Coastal Breeze News

It’s not too soon to start searching for the most beautiful yards, gardens, and cul-de-sacs on the island. The City’s Beautification Advisory Committee has announced that the coveted Marco In Bloom Landscape Awards will be given at the City Council meeting on April 4, 2011. Not just any awards, these awards recognize properties and owners in 5 categories that have made a special effort to contribute to the beauty of Marco Island. The categories are: Residential single family homes, Commercial properties zoned C1 to C5, Condominium complex grounds, Cul-de-sacs, and Institutional properties. Criteria include use of native and water-wise plants, ... Read More »

Since late summer 2010, when the former Code Enforcement section of the City of Marco Island Community Development Department was transferred to Marco Island Police Department there have been many positive changes. We wanted to take a few moments to communicate and highlight the transformation. Chiefly, a philosophical shift from a primarily aggressive and punitive approach to working with those with city ordinance violations to gain voluntary compliance. With this shift, the name of the unit was change to Marco Island Code Compliance to demonstrate commitment to the concept. Other notable change involves personnel, with Sergeant Jim Hassig, and Code ... Read More »

United Church of Marco Island, 320 N. Barfield, will present an evening of lively barbershop-style singing on December 4th at 7:30 p.m. Christmas songs and favorite barbershop songs will be performed by the “Chorus of the Everglades”, directed by Bart Plescia and “Timepiece.” Plescia brings 50 years of experience to barbershopping, and he performs regularly throughout south Florida with his quartet, Timepiece. The “Chorus of the Everglades” is a newly formed chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America which was formed in 1938 for the purpose of keeping the art form alive ... Read More »

The Marco Island Academy is pleased to announce the approval of it’s charter application by the Collier County School Board. The MI Academy would like to thank the community, School Board, City Council and, most importantly, all of the volunteers who have contributed tirelessly to the project. Marco Island currently has an A-rated Elementary School and a Charter Middle School that is ranked in the top 4% statewide for academic excellence. The MI Academy seeks to expand on this locally unique scholastic achievement. The MI Academy will form a partnership joining students, teachers, parents and the community. Together, we can ... Read More »

This month’s “Men’s Breakfast” has been pulled back a week to Nov. 13th at 9am. Sorry for any inconvenience. Our speaker this month is Bishop Terry Walker. He Sounds interesting and I believe that he may have good words for us. In addition, as a contractor, God is using him to help a Haitian Church of God in Ft. Myers with their building program. Therefore he has experience in the non-church world that will give him even more credibility with us men. Every guy 13 to 150 can attend, so bring those sons with you! I look forward to seeing many ... Read More »

Keller Williams will be holding their annual Fundraiser Parking Lot sale on Saturday, November 13th starting at 8 a.m. thru 1 p.m. All kinds of items will be for sale, stop by and check it out. 713 Bald Eagle Dr. (next to Porky’s).  See you there! Read More »

The Marco Island Historical  society is pleased to announce our next exhibit and an outstanding speaker to introduce it. David Southall, Curator of Education at the Collier County Historical Museum, will join us at 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 9 in the Rose History Auditorium to introduce the subject of plume hunters. His program will be followed by a wine and cheese party. The exhibit will open on Thursday, November 4th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the exhibit. The fascination with plumes and other forms of fashion décor came into being ... Read More »

Florida Department of Transportation’s Public Information Director Debbie Tower, reports the bridge is beginning to take shape and is progressing on schedule. People are beginning to get a sense of how it will look when completed. The schedule calls for completion in fall 2011. Read More »

The City of Marco Island’s Beach Advisory Committee and Publix sponsored the monthly beach clean up last Sunday, October 24th. Two members of the Beach Advisory Committee attended and assisted that morning: Kevin Donlan, who is also the store manager of Publix and Bernardo Bezos, who also is on the Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) Beach Advisory Board. Mr. Donlan and Publix provided garbage bags, bottled water and gloves for the participants; Mr. Bezos monitored in the MICA gator to carry the supplies and debris collected. The partner business this month was the Marco Island Hilton Resort. Manager, Mr. Mac ... Read More »

Carolyn Farrell of Marco Island was a winner at Monday night’s Bingo at JCMI. She is being congratulated by Dr. Herb Kern, a member of the Bingo committee. Helen Uhrich of Naples was a winner at Monday night’s Bingo at JCMI. She is being congratulated by Bernie Seidman, a member of the Bingo committee. Read More »

Life happens when we are least expecting it. Would you like someone else to put your affairs in order? St. Mark’s Living Water Legacy Society is sponsoring a seminar presented by Brenda Garretson and Jennifer Dixon-Abbott of Rhodes, Tucker & Garretson/Attorneys at Law. Life planning will enable you to answer these questions: Do you care who gets your assets when you die? Do you want someone to handle your children’s assets if you die when they are still minors? Whom do you want raising your kids? Do you want to minimize the taxes paid by your heirs? Over a dozen ... Read More »

The City of Marco Island utilized $18,255 in funding awarded by the ARRA Forest Health Improvement Initiative Grant to plant trees along the perimeter of Veterans’ Community Park. These trees are natural enhancements and will provide shade, visual aesthetics and buffering. Many thanks to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry (DOF) for providing the funding. The funding for this project was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. USDA is working to implement provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to put Americans back to work and rejuvenate ... Read More »

Are you interested in becoming a Member of the Marco Island’s Beautification Advisory Committee (BAC)? Have you ever wondered what would be involved in being a Member? Do you hesitate to volunteer when the City seeks Committee Members? Fear no more! The answers to your questions are right here. At the Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee’s (BAC) regularly-scheduled meeting on July 7th, 2010, job descriptions were discussed, and the following is a summary of what it takes to be a Member, Chair or Vice-Chair of the BAC. While there are no vacancies on the Committee at the moment, the City ... Read More »

Today’s Buyers Save well Into the Future Susan Ackerson In today’s economy, many factors influence the decision to buy a home – job status, financial resources, and family considerations among them. But one of the most compelling reasons to consider becoming a homeowner in the current market is the affordability factor, which will benefit today’s buyers for many years to come. To put this into perspective, a buyer who purchased a median-priced home five years ago with an FHA mortgage requiring a 3 percent down payment would have a monthly mortgage payment of $1,650.00. With today’s interest rates and median ... Read More »

The Marco Island Historical Society is pleased to announce our next exhibit and an outstanding speaker to introduce it. David Southall, Curator of Education at the Collier County Historical Museum, will join us at 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 9 in the Rose History Auditorium to introduce the subject of plume hunters. His program will be followed by a wine and cheese party. The exhibit will open on Thursday, November 4th from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The museum will be open from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the exhibit. The fascination with plumes ... Read More »

Y READS! Needs you! Make a difference in a child’s life. The Y READS! Program is an after school reading tutorial for first and second grade students. You will teach basic reading skills using a structured program. Tutors will volunteer at least one hour per week during the school year from Monday thru Thursday at the Manatee Elementary School. Contact Maria Catena for information and next training session at 239-394-3144 ext. 275 YMCA Adult Computer Classes Learn basic computer operations and programs. Introduction to Computers and Introduction to Word classes will be offered in November. Introductions to Computers - No ... Read More »

Plans are underway at four area churches to be a part of world’s largest Christmas project, Operation Christmas Child (OCC). OCC is the international holiday outreach of Samaritan’s Purse. Shoebox filled with small toys, school supplies, shoes, and clothing will be sent via plane, cargo ship, truck, bus, train, helicopter, boat, dog sled, mule and elephant to 8 million children in more than 95 countries. For many of these children, the shoebox gift will be the first gift they have ever received. Information on OCC and how to pack and prepare your box may be found at First Baptist Family ... Read More »

Physicians Regional Healthcare System Surgeon First in Southwest Florida to Perform Incisionless Surgery Physicians Regional-Collier Boulevard CEO C. Scott Campbell announced that the hospital is the first in southwest Florida to perform the new Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure, or TIF®, to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The surgery was successfully performed by general surgeon Thomas Bass, M.D. “With the successful completion of this procedure, Physicians Regional-Collier Boulevard is now equipped to offer patients one of the most advanced treatments available for this disease,” said Campbell. “We are thrilled to be at the forefront of a new kind of surgery that that ... Read More »

In this edition of Who Is Teaching our Children? we learned a little about technology in the classroom. Use of technology at the elementary levels is growing by leaps and bounds. This makes complete sense when we look at how we’ve added the use of computers, cell phones, video games and more to our everyday lives. Some of us may feel handicapped using these devices while young children pick up the operation with ease. Tommie Barfield Elementary incorporates an interactive instructional resource called Mimeo instruction to their classrooms. According to the kindergarten teachers, they regularly use this resource two or ... Read More »

The Marco Island Optimist Club held it’s end of season award ceremony November 1st at Mackle Park for the Eagle’s football and cheerleading programs. Coaches from all teams were on hand to present dozens of awards to about 80 football players and 18 cheerleaders. According to the Director of Football Hector Diaz, “the kids did a terrific job this season. They put their best effort in and their practice and discipline showed on the field. This program gives them a great foundation not only for discipline but for teamwork, that’s something they carry with them forever! Thanks to all the ... Read More »