Coastal Breeze News

Hideaway Beach hosted its 19th annual Buddy Day event. More than 120 volunteers (from Hideaway Beach, Eagle Creek, Verona Walk, Grey Oaks, and the League Club) waited eagerly to meet their little buddies, many of whom have never been away from Immokalee or had the opportunity to be at the beach. Approximately 130 energetic Immokalee second graders, who will soon graduate from the Guadalupe After-School Program, were treated to “hands on” programs presented by the Rookery Bay Environmental Education Center, and National Park Service rangers from the Big Cypress Reserve. The majority of students were from Pinecrest and Highland Elementary ... Read More »

By Jane Marlowe The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quintet entertained at the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island on Wednesday evening, February 9. The event was part of the Saul Stern Cultural Series which is in its 17th consecutive year. Saul Stern, who died last year, was a faithful benefactor of the Jewish Congregation and an active participant in the spiritual and cultural life of the community. The program included a rich and varied selection of classics from Bach and Handel to the rousing, joyful sounds of Stevie Wonder and Chick Corea. Freddy Mercury’s standout 1970’s Bohemian Rhapsody received the Quintet’s ... Read More »

By Lisa Smith Wood A halcyon sunset was the backdrop for a fashion show featuring a selection of spring apparel and accessories by Angelica’s Boutique, held at CJ’s on the Bay in the Esplanade. A lively crowd watched the café style show which featured 26 ensembles worn by 13 local models. Fashions included sportswear, cocktail and evening wear from the Marco retailer. Boutique owner Angelica Andrews, a Chilean native, imports much of her inventory from her home country, lending a continental flavor to the store’s product assortment. She takes a refreshingly unorthodox approach to buying for the south island boutique. ... Read More »

A meeting to discuss drug and alcohol use in our youth was held recently in the Community Room at the Marco Island Police Department. The event was held in partnership with the Marco Island Police Department, Drug Free Collier, SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco), Collier County Sheriff’s Department and the Marco Island Marriott. Information on the newest drugs and trends to hit the streets were of particular interest. How many attendees had heard of K2 or Spice, herbal concoctions which simulate marijuana? What image comes to mind when thinking of chewing tobacco? Products today are nothing like what you may ... Read More »

In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day. However, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911, when more than one million people attended rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. They marched for women’s right to work, vote, be trained, hold public office and for an end to discrimination. In the United States, two dramatic events caused the American organizers to devote early celebrations of International Women’s Day to work place safety and fair labor laws. The first event was the Triangle Shirt Factory fire in New York City. Young women and girls ... Read More »

Veteran real estate broker Joe Charde has merged his operation into an innovative new real estate franchise known as Oneir Realty LLC. “Oneir” is Greek for “to dream.” After almost 40 years in the real estate business Charde sees Oneir as a new approach in what has been a difficult and challenging market for the past few years. Charde believes that future success in real estate will depend, in large part, on imaginative use of new technology combined with a more rational compensation system for sales personnel and brokers. Larry Smith, Oneir’s Chairman, developed a program that provides income for ... Read More »

By Craig Woodward Hope you did well on Part One! Now take Part Two to pick up points to find out if you are really an “Authentic Old Timer” or just a “Wannabe.” Remember you take the test at your own risk, understanding that it might bring back a flood of nostalgia. If you are Newbie, please take the Quiz to learn more, someday you may be anointed as an “Authentic Old Timer.” (See Part One at Coastalbreezenews. com – under Coastal History) SIMPLE RULES: Grade yourself 1 point for YES on an “Old Timer” question and an additional 1 ... Read More »

Audrey Hepburn had undeniable grace and beauty. The actress was a fashion trendsetter whether she was wearing skinny pants or a little black dress. Her wide brimmed hats, French twist hairdo and cigarette holder are now a part of movie history and indelible in our minds. Ladies attending the Breakfast at Tiffany’s event hosted by the Parks and Rec Department at Mackle Park recently had an opportunity to hear about her life and the era in which she lived. The community room at the park was transformed into an Audrey Hepburn stage, with larger than life film strips featuring some ... Read More »

By Marilyn Honahan I recently had the pleasure of attending the Adam Ferrara comedy show at Off the Hook Comedy Club at Captain Brien’s Seafood & Rawbar in the Marco Walk Plaza. I have enjoyed many of the comedy acts there over the past few years, however, this recent show was a standout. Adam Ferrerawas voted class clown in high school and has grown to be a nationally touring comedian who is currently starring as Chief ‘Needles’ Nelson in the Emmy nominated FX show “Rescue Me”. He also has a recurring role as host of The History Channel’s BBC produced ... Read More »

By John Patterson STONEWALLS is one of the newest additions to the Marco Island restaurant line-up. I had the pleasure of meeting the Stonewalls Team – Tom Garousi, Tim Burke and Al Landers….. I asked the team whose idea was it to bring onto Marco a new concept in dining. Their motto sums up the style of their services. Fine … Food … Fast. Tom Garousi was the spokesman for the trio. Garousi said “I bought the basic building as an investment. I felt a building standing empty, free standing across from the main beach front Hotels and Condominiums has ... Read More »

By Carl Kelly The people of St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church are proud of their Greek heritage. They preserve their culture as best they can. They teach it to their children. They share it with the surrounding community. That is the point and purpose of the Greek Festival they have held for 20 years. They play the music, sing the songs, dance the dances of Greece. And, they punctuate the entire three day festival with shouts of, “Opa!” It is a shout of joy that resists translation, a shout of affirmation and praise, a shout for the dance that brings ... Read More »

By Al Wagner Now in its third year, the Marco Island Soccer Club is announcing the start of the 3v3 soccer season. “Surge” soccer (the club’s official team name) is looking for players, both boys and girls, to join the club for the next level of soccer. 3v3 soccer is played on a smaller size field with 3 players per side and a roster of 6 players for a tournament. This year, the Club has changed its format to an academy style to allow greater flexibility for players, parents and coaches. Academy style simply means that each age group is ... Read More »

By Junior Journalist Rosie Poling It’s time to hang up the dirty cleats and put away the black and white ball as soccer season has come to a close. The Marco Island Optimist soccer season is over. In ten exciting games, goals were scored and smiles were shared. Having the World Cup theme with countries represented from all over the globe, kids (and adults) learned a little about the country they represented. The 250 kids playing not only brushed up on their soccer skills; they made friends and learned about good sportsmanship, and a little geography. The girls in kindergarten ... Read More »

By Doug Browne “Doug, you know how it is, when I lost my singles match, I just wanted to go home. Believe me, it had nothing to do with Arthur,” Cliff was explaining to me last week when we talked about the good old days in Milwaukee at the United States Clay Court Championships. As the story goes, Cliff had just lost a long semi-final encounter and told tournament organizers that he wanted to ‘bag’ the doubles and go home. Ironically, my late father, Richardson Browne, the player personnel director, followed Cliff to the men’s locker-room and try to convince ... Read More »

By Crystal Manjarres Q. I have osteoporosis and have been advised by my physician to take up exercise. Will Pilates benefit me at all? A. When it comes to having osteoporosis or osteopenia, there are certain exercises you must limit or avoid. I would eliminate the majority of the floor (mat) exercises. Approximately seventy-five percent of the matwork movements are contraindicated for osteoporosis. There is good news, however- you can still benefit from reformer, cadillac, chair, spring board, and even some mat exercises when it comes to Pilates. The main focus is on postural awareness, alignment, and elongation through the ... Read More »

By Lou Thibeault The Downswing As I said to my cousin many times, you cannot play golf without a downswing! My last article had to do with the backswing, how to start it, and what some key thoughts are available to help. It is important to point out at this time that too many swing thoughts can interfere with the rhythm and one piece action of a swing that really takes place so quickly. The Swing thought that initiates the downswing may be as different to each of us as it was for the backswing. Power starts from the ground ... Read More »

By Matt Walthour He beat cancer. What more can a person ask for in his life? You fight the hardest fight of your life and you come out on top, is there more you want? Is there more you can attain? Of course there is, I think it relies in that person’s desire, but from what I have read and seen I think it also becomes about living a renewed life, a real second chance. That person may have a feeling of  ”nothing can stop me now, if cancer didn’t get me what can? What is riding over 2500 miles ... Read More »

By Capt. Pete Rapps The past week has proved some fantastic fishing here in the 10,000 islands and the Everglades National Park.  Although water temperatures have been a little cold ranging in the upper 50’s to low 60’s, our typical winter fish have been biting great when fishing for them on the correct tides. Tides are key when fishing the back country and near shore areas. Certain fish prefer to feed on incoming tides, and others on outgoing tides. Either way, be sure to fish when the tide is moving. Since the fish move around and feed with the moving ... Read More »

By Capt. Carl Kelly Nautical language developed over a long period of time, mostly before the time of power vessels. Although some of the words seem strange to the modern ear we continue to use the language. Here are a few of the most often used nautical words. Port is the left side as you face forward on a boat; starboard is the right side. Fore is toward the bow, or front; aft is toward the stern, or back. Beam is the width of a boat at its widest point. Abeam means directly off the side of the boat, either ... Read More »

By Monte Lazarus A British film about the unlikely relationship between the future King of England and an Australian speech therapist is the setting for this engrossing story. Albert Frederick Arthur George, the Duke of York (Colin Firth) emerged from a sickly childhood with a severe stammer, according to the film brought on in part by the harsh treatment he received from his father, King George V, as well as his nanny. The Duke, known as Bertie to his family, had flopped publicly in a short ceremonial statement before a crowd, and the stammer became well known. Those were the ... Read More »