Neapolitan Family August 2018 issue

August 2018 neafamily.com

COMPLIMENTARY

Back to School Issue!

Help With Homework Study Abroad

School Supply Drives

Tracking Teens

Hurricane Prep

Where to Chill

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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KIDS’

URGENT CARE When kids need immediate care for minor emergencies, we are here for you in Collier County.

SEE US FOR: • • • • • • •

Minor cuts, scrapes and burns Fractures Flu Infections Colds and fever Upset stomach Sunburn

KEEPING KIDS CLOSE TO HOME FOR SPECIALIZED CARE. OTHER SERVICES INCLUDE: • • • •

Pediatric specialists Pediatric pharmacy Pediatric lab Pediatric rehabilitation

I-75

Livingston Rd.

Airport Rd.

Pine Ridge Rd.

Golisano I Nicklaus Children’s Health Center 3361 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101, Naples, FL 34109 239-254-5920

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Neapolitan Family Magazine, in partnership with Presents the 2018-19

Cover Kids Contest

We are excited to announce this year’s Cover Kids Contest will be held at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples on Saturday, August 18.

We will choose the finalists who will appear on a cover between November 2018 and October 2019.

Our cover photographer Peggy Farren will capture an image of each entrant.

Your entry fee entitles you to one free download of your child’s photo, as well as the chance for your child to be one of our cover models.

To guarantee your reservation, preregister at www.neafamily.com until Aug. 11. Walk-ups will be accepted based on availability.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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August 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS

in every issue . . .

07

FROM THE PUBLISHER

09

FAMILY MOVIE PREVIEWS

13

CITY CONNECTION

14

COLLIER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE

15

COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

20

ESTATE PLANNING

37

FAMILY LAW

on the cover…

16 Local School Supply Drives. Find out where to donate or receive school supplies.

18 Tracking Your Teen. How give your teenager freedom while also setting limits.

by Christa Melnyk Hines 22 Momentum Moms. After her family experienced financial and food insecurity, Dara Albert became determined to rebuild her life and give back to the community.

42

38 Study Abroad. The ups and downs of spending a college semester in another country.

by Ginny Lundstrom 40 Homework Help. Tips to ease frustration and boost focus.

by Christa Melnyk Hines 42 Destination: Where to Chill in August. If you’re tired of the heat in Naples, escape to the coolest places in the world.

by Karen T. Bartlett

Louis Kerrison is a sophomore at Gulf Coast High school. He has a brother named Charlie, who is in seventh grade. Louis enjoys soccer, basketball, spending time with friends, and traveling abroad.

44 Hurricane Prep. How to prepare your family for any disaster.

by Scott Needle, MD

38

Cover photo by Peggy Farren of Avant Garde Photography • 239-263-7001

The Gentle Veterinarians

Laser Pain & Surgery Center Dentistry Boarding Dr. Carin Corbo Dr. Ben Palmer 4

neafamily.com

239-513-0213

www.AMHofNaples.com

11980 Tamiami Trail N., Naples NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Saturday, Aug. 12 • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

BACK TO FREE admission!

SCHOOL EXPO ’18

Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples • Photo booth

Don’t Miss Out!

• Face painting

Booths Sold Out Last Year

Saturday, Aug. 11 • 10

Greater Naples YMCA, 5450

• Over 60 vendors with the information Collier County a.m. parentsto need2top.m. kick off the new school YMCA Rd., year.

Naples

• Personalized school uniform

FREE admission! polos and backpacks available •for Games and arts & crafts purchase.

Vendor booths are sold out.

To join our waitlist, call 239-370-5333 or email info@neafamily.com

••Face painting Cover Kids Contest • Sign up for fall activities 2016 November neafamily.com

Y COMPLIMENTAR Y COMPLIMENTAR

Silver Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

• Over 60 vendors with the information Collier County parents need to kick off the new school year.

Y COMPLIMENTAR

Local Fam Are on theilies Run The ABCs SWFL Tra of vel Who Do Workout You For?

Back: ide Giving Annual Gu

Our nprofits to Local NoYour Help That Need ebrating Cel for s Tip ys With a the Holida ily Blended Fam Live on Could You of Food $10 Worth nd?

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It’s Never To Learn Too Late To Swim Kids Eat Fre e: A Guide

Happy Father’s Day!

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November

Platinum Sponsor

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Premium Booths Still Available

2016

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Download an exhibitor application at neafamily.com Or email info@neafamily.com for details.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

from the publisher… the parenting magazine devoted to collier county

P.O. Box 110656 Naples, FL 34108 info@neafamily.com 8

8

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THIS MONTH: Back to School

Co-Publisher Leigh Ann Newman lanewman@neafamily.com 239-272-0529 Co-Publisher Stacy Nicolau snicolau@neafamily.com 239-370-5333 Travel Editor Karen T. Bartlett mostlykidsguides@gmail.com 239-595-9026 Feature Writer Anna Snyder Cover Photographer Peggy Farren www.naplesportraits.com Field Photographer Lisette Morales lisettemoralesart@gmail.com Intern Ginny Lundstrom 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 more than 200 distribution points throughout Collier County as well as digitally at neafamily.com. Neapolitan Family is ©2018 by Neapolitan Family Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

August is a busy month. We are all trying to squeeze the most out of the last days of summer vacation while also prepping our kids for back to school. It’s a busy time for Neapolitan Family, too. Our biggest event of the year, the 2018 Back to School Expo, is set for Saturday, August 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greater Naples YMCA. We’ll have more than 60 vendors (including Seacrest Country Day School, our Platinum Sponsor), as well as fun family entertainment.

It’s a great (and free!) day out. It’s also the last day to register for our Cover Kids Contest, which will be held at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples on Saturday, August 18. Check out www.neafamily.com to register your child for the chance to be on our cover!

On top of that, it’s time for back to school. If you are having a hard time buying everything on the supply list from your child’s school, or want to help out local students, turn to page 16 for a list of school supply drives. Are you dreading the return to homework every night?

Find some help from writer Christa Melnyk Hines on page 40. For parents of college students, Norell Albanis offers expert advice (page 20) on legal documents your kids should sign before leaving home.

And our intern Ginny Lundstrom shares her experience of a semester abroad in London on page 38.

For those of you still itching to get away before school starts, Travel Editor Karen T. Bartlett offers nearby and far-flung options for the coolest (literally) destinations in August.

See you at Expo -

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Providing Care for Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, VPK & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS K-5th GRADE 

APPLE Accredited



Gold Seal Recognized by the Department of

Children and Families 

Family Friendly Business Award Recipient



Nationally Recognized Breastfeeding Friendly Childcare Center & Gold Level Employer



Two Year FACCM Center of the Year Winner



Secure Gated Entrance, Security Cameras, and a dedicated safety trained staff



Parent workshops and trainings



Balanced curriculum of 38 objectives including extracurricular activities such as STEAM, Music Lessons, Soccer, Dance, Zumba, Spanish and Baby Sign Language



On Campus Garden, STEAM Laboratory, and Library with over 4,500 books!



Family friendly events such as Halloween Parade, Scholastic Book Fairs, Spirit Nights, Family Dinner Nights, Mothers Day Performance, Fathers Day Dance, VPK Graduation & Prom, and more!

Weekly Yoga, Music, Piano, Soccer, Dance, Zumba, Foreign Language & Sign Language Classes Monthly field trips to destinations such as the Conservancy, The Children’s Museum, the Artis Naples, Barnes and Noble, the Botanical Gardens, Naples Zoo and more!

Call today to schedule a tour! 239-261-7442 PHONE

Precious Cargo Academy 5200 Crayton Road Naples, FL 34103 WEBSITE: PreciousCargoAcademy.org

EMAIL: Leanne.badham@outlook.com

A Mission of Naples United Church of Christ 8

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Find Us on Facebook!

@PCANaples

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

FAMILY MOVIES

Family Movie Previews for August CHRISTOPHER ROBIN Rated PG for some action In theaters 8/3 • For kids 6+ A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie the Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life. Based on characters created by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard, the film stars Ewan McGregor.

DOG DAYS Rated PG for rude and suggestive content, and for language In theaters 8/10 • For kids 8+ An ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals around sunny Los Angeles.

When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected.

Register for Fall Classes Today!

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

5385 Jaeger Rd Naples, FL 34109

239.566.3535 neafamily.com

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YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS to 12 p.m. The LVCC offices are located at 8833 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. For more information, email Cindy Dehnart at cdehnart@ collierliteracy.org or call 239-262-4448, ext. 303, or visit www. collierliteracyvolunteers.org.

Courtesy of Bright Idea Media

Montessori Academy, NCA Neighbors at New Location

A C’mon’s Sand Castle Sculpting Competition Set for August 1

T

he 6th annual Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples’ (C’mon) Castles for Kids Sand Sculpting Competition will be held at LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort in Naples on Aug. 1 to raise funds to support STEAM educational programming at C’mon.

Twenty teams of children and adults will hit the beach to compete for awards for the best sand sculpture creations. Entertainment includes pirates and a visit from Moana, as well as a raffle. Prizes and awards will be distributed during a lunch provided by LaPlaya.

Team registrations are $75 for C’mon members and $100 for the general public. Each team, with a maximum of five members, must have at least one adult (21+) and at least one child. Registration includes lunch for five people, a bucket and shovel for each person, live entertainment, prizes, and awards. Register online at www.cmon.org/events.

Volunteers Needed to Tutor Pre-K Children and Their Parents

L

iteracy Volunteers of Collier County (LVCC) is seeking volunteer tutors for the new school year. The Children and Parents Reading Together program takes place in Collier County Public Schools. Tutors will work with pre-kindergarten children and their parents to help the children be ready to enter kindergarten.

All classes are conducted in English; volunteers do not need to be bilingual, and teaching experience is not necessary. However, a love for children and the importance of reading is required. The average time commitment is about 3-4 hours per week during each session (fall, winter, spring), which run for eight consecutive weeks.

The fall session begins the week of Sept. 24.

The next training session is on Monday, Aug. 6 from 10 a.m.

10

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bout a year ago, Montessori Academy of Naples (MAN) was excited find the right spot for a new location for the school, in the lower level of the Gaynor Building at 2655 Northbrooke Dr. Fast forward 13 months, and not only has MAN settled into the newly renovated space, but it is welcoming a neighbor as they both start the new school year: Naples Christian Academy (NCA).

During the past year, MAN made the decision to lease the entire Gaynor Building, and sublet the rest of the space to NCA. This development means that the campus will be used exclusively for preschool and school-aged programs. MAN and NCA will continue to operate independently, but will work together to create complimentary routines and consistent protocols necessary when sharing a campus.

“We’re excited at how this whole move has evolved over the last year,” said Kimberly Hunt, Montessori Academy of Naples’ head of school. “MAN has shared space with other schools in the past. The key is for everyone to work together, to create and follow the same guidelines for things that affect all of us, like safety and security. We’re already working on the logistics.” The move for all is underway and the campus is expected to be ready for the 2018-2019 school year.

The new campus, near the Immokalee Road and 1-75 interchange, is just across the parking lot from MAN’s previous location. The new facility has a larger overall campus that will allow the school to expand its programs.

The interiors have been renovated to create larger classroom spaces better suited to MAN’s demographic of infant to elementary aged students. Additionally, a new playground has been completed on the west side of the campus.

For additional information on Montessori Academy of Naples, visit www.naplesmontessori.org or call 239-597-2255. For more information on Naples Christian Academy, visit www.napleschristian.net or call 239-455-1080.

Sept. 1 Deadline for Entries in 2018 Children’s Business Fair

T

he Children’s Business Fair is returning to Naples on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Gulf Coast High School (GCHS). Local kids have until Saturday, Sept. 1 to apply for a vendor space to sell their original products and services.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Sponsored by the Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) and Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, the fair provides a safe and family-friendly learning environment where students ages 6-17 experience entrepreneurship firsthand. Local community leaders will serve as judges to present awards in five age groups.

The Naples Chamber and LCF will work with participants postevent to help continue their professional growth, connect them with business leaders, and provide support on their entrepreneurial journey.

The fair runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the courtyard at GCHS, 7878 Shark Way, Naples. Registration for booth space is $15.

To register a business and for more information visit www. napleschamber.org/childrensbusinessfair. The proceeds benefit the Leadership Collier Foundation to support youth development and work-based learning programs for students. For questions and sponsorship opportunities, contact Nikkie Dvorchak at nikkie@ naplechamber.org or 239-403-2909.

Fall Enrollment Open Now! 10% off first 10 lessons!

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS • Certified Reading Specialist • 27 Years Experience • Methods: Orton-Gillingham & Reading Recovery • Children with Dyslexia, ADD and other challenges • Approved service provider for the Gardiner Scholarship

Typical gain in phonics skill equals one grade level for every three months of full-time program attendance.*

*not guaranteed

239-233-9400

info@ReadingRescueCenters.com • ReadingRescueCenters.com

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CCCR to Provide 100,000 Meals Through Empty Bowls Grant

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mpty Bowls Naples has awarded a $10,000 grant to Collier Child Care Resources (CCCR), which is one of five organizations to receive a grant, which were awarded to address food insecurity in the community.

CCCR will use the funds to provide over 100,000 healthy meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks), free of charge, to the 200 children CCCR serves annually at Child’s Path and Little Wonders. CCCR provides partial tuition assistance for early childhood care and education to low-income families that struggle to afford childcare and whose children are at a high risk of starting kindergarten behind their peers. CCCR operates four early childhood development centers in Collier County, and more than 75% of the children enrolled receive tuition assistance.

Empty Bowls Naples grants come from proceeds of the 2018 Empty Bowls Naples event, which raised $173,000 to aid local anti-hunger organizations. Empty Bowls enlists local potters,

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artists, educators, students, and volunteers to create handcrafted and painted bowls. Attendees of the Empty Bowls Naples event, held each January, select a handcrafted bowl and enjoy soups from 50 local restaurants. “Thanks to Empty Bowls Naples, these grant monies will have a direct impact upon the children who attend our programs at Child’s Path and Little Wonders,� said Niccole Howard, CCCR Executive Director/CEO. “We believe that instilling healthy eating habits at a young age will make a lasting difference throughout our children’s lives and provide long-term community impact.�

For more information, visit collierchildcare.org or emptybowlsnaples.com. neafamily.com

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#StandUp

Healthy minds.

Safe kids.

© Bigstock

Help rescue at-risk teens from suicide!

Every hour of every day, 225 children grades 7 through 12 attempt suicide in the U.S. But efforts are underway right here in Collier County to change that. David Lawrence Center (DLC) — a not-for-profit leading provider of behavioral health solutions — recently launched #StandUp, a community-wide campaign to help keep our kids safe. One of the key components

ing DLC staff is lead t: bou open dialogue a

of this effort is the prevention of suicide among our teens.

Visit StandUpDLC.org to join us and help shine light on mental health and addiction issues that affect us all. Because healthy minds mean safer kids.

Request your FREE #StandUp wristband today at StandUpDLC.org

of suicide Ø Warning signs Ø Depression e Ø Substance abus ullying Ø Anxiety and b t help accessible Ø Making exper

239.455.8500 IMMOKALEE 239.657.4434 Learn more at StandUpDLC.org

NAPLES

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

CITY CONNECTION PARKS DEPT.

By Laura Tichy-Smith

Have Some More Summer Fun

Enjoy summer with your family at these programs and events offered by the City of Naples Community Services Department and local organizations.

City Parks Summer Camps Continue Last-minute registration is still available for some City of Naples summer camps.

Themes include nature, art, science, computers, athletics, sports, and performing arts. With an astonishing variety of themes offered at nine park locations, you’re sure to find a day camp to please every child in your household. While the camps are educational, your kids will be having so much hands-on fun, they won’t even realize they are really learning. Camps run until school starts. Call 239-213-3020.

Back to School Bash Come to one last summer celebration before your kids’ school year starts. Shoot some hoops and do other fun things at the annual

Back to School Bash held at Anthony Park from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Aug. 4. Call 239-213-3037. (1500 5th Ave. N., Naples) Come On In, The Water’s Free!

The River Park Aquatic Center features fun for everyone, from tiny tot to serious swimmer. Pool admission is free to Collier County residents. The kids will love the beach-like shallow end with play fountains, dump buckets, and water slide, while the grownups will enjoy the lap swimming exercise lanes and sunbathing deck. Parents will rest assured that their children are in good hands with the Red Cross certified lifeguards on watchful duty. Current hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Call 239-213-3040. (451 11th St. N., Naples).

Free Summer Jazz Concert Join the tradition of the once-a-month summer lawn parties as the Naples Beach Club Hotel hosts its Summer Jazz Series from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Aug. 18. You can bring folding chairs, but you likely won’t be sitting much as you boogie to TBone Hamilton’s Big Easy Revue. Food and beverages are available for purchase from the hotel. Overflow parking at Lowdermilk Park. Call 239-4354345. (851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples) Free Weekly Jazz Concerts The Naples Jazz Masters Band offers Dixieland jazz concerts at the Norris Center at 1 p.m. on Saturdays in August. Freewill donation requested. Call 239-213-3049. (755 8th St. S., Naples)

TROOPS ARE FORMING NOW!

Learn more at GIRL SCOUTS OF GULFCOAST FLORIDA - 941-921-5358 / 800-232-4475 NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

www.gsgcf.org neafamily.com

13

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

By Jennifer Kupiec

Making Schools More Secure

T

he last few days of summer are here! We are extremely excited to welcome our students back on August 15. With only a couple of weeks until that exciting first day, now would be a good time to start instilling a good bedtime routine in preparation for school. During the summer, many of us tend to give our children some leeway at bedtime (at least I know I do!).

Getting our children back to their normal routine will help them adjust more smoothly on that first day. Another quick tip – pick out the first-day-of-school outfit the night before. It will save on the “I don’t want to wear that” fight.

Now, let’s talk about what has happened while you were away.

Here at Collier County Public Schools (CCPS), we were busy planning for another fantastic year. As you head back to school, you’ll notice many enhancements to our facilities. Some have received new paint. Others have had major facility transformations (we’re looking at you, Immokalee Middle School). And ALL of our schools have had equipment installed to monitor front door access.

When you return on August 15, the front doors will be locked.

This new layer of security helps to further ensure the safety of our students, staff, and guests at all of our schools. Guests arriving on campus will need to ring the doorbell next to the door to request entry. When the front office staff answers, you will be asked your name

and your reason for visiting, which may include your child’s name.

Our friendly office staff will then ask you to present your photo ID to the camera directly above the doorbell. Once approved and access is granted, please do not allow other individuals to enter behind you.

As you enter the lobby, you will again present a photo ID and receive a visitor’s pass using the existing visitor screening system. To help get you comfortable with the new process, we have prepared a video tutorial that may be found at www.collierschools.com/keepcolliersafe.

Please plan to arrive at the school a few minutes earlier to expedite your visit. While we realize this will be an adjustment, prioritizing student and staff safety is our commitment, and it’s a commitment we all share. We thank you for your patience as we adjust to the new changes. Should you have any questions or concerns, you may contact your school’s principal directly.

Now for some fun, informational events! If you are anything like me, you want to meet your child’s teacher before the big day.

There are plenty of Meet the Teacher events, Open Houses, and Curriculum Nights ahead. To view the schedule broken out by school, please visit www.collierschools.com and take a look under the Announcements box.

We hope you have enjoyed your summer and look forward to welcoming our #CCPSFamily back on August 15.

Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) Provides: Healthy Foods Nutrition Education Nutrition Counseling Breastfeeding Support …and more!

Call to make an appointment: Naples: 239-252-8208 Golden Gate: 239-353-1274 Immokalee: 239-252-7310

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

By Kristine Gill

Free Help With Car Seat Questions

A

re your children secure while traveling by car? Florida law requires that children use car seats or booster seats until the age of six. But sometimes installing those car seats can be difficult.

If you have questions about the rules or are unsure about installing a car seat or booster seat, give us a call. The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office (CCSO) has nationally certified child passenger safety technicians who provide free assistance and instruction with car seat installation.

“If I pull somebody over and the child is not correctly positioned, I will finish my traffic stop and then move on to a car seat installment lesson,” said Cpl. Patricia Melendez, one of four technicians with CCSO. She completed a training program about two years ago to become a certified child passenger safety technician. Three other agency members are certified to help you install your child’s car seat or booster seat and can come to you for a fitting. All technicians must be recertified every two years.

If a deputy conducts a traffic stop and finds that your child passengers are not safely secured, you can be cited as the driver.

Babies should be kept in a rear-facing car seat until the age of two. At two, you can use a front-facing car seat until your child outgrows it, at about 50 pounds. The final stage is a booster seat with a lap and shoulder seat belt, which should be used until the child outgrows it, usually between the ages of 8 and 12. Kids can then ride in the back seat with a regular seat belt. Kids are not ready for the front seat until about age 13.

“We have a large grandparent community here and many of them didn’t use this stuff when they had their kids, so for them it’s a complete novelty,” Cpl. Melendez said. “We’re working with them the most to install a car seat and use it properly.”

CCSO deputies can either come to you or schedule a time for you to visit one of our certified technicians to learn about installing your car seat. CCSO even has a few car seats to give out to families in need. To find out more, email trafficsafety@colliersheriff.org or

contact Marianna Herrera with our Safety & Traffic Enforcement Bureau at 239-252-0367. You also can call that number to schedule a safety presentation for your community or group. CCSO works regularly alongside community partners here in Collier County to provide car seat safety presentations and fittings.

On the second Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, Safe Kids Southwest Florida, led by Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and the Florida Department of Health in Collier County hold regular car seat safety inspections.

“We help parents make any adjustments necessary and also help them to install car seats themselves,” said Brenda Hernandez, a child advocate and certified child passenger safety technician with Safe Kids. Hernandez also can help with a car seat or booster seat by appointment. To schedule a time, call her at 239-565-8371. A car seat inspection takes about 30 minutes, she said. Hernandez also makes regular trips to Immokalee for fittings and holds classes for parents in need.

By following these rules and seeking help with car seats when you need it, we can keep Collier County a safe place.

Helping parents protect the ones they love the most 5660 Strand Court Naples, FL 34110 (239) 314-2353 NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Estate Planning v Wills v Trusts v Families

www.albanislaw.com

Norell Albanis, Esq. neafamily.com

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Local School Supply Drives

Buying all of the items on those back-toschool lists we receive from our children’s schools can be expensive, and sometimes out of reach for families. We’ve provided a list of where you can find or donate everything needed for back-to-school in Southwest Florida.

Guadalupe Center’s Annual Shoes & School Supply Drive The Guadalupe Center is expanding its annual shoe drive to include school supplies. Donations are accepted online at guadalupecenter.org. Checks may be mailed to the Guadalupe Center, 509 Hope Cr., Immokalee. New shoes or school supplies may be dropped off at the Guadalupe Center Resale Shop at 8100 Trail Blvd., Naples, at the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road. School supplies needed include: Elmer’s glue and glue sticks, Crayola markers, Crayola crayons, colored pencils, dry erase markers, #2 pencils, erasers, scissors, 12-inch rulers, tempera paint, finger paint, water colors, Play-Doh, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, multi-colored yarn, construction paper (all colors), manila paper, lined writing paper, kinder paper (broken midline paper), sentence strips, index cards, sheet protectors, folders with side pockets, and storage bins. For more information, call 239-657-7711 or check guadalupecenter.org.

Youth Haven’s Backpack and School Supply Drive Youth Haven’s annual backpack and school supply drive runs through August 10. Supplies that are needed include large, heavy duty backpacks; two- and three-inch three-ring binders, TI 84 calculators, and gift cards to stores such as Target, Marshalls, Ross, TJ Maxx, Walmart, and Coastland Center Mall stores. Please note that Youth Have will NOT be accepting crayons, makers, and color pencils this year. For a full list of needed supplies, visit www.youthhavenswfl.org.

Only new, unused items will be accepted. Items can be dropped off at Youth Haven, 5867 Whitaker Rd., Naples. To host a donation drive or to schedule a drop-off, contact Lillian Mendez at 239-687-5151 16

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or Lillian.mendez@youthhavenswfl.org. For more information, visit www.youthhavenswfl.org/event/back-to-school-drive.

Shelter for Abused Women & Children School Supply Drive There are several ways to contribute to the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s School Supply Drive: adopt a student, purchase items from the wish list on the Shelter’s website, send a check, donate online, or donate while shopping at Options Thrift Shoppe. For details on any of these options, visit naplesshelter.org. Donations may be dropped off at Options Thrift Shoppe, 968 2nd Ave. N., Naples by August 1. For more information, contact Tami Wellford at twellford@ naplesshelter.org or 239-775-3862, ext. 215, or visit naplesshelter.org.

Eva’s Closet Donations for Eva’s Closet & Foundation may be taken to lululemon at the Waterside Shops through August 5. Items needed include: child backpacks, teen backpacks, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, notebooks, and children’s socks and underwear. Also accepting gift cards of $15 or more from Target and Walmart. For more information, call 239-339-3216 or visit www.evas-foundation.org.

Laces of Love Shoe Collection While the Laces of Love Charitable Foundation, Inc. provides new shoes to low-income and disadvantaged children year-round, the need is particularly great as children go back to school. Sneakers in all sizes are needed. In addition, you can make a monetary NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

• Summer Camp LittlePeoplesSchool.info donation. All monetary donations go toward purchasing new shoes for needy kids. Donations can be mailed to: 1976 Bethany Pl., Naples, FL 34109. In addition, shoe donations can be dropped off at Snyderman’s Shoes at 4910 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. Shoes do not have to be purchased at Snyderman’s. To arrange a pick up for shoes you have collected, call 239-591-1172 or email info@lacesoflove.org.

Salvation Army Join MarineMax Naples Yacht Center for its Back Up the Boat with School Supplies drive through August 31. Donate school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, paper, and backpacks for The Salvation Army to assist youths in need. Bring the whole family for a fun day of celebrating our community on Saturday, August 4 with special guest Sway from the Ft. Myers Miracle. Located at 1146 6th Ave. S., Naples. For more information, email jennifer.miller@ marinemax.com or call 239-262-1000.

Lipman’s Backpack Giveaway Lipman Family Farms is giving away 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies to elementary and middle school students on Saturday, August 4 from 9 a.m. to noon at Immokalee High School’s football field (701 Immokalee Dr., Immokalee). There will be more than 40 exhibitor booths, free haircuts, food and drinks, games, a rock climbing wall, and bikes to win. For more information, visit www.lipmanfamilyfarms.com.

If you have an update for this list, please email it to: info@neafamily. com so we can add it to the article posted on neafamily.com.

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17

TECHNOLOGY

By Christa Melnyk Hines

Tracking Teens: Setting Limits and Giving Freedom

T

hanks to GPS technology in smartphones, we have plenty of options when it comes to keeping up with our teenagers, but should we? As with so many other parenting decisions, it mostly depends on what works best for your family and what skills you are trying to help your adolescent develop.

“Life is a progression and that’s how we should raise our teens as well. Make sure you start where you can build up. If you are allowing a curfew of midnight at 15, what are you allowing at the age of 17? Each kid masters skills differently,” says Jennifer Jackson-Rice, LSCSW, a child and adolescent therapist.

During the teen years, it’s developmentally appropriate for kids to strive for more independence. Parents help foster responsibility by slowly giving more freedom over time as trust is built and skills are learned.

Curbing distracted driving Many parents use tracking apps to help reinforce important safety practices when they aren’t there.

Jackson-Rice says she and her husband opted for the Cell Control app when their son got his driver’s license.

“We wanted him to develop a very healthy habit of not being on his phone while in his car from the beginning,” she says.

With any skill that you are nurturing, it’s important to clarify and implement consequences if rules are broken. For some families, that might mean pulling back on their teen’s curfew or restricting driving privileges.

“Once that skill has been mastered, then move away from the app,” Jackson-Rice advises. “Teenagers are supposed to explore. They’re supposed to gain some independence and we’re supposed to be able to trust. When we need to put a consequence in, we put a consequence in, and we start over again.”

Photo courtesy of Life360

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Supporting new drivers Kelly Wornall opted for Life 360, when her 16-year-old son started driving, also to reinforce safe driving.

“We use the app more for peace of mind when he’s out driving,” Wornall says. “A huge benefit of the app is the feature where I can click ‘get directions to my child.’ He is horrible with directions, and we’ve had several instances where I’ve needed to meet up with him. I would have had issues finding him without the app.”

The app offers crash detection and emergency response, a map pinpointing your loved one’s location, and weekly driver reports, highlighting phone usage, acceleration, braking, and top speeds.

“The app is a little security blanket for us. We have a strong relationship with our kids, and we trust them. The kids know Life 360 is on their phones. It’s a decision we agreed on as a family,” Wornall says. “The boys track us too, so sometimes I feel like the tables are turned!”

Tracking for control Although she can see the wisdom of apps for vehicular safety, mom of five Cheryl McGaugh has chosen not to use apps as a way to keep tabs on her kids.

“I feel that if I lead and guide with mutual love and respect, I have no need or reason to track them,” McGaugh says, whose kids are 22, 16, 14, 11, and 9.

Apps like mSpy and SpyBubble can be used anonymously to monitor your teen’s texts, calls, and social media accounts. Some experts believe monitoring apps can cross a line if your teen has never give you a reason not to trust them.

“If you have a difficult kiddo that has some boundary issues and following rules issues, then I see how apps could benefit when safety is a concern,” Jackson-Rice says. “Where we run into trouble is when there wasn’t a reason for us to become so hyper-involved with our teens.”

Without opportunities to practice independence and self-reliance, teens may struggle with dependency issues or poor decisionmaking when they eventually experience full-blown freedom after leaving home for college, trade school, or a job.

“They begin to learn independence when we’re not there as parents to monitor, protect, guide and give natural consequences,” Jackson-Rice says.

Common Tracking & Safety Apps • Life 360

• Our Pact • Circle • Bark • Covenant Eyes • Cell Control • iPhone’s “find my phone” feature • Blue tooth options that shut down texting and driving How much do you want to know?

The problem Jackson-Rice ran into with Cell Control was she got more information than she wanted, like her son’s acceleration since the app also tracked his driving speed.

“What we learned is that it created a lot of anxiety in parenting, which I’ve heard from many parents. They’re constantly aware of what their teenager is doing,” Jackson-Rice says.

Of course, once you have that information, you have to decide what you’re going to do with it.

Jackson-Rice says she chose to ignore the extra information, instead zeroing in on her goal of teaching her son not to use his phone while driving. If he gets pulled over by the police for speeding, he’ll have to face the natural consequences of receiving a speeding ticket.

As for Wornall, Life 360 has been a good fit for her family’s current needs.

“In using a tracking app, you as a parent are skating on a fine line between making sure your kid is safe and stalking them,” Wornall says. “We don’t want to be helicopter parents, but at the same time, we want to know he arrived safely at his destinations.”

Freelance journalist CHRISTA MELNYK HINES resides with her husband and their two middle school sons. She is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

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ESTATE PLANNING

By Norell Albanis

What Documents Your Kids Should Sign Before Leaving For College

W

ith high school graduation behind us, many parents will soon watch their children become adults (at least in the eyes of the law) and leave home to pursue their education and career goals.

Turning 18, graduating from high school, and moving out are huge accomplishments. It also comes with some serious responsibilities that probably aren’t at the forefront of their (or your) mind right now.

Once your children become legal adults, many areas that were once under your control are now solely up to them.

Here’s the big one: Before they turned 18, you had access to their financial accounts and had the power to make all of their healthcare decisions. After they turn 18, however, you’re no longer able to do either.

Before your kids head out into the world, you should discuss and have them sign the following estate planning documents, so if they become incapacitated, you can easily access their medical records and financial accounts without having to go to court. Signing these documents will ensure that if they ever do need your help and guidance, you’ll have the legal authority to easily provide it.

Medical power of attorney Medical power of attorney allows your

child to name an agent (like you), who has the power to make healthcare decisions for them if they’re incapacitated and cannot make such decisions for themselves. For example, this authority allows you to make medical decisions if your child is knocked unconscious in a car accident or falls into a coma due to an illness.

That said, while medical power of attorney would give you authority to view your child’s medical records and make treatment decisions, that authority only goes into ef-

fect if the child becomes incapacitated. This means that unless your child is incapacitated, you do not have the authority to view their medical records, which are considered private under Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).

HIPPA authorization Passed in 1996, HIPPA requires health care providers and insurance companies to protect the privacy of a patient’s health records. Once your child becomes 18, no

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

one — even a parent — is legally authorized to access his or her medical records without prior written permission.

But this is easily remedied by having your child sign a HIPPA authorization that grants you the authority to access his or her medical records. This can be critical if you ever need to make informed decisions about your child’s medical care.

Living will While medical power of attorney allows you to make medical decisions over your child’s ongoing healthcare if they’re incapacitated, a living will provides specific guidelines for how their medical care should be handled at the end of life.

While becoming terminally ill or getting injured in a major accident are morbid topics for discussion — especially for seemingly invincible young adults — unfortunately accidents, injury, and illness know no age. Even though it might be uncomfortable, it’s important to sit down with your child and have a candid discussion about end-of-life care.

Your child may have certain wishes for their end-of-life care, so it’s important you

discuss these decisions with them and have such provisions documented in a living will.

For example, a living will allows the child to decide when and if they want life support removed if they ever require it. Since these are literally life-or-death decisions, you should document them in a living will to ensure they’re properly carried out.

A living will details how they want medical decisions made for them, not just who makes them. But such power only goes into effect if the child is terminally ill, which typically means they have less than six months to live. And two doctors need to make the determination that they won’t recover before the living will even kicks in.

This is a situation where, for all intents and purposes, they are already deceased except for the fact that life support is keeping them alive. Making these decisions in advance spares parents the guilt of trying to guess what their child would want and gives them permission to let go.

counts. If you do not have a signed, financial durable power of attorney, you’ll have to go to court to get access.

While medical power of attorney will authorize you to make healthcare-related decisions on their behalf, durable power of attorney will give you the authority to manage their financial and legal matters, such as paying bills, applying for Social Security benefits, and/or managing banking and other financial accounts.

If your child is getting ready to leave the nest to attend college or pursue some other life goal, then it’s time to help your child articulate and legally protect their healthcare and end-of-life wishes.

NORELL ALBANIS is an estate planning attorney, and can be reached at 239-3142353 or by visiting albanislaw.com.

Durable power of attorney In the event your child becomes incapacitated, you’ll also need a durable power of attorney to access his or her financial ac-

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MOMentum Moms

Photos by Lisette Morales

A

fter her own family experienced financial and food insecurity, Dara Albert became determined to rebuild her life and give back to her community by becoming a Food Angel.

What brought you to Naples? We moved from Colorado to Southwest Florida for my health. I live with a neuromuscular disability, and my function and health is improved at a lower altitude with warmer, more consistent weather. We chose Naples specifically for a safe, beautiful area to finish raising our children.

What is your background? I first attended nursing school and worked in the field of mental health before returning to school to pursue an MD. It was during my premed courses that my health deteriorated; I had to leave school. My interest in food as medicine was sparked during my educational pursuits.

Tell us about your family. I have been married to Richard, a systems administrator, for 21 years, and we have four children: Nik, who lives in Colorado; Rose, who spent time in AmeriCorps and is now enrolling in college to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector; Anwyn, who just began her freshman year at the American Musical and Dramatics Academy in New York City; and Roan, who will be a junior in high school this fall. My children have been involved in outreach activities and volunteer work all their lives, and all the girls have been deeply involved in Food Angels over the years. My motherin-law, Evelynne, also lives with us, so we have a multi-generational family home, which we love. We have a little dog named Dutch.

Tell us about your nonprofit. What inspired you to start Food Angels? Nearly 15 years ago, my family went through 22

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a real financial crisis. Everything went wrong at once, and we found ourselves with few resources, in a small mountain town in Colorado, uncertain of how we were going to pay our bills and feed our children. It was a tremendously frightening time, and we had to set aside our pride and go to a local food pantry for help.

That food pantry gave us not only food, but also hope, kindness, and restored our dignity. Our oldest daughter was a small child at the time, but she was so impressed with the loving strangers who loaded our car up with staples, fresh items, and even treats that she called them “food angels”. I could not have dreamed then of where we would be today. The biggest dream I could dream then was that we’d someday have enough energy and time to volunteer with the food angels.

I am thrilled to be able to say that we did get out of our difficult situation, and thanks to the Community Cupboard of Woodland Park, we never went hungry. ​We moved to Naples in 2012, and found another warm, welcoming place in a local church, who supported and encouraged us and helped us start a food pantry in our new home town. Our first distribution effort was in North Naples, serving just eight people that first week, in July 2014, with the produce budget coming out of our personal funds. A year later, we found ourselves serving hundreds of people per month with standing and mobile pantries.

Today, the Current Community Center, at 13510 Tamiami Trail #4, is our primary distribution location, serving over 1,200 people each month. Because decreasing food waste is a huge passion of NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

mine, we do a lot of food rescue (acquiring close-to-expiring foods from local grocery stores), keeping about 1,400 pounds of food per month out of the landfills, and stocking our pantry with high quality, healthy foods.

Who does Food Angels serve? Our choice-style Saturday food pantry serves primarily working poor families from north Collier and south Lee counties. More than half of our demographic (57%) is adults 18-64, 37% are children under 18, and 6% are people 65 years and older.

What is something that would surprise us about the community you serve? North Naples is an underserved area, with an eclectic mix of very wealthy individuals and low income, food-insecure individuals. For Collier County, the Living Wage Calculation is $16.04 – meaning that for a household of two adults and two children to be able to make it financially, both adults must work 40 hours at $16.04 (or one adult must earn $26.47 an hour for 40 hours). Since the other necessary bills (rent, utilities, fuel, etc.) are non-negotiable, the impact is often felt in a greatly reduced grocery budget. This is one area in which we can make an impact for our community.

Describe is a typical day at work. Paperwork, fundraising/ applying for grants, picking up, sorting, and shelving food rescue donations, and meeting with clients and volunteers. Saturdays are all about food distribution – empowering our clients to choose healthy, nutritious foods for their families. The most important aspect of our work, for me, is that there is no stratification in our community – clients and volunteers are equal and many folks are both.

What is a typical day for your family? I’m not sure we have a typical day! Our schedules are driven by care giving for Evelynne, the kids’ school and work schedules, my food pantry and kids’ food program work, and my husband’s work. We are fortunate that he works from home, so there is always someone at home. Our home is our peaceful retreat.

What does your family like to do on the weekends? On Saturdays, we do food rescue and food pantry distribution together.

After, we enjoy kayaking, fishing, shelling, nature walks, or board games together. On Sundays, we attend First Christian Church of Naples. In the quiet evenings, my husband and I enjoy walks around our neighborhood, hours of conversation, and watching a show together.

Best parenting advice you’ve ever received? My mom’s maxim was “Good, better, best/ Never let it rest/‘Till your good is

Facing page: Dara Albert at Food Angels, the nonprofit she founded. Above, top: A child explores the box of healthy foods provided to his family by Food Angels food pantry.

Above, bottom: Dara Albert (second from right) with daughter Anwyn (second from left) and Food Angels volunteers Rain Gibson (left) and Meg Gibson (right). better/And your better’s best.”

What are your goals for this stage of your life? To continue the work of finding balance and becoming my best and highest self, so that what I have to offer to others is of the greatest value. I truly desire to live out our organization’s motto: “Nourishing all, with dignity and without exception.”

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monday

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9:00 a.m. Car Seat Safety Inspections.

On the second Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, receive a free child car seat safety inspection.

Florida Department of Health, 3339 Tamiami Tr. E., Bldg. H, Naples. Call 239-565-8371 or check safekids.org.

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2:00 p.m. Ultimate Magical Gratitude Gala Tea Party. A magical event for those who love unicorns and mermaids. Benefits PACE Center for Girls. Hilton Naples Hotel, 5111 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples.

Check gratitudeglam.com.

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8:30 a.m. Summer Institute for Marine Science. This week-long program brings students into the field to experience concept in ecology, marine biology, sustainability, and citizen science. Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239-530-5989 or check www.rookerybay.org.

sunday

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11:45 a.m. Annie.

Also at 5:45 p.m. The classic musical about everyone’s favorite orphan and her dog Sandy. Children 18 and under are just $20 for the buffet and the show.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Call 239-278-4422 or check BroadwayPalm.com. 5

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10:00 a.m. Little Explorers Program.

Explore nature and discover amazing animals through multi-sensory activities, stories, and crafts. No registration required. Conservancy, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239262-0304 or check www. conservancy.org.

6:15 p.m. Beads, Boards, and Bindings. Weaving with nature. Do you have a favorite feather, shell, or stone? Add it to your weaving. All materials supplied. South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary. net.

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tuesday

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Happy Back to School Day for Collier County Public School Students!

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6:30 p.m. Buddy Break Respite Program for Kids With Special Needs. Free respite care for children with special needs and their siblings. Naples Seventhday Adventist Church, 5050 Davis Blvd., Naples.

Call 239-272-8031 or check facebook.com/BuddyBreakNaples.

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6:30 p.m. Disney’s Aladdin Jr. Through Aug. 12. The story you know and love has been given the royal treatment

by KidzAct. Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org.

9:00 a.m. Neapolitan Family Cover Kids Contest. Your child can appear on a Neapolitan Family cover. Fee includes one free download of entry photo by professional photographer. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Check www. neafamily.com.

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10:00 a.m. Neapolitan Family Back to School Expo. Over 60 vendors with the information parents need for back to school. Games, arts & crafts, face painting, and more. Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Visit neafamily. com.

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10:00 a.m. Collier County Hurricane Preparedness Seminars. Learn how to prepare families and homes for hurricane season and use new hurricane-related technology. Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples. Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org.

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10:00 a.m. Kids Free Movie. TuesdayThursday. This weeks’ movie is Prince of Egypt.

First come, first served.

Paragon Pavilion Theaters, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-5960008 or check www.paragontheaters.com.

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2:00 & 7:30 p.m.

Kidz Act Teen Chicago. Chicago is packed with show-stopping songs and spectacular Fosse-style choreography. Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org.

2:00 & 7:00 p.m.

The Secret Garden.

The Secret Garden is a timeless tale about the friends we find, the family we create, and the courage to heal a broken heart. The Norris Center, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239261-7529 or check www. gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

10:00 a.m. Oopsie Otter. Come join us in reading about Oopsie Otter and her playful pals.

You otter be ready to dance and play as we will sing silly songs and act just as an otter would. Conservancy, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples.

Call 239-262-0304 or visit www.conservancy.org.

9:00 a.m. Free Admission in August for First Responders. Free admission for active and retired professional emergency workers. Naples Zoo, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check caribbeangardens. com.

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10:00 a.m. Toddler Tales. Interactive time for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregivers. Includes storytelling, wordplay, fingerplays, and music-making. South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary. net.

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6:00 p.m. Art After Hours. Enjoy free admission to The Baker Museum from 6-9 p.m. Audiences of all ages are welcome to view the galleries and learn from our docents. Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Call 239-597-1111 or check artisnaples.org.

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10:00 a.m. Free Kids’ Crafts. Kids from toddlers to 12 are invited to participate in fun activities. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-948-3766 or check www.miromaroutlets.com.

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9:00 a.m. Find it Fridays. Kids enjoy a scavenger hunt all day. Ask for more details at the ticket counter. Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-992-2591 or check www.evergladeswondergardens.com.

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10:00 a.m. Kids Free Fridays. Free admission with programming geared toward children ages 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult. Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239-417-6310 or check rookerybay.org.

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10:00 a.m. Auditions for Annie, Jr. Singing will be followed by learning a dance combination. Ages 8-18. Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org.

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5:00 p.m. Sensory Night at C’mon. For children on the autism spectrum and/or with other sensory integration disorders.

Lighting and sound are muted and cool down spaces provided. Registration is required. C’mon, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or visit www. cmon.org.

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10:00 a.m. Family Storytime. An enjoyable, all-ages storytime that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and stories.

South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239479-4636 or check www. leelibrary.net.

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Try it at our office.

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10:30 a.m. WONDER in the Garden.

Im a g i n e , c re a t e , a n d explore throughout the Children’s Garden with lessons and activities about a monthly theme.

No registration required.

Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples.

Call 239-643-7275 or visit naplesgarden.org. 26

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3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Lely Presbyterian Church, 110 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples. Call 239-537-7775 or check mealsofhope.org.

2:00 p.m. Opioid Grief Support Group for Children and Families. For children and families who have lost a family member to the growing opioid crisis. Valerie’s House, 1762 Fowler St., Naples. Call 239-841-9186 or visit valerieshouseswfl. org.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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YOUR COMMUNITY AUGUST EVENTS

1 WEDNESDAY

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS: To submit your event for both our online and print calendars, go to the Calendar at neafamily.com and follow the instructions for 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.

Note: Please check dates and times before attending events. As we do not enter all calendar data, we cannot guarantee its accuracy.

9:00 a.m. Free Admission in August for First Responders. I n appreciation of the police, sheriffs, paramedics, firefighters, and TSA agents who help keep everyone safe, Naples Zoo is offering free admission to active and retired professional emergency workers from Aug. 1-31. Identification required.

Located at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-5409 or check www.caribbeangardens.com for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Pony Fun Days. Tuesday-Friday until noon. Horseback riding, pony painting, games, and more. Located at Cornerstone Farm South, 3375 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-595-7618 or check cornerstonefarmsouth.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Kids Free Movie. This week’s movie is Home. Enjoy a free movie with the family. First come, first served. Located at Paragon Pavilion Theaters, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239-596-0008 or check www.paragontheaters.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Free Kids’ Crafts. Kids from toddlers to 12 are invited to participate in fun activities. Located at Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero.

Call 239-948-3766 or check www.miromaroutlets. com for additional information.

11:45 a.m. Annie. Select dates through Aug. 11.

The classic musical about everyone’s favorite orphan and her dog Sandy will capture the hearts of audience members of all ages. Summer special: children 18 and under are just $20 for the buffet and the show. Located at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Call 239-278-4422 or check www.

BroadwayPalm.com for additional information.

5:30 p.m. Parent/Teen/Child Mental Health Support Group. For parents/caregivers and children ages 6+ with a mental illness. Opportunity for diagnosed youth ages 6-18 to socialize, receive support, and enjoy refreshments. Parents and youth meet jointly and then break up into groups according to age. Located at NAMI of Collier County, 6324 Trail Blvd., Bldg.

C, Naples. Call 239-260-7300 or check namicollier. org for additional information.

6:00 p.m. Paw Patrol Live. Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group present PAW Patrol Live.

“The Great Pirate Adventure,” an action-packed, music-filled production. Located at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy., Fort Myers.

Call 239-481-4849 or check www.bbmannpah.com for additional information.

2 THURSDAY 6:30 a.m. Fitness Camp. A 60-minute fitness class offered by a certified fitness professional and designed specifically for women. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at the WINK Playland. Located at Miromar

Nicaea Academy is the best independent faith-based school serving Southwest Florida!

Founded in 1996 by faith education missionaries, the Academy is an interdenominational, independent faith-based school dedicated to providing our students with the winning tools necessary to build a firm foundation of academic and moral excellence.

We accept McKay, Step Up For Students, Gardiner (PLSA), AAA, VPK Voucher and School Readiness Scholarships.

Offering Daycare • Preschool • VPK • Elementary, Middle and High School

QUALIFIED TEACHING STAFF, LOW CLASS SIZE AND POSITIVE CHRISTIAN ATMOSPHERE

Check us out at

Facebook

@Nicaea

NicaeaAcademy.org or NicaeaPreschool.com

Academy North Campus or @Nicaea Early Learning Academy

Nicaea Academy • 14785 Collier Blvd., Naples, FL 34119 • 239-353-9099 Nicaea Early Learning Academy • 2200 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples, FL 34116 • 239-455-9090 26

neafamily.com

VPK (#C20CO0089)

License #C20C00086

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-948-3766 or check www.miromaroutlets.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Tai Chi in the Garden. Instructor Karen McNeil hosts this energyflow exercise in the South Grove of the garden. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples. Call 239-643-7275 or check www.naplesgarden.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Oopsie Otter. Come join us in reading about Oopsie Otter and her playful pals. You otter be ready to dance and play as we will sing silly songs and act just as an otter would while slipping through our rivers. No registration required.

Located at Conservancy of SW Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org for additional information.

2:00 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Golden Gate Senior Center, 4898 Coronado Pkwy., Naples. Call 239-537-7775 or check mealsofhope.org for additional information.

2:00 p.m. Movie Day. A teenage girl is the only thing that stands between terrible giants and the destruction of her small town. As she boldly confronts her fears in increasingly dangerous ways, her new school counselor leads her to question everything she’s always believed to be true. Children under 13 may attend only if a parent is present to give permission. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information. earn games and techniques that actors 5:30 p.m. Improv Classes for Ages 8-18. L use every day to save or enhance a scene. Build life skills like teamwork, patience, and listening. Separate classes for ages 8-12 and 13-18. Five weeks, $100. Located at Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs.

Call 239-495-8989 or check artcenterbonita.org for additional information.

7:00 p.m. The Secret Garden. Through Friday. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s masterpiece about love and redemption comes to life in this Tony Award-winning musical. The Secret Garden is a timeless tale about the friends we find, the family we create, and the courage to heal a broken heart. Located at The Norris Center, 755 8th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-261-7529 or check www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org for additional information.

3 FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. Find it Fridays. K ids enjoy a scavenger hunt all day. Ask for more details at the ticket counter. Located at Everglades Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-992-2591 or check www.evergladeswondergardens.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Kids Free Fridays at Rookery Bay. This week’s theme is fish. This popular summer education program provides free admission with programming geared toward children ages 12 and younger accompanied by an adult. Located at Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239-417-6310 or check rookerybay.org for additional information.

5:30 p.m. Mommy/Daddy & Me Painting Afternoon. F irst Friday of the month.

Each parent and child will paint their own canvas. A different theme every month; usually super cute animals. All materials included. Located at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Dr., Naples. Call 786-374-6002 or check muralistica.com.

6:00 p.m. Parents Night Out. $5. A fun evening for kids that is safe and supervised. Games, activities, and fun will be had by all. Enjoy your night out. Ages 4-17. Located at Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 Tamiami Tr. E., Naples. Call 239-252-4414 or check colliergov.net for additional information.

7:30 p.m. Kidz Act Teen Chicago. Through Sunday. Set in the roaring twenties, with its universal tale of fame, fortune, and “All That Jazz,” Chicago is packed with show-stopping songs and spectacular Fosse-style choreography. Located at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org for additional information.

4 SATURDAY 7:30 a.m. Third Street South Farmer’s Market. Sample locally grown fruits and vegetables and your favorite prepared foods. Located in the parking lot behind Tommy Bahama and along 13th Avenue South. Located at Third Street South, Naples.

Call 239-434-6533 or check www.napleschamber.org for additional information.

8:00 a.m. Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday. Fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, honey, prepared foods, specialty foods, and more. Located at Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples. Call 239 273 2350 for additional information.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

We buy & sell gently used kids stuff • Clothing (newborn to size 16), toys, baby furniture, equipment and more.

• We pay cash on the spot.

• No appointment necessary, clothes must be freshly laundered and brought in a plastic container.

13560 Tamiami Trail N #4, Naples,

239-596-6096

Also in: Fort Myers at 239-274-0039 Port Charlotte at 941-764-8121

onceuponachildnaples.com

neafamily.com

27

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TROLLS JULY 10, 11, 12

KUNG FU PANDA 3 JULY 17, 18, 19

FERDINAND JULY 24, 25, 26

HOME JULY 31, AUGUST 1, 2

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

8:30 a.m. Back to School 5K. The F2R Run Club is hosting a free Peace, Love & Little Donuts 5K with a back to school drive. All participants will receive samples from Peace, Love and Little Donuts. Located at the Naples Zoo entrance of the Gordon River Greenway. Email fit2runeventsnaples@gmail.com for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Greenmarket. Join us on our 10-acre campus every Saturday to find an exclusive selection of locally grown, caught, and cultivated foods and other products available to sample and purchase. Located at Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Call 239-939-2787 or check www.artinlee.org for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Kids Workshops. A new craft each month. Attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. Recommended for ages 5-12. Kids get to keep their craft, a certificate of achievement, a workshop apron, and a commemorative pin. Located at Home Depot, 2251 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples. Call 239-597-1515 or check www.homedepot.com for additional information.

9:00 a.m. Backpack Giveaway. Lipman Family Farms is giving away 1,500 backpacks filled with school supplies at Immokalee High School. Exhibitors, free haircuts, food and drinks, games, a rock climbing wall, and bikes to win. Located at Immokalee High School, 701 Immokalee Dr., Immokalee. Check www.lipmanfamilyfarms.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Kids Cruise Free. Kids cruise free on summer Saturdays when accompanied by a full-fare paid adult. Enjoy a 1.5 hour cruise during which children can learn about the ecology in Southwest Florida and observe the variety of wildlife on the waters. Located at Pure Florida, Tin City, 1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-4949 or check www.purefl.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Guided Tours of Historical Koreshan Settlement. Explore structures and gardens of the 19th century utopian settlement and learn about these idealistic pioneers. The walking tour is about 90 minutes and is accessible. Located at Koreshan State Park, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-992-0311 or check www. floridastateparks.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Back Up the Boat with School Supplies. Bring the whole family for a fun day with special guest Sway from the Ft. Myers Miracle. Donate school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, paper, and backpacks for The Salvation Army to assist youths in need. Located at MarineMax Naples Yacht Center, 1146 6th Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-262-1000 or check www.marinemax.com/stores/naples for additional information.

10:30 a.m. Kids Read Down Fines. Children and teens can earn a $2 credit for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session.

Credit may be applied to cards issued to patrons age 18 and under only and applies only to charges on overdue materials. Please bring your library card. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

10:30 a.m. WONDER in the Garden. Every Saturday and Sunday, AugustOctober. Imagine, create, and explore throughout the Children’s Garden with lessons and activities about a monthly theme. No registration required. Included with regular admission. Located at Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples.

Call 239-643-7275 or check www.naplesgarden.org for additional information.

10:30 a.m. Back to School Bash. Come to one last summer celebration before your kids’ school year starts. Shoot some hoops and do other fun things at the annual event. Located at Anthony Park, 1500 5th Ave. N., Naples. Call 239-213-3037 or check naplesgov.com for additional information.

4:00 p.m. Improv Cafe. B ring your family out on the first Saturday of every month.

Located at Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check artcenterbonita.org for additional information.

6:00 p.m. Miracle Backpack Giveaway. The first 500 kids to arrive that are 12 and under will get a free Miracle backpack for the upcoming school year. Located at Hammond Stadium, 14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers. Call 239-7684210 or check www.miraclebaseball.com for additional information.

8:00 p.m. Improv Tonight. B e as involved in the show as you’d like; whether you’re just setting a scene with your suggestions, or whether you’re on stage as a player.

Beer and wine available. Located at Center for Performing Arts-Moe Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd. S.E., Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check www. artcenterbonita.org for additional information.

A lifelong joy of learning, An education for life.

INFANT * TODDLER CHILDREN’S HOUSE * VPK ELEMENTARY

Come see us in our new home at

2655 Northbrooke Drive Saturday, August 11, 2018 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon

or

Call to schedule a private tour

239-597-2255

More information can be found on our website

www.naplesmontessori.org 2655 Northbrooke Drive, Naples, Florida 34119 License #C20CO0132

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

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

Three Locations to Serve You. BONITA SPRINGS

9510 Bonita Beach Rd. Ste. 101

239.333.2990

CAPE CORAL

1508 S.E. 12th Terrace

239.322.5222

PORT CHARLOTTE

3872 Tamiami Trail, Unit D&E

941.391.8090

5 SUNDAY 8:00 a.m. Farmer’s Market and Native Plant Sale. Local fresh produce, seafood, honey, arts and crafts, native plants and trees, and more. $1 per vehicle admission.

Located at Koreshan State Park, 3800 Corkscrew Rd., Estero. Call 239-992-0311

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Most Insurances Accepted neafamily.com

29

or check www.floridastateparks.org for additional information.

11:30 a.m. Spanish Church Service. St. Monica’s Church, in support of the Latino community, will hold a Spanish speaking service every Sunday. Located at St. Monica’s Church, 7070 Immokalee Rd., Naples. Call 239-591-4550 or check stmonicasnaples.org for additional information.

2:00 p.m. Opioid Grief Support Group for Children and Families. Valerie’s House, a Southwest Florida nonprofit helping grieving children work through the loss of a loved one, hosts a support group for children and families who have lost a family member due to the growing opioid crisis. Located at Valerie’s House, 1762 Fowler St., Fort Myers. Call 239-841-9186 or check valerieshouseswfl.org for additional information.

6 MONDAY E Ennrolli 20r1oll ng 201 8-i2ng for 7-2 01f9or 018

We thank the Jewish Federation of Collier County for grant support.

8:30 a.m. Special Needs Summer Musical Learning Camp. Final week!

An Endless Brain cognitive-behavioral summer camp for students with special needs. Ages 6 and older. Monday-Friday. Early bird drop-off and late pick up are available. $33/day for five hours of musical and creative fun. Lunch and snacks are not provided. Located at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 777 Mooring Line Dr., Naples. Call or text 850-629-9313 or check www.endlessbrain.org for additional information.

8:30 a.m. Summer Institute for Marine Science. D iscover our unique coastal environment with Rookery Bay staff and local researchers. This week-long program brings students into the field to experience concepts in ecology, marine biology, sustainability, and citizen science. Located at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239-530-5989 or check www.rookerybay.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time. During this special storytime for babies up to 18 months, caregivers and babies learn nursery rhymes and fingerplays, interact with puppets, sing, read books, and dance. Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

SM

Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. Music. Enrichment

STARTING AUGUST 2018 After School Programs

NEW LOCATION

NEW PROGRAMS

SAME AMAZING EXPERIENCE

STEM Clubs

STEAM Teams

Home School

Free Explore

Robotics

3D Printing

Coding

Space Physics

Drones

Engineering

Art

Piano

Ukulele

...and more!

WE’VE MOVED!

FIND US ONLINE

(239) 451 - 3142 Info@Fullsteamaheadfl.com www.Fullsteamaheadfl.com

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neafamily.com

Montessori Naples @ Hodges University 2655 Northbrooke Dr, Naples FL

NEW ASP Transportation from:

Laurel Oak Elementary* Vineyards Elementary*

Pelican Marsh Veteran’s Memorial

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

10:30 a.m. Kindness Club. Kids can participate in fun activities designed to encourage kindness and help make the world a better place. This month’s club will benefit animals at the Gulf Coast Humane Society. After we create toys for the animals, you will get the chance to meet a furry ambassador. For grades 2-6. Some activities may be messy, so dress for mess. Registration required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will all be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Lely Presbyterian Church, 110 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples. Call 239-537-7775 or check mealsofhope.org for additional information.

7 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Kids Free Movie. This week’s movie is Prince of Egypt. Enjoy a free movie with the family. First come, first served. Sponsored by Neapolitan Family Magazine. Located at Paragon Pavilion Theaters, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples.

Call 239-596-0008 or check www.paragontheaters.com for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Storytime with Miss Mary Ellen. A toddler favorite, join us for reading, singing, and coloring in a fun-filled atmosphere of learning and lots of laughter.

Be sure to ask about the little green frog song. All ages are welcome. Located at Barnes & Noble, 5377 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. Call 239-598-5200 or visit www. barnesandnoble.com for additional information.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. Every Tuesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the YMCA parking lot. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will all be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Call 239-537-7775 or check mealsofhope.org for additional information.

6:15 p.m. Beads, Boards, and Bindings. Weaving with nature. Do you have a favorite feather, shell, or stone? Add it to your weaving. All materials supplied.

Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

OUR 600-year old wilderness inspires a connection to natural Florida.

A 2.25 mile boardwalk winds through an ancient forest of bald cypress soaring 130 feet into the sky. The forest and surrounding flatwoods and prairies are habitats for hundreds of species of wildlife and plants, from wading birds to the famous "super ghost" orchid.

Blair Audubon Visitor Center. The nature center is the gateway to the boardwalk and features a nature store, Gallery Cafe, Discovery Center, environmental exhibits, and special events.

THE

BEST OF the

GULFSHORE

2018

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

CORKSCREW.AUDUBON.ORG

15 miles east of 1-75, exit 111 (239) 348-9151 Naples, Florida $14 adults, $4 six-18, Free under 6. Admission covers two consecutive days. Annual memberships start at $75 and feature unlimited visits, 10% discounts in the nature center, and more. neafamily.com

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8 WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m. Sierra Club Monthly Meeting. Sierra Club Calusa Group organizes and participates in outdoor adventures, environmental education, public outreach and local environmental activities. We also lobby our local and state government for pro-environmental policy and legislation. Located at Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers. Call 727-824-8813 or check www. sierraclub.org/florida/calusa for additional information.

9 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Collier County Hurricane Preparedness Seminars. The free public seminars will include information about how to prepare families and homes for hurricane season, how to use new hurricane-related technology, and how Collier County Emergency Management responds to hurricanes and other disasters in Collier County. Located at Headquarters Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples.

Call 239-593-0870 or check collierlibrary.org for additional information.

7:30 p.m. Casablanca Movie Night. View the classic film on the big screen. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), who owns a nightclub in Casablanca, discovers his old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) is in town with her husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid). Rated PG. $10. Located at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org for additional information.

10 FRIDAY 9:30 a.m. Free Autism Screening for Young Children. Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to five years of age. Located at North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, Fort Myers. Call 239-343-6838 or check leehealth.org for additional information.

6:30 p.m. Disney’s Aladdin Jr. Through Sunday. The story you know and love has been given the royal treatment by KidzAct. Aladdin and his three friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim, are down on their luck until Aladdin discovers a magic lamp and the genie who has the power to grant three wishes. Located at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org for additional information.

7:00 p.m. High School Musical Jr. Through Aug. 12. The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs Youth Players presents Disney Channel’s smash hit movie musical live on our stage. Located at Center for Performing Arts – Hinman Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs. Call 239-495-8989 or check www.artcenterbonita.org for additional information.

11 SATURDAY 9:30 a.m. Family Fun Day: Too Cool for School. Before heading back to your school, come visit our seven different aquatic exhibits inside the Dalton Discovery Center to see what our schools of fish are up to during the summer. Located at Conservancy of SW Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Neapolitan Family Back to School Expo. Over 60 vendors with the information parents need to kick off the new school year. Free admission includes games, arts & crafts, face painting, and entertainment. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Check www.neafamily.com for additional 6/27/2018 5:18:32 PM information. ome see us in our 10:00 a.m. Open House at Montessori Academy of Naples. C new home and learn more about our programs for children. Located at Montessori Academy of Naples, 2655 Northbrooke Dr., Naples. Call 239-597-2255 or check www.naplesmontessori.org for additional information.

LittlePeoplesSchool.info

x 4.5 ad.indd 1 l

Top Rated VPK

l Preschool

Twos & Threes Camp l Owned/operated by certified elementary teacher with over 22 years experience l DCF licensed, #C20CO7400 l Summer

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12 SUNDAY (239) 597-5064 868 94th Ave. N., Naples lpsparentnews@aol.com

2:00 p.m. Ultimate Magical Gratitude Gala Tea Party. A magical event for those who love unicorns and mermaids. This tea party benefits PACE Center for Girls.

Located at Hilton Naples Hotel, 5111 Tamiami Tr. N., Naples. Check gratitudeglam. com for additional information.

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

13 MONDAY 9:00 a.m. Car Seat Safety Inspections. On the second Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, Safe Kids Southwest Florida, led by Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, and the Florida Department of Health in Collier County hold regular car seat safety inspections. Located at Florida Department of Health, 3339 Tamiami Tr. E., Bldg. H, Naples. Call 239-565-8371 or check safekids. org for additional information.

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS! Dr. Jennifer B. Hughes, DMD Pediatric Dentist

14 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Little Explorers Program. Also on Aug. 16. Provides the youngest visitors the opportunity to explore nature and discover amazing animals through multi-sensory activities, stories, and crafts. No registration required. Located at Conservancy of SW Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org for additional information.

239-260-7672

1879 Veterans Park Dr., Suite 1203, Naples, FL 34109

17 FRIDAY 9:00 a.m. National Honey Bee Day BOGO. In celebration of National Honey Bee Day, the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center offers buy one, get one free admission. Higher price prevails. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Must pay at door. Located at Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Rd., Naples. Call 239-417-6310 or check rookerybay.org for additional information.

6:30 p.m. Buddy Break Respite Program for Kids With Special Needs. Threehour monthly session of free respite care for children with special needs and their siblings. Every third Friday at Naples Seventh Day Adventist Church. Registration required. Located at Naples Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5050 Davis Blvd., Naples. Call 239-272-8031 or check www.facebook.com/BuddyBreakNaples for additional information.

18 SATURDAY 9:00 a.m. Neapolitan Family Cover Kids Contest. Your child can appear on a Neapolitan Family cover. Register by August 11 on neafamily.com or at the 2018 Back to School Expo to save on registration fees and guarantee a photo shoot reservation. Fee includes one free download of entry photo by professional photographer.

Located at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples.

Call 239-370-5333 or check www.neafamily.com for additional information.

11:00 a.m. Prehistoric Pottery for Kids. Students learn about the advent of pottery in Florida and do hands-on experimentation. The lesson also teaches about how pottery can help archaeologists understand a site and its prehistoric people. Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

1:00 p.m. Kids Read Down Fines. Children and teens can earn a $2 credit toward fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area during this time, with a maximum total of $8 in one session. Credit may be applied only to cards issued to patrons age 18 and under and applies only to charges on overdue materials. Located at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Call 239-4794636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

2:00 p.m. Back to School Book Blackout Bingo. Summer is over and school is back in session. Come in and play our library version of Book Bingo. We will use recycled book pages as Bingo cards and you can win prizes for being the first to have five of the called words on your page. Fun for the whole family. Located at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

6:30 p.m. Summer Jazz on the Gulf. The fun, free concert series combines a diverse array of musical entertainment with truly beautiful views of the Gulf, gorgeous sunsets, refreshing breezes, and a relaxing atmosphere. Located at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples. Call 239-261-2222 or check www.naplesbeachhotel.com for additional information.

Th e

G a rd e n School of Naples

Mon tessor i E a r l y E duc a t ion

An environmentally-conscious academic preschool program for children aged 2-6.

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info@gardenschoolnaples.com • (239) 424-9084 • 6051 bayshore drive, naples

20 MONDAY 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. Music Together. A highly interactive musical experience designed for young children and their caregivers, presented by Family Music Time.

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Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net.

21 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Family Storytime. Your whole family is invited to this enjoyable, all-ages storytime that encourages the development of pre-reading skills through songs, rhymes, fingerplays, and stories. Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

3:30 p.m. Meals of Hope Mobile Food Pantry. Every Tuesday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Frozen food, fresh produce, and canned goods will all be given away to families in need. Everyone is welcome. Located at Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Rd., Naples. Call 239-537-7775 or check mealsofhope.org for additional information.

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.

22 WEDNESDAY

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.

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10:00 a.m. Preschool Storytime. Parents and caregivers encourage independence by waiting nearby in the library for this program. The stories and activities may be longer but just as fun. Crafts are included in this program, so dress for mess.

Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net.

10:30 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time. During this special storytime, you and your baby will learn new nursery rhymes and fingerplays, interact with puppets, sing, read books, and dance. For babies up to 18 months. Located at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

11:30 a.m. Family Storytime. During this special storytime, you and your baby will learn new nursery rhymes and fingerplays, interact with puppets, sing, read books, and dance. For babies up to 18 months. Located at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

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We have programs for the whole family, ages 5-95. We even have a program for people with Parkinson’s Disease!

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23 THURSDAY 10:00 a.m. Toddler Tales. This interactive time for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregiver will include storytelling, wordplay, fingerplays, and music-making designed to advance pre-reading skills. Registration is required. Located at South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy., Estero. Call 239-479-4636 or check www.leelibrary.net for additional information.

25 SATURDAY 8:00 a.m. Community Yard Sale. Find yard sale bargains with the convenience of having all the sales in one location. If you are interested in reserving a spot to sell used items, call to reserve a spot. Located at Max A. Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd., Naples. Call 239-348-7500 or check colliergov.net for additional information.

10:00 a.m. Auditions for Annie, Jr. Students need to prepare 32 bars (about a minute) of a song with sheet music or a non-vocal CD/track. Singing will be followed by learning a dance combination. Ages 8-18. Located at Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples. Call 239-263-7990 or check naplesplayers.org for additional information.

28 TUESDAY 10:00 a.m. Little Explorers Program. Also on Aug. 30. Provides the youngest visitors the opportunity to explore nature and discover amazing animals through multi-sensory activities, stories, and crafts. No registration required. Located at Conservancy of SW Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples. Call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org for additional information.

5:00 p.m. Sensory Night at C’mon. For children on the autism spectrum and/ or with other sensory integration disorders. Lighting and sound are muted and cool down spaces are provided. Limited participation in order to minimize crowds, and registration is required. Located at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, 15080 Livingston Rd., Naples. Call 239-514-0084 or check www.cmon.org for additional information.

6:00 p.m. Kids Read Down Fines. Children and teens can earn a $2 credit toward fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area, with a maximum total of $8 in one session. Credit may be applied only to cards issued to patrons age 18 and under and applies only to charges on overdue materials. Located at Bonita Springs Public Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. Call 239-479-4636 or check www. leelibrary.net for additional information.

29 WEDNESDAY 6:00 p.m. Art After Hours. Enjoy free admission to The Baker Museum the last Wednesday of each month from 6-9 p.m. A local band offers musical entertainment and audiences of all ages are welcome to view the galleries and learn from our docents.

Located at Artis-Naples, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Call 239-597-1111 or check artisnaples.org for additional information.

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August Picks in Lee County

National Clown Week Party

North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Way Saturday, August 4 • 2 p.m.

Boys and girls can help members of Caloosa Clown Alley #97 celebrate National Clown Week. Fun and laughter promised. All ages welcome. 239-479-4636

High School Musical Jr

Center for Performing Arts - Hinman Auditorium 10150 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs August 10 - 12 Presented by CFABS Youth Players.

A wonderful, musical extravaganza!! 239-495-8989

IMAG Birthday Bash

IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers Saturday, August 11 • 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Grab your slice of birthday cake and catch some fun science demos! 239-243-0043

Tikifest

Fishermen's Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda Saturday, August 11 • Noon - 4 p.m.

Walkiki Hula Dancers Show, Jeff the “TIKI” Juggler, face painting, Tiki games, limbo, family activities, Tiki carvings, Tiki art and more. 941-575-3007

Wet Walks at the Slough

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers August 11 and 25 Enjoy off the boardwalk strolls along the wet walk trail usually closed to the public. rcoc77@embarqmail.com.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

FAMILY LAW

F

By Reuben Doupé and Dale Klaus

The Risks of Trial

amily law actions are lawsuits – just like an auto accident claim or a criminal prosecution. Like all lawsuits, the parties to the suit are permitted and encouraged to settle their disputes between them by mutual agreement (i.e., a settlement); but if the parties cannot reach an agreement, then the case is taken to court. Every good attorney will counsel their client on why settlement is a better option in the case, and here are some of the major reasons that every effort should be made to settle without trial.

In Florida, family law disputes are heard by a circuit court judge as the fact-finder; there are no jury trials in family court. At the most basic level, if parties to a divorce cannot agree on a settlement, they are leaving their case and their financial life up to a single person as a decision-maker. While circuit court judges are all lawyers who have received significant education and training to serve their role, they are still human.

When a new case is filed in court, the case is randomly assigned to one of two or three judges in the Domestic Relations division of the circuit court. Every two years or so, the judiciary has an opportunity to rotate to other divisions. This means that the judge assigned to your case may stay the same throughout the case, or the judge may change once or more, depending on the timing of when you filed and how long the action takes to get to trial. It is possible that a change in the judge may not pose any additional problem to a person’s case. But it also is possible that a party has multiple

hearings with one judge, who becomes educated on that family; yet, when the trial date comes, a new judge is assigned, leaving the parties to start from scratch in presenting the facts of the case.

The second biggest risk factor in trial is the limited time in which each side has to present its case. Family law actions, especially divorce actions, require significant amounts of facts to be presented to the court. The court system is stressed to the limit with hearing and trial time. Lawyers feel pressure to underestimate their time requirements to get to court faster for their clients. When faced with a time shortage, however, the lawyers have to think on their feet and prioritize the presentation of facts to the judge.

Facts inevitably will be missed. When this occurs, the judge cannot base a decision on information that is not presented.

Thirdly, trial, when done correctly, can be very expensive. Even the most experienced lawyers need time to prepare. Family law attorneys are ethically prohibited from taking cases on a contingency fee basis, so they bill clients for the time spent on the case. For each hour a lawyer spends in court, a good lawyer has spent at least two hours – or more – preparing. Trial lawyers have to be prepared not only for what they will say and present to the judge, but also a defense of what the other side may present, not to mention the planning for potential objections and presentation depending on the judge’s ruling on objections.

Finally, there are no guarantees in

trial. No matter how good your attorney is, no matter how perfectly the facts you have line up with the law, there are no guaranteed results. The judge may not see the facts the same way. The other side may present additional unforeseen facts. A witness may not show up, or may not testify in the same manner as planned. Many things can happen to make the case run afoul. It is highly likely that the ruling handed down by the judge will be different than anyone imagined. A settlement allows for predictability in the result. Even if a litigant is left without everything they want, the give and take of settlement negotiation usually will ensure that each person has succeeded on at least one point. There are a few times when trial is necessary, and in those times, having an experienced lawyer is important, to minimize the risks to the largest extent possible. But even the best trial lawyer will caution their client to make every effort to settle their case, for their own good.

DALE KLAUS and REUBEN DOUPÉ are family law and divorce attorneys with Coleman, Hazzard, Taylor, Klaus, Doupé & Diaz, PA. Visit www.CHTlegal.com or call 239-298-5200.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

By Ginny Lundstrom

A First-Hand Look at Study Abroad

Neapolitan Family intern Ginny Lundstrom is a 2015 Barron Collier High School graduate. She is a senior at Florida State University majoring in Editing, Writing, and Media.

T

his past spring semester, I took a huge leap out of my comfort zone and studied abroad in London, England. I can honestly say that I don’t think I will ever have another experience like living abroad for four months. Meeting new people, trying different foods, exploring different places around the city, and just purely being immersed in a new culture was something that I could not have gotten by staying in the United States. Not only do I have fond memories of my time as a student in a foreign country, but I will forever highly recommend it to anyone who is even a little bit curious about studying abroad. Because, truly, when else in your life will you get the opportunity to live in another country for a few months?

How do you approach it?

Studying abroad had always been something I was fascinated with, so the fact that I was actually able to do it is still so amazing to me! I started doing research right away during my freshman year of college at Florida State University (FSU). I quickly discovered that FSU had study centers around the globe (London; Valencia, Spain; Florence, Italy; and Panama City, Republic of Panama). I already knew that leaving the country would be a big deal (I had never done it before) in itself, so I didn’t want the added pressure of a language barrier as well. This narrowed my choices down to London right away. From there, I researched what classes/major programs the FSU London program offered and started planning out what classes I would take while I was over there. Since FSU London did not have classes for my major, I saved some required broad curriculum classes for my semester abroad. This included a speech class where we Photo, right: Ginny Lundstrom exploring London during her semester abroad.

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NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

Things I wish I’d known before Culture shock is very real. The obvious differences between England and America, like the fact that the Brits drive on the opposite side of the road and call pants trousers, were easier to get over, weirdly enough. The things that I wasn’t so prepared for were much harder to get past, like how their grocery stores The ‘pushing yourself out of don’t refrigerate eggs and how everyone in How it worked London will look at you weird if you wear Since I studied abroad at a FSU your comfort zone’ doesn’t end a sweatshirt and leggings out in public.

Study Center, I lived in a flat and took The point is, I was SUPER homesick right classes with other students from the Unit- the entire time you are abroad. away because I felt like I had entered an aled States. This made the whole experience ternate universe. But I got over it quickly, You have to become more comfortable for me. All the friends and after a week I was already feeling less I was making were in the exact same boat overwhelmed and more adventurous. comfortable with as me, and we were figuring things out toThe ‘pushing yourself out of your being uncomfortable. gether. The FSU Study Center happens to comfort zone’ doesn’t end the entire be in the most prime location in London, you are abroad. You have to become – Ginny Lundstrom time in Camden – literally around the corner comfortable with being uncomfortable. from the British Museum. This meant that anything you could possibly want My favorite parts to see or do in London was a brisk walk or quick Tube ride away Traveling with newly made friends was such a weird experience, (the Tottenham Court stop is a three-minute walk from the study but looking back, that was one of my favorite parts of my entire center). Almost all of our days were spent exploring. Our professors time abroad. Nothing breaks down walls like having to squeeze would take us out on walking tours, our program assistants would into a tiny hostel room with five other girls. show us fun things to do in our free time, and we even went on Last, but not least, getting all that time to just explore. I got to call London home for a semester and now I know that whenever I multiple weekend getaways with the school – Stonehenge, Scotland, go back, it will feel like I never left!

Belgium, Switzerland, and France (all included in the program fee). had to give speeches at places like Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, National Portrait Gallery, and even the London Underground (also known as the Tube), a Shakespeare class where we got to tour the Globe Theatre and see a few Shakespeare plays, and a British Life and Culture class where I got to learn about all the things I was experiencing first-hand while living in London.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

By Christa Melnyk Hines

Homework Help

B

y the time Meira Mednick’s daughter was in third grade, homework time had morphed into lengthy, embattled evenings fraught with angry tears as frustrated daughter and frazzled mom squared off.

“My daughter began showing signs of difficulty in focus on homework in kindergarten. By second grade we were drowning,” Mednick says.

Mednick tried tactics like feeding her first grader an early dinner as soon as she got home from school and giving her time to relax before starting homework. Instead, “We ended up spending the next two years in a tug of war of time, and many tears were shed,” she says.

Many parents can relate and dread the contentious homework hour, which can plunder an otherwise peaceful evening. For kiddos, who struggle to tune out distractions and concentrate on the task at hand, sitting down to do homework doesn’t rank high on their list of priorities.

Thanks to the distractions of technology, the inability to focus is a growing problem in our culture. The number of children who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) also continues to rise. The Centers for Disease Control reports that ADHD is “one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood.”

Experts agree: the ability to focus is crucial to achieving goals.

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Tips to Ease Frustration & Boost Focus

How can we create a more calming homework atmosphere that will enhance our child’s ability to concentrate and get the job done quickly – without the draining drama?

Work in short bursts Kids get overwhelmed with long worksheets and multiple assignments. Break homework into timed chunks. After a busy day at school, parents can typically expect their youngsters to focus on a task for one minute for each year of their age. That means a six-yearold should be given a two- or three-minute break every six minutes.

“Expecting 30 minutes of homework out of a first grader isn’t realistic without breaks,” says Rachel Rudman, a pediatric occupational therapist.

The timed approach made a big difference for Mednick’s daughter.

“Previously she would be discouraged even before picking up a pencil. By having a timed environment, she knew that she could tackle one interval at a time,” says Mednick, whose daughter is now an 8th grade honors student.

Create smart brain breaks During the timed breaks engage your child in short activities that help reorganize and refocus the brain, like jumping jacks, playNEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

ing with Legos or Play-Doh, or snacking on crunchy carrots, pretzel rods, or something chewy such as fruit leather.

Blowing up a balloon can also help ease frustrations. “Blowing forces the child to take deep breaths which increases relaxation and focus,” Rudman says.

Avoid electronics, which can be harder to pull a child away from.

Strike a pose Yoga stretches and breathing exercises can calm and re-energize a tired body. Balancing poses like bird or airplane, and a full body twist combines breathing and concentrated stretching movements.

“Balancing poses require a level of concentration that are a great way to strengthen those ‘focus muscles’ and create a body and mind that is strong and relaxed,” says Mariam Gates, the author of the new children’s book Good Night Yoga: A Pose-byPose Bedtime Story.

Integrate natural elements Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found that including ornamental plants in a learning area can further enhance a child’s ability to concentrate and learn.

“And weirdly, the more involved the child is in the plant’s life or maintenance, the more learning goes on,” says Magalie Rene, a classroom design consultant, who works with parents and schools to create study spaces that foster learning.

Place a plant in your home’s study area and have your child water it as a transitionary cue before beginning homework, Rene suggests.

Chew gum Although the “no gum allowed” rule was grilled into our psyches when we were students, more schools now allow kids to chew gum during state assessments. The chewing movement has an organizing effect on the brain and can help kids focus.

Energize with aromatherapy Scent can have a powerful effect on our emotional well-being.

Fill a spray bottle with water and two or three drops of peppermint, rosemary or citrus essential oil. Spray the scent around the study area to enhance concentration, focus and creativity.

Get organized Make a homework box either out of a large shoe box or plastic container. Have your child decorate it and store homework supplies, like pens, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, paper, a glue stick, and anything else your student might need. “Having everything together creates an atmosphere of organization and success,” Rudman says.

If your youngster continues to struggle with focus and concentration, consult with your family’s pediatrician or a child psychologist.

As the mom of two energetic school-age boys, freelance journalist CHRISTA MELNYK HINES knows all too well the stress homework time can create in a family. Christa’s latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.

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FIND OUT WHY… Call Beth at (239) 455-1080 to set up your EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS CONSULTATION with our Headmaster, Dr. Phillip Tingle.

www.BetterSchoolBetterLife.org NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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TRAVEL

By Karen T. Bartlett

Destination: Where to Chill in August

Photo courtesy of Nantahala Outdoor Center

I

grew up on the Georgia coast, where 75-degree ocean breezes felt downright icy, and if we went swimming before August we came out with our teeth chattering. I think August in Naples is glorious, but that’s just me. For most mortals living in Southwest Florida at this moment, boots crunching on a glacier or a plunge in an ice-blue lake probably sound pretty awesome. So, most mortals, this month’s Destination is for you. I hope you feel a delightful chill as you read this, or better yet, pack your long johns right now and go!

it just frothy enough for a very satisfying inner tube float through a lush green forest. And oh, that ice-blue swimming hole! It’s so clear that it seems you could step out and touch bottom. You can’t. It’s 40 feet straight down. Ichetucknee is about 30 minutes north of Gainesville. It gets crowded in summer, which is fun for some, but for the most peaceful tubing and better prices for accommodations, go in mid-week. Rent tubes or rafts in the park and get on the river early. Season ends after Labor Day. ichetuckneesprings.com

Ice-blue lake (in Florida!)

Sometimes Florida’s so hot you just want to swim in a tub of ice water.

At Ichetucknee Springs State Park you can do that, and more. Famous for being the only white water rafting river in Florida, Ichetucknee is no Class V rapids, but a couple of months’ summer rain makes

Alpine mountain jeep tour How cold could it get in Colorado alpine country in August? Well, the snow doesn’t melt up there till around July. So, along with flowerstrewn meadows and waterfalls, you’ll still see white stuff on the peaks when you take an exhilarating 4x4 off-road jeep tour in Ouray, near

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Telluride. Another clue is in the giant letters on the sides of the jeeps: heated bucket seats. So, layer, layer, layer! Look for big horn sheep, bears, and ruins of old mines. alpinescenicjeeptours.com Ice water rapids The Nantahala Outdoor Center (see photo, facing page) in the Great Smoky Mountains also has icy-clear water, but much faster rapids at different class levels. The fully guided three-hour family adventure is great for ages seven and up. There’s hiking and zip lining, too. You can camp, stay in a lodge, or check out the cool bunkhouses for the full Nantahala vacation experience. Noc.com Go snow skiing You read it right. Oregon’s Mount Hood rises 11,245 feet straight up into the clouds, and it’s home to the only year-round ski area in the U.S. Summer daytime temps are in the high 50s. Ski, snowboard, or just ride the lifts for gorgeous views. Summer programs run through the end of August. At Timberline Lodge, you’ll meet the two resident St. Bernards, Bruno and Heidi, and you might run into some Olympic athletes and show-quality snowboarders honing their skills.

Mount Hood National Forest is an hour outside of Portland. There are plenty of accommodations near the ski area. timberlinelodge.com Hike with the huskies Hop a plane to Tromso, Norway, which is pretty much at the top of the world. Grab your warm jacket, wool socks, and gloves, and go hiking with huskies through arctic meadows and Christmas tree forests. These joyfully rambunctious husky puppies (see photo right) at Villmarkssenter are in training for the Finnmarksløpet, Europe’s longest dog sled race. After your hike, you’ll appreciate the hot chocolate and traditional treats in the authentic Gamme-Hut. There’s plenty of time to play here in the Land of the Midnight Sun, where August days start around 4 a.m. and end around 10 p.m. Visit the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden, the northernmost botanical garden on the planet. See the world’s most breath-defying fjords, and visit the postcard-perfect fishing village around the harbor. It’s a short flight from Oslo. villmarkssenter.no or visittromso.no.

Travel Editor KAREN T. BARTLETT’s articles and photography have been published around the world. She also is the publisher of the awardwinning Mostly Kids’ Guides series of family guidebooks.

Photo by Karen T. Bartlett

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HURRICANE PREP

By Scott Needle, MD, FAAP, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida

Photo by Lisette Morales

Preparing Your Family to Deal With Any Disaster Dr. Scott Needle is a practicing pediatrician and medical director for patient safety for Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida.

He also is the chair of the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters.

W

hen Hurricane Irma struck Southwest Florida last year, many Collier County residents experienced their first major disaster.

While we hope to never repeat the experience, hurricanes are a yearly risk for us in the Sunshine State, and it’s important to always be ready. Preparedness is even more important for families with children, since kids rely on adults to keep them safe. You may not be able to avoid every danger, but you can take actions to reduce your risk.

Preparing for a hurricane or other disaster can seem overwhelming: what do you do first? Should you buy supplies? Where can you find a list of what to do? Fortunately, there are many great resources, and you don’t have to do it all

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at once. Work on it a little at a time, and everyone in the family can help.

Most experts recommend preparing for disaster in three steps: • Make a kit.

• Have a plan.

• Be informed.

The first, and most obvious, way to be ready is to have the right emergency supplies at home. What would your family need to survive if there was no power, water, or transportation? You should have at least three days’ supply of bottled water and ready-to-eat foods such as granola bars, nuts, raisins, or jerky. Flashlights, batteries, tools, and a first aid kit are also good to have. Make sure to keep copies of important documents in a safe place.

Families with infants and young children will need diapers and age-appropriate foods. Babies on formula will also need bottles, but breastfeeding is usually easier and healthier – one more reason that nursing is the best way to feed babies,

even in disaster. It is important to have enough prescription and over-the-counter medicines available, too. Many health insurance companies will allow you to get refills early if a hurricane is coming.

Kids can help pick toys, games, dolls, and books to keep them busy at home, on the road, or in a shelter. Finally, don’t forget supplies for your pets.

Families also should have a plan in case of disaster. Make sure children have the address and phone number of other family members and trusted friends. Talk with your children about what you will do if something happens and you are separated during the day – for example, if children are at school and mom or dad is at work. Pick a safe space to meet if you can’t get to your home. If a hurricane was coming, think ahead to what you might do: would you stay, go to a shelter, or evacuate? If you evacuate, where would you go, how would you get there, and when would you leave? Don’t forget to NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

keep cars and trucks filled with fuel if a hurricane is coming. Remember how there was no gas when Irma arrived?

Lastly, be informed. Know the risks and how to get information. Hurricanes are the biggest danger for our community, but other disasters are possible. Wildfires and tornadoes have happened, and industrial accidents also could occur. How would your family respond to these events?

How would you know if a severe weather event was nearby or coming? You may want to have a battery-powered weather radio to keep you informed.

Some disaster experts add one more step: get involved! Talk with your neighbors and learn how to help each other.

Your neighbors may have special skills or equipment that could be useful, such as military experience or items like a chainsaw. Some of your neighbors may need extra help. For instance, if they are older and live alone or if they have special medical needs. You also can join a county Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to receive special training on how to help, volunteer, and prepare. To learn more about Collier County CERT, call

the fire district where you live.

If you need more information, there are some excellent guides online. The American Red Cross (www.redcross. org) and FEMA’s Ready.gov are both good resources, and the FEMA website also includes a section just for kids. The

American Academy of Pediatrics has a Family Readiness Kit, available at www. aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_family_readiness_kit.pdf.

Remember, you can’t prevent disasters, but you certainly can be ready if they happen!

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239-631-3041

Ms. Lorel

www.neat-casa.com

RED CROSS SWIM LESSONS

Naples Princess Parties Character-themed* parties or one-on-one visits.

We will furnish:

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

Only $10.00 per person Bi (the Birthday Child is Free and gets 1 year of free golf) These figures are based upon a minimum of 10 people. We will require 10 days notice.

Thank you!

2205 E. Tamiami Trail Naples, FL 34112

(239) 793-4999 www.coralcaygolf.com

GRANDPARENT ALERT!

Group/Private Your Pool or Mine Infant - Adult Over 30 yrs Experience Reasonable Rates Certified & Insured

(239) 682-6513

239-465-8602

NaplesPrincessParties.com

Naples only Mother/Daughter team!

*Not affiliated with Walt Disney Co.

www.essentialswimlessons.com

Will your kids be bored this weekend?

Not if we can help it!

Neapolitan Family’s Weekly E-News puts an end to weekend boredom.

Find the best bets for local family entertainment.

SIGN UP TODAY

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Get this book before the grandchildren arrive.

It’s the best activity planning guide ever, & you’ll amaze them with your coolness!

Available at bookstores, children’s stores, gift shops, and at:

mostlykidsguides.com

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

We’ve taken cleaning to a whole new level...

SERVICES AVAILABLE Home & Office Cleaning

MaidPro MUSCLE Services

plus

Not your standard cleaners

NOW OFFERING!

• Damage and theft protection? You got it.

MaidPro MUSCLE Services

• Employee backgrounds? Checked.

• Knowledgeable cleaners? MaidPro University Grads.

• Immediately Dry & Green Carpet Cleaning

• Cleaning contracts? Don’t need ‘em.

• Upholstery

• Satisfaction? Guaranteed.

• Tile & Grout

• Owner Recognition? Michelle Spitzer recipient of Hodges University’s Founders Award.

• Pressure Washing

75 off

$

CLEANING SERVICES

$25 OFF YOUR 1ST, 3RD & 5TH CLEANING

plus up to

• Window Cleaning

125 off

$

$25 OFF EACH INDIVIDUAL MaidPro MUSCLE SERVICE

MaidPro MUSCLE SERVICES

Offer cannot be combined with other offers.

contact us for your free estimate

239.596.5200 maidpro.com Servicing Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Area

NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

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The Conse turtley a rvancy is wesome!

Conservancy of Southwest Florida proudly introduces NIN, our ambassador loggerhead sea turtle. Meet NIN and get connected to conservation. While here, explore hands-on interactive experiences in the Dalton Discover Center, on our famous electric boat tours and in our Little Explorer Play Zone.

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Join US FOR

FAMILY FUN DAY SAturday, August 11 NEAPOLITANfamily • August 2018

1495 Smith Preserve Way x Naples, Florida 34102 x 239.262.0304 x www.conservancy.org