Coastal Breeze News

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Over 40 vendors and environmental partners will participate at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida FREE Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 21 at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center, located at 1450 Merrihue Dr. in Naples. The earth-friendly event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature environmental exhibitors and vendors, children’s carnival, face-painting, educational presentations, live entertainers and guest speakers. Special offer: Each guest who brings clean plastic shopping bags for recycling will get a free pass to a Florida State Park – one pass for every 20 plastic shopping bags turned in at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) exhibit. ... Read More »

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct exercise flights today in various locations across the U.S. as they practice intercept and identification procedures. Exercise flights are planned for Florida, northern Minnesota, southwestern New Mexico, and off the coast of California. Although they are scheduled for early morning, the exercise flights could be delayed due to weather concerns. Locations include: Areas between Big Cypress National Park, Port Labelle, Clewiston and Orlando, Florida, areas around Grand Rapids, Virginia and Duluth in northern Minnesota; isolated areas of the southwestern part of New Mexico, near the Arizona State line; and off the ... Read More »

On Wednesday, April 18 Ambassador Francis Rooney will be the main speaker at the Caxambas Republican Club of Southwest Florida. The meeting will be held at Rose Auditorium in the Marco Island Museum on Heathwood Drive from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and open to the public. As Chief Executive Officer of Rooney Holdings, Inc. and Manhattan Construction Group, the company is engaged in road and bridge construction, civil works, and building construction and management in the United States, Mexico and Central America/Caribean. Manhattan Kraft Construction is their Naples-based subsidiary. Rooney was appointed by President George W. Bush and served as the United ... Read More »

Drug Free Collier, in conjunction with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Collier County Public Schools welcomes Renee Napier with an important message to local teens and their families about the consequences of underage drinking and driving under the influence. After losing her daughter to a drunk driver, Renee Napier now shares this story with as many people as possible in hopes of saving lives! In her presentation Renee tells the story, talks about the healing power of forgiveness, and shows videos that feature Eric Smallridge, the convicted drunk driver in prison. Eric, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for DUI manslaughter also ... Read More »

On 4/13/12 at 12:02 pm a 77 year-old female Marco Island resident operating a mobility scooter was struck while crossing the crosswalk on N. Collier Blvd. at Tigertail Ct. The female sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Lee Memorial Trauma Center. A 74 year-old male Marco Island resident driving a 2011 Lincoln struck the female operating the scooter. Elements of the Marco Island Police Department Traffic Homicide Team and members of the Patrol Division are currently conducting an investigation into the incident, at the conclusion of which the appropriate causative factor(s) and charges will be determined. Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff On Friday, April 20th, Steven Banks will attempt to do what no man has done before. In what has been dubbed, KAYAK MARCO 24, Steven will leave the Snook Inn on Marco Island at 1:00 PM and attempt to kayak the total outer perimeter of the Marco Island, Cape Romano, Coon Key and Goodland commons area. He expects to arrive back at the Snook Inn at 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 21st. A spectacular party will greet him as he will be certified as a new Guinness Book world record holder, under the category of “longest ... Read More »

His soul went to heaven on April 2nd 2012 following a long illness but his memory lives on. He leaves behind his wife of 48 years (Lorraine Blouin), a daughter Susan (Mrs. Anthony Puleo), a son Kenneth and (Mrs. Stephanie LeFrancois), 3 grandchildren (Amanda, Shayne and Kayti), 3 sisters, a brother-predeceased and several nieces and nephews. Originally from Salem, MA, he was employed by GE for 27 years as a Computer Systems Analyst. He retired and moved to Florida in 1991 with his wife Lorraine. Marcel was a strong influence in preserving and restoring the first church on Marco Island ... Read More »

Samuel (Sam) P. Willits, born 29 July 1924, loving husband of Florence, father of Linda Sandlin, Steven and David Willits, and resident of Barrington, IL since 1961, died unexpectedly April 5, 2012 in Marco Island, FL, where he enjoyed many winter seasons. Sam is a University of Michigan graduate, served as a Navy officer during WWII, and co-founded the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Barrington, IL. Sam was a creative engineer and inventor with hundreds of patents to his credit. He was the founder and CEO of Spartanics, Ltd in Rolling Meadows, IL for over 40 years that created ... Read More »

VICTOR R. AHLEFELD of Kinnelon, New Jersey and Marco Island, Florida died on April 3rd in Florida. He was a 76 years old and is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Patricia, loving daughters Margaret Stouffer of Potomac Maryland, Karen Crines and son-in-law James of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and devoted son Victor W. Ahlefeld and daughter-in-law Katharine of Liberty, Maine. He had six grandchildren, Kaitlin and Sean Stouffer, Ian and Shane Crines , and Greta and Victor Patrick Ahlefeld. He was a volunteer member of the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad, serving the towns of Butler, Kinnelon and Bloomingdale, ... Read More »

CONTACT:  389-5050 for reports or additional information     DATE & TIME: Between 03/29/2012 08:00:00 PM and 03/30/2012 08:00:00 AM LOCATION: N Barfield Drive INCIDENT: Theft It was reported that a mailbox valued at approximately $900.00 was taken from a residence located on N. Barfield Drive. Investigation continues.   DATE & TIME: 03/30/2012 02:38:26 PM ARRESTED: Dustyn Paul McCauley, 21 LOCATION: Tahiti Road INCIDENT: Violation of Probation / Harassing Phone Calls An Officer conducted a stop on a vehicle in the 100 Blk. of Tahiti Road. Following investigation the driver identified as Dustyn McCauley was placed under arrest for making ... Read More »

Response to Article by Larry Magel, Chairman, Marco Island City Council in the March 29-April 4th issue. OUR CITIZENS DO DESERVE THE FACTS: Our newly elected Chairman of the Marco Island City Council, Larry Magel, in his first newspaper article started his term on the negative, go figure!!! The Marco Island Property Owners (MIPO) facts were based on the Independent Consultants first recommendation of the M1 version of the Cost of Service Study. Based on the M1 study, the MIPO figures that were quoted are accurate. This can be verified by public record. MIPO does not have the luxury of ... Read More »

Music Notes by Gator Nate Nate Augustus [email protected] From the mangrove mazes of the 10,000 Islands, to the sawgrass flood plains of the Fakahatchee Strand, the little speck on the map that raised me is quite a land of inspiration. Southwest Florida is definitely “one-of-a-kind.” Nowhere on earth feels like this, and I couldn’t think of another place that I would rather call home. It could be the wildlife of the Everglades somehow blending with the salt air of the Gulf that gets me. Maybe it’s the sunsets and magnificent birds of the coast that inspire all these songs. It ... Read More »

GOODLAND LIFE Joanie Fuller  [email protected] Remember those days when we all wanted a new frock at Easter time? I do. As a teenager it was important to have a new dress, shoes to match, white gloves (absolutely!) and, of course, a bonnet with lots of frills upon it. That tradition has certainly waned, hasn’t it? Wonder what happened? I guess the fast lane and more casual living happened, but we still have the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs, don’t we? All that is really fun and both are definitely spring time traditions. In Goodland, the Easter Bunny makes an appearance at ... Read More »

CHEF’S TABLE Chef Anne Feinman  [email protected] Easter always brings me such a fuzzy, warm feeling. From the Easter egg hunts, the pretty dresses and bonnets Mom dressed us 5 sisters in, to the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen. Easter Sunday has always been such a wonderful family day of great food! This year I will be enjoying Easter with our extended family…our wonderful customers, employees and friends. We want to share some great recipes with you to make your Easter dinner one to remember! Lets start with: Jack Daniels Baked Ham • Fully cooked bone in ham 4-6 lbs. • ... Read More »

FOLLOW THE FISH Capt. Pete Rapps [email protected] There are so many different species of fish that we catch here in the 10,000 Islands and the Everglades National Park. Some fish that are targeted for food purposes, depending on their open season, are Redfish, Snapper, Trout, Flounder, Mackerel, Tripletail, Cobia, Pompano, Snook, Grouper and more. Some fish we target for sport. Tarpon are a great sport fish that are never eaten, however others like Snook, Permit, & Shark are mostly targeted for sport and sometime for food. Others like Ladyfish, Jacks, & Catfish can be considered sport, however are typically just bi-catch ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] The “Homeland Dolphin” that has greeted guests at Marco Island’s City Hall since 2003 has recently moved. Created by Marco Island Academy High School teacher, Rob Eder, the dolphin sculpture can now be found at the entrance to the Community Center at Mackle Park. In a grand fundraising effort for The Marco Island YMCA and The Art League of Marco Island, 36 dolphin sculptures were created by various local artists in 2003, in what was known as the “Dolphin Debut.” On April 13th of that year, the sculptures were auctioned off at an event hosted by ... Read More »

ART UNCOVERED Tara O’Neill In the spirit of pure indulgence, I’d like to share some observations about working in the arts community; in particular, thoughts on the benefits of collaboration. Example: all artists require a place to work, and a place to exhibit/perform. Three years ago it was certainly true for a group of Marco Island artists who held monthly salon meetings in the home of artist JoAnn Sanborn. At one such meeting Sanborn presented a vision she had of studios for working artists filling the vacant retail spaces at a local upscale plaza – vacancies indicative of the economic crunch ... Read More »

BOOK REMARKS Diane Bostick [email protected] Author: Téa Oberht. Publisher: Random House, 2011. If you want to read a book in which a butcher beats his wife to a bloody pulp and is then punished for it, you can probably find dozens of books of that genre in any library or book store. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, life disappoints, man beats girl, man is punished…or not, as the case may be. That’s it. No deep analytical discussion of why he did it. But if you want to first learn the tragic story behind how the man became a lowly ... Read More »

By Carol Glassman New Marco City Council Chairman Larry Magel addressed a group of homeowners at Hideaway Beach, attempting to illustrate the true situation about water usage and costs, and kill negative, overblown rumors about increases, embellished for “political purposes.” When newly-elected City Council Chairman Larry Magel addressed homeowners at Hideaway Beach, he opened his remarks by promising to keep the avenues of communication open, thereby stopping the “misinformation” about the city being bandied about and “embellished for political purposes.” In order to do this, he is offering to speak to any community or civic group and to answer their ... Read More »