National Day of Prayer
Today, May 3rd is the National Day of Prayer. This is a day set aside by Congress for all Americans to pray and reaffirm the spiritual principles upon which this nation was founded.
It will be my honor to read a proclamation from the Collier County Comission reconizing the value and power of prayer in our daily lifes to residents of Everglades City, Chokoloskee, Plantation Island and Copeland.
Maime Street is now paved and - FINALLY - fully reopened, allowing once again free access to the famed and legendary Smallwood's Store on Chokoloskee Island, south of Everglades City.
Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta played a key role in restoring the roadway, prior to the dispute with neighborhing developers landing in the courts.
"The road's paved, and from here there's nowhere to go but up," Coletta told the Naples Daily News.
The existence of Smallwood's Store has been threatened for nearly a year when developers from Georgia, who bought the neighboring property closed Maime Street, an unplatted roadway and the only land access to the store on Chokoloskee Bay.
Ten Thousand Island Pioneer Ted Smallwood opened his trading post in 1906 and for much of the early part of the 20th Century it was the commercial hub in the vast wilderness between the east and wests coasts of Florida. It served as the backdrop for Peter Matthiessen's famed novel, Killing Mr. Watson, as well as the other two novels in Mattiessen's trilogy of life in the Ten Thousand Islands. The store is a museum today and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Reopening the road, reopens the pathway to one of Collier County's - and all of Florida's - most significant historic sites.
"It's good news," Coletta told the Daily News. "I hope that all the people who supported the Smallwood Store in the past (continue to support it)."
You're invited to come on out and support Jim Coletta when he appears April 9th at a county commission candidates forum organized by the Collier Republican Club.
The forum will be held at Bellasera Hotel in downtown Naples, 221 Ninth Street, South (Tamiami Trail), at 6 p.m. The $10 cost includes snacks. A cash bar will also be available.
Each candidates will have 3 minutes for an opening statement, answer a few questions from the audience and have 3 minutes for a closing statement. With vicious attacks already launched against Jim, his opponents will have plenty to answer to. You can see Jim's take on the attacks by clicking here for an interview with Jeff Lytle of the Naples Daily News.
High praise for Jim Coletta in Letter-to-the-editor..
Dr Howard Freedman, M.D., Naples president of the Lion's club, offered his thanks and praise in a letter-to-the-editor of the Naples Daily News for Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta's forward leadership in working to ensure job creation and expansion in Collier.
Thank you, Dr. Freedman!
"Exceptional," writes Dr. Freeman. "I now really appreciate the foresight and good judgment of Commissioner Jim Coletta in working with Arthrex to stay and expand their business activities in Naples, and specifically in Ave Maria. We need more businesses like Arthrex here in Naples and Collier County as we grow to be a magnet for dynamism and innovation in health care."
Click here to read the rest of Dr. Freedman's letter in the Naples Daily News.
Naples Daily News' Jeff Lytle interviews Jim Coletta
Jim takes the opportunity to refute an incindiary attack made on him earlier in the week as he's interviewed by Naples' favorite interviewer, Jeff Lytle, editorial page editor of the Naples Daily News.
"Well, you know, I’ve been around the block a couple of times now, in five different campaigns," Coletta tells Lytle. "I have never in my life seen such a negative piece of literature put out against myself, as a candidate. I’ve never seen anything like this.
"Keep in mind, Jeff, that we’re still five months away from the primary. And they’re starting early. If you have no credibility, and you’re a desperate person out there, you’re going to resort to this kind of negativity."
You can watch the Jeff Lytle Newsmakers interview here.
In addition to talking back to the wild and unsubstantiated attack hurled at him, Jim also discusses a number of important issues and topics of importance to Collier County.
Be sure to catch the interview and hear Jim's own words as he provides facts, not unfounded accusations.
Jim Coletta to the Collier County Fair...
Everybody loves going to the Collier County Fair but hardly anyone enjoys the fair as much as Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta.
"Every year I get so excited," he said. "The exhibits, the kids's agricultural projects, the rides, the music, even the food. It is all fun and fun for the whole family."
The county fair formally opened March 15 and will run through March 25.
Jim will be there, greeting people, answering questions and spending the evening, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., at his Re-Elect Jim Coletta table in the commercial tent. Stop by and say, "hey."
He'd love to see you. Maybe you can even talk him into buying you a corn dog.
Read more about the Collier County Fair in the Naples Daily News.
"It's always a joy and pleasure to be among the fine and caring community of the Vanderbilt Country Club," said Jim Coletta March 13.
The Vanderbilt community feted and praised Jim and Mary Ann Coletta for their work in the community and the relationship the community has built with Jim over his years as Collier County Commissioner for District 5.
In the photograph, Jim chats with Bob and Madge Bush, two of the organizers of the appreciation event along with fellow Vanderbilt C.C. residents Chappell & Jane Ellen Wilson, Kent & Kim Friedman, Bill & Joan Cooper, Bob & Ruth Battreall and Ron & Pam Khachadoorian,
In his remarks, Bush praised Coletta for his attention to detail and his responsiveness to the needs of the community.
"We want to make sure we keep him working as our county commissioner," Bush said. "He is good for District 5."
It will be very good, indeed, having U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart representing us once again in Washington, D.C. and I'm grateful to count him among my very good friends and supporters - along with a packed house March 12th in Everglades City.
Everglades City Mayor Sammy Hamilton and I were humbled as the congressman took time out of his busy schedule to praise us as the kind of public servants he aspires to be. We certainly look to him as a role model for how elected officials work best with voters and citizens.
Congressman Diaz-Balart will be returning as our man in the U.S. House of Representatives, assuming the courts approve the redistricting plan adopted by the Florida Legislature. Having represented Eastern Collier County most effectively from 2002 to 2010, he changed districts in 2011 to succeed his brother, Lincoln, in a district centered around Hialeah in Dade County. But under the new reapportionment plan, that district is expanded to reach over to Everglades, Immokalee, all of Eastern Collier County and parts of southern Hendry County.
Even though he didn't technically represent us in Washington for the past two years, we talked often and he has been there for us all along.
As, always, we had a great time Monday night in Everglades City. It is a remarkable community filled with truly remarkable and wonderful people. Thanks to everyone for coming out. And thanks, also, to Everglades Seafood Depot owner Billy Potter for his always excellent food and hospitality.
Once again, Jim Coletta is among the sponsors on the annual golf outing at Vanderbilt Country Club to raise money for the Relay-for-Life fund-raiser of the Naples' unit of the American Cancer Society.
It has been a pleasure to interact with the Vanderbilt community at charitable and other events over the years," Jim said. "They have very caring community."
The Relay-for-Life Golf Outing is set for March 24th with foursomes getting off the tees at 8:30 a.m. Call the Vanderbilt Country Club, 239-348-2662, for more information.
For more information on the Naples unit of the American Cancer Society, Relay-for-Life events and other information call, 239-261-0337, ext. 118 or email Ann.Gardner@cancer.org.
Jim Coletta continues to push for greater safety of school children, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
With his leadership, the Board of Collier County Commissioners approved February 28th a move to acquire right-of-way and modify a right turn lane with an improved radius on Everglades Blvd. at 18th Avenue N.E. The acquisition will create a greater turning radius at the corner.
“This is a health, safety and welfare issue and I am glad my fellow commissioners approved the resolution authorizing the condemnation of a road right-of-way, drainage and utility easement to allow enough of a turning radius for school buses and other large vehicles to turn safely and not have to travel into the opposing travel lane,” said Commissioner Coletta.
“The acquisition of a small piece of land will make a big difference in improving safety on the roadway in this area.”
The condemnation is expected to cost up to $14,000 and the construction to improve the turn lane is expected to cost approximately $30,000. The money is being allocated from gasoline taxes which help pay for road improvements in Collier County.
