Jim Henderson knows, first-hand, what it’s like to grow up in foster care. That’s why he has dedicated himself to bettering the lives of children in foster care, both today and tomorrow, as a member of Friends of Foster Children Forever. The Naples-based nonprofit serves children in Collier, Hendry and Glades counties who are either in or likely to enter […]
2019-03-01
Our Best FRIENDS: Baby Boy and Baby Girl stick together
Phyllis and Gene Bates say that their two rescue dogs, Baby Boy and Baby Girl, are inseparable. It is not possible to talk about one without referring to the other. Baby Boy is the youngest, a mixed terrier. Baby Girl is a shih tzu. Baby Boy bears a resemblance to the Target dog and both weigh about 16 pounds and […]
Medical & Health DIRECTORY
CLINICAL RESEARCH Advanced Research for Health Improvement 1168 Goodlette Frank Road North, Naples arhiusa.com 239-230-2021 DENTAL Family Dentistry of Bonita Jose R. Venegas, DDS, PA 28315 Tamiami Trial, #102, Bonita Springs familydentistryofbonita.com 239-949-1655 Family Health Centers Anabel Natali, DMD Virginia Mazzeo, RDH Yvania Jimenez, DDC 19701 South Tamiami Trial, Estero fhcswf.org 239-314-1630 General & Implant Dentistry at The Landing Kelly […]
Restaurant GUIDE
A Table Apart With global experience cooking in the finest restaurants, our chefs are excited to present their vision to you and all our guests. Our caring and exceptional staff will ensure you have a fantastic experience with us. We refuse to compromise on quality in our restaurant. That’s why we source our fresh ingredients from local farmers. Our beliefs […]
Spotlight visits Egypt
Susan Jennings-Schwinn and Ken Schwinn took the Spotlight to Egypt. Here they are at the Abu Simbel temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Spotlight loves to travel and is always TSA pre-checked. So please take the Spotlight along on your next adventure. Send your photos to spotlight@swspotlight.com.
Community CLUBS
For meeting times, locations and more club information visit swspotlight.com/club-calendar Alligator Amblers Chapter of Florida Trail Assoc. Visit amblers.floridatrail.org. Amateur Radio Assoc. of SWFL Visit araswf.org. American Business Women’s Assoc. Imperial River Chapter Visit abwaimperialriver.org. American Legion 303 Call 239-992-2422. Bonita Bridge Club Call 239-221-7781. Bonita Springs-Estero Christian Women’s Connection Visit cwcflorida.org. Bonita Genealogy Club Call 239-947-6332. Bonita Shores Club […]
Naples Players raise $1.3 million at 65th anniversary gala
The Naples Players raised more than $1.3 million dollars at its 65th anniversary gala to support its unique community theater programs in Southwest Florida. The gala was hosted by the 65th anniversary season sponsors Tanya and Denny Glass. During the event’s final plea for donor support, Jay and Patty Baker traded $100,000 commitments back and forth until reaching $1 million. […]
Showtime
Artis-Naples February 26 & March 3 Naples Philharmonic Sypert Salon March 5 Miami City Ballet March 10 Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles March 12 – March 17 “Fiddler on the Roof” March 14 & March 15 Naples Philharmonic Around Town Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall March 3 Gulf Coast Symphony: Paul Nadler March 5 – March 10 […]
Artist SPOTLIGHT: Inna Chupina’s inspiration comes from the stones
Artist Inna Chupina and her husband, Alex Deriy, grew up in Southwestern Russian Siberia in an intelligence center. “It was a scientific academic environment initiated by Kruschev – all voluntary, not a sentencing,” said Deriy with a laugh. He joined Chupina on the phone to act as her interpreter. In Siberia, Chupina’s mother was a geologist and director of the […]
CALENDAR
B/Bonita Springs E/Estero FM/Fort Myers N/Naples March 2: SATURDAY SWFL Heart and Wellness Festival [8 a.m. to noon] Join the American Heart Association for the third annual SWFL Heart and Wellness Festival. Hosted by Lee Health, the non-competitive 1-mile walk and indoor wellness festival is open to all age groups. Activities include: Yoga & Zumba classes, heart-healthy cooking demos, chair […]
McKenney Home Care expands into Lee County
After six years in Collier County, McKenney Home Care has expanded its private home services into Lee County. The business, located at 9655 Tamiami Trail North, Suite #201 in Naples, welcomed community members to its recent ribbon cutting held with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. McKenney Home Care’s caregivers help clients maintain their independence while living at home […]
Medical marijuana dispensary opens in Bonita Springs
Curaleaf recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Bonita Springs location at 11721 Bonita Beach Road Southeast with a ribbon cutting coordinated with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. Curaleaf was the first medical marijuana dispensary to open in Bonita Springs. Another Bonita Springs dispensary, Surterra Wellness, opened its doors last month. To be eligible to receive medical […]
Tee Box TIPS: Hitting the ball farther takes some backbone
All golfers would like to hit the ball farther. That’s understandable because driving the ball farther makes it easier to score. One way to hit the ball farther with all your clubs is to increase your thoracic spine mobility. You don’t have to change your swing and golfers of every skill level can increase their stability and range of motion […]
Spotlight visits India
Donna Overly and Gene Collins took the Spotlight to the Gateway of India in Mumbai. The Spotlight travels internationally without a passport, so please take the Spotlight on your next adventure. Send your photos to spotlight@swspotlight.com.
Healthy CHOICES: Wellness Wheel – A tool to help keep illness at bay
A paradigm is a way of thinking, a standard or a model. In health maintenance, this may require a radical shift. The model for traditional health care has been designed around waiting for a health problem to occur and then working to cure it. The typical scenario seems to involve a person previously healthy coming to see the physician with […]
Two39 Work opens coworking space in Bonita Springs
Two39 Work held a ribbon cutting and grand opening at 24301 Walden Center Drive, Suite 300 in Bonita Springs with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce. The 15,000-square-foot space offers monthly memberships for uses ranging from a single desk to large private suites. The space includes a large conference center, meeting rooms, private phone booths, collaborative workspaces, game room […]
Five Guys opens on Bonita Beach Road
Five Guys Burgers and Fries recently held a ribbon cutting with the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the grand opening of its newest location at 12031 Bonita Beach Road Southeast.
Friends of Rookery Bay named business of the month
The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Collier County Commissioners selected Friends of Rookery Bay as the business of the month for February. Founded in 1987, Friends of Rookery Bay connects people to Southwest Florida’s dynamic coastal environment in support of the 110,000- acre Rookery Bay Research Reserve, one of the few remaining undisturbed mangrove estuaries in […]
Company serves pretzels with a charitable twist
The fresh baked aroma from Philly pretzels greets customers the moment they open the door at Philly Pretzel Factory at the Galleria Shoppes in North Naples. According to owners Josephine and Ed Szmuc, people from the north are surprised to find Philly pretzels, known for their crusty outside and soft and doughy inside, in Naples. “I often think it would […]
Hurricane Irma set the stage for a new business
Finding safe temporary storage outside the home for valuables, whether furniture or appliances, always has been a challenge in Florida. Heat, humidity, mold, mildew, insects and driving rain can cause expensive damage. Kathryn Padalino, owner of Cool-Binz, created the solution after her own experience with inadequate storage. Padalino moved to Southwest Florida from New Jersey in 2012 and set about […]
Friends of Hope’s Denim & Diamonds benefit raises $150,000 for Joanne’s House
Friends of Hope hosted a Denim & Diamonds benefit at Bonita Bay Club, raising $150,000 for Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs. Committee members Barbara Caccese, Joyce Kozlowski, Claire McMahon, Patt Suwyn, Adele Waddell and Carol Wood coordinated the evening. Hope Healthcare is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing care and comfort to all individuals and their loved […]
Native of Peru first a student, now the chair of the language department at local high school
Gladys Krause encourages her students and others to pursue their goals in spite of challenges. The native of Peru came to Florida more than a decade ago, and dove into a busy schedule of English lessons, college courses, and raising her daughters. “I wanted to be a teacher, but first I needed more fluency in English,” she said. “I knew […]
Coast Guard Auxiliary named Flotilla of the Year
Local U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 96, based at the Cocohatchee River Park at Wiggins Pass in Naples, was named Flotilla of the Year for 2018. Immediate Past Flotilla 96 Commander Michael DiPierro accepted the award last month. The Wiggins Pass Flotilla was selected first among 10 auxiliary flotillas within Division 9, which serves the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast […]
Bay Water Boat Club keeps safety of boaters, environment in mind
Bay Water Boat Club is offering free safe boating classes on Friday mornings at 9 a.m. this season for their members and for the general public. On a recent Friday, Bay Water Exclusive Boat Club and Rentals Vice President Adam Botana captained one of the company’s pontoon boats and took a group of boaters out on the water for an […]
Local sailor publishes second volume of ‘YES, The World is Round’
Sailing off the cost of Venezuela, alone in the cockpit on a moonless night aboard Baccalieu III, Donna Hill knew there was a boat nearby because her radar was picking it up. She couldn’t see the boat until the shadow of a machine gun on its bow appeared off her stern, showing no navigation lights. She had reason to be […]
Spotlight visits Aruba
Claudia Varela, Vicente Sierra, Diana Pizzi and Roberto Pizzi took the Spotlight to Aruba. The Spotlight loves to travel, so please take the Spotlight on your next adventure. Send your photos to spotlight@swspotlight.com.