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BILL BARNETT

consider this summer article, which covers three months, It will no doubt bring back many wonderful memories. I still
the “end” of season and the new season starts in November. say the Adirondack Mountains are spectacular to visit in the
I It just makes sense to me, don't ask why. Usually as I write summer, offering phenomenal hiking trails from beginner to the
the summer and a bit of fall articles, I am in Angola, New York most experienced and certainly in the winter if you’re a skier. It
which is about a thirty minute drive from downtown Buffalo. We is absolutely worth a trip there if possible. We will then finish up
rent a small cottage about a two minute walk from Lake Erie and our summer and some fall in Angola and home in October.
a nice beach, a few restaurants, and, best of all, Evangola State You might have noticed I have not been writing letters to the
Park, which is one of the prettiest State Parks I’ve ever seen. Five editor or making public comments at City Hall for the past five
days a week I feel as if I own it because there aren’t many people years, regardless of my opinions on current city agendas. That
taking advantage of it during the week. The weekends are busy does not mean that I don’t care what’s going on in our city, on
with folks coming from Buffalo and the other surrounding areas. the contrary I care a lot. Am I tempted? Absolutely but if I were
I make it a habit to walk in the park daily. to voice my opinion against a project that had most likely been
I also brag about all the local farms where we go to get our discussed during my tenure I would still be called a sore loser
fresh produce. I would be remiss if I left out that our area is the regardless, because that’s just the way it works. I’m much better
corn capital of New York, and from the day we arrive until the minding my own business, and I certainly give my opinions when
day we leave, which is about 6-8 weeks, I eat fresh picked corn. asked. Perhaps the most absurd issue that has come up and was
Boiled, grilled, microwaved, or wrapped in tinfoil over an open decided after two years of studies, discussions, and debates was
fire, it’s always on our dinner menu! My wife Chris has a lot of the thought of moving our Naples Airport. I will tell you that
family near us because Buffalo is where she grew up. We are never this was no new subject. It had been talked about as long as I can
bored, and we can always find a family member doing a barbecue. remember during my public career which spanned 28 years.Then
I always say the two things I don’t eat when we get back to Naples it was put back in an archive somewhere in City Hall until the
are chicken wings or corn! I could write this entire article about idea popped up a few years later by someone who thought this was
our summer, but I’ll finish this part with our favorite ice cream a brilliant idea. Well this time some of the City Council members
place. Its name is Frosty Treat and they have been there since decided it was worth looking into. I’m not going through the
1954 serving the widest variety of specialty sundaes in Western whole story, but two years and $400,000 later it was once again
New York. Unless it is a rainy, cold day which, there aren’t many, shelved. Was there a lesson learned by this debacle? It’s easy for
the line is always long but nobody minds waiting! They update me to say because I’m just a good old 52 year resident of the City
their selections daily and trying to make up your mind is a tough of Naples but this would have never happened this way had I
challenge but a fun one. been an elected official during these last two years.
It feels a little strange for me to still be in Naples right now Enjoy your summer and fall, and remember the old
and not planning our normal trip until August this year. Usually, saying, no matter where you vacation you just can’t
it’s July through October and when folks see me in Publix or beat living in Naples, Florida!
around town right now they ask is everything ok? Yes, it is, and
All the Best,
I do appreciate the fact that they care about the old Mayor! This
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
summer we are going to drive from Naples to Lake Placid, New
I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com
York where we spent over thirty years before selling and went to
Buffalo for the summer. We will visit with some friends there
and stay with our nephew who is a top catering Chef there.

8 www.LifeInNaples.net