Coastal Breeze News

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  In its first year, Marco Island Academy High School has made some pretty big strides. And it doesn’t stop here. Faculty, board members, students, parents and volunteers have been working hard all year towards bettering the school. For its second year alone, major plans are in the works which will feature some pretty exciting changes. One of the biggest changes will be the physical location of the school. Currently located at 1450 Winterberry Drive, next to the Family Church of Marco, MIA started its first year with 70 freshman and sophomore students. Next year’s plans include ... Read More »

PROTECTING & PRESERVING  Nancy Richie  [email protected] The City of Marco Island is part of the Florida Shorebird Alliance, a partnership that includes Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), City of Naples, Collier County Government and Sheriff’s Office, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR), Sea Grant, the Conservancy of SW FL, Inc., Friends of Tigertail and Collier Audubon Society. The goal of this Alliance is to support those entities involved with volunteer management, materials and information to improve public outreach and education, while monitoring and protecting resting and nesting shorebird populations. Due to smaller staffs and budgets in all entities, ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  As a fundraiser to benefit For the Love of Cats, Blue Mangrove Gallery has donated a custom special edition, Cat Lovers Trollbead bracelet valued at $777.00. The lucky winner won’t have to wait much longer, the winning raffle ticket will be drawn March 20 at a reception at the Gallery from 5:00-7:00 PM. For the Love of Cats is a non-profit, all volunteer rescue group dedicated to saving the lives of cats and kittens on Marco Island. They operate solely through the generous donations of community members like Blue Mangrove Gallery. Raffle tickets are $5.00 ... Read More »

Donna Fiala  [email protected] If you enjoy history then you’ll enjoy a fashion show of wedding gowns from 1894 to present day at the Marco Island Historical Museum on Monday, March 12th at 2:00PM. $15 tickets are available at the gift shop. Wedding cake and punch will be served. Monday, March 19th from 1:30 to 3:00PM will be a portrayal of “Jackie O”, featuring little known facts of her childhood and her behind the scenes life to her death, portrayed by Bonnie Bozzo. Tickets are $6. The show starts at 1:30PM. The folks at Eagle Creek attended in full force a ... Read More »

By Monte Lazarus  [email protected]  ‘Tis the season of “Dodge ‘Em” the good old classic amusement park ride. That’s the one with the bumper cars that smash into each other…great fun for kids. But maybe, just maybe, those rides have something to do with the crazies who are now on the road. No, it’s more than that. No one could do some of the goofy things we’ve all seen, or participated in, every day. It seems to be highly seasonal, not that it’s confined to snowbirds. The influx of people from those places with funny names like, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey ... Read More »

By Carol Glassman A recent comment by the Collier County Sheriff’s Department on the high incidence of traffic fatalities in 2012 came to mind as I left home early one morning, heading to Naples. Traveling within the speed limit east on a quiet street, I was almost T-boned by the driver of a black SUV that shot out of a side street, without obeying the stop sign. That was the second time I experienced a similar incident at that street. I tried to get a good look at the driver when we reached the intersection at Collier. She was turning ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The 2012 Marco Island Seafood Festival is gearing up to provide the island with some of the best seafood in Florida plus a fantastic selection of other all time favorite foods, arts and crafts, a kids fun zone and an incomparable entertainment schedule. The festival is the island’s single largest community event and is hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island, the Noontime Rotary Club and the Sunrise Rotary Club. The festival committee has announced a full music schedule of entertainers which will perform on the Seminole Casino Stage. Saturday, March 24th  • 12:00 ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  The answer: “a lot!” according to Mindy Matusiak, Recreation Manager for the Frank E. Mackle Community Park. Many already know that Mackle Park features a Kids’ Cove playground, a Teen Center, a game room, outdoor basketball courts, a soccer field, a walking trail around Mackle Pond, shuffleboard and bocce courts and the Canine Cove dog park. What many don’t know, however, is that Mackle Park offers myriad programs for both adults and children. The next month alone is packed with new events for all ages. Mackle Park is partnering with the Marco Island Fire and Rescue ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The glamorous Hope Ball, an unparalleled event on Marco Island, was held on Saturday, February 25, at Greystone Manor. This one of a kind event raises money for the Greater Marco Island Unit of The American Cancer Society. Over 250 people came to the gala for a fabulous mix of fashion and fundraising. The event was hosted by Tim Farris and Maria Coords, owners of the multi-million dollar Greystone Manor, located on three acres of land on Roberts Bay in the Estates of Marco. Guests were greeted by members of the Lely football team, who ... Read More »

By Ed D’Alessandro  The 10th Annual Parkinson Poker Walk on Sunday, February 26th took place at North Collier Regional Park. There were approximately 200 participants and over $10,000 was raised for Parkinson research. The Marco Island Team took 2nd place in overall fund raising with over $2,100 in donations. In addition, Jennifer Iavarone of Marco Island, led a team comprised of employees and family members from Lakeside Pavilion Care and Rehabilitation Center. The Lakeside team walked in support of the many residents they care for with Parkinson Disease. The Poker Walk, set on the nature trails at North Collier Regional ... Read More »

By Monte Lazarus  [email protected]  Marco Island’s in for a treat. The Nunziata brothers are returning to the House of Mozart for encore performances of their songs and patter from March 11-15. Their previous shows in February before sell-out crowds were smash hits, and there were cries of “more, more.” The brothers are obliging. This time they will be adding some new songs while the House of Mozart will again whip up a very special dinner. The Nunziatas offer a collection of songs from Broadway’s Golden Age sprinkled with some traditional, and beloved, Italian favorites. Part of the performance is the ... Read More »

By Ralph Segall and Harvey Brenner  It was a night to remember. The weather was perfect; Cocktails on the veranda of the Marco Island Marriott Resort, watching the sunset, couldn’t have been choreographed more beautifully (even for those who are so spoiled when it comes to gulf views). For a fleeting moment we had the feeling that at any moment someone would pick up a megaphone and shout “cut” – and we would be directed to leave the “set” for a more ordinary spot. Dinner was served in a closed section of the ballroom, but big enough to comfortably accommodate everyone. ... Read More »

By Justin Moomaw  Athletics Director, Manatee Middle School  The Manatee Middle School sports program has been led this year by the undefeated boys’ cross country team. The team members demonstrated plenty of natural ability with a strong work ethic to go with it, and that spelled doom for all opposition that took to the starting line against the Hurricanes. The team was led by 8th grader Bobby Garcia, who placed first at every meet throughout the regular season. He finally met his match against an Immokalee runner in the championships, but the depth the Hurricanes displayed meant the team title belonged ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe  [email protected]  Manatee Middle School has a motto. ROAR It is not just a sports chant. These letters define an attitude, a commitment across all aspects of the Manatee philosophy and it applies to the entire school, students, parents, teachers, administrators and support staff. ROAR = respectful, organized, accomplished, responsible. These qualities are nurtured, modeled and instilled in all of Manatee’s 780 students. Mrs. Peggy Aune, Principal of Manatee Middle School, escorted this writer throughout the school, indoors and outdoors. We encountered students in the hallways, on the stairs, as we crossed the large courtyard. Every student ... Read More »

Submitted It’s almost time for one of Marco Island’s most anticipated events—‘Mutts and Martinis” at the Esplanade on Wednesday, March 21 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The event will be hosted by local celebrity Steve Reynolds and will feature Nick Ciletti of NBC 2 News as judge of the ‘pooch parade’. Now in its fourth year, ‘Mutts and Martinis” is a lively evening for humans and their canine pals. Fido can don his favorite costume and meet up with his puppy pals while owners take part in 50/50 raffles and the silent auction that includes items such as a three ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] If only dogs could talk. They would probably say, “please take me to Canine Cove. I want to run, roll and romp around with my fellow furry friends.” One would assume that this is what they would say, as the joy of playing with other dogs is abundantly evident when observing their behavior at Mackle Park’s beloved dog park. Canine Cove opened on December 5, 2009, and has been a tremendous success ever since. For many years, dogs were not allowed in any park on Marco, leashed or not. Today, however, Marco’s parks have become much ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort and Spa held an early evening soiree under a perfectly tuned sky. The guests were brought together to celebrate the completion of a $500,000 renovation to the Balinese style health spa and pool area. The food was light and delectable and in perfect sync with the atmosphere; a variety of Asian pot stickers, crab, lobster and oysters on the half shell accompanied by custom signature drinks served from the bar. A new hydro mineral bath open to the rest of the resort, but enclosed in glass for a sense ... Read More »

Submitted  Once again the Marco Midwinters did not disappoint the skippers as one of the finest RC Laser events completed today in blustery conditions and sub 70 degree temps. A storm front came through early Sunday causing a small postponement but PRO Dave Brawner and his RC team created a terrific windward leeward 2-lap course and the day was early D/C sails and melded into mostly C and some B sails for the final 4 races. The winds remained in the 18-20’s all day Sunday with some blasts in the 30 knot range periodically making for some exciting skippering and ... Read More »

By Peter Karl Boys will be boys. For three months every year the Marco Island’s Senior Softball League literally turns men into boys. This year 165 men are registered to play on one of 12 teams. It all started in 1998, when columnist Roy Sanders from the Eagle wrote a piece saying “wouldn’t it be nice to get together and throw the ball around?” A week later 22 “boys” came to the field and started the league with two teams; Publix and Winn Dixie. Now there are two divisions for the over 55 guys to compete; the Island league and ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Each day, five hours a day, five days a week, 160 men at 55 years of age and older, play three games of softball. Games start at 10:00AM with the national anthem. The concession is open at the park where everything is just $1.00. Choices include a Ballpark beef hotdog, soda, chips, candy or a slice of homemade Key Lime or Lemon Meringue pie. The concessions are opened every day by Paul Meyer who volunteers his time to complete the whole ballpark experience. The players, their families and their friends love it. Paul Meyer, is owner ... Read More »