Neapolitan Family March14

March 2014 neafamily.com

COMPLIMENTARY

Pregnant?

y b a B ! e v Lo NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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• Your Options for Giving Birth in Collier County • Why You Should Consider a Doula • Reader Tips PLUS: St. Patrick’s Day Events Women’s History Month Resources and much more!

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GRAND REOPENING! Parents: Make good grades part of your family’s New Year’s resolutions!

f f o 0 0 $1

on

’s Tuiti h t n o M t s r i F 4 ires 3/31/1 Exp

1575 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 4, Naples, Florida 34109 • erin@wisemindslearning.com

239-631-2348 • WWW.WISEMINDSLEARNING.COM 2

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Bill was a freshman at college when he experimented with drugs and experienced a terrifying psychotic break. He believed the whole world – even his family – was against him.

His distraught parents turned to the David Lawrence Center Crisis Stabilization Unit where he was kept safe and medically supervised. Bill spent the next two years working with a psychiatrist and therapist to identify and cope with these damaging thoughts so he could return to his studies.

As he nears graduation, Bill’s

f o r M e n t a l We l l n e s s

relationship with his family has never been stronger and his future holds endless opportunities.

His Mind is Our Concern.

Mental health is a community issue.

Fortunately, there’s a community solution.

f o r m e n t a l We l l n e s s

Bill is among one in four in Collier County who suffer from a mental illness. One in nine of us will experience some form of substance abuse. When a family member, friend or coworker battles a mental health or substance abuse problem, we suffer with them.

Thankfully, David Lawrence Center is here for our community.

A not-for-profit organization founded and still governed by community leaders, the David Lawrence Center is the behavioral health component of our community’s healthcare network.

A true local resource, it relies on donations, fees and grants to invest in the health, safety and wellbeing of our community.

When you or someone you love needs help, call on the highly compassionate, committed and competent professionals of the David Lawrence Center to inspire you to move beyond the crisis towards life-changing wellness.

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F o R m e N Ta l W e l l N e s s

DavidLawrenceCenter.org Naples

239-455-8500

immokalee

239-657-4434

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MARCH 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 12

14

Departments

05 FROM THE PUBLISHER 06 ON THE COVER 07 ONLINE this month

Family Movie Reviews

10 TRAVEL

Six Books to Read With Your Child During Women’s History Month by Cindy Hudson

18

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES! 43 44 46

City of Naples Parks Department News and Events

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20 COMMUNITY EVENTS

22 MARCH EVENTS Community events for your family.

Your Bundle of Joy by Stacy Nicolau

Birth options for Collier County Moms.

Collier County Parents Find Support, Education and Friendship at Eco Baby & Kids

Consider a Doula For Continuous Support at Your Next Birth

by Sue Lebreton

A trained birthing attendant can increase your confidence and r eassure both you and your partner.

28 CENTERFOLD CALENDAR

Expecting a Baby?

21 Awesome Tips From Our Readers

It started as a diaper delivery service and is now a retail store as well as a resource center for local parents.

Atlanta, Georgia

18 CITY CONNECTION

Spring Forward With Positive Change by Sue LeBreton

Spring is a restart button and an opportunity to invite change and increased energy into your life.

16

AT NEAFAMILY.COM

08 REEL LIFE WITH JANE

Sing With Your Child by Kimberly Carlson

In honor of national “Sing With Your Child” month we have the benefits of those lovely lullabies.

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Amazing Arrivals by Sandra Gordon

Four women’s birth plans take unexpected detours! Plus, the basics of a DIY delivery.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

2/19/14 8:12 AM

from the publisher…

the parenting magazine devoted to collier county

This Month: Baby Love!

P.O. Box 110656 Naples, FL 34108 (239) 514-0338 Phone (239) 514-0339 Fax info@neafamily.com Publisher Andrea Breznay andrea@neafamily.com Assistant Publisher Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com Copy Editor Leigh Ann Newmann Cover Photographer Peggy Farren Contributing Graphic Designer Janine Vitanza Editorial Submissions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for return of any unsolicited materials.

Articles and advertisements in Neapolitan Family do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher nor does the publisher assume responsibility for statements made by our advertisers or editorial contributors.

Acceptance of advertising by Neapolitan Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Neapolitan Family is available free of charge at over 275 distribution points throughout Collier County as well as digitally at www. neafamily.com.

Neapolitan Family is ©2014 by Neapolitan Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

I was pregnant a long time ago but it’s not difficult to remember most of the feelings associated with that special time. Excitement, joy and more than a little anxiety and fear. Being pregnant, giving birth, having a newborn–it’s a special time for new parents.

We’ve dedicated most of our March issue to our pregnant readers and those of you with newborns. We have articles covering everything from our best reader tips to one outlining the birth options available to Collier County parents. If you don’t know about doulas, check out our article on page 48. A doula can offer emotional support to mom during labor and delivery.

We also take a look at one of our favorite local businesses–Eco Baby & Kids– on page 46. Kim Meador and her staff are an inspiration. They’ve done a great job of offering not just excellent products but also offering generous support for Naples parents. Thank you Eco Baby & Kids for all that you are doing for our community!

We’re travelling this month to Atlanta. If you need a destination for spring break or for your summer vacation, consider a family vacation to Atlanta. I had a wonderful visit to Atlanta a few months ago and really enjoyed it. There is so much to do and see and kids especially will have a blast.

March is always filled with St. Patrick’s Day fun in Naples and this year is no exception. We have a schedule of holiday events on page 18. Be sure to check our calendar online at neafamily.com for the most up to date events list.

We update the calendar frequently so be sure to stop by often.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Have a wonderful March.

Andrea Breznay/Publisher

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on the cover…

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www.PreciousCargoAcademy.org NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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online MARCH

at

NEAFAMILY.COM

Browse Our E-Magazine

Web Only Contests

Read complete issues of Neapolitan Family on your desktop computer or mobile device. To access: Neafamily.com → Digital → Click on issue you’d like to read.

We offer great contests for our web readers.

To find out about our current contest: Neafamily.com → Contests.

Take Us Wherever You Go

We update our web site daily with new articles, news and local information. You’ll also find an archive of print articles as well as web-only articles with everything from travel information to crafts projects.

Neapolitan Family now features responsive web design, so our web pages adjust to whatever portable device you use. Access our resources, directories, publications, calendar and news updates 24/7.

E-Newsletter Neapolitan Family sends out an enewsletter every Thursday filled with fun events for the upcoming week. To sign up: Neafamily.com → click on the newsletter graphic box at the top of each page.

Web Only Content

Updated Calendar We update the calendar frequently adding new events that come in after the print publication deadlines. Check often to see what is going on in Naples and surrounding areas. There is NOT a better calendar of events available locally.

This month’s web-only articles: • St. Patrick’s Day Events Find an updated list of local events for St. Patrick’s Day. • Three Ways to Increase Your Luck How setting an intention, being grateful and taking action can change your “luck.”

• Spring Break Camps and Activities Need a fun activity for the kids during spring break?

Check out our calendar for great ideas!

• Our Favorite DIY Photo Projects Use those Instagram photos to decorate your home!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Store Baby Gear Rentals & Resale

Our 18th year!

We buy & sell your gently used kids stuff

We pay CA$H

USAChess Summer Chess Camps

Experienced instructors • Beginners thru Advanced Coed 5-16

Gamebuilder Video Game Creation Camps

Design and create a one-of-a-kind video game Coed 8-16 Intro to Video Game Creation • Kodu Video Game Creation

June 23th-27th The Community School of Naples Naples, FL

Chess • Intro • Kodu

888-652-4377 • www.activelearningcamps.com

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 Clothing (newborn to kid 16 & maternity)  Toys, Books, Dvds, Accessories  Baby Gear & Furniture  Cloth diapering, new products

We Moved To Bigger Store!

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239-262-5904

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REEL LIFE WITH JANE

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Family Movie & DVD Reviews M

arch brings classic cartoon characters, adorable muppets and an opera singer who just needs one chance to make it big. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new in theaters and on DVD and blu-ray this month.

MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN PG for some mild action and brief rude humor. In theaters 3/07.

Ok for kids 7+.

Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels.

Here’s a chance to bring some classic characters from the “Rocky and Bullwinkle Show” to your own kids. Mr. Peabody and his adopted human sidekick, Sherman (voiced by Ty Burrell and Max Charles, respectively), strike out on their own for a big-screen CGI adventure in this feature directed by Rob Minkoff (“The Haunted Mansion”). Stephen Colbert and Allison Janney also voice characters in this cute throwback with a modern twist.

ONE CHANCE Rated PG-13 for some language and sexual material. In theaters 3/14.

Ok for kids 12+.

Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels.

Director David Frankel (“The Devil Wears Prada”) teams with screenwriter Justin Zackham (“The Bucket List”) to tell the story of amateur opera singer Paul Potts (James Corden), who went from meek shop clerk to international superstar after his stunning performance on “Britain’s Got Talent” became a viral video phenomenon. Julie Walters, Colm Meaney, and Mackenzie Crook co-star.

ERNEST & CELESTINE Rated PG for some scary moments.

In theaters 3/14. Ok for kids 6+.

Reel Preview: 5 of 5 Reels.

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature, this gorgeous film takes place deep below snowy, cobblestone streets, where a civilization of hardworking mice live. Unlike her fellow mice, Celestine is an artist and a

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dreamer, and when she nearly ends up as breakfast for ursine troubadour Ernest, the two form an unlikely bond and are soon living together as outcasts, creating la vie boheme in a winter cottage. But it isn’t long before their friendship is put on trial by their respective bear-fearing and mice-eating communities.

The all-star cast includes Forest Whitaker, Lauren Bacall, Paul Giamatti, William H. Macy and Megan Mullally.

DIVERGENT Not yet rated; likely PG-13.

In theaters 3/21. Ok for kids 13+.

Reel Preview: 4.5 of 5 Reels.

In a future where the population is divided by personality types, one young woman classified as “divergent” uncovers a conspiracy to eliminate all who bear her misfit label, and attempts to find out what makes the powersthat-be so frightened of them before time runs out. Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants”) and Theo James (“Underworld: Awakening”) star in this action thriller adapted from the novel by Veronica Roth, and directed by Neil Burger (“Limitless”).

mount/New Regency religious drama. Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, and Emma Watson head up the all-star cast.

NEW ON DVD | BLU-RAY: DORA THE EXPLORER: DORA IN WONDERLAND Rated G. On DVD 3/4. Ok for kids 3+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Get ready to explore Wonderland with Dora and Boots! When Dora’s kitties run through a magic mirror, Dora becomes “Dora in Wonderland” in this double-length special based on the classic tale. Plus, your kids will become book explorers with Dora as she journeys into classic stories in a bonus episode never before released on DVD. BARBIE: THE PEARL PRINCESS Rated G. On DVD/Blu-ray 3/11.

Ok for kids 3+.

Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels.

Barbie stars as Lumina, a mermaid who

MUPPETS MOST WANTED Rated PG for some mild action.

In theaters 3/21.

Ok for kids 5+.

Reel Preview: 4.5 of 5 Reels.

The Muppets are back! While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into a European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick. Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, and Ty Burrell head up the human cast, with James Bobin directing from a script he wrote with Nicholas Stoller.

NOAH Not yet rated; likely PG-13.

In theaters 3/28. Ok for kids 13+.

Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels. www.noahmovie.com/ Darren Aronofsky brings the story of Noah’s Ark to the big screen with this ParaNEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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dreams of being a princess and who also has a magical power that makes pearls dance and glow. Lumina and best friend Kuda, a pink seahorse, embark on an adventure to a majestic mer-kingdom. There, she uses her powers to help her friends prepare for the Royal Ball.

Lumina then discovers that her magical pearls are the key to unlocking her true destiny and ultimately saving the kingdom. Special features include digital and ultraviolet copies; Mermaid Party, Light Up the World, and Life in the Dreamhouse music videos; and Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse episode.

VEGGIE TALES: VEGGIES IN SPACE Rated G. On DVD 3/11.

Ok for kids 3+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

In a distant corner of the galaxy, Luntar the Looter is menacing passing ships and stealing their power sources. When a dark shadow falls on the sunny planet of Tootanny, the USS Applepies fleet is deployed to put a stop to this space pirate. Captain Cuke (Larry) and first officer, Mr. Spork (Bob) hop in their spaceion wagon posing as undercover Tootany tourists to find Luntar. Along the way, Cuke and Spork discover that the villain is himself a victim, desperately trying to save his planet from solar burst popcorn meteorites. What follows is the ultimate story of sharing and caring.

WINNIE THE POOH: SPRINGTIME WITH ROO Rated G. On Blu-ray 3/11.

Ok for kids 3+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Each year, Rabbit plays Easter Bunny, but this year, he’s decided it’s “Spring Cleaning Day,” and he orders everyone to hop to it: scrubbing, dusting, and mop-

ping. All his pals are disappointed - especially little Roo, until Rabbit learns that putting others first and showing friends how much you care turns every day into a precious gift.

race to find Anna’s sister Elsa (Idina Menzel), whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom in eternal winter. One of my favorite children’s movies of 2013.

BUBBLE GUPPIES: ANIMALS EVERYWHERE

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: SEASON ONE

Rated G. On DVD 3/11.

Ok for kids 2+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Those adorable Bubble Guppies are making all kinds of new animal friends - squirrels, ducks, rhinos, elephants, and more. Join the class for six fin-tastic field trips that will have your little ones learning about all kinds of animals from around the globe.

Rated G. On DVD 3/25.

Ok for kids 7+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

For the first time since their original TV broadcast, all 24 episodes of season one are now on DVD, newly restored and remastered for optimal picture and sound quality. The set includes the original, full-length pilot movie that introduced the Ingalls family to millions of viewers around the world. Relive all the heartwarming adventures from season one from the arrival of Charles Ingalls and his family in Walnut Grove, through the building of a new home and friendships, to battling for their lives against a vicious blizzard in this ultimate collection.

JUNGLE BOOK 2 Rated G. On blu-ray 3/18.

Ok for kids 4+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Now that Mowgli’s living in the “manvillage,” he cherishes his new best friend and little brother, but he still has that jungle rhythm in his heart. He misses hanging out with happy-go-lucky Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther. So he runs off into the jungle and encounters his enemy Shere Khan. This time, he’ll need both his new human family and his old jungle friends to help save the day.

FROZEN Rated PG for some action and mild rude humor. On DVD/Blu-ray 3/18.

Ok for kids 5+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Fearless optimist Anna (Kristen Bell) teams up with Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) in an epic journey, encountering Everest-like conditions, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf (Josh Gad) in a

ABC Swim School Survival Swimming for Babies & Toddlers

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DRAGONS: DEFENDERS OF BERK PART 1 Rated G. On DVD 3/25.

Ok for kids 3+.

Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels.

Join Hiccup and his brave Viking friends as they battle surprising new enemies in 10 fun-filled animated adventures based on the Academy Award-nominated hit movie “How To Train Your Dragon.”

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.

Two Reels – Coulda been a contender Three Reels – Something to talk about.

Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!

Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

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SPECIAL OFFER Free Phone Consultation and Follow-Up Email

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TRAVEL

By Andrea Breznay

“The Capital of the New South”

Atlanta For Family Fun A

re you looking for a spring break destination or a great spot for your summer vacation? Look toward Atlanta, Georgia for family fun at its finest!

Atlanta saw a boom in the late 1980s and early 1990s as businesses capitalized on the low cost of living. The Summer Olympics in 1996 spurred even more growth. Called the “Capital of the New South,” Atlanta is a friendly city filled with Southern charm and world-class museums, attractions and restaurants. That adds up to Atlanta being an awesome destination for families!

Getting There Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one the country’s busiest airports and the hub for Delta Airlines. There are numerous airlines flying direct to Atlanta from Ft. Myers making it an easy (and usually inexpensive) flight. If you drive, it’s just a little over 600 miles from Naples–about 10 hours depending on the number of stops along the way.

Getting Around Atlanta has several distinct neighborhoods with most tourist attractions in midtown, downtown and south of the city.

Buckhead is filled with a younger crowd and is known for its popular restaurants and bars. If you fly into Atlanta, you will most likely need a rental car unless you plan on staying within midtown and downtown.

Public transportation isn’t great–with the exception of the subway connection from the airport and getting around the downtown area.

Where to Stay There are a variety of hotels in every price point in downtown and midtown Atlanta. All of the major travel search engines have good rates on hotels and you can choose amenities based on what’s important to your family. A word of warning, driving in Atlanta can be busy and confusing so limit it as much as possible by choosing a hotel within a short drive or walk to the popular tourist attractions.

What to See The major family attractions in Atlanta include several museums, tours of CNN and Coca Cola and The Georgia Aquarium.

Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags over Georgia both are worthy of a day trip.

Centennial Olympic Park This 21-acre park was built to celebrate the 1996 Olympics, and revitalized a rundown area of the city in the process. There is live music at the park most days of the week and special events planned throughout the year. The Fountain of Rings is the centerpiece of Centennial Olympic Park and is free to view. It plays four times a day, 365 days a year, at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History Your family can come face to

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PLAYING IN THE WATER FOUNTAINS AT OLYMPIC CENTENNIAL PARK NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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face with huge dinosaurs, explore the development of life on Earth, connect with cultures around the world, and engage in a variety of hands on activities at Fernbank. An IMAX theatre offers an array of educational and fun films. The website offers downloadable activities and a ton or resource materials.

Georgia’s most popular attraction and offers special events and festivals throughout the year. There are two hotels onsite as well as camping.

Georgia Aquarium The world’s largest, the Georgia Aquarium encompasses 13 acres and is home to tens of thousands of animals. The largest exhibit holds 6.2 million gallons of water! The aquarium is a definite full day so plan on getting there early and staying late. Hours vary depending on day and season and you can buy tickets online ahead of time.

Imagine It! Children’s Museum of Atlanta The Children’s Museum of Atlanta is located in downtown Atlanta and is just across the street from Centennial Park and within walking distance to the aquarium, CNN Center. It’s a great stop on a rainy (or too hot) day when you have a few hours to fill. Most exhibits are geared towards children 8 and younger. There are special events and exhibits that change frequently and you can purchase tickets online. Currently, the museum is closed on Wednesdays.

Inside CNN Studio Tour Inside CNN is a 55-minute guided walking tour that offers a behind the scenes look into the action at CNN’s global headquarters. Tours depart every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tickets can be purchased online. The Inside CNN VIP Tour features expanded access to the working studios and runs four times per day. Please note that the Inside CNN Tour includes walking eight flights of steps so plan accordingly and check the website for accessibility information for special needs.

World of Coca Cola Visit this attraction to trace the history of the world’s most popular soft drink. Your family will learn about the “legend of the secret formula,” get an inside look at the bottling process, see the world’s largest collection of Coke memorabilia, and much more.

The World of Coca Cola is located right near The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta.

Outside of Atlanta: Six Flags Over Georgia This 330-acre park is filled with rides, attractions and shows. Younger kids will enjoy “Bugs Bunny World” with rides especially for little ones.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-581-4125 www.GeorgiaAquarium.org Centennial Olympic Park 265 Park Avenue West, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-222-7275 www.centennialpark.com Children’s Museum of Atlanta 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-659-5437 www.childrensmuseum atlanta.org

Fernbank Museum of Natural History 767 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, Stone Park Stone Mountain Park is set on more9:45 thanAM 3,000 CEDRMountain 1003 NeaFamily 1-4 pg Horiz.4_Layout 1 2/18/13 Page 1 GA 30307 404-929-6300 acres of natural beauty with a variety of family activities. The park is

I love my

Empowering and inspiring children to reach their potential with: - Programs for 6 months to 6 years of age with full or parttime days - Florida VPK programs & Private chef’s delicious full meal program - Residential campus setting with 2-large play yards and much more

Call today for a campus tour: 239-597-7190 www.cedarmontessori.org e-mail: office@cedarmontessori.org

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www.fernbankmusum.org Inside CNN Studio Tour 190 Marietta Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303 404-827-2300 www.cnn.com/tour Six Flags Over Georgia 275 Riverside Pkwy SW, Austell, GA 30168 (770) 739-3400 www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia Stone Mountain Park 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083 770-498-5690 www.stonemountainpark.com World of Coca Cola 121 Baker Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-676-5151 www.worldofcoca-cola.com

the things he sees are not just remembered, they form a part of his soul.

Maria Montessori

inspiring the love of learning since 1984 neafamily.com

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FOR M

CELEBRATIONS

National Sing With Your Child Month

by Kimberly Carlson

WITH YOUR CHILD

SINGING IS HEALTHY March is national Sing with Your Child Month and a good time to highlight the benefits of singing. Dr. Matt Woolley, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry at the University of Utah and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist explains that “being involved in music–especially at an early age–has lifelong neurological benefits in the areas of cognitive functions, memory and attention.”

A recent study by Dr. Alicia Mackay, PhD, at the University of Kansas has found strong connections between music training and how it stimulates the emotional connections in our brain; pairing our emotional connections to our cognitive functions throughout our lifespan.

Simply put, when you sing with your child, you are creating a positive, emotional bond while stimulating the creative and cognitive parts of your child’s brain. “Studies have proven that the stronger the parental attachments children have, the better their brain functions are,” said Woolley. Singing is a great way to forge those bonds.

When both of my children were born, I had the urge to sing to them every time I held them. It surprised me as I am not one to sing along to songs on the radio and you couldn’t pay me to join in on karaoke nights. I sang them to sleep regularly. I hummed while they nursed. I patted their backs to the rhythms of my heartbeat when they were hurt or sad or ill. My mom did the same with her children, and I would venture a guess that her mother did, too.

LOVING LULLABIES Dr. Kim Clayton, owner, director and producer of Clayton Productions for the past 25 years in Salt Lake City would agree.

“Singing lullabies and nursery rhymes to babies and infants even before they learn to speak enhances the child’s ability to decode sounds and words and prepares the child’s ear, voice and brain for language development.”

Clayton further explains that “listening and signing songs uses both sides of the brain and improves creativity.”

Sam Nozumi, a retired preschool teacher and mother of four in Soquel, California also sang at home. “I sang to my babies because it

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was my natural motherly instinct. Lullabies are called lullabies for a reason: they would lull my babies to sleep.” She incorporated song and music into her classroom as well. “I found that music would calm my classroom and focus my students’ attention.” It helped her students retain information as well. “It is easier for a child to memorize a song about your body than a written list of body parts.

Even if the child didn’t actively sing, you could still see him tapping his toe to the music, and mouthing the words – singing them in his head if not aloud.”

Clayton reminisces that “singing with my children at a young age was one of our favorite pastimes. We would sing songs for all of the holidays, sing nursery rhymes and we even learned the alphabet and the names of the states through music. This was an opportunity to promote learning, growth and improve memory while bonding and having fun!”

Singing Fosters Creativity, Attention and Cognitive Skills Darlene Casanova, owner and director of Imagination Place (a family music center) in Utah loves singing. “Singing keeps us in tune with our culture,” she said. “Music gives us a rich foundation that supports all other

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learning skills like math, spatial skills and social development. Participating in music and movement develops the whole child.” Imagination Place has been celebrating Sing With Your Child Month for the past fifteen years.

Casanova has seen a big shift in the last ten years in early education: sadly, the school systems have been dropping their musical portion. “Early childhood music education is learning to sing in tune and keep an accurate rhythm to the music they hear and participate with confidence to the music of our culture,” said Casanova. “New research from The Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, New Jersey shows that musical knowledge enhancement helps support childhood learning in all other areas. Especially for children who are delayed.”

Lifelong Benefits “When a child makes a positive connection to a mastery experience, they are given a boost in self-confidence,” said Woolley.

A mastery experience is one in which the child actively engages in, and subsequently masters a creative endeavor and has a positive recognition of his/her accomplishment.

“When your daughter learns a new song, performs it, and has a positive response to it, be sure to reinforce her mastery of the event.”

Woolley recommends. Asking questions like, ‘How were you able to learn that new song so quickly?’ and having her respond with ‘Well, I practiced a lot!’ allows the connection to be made. They recognize that they have mastered the task, thus boosting their self-esteem and raising their confidence.

“Although not all children are “naturals”, the greater percentage of them are very teachable,” said Clayton. I definitely don’t fall within the “natural” category myself.

Probably no one but my children will ever hear me sing, and that’s okay. I don’t sing to sound good; I sing to bond with my children and have fun. And although they are too old for me to sing them to sleep at night, they can still remember me doing so. Poor kids.

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to mind my lack of perfect pitch!

Regardless of how well (or not) you sing, all the experts agree: not only is it fun and engaging it’s mentally and emotionally healthy and has far-reaching benefits for all who do.

Kimberly Carlson is a freelance writer, mother of two beautifully intelligent children who love to dance in the dark and have new adventures. Read more about her at consultkimberly.wordpress.com.

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FOR MOM

Spring Forward with Positive Change The longer and warmer days of spring herald a new season and the opportunity for you to invite change and increased energy into your lie. Consider it a restart button and use those extra hours of daylight to pamper yourself and plan for self-renewal.

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by Sue LeBreton

L

ike the plants that have been dormant throughout the winter, spring can be your time to bloom. A fresh start requires you to drop any blame or negativity about what you have not done or what you should have done. Instead, focus on where you want to go.

Make a new list. As moms we are great list makers: grocery lists, to-do lists for home and work, appointment and activity lists for family members, but do you have “To Me” list? Mannon Pelletier, Certified Lifestyle and Meditation Coach suggests that you create a “To Me” list. This sends a positive message to both you and your family. “When you begin adding a little “me” time to your schedule it signals those around you that you are taking care of yourself, have the intention of becoming healthier, and you are able to be at your best when playing, working and caring for them.”

Start with your strengths. Dana Lloyd, Leadership Coach, suggests that you stay in your strength zone. “To easily identify strengths, pay attention to what you are doing when you lose track of time. Watch for when you have an emotional high as well. When you identify your strengths, find ways to bring them into your life as frequently as possible

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because passion is fueled by our strengths.” If you are struggling with this, ask a friend for help because sometimes others can see our strengths while we are too busy listening to our inner critic.

Start small. We often fail when we adopt changes that are too drastic.

In Michelle Cederberg’s book, Energy Now! Small Steps to an Energetic Life, she recommends starting where you are and consistently adding in small changes. If you are a couch potato, start moving for ten minutes.

If you enjoy your wine you might be more willing to try Cedeberg’s suggestion to limit alcohol to two or less drinks on most days. That can be easier to swallow than a program that has you eliminating alcohol and exercising for an hour daily as a starting point.

Make your goals specific. Lloyd says, “ If you want to lose weight be specific about your goal by answering how much and by when.”

For example, you might say you are going to lose 10 pounds by a predetermined date. Instead of a vague I will eat more fruits and vegetables, set a daily goal and track it, remembering to start with a small improvement from where you are and as you establish the new habit you can ratchet up the goal.

INSPIRATION Energy Now! Small Steps to an Energetic Life

by Michelle Cederberg Living Your Yoga

by Judith Hanson Lasater The Gifts of Imperfection

by Brene Brown Strength Finder 2.0

by Tom Roth

Try yoga. An activity like yoga that focuses on breathing offers you a rare time where you focus totally on you. It is never too late to start.

Yoga teacher, Jayne Wilbur took her first yoga class at age fifty, “I was awestruck at how good it made me feel and at how it brought me into the moment.” Experiment with styles and teachers until you find a practice that suits you.

The Joy Diet

by Martha Beck

Remember your spirit. Doing something nice for others is good Left Neglected (fiction) for your immune system and lifts

by Lisa Genova your mood. Show yourself that same kindness. When was the last time you bought flowers just for you or had a deep belly laugh? If you are searching for greater meaning to your life consider a spiritual practice or begin by reading spiritual or uplifting books.

Buddy up. Just as it is easier to get out of bed for that early morning walk when you know a friend is waiting for you, a buddy who keeps you accountable and shares your struggles can help you stay on track.

If you need more structure consider getting expert help whether it is a dietician for better eating, a life or weight loss coach. All these professions thrive because it is beneficial to have extra support.

Flow with the seasons. The hotter weather and longer days may entice you to spend more time outdoors, moving your body and absorbing Vitamin D. Soon summer will arrive and with it fresh fruits and vegetables, so it may be easier to make dietary changes.

If you falter on your new path, do not give up. Start again, maybe with even smaller steps. But put yourself on your list and have fun.

SUE LEBRETON is a health and wellness journalist and a trained yoga teacher. She is often course correcting by taking small steps.

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CELEBRATIONS

Women’s History Month

Six Books to Read With Your Kids During Women’s History Month M

arch is Women’s History Month, and while your kids may encounter activities about famous women from history at school or your local library, this month is also a good time to open a conversation at home. You can easily do that by reading a book with your child about a famous woman from history. Books can help you talk about ways that women pushed the boundaries in the work they sought to do, the rights they held in society-like the right to vote and the right to own property-and more.

Here are a few ideas for great books to read with your daughter or son this month. Check with your local librarian for even more suggestions.

Nonfiction My Name is Not Isabella: Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream, story by Jennifer Fosberry, pictures by Mike Litwin. For ages 5 to 8.

Focuses on some of the strongest females in history, like Sally Ride and Rosa Parks, as seen through the eyes of a little girl who looks up to them. Brief biographies in the back of the book offer more information and can lead to further exploration.

Rebel in a Dress: Cowgirls and Rebel in a Dress: Adventurers, story by Sylvia Branzei, illustrations by Melissa Sweet.

For ages 8 to 12.

Showcases women who pushed the boundaries of their times to achieve what they wanted. Includes quotes from the women featured and those who knew them, as well as notes about other events going on in the world during the times in which they lived. Girls now are mostly told they can do and be anything they want, and these books show just how far society has come for that to happen.

In Disguise! Undercover with Real Women Spies, by Ryan Ann Hunter. For ages 9 to 12.

Highlights the stories of women who acted as spies during the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. Readers will also learn about some of the techniques used in spying over the years and learn how to try a few of them out.

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The Heroine’s Bookshelf: Life Lessons from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder, by Erin Blakemore. For ages 13 and up.

Pairs favorite heroines in literary history with their female authors and analyzes both the similarities and differences in their lives. In the past, women faced multiple barriers in bringing their stories to print, and many of them, even those we think of as successful, struggled with poverty their entire lives.

Fiction Promise the Night, by Michaela MacColl. For ages 9 to 12.

Introduces young readers to Beryl Markham, an Englishwoman who grew up in the wilds of Africa and became an aviatrix and the first woman to fly solo from Europe to North America.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. Ages 9 to 12.

Depiction of American pioneer life and the role women were expected to play in it. Caddie has no interest in being a “lady,” preferring to run in the woods with her brothers. Based on the real-life stories of the author’s grandmother.

Cindy Hudson writes about books for children and their parents at MotherDaughterBookClub.com.

She is the author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating MotherDaughter Book Clubs.

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JJ Dance

DANCE, THEATRE AND CREATIVE ARTS

Dance

Dance Classes for Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School and Adults BALLET • HIP HOP • JAZZ • LEAPS & TURNS • LYRICAL • MODERN • POINTE • TAP • THEATRE DANCE Three Studios With Professional Sprung Dance Floors Affordable Programs and Family Plans

Theatre

Theatre and Musical Theatre Classes for All Ages

CALL

(239) 431-7946 FOR INFORMATION

Visit Us At www.DanceNaplesJJ.com For Our Complete Spring Class Schedule!

Creative Arts We offer a variety of arts & crafts classes for children from age 3 through adults.

DRAWING • PAINTING • BUBBLE LETTERS NAME ART • CHARACTERS • ANIMALS SOCK PUPPETS AND MORE! 3 and 4 Week Classes Available

JJ Dance

DANCE, THEATRE AND CREATIVE ARTS

JOIN IN THE FUN AT JJ DANCE! NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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1826 Trade Center Way Naples, FL 34109 • (239) 431-7946

(Access from Pine Ridge and Airport Pulling Roads) neafamily.com

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CELEBRATIONS

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations An Evening of Irish Entertainment

Flag Raising Ceremony

March 1 • 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Saint Elizabeth Seton Church 1392 Frank Whiteman Blvd., Naples This special evening features Dublin born Ciaran Sheehan. Ciarán is an acclaimed actor, singer and voice healer whose performances have been said to warm the heart and touch the soul. Ciarán has many professional accomplishments to his credit, most notably playing the role of The Phantom in “The Phantom of The Opera” for over 1,000 performances.

For more info: naplesparade.com

March 15 • 9:30 am - 10:00 am Crayton Cove, Naples The 19th Annual Flag Raising takes place the morning of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and is held at The Dock Restaurant at Crayton Cove at 9:30 a.m. This traditional and moving program honors our veterans and public safety personnel, who will be featured along with color guards and impressive musical accompaniment. Free coffee and Danish.

For more info: naplesparade.com

Annual Pub Trolley Crawl March 7 • 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm Mulligan’s Sports Grille, 2041 Tamiami Trail N., Naples The Pub Crawl is an exciting evening of Bagpipers, victuals and fun. Join the energetic crowd and board the street trolleys to visit several local pubs. Trolleys depart Mulligans promptly at 6:00 p.m. The Evening will conclude at Mulligans at approximately 10:00 p.m.

For more info: naplesparade.com St. Patty’s Day Celebration

March 13 • 5:00 pm. S Irish entertainment from the Tir Na Nog Dance Studio and Irish Jib. 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd, Naples.

For more info: venetianvillage. com.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 15 • 11:00 am Fifth Avenue South, Naples Thirty-six years ago a group of Neapolitan’s got together and decided to have a parade to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Through the hard work of many volunteers and the generous support of patrons like you, the Parade has prospered in the decades since.

It is now the largest privately-funded Parade in the state. It draws over 40,000 people to downtown Naples each year to celebrate Irish heritage and Irish culture in America.

The parade staging area and beginning of the parade will be at Saint Ann’s Church in Old Naples. The parade travels down 3rd Street South to 5th Avenue, then goes down 8th Street South to end at Crayton Cove.

For more info: call 1-800-222-3333 or check naplesparade.com

www.reedorthodonticsnaples.com

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25th Anniversary

Free Parking

Old Florida Festival Adults: $10 Members & Seniors: $8 Children 10-18: $5 Children under 10: Free

Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9 10:00 AM to 5 PM

Step Into Your Past NEW!

Grand Entrance with Re-enactors Children’s Games & Prizes Traditional Dances from Chantilly, France

FEATURING

• Stone Age Man • Calusa and Seminole Indians • Spanish Conquistadors • Cannon Firings • Seminole War Soldiers • Civil War Camp • World War II Soldiers • Cracker Cowboys • BBQ • Crafts • Live Music

DEMONSTRATIONS

• Broom, Net and Soap Making • Calusa and Seminole Indians • Leatherwork and more!

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Collier County Museum • 239-252-8476 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112 COLLIERMUSEUMS.COM

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CITY CONNECTION PARKS DEPT. By Laura Tichy-Smith

Sign up Now for Spring Break Spring Break fun awaits your child at camps offered by the City of Naples Community Services Department.

Spring Break Camp for Grades K thru 6th Need childcare when school is closed for Spring Break but you have to work? River and Fleischmann Parks have you covered.

They have planned fun activities for your child’s day off from school, including crafts, games, field trips and sports. Fun Day runs 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You must register no later than no later than one week prior to the event – space is limited. Camp will be held March 24 through 28 and March 31.

Cost is $25 per child. Call (239) 213-3037 to register at River Park; call 213-3020 to register at Fleischmann Park.

Swim and Snorkel Camp for Grades 1st through 5th

member, $75 each additional member. For information, call 239-213-3040.

Flip for Gymnastics Class Do you have kids with a knack for the acrobatic? Sign them up for the gymnastic classes at Fleischmann Park. Classes are March 24 to 28, full day is $180, half day is $99. Call (239) 231-3020 for more information.

UK International Soccer Camp for Ages 7-14

March 24 to 28, full day is $200, half day is $145. Call (239) 231-3020 for more information.

And for the whole family: Free Outdoor Movie Night Curl up with your kids on a blanket as you watch a family movie on a two-story inflatable screen at the Cambier Park Bandshell. Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. Call 239-213-3058 for the title of the surprise movie.

Got kids who are nuts for soccer? Sign them up for this camp taught by internationally trained coaches. Camp will be held

What better time than spring break to learn a new skill that will provide fun for a lifetime? While engaging in games and aquatic-themed crafts, your child will learn the how-to’s of using masks, fins and snorkels. They will also learn proper breathing and stroke efficiency as well as coral reef safety and etiquette. Some children’s snorkel gear is available for use–inquire upon registration. Space is limited to 20 children, so sign up soon.

Camp will be held March 24 through March 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Cost is $100 for first family member, $75 each additional member. For information, call 239-213-3040.

Try on a Triathlon Camp for Grades 1st through 5th Has your child ever been interested in participating in a triathlon? Local coaches will teach the format of the disciplines and transitions between the swimming, biking and running components of the sport in a camp that includes fund games and activities. Space is limited to 20 children, so sign up soon. Camp will be held March 24 through March 28, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $100 for first family

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Riverpark Aquatic Center 451 11th St. North Naples Fleischmann Park: 1600 Fleischmann Boulevard Naples Cambier Park: 755 Eighth Avenue South Naples NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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Be Inspired... Be a Kid!

all ages

Visitors of enjoy The Smith Children’s Garden at Naples Botanical Garden!

Photo Credit: Dennis Goodman

The Smith Children’s Garden, designed by one of the country’s renowned children’s garden landscape architects, offers a fanciful retreat created just for kids to let their imaginations soar.

From watering seedlings to exploring the colorful Pfeffer-Beach Butterfly house, children delight in this whimsical space to call their own.

Splash Fountain Hidden Garden Butterfly House Two-story Tree House

Cracker House and Garden Rolling Hill Drop-in Programs

Stay for the day to also enjoy six cultivated gardens, walking trails and a nature preserve, all just minutes from downtown Naples.

Connect with us on Facebook & Twitter

Download our Free Mobile App

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112 / 877.433.1874 / WWW.NAPLESGARDEN.ORG

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YOUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY NEWS

Old Florida Festival March 8 & 9, 2014

350 OFF $

Y

PMS CMYK RGB

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*Offer valid for comprehensive treatment only.

Cannot be combined with all insurances.

Erin M. Taylor, DMD Miguel A. Argumosa, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists

Two Locations To Serve You!

BONITA SPRINGS

9510 Bonita Beach Rd. Ste. 101 239 333.2990 Fun and Interactive Environment Strong Focus on Prevention Digital X-Rays Restorative Dentistry Interceptive Orthodontics

CAPE CORAL

1508 S.E. 12th Terrace 239 322.5222 In-Office Sedation: Nitrous, Oral and I.V. Hospital Dentistry Management of Dental Trauma Sports Dentistry Tooth Whitening

ou can live in the present any old time. Why not spend a day in the past with a Calusa Indian, a Seminole family, a Civil War soldier, Cracker cattleman, Spanish Conquistador and dozens of other costumed time-travelers at the Old Florida Festival. This special event is scheduled for March 8 and 9 at the Collier County Museum. The annual family-style adventure brings together over 100 of the state’s finest historical reenactors, craftworkers and living history presenters to recreate over ten centuries of everyday life on the Southwest Florida frontier.

Continuous all-day demonstrations will be offered by the blacksmith, soap maker, telegraph operator, flintknapper, basket weaver and other craftworkers, along with 1800s-style music and entertainment, cannon and musket firing, a Seminole War skirmish, and authentic military drills by soldiers from the American Revolution to World War II. Artists, sutlers and traders will also offer handmade gifts, toys and craft items for your homestead, as well as kettle corn, old-fashioned candy, Southern barbeque, and other traditional treats from the past.

Demonstrations on broom-making, net-making, telegraph operation, soap-making, leathersmithing and more.

Admission for adults is $10, children ages 10 to 18 are $5 and children under 10 are free. Event parking is free of charge and offers accessible parking spaces. Museum is fully accessible.

Nestled on five acres of native Florida landscaping, the Collier County Museum at the County Government center in Naples offers newly created exhibits and galleries that capture the full panorama of local history. The museum’s main gallery offers over 10,000 square feet of new displays, plus a traveling exhibit room, lecture hall, and gift shop.

The Museum hours are Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed national and county holidays. For more information on the museum or the Old Florida Festival, call 239-2528476 or check www.colliermuseums. com/oldfloridafestival. The event will be held at 3331 Tamiami Tr Eeast, Naples, Florida 34112.

We Love Kids, Kids Love Us! Special Health Care Needs Welcomed Most Insurance Accepted

Se Habla Español

www.swfl-pediatricdentistry.com MCNA and CMS insurance accepted.

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PROOF O.K. BY: __________________________________________________

O.K. WITH CORRECTIONS BY:_________________________________________

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY • SUBMIT CORRECTIONS ONLINE ADVERTISER: PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY OF B

SALES PERSON: Lisa Doyle March 2014.indd 220091

PUBLICATION: NP-PARENT AND CHILD

PROOF CREATED AT: 6/6/2011 9:46 AM PROOF DUE: NEXT RUN DATE: 06/27/11 SIZE: 4 col X 10 in

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C O N S E R VA N C Y O F S O U T H W E S T F LO R I D A N AT U R E C E N T E R

Join us for

CINEMA SUNDAYS

CELEBRATE

NATURE

First Sunday of the Month!

Monday - Sunday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bring this ad in to receive:

FREE KIDS ADMISSION (with each paying adult)

Saturday is Family Day! Saturday • Meet our mascot “Gordon B. Eagle” • Electric boat tours • New daily programs: 10 AM Reptile Reverie 11 AM Trail Walk & Talk Visit us at www.conservancy.org or

1 PM Turtle Talk 3 PM Wild about Wildlife facebook.com/ConservancySWF

1495 Smith Preserve Way • Naples, FL 34102 • 239.262.0304 Just south of Naples Zoo off Goodlette-Frank Rd. Nature Ctr_NEAFamily_7.25_9.5.indd 1 NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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YOUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY NEWS

Reading and Authors Headline the Southwest Florida Reading Festival

N

early 30 best-selling authors are coming to Fort Myers to meet their fans and talk about their books at the 15th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival March 15 at the Harborside Event Center and Centennial Park in the Fort Myers River District.

One of the authors is Sue Monk Kidd whose first novel, The Secret Life of Bees spent more than one hundred weeks on The New York Times best-seller list, sold nearly 6 million copies.Her latest book The Invention of Wings was selected by Oprah Winfrey for her Book Club 2.0.

Other authors include: Phillip Margolin, a legal thriller author; Andrew Gross who has written six New York Times best-sellers; Rick Yancey an adult and teen author; Ethan Long an internationally recognized children’s book author and illustrator; Jill Shalvis author of more than 50 contemporary books; and Stephan Pastis, the creator of the comic strip Pearls Before Swine. The complete list of authors can be found at www.readfest.org.

The day-long event features programs and activities for teens and children, the latest library technology, contests, booksellers, book signings, a free book for every child and teen and the Reading Rocks! Teen Battle of the Bands! finals.

The festival kicks-off Friday evening, March 14 with the Evening with the Authors at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center where the authors meet, mingle and dine with attendees.

Tickets for the Evening are on sale now and can be purchased at www.readfest.org/evening.

The Reading Festival is free and is 100 percent community supported through generous donations, sponsorships and grants. Author information, dates of partner events, directions to the event and more, is available at www.readfest.org or call 239-479-4636.

Boys & Girls Club of Collier County Will Provide Free Shoes to Children in Need

R

ecently, the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County was selected to be an official partner of Payless Gives™ Shoes 4 Kids, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource.

Properly fitting shoes are important for children’s health and development and a striking number of children don’t own a pair of shoes that fit. Payless Gives™ Shoes 4 Kids is working to remedy that problem throughout the state of Florida.

The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County (BGCCC) is a non-profit, youth development organization, which annually serves 3,000 of the most at-risk children and teens in Collier County.

To learn more about the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County or to arrange a tour, call 239-325-1700 or visit www.bgccc.com.

NOW ACCEPTING SUMMER VPK 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Dr. Naples, FL 34119 (Across from Super Target)

(239) 593-6668 www.childmont.com License # C20CO0018

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YOUR COMMUNITY COMMUNITY NEWS

61St Annual Naples Flower Show March 28-29

N

aples Botanical Garden and Naples Garden Club will once again combine resources and talents to present the 61st Annual Naples Flower Show. The event will be held on Naples Botanical Garden’s 170-acre property from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on March 28-29, 2014. The two-day event, one of the largest flower shows in South Florida, includes a Garden Market, a variety of educational demonstrations and the Naples Garden Club’s spectacular juried Flower Show. This year’s theme is “Through the Looking Glass.”

More than 60 floral designs and many hundreds of tropical plants will be showcased as part of the Flower Show. In addition to the floral displays and horticulture entries, attendees will enjoy perusing the Garden Market which includes numerous vendors such as florists, plant growers, garden and home decor, works of art and botanically-inspired accessories and jewelry. Also, hand-painted Gnomes from Naples Botanical Garden’s Children’s Garden Gnome Day will be auctioned off.

Naples Botanical Garden and Naples Garden Club members as well as children age three and under are admitted free of charge; otherwise regular admission applies, $12.95 for adults and $7.95 for children age four to 14.

For more information contact Naples Botanical Garden on our website www.naplesgarden.org or by calling us 239-643-7275.

Naples Garden Club is a nonprofit organization fostering appreciation of floral design, horticulture and the environment. Visit www. naplesgardenclub.org for more information.

Naples Artcrafters Fine Art and Craft Show on March 8

O

n Saturday, March 8, 2014, Naples Artcrafters will host an exciting juried Fine Art and Craft Show in Cambier Park in downtown Naples. The event features diverse and talented local artists sharing paintings, photography, glass art, jewelry and metal work as well as handcrafted sculptures, basketry, pottery and much more.

Free admission and free parking. Cambier Park is located at 580 8th St. S. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 239250-0804 for more information or go to www.naplesartcrafters.com or www.facebook.com/#!/naplesartcrafters.

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www.goodcheck.com 4529 Executive Drive, Suite 101, Naples, FL 34119

239.592.0800 neafamily.com

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YOUR COMMUNITY ADVERTISER NEWS

David Lawrence Center’s “Students That Are Reaching Success” Prevention Program for Middle Schoolers Now Accepting Enrollment

Find Academic Help at Wise Minds Learning Center

T

W

he David Lawrence Center, Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse treatment facility serving children, adults and families, is pleased to announce that registration is now being accepted for the STARS (Students That Are Reaching Success) Youth Prevention Group. Groups begin April 8, 2014.

Students That Are Reaching Success is a psycho-educational series that is designed to help middle school aged youth (11-14) develop personal and substance awareness so they can be successful and achieve what’s possible. Program participants receive education on the causes and effects of drug abuse and violence, making decisions, coping with anger and anxiety, social skills, resolving conflicts, and resisting peer pressure.

The program is covered in eight bi-weekly sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. at the David Lawrence Center Horseshoe Satellite Services Office located at 2806 Horseshoe Drive. The next series of classes begins on April 8, 2014. For more information or to sign up, call 239-263-4013.

ise Minds Learning Center is a fun academic environment where students have the opportunity to reinforce skills learned in the classroom to catch up and get ahead. Each of the programs is tailored to accommodate the individual students needs.

Wise Minds offers a free initial evaluation to all interested clients, and follow-up evaluations are included in tuition costs.

The team of instructors strive to provide an engaging, safe learning environment by encouraging their efforts and progress every step of the way. The instructors also aim to set an example of academic values and study habits.

Wise Minds Learning Center is dedicated to providing excellent instruction from knowledgeable instructors.

Wise Minds Learning Center is located at 1575 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 4 in Naples. Call (239) 631-2348 or email erin@wisemindslearning.com for additional information.

Building Skills That Last A Lifetime.

Success is often the result of experiences and skills that are built as an individual moves towards adulthood. At Tiger-Rock Martial Arts, our programs are structured to help participants build the physical, social and cognitive abilities that lead to success. A goal orientated curriculum creates a platform for achievement that builds confidence, focus and discipline. High-energy classes and an age-specific training curriculum teaches our martial arts students how to use leadership and team work, both inside and outside the academy. Start today to get the advantage that comes with being a part of Tiger-Rock Martial Arts.

JOIN NOW to start building a path to success.

Join Tiger-Rock Martial Arts.

NING

Every Revolution Starts With Evolution.

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BASIC MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING Find the beginning of your fitness revolution with Tiger-Rock’s Basic Training. 3 Training Sessions for only $20.00. This includes a Tiger-Rock training gear t-shirt with your choice of group or one-on-one sessions.

Visit www.trma157.tigerrockmartialarts.com and start your revolution today.

www.tigerrockmartialarts.com

Follow us

1575 Pine Ridge Rd. #12 Naples, FL. 34109

(239)596-2501

NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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YOUR COMMUNITY ADVERTISER NEWS

Summer and Fall VPK Open House & Science Summer Camp

WHERE SOMETHING IS ALWAYS HAPPENING

C

hildren’s Montessori School is hosting a “Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Open House” for parents who are interested in enrolling their student into either the Summer 2014 or Fall 2014/2015 V.P.K. classes. The open house is on Tuesday, March 11th at 9:30 a.m.

V.P.K. classes for the summer months begin June 2nd and run through July 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. During the school year, classes begin on August, 18th and you may choose a morning 8:15 a.m.

–11:15 a.m. or afternoon 11:45 a.m.–2:45 p.m. session. The V.P.K. classes are fully funded through the state of Florida and are free to the parent. Extended hours are offered up to 5:00 p.m. for additional fees.

Children’s Montessori is accepting enrollment for summer camp.

This year’s theme is: Summer of Science. Each week of camp has a different and interesting science topic. Camps are available for toddlers and preschoolers ages 18 months to 5 years and elementary age students from 6 to 9 years of age.

Children’s Montessori School is located at 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Drive, Naples. You can learn more about the school at www. childmont.com. Call (239) 593-6668 or email childmont101@gmail. com for additional information.

Preparations Are Underway For “Les Miserables” at Broadway Palm Theatre

B

roadway Palm is proud to present the musical phenomenon Les Misérables playing through April 12, 2014. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption; a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Critics have hailed it as “one of the best musicals of all time,” and no less than “a certified phenomenon; a marvel of musical theatre.”

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables follows Jean Valjean as he is pursued by the merciless Inspector Javert through some of the most tumultuous years in French history. The magnificent score includes such classic songs as I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Stars, Bring Him Home, Do You Hear the People Sing?, One Day More, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, and Master Of The House. To date, Les Misérables remains the 3rd longest-running Broadway production of all time and has won over 50 major theatre awards, including eight Tony Awards and a Grammy.

Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. The theatre features an upscale dinner theatre experience on Saturday nights. Ticket prices range from $40 to $63 and are now on sale. Reservations can be made by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

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Glow Bowling Family Special Group Functions

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Located inside all Bowland Centers.

*Reservations Accepted Woodside Lanes 8525 Radio Ln. Naples, 455-3755

Beacon Bowl N. Tamiami Tr. Naples 597-3452

www.bowlandcenters.com

Florida Karate Center Presents

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Teaching the Naples Community with Integrity Since 1983

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YOUR COMMUNITY MARCH EVENTS CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS: To submit your event for both our online and print calendars go to www.neafamily. com and follow the simple instructions for setting up a calendar account and inputting event information.

The deadline for print calendar events is the 12th of the month preceding publication. You can submit events anytime for the online calendar.

1 Saturday Call for time. Nature Connects Art with LEGO Bricks. Built from nearly half a million LEGO® pieces, this show features 14 total displays built with LEGO® bricks by New York artist Sean Kenney (www.seankenney. com). Naples Botanical gardens, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239-643-7275. www. naplesgarden.org. Daily through May 11.

7:30 AM. Third Street South Farmer’s Market. Parking lot behind Tommy Bahama’s. Third Street, Naples. 239-434-6533.

Held weekly on Saturdays.

much more. 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. 239-273-2350. www.facebook. com/pages/Shoppes-at-Vanderbilt-FarmersMarket/130258607139935. Held weekly on Saturdays.

9:00 AM. Free Kids Workshop at Home Depot. On the first Saturday of each month, Home Depot’s free Kids Workshops offer fun and useful projects like building toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers. In addition to the project, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron. 2251 Pine Ridge Rd, Naples.

239-597-1515. www.homedepot.com.

9:00 AM. Free Zoo Admission for Collier County residents. On the first Saturday of every month, 12 times a year, Collier County residents receive free zoo admission all day long. Enter any time, all day long up until 4 p.m. with no coupon required - just proof of residency for all adults. 1590 GoodletteFrank Road, Naples. 239-262-5409. www. caribbeangardens.com.

9:00 AM. FineMark Tour Players Tennis Classic 2014 at Bonita Bay Club. Three events are part of the FineMark Tour Players Tennis Classic at Bonita Bay Club, featuring nearly 20 of the world’s top touring professionals in a pro-am, clinics and Kids Cup Challenge. Tickets range from $75 to $400.

26660 Country Club Drive, Bonita Springs.

239-343-6950, or visit www.tourplayerstennisclassic.com

9:00 AM. Indoor Farmer’s Market. 40 plus local vendors of fruits, veggies, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, jewelry & so

9:00 AM. Guided Nature Walk. Enjoy a guided walk along the boardwalk through a maritime forest and coastal strand. More than

Youth Theatre of The Naples Players

Our Educated and Dedicated Staff Encourages Creative, Expressive, Hands on Learning Your child will receive quality interaction with our low student-teacher ratios and will enjoy our spacious, shaded, fun-filled play area.

A wide variety of classes begin in January, kindergarten through teens. Come learn, experience, have fun!

Serving children Infant - age 5 VPK Certified

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

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

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ACTING! DANCE! VOICE! For class brochure and registration information, visit www.naplesplayers.org.

Scholarships available.

Save the date for our spring musicals – Rugrats March 11 and Cinderella March 15

KidzAct at The Naples Players, 701 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34109 ∙ 239-434-7340, Ext 10 or 39 NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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Many Collier County Library programs require preregistration, please call ahead for any program you are interested in attending to check requirements. a nature walk, it’s an educational experience.

505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Springs.

239- 252-4000. www.friendsofbarefootbeach. org. Held weekly on Saturdays.

9:00 AM. 3rd Annual Artists Studio Tour.

Attendees will get up close and personal with eight Fort Myers artists in their studios and homes. This daylong, self-guided tour is an educational, inspirational and FUN way to get to know local artists. $40 members/$50 Nonmembers. 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers. 239-939-2787. www.artinlee. org.

9:30 AM. Guided Canoe Trips. Learn about the mangrove estuaries in southwest Florida as you enjoy a guided canoe trip down the Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole State Park with one of the park naturalists.

All equipment is provided. Bring your own water, food, or protection from the sun. Any electronic devices such as cell phones or cameras should be sealed in watertight containers.

Limit 16 people per trip. Age requirements: 6 years old and above. 20200 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239- 394-3397. Held weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

10:00 AM. Art in the Park. Nestled on Park

Street just to the west of The von Liebig Art Center, this juried art fair is held the first Saturday of the month November through April. 585 Park Street, Naples. 239-2626517. naplesart.org.

10:00 AM. Lecture Series. Meet at the Learning Center at Barefoot Beach Preserve.

Call for topics and speakers. 505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Springs. 239- 252-4000. www.friendsofbarefootbeach.org. Held weekly on Saturday.

10:00 AM. Save the Panther Day. Zoo visitors will meet panther field biologists at special presentations. Activities for children and opportunities to get involved in panther conservation by joining the Friends of Florida Panther Refuge will also be available. 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. 239-2625409. www.caribbeangardens.com.

10:00 AM. Camel Rides at the Zoo. Take a ride on a camel at the Zoo for just $5 per person. But don’t wait too long–they’re only here through May 4, 2014. 1590 GoodletteFrank Road, Naples. 239-262-5409. www. caribbeangardens.com.

10:00 AM. 5th Annual Mercato Fine

Arts Festival. This juried festival showcases work in all media by 125 artists from across the country. $5 suggested donation. Donation to benefit the Naples Art Center. 9128 Strada Place, Naples. 239-594-9400. www. mercatoshops.com. Runs through March 2.

10:00 AM. Vintage Vehicle Show. Vintage Vehicles will be on display around the grounds of the historic settlement at Koreshan State Historic Site. 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero. 239-992-0311. www.floridastateparks.org.

10:00 AM. Nao Victoria Tall Ship Experience. The Nao Victoria, docked at Nervous Nellie’s off Old San Carlos Boulevard, can take you back in time to experience life aboard a replica of the most famous ship in navigation history. Docked until March 17. www. tallshipevent.com. www.visitfortmyersbeach. com.

10:30 AM. W.O.N.D.E.R. Kids. Every month’s programming begins with a story related to the monthly theme and is followed by family activities related to that theme. Naples Botanical gardens, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239-643-7275. www.naplesgarden.

Nature Connects,

Art with LEGO® Bricks Enjoy 27 enchanting nature-inspired LEGO® brick sculptures creating 14 displays exhibited throughout the Garden. Crafted

by LEGO brick sculpture artist Sean Kenney, these one-of-a-kind pieces are built with nearly 500,000 LEGO bricks.

February 14 - May 11, 2014 with regular garden admission. Please check the garden website for additional LEGO programs.

Nature Connects, Art with LEGO® Bricks is presented by

Media Sponsors PUTTINGYOUR WORLD IN YOUR HANDS.

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112 / 877.433.1874

WWW.NAPLESGARDEN.ORG NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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After School & Saturday Classes Art, Theater, Dance & Music Call for a free catalog

GREAT NEW CLASSES 5-week high school intensive classes...

Baby Steps class for 8mos- 3 years...

Dance & movement class for students facing physical and mental challenges...

Learn more at... www.artcenterbonita.org

Sponsored by:

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Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs 26100 Old 41 Road • Bonita Springs • FL 239-495-8989 • www.artcenterbonita.org NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

2/18/14 10:59 AM

org. Held weekly on Saturday.

12:00 PM. Hodges University 7th Annual Diversity Festival. A day of family fun and entertainment as we share in learning about our diverse communities. Enjoy entertainment from around the world while enjoying new cuisines and more. 4284 Avalon Dr, Naples. 239-793-4414. colliergov.net.

7:00 PM. Fall Concert Series. Fall Concerts will be held on the stage in Market Plaza.

9903 Gulf Coast Main Street, Fort Myers. www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com/shop/gulf. nsf/salesevents. Held weekly on Friday.

2:00 PM. Free Concerts at the Bandshell.

Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free jazz concerts in Cambier Park. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

2 Sunday

4:00 PM. Concert Series. Benefit Concert: Gulf Coast High School’s Jazz Band. North Naples United Methodist Church, 6000 Goodlette Road North, Naples..

1:00 PM. Alice in Wonderland. Presented

by Theatre Troupe for Children. General admission is $7 per person at door. 1515 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. Call 239-571-3305 for information.

7:30 AM. Photography Swamp Walk Safaris. 3-4 hour swamp walk for photographers behind Big Cypress Gallery. Call for reservations. $100. 52388 Tamiami Trail, Naples. 239-695-2428.

1:00 PM. Venetian Carnival. Fun for the whole family. Enjoy live entertainment, mark decorating, face painting and more. Adorn your favorite Mardi Gras style mask and get your complimentary photo taken. Venetian Village, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd, Naples. venetianvillage.com.

10:30 AM. W.O.N.D.E.R. Kids. Every month’s programming begins with a story related to the monthly theme and is followed by family activities related to that theme.

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239-6437275. www.naplesgarden.org. Held weekly on Sunday.

1:00 PM. Minnesota Twins Vs Boston. The Twins meet the Red Sox for the major league baseball Spring Training season opener. Tickets are $12 to $28. 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-768-4210.

2:00 PM. Jazz Concert at Naples Botanical Garden. Visitors to the Garden can enjoy the Jazz in the Garden concerts for the price of general admission. Bring your own seating for all concerts and wear weather appropriate clothing. No outside food or beverage permitted at special events. 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239-643-7275. www.naplesgarden.org.

3:00 PM. Farmers Market. Fresh produce, flowers, baked goods and more. 4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 239-252-4180. colliergov.net. Held weekly on Friday and Saturday.

3 Monday 8:00 AM. Coffee is On Us. Every Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 10:00am, get a free coffee of the day when you bring your own reusable mug. Just visit the coffee bar toward the back of the store in the Specialty Department. 9101 Strada Place, Naples. 239552-5100. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ stores/naples. Held weekly Monday through Friday.

9:30 AM. Baby-Parent Rhyme Time at South Country Regional Library. Be prepared to tickle, jump and fly with your baby.

These rhymes and songs are for infants, up to 24 months, accompanied by an adult. This 20-minute program is filled with songs designed to introduce rhyming and movement to infants. Registration req. 21100 Three

DANCE changes everything lifelong lessons and friendships healthy minds and bodies self-confidence and happiness

Summer Schedule available this month!

5400 Jaeger Rd Naples, FL 34109 bdaNaples.com

239.566.3535 NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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Oaks Pkwy, Estero. 239- 479-INFO (4636).

Naples. 239-597-2040. bn.com.

10:00 AM. Beachcombing and Shelling.

What do wrack lines, jellies, blue buttons, beachhoppers, ghosts, sea pork, and beans have in common? Come find out at this lecture on Beachcombing & Shelling. Meet at the Learning Center at Barefoot Beach Preserve. 505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Springs. 239- 252-4000. www.friendsofbarefootbeach.org. Held weekly on Monday.

1:15 PM. Little Learners. A 15-minute program designed with your little one in mind including interactive activities, music, movement and storytime. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for ages 2-4. 15080 Livingston Road, Naples. 239514-0084. www.cmon.org.

10:00 AM. Storytime and Crafts at Eco Baby & Kids. Just drop in and enjoy a few stories and crafts and meet up with other moms too. 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 150, Naples. 239-596-2661. Held weekly on Monday.

5:30 PM. Let’s Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday at Immokalee Branch Library. Come join the library as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. We will read Dr. Seuss books and make a craft. Everyone ages 4 and older are welcome to attend. 417 North First Street, Immokalee. 239-657-2882. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

6:00 PM. Dots of Color at East Naples Branch Library. Give your work an extra special look. Use fabric paint and cotton-tip swabs to design a string bag with lots and lots of dots. Have fun with this cool technique that you can use over and over. For students ages 11 – 17. 8787 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239-775-5592. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

4 Tuesday 10:00 AM. Moms and Tots Storytime with Miss Jessica and Miss Felicia. A toddler favorite, the girls read, sing, dance and color, creating a fun atmosphere of learning and lots of laughter. Come and ask about the little green frog song. All ages are welcome. Barnes and Noble, 5377 Tamiami Trail North, • Christian Environment • Certified Teachers • Infant - Pre K Programs • Low Student to Teacher Ratio • Brand New Facility • Creative Curriculum • VPK Provider • Music lessons • Security System • Certified Teachers

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4:00 PM. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at Golden Gate Branch Library. Come to the library to learn about Vincent Van Gogh and his sunflowers. Create a wax resist sunflower project. Presented by local artist Gena Smith.

Open to children entering grades 2 through 5. 2432 Lucerne Road, Naples. 239-2524542. For registration info check public. collier-lib.org.

5:00 PM. KIDding Around at Bell Tower Shops. Tuesdays from 5-7p are a fun-filled evening of kid-friendly activites full of exploration, discovery, creativity and fun with local organizations and groups. Free. 239-4891221. www.thebelltowershops.com.

6:00 PM. Sharks, Sharks, Sharks. at the Estates Branch Library. Join Rookery Bay Reserve in learning about sharks of southwest Florida inside and out. Get to know why sharks are important and what makes them such fascinating creatures. Open to grades K and older. Registration required. 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. 239-455-8088. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

6:15 PM. Anime/Manga Fever at the South County Regional Library. Meet with other Anime/Manga enthusiasts. Japanese storylines, art and culture will be discussed.

Join in making Japanese Candy Sushi and meeting new friends. Dressing as characters is welcomed. 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy, Estero.

239- 479-INFO (4636).

6:15 PM. LEGO Builders Club for Tweens and Teens at South County Regional

For Infants from 6 weeks old through Pre-K Limited Space Available– Register Your Child Today

(239) 354-9140 Guided Tours Daily Monday-Friday from 8am to 5pm 9850 Immokalee Road Naples, FL 34120 www.peacekidsnaples.org

Library. Spend an evening creating with Legos at your library and meet others who love building. Check out the Lego books the library offers for inspiration. Light snacks provided. 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy, Naples.

239- 479-INFO (4636).

6:30 PM. Mardi Gras Evening on Fifth Avenue. 649 Fifth Avenue South, Naples.

239-692-8436. www.fifthavenuesouth.com.

5 Wednesday 9:30 AM. Guided Canoe Trips. Learn about the mangrove estuaries in southwest Florida as you enjoy a guided canoe trip down the Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole State Park with one of the park naturalists.

All equipment is provided. Bring your own water, food, or protection from the sun. Any electronic devices such as cell phones or cameras should be sealed in watertight containers.

Limit 16 people per trip. Age requirements: 6 years old and above. 20200 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239- 394-3397. Held weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

9:00 AM. Exploring Coastal Habitats.

Enjoy a guided walk to the estuary and along a sandy trail to the beach. Explore one of the most productive ecosystems in nature and the unique coastal habitats at the Preserve. 505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Springs. 239252-4000. www.friendsofbarefootbeach.org.

Held weekly on Wednesday.

10:00 AM. Free Kids Crafts at Miromar Outlets. Kids from toddlers to twelve are invited to participate in free fun activities.

Held weekly. 10801 Corkscrew Rd, Estero.

239-948-3766. www.miromaroutlets.com.

Held weekly on Wednesday.

11:00 AM. Nature Talk at Naples Preserve. Guest Naturalists and Partners of the Naples Preserve will speak on select topics

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related to the unique SW Florida environment. Stay for a light lunch following the talk and enjoy a walk on the boardwalk. 1690 Tamiami Trail North, Naples. 239- 261-4290. Held weekly on Wednesday.

1:15 PM. Little Learners. A 15-minute program designed with your little one in mind including interactive activities, music, movement and storytime. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for ages 2-4 at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. 15080 Livingston Road, Naples. 239-514-0084. www.cmon.org.

2:00 PM. Make and Take Workshop. These family workshops present opportunities for kids and adults alike to learn about a featured museum exhibition, and then create their own artwork inspired by the exhibition. Free with museum admission. 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 239-597-1900. www.thephil.org.

6:00 PM. Dancing under the Stars. Join the Arthur Murray Dance Center to experience a wide variety of dance and musical styles. 9128 Strada Place, Naples. 239-594-9400. www.mercatoshops.com.

6 Thursday 6:00 PM. Wine Tasting & Live Music. Join us the first Friday of every month in the cafe and Lifestyle Center for wine-tasting and live music.

This month enjoy over 25 wines from around the world. Proceeds benefit a local charity. Payment is accepted in the cafe, upon arrival.

9101 Strada Place, Naples. 239-552-5100. www.wholefoodsmarket. com/stores/naples.

6:00 PM. Mercato Nights Music Series. If you like Tom Petty,The Band,The Black Crowes, CCR, Pink Floyd, old-school Memphis R&B, you’ll love Thomas Wynn and the Believers. 9128 Strada Place, Naples.

239-594-9400. www.mercatoshops.com.

6:00 PM. Fort Myer Beach Concert Series. The concerts are sponsored by the not-for-profit arts organization and held at the waterfront staging area on the bay, hosted by Fish-Tale Marina, 7225 Estero Boulevard. $25. Fort Myers Beach. www.visitfortmyersbeach.com.

Shop Southwest Florida’s earth friendly, eco-boutique where you will find natural living products for your home, body and baby.

We carry: Reusable cloth diapers, Reusable Swim Diapers, Baby Wraps and Carriers as well as the largest selection of healing Baltic Amber in the area!

Located in The Mommy Shop

(239) 596-2661

at The Shoppes at Vanderbilt 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., www.ecobabyandhome.com Suite 150, Naples

Classes and events promoting natural parenting in Lee & Collier counties.

Enroll your Star in Child’s Path Preschool today and receive a special discount!

FREE!!!

EreEceiK F IRST aW this $170 value. e v o t Me d ntion this

Child’s Path is an award-winning preschool for children ages 2- 5.

Services include kindergarten readiness, VPK and age appropriate behavioral tools that cultivate academic, social and emotional development for your young star.

7 Friday Call for time. Fun Friday Literacy Activities at Naples Regional Library. All day activities best for preschoolers. Participate in hands-on activities that focus on literacy. 650 Central Avenue, Naples. 239-2626853. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

9:30 AM. Guided Canoe Trips. Learn about the mangrove estuaries in southwest Florida as you enjoy a guided canoe trip down the Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole State Park with one of the park naturalists. All equipment is provided. Bring your own water, food, or protection from the sun. Any electronic devices such as cell phones or cameras should be sealed in watertight containers. Limit 16 people per trip. Age requirements: 6 years old and above. 20200 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239- 394-3397. Held weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

10:00 AM. English Cafe. Practice your English with English Cafe, a free, conversation session for adult ESOL and ESL students. Each 90-minute session provides adult learners an opportunity to practice speaking English with native speakers. 26820 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. Held weekly on Friday.

10:00 AM. Beachcombing and Shelling. What do wrack lines, jellies, blue buttons, beachhoppers, ghosts, sea pork, and beans have NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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The Path to Success Begins Here!

ChildsPath.org 239-353-4144 info@childspath.org

3144 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples • Monday - Friday 7am - 5:30pm

Twinkle Twinkle Little Store Baby Gear Rentals & Resale We buy & sell your gently used kids stuff

We pay CA$H

 Clothing (newborn to kid 16 & maternity)  Toys, Books, Dvds, Accessories  Baby Gear & Furniture  Cloth diapering, new products

We Moved To Bigger Store!

4172 Tamiami Trl N, Naples

239-262-5904

TwinkleTwinkleLittleStoreOfNaples.com neafamily.com

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in common? Come find out at this lecture on Beachcombing & Shelling. Meet at the Learning Center at Barefoot Beach Preserve.

505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Springs.

239- 252-4000. www.friendsofbarefootbeach. org. Held weekly on Friday.

5:00 PM. Annual Pub Trolley Crawl. The Pub Crawl is an exciting evening of Bagpipers, victuals and fun. Join the energetic crowd and board the street trolleys to visit several local pubs. Trolleys depart Mulligans promptly at 6:00 p.m. Get your tickets early; they always sell out. 2041 Tamiami Trail North, Naples.

6:00 PM. East Naples Community Park 5th Grade Dance. Pizza and soda served.

Tickets sold 2 weeks prior to dance or at the door. Contact 793-4414 for more information. 3500 Thomasson Drive, Naples. 239252-4414. colliergov.net.

7:00 PM. Fall Concert Series. Fall Concerts will be held on the stage in Market Plaza.

9903 Gulf Coast Main Street, Fort Myers. www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com/shop/gulf. nsf/salesevents. Held weekly on Friday.

about the fragile Everglades ecosystem. Walks are approximately 1 1/2 hours long; Call for reservations and times. 52388 Tamiami Trail, Naples. 239-695-2428.

10:00 AM. Old Florida Festival. The annual family-style adventure brings together over 100 of the state’s finest historical reenactors, craftworkers and living history presenters to recreate over ten centuries of everyday life on the Southwest Florida frontier. 3331 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239-252-8476. colliermuseums.com. Also held March 9.

9:00 AM. Sanibel Shell Festival. In celebration of this world-renowned shelling island, the 77th annual Shell Fair features shell displays and crafts, food, entertainment, and a raffle for more than $8,000 in prizes. 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. 239-472-2155. www.sanibelcommunityhouse.net.

8 Saturday

10:00 AM. Birth Day Event for expecting parents. Lots of great information for new or expecting parents. Speakers throughout the day including home birth midwife Kristen Schuchmann and doula Chris Ghali. Eco baby & Kids, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 150, Naples. 239-596-2661. ecobabyandhome.com.

Call for time. Swamp Walk Tours. Go on a guided swamp walk adventure and learn

10:00 AM. Naples Artcrafters Fine Art and Craft Show. The event features incred-

ibly diverse and talented local artists that will share paintings, photography, glass art, jewelry and metal work as well as handcrafted sculptures, basketry, pottery and much more.

755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

10:00 AM. Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade. Two days of festivities celebrate Fort Myers Beach’s shrimp harvest.

Activities for the 54th annual event will include a 10 a.m. parade and the ensuing crowning of the Shrimp Queen on Saturday. www.visitfortmyersbeach.com. Also held on Sunday, March 9.

5:00 PM. Sounds from the Park Concert.

Enjoy a Jimmy Buffet tribute band with food and beverages available to purchase.

Bring lawn chairs. No coolers. 4284 Avalon Drive, Naples. 239-793-4414. www.SWFMusicFestivals

9 Sunday 1:00 PM. Minnesota Twins vs Philadelphia. The Twins meet the Phillies for a 1:05 p.m. major league baseball Spring Training game. Tickets are $12 to $28. 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. 239-768-4210.

2:00 PM. Harlem Globetrotters. The big-

• Highly Educated Instructors • Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Modern • Competition & Performance Opportunities Available • Ages 2-18 • Enroll early to reserve your spot • See our website or call the studio for more information

NOW REGISTERING FOR WINTER CLASSES

5610 Yahl Street, #10 Naples

(239) 513-6999

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gest family show in America is coming to Germain Arena when the Harlem Globetrotters take fan participation to the extreme by letting fans decide which NEW Globetrotter rule they’ll add to the game. 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 239- 335-0457. www.germainarena.com.

2:00 PM. Free Concerts at the Bandshell. Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free jazz concerts in Cambier Park. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

10 Monday Call for time. Celebrate Teen Tech Week. Download Overdrive to your device and check out an Ebook. Bring your device by a branch library and show us the book you checked out and get a cool prize.

For teens ages 11 - 17. Registration is not required. 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. 239-252-7542. Runs through March 14.

Call for time. How to Use a Flash Drive at Marco Island Library.

Celebrate Teen Tech Week by learning how to save a document to a USB and receive a flash drive bracelet. For teens ages 11 – 17. 210 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. 239-394-3272. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org. Runs through March 14.

Call for time. Celebrate Teen Tech Week at Estates Branch Library. Download Overdrive to your device and check out an Ebook.

Bring your device by the library and show us the book you checked out and get a cool prize. Prizes will be announced two weeks prior to Tech Week. For students in grades 6-12. 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. 239-455-8088. For registration info check public.collier-lib. org. Runs through March 14.

11 Tuesday 10:00 AM. Moms and Tots Storytime with Miss Jessica and Miss Felicia. A toddler favorite, the girls read, sing, dance and color, creating a fun atmosphere of learning and lots of laughter. Come and ask about the little green frog song. All ages are welcome. 5377 Tamiami Trail North, Naples. 239-597-2040. bn.com.

12 Wednesday 10:00 AM. Senior Defensive Driver Class. Held the second Wednesday of every month, the Senior Defensive Driver Class offers valuable guidance for all drivers 55 years old and older as they learn about defensive driving, vehicle care, driving emergencies, impairment prevention and more. 2516 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers. 239-9396500. www.AAA.com/FortMyers 4:00 PM. Lego Club at Estates Branch Library. Share ideas, be creative, make new friends and have fun. LEGO bricks will be provided or donate LEGO bricks your child no longer uses. Your LEGO creation will be put on display at the library. Ages 5-11 years. 1266 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples. 239-455-8088. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

13 Thursday Call for time. Collier County Fair. Call for times. Daily through March 23. 751 39th Avenue NE, Naples. 239-455-1444. www.colliercountyfair.com/fairgrounds-info.

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March Picks   

5:00 PM. St. Patty’s Day Celebration. Join us for Irish entertainment and watch the Tir Na Nog Dance Studio perform and Irish Jib. Great waterfront shopping and dining all evening long. 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd, Naples. Phone. venetianvillage.com.

5:30 PM. Predators of the Everglades at Immokalee Branch Library. Join the National Park Service to learn about the predators of the Everglades and how they live. We will discuss alligators, panthers, and much more. For children ages 4-10. 417 North First Street, Immokalee. 239-657-2882. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

14 Friday Call for time. Fun Friday Literacy Activities at Naples Regional Library. All day activities best for preschoolers. Participate in hands-on activities that focus on literacy. 650 Central Avenue, Naples. 239-2626853. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

1:00 PM. Build a Craft at the Bonita Springs Library. Join the group at the Bonita Springs Library for an afternoon of painting and construction. Everyone will be able to take home a specially designed creation. 26876 Pine Avenue, Bonita Springs. 239-992-0101. library. lee-county.com/services/locations/BN/pages/default.aspx.

1:00 PM. Mardi Gras Masks at South Regional Library. Design your own mask for Mardi Gras. Students ages 11 – 17 are welcome to attend. 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. 239-252-7542. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival & Parade

2:00 PM. Bonita Blues Festival. On Friday March 14th, 2014 from 2pm - 9:15pm and Saturday, March 15th, 2014 from 11:30am 9:30pm; - Rain or Shine - we will be holding the 8th Annual Bonita Blues Festival, at Riverside Park on Old US-41 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Harlem Globetrotters

6:00 PM. Ides of March. The event will feature food, live entertainment, dancing, a cash bar, plus raffle prizes. Tickets may be purchased on line at Eventbrite.com for $50 or at the door for $65. Proceeds benefit Collier Child Care Resources, Inc. 2777 Tamiami trail, Naples.

Disney on Ice: Rockin Ever After

7:00 PM. Minnesota Twins Vs. Tampa Bay. The Twins meet the Rays for a 7:05 p.m. major league baseball Spring Training game.

Tickets are $12 to $28. 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers.

239-768-4210.

Southwest Florida Reading Fest

7:00 PM. Disney on Ice Presents Rockin’ Ever After. Call for times.

Shows through Sunday. 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero. 239- 3350457. www.germainarena.com.

Fort Myers Beach March 8-9 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Shrimp Festival parade on March 8, 10 a.m. www.fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com

Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy., Estero Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. www.ticketmaster.com Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero March 14-16 www.germainarena.com Harborside Event Center & Centennial Park, Fort Myers River District Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

239-533-4826

34th Florida International Air Show

Charlotte County Airport, 28000 Airport Blvd, Punta Gorda March 28-30 This year’s show offers new and unique performers, exhibits and displays. Don’t miss seeing exciting and death-defying stunts performed by some of the best pilots in the business. Enjoy expanded aircraft exhibits, displays, a kids' area, and refreshments. www.floridaairshow.com

Lee County’s Original Family Publication

FOR 23 YEARS!!

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15 Saturday Call for time. Kids Archery. Kids Archery with all equipment provided. Bass Pro Shops, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, Fort Myers.

239-461-7800.

8:00 AM. Sugden Regional Park Shenanigans on the Lake Special Needs Regatta. A fun filled day of sailing & racing for our special needs population. T-shirt, dinner & prize for all who participate.

Skippers meeting at 8a.m. / dinner at 6pm. 4284 Avalon Dr, Naples.

239-793-4414. colliergov.net.

9:30 AM. Flag Raising Ceremony. 19th Annual Flag Raising which takes place the morning of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and is held at The Dock Restaurant at Crayton Cove at 9:30 a.m. This traditional NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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and moving program honors our veterans and public safety personnel. Naples. 239-5948875. greatdockcanoerace.com.

10:00 AM. Southwest Florida Reading Festival. Free book for every child, author signings, storytelling, children’s crafts and activities. 1375 1375 Monroe Street, Fort Myers. 239- 321-8110. www.harborsideevents. com.

11:00 AM. 36th Annual Naples St Patrick’s Day Parade. Come see the largest privately funded parade in Florida. 649 Fifth Avenue South, Naples. 239-692-8436. www. fifthavenuesouth.com.

1:30 PM. Pups ‘N’ Books at Headquarters Library. Stop by to read to a dog or just to pet one. Dogs provided by PAWS Assistance and Therapy Dogs. All ages. Registration is not required. 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples. 239-593-0870. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

2:00 PM. Young Adult Book Club at South Regional Branch Library. Calling all teens.

You are invited to join the Young Adult Book Club. Enjoy popular books and a variety of activities. Book titles to be announced.

Refreshments will be available. Ages 11-17 years. Registration required. 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. 239-252-7542. For

registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

7:00 PM. Free Outdoor Movie Night. Curl up with your kids on a blanket as you watch a family movie on a two-story inflatable screen at the Cambier Park Bandshell. Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. Call 239-213-3058 for the title of the surprise movie. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058.

17 Sunday

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9:30 AM. Baby-Parent Rhyme Time at South Country Regional Library. Be prepared to tickle, jump and fly with your baby.

These rhymes and songs are for infants, up to 24 months, accompanied by an adult. This 20-minute program is filled with songs designed to introduce rhyming and movement to infants. Registration req. 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy, Estero. 239- 479-INFO (4636).

12:00 PM. Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet Festival. Festivities run from noon to 5 p.m. on Ft. Myers Beach and include fresh local seafood, arts and crafts, a shrimp-eating contest, shrimp boat tours, live music, raffles, hay rides, a bounce house, and other children’s activities. www.visitfortmyersbeach.com.

2:00 PM. Citrus Park Carport Jammers at the Bonita Springs Library. Join the library for an afternoon of fun music with The Citrus Park Carport Jammers. Registration required.

26876 Pine Avenue, Bonita Springs. 239992-0101. library.lee-county.com/services/ locations/BN/pages/default.aspx.

1:00 PM. Minnesota Twins vs Florida Marlins. The Twins meet the Marlins for a 1:05 p.m. major league baseball Spring Training game. Tickets are $12 to $28. 14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. 239768-4210.

8:00 PM. The Peking Acrobats. Building on an acrobatic tradition stretching back to the Ch’in Dynasty, the Peking Acrobats have dazzled audiences worldwide by “pushing the envelope of human possibility.” Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 239-5971900. www.thephil.org.

2:00 PM. Free Concerts at the Bandshell.

Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free jazz concerts in Cambier Park. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www. naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

18 Monday 3:30 PM. Trouper the Raccoon at Vander-

… fostering a lifelong joy of learning and an education for life Infant • Toddler Children’s House • VPK Elementary • Adolescent Open to ages 8 weeks to 15 years

Call 239-597-2255 or visit our website at www.naplesmontessori.org

2659 Professional Circle, Suite 1118 Naples, Florida 34119 License #C20CO0026

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bilt Beach Library. Meet Trouper, the blind raccoon, Miss Dot, Trouper’s caregiver, and Ms. Kyle Miller, author of Trouper’s children’s book. 788 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. 239-597-8444. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

7:45 PM. Movies on the Lawn. Join us on the lawn across from Naples Flatbread & The Wine Loft - Mercato for Jack the Giant Slayer featuring Nicholas Hoult as Jack and Eleanor Tomlinson as Isabelle.

Lawn chairs and well-behaved pets are welcome. 9128 Strada Place, Naples. 239-594-9400. www.mercatoshops.com.

19 Wednesday Call for time. Fort Myers Film Festival. Five-day film festival kicks off. Go to. www.fortmyersfilmfestival.com for times and locations.

10:00 AM. Mom’s Appreciation Day. Moms, enjoy a coupon for a free drink and treat from Le Macaron while your kids enjoy a free craft in MundoFox Playland. 10801 Corkscrew Rd, Estero. 239-948-3766. www.miromaroutlets.com.

5:45 PM. Read to Rabbits at South Regional Library. It’s great to cuddle up with a good book, but it’s even better with a soft silky rabbit. We will feed them, learn about their habits and read them a book.

8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. 239-252-7542. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

20 Thursday 2:00 PM. PFLAG Support Group. The Naples chapter of PFLAG (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), a family based support, education and advocacy group for families with gay or transgender members, meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month. For location and program information call 239-513-4568 4:00 PM. Chess at Headquarters Library. Meet in the Library Solarium for an hour of chess. Come whether you are a novice or experienced. This group will be led by Geoffrey Janer. Ages 8-18 years.

Registration is not required. 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples.

239-593-0870. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

21 Friday 10:30 AM. Baby Yoga at Headquarters Library. Bring a yoga mat, a small toy and a rested baby to enjoy this gentle exercise program for our youngest ones. Please plan to arrive around 10:15 to get settled in the room. Ages 1-12 months. Registration is required on the first Monday of the month. 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples. 239-5930870. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

6:00 PM. Beer Tasting and Live Music at Whole Foods. Drop by Whole Foods for beer tastings in the Café and Lifestyle Center the 3rd Fri. of every month. This month sample tons of different beers, including select seasonal beers. Vendors will be on-site to answer questions and offer recommendations. 9101 Strada Place, Naples. 239-552-5100. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/naples.

6:00 PM. Movie Night. This program provides a safe environment for families and a chance to watch a movie. Open to ages 5 to 12. 505 Escambia Street, Immokalee. 239- 657-1951.

6:00 PM. Golden Gate Community Center Family Trivia Night.

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Families compete against each other for themed trivia questions for prizes. Concessions available. Registration required. $8.

4701 Golden Gate Pkwy, Naples. 239-2524180. colliergov.net.

6:00 PM. Tributes in the Garden: U2.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 6:30 – 9 p.m. show. 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. 239643-7275. www.naplesgarden.org.

6:30 PM. Family Movie Night. Come join us for our monthly Family Movie Night. This month we are watching “Frozen” and making some yummy snow cones. Bring a jacket and a light blanket or pillow. This is an all-ages event. Hope to see you there. Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, 1255 Piper Blvd., Naples.

22 Saturday 10:00 AM. Antique Auto Show. Donation requested. For more information, please call 239- 262-6525. 1051 5th Ave S, Naples.

239- 262-6525. www.colliermuseums.com 11:00 AM. Spring in Fashion Show.

Spring into Fashion with an exclusive fashion show from your favorite Village boutiques.

Enjoy live music starting at 4pm and a runway fashion show with the newest spring styles.

Fashion show starts at 11 a.m. at the North

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Fountain in Venetian Village. 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd, Naples. Phone. venetianvillage. com.

2:00 PM. Rock Around the Clock: Music of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s at South County Regional Library. Sit back, relax and remember the good times during this outdoor concert as Dave Kilbride plays guitar and sings some oldies but goodies. The concert will take place in front of the library. 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy, Estero. 239- 479-INFO (4636).

6:30 PM. Night at the Museum. Leave the ball gown and tux at home, and dress in your casual best to enjoy interactive activities that are woven throughout the Museum’s yearround exhibits. Dining and Dancing. $500 per couple. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Road, Naples.

239-514-0084. www.cmon.org.

23 Sunday 10:00 AM. Naples Motorfest. Naples Motorfest attendees will enjoy a luxury exotic car display, fashion show, VIP cigar lounge, brunch, jazz music, cocktails, and more. A portion of the South Village parking lot, along with T-Michaels, will be transformed into a stunning showroom filled with an afternoon

of entertainment. Venetian Village, 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd, Naples. venetianvillage.com.

2:00 PM. Free Concerts at the Bandshell.

Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free jazz concerts in Cambier Park. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

24 Monday Call for time. Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s second annual Youth of the Year Celebration. The Boys & Girls Club of Collier County will hold its second annual Youth of the Year Celebration on March 24, 2014 at Artis-Naples. Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier recognition program for members. It was established to foster young people’s character, personal growth and leadership qualities.5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples. 239-325-1765. www.bgccc.com 6:00 PM. What’s For Dinner? at East Naples Branch Library. Sweets of course.. Create a placemat and decorate napkins to go with your main course. Yummy treats guaranteed.

Registration required. 8787 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. 239-775-5592. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

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27 Thursday 3:30 PM. Bird is the Word at Golden Gate Library. Learn fun and interesting bird facts and meet a live bird of prey. Presented by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. All ages. 2432 Lucerne Road, Naples.

239-252-4542. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

4:00 PM. Paper Creations at Marco Island Library. Celebrate Spring Break with creative fun. Come creat some beautiful art using Styrofoam, tissue paper and glue. Students in grades K through 5 are welcome to attend. 210 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island. 239-3943272. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

5:00 PM. Walk at the Promenade. Description 26795-27911 South Bay Drive, Bonita Springs. (800) 799-0178. www.promenadeshops. com.

5:30 PM. Twisted Experiments at Immoakalee Library. Learn all about what cordage is and what evidence of cordage archaeologists have found. Then, try your hand at making your own rope out of natural materials, just like the Calusa or Seminole Indians. Age 11-17. 417 North First Street, Immokalee. 239-657-2882. For registration info check public.collier-lib.org.

28 Friday 11:00 AM. Garden Side Chickee Chat Historic Palm Cottage.

ABC-7 meteorologist Allyson Rae will present the history of hurricanes. $15/members free. Reservations required. 137 12th Avenue South, Naples.

your blankets, lawn chairs, picnic baskets and coolers and watch this all-time classic film under the starts with your family and friends. $5 suggested donation. 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers. 239939-2787. www.artinlee.org.

29 Saturday 11:00 AM. Spring Art Affair. Celebrate the beginning of spring and peruse unique items created by local artists on Saturday, March 29 at the Alliance for the Arts’ third annual Spring Art Affair at the Bell Tower Shops. Daniels Pkwy and US 41, Fort Myers. 239-489-1221. www.thebelltowershops.com.

30 Monday 11:00 AM. Woof Stock. Pet-friendly music festival with contests and vendors to benefit Humane Society of Naples. All proceeds will go towards the Humane Society of Naples. Admissions Fee: $5 per person, kids 10 & under are free. 9128 Strada Place, Naples. 239-594-9400. www.mercatoshops.com.

2:00 PM. Bluegrass in the Theater at the Alliance. Tickets are $7.

Children 12 and under are free if accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 1:30PM. 10091 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers. 239-9392787. www.artinlee.org.

2:00 PM. Free Concerts at the Bandshell. Bring a blanket for the whole family and enjoy free jazz concerts in Cambier Park. 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. 239-213-3058. www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=576.

8:30 PM. Outdoor Family Movie Night: “Despicable Me 2”. Bring

PLUNGE IN THE

FUN!

Open Weekends Sun-N-Fun Lagoon’s turtle Sunny invites you to enjoy his lazy river and 5 water slides!

Hours of Operation 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Winter / Spring

Open President’s Day Weekend - May Saturday & Sunday Open for Collier County School’s Spring Break Sun-N-Fun Lagoon • 15000 Livingston Rd. • Naples, FL • 34109 239-252-4021 • www.napleswaterpark.com 42

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Public Services Division Parks & Recreation

NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

2/19/14 9:57 AM

BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

by NEAPOLITAN FAMILY READERS

21 Awesome Tips From Our Readers Expecting a new baby?

We turned to Facebook for our followers best pregnancy and newborn tips.

Join in the conversations we have at www.facebook.com/neafamilymag!

Beth Hofferber Atkinson

sleeping while pregnant.

Sleep!

Lisa Rivera Herman Rebecca Carel Burnett

You’re not actually eating for two so don’t go crazy eating now what you’ll regret later.

Get a doula for your birth and for postpartum help. Get lots of skin to skin and sleep whenever the baby does. Also, join La Leche League before baby comes and don’t be afraid to ask for help early on if you run into breastfeeding problems.

Drink lots of water.

Tracy Nowosielski Houston

Don’t be afraid to agree to help when people offer.

Danya Campins Jessica Ashley Kalvin

Don’t worry about what your house looks like–hold, rock, and stare at your baby as long as you can, before you know it they will be graduating.

Being pregnant is not a license to eat, I wish someone would have clued me into that, you are not really eating for 2. You should only increase you calorie intake the first trimester by 100 calories.

R. S. Captor

Buy big. Your baby is not going to be a 0-3 months for long (if ever).

Never feel like you can’t ask for help. There is no stupid question and if you feel something is wrong get it checked out.

you and your baby.

Lindas Ecke

Join a gym with daycare. You can get some time to yourself ( I sometimes just dropped the baby off and sat in Jacuzzi) plus you can workout and get back in shape.

Jessica ‘Ponczoch’ Erwin

Claire Cashel

Buy Depends for postpartum care. They aren’t bulky like pads and you don’t ruin your panties because the Depends are all in one.

While your new baby is sleeping do not be afraid to make noise. I would run the vacuum right next to my baby’s bed –now my children can sleep through anything.

Tammy Everts

Robyn Cruz

Freezer Meals–I stocked my freezer with meals I could just pop in the oven. During the fhe few months leading up to giving birth I would make extra when cooking and freeze the leftovers. I was so thankful for those meals after my son was born.

Sherri Spiller Dickson

Cherish every stage of your baby, even the most challenging moments and honor the choices you make as a parent. Everyone will have advice on what you should or shouldn’t do, but stick with what works for NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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Hire a cleaning service for 3 months. Also, one of the best things I did through the pregnancy was journal what I was feeling and thinking, praying and hoping for as a new mom. Then I journaled the first 2 years. It’s fun to read now that my son is 5. I also agree with teaching your baby to sleep. Babywise and Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby are great tools. My son slept through the night by 10 weeks and still takes a 3 hour nap everyday.

Jessica Fisher

During your pregnancy relax and enjoy evey moment and sleep as much as you can.

Most of all you don’t have to eat for two.

All you need is 300 calories more a day.

Nighat Khan Kapadia

Make a lot of videos and take pictures of your videos. Baby grows fast in one year– you will be surprised to look back on day 1 to see how much your baby has changed.

Christine McManus

Train your baby to sleep. I know it sounds crazy, but once your baby is past eating every 3 hours, you and your baby will be thankful for a scheduled time to go to bed and wake every night. My children (almost 2 and 3 y.o.) sleep 7-7 every night. They wake refreshed and happy.

Noel Michalski

Sleep when baby is napping.

Brynn Tayar

Stay active everyday during pregnancy, your body will thank you later. After delivery don’t be too proud to ask for help–every Supermom needs help from her sidekick now and again.

Use a body pillow to be more comfortable neafamily.com

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BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

by STACY NICOLAU

Your Bundle of Joy Birth Options for Collier County Moms

W

omen giving birth to babies goes back to, well, the beginning of the human race, and the options of how to do so really haven’t changed much since then. To prepare for this natural life cycle event, many women like to create a birth plan of how they would like their pregnancy, labor and delivery to occur.

If you are a pregnant woman in Collier County your options for a birth plan are limited to three choices: Naples Community Hospital’s (NCH) The BirthPlace, giving birth at The Family Birth Center or a home birth.

Hospital Birth In Collier County there is only one hospital labor and delivery center: The BirthPlace at NCH Healthcare’s North Campus. As soon as a woman finds out she is pregnant, she can choose an obstetrician based on her own interviews or a referral from her primary care physician. The prenatal care will occur in the physician’s private practice and delivery

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will be planned at the hospital. Prenatal care usually includes monthly physical assessments (more frequent as the pregnancy progresses and in high risk pregnancies), nutrition assessments, ultrasounds and prenatal testing. Some practices have patients see all physicians in the practice during prenatal visits so that the physician on call during the eventual delivery is familiar. Obstetricians are also surgeons and can perform Caesarean deliveries when necessary. It is also common to see continuous fetal monitoring when in active labor and frequent nursing assessments.

Family Birth Center and Home Birth The Family Birth Center in Naples offers complete prenatal, birth and postpartum care including laboratory services, ultrasound, diagnostic screening, nutrition counseling, birth classes, yoga classes, massage and breastfeeding support. Prenatal care, labor and delivery are performed by a licensed midwife.

Doulas are available for extra support. The environment is set up to be comfortable and

home-like and to accommodate extra visitors during the birth. Laboring moms also are encouraged to stay active, and eat and drink during labor. Moms may even elect a water birth or may choose a home birth with the midwife. The goal is to help women have a drug-free birth if possible. These options are available only for low-risk pregnancies; highrisk moms and those carrying multiples will be referred to obstetricians.

Differences between the two Some moms may feel more comfortable or safer delivering in a hospital, while others choose the Family Birth Center, which focuses on birth as a natural event. For moms who enjoy the family-centered and extensive prenatal support of a midwife but prefer to deliver in a hospital where emergency medical intervention is immediately available, that is not an option here. Many hospitals throughout the country (including Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers and Cape Coral) have Certified Nurse Midwives with admit-

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ting privileges, but they have never been allowed to deliver at any Collier County Hospital, according to NCH Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Dr. Allen Weiss. Midwives are trained to recognize complications and refer clients to the hospital for obstetrical emergencies, where the care will be turned over to the physician on call.

Both delivery models support early breast-feeding and infants rooming in with mom. The Family Birth Center provides additional TLC with post partum home visits and support. Obstetrical patients usually follow up with their physicians in their offices at about six weeks post partum.

Audrey Martarano of Naples has experienced giving birth at both NCH and the Family Birth Center. She comments that while she had a great experience at NCH assisted by epidural anesthesia, she preferred her experience at the Family Birth Center.

“The prenatal appointments were sometimes an hour long and all the time was spent on me and the baby discussing everything from nutrition to my birth plan,” she says, “and my after care was just as thorough as my prenatal care.”

“A patient’s options are unlimited when using an OB,” states Dr. Joseph Gauta, a Naples board certified obstetrician and gynecologist who now focuses his practice on gynecology and urogynecology. “A patient can choose a ‘hands-off’ delivery style in which she controls almost all aspects of her care. For example, a patient can have great expectations to proceed with breathing techniques for pain control but in the end she can change her mind and get an epidural. It is completely up to her.”

While modern medicine has reduced pregnancy-related death to nearly zero in industrialized nations, many pregnancies don’t need physicians to proceed normally, according to Dr. Gauta. He notes that until more modern times, all mothers had given birth “without the help of any midwives or doctors. Humans will continue to survive with or without these health care providers.”

While there are not many different birthing options in Collier County, each provider has their own style, so take time to interview several at the beginning or even before your pregnancy to ensure the best fit for you.

Stacy Nicolau is a registered nurse, Assistant Publisher of Neapolitan Family Magazine and mother of three children all born at NCH Healthcare.

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Definitions and More Info: Obstetrician (OB-GYN) is both a physician and surgeon who has graduated from medical school and completed specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology.

MidwiVES are independent health care providers who have received special training to provide women with help with family planning and maternity care.

Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is an experienced registered nurse who has received a graduate degree from a nurse midwifery program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and is board certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). A CNM is qualified to provide general health wellness exams and prescribe some medications.

Certified Midwife (CM) has a baccalaureate degree in a field other than nursing and received graduate training from programs that also have been accredited by ACME and has passed the national certification boards by AMCB. A CM is authorized to provide the same services as a CNM and prescribe the same medications.

Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) receives training through an accredited program or an apprenticeship. A CPM’s scope of practice is limited to pregnancy, birth and postpartum care only outside of the hospital and cannot prescribe medication.

There are other people who can call themselves midwives but they have not passed a national certification exam and may or may not have had a formal education.

Doula A doula provides information and emotional support to a mom during labor, delivery and postpartum, and sometimes during pregnancy as well. Doulas provide help with positioning and massage during labor and assist mom with breastfeeding. A doula can be hired by the family to assist a birth in any setting.

What is the Bradley Method®?

The Bradley Method® is a birthing class taught over 12 weeks by a certified instructor who also has had at least one un-medicated birth using the Bradley Method herself. The expectant mom takes the class with the father or a predetermined support person who can participate throughout the pregnancy. Instructors do not give medical advice. Naples instructor Monica Cox gives this explanation: “The Bradley Method® teaches couples practical ways to have true natural childbirth in any setting, and for the mother to stay healthy and low-risk. The Bradley Method® has five main components: nutrition, communication, relaxation and exercise, consumerism, and education. As Bradley teachers, we teach pregnancy nutrition, guide the couple to prepare the body and mind by practicing relaxation and doing physical exercise, we encourage our students to be informed consumers, to practice good communication with each other and with the birth team, help them to learn what normal pregnancy, labor, and birth looks like; in these ways a couple learns how to birth together in the way they would like, and avoid unnecessary interventions.”

For more information: www.bradleyBirth.com • www.childbirth.org www.midwife.org • www.naplesbirthcenter.com • www.nchmd.org neafamily.com

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BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

Collier County Parents Find

Support, Education and Friendship Eco Baby & Kids is a bright, warm oasis in The Collection at Vanderbilt.

Drop by in the morning when children and mothers are gathering for a “moms of multiples” gathering and you’ll find babies and toddlers playing in the comfortable lounge area while moms discuss all things baby. Experience is the best teacher and these moms are happy to share how they deal with everything from morning sickness to their favorite local pediatrician. The bond between the women is immediate– even before first names are traded, moms are chatting about the highs and lows of motherhood.

This is what makes Eco Baby & Kids such a rewarding experience for owner Kim Meador. The business opened in 2011 as a diaper service and quickly grew as Meador realized how much more she could offer the community. The store is now not just a retail resource for “all things natural and eco-friendly” but also has become a community where moms and dads can find support, make friends and find the resources they need to be better parents.

Filling A Need Kim brought her background in the hospitality industry to Eco Baby. During her many years working in hotels, with a cruise line, and as a membership director for private clubs, Kim always knew she wanted to own a business. Eco Baby grew out of Kim’s experi-

ence with cloth diapers when her twins were infants. Dealing with constant diaper rash problems, she turned to cloth diapers and quickly became a convert. At that time there was no diaper service in the area.

Eventually, Kim and her husband Michael filled that need and started the diaper service that paved the way for the retail store/ community center that now exists.

Kim’s children are now 12 and well out of the toddler stage but working around babies and toddlers keeps those days close for Kim. Eco Baby is a happy place and it’s easy to see why going to “work” every day in a colorful, warm store filled with sweet babies would put a smile on anyone’s face.

Kim’s four employees are allowed to bring their children to work and it’s not uncommon to have your purchase rung up by a mom wearing her infant in a sling.

Kim knew that hiring her own customers was a wise business move–these are mothers who have used the products and can speak from experience about everything from breastfeeding to cloth diapering.

Attendees at a recent “Moms of Multiples” meeting: Casey Gray with son Clinton, 20 months and twins Elijah & Damian, 4 months old; Jenn Slenk, expecting twin girls in May; Lyn Hunter with Luke, 3 years old and twins Josie & Jude, 2 years old; Venessa Hampshire with twins Ellis & Ellise, 8 months old.

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Free Events & Support Groups Many of the store’s events and meetings are free, including a weekly story time, parents of multiples meetings and special events like the birthing options seminar (see side bar).

Eco Baby & Kids carries a variety of wraps and baby carriers, and you can be fitted by one of the store’s certified babywearing instructors. A certified lactation consultant is on staff to help prepare pregnant moms well as help new mothers deal with any issues. On the retail end, the store offers educational toys, cloth diapers and accessories, breastfeeding supplies, nursing bras, essential oils, and more.

Kim sums up the philosophy of Eco Baby & Kids this way: “We strive to be a resource for parents. In a community where so many don’t have the support of family, we want to be a source of support and information. We have many customers who have created a network of like-minded parents through the store.”

For More Information: Eco Baby & Kids 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 150, Naples (239) 596-2661 wwww.ecobabyandhome.com

Birth Day Fair at Eco Baby & Kids March 8, 2014 • 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

New or expecting parents are invited to this special event. Birth professionals will offer information alternative birth options as well as maternal-child healthcare. A variety of speakers will offer information throughout the day including: Kristen Schuchmann, home birth midwife; Chris Ghali, doula; Martina Vance, placenta encapsulator; Lauren Fruehan, Breastfeeding USA and SWFL Birth Network.

Details available at www.ecobabyandhome.com

LET’S GO CAMPING

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INOgResS THEchM ildren a rs For 4 yea ths to 18 mon

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To register for our incredible Summer of the Arts program, please call 239-263-2620 or visit License #C20CO0076

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voted #1 childcare two years in a row!!

www.naplespreschoolofthearts.com neafamily.com

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2/19/14 8:20 AM

BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

by Sue LeBreton

Consider a Doula

For Continuous Support at Your Next Birth

A

lthough women have been having babies since time began, the level of trepidation can match the level of excitement about the birth process. No matter how many books you read about childbirth you cannot imagine the physical and emotional intensity. If you have had several babies you know that each birth is different.

During the process, you may find yourself asking, “is this normal?”

Your partner, if not a birthing expert may have no idea and may also be sharing your uncertainty and concern. Your doctor or nurse can answer questions and offer support but remember you are just one patient of many.

Medical professionals cannot stay by your side constantly through the hours of labor.

The nurse you bond with leaves when the shift ends, even if your baby has not yet made an appearance.

Continuous support is helpful to both you and your partner for this big event, so consider hiring a doula. A doula, a trained birthing attendant, can increase your confidence and reassure both you and your partner. The word doula comes from ancient Greek meaning “a woman who serves.” Her purpose is to serve the pregnant woman and her partner during pregnancy, during the birthing process and in the postpartum period. The doula offers emotional support, encouragement and shares her wisdom to help you and your

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partner make informed decisions along your journey to welcoming a new baby.

The doula’s role is non-clinical, meaning she does not participate in any of the medical processes or offer medical advice. Her role is to guide you to ask the appropriate questions, seek clarification and work with you and your family and members of your medical care team to enhance communication and understanding. Research shows that women who have the support of a doula during the birthing process had shorter labor and were more likely to deliver without the use of forceps, vacuum or cesarean. They also required less pain medication and reported more positive feelings about their experience.

Doula Angie Braun says that due to our recent history of giving birth in hospitals without the support of other women, we have lost our shared learning of birth.

As part of her doula services she brings her considerable wisdom and suggests a variety of comfort measures that the mom can use during the birthing process. In her practice Braun usually visits the family once before the birth, joins them for the birth and visits once postpartum. She is available by phone throughout the relationship. She believes having a doula “ is a very personalized

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experience and allows moms to feel taken care of.”

Braun stresses that a doula’s caregiving extends to your partner as well, helping them take a larger, more active part in the process, answering their questions and allowing them to take a break without leaving you alone. Mom Rhonda Franz echoes this benefit. “ I think using a doula really helped my husband. One person was always able to stay with me while another fetched things we needed.” Janet Rhymes also found the doula experience beneficial to her partner. “ She helped him understand how best to support me by providing concrete ways he could help me during labor and in the first few weeks post-partum.”

Franz chose to use a doula to support her desire to have as natural a birth process as possible. She believes her first child would have required a C-section without the support of the doula. “My children come at 42 weeks and are turned sunny side up. I labored at home for 28 hours with the doula’s help and the support of my doctor. With her help we were able to turn him some. I ended up having to go to the hospital for another several hours and interventions, but I wouldn’t have changed anything about using her.”

As with anything, knowledge is power and Rhymes says having a doula is “one piece of the puzzle of women and couples re-learning and valuing the wisdom of childbirth. The continuity of care and practical knowledge fosters the trust, relationship-building and empowerment a woman needs to reclaim the birth process and gain the strength and confidence needed during birth and post-partum.”

So when you are planning your budget for baby’s arrival consider the services of a doula to add to your comfort with the birthing process and the post-partum period. You and your partner will consider it money well spent.

Sue LeBreton is a health and wellness journalist and a mom of two. She and her husband felt that having a doula at the birth of both their children was a wise investment.

Resources: DONA International • www.dona.org The Doula Book: How a Trained Labour Companion Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth by Marshall Klaus MD, Phyllis Klaus and John Kennell MD

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BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

by SANDRA GORDON

Most women plot out their pregnancy to a T. But Mother Nature’s truly in charge.

Take it from these moms-to-be, whose birth plans took a last-minute detour to a tunnel, a fire station, and other weird places.

AMAZING

Arrivals “I went into labor on my kitchen floor” When Joanna Neal started having painful contractions two weeks shy of her due date, the mom of two visited her ob/gyn. The doctor assured Joanna that she had plenty of time before her baby arrived. So Joanna got some work done (she’s an online social sciences professor), took care of her daughters, Mia, 5, and Morgan, 2, and went to bed. At 4:35 the next morning, her water broke. “I ran to the bathroom, shouting to my husband, David, that we needed to leave for to the hospital,” Joanna says. But when her contractions began coming one right after another and she felt the need to push, she changed her mind. “Forget the hospital,” Joanne shouted. “Call 911!”

While waiting for the ambulance, Joanna made her way to the kitchen and lay down on her left side (she’d read that the position might slow down labor, though experts say it’s an old wives’ tale). “But after a couple of minutes, the baby’s head started to emerge and I realized he was coming no matter what,” she says. Fortunately, Joanna had read up on how to deliver her own baby (see “The Art of the DIY Delivery”). She instructed her

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spouse to guide out the shoulders one at time, but David just stood there, frozen, so Joanna guided them out herself.

David finally snapped out of his shock and finished delivering the baby. Then, following the directions of the 911 dispatcher, he tied the umbilical cord with a clean shoelace to separate the baby from the placenta. The ambulance, which initially went to the wrong house, showed up about ten minutes later and escorted Joanna and her new addition, Ethan, to the hospital. The Neals estimated that he was born at 4:56 A.M., a mere 21 minutes after her labor began. “Delivering Ethan was scary, and we know we were lucky there were no complications,” Joanna says. “But it was an incredible experience we’ll never forget.”

“My whole family delivered my baby” Jenny Komenda woke up last December 24 and whispered to her husband, Michael, “This is going to be the day.” Her third child was already a week overdue. “I felt guilty that my mom, dad, and sister had come to visit and were leaving soon,” says Jenny, who is an interior designer. “We all wanted this baby to

come out.” They got their wish. Five minutes later, Jenny started having contractions about seven minutes apart. Still, the hospital was only two blocks away, so she took a shower and chatted with her family before leaving. By then it was too late. They barely made it out the front door when her water broke. Frozen in pain on the porch, Jenny blurted out “I need to push—now!”

“It looks like we’re having this baby right here,” announced her dad, Alan DeWitt, a family doctor who has done his share of deliveries. He and Michael laid Jenny down on the living-room ottoman. As she pushed, her sister, Heather, supported her back, while Jenny’s mom, Linda, and Michael held her legs. Within a few minutes, Evelyn Jane (nicknamed Evie), arrived. Then the crew drove to the hospital.

Within three hours, Jenny and Evie were given the all-clear to return home. Her family spent Christmas Eve playing games with Jenny and Michael’s other kids, Grace, 5, and Claire, 3, and getting to know the child they had all helped deliver. “I’m not a home birth kind of gal,” Jenny says, “but there was NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

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something special about being with everyone as Evelyn Jane arrived. We all felt a special connection to her—and to each other.”

“I’m glad I didn’t know that at the time,” says Alicia, “but they did an amazing job of keeping everybody calm, including me.”

“A funny thing happened on the way to the hospital” Alicia Weintraub knew the five-mile drive from her new home to the hospital where she was scheduled to give birth to their second child) might be a super-slow ride. After all, it was rush hour. But as she and her husband, Adam, got in the car at 5 P.M., her contractions were still six minutes apart. “We thought my delivery was hours away,” says Alicia, a public-policy project manager.

Alicia and Adam were wrong--about the traffic (there was none) and the timing.

As they reached the freeway, her contractions narrowed to every three minutes. Adam opted to take a back way through their old neighborhood. “I drove as fast as I could without getting into an accident,” he says.

But Alicia, in excruciating pain, told him she wasn’t going to make it. She remembered that a fire station was coming up.

Adam spotted it, pulled into the parking lot, and ran for help. Firemen and paramedics rushed out with a stretcher and helped Alicia onto it, but they didn’t have time to move her inside. With their assistance, she delivered her daughter, Lauren, in the driveway. “There was almost no coaching,” she says. “It happened that fast.

Right after the birth, the paramedics rushed Alicia and Lauren to a nearby hospital. Although Lauren was born four weeks premature and weighed only 4 pounds, 14 ounces, she was given a clean bill of health and left the hospital five days later (Alicia went home after two nights). About a week later, the Weintraubs visited the fire station to thank the battalion. It was only then that they learned this fact: The men on duty that evening had never delivered a baby before.

“I gave birth in a taxi” When Maya Polton was awakened by contractions around 12:30 one morning last March, the soon-to-be first-time mom recalled what she’d been told in childbirth class: Don’t show up at the hospital too early because you’ll be sent home. So the senior marketing went back to sleep. Finally, at 5:30, she nudged her husband, Eric. Since the pain wasn’t awful, they decided to wait another two hours. Then her contractions intensified.

Maya’s water broke as Eric was on the phone with the ob/gyn. “Come to the hospital now,” the doctor said.

Thinking a shower would slow down labor, Maya stepped into the tub. “Then I reached down and felt the crown of my baby’s head between my legs,” she says. Eric phoned for a taxi, which arrived within minutes. The fastest route to the hospital was to take a tunnel that goes under a major river. But it didn’t turn out to be fast enough. “By 8:30 AM, I was in the back of the cab trying not push and Eric on the phone asking the doctor if there was any way to slow down my labor,” Maya says. Then they lost cell service. With Maya crouching in the backseat, Eric calmly took over, delivering the baby in the still-moving vehicle. “It’s a boy,” he said.

Once they exited the tunnel, Eric spotted driver a fire truck and waved to the driver.

He was instructed to pull over and wait. Fireman gave Maya oxygen and wrapped the baby up. EMTS then arrived, cutting the cord and taking the couple to the hospital.

It wasn’t exactly how Maya planned her child’s birth, though as she points out, “I did want Eric to catch the baby and announce his sex all along.”

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The Art of the DIY Delivery Labor generally takes a few hours (and often longer than that)—enough time for the vast majority of women to get to the hospital. But in case you don’t make it, you should know the drill.

• Call 911. EMTs are trained in childbirth and the dispatcher can talk you through the basics.

• Stay calm. Remember: Giving birth is natural. “When things go quickly, everything is usually fine,” says Marjorie Greenfield, M.D., author of The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book and director of general obstetrics and gynecology at UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, in Cleveland, Ohio.

• Check the ABCs (airway, breathing and circulation). If your baby isn’t crying, put your hand near his nose to feel whether he’s breathing, and check for a pulse by putting your hand on his chest. If any of these signs are negative, try rubbing his back or flicking his feet with your finger. “That’s will often get a newborn crying,” says Dr. Greenfield.

• Grab clean blankets, towels, or sheets. You’ll need at least one to catch the baby and wipe away the blood and one to keep you and your newborn warm.

• Forget about the cord. Wait for trained professionals—with sterilized instruments—to do the clamping and cutting. If you deliver the placenta, place it in a bowl or a plastic bag, and take it to the hospital so doctors can check that there’s none remaining inside you.

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BABIES, BABIES, BABIES

by RACHAEL MOSHMAN

Baby Supplies

Where to Cut Corners and When to Splurge

P

ractical, reliable and economical baby advice is something most new parents wish for. Babies can be expensive! There are so many different supplies and baby gear to consider. Then they outgrow things so fast and new items must be bought. However, it is possible to provide for your new baby without going broke with some simple tricks.

You don’t need everything.

Ask your friends, family, co-workers and others who have navigated their way through the baby phase for their recommendations.

Babies simply don’t need all of the stuff that is marketed for their care. Find out what they used often and what just collected dust.

Think of where you can cut corners. A separate changing table may not be necessary, but a pad on a dresser top or floor works fine for many families. Experienced parents will be able to tell you what name brands are worth the money and when generics will work just as well.

Think of multipurpose use and longevity.

You may not need to buy a stroller, car seat and carrier separately.

Some brands sell items packaged together. Try to get items that are convertible, even if they cost a bit more money. You will get years of use from a car seat that can be used as an infant carrier and then later converted to a booster seat. Cribs are available that can be converted to a toddler bed and then a twin bed. That crib could take your newborn through most of their childhood.

Become a bargain hunter.

Sign up for mailing lists and newsletters for stores and brands that have what you need for your baby. You will get notification of sales, receive coupons and may even be sent samples. Combine coupons with sale prices on staples like diapers, wipes, jars of baby food and formula for the biggest savings. Check out clearance racks and outlet stores often. Most companies offer free samples of lotion, wipes, formula and diapers through their website. These products are great for sticking in diaper bags.

Shop second hand.

Thrift stores, consignment shops and garage sales are great places for finding gently used baby items at great prices. Strollers, high chairs, toys, clothing, bedding and more can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of buying new. Auction websites and online classified ads are also great sources for picking up bargains on clothing and equipment for your baby. Gladly accept items that your friends and family are willing to pass on to you. Your baby won’t care that these items were previously used.

Spending a bit of time on research and chatting with experienced parents could save you tons of cash. It might even be enough to fund a few extra weeks of maternity leave – or perhaps a weekend babymoon with your partner before the big arrival!

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Rachael Moshman is a mom, freelance writer and former childcare center director.

Find her at www.rachaelmoshman.com.

NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

2/17/14 3:26 PM

SPRING INTO Y CAMP GREATER NAPLES YMCA SPRING BREAK CAMP 2014 March 24– March 31 Ages 5-12 years Y Members $25 per day Non-Members $35 per day As a working parent, you may need care while the school is closed for spring break. Spring Break Camp at the YMCA will engage your Children in fun and meaningful activities: -Water Safety -Swimming -Canoeing -Sports -Arts & Crafts -Organized Activities and Much More!

Greater Naples YMCA 5450 YMCA RD Naples, FL 34109 W: greaternaplesymca.org P: 239.597.3148 56

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Register at the Greater Naples YMCA or online at www.greaternaplesymca.org.

For more information on Spring Break Camp, call 239-597-3148.

NEAPOLITANfamily • March 2014

2/17/14 3:26 PM

LITTLE PEOPLE’S SCHOOL • For 2-5 year olds

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

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CHILD CARE SERVICES

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Music Together of Naples

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239-597-7778 musictogetherofnaples.com

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2/17/14 3:26 PM

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the best of

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Common Wisdom

Be kind to people and animals too. Laugh a lot. Just tell the truth.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. Clean up your own mess. Wish upon a star. Please your dentist and floss your teeth. Read a good book – or two (and read to a child!). Good health is priority #1. Lend a hand. Give blood. Call your mom and dad, or kids. Take the dog for long walks and smile at who you meet. Be a friend. Don’t drink and drive. Let art color your life. Be gentle with the earth. Cut the drama and don’t go to extremes.

Never look back unless you are planning to go there. Be thankful.

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