning was a huge mistake that undoubtedly will lead to lengthy court battles and major expenses for her family – trouble that easily could have been prevented.

Such lack of estate planning is common. A 2017 poll by the seniorcare referral service Caring.com revealed that more than 60 percent of U.S. adults do not have a will or trust in place. The most common excuse given for not creating these documents was simply “not getting around to it.”

Whether Franklin’s case involved similar procrastination is unclear, but what is clear is that her estimated $80-million estate will now have to go through the often lengthy court process known as probate, her assets will be made public, and there could be a big battle brewing for her family.

performers often have complex assets, like music rights.

Because these court battles will be public, not only will the contents of Franklin’s estate be available for everyone to see, but her family’s potential squabbles likely will be the subject of news headlines. All of these things could have been prevented with a well-drafted and counseled estate plan.

Probate problems Because Franklin was unmarried and died without a will, Michigan law stipulates that her assets are to be equally divided among her four adult children, one of whom has special needs and will need financial support for the rest of his life. It’s likely that her son’s caregivers will need to decide whether to accept his inheritance coming to him and lose all governmental support he may have been able to receive, or they may have to disclaim all of the inheritance from his mother’s estate.

It’s also possible that probate proceedings could last for years due to the size of her estate. And all court proceedings will be public, including any disputes that arise along the way.

Such contentious court disputes are common with famous musicians. In Prince’s case, his estate has been subject to numerous

Learn from Franklin’s mistakes Although Franklin’s situation is unfortunate, you can learn from her mistakes by beginning the estate planning process now.

It would have been ideal if Franklin had a will, but even with a will, her estate would still be subject to probate and open to the public. To keep everything private and out of court altogether, Franklin could have created a will and a trust. And, within a trust, she could have created a Special Needs Trust for her son, thereby giving him full access to governmental support, plus supplemental support from her assets.

While trusts used to be available only to the mega wealthy, they’re now very commonly used by people of all incomes and asset values. Unlike wills, trusts keep your family out of the probate court, which can save both time, money, and a huge amount of heartache. Plus, a properly funded trust (meaning

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

family disputes since he died, and that even led to the revocation of a multimilliondollar music contract. The same thing could happen to Franklin’s estate, as high-profile

all of your assets are titled in the name of the trust) keeps everything totally private.

Trusts also offer several protections for your assets and family that wills alone do not.

With a trust, for example, it’s possible to shield the inheritance you’re leaving behind from the creditors of your heirs or even a future divorce.

Moreover, trusts also offer protection if you become incapacitated and are no longer able to make decisions about your financial and healthcare needs. Using a trust, you can appoint someone of your choosing (not the court’s) to handle your affairs if you’re unable to. With only a will in place and without any other protections such a durable power of attorney, your family would have to petition the court to appoint a conservator or guardian to handle your affairs, which can be costly, time-consuming, and stressful.

Finally, if you have a child with special needs like Franklin did, a Special Needs Trust can prevent your child from losing eligibility for important government benefits, like Medicaid and Social Security. A Special Needs Trust – also not subject to probate – allows you to contribute funds for your child’s care without disqualifying them for these benefits.

Don’t wait another day Don’t follow in Franklin’s footsteps; use her death as a learning experience.

Proper estate planning can keep your family out of conflict, out of court, and out of the public eye.

NORELL ALBANIS is an estate planning attorney, and can be reached at 239-3142353 or by visiting albanislaw.com.

neafamily.com

13

COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Bike Safety & Your Kids

By Kristine Gill ith school in full swing, it’s a great time to remind our children about how to stay safe when walking or riding their bikes to school.

Here at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), we’re doing our part by educating drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists about the rules of the road. We’re doing this with concentrated enforcement efforts through May 2019, as part of an initiative with the Florida Department of Transportation.

The initiative involves patrols and details at some of our most dangerous intersections and roadways. While we sometimes issue citations to those motorists who are breaking the law, we’re mainly focused on raising awareness and increasing compliance with traffic laws that are meant to protect all of us.

As your children leave for school in the morning, remind them to obey the traffic laws. In Florida, bicycles are defined as vehicles by law. That means they have the same rights and responsibilities of any driver using our roadways.

If your child is under the age of 16, it is required by law that he or she wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. And even for those over the age of 16, the CCSO strongly recommends helmets given the severity and frequency of head injuries involving bicycles.

• Remind your children to obey all traffic laws and traffic signals, including stop signs, and stop lights.

• Bicyclists should never carry someone on their handlebars or spokes. A bike can only carry the number of people it was designed for.

• Always keep at least one hand on the handlebars.

• Bikes should be outfitted with a front light visible from 500 feet and a rear, red reflector visible from 600 feet.

• Bicyclists should ride as close to the right hand curb of the road as is safe. Bicyclists should ride in a single file line on the roadways.

• When using the sidewalk or crosswalk, bicyclists must yield to the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.

• When making a turn, bicyclists must use hand signals to demonstrate their intent.

• Bicyclists must not wear a headset, headphones, or other listening device other than a hearing aid while biking. Wearing a headset can block out important sounds required to detect traffic.

Together, we can continue to ensure that Collier County is a great place and a safe place!

W

14

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

FAMILY LAW

O

By Sarah Oquendo

Relocation After Divorce

ne of the most challenging issues for families to face in a divorce and/or custody action is where one party wants to relocate with the minor children to another city or state. Relocation cases are often highly contentious, emotional, and costly for all parties involved.

The law defines a “relocation” as a move of 50 miles or more by one of the parents, starting from the place where the parent lived when the last parenting plan was entered by the court.

The process starts with one party either requesting the other parent’s permission to relocate with the minor child or by the filing of a petition for relocation. If the parties agree to the relocation, they must prepare and execute a written agreement that includes the following: (1) the consent to relocation, (2) a time-sharing schedule for the non-relocating parent, and (3) the necessary transportation arrangements related to the time-sharing schedule. That written agreement would then be submitted to the court and a final judgment would be entered adopting the relocation agreement.

However, as so often occurs, if the parties cannot agree to the relocation, then a petition would be filed. There are certain procedural requirements that are essential in a Petition for Relocation. These requirements are strictly enforced, so you may find it helpful to seek assistance from a licensed and experienced family law attorney who can navigate this process for you. Once the matter is submitted to the judge, the judge will

have to decide whether it is in the children’s best interests to relocate. In reaching the decision, the judge must evaluate a number of factors, including the following: • nature, quality, and extent of involvement between the children and the nonrelocating parent; • child’s age and developmental stage; • feasibility of preserving the relationship between the non-relocating parent and the child through substitute arrangements, taking into account the distance, logistics, and financial resources of the parties; • child’s preference (if appropriate); • whether the relocation will enhance the general quality of life for both the parent or other person seeking the relocation and the child; • reasons each parent or other person is seeking or opposing the relocation; • current employment and economic circumstances of each parent or other person and whether the proposed relocation is necessary to improve the economic circumstances of the parent or other person seeking relocation of the child; • the relocation is sought in good faith; • career and other opportunities available to the objecting parent in the proposed relocation location; • history of substance abuse or domestic violence by either parent; and • any other factor affecting the best interest of the child.

The judge will have to weigh all of these factors and determine what is best for the

children, which is never an easy task. If the petition is granted, then the parent seeking relocation will be allowed to move with the children and a long-distance parenting plan will be entered. The long-distance parenting plan will describe in detail what the time-sharing schedule is, how the children will be transported, and how the transportation costs will be divided. Transportation costs are child rearing costs and like other child rearing costs, they typically are shared equally or proportionate to the parent’s child support percentages. If the petition is denied, then the parent will not be able to relocate with the children. The denial does not, however, prevent the parent from moving, just not with the children.

Many family law attorneys will advise their clients that where the parties are sharing time with the children and both parents are actively involved in the children’s everyday lives, it is very difficult to convince a judge that it is in the children’s best interests to relocate. An experienced family law attorney can assist in navigating this very difficult and emotional process.

SARAH OQUENDO is a marital and family law attorney with Coleman, Hazzard, Taylor, Klaus, Doupé & Diaz, PA. Visit CHTlegal.com or call 239-298-5200.

Covenant Church of Naples Mom’s Morning Out Providing a loving environment for children while offering parents and caregivers a needed break

Session 2 starts October 1 and Session 3 starts November 12 Mon & Wed or Tues & Thu (one-day option available) 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Ages 2-4 years by Jan. 1

6926 Trail Blvd., Naples, FL

239.597.3464 Visit www.covenantnaples.com/Moms-Morning-Out NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Hurry! Space is limited. neafamily.com

15

HEALTH

By Leigh Tahirovic

Demystifying Medical Marijuana

C

annabis is medicine, says one Naples mom determined to change the stigma and public perception through education. So adamant in her mission, Shannon Livingston quit her job to establish a nonprofit dedicated to helping patients – and parents – learn more about medical marijuana.

“The process of not just accessing cannabis but then learning how to use it in a medical way is very overwhelming,” explained Shannon Livingston, co-founder of The Livingston Foundation. And it’s not right for every patient, she added. But that shouldn’t prevent parents from learning more on the subject.

“My hope is that through education, we can get to a point where cannabis is the first-line treatment, not the last resort,” Livingston said. Especially as more conditions are added to the list that allow you to qualify for a medical card.

Livingston knows first-hand about the stigma associated with using marijuana. She willingly talks about how she self-medicated with cannabis for more than 20 years after a breast implant ruptured and contaminated her system with microorganisms. “Infection took over my whole body,” she said, of what first led her to cannabis. “I developed an autoimmune disorder that causes your skin and mucus membrane to blister and disintegrate.”

At the time, she was a single mom living in Kansas City, Mo., and doctors prescribed some 17 different medications to fight the symptoms. But those meds left her unable to care properly for her young son. Her brother offered an alternative: Livingston should self-medicate by smoking weed. “It made a big difference to me,” she recalled, of that initial experience. “But I couldn’t talk about it. … I was just smoking. I didn’t know any other way to do it.”

Eventually Livingston went to Colorado and discovered cannabidiol (CBD), which is one of the active ingredients in cannabis, and its medicinal benefits. But unlike the product her brother introduced her to, CBD doesn’t get you “high” like the psychoactive ingredient TCH (Tetrahydro16

neafamily.com

cannabinol) does. After taking a CBD oil, she felt like her old self. Gone were all the nasty drug side effects. “The nausea, fatigue, migraines; everything weird that came along with being sick had vanished – and there was no trade-off,” Livingston said of first taking CBD. “I had to learn why this oil was working.” She vowed to learn all she could.

Livingston calls herself autodidactic, after attending numerous seminars, symposiums, conferences, and classes as well as attending Oaksterdam University (selfdescribed as America’s first cannabis university located in Oakland, Calif.) in her pursuit to learn more about cannabis. But she readily admits there is no educational standard in cannabis. “Nothing makes me an expert.”

Along the way, Livingston has met other patients as well as parents of patients.

She points to one little girl who helped changed the cannabis-is-medicine narrative: Charlotte Figi. Featured in the CNN four-part docuseries, “Weed,” viewers see the child go from catatonic to walking, talking, and playing like her healthy twin, Chase. Diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome (a severe type of epilepsy with seizures), Charlotte suffered from some 300 seizures a week before she began taking a strain of cannabis that has a low level of THC but is really high in CBD. That strain was named Charlotte’s Web after the then five-year-old patient. “People learned Charlotte’s Web instead of marijuana. It’s kid-friendly; we all are familiar with the book,” Livingston said.

Another child was Gavin Lawrey, who suffers from mitochondrial disease, a condition that prevents cells in his body from getting enough oxygen so they die off. The Livingston Foundation produced a public service announcement featuring the boy that aired just before the Amendment 2 vote in Florida. “Gavin explains what cannabis is and what his medicine does,” Livingston said. “That little boy is alive because of cannabis. His doctors and his parents absolutely agree.” Gavin’s mother, Brandi Lawrey, now serves as the foundation’s vice president.

Deciding on the Registry When a patient in Florida is diagnosed

with a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, the physician enters the order into the Medical Marijuana Use Registry on the Florida Department of Health website.

After the order is entered, the patient applies for a Medical Marijuana Use Registry Identification Card. While medical marijuana is available in Florida, it remains illegal under federal law.

Deciding if the Medical Marijuana Use Registry is the right fit for the patient and the family is difficult, Livingston recognizes.

She has learned to educate the whole family together, and when a family has questions – regardless of who is the patient, parent or child – that typically involves a discussion in the family’s living room over a pizza. “It’s education one-on-one … and confidential,” she stressed, of the foundation’s approach.

“Because cannabis is newly available, it’s important, especially for kids, to understand that this medicine is called cannabis or medical marijuana, but it’s not what they learned about in school.”

Despite this, some families still choose not to remain in the registry even when it’s effective medically. “They felt there was too much stigma. They didn’t want their friends finding out,” she said. That goes for children, too. Both as a patient and as a child of a patient. But Livingston wants potential patients to understand: our health information is HIPAA-protected. “We don’t go to school [and say] ‘Mommy’s taking her Xanax.’ We don’t have that conversation. It’s up to you whether you want to discuss your health or not.”

Livingston does encourage individuals and their caretakers to share their story, especially if it is a positive experience. “When someone you know and trust has a story [about using medical marijuana], that’s when hearts and minds open to facts and figures,” she stated. “I can’t walk up to someone who is anti-medical cannabis and change their mind with a 20-minute conversation. But if their granddaughter goes from 20 seizures a day to having none after taking cannabis, then they are Googling it and are open to it.”

While those stories – even Charlotte’s – may seem anecdotal to some, Livingston NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

What is CBD Oil?

wants everyone to have medical choice. Her foundation helps connect those already in the registry to someone considering entering it. Parents may not be ready to jump into a doctor’s appointment for their child and just want a safe environment to have their questions answered. “Responsible parents

should have a lot of questions,” explained Livingston. “Any big decision should be well thought out, well researched and we try to help with that.”

For more information, call 239-6821812 or visit Livingstonfoundation.org and floridahealth.gov.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained in popularity and is sold legally at many retail outlets throughout SWFL and in 30 other states. CBD can be extracted from both hemp and cannabis plants, but CBD hemp oil contains less than 0.3 percent THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).

CBD oil sold at medical dispensaries in Lee County contains a higher percentage of TCH than those products sold at vape shops, and you need a medical card to purchase it.

Athina Kyritsis, MD, of Green Palms Health & Wellness in Naples, explained that CBD is known to work for a variety of ailments and doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription. “I recommend cannabidiol, or CBD, as a segue into medical marijuana while a patient waits for a state-issued medical marijuana card,” she explained.

While these products are not without controversy, the child’s well-being must be first priority, Kyritsis said. “Unfortunately, backlash will happen and all anyone can do is respectfully educate with correct information,” she added.

“The health of a child must come before social acceptance of the treatment.”

ESTATE PL A N N IN G

At the intersection of planning and peace of mind.

While death and final arrangements can be difficult to discuss, having your wishes properly documented is crucial to protect the ones you leave behind.

We guide our clients through a range of significant life events impacting estate plans, trusts, and probate litigation. Let us advocate your interests as we’ve done for our clients for more than 90 years.

Helping Communities, Businesses and Individuals Since 1924. henlaw.com • 239.344.1100 © Henderson Franklin Starnes & Holt, P.A.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Fort Myers • Bonita Springs • Sanibel • Naples neafamily.com

17

HEALTH

By Anna Futrell

Sudden and Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome: One Family’s Quest to Educate About and Eradicate SUIDS

I

t’s every parent’s worst nightmare: losing a child to Sudden and Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS, often shortened to SIDS). No one believes it will happen to their family.

SUIDS is the sudden and unexplained death of an infant, typically during sleep.

And what’s truly horrific is that there is usually no evidence of a struggle or any noise produced prior to death. SUIDS remains the most common cause of death in babies between one month and one year old, and about 90% of cases happen before the age of six months. Though the exact cause is unknown, a combination of factors appears to contribute to SUIDS. Families can greatly reduce the risk of SUIDS by practicing safe sleep guidelines outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

One family with ties to Naples is doing everything in its power to make sure that what happened to their family doesn’t happen to others. After Sam and Maura Hanke lost their first baby, Charlie, at three weeks old to SUIDS in 2010, they established Charlie’s Kids, a foundation whose purpose is to educate families about safe sleep.

Following Charlie’s death, the Hanke family sought a way to remember their son while educating families about researchbased safe sleep practices. Out of this desire, Charlie’s Kids Foundation was born.

It didn’t take long after meeting Sam, Maura, and their two children (Annie, 3, and Owen, 6), along with Sam’s parents, Gary and Gail Hanke, at Gary and Gail’s home in Naples, to understand the intense passion the family has for its mission. “When

18

neafamily.com

Above: L-R, Maura, Annie, Owen, and Sam Hanke. Annie is holding a photo of Charlie, who passed away from Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Syndrome in 2010. Charlie’s death lead to the formation of Charlie’s Kids Foundation. Photo by Lisette Morales

you experience tragedy together, there’s an unspoken connectedness. This is why we made the decision to share our story,” Maura said. “We wanted to teach people and give people a reason why they should follow safe sleep practices.”

Sam explained, “We want to inspire families to practice safe sleep. It goes beyond the ‘Back to Sleep’ message that every parent understands,” (i.e., placing an infant on his or her back to sleep). “There are relatively new ‘Safe to Sleep’ guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics,” he noted, and added that while these guidelines are important, they also can be confusing.

“We created a graphic [see page 19] to simplify the recommendations,” explained Gary Hanke, executive director of Charlie’s Kids. The graphic lists dos and don’ts for safe sleep for children less than one year old. The foundation distributes stickers and magnets to make it easy for new parents to remember and internalize the recommendations.

Charlie’s Kids expanded these graphic reminders. “We decided to write and publish a children’s book and use the story of the book to spread the message of safe sleep,” Sam said. Charlie’s Kids focuses on getting the board book – Sleep Baby Safe and

Snug – into the hands of as many families as possible. Within two months of publication, the foundation distributed 50,000 copies. To date, the foundation has handed out over 2.5 million books worldwide. The book makes understanding and practicing safe sleep easy; it involves the entire family and creates a culture of healthy practices for all caregivers and siblings involved in an infant’s life. Charlie’s Kids developed the book to make the content accessible for all levels of education, language, and literacy abilities, and it aligns with the AAP’s safe sleep recommendations.

“Our goal is to expand our message as we advocate safe sleep practices to grandparents, day care centers, and babysitters,” Maura said. “We need to hold these groups of people to safe sleep guidelines. Grandparents and other caregivers aren’t always aware of new guidelines, and research-based best practices are different now than they were in decades past.”

As a mother of a four-year-old girl, I thought I understood safe sleep practices pretty well when I became a parent, but I was surprised by some of the guidelines. We all understand the importance of placing our babies on their backs to sleep, and in a crib NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Touching lives The Charlie’s Kids Foundation is run completely by the Hanke family and has no paid employees. “We have a working board, and our board members contribute in different ways each year,” Sam said. “We have 5-8 speaking engagements per year, and there’s nothing I’d rather do. Charlie is making a difference.” Maura shared her heartbreak at not getting to see him grow up. “We’re not going to see him graduate, get his first job, or grow into an adult. But, he’s touched so many families.”

Sam added, “We could never understand why this happened – why Charlie died. But, we’re trusting God for what we

Copyright 2013, Charlie’s Kids Foundation

free from bumpers, loose blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. However, I did not realize that, according to the AAP, if your baby falls asleep in a swing, car seat, stroller, or infant carrier, it is essential to move them to their crib. “Safe sleep is hard,” Maura responded when I mentioned my surprise at my lack of knowledge. “Even though you want the best for your baby, it is hard to practice safe sleep, especially when you’re exhausted as a new parent.”

can’t understand. What we’re accomplishing through Charlie’s Kids makes me very proud, and it keeps Charlie with us even though he’s not physically with us. We share our story, and we grow the foundation. And

it has only strengthened my faith.”

Sam added, “It’s hard to share our story, but ... it’s worth it to us. Moreover, the data shows that our statewide programs are working.”

Flu vaccine before Halloween No appointment necessary!

Walk-In Services for Free Children’s Vaccines.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Naples

Immokalee

239-252-8595 Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm

239-252-7300 Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm

(Registration closes at 3pm)

neafamily.com

19

W

MOMentum Moms

hen you think of a judge in the courtroom, you may imagine a stern, unapproachable figure. But, in fact, many of our Collier County judges are moms like us.

Soon, there will be a new one, Tamara Nicola, who has been elected to join the bench in March 2019, and bringing the number of female judges to five out of 14.

Raised in Naples since she was five years old, Tamara returned to Naples to after law school to open her own practice specializing in criminal law. Due to the high demand for divorce representation, she changed her focus to family law and stayed in that specialty until her campaign for circuit court judge.

How did your background lead you down the path to become a judge? Early on, starting in law school, I worked toward a goal of being in upper levels of leadership. I was the elected president of the Student Bar Association in law school; elected to the board of the Collier County Bar Association, rising to the top as president in 2014; and now elected to become a judge.

My dad always said “there’s always room at the top”; my mom was right there with me to support and encourage me to pursue my goals. Running for judge was just a natural progression for me after having the support and encouragement from my parents. As an adult, I also had the amazing support from my husband and my daughter when I decided to run. Although I believe that leadership comes from within, and from what you know you can do, it also comes from the people who believe in you. I have been very blessed.

Tell us about your family. My husband John Nicola is the vice president of production at Grandbridge Real Estate Capital. Our daughter, Gabriella, is 12 and is in the 7th grade at North Naples Middle School, and we have a rescue hound dog, Bailee.

What is something that would surprise us about your profession/becoming a judge? People ask me, all the time, about specific legal problems outside my specialty because they assume that, being a lawyer, I would know the answer.

Give your child the Sport of a Lifetime!

Especially for beginners, ages 5-16

Learn or improve tennis at Collier County Parks Weekly group lessons and holiday and summer camps Fun! Fitness! Friendships!

Highly qualified tennis professionals,

trained in making tennis fun and fulfilling

Visit www.TennisDynamicsNaples.com or call Spike Gonzales at 239-248-0894 20

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

As far as becoming a judge, I expected everyone to think that becoming a judge would be amazing, but I seem to get a lot of “Why would you want to do that?” My question is, “Why wouldn’t I?” What type of law practice did you open when you passed the bar, and did you always do that type of law? My initial law practice was dedicated to criminal law. When I went to Stetson, I majored in psychology and minored in sociology. In college, I wanted to become a criminal psychologist; my senior thesis was on Ted Bundy. I changed my path when a prominent psychologist in Naples was killed doing a jail interview. In law school, and after, I truly thought my calling was criminal law.

In my second year of law school, I received the American Jurisprudence Book Award for Family Law. That award is given to the student who receives the highest grade in the class; it honestly shocked me because I had no idea I was even in the running. Once I began practicing criminal law, I would literally have two clients come in seeking a divorce consult for every one client seeking criminal advice.

My fate was sealed and I did not even know it. Still, I love criminal law; I am excited to go back to it as a judge.

After years of representing clients before a judge, what are you most looking forward to being on the other side? I most look forward to the challenges of being a judge – learning new law, making decisions, and hearing cases versus trying cases. Being on the other side and getting to make judgment calls truly excites me. Because I have done it for so long, I truly know how hard it is to try a case.

It requires immense preparation and a big emotional commitment.

How do you “train” to become a judge? Judges in Florida are required to be lawyers first (for five years), and there is no training to become a judge other than being elected by the public or appointed by the governor. Once an election is won or an appointment is made, judges have required education, as do lawyers. If I had one bit of advice to give someone who is planning to run for office, it would be to work hard, develop a good reputation, and become a leader in the community. That’s probably good advice regardless of what office you decide to run for.

Are you involved in any other community service? I am passionate about Collier Child Care Resources (CCCR) and I am the vice chair of the board.

What does your family like to do on the weekends when you are together? My daughter and I like to sleep in late although, as I get older, “late” seems to be around 7 a.m.! I usually sneak off to the gym if I can (Sunday spin with Ryan!) and then we regroup around

Facing page: Tamara Nicola at Freedom Park in Naples.

Above: Tamara with husband John Nicola and daughter Gabriella. lunch time to make plans. Our plans usually include hanging out with our friends and their kids. We also like to travel; we are probably gone somewhere at least one weekend a month.

Best parenting advice you ever received and from whom?

Trust your instincts. Do what you think is best, not what someone else or even a book tells you to do. In all honesty, this is what I said to myself when everyone else was giving me, with a brand new baby at almost 41 years old, advice that did not work. Just keep telling yourself “I’ve got this” and you will.

Tell us more about what it was like becoming a mother at 41.

I have always wanted children but wasn’t ready in my 20s or even my 30s. It was not a question of being ready but of being in the wrong relationship. As a family law attorney, I have seen so many people with regrets – never regrets about having children but regrets that they were in a bad, or dysfunctional, relationship when they did. I was lucky enough to meet my husband when I was 35 and to adopt our daughter, Gabby, on the eve of my 41st birthday. Being older, being in a great relationship, and having a stable career were all bonuses.

Looking back, I would not have it any other way.

www.reedorthodonticsnaples.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

21

HEALTH

By Reisha Brown, MD, FAAP

O

Facts About the Flu

ur kids have been back at school for well over a month, and that means one thing. Germs. Which also means that influenza will soon be upon us.

As a practicing pediatrician in this wonderful community, I often brace myself this time of year and try my best to educate families about the flu.

Here are some facts about the flu, along with tips to make this flu season less stressful.

How long does the flu last?

Influenza occurs abruptly. Flu symptoms (high fevers, chills, achiness, and discomfort) are more severe than a cold. Children have colds for about 3-10 days. Influenza lasts 7-14 days with symptoms sometimes lingering up to three weeks.

How long is a child contagious?

Children are considered contagious 24 to 72 hours after contracting influenza virus and up to five days after the onset of symptoms.

Children with compromised immune systems can be contagious for up to two weeks following exposure.

Should a child receive more than one flu shot? Children less than nine years of age, receiving a flu shot for the first time, require two flu shots their first flu season. The following year, they will require only one routine flu shot.

Do babies receive flu vaccine? The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone including babies who are at least six months of age.

Flu shot facts It takes approximately two weeks after receiving the influenza vaccine for antibodies to develop and provide protection against this virus. Physicians strongly recommend receiving the influenza vaccine in the fall.

It is normal to experience soreness, redness, tenderness, mild fever, and body aches 2-3 days after receiving the influenza vaccine.

The influenza vaccine prepares your immune system to recognize the influenza virus as a threat.

To prevent family members from contracting influenza: wash hands; keep hands away from your face; cough into your elbow; get an annual influenza vaccine; limit social gatherings; thorough disinfection; and steer clear of others when sickly.

Facts about Tamiflu Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is an antiviral medication that blocks the actions of the influenza virus in the body. Tamiflu is most effective if started within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. It can shorten the duration of symptoms, a maximum of 1-1.5 days. Tamiflu works only on true influenza, not on colds or other viral illnesses.

The dosage for this medication is determined by a child’s weight.

22

neafamily.com

Viral illnesses such as influenza resolve without treatment.

Plenty of rest, fluids, and extra attention from a caregiver will enable most children to recover within five days.

Tamiflu should be considered for children who are at highrisk (lung disease, heart disease, cancer, neuromuscular disorders, weakened immune system, children with diabetes, sickle cell disease, kidney or liver disease) for developing complications of the flu or for those children exhibiting severe symptoms.

Potential side effects from Tamiflu medication includes: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds, eye redness or discomfort, sleep disturbance, cough/other respiratory problems, and mood/mental changes.

Please always consult your doctor if any signs of unusual behavior should occur.

Tamiflu is not routinely given to prevent the flu. If a child with flu-like symptoms lives in the same home as a person at high risk for influenza complications, a physician may prescribe Tamiflu.

However, the CDC does not recommend widespread use of antiviral medications for prevention because of potential for antiviral resistance. An annual vaccination is the best prevention.

What are some alternatives for flu treatment? Get plenty of rest and fluids, and control fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Which flu vaccines are being offered to children in 201819? Flu vaccines protect against A and B influenza strains. A-strains of the flu can be transmitted between humans and animals, and are generally responsible for large flu epidemics. B-strains are found only in humans, usually provoke less severe reactions, and do not cause pandemics. There are three types of influenza vaccines being offered to children in 2018-19 – trivalent flu vaccine, quadrivalent flu vaccine, and intranasal flu vaccine.

The inactive trivalent vaccine protects against three different flu viruses: the two most common A strains (H1N1 and H3N2); and one B strain (either Massachusetts or Brisbane), whichever is predicted to affect citizens most strongly in a given year.

The inactive quadrivalent vaccine offers the same benefits as the trivalent vaccine, with the added bonus of covering both B-strains, providing broader protection.

The Intranasal(LAIV4) is a live attenuated nasal spray vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends intramuscular inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) for children in the 2018-19 season as it has been more consistently effective against most strains of flu in recent seasons, but says the nasal vaccine (LAIV) may be an option for kids who otherwise will not be vaccinated.

Dr. Reisha Brown is a pediatrician at Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida’s Children’s Care West Office in Naples.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

By Jennifer Kupiec

Mental Health Wellness at CCPS

M

ental health is a topic being discussed around the country.

And it’s a discussion we’ve been having for years at Collier County Public Schools (CCPS). CCPS has had a strong focus on promoting mental wellness in children and youth, including an established work group for the last several years and ongoing collaboration with community agencies. Comprehensive staffing including school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers provide multi-tiered supports to students, families, and schools.

Safe, caring, and well-managed learning environments are critical components of academic, social, and emotional growth for students. Within such environments, comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skill development is imperative.

SEL is the process of developing and using the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that help youth and adults to identify and regulate emotions, develop positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

To aid students in this process, CCPS is implementing five social emotional learning priorities this school year: 1. The New Student 30-60 Day Check-In focuses on a sense of belonging/ relationships. The school counselor will meet with all students new to the district upon enrollment or when transferring from one school to another within the school district.

The same counselor then checks in with the student at 30 and 60 days, or with multiple students in a group setting if they started at

the same time. Our hope is that all students will develop a sense of belonging within our schools and know that there are staff members available should they need any support.

2. Handle with Care will be implemented in elementary, middle, and high school, and focuses on student safety and mental well-being. It is an alert to staff regarding a student who has experienced a recent traumatic event. It is a just-in-time intervention that is situational to the student. Teachers will utilize trauma-sensitive interventions – such as predictable classroom routines and transitions, positive communication, the anticipation of challenging times, and additional support to the student – and look for observable signs of student distress, such as change in personality or disengagement.

Teachers will utilize the school psychologist or counselor for assistance and support.

3. Buddy Bench/We Dine Together.

A Buddy Bench is where an elementary student can go when he or she feels lonely at recess. It can serve as a gathering place and symbolizes a welcoming and inclusive environment on campus. Friendship ambassadors will be trained to check if a classmate is using the bench and invite him or her to play. The ambassadors also will contribute to the overall positive school culture by modeling inclusivity. At the middle and high school levels, a new club called We Dine Together will foster social awareness, advocacy, acts of kindness, resilience, and inclusivity. We Dine Together includes a faculty sponsor, a Be Strong State Represen-

tative student nominee, four student leaders, and student club members. Club members will go into the courtyard at lunchtime to make sure no one is sitting alone. Through the club members’ positive engaging actions, students will be able to assimilate into the school culture, form friendships, and learn to accept one another.

4. Principal-led SEL video announcements will take place at all levels and focus on SEL competencies. Twice monthly during morning announcements, principals will introduce an SEL video and provide closing comments on SEL. These videos will be about five to eight minutes in length and will foster conversations around strategies that strengthen community and individual student resiliency.

5. The new Panorama SEL Student Voice Survey will be given to all middle and high school students, as well as students in grades 3-5. The survey will provide students the opportunity to tell us what they think about their experiences at school and how school staff can best support them socially and emotionally. These anonymous results will allow us to address overall school-wide trends. The first survey will be given in the fall and will provide baseline data for schools and the district. Students will take the survey again in the spring.

Further information regarding the district’s mental health supports may be found in the 2018-19 District Mental Health Assistance Allocations Plan provided to the Florida Department of Education.

Helping parents protect the ones they love the most 5660 Strand Court Naples, FL 34110 (239) 314-2353 NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Estate Planning v Wills v Trusts v Families

www.albanislaw.com

Norell Albanis, Esq. neafamily.com

23

24

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

15

3:00 p.m. PSAT Study Tips and Strategies. Also Oct. 8. Before you face the challenge of the PSAT, learn some simple strategies for your PSAT prep. Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

8:45 a.m. Additional Needs Bounce Session. Sensory friendly event. Bounce is closed to the general public. Music is at a low volume or not played at all. Bounce Naples, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-302-3848 or check additionalneeds.info or bouncenaples.com. 14

7

1

12:00 p.m. Full STEAM Ahead Mini Camp. Transportation provided from SGE, OES, VME, PME, and NPE after school. STEAM class, snack, and Challenge class.

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples. Call 239-451-3142 or visit fullsteamaheadfl. com.

16

9

6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Parent Interest Meeting. This event is designed to inform families about all the exciting things a girl can do in Girl Scouts as well as explore ways for adults to volunteer. Collier Charter Academy, 12101 Immokalee Rd., Naples.

Visit www.gsgcf.org.

2

6

17

4:00 p.m. What is an Essay? Help on how to research and plan an essay. Ages 11+. Registration is not required. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary. org or call 239-252-4542.

10

18

11

19

3:00 p.m. Farmer Mike’s Fall Festival and Corn Maze. Tickets to both haunted and unhaunted corn mazes include a hay ride. Free parking and admission. Farmer Mike’s U Pick, 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs. Visit farmermikesupick.com or call Call 239-498-4576.

12

5:30 p.m. Swamptober Fest. Wear your costume. Learn about live baby alligators, snakes, and tarantulas. Crafts, face painting, and sweet treats.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Rd. W., Naples. Call 239-348-9151 or visit corkscrew.audubon. org.

5:30 p.m. Sensory Friendly Dance Party. Enjoy a sensory friendly glow in the dark dance for this with special needs. Music activities, games, and more. Mastertrax Recording Studio, 3880 Via del Rey, #101, Bonita Springs. Check endlessbrain.org or call 239-249-9364.

20

13

7:30 p.m. Haunted Gross House. Also enjoy trunk or treat, costume contest, haunted hay rides, pony rides, cake walk, children’s games, food vendors. Collier County Fairgrounds, 751 39th Ave., NE, Naples. Call 239-455-1444 or visit colliercountyfair.com.

10:00 a.m. ADHD Awareness. Can’t sit still and is bouncing off the walls? Plays video games for hours but doesn’t do his homework? Does any of this describe someone you know? Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary. org or call 239-252-4542.

5

5:00 p.m. Montessori Open House.

Come see us in our new home! Or call to schedule a private tour. Montessori Academy of Naples, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples.

Call 239-597-2255 or visit naplesmontessori.org.

3

9:00 a.m. Free Admission for Collier residents. Free admission on the first Saturday of every month at the Naples Zoo for Collier County residents with ID. Naples Zoo, 1590 GoodletteFrank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check napleszoo.org.

4:00 p.m. Family Night. Every Friday night from 4-7 p.m. and admission is only $7 per child.

Whiz Kids, 1050 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples. Visit whizkidsnaples.com or call 239-263-7017.

3:00 p.m. Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic Violence Affects Everyone. Defines, recognizes, and provides safe response approaches to domestic violence. Estates Library, 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-455-8088.

4

5:30 p.m. Logiscool Open House. Come learn about Naples’ newest after-school program that features fun-based coding courses for kids and teens.

Logiscool, 3510 Kraft Rd., #200, Naples. Call 954225-2044 or check www. logiscool.com/us.

10:00 a.m. Preschool Open Gym. Bring your children ages 6 and under, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. $9. Gymnastic World Naples, 2187 Trade Center Way, Naples.

Call 239-592-0608 or check gwnaples.com.

3:00 p.m. PSAT Study Tips and Strategies. Also Oct. 8 and 15. Before you face the challenge of the PSAT, learn some simple strategies you can use in your PSAT prep. Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary. org.

saturday

friday

Best Bets thursday

wednesday

tuesday

23

monday

6

6:00 p.m. Celebrating Safe Communities Event. This free event hosted by CCSO features a rock climbing wall, face painting, health screenings, bounce house, demonstrations, and free food and drinks. Sugden Regional Park, 4284 Avalon Park, Naples. Check colliersheriff.org.

8

5

2:00 p.m. Peter and the Starcatcher. Thru Oct. 28. Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. Blackburn Hall, 701 5th Ave. S., Naples.

Visit naplesplayers.org.

sunday

1221

October

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

25

30

24

31

6:30 p.m. Trunk or Treat. A fun, candy-filled night for families with children of all ages. Free. From 6:30-8 p.m. in the east parking lot. First Baptist Church, 3000 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Check fcbn.org or call 239-5976057.

25

26

5:30 p.m. Parents’ Night Out. Ages 2.5-11 years. Join us for a evening full of laughter, surprises, activity, and great friends.

My Gym, 13020 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239431-6499 or check www. mygym.com.

27

10:30 a.m. Hoots & Hisses. Creepy Creature Show, Halloween Little Explorers, Gordon B. Eagle Dance Party, face painting, Halloween games, activities, and crafts. Conservancy, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or visit conservancy.org.

ZOOBY

Exclusively marketed by Denticator™

Naples Pediatric Dentistry goodcheckup.com

Happy kids. Sparkly smiles.

239.592.0800

Dr. Marilyn C. Sandor, DDS, MS, PA

28

6:00 p.m. Trick or Treat Halloween Extravaganza. Collect candy from participating merchants. Pumpkin patch photo area, music, stilt walker, face painters, costume contest. Mercato, 9128 Strada Pl., Naples.

Visit mercatoshops.com or call 239-594-9400.

11:30 a.m. Madagascar: A Musical Adventure. Follow all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home at the zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers.

Call 239-278-4422 or visit broadwaypalm.com. 23

Try it at our office.

7:00 p.m. Legends of Oblivion Haunted House. Over-the-top special effects, intense makeup, elaborate costumes, unique monsters, and unusual themes. Also an escape room and pumpkin patch. Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Rd., Fort Myers. Visit legendsofoblivion.com.

29

22

2:00 p.m. Free Concert at the Bandshell. Naples Dixieland Jazz Band. Bring a blanket for the entire family. Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-270-1221 or check naplesconcertband.org.

21

3:00 p.m. Good News Club. A free after-school program that runs on Mondays after school until 4:15 p.m.

Pelican Marsh, 1810 Persimmon Dr., Naples. Call 239-404-8528 or check goodnewsincollier.com for other locations and start dates in Collier County.

9:00 a.m. Boo at the Zoo. Trick or treating, education stations, games, and a costume contest with prizes each day. Kids ages 12 and under in costume admitted free. Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check napleszoo.org.

YOUR COMMUNITY OCTOBER EVENTS CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS: 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.

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 we do not enter all calendar data, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

1 MONDAY 9:00 a.m. World Habitat Day BOGO. World Habitat Day reminds us of the basic need for adequate shelter. In order to build an adequate shelter, we must nurture a healthy ecosystem. Located at Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Visit rookerybay.org or call 239-530-5940.

3:00 p.m. PSAT Study Tips and Strategies. Also Oct. 8 & 15. Before you face the challenge of the PSAT, learn some simple strategies you can use in your prep. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Food Pantry. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Lely Presbyterian Church, 110 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples. Check mealsofhope.org or call 239-537-7775.

4:30 p.m. Pups & 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 Branch Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-775-5592.

5:30 p.m. Dine and Learn. Come for a dinner with other local families to learn to cope with loss during the holidays. Food will be provided. All ages. Registration is required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

6:00 p.m. Art Classes for Kids. Ages 5-12. Fun projects with acrylic on canvases, watercolor, collages, mixed media, and much more. Sign up ahead of time so that we have enough materials for your child.

Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Visit muralistica.com or call 786-374-6002.

6:00 p.m. Minecraft Club. Does your child love Minecraft? Do you want them to have a safe and productive place to stretch their minds and skills, relate to other kids, and of course, create in Minecraft? Join this club: your child will love it. Ages 6-12. Located at Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples.

Check fullsteamaheadfl.com or call 239-451-3142 or email info@fullsteamaheadfl.com.

2 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Preschool Open Gym. Bring your children ages 6 and under, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. $9. Located at Gymnastic World Naples, 2187 Trade Center Way, Naples. Call 239-592-0608 or check gwnaples.com.

10:00 a.m. Storytime with Miss Mary Ellen. A toddler favorite. Join us for reading, singing, and coloring in a fun-filled atmosphere of learning and lots of laughter. Be sure to ask about the little green frog song. All ages are welcome. Located at Barnes & Noble, 5377 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. Call 239-5985200 or check stores.barnesandnoble.com.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Food Pantry. Frozen food,

SM

Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. Music. Enrichment

After School Programs

NEW LOCATION

NEW PROGRAMS

SAME AMAZING EXPERIENCE

STEM Clubs

STEAM Teams

Home School

Free Explore

Robotics

3D Printing

Coding

Space Physics

Drones

Engineering

Art

Piano

Ukulele

...and more!

WE’VE MOVED!

FIND US ONLINE

(239) 451 - 3142 Info@Fullsteamaheadfl.com www.Fullsteamaheadfl.com

26

neafamily.com

Montessori Naples @ Hodges University 2655 Northbrooke Dr, Naples FL

NEW ASP Transportation from:

Laurel Oak Elementary* Vineyards Elementary*

Pelican Marsh Veteran’s Memorial

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

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. Check mealsofhope.org or call 239-537-7775.

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

3 WEDNESDAY

Pediatric Dentist

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

10:00 a.m. Toddler Time. Wednesdays & Sundays. A time for little ones to discover the joy of being active, bouncing under the supervision of their parents, and without interference from the big kids. Located at Sky Zone Trampoline Park, 14181 S. Tamiami Tr., Fort Myers. Visit fortmyersstore.skyzone.com.

5:30 p.m. Girl Scout Parent Interest Meeting. This event is designed to inform families about all the exciting things a girl can do in Girl Scouts as well as explore ways for adults to volunteer. Located at Lely Presbyterian Church, 110 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples. Visit www.gsgcf.org.

5:30 p.m. Logiscool Open House. Come learn about Naples’ newest after-school program that features fun-based coding courses for kids and teens. Located at 3510 Kraft Rd., #200, Naples. Call 954-225-2044 or check www.logiscool.com/us.

5:30 p.m. Parent/Teen/Child Mental Health Support Group. For parents/ caregivers and children ages 6+ with a mental illness. Opportunity for diagnosed youth ages 6-18 to socialize, receive support, and enjoy refreshments. Parents and youth meet jointly and then break up into groups according to age. Located at NAMI of Collier County, 6324 Trail Blvd., Bldg. C, Naples. Call 239-260-7300 or check namicollier.org for additional information.

7:30 p.m. Peter and the Starcatcher. Through Oct. 28. Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (aka, Peter Pan). Located at Blackburn Hall, 701 5th Ave. S., Naples. Visit naplesplayers.org for additional information.

4 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Tai Chi in the Garden. Instructor Karen McNeil hosts this energyflow 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 for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Interrogations and Polygraphs. Discussion and demonstration of interrogation and interview techniques. Located at South Regional Branch Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-7542.

10:00 a.m. Powerpoint Basics. Students will learn how to create a basic presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint. We will use text and images to create slides and also explore using transitions and templates. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

2:00 p.m. Meals of Hope Food Pantry. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Golden Gate Senior Center, 4898 Coronado Pkwy., Naples. Check mealsofhope. org or call 239-537-7775.

3:00 p.m. Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Domestic Violence Affects Everyone. Defines, recognizes, and provides safe response approaches to domestic violence. Located at Estates Branch Library, 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples.

Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-455-8088.

5:30 p.m. Girl Scout Parent Interest Meeting. This event is designed to inform families about all the exciting things a girl can do in Girl Scouts as well as explore ways for adults to volunteer. Located at Naples Harley Davidson, 3654 Gateway Lane, Naples. Visit www.gsgcf.org.

6:00 p.m. Dog’s Night Out. Bring your four-legged furry friends to play at this special event, including rescue organizations and vendors. Exclusive giveaways and more for your pooch. Located at Coconut Point Mall, 23106 Fashion Drive, Estero.

Call 239-992-9966.

239-260-7672

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

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.

Serving children Infant - age 5 VPK Certified

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

727 108th Ave., Naples • 597-5748 License #C20C07416 smallworldelc@embarqmail.com • smallworldnaples.com

Do

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS • Certified Reading Specialist • 27 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

5 FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. Find It Fridays. Kids enjoy a scavenger hunt all day. Ask for more details at the ticket counter. Located at Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-992-2591 or visit evergladeswondergardens.com.

9:00 a.m. Make and Take Craft: World Smile Day. Some of our favorite

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

239-233-9400

*not guaranteed

Typical gain in phonics skill equals one grade level for every three months of full-time program attendance.*

info@ReadingRescueCenters.com • ReadingRescueCenters.com neafamily.com

27

children’s picture books that will surely put a smile on your face will be displayed for you to check out or read at your own pace at the library. Located at Naples Regional Branch Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-5135.

10:00 a.m. Sign, Say, and Play. Sign, Say, and Play classes consist of a series of theme-based classes offered over a six-week period. Each week, families learn useful signs through fun songs, books, and activities. Located at MDP Speech Language Therapy, 10661 Airport Rd. N., Suite 13, Naples. Call 239-248-0458.

10:00 a.m. SMILE: You’re at the Library! Join us to celebrate World Smile Day. Show your best smile as you take your photo at our selfie station and take a smile break to make a fun craft. Located at East Naples Branch Library, 8787 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-775-5592.

4:00 p.m. Family Night. Every Friday night from 4-7 p.m. and admission is only $7 per child. Located at Whiz Kids, 1050 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples. Visit whizkidsnaples.com or call 239-263-7017.

4:00 p.m. World Smile Day FROYO BOGO. From 4-7 p.m., buy one frozen yogurt, get one free. Located at Menchie’s, 6355 Naples Blvd., Naples. Visit www. menchies.com.

5:30 p.m. Mommy/Daddy & Me Painting Afternoon. Call Fleishmann Park at 239-213-3020 to secure your spot. You will pay $5 more per person the same day or at the door. Parent & child,$35; siblings, $16; extra adults, $20. Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Visit muralistica.com.

7:00 p.m. Supervised Drop-off Open Gym Ages 5-13. Drop off your child or stay and watch. $10. Located at Gymnastic World Naples, 2187 Trade Center Way, Naples. Visit gwnaples.com or call 239-592-0608.

October Picks in Lee County in Lee County

6 SATURDAY

Punkin'palooza Pumpkin Festival

Punkin'palooza Pumpkin Festival Fleamasters, 4135 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers Fleamasters,October 4135 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 12 - 14 • 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fort Myers October 12 14 • 9 a.m.

5 p.m.

Live music, pumpkin decorating and more fun family activities.

Live music, pumpkin decorating and more fun family activities.

239-334-7001 239-334-7001

Madagascar-The Musical Adventure Madagascar-The MusicalTheatre Adventure Broadway Palm Children’s Broadway Palm Children’s 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Theatre Myers 1380 Colonial Blvd.,November Fort Myers October 12 through 16 October 12 through November 16 Broadway Palm Children’s Theatre is fun for everybody!

Broadway Palm lunch Children’s fun for everybody!

Includes and aTheatre show. is239-278-4422 Includes lunch and a show. 239-278-4422

Comic Fest

FestFirst St., Fort Myers Fort Myers RegionalComic Library, 2450 Fort Myers Regional 2450- 4First OctoberLibrary, 13 • Noon p.m.St., Fort Myers October 13 • Noon 4 p.m. video games, Enjoy workshops, crafts, karaoke, tabletop games,

Enjoy workshops, crafts,Japanese karaoke, culture tabletop games,food video games, a 3D printer presentation, classes, trucks and a a 3D printer presentation, Japanese classes, food trucks and a costume parade. culture 239-479-4636 costume parade. 239-479-4636

2018 Florida International Air 2018 Florida Air Show Show Punta Gorda Airport,International 28000 Airport Rd, Punta Gorda Punta Gorda Airport, 28000 October 19Airport – 21 Rd, Punta Gorda 19 –performances, 21 Family friendly, torch October run, aerobatic military jets, Family friendly, torch run, aerobatic performances, military jets, Friday night fireworks and more. www.floridaairshow.com Friday night fireworks and more. www.floridaairshow.com

Oktoberfest 2018

OktoberfestSocial 2018 German-American Club German-American Social Club 2101 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral 2101 SW Pine Rd,-Cape Oct 19 Island - 21 & 26 28 Coral Oct 19 21 & 26 28 239-283-1400 239-283-1400

Lee County’s Original Family Publication Lee County’s Original Family Publication

FOR FOR 27 27 YEARS!!

YEARS!!

www.leefamilynews.net www.leefamilynews.net 28

neafamily.com

8:45 a.m. Additional Needs Bounce Session. This is a sensory friendly event.

Bounce is closed to the general public. Music is at a low volume or not played at all.

Children are safe and monitored both by parents and Bounce monitors. Located at Bounce Naples, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-302-3848 or check additionalneeds.info or bouncenaples.com.

9:00 a.m. Free Admission for Collier residents. Admission on the first Saturday of every month at the Naples Zoo is free for Collier County residents with ID. Located at Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check napleszoo.org.

9:00 a.m. Kids Workshops. A new craft each month. Recommended for ages 5-12. Located at Home Depot, 2251 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples. Call 239-597-1515 or check www.homedepot.com for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Southwest Florida Autism Speaks Walk. The world’s largest autism fundraising event dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism. Located at Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. Visit www. autismspeaks.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Beginning Crochet. Learn to crochet. Yarn and hooks will be provided. No experience necessary. Ages 18+. Registration required. Located at Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island. Visit collierlibrary. org or call 239-394-3272.

10:30 a.m. WONDER in the Garden. Imagine, create, and explore throughout the Children’s Garden with lessons and activities about a monthly theme. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. Visit www.naplesgarden.org.

10:30 a.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 Naples Regional Branch Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples.

Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-5135.

1:00 p.m. Kids Yoga. The class will contain fun yoga poses as well as music, arts & crafts, and stories for kids ages 5-10. Located at Love Yoga Center, 4949 Tamiami Tr. N., #204, Naples. Call 239-692-9747 or check loveyogacenter.com.

6:00 p.m. 2018 Boo Ball. With a new twist on the theme, the frightfully fabulous festivities include an elegant dinner, dancing, an extraordinary live auction, and spellbinding surprises. Benefits PACE Center for Girls, Lee County. Located at the historic Burroughs Home & Gardens, 2505 First St., Fort Myers. Call 239-4252366 or check www.pacecenter.org.

7 SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. Bring a Friend Day. Share the Naples Botanical Garden with a nonmember for free today. Located at Naples Botanical Gardens, 4820 Bayshore Dr.,

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Naples. Visit www.naplesgarden.org for additional information.

11:30 a.m. Spanish Church Service. St. Monica’s offers a Spanish speaking service every Sunday. Located at St. Monica’s Church, 7070 Immokalee Rd., Naples. Call 239-591-4550 or check stmonicasnaples.org for additional information.

3:45 p.m. Family Yoga. Yoga class uniquely designed for pre-teens, teens, and adults to spend time together on their mats. Located at Love Yoga Center, 4949 Tamiami Tr. N. #204, Naples. Call 239-692-9747 or check loveyogacenter.com.

8 MONDAY 9:00 a.m. Car Seat Safety Inspections. On the second Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, Safe Kids and the Florida Department of Health in Collier County hold regular car seat safety inspections. Located at Florida Department of Health, 3339 Tamiami Tr. E., Bldg. H, Naples. Call 239-565-8371 or check safekids.org.

4:00 p.m. Teen Read Week: White Elephant Book Exchange. Come have a snack, watch movie trailers, and swap books to get the one right for you to take home. Ages 11-17. Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

6:00 p.m. Celebrating Safe Communities Event. The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office is hosting its annual free community event, which features a rock climbing wall, face painting, health screenings, bounce house, demonstrations by the Motorcycle Unit, CCSO Mobile Command trailer, and Bomb Squad van. Food and drinks are free. Located at Sugden Regional Park, 4284 Avalon Park, Naples.

Check colliersheriff.org.

9 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Homeschool: Electricity is Shocking. It is “take-apart” day during homeschool class. We will learn how machines work by taking them apart, and then build something completely new to take home. Located at C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Visit www.cmon.org.

10:00 a.m. Precious Panthers. Also Oct. 11. For ages 18 months to 5 years. Join Felina on her journey to discover where she belongs. Prowl like a panther as we discover what it’s like in the big cat world. Located at Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www. conservancy.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Safari Squad: Animal Yoga. Also Oct. 10 & 13. Stretch high like a giraffe, be still like a tree. See what other animals you can pose like. Ages 3-5.

Located at Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check napleszoo.org.

3:30 p.m. All About Sharks. Join Tish from 4-H as she brings a new program about sharks to the library. We will learn amazing shark facts and exactly which sharks we have here in Florida. All ages. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

4:00 p.m. Makerspace: Tape Resist Art. Unleash your inner artist with a cool new art technique and create an amazing tape-resist picture to take home. Ages 11-17.

While supplies last. Registration is not required. Located at Naples Regional Branch Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-5135.

5:00 p.m. Celebrating Safe Communities Event. The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office is hosting its annual free community event, which features a rock climbing wall, face painting, health screenings, bounce house, demonstrations by the Motorcycle Unit, CCSO Mobile Command trailer, and Bomb Squad van. Food and drinks are free. Located at Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy., Naples; and at Located at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1225 Piper Blvd., Naples. Check colliersheriff.org.

6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Parent Interest Meeting. This event is designed to inform families about all the exciting things a girl can do in Girl Scouts as well as explore ways for adults to volunteer. Located at Collier Charter Academy, 12101 Immokalee Rd., Naples. Visit www.gsgcf.org.

New Daycare - October Promo

1 Week Free Tuition First 15 Spots

For more info or tours

www.BloomDaySchool.com 239-249-2084

10 WEDNESDAY 3:00 p.m. Book Talk: Scrappy Campaigning. Join us for a talk by Casey Lucius, author of Scrappy Campaigning. Many people today want to “do something” or get involved in politics, but they don’t know how. Located at Naples Regional Branch Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-5135.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

29

LittlePeoplesSchool.info 4:00 p.m and 5:00 p.m. Celebrating Safe Communities Event. The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office is hosting its annual free community event, which features a rock climbing wall, face painting, health screenings, bounce house, demonstrations by the Motorcycle Unit, CCSO Mobile Command trailer, and Bomb Squad van.

Food and drinks are free. At 4 p.m., Ave Maria University, Avila Ave., Immokalee.

At 5 p.m., Forestry Fire Station, 710 Randall Blvd., Naples. Check colliersheriff.org.

5:00 p.m. Montessori Open House. Come see us in our new home! Or call to schedule a private tour. Located at Montessori Academy of Naples, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples. Check www.naplesmontessori.org or call 239-597-2255.

11 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. ADHD Awareness. Can’t sit still and is bouncing off the walls? Plays video games for hours but doesn’t do his homework? Does any of this describe someone you know? Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

5:30 p.m. Book Bingo. Are you ready for bingo? Join us for an afternoon of fun.

Bring a friend and win some prizes. All ages. Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

3:30 p.m. Origami Workshop. We will be celebrating Teen Read Week by reading “Sadako” by Eleanor Coerr and learning a few origami paper folds. Grades 6-12.

Registration required. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

12 FRIDAY 11:30 a.m. Madagascar: A Musical Adventure. Selected dates through Nov. 13. Follow all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home at the zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to Madagascar. Call or check website for other dates and times. Located at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Call 239-278-4422 or visit broadwaypalm.com.

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

SAT and ACT Preparation Tutorial for Reading, Writing and Essay Sections info@ReadingRescueCenters.com • ReadingRescueCenters.com

34

neafamily.com

30

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • September 2017

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

LittlePeoplesSchool.info

6:00 p.m. Celebrating Safe Communities Event. The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office is hosting its annual free community event, which features a rock climbing wall, face painting, health screenings, bounce house, demonstrations by the Motorcycle Unit, CCSO Mobile Command trailer, and Bomb Squad van. Food and drinks are free. Located at McCleod Park, 208 S. Copeland Ave., Everglades City.

Check colliersheriff.org.

13 SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. Sensory Friendly Screenings. Lights are up, sound is down, and you are totally free to move around! Goosebumps 2: Horrorland. Film titles subject to change. Located at Paragon Pavilion Theaters, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples.

Check www.paragontheaters.com for additional information.

3:00 p.m. Teen Film - Solo: A Star Wars Story. During an adventure into a dark criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future. Located at South Regional Branch Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-7542.

l

Top Rated VPK

l Preschool

Twos & Threes Camp l Owned/operated by certified elementary teacher with over 22 years experience l DCF licensed, #C20CO7400 l Summer

(239) 597-5064 868 94th Ave. N., Naples lpsparentnews@aol.com

14 SUNDAY 8:45 a.m. Additional Needs Bounce Session. This is a sensory friendly event.

Bounce is closed to the general public. Music is at a low volume or not played at all.

Children are safe and monitored both by parents and Bounce monitors. Located at Bounce Naples, 2320 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-302-3848 or check additionalneeds.info or bouncenaples.com.

2:00 p.m. Free Concert at the Bandshell. Naples Concert Band. Bring a blanket and the entire family. Located at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239270-1221 or check naplesconcertband.org.

2:00 p.m. Opioid Grief Support Group for Children and Families. Valerie’s House hosts a support group for children and families who have lost a family member die due to the growing opioid crisis. Located at Valerie’s House, 1762 Fowler St., Naples. Call 239-841-9186 or check www.valerieshouseswfl.org.

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

15 MONDAY 9:00 a.m. Full STEAM Ahead Mini Camp. Students will receive STEAM enrichment, participate in both indoor and outdoor guided activities if they choose, and a snack. Instruction is from 9-12 and 1-4. Ask us about extended hours care (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Located at Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples. Check fullsteamaheadfl.com or call 239-451-3142 or email info@fullsteamaheadFL.com.

16 TUESDAY 9:15 a.m. Meditation. You will learn how meditation can calm your mind and bring peace into your life. Located at South Regional Branch Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-7542.

12:00 p.m. Full STEAM Ahead Mini Camp. On early release days, transportation provided from SGE, OES, VME, PME, and NPE immediately after school, and students will receive STEAM class, snack, and Challenge Class. Located at Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples. Check fullsteamaheadfl.com or call 239-451-3142 or email info@fullsteamaheadFL.com.

3:00 p.m. Haunted House Afternoon Movie. Afraid of the dark? Spend your early release afternoon at the Immokalee Library with popcorn and our ghostly friends to view a haunted house movie. Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

7:00 p.m. Movies on the Lawn: Nightmare Before Christmas. Bring your blankets and chairs and join us on the lawn. Food and drinks available for purchase.

No coolers, please. Well-behaved pets welcome. Located at Mercato, 9132 Strada Pl., Naples. Check www.mercatoshops.com.

17 WEDNESDAY 7:00 p.m. Pumpkin Patch and Petals. Ready for a Halloween themed floral class you and your kiddo can enjoy together? Kids will decorate the pumpkin, you arrange the flowers. Located at Tipsy Cow Homemade Ice Cream, 25261 Chamber of Commerce Dr., Bonita Springs. Visit www.tipsycowfl.com.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Most Insurances Accepted

Proudly Welcomes Another Great Provider To Our Team

To schedule an appointment with Reisha Brown, call 239-658-3000 or visit www.healthcareswfl.org

Reisha Brown M.D., F.A.A.P. Children’s Care West

Providing Quality Healthcare for All Since 1977

neafamily.com

31

4:00 p.m. What is an Essay? Help on how to research and plan an essay. Also how to write the introduction, main body and conclusion. Ages 11+. Registration is not required. Located at Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Rd., Naples.

Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-4542.

18 THURSDAY 10:15 a.m. Mini Wonders: The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin. What’s orange and round and grows on the ground? The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin! Located at C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Visit www.cmon.org.

5:00 p.m. Third Thursday on Third Street South. L ive music in the Fleischmann Courtyard. Located at 1250 Third St. S., 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. Visit pflagnaples.org or call 239-963-4670 for location.

19 FRIDAY 9:30 a.m. Free Autism Screening for Young Children. Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to five years of age. Located at New Life Assembly, 5146 Leonard Blvd. S., Lehigh Acres. Call 239-343-6838 or check leehealth.org.

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 239-272-8031 or check www.facebook.com/BuddyBreakNaples.

20 SATURDAY 10:00 a.m. Children’s Business Fair. Support our young entrepreneurs at this fun-family festival. Enjoy music, grab lunch, shop the booths, and stay for the awards.

Donation of $5 requested for admission. Located at Gulf Coast High School, 7878 Shark Way, Naples. Visit napleschamber.org/CBF. 10:00 a.m. Junior Ranger Program. D iscover 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 Park, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-992-0311 or check friendsofkoreshan.org/events.

5:30 p.m. Sensory Friendly Dance Party. Enjoy a sensory friendly glow in the dark dance for this with special needs. Music activities, games, and more. We will have two separate groups: up to 16 years of age and 16+. Located at Mastertrax Recording Studio, 3880 Via del Rey, #101, Bonita Springs. Call 239-249-9364 or check endlessbrain.org for additional information.

21 SUNDAY 9:30 a.m. Zoo Yoga. Start your day with an animal-themed yoga class designed for all ages. You will breathe, stretch, and relax in nature. Located at Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check napleszoo.org.

22 MONDAY 3:00 p.m. Good News Club. A free after-school program that runs on Mondays after school until 4:15 p.m. Located at Pelican Marsh, 1810 Persimmon Dr., Naples.

Call 239-404-8528 or check goodnewsincollier.com for other locations and start dates in Collier County.

5:00 p.m. Parent Cafe. Offers useful information and an opportunity to create connections and share experiences. A light dinner of pizza, salad, and drinks will be served. Located at South Regional Branch Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Pkwy., Naples. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-252-7542.

23 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Homeschool: Building Basics. Today we learn some building basics

32

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

with an emphasis on building materials. Located at C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. E is for Everglades. Also Oct. 25. For ages 18 months to 5 years.

Explore every corner of the Everglades, a beautiful national park in our backyard.

Learn about animals that you might find there, and meet an ambassador animal during your visit. Located at Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org.

5:00 p.m. Sensory Night at C’mon. For children on the autism spectrum and/ or with other sensory integration disorders. Lighting and sound are muted and cool down spaces are provided. Limited participation in order to minimize crowds, and registration is required. Located at C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon.org.

25 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Pups ‘n’ Popcorn. Bring Fido to the Veterans Park Rover Fun Park for a night of popcorn and an outdoor movie. $10. Located at Veterans Community Park, 1895 Veterans Park Dr., Naples. Call 239-252-4682 or check colliercountyfl.gov.

10:15 a.m. Mini Wonders: There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat. Join us for some spooky fun. It’s going to be a ghostly good time. Located at C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon. org for additional information.

5:30 p.m. Not Your Mummy’s Magic Show. Enjoy a show that features comedy, music, and eye-popping balloon creations in a twisted adventure. All ages.

Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee. Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

26 FRIDAY 5:30 p.m. Parents’ Night Out. Ages 2.5-11 years. Join us for a evening full of laughter, surprises, activity, and great friends. Located at My Gym, 13020 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-431-6499 or check www.mygym.com.

6:00 p.m. Teen Bereavement Movie Nights. For ages 11-18. The last Friday of every month. Each session will include a discussion of how the movie applies to our own lives. Located at Avow, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples. Call 239-261-4404.

27 SATURDAY 7:30 a.m. 2018 Monster Dash. The 5K race begins at Fleischmann Park. Immediately following the race are awards and a costume competition with refreshments.

Halloween costumes are encouraged. Free Children’s Goblin 1K. Call 239-404-7007 or check www.naplesgov.com.

9:00 a.m. Skim Jam at 13th Avenue South Beach. All ages and skill levels welcome. Registration starts at 7 a.m., contest starts at 9 a.m. Register at oldnaplessurfshop.com or call 239-262-1877 for more information.

28 SUNDAY 2:00 p.m. Free Concert at the Bandshell. Naples Dixieland Jazz Band. Bring a blanket for the entire family. Located at Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples.

Call 239-270-1221 or check naplesconcertband.org.

30 TUESDAY 8:00 a.m. Dogs in the Garden. Explore the beautiful Naples Botanical Garden and bring your best fur friend along during designated Dogs in the Garden Walk Days. Sundays, 9-11:30 a.m.; Tuesdays, 8-11 a.m.; and Thursdays, 3-5 p.m. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. Check www.naplesgarden. org for additional information.

31 WEDNESDAY 12:00 p.m. Trick or Treat at the Library. Come to the library for an afternoon (until 4:30 p.m.) of spooky fun. Costumes are optional. All ages. Registration is not required. Located at Immokalee Branch Library, 417 N. First St., Immokalee.

Visit collierlibrary.org or call 239-657-2882.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Join the Naples Chamber and Leadership Collier Foundation™ at the Naples Children’s Business Fair!

The event is open to the public! Support our young entrepreneurs at this fun-family festival. Enjoy music, grab lunch, shop the booths and stay for the awards presentation!

Suggested donation of $5 for general admission Don’t forget to bring lots of small bills to scoop up some one of a kind products Vote on Most Original Business Idea, Highest Business Potential, and Most Creative Presentation

October 20, 2018 Gulf Coast High School Outdoor Courtyard 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. www.napleschamber.org/CBF Thank you to our sponsors:

Collier County Public Schools | Arthrex, Inc. | Sunshine Ace Hardware | Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Resource Center | Waste Management of Florida | First Florida Integrity Bank | Naples Daily News | Lipman Produce | Tri-Town Construction | Valvoline Instant Oil Change | Latchkey League | DeAngelis Diamond Construction, Inc. | Campbell Orthodontics | MaidPro | MedExpress Urgent Care | Neapolitan Family | Gulfshore Life | Florida Weekly | B103.9 neafamily.com

33

TRAVEL

By Karen T. Bartlett

Destination: The Spirit Zone Plenty of pretend ghosts will be whooshing around in the dark this month.

But do real ghosts exist? Visit these likely spots and decide for yourself.

Haunted Indian Trading Post Back in pioneer days, Seminole Indians, hermits, pirates, and outlaws traded their furs, skins, and trinkets for supplies at Ted Smallwood’s trading post. Set on a remote Calusa Indian mound in the Ten Thousand Islands called Chokoloskee, this old wooden store saw more than its share of mysteries, murders, and nefarious goings on before it was nailed shut for a quarter of a century. When Ted’s granddaughter unshuttered the old place, she found its shelves still packed with medicines and potions, hides, cans of snuff, calico, ammunition, and household supplies. And ghosts. Unexplained things happened. Unidentified shadows passed through at odd times. There were whisperings during the day, and at night one could stand underneath the store, which is on pilings, and hear boots stomping around. The old trading post became known as one of Florida’s most haunted places. National Geographic’s ghost hunters once flew in with sophisticated paranormal devices, but they flew back out the next day, because as soon as they set up, their equipment went dead.

October is a great month for a day trip to Chokoloskee, just over the bridge from Everglades City. Soak up the spooky trading post atmosphere, and even meet Old Ted himself (well, a pretty impressive likeness of him) peering at you from his favorite rocking chair. Then, immerse in the experience with a 6th generation Smallwood family-guided boat tour through Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands. Smallwoodstore.com; smallwoodstoreboattour.com

Buried Pirate Skeletons When’s the last time you drove over a dead body? Never? Are you sure? Because if you’ve ever driven between the grand row of royal palm trees along McGregor Boulevard in downtown Fort My34

neafamily.com

ers, you certainly have. Actually, you’ve rolled over 103 dead bodies.

Late one night in 1913, men were digging on a nearby shell island for paving material. As one workman turned his shovel, something big and round rolled over his foot. Picking it up in the dim bonfire light, he was horrified to see he was holding a human skull. More digging on that eerie night unearthed the rest of the skeleton, and dozens more. Experts speculated that they were pirates from Jose Gaspar’s ship, Floridablanca, massacred in 1821 by the USS Enterprise. Unlike Calusa bones, pirate bones weren’t considered sacred, so the paving of McGregor proceeded, skulls and bones and all. So if you’re wandering around the McGregor neighborhood on Halloween night – it’s one of the town’s most picturesque trick-or-treating spots – avoid all ghostly-looking pirates. One might be the real thing!

While you’re in the spirit, so to speak, take True Tours’ Haunted History Tour along the cobblestoned streets and alleys of downtown Fort Myers. Not all ghosts are creepy. In fact, some of them are pretty funny. Take your camera and see if anything strange shows up later in a picture. truetours.net

Ghosts of the Lowcountry The recent fury of Hurricane Florence on the Carolina coast apparently awakened a famous ghost who first appeared in 1822 on Pawley’s Island, just south of Myrtle Beach. If you’re walking the beach there on a late summer/early fall evening, and a young man – usually walking, but sometimes on horseback – appears out of thin air and commands you to leave the island, he’s not being inhospitable. He’s warning you that a hurricane is coming. Don’t even think about doubting this. Just go.

The story goes that a young sailor returned from duty to visit his fiancé, who was visiting her parents on the island. Mounting NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

Haunted Day Trips We all know that St. Augustine is one of the most haunted places in America, right? But you may not know that there is a wealth of haunted spots within an easy drive of Naples. Neapolitan Family’s intern Ginny Lundstrom did the research for you, and put together a list of some of the best haunted day trips.

Palm Cottage 137 12th Ave. S., Naples napleshistoricalsociety.org • 239-261-8164 Dating back to 1895, this is the oldest house in Naples. It is said that the ghostly encounters happen whenever renovations take place at Palm Cottage. Workers feel cold spots in certain places in the house and notice their tools constantly being moved. Guided tours are available.

Koreshan State Park 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero floridastateparks.org • 239-992-0311 In 1869, a doctor named Cyrus Teed launched a new religion called Koreshanity. “Koreshan” is the Persian version of Teed’s first name. In 1894, Teed moved his group of followers to Estero, to what is now Koreshan State Park. When he died in 1908, his followers awaited his resurrection. Many say that his followers’ spirits are still there watching over the land. Witnesses have even reported shadow people who disappear on the trails and hearing mysterious voices.

Marco Island Mystery & History Tours marcomysteryandhistory.com • 239-537-8353 The Olde Marco Inn, Caxambas Cemetery, and Otter Mound all are stops on the Marco Island Mystery & History tour. Join Martha Hatta as she brings Marco Island’s history to life with stories of its frightful past.

Don Cesar Hotel 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach doncesar.com • 727-360-1881 Thomas Rowe, the creator of Don Cesar, met and fell in love with a beautiful woman named Lucinda while studying in London. When Lucinda’s aristocratic parents found out about their

a horse, he took the quickest route, straight through uncharted marshland. His horse galloped into deadly, quicksand-like “pluff mud,” whereupon both horse and rider were quickly swallowed up. One night, as the grieving girl walked the beach, the hazy gray apparition of her love appeared out of the dunes. “Leave the island at once,” he urged. Your family is in danger.” Then he vaporized.

They did leave, and several days later, a hurricane devastated the island. It’s said that the Gray Man has appeared just before every major hurricane since, including Florence, to warn locals and visitors. Thankfully, hurricane season is over for another year, and NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

relationship, they moved her back to Spain. Thomas returned to America and vowed to never love another. Rowe built the Don Cesar as a monument to her, and included on the property an exact replica of the fountain in London where he and Lucinda met secretly. Workers and guests of the hotel have reported seeing the ghost of a man that resembles Thomas, and that sometimes his ghost is accompanied by a beautiful raven-haired woman.

Biltmore Hotel 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables biltmorehotel.com • 855-311-6903 Built in 1926, the Biltmore (see photo) was first used for hosting social events, like glamorous fashion shows and golf tournaments. During World War II, the hotel was transformed into military hospital, which closed in 1968. High school students who frequented the abandoned building reported seeing ghosts, and being tapped on the shoulder by men in Army uniforms.

There were other stories of babies crying, unexplained noises, and more recent tales of people vanishing in what is again operating as a hotel.

Tampa Theatre 711 Franklin St., Tampa tampatheatre.org • 813-274-8981 The theater opened in 1926 as one of the country’s most lavish movie palaces. A man named Foster Fink Finley is thought to be haunting this theater. He was the projectionist who worked and practically lived at the Tampa Theatre from 1930 to 1965. He died of a heart attack in the projection booth during a showing. You can learn about the theater’s other hauntings on the ghost tour.

Pawley’s Island is in recovery. But if you’re in a spirit-hunting mood right now, Ghost City Tours has family friendly (and not quite family friendly) options in some of the South’s most notorious ghost haunts: Charleston, Savannah, St. Augustine, and New Orleans. ghostcitytours.com Travel Editor KAREN T. BARTLETT is also Ghosthunter-andAdventurer-in-Chief of Mostly Kids’ Guides, “The Most Awesome Family Guidebooks on the Planet.” neafamily.com

35

CELEBRATE THE SEASON

By Christina Katz

Pumpkin Decorating Made Easy

M

aybe you grew up carving jack-o’-lanterns and you want your kids to follow in your footsteps. Who could blame you? Carving pumpkins is a gooey-messy-blast for the whole family. For many of us, it’s a time-honored tradition.

But exploring other options isn’t about turning pumpkin-carving into a Pinterest-perfect art form – it’s about having fun decorating in a variety of ways. Why not try mixing things up this year?

Select pumpkin color and size according to taste and embellish away! You’ll be amazed at how many looks a simple pumpkin can pull off. For best results, choose a pumpkin with a smooth, unblemished surface. Wash your pumpkin gently with mild soap and water and allow it to dry overnight before you begin decorating. Most of these

looks work best for medium-sized to smallish pumpkins.

1. Polk-a-dots Galore. Give very young children a pumpkin and a pile of sticky felt circles. Show them how to adhere them to their pumpkin, and they will be happily entertained for quite some time. Polk-a-dots are the simplest approach for the youngest in your clan, but you can also create a more traditional look using black felt shapes on an orange pumpkin.

2. The Glittering Globe. Coat pumpkin in a layer of Mod Podge or white glue, then sprinkle the entire pumpkin with glitter.

Or mix a few glitters in advance for a multi-color look. If you want to do a variety of colors, coat only a portion of the pumpkin, then sprinkle glitter over just that portion. Catch extra glitter on newspaper

Riding Lessons Register Today!

(239) 948-7669

www.ProvidenceEquestrianCenter.com 36

neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

and pour it back into container. Let sections dry between applications of new colors for best results.

3. The Painted Lady. If you want your painted pumpkin to last, coat it with a layer of varnish or sealer first in a well-ventilated area. Flip pumpkin over onto a bowl or jar while you paint the bottoms first. When dry, flip it over to paint the rest. Apply a couple of coats of acrylic paint. Chalkboard paint works well on pumpkins.

Apply another coat of varnish to painted pumpkins for longest-lasting results. Leave chalkboard painted pumpkins unvarnished.

4. The Glitter-paint Combo. If you want to mix things up a bit, follow instructions for painting your pumpkin. Then, when completely dry, apply glitter to the pumpkin stem only. Or use blue painter’s tape to create designs on pumpkin. Then apply glue and glitter for added sparkle.

5. All Wrapped Up. Turn your pumpkin into a spider web by wrapping it randomly all over with thick white twine. Then hot glue a large black spider onto the web to finish the look. For a mummified look, cut cheesecloth into long, wide strips. Fold strips to double thickness and spray with fabric stiffener. When dry, wrap strips around pumpkin, leaving top and bottom clean. Secure strips with hot glue. Hot glue googly eyes and wrap with a few more strips so eyes are peeking out. Cut away a thin mouth and dab inside with black paint. When dry, coat fabric with glow-in-the-dark craft paint.

6. The Doodle Work-of-art. Teens and up who enjoy drawing will relish the opportunity to create temporary works of art on pumpkins using Sharpie markers. Supply them with a rainbow of colors or an array of black markers in various thicknesses. Sharpie art using black and colored markers works especially well on white pumpkins. And black markers of various thicknesses look great on orange pumpkins. Varnish afterward for a longer-lasting work of art.

7. The Drippy Look. Spread out newspaper or brown bags to catch any excess. Unwrap crayons in assorted colors. You can either do a spectrum of colors or mix things up. Consider autumn colors on an orange pumpkin or ghoulish colors on a white pumpkin. Glue down crayons (just the top half) with points facing out and tipped slightly down around the pumpkin stem with a thick white nonflammable glue. Let dry. Set hair dryer to high and work your way around the crayons one at a time until they are melted to your satisfaction.

8. The Collaged Gourd. Mod Podge works well for applying paper or fabric to pumpkins. Paint the stems ahead of collaging, if you want a more polished look. Then choose tissue paper, old book pages, hand-made paper, printed paper napkins, or fabric quilting scraps for best results. Cut material into squares or strips. When using strips, cut the ends into points so they will smooth easily. Apply a layer of Mod Podge under and over material. Smooth materials with fingers as you go. Add embellishments like ribbon on dried pumpkin as you wish.

9. Bling-kin. Paint pumpkin with two coats of paint. Then, starting at the stem, work your way down the sides of the pumpkin with gem stickers. Create an evenly spaced over-all pattern or a dripping-with-gems look. Combine gems with an adhesive letter sticker, if you like, for a monogrammed look. Leave gems off the bottom so pumpkin stands flat.

10. Stamp-a-pumpkin. If you wish to change the color of your pumpkin, paint the pumpkin first, as described above. You can also paint the stem, if you like. To achieve a stamped look on your pumpkin, don’t try to stamp directly on the surface. Instead, take white

tissue paper and stamp it using archival quality ink with the image or images of your choice. Allow ink to dry thoroughly and then Mod Podge your tissue carefully to the pumpkin. Add additional collage elements to the top and bottom of the pumpkin to frame your stamp, if you like. Try using matching tissue paper or paper napkins around the top or bottom of pumpkin for a complimentary look.

CHRISTINA KATZ enjoys the results of carving pumpkins but the messy process not-so-much. This year, she is looking forward to turning her front porch into a gallery of pumpkin art with the help of the whole family.

EVERY WEEK IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere

.

TM

Find tools to keep your

family safe from home fires at firepreventionweek.org

Discover fun activities and free

apps for kids at sparky.org

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK™

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com FPW 2018 PMA Ad_1/4 page.indd 1

37

9/7/18 4:00 PM

CELEBRATE THE SEASON

By Anna Futrell

Find that Fabulous Fall Feeling in Florida I

t’s no secret – we live in a subtropical, hotter-than-hot, wet, and sticky climate. We live in one of those places where your makeup sweats off your face during the walk from the front door to the car. Our local weather didn’t get that memo about responding appropriately to the arrival of all things culturally fall – knee high boots, wool sweaters, and pumpkin spice everything. But, we know this; we understand this. And yet those of us who grew up north of Orlando express sadness, dissatisfaction, and disappointment over the failure of our weather patterns to accurately respond to our emotional need for a certain type of autumn.

I’m from the Midwest. For us, fall lasted about 4-6 weeks. It’s beautiful, but

horrifically fleeting. Fall preceded 4-5 months of blindingly cold winds, unpredictable snow fall, and increasingly dark and dreary days. So, I choose to embrace the heat and thank the Lord that I don’t live in a place where I have to dress my daughter in a snowsuit to play at the park in the 30 minutes after naptime but before it gets dark.

And yet, my heart skips a beat with homesickness when I catch certain sights or smells. Bright orange maple leaves, cool winds, and warm drinks take me back to college football days, the start of school, and the end of summer freedoms. I’m nostalgic for something I never want to experience again, and I’m not sure how to explain my emotional response. I know others who

feel that concurrent contentment and longing. So, how do we capture that feeling of autumn as the temperature seems to rest forever at 92 degrees in Naples? Here are a few ideas for you: • Fall scents. Bring the scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, apple, and pumpkin into your home. From essential oil diffusers (with myriad fall-themed recipes online) to candles to those cinnamon brooms at Publix to continuous baking, we can bring fall to our homes even without the seemingly requisite lower temperatures.

• Fall activities. Check out Neapolitan Family’s extensive guide to local fall festivals and activities starting on page 40. Maybe your kids won’t remember a distinctly seasonal autumn the same way you do, but

www.CHTLegal.com 3003 Tamiami Trail N. Suite 402 Naples, FL

38

neafamily.com

239·298-5200

Reuben Doupé Dale Klaus Sarah Martin

Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

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

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

they can still experience harvest festivals and corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Get out there and make the fall fun happen.

• Fall crafts. Please don’t carve pumpkins and set them on your front stoop.

You will grow mold almost immediately.

However, there are other possibilities for fall-themed crafts that invoke an autumnal sensibility. Things like painted pumpkins, leaf impressions, and apple seed stamps are easy ways to bring fall into your home.

• Fall recipes. Crank the A/C, don a [cotton] sweater, and put on your favorite apron. Cook yourself into a frenzy by baking apple pie, pumpkin bread, roasted root vegetables, and all the fall fixings. Now is a great time to break out your favorite chili and stew recipes – or try the recipes we’ve provided here.

remain butter pieces among the two squash cavities. Place the halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. Roast 45-60 minutes, or until fork tender.

Roasted Acorn Squash

Pumpkin Pancakes

Take advantage of the seasonal produce available during these fall months. Delicious – and nutritious – squash abounds!

This recipe from Chowhound.com will have your family feeling all the fall feels while simultaneously eating healthfully.

1 medium acorn squash (double or triple the recipe for yummy leftovers) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and softened Salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoons packed brown sugar Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Cut a small slice off the rounded side of each half so they can sit upright without wobbling. Coat the flesh of each half with one piece of butter, then season generously with salt and pepper. Divide the sugar and

Mulled Cider

(recipe by Bobby Flay from FoodNetwork. com) 2 quarts apple cider 2 cinnamon sticks 2 whole allspice berries 2 whole cloves 1 orange, thinly sliced

each pancake. When the surface of the pancake begins to form bubbles, flip the pancake carefully and cook the other side until golden brown. Transfer pancakes to a serving dish. In a separate bowl, whisk together applesauce and pumpkin pie spice.

Serve pancakes with maple syrup or dipping sauce – or both.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup

(Recipe adapted from homemade pumpkin spice lattes available at Food & Thought)

Bring all ingredients to a simmer over medium low heat. Serve in mugs. Warning: if you make this recipe, you’re going to want to put on your brown wool sweater along with your cutest knee high boots. (recipe from Playgroundparkbench.com by Liz Robert) These pancakes are ridiculously simple, as almost all great recipes are! Plus, they’re gluten free and sugar free, so you can feed them to your children in mass quantity without feeling the least bit of guilt. So many wins all the way around!

1 cup pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) 2 eggs 4 tablespoons almond flour or almond meal Butter for the skillet For dipping sauce: ½-1 cup applesauce 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and pumpkin. Add the almond flour and mix until incorporated. Heat butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Pour small amounts of batter onto the hot skillet for

Everyone understands the cultural and seasonal significance of pumpkin spice lattes, made popular by Starbucks. But did you know that Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes don’t contain any actual pumpkin?

Well, guess what? You can make your own pumpkin spice syrup to add to your coffee at home.

2-3 cups water 1 cup sugar 1 can pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon cloves ½ teaspoon allspice (or substitute 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice for all the above ground spices) Place a large pot on the stove top and add sugar and water. Heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves in the water. Add in the pumpkin, and whisk until it is mostly blended. Add the spices and continue to whisk. After the mixture begins to boil, turn the heat down to low. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the mixture from heat. Let cool, and store in glass jars in the refrigerator. Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of syrup to your daily coffee.

FREE

CONSULTATION & X-RAY • Board Certified Orthodontist • Affordable payment plans • Braces & Invisalign® • Most insurances accepted *Offer valid for comprehensive treatment only. Cannot be combined with all insurances.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

2017

239-260-2100 | CAMPBELLBRACES.COM 2367 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Suite 803, Naples, FL 34109

neafamily.com

39

Fall Festivals, Pumpkin Patches, Haunted Houses, & Halloween Events

Pumpkin Patches FARMER MIKE’S U PICK 26031 MORTON AVE., BONITA SPRINGS 239-498-4576 • FARMERMIKESUPICK.COM For the first time, we are offering a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Also for sale are fresh gourds, fall hard squash, and fall decorations. Through Oct. 31.

NORTH NAPLES CHURCH 6000 GOODLETTE-FRANK RD., NAPLES 239-593-7600 • NORTHNAPLESCHURCH.ORG Oct. 12-31. Pumpkins of all sizes, corn stalks, and gourds for sale, with prices ranging from $1 to $20. Weekdays, 3-7 p.m.; weekends, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

ST. MONICA’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 7070 IMMOKALEE RD., NAPLES 239-591-4550 • STMONICASNAPLES.ORG Pumpkin patch runs Oct. 16-31 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

Fall Festivals ALVA PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL AT 31 PRODUCE 18672 STATE ROAD 31, ALVA 239-313-8213 • WWW.31PRODUCE.COM Vendors, food trucks, pumpkin patch, hay rides, petting zoo, face painting, balloon twisting, and more. Oct. 13, 14, 30, 21, 27, 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CAPE CORAL OKTOBERFEST GERMAN AMERICAN SOCIAL CLUB 2101 SW PINE ISLAND RD., CAPE CORAL 239-283-1400 • CAPECORALOKTOBERFEST.COM Enjoy German food, beer, live music, dancing, and more. Carnival area for kids with rides and games. Oct. 19-21 and 26-28.

CRAFT, VENDOR, AND ART FESTIVAL & HALLOWEEN PARADE ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK 9200 CORKSCREW PALMS BLVD., ESTERO LLSN@COMCAST.NET • LOCALLADIESSOUTHFLORIDA.COM Live music, food trucks, crafts, local artists, face painting, and a Halloween costume parade for ages 12 and under. Sunday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

40

neafamily.com

DING DARLING DAYS 1 WILDLIFE DR., SANIBEL ISLAND 239-472-1100 • DINGDARLINGDAYS.COM A weekend of eco-activities with all-free refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, hot dogs, kids crafts, and other family activities. Birding, boating, tram, paddleboarding, and kayaking activities fill the weekend. Oct. 12-14.

FALL FESTIVAL AND CORN MAZE AT FARMER MIKE’S U PICK 26031 MORTON AVE., BONITA SPRINGS 239-498-4576 • FARMERMIKESUPICK.COM Pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Both haunted and unhaunted corn mazes are bigger and better than before. Free parking and admission. Prices vary for corn mazes, and include a hay ride. Now through Oct. 31.

FALL FESTIVAL AT THE FARM 8500 PENZANCE BLVD., FORT MYERS 239-768-0309 • SOUTHERNFRESH.FARM Every Saturday and Sunday in October, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (times subject to change), there will be hayrides, a petting zoo with the original farm animals, vendors, photo opportunities, music, and a pumpkin patch. Free admission and parking.

FALL FESTIVAL & TRUNK OR TREAT AT PRECIOUS CARGO NAPLES UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 5200 CRAYTON RD., NAPLES 239-261-7442 • PRECIOUSCARGOACADEMY.ORG Games, pizza, bounce house, photo station, apple cider, trunk or treating, and more. Friday, Oct. 26 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY CENTER FALL FESTIVAL 4701 GOLDEN GATE PKWY., NAPLES 239-252-4180 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Full-scale carnival. Discount tickets available at local stores in Golden Gate City area or at the gate. Nov. 1-4.

GREATER NAPLES YMCA FALL FESTIVAL 5450 YMCA RD., NAPLES 239-963-3771 • GREATERNAPLESYMCA.ORG Features a family haunted house, carnival games, bounce house, trick or treating, food, and a costume contest. Saturday, Oct. 20 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL AT KORESHAN STATE PARK 3800 CORKSCREW RD., ESTERO 239-992-0311 • FLORIDASTATEPARKS.ORG Hayrides, games, parade, trunk or treat, live music, and costume contest.

Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4-7 p.m.

IMMOKALEE FIRST SEMINOLE BAPTIST CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL 800 CHURCH LN., IMMOKALEE 239-370-0230 • SEMINOLEBAPTIST.CHURCH Free food, games, and fellowship on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.

LAKES PARK FALL FESTIVAL & HALLOWEEN EXPRESS TRAIN 7330 GLADIOLUS DR., FORT MYERS 239-533-7575 • LEEGOV.COM Festival runs Oct. 12-28, while the Halloween Express train operates Oct. 12-30. Tons of pumpkins, inflatables, hayrides, scarecrow contest displays, Creepy Carriage rentals (daytime only), and more. Free admission. There is a charge for some activities.

PIONEER PUMPKIN PALOOZA AT ROBERTS RANCH 1215 ROBERTS AVE., IMMOKALEE 239-252-2611 • COLLIERMUSEUMS.COM Wind your way through the hay maze to the pumpkin patch. Enjoy fun pioneer-themed activities for all ages, including a scavenger hunt, face painting, hayrides, games, arts & crafts, and more. Free. Saturday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PRIDE FEST AT ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS 10091 MCGREGOR BLVD., FORT MYERS 239-939-2787 • PRIDESWFL.ORG SWFL Pride is a family friendly event, featuring vendors, games and activities, shopping, and food and drinks. No coolers. For insurance reasons, we ask you to please leave your animals at home. Saturday, Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A $5 donation is requested for admission.

STONE CRAB FESTIVAL VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NAPLES STONECRABFESTIVAL.ORG Enjoy delicious seafood and live entertainment Oct. 26-28 at various locations. Free admission. Food and beverages for sale. Kick-off party is held at Pinchers on Oct. 26.

TACO FEST RIVERSIDE PARK, 10451 OLD 41 RD., BONITA SPRINGS 239-214-6009 • 93XFM.COM/TACOFEST 20+ food and beverage vendors. Each food vendor will have at least one taco for $2. Live music. Features an all-you-can-play kids’ area featuring inflatables, crafts, and games. Liquor proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County. Sunday, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Haunted Houses & Halloween Events BOO AT THE ZOO AT THE NAPLES ZOO 1590 GOODLETTE-FRANK RD., NAPLES 239-262-5409 • NAPLESZOO.COM Activities include trick or treating, education stations, games, and a costume contest with prizes each day. Everyone can enjoy watching rare animals going wild “carving” pumpkins and other treats with tooth, horn, and claw. All the fun is included in regular admission. Every child ages 12 and under in costume will receive free admission. Only adults accompanied by children are permitted in costume. Oct. 19-21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

41

A lifelong joy of learning, An education for life.

INFANT * TODDLER CHILDREN’S HOUSE * VPK ELEMENTARY

Come see us in our new home at

2655 Northbrooke Drive Wednesday, October 10, 2018 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 2655 Northbrooke Drive, Naples, Florida 34119 License #C20CO0132

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

BOO BASH AT WATERSIDE SHOPS 5415 TAMIAMI TR. N., NAPLES 239-598-1605 • WATERSIDESHOPS.COM & CMON.ORG It’s a scary good time with trick or treating, fantasy characters, jugglers, stilt walkers, live music, party favors, and many more surprises. Be there … if you dare! $15 per child (children under 1 year are free), and donation benefits C’mon. Space is limited and reservations are required. Purchase tickets at cmon.org/events. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9-10:30 a.m.

CANDY HAUNTED HOUSE CREATIONS AT VINEYARDS COMMUNITY PARK 6231 ARBOR RD., NAPLES 239-363-9669 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Children will use an assortment of candy, frosting, and cookies to design their own haunted candy house. Everything is included to make a yummy work of art. $12. Ages 4-11. Friday, Oct. 19 from 5-6 p.m.

CORKSCREW SWAMPTOBER FEST 375 SANCTUARY RD. W., NAPLES 239-348-9151 • CORKSCREW.AUDUBON.ORG Fun for the entire family. Wear your costume! Experience the boardwalk in the evening light. Learn about live baby alligators, snakes, and tarantulas.

There will also be crafts, face painting, and sweet treats. Friday, Oct. 12 from 5:30-9 p.m.

FALL COMMUNITY DAY AND HALLOWEEN CONCERT AT ARTIS-NAPLES 5833 PELICAN BAY BLVD., NAPLES 239-597-1900 • ARTIS-NAPLES.ORG Come explore the Artis-Naples campus with art and activities for all ages.

Free activities include live music, hands-on art experiences and access to the galleries. Saturday, Nov. 3, from 12-4 p.m. Halloween concert at 4 p.m.

FAMILY HALLOWEEN EVENT AT GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY CENTER 4701 GOLDEN GATE PKWY., NAPLES 239-252-4180 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Come dressed in your best costume and don’t forget a trick or treat bag to collect goodies. All ages. Friday, Oct. 19 from 6-8 p.m.

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

onceuponachildnaples.com 42

neafamily.com

FAMILY HALLOWEEN PARTY NORTH COLLIER REGIONAL PARK 15000 LIVINGSTON RD., NAPLES 239-252-4060 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Enjoy trick or treating in a safe environment. Music, face painting, bounce houses, food, a costume contest, and tons of spooky fun. Friday, Oct. 26 from 5-8 p.m.

FORT MYERS NIGHTMARE ON THIRD STREET 13431 3RD ST., FORT MYERS SHORES ANIGHTMAREONTHIRDSTREET.COM Free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Not recommended for children or sensitive people. The haunted walk contains startling nightmare scares, blood, gore, and intense themes. There is a front yard cemetery display with animated props along with a 900 sq. ft. haunted house. Saturday, Oct. 27 and Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 7-11 p.m.

HAUNTED WALK AT CALUSA NATURE CENTER & PLANETARIUM 3450 ORTIZ AVE., FORT MYERS 239-275-3435 • CALUSANATURE.ORG Haunted Walk is open nightly Oct. 18-31 from 7:30-10 p.m. on weeknights and 7:30-11 p.m. on weekends. Expect the fright of your life as you try to make your way through the swampy woods, taken over by strange, mutant half-humanhalf-animals and even eerier creatures prowling the grounds. For visitors 16+.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

HALLOWEEN 5K AT GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY PARK 3300 SANTA BARBARA BLVD., NAPLES 239-252-6128 • COLLIERPARKS.COM First 50 participants to sign up will receive an event t-shirt. Participants are encouraged to dress up in costumes, for a chance to win best dressed prizes.

Ages 13+. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 8-10 a.m.

HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN AND TRUNK OR TREAT AT IMMOKALEE COMMUNITY PARK 321 N. FIRST ST., IMMOKALEE 239-252-4449 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Have the joys of trick or treating all in one spot. Music, face painting, bounce houses, food, costume contest, and tons of spooky fun. $5 per family.

Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.

HALLOWEEN HOWL EAST NAPLES COMMUNITY PARK 3500 THOMASSON DR., NAPLES 239-252-4414 • COLLIERPARKS.COM An evening of tricks and treats. Admission price includes costume contest for all ages, games, bounce houses, and prizes. Saturday, Oct. 20 from 5-8 p.m. $10 per family.

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR ON FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH BUSINESS DISTRICT, NAPLES 239-692-8436 • FIFTHAVENUESOUTH.COM Costume contests, live music, games, street dances, spooky movies, and trick or treating. Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR MARCO ISLAND MACKLE PARK, 1361 ANDALUSIA TERRACE, MARCO ISLAND 239-642-0575 • CITYOFMARCOISLAND.COM

Games, Halloween music, arts & crafts, food for purchase, balloon artist, inflatables, petting zoo, and a haunted maze. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4-6 p.m.

HALLOWEEN SYMPHONY SPOOKTACULAR BARBARA B. MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL 13350 FSW PKWY., FORT MYERS 239-481-4849 • GULFCOASTSYMPHONY.ORG Join us on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. for a “not-so-spooky” Halloween concert. Come dressed for a costume contest, and try out the instruments of the orchestra (yes, parents can try them, too.) in a Musical Discovery Zone. At 2 p.m., we will move into the theater for a concert of familyfriendly music.

HAUNTED GROSS HOUSE AT THE COLLIER COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 751 39TH AVE. NE, NAPLES 239-455-1444 • COLLIERCOUNTYFAIR.COM The Naples Haunted Gross House is back for the last three weekends in October. Admission is $15 per person for one walk through the Haunted “Gross” House. Not recommended for young children or sensitive people.

Enjoy haunted hay rides, cake walk, children’s games, and food vendors. Proceeds benefit the Making Life “Fair” Fund. Starts Friday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 27, Trunk or Treat is from 7:30-8:30 p.m., and the costume contest is at 8 p.m.

HAUNTED HIKE AT MIKE GREENWELL’S BAT-A-BALL 35 NE PINE ISLAND RD., CAPE CORAL 239-574-4386 • GREENWELLSFAMILYFUNPARK.COM All ages are allowed, but parental permission is strongly suggested for children 13 and under. The haunted hike is intended to be scary and may not be suitable for all ages. General admission, $15. Selected dates in October.

TROOPS ARE FORMING NOW!

Learn more at GIRL SCOUTS OF GULFCOAST FLORIDA - 941-921-5358 / 800-232-4475 NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

www.gsgcf.org neafamily.com

43

HAUNTED HOUSE: LEGENDS OF OBLIVION LEE COUNTY CIVIC CENTER 11831 BAYSHORE RD., NORTH FORT MYERS 310-486-9139 • LEGENDSOFOBLIVION.COM A mixture of over-the-top special effects, intense makeup, elaborate costuming, actors, unique original monsters, and unusual themes. Also features an escape room and family pumpkin patch. Oct. 19-21 & 26-31, 7-11 p.m.

HOOTS AND HISSES AT THE CONSERVANCY 1495 SMITH PRESERVE WAY, NAPLES 239-262-0304 • CONSERVANCY.ORG A family fun event featuring Creepy Creature Show, Halloween Little Explorers Programs, Gordon B. Eagle Dance Party, face painting, Halloween games, activities, and crafts. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free for members.

MALL-O-WEEN AT MIROMAR OUTLETS 10801 CORKSCREW RD., ESTERO 239-948-3766 • MIROMAROUTLETS.COM Music, karaoke, trick or treating, and contests. Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.

MERCATO TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN EXTRAVAGANZA 9132 STRADA PL., NAPLES 239-594-9400 • MERCATOSHOPS.COM Collect candy from participating merchants. Enjoy a pumpkin patch photo area, music, stilt walker, face painters, and costume contest. Oct. 30 from 6-8 p.m.

MONSTER MASH VENETIAN VILLAGE 4200 GULF SHORE BLVD. N., NAPLES 239-261-6100 • VENETIANVILLAGE.COM Wear your spookiest attire and enjoy arts & crafts. Trick or treat at participating retailers. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 2-5 p.m.

44

neafamily.com

PUMPKINS AND PIZZA NON-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY AT VETERANS PARK 1895 VETERANS PARK DR., NAPLES 239-252-4682 • COLLIERPARKS.COM A non-scary Halloween event for all ages. Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

TRICK OR TREAT AT EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK 11565 TAMIAMI TR. E., NAPLES 239-252-3527 • COLLIERPARKS.COM $3 per child. Dress in your best Halloween costume and don’t forget the trick or treating bags. Friday, Oct. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

TRUNK OR TREAT AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 3000 ORANGE BLOSSOM DR., NAPLES 239-597-6057 • FBCN.ORG A fun, candy-filled night for families with children of all ages. Free. Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the First Baptist Church east parking lot.

TRUNK OR TREAT AT MAX HASSE PARK 3390 GOLDEN GATE BLVD. W., NAPLES 239-252-4200 • COLLIERPARKS.COM Trick or treating, music, face painting, bounce houses, food, and a costume contest. $5 per family. Friday, Oct. 26 from 6-8:30 p.m.

TRICK OR TREAT WITH PONIES AT CORNERSTONE FARM SOUTH 3375 VANDERBILT BEACH RD., NAPLES 239-595-7618 • CORNERSTONEFARMSOUTH.COM Farm will be open to the public to walk through the stables and trick or treat from stall to stall. Horses will be dressed up for the occasion. Hay rides on the half hour. Parking is limited. Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

TENNIS

By Spike Gonzales

Getting Started with Tennis

E

ight-year-old Lisa was very excited! Her father just bought her a new tennis racquet and a can of tennis balls. Her mother takes her to the Vineyards Park tennis courts to get started in something that looks like a lot of fun. Her mother played tennis in high school and certainly can launch Lisa into her upcoming tennis “career.”

After Mom hits several errant shots over to Lisa’s side of the court, Lisa happily chases down the balls and attempts to hit the balls back. She whiffs a couple of times, but on her third try she connects with a shot that goes well over Mom’s head.

In their first five minutes on the court, Mom and Lisa have retrieved the tennis balls about a dozen times and the idea of tennis-for-fun is starting to disintegrate.

Mom decides to toss some balls slowly. Lisa misses the first several tosses completely. “Watch the ball,” says Mom. “I am watching the ball!” exclaims Lisa with some apparent frustration that leads Mom to think otherwise. Lisa’s raquet occasionally makes contact with the ball, but it flies wildly to the back or side fences.

Mom says with a slightly higher tone of voice, “Watch the ball.

Swing easier.” Lisa responds with “My arm is getting tired.” Mom doesn’t show much sympathy. After all it’s the same racquet used

by Serena Williams, and it’s certainly lighter than Mom’s racquet,

which she last used in high school.

Within their first 15 minutes on the court, Lisa has complained repeatedly, “It’s too hot out here! I’m thirsty!” Five minutes later Lisa starts to cry and sits down on the court. “This is no fun,” she laments and stops any effort whatsoever. Mom shows her exasperation, gives up on the lesson, and they head back to the car.

True story? Yes … and I’ve seen it numerous times.

What a shame that a child’s first experience on the tennis court is such a disappointing one. Probably for the rest of her life Lisa will say she tried tennis, but didn’t like it. Lisa will miss out on what may be an activity she could enjoy for a lifetime.

Here is what Lisa needs to get to a level of enjoyment of tennis: • An experienced instructor who knows how to get a child to make controlled contact of the racquet with the ball.

• Scores of tennis balls so that many unsuccessful efforts go unnoticed, and retrieving errant balls is a minor task.

• An appropriately sized tennis racquet. Children’s racquets come in 19, 21, 23, and 25 inch lengths, corresponding to the child’s size between the ages of 4 to 12.

• Lots of other children. The attraction of many other sports such as baseball, football, and soccer is that there are many other children participating. A child on the tennis court with lots of other kids is more inclined to like tennis and continue with the sport.

• A fun playing format. The tennis we see on television is an inappropriate game to present to kids. It is too complicated, and the skills are far too sophisticated for a beginning child to attain.

Ironically, parents often shy away from “RallyTennis” and other 10-and-under formats, thinking their child is going to learn the “real game.”

Tennis is the ideal sport for kids. It is full body physical training, which also helps build the foundation for many other sports and activities. The proper training and programming will lead your child to a game that provides fun, fitness, and character development.

Spike Gonzales has run the Collier County Parks & Recreation tennis programs since 2000. Call 239-248-0894 for additional information.

The Gentle Veterinarians

Laser Pain & Surgery Center Dentistry Boarding Dr. Carin Corbo Dr. Ben Palmer NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

239-513-0213

www.AMHofNaples.com

11980 Tamiami Trail N., Naples neafamily.com

45

Bounce Houses, Waterslides & Combos 239-784-2653 Online booking • Licensed & Insured

www.SunshineBounceHouses.com CHILD CARE SERVICES

Masters Degree CPR, First Aid Certified Clean driving and FBI record Day/Evening/Overnight

(239) 641-1982

Home Organizing Office Organizing Moving Prep Serving Naples, Ave Maria, and surrounding areas.

239-631-3041

Ms. Lorel

www.neat-casa.com

(DVWHUVHDOV $FDGHP\ SUHSDUHV \RXQJ SHRSOH DJHV ZLWK GHYHORSPHQWDO GLVDELOLWLHV WR VXFFHVVIXOO\ WUDQVLWLRQ WR SRVW VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ ZRUN DQG RU D OLYLQJ VLWXDWLRQ WKDW PD[LPL]HV WKHLU LQGHSHQGHQFH IRU WKH QH[W VWDJH LQ WKHLU OLIH $IWHU WKH DJH RI (DVWHUVHDOV /LIH 6NLOOV (PSOR\PHQW 5HDGLQHVV $GYRFDF\ DQG 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ /($3 SURJUDP RIIHUV D VHDPOHVV SURJUDP IRU VWXGHQWV DV WKH\ WUDQVLWLRQ IURP VFKRRO WR ZRUN

‡ (DVWHUVHDOV $FDGHP\ DFFHSWV ERWK 0F.D\ DQG *DUGLQHU VFKRODUVKLSV

‡ (DVWHUVHDOV /($3 LV DQ DSSURYHG SURYLGHU RI $GXOW 'D\ 7UDLQLQJ $'7 WKURXJK L%XGJHW $JHQF\ IRU 3HUVRQV ZLWK 'LVDELOLWLHV $3'

)RU LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG WR HQUROO QRZ FDOO RU YLVLW HDVWHUVHDOV FRP IORULGD

is happy to introduce a complete

Children’s Birthday

Package!!!

RED CROSS SWIM LESSONS

Group/Private Your Pool or Mine Infant - Adult Over 30 yrs Experience Reasonable Rates Certified & Insured

239-465-8602

We will furnish:

18 Holes of Golf Plates, forks, napkins & candles Tables & Chairs Drinks: Coke, Sprite, etc.

Naples Princess Parties Character-themed* parties or one-on-one visits.

(239) 682-6513

Naples only Mother/Daughter team!

NaplesPrincessParties.com

www.essentialswimlessons.com

*Not affiliated with Walt Disney Co.

46

neafamily.com

Only $10.00 per person Bi (the Birthday Child is Free and gets 1 year of free golf) These figures are based upon a minimum of 10 people. We will require 10 days notice.

Thank you!

2205 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112

(239) 793-4999 www.coralcaygolf.com NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

! oo B KID FR S EE !!

October 19-21 10 am to 3 pm

Sin g!

All Children in costume receive FREE admission!

Kids ages 12 and under. Not valid w/ other offers or online tickets. Only Valid 10/19/18 to 10/21/18.

w o H

l!

! s s

H

i

A wild place to trick-or-treat with your family!

239.262.5409 I www.napleszoo.org I facebook.com/napleszoo

NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

neafamily.com

47

The Conse turtley a rvancy is wesome!

Conservancy of Southwest Florida proudly introduces NIN, our ambassador loggerhead sea turtle. Meet NIN and get connected to conservation. While here, explore hands-on interactive experiences in the Dalton Discover Center, on our famous electric boat tours and in our Little Explorer Play Zone.

48

neafamily.com

Join US FOR

Hoots & Hisses SAturday, OCTOBER 27 NEAPOLITANfamily • October 2018

1495 Smith Preserve Way x Naples, Florida 34102 x 239.262.0304 x www.conservancy.org