Appreciating our Incredible Community

Thanks for dropping by to read this newspaper again. We really appreciate all of our readers and new guests to this local newspaper filled with real news, not from another county or another state! We’re “feet on the ground” writers who want to tell you what is going on in your neighborhood and around the corner. You’ll probably read mostly about our hurricane, and some from different areas but right here at home. Some got hit a lot harder than others, as we’ve seen on television. Those on the water got hit pretty bad, like on Bayshore and Marco Island for instance. There was lots of flooding and cars and boats damaged in that area. There were lots of family members and friends helping to clean up. In times of need, we have a marvelous community who reach out to help each other and neighbors. Like a group of retired firefighters not only from East Naples, but from other areas in Florida and even from this state and other states as well. They seem to always find someone else to help! I guess that’s what they did best and continue on in retirement! There were retired fire chiefs, commissioners, firefighters and more. We were having lunch at our local Joe’s Diner when I mentioned that I needed someone tall who could reach the key lock on my hurricane shutters that Jeff Macasevich had hung for me a few days before, but I couldn’t reach to unlock them and take them down. The next thing that happened was I had people coming to my home, unlocking them, and folding them into their holders. Can I pay you?? No, this is what we do (for others)! God Bless them! So Tom Cannon, Leo (and Angie) Davis, John Taylor, George (and Sally) Danz, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the goodness you spread to others! I’m sure this is indicative of many more retired and still working firefighters and East Naples Civic Association members around our area and around our country! America is so GREAT! We are so blessed with these people. Sorry, but I’m swelling with pride for the people in our community, and we see that caring attitude around our county and our state and our nation!!   

* I spent four nights at Terracina (pronounced: Terra-Cheena) Grand where I have an apartment for rehab after my accident, and so I was safe and dry. We were even entertained while we waited through all that wind and banging going on outside, yet we were high and dry. Food was served for all meals in the dining room with linen tablecloths and napkins, elevators for all four floors worked just fine. People with house pets were able to keep the pets in their rooms, and we even watched a movie and played games in the evening. It’s really a beautiful place, built about 20 years ago. In fact, when it was finished the owner invited the East Naples Civic Association Board members to lunch (I was the president, and that’s how I found out about the place) and served a marvelous lunch to acquaint us with the caliber of the facility. The same Chef is still at Terracina, although it is now owned by a company, so things have changed in the last few years. The residents are really terrific, brilliant people and have very interesting and varied backgrounds! Terracina also offers exercising classes, swimming, games, even music, (one employee plays the harp) classes in art and other things. Once a month a terrific Big Band Sound comes to entertain us (I recognized one of the guys who played around town for years and is still as great as he always was!)  At least once a week (or more if requested) we have Jackpot Bingo. You should see Dottie (104 years old) and Alice (94 years old) play Bingo. There are buses taking people to shopping or church. (I wish they had a bus to Lely Presbyterian) Oh yes, there’s a Happy Hour at least once a week, someone else comes to explain plants and demonstrate how to plant them, and then we have Movie Night (Tonight My Big Fat Greek Wedding will be featured). They even have a Bell Choir come in at least once a month. So much to do! That is what is needed at a facility such as this. Give people things to do that they enjoy, and it will make them happy, understanding everyone is different, male and female, there is a putting green, bocce ball, busses to Publix, Walgreens, Beall’s, and more, plus the Casino in Immokalee, and rides to doctor and medical offices at no charge.

Everyone take care as we get through this!