About JENNA BUZZACCO-FOERSTER

Information

Biography

Phone: (239) 263-4805

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Most political junkies catch a plane to Washington, D.C. for their fix. Not me.

When picking a college, I chose to go to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, because of the Iowa Caucuses. There I learned how grassroots politics work in the heartland, saw the beginning and ending of presidential campaigns and recommended the milkshakes at the Drake Diner to Hillary Clinton.

After college, I fled Des Moines for the slightly warmer climate of Sandusky, Ohio, where I covered cops and a small lakefront community. But after 20-plus years of two seasons - winter and road construction - I decided in 2005 it was time to retire my sweaters and move south.

I started at the Daily News in December 2005 as an education reporter. After a brief stint at the Marco Island Eagle, the political junkie in me reared its ugly head, and I took over the Naples city government reporter job in 2007.

When I'm not hounding Naples Mayor Bill Barnett, I enjoy cooking, reading and hanging out at the beach. Still a political junkie at heart, and I've already asked for a fancy touch screen television that John King uses on CNN in advance of the 2012 presidential election.

Think covering City Hall sounds boring? Think again. Here's some of my favorite stories slightly off the beaten City Hall path:

■ Origins of chickens, roosters that have come home to roost in River Park murky Hear that crow? There are chickens and roosters living in River Park, and neighbors and community members aren't quite sure how the fowl got there to begin with.

■ No cross words for this veteran school crossing guard Louise Lopez spent her career as a street walker. Well, it's sort of true. Lopez has spent the past 25 years as a crossing guard for the city of Naples.

■ Holy cow! Could the Chicago Cubs ever end up in Naples? Could Naples be the new home of the Chicago Cubs spring training site? Some people hope the answer is yes.

Everyone has them - Web sites they just can't live with out - and here's some of mine:

■ The city of Naples Web site

■ Collier County Property Appraiser

■ Florida League of Cities

■ Florida City and County Management Association

All work and no play makes me a cranky reporter. Here's where I head when I need to take a virtual break from a hectic day:

■ Food Gawker Foodies beware: This site will make you drool and could lead to massive messes in the kitchen.

■Etsy Love crafty, handmade goods? You could spend hours window shopping through Etsy's virtual market.

■ Lifehacker The name says it all "tips and downloads to getting things done." And on more than one occasion Lifehacker has saved my day.

Position History

Staff Writer
12/14/2005 - current

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Naples council approves plans to build new River Park aquatic center Published 11/18/2009 at 7:43 p.m.
A pool will stay in River Park. Naples City Council on Wednesday unanimously backed a proposal to build a new aquatic center at the River Park Community Center. City officials have said a completely new aquatic center would cost between ...
Naples church approved to redevelop property after city approves rezoning Published 11/18/2009 at 5:54 p.m.
A Naples church will likely be allowed to rezone a portion of its property. First Christian Church, 1789 Mandarin Road, received preliminary approval Wednesday to rezone a 0.61-acre parcel of land – currently used for overflow parking – from public ...
LIVE: Naples City Council Blog: River Park pool saved Updated 11/18/2009 at 2:36 p.m.
LIVE Naples City Council blog: Naples City Council unanimously backed a proposal to build a new aquatic center at the River Park Community Center
River Park may one day receive money to spruce up community Updated 11/17/2009 at 7:53 p.m.
River Park residents hoping to spruce up their homes could get help from the city of Naples in the future. But funding for a housing rehabilitation grant may not be coming from Naples Community Redevelopment Agency.
Naples council may decide future of River Park pool Wednesday Published 11/17/2009 at 6:36 p.m.
There’s three options on the table, and Naples officials are hoping to narrow them down to one Wednesday. Naples City Council is expected to continue a discussion about the future of the River Park pool during Wednesday’s City Council meeting. ...
The midnight hour: Naples supports longer live entertainment hours Published 11/16/2009 at 7:10 p.m.
Get ready to party until midnight. Naples City Council, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency on Monday, paved the way to allow live entertainment later than the current code currently allows. “I ... drove down Fifth Avenue South at 10 ...
NAPLES CITY COUNCIL BLOG: Downtown lighting project put on hold Updated 11/16/2009 at 2:56 p.m.
Naples City Council, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, decides not to move forward with a downtown lighting project at this time. Council also decided against a landscaping project tied to the lighting project.
POLL/PHOTOS: Naples may look to add more 'life' to downtown nightlife Published 11/13/2009 at 5:59 p.m.
The music came from every corner. A jazz singer belted out sultry tunes on the east end of the street, while an oldies band played classic tunes to a growing audience in front of a popular downtown bar. It was ...
Nearly half of Naples high-rises need fire code upgrades, officials say Published 11/11/2009 at 6:49 p.m.
Change is coming. But Naples condominium owners aren’t waiting until 2014 to voice their concerns. Representatives from Gulfshore Boulevard North condominium complexes were on hand last month as Naples fire Chief Stephen McInerny explained the changes to the state fire ...
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Fallen Marine honored at Veterans Day festivities in Collier Published 11/11/2009 at 2:24 p.m.
They sat in silence for more than a half an hour, in order to honor those who have served in military over the years.