Florida
Organizers cancel St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Naples, citing high costs
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a cherished tradition in Naples.
This year would have marked the event’s golden anniversary, signifying 50 years of existence in the city.
However, the event has been canceled, due to rising costs — including the higher costs charged by the city.
49th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Naples
49th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Naples
Kim Heaslip, president of the Naples St. Patrick Foundation Inc., which puts on the event, said: “It is with deep regret and sincere disappointment that we announce we are no longer able to present the Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade on the streets of downtown Naples.”
The decision came after city council unanimously denied a request to waive city fees for the event on Jan. 21.
At the meeting, Heaslip asked for council’s help in saving the parade.
The city’s fees for the event came in at more than $20,700 in 2024, and those fees continued to rise, along with other costs.
“We were enthusiastically preparing to celebrate the 50th Annual Naples St. Patrick’s Day Parade when we were recently informed that municipal fees imposed by the City of Naples — combined with newly required full-route barricade and enforcement costs — have increased to a level that our small, volunteer-led organization can no longer sustain,” Heaslip said. “City fees have grown from under $4,000 10 years ago to $25,000. Last year, our barricade fee was under $5,000 and would have increased to $42,000 in 2026.”
At the council meeting, she warned that the event might have to be canceled, if the city didn’t lower its costs.
“We insure the city streets for the day,” Heaslip said. “We provide the porta potties. We pay waste management and countless other expenses without the city’s assistance.”
She explained how the event is supported by a small group of dedicated volunteers.
“No one receives compensation, and we do not charge the public to attend or enjoy the event,” she said.
She emphasized how every marching band that participates in the parade receives a $2,000 grant to support their school’s music programs, and how the Naples St. Patrick Foundation helps other nonprofits, including STARability, which supports children and adults with disabilities across Southwest Florida.
“This is not a private enterprise,” Heaslip told city council. “It’s a celebration for all residents and visitors, uniting families across generations. We are a safe, well managed event. The parade has never been associated with disturbances or unruly behavior.”
During council discussions, Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison said he enjoyed the parade, offering him the chance to “dress up and look ridiculous” and smile, but he couldn’t justify the request to waive city fees.
“That is problematic in a lot of different ways,” he said. “And, unfortunately, I can’t support it.”
Councilman Bill Kramer said that while he, too, loved the parade, safety had to come first, and the city already sponsors enough events, including the Christmas, Fourth of July and Martin Luther King Jr. parades.
“We got to get our events right,” he said. “We have too many events.”
Councilman Berne Barton said that while the parade is “fantastic,” he couldn’t see the justification for waiving the fees, either. He argued it could set a bad precedent, leading other event organizers to demand the same, as they’ve also seen their costs rise, due to the city’s new security requirements.
Barton suggested that with some effort, the parade’s volunteers could probably find others willing to step up financially to help ensure the event continues, including corporate sponsors.
Following the brief discussion, Barton motioned to approve the event for this year, but not to waive the city’s fees. Hutchison seconded.
After the motion passed unanimously, Heaslip said the difficult decision was made to cancel the parade this year — and to longer have it.
“For decades, we have proudly and energetically raised funds to fulfill our mission and to present what has become one of Naples’ premier winter events. We are deeply grateful to the countless sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community members who have made this possible year after year. However, we cannot, in good conscience, continue fundraising efforts to cover municipal and barricade enforcement costs required by the city,” Heaslip said.
The mission of the parade has been to:
• Support high school music programs and other youth initiatives
• Provide college scholarships to deserving students
• Promote awareness and appreciation of Irish culture
Over nearly five decades, Heaslip said she’s proud of the event’s cultural, educational and economic impacts on the Naples community.
Laura Layden is business and government reporter. Reach her at laura.layden@naplesnews.com.
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TAMPA, Fla – New SNAP restrictions will start Monday in Florida.
What we know:
These changes will ban the purchase of many sugary sodas, energy drinks, candy and ultra-processed, shelf-stable prepared desserts.
Hunger Free America, an advocacy group, is against these restrictions.
Joel Berg, the CEO, said some regulation is a good thing, but he wants to see it support access to healthy foods as a choice.
“We do support mandates to mandate that healthier food is available in stores that do accept SNAP,” Berg said. “So, it makes a lot more sense to make it easier to get healthier food.”
Berg said these restrictions are unnecessary in achieving a healthier America.
“We should make America healthier again by making healthy food more affordable, convenient and physically available,” Berg said. “We shouldn’t micromanage the eating patterns of adults to try to achieve that goal.”
The other side:
This is part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “Under the MAHA initiative, we are taking bold, historic steps to reverse the chronic disease epidemic that has taken root in this country for far too long.”
What they’re saying:
Berg said that these changes, on top of cuts to the program nationwide, will increase hunger.
“It’s not that low-income Americans don’t want healthier food; it’s that they can’t afford healthier food,” Berg said.
This coincides with the announcement that there will be cuts to WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, which supplies food to mothers and young children.
“President Trump’s budget just announced that he’s proposing taking away fruits and vegetables from the WIC program for pregnant women and children under five,” Berg said. “So, they’re taking away healthier food.”
The WIC cuts would take away $1.4 billion in fruit and vegetable benefits from 5.4 million people.
Big picture view:
The SNAP changes come as part of the MAHA movement and include more than 20 other states that will implement changes over the next two years.
The Source: Information in this story comes from WIC, SNAP and interviews done by Fox 13’s Danielle Zulkosky.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The engines are revving for one final day of high-stakes bidding and family fun at the South Florida Fairgrounds.
Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach auction reaches its grand finale today with an action-packed “Super Saturday” lineup, promising to close out the weekend with a full slate of collector car sales, live entertainment, and fan attractions.
“Super Saturday,” presented by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, officially kicks off at 8 a.m. when gates, food courts, and the exhibitor marketplace open to the public.
What to expect
- 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The Fantasy Bid presented by Dodge begins early, running in tandem with the automobilia auction in the arena.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Thrill-seekers can catch Dodge thrill rides on the Barrett-Jackson Performance Track.
- 10:00 a.m.: New amenities open to the public, including the Stella Artois, Staging Lanes, and Food Court patios, which offer shaded seating and auction views.
- 10:45 a.m.: The national anthem will be performed in the auction arena, signaling the start of the main collector car auction at 11 a.m.
- Afternoon Entertainment: DJ sets run from noon to 5 p.m. across the various patios, and a detailing clinic by Adam’s Polishes is scheduled for 2 p.m. near the South Showcase.
For those unable to attend, the whole event will be livestreamed throughout the day on the Barrett-Jackson website and the HISTORY channel from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Today’s finale comes on the heels of a high-energy Friday that saw significant sales and notable celebrity interest.
Star power was evident throughout the day, particularly with vehicles tied to the Busch family. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible owned by Samantha Busch and a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 Custom Coupe were among the day’s heavy hitters, each fetching $159,500. Kyle Busch’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Custom Coupe also drew a strong bid, selling for $143,000.
Other Friday highlights included:
- 1968 Ford Mustang Eleanor Replica: $137,500
- 2004 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Mamba Edition: $132,000
- 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer Custom SUV: $126,500
- 1957 Ford Thunderbird Custom Convertible: $121,000
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With a festival-style atmosphere and high-profile sales driving momentum, organizers expect a busy crowd for the final push at the auction block today.
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A quiet Monday turned into a frantic race against time when a deputy stepped in to save a choking 1-year-old’s life.
According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call about a 1-year-old baby choking. Upon arrival, the responding deputy performed life-saving procedures to help the child breathe again.
See also: Two arrested after 6-year-old arrives at Florida school with bruises, deputies say
Body camera video shows a deputy holding the baby, flipping it over on its stomach, and beginning to pat the baby’s back.
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When the baby begins to cry, the deputy is heard saying, “he’s good.”
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