More Local news

• Lely High hosts basketball shootout
• FGCU, Edison State College form new partnership
• Naples man faces battery charges after night of swinging

Tell us about it

• What would you add to this story? Tell us what we missed.
• Do you have photos from this event? Documents we need to see? Share with us.
• Upload photos & videos
• More ways to get your stuff online and in the paper.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

Share and Enjoy [?]

NAPLES — Two Naples versions of Patch Adams visited a children’s after-school program.

But more than just entertaining patients with comedy, Daphne Pfaff and Sunny McCown presented the art of clowning to children.

Inside the children’s area at Vanderbilt Beach Branch Public Library last month, all eyes were on Pfaff, whose clown name is “SsizzZ,” and McCown, whose clown name is “Ladybug,” as they began to apply their performance make-up and costumes.

Both Pfaff and McCown are with “Clowns on Round,” which is part of the Arts in Healing Program at both Naples Community Hospitals.

Eight years ago, Pfaff established the program at the hospital to bring happiness to patients and families.

“This is a joy to do,” Pfaff, 76, said.

“It’s nice to know that people of all ages need to smile.”

Pfaff started clowning 20 years ago at nursing homes and trains clowns for NCH. People who clown at the hospital have to become a hospital volunteer first.

There are about 30 clowns on a calling list, five of which are in town and are active, she said.

Before children got their face painted as clowns, more than a dozen children, who are members of the library’s Curious Kids Club, selected a good clown name for themselves, while coloring a clown face on paper.

Within seconds, 7-year-old Nicole Ribeiro chose “Sparkles” as her clown name.

Nicole’s friends, Brooke Flegel, 7, picked “Daisy,” and her twin brother Dylan picked “Smiley.”

Nicole said she likes clowns because they make people laugh.

Yet, Brooke said she really doesn’t like clowns because they embarrass her.

The children’s library club meets once a month.

Nicole’s mother, Deborah Ribeiro, 47, said she thinks the program is awesome for children. And while Nicole is in the program, her younger daughter, Laura, 4, can play at the library or participate.

Nicole has been participating in Curious Kids Club’s programs for three years.

Many parents echoed Ribeiro’s sentiment about the program.

Having as much fun as the kids was Collette Majewski, whose three daughters Cynthia, 9, Zofia, 8, and Theresa, 4, were in the program.

Dressed in a full clown costume, Cynthia says she liked Wednesday’s program.

Children were provided with a booklet with information on how to be their own special clown, fun clown names, riddles and jokes.

After their faces were painted, children selected funky hats and got a red nose.

Wearing a clown theme kerchief, the children erupted into the library parading across the room in a line playing “Happy Birthday” on kazoos and bringing many smiles from people.

Anyone interested in clowning may contact Pfaff at 261-0388.