Page 12 - LIN.DECEMBERWEBPDF

STATE OF
THE
A s the major part of the Holiday Season
rapidly approaches us I seem to do a
lot of reflecting of not only the past
year but also what will the new one
have in store for us in Naples. As I write this
article it is October 30th, and as you’re reading
it there will be a new President of the United
States. I can safely say with no risk of being
criticized and starting my 25th year of Naples
Politics, that I have never in my entire life seen a
Presidential campaign as divisive as the one we
have just witnessed. I am sincerely hoping that
no matter who is elected that we can put that
divisiveness behind us and focus on those things
that mean the most to all of us.
I am often asked what do I like the most
about living in Naples during the Holiday
Season. Well, I can remember first moving here
in 1973 and how funny it seemed to me to be at
the beach basking in the warm sunshine while the
majority of the nation was under a deep freeze.
That hasn’t changed for me and I thoroughly
enjoy listening to our many newcomers who
have only been here only a short time telling me
their stories about how amazing it is here and I
agree, it is.
I will also take this opportunity to thank
our residents of Naples for helping to make
Naples one of the happiest, healthiest places to
live in the nation. There is a lot of credit to be
handed out for that prestigious recognition and
I think that Dr. Allen Weiss, the CEO of our
Naples Healthcare System certainly deserves
recognition for helping and continuing to
pioneer new ways to keep us healthy, and with
being healthy, happiness just falls in to place.
12
CIT Y MAYOR BILL BARNETT
I will also take
this opportunity
to thank our The first time I ever heard
the word Blue Zones and
residents of
Naples for how it was associated
with healthy living, I
helping to make was skeptical. I knew
Naples one of our Human Resources
department at the City had
the happiest, signed on to the Blue Zones
healthiest places concept and was working
to live in the with our employees to
nation. increase their awareness
of a healthier lifestyle but
I never imagined what an
effect that would have on me. After all I’m a pretty healthy
guy for my age. I just stopped running half-marathons a year
ago and now I power walk (well maybe it’s fast walking) but
nonetheless I feel good and stay in shape. Well, my interest
in the Blue Zones kept increasing as I watched the positive
accomplishments our employees were making. A few weeks
ago we received the recognition and the award for being a
Blue Zones healthy workplace that was no easy task. There
is so much more that I can write about Blue Zones, but
perhaps the most important of all would be to ask you to put
on your holiday wish list for a relatively inexpensive gift for
yourself a copy of the book, The Blue Zones, Second Edition by
Dan Buettner. I promise you it’s about healthy choices and
absolutely worth taking the time to read. I did, and there is
no downside to it!
Have a great Christmas, Hannukah, or whatever holiday
you celebrate and may you get all that you wish for and wish
for all that you get!
I do respond to e-mail at mayorbill@naplesgov.com
Life in Naples | December 2016