First Takes

It's no secret that some of Hollywood's celestial beings gravitate to Naples occasionally, but in the case of one rising star, the Naples orbit is not only heavenly, it's home. Bailey Chase was a regular on television's Buffy the Vampire Slayer before his current gig on As The World Turns. His motion picture credits include Billboard Dad and The Stray, but to identify his unique connection to Naples, one need only note his surname - Luetgert.

If the spelling seems close to that of a local family of pioneering developers, it's for good reason. He is a distant cousin on his father's Chicago side of the family (which maintains the German ancestral spelling) to the Lutgerts who developed Park Shore. Bailey attended school in Naples before enrolling at Duke University with cousin Kurt Lutgert.

Although quick to name some of his favorite Naples hangouts - the Naples Beach Club for a round of golf, The Dock for a bite to eat - his visit May 2-4 isn't just a family reunion. Bailey is joining other stars from Guiding Light and As The World Turns in an event highlighted by a celebrity golf tournament, cocktail receptions and staged script readings to benefit the Marco Island Film Festival. For tickets, call (239) 642-3378.

Happy to help in a project close to home, Bailey says another important audience is anticipating his arrival - his mother and grandmother, Melissa and Virginia Bornquist.