Coastal Breeze News

FOLLOW THE FISH  Capt. Pete Rapps  [email protected] When boating in Southwest Florida in the summer months, you have to be very mindful of the intense mid day heat and the effects of the sun on you skin. Out here on the water, we have a much different environment than back on land. We most certainly have different things to think about and prepare for in advance before spending the day out on a boat. First of all, we have sun baking us from two directions. The most obvious is from above, but few think about the reflection from the water. That ... Read More »

ART UNCOVERED  Tara O’Neill  [email protected] As dedicated readers of my column already know, I’m taking a quasi summer hiatus from Art Uncovered - but there’s still news just itching to be shared. Besides, I wouldn’t want you to forget me! Things are always changing, always shifting, and always happening, at Marco’s own Artist Colony. Rightside Studio and the Artist Colony at the Esplanade welcome newest member Nancy Dowdall, photographer. Dowdall, a professional for over 20 years, is well known locally as a fine art photographer, but the artist considers her portrait and commercial photography as nothing less than art. Dowdall shies ... Read More »

DOG & STYLE Tony Wakefield-Jones [email protected]   First, a big old high-paw to those of you who read and responded to my first Dog & Style column in the last issue of Coastal Breeze. With your questions, requests for interviews, and social invitations now pouring in, I’m starting to feel like the Prince William of Marco Island. Plus, I simply refuse to be compared to a squatty little Corgi! Even this week’s professional photo shoot with Marco’s own Peter Berec has been described as “unforgettable.” However, through his dogged determination, Mr. Peter finally managed to get the shot he wanted and ... Read More »

BOOK REMARKS Diane Bostick [email protected]   Author: Jeffrey Deaver Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2012   I have always enjoyed Jeffrey Deaver’s books. He manages to keep me on the edge of my seat, and occasionally, with the covers over my head. His characters usually personify pure evil. I wouldn’t put him in the class of some of the books I read in my younger days but he certainly has no problem keeping me in suspense. If you are now in your “younger days” you might not have read some of the books that kept me pale and sweaty palmed so I ... Read More »

SOUTHERN SKIES By Mike P. Usher [email protected] As Mars and Saturn sink towards the western horizon, leaving the evening sky planet-less until October, look instead to the south and view Ophiuchus. Ophiuchus, also known as the serpent-bearer, is a large constellation situated above the Milky Way and dipping all the way down to the ecliptic – making it the thirteenth zodiacal constellation. This fact is ignored in astrological columns for some reason even though the constellation has been recognized since ancient times. The constellation is usually depicted in old artworks as a man holding a very large snake, something like ... Read More »

SPEAKING OF TRAVEL Vickie Kelber  [email protected] It was almost too close to call, but in the end, Amalfi nosed out Venezia to win the Regata Antiche Reubbliche Marinara Italiano…..and Coastal Breeze was there to cover it. During the X to XIII centuries, the city-states of Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice were the four great maritime republics which competed against each other for trade and power and provided significant support for the Crusades. In the 1940’s, to commemorate the importance of these powers, an annual regatta among the four Ancient Maritime Republics was proposed. It took about six years to research the ... Read More »

REEL REVIEWS  By Monte Lazarus  [email protected]   Woody Allen’s latest, “To Rome With Love”, is feel good fun. The movie is a pastiche of unrelated plots, while paying tribute to the Eternal City, with spectacular photography of Rome’s treasures. The plot? There isn’t one. Rather, the film begins with one of Rome’s elegant traffic cops introducing some of the characters and each story takes off. Woody Allen returns to the screen (he also wrote and directed) as Jerry, a neurotic – as usual – retired opera director, flying to Rome with wife Phyllis (Judy Davis) a strong-willed psychiatrist, to meet ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff With hurricane season in full swing, Coastal Breeze is dedicated to ensuring the safety of Southwest Floridians. Coastal Breeze previously featured pertinent information from the City of Marco Island and the United States Humane Society regarding safety for both residents and their pets in times of hurricanes. This edition features tips from LCEC and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Knowing what to do before and after a storm helps minimize damage to properties, landscaping and persons. Read on to learn more about what to do when the lights go out and bracing your trees ... Read More »

IBERIABANK (www.iberiabank.com), a 125-year-old subsidiary of IBERIABANK Corporation, is pleased to announce that Grace Place for Children and Families, Inc. and Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida, Inc. and were chosen for the “i Gives Back” community outreach program for the month of July.  IBERIABANK’s 11 branch locations in Collier and Lee counties will collect much-needed school supplies including: crayons, pencils, erasers, markers, glue sticks, lined notebook paper, composition notebooks, student scissors, 2-pocket folders, index cards, highlighters, ball point pens, spiral notebooks, 3-ring binders, rulers, and calculators. These school supplies will be included with backpacks given to children who may not ... Read More »

Harris Private Bank’s Naples team recently left the office and brought hope to families in need of a new home when they participated in Habitat for Humanity of Collier County’s newest community at Regal Acres as part of BMO Financial Group’s Annual North American Volunteer Day. As part of a corporate-wide volunteer initiative, Naples’ Harris Private Bank volunteers filled holes, painted walls, ceilings and trim, opened cartons of appliances and cleaned a duplex in the new community. BMO Volunteer Day encompasses approximately 6,500 employees taking part in 400 projects across Canada and the U.S., including children and youth organizations, elder ... Read More »

Monday, July 16th is the last day to register to vote and the deadline for party affiliation changes to vote in the August 14th Primary Election.  Once the registration books are closed voter registrations may be accepted for the purpose of subsequent elections only. Party affiliation changes made while the books are closed will not be effective until after the Primary Election. Florida is a ‘Closed Primary’ state and only registered Democrats and Republicans may vote for their respective party’s candidate in the upcoming August 14th Primary Election.  However, if all candidates for an office have the same party affiliation ... Read More »

Residents in rural Everglades City were excited in March 2009 when Shamrock Bank of Florida established a branch at City Hall in their little town. It meant no long trips into Naples to make deposits or cash checks. Local non-profits and businesses and individuals opened their accounts. They were welcomed by the friendly service, real ”community banking” at their doorsteps. Now, the news they had been dreading, the Everglades City branch closed on June 26. The purported reason for the closure is that deposits had not grown sufficiently, the bank was loosing money. However, Shamrock Bank was was only open one day a week and had rent-free ... Read More »

Conservation Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Dear Friends of Naples Zoo, As Director of Conservation, I am all too familiar with the challenges of saving endangered species in their native habitats. Friends within the Zoo community involved in conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have just shared that Congolese rebels attacked the Institute in the Congo for Conservation of Nature headquarters (ICCN) and Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) base of operations in Epulu. Rebels have killed locals including 2 wildife rangers and one ranger’s wife. In addition to murdering, looting and burning the conservation projects ... Read More »

The Greater Naples YMCA has launched a new series of youth and teen wellness classes targeting young people ages 8 to 18. The classes are designed to help develop healthy exercise and wellness habits so participants will maintain healthier lifestyles as they grow and to help kids get their recommended hour of physical activity each day. Classes are free for YMCA members and include three age-specific programs. YFit focuses on a series of games and activities that motivate 8- to 11-year-olds to move and get fit. Boot Camp for 11- to 14-year-old “tweens” makes push-ups, squats and other basic exercises ... Read More »

The Federal Aviation Administration has completed its annual review and found Naples Municipal Airport 100 percent in compliance with all required standards. This is the 17th consecutive year the airport has earned a perfect score. The FAA inspection includes all aspects of airport operations including the airfield, runway, lighting and fueling facilities, as well as an assessment of record keeping, training procedures and Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting safety drills. Each of these areas is reviewed annually as part of the airport recertification process. “Safety is our No. 1 priority, and the annual FAA inspection validates our efforts to make ... Read More »

While most kids search for ways to spend their vacations, those within the master-planned community of Fiddler’s Creek enjoy an abundance of fun activities and programs. The residential community host special events for kids of all ages especially during the holidays and vacation times throughout the year, including bounce houses and slides, laser tag, competitive and poolside games, simulated shark riding and even a blueberry pie eating contest. The kids programs are part of the very active social lifestyle offered at Fiddler’s Creek. The community regularly hosts elaborate themed parties for homeowners, including the Welcome Back and Farewell to Fiddler’s ... Read More »

As the first gust of wind billowed the Big Flag at the Memorial Day Ceremony, Chairman, Dave Rice reminded all in attendance that, there was still unfinished business. “The Big Flag committee, comprised of Dick Shanahan, Keith Dameron, Leo Sutera and  Lita Berger guaranteed our City Council and citizens, that no public funds would be used to support the project, now, tomorrow or forever”, stated Rice. The “Go Big Flag” Phase 4 fund raising effort has officially begun under the direction of Fund Raising Chairman, Leo Sutera.  Detailed plans approved by the committee are as  follows: The major funding sources ... Read More »

IBERIABANK’s next installment of the Heath “PLUS” Lecture Series will be held on July 24th. The interaction between nutrition and medications will be the topic thoroughly covered by Dr. Mark Liberman, M.D and General Surgeon with Physicians Regional Healthcare System, partner for this important medical series. As we take more medications, we run an increased risk of harmful drug interactions and a greater risk of nutritional deficiencies that result when medications interact with certain foods. At our ages, the results of that can be devastating. Some of the most familiar medications that treat blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heartburn, pain ... Read More »

America’s forestland is a prized natural resource, and anyone can help plant much-needed trees in these vital areas by joining the Arbor Day Foundation. Through the Replanting Our National Forests campaign, the Arbor Day Foundation will honor each new member who joins the Foundation in July by planting 10 trees in forests that have been devastated by wildfires, insects and disease. The cost for joining the Arbor Day Foundation is a $10 donation. America’s national forests face enormous challenges, including unprecedented wildfires that have left a backlog of nearly one million acres in need of replanting. The Arbor Day Foundation ... Read More »

The Commerce Department today announced the appointment of 30 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils that partner with NOAA’s Fisheries Service to manage ocean fish stocks. The councils were established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to prepare fishery management plans for marine fish stocks in their regions. NOAA’s Fisheries Service works closely with the councils as plans are developed, and then reviews, approves, and implements the fishery management plans. “I’m pleased to announce our newest members to the regional fishery management councils,” said Sam Rauch, deputy assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. ... Read More »