Neapolitan Family November 2023 issue

NOVEMBER 2023

neafamily.com

COMPLIMENTARY

CHEERS 50

to

YEARS of

School

House

Roc k!

THE EDWARD SCISSORHANDS RENAISSANCE 5 THANKSGIVING FACTS

CHANGING LIVES, ONE ADOPTION AT A TIME

FUN EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

EXPERIENCE

SOUTH AMERICA NOW OPEN!

Make mental wellness a

family

priority.

There’s a FREE online resource to help you lead the way.

It’s not easy to talk about mental wellness with children and teens. The Mind Your Mind initiative from David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health (DLC) is a free online resource that can help you lead those tough discussions, and keep mental wellness a priority in your family.

JOIN OR ACCESS FOR FREE AT:

DLCMindYourMind.org or SCAN the code with your smart phone

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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Contents

NOVEMBER 2023

FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

10

7

From the Publisher

8

Community News

How Schoolhouse Rock made learning about civics, grammar, math, and history memorable..

by Anna Snyder

12

Collier County Public School Update

14

Fun Events in November

Growing Healthier Communities

ON THE COVER

18

Cheers to 50 Years of Schoolhouse Rock

Taking care of the healthcare needs of SWFL families.

by Jamie Ulmer

20

23

The Art of Healing A local woman’s story of surviving domestic abuse.

by Andrea Stetson

5 Thanksgiving Facts Fun Thanksgiving facts you may not know about.

24

Gilbert’s Journey to Marco Island Local author, Susan Levin’s latest picture book.

by Andrea Stetson

26

The Edward Scissorhands Renaissance 7 must-do family festivals and exhibits

by Karen T. Bartlett

28 22

Kindness Corner

Changing Lives, One Adoption at a Time Benefits of Adoption Through Foster Care.

by Sarah Oquendo

Local brothers making a difference one leash at a time.

by Andrea Stetson

CHLOE GREGWARE, 4, is in VPK at Cape Christian Preschool. She loves her superheroes: Spider-Man & Ghost Spider, playing dress-up, swimming, going on adventures, bike riding, story time but most of all playing with her sister.

MIA GREGWARE, 8, is a 3rd grader at Oasis Elementary South. She loves theatre and acting, playing with her friends, readin, swimming, playing dress-up, going on adventures, bike riding but most of all playing with her sister.

Cover photo by Keri Johnson www.kerijohnson.com 239-825-2166 keri@kerijohnson.com

2023 Naples

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Find Your Community Here.

We are the church of the Open Mind, Helping Hands, and Loving Hearts.

Program Hightlights Youth Program Highlights • Creative Art & Music Expression • Community Service Projects • Social Justice, Action, & Awareness • Eco-Education, Gardening & Field Trips • Acceptance & Encouragement of Spiritual Growth

Join on Sundays our free programs.

Join us us Sundays, 10-11for AM, for free programs: 10-11Spirit AM : Spirit Play –Play Ages(Ages 5-12 5-12) Our Whole Lives –(Ages Ages13-15) 12-14 Playroom Childcare (Ages 5 and Coming of Age – Ages 14+ under) Playroom – Ages 5 and younger 11–11:30Childcare AM: All Ages Music Program Programs Programs Start Start Sept.

Sept. 10 11 For more information email yre@uunaples.org yre@uunaples.org..

6340 NapaWoods Woods Way, Naples • www.uunaples.org 6340 Napa Way, Naples • www.uunaples.org/youth

NEW! INFANT CLASS OPENING JUNE 2022

Your child deserves the BEST! Creative Learning Outstanding Education Nurturing Environment For more information or to schedule a tour: 239-455-3227 preschool@naplestemple.org

Music - Art - Storyland Science - Mini Market Gymnastics - Playground Outdoor Classroom - VPK Baby & Me Temple Shalom Preschool 4630 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL 34119

WWW.TEMPLESHALOMPRESCHOOLNAPLES.ORG

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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TINY TOES | PRE BALLET | PRE BALLET & JAZZ BALLET | JAZZ | LYRICAL | TAP | HIP HOP | LEAP & TURNS

Classes for Ages 2 to 18. Call for available class times today! (239) 566-3535

13020 Livingston Road #8, Naples, FL 34105 | bdaNaples.com

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NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

from the publisher… the parenting magazine devoted to collier county

P.O. Box 110656 Naples, FL 34108 info@neafamily.com

Co-Publisher Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com 239-370-5333 Co-Publisher Jane MacNealy jmacnealy@neafamily.com Calendar Editor Liani Belcher Travel Editor Karen T. Bartlett Feature Writers Anna Snyder Andrea Stetson 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 that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Neapolitan Family is available free of charge at distribution points throughout Collier County, as well as digitally at neafamily.com. Neapolitan Family is ©2023 by Neapolitan Family Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.

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

THIS MONTH Appreciation

When I was growing up, waking up early to watch Saturday morning cartoons was a big deal. I would sit in front of the large TV console with my bowl of Cap’n Crunch to enjoy the programs that could only be viewed in real-time. The commercials were just as fun because that is when Schoolhouse Rock came on. These silly little music videos taught me how to memorize multiplication tables, use proper grammar, and learn historical facts.

When required to recite the Preamble to the Constitution in seventh grade, I had the Schoolhouse Rock song in my head for backup. The video about “I’m Just a Bill” sitting on the steps waiting to become law on Capitol Hill also helped with civics tests. More importantly, I credit Schoolhouse Rock’s “Conjunction Junction,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here,” and “The Noun Song” for helping me achieve the 100% required on the spelling and grammar test to gain admission to UNC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. (Go Heels!)

Schoolhouse Rock turned 50 this year. Anna Snyder helps us celebrate that big anniversary with her article on page 10, while recounting favorite memories and exploring music’s power in learning.

Cover models Chloe and Mia pose with our Law and Bill, not on the steps of Capitol Hill, but on the steps in the Lee County Courthouse complex where they officially became the adopted children of Kelsie and Justin Gregware. In recognition of National Adoption Month in November, learn more about the Gregware’s adoption story and the legal perspective of adopting from foster care on page 28.

Sometimes, the safest home for families is the Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples. Neapolitan Family was invited to tour this sacred compound that often is the temporary home of families living in fear. We were fortunate to have one mother and her daughters share their experience and how the Shelter’s Healing Arts Program is helping them put the pieces of their lives back together.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to express our sincerest gratitude to our community, who trust us with their stories; our clients, who trust us with their message; and to our readers, who read our magazines and newsletters and visit our website every month. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.

Member of

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS Blessings in a Backpack of SWFL Receives Grant from The Collier County Community Foundation

Freedom Waters Foundation Partners with Home Base Florida to Give Veterans and Military Families a Memorable Day on the Water

B

H

lessings in a Backpack Southwest Florida was awarded it a generous grant of $10,000. This grant will enable Blessings in a Backpack to continue its mission of providing essential nutrition to over 500 children at Golden Gate Elementary School.

Golden Gate Elementary School, located in Naples, FL, serves a diverse student population, many of whom come from families facing economic challenges. Blessings in a Backpack has been dedicated to ensuring that no child at the school goes hungry over the weekends. Through their program, they provide weekend food packs to students.

Receiving the $10,000 grant from The Collier County Community Foundation came at a crucial time, as Blessings in a Backpack was working tirelessly to ensure that every child at Golden Gate Elementary receives the support they need.

For more information, please visit colliercf.org or swfl.blessingsinabackpack.org.

ome Base Adventure recently teamed up with Freedom Water Foundation and Pure Florida to provide a memorable day on the water for 100 veterans and their families through the non-profit’s Adventure Series.

The dolphin sightseeing cruise through Naples Bay aboard Pure Florida’s Double Sunshine, was made possible through a generous donation by Freedom Waters Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic and boating experiences. Their support exemplifies the power of partnerships in creating meaningful experiences for our nation’s warriors and their families. Freedom Waters’ contribution demonstrated their commitment to enhancing the lives of those who have served our country.

To learn more about how you can support Florida’s Veterans, visit HomeBase.org/Florida.

Don’t miss this treasure... we highly recommend it, especially if you have children.

natural M

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K

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C O

N

N

A

E C T I O

N

In addition to becoming a member - which includes FREE ADMISSION for one year to all of our interactive exhibits - there are many ways to connect with our water, land, wildlife and future through the Conservancy of Southwest Florida!

Learn more or get involved at conservancy.org.

Visit our Nature Center at 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, FL 34102

Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of life...now and forever.

8 neafamily.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

T

althy Earth Or He g's he

CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD 2023

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INSIDE THE SHOPPES AT VANDERBILT PLAZA JOIN US FOR AN EVENING OF CULTURE AND FESTIVITIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.THEHEALTHYEARTH.ORG NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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S R E E H C to

F

50

rom 1973 to 1984, and again from 1993-1996, and then yet again in the 2000s, Schoolhouse Rock produced various educational musical videos that became a part of our collective consciousness of Generation X and Millennials.

YEARS of

These short episodes, which aired like commercials between Saturday morning cartoons, originally were conceived by David McCall, an advertising agency president who observed his own children struggling with memorizing multiplication facts yet had no problem remembering popular songs.

Schoolhouse Rock, picked up by ABC and sponsored by General Mills, produced songs that ranged the gambit in theme: math, economics, science, history, grammar, and civics — all with the aim of helping viewers attain math facts, learn about the way the physical world works, and experience history and the political process in a memorable way.

WHAT WE COLLECTIVELY REMEMBER

Photo by Keri Johnson

School

10 neafamily.com

House

Rock!

By Anna Snyder

I jumped at the chance to write an article about the 50th anniversary of Schoolhouse Rock, because I felt the series of animated music videos gave me a great gift: the ability to fully memorize the preamble of the Constitution, as assigned in seventh grade at Wheaton Christian Grammar School in 1994. Just when things started heating up for me educationally — managing seven or eight different classes and as many teachers, assignments, projects, tests, and the like — Schoolhouse Rock came in with a slam dunk.

“The Preamble” with music and lyrics

by Lynn Ahrens, originally aired on Oct. 25, 1975. I offloaded some of that pressure onto a video checked out from the Naperville Public Library, which we manually rewound and rewatched at home so it could really sink in. Kids have it so easy NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

now — a simple Google search affords the opportunity to watch and rewatch all Schoolhouse Rock videos at the slightest whim.

bill. a t s u j And I’m sitting here . ll i … I’m b a nly on Capitol Hill.

Yes, I’m o

I think the school I attended must have had many Schoolhouse Rock VHS tapes in its arsenal, because as I reviewed the complete list of episodes online, I recognized and recalled such memorable tunes as: • “Conjunction Junction” • “A Noun is a Person, Place, or Thing” • “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” • “I’m Just a Bill” • “Interplanet Janet” Many of my friends referenced “Conjunction Junction” and “I’m Just a Bill,” crediting these songs as helping clear up confusion in the learning process regarding both conjunctions and the process of a bill becoming a law. Well done, Schoolhouse Rock!

“I’ve considered trying to dig up some of these videos to help reinforce teaching my own children,” said Margaret, a Naples mom of three.

THE POWER OF SONG IN EDUCATION Thanks to Schoolhouse Rock, many of us understand intimately the power of song to aid in memorization. As children memorize songs, they learn concepts — concepts get “stuck” in their minds and become a part of their long-term memories.

A teacher friend of mine with five of her own children (whom she homeschools) uses songs heavily in her methodology: “I’m 1000% behind songs as teaching tools. Part of the classical method is stuffing as much knowledge and information into my dear children when they’re young — when it’s easier to memorize. Then, as they get older, they can hang more information and understandNEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

ing on these initial ‘pegs’ of facts they learned when they were young.”

Classical Conversations — a national homeschool educational organization with various chapters here in Collier County — relies heavily on songs to transfer knowledge to its youngest students. “It makes learning content much more fun,” explained Alex, a Naples mom of four who participates in Classical Conversations. “As they get older, those facts they learned will be applied in their higher-level classes. It’s such a cool process of building a fact base through songs and then applying those facts when they get older.”

Anyone who walks the halls of a school in Collier County will hear instruction interspersed with songs, and I think as parents, we all understand that songs make it easier to memorize information, poems, verses, concepts, and facts.

I talked to Katie Craig, who was a music teacher at Osceola Elementary for many years. “Songs make information much easier to memorize, because we engage both hemispheres of the brain with ease,” she explained “Adding actions and movements to songs is even better for memorization and understanding.”

Songs attach melody to lyrics, tying any information to a recognizable tune. And rather than merely listening to someone speak, listening to music with information brings emo-

tional connection. Music often contains rhymes and repetition, making it easier to remember the content.

Teachers who use music to reinforce concepts and aid in memorization also tap into the power of “changing it up” and getting students on their feet, actively participating in the learning process. Music gets stuck in our heads so easily — so, what better way to encourage our children to learn than to fill our homes with positive music that shares a body of knowledge?

HOW TO CELEBRATE Celebrating Schoolhouse Rock is easy — songs are accessible on streaming music services and online videos. ABC aired a 50th Anniversary Singalong — hosted by none other than Ryan Seacrest — in February of 2023 that featured many celebrity guests, so a family viewing party may be in order (currently available on Disney+).

But, celebrating the educational process by filling our homes with music may be the best idea of all.

Incorporating music and celebrating its power is vital to the flourishing of the educational process, even in our homes. So, celebrate with me, and be sure to subject your children to a dramatic reenactment/singalong of your favorite Schoolhouse Rock song! Your kids will surely thank you … someday! neafamily.com 11

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS By Jennifer Kupiec

Building for a Brighter Future Two New Elementary Schools in Collier County

T

wo new elementary schools are coming to Collier County. The first school, dubbed “Elementary L,” will be built in North Naples on Immokalee Road at the intersection with Moulder Drive. The 22-acre site is about 3 miles east of the Collier Boulevard/Immokalee Road intersection and 2.5 miles west of the Wilson Boulevard intersection. The school site is near the Heritage Bay community and across the street from Bonita Bay’s Cypress golf course.

This new school will greatly relieve Laurel Oak Elementary, which currently has 25 portable classrooms. This school year, the enrollment at LOE is approximately 1,200 students. CCPS projects enrollment will drop to 650 when Elementary L opens, which is tentatively scheduled for the 2025-26 school year.

Elementary L also will meet the demand for families near Corkscrew Elementary. CCPS estimates student enrollment at CES will grow to 935 next school year, before dropping to approximately 750 when Elementary L opens. This will be the 32nd elementary school operated by CCPS and will have an initial enrollment of

fiscally responsible and avoid taking on debt by paying up front for new schools.

The second school, currently known as “Elementary Q,” will be in Ave Maria on Anthem Parkway. CCPS used the same land acquisition strategy to acquire the 46-acre site in 2008. Elementary Q will be located in the northern section of Ave Maria, next to North Park and north of the community’s water park. Elementary Q is slated to open in August 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.

The names “Elementary L” and “Elementary Q” are temporary. CCPS will ensure parents and community members are informed of the enrollment boundary and school name timelines as we get closer to the opening of the schools.

Looking ahead, these two new elementary schools in North Naples and Ave Maria will be hubs of connection where academic and artistic opportunities abound.

Highly qualified, certified teachers use phonics to develop literacy skills. Music classes are offered in all our elementary schools, and students also are introduced to entrepreneurship and engineering.

approximately 700 students in kindergarten through grade 5.

Thankfully, CCPS acquired the land for Elementary L in 2006 in lieu of impact fees. This type of thoughtful planning is important for our school district to remain 12 neafamily.com

Visit the district website (www.collierschools.com) and follow @collierschools on Facebook, Twitter (now ‘X’), and Instagram to see the many ways our students are achieving excellence. We look forward to opening two new neighborhood public schools that will serve generations of Collier County families.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Full & Part Time Programs 8 am - 3 pm

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239-593-6668 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Dr. www.childmont.com Naples, FL 34119

childmont101@gmail.com (Across from Super Target)

little hands...BIG achievements Toddlers 12-36 mos • Primary 3-5 yrs • PreK 4-5 yrs • Summer VPK NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

(239) 593-6668 2535 Northbrooke Plaza Dr. www.childmont.com Naples, 34119 License #FL C20CO0018 License # C20CO0018 neafamily.com 13

FUN EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

1 WEDNESDAY

BABY RHYME TIME. 10:30 a.m.

Bond with your baby and meet new friends during this special storytime promoting social, motor, and early literacy skills.

Location: Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Check leelibrary.librarymarket. com or call (239) 533-4860.

2 THURSDAY

AIR RECYCLE ART. 5:30 p.m.

Have fun, be creative, and gain an awareness of the importance of recycling while making a unique piece of art.

Location: Golden Gate Community Park 3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples. Check anc.apm. activecommunities.com or call 239-252-6128.

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101 DALMATIANS KIDS. 6:30 p.m.

This high-spirited musical production has plenty of action to keep everyone on their paws!

Location: The Pulte Center Stage, St. John the Evangelist Church, 625 111th Ave., North, Naples.

Check or call 239-571-3305.

3 FRIDAY

DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION AT RÍA. 5 p.m.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition, at Ría with live entertainment, face painting, buffet, and drink specials.

Location: The Ritz-Carlton Naples Tiburón, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. Check Facebook.com or call (239) 593-2000.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

AVOW KIDS FIRST FRIDAY MOVIE NIGHT. 5:30 p.m.

Strengthen family bonds and meet new friends at Coco, a computer animated film. The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Miguel who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead.

Location: Avow Ispiri Community Center, 1205 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples. Check avowcares.org or call (239) 261-4404.

IN THE MAIN THEATRE

NOV 10 - DEC 25

Based on the popular film, this hilarious musical comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity. This family holiday classic is sure to bring out the true spirit of Christmas.

4 SATURDAY FLORIDA PANTHER FESTIVAL. 9 a.m.

The Florida Panther Festival is hosted on a Collier County Free Day at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Along with all regular zoo activities, including seeing a living Florida panther, guests enjoy outdoor exhibits by area conservation partners and speak one-on-one with wildlife experts.

Location: Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Check floridapantherfestival.com.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION. 10 a.m.

Discover the holiday’s significance and its rich culture though special displays, arts and crafts stations, and more.

Location: Naples Botanical Gardens, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Check naplesgarden.org or call 239643-7275.

FAMILY DAY AT THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM. 12:15 p.m.

Visit the newly expanded Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center on Family Day. Activities include storytime, crafts, and learning activities.

Admission is free, but registration is recommended.

Location: Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center, 975 Imperial Gold Course Blvd., Naples.

Check hmcec.org or call 239-263-9200.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

NOV 28 - DEC 24 $25

LUNCH & SHOW!

See all your favorite crack-alackin’ friends as they escape from the New York’s Central Park Zoo on an unexpected journey to the world of Madagascar.

1380 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers 239.278.4422 • BroadwayPalm.com

Scan here for even more family-friendly events

neafamily.com 15

FUN EVENTS IN NOVEMBER SCIENCE SHOW. 1:30 p.m.

Lessons on chemistry, aerodynamics, fire experiments, and more!

Location: Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Check miromaroutlets.com or call 239-948-3766.

6 MONDAY

I WALKED WITH HEROES (DOCUMENTARY).

7 p.m. Award-winning filmmaker Andre Degas is set to screen his latest documentary, “I Walked with Heroes,” an intimate exploration into the remarkable life of Navy Veteran Robert Vandegrift and his wife Anita.

Location: Performing Arts Center, Hinman Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. Check artcenterbonita.org or call 239.495.8989.

8 WEDNESDAY REELING WITH A RANGER. 6 p.m.

Cast a line and reel in a catch while learning and chatting with a ranger. Equipment and bait provided. Free.

Location: Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. Check collierparks.com.

9 THURSDAY STORYTIME WITH A FIREFIGHTER. 10:30 a.m.

Come meet the heroes of our community: the North Collier Fire Department! The firefighters and their truck will be onsite. Read a story and enjoy meeting the firefighters face-to-face and seeing and touching a real firetruck!

Location: Vanderbilt Beach Branch Library, 788 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Check collierlibrary.evanced.info or call 239-252-7160.

11 SATURDAY

GUIDED FAMILY WALK: CREW BIRD ROOKERY SWAMP TRAILS. 9 a.m.

On this guided walk, you and the whole family will discover an essential part of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW)-one of the last wildlife corridors that stretches into the Everglades- and see firsthand local plants and animals of all shapes and sizes.

Location: Bird Rookery Swamp, 1295 Shady Hollow Boulevard, Naples. Check eventbrite.com or call 239-657-2253.

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THANK A VETERAN CELEBRATION. 10 a.m.

Join this Veteran’s Day Celebration, an opportunity for young children learn what it is to be a veteran and explain why we celebrate Veteran’s Day. A patriotic eagle story and craft are included.

Location: Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Check collierlibrary. evanced.info or call 239-252-7369.

ESTERO’S VETERANS DAY EVENT. 11 a.m.

The program will feature a patriotic concert, free hot dogs, an American classic & muscle car show and a Kids Zone.

Location: Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero.

Check estero-fl.gov.

VETERAN’S DAY SIGHTSEEING CRUISE. 12 p.m.

Veterans and Active-Duty receive FREE Sightseeing Cruise Ticket on Veteran’s Day, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 with full-fare paid adult or child ticket.

Location: Pure Florida, 1200 5th Ave S, Naples.

Check purefl.com or call 239.263.4949.

HONORING OUR HEROES WHO SERVED. 7:30 p.m.

Featuring the South Florida Jazz Orchestra performing Big Band music of the greatest generation with a very special guest vocalist, Lisanne Lyons Location: Performing Arts Center, Hinman Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs. Check artcenterbonita.org or call 239.495.8989.

12 SUNDAY

PICTURES WITH SANTA WONDER GARDENS. 2:30 p.m.

The Wonder Gardens is hosting its 3rd annual Pictures with Santa! Meet Santa, take pictures, and make memories that last a lifetime!

Location: Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs. Check facebook.com or call 239-992-2591.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

15 WEDNESDAY FALL FUN!. 10 a.m.

Bring your preschooler for a classic Fall day! We’ll be doing harvest-inspired crafts, picking our own apples, and enjoying some fall leaf sensory play.

Location: Collier Museum at Government Center, 3331 Tamiami Trail E, Naples. Check colliermuseums.com or call (239) 252-8476.

16 THURSDAY

MOVIES IN PARADISE: SUPER MARIO BROTHERS. 7 p.m.

Bring your blankets or your lawn chairs, grab a drink from The Cove and catch a movie under the stars on the largest outdoor video board in Southwest Florida! Food trucks and a snack/retail tent will be on-site as well.

Location: Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3940 City Gate Blvd N., Naples. Check playparadisecoast.com or call 239-252-4386.

17 FRIDAY

MAGIC OF LIGHTS: PREHISTORIC CHRISTMAS. 6 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Get ready for a dazzling holiday season in Naples!

It’s the Opening night of the Magic of Lights with millions of LED lights, creating a magical drivethrough experience for the whole family.

Location: Collier Fairgrounds , 751 39th Ave, Naples.

Check magicoflights.com or call (239) 455-1444.

18 SATURDAY KIDS’ DIY-U WORKSHOP. 10 a.m.

The Thanksgiving table won’t be complete without a festive Turkey Photo Holder built by your own little DIYer. This festive Kids Workshop will provide

everything your child needs to create a memorable table decoration that you’ll be thankful to have.

Location: Lowe’s Home Improvement, 12730 Tamiami Trail East, Naples. Check lowes.com.

20 MONDAY

46THANNUAL “CHRISTMAS ON THIRD” FESTIVAL. 6 p.m.

Holiday festivities begin with Santa and Mrs. Claus, the tree lighting, snow falling, live music, decorated storefronts and lots more.

Location: Third Street South, 1207 3rd St S, Naples. Check thirdstreetsouth.com or call (239) 649-6707.

21 TUESDAY

LEGO FUN. 3 p.m.

Share ideas, be creative, and have fun! LEGO® bricks will be provided. Ages 4 and up.

Registration is not required.

Location: Golden Gate Branch Library, 2432 Lucerne Road, Naples. Check collierlibrary. evanced.info or call (239) 252-4542.

28 TUESDAY

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES’ EXCEPTIONAL NIGHT. 5:30 p.m This immersive event is for children with physical or neurological disabilities, Autism, and other sensory integration disorders so they can enjoy CMON without feeling overwhelmed.

Location: Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston RD., Naples. Check cmon.org or call 239-514-0084.

Don’t be left out in the cold, register for our

Winter Conservatory!

Visit gulfshoreplayhouse.org or contact Steven Calakos scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org to register and for more details

Ages 5 - 7 Dec 18 - 22 9AM - 12PM

Ages 8 - 13 Dec 18 - 22 9AM - 12PM

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Ages 8 - 13 Dec 18 - 22 1PM - 4PM

Ages 13 - 18 Dec 18 - 22 1PM - 4PM

239.261.7529 GULFSHOREPLAYHOUSE.ORG

neafamily.com 17

HEALTH By Jamie Ulmer

Growing Healthier Communities From the Ground Up

F

or 46 years, supporters across Southwest Florida and beyond have helped improve access to health care for all residents of Collier County, regardless of income, insurance, or background.

technology, and enhancing the patient experience. Beyond these visual changes, renovations reflect Healthcare Network’s commitment to the vital, quality health care that patients and the community deserve.

Healthcare Network, founded in Immokalee in 1977, began caring for migrant farmworkers and underserved populations who had difficulties accessing primary health care.

Southwest Florida has grown substantially over the years, of course, and so, too, has the need for integrated medical care.

BRANCHING INTO NEW INNOVATIONS OF CARE

Today, Healthcare Network cares for more than 50,000 patients annually, including over half the children in Collier County. As the community grows, Healthcare Network’s highly trained staff continues to meet the needs of patients through 20 practices located throughout Collier County.

● Medical Assisted Treatment for Substance Abuse Program

NURTURING AND ANCHORING ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY In 2024, the nonprofit will begin renovations to its first comprehensive medical center, the expansive Marion E. Fether building in Immokalee. Other than routine maintenance and upkeep, this building has been virtually untouched since its grand opening in 1993. Renovation plans include reimagining interior administrative spaces to provide additional patient rooms, upgrading

18 neafamily.com

Healthcare Network is making great strides in its pursuit to make healthcare accessible to all through a multitude of new initiatives that support families and individuals at every age level, including its:

● Family Medicine and Pediatric Dental Residency Programs ● Medical Assistant and Pharmacy Technician Training Programs ● Prescription Mail Order ● Pediatric Dental IV Sedation for Complex Dental Needs ● WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project These are world-class programs that elevate health care to the next level, and they’re possible only because of the generous support from hundreds of individuals, businesses, foundations, and philanthropic organizations that recognize the importance of every member of a community having equal access to high-quality health care. This collective effort is

making a tremendous impact on the lives of underserved communities in Southwest Florida, now and for many years to come.

PLANTING HEALTHY SEEDS IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY When Healthcare Network was founded, Collier County’s population was approaching 80,000 residents. The 2020 U.S. Census put the population at 375,752, and a 2022 estimate rose to 397,994 – that’s a 6% gain in just two years.

That growth is driving the need for more affordable, inclusive health care options. To accommodate this growth, Healthcare Network is building a new health center in the Orangetree area of Golden Gate Estates, a community that lacks access to medical care for miles. While much of the real estate west of I-75 is built out, developers are heading inland with a variety of residential communities and apartment complexes in the planning, design, and construction phases.

The new $15 million comprehensive health center in Orangetree is set to begin construction in 2024.

Once complete, it will offer pediatrics, adult and senior care, obstetrics and gynecology, dental care, and behavioral health counseling, as well as apediatrics, adult and senior care; obstetrics and gynecology; dental care; and behavioral NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Miguel Argumosa, DMD, Erin M. Taylor, DMD, Nicole Eastham, DMD Sarah Vanderbosch, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists

Three Locations to Serve You. BONITA SPRINGS

health counseling,pharmacy to serve residents living in this medically underserved area. As with all Healthcare Network practices, the health center in Orangetree will provide the community with accessible, affordable, quality care and a promise to not turn anyone away because of their inability to pay for medical services.

CAPE CORAL

9510 Bonita Beach Rd. Ste. 101

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PORT CHARLOTTE

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941.391.8090

Healthcare Network has begun asking the community to help grow its legacy of exceptional care. Gifts of any amount will ultimately help the organization cultivate a healthy and thriving community that’s being built from the ground up, one donation at a time.

For more information, please visit HealthcareSWFL.org/ Orangetree or call 239-658-3000.

Jamie Ulmer is president and CEO of Healthcare Network, which has a mission to provide quality healthcare accessible to everyone in the community.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Most Insurances Accepted neafamily.com 19

The

ARTof

Healing A Local Woman’s Story of Surviving Domestic Abuse

By Andrea Stetson

T

he moment Vivianne realized that she and her daughters were no longer safe was the moment she decided to leave her husband. She tried to calm her husband by being quiet and non-confrontational, but it didn’t work that time. “I turned to walk away, and he kicked me,” Vivianne described.

“He broke my coccyx bone. The girls were scared. My daughter shouted, ‘Mommy are you OK?” She knew then what she had to do, but it wasn’t easy.

“I was scared to call 911,” she recalled. “If I call, he will hear me and might do something worse, but I could not leave the girls with him.

I just prayed ‘Please don’t kill me. I need to live for my girls.’ God heard my prayers, and thank God I could get out. I was so scared.”

‘THIS CANNOT HAPPEN TO ME.’ Vivianne, 44, who did not want her last name used, thought domestic

20 neafamily.com

abuse would never happen to her.

She was an educated woman and had worked as a psychologist in her native country of Bolivia, and even worked with victims of domestic violence.

Vivianne said her husband never abused her daughters, ages 12 and 7, but they heard the violence being directed toward her and saw the aftermath of their battered mother.

“My older girl was afraid for me,” Vivianne said.

She didn’t want her children growing up in that toxic environment, and she wanted to be a strong, healthy mother for her daughters.

Vivianne felt like she had no support.

At first, she was too ashamed to tell her family back in Bolivia. She had been living in the U.S. for several years and had been with her husband for 17 years.

Her husband had her passport and all her legal papers. Vivianne didn’t know if anyone would believe her.

She didn’t know where to go. First, she went to a hotel.

“When I was at the hotel, I was scared. He (her husband) told my daughter she was being kidnapped.

He called me to say he was going to the police to tell them I was kidnapping the girls. I was scared the police would stop me and take my girls from me. I was scared, I was sad.”

A SAFE PLACE Then she found the Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples.

She and her daughters and their dog spent five days in the emergency shelter in May, and experts helped them with everything from counseling to legal issues. Most of all, Vivianne and her daughters had a safe place to stay.

“When I came here, I just cried, cried, cried,” Vivianne described. “They had people with patience to hear me. They gave me so much support.”

The moment Vivianne saw the big gates around the shelter lock and the locked doors in the building, she knew she was finally safe. At the shelNEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

ter she found comfort in knowing she was not alone. She also felt stronger knowing that people there believed her. Since her husband denied the abuse, it became a “he said, she said” issue. Vivianne said the judge never asked her daughters what they saw and heard. But she did have medical records.

“You have to go to the police, to the judge, and you have to show you are not lying,” she explained. “And it doesn’t feel good. Nobody would lie about something this painful.”

The shelter also helped her find legal counsel to get her back home and her husband out of the house. “The only place I could express myself was here. They had the patience to hear me and to explain what was happening in my head.”

“It is so difficult to start again,” she admitted. “If you don’t feel strong enough it is easy to come back to the same place. I want to tell people that they are not alone. There is a safe place where you can find help.”

Last year there were 1,693 calls to 911 for domestic violence offenses in Collier County. Thousands more incidents went unreported. From July 2022 to June 2023 the shelter helped 1,181 women and 385 children. The shelter operates a 24-hour crisis line, and two 60-bed emergency shelters,

ing, and education are free of charge.

Most of the women at the shelter don’t like to talk about their experiences, but Vivianne believes that by telling her story, she can help other women and children.

She also realizes now that there is no shame in what happened to her.

It was not her fault. But it took a long time for her to understand this.

“I thought it can never happen to me, and it did.” she stressed. “It is very difficult to accept, and it is difficult to try to get out. I can understand why many girls go back. Every woman wants a family for her kids. You think things will get better, but they get worse and worse, and you think ‘How did I accept that bad behavior?’

How could I make that rational in my head. I thought it was OK. I just have to be quiet. I just have to be calm.

Sometimes I want to say ‘Enough!

Let’s be together again.’ But I have to think about my daughters. I have to be strong enough to start over.”

RECONNECTING It is still not easy for her even now, six months after leaving her husband.

But with the support of her daughters, the shelter and her church, she is forging ahead with her new life. She continues to get counseling and legal help at the shelter. Twice a week she and her daughters attend the Healing Arts Program. They paint, draw, play music, use sound bowls, practice yoga, meditation, write in a journal, and more.

“I like the bells,” Vivianne said. “It makes you feel peaceful and relaxed.

You just forget all the bad things you have been through.”

one of Vivianne’s Musical instruments are Arts Program. ling Hea the at favorite things n.

Ste Photo by Andrea tso

one in Naples and another in Immokalee. There are also nine transitional living cottages. All in-house and outreach programs and services, trainNEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Lisette Morales McCabe runs that program and says it has been very helpful for Vivianne, her daughters, and hundreds of others.

“We provide a nurturing and safe environment for our survivors to explore and process trauma and their feelings,” she said. “A lot of our participants carry a lot of burdens and complex feelings like shame, and a

Vivianne’s 7-year-old dau ghter enjoys painting at the Healing Arts Program.

Photo by Andrea Stetso n.

lot of time they can’t verbalize it, so we provide ways for them to express their feelings and emotions.”

McCabe said the sessions help the women and children reconnect to the person they were before the trauma.

“They were so controlled, they could not choose the color of their car, or the color of their house, or their clothes, or jewelry,” McCabe explained. “Connecting to colors helps them reconnect to who they were before all this happened. It gives hope and intentional direction.”

Vivianne’s 12-year-old daughter says she would rather be home studying than attending the programs. The gifted student loves school and excels in all her classes. But she is also very aware of what has happened, and she wants to help her mother. Vivianne’s 7-year-old said she was “happy, but a little sad” when they first came to live at the shelter. She said having her dog with her made things much better. Now that she just comes to the shelter for Healing Arts, she likes it even more.

Vivianne tried to hold back the tears as she described their experiences, but eventually the tears dripped down her cheeks and she grabbed a tissue.

She admits she still cries, but she knows she did the right thing.

“It is not easier yet, but it is going to be,” she said. “It is better than before, because I am not crying all day every day, and I have to think about the future. We just want to be together. The only thing we want is to be together and feel safe.”

For help call/text the 24-hour crisis line or go to naplesshelter.org. neafamily.com 21

KINDNESS CORNER By Andrea Stetson

BROTHERS UNLEASHED Local Brothers Making a Difference, One Leash at a Time

T

he summer of 2020 was boring for the three Sanchez brothers, who were cooped up due to the COVID pandemic. They were looking for something to do to make money and occupy their time. That’s why they started Brothers Unleashed.

The leashes are also in some locations including Wholesome Hound, Pet Food Market, Goodness for Pets, and Shy Wolf Sanctuary. The boys make 4-, 6- and 8-foot single and double leashes. They will also make custom ones. The leashes come in six colors. The six foot long, red, white and blue, patriotic pup leash is their most popular product.

Since they started, they have donated $2,500 to local animal charities including Humane Society Naples, Gulf Coast Humane Society, ASPCA, Shy Wolf Sanctuary, and Golden Paws Assistance Dogs.

“It is honestly amazing; being such young kids, they have really been able to help us,” said Max Costanzo, director of development and fundraising for Shy Wolf Sanctuary.

Marc Sanchez, 12, uses heat to cover the clip on the leash as his brother Nico, 8, watches.

Costanzo said the money will be used for everything from food and animal care to enrichments.

The boys made dog leashes and decided to donate 10% of the profits to local animal charities. The oldest brother Andrew, is now in high school and too busy for the business, but his younger brothers, Marc, 12, and Nico, 8, are continuing the profitable project.

“We’ve been so honored to work with the young men behind Brothers Unleashed,” added Sarah Baeckler, CEO of Humane Society Naples. “Seeing such dedication and empathy in young people fills us with inspiration and hope for the future. This community really loves its furry family members, and projects like this help us to keep serving both the animals in our care and the community in general.”

Photo by Andrea Stetson

“We were bored during the pandemic, and we wanted to give money to pet charities, and so we started Brothers Unleashed,” Nico said.

Using a rope line, they measure the size, then use metal clips and a hand press to make the handle and insert the clip. Hot air is used to adhere a tape cover to the clips. It takes about five minutes to make each leash. The boys will spend an afternoon making 30-40 leashes that they sell at local markets and through their website.

22 neafamily.com

The boys chose to make leashes because it fit with their desire to give to an animal charity.

“All of us love dogs,” Marc said. “We wanted to give to places that were no- kill shelters and also support pets as much as we can.”

The boys created T-shirts with their logo and their dachshund dog, Twix, featured on the back. Their slogan is

“Buy a Leash with a Purpose.”

Parents Liz and Hector Sanchez are proud of their son’s entrepreneurship.

“We were supportive,” Liz Sanchez began. “They were so bored, and they would go on Amazon and say, ‘Can we get this’, and we said, ‘You can’t spend money without making money’,” Their mother also likes seeing all the things the boys are learning. They use math to measure the leashes and make sure the handles are the correct size. They have learned to be more outgoing and businesslike. She said Marc was especially shy when the business began, but now he looks customers in the eye and speaks directly to them. She also likes the way it bonds the boys. Marc is the creator.

Nico is not strong enough yet to use the old manual press. But the younger brother is more outgoing and is the real salesman when they are at local markets. Sanchez especially likes how the boys have learned to be more giving.

“We know we are very blessed,” she said. “They don’t want for much of anything.”

Brother’s Unleashed can be found on Instagram and Facebook. The boys are often at the bimonthly indoor Saturday Hand & Artisan market at Mercato. For more information go to brothersunleashed.com or contact them at brothersunleashedllc@gmail.com.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

5 Thanksgiving FACTS

1.

Pilgrims didn’t wear buckled hats. They typically wore hats with brims but no buckles.

2.

3.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade traces its origins back to 1924 featuring live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo.

The first recorded Thanksgiving Day football game was played in 1869 in Philadelphia.

4.

The Guiness World Record for the heaviest turkey was named Tyson and weighed 86 pounds.

5.

The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 and lasted three days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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www.LittlePeoplesSchool.info neafamily.com 23

Gilbert’s Journey to Marco Island

Local Author’s Unique Picture Books

M

ost picture books are typically geared toward young children who delight in the illustrations while listening to a short story. However, when Susan Levine, a resident of Naples, crafts her books, she strives to captivate the interest of older kids and adults as well. This is why her books feature an illustrated story interwoven with factual information.

Levine’s most recent book, Gilbert’s Migration Vacation, adheres to that formula. It’s the sweet story of a young sanderling who is making his first migration from Prince of Wales Island in the Canadian Arctic to Marco Island. The story is full of adventures as young Gilbert faces the challenges of exhaustion, a storm, finding food, and more. But each page is also full of facts. Readers can learn about sanderlings and other shorebirds, migration, predators, resting stops, and more.

“I want everything in my book to be educational,” Levine explained.

She also wants her books to appeal to a broad audience.

“I try to make the fictional story something that a kindergartener or first grader would enjoy,” she began. “The fact boxes I am really writing for that older child, the teenager, the parents and the grandparents. I don’t expect them to read the fact boxes to teach a kindergartener or a first grader, but the older child can learn a lot.”

And she hopes that learning will spark helping.

“I am really hoping if they know how amazing these birds are they will protect them,” she explained. “Maybe they won’t chase them on the beach.

That was my goal with Gilbert. Those

24 neafamily.com

By Andrea Stetson

birds have traveled 4,000 miles, and they are here to feed and rest.”

Levine wrote her first book many years ago while living in Columbus, Ohio. She was in charge of her daughter’s first-grade field trip where they studied the state capital, and when she realized there were no children’s books about Columbus she wrote one. Levine followed that with a book about Cincinnati. When she moved to Naples, she turned her writing attention to Southwest Florida birds. Her first local book, Jenny’s First Catch, features a Roseate Spoonbill that tries the fishing methods of other birds, only to learn that her big spoonbill won’t work that way. That fictional story contains fact boxes about common wading birds.

“I am not a teacher, but l always liked to immerse myself and learn things,” Levine said.

“The first thing I always do when I get an idea for a book is to see if anyone else has done one,” she said.

While Levine doesn’t have a background in teaching or writing, she has a lot of experience with nature. She is a Florida Master Naturalist.

“I have always loved nature,” Levine stated. “I love wading birds.”

Yet, even she learned things while researching her latest book.

“To me, the most surprising thing was the parents don’t feed the babies,” she admitted. “Right after they

Photo By Andrea Stetson

hatch, the females start their migration south. The males stay until the bird fledges, so these young birds migrate all by themselves. It is all just instinct. The other thing that I thought was just amazing was how these birds change physically to prepare for migration.”

Levine said Marco Island was the perfect place for Gilbert to end his journey.

“I wanted someplace that was accessible for kids to go where they could see a lot of the birds. That is why I picked Marco,” she said.

It takes Levine about a year to complete a book. She’s unsure what her next topic will be, but it will have a bird as a main character, possibly a seabird.

“I just have to wait to see what inspires me,” she concluded.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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Daily hours from 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. neafamily.com 25

TRAVEL By Karen T. Bartlett

The

Edward Scissorhands Renaissance

7 MUST-DO FAMILY FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITS

I

t’s no secret that I’m a fan of quirky places and quirkier characters (like, for example Johnny Depp and the Queen of Goth, Winona Ryder), who both starred in Edward Scissorhands, the best 1960s-era gothic fairytale of my lifetime. That sweet motherless boy lives alone in a castle —never mind that producer Tim Burton had it built of Styrofoam at the bottom of a Tampa-area sinkhole— and he carves trees into deer and dinosaur topiaries in his front yard. He also gets into pet grooming and hairstyling, but that doesn’t totally work out. Anyway, topiaries and fake topiaries called mosaiculture sculptures pretty much went out of fashion around the 18th century. But guess what: they’re all the rage again!

There are lollipop trees and Mad Hatters, bigger-than-life bears and honeybees and mythical creatures. Many are displayed during flower festivals and growing seasons, while some can be admired year-round. Starting this month and appearing at various places in 2024, here are some of my faves.

ICE GODDESS AND THE WHITE RABBIT Atlanta Botanical Garden She’s 25-feet high from elbow to crown, draped in Earth’s ambience according to the season: cascades of spring greenery, summertime flowers, and very soon now, the ice-blue sparkle of a magical winter wonderland. When I last saw her, Earth Goddess was draped in a floral headdress of purple, orange and yellow. She seemed to be reflecting on the gentle waterfall spilling between her fingers. On November 18 she’ll be unveiled as Ice Goddess, a spellbinding vision of Arctic blue, green and white lights for the garden’s 57-day display, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.

Photo by Karen T. Bartlett

26 neafamily.com

Wait: there’s more! The Red Queen, the Cheshire Cat, Alice of course and the others from Alice’s Wonderland — one of the world’s most spectacular mosaiculture exhibits — will return for a spring 2024 exhibition. The 27-foot-high White Rabbit will make a preview appearance, temporarily decked out for the holidays in his upside-down umbrella against a backdropof the Atlanta skyline. atlantabg.org

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garde n

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

PRINCESS TIANA Epcot

Photo by Karen T. Bartlett

Nowhere is Princess Tiana, the fearless New Orleans chef from the movie The Princess and the Frog as resplendent as she appeared at last year’s Epcot international Flower and Garden Festival.

She’s coming back, joined by more than 100 living garden sculptures and Disney characters, starting in March. disneyworld.disney.go.com

PRINCESS AND BABY The Camels of Newport Rhode Island For several years, two very real camels summered at their own Newport, Rhode Island, Gilded Age mansion with their owner, an eccentric and fearsome tobacco heiress named Doris Duke. They roamed the grounds, dined on curated meals, and enjoyed spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. Nobody dared bother Ms. Duke about it.

Today, guests of the mansion-turned-museum love taking selfies with the life-size mosaiculture reproductions of Princess and Baby, plus a few newer friends added over the years. newportmansions.org NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

GREEN ANIMALS America’s Oldest Topiary Garden Te n m i l e s n o r t h o f Newport is Green Animals, the oldest topiary garden in America.

Not all 80 of its topiaries are elephants, unicorns or other creatures, and not all the Photo by Karen T. Bartlett creatures are topiaries.

There also are everchanging seasonal exhibits of Jurassic-size s c u l pt u re s f ro m s te e l b u g s to Le g o b u t te rflies. It’s open from mid-April to early October. newportmansions.org

BEARS AND MORE Dollywood A whole family of mega-ton mosaiculture creatures travel from their home in Montreal each spring to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for Dollywood’s fantastic Flower & Food festival. Besides all the attraction’s regular family fun, this signature event also features food, music, and street performances. Dollywood opens for the season in March. The 2024 Flower & Food Festival is April 19 to June 9. dollywood.com

WORLD’S OLDEST TOPIARY GARDEN Cumbria Planning to be in the northwest corner of England up near the Scottish border next summer? Do pop in at Levens Hall, the world’s oldest topiary garden. The 9,500acre estate, complete with a castle that started as a 13th century pele tower, is embraced by centuries-old topiaries that would wow even young Edward Scissorhands. levenshall.co.uk Karen T. Bartlett is the travel editor of Neapolitan Family.

Her feature, Destination Space, won the National Parenting Media Association’s 2022 Gold Award for Travel. She’s anxiously awaiting the release of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2, starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. neafamily.com 27

FLORIDA ADOPTION MONTH By Sarah Oquendo

CHANGING LIVES, ONE ADOPTION AT A TIME Benefits of Adoption Through Foster Care

N

ovember is Florida Adoption Month, and Nov. 17 is National Adoption Day. This month received that designation in our state in 2016, with the goal of educating Floridians about the process of adoption and to highlight the number of amazing children available for adoption throughout the state of Florida.

ter care are eligible for free tuition at any of Florida’s state universities, community colleges, or vocational schools.

This benefit continues until the child is 28 years old. This is an important benefit to anyone who is considering adopting an older child. Children adopted through private adoption are not granted this benefit.

In fiscal 2020-2021, more than 3,800 children were adopted through foster care and found their forever families.

Similarly, National Adoption Day is a collective, national effort to raise awareness of more than 391,00 children in foster care waiting for their permanent families.

Third, families that adopted through foster care are eligible to receive a monthly subsidy to help offset ongoing costs of raising the child until he or she reaches 18 years old. The amount is determined on a case by case basis and depends on the unique needs of each individual child. In addition, all of the children who receive a monthly subsidy are also eligible to receive Medicaid until they are 18 years old. If either of the parents who are adopting the child is a State Employee, the family is also eligible to receive a one-time lump sum payment of $10,000 for a special needs child and $5,000 for a non-special needs child.

There are several benefits of adopting children through the Department of Children and Families foster care system. For example, adoption from foster care costs very little for the adopting families. Parents are required to attend adoptive parent training classes and are subject to a home study, but those are both provided free of charge to the families. Additionally, court fees and costs may be paid by the Department of Children and Families if the family cannot afford them. In contrast, private adoptions may cost upwards of $30,000.

Second, children adopted through fos-

28 neafamily.com

Lastly, all families who adopt children, either privately or through foster care, are eligible for the Federal Adoption Tax Credit. The Federal Adoption Tax Credit helps offset the high cost of adoption and allows more families to afford adoption. The credit applies to

all types of adoption (except for stepparent adoptions). Families who adopt children with special needs (i.e., adopted through foster care) can claim the maximum credit regardless of whether they have qualified adoption expenses or not. The adoption tax credit is not a refundable credit, which means taxpayers can only get the credit if they have federal income tax liability.

Adoption provides a special opportunity to change the life of a child as well as to enrich the life of the family who is lucky enough to welcome that child into their home. For more information regarding adoption through foster care, visit floridafapa.org and adoptflorida.org. If you are considering adoption, an experienced family law attorney can assist you in the process.

Sarah Oquendo is an associate attorney at Coleman,Taylor, Klaus, Doupé, Diaz & Torrez, PA. She focuses on children’s issues and practices in family law, including dissolution of marriage, paternity, child support, alimony, relocations, premarital and post-marital agreements, adoptions, dependency, and name changes. Sarah litigates in Collier, Lee and Hendry counties. Contact Sarah at SOquendo@chtlegal.com or 239-298-5212.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

Friday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Saturday, Oct. 1, 2-4 p.m.

A Personal Adoption Story

Dance With !Us This Fall!

AGES 2-18 ALL STYLES ALL LEVELS

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Unable to have a biologiSOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY cal family, my husband 21100 THREE OAKS PKWY., ESTERO and I turned toward adop239-533-4400 • WWW.LEEGOV.COM/LIBRARY tion. We decided to go through adoption locally, Spooktacular stories, songs, and crafts. Wear your costume through the Department for a parade inside the library. Ages 3-5. Wednesday, Oct. of12, Children and Families 10:30-11:30 a.m.

(DCF), by becoming certified foster parents.

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InSOUTH May of 2015, after eight COUNTY REGIONAL LIBRARY weeks of classes, a 3-inch The Gregware family.

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239-533-4400 • WWW.LEEGOV.COM/LIBRARY multiple home studies, Spooky magic,checks, mystery, fun. Ages 6-1foster 1. Registration and background weand became certified parents. is Saturday, Oct. 15, 10-11 a.m. required.

On May 31, 2015, our first foster baby was placed with us at three months old. She was the light of our life, and though we know if she would DANCE be with us forever, she filled a X didn’t PRE-READERS SPOOKY PARTY hole in our hearts. For almost two years, we loved, cared for, BONITA SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY and doted on this beautiful, dark-haired, brown-eyed, sassy, 10560 REYNOLDS STREET, BONITA SPRINGS feisty, precious little girl. Emotionally, it was a rollercoaster 239-533-4860 • WWW.LEEGOV.COM/LIBRARY ride on many levels, but her love was so worth it.

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After many court dates, continued home visits by DCF, month• October 2022 lyNEAPOLITANfamily case manager visits, Guardian Ad Litem home visits, and tons of anxiety, our family officially adopted Mia Rose as our daughter on National Adoption Day, November 19, 2016, at the Lee County Courthouse.

neafamily.com 19

We continued to foster children, and in January 2019, we were called regarding a newborn placement in the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital. She was released into our care, weighing just over four pounds. Her first year of life was difficult as she was medically fragile with over a dozen diagnoses, including failure to thrive, but there was an incredible spark in her eyes and made us fall in love with her.

She fought to stay alive every step of the way.

Mia was absolutely smitten with her and never complained about all of the extra attention and time this baby took from her. On February 3, 2021, Chloe Grace officially became our newest family member.

Adopting a child from DCF is not easy. It takes interviews, paperwork, extensive background checks, discussion of your marriage, and interviews with family members and friends.

However, shouldn’t the adoption process for a child who has been through so much be thorough? That is what we told ourselves each step of the way. It was definitely a labor of love, and in return, we were granted two wonderful daughters who were truly meant for our family.

MARITAL & FAMILY LAW

We are proud to say that our children were adopted through foster care. We want our daughters to grow up with their heads held high, knowing they are deeply loved and that though their beginnings were rocky, their future is bright.

As told by Kelsie Gregware.

NEAPOLITANfamily • November 2023

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