Coastal Breeze News

By Vickie Kelber [email protected] With the holiday season fast approaching, are you wondering what you can buy for that family member or friend who likes to travel? Here are some ideas encompassing a wide price range. For a big ticket item, nothing beats an iPad. iPads are the Swiss Army knives of travel. Guide book, reading book, translator; use it to organize travel documents, research anything, check email, send photos, make phone calls with Skype or similar app, occupy down time by playing games, keep a journal. It works with WIFI or purchase a 3G version and a data plan ... Read More »

As part of the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall’s visit to Marco Island December 7-10 at Veterans Community Park, there will be a display of Vietnam War era military vehicles, weaponry, equipment, photos, and artwork. Throughout the four days, visitors can see a Hughes OH-6 helicopter used during Vietnam operations for scouting and general transport. Known as one of the most survivable “helos” ever made, it was often used to draw out enemy fire by providing a target. While in service, it was typically equipped with a 7.62mm mini gun or small rocket pod while its crow chief gunner was ... Read More »

Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with deputies, troopers and police officers from other Southwest Florida law enforcement agencies, will lead a motorcade to escort the traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall as it makes its way to Marco Island on Dec. 6. The Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be traveling by truck along a 50-mile stretch through Collier County from around 10:30AM to 11:30AM The mile-long motorcade will be led by CCSO, Marco Island Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and hundreds of motorcycle riders, mostly veterans, creating a ... Read More »

by Patricia Huff [email protected] The Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center is celebrating Swamp Heritage Days. In addition to viewing selected items from the Rob Storter Collection, events include the following presentations: December 2 • 12:00-12:45PM – Fisher Folk of the Swamp by Ranger Heinrich. • 1:00-1:45PM – Smoke on the Water by Ranger Stubblebine. • 2:00-2:45PM – Songs of the Big Cypress by Volunteers. • 3:00-3:45PM – The Story of Rob Storter by Patty Huff. December 3 • 12:00-12:45PM – Fisher Folk of the Swamp by Ranger Heinrich. • 1:00-1:45PM – The Story of Rob Storter by Patty Huff. • 2:00-2:45PM ... Read More »

The Marco Island Police Department would like to remind our boating neighbors to be pro-active in the prevention of the theft of fuel and other items from their boats. There are several commercially produced devices that will deter or slow thieves from stealing fuel, including locking gas caps and anti-siphon devices. While more complex and expensive, some boaters have multiple fuel fittings, with the fake or faux fittings readily visible and the real fitting hidden from view. Finally, the bad guys can’t take what isn’t there. Mariners by nature like to be prepared and many like to have their vessel’s ... Read More »

The Caxambas Republican Club of Southwest Florida announces their November and December schedules as follows: Wednesday, November 23 will be a Pre-Thanksgiving Social. Wednesday, December 28 will be the December Social. All socials are held at CJ’s On the Bay on Marco Island from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Club’s General Meeting will be held Tuesday, December 13 at Rose Auditorium in the Marco Island Historical Museum from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is no admission fee and everyone is welcome to attend. Guest speaker for the evening will be Senator Garrett Richter. Having been elected to the ... Read More »

Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve will host an informational meeting about the new Isles of Capri Paddle Craft Park from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. The park, which is expected to open in January, will provide an opportunity for people using non-motorized vessels such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards to access quiet backwaters in the reserve. The park is a collaborative effort between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department. A short presentation will be provided on the ... Read More »

Postmaster Richard Barber (L) presents framed stamp art featuring the Save Vanishing Species semi-postal stamps to David Tetzlaff, Executive Director of the Naples Zoo. Postal customer Nancy Wilson donated the stamp art after winning it in a drawing held during National Stamp Collecting Month in October. In exchange, a membership to the Naples Zoo was provided to the Wilson family. Naples Zoo has two Malayan Tigers out of an estimated 50 left in North America. “The Naples Zoo is a good neighbor and always willing to partner with the postal service for the good of the community”, said Postmaster Barber. ... Read More »

The intent of Marco Island Homeowners is to act as an advocate for ALL property owners on Marco Island. To better reflect the mission statement of the organization, starting immediately, Marco Island Homeowners’ name has been changed to MARCO ISLAND PROPERTY OWNERS. This is done to dispel any misconceptions that the purpose of this mission is on behalf of single family homes only. Virtually all issues affecting homeowners, also affects all property owners, whether it be utility charges, density, growth and, especially, city spending and city debt. Civic organizations and individuals have expressed deep concern that our city officials are insensitive ... Read More »

When the Tamiami Trail was completed across the Everglades in 1928, Barron Collier set up six patrol stations along the road to help motorists. One of these historic buildings is Monroe Station, once a popular wayside stop in the desolate Big Cypress east of Ochopee. It became a popular meeting place for hunters who still leave their trucks there when negotiating the Loop Road on swamp buggies. The building has been closed and boarded up for many years but it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can hear about the history of Monroe Station, the gladesman culture that favored it, ... Read More »

The City of Marco Island Adult Softball season got underway on Nov 10 with games being played at both Winterberry Park and Tommy Barfield ball field. This year there will be 8 teams competing every Thursday night at 6:15 and 7:30 pm. This year’s teams are Cocomo’s, Davinci’s, Joey Pizza, Nacho Mama’s, Islander Pool, Marco Island Brewery, NeNe Kitchen and Kretch’s. In the first week of games at TBE, Last season’s regular season champions, Cocomo’s came out in mid-season form and defeated Joey’s 15 to 7 and Davinci’s defeated Islander Pool 20 to 9. At Winterberry, the balls were flying ... Read More »

Centennial Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Home BancShares, Inc. (NASDAQ GS:  HOMB), announced today the signing of a definitive  agreement to acquire all of the banking locations of Vision Bank (“Vision”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly traded Park National Corporation (“Park”), ticker  symbol PRK. Vision’s main office is located in Panama City, Florida.  This is a strategic expansion for Home BancShares and Centennial Bank by acquiring 17 convenient bank locations in the Gulf Coast communities of Baldwin County, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.  Centennial Bank plans to purchase only the banking locations, along with the majority of the performing loans and related other ... Read More »

Mark Sunday, December 4, on your calendar to attend the largest single day car and bike show in Florida! The Florida Hot Rods and Hogs car and bike show will be held at the Lee Civic Center, Fort Myers. The one-day event is sponsored by Seminole Immokalee Casino and will have 105 acres of show cars and bikes. In addition, there will be 65,000 square feet of indoor exhibitor space, two stages, and a swap meet. General admission for the 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 pm. event is $12.00. A donation of nonperishable food items, which will be donated to the ... Read More »

Come tocon Saturday, December 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for Art-in-the-Glades when hand-made crafts and local artworks will be on offer. Let the kiddies play on the swings in McLeod Park while you browse among the booths under the pavilion and then enjoy hotdogs and baked goods for lunch while you listen to live music. Vendors are invited to set up a table. For information, call Marya on (239) 695-2905 or see www.evergladeshistorical.org. DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 80 on I-75, drive south on SR-29 for 18 miles, cross US-41 and continue south on SR-29 for 4 miles. McLeod Park is next to Everglades City ... Read More »

DARCIE GUERIN, CFP®, Associate Vice President, Resident Branch Manager at Raymond James on Marco Island, FL has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame design)® in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements. Ms. Guerin has worked at Raymond James since 2005 and is responsible for helping her clients achieve their own unique goals by managing their assets, protecting their wealth and building financial legacies. These marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the ... Read More »

Join a Conservancy of Southwest Florida volunteer guide for a free guided walk on the boardwalk, beach, and back bay areas of this beautiful Collier County park and learn about the secret lives of the flora and fauna of this captivating and biologically-rich area. Some recent photos taken during free Nature Walks at Clam Pass Park sponsored by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida include: Nature Walks resume December 1. Clam Pass County Park offers a beautiful beach and a scenic boardwalk through a unique habitat. Beginning December 1, 2011, the Conservancy sponsored nature walks resume on the boardwalk. Learn about ... Read More »

St. Vincent de Paul announces an upcoming concert by World Famous Pianist Jan Mulder to benefit their Meals-On-Wheels program. The concert will be held Saturday, December 10, 2011, at Euro Grand Piano Gallery in the Imperial Square Shopping Mall, Naples, FL, and will begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by a meet-and-greet with Jan and his family. Tickets are available by phone at 239.775.1667 for a minimum donation of $30 per person. Seating is limited. The St. Vincent de Paul Meals-On-Wheels program is the largest Collier County provider of nutritious meals for seniors, the homebound and infirm serving 85,000 meals last year. Read More »

Have you noticed how nice the Marco Island beach looks? This is largely due to the monthly beach clean-ups organized by the City of Marco Island’s Beach Advisory Committee (BAC) and its chairman, Publix Manager, Kevin Donlan. He and BAC member and Marco Island Civic Association (MICA) board member, Bernardo Bezos, who volunteers the MICA beach vehicle, and other BAC members, are on the beach once a month with a sponsoring local business. The amount of trash collected and removed from the beach and dunes really has made a difference for all beach-goers! At the last BAC beach clean-up, a ... Read More »

A new Web page is available on the Collier County Government Web site to provide information on the county’s plans to locate an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Park as well as gather input from those interested in helping search for a potential ATV Park site. The new site can easily be reached at www.col-liergov.net/atvpark Currently the site includes a brief background on the reason the county is involved in locating an ATV Park site, a map showing some potential park locations, comments received to date and a way to provide comments and be added to an e-mail distribution list to ... Read More »

It’s time once again for Christmas Island Style/ Greater Marco Family YMCA “Santa’s Calling.” This special holiday program utilizes the information that you, the parent submit, to ensure a memorable call from the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus or one of the elves on staff. Obtain your “Santa’s Calling” application form at the Customer Service desk and return your completed form to the desk by December 17, 2011. On Sunday, December 18 Santa will begin to call area boys and girls starting at 6 p.m. The Greater Marco Family YMCA is not responsible for providing any gifts. Read More »