SWFL Parent & Child February 2020 by SWFL Parent & Child Magazine

S W F L PA R E N T C H I L D. C O M

FEBRUARY 2020

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 3

THE ONLY CHOICE

Robin Dawn Dance Academy

Est. 1975

Enroll For Fall Classes Classes Starting August 12th Half Off Registration Fee’s

Highly Experienced and Skilled Instructors

VOTED FORT MYERS and CAPE CORAL’S BEST DANCE STUDIO!

Come Join Our Family of Dancers Tap • Jazz • HipHop • Lyrical • Ballet • Pointe • Musical Theater • Acrobatics • Contortion • Circus Equipment

932 Country Club Blvd., Cape Coral

239.549.0827

www.RobinDawnAcademy.com

4 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

contents »

swfl

parent&child

Features

In Every Issue

28 school board See who’s vying for three seats on the Lee County school board this election year

32 bold, new VPK How will Lee County’s changes to VPK at public schools affect local families?

17 ask the expert

19 dining out

Among the worst things kids eat: button batteries

47 travel

How to enlist farmers markets in broadening your child’s palate

On the cover

Violeta Espinoza, 5, of south Fort Myers, is photographed at Koreshan State Park in Estero. She’ll celebrate her own birthday in March.

PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE

40 safety corner

Lake Park Diner to become a Naples staple

How to celebrate big without the big expense

TCHILD.COM

Catch up with the young opera singer from our December 2015 cover

20 in the kitchen

36 simple birthdays

S W F L PA R E N

27 where are they now

Are plant-based milks healthy for children to drink?

23 kid stuff

Tips to know before traveling to the islands with your children

50 around town

Historic carousel opens at the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers

Best bets on local events for families

56 voices

25 teens

Founder of Christy’s Cause shares advice to prevent human trafficking

Improv classes ease anxiety for teenagers in Naples

FEBRUARY 2 020

Other Departments 7 8 9 11 13

editor’s note our contributors online me time 5 things

14 41 42 51 58

fyi in the news family album calendar last look

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 5

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When School Is Out, Camp Is In!

Camp IMAG offers children a fun, exciting, and educational curriculum blending Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with History and Art in new themed weekly sessions with hands-on activities, games, crafts, exhibit explorations, and more to inspire the imagination and encourage a love of learning! Camps are designed for rising K - 8th grade students and are divided into rising K - 1st graders, rising 2nd - 3rd graders, rising 4th - 5th graders, and rising 6th - 8th graders. The IMAG also offers a Junior Camp Assistant Training Program for rising 9th - 12th grade students.

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editor's note »

swfl

Part of the USA TODAY Network

Volume 21, Issue 2 Dedicated to serving the families of Lee and Collier counties 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 swflparentchild.com Regional VP, Sales William R. Barker General Manager Kathryn Robinson Kinsey kathryn@swflparentchild.com Editor Pamela Smith Hayford (239) 335-0448 pamela@swflparentchild.com Art Director Lindi Daywalt-Feazel

Editorial Contributors E. Copeland, Christy Ivie, Jean Le Boeuf, Sarah Lyons, Pamela McCabe, Leigha Messmer, Anne Reed, Dr. John Ritrosky, Niki Shimko, Andrea Stetson Photographer Amanda Inscore Vice President/Advertising Sales Nancy M. Solliday Specialty Publications Team Coordinator Dennis Wright dennis@swflparentchild.com Distribution (239) 335-0211

Making memories

he things we do for our kids’ birthdays. Big cakes with scenes of dinosaurs. Obstacle courses set up in the park. Water balloon fights. A weekend at Disney. Once, my husband even rented a very realistic Batman costume and made a “character appearance” at our son’s birthday party. The things we do for love of our children. I remember my husband nearly Luna and passing out from the heat. But he survived. And Cosmo my now 17-year-old “kinda, sorta” remembers. The birthdays that stand out to him more are the simpler ones. The water balloon fights. The time we went kayaking just us and a friend of his. And last year when we gave him money to go have fun with a friend at Mike Greenwell’s Family Fun Park, now Gator Mike’s. Birthdays don’t have to be elaborate parties that cost hundreds of dollars. Although those can be fun, too, don’t discount the simple things. As my kids get older, I’m learning that the moments that stand out in their minds aren’t what I thought would be the big memories. Afterall, who wouldn’t vividly recall in great detail Batman showing up at their birthday party? In this month’s main feature, we share some tips for capitalizing on the fun in ways that just might eventually be one of your child’s fondest memories. Even if you do plan a big party, you might still want to enlist some of these ideas to add more fun to your child’s big day. Also in this month’s issue, learn how Lee County Public Schools plans to change VPK and who’s running for the school board. See what December 2015 cover child and opera star Abigail Fletcher is up to now. Plus, we have numerous fun family events in our calendar, in this issue and online at swflparentchild.com. Most of all, relax. Your kids will likely only “kinda, sorta” remember the grand gestures you make for them. Instead, it just may be the smaller moments that stand out. PHOTO BY BRIAN TIETZ

parent &child S W F L PA R E N T C H I L D. C O M

Southwest Florida Parent & Child is a FREE publication distributed at more than 500 locations throughout Southwest Florida by The News-Press Media Group. All rights reserved. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information published but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. Any opinions expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily opinions of the magazine or publisher.

Member of

Pamela Smith Hayford, Editor Contact us: We enjoy hearing from you. Send your photos, letters or comments to: pamela@swflparentchild.com. Or visit us online:

swflparentchild.com

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 7

» our contributors

MIROMAR

OUTLETS

Meet the contributors to this month’s issue of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine.

February Events

FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES Fridays, 6 to 9 p.m. in the Restaurant Piazza Feb 7: Electric Lipstick Feb 14: Thunder Beach Band Feb 21: The Girls of Motown Feb 28: Marty Stokes Band LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Saturdays from 4 to 7 p.m. & Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy a variety of music styles from Sinatra and sultry jazz to country folk and classic rock. CAR CRUISE-IN Sunday, February 2 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. near PLAYLAND See your favorite makes and models of classic, exotic and custom cars. SCIENCE SATURDAY Saturday, February 8 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in PLAYLAND Kids learn about science and engineering. THE DIAMOND DIG Saturday, February 8 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. near Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store You could win a beautiful ½ carat round solitaire diamond set in 14 karat white gold ring from Helzberg Diamonds plus other great prizes.

PRESIDENTS’ DAY SIDEWALK SALE Friday, February 14 thru Monday, February 17

Esther Copeland • Travel • Esther Copeland is a writer and educator living in Lee County with her daughter. She especially enjoys writing about the people of Southwest Florida, travel and single parenting.

FAMILY YOGA WITH KATHRYN Saturday, February 15 PLAYLAND 10 a.m. in FREE 45-minute beginners’ yoga class for families. (bring your own mat)

Christy Ivie • Voices: How to Talk with Your Kids About Human Trafficking • Christy Ivie founded Christy’s Cause in Estero in 2015 to eradicate child sex trafficking and exploitation through education, public awareness, restoration projects and justice initiatives. Although Christy was never trafficked, she was physically abused for 18 years and sexually exploited for 12. She still lives with the psychological effects. She believes no one should have to experience what she survived. Her mission is to help put an end to child sex trafficking and exploitation through Christy’s Cause, christyscause.com.

MOMS APPRECIATION DAY Wednesday, February 19 10 a.m. to noon PLAYLAND in SWFL BIG BAND Sunday, February 23 3 to 5 p.m. near the Restaurant Piazza Enjoy listening to music performed by Southwest Florida Big Band.

Sarah Lyons • Simple Ideas for

Awesome Birthdays • Sarah Lyons is a stayat-home mom to six children, and she writes for parenting publications throughout the United States. Some years her kids celebrate their birthday with a party and other years they choose to celebrate in other ways.

KIDS DAY Saturday, February 29 10 a.m. to noon PLAYLAND in

Pamela McCabe • Spotlight: Who

FREE KIDS CRAFTS Every Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon in PLAYLAND

Will Lead Our Schools? • Pamela McCabe is an education writer for The News-Press in Southwest Florida, where she lives with her husband and daughter. She is passionate about the health and well-being of children and families, and she is deeply interested in issues pertaining to maternal and postpartum healthcare. Pamela is a Florida native who loves her Rhodesian ridgeback, the Florida Gators and supporting community blood drives.

BABY BOOT CAMP Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday PLAYLAND 9 a.m. in

FITNESS CAMP VALENTINE’S COOKIE Tuesday, Thursday & Friday DECORATING PLAYLAND 6 a.m. in Saturday, February 8 Noon to 2 p.m. in PLAYLAND GIFT CARDS MAKE Decorate a delicious THE PERFECT GIFT Valentine’s treat. Presented by NO ACTIVATION FEE WARO-FM 94.5 radio.

Leigha Messner • In the Kitchen • Leigha Messner, a registered dietician and new mom, is a clinical dietitian with Lee Health. She can be reached through media@leehealth.org or by calling 239424-3120. Anne Reed • Spotlight: Q&A with

Shop over 140 stores. Save up to 70% off. Dine at our wide array of restaurants! Miromar Outlets Gift Cards* are valid at all Outlet Stores and Restaurants and can be purchased at MiromarOutlets.com and the Mall Office or Visitor Information Kiosk.

8 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

0220-0164

(239) 948-3766 • MiromarOutlets.com • Mon.-Sat.: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Sun.: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. I-75, Exit 123, Corkscrew Road, in Estero, between Naples & Fort Myers

Chris Patricca • Anne Reed is a writer, wife, runner, mother of three and dog-mom of two. Originally from the Midwest, she lives in Estero and loves watching the wildlife in her backyard.

online »

swflparentchild.com Get the latest event information and family news every day on our family-friendly site.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO?

Get SWFL Parent & Child anywhere at any time

Our website has plenty of ideas. There’s our calendar, sure, and features about things to do around town. But we also have a list of entertainment venues and attractions. It’s under the Things To Do tab, but you can also go straight to it with this URL: swflparentchild.com/search/ location/entertainmnet-attractions.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/swflparentchild FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @swflparentchild FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @swflparentchild FIND US ON PINTEREST pinterest.com/ swflparentchild READ US ON ISSUU issuu.com/swflparentchild

BE A PART OF OUR

Our open enrollment is from January 14th, 2020 - February 15th, 2020. Enrollment Information Sessions: February 11th, 2020 at 5 pm February 24th, 2020 at 5 pm For More Enrollment Information Please Contact Yoshira Saenz, Enrollment Specialist at ysaenz@bonitaspringscharter.org (239) 992-6932 x 418 THE NEW HEART & SOUL FITNESS AND PERFORMANCE COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN SPRING 2020

Bonita Springs Charter School 25380 Bernwood Drive | Bonita Springs, FL 34135 | (239) 992-6932 For more information about sponsorship opportunities: www.bonitaspringscharter.org SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 9

Ocean Magic Happens Here At Sanibel Sea School, each day is filled with moments of wonder in the water. We offer day classes, camps and experiences for kids, families, and grown-ups, so come with us and be amazed. For more information, visit sanibelseaschool.org or call (239) 472-8585. A nonprofit organization.

from adolescence to postmenopause

Contraceptive counseling Routine well woman exams Comprehensive gynecology Minimally invasive surgeries Traditional surgeries Labor and delivery Preconception counseling Prenatal care Bone density testing Hormone replacement

1726 Medical Blvd, Suite 101 Naples, FL 34110 10 Âť FEBRUARY 2020 Âť SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

me time »

DON’T LOSE IT Keep your sanity and your stuff with these little helpers.

Key keeper

Car finder

NIGHT

DATE

Do you remember where I parked? You’ll never have to ask the kids that again. The nonda ZUS Smart Car Charger automatically saves your parking location. Just open the app to find your car. It’s scary accurate. Plus, the device monitors your car battery and notifies you when it’s not performing up to par. It’s also a charger. Lists for $39.99 on Amazon.com.

Never lose your keys again. Or at least if you do, find them easily with this little gadget. KeySmart takes a jumble of keys and organizes them in a pocket knife-type case that’s outfitted with Tile smart locator technology. Genius. You can also add accessories, like a USB drive or bottle opener. Holds up to 14 keys. $21.99 for the Original, $59.99 for Pro at getkeysmart.com.

Here boy! Does your dog like to run? Away from you? The Whistle clips onto your dog’s collar and tracks their location 24/7 with a combination of GPS and cellular technology. You can also set alerts to text you if your dog leaves home. The battery lasts up to 7 days before it needs to be recharged. $99.95 at Amazon.com.

Lock your socks One way not to get lost is to stick with your buddy. Loc A Sock hopes that’s true for your socks, too. This little plastic device keeps your socks together through the wash and dry cycle with a secure grip. Leave no sock behind. $15.49 for a pack of 40 at Amazon.com.

Find your way out of an escape room — or find your inner Viking. Brainiaxe and Escapes in Bonita Springs has both. Choose from four themed escape rooms or rent an axe-throwing lane and let off a little steam. One hour of axe throwing is $20 per person plus tax and booking fee (which comes to less than $2 per person). Reservations required. Visit brainiaxe.com or call 239-676-8898. Axe-throwers in Cape Coral might want to check out TJ’s Hatchet Hangout, tjshatchethangout.com.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 11

12 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

5 things »

Subscribe to fun Kids love getting packages in the mail, and parents love to see their kids learn. These subscription boxes do all that and then some.

Give the gift of reading Bookroo is basically a book club for kids, created by three sisters-in-law to encourage a love of reading. Pick your age group (010) and receive new books every month. Subscriptions start at $21.98 per month when including shipping at bookroo.com.

Celebrate adolescence The Rowan earring box is designed to celebrate the milestones of the tween and teen years. Each month, a box arrives containing a new pair of earrings and content designed to start meaningful conversations. The first box contains additional goodies, including a mindfulness journal. Subscriptions start at $19 a month. Get details at heyrowan.com.

Encourage little engineers We first encountered KiwiCo through the Kiwi Crate, which features a new maker project every month, like a crane made of cardboard. But the company, founded by a mom of three, has expanded into numerous areas and for all ages, from toddlers to grown tinkerers. Subscriptions start at $16.95 per month at kiwico.com.

Inspire a love of cooking From the founder of Farmbox Direct and her 7-year-old daughter, Harlow, comes a cooking kit for kids that focuses on delicious, clean eating. Each month’s Harlow’s Harvest box includes a kitchen tool designed for kids, a pin for your young chef’s apron, a monthly science project, budgeting tips and recipes. Subscriptions start at $19.99 per month at harlowsharvest.com.

For the artsy scientist Explore STEAM topics and go green with the award-winning Green Kid Crafts box for ages 2-10. Every month, kids receive a box of four to six hands-on science and art kits and a 12-page magazine. One month might explore amphibians while another gets fired up about electricity. Choose from three age groups. Subscriptions are $24.95 per month at greenkidcrafts.com.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 13

« fyi

Exhibit explores alligator wrestling Ding scholarship deadline approaches The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge is awarding scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to high school seniors, college students and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties who are pursuing degrees in environment-related studies. Deadline is March 31. Apply at dingdarlingsociety. org/articles/studentscholarships.

Honor a favorite teacher Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar is accepting nominations for its annual “BEE”yond Teacher Essay Contest. To nominate a teacher, students must write an essay about why their teacher deserves the title of “Teacher of the Year.” Entries are accepted at franchises through March 1. Winning teachers receive $500 for the upcoming school year and an end-of-year party for the current class. Students who nominate a teacher receive a free ice cream certificate.

14 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

Before Florida roadside attractions, even before European settlers, alligator wrestling existed here. Native Americans in the South hunted gators for their meat. A new exhibit at the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum explores the history of this practice. To celebrate the opening of “Alligator Wrestling: Danger. Entertainment. Tradition.” the museum is hosting a reception 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 11 with a catered lunch, entertainment, speakers, an alligator wrestling show and the screening of “Allapatah,” a documentary about alligator wrestling. The event is included with regular museum admission, which is $10 for adults, $7.50 for students or $30 for a family of two adults and up to four children ages 5-18; ages and 4 and younger admitted free. For details, visit ahtahthiki.com or call 863-902-1113.

BABY BOOM

AT NAPLES ZOO

On December 30, Naples Zoo bongo Amara gave birth to a baby boy, a male calf, rounding out the biggest baby boom the zoo has ever had. The zoo welcomed 15 live births in 2019: two mountain bongo calves, two clouded leopard kittens, five black and green poison dart frogs, three red-ruffed lemur babies and three African lion cubs. The new baby bongo will be introduced to the exhibit once he’s mastered the art of following his mother.

Going to Dublin The Community School of Naples football team is heading back to Ireland this summer. The Seahawks will play another American school when Global Football hosts the Dublin High School Football Showcase on August 28. The players, coaches and supporters will also get to attend a game between Navy and Notre Dame at the Aviva Stadium.

Application opens for free college prep program Champions For Learning is now accepting applications from students in 10th grade for the Champions For Learning College and Career Preparation Program. Students from public or independent schools may apply, and the program is free to students and their families thanks to several donors. Deadline to apply is February 19. Get an application at championsforlearning. org/apply.

Calusa Palooza is looking for volunteers The Calusa Waterkeepers is organizing a day-long, water-themed festival of education and entertainment on March 22, and they’re looking for volunteers to help make it a success. Calusa Palooza includes kayak and paddleboard races, a paleontology exhibit, nature workshop, master naturalist tour of the river, a fishing tutorial for kids, live mermaid show and a rock concert. Plus, the organization is having a waterway cleanup March 12-22. Plenty of opportunity to get some volunteer hours. Families of all ages are welcome. Sign up at a volunteer meeting, 5 to 7 p.m. February 20 or 24, or contact director KC Schulberg at kc@calusawaterkeeper.org or 239-784-0880.

• We have paint your own pottery, Glass fusing (ages 10+), wet clay art to include hand building and throwing on a potters wheel. • We do summer camps, birthday parties, group events such as scouts. • We are an all-inclusive studio, so no studio fees or sitting fees. • We also received best in cape for pottery classes.

Sunday 11-5 Monday - Closed Tuesday - 10-6 Wednesday & Thursday 10-8 Friday & Saturday 10-5

Kids can join the beloved Kratts brothers in exploring the oceans at the “Wild Kratts: Ocean Adventure!” exhibit at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, on display through May 3. Based on the PBS Kids TV series “Wild Kratts,” the exhibit uses “Wild Kratts technology and the powers of science and teamwork” to solve problems, help marine life and foil villains’ plans.

NP-0000971815

Explore the oceans with Wild Kratts

239-984-5041 1625 SE 47th Terrace, Unit 4 Cape Coral, FL 33904

www.thebentbrush.com SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 15

« fyi

(continued)

Nominate a young hero The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes awards $10,000 to 15 students ages 8 to 18 who are making a significant positive difference to people and the environment, and applications are being taken now until April 15. Past winners have worked with critically ill children, provided clean drinking water to villages in Africa, organized a rodeo for kids with disabilities and more. Get details at barronprize.org.

16 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

Free tax help The United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee offers free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for families who make less than $66,000 per year. While the service continues through April 15, the organization is holding a 12-Hour Taxathon on Friday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the United Way campus at 7273 Concourse Drive in Fort Myers. For locations or appointments, visit booknow.appointmentplus.com/7z18p1x6 or call 211 or 239-433-3900.

Valerie’s House starts young adult group Valerie’s House, a support program focused on helping children grieve, added a program to help young adults. The Young Adult Grief Support Group is geared toward ages 18 to 25 and takes place in the organization’s Fort Myers location on the first Monday of each month. Get details at valerieshouseswfl.org/young-adult-program.

ask the expert »

Dr. John Ritrosky Jr. is a pediatrician in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral offices of Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida, ppcswfl.com.

JOHN R IT ROK SY JR .

IS PLANT-BASED MILK OK FOR KIDS?

Local pediatrician Dr. John Ritrosky weighs in.

e are bombarded with commercials for all kinds of milk. Dairy cases in stores are filled with brightly colored cartons of plant-based milks, including almond, coconut, soy and oat as well as other drinks with advertising that implies they are healthy. Recently a 5-year-old was asked if she drank cow’s milk. She appeared puzzled, looked at her mom and asked, “What kind of milk do I drink?” Numerous experts say that the kind of milk a child drinks matters. In September 2019, a major consensus of four leading health groups — the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — recommended that all children ages 5 and younger should avoid drinking plantbased nondairy milk, flavored milk, toddler formula, caffeinated beverages and beverages sweetened with sugar and low-calorie sweeteners, because they provide no unique nutritional value. Nutrients, including sugars, are added to look equivalent to cow’s milk, but their bioavailability is not known compared to the naturally occurring nutrients in cow’s milk. Cow’s milk and plain fluorinated water should be the main beverages of children ages 1-5. From birth until their first birthday, children should only drink breast milk or formula. At ages 1 and 2, whole homogenized cow’s milk. Older than 2, skim or 1% cow’s milk.

For water, only plain fluorinated water is recommended. It’s the most efficient way to prevent one of the most common childhood diseases — tooth decay. And it’s relatively inexpensive. Fluoride is already in municipal water supplies, such as in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and parts of unincorporated Lee County. So it’s already in your tap if you’re on city water. Even if your refrigerator has a water dispenser with a filter, municipal water coming out of the refrigerator maintains adequate fluoride content. Bottled water does not contain fluoride. An exception is Nursery water, which can be used by families on well systems and should be used by children of all ages if not on city water. Infants 6 to 12 months old may drink 4 to 8 ounces of plain fluorinated water in a drinking cup during meal times. Expert groups also allow up to 4 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice or vegetable juice, provided there is no added sugar or artificial ingredients. However, some dentists compare fruit juice to soda because of the sugar content. Cow’s milk is the No. 1 source of energy, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D and zinc for infants and children, thus making it a clear component for a healthy diet. It is important to note that plant-based milk is not nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk. Their nutritional profile is based on the plant source, and many nondairy milks contain added sugars. Soy milk is recommended for certain medical and/or allergic conditions.

ASK THE EXPERT We welcome questions from readers. Ask us anything. We’ll find the answer. Send your question to editor@swflparentchild.com with “Ask the Expert” in the subject line.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 17

ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!

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New location in south Fort Myers!

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239-208-9138

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& NATURE PARK

Tommy says

WE KEEP THE FUN SPINNING THIS FEBRUARY!

Weekly Live Entertainment MON 4 – 7pm Sound Machine TUE 4 – 7pm Larry D. WED 4 – 7pm Mike Glean THU 4 – 7pm Nette FRI 4 – 7pm Chuck Peterson SAT 4 – 7pm Steve Cipriano SUN 3:30 – 6:30pm Harvey & The Hurricanes

Nature Park

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fossil Fest, February 15th • Canada Day, February 19th Visit our Facebook page or website to find out more! 16554 N. Cleveland Avenue (US 41) N. Fort Myers, FL 33903 (239) 995-2141 • shellfactory.com

18 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

dining out »

Jean Le Boeuf is the pseudonym used by a local food lover who dines at restaurants anonymously and without warning, with meals paid for by The News-Press and Naples Daily News. Follow the critic at facebook.com/jeanleboeufswfl or @JeanLeBoeuf on Twitter and Instagram.

SURE TO BE A NAPLES STAPLE Lake Park Diner has a distinctly Naples flavor, organic ingredients and family-friendly ambiance.

t’s been outrageously beautiful in Southwest Florida lately. Highs in the upper 70s, lots of sunshine and cool breezes coming in from the Gulf. November and December brought Floridians out of our air-conditioned hidey-holes and out into the glory of nature. It brought me to a conundrum. I love to eat out, but on days as gorgeous as the ones we’ve been having, I feel rather ho-hum about being confined indoors. Enter Lake Park Diner. This chic diner with only outdoor seating is the brain child of Adam Smith and Chef Michael Voorhis, who also opened The Bevy and the Smith Organics food truck. The restaurant may be new, but it already has a distinctly Naples flavor — from the menu with organic ingredients and made-from-scratch aiolis and sauces, to the outdoor lounge and fire pit and the bright red phone booth that used to stand outside Naples-favorite St. George and the Dragon. I predict it’ll be a Naples staple in the years to come. The Diner shines at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I really can’t pick a favorite time of day to be there. I love it in the morning when everything is peaceful, the sun is shining and

Lake Park Diner Location: 944 Seventh Ave. N., Naples

Phone: 239-228-6351 Online: thelakeparkdiner.com Price: $10-$25 Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Noise level: Average Etc.: Outdoor seating only, lounge area

with fire pit, craft cocktails and milkshakes

I’ve got an iced cold brew coffee in one hand and a copy of the Naples Daily News in the other. The breakfast menu is enough to make me drool. I’m a fool for pimento cheese, which frequents both the breakfast and lunch/ dinner menu. The shrimp and grits bowl features creamy grits made thick with pimento. Shrimp, green onion and bacon jam all swim in the thick mixture, dressed with a drizzle of striking sriracha aioli. The French toast biscuit stunned me. The flaky biscuit is grilled to perfection and slathered with sweet blueberry compote and tart lemon curd. It is perfectly moist and bursting with sweetly acidic flavor. Then again, at lunchtime I can grab a massive celebration milkshake to

share with some pals before we head to the beach. Maybe we’ll also split a plate of fries with one of those delectable aiolis made in-house. My personal favorite is the garlic aioli, though the avocado and olive aiolis are both wonderful in their own rights. In the evening, when the sun begins to set, servers move among the tables lighting candles and switching on twinkling fairy lights inside mason jars. The fire pit comes to life with dancing flames. It was in this romantic lighting that I fell in love — with Lake Park Diner’s pimento chicken sandwich. I’ve had the sandwich before. I adored it on one of my trips to Celebration Park. But on that night, in the candle light, this sandwich, as the kids say, “hit different.” Grilled sourdough is lovingly layered with sweet bacon jam, cool arugula, fried chicken and two types of cheese, provolone and more of that thick, creamy pimento I’ve come to worship. When I first heard Lake Park Diner was coming to the world, I said I would be its first customer. Now, I’m hoping to be its 345th, 2,346th, 3,222nd, 1 millionth customer. I expect Naples will be enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner at Lake Park Diner for years to come.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 19

« in the kitchen LEIGH A MESSNER

PLANT HEALTHY ROOTS AT THE

FARMERS MARKET

20 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

Leigha Messner is a registered dietitian nutritionist who is a clinical dietitian at Lee Health.

ebruary brings the heart of season to Southwest Florida and with it a farmers market for every day of the week. Visiting a farmers market inspires and promotes healthful eating habits for the whole family. There’s a huge disconnect between most Americans and their food. For the most part, we have stopped questioning where our food comes from and its impact to our health. Our fast-paced culture has resulted in most households circulating food “shelf-to-cart.”

As parents, we have the unique ability to break this cycle with our children by truly bringing the farm to our table. Many children aren’t aware of where the food in the grocery store originates. Your local farmers market provides a unique learning opportunity in that it fosters a world of experiences well-suited to how children learn. They are canvased in fruits and vegetables, and talking with the local growers, who most often use more ecofriendly methods of farming, will help them make connections between the food they eat and where it comes from.

HERE ARE FIVE FUN-FILLED WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUR FAMILY AT THE FARMERS MARKET:

Allow food to become a handson activity. We often tell our

children to look with our eyes and not our hands. At the farmers market this point is moot. Have them use their senses. Practice inspecting produce for ripeness, highlighting different shapes, colors, smells and textures. Experiment and compare with a conventional store-bought item of the same name and discuss differences, if any.

Try something new. Challenge

everyone in the family to try a new item. Many venders offer samples to those interested. This allows you to lead by example in willingness

to explore new food and perhaps learn a new way to prep or cook an item that was previously intimidating.

Create a scavenger hunt. Teach about the importance of eating a variety of colors by finding fruits and vegetables that represent the colors of the rainbow.

Share the wealth. Involve your

kids in the purchasing power. Doing so will encourage them to think about the value of real food and the dollar. Tap into their natural curiosity and prompt them to ask the farmers questions. Older children can participate by independently

shopping for some items on your list. Younger children can participate by weighing out items or handing over the cash.

Make a farm-to-fork meal. Put your chef ’s hats on and create a meal with your findings. It can be a new recipe you discovered from the farmer or a simple addition to a family favorite. This is an effective way to help everyone connect with their food and stimulate table-talk during mealtime. With a little planning, a field trip to the farmers market can be an enticing way to introduce your family to new eating habits for years to come.

FIND A RECIPE FOR ROOT VEGGIE CHIPS ON PAGE 22

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 21

« in the kitchen (continued)

Root Veggie Chips This season gather a variety of root vegetables at the farmers market in various colors, shapes and textures. They are high in many immune-boosting nutrients essential for your health. A simple way to fix them up is preparing them as veggie chips. Choose to make all one type or mix multiples together. Be adventurous with the flavoring using combinations of your favorite herbs and spices. The possibilities are endless.

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GETTY IMAGES

NOW ENROLLING

INGREDIENTS

» 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil » ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt » 1-4 medium-sized root vegetables (sweet potatoes, beets, rutabaga, parsnip, turnips, taro, carrots, etc.) » Optional: Herbs and spices to taste (rosemary, thyme, cayenne powder, garlic powder, etc.)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 2. Wash, peel and slice vegetables into thin rounds using a mandolin or sharp kitchen knife. Try to keep all slices the same size for baking consistency. 3. Place on paper towel and lightly salt. Let set for 15 minutes, allowing salt to draw out additional liquid. 4. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lightly coat with olive oil. 5. Spread vegetable slices on baking sheet in a single layer. Add salt or additional herbs and spices to taste. 6. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until crispy. Let stand for 5 minutes and enjoy.

kid stuff »

GRAND RIDE Restored 1927 carousel has a new home at the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. BY ANDREA STETSON

t’s just sweet, old-fashioned fun and children are loving it. The Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers recently opened its newest attraction: a 1927 carousel. “It is completely renovated and repainted,” says Pam Cronin, owner of the Shell Factory. “It’s wonderful. It’s exciting.” The carousel does more than bring a balance to the more modern attractions, such as

the zip line and gem mining. It gives children a chance to experience a joy their parents and grandparents grew up with. It also gives them the opportunity to ride a carousel that’s loaded with horses and history. The 20-horse, two-carriage carousel was built in 1927 by C.W. Parker in Leavenworth, Kansas. It was one of the last ones built by the carousel maker, and it was used in traveling shows.

Alea Bryant, 5, left, and Jaelah Brown, 3, right, wave to their family as they ride the carousel at the Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers.

PHOTO BY WANGYUXUAN XU

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 23

« kid stuff (continued)

PHOTO BY WANG YUXUAN XU

Judy Pollock, 8, from Scotland, pulls her cousin Teaghan Privatera, 8, in a wagon after riding a restored 1927 carousel in December at the Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers.

Gerard Soules purchased the carousel in 1987 and set it up in Fort Wayne, Indiana. When Gerard was murdered in Las Vegas, his brother Jim Soules inherited it in 1989 and moved it to St. Augustine in 1993. In 2003 Frank Feldmann rode the carousel nonstop for 52 hours and 15 minutes. The stunt was done to raise money for the American Red Cross and to publicize the author’s book. The carousel was damaged in 2006 when a person driving a stolen Jeep crashed through a concrete wall and into the carousel. Pam is the reason the carousel’s history timeline now adds North Fort Myers to its list. “The folks that owned it were regular customers in our restaurant,” Pam explains. “They lived in Port Charlotte, and they just really liked the Shell Factory, so they decided they wanted to move the carousel because they wanted it to be closer to their family because their family all lives here. Sadly Jim, the gentleman that owned it, passed away, but it was his deathbed wish to his wife that he wanted it relocated to the Shell Factory.” The carousel arrived old and worn, with faded and chipped paint. It took a couple of months for workers to sand, hand paint and fully restore it. “We took every piece apart, sandblasted and repainted,” Pam describes. “Every member of our staff has touched some part of the carousel sanding or painting. They all wanted to say they helped make it happen. That is a really neat thing. It looks fabulous.” There are 860 lights illuminating

24 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

the carousel. It uses a 3-horsepower motor to spin approximately 3,600 times per day. That’s five revolutions per minute. A red and white top provides a canopy. Calliope music plays as the carousel spins. When the carousel was finally restored, Pam was one of the first to take a ride. “By the time I got off, my face hurt I was smiling so hard,” she says. “It was unbelievable. I had no idea that it was going to touch me so much. Everyone who rode with me was happy and laughing.” Children and parents who recently rode the carousel were also happy and laughing. “It’s great, magical,” says Katie Jones, who went with her daughter Ryan Jones, 2. “It brings back some great memories for me, and it’s great for the kids to experience.” Rides are $1 and anyone with special needs rides for free. “That is what they were charging in St. Augustine,” Pam says. “It is a tradition. It was very, very reasonable, so I decided to continue that tradition.” Now the carousel is making new memories for Southwest Florida children. “I rode the blue and purple one,” Cicely Anderson, 5, said after a recent ride.

“It was pretty.” “I was on the black one,” said her brother Walker Anderson, 6. “I want it to go faster.” Most of the horses go up and down. There are a few that are stationary. The carriages are also stable, making it handicapped-accessible. Pam says getting the carousel is a dream come true. “Every year we used to go to this show, the International Association of Amusement Parks,” she says. “Every year we saw this beautiful three-story carousel. It was so expensive, and every year he (husband Tommy) would say, ‘Can we get this carousel?’ And a year after he passed, I have my carousel. I ride it almost every single day now. I ride whatever horse matches my outfit.” Yet Pam knows it’s not just hers to enjoy, but for everyone. In the first 16 days, more than 3,000 people took a ride. “I am excited about having it available to the community,” Pam says. “Everyone loves a carousel. When I first started talking about it, I thought it was just people my age, because we grew up with them and it was part of whatever fair or circus we went to, but that is not true. It is for everyone. For every little kid out there up to our oldest seniors.”

teens »

*IMPROV

EASES ANXIETY

Naples improvisation classes help reduce anxiety among teens. BY ANDREA STETSON eing a teen or preteen can be stressful. There is the anxiety of fitting in, of saying the right thing, of getting good grades and other worries. When Craig Price, director of community education and wellness for The Naples Players at the Sugden Community Theatre, saw that improv significantly reduced stress and boosted confidence, he decided to put together a class aimed at those goals. “I had been hearing in my traditional improv class that it was helping students with public speaking and being nervous in front of classmates and making friends and just talking in the lunchroom,” Craig says. “I had parents say their children have been getting a lot more confidence. There have been studies that show how improv reduces anxiety.” It worked for Emily Buenafuente, 16. “It made me more confident in myself,” Emily says. “I was always worried that people would think I was weird, but the class made me realize it was OK to be myself.” Her mother, Lisa Delgado, says the class was extremely helpful. “She started making friends and coming out of her shell,” Lisa says. “It really, really helped. In improv you are actually acting

silly. You are being yourself and not caring what other people think of you, and it helped my daughter so much that way.” Craig hired Margot Escott, a licensed clinical social worker, to help teach the class. “We did a survey pre and post, and we had a significant decrease in anxiety,” Margot says. “For teenagers and adults, anxiety is the No. 1 disorder in the country today. When individuals have anxiety, they are worried about what will happen next. And with improv, we focus on the here and now.” Margot lists many other benefits. “The class also supports a social network. First, they have to trust themselves and then trust others. It is not therapy, but it is therapeutic. Over the course of the six weeks, they are taking more and more risks. One of the major rules is there are no mistakes; there are no failures.” Craig says these classes are even more important in today’s society. “It has even gotten more difficult with social media,” he says. “They are having more trouble connecting face to face, and that is what improv is. When I was studying improv at Second City in Chicago, my whole life changed. They were teaching that from the very beginning you had to look people in the eye and tell them how you felt, and those

IF YOU GO What: Teen Improv for Wellness

Who: Ages 12-17

When: 4:30

to 6:30 p.m. Mondays. Next session: March 30 to May 4

Where: Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave S., Naples Cost: $125 per session; scholarships are available Phone: 239434-7340 ext. 103 Online:

naplesplayers. org/inclusiveclasses/improvfor-wellness

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 25

« teens (continued)

2017

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basic communications skills have been lost with social media. When I teach this age group, it really gets results.” Craig does a lot of group games so participants don’t feel singled out or self-conscious. He says one of the best things is that every game has a “Yes and” or “I Know and” transition. So when one person says something, the next person says “yes” or “I know” and adds to the sequence. “Someone might say ‘I love sandwiches,’ and the next person says, ‘I know, and my favorite sandwich is ham and cheese,’ and the next person says, ‘I know, and cheese is made in Wisconsin,’” Craig says as an example. “It is so encouraging to hear someone say, ‘I know.’ That is the great thing about the ‘yes’ and ‘I know.’ It is that everyone is on the same playing field. They know that everyone agrees with them and then adds to it.” Clara and Olivia Cunningham, 15 and 13, enjoyed the class. “My favorite game was definitely entrances and exits, which is a game where everyone picked a word and when the word is said in the scene the person comes out to play out the scene,” Olivia explains. Olivia says the class was not only fun when she was participating, but helpful in everyday life. “It helps to know that people can go with whatever you say,” she says. “Even if you think you made a mistake, people are going to accept it and keep going. There are no mistakes at all. I came into improv trying to act confident. I succeeded because it was a comfortable place and people were happy and helped me to be confident. I felt safe in that space.” Olivia says her favorite game is hitchhiker, where one person portrays a hitchhiker with a specific emotion and the others have to act the same way. “It is a pretty fun game,” she says. “My second favorite is entrance and exit. In the room, I felt pretty happy. I felt like I was friends with everybody.” Clara and Olivia’s mother, Debra Cunningham, liked to see the positive results from the class. “They met friends,” she says. “They had a much more destressing time after school. They go to Mason Classical Academy, which is very intense, and this is all for fun. They had a showcase at the end, and it was very awesome. It does open up the dialog. Because I have one in middle school and one in high school, it was fun for them to play off one another.” Gwennie Furr says the small size of the class made it easy for her daughter, Annabelle Cuestas, 18, to make close friends. “Annabelle is shy, but she was excited to get on stage and perform,” Gwennie says. “I thought that was a great thing about this class; they made friendships that they have kept outside of the class.” Annabelle says the best thing was just being able to be herself. “It was mostly accepting who you are,” Annabelle explains. “It is just being yourself.”

20th anniversary »

ABIGAIL FLETCHER NOW

t 12 years old, Abby graced the December 2015 cover of SW FL Parent & Child magazine. Inside, we spotlighted her phenomenal talent as a singer — an opera singer. That year, she had won first place in the Junior Category of the 2015 American Protégé International Vocal Competition, landing her a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. For our photo shoot, she brought not only her performance gowns, but her cowboy boots. She told us how she loves horses and dedicates her singing to Special Equestrians. Well, she still loves horses and music, but her passions are taking her much higher.

THEN

Where is she now? She’s living in: Cape Coral Age: 16 Attends: North Fort Myers High School, dual enrolled full time at Florida SouthWestern State College Tell us about yourself. What do you enjoy doing now? Life has been crazy this past year. In May of 2018, I underwent a full spinal fusion which showed me what I wanted out of life: to live out my faith in every aspect of my existence. Although music is still a major part of my life, my career goals have taken a turn to the sky. I started working on my private pilot license in May of 2019, and I plan to have it completed by June of 2020. Flying is my passion and I can honestly say it’s what I want to spend the rest of my days doing. In my free time, I also enjoy competitive horseback riding, volunteering with Aviation Explorers, staying active in my church and swimming laps to stay fit. I’m incredibly lucky to have supportive parents who allow me to chase my dreams and follow God’s plan for me.

What do you love about growing up in Southwest Florida? Southwest Florida has been my home for all 16

years of my life. Although I will be leaving next year to begin my college journey, I know I can always come back to Southwest Florida to be reminded of the laughs I bellowed, the tears I shed and the memories I made here. I’m incredibly grateful for all of the resources and opportunities the area has provided to me through its respectable theater departments, vast cultural history and unique opportunities to grow and learn. To name the one thing I love about Southwest Florida, it would be the people who unconditionally supported me and cheered me on even when I didn’t know it.

What’s one piece of advice from an adult that’s been really helpful? Back in middle school, my mom handed me a book written by Admiral William H. McRaven, called “Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World.” The main message I gathered from it was to always start your day by making your bed so that no matter how bad the day is, you accomplished something. This book taught me to see the joy in the little things and not take anything for granted. It’s a great read that I truly recommend for any young person or anyone in general.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Abigail plans to study aeronautics at either Liberty University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 27

» spotlight

WHO WILL

LEAD OUR SCHOOLS Three Lee County school board seats are up for election in 2020. News-Press education writer Pamela McCabe takes a look at who’s running. BY PAMELA MCCABE

28 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

hree of the seven seats on the Lee County school board are up for election in 2020, and all three incumbents have challengers. The seats are for four-year terms and come with an annual salary of $40,500. Here’s a look at who is running for each seat.

District 2 Although she has yet to file her paperwork (as of our print deadline), incumbent Melisa Giovannelli has announced plans to run for re-election of the District 2 seat, which represents the greater Fort Myers area. The 56-year-old Fort Myers Realtor joined the board in 2016. She said she planned to file shortly after the new year. Giovannelli believes her voice is important to the school board, as she often brings forward the opinions and concerns of community members and students. “They have an opinion and feelings and rights that I feel sometimes are overlooked,” Giovannelli says. “Every person’s voice matters and vote matters and opinion matters. It’s mutual respect, and I believe in that wholeheartedly.” Running against her are announced candidates Charla Fox and Jeff McCullers. Both are originally from Fort Myers and are longtime educators in the school system. Fox, 60, is a math teacher at South Fort Myers High School and has taught for about 20 years in Lee County. Her career in education was something she felt called to do after working as an accountant for five years.

One of the things she’s been focused on in recent years is finding ways to help teachers, so they can better serve Lee County’s students. Even though it means she’ll have to give up the classroom if she wins, Fox says she feels a new calling: to run for the school board. She hopes to bring about positive changes locally and help educators be respected at a level they once were. “I have always wanted to be a voice for those who don’t have a voice or don’t really know how to use theirs. And that’s what this is,” Fox says. “That’s what the school board can be for our teachers and our students.” McCullers, 58, retired at the end of June from his 35-year career in Lee County. He worked his way up from classroom teacher to the district office, where he last served as the director of grants and program development. Among other things, he served as the district’s liaison to charter schools. “The school district is my childhood, my adolescence and my whole entire career,” McCullers says. “I’m invested in it and I want to keep making a contribution. That’s really the gut feeling of it.” The district will be building seven new schools, hiring an attorney, and, eventually, need to hire a superintendent, he says.

“There are big things coming up and I want to help,” McCullers says.

District 3 Two people have filed to run for the District 3 seat, which serves southern Lee, including Bonita Springs and Estero. They are incumbent Chris Patricca, who won the seat in 2016, and newcomer Brian DiGrazio. On running for re-election, Patricca says she can help the board accomplish more of its goals. “I feel like some good things have been accomplished during my time on the board, and I am certainly not going to take credit for them, but I do think the leadership team has pointed the district in the right direction on several issues,” she says. This includes improving the graduation rate, decreasing achievement gaps and getting the half-penny sales tax passed, “which has provided us the opportunity to give our students, our staff and our community safe, appropriate learning environments with upgraded technology.” Patricca, 49, is in her sixth year of teaching law-related courses at Florida Gulf Coast University. She serves also on the board of directors for the Florida High School Athletic Association and has a seat on the executive committee for the Florida School

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 29

« spotlight (continued) Board Association. These roles give her a greater opportunity to advocate, “not just for Lee County students but for students statewide.” Her opponent is 37-year-old DiGrazio. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to Central Florida in 2013 before buying in the unincorporated area of Lee County near Estero in 2014. He and his wife are registered nurses and share three kids and three dogs. He works in critical care at Cape Coral Hospital. The idea to run for office came up after the passage of the half-penny sales tax in 2018. But what spurred him to take action is a push to have state legislators sign off on greater flexibility for school districts to set their own millage, or tax, rates, which they say will help address the district’s financial needs. DiGrazio’s fear is that these steps will have a snowball effect on homeowners. “When they have a little bit of success, they will always come back for more,” he says. “Taxes never go down, they always go up.” He believes that if taxes keep going up, people will be pushed out of the area because they can’t afford life in

Southwest Florida anymore. “They will keep coming back and back and you will look back 10 or 15 or 20 years from now, and like people in the Northeast, you realize you are getting taxed out of your borough first, and then county and, inevitably, the state,” DiGrazio says. DiGrazio adds he is “no politician.” “I like a simple life, as simple as I can make it,” he says. “I have three kids, three dogs, I’m married, I have a house. My free time, I just like to hang with my family, so this wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I just felt moved to do it.”

District 7 Two people have filed to run in the District 7 seat, one of two countywide seats on the school board. They are incumbent Cathleen Morgan, who has been a board member since 2012, and newcomer Lisandra Colon. Morgan, 71, retired from a career in finance and believes there is more work to be done on the board. “I just feel like maybe one more term as an experienced school board member who is committed to continuing to build a high-performing governance team that the community

WOMEN IN

POWER

Our sister publication, Grandeur Magazine, asked five local women at the top of their fields about their inspirations, distinctive qualities, the paths they took to their current positions and what they hope to see in the next generation of female leaders. Here, we share Lee County school board member Chris Patricca’s responses. You can see all five interviews at grandeurmagazine.com.

30 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

can support,” Morgan says. The Bonita Springs resident is running for her third term in office. When she ran for the District 3 seat in 2012, Morgan counted on her previous school board experience from New York as a means to help Lee County’s board overcome politics and personality issues so the members could work together on a strategic plan for the district. During that first term, the board went through three superintendents and hired Greg Adkins. Morgan decided to run for the newly created District 7 seat in 2016 to support Adkins and the work he was getting done. Colon, 39, is her only challenger. She did not respond to emails from The News-Press and has no listed phone number on her candidate sheet. Colon filed for office in May, and has raised $261, according to the Supervisor of Election’s website. Pete Bohatch, who previously filed for office, has since withdrawn from the race. You might notice we didn’t mention party affiliation. School board elections are nonpartisan. The primary election is set for August 18, with the general scheduled for November 3.

Chris Patricca Lee County School Board District 3, adjunct professor in the Justice Studies Department of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University

Hometown and where you currently reside: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, is my

hometown. I currently live in paradise, aka Estero.

Other titles you have: Wife; mother

of four; sister; HUGE New England Patriots fan; aunt; niece; friend; Florida High School Athletic Association board member; vice president of the Florida School Boards Association; Secretary of the Swim Florida board of directors; the person in our house that our dog, Goofy, loves the MOST; and Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and Duke men’s basketball fan!

Who or what inspires you? Setting and accomplishing goals inspires me. Currently, my goals are focused on student achievement. I find that harder goals make me work harder. Professionally, there really is nothing more satisfying than knowing I played some small part in helping a child become a happy, productive adult; ideally, one who leaves a positive mark on the world. What is one quality that sets you apart from others in your field? I have the ability to separate my emotions

from my intellect in the decision-making process. Generally speaking, I can control my emotions. Law school taught me to think in terms of what is legal and illegal, not what is right and wrong. As you know, what is legal is not always what is right and what is illegal is not always what is wrong. But, a deep respect for the rule of law wins out in the end and allows me to shut down the emotion to focus on the correct decision.

Was there ever a time in your career that you thought, “I can’t do this?” If so, what helped you push past that point? I have those moments frequently.

On the days that politics, instead of students, win the day, I am tempted to allow the system to defeat me. In politics and in government, we often hear complaints about the influence of lobbying groups ... In my mind, the only “lobby group” that should matter is the constituents. So, when decisions are made for the betterment of those groups instead of the betterment of the community ... it can feel overwhelming ... I push past this by staying in it. If I don’t stay in it, someone who is beholden to lobbying interests might take my place. That is far more defeating than trying to do the right thing and change the system for the better. If I am not part of the solution, I become part of the problem and the problem is far too serious to walk away without giving my effort.

How do you feel you can help the next generation achieve what you have achieved — or more?

Education is the key to achieving anything. Setting policy at the local level that allows teachers to really reach students will allow the next generation to be even better than the generations before them. Shaping state education law, through advocacy and by being part of the leadership of the Florida School Boards Association, allows me to help an even larger group of students to identify and realize their potential. Education is the key to so much in our society — economic development, personal achievement, flourishing communities, etc. As the rigor in our schools increases, the next generation’s potential becomes unlimited.

What do you see, or hope to see, as the future for women in your field or in other positions of power?

I hope to see a greater appreciation for strong, outspoken women. Often, I hear women in positions of power criticized for being too direct, too forceful, or too opinionated. I believe that males in positions of power who conduct themselves the same way are considered to be great leaders. They are rarely criticized for their directness, forcefulness or strong opinions. In fact, for men, these qualities are frequently celebrated. I would also like to see less judgment by women of each other. If a woman chooses to devote her time to her family, that is a great choice. She is not weak, nor is she incapable of professional success. Likewise, if a woman chooses to devote her time to her career, that is a great choice. She is not a bad mother who cares more about herself and her ambition than her family. We should build each other up and celebrate each other’s achievements, rather than judge each other’s choices.

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

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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 31

BOLD, NEW

VPK

The School District of Lee County is

planning a new prekindergarten program,

and parents have questions. So we talked with the district and early learning experts to see how it might impact families. STORY BY ANDREA STETSON

32 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

education »

hen the School District of Lee County recently revealed bold changes to its VPK program, it sparked social media posts, special meetings among private providers and lots of confusion among everyone from parents to day care workers. So we set out to clear up some of the confusion. “It is not a revamping at all,” says Gwendelyn Garrison, an assistant principal at James Stephens International Academy, a public elementary school in Fort Myers, where the changes will take place first. “It is just offering more opportunities for children to get ready for kindergarten.”

The Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, also known as VPK, is designed to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten and build a foundation for their educational success. The state program is for any child who lives in Florida and is 4 years old by September 1. It was signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush on January 2, 2005, and is free for eligible children, regardless of family income. Lee County’s new program is aimed at helping it rise from the bottom of prekindergarten statistics. Only six school systems in the state do worse, and they are small, rural systems. Collier County students ranked 20th in the state. Jeanne LaFountain, director of early childhood learning programs for Lee County Public Schools, says the plan is to expand the number of VPK seats within Lee County schools by 200 a year. The district is starting the plan at the James Stephens elementary campus. Gwendelyn says the expanded preschool will be its own entity on the school grounds. Its curriculum will be aimed entirely toward what children need to be ready for public school kindergarten. “The core of all of it is kindergarten readiness,” Gwendelyn explains. “We have a lot of kids that come into kindergarten that have never been in this environment. The expansion will give us the opportunity to prepare more students for kindergarten and will create jobs in the community, and it will improve student achievement.” The school currently has 35 VPK seats and is being renovated to accommodate 200 children next year. Nehemiah Ashley, 4, plays an educational video game as part of his morning pre-K classroom work at James Stephens International Academy.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 33

“We anticipate having 10 to 12 classes there,” Jeanne says. “We are hoping for an August start date, but it could be between August and January that we open up those seats. We are working out the details now.” That school is just the beginning. “The hope is we can expand by 200 students per year through 2030,” Jeanne says. “We are looking at a variety of locations. This was the one with the current availability of space, but we are looking how to either add on to other schools or find other locations.” The way it would work is state dollars would pay for the three hours of VPK that Florida provides. Parents would then have the opportunity to pay for the rest of the day. But what about working parents who can’t afford the rest of the day and can’t leave work to pick their child up after three hours? “We are looking at trying to provide some Head Start spots,” Jeanne explains. “Parents that qualify could be eligible. We are in the planning stages right now. We are looking for community sponsors. If they are working, they might qualify for school readiness dollars. They could pay from under a dollar to $5 to $10 depending on their income.” The hope is to put early learning within reach of low-income families who do not or cannot participate in VPK. Jeanne stresses that the plan is not to take away from private programs. “We just want to expand by 200 seats per year, so we can offer early childhood (learning) to more children,” she stresses. “It is just to provide additional opportunities. We find that we have a large number of kids coming to kindergarten classrooms, and they are not ready for kindergarten, and they are not meeting the expectations for kindergarten. The hope is to give every child the opportunity to start kindergarten successfully. This won’t take away from anything. This is just another opportunity for parents to enroll their child.” But Susan Block, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest

34 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

Mileyiah Mcswain, 5, paints a red sock as part of a project during her morning pre-K class in December.

Florida, says there could be a down side. “Like any change, there are pros and cons,” she explains. “There are lots of questions. I think there are more changes coming statewide.” Though there’s nothing specific currently. Collier County has no major changes planned. “Collier County Public Schools has had a continuum of offerings in early learning for a number of years and does not need to initiate substantive changes to our full complement of programming inclusive of VPK,” says Jennifer Kupiec, a spokeswoman for Collier County Public Schools. Susan explains how the changes in Lee could have unintended consequences. Currently most VPK programs are in private businesses.

“Now 10% come from the school district and the other 90% from private,” she explains. “So to move from 90% of service from private to 33% by 2030, that would have a tremendous impact on those private providers.” If families move from private programs to the district program, that could impact private providers’ bottom line. Since the ratio of caregiver to child is smaller at the younger ages, Susan explains that private facilities make their money on the older children. That would hurt private business if the 4-year-olds left to go to public VPK. “At the end of the day, it is very hard for private to compete with school districts,” she says. “So we will have a challenge issue. In the business model, if they have VPK and 2- and 3-year-olds,

education (continued) » the break-even point from a budgeting point starts to happen with the 4- and 5-year-olds. If 90% of the care goes to the school district, there would be a limited ability for private to run a program because they can’t recruit children that need VPK and school readiness. It hurts their programs for toddlers and 2-yearolds. There is already not enough infant care. We need to see how to support our providers.” The new plan might also have an impact on parents, Susan adds. If a parent has more than one child and since the younger child would not qualify for VPK, parents could wind up having one child in a public VPK and the other in private day care. She also worries about whether enough children will get the funding to go for the full day.

“If they use Head Start or Title I and expand that, then OK, but currently there is a cap. There are more families that need it than funding to serve them,” she explains. Susan also sees the pros in the district’s plan. “The pro of all of this is if the school districts can work out the financial end of it and serve our low-income and at-risk families, it could result in more children being ready for school,” she says. “We are not getting good results. Lee County was seventh from the bottom in the state, and Lee County is looking to correct that. It could strengthen the district’s ability to get readiness rates up. It is a real advantage to know what it takes for school readiness.” That’s why school officials hope this new plan will work. By having VPK

in Lee County schools, they hope the preparation is exactly what children need to be kindergarten ready. The district does have a preferred pre-K provider program that will still be in place. That program allows accredited private vendors to go to trainings and become preferred providers. But Jeanne says adding more VPK in public schools will give more children a head start on learning. “If they start out behind, it is very hard for them to catch up,” Jeanne says. “They have to make up all the skills and knowledge. They fall further and further behind. We want them to have the basic skills to be ready for kindergarten that will ensure success for later on.” “It is very complicated,” Susan adds. “It is not ‘This is a great thing’ or ‘This is a horrible thing.’”

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? The Lee County School District’s Early Learning Services department welcomes calls at 239-332-2512.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 35

SIMPLE IDEAS FOR

AWESOME BIRTHDAYS

Violeta Espinoza, 5, of south Fort Myers, is photographed at Koreshan State Park in Estero.

36 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE

You don’t need to throw a big, expensive party to make your child feel special on their birthday. We’ve got lots of ideas that will make your child’s big day a big deal.

cover story »

BY SARAH LYONS

he day your child was born is a day to celebrate and make them feel special. Birthday parties are fun, but they can be a lot of work and the costs can quickly add up. If you decide to skip the birthday party, it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate big. Here are some ideas to make sure your child’s birthday is special — with or without a party.

PHOTO BY AMANDA INSCORE

Create anticipation As the birthday approaches, build anticipation by talking about it and planning what the day will hold. You can create a special countdown by making a paper chain and tearing off one chain per day or even just counting down the number of days on a chalkboard in your home. Explain that although there will not be a big birthday party this year, there will still be a lot of fun things planned. Make the cake A great way to save money on a birthday celebration is to make the cake yourself. Choose

flavors and colors or themes your child loves and get siblings involved in the preparation. Kids typically don’t care about whether the cake is perfectly decorated; they are happy with a cake that is made just for them. Balloon avalanche When your child goes to sleep the night before their birthday, decorate the house with balloons or birthday decor. Try taping a disposable tablecloth to the outside of their bedroom door and fill the space between with balloons. When your child opens the

door, they’ll be greeted with a balloon avalanche that is sure to put a big smile on their face. (Just be sure that their door opens inward or you might have a child stuck in their room!) Kid’s choice When planning the day, consider your child’s favorites. Plan the day’s meals around your child’s favorite foods. Choose things that you typically do not serve to make the day more special. If you will go on an outing or if you will be dining out, let the child choose the location.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 37

« cover story

(continued)

Document the day Create a list of questions to ask your child on their birthday, such as “Who is your best friend?” or favorite TV shows, songs, foods, etc. Record the answers in a safe place and repeat each year. It’s fun to look back and see how your child has changed and matured over the years. Tell their story Kids love to hear stories about the day they were born, the cute things they did as a baby, or how you prepared for their arrival. Spend part of the day telling

favorite stories about your child; they are sure to love it. Have others reach out Ask friends and family to wish your child a happy birthday with calls, texts, messages or cards. Consider talking to family members via Skype. This will help your child know that others are celebrating them even if you aren’t hosting a big birthday party this year. As parents, we often feel like we have to spend a lot to make our child’s birthday special when this is truly not the case. With a little extra planning, your child’s day can be just as special as any expensive party.

SIMPLE,

PHOTOS by Whitney Coogan/Smile Sparkle Snap]

SWEET 16

38 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

A teenager’s big celebration doesn’t have to be on the scale of celebrity wedding to score points with the kids. Gisselle Crespo of Memorable Mobile Parties shares this idea from a recent styled collaboration at Southern Chic Antiques in Fort Myers: a “Dreams DO Come True” boho sleepover. Rather than an over-the-top party, teens invite their closest friends for an intimate gathering. “Teenagers are still children; they still love to trick or treat, receive gifts and celebrate all occasions,” Gisselle says. “This boho theme is girly, yet youthful and appropriate for teens. It also makes for a less stressful experience by taking away the pressure to invite 100-plus guests, as traditionally done for over-the-top parties. Teens are in the stage of life where they are establishing relationships with close friends and we feel this is one of the best ideas for a BFF Dreams DO Come True celebration.” The concept and styling are by Memorable Mobile Parties, memorablemobileparties. com. The balloon garland is from Bubble and Company, event rentals from Plithos, neon sign rentals from Hey Let’s Party, doughnuts from Peace Love & Little Donuts, and the photos are by Whitney Coogan of Smile Sparkle Snap. Model is Erin Ball.

WHERE’S THE PARTY? f you’re looking for an unusual place to have a birthday party, we have some suggestions. Here’s a mix of great ideas from readers and staff: The Escape Room:

Numerous escape rooms have popped up in Southwest Florida in recent years. On Instagram, @lillyxxgal told us “My daughter’s favorite birthday parties were last year at The Escape Room (@escapethecape followed by Slime making class @michaelsstores) & Glamour Shots photoshoot, sadly now out of business (formerly in the Edison Mall), the photos came out amazing and all her friends still talk about these parties!” (escapethecapefl.com) We Rock the Spectrum Kid Gym:

This indoor sensory-based kids’ gym in Fort Myers is designed for children of all abilities. “We had our daughter’s 2nd Birthday Party at @wrts_fortmyers and it was fantastic,” Mary Saunders, @mesaunders09, relayed to us on Instagram. “All of the parents actually looked RELAXED while their kiddos played in both the toddler area and the gym. The kids all…had a blast, too. The owners and staff are amazing and a dream to work with. It was such a great experience. I highly recommend We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym!” (werockthespectrumfortmyers.com) Bennett’s Fresh Roast: Yep, a coffee shop with amazing doughnuts and coffee turns out to be a great place for a kids’ birthday party. Photographer

Amanda Inscore held her son’s party here. The Fort Myers shop schedules the get-together for after closing, which is 1 p.m., so that you have the place to yourself and those madefrom-scratch doughnuts. They even let the kids build their own doughnut creation. (bennettsfreshroast.com) Parks: Big parks with lots of attractions, like Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers or North Collier Community Park, are frequently the venue for kids’ birthday parties. Editor Pamela Hayford found fun in smaller city parks where the pavilion rentals are low or free. Traditional party games and an obstacle course turn any venue into a fun party place. Kitchen Social: The kids of our art director, Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, were invited to a party here and had a blast. The kids learn how to cook a dish like ravioli, rolling out the dough and making the sauce. There’s cake and whatever else the party family chooses. This south Fort Myers venue is also a great place for girls’ night out or a date night. (kitchensocial.com) Saddlewood Horse Club: This Cape Coral equestrian facility has birthday parties down to a science. The covered arena keeps the Florida sun from beating down on your party, and the kids get to interact with the horses. (capehorses.com) Board & Brush Creative Studio:

The party options here span a variety of ages, including teens. It’s similar to the concept offered at painting studios, only here you use woodworking and graphics to make a custom wood sign. Locations in Naples, Fort Myers and Cape Coral. (boardandbrush.com) — There’s also the AR Workshop in Naples and Cape Coral. (arworkshop. com) Buff City Soap: They don’t advertise it on their website, but the Cape Coral location often posts on Facebook that the shop welcomes group gatherings. Party-goers get to make their own bath bomb, a fun activity for kids and adults alike. You’ll also find Buff City in Naples. (buffcitysoap.com) Cape Coral Indoor Athletics:

In addition to training athletes, this indoor baseball, softball and performance training facility is available for birthday parties. Activities can include dodgeball, kickball, wiffleball, soccer, Nerf wars, bounce house, basketball… “anything you can play in a 10,000-square-foot all turf area,” says owner Jimmy Conti. (capecoralindoorathletics.com) Residance: This is not your typical dance studio. In a 90-minute class, you learn step-by-step choreography and then perform it in groups. It’s like being in your own music video. And you get to download said video. (theresidance.com)

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 39

» safety corner NIK I SHIMKO

SMALL AND MIGHTY, YET DANGEROUS Button batteries turn everday items into health risk.

o you have a key fob, a television remote, a singa-long book, hearing aids or a light-up wand laying around? These electronics, just to name a few, are known to have stronger, longer lasting, round, coin-like batteries. While these tiny lithium batteries last longer, they are a big health risk. Button battery ingestion is the most dangerous foreign body ingestion for kids. Each year over 3,500 kids swallow button batteries, leading to serious injuries and even death. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, from 2006 to 2010 the injuries have more than quadrupled. Serious injury can occur within two hours of ingestion of the battery. The battery lodges into the upper esopha-

gus and reacts with saliva, creating a current that burns the soft tissue. Injuries that occur over time from battery ingestions require surgical repair. To visualize this type of damage, cut a slit into a hot dog and place a button battery inside the slit. Within an hour the hot dog around the battery will turn brown and black with burns. Often parents or caregivers are not aware if a child swallowed or ingested a button battery. Children may show symptoms of not drinking, drooling, crying, coughing, vomiting, irritability or breathing problems. Other times, children may show no signs or symptoms of this ingestion. If you suspect for any reason a child has swallowed a button battery, immediately take them to an emergency room.

Niki Shimko, a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing and certified pediatric nurse certified in neonatal pediatric transport, is the pediatric transport team coordinator for Lee Health and an EMA Children’s Advisory Council member.

40 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

This type of injury is preventable. What can you do to protect your child and other children around you? 1. Identify household items with these types of batteries. 2. Keep these items out of reach from the children. 3. Keep loose extra batteries locked away. 4. Damaged toys or items with broken safety measures should be thrown away. 5. If you suspect a battery ingestion, go to the emergency room immediately. 6. Pass along this information to your friends, family, caregivers, etc. Timing is of the essence. Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 800-498-8666 with any questions.

Safe Kids is a nonprofit coalition of agencies and organizations dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries. Visit safekidsswfl.org.

in the news »

CAPE CORAL GIRL FEATURED ON TAGALONGS BOX The local Girl Scout is one of six children chosen from across the country. BY PAMELA MCCABE

agalongs, the chocolate-covered, peanutbuttery fan-favorite of the Girl Scout Cookie world, has gotten a makeover for the 2020 sales blitz. And one of the girls gracing the front of the bright red box hails from Southwest Florida. Olivia Trader, of Cape Coral, can be seen playing a pink guitar in what appears to be a four-girl band. The 12-year-old won the honor by taking part in Girl Scouts of the USA’s 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Pro Contest, which asked interested members to send in resumes highlighting what they have learned about the cookie selling business. Six scouts were chosen from the national contest, including Olivia. There are 2.5 million Girl Scouts, including 1.7 million girl members and 750,000 adult members, reports the national organization. “Young cookie entrepreneurs, like Olivia, learn important business and financial literacy skills that are proven to build their leadership skills and position them for success in the future,”

explains Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, which is headquartered in Sarasota. “And every dollar from the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays within the local council to support troop activities, community service projects, council programs and more.”

The local branch has nearly 6,000 scouts in a 10-county spread that extends from Manatee County south to Collier and east to Highlands. The six national winners took part in a photo shoot and the images were placed on the boxes being sold during the 2020 season. The boxes highlight the experiences a girl could have by joining the Girl Scouts, which include camping, canoeing, learning about outer space and volunteerism. A new cookie was added this year, too. They’re called Lemon-Ups and are described as a “crispy lemon cookie.” They replace the Savannah Smiles cookie. And if your mouth is already watering for that first bite of Thin Mint or Samoas, take comfort in knowing area Girl Scouts are already taking pre-orders for cookie season. Starting February 15, cookie booths will be spotted in the usual spots, like outside local grocery stores. Visit www.gsgcf.org to find out more about the organization or cookie sales.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 41

» family album

Home Base » Home Base SWFL, a nonprofit founded in part by the Red Sox Foundation to help veterans and their families, recently announced that it would extend services provided through the Warrior Health and Fitness program to military spouses living in Southwest Florida. On January 4, program organizers invited media to a workout. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child

Send Us Your Snapshots

Send your images with a brief description and names of the people in them to editor@swflparentchild.com 42 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

Meals of Hope » During Meals of Hope’s sixth annual Holidays

Without Hunger, 3,450 volunteers packed more than 875,000 meals at December events to be distributed for free through local schools, food pantries and food banks. Clockwise from top left: Gertrude Natene Bwaya, Ramses Acosta and Carmen Melendez • Sophia Holler, Ashley Urbanowicz, Jay Huckeba, Kady Jackson and Josh Varner • Alex Hamilton • Kaitlynn Flagg. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child

Give Back Day » More than 30

trustees and staff members of the Naples Children & Education Foundation volunteered to create a community garden and new sports equipment shed at Youth Haven. They also distributed food and other items to youth in need in Collier County. The event was in partnership with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. NCEF is the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 43

First baby »

The first baby born in Lee County, Luis Eduardo was born at 3:50 a.m. New Year’s Day to parents Julia Miranda De Leon and Luis Alberto De Leon Nix at HealthPark Medical Center in south Fort Myers. Photo by Andrea Melendez

Fashion supporting kids » The 10th annual Golisano

Children’s Hospital Fashion Show raised more than $119,000 to support Kids’ Minds Matter, the pediatric mental and behavioral health movement in Southwest Florida. Photos by Michael A Caronchi

44 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

family album »

The Immokalee Foundation » Twenty students

with The Immokalee Foundation recently visited the Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center in Naples, which provides sanctuary and rehabilitation services to unreleasable wild and captive-bred exotic animals, including wolves and wolfdogs. TIF also raised an all-time record $2.6 million at its signature fundraising events, the Charity Classic Celebration gala and the Charity Classic Pro Am, to support the foundation’s new career-based initiative, Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child

Teacher of the Year » Mariner High School art teacher Samantha Hower was named the Lee County School District’s 2019 Teacher of the Year in a surprise ceremony December 18. That means she’s now nominated for Florida Teacher of the Year. The Florida Department of Education will announce the winner in the spring. Photo by Andrew West

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 45

» family album

MLK March » The MLK Commemorative March began at the Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Library in Fort Myers. Marchers then turned down High Street and proceeded down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Centennial Park singing hymns and old civil rights chants. Photo by Andrea Melendez

Youth Art Competition »

Left: Sophia Rice, 12, of Three Oaks Middle School, won the Best Youth Art award in the Hot Works 23rd Estero Fine Art Show Youth Art Competition in January at JetBlue Park. Right: Freya Jani Shah, 9, right, of Rayma C. Page Elementary School, is one of three students who won Youth Art Awards of Excellence. Photos special to SW FL Parent & Child

46 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

travel »

TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO

THE ISLANDS A Southwest Florida mom shares insights after her trip to Jamaica. BY E. COPELAND

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

amaica. Birthplace of reggae legend Bob Marley. Home to the English dialect Patois. Beaches that will take your breath away. Home to the 2019 Miss World (Congratulations, Toni-Ann Singh!). And this single mom’s 2019 vacation. My daughter, my mom and I left on a Tuesday, and after 1.5 hours in the air, we landed on this Caribbean island nation for a grand vacation with extended family. It took quite a bit of planning, and we were grateful to have the opportunity to visit. The first thing we saw, coming out of the Kingston airport, was a scene straight from a postcard. Brown and green tipped mountains rose in the distance.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 47

« travel (continued) Dunn’s River Falls

People bustling everywhere, many hustling their wares. The air was hot but without the humidity of southern Florida. My brother-in-law, who came in from New York, picked us up from the airport, and as we meandered through the winding roads up the hills, avoiding drivers who veered too close to our van for comfort, we took in the sights. The highlight of the trip was the beaches. The beaches. I know you hear about how beautiful the beaches are in the Caribbean, but to experience it firsthand is like nothing you can imagine. The blue water goes on for miles. One to check out is Negril Seven Mile Beach. And then there’s the food. The food. Even away from the resort, we were delighted with national dishes and official Jamaican patties. Everything tasted better than it does in the States. Being so close to the source made the fried fish and curried goat tastier. Now, before you go on your own exhilarating adventure to Jamaica, or any of the Caribbean islands, heed these tips to make your excursion much more enjoyable:

48 » FEBRUARY 2020 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM

TIP 1: Check with the U.S. Department of State before you travel anywhere.

We checked the website way before we left, to see what to expect in Jamaica. The international travel section features information that’s important to your safety, such as illnesses to avoid and the vaccines needed to travel to a foreign country. Safety is the first consideration to take when traveling out of the United States. When you travel with children, it is imperative that you always check with the State Department to make sure that pertinent vaccines can be taken before the trip. Find it at travel.state.gov. The website is not only a great resource to prepare you for the unknown, but it is also crucial. Whatever you need help with for your trip to Jamaica, or any country, the State Department is a great start. Before our trip, I found out that Jamaica had bouts of yellow fever, and to stay vigilant and observant while on the island. As

of last month, there were warnings of increased crime alerts in the area. You can also find out how to get passports. If you need a passport, particularly for a minor, a month before your trip is not enough time. Often, procuring a passport can be a time-consuming process, especially for a minor. We had to get my daughter’s father to fill out a notarized consent form in Massachusetts (where he is located) to be sent with the application for the passport. Thankfully, I did this over a year in advance. It took a while to get it.

TIP 2: Don’t change your money at the airport. If you choose to trade cash (U.S. money works there as well), then don’t change it at the airport. Last I looked, the exchange rate was 101 Jamaican dollars to one U.S. dollar. At the airport, the difference is much less. Find a local money changer; they are everywhere.

travel (continued) »

Dunn’s River Falls

TIP 3: Allinclusive resorts are one of the best options for traveling with a child, particularly as a single parent. Having everything in one area makes your trip more economical and safer. Our resort boasted several beaches and a kid-friendly vibe. My daughter, who is now a young teenager, found activities that were fun and fulfilling. She loved the music and the activities for kids. Of course, the best part of the resort was the food. My favorite meal of all time: ackee and saltfish (Jamaica’s national dish). It was there for me at every breakfast. What a wonderful feeling to wake up and know that just around the corner there were several different restaurants. These separate eating establishments located within the walls of the resort featured everything from Japanese to Spanish fare. There were

pastries and desserts from all over the world to satisfy our sweet tooth. Each day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, we dined on American favorites as well as local fare. The resort boasted three beaches and a pool that seemed to go on for miles. The locals, many who worked at the resort, were so kind and thoughtful. Even when we were out and about, outside of the resort, we were met with kindness, and everywhere we went there were joyful humble people selling their wares. One thing to note is to make sure the airport that you fly into is close to your resort. It took us two and a half hours to get there. We ended up having to take a taxi at 2 a.m. for two-and-a-half hours to make our 6 a.m. flight. Had I known how far the resort was from the airport, I would have planned better. I didn’t want to travel late at night with my daughter and mom, as most people advise against being out late at night there. Thankfully, we had friends and my sister’s in-laws helped with everything that we were not prepared for.

TIP 4: If you can travel with family, or if you have family in Jamaica, then do not hesitate to use that perk. Having family in Jamaica helped us a lot. For one, my brother-in-law rented a car to take us all over the island. That’s another tip all by itself: Have

someone who’s accustomed to driving in the islands take you around. Driving in Jamaica can be a precarious adventure. One not to take lightly. Per British rule, they still drive on the left side of the road. Jamaicans are also notorious for driving as if there are no rules, speeding and coming extremely close to other cars. Plus, there are many young children on the side of busy roads peddling for money. Our Jamaican family members also gave us great recommendations and took us away from the resort to have some authentic Jamaican experiences that we could never garner on our own. They helped us get to do more with a limited budget, because they knew where to get the discounts and which places were worth the extra funds. Perhaps the most exciting part of the trip was going to Dunn’s River Falls. Close to Ocho Rios, Dunn’s Falls is part swimming, part exercise and part wild adrenaline ride. The falls are 600 feet high and terraced. The big attraction is to climb the stones and rocks. It was quite challenging and exhilarating all in the same breath. The best part of Dunn’s River Falls was that so many people from all over the world gather together and help each other climb. You can see a German family and a Japanese family link arms and make the arduous climb, together. I never walked so much, and never through water. There’s also zip lining, but we had our day full climbing rocks on the waterfall. Being a tourist is even better when you know the locals. For all of us, this was truly a trip of a lifetime. And I was pleased that my daughter had a chance to see her father’s birthplace. We got to see how others live and how to really appreciate the small things in life. Jamaica is a laid-back country, complete with joy and excitement. That is if you take the time to be prepared. It’s worth a look.

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« around town

FESTIVAL OF FUN February brings slew of Edison Festival of Light events

The Edison Festival of Light is such a big event that it has two parades. And a 5K, a junior run, a coronation, food truck festival, crafts festival, the family-centric STEMtastic Day of Discovery and more. The festival celebrates Thomas Edison, the Fort Myers seasonal resident whose inventions changed the way people live around the world. Some highlights:

FEBRUARY 8 — STEMTASTIC DAY OF DISCOVERY 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers » Families

participate in interactive, STEMrelated activities and games, a fun (and free) way to expose kids to science, technology, engineering and math. The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools organizes the event in partnership with the School District of Lee County.

FEBRUARY 9 — JUNIOR FUN RUN, JUNIOR PARADE AND JUNIOR CORONATION 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in downtown Fort Myers »

Floats line up for the Junior Parade all morning. Registration for the annual kids’ run begins at 10:30 a.m. The fun kicks off with the start of the Junior Fun Run at noon. Kids run various lengths depending on their age. Kids younger than 5 run 50-75 yards, while fourth- and fifth-graders run a mile. Then the Junior Parade sets off with more than 100 units through downtown Fort Myers, followed by the parade awards and Junior Coronation at 4:30 p.m.

Take in a little midweek serenity. The Naples Botanical Garden stays open late (5-8 p.m.) every Wednesday through March 25 so people can take in the soft glow of the gardens at sunset. It’s also a good after-school activity for the kids. There’s a children’s garden, plenty to entertain little ones and lots of room to roam. The discounted admission for the evening begins at 3 p.m.: $10 for residents of Lee and Collier counties. Get details at naplesgarden.org.

FEBRUARY 11— THOMAS EDISON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 10 a.m. at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers » Students from Edison Park

Creative and Expressive Arts School sing, dance and play stringed instruments while birthday cake is served. The party is free but does not include tours or admission to the museum or lab. Get details at edisonford.org.

FEBRUARY 15 — GRAND PARADE 7 p.m. kickoff; starts at Fort Myers High School and ends in downtown Fort Myers » Organizers call it the largest

night parade in the Southeast, and they very well might be right. It takes about two hours for the parade to pass by one spot and attracts participants from across the country. There are lighted floats, marching bands, clowns, first-responder vehicles and more. It’s so popular, many people stake out their spot along the route days in advance, marking their area with duct tape on the sidewalk. There are also two ticketed areas where you can reserve your seat for the big show.

Details, parade routes and more Edison Festival events are online at edisonfestival.org.

50 » FEBRUARY 2020 » NEWS-PRESS.COM/MOMS

Make a playdate for Garden Nights

Puddles Pity Party comes to Fort Myers “America’s Got Talent” made Puddles the clown a household name. The “Sad Clown with the Golden Voice” has been inspiring audiences around the world, and now he’s coming to Southwest Florida. Puddles is set to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 8 at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers. Tickets are $45 in advance, $50 day of event, $120 for VIP. For details or tickets, call the box office at 239-333-1933 or visit sbdac.com/ puddles-pity-party.

Rally on the Green for Cape charter schools The Cape Coral Charter School Foundation throws a big party to raise money for its four schools: the Rally on the Green. There are rides and games, food vendors, entertainment and, new this year, a golf tournament. Admission and parking are free. Wristbands for rides and games are $5 in advance, $10 at the event. The festival part is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, February 29 at Cape Royal Golf Club, 11460 Royal Tee Circle, Cape Coral. Tee times are 8 and 10 a.m. There’s a 9-hole combo for an adult and child that includes nine holes of golf, lunch and a golf cart for $75. Get details at capecharterfoundation.com.

calendar »

PRESCHOOL & VPK

Saturday, Feb. 1 Anniversary Block Party » 8 a.m.-4 p.m. February 1-2. Bean to Cup Coffee Lounge, 3248 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Bean to Cup celebrates its first anniversary with a two days of food trucks, live music, face painting, art vendors and birthday cake. beantocupnaples.com ArtFest Fort Myers » 10 a.m.-5 p.m. February 1-2. Downtown Fort Myers along Edwards Drive. This art show has a big children’s area, the Publix Art Yard, where kids can buy artwork for $5, see live entertainment and make their own art. Free admission. artfestfortmyers.com Punk Brunch » Noon-3 p.m. Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers. Music, food, interactive art, crafts and live artists at the library’s amphitheater. All ages event. Love Your Rebellion will have a craft station for ages 10 and younger and a zine-making station for ages 11 and older. Free, but donations appreciated. loveyourrebellion.org

Sunday, Feb. 2 Corn Hole Tournament and Food Truck Cookout » 11 a.m. Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, 206 Ridge Drive, Naples. The center’s Young Professional Strides group hosts this fundraiser featuring a corn hole tournament, raffle and food trucks. Family-friendly with an open house format. Tours available. Prizes to the winning team. Cost to play in the tournament is $25 per person or $50 per team. Nonplaying guests, $20 per person. To register a team, call 239-596-2988 or naplestherapeuticridingcenter.org.

DANCE

Celebrating Since 1951

All Ages

Classical Ballet Pointe Tap Jazz Hip Hop Modern Acrobatics Children’s Work

(239)334-3274 www.dancebochette.com NEWBORN CARE

Monday, Feb. 3 Parenting Class » 5:30 p.m. Lee County Department of Human and Veteran Services, 2440 Thompson St., Fort Myers. Free class on raising children ages 0-12.

Tuesday, Feb. 4

RESALE & CONSIGNMENT

Emerging Inventors: Funky Fish » 10-11 a.m., Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Children and parents learn, play and gain valuable social skills while exploring the homes, gardens and museum every first and third Tuesday of the month. In this session, learn all about Thomas Edison’s love for fishing and the types of fish that are abundant in local waters. Registration required. $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. 239-334-7419. edisonfordwinterestates.org/events/emerging-inventors Free Trolley Tours of Ave Maria » 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. Meets at the Ave Maria Welcome Center in the Town Center. Reservations encouraged at 239352-3903. Plus, Ave Maria Town Center hosts live music 1-4 p.m. every Thursday. avemaria.com Luna the Screech Owl » 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Esplanade, Punta Gorda. Every Tuesday. On Thursdays, meet Annie the owl. fishville.com

Wednesday, Feb. 5 Drug House Odyssey Family Night » 5-7 p.m., Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. Free. A walk-through play about the dangers of underage drinking

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 51

« calendar and drinking and driving. NFL Carolina Panther Tre Boston will also visit during the event to advocate for prevention. It’s a great opportunity to talk with your kids about making good choices. Free. drugfreeswfl.org Garden Nights » 5-8 p.m. every Wednesday through March 25. Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples. Enjoy the gardens in the glow of the sunset. Families welcome. $10 admission for Collier and Lee residents, free for members. naplesgarden.org

Thursday, Feb. 6 “Frozen Jr.” Musical » 6:30 p.m. February 6-8. North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers. The school theater department presents its annual children’s musical. Shows are 6:30 p.m. February 6-8. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5; children dressed in Frozeninspired costumes receive $2 off.

Friday, Feb. 7 Fort Myers High School 2020 International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibition Opening » 6-10 p.m. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. Showcases the work of 48 students. $1 admission. 239-333-1933. sbdac.com/fmhs-ib-visual-arts-students Walk on the Wild Side » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger for a guided hike along Black Island Trail. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588. YA Book Club Featuring “Loveboat, Taipei” » 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. This month: “Loveboat, Taipei” by Abigail Hing Wen, a coming-of-age story with a touch of romance. barnesandnoble.com

Saturday, Feb. 8 AsiaFest » 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Features Asian food, vendors and live cultural entertainment. $5. apaswfl.org or artinlee. org/event/asia-fest-2020

the-grill samples cooked by Sunshine Ace’s grill masters. Benefits Children’s Miracle Network. Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith to Make Florida Stop on Art Tour » February 8-9. The Mercato, 9115 Strada Place, Space 5155, Naples. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is making a stop at the Mercato with his North American fine art tour. The exhibit opens February 6, and Chad will make two appearances at the gallery: 5-8 p.m. February 8 and noon-3 p.m. February 9. Free and open to the public, but reservations required at 866900-6699 or naples@roadshowcompany.com. Minimum purchase required to spend time with the artist. Saturday Guided Nature Trail Hike » 9 a.m. every Saturday. Koreshan State Park, 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Learn about park history and its environment on this 1.8-mile walk. Meets at the picnic area north of the playground. Bring water, hat and a camera for photos. Registration requested at 239-992-0311 or friendsofkoreshan.org/nature-programs. Included with park fee of $5 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $4 for single-occupant, $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. STEMtastic Day of Discovery » 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. STEM-related exhibits, games and presentations. Free. leeschoolfoundation.org Valentine’s Cookie Decorating » Noon. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. Decorate a cookie for Valentine’s Day. Free. miromaroutlets.com Valentine’s Day Maker Fest » 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Michaels stores in Southwest Florida. Choose from four projects: Valentine’s Day T-shirt, Friendship/Gal Pal Bracelet, Valentine’s Day DIY Cards and Valentine’s Day Cookies. All activities are free, except the T-shirt requires shirt purchase. michaels.com/classes YMCA Kids’ Night Out » 5-10 p.m. the second Saturday of each month through May. Greater Naples YMCA, 5450 YMCA Road, Naples. $20 per child for members, $35 for guests. Parents can enjoy a night out while the kids have fun at the Y. For ages 6 months to 12 years. Registration required. Dinner included. greaternaplesymca.org/ kidsnightout.html

Sunday, Feb. 9

Edison Ford Garden Festival » February 8-9. Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. More than 40 vendors selling plants and artwork. Plus there’ll be food trucks and live music. Free; does not include tours or admission to the museum. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. February 8 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. February 9. edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Adam Jobbers-Miller Blue Bowl Co-Ed Flag Football Tournament » 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Barron Collier High School, 5600 Cougar Drive, Naples. A flag football tournament made up of men, woman and kids. Benefits families of fallen officers. thefallenofficers.com/adam-jobbers-millerblue-bowl

Puddles Pity Party » 7 p.m., Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. General admission: $45 in advance, $50 day of event, VIP $120. Puddles Pity Party appeared on Season 12 of “America’s Got Talent” and viral video collaborations with Postmodern Jukebox. Puddles wows with his singing. Cocktails at 7 p.m. Performance at 8 p.m. 239-333-1933. sbdac.com/puddles-pity-party

Edison Festival of Light Junior Fun Run, Junior Parade and Coronation » 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Downtown Fort Myers. Registration for the fun run races (for kids in fifth grade and younger) starts at 10:30 a.m. Races begin at noon. Junior Parade begins at 2:30 p.m. Coronation and parade awards at 4:30 p.m. edisonfestival.org

Reel in the Sunshine » 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunshine Ace Hardware, 9100 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. A fishing expo for all ages and experience levels. Learn techniques and where the fish are biting. Plus try hot-off-

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Friends & Family Day » 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Apostolic Praise Tabernacle, 11871 Plantation Road, Fort Myers. Free. After the church service, enjoy food, inflatables and games. Reservations requested. apostolicpraise.com Musical Interludes: Glenn Roth » 4-6 p.m. Marco Island

calendar » Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. This all ages concert features Glenn Roth, who is known for his fingerstyle guitar playing. $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers. 239-394-4221. marcoislandart.org

1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island. This all ages bring Juilliard-trained musicians to perform traditional jazz. $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers. 239-394-4221. marcoislandart.org

Monday, Feb. 10

Thursday, Feb. 13

School Break Camp: Eco-Discovery » 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Explore the Edison and Ford Winter Estates and topics in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), history and the natural world. In this session, explore Florida’s habitat and our impact on it from estuaries to invasive species. Registration required. $45 for members, $50 for nonmembers. 239-334-7419. edisonfordwinterestates.org.

Fishing Clinic » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park naturalist to learn a variety of tackle and fresh bait rigs. Find out the best places to drop a line and learn the rules and regulations of fishing in Southwest Florida. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588.

Tuesday, Feb. 11

Friday, Feb. 14

Admissions Open House » 9-11 a.m., Royal Palm Academy, 16100 Livingston Road, Naples. Meet the head of school and administrative staff of the Royal Palm Academy, learn more about the school and tour the campus. Royal Palm is a Catholic school for grades preK-8. 239-594-9888 or jscarafile@royalpalmacademy.com. royalpalmacademy. com

Lovers Key Wedding Vows Renewal » 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Renew your vows on the park’s beach in a nondenominational service. $125 per couple, $45 for guests. RSVP via eventbrite.com; in the “looking for” area, type “Vows” and it will pop up.

Ave Maria Arts & Crafts Festivals » February 11-13. Ave Maria Town Center in Ave Maria. Arts, crafts and live music noon-3 p.m. The festivals also take place March 10-12 and March 28-29. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday. avemaria.com Masters of Illusion » 7:30 p.m. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. Magicians from around the world perform in this family-friendly show from the CW Network. $26.69-$50.99. bbmannpah.com Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing » 1, 4 and 7 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers, 2438 Second St., Fort Myers. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance. Admission is free, but donations of canned goods and cash requested to support The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative. edisonfestival.org/events/2020/mrs-edisonshymn-sing Thomas Edison’s Birthday Celebration » 10-11:30 a.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Free. Celebrate Thomas Edison’s 173rd birthday. Students from the Edison Park Creative and Expressive Arts School will sing, dance and play stringed instruments, and birthday cake will be served. Free; does not include tours or admission to the museum or lab. edisonford.org.

Wednesday, Feb. 12 Art & Soul Night » 6-9 p.m. Shangri-La Springs, 27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. Free. Shangri-La Springs hosts monthly Art & Soul Nights through April that feature live music, an artisan market, free art demonstrations and mini spa treatments, and the farm-to-table food at Harvest & Wisdom. 239-949-0749. shangrilasprings.com Musical Interludes: Peter and Will Anderson Jazz Trio » 5:30-7 p.m. Marco Island Center for the Arts,

Valentine’s Dance » 7-9 p.m., Vineyards Community Park, 6231 Arbor Blvd. W., Naples. $15 per parent/child, $5 for each additional child. This parent-child dance has a DJ, snacks and lots of dancing.

Saturday, Feb. 15 Edison Festival of Light 5K Run/Walk » 5:45 p.m. Campo Felice, 2500 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers. Run along the streets of downtown Fort Myers before the Grand Parade. Advance registration is $20 for ages 18 and younger, $35 for adults. Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade » 7 p.m. The biggest nighttime parade in the Southeast starts at the Fort Myers High School, goes north on U.S. 41 and ends in downtown Fort Myers. edisonfestival.org NAMI Walk 2020 » 8:30-11 a.m. Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness for a 2.5-mile walk to raise awareness. Free food, fun and entertainment. Pets welcome. To form a team, call 239260-7300 or email kristin@namicollier.org. namicollier.org Quarter Auction Fundraiser for A Mom’s Helping Hand » 1 p.m. Cactus Jacks Waterfront Bar & Grill, 3448 Marinatown Lane, North Fort Myers. Benefits A Mom’s Helping Hand of SWFL. An event for the grown-ups, use quarters and paddles to win items valued at $20 to $100. Don’t know how to play? Organizers will teach you. Scale Rails Annual Train Show » February 15-16. Araba Shrine, 2010 Hanson St., Fort Myers. $7 for adults, $2 for teens, free for ages 12 and younger. Free parking. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. February 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. February 16. 239-471-2960. Storytime and Activities Featuring “The President of the Jungle” » 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. Is Lion always the King of the Jungle? This funny story features lively illustrations

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 53

« calendar and colorful characters who can teach the importance of everyone having a vote. barnesandnoble.com

Sunday, Feb. 16 Sunday Funday » 11 a.m.-2 p.m. River Hall Country Club & Hampton Lakes, 3500 River Hall Parkway, Alva. Features the Ben Allen Band, food trucks and a family fun zone with face painting, inflatables and games. eventbrite.com SWFL Veg Fest » 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. Free. Entertainment by the Blue Gators and others. Activities for the kids, competitions, classes and more. swflvegfest.org Taste of the Cape » 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tarpon Point Marina, 6179 Black Marlin Lane, Cape Coral. $5 for teens and adults, free for ages 12 and younger. Features food from a variety of local restaurants and a free concert by the Gulf Coast Symphony. tasteofcapecoral.com

Monday, Feb. 17 Red Sox Boston Tee Party » 5:30-8:30 p.m., Forest Country Club, 6100 Club Blvd. S.W., Fort Myers. $75. An evening of food, cocktails, entertainment and auctions. Benefits Kids’ Minds Matter. kidsmindsmatter.com or leehealthfoundation.org/events

Tuesday, Feb. 18 Boston Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic » 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Forest Country Club, 6100 Club Blvd. S.W., Fort Myers. $400. Hit the links with Boston Red Sox players and other celebrities in this fundraiser for Kids’ Minds Matter. Sponsorships opportunities for each event are now available. kidsmindsmatter.com or leehealthfoundation. org/events “Cats” » February 18-23. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. The musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber comes to Southwest Florida. Shows are 7:30 p.m. February 18, 19, 20; 2 p.m. February 20, 22; 8 p.m. February 21 and 22, and 1 p.m. February 23. $47.80-$91.46. bbmannpah.com Fishing Clinic » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park naturalist to learn a variety of tackle and fresh bait rigs. Find out the best places to drop a line and learn the rules and regulations of fishing in Southwest Florida. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588.

Thursday, Feb. 20 “Getting to Know You” Club Tour & Lunch » Noon. Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, 7500 Davis Blvd., Naples. Learn more about how the Boys & Girls Club’s programs help Collier County youth and teens do well in school, choose healthy lifestyles and become great leaders. Free lunch provided by The Blue CanTEEN, Boys & Girls Club of Collier County’s food truck. RSVP via Eventbrite. com or email Heidi Overman at hoverman@bgccc.com.

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Friday, Feb. 21 2020 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest » February 21-22. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs. $1,500 per person. SWFL Children’s Charities Inc.’s fundraiser features intimate vintner dinners, a grand tasting and a live auction. Benefits children’s health initiatives. swflwinefest.org Star Party at Rotary Park » 7-10 p.m. Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. Free. Join the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society for a free evening of night sky observation. Look through several telescopes and talk to the experts from the society about what can be seen. For all ages. No flashlights. 239-549-4606. capeparks.com Walk on the Wild Side » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger for a guided hike along Black Island Trail. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588.

Saturday, Feb. 22 Naples National Art Show and Evening Concert » 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., Naples. The fine art show showcases 194 artists from across the U.S. Plus, there’s an evening concert in the park, kids’ zone, food, refreshments, beer and wine. 239-262-6517. Beads and Bling…It’s a Mardi Gras Thing » 4-10 p.m. North Collier Regional Park, Soccer Complex, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples. Celebrate Mardi Gras with lots and lots of beads, food trucks, jazz, a circus and a Kids’ Zone. $3 per person, free for ages 3 and younger. 239-2524000. colliercountyfl.gov Family Art Labs » 10 a.m.-noon. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Drop in for free, handson family art. Recommended for ages 5 and older, but all ages and abilities welcome. Next labs are March 28, April 25 and May 23.artinlee.org

Tuesday, Feb. 25 Manatee Talk » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Meet with a park naturalist for a talk about manatees. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588.

Wednesday, Feb. 26 Guided Working Waterfront Tour » 9 a.m.-noon. Ostego Bay Marine Science Center, 718 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach. See the San Carlos Island commercial fishing fleet up close and learn how it works. $20 for adults, $10 for children older than 6. Reservations required. 239-765-8101. ostegobay.org/waterfront-tours

Thursday, Feb. 27 Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair » February 27-March 8. Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North

calendar » Fort Myers. Rides, free shows, fair food, livestock and 4H competitions and more. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-11 and free for ages 5 and younger. Mega Pass, which includes admission and all mechanical rides for one day, is $25 and only available in advance. Free parking. swflcfair.com

Friday, Feb. 28 Gopher Tortoise Program » 10-11 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach. Join a park ranger on a leisurely walk along one of the island trails to look for and learn about the gopher tortoise. Reservations required. Included with regular park admission, $4 for a vehicle with one person, $8 with 2-8 people, $2 for pedestrians and cyclists. 239-463-4588.

Saturday, Feb. 29 24 Hour Festival » 5 p.m. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers. Visual artists, filmmakers, theater artists, dancers, musicians and poets race against a 24-hour clock to create unique works based on provided prompts. Artists of all types ages 14 and older may participate. Cash awards of $500 will be given to best visual artwork, best video, best live performance and best musical performance. Registration required. sbdac.com/events/all-star-jam. Burrowing Owl Festival » 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. Entertaining and educational programs, hands-on activities for children, live animals, butterfly house tours, bus tours to active owl burrows, a silent auction, and tasty food, including Love Boat Ice Cream. $5 requested donation, free for ages 16 and younger. 239-549-4606. capeparks.com or ccfriendsofwildlife.org CREW Concert & Silent Eco-Auction » 5-9 p.m., Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. Features the High Voltage Band, food and craft beer. Lawn chairs and blankets recommended; no coolers, pets or outside food and beverages. $15 in advance, $20 at the gate, free for ages 12 and younger. Benefits the CREW Land & Water Trust. crewtrust.org Get a Clue! Event » 2 p.m., Barnes & Noble at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. Introducing the InvestiGators, a new graphic novel series about super spies who uncover clues and crack cases » perfect for fans of Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. There’ll be activities, a mystery game, and giveaways. barnesandnoble.com New Horizons Benefit Luncheon » 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs. $125 per person. The fundraiser recognizes New Horizon’s Super Teens who are achieving the ultimate goal of the program: graduation from high school. There are silent auction items, performances by the Super Kids Club choir, stories from graduating students and lunch. newhorizonsofswfl.org/luncheon. Rally on the Green » 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Cape Royal Golf Club,

11460 Royal Tee Circle, Cape Coral. A festival to benefit the Cape Coral Charter Authority Foundation. The day starts with 18-hole and 9-hole golf at 8 and 10 a.m. Rides, games, food vendors and entertainment take place 11 a.m.5 p.m. Wristbands for rides and games are $5 in advance, $10 at the event. capecharterfoundation.com STAR Gala » 5:30-9 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. The STARability Foundation’s annual fundraising event. Guests enjoy a sparkling cocktail hour starting at 5:30, silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing and entertainment by P’zazz. $400. starability.org Storytime and Activities Celebrating Dr. Seuss » 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. A very Seussical story time in partnership with Read Across America. barnesandnoble.com

Sunday, March 1 Sunday Funday Free Day » 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Butterfly Estates, 1815 Fowler St., Fort Myers. Celebrate The Butterfly Estate’s 11th anniversary with free admission to the butterfly house.

Monday, March 2 Russian National Ballet: “The Sleeping Beauty” » 7:30 p.m. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers. The Russian National Ballet brings the classic fairy-tale to life with luminous costumes and elaborate sets. $25-$55. bbmannpah.com

Wednesday, March 4 Secret Garden Gala » 5:30 p.m. Southwest Florida Event Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. Benefits Kids’ Minds Matter. Keynote speaker is mental health advocate and best-selling author Kevin Hines. $500. Includes dinner and entertainment. Attire is Garden Cocktail.

Thursday, March 5 Free Fantastic Fun: Wolves of Shy Wolf Sanctuary » 1-2 p.m. Rotary Park Environmental Center, 5505 Rose Garden Way, Cape Coral. Free but reservations requested. Shy Wolf Sanctuary will bring animal ambassadors to help the public understand the importance of caring for pets and conserving natural environments. 239-549-4606.

Saturday, March 7 Southwest Florida Reading Festival » 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers. Meet famous authors, hear storytellers spin a yarn, discover great books. A children’s area is full of activities for kids and a free book for every child. readfest.org

Visit swflparentchild.com for more events. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 55

« voices

GUEST COLUMNIST

How to talk with your kids about sex trafficking and exploitation

f you are like me, I dreaded talking about sexuality with my kids. Unfortunately, in this digital age, if we wait too long and don’t share age-appropriate information, our children could learn a distorted view of sexuality from strangers or even predators. We can all agree sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children are horrific epidemics, ones we never want to personally affect our children. With Florida ranking third in the nation in reported cases of human trafficking, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Cyber Tip Line receiving over 18.4 million reports in 2018 related to child sexual abuse images, online enticement, sextortion, child sex trafficking and child sexual molestation, we have to be serious about engaging in age-appropriate conversations in order to educate and protect our children. Awareness plays a major role in prevention and intervention. Equipping our children with accurate information is essential. Sgt. Wade Williams with the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office said, “One of the worst things a parent can do is give their child an electronic device without any restrictions and without having a discussion with them about what they will encounter online. You don’t want the child predator to be the first person to teach your child through grooming techniques and exploit them. If you do not take an active role, it is almost certain that eventually your child will be exposed to harmful consequences, such as an online preda-

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tor, cyber bullying, sextortion or lewd content. Electronic devices provide 24-hour access to your child, and many times a child is being exploited in the ‘safety of their own home’ while parents are present and completely unaware.” I hope this article gives you the courage and the tools you need to start the conversation.

Talk with young children about body safety Talk about “safe” and “unsafe” touching. A good example is teaching them that no one should touch them in any area that their bathing suit covers and that they should never touch anyone else in these areas or see pictures or movies that show these areas. Use age-appropriate wording. You can discuss body safety without discussing sexuality. Teach them the difference between healthy and unhealthy secrets. A good example is telling them a surprise party is a safe secret, because it will make people happy and they will be told at the right time. Secret touching is not OK. Develop open communication with your children by creating talking environments where they feel safe to be vulnerable without being judged. Teach your children the proper names for their body parts. Children who know proper terms for their body parts have been educated by their parents and are usually aware of safe and unsafe touch, which would be a deterrent to a potential predator.

Keep the conversation going The best way to prepare children is to teach them to trust their instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. If something feels wrong, it probably is. Slavery is a standard topic taught in school, and most kids believe slavery ended a century ago. Kids can relate to the concept of work without pay and not having the freedom to escape the situation. This is an excellent way to discuss the subject of human trafficking.

Teach internet safety Teach your child to never to give any personal information, never answer questions such as birthdate, address or social security number. Place computers in a common area so that you can monitor. Chat sites are not appropriate for preteens, and many are not appropriate for teens. If you allow your child to go to chat sites, know which sites they are on and investigate the conversation threads. Many sites that sound like they’re for youth aren’t safe, like teen-chat.org. Teens tend to overshare information. What seems harmless between friends can end up pinpointing your child’s location, pattern of regular behavior, or potential vulnerabilities to a predator. Teach your teens not to overshare. Most cases of exploitation don’t occur through a stranger abduction. Most victims met their offender online, engaged in numerous chats with them over time and were duped

Christy Ivie founded Christy’s Cause in Estero in 2015 to eradicate child sex trafficking and exploitation through education, public awareness, restoration projects and justice initiatives. Details at christyscause.com.

into “willingly” leaving their homes to meet them or self-produce lewd content. Sgt. Williams recommends parents pay attention to which apps are ageappropriate for their children. Apps like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram are where the majority of child exploitation cases investigated by the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office occurs. These apps may not be appropriate for children. Do not allow your children to be behind locked doors with a device as these are the most common locations where self-produced child sex abuse imagery occurs. Many cases occur at night while the child is alone in their room with their device. Use parental protections on all your child’s devices, including desktop and laptop computers. Apple devices have protection applications located under “Screen Time” in settings. Android devices have “Family Link.” Aside from these features, there are numerous parent protection apps that can also restrict access to obscene websites, set screen limits and locate your child’s device. Lock your child’s ability to delete applications, change location sharing settings, or change the device or account passcodes without the parent passcode. Set time restrictions so that the device locks all apps at night while they are sleeping except emergency phone calls. Most importantly, have a conversation with your child about what to do if they encounter things online that make them feel sad, scared, or are not appropriate. You can tell them mistakes happen but you will fix them together, so they don’t feel judged. If they think you will react negatively, they might not disclose what occurred and this could be

dangerous to them. There’s no foolproof way to prevent your child from being exposed to dangers if they are accessing the internet, so make sure they make the right decision if it happens.

Always know where your kids are Apple devices allow you to share your child’s location with your device indefinitely. If using this feature on an Apple device, make sure to lock their ability to turn this feature off, which you can do under the “Screen Time” setting. Android devices have the location feature built into the Family Link app. This will allow you to locate your child’s device in an emergency, in a large crowd, or just for peace of mind during normal daily activities.

Stranger danger According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, stranger abductions are rare. About 115 children per year in the U.S. are victims of stranger kidnappings. Younger children are less likely to be targeted by strangers than teenagers. This is why it is important to discuss good touch/bad touch with your children. Most child abuse and sex abuse cases are committed by someone close to the child, like a family member or close friend of the family, not a stranger. However, it is essential to talk with your children about strangers and teach them to trust their instincts. Children should not be left alone with unknown adults, and kids should always travel in groups, as there is safety in numbers.

Know the warning signs of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation Many children who are trafficked have a history of sexual abuse from earlier in their childhood. Noticing the warning signs can help children receive the services they need, so they are not further victimized. Signs in younger children include gradual or sudden changes in behavior, cruelty to others and pets, recurring nightmares and disturbed sleep patterns, unusual interest in or knowledge of sex, fear of a particular person, loss of interest in friends, school sports or other activities. Signs in older children include extreme and/or unexplained anger, running away, low self-worth, self-destructive behavior, promiscuous behavior, eating and anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts or attempts, signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Resource tools Take your child’s phone immediately if you believe a predator has contacted them. Save the phone and images for law enforcement. For prevention, there are numerous helpful resources. SW FL Parent & Child will share them all online with this article. One example is KidSmartz, a child safety program that educates families about preventing abduction and empowers kids in grades K-5 to practice safer behaviors. Find it at kidsmartz.org. Find more resources at swflparenchild.com.

RUN 4 THE CAUSE What: A family-friendly 5K run and after-party to support Christy’s Cause • When:

March 27; run starts at 7 p.m., awards at 8 p.m., ’80s after-party begins at 8:20 p.m. • Where: Ocean Church, 22100 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero • Cost: $30 before February 27, $35 after, and $45 on race day; teams get a 10% discount • Details: Every runner receives a participation medal and swag bag that includes a T-shirt. Placement awards will be given to the best ’80s themed team, top overall male and female runners and top males and females by age group: 5-10, 11-19, 20-29, 30-39, 4049, 50-59 and 60+. The ’80s after-party will have food trucks, DJ and a kids’ zone. • Register online: christyscause.com

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » FEBRUARY 2020 » 57

» last look

MARCH FOR KING The Dunbar High School marching band participates in the MLK Commemorative March on January 20. The parade began at the Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Library in Fort Myers. Marchers then turned down High Street and proceeded down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Centennial Park singing hymns and old civil rights chants.

PHOTO BY ANDREA MELENDEZ

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