Naples Potpourri …Bill Barnett Former Naples Mayor

In my last Life in Naples article, I did a lot of complaining about the fact that my wife Chris and I weren’t going to Buffalo this summer and how much it would be missed, especially not seeing family, and eating fresh corn and other farmstand produce, along with a lot of chicken wings.

After living in Naples for 53 years there came a time for our family that we decided we needed to find a place to vacation with our children out of the Naples heat. The year was 1975 and Lake Placid, N.Y., was it. My grandmother on my mom’s side had owned a small place up there when I was very young and I
remembered growing up that if I was ever fortunate enough to have a summer vacation home it would be in Lake Placid. We spent many wonderful summers there.

Once the kids had all grown and moved on with their lives and we decided it was just too big for us and we sold it. Buffalo came into play shortly after because Chris is originally from there and most of her family is still there, and the weather is beautiful during the summer. As luck would have it, I received a call in late July from a nephew of Chris’s who owns a great little cottage about five minutes from where we had been renting for years and had heard we were looking for a place. He simply said he is there through Labor Day, but if we wanted it after Labor Day, we could use it for as long as we wanted to.

So, I’m not complaining anymore, we had it for three weeks and are thankful for the opportunity. I absolutely spent time at my all-time favorite grocery store Wegmans. If you ever get the chance and are able to visit one, it will no doubt please you to no end. Yes, I did eat as much fresh picked corn as I could, and more than my share of Buffalo Chicken Wings! However, no matter where I go it’s still nice to be back in Naples.

In January of this year, I asked Chris when she was going to take the Christmas tree down and she said soon. The Menorah had been put away and I was just curious. Then I had a brainstorm which I still get occasionally. The tree was an artificial one, and it was the middle of January, and it was still shining brightly. I said to Chris, “why don’t you just leave it up and decorate it as you see fit each month?” Well, she smiled and said great idea.

So, picture this if you can. The lights that came with the tree were white and the tree was green. For Christmas she added red lights, so it was red and white like a candy cane. In January for football season, she added blue lights, so it was red, white, and blue, Go Bills! February for Valentines Day back to red and white. March brought green and white for spring and Saint Patrick’s Day. April was spring and Easter with added bunnies and bows, and she left the green and white lights. May was red, white and blue for Memorial Day. June and July remained red, white, and blue for Flag Day and our 250th July 4th celebration. August was blue and white lights with sea critters and blue bows, for summer. September the lights went orange and white with fall starting. The orange and white lights will remain for October and November for spooky Halloween which is my birthday, and Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving she will revert it back to becoming a Christmas tree which was red and white, and you can imagine the rest.

Chris’s bottom line is “why take it down when you can enjoy the benefits of the lights and decorations every day?” I just can’t argue with that logic!

Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
(239) 777-7952
I do respond to emails at: mayornaples@gmail.com