Page 44 - life-in-naples-march-2016

by Lois Bolin
Old Naples Historian
“A woman’s work is Never Done
as the Song says and happy
Shee whos Strength holds out
to the End of the rais.” So wrote Martha
Ballard in her journal on Nov. 26, 1785, in
a time when fewer than half the women in
America were literate. The fabric of our local
culture has woven a unique tapestry from
the determination, courage, and strength of
women who did what all good women still do
today: make their community a better place
to live.
LEGACY & LEGENDS
Blanche,the wife of Collier County’s first
sheriff, William Maynard, was appointed
Chief Deputy in 1926 at a time when
women were prohibited from jury duty. One
day, while the Sheriff patrolled the Tamiami
Trail, Blanche took her posse and two year
old son on a 30 hour mission to capture
three fugitives in the Everglades.
Deaconess Bedell faithfully served in the
Everglades from 1933 to 1960 to improve the
quality of life for the Miccosukee Seminole
Indians by reviving forgotten crafts and by
going to Congress to ensure that no foreign
replications would undercut the price of the
Indians’ native crafts.
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Women’s History Month:
THE LEGAcoCntinYues
Helen Sample, wife of the developer of
Port Royal, deeded land in the 1950s to the
area now known as the River Park Community
Center. A few years ago talks of replacing the
swimming pool with a splash pool were halted
when City Council discovered there was a deed
to the land stating should the land ever be used
for anything other than a pool - it would go
back to the Sample Foundation. Mrs. Sample’s
strength is still holding out.
The Naples Woman’s Club was formed in September 1932 when Doris Gandees called a
meeting with 17 original auxiliary club members from the Community Church, the only church
in town until 1930. The club motto was: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is
progress; working together is success.”
Two of their projects still stand out in our community’s mind: the original Christmas Bazaar
and the Veterans War Memorial at Cambier Park. While their Christmas Bazaar is no longer,
the Veterans War Memorial still stands as a powerful reminder of “women’s work” thanks to Pilar
Montes, mother of Lili Montes, partner at the Sea Salt and Barbatella restaurants, located on
historic Third Street South.
WOMAN’S REVOLUTIONARY WORK
On March 31,1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, and warned “if particular care and
attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold
ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”
That time finally came in 1919. For those who complain about standing in line to vote, see the
movie “Iron Jawed Angels.” They endured beatings and forced feeding in prison to ensure women
could finally be citizens and not just chattel.
Naples first “revolutionary” women writers for the Collier County News were Lynn Hixon-
Holley and Mary Ellen Hawkins,who went on to become our area’s first woman attorney and judge
and first woman Republican elected to the Florida House of Representatives respectively. Their
legacy inspired many who followed, including Gina Edwards, founder of the digital publication
“Naples City Desk” on watchdogcity.com.
Gina has always made her mark “fighting the good fight.”Her most recent duke-fest is over the
cost of public records. While she has prevailed three times in court against Collier Clerk of Courts
Dwight Brock, this may not stop the Clerk, who has unlimited taxpayer money to hire lawyers,
from filing again.
Edward’s attorneys’ fee have not been paid but her fight for the public rights for information
is taking her to Tallahassee to shed light on two pending bills in the Legislature, Senate Bill 1220
and its companion, House Bill 1021.
The pending legislation,a reaction due to the thousands of public records requests by a Palm Beach
attorney,would make the award of legal fees discretionary if a citizen prevails against the government.
Edwards asked,“Why should a citizen have to sue to get government to enforce the law enforced?”
Gina Edwards will address her Public Records issue at the Republican Women of SWFL
Federated luncheon on March 2nd at Brios. Call 239.777.2281 for more details.
In the meantime, help this sentinel of freedom defend “we the people” by subscribing to
watchdogcity.com. It will be a great gift to give another woman during Women’s History Month so
we can ensure this woman’s work is never done.
Life in Naples | March 2016