Page 54 - Life In Naples Magazine - November 2015
P. 54
POLITICS and
POTPOURRI
by Councilman Bill Barnett
“I was thinking about
A s Thanksgiving and the Naples Season rapidly how Naples began
approaches us, I smile when I reflect upon almost 43 for me and the many
years of living in the City of Naples. I was thinking changes that have
about how Naples began for me and the many changes that ”occurred since I moved
have occurred since I moved here in July of 1973. here in July of 1973.
Friends are constantly telling me that someday I should were walking to the bus stop or riding their bikes to school
write a book about my experiences in Naples and my answer and I can tell you that stuff they were spraying was definitely
is always the same. There have been enough books written not environmentally friendly! I was thrilled to get unanimous
about Naples and maybe I will when I have nothing else to support from my fellow Council members and the Mosquito
do, which I hope is a long way down the road. Control adjusted their spraying timetable. They were
memorable years, for sure!
Perhaps some of my most vivid memories of early Naples
were the things that most of us couldn’t imagine today unless Here is a quote that could have been written yesterday:“He
you were or are from a very small village or town. Some said that in his opinion Naples had always been progressive
of them were: Walking in to Publix and knowing every and that he knew it had to grow. However, he said that after
person who was shopping there and stopping to chat with watching other Florida communities grow Topsy-Turvy he
them for a minute. All businesses except for the bank and has been, and is too vitally interested in seeing that Naples
the supermarket closed on Wednesday afternoons so people growth is controlled and well planned. Anyone interested in a
could play golf, or tennis, or walk on the beach or take a nap, it city who plans to raise his family here he commented should
didn’t matter what you did. Walking into the Bank of Naples by all means contribute to the development of the city he
on Fifth Avenue South and seeing that wonderful lady whose selected to live in of which he is proud. However he added it
name was Mamie Tooke who was the president of the bank is becoming more difficult to get dedicated people to run for
sitting with her desk in the middle of the lobby so she could office and thereby subject themselves to politics and public
see and greet every person that walked through the door and abuse. It seems he said that when elected to office these days
ask about how they were and how was their family which of everyone automatically assumes that official is a crook.” That
course she knew every member of. The Mosquito Controls article was written by City of Naples Mayor Archie Turner on
DC3’s flying about 500 feet over your house at first light and January 25th, 1968 and appeared in the Naples Star. I always
scaring every stranger in Naples half to death. I could walk smile when I read that.
the Naples beach and never see another person. Only two fine
dining restaurants in Naples, Picadilly Pub and Saint George Enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday!
and the Dragon. U.S. 41 was two lanes, along with Alligator
Alley and Airport Road. Park Shore didn’t exist.
I can remember the excitement of being the youngest
Council member ever elected in 1984 at the ripe old age of 44.
My fellow Council members had all finished their business
careers and treated me like I was one of their grandchildren.
One of my first suggestions as a new Council member was
to ask the Mosquito Control to stop spraying early in the
morning especially since the school kids including my own
54 Life in Naples | November 2015
