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The vibrant autumn season of Southwest Florida appears somewhere between Fake Fall, Second Summer, and Actual Fall. Unlike places north of Florida, Autumn here doesn't begin with multicolor leaves in the trees, the aroma of crackling fires, or juicy red apples in orchards. Fake Fall is the first cool breeze after Labor Day that prompts us to pull out our Halloween yard decor and brew pumpkin spice coffee. Second Summer starts in October, right about the time children start wearing their hot costumes to fall festivals. Actual Fall, which in Southwest Florida is known as warm weather without the swampy humidity, will begin in November, just in time for Día de los Muertos and Thanksgiving.
In this issue, we'll highlight the local festivals and events that make this time of year feel like Fall. From pumpkin patches and trunk or treats to corn mazes and hayrides, there's something every family can enjoy.
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we invite you to join us for a candlelight vigil to at Cambier Park hosted by The Shelter for Abused Women & Children to remember the victims whose lives have been taken by domestic violence. On page 24, you can read about how one local domestic violence survivor rebuilt her life with the support of The Shelter.
Lastly, we'll take you behind the scenes at the bus yard to find out how our school bus drivers transport our children to school every day. Even if your children do not ride a school bus, this article reminds parents and drivers alike that safety is always a priority, especially during busy drop-off and pick-up times.
Happy Fall, Y'all!
cONNEct WItH US!
Boys & Girls club receives $7,500 Grant from Women’s Foundation for Program
to Mentor Young Women
StArability Foundation Participants return as Assistants During collier county Football Season
STARability Foundation announced the return of the ball assistant program for the upcoming 2024-25 Collier County high school football season. Offered in partnership with the Greater Naples Officials Association, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the unique opportunity to train as referees during junior varsity games on Thursday nights at local high schools throughout Naples
“This program serves as a shining example of how our community can create inclusive opportunities and inspire the next generation," said Jeff Maconaghy, chair of STARability Foundation’s board of directors and college football referee. Visit STARability.org for more information.
The Women’s Foundation of Collier County awarded a $7,500 grant to support a mentoring program for teenage girls at the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. The Club’s Junior Women of Initiative program gives young women, ages 11 to 15, the opportunity to work alongside adult female mentors, sharing experiences and developing essential life skills.
To be eligible for the program, which consists of 15 workshop sessions over seven months, JWOI candidates undergo an interview process. Last year, nine young women from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds were paired with eight successful female business leaders and professionals from the Naples community, who served as their mentors. Visit visit BGCCC.com for more information.
SEND US YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS!
Did your kids do something amazing? Is your organization hosting an event? Let us know, and you might see your news in print! Send photos and details to info@neafamily.com.
New Education Director at Arts
Bonita Envisions School of the Arts
ArtsBonita has appointed John Artigo as its new education director.. "Jon's creativity, strategic thinking, and extensive experience set him apart from the over 100 candidates who applied for this position," said Alyona Ushe, Arts Bonita's executive director. "As Arts Bonita continues to experience rapid growth and looks toward the next stage of its development, I am confident that Jon's contributions will prove invaluable."
Artigo brings over 18 years of experience in arts education as a senior director and teacher, coupled with more than 25 years as a professional filmmaker, writer, director, and media designer. His career includes a significant tenure at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he collaborated with the visual arts, dance, theater, and music departments to build the cinematic arts program into an award-winning entity.
Artigo is tasked with building on the existing programs at Arts Bonita while elevating the institution to the next level. His vision is to reimagine Arts Bonita as a school of the arts, expanding the curriculum to include disciplines such as digital art and film, and further develop programming for student artists, professionals, and community hobbyists.
Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Offering 1 or 2 day options Ages 2– 4 year olds (by August 1st)
enroll or for information
contact
Story Explorers Happily Haunted (Ages 5-7) Tues, Oct 1-29, 5:30-7:30PM
This class puts your student in the Halloween spirit as they explore a happily haunted house. Students will learn all about storytelling and the Actors’ Toolbox through drama, music, and art activities and their collaborative efforts will be showcased in a sharing event for friends and family on the final day of class.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Ages 6-9) Mon-Thurs, Nov. 4-21, 2024 I 5:30-7:30PM
Performances: Nov. 21-23, 2024
Calling all students ages 6-9! Join us for a three-week Conservatory program at Gulfshore Playhouse. Led by seasoned theatre professionals, young actros will have the opportunity to grow their acting skills in a supportive and dynamic environment. The program culminates in a 30-minute adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Performances: Dec. 13-15, 2024
Join us on the Moran Mainstage for the Youth Edition of this classic musical comedy. This funfilled adventure features all the beloved songs by Cole Porter in a way that’s perfect for audiences of all ages.
To register or for inquiries contact Director of Education, Steven Calakos at scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org
Conservatory Production
GUIDE
FA LL FESTIVALS ✦ PUMPKIN PATCHES ✦ HALLOWEEN EVENTS
TRUNK OR TREATS ✦ HAUNTED HOUSES ✦ COSTUME CONTESTS & MORE FUN
SWFL is loaded with exciting choices this autumn season, from spine-tingling spookiness to heartwarming family activities. Explore the diverse range of fall fun options that await you in our annual Fall Family Fun Guide.
Details are subject to change so check the event’s website for the latest information.
MULTI-DATE EVENTS
Check website for times
5th Annual Fall Adventure Festival at Springtime Farms Adventure Park
Enjoy the fall festival and a haunted maze on a 30-acre farm. The fun includes a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, daytime haunted walk, food trucks and more.
DATES: Sept. 28–Oct. 27
LOCATION: Springtime Farms Adventure Park, 10761 Aqua Vista Lane, North Fort Myers
INFO: www.springtimeplantfarm.com
Boo-tanical Weekend at the Wonder Gardens
Halloween at the Wonder Gardens has photo ops, fun decorations, family games and activities, face painting, special animal enrichment, and more.
DATES: Oct 11-13
Location: 27180 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs
INFO: www.wondergardens.org/ boo-tanical-weekend
Boo at the Zoo
Guests will enjoy the Zoo magically transformed into a living movie scene, complete with costumed characters and trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under. All kids 12 and under in costume receive free admission.
DATES: Oct 11-13 & 18-20
LOCATION: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette Frank Rd. N., Naples
INFO: 239-262-5409 or napleszoo.org/boo
39th Cape Coral Oktoberfest
With German music and local bands, German food, and beer, there’s plenty of fun to go around, for any age. Carnival area for kids.
DATES: Oct 18-20 & 25-27
LOCATION: German American Social Club, 2101 SW Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral
INFO: 239-252-4000 or capecoraloktoberfest.com
Farmer Mike’s 10th Annual Fall Festival & Corn Mazes
Farmer Mike has three different corn mazes, hayrides, and pumpkin patch.
DATES: Sept. 28-Oct. 27
LOCATION: Farmer Mikes U Pick, 26031 Morton Ave., Bonita Springs INFO: 239-498-4576 or farmermikesupick.com
Nature Centers 61st Annual Haunted Walk
This is the Calusa Nature Center's 61st annual Haunted Walk. The Haunted Walk is a fundraiser that raises money to care for all of the center's animal residents for the coming year.
DATES: Oct 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27
LOCATION: Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers
INFO: www.calusanature.org
ONE
DAY EVENTS
Honrando Nuestra Historia: Dias de los Muertos Family Fun Day
Part of the Honrando Nuestra Historia series, this family-friendly event will talk about the importance of Los Dias de los Muertos and how they differ from Halloween. There will crafts with “calaveras” (skull decorations) and “offrendas” (alters).
DATE: Oct. 12, 10 am-1 pm
LOCATION: Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 S Heathwood Dr., Marco Island
INFO: colliermuseums.com
Mid-Cape Fall Fest 2024
Vendors, food trucks, bounce houses, games, and more. Children’s costume contest (for children 12 and under) and enter your pup in the pet costume contest.
Bring the whole family for a night of Halloween fun. Activities include
costume contest, face painting, pumpkin patch, trick or treating, and a free movie screening of Monsters Inc.
DATE: Oct. 15, 5:30 am-7 pm
LOCATION: Mercato, 9132 Strada Place, Naples
INFO: experiencemercato.com
Halloween Howl
Parents can drop off their children for a fun-filled night of tricks and treats. Pizza, spooky games, activities, costume contest, and candy fun awaits.
DATE: Oct. 18, 6 pm–8 pm
LOCATION: East Naples Community Park, 3500 Thomasson Dr., Naples
INFO: www.collierparks.com
Spooktacular Night at Estero Park
A spooky night under the stars. Activities include Trunk-or-Treat, food trucks, and a movie in the park.
Come in costume and enjoy not-sospooky Halloween games, activities, and trick-or-treating for the whole family.
DATE: Oct. 19, 10 am
LOCATION: Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C'MON), 15080 Livingston Road, Naples.
INFO: www.cmon.org
Pioneer Pumpkin Palooza
Pick your pumpkin and head to the decorating station to gussy up your gourd. Then head to the crafts tables where you can make a scarecrow and huskdolls. Experience the magic of fall on the hayride as you tour the Ranch.
DATE: Oct. 19, 10 am–1 pm
LOCATION: Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch,1215 Roberts Ave. W, Immokalee
The whole family can show off their most creative, spooky, or hilarious costumes for a chance to win amazing prizes. Other activities include axe throwing contest, dunk tank and carnival games, face painting, musical chairs, and more.
DATE: Oct. 19, 10 am–1 pm
LOCATION: Tamiami Ford, 1471 AirportPulling Rd. N, Naples
INFO: www.facebook.com/ events/1649638498932213
YMCA Fall Festival
A family-friendly fall event with games, giveaways, food, and more.
DATE: Oct. 19, 10 am–12 pm
LOCATION: Marco Island YMCA, South Campus, 101 Sand Hill St., Marco Island INFO: www.ymcacollier.org
6th Annual Fall Fest: Nation's Choice Church
A family-friendly fall event with vendors, bounce houses, games, and more.
DATE: Oct. 19, 12–4 pm
LOCATION: Nation's Choice Church, 903 Pondella Rd., North Fort Myers
INFO: www.nationschoicechurch.org/ currentevents
Exploding Pumpkins with Mr. Glen
A scientifically spooky spectacular event for all ages. Mr. Glen will bring science to Halloween.
North Collier Regional Boo-tacular Bring the family to the North Collier Regional Park Soccer Complex for this BOO-tacular Halloween. There will be entertainment, bounce houses, games, crafts, food trucks, face painting, and a trick or treat lane.
DATE: Oct. 19, 6–9 pm
LOCATION: North Collier Regional Park Soccer Complex, 15110 Palmer Lake Cir., Naples
INFO: www.facebook.com/ events/1050329096434453
BCIRP Ghoulden Gate Estates
Trunk or Treat
Enjoy a fun-filled night of Halloween
festivities, including games, costume contests, prizes, bounce houses, food vendors, and more.
DATE: Oct. 25, 6–8 pm
LOCATION: Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park, 810 39th Ave. N.E., Naples
INFO: www.collierparks.com
Immokalee Trunk or Treat
The Collier County Parks and Recreation annual Halloween Trunk or Treat event will feature trick or treating, music, face painting, bounce houses, food, and a costume contest.
DATE: Oct. 25, 6–8 pm
LOCATION: Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. First St., Immokalee INFO: www.collierparks.com
Trunk or Treat NABOR
Dress up and collect candy at the Naples Area Board of Realtors Trunk or Treat. This is a free event for the entire community with a DJ and lots of treats.
DATE: Oct. 25, 5:30–7:30 pm
LOCATION: Naples Area Board of REALTORS, 1455 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples INFO: www.facebook.com/ events/3880313805585708
Annual Halloween Trick or Treat Spooktacular-Bell Tower Shops
Enjoy a variety of entertainment, games, themed photo ops, inflatable axe throwing, visits from Way Too Tall Torrie, a bounce house, and more. Trick or treating will take place at participating retailers throughout the center (while supplies last). Children are encouraged to wear costumes.
DATE: Oct. 26, 12 pm–3 pm
LOCATION: Bell Tower Shops, Daniels Parkway and US 41, Fort Myers INFO: www.belltowerfl.com
Trunk-or-Treat at Ave Maria Town Center
Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and bring your treat bag for candy, games and a costume contest in the Ave Maria Town Center. Themed live music, DJ, food and beverages, and more.
DATE: Oct. 26, 3 pm–6 pm
LOCATION: Ave Maria Town Center, 5076 Annunciation Circle, Ave Maria INFO: www.avemaria.com
5th Avenue South Annual Halloween Spooktacular
The event will have community vendors offering food, candy, games, costume contests, live music, and child-friendly performances.
DATE: Oct. 26, 3 pm–8 pm
LOCATION: Cambier Park, 755 8th Ave.
S., Naples
INFO: www. fifthavenuesouth.com/ halloween
Spooktacular Halloween
Marco Island
The City of Marco Island
Parks and Recreation will hold it's annual Halloween Spooktacular event at Mackle Park. There will be music, games, treats for the kids, and a costume contest.
DATE: Oct. 26, 4 pm–6 pm
LOCATION: Mackle Park, 1361
Andalusia Terr., Marco Island INFO: www.cityofmarcoisland.com/
GTLC’s Annual Trunk or Treat
Wear your costume, bring a treat bag, and get ready to vote on your favorite decorated trunk.
Check out the current “python hunters” exhibit in the front, then wind your way through the main gallery to pick up treats from creepy characters.
DATE: Oct. 26, 5–7 pm
LOCATION: 105 Broadway Ave. W., Everglades City
INFO: www.colliermuseums.com
Spooky Sweets Trunk or Treat
A frightfully delightful evening of familyfriendly Halloween fun at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt's Spooky Sweet Trunk or Treat event.
DATE: Oct. 26, 5–8 pm
LOCATION: Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples
INFO: www.shopvanderbilt.com/events
Trick or Treat & Costume Contest
Take the family to Gulf Coast Town
Center for it's annual trick or treat and costume contest.
DATE: Oct. 26, 5–8 pm
LOCATION: Gulf Coast Town Center, 9903 Gulf Coast Main St., Fort Myers INFO: www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com
City of Naples Trunk or Treat
Join the City of Naples and C.O.N.C.E.R.N in an exciting event full of scary activities, food trucks, live entertainment, and more.
DATE: Oct. 26, 6 pm
LOCATION: Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples INFO: www.naplesgov.com
BOOth or Treat
A frightfully delightful evening filled with vendors offering potions, brews, and enchanting arts and crafts. And beware — special kid-friendly characters will be lurking about for a fang-tastic meet and greet.
DATE: Oct. 26, 5–8 pm
LOCATION: Be Our Guest Party Room, 12901 McGregor Blvd #10, Fort Myers
INFO: www.facebook.com/ events/371748572624958
9th Annual Halloween
Flamingo Fest
Spend the day at the Flamingo Island Flea Market. Activities include pet costume contest, kid's costume contest, live music, games, food, bounce house, reading to rabbits, and more.
DATE: Oct. 26, 9 am–5 pm
LOCATION: Flamingo Island Flea Market, 11902 Bonita Beach Rd., SE, Bonita Springs
INFO: www.facebook.com/ flamingoisland
Trunk or Treat at the Florida Sports Park
Family-friendly drive through trunk or treating. Come see a world-famous swamp buggy up close.
A “not-so-spooky” Halloween concert that’s sure to be fun for the whole family.
Come dressed as your favorite superhero or villain for a costume contest and try out the instruments of the orchestra in our Musical Discovery Zone. This will be followed by a concert featuring some of the most memorable superhero music.
DATE: Oct. 27, 1 pm
LOCATION: Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers
INFO: www.bbmannpah.com
First Naples Church Trunk & Treat
A free night of fun with for the whole family. Fill your bags with candy, play games, and wear your favorite (nonscary) costume.
DATE: Oct. 30, 6:30 pm–8 pm
LOCATION: First Naples Church, 3000 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples
INFO: www.firstnaples.org/event/trunktreat-2024
Trunk or Treat at Pursue Church Family-friendly event with a bounce house and an inflatable obstacle course. Hot dogs and refreshments will be served.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party offers a spooktacular celebration with family-friendly fun, such as trick-or-treating, character meet-and-greets, and the "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade.
DATES: Aug. 9-Oct. 31
LOCATION: Walt Disney World Resort, 1180 Seven Seas Dr., Lake Buena Vista INFO: www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's Howl-OScream celebrates its 25th anniversary with more than 10 new spine-chilling experiences, including five haunted houses, including the twisted "Shadows of Wonderland" and the eerie "Witch of the Woods: Rise of the Coven."
DATES: Sept. 6-Nov. 2
LOCATION: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 N McKinley Dr., Tampa
Families can enjoy various festive activities, including trick-or-treating, costume parades, and themed dance parties, all in a the fall-themed park. Highlights include Kandy’s Sweetacular Celebration and Sesame Street-themed Halloween fun.
DATES: Sept. 7-Oct. 30
LOCATION: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 10165 N McKinley Dr., Tampa
This Halloween event features LEGOthemed trick-or-treating, spooky character meet-and-greets, Halloween shows, and a giant LEGO pumpkin for memorable photo opportunities.
Skeletons are scary, right? Maybe on Halloween (if you want them to be), but absolutely, positively not on Día de Los Muertos, a joyful day when, according to 3,000-year-old Aztec tradition, the gates of the mythological Land of the Dead are opened to allow the ancestors to cross over for a big family reunion of sorts. That day is usually November 2. The living are the hosts, and the ancestors, dressed in their finery, are the guests of honor. The most symbolic depiction of the ancestors is La Catrina, a fashionable-to-the-max skeleton – her jiggly white bones clad in ornate dresses, her head adorned in masses of feathers and flowers, and her smiling face a makeup artist's dream in red lipstick and dramatic eye shadow highlighting her long, fluttery lashes.
The strong scents of incense and marigolds, and illumination from candles (or more recently, strings of twinkling lights) will help guide the ancestors home, where lively musicians and dancers await in plazas and public gathering places to entertain them.
At home, the family will have prepared an altar, or offrenda, with candles, papel picado (colorful paper flags as delicate as snowflakes), pictures of the departed, and representative things they enjoyed in their earthly lives. There will also be offerings of a special bread called pan de muertos, chips, water, fruits, and and some of their other favorite foods. Special highlights are artful cardboard or papier-mâché skulls, or even sweet meringue delicacies called sugar skulls. Private family traditions may include storytelling, songs, and poetry.
It's only the fragrance of the food that lures the ancestors – because, technically, skeletons can't eat, you know. Some say that the next day the food has no taste because the essence was already enjoyed by the spirits.
By Karen T. Bartlett
LOCAL EXPERIENCE
Naples Botanical Garden
La Catrina herself will make an appearance in the form of four spectacular sculptures throughout Naples Botanical Garden during its weekendlong Día de Los Muertos fiesta on Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There also will be live and DJ music by David Munoz and DJ Vamanos, respectively, plus folkloric dance performances, arts and crafts stations, and family -themed activities on the Performance Lawn. For adults and younger foodies, there's a drop-in program called "The Spice is Right: Spices of Mexico" in the Scott Florida Garden. Inside Kapnick Hall are several offrendas created by members of the community, and a memory wall where guests may post their own tributes using materials provided.
enous and traditional folk dance and music from Mexico and throughout Latin America. There will be food trucks, street performers, sugar skull face painting, mask painting, puppet-making and other traditional Mexican craft booths, and other kids’ activities.
T aco Tummy Food Truck will be on hand with authentic Mexican fare, and the garden's Fogg Café will offer a special chicken flautas dish created from a family recipe of two café staff members. naplesgarden.org/series/dia-de-losmuertos-celebration
FULL IMMERSION Fort Lauderdale
Grab your skeleton costume and head to Fort Lauderdale for one of the biggest and most joyful Día de Los Muertos fiestas outside of Mexico. Day of the Dead, now in its 15th year, is a free day-long family festival attended by thousands. More than 100 performers will entertain on the Folklorico Stage, showcasing indig-
The evening begins with the spectacular Skeleton Processional through downtown Fort Lauderdale. Young mariachi musicians lead dozens of skeletal puppets up to 18 feet tall animated by professional puppeteers from Puppet Network and the Puppet Guild of South Florida. After the Skeleton Processional, the all-ages street party continues with more entertainment, vendors and food. dayofthedeadflorida.com
Travel Editor Karen T. Bartlett loves a backstory. She believes that immersing in history and authentic cultural traditions enriches the travel experience, and that exploring the world changes life perspective. Sometimes that world is just upriver (watch for her Fossil Quest in next month's issue), and occasionally, she confesses, the immersion starts with an excellent animated movie. (See: Coco). Go to our calendar of events for additional Dia de Los Muertos events neafamily.com/calendarofevents/events
The skeletal form of La Catrina was inspired by late 1800s political printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, who used skulls and animated skeletons (calaveras) to poke fun at Mexican market vendors who put on airs in the feathers, flowers, and finery of high European fashion, and white makeup to make their skin look pale. La Catrina gained new fame from a 1940s painting by Diego Rivera. Ever since, modern celebrations of Día de Los Muertos feature lots of elegant Catrinas, in parades, festivals, and public art. La Catrina at Naples Botanical Garden by Karen T. Bartlett.
AI-generated by Karen T. Bartlett
LEADING WITH KINDNESS
How ROCK is Changing School Communities One Act at a Time
By Jennifer Kupiec
Bullying is a topic you’ll hear discussed in schools across our nation. It’s something we grew up with as children, and it’s something that now affects our own children. In recent years, however, we are seeing a wave of kindness spread across schools. Groups of students are working together to bring about change. One example that can be found in some of our schools is the addition of ROCK — Roots of Compassion and Kindness.
Collier County Public Schools teamed up with Florida Gulf Coast University about five years ago to bring ROCK into our schools. FGCU already had a ROCK Center on its campus and agreed to allow its students to apply their learning in the community by teaching our local school children the core values of compassion, kindness, and empathy. Pine Ridge Middle School joined the ROCK movement last school year.
“It’s something I really believe in,” explains PRMS school counselor Pamela Schram. “I really feel like if we give
students the power and the okay to be kind, that they’re going to follow it.”
Scott Peacock is an eighth grade student and member of ROCK at PRMS. “I wanted to get involved with the ROCK team because I really want to try and promote more kindness and compassion throughout the school and our district as a whole. If I’m walking the school hallways, I like to help out kids who don’t know where they are going, or just need help, or just need to sit with someone at lunch.”
Jose Miguel, another ROCK member at PRMS, shares Scott’s enthusiasm for the program. “Every day I come to school and try to be the best I can to everyone. All of my teachers have told me I’m a pretty good person, that I have good character, which is why I like to spread kindness and happiness around our school.”
Schram says it’s making a difference. “The other day at lunch, I had a boy sitting by himself and I had a group of eighth grade boys sitting nearby. They got up and went over and began talking to the
boy who was alone. The next day, he was by himself again. That same group of boys said, ‘Hey, come over here and sit with us.’ So that boy got up and went over and sat with them. It was so beautiful to see students acting like that and trying to help out other kids.
That’s what we’re all about.”
“I really think this is a great thing that we’ve got going here,” adds Peacock. “I’m moving up [to high school], but I want to try and pass it on and keep doing something good with it.”
School Counselor Pamela Schram with some of the members of ROCK: Aiden Ljikovic, Scott Peacock, Jose Miguel, and Zander Spencer
Meet Sutton Shanahan
The 12-Year-Old Powerhouse Behind Kidz 4 a Cause
By Andrea Stetson
Just one of the items on Sutton Shanahan’s list of accomplishments would make her a top kind-hearted kid, but this 12-year-old Naples girl has a raft of acts of kindness that she has performed around the community and far beyond.
It all began when Sutton was 9 years old and her beloved aunt died of cancer.
“I wanted to start a business that helps kids with cancer,” Sutton said.
Her goal was to raise $15,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She created Kidz 4 a Cause, a nonprofit dedicated to helping kids raise money and awareness for change. Then she began writing letters, going on social media, and talking to people to secure donations. She helped organize a concert and found a singer to perform for free. Donations started coming in through Facebook and Instagram. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top donated a guitar to be auctioned off.
“We wrote a $15,000 check for St. Jude’s,” Sutton said proudly.
Next she turned her attention to organizing other charity events in the community. She launched teacher supply, book, and toy drives. After Hurricane Ian, she helped raise money and gather supplies for people who lost their belongings in the storm.
Then she expanded her focus beyond Southwest Florida.
Sutton and her brothers started writing letters and sending packages to their mother’s friend’s son, who was deployed on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
Sutton then utilized Kidz 4 a Cause to gather donations from friends, family, community members, and even large corporations.
With the additional support, the number and type of items in the care packages began to grow, from the first shipment of towels to shirts, snacks, toothpaste, cooling towels, and more.
Chick-fil-A, Dude Wipes, Jel Sert, Robert Irvine’s Fit Crunch, and Mister Bandana donated more than $15,000 in products. More than 2,047 pounds of products were delivered to the ship.
When those on board the Eisenhower mentioned they liked to dip their food in sauces, Kidz 4 a Cause asked Chick-fil-A to donate thousands of sauce packets.
“Sauce is considered liquid gold on the ship because they just have ketchup and mustard,” explained Sutton.
IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK
How did a kid who isn’t even a teenager yet secure these big donations?
“It never hurts to ask,” Sutton said. “We have gotten a ton of no’s and a lot have not responded, but that is ok. I feel like if you have never gotten a no, there would be no victory in getting a yes. You should just celebrate your victories.”
There are also a plethora of donations from individuals.
“People kept reposting our Amazon wish list, so we kept getting stuff at my door,” Sutton said.
There was so much arriving that she recently got a warehouse to store everything in while the items are sorted and
sent to the aircraft carrier.
The USS Eisenhower just returned from the Red Sea and Sutton was invited to Virginia to tour the ship and meet the captain. Now that the Eisenhower is in port, Kidz 4 a Cause is shipping items to the USS Indianapolis and USS Wasp and will soon add the USS Truman.
“We need to continue it because it is one of our biggest events, and we have a lot of supplies left over,” Sutton said.
The seventh grader at the Community School of Naples holds Zoom meetings with business executives, posts on social media, and sorts and sends items to those in need, but she has another side to her busy life. She is an A student and participates in cross country at CSN. She was in the Florida All-State Chorus, is PADI (scuba) certified, serves as an ambassador for Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan and was a page for the Florida House of Representatives during the 2024 session. Last spring break, Sutton took part in a program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville studying molecular genetics and then returned for the Vanderbilt Summer Academy studying the human genome.
“And I have homework, and I have all that stuff,” Sutton said. “It is kind of hard to balance it out because I am in seventh grade now.”
Her friendships revolve around all this work. Sutton said her friend Alexa Hicks often helps with the nonprofit.
“She has been one of my biggest supporters,” Sutton said. “I feel like she is always there to help.”
Sutton’s mother, Jennifer Shanahan, says it is all about making volunteering enjoyable.
“Sutton turned volunteering into fun, and that is so important,” Shanahan began. “A lot of people think of volunteering as work or writing a check, but it can be comradery or a support team. It can be rewarding.”
Shanahan is incredibly proud of her daughter’s accomplishments.“You support your kids all the time, but when they want to support others rather than themselves, you listen harder,” she said. “Kids can do big things. They just need to find someone to believe in them. It is our role as a parent to believe in them.”
BEYOND THE BUS STOP A Behind-the-Scenes Look at School Bus Safety in Southwest Florida
By Andrea Stetson
Collier County school buses travel 6.2 million miles a year. The 325 buses on 249 routes to 47 schools transport about 20,000 students a day. In Lee County, school buses drive 8.5 million miles a year. The 750 buses on 2,388 routes to 96 traditional schools transport about 50,000 students every school day. John Lambcke, director of transportation for CCPS, says a school bus is the safest way to travel on our local roads. Nationally, less than one percent of traffic fatalities involve children on school transportation vehicles.
“School buses have changed since I rode a school bus 35 years ago,” Lambcke said. “It is the most federally regulated form of transportation. We are carrying our most precious resource. It is safety first.”
Neapolitan Family was taken on a behind the scenes tour of the school bus depot where we saw how bus drivers are trained, how buses are inspected, and what goes into safely moving that many children from home to school and back each day.
tHE BUS
School buses are designed to be highly visible with the bright yellow color and safety features such as flashing red lights, cross-view mirrors, and stop-sign arms. There are also high crush standards and rollover protection features. These large vehicles are heavier and have less crash forces than cars or light trucks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires school buses to provide crash protection to passengers through compartmentalization, which means children ride in a cocoon or compartment surrounded by an energy-absorbing protection system. If a child is thrust forward or back they will hit padding instead of a seat frame or hard surface. The steel inner structure absorbs the energy and the high, padded seat backs remain secured to the school bus floor in the event of a collision. This compartmentalization is similar to protecting eggs in a carton.
“They are essentially tanks for children,” said Michael Huff, fleet supervisor for CCPS.
Even though federal legislation does not require seatbelts on buses weighing more than 10,000 pounds, every school bus in Collier and Lee counties has them. Students are encouraged to wear them, though most don’t, and it is not enforced.
“We are required to instruct them to wear seatbelts. We cannot physically force students to put on a seatbelt,” Huff explained.
Buses all have back emergency doors. All Collier and Lee county school buses are
air-conditioned. They all have cameras both inside and outside.
In 2022, an estimated 42,795 people died nationwide in motor vehicle traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Just five of those deaths were school bus passengers.
LOcAL SAFEtY
Each school day before sunrise, every bus driver inspects their bus before getting behind the wheel.
“We want to make sure the bus is safe. We have precious cargo,” said Karl Nicolas, a driver and maintenance supervisor for CCPS.
Drivers check everything from mirrors and tires to bolts and nuts. They make sure the lights and stop-sign arms are working, the doors properly open and close, and that safety equipment such as the first aid kit and fire extinguisher are on board. They inspect the steps, the seats, and the windows.
Nicolas walked around a bus at the depot showing all the things on the checklist.
“We make sure there are no cracks and nothing is missing, we make sure the cameras are in working condition, we make sure the rear emergence door latch works from the outside and the inside. We check the reflective tape to make sure it is not torn or missing. We check the under compartment to make sure the hinges are ok and that it is clean. We check the circuit breakers. This is a walk around, and you
Karl Nicolas is in charge of training bus drivers in Collier County. Photo by Andrea Stetson.
h ave to make sure everything is there. Every day they do a proper inspection. It takes less than seven minutes.”
If the drivers find something wrong they call a mechanic who will either quickly fix the problem or order the bus to the maintenance bay and send the driver off to find another bus.
Nicolas stresses to the drivers how important this daily inspection is.
“This is not just a job,” he said. “I have two kids of my own. We want to make sure the bus is safe for the driver and the kids and for the on-the-road users.”
When a driver is hired, they are required to have a minimum of 40 hours of training in a classroom and another 40 on the bus. Nicolas said it can be more since new drivers don’t complete training until they have mastered all the requirements.
“You have to make sure they grasp the information so they don't just pass the test, but that they are the best bus drivers ever,” Nicolas stressed.
Both Collier and Lee county schools have their buses fully inspected and maintained in the bus bays by a state-certified school bus inspector every 30 days.
Things have also become safer for keeping track of students on the bus. In both counties every child either scans their ID badge or types in their student number when entering and leaving the bus. Parents and school officials can track where their students are on the Where’s the Bus app.
“I encourage the parents to go on the district website and download the app so you can have it on your phone,” Lambcke said. “It is a very valuable resource.”
Collier County is now piloting another technological safety program. It is trying out four different systems of cameras that will capture images of vehicles that pass a bus when the stop-sign bus arm is out. CCPS can then submit those videos to law enforcement who will issue traffic violations.
“Student safety has always been important to me,” Lambcke said.
AN INSIDE LOOK
Inside the bus, students talk, sleep, and scroll on their cell phones. Rick Ramsey has been a Collier County school bus driver for more than 20 years. His route takes students to Aubrey Rogers High School, Veterans Elementary School, and North Naples Middle School. Ramsey says he arrives at the bus depot at 5:55 a.m. His first stop is at 6:17 a.m.
“The easiest is high school,” Ramsey said. “It is early in the morning and they are still fast asleep. They get on the bus and I greet them by name.” He noted that high schoolers are either on their phone or are asleep. “They are so quiet that if I didn't look in the mirror and see heads back there, I would not know they are on the bus. The most challenging group for me is elementary. They are very loud. It is a little more effort with them. Middle school is really good. Some are more challenging than others.”
Under school board policy, discipline on buses is the responsibility of the driver except on field trips where teachers or coaches are responsible. A student who has been disorderly on a school bus may be suspended from transportation services.
When asked how he oversees students and keeps his eyes on the road, Ramsey said it is all about eye movement. “You are fixed on the road. You look in the left mirror, right mirror, and mirror on the top that sees the kids and you keep scanning. In my 20 years no child has ever been hurt on my bus.”
cHALLENGES
Challenges remain for the school bus system in Southwest Florida. Collier County has 245 drivers, but needs five more. Collier County bus drivers earn $22.43 per hour. Lee County has 516 drivers, and needs 64 more.
“Hiring drivers is our biggest transportation challenge,” said Rob Spicker, a spokesman for Lee County Public Schools. “Not being fully staffed causes all the other issues that impact getting students to and from school on time. We recruit all year long, offer incentives, pay for training and are in bargaining to raise starting pay from the current $18.90 an hour, but it is
a challenge to recruit and retain enough drivers to staff every route.”
BUS SAFEtY
While children are safe inside the bus, they are more at risk when approaching or leaving this school transportation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers an extensive list of ways to make this journey safer.
When you see a school bus slowing down or stopping, it’s not just the bus that you need to have your eyes on, but the surrounding area too.
Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Slow down and prepare to stop your vehicle.
Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. You must stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving, before you can start driving again. In every state, it is illegal to pass a school bus while the stop-arm is extended and red lights are flashing, on both sides of the road, unless there is a raised median that separates the two sides of the road. A turn-lane is not considered a raised area, and all cars on both sides of the road must stop.
Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus arrives.
When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay to get on or off.
Collier County Public Schools’ buses head to the maintenance bays every 30 days for a checkup and routine maintenance.
Photo by Andrea Stetson.
EMPOWERING GIRLS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
A Decade of Wellfit Girls’ Life-Changing Program
By Anna Snyder
Founded in 2014 by Jill Wheeler and Colby Robertson, Wellfit Girls is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for middle and high school young women to develop leadership skills, gain confidence, overcome hardships, and launch into successful adulthood. Over the past 10 years, 320 girls have completed the program – they’ve participated in weekly small groups and gone on adventure trips all over the world.
The organization is excited to announce its 10-year anniversary and continue to tell the story about its significant impact on young women in Southwest Florida. Neapolitan Family had the opportunity to talk with Robertson and Brooke Spencer, executive director, about how Wellfit Girls started, and how it has changed over the years to adapt to the unique needs of today’s young women.
Q Why Wellfit Girls?
robertson: We want to care for and mentor middle and high school young women. It’s rewarding and exciting to tell these girls’ stories – and to empower them to tell their own stories. When they get home from culminating trips, they’re so
excited and empowered. Plus, it’s been so cool to see the difference Wellfit Girls has made in young women’s lives three or four years out from their participation in the program.
QTell us about the program. Who do you serve?
Spencer: Each year, we serve up to 17 girls in our high school program, which consists of an intentional small group program from January through June. This includes twice-weekly meetings. One day is devoted to leadership development and one day is devoted to fitness. The program culminates with a trip in June. Our desire is to develop high quality, deep, trusting relationships within the small group of girls. In 2019, we started a summer camp for middle school girls, which consists of two weeks of training in Naples and one week in Georgia. We wanted to reach girls at an earlier age so that by the time they get to high school, they know about the Wellfit Girls program.
robertson: Students can come back and go through the program as a mentor. It’s not necessarily a one-and-done program. The longer they stay involved, the better
chance they have of staying on the right road. Every young woman is at risk of that one decision that would change the trajectory of their life. We're not trying to get girls out of rehab or out of trouble –rather, we're trying to reach the average girl. We want girls to see they're capable of so much more.
QHow has the organization changed over the past 10 years?
roberston: Ten years ago, we started with a fitness mindset; we wanted to get girls moving and out of their comfort zones. We used fitness as a way to create discomfort and encourage growth in mindset and confidence. Now, we see that every adolescent girl is at risk. Now, they’re already in discomfort.
Ten years ago, there was not as much access to social media. Now, digital connection is overwhelming and anxiety is through the roof. So, we teach them about sleep, putting their phones down, showing up on time. We focus much more on basic skills. They are the most connected digitally and the most disconnected in terms of face-to-face relationships. Their desire to belong is so strong, but now we need to give them the necessary tools to form meaningful, in-person connections.
Spencer: We’ve seen an increase in [mental health] diagnoses at younger and younger ages since 2014. All the talk around mental health feels new. COVID created a rhythm of disconnect. Yet, we’ve stayed committed to in-person meetings. It’s who we are and what we cultivate.
robertson: Another big change is that our expeditions are all domestic now; we’ve taken trips to Montana, Georgia, North Carolina, and New Hampshire in the recent past.
QWhat does the future hold for Wellfit Girls?
roberston: We talk a lot about our desire for Wellfit Girls to be in any community around the country. Any girl can benefit from the curriculum. We would love it to grow beyond Southwest Florida. We want Wellfit Girls to be automatic, sustainable, and replicable, and we believe this could be life-changing for our society.
Success Stories: Where are They Now?
JOrDAN FErrEL
Originally from Fort Myers, Jordan graduated from University of Miami in 2022 and is now in her first year of Duke Law School. She completed the Wellfit Girls program in 2018. “Early on in Wellfit Girls, I was able to see myself take on something different and truly commit to it. With discipline, I proved to myself that I can do hard things and that there is something worthy on the other side. Now, I apply the lessons I learned to everything I do!”
rILEY ZUccArELLO
Riley completed the Wellfit Girls program in its first year – 2014. She graduated from Florida State University and now works as senior manager of Culture & Community at a tech company in New York City. In 2021, she founded the Wellfit Girls Alumni Advisory Council to increase alumni representation and offer leadership experience to the organiza-
tion. “I reflect on my experience with Wellfit Girls often. The lessons I learned still serve me today. Wellfit Girls taught me both resiliency and the power of vulnerability. Every one of us in that first year came out with a different takeaway, a new realization about ourselves. We came from different backgrounds with different life experiences, fears, strengths, and aspirations but all left with a shared sense of empowerment and connection.”
Riley explained the value of close friendships and community: “I wasn’t really that into fitness (to be honest, I’m still not!), and I didn’t really have a close group of girlfriends at the time, so committing to an all-girls program with “fit” in the name was a little daunting. But it was one of the best decisions of my life!”
Riley explained, “Wellfit Girls was originally founded as a transformational leadership and fitness program for ‘at-risk teen girls.’ At the time, I didn’t identify with being ‘at-risk’ and refused to be labeled as such. But in reality, life wasn’t perfect. I was in survival mode for most of my childhood and was pushing past
trauma related to my parents’ divorce and life at home. Growing up in a wealthy town like Naples, I also felt a deep insecurity around our financial and living situation. I spent a lot of my energy trying to fit a certain mold, out of fear of being confined to another. I was terrified of being viewed as ‘less than.’ Through Wellfit Girls, I grew to understand the power of embracing vulnerability and overcoming adversity. Through it all, I also learned the importance of healthy self-worth. Wellfit Girls empowered me to step into my authentic self — something for which I will always be thankful.”
Next Steps
Want to be involved? Wellfit Girls is accepting applications through Nov. 15 for its 2025 high school program. Additionally, the group is celebrating 10 years with a golf tournament at The Quarry in Naples on Oct. 11, with the goal of raising $100,000 toward program sustainability and growth. For more information, visit wellfitgirls.org.
STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE Many Parents Now Need Second Jobs to Pay the Bills
By Andrea Stetson
Aniah Fennie has a college degree and a good job as a social worker. Alexandria Smith works about 60 hours a week as a critical research coordinator. Margret Shawgo has a full time job at radiology regional. these Southwest Florida moms all work hard, yet say they need a second job to pay the rent and utilities and buy food and clothing. then there are the stay-at-home moms who can’t afford to work outside the home because of high daycare costs, yet need a way to earn some extra income. All of them are looking for ways to survive soaring prices.
Fennie was extremely frustrated struggling to keep up with the rising costs.
“I’m a social worker and a single mother of two. It’s to the point where I have to choose between paying my rent or buying food,” she stated. “Being in the middle class is super hard because I don’t qualify for any type of government assistance such as food stamps or Medicaid. It’s so discouraging because the whole purpose of me going to college was so I wouldn’t have to struggle, and I feel like I failed.”
Fennie, who is the mother of a 7 year old and 1 year old, recently had to leave town to make ends meet.
“I was living in Fort Myers and it was getting to the point where I was trying to do everything. I was doing Door Dash, Uber, babysitting on the side, and working as a case manager as my full time job,” she described. “It was not enough to keep my head above water, so I decided to relocate to Atlanta. It is still expensive, but not as expensive as Florida. I am doing good, but I miss Florida.”
She said it is so sad that a person with a college degree and a good job struggles to pay the bills.
“It is not cheap here either," she said. “My grocery bill is still expensive. A good third of my check goes to my rent. It was worse in Southwest Florida; half my check went to rent and then daycare and I didn’t have any money for food. Hopefully things can change.”
Smith is a third generation Floridian, born and raised in Naples. She thought that her good job, with overtime working 60 hours a week, as a critical research coordinator would be enough, and it was until prices skyrocketed.
“The economy here is hard,” she said. “Our rent jumped, our auto insurance jumped another $300 a month, and we have to pay $260 a week in daycare. Groceries alone kill us. I've tried to find a second job myself and it's hard because I live in Fort Myers and work in Naples, and during season it can take me almost two hours to get home. Most people that live in Fort Myers have to work in Naples. You can’t afford to live
in Naples with the rent, but can’t afford to work in Fort Myers. My same position in Fort Myers, I would get $7 an hour less.”
To earn some extra cash Smith posts in moms’ Facebook groups to see if anyone needs help with groceries or handywork.
“I don’t get a lot of feedback because it is so saturated,” she explained. “A lot of people are already doing those things. I have helped somebody move, but that was it. Sometimes my boss will ask me if I want extra money to do odds and ends at the office after work.”
Smith, who has a 14-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter, has done Uber Eats but stopped because many customers weren’t tipping her.
“I work in a profession where I shouldn’t be struggling,” she said. “We get paid very well here, but nobody can keep up with inflation.”
Margret Shawgo works full time at Radiology Regional while raising her daughters ages, 14 and 9.
“I work at Five Guys every other week when my girls are at their dad’s house,” she said. “I go home after work, let the dog out, and go straight to the other job.”
The Lehigh Acres resident feels lucky to find an employer that lets her work every other week. “It is very hard for single parents who have a custody agreement to find a second job.” Shawgo said the situation is very frustrating.
“It has almost become unaffordable to live here, not just for single parents, but
for people with double incomes as well. At some point it will be unaffordable to live here.”
StAY AND WOrK At HOME
Stay-at-home moms are also being forced to find work to help pay the bills, and it is not easy juggling work and little ones.
Amanda Flaitz Von Ohlsen of Cape Coral has a 16-year-old son, a 6-year-old son with special needs, and a 4-year old daughter. She said it is impossible to get a job outside the home because her middle child needs to be driven to therapy five days a week and her youngest would need expensive daycare.
“It would cost more money to go back to work,” she said.
So Flaitz Von Ohlsen started her own digital marketing business that she runs from home. She teaches people how to enhance their social media pages, sell products, and create their own digital marketing business. She recently wrote an e-book about online moneymaking.
“I am starting to make some money,” she said “It took a while to learn the skills, partially since my children are distracting.”
This was not the first venture Flaitz Von Ohlsen tried. For a while she sold hair bows.
.“It was not worth making all these bows and just selling five or 10, so I started researching ways to make money from home. If I sold 10 hair bows, I had to make 10, but with digital marketing if I sell 10 e-books I only have to make it once, so it was working smarter instead of harder.”
It is not always easy. She tries to work while her boys are in school, but she still has to care for her daughter.
“I work on my phone – like all the time,” she described. “I fit it into the little pockets of time throughout my day. We will go to the park and she will play and I will work. We go to Chick-fil-A and while she plays I might get 45 minutes there.”
It’s not easy balancing working from home with children. Ashley Mandeville, Ph.D., an assistant professor of management at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, has some tips.
“This is a tough one,” she began. “The boundary theory is the idea that we construct boundaries around our work self and family self. Sometimes you can’t separate
those two worlds and that can cause stress and frustration.”
She suggests creating a home office or designated work space.
“It can be, ‘When I am at this dining table from 1-5, this is my work space’,” she explained. “The most helpful thing is to create those boundaries and understand that sometimes those boundaries are going to get crossed.”
StArtING A BUSINESS
Ashley Deal of Cape Coral had worked as an eighth grade science teacher in Lee County, cleaned AirBnbs, and rented out her garage as storage space. She has even sold plasma to earn extra cash.
“I was the queen of side hustles for a while,” she said. “You go in with those degrees and you think you are going to make a lot of money, but the only way to survive is to do overtime or side jobs,”
Then she discovered another way to earn money and spend more time with her three children. Deal started her own business called Cape Credit Repair LLC.
“I do credit repair and business funding,” Deal explained. “I have helped over 200 moms in the area qualify for zero down houses and mortgages. It is a very lucrative job.”
Deal said this was not the way she thought her life would go.
“I had my masters in psychology and I couldn’t afford to live here,” she said. “I was very good at credit repair and I tripled my salary from teaching. Everybody wants to be able to afford a house. Teaching was rewarding, but this is definitely rewarding too.”
Elise Friedson of Naples also found success by starting her own business. The stay-at-home mom knew she needed some work, but also had a young child to care for. She started renting baby equipment to visitors to SWFL. She uses BabyQuip as a platform to secure the insurance and marketing, which takes a portion of her profits, but Friedson says the business is hers so she can work as much or as little as she wants. She began by renting items her 3-year-old daughter had outgrown and then started buying additional items, and now rents everything from cribs and highchairs to beach wagons and beach chairs.
“Everything is very expensive,” she said. “We wanted to have that extra money on the side.”
Friedson feels it is beneficial for her daughter to see her work, and her child can even help. “I wanted her to see that work ethic. She helps me at home with cleaning and carrying things. She is very excited to help.”
BE SELEctIVE
Gina A. Tran, associate professor of marketing at FGCU, stresses that parents need to be cautious and pick the right jobs.
“There are side hustle gigs that sound like a wonderful opportunity for families that need that additional income.” But she warns that some of them are too good to be true and can end up costing more money than earned.
“If this wonderful opportunity asks you to pay money in advance, be very careful,” she warned, and added that job seekers should be wary of unsolicited offers.
Ask questions about salary and upfront costs and requirements, she advised, and check out the company on the Better Business Bureau website.
“If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.
“People think it is legitimate because it is through a [Facebook] group. They are in need of extra income and they are vulnerable … so they unfortunately fall for it,” Tran said.
“There are a lot of people that are struggling to make ends meet with the rising costs. It is hard. Some are doing these side hustles to save up and some are doing it more as a survival thing. We are hearing more and more of these kinds of stories.”
Amanda Flaitz Von Ohlsen works in her Cape Coral home with her 4-year-old daughter Everly. Photo from Amanda Flaitz Von Ohlsen.
How One Woman Transformed Her Life with the Support of
Here in the United States, intimate partner violence affects more than 12 million people every year. During October, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples joins thousands of emergency shelters throughout the country to raise awareness of the impact these crimes have on survivors and the entire community. The following is the story of one woman who found her way out. The names have been changed to protect her identity.
Suzanne worked for the Tanzanian government when she met Aadan online in 2012. He lived in Atlanta and the pair would correspond and visit back and forth between countries for two years. In 2014, Suzanne learned she was pregnant. She returned to the U.S. on a visa with plans to marry and start a new life with Aadan.
Soon after moving in with him, she started seeing red flags in the relationship. Aadan kept an iron grip on the finances and had little interest in marriage or helping her secure her residency. Unwilling to pay any expenses for the birth of their child, he sent Suzanne to his mother in Florida. There she applied for public assistance and gave birth to Leah in December 2014. She remained in Florida for two years, always planning to return to Atlanta.
“I was a hard worker. I wanted to work. I wanted to do something with my life,” she says.
In 2016, she and Leah returned to Atlanta, but without a job, family, friends, or transportation, and a toddler to care for, she found herself trapped. Aadan controlled every aspect of her life. She couldn’t even buy a birthday card to send to her mother.
As the abuse escalated, Suzanne began to form an escape plan. She contacted a distant cousin, who bought one-way plane tickets for her and Leah to fly to Southwest Florida. Although Aadan demanded they return in three weeks, she had no intention of ever coming back.
Suzanne found The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples online and in March 2018, she and Leah entered the emergency shelter.
“I felt like I could finally breathe,” she recalls of her first night in shelter. “I slept without worry that someone would do something to me.”
Suzanne is reluctant to talk about the violence that was perpetrated against her by her abuser or the impact that violence had on her daughter. She prefers to talk about The Shelter and how she was empowered to fulfill her dream of personal and financial independence.
“Most people need to hear the words, ‘You can do it!’,” she says. “I told the ladies my plans and goals and they all said, ‘You can do it!’”
At The Shelter, Suzanne worked with her advocate and took part in every program offered to her. She was extremely motivated and determined to create a good life for herself and her daughter. With the help of The Shelter’s legal services, she secured her green card and got a job. Through The Shelter’s Economic Empowerment program, she opened a line of credit and learned about credit scores and how to build her credit. She set a goal of one day buying her own home.
“They helped me take the word impossible out of my vocabulary,” she says of Shelter advocates.
Suzanne, right, and Leah are all smiles with their Transitional Living advocate Deb during a visit to The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
The Shelter for Abused Women & Children
Suzanne secured a job as a receptionist at a business near Lorenzo Walker Technical College. Since the school was close to her work, she enrolled in vocational courses and earned certification in phlebotomy and as a certified nursing assistant.
At 4 years old, Leah spoke only a few words. The violence she had witnessed impacted not only her speech, but her social and academic development as well. She attended The Shelter’s daycare and within months, she was talking, counting, and eager to learn. Today, at age 9, she enjoys classic novels, and her favorite author is Charles Dickens.
When the time came to leave emergency shelter, Suzanne was accepted into The Shelter’s Transitional Living program, which provides two years of housing on a sliding scale as participants work toward independent living. She recalls the day
she and Leah walked into the TL cottage that they would call home.
“I cried and cried,” Suzanne said. “For the first time, we had a house of our own — our own bedrooms, our own kitchen. Leah was extremely happy. It was wonderful seeing her like that.”
After months of walking to work and school, The Shelter helped Suzanne get a driver’s license and buy a used car with a grant from the Fresh Start for Survivors of Abuse fund. This program helps Collier County women and their children who have left violent homes become financially independent. With her new wheels, she was able to find better employment and worked hard to earn her licensed practical nursing certification.
After leaving Transitional Living, Suzanne used all that she had learned to pursue the goals she set for herself.
By Kaydee Tuff
Today, she holds down two jobs and recently achieved her dream of owning her own home. Despite being very hesitant to open her life to another relationship, she met a kind and gentle man, who is devoted to her and Leah.
What’s next? Suzanne says she is unsure, but she faces the future with hope and optimism and wishes the same for other survivors of domestic violence.
“My journey has not been easy,” she says, “but The Shelter reminded me that I can do it and I started tackling my goals like a hungry lioness! Everything is doable if you put your mind and soul to it.”
Kaydee Tuff is an award-winning writer with over 25 years in the newspaper industry. She has served as communications manager at The Shelter for Abused Women & Children since 2014.
TA GRANDPARENT'S GUIDE TO SUPPORTING NEURODIVERSE GRANDCHILDREN WITH LOVE AND PATIENCE
By Susan M. Abrams, M.A. CCC-SLP
he role of grandparents in families with children with special needs cannot be underestimated. I know because my daughter is neurodiverse and the support I get from my own parents has been a significantly positive contributor to her growth and my sense of sanity.
Grandparents don’t have it easy though. How do you determine the best role you as a grandparent can play in a situation as fluid and stressful as raising special needs children? After all, family dynamics aren’t always the easiest to figure out. Experts cite six key areas where grandparents can help offset parental challenges and positively influence grandchildren with developmental disabilities and other special needs.
EMOtIONAL SUPPOrt
Comfort and Understanding: Instead of trying to fix problems, the best thing a grandparent can say is, “I understand. Is there anything I can do that won’t make the situation worse?” Just being there and listening means more to parents than you know.
Encouragement and Advocacy: I always appreciate it when my mom sends me articles about how to help my children or shares examples of how other parents are navigating educational systems. This type of encouragement keeps me informed and helps me advocate for my child in various settings.
PrActIcAL ASSIStANcE
Childcare: This is a no brainer. Special needs parents need breaks and time for self-care. If you can just take your grandkids, even for an hour, it would give your child the time they need to simply breathe, get things done, get exercise, etc.
Transportation: Another no brainer! Shuttling kids seems so simple, but it’s exhausting. Perhaps once a week if you are local consider offering to take your grandchild to PT, OT, school, or wherever they need to go. If grandchildren need car seats, be willing to have them in your car to alleviate the burden of moving gear around.
Household Support: I tell my family all the time, “I am not an octopus!” Yet the demands of special needs parenting do require more than two hands so if you can help with things like cooking, cleaning, and errand-running, that would alleviate the nagging pressure parents put on ourselves.
FINANcIAL SUPPOrt
Monetary Assistance: Let’s face it. Care
is expensive and the care for special needs children is massive. All the supports - from physical therapy to occupational therapy, from medical to mental, the bills just add up so whatever you can contribute financially, without strings — just alleviates burden.
Resource Management: And if money is not an option, then help parents navigate financial resources, such as applying for government assistance or finding grants and scholarships for special needs services.
SOcIAL AND rEcrEAtIONAL INVOLVEMENt
Inclusive Activities: Engage grandchildren in activities that are both enjoyable and beneficial for their development, promoting socialization and learning in a relaxed environment. For instance, have you set up a grandparent playdate for your grandchildren? Get some of your favorite grandparent friends and invite them over with their grandchildren to play!
Understand the Toys: Toys and activities may be different than what you’re used to. For instance, toys with screens are less
beneficial than toys that encourage core strength. Going to the movies may require you select a sensory-friendly showtime. Beef up on the toys and activities that can truly help your grandchild learn and grow in the ways that make sense for them. I love this quote from Michael J. Fox: “If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” The same thought applies to play.
Family Traditions: Be inclusive! Your grandchild may not be able to participate in traditions the way you hoped they would, but they can do A LOT. Find ways to integrate them into the planning and execution of holiday dinners and other family traditions. For instance, my daughter didn’t have a long enough attention span to participate in cooking a full recipe but she loved kneading dough and decorating spaces so those were her jobs (and we made sure bread was always part of our family dinner table).
As a parent of children with special needs, I can’t emphasize enough how valuable it is for grandparents to be involved.
While there will always be some level of a “I can do it myself” mindset, the truth is today’s parents can’t do it all – it’s just not feasible.
My parents provided daycare for my oldest child during the first year of her life, came for visits and dinner on a regular basis, and regularly inquired as to my children’s welfare. Having them in my village gave me mental comfort, physical relief, opportunities for my own self-care, and more. Not only that, but it gave my children the comfort and knowledge that they had their own village of reliable and loving caregivers.
It also provided intangible benefits such as improved emotional stability, enhanced mental health, increased self-worth, higher academic achievement, better social skills — all things that you can’t necessarily measure but that are worth their weight in gold.
Grandparents often provide a sense of security and unconditional love. Their presence can allow their grandchildren
to feel emotionally grounded, especially during challenging times. Grandparents play a pivotal role and contribute significantly to the social and emotional growth of their grandchildren.
As a grandparent, if you are unsure of how to engage, just ask. Consider asking your adult children, “What is the best way to support you?” Allow your children the time and space to consider your question and come back to you with thoughtful answers.
Now, go. Your grandchildren await.
Susan Abrams, M.A. CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and the founder of The Social Coach, LLC. With a career dedicated to supporting children with special needs, Abrams has made contributions to the field through her innovative programs and initiatives. She developed Parent University and Be Social Kids, which empower parents and children with practical strategies for success.
HEALTHY DENTAL HYGIENE HABITS ARE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
National Dental Hygiene Month in October increases awareness about the importance of oral health.
But it’s not just about caring for your teeth. Oral health is linked to overall health. The mouth is full of germs and is connected to the digestive and respiratory tracts. Without proper oral hygiene, germs can lead to infections in the mouth and are connected to problems in other parts of the body.
Bad oral health has been linked to conditions including:
Cardiovascular disease
Pregnancy and birth complications
Pneumonia
Diabetes
Eating disorders
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autoimmune diseases
Alzheimer's disease
Poor performance in school
By Dr. Douglas B. Keck
Poor social relationships.
Since oral hygiene is linked to a lifetime of health, it’s especially important to develop good oral hygiene habits in children. Such practices can contribute to improved speech development, proper chewing, and a confident smile, which can boost a child’s self-esteem and overall quality of life.
Helping children understand the importance of good oral health includes establishing habits and routines:
You don’t have to wait until your child has teeth to start oral care. Use a soft, damp cloth or silicone finger brush to gently wipe their gums.
Introduce a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-fluoridated toothpaste for infants once the first tooth appears, and brush at least twice a day, after breakfast and before bed. Children older than 3 years can spit out toothpaste, so a pea-sized amount
of fluoride toothpaste can be added once they reach that milestone.
Bush your own teeth alongside your child to model good habits.
Cavity-causing tooth decay is almost entirely preventable. Left untreated, cavities can cause pain and difficulty eating and impact permanent teeth that haven’t even come into the mouth yet.
WHAt cAUSES tOOtH DEcAY?
Germs (bacteria) in your mouth create acid when they break down food and drinks and attach to the tooth’s enamel surface. These germs can be passed from one person to another by kissing, sharing food and drinks, sharing utensils, and even blowing on food. Remember, your oral health can impact your children’s.
Diet, including sugar, carbohydrates, and sticky foods that cling to your teeth and are not as easily washed away by saliva.
Poor oral hygiene at home.
Beyond establishing healthy oral hygiene habits, you can enhance oral care for your children by making a dental appointment by 12 months of age, or within 6 months of the first tooth coming in.
Your dentist can provide dental sealants and fluoride. According to the American Dental Association, the protective layer provided by sealants can reduce a child’s risk of cavities by 80 percent. Sealants are recommended on permanent molars between 5 and 7 and 11 and 14 years.
Fluoride treatments help
strengthen the tooth enamel. They are especially important in places like Collier County, which in February decided to no longer provide fluoride in drinking water.
Starting healthy oral health habits early may help reduce children’s fear of going to the dentist. Healthcare Network offers intravenous sedation in addition to existing nitrous oxide sedation to help support pediatric patients who may need several procedures during a single visit, suffer from severe dental anxiety, and/or have a medical, physical, or emotional disability that limits their ability to understand directions and remain calm.
In addition, as part of Healthcare Network’s commitment to expand access to care, our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile travels to at-risk schools in Collier County to perform dental screenings and prevention, including sealants and fluoride treatments, while introducing children to dentistry at an early age.
State-of-the-art pediatric dental facilities in Golden Gate at Nichols Community Health Center are available to all families, including patients with health and dental insurance. However, as with all our services, no one is denied care based on insurance or income status. In addition to caring for Medicaid patients, we also offer a sliding fee scale that reduces costs for qualified patients.
Dr. Douglas B. Keck is dental director for Healthcare Network, which provides comprehensive dental care at several sites throughout Collier County. For more information, visit www.HealthcareSWFL.org or call 239-658-3000 to schedule an appointment.
Miguel Argumosa, DMD, Erin M. Taylor, DMD Sarah Vanderbosch, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists
