Coastal Breeze News

By Carl and Joan Kelly When ever we want to get away from it all we head to the zoo, calling it a mental health day. It really works. No stress. Cell phone turned off. Just jungle and botanical gardens with animals from all over the world. We love the lions, tigers, leopards, ocelots, panthers and bears, oh my! We always head first to the left to visit the black bear hammock. The bears have everything from picnic tables to a cave. Their food is placed all over the huge area in the largest black bear habitat at an accredited ... Read More »

by Donna Fiala This was one of the best Thanksgiving’s my family and I have ever shared. It was all about love, togetherness, support and encouragement. You couldn’t ask for better than that. The food came out great, and afterward we sat and talked for hours………… but not before my kids (I have 5 kids but one was working and one was in Albany for Thanksgiving) and grandkids took all of my Christmas decorations down from the attic and climbed into the trees and up on the roof to put up the twinkling lights which begin the celebration for our ... Read More »

(Full disclosure: The writer is a retired airline executive) By Monte Lazarus Dear SKYFUN Customer, We value your membership in our Fun In The Skies Club, and are pleased to offer the following new amenities on your upcoming flights. Please continue to enjoy yourselves on our retro propeller-driven aircraft. No longer do you have to worry about missing the joy of lingering in the sky. With SKYFUN your trips are leisurely and thrilling! You’ll be happy to learn that we have successfully launched our program to permit you to avoid “pat downs” and full body scans before boarding our aircraft. ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom How does one properly address and fully understand the complex issue of homelessness and hunger in America? We tend to think of the homeless as lazy, addiction-laden, crazy and a burden on society. However, this portrayal of homelessness is becoming less and less of the majority. We have seen how the recent economic crisis that America is facing has affected businesses and the job market. We are now starting to see its reach into the homeless sector, especially in Collier County. A recent study by the Collier County Hunger and Homeless Coalition shows that employment and financial ... Read More »

Excerpted from “Americans”, a poem of diversity by G. Muther “…The Indian knows that his skin is red, His heart’s been broken, his blood’s been shed. But he walks tall when he walks this land, He’s just another man with a helping hand. He’s a stoic warrior, a man of spirit, A lover of the earth and all that’s in it. He’s one with Nature, the land and sky It pains him when the river runs dry. It darkens his soul to see the waste That man has done in his great haste To satisfy his boundless taste And leave ... Read More »

The City of Marco Island is beginning a long-range planning effort that will result in an evaluation of the City’s Comprehensive Plan- a plan that addresses the future of the Island. The document is called the Evaluation and Appraisal Report or “EAR”, and it is required of all Cities and Counties in Florida once every seven years. The EAR Report for Marco Island will be due in March, 2012. The first step in the process is to identify issues of importance to citizens and businesses. A “2 minute survey” has been devised in order to help identify important issues for ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder In a world of polemical politics, two-term Florida Governor Jeb Bush stands out as man above the fray. Bush has said upon leaving office, “My gift is that we’ve shown that governors can be activists, they can be reformers, if they want to.” Attack the status quo he did, using political capital gained through strong popularity and family connections, and did so according to his own principles. Although a Republican himself, during his brother, G.W’s presidential term, Jeb Bush firmly opposed several attempts by the President’s administration to institute offshore drilling on Florida’s coast, citing both environmental ... Read More »

Chanukah begins at sundown, Wednesday, December 1 this year, and continues for eight days. Jewish holidays are based on a lunar calendar and appear, therefore on different dates every year. Whether you spell it Hanukah or Chanukah, it’s a time for games, nuts and dreidels, Chanukah gelt, and latkes. This is a happy holiday that commemorates the victory of Judah the Maccabee over the Seleucid Greeks in 165 B.C.E., and the subsequent cleansing and dedication (chanukah) of the Temple. A small vial of oil gave illumination by burning for eight days, and this is one reason for the lighting of eight candles in a menorah, one each ... Read More »

How does an artist decide to showcase his talent on a pair of shoes? Sean Gerhardstein says it was a day when he was in high school.  He was doodling at his desk when he simply started doing the same on his shoe….soon Sean created his own artistic niche. Sean can be found at Video Showcase in Town Center Mall. Some of his sample designs can be seen in the store. A customer brings in a plain pair of canvas shoes and works with Sean on the elements they’d like to incorporate into the design. He begins by sketching in ... Read More »

by Mike Usher Tonight mighty Orion has heaved himself above the horizon, but first let’s look at the heavenly river Eridanus. Composed of mostly dim stars the Eridanus is supposed to represent the Nile or the Euphrates; it arises near the foot of Orion and winds thru many twists and turns into the deep southern sky terminating at the star Achernar.  This star is one of the very brightest in the sky but is dimed by the murk above the horizon. Achernar is never visible further north than Macon and in fact is mostly impossible to see north of the ... Read More »

By Jeane Brennan Meet James Jay James Jay has been a firefighter paramedic for the City of Marco since 2003. However, this profession wasn’t James’ first. He worked for his father in the family plumbing business and then worked for the City of Cape Coral as an irrigation specialist. There was a turning point in James’ life when he felt there had to be something, professionally, more satisfying and productive. He wasn’t sure, though, which direction the yearning would take him. His two cousins are firefighter paramedics, his 2 brothers in law are firefighters and his father in law was ... Read More »

by Paula Robinson This is the last installment in this series about Elder Abuse and Neglect which is a widespread problem in societies in the 21st century. As was noted in this column on Nov. 19, experts estimate that only one in six cases of Adult Abuse and Neglect or fewer are reported, which means that very few seniors who have been abused get the help that they need, so what should we be looking for to help keep our older adults free from harm? Please read on and if you suspect someone you care about is being abused or ... Read More »

AKKOC Stone Joe and Oya Akkoc have been residents of Marco Island for twelve years and take to heart the concept of supporting businesses on Marco Island.  Even though they are only a ‘stones’ throw away from Marco, they are working honorably and creatively for success. Joe’s marketing concept is to sell natural stone from Turkey, which means marble, travertine, onyx, mosaic, and other natural stone for a more attractive price than other stone outlets . Turkey has 45% of the world’s natural stone. Up to this time, Joe has been selling to local stone and tile retail businesses. He ... Read More »

by Vickie Kelber While cruising the Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska is a great way to see this state, combining the cruise with a road trip in the western interior enhances the experience. You can do this on your own or there are many tour companies that offer an escorted trip. Most trips to Alaska begin with a flight into Anchorage. Before heading north, a journey south to the Kenai Peninsula is well worth the time. We spent two weeks in Alaska, on both land and sea, and my favorite excursion was to Kenai Fjords National Park. The Seward ... Read More »

HE’S LOOKING FOR MORE THAN JUST GOOD KIDS Marco Island, Florida, November 29, 2010 – The word’s in – loud and clear! It’s not just little boys and girls Santa Claus is checking twice on his list this year. To see if they’ve been naughty or nice, bad or good in 2010, Santa has a special “Arts Afire!” list that includes older brothers and sisters, mothers and dads, uncles and aunts. And one sure way for the grown-ups to make their goodness shine brighter that Rudolph’s nose is for them to nominate someone to receive an Annual City of Marco ... Read More »

Marco Island…When her private pilot husband joined the Civil Air Patrol’s Augusta Squadron in Staunton Virginia, Ann Niess decided she wanted to participate in CAP activities together with him and joined CAP in October 1965. After attending various professional development courses offered by CAP including the Middle East Region and National Staff Colleges in 1971, Squadron Commander School in 1977 and numerous duty assignments, Ann was promoted to Lt Col in1982. Today she participates in the Marco Island cadet program as much as her health allows. Over the course of 45 years of dedicated service, she received numerous awards and ... Read More »

Bette McGilvray & Barbara Dasti were Co-Chairs for this year’s Christmas Island Style Ornament Design contest. There were 82 entries from Marco Island Charter Middle School students for the 2011 CIS ornament design contest under the direction of Shane Totten, art teacher.  The 2011 theme was  SEA TURTLES. The judging took place at the Marco Island Center for the Arts on Monday Nov 22, 2010.   The winners were announced and will be introduced at the CIS Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 4th 2010. The top 3 winners will receive a savings bond from Christmas Island Style. All winners will be ... Read More »

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The Kiwanis Club of Marco Island had a busy meeting on Thursday, November 18, 2010. Three kids from the Lely High School Band stopped by to show us a brief movie of the unveiling of the new band uniforms. The Kiwanis Club of Marco Island had donated funds for the purchase of new uniforms. The old ones were made of wool and were very old. We inducted a new member to the club and are very proud to say that Jim von Rintein is our latest member. Jim von Rintein is a resident of Marco Island and CEO for the ... Read More »

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church continues a tradition of excellence in sacred music with the presentation of a special SEASONAL CONCERT: A Service of Advent Lessons, Anthems and Carols on Sunday, December 12th, 2010, at 4:00 pm. Presented in the style and tradition of King’s College, the program features musical compositions as commentaries to proclaimed Advent scriptures. The St. Mark’s Handbell Choir, the St. Mark’s Choir and Soloists will be accompanied by organ and a chamber orchestra of professional musicians under the direction of Dr. Ronald Doiron, Director of Music Ministries at the church. Works to be performed include Lo, in ... Read More »