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The city kicked off its year-long celebration honoring the past, celebrating the present, and shaping the future in Cambier park on December 1, 2022. The event was filled with performances by Gulfshore Playhouse, the Naples Players, and Ben Allen, recognizing past council members and volunteer board members of the city, and the most spectacular part was our new city manager, Jay Boodheshwar recognizing our amazing staff. We’d like to thank Paul Arsenault for allowing us to use his iconic artwork of the pier, which was used for the centennial invitation and program. I couldn’t think of a better way to honor the past than using this historic image.
At the end of the program, we were honored to have Tony Orlando and city council members tie the yellow ribbons of hope on the trees in Cambier park. Celebration Beach Church and Naples Senior Center began the city’s year-long series of centennial events with their fundraiser called “Hope Lives Here.” This fundraiser will sell yellow ribbons to the community to raise awareness and support Veteran Programs at the Naples Senior Center. Yellow ribbons, signifying hope and solidarity, will be sold and hung up around the community to raise awareness and support Veteran Programs by the Naples Senior Center. Ribbons can be purchased at www.naplesseniorcenter.org.
The yellow ribbon fundraiser was the first of many commemorative events this year. Our centennial committee is working hard to put together a calendar of centennial events, but we need your help. We are inviting you to participate in your own creative way for the year leading up to the Centennial Celebration. We are asking for your support to make this year-long Centennial Celebration memorable, special, and successful. The endorsement application for your event can be found at www.naplesgov.org/centennial. The endorsement will provide you with the city’s centennial logo for use in marketing materials for your event, and your event will be posted on the city’s centennial website calendar.
Throughout 2023, a series of commemorative events will honor the historic growth of the community leading up to our 100th anniversary on December 1, 2023. We kicked off the city in a momentous way, so keep the celebration going, Naples!
Mayor Teresa Heitmann