Around Town in East Naples

The Elk’s Lodge on Radio Rd. has the best hot dogs in town, and they only cost $2.00!  I love to go to Hot Dog Saturday.  This week, while there, Al told me that a SweetBay Grocery Store will be opening this coming Saturday, March 8th in the old Winn Dixie building on Radio Rd. and Santa Barbara.  I went over to check it out, and the manager told me there would be prizes, specials, food, music, and lots of fun and activity.  I’m going over to check it out.  Hope to see you there.

    The Water Treatment Plant tour was a great success!  About 18 people attended and everyone was very impressed and learned so much.  I met the Bob Butler’s and the Dick Graham’s for the first time.  Of course, my friends Jack Mischung and Dick Thern were there, as well as Ron & Sue Cummings, Charley Cortright, Bobby Schweikert, Frank Mentone, the Harper’s, Wilma Whitaker and the Houston Thompson’s.   Dick Thern said the information he received was completely different than what he had thought.  There was a request to do another tour – this time of the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  I’ve checked it out and our people said they would be happy to provide a tour.   If anyone is interested in going, please contact Trisha in my office at 774-8097 to sign up.  We don’t have a date yet, but it will be in March.
    This week is my Town Hall Meeting.  County staff will be giving updates on the water situation, road construction, library, EOC, parks, and Jim Mudd, our County Manager, will talk about our budget.  The East Naples Civic Association will also present information on a strategic plan they are working on for the U.S.41 East corridor from Rattlesnake Hammock Rd. to SR 92, the road to Goodland. 
    Many people have asked what happened to the Fitzgerald’s sign out front.  On New Year’s Eve day there was a water main break, and when the repair crew came in to fix it they hit a gas line.  They also destroyed the sign out front.  Hopefully they’ll have a new one in place soon, but it takes a while between insurance companies and sign builders.  I actually hailed someone down from the street one day who was supposed to meet me there. 
    Speaking of Irish restaurants…….have you been to Erin’s Isle recently?  That little place is always busy, always fun, and always has good food.  I love the fact that one of the owners, Mike & John Ward, are always there.  They know their customers, they know their likes and dislikes.  Hmmm, isn’t St. Patty’s Day coming soon? 
    I have to tell you a sweet story.  My little Amish “grandson", Mathias, who is 11 years old, wrote me last week to tell me his goat had triplets, (I didn’t know goats could have triplets) that he and his sister and brother were skating on the pond and racing down the hill in their sled, and that dad said they could have hens in the spring.  His beautiful innocence just shone through his letter.  I couldn’t resist.  I decided to go up to Ohio and give them all a hug, but not until after Easter.  My own grandchildren and I have to color and decorate eggs first. 
    See you in two weeks.