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Toward a Better FutureBy: David Sendler |
Even as we celebrate the Men & Women of the Decade and our illustrious past, you can’t help but see the future breaking out all around us. In one recent week of moving about, I came across (1) Simone Lutgert, Joe Cox and Julie Koester accelerating their drive to create a Children’s Museum of Naples by 2009, (2) Marylin and Ed Cole, part of the vanguard, happily moving into the evolving town of Ave Maria, and (3) the 40 under 40 winners at Gulfshore Business magazine’s annual event, all pushing to do bigger and better for our tomorrows.
The community is stepping up, and, curious to discover what local leaders recommend as some of the more urgent future needs, we asked a few of them for their prescriptions.
Mike Watkins, president of Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club: "For one thing, we can no longer count on the local community as a source of employees. We employ 500 people and roughly 150 of them are international. All restaurants, country clubs and hotels are in the same boat. We all have to work together to get our government to help us so we are able to keep hiring—safely—the immigrants we need."
Bill Barnett, mayor of Naples: "Our challenge involves the same things we have been bragging about for the last 10 years—our restaurants, Fifth Avenue South, our shopping areas. We have to keep them viable. Right now, the landlords aren’t being realistic about the rents on Fifth Avenue South. When people see empty storefronts, it gives them a negative feeling. We need to make downtown bright and cheery and keep it as it always is—a destination."
Jim Nathan, president and CEO of Lee Memorial Health System: "A decade ago, we had the G. Pierce Wood Mental Health Hospital in Arcadia and the Charter Glade Hospital in Fort Myers. Today both are no longer in existence, and the Gulf Coast Center for individuals with severe disabilities, including the developmentally and mentally challenged, is being phased out. We need to address the serious challenge in providing services to those with behavioral health needs."
Jonathan Green, artist: "We need to speak to the interior design groups about putting the works of our many artists here into the beautiful homes we have in this area. For example, Kevin Stoneburner, the developer of Bayfront Place, has been overwhelmingly supportive of artists in trying to turn his small community into a place for fine arts, fine dancing, fine music and fine restaurants."
NEW PERSPECTIVES
Shopping is clearly a major sport among our lifestyle pleasures here. In acknowledgement of the rich possibilities and level of play, we’re introducing a new column, Power Shopper, and a very lively writer to enlighten and entertain you. Please welcome Kristy Kiernan, fresh off a book tour for her debut novel, Catching Genius. A lifelong resident of Southwest Florida, Kristy and her husband, art dealer Richard Kiernan, moved to Naples more than 15 years ago to pursue the good life. For Kristy, that includes roaming the Gulf Coast’s many fine shopping centers and boutiques on the hunt for the perfect outfit, accessory or gift. When she grabs a friend and heads out on a mission, they’re truly warriors on the move. See for yourself. Stand back and let the cash registers ka-ching.
We’ve also got a new Health columnist, Elizabeth Heath, who describes herself as a "vocational schizophrenic." A writer and editor, she also teaches writing and humanities at the university level. She’s currently working on a Ph.D. in archaeology, too. "Many of the issues I plan to cover affect me or a family member," she says, "or they are health concerns that I have to look forward to. So I’m arming myself with information for when I start to fall apart." She starts out with "Rest Assured" on how to get more sleep. After that, I guarantee she’ll keep you awake with her timely, stimulating reports.
The community is stepping up, and, curious to discover what local leaders recommend as some of the more urgent future needs, we asked a few of them for their prescriptions.
Mike Watkins, president of Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club: "For one thing, we can no longer count on the local community as a source of employees. We employ 500 people and roughly 150 of them are international. All restaurants, country clubs and hotels are in the same boat. We all have to work together to get our government to help us so we are able to keep hiring—safely—the immigrants we need."
Bill Barnett, mayor of Naples: "Our challenge involves the same things we have been bragging about for the last 10 years—our restaurants, Fifth Avenue South, our shopping areas. We have to keep them viable. Right now, the landlords aren’t being realistic about the rents on Fifth Avenue South. When people see empty storefronts, it gives them a negative feeling. We need to make downtown bright and cheery and keep it as it always is—a destination."
Jim Nathan, president and CEO of Lee Memorial Health System: "A decade ago, we had the G. Pierce Wood Mental Health Hospital in Arcadia and the Charter Glade Hospital in Fort Myers. Today both are no longer in existence, and the Gulf Coast Center for individuals with severe disabilities, including the developmentally and mentally challenged, is being phased out. We need to address the serious challenge in providing services to those with behavioral health needs."
Jonathan Green, artist: "We need to speak to the interior design groups about putting the works of our many artists here into the beautiful homes we have in this area. For example, Kevin Stoneburner, the developer of Bayfront Place, has been overwhelmingly supportive of artists in trying to turn his small community into a place for fine arts, fine dancing, fine music and fine restaurants."
NEW PERSPECTIVES
Shopping is clearly a major sport among our lifestyle pleasures here. In acknowledgement of the rich possibilities and level of play, we’re introducing a new column, Power Shopper, and a very lively writer to enlighten and entertain you. Please welcome Kristy Kiernan, fresh off a book tour for her debut novel, Catching Genius. A lifelong resident of Southwest Florida, Kristy and her husband, art dealer Richard Kiernan, moved to Naples more than 15 years ago to pursue the good life. For Kristy, that includes roaming the Gulf Coast’s many fine shopping centers and boutiques on the hunt for the perfect outfit, accessory or gift. When she grabs a friend and heads out on a mission, they’re truly warriors on the move. See for yourself. Stand back and let the cash registers ka-ching.
We’ve also got a new Health columnist, Elizabeth Heath, who describes herself as a "vocational schizophrenic." A writer and editor, she also teaches writing and humanities at the university level. She’s currently working on a Ph.D. in archaeology, too. "Many of the issues I plan to cover affect me or a family member," she says, "or they are health concerns that I have to look forward to. So I’m arming myself with information for when I start to fall apart." She starts out with "Rest Assured" on how to get more sleep. After that, I guarantee she’ll keep you awake with her timely, stimulating reports.
