S W F L PA R E N T C H I L D. C O M
J U LY 2 0 1 8
Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Healthy Families
www.ppcswfl.com | 239.275.5522
Color the PPC Pals, then bring them into your doctor’s office where we will display them, or use to decorate in your own home.
Physician-Owned. Patient-Centered
www.ppcswfl.com | 239.275.5522 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 3
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INDEPENDENCE DAY SIDEWALK SALE Wednesday, July 4 thru Sunday, July 8 Enjoy additional savings on already low factory outlet prices. SUMMER GIVEAWAY SERIES Fridays, July 13 & July 27 6:30 p.m. at Naples Flatbread Kitchen & Bar Shoppers compete to win concert tickets and a $100 Miromar Outlets Gift Card. SCIENCE SATURDAY Saturday, July 14 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in PLAYLAND Join Mr. Glen and his Science and Engineering team for interactive science projects. MOMS APPRECIATION DAY Wednesday, July 18 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in PLAYLAND Moms receive a coupon for a free drink and treat from le macaron french pastries while their kids participate in FREE Kids Crafts. FAMILY YOGA WITH KATHRYN Saturday, July 21 10 a.m. in PLAYLAND FREE 45-minute beginners’ class for families and toddlers to tweens. Bring your own mat.
Visit MiromarOutlets.com for more details.
KIDS DAY Saturday, July 28 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in PLAYLAND Toddlers to 12-year-olds participate in fun activities and receive a free slice of pizza from Luna Pizza, a free kids’ cone from Dairy Queen/ Orange Julius and a special offer at Mr. Pretzels (while supplies last). FREE KIDS CRAFTS Every Wednesday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in PLAYLAND Fun activities for kids, toddlers to 12. BABY BOOT CAMP Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. in PLAYLAND Certified fitness professionals instruct exercise classes for pregnant, postnatal and ultra-fit moms. FITNESS CAMP Every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 6:30 a.m. in PLAYLAND A certified fitness professional leads this 60-minute fitness class designed specifically for women. ROCK CLIMBING FUNWALLS NOW OPEN Enjoy family fun on our newest attraction! 16 walls for all skill levels, including 2 speed walls. Call Mall Office for more info (239) 948-3766
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*Subject to monthly maintenance fee. Terms and Conditions of the Card Agreement are set forth at MiromarOutlets.com. Copyright © 2018, Miromar Development Corporation. Miromar Outlets is a registered service mark of Miromar Development Corporation.
4 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
contents »
swfl
parent&child
49
37
Features
In Every Issue 9
31 stroller moms
a mother’s view
26 kid stuff
Why I let my son set his own screen time
Women find strength — literally and physically — in this moms group
Bonita Springs families find fun at Chipmunk Indoor Party
17 ask the expert
34 another irma?
37 staycation guide
29 teens
New aquatics center makes a splash in East Naples
Lessons learned help us weather peak of hurricane season
Teens learn about the Holocaust from survivors at Naples museum
19 single parenting
44 safety corner
Things to consider when buying a home
How to have a fun vacation without going far
Swimming in open water requires additional precautions
20 in the kitchen S W F L PA R
ENTCHILD
This summer cooking shortcut doesn’t sacrifice taste or health
.COM
49 travel The Kennedy Space Center ignites a love for all things outerspace
23 dining out Michelbob’s in Naples
J U LY 2 0 1 8
57 voices ‘This is a team I never wanted to be on’
25 youth sports
GETTY IMAGES
Five things young athletes don’t need to know
58 a father’s view Finding purpose in summer
Other Departments 7 8 11 13
editor’s note online me time 5 things
14 45 52 53
fyi family album around town calendar
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 5
4th of july celebration July 4 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.
4 p.m. - 6 p.m. - Ice Cream Social D.J. • 9:15 p.m. - Fireworks Bring lawn chairs, blankets, friends and family for a night of good old fashioned fun! Food & Beverages available to purchase No Parking • No Pets • No Outside Fireworks Parking will be available at establishments nearby the park Sugden Regional Park • 4284 Avalon Dr. Naples 252-4414• www.collierparks.com
6 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
parent &child
editor's note »
swfl
S W F L PA R E N T C H I L D. C O M
Part of the USA TODAY Network
Volume 19, Issue 7 Dedicated to serving the families of Lee and Collier counties 2442 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901 swflparentchild.com President & Publisher 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 Echo Copeland, Stephanie Davis, Jim Dwyer, Randy Kambic, Kira Lewis, Janis B. Meredith, Shelby Reynolds, Francine Wolfe Schwartz, Andrea Stetson, Jennifer Thomas Photographer Amanda Inscore Vice President/Advertising Sales Nancy M. Solliday Specialty Publications Team Coordinator Dennis Wright dennis@swflparentchild.com Advertising Account Executive Nicole Holey (239) 281-6455 nholey@fortmyer.gannett.com
Distribution (239) 335-0211 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
Take time to enjoy summer Blink and half your summer is gone. (In fact, Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday isn’t far off: August 3-5.) Sure, this issue starts to get you ready for school to return, but we’re also focused on making the most out of the rest of your summer. Maybe it’s because 12 of my formative years had a summer break from school, but even before my kids got to school age, I saw summer as a time to relax, go on vacation and have an adventure or two. Last summer, my family (extended relatives, too) went to the mountains in northern Georgia. We had planned it for months. But sometimes we like to take shorter last-minute trips, too. One year, we stayed at a hotel on St. Pete Beach. Another year, we stayed with a friend on the east coast and snorkeled. We’ve also done the full-on staycation where we took time off work, stayed at home and played tourist for a week. Here in Southwest Florida, you don’t have to go far to take a break. You can use your humble abode as home base, or you can book a stay at a local resort. Or a little of both. We asked a few family-friendly resorts in our area to share their concierge’s recommendations to create a super great itinerary for you. Check out our staycation guide starting on page 37.
Pamela Smith Hayford, Editor CORRECTION » In the June issue’s Kid Stuff, “15 Fun Things to Do Indoors,” we incorrectly
listed the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium’s shows. It should have read: noon (“The Incredible Sun” — very family-friendly), 2 p.m. (“The Hot and Energetic Universe!”) and 3 p.m. (“Summer Stargazing” plus “Dark Matter Mystery”). Our apologies for the error.
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 » JULY 2018 » 7
» online
swflparentchild.com Get the latest event information and family news every day at swflparentchild.com. spotlight »
Buckets , with e-school-year madness Fresh off the end-of-th performances and other its projects, exams, recitals, to be mindful of the requirements, take a moment nt summer promises. We relaxation and exciteme And we do live in a paradise certainly deserve a break. to year-round for our miles that many tourists flock s daily sunshine and numerou of white sand beaches, to come ns. Summer beckons us activities and excursio , Kylie, my 13-year-old daughter out and enjoy. I know bucket list, and summer her has already prepared appear among our top many of her blissful desires during the kids’ break. recommendations to explore R THOMA S STORY BY JENNIFE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
JUNE 2018 » 37 PARENT & CHILD »
More family events
Looking for summer fun? If you missed our summer bucket list in the June issue of Southwest Florida Parent & Child magazine, you can always catch up with back issues on Issuu.com/swflparentchild or via the big pink circle on our website, swflparentchild.com. You can even go back to February for cool party ideas, January for information on School Choice, April for the arts and more. It even works on mobile.
We highlight the best weekend events for you every week on swflparentchild. com, part of the news-press.com family of websites. You’ll never be bored again.
8 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
Summer camps
Get SWFL Parent & Child anywhere at any time 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
If you’re looking for a summer camp, try our searchable summer camp database. It features programs in Lee and Collier counties and is searchable by type of camp and city.
Kira Lewis of Cape Coral is mom to two children, a writer and founder of calmandchaosmama.com and sunshineandhurricanes.com.
a mother’s view »
K IR A LE WIS
Why I let my son set his own screen time
N
ear the end of the school year, my husband and I found ourselves arguing yet again with our 13-yearold son about what was a reasonable amount of time to spend on technology. He was going on and on about how strict we were when it came to technology relative to his friends’ parents and how we only focused on all the bad. It felt like technology use had morphed into a never-ending negotiation process in our house. There were constant pleas for more time, and accusations were always flying. These interactions were starting to really undermine our relationship with our son. I was so over it, and out of frustration, I said to him, “Fine, if you think we are so strict and unfair, then you can set your screen-time limits this summer!” Both he and my husband stopped and looked at me like I had two heads. For a minute, even I wasn’t sure where I was going with this, but then it all started to come together. I told him that before he could have a single hour of tech time this summer, he had to present to his father and I what he felt was a reasonable summer screentime schedule. But this didn’t mean he could scribble some random number on a piece of paper and hand it to us. He would be heading to high school in the fall, and it was time he began to show us that he could make informed choices. This meant researching the suggested guidelines for teen tech use, the pros and cons, opinions about different kinds of
tech use, etc. He had to find out how some of the tech giants of our time, like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, handled tech use with their kids. Then, based on all of this, he could decide what he felt was a healthy amount of time per day to spend on tech this summer. As long as he backed up his final number with sound and balanced evidence, we would agree. I honestly didn’t know exactly where I was going with all this when I started, but I began to realize that as long as my husband and I were the ones setting and enforcing the rules, he really didn’t have any accountability in it all. In his mind, it was all totally arbitrary. But he’s a smart kid, and he knows enough to know that endless hours playing Fortnite isn’t a wise choice. What he didn’t have, and what most teens don’t, is real context and accountability. We lecture at them about how technology is ruining their childhoods and how they can’t look people in the eye anymore or carry on a conversation. But all that sounds like to them is the “wah wah wah” voice of that teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons. By the time our kids are teenagers, we have to start transitioning from making decisions and setting limits for them to teaching them how to do this for themselves. A key part of this is helping them understand the “why.” It’s no longer “I will or won’t do this because mom and dad say so.” It’s “I will or won’t do this because I now have the knowledge to decide the pros and cons for myself.”
It is a process, and they’ll need our guidance along the way, but we may be surprised by what good judgment our kids show when we loop them in. Once my son started looking into everything, he was actually excited to talk with me about what he found out. He felt a little vindicated discovering that gaming is actually considered far less harmful than online activities like social media (which he has zero interest in). In the end, what he came up with was not that different from what we already had in place. But he felt more in control, and ultimately he enforces the limits more strictly then we ever did, because when time is up, the only person to negotiate with is himself.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 9
Help Your Child Learn AN EYE ON THE FUTURE Make an appointment today. Your future suddenly became a whole lot clearer. A child’s learning disabilities can be caused by vision related problems, even if the child has 20/20 vision. Visit EyeDocks.com to watch a video about Vision Therapy.
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me time »
When life gives you lemons
Sunny days Keep the clouds away this summer with breezy tropical designs.
Go to the beach. With a round towel. It’s so in. And fun. The round shape of this soft cotton stunner is the new goto for towels, and its 60-inch diameter offers ample room to lounge and relax. $69.50 at Tommy Bahama, Estero.
Tall drink of lemonade You’ll walk into the room like a cool breeze with this ensemble from Old Navy’s summer lookbook. The off-the-shoulder top is made with lightweight gingham, $32.99, and the bow on the slide sandals adds a flirtatious touch, $22.99, all at Old Navy and oldnavy.com.
Pining for a breeze
DATE
NIGHT
Keep your cool with the Beach Fan Pineapple by Sunnylife. The EVA blades safely produce your own personal breeze no matter how hot and still the day. Requires two AAA batteries. Additional designs include a pink flamingo and an ice cream cone. $17 at sunnylife. com.
Sip in style Enjoy your favorite adult beverage or a cool lemonade by the pool — without the worry of breaking a glass. This 4-piece Tom Collins glass set is made with acrylic for outdoor durability. $37 exclusively at Macy’s and macys.com.
Lighten up the mood. Catch a show (and dinner) at the Off the Hook Comedy Club in North Naples. Performers this month include Sinbad on July 12-14 (tickets start at $30), Ian Bagg from Last Comic Standing on July 19-22 (tickets start at $22) and Christopher Titus, who has six comedy specials on Comedy Central, July 26-28 (tickets start at $25). Get details and tickets at offthehookcomedy.com.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 11
Part Time & Full Time Options
• Infant (0-18 months) $1,250/monthly • Toddler (18-36 months) $460 - $1,055/monthly • Preschool & Kindergarden (3-6 years) $450 - $990/monthly
Enrichment Classes Offered
• Music Together • Piano • Suzuki Violin • Yoga Gardening & Fruit Picking • Redirecting Children’s Behavior Parent
Accredited by:
Quality Award:
DCF License C20LE0122
To Learn More Visit Us At www.msfortmyers.com or call 239.308.0042 2151 Crystal Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33907 (In the Villas, near College Blvd. & US41)
12 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
5 things »
Give lunch some love That midday break in the school day is time to recharge, socialize and show your style.
Bento for littles
Neatness in the bag Here’s a lunch tote loved by both the germophobe and the Messy Marvin. The neoprene bag unzips in seconds into an instant placemat. FlatBox touts the germ-free eating surface. But we like that kids can leave their mess in place and just zip and go. Might need one for the office… $14.99 at flatbox.com.
Even a toddler can open the Yumbox with its kid-friendly latch. Inside the Yumbox Original, a molded silicone lid creates a leakproof interior for all six compartments, five ½ cup portions and one sauce well. Plus, it fits inside a standard lunch tote. $28 at yumboxlunch.com.
Be the big fish You’re graduating from the kiddie pool with this shark water bottle at Staples. It pairs well with the store’s other shark-themed supplies, too. $9.99 at Staples.
Cool ice Uniquely snazzy Your student will be the envy of the lunchroom with the Unicorn Crinkle Hologram bag. Side mesh pouch keeps that water bottle handy, too. $7.99 at Target.
Make lunch fun with these creative ice packs from Cat & Jack. Available only for the back-to-school season, June 17 through August 26. $3.99 at Target.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 13
« fyi
Tax-free for back to school Families can get some school shopping done at a discount during Florida’s back-to-school sales tax holiday August 3-5. That means no sales tax on school supplies that cost less than $15 each and no sales tax on clothing, shoes, wallets and bags that cost $60 or less. Plus, stores often coordinate sales to take place that weekend, too. Get details at floridarevenue.com/backtoschool.
Lee Health offers $25 physicals Between now and September 30, Lee Health Convenient Care is providing $25 sports, camp and school physicals with no appointment needed. The physicals are available at four locations: » Page Field, 4771 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. » Summerlin, 16230 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers, open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
» Pine Island Road,
1682 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. » Metro, 13340 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers, open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Get details at leehealth.org/ urgent.
14 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
Introducing baby NIN The Conservancy of Southwest Florida announced the name for a new baby loggerhead sea turtle that’s staying at the Dalton Discovery Center in Naples until he’s big enough to be on his own in the wild. The name: NIN. Barbara Chur won the bid to choose the turtle’s name at the Magic Under the Mangroves gala fundraiser. She named the turtle after her daughter and eight friends who visited Naples this winter. “When I won, I wanted a name that would represent the wonderful time the nine women had while visiting,” Barbara says. “We selected the name NIN to represent Nine in Naples.”
Now showing: 'Hurricane 3D' Want to explore hurricanes safely? The IMAG History & Science Center is now showing “Hurricane 3D,” a film that explores the journey of a hurricane, from its formation across the Atlantic to its arrival in the Caribbean. It explores the chaos and destruction but also the stories of recovery and the science behind the storm. For more information, visit theimag.org or nwave.com.
When thunder roars, go indoors Summer is the deadliest time for lightning strikes in southern Florida. To keep residents safe, Collier County issued these safety tips:
» The safest place to be
during a storm is a large enclosed building. » The second safest place is an enclosed vehicle (but not something with a soft top, like a convertible or golf cart). » If caught outdoors in a storm with no shelter nearby, stay away from tall trees — twice as far as the tree is tall — and crouch. » Lightning strikes can happen inside, too. Avoid contact with corded phones and electrical equipment or
cords. If you plan to unplug electronics, do so before the storm arrives. » Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, take a shower, wash dishes or do laundry during a storm. » Stay away from windows and doors; stay off porches and lanais. » Do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls during a storm. For more information, visit weather.gov/safety/lightning.
Too hot to walk? In the downtowns of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, The Nickel Ride offers free transportation. It’s a new start-up that makes its money from advertising on the vehicle. Hail your ride at thenickelride.co.
Go behind the scenes at Discovery Cove Discovery Cove, the all-inclusive day resort in Orlando where you can swim with the dolphins, added a behind-thescenes program this summer where ages 6 and older take a 90-minute tour with the facility’s animal experts and interact with the park’s birds and small mammals. The Animal Trek experience starts at $79 per person.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 15
At Home Breastfeeding Consultation Providing the tools needed, and lactating assistance right in your home
• New Born through School Age Children • 18 Years of Private Business
Services included but not limited to
• ELC School Readiness Provider
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Certificates available at the office of Early Learning Coalition of SW FL, 2675 Winkler Ave., Ft. Myers
Please save your child’s space for
Call today for an appointment
Summer Camp 2018
(239) 851-0909
ages up to 12 years
Lehigh We are here! Regional * E. Point Dr. Medical Center Lee Blvd. Huntdale St. E Entrance behind CVS
The Best Licensed, Privately Owned Preschool in Southwest Florida. “Give your child the best education” www.mylccc.com Mon-Fri, 6.30 am - 6.30 pm
1491 East Point Drive Lehigh Acres entrance behind CVS
Juana Rodriguez Board Certified Lactation Consultant
16 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
facebook.com/LactationWhisperer
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Tim Aten writes the In the Know column for the Naples Daily News. It’s published every Monday and Wednesday. Like and follow In the Know on Facebook at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.
ask the expert » TIM ATEN
New aquatic center makes a
SPLASH Naples Daily News columnist Tim Aten answers readers’ questions about the new facility in East Naples.
PHOTOS BY TIM ATEN
F
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.
ollowing a soft opening on Father’s Day and a grand opening set June 29, the new aquatics center at Eagle Lakes Community Park is open for fun in East Naples. The new Collier County Parks & Recreation amenity abuts a soccer field and basketball court just east of the park’s main entrance between Naples Manor and Lely Resort on the north side of U.S. 41 East. Operating hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day. Admission will be free during the month of July to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month, says Daniel Christenbury, a spokesperson for Collier County.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 17
« ask the expert (continued)
Starting August 1, admission will be $3.50 for adults and $3 for ages 3 to 17 and 60 and older. Children younger than 3 are admitted free. Similar to the county’s Golden Gate Aquatic Facility, the Eagle Lakes Community Park Aquatic Facility offers three-month and annual pool passes for individuals and families. Three-month passes are $45 for children and seniors, $65 for adults and $110 for families. Seasonal passes are $65 for children and seniors, $85 for adults and $150 for families. The center features two water slides — a blue 160-foot open slide and a yellow 110-foot enclosed slide. A family pool includes spray features for children, and a separate keyhole-shaped wading pool is near the end of the water slides. “The family pool has a zero entry to about 4 feet, so it will be fun for the entire family,” Christenbury says. “We
18 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
also have a toddler pool for the little ones that is separate from the other water features.” The heated lap pool is 25 yards by 25 meters with one 3-meter springboard and two 1-meter springboards on one end and backboards with nets for playing water basketball on the other end. The pool may be used for school competitions and practices as well as exercise or therapy classes and open swims. Diamond-shaped shade structures and chaise lounge chairs are located throughout the area. In addition to the water features, the center has a 3,379-square-foot main entrance building, a 2,900-square-foot building for pool equipment and chemical storage, a 1,210-square-foot building for lifeguards and a 961-square-foot shade pavilion. The main building has offices and the admissions area as well as restrooms with showers. Expect forthcoming information
regarding swimming lessons for different ages and skill levels, swim teams, water aerobics and other programs. Call the park at 239-252-3527. While we won’t have to worry about cool weather for many months, all water facilities managed by Collier County may be closed if the air temperature is below 59 degrees. The $9.2 million aquatic center was built by DEC Contracting Group Inc. of Fort Myers. The center was designed by Victor J. Latavish Architect of East Naples and Aquatic Design & Engineering Inc. of Orlando. The aquatic center joins the Donna Fiala Community Center and a nearby fitness center that opened three years ago at the park, which is at 11565 U.S. 41 E. The initial phase of the park opened in November 1999 with baseball fields, soccer fields, a basketball court, playground, nature trail, picnic pavilions, concession stands and restrooms.
single parenting »
Echo Copeland is a single mom who lives in Southwest Florida.
ECHO COPEL A ND
Single parents can become homeowners An interview with a single parent and her journey to own her home.
A
single mom to two children, Elizabeth Allen recently built a home in Lee County. I sat down with her to find out how she did it and how other single parents could do the same. Here she shares what she wishes she had known before the process began. Whether you would like to build your dream home or purchase a fixer-upper, I hope her words help you realize your dream of homeownership needn’t end because you’re a single parent. (I built my first home when I was single and in my 20s.) Echo: What advice would you give a single parent who is thinking about buying a home? Elizabeth: If you can afford it, purchasing a home for you and your family is very beneficial. Owning a home provides stability. It is a great feeling to have a permanent home where your children can grow and your family can create memories. However, it also comes with many financial responsibilities, such as maintenance, property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Echo: What is the first step? Elizabeth: The first step is to obtain a preapproval through a bank or mortgage company. This is important because it enables you to find out how much you can afford to spend on purchasing a home. According to Realtor.com, “A mortgage preapproval is a commitment from a lender to provide you with home financ-
ing up to a certain loan amount.” A bank or mortgage company reviews the amount of money that you have in the bank as well as your credit history before they can provide a preapproval. Echo: What documents do they need? Elizabeth: The main documents that are needed are bank statements, which show your assets/down payment amount, social security number, W2 forms, recent tax returns, credit report and employer information. If you are a first-time homebuyer, some lenders require that you attend a first-time homebuyer class. If this is required, you may need to provide a certificate. Echo: What benefits do Realtors bring? Elizabeth: Realtors are important, because they may have valuable information about purchasing a home. For instance, some Realtors have knowledge about down payment assistance programs, can refer you to mortgage companies, and they may have many other resources to help you in the homebuying process. Realtors can also find homes that may not be available to the public. Realtors are free of charge to the buyer, and their commission is paid by the seller after the closing on a house. [EDITOR’S NOTE: Some experts also recommend enlisting the help of a real estate attorney.] Echo: How can they pick a good mortgage lender?
Elizabeth: You can shop around and find the company that provides the lowest interest rate. Sometimes, your Realtor can suggest a mortgage broker or bank. Some mortgage companies pay closing costs or can provide down payment assistance programs. You can also ask friends and family members to refer you to mortgage lenders that they have used. Echo: How much of a work history do they need? Elizabeth: Lenders want to make sure that the borrower will be able to pay the loan on time each month. Therefore, they usually need to see a steady work history of 2 to 4 years. Echo: What do you wish you had known before? Elizabeth: I wish that I had known about how student loans affect a person’s ability to purchase a home — especially if the loans are in deferment. If the student loans are in deferment, they take 1 percent of the loan amount and factor it in your debt-to-income ratio. The 1 percent may be a larger amount than your monthly payment would be. This can cause your debt-to-income ratio to be high, therefore preventing you from being approved for a mortgage loan. Even if you have a good credit history, having too much debt can prevent you from purchasing the home that you want. Save, and try not to have too much debt. Also, always do your own research. One person’s story is not always going to be yours.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 19
in the kitchen »
FR A NCINE WOLFE SCH WA RTZ
20 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
How much meat's on a rotisserie chicken? » Whole chicken = 3 cups » White meat only = 2 cups » Dark meat only = 1 cup For more tips about storing and carving a rotisserie chicken, visit bettycrocker.com/how-to/ tipslibrary/meat-poultry-fish/allabout-rotisserie-chicken.
GETTY IMAGES
hen the summer temperature and humidity become stifling, no one will chastise you for crying out, “It’s too hot to cook!” It’s so tempting to just pile everyone in the car and eat out. But wait, there is an easier solution that’s less taxing on your wallet, waistline and airconditioner. With a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up a rotisserie chicken and a few produce items, you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes without breaking out the industrial strength deodorant. Here are three easy meals you can make with one store-bought rotisserie chicken.
Francine Wolfe Schwartz is a food and consumer product consultant in Southwest Florida.
Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches INGREDIENTS » 1 rotisserie chicken » 1 cup barbecue sauce » 1/2 cup water » 1/4 cup red wine vinegar » 6 Kaiser rolls or slider rolls, split » 1/2 pound deli coleslaw » Sliced bread and butter pickles » Baby carrots » Pre-cut celery sticks DIRECTIONS 1. Remove skin and bones from chicken (discard or freeze in a zipper freezer bag for soup); coarsely shred meat. 2. In 2-quart saucepan, combine chicken, barbecue sauce, water and vinegar. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until hot, stirring frequently. 3. Spoon chicken mixture onto bottom halves of rolls and top with coleslaw and top of roll. Serve with carrots and celery sticks. SOURCE: goodhousekeeping.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 21
« in the kitchen (continued) Asian Chicken Salad
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SALAD INGREDIENTS » One 16-ounce package rice noodles » ¹/3 cup minced fresh cilantro » ¹/3 cup minced fresh mint » 3 tablespoons chopped salted peanuts » 4 scallions (the white portion), thinly sliced » 2 breasts rotisserie chicken, cut into cubes » 2 medium carrots, cut into ribbons (or 1 cup preshredded carrots) » 1/2 English cucumber, diced DRESSING INGREDIENTS » 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons soy sauce » 3 tablespoons fish sauce (near soy sauce in the grocery
store) » 3 tablespoons honey » 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (plain not seasoned) » 2 tablespoons lime juice » 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger » 2 teaspoons sesame oil » 2 cloves garlic, grated » 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional but will give salad a nice kick … and remember to wash your hands well with soap and water after mincing the pepper) DIRECTIONS 1. Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water
until cool, then drain again thoroughly. 2. Mix the cilantro, mint, peanuts, scallions, chicken, carrots and cucumber with the noodles in a large bowl. 3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, fish sauce, honey, vinegar, lime juice, ginger, oil, garlic and jalapeño in a medium bowl. 4. Toss the salad with the sauce. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. NOTE: To see the recipe demonstrated, visit foodnetwork.com/recipes/ katie-lee/asian-chicken-noodlesalad-3355877. SOURCE: foodnetwork.com
TIP: How to cook rice noodles Rice noodles cook differently than traditional pasta as they are not cooked in a pot of boiling water on the stove. Instead boiling water is poured over the noodles, making them perfect for summer cooking. In a deep bowl, place the noodles and poor boiling water (boil in the microwave) over the noodles until they are completely covered. Give the noodles a quick stir often to loosen them, and once they are completely limp, taste to see if they’re cooked through. Thread-like noodles will cook in just 2 minutes, whereas the flat rice noodles may take closer to 10. Pay close attention and test the noodles frequently, otherwise they will become mushy. Once cooked, drain, run under cool water to stop the cooking. Toss with a bit of sesame oil or vegetable oil to keep from sticking.
NOTES: Under cook the noodles if they are going to be further cooked, as for Pad Thai. Even when coated with oil, the noodles may clump. They will loosen once they are combined with the other ingredients in the recipe.
Southwestern Chicken Wraps INGREDIENTS » 3/4 cup light sour cream » 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped pickled jalapeños » 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice » Coarse salt and ground pepper » 4 sandwich wraps (10 inches each) » 3 cups baby spinach or chopped romaine (pre-washed) » 3 cups shredded cooked chicken » 1 can (15 ounces) drained and rinsed black beans » 1 large tomato, thinly sliced » 1 small red onion, thinly
sliced, optional » 1 avocado, thinly sliced DIRECTIONS 1. In a bowl, whisk together sour cream, jalapeños and lime juice; season with salt and pepper. 2. Spread sandwich wraps with sour-cream sauce, leaving a 2-inch border. In center of wraps, layer equal amounts of baby spinach (or lettuce), shredded chicken, black beans, tomato, onion and avocado.
For each wrap, fold two sides of wrap over filling, then roll tightly, ending seam side down. SOURCE: marthastewart.com
dining out »
A barbecue tradition M
The family-run Michelbob’s has been a Naples staple since 1979. BY ANDREA STETSON
ore than 7.6 million racks of ribs have been smoked at Michelbob’s since it opened in 1979. The restaurant in Naples has a long history of making its famous ribs, which it proudly touts are imported from Denmark. Rustic décor, memorabilia, whimsical signs and photos of fishing and golf round out the casual family atmosphere. Bob Mattson and Marsha Gibbs opened the rib joint, and family members still run the place. Outside hangs a sign showing the quantity of barbecue served there since opening: more than 1.3 million pounds of barbecue chicken, 2.1 million pounds of smoked pork, 1.6 million pounds of smoked beef and, of course, more than 12 million napkins to wipe the yummy barbecue sauce from faces and fingers. However, it’s not quantity but quality that people come for. The sauce is made from scratch from an original recipe, and the barbecue meals are tender and tasty. My family shared a basket of homemade onion rings ($4). I had the half rack and pulled pork combo ($16.99). It comes with baked beans, coleslaw and garlic toast and a choice of a potato or corn on the cob. I selected the corn. My daughter, Kristyn, enjoyed the half rack and sliced barbecue beef combo ($16.99), while my husband had a smoked pork dinner ($12.99). (For lunch, the same combos are $13.99 and $7.99.) There’s also an early bird menu that offers discounts before 5 p.m. Michelbob’s stresses that their famous baby back ribs come from tulip-fed hogs in Denmark to produce the leanest, tenderest ribs. Their ribs have won numerous
Half rack of ribs and pulled pork combo
national cook-off competitions. Yet there’s a lot more than ribs at Michelbob’s. The restaurant offers something called The Feast, which includes one and a half racks of ribs, half a barbecue chicken, pulled or sliced pork, sliced beef, garlic toast, potatoes, corn, baked beans and coleslaw for $51.99. Beyond barbecue, there are sandwiches, burgers, grilled chicken, salads and wings. On the children’s menu, young dinners can choose from grilled cheese, chicken fingers, one-quarter chicken, hot dogs, cheeseburgers or a half rack of ribs. Sides include fries, corn, baked beans, baked potato and apple sauce. Desserts at Michelbob’s include Key lime pie, a brownie sundae or, a Michelbob’s tradition, peanut butter pie ($5.69).
Michelbob’s » Location: 371 Airport Pulling Road N., Naples (There’s also a take-out location at 915 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island) » Phone: 239-643-7427 » Online: michelbobs.com » Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Michelbob’s is open until 9 p.m. in season) » Price range: $6.50-$30.99 (The Feast, which feeds two or more, is $51.99) » Kids’ menu: Grilled cheese, chicken fingers, one-quarter chicken, hot dog, cheeseburger, half rack of ribs. Sides include fries, corn, baked beans, baked potato or apple sauce. $4-$10.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 23
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(239) 596-2255 2550 Northbrooke Plaza Dr. Suite 100, Naples FL 34119 East of I-75 off Immokalee Road, Exit #111 Next to Bob Evans DISCLAIMER: FLORIDA LAW REQUIRES THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL APPOINTMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATIONS, OR TREATMENT.
Janis B. Meredith, a parenting coach, was a coach’s wife for 29 years and sports mom for 22 years. She lives in Alva, twhere she writes about raising champions on JBMThinks.com.
youth sports »
JA NIS B. MER EDIT H
5 things your young athlete doesn’t need to know
GETTY IMAGES
T
here are times in parenting when keeping quiet becomes the wisest thing to do. This is especially true if your child is an athlete and you find yourself in the up-and-down roller coaster world of youth sports. Then keeping quiet becomes the wisest thing to do. This is especially true if your child is an athlete and you find yourself in the up-and-down roller coaster world of youth sports. There are a lot of good things you should be saying to your kids before, during and after the games, but I’d like to help you steer clear of the things you should NOT say, even if you are thinking them. Your doubts. Are they going to make the team? Be a starter? Get playing time? Get any better at the sport? Your child will know soon enough whether they can achieve their goals; no need to be the naysaying voice in their head. Your nervousness. I can’t tell you how many times I was very nervous before my kids’ games. It was nerves born out of the fact that I wanted them to do well and to be happy with their own performance. But as the saying goes, I never let them see me sweat. I knew they were dealing with their own nerves and didn’t need mine added to their plate. Your worries about injuries. Say-
ing “Be careful” or “Don’t get hurt” are typical mom-isms. They are said because it makes us feel better, but the words hold little weight. Reminding kids of the risks of playing sports will only cause them to be overanxious or maybe even hold back because of the fears you’ve planted in their heads. If they are being coached correctly, they know how to play safe. Your dislike of the coach. If you are having issues with the coach — perhaps you don’t like his game strategy or how he positions and plays his team — don’t dump your concerns on your child, and if your child comes home complaining, don’t join in on the rant. Your child needs
to relate to the coach without hearing your prejudicial remarks. Your negativity clouds their perspective. Your frustration with teammates. When your child plays on a
team with selfish or “incompetent” athletes, there’s no need for you to point that out to him or even add fuel to their fire if they are already upset about it. Listen to them vent, try to coach them through the issue, and don’t diminish their frustration. Your kids learn a lot of skills as they play sports. But there’s one skill that you as a sports parent should learn: the art of biting your tongue. It will save you a lot of unnecessary conflict and tension in your home.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 25
« kid stuff
CLIMB, SLIDE, JUMP–
INSIDE Kids find cool play at Chipmunk Indoor Party, a new attraction in Bonita Springs. BY ANDREA STETSON
Clockwise from above: Francisco Casas, 7, Sebastian Jimenez, 9, and Gregory Carrasco, 9, play the virtual soccer game at Chipmunk Indoor Party in Bonita Springs.• Eve Cellez, 6, lands on the ball pit after zooming down the slide. • The big inflatable slide, one of the favorites at Chipmunk Indoor Party.
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hildren scramble up a climbing structure and crawl into a slide. Then they zip down into a pit of red, white and blue plastic balls. Nearby, other children jump in a bounce house or slide down a tall inflatable slide. This is Chipmunk Indoor Party, an indoor playground that opened this spring in Bonita Springs, giving children an air-conditioned place to play while parents relax. General Manager Carlos Jimenez decided to expand his bounce house rental business to include the indoor play land when he saw a demand in the area. “We rent the bounce houses, and sometimes people say, ‘We need something for the kids’” Carlos says. “There is nothing here in Bonita.” The 6,300-square-foot facility in Sunshine Plaza has an array of activities for both tiny tots and teens. There’s a toddler play area with a small climbing structure, two short slides and a bridge. There are also ride-on toys, a tunnel and other attractions. Next to the toddler zone is the bigger kids’ area with a tall climbing structure and slide that ends in the giant ball pit. There’s a
room with children’s toys, such as Legos and cars, and there’s a room with virtual reality stations. “There is virtual reality for the kids that are bigger,” Carlos says. There’s also an array of arcade games. One of the coolest things is the projection screen soccer. The field, goals and ball are projected on a mat on the ground, and children kick the projected ball across the field into the goal. On a recent Saturday afternoon, Gregory Carrasco, 9, Sebastian Jimenez, 9, and Francisco Casas, 7, played virtual soccer on the floor screen. They kicked and used their hands to move the ball across the screen to score goals. While they laughed and enjoyed the soccer, they found other things they liked even more. “My favorite is to fall in the ball pit, and sometimes my favorite is the arcade,” Sebastian said. “My favorite is the arcade and the bounce house,” Gregory added. “The bounce house and the ball pit,” Francisco said. Carlos says kids seem to really love sliding into the ball pit. “The playground and the balls are the most popular thing to do here,” he says. “They like the bounce house, but they like the slide more.”
Chipmunk also has a spacious party room for birthday celebrations and other events. Eileen Garcia recently attended a party there with her children and nieces and nephews. “This is our first time here,” she says. “The parents can relax, and it is safe for the kids.” Carlos says that’s what parents like best. Unlike an outdoor playground where children could leave the park, Chipmunk has a little white fence around the inside to keep youngsters away from the front door. He says it’s also a great place for them to play when it’s hot outside. “In any season, it is great,” Carlos says. “It is great for your kid’s safety.” On that Saturday afternoon I mentioned earlier, twins Stephania and Sophia Carrasco, 5, ran from the ball pit to the slide to the play area and back. They bounced, slid, ran and climbed for hours. “I like to go in the ball pit and the bounce house,” Stephania said. Eve Cellez, 6, and Alejandra Hernandez, 10, preferred to spend most of the time in the ball pit. “It is a fun place to play,” Eve said. “It’s really fun. I like the bounce house and all the games,” Alejandra added.
Chipmunk Indoor Party PHOTOS BY ANDREA STETSON
» Where: 9128 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs » Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. » Cost: $12 for two hours. Bring a friend and get 50 percent off one ticket. You can also pay $45 for five visits or $80 for 10 visits. Birthday party packages are available. » Details: 239-301-2754, chipmunkindoorparty.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 27
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teens »
Holocaust survivors, such as Pieter Kohnstam, talk with students about their experiences in programs by The Holocaust Museum in Naples. BY ANDREA STETSON
Holocaust survivor Pieter Kohnstam speaks at a Collier County library this spring.
ieter Kohnstam slowly unveils his harrowing story of escape. In front of dozens of people at a Collier County library, he tells of hiding in an outhouse up to his chin in feces. His face darkens as he relates lying hidden on railroad tracks, cold, hungry and needing a bathroom break. As a 6-year-old, growing up in the middle of World War II, Pieter and his parents fled their home in Amsterdam and traveled to Belgium, France and Spain. They walked and hid on trains as the Germans hunted them in the early 1940s. The teenagers in the audience knew they were seeing something very special — something future generations will never see. “It was just seeing it in person and
seeing how real it is,” says Nadene Bruno, 16. “I was very interested that at such a young age that he had to learn about hiding.” Heather Rodriguez drove from Port Charlotte to the event in Naples so her daughter Julianna Rodriguez, 12, could meet Pieter. “This is the last chance,” Heather says. “They may never be able to hear from a survivor, so we wanted them to have this chance. I want them to remember this.” With the Holocaust survivors now in their 80s and beyond, today’s teenagers are the last generation to learn from survivors directly. “That is something we have talked about,” says Cody Rademacher, curator at The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida, which co-hosted the event.
IF YOU GO The Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida is at 4760 Tamiami
Trail N., Naples. For details, call 239-263-9200 or visit holocaustmuseumswfl.org.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 29
« teens (continued)
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“How do we deal with a subject when there is no longer a direct person? You are the last generations to see a survivor in person. It’s not the same just reading about it or seeing it on television. How do we get those deeper emotions?” Some of the docents at the Holocaust Museum are Holocaust survivors, and school groups can request a visit with one. He encourages parents to contact schools early to suggest these popular visits. “The earlier they book in the school year, the better,” he says. Alexus Bruno, 16, was glad she attended Pieter’s talk and met him after the event. “It is great that they can tell these stories, so we can remember,” she says. “It is real life. On TV, you don’t have the feeling from someone talking to you.” Pieter lived in the same apartment in Amsterdam as Anne Frank. During his talk, he told the children stories about how Anne babysat him, and how they played with toys together and even how they learned somewhat unsuccessfully to ride a scooter. “One day I got a blue scooter,” Pieter relates. “Anne and I tried it out. We fell, and after all these years, I have a souvenir of Anne Frank on my chin.” While Anne’s family went into hiding, Pieter’s family fled, because they didn’t think they could keep an active 6-year-old quiet. Pieter was born in Amsterdam in 1936 in an upper middle class family. Even as a young child, he was aware of his surroundings, and he related these stories to the teenagers and others in the audience. “The Germans used to come unannounced and break the door down, kill everybody inside it and take the goods,” he told them. “Everybody was very concerned. The star did something never done before, and that is separating the people. People were very afraid. The friendliness disappeared. Germans had a license to demean and kill on the spot, and these were the things I witnessed.” He recalled the day Germans came to his home to tag their furniture as German property. He spoke of walking hundreds of miles, of leaping from one train to another, crossing a river at 5 a.m., misty, cold and hungry, and of being disguised as farmers and railroad workers to hide from the Germans. He described harrowing border crossings. He also talks about one of his worst adventures. “I hid in there at the bottom of the planks from toe to head in the feces, being pursued by the Germans,” he says of hiding in an outhouse. “I don’t know how I made it.” Pieter immigrated to Argentina in 1943. He moved to the U.S. in 1963 and became a citizen in 1968. He wrote about his experiences in “A Chance to Live: A Family’s Journey to Freedom.” He and his wife, Susan, live in Venice, Florida, and have two children and three grandchildren. Now Pieter frequently visits schools and other organizations to speak about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. “I think it is always good to have somebody who lived it and to put a face with the words,” he says. “I want them to understand how it is to feel separated, discriminated and insulted.”
spotlight »
Landon Walton, 4, left, rides his bike behind his mom, Jackie Walton, center, while she runs behind Briana Emens, right, during a Stroller Moms workout at Vineyards Park.
1.
BY SHELBY REYNOLDS | PHOTOS BY OLIVIA VANNI
STROLLER MOMS FIND STRENGTH IN EACH OTHER (AND A 30-POUND BABY)
S
itting in his stroller in a pair of banana-patterned shorts, Noah, 2, munches on yogurt chips. Beside him, 19-month-old Corbin has a fistful of veggie straws. And two strollers down, 1-year-old Mable chews on a grape tomato. And in front of them, with yoga mats and towels spread out on the concrete amphitheater floor at Vineyards Park in North Naples, their moms do planks and hip thrusts and donkey kicks. They call themselves the Stroller
Moms — a group of women who meet five days a week for a free workout — and they always come prepared. “This mom outing is all about sweating and snacks,” says Rachel Williams, laughing, with a hand on Corbin’s stroller. The free meet-ups at locations across Southwest Florida are about more than just getting a workout, they say. “I feel like the support is the biggest thing that all the moms get out of it,” says Erica Weinstein, a mom to 15-month-old paternal twins, Amelia and Erin.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 31
Clockwise from above: Corbin Williams, 1, left, and Cooper Emens, 1, right, sit in their strollers while their mothers work out. • Billie Coe finishes an exercise while she watches her son Connor Coe, 6 months. • Jennifer Garner, center, helps lead a group in planks during a Stroller Moms workout.
Weinstein started the Stroller Moms Facebook group last summer after she moved from Fort Lauderdale to Naples. “I didn’t know a soul over here,” she says. “I just wanted to find some other moms that I could meet. Then I guess everybody else had the same mentality where they wanted to get out and exercise, meet other moms and be active.” Weinstein’s daughters were 6 months old then, and she was looking for a way to lose the baby weight — “we’re all moms, so we’ve got a little extra love on us,” she says, laughing. Jennifer Garner joined the Stroller Moms last August after leaving her career to become a stay-at-home mom to her daughter, Charlotte. “I spent the first few weeks just sitting at home watching Netflix and not knowing what to do with myself, because I knew nothing about staying
32 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
at home,” she says. “So I joined and instantly I was like, ‘This is something I need to do.’ I was just thinking about how I wanted to go to the park, but I don’t want to do it by myself.” Weinstein says the meet-ups can also help combat postpartum depression among new mothers. Staying at home alone with kids, she says, can affect your mental health, so Stroller Moms is a way to create a community of women who might need help. “Other people are going through similar things, so you’re not alone,” she says. “It’s really nice.” And it was important, Weinstein says, for the Stroller Moms group to be free. For new stay-at-home moms looking for a workout, options are limited, she says, especially for cheap. Many group workouts cost a few hundred dollars a month, and then there’s child care.
“It’s helped with not having to pay for groups or part-time child care just so (Charlotte) can have interaction with other children,” Garner says. “Yes, I’m here with her, but she’s getting the time she needs, too.” Only a handful of women showed up at the first Stroller Moms workout last summer, Weinstein says, and she was happy with that. But now there are 550 members in the Facebook group, and anywhere between five and 15 mothers participate in each group workout, which are five days a week at locations across the Naples area. And she’d love to see it expand even more. For those interested in joining, Weinstein suggests they request to join the Stoller Moms Facebook group, which is called “Stroller Moms - OFFICIAL PAGE - Naples & Marco Island, Florida.” From there,
spotlight (continued) »
“I JUST WANTED TO FIND SOME OTHER MOMS THAT I COULD MEET. THEN I GUESS EVERYBODY ELSE HAD THE SAME MENTALITY WHERE THEY WANTED TO GET OUT AND EXERCISE, MEET OTHER MOMS AND BE ACTIVE.” — Erica Weinstein
organizers set up Facebook events for each workout, and members are invited individually. None of the workouts are instructed by certified personal trainers, but many of the moms have a fitness background; Weinstein is a former spin instructor, and Williams used to compete in bodybuilding. On a recent Tuesday morning at Vineyards Park, Williams led the group workout, which started with a warmup — butt kicks, bicep curls and shoulder presses. Some of the moms used water bottles or their babies to add extra weight. Next, they ran or walked about a mile down the road to Vineyards Country Club, pushing their strollers out in front. That’s a 30-pound baby and a 10-pound stroller. “It beats going to the gym,” Weinstein says. The workout ended at the park’s outdoor amphitheater with more bodyweight exercises, all the strollers lined up in a row, with the babies munching on their snacks. “Just the camaraderie has been so beneficial, physically but also emotionally,” Williams says, “just to feel like a human being again.”
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 33
« safety STORY BY PAMELA HAYFORD
IN IRMA'S PATH
How to use the lessons of Hurricane Irma to prepare your family for storms to come
H
urricane Irma terrified us. Even those of us who had collected three days of potable water and stocked up on batteries galore. Even people who thought they would shelter in place second-guessed themselves and tried to evacuate only to find gas stations out of gas and hotels out of vacancies. Like a drunk picking a fight with the biggest biker in the joint, we didn’t realize our folly until she stood up and looked us dead in the eye. In my Cape Coral home, even after deciding to stay, there were times we adults argued over whether to stay or go. Some of us learned we need to stockpile food for sustenance, not just party foods. And we learned we need a real evacuation plan, not just a vague idea. Hannah McKnight Rinaldi, of Naples, says that’s one of her family’s biggest Irma lessons. “I grew up on the Alabama gulf coast and experienced many hurricanes, including Katrina,” says Hannah McKnight Rinaldi, of Naples. “I’ve always felt like I’ve had the right preparations, such as water, food and first aid. After Irma, I’ve realized that preparations include more than just stocking up on essentials. It’s important to have an evacuation plan, too. Our family now has evacuation plans in place in case we have to leave again. Doing this has helped me feel a lot more prepared.” For some of us, Hurricane Irma brought reassurance that our preparations work, like the high impact windows Daniela Aguirre, of Fort Myers, has on her home. “After seeing our house completely normal after Irma, we definitely have peace of mind that our house will be fine,” she says. Daniela and her family were returning from a vacation in Georgia when Irma approached Southwest Florida. Family
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From left, Daniela Aguirre, daughter Martina Lugones and Fernando Lugones
warned them to stay away, and the trio ended up renting an RV in Tennessee. “One thing I know for sure,” she says. “If there is another hurricane coming this year, I will pack and go somewhere else.” Daniela also knows exactly where her family will evacuate to now. “Where we ended up staying in Tennessee, we asked him if we had to leave Florida again because of any storm, if he will help us again,” she says, “and he was so nice to us that he already put us on a wait list, and we even got a free night.” Daniela and her family were prepared. Not everyone was. Not everyone knew what they would do under the stress of the moment. “I don’t think any of us were prepared for how long the power would be out and the boil water order that lasted for more than a week after power was on,” says Gayla Bowden, who runs the children’s
If you haven’t prepared for the next hurricane yet, here’s a resource to help you do just that. FloridaDisaster.org explains how to prepare, what supplies to have, what to do during a disaster, after and more.
More hurricanes form August through October with a peak in September. SOURCE: National Hurricane Center
Two local experts in children’s mental health — Gayla Bowden, of NAMI of Collier County, and Stefanie Swift, a registered mental health counseling intern — offer numerous ways to help your child cope this hurricane season.
1. Talk with your child based on how much information the
child wants to know and how much they want to participate. Don’t force it on them. “If they’re not worried about it, let them enjoy that bliss of ignorance,” Gayla says.
2. Be honest. We are likely to have a storm again in the future. This season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the season will produce five to nine hurricanes. 3. Prepare. Now. And enlist your kids’ help in collecting
supplies and drawing up plans. That way you can honestly tell them, “This year we’re going to prepare better and know better how to survive the storm, so we’re not in a situation like last year.” Disaster preparedness websites can help you create your plan, and many have children’s pages.
4. Talk about the weather. Talk about how rain, thunder,
lightning and wind are normal, everyday weather occurrences here in Southwest Florida. Make the conversation fun. When it does storm, talk about it in the moment and make it fun.
5. Ask what worries your children. Make sure to listen
openly and validate their worries. Talk with them about memories that might be a bit “larger” than what actually occurred. Sometimes when we’re scared, our memories of events can be different than what really happened, Stefanie says. Help your little ones see their memories in a different, less scary light. This will help reduce worries going into this hurricane season.
6. Practice deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation with your little ones to help them build self-soothing skills. This will help if they become nervous during storms. Stefanie likes to use the Calm app with her little ones. It has a section designed for kids. She recommends building it into your routine at bedtime so they are familiar with it and can practice deep breathing in the moment when they’re scared.
7. Talk with your kids about the importance of following directions when there is a storm, before hurricane
season is here. Stefanie says this will help reduce the frustration associated with redirecting little ones during stressful events. Have a conversation with them explaining the reasons why it’s important to be an “extra” good listener during stressful times.
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8. Get age-appropriate books about the weather or hurricanes. Books are always a great method for introducing new topics to children and are a great place to begin some of these conversations, Stefanie says. 9.Talk with other parents. Talking with other families about what worked well for them last hurricane season can help you be more prepared this year. Draw from the successes of yourself and others. Keep a list of helpful advice, important numbers, helpful supplies and hints that you would like to include in your hurricane season kit this year so they are easy to find when you’re needing them the most.
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« safety (continued)
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mental health program for NAMI of Collier County. She has been on the front lines of many disasters. Before NAMI, she was the volunteer coordinator for American Red Cross disaster services in Arkansas, and she worked at FEMA disaster recovery centers after Hurricane Irma as a crisis counselor. “Our families needed rehousing, rental assistance, food assistance, water, financial assistance for repairing homes and/ or vehicles, bedding, furniture, school clothes. Oftentimes donations didn’t match those needs.” Some people waited until the last minute to prepare only to find shelves bare and gas in short supply. Some families couldn’t afford the supplies. “I recommend people start now with things they can buy out of each pay check,” Gayla says. On each trip to the grocery store, pick up at least one item you’ll need in an emergency — batteries, a jug of water, a can of food. Sock away a little cash with every pay check. Know whether you will stay or go. Don’t get The Clash song stuck in your head again this year. “You have to know either ‘I’m going and I’m going early’ or ‘I’m staying here and wherever I stay is going to be safe enough,’” Gayla says. Don’t just idly guess. Really think about it. If a Cat 5 is coming at you and storm surge could be 10 feet, will you wish you were in an RV in Tennessee? The stress Irma caused families who hadn’t put enough thought and planning into that aspect of preparations caused very real problems. “Some couples experienced stress in their relationships due to disagreements over evacuation or staying here,” says Stefanie Swift, a registered mental health counseling intern and Florida ambassador for the National Association of Psychometrists in Fort Myers. “Some that I work with worry about another hurricane and how their relationship will weather the stress.” And leaving means expenses. Lodging. Food. Gas or flights. Wages lost. Build an emergency savings fund. “If you evacuate early, you have to be financially able to do that,” Gayla says. If anything good can be said to come of Irma, let it be that we know how to better prepare ourselves for the next storm. We know to buy supplies early and make a real plan. The one major difference this year is trauma. “I think a lot of people are still somewhat traumatized” by Hurricane Irma, Gayla says. Both Gayla and Stefanie say children who experienced a lot of stress in Irma may fear it will happen again this year. As we approach the busiest months of hurricane season (August and September), children who struggled through Irma are probably going to have more trouble coping. The best way to support our children is to prepare, Gayla says. “If you know you’re prepared, you feel better going into it,” she says. Gayla’s 13-year-old daughter is calm in disasters, possibly because she’s been involved in preparations and helping after a disaster since she was 3 and handing out teddy bears to people in a Red Cross shelter. “She’s just grown up with ‘We’re prepared.’”
cover story »
We’ve created a full itinerary to inspire your super awesome summer staycation here are many reasons a family might take a staycation. One might be affordability. Another — and this is a big one — is convenience. The most difficult part of traveling with children is probably the flight or the time on the road. Take a staycation at home or at a local resort, and you eliminate a big chunk of the headache. We’re about to make taking a staycation even easier. Here in Southwest Florida, you don’t have to go far to take a break. In fact, WalletHub ranked Cape Coral among the top places in the nation for a staycation at No. 24. Orlando is No. 1 and Tampa No. 6. On the following pages,
you’ll find an itinerary full of ideas throughout Southwest Florida for your getaway-withoutgoing-away. We packed ours full of activities and good places to eat. But you can scale it back, mix it around and edit it as needed to fit your family’s interests. We asked the concierges at a few local family-friendly resorts in our area to share their recommendations. The result is a funfilled schedule for your staycation, whether home base is your humble abode or a grand resort. “The great thing about our area is there’s something for everyone,” says Rey Martinez, resort manager of Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Plantation. If you need ideas, just ask the concierge. “Our staff are always happy to help our guests figure that out.”
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Staying at a local resort cuts out the hassle and expense of flying or driving to your perfect vacation getaway. Here are the resorts we consulted for our staycation itinerary:
• Clean your house in advance. Hire a service, if it’s in your budget. Having the house clean from the start of your vacation, even if it becomes a pig sty by the end of the first day, will help give you that, “Ah, I can relax” mentality you need on vacation. And then during your staycation, don’t do any cleaning you wouldn’t do if you were staying in a hotel, resort or other lodging. • Decorate. Discount stores are great for having low-cost, fun decorations that can help transform your living space into a vacation space. Strings of lights in particular — what my kids call “party lights” — go a long way in making your space feel special. Check out the luau aisle for some tropical paradise getaway vibes. • Get creative. Maybe you pay the kids $5 to put chocolates on your pillow when you’re not looking. Or hire a cleaning service to tidy up during the week. Make a gift basket of goodies and leave it in a prominent place the night before the first day so everyone wakes up to a surprise.
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PHOTO COURTESY HYATT HOTELS INC.
• Plan your time off. It doesn’t have to be as detailed as our itinerary here or as tight a schedule. But planning, even in vague terms, will help ensure that you do those fun things you’ve always wanted to do rather than clean closets and declutter the garage.
PHOTO COURTESY THE NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB
• Take time to prepare. Before you officially start your staycation, take some time to prepare just like you would any other vacation. Spread it out in the days leading up to your time off, or dedicate your first day off work to preparations. If you do the latter, set a deadline. Don’t push preparations into your staycation time.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
Hyatt Residence Club Bonita Springs, Coconut Plantation This is the sister property of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa. While Coconut Point has waterslides, pools and beautiful grounds, Coconut Plantation has roomier one- and two bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, a 1,000-foot long lazy river, five pools and waterfalls. At both resorts, a boat shuttles guests to Big Hickory Island to enjoy the beach, which was renourished in October. Most of the year, guests of the two resorts can go back and forth between the two to use the amenities. Coconut Plantation also has Camp Manatee, a child-based activity program, a game room, basketball, shuffleboard, volleyball and a fire pit for daily s’mores activities. • Where: 11800 Coconut Plantation Drive, Bonita Springs/Estero • Details: hyattresidenceclub.com
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The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
As you may kn ow, summer is the off season here. What yo u might not know is that many local resorts an d hotels offer discounts over the summer, and if you expl ain that you’re a local, they mig ht even give an additional disc ount. All have to do is as you k.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa You could spend your entire staycation at this resort. There’s the boat that takes guests to the island for a beach day. There’s a lazy river and waterslides, an adventure pool. The resort’s recreation team plans activities like coloring contests, aqua scrabble, Hula-Hoop contests, bean bag toss, rubber duck races, scavenger hunts and more. And of course, s’mores by the fire pit. The Hyatt Regency also has a kids’ camp, Camp Hyatt. • Where: 5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs/ Estero • Details: coconutpoint.hyatt.com
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club One of the beautiful advantages of staying at a resort is that many have a kids’ club of some sort, where mom and dad get to go do their own things while the kids have fun in the program. The Naples Beach Hotel has a complimentary, professionally supervised, daily Beach Kids Club program for ages 5-12. The resort also has programs for teens, such as teen volleyball tournaments, beach Olympics and scavenger hunts. The resort also has beachside pools, water sports, a spa, tennis, Gulf-view dining. Over summer, the resort is also offering a third night free special. Resort concierge Kathy English made numerous recommendations for our staycation itinerary. • Where: 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples • Details: naplesbeachhotel.com
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DAY 1: Everglades adventure
DAY 2: Shopping and a movie
Wake up bright and early, eat a hearty breakfast and pile into the car for an Everglades adventure. Remember to bring water and pack a lunch.
With all the energy you spent yesterday, you deserve some yummy doughnuts. In Naples, try Peace Love & Little Donuts, 3106 Tamiami Trail N. In Fort Myers, Bennett’s Fresh Roast is the obvious choice (2011 Bayside Parkway, Fort Myers). In Bonita Springs, Duck Donuts at Coconut Point is getting rave reviews (23050 Via Villagio, Suite 115, Estero).
A.M. Plug these coordinates into your GPS to get to the Shark Valley Visitor Center in the heart of the Everglades: 25°45’27.60” N 80°46’01.01” W. The trip will take you down a part of U.S. 41 that’s flanked by ancient flora and fauna. (Take the Loop Road scenic drive for a really stunning view.) While the Shark Valley address says Miami, the surroundings say otherwise. Hike the trails, slog the slough, climb the 65-foot observation tour or take a two-hour tram tour that’s narrated by a park ranger or park naturalist. You might see alligators, wading birds and other wildlife. Reservations are recommended, 305-221-8455. • Cost: The entrance fee for Everglades National Park is $25 per vehicle. The tram tour is $25 for adults, $12.75 for ages 3-12. • Where: 36000 SW 8th St., Miami (1½ hours from Naples, 2 hours from Fort Myers) • Details: nps.gov/ever
A.M. Let’s take a break from the sun and go shopping. Southwest Florida has a lot to offer. Our concierge sources tell us they recommend Miromar Outlets and Coconut Point in Lee County, Mercato and Waterside Shops in Collier County. When hunger strikes, have lunch at one of the many delicious eateries at the shops. Or if you’re on a tighter budget, pack a lunch; there are plenty of beautiful spots to enjoy a picnic at the shops.
Incredibles 2
P.M. After a morning in the Everglades, enjoy your packed lunch and head to Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours, about a 40-minute drive back toward Southwest Florida. Wooten’s offers a couple of fun ways to venture into the Everglades: airboat or swamp buggy. While you’re there, take in the free live alligator show or visit Wooten’s Animal Sanctuary & Alligator Park. • Cost: Airboat tours are $32.50 and swamp buggy tours are $27.50 for ages 11 and older, either is $20 for ages 4-10 and $5 for ages 3 and younger. The animal sanctuary is $9 for ages 11 and older, $7 for ages 4-11, $5 for ages 3 and younger. Specials and discounts available online. • Where: 32330 Tamiami Trail E., Ochopee • Details: wootenseverglades.com Wrap up your day with dinner in Everglades City. The Everglades Rod & Gun Club is housed in one the historic buildings of this Old Florida city with a scenic view of the water. Or try Triad Seafood; it gets top ranking on Yelp.
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P.M. After lunch, take in a movie. Our concierges recommend Silverspot Cinema in Naples. This luxury theater features comfy recliners and real food. Mom and dad can even order a glass of wine. Watch the latest and greatest, like “Incredibles 2,” or enjoy “Flashback Cinema” (when we last checked, in June, they were showing “Raiders of the Lost Ark”). There are also free 9 a.m. kids’ movies select mornings. • Cost: Tickets are $15.55 for adults, $11.80 for ages 12 and younger. Matinee tickets are $12.56 and $11.80. • Where: 9118 Strada Place, Naples • Details: silverspot.net If you time this day with “SummerJazz on the Gulf” — a free concert series at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club — you can enjoy a beautiful dinner overlooking the gulf at the resort and then follow it up with live music on the Watkins Lawn, also overlooking the Gulf. The outdoor concerts are a great way to introduce the kids to live music. Late Night Brass plays Saturday, July 14, while TBone Hamilton’s Big Easy Revue plays August 18.
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Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
DAY 4: Koreshan venture Part outdoor adventure, part history lesson, here’s an interesting and active outing for families.
A.M.
DAY 3: Beach day Every staycation in Southwest Florida must include a beach day.
A.M. Go early so that you’re not baking under the hottest rays of the day — and don’t forget your sunscreen (30 SPF or higher). Crescent Beach Family Park near Times Square on Fort Myers Beach has restrooms and two sand volleyball courts. There are also lots of great restaurants nearby. Lovers Key State Park on the island of Lovers Key between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs offers natural settings and lots of inlets and backwater areas to explore; you can rent kayaks and bicycles there, too. There’s also a concession stand. In Collier County, DelnorWiggins Pass State Park gets rave reviews. They have lots of grills if you’d like to cook out. Sanibel and Captiva also have beautiful beaches that are great for finding seashells (plus, the water visibility is generally clear).
Koreshan State Park in Estero and its historical buildings tell the story of the Koreshan Unity Settlement, a pioneering colony that formed in Estero in the mid1890s. Among the many things their leader believed, one was that the Earth was hollow and we were living in its center. The park is also a very active adventure. Camping is available, as well as kayaking and canoeing. We recommend renting (or bring your own) kayaks and paddling the Estero River. Trees dripping with Spanish moss shade much of this brackish waterway for an enjoyable paddle. The College of Life Foundation also leads guided paddles that start at $45 and include all equipment • Cost: Park entrance is $5 per vehicle of 2-8 people, $4 for single-occupant vehicle, $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. Camping is $26 per night. Kayak rentals start at $10 for the first hour, $5 each additional hour. Canoes rent for $7 the first hour. Tandem kayaks are available, too, $15 the first hour, $10 each additional hour. • Where: 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero • Details: floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan or collegeoflifefoundation.org
P.M.. After lunch, pack up your beach stuff and head to home base for a nice shower. Then hit your pillow. The National Sleep Foundation says Americans are becoming more and more sleep deprived, so let’s try to catch up a bit with a good family nap. Close the blinds, limit the noise and lie down. Naps can increase alertness and feel like a minivacation all by themselves. When you wake up refreshed, the whole family can make a favorite meal together and follow it up with an evening of Netflix. Or take this opportunity to go for a leisurely dining experience. Maybe one of the themed restaurants in downtown Fort Myers, like Firestone (kids love the conveyor belt and cool decor) or Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza. There’s also DaRuMa Japanese steakhouse in the Bell Tower Shops and in Naples across from The RitzCarlton (241 Center St. N.). A walk afterward to check out the surrounding shops is a great way to top off the evening.
Kayaking at Koreshan State Park in Estero.
P.M. For lunch and a lot of afternoon indoor entertainment, drive about 15 minutes north to the HeadPinz Entertainment Center in Fort Myers. Nemo’s Sports Bistro offers an extensive menu sure to please everyone in the family. Afterward, the family can bowl a few rounds, play in the arcade, challenge each other at laser tag or do the ropes course. There’s even an escape room. It’s enough to keep you busy well into the evening. HeadPinz is now accepting open bowling reservation up to seven days in advance. • Where: 14513 Global Parkway, Fort Myers • Details: headpinz.com
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DAY 5: Resort day
King Fisher Fleet cruises at Fishermen’s Village.
Whether you spend your entire vacation at a local getaway or at home, we recommend at least one day at a resort. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa put together what a day at the resort might look like.
A.M. Start the day with a hearty breakfast at Tanglewood Restaurant. The buffet is free for ages 4 and younger, and children ages 5-12 pay their age. After breakfast, take a stroll down the boardwalk through the mangrove forest and board the resort’s boat for the Island Excursion, which takes you to Big Hickory Island, an uninhabited island where a covered picnic pavilion, beach chairs and umbrellas await. You’ll need to bring your own food and drinks. The boat trip alone is entertaining. Guests often see dolphins during the 15-minute ride.
DAY 6: Charlotte Harbor Spend the day exploring Charlotte Harbor and the city of Punta Gorda.
A.M.
Grilled gulf shrimp at Tarpon Bay Restaurant
P.M. Take the boat back to the marina and hop on the trolley to the resort. Lunch at Corkscrew Grill, where the menu includes salads, sandwiches, burgers and a kids’ section. Adult beverages also available. After lunch, find a spot by the Adventure Pool or the lazy river. Ride the dueling speed slides to see who splashes down first. Grab a tube and ride the tube slide into the lazy river. At the Adventure Pool, you might even encounter the resort’s recreation team and their numerous activities for kids. After a busy day, enjoy seafood at Tarpon Bay Restaurant in a relaxing atmosphere. It also has a “For Kids by Kids” selection of entrees that include healthy foods and all-time favorites. Then in the evening, the resort’s two fire pits are lit and families can enjoy stories and s’mores by the fire. S’mores kits are available in the resort’s Cool Beans Marketplace. While this description is from Hyatt Coconut Point, you can easily spend an entire day (or more) at any of the resorts without ever leaving the property.
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Go sightseeing on the water — or fishing. The Englewood-based Riding the Waves hosts eco-tours on personal motorized catamarans for an unusual way to explore Englewood, Placida and Cape Haze. At Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda, King Fisher Fleet provides sightseeing tours and fishing charters. A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at the office, or so they say. • Where: Riding the Waves, 1990 Placida Road, Englewood; King Fisher Fleet, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda • Details: ridingthewaves.net or kingfisherfleet.com
P.M. Harpoon Harry’s at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda provides waterfront dining all ages can enjoy. My family recently enjoyed dining on fish and chips at the Celtic Ray Irish Pub in the downtown area. My kids were intrigued because we have a bit Irish blood in us, and the restaurant felt like stepping into Ireland. The soda bread inspired my daughter to learn the recipe and she’s made it several times since. After lunch, rent a bike to tour the city of Punta Gorda. The town has free loaner bikes provided by TEAM Punta Gorda, a group of volunteers dedicated to making the city a better place to live. The city is recognized as a Florida Bike-Friendly Community. Families can borrow the bikes for the day at several locations. It’s a great way to tour the city’s historic, hand-painted murals. • Details: teampuntagorda.org/ free-bike-program
cover story (continued) »
DAY 7: The last day Typically on your last day of vacation, you spend the morning packing your stuff and checking out of your room by 11 a.m. Then you make the long journey home. With a staycation, you have more time on this last day to relax.
A.M. If you’re at a resort, enjoy one last fabulous meal onsite, then go pack your stuff. If you’re spending your staycation at home, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and read the paper or a book after. Let the kids entertain themselves with their own books, or even devices. After all, this is your vacation, too. Afterward, walk to a nearby park or just take a stroll through your
neighborhood. You might be surprised at what you notice after a week of recharging your batteries.
P.M. Don’t schedule anything for your last day of freedom. Let the moment take you and your family where the urge takes you.
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« safety corner SA LLY K R EUSCHER
Overlooked danger Report highlights the dangers of swimming in open waters.
S
Keeping kids safe in open water PHOTO COURTESY OF SAFE KIDS
afe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program recently released a report that highlights the dangers that lead to childhood drowning, with a specific focus on incidents that occur in canals, rivers, oceans and other types of open water. Key findings of the research include: » Overall, an estimated 1,000 children fatally drown in a single year, 70 percent of them between May and August. » An additional 7,000 children end up in the emergency room because of a drowning scare. That means a minimum of 150 families a week are impacted by a tragic or frightening event. » Most often those drownings take place in open water. A 10-year-old, for example, is three times more likely to drown in open water than in a pool. Older teens are more than eight times more likely to die as a result of an open water drowning than a pool drowning. » Boys are at greatest risk: 8 in 10 open water fatal drowning victims are males. » African–American children are twice as likely to fatally drown in open water than their white counterparts. American Indian
children are at even higher risk. The report, “Hidden Hazards: An Exploration of Open Water Drowning and Risks for Children,” reveals that, while the number of fatal drownings among children and teens declined over the past several decades, the downward trend stopped between 2015 and 2016, when there was a 14 percent increase in fatal drownings. The 1,002 drownings in 2016 (latest data available) was the highest number in five years. And most often those drownings occurred in lakes, rivers, oceans and other types of open water. Children need to understand that swimming in open water is very different from swimming in a pool. Lakes, rivers and oceans present potential hazards — such as dangerous drop-offs, strong currents, hard-toassess distances and limited visibility — that parents need to carefully consider before allowing their kids to wade in.
Read the full report
The “Hidden Hazards” report is available at safekids.org/research-report/hidden-hazards-exploration-open-water-drowning-and-risks-kids
Sally Kreuscher is the child advocacy program coordinator and Safe Kids coordinator for the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. 44 » JULY 2018 » SWFLPARENTCHILD.COM
The “Hidden Hazards” report features a variety of tips that parents and caregivers can use to keep children safe around open water. » Use designated swimming and recreational areas whenever possible. Professionals have assessed the area, and there are usually signs posted regarding hazards. » Watch kids when they are in or around water. Keep young children and inexperienced swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner every time. » Make sure children learn to swim. Every child is different, so enroll children in swim lessons when they are ready. » Use a U.S. Coast Guardapproved life jacket in and around open water. Get a life jacket (also called a personal floatation device or PFD) that is appropriate for a child’s weight and the water activity. » Learn water rescue skills and CPR. It is important to know how to respond in an emergency without putting yourself at risk. Learning basic rescue skills and CPR may help you save a child’s life. For more information on keeping children of all ages safe around all types of water, go to safekids.org/ watersafety.
Safe Kids is a nonprofit coalition of agencies and organizations dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries. Visit safekidsswfl.org.
family album »
CEO Academy »
Thirty-seven students from 15 high schools learned the ins and outs of running a business at Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s annual CEO Academy, a model week-long business school summer camp. At left: First place winners Helena Karst, Isabel Karst, Adam Mirzoev and Jacob Guard were awarded $1,000 scholarships. Above: Second place winners Ryan Recla, Maxwell Ahmadi, Luz Alonso, Athenna Addis and John Kane received $500 scholarships. Photos special to SWFL Parent & Child
CBIA scholarship recipients »
Eight students have been awarded scholarships from the Collier Building Industry Association’s charitable foundation. They are, clockwise from top left, John Granholm, Mitch Crawford, Julia Kennealy, Jovens Gustave, Caleb Froitzheim, Jacob German, Isabella Beauchamp and Jessica Marin. Photos special to SWFL Parent & Child
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 45
« family album
K is for Kids »
The K is for Kids Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Competition, also known as YES Comp, challenges students to devise a business that could solve a real world problem. This year’s first place winners are, at center, Crew Dupes, Katharine Spina and Guilline “Kiki” Andre from Lely High School. With them, from left: K is for Kids founder Karen D. Clawson and judges Gary Indianer, David Fralick, Naples Mayor Bill Barnett, and on the far right, Laurie Montes and Sammy Callari. At right, the judges engage in a Q&A after a group’s presentation. Photos by Abby Villagomez/courtesy of K is for Kids
Music camp » Some 400 middle and high
school students worked hard at improving their music skills this summer at the Village School and North Naples Church Music Camp. For 15 years, the camp has been pairing up students with experienced musicians and teachers. Special guest instructors include Neal Caine, a well-known bass player with the Harry Connick Jr. Band, and three prominent jazz artists: Dan Miller, Jeff Rupert and Lew Del Gatto. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child
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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 47
« family album
Girls Going Places »
Female middle and high school students learned about starting and running a business at The Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Conference in May. Clockwise from above: Nyah Anglade, State Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen and Maribel Mendoza. • Debra Newman with Photo Magic Events and Mary Cossentino, center, a Bishop Verot student. • Jolie Jones with mentor Rhiannon Silvashy of Flightdocs. Photos special to SWFL Parent & Child
Youth Care Worker of the Year » Erick Scott, of Lutheran
Services of Florida Oasis Youth Shelter in Fort Myers, was named Youth Care Worker of the Year 2018 by the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services at the Florida Network Annual Awards Luncheon on Amelia Island. Also at the luncheon, the Luthern Services of Florida Oasis Youth Shelter was named the Agency of the Year 2018. The program recognized 14 individuals and organizations across the state. Photo special to SWFL Parent & Child
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Poster winners »
Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. announced the winners of the “Drop Savers” water conservation poster contest: From left, Genevieve Harper, a first-grader at Bonita Springs Elementary School, Division 1; Emely Meneses, a fifth-grader at Spring Creek Elementary, Division 3, and Edwin Nicolas, a third-grader at Spring Creek Elementary, Division 2. Photo special to SWFL Parent & Child
travel »
1.
Rocket Garden
JOURNEY SKYWARD The Kennedy Space Center ignites a love of space with numerous awe-inspiring exhibits and experiences. BY RANDY K AMBIC
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
E
xcitement and anticipation build as the Rocket Garden’s giants of space flight become progressively larger in view as you drive toward the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on the east coast of Florida. The skyscraper-size majesty of the rockets is just the “liftoff” every family should experience, the beginning of an out-of-this-world journey on Florida’s Space Coast. Interest in space travel is on the rise, and this is the place to indulge your fascination. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex gives context and background to today’s headline-grabbing rocket launches. The many videos, exhibits, displays, genuine artifacts — including actual spacesuits and moon rocks — and other memorabilia help visitors delve deep into the story of space exploration, a story that lost some of its audience but is quickly gaining it back.
Atlantis and a replica of the Hubble Space Telescope at the Kennedy Space Center.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 49
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE KENNEDY SPACE COMPLEX
Apollo Saturn V Center
Interest soared last year with the movie “Hidden Figures” about female NASA scientists in the early days of space exploration, astronaut Scott Kelly’s memoir “Endurance: A Year in Space” and the solar eclipse that swept across the country. Whether you time your visit with a launch or not, there’s much to see. Moved to a larger building in late 2016, the Heroes & Legends center presents two six-minute videos — one that puts viewers into a space suit and cockpit — against a backdrop that includes images of pre-space travel pioneers, such as Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart and Albert Einstein. Exhibits showcase space pop culture, from classic science fiction novels to the original “Star Trek” TV show. A replica of the Mercury Mission Control room, complete with flashing information and authentic video and audio, revives the glory of John Glenn becoming the first American to orbit the Earth in Friendship 7 in 1962. A bronze statue of Alan Shepard, the first American in space, greets visitors to the 97-member U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. The Space Shuttle Atlantis complex features a stirring
video on the incredible development and operation of the program and then puts one up-close with the actual craft that logged 33 successful missions. The Shuttle Launch Experience helps kids learn what it was like to live and work in the craft. In the Universe Theater, visitors can meet an astronaut, witness a live 3D 4K resolution presentation of the Hubble Space Telescope and receive a Mission Status Briefing on upcoming research, communications, robotic and other space missions, including the Orion program, which aims to send humans to Mars. Other attractions in the visitor complex include two IMAX Theater shows (“A Beautiful Planet” and “Journey to Space 3D”), the Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted exhibit, the Nature and Technology exhibit and the Astronaut Memorial, which salutes the 24 astronauts who died in flight or in training for a space flight. Continuous bus trips take visitors a short distance east to the huge vehicle assembly building that’s currently being upgraded, a rocket launch tower and the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Here, you have a front-row seat overlooking the actual
If you go: The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is on State Road 405 in Titusville. » Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
daily » Admission: $40 for ages 3-11; $50 for ages 12 and older. Military and senior discounts available. Annual memberships also available. » Next launch: Get the launch schedule at kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar/seea-rocket-launch. On July 31, just before dawn, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket is scheduled to take the Parker Solar Probe to the sun to learn about Earth’s closest star. » Online: kennedyspacecenter.com » Phone: 855-433-4210
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travel (continued) » Space Shuttle Atlantis enterance
The only choice
Robin Dawn Dance Academy Est. 1975
Voted Cape Coral’s Best Dance Academy Come Join Our Family of Dancers
Tap • Jazz • Hip Hop • Lyrical • Ballet • Pointe Musical Theater • Acrobatics • Contortion • Circus Equipment
Photo courtesy of Nocera Photographic
932 Country untry Club Blvd Blvd, Cape Coral 239 549.0827 • www.RobinDawnAcademy.com
mission control room while experiencing the three-minute countdown to the Apollo 8 moon mission in December 1968 with authentic sights and sounds — including a shaking floor upon liftoff. You then enter the cavernous exhibit hall and jaws drop upon seeing a genuine Apollo rocket. Lunar capsules, space suits and more are nearby, and a Ranger 7 space probe, which took close-up photos of the moon in the mid-’60s to help make manned landings possible, is suspended from the roof. For additional fees, visitors can have lunch with an astronaut or take special tours, including a guided bus trip to see more rocket launch pads. Kids ages 10 and older can enjoy the Astronaut Training Experience that debuted in February. It features various hands-on, interactive programs, from 30 minutes to five days, that include spacewalk training, zero-gravity simulators and what it’d be like to live in a Mars Base 1 station. The complex is entirely visitor-funded. Other attractions nearby include the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum at the Space Coast Regional Airport, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Visitor Information Center, Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral with seven floors of exhibits and interactive play, Jungle Adventures animal park in Christmas, Florida, The Dinosaur Store & Museum in Cocoa Beach, the Cocoa Beach Pier and the iconic Ron Jon Surf Shop.
Miguel Argumosa, DMD • Erin Taylor, DMD Nicole Eastham, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentists
Three Locations To Serve You! BONITA SPRINGS
9510 Bonita Beach Rd. Ste. 101
239 333.2990
CAPE CORAL
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1508 S.E. 12th Terrace
3872 Tamiami Trail, Unit D&E
239 322.5222
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Comprehensive dental care with state of the art facilities equipment for children and those with special healthcare needs All forms of sedation available: Nitrous, Oral, In office I.V. and Hospital Emergencies Welcome!
Fun and Interactive Environment
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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 51
PHOTOS SPECIAL TO SWFL PARENT & CHILD
« around town
X barks the spot PAW Patrol returns to Southwest Florida this summer with a lively interactive show that gets kids dancing in the aisles. PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure” brings these heroic pups from the hit TV show to the stage for three shows July 31 and August 1 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in south Fort Myers. The shows are 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 1. Tickets are $22-$37 with a limited number of $53 Gold Circle and $127 VIP packages are available. For tickets or details, call 239-481-4849 or visit bbmannpah.com.
Party with the turtle
Learn more about home schooling
Sun-N-Fun Lagoon’s Sunny the Turtle spins tunes while kids play games, win prizes and have mega amounts of water fun at Sunny’s DJ Days each month this summer. The party is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, then again August 2. The water park is in North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples. Get details at napleswaterpark. com or call 239-252-4021.
Classical Conversations Naples & Marco Island, a resource for Christian classical education home-school families, is holding a free three-day conference for parents July 26-28. The theme: “Unlocking Language: The Art of Grammar.” While parents learn, the kids can attend a coordinated day camp for $42. For details, go to parentpracticum. com or call 352-213-4778.
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Big event marks back-toschool season One of the biggest back-to-school events of the summer takes place Sunday, July 29 at a new location. The Big Backpack Event will be at North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In its 19th year, this event by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida gives away thousands of free backpacks and school supplies while also throwing a party to celebrate. Each $10 donation to the nonprofit provides a student with a new backpack, notebook paper, folders, crayons, glue, pencils and pens. Supplies are available to the first 2,000 children ages 5-12 accompanied by a parent or guardian. Vendors at the event also provide free services like eye exams and haircuts. The line usually starts forming around 7 a.m. For details, visit multicultural-centre.org.
calendar »
PRESCHOOL
Wednesday, July 4 4th of July Celebration » Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda. Free admission and parking. The day begins with the Freedom Swim at 11 a.m. Live music takes place noon-9 p.m. Fireworks are at 9 p.m. 941-639-8721. fishville.com 4th of July Fireworks Cruises » 8-11 p.m. Salty Sam’s Marina, 2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach. Choose from an all-ages Pirate Cruise into the Gulf to watch the fireworks or an adults-only cruise aboard the Sight Sea-R catamaran. Both ships have full bars and restrooms. Each depart from Salty Sam’s Marina at 8:15 p.m. saltysams.com San Carlos Park 4th of July Parade » 8:30-10:30 a.m. Popham Drive, San Carlos Park. The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. from the Ace Hardware Plaza on US 41 and ends at Three Oaks Park. Organized by the San Carlos Park Fire Department. Watch from the side or enter the parade. You may enter vehicles, floats, walking units, bicycles, strollers and just about anything on wheels. 239878-7624.
More Fourth of July events can be found at swflparentchild.com.
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
Thursday, July 5 Clean Beaches Week BOGO » 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. In celebration of Clean Beaches Week, the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center offers buy one, get one free admission. rookerybay.org Edison & Ford Summer Deal for Families » Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers. In July and August, children receive free admission per paid adult admission. New at the Estates this summer: The Smithsonian Spark!Lab and the Timeline of Innovation. 239-334-7419. edisonfordwinterestates.org “Annie” » Now through August 11. Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. Tickets for adults start at $45. Ages 18 and younger, $20 for dinner and show. broadwaypalm.com
Friday, July 6 Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America » 5-8 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Hometown sports shape our lives, unite us and celebrate who we are as Americans. This exhibit features sports-related objects, images and personal stories from the Smithsonian and highlights local memorabilia and stories. The free opening reception is an Americana celebration for all ages, 5-8 p.m. July 6. Nosh on peanuts and popcorn, make a patriotic craft and more. Features Millennial Brewing Company, Way Too Tall Torrie, Southern SnoBalls, Nathan’s Famous SWFL. Exhibit runs through August 11. Kids Free Fridays: Fish » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. In celebration of the reserve’s 40th anniversary, this popular summer education program provides free admission with programming geared toward ages 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult. A ratio of no more than 3 kids per adult is recommended to ensure a safe and pleasurable experience. This week’s theme is Animals of the Reserve: Fish.
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« calendar Saturday, July 7
Thursday, July 12
Decades Music Festival » 5 p.m. Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs. Free. The Silver Sneakers Band kicks off the sounds of the ’50s at 5 p.m., then the smooth sounds of the ’60s at 6, the ’70s at 7. and the ’80s at 8. Food, drink and clothing vendors. Dress up in your favorite decade.
Cirque du Soleil’s “Crystal” » July 12-15. Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero. Cirque du Soleil’s first ice production combines gravity-defying acrobatics with ice skating. Six shows: 7:30 p.m. July 12 and 13, 4 and 7:30 p.m. July 14 and 1:30 and 5 p.m. July 15. Tickets start at $45. 877-924-7783. cirquedusoleil.com/crystal or germainarena.com
“Neck & Neck” Story & Activities » 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 13751 Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, and at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero. In this laugh-out-loud new book from the creator of the bestselling “If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t!”, a giraffe’s self-esteem is tested during a hilarious confrontation between unlikely look-alikes. Science Saturday » 11 a.m. IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers. Included with admission. Occurs on the first Saturday of every month. History Saturday is the third Saturday of each month. Interactive experiences are stationed throughout the center 11a.m.-2p.m.
Monday, July 9 Free Vacation Bible School » 6-9 p.m. Destiny Church Naples, 6455 Hidden Oaks Lane, Naples. Get ready for an adventure to an uncharted island where kids are rescued by Jesus.
Tuesday, July 10 Sunny’s DJ Days » 11 a.m.-2 p.m. North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples. Sun-N-Fun Lagoon’s Sunny the Turtle spins tunes while kids play games. 239-252-4021. napleswaterpark.com Summer Movie Express » 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Two Regal Cinemas locations: Regal Bell Tower Stadium 20, 13499 Bell Tower Drive, south Fort Myers, and Regal Gulf Coast Stadium 16, 10028 Gulf Center Drive, San Carlos Park. $1 per person. July 10-11: “Sing,” “The Peanuts Movie.” July 17-18: “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” “Ferdinand.” July 24-25: “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” July 31-August 1: “The Lego Batman Movie,” “Trolls.” August 7-8: “Minions,” “The Boss Baby.” regmovies. com/movies/summer-movie-express Free Kids Movies » 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Paragon Theaters, Pavilion, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Enjoy a different free movie each week over summer. July 10-12: “Trolls.” July 17-19: “Kung Fu Panda 3.” July 24-26: “Ferdinand.” July 31-August 2: “Home.” August 7-9: “Prince of Egypt.” 239-596-0008. paragontheaters.com/promotions Free Summer Movies 2018 » 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Marquee Cinemas Coralwood 10, 2301 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral. Free. July 10-11: “The Emoji Movie,” “Minions.” July 17-18: “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” “Sing.” July 24-25: “Ferdinand,” “My Little Pony: The Movie.” July 31-August 1: “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Paddington 2.” 239458-2543. filmsxpress.com/userimages/62/files/CC.pdf
Wednesday, July 11 Reading in the Refuge » 10 a.m. Wednesdays. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. Free. Learn about a refuge animal with a story and craft. 239-4721100. dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/free-refuge-programs
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Indigo Trail Walk » 10 a.m. every Thursday. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, One Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. Free. Join refuge naturalists as they lead a one-hour tour to the Wildlife Education Board to identify and discuss the ecosystem’s plants, mammals, birds and reptiles. Geared for adults and children alike. Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Visitor & Education Center. 239-472-1100 ext. 237. dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/free-refuge-programs
Friday, July 13 Family Beach Walk » 9 a.m. every Friday. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, One Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. Free. The one-hour program convenes at Gulfside Park to explore the refuge’s gulf-front Perry Tract. City parking fees apply. Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray. 239-472-1100 ext. 237. dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/free-refuge-programs Kids Free Fridays: Mammals » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. In celebration of the reserve’s 40th anniversary, this popular summer education program provides free admission with programming geared toward ages 12 and younger who are accompanied by an adult. This week’s theme is Animals of the Reserve: Mammals. Laughter Is The Best Medicine! » 7 p.m. The Laboratory Theater of Florida, 1634 Woodford Ave., Fort Myers. All proceeds benefit charities that support susceptible populations in the community. Join The Cambridge Impronauts and The Next Step Institute of Integrative Medicine Inc. for the Impronauts’ North American debut. Every show is made up on the spot, based on audience suggestions — no two shows are ever the same. All shows are family-friendly. impronautstour.com Mystery Walk » 6-8 p.m. Fort Myers River District, 1400 Jackson St., Fort Myers. A mystery scavenger hunt every second Friday of the month takes participants through an exploration of the historic River District.
Saturday, July 14 Indoor Family Movie Night: “The Mighty Ducks” » 7 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Watch the classic ice-hockey flick “The Mighty Ducks.” While you’re there, tour the Smithsonian “Hometown Teams” exhibit. Tickets are $5 presale. Seating is first come, first serve. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. MangoMania » 10 a.m.-7 p.m. July 14 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 15. German American Social Club, 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. $5 in advance, $6 at the gate. Free for ages 10 and younger. Music, food, drinks, educational presentations, games for kids of all ages and cooking challenges. 239-283-0888. mangomaniafl.net Science Saturday » 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland. Join Mr. Glen and his Science and Engineering team for interactive science projects.
calendar » “The Princess and the Pit Stop” Story & Activities » 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble at Coconut Point, 23130 Fashion Drive, Estero, and at 13751 Tamiami Trail, south Fort Myers. Featuring appearances by fairy tale favorites, including the Tortoise and the Hare, the Frog Prince and all of the Wicked Witches, this mash-up of race cars and royalty is a celebration of both girl power and horsepower. SummerJazz on the Gulf » 6:30-9:30 p.m. The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples. Free concert by Late Night Brass on the Watkins Lawn overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. 239-261-2222. naplesbeachhotel.com Weekend Childbirth Education »10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 14-15. The Family Birth Center of Naples, 2930 Immokalee Road, Suite 2, Naples. Learn about stages of labor, pain coping practices, moving beyond your birth worries and more. Breastfeeding Class included. 239-594-0400. For fee info and to register, click on “classes” at naplesbirthcenter.com or email FBCNaples@gmail.com. Wildlife Wonders » 11 a.m. every Saturday. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, One Wildlife Drive, Sanibel. Free. Refuge education staff lead this 30-minute indoor program about the mysteries of manatees, alligators, crocodiles, horseshoe crabs and birds in the Visitor & Education Center auditorium. 239-472-1100 ext. 237. dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/free-refuge-programs
Monday, July 16 Family Fun Scavenger Hunt » 11 a.m. July 2 to noon July 31. South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero. Harry Pawter is missing. Can you help find him? See the reference desk for details. For all ages.
Tuesday, July 17 Breastfeeding Class » 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Family Birth Center of Naples, 2930 Immokalee Road, Suite 2, Naples. Learn how to successfully breastfeed your newborn baby, use breast pumps and transition to returning to work while breastfeeding. 239-594-0400. For fee info and to register, click on “classes” at naplesbirthcenter. com or email FBCNaples@gmail.com.
Wednesday, July 18 Nutrition Class » 7-8:30 p.m. The Family Birth Center of Naples, 2930 Immokalee Road, Suite 2, Naples. Nutrition for pregnancy, lactation, postpartum and family. 239-594-0400. Register by emailing FBCNaples@gmail.com
Thursday, July 19 Laughter Is The Best Medicine » 7 p.m. Opera Naples, Wang Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples. $25 in advanced, $30 cash at door; $20 in advanced for students, seniors and military. The Cambridge Impronauts and The Next Step Institute of Integrative Medicine Inc. come to North American. Every show is made up on the spot, based on audience suggestions — no two shows are ever the same. All shows are family friendly. impronautstour.com PalmArt Playshop: Freedom Coolers, all Natural and Recyclable » 6 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Learn how to make beautiful, useful, and durable stuff using natural and recycled materials that might be in your own backyard. Writer and teacher Shawn Holiday conducts monthly playshops for making a variety of items.
Friday, July 20 Beer, Baseball and Boom » 7-10 p.m. CenturyLink Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. The Miracle Baseball team face off against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Afterward, fireworks light up the sky. 239-768-4210. miraclebaseball.com Kids Free Fridays: Birds » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Free admission for ages 12 and younger. This week’s theme is Animals of the Reserve: Birds. Lovers Key State Park 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 the Black Island Trail. Reservations required. 239-463-4588. Music Walk » 6-10 p.m. Downtown Fort Myers. The River District comes alive on the third Friday of the month as musicians line the streets. Free to the public with many venues featuring additional attractions and specials.
Saturday, July 21 Best Darn Comedy Show for Kids Period » 4-5 p.m. The Laugh-In Comedy Cafe, 8595 College Parkway, Fort Myers. The Comedy Magic of BJ Odom, a major investor of Houdini’s Pizza & Magic. The shows are geared toward ages 4-14, but parents and grandparents enjoy the show, too. Family Yoga with Kathryn » 10 a.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland. A free 45-minutes beginners’ yoga class for families with toddlers to tweens. Bring a mat. Movement & Breath for Labor » 10:30 a.m.-noon. The Family Birth Center of Naples, 2930 Immokalee Road, Suite 2, Naples. Join Cheryl Bernardi with LifeBehold to prepare your mind and body for labor and birth through movement and breathing exercises. $25 in advance, $30 at door. 239-2487931. Register at lifebehold.com or LifeBehold@gmail.com. Rising Senior Workshops » 9 a.m.-noon. Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers. Free. Collier County rising seniors (Class of 2019) and their parents receive information about college scholarship resources, including Florida Bright Futures, on local campuses. Registration required. 239-643-4755. championsforlearning.org/apply
Sunday, July 22 Family Fun Yoga Time » 1-2:30 p.m. The Yoga Sanctuary, 112 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda. $25 (one parent + one kid) with additional children by donation to The Shoes for Kids organization. Have you been wanting to introduce your little ones to the benefits of yoga? Join this family class where both you and your child will be encouraged to explore and discover the mind and body in a fun-filled way. For ages 5-10 and adults of all ages. 941-505-9642. theyogasanctuary.biz
Monday, July 23 Vacation Bible School 2018: Serengeti Trek » 5:30-8 p.m. July 23-27. Faith Lutheran Church, 705 Leeland Heights Blvd., East Lehigh Acres. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. (for registered VBS children); the program is 6-8 p.m. 239-369-6177.
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« calendar Tuesday, July 24 Summer Movie Express » 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Two Regal Cinemas locations: Regal Bell Tower Stadium 20, 13499 Bell Tower Drive, south Fort Myers, and Regal Gulf Coast Stadium 16, 10028 Gulf Center Drive, San Carlos Park. $1. July 24-25: “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.” July 31-August 1: “The Lego Batman Movie,” “Trolls.” August 7-8: “Minions,” “The Boss Baby.” August 14-15: “Paddington 2,” “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.” regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express Free Kids Movies » 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Paragon Theaters, Pavilion, 833 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Enjoy a different free movie each week over summer. July 24-26: “Ferdinand.” July 31-August 2: “Home.” August 7-9: “Prince of Egypt.” 239-596-0008. paragontheaters.com/promotions Free Summer Movies 2018 » 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Marquee Cinemas Coralwood 10, 2301 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral. Choose from two free movies each week. July 24-25: “Ferdinand,” “My Little Pony: The Movie.” July 31-August 1: “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Paddington 2.” 239458-2543. filmsxpress.com/userimages/62/files/CC.pdf
Thursday, July 26 Classical Conversations Home-school 3-Day Practicum » July 26-28. New Hope Ministries, 7675 Davis Blvd., Naples. Classical Conversations Naples & Marco Island, a resource for Christian classical education home-school families, is holding a free three-day conference for parents. The theme: “Unlocking Language: The Art of Grammar.” While parents learn, the kids can attend a coordinated day camp for $42. 352-213-4778. parentpracticum.com
Friday, July 27 Kids Free Fridays: Reptiles » 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rookery Bay NERR and Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. Free admission and programming for ages 12 and younger who accompanied by an adult. This week’s theme is Animals of the Reserve: Reptiles.
Saturday, July 28 Back-to-School Fashion Show » 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland. Features the latest back-to-school styles and brands available for children, college students and teachers at Miromar Outlets. Kids Day » 10 a.m.-noon. Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero. In WINK Playland. Toddlers to 12-year-olds participate in fun activities and receive a free slice of pizza from Luna Pizza, a free kids’ cone from Dairy Queen/Orange Julius and a special offer at Mr. Pretzels.
Sunday, July 29 The Big Backpack Event » 10 a.m.-2 p.m. North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers. One of the biggest back-to-school events of the summer. This event by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida gives away thousands of free backpacks and school supplies while also throwing a party to celebrate the return of school. Free supplies
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are available to the first 2,000 children ages 5-12 accompanied by a parent or guardian. Vendors at the event also provide free services like eye exams and haircuts. The line usually starts forming around 7 a.m. multicultural-centre.org.
Monday, July 30 Henry Ford’s Birthday » 10 a.m. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 3583 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Included with admission. Join the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in celebrating Henry Ford’s 155th birthday. The day starts with free birthday cake served at 10 a.m. on the museum porch. Special behind-the-scenes tours of Ford’s winter estate home will be offered (time to be determined), and history character Henry Ford will be available for photo opportunities. The site is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. 239-334-7419. edisonfordwinterestates.org Hurricane Preparedness Seminar » 10-11 a.m. Collier County Public Library, Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples. Collier County Public Library has scheduled three Hurricane Preparedness Seminars with the Collier County Emergency Management Team that are open to the public. The free public seminars will include information about how to prepare families and homes for hurricane season, how to use new hurricane-related technology and how Collier County Emergency Management responds to hurricanes and other disasters in Collier County. The next two are August 9 at Headquarters Regional Library, 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, and August 17 at South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. Kidpreneur Life Camp » July 30-August 3. Fort Myers. Kids learn the ins and outs of running a business in this week-long camp by author and entrepreneur Jude Paul. All campers receive a copy of his book “Dream, Dare, Do: A Guide to Exploring The Kidpreneur In Us All.” For ages 9-17. kidpreneurlife.com/events
Tuesday, July 31 Paw Patrol Live “The Great Pirate Adventure” » July 31-August 1. Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 8099 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. PAW Patrol returns to Southwest Florida for three shows July 31 and August 1: 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 31 and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 1. Tickets are $22-$37 with a limited number of $53 Gold Circle and $127 VIP packages available. 239-481-4849. bbmannpah.com.
Saturday, Aug. 4 Happy National Clown Week » 2-3 p.m. North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Way, North Fort Myers. Boys and girls can help members of Caloosa Clown Alley #97 celebrate National Clown Week. Fun and laughter promised. All ages welcome.
Tuesday, Aug. 7 Florida’s Amphibians at Rotary Park » 1-2 p.m. Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. A fascinating program for anyone who is interested in wildlife in Florida. Learn which amphibians call Southwest Florida home and learn the difference between frogs and toads. There will be live specimens to see. This class is free, but reservations requested. 239-549-4606.
Stephanie Davis is a motivational speaker, author and co-founder of FamilySupportVillage.org, an inspiring community offering hope, resources and honest talk on the rollercoaster journey of Extra Needs Parenting. Follow the Village on Instagram @inspire.familysupportvillage.
voices »
GUEST COLUMN
A choice to save Olivia
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Epilepsy differs from person to person, and the treatments aren’t always simple. Sometimes the solution sounds as horrible as the disorder.
his is a team I never wanted to be on: “The Epilepsy Team.” I didn’t know anyone with epilepsy. I had no idea what it really meant except that seizures were a part of the program. When our middle child, Olivia, was diagnosed with epilepsy, my husband and I were in complete denial, unable to believe our healthy, lively 7-year-old was suddenly seizing numerous times a day. Looking back, I remember wondering how this could happen. We had no family history of epilepsy. She hadn’t been sick. In fact, she was our healthiest child, rarely at the pediatrician. Yet here we were in the children’s hospital watching her seize over and over unable to help her. We felt hopeless. Eventually, Olivia was released from the hospital on anticonvulsant medication, but sadly it did little to stop the daily seizures she was experiencing. In a matter of 12 months, Olivia went through 11 medications, many being used simultaneously, yet still found no relief from uncontrolled seizures. Our family’s life had completely changed by this point. Olivia needed to be schooled at home. We rarely left the house with her, because she was either too tired, seizing too much, or suffering from other side effects of medication and frequent seizures. The first year was the worst year of our lives. In the beginning, I naively thought if someone had epilepsy, they simply took medication and controlled the seizures — simple as that. The reality was far different. Olivia’s decline opened my eyes. Sometimes, epilepsy can be controlled by medication; other times, it cannot. Sometimes the underlying cause is
known; other times it is idiopathic. Some people have seizures from birth, brain injury, other illnesses or who knows what. Even in 2018, epilepsy remains a mysterious and misunderstood disease. Ultimately, the cause of Olivia’s epilepsy was found. Our medical team offered us a course of action that could help our daughter, three years after our nightmare began. That was the good news. The bad news was pretty bad. Olivia was diagnosed with a very rare degenerative condition that was causing her decline and mounting seizures. We were told the only known treatment was to remove a large section of her brain that was affected with this condition. Apparently, this surgery could significantly reduce or eliminate the seizures and stop the decline she was experiencing physically and cognitively. The down side of the surgery was that she would become physically paralyzed on the entire left side of her body, some of which could be helped in rehabilitation, but other parts would not likely respond. My husband and I were sickened and devastated, but by this point, Olivia was seizing nearly 100 times a day. She had no life, no chance of a future. She was literally seizing to death before our eyes. I always say we were given a choice to save Olivia’s life — not a good choice, but A choice. And having A choice, is better than having no choice at all. I know too many parents who weren’t given any choice. As maddening and unthinkable as the surgery was, it was an opportunity to give Olivia a life. A real life, not the one she was living. We all agreed to proceed with the recommended treatment, and at the age of 10, she went into brain surgery at Miami
Children’s Hospital and woke up eight hours later with a significant portion of her brain removed, half paralyzed, partially blind and seizure-free. Our new life began the moment Olivia opened her eyes in the recovery room and tried to smile. Years of rehabilitation, tutoring and medical rollercoasters continued to be a part of our life, but we were focused on improvement, not waiting for the next seizure. Olivia grew into the miracle we prayed for. Her outcome is beyond what we ever expected in those early, dark years. She is 19 years old now, recently completed her first year at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she lives on her own, being a regular college kid, just like she wanted. Olivia balances the extra needs she still experiences with a unique perspective, courage and determination. Our family’s journey with epilepsy is not the norm, but that’s just it — with epilepsy, there is no norm. While there are definable types of seizures, the way each person experiences those seizures can be quite different. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about this crazy thing called epilepsy. Strangely, most of it has nothing to do with neurology or even seizures. It has to do with how you handle it all. The approach you take to whatever you’re experiencing is the real key to managing epilepsy or any other hurdle in your path. For those who are impacted by epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (efof.org) opened its Naples Epilepsy Resource Center in the Greater Naples YMCA. Support groups, wellness activities and personal connections can be found by stopping in or calling Dan Rosenfeld at 239-778-8316.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 57
» a father’s view
Jim Dwyer is a Southwest Florida father of three boys.
GETTY IMAGES
JIM DW Y ER
Finding purpose in summer
I
drove past a high school that had added to their sign: “School’s out for summer and so are we!” There are few things better when you are a kid than hitting the summer, and I guess the schools agree. I remember what that feels like after a long school year of waking up early every weekday and trudging off to school half asleep. All of the time studying and doing homework and the stresses of tests. Even the weekends are filled with things to do. Just like my kids, I would count down the days, and finally summer would arrive. Some of my friends had jobs or vacations, but basically we would wake up and head to the community pool together every day. We would spend all day there, stopping by home briefly to see the parents and then off again to a movie, the mall, a restaurant, or anywhere we could go to hang out together. That was enough for us. Simple time with our friends and nothing else much to worry about. For my kids, summer came just like
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for me. They sprinted out on their last day with big plans with their friends. Summer could not start soon enough. But as the days passed and they started to settle in, a trend began that we didn’t like. Rather than being off with friends, most days they would sleep until afternoon, wake up for some food, spend some time playing video games, and then watch Netflix late into the night when they would fall asleep and do it all again. While there were brief respites seeing their friends in person, they were spending way too much time sitting around the house and zoning out playing video games. My wife and I decided that we had to change something and force the issue. We spoke to our boys about having some purpose for the summer. Join the summer workouts with the football team. Get a job (gasp). Find somewhere to volunteer some hours. Dual enroll at the local college and take a summer class. Ryan jumped at the workouts and started to apply for summer jobs. The thought of making some money was
enough to shake him from his slumber. But Tiernan was a hard “no” to every suggestion, particularly school. We told him this wasn’t a punishment; just find something, anything, to do that might be better for his brain than sitting in a dark bedroom playing video games 24/7. His resistance continued, but that was the point that magic struck. We received a note from the registrar at the school. As Tiernan was going to enter his last high school year, they discovered a conflict on his schedule, and the only way to resolve it was for him to take one class over the summer. To Tiernan’s credit, the fight was over, and he simply said, “Well, I guess I am going to be taking a class this summer.” With that, we had both of our boys with at least some purpose. So far, it is going fine. It is not oppressive, and both the boys have had plenty of time for fun with their friends, both in their games and in person. Summer will always be a time for freedom and fun, but a little responsibility hasn’t ruined it for any of us.
EXPLORE the Gardens of the Globe
No Passport Required. You’ll discover more than just stunning plants and landscapes on this 170-acre property. With lush, tropical cultivated gardens and native preserve inspired by plants and cultures from around the globe between the 26th latitude north and 26th latitude south, Naples Botanical Garden is a truly unique destination. Nine Cultivated Gardens | Nature Preserve Walking Trails | Smith Children’s Garden Splash Fountain & Butterfly House Chabraja Visitor Center Berger Shop in the Garden | Fogg Café
4820 Bayshore Drive / 239.643.7275
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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PARENT & CHILD » JULY 2018 » 59
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