Open Pickleball Championships kicked off in Naples drawing competitors from all 50 states and 40 countries for what organizers call the biggest pickleball event in the world the tournament is expected to attract more than 50,000 spectators got a behind the scenes look at the tournament “We’ve broken all records this year,” said Ben Weinberger “We have almost 3,500 competitors from all 50 states and 40 countries," he added Weinberger said nearly 6,000 matches will be played across about 300 brackets we have a lot of different divisions," he explained and then within the pro categories we have the regular pros and the split-age pros — which means one of the pros is over 50 and one is under 50," Weinberger added One of the tournament's biggest highlights comes Wednesday when pickleball star Anna Leigh Waters is set to play mixed doubles with tennis legend Andre Agassi Anna Leigh’s mother and coach caught up with Fox 4's Mahmoud Bennett Open holds a special place for their family Open is really one of the tournaments that was the beginning for us," Leigh Waters explained "Anna Leigh started playing here as an amateur with her grandfather I’m both playing and coaching… Anna Leigh is playing with Andre Agassi in the pro mixed doubles and there’s just a lot of excitement — a lot of buzz this year!” there's more than $163,400 in prize money is up for grabs This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page — Heavy rainfall this week has left some streets in Naples Park severely flooded and residents say it's getting worse Members of the homeowners association are waiting for the county to fix the problem but this I think is the worst I've seen so far," said Mildred Lucanegro a member of the Board of Directors for the Naples Park Homeowners Association and ducks swimming out front — is what people who live on 104th Avenue North saw after a weekend of heavy rain we had some ducks swimming in the lake," said local resident Jeff Bennett Bennett has been in the neighborhood for more than three years and says that for just two inches of rainfall this is some of the worst flooding he has seen He believes the county is aware of the problem I think they're aware that the drainage is outdated and that's when the drainage was put in," Bennett said "And so they're systematically going through the streets and replacing the drains and upgrading the infrastructure," he added Lucanegro said the county has been working on upgrades to the entire neighborhood she believes 104th Avenue North needs immediate work "The association was flooded almost halfway up the driveway just about halfway up the driveway and across I didn't even want to ride through it," Lucanegro said Collier County did not immediately respond to a request for a timeline of their construction plans in Naples Park Lucanegro remains hopeful they will see progress soon That's the current asking price for a one-of-a-kind home in North Naples with ties to the English literary legend H.G the home's intricate wood details – including the ceilings millwork and staircase – came from the prolific author's Connecticut estate The author's pioneering works of science fiction include "The Time Machine" and "The War of the Worlds." recently saw another "price adjustment" (in favor of interested buyers) with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty They describe the offering as a seamless blend of coastal elegance and old world charm the residence – at 9602 Vanderbilt Drive – has recently seen some upgrades Enhancements include a newly redesigned opulent kitchen described as a "chef's delight," and new tile floors The property offers sunset views from a second-floor balcony and space inside and out for family gatherings and cocktail parties The property first listed for $1.895 million in January before its latest adjustment to $1.59 million Property records show the current owner as Ladyfish Investments LP Before conveying the property to a limited partnership Easter weekend is finally here in Southwest Florida Here are some of the best things to do this Friday through Sunday businesses and venues to see what they’re doing The annual Easter event includes face painting photos with the Easter Bunny and two scavenger egg hunts divided by age group (10 a.m Only 100 tickets available for the Easter Bunny (first come Organized by City of Marco Island Parks and Recreation The Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through April 19. Free admission. Photo packages start at $20. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits without a photo package. Dillard’s Court at Coastland Center, 1900 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. whereisbunny.com Easter Egg Hunt at Baker ParkThe City of Naples hosts its first Easter egg hunt at Baker Park. Bring your own basket. The event includes a visit with the Easter Bunny. 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 19. Free. The egg hunt will divided into different times based on the age group: 10 a.m. (2-4 years old), 10:15 a.m. (5-7 years old) and 10:30 a.m. (8-12 years old). Baker Park, 50 Riverside Circle, Naples. facebook.com/BakerParkNaples Celebrate the holiday with food trucks, bounce houses, giveaways, games, an egg hunt and much more. 10 a.m. Sunday, April 20. Free. Faith Church, 6070 Collier Blvd., Naples. 544-7911 or faithchurchnaples.com Estero EGGStravaganza at Estero ParkThis event for children 12 and younger features an adaptive egg hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. $5. Space is limited. Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. 533-1470 or leegov.com/parks/centers/estero Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7) Instagram and Threads (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells) A raging brush fire in Naples on Wednesday (March 26) caused home owners to evacuate for a brief period of time and forced the closure of the North Collier Regional Park There were no reports of injuries or damaged homes This is the start of the brush or wildfire season in Florida when the state is experiencing dry conditions in advance of the rainy season More: Wildfires continue to burn across Florida. Here's where, a map of fires According to the Forest Service website here's what to know regarding the different stages of a brush fire starting with containment: A fire is contained when the fire is encircled by constructed fire lines or other fuel breaks such as roads and there is a reasonable expectation that the fire will no longer spread beyond these lines.When a fire is contained there may still be active flames that threaten to cross the lines.When a fire is burning it is common for reports to come out stating that a fire is X% contained a fire that is 20% contained means that some combination of fire lines and other fuel breaks surround 20% of the perimeter of the fire.When is a brush fire controlled?A fire is controlled when it is fully contained and crews have extinguished flames and smoking/smoldering fuels and removed unburnt fuels from about 300 feet inside the fire line perimeter This effort may take several days once a fire is fully contained Any hotspots that are immediate threats to these lines have cooled down enough so there is little chance that flames will cross the fire boundary A fire is considered to be out when no hotspots and smoke is detected within the lines for at least 48 hours large wildland fires are often watched and patrolled until rain or snow eliminates all smoke With the brush fire at 95% containment by 6 p.m. the public information officer for the local division of Florida Forest Service said most agencies were starting to clear out and leave the local officials to monitor the blaze which is very dry.Collier had a rating of 600 and Lee a resident of the Wilshire Lakes neighborhood and that flames were shooting from what appeared to be the backyards of her neighbors' homes She said that her husband called 911 and started knocking on doors upon realizing just how close the brush fire had extended toward their neighborhood "There were huge flames in people's backyards and the smoke just kept rising and rising," Milewicz said More: Are there burn bans near me in Florida today? Here’s where, what to know about fire danger More: Will rain help alleviate fires, drought conditions in Florida? See latest forecast, radar said fire suppression authorities had contained about 60% of the six-acre file A brushfire alongside Interstate 75 in Collier County is causing traffic delays both north and south and closing a nearby park Wednesday between mile markers 111 and 109 according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office The Collier County Sheriff's Office's Aviation Unit is on scene and actively working to contain the fire All lanes of Vanderbilt Road are closed between Oakes Boulevard and Livingston Road County officials announced North Collier Regional Park is closed because of the fire Residents of the Naples community of Wilshire Lakes were prompted to evacuate as a result of the fire There is expected to be heavy smoke in the area that may continue to affect traffic conditions Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall was posting updates about 4:40 p.m that the wildfire is 25% contained according to reports for the Florida Forest Service with two helicopters assisting in water drops on six acres He said County Manager Amy Patterson is on scene and she is coordinating with the sheriff's office Hall reported the forest service had four tractors supplementing fire suppression operations and officials are checkng on special needs residents Breaking News and Visuals editor Stacey Henson contributed to this report as did Cheryl McCloud of the USAToday Network The ninth annual US Open Pickleball Championships return to Naples this week boasting a field of top professionals and the event's largest purse More than 3,400 competitors of all ages and levels are scheduled to descend on East Naples Community Park for the tournament representing all 50 states and 40 different countries will be playing on the park’s 60-plus courts That includes more than 400 professionals competing for a US Open record purse of approximately $163,400 In the 2024 US Open, Anna Leigh Waters teamed with JW Johnson to win the mixed doubles title and paired with her mother Leigh to take the female doubles crown Johnson and Dylan Frazier took the male doubles championship while Jack Foster and Jorja Johnson won the male and female singles titles Last year's US Open drew more than 40,000 spectators during the week. The event is expecting 50,000-plus visitors this time around. Collier County has estimated the event brings $14 million in economic impact which includes hotel room nights along with other visitor spending 2024: World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters dominant at US Open Pickleball Championships with doubles sweep Here's what else you should know about the self-described “biggest pickleball party in the world.” Tickets are only required to watch pro matches on the Zing Zang Championship Court ticket sales opened through a lottery system in February tickets may be sold at the park if space is available Where can I park my car at the US Open Pickleball Championships?A $5 charge per car will be for all-day parking at the event All proceeds will go to the Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in July' program to benefit underprivileged Collier County students Complimentary shuttle service is provided from the parking lots East Naples Community Park is located at 3500 Thomasson Drive Even though bleacher seating is available at the US Open Pickleball Championships fans should consider bringing a portable chair Water will be provided at fountains and filler stations throughout the park While portions of the seating at the Zing Zang Championship Court are shaded so fans may want to bring a hat or umbrella Dogs are welcome at East Naples Community Park but pets are not allowed inside the Zing Zang Championship Court area Daily live streaming from the Zing Zang Championship Court will be broadcast on Pickleball Channel, which is available on YouTube and Facebook and at pickleballchannel.com. CBS Sports Network will broadcast live on April 30-May 3 from 12 to 2 p.m. and May 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov 28, 2024 - Nov 30, 2024 | Youth | Naples, FL, USA USA Field Hockey will once again partner with 3STEP Sports the nation’s largest and most impactful youth sports club and event operator to deliver the 2024 National Hockey Festival Taking place November 29 to December 1, 2024 at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples The age divisions offered will be U-10 Co-Ed with 7v7 playing quarters and 11v11 playing halves All pools for the 2024 National Hockey Festival will be created by a like system rating Registration will open Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. ET on PlayerFirst. The open registration will be posted on 3Step FH Website Pre-registration for the Legacy Teams will open on Thursday Registration opened on Thursday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m. ET and will remain open until all spots are filled. Click here to register Paradise Coast Sports Complex | 3940 City Gate Blvd N **Detailed game schedule will be released 4 weeks before Friday Click here for more information. Official College Coach Hospitality Sponsor NAPLES, Fla. – It was all warm weather and good times at the 2024 National Hockey Festival, which concluded this past Sunday at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla. For the second year, the event was sponsored by Approach Clothing and powe... Calling all USA Field Hockey Umpires – applications are now open to officiate at the 2024 National Hockey Festival at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, Fla.! This tournament, held Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1, is a great opportu... NAPLES, Fla. – USA Field Hockey will once again partner with 3STEP Sports, the nation’s largest and most impactful youth sports club and event operator, to deliver the 2024 National Hockey Festival.Taking place November 29 to December 1, 2024 at the Pa... [data-focus]){outline-width:var(--focus-ring-width 2px);outline-offset:var(--focus-ring-offset solid);outline-color:var(--focus-ring-color);outline:none;}.css-puhhl:is(:focus-visible [data-focus-visible]){box-shadow:none;outline-width:3px;outline-style:solid;outline-color:var(--semantics-focus-light);outline-offset:3px;}.css-puhhl:visited{color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color);}.css-puhhl:visited.css-puhhl:visited:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:visited:is(:hover [data-disabled]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-hover);}}.css-puhhl.css-puhhl:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:is(:hover white);}}© 2025 Copyright USA Field Hockey - All Rights Reserved The last thing you want to see after a relaxing day at the beach is a parking ticket on your windshield you have us at Naples Daily News to help you avoid those pesky tickets Here's what to know before you put your car in park at a local beach If you're a full-time Collier resident or property owner, you're already paying for beach parking through your property taxes So take advantage of it and get a beach parking sticker from any of the Collier Parks and Recreation locations listed below: Bring your license and registration and make sure both documents have the same name and Collier address on them If you're a part-time resident property owner and current Collier County tax bill or warranty deed More: City to simplify design of a dozen beach ends in Naples destroyed by Hurricane Ian Your beach parking permit must be adhered to the driver's side lower left corner of the windshield to be valid How much does it cost to park at a Collier beach without a sticker?If you don't have a parking sticker it'll cost $10 to park at a Collier County beach Look for the parking meters in each parking lot If you park at a Collier beach without paying Beach patrol cars are constantly monitoring the parking lots looking for violators Always remember to pay for parking before walking down to the beach you can park for free at Barefoot Beach Access Barefoot Beach Preserve is currently closed Food trucks have become increasingly popular due to their convenience especially for employees seeking a quick breakfast or lunch at businesses and commercial areas Collier County is amending its land-development code to allow permanent mobile food-dispensing vehicles including commercial areas and county parks 14 voted unanimously to amend its code and will hold a second public hearing Jan The amendment required a super majority vote It was passed with a revision requested by Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr. who wanted it to require a conditional-use application and not to be allowed “by right” in certain areas “There are people that live in proximity to industrial and public use and PUDs … that need to be able to have a voice,” McDaniel said of planned-unit developments asking that staff review applications individually County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow agreed commissioners could make that revision noting the change would protect surrounding communities a conditional-use application was only required for certain areas or if a food truck park was selling alcohol or offering amplified outdoor entertainment The amendment applies to 4,737 parcels countywide and parcels within several zoning districts: industrial 17 food truck-zoning certificates have been issued Approved permits include Celebration Park Naples Mother Trucker Chicago Cafe and the Collier Area Transit station in Immokalee State Department of Business & Professional Regulation records show that in District 7 there were 1,208 mobile food-dispensing vehicle licenses as of this month Planning and Zoning Director Mike Bosi noted that regardless of the zoning district food trucks will be allowed in connection with temporary-use permits and special events for up to 28 days yearly The county began working on guidelines in October 2021 after the county Board of Zoning Appeals prohibited permanent mobile food truck applications that involve other entertainment activities The appeal filed by FCC Beach & Yacht LLC involved Isles of Capri Food Truck Park The board expressed concerns over the effects on neighboring properties The board directed planning staff to bring back a land-development code amendment to allow for a conditional use of multiple food trucks within certain zoning districts on specific parcels parking requirements and to look at best practices county commissioners also agreed to deny Isles of Capri Food Truck Park’s application and directed staff to develop a policy Staff reviewed regulations in 20 communities statewide including five counties and five states — Texas The process went through the Development Services Advisory Board and its Land Development Review subcommittee The Greater Naples Fire Rescue District also suggested changes and county commissioners provided more input last year applicants must pay up to $10,140 in county fees including a $4,000 conditional-use application The amendment defined permanent mobile food-dispensing vehicles as nontransient meaning they don’t stop temporarily at various locations for less than two hours The standards include parking and restroom requirements hours of operation and appropriate locations Conditional-use applications require notifying nearby properties about the application a neighborhood information meeting and a public hearing usually before the county hearing examiner They are not permitted in a PUD unless the PUD specifically lists them as a permissible use To add that use to a PUD requires an amendment a Planning Commission hearing and two public hearings before the Board of County Commissioners that require a supermajority vote Typical ebbs and flows of the single-family home market do not have much of an impact on the ultra Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm.. the May 5 opening of the Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH takes the health care.. Not only has Chef Brian Roland physically and emotionally returned to public life in Southwest Florida after his life-altering tragedy.. Beeline is counting on thirsty folks making a beeline to its new upscale cocktail bar at Mercato in North Naples... The 72-unit Verandas III opened and is fully occupied on Airport Road marking the final phase in the redevelopment of.. Suspects charged for drug and weapon offences as well as scheme in which drivers felt compelled to pay fees Italian police have arrested 24 suspected members of the Camorra – the notorious Neapolitan mafia – on charges of drug trafficking arms possession and running an illegal parking attendant scheme several of those arrested on Monday were reportedly affiliated with well-known Camorra families operating in the Fuorigrotta and Chiaia districts of Naples Investigators said the Troncone and Frizziero clans in addition to involvement in the drug trade and cigarette smuggling were behind a parking scheme in which drivers felt compelled by “attendants” to pay extra fees in order to ensure their vehicles remained untouched when parked The practice is widespread in southern Italy and, according to a report by the Greens and Left Alliance political grouping, there are approximately 2,400 illegal parking attendants operating in Naples alone Many of them are thought to be affiliated with Camorra clans and the illicit trade allegedly generates more than €100m (£86m) a year unauthorised attendants are forced to pay protection money to mobsters in order to be allowed to operate within territories controlled by the mafia “Illegal parking attendants essentially demand a protection fee from drivers,” said Francesco Emilio Borrelli “They even ask you to pay when you park in areas that are already marked for payment Borrelli himself has been beaten and threatened on several occasions by illegal attendants in Naples they even attempted to run him over with a car acting as an unauthorised parking attendant was not considered a criminal offence “Offenders merely receive a token fine,” he added these clans will continue to exploit citizens for their own profit.” Free newsletterA digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day climbing as high as €30 during Champions League or high-profile league matches A Naples park was abuzz on a recent Friday morning with the voices bicycles and belongings of the dozens of homeless Collier County residents hoping to access resources and supplies The SWFL Regional Coalition to End Homelessness conducted its Point-in-Time Count for Collier County with Sugden Regional Park acting as a hub for volunteers and unhoused people People experiencing homelessness also received various goods and services at the site said that although he has been homeless for a year and a half he is still grateful for all the support and resources “The fact that this is here for us today is just absolutely amazing,” Guillory said Guillory is one of many people experiencing homelessness that the coalition expected to count More: More help, hope for Collier veterans as new Warrior Homes open up the coalition tallied 660 unhoused individuals a “significantly lower” number is anticipated at the conclusion of the count CEO of the SWFL Regional Coalition to End Homelessness Overway said that one major factor they have noticed contributing to the drop in homeless people in Collier County is the increased concern toward the policies of the new presidential administration or they’re leaving altogether,” Overway said The coalition will not have the data for either Lee or Collier County finalized until March the coalition counted about 75 unhoused individuals in Immokalee alone last year volunteers counted about 200 individuals in Immokalee More than 70% of Immokalee’s foreign-born population are not U.S. citizens, according to the United States Census Bureau volunteers from across Southwest Florida probe the streets woods and other common sheltering locations Warrior Homes of Collier volunteers added to the counting effort It is a non-profit charitable organization founded by Dale Mullin to aid veterans with accessing housing and mental health support said that he acknowledged a need for an advocacy group like Warrior Homes of Collier when he learned that the number of homeless veterans counted was much lower than he actually believed it to be Mullins said that since he began this foundation it has been able to acquire six properties with a total of 39 beds to house veterans Some of the Warrior Homes volunteers that assist with the count have personal connections to the group’s mission a member of the board of directors for Warrior Homes of Collier which is why this work is important to her Blue Star mothers are mothers who have children serving in the military started the Gulf Coast Florida chapter of Blue Star Mothers She said that her motherly instinct extends to all veterans and members of the military regardless of their age allowing me to kind of encourage them and nurture them and just be there for them That has really been such a huge part of volunteering for me,” Salkow said The number of homeless seniors across Lee and Collier counties has risen every year The primary reason for the constant increase in homeless senior citizens is the lack of affordable housing across the region Overway said that much of the senior population that the coalition serves are individuals who are retired and having to make decisions regarding food The lack of affordable housing extends beyond its impact on senior citizens Overway said that the coalition has even had to help rehouse teachers Overway said that many people even have trouble acquiring a bed in a shelter Matthew’s House in Collier County has a waitlist of a few hundred people One major gap in access to shelter and resources is a low-barrier shelter Low-barrier shelters have very little expectations or requirements which would allow people who are actively using to have access to a bed low-barrier shelters are not widely accepted or supported by Lee and Collier County The Lee County Homeless Coalition and the Collier County Homeless Coalition merged last year to become the SWFL Regional Coalition to End Homelessness The needs for both counties are now addressed unitedly “We need to be able to get the folks who are struggling with mental health and substance use into a low-barrier shelter so they can come in dirty — that’s what they call it — or still actively using seek treatment services while they’re in the shelter get them into treatment and then let them get back in there,” Overway said Some basic gaps in available resources include access to clean clothing Guillory said that this is one type of support that he personally needs Guillory said that despite what he doesn’t have he is grateful for what he does have because there are some who may not have as much as he does there’s different health clinics that will help you,” Guillory said “I’m grateful to have all that on my side and just to know that I’m still healthy and that I can still move forward and do things I need to do in my life.” Did you know that as a local you can park at the beach for free in Collier County? All you need is a shiny sticker. Here's how to get a Collier County beach parking sticker in 2025 What do I need to bring with me to get a beach parking sticker?Bring your license and registration and make sure both documents have the same name and Collier address on them Which beach parking lots are covered by the sticker?Barefoot Beach AccessBarefoot Beach PreserveLowdermilk ParkNaples PierVanderbilt BeachClam Pass ParkNorth Gulfshore AccessTigertail BeachSouth Marco AccessConner ParkHow much does it cost to park at a Collier beach without a sticker?If you don't have a parking sticker Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso were two of the most influential artists of the 20th century transforming paint and paper into a world of plants and a selection of them along with Matisse’s illustrations and prints are on display at Naples Art Institute in an exhibition titled “Art in Balance: Matisse and His Illustrated Works.” “We are proud to host over a hundred works that mainly focus on Matisse’s final 15 years or so when he turned to making cut-outs and where he was especially keen on making illustrations for book publications and so on and poems,” Naples Art Institute Executive Director Frank Verpoorten said The exhibition highlights Matisse’s mastery in balancing intense colors with bold black contrasts The exhibition also delves into Matisse’s deeply spiritual final years during which he designed his artistic testament — the chapel in Venice Photographs by Hélène Adant provide a rare glimpse into the reflective and practical moments behind this monumental project revealing Matisse’s creative process and enduring "joie de vivre." so we’re thinking that’s going to draw the necessary crowds and create the necessary excitement here,” Verpoorten added “Art in Balance” is on view through April 13 Henri Matisse is widely regarded as the greatest colorist of the 20th century He rivaled Pablo Picasso in the importance of his innovations He first achieved prominence as the leader of the French movement Fauvism He rejected Cubism and instead sought to use color as the foundation for expressive He wrote that he sought to create an art that would be "a soothing Still life and the nude remained favorite subjects throughout his career Matisse’s cut-outs were created in distinct phases “The raw materials—paper and gouache—were purchased and the two materials combined: studio assistants painted sheets of paper with gouache Matisse then cut shapes from these painted papers and arranged them into compositions.” the artist worked directly on a board using pins Matisse directed his studio assistants to arrange them on the wall of his studio either in the studio or in Paris by professional mounters Matisse’s embrace of cut-outs was necessitated by his failing health which was characterized by confinement in bed and a wheelchair during the last 13 years of his life the Museum of Modern Art notes that the predicate for this art form was laid more than two decades earlier “Years before Matisse conceived of the cut-outs as an independent medium he employed the technique as an expedient to realize work in other mediums,” notes MoMA in the syllabus for its own exhibition of Matisse cut-outs in 2014 he used cut paper to design the décor for a ballet When composing the mural "The Dance" commissioned by Dr he learned that covering large areas with sheets of painted paper allowed him to make changes more efficiently than he could by repainting he cut and pinned painted paper to design a second dance production he used cut paper to resolve the compositions of two paintings Though he would not consider a cut-out to be an autonomous work of art until 1946 the groundwork was laid to create through this technique The cut-outs ‘were a long time in the making,’ Matisse acknowledged Long before Matisse’s cut-outs became immersive he expressed to the writer Louis Aragon that he had ‘an unconscious belief in a future life…some paradise where I shall paint frescoes,’” the MoMA syllabus concluded he acknowledged the influence of Islamic art which a truly plastic space.” Inventing the cut-out medium allowed him to fulfill this ambition to make monumental decorations that transcended the confines of easel painting.” The Naples Art Institute also points out that printmaking was central to Matisse’s creative journey creating over 800 engravings that reflect his resilient spirit especially during the later years when painting grew physically challenging The Naples Art Institute is at 585 Park Street to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m Support for WGCU’s arts & culture reporting comes from the Estate of Myra Janco Daniels and Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband NCH officials marked an end to one era and welcomed the start of a new one Wednesday Dozens of hospital leaders and medical staff gathered outside the Telford Education Center which sits south of the Baker Hospital near downtown Naples five-story complex that is contemporary in design will consolidate heart and stroke care in one location with the latest technology for optimal patient care Another goal is recruiting some of the best cardiac and stroke specialists from around the country to join NCH staff Currently inpatient heart and stroke care is located in the hospital with outpatient follow-up services in another nearby building president and chief executive officer of NCH spoke about the history of the Telford building that was named for Robert Telford and his wife who started the Telford Foundation and which still provides some financial support today to NCH has been used for medical education and training community meetings and as a refuge for some NCH employees and their families during hurricanes “So while the Telford building has played a really important part of our past today we’re going to celebrate the future as well as we begin work on the Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center,” Hiltz said “The construction here is going to start in a couple of weeks and we’re excited to see this finally coming to fruition after a lot of hard work by many spoke about how he came to Naples for the first time in 2016 to give a lecture about cardiology A few years later he was invited back by Hiltz who shared how NCH was looking to build something really unique Cubeddu was at Cleveland Clinic Florida and he joined NCH in 2021 “And it was then when we had our very first discussion about our vision and the whole idea of creating a destination a world class heart vascular and now stroke institute for the community and for Southwest Florida,” Cubeddu said The construction of the heart and stroke center is expected to take about two and half years He outlined what services will be on each of the five floors from operating suites to hybrid stroke suites and the critical care services to take care of the sickest of the sick medical director of the Wingard Stroke Institute and part of the future complex spoke about how NCH received certification a few years ago as a comprehensive stroke center the highest level of certification in the U.S “We are only one of five centers in the state of Florida that have that,” Abuawad said About 60% of the patients who come to the NCH stroke center have had major strokes where they could die or have major disability if they survive Instead 60% of those patients leave the stroke center without any disability Having everything for heart and stoke care in one location will translate into even better care for patients faster treatments and more experts available for patients and better outcomes Naples City Council in early 2024 approved rezoning the Baker hospital campus That allowed for a conditional use for the five-story heart center complex to be 87 feet in height exceeding the 42-foot height limit approved by city residents in a referendum in 2000 Getting to that point involved many months of design review with city officials nearby residential property owners wanted the project scaled back and more landscape buffering especially for a new 30-foot garage that will abut Sixth Street North — The Old Naples Pier is set to be demolished but before construction on a new pier can begin city officials need a place to offload the debris Collier County Commissioners approved a plan allowing the city to use the docks at Bayview Park to receive and offload materials before they are transported to a landfill The plan is to dismantle the pier piece by piece and ship the debris about 2 miles to the park's dock the city will occupy eight parking spaces at Bayview Park Debris will be collected from both above and below the water WATCH TO SEE WHERE THE CITY OF NAPLES WILL OFFLOAD DEBRIS FROM THE NAPLES PIER: the county’s Executive Director of Facilities and the Community Redevelopment Area said the park will remain open to the public and people will still be able to use the boat ramp "The contractor will remove the pier debris then remove it and take it to the landfill," said John Dunnuck Executive Director of Facilities and the Community Redevelopment Area "The debris will not be stored at the park—it’ll be sorted there but it will immediately be removed each time the barge is in place," he added The city estimates the demolition process will take four to six months Some residents who frequent Bayview Park are questioning why the city can’t find a way to offload the old pier within city limits "I don’t understand why they can’t just tear it down where it stands," said David Bosanich who rides his bike through the park once a week it might disrupt the beach for a day or two but I’d imagine it would be more efficient to do it onsite than bring it all the way here," he added Others say they don’t see an issue with the plan as long as it means the new pier gets built sooner The Naples Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and reconstruction has faced multiple delays While the county’s approval to use Bayview Park is a step forward the city is still waiting on federal approval before it can begin construction city leaders estimate it will take at least 18 months to rebuild the pier "It was heartbreaking to see the damage from Hurricane Ian but we’re looking forward to rebuilding," one resident said Entertainment season officially kicked off in November, but now things are really starting to heat up in Southwest Florida. Some of the area’s biggest events happen between now and April Big anniversaries for two popular art festivals Fancy new theaters welcoming snowbirds for the first time Even Southwest Florida's first World Ukulele Day celebration They're all happening in the next three months festivals and other events happening in Fort Myers venues and arts groups to see what else they have planned For 20 years, Gulfshore Playhouse founder Kristen Coury dreamed of building a state-of-the-art, Broadway-style theater space in Naples. Now it’s finally here Gulfshore’s new $72 million building — the Baker Theatre and Education Center  — opened in October near the intersection of Goodlette-Frank Road South and First Avenue South in Naples is almost twice the size of Gulfshore’s former home at Naples' Norris Center The building's distinctive wave shape was inspired by the flowing water and beaches of the nearby Gulf of Mexico don’t worry: There are plenty of opportunities over the next three months That includes the Hitchcock murder mystery “Dial M for Murder” (now through Feb 23-March 16) and the classic musical "Sweet Charity" (April 6-May 4) — Tickets and info: Baker Theatre and Education Center, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples. Tickets are $39-$114. 261-7529 or gulfshoreplayhouse.org 75th anniversary of the Community Concert SeriesLee County's longest-running concert series is in the middle of celebrating a huge birthday — its 75th year of bringing classical concerts The series was co-founded in 1948 by late Fort Myers arts matron Barbara B. Mann (also the namesake for the performing arts hall where the concerts take place) runs the concert series from her Alva home The 2025 lineup includes chamber-music group Frisson Ensemble (Jan the Grammy-nominated Imani Winds with the legendary Boston Brass (Feb 12) and the National Symphony Orchestra (March 19) — Tickets and info: All shows take place at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. Tickets are $25-$55. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com You’re in luck: There are plenty of shows to keep you singing along and tapping your toes The impressive lineup this season includes: comedies and other shows happening at Southwest Florida theaters Check their websites to see what else they have in store for you this season ArtFest Fort Myers celebrates 25th anniversaryEvery year ArtFest Fort Myers brings art lovers to downtown Fort Myers to peruse and buy paintings jewelry and more — all with the scenic Caloosahatchee River shimmering nearby But this year is special: It’s the 25th anniversary of the popular outdoor art show The milestone festival features all the things people have come to love about the event: More than 200 juried artists from around the country showing and selling their work along Edwards Drive; a sidewalk chalk-art competition; a children's craft area; food vendors; a 5K race; and more Plus a preview show and a concert with Gulf Coast Symphony — Tickets and info: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1-2, on Edwards Drive between Heitman and Lee streets in downtown Fort Myers. Preview show and concert Friday, Jan. 31. Free admission (although VIP tickets are also available). 768-3602 or ArtFestFortMyers.com You might have seen deaf singer/ukulele player Mandy Harvey wowing the judges on “America’s Got Talent.” Now she’s visiting Bonita Springs to headline the city’s first celebration of the annual World Ukulele Day songwriter and inspirational speaker performs Sunday along with a line-up of more uke-playing musical acts The show closes out Bonita’s World Ukulele Day part of an international celebration of the tiny stringed instrument Live performances and other events take place noon to 6:30 p.m That includes free ukulele lessons at the Bonita Springs Historical Society and a ukulele jam at the Riverside Park bandshell — Tickets and info: All events are free, but collected donations will benefit the nonprofit Army Emergency Relief (AER). For more information and a schedule of events, visit worldukuleleday.com He’s one of the most famous car enthusiasts in the world: Comedian and former The Tonight Show host Jay Leno owns about 160 motorcycles and more than 180 cars — including classic muscle cars He also hosted the CNBC TV series "Jay Leno's Garage" from 2015 to 2022 Now Leno brings his love of cars to the Naples Automotive Experience the 21st-annual event that includes the popular Cars on 5th car show It's organized by the Naples chapter of the Ferrari Club of America at Hertz Arena for Jay Leno Charity Comedy Night He’ll also attend an exclusive display of curated cars for a Friday 7 event called The Ultimate Garage Tour with Jay Leno — Tickets and event info: The Naples Automotive Experience takes place Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 6-8. Ticket prices vary. naplesautomotiveexperience.org TheatreZone’s 20th-annual season in NaplesBroadway drummer Mark Danni conducted and hit the skins for years on big shows such as “Chicago" and “'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” His wife But after buying a vacation home in Naples Park and moving to Naples permanently in the early 2000s the couple turned to a new chapter in their lives: Opening Naples’ TheatreZone theater company in 2006 at the 250-seat G&L Theatre at The Community School of Naples Two decades later, they’re in the middle of celebrating their 20th-anniversary season with — what else the musical version of the Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore movie “Ghost” (June 5-15) — Tickets and info: TheatreZone in the G&L Theatre at The Community School of Naples, 13275 Livingston Road, Naples. Show tickets are $50-$85. 888-966-3352 or theatre.zone Those are just four of the many concerts happening this season all over Southwest Here are some of the biggest shows hitting the stage: Check your favorite Southwest Florida venues to see who else they have onstage this season The popular Everglades Seafood Festival celebrates its 55th year with lots of seafood and lots of great bands — including country rockers Confederate Railroad and country-music royalty Whey Jennings (grandson of the late Organized by the nonprofit Florida Stone Crabbers Association, the three-day fest shines a spotlight on Everglades City’s stone crab industry About 20 local and touring bands are scheduled to perform Friday through Sunday — Tickets and info: Everglades Seafood Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, Feb. 7-9, just outside Everglades City Hall, 102 Copeland Ave. N., Everglades City. Admission Friday is a canned food donation. Adult admission Saturday and Sunday is a $10 minimum donation. evergladesseafoodfestival.org Southwest Florida's biggest motorcycle event has a new layout this year the popular block party will be concentrated around the Club Square area in downtown Cape Coral (aka South Cape) There's also a new motorcycle parking area called The Thunder Zone Cape Bike Night still packs the street with everything motorcycle enthusiasts love about the event: Rumbling motorcycles; cold beer and hot food; vendors selling leather vests and bike gear; and live bands playing hard-hitting rock ‘n’ roll The five-hour block party usually draws an average of 15,000 people each time — many of them riding motorcycles to the event special events coordinator for the City of Cape Coral A lot of those motorcycle fans come from outside Cape Coral This will be the first of two Bike Nights for the 2024-25 season October 2024’s event was canceled due to Hurricane Milton — Tickets and info: The next Bike Night takes place 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. The block party stretches along Southeast 47th Terrace from Vincennes Street to Coronado Parkway, but it's mostly centered around Club Square. Admission is free. The last Cape Coral Bike Night of the season happens Saturday, April 12. ccbikenight.com What’s better than one award-winning art festival That’s what the Bonita Springs National Art Festivals do every year: Three high-end art fests that happen every month from January to March at Bonita’s Riverside Park They've been bringing juried artists from around the country to Bonita for 25 years now Organizers Arts Bonita kicked off the fests' big birthday season in early January but it continues with two more fests this February and March Each one boasts more than 200 artists — from painters to sculptors to jewelers and more Proceeds from the fest go to scholarships for young artists and arts-education programs in underserved schools — Tickets and info: All three fests take place at Riverside Park, 10451 Old 41 Road, downtown Bonita Springs. The next ones are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 8-9 and March 1-2. Free admission with a suggested $5 donation. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org/artfest If you haven’t visited Sugden Community Theatre since last season The Naples Players’ longtime home just got a $22 million upgrade The community-theater troupe unveiled its new Kizzie Theater (formerly known as Blackburn Hall) in May 2024 and a reconstructed orchestra pit for up to 16 musicians The Kizzie was part of a approximately two-year expansion project completed in October 2024 The project involved a 10,700-square-foot expansion more seating capacity (660 compared to the previous 430) a new 105-seat educational theater (the Glass Educational Theatre) and a renovated 105-seat black-box theater (renamed the Price Studio Theater) It's a big step forward for the popular Naples Players who have been staging plays and musicals around Naples since 1953 and moved into the Sugden in 1998 Their ongoing 71st season continues with the comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” (now through Feb the classic Arthur Miller drama “Death of a Salesman” (Feb 5-March 2) and the musical “Man of La Mancha” (March 12-April 13) — Tickets and info: Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S., downtown Naples. Tickets are $50-$55. 263-7990 or naplesplayers.org Thousands of people cram the streets every year for the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade — and some crowd estimates go as high as about 200,000 the parade started in 1938 as a way to honor Fort Myers' most famous winter resident It’s one of the biggest night parades in the Southeast United States The giant parade typically boasts about 150 units dancers and more than 50 floats — all decorated with glowing lights to celebrate Mr 15 parade caps more than two weeks of events in Fort Myers called the Edison Festival of Light — Tickets and event info: The Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at Fort Myers High School and travels north on Cleveland Avenue and through downtown Fort Myers. Free. edisonfestival.org Opera Naples celebrates the fifth anniversary of its popular Festival Under the Stars next month with three weeks of outdoor operas Most shows take place at downtown Naples’ Cambier Park This year’s operas are Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” (Feb Puccini’s “La Bohéme” (March 6 and 8) and Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Mikado” (March 7 and 9) Also scheduled: Gulfshore Ballet performing  Tchaikovsky's beloved romantic ballet “Sleeping Beauty” at Naples' Wang Opera Center (March 15) and a concert featuring the winners of the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation Pavarotti’s Voices Concert (Feb That last concert highlights Opera Naples’ new collaboration with the widow of Luciano Pavarotti and the Luciano Pavarotti Foundation world-renowned tenor's long-dormant Philadelphia singing competition previously known as the Pavarotti's International Voice Competition Young singers competed in mid-January at the Florida Gulf Coast University event The winners scored contracts with top opera houses — Tickets and info: Most Festival Under the Stars events take place Feb. 27 to March 9 at Cambier Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., downtown Naples. Tickets range from $28-$152. VIP Tables start at $390, including access to a VIP check in from 6-7 p.m. 963-9050 or OperaNaples.org live music and plenty of deep-fried food: Southwest Florida’s two biggest fairs happen this February and March First up is the Southwest Florida Ag Expo (Feb. 27-March 9), which replaced the long-running annual Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair. The renamed event is being run by the Lee County government but features pretty much everything the old event did Then there’s the Collier County Fair (March 20-30) That popular annual event celebrates its 49th anniversary this year Both fairs draw thousands of people every year — Tickets and Info: Southwest Florida Ag Expo takes place at Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. The Collier County Fair happens at the Collier County Fairgrounds, 751 39th Ave. N.E., Naples. For tickets, times and event schedules, visit SWFLAgExpo.com (Southwest Florida Ag Expo) or collierfair.com (Collier County Fair) March 1: The Southwest Florida Reading Festival at Fort Myers Regional Library The 26th-annual event features 25 acclaimed and bestselling authors including romance novelist (and festival favorite) Debbie Macomber crime writer/poet Reed Farrel Coleman and children’s author Megan McDonald creator of the popular “Judy Moody” and “Stink” series The fest also includes activities for teens and children food trucks and a free book for every child and teen attending — Tickets and info: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., downtown Fort Myers. Admission is free. readfest.org It’s probably the biggest event on Fort Myers Beach every year: The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival. The 67th-annual fest returns March 8-9 with its annual parade a shrimp-eating contest and a week-long Shrimp Crawl featuring shrimp-themed drinks and dishes at many Beach bars and restaurants It's all to celebrate the island’s enduring shrimp industry Various events are scheduled all over the island — Info: For more information about the shrimp festival and all its events, visit fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com or facebook.com/ShrimpFestFMB Shell collectors and artists come from around the world to compete in the prestigious Sanibel Shell Festival and the associated Sanibel Shell Show — the longest-running competitive shell show in the country there will be many amazing shells to see at both events which typically happen in the same week every year The 88th-annual events feature scientific displays on shells and the mollusks that create them Then head to downtown Naples for Southwest Florida's biggest St Patrick’s Day event of the year: The Naples St More than 40,000 people attend the event every year to see floats dancers and more — all decked out in green and shamrocks to celebrate the holiday The two-hour-plus event is considered to be the biggest privately funded parade in Florida It got its start in 1976 when Father Thomas Goggin led a group from St — Tickets and info: The parade starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15 at the corner of Third Street South and Tenth Avenue. It'll turn onto Fifth Avenue South and then onto Eighth Street South to finish in front of City Hall. Free. naplesparade.com Online concert series Sugarshack Sessions has racked up millions of YouTube views with streaming concerts recorded at a Bonita Springs house lovingly known as “The Sugarshack.”  Now they’re opening an actual concert venue across from Riverside Park The 20,000-square-foot Sugarshack Downtown property was developed around an existing 1943 building at the intersection of Childers Street and Old 41 It features a 1,200-square-foot building with some indoor dining a bar and a retail store selling Sugarshack merchandise; and 10 smaller open-air buildings bathrooms and open-air pergola-style buildings for outdoor seating Organizers say Sugarshack Sessions will shoot concerts both there and at the old Sugarshack house including craft beer and award-winning gourmet pizza The Bonita location will be Brickyard’s first in Florida Sugarshack Downtown is tentatively scheduled to open sometime between now and March pending inspections and other requirements — Info: Learn more about Sugarshack Downtown and its opening date at facebook.com/sugarshackdowntown or sugarshackdowntown.com — Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1) The Easter Bunny is back in Southwest Florida Easter comes later than usual this year — Sunday April 20 — but there are lots of ways to celebrate all month long in Naples Bonita Springs and the rest of Lee and Collier counties Here’s a closer look at the best Easter events happening all over Southwest Florida: Egg hunts We’ll add more events as they’re announced first served at the front desk) Face painting stops at 11:30 a.m NAPLES EASTER EVENTSThe Easter Bunny at Naples' Coastland CenterThe Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through April 19. Free admission. Photo packages start at $20. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits without a photo package. Dillard’s Court at Coastland Center, 1900 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. whereisbunny.com The church’s annual Easter egg hunt starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 13, between the day’s church services. All ages are welcomed. Free. The church grounds at Grace of Naples Lutheran Church, 860 Banyan Blvd., Naples. facebook.com/graceofnaples The Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through April 19 at Edison Mall. Free admission. Photo packages start at $20. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits without a photo package. Dillard’s Court at Edison Mall, 4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. whereisbunny.com Easter Egg Hunt and Dolphin CruiseAn “island-style” Easter boat cruise with the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt for thousands of eggs on Picnic Island and the chance to spot dolphins in the water. Easter pails and bottled water provided. Cruises depart in the morning on Sunday, April 20 from three different Adventures in Paradise locations in south Fort Myers, Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach. Times vary. $59-$79. 472-8443 or adventureinparadiseinc.com Flamingo Island Flea Market packs all kinds of Easter fun into one day: Easter egg hunts, face painting, a coloring contest, a bounce house, visits with the Easter Bunny, a bake sale, games (ticket purchase required), live music and lots of food. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Free. Flamingo Island Flea Marker, 11902 Bonita Beach Road SE., Bonita Beach. facebook.com/flamingoisland Easter Block Party at New Life ChurchThe Bonita church’s annual Easter party includes food, games, bounce houses, ice cream, cotton candy and an Easter egg hunt with more than 10,000 eggs. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 12. Free. New Life Church, 3971 Via Del Rey, Bonita Springs. nlcbonita.com This event for children 12 and younger features an adaptive egg hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. $5. Space is limited. Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. 533-1470 or leegov.com/parks/centers/estero Spring Family FestMercola Market celebrates the season with bounce houses, lawn games, crafts, character appearances, vendors, food trucks, an Easter Egg hunt and more. Hosted by Macaroni KID. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Free. The Mercola Market of Cape Coral, 125 SW Third Place, Cape Coral. mercolamarketcc.com The Fort Myers Beach resort celebrates Easter all weekend long, including live music and Easter-themed games and activities for all ages Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20; a visit from the Easter Bunny on Saturday; and Easter brunch starting at 10 a.m. Sunday in the resort’s JWB Grill and Compass Rose Ballroom (reservations recommended). Free admission. Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St., Fort Myers Beach. margaritavilleresorts.com The Easter Bunny hops over to Bass Pro Shops for a free photo and visit. He'll be there April 5-6 and April 12-20. Times vary. Reservations available up to seven days in advance. Each free visit includes one 4-by-6-inch photo. Other photo packages available for $15-$25. Bass Pro Shops at Gulf Coast Town Center, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, San Carlos Park. basspro.com/shop/en/easter SANIBEL ISLAND EASTER EVENTSSanibel Island’s 50th Anniversary Egg HuntThe city’s 50th-annual egg hunt also includes treats, contests, prizes, games, crafts, an egg drop from the air and photos with the Easter Bunny. Presented by the Sanibel Recreation Center. The various egg hunts are divided by age group. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. Free. The Sanibel Ballfields, 3840 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel Island. conta.cc/4ifDGOW Collier County has broken ground on a new boardwalk along Bayshore Drive a 17-acre project aimed at improving pedestrian access and connectivity in East Naples County officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday for the boardwalk which will link the Naples Arts District to Sugden Regional Park Funded by the Bayshore Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) the $3.3 million project was approved by commissioners last year "I've been working on it personally for the past four years but it's been in the works for at least 15," said Tami Scott Scott said the boardwalk will connect to the existing sidewalk beginning as a paved promenade with a hardscape surface and brick pavers it will transition into an elevated wooden boardwalk winding through the wetlands before ultimately linking to Sugden Park She emphasized the growing need for walkable infrastructure as more residents and visitors bike and walk through the area daily "We've been taking advantage of this community for 20 years Once complete—expected in about 12 months—neighbors will be able to walk directly to the park rather than drive "Now we won't have to do that—we can just walk straight from our place through the park to the lake," Wood said "It's going to be a lot easier for all of us For a region still battling back after the devastation of Hurricane Ian as reopened businesses found themselves once again in storm mode with the storm's strongest rains coming right at high tide but well below hurricane strength of 74 mph speeds ranged from a high of 55 mph at Cape Coral's Tarpon Point to 46 mph at Page Field in Fort Myers Ruskin-based National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Anderson said Collier's wind gusts ranged from 57 mph in Naples and 50 in Ochopee in the Everglades to 39 in the county's emergency operations center Miami-based National Weather Service Forecaster Ana Torres-Vazquez said (The Ruskin office covers Lee; Miami covers Collier.) In Lee County, between 3 and 6 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, Ruskin-based National Weather Service Forecaster Paul Close said Monday morning with the highest totals recorded at the Fort Myers Beach water plant the range was from 7 inches in Golden Gate to 2 1/2 inland measured in the Caloosahatchee's estuary off Cape Coral "That's above the average high tide," he said No surge measurements were available for Collier Low-lying coastal areas and barrier islands had it the worst: Bonita Beach's Hickory Boulevard was impassable and closed by the Lee County Sheriff's Office more than a foot of water closed Nervous Nellies and nearby businesses "We've got about 18 inches in the middle of the street," General Manager Danny Timothy told The News-Press and we've actually got water in our hostess area." which allows it certain disaster-related spending and emergency management powers Lee Sheriff Carmine Marceno cranked up the department's 5,000-pound "swamp buggy," which can plow through four feet of water to rescue the storm-stranded The storm closed Bunche Beach Preserve, Lynn Hall Memorial Park and access No. 4 of Bonita Beach Park, and affected some parking areas along Bonita Beach, said county spokeswoman Betsy Clayton. The closures are temporary, she wrote in an email; park patrons can monitor Lee County social media or www.LeeGov.com for updates roads closed in downtown Naples and 40 flooded/stranded vehicles were reported to the Naples Police Department in roads or parking lots over the weekend About half of the vehicles caused road blockages and had to be removed "We've helped some people out and we’ve driven a couple of people home," said Marco Island Fire Chief Chris Byrne Arterial Collier Boulevard flooded from end to end A flooded parking lot closed the island's Residents Beach as well The Collier County Sheriff's Department closed the Goodland Bridge off the island because of flooding and traffic off of Jolley Bridge was slowed and sometimes stopped because of flooding a popular downtown Naples tourist destination had about 18 inches of water Sunday afternoon according to Riverwalk Restaurant manager Sara Badder On Monday morning she swept up some minor debris on the boardwalk to get ready to open Tin City management was onsite early Monday and inside the shops were getting ready for business as usual a boat sightseeing tour business at Tin City in Naples It started prepping Saturday bringing in boats to floating piers so that was not an issue during high tide Sunday The office did take in about six inches of water which he said is lower than the rest of Tin City The sight-seeing business was going to stay closed Monday and reopen Tuesday Despite tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service none seem to have touched down during the Atlantic's fourth-named storm of the season Naples experienced a "storm surge and an extreme high tide of 3.3 feet amid one of Debby's stronger bands," said Monique Barnhart-Tiberio "The fire department had to rescue at least four people trapped in their vehicles by high water," Barnhart-Tiberio said The city saw minimal tree loss and the city's water and wastewater treatment plants "operated without issues," although some sanitary sewer pumping stations filled up with stormwater Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann said the storm once again proved the city must tackle infrastructure issues that have "not been addressed for years."  "Little here and there is not a plan," she said "We have the information and council's focus should be to address them as priorities and we need to be more efficient in looking at all of our development." Intermittent power outages plagued the region as the storm passed At one point, much of Captiva was dark, as were pockets of Sanibel and inland Lehigh Acres, Lee County Electric Cooperative reported, but by Monday all but two outages had been restored: one in Marco Island and another in North Fort Myers Debby downpour Marco Island, Goodland hit by tropical storm; roads under water The rain-swollen Caloosahatchee filled Cape Coral canals Alva and Olga as the storms east or "dirty side" passed slowly through the region with its bands extending 140 miles from its center Traffic lights were out throughout the Cape the police department reported amid widespread flooding and restoration was expected Monday morning With storm surge and rain peaking around afternoon high tides some roads on Sanibel and Captiva were underwater Sanibel’s Fire and Rescue District noted that areas on the island were flooding and officials urged residents to stay put: “Please avoid these areas and seek different routes if possible … These areas may begin to worsen as we approach high tide," it said "Do not drive through any standing water." City Councilwoman Holly Smith reported many island roads "like rivers.” waves battered docks and raked regrowing dunes Island homeowner Margi Nanney watched the storm from the mainland via remote camera Videos from the island’s south end on Pejuan hook show water overtopping the slatted enclosure around a well casing though all Sanibel City Beach Parking areas remained closed Naples' Fifth Avenue was pretty much spared from flooding except areas closer to US 41 Collier County Commission chairman Chris Hall said the high tide Sunday as the tropical storm passed worsened the situation in North Naples "We not only experienced additional storm surge but effectively did not have a low tide to help alleviate those high-water conditions," he said He said the earliest he expected relief from the tidal conditions was on Tuesday "We are looking at all options available to move water We are dealing specifically with Mother Nature via tide and surge," Hall said He added: "It is very important to distinguish that heavy rains did exacerbate the situation but are not the main cause of the flooding and inability to move water more aggressively."  He dispelled "rumors" that the county didn’t “turn pumps on until flooding occurred,” or that the county is only concerned with drainage in new developments the county has taken every precautionary measure before the storm to help alleviate stormwater backups like Naples Park and Bonita Shores operate on a gravitational system and not pumps The county does not come out and turn pumps on and off," Hall said water has to have somewhere to go with these systems The county drew down the canals and waterways several days prior to this tropical storm  Pumps and systems ran around the clock to accommodate those plans and make as much room for oncoming stormwater to go." this is not an operational failure or neglect by Collier County there is just no place for water to recede," Hall said One group welcomed Debby's waves: daredevils with boards. As the storm crashed against the Naples pier they headed into the normally calm Gulf to ride the waves