WOMEN IN FLORIDA HAVE HIGHER rates of poverty, lower educational attainment and lower access to health insurance coverage than women in the U.S. overall.
[img_assist|nid=269603|title=|desc= Fans of good soup and the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Lisa Miller and Jodie Pientka have been first in line at Empty Bowls Naples for the past nine years. Here they are at last year’s event.
A couple of weeks ago, Presidentelect Trump’s transition team asked the State Department to identify the positions within the department whose duties included work on gender issues. A similar request to the Energy Department asked it to name officials working on the Paris climate accords.
Let me say right up front how grateful I am to our new president, Donald J. Trump, for an education. And for surprises — those are always so much fun.
The best thing that happened to Donald Trump the other week is that BuzzFeed published the raw Russia dossier about him.
The nonprofit Naples Big Band presents free concerts for the public and supports music education in local schools. The band is also available for private parties, fundraisers and other special events.
The Marco Island Historical Society invites the public to the grand opening of “The Pioneer Era: A Tale of Two Villages,” from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
Jewish Family & Community Services of Southwest Florida has received a $1 million challenge grant from Naples philanthropists Jay and Patty Baker and the Brookdale Foundation Group. The announcement was made at JFCS’ recent “An Evening for Better Tomorrows” gala. Before the evening ended, it was announced that challenge had been met.
It’s amazing what one finds in the attic … or in the archive.
Post-truth society
“Dream Peace: Images of Holocaust Horrors and Heroes,” an exhibit of works by Sanibel artist Myra Roberts, opens with a free reception from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Hodges University in Naples. Ms. Roberts will present a “family tree” painting dedicated to philanthropist Myra Janco Daniels. Admission is free.
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. Cost is $15 for AARP members, $20 for others. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the number listed with the session you wish to attend.
Here’s where CCSO deputies will be on traffic detail the week of Jan. 30-Feb. 3:
Monday, Jan. 30
Goodlette-Frank Road and Orange Blossom Drive: Aggressive driving
U.S. 41 North and Pine Ridge Road: Aggressive driving
Vanderbilt Beach and Airport-Pulling roads: Aggressive driving
¦ The Naples chapter of Ikebana International meets Wednesday morning, Feb. 1, in the FGCU Research Center at Naples Botanical Garden. Socializing begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the business meeting at 10 a.m. and the program at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome; membership in Ikebana International or Naples Botanical Garden is not required.
Neapolitans always love a parade, and the one held on Dr. Martin Luther King Day was no exception, drawing a crowd to watch the procession along Fifth Avenue South.
See and smell smoke? Chances are it’s a prescribed burn.
Jo Ann Ward has been named the first Ooh La La Legacy Lady for the season. The award, created last year by Ooh La La Jewels du Jour sisters and co-owners Amy Turner and Tammyt Turner Kipp, celebrates local women who leave a lasting legacy in the community. Six women will be honored January through June.
¦ Humane Society Naples hosts the 11th annual Race for the Paws 5K Walk/Run starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Naples Municipal Airport. To sign up or for more information, call 643-1555 or visit www.hsnaples.org.
As preparations are made for the grand opening of Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida this spring, the call is out for volunteer Sunshine Ambassadors to help patients and visitors navigate the new facility on the HealthPark campus south of Fort Myers.
Add one more to the long list of reasons to keep active: A new University of Florida study demonstrates that low levels of physical activity are associated with higher blood sugar among adults who are at a healthy weight.
WHO AM I?
Title and company: President of Don Gasgarth Charlotte County Ford
Years with the company: 26
Years in southwest Florida: 26
Nature of business: Ford Dealer
From shelling to shopping and sunsets, rides on the wild side or simply savoring the flavors of local restaurants and the state’s best brewery, Southwest Florida satisfies any vacation style. And as you’ll discover below, whether you’re a first-time visitor or seasoned pro, there are some things you need to know before you go.
The scoop on the shelling stoop
Sure, it’s lovely to dig your toes into the sand and enjoy a day at the beach. But the ultimate perk of Florida winter is being able to dine outside. In January.
Southwest Florida is the land of endless summer. The sun always shines and the breeze is always pleasant — it just doesn’t get any better. That’s why we asked some of the area’s top photographers to share with us some of the reasons they they chose SWFL to live, work and play. Enjoy.
The Revs Institute for Automotive Research
Start your engines and head to Collier County for one of Naples’ many hidden gems where car enthusiasts are in a paradise that’s all their own at The Revs Institute for Automotive Research.
Save the gas, explore Southwest Florida on two wheels
Back in the early 1980s, Southwest Florida was about as bike unfriendly as an area could get. Bike lanes, paved shoulders and shared side-paths weren’t what traffic engineers cared about — they just needed traffic lanes to keep up with the double digit rate of population growth, so that’s what they built.
BIG ARTS Center
Music, dance, visual arts, lectures,
film, live theater
900 Dunlop Road
Sanibel (239) 395-0900
bigarts.org
Florida Repertory Theatre
Drama, comedy, musicals
2268 Bay St.
Fort Myers (239) 332-4488
floridarep.org
FLORIDA WEEKLY
Edison & Ford
Winter Estates
The winter homes of Thomas A. Edison
and Henry Ford, beautifully situated
along the Caloosahatchee River, are
among the greatest historic treasures
in Southwest Florida. The Estates
offers extensive guided tours of the
HOSPITALS
Lee County
Lee Health runs four of the county’s five hospitals:
Cape Coral Hospital, 636 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral, (239) 424-2000
ArtFest Fort Myers
Feb.3-6
ArtFest Fort Myers is one of Southwest
Florida’s premier art festivals.
Enjoy and purchase artwork in a
variety of mediums and prices from
more than 200 nationally recognized
artists from across the country and
around the world. Admission is free.
Professional hockey,
ECHL
Florida Everblades –
Germain Arena
11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero
Tickets – floridaeverblades.com
or (239) 948-7825
Charlotte Harbor
Preserve State Park
12301 Burnt Store Road
Punta Gorda
(941) 575-5861
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
is comprised of 42,000 acres and
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
We think Southwest Florida is the perfect place to retire. The weather’s great, taxes are low, the beaches are spectacular as is the boating and fishing and the economy is booming. But don’t take our word for it. Check out what the national media thinks:
Huffington Post 10 Best Places to Retire 2016
| U.S. | FLORIDA | LEE COUNTY | COLLIER COUNTY | CHARLOTTE COUNTY | |
| Population estimates | |||||
| July 2015 | 322,762,018 |
THE MOMENT — WHICH SOME VIEW AS THE APOCALYPSE AND OTHERS AS THE DAWNING OF A NEW POLITICAL AGE — is at hand. On Friday, Jan. 20, barring the unforeseen, Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States, a circumstance that may delight or horrify, depending on your political inclination.
Following in the tradition of suffragettes dating back to the 19th century, residents in Collier and Lee counties will march for women’s rights from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in downtown Naples.
“Show Me” by Naples/ Marco Island writer, actor and creative consultant Randall Kenneth Jones is a compilation of interviews and anecdotes gleaned from Mr.
The women’s march on the nation’s capital is taking shape, the result of a grassroots campaign to rally in support of women’s rights. The event is Jan. 21, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. It isn’t billed as an anti-Trump protest.
President Barack Obama has finally had it with Russia. It only took eight years of cold reality — topped off by the Russian interference in the November election — to make the outgoing president almost clear-eyed about the Kremlin.
It takes one to know one, as they say, and in our family, it takes two dummies to know Dummy, the Springer Spaniel formally known as Jessie.
Naples Equestrian Challenge has reached its $4 million Barn Raising Capital Campaign goal to fund the new equine-assisted therapy center.
There’s still an opportunity to take a leap for Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida during the rappelling fundraising event set for Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Naples Grand Beach Resort.
Over the Edge participants raise a minimum of $1,000 for JA and then get to rappel 170 to the ground from the roof of the hotel.
Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping children and families work through grief following the death of a loved one, is enrolling children in its new Naples location. Starting Thursday, March 9, support groups and activities will be held on the campus of The Village School at North Naples Church, 6000 Goodlette-Frank Road, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The Naples Center of Florida Gulf Coast University invites anyone who wants to learn about financial strategies for a successful retirement to enroll in a four-session workshop starting Thursday, Feb. 9, and continues on Thursdays through March 2. Meeting time is 6:30-9 p.m. at the center at 1010 Fifth Ave. S.
Entrepreneurial selling spirit
Habitat for Humanity launches a series of “Do More with ReStore” events at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the nonprofit’s Home Furnishings ReStore at 11127 Tamiami Trail E. in Naples. Decorator Michele Roark will share tricks and techniques for refreshing the look of your home simply by rearranging what you already own.
Here’s where CCSO deputies will be on traffic detail the week of Jan. 23-27:
Monday, Jan 23
Napa Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road: Aggressive driving
Sunshine Boulevard and Sunset Road: Aggressive driving
Livingston Road and Golden Gate Parkway: Speeding
Tuesday, Jan 24
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. Cost is $15 for AARP members, $20 for others. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the number listed with the session you wish to attend.
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit gives the automakers their first opportunity every year to get the public excited about the road ahead. While the crystal ball sees as far as a decade away, most of us really won’t wait that long for our dream car.
¦ Baby Basics of Collier County holds its eighth annual Walking Challenge at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at North Collier Regional Park. Participants can walk from 1½-6 miles to raise funds to help provide diapers for low-income, working families.
¦ The Gulf Coast Orchid Alliance meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at 1455 Pine Ridge Road. Admission is free, and all are welcome.
It’s amazing what one finds in the attic … or in the archive.
The Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida invites the public to a reception with artist Juan Diaz to celebrate the installation of his four-panel work titled “The Memorial Garden” at the center.
“Dream Peace: Images of Holocaust Horrors and Heroes,” an exhibit of works by Sanibel artist Myra Roberts, opens with a reception from 3-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Hodges University in Naples. Ms. Roberts will present a “family tree” painting dedicated to Naples and Southwest Florida philanthropist Myra Janco Daniels. Admission is free.
EACH YEAR IN MAY, PEOPLE WHO GREW UP in Harlem then left come from all over the United States to the community’s Brown Sugar Festival. But for many drivers passing by on U.S. 27, midway between Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, Harlem is nowhere.
It’s a given that at Miromar Outlets in Estero, you can get designer duds and other merchandise at outlet prices.
But on the third Saturday in January for the last eight years, the mall becomes an outlet for giving, not getting.
