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AUGUST 2019
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TO REGISTER, please visit our website or call 239.415.8945 www.canterburyfortmyers.org
contents »
swfl
parent&child
31
Features
23
In Every Issue
29 mending minds Naples teen starts a nonprofit to help peers get mental health care
17 ask the expert: teen
31 everglades city There’s much to see in this small town on the edge of the Everglades
PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
.COM
Marching bands are big and getting bigger in Southwest Florida
41 safety corner
21 in the kitchen
What’s the best car seat for your child?
How to keep picnics and barbecues safe in the dog days of summer
Jordan Clime, 7, of Cape Coral, poses at the Lee County Public Schools bus depot in south Fort Myers.
ENTCHILD
27 teens
Bullying prevention starts early — with our preschoolers
On the Cover
S W F L PA R
What do you do when your child’s birthday is close to the kindergarten cutoff
19 ask the expert: preschool
35 safe to school See what’s changed since last year’s bus stop tragedies and learn how to keep your child safe
25 kid stuff
What families get wrong on the path to college and how to get it right
49 travel Adventure awaits in West Volusia
23 dining out These might be the six best hot dogs in Lee County
57 voices Blessings Pantries help teachers meet kids’ basic needs
AUGUST 2 019
Other Departments 7 8 9 11 13
editor’s note our contributors online me time 5 things
14 42 52 53 58
fyi family album around town calendar last look
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 5
6 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
editor's note »
parent &child
swfl
S W F L PA R E N T C H I L D. C O M
Volume 20, Issue 8 Dedicated to serving the families of Lee and Collier counties 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 swflparentchild.com President & Publisher William R. Barker General Manager Kathryn Robinson Kinsey kathryn@swflparentchild.com Editor Pamela Smith Hayford (239) 335-0448 pamela@swflparentchild.com Art Director Lindi Daywalt-Feazel
Editorial Contributors Tom Arsenault, Chris Hansen, Randy Kambic, Jaimie Layne, Jean Le Boeuf, Leigha Messmer, Amanda Sterk, Andrea Stetson, Jennifer Thomas, Janine Zeitlin Photographer Amanda Inscore Vice President/Advertising Sales Nancy M. Solliday Specialty Publications Team Coordinator Dennis Wright dennis@swflparentchild.com Advertising Account Executive Nicole Holey (239) 281-6455 nholey@fortmyer.gannett.com
Distribution (239) 335-0211 Southwest Florida Parent & Child is a FREE publication distributed at more than 500 locations throughout Southwest Florida by The News-Press Media Group. All rights reserved. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information published but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Any opinions expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily opinions of the magazine or publisher.
First day of school Sending your child off to their first day of school can be exciting, but it’s also a bit nerve-racking. Do they have all their supplies? How will they find their way through the school? Will they be safe? Our children’s safety at the bus stop got a lot of attention after two children died on their way to school in January and March, both hit by vehicles. It’s something I’ve worried about with my own children, even as teenagers, walking to the bus stop before dawn. Will they take the precautions I’ve taught them? Will the drivers pay attention? Over summer, administrators and parents worked on these issues. See what changes they’ve brought, what is still in the works, and get tips for keeping your own children safe, starting on page 35. Safety is only one of numerous back-to-school issues on a parent’s mind. Chris Hansen, CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, writes about building up a child’s social skills — the art of making friends — even before they start school to preventing bullying (page 19). Writer Andrea Stetson takes a look at a dilemma faced by parents of children who are born near the kindergarten cutoff date (page 25). And Amanda Sterk, author of “College UnMazed,” writes about the five things many parents get wrong in preparing their child for college (page 17). But school isn’t the only thing going on. There’s a lot of fun to be had, too, like the family-friendly events found in our calendar pages. And Everglades City: It rarely makes the headlines, but there’s a lot to do for families in this small town that acts as the gateway to the Everglades. It sustained damage in Hurricane Irma, but it’s coming back, and it’s ready for visitors. Have fun, learn a lot and be safe. PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ
Part of the USA TODAY Network
Member of
Pamela Smith Hayford, Editor Contact us: We enjoy hearing from you. Send your photos, letters or comments to: pamela@swflparentchild.com. Or visit us online:
swflparentchild.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 7
» our contributors
Miguel Argumosa, DMD • Erin Taylor, DMD Nicole Eastham, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists
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BACKtoSCHOOL BASH August 16 • 4 - 10 p.m. $15 wristbands all day! Ring in the new school year the right way with unlimited go-karts, mini golf and rides! Enjoy music from B103.9 on site and take your chances with hourly prize drawings.
LABOR DAY September 2 $10 off a wristband! Do Labor Day your way! Bring the whole family and get tons of fun for less. Enjoy unlimited attractions all day, including go-karts!
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Back to School Bash promo valid only on August 16, 2019. Labor Day promo valid only on September 2, 2019. Cannot be used for a Chaperone Pass or combined with any other offers. Additional restrictions may apply. See website for height requirements for rides.
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8 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
Meet the contributors to this month’s issue of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine. Chris Hansen • Ask the Expert •Chris Hansen is CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit early childhood education provider with six accredited learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties. He can be reached at 239-278-1002 or ccswfl.org. Randy Kambic • Everglades City •
Contributing writer Randy Kambic covers a variety of topics, including travel. He was a writer and a public relations executive in the New York area for about 25 years before moving here in 2007. He has written for Gulfshore Life, Gulfshore Business, Times of the Islands magazines, Natural Awakenings magazine and The News-Press. He enjoys tennis, the outdoors and the people of Southwest Florida.
Jamie Layne • Voices • Jaimie Layne is the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, graceworksunlimited.org, a nonprofit that helps communities through service programs and projects. Jean Le Boeuf • Dining Out • Jean Le
Boeuf is the pseudonym used by a local food lover who dines at restaurants anonymously and without warning, with meals paid for by The News-Press. Follow the critic at facebook.com/ jeanleboeufswfl or @JeanLeBoeuf on Twitter and Instagram.
Leigha Messner • In the Kitchen • Leigha Messner, RD, is a clinical dietitian with Lee Health. She can be reached through media@leehealth.org or by calling 239-4243120. Amanda Sterk • Ask the Expert • Amanda Sterk is founder of the blog UnMaze.Me, author of “College UnMazed” and director of dual enrollment at Florida SouthWestern State College in south Fort Myers. She also has a doctorate in education. Janine Zeitlin • Mending Minds •
Janine Zeitlin is an award-winning Southwest Florida journalist and a storyteller for The News-Press. She’s the mom of two girls.
online »
swflparentchild.com Get the latest event information and family news every day at swflparentchild.com.
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Your back-toschool resource
Let us help you ease into the new school year. Online, we’ll post updates from the schools, The News-Press and the Naples Daily News, plus tips for things like adjusting to a new schedule and ideas for packing a great lunch. Find it all on swflparentchild.com.
Miss an issue? SWFL Parent & Child magazine is available in its entirety online along with back issues, too. Did you miss our feature on 13 ways to keep cool in a Southwest Florida summer? It’s in our July issue. Or find things to do in our summer bucket list in the June issue. Or our list of 10 great hikes for kids in the March issue. It’s online. Just visit swflparentchild.com and scroll to the bottom of the page. You’ll also find past stories individually on our site.
Get SWFL Parent & Child anywhere at any time LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/swflparentchild FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @swflparentchild
FRIENDS TODAY. CHANGEMAKERS TOMORROW. Make new friends. Discover new passions. She’ll do all that and more at Girl Scouts!
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @swflparentchild FIND US ON PINTEREST pinterest.com/ swflparentchild
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THINGS ARE GONNA GET EVEN TASTIER! BACK-TO-SCHOOL TAX-FREE SHOPPING SIDEWALK SALE Friday, August 2 thru Tuesday, August 6 Receive A+ savings!
iHEART MEDIA SHOE DRIVE Saturday, August 3 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donate children’s shoes to any of the iHeartRadio tents located throughout the mall and enter to win a $250 gift card to Miromar Outlets or your favorite shoe store.
SUMMER GIVEAWAY SERIES Select Fridays; 6:30 p.m. at Naples Flatbread Kitchen & Wine Bar Trivia questions test music buffs as they compete for concert tickets at Hertz Arena. August 9: Win tickets to Julio Iglesias on September 20 August 23: Win tickets to Alabama on September 28
SCIENCE SATURDAY Saturday, August 10 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in PLAYLAND Kids learn by doing interactive science and engineering projects – from making slime to constructing the solar system!
FAMILY YOGA WITH KATHRYN Saturday, August 17 10 a.m. in PLAYLAND
Call or visit our website for more information! 16554 N. Cleveland Avenue (US 41) N. Fort Myers, FL 33903 (239) 995-2141 • shellfactory.com
MOMS APPRECIATION DAY Wednesday, August 21 10 a.m. to noon PLAYLAND in Treat yourself! Moms, enjoy a free goodie from le macaron french pastries when your children attend Kids Crafts.
Nature Park
KIDS DAY Saturday, August 31 10 a.m. to noon PLAYLAND in
Weekly Live Entertainment in the Dolphin Room! Wed: Jerry Dycke 6 – 9 pm Thu: Sound Machine 4 – 7 pm Fri: Chuck Peterson 4 – 7 pm Sat: Karaoke with Cindy Crowley 4 – 7 pm
Toddlers to 12-year-olds participate in fun activities and receive a free slice of pizza, ice cream sandwich and other goodies.
FREE KIDS CRAFTS Every Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon PLAYLAND in
READY, SET, SMILE.
Our new Kids Crafts Reward Card is good for a $10 Miromar Outlets gift card after your fifth visit.
BABY BOOT CAMP Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday PLAYLAND 9 a.m. in Certified fitness professionals instruct exercise classes for pregnant, postnatal and ultra-fit moms.
FITNESS CAMP Tuesday, Thursday & Friday PLAYLAND 6:30 a.m. in
DENTAL CHECK-UPS $ 99 BRACES 25% OFF
60-minute boot camp-styled class designed specifically for women.
ROCK CLIMBING FUNWALLS PLAYLAND (239) 948-3766
A FREE 45-minute beginners’ yoga class for families with toddlers to tweens. Bring your own mat.
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Visit MiromarOutlets.com for more details.
Party packages available at MiromarOutlets.com/Play Ft. Myers Cape Coral Naples
BEST FACTORY OUTLET MALL, BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE AND BEST PLACE TO BUY SHOES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA VOTED THE
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10 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
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*Subject to monthly maintenance fee. Terms and Conditions of the Card Agreement are set forth at MiromarOutlets.com. Copyright © 2019, Miromar Development Corporation. Miromar Outlets is a registered service mark of Miromar Development Corporation.
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*MUST MENTION THIS OFFER TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT. NEW PATIENTS ONLY. DOES NOT APPLY TO DOWN PAYMENT AND CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, INSURANCE, OR REDUCED-FEE PROGRAM. THE PATIENT & ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAM OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HRS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED, REDUCED-FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. LIC#DN13483, LIC#DN18083, LIC#DN17541, LIC#DN20050, ADA 0150, 0272, 1120, 1208. DRS. MARVIN BECKER, D.D.S. AND DONALD A. GALLO, D.M.D. DOES NOT APPLY TO DOWN PAYMENT, CANNOT BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CERTAIN INSURANCE. **INCLUDES COMPLETE SET OF BRACES FOR KIDS & ADULTS, INITIAL EXAM, FOLLOW-UP VISITS, PATIENT RECORDS & RETAINERS. NOT VALID ON TREATMENT ALREADY BEGUN. INSURANCE PATIENT DISCOUNTS MAY VARY. SPECIALTY RETAINERS OR BRACKETS ADDITIONAL. FREE CONSULT INCLUDED. MAY NOT BE COMBINED W/ANY OTHER OFFER, DISCOUNT, INSURANCE OR REDUCED-FEE PROGRAM. FINANCING AVAILABLE ON APPROVED CREDIT. VALID AT PARTICIPATING OFFICES ONLY. PATIENT & ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAM OR TREATMENT PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF & WITHIN 72 HRS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED, REDUCED-FEE SERVICE, EXAM OR TREATMENT. LIC DN#20050. ADA9310. OFFER EXPIRES 60 DAYS FROM RECEIPT.
me time »
Supply ME Who hasn’t taken advantage of back-to-school sales for themselves? Here are a few finds we’ve had our eyes on.
Simple saves the day
Pointed expression Live with passion. Focus on the positive. Live in the present. These pencils are sure to inspire you every day with their golden words of wisdom on calming colors. The set of 10 includes a gold pencil sharpener. $16 at thehappinessplanner.com.
Everlasting notebook
DATE
NIGHT
This is the notebook for those of us who love the experience of writing on paper but prefer not to destroy an entire forest with our doodling. The Rocketbook Everlast ($32-$34) and Everlast Fusion ($35-$37) are dubbed the endlessly reusable digital notebooks. They’re like regular notebooks but high-tech enough to allow you to organize your notes on a cloud service or send via email. Available at Target, other retailers and getrocketbook.com
You’ll thank me for this later, if you remember. And you will because you’ll have the Work Happy magnetic list pad by Poppin to keep track of your to-dos and to-buys. Stash one on your fridge, pop one on your cubical at work, and never forget again. Well, OK, maybe “never” is pushing it. $8.99 at Staples, staples.com.
No mistakes Bring color to your Rocketbook — or any paper you please — with Pilot’s FriXion Color Sticks erasable gel pens. We love them because no one need know our mistakes. “Hey, honey, I do crosswords in ink now!” $9.88 for a pack of 10 on Amazon.com.
Looking for something different? Oh, honey, try drag queen bingo. It’s hot right now in Southwest Florida. They’re doing it everywhere from the Moose Lodge in Cape Coral to the Bambusa Bar & Grill in Naples. The News-Press and Naples Daily News found eight places in Southwest Florida hosting drag queen bingo: The Standard in downtown Fort Myers, Rockade in downtown Cape Coral, Nino’s Italian Bakery and Restaurant in Punta Gorda, Victory Lane Café in North Fort Myers, Nauti Parrot Dock Bar on Fort Myers Beach and Dowd’s Pub & Grill in Fort Myers. Everybody say “O!” SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 11
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5 things »
Back to class Start the new school year in style with these sweet finds.
Stickers are back Inspired by ’80s and ’90s nostalgia, people of all ages are putting stickers on everything from school notebooks to work planners. Check out the collections by Pipsticks + Workman. Choose from 18 books of stickers, like “A Little Book of Big Love Stickers” (seriously big vinyl, $9.95) and “So. Many. Stickers” (2,500 little stickers, $12.95). Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and workman.com.
The coolest notes Kick up your lunchbox notes a notch. These D.I.Y. scratch-off cards at Inklings Paperie let you create a fun way to send words of encouragement and love. Just write your message, apply the sticker and slip it into your child’s lunchbox with a penny for scratching. $16 at inklingspaperie.com.
Claim with a name Stylishly keep track of whose stuff is whose with the designer label pack from Mabel’s Labels. Available in 19 designs, the set includes 40 small rectangle labels, 70 Tag Mates stick-on clothing labels, 16 shoe labels and two personalized mini tags, $42.
Keep it coordinated How cute is this? Coordinating backpacks and lunchboxes are available at Target. There’s a dino one by Cat & Jack ($22.99 backpack, $9.99 lunchbox) and a Fortnite Amplify set ($24.99 backpack, $12.99 lunchbox).
For that masterpiece Eye-catching graphics and sturdy covers make the composition notebooks at Staples a favorite. Patterns include floral, koala, shark, moth, galaxy and checkerboard. $3 at Staples.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 13
From the Galaxy’s Edge ride, Rise of the Resistance
IT'S FINALLY HERE!
On pins and lightsabers, we’ve been waiting for the opening of our Star Wars land. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened May 31 at Disneyland in California. On August 29, it opens here in Florida at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando. And we’re guessing it’s going to be out of this world. By mid-July, the California attraction was already celebrating the 1 millionth rider on its Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. In fact, several news outlets reported Disneyland’s new area was so popular over summer that the rest of the park was like a ghost town. In contrast, we will be first to get the next big Star Wars ride: Rise of the Resistance. It opens in Orlando in December and California in January.
Greenwell's Family Fun Park changes hands Mike Greenwell opened his iconic family fun park in February 1992 in Cape Coral while in the middle of a 12-year, bigleague baseball career with the Boston Red Sox. Now almost 30 years later, the Alva resident and North Fort Myers High School graduate has sold the park to Chris and Carol Scuderi, of Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple renamed it Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park, partly to honor Mike, partly because, well, it’s Florida. Plans are to reinvigorate the park and add an elevated ropes course and zip line later this year. “It’s an 18-month, strategic fix-up,” Chris told The News-Press in July. “I think about Disney. We want to be a smaller version of that. Bright colors and neat lines and manicured grass.” He’s no stranger to fun parks. Chris started Mr. Putty’s Fun Park near Charlotte, North Carolina, which is now operated by his son.
14 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
LadyCakes competes for Sweetest Bakery in America Does Cape Coral have the Sweetest Bakery in America? LadyCakes Bakery is competing for the title in a contest by Dawn Foods. LadyCakes owners Bess and Jeff Charles say they’re honored to be included with bakeries across the United States in the national contest. (Bess was featured on the cover of SW FL Parent & Child in May 2018.) Voting takes place now through September 30. You can vote once per day at sweetestbakeryinamerica.com. You can also vote for LadyCakes by texting SBA1459 to the short code 474747.
Lee Schools closes offices in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres The student enrollment offices for the School District of Lee County in Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres are permanently closed. Services and personnel from those offices relocated to the main office at 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. The reason cited is to increase efficiencies and reduce lines, wait times and expenses. Satellite offices are being planned to help during peak enrollment periods.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY
« fyi
National TV show features Southwest Florida families When “Family Pictures USA” airs on PBS nationally August 12 and 13, Southwest Florida families will be front and center. Our region is one of three featured in the show, which explores America’s cities, towns and communities through the family album. Producers were in Southwest Florida last fall looking through residents’ family albums. They met former migrant workers who now own the companies that harvest produce and the descendants of Seminole leader Osceola, among others. The Southwest Florida episode airs 9 p.m. Tuesday, August 13. And we hear there are some interesting twists, like a couple who saved Estero Bay and formed the state’s first aquatic preserve meeting the woman whose father tried to develop it. Also be sure to stay tuned at 10 p.m. August 13 for the Local Focus show that airs only on WGCU. In that show, the family albums helped three Southwest Floridians realize they’re related. A preview screening will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 7 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. The screening is free, but reservations are required at wgcu.org/events. For more about the show, visit wgcu.org/familypictures. The episodes will reair at 7 p.m. August 23
USA Today launches Kidskind YouTube channel It doesn’t take money or experience to be kind. The kids on USA Today’s new YouTube channel Kidskind are proving that. The media company launched the channel, a spin-off of its “Humankind” franchise, this summer to highlight kids who are performing small acts of kindness (and some not so small). For example, Roman McConn, 7, of Texas, rescued more than 1,000 dogs and helped them find forever homes. Perhaps they’ll inspire you and your family. SW FL Parent & Child magazine is part of the USA Today Network.
Pediatric Dentistry of Florida opens Naples office The kids’ dental office in Fort Myers with the eye-catching design and characters, Pediatric Dentistry of Florida opened a new office in July at 1035 Piper Blvd., Suite 103, Naples. The 4,000-square-foot space boasts a 16-foot-long whale shark and blue whale suspended from the ceiling inside. “We want to have an experience where children run towards the front doors in anticipation of their appointments,” says Dr. Tim Verwest. There’s also an underwater shipwreck in the lobby for photo ops, a coral reef, tropical fish, stingrays and a mermaid. Three pediatric dentists will work with children and teen patients there.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 15
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Amanda Sterk is founder of the blog UnMaze. Me, author of “College UnMazed” and director of dual enrollment at Florida SouthWestern State College in south Fort Myers. She also has a doctorate in education.
ask the expert »
A M A NDA STER K
WHAT FAMILIES GET WRONG IN THE COLLEGE PROCESS
I
2. Not having realistic expectations.
GETTY IMAGES
f you are a parent of an upcoming senior, chances are you are already dreading the college process. Not only is it the realization that your son or daughter is heading off to college soon, but you worry about the arguments, the missed deadlines and the overall process. While some families can escape unscathed from the college process, most families I work with realize they made some serious missteps along the way. Most, if given the chance, would do things differently to save both time and stress. After working with college-bound students for almost two decades, I’ve learned there are some key strategies, if learned early, that can make it a more successful and rewarding process for the student and the parent. Here are some of the biggest missteps and my best tips and tricks for overcoming them.
1. Not being honest. One of the first activities I have families do in my book, “College UnMazed: Your Guide to the Florida College and University System,” is a college priority worksheet that discusses what the student and parent look for in determining the right college. Having a frank, honest discussion from all participants is necessary to ensure that everyone understands where each other is coming from, what their goals are and how they see each of the college’s attributes. Parents often prioritize the affordability of each college, where students tend to prioritize location. If students do not understand the financial aspects of paying for college for your family, then it can greatly hinder them in finding the right school.
In line with being honest, families must have realistic expectations of the student’s chance to receive admission into a particular university. I have seen too many families focus on a specific school that was out of reach because of a student’s academic record and not be prepared when a “denied” decision is made. For example, last year Florida State University received more than 57,000 first-year applications for summer and fall 2019 admission with a median SAT score of 1270 to 1390 and 28 to 32 ACT composite score. With so many applications, they can select the students who fit their academic criteria. Families need to have a variety of colleges to apply to where the student meets or exceeds their admission criteria.
3. Not prepping the documents beforehand. High school students today are hard workers but often procrastinate. I see many
ASK THE EXPERT We welcome questions from readers. Ask us anything. We’ll find the answer. Send your question to editor@swflparentchild.com with “Ask the Expert” in the subject line.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 17
« ask the expert (continued) students who apply at the last minute, which leaves their application full of misspellings and mistakes that can cost them their golden ticket. By beginning with the student’s documents ahead of time, such as a student resume and essay, they can be thoroughly edited and organized. Typing your resume throughout your high school career is a key strategy, as it is a good way to remember all the student did. When finished, students can then use this resume to give to teachers and school counselors who will be writing letters of recommendations and to copy and paste into their college applications.
When collecting your documents, it’s important to realize you are applying not only for admissions but for a college’s specialty programs and scholarship opportunities. Institutional scholarships come in all shapes and sizes, for a variety of reasons (merit, athletic, demographic, personal attributes, financial, etc.). For this reason, it is very important that a student identifies their unique story to the admission department through their submitted application documents.
4. Not knowing scholarships are reviewed at application.
There are many websites that provide a wealth of information, but it can be overwhelming and time-consuming to find exactly what you are looking for. While there are large national sites like CollegeBoard and Cappex, your local resources, such as your school counselor,
What many families do not know is that institutional scholarships are often decided at the point of application.
5. Not using the resources around you.
Local College Access Network (FutureMakers and Future Ready Collier) and www.unmaze.me, are truly your best places to go for information. They have worked with students from the area to reach their academic goals through postsecondary education and can best guide you on your critical steps. Our local colleges and universities also do a tremendous job at holding workshops and activities to help all students, not just the ones applying to their college. By engaging early and often with these organizations you will be more likely to get it right. If done right, the college application process can be a rewarding experience for students and parents. Use this time to have deeper conversations about the student’s short- and long-term goals and the upcoming transition, especially on the car rides to and from a college visit. There are a lot of big decisions to make, so doing it right is essential.
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oakcreekcharter.org 28011 Performance Lane Bonita Springs, 34135
gccas.org 215 Airport-Pulling Rd. N. Naples, 34104
Chris Hansen is CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit early childhood education provider with six accredited learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties. (239-278-1002 or ccswfl.org)
ask the expert »
CHR IS H A NSEN
BULLYING PREVENTION STARTS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN Helping our youngest children learn to make connections with others and reinforcing positive behaviors helps prevent bullying later in a child’s life.
B
ullying has been a concern at the middle and high school levels for generations, and it unfortunately crept into elementary schools over the years. Area schools have adopted a host of bullying prevention and character education programs, hoping the increased awareness would minimize incidents of bullying. As we begin the 2019-20 school year, it’s important for every parent to know exactly how schools are trying to prevent bullying and create a safe learning environment for their children. Child Care of Southwest Florida strives to foster friendships and encourage fair play at an early age — a very early age. “An early learning center or day care center is a child’s first classroom, and that’s where they first learn how to communicate with their peers,” says Kimberly Molloy, professional development coach with Child Care of Southwest Florida. “That’s why it’s so important that infants and toddlers begin to learn how to appropriately express their feelings, how to act around others and what is considered positive and negative behavior.” Early childhood education provides the foundation for academic, behavioral
and social success for elementary school, middle school, high school and beyond. It’s where children learn how to read, write and solve mathematical equations, but it’s also the place where they learn to interact with their peers — taking turns, forming lines, sharing toys. Child Care of Southwest Florida implements a wide range of learning activities and lessons that promote a feeling of acceptance and reduce the risk of bullying. Whether your child attends an early learning program or you socialize your child in other ways, the methods our teachers and staff use can be helpful for all families. Our teachers and staff: » Encourage and model behavior using words that communicate feelings in a variety of situations. » Use materials, activities and experiences to encourage children to work together, which boosts social and emotional skills. » Use positive interactions, conscious discipline and responsive care techniques. » Role play common behaviors, emotions and situations through puppets and other games so children can see, hear and practice conflict resolution in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way. Our teachers and staff also get to know each child and family on an individual basis, which creates open
relationships that form a solid foundation of trust and understanding. This ensures both school and home can be on the same page and are proactive in fostering friendships, encouraging fair play and preventing bullying. Recently, the Lee County Port Authority Police donated a “Buddy Bench” to the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center, our location on Fowler Street in Fort Myers. The park bench, made of recycled materials, sits under the shade of a mature oak tree and has become more than just a place to relax. “The Buddy Bench is a quiet place that children can go if they need to talk to a friend or if they’re lonely,” says Tammy Aronson, director of the Messina Children’s Center. “It’s a perfect spot for new students who haven’t yet made friends at school, as well as shy kids who aren’t inclined to just jump into a game or conversation on the playground.” Children aren’t born bullies. It’s a learned behavior, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. Somewhere along the line, either at school, home or another social environment, they learned anti-social behavior. If we start early – before kindergarten – we can teach correct behaviors from the get-go rather than trying to un-teach bad behavior.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 19
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in the kitchen »
Leigha Messner, RD, is a clinical dietitian with Lee Health.
LEIGH A MESSNER
PROTECT YOUR
PICNIC
With soaring August temps, be sure to practice food safety to keep summer fun.
I
t’s the dog days of August and Labor Day barbecues with family and friends are just around the corner. Before you light up the grill or crack open the cooler, however, there are certain food safety precautions to take to keep you and your loved ones safe. The first step to any good barbecue is to keep your food safe while transporting. If you’re bringing meat to cook, make sure to keep it separate from ready-to-eat food, such as vegetables, to prevent cross-contamination. You’ll also want to keep any foods that need to be refrigerated cold until you’re ready to serve, either in a cooler or a fridge. When handling uncooked food, your hands and utensils need to be clean. Soap and water is the best way to get rid of any foodborne bacteria, but any gel with at least 60% alcohol will work, too. Be sure to clean items you might not think about, like coolers, as well, to get rid of any viruses or bacteria.
Food is typically safe for two hours after it comes off the grill or out of refrigeration. That window is only one hour if the temperature outside is 90 degrees or higher. After that, it starts to become unsafe to eat. It’s always better not to risk it, though. Most foodborne viruses or bacteria don’t have a taste or smell, so it can be difficult to tell if something has been out too long, especially with dairy items or meat, which have a shorter window for staying fresh. If you’re unsure how long something has been sitting out, ask the host or remember: When in doubt, throw it out. I also recommend not using ice from coolers used to store meats or other items that need to be cooked for your drink because it may have become contaminated. Cut fruits and veggies can also become unsafe if left out too long, which is why it’s always best to keep cold foods cold until serving. Avoid unnecessary illness this summer by following these simple steps to stay happy and healthy.
FIND A COBBLER RECIPE ON PAGE 22.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 21
« in the kitchen (continued) Back to School Smiles! Board Certified Orthodontist Braces & Invisalign® Affordable payment plans Most insurances accepted
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Safe temps Use the following cooking temperature guidelines to ensure your food is safe to eat: • Ground meat: 160 degrees • Steak: 145 degrees • Pork: 145 degrees • Poultry: 165 degrees • Fish and Shellfish: 145 degrees
2017
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Guava Cobbler To mark the end of summer, often a time of family reunions, we bring you this cobbler recipe from The News-Press archives for its strong Southwest Florida ties. It’s from a 1989 column by Lillian Austin reporting on the Hendry family reunion at a family farm in Buckingham.
INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup butter or margarine • 3/4 cup flour • 3/4 cup milk
2. Melt butter. This can be done in the pan or casserole used to bake the cobbler.
• 1 cup sugar
3. Mix flour, salt and baking powder and add sugar. Slowly stir in milk to make batter.
• 2 cups fruit (guavas, peaches, mangoes or all)
4. Spread over melted butter but do not stir.
DIRECTIONS
5. Carefully spoon fruit over batter and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. The batter will cover the fruit as it bakes.
• 1/8 teaspoon salt • 2 teaspoons baking powder
1. Prepare fruit. If using guavas, halve fruit and scoop out seeds. Peeling isn’t
22 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
necessary except to take off scarred areas.
SOURCE: Lillian Austin, The News-Press, April 13, 1989
dining out »
Jean Le Boeuf is the pseudonym used by a local food lover who dines at restaurants anonymously and without warning, with meals paid for by The News-Press and Naples Daily News. Follow the critic at facebook.com/jeanleboeufswfl or @JeanLeBoeuf on Twitter and Instagram.
6 almost-famous hot dogs When you’ve got kids, it helps to know where the best hot dog joints in town are. Critic Jean Le Boeuf shares some favorites in Lee County.
W
hat is it about summertime and hot dogs? Sausages and bratwursts feel so distinctly wintry. Yet their skinnier, more mysterious cousins reign supreme this time of year. I can’t even argue. I too am a summertime hot dog fan. I can’t say the hot dog is my favorite meaty format (that’s a bit too much mystery for me), but bring on the hot weather and my hot-dog cravings kick into high gear. If I’m going to eat a hot dog, believe you me, I am going to eat a Hot Dog. And these six local places make exactly the kinds of dogs I crave.
Joe’s Hotdogs
Matt’s Red Hots Matt’s grills up New York-style hot dogs — just not the Big Apple kind. These are upstate New York dogs, Sahlen’s brand, to be exact. They’re snappy and not-too-greasy and, if you’re willing to throw caution (and calories) to the wind, they can be piled with hunks of bacon and Matt’s scratch-made macaroni and cheese. You could add chili and gooey cheese sauce to that mix, and even some of Matt’s hand-dipped onion rings. You’re this far gone, might as well keep going. (18911 S. Tamiami Trail, San Carlos Park; 239-791-8036; mattsredhots.com)
This little hot dog cart has been a Fort Myers fixture for 27 years, as has owner and ex-New Yorker, Joe D’Acunto. Joe’s first customers trickle in around 8:30 a.m. His regulars pile into lawn chairs under the shade of an oak tree come lunch. These are Big Apple-style dogs, steamy and tender, best topped with a squirt of mustard and little else. There’s nothing especially exceptional about Joe’s hot dogs, but there’s something amazing about a 27-year-old hot dog cart that’s still as good as ever. (3919 Fowler St., Fort Myers; 239218-8540; facebook.com/joes. hotdogs)
Chicago Beef Guy The Beef Guy, as I’ll forever know this place, is a sliver of Chicago right here in Cape Coral. The Italian-beef sandwiches, the house-pickled peppers, the juicy hot dogs dragged through the garden in that majestically Midwestern way. The Beef Guy’s dogs are best served with a heap of his hand-cut fries and a pop from the fountain machine. I mean, if you’re gonna eat like dese guys, you might as well sound like dem, too. (1127 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; 239-772-0713; beefguycapecoral. com)
The Doghouse If hot dogs are a summertime tradition, then beach hot dogs are the quintessential means of enjoying it. I’d say the folks at The Doghouse agree. This Fort Myers Beach food stand loads its namesake dogs with pulled pork, slaw and barbecue sauce, or homemade chili, cheddar and onions. Nothing about that makes me want to get into a bathing suit. But everything about it makes me want to get to the beach. (1207 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach; 239-940-1043; doghousefmb.com)
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 23
« dining out (continued)
Schnapper’s Hots
The Llama’s House
Bite into one of these char-grilled natural-casing hot dogs and you’ll learn how Schnapper’s got its name. A Sanibel tradition for 21 years, these are the hot dogs I wish I could make at home; their skins perfectly blistered, their insides oh-so juicy. Tack on a cup of Schnapper’s hand-cut fries and maybe a hand-dipped milkshake and you’ve got a party — a schnapping good one.
This Latinfusion restaurant highlights the flavors of Central and South America, including (and, today, most importantly) the magical, over-the-top hot dogs of Colombia. Llama’s piles its monster hot dog with shredded cheese, garlicky mayo, pineapple salsa and two or three other sauces that I couldn’t quite recall after slipping into a sweaty, hotdog induced stupor. Matchstick potatoes are the dog’s crowning glory, adding crunch and depth to this beast. It’s a lot of hot dog, but the stupor was worth it.
(1528 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel; 239-472-8686; schnappershots.com)
(Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, No. 428, Estero; 239-3092339; facebook.com/thellamashouse)
24 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
kid stuff »
MAKING THE
KINDERGARTEN
CUTOFF
For parents of children born near September 1, the question looms: To go to
kindergarten this year or wait? BY ANDREA STETSON eptember 1 is just a day on the calendar — but it’s the date Florida law determines kids are old enough to go to kindergarten. However, that simple number doesn’t tell parents if their children are actually ready for kindergarten or if they would benefit by waiting another year. Florida statute says a child must be 5 years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for admission to kindergarten in public schools. That leaves some parents with children born in the summer or fall wondering whether their child should start school. Some parents with children born in July and August, who make the September 1 cutoff, believe their child just isn’t ready to start school and they wait a year. Other parents with children born in the fall, just missing the cutoff, might find their child is ready and don’t want to wait another year. For parents choosing to wait a year, it’s easy. They just don’t register for kindergarten until their child is almost 6. It’s harder for those with a youngster who misses the cutoff. Those parents have more limited options. They can send their child to
a private school or home-school for a year and then start first grade the following year if the child meets the district’s student progression plan. The other, lesser known option is to wait a year and then fight for the child to move up to first grade without completing kindergarten. That’s what Lea Taliercio, of Fort Myers, chose to do with her son Amadeo, who was born November 6. “My son missed the September 1 cutoff date,” Lea says. “I chose to fight, and it was a bit of a battle.” She had to wait until Amadeo was almost 6 before she could push for him to accelerate. “He enrolled in kindergarten and finally was able to skip ahead to first grade,” Lea says.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 25
« kid stuff (continued)
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“They like to make you feel like you can’t do this, but the state of Florida supports this for capable children. I had to prove he has the capability. It was a battle. It took from August to October. I think parents should be aware that they do not have to go the private school route. Even if a school does not support it, parents should not give up. They need to stand their ground and do their research. They can do this.” Sian Maraj, of Fort Myers, is hoping her daughter Zoey, who was born October 20, can skip a grade, too. Zoey started kindergarten last year just before turning 6. Sian says testing showed Zoey was reading on a second-grade level. “I knew prior to Zoey starting elementary school that she was academically beyond her level, according to her VPK teacher. But since the state of Florida is strict on the school cutoff policy for grade placement, I was unable to manually have Zoey start at a level that she should be in,” Sian says. “I’m hoping for Zoey to have the opportunity in the near future to be able to at least skip one grade level and be placed in the grade that she should be in.” Putting Zoey in private school for kindergarten was not an option, Sian says. “I thought about it, but honestly at the time I could not afford it,” she says. “I got tired of fighting this on my own, so I just let it go.” Florida law allows children to attend private school for kindergarten and then transfer to public school, says Jennifer Kupiec, a communications specialist for Collier County Public Schools, but the rule does not make it totally clear if a child is guaranteed a spot in first grade upon completion of private school kindergarten. “Documentation of successful completion of the private kindergarten would be required, as well as verifying the child met entrance age requirements of the public schools of the state from which he or she is transferring,” Jennifer explains. If parents need help deciding whether a child is ready for kindergarten, they can download a booklet online at collierschools.com/kindergarten. The booklet lists pages of information about things a child
should know if they are ready for kindergarten. It lists concept development such as recognizing shapes and colors and sizes. It lists physical development such as the ability to cut with scissors, jump, hop, hold a crayon. There are cognitive lists such as being able to talk in a complete sentence, follow directions and more. Whether a child is ready is key. We spoke with several parents who had their children wait a year because the child wasn’t quite ready, and each said it was the best decision for their child. Katie Visaggio has a master’s degree in reading education, so she knew her daughter, who was born July 7, was not ready for kindergarten even though she turned 5 before the cutoff date. “My husband’s birthday is September 28, and his mother sent him early, and he felt younger than everybody and more immature,” Katie says. “There was all this pressure to put her in because she needs the socialization, so we tried VPK when she was 4 and she was not ready. She was melting down at school. After two weeks of that, we were done. It was not worth it. We tried it again the next year when she was 5, and she loved it. It was night and day. She really understood it. She is going into second grade and is turning 8, and she is doing really well. Everybody said putting her in early would help with the social aspect, but it wasn’t. Putting her in late really helped. For us it definitely made more sense to hold her back one year and give her that head start.” Allison Rose Barnum shared her experience with us via Facebook: “My son was born 8/30 and I held him back to start the following year because I felt he needed the extra time to mature and grow. My daughter was born 8/20 and she went through ‘on time’ because I felt she was mature enough to handle it,” she wrote. Jannette Hoff agreed. “My daughter was Aug 12th and she is now going into middle school as a 10 year old doing great,” she wrote. “My boys were July and August and we chose to hold them a year. Best decision for all. Every kid is different and ready at their own time.”
teens »
BAND
IS
BIG
Collier County has some of the biggest marching bands in the state, and Lee County bands are growing, too. BY ANDREA STETSON
INSTANT FRIENDS
B
ands are booming in Southwest Florida. Collier County has some of the largest high school bands in the state, and in Lee County, some school bands are suddenly growing in membership. Gulf Coast High School, with a student enrollment of 2,287 in May, boasts the largest band in Southwest Florida with about 350 members. Even the county’s smallest bands at Immokalee and Lely high schools have more than 100 members. “We value that part of the curriculum,” says Skip Pardee, district coordinator of the arts for Collier County Public Schools. “In Collier County we place a tremendous value on the marching activity and the result of that is the programs are pretty large and robust. And
our middle school feeding patterns do a fantastic job of producing not just a high number of students, but high-quality musicians.” Collier high school and middle school band directors start planting the seeds of band in elementary school, Pardee says. Every middle school and fifth-grade class in the county gets to see the yearly Prism concert at Gulf Coast High School. Middle school bands take trips to perform in the elementary schools. “The high school directors will spend time in the middle schools and middle schools spend time letting the elementary schools know about music,” Pardee says. “Everyone is invested. The middle school teachers want to make sure they are getting students into a good high school program. They have a relationship before they even show up. And the community exposure is great. They do a great job of performing in the community. They are part of our culture in Collier.”
There are many benefits for students in band, Pardee says. “Being a part of any music program really gives you a sense of community and a sense of family within a very large school,” he explains. “Marching band is really great for incoming freshmen, because the band gets together a few weeks before schools starts, so before school even starts you have 250 and 300 friends. Because of how much time they spend together, you have a really close-knit group. It’s a cool thing to be a part of in Collier County.” Drew Mackawgy, a senior at Gulf Coast High School, plays flute in the band. Summer band camp on the sweltering blacktop parking lot and wearing a thick uniform while performing at Friday night football games can be tough, but Drew says it’s all worth it. She can easily list the great aspects of being in band.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 27
« teens (continued)
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“Working hard on a piece and being satisfied when you perform it,” Drew says as she begins. “You meet new people every year. I got close to my best friends because of band. I enjoy the new experiences when we go on trips. I get to go to Universal and Disney every year with my friends. In my school a lot of kids are involved in band. I think everyone knows how good the band program is and how special it is to be a part of such a large group.” Pardee says Gulf Coast, Palmetto Ridge and Barron Collier high schools are in the top 10 largest marching bands in the state. Collier County high school bands have performed at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers halftime show, the Miami Dolphins halftime show, the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, The Hollywood Christmas Parade in California, Chicago’s The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C., the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios. In 2015, the Gulf Coast High School band performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
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Lee County bands aren’t as large as the biggest Collier bands, but they are growing. “Four years ago there were 15 students in the band, and on the roster right now we have over 100,” says Kelley Clark, band booster president at Riverdale High School, which has a student enrollment of 2,274 as of April 1. “The new band director started four years ago. He has just slowly built the band over the last four years. The children just really seem to love band. They all flock to the band room. They want to hang out there. They are like their own little family. It is really a neat environment.” This rapid expansion has caused some growing pains. Clark says the Riverdale band is in desperate need of instruments, especially sousaphones, mellophones, baritones and a drum set. To help, the band booster club started a GoFundMe page. “We really need instruments and money for instrument repair,” Clark says. North Fort Myers High School, under the direction of band director Sara JohnsonScalisi, has the largest band in Lee County. “We had 130 members last year. We are
looking to be a little bit bigger this year,” she says. North’s student enrollment stood at 1,848 in April. “We are so fortunate to be at a school that is very involved in tradition. The band has lots of traditions. We try to do a lot of community events that get us out and let people see us. We try to create a feeling of family in our band. There is team building and section bonding. Band friends are their friends throughout high school. You have lifelong friends in band.” The smallest band in Lee is at Island Coast High in Cape Coral with about 30 members, according to the district. But one of Cape Coral’s middle schools has snagged an icon among local band directors. Mark Dahlberg, the band director who led Fort Myers High School’s band to London in 2016, is now band director at Diplomat Middle School in Cape Coral. He was Fort Myers’ band director from 2001 to 2017. “When I first started, I had 70 (band students) and it grew to 190 in the 15 years I was there,” he says. Dahlberg says the leadership and the perks keep students interested. “A lot of it has to do with the person in front of the band,” he says. “What is the personality of the band and how does the director engage the students in the activities?” Dahlberg’s students also performed in the Bahamas, New Orleans and Atlanta. There are some challenges to creating a successful program. For example, Lee County uses a block schedule, so students have band every other day. Dahlberg says that makes it harder to maintain continuity than in Collier County, where students have band every day. Schedules aren’t the only challenge, though. “Today it is really hard because you are up against instant satisfaction of video games, where marching band and concert band take months to get ready to perform,” Dahlberg says. He’s now trying to spark excitement in middle school students and encourage them to continue band in high school. “I get to hand the instrument out to them for the very first time and hear the very first sound they make,” he says. While Southwest Florida bands may be large, they are nowhere near the size of the nation’s biggest high school band. Allen High School in Texas, with student enrollment over 6,000, has a band with more than 800 members.
mending minds »
PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
Anna Barry declares the winner of her trivia contest fundraiser to raise money for her organization, the Student Alliance on Mental Illness.
Naples teen starts group to help pay for kids’ mental health care The motivation was to create a way for teenagers to get counseling without having to go through their parents. BY JANINE ZEITLIN EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is part of an occasional series by The News-Press and Naples Daily News on children’s mental health in Southwest Florida. The journalists’ investigations reveal a crisis in our region — possibly the worst in the nation — with numbers of children needing help on the rise. See the full Mending Minds project at mendingminds.news-press.com as the team continues coverage of the issue and explores solutions. The journalists also welcome families to share their own stories to highlight the importance of this topic.
A
rainbow windsock foretold the hope inside the North Naples church youth room. Anna Barry, 16, stepped to the front of a crowd on a Friday evening last December. “Hello, everyone who’s here so far. Judges, are you ready?” It was a trivia night, the first fundraiser for Anna’s new group, Student Alliance on Mental Illness. It will provide financial help if parents can’t or won’t pay for a teen’s counseling and establish a teen support group. Already Anna had attracted about 15
members to a companion after-school club at Gulf Coast High School, where she is a junior. The idea for a club came to her last summer. The motivation was to create a way for teenagers to get counseling without having to go through their parents. The project was personal. During her sophomore year, Anna arrived in a dark place after years of battling anxieties about her weight and school and depressive thoughts. A high achiever in multiple advanced placement classes, Anna lost motivation and had trouble focusing on her work.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 29
« mending minds (continued) Share your story If you or a child you love has been affected by mental illness, reach out to the journalists of the Mending Minds project at bit.ly/2Q8uRdh.
Anna Barry raised more than $200 for her organization, the Student Alliance on Mental Illness, at her trivia fundraiser in December in Naples.
She didn’t think about going to a school counselor. “The counselors at the school don’t give off that vibe like we’re here to help you if you have personal struggles. They just sort of help with academic situations,” Anna says, noting their high caseloads. Finally, she reached out to her mother, which she hadn’t wanted to do. “It’s a very, very vulnerable topic that I didn’t want to discuss with anyone.” It took several months of medication and counseling for Anna to begin to heal. “It’s not like you go on medication and everything is OK.” Once Anna did get better, she thought about friends without her economic privileges or understanding parents. “The only reason I was able to get the help I needed was that I’m middle-class, I have resources, and I have family that was supportive,” she says. “I’d say actually a great percentage of the people, my friends I’m around have mental illness, but they’re not able to get help for it.” Anna contacted Pamela Baker, CEO of NAMI Collier County, a local chapter
30 » AUGUST 2019 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Anna learned about a Florida law that allows teens, 13 and older, to receive outpatient mental health treatment, including counseling, without parental consent. Baker says NAMI Collier has long had a fund to address financial barriers to mental health care for adults. “We also provide a variety of peer supports to adults with mental illnesses, but there was really nothing like it in our area for teens.” Parental involvement is optimal, Baker says, but not always possible, and she had heard troubling reports of an increase in suicide attempts among teenagers. Baker was impressed by Anna’s passion for advocacy. They agreed to partner. “I didn’t know people listened to kids,” Anna says. SAMI is a program under NAMI Collier’s umbrella. NAMI provides SAMI financial backing to help teenagers pay for counseling and to cover bus passes to appointments, among other services. The first fundraiser attracted roughly two dozen teens and adults middle age
and older, a rare but convivial social pairing. Anna’s mom stood behind a table of Cheetos and popcorn for sale as her daughter announced the trivia winners. “This age is such a tender age; a lot is going on,” says Tracey Barry, 58. “In Anna’s case, she’s an overachiever. She wants to do so much.” Anna hopes to expand the group in Collier and nationally. They had found a few therapists willing to counsel teenagers without parental consent and four students interested in services. The money raised that night would help pay for it. Tracey admired her daughter as Anna announced the night’s grand total: $201.25. “This generation is changing the world. People are going to be healthier.”
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spotlight »
EVERLASTING EVERGLADES CITY There’s much to see in this small Southwest Florida town even as it continues to recover from Hurricane Irma. STORY AND PHOTOS BY RANDY K AMBIC
T
he magnificent sweep of nature that is the Everglades has entranced countless artists, naturalists and tourists, and so captivated Thomas Edison on a camping trip in 1914 that he established his winter home in Fort Myers 10 years later. The beguiling beauty, vast expanse and abundant wildlife of the “River of Grass” belie the numerous threats it has faced and withstood over time. Next month marks two years since Hurricane Irma, Florida’s worst storm in 12 years, made landfall just west of Everglades City. The small town was severely impacted. According to the office of Mayor Howell Grimm Jr., re-
covery is still ongoing. With the help of FEMA, street signs have been replaced, a seawall project is progressing, and new walkway lighting was recently approved. His office also reports that some homes “need to be repaired, rebuilt and elevated out of the flood zone” and they are seeking “funding for City Park improvements and playground equipment” plus other civic improvements. Despite the ongoing recovery, the small town welcomes the support of visitors, and this is surely a spot every local family should visit at least once. Besides Irma and other storms, the flora and fauna of the Everglades have withstood many outside disruptive forces, including manmade ones.
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« spotlight (continued)
In modern times, conversations about the ongoing water quality crisis in Southwest Florida usually include a mention of the Everglades. Around the turn of the 20th century, exotic birds were shot for their feathers to make women’s hats — as depicted in the 1958 film “Wind Across the Everglades,” which was shot on location — and there were major attempts to drain and develop the Everglades by Hamilton Disston and Governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward. Visiting Everglades City is like venturing into Old Florida — a tiny town that’s the gateway to the western region of Everglades National Park, the only subtropical preserve and the largest wetlands ecosystem in North America. First known as Everglade and the Collier County seat until 1961, it took on its current name four years later. It’s known as the Stone Crab Capital of the World, with harvest season running October through May and an annual Seafood Festival in February. The Rod & Gun Club, a gathering place for anglers and hunters that opened in 1925, was visited by such luminaries as Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ernest Hemingway, Zane Grey and Gypsy Rose Lee. It serves lunch and dinner, including on a panoramic waterfront veranda, and is a lodge for overnight guests. The Museum of the Everglades showcases the region’s history with both permanent and special exhibits that delve into Native American culture, fishing, frontier days, the making of the Tamiami Trail, locally shot movies and many more topics with numerous photos and materials. The historic Smallwood Store, established in 1906 by Ted Smallwood on Chokoloskee Island, today recreates an early 1900s trading post, store and post office as a museum and gift shop. Its many books include Peter Matthiessen’s “Killing Mister Watson,” about Ed Watson, an infamous Ten
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Thousand Islands resident who was shot at the store in 1910 by townspeople after rumors of murders and other ill deeds. The store offers school and group kids’ tours that include treasure hunts with shark teeth as prizes, arts and craft sessions, and boat tours. “They learn the history of the area and retain a lot of the information,” says Lynn Smallwood McMillin, Ted’s granddaughter. Just north of Everglades City along Tamiami Trail is the Collier-Seminole State Park, which includes the Bay City Walking Dredge, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark that helped carve out a path for the road through the area. Also in the park, there’s a monument to Barron Collier, a prominent developer. Nearby is the nation’s smallest post office in Ochopee. The Big Cypress Gallery showcases photos by legendary nature photographer Clyde Butcher, who depicted the area in his signature largeformat black-and-white style, and other nature photographers. A short trail winds through the woods outside the gallery, and two-hour guided swamp walks and photo safari tours are offered. In addition to many airboat ride providers, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City facilitates daily, guided, 90-minute boat trips into the mangrove estuaries of the Ten Thousand Islands section of Everglades National Park. Everglades Area Tours, on Chokoloskee Island, offers boat rides, kayak expeditions and paddling tours. Large wading birds are plentiful, especially the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and egrets, and it’s the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist in numbers. “It truly takes a community effort for us to rebuild,” the mayor’s office told us in an email, “though we have the most resilient people here in Everglades City.”
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Ochopee post office is recognized as the smallest post office in the U.S. • A short nature trail extends from behind the Big Cypress Gallery. • Clyde Butcher’s large-format, black-and-white photographs are showcased at the Big Cypress Gallery. • The Smallwood Store on Chokoloskee Island recreates an early 1900s trading post, store and post office. • The Smallwood Store also offers scenic views and boat trips in Chokoloskee Bay.
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PLACES TO SEE IN EVERGLADES CITY These attractions in the Everglades City area are must-see stops for visitors and Southwest Floridians alike.
Big Cypress Gallery
Where: 52388 Tamiami Trail E., Ochopee • Phone: 239-695-2428 • Online: clydebutcher.com • Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily • Cost: Free gallery admission
nps.gov • Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. midApril to mid-November; opens at 8 a.m. other times • Cost: Varies based on tour; park entry fee of $30 per vehicle is good for seven consecutive days at all park entrances
Museum of the Everglades
Collier-Seminole State Park
Where: 20200 Tamiami Trail E., Naples • Phone: 239-394-3397 • Online: floridastateparks.org • Hours: Open 8 a.m. until about 7 p.m. • Cost: $5 per vehicle
Where: 105 W. Broadway, Everglades City • Phone: 239-695-0008 • Online: colliermuseums.com or evergladesmuseum. org • Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., MondaySaturday • Cost: Free
Everglades Area Tours
Rod & Gun Club
Where: 238 Marnie Street, Chokoloskee Island • Phone: 239-695-3633 • Online: evergladesareatours.com • Hours & Costs: Vary based on tour and season
Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center
Where: 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City • Phone: 239-695-3311 • Online:
MORE THINGS TO DO:
Where: 200 W. Broadway, Everglades City • Phone: 239-695-2101 • Online: facebook.com/everglades.rgc
Smallwood Store
Where: 360 Mamie St., Chokoloskee Island • Phone: 239-695-2989 • Online: smallwoodstore.com • Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, May-November; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, December-April • Cost: $5
To find more, visit the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau online at paradisecoast.com.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 33
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safety »
Jordan Clime, 7, of Cape Coral.
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« safety (continued)
BY ANDREA STETSON us stop safety ranks top of mind for just about everyone this school year — moms and dads, civic organizations, private businesses, residents and government officials. Last school year, two children died after being struck by vehicles at or near bus stops in Lee County. Alana Tamplin, 12, an Oak Hammock Middle School seventh-grader, was struck and killed by a car while walking home along Durrance Road in North Fort Myers with her best friend after taking her elementary school-age sister to her bus stop January 14. Two months later, early in the morning on March 25 at a bus stop in Cape Coral, the driver of a red Dodge Ram pickup hit and killed 8-year-old Layla Aiken as she sat in the grass with her brothers waiting for their school bus. Since then community leaders and individuals have been looking for ways to keep children safer on their way to school. The School District of Lee County estimates that 49,231 students will ride school buses in Lee County this year. The Collier County district puts its number at 19,475 children on buses. In Lee County, buses start picking up students at 4:36 a.m. and drop off the last ones at 8:10 p.m. (that’s the activities bus; the last bus drop-off straight from a school is 6 p.m.). In Collier County, buses begin pickup at 5:01 a.m. and end at 5:12 p.m. That means thousands of students are walking to bus stops and waiting for the bus in the dark. Everything from limiting school choice, to lighting, to new
school start times has been discussed as ways to keep students safer. One thing that is happening now is a pilot program to put benches at bus stops. The Rotary Club of Cape Coral offered to jump start a project and teamed up with the Kiwanis Club and several donors. They plan to have 200 benches at bus stops in Cape Coral by the time school starts August 12. “After poor Layla lost her life, one of the Rotarians came in and said we need to do something to make our kids safer,” says Elmer Tabor, chairman of the project and past president of the Rotary Club. “Rotary wants to be part of this solution. The community and companies have stepped up to the plate.” A concrete company, which wants to be unnamed, donated all 200 slabs, worth about $90,000. ABC Supply Co. is hauling in the 1,800-pound slabs. Kiwanis members are dropping off the 300-pound benches that come preassembled from a company in Tampa. Elmer is pleased to see the community outpouring of support. He has had businesses donate thousands of dollars. “I have people stop me on the street and hand me a $20 bill and say, ‘Please add this to the project,’” he says. “The whole community is jumping in.” Each bench costs $350, and individuals who donate that amount may have their name on the bench. It costs $2,000 per bus stop for the bench and installation. “If we could create a safe zone where kids could stand and be safe from the traffic, it would also let the drivers know that is a safe zone,” Elmer says. Elmer hopes the 200 benches are just the beginning. “This is a pilot project,” he explains. City and school officials will monitor those stops from August through Christmas break. If the benches are effective, more will be installed. Elmer hopes other community groups will then do similar projects.
Free reflectors Florida Highway Patrol gives children free reflectors to help keep them safer at bus stops. Reflectors can be picked up at the FHP office at 10041 Daniels Parkway, south Fort Myers.
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us b l o o Sch ps i t y t safe afer, follow s p kids from the e e k o T tips these a Highway Florid ol and Patr ounty Lee C hools. Sc Public
Parents and children » Arrive at the bus stop about five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. » At bus stops, children should wait in a safe place away from the road. Never sit on the roadway or curb while waiting for a bus. » Make sure your children know their bus driver’s name and bus number. » Tell children to never speak to strangers at the bus stop and to never get into a car with a stranger. Children should tell parents, the bus driver and a teacher at school if a stranger tries to talk to them or pick them up. » Children should never walk behind a bus and should always stay away from bus wheels. When the bus stops, children should wait for the driver’s signal that it is safe to cross the road or board the bus. » Children should look both ways before crossing the street: Look left, right and left again. Tell them to make eye contact to make sure the bus driver can see them as they cross the street. » On the bus, children should always remain seated and keep the aisle clear. Tell children not to put their head, hands or arms out the window. » Remind children to stop talking and remain silent when the bus comes to a railroad crossing so the driver can hear if a train is approaching. » Children should avoid any loud or disruptive behavior that could distract the bus driver from safely operating the bus. SOURCE: Florida Highway Patrol
Drivers
» Be alert and watch for children, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses and in school parking lots. » Children on bicycles can be unpredictable and can make sudden changes in direction. Be especially careful when children are present in school zones and residential areas. » Pay extra attention to lower speed limits in school zones. » Watch for and obey signals from school crossing guards. » Only drive or park in authorized areas to drop off or pick up children at school. » Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and “STOP” arms extended. » All drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal, and all drivers must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school
bus stop arm is withdrawn. On a highway divided by a paved median, all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn. The only time traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop is if there is a raised barrier, such as a concrete divider or at least 5 feet of unpaved space (median) separating the lanes of traffic (painted lines or pavement markings are not considered barriers). » Although on a highway divided by a raised barrier or an unpaved median at least 5 feet wide drivers moving in the opposite direction do not have to stop for the bus, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus. SOURCE: Florida Highway Patrol
Additional tips from Lee County Public Schools » Stand at least three giant steps or 6 feet away from the street when waiting on a bus. » Do not sit near the street at a bus stop. » Do not run or play at a bus stop. » Wear bright-colored clothing that makes it easy for drivers to see you.
» Pay attention to your surroundings. » Parents and guardians should visit bus stops. » If you drop something near a bus, ask the bus driver for help. » Do not approach a bus until it has stopped and the doors are open.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 37
« safety (continued)
“If it is effective, we will do safe zones all over the city,” he says. “If it is not effective, we will do something else. If it does make an impact, you will see other organizations throughout the county taking up this project.” Other groups are watching to see if the project works. “We are always looking to reach out locally to help,” says Adam Botana, a board member of the Rotary Club of Bonita Springs. “If it works out, we will jump right on board.” Local citizens are also building benches for safety. Benches for Our Babes has been putting out picnic benches for students to sit on while they wait for the bus in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers and Pine Island. By midsummer, they had 200 picnic benches in Cape Coral, 65 in North Fort Myers and almost 70 in Lehigh Acres. “This is just regular people who are parents,” says Nicole Fitzpatrick, who is running the effort in Cape Coral. “It is people who it affected in a very strong way. Layla’s bus stop is right across from where I live. I heard the sirens after she was hit. We just wanted to get together and make some change in our community.” The group, which formed the day after Layla died, is coordinating through Facebook pages in each community. Lowe’s donated 200 benches and is selling the rest at half price. Nicole says they are prioritizing the places the benches are placed to areas without sidewalks or streetlights. Nicole is now looking for people to adopt the benches and take care of them. “I am a mom of seven, and my kids have stood at the bus stop when it was dark,” Fitzpatrick says. “This is our future. It is up to us to make sure they are protected and they are safe. It’s been a really overwhelming experience when it comes to the community. We want to keep this effort alive. It’s a ton of work, but to see the kind of movement we have brought and the changes we have brought to the community, it is an amaz-
“This is our future. It is up to us to make sure they are protected and they are safe.” — NICOLE FITZPATRICK ing thing to see the community moving forward.” Christy-Lee Iwanow, who oversees Benches for Our Babes in North Fort Myers, is bringing businesses and even children into the effort. Businesses can sponsor two benches for $175; one with their business logo and the other that youth groups can paint. They have had day cares, sports teams, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other groups involved in the bench painting. “We focus on bringing awareness to local drivers by placing the benches, but also to the children by having them participate in the process of building the benches and painting the benches,” Christy-Lee says. “It allows them to know that
Benches for Our Babes Parents and concerned citizens have formed Benches for Our Babes groups in Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Pine Island and North Fort Myers to provide safe places for children to wait for school buses. Here’s how to reach out to them: » » » » »
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Email: Benchesforourbabesgc@gmail.com Cape Coral online: facebook.com/groups/1991698281136611 Lehigh Acres online: facebook.com/benchesforbabeslehighacres Pine Island online: facebook.com/groups/440008013434472 North Fort Myers online: facebook.com/groups/429650741134363
they have to be aware as well, that not all drivers are paying attention.” The group has held bench painting competitions, raffles and fundraisers. They plan to continue placing benches around the community. “Alana Tamplin was such a beautiful young spirit. We are doing everything to keep Alana’s name alive,” Christy-Lee says. “We are very heartbroken that two months later Layla was run over. Our voices were not loud enough, but we are making sure that everyone hears us now.” Police records show in Lee County there have been 11 incidents over the last 10 years involving students walking to and from school or their bus stop, ranging from drivers clipping students with their car mirrors to death. Lauren Stillwell, director of communications, public relations and marketing for Lee County Public Schools, says that while district bus stops meet all state safety criteria, district leaders are searching for ways to make them safer. Over summer, the district has been working with various government officials to explore ways to install additional lighting and sidewalks. School officials also continued to discuss updating the district’s proximity plan, the guiding principles that determine which schools a family can choose. Under the existing plan, some parents can choose up to 17 elementary schools in their zone. Lauren says they are working to narrow the list of choices to schools that are closer to a student’s home, thus decreasing some bus ride times. Education is also key to safety, Lauren says. Bus and bus stop safety will be featured during the August 3 Back to School Block Party, planned for Bell Tower Shops from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Collier County school officials told us they hand out flyers on bus stop safety in English and Spanish. Another, more difficult element in the bus stop safety equation is getting drivers to behave safely, too. “One of the elements of this story that is beyond our control is driver awareness and safety,” says Rob Spicker, a spokesperson for Lee County Public Schools. “No student is safe if drivers are not paying attention, speeding or recklessly on the road.” Elmer knows the benches won’t help without education. That is why city, school and Florida Highway Patrol officials are working to educate drivers, parents and students. “If you don’t educate the kids, you can put out all the benches you can and it won’t help,” Elmer says. Lt. Gregory S. Bueno, public affairs officer for the Florida Highway Patrol in Fort Myers, says drivers, parents and students all must be aware of safety. He emphasizes it is important for drivers to be attentive, especially near school bus
stops. “This should be something on our radars, but I still go out there and see people on their phones,” he says. “You have these brokenhearted families, and that shouldn’t happen. Children do not have the same awareness that we do as COLLIER adults. They could toss COUNTY a ball and it could go in Bus routes: 281 the street and they dart Bus stops: 6,046 into the street.” Number of bus riders: 19,475 For children, the Earliest bus lieutenant recommends pickup: 5:01 a.m. that an adult be present Latest drop-off: 5:12 p.m. for younger children. He also recommends LEE COUNTY using reflectors that Bus routes: 753 will make the children Bus stops: 6,958 Number of more visible. Parents bus riders: 49,231 can get them for free at Earliest bus the FHP office in Fort pickup: 4:36 a.m. Myers. Latest drop-off: 6 p.m. “Have a talk (8:10 p.m. for the afterschool activities bus) with your child that anywhere, walking to the stop or at the stop, they need to know it can be dangerous,” he says. “No laying down on the shoulder where the visibility is hindered. Try to stand off the road as far as possible. All these things are extremely important.” On roads that have no sidewalks, like Durrance Road, the lieutenant recommends people walk facing traffic, so they can see vehicles coming. He would not comment specifically on the benches but did say it is important for students to have a safe place to wait for the school bus. “What we are asking at the bus stop location is to be visible and have a safe location,” he says. “There in an area where you are not infringing upon the road, someplace where you are seen by drivers. These little simple practices go a long way. It is just another tool in our toolbox. We certainly want to do everything to protect our children and make our school bus stops as safe as possible.”
By the numbers
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safety corner » TOM A R SENAULT
WHAT'S THE BEST CAR SEAT? Using a child safety seat designed for your child’s height and weight is a vital requirement.
A
utomobiles are a part of life in the United States, yet driving is not without safety hazards, especially for children. Several steps can be taken to make traveling in a vehicle safer for kids, as long as parents and caregivers make use of the right equipment and take the right precautions on every ride. When seat belts were first introduced, many people were not mindful of the dangers that these safety devices actually pose to young children. Until youngsters are the size of young adults, using regular adult safety belts can actually prove quite damaging to kids. The force of inertia can lead to severe stomach injuries, fractures of the lumbar spine and serious head and facial injuries. That’s why specially designed child safety seats were created. These seats keep children secure while traveling by car. Some hospitals won’t even allow parents to take their newborn children home without the proper child safety seat installed in the car. It is important to know the height and weight restrictions of a car seat, which can be found on a label on the seat. Placing a child in an improper car seat for their size can increase the risk of death or injury, so it is very important for parents to make sure that they only use the type of car seat suggested for the height and weight of their child. Tom Arsenault is the Florida Department of Transportation District 1 law enforcement liaison.
Ultimate Car Seat Guide Need help figuring out which seat is best for your child? Or how to install it? Visit ultimatecarseatguide.org.
In the past, parents had to acquire several different seats over the lifetime of a child. Car seat manufacturers now have seats that convert from rear-facing to forward-facing to a belt positioning booster. Most car seats were also secured to the seat in the car using the vehicle’s seatbelt, but these systems proved to be too complex, and many parents had difficulty installing the car seat properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 75% of
car seats are not used correctly, so the LATCH restraint system was developed to help parents install and use their child safety seats accurately. Since 2002, most cars in the United States have been required to be LATCH friendly, which means that they have special metal bars to which the car seat can be tethered easily. There is help to make sure you have installed your car seat properly. Find a certified technician to help with installations at safekids.org/events.
Safe Kids is a nonprofit coalition of agencies and organizations dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries. Visit safekidsswfl.org.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 41
« family album
FINDING FAMILY » ”I want to be adopted,” Lucas Bechler, 7, left,
tells 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Carolyn Swift on July 11 during an adoption hearing at the Lee County Justice Complex Center in downtown Fort Myers. At right: The Bechler’s first family portrait after brothers, Jacob, 8, left, Lucas, center, and Matthew,13, rear, were adopted July 11 at the Lee County Justice Complex Center in downtown Fort Myers. Michele and David Bechler adopted the brothers who now have a sister, Molly, 16, and niece, Kaylee, 8. Photos by Kinfay Moroti
DING PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS » Jackson Mytnik’s “Owl at Sunset” took first place in the sixth annual “Ding” DarlingTheodore Cross High School Photography Contest by “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge at the refuge on Sanibel Island. “Leaves at the Beach” by Nathaniel Pechenino won second place. Ethan Epperly’s “Inversion” took third. Photos courtesy of J.N. “Ding” National Wildlife Refuge
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SUMMER VACATION » Cape
Coral teen Denver Boxleitner visited the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls while hiking through Chimney Rock State Park in June in North Carolina. Photo by Barbara Boxleitner/ special to SW FL Parent & Child
Send Us Your Snapshots Send your images with a brief description and names of the people in them to editor@swflparentchild.com
WORD MASTERS » Several students from the Community School of Naples’ Lower School were honored for their achievements at the WordMasters Challenge, a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 150,000 students. Competing in the very difficult Gold Division, fourth-graders Xavier Baquero-Iglesias and Zachary Sissman and fifth-graders Devon Grider and Darius Zafar each earned a perfect score of 20. Fourth-grader George Barbounis and fifth-graders Brooke Glick, Noah Mansson and Elle Schulman each had only one incorrect answer. Fourth-grader Xavier Baquero-Iglesias earned Individual Highest Honors with a score of 58 out of 60. Photo courtesy of Community School of Naples
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 43
« family album
TRIPLE THREAT » Dylan Alvarez, 5, practices his dancing and singing routine during a rehearsal of the musical “Aristocats” at Melody Lane Performing Arts Center in Cape Coral on July 12. The center has become a thriving developer of “triple threat” youngsters, those who sing, dance and act. Photo by Ricardo Rolon
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Excellent academics rooted and grounded in God's word.
GOLDEN PAWS » Brooke, Kevin, Matthew and Jenna
Johnson pose with KJ the puppy at the Golden PAWS Assistance Dogs open house and special puppy naming ceremony on June 26. Golden PAWS is a nonprofit that promotes independence for combat wounded veterans and children with life-changing disabilities through partnerships with skilled assistance dogs. Special to SW FL Parent & Child
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FUTURE DOCTOR »
Nate Caves wants to become a pediatric oncologist, so he asked Dr. Emad Salman, of the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, for a few minutes of his time to ask some questions, and the doctor obliged, thrilling Nate. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » AUGUST 2019 » 45
« family album
COLLEGE TOUR » Forty-four Immokalee High School students visited five Florida colleges and universities in three days during a tour sponsored by The Immokalee Foundation in June. Above: Giselle Nava and Graciela Cervantes at University of South Florida. At rigth: Marceliah Cruz, Maria Lopez and Julian Plata Jr. at Florida State University. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child
CELTIC SPIRIT » The Celtic Spirit School of Irish Dance performed for the residents of Naples Reserve this spring. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child
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FOURTH FUN » David Lopez enjoys a swim on the Fourth of July. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child
TINY MISS » Audrey Fisher, of
Naples, won the 2019 Tiny Miss Ambassador Legacy US title at the 2019 Miss Legacy US Pageant in Orlando. She also won the Tiny Miss Super Model award and a one-year modeling contract with Envy Models and Talent. Photo by Penny Fisher.
OFF TO COLLEGE » The Guadalupe Center helped 24 Immokalee High School
graduates prepare for college life this summer with a shopping trip to purchase essentials for their dorm rooms. Bottom left: Kathy Orozco at Best Buy. Bottom right: Jesus Soto and Fredlyn Pierre Louis. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child
MADISEN’S MATCH » Madisen’s
Match founder Duane Chaney along with 11-year-old brain cancer survivor Cali Trepkowski and members of the Madisen’s Match committee presented a check for $91,554 to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The money was raised during the 2019 Madisen’s Match Gala & Auction and the Golisano Children’s Hospital Pro Tennis Classic in March. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child
LITTLE MISS LEGACY »
Gianna Moldonado, of Cape Coral, won the Little Miss Legacy US Pageant held in Orlando on July 6-9. Photo by Angelina Moldonado
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travel »
NATURAL SPRINGS AND OLD FLORIDA HISTORY
Volusia County
Discover the charm and family entertainment that await in the Central Florida cities of West Volusia County. STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS
De Leon Springs State Park
PHOTO SPECIAL TO SW FL PARENT & CHILD
W
hen thinking of Orlando, visitors most often picture theme parks, and when thinking of Daytona Beach to the east, driving on the beaches might come to mind. However, you might find that what’s in between is just as fascinating. Situated between Orlando and Daytona Beach is West Volusia County, an area that encompasses 14 distinct communities along the St. Johns River, each thriving with historical, cultural and natural charm. This area is known for its three state parks — Blue Spring State Park, De Leon Springs State Park and Hontoon Island State Park — plus downtown DeLand and Skydive DeLand, known as the Skydiving Capital of the World, according to Georgia Turner, executive director of the West Volusia Tourism Bureau. She says a great way to experience the communities of West Volusia is to tour the Wings of the West trail.
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« travel (continued)
“The trail features six whimsical murals by resident artist Erica Group and takes you on a journey to some of West Volusia’s top attractions. You can see amazing art and it’s great for capturing memorable family photos,” she says. One of the towns, Orange City, offers small-town charm and family recreation, including the largest spring on the St. Johns River, the Family Fun Town entertainment complex and great festivals, including the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival. “A new fall event (Country Music and Bluegrass Festival) coming this year on October 19 at Valentine Park will feature sounds of authentic American music, a pie-eating contest, bounce houses, a waterslide and food trucks,” Georgia says. The parks are not to be missed. Blue Spring Park Manager Michael Watkins says this park has a first magnitude spring with up to 160 million gallons flowing into the St. Johns River each day. “Visitors should plan on snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing and renting kayaks and tubes. Guests can enjoy birding and picnicking at Blue Spring, too,” he suggests. “During the summer visitors can swim in the 72-degree water. During winter months swimming is closed for Manatee Season (November through March) when the spring run turns into a Florida manatee refuge where hundreds of manatees will huddle together seeking warmth from the cold.” De Leon Springs State Park is another must-visit. “Start with making your own pancakes on a griddle in the center of your table at The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, a working sugar mill back in the 1830s, located inside the park,” Georgia recommends. “The park features swimming in the spring, a narrated river cruise, canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals, playground, hiking trails, outdoor grills and pavilions.”
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De Leon Springs Park Manager Ken Torres says visitors are often surprised by “the real Florida, as this park is in the small town of De Leon Springs, which is surrounded by nature and not buildings.” He suggests taking advantage of the swimming, kayaking, canoeing and hiking. A 4-mile trail takes visitors through natural habitat where you might see deer, bear, turkeys and other animals. In addition to exploring the parks, Georgia suggests a few other outdoor adventures, including the Reptile Discovery Center, which has a nature trail where you can see alligators, lizards, tortoises and other reptiles up close. “Another fun way to discover this natural wonder is with Tiny Houseboat Adventures, offering an amazing experience for families to connect and have fun on the St. Johns River as they navigate their own tiny houseboat,” Georgia recommends. “It also provides the opportunity to visit all the wonderful places along the river including West Volusia’s three state parks and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.” There is one thing families should not leave home without when traveling to West Volusia County. “Bring your bikes,” she says. “West Volusia has two showcase multiuse trails. The Spring to Spring Trail and the East Central Regional Rail Trail, which are part of an even larger trail, The St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. Some areas of the trails are still in development. The Volusia Parks & Trails mobile app helps with navigation while traveling on our trails.” This interior locale also offers history. West Volusia has numerous historical sites, museums and attractions.
“Among them include: the Barberville Pioneer Settlement, offering an authentic look at the pioneer lifestyle of Central Florida; DeBary Hall, a 19th century hunting estate listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; the Henry A. DeLand House Museum, which depicts the lifestyles of the middle-class urban family in the late 1800s. DeLand’s Memorial Hospital and Veterans Museum complex showcases DeLand’s first hospital with a complete operating room,” Georgia says. “DeLand’s Naval Air Station Museum features exhibits of war-era archives, memorabilia, military vehicles and aircraft. Enterprise Heritage Center & Museum is housed in the historic Enterprise Elementary School House from the 1930s and displays letters, docu-
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The West Volusia area is known for its natural springs, where people are drawn to the clear, 72-degree water. Above is Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka, just southwest of Volusia County. • Opposite page top: The swimming area at De Leon Springs State Park. • Opposite page bottom: Wekiwa is also a popular place to camp, hike and view wildflowers.
ments and artifacts from when Enterprise was a booming tourist destination in the Steamboat Era.” Another piece of history in DeLand is the Stetson Mansion, Florida’s First Luxury Estate, built in 1886 for famed hat maker John B. Stetson. Georgia says it’s appropriate for kids 12 and older. For families interested in art, the DeLand Historic Mural Walk features more than a dozen scenes of West Volusia’s early settlement, a self-guided tour that helps families explore the award-winning downtown. She also suggests staying at The DeLand Hotel for another historical experience. If you’re going to be in West Volusia County, consider a stop at Wekiwa Springs State Park in Apopka, less than
an hour away. The park spans Orange, Seminole and Lake counties. “Second magnitude Wekiwa Springs was developed early on as the first attraction in Orange County, a full three quarters of a century before Disney,” says Park Manager Robert Charles Brooks. “A hotel, boat house complex, cabanas and the first ‘water slide’ was built in the 1890s.” While today those things might be gone from Wekiwa Springs, the water that has always brought people to this destination still attracts visitors. There’s swimming and snorkeling. A concessionaire rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboards to explore runs that range from a mile to 10 miles. The park is also a popular place to camp.
“In the fall the sandhill communities of Wekiwa become a sea of color with wildflowers attracting many butterfly and bird species to the area,” Robert says. “Hikers and campers at Wekiwa can see may different animal and bird species and, while extremely rare, perhaps even encounter a Florida black bear.” Hiking is another popular excursion. “Wekiwa being the largest park at 9,000-plus acres has in excess of 25 miles of trails to hike, from the Wet-toDry Trail (our shortest at three-quarters of a mile) to the intermediate Orange (Volksmarch) Trail at 6 miles to our 13.5-mile White Trail,” Robert says. “It is important that hikers dress appropriately and bring water, snacks and any other items they may need.”
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« around town
School's back, time to party Class is back in session this month, a perfectly good reason to throw a shindig. The School District of Lee County and Safe Kids are organizing the Back-to-School Block Party, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 3 at the Bell Tower Shops in south Fort Myers. And Zoomers is holding its Back to School Bash, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, August 16, when wristbands will be $15 all day with unlimited outdoor attractions, like the go-karts, rides and mini golf. Plus, there’ll be drawings for prizes and other fun stuff. Get details at zoomersfun.com.
Get out your sandsculpting tools Teams of kids and adults are about to hit the beach to find out who makes the best sand sculptures. The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples Castles for Kids Sand Sculpting Competition takes place Wednesday, August 7 at LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort in Naples. Check-in and photo ops with Moana and pirates start at 8:30 a.m. The competition is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Lunch and awards are 10:30 a.m. to noon. Valet parking is free for those attending the event. Cost to compete is $100 per team ($75 for C’mon members); free to spectate. Details at cmon.org/event/castles-kids-2019.
Baby gators hatching soon The last two weeks of August are a busy time for Gatorama, an alligator farm west of Lake Okeechobee. It’s hatching season, and this Florida attraction invites the public to be a part of it every year. Seats at the hatching tables are about $20 and they go fast, so reservations are highly recommended (unless you just want to watch, then no tickets required). The 2019 Alligator Hatching Festival is expected to run August 17 to September 2 (exact dates depend on when the baby gators decide to come out of their shells). Get details at hatchingfestival.com, 863-675-0623 or Gatorama’s Facebook page. Gatorama is at 10665 N. US Highway 27 in Moore Haven.
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Celebrate Honey Bee Day Honey bees work hard to keep Planet Earth thriving. They pollinate 80% of the world’s plants, including 90 types of food crops. To celebrate the little buggers, the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center in Naples offers buy-one-get-onefree admission Friday, August 16. The center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
calendar »
PRESCHOOL & VPK
Thursday, Aug. 1 “Beauty and the Beast” » Through August 10. Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers. The main stage show features Disney’s classic tale of “Beauty and the Beast.” $20-$70. Shows run Wednesday-Sunday through August 10. broadwaypalm.com Teen Conservatory’s “Les Misérables” » August 1-10. Norris Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Gulfshore Playhouse shines the spotlight on talented teens during the Teen Conservatory production of “Les Misérables.” Directed by Broadway veteran Becky Timms of the original Broadway production of “Cats” and previous associate choreographer for the Tony Award-winning “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” the classic Broadway musical stars students ages 13-18 from Gulfshore Playhouse’s by-audition-only Teen Conservatory. Shows are 7 p.m. August 1-3 and 6-10, 2 p.m. August 2, 4 and 9. Tickets are $20. 239-213-3058. gulfshoreplayhouse.org/project/les-miserables
Friday, Aug. 2 “A Tale of Life” » 6 p.m. Dunbar High School, 3800 Edison Ave., Fort Myers. The Quality Life Center’s big endof-summer-camp show. Kids Free Fridays » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Kids 12 and younger get free admission. Enjoy exhibits, crafts, stories, science lab, and a feature film. Adult admission is $5 (free for members). Registration is encouraged. The center remains open until 4 p.m. rookerybay.org “Mamma Mia! Teen” » August 2-4. The Naples Players, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. $20. Enjoy the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs in this production of the Naples Players’ youth performing arts program KidzAct! Show times: 7:30 p.m. August 2-3, 2 p.m. August 3-4. naplesplayers.org/ kidzact
DANCE
Celebrating Since 1951
All Ages
Classical Ballet Pointe Modern Tap Jazz Hip Hop Acrobatics Children’s Work
(239)334-3274 www.dancebochette.com NEWBORN CARE
Summer Story Time & Craft » 10 a.m. Chick-fil-A, 21900 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero. Bring the kids every Friday morning for a free story and make a fun craft. Come early to order breakfast.
Saturday, Aug. 3 Back-to-School Block Party » 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., south Fort Myers. The School District of Lee County and Safe Kids Southwest Florida kick off the school year with fun for all ages, including a “Safe-to-School” Safety Zone, interactive games, a bounce house, giveaways and music.
RESALE & CONSIGNMENT
MUSIC LESSONS
Gulf Coast MusiC sChool
Coffee & College » 9 a.m. Perk & Brew, 1021 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral. Enjoy coffee and talk college admissions with “College UnMazed” author Amanda Sterk. Parents and students welcome. Register at unmaze. me/events.
Violin, Viola, Cello instruCtion BeGinners - adVanCed leVels
Lipman Family Farms Backpack Giveaway » 9 a.m.noon. Immokalee High School, 701 Immokalee Drive, Immokalee. Children who attend with a parent or guardian
239-590-0059 gulfcoastmusic.org NP-0000921286
Since 1988
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« calendar get a free backpack filled with supplies. Harry Chapin Food Bank will provide food. 239-657-4421. lipmanfamilyfarms.com Murder Mystery Cruise » 6:30 p.m. Salty Sam’s Marina, 2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach. This adults-only fundraiser benefits Drug-Free Southwest Florida and its Drug House Odyssey and prevention programs for families in Lee County. $35 per person. executivedirector@drugfreeswfl.org. Register via eventbrite.com.
Monday, Aug. 5 Junior Golf Clinic » 9-10:30 a.m. August 5-9. Eastwood Golf Course, 4600 Bruce Herd Lane, Fort Myers. City of Fort Myers golf professionals teach ages 6-13 the fundamentals of golf. Registration forms available at cityftmyers.com. $60. 239-321-7488.
Tuesday, Aug. 6 Little Explorers » 10 a.m. Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. The Little Explorer Play Zone at the Conservancy is designed for ages 18 months to 5 years. Every other Tuesday and Thursday, the Little Explorer program holds a story time, activities and crafts. August 6 and 8: Way Down Deep. August 20 and 22, Oozey Octopus. 239-262-0304. conservancy.org/little-explorers
Saturday, Aug. 10 Back to School Carnival » Noon-6 p.m. Sky Zone Fort Myers, 14181 S. Tamiami Trail, south Fort Myers. A day of activities and games such as Bean Bag Toss, Dodgeball Target Practice, Giant Bowling, Timed Ladder Competition and face painting. skyzone.com/fortmyers Science Saturday » 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland, kids learn via interactive science and engineering projects, from making slime to building a solar system. miromaroutlets.com Tiki Fest » Noon-4 p.m. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. Live music, steel drums, Waikiki Hula Dancers, Mermaid Faith Lynn, Jeff the “Tiki” Juggler, face painting, tiki games, limbo, sand art and more. Free admission and parking. 941-639-8721. fishville.com
Wednesday, Aug. 14 Shelling & Beachcombing » 10-11 a.m. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Learn about shells at the park. Reservations required. Included with regular admission, $4 per vehicle with one occupant, $8 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants, $2 per pedestrian or cyclist. 239-463-4588.
Wednesday, Aug. 7 Castles for Kids Sand Sculpting Contest » 8:30 a.m.noon. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, 9891 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples. Teams of children and adults compete for awards. Benefits the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. cmon. org/event/castles-kids-2019
Thursday, Aug. 8 Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony » 5:30 p.m. A&R Teaching and Language Center, 17240 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 3, south Fort Myers. Enjoy refreshments, a raffle and activities while learning about A&R’s services in K-12 tutoring, SAT/ACT preparation and other areas. teachingandlanguage.com
Friday, Aug. 9 Fireworks Friday with the Miracle » 7 p.m. Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, south Fort Myers. Fireworks follow the Fort Myers Miracle baseball game. Game starts at 7 p.m. 239-768-4210. miraclebaseball.com Sea Turtle Talk » 10-11 a.m. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger to learn about the life cycle and journeys of the marine turtles that visit Lovers Key each summer. Reservations required. Included with regular admission, $4 per vehicle with one occupant, $8 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants, $2 per pedestrian or cyclist. 239-463-4588.
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Thursday, Aug. 15 “Getting to Know You” Club Tour & Lunch » Noon. Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, 7500 Davis Blvd., Naples. Learn more about how the Boys & Girls Club’s programs help Collier County youth and teens do well in school, choose
calendar » healthy lifestyles and become great leaders. Free lunch provided by The Blue CanTEEN, Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s food truck. RSVP via Eventbrite or email Heidi Overman at hoverman@bgccc.com.
Friday, Aug. 16 Back to School Bash » 4-10 p.m. Zoomers, 17455 Summerlin Road, south Fort Myers. Wristbands are $15 all day with unlimited outdoor attractions, including go-karts, rides and mini golf. Drawings for prizes. 239-481-9666. zoomersfun.com “Madagascar Jr.” » 7-9 p.m. Hinman Auditorium, Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto the stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Shows are 7 p.m. August 16-17 and 2 p.m. August 17-18. artcenterbonita.org/theater/ youth.html National Honey Bee Day BOGO » 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Celebrate honey bees with buy-one-get-one free admission. rookerybay.org Sensational Sharks » 10-11 a.m. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger and discover why sharks, which are often feared, are an incredible group of animals that are commonly misunderstood. Reservations required. Included with regular admission, $4 per vehicle with one occupant, $8 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants, $2 per pedestrian or cyclist. 239-463-4588.
Saturday, Aug. 17 2019 Pine Island Sound Scallop Search » 8:30 a.m. Pineland Marina, 13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia. Join the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Florida Sea Grant in this resource-monitoring event to help monitor water quality in local waters. Volunteers are needed to snorkel and look for scallops in select areas of Pine Island Sound. It’s designed to be a fun family event. Reservations required. Lunch will be provided. Signup available on SCCF’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ SanibelCaptivaConservationFoundation. Family Yoga with Kathryn » 10 a.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland, families with kids from toddlers to teens can enjoy a free 45-minute beginners’ yoga class. miromaroutlets.com Paws 4 Kids » 9 a.m.-noon. Mercato, 9132 Strada Place, Naples. An awareness event for Youth Haven featuring therapy dogs Champ and Houston. Family activities, animal-related vendors and a red-carpet fashion show. Free. SummerJazz on the Gulf » 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples. Pocket Change performs at this free Gulf-side concert on the Watkins Lawn. Great for a date night or family outing. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome. No outside food or
drinks. Hotel guests park free. Otherwise, there’s parking at Lowdermilk Park with a free trolley service to the resort. Youth Theater Auditions: “Pippin” and “Children of Eden Jr.” » 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Casting call for “Pippin” and “Children of Eden Jr.” Registration required. Callbacks for “Pippen” are August 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Callbacks for “Children of Eden, Jr.” are August 24, 2-4 p.m. Rehearsals will be most Saturdays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Mondays 6-9 p.m. “Pippin” is open to performers in grades 10-12. Shows are November 16-24. “Children of Eden, Jr.” is open to grades 4-9. Shows are December 6-8. Details at artinlee.org.
Monday, Aug. 19 Family Art » 5:30-7 p.m. Mondays. Lee County Public Education Center (east entrance), 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Create art with your child under the instruction of a professional art teacher. Meets August 19 and 26, September 9, 16 and 23. Supplies are included. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children must be 6 or older and well-behaved. $35 per participant. Register via eventbrite.com. Homeschool Extra-Curricular Expo » 7-9 p.m. Center Point Community Church, 6590 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. Christian Home Educators of Collier County, or CHEACC, hosts this annual expo to help all home-school families find organizations to fit their extra-curricular needs, from art and music to sports and volunteering. cheacc@ yahoo.com
Wednesday, Aug. 21 CCCR Networking Event “Start a Perfect Season at Shula’s” » 5:30-7:30 p.m. Shula’s Steak House at the Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. Benefits Collier Child Care Resources. $10 (CCCR Business 100 members get two free tickets). Network and enjoy a complimentary drink, hors d’oeuvres and a raffle. 239-643-3908. collierchildcare.org/ network JA Bowl A Thon » 5:30-8:30 p.m. HeadPinz Entertainment Center, 14513 Global Parkway, Fort Myers. Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida invites all bowling enthusiasts and beginners to its eighth annual Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser. Benefits Junior Achievement’s business-oriented programs for local students. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Bowling begins at 6. juniorachievement.org Love That Dress! » 6-9 p.m. Embassy Suites, 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive, Estero. A shopping spree fundraiser offering more than 2,000 new and gently loved dresses, shoes, handbags and accessories. Benefits Pace Center for Girls, Lee County. $30 in advance, $40 at the door, $150 for VIP. lovethatdressleecounty.com Moms Appreciation Day & Free Kids Crafts » 10 a.m.noon. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland, moms get a free goodie from le macaron french pastries while the kids make crafts. Free Kids Crafts takes place every Wednesday. miromaroutlets.com
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« calendar Friday, Aug. 23 Summer Singer-Songwriter Competition » 8 p.m. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. Local and national acts compete for top prizes. Judges select the grand prize winner. The audience will vote for the People’s Choice winner. Submission deadline is August 13. Tickets to attend are $5. 239-333-1933. sbdac.com Walk on the Wild Side » 10-11 a.m. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger for a guided hike along Black Island Trail. Learn about the vegetation and wildlife, do some bird watching, and maybe learn a little local history. Reservations required. Included with regular admission, $4 per vehicle with one occupant, $8 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants, $2 per pedestrian or cyclist. 239-463-4588.
Saturday, Aug. 24 Baby Boot Camp » 9 a.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Certified fitness professionals instruct exercise classes for pregnant, postnatal and ultra-fit moms every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in WINK Playland. Summertime Science Saturdays » Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Handson discovery labs for all ages every Saturday through August. Adults and kids alike can discover science with an educator including examining live organisms under microscopes, behind-the-scenes experiences in working laboratories, hands-on marine critter connections and more. Free for ages 12 and younger, $5 for adults. rookerybay.org
Sunday, Aug. 25 Toast to Tenacity » 5-7 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Adults and youth 12 and older are invited to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, women’s right to vote. Features a short performance from “The Agitators” and a spoken-word segment highlighting key figures in the suffrage movement. There will also be a grape juice toast, like the one suffragists used when Prohibition was in effect. A wine and cheese reception follows. Free, reservation requested. artinlee.org/event/tenacity
women build confidence, get career advice, learn about personal safety and early childhood learning, and more. Free; registration required. ourmothershome.com
Saturday, Aug. 31 Kids Day » 10 a.m.-noon. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland, Toddlers to 12-year-olds do fun activities and get free pizza, ice cream and other goodies. miromaroutlets.com Free Admission with a Library Card » August 31-September 2. Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Present your Collier County library card at the Naples Botanical Garden to receive free general admission for you and your family August 31-September 2. naplesgarden. org or collierlibrary.org
Sunday, Sept. 1 Musical Moments Series: Back to (School) the Future » 3-5 p.m. Moe Auditorium & Film Center, Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. A program that highlights outstanding student performers throughout the Southwest Florida region. Free. artcenterbonita.org
Wednesday, Sept. 4 National Wildlife Day BOGO » 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Celebrate with buy-one-get-one free admission. rookerybay.org
Saturday, Sept. 7 “Small Wonders: Insects in Focus” Family Activity Day » Noon-2 p.m. Center for Visual Arts, 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. In the air, water, and even under foot, insects inhabit every domain of our daily lives, performing essential functions that balance our fragile ecosystem on Earth. By using cutting-edge technology and custom methods, artist Bob Sober created an exhibit that allows viewers to see this hidden world like they’ve never seen it before. At this Family Activity Day, families can create art based on insects. The exhibit runs September 2-October 19. artcenterbonita.org.
Thursday, Aug. 29 First Robotics » 6-8 p.m. IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers. The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership and IMAG invite families, educators and geeks of all ages to learn about FIRST Robotics and the Lego competitions. Register at swfrtp.org/ event-3475842/Registration.
Friday, Aug. 30 Young Women on the Rise Seminar » 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Keiser University, 9100 Forum Corporate Parkway, Fort Myers. Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida helps young
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Visit swflparentchild.com for more events.
Jaimie Layne is the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, graceworksunlimited.org, a nonprofit that helps communities through service programs and projects.
voices »
GUEST COLUMNIST
Blessings Pantries I
These ‘supply closets’ help give students the basics they need to be successful in the classroom.
n March, I attended a meeting with a Southwest Florida elementary school that I heard needed a little bit of community backing. During this meeting, I was shocked to hear that teachers were using their own money to provide basic needs to their students, who came to school hungry, lacked school supplies needed for the class and often came to school in the same outfit or their outfits were too small. I really felt called to not only serve the school and students, but to serve the teachers who were literally giving their all to these children they are with daily. All over Lee County, there is a huge need in our school system. Many schools are Title I, meaning that they have high concentrations of low-income children attending. Teachers have recognized that there is a vast number of students lacking basic needs, such as food, clothing, toiletries and school supplies. I am the community representative for Grace Works Unlimited, a local nonprofit. I developed a program that we launched after meeting with our first school, called Blessings Pantries, and it took off running. These pantries are
designed to aid teachers who recognize a need within their classrooms and support them so they don’t have to spend their own money. We continuously fill the shelves with the basic needs the administration says their students are lacking by individual donations and community support. These pantries not only benefit the students to improve their abilities to learn, but they also provide a stress relief for the teachers, so they may focus on teaching students instead of meeting basic needs. Grace Works Unlimited partners with administration at schools throughout the county, designates a small closet to fill so teachers have access, and throughout the year teachers can take what is needed for their students.
The Blessings Pantries serve as a gateway for the community to partner and get involved by supporting teachers and students in successful education. After the Lee County School District received word of what we were doing, I had a one-on-one meeting to discuss the Blessings Pantries program and they fell in love with the idea. They partnered with us by sending us in the right direction to the schools who need these Blessings Pantries the most. This summer, we were busy getting four pantries ready and set up for a successful 2019-2020 school year. I predict that by the end of the year, we will be partnering with over 10 schools in the Lee County School District. Thanks to some amazing community partners, we are on our way to filling the shelves with basic needs the students are lacking, but we are in constant need of donated supplies to continue stocking the shelves throughout the year. For a complete list of items that are needed for our Blessings Pantries or to donate to support this program, please email me at jaimie@ gracecworksunlimited.org.
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» last look
MANGO MANIA James Dinneen, 3, center, takes a lick of mango pie while his mom, Christi Botcherby, watches him compete in the kids Mango Pie Eating Contest at the MangoMania Tropical Fruit Fair on Saturday, July 13, at the German American Social Club in Cape Coral. At left is Colton Bigler.
PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
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HEALTHY LIFE CENTER—COCONUT POINT
FAMILY EVENTS
CALENDAR
August 2019 Saturday, August 3 World Breastfeeding Week: Global Big Latch On Event 10 a.m.-noon
Saturday, August 10 Friends & Family CPR 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. RSVP Saturday, August 10
Thursday, August 8 Fourth Trimester Club 12-1:30 p.m. Moms and children up to one year
Meditation for Teens: Back-to-School De-Stress 11 a.m.-noon RSVP
Friday, August 9 Toddler Time 10 a.m.-noon RSVP Moms and children ages 12 months to 4 years.
Saturday, August 17 Family Yoga 9-10 a.m. RSVP Car Seat Safety Check 9 a.m.-4 p.m. RSVP Call 239-468-0050 to schedule an appointment
Thursday, August 22 Fourth Trimester Club 12-1:30 p.m. Moms and children up to one year SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, October 5 Fourth Annual Inspiring Health 5K 8 a.m. Kids fun run and 1 mile route included!
Healthy Life Center—Coconut Point 239-468-0050
©2019 Lee Health • 3400.193 • 7-19