This Spam creation may have been inspired by the live music that always entertains.

This the fourth article I have written about Spammy Jammy – the Little Bar’s annual tradition of keeping hurricanes at bay. Every year, I manage to come up with a new spin on how to tell the story. This year, I will tell it to you as if you were a five-year old. Bear in mind, I don’t have any children, so I really don’t know how to talk to a five-year old, but here we go.

Hi there boys and girls! Today we are going to talk about some “adult things.” Has anyone ever heard of Spammy Jammy? Say it with me, “Spam-eee Jam-eee.” Can anyone tell me a little bit about what this special day means? No? No one? Not even you sitting all the way in the back? Ok, then we’ll just have to start from the beginning.

A long, long time ago, there were gods and goddesses that ruled over the world. If we were good and treated them with respect, just like we do our elders, then they would keep us safe from tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires and even hurricanes. But if we were bad and we didn’t do things to make the gods happy – like the time you put bubble gum in your sister’s hair – they would punish us. Volcanoes would erupt, tornadoes would tear through towns and hurricanes would hit areas just like where we live.

Over time, many of the traditions that pleased these gods (like spanking you with a wooden spoon when you were naughty) were forgotten about, and we can see how they pay back the areas that have forgotten about them. But the Little Bar Restaurant in Goodland has not forgotten about the gods and goddesses that rule over hurricanes here in Southwest Florida. They celebrate the gods by throwing a party. That’s right kids, a party. I’m sure when you have a party to celebrate your birthday it puts you in a good mood – the same way Spammy Jammy puts the gods and goddesses in a good mood during hurricane season.

Hundreds of Southwest Floridians come to Spammy Jammy to be a part of the tradition preserved by the Little Bar for so many years.

Now, let’s say your birthday party was a sleepover. Everyone would wear their pajamas right? Well, that’s the Jammy part of Spammy Jammy. And when you have that birthday party, what do you get? That’s right! Presents! The gods are pleased when they receive presents too. That’s the Spammy part.

Hopefully, since you are so young, you have yet to experience a hurricane. But one day you’ll probably experience one and find yourself stuck inside with no power in the middle of the night, in your pajamas, with nothing to eat but Spam. It’s just the way it goes.

Have you ever tried Spam? Now don’t just say, “Eeeeew” right away. There’s more than one way to cook up Spam, and this is how we make the gods happy; we bring them Spam in all kinds of food, art and architecture, and they love it!

On June 29th this year, everyone will arrive at the Little Bar in their pajamas with their food, art or architecture concoctions made of Spam. They will dance to the sounds of Pete Merrigan and TC Carr starting at 6 PM, and the Raiford Starke Band at 9 PM, and party just like you do with your friends to the sounds of Sesame Street. But this party is for adults only. The gods and goddesses know the adults will one day hand down the tradition to you once your taste buds have matured, and then it will be your turn to eat that so-called yucky Spam in your pajamas to keep away the hurricanes.

A contest is held to decide the best Spam
present gifted to the gods. Judges are chosen based on their love of Spam and pajamas.

What about Tropical Storm Andrea, you ask? Let me start by reminding everyone that there are no stupid questions (unless it’s this one). First of all, Andrea was a Tropical Storm, not a hurricane. She also came by before Spammy Jammy took place. So, the only logical answer is that one of you did something bad. Very bad. Now who was it?!?!?!

For more information about Spammy Jammy, contact the Little Bar at 239-394-5663. The Little Bar is located in Goodland at 205 Harbor Drive.

About The Author

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. email: natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

Strange things happen in Goodland. But by “strange” I don’t mean bad – not by any means – just unusual, out of the ordinary, whacky, crazy, funny, “You can’t make this s#@! up,” kind of stuff. Here’s a good story that is completely true and completely odd.

“The Pickling”

Late one evening, I opened my front door for a reason of which I can’t recall. Whatever it is that I was doing, I stopped in my tracks when I noticed something strange on my front doorstep – two jars of brand new, unopened pickles. One a sweet; the other of the dill variety. One a “midget,” as it was called; the other a spear.

I looked around, assuming “The Pickler” would be running away in the distance, snickering all the way. I wanted to hunt The Pickler down and ask, “Why?” But I saw no one. No movement. Nothing. Just your typical quiet Goodland night. But the pickles, not so typical.

I quickly snapped a photo, slapped it on the old Facebook and asked, “Has anyone ever found pickles on their doorstep? Because I just did.”

Merely minutes later a reply: “Yes, I did too!” came a comment from a neighbor only a few doors down. We pondered back and forth. Who would do such a thing? Why? Do they think that the two of us are particularly fond of pickles? And if so, why not leave a note? At least let me no where to send the thank you(?) card. We online “lol’d” and moved on with our day.

The elusive Pickler strikes! PHOTO BY NATALIE STROM

Just a little later, Miss B.B. Wrinkles and I headed out for our morning walk. We didn’t get very far before we ran into a friend/neighbor and stopped to say hello. We chatted for a moment about the usual – it’s beautiful out, Goodland is so awesome, we are so lucky to live here, we love the sounds of the woodpeckers in the morning and the night blooming jasmine is just divine, etc., etc. – and then my neighbor asked of me a curious question.

“Hey, I found a couple of jars of pickles on my porch this morning. What do you think that’s all about?” Gasp! The Pickler paid yet another visit!

Later that day, another pickling victim stepped forward.

One person who was pickled on the very first day was even re-pickled just a few days later.

The Pickling started to get dangerous when an unsuspecting victim’s “assets” were nearly damaged as he went to sit in his car. Plopping down, he sat on – you guessed it – a jar of pickles! Lucky for him, the jar remained intact.

As for any other victims of The Pickler, I’m unaware. But feeling quite certain that it was a fellow Goodland pickling the town, I ate my sweet midgets and dill spears without fear.

However, the questions still remained. “Why?” We asked, “would someone leave edible, unopened pickles on our doorsteps?”

We were perplexed; we were pestered; and we were impatient. We needed answers!

When suddenly the answer was there, as if appearing to us out of our bright blue cloudless skies. As for The Pickler, one of Goodland’s favorite musicians summed up “The Pickling” with one of his favorite quotes: “Why wouldn’t ya?”

And we all sat around, eating our jars of pickles, satisfied with the answer.

About The Author

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. email: natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

Tommie and her friend with their big deer head garage sale find. PHOTOS BY Joanie Fuller

GOODLAND LIFE
Joanie Fuller
joaniefuller@embarqmail.com

Goodland is more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Well, what I really mean to say is more fun than a traveling polar bear, a mounted deer head, a celebrity parrot and artists perched on a canal bank. Now that’s a crazy combination, isn’t it?

First, let’s talk about the artists since they would seem to be somewhat of a normal sighting in Goodland. I just happened to see three women doing their “plein air thing” at the end of one of our canals. It turns out that the famed artist Robert Gruppe likes to paint this sort of scene and had indeed painted this exact one. These women, Nancy Shelley, Cynthia Prince and Peggy Chandler, had met in an art class and they challenged themselves to paint that same canal scene.  They were having fun working toward a good result! I loved talking to them and Peggy’s pastel looked so good, I wish I could purchase it!!

Most of you know Goodland has a garage sale in March. Well I just about fainted when I saw Tommie Dee and her friend carrying a mounted deer head on top of her golf cart that day. I don’t know who sold it to them, but I do know it caused quite a reaction roaming down the streets of our village. Wow! I wonder where it is now…

Polar Bear in her Goodland garden.

And right after that, I saw a polar bear riding along in a golf cart. This cart was going so fast I had to send someone after it – I needed to talk to this driver. You’ve got to admit, that is an unusual sighting – even for Goodland.

But what a great story. Margi Fortune takes care of the polar bear which she named Priscilla. Priscilla travels from house to house around Goodland cheering up folks. She sometimes wears a bow around her neck to symbolize a particular holiday and she has different names according to where she is. She is a fantastic symbol of the giving and thoughtful Goodland spirit and she has a great life with so many people loving her.

In addition to our stuffed animals, we have a live critter, Pirate the Parrot. A handsome and colorful bird, he belongs to “Chuckles” and he is a regular at Little Bar’s Happy Hour. In fact, being there is his main social activity for the day. He comes over every day at 3 o’clock and stays until around 6 o’clock, welcoming everyone. Incidentally he loves crackers and he has quite a vocabulary which includes knowing all his neighbor’s dog’s names. When the neighbor’s are calling their dog, Pirate hears them and helps. So you might say, he is a great host and a good citizen too. But curious visitors should always mind his space. Pirate is friendly but is not too keen on being touched. He is, however, very photogenic!

Pirate, the Parrot, at Happy Hour.

You have always known that Goodland has spirit, diversity and a quirky personality, but now you know even more about who lives here. Now you know that it definitely is more fun than a barrel of monkeys because we have great neighbors, guest artists and lots of critters too.

Joanie Fuller, originally from Atlanta, lived in Naples for eleven years before moving to Goodland in 2007. She is a past President of the Goodland Civic Association and is now serving on Commissioner Donna Fiala’s Islands Advisory Committee.

Past President Awarded

Recently, the Board of the Goodland Civic Association elected its new officials for 2013. Newly appointed President Greg Bello informed members of the board that an anonymous donation was made toward a plaque for past President, Joanie Fuller. Many may recognize her name as Joanie and I share the Goodland Life column.

Joanie Fuller receives her plaque.

Joanie is still an active member of the board and spent two years “running the show” during some difficult times. She helped negotiate Goodland’s contract with Collier County regarding the Goodland Boat Ramp; this was no easy task.

Joanie was also influential in the recent abolishment of the Goodland Water District. This move was felt in the pocket of every Goodlander as water rates – Goodland was paying some of the highest water rates in the state – dropped dramatically.

On March 19th – the date of the Goodland Civic Association’s monthly meeting – President Bello presented Joanie with the plaque of gratitude, thanking her for all her hard work. The crowd cheered and applauded for Joanie, the noise echoing off the walls of the cement block Civic Association. It was an exciting and emotional moment. Thanks for all your hard work Joanie!

Mystery Post Office Painting

There is a psychological phenomenon that exists where people often don’t notice things that have suddenly changed among their regular environment. Our brains make maps of the places that we live, work, go to often, etc. And our brains will often ignore changes because they don’t match those maps. (if you read my bio, you will see I was actually a psychology major. What I’m doing writing, I have no idea.)

Who painted the post office?

Anyway the point of this is that, one day I showed up at the Post Office, like I do every day, and some of the bricks above the flower bed out front were randomly painted in hues of blue, purple, teal and yellow; not all of them, but a good amount and it looks really nice.

I have no idea how long it was there before I noticed it, but about a week after I did, a neighbor and I ran into each other at the Post Office and he pointed out the bricks to me. I said, “Yeah, they’ve been that way for a while.” He replied, “Really? I just noticed it today!”

Our current Postal Service Employee (Goodland no longer has a Postmaster…. Grrrr…) says she doesn’t know who did it but doesn’t think there are plans to paint over it. So they shall stay. And for those of you who have stubborn brain maps, go take a look. It looks nice – as is our current Postal Service Employee.

Ladies Lunch After a Season of Sweating

Goodlanders don’t only gather at the bars. Some gather early in the morning and break a sweat. From January through April, a group of ladies met at the Civic Association twice a week to work out together, inspire each other, have a few laughs and, more than anything, have a good time. As season winds down, so has the workout group. On April 11th, the ladies met for the last time to work out and then celebrated with a breakfast at Marker 8. It’s easy to take it slow in Goodland, but these ladies made sure they still kept active. Great job gals!

Art Appears at Little Bar

Artists Judy Wittwer, Celeste Navara, Margie Fortune and Tara O’Neill showcased their artwork the weekend of April 13th and 14th.

Artist Tara O’Neill’s Tenth Annual Art Extravaganza at the Little Bar Restaurant was held on April 13th and 14th from 1 to 4 PM. Tara’s latest original seascapes were on display as well as many of her well-known pieces. In high demand, O’Neill is currently the featured artist at the Marco Island Historical Museum’s and also showcases her work at Blue Mangrove Gallery on Marco.

This year, Tara invited three of her Goodland artist friends to join in the Art Extravaganza. Margie Fortune, Celeste Navara and Judy Wittwer all showcased their unique artwork. Margie specializes in blown glass beads while Celeste takes beautiful portraits of Southwest Florida. Judy is a shell artist, specializing in mirrors and frames.

All four women were present at the show, enjoying the time spent with admirers of their work. A delicious fruit and cheese spread was offered along with unlimited pours of mango mimosas. The beautiful weekend weather certainly mimicked the artwork inside the Little Bar.

So, there you have it. A potpourri of Goodland activity. And it doesn’t stink either.

About The Author

Joanie Fuller, originally from Atlanta, lived in Naples for eleven years before moving to Goodland in 2007. She is a past President of the Goodland Civic Association and is now serving on Commissioner Donna Fiala’s Islands Advisory Committee.

Lily and Amy climbing Margood’s big tree.

What could be more fun than eating hot dogs and hamburgers, listening to music and playing games with neighbors and friends on a beautiful day?

The Goodland Civic Association Board of Directors decided absolutely nothing could be more fun for us Goodlanders than to have a “Spring Fling” – complete with all of the above. In other words, we wanted to have a FREE Islander Appreciation Day for residents of Goodland. We wanted everyone to come out, take it slow or shake things up, and just get to know their neighbors a little better. Why not?

Consequently, with the help of Nancy Olson, Regional Director for Collier County Parks and Recreation, we chose our new Margood Harbor Park as the venue and went full steam ahead with big plans.

So, what exactly happened at this Spring Fling? First of all, grills, tables, chairs, door prizes, hot dogs, hamburgers, side dishes, desserts, sodas and coolers arrived along with an amazing volunteer set-up crew. Before you knew it, the grills were hot, cooks were grilling and folks began arriving with smiles on their faces and enthusiasm in their hearts. Ready to eat!

All the while, Dieter’s Blues Machine entertained the crowd with great music and some people even took the opportunity to dance right along with them. Wow! That was fun! We surely do thank Dieter!

Natalie and Carolyn dressed
Goodland style!!

Bocci ball, horseshoes and a very old and large tree provided fun for kids and adults alike. I just loved seeing Lily Tessaarzik and her friend Amy climbing the tree. It reminded me of the good old days when kids had the freedom to play outside and be safe and satisfied. It was like an old fashioned picnic.

We even had free raffle tickets to give away. Can you imagine that? It was so much fun and almost everyone went home with a door prize! Whoever heard of free raffle tickets and so many prizes? Not me. Not until that day anyway.

Greg Bello, President of the GCA, spearheaded this project and I have a strong feeling it will be repeated next year. He did a wonderful job and the rest of the new GCA board volunteered their time too. Serving on the board are Marziano Gizzi, Vice President; Barry Gwinn, Secretary; Jim Inglis, Treasurer; Natalie Strom, Jay McMillen, Noreen Seegers, Joanie Fuller and Kasey Knoebel. Everyone helped and kudos to all.

Yup, this Spring Fling event was certainly the way life should be – an old fashioned picnic in a beautiful and cozy park with lots of good food and good friends simply enjoying the day. One person even remarked, “It was the most fun event we have ever had.”

Dieter’s Blue’s Machine.

About The Author

Joanie Fuller, originally from Atlanta, lived in Naples for eleven years before moving to Goodland in 2007. She is a past President of the Goodland Civic Association and is now serving on Commissioner Donna Fiala’s Islands Advisory Committee.

A special thanks to photographer Celeste Navara. Her pictures tell the story of what was truly a beautiful day of art and music, to – literally – say the very least.

About The Author

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. email: natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

Calusa Indian Ceremonial Mask.

These Calusas were fishermen who lived on the waterways of Southwest Florida for years. They died out in the late 1700 hundreds due to disease brought by the Europeans and invading enemy tribes. Incidentally, the Spanish explorers found these Indians to be very unfriendly and I think we would have too! Just look at one of their ceremonial masks. Isn’t that enough to scare you?

They left their mark because they used shells for tools, utensils, jewelry and shrine ornaments. They discarded leftovers into huge heaps which became shell mounds and to this day one can still find some artifacts from that long ago civilization.

Let’s move on to some modern day facts: When the Fire Department moved to Marco Island, the Goodlanders acquired the building and over time they have renovated, cleaned, repaired and decorated it. It is now used for Goodland Civic Association meetings and various other functions throughout the year. Many residents of Goodland were involved in bringing the building back to the point where we could use it. This happened primarily before I came to Goodland, but I know it was a lot of work and many hours were spent putting in air conditioning, the kitchen and bath and just making it a usable space for all to enjoy. In addition, some of our resident artists enthusiastically recreated some Calusa artifacts to add a unique cultural atmosphere to our Community Center.

Key Marco Cat Reproduction.

Hanging on the walls are several hand painted tribal masks and we even have a Key Marco Cat! Ours is quite big, but the original, likely carved by the Calusa Indians, is a six-inch high wooden sculpture made from Florida Buttonwood. It is housed in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and is thought to have been a spiritual icon of the Calusa tribe.

Now for a crazy fact: One of our Goodland artists, Evelyn Cook, not only painted our ceremonial masks, but to go along with that, she painted her interpretation of a Goodland Cat. Check it out. What would the Calusas think of that?

Recently, my friend, M.J. Chaput, had a great twenty-first century idea. “Let’s change a few things inside here and outside too.” M.J. is an expert seamstress and is always involved in interesting projects. She painted the frame of our outside display case and lined it inside with sunbrella fabric. She, Jane Ann Smith and several other ladies pitched in and decorated the inside of the building with new window treatments and a colorful table skirt to go around the front table. I like to think of these improvements as modern day artifacts!

M. J.Chaput painting our Display Case.

Here’s my final fact: While we respect our past, we are enjoying our present day use of our Community Center and look forward to more in the future. Functions there definitely enhance friendships and benefit the community as a whole. We appreciate it and we love it.

About The Author

Joanie Fuller, originally from Atlanta, lived in Naples for eleven years before moving to Goodland in 2007. She is a past President of the Goodland Civic Association and is now serving on Commissioner Donna Fiala’s Islands Advisory Committee.

The Goodland sign BEFORE

There are two non-profit organizations in Goodland that have been working towards bettering our small but mighty village. The Goodland Civic Association and the Goodland Arts Alliance not only take on specific community-related projects individually, but also recently collaborated on a project to repaint the hand-carved sign that greets visitors as they pull onto the curvy road from SR-92.

The Goodland Arts Alliance is in its fledgling year, developed over the summer by 12 Goodlanders who wanted to shed more light on the multitude of artists, musicians and historians who call the .6 square mile island home. The GAA mission is simple: to preserve, promote, and advance the cultural presence in the Village of Goodland through art, history, and education.

The Goodland Arts Alliance has worked closely with Collier County Parks and Recreation to help recreate MarGood Harbor Park into the artistic headquarters of Goodland. GAA artists will soon be displaying their artwork within the MarGood museum and future goals are to turn the four remaining cottages on the premises into working studios, stores or reenactment centers for the GAA to utilize.

The Goodland sign AFTER

The GAA’s Inaugural Harbor Arts & Music Festival will be held on March 10th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM to help raise money for the above goals. Many well-known and world renowned artists within the Goodland and Marco community will display their artwork along with other artists and crafters from other areas of Florida. Goodland has an amazing array of talented musicians who will perform throughout the day – no doubt collaborating with eachother for an audio experience. The Florida Water and Land Legacy will be there, encouraging registered voters to sign petitions towards re-allocating monies back to the Florida Forever Funds – state-designated monies that purchased MarGood Harbor Park in 2005. Other non-profits will also be there, and of course there will be food – lots of good, local food.

And… As of late, I’ve become fascinated with tye-dying things, so even I will be selling my wares at the festival. (Count on other art and craft vendors to have far, far more talent than me.)

Goodland Civic Association board members, President Joanie Fuller and Marziano Gizzi were the first of nearly the entire GCA board to join the GAA. Fuller and Gizzi suggested that the two non-profits work together to re-paint the sign at the entrance of Goodland that was faded and peeling. The GCA would pay for the materials for the sign and the GAA artists would donate time to pressure wash, scrape off the old paint, re-paint and clear coat it.

Gizzi stepped right up to get the sign moved to the workspace of GAA member and sign artist, Denise Santos. Gizzi spent days scraping off the old paint, calling on helpers when he could. Denise hand-painted the multi-layered sign with the help of Margie Fortune and Judy Wittwer of the GAA.

The sign was hung in time for the Mullet Festival at the end of January. Check it out the next time you drive by… the sign literally glistens in the sunlight. It’s beautiful.

Both organizations were pleased to see how well they could worked together towards a common goal. GCA President Joanie Fuller commented on this, stating, “It’s a privilege and a source of great satisfaction to watch Goodlanders from all parts of the island come together and volunteer at our events. When residents work, play and laugh together, they enhance friendships as well as the greater good of our community.”

FINISHED!

Joanie is absolutely right. After all, the goal of the GCA is to look out for the general welfare of Goodlanders and to promote community spirit and good will among residents.

The GCA holds a number of annual events, including the Christmas Bazaar in December, two pancake breakfasts and an island-wide garage sale. The Goodland Garage Sale and the second Pancake Breakfast will be held on the same weekend – March 2nd and 3rd. The pancakes start flipping at 8:00 AM which also happens to be when the garage sale starts. The Pancake Breakfast lasts until 11:00 AM but the garage sale will continue throughout the day.

Fundraisers are important for the GCA as they take on a lot of issues relating to working with the county and the City of Marco Island.

For example, the GCA worked vigorously and closely with the County Commissioners to pass the Goodland Boat Park agreement in the Spring of 2012 which essentially closes the park to boaters three weekends out of the year. This allows Goodlanders use of the park for the Christmas Bazaar in December, the Boat Parade in February, and one other weekend in March for Goodland’s Spring event.

Recently, the GCA worked closely wth Commissioner Fiala in an effort to lower Goodland’s high water costs as they were, well, ridiculous. In December of 2012, the County Commissioners passed that the “Goodland Water District” would be enveloped into the Collier County district as a whole, saving Goodlanders from paying the tax on Marco’s purchase of the water treatment plant as well as lowering administrative fees. Water bills have been markedly lower in the last two months.

The GCA has been working with Collier County Code Enforcement Supervisor, Kitchel Snow, who has offered to bring a dumpster to Goodland on March 4th, the Monday after th garage sale. This way, residents may get rid of any leftovers or anything else they may want to dispose of. It will be in place from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on that day only, but the position of the dumpster is yet to be decided.

For an island of only 300 people, we sure do get a lot done. Much of it is thanks to the support of the county as well as those who come to Goodland and take part in our many events. However, none of it would be possible without the volunteers who donate their time to make Goodland as GREAT as it is. So come see us March 2nd, 3rd and 10th! You won’t be disappointed.

About The Author

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. email: natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

joaniefuller@embarqmail.com

Pioneers and adventurers always find the best kept secrets. And, lucky for us, one of those is smack dab in the middle of Goodland. Drop Anchor is a unique and sparkling waterfront community for those 55 and older, consisting of 62 manufactured homes with boat docks, a beautiful sunrise view to the East and a slew of interesting people.

Denny Grill, Bud Abbott, Jack and Bobbie Swisher. PHOTO BY JOANIE FULLER

I have always wanted to learn more about the history of Drop Anchor and of the adventuresome types who reside there. Fortunately, I have become friends with a few of the seasonal residents and they offered to help me with my quest.

Ron and Donna DePatie love to garden and they share their talents by making some of the common areas attractive and well-tended, especially for holidays. Aren’t the pumpkins cute?

Denny Grill and Agatha Norton, kindly introduced me to some of the pioneers – the first settlers, if you will – who have been in Drop Anchor for years. And, boy, they loved reminiscing about how it was in the beginning.

Drop Anchor Waterfront.

Ron and Donna DePatie.

Dub Abbott, 98 years young, came from Kentucky in 1985 and is the oldest current resident and a great guy! He told me only eight original owners still live in the park and there are only ten year-round residents. Dub also explained that the Drop Anchor Association bought the entire park from Alan Greer, the original owner of the park, in 1990, and enthusiastic folks paid off the mortgage in several years.

Jack and Bobbie Swisher came from Iowa in 1975 and they told me how it was back then. Jack related, “We used to sell the fish we caught for gas so we could go fishing again the next day!” Pretty smart, huh?

Bobbie told me about the telephone service or lack there of….. “There was a community phone for all to share and everyone could hear what you were saying,” she said. Can you imagine being able to hear everybody’s business?

Mike and Natalie Siavrakas.

One could say the early folks were roughin’ it, but that’s what they liked about it. In a way, it’s still roughin’ it for new residents like Mike and Natalie Siavrakas from Connecticut. But guess what? They love it so much that they named their home “Emerald City.”

You might ask, “How does someone find this hidden jewel?” I asked Natalie and Mike that very question. When they were visiting Marco Island a few years ago, someone told them they should check out Goodland. So what do you think happened next? Natalie chuckled, “We went to Stan’s and Little Bar and loved both so much that we decided to rent something on our next visit.” And now they own!!!

Social life in this lively place includes special Valentine’s Day meals, pot lucks, and the most extravagant of all – a Cape Romano breakfast by boat. Doesn’t that sound fantastic? The lifestyle in Drop Anchor is simply relaxing – walking, boating, fishing or sipping something cool on the patio with a neighbor – pretty typical of Goodland life.

Natalie and Mike described their purchase as an “investment in our health.” Judging by the great lives led by Dub Abbott, the Swishers and Denny and Agatha, they just might be right.

The hidden jewel of Drop Anchor is no longer a secret now that I have written about it, but the charm of it is definitely worth sharing. Drop in sometime and you’ll see what I mean.

Joanie Fuller is the President of the Goodland Civic Association. She and her husband of 48 years, David Fuller, are residents of Goodland.

The 17th Annual Boat Parade will be held on February 16 at 2:00 PM in Goodland. The theme is Broadway Musicals. As always, all proceeds go to Avow Hospice of Naples and will be used to support the Marco Island Branch as it provides comfort and support to the terminally ill and their families, primarily in the home.

The whole island takes part in raising money for the cause. Raffles, 50/50s and t-shirt sales will be offered throughout the island. The restaurants in town – Stan’s, The Little Bar and the Old Marco Lodge – will have food specials and live music. If you choose to dine at any of these establishments, limited waterfront seating is available to view the parade.

To view the parade by boat, anchor as close to the mangroves as possible between the Goodland Bridge and red marker 10.

The best place to view the parade this year is at the Goodland Boat Park. Volunteers are planning a party at the park where there will be ample, free parking. Musician extraordinaire J. Robert will entertain with his fiddle starting at noon. Sandy and Jared’s famous “belly buster” hot dogs and chili dogs will be for sale along with chips and soda.

Bring chairs or a picnic blanket for viewing comfort.

Or better yet, be a part of the parade! After all, you can’t have a parade to celebrate Avow Hospice without any boats. As noted, the theme is Broadway Musicals. Think Cats, Les Miserable, Dream Girls, The Lion King, Chicago, Mary Poppins, RENT, Oklahoma!, Wicked, Hair, Hairspray, Annie, Grease, Singin’ in the Rain, All That Jazz, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Cabaret, My Fair Lady, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, Damn Yankees!, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, The Producers, Jersey Boys, South Pacific, Aida, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Spamelot, Evita, The King and I or Guys and Dolls.

Now, to register: Call Elaine Ritchie at 239-642-8356 or visit www.mardigrasgoodland.com. That’s it. Extravagance is NOT required and boats of all sizes and shapes are welcome. The only rule is TO HAVE FUN!

Last year’s parade raised $17,000. It’s always nice to break a record – especially for a good cause. Help us make that happen here in Goodland as we celebrate the lives of those who have been touched by Avow Hospice.

About The Author

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. email: natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

Joanie Fuller
joaniefuller@embarqmail.com

I am always getting questions about Goodland. Folks are curious about this place and about how I got here. I have even been asked by some, “Why would anyone want to live in Goodland?” I have thought about that question and when one of my readers recently told me she always looked forward to what I say, this time I thought I would say, “I love living in Goodland!”

dance. Pat Albee and Dave Fuller dance at Stan’s.

I came from a big city – Atlanta – and then Naples, and although I loved my life in both those places, I have found that a smaller community has many benefits which you don’t appreciate until you live in one. But some who have never been here or heard rumors about this place with just a few hundred folks, can’t possibly imagine living in a tiny community with no grocery store.

But, guess what? Our grocery store is just four miles down San Marco Road.  The trip is so much easier that the one I had in either Atlanta or Naples – no traffic lights and only one stop sign. What could be better?

I have alluded to other reasons for living in Goodland before, but they can never be mentioned too many times.

One thing is for sure. There isn’t another place anywhere near here that you can walk from your house to a place like Stan’s and dance your heart away on a Sunday afternoon.  How fun is that?

Even the buzzards love it here – they can’t wait to see the Buzzard Lope dance every January during the Mullet Festival!

My new acquaintance, Lynne Eldridge, has explored all over Florida with her husband, Dana. She finds Goodland to be diverse and a little funky. She feels we have a sense of community and freedom here and she is absolutely right, isn’t she?

Plasticware rolling party for the Pancake Breakfast. Photos by Joanie Fuller

Some of my friends came over this week to roll plastic forks and knives in napkins for the upcoming pancake breakfast which will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 26 and 27. Only small communities have that sort of camaraderie anymore. So I thank Linda Van Meter, Pat Albee, Agatha Norton, Kasey Knoebel, Lynne Eldridge, Sonia Miller, Anna Popour and Ellen Hall for being so helpful. And you know what? They enjoyed the time we spent together.  That is the true Goodland way.

Some have told me they love the nature here. We do feel like a Florida Key. We can fish, kayak, watch the osprey, enjoy our parks, ride golf cars around to visit each other or go to the Little Bar,  the Marco Lodge, Stan’s, the Post Office or one of our two marinas.

And we have such diversity –we have all ages and quite a variety of backgrounds in our residents. All of these things combine to make a fascinating, meaningful spot in our great country.

Try it. You might like it.

Joanie Fuller is the President of the Goodland Civic Association. She and her husband of 48 years, David Fuller, are residents of Goodland.

Natalie Strom
natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

The signs are all around us. Season is here and a change is in the air. Not only can we feel it, but we can see it too. Especially in Goodland. Take a trip down our long and winding road and see for yourself what I’m talking about.

Greg Bellow and “Giz” paint the pylons before removing the sign for restoration.

Many have noticed that the sign at the entrance of Goodland has gone missing. The hand-carved and hand-painted piece or art was taken down as a part of a restoration effort between the Goodland Civic Association and the newly formed Goodland Arts Alliance. The sign was in desperate need of a paint job and the GAA agreed to lend its artistic hand. Members of the GCA removed the large sign and and helped to pressure wash it and sand it. It is now in the process of being hand-painted by a number artists from the GAA. It should be returned to its home on the triangle before the Mullet Festival in late January.

This is the first joint effort between the GCA and GAA and the results so far have been truly magnificent. Both organizations have expressed enthusiasm about the different ways in which the community has been coming together. Maybe it’s all the caffeine, but I’m sure buzzing with excitement.

MarGood Park was purchased with Florida
Forever funds. PHOTOS BY NATALIE STROM

Another sign of change can be seen at MarGood Park. Standing ten feet tall and not too far from the MarGood Museum, a brand new sign has been erected explaining the significance of MarGood and its historical and cultural value. The sign states that MarGood Harbor Park was purchased in 2005 using Florida Forever Funds.

And now for a somewhat politically motivated aside: The state program, which began in 2001, succeeding the Preservation 2000 Act which began in 1990, was receiving $300 million annually to purchase land of historic and environmental value. Because of MarGood’s historical value as both a Calusa Indian mound and historic fishing village, it was purchased in 2005 via this funding.

In 2008, under Rick Scott’s legislation, Florida Forever funding was cut to only $15 million annually. In the years since, the monies allocated have become even fewer. If you are interested in learning how you can help reallocate this funding back to the purchase of sensitive lands, visit floridawaterandlandlegacy.org.

And now, back to the sign. It is certainly a symbol of the changes going on at MarGood. From the installation of a volleyball net over the summer to reopening the MarGood Museum to plans for future utilization of the park by the Goodland Arts Alliance, the county has certainly been working on beautifying the park.

With such positive changes, the painted sign on the post office window by Denise Santos says it all: JOY!

From signs to stars. Every year around the holidays, visitors to Goodland comment on the shiny silver stars that line the curvy road that winds into our village. A tradition that started many moons ago honors loved ones that have passed. People are encouraged to pick a star and write their loved one’s name on it. When the stars appear, it’s a sign to all of us that the holidays are near. It’s also a reminder to remember those we have lost and to love the ones we have.

Celeste Navara’s 2013 calendars of
Goodland feature beautiful photos such as this shot of sunset on Goodland. Photo by Celeste Navara

For those who need a daily reminder on the importance of love, photographer Celeste Navara has created the perfect solution. Just in time for the new year, Celeste has designed a calendar entitled, “Our Beautiful World.” Her photographs of Goodland in all it’s splendor are visual reminders of how lucky we are to live here. When I received mine as a gift, it only made me love our little island that much more. Celeste’s calendars can be purchased at Blue Mangrove Gallery on Marco Island,1089 N Collier Blvd. #417, 239-393-2405. To purchase them directly, contact Celeste at cnblusky@yahoo.com or 239-394-9298.

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for over two years and has worked in Goodland on and off for more than five years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland.

Joanie Fuller 
joaniefuller@embarqmail.com

Zach selling a tree to Kathleen and Alex.

• We held our 3rd annual Christmas Bazaar on December 7 and 8 at the Goodland Boat Park. Artisans, craftsmen, food and music created a holiday atmosphere and everyone had a great time. A big thank you goes to Connie Fullmer and Noreen Seegers for chairing this big event. If you missed it this year, we hope you will come next year!

• Everyone loves our home decorating contest. Sandy and Jared Kelly always have a spectacular display and they have won first place more than once. It is so detailed and so many fun things are happening in it – even an electric train going round and round! Many other home decorations are wonderful as well and it makes the judging difficult.

• Visit our Post Office to see the Christmas message which our own Denise Santos of Premier Graphics Design painted on the glass window. It is truly a work of art. It makes one want to shout “Joy” to all. Fantastic!! Thanks Denise!

Jared and Sandys decorations. PHOTOS BY JOANIE FULLER/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

• You can even buy a Christmas tree in Goodland! Rich and Kathy Rasimowicz opened their Heavenly Evergreens here and they are offering quality trees in sizes varying from tabletop to eleven feet high. And when you purchase a tree from them a portion of the cost benefits either the Marco Island Academy or the Family Church Marco Campus. You choose. Isn’t that nice!! On the day I went, I had the pleasure of meeting Marco Islanders Kathleen Cashin and Alex Saputo who were buying their tree. Young Zach Burgess, one of Goodland’s youngsters, was filling in for the owners and conducting the deal. He was quite the entrepreneur! Even though getting the tree on top of the car was a tough job, they got it done and the Frasier Fir was beautiful. Kathleen and Alex felt the trip to Goodland was definitely worthwhile.

• Each year Goodlanders choose an evening and we sing Christmas carols while riding up and down our streets in decorated golf cars. We even go inside restaurants – on foot of course – and serenade the lucky diners!! I ask you: How many times have you experienced that while dining in a restaurant? Last year, a woman rushed out of the Little Bar as we were preparing to depart for our next place and she exclaimed, “I have never seen anything like this. May I take your picture?” She was so happy and we thank Greg and Cindy Bello for organizing this unique happening!

All of these highlights add depth to our holiday season here in Goodland. I hope you will find special meaning to your holiday whether it is with friends, family or a random act of kindness helping someone you don’t even know. Celebrate your way and be joyous!

Joanie Fuller is the President of the Goodland Civic Association. She and her husband of 48 years, David Fuller, are residents of Goodland. 

Natalie Strom 

natalie@coastalbreezenews.com

Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. No, Goodland isn’t getting hitched, but the fishing village does offer a little bit of everything as it kicks off yet another season of important dates.

Leading the way at the 2011 Boat Parade. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

First up, the annual Goodland Christmas Bazaar. This year’s bazaar will take place on Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8 at the Goodland Boat Park. From 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM local artists and crafters, along with some out of the area vendors, will set up shop in a fun and family friendly environment. Find something new and unique for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Artwork, jewelry, home goods, handmade crafts and more await.

And now for something old. The Mullet Festival is back for its 29th year! Hosted by Stan’s Idle Hour, the weekend event will be held on January 26 and 27. Mark your calendars and come out to Goodland to witness mullet filleting at its finest along with the crowning of the Buzzard Queen. Women travel from near and far to dress up like a bird and dance to the famous, “Buzzard Lope” all in hopes of having their name etched on Stan’s wall for all eternity. Yours truly won the title of Buzzard Queen in 2009.

Before heading over to the Mullet Festival, stop by the Goodland Community Center at 417 E. Mango Avenue for the Goodland Civic Association’s first Pancake Breakfast of the new year. Grab your fill of pancakes, sausage and coffee, all served with a smile by Goodland residents. Purchase a GCA t-shirt to show community support as well as raffle tickets for a chance to win gift certificates from local companies.

Up next is the annual Goodland Boat Parade. In its 17th year, the parade will be held on Saturday, February 16 at 2:00 PM. Borrowed from an article I wrote last year about the Boat Parade, here’s what you need to know: “All proceeds from the day will go to the Marco Island Chapter of Avow Hospice. The local restaurants in town often engage in 50/50 raffles and other types of fundraising to help benefit Hospice. You may visit www.mardigrasgoodland.com to learn more. Last year (2010), over $18,000 was raised for Avow Hospice on this single day.”

Local artists like Tara ONeill will have booths at the Christmas Bazaar.

On March 2 and 3, it’s all about turning something old into something new at the annual Goodland Garage Sale event. Cruise around town in your golf cart as you pick up your own piece of “Goodland Gold.” Make room in your home and your heart as you bring home formerly cherished items and rekindle their glory days.

The Goodland Arts Alliance – something completely new – will hold its first Art in the Park show at MarGood Harbor Park the weekend of March 10. Local and out of area artists, craftsman, musicians, historians and more will be welcome to participate. Dedicated to “preserve, promote and advance the cultural heritage of the village of Goodland through art, history and education,” the Goodland Arts Alliance has many new events to come.

And for that something blue? It’s all around you. Don’t forget to look up at the sky or out at the surf every now and then; it’s always a beautiful blue this time of year. You’re in paradise, remember!

Natalie Strom has lived in Goodland for 4 years and worked for more than 7 years. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and is also a former Buzzard Queen of Stan’s Idle Hour in Goodland. 

MarGood Park offers plenty to see and do both inside the the museum and outside. PHOTOS BY JOANIE FULLER/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Open your eyes and your mind to the nostalgia of yesteryear by visiting the Margood Museum at Margood Harbor Park. You will be fascinated.

I made my first visit to Margood several years ago before I knew anything about the area. We came to Goodland by boat, spent the night at Calusa Marina and walked over to Margood for breakfast the next morning. What an experience!

We signed the guest book, made ourselves comfortable at a cozy table, ordered our eggs and special pancakes and waited. The atmosphere was almost like a movie. We had so much to look at. All kinds of mementoes surrounded us including World War II and Calusa artifacts, posters from Ringling Brothers Circus, life size figures of movie stars and more. In fact we learned that movies were actually shown there and it may have been Collier County’s first movie theater. The owners, Elhanon and Sandy Combs, even had cottages, RV’s to rent or purchase, a marina and a tiki bar. It was a laid back fish camp right on the water and fishermen came from far and near. Margood offered more amenities than other fish camps and they kept their guests happy with entertainment. With our hunger satisfied we strolled around a little more and realized we had been introduced to life in a quaint little resort which was charming.

The Combs’s finally sold their resort to Collier County several years ago and now the property is a County Park. The structure which housed the restaurant and theater has been rebuilt and is the centerpiece of Goodland’s new Margood Harbor Park. Nancy Olson, Region Manager of Beach and Water for Collier County Parks and Recreation has enthusiastically spearheaded the assembly of mementoes for display, most of which were donated by Elhanon and Sandy.

The Combs’s collection includes the Calusa artifacts which they found on the property, Elhanon’s World War II memories, the old movie projector, remnants from the restaurant, reminders of the days of live entertainment and lots of photographs and more. It is definitely a must see.

There used to be a saying that Margood was “hard to find but truly hard to forget.” It wasn’t fancy, just a touch of Olde Florida. All of that is true.

So treat yourself, visit Goodland soon and try browsing through the museum. It is tucked away on Pear Tree Avenue, still a bit tricky to find, but that makes the experience worth even more. Hours are 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday with plans to expand in the future.

Joanie Fuller is the President of the Goodland Civic Association. She and her husband of 48 years, David Fuller, are residents of Goodland.