Coastal Breeze News

Our Nation‘s focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is clearly the foundation for education at the Marco Island Academy. Gone are the traditional chalkboards and even whiteboards. Instead Tekboards (which are similar to a high definition TV with IPAD capabilities) on the wall bring interactive lessons to multi-media life. Gone too are the Webster’s Dictionaries on the shelves for every student has been issued their own iPAD2 complete with teacher-selected curricular applications. Whether logging on to any one of twenty-seven Collier County Public Library online resources, using an electronic student planner, studying an electronic textbook for a test, ... Read More »

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee currently has three vacancies, one for a member in the category, real estate, with a term to expire on October 1, 2013, and one for a member in the category, area of labor actively engaged in home building, with a term to expire October 1, 2013, and one member as, an alternate, with a term to expire October 1, 2013. It is required that one of the applicants reside in Immokalee. Thesis an 11 member committee created by Ordinance 91?65 as amended to monitor the implementation of the Affordable Housing Task Force’s recommendations, and the ... Read More »

Richard Condle and Jeanne Taylor of Naples, Florida were thrilled to learn that they won the framed presentation piece featuring the Save Vanishing Species semi-postal stamp. Postmaster Richard Barber offered attendees at the National Estuaries Day event held at Rookery Bay National Estuaries Research Reserve on September 24th an opportunity to win the beautiful framed piece as well as purchase the stamps. Postmaster Barber worked the crowds at the event encouraging use of the semi-postal stamp which provides funding to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to help save vanishing species which includes our local marine turtle. Over 500 ... Read More »

Third Annual Red, White & Roulette “Casino Night” Friday, November 4, 2011 NAPLES, FL (October 5, 2011) – Picture yourself aboard Dennis Conner’s “Stars & Stripes” yacht for 150-minute hands-on San Diego sailing experience. This America’s Cup Excursion, plus hotel and round-trip air for two, will be auctioned on Friday, November 4 at the Friends of the Library Third Annual Red, White & Roulette benefit held at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North. Last year’s casino fundraiser earned the Florida Library Association’s Outstanding Program of the Year Award. For 2011, the friends of the ... Read More »

Naples, Fla.(October 11, 2011) – The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) representing the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades area has released its Strategic Plan for tourism destination marketing for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. The plan includes an increased focus on digital marketing and continuation of the focus on growing the group meetings market established in the 2010/2011 fiscal year. The plan contains both a long-range plan for the destination through 2016 and the 2011/12 Destination Marketing Plan. It is based on considerable input from national and local research, area tourism businesses and area stakeholder groups. The draft plan was presented to ... Read More »

Waterfront property becomes vacation resort brand’s seventh destination Holiday Inn Club Vacations® today announced that it has added the seventh location to its portfolio of vacation resorts, a 36-unit resort located on the Rio waterway in the “City Center” activities district of Marco Island, Fla. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort joins the flagship location, Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Fla., and five other Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts. Travelers can book vacation villas at all seven resorts at www.holidayinn.com, just as they would any Holiday Inn® hotel room. The addition of Sunset Cove ... Read More »

Due to record numbers of residents in The Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s Beau Venturi Home emergency shelter and onsite kennel, the nonprofit domestic violence center is seeking donations of non-perishable food, cleaning items and pet supplies, dropped at Options Thrift Shoppe, 968 Second Avenue North, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.   Immediate needs include: Mac n’ cheese Pasta & sauce Spaghetti-O’s Canned ravioli Cereal Peanut butter & jelly Bread Fresh & canned meats Fresh & canned vegetables Soup Juice & juice boxes Milk Cat litter Dish soap & dishwasher soap Laundry detergent Diapers Baby wipes ... Read More »

Each four week session will focus on strengthening, flexibility, balance and confidence. Learn basic gymnastics through mat work, beam, vault, spring board and dance. Instructor is Tracy Decker. Bring water, wear Dance/Gym leotard or shorts and shirt. Children ages 6 years old and up There will be 4 sessions, each Tuesday each month, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Y Gym. Y members pay $30 month; Community participants pay $35 month with 8 participant minimum. For more information please contact Kim Burke at 239-394-3144 ext, 224 or [email protected] Read More »

Be sure to stop by the Marco Library on Winterberry Drive this month to see Bill Andrew’s art show of his oil paintings. Bill retired 18 years ago and moved to the Naples area from Indiana in 2004 with his wife, Linda. When Bill started to paint in 2010, he discovered how much he enjoyed it. His paintings are colorful and imaginative. This is a joint venture between the Marco Public Library and the Marco Island Center for the Arts. Monthly, one artist shows are displayed at the library for the public’s enjoyment. Paintings are also for sell. Next month’s ... Read More »

Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, District 1, invites Collier County residents to attend two upcoming Town Hall Meetings. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 24 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples. Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, State Rep. Kathleen Passidomo and Commissioner Fiala will make presentations to be followed by a question and answer period. “I encourage District 1 and all Collier County residents to attend these informative meetings,” said Commissioner Fiala. “I’m very appreciative that Sheriff Rambosk and Representative Passidomohave agreed to participate. Attendees will receive an update on ... Read More »

Collier County Domestic Animal Services has recently completed a compilation of statistics following the end of their fiscal year, and the numbers reveal some good news about the state of homeless animals in At 6,212, overall animal intake at the public open-admission animal shelter fell 7 percent from the previous year, and is at a six-year low. “We look at animal intake as an indicator of the community’s commitment to its pets,” said DAS Director Amanda Townsend. “Are they treating their animals like a commodity, or are they looking at pet ownership as an important lifelong responsibility?” For the shelter, ... Read More »

Collier County’s Solid Waste Management and Parks and Recreation Departments are teaming up to make recycling easier for the recreating public. A pilot program initiated in September placed recycling containers next to waste containers in Sugden Regional Park, Eagle Lakes Community Park, Cocohatchee River Park, Marco Island’s south beach access, and Immokalee Community Park. The concrete containers have yellow lids and are clearly marked with a stylized version of the familiar chasing arrows recycling logo. The yellow lids mimic the yellow tops of the recycling containers used in the residential curbside collection program, making them easily recognizable as being for ... Read More »

CHS Healthcare has partnered with Eden Autism Services to offer free autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screenings onboard the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® in Collier County. Autism disorders are a growing health concern, but is it something that parents in our community should be concerned about? Consider this, according to the Centers for Disease control (CDC) one in every 110 children are diagnosed with some form of ASD making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. Autism is a term to describe a group of complex developmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorders or ASD. These ... Read More »

RE/MAX International recently recognized their top 100 national real-estate associates through July 31, 2011. These associates were categorized and recognized as the “Top 100 U.S. Individuals” and the “Top 100 U.S. Team Leaders.” Chris Sullivan had ranked number 23 within the “Top U.S. Individuals.” Chris Sullivan is a Broker Associate at RE/MAX Results Realty, located at 847 North Collier Boulevard, Marco Island. Read More »

Marathon, FL, Tuesday, October 11, 2011: Centennial Bank congratulates Justine Townsend and Laura Castro of the Marco Island branch for earning the Centennial Bank Star Teller award. “The Star Teller program sets the bar in regards to the quality of service we wish to see from our employees,” states Teresa Condas, President of Centennial Bank’s South Florida Region. “ Justine and Laura deserve recognition for their dedication and attention to detail.” In appreciation of the challenges tellers have in providing best-in-class customer service, Centennial Bank designed the Star Teller Program, a monthly recognition program that showcases the importance of error-free ... Read More »

Marco Presbyterian Church, 875 West Elkcam Circle, will host a women’s conference 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 5 entitled “Amazing Grace 360”. The conference will focus on God’s work of grace from creation to glory. Light refreshments and childcare will be provided. The conference is free; please call the church at 394-8186 to register. For childcare call Meaghan May at 776-4781. Read More »

Public Is Asked To Assist With Turkey Drive Are you planning a family and/or friends gathering for a Thanksgiving get-together this year? Are you planning on having the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings? Are you aware that there are thousands of families in Southwest Florida who won’t have that opportunity because they can’t afford The Harry Chapin Food Bank needs to supply 9,000 turkeys to their participating agencies for distribution to families. The food bank would like to find partners to assist by planning a drive to collect turkeys or cash so the food bank can purchase the ... Read More »

The Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) held its annual meeting in Naples on September 17 to announce the recipients of the prestigious Sand Dollar Awards. The winner in the category for public buildings was CORE Construction Corporation of Sarasota. This award represents the highest industry achievement for design, engineering, site work, construction and excellence and function. This award was given in recognition of CORE’s work with the Marco Island Historical Society to construct the Marco Island Historical museum complex and site. It has been a long time dream of the Historical Society to bring a world class museum here to ... Read More »

Do you or any of your loved ones have outdated or unused medicines? The Marco island Police Department and Drug Free Collier are collaborating with the community to pro-actively address the issues related to the improper disposal of prescription drugs, and would like to invite you to join us for another Operation Medicine Cabinet event on November 12, from 10am to 2pm at the CVS Pharmacy, 676 Bald Eagle Drive on Marco Island. Operation Medicine Cabinet provides members of the community mechanism to dispose of outdated or unused prescription drugs in an environmentally safe and legal manner. Recent studies have ... Read More »

E N M A members and guests celebrated the Association’s first year with a party at The Player’s Club and Spa on September 10, 2011. Members and guests came together and celebrated the evening with a cocktail party and Chinese auction. The auction boasted 29 fantastic prizes donated by members. “The outpouring of support and donated prizes by our members was overwhelming, our members stepped up to the occasion and great fun was had by all”, commented Shirley Calhoun, Chairman. The Board of the East Naples Merchants’ Association is extremely pleased that membership has grown to 59 members in the ... Read More »