Coastal Breeze News

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Lori Fredericks and Eva Schliesser are better known on Marco Island as the ‘Owl Ladies’. They have volunteered to look after the burrowing owl population here for over a decade. Lori and Eva have met weekly with Nancy Richie, City of Marco Island Environmentalist, for 11 straight years to survey and maintain the 91 burrowing owl locations on Marco Island. Nancy commented, “We rarely miss a week! We start at 7:00 AM and work for about 3-4 hours. This time of year, the chicks have fledged, so we cutback weeds with a weed whacker and ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Marco Island Police Foundation President, Bill Morris, along with Foundation Director George Schroll, were pleased to award college scholarships of $1000 each to Caitlyn and Lauren Hood. The sisters are the daughters of Marco Island Police Sergeant Brian Hood and his wife, Linda. “We’re very proud of them,” commented Linda. Caitlyn had just returned from the boundary waters of Minnesota where she participated in an Outward Bound wilderness adventure. These programs are meant to build character, teach leadership and challenge inner strength. Cailtyn is attending the Honors College at the Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Two symbols of luxury, coupled in a single evening with no need for guilt; proceeds benefit a good cause! Keys for a Cause™ is an exciting way for the luxurious Tiffany and Co. to partner with the American Cancer Society, and provide guests with the opportunity to win merchandise, shop, and support a worthy cause all in the luxurious surroundings of the prestigious Greystone Manor. The Keys for a Cause™ Cocktail Reception is being catered by CaterMasters, one of Gulfshore Life’s Top 25 caterers. Greystone Manor, located on Robert’s Bay will be held November 17th, from ... Read More »

By Monte Lazarus On a blistering hot day in 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, about the significance of the Declaration of Independence: “The second day of July, 1776 [The Declaration was actually signed, engrossed and sent to the legislatures of the states on July 4] will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized ... Read More »

By Marilyn Honahan Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. Corinthians 13:4-8a (New International Version) This is the quote that Navy Command Master Chief, Chris Aldis, has requested be part of the Renewal of Vows that Coastal Breeze News is planning for him and his ... Read More »

BOOK REMARKS Diane Bostick Author: Jonathan Dixon Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Publishers 2011. I doubt that I am the only one, man or woman, who loves to cook but is seldom able to produce anything to equal the gourmet delights I have been served in first class restaurants. You would think that with enough practice cooking meals for a family day after day you would eventually reach some level of acclaim, at least from that very family eating those lovingly prepared meals, but ‘taint necessarily so! You can spend all the time you want perusing cookbooks of all types and practicing what you read ... Read More »

By James (Nik) Nikolich  Collier Soil & Water Conservation District Urban Mobile Irrigation Lab Supervisor As their 2010 project, The Water Symposium of Florida, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in concert with Big Cypress Basin and Collier Soil and Water Conservation District, designed the Marco Island Planting Demonstration project to promote water conservation using waterwise landscaping. The planting area near Marco Island’s City Hall demonstrates how to use native plants in a natural landscape to provide a beautiful reminder of Florida, and food and shelter for wildlife. They also conserve water as an added bonus to the normal more waterintensive landscape ... Read More »

A TRIUMPH OF LOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF WAR By Jane A. Marlowe Coastal Breeze News salutes a couple as part of its continuing recognition of World War II veterans. Two young lieutenants met while serving in the United States Army and neither war nor far away assignments could keep them from finding each other again and again. Georgia Ivanoff Olsen resides on Marco Island in the same condo she shared with her husband, Edward, until his death here in 2005. Their northern homes were in Chicago and Fontana on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin where they raised their only child, Lucienne. ... Read More »

SPEAKING OF TRAVEL by Vickie Kelber  It’s been 10 years since the phrase “9/11” became a significant part of our lexicon. All of us remember where we were on Sept. 11, 2001 and have stories about that day. Our story involves travel………… We were in Portugal on September 11, scheduled to return home early on the 12th. We had spent 2 wonderful weeks in an apartment in the charming UNESCO World Heritage town of Sintra. Due to an early flight on the 12th, we booked a room in Lisbon for the night before. We checked in early as we wanted to spend ... Read More »

CHEF’S TABLE By Chef Anne Feinman  With football season upon us, and the excitement of opening our new restaurant, I recently went looking for creative new recipes. Yes, we will have the football package, and I’ll look forward to watching the faces of our guests, friends and family, when all our creativity and deliciousness meet! The following was inspired by Disney, and I encourage you to “Pass” these around for a “Touchown.” Meatballs: • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef. • 1 large egg, beaten. • 1 cup bread crumbs. • 1 cup onion, chopped finely. • 1 tbsp minced garlic. • 1 ... Read More »

ASK SIMBA 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 Simba, I was walking South Beach on Marco the other day. And saw a very intriguing site. A fisherman was catching bait fish and the girl who was with him was actually feeding a few ... Read More »

BUZZ FROM THE SWAMP By Patricia Huff Living in the Everglades we’re used to seeing alligators in our rivers, canals and back bays. Occasionally, we see them up close and personal. On August 31 one of our special ladies, Margaret Webb, was severely injured by an alligator that attacked her in her front yard. Fortunately, someone saw the attack and was able to assist Margaret before emergency services arrived. She sustained several bites, and a portion of her leg had to be amputated after she was airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers. Margaret, age 90, is well-known among ... Read More »

ART UNCOVERED By Tara O’Neill Time to check in with our own Marco Island Center for the Arts. You may be accustomed to calling it the Marco Island Art League, but new Executive Director Lynn Holley believes (as do I) that since the recently restructured organization aims to include as many diverse presentations, workshops, exhibits and art forms as possible, that a more inclusive name was a natural necessity September’s multi-media juried gallery exhibit is titled Fins, Fur, and Feathers. It’s an artistic celebration of wildlife. ”Well,” said I to Holley, “the title certainly captures the whole kingdom.” “We thought so,” she replied ... Read More »

FOLLOW THE FISH By Capt. Pete Rapps  Hang in there for just one more month as September will be the last HOT and rainy month of the summer here in the 10,000 islands and the Everglades National Park. The day time air temperatures will average around 92. Water temps will stick around 86. Typical to our warmest summer months, September days get so hot by mid day, that the bite will usually drop off some in the afternoon. We will still get mid day storms which will cool things off a little, and produce a late afternoon and early evening bite right ... Read More »

By Carol Glassman It does not matter how prepared one thinks he is, the loss of a loved one is devastating and the grieving process can be quite different for different people. Looking back, most will agree it is a process and as such, composed of different steps. Some religious and ethnic practices may seem harsh at first, but may actually help one through the isolation that may be felt and pave the way back into society. For example, an Irish wake may seem tasteless to a grieving person who cannot imagine the “party” atmosphere following loss, but in reality can ... Read More »

By Pat Holmes The 94th Annual Convention of the Florida Division of the Kiwanis Club met at the Marco Island ç at the end of August. It was the largest convention of its kind with over 900 attendees and guests It filled the Marriott and spilled over to the Hilton. Clubs from all over the state of Florida were represented, 207 clubs in all. Approximately 500 delegates voted on new officers for the Division. Members of the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island, Pat Hagadorn and Joy Morrison, worked the registration desk during the convention and distributed recycle bags from Publix ... Read More »

READ MY TIPS By Doug Browne Gosh, as long as I can remember, the tennis experts continually debate the plight of USA tennis. Do you remember the 1994 Sports Illustrated article by Sally Jenkins that proclaimed, “Is tennis dying?” Fortunately, the sport of tennis has come a long way since the epitaph was written but Americans are panicking because our current stars are fading and many are unsure if we have a new crop of players coming up the pike. Good or bad, the person in charge of resurrecting our USTA junior program is Patrick McEnroe. McEnroe, the younger brother of controversial ... Read More »

GOODLAND LIFE By Natalie Strom  It is no secret that Goodland boasts an extremely diverse group of people. Resident karate master, Sensei Nick Lemke is no exception. Like most Floridians, Nick is a transplant to the area, but offers one distinct feature that others cannot likely claim. Although born in Wisconsin, he was conceived in Goodland. His love for the town eventually brought him back and inspired him to start a Seibukan karate dojo for locals and other karate enthusiasts in the area. Once removed from the womb, Nick spent as much time as he could in Goodland. His grandparents had lived ... Read More »

SOUTHERN SKIES By Mike P. Usher We talked about the Summer Triangle consisting of Vega, Altair and Deneb last year, and once again like last year the Moon is washing out all the lesser stars. You may wish to wait a few days until the Moon is out of the way before you go star gazing. The three stars of the Summer triangle are buried deep in the Milky Way and their constellations are rich in Deep Sky objects. But before looking for any of them examine the shape of the Milky Way itself. If you are at a dark ... Read More »

CRUISING LIFE: Frances Diebler Once we were settled in, we wanted to tour the town. I needed to refill my larder and my husband needed to refill his rum supply. I set out with a friend, Marge, from another boat to look for a grocery store. At first I was just stunned that we would be going to a grocery store here. “What! Are we really going to buy bread here? Are we going to eat food here?” Boy was I a snob then.  We actually bought fresh baked bread here and ate in a very clean and pleasant restaurant. At first ... Read More »