DONNA FIALA

Have you wondered if it is really true that the economy is looking better all the time? Last Wednesday, Collier County's Growth Management Division issued 177 permits. Yes, in just one day! It looks like things are really looking up.

There is something that puzzles me. Florida Power & Light (FPL) announced they would install a “smart meter” on each home, which would read the usage every month electronically rather than have a meter reader go to each and every ...

There are always a lot of good news items to talk about these days. To start off, the community center at Eagle Lakes Community Park is going to be a reality. It has been 6 long years of fighting to ...

With much anticipation and excitement, the Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park has officially opened. The ribbon cutting was held on Friday, March 30, and was attended by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) officials, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve ...

My goodness, isn’t the year going by quickly? I can’t believe it is almost Easter and soon our winter residents will be leaving, which means a huge portion of our volunteers will be leaving. These people come down from up ...

Towne Centre on U.S. 41 East is really looking up. New façade on the buildings on the east end of the shopping center, new decorative additions and updated paint colors, the parking lot has a new layer of asphalt, all ...

Lennar Homes has taken the East Naples community by storm and showered their full force on revitalization projects. Many of you probably already know that they purchased the gorgeous Treviso Bay resort and have been focused on getting it back ...

Hopefully you have taken a ride through Naples “Towne Centre” (yes, that’s how they spell it) on U.S. 41 East on the side opposite Bealls department store. You might already know that there are eight owners in that shopping center.

Recently there was a ribbon cutting ceremony as the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge on Marco Island was officially opened for traffic. Included in the ceremony was a memorial for the late Mike Minozzi, a Marco resident and former Marco Island ...

Many people have asked why Collier County doesn’t have a gas to energy plant at the landfill, and I’m happy to tell you we now have one. I promised to write about it in this week’s Collier Citizen, and here ...

What a wonderful time of the year! Hopefully each and every one of you had a joyous holiday and are looking forward to a happy and healthy new year!

Christmas is in the air! Everything looks brighter and happier, lights twinkling and cheerful greeting, people singing, celebrations taking place, families coming together, folks caring about others. It feels good to spread good cheer.

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful, happy and family-oriented Thanksgiving, and you’ve been able to walk off a little of that extra turkey and all the trimmings you enjoyed.

Congratulations to Chellie Doepke (of Verona Walk, one of my new soon-to-be developments in the redistricting process beginning in January, subject to the Justice Department’s approval) for being awarded the first-ever Outstanding Service of the Year Award at the inaugural ...

It seems there is always good news to talk about, and this week is no exception. The state and Collier County transportation departments held a groundbreaking ceremony this week as work officially began on the widening of Davis Boulevard, and ...

As many of us now know, thanks to the controversial choice of the date, Jan. 31 is now the Republican primary. Just so you know, you must be a registered Republican to vote in the primary. You cannot be an ...

Have you noticed the traffic has picked up? Years back, we locals used to get upset. Now we say “Hooray!” With the entrance of our winter visitors we get our volunteer force back, our restaurants fill up, the events and ...

Recently, Greg Johnson of Olde Naples Marble & Granite wrote me a note about the escalation of permit fees over the last 5 years and wanted to know why licensing fees have increased and what benefits are derived from these ...

Many of us take the slower summers as a way to visit family and friends up north, and I did the same. Time was spent with family members in other states and I was lovin’ every minute of it. But ...

On my vacation this summer, while in Ohio Amish country, I experienced some new techniques in fundraising. That community gets together, usually organized by one of their churches, to support someone who has overwhelming medical expenses. Let me tell you ...

As many of you know, I am very close to the Old Order Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio. In fact, they feel like family to me, so when I got a call last week that my dear friend Fannie’s ...

It’s exciting to see all the positive changes taking place in East Naples. It’s becoming the “happening place” and more people are noticing it all the time. Let me just mention a few marvelous things we can see taking place ...

A huge congratulations to my marvelous assistant, my right hand aide, Sue Jacobs, who graduated from Hodges University with a bachelor of science degree in management. Her family and I are so proud of her. Her dedication to her studies ...

It is getting very quiet here in Collier County now that our winter residents have headed back up north, which also means our volunteer core has left. It always amazes me how these wonderful people come to stay for a ...

Eagle Lakes Community Park, located on U.S. 41 East between Naples Manor, Whistler’s Cove and Lely Resort, has been identified as the busiest park in the parks system.

Suicide is a very difficult subject to write about — especially when it affects someone you know, and many times it does — but many times people who have suffered the loss do not know where to turn.

Thank you to the kind gentleman who donated a check to “Miss Amy.” It was such a nice thing for you to do. My son’s church donated a turkey as well, so both gifts will be delivered this week.

A heartwarming story emerged this past weekend, thanks to the new Lowe’s on U.S. 41 East and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. A house was brought to their attention that was very dilapidated and unsafe. An 88-year-old lady lives there ...

Terry Meyers of Naples Manor was thrilled to receive news that his son, Specialist Timothy J. Meyers, was awarded the 2011 U.S. Army Enlisted Soldier of the Year at the 7th Army and Joint Multi National Training Command in Germany.

The East Naples Kiwanis Club may be little, but they are certainly mighty. They help so many children in the community. Of course they must raise money to help these kids, so they planned a fundraiser, and what fun it ...

The Erich Kunzel Series presented another outstanding performance featuring the Paradise Coastmen Barbershop Chorus and West of Galway Irish/Celtic band.

Question: How much new water do we receive here on Earth each year? Answer: None, we only have the water that has been on this Earth since time began. We are drinking the same water the dinosaurs drank millions of ...

On Jan. 24, the East Naples Civic Association held their 61st — yes, the 61st annual banquet — at the Naples Lakes Country Club. I am pleased to announce that I was awarded the Citizen of the Year award at ...

You’ve all read how well Lely Resort has been doing, even through this recession, but if you ask me, it is because they listen to their residents and really care about what they have to say!

Happy New Year everyone! Let us hope that this year is a year that brings happiness, good health and joy to each family.

In my home the season can’t officially begin without going to see the Living Christmas Trees at First Baptist Church with my friends Carol and Carl Schulz. It is always an outstanding performance, and you leave thinking this is what ...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving! It seems everyone I’ve talked with so far, and believe me, that’s a lot of people, have said they had a marvelous day.

Many people are not aware that the Assembly of God church, which has been located on Collier Boulevard, has sold their property to First Baptist Family Church of Marco Island.

My goodness, the new Lowe’s on U.S. 41 East and County Road 951 is looking great. The place is enormous. There are people everywhere working, planting, etc. They hope to open in a month, and by the looks of things, ...

Recently I met with a small group of Glades residents to talk about the Jackson Lab issue and answer a few questions. They in turn asked me to write about the subject in my column, and I am responding by ...

It’s wonderful to see some construction taking place. The new Lowe’s on the corner of U.S. 41 and Collier Boulevard looks huge. I bet they’ll be surprised at how popular they are immediately, as people from Marco Island, East Naples ...

Take this time to mark your calendar — November 13th is a big day! It starts off with the fabulous East Naples Foundation Second Annual Golf Charity Event, which starts at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at the marvelous ...

On the way to Stan’s Idle Hour Restaurant in Goodland the other day I saw my first bobcat. It ran across 92A, the road to Goodland off State Road 92, the east entrance road to Marco Island. Any of you ...

It’s been a tough election year with much hostility, personal insults, accusations and hatefulness. Let us hope that now with the election behind us we can move to a better atmosphere. It is heart-wrenching to see what has happened to ...

My recent column told you of the upcoming Amish barn raising and the events that led up to the need to build a new barn. Happily many people have said they were waiting for part two, and so here it ...

Although it’s a little late to begin preparing for hurricane season, it is MY time to prepare. I have a usual routine each year, normally starting on June 1st. I check my generator to make sure everything is working properly, ...

Dinner with Alan Wittenauer and Karen Homiak is always interesting, especially when we talk about county issues (and enjoy wonderful food served in places like Eurasia, Little Italy, Alice Sweetwaters, Rib City, Cracklin’ Jack’s, and so many more East Naples ...

A very important issue will be decided at the June 22, 2010, Board of Collier County Commission meeting regarding the Eagle Lakes Community Park.

On June 8, the Board of Collier County Commissioners will hear a presentation by the County Parks & Recreation Department concerning the future of Eagle Lakes Community Park and a proposed Community Center.

Jeffrey Macasevich just had hip surgery recently and is now rehabbing at Manor Care at Lely Palms on Rattlesnake Hammock Rd. He said the care couldn’t be better and the food is fantastic. I’ve heard those same comments from others ...