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M A R C H 2 8 - A P R I L 3 , 2025
3A | NOISE CULPRITS
3B | ROLE MODELS
6B | A GOOD RUN
for airport curfew violations
those we can admire in the unexpected
area for 9-plus years before its closing
Student pilots, private jets responsible
Local theater’s message: Finding
21 Spices by Chef Asif served the Naples
Desire to help
Tim Aten Knows
2025 STORM SEASON
Hurricane forum looks at effects, challenges
Tim Aten
Costco formally files plans for second store in Collier Less than two weeks after hundreds of residents packed a neighborhood information meeting to protest conceptual plans for a second location in Collier County, Costco Wholesale Corp. submitted formal development plans earlier this month for a new store proposed on the southeast corner of Collier Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road. More expansive than shown in initial plans, the 162,671-squarefoot Costco South Naples store would be more than 14,000 square feet larger than the Costco that has operated for 25 years on Naples Boulevard in North Naples. The new warehouse with a fuel station is proposed on nearly 22 acres of undeveloped, heavily wooded land that is part of the Hacienda Lakes mixed-use planned unit development. Abutting the proposed Costco property, an additional 4 acres of commercial outparcels with more than 45,000 square feet of building area are earmarked along Collier Boulevard for other businesses that have yet to be determined. Before the Costco proposal advances to public hearings, the complex project will be scrutinized and modified by the county’s Growth Management and Community Development staff for an unspecified amount of time. Then, the proposal will be on the Planning Commission’s agenda before it is received by the Board of County Commissioners.
By Therese McDevitt terry.mcdevitt@naplespress.com
With hurricane season rapidly approaching, an audience of almost 400 gathered at Naples United Church of Christ on March 18 for a forum on how Naples and other Collier County communities can better prepare for — and recover from — major storms. “Taking the Punch out of Powerful Hurricanes: A Forum on Building Resilience” was sponsored by the Collier Community Foundation, Greater Naples Leadership and Naples United Church of Christ and featured Matt Devitt, WINK News chief meteorologist; Jennifer Jurado, Broward County chief resilience officer; and Dan Summers, Collier County Emergency Management Division director. Panelists also discussed concerns over planned or possible federal funding cuts to agencies including NOAA, the National Weather Service and FEMA.
History of major SWFL hurricanes, and hurricane ‘anatomy’
The 2025 Bay Days Great American Clean Up was held Saturday, March 22, at 20 locations throughout Collier County. The cleanup brings together volunteers, local businesses and municipalities to support and help preserve Collier County’s environment. Above, Desiree Dayhoff was one of a handful of women from the Doubletree Suites by Hilton Naples Hotel who joined nearly 1,000 participating locally. Private group cleanups were scheduled to include about 250 people and will continue through Earth Day (April 22). “We do it every year,” said Dayhoff, whose group was cleaning up Barefoot Beach. “Earth Day is coming. Every year we want to celebrate the Earth and help as much as we can.” Dayhoff’s group was flanked by students from North Naples Middle School, led annually by social studies teacher Brad Preston. For more information, go to keepcollierbeautiful.com. Photo by Ed Scott
Devitt offered a history of storms that have had major consequences for Naples and Southwest Florida and said now is the time to prepare for whatever the upcoming hurricane season (June 1 through Nov. 30) may bring. The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season saw a total of 18 storms including 11 hurricanes — with five designated as major — and was the second costSee STORM SEASON, Page 4A
See ATEN KNOWS, Page 4A
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Marco Island City Council chooses seventh councilor By Aisling Swift
After four months of tied votes, Marco Island City Council unanimously appointed a seventh councilor, a retired CEO and local philanthropist. The March 17 vote to appoint Rene Champagne, a retired technical institute chairman and Vietnam veteran, came during a nearly 75-min-
ute special meeting, more than an hour of which was devoted to bickering over how to vote, and whether to interview the four new candidates or ask others to step up. But Councilor Bonita Schwan interrupted the discussion by nominating Champagne, and within seconds the vote was unanimous, prompting applause from residents in the audience. Before the vote, Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz noted they’d been at an impasse since November
after more than two dozen candidates, repeated nominations and tie votes. “Three counselors have felt that the other three counselors were intractable in their positions and vice versa,” Brechnitz said. “Also, three counselors felt the other three were being foolish and vice versa. The truth is, in my judgment, the entire council looks foolish — and I suspect if See MARCO, Page 6A
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