Coastal Breeze News

On Tuesday August 31, 2010 the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department conducted Dive Rescue training at the Marco Island YMCA pool. This training is designed to condition department Rescue Divers and to review SCUBA competencies. The Department’s Rescue Divers completed their annual swim test, consisting of the evaluation of a number of watermanship skills designed to test the divers’ stamina. The Annual Watermanship Test is developed by IARDS, International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists, in accordance with NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. Utilizing the YMCA pool, Rescue Divers are required to complete ... Read More »

Rotary Clubs span the globe with a 1.2 million members worldwide. It is a humanitarian service organization known for its charitable efforts and charitable giving, both locally and internationally. Rotary is known for the ethical standards by which members agree to conduct themselves. It sets out to build goodwill and peace throughout the world. Marco Island has two Rotary Clubs. Each club’s president addresses the vision, goals and struggles of their term. Cindy Love, President Marco Island Noontime Rotary Club: “Rotary’s theme this year is ‘Building Communities and Bridging Continents.’ I personally relate well to the theme.   There are many ... Read More »

Most recently, CJ Henderson worked with a large real estate team in Naples. That was of course, until Chris Evensen, Team Leader /CEO of Keller Williams persuaded her that her talents were needed on Marco Island. “My personal goal as a productivity coach for Keller Williams is to bring agents businesses to the next level,” said CJ. “By empowering agents to build successful businesses through Coaching and Accountability, I will assist them in getting back to the basics of being proactive with buyers and sellers. I can help individual agents from personal goal setting to creating a business plan. Guiding ... Read More »

Christina Giordano, a local bird enthusiast, started her ‘Avian Encounters’ film series in July 2009. The idea was inspired during a trip to Epcot while seeing the fireworks show “Illuminations” at the end of the day. As though taking her cue directly from Walt Disney, Christina uses the highest level of technological sophistication. The first short film, Avian Encounters, was a compilation of photographs submitted by fellow bird enthusiasts through Christina’s Facebook page. When completed, she posted the film to YouTube. “I was surprised it immediately went viral!”   Once they saw the film, even more people started to ask to ... Read More »

The American Cancer Society held an ‘Early Bird Party’ at Stilt’s, located in the Marriott’s Crystal Shores. So why would someone want to party now for an event that won’t happen until 2011? “To pick a prime location for the camp-out,” said Vanessa Warner, Vice-Chair for the 2011 Relay for Life, while showing where the site plan was available for viewing. “The 2011 ACS Relay for Life will take place here on the beach. Teams that sign-up now get to choose a prime campsite around the track. Relay for Life works with teams.  Each team sets a goal and then ... Read More »

A couple of local fishermen walking along Cevlik beach in the Province of Hatay, near the Syrian border in Southern Turkey, came across a bloated dead body on August 16, 2010. On September 1, 2010 the Russian newspaper “Red Star” reported in a terse announcement from the Kremlin that  “Major General Yuri Ivanov, Deputy Head of GRU (Russian Military Intelligence Agency) had died in a ‘tragic swimming accident’ while on holiday in Latakia, Syria on August 8.” Nothing about this incident was reported in any USA newspapers to date, September 3, 2010. The death of such an important official of ... Read More »

by Pat Holmes The Florida Division of Kiwanis International held its 93rd Annual Convention in Orlando August 26 – August 29, 2010.  The many informative forums, lunches and meetings were well attended. Three members of the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island attended the convention: John Coff, the incoming President, along with Pat and Bill Holmes. It was a great opportunity to meet and talk with fellow Kiwanians from all over the state of Florida—especially since the annual convention will be held at the Marriott on Marco Island next August! Kiwanis meetings are held Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. at Porky’s ... Read More »

The Bargain Basket, a mission of the United Church of Marco Island, is moving into its own building, the former Kimball Building at 750 Bald Eagle Drive. “The new store will open for business on September 20 with a grand opening in October when more members have returned,” says Russ Rainey. The new building will provide about 5,600 square feet, enabling spacious display of larger pieces of furniture and accessories. Rainey, a volunteer at the popular Bargain Basket said, “There will also be ample display area for clothing and for a boutique, house wares, accessories, books, video and audio, artwork, ... Read More »

Youth from six area churches experienced a night of “Insomnia” on August 27. The students from the First Baptist Family Church of Marco, San Marco Catholic, New Life Community Church of God, Wesley United Methodist, Marco Presbyterian and Capri Christian met at Marco Presbyterian for a night of food, fellowship and fun. They were treated to Christian rapper Lionel Decius aka ChristAholic and Christian motivational speaker Eric Hovind. Hovind addressed the four great questions: Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going when I die? The students were next bused to Sun-N-Fun ... Read More »

In every community, families and professional caregivers struggle with one of the most difficult aspects of caring for a loved one who suffers from memory loss – wandering. Not all of those diagnosed with dementia cause harm to themselves by incessantly walking the hallways of an assisted living facility or moving about in their private home looking for someone or something. About 60 percent of dementia patients wander out of their homes or institutional facilities, or get lost driving, shopping, or even going for a walk. Just close your eyes for a moment: Imagine that you don’t identify who, or ... Read More »

The answer to this question may be “yes” to either, depending on one’s circumstances. You may get satisfaction by listening to one of the “talking heads” on NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX or any of other networks that read their crystal ball daily. But you need to consider your specific position in terms of job, family needs, desires and even schools of choice. In fact, there are advantages and disadvantages to both renting and buying. Let’s first look at renting. I know some of you are expecting this article to support buying and to suggest that you immediately call a Realtor; ... Read More »

There are “big doings” at Marco Island’s Artist Colony at the Esplanade! The Colony, an innovative enterprise of fifteen local artists, consists of three working studio-galleries: Portside, Rightside, and Waterfront, at the Esplanade Shoppes on Collier Boulevard. ArtWalks are held the last Wednesday of every month at 5-8 p.m. At their August 25 ArtWalk, the artists were joined by Marco Island Foundation for the Arts president, Sandi Johnson. The MIFA office/gallery is also at the Esplanade, next door to the wildly eclectic Waterfront Gallery. Sandi used the event to share details, about the many contributions the Foundation makes to our ... Read More »

This column is the opinion of a 3-year-old African Grey Parrot named “Simba” who has an extremely high intelligence level.  While he does not possess a degree from any college or university, he does have a strong opinion of himself and feels that he is the best candidate to answer the complex questions of today’s discerning pets…and the humans they own… Dear Mr. Simba: As a fellow Avian comrade… May I say, “Thank you.” Finally, a column to answer our questions.  I am a 12-year-old Blue and Gold Macaw, and may I be so bold as to say: What are ... Read More »

One of the great things about stargazing is how little equipment you actually need – just a pair of eyes and a lawn chair. The more serious stargazer may wish to acquire a pair of binoculars; almost any pair will do, 7×50 perhaps being the most common. One thing you don’t need right away is a telescope. If the urge to buy one comes over you, resist it with all your might! A proper telescope is a major investment of your time and money and cannot be found in department stores. A cheap department store telescope might show decent views ... Read More »

You are in a jewelry store in Anywhere, U.S.A. looking at a gorgeous gemstone ring with a hefty price tag. You ask the sales person if it is a genuine stone. They answer, “I’m not sure, the tag says it’s an emerald.” Sadly most retail jewelry stores’ salespeople wouldn’t know the difference between an emerald and a green tourmaline, and many times the extent of their gem identification knowledge is printed on that price tag. The scary thing is that “emerald ring” could be anything but an emerald. It could be cheap imitation green glass, or a crude doublet from ... Read More »

As we grow we learn certain things to be true about ourselves. Recently, I have found that I have a big issue with change.  Just the other day I spent my whole morning rearranging my living room just to wind up putting everything back exactly as it was. Because it is my living room I can keep it the same forever. But Goodland is not just mine, and there are certainly changes going on in this small town that I cannot control. The specific change I am referring to is the new Goodland Boat Ramp.  One of the reasons I ... Read More »

Long ago, if one knew the rules—or lack of rules—of survival, there was as much safety in the pioneer wilderness as there is now on a major downtown highway. I often try to imagine why those early pioneers ventured from north to south those many years ago, when dirt roads and paths, wild animals, and all sorts of difficulties in self-protection were the norm. What were their reasons for packing up the minimum of possessions, and for stepping out into the unknown, harsh and brutal wilderness of the Everglades? As interest in South Florida began to become more prevalent, construction ... Read More »

Lots of exciting things going on in Everglades City this month! The Museum of the Everglades has a new exhibit entitled “Scout’s Honor, Barron Collier and the Boy Scouts of America” with a reception scheduled for Saturday, September 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. Not many county residents realize that Barron Collier was a tireless promoter and contributor to the Boy Scouts for twenty-five years.  He earned the prestigious “Silver Buffalo” award in 1932 for his involvement and active support. The exhibit details Collier’s work and association with several political figures, as he promoted the Boy Scouts throughout the United ... Read More »

Checked weekly by state scientists at many locations along the Marco Island shore and offshore Collier County, there has not been a presence of the Red Tide in our area in many months. Log on and sign up for daily email reports for Naples and Marco Island beach conditions at coolgate.mote.org/beachconditions. While the phenomenon of Red Tide is worldwide, in Florida it is caused predominantly by the organism Karenia brevis. This micro algae species is a dinoflagelate that naturally occurs or “initiates” in the Gulf of Mexico (and can be found in the Atlantic along Florida’s coastline). When circumstances are ... Read More »

The Greatest Generation includes Anthony “Bud” La Mendola who enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at seventeen years of age. Because of a sense of patriotism, Bud asked his dad if he could join before his eighteenth birthday. Being a kid and never really having been anywhere, Bud was ready for some adventure in his life. He went to Navy boot camp in Idaho which, ironically, had only one lake. “What was boot camp like?” I asked Bud.  “A lot of rules,” he replied. He spoke of his Barracks Commander who was nice, but very strict. If you got out ... Read More »