Season Events are Heating Up

What a busy “winter” we are having! I don’t believe in all these years of living in Collier County, we have ever had a warmer/hotter winter in Collier, or in Ohio Amish Country either! It’s been nice though. I wonder what it means for the summer ahead of us. 

There are so many exciting things about to take place! I’ll try to write about the most interesting of all events that are coming up!

* One question people are asking me is about the large construction project on both sides of Price Street at U.S. 41 East. I asked Jay Ahmad, PE, Division Director for the County’s Transportation Engineering Division, and he replied sent me the following: Improvements on Triangle Boulevard – landscape and irrigation is complete, sidewalk replacement and repairs are continuing, pavers are/were installed, signal work is continuing, milling and resurfacing should be completed with night work this week. The project is on schedule to meet the April 4th final completion date. Now my Physical Therapist, Dr. Phil Standhart, can answer his patients’ questions. 

* So many people in this area, as well as across Collier County, love the Rookery Bay Reserve and the environment, and are passionate about preserving our mangroves, and the love is showing through, as they grow with this terrific fundraiser: Bash for the Bay 2022! Coming up on March 18th. Thanks to their dedicated volunteers, who are raising much needed funds for youth environmental education, sea turtle protection, conservation efforts, mangrove restoration and so much more at Rookery Bay Research Reserve to preserve the environment for the future! And where will it be held? Wait till you hear this! At the Ultimate Garages at 3101 Terrace Ave!! If you haven’t heard of them, you probably aren’t a fan of exotic, expensive cars. What a place that is! (Of course, that is not an open “garage” - there is terrific security everywhere to make certain the attendance is private!) They will have an online auction of fabulous items that you can observe such as “The Black Pearl,” a private Pirate Ship which can host a party of 50 – 75 people and is now” living in Rookery Bay waters” for you to observe. To find the list of auction items online to rookerybay.org/bash. And although I don’t have the space to list the Rookery Bay board members, the “Driver’s Seat” for this event are Event Chairs: Sandra Lee and Reg Buxton, Honorary Chairs Jana and Brent Seaman, Master of Ceremonies Randall Kenneth Jones, and Auctioneer Commissioner Rick LoCastro. And what to wear? Casual or Racetrack finest – you choose. I really wish I had the space to name each board member and Bash Committee member, because they are terrific community leaders, but you can find them online. They ask that you reply soon because we don’t have much lead time (my fault – not theirs). To be a table sponsor - $3,000; Patron Tickets are $750, with special recognition, Bash Tickets at $250 each. There are so many other things to exclaim about, but I only have so much space, so you’ll have to look online to answer other questions. I’m terribly excited about this event. I don’t believe I’ve even been involved in such a major, fun event in my life! 

* The Naples Botanical Garden will be presenting their 17th Annual Flower Show at The Garden on March 17th, and you won’t want to miss this event! Make plans to attend. You’ll be happy you did. 

* Hey! Don’t miss the Goodland Community Pancake and Sausage breakfast – one of my favorites!! In fact, MY Favorite! I love their sausages, and the pancakes taste so much better than even a pancake establishment. Try it, and you’ll see what I mean! Just take the pleasant drive to Goodland along U.S. 41 East and enjoy the gorgeous nature drive! Many people in our own part of the county don’t even know that you drive past 951, and it becomes a look at Southwest Florida nature trip! I bet many have never even driven that drive, but if you love animals and nature and birds, you’ll be so glad you “drove back into a nature preserve!” When is it? Saturday and Sunday, March 19th and 20th starting at about 8:00 AM. Please try it once. You’ll think - why didn’t I ever see this before? You’ll be glad to take this peaceful drive and away from the traffic and noise where we most live. Drop me a note and let me know if you saw things you didn’t even know existed. I’ll answer you back!