Coastal Breeze News

Submitted  Linda and Paul Flores are very proud to announce the graduation of their son, Matthew Paul Flores, from Ave Maria School of Law, Naples, Florida. Matthew received his Juris Doctor from Ave Maria School of Law. The annual commencement exercises took place May 12, 2012 at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples. Matthew grew up on Marco Island with his younger brother Bryan, attended Lely High School and is a graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville. He plans to sit for the BAR exam in July and hopes to remain in Naples to practice and serve ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  In a twist of fate, Steven Banks’ Guinness World Record Attempt to kayak the outer perimeter of Marco Island, Goodland and Cape Romano, was cut short due to heavy lightning strikes. Steven’s overall mission in this World Record Attempt, was to raise $20,000 for three different charities. While his trip was cut short and the monetary goal was not quite attained, Steven has still been able to help all three charities and will be attempting his Guinness Record setting goal later this year. On April 20, Banks set out at 1:00 PM from The Snook Inn, ... Read More »

By Val Simon Between betting on favorites for the Kentucky Derby at the 6th Annual Talk Derby to Me event, two people were recognized for their contributions to the Marco Island community: Jerry Anders and Theresa Glasser. Jerry is a soldier. While on Marco Island, parents got to know him as he dropped off his son, Logan, for football. It was only when they didn’t see him they learned he was a military man. According to his mother, Jerry wasn’t allowed to give too many details when he was deployed. He would simply tell her he “was back home” meaning ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  Coastal Breeze News was honored to be a part of Island Montessori Academy’s Community Heroes Week. The Academy’s annual event invites different members of the Marco area to share how their jobs benefit the community. Students, ages three to nine, listened intently each day as a new guest speaker shared the importance of community involvement. Coastal Breeze was invited to speak with students on Thursday, May 3. Publisher, Val Simon, shared the different aspects of the newspaper with the students. As each child ruffled through papers, they were asked to pick out areas that featured stories, ... Read More »

By Diane Bostick Most people expect to receive presents on their birthday. Not so with local author, Terry Helwig; who arrived at the Marco Island YMCA to celebrate her special day, Monday, April 23rd, with cookies, balloons, and gifts to give out to others. Parents arriving to pick up their children from the Marco Island Day Care Center were given the opportunity to receive a free copy of best selling author and Pulitzer Prize nominee, Maya Angelou’s book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Ms. Helwig was there as a representative of the nationwide World Book Night to pass ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Walking into Scuba Marco is like stopping by a friend’s house. The full service dive shop offers every thing from rentals to dive trips to certifications to great conversations. Husband and wife owners, Jeff and Jessi Dawson, have created a laid-back, tropical atmosphere that echoes their lives and their style of business. Emphasizing hospitality, fun and patience, the couple live on “island time” and go by the motto, “No hurries. No worries.” For the first-time scuba diver, this “mom and pop shop” offers the perfect vibe to get one started. “For folks that aren’t so sure, ... Read More »

Submitted Loggerhead sea turtles spend their whole lives out at sea. According to NOAA, loggerheads are found throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are the most abundant species of sea turtle found in U.S. coastal waters, with the majority of nesting found from North Carolina through Southwest Florida. While they are the most abundant sea turtle, they are still registered on the Endangered Animals list as nesting data shows a decline in population. Adult female sea turtles only leave the water every two to three years to lay their eggs along sandy ... Read More »

By Jodi Pree  On the afternoon of Thursday, May 4, the Marco Island Racquet Center (MIRC) was abuzz with excitement as 14 pickleball players faced off for competition with some very special visitors. In a rather serendipitous turn of events, four traveling pickleball competitors found their way to the Marco Island Racquet Center. “I was stuck in Miami today waiting to continue my trip to the Jamaica Mon 2012, a weeklong pickleball competition with 132 people from 22 states. I wanted to practice on my off day and googled the closest pickleball courts. This brought me to Marco. Tomorrow I’m ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  Mo Anderson’s Birthday in recognition of her leadership in guiding the culture of our company. Mo is the Vice Chairman of the Board for Keller Williams Realty International. RED Day (Renew,Energize and Donate) is an initiative-dedicated to celebrating Keller Williams Realty’s yearround commitment to improving our local communities. Each year, on the second Thursday of May, tens of thousands of associates from across the United States and Canada participate in a wide range of projects, devoting their time to renewing and energizing aspects of the neighborhoods in which they serve. RED Day initiatives run the ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe [email protected] Concert goers were treated to a stunning performance Thursday evening, May 3rd in Hayes Hall at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Dave Bennett’s Clarinet Swing Kings wowed the audience with a fast paced, brilliant performance from the opening number, Nightmare, made famous by Artie Shaw, to the concluding rendition of Sing, Sing, Sing, a mainstay of the late, great Benny Goodman. Dave Bennett is described as an “authentic musical prodigy.” His amazing talent on the clarinet recalls the style and technique of Benny Goodman. Bennett taught himself how to play in the Goodman ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] The butterfly guy is back! Mike Malloy shared his gardening expertise with Coastal Breeze readers in the last edition. Educating readers on the best types of plants to use in the oh-so-unique climate of Southwest Florida, Malloy is now sharing his best tips on how to reduce water costs, use less pesticides and ensure an easy, affordable garden full of color, fragrance, and, of course, butterflies. The “Johnny Appleseed” of Naples spent a number of years working for the University of Florida’s Florida Friendly Yards and Neighborhoods Program. “I would visit private homes and communities, showing ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Marco Island’s bravest participated in a training exercise at Veterans Park. Members of the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department maneuvered the city’s #50 fire truck through a number of practice tests. Pierce Manufacturing, makers of the fire truck, came out for an “All Wheel Steering Training” course, provided by the company. With safety at its forefront, the company not only manufactures fire trucks and equipment but also provides proper training for their use all over the country. Driver’s skills are tested every two years. Driving requirements include backing up; moving through tight serpentine patterns forward ... Read More »

By Joan Kelly THEN Continuing the discussion, the Larson family who owned the Capri Marina called at that time Dick and Kay’s Marina. The family lived on the Isles from 1962 ‘til 1974. This is where the adventure began for Kurt. “They used to call me sandspur because I used to get them in my feet,” Kurt remembered. “As a kid we had lots to do. Fishing. We caught more Snook. That is why there are none today.” Everything we caught she (Kay) cooked, which is really funny because she does not like fish!” “I would roll it in corn ... Read More »

Submitted Collier County’s top tourism stars were honored with Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards at the tenth annual Collier County Tourism Week celebration and luncheon today at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, with close to 200 people in attendance from the area’s tourism industry. The event takes place every year to coincide with National Travel & Tourism Week. This year’s theme is Forecast 2012 – Sunny Skies for the Paradise Coast. Jack Wert, executive director for the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) delivered a State of the Tourism Industry Briefing prior ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe [email protected] Have you been on a cruise lately? A world cruise? For more than 100 days? We haven’t either but my friend, Judy and I were invited recently to lunch on a cruise ship which had been the luxurious home of her cousin and her husband for 100 + days. The Crystal Serenity docked in Port of the Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale for a day in early May before continuing north to Charleston, South Carolina and its final destination, New York City. The ship is one of two owned by Crystal Cruise Lines which offer world cruises ... Read More »

By Dianna Dohm Off season maybe upon Marco Island, but not for Bedtime Bundles. Twelve volunteers spent the morning assembling 250 pillowcase bundles. Included in each bundle are day to day essentials which we take for granted including; soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes pajamas, underwear, socks, one book, a stuffed toy and much more. All 250 bundles will be delivered to the Immokalee work camps and distributed throughout the summer to migrant children. Bedtime Bundles, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify the needs of migrant children and provide them with basic necessities.   Read More »

SPEAKING OF TRAVEL Vickie Kelber  [email protected] Last year, I wrote an article, “There’s an App for That” (http://tinyurl.com/6uy2skr) and with the now more than 600,000 Apps available for the iPhone/Android and iPad, there are sure to be some that are invaluable to travelers. In fact, there are so many that I am going to divide this update into two columns, the second to follow in two weeks. This week, I will identify some of them that will help you navigate to and from your destination. I won’t repeat any from my March, 2011 column. Next time, I’ll focus on Apps that ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] As the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida’s traveling boxcar made its way to Manatee Middle school, eighth grade students were busy preparing a Holocaust Museum of their own. During the week of May 7th, students and their families visited not only the boxcar, but also a museum made up of unique projects by the eighth grade class. “During eighth grade Language Arts, the students spend a unit focusing on the Holocaust. Most of our eighth graders have read ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and have done some research by reading ‘The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,’ ... Read More »

MUSIC NOTES BY GATOR NATE Nate Augustus [email protected] Most music fits into categories. Genres, if you will. Rarely do you run across a band that defies their genre, spilling across to others and forming a style all their own. Over the last few tweeks, Music Notes has delved into the world of some great local, island style musicians. Gator’s latest dose of sun-soaked sound advice is, to check out this rock/reggae/ska/calypso/dancehall/hip-hop/punk band that hails from Marco Island, or as they call it, “The Rock.” There, you will find out what all this musical jargon is about. Named for the hilly ... Read More »

By Joanne Tailele  MARCO ISLAND WRITERS (MIW), formerly The Marco Writers Networking Group may have a shorter name, but our group is certainly not short on vision. Meeting on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at the Fifth Third Bank on Elkcam Circle, we are approaching our one-year anniversary this June. From its first meeting with only two people attending, the membership roster now boasts over sixty members. We have a beautiful new logo, thanks to Emily Charde Graphic Design, and anticipate having our website up and running by our July meeting. The 2012-2013 season includes more speakers to inspire ... Read More »