WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIG FORGE of English expressions, where the hammer of individual lives meets the anvil of language, we all hail from the same place: the land of aphorism. The country of adage.
Not too long ago, someone put up a Facebook post that recounted a conversation the Fox television pundit and political columnist Bill O’Reilly had with a Fox news commentator, retired Lt. Col. Ralph Peters. He spent years working in Army intelligence in Germany, and has since written novels and articles about our enemies in the world.
Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida welcomed a purebred golden named Joy and her mixed-breed puppy, Nika, to America on Saturday, May 23, with a greeting committee at Angel Animal Hospital in North Naples. The dogs had been flown into Miami earlier that day following collaboration with rescuers in South Korea in a mission that was a month in the works.
Sara Fitzpatrick Comito, a talented and promising poet writing in the American vernacular, lives in Southwest Florida. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, she switched majors from music to English “because naturally, writers enjoy greater job security than classical singers,” she explains.
Floridians who would benefit from Medicaid expansion can’t afford private insurance, but they’re not poor enough to qualify for Florida’s current Medicaid program. State politicians who oppose Medicaid expansion say they’re not comfortable relying on the federal government to make good on promises to foot the vast majority of the bill.
What happened when you came home from school with a low grade on your report card? Many of us experienced a team of nurturing parents, teachers and tutors supporting us to get our grades back on track.
The Amtrak crash outside of Philadelphia was an invitation for practically every politician in the Northeast and every transit expert in America to complain about lack of funding for the county’s infrastructure.
The Founders Fund at Club Pelican Bay awarded $216,000 in renewable scholarships to 27 local students this year. Each student receives a four-year scholarship in the amount of $8,000 to help pay college and post high-school education expenses. Recipients must maintainaBaverageorbetterintheir studies in order to receive $2,000 each year.
Lighthouse of Collier will hold its sixth annual free summer camp for blind and visually impaired children July 6-31. Sessions take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. A picnic and awards ceremony takes place Saturday, Aug. 1.
¦ Pearls of Naples is a club for women offering monthly luncheons with speakers, excursions to local venues, theaters, art galleries and restaurants.
Covenant Church of Naples/PCA holds Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 through entering sixth grade Monday through Friday, June 22-26. Sessions are from 8:45 a.m. to noon.
The SonSpark Labs curriculum focuses on a week of laboratory adventures and activities including songs, skits, crafts and games.
Great art class
Here’s where Collier County Sheriff’s Office traffic-enforcement deputies will be the week of June 1-5:
Monday, June 1
Pine Ridge Road at Pine Ridge Middle School: Aggressive driving
Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Naples Lakes Boulevard: Aggressive driving
Vanderbilt Beach Road and Oakes Boulevard: Speeding
AARP offers classes to help older drivers learn about new traffic laws, refresh their driving skills and reduce their risk for tickets and accidents. Drivers over age 55 might be eligible for a discount on auto insurance.
America’s hospitals are staffed by more than 5.5 million people who bring care, compassion and healing to our patients and our communities.
For the first time in a lab, researchers at the National Institutes of Health found evidence supporting the commonly held belief that people with certain physiologies lose less weight than others when limiting calories. The study results were published in the May 11 issue ofDiabetes.
Dogs and cats adopted from Humane Society Naples come with vaccinations, sterilization surgery, ID microchip and 30 days of health insurance. Visit the animals ready for adoption at the main shelter at 370 Airport- Pulling Road N. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It’s Memorial Day, and that means just one thing: Summer fun with your dog is right around the corner. But along with the good times come some seasonal hazards that can hurt your dog and spoil the easy-living vibe. Here’s what you need to know so both of you can enjoy the dog days of summer.
There are many fun and festive things to do during the summer months in Southwest Florida. Camping is not one of them.
FAR FROM THE STATE’S POPULAR COASTLINES on three hot, bright days in May, I was sent on assignment to drive south central Florida’s network of state, county and city roads in my green 1999 Honda Civic.
In eight years of column writing, I’ve never used the word travesty — not once. I’m proud of that fact. The word has been employed so frequently that often it rings with a tone of useless hysteria.
The Memorial Day weekend typically means crowded conditions on Florida waterways. The Save the Manatee Club cautions the boating community to keep a look out for manatees.
“Collisions with watercraft are the leading cause of all manatee deaths in Florida, when a cause of death can be determined,” says Patrick Rose, aquatic biologist and executive director of the club.
Manicures and pedicures aren’t usually news or fodder for commentary, but a blockbuster report in The New York Times has made them a compelling issue.
“Pacifica Station Bombed Off Air,” read the Houston Chronicle’s banner headline on May 13, 1970. KPFT, Houston’s fledgling community radio station, had been on the air for just two months when its transmitter was blown to smithereens.
The transition from a life in the performing arts to a business owner in the financial services industry can’t be easy, but that’s exactly what Tennille Sevigny has been able to do. She and her husband Aaron own of Acadia Wealth Management, and she serves on the board of Gulfshore Playhouse.
AARP offers classes to help older drivers learn about new traffic laws, refresh their driving skills and reduce their risk for tickets and accidents. Drivers over age 55 might be eligible for a discount on auto insurance.
Here’s where Collier County Sheriff’s Office traffic-enforcement deputies will be the week of May 25-29:
Monday, May 25
Airport-Pulling Road and J&C Boulevard: Red-light running
Livingston Road and Progress Avenue: Speeding
Pine Ridge Road and I-75 southbound exit: Red-light running
The Naples Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi recently installed the following officers for the coming year: Barbara Craig, president; Donna Issenmann and Glen Werner, vice presidents/literacy initiative; Jan Maiocco, vice president/ membership; Jan Heater, Sandy Karaganis and Julie Kerr, vice presidents/ programs; Liz Johnson, corresponding secretary; Mary Beth Unger, recording secretary; and Connie
Is this a great country or what?
Books for Collier Kids is the new name of First Book-Collier County, the nonprofit organization entering its second decade of providing brand new books throughout the school year to more than 7,000 children in pre-K, kindergarten, first and second grades in Collier County schools.
¦ New officers and board members for the Naples Italian American Foundation were elected earlier this month and assume their responsibilities July 1.
¦ Golden Gate Road Patrol and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 14 host the 5K Fun Run & Safety Fair at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 22, at Golden Gate Community Center. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m. and the race sets out at 8 p.m. For more information or to pre-register, call 455-3121 or visit colliersheriff.org.
Persistent depression might may double the risk of stroke in adults over 50 — and stroke risk remains higher even after symptoms of depression go away, according to research reported in the latest Journal of the American Heart Association.
Do you find yourself constantly distracted, frazzled and too stressed to enjoy life? Are you squandering the present moment worrying about past events you cannot undo or future events beyond your control?
If so, you’ve got a lot of company. And perhaps you can find some relief in the spiritual teachings of Eckhart Tolle, author of the bestselling “The Power of Now.”
The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association are raising awareness about American Stroke Month in an effort to prevent some of the more than 137,000 deaths annually from stroke.
The next support group meeting offered by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America takes place from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Collier County Library on Central Avenue. Guest speaker gastroenterologist Raymond Phillips will answer questions from those in attendance. The support group meets on the first Thursday of every month. All are welcome.
The Toastmasters clubs of Collier County will host a presentation of the “The Blue Zone Project” by Dr. Allen Weiss from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in the boardroom at NCH in North Naples, 11190 Healthpark Blvd.
The Community Blood Center, an affiliate of the NCH Healthcare System, encourages everyone age 16 and over to take time out to donate every eight weeks. The center in Naples is at 311 Ninth St. N. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Valet parking is free for donors. The center will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
The Florida Department of Health in Collier County cautions citizens that wildfire smoke is a respiratory irritant that can cause a scratchy throat or irritated eyes and nose. Smoke can also worsen conditions such as asthma and other chronic respiratory or lung conditions.
Here are some tips on how to protect your family from smoke:
ALL PROPS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.
When actors reach for a prop, the want it - no - they need it to be there.
If a book is missing from a bookcase, or a dish from a stack in the kitchen, no one’s really going to notice, unless if affects a scene.
Actress Mai Puccio describes her character in “August: Osage County” as “breathtakingly awful,” “a spider.”
The Naples Players’ ETC … Readers’ Theatre is accepting original one-act scripts for its 12th annual “An Evening of New Plays” contest for Southwest Florida playwrights.
Opera Naples holds auditions for its 2015 summer youth program Saturday, May 16, at the David and Cecile Wang Opera Center. This year’s show is Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Gondoliers,” with rehearsals taking place June 15-26 and performances June 27-28.
The fifth in Arleen Alleman’s series of cruise adventure novels mixes the excitement of new vistas, in this case Australia, with murder mystery suspense. One thing is for sure: This series will not make the author any friends in the cruise industry. It could, however, make her many new fans among readers.
Most of us grew up with the image of magicians as cartoonish characters in top hats and capes, pulling bunnies out of hats and making their living deceiving naïve children. Few of us, however, have experienced a real magician, a professional who has devoted his career to peeling away the layers of visual perception to reveal how people interact with the physical world.
¦ TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It’s a time to expect the unexpected. So don’t be surprised if a decision that just recently seemed final suddenly opens up and leaves you with another chance to make an important choice.
Following her 25th season of Critic’s Choice book review lectures at Artis—Naples, Elaine Newton has announced the first part of season 26: her summer reading list.
Hot Pursuit ♦♦½
“What can defeat me?” is a question declarer should ask himself prior to beginning the play of many hands. The failure to pose this simple question to oneself has led to the ruination of many a makable contract. Here is a typical case.
So this is what a two-hour action scene looks like.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” is 120 minutes of noise, action and more noise. It’s an unrelenting assault on the eyes and ears that almost feels invasive, as if director George Miller wants us to experience every bonecrushing moment rather than simply watch it. It’s a helluva ride.
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 10 P.M.
Father Brown, Season 2
The Three Tools of Death
When a troubled young woman’s father is killed just weeks after her mother’s death, Father Brown must help her deal with her grief.
Geography, knowledge and luck are a big part of finding a treasure in an unexpected place, and at a low price. It happens. A number of years ago, a collector found a stack of five enameled ashtrays at an estate sale. The trays were artwork made by a friend, but they were out of style and of no interest to the heirs. The collector asked the price and willingly paid the $5 for all of them.
Q: I’m a huge fan of “The Good Witch” movies on Hallmark Channel, and was thrilled that it became a series. Will “The Good Witch” be back for more episodes?
— Deenie F., via email
PEOPLE WHO REGISTER TO BE ORGAN donors think their organs will be donated, that they will save lives.
But that rarely happens.
From a patron’s perspective, perhaps, there is some relief that the traditional summer alchemy still exists — the alchemy created by departing snowbirds, dwindling out-of-state tourists and therefore sharply declining prices at hotels, restaurants and the many venues of play and recreation along the southwest coast.
President Barack Obama responded to the Baltimore riots with a heartfelt bout of self-righteous hectoring.
Supposedly, we all know what’s wrong with Baltimore and how to fix it, but don’t care enough. Not only is this attitude highhanded, it rests on a flagrantly erroneous premise.
Editor’s note: One of the joys of living on the southwest coast is the chance to hear a wide range of opinions. Here, readers respond to the column, “Becoming a Republican,” which first appeared on April 29. We welcome your letters and opposing viewpoints.
Dear Roger,
Homeowners associations are curious organizations. Most sane people I know — the ones who work, bring up children and have lives — would rather eat glass than install themselves in these petty dictatorships.
“What do you hope to accomplish with this protest,” I asked a 13-year-old girl marching in Staten Island, N.Y., last August, protesting the police killing of Eric Garner.
“To live until I’m 18,” the young teen, named Aniya, replied. Could that possibly be the American dream today?
The 2015 Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Collier County Veterans Council will mark the 75th anniversary of WWII. With Capt. James Elson (ret.) presiding, the program begins at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens and includes a performance by the Pine Ridge Middle School symphonic band. All are welcome. A free picnic lunch will follow.
Planning a trip abroad, or even just to the Bahamas, Canada or Mexico? You’ll need a passport, and the Collier County Clerk of Court office can help make the process easy for those who cannot get to the courthouse during regular business hours Monday-Friday.
AARP offers classes to help older drivers learn about new traffic laws, refresh their driving skills and reduce their risk for tickets and accidents. Drivers over age 55 might be eligible for a discount on auto insurance.
Here’s where Collier County Sheriff’s Office traffic-enforcement deputies will be the week of May 18-22:
Monday, May 18
Collier and Capri boulevards: Speeding
U.S. 41 North and Audubon Boulevard: Speeding
Radio Road and San Marcos Boulevard: Aggressive driving
Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies are keeping an extra eye out for seat-belt violations as part of the statewide Click It or Ticket campaign May 18-31. CCSO is joining forces with other law enforcement agencies across the state, along with FDOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to crack down on drivers and passengers who fail to buckle up.
¦ Pilot Club of Naples/Naples Pilot Foundation meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month at Perkins on Pine Ridge Road. Guests and new members are always welcome. The next meeting is May 14. Reservations are not required. Attendees order from the menu and pay for their meals.
Donating for dollars
¦ The next meeting of the Greater Naples Alumnae Panhellenic begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at Naples Yacht Club. The luncheon will honor recipients of the organization’s high school and college merit scholarships. Cost is $30. For reservations or more information, call Lynda Ewen at 498- 4769 or email lrewen1@gmail.com.
Florida Gulf Coast University’s lifelong learning program, the Renaissance Academy, has put the call out for instructors and course proposals for the coming fall (October-December) and winter/spring (January-May) sessions at RA locations throughout Collier and Lee counties.
¦ Scanlon Lexus of Fort Myers hosts Golf for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes on Sunday, May 15, at Spring Run Golf Course in Bonita Springs. Registration includes 18 holes, access to the driving range, golf cart, drink tickets, lunch, awards and prizes. Check-in is at 7 a.m. and the shotgun start is at 8 a.m.
Florida Weekly was named a finalist for nine awards in the newspaper division of the 2015 Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards, open to all professional print, broadcast and online journalists in the state of Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
INSIDE
Mississippi-born McKinley Morganfield once laid down a single line that should have been worthy of an honorary degree in advanced musicology: “The blues had a baby and they named it rock ’n’ roll.”
When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks, the world should listen.
He has a much keener sense of the direction of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program than the president of the United States, and is evidently much more forthright about it.
One hundred years ago, more than 1,000 women gathered here in The Hague during World War I, demanding peace. Britain denied passports to more than 120 women, forbidding them from making the trip to suppress their peaceful dissent.
When Gary Price served on the Naples City Council, including as vice mayor, he had influence and the respect of others because his comments were thoughtful, balanced and well articulated.
Junior Achievement USA and The Allstate Foundation recently released findings from the 2015 Teens & Personal Finance Survey, which expanded this year to include parents in the discussion of personal finances for the first time in its 16-year history.
Alan Cuevas’ approach to education has changed dramatically over the last four years. Today, the Immokalee High School senior is a top student who will enter college this fall with a full-ride academic scholarship covering the cost of his undergraduate degree.
Here’s where Collier County Sheriff’s Office traffic-enforcement deputies will be the week of May 11-15:
Monday, May 11
Vanderbilt Beach Road and Vanderbilt Drive: Aggressive driving
Napa Boulevard: Aggressive driving
Collier Boulevard and Sabal Palm Road: Speeding
