Gulfshore Life Mini 2023

The Future

CONTENTS

ESSENTIALS

14 / The Edit: Mommy must-haves

MINDFUL PARENTING

20 / Village Building: Helping hands for busy parents

22 / Style: Cute bunk rooms

26 / Prodigies: Ballet dancer Noah Chatigny

30 / Dad’s Corner: Elisha Murray of Court Vision

FAMILY TIME

50 / Giving Back: Cooking at Ronald McDonald House

54 / On the Field: Boosting youth athletics

56 / SWFL Explorer: Wild encounters

60 / Celebrate: A birdinspired birthday bash

62 / Book Club: Environmental reads

72 / Editors’ Pick: Fall fun at Edison and Ford

President/CEO

Jim Schwartzel

Director of News +

Local Content

Tom Doerr

Editor in Chief Stephanie Granada

Creative Director

Scott Glick

Editors at Large

Dorothea Hunter Sönne

Jennifer McCurry

Managing Editor

Gina Valentino

Food Editor Andrew Atkins

Associate Editor

Addison Pezoldt

Assistant Editor Emily Flournoy

Contributors

Samantha Garbarini, Anna

Nguyen, Lindsey Sablan

Editorial Fellow Selin Hos

ART

Photo Editor Elizabeth Bankmann

Art Director

Alberto Orta

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher

Mindy Roosa

National Account Director

Wendy Tooley

Marketing Consultants

Holly Baldwin

Nikee Fellows

Natasha Gonzalez

Meredith Parsons

READER SERVICES

Office Address 26101 S. Tamiami Trail Bonita Springs, FL 34134

Call or text us at (239) 498-8500

Website: gulfshorelife.com

Email: info@gulfshorelife.com

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Please Note: Subscription refunds are unavailable for this publication due to the excessive discounting from the cover price. You may transfer the remaining issues of your subscription to someone else or to a local business or charity.”

Subscription refunds are unavailable for this publication due to the excessive discounting from the cover price. You may transfer the remaining issues of your subscription to someone else or to a local business or charity.

MARKETING

Director of Marketing

and Events

Rachel Galante

Digital Media Marketing Manager

Brittney Kleis

Circulation Director of Audience

Development

Kerri Nolan

PRODUCTION

Production Manager

Martha Leavitt

Production Services Manager

Laura Noriega

ADMINISTRATION

Advertising Services Manager/ Reprint Sales & Distribution

Kathleen Hill

ON THE COVER:

Shot on location at Gulfshore Life in Bonita Springs by Anna Nguyen. Naples-based, 4-yearold Isabelle Bright is styled by Anna Ruiz

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Gulfshore Life adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which require a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages. ©Gulfshore Life Media, LLC. All rights reserved. 26101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134 Gulfshore Life and Gulfshore Life Media, LLC retain exclusive rights to all editorial and photographic materials used. Materials cannot be reproduced in any manner without written consent.

Obstetricians

Cathy Balogh, DO

Natasha Bower, MD, FACOG

David Hunter Brown, MD, FACOG

Samaris Corona, MD

Sarah DiGiorgi, MD, FACOG

Deidra Duncan, DO

Aparna Eligeti, MD, FACOG

Kevin Fleishman, MD, FACOG

Blaise Kovaz, MD, FACOG

Shannon O’Hara, MD, FACOG

Kathleen Shimp, MD, FACOG

It's a Kids' World

Some things are hard to talk about, but the burden is lighter when you know you’re not alone. In this edition, four mothers share their struggles with infertility, an issue that affects one in six people globally and yet is still kept mostly quiet.

The moms didn’t hesitate to share their stories. They know how alone they felt in their experiences and don’t want others to suffer in silence. For Shasta Reeves, her fertility journey led to her brood of eight, including six kids under 6. The day the Reeves family was in the office for their photoshoot was a boisterous time, full of joy, tears and Mom needing to wear lots of hats to be what each kid needed.

We see parents transform with their many heroic capes often throughout this issue.

Our editor at large Jennifer McCurry openly shares how she’s worked through getting help for her sons’ learning differences. We hear many parents talk about the lack of direction they face when they learn their child has a special need. Jennifer wants to reduce the stigma, so families feel emboldened to talk, ask questions, and share and advocate for resources.

More groups are rising up to meet the need. Family Initiative out of Cape Coral has been blowing us away with their growth and programs for families with autism. Their Thrive Academy, which started as a pilot program last year, just received $5 million from the state to build a physical school. But we know we’re just scratching the surface of the needs in Southwest Florida—and in our pages. Expect to hear more from us on the subject.

In the past, families living in our retirement-heavy area wondered, “Where are all the

kids?” Now, children increasingly run the town—and it’s a beautiful thing. We cover the Edison and Ford Winter Estates’ new Fall Festival; Athletic Republic and the bumper crop of programs for champions-in-the-making; niche parental resources like sleep and lactation trainers; and Naples’ only cheer gym that’s already taking the squad world by storm after just one season. With increased focus on the youngest generation, we see more specialized programs to meet kids’ needs, more ways to spark imagination, and more opportunities to help your littles thrive and get rooted in our ‘Glades to Gulf paradise.

WHAT STARTS AS A BECOMES A SECOND School Home ... .

From the Editor at Large

Higher Learning

Nothing compares to the job of parenting. Our longing for our kids’ well-being is boundless, and guiding and supporting them is our main responsibility.

Post COVID-19, my children, like many others, fell behind in school. When their kindergarten teachers told me the boys were unprepared for first grade, I jumped into action. I asked myself, ’What could I do as a parent to help?’ I asked fellow mothers about options for supplemental learning and found that many of them were on the same quest. One piece of valuable advice emerged: If you believe your child is struggling, seek a learning and behavioral evaluation.

A trusted friend recommended neuropsychologist Dr. Mike Rizzo at Child Provider Specialists (CPS). Dr. Rizzo is incredible—he gave me a comprehensive analysis of how my children’s brains work. While CPS can work directly with schools, I opted to enroll my boys in CPS’ technology-based, homeschool-certified program. They help kids develop in areas like phonics, working memory and problem-solving—it’s like

building muscles for the brain. The goal is for children to eventually phase out of the program and return to their schools with the tools to succeed.

Another evaluation option is to acquire an Individualized Education Program (IEP), provided by the public school system at no cost for kids from age 3 until they graduate high school. The program, created for students with learning challenges, is customized to fit the child. If you think your child could benefit, ask your school about an IEP.

Often, when a child faces challenges in one developmental aspect, like speech, it’s common to require assistance in other areas, such as gross motor skills. I’ve appreciated seeing how these groups work together to support kids. While entities like CPS, North Naples Therapy and Enrichment Services, and MF Therapy Group offer programs in their facilities, they can also work with your kids’ schools. I take my boys to MF Therapy, where they use an indoor obstacle course to enhance fine motor skills, boost core strength and sharpen focus.

For help with homework, we work with Love to Teach’s Carolee Rigsby Mason, a retired educator with 30-plus years of experience. We meet Carolyn at the Collier County Library, and I’ve found the public libraries to be a great hub for parents, therapists and tutors to connect and collaborate.

Through all this, I’ve learned ‘help’ isn’t a dirty word—not when it comes to getting my children the aid they need to thrive, and not for me getting the support I need to help them. If your child’s development raises concerns, getting an evaluation is the first step. And don’t be afraid to talk to other parents. Through our shared experiences and determination, we can lay the foundation for their brighter futures.

With 40-beachfront acres and a prime location within Marsh Harbour, the iconic Abaco Beach Resort offers guests access to a variety of land- and water-based activities ranging from island-hopping, fishing, snorkeling, and diving to shopping and dining. The resort caters to families, couples, friends, and groups looking to escape the crowds of some of the larger islands while experiencing the relaxed hassle-free attitude that makes The Abacos so authentically unique.

Mommy Must-Haves

Our Naples-based editor at large Jennifer McCurry, curates kids’ items that deliver on style, function and pure fun.

Dream Land

If you’re looking for a truly special baby gift, you’ll love Hermès Studio’s Loomy Mosaique Sleeping Bag. The attention to detail is evident at every turn—the iconic plaid print with intertwined Hs, the wool felt trim, the Hermès Paris engraved snaps, the charming rocking horse emblem, the 100-percent handwoven Nepalese cashmere that provides a cozy sleep cocoon. This elegant gift, ideal for children aged 6-18 months, is one new parents will cherish and pass down through generations. hermes.com

On a Roll

Inspired by the vintage VW bus, this cool stroller wagon is as practical as it is stylish. The retro ride has functioning headlights, all-terrain wheels, flexible seats and a front zipper door for easy access. The adjustable vegan handlebar accommodates various heights, and there’s a detachable canopy for sun protection. Plus, it’s easy to fold, stands upright, and has room for up to four passengers, so friends can ride along. One of my favorite wagons for our Florida kids. potterybarnkids.com

Baby Blues

One of the struggles we mothers face during pregnancy is how to be fashionable yet comfortable. While pregnant, I chose to invest in staple, feminine pieces that I could keep wearing long after the babies came. This Temptation Positano dress, from Marissa Collections, is the perfect investment. The breezy cotton dress can be worn multiple ways—class it up with heels or layer over a swimsuit as a casual cover-up. This little blue dress will be with you throughout your entire motherhood journey. marissacollections.com

Sun-Kissed

I recently discovered Noodle, a Cape Coral brand specializing in sun-safe gear for active kids. Living in Florida, I constantly worry about my children’s fair skin and eyes. And boy, do I wish I would have known about Noodle’s Shady Babies when my boys first started venturing into the sun. These bendy sunglasses offer UV400 safety lenses to shield sensitive eyes and a removable, adjustable cotton strap that ensures a secure fit without snagging your little one’s hair. Bonus—the shades fit our furry friends, too. noodlethelabel.com

Into the Wild

Naples’ sunset + pine has the most wonderful assortment of sustainable and stylish kids’ brands. One of my recent favorite pieces at the shop is the Rylee + Cru one-piece romper. Button closures ensure quick and easy dressing for wriggly explorers, while the neutral stripes offer a fun alternative to the traditional blackand-white zebra print. Plus, the combination of 50 percent linen and 50 percent viscose offers comfort and breathability—perfect for active tots. shopsunsetpine.com

SunshineAndMiracles.org

At 20 months, Libbi was diagnosed with a rare kidney cancer. After surgery and treatment, the tumor returned less than a year later. This time, Libbi needed inpatient chemotherapy, spending 150 days in the hospital.

At Golisano Children’s Hospital, lifesaving care for kids like Libbi is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay. That is only possible because of generous donors, including those who give to the Children’s Miracle Network.

MINDFUL PARENTING

Notes on living, giving and raising the next generation of changemakers

Mother’s Little Helper

These groups assist busy parents with everything from meal prep and errands to raising wellrested youngsters.

Words: Aisling Swift

Nobody will deny that raising kids can be overwhelming. Fussy babies don’t want to go down for bedtime, babysitters back out at the last minute, dishes pile up almost as fast

as the laundry, and tykes turn up their noses at the faintest hint of distaste. Rather than feeling ashamed for wanting a little help, parents are growing their village and reaching out to entrepreneurial locals who have created solutions to alleviate some of the stress. From vetted babysitting services to virtual sleep-training programs, these companies make parenting just a little easier.

DreamBabySleep

Started by Naples mom and certified sleep consultant Carolynne Harvey, DreamBabySleep helps newborns, toddlers and their families get some shut-eye. Virtual classes, one-onone coaching and e-books focus on science-backed solutions and gentle training methods to soothe your little ones to sleep, from creating an enjoyable bedtime routine to setting a consistent nap schedule. Bonus: The small team of sleep consultants—all of whom are moms—also includes a lactation educator.

dreambabysleep.com

Naples Babysitting Company

Former educator Madison Hill thoroughly vets her bench of nearly 60 babysitters—all of whom are 18 years or older, have passed back-

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for you and your family is get some backup.

ground checks and drug tests, and are CPR-certified. With the serious details out of the way, parents browse the online catalog of bios and photos to find the perfect sitter who shares their kid’s love of dance parties or board games. Sitters can escort your minis on outings, too. They might set up a beach walk with an environmental specialist or a Pure Naples cruise. naplesbabysittingcompany.com

Rattled Concierge

After a difficult birth and battling postpartum depression, former

teacher and assistant principal Megan Dixon launched Rattled Concierge to help with the A to Z of new parenthood. Clients choose from packages (these also make great gifts), like the Pre-Baby Organization to set up the nursery or the Newborn Visit, which includes tasks new parents likely don’t have time for, such as laundry and dishes. You can add on tasks like walking the dog or running to the grocery store. And, if parents become reliant on this extra help, no worries—Rattled Concierge can keep working with you long after tykes are out of diapers. rattledconcierge.com

Maidorganic

Raised to follow an organic lifestyle, Bonita Springs-based Sheila “Shal”

Gagne is adamant about the negative effects of chemical-laden cleaning products. At Maidorganic, her team uses Sheila’s line of third-party-tested, vegan, cruelty-free, nontoxic cleaning products, which are made with organic ingredients and essential oils. And, they’ll safely sanitize pacifiers and kids’ plush toys with their antibacterial spray, which is proven to kill pesky germs like E. coli, salmonella and staph, along with mold and yeast. maidorganic.com

Chef Daniela

After shuttering her eponymous North Naples restaurant, chef and mom-of-four Daniela Craciun turned to catering. In addition to private chef services and family-friendly at-home cooking classes, she creates heat-and-serve meals that are deceptively packed with vegetables and whole grains. (Kits are picked up at Mercato’s Harvest & Hand market or can be delivered throughout Naples.) Picky eaters will love her line of colorful pastas made with veggie purees, the crispy baked chicken nuggets and the spongy cakes that swap butter for avocado. chefdaniela.com

Grand(kid) Designs

Whether you’re carving out space for the grandchildren’s room or the kids’ shared space at the beach house, you can create a bespoke bunk room worthy of your precious progenies.

As soon as grandchildren are born, the race is on. Previously rational human beings begin jockeying for major holiday commitments, the best nicknames (is it going to be Gigi, Nana or Glamma?), and the number-one spot in the hearts of the newest generation. When it comes to the last of these, creating a one-of-a-kind space where grandkids can sleep easy and play hard goes a long way. The best way to do that? A state-of-the-art bunk room.

In creating dreamy, sleep-a-crowd spaces, top designers think longterm. Just because the inhabitants of this room are a little sophomoric, the overall aesthetic doesn’t have to be. “The absolute worst thing is when a room is a downgrade from the rest of the house. If you’re going to sleep several people together, they should at least have a room that is experiential,” designer Summer Thornton says.

For a room that’s whimsical enough for kids and worldly enough for grownup guests, consider piling on high-end, high-performance textiles, adding playful hardware on drawers, going bold with colors within the home’s overall palette and playing with plenty of patterns on the walls and ceilings. Summer leaned into the pattern play for a cabana room to sleep six in an Old Naples home. She installed Farrow & Ball tented stripe wallpaper on the ceilings and walls and created a sense of privacy via Schumacher Tropique fabric curtains that can be pulled across each individual bunk. “They’d certainly have fun closing the curtains to experience the feeling of having their own private little tent,” she says. Grandkid-friendly suites are often outfitted with rows of trundles, stacked bunks, L-shaped arrangements of twinand full-sized beds or some combina -

tion of all three. Once all the beds, ladders and railings are secure, Naples-based designer Renée Gaddis gets to work layering in user-friendly upgrades for each nook. “We like to add decorative LED reading lights that don’t get too hot, individual charging stations and a small niche for a book, iPad or bottle of water,” she says. “The majority of our clients

are snowbirds, so they’re focused on vacationing and creating low-maintenance spaces.”

To avoid the unspeakable pain that comes with stepping on stray Legos or wracking up an unsightly mess, both designers make storage for toys, books and clothing a priority. Summer added roomy individual cabinets at the end of

each bed in the Old Naples cabana room. Renée seconds the devotion to customized cupboards. “We always try to come up with creative ways to add storage, such as hidden drawers in the stairs or beneath the mattresses,” she says. No matter how sophisticated the space, Renée adds, “the whole point is to keep the room open for play.”

In a Sanibel Island kids’ room, designer Renée Gaddis cleverly added storage aplenty, with bedside alcoves and lower-bunk drawers.

Tiny Dancer

The sole ballerino at Naples Ballet Company, 11-year-old Noah Chatigny, shines on stage.

Words: Lane Nieset

Photography: Anna Nguyen

Noah Chatigny is dressed in a plum, Arabian outfit, pirouetting across the floor as the servant Ali. Each turn is performed with precision as he dances an excerpt of Le Corsaire, the pirate love story based on the 1814 poem by Lord Byron. It’s spring, and Noah is competing at the International Ballet Competition Youth America Grand Prix in Tampa, where his solo performance will earn him a place among the top 12 for classical ballet in his age division.

The 11-year-old comes from a family of competitive athletes. His twin brother, Ethan, fences and plays baseball, and his 16-year-old sister, Taylor, plays volleyball. Noah

started playing hockey at age 4 before discovering ballet when a teacher at his elementary school showed a video in class. Noah, who was 7 then, was instantly fascinated and wondered if boys could dance ballet too. “We encourage them to participate in whatever they’re interested in,” says Noah’s mom, Ashley, a psychiatrist. “Our motto is ‘We don’t care what you choose, but you are going to do something.’”

A month later, Noah started ballet lessons. He now practices 20 hours a week, spending as much as four hours a day in the studio after school and, often, much of the weekend preparing

for upcoming performances. His coach and mentor, Naples Ballet artistic director Christophe Maraval (a former principal dancer for Pacific Northwest Ballet), has been a big influence, helping Noah master challenging moves like the double tour en l’air, two complete turns in the air. “It was hard at first, but I figured out tricks to make it look better,” says Noah, who also looks to Christophe for advice on stage presence. “He always says to breathe, smile and connect with the audience, make them feel like they’re part of the show.”

The young dancer performs twice a year with the Naples Ballet, as part of The Nutcracker in winter

Noah often practices four hours a day after school and most weekends to prepare for competitions.

Profile for a Brighter Future!

Welcoming, safe, family community

Student-centered learning focused on academic excellence and achievement Faith, tradition, values, character, service to others

Well-rounded education including sports, music, art, drama, dance, STREAM, Robotics, Spanish, clubs, & more Dynamic, dedicated, caring teachers and staff

Partnership with parents, volunteerism, events, activities

 Longstanding, proven results for Grades PK3 through 8...Catholic education at Seton builds a strong foundation for life!

“Visit our special school, feel the spirit, and experience the joyful learning inside. See why our students love their school! I’ll be happy to give you a campus tour where academic excellence, faith, values and community come to life each day!” ~Maria Niebuhr, M.Ed., Principal

and in shows like Cinderella and Coppélia in spring. “The rest of the family would be terrified if they had to perform on a stage in front of hundreds of people, but not Noah,” Ashley says. “The stage is his home, where he is the most comfortable. I’m sure he would sleep at the theater if we let him.”

Last year, Noah was invited to attend American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT) two-week summer intensive program in New York, and this year, he went to Paris for a two-

week program with Paris Opera Ballet School before heading back to ABT. Noah began sixth grade at Saint Ann Catholic School in Naples this fall, but even at his young age, he’s got one eye on the future. “Dancing for Paris [when I’m older] is my main goal,” he says. He has plans for after the early-age retirement that comes with dance, too. “I want to be a doctor for the company I danced for,” he says. “My mom is a doctor, and I really look up to her.”

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Mindful Parenting — Dad’s Corner

Holding Court

Canterbury School coach Elisha Murray teaches kids life skills and values through basketball.

Words: Pamela Hayford

Photography: Brian Tietz

Viewers of Ted Lasso know the phrase “Football is life.” It’s a mantra for the Apple TV+ show’s exuberant footballer Dani Rojas, who comes to realize the sport is about more than just dedication. When the phrase comes up in conversation with Canterbury School basketball coach Elisha Murray, it resonates.

Since taking the helm at the Fort Myers school eight years ago, the Army National Guard lieutenant and former collegiate athlete has built the girls’ basketball team from a season of four wins to a top team that took second in the 3A state championship in 2019.

Canterbury has tapped Elisha to lead the boys’ basketball team next season, and outside of school, he’s

created Court Vision, a basketball league that trains young players on fundamental skills. “Obviously, I like being part of teams. And being part of something bigger than myself,” he says.

As a kid, Elisha was a late bloomer. He had always been small and didn’t start playing basketball formally until his sophomore year at Cape Coral High School. “I wasn’t the best, but I would go home and work and work at it,” he says.

As he grew taller and his practice started to pay off, his coach and mentor, Darrin Wallace, would drive him to colleges throughout the state to get noticed. After graduation, he played two years at Manatee Community College,

before being recruited in 2010 by King University in Tennessee, an NCAA Division II program, where he played guard. In 2015, Darrin brought Elisha to Canterbury. Elisha teaches his young players skills and the nuances of the game, but he’s also focused on lessons that will help kids succeed off the court. Through Court Vision, he encourages kids to learn from mistakes and set goals. “When you want to be good at something, you have to put time and effort in,” he says. “But also be respectful. If your coach takes you out of the game, you don’t yell or kick—you sit down. When your teammate is doing good, you clap for them.”

The holistic approach includes

Elisha runs Court Vision, a basketball program he started to build life skills and character through the sport. His 9-yearold son, Elisha Jr., played competitive ball for the first time this year.

working with parents to look after the general well-being of players, making sure their studies are also a priority and helping to resolve discipline issues.

Those same principles apply to his home life. He has three children with his wife Latima, a member of the National Guard who served in Iraq and is now a school resource police officer at Pinewood Elementary School. Six-year old Alilah and 4-year-old Laila have taken to gymnastics, and 9-yearold Elisha Jr., plays basketball, football and soccer. This year was his first playing competitive ball.

“I learned very quickly that I can’t coach him,” Elisha says. “I need to be Dad more.”

FEATURES

Reflections on motherhood and the road to athletic greatness

Four local women share their infertility struggles and journeys to motherhood.

Shasta Reeves

“Birth parent,” instead of “real parent.” “Placing for adoption,” not “giving up.” “Parent,” in place of “adoptive parent.” These are some of the terms Shasta Reeves has gained along her motherhood journey. The 35-year-old always wanted a big family. Today, with six children under 6 and her husband, Stephen’s two eldest, Alex and Drea, the Fort Myers native sees her dreams realized.

When the couple got married and started trying for a baby, Shasta suffered three miscarriages in a year before they began talking about adoption. For months, they navigated background checks, medical clearances and financial assessments. Simultaneously, Shasta was facing the reality of her infertility—her doctor said she’d likely never have kids without intervention. She was on oral fertility medications for one cycle before getting pregnant with her firstborn, Willow. Ten weeks in, Shasta woke up in a pool of blood due to a subchorionic hemorrhage and spent the next couple of months on bed rest. But mother and daughter prevailed, and Willow was born in November 2017.

Six months later, Stephen and Shasta adopted 10-week-old Gunner. Then, they started trying for another baby. After nine unsuccessful cycles with fertility drugs, Shasta got another call: Gunner’s birth mother had a newborn boy who needed a home. The couple fostered, then adopted, Harrison, or “Harry.”

When Harry was 7 months old and Gunner and Willow were nearly 2, Shasta discovered she was pregnant, without any fertility treatments. Stephen joked and said, “What’s one more?” Born at 34 weeks, Maverick was transferred from Cape Coral Hospital to the NICU at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida for 10 days. Shasta was only allowed to see him for two hours a day. “It was one of the most traumatic things I’ve been through,” she says.

About a year later, Shasta learned Gunner and Harry’s birth mother was pregnant again. She pushed through the overwhelm, and the day after Walker was born, Shasta was in the hospital with a court order to pick up her son. A year later, the couple found out about their surprise baby Stetson and embraced the change. Shasta suffered a high-risk pregnancy, and the 5-day-old baby had to be airlifted to Memorial West Hospital in Pembroke Pines a day after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida. The next 10 days involved long drives to the east coast and back, all while keeping a close eye on the tots at home.

Shasta marvels at her family’s journey and believes it’s important to be open about her kids’ backgrounds. “We told them ... some babies come out of their mommy’s tummies, and some babies come out of other ladies’ tummies,” she says. As they get older and ask more questions, Shasta’s ready for the conversation. —Addison

Lymarie Jimenez

One night during her pregnancy with Nokomis, Lymarie Jimenez had a dream of a 3-year-old girl with dark curls in a messy bun, painting and giggling. When she woke up, she turned to her husband, Darren Nelson, and said, “I think I just saw our daughter.”

Nearly two years prior, the couple had met with a fertility doctor after four years of trying for a child. Lymarie, then 36, was considered to be of advanced maternal age for pregnancy, and tests determined Darren had signs of increased infertility. When her doctor suggested in vitro fertilization (IVF), where an egg is fertilized outside of the body and implanted in the uterus, the pair was pragmatic about the outcome.

“We said, ‘We’re going to do this once,’” she says. They didn’t want to mortgage the house or take out loans for multiple cycles and were prepared to walk away without ever having kids.

The road forward included a hysteroscopy to examine the inside of the womb, countless appointments during the height of COVID-19 (so Lymarie was mostly on her own), and multiple injections a day for months. Throughout this time, Lymarie hardly told anyone what she was going through, meanwhile fielding questions about when she would have kids. “You’re literally dying on the inside [and thinking], ‘If only you knew how hard I’m trying,’” she says. She leaned on her husband while bottling her feelings from others. “We’ve been conditioned as women to not want to disappoint people; we’re people pleasers,” she says. “That’s part of the reason I think a lot of people keep it on the inside.”

In early 2020, Lymarie’s doctor scheduled her egg retrieval—only one of six survived, and it took Lymarie’s body seven months to be ready for insemination. After the procedure, she felt like she was in limbo. “The world stops for two weeks,” she says. “No more doctor’s appointments, no more ultrasounds, no more lab draws, no more anything. It just stops.”

The Estero couple discovered Lymarie was pregnant the Monday after the 4th of July weekend. The news brought happy tears and anxious thoughts. Still, Lymarie says her baby was good to her during her pregnancy. She gave birth to Nokomis Victoria Jimenez on March 8, 2021—International Women’s Day. The mother’s candle-making company, Nokomis Home Fragrance, was inspired by her daughter. Lymarie is now vocal about her fertility journey and has used proceeds from her candles to help other parents pursuing IVF. “[I want women] to know that there are many, many other women suffering, too, so they don’t feel alone,” Lymarie says.

Nokomis, now 2, looks almost exactly like the girl Lymarie remembers from her dream. As she raises her daughter, she hopes her child finds her place in the world. “I want her to be her, whatever that means.”—A.P.

Nicole Roland

At a 2021 event, Brian Roland—a Naples celebrity chef known for catering company Crave Culinaire, which he runs with his wife, Nicole—suffered a traumatic accident that left him in the hospital for months. “I didn’t know whether my husband was going to live or die,” Nicole, who had recently given birth to the couple’s daughter, says. “At that point, you’re just in survival mode.” Brian was in the hospital for nearly two months before he could spend quality time with their newborn, Remi, and Nicole was alone with an infant and two booming companies to tend to.

Before that, Nicole and Brian had tried for a year to conceive naturally. They experienced two miscarriages due to ectopic pregnancies—meaning the embryo gets stuck in the fallopian tubes, putting mom and baby at a potentially fatal risk. Nicole’s gynecologist suggested they see a fertility specialist. When the couple found out Nicole was pregnant (without fertility treatments), they were ecstatic. “When we went in for our first ultrasound, which was on our wedding anniversary, they told us there was no heartbeat,” Nicole recalls. The same day, the pair turned around and hosted a drive for Hurricane Dorian relief.

Because Nicole was under 35 when they started fertility treatments, they opted for intrauterine insemination (IUI), where the sperm is inserted directly into the uterus via a catheter—a less invasive and less costly treatment than IVF. “We did three IUIs, and none of them worked,” she says. “Then we got pregnant on our own again, and that was another ectopic pregnancy.” Doctors had to remove one of Nicole’s fallopian tubes. Ultimately, they turned to IVF, and she got only one viable embryo from the egg retrieval to transfer.

In a way, the experience inspired their daughter’s name. “When you’re going through IVF you have appointments at certain points literally every day to get bloodwork,” Nicole recalls. “I was pulling out of the IVF office that I had been going to for two years, and across the street there’s a neighborhood called Remington Reserve. I never noticed it before. That kind of solidified, ‘OK, this is the name.’”

A spitting image of her dad in a few ways, Remi already has a refined palette. The toddler loves takeout from Passage to India, and green olives are her favorite food. Mom strives to raise a strong daughter: “Infertility and miscarriage and all those issues teach you how strong you can be and how much you can handle,” Nicole says. “I developed this mantra every time I walked into the doctor’s office, when I had to walk alone into the hospital to get my fallopian tube removed and when I had to walk alone into that hospital that night when my husband was in the accident. I always repeat to myself, ‘You are strong. You are brave. You can do hard things.’ And I tell that to Remi all the time.” —

Laura Richardson Bright does not remember her adoption: She was an infant when her parents adopted her in Pennsylvania. She does, however, wonder what her daughter, Isabelle, or “Izzy,” will remember of her own adoption experience one day. When Izzy moved in right after Easter in 2021, Laura and her husband, Chris, had already fostered three other children. The couple first discussed adoption in 2020 after trying to have children for a year. Once they connected with Lutheran Services Florida and Children’s Network of Southwest Florida to take classes and get registered, they realized the need for foster parents in the region was too great and changed course. “Literally, the day we got our license, someone called,” Laura says.

Laura and Chris’ other foster children all reconnected with their birth families, but Izzy’s birth parents weren’t making the necessary improvements for reunification. Court hearings began about the parents suspending their rights. For Laura and Chris, adopting Izzy was a no-brainer. The pair had talked about adopting any of their foster kids if something fell through since the first child came through their doors.

While pursuing Izzy’s adoption, Laura kept looking into alternative methods to get pregnant. She and Chris met with a fertility specialist and decided the best process for her was IUI. Her doctor told her she had less than a 13 percent chance of getting pregnant. “I was remaining super realistic … The chances are just so low, and that’s just to get pregnant, but then to remain pregnant, right?” Laura reflects.

Despite the odds, the procedure worked on their first try. While having nine months to prepare for a baby was significantly easier than the few days or hours they had when a foster child came home, Laura’s pregnancy wasn’t easy. She felt sick a lot of the time and was still working through Izzy’s adoption. Harrison was born in November 2022, and Izzy, now 4, was adopted five months later.

While not currently fostering, Laura and Chris think they’ll host children again in the future. Meanwhile, as chief advancement officer at Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, the 38-year-old helps implement programs to make the museum more accessible for families on government assistance, and about once a month, they open the museum after-hours exclusively for children in shelters or foster care.

For now, the family of four celebrates the blessings of finding their way to each other. “People get so distraught when they’re not physically able to have a child,” Laura says. “Just know there are so many other children out there who need love and care.”—A.P.

Full Out

With one season under its belt, Naples Cheer Revolution is already presenting the next generation of cheerleading stars.

At the start of summer 2022, 10-yearold Emily O’Flinn had never stepped onto a competitive cheer mat. That’s hard to believe when you watch the tween land a stunt today—gracefully in the hands of her cheer-mates—or stick the landing of a back handspring.

It’s all a testament to one season of proper training at the year-old Naples Cheer Revolution, the city’s only competitive cheer studio. In May, Emily and her band of mostly novice teammates turned heads when they earned a coveted invite to The D2 Summit, one of the pinnacle events in the world of competitive cheer. It was a feather in the cap for the new athletic program. “They were rookies. Most of them didn’t even know what The D2 Summit was,” says Alexa Day, a coach at Cheer Revolution who led the studio’s team Midnight to the invitational event at Walt Disney World’s ESPN complex.

Anna Nocera launched Naples Cheer Revolution last August. After a busy first season—60-some competitive athletes participated—about 90 athletes have already signed up for season two.

On any given day, if you step inside Cheer Revolution’s state-of-the-art facility, you are struck by the strength and endurance of the budding athletes. You’ll see more burpees and Super-

man holds than pom-poms and “Go team,” chants.

While programming includes open gym, tumbling classes and specialty classes for flyer and jump training, the competitive teams for ages 3 through 18 form the cornerstone of the operation. When they first put out a call for tryouts last year, the gym drew enough talent to fill four teams. By the end of the season, they had traveled to competitions all across Florida.

At the beginner level, the youngsters perform cartwheels and forward rolls and typically progress to back and front walkovers before eventually graduating to back handsprings and tucks. For the uninitiated, that means doing full-on flips after a roundoff back handspring series—essentially the building blocks to what you see in floor exercises in the Olympics. But one key element sets cheer apart from gymnastics: “There’s nothing in cheerleading that’s solo,” Alexa says. “It’s truly a team sport.”

One of Alexa’s highlights this year was leading team Midnight through half a dozen competitions, culminating with The D2 Summit. The former cheer captain at Naples’ Lely High School cheered at Florida Atlantic University before landing at Cheer Revolution.

At Summit, nerves and excitement ran high, yet Alexa’s team of girls, ages 8 through 15, delivered a strong performance, overcoming one twisted ankle during warm-ups. “Everyone just said ‘Don’t look behind you,’ because there was a giant Summit banner,” Emily says, recalling the pressure. Ultimately, the team’s score wasn’t enough to advance to the next round of competition. But Summit provided great exposure for the gym, experience for the athletes and preparation for the next season. The judges also gave the team a performance award. “Now we have big expectations for next year,” Alexa says.

Alongside athleticism and competition, Anna and her co-visionary, Jess DeArmas, the program director at Cheer Revolution, have weaved

personal growth, conduct and familial spirit into their top priorities. “Pride yourself in sense of togetherness and unity” reads the first value of the gym. In application, that means rising above or confronting any social pressures or bullying that can surface in such settings. Parents have quickly noted the effort as a refreshing shift in the sport. “Cheer can be so hard and negative, but Anna is trying hard to be different,” says Emily’s mother, Katie. “Anna is more about being a team, being inclusive and making everyone feel good in a place they’re proud to call their cheer home.”

For coach Alexa, that can look like taking a pause during practice to offer relational wisdom when conflict surfaces, as is prone to happen on the mat. “We’re dealing with [young] girls,” Alexa says, underscoring the intimate and cooperative nature of the discipline. “You have to learn to trust each other. And you have to learn to deal with conflict.”

As a parent, Katie says that Cheer Revolution showed up at a pivotal

Founded last year, Naples Cheer Revolution is already making waves. Their Midnight team, with athletes ages 8 to 15, made it to the pinnacle cheer competition, The D2 Summit in Orlando, this year.

moment for her daughter. She saw that Emily was starting to become withdrawn in school and wanted her to find a passion. “I feel like cheer has been life-changing for Emily. And I realize that’s a big statement,” says Katie, who lives in Bonita Springs. “She has found a self-confidence she didn’t have, and she has good friends.”

Another parent, Brittany Pittsford, had been on the hunt for a program for her 12-year-old daughter Sofia. Without an opportunity nearby, they had considered making a regular commute to

Fort Myers. “We were hoping and praying that somebody would open a cheer gym [in Naples],” Brittany says. “It’s fun to be on the ground level of something new.”

Commitment to cheer is already shaping character traits like perseverance and flexibility in Sofia, who has taken on different positions around the mat. She has begun helping younger athletes, too, and embraces a mantra from the coaches reminding her that 20 percent of cheer is on the mat and 80 percent is in your head. “I learned that I can take responsibility

in things that are really hard, and I can have some leadership roles that I never really had before,” Sofia says. As the middle child out of three, it’s also given her some bonus sibling points.

Recently, her older sister Izabella decided to try out for high school cheer. Sofia and her mom helped the eldest prepare, sharing what they learned in the gym.

The results suggest that Cheer Revolution is already making an impact beyond its own walls and students. “She made the high school team,” Brittany says.

FAMILY TIME

Things to do and places to go to reconnect, unwind and feed young explorers’ imaginations

As part of its Family Meal Program, Ronald McDonald House invites locals to cook for people staying at the center while their kids receive treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital or other nearby facilities. Chef Adam Nardis and his wife, Erin, participate with two of their kids Adelyn and Evan.

The Family That Cooks Together

Coldwater Oyster Market’s Adam and Erin Nardis teach their kids important life lessons while volunteering at Ronald McDonald House.

Words: Chelle Koster Walton

Photography: Dan Cutrona

“Cut only part of the stem off so it doesn’t fall apart,” chef Adam Nardis explains to two of his children as he demonstrates on a head of romaine. His tone is gentler and more patient than it would be on the line at Coldwater Oyster Market, his Fort Myers raw bar and restaurant that celebrates the prized seafood from icy waters. “Turn your wrist like that, and keep moving your fingers back each time you make a cut,” he instructs. “You know from all the Caesar salad we eat that it’s important the pieces fit on a fork.”

Eleven-year-old Adelyn and 9-yearold Evan are not only learning culinary techniques and kitchen safety, they are getting a lesson on the importance of giving. Along with Adam and their mom, Erin, they are preparing lunch for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida (RMHC) in Fort Myers as part of the volunteer Family Meal Program, which allows

individuals to sign up to cook free meals for families with kids (or highrisk expecting mothers) receiving care at nearby healthcare facilities. “We’ve explained to the kids that a hot meal is not a daily option for many people across the globe,” Adam says. “Never take it for granted. Sharing food and time is the absolute least we can do.”

The family is no stranger to the idea of fostering connection through food. Adam started with stints as an executive chef at M Waterfront Bistro and Crave Culinaire, before making the leap into restaurant coownership with the buzzy Seventh South Craft Food + Drink in Old Naples. Two years ago, Adam and Erin opened Coldwater Oyster Market in Fort Myers, in part to be closer to their home in Estero and to Three Oaks Elementary School and Evangelical Christian School, where the kids are enrolled. Adelyn, Evan and their siblings, 7-year-old Caleb

and 5-year-old Wyatt, often work with their parents at the restaurant, bussing tables and acting as taste-testers. “We are both extremely high effort. Our parenting philosophies fall very much in line with that, and we ask the same from our children,” Adam says. “Evan is very inquisitive. He wants to know the ‘why’ behind everything. Adelyn sees what needs to be done. If people come in the door, she’s there to seat them.”

Since becoming part of the Fort Myers community, the family has made a concerted effort to get involved. Most recently, Coldwater Oyster Market hosted a fundraiser for Hurricane Ian relief, opening the restaurant’s garage

“We’ve explained to the kids that a hot meal is not a daily option for many people ... Sharing food and time is the absolute least we can do,” Adam says.

door, shucking oysters and staging live music for about 500 people. Today, the Nardises are preparing lunch for families occupying the 12 rooms at RMHC, many of whom have sick children at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. “We have four kids; it really tugs at you,” Erin says. Volunteers for the Family Meal Program sign up online, design the menu for RMHC staff approval, buy the groceries, and bring the ingredients to prepare the meal in the house’s fully-stocked kitchen. The space sports the McDonald’s color scheme, twostovetop ovens, two refrigerators

and two, large marble countertops. “There’s not ever going to be a perfect situation where all the families sit down and eat together,” Amy Velez, director of marketing and creative design, says. “Whatever is left over gets wrapped up for the shared family fridge.”

Participating chefs-for-a-day range from corporate and service groups to families, who then clean up afterward. The goal is to have a warm dinner for the families every night. As befits their experience, the Nardises opt to go gourmet for their meal. The foursome prepares lobster- and ricotta-stuffed tortellini

with garlicky roasted tomato sauce and spinach, a classic Caesar salad and cheesecake served with fresh berry sauce. The kids are eager to help with prep, finding suitable servingware and garnishing the dishes, especially when it comes time to plop plump berries atop slices of cheesecake. “Cooking with your kids is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time together,” Adam says. “There are frequent teaching moments, and teaching your children to cook is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Your recipes,

All Stars

Naples’ Athletic Republic develops tailored programs for young athletes.

At Naples’ Athletic Republic Sports Performance Training, young football players fine-tune their footwork, quickly weaving through short-speed hurdles on the 25 yards of turf, while baseball players run on treadmills, working to improve their speed before their next game. Trainers encourage the kids with commands, keeping cadence with the sound of feet rapidly tapping on the plyometric floor. This is a Youth Ignition training session, part of a program geared for 7- to 11-year-old athletes to develop correct form and motor skills, so they can excel in their specific sport.

Upon joining the program, kids participate in a series of tests and assessments to measure baseline skills, evaluate performance and develop individual goals. Trainers

follow programs based on the child’s specific sport—whether that’s working on multilateral movement for a hockey player or helping a sprinter increase their speed and agility. While they grow into their sports and learn how their bodies move and function, kids remain engaged through games like sled relay races and plank competitions. “We always try to tie the game into what we’re teaching,” owner Carolyn Homberger says.

The fun often simulates what kids experience on the field. During hurdle

drills, coaches might toss a football to a group of prospective wide receivers. The group also brings in athletic speakers and hosts discussions to help parents and kids navigate topics like athletic burnout.

Class ratios are kept small with no more than seven kids to one instructor, so trainers can offer undivided attention. All of the coaches have bachelor’s degrees in sports and fitness training, and many have other health specializations, as well as being athletes themselves. “We really go out

of our way to make sure our trainers bring experience the kids can relate to,” Carolyn says.

Progress is tracked through an app that outlines individual accomplishments. Often, skills and perks carry over to life off the field. Carolyn recognizes that with training, as with many things, showing up is half the battle. Reports help keep the kids motivated and accountable, “Because that’s often the fight,” she says. “If you don’t come, well, then you don’t get the results, right?” athleticrepublic.com

Athletic Republic helps young athletes improve their game through smallgroup, targeted training.

BRINGING THEIR A-GAME

Here are five more training programs to fuel your budding champion’s success.

Gypsy Gymnastics

Skip the stress of having to drive your kiddos from one activity to the next. Certified USA gymnastics instructor Sierra Beaver brings gymnastics, tumbling and dance acro (a fusion of dance and acrobatics) directly to your home, teaching kids as young as 2. gypsygymnastics.com

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club of Estero

With 12 years as a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) pro under her visor and a Best Young Teachers in America nod from Golf Digest, Katie Dahl advocates for girls to get into the male-dominated sport. She teaches ages 6 to 17, weaving personal development with technical skills. girlsgolf.org

Naples United FC Youth Development Program

Naples’ semi-pro soccer team, United FC, has an elite youth program, led by former pro player Enoch Showunmi. The program employs the same coaches and principles as the pro team, teaching kids the techniques and mindset needed for high-performance play. naplesunited.com

My Pickleball League Youth Program

Addam Shand applies his 38 years of experience coaching kids to the fastgrowing sport of pickleball. Clinics, held at nine locations across Naples and Estero, teach the fundamentals of dinks and drives, as well as scoring and tournament play. mypbleauge.com

Kirby’s School of Wake

Pro wakeboarder Kirby Liesmann leads these adrenaline-fueled lessons, where kids hop on Ronix boards and strap on BbTALKIN Bluetooth helmets to safely learn handle pass spins and flips. kirbysschoolofwake.com

Iguanaland houses more than 200 species of reptiles, including green iguanas, which can be bigger than 6 feet long.

Iguanas, Gators and Tigers, Oh My!

Get your kiddos up close and personal with furry, feathery and scaley friends at these under-the-radar animal sanctuaries.

Words: Artis Henderson

Iguanaland, Punta Gorda

Scaly creatures of all kinds make kids light up at the 12-acre Iguanaland, the largest reptile zoo in the state. “We have some of the rarest reptiles in any collection, including some major zoos around the world,” says herpetologist and conservationist Ty Park, Iguana -

land’s founder. Naturalists-in-training can meet more than 200 species of cold-blooded critters, including the rare Anegada rock iguana. There are about 300 of them left on Anegada Island in the British Virgin Islands, and only 11 in the United States; six of those are at Iguanaland.

For little reptile enthusiasts, Iguanaland specializes in education, research and conservation. “We only preserve what we know—and like,” Ty says, adding that he aims to encourage young minds to respect and protect reptiles around the world. iguanaland.com

The Bird Gardens of Naples

The Bird Gardens offers the chance to interact with critically endangered parrot species, like the blue-throated, scarlet and hyacinth macaws. The gardens’ owner, Keriellen Lohrman, sees wonder spark every time she leads a group through the sanctuary. “A lot of the little kids are afraid to hold a big bird like Romeo, our blue-and-gold macaw,” she says. “But then, he lays down

on his back like a baby and they can just rock him.” Romeo is famous for stealing scrunchies, hats—and hearts. “Everybody falls in love with him,” Keriellen says.

Guides lead visitors through the bright aviary, where more than 200 birds from around the world—all of which have been surrendered due to unforeseen circumstances—flap their wings and swing on perches in this vibrant oasis, near Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. For an extra up-close experience, kids can bring unsalted almonds or blueberries (no

peanuts, to be mindful of allergies) to share. You can also inquire about taking home a feathered friend— hundreds of these intelligent, highly social birds get adopted from the sanctuary every year. thebirdgardensofnaples.org

Wonder Gardens, Bonita Springs

Since the 1930s, the ecological park has been thrilling adventurers. Today, Wonder Gardens offers kids a chance to experience a diverse range of rescued, rehabilitated crea -

tures that can’t be released (they’re not equipped to survive in the wild).

Guests arrive at the renovated welcome center, which was recently completed after 10 months of work due to Hurricane Ian damage. From there, little explorers go on to find brightly feathered macaws, cockatoos, flamingos and roaming peacocks, plus pythons, tortoises and alligators, among the flora.

Kids over the age of 5 will love the Wild Wonders Animal Encounters. On these small-group, guided tours, children can feed the sulcata

tortoises, and coconut and rainbow and lorikeets. wondergardens.org

Kowiachobee Animal

Preserve, Naples

Kowiachobee—which means ‘big cat’ in the Seminole Muscogee language—is home to big cats (lions, tigers, panthers and leopards), exotic birds, reptiles and farm animals. The preserve mainly focuses on education with lessons that get into

the biological nitty-gritty, like the differences between herbivores and carnivores, or the warm- and cold-blooded.

“We’re a hands-on facility,” the preserve’s Brandi Frushour Verder says. “In order for kids to learn, they need to be able to touch things. We’re here to teach them about having responsibility toward animals and the conservation that’s needed in our world today.” There are plenty

of curious creatures here for kids to put their hands on, such as ball pythons as well as descented skunks (phew!).

Though the preserve isn’t open to the public, private visits and educational tours can be arranged. Kowiachobee regularly welcomes groups from the Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts of the USA and local special needs groups. kowiachobee.org

Happy Bird-Day

For their son’s second birthday, the owners of Naples’ Kaleidoscope Floral hosted a chic, bird-themed bash that was a hit with toddlers—and their parents.

Words: Samantha Garbarini

Photography: Nanette Katherine

compared to [the party] we worked on over the weekend.”

When their son, Charlie Bird, was about to celebrate his second birthday, Melissa and Sean Stevenson began doing the birthday party-planning shuffle. They booked a bouncy house, chose a cake and settled on a theme. But when it comes to parties—even for a toddler—the pair have more experience than most.

Melissa and Sean are the creative duo behind Naples’ Kaleidoscope Floral, which designs organic, sculptural flower arrangements for luxury weddings and events. “The scale of events we work on can be rather extravagant,” Sean says. “For Charlie’s party, we wanted everything to be pretty but, keeping in mind it’s a 2-year-old’s party, not way over the top. My parents will say we’re doing too much, but this is nothing

The bird-themed bash (a nod to Charlie’s middle name) was held in the lush, 5-acre backyard of Sean’s parents’ home in Naples. “The overall theme, aside from it being ‘Bird Day,’ was Florida, because he’s just a little Florida boy running around outside,” Sean says. Melissa made a vision board in Old Florida-inspired hues of burnt orange, periwinkle, coral and green to share with Our Nest Events, which designed all the balloon art. Inflated flamingos, parakeets and peacocks were nestled into garlands of balloons throughout the yard and adorned the white bouncy house and matching ball pit rented from Little Sweet P.

Melissa DIYed all the signage, a Polaroid station, the tabletop arrangements of foraged orchids and greenery, and the goodie bags, stuffed with wind-up bird toys, bird stickers and sunglasses. Garlands, party hats and flamingo cupcake kits from chic party essentials brand Meri Meri rounded out the decor. “We carry the brand at our store, and we used similar items for Melissa’s birthday party in April,” Sean says. “It’s the kind of stuff that can cross over. It’s super cute for kids, but also quality for adults.”

For the menu, since Charlie loves hot dogs, Melissa and Sean ordered vintage hot dog rollers on Amazon and created a massive toppings bar, with toddler-friendly favorites like ketchup and mac and cheese, as well as options for more mature palettes, including Florida-made hot sauces, Mexican street corn and chili. After a romp in the bouncy house, kids cooled down with lemonade served in citrus-shaped sippy cups, while parents hung out around the full bar. Kids snacked on Cake Mockery bluebird- and

orange-shaped cookies, and Birdie’s Gelato cart was the clear pick for a cold dessert. “Obviously, we had to have it,” Melissa says, noting how the name matched the theme. “The cake was toasted coconut from Wynn’s Market (in Naples). It’s been Sean’s favorite since he was a kid.”

Just as the cake has stood the generational test of time, Melissa and Sean hope to create lifelong traditions for Charlie, both with the bird theme, which they intend to use every year (or until Charlie’s old enough to say otherwise), and with

keepsakes from the day. “One thing we plan to do every year is design a ‘Bird Day’ hat,” Sean says. “Last year was a baseball cap; this year was a bucket hat. It’s a sentimental thing. We’re starting a display in his room.”

And while the bouncy house and hot dogs were hits with Charlie and his friends, the darling design was probably best appreciated by the adults. “I think we went a little hard on this one,” Melissa says with a laugh. “He’s obviously still young. Until he’s old enough to tell us what he wants, it’s also for the parents.”

Nurture Nature

We asked local conservation groups for their go-to tales for cultivating kids’ love for the outdoors.

Words: Artis Henderson

Loggerhead Life

Written and illustrated by Sue Trew

Sue Trew’s feel-good story is familiar to the folks at Sanibel’s Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). When Luna the loggerhead turtle gobbles up a floating balloon—thinking it’s a jellyfish—she winds up in a turtle hospital, where wildlife veterinarians save her life. It’s an important message about protecting endangered sea turtles that “helps deliver our mission of research, conservation and education to all ages,” Michelle Menendez, director of operations and human resources at CROW, says. Turtle Tracks Family

The Sea, the Storm, and the Mangrove Tangle

Written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry

This richly told tale centers around mangroves and their essential role in the coastal ecosystem, with the help of familiar regional creatures, like fiddler crabs, shrimp, dolphins and manatees. “This book beautifully illustrates how mangroves create vibrant habitats that help protect our coastlines,” Kaitlyn Vivirito, education programs manager at the Naples Botanical Garden, says. “It explores the wonders of these habitats in a way children can easily connect to.”

Farrar,

Color Your Way Through Wild

Illustrated by Kelly Quinn

More than 50 iconic Florida species, from flamingos to swallowtail butterflies, are featured in this lushly illustrated coloring book. “It’s one of my favorites because it’s good for all ages,” says ranger and mom-of-two Toni Westland, who oversees the refuge education team at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel. “And even better—proceeds go to restoring the Florida Wildlife Corridor.”

The corridor, signed into law in 2021, connects 18 million acres across the state so animals can roam free. Canvas of the Wild

Turn This Book Into a Beehive

Illustrated by Anna-Maria Jung

The Emmy Award-winning writer Lynn Brunelle made science fun while writing for Bill Nye the Science Gu y. She went on to create this activity-packed book filled with interactive, hands-on exercises to teach kids about the amazing power of bees. “When I give school tours, I love to point out the pollinators all around us,” Lauren DanielsJudge, propagation manager at ECHO Global Farm in North Fort Myers, says. “Bees are essential for growing healthy food and keeping our planet healthy.”

Workman Publishing Company

What Do You See, Mrs. Night Heron?

Illustrated by Bruce De Vries

Set in Florida’s Pelican Cove, this story-in-verse takes children on a learning adventure where they encounter native birds and search for hidden eggs within the lifelike illustrations. “We’ve carried this book for at least three years in the gift shop,” Rose Readigos, guest services supervisor at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, says. “It’s our mission to choose books that teach our children about our native wildlife and ecosystems and how important it is to protect them.”

The Peppertree Press

Don’t miss this treasure... we highly recommend it, especially if you have children.

In addition to becoming a member - which includes FREE ADMISSION for one year to all of our interactive exhibits - there are many ways to connect with our water, land, wildlife and future through the Conservancy of Southwest Florida!

These interactive exhibits for all ages are just the beginning!

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE

Broadway Palm is Florida’s Premier Dinner Theatre providing Broadwaystyle entertainment, delicious food, and exceptional customer service all at a great value! The theatre’s season highlights the best of Broadway combining your favorite shows of the past along with the most recent musical hit sensations. Broadway Palm features nationally selected performers, dazzling sets and costumes, and a live orchestra. The theatre also offers full scale children’s theatre productions that are especially presented for the youngest of theatre goers. Performances are matinees with a special lunch menu that the chef creates with children’s favorites like pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta and more.

1380 Colonial Boulevard

Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 278-4422

THE GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES

Combining a passion for play-based learning with cultural and social exploration, The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples offers an environment that sparks creativity, builds foundational learning concepts, and lasting memories for families. CMON is the canvas on which children paint the world they want to see. They explore careers, build science skills, create artful masterpieces and navigate the world around them in our hands-on exhibits.

Join us this fall for exciting new exhibits including CMON Let’s Go Camping and Candyland, along with the return of CMON on Ice!

15080 Livingston Rd, Naples, FL 34109 (239) 514-0084

FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE

Enrich your child’s world through performing arts! Whether your child dreams of being in the spotlight, or holding the spotlight, Florida Repertory Theatre’s education program has a kaleidoscope of options for children of all ages. Programs taught and directed by theatre professionals include Theatre Conservatory, Junior Theatre Tech, Summer Musical Intensive Camps, Master Classes, and more. This season Theatre Conservatory will present “Little Shop of Horrors” and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Florida Rep is a nonprofit, professional regional theatre company located in the heart of the Fort Myers River District. Visit FloridaRep.Org to see what’s on stage now.

2267 First Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 219-1552

FloridaRep.org

M&M’S CAFE AT TIN CITY/ ROYAL SCOOP AT BERKSHIRE COMMONS

Tantalize your taste buds and come join the fun at M&M’s Cafe located inside the historic Tin City on the Gordon River. We offer 32 flavors of delicious homemade Royal Scoop ice cream and hand rolled, cinnamon vanilla waffle cones made fresh on location. Our selection of meat, cheese and produce is locally sourced and delivered daily to ensure YOU taste quality in every bite.

The Multiple Award Winning, Royal Scoop Homemade Ice Cream at Berkshire Commons is one of Naples most AMAZING ice cream parlors. The waffle cones are hand rolled on location and are extra but well worth the deliciousness tasted in every bite.

Royal Scoop at Berkshire Commons

7335 Radio Road, Unit 104 Naples, FL 34104 239-231-4544

RoyalScoop.com

M&M’s Cafe at Tin City

1200 Fifth Ave. S., Unit 122 Naples, FL 34102 (239) 261-5317

CafeMnM.com

THE NAPLES PLAYERS INC.

The Naples Players continually seeks to enrich, educate and entertain our community through a superior theatre experience. We are a premier community theatre, seeking to inspire passion for the performing arts through unparalleled access to the process, experience, and conversations surrounding the arts and our community.

The Naples Players has been a theatre for the community since 1953, and we have grown our programs to touch lives in Naples and beyond. The beautiful theatre you know and love today is a reflection of our community, and the anchor of arts and culture in Naples.

701 5th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 (239) 434-7340

NaplesPlayers.org

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS

As an award-winning non-profit and nationally accredited zoo and botanical garden, Naples Zoo strives to inspire people of all ages to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. We do so through our formal and informal conservation education programs and by providing an ever changing and improving educational and engaging family-oriented experience for our more than 400,000 annual guests.

1590 Goodlette Road Naples, Florida 34102 (239) 262-5409

NaplesZoo.org

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Southwest Florida Christian Academy (SFCA) has been a leader in K-12 education for over 29 years. Our students are provided a Christ-centered, expansive educational program that includes STEM offerings, AP courses, one-to-one technology, and SFCA’s unique Student Leadership Academy. We have a comprehensive fine arts program with 3 choirs, 7 bands, and a full art and drama program. The athletic program provides 42 competitive sports teams and 6 intramural teams across grades K-12. Every aspect of SFCA’s program is geared towards preparing students for college and the careers of the future and to be godly leaders who will impact the culture for Christ.

3750 Colonial Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 936-8865 www.sfcakings.org

*BEST OF THE GULFSHORE Our Annual Readers’ Choice Awards are meant to highlight locally owned and operated businesses and their services, as voted by the readers of Gulfshore Life. Readers vote in over 100 categories ranging from the best food and drinks, shopping, arts and entertainment, beauty and wellness, home design and attractions.

The Best of the Gulfshore is an online write-in ballot. Voting is open for two months every December and January and winners are announced in the May issue of Gulfshore Life

Editors' Pick

Fall Fun

Though we don’t immediately recognize Southwest Florida for its autumnal spirit—no crimson leaves or apple picking here—the region is alive with festive fall activities. Each year, families weave through the 12-foot-tall corn maze at Farmer Mike’s U-Pick in Bonita Springs (farmermikesupick.com), dress in costume to visit lions and tigers at Boo at the Zoo at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens (napleszoo.org), and fill their bags with goodies at local trunk-or-treat gatherings. New to the scene is Edison and Ford Winter Estates’ (edisonfordwinterestates.org) Fall Festival, which returns for its second iteration on October 28. Littles can browse the pumpkin patch for bulbous gourds to paint; embrace their inner lumberjacks with inflatable axethrowing; get dolled up with face paint and fairy hair; and climb the Fort Myers historic site’s banyan tree— reservations recommended. Who says Florida doesn’t do fall fun?

CHANGING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, TEENS, AND STUDENTS OF ALL AGES!

FALL CONSERVATORY at CMON- Sept 25-Oct 14, 2023

•Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS: Ages 8-13

Aspiring young actors work with top-notch educators and shine on stage at CMON in a fully-produced musical

BROADWAY BOOTCAMP - Oct 23-27, 2023

•Monster Mash: Ages 6-10

Students learn choreography and vocals from spooky Halloween classics

WINTER CONSERVATORY - Dec 18-22, 2023

•Winter Wonderland: Ages 5-7

Introduce your littlest ones to musical theatre

•Story Explorers: Ancient Adventures: Ages 8-13

Students set off on Indiana Jones-inspired exploration of the mysteries of the ancient world

•Broadway Bound!: Ages 8-13

Students immerse themselves in the art form of musical theatre

•Teen New Works: Ages 13-18

Teens have a chance to bring a piece of theatre to life

BROADWAY BOOTCAMP - Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024

•Magical Adventures: Ages 6-10

Students learn the music and choreography from favorite fairy tales