Coastal Breeze News

A few years ago, when I was watching a ten and under boys’ singles match, it became so evident that one particular opponent was going to lose his match. He had no energy from beginning to end. From the moment he began, this ten-year-old talented youngster had literally no pep; not an ounce of energy to fight off his challenger. Immediately after the match, I had the opportunity to speak with this smooth-stroking fourth grader and I felt that I could pretty well pinpoint his problem: “Mickey, what did you have for breakfast?” I inquired. “Nothing, Mr. Browne,” the youngster ... Read More »

The game of football goes back to the 8th century in medieval England when villages and towns were pitted against each other in game battles—no rules, just a battle of survival. The matches became so violent that the game was banned by the English authorities in 1331. Despite these efforts, over the following centuries, the game continued to become the most popular sport in England. Rules, established in 1815 at Eaton College, were implemented by other schools, colleges and universities. In 1863, the Football Association decided that separate rules were needed for Rugby football and football (soccer). In the 18th ... Read More »

There are two ways to visit the Greek islands. You can do it yourself using ferries, hydrofoils, planes, or chartering a boat. Or, you can take a cruise. After 2 weeks in Nafplio with Untours and a few days in Athens on our own, we chose the convenience of a cruise on a midsize ship with 800 passengers. The various cruise lines offer a few options for seeing the islands, but most of the options are standardized across lines. Mykonos, with it’s Cycladic architecture and popularized by Jackie Onassis, is a favored location in the islands. Because we were on ... Read More »

It is now 2010, the 50th Anniversary of the infamous Hurricane Donna which, in the fall of 1960, made landfall in Collier County, literally changing overnight the history of Southwest Florida. As we begin to get ready for hurricane season, it is important to examine not only exactly what a hurricane is, but also to review the impact of several of these historical storms on our area’s geography, and the effects on our local economy and residents. The English word, “hurricane” comes from Spanish. In 1555, the book Historia General y Natural de las Indias first mentions the word Huracán ... Read More »

Eileen Recchia of Edgewater Court, Marco Island, was elected an Executive Officer for the American Association of University Women Florida at the State’s Annual Convention held recently in Sarasota, FL. Effective July 1, she will be entering her second two-year term as Director for Development. As Director, Eileen is responsible for implementing AAUW’s Fellowship, Grants and Research Programs; Legal Advocacy Programs; and other fundraising programs established by the national organization AAUW and/or AAUW Florida. Eileen has been an active member of AAUW Marco Island for nine years and has served as Vice President for Membership and President. For the past ... Read More »

Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,  New York. Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962 is a turbulent time and place for a friendship between two middle-aged black maids and a young white college graduate aspiring to become a writer. Aibileen and Minny risk it all to help Skeeter write a candid collection of stories of the relationships between the black help and the white women, who entrust their children in their care, but do not let them use the bathroom in their homes. Typical of the ideology of the young, Skitter is oblivious of the racial tensions ... Read More »

Every decade or so, Hollywood is compelled to turn out at least one new version of the English Robin Hood Legend. The first silent film appeared in 1908, and has been followed down through the years by at least 18 English language versions, including classics and non-classics, starring such non-Brits as Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, and even Kevin Costner. That’s a short list of two Americans, one Australian (Tasmanian), and one Scot. Now, Russell Crowe, a native New Zealander joins the crowd.  It’s even been done in Russian, Japanese, French, and Italian. This time Director Ridley Scott ... Read More »

Now that the quick paced winter season has come to a close for the year around Marco Island resident, sometimes a quick get a way is necessary. A change of scene, a new outlook, and a relief of duties and obligations is always appreciated in this busy world of ours. Instead of planning all year for the two or three week vacation that goes way too fast, many of us love to fly the coup for a spontaneous two or three day and night off the wall adventure. Using not even a full tank of gas in my little Miata ... Read More »

Power company LCEC stringing transmission lines over Marco River from a barge on May 19. Photos by Jim Sousa Read More »

Friday, May 21, is Bike-to-Work Day nationwide. Everglades City is only 1.2 square miles around town, 4 miles from Carnestown (Hwy 41) and just 3.5 miles from Chokoloskee. So, for us, it is easy to ride our bicycles to work, the post office, and the grocery store. According to an article in Sierra magazine, bicycles outnumber automobiles almost two to one worldwide with three bikes to every one car being produced. Bikes are used as the primary transportation in many countries overseas. It is only in the United States that a bike is used more as a recreational vehicle rather ... Read More »

What is healthy aging? For our first column, some tips on how to successfully age have been outlined. Before you dive in, consider that the following are suggestions of habits we can form now—habits that we probably already know we should be doing. So be thinking of how you can incorporate these concepts into your life to assure it remains a healthy, long and fulfilling one. Healthy aging requires not only a physical and intellectual program but a mental and spiritual exercise plan as well. Develop a healthy attitude. People are never too old to start taking care of their ... Read More »

Today, instead a column on Cruising Life, I would like to introduce you to our  local organization: Sailing Association of Marco Island, known as SAMI. The purpose of the SAILING ASSOCIATION OF MARCO ISLAND shall be to encourage the sport of sailing and promote the science of navigation and seamanship among all who love to sail. Neva Nolan, a member of SAMI, has written the following article giving an overview of Sailing Association of Marco Island: Some 41 years ago a small group of sailing enthusiasts, headed by (among others) Vincent Tateo and Emilio Meyer, got together and called themselves “The Association.” ... Read More »

Joy to the world and peace on earth are phrases we have heard all our lives. Sermons we have listened to tell us to celebrate goodwill to others, and our prayers to embrace “thy will be done,” we are told, will guide us into action that would alleviate strife and war, lead us to true passion in experiencing the gifts we have been given, and in living the life of love that we are meant to live. Will there be a point in our history where those actual words are permeated into our soul, into the governments of nations, elected ... Read More »

Goodland’s Alaska Connection – Part 1 Which will it be – claws or legs? It depends on the subject, I guess. But in this case, we are talking about crabs. Lots of them. In Goodland it’s stone crab claws, but in Homer, Alaska, where I spend summers, it’s king crab legs, baby. Both are tough to catch, expensive and absolutely delicious. Do we dare compare? The Kirk family settled in Goodland years ago and Kappy Kirk, the family matriarch, is still living. I am fortunate to know her son Captain Damas Kirk, a lifetime fisherman and stone crabber, and his ... Read More »

If you sincerely want to buy a home (condo or homesite) be reasonable. In these times, Realtors are having to deal with some pretty unreasonable and even nasty people. Now I’m sure that doesn’t apply to you, but ask any Realtor; 9 out of 10 will support my observation. The following scenario is fictitious and any resemblance to an actual occurrence is strictly coincidental. Here’s the way it goes. A property that may have had a value three years ago at (take any amount) $500,000 is now being offered in the range of 50% to 60% of that. “Why is ... Read More »

This month, Turkey marks the 49th anniversary of its May 27, 1960 military coup, remembered as a breaking point in its political history and a longstanding determining factor in Turkish politics. The first of its kind in the history of the Republic of Turkey, the 1960 coup resulted in the prosecution of 592 people and execution of three leading political actors. The notorious coup was a breaking point in Turkish politics, as many political parties and their leading actors determined their policies in accordance with its outcomes, with some still continuing to do so. On May 27, 1960 the military ... Read More »

Jim Pope, Captain Paramedic, has been with the Marco Island Fire Department for 14 years. He is married to Margie and they have two children, ages seven and four. Born in Hollywood and growing up in Orlando, Jim was asked if he had dreamt of being a fireman as a young boy.  “No,” Jim answered, “after high school I continued my education and received my AA degree. My brother went to EMT school and I decided to go, also.  That decision changed my life. I received an AS degree in fire science. The Marco Fire Department encourages continuing education and, ... Read More »

Unusually beautiful and equally expensive, but why is it such a nuisance to wear? In my line of work I am often called upon to right terrible wrongs. No, nothing like the nostalgic super hero Mighty Mouse, yet I am expected “to save the day,” so to speak. I’m talking about jewelry that has issues, like “it hangs all wrong,” or “it snags on everything,” and most commonly, “why does it keep falling off?” I have often mentioned that jewelry is wearable art, but it should also be practical to wear. One of my first questions to a customer requesting ... Read More »

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller who had left an affluent lifestyle to begin a new chapter in their life of Christian service. The concept first began as “partnership housing,” focusing on those in need of adequate shelter willing to work side by side with volunteers to build simple and decent homes. Habitat for Humanity was not to be considered charity and did not distribute money. Since its inception, Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses, housing more than 1.5 million people in over 3,000 communities throughout the world On May ... Read More »

Monday’s Council Meeting (May 17) at City Hall was occasion for young and old to receive recognition and reward for their hard work, skills, and ingenuity. Revised Guardrails improve view from Jolley Bridge A representative from the Florida Department of Transportation brought an alternative design for the Judge SS Jolley Bridge guardrails to present to the council. This design will reward, the many people who had worked hard to obtain a revision of the original plans, in order that the view of Marco would not be blocked by the guard rails as visitors driving over the bridge approach the island. City ... Read More »