| CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
OCTOBER 2020
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4 | SUMMER 2019 | grandeurmagazine.com
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| STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS |
CELEBRATING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
VOLUME 17, NUMBER 1 | PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Editor | General Manager Art Director Associate Editor Production Director Contributing writers Contributing photographers
Kathryn Robinson Kinsey, kkinsey@gannett.com Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, ldaywalt@gannett.com Pamela Hayford, phayford@gannett.com Dennis Wright, drwright@gannett.com Gina Birch, Jennifer Thomas, Anne Reed, Lance Shearer, Andrea Stetson Jon Austria, Alex Driehaus, Amanda Inscore, Andrew West
William R. Barker Shawna Devlin Robin Calabrese Karin Doty
Regional VP, Sales VP, Sales Manager Sales / Naples Manager Sales / Fort Myers
Director Circulation Distribution Jim Keeble Distribution Manager Greg Fyvie Distribution Services Asst. Eileen Serrano
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Better Together CEO Megan Rose leads an organization focused on keeping children out of foster care by giving families the support they need. Read more on page 14. PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
Grandeur is published 8 times a year by The News-Press, a Gannett company. Complimentary copies are home delivered to News-Press subscribers in select neighborhoods throughout Lee and Collier counties. Copies are also inserted into Sunday editions of The News-Press in Collier County – in newsstands only. Subscriptions to the magazine are $24.95, and single copies are available at the News-Press offices and at various locations throughout Lee and Collier counties. To read the free e-edition visit grandeurmagazine.com. To advertise: 239-335-0457 To subscribe: 239-335-0211 To reach the editor: editor@grandeurmagazine.com
See MORE, Do MORE, Be MORE
SEE the DIFFERENCE
ON THE COVER
| INSIDE |
OCTOBER 2020
CONTENTS 22 DINING
50
Meet two Southwest Florida restaurant owners who used their kitchens to give back to the community during the pandemic
22
27 COVER STORY
All over Southwest Florida, nonprofit organizations are faced with an enormous increase in need, from help affording groceries to paying rent and mortgages. The nonprofits need help, too.
36 STYLE
MacKenzie Herrick of the American Cancer Society dicusses her approach to wardrobe choices in the age of COVID-19 and myriad Zoom calls
50 GRAND RIDE
Lenny Brown’s testosterone-fueled display of his muscle car collection is like no other man cave we’ve seen
61
61 OPEN DOOR
Sarah and Jim Ashton adore the creative design of their Sanibel Island home; take a peek inside
66 MAKE IT A DOUBLE
Despite pandemic restrictions, Ruth’s Chris Steak House delivers a chic yet cozy ambiance and fantastic happy hour specials
14
ALSO INSIDE 10 12 14 18
66
Editor’s Letter The Colors Pages Grand Faces Model Behavior
40 Wine & Spirits 42 Getaway 54 Pets
36 GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 7
| ONLINE |
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| EDITOR'S LETTER |
MAKEUP BY: Ina Zeineddine PHOTO BY: Brian Tietz LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa
A
fter our annual summer break, Grandeur has returned to share positive and inspiring stories from around Southwest Florida. During this uncertain time, we’re excited to highlight the vibrant, socially conscious and truly energized community we call home. Like many of us, I’ve spent the last few months adapting to a very different world. Holding still to stop the spread. At first working from home was a difficult task to master. For many years I’ve gone to a busy office, starting and ending my workday pretty much at the same time and interacting with countless co-workers. I thrived in stressful situations, deadlines energized me and so did my great magazine team. As I work in my quiet home office, still stressing over deadlines, I appreciate the value of staying connected with others even more. This connection and camaraderie help us feel more connected to the world and increases our sense of belonging. Having people in our lives, whether family, friends or co-workers, is a critically important contributor to good health and longevity. As we continue to navigate these trying times, we start our new season with a cover story highlighting the nonprofit organizations who have faced enormous increases in need. From help affording groceries to paying rent and mortgages. The nonprofits need help, too, and there are many avenues for you to contribute. Page 27. We also introduce you to two Southwest Florida restaurant owners who opened their kitchens to the community during the pandemic. Despite experiencing their own challenges due to the virus, they gave back by feeding people on the front lines and those in need. Page 22. We look forward to sharing more of what makes our piece of paradise so amazing, with more readers than ever, all season long. See you next month!
KATHRYN ROBINSON KINSEY EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER
10 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| THE COLOR PAGES |
Wrapped in luxury
• Your outer layer should be as stylish as your entire ensemble. Welcome cooler temperatures in this faux suede trench coat from Chico’s. While the style is classic, the blue ombre gives it a modern flair. It’s perfect for any variety of outings this season. And it’s machine washable. $189 at Chico’s.
Sweet seat •
Look at the legs on her. The Maya accent chair, with its small silhouette, is sleek and modern, great as a desk chair or accent in any room. $285 at Scan Design, scandesign.com.
BLUE + ORANGE
Bright idea • This
pendant lamp isn’t just about shedding light on the room below. It’s an elegant way to add noise reduction to a space. The felt BuzziShade Square absorbs sound as it travels upward and bounces around. $2,883 for Retrofit, $3,191 with LED Globe at buzzi.space.
Blue and orange go together like Laverne
and Shirley, salty and sweet, sandy beaches and soft waves. They’re complete opposites, but together they wow the eye. The playful color combo makes us think of summer fun at the beach, delicious fruit salads and tasty cool cocktails. They’re both bold colors but each allows the other to shine, like a beautiful sunset over the darkening Gulf of Mexico.
— PAMELA HAYFORD
Poetic entanglement • T he
Overlay Bowl for Louis Vuitton’s Les Petits Nomades collection is the perfect embodiment of how beautifully blue and orange go together. Each is made of four leather sheets that overlap and embrace each other. It’s a great place to stash a soft throw or your favorite reading materials. $2,540 at Louis Vuitton, us.louisvuitton.com. 12 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Deep blue sea • These
canapé plates remind us of the whimsical image that covers an entire wall at Izzy’s Fish & Oyster in downtown Fort Myers. Inspired by a vintage illustration, the decoration on the Caskata Blue Lucy canapé plate is handapplied, making each piece unique. $65 at Williams Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com.
| THE COLOR PAGES |
One with the sky
• The Lamborghini Huracan Spyder is designed to cut through the air and give you the feeling that you’re becoming one with the sky. It’s V-10 engine roars behind you. The soft top above opens in just 17 seconds. With a 0-62 mph acceleration speed of 3.4 seconds, it’s a thrilling ride to be sure. Find Florida dealerships at Lamborghini.com.
Autumn mood
• Get in the mood for autumn with the spiced pumpkin latte candle from Voluspa. The large jar candle fills the room with the scent of fresh kabocha pumpkin pulp, coconut crema and spiced brûlée. It’s made with all-natural wicks and a proprietary blend of coconut wax. Handpoured in the U.S. $32 at voluspa.com.
Kick the blues •
Time tested • With
Swiss quartz movement and a pop of orange, the Hermes Heure watch is certainly stunning. The signature H-shaped gold-plated stainless-steel case is set on an interchangeable leather strap. It’s also water-resistant. From The Heure H Collection. $3,150 at Saks Fifth Avenue, saksfifthavenue.com.
Elvis has left the building — to go find these shoes. White House Black Market’s leather crocodile-embossed booties give a modern take on blue suede shoes in a rich, velvety color. It’s one for the money you won’t regret. $185 at White House Black Market. Now go, cat, go.
Celebrate an icon • The Bone
cuff, with its striking blue finish over copper, celebrates Elsa Peretti’s 50th anniversary and love of color. The original design was first introduced in the 1970s, and its new counterpart features a “special edition” inscription on the inside. $475 at select Tiffany & Co. locations, 800-843-3269.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 13
| FACES |
SHE KEEPS
FAMILIES
TOGETHER Better Together CEO Megan Rose leads an organization focused on keeping children out of foster care by giving families the support they need.
STORY BY ANNE REED | PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE
n a hot July afternoon, in the height of Southwest Florida’s COVID-19 wave, Megan Rose is on the road, fitting in an interview during her packed work day. As the CEO of Better Together, an organization that works to help families in crisis, Megan has seen an increase of 155% in calls for help since the start of the pandemic. One of those calls involved Krystal and Jack — a story shared by Better Together through social media and its website, documented through the lens of photojournalist Kinfay Moroti. Krystal moved to Fort Myers from Pennsylvania but struggled to find a safe place for herself and Jack, her 1-year-old son. Better Together volunteers provided a safe, loving family for Jack while Krystal and Jack’s father worked with Megan, her staff and volunteers to secure employment, create a budget and find housing. On the day of our interview, Megan was headed to Krystal’s new home for the big reunion. Jack was coming home — another family safe, supported and together. Megan’s story starts in Florida. She was born in Orlando and grew up in the North Port area. She attended Liberty University in Virginia, graduating with a degree in psychology, then studied abroad in Europe for two years as she pursued her master’s degree in human services with a concentration in family and group dynamics and leadership. 14 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| FACES | “I actually went to school to become a teacher,” Megan notes. “I took a psychology class, and I was just so fascinated by human behavior… it changed the course of my career.” At Liberty University, Megan worked as a nanny for a French family. When the family returned to Paris, they invited Megan to go with them — which is where she completed her master’s degree. “I loved the laidback lifestyle, art, food,” she says. “It was so fascinating. The family I nannied for — the parents were nuclear engineers. They had a completely different world view than me.” Each night the adults would have wine and conversation. “I just loved hearing their perspective and why they believed what they believed and why they saw the world the way they did.” Her time in Paris had a huge impact on how she viewed people and how she connected with them. After Paris, Megan moved back to Southwest Florida. As the oldest of six children, she has always been close to her siblings and family — especially her mother. “She is my hero,” Megan says. “She is my role model.” Megan began her job search but was rejected multiple times — until she applied and was hired to be a child welfare case manager. Megan worked nearly four years as a case manager, then became director for a foster care agency. “I was really young and ambitious, and they took a chance and hired me,” she recalls. “I had an incredible mentor and supervisor who helped prepare me to do the work I’m doing today.” She built the foster agency from the ground up, assembling her team and recruiting foster families. During that same time period, she met Mason, now her husband. The couple began dating and he jumped right in beside her. “We got engaged in the parking lot right before a foster parent appreciation dinner,” Megan says. “We had many date nights where we were out helping our foster families building cribs or delivering diapers.” The couple were married in 2014 and had an open reception so all the foster families and kids could be part of Megan’s big day. The couple decided to start a family right away, and when she was seven months pregnant, she connected with a group called Safe Families for Children, based in Chicago. “They were trying to start their program in Southwest Florida. I had coffee with their team, trying to figure out how to work with them and their idea of volunteers helping before things spiral out of control,” she recalls. “I wasn’t looking for a job — it wasn’t in my view.” Nevertheless, they offered her a job.
“I was seven months pregnant — probably not the best time to leave my career and start something from scratch,” she says. “I talked to my husband and we thought about it and prayed about it.” She left her job and started with Safe Families for Children in 2015. It started as a franchise. Megan made changes along the way until, in 2018, she branched off and formed Better Together. One of the first big changes? Better Together runs on donations from private donors and does not take money from the state. “It became difficult for families to trust us when we were connected to the government,” she explains. “There was a real fear of losing their children.” Better Together works closely with the Department of Children and Families, which introduces Megan and her staff to families who could benefit from their services. “We try to make sure the families we help really want to help themselves,” she explains. “There has to be an internal drive; the parents have to want it.” From the start, volunteers have been a large part of Better Together’s impact. “We connect the helpers to the hurting, but we create a structure that stretches,” she says. “We work hard to make sure that the children are safe, that our volunteers are in it for the right reasons and will be good stewards of the families we serve, that the children are safe and loved and are treated as one of their own children.” Her volunteer team continues to grow as more people learn about Better Together and the impact they are having on families in crisis. “I really care about sustaining our volunteers,” Megan says. “The greatest way to recruit new volunteers is to retain your current volunteers and treat them like gold. Our volunteers are incredible — just amazing human beings with the biggest hearts.” Megan and Mason are also volunteers. They have cared for more than 18 children in their home. The first child, Brett, came to them when Megan was pregnant with her first child. The infant had a mother who needed a support system and a father who abused alcohol. Better Together worked to reunite Brett with both of his parents, “Because we know dads play a significant role,” Megan stresses. During her younger years, her own father went through recovery and was able to “get clean and get healthy and be the dad I need him to be,” she says. “Strangers came alongside our family and gave us support. Because of those kind, human connections and love and empathy, my parents ended up getting remarried.” Megan acknowledges that, had her family not had help during their time of crisis, she could have
become part of the foster care system and her family could have had a very different story. It’s her first-hand experience that ultimately led her to where she is today, the CEO of Better Together. Through its Better Families program, Better Together has served more than 2,800 children, including 400 during the first half of 2020. Megan and her team now serve children in eight counties. After reuniting families, Better Together continues support and found that 98% of the children whose families complete the program have no findings of certified maltreatment within the next year. There are many factors that lead to a family being in crisis: drugs, alcohol, mental health, job loss. “We started our jobs program in 2016 because we realized 80% of the families in our programs were in crisis due to job loss,” she says. Job loss can lead to homelessness, drug use and depression. Better Together’s Better Jobs program has served over 28,000 people in 25 states through job fairs, partnering with churches, employers and other nonprofits, with 1 in 3 job seekers hired on the spot. The organization has held virtual job fairs during the pandemic, including one on August 13 that helped 650 people in Southwest Florida connect to employment opportunities. She describes their job fairs as having a culture of celebration and kindness, with volunteers offering encouragement and hope. “The greatest tragedy is when people lose hope,” she says. “One thing we ask our job seekers is what is their level of confidence prior to coming in. On average, it’s a two. But then they leave reporting an eight or nine. To me that is exciting because even if they don’t find a job, they have the confidence to keep looking and know they have potential.” Which leads us back to Krystal and Jack. Krystal, who found temporary housing with the help of Better Together, who rode the bus each day to work at Walmart, taking as many shifts as she could to save money. Jack, who thrived with the volunteers from Better Together who cared for him, volunteers who made sure he never lost touch with his mom. Megan, her staff and volunteers gave Krystal and Jack hope, supported her and gave her the tools she and Jack’s father needed to survive and thrive as a reunited family. They are one of thousands of families that Better Together has served, and Megan aims to grow the organization to serve thousands more. “I just see Better Together really growing all over the state of Florida, which has the third largest foster care system. If I can cover the entire state and radically reduce the number of kids entering foster care, it would provide a blue print,” she explains, noting she wants to disrupt the foster care system in a good way, in a way that helps reduce stress on the system so changes can be made. “If we can do it in Florida, we can do it anywhere.”
For more information on Better Together, visit bettertogetherus.org or follow Better Together on Facebook. GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 15
| FACES |
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LANCE SHEARER
FIGHTING HUNGER “
WITH FOOD Meals of Hope feeds people all over Southwest Florida
16 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
very great organization is the lengthened shadow of a single man,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson, although now we might say “person.” Meals of Hope, the Naples-based charitable organization that has provided over 65 million meals to hungry Americans, is the lengthened shadow of founder and CEO Steve Popper, who created the vital and impactful nonprofit out of nothing but an idea — and a request from his mother.
Steve had spent 28 years in the lumber business, and was a principal in a firm that bought, sold and shipped wood products all over the globe. “One day, my mother called and said, ‘We’re trying to help this very poor school in Haiti. The problem is, if the kids don’t have food, they’re too hungry to learn. Could you help ship some food there?’” Steve says. “I said I would do a meal packing event.
| FACES |
We rented the Naples High School gym but had no idea how many people might show up.” Over 500 people turned out, and they packed 135,000 meals. “It was a life-changing experience. I said I want to pack a million meals this year,” he says. They exceeded that goal, liquidated the lumber business, and Meals of Hope was born. When Steve realized the extent of hunger in this country, and even in affluent Southwest Florida, he opted for a local focus on the organization’s giving. That has continued, even as Meals of Hope has spread coast-to-coast, with meals produced in a given city or region staying in the area in which the volunteers who donated and packed it live. Last year, Meals of Hope conducted 164 packing events from California to New York, from Texas to Maine, from New Mexico to South Dakota, assembling and donating over 10 million meals. Their annual “Holidays Without Hunger” event at the Lee Civic Center packed over 550,000 meals last December, but the record goes to Pittsburgh, where a million meals were packed in one day on Black Friday last year. Dividing into teams, volunteers each perform an assigned task, adding measured scoops of rice, dried beans, fortifying vitamins and minerals and other ingredients, assembling them into bags, each holding six meals, heat-sealing them and piling the meals into cardboard boxes. Six meals to a bag, 72 bags to a box — and soon the boxes, each filled with 216 meals for folks who would otherwise face going hungry, pile up in a central collection center. After some trial and error — “We started out with an awful-tasting rice meal, and people didn’t like it,”
Steve says — Meals of Hope developed a stable of nutritious, tasty meals to pack, including fortified macaroni and cheese, a beans and rice casserole, fortified pasta with tomato sauce, vegetable and rice soup, and fortified cinnamon sugar oatmeal with diced apples. The high-energy, music-pumping Meals of Hope food packing events have become a hallmark of the organization and have caused numerous corporations, associations and civic groups to incorporate them into their community service and outreach. One of these is Bank of America. Gerri Moll, Southwest Florida President of Bank of America, says the smooth-running, positive experience keeps them coming back again and again. The bank holds at least one packing event per year, for a dozen or more total. “The meal packing events are fun, fast-paced, and a little competitive,” she says. “The time goes fast. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in two hours. We use them for team-building with a purpose with our employee volunteers.” Many employees, Gerri says, would be hesitant to volunteer; after working all week, they wanted to spend time with their families. “But the great thing about Meals of Hope is people bring the kids and it becomes a family event,” Gerri says. In addition to the meal packing events, Gerri, her husband and son all volunteer together at Meals of Hope food pantries. The food pantries are a more recent addition to Steve’s strategies to get food to the people who need it. Started in the wake of Hurricane Irma, they have proliferated during the coronavirus pandemic. “Our 11th food pantry in Southwest Florida just opened,” he says. “We gave away over half a million pounds of food last month, and the month before that. From March to June, in Collier County alone, we fed 62,000 families, up from just 20,000 a year ago.” COVID-19 has done more than just exponentially increase the number of families “living without food security,” polite parlance for not having enough to eat, or knowing how to get it. With the mandate for social distancing,
the virus has thrown a monkey wrench into Meals of Hope’s signature meal packing events. Now the organization is relying more on the multiple food pantries to get food out to those who need it. Steve Popper has always been just as high-energy as his events, bouncing around the venues like a jumping bean, toting 50-pound sacks of rice to get them to the teams that need them, hefting boxes of completed meals, the model of a hands-on executive. That might shed some light on why, when we caught up with him at a recent food pantry, he was walking with a cane, nursing a new artificial knee. He was eager to show off the boxes of food being distributed, though, and waxed eloquent on the value they provide to their recipients. “Look at this,” he says, wrestling one box to the ground, bad knee and all. “They get frozen meat, fresh produce, canned goods, dry goods, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence and diapers. That’s over $100 worth of groceries. We encourage people to come every week. They are saving over five thousand after-tax dollars, money they can spend for housing, transportation, day care. That makes a real difference to families trying to survive on $32,000 a year.” “Meals of Hope is a great thing, and they’ve expanded their operation tremendously,” says Eileen Connolly-Keesler, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Collier County, one of the organizations that provides funding for Meals of Hope. “They’ve done an outstanding job looking for gap areas,” stopping people from falling through the cracks. “Particularly with COVID, they’ve done whatever it takes. Steve obviously has a huge passion to help.” One of the gap areas Meals of Hope is moving to fill is their backpack program, which provides food during the summer, school breaks and weekends for the more than 60% of students in each of Southwest Florida’s counties who qualify for free or reduced-cost meals. While Meals of Hope does receive institutional funding, it is also a conduit for individuals who like to help the hungry in Southwest Florida. With their bulk purchasing power and longstanding relationships, Meals of Hope can maximize donations, providing far more help than if donors provide canned goods — although Steve says they encourage people to give “whichever way they feel most comfortable.” The group is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, and the recipient of the 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency from rating group GuideStar. To donate to Meals of Hope, volunteer, or learn more about the organization, go online to mealsofhope.org. “I’ve known Steve Popper since Meals of Hope first began,” says Gerri Moll. “He has a great feel for what’s needed. I love the organization and the way he runs it.” GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 17
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
The interior designer of the new Wellington model wanted to focus on different textures and materials. To keep that theme throughout the home, she used geometric driftwood shapes along the wall by the stairs.
18 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON
BEST OF BOTH
WORLDS
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
The Wellington model home by London Bay at Mediterra strikes a variety of balances. here’s a balance between luxury and functionality. Then there’s the equilibrium created between a contemporary style and earthy textures. There is also the challenge of finding the right pops of color to complement the neutral palette. Creating the new Wellington model by London Bay at Mediterra in North Naples was a gargantuan balancing act. At times it was like putting the pieces of a puzzle together to create a beautiful, functional picture. Creative design was one of the elements used. Top luxury homes are known for having every bedroom a suite. But London Bay wanted this to also be practical. So up in the loft, two of the guest suites have a private bathroom. The third guest room’s bathroom has two doors. There is a door from the loft that can be closed, making it a private bathroom, and a door between the bathroom and the bedroom. “That is a true oasis separation between private The Wellington is a new model at Mediterra by London Bay Homes. The two-story house has four bedrooms and den and four full and two half bathrooms. It is in the Caminetto section of Mediterra that is known for its luxury singlespace and public space,” says Win Peniston, family homes. director of marketing. “You get the best of both worlds.” The best of both worlds was also used for the dining area. The dining room has the distinction of being both self-contained and rary and clean,” she says. “However with the furnishings I wanted to make sure part of the great room. The long table, which seats eight, is in a room with a wall there were different textures and materials.” of windows and two side walls, but it opens to the great room on the fourth side. She did that with elements such as the wicker chairs by the kitchen island. “There is not as much of a demand for private dining rooms,” Win explains. “I wanted everything to be more of a warm feel, so you are mixing a lot of “You do have that sense of separation if somebody were watching the game while contemporary and classic and eclectic,” she explains. “That is what I was looking a couple of others were at the dining room table. It wouldn’t be intrusive in any for in this.” way.” She also did that with artwork. The wall along the stairs has geometric driftMelissa Allen, an award-winning senior interior designer at Romanza Interior wood shapes hanging in an array of asymmetrical angles. The theme of texture Design, had her own balancing act. and natural colors continues in the loft where a wall-sized sculpture of shiny silver “When I was designing this house, I wanted the background to be contemposticks matches the silver in the chess pieces below. GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 19
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
People enter the Wellington through a foyer with a padded bench beneath a large piece of abstract artwork in shades of orange, peach and white. That entry opens to the great room. The living room is defined by a couch, four plush chairs and one oversized tweed ottoman that face a two layered coffee table. A bright blue abstract sculpture on the table adds a pop of bright color to a room that is done in neutral colors. A huge flat-screen television spans the space between two windows set in a modern wall of flat squares. The ceiling has drop down details in three panels. Nearby is a built-in wine bar and glass-door display space. The gourmet kitchen has a large island with a huge rectangular sink that is 48 inches long. The backsplash in the kitchen is white with a sculptured texture. Sleek white elevated cabinets and a spacious pantry with custom built shelves, drawers and sliding wire bins provide maximum storage. The refrigerator and freezer are hidden behind matching cabinet doors. The interior designer added some unique details such as the sculpture of a large bronze-colored cat peering down from a shelf on top of the cabinets. All these rooms downstairs have wood plank floors. Win loves the look of this great room. “You have that long view from the entry way over the great room,” he describes. “When you are in the kitchen and you are looking outward, you have a multi-stage view. You have the beautiful kitchen followed by the beautiful living room followed by the beautiful lanai and then past that to the pool and spa and preserve and trees and it is pretty gorgeous.” Pocketing sliding glass doors open to the lanai. The outside space under roof is an extension of the home. There is a living room facing a flat-screen television and linear fireplace that are set in a stone wall. There’s also a wooden dining table for eight and outdoor kitchen. Motorized roll down screens can enclose the area. Beyond the roofline is a deck with lounge chairs and the pool and spa. The spa is set inside a corner of the pool as a raised addition with a mosaic of iridescent multicolored shiny tiles that sparkle in the sunlight. A wall waterfall cascades over bright, colorful lights. At night the pool and spa glow with color-changing LED lights. Four thick-cushioned chairs and barrel cocktail tables are placed around a large square fire pit on another section of the lanai. A glass door by the fire pit opens to the master suite. The master bedroom has a king-size bed with a fourposter wood canopy frame and a padded ottoman at the foot. A lounge chair and rectangular ottoman offers additional places to sit and relax. The master bathroom has an unusual swing arm in the shower. The soaking tub separates the two vanities. The walk-in closets have builtin dressers, shelving, glass cabinets and clothes hanging bars along all the walls. The downstairs also has a den filled with light from a trio of windows. It has built-in shelving and drawers that are actually file cabinets There are two white ottomans and a simple desk in the room along with art that is shaped like giant wooden eggs. 20 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
THIS PAGE FROM TOP: Some people like a formal dining room, while others prefer it to be part of the great room. London Bay Homes created this dining room to appease both types of buyers. The room is set off to the side with a wall of windows and two side walls, but the fourth side opens into the great room. • Mosaic, iridescent multicolored shiny tiles give the pool and spa a shimmery look. At night LED lights make the area glow. The outdoor area is spacious and also includes a large lanai under roof with a sitting area, dining section and outdoor kitchen.
| MODEL BEHAVIOR |
THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A four-poster wood canopy gives the king-size bed in the master bedroom a look of elegance. But the designer left the top open instead of making it a full canopy bed. A glass door from the master suite leads to the lanai. • There are a lot of places to eat in this home including the stools by the kitchen island. There is also a breakfast nook, dining room and outdoor dining area. • A wall of windows in the den gives it a very bright look. The interior designer continued the earthy, texture-filled design by adding three egg-shaped sculptures in this room. • Pocketing sliding glass doors make a huge opening to the lanai in the Wellington model. While the interior designer used neutral colors throughout the home, she also added pops of colors. In the living room that burst of color comes from a bright blue sculpture on the coffee table. • Wallpaper has become a popular way to add texture to a room. The interior designer used this element to add both color and texture to this bathroom.
Upstairs in the loft there is a round table with a chess set, a bar with a sink, a sitting area with a couch, chair and television. “It is multi-generational,” Win says. “Adults can be cooking and catching up downstairs and kids can be upstairs occupying themselves. It is the three-generation magic that happens. But it can also be a different specifica-
tion for somebody that just wanted to have good friends down and wanted to supply them with some privacy.” The loft leads to the three guest rooms each with a kingsize bed. The bedrooms are decorated in neutral colors but have different styles. One features three large Asian prints above the bed. A dark teal pillow adds a pop of color to the off-white bedspread. Another has pillows with animal prints. The third has bedding with light gray and white stripes that match the stripes on the bathroom wall.
“This home is more the accessories and the artwork, and the backgrounds are more subtle,” Melissa says. “All the backgrounds are modern and the furnishings eclectic. It is a bit of a mix of textures and materials. Everything is really functional.” “The Wellington is a multi-generational home,” Win says. “You have a little bit more space. It is more private. That layout skews more toward multi-generational, creating those special experiences.” The two-story Wellington has four bedrooms and a den, and four full and two half bathrooms. It spans 4,670 square feet under air and a total of 6,142 square feet. The Wellington is located in Caminetto, an intimate enclave of luxury single-family homes in Mediterra. It is priced at $3.55 million. GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 21
| DINING |
REFRESHING THE WEARY SOUL — WITH
food
Despite a pandemic-
forced shutdown, many restaurateurs opened their kitchens to serve medical workers and those in need.
Layers of fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and more make up the towering Chef’s Anitpasti at House of Pasta.
22 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
STORY BY GINA BIRCH
| DINING |
When COVID-19 forced a restaurant shutdown in Florida, many owners and chefs who thrive on serving others put profit aside to give back, feeding the unexpectedly unemployed and medical professionals in the pandemic forefront. Igor Vujaklija and Andy Hyde are two of many whose kitchens were closed to patrons but open for giving. As young men, both faced personal challenges growing up in Europe, now living the American dream in Southwest Florida. Both were also in their first year of operating new restaurants, just hitting their strides when sidelined by the pandemic. Igor owns House of Pasta, off the beaten path, in a vintage strip mall in Fort Myers. Born in the former Yugoslavia, he fled during the country’s civil war, landing in a refugee camp in northern Italy. The area became his new home, its
cuisine featured prominently at House of Pasta. Executive Chef Eddie Skenderi is also from the former Yugoslavia, now Croatia. When Florida mandated restaurants open only for takeout, Igor decided to close, saying, “If everybody stays open and we all make $100, we are all still losing. If some of us close, it helps others. I’m lucky to have an alternative source of income, so I gave the opportunity to others.” That doesn’t mean the kitchen closed completely. He and Eddie felt compelled to feed those on the front lines of the pandemic, cooking hundreds of pounds of pasta, making numerous deliveries to Gulf Coast Medical Center and HealthPark Medical Center. It wasn’t simple spaghetti but items such as lasagna, penne alla vodka, eggplant rollatini and pasta quattro formaggi. His first delivery also included chicken piccata. “We didn’t do that again,” he says with a laugh. One quick turn and the sauce splashed all over his car, taking days to clean.
PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE
PHOTOS BY AUDREY SNOW
estaurants are part of the fabric of American culture. They feed patrons’ hunger in more ways than the obvious — not just filling empty stomachs but satisfying the hunger of all senses, both tangible and intangible, body and soul.
TOP: Giving back was the motto of Andy Hyde, owner of Hyde N Chic Restaurant, during the pandemic. BOTTOM FROM LEFT: Wild mushroom strudel covered with shaved summer truffles at Hyde N Chic. • Sweet breads are made the classic way at Hyde N Chic in Naples, and they’re a favorite. • Hyde N Chic’s colorful octopus a la plancha.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 23
| DINING |
PHOTOS BY AMANDA INSCORE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Aperol Spritz is a signature cocktail at House of Pasta. • The faces of House of Pasta — Eddie Skenderi, Igor Vujaklija and Jay McAuley — delivered hundreds of pounds of pasta to healthcare workers for COVID-19 relief. • Shrimp and asparagus risotto gets a fresh finish with lemon at House of Pasta.
When regulars heard the entrepreneur was planning to feed hospital workers again, several donated money; he also partnered with the nonprofit organization Frontline Foods. Employees also volunteered as well as Igor ’s children. “It’s important to lead by example,” he says. Back open with plenty of space inside to distance and new seating outside, his menu has been pared down, but the classics remain: veal dishes, cotolette or schnitzel, seafood, pasta, risotto and decadent organic chicken liver pate. The Bolognese is a favorite comfort food that features a blend of meats, including shredded beef for hearty texture and taste. Andy’s restaurant is also in an unassuming strip mall, but in Naples. Hyde N Chic is a small spot with walls that serve as a rotating art gallery, a spot foodies love to discover. Born in Ghana, Andy grew up in Germany and negotiated his first contract at the age of 13. Classically trained working with renowned chefs around the world, he absorbed all those flavors before ending up in Southwest Florida. When reservation cancelations began increasing in February, a time they should’ve been booming, he had a heart-to-heart with staff, cut hours and went from an a la cart menu to a prefixed or multicourse option. Dinners begin at $65 for three courses, enabling Andy to keep food costs more predictable when times are uncertain. “When COVID happened, the first thing I thought was what can I do to help,” Andy says. Helping meant delivering meals to regulars who were elderly or had health conditions. Help also meant feeding healthcare providers at Physicians Regional Medical Center, NCH Baker Hospital and others. The diversity of his life experiences is reflected in Andy’s eclectic cuisine. His is one of the few local restaurants where you’ll find sweetbreads prepared using traditional techniques. 24 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
“It takes time and it’s not easy,” the chef says. The menu changes often but there are some signatures that almost never go away, such as pan-seared Chilean sea bass with turmeric-ginger glaze. Besides dine-in Andy has a to-go menu with fun features such as Chicken-Nizzle. “The secret is sauerkraut slaw,” he says. Wagyu beef is used in his infamous AndyMan Double Cheese Burger along with sherry glazed cardamon red onions and sir ranch sauce on a brioche bun. It’s served with hand-cut potatoes fried in duck fat. The restaurants run by Andy and Igor may look and taste different, but the spirit is the same: welcoming, nourishing and gracious. “It doesn’t matter how much you have, most of the time you have more than you need around you,” Andy says. “For us, we know how to cook very well, have products and purveyors, and so by grace we were able to help during the pandemic and always will. It’s what America is all about.”
| DINING |
IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, MOST OF THE TIME YOU HAVE MORE THAN YOU NEED AROUND YOU...BY GRACE WE WERE ABLE TO HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC Food is art at Hyde N Chic, like this Caspian Sea sturgeon bisque.
AND ALWAYS WILL. IT’S WHAT AMERICA IS
PHOTO BY AUDREY SNOW
ALL ABOUT.”
— ANDY HYDE
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 25
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| COVER STORY |
COMMUNITY IN STORY BY ANDREA STETSON
CRISIS If ever there was an urgent need for Southwest Florida’s nonprofit organizations, 2020 is it.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 27
| COVER STORY |
hey came bewildered and a bit apologetic and ashamed. Hardworking people, who previously had decent jobs, suddenly found themselves needing help. “I have been through red tide. I have been through Hurricane Irma, but I have never seen these people,” says Teri Lamaine, president and executive director of the Bonita Springs Assistance Office. “It is so sad. It is a bonafide sad situation.” All over Southwest Florida, charity organizations that give out everything from food and clothing to help with rent are finding an enormous increase in people needing help. “No question about that. We are seeing people from the wealthier communities out of work — a lot of first-time people,” says Nancy Martin, executive director of Interfaith Charities of South Lee. The food pantry had to close for a few weeks in the spring when it ran out of food. “We are giving out a whole lot more food,” Nancy says. “Instead of giving a package once a month, we are giving it out every week. We are trying to help them make it through a much longer period of time. And we have been doing that since the middle of March, other than the time we were closed.” “We have a 40 percent increase in need because so many people are out of work,” adds Richard LeBer, president and CEO of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “We are seeing all kinds of folks we have never seen before. We are seeing families that said they never thought they would need this. It is a difficult situation. It is pretty sad. We are glad we are able to help them.” At the Bonita Springs Assistance Office, people are getting a lot more than food. “We are more than just a food pantry. We are a true social services crisis center,” Teri says. That makes the nonprofit’s staff overworked on many levels. “It’s been insane,” Teri continues. “It has been absolutely nonstop with the influx of calls. I have never seen the incoming call activity as high as it has been. There are a lot of people that have a lot of needs.” Teri helps people with utility bills, rent, diapers, toilet paper, cleaning supplies and many other needs. “We have the COVID emergency disaster funds available now for families that are in true crisis and true need,” Teri says. The help people need is varied, so organizations that you might not think are seeing a need during a crisis are thick in the midst of helping people. People with Parkinson’s disease need to keep their minds and bodies active 28 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
to prevent the disease from progressing. Before COVID-19, the Parkinson Association of Southwest Florida held free exercise classes in Collier County and south Lee County. There are approximately 6,000 people with Parkinson’s in that area. Now with seniors being the most isolated population, the organization is finding a new demand for services. “We are now offering 20 Zoom programs a week to help people with Parkinson’s during this isolating time,” says Linda Goldfield, executive director of the Parkinson Association of Southwest Florida. “Increasing anxiety for COVID exacerbates Parkinson’s. While we can’t be together in person, people are really enjoying being able to participate in programs from their homes. While we are inside pausing, we are in this together to help people live well. Many of our snowbirds that go to the northern communities, now they are also able to stay engaged and participate in our programs. “We are offering 12 movement classes a week, support groups, music therapy and education programs. It really brings joy to my heart.” The demand for bicycles is also at an all-time high. Skip Riffle, president and founder of Bikes for Tykes, says he can’t keep up with the demand. “We are anticipating having more than 1,000 requests for children’s bikes,” he says. “There are no bikes in the stores. We are really between a rock and
| COVER STORY |
Randall Kenneth Jones delivers graduation presents to The Immokalee Foundation seniors.
Bikes for Tykes volunteer Nick Marino works on a bike at the Bikes for Tykes workshop in North Naples.
a hard place. We won’t be able to come up with 1,000 bikes, but we are doing as much as we can. When bikes become available, we will capitalize on it. We are getting requests from adults that have lost their jobs. When the adults get a chance to ride, the whole family likes to ride together.” Bikes for Tykes has given away 32,000 new and refurbished bicycles in the past 33 years. “A bike to a child is empowerment,” Skip says. “He can just get out of a tense situation at home and ride and just feel the freedom. If you are a family living hand to mouth, and you lose your job, there are going to be tense situations and arguing on where are we going to get the money? A bike gives a child some empowerment during this time.” Jeanne Nealon, co-founder and president of Laces of Love, is seeing an increased demand. “We just gave New Horizons 400 pairs of shoes for the families,” Jeanne says. “We will give 40 to 100 pairs per school depending on if they are a Title I school and what the need is. I have already given about 1,000 pairs to foster care. We envision giving 10,000 to 15,000 shoes in Collier and Lee County.” Redlands Christian Migrant Association assists low-income families throughout rural Florida and operates seven child care centers. COVID-19 steered the organization toward helping people with needs in ways never seen before.
Shoes are collected for Laces of Love.
“It has been absolutely nonstop with the influx of calls. I have never seen the incoming call activity as high as it has been. There are a lot of people that have a lot of needs.” — TERI LAMAINE
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 29
PHOTOS BY ANDREA STETSON
| COVER STORY |
LEFT: Kyle Strom, the guest experience pastor at Ocean Church in Estero, unloads items that are being donated to a food pantry. Dozens of cars drove to the church on May 12, to donate items for Interfaith Charities of South Lee. ABOVE: Jason Lane gives a donation at the Feed the Need Food and Fund Drive organized by the 2020 Bonita Springs Estero Realtor Association Leadership Academy. Ginny Nobbe collects the donations.
“We are providing virtual learning and doing Zoom meetings with the children and the families. We are putting out YouTube videos with things like how to wear a mask,” explains Gloria Padilla, the area coordinator. “We are providing masks for all our families, all the children. One teacher is doing Zoom meetings with all the kids in pre-K on the importance of masks and wearing them.” Education is also the focus of The Immokalee Foundation, which quickly found new ways to keep children and teenagers engaged in learning during isolation. “I am kind of blown away that we pivoted so quickly,” says Randy Jones, who does marketing and communications for the foundation. “Within a week we are distributing 80-plus laptops to students to keep them connected.” The pandemic actually had a positive effect on the organization. “Zoom opened up a new world,” Randy explains. After switching to virtual lessons for all their summer programs at Florida Gulf Coast University, the foundation broadened its horizons to include lessons from experts around the country, including a curator at the Smithsonian Institution and etiquette expert Peggy Post. “We quickly shifted onto a virtual platform for all of our curriculum,” says Noemi Perez, president and CEO of The Immokalee Foundation. The virtual lessons on Zoom and Google Classroom allowed more students to attend. “We noticed that even the students that travel outside of the state could participate because it was virtually, so our numbers actually doubled,” Noemi says. “It was a great success. It’s been very positive for us. This has really stretched out the opportunity we have now moving forward to enhance our current programming.” The SKY Family YMCA offered reduced-cost child care for health care professionals, first responders and other essential workers. “We are committed to helping given the current situation,” says Angel Cerritos, executive director of the Bonita Springs YMCA. Of course it’s the food pantries that are getting the biggest lines and most demand. Everywhere in Southwest Florida, they try to keep people from going hungry. Community Cooperative in Lee County has seen visits to mobile food pantries triple during the pandemic. A mobile food pantry in Cape Coral in August served 415 people. Before the pandemic, food pantries averaged about 150 households per pantry. The organization added eight new locations since the pandemic began. In Collier County, the Community Cooperative mobile food pantry is going beyond the county line to help people in Bonita Springs. Once a week they distribute pre-bagged groceries including produce, frozen meats and dry goods. “These are very different times,” says Stefanie Edwards, chief development and
30 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
operating officer. The Soul Food Ministry at the Daniels Road Baptist Church does a drive-thru food giveaway every Friday. “We are one of the Harry Chapin agencies, and it is really hard to get a lot of food,” says Mike Miulli, who runs the food pantry. “The big need is the cereal and things for kids. Snacks and things like that have been the biggest requests we are getting.” The Tice United Methodist Church Food Pantry is opening earlier than usual during the pandemic to keep up with the demand. “We are opening at 9 a.m. during the pandemic so they don’t have to wait,” says Dale Harper, who oversees the food bank. “It is going so fast that by 10 we are done. It is twice as much as we normally plan for.” In that hour, the group serves about 300 families with 40 pounds of food for each family. Interfaith Charities of South Lee registered 160 new families after the pandemic began. It serves a 25-square-mile area that runs from Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers to Coconut Road in Estero. “At least right now, we are running twice as much food as this time last year,” says Richard LeBer, of the Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Even though people are going back to work, we are not back to where we were.” Families who count on the latter part of season for a large portion of their annual income are really feeling the pinch, Richard says, “and they will feel it right up to the next season. The need won’t be over, not with so many seasonally employed people.” There’s not only a lot of need, but a lot of generosity, too. When Interfaith Charities ran out of food, Ocean Church in Estero and Summit Church in Fort Myers held huge food drives that filled entire box cars with goods. People drove by to donate, not by the bag, but by the carload. They also held virtual food drives. “We just help wherever it is needed,” says Jim Hines, directional elder and pastor of mission at Summit Church. “The food supply chain is just broken. When difficult times like this are happening, people want to help. They just really want to do something.” Nancy Martin, of Interfaith Charities of South Lee, says whole communities are also stepping in to help. The Spring Run Golf Club community in Estero donated $25,000. Shadow Wood Country Club donated $80,000. Other communities donated smaller amounts, but Nancy says every bit helps. “When there is crisis, we get more support from the community,” Nancy says. “It makes our job easier, but it is still very stressful.”
| COVER STORY |
HOWTO HELP Numerous nonprofit organizations in Southwest Florida welcome volunteers and philanthropy. Here are a few: American Red Cross, Florida’s Southern Gulf Chapter Shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. • Phone: 239-278-3401 • Online: redcross.org/southflorida
Baby Basics of Collier County A volunteer organization that has provided 10 million diapers and helped more than 600 hardworking, low-income families who do not receive federal or state cash assistance. • Phone: 617-510-4468 • Online: babybasicscollier.org
Bikes for Tykes Provides bikes to underprivileged children and families in Collier County and southern Lee County. • Phone: 239-450-3366 • Online: bikesfortykes.org
Books for Collier Kids Provides new, top-quality, age-appropriate books throughout the year to 8,000 disadvantaged Collier County pre-K through second-grade students. Since its founding in 2005, it has distributed more than 1 million books. • Phone: 239-394-4062 • Online: booksforcollierkids.org
Bonita Springs Assistance Office Helps residents of Bonita Springs who face a financial hardship due to an emergency.
Services include a food pantry, help with utility and rent bills, job placement and money management. • Phone: 239-992-3034 • Online: bonitaassistance.org
Boys & Girls Club of Collier County Youth development organization that serves 3,000 at-risk children and teens during out-ofschool hours at the Nichols Campus in Naples and Bolch Campus in Immokalee. • Phone: 239-325-1700 • Online: bgccc.com
SWFL Outreach at Broadway Community Church
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Provides a food pantry and other services in six locations, including East Naples, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Immokalee. • Phone: 239-337-4193 • Online: catholiccharitiesdov. org
Child Care of Southwest Florida An early childhood education provider with six learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties serving children from 6 weeks to 8 years old. • Phone: 239-278-1002 • Online: ccswfl.org
Collier Harvest Foundation
The outreach center provides emergency assistance and operates a food pantry. • Phone: 239-936-8366 • Online: broadwaycommunitychurchcog.com/swflaoutreach
Since 1992, Collier Harvest has provided more than 19 million pounds of healthy, nutritious food to those in need across Collier County. • Phone: 239-455-3663 • Online: collierharvest.org
Cafe of Life
Collier Resource Center
Provides basic human needs to the very poor and hungry people of the Bonita Springs area with a daily hot meal, take-home food, clothing, diapers and other essential items. • Phone: 239-495-9325 • Online: cafeoflife. org
Cape Coral Community Foundation Partners with individuals, families and corporations to facilitate and administer philanthropic efforts. • Phone: 239-5425594 • Online: capecoralcf.org
Information, referral, advocacy, case management and follow-up services to assist clients with navigating the maze of health and human service organizations. • Phone: 239-434-2030 • Online: collierresourcecenter.org
Collier Senior Resources Operates the Golden Gate Senior Center and helps people access resources that enhance the quality of life of older adults and caregivers, empowering them to maintain independent, meaningful lives. • Phone: 239-252-4541 • Online: collierseniorresources.org
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 31
| COVER STORY |
Community Cooperative
First Assembly Cornerstone
Habitat for Humanity
Collects and distributes food and other resources through a network of groups to help alleviate hunger and homelessness in the community. • Phone: 239-332-7687 • Online: communitycooperative.com
Provides a food pantry serving Lee County. • Phone: 239-337-4140 • Online: firstassemblycornerstone.com
Brings people together to build and advocate for safe and decent homes for those in need of affordable housing.
Gladiolus Food Pantry
Community Foundation of Collier County
Strives to reduce hunger by providing healthy, nutritious food while treating everyone with dignity and respect. • Phone: 239-437-8122 • Online: gladiolusfoodpantry.org
IN LEE AND HENDRY COUNTIES: • Phone: 239-652-0434 • Online: habitat4humanity. org
Connects donors to community needs, oversees more than 700 funds, manages more than $197 million in assets and has distributed more than $138 million in grants. • Phone: 239-649-5000 • Online: cfcollier.org
David Lawrence Centers Provides inpatient, outpatient, residential and community-based prevention and treatment services for children and adults who experience mental health, emotional, psychological and substance abuse challenges. • Phone: 239-445-8500 • Online: davidlawrencecenter.org
Earn to Learn FL Helps low- to moderate-income students earn a higher education with little or no student debt. • Phone: 239-908-0301 • Online: earntolearnfl.org
32 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida Operates retail and donation centers to help fund programs and services for people with disabilities and disadvantages. • Phone: 239995-2106 • Online: goodwillswfl.org
Grace Place for Children & Families Provides pathways out of poverty by educating children and families and creating long-term achievement and an educational culture in the home. • Phone: 239-234-2400 • Online: graceplacenaples.org
Guadalupe Center Works to break the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee. • Phone: 239-657-7711 • Online: guadalupecenter.org
IN COLLIER COUNTY: • Phone: 239-7750036 • Online: habitatcollier.org
Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida Feeds about 28,000 people each week through partner agencies and mobile pantries. • Phone: 239-334-7007 • Online: harrychapinfoodbank.org
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida Provides primary medical, dental and integrated behavioral health care to patients of all ages in Collier County, regardless of their ability to pay. • Phone: 239-658-3000 • Online: healthcareswfl.org
| COVER STORY |
The Heights Foundation and The Heights Center Works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of south Fort Myers. • Phone: 239-482-7706 • Online: heightsfoundation.org
Hunger & Homeless Coalition of Collier County Supports the planning, delivery and coordination of services to the hungry, the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in the community. • Phone: 239-263-9363 • Online: collierhomelesscoalition.org
Interfaith Charities of South Lee Serves San Carlos Park and Estero residents with a food pantry and community outreach. • Phone: 239-267-3510 • Online: icslee.org
Laces of Love Has provided new shoes to more than 200,000 disadvantaged children in Collier and Lee counties and educates the public on the needs of the children. • Phone: 239-293-1215 • Online: lacesoflove.org
Latchkey League
Meals of Hope
Supports and provides educational, cultural and recreational services to children in the greater Naples area who need after-school supervision and activities. • Phone: 239-2540843 • Online: latchkeyleague.org
A food-packing organization with a mission to feed people healthy meals with added vitamins, minerals and proteins. • Phone: 239-537-7775 • Online: mealsofhope.org
Lee Building Industry Association Builders Care Provides emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. • Phone: 239-938-0056 • Online: leebuilderscare.com
McGregor Baptist Church Food Pantry Provides a variety of groceries, including canned goods, boxed foods and, occasionally, frozen meats. • Phone: 239-936-1754 • Online: mcgregor.net/food-pantry
The McGregor Clinic Provides medical care, case management services, a food pantry, a clothes closet, mental health counseling, client support and empowerment groups, prevention education and free HIV testing. • Phone: 239-334-9555 • Online: mcgregorclinic.org
Naples Children & Education Foundation Founded the Naples Winter Wine Festival and supports programs that improve the education and the emotional and physical health of atrisk children in Collier County. • Phone: 239514-2239 • Online: napleswinefestival.com
Parkinson Association of Southwest Florida Provides programs and services to educate, enrich and empower people impacted by Parkinson’s disease and related neurological conditions. • Phone: 239-417-3465 • Online: parkinsonassociationswfl.org
Pine Manor Community Center Provides grab-and-go meals for ages 18 and younger, job searches, unemployment assistance, other application assistance and a food pantry. • Phone: 239-275-5180 • Online: pmiafm.org
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 33
| COVER STORY |
Providence House This faith-based transition housing program for homeless or at-risk-of-being-homeless women with young children offers the opportunity to overcome the barriers that contribute to homelessness and hinder a woman’s goal of earning a living wage. • Phone: 239-6928779 • Online: providencehousenaples.org
Redlands Christian Migrant Association Assists low-income families throughout rural Florida and operates seven child development centers for children from birth to 5 years old and a charter school for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. • Phone: 239-658-3560 • Online: rcma.org
The Salvation Army Naples Provides human services and children’s programs through child care, after-school and summer programs along with providing shortterm basic and comprehensive services. IN NAPLES: • Phone: 239-775-7185 • Online: salvationarmyflorida.org/naples IN FORT MYERS: • Phone: 239-278-1551 • Online: salvationarmyflorida.org/fortmyers
Soul Food Ministry at Daniels Road Baptist Church A food pantry in partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank & Midwest Food Bank. • Phone: 239-292-6324 • Online: mydrbc.org
34 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Southwest Florida Community Foundation
Tice United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Works with donors, the nonprofit sector, businesses, schools, government and members of the community to improve the quality of life in the region through strategic philanthropy and impact funding. • Phone: 239-274-5900 • Online: floridacommunity.com
Provides a food pantry. • Phone: 239-6941256 • Online: ticechurch.org
SWFL Children’s Charities
United Way Supports programs for local families and partners with numerous volunteers and charities to provide human service programs.
Its annual signature fundraiser, the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, has raised more than $22.8 million over 11 years, making it one of the country’s top-grossing wine fests supporting children’s health care services and education. • Phone: 239-433-4260 • Online: swflwinefest.org
UNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS: • Phone: 211 or 239-261-7112 • Online: uwcollier.org
St. Martin de Porres Outreach Ministry
YMCA
Provides to-go meals through its food pantry and provides a training center, showers and café. • Phone: 239-693-4711 • Online: smdpoutreach.org
St. Matthew’s House Provides housing for the homeless, food for the hungry and comfort for the addicted and suffering. • Phone: 239-774-0500 • Online: stmatthewshouse.org
St. Vincent de Paul Society This Catholic lay ministry provides person-toperson services to the needy and suffering, embraces all works of charity and justice, and makes no distinction in those served. IN NAPLES: • Phone: 239-775-1667 • Online: svdpnaples.org • IN SOUTH LEE COUNTY: • Phone: 239-690-6685 • Online: ololsvdp.org
UNITED WAY OF LEE, HENDRY, GLADES AND OKEECHOBEE: • Phone: 211 or 239313-7719 • Online: unitedwaylee.org
Aims to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities by putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. BONITA SPRINGS YMCA: • Phone: 239221-7560 • Online: swflymca.org FORT MYERS YMCA: • Phone: 239-2759622 • Online: swflymca.org GREATER NAPLES YMCA: • Phone: 239597-3148 • Online: greaternaplesymca.org GREATER MARCO FAMILY YMCA: • Phone: 239-394-9622 • Online: marcoy.org
| STYLE |
MacKenzie
HERRICK Senior Manager of Distinguished Events, American Cancer Society INTERVIEWED BY ANNE REED
Who she is: I’m a wife and expecting mother (due 1/20/2021) and workout enthusiast. I lead four event fundraising staff throughout Florida including campaigns, walks, golf tournaments, Cattle Baron’s Balls and Galas for the American Cancer Society. I am currently working from my home office as part of the American Cancer Society’s virtual workforce. The American Cancer Society has never faced a threat to our mission like COVID-19. The pandemic has severely reduced our fundraising revenue and forced us to take significant cost-saving measures. We are also making a fundamental shift in how we engage and serve our communities. We made these changes so we can continue to serve patients and attack cancer from every angle through research, education, advocacy and patient services. What are her fashion inspirations: I get to work
with some women who have really fantastic style. I would describe my own style as classic and feminine.
Her fashion tip? Create a brand for yourself. I
can’t tell you the number of times people have told me that is a “MacKenzie Dress” or “MacKenzie Shoes” (mid to high heel with a pointed toe) — that is how I know I have done something right.
Bonus tip: Much of MacKenzie’s work involves attending events she has planned virtually, and this can include galas. We asked her what she wears for a virtual fundraising event: It depends on the fundraiser and the streaming platform. If my entire body is in frame, then I’ll dress the part, head to toe. For the Cattle Baron’s Ball, I’ll wear a cowboy hat, bandana that doubles 36 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
as a mask, chunky belt buckle and jeans. If it’s cocktail/black tie, I’ll wear evening wear and statement jewelry that contrasts with the color of my dress. If only my head and shoulders are visible, I’ll create a custom background that matches the theme. I prefer to use the green screen option to my advantage, rather than giving everyone a sneak
peek into my home. I have grassy backgrounds for golf tournaments, event-branded backgrounds for galas, and special backgrounds that correspond with holidays and special occasions. Some of my work backgrounds have circulated around the company and I love it when I see a background I made behind someone I have never met before!
5
| STYLE |
MacKenzie’s FASHION ESSENTIALS
FOR WORKING FROM HOME IN A PANDEMIC: Pearls are her favorite, and she looks for multi-strand necklaces that stand out against a solid dress. MacKenzie notes that chunky necklaces or multistrand necklaces in bright colors really pop on conference calls. 1
MacKenzie keeps a blazer close by in case she needs to take her style up a few notches for a Zoom or Microsoft Teams meeting. Most of her blazers are white, and one of her favorites is a white linen blazer. 2
FRAME PLEATED BOYFRIEND BLAZER, $595 AT SAKS.COM
J. CREW LAYERED PEARL NECKLACE, $49.50 AT JCREW.COM
Just like her necklaces, MacKenzie likes earrings that add color and make a statement. It’s another quick way to add color and, if you have to add a mask and run out to grab lunch, you’re less likely to get a stud tangled up in your mask than a dangly earring. 3
J. CREW SEED-BEAD STUD EARRINGS $39.50 AT JCREW.COM
Let’s face it — a good background is key in video conference calls. MacKenzie uses Canva, a graphic design website, to make her backgrounds. She’ll match them to events she is planning — like green turf for golf tournaments or a wood shiplap design for planning meetings on the upcoming Cattle Baron’s balls in Orlando and Tampa.
Her favorite piece is a T-shirt dress from Calia by Carrie Underwood. It’s casual on its own, but with the right accessories it is easily dressed up for a comfy and camera-ready home-office workday. MacKenzie gravitates toward solids and the color blue. She also likes Kate Spade for the simplicity of the designs — many of which are fit and flare. 5
CALIA RACERBACK MIDI DRESS, $60 AT CALIASTUDIO.COM
4 A CUSTOM VIRTUAL BACKGROUND GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 37
For this month’s picks, Golden Rind co-owner Peter Dessak selects great go-to bottles
ine brings people together. Bringing people together in a physical sense has been challenging for most of 2020. In the middle of a pandemic with many people unable to enjoy a bottle of wine with friends in their favorite restaurants, they’re finding camaraderie over bottles at home via virtual tastings. It’s something the team at Golden Rind Cheese & Wine in Fort Myers has been doing for months. The bi-monthly Facebook Live tastings not only offer themed cheese and wine pairings, but also support local charities. A portion of sales from each tasting is donated back to community organizations. Ask any charity leader who has had to cancel fundraisers due to COVID-19 concerns and they will likely tell you that every bit helps. Golden Rind co-owner Peter Dessak is also donating a little time in helping me with this month’s wine picks. He calls his suggestions “great go-to, everyday wines.” I fill in the blanks with wines that give back, have names appropriate for the season and are just plain good for welcoming fall.
Gina Birch Gina Birch is the wine columnist for The News-Press in Fort Myers. Follow her social media here: Twitter: @ ginabirch Facebook: GinaBirch
Peter Dessak Guest columnist and co-owner at Golden Rind
PETER’S WINE PICKS
PERFECT WINES FOR COVID TIMES
SLO Jams Sauvignon Blanc • From SLO Down Wines, I recently spent time with the winemaker, Brandon Allen, and it was a real treat. He’s a super artistic guy who creates labels that are full of whimsy and fun like Send Nudes Rose and Sexual Chocolate. They are also some seriously great wines. Most are from California, but this Washington State sauvignon blanc is a perfect example of his style. With notes of grapefruit, peach, lime and apple, it’s perfect for really any day in Southwest Florida, paired with seafood or a nice goat cheese. ($23.99)
GINA’S WINE PICKS
| WINE & SPIRITS |
Chronic Cellars Purple Paradise, 2018 • I always love the colorful labels, creative names, and wine blends that the folks from Chronic Cellars produce. This is a zinfandel-based blend with some petite sirah, syrah and grenache from Paso Robles. The result is a velvety wine, full of blackberry and cocoa with a slight hint of mint on the finish. The wine is near perfect with ribs and the skull on the label almost begs to make an appearance at your Halloween parties. ($15)
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon • This is another wine on my perpetual alltime favorite list. It is consistently one of the best wines anywhere at this price point, drinking like other selections that cost twice as much. A friend turned us on to this at a dinner party, and we’ve been hooked ever since. A classic Paso Robles cabernet, it’s big and smooth, with lots of bright fruit, vanilla, oak and chocolate. It goes great with salamis, beef, and cow’s milk cheeses like Gruyere and Comte. ($53.99)
Graham Beck Brut Zero 2012 • Since we’re talking about giving back in this issue and I love bubbles, I could not resist this sparkler. The South African winery is dedicated to not only taking care of the planet but also people, spearheading numerous educational and social initiatives. This special cuvee is only made in the best years. Mostly pinot noir, it’s pure yet complex; no dosage or sugar is added during secondary fermentation, when the bubbles form. The hue is slightly orange, the palate has brioche and stone fruit and the finish has the right amount of salinity to have you craving oysters. Yum. ($30)
Alanera Rosso Veronese • I love this wine from Northern Italy; it’s a great value for the money. We pride ourselves on curating an eclectic selection of wine as well as cheese, however, because of the crazy COVID times, we have been focusing a little more on affordable items. This is a so-called baby Amarone, meaning some of the grapes it’s made with have been partially dried to concentrate the flavors. It results in a wine that has notes of spice, cherries, tobacco, oak and coffee. It has a lot going on, it’s delicious, and goes great with medium aged cheeses, beef and pasta. ($13.99)
Wrath Syrah • Although the word “wrath” in this scenario refers more to nature, the name and the stark label seems like another wine well suited for a more sophisticated Halloween gathering. It’s also pretty unique. There is not much syrah planted in the Santa Lucia Highlands and it doesn’t taste like those you’ve likely had from wellknown California grape growing regions a few hours north (Napa and Sonoma.) This is masculine, a little rustic, with fleshy dark fruit that only gets better the longer it is open. ($39) (Wine prices may vary.)
40 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
| WINE & SPIRITS |
COCKTAIL PICK ou might not be able to physically travel to the beaches of Brazil this year, so Abelha is bringing the “spirit” of the country to Florida. New to the Sunshine State, this certified organic cachaca is also a great conversation starter for cocktail lovers. Cachaca (ka-SHAH-sa) is Brazil’s most popular spirit, most famously used to make caipirinhas. Considered to be the country’s national drink, caipirinhas are made with sugar and lime for a deliciously deceptive sweet and refreshing cocktail. Deceptive because they go down easy and the alcohol sneaks up fast. Distilled from fermented sugarcane juice cachaca originated as a working-class beverage but over the decades
has evolved into a more sophisticated spirit as evidence in the selections from Abelha. Sustainably made and certified organic, this artisanal cachaca is crafted in copper pot stills where it rests for six months. Abelha Silver is clean and crisp with notes of golden honey and white sugars; find it in the $30 price range. Abelha Gold is aged in oak barrels and its nose and flavors are akin to bourbon; toasted caramel, caramelized sugar and cinnamon. This one is in the $40 category. Both can be enjoyed simply over ice (perhaps with a lime), used as a substitute for rum or in a caipirinhas. For the latter, muddle a tablespoon of sugar with half a lime (cut into four wedges) in a bar glass. Add ice,1 1/2 ounces of Abelha (more if desired) and stir. Cheers.
PRATA ROSA • 11/2 ounces Abelha Organic Cachaca Prata • 1 ounce The Perfect Purée pink guava puree, thawed • 1/8 ounce vanilla concentrate • 1 ounce fresh lemon juice • 2 ounces ginger beer • 3 dashes of Angostura bitters In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients with ice, except ginger beer and Angostura. Shake and serve on the rocks. Top with ginger beer and Angostura bitters, and garnish with a cinnamon stick and a lemon wheel.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 41
| GETAWAY |
STORY BY JENNIFER THOMAS
THE LUXURIOUS
ISLAND GETAWAY
Ocean Key
42 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Key West’s Ocean Key and Casa Marina resorts provide socially distanced VIP experiences.
| GETAWAY |
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO GRANDEUR
Casa Marina
ravel planning certainly is different than anyone has ever experienced, and while many opt to dream about their next escape, others are finding ways to social distance while taking advantage of Florida’s tropical, yet sophisticated, luxury paradise. The Florida Keys reopened to nonresidents June 1 with reduced occupancy levels at resorts and mask restrictions in Key West. Two properties focused on creating more intimate settings to attract travelers to this iconic, laid-back destination — The Ocean Key Resort & Spa and Casa Marina Key West, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Ocean Key not only boasts a prime location in the heart of Old Town Key West, but it also delivers stunning oceanfront views of turquoise waters, where the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean mingle. And you don’t need a passport. “With the property’s premiere location, Ocean Key Resort & Spa provides panoramic views of turquoise waters, swaying palms and plenty of sunshine, offering a Caribbean-like paradise, without ever having to leave the country,” says Regional Director of Marketing Bill Foster. “Ocean Key has a bright and bold interior design with a unique nod to Key West style, including an oceanfront pool oasis, wildly popular Hot Tin Roof restaurant
and a boutique spa featuring ritual treatments from Bali and Thailand.” To attract guests looking to travel but not wanting to mix with a lot of travelers they do not know, the resort put together “The Pinnacle of Paradise” package, which starts at $31,000 per night and includes reserving an entire section of the hotel, including Ocean Key’s Presidential Suite and 10 spacious Boutique Suites, each equipped with a private balcony. Additional package experiences include a private happy hour at the resort’s relaxing pool bar and lounge, LIQUID, which features a local cigar roller, and a private dinner on the famed Sunset Pier, accompanied with nightly entertainment and stunning oceanic backdrop. “While our team has been continuously navigating through these unprecedented times, we felt it was important to provide a safe destination for those who need a change in scenery after months of staying in one place,” Bill says. Several long-time guests and a well-known country music star have taken advantage of this luxury, one-of-akind package, he says. Regardless of the type of accommodations booked, “protecting the well-being of our guests and associates is our primary concern,” Bill says. “We’ve enhanced and implemented several safety measures to ensure a safe visit to Ocean Key Resort & Spa — some of those include offering individual Personal Protective Equipment kits upon request, seating in all public areas has been
limited to a minimal of 6 feet between parties and our resort team upholds a strict schedule of routine sanitation throughout the property, to name a few.” While on property, Bill recommends a visit to the boutique spa, SpaTerre. “With treatments that combine Eastern wellness practices with indigenous oils and herbs to create exotic, life-altering experiences, SpaTerre treatments are customdesigned for guests with their specific needs in mind. From Balinese spa treatments to Thai body rituals and Key Lime Margarita pedicures, guests will indulge in a one-of-a-kind experience,” he describes. The resort’s Sunset Pier offers nightly entertainment and dancing, while guests can enjoy Caribbean-inspired fare while overlooking the ocean. “It’s also the best seat in Key West, offering unparalleled sunset views, with a festive vibe,” Bill says. Key West offers a timeless charm for visitors. “Guests can explore on bicycles, scooters or even an e-car, pending their preference. There are various shops, bars and restaurants along the way — we recommend some of our favorites: Besame Mucho, Island Books, Key West Cigar Club, Tucker’s Provisions, Green Pineapple and Ocean Key Boutique,” Bill advises. “There are also several excursions guests can enjoy, from water sports like Jet Skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding or boating, to snorkeling the reef or visiting The Hemingway House, Truman’s Little White House or (Fort) Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.” GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 43
| GETAWAY |
Casa Marina
Also a high-end property, Casa Marina Key West, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is celebrating its centennial this year. It debuted on New Year’s Eve 1920 as Key West’s most glamorous destination. According to resort lore, Casa Marina was a favorite gathering spot of notable writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Wallace Stevens and Elizabeth Bishop. Conceived by American railroad tycoon Henry Flagler, the founder of the Florida Overseas Railroad and Seven Mile Bridge that connects Key West to the Florida mainland, Casa Marina was intended to accommodate wealthy customers of the Overseas Railroad. Today, the resort is beloved for its beach (the island’s largest private beach), water activities like personal watercraft tours and sunset sails, sand sculpture workshops with the expert resident sculptor and toes-in-the-sand dining at its oceanfront restaurant Sun Sun. The VIP approach that launched in 1920 remains in 2020, says Casa Marina Director of Sales & Marketing Andrew Rosuck. “Our staff truly goes above and beyond to make every guest’s stay memorable and unique,” he says. “On any given day, a member of our VIP guest experiences team can be found with a guest’s engagement ring in their pocket while the couple waits for sunset, running around the pools and beach saying hello to extended stay return guests of over 30 years, coordinating surprises and celebrations, and more.” Fort Myers resident Andrea Cross ventured to Key West this summer with her family for a relaxing vacation and selected Casa Marina as their resort of choice. “The service — it’s like white glove,” she says. One of the reasons guests choose to return to Casa 44 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Marina year after year is the beach, Andrew says. “Especially for today’s traveler who is looking to spend the maximum amount of time in the fresh air, we have private cabanas complete with TVs and refrigerators, poolside ice pops and cold towels passed to refresh in the afternoon Key West sun, food and beverage service, morning yoga classes, oceanside spa services and more,” he adds. For Andrea, location and room size were two factors in selecting Casa Marina. “This was our first time staying at Casa Marina. We liked that it was right on the beach and that they had rooms big enough to accommodate a family of six,” she says. The resort made a strong first impression. “My first thought when we walked in was Old Hollywood,” Andrea recalls. “It felt like I stepped into a 1920s movie.” While staying at Casa Marina, Andrew suggests guests embark on an ocean activity with its on-site vendor, Barefoot Billy’s. “My personal favorite is the Jet Ski tour around the island — followed by an oceanfront toes-in-thesand dinner at Casa Marina’s Sun Sun restaurant. My favorite dish is always the fresh catch of the day or Key West pink shrimp, since both are from our local waters,” he recommends. Andrea vouches for the tour. She also enjoyed the charter fishing trip booked through the hotel concierge. There’s even a tour for food lovers that Andrew suggests as an off-property excursion. “The Key West Food Tour is a great way to learn about the history of Key West while finding some off-
Ocean Key
the-beaten-path restaurants along the way,” he adds. “My wife and I love dining at Four Marlins Oceanfront Dining for a nice meal.” Four Marlins is at a newly renovated neighboring property called The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton. It’s named after a famous photo of Ernest Hemingway on a fishing trip with his family in Key West. For off-property excursions, Andrea and her family selected a ghost tour and enjoyed many of the food delights Key West offers. “We ate at a really good steakhouse — Prime Steakhouse — and ate at our favorite breakfast place — the Breakfast Club,” she says. As part of the relaxation goal of the trip, Andrea says, “the girls and I went to Ocean Wellness Spa for massages and facials.” Among its safety and COVID-19 protocols, Casa Marina follows the Hilton CleanStay program, developed in partnership with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol. It also has numerous protocols in place, including the Hilton CleanStay Room Seal, focused disinfection of high-touch areas in the guest room, social distancing and more frequent cleaning of public spaces. “We felt very safe during our stay,” Andrea says. “If you were not in your room or sitting by the pool or beach, you had to wear a mask, and they had hand sanitizer everywhere. The staff was constantly wiping every surface clean.” While this was a first staying at this luxurious property, the visit was not Andrea’s first in Key West. “As a family, we love — we love — the Keys as this destination has so much to offer,” she says, “and it always delivers a laid-back vacation.”
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Stock Custom Homes Newport model master bedroom.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 45
Stock Custom Homes Muirfield VIII model home. Four bedrooms, four full and one half bath, great room, dining room, study, outdoor living and three-car garage.
Stock Custom and Signature Homes Offer Unparalleled Quality For two decades, the Stock name has been well known throughout Southwest Florida for superb residences built with style and extraordinary attention to detail. The company has fostered longterm relationships with its homebuyers, who often return to purchase a second or third home, which speaks volumes about the trust they’ve earned, their reputation for excellence, and their never-ending commitment to quality. STOCK CUSTOM HOMES Custom grand estate residences by Stock Custom Homes are designed and built to fulfill each homeowner’s unique personal preferences. Highlights include dramatic ceiling details, walk-in wine rooms, sprawling kitchens, cherished studies, splendid master suites, and magnificent outdoor living spaces. Custom grand estate residences by Stock Custom Homes are one-of-a-kind homes found in some of the most prestigious areas of Naples, Estero, Sarasota, Wellington and Palm Beach. “We are honored to build one-of-a-kind grand estate residences that suit the most sophisticated and unique design specifications,” said Brian Stock, CEO of Stock. “Our expert team of architects, interior designers and construction professionals collaborate to create the elements that make a custom home so personal.” Stock Custom Homes is the preeminent estate homebuilder in five Naples communities that include Pine Ridge Estates, Quail West, Port Royal,
46 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
TwinEagles, Bonita Bay and Bay Colony Estates. At Pine Ridge Estates, The Gardenia II is a fourbedroom, four full and one half-bath home with 4,000 square feet under air and a total of 5,091 square feet. This home has earned an Overall Excellence Award in the Parade of Homes. The great room-style home offers a bonus room adjacent to the outdoor living area where an optional outdoor kitchen is located. There is a study and the outdoor living area also has a fireplace. The master suite includes a sitting area that opens to the outdoor living area via French doors. The kitchen has a large island that opens to a dining room that features two walls of stacked sliding glass doors that open to the pool and lanai. The home offers an attached three-car garage. The Gardenia II offers an interior design by Soco Interiors. STOCK SIGNATURE HOMES With distinctive architectural styles, luxurious interiors and extensive customization options, Stock Signature Homes’ spacious residences are inspiring both inside and out. These exceptional residences feature masterful finishes, distinctive interiors and spectacular outdoor living spaces—all the elegant appointments luxury homeowners crave. Stock Signature Homes has become the luxury homebuilder of choice for more than 5,000 homeowners throughout Florida. Recognized as a Top
100 Builder by Builder Magazine for seven years in a row, Stock Signature Homes continually updates and refines its home designs to respond to homebuyer’s desires. Stock Signature Homes are available in Fiddler’s Creek, Naples Reserve, The Isles of Collier Preserve, WildBlue and The Lake Club. At Wild Blue, The Clairborne II is a four-bedroom, four-full and one-half bath home with 4,369 square feet under air and a total of 6,961 square feet. The great room-style home offers a formal dining room, study, outdoor living and attached twin twocar garages that surround a motorcourt. The light-filled raised-ceiling foyer provides a grand, yet welcoming entrance to this comfortable home. The dining room features a built-in wine bar, including a wine cooler and custom cabinetry. The study features a wall-to-wall custom built-in with cabinets above and file storage below. There are clear glass French doors, hard wood floors and the exterior wall has large windows with a transom above, providing a light, airy feel. The master suite includes a sitting area that opens to the outdoor living area via French doors. The kitchen has a large island as well as a breakfast nook overlooking the pool and lanai, which includes a fireplace and outdoor kitchen. To see all that Stock has to offer, please visit our website at www.stockdevelopment.com/parade. Email at info@stockdevelopment.com or call (239) 592-7344.
The name you trust
THE HOMES YOU LOVE Q
As we begin our 20th anniversary, STOCK launches a new season... bolder, brighter and better than ever. From exceptionally crafted Signature Residences to uniquely inspired Custom Estates, we offer a beautiful collection of award-winning floor plans and home designs in the most sought-after lifestyle communities in Florida. As the region’s leading luxury homebuilder, we stand by quality and take pride in delivering the best to our customers.
Tour our luxury models and move-in-ready homes today and find the home of your dreams. BONITA SPRINGS / NAPLES / ESTERO SARASOTA / WELLINGTON / PALM BEACH
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from the $600s
from $2 million
Learn more at StockDevelopment.com 2639 PROFESSIONAL CIRCLE | SUITE 101 NAPLES, FL 34119 | 239.592.7344
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BROKER PARTICIPATION WELCOMED. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. NOT AN OFFERING WHERE PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Isola Bella’s luxury single-family estates feature expansive outdoor living spaces that complement the Talis Park lifestyle.
Discover Talis Park’s fresh, modern approach to Naples luxury living Within the luxury master-planned community of Talis Park, homebuyers are discovering a fresh, modern approach to Naples living. Foregoing traditional formalities and strict dress codes in favor of a warm, welcoming spirit, Talis Park’s lifestyle balances a relaxed attitude with a refined, everyday elegance. There’s a Talis Park residence to match any desire – whether you’re seeking the home of your dreams in Isola Bella, Talis Park’s last single-family neighborhood of water-view estates from Seagate Development Group, or craving the quality of a customizable Corsica coach home from FrontDoor Communities. Or perhaps you prefer luxury terrace, penthouse, and coach-style living in the golfand preserve-view enclave of Viansa from WCI, a Lennar Company. Each charming Talis Park neighborhood is just a short walk, bike ride, or golf cart ride from the community’s heralded Great Lawn and the awardwinning Vyne House clubhouse. Here, residents enjoy both formal and casual indoor and alfresco dining, and a fully-stocked wine room. Talis Park’s Chef and his team delight Vyne House guests with their skillful presentations of traditional favorites, along with a Blue Zones-style menu of lighter offerings that are both healthy and delicious.
48 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
A pair of fitness studios feature 24/7 access to the latest high-performance strength, cardio, and weight training equipment, and a regular schedule of spin, core strength, and yoga classes. Nearby, the Esprit Spa offers a full menu of facials, massages, and treatments designed to relax, rejuvenate and restore. A resort-style pool heated for year-round use sparkles near the pool bar and deck overlooking the lush 18th green – the perfect place to enjoy Naples’ legendary sunsets. Casa Cortese, Talis Park’s sports pub located on the driving range, offers daily casual dining, billiards, shuffleboard, darts, and a Trackman golf simulator in an easy-going atmosphere. When the beach beckons, residents arrive at Vanderbilt Beach in style – courtesy of The Beach Runner, Talis Park’s exclusive complimentary Mercedes-Benz Sprinter shuttle. Talis Park resident Beth Marchi, who selected a Corsica coach home with her husband Bob, said they were attracted to Corsica’s modern architecture, the views from its spacious lanai, and the flow of its open floor plan. They also appreciate the Talis Park’s active lifestyle, world-class amenities, and robust schedule of member activities and events.
“We were able to enjoy the Club while our new home was underway, which was a great way to develop friendships even before we moved in,” said Beth, who plays tennis and works out in the fitness center regularly. “Now that we’re residents, we find there is always something fun going on, with lots of offerings. The staff is top-notch too – they really pay attention to the details.” For a limited time, homebuyers can take advantage of special offers to enhance the Talis Park lifestyle to its fullest: Isola Bella homesites include a golf membership, with year-round access to Talis Park’s celebrated Greg Norman and Pete Dye-designed championship golf course, and Corsica coach home buyers will enjoy dining, fitness, spa, pool and limited golf privileges with a Sports Membership. Talis Park is also offering a limited number of nonresident, full equity golf memberships, with use of the community’s renowned 18-hole course and all of Talis Park’s remarkable amenities. Talis Park’s move-in ready and to-be-built opportunities start from the high $500,000s. For more information, make an appointment with a Talis Park Luxury Home Specialist, or stop by the Talis Park Information and Sales Center at 16980 Livingston Road in Naples. Models are open daily. Visit www. TalisPark.com, or call 239-449-5900.
LET’S DROP THE FORMALITIES, SHALL WE? Don’t be fooled by the grand entrance, exquisite details or nationally renowned golf course and club. Indeed, Talis Park is refinement at its best. But every last indulgence is matched by a welcoming spirit and unique, youthful charm. Formalities and strict dress codes cease to exist. We prefer a relaxed, sophisticated lifestyle unlike any other in Naples.
Luxury Residences From the $600s | 239.449.5900 | Naples, Fl | TalisPark.com
Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans and specifications subject to change without notice. Oral representation cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct representations reference should be made to the documents required by section 718.503, Florida statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. Not an offering where prohibited by state law.
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| RIDE |
PHOTOS AND STORY BY LANCE SHEARER
MUSCLE CAR
MAN CAVE LENNY BROWN GIVES US A TOUR OF HIS TESTOSTERONE-FUELED GARAGE.
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he big letters on the wall of Lenny Brown’s garage spell it out, literally, in carved, foot-tall three-dimensional letters, all caps: “MAN CAVE.” Not as if there were any doubt. Signs underneath the big letters proclaim, “LEN’S GARAGE,” “BEER BELLY BLVD.,” “SEX DRIVE” and “FORD TOUGH BLVD.,” among others. Actual license plates from Brown’s former cars include “MR LEDFT” (both New York and Florida versions) “SKID MRK” and “FAST 34.” It takes a while to get around to noticing the signage, because everywhere you look in the air-conditioned garage space, your attention is grabbed by an explosion of other placards, memorabilia, life-size mannequins (including Elvis), and above all, cars.
And what cars they are. There are eight automotive beasts gleaming inside the space, two of them elevated on a lift above two more beneath, each one an exemplar of the “more is more” Detroit fixation with speed and horsepower. One prize possession is Brown’s 2019 Chevrolet Yenko Corvette, No. 6 of just 15 built, with a massive 6.8-liter engine that generates 1,000 horsepower through its eightspeed transmission — an upgrade from the “stock” seven-speed manual gearbox. When he fires it up, the garage is filled with the sound of thunder, distant artillery and the throbbing of testosterone. Signed by the builder, the car is loaded with a host of custom features including forged aluminum pistons and engine block, a high-output super charger, ported high-flow cylinder heads and ZO6 spoiler and ground effects. The Yenko has an estimated
resale value of $185,000 — not that he’s interested in selling. Parked in front of the Yenko is another ’Vette, this one a 2014 Stingray LT3 sporting the Z51 package. Featured in the national Corvette Magazine as a unique automobile, the only Corvette of its kind, this “yum-yum yellow” ragtop makes do with just 460 horsepower, features custom stainless engine covers, LED lights, a magnetic ride control system, carbon fiber running boards, special 19- and 20-inch wheels, and a camel interior. A Corvette logo-inscribed mirror on the underside of the hood reflects the gleaming surfaces of the engine compartment, which you could say are clean enough to eat off of, if it weren’t sacrilege to imagine getting crumbs in that spotless space. Brown has already ordered one of the new mid-engine Corvettes that has set Stingray enthusiasts’ hearts aflutter. GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 51
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But Lenny has not given his heart only to General Motors products — his stable includes some fearsome Fords. Some car collectors recoil if asked which is their favorite, as if you inquired as to which is the favored child. Brown has no such qualms. His No. 1 car, he says, is his 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible — the black-and-white one. The Fairlane’s place in Brown’s heart comes from a lifelong association, that is the car’s lifetime. It has been family-owned by the Browns since it came off the assembly line in 1957, and Lenny’s personal ride for most of that time, becoming his when he came back from service in the Vietnam War, as a member of the U.S. Army “Screaming Eagles” 101st Airborne Division, in the early ’60s. The car cost just $2,600 when new, but now, per an appraisal letter Lenny has laminated, the estimated value is $185,000, matching the 2019 Yenko. The car has undergone a total frameoff rebuild and is outfitted with features that include LED lights throughout (not available as original equipment in 1957), a convertible top with the oval Ford logo as the rear window, and custom $12,000 EVOD wheels with “57” inscribed pool ball centers. The 351-cubic-inch Windsor engine generates 375 horsepower, according to the car’s spec sheet; Brown says the actual horsepower is 560. “I’ve got about $15,000 in this car’s engine,” he says. Lenny is not hesitant to customize his cars to meet his own whims, even if it might cause judges at car shows to deduct points for nonstandard embellishments. Like the Yenko, the Fairlane 500 has graphics spelling out “Zoom Zoom,” which might seem to be trespassing on Mazda territory — but no Mazda is likely to outrace these speedsters. A big fan of Steve McQueen, Brown added “Bullitt” in chrome to a number of his cars, based on McQueen’s classic detective thriller with its iconic chase scene. Another more recent car flick, 2019’s “Ford v. Ferrari,” also made a big impression on him — “I cried,” he admits. He also bought, long before the film came out, the 2005 Ford GT40 replica of the original 1966 racing
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car used to end Ferrari’s and Europe’s dominance of road racing. One of just a few made in yellow — which is a great way to be visible, avoiding accidents, and a great way to be visible to law enforcement, garnering an outsize percentage of speeding tickets — the GT40 clocks 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, and generates 610 horsepower from its fuelinjected, supercharged DOHC 32-valve V-8 engine. Lenny says the car was listed as making “only” 550 horsepower to keep the insurance cost down, but it looks like it could get a speeding ticket while standing perfectly still. Brown also has another 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner, this one in a rare mocha and rose two-tone paint job, with a brown convertible top. It had all the latest hot features for 1957, power steering and power brakes, in-dash air conditioning, back-up lights, and even an AM-FM radio. He also has a ’58 Ford Sunliner in silver and green. Although Brown made his fortune in the manufactured home industry, his family roots are in the car business; they owned Pontiac and Cadillac dealerships in the Syracuse, New York, area. Clearly, he holds to the proposition that “he who dies with the most toys wins.” In addition to the cars in the “man cave,” he has “a couple of Mercedes” in the four-car garage at his Fort Myers Beach home, plus an Integra motor home and a Ford Flex he pulls behind it. Behind the house, he docks a sportfisherman and a “go fast” boat, and just bought a pontoon boat to access skinny water. Lenny has an 1,100-bottle wine cellar, a 300-gallon tank full of exotic fish, and collections of everything from M&Ms figurines to tequila-filled bottles in the shape of assault rifles, something over five dozen automotive trophies he has won, and an antique gas pump where gas is eternally 26 cents per gallon. Some of the items are too risqué to describe in a family magazine. He also has a wife, Brenda, who has stuck with him for 52 years. And the day after we looked at his cars, he was flying north to pick up yet another collectible car, a Mustang GT 350. Asked what Brenda’s take on his car collections might be, Lenny replied, “She says it’s an expense, but I tell her so is she.” It’s a man cave world.
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| PETS |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON | PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST
PURR-FECT CAFE Lee County’s first cat coffeehouse finds success at Gulf Coast Town Center. atzi strolls up to people on white booted paws, rolls his silky black furred body onto the floor and looks up expectantly for pets. This is quite different from when he first arrived at Cattyshack Cafe in south Fort Myers. “Catzi was a stray from Collier County,” recalls Cattyshack owner Andrew Townsend. “When he first got here, he didn’t want to have
anything to do with anyone. Now that he knows that people come and talk to him, he has been very chatty and likes to come out and talk to people.” Cattyshack Cafe is a unique coffee shop in Gulf Coast Town Center with a separate room for guests to interact with adoptable cats and kittens. The cafe provides a home for felines that
Amber Redfern and Andrew Townsend opened the Cattyshack Cafe in the Gulf Coast Town Center.
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| PETS |
have been overlooked at animal shelters. While all the cats arrive through the Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers, they come from shelters in five counties. There are usually 15 to 30 cats at the cafe, and many don’t stay long. A sign there boasts “271 cats adopted in 49 days.” Adoption fees all go to the Gulf Coast Humane Society. Brian Wierima, the community relations coordinator for the Gulf Coast Humane Society, loves the partnership with Cattyshack. “That is just amazing,” Brian says. “It is another
outlet where we can find homes for cats. It is very important to find that many homes, because it frees space in the shelter for more cats. “Another benefit of Cattyshack is some of these cats are not socialized because they have never met a person, but when they go to Cattyshack they get that socialization. They are more adoptable when they come up to you and love to be pet. That is when their adoption chances skyrocket.” The 2,100-square-foot cafe is divided into two rooms. People have the option of sitting in the coffee
shop sipping drinks with names such as meow-mosa, catpurrccino, meowcchiato and caffé Ameri-gato while watching the cats through a wall of windows. They can also opt to pay $15 for an hour visit in the Mulligan Room, which houses the cats amid golfthemed decor. “The majority of people that come do not leave here with a cat,” Andrew says. “We get college students, people with significant others that can’t have a cat, people who want to someday adopt and just want to learn about cats. There are also people who come with no intention of adopting a cat and end up adopting a cat. We get children who it is their first time interacting with a cat. We have people with children who are autistic, and the parents say they have never seen their children act this calm.” Andrew says people don’t have to buy anything to hang out in the coffee shop section and watch the cats through the window. The cafe also serves calico colored popcorn, cat-themed T-shirts, hats and face masks. The bathrooms feature wallpaper with cats on pink flamingos or in space suits, and signs read “Please Wash Your Paws.” “We have people come here and study from FGCU,” Andrew says. “We have people who come for their morning coffee. People come in the evening and have wine. People who come here don’t have to like cats. We are not shoving cats down their throats. Some people just come for a coffee and see the cats and then say, ‘Oh, I just have to go in there.’” Dana Kojak has been in the cat room a couple of times. “It is just relaxing,” she says. Cattyshack has two ventilation systems so that the air circulation is separate in the cat room. In the Mulligan Room, guests sit on a paw-shaped putting green carpet or on benches and round seats to pet and cuddle the cats.
“IT IS ANOTHER OUTLET WHERE WE CAN FIND HOMES FOR CATS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT MANY HOMES, BECAUSE IT FREES SPACE IN THE SHELTER FOR MORE CATS.” — BRIAN WIERIMA GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 55
| PETS |
“We do have an escape room,” Andrew says. “It has 15 beds, food, water and litter boxes, and it is quiet back there. If (the cats) need a place to go and reset, that is an area where they can go.” While some of the cats do slither through the cat-shaped door to the escape room, most of them enjoy climbing the fake palm trees, cuddling in the cutouts of golf bags or interacting with guests in the large sunny room. “When they first come in, every single cat is different,” Andrew says. “Some immediately come out and think ‘This is incredible,’ and they play with the toys right away, and others go in the back and want to access things, and some go up in the trees and evaluate the area. And every one is different with how they react to a new cat coming in the room. Some want to play immediately, and some want to show them who has been here longer and say, ‘Hey I have been here longer than you. This is my place.’” With hundreds of cats coming and going, Andrew still finds time to know each one. “I try not to have favorites,” Andrew says. “The
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ones that tend to get in your face get more attention. Nish, he is just one that the second you walk in he starts talking to you. He knows where we keep the food. He knows where the door out is. He is really intelligent. Mia was a feral. She is 8 years old. When she just got here, she wanted nothing to do with anyone. Now she wants to meet everyone. She wants to be with the other cats. She is so affectionate. Holly is super, super sweet, but sometimes she will come up to one of the new ones and taunt them like she is saying, ‘I have been here longer.’ Then she will be real friendly again.” Andrew is also very impressed with Catzi. “Catzi was feral for about three years,” he explains. “Understandably it took him a few extra days to interact with humans. Now he just lies right out in the middle of the room. He doesn’t mind children. Just watching him transform has been incredible.” Sutton Siciliano, 2, was glad about that. She sat on the floor with her mother, Abby Siciliano, petting Catzi. “We love it,” Abby says. “We can’t have cats at
home because her dada is allergic, so we wanted to come here.” The cafe’s golf theme comes from Andrew’s love of the Chevy Chase movie “Caddyshack.” Andrew and his fiancée, Amber Redfern, opened Cattyshack earlier this year. Yet being a fan of cats is nothing new for them. “I am an animal lover,” Andrew says. “Cats have made a huge impact on my life. Cats made me no longer have a temper. They taught me spirituality. Cats have shaped and molded me to who I am today.” Andrew used to play poker for a living and that sometimes got him stressed and his temper flared. His cat Bart changed that. “I would be playing poker and Bart used to lie on my arm,” Andrew says. “He would fall asleep on me and I created a motto of no matter what happens don’t wake the cat.” Bart has since passed away, but Andrew still has Bart’s sister Sophie, 18, and Morris, 19, at home. “Sometimes people assume I have 20 cats at home, but I just have two,” Andrew says.
WELLNESS DIRECTORY
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From the Frontline to the New Frontier in Medicine How Southwest Florida’s Largest Primary-Care Group Rallies to Care for Its Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic Talk about the front lines of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and your primary care provider’s office might not be the first place that comes to mind. But that is, in fact, where health oficials urged concerned Floridians to turn for proper screening, assessment and guidance on the novel coronavirus. “And this makes sense,” says Millennium Physician Group Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alejandro Perez-Trepichio. “Who better to assess patients than their primary-care provider, considering their knowledge and understanding of each patient’s individual factors, like medical history, chronic conditions and current medications? I know my patients’ risk factors, and I can tell, in many cases, by looking at them in a holistic way how they are faring.” The acute-care hospitals saw and treated many severe COVID-19 cases, but it is the
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role of the primary-care provider to intervene and guide their patients, especially when uncertainty abounds like during a pandemic. That is why Millennium’s 100-plus locations across the state remained open. “Our first duty is to our patients,” adds Dr. PerezTrepichio. Health official also recognized the value and importance of lowering the barriers for the medical community to employ telehealth as a tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Millennium again responded. “We had been developing our own fullyintegrated telehealth approach since last year and had been piloting it with a handful of our physicians,” says Millennium’s Chief Medical Information Officer Dr. David McAtee. “But with the swift arrival of COVID-19, it became imperative that we adopt this technology enterprise-wide, and our 500-plus healthcare providers were up to
the challenge.” In the last weeks of March and during much of the governor-issued “safer-at-home order,” more than half of Millennium’s patient visits were being conducted through its telehealth platform “MPG Connect.” Heading into mid-September, about a third of visits are consistently being done through the platform, with the total number of visits conducted through “MPG Connect” topping 125,000. “What’s exceptional about our telehealth service is that it connects our 450,000 patients with their healthcare provider, which is a departure from many third-party telehealth services whose providers don’t know the patients nor have their medical records on hand,” adds Dr. McAtee. “This allows us to provide meaningful healthcare that truly honors the continuity of the patient’s care.” Millennium’s Naples-based Dr. John
Diaz is taking telehealth one step further by integrating it with a home-monitoring device about the size of a cell phone. “For one patient showing symptoms of COVID-19, I was able to listen to her lungs and monitor her health safely while she stayed home,” says Dr. Diaz. That patient is recovered and grateful for his innovative care. Types of visits performed through telehealth: •New-patient visits •Follow-up visits •COVID-19 screenings •Wellness check-ups “Each and every one of our 3,000 team member mobilized at every level of the organization in response to the threat of COVID-19,” says Dr. Perez-Trepichio. “I think in the end, our relationship with our patients will be even stronger through this team approach.”
Connect with Millennium Physician Group today and be ready Accepting New Patients for tomorrow. in Office and thru Telehealth
Call or go online to schedule your first appointment in the office or through our telehealth service MPG Connect.
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Your Connection to a Healthier Life
(844) CALL-MPG www.MillenniumPhysician.com Offering Primary and Specialty Care | Telehealth Walk-In Medical Centers | Lab Services | Imaging Centers Physical Therapy and More
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| OPEN DOOR |
STORY BY ANDREA STETSON PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST
SOMETHING
Sarah and Jim Ashton’s home on Sanibel Island is far away from the busy bustle. It sits on a natural preserve overlooking plants, trees, butterflies, birds and flowers. The bottom level of the home is for storage, a garage and a large back porch due to flood codes. All the living space is on the second and third level.
SPECIAL ON
SANIBEL Take a peek into the home of Sarah and
Jim Ashton, who adore the creative ways their builder adhered to the island’s strict codes.
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| OPEN DOOR |
wo oversized, bright red leather chairs face a fireplace set in a wall of gray stone. A wall of windows overlooks the greenery of a preserve. This is one of the smaller rooms in Sarah and Jim Ashton’s Sanibel Island home, but it is one of their favorite places to be. “There was a house that we had that had a room like that called the quiet room, and we enjoyed it so much,” Sarah says. “We are both very busy during the day. We are on our own paths, but at the end of the day we sit there and connect. It is a really great space. We are not big TV watchers, so we like to spend a great amount of time in that room. That room is pretty special.” “We have coffee there in the morning and read the paper,” Jim adds. “We have wine in the evening and just reconnect after the day. It is a place to either connect or reconnect. It feels intimate, but it doesn’t feel cramped.” The couple finds their entire new custom home special. They love the nature outside their windows. They love the unique ceilings upstairs and the porches that bring them close to nature. The three-story light blue house with darker blue shutters sits on half an acre of land. Strict building codes on Sanibel created challenges that sparked a creative design. Since the bottom level cannot be used for living space due to flood codes, and the top has height restrictions, builder Dan Dodrill, of Daniel Wayne Homes, came up with a unique solution. Two guest rooms in the back of the house have ceilings that slope. “It was the way the roof had to be angled because on Sanibel it can’t be more than 35 feet,” Sarah explains. So the ceilings, one in an office and one in a bedroom, they are really cool because they are really cozy.” “It reminds me of those old houses in Minneapolis,” Dan says. “They were all built in the 1920s. All the bedrooms had dormers and slanting ceilings. It is definitely a throwback. I would like to say that we would liked to have that style, but it was that we were maxed out on the height and they wanted that third floor in there.” Sarah loves the way the house has lots of rooms and lots of space, but that she and her husband can live comfortably on just one floor. The main floor has the great room, little fireplace room, Sarah’s den and the master suite. “What we really love is that we have one floor living,” she says. “All of the things that we use in our day are all on one floor. That was a design goal, so we can enjoy it.” The top floor has a loft, and three bedrooms; one of those bedrooms was converted into a den for Jim. Dan says that makes it a perfect separation for guests. “That little sitting loft at the top of the stairs is one of my favorites, too,” he says. “Your guests can wake up early and sit there and read their emails and have a nice little quiet place to do that in the morning or the evening.
THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The kitchen gets lots of natural light from a wall of windows. It has a country cottage design that is reflected in many other rooms of the house. • Sarah and Jim Ashton love their home on Sanibel. They enjoy both the cozy rooms inside and all the nature outside. • The three-story home sits on half an acre of land on Sanibel Island. Sarah and Jim have lived on Sanibel for 19 years. • The great room leads from the kitchen to the living area with all open spaces. Sliding glass doors lead to a terrace overlooking the preserved land. • This room right off the great room is Sarah and Jim’s favorite place. The couple loves to relax there after a busy day of work. They call it the quiet room and enjoy sitting in the wide bright red chairs relaxing by the fireplace.
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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: When the weather is nice the couple can open the sliding glass doors and eat at their dining room table overlooking the preserve. They can also take their meals out on the porch to be even closer to the nature that they love. • There were challenges to building the home because the bottom level can’t have living space due to flood codes and the top level had height restrictions. The builder solved this by giving two of the upstairs rooms sloping roofs to keep the height lower. This gives the rooms a quaint look reminiscent of attic rooms up north. • A large window in the bathroom gives views of the outdoors right from the bathtub. • The couple loves both the upstairs porch and the one on the ground floor. Both of them overlook a nature preserve. • The master bedroom is on the main level and the guest rooms are upstairs. The owners like that they have lots of rooms, but can live comfortably on one floor. The home is done in pastel colors with pops of brighter colors. The bright red headboard in this bedroom has that same pop of color as the bright red chairs in the quiet room.
The guest rooms have the bathroom up there. They want to have a little self-contained suite. You feel more comfortable having guests in your house because they have their own little space.” Jim enjoys his upstairs office with its sloping roof and privacy, but another one of his favorite places is the lower level screened patio. “The funny thing is I expected to like the fireplace room,” Jim says. “The downstairs, I did not think about it. It is just so close to the backyard, that is so special being a wetland with flowers and trees and butterflies. You can sit there and see butterflies from four, five, six species. It is just mesmerizing. To be able to sit there and watch nature and listen to nature, it is very soothing.” Sarah loves that space, too. “We were really surprised by that,” she says. “When we put it in, I thought it would be nice to see the backyard from ground level, but I didn’t realize we could sit down there and see everything. We saw six zebra longwings chasing each other. You would not see that from up high. That has been a surprise for us. Historically our lanais have been up on the living level. They are nice to sit on, but 64 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
not as engaging.” As Dan built the home, he too enjoyed that space. “You are literally at eye level,” he says. “That place is surrounded by wetlands. Wading birds go in there. I have seen baby alligators in there, which is really cool.” Sarah and Jim also appreciate sitting on the upstairs terrace that leads from the great room, or just sitting inside and looking out all the large windows and glass doors. “There are spaces in the house that allow us to enjoy what is outside,” Sarah says. “We have large windows that allow us to bring the outside in. We really love the setting. Being in the forest is an unusual environment. A lot of people would be freaked out by it because it is different from where they are from. We have been in Florida for 19 years and we have come to appreciate this.” Sarah and Jim are enjoying many aspects their new home together. “We eat at the dining room table,” Sarah relates. “We are rather traditional that way. We do that because we want to have time with each other and
enjoy the company of each other. All the important decisions in my life were made at the dining room table. “After breakfast I go into my office. It is a delightful office. My husband’s office is upstairs, so he will do that. We will go out on the patio to have a glass of wine while we are grilling. There is a short walk to the beach. In the evenings we walk down to the beach for sunset.” Sarah says storage is another aspect of her home that she appreciates. There is storage under the stairs, in big closets and even in the attic, which is fully insulated to keep it cooler. “We designed the house for ease of maintenance and ease of living,” Sarah says. “Things like the hardy board exterior is very durable. The vinyl clad windows hold up better than other windows in a salt atmosphere. We tried to make this house be durable and very maintenance friendly.” The home is decorated in a variety of pastel colors from the pale periwinkle blue master suite to a bright yellow guest room. “I just like the use of the pastel colors in there,” Dan says.
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Sarah also added special touches from her childhood. A teddy bear sits in a small rocking chair in the fireplace room. “It was one of my aunt’s. It was her toy as a kid,” Sarah says. “When we used to visit her in Delaware every Thanksgiving, that was what I gravitated towards. He sits there with a ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge hat that belonged to my mother, so sitting there is kind of their presence.” Upstairs are more teddy bears made by local craftsmen in West Virginia. A glass cabinet in the loft is full of antique dolls. “We don’t have any kids and we don’t
have any grandkids, so I am the child with all the toys,” Sarah jokes. “They’re friends.” The four-bedroom-plus-study home has three and a half bathrooms. It spans 3,288 square feet under air and is 4,950 total square feet. “We like the fact that the construction on the house is the latest standards of hurricane and flood,” Sarah says. “Some of the concerns of living on a barrier island are not as concerning. We worked hard with the materials and the colors and the finishes of the house to make it a real cozy house with still having a contemporary feel.” GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 65
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
THE HAPPIEST
HOUR This is what makes happy hour at Ruth’s Chris Steak House so incredibly — happy.
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Mojitos at Ruth's Chris feature fresh blueberries for a twist.
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
STORY BY GINA BIRCH | PHOTOS BY ALEX DRIEHAUS
appy Hour is happier than ever at Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Bonita Springs with patrons able to socialize again, distance in mind. For years, those two hours between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., which can vary seasonally, have hosted one of the most desirable, sophisticated happy hour haunts in Southwest Florida. What’s the secret? A classy combination of atmosphere and crowd, along with unbelievably good prices on the highest quality food and drinks. Renovations, completed in March 2019, created a chic, light look while maintaining the cozy ambiance of a steakhouse. Upholstery and carpet dressed
in grays and blues are hugged by glassed-in wine walls and vintage photos that have guests betting on whether they are of Cuba or Miami. Booths have been added with tables that vary in height from low to midrange. Even at 50% capacity, they are arranged in a way that still captures an intimate bar feeling. Bar chairs are back, properly spaced, and they are comfortable enough; that combined with the personable bartenders, you’ll want to stay for another round — or two. “We are following strictly the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines,” Aleks Kunov says. Through his mask the general manager adds, “Everyone has different levels of concern and most are happy with the measures we are taking.” For guests who still prefer a more open setting, Happy Hour is also observed on the new screened-in patio. Specials include discounts on crafted cocktails, beer, wine and liquors that could be considered top shelf in many places.
Susan Cousins keep both the drinks and conversation flowing at Ruth's Chris bar.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The steak sandwich, made with tenderloin, not only melts in your mouth, it's also a steal during happy hour. • Wine walls are more than just art, they also store some of the hundreds of selections found on Ruth's Chris extensive list. • The personable Ruth's Chris team lead by beverage manager Peter Hyzak, general manager Aleks Kunov and executive chef Randy Partington. • The Raspberry Cosmo is not only a popular Happy Hour cocktail, it's a favorite anytime of the night.
All syrups used for cocktailing are made in house and juices are fresh squeezed. Cointreau is used instead of triple sec in the Rocks Rita, along with premium tequila (Herradura Reposado), orange and lime juice, for a well-balanced combination. High on the popularity list is a fragrant, flavorful and festive looking raspberry cosmo. Made with Effen raspberry vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice and lime, fresh raspberries are used both for muddling and as a garnish. The blueberry mojito not only makes a pretty picture but is also pretty easy going down. Blueberries are muddled with fresh mint, lime juice 68 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
and simple syrup. Bacardi Silver Rum, soda and a splash of ginger ale is added for a cocktail that is refreshing and just sweet enough. It pairs particularly well with the heat in the Spicy Shrimp appetizer, served with a cooling cucumber salad. The same salad accompanies a generous serving of ahi tuna, another happy hour staple. Lightly seared and sliced, it rests atop a savory, mustard beer sauce. Then there is the beef. It’s not every day you find a steak sandwich made with tenderloin and for $10 — you do here. Thinly sliced pieces of perfectly cooked beef are drizzled with creme béarnaise sauce, then layered between French bread
| MAKE IT A DOUBLE |
ABOVE: Rocks Rita goes down smooth thanks to Herradura Reposada Tequila, Cointreau and fresh citrus juice. • BELOW: Tender, with a perfect crunch and just the right amount of heat, Spicy Shrimp is another happy hour staple at Ruth's Chris.
that has a delicately crisp crust, is soft in the middle, and nearly melts in your mouth. “Our burger really is the best in town,” bartender Susan Cousins brags. Made from prime beef, it is thick and juicy, topped with a slice of melted, glistening cheese and a side of hand-cut fries. Cocktails not on the Happy Hour specials but still not to miss include the Blackberry Sidecar: Remy Martin VSOP, Cointreau, blackberries and plum bitters. Woodford Reserve and Southern Comfort are used in Ruth’s Manhattan. Even outside of the daily Happy Hour, Ruth’s bar is a welcoming hangout. The full dining menu is available, including 238 worldly wine selections, about 20 by the glass. If you’re expecting a comprehensive selection of bourbon, whiskey and single malt scotch selections, you won’t be disappointed with the 60-plus items to sip. While the staff exudes professionalism and pays great attention to detail, there are no stuffy airs in this steakhouse bar. They like to have fun, encouraging patrons to do the same. And it’s hard not to sipping well-prepared high-end drinks in a beautiful space, dining on prime beef and sushi-grade tuna at nearly half off. It’s like winning the lottery.
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 69
| SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION |
The T S E W H T U
SO
A D I R O FL ERS
N N I W 0 2 0 2
GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 71
The
CAPE CORAL
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Armex Construction & Design Studio
The Atrium at Liberty Park
Gold Winner Duplex Builder
Gold Winner Memory Care
Committed to the highest standards, Armex Construction Inc. and The Design Studio make customer satisfaction the company’s most urgent priority. While maintaining honesty, integrity and responsibility, Armex strives to complete projects quickly and efficiently while incorporating the latest in style and design. No idea is too new or too innovative for Armex. With over 15 years experience, this family-owned company is licensed and insured in Florida.
Address: 3810 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral; Email: Armexswfl@gmail.com; Phone: 239.645.1517
Opened in late 2019, the all-new Atrium at Liberty Park was designed for great living. Featuring Supportive Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care in Cape Coral, we cater to seniors who want to enjoy life in a safe and fun environment. From amenity spaces galore to delicious dining to social activities, seniors have it all at Atrium at Liberty Park. Our Montessori-based memory care program nurtures independence and instills purpose into every day. Now offering in-person tours.
Address: 1321 NE 24TH Avenue Cape Coral; Website: Atriumatlibertypark.com; Phone: 239.321.5955
Zak’s Jewelry
Hoglund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers
Gold Winner Custom Jewelry
Gold Winner
When looking for high-quality jewelry from elite designers or a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted objet d’art, Zak’s Jewelry offers an expansive selection. Brands include Belair, Shula New York, Kattan, Carla Nancy B and Rembrandt Charms. Its in-house artisans have achieved worldwide fame with custom pieces. The shop also offers a vast selection of pre-owned Rolex watches. Established in 1977, Zak’s accepts trade-ins, provides repairs and offers financing.
Address: 1314 Cape Coral Pkwy East, Cape Coral; Phone: 239.542.7766; Email: zaksjewel@aol.com; Website: www.zaksjewelry.com
Audiologist, Hearing & Testing Center Hearing Aids, Tinnitus/Ringing Ear Center
Hogund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers has been helping Patients throughout SWFL, who are experiencing hearing loss, suffer with tinnitus or have questions about vertigo, Ménière’s Disease, or any other ear pathology since 2003. We offer free hearing tests, tinnitus consultations, service and programming assistance, inspections for earwax, and second opinions for SWFL residents and seasonal snowbirds, as well as special programs dedicated to medical professionals, first responders, and our nation’s military veterans! We will treat you like family.
Address: 1003 Del Prado Blvd. S #204, Cape Coral; Website: Hoglundfamilyhearing.com; Phone: 239.558.3095
Downtowner Car Wash
Armex Construction & Design Studio
Gold Winner Car Wash
Gold Winner New Home Builder
Downtowner Car Wash is a family-operated car wash utilizing the latest technology, innovative products and state-of-the-art equipment. Downtowner strives to provide a fast, high-quality car wash at a great value and with the best in customer service. Our professional staff will provide an amazing service with smiles to match our quality. Visit us online at downtownercarwash.com/ to learn more about our services and specials.
Locations: 1009 Del Prado Blvd S.; 1203 Pine Island Rd.; 1707 Cape Coral Pkwy E.; 2537 Skyline Blvd; Website: downtownercarwash.com/
72 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Committed to the highest standards, Armex Construction Inc. and The Design Studio make customer satisfaction the company’s most urgent priority. While maintaining honesty, integrity and responsibility, Armex strives to complete projects quickly and efficiently while incorporating the latest in style and design. No idea is too new or too innovative for Armex. With over 15 years experience, this family-owned company is licensed and insured in Florida.
Address: 3810 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral; Email: Armexswfl@gmail.com; Phone: 239.645.1517
The
CAPE CORAL SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Premier Wellness Group
Zak’s Jewelry
Gold Winner Regenerative Medicine
Gold Winner Diamond Jewelry
Regenerative therapy is one of the newest and most effective treatment options for injuries and pain relief. Dr. Patrick King and his team at Premier Wellness Group offer regenerative medicine and other treatment options to patients in the Cape Coral area of southwest Florida. If you’re suffering from a painful condition or injury and want to explore the healing power of regenerative medicine, call the office or book an appointment online.
When looking for high-quality jewelry from elite designers or a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted objet d’art, Zak’s Jewelry offers an expansive selection. Brands include Belair, Shula New York, Kattan, Carla Nancy B and Rembrandt Charms. Its in-house artisans have achieved worldwide fame with custom pieces. The shop also offers a vast selection of pre-owned Rolex watches. Established in 1977, Zak’s accepts trade-ins, provides repairs and offers financing.
Address: 428 Del Prado Blvd N #108, Cape Coral; email: mypremierwellnessgroup@gmail.com; call: 239.221.6338; Website: www.mypremierwellnessgroup.com/
Address: 1314 Cape Coral Pkwy East, Cape Coral; Phone: 239.542.7766; Email: zaksjewel@aol.com; Website: www.zaksjewelry.com
Southwest Florida Real Estate Services
Physicians Cannabis Center
Gold Winner Vacation Rental Agency
Gold Winner Medical Marijuana Doctor
SWFL Real Estate Services, LLC is a family-owned and operated business, which we founded in 2008 after years of professional experience in real estate in Cape Coral. We are a close-knit team that takes customer service seriously, offering professional yet friendly service to both owners and tenants alike. We are here to help any time, and our check-in team members can give you all the hot spots in the area to check out during your stay.
Thank you for voting PCC Florida the Best of Cape Coral Medical Marijuana Doctors. PCC Services include: MMJ Card Certification & Education, A Suboxone Clinic Treatment Center, and A Lifestyle Series Wellness Program; all working synergistic with Cannabis combining the terpene values in doTERRA Essential Oils and Whole Foods Nutrition of JuicePlus+ Fruits, Vegetables, Berries & Omegas. Kids are free for four years. Grow your own food with Tower Garden. Inquire today.
Address: 2517 Santa Barbara Blvd, Suite 5, Cape Coral; Website: www.swfl-rentals.com; Email: info@swfl-rentals.com; Phone: 239.673.9294
Address: 3515 Del Prado Blvd South, Suite 101, Cape Coral; Phone: 239.268.3636; Website: www.PCCFlorida.com; Email: Info@PCCFlorida.com
Zak’s Jewelry
Premier Wellness Group
Gold Winner Fine Jewelry
Silver Winner Chiropractor
When looking for high-quality jewelry from elite designers or a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted objet d’art, Zak’s Jewelry offers an expansive selection. Brands include Belair, Shula New York, Kattan, Carla Nancy B and Rembrandt Charms. Its in-house artisans have achieved worldwide fame LOGO with custom pieces. The shop also offers a vast selection of pre-owned Rolex watches. Established in 1977, Zak’s accepts trade-ins, provides repairs and offers financing.
Address: 1314 Cape Coral Pkwy East, Cape Coral; Phone: 239.542.7766; Email: zaksjewel@aol.com; Website: www.zaksjewelry.com
Dr. Patrick King and the team of experts at Premier Wellness Group provide compassionate, individualized chiropractic care for their patients in Cape Coral and surrounding communities of Southwest Florida. This specialized care includes, but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Call the office or use the convenient 24/7 online scheduling tool.
Address: 428 Del Prado Blvd N #108, Cape Coral; email: mypremierwellnessgroup@gmail.com; call: 239.221.6338; Website: www.mypremierwellnessgroup.com/ GRANDEUR | OCTOBER 2020 | 73
The
BONITA/ESTERO
The
FORT MYERS
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Hoglund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers
The Club at Gateway
Gold Winner
Gold Winner
Audiologist, Hearing & Testing Center Hearing Aids, Tinnitus/Ringing Ear
Hogund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers has been helping Patients throughout SWFL, who are experiencing hearing loss, suffer with tinnitus or have questions about vertigo, Ménière’s Disease, or any other ear pathology since 2003. We offer free hearing tests, tinnitus consultations, service and programming assistance, inspections for earwax, and second opinions for SWFL residents and seasonal snowbirds, as well as special programs dedicated to medical professionals, first responders, and our nation’s military veterans! We will treat you like family.
Address: Fifteen 8th St., Suite B, Bonita Springs; Phone: 239.494.8651; 10020 Coconut Road, Suite 120, Estero; Phone: 239.494.8652; Website: Hoglundfamilyhearing.com
Private Golf & Country Club
We’re not just a Country Club. Golfers enjoy our Tom Fazio Signature Course, 20-acre, 2-sided range, short-game areas, practice holes, daily games and tournaments. Others enjoy a tennis or pickleball match, bocce, cycling class or lift weights in the fitness center. If that’s not your cup of tea, swim a few laps, take a water aerobics class or relax poolside with a refreshing beverage. Here, members feel they truly belong and friendships are made. Join now, play now, with no dues until 2021 and no assessments.
Address: 12091 Gateway Greens Drive, Fort Myers; Website: www.GatewayGolf.com; Phone: 239.561.1012 Email: Membership@GatewayGCC.com
Dr. Nadia Kazim, MD, FACS
Medlin Exotic Animal Medical Services
Gold Winner Cosmetic Surgeon
Gold Winner
Exotic Animal Veterinarian
Dr. Kazim has performed more than 10,000 surgical and non-surgical procedures. She specializes in blepharoplasty surgery, which is the removal of excess eyelid skin that may impair a person’s vision. She also performs surgical procedures to correct drooping upper or lower lids. Additionally, she is an expert in the field of removal of eyelid skin cancer and facial cosmetic procedures such as Botox®, fillers and skin rejuvenation. Dr. Kazim prides herself in providing her patients with compassionate personal attention.
We take pride in being the only practice in Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties with a residency-trained, accredited exotic animal veterinarian. Dr. Scott Medlin has dedicated his career to providing unique pets with the best care possible. We cater to exotic pets providing medicine and surgery to all species of birds and reptiles, as well as rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, sugar gliders, hedgehogs, prairie dogs, and amphibians. If your exotic species is not listed, please give us a call to see if we can help.
Address: 3501 Health Center Blvd STE 2170, Bonita Springs; Website: kazimeyelidsurgery.com; Phone: 239.494.4900; Email: info@KazimEyelidSurgery.com
Address: 14361 Metropolis Ave. #2, Fort Myers; Phone: 239.989.8860; Website: www.meams.vet; Email: reception@meamsonline.com
Truly Nolen of Bonita Springs
Hoglund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers
Gold Winner
Gold Winner
Pest Control
Truly Nolen of Bonita Springs provides guaranteed Termite, Pest control, Rodent and Lawn services. Save $50 on Pest Control included without new PC Elite Service and $75 on Termite Control initial service. Our new and improved PC Elite service approach is a proactive program that addresses changes in pest behavior from season to season in Florida. If a new infestation occurs we promise to respond within 24-hours, retreating your home or business at no additional charge. Making a difference in a positive way and adding value to the lives we touch. The proof is our guarantee.
Address: 25071 Bernwood Dr, Bonita Springs; Website: www.trulynolen.com; Phone: 239.495.3668; Email: info@trulymail.net 74 | OCTOBER 2020 | grandeurmagazine.com
Audiologist, Hearing & Testing Center Hearing Aids, Tinnitus Treatment Center
Hogund Family Hearing & Audiology Centers has been helping Patients throughout SWFL, who are experiencing hearing loss, suffer with tinnitus or have questions about vertigo, Ménière’s Disease, or any other ear pathology since 2003. We offer free hearing tests, tinnitus consultations, service and programming assistance, inspections for earwax, and second opinions for SWFL residents and seasonal snowbirds, as well as special programs dedicated to medical professionals, first responders, and our nation’s military veterans! We will treat you like family.
Address: 13710 Metropolis Ave., Suite 101, Fort Myers; Website: Hoglundfamilyhearing.com; Phone: 239.208.6827
her mind matters Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 in Florida, and sadly, our state is not alone in this crisis. Nationally, there is a shortage of providers, and the average time from onset of symptoms to intervention is 8 to 10 years. For many children it’s too late. Children who suffer from depression, anxiety and trauma need our help!
Learn more at KidsMindsMatter.com 239-210-5315