photo mosaic of Naples, Florida pier, Bayfront, Bayside, dolphin jumping, magenta orchid, water birds silhouetted against the sunset
It’s Gulf sea turtle nesting season, how you can keep them safe

It’s Gulf sea turtle nesting season, how you can keep them safe

Chad Gillis | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

They’re Leviathans of the sea, truly massive creatures that cross oceans each year in order to feed and reproduce.

Sea turtles flock to Florida beaches each summer to dig giant holes, fill them with hundreds of eggs, cover the eggs and then return to the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf.

Compared to their land cousins, sea turtles are enormous, some (like the leatherback) reaching the size of a small car.

They first emerged around 110 million years ago, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, the state agency charged with protected sea turtles and other wildlife.

State nest monitoring increases
Locally, dozens of volunteers and scientists will spend most summer mornings walking local beaches and looking for turtle tracks, which are several feet wide and go from the Gulf, up the beach and then back down to the water.

The state reported more than 133,414 nests on beaches that are monitored in Florida, and that number broke the previous 2016 record by about 8,000 nests, according to Florida Wildlife Research Institute records and local sea turtle experts.

Loggerheads are the most common sea turtle species found on Southwest Florida beaches, and they nest here on places like Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach, in Naples and on Marco Island.

Read more about the sea turtles on naplesnews.com.

Are you looking for a home in the Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples waterfront development ‘The Viceroy’ moves closer to approval

Naples waterfront development ‘The Viceroy’ moves closer to approval

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

A long-planned, mixed-use waterfront development in Naples has cleared another regulatory hurdle.

On May 13, the city’s Planning Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional use petition to city council.

Years in the making, the project, overlooking Naples Bay, has faced challenges as it has evolved.

Formerly known as The Prom and now as The Viceroy, the development is planned on 1.81 acres of long vacant land, near the intersection of Riverpoint Drive and the Fifth Avenue South bridge downtown.

Plans for the three-story development include short-term lodging, along with other retail and commercial uses, supported by surface and underground parking, as well as street parking.

Read the full article and see renderings on naplesnews.com.

Naples ‘house on the beach’ condo lists for $13.9 million

Naples ‘house on the beach’ condo lists for $13.9 million

Andrea Stetson | Special to The News-Press & Naples Daily News

Jeanna Wolfe’s spacious home has sliding glass doors that lead to a humongous lanai with a pool and spa overlooking the Gulf. That might not seem unusual unless you know that Wolfe lives in a condo.

“We didn’t want to be in a condo building, but this is like a house on the beach,” Wolfe stressed. “The terrace has stairs right to the beach. It really feels perfect for the person that wants a house on the beach, but the ease of a condo.”

It is the only one of the 19 condos in The Vanderbilt with its own terrace and pool and that terrace spans 5,793 square feet and includes the large deck with its pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, sitting and dining areas and garden. That is almost as much as the interior which is 6,141 square feet under air. The entire property is 12,640 square feet.

“It was lived in by the developer of this building, and we met them and became friends, and we told them if you are ever going to sell let us know and that was 2012 and we have been here ever since,” Wolfe explained. “It is just our unique place. Nobody knows it exists. We have spent many years here and have loved it here.”

Wolfe’s beloved husband, Jeff, recently passed away and Wolfe now wants a change and is selling her dream home for $13,995,000.

Read more about how Jeanna and her husband enjoyed living in this lovely home, on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

‘Hamilton,’ Jimi, more: Artis—Naples new season big on icons

‘Hamilton,’ Jimi, more: Artis—Naples new season big on icons

Legendary composers and iconic musicals highlight the upcoming Artis—Naples season.

The Naples entertainment venue has announced its 2026-27 performing arts subscription season, which features Baker Museum’s upcoming exhibitions, concerts and more.

Here’s what to know.

‘Engage, inspire and entertain’
The 2026-27 season marks the organization’s third year under the artistic leadership of Sharon and Timothy Ubben Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley. Additional performances and exhibitions will be announced in July 2026.

“As Artis—Naples enters its third season under Alexander Shelley’s artistic leadership, we continue to build on a strong foundation while evolving as a multidisciplinary organization serving Southwest Florida audiences,” said Artis—Naples CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen in a news release.

‘Artists confront the world’
The Naples Philharmonic Masterworks Series kicks off in in late October as Shelley conducts Beethoven and Brahms, with South Korean classical pianist Yeol Eum Son performing.

The November concert features Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird, setting the stage for 2027 when Shelley conducts a series of concerts in March 2027 of Beethoven’s symphonies 1 through 9.

“In Beethoven’s symphonies, in large-scale orchestral and vocal works and in the more intimate language of chamber music, artists confront the world as it is while reaching toward what it might become,” Shelley said in the news release.

‘Hamilton’ returns for Broadway series, and lots more…read on naplesnews.com

TAre you looking for a home in the vibrant Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Forbes has named the 250 greatest living self-made Americans.

Among the elite group: A few Naples residents, who also happen to be billionaires.

The new list is the latest installment of the Forbes 250 initiative — a year-long project launched in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

The Self-Made 250 List spotlights Americans whose journeys began with a “profound disadvantage” and whose success stories are defined by “resilience, reinvention and ambition.” Listees include well-known celebrities and icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Lebron James and Dolly Parton.

Locals on the list include long-time Naples resident Shahid Khan, ranked at No. 21.

Khan, 74, owns auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate and the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Forbes, he immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan with $500 in his pocket, before building his industrial and sports empire that includes the Fulham Football Club.

Per Forbes, the business mogul is also the richest man in Naples — and Southwest Florida. He sat at No. 193 on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list by Forbes, retaining his position as one of the top 200 wealthiest people on the planet.

Who else is on the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.