Beach Parking Woes: A Growing Problem in Bonita Springs

Bonita Springs has seen a lot of growth over the years, but one thing that hasn't kept up is beach parking. Residents and visitors alike are struggling to find a spot, which is a real bummer because the beaches are one of the best things about the area. It's not just an inconvenience; it's a barrier to enjoying one of the city's greatest assets. The county encourages people to come and enjoy the beaches, but when they get there, there's nowhere to park. This has been an issue for a long time, and it's past time for a solution. The beaches are worth protecting and sharing, but without action, all we're doing is inviting frustration instead of enjoyment. Dr. Jaclynn Faffer was a remarkable woman who made a big impact on the Naples community. She was hired by the Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Board in 2010, at a time when many people her age were retiring. But Dr. Faffer wasn't ready to slow down. She saw a critical void in the community: a retirement destination with no senior center. She set out to change that, and she did. She built a $35 million future for the community. Dr. Faffer's legacy is a powerful reminder that one person, with vision and grit, can help thousands. She was married to Dr. Leonard Silverstein, a physician, and she understood the contrast between the medical model and the social one. She knew that while medicine treats the diagnosis, community treats the person. This conviction drove her to secure the prestigious Brookdale model for dementia care, prioritizing socialization and dignity over clinical isolation. But Dr. Faffer knew that a building is just a building without its soul. The true magic lies with the credentialed staff who make the "village" function. She built a home for all of us, and her sudden death leaves a void. But the village she built ensures that her dedication will continue to lift up thousands in our diverse community. Political violence is a serious issue, and it's something that we all need to take a stand against. It's unacceptable no matter the ideology of the perpetrator, and we need to find and support leaders who reject the concept of political violence. We also need to hold perpetrators accountable. With the occupant of the highest office in our land spewing hateful rhetoric and pardoning guilty parties, both the right-wing and the left will continue to use violence to further their goals.Misinformation about immigrants is a big problem, and it's something that we all need to be aware of. Letters in the local press often diverge wildly from the only reputable sources on numbers of migrants available, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Pew Research Center. These letters sometimes suggest that as many as 20 million persons without legal status are here and occasionally hint that most entered during the Biden administration. But the facts are clear: DHS estimates that there are 11 million such persons, while Pew suggests a figure closer to 14 million. Both sources agree that the great majority has been in the U. S. for many years. Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have for protecting our children from deadly diseases. As a retired pediatrician who practiced for over 35 years, I have seen firsthand the difference that vaccines can make. I began practicing Pediatrics before the Florida Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Lapado, was born. In my early years of practice, I saw many young infants who were infected with Haemophilus influenzae bacteria, which caused meningitis and either killed them or left them severely damaged. After the introduction of an effective vaccine against this bacteria in the early 1990s, younger physicians, like Dr. Lapado, have been fortunate enough to have never had to tell a parent that their child has this terrible disease. I also remember when there was no vaccine against polio, and parents lived in fear of their children contracting and being paralyzed or having to live in an iron lung after being infected with the polio virus. From my personal experience and my memory of polio epidemics, I would urge Florida legislators to ignore the advice of Dr. Lapado and maintain mandates for children to be vaccinated to attend public schools in Florida. From personal experience, I know vaccines are very effective and safe. I agree with Dr. Lapado that our bodies are gifts from God, but I also feel vaccines are gifts from God that we should use to protect our children from deadly diseases.