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CANCER ALLIANCE NETWORK
Family finds help, hope
Q: Do you know what is being built in front of Naples Classic Academy on Immokalee Road? – Elizabeth P., Naples A: Construction began in March on the Creative World School at Naples Classical Academy on the south side of Immokalee Road between Collier and Wilson boulevards. The one-story early childhood education center at 10266 Immokalee Road is targeted for completion on Nov. 30, according to plans recorded by Collier County Growth Management. The future 10,258-square-foot preschool is proposed to have 22 employees and serve 200 children, county records show. Creative World has about 30 schools franchised in five states. The new location will be the fourth regional franchise operated by Estero residents Amy and Christopher O’Malley, who also own locations at Olympia Park in North Naples and in Estero and Gateway in Lee County. Although the O’Malleys could not be reached for comment, their webpage for the new school promises an engaging, innovative approach to early education that inspires creativity, critical thinking and a love for learning. “Families can look forward to a safe, nurturing and educational environment for toddlers, 2s, preschool, pre-K and school-age children supported by our stateof-the-art facility with advanced See ATEN KNOWS, Page 4A
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Veronica Morley, lead case manager of the Cancer Alliance Network, holds baby Crystal Kapish as dad Steve Kapish pets one of the family goats. Michelle Ciuffetelli, Development Director of the Cancer Alliance Network, holds fresh eggs from the family’s chickens. Photo by Liz Gorman
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
For Steve and Souzanna Kapish, buying their home in Collier County in late 2023 was a dream come true. But three months after moving to Golden Gate from Broward County, Steve was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer. Shortly after that, they found out that Souzanna was pregnant. Determined to keep moving forward with their 13-year-old son, Ajay, and now eight-
month-old daughter, Crystal, Steve and Souzanna kept working on their home, adding the chickens and goats that had been part of Steve’s dream of moving to a place with a yard big enough to raise them. With Steve unable to work — after more than 20 years with the Broward County School District — Souzanna currently works full time with the Collier County tax collector’s office and part time at Publix to make ends meet financially for the family. Now, with help from the Cancer Alliance Network in Naples and the organization’s “Paint it
Forward” program, the family is seeing another part of their dream come true with a home makeover that included painting and landscaping donated by local companies. CAN supports individuals with cancer and their families by providing non-medical financial assistance; case management; support groups; food for nutrition and cooking classes; a variety of supplies for different types of cancer; and client events and family respite outings. Michelle Ciuffetelli, development director See FAMILY, Page 7A
Designer sues permit firm, alleging it caused permit fraud, damage to reputation By Aisling Swift
One of two dozen firms cited by the state for unlicensed activity in a wide-ranging permit-fraud investigation has sued a Naples planning and permitting firm, blaming it for jeopardizing the plaintiff’s projects, causing a nearly $106,000
loss and damaging its reputation. Naples-based DWD Design Inc. and David Wainscott, who filed the lawsuit in Collier Circuit Court late last month, allege Octavio Sarmiento Jr., of ASSA Designs LLC, used retired architect Gene Cravillion’s state seal without Cravillion’s knowledge, breaching a contract Wainscott had with ASSA. The lawsuit alleges fraudu-
lent misrepresentation, breach of contract and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. “DWD relied on ASSA’s and Mr. Sarmiento’s representations when providing the designs to contractors and owners, who then submitted them to the Collier County Building Department, City of Naples Building Department and City
of Marco Island Building Department for approval,” the lawsuit says. “… As a direct result of defendants’ actions, plaintiffs became subject to an investigation by the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design, which jeopardized the projects that used DWD’s designs, and plaintiffs’ reputations.” See LAWSUIT, Page 7A
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