Talk of the Town

Florida first lady Columba Bush, artist Jonathan Green and Fun Time Early Childhood Academy CEO Kim Long spent much of April in Japan, touring schools and chatting up Florida arts. Earlier this spring, Bush, who served as honorary co-chair of Off the Wall, a ballet based on Green's work, joined Green and Long at Fun Time, where Naples Mayor Bill Barnett presented them with keys to the city. "She really connected with the children," says Long. Neapolitans Joseph and Lee Vumbacco hosted a party for the ballet while Bush was in town.

An artist doesn't create in a vacuum-jeweler David Yurman says he's always inspired by visiting the Gulfshore paradise his clients call home. "I want to see what they see. I want to see how they wear the jewelry in real life," he says. Just a year after an appearance at Saks raised $25,000 for the Millie Pavlik Fund at Community School of Naples, Yurman was prepared to meet or exceed that donation this year. Established in honor of a late student, the fund will benefit arts programs. While Yurman chatted with friends new and old (and gave directions to the powder room to a gentleman who was lost amid the gowns) his wife and business partner, Sybill, hit the beach. The two are looking at museums to host a 25-year Yurman retrospective exhibit-how about it, Myra Daniels?

A passionate argument for the merits of new math and a fun read? Marla Weiss has pulled that unlikely combo off with her Palm Beach-set novel School Scandalle. Weiss, who is married to NCH CEO Allen Weiss, taught at Community School of Naples for years. Proceeds from the book benefit a foundation named for her father, math educator Jack Shapiro. Spotted at a recent signing were past Collier County Medical Society Alliance president Judy Sullivan and wine festival trustee Barbara Crown, who says celeb chef (and Gulfshore Life cover boy) Tyler Florence is planning to visit her and husband Bob Crown this summer.

Gardens are blooming all over the Gulfshore: Campiello's Richard D'Amico broke ground at NCH's Garden of Hope and Courage, founded in memory of late friend and Bonita Springs resident Jan Emfield, wife of Tommy Bahama founder Bob Emfield... The late Lester Norris, who with his wife, Dellora, helped build the original Naples Community Hospital (they brought Dorothy Draper in to decorate the first patients' rooms), first discovered Naples on a Florida tour to sell the idea of the World War II Victory Garden. The Norrises' daughter, Lavern Gaynor, is on the board of the Naples Historical Society, headquartered at Palm Cottage, where landscaping on an adjacent lot will include just such a vegetable patch. Gaynor, board president Don Wingard and board member Sharon Kenny watched as ground was broken on the gardens, designed by Ellin Goetz. More flower power: The 50-plus-year-old, formerly rootless Naples Garden Club, whose Old Naples home and garden tours have always been hot ticket, is now planted at the Naples Botanical Garden.

Friends indeed: A couple of years ago, after learning that 40 percent of oncology patients at Lee Memorial Children's Hospital are from Collier County, Neapolitans Karen Kriss and Shirley Jennowine raised more than $300,000 for Barbara's Friends, the pediatric cancer care fund, with a ball at the Naples Yacht Club. Friends founder Frank Haskell and Lee Memorial CEO Jim Nathan have put their thanks in writing-three rooms at the children's hospital's oncology wing will be named after the community-Frank and Betty Haskell and Dr. Emad Salman watched as six of the hospital's patients were treated as Queens for a Day, receiving makeovers from local pageant royalty. Among those applying the pink eye shadow: Miss Continental U.S. Galaxy (and Gulfshore Life's promotions whiz) Rena Arellano; Miss Fort Myers Teen U.S.A., Heather Mowry; Mrs. Southwest Florida (and Naples' Emerald Ball chair) Linda Stanaland; and her daughter, Tiffany, Our Little Miss World Princess.

Just call him Elvis: The Wanderlust crowd went wild when Fifth Third Executive VP Garrett Richter challenged FGCU president William Merwin to throw a year's scholarship into Garrett's famous fishbowl. Passed around the tables as the live auction proceeded, the bowl ended up stuffed with 20-dollar bills (and some c-notes) as well as a stay at the Naples Beach Hotel from Mike Watkins and a four-day escape to the Hyatt Coconut Point from Carlos Cabrera. Wine fest regulars Jim and Laura Dixon sweetened the deal with a three-liter bottle of chardonnay. The winning bidder (no, he's not taking you with him to the Marco Ocean Resort) scored it all for $14,000, which benefited FGCU's hospitality program.

To share nonprofit news or highlights from the social scene, please e-mail tracyj@gulfshorelife.com.