Coastal Breeze News

By Nancy Richie Dozens of donated plants were replanted in the City of Marco Island’s Calusa Park Butterfly Garden by the city’s Beautification Advisory Committee members: Susan LaGrotta, Linda Colombo and Bob Kennedy. Joining them in their labor of love were Alex Dubicki, Paul Crain, and, loyal supporter and favorite dog, Barron. The Waterway Cove complex in “Old Marco” is currently giving its landscape a facelift. Via homeowner association president, Marianne Maniace, lirope and bromeliads were donated to the City’s promising Butterfly Garden. A generous gesture that was very appropriate for Earth Day. Tom Trombly of EarthCare removed the plants ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Without the support of volunteers, the City of Marco Island would be a much different place. No fool to this fact, the city honored its volunteers at a luncheon held on April 25th at the Rose History Auditorium at the Marco Island Historical Museum. A lovely lunch of chicken salad, wraps, BBQ beef sandwiches, meatballs, pasta salad and divine multi-flavored cheesecake slices were the fare of the day. City Manager Dr. Jim Riviere and Council Chair Joe Batte both spoke briefly, thanking all the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. As volunteers and city employees ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett Marco Island is a paradise. Amazing beaches, fine restaurants, local plays, shows, music and events all add up to a diverse and culture-rich experience. There was something missing, however—mini golf. A long beloved pastime of many and a great activity to do with the family, there has been talk of putting a mini-golf or putt-putt course on Marco for years, and now it’s finally happened. The Marco Golf and Garden is officially open for business. Owned by local lawyer Fred Kramer, and located on Winterberry Avenue, right next to Sasso’s and close to the Marco Walk Plaza ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] When planning the large-scale transformation of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Nature Center, not one penny of the $20 million creation was used in vain. From the wood planked entrance that bridges a natural Gopher Tortoise sanctuary to the intricately planned Dalton Discovery Center, information and learning tools are available at every turn. The Conservancy, located just south of the Naples Zoo on Goodlette Frank Rd., unveiled its ingenious architectural center over the weekend of April 20th and 21st. With the word “conservancy” in its name, there was no doubt that this would be the thought ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery [email protected] Laughter. Music. Splashing. Hugs, and even a couple of tears. All of these marked a very special weekend at the Greater Marco Family YMCA. The festivities began at 11 AM with the annual Healthy Kids Day, a kickoff to summer activities to help kids be “active from head to toe.” The event was complete with games, arts and crafts, bounce house, healthy foods and a vendors court with a Scholastic Book Fair. The main attraction of the day — the dedication of the aquatics center to “Ms. Dottie” Weiner — was held at 1 PM. ... Read More »

By Roy Eaton During the next month, over four million students will be graduating from various schools, colleges, and universities across our land. As you listen to your commencement speakers’ addresses, I’m sure some of you will be focused more on receiving your diploma and the summer freedom that awaits, than on the advice that will be given. I’m sure many of you are curious about what you will hear. Will the speaker hold your attention and will the message make a difference in how you govern your future? I thought of the numerous graduation ceremonies I was forced to ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery [email protected] Mindy Gordon is a very busy woman. The recreation manager for the City of Marco Island’s Parks and Recreation Department has been up with the sun every Tuesday and Wednesday since November helping to transform Veterans Memorial Park into the weekly Farmer’s Market and then back into a park again. Then there are the countless other events she and the five other members of the Parks and Recreation staff focused on in the last six months — the Jolley Be Good 5K Run/Walk; the city’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Boat Parade and Street Parade; Cookies ... Read More »

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By Monte Lazarus [email protected] I’m an addict and there’s no 12 Point Program to help me. It’s bad. I’m a user and a supplier, and spend hours plotting my next caper. My addiction began thanks to two beloved friends who took me under their wings as “consultants.” Oh, yes, they spent a huge amount of time and effort teaching me how to play the E-Bay Game. The problem is that they did not teach me how to deal with addiction. Every day, every hour, every minute of every day I’m now looking at the mass of junk we’ve accumulated trying ... Read More »

Submitted The Marco Island Soccer Club Surge fielded five teams at the Eighth Annual Naples 3v3 Challenge soccer tournament this past weekend. The Under-10 Boys Surge took first place in the recreational bracket under coaches Mario Guzman and Mike Wesson. “They played their hearts out and won,” said Coach Wesson. The Under-10 Girls finished third with three wins and three losses, losing by a total of only four goals for the three games. “We played the undefeated team twice, and lost by two and one goal, so we were in each game until the end,” said U-10 Girls Coach Cory ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Hundreds of residents filed through the Fire Station piling pancakes on their plates, with mounds of scrambled eggs and sausage too; all to the delight of diners. The breakfast, a fundraiser held twice a year by the Fire Rescue Foundation, was an astounding success. Volunteers take care of the preparation, cooking and serving. Fire rescue personnel are on hand greeting members of the community and offering kids the chance to check out the fire trucks. The breakfast culminated with a drawing for a cruise won by Barb and Lou Prigge. The Prigges’ purchased six of ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] It was a beautiful, inviting evening on the terrace of the Marco Ocean Beach Resort on April 17th. Caribbean music coincided with the beautiful beach scenery during the Annual International RE/MAX Awards Ceremony, held every Spring, honoring realtors for their efforts during the year prior. The evening brought recognition to some of the top selling realtors on Marco Island as well as honoring some who received country-wide recognition. The hosts for the evening were RE/MAX Affinity Plus owners, Rocky Farhat and Debra Meredith-Peters, who took over the Marco Island Re/Max franchise in the Fall of 2012. ... Read More »

Collier County students have hit the home stretch of the 2012/13 school year. Schools have completed FCAT testing and released third semester grades. Below is the honor roll for area schools as determined by the School District. Congratulations to all the students on their efforts.   Everglades City School Straight A Honors Brandy Bowen, Destany Vanleeuwen.   Lely Elementary School Elementary “A” Honor Roll Maria Almaraz, Rommel Cintron Santos, Angel Diaz, Kelly Gonzalez, Ariel Joel, Audrey Lazure, John Mccarty, Jessica O’meara, Carlos Perez, Leonardo Quezada, Julian Rodriguez, Vincent Rosati, Yasmin Samaha, Taylor Savage, Hisam Setyawan.   Mike Davis Elementary Elementary ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Fresh is exactly the word for the new and improved Marker 8.5, owned by the Head Chef Michael Duncan and his wife Laura. Located in Goodland and once known as Marker 8, the Duncan’s have already made some noticeable improvements that give the restaurant that same old Florida feel but with some unexpectedly fresh and unique changes. Chef Duncan’s culinary history is as unique as is Marker 8.5. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, he is a true Floridian. He has traveled all over to work at some of the finest restaurants and resorts. Starting at ... Read More »

Submitted Marco Island’s Calusa Garden Club concluded the year with its annual spring luncheon. The meeting and luncheon were held at the Marco Island Yacht Club on Tuesday, April 16. In addition to the announcement of awards and honors, new officers were installed. The program was presented by Tom Coffey, president of the Gulf Coast Orchid Alliance.  Coffey displayed a variety of orchids during his presentation and ended the program by raffling six plants to the appreciative audience. Calusa Garden Club’s next meeting will be on Monday, October 14. The organization meets on the second Monday of the month from ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery [email protected] Local artist Malenda Trick is at it again. After a season full of art classes and portrait painting, the art licensing diva is hard at work at her next endeavor — a home decor fabric deal with Los Angeles-based Robert Kaufman Fabrics. The fabrics will include her now famous shoe and purse images, combined with eye-popping color and designs. Coastal Breeze News recently caught up with Trick at her cozy French flat-style studio to find out more about the fabric deal and about what she will be up to next. CB: How did you become ... Read More »

By Carol Glassman What are the possibilities? “If an orange peel can become a rose, what can you blossom into?” Not many people would turn their thoughts in a positive direction like this, or perhaps even think in terms of an orange peel-to-rose analogy. After all, orange peels are trash and roses are objects of beauty, aren’t they? Catalina Lemaitre, founder of Calamarie (eco handmade art), had both the vision and experience to apply the synergy necessary to develop someone’s trash into treasure. With a background in public diplomacy and economic development for the State Department combined with a love ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe Mike Held opened his Keep in Touch shop at The Shops of Marco for author, Janina Stankiewicz Chung on Thursday, April 25 to discuss her book and sign copies for visitors. The author shared her family’s story through the narrative of fiction in Far East Of The Sun which was reviewed in the April 19-May 2 issue of the Coastal Breeze News. Her book recounts the story of Sasha and Anya who begin a happy, middle class life as a young married couple in Belarus in north central Russia. Sadly, the Bolsheviks under Stalin destroy that ... Read More »

SPEAKING OF TRAVEL Vickie Kelber [email protected] When we visit a country in which a language other than English is spoken, I always try to acquire some knowledge of that language. For me, it is part of the fun of learning about that country and its culture. It aids in communication when traveling, shows a respect for another culture, and it’s good brain exercise! At times, a little knowledge of the local language has meant survival. We enjoy being independent and visiting places off the beaten track; this means that we frequently find ourselves in places and situations where no one ... Read More »

Submitted During the April 10th meeting of the Marco Island Writers members and guests were pleasantly surprised by guest speaker, Janina Stankiewicz Chung who gave an inspiring talk about her novel, Far East of the Sun. Mrs. Chung was born in Belarus in 1938 and came to the United States with her family through the Displaced Persons Resettlement Program in 1951. Her novel tells the story of her family and explores another side of World War II, that of the displaced person.  Her father was arrested by the Russians and sent to Siberia and managed to escape no less than ... Read More »