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M A Y 2 - 8 , 2025
3A | ‘DIFFERENT LEVEL’
3A | BEACH, DUNE RX
5B | BACK ON TRACK
Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH opens
Collier project to help restore beach dunes
at home to reach 7-2-2, end skid
A new day in orthopedic surgery:
Naples Botanical Garden part of
FC Naples nips Charleston Battery
‘I felt alive again’
Tim Aten Knows Tim Aten
Tree Farm Plaza nears completion Q: What is going into the new buildings just east of Aldi on Immokalee going toward the CVS? – Bob Halpern, Naples Q: Would you happen to have any updates regarding when Tree Farm Plaza construction will be completed and tenants opening? – Alex Balan, Naples A: Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm Plaza on the northwest corner of Immokalee Road and Collier Boulevard in North Naples. The certificate of occupancy for the more than 25,000-square-foot retail center is expected to be issued this week, with the first tenants expected to open there this summer. Shortly after land clearing began for Tree Farm Plaza a year ago, the first five businesses to sign leases were reported here first. Another five businesses can be reported now. Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Mattress Warehouse, Club Pilates and SweatHouz will join Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cava Mediterranean grill, Riko’s Pizza, Luxe Dry Bar and Encore Nail & Spa, said John Cheffy of Investment Properties Corp. of Naples, the center’s leasing agent. Several of the interior buildouts have already begun for some of the units, said Dan Adams, executive vice president of Stevens Construction, the project manager for building the center. See ATEN KNOWS, Page 7A
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Chef Brian Roland is reflected in a mirror as he prepares dishes April 5 at the “Feast for the Senses” fundraising event for Alliance for the Arts in Fort Myers. It was the first event Roland participated in as a chef since his life-changing accident more than three years ago. Photo by Mila Bridger
Back in his element
Life-changing tragedy alters Chef Brian Roland’s faith and future By Tim Aten tim.aten@naplespress.com
Not only has Chef Brian Roland physically and emotionally returned to public life in Southwest Florida after his life-altering tragedy three years ago, his spiritual presence is stronger than ever. A crushing nearfatal fall has strengthened his faith in a higher power. “God gave me this second chance. He gave me this for a reason,” said Roland, who is still exploring what that reason may be. “I think my strength [is] in Him and in believing now that God truly has blessed me and I have a lot more to give. When I say that now,
it triggers a lot in me now, in my gratefulness and in my experiences that I’ve endured. I want to make good from all that.” Roland, 45, is not yet ready to reveal exactly what that revival looks like, but he believes he could be a powerful speaker with a platform to help others who have experienced traumatic brain injuries, bladder surgeries, foot damage or major physical trauma.
‘The accident’
On the night of Dec. 4, 2021, Crave Culinaire by Chef Brian Roland catered the grand opening party at Ferrari of Naples. Roland and his See ROLAND, Page 7A
Final gift of life: Naples nurse’s death a reminder of opportunity for organ donation By Harriet Howard Heithaus harriet.heithaus@naplespress.com
“Don’t always think on the good side, because you don’t know later on when something like this is going to happen. So you need to think about what’s gonna happen and about this stuff sometimes. Because it’s gonna happen.” – Xavier Barbuto, age 10,
son of organ donor Jasmine Barbuto Young Xavier Barbuto’s good advice is born of personal experience. He has watched his father and his mother’s family through their decision to turn her death passage into one of life, thanks to the donation of her organs to patients registered with the University of Miami Life Alliance Agency. Three people will live because of that decision, one of them a youngster close to Xavier’s age.
Barbuto family members, along with NCH and UM-Life Alliance, are sharing Jasmine Barbuto’s story because they’re aware of the urgent need to have more people be open to organ donation. According to the Alliance, only three in 1,000 deaths are discovered in time — while the heart is still beating — for the person to become a donor. See DONATION, Page 10A
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