Coastal Breeze News

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Upon its completion, the Tamiami Trail was touted as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Barron Gift Collier, for whom our County is named, and D. Graham Copeland, for whom the town is named, were the men behind the incredible engineering feat. Since the completion of the road in 1928, motorists have been able to travel from Tampa to Miami, thus the name, with ease. Celebrating its milestone birthday, Everglades City threw a party worthy of the road that forever changed travel in Southwest Florida. Prior to the road, boats were really the only form of ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] It was a bright and sunny day on Sunday, April 7th, as hundreds gathered at the Esplanade to get a taste of Marco Island. Representing with culinary delights were CJ’s on the Bay, Stonewalls, Kretch’s, BeachDogs, Quinns on the Beach of the Marco Island Marriott, the Marco Island Hilton, Mango’s Dockside Bistro, Crazy Flamingo, Vandy’s 5 Brothers, Starbucks, Coldstone Creamery and Simply Cupcakes. Beer, wine soda and water were also sold. Live music was provided by the Greg Miller Band. Volunteers in bright blue shirts offered 50/50 raffle tickets for purchase, sold tickets for food and ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery noelle@coastalbreezenews. What would you do if you suddenly inherited $6.7 million? That is a question the Marco Island City Council sought to answer in a special workshop this week as it tackled the water utility’s new five-year Capital Improvement Program, or CIP. The $6.7 million windfall in question is the money the city will recoup this September from the successful refinancing of its 2003 utility system revenue bonds. The funds have been held in escrow as insurance on the bonds since 2010. “We are going to be successful in refinancing this debt, and that is going ... Read More »

By Noelle H. Lowery [email protected] “‘Holy cow’ would be the legal expression.” That is how Marco Island City Councilman Larry Honig described the City Council’s deliberations on the staff rankings of the bids for financial management services, bond counsel representation and a financial feasibility report for the refinancing of the city’s 2003 utility system revenue bonds. Finance Director Guillermo Polanco presented the rankings at the regular City Council meeting this week. Public Financial Management Group secured the top spot for the financial management services with a negotiated annual contract amount of $32,500. Public Resources Management Group Inc. was the first ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Get your pretty kitty ready for Second Annual For the Love of Cats Glamour Puss Calendar contest. For the Love of Cats, a Marco Island cat rescue shelter, is looking for “picture purrfect” cats of all ages, sizes, colors and character. Send your kitty’s photo in and see if they make the cut. Three photos will be selected for each calendar month. That means 36 local cats within our community will have their one month of fame, rather than only ten minutes. Winning photos will be selected by a panel of judges who will be ... Read More »

Submitted The “Shoot Down Kids Cancer” event held March 23, 2013 at Port of the Islands Gun Club was a huge success. The third annual event raised $32,000 earmarked by the group to specifically fight kids cancer . Close to 100 guests attended the event which included the wives and friends of 54 shooters. Everyone took aim at lunch once finished with shooting clay targets. Lunch was provided by Texas Tony’s under a large tent and was followed by live and silent auctions. “Port of the Islands Gun Club has been a great supporter (for cancer research).  It’s a unique ... Read More »

By The City of Marco Marco Island City Council is seeking a volunteer to serve as a representative for the City of Marco Island on the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee. The Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) has one vacancy representing the City of Marco Island for a four-year term from May 22, 2013 expiring on May 22, 2017. This nine member committee was created by Collier County Ordinance #2001-03 to assist the Board of County Commissioners with its establishment of unified beach erosion control and inlet management programs within the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Collier County, and ... Read More »

Submitted The Marco Eagle Sanctuary Foundation (MESF) hosted the Third Annual NEST FEST at the Island Country Club on April 6th. Linda Turner began the Nest Fest celebration with a warm “welcome to all our fine feathered friends,” addressing the many guests donned in feather boas and hairpieces. This sold-out event was a successful fundraiser for the preservation of the Marco Eagle Sanctuary and its resident Bald Eagles, Paleo and Calusa (named by Tommy Barfield Elementary Students). Carl Way, MESF Founder and Chairman, remarked that as the organization continues to grow, it is MESF’S goal to build on its success ... Read More »

Submitted Girl Scout Troop #331 recently visited the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department. Fireman Nelson Ramirez led nine excited Daisy girls around the station to view the fire engine and fire equipment. All of the firemen from the “C Shift” were so helpful and answered questions from the Kindergarteners about their job. The Daisy troop is on their way to earning their Gerri petal, which is earned for learning about respecting authority. This trip was held to help identify community figures who hold positions of authority and learn about the services they provide.     Read More »

Submitted The Rotary Club of Marco Island presented the final 2013 Spirit of Marco Island Awards this past week to George Schroll of the Rotary Club of Marco Island and to C. Scott Campbell, CEO of Physicians Regional Healthcare Systems. George Schroll was caught by surprise by the Spirit Award Committee at a recent Rotary Club Meeting. He was presented with his award in front of a large crowd of fellow Rotarians that also included his wife, Joan. Schroll was honored for many years of service to numerous local organizations including the Noontime Rotary Club where he served as a ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] It was a one-hour car ride to the seven-hour journey across the Trans-Canada Highway to reach the eight-hour ferry ride from Newfoundland to the mainland of Canada, where another six hours of driving brought Myrtle and Harold Pelley to the airport. The Pelleys flew to Fort Myers where they were picked up by their friends Frank and Elise Delaney, who then brought them to Marco Island. The trip, nearly 12 years in the making, was in some way, a thank you gift from the Delaneys as the Pelleys were their saving grace during the 9/11 tragedy ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The Fifth Annual Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival was an astounding success. With a weekend of windy but cooperative weather, thousands came to enjoy the variety of food, arts and crafts and music. The three local philanthropic clubs that organize Marco’s signature event everty year are the Sunrise Rotary Club, the Noontime Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club. Representatives of each club were on hand for a check presentation, from left, Bud Palmer, Dennis Pidherney, Seafood Festival Founder Stan Niemcyzk and Ian and Kathy Small. The clubs are known for their impact on the ... Read More »

By George Sarantos D.C.,CSCS Acupuncture is growing in popularity, becoming a widely accepted alternative treatment for conditions ranging from stress relief to chronic pain. This change in outlook can be traced to some of the top medical facilities in the country. Major medical facilities including Duke, Columbia, Mayo Clinic, Harvard and the University of Miami, to name a few, are utilizing this treatment which dates back thousands of years. These complimentary and integrative clinics use alternative medicine along with those practiced by mainstream medical professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the beneficial effects of acupuncture for many common ... Read More »

Artist Michaela Castaldi’s works are currently being featured at the Marco Island Airport. An attendee of the Ringling School of Art and the University of New Hampshire, Castaldi spent her career designing cororate emblem logos. After 40 years in the industry, Castaldi and her husband moved to Naples, “where my previous painting hobby blossomed into a full-fledged career. My love of vibrant color and realistic design is reflected in my art. I love to design, create and ultimately paint.” Castaldi carefully researches each project, utilizing photography, sketches and notes to guide her projects that feature many local scenes throughout Southwest ... Read More »

The Island Theater Company has done it again. Running from April 18th through May 4th, its new show, Mama Won’t Fly, is a comedy for all ages, and sure to entertain. Written by the team of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooter, Mama Won’t Fly is the story of Savannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt’s cross-country trip to her brother’s wedding, along with her mother and the bride-to-be. Driving from Alabama to California, because of her mother’s refusal to fly, they are in a race against time, with plenty of mishaps to slow them down. The result is a humor-filled tale ... Read More »

The Florida Wing of the Civil Air Patrol held their annual statewide conference in Orlando two weeks ago.  The two days of meetings and workshops for Florida CAP volunteers was closed with the Awards Ceremony and banquet.  The Marco Island Squadron was honored with the designation of the “Outstanding Squadron of the Year” for 2012, presented by Florida Wing Commander, COL Michael Cook.  The Marco Island Squadron Commander, LTC Lee H. Henderson was designated the “Commander of the Year” for the Florida Wing. Being the number one CAP Squadron in Florida does not happen by accident according to LTC Henderson, ... Read More »

There is a website in which anyone can calculate their water usage by the gallon, per week. Enter time spent, in minutes, doing the dishes, washing your hands and brushing your teeth and the time – and number of times – you and your household shower and do laundry. The total is typically jaw dropping. April is Water Conservation Month, and the Southwest Florida environment relies on this natural resource to play, live and thrive. After all, we’re surrounded by it. Florida is home to swamps, rivers, lakes, ponds and almost completely surrounded by the open ocean; it is vitally ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] In honor of the Second Annual National Everglades Day, April 6th, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR) was ready to throw a party. Just last year the date was chosen as it is the birthday of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, a champion of the Everglades, known best for her book, “The Everglades: River of Grass.” She was at the forefront of the fight towards redefining the Everglades as a treasured river rather than a useless swamp. Much has been learned about “The River of Grass” since Douglas wrote the book in 1947, but the devastation to ... Read More »

The Marco Riders have been religiously meeting on Sunday mornings for over 20 years.  Age, style, color or size, every bike and everyone is accepted. The Marco Riders isn’t so much of a club, but a loosely organized group of motorcycle enthusiasts, explains Carmen Dasti. “We meet at CVS on Sundays at around 8:45 AM and we decide where we want to go to breakfast. We usually have anywhere from 10 to 40 people.” The Marco Riders roster, however, boasts over 100 names. “Thank God they all don’t come at once,” jokes Dasti who is the current “leader” of the ... Read More »

Don’t be late for this very important date! The Mad Hatter and Alice have invited you to join them in Wonderland on May 11th, for a morning filled with the puzzling nonsense and the maddening fun that is the Mad Hatter Tea Party. Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, neighbors, and friends are encouraged to celebrate the day before Mother’s Day by taking part in this once a year day. Ladies and the youngest of ladies will spend time designing necklaces, sipping tea and socializing. They will also design picture frames to surround their special Mad Hatter photo. This reintroduction to ... Read More »