It is common knowledge among my readers and my friends that I was born and raised in Turkey and lived the first twenty years of my life in Istanbul. So it is natural that I have been getting many phone calls, emails and text messages asking me this very question. Being away from the day to day events that shape life in Turkey for many years, I have to rely on the news I get from relatives, friends and contacts in Turkey as well as watching daily news on various Turkish TV stations, reading all available Turkish newspapers and a multitude of phone calls I make to my contacts in Istanbul and elsewhere. It has been very hard for me to develop my own opinion of the recent events one way or the other since I do have a very biased point of view based on my upbringing and political views. I will try to be as objective as I possibly can be in my interpretation of events for this article, however I would like the readers to remember that I am writing under the heading of “opinion.”

People light flares as they stand on top of an overturned car. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Turkey of 2013 is a whole lot different from Turkey of 1969 which I left behind. And Turkey of 1969 was different from the Turkey I was born and grew up in from 1949-1969. In order for us who live thousands of miles away in America to try to understand the events that took place in Turkey last week, and continue up until the penning of this article, one must get a basic understanding of the country’s historical and political background. Turkey (Turkiye as it is known to Turks) is a relatively new secular Republic built on the ashes of a failed Ottoman Empire (an empire expanding and spreading the religion of Islam, from the wild and barren deserts of the Middle East, through the high plateau of Anatolia to the shores of North Africa and all the way to the Christian bastions in the Balkans up to the gates of Vienna at its heyday) by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk; probably the most single important leader and historical figure of the 20th century. Since the formation of the Republic, Turkey has seen democracy painstakingly take shape amongst a predominantly Muslim population, experiencing many ups and downs, including a number of military coups and continued internal political strife; an ever present Kurdish insurgency and living through various, democratically elected right and left wing administrations at different times. Rattled by economic adversities which shook the basic foundations of the Republic in the last 50 years; real inflation going past 150% at times through the 70’s and major part of the 80’s, the country remained true to her original constitution (with some changes made by public referenda along the way) as a secular Republic, with free elections and a parliamentary style government with an indirectly elected Prime Minister heading a cabinet of ministers.

Since the early days of the 21st century (2003 until now) an Islamist government has been in power with Mr. Tayyip Erdogan, who graduated from Imam Hatip Okulu (Islamic High School), and studied Economics and Commercial Sciences at Marmara University in Istanbul (second largest University in Turkey) as Prime Minister. The ruling party which he heads is called AKP (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi or Justice and Development Party.)

Mr. Erdogan tapped into the support, votes and loyalties of a majority of Muslim Turks who for many years felt neglected, disenfranchised and shunned by the “elites” while at the same time working closely with owners of large business enterprises who benefited economically from the laissez faire economic environment he created. Businesses flourished, manufacturing sector adopted European standards and conquered foreign markets, economic growth at times reached over ten percent per year, and Turkish exports worldwide surpassed one hundred and forty billion dollars a year. All this happened while freedoms were taken away drip by drip, every bit of secularism which Ataturk installed attacked on a daily basis, and institutional checks and balances removed by the AKP government using various political maneuvers. Turkey turned into one huge prison with the world’s highest number of imprisoned journalists and political prisoners such as trade unionists, politicians, high ranking military officers, activists, students, lawyers, etc. On top of this the Prime Minister’s growing authoritarianism and his arrogance became stifling. Using all the powers he gained or usurped and largely depending on the support of the majorities who voted him into office three times, Mr. Erdogan started to act on his dream of turning Turkey into an Islamic Republic. His Secretary of State openly talked about exerting economic and political influence upon the countries “which at one time or another were ruled by the great Ottoman Empire!”

Mr. Erdogan adopted the familiar dictatorial approach of “a father-figure to the nation” since the election of 2011 and was deeply engaged in a frustrating micromanagement of everything; from lifestyles to cultural patterns to daily lives of the population. He was perceived as giving priority to “moral majority values” at the cost of others, disregarding the demands and wishes of the minorities and many diverse social groups within the Republic, causing disappointment, fear and alienation. After systematically destroying the command structure of the once trusted secular Military establishment by accusing high ranking officers and jailing over 600 commanders, he quickly and effectively expanded loyal police forces around the country and started using them into pushing the population into submission.

Finally, last week the pent-up frustrations of the youth along with proponents of democracy and personal freedoms, believers of a secular Democratic Republic came to a boiling point basically as a result of three issues which seemed to have touched a common nerve. I have identified the following three points as the main factors which started the political and civil unrest:

1. Mr. Erdogan’s proposal to name the third bridge across the Bosphorus straits “Yavuz Sultan Selim” bridge. While most may have thought “so what’s in a name?” the significance of naming the bridge after this particular Sultan of the Ottoman Empire did not escape the attention of the secularist Turks. This Sultan of Ottoman Empire brought the most important and highly significant title of Caliph (religious and political leader of the Islamic World, enforcer of the Sharia Law) to the Ottomans in 1517. Ottoman sultans took on the additional title of Caliph from 1517 to 1925 thus becoming de-facto leaders of the Islamic world. On March 3, 1924, the first President of the new Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal as a part of his reforms, constitutionally abolished the institution of the Caliphate. Its powers within Turkey were transferred to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the parliament of the newly formed Turkish Republic and sent the last Caliph off to exile in Europe. The title has since been inactive. It has been widely believed and rumored amongst the Turks that Mr. Erdogan would want nothing more than to bring back this office and possibly declare himself the new Caliph!

2. Mr. Erdogan has been trying to pass a number of new laws fashioned after Sharia Law. One of these new laws was to place a ban on alcohol sales (based on Islamic principles.) This did not sit well with the general population. In addition, he had changed public school curricula numerous times in the last few years to suit Islamic teachings he and his followers believe in and lately in almost all his public speeches he has been asking families to have a minimum of three children. “More the better” has been his repeated favorite line.

3. Last but not the least, and maybe the most important factor which sent demonstrators into the streets was the Erdogan government’s announcement that they planned to “cut down some trees to make way for a shopping center” at Gezi Park, off the Central square of Istanbul called Taksim where a statute of Ataturk is the center piece. However, it was clear to everyone that the real reason for cutting the trees down was to clear the way for the revivalist construction of a building which used to occupy the site. The Park was the site of a military garrison building under one of the last Sultans of the Ottoman Empire when a limited Western style government was installed by a group of Westernized young men. In the evening of April 12, 1909 the loyalist soldiers who lived in this military building rioted against the reformist government and demonstrated in front of the House of Representatives building demanding that the government continue to operate under “Sharia Rule” and dismiss all the reforms it was trying to establish. (Sharia is the moral code and religious law of Islam. It deals with many topics addressed by secular law, including crime, politics and economics as well as personal matters such as sexual intercourse, hygiene, diet, prayer and fasting.)

The demonstrators understood the symbolism behind this action and took to the streets. It is interesting to note that in a politically and otherwise polarized country, these demonstrators seem to be from different ideological, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds in Turkey. They are young, old, religious, secular, gay, straight, foreign, domestic, fringe, anarchist, and mainstream, women in headscarves and women in tank-tops, Shiites, Sunnis, Jews, and Christians.

In his response, Mr. Erdogan called the demonstrators as alcoholics, looters, marginals, sniffers, bandits and infidels. Unfortunately, to those of us who have seen this behavior before, these are all the signs of a delusional leader who refuses to accept the obvious; who is determined to hang on to power at all cost. He did not see and still refuses to believe that these demonstrations are spontaneously organized by small groups of people of diverse ideologies and beliefs who understand the direction Mr. Erdogan is trying to take the country and will not stand for it under any circumstances.

A protester runs to avoid tear gas.

Throughout history Turkish people have proven time after time that they will not stand for tyranny, they are not submissive and they will fight to preserve the Republic and the ideology of freedom they inherited from a brave and foresighted leader named Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

As we can see by now, this is a most complicated situation which is difficult to explain in 900 words or less. I have not even thrown in the problems Erdogan has with his actions regarding Syria; his picking fights with Israel; looming negotiations with twenty plus million Kurds. But I tried my best to give an overall, albeit biased picture of the situation in Turkey; a NATO ally, an important trade partner and host to some of the most important US Air bases in the world. As usual, I most sincerely hope that the readers do their own research and come to their own conclusions.

My conclusions are rather basic. When a government gets too big for its britches; when a government starts to oppress the people it is responsible for protecting against all enemies from within and foreign; when a government starts to micromanage the day-to-day lives of its citizens; when a government tries to impose its own beliefs and values upon the people who make up the population; when a government loses its own moral compass while at the same time trying to legislate morality; that government no longer represents its people and is destined to fail.

Let us all watch and see what happens. This may affect all of us…

About The Author

Tarik Ayasun is President of the Marco Island Charter Middle School Board of Directors and has given many years of service of community service to various organizations.

Tarik Ayasun?turk1949@comcast.net

Donna Fiala

Just recently a number of us took a trip to the major recycling center in Pembroke Pines, where much of our recycling waste is sent. This trip was a specific request from our own Marco resident, John Coff, who was accompanied by Fred Twilla. Also along was another Marco resident, Vince Kiernan. Most of us learned more than we ever knew about recycling and the items that are acceptable and what happens to the items that are collected but cannot be used. One of the many things we learned was to take caps off of plastics and dispose of them in the garbage collection bin. We even heard of people who leave milk in containers and put these partially full containers in the recycling bins! Most of us in the group agreed that we rinse our containers before disposing of them. Film plastic should never be discarded in the recycling bin but rather collected in a large plastic bag and taken to the plastic recycling bins at Publix or Winn Dixie. Also, Styrofoam containers and cups from restaurants or from packing material should be discarded in the garbage, not recycling bins. Based on  the FDA information, the water in a plastic bottle left in a hot car for several hours is safe to drink, it may not taste fresh. Water gets that “stale” taste whenever it’s left out to warm, whether it’s in a plastic bottle or a glass container.

Our recycling operation in Collier County is called “single stream recycling”, which means we don’t have to sort our items in separate bins; we can put all our items in one single bin to be sorted later. We saw parts of the sorting process, mainly paper, cardboard and plastics. Other areas in this huge building sorted metals, glass, etc. Do you know not to put blue glass in the recycling bins? We learned so much more, but my space is limited.

*An effort I am making is to meet with many major businesses in Collier County to get acquainted with their products and hear why they moved their business here, what they need to expand, what are the assets that keep them here, what is the downside. The first business I called on was the Marco Marriott – Rick Medwedeff – general manager. We had two meetings and some great conversations. I saw their new facility in Hammock Bay which was absolutely awesome! The restaurant was above reproach, the golf course magnificent, great tennis courts, swimming, etc. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to use the facility, you can buy a membership for yourself and family! We also discussed what the hotel needs from the county – mainly expanded bus transportation for their employees. The buses don’t seem to be large enough to carry all of their employees safely from Immokalee to Marco Island. The county is now in discussions regarding this issue and larger buses and what the cost to expand the service would be. We want to work with the Marriott in any way we can to support their business! Hopefully we can help.

*Have you ever heard of Graeter’s Ice Cream? It’s made in Cincinnati and is a company owned business that makes the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted. You can only buy it at Publix (4 flavors) and Winn Dixie, who has a larger selection of flavors. If you dare, try the Black Cherry/Chocolate Chip. But beware! you’ll get hooked on the ice cream! It is only sold in pints and it isn’t cheap, but ever so good!

*Although I’m just about out of column space, I would like to brag that FCAT reading scores from FL-DOE show positive growth for Lely High School! Way to go Lely!!!

Marco Island is missing something. It’s missing what almost every city, town and village in Europe has – statues of heroes and would be heroes. Some Americans visiting France for the first time, and being unfamiliar with the language, used to ask me about that Frenchman, “Mort”. Every hamlet in France, they said, had a statute of “Mort”. I had to explain that there was probably no one named “Mort” in all of France, its territories and possessions. On a French statue “Mort” is usually and simply part of “Mort Pour la Patrie”, or died for his country.

The question set me to thinking about our fair city. We really don’t have much in the way of statues. There are a few, but nothing like Europe, and nothing like major U.S. cities. In Dublin, for example, there are statues of great Irish heroes, poets, writers, statesmen and numerous others. Statues are terribly important it appears. Indeed, the statue of England’s heroic Lord Nelson was so important that the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army, not the retirement I.R.A.) saw fit to blow it up in 1946 or thereabouts. They only did a fair job, and the army had to clear O’Connell Street by leveling the remains. Unfortunately the I.R.A. blew out all the windows on the street by using a wee bit too much explosive. The ringleaders were prosecuted, not for bringing down the hero of Trafalgar, but for destroying the windows on O’Connell Street.

The Scots, too, have monuments everywhere. There’s a monument to William Wallace that dwarfs the countryside, and a famous huge memorial to Sir Walter Scott is fondly known as the “Gothic Rocket” since it soars in a great pointed Gothic arch on the side of Princes Street Gardens. In a fairly remote part of the Highlands there’s even a monument to the Commandos who trained in the area during World War II. Try as we might, however, we could not find either the Loch Ness monster, or a monument to the monster.

Just imagine what could be done on Marco Island! There could be a statue of Judge Jolley himself at the foot of the bridge. At city hall it would only be fitting to put up a statue of the original seven city council members. Instead of putting up the flag as in the Marine Corps Iwo Jima memorial, ours could be truly representative by reproducing one of many near-fist-fights. How about a statue of our beloved Herb Savage at Veterans Park showing him leading one of about 40,000 renditions of “God Bless America”? Of course there should be a statue of the Mackle Brothers in Mackle Park. Naturally the city council would require a referendum to do that in the park.

Statues and memorials like those would stir our very souls and give Marco Island status rivaling any burg in Europe. We can visualize visitors coming here just to gaze at our abundance of memorials and monuments. Painted dolphins scattered around and about the city don’t count. Neither does The Blue Man who mysteriously disappeared from city hall and hasn’t been seen since.

“There are two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness.”  - Franz Kafka, German existentialist author, 1883-1924.

Question: How frequently should I monitor my portfolio? - David S., Marco Island

Answer: Monthly portfolio reviews are a good place to start. Even if you have chosen an appropriate asset allocation, market forces may quickly alter your allotments and require attention. If stock prices go up, you may eventually find yourself with a greater percentage of stocks in your portfolio than you intended. If stock prices go down, you may be concerned about reaching your goals. Remember that there is a difference between checking on your investments and making changes. How often you check your portfolio is a personal preference dependent on a variety of circumstances. At a minimum, review the reasons for your current asset allocation and make sure the rationale is still suitable.

Some investors set a regular day each week, month, or quarter to review their holdings. Many people select the end of each year or tax-time for an in-depth analysis while keeping an eye on short-term trends more often. Investing is cyclical and all investments generally go up and down in value from time to time. Double check with yourself and your financial professional if you’re thinking about deviating from your portfolio strategy.

A rule of thumb is to rebalance your portfolio whenever one type of investment becomes more than a certain percentage of the overall mix. For instance, if one holding has increased in value and now represents more than 5 or 10 percent of your portfolio, you may wish to make adjustments.

The nature of individual investments may change over time. This kind of “style drift” can affect the risk you’re taking without your knowledge. Following individual investments and the overall asset allocation is important. Fine-tuning your portfolio periodically should reflect your investing personality.

There is the temptation to adjust your mix of investments to focus on what you think will do well in the future, or cut back on what isn’t working. Unless you have a flawless crystal ball, this is a trickier strategy than the constant weighting of asset allocation. Even if you know when to cut back on or get out of one type of investment, are you sure you’ll know when to go back in? A compromise would be to invest a portion of your assets in this fashion.

New investors or those just getting back into the swing of things typically check in on a more regular basis until they achieve a certain comfort level. Too much attention may be harmful if it causes you to act impulsively or causes unnecessary stress. Wall Street old timers say that a portfolio is like a bar of soap that gets smaller each time it is touched.

Another factor to consider is if you’re working with a like-minded financial advisor or managing your investments on your own. Two-sets of eyes may be better than one. Ultimately, the right answer to how often you should check your investments is determined by your personal comfort level.

Our grandson Luke’s first puppy never had a chance to sleep; he kept poking Benji to make sure the dog was okay. Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie. The point here is that there is a difference between checking in on your investments versus overreacting to short-term market movements and making reactionary or emotional changes. This goes back to the old adage; “know what you own and why you own it.”

Researching and tracking investments takes time and experience. In addition, too-frequent rebalancing can have adverse consequences. You will also want to consider transaction costs. No matter what your strategy and the frequency with which you monitor your portfolio, work with a trusted financial professional/coach or get a second opinion to help keep your portfolio on track. Stay focused and invest accordingly.

Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee a profit nor protect against a loss. This information is general in nature; it is not a complete statement of all information necessary for making an investment decision. Investing involves risk and the possible loss of principal invested. Past performance is not indicative of future results. There is no guarantee any particular investment strategy will be successful. Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and subject to change at any time.

*“Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S.”

Darcie Guerin, CFP®, is Associate Vice President, Investments & Branch Manager of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC 606 Bald Eagle Dr. Suite 401, Marco Island, FL 34145. She may be reached at 239-389-1041, email darcie.guerin@raymondjames.com. www.raymondjames.com/Darcie

Italy is a wonderful place to shop for ceramics. The combination of earth, water and fire used to make ceramics has been a tradition in this country dating back to its earliest times. The term ceramics comes from the Greek and refers to anything made of clay. Majolica refers to enameled, decorated ceramics, usually bold in color and intricate in design.

The Amalfi Coast is a particularly picturesque shopping venue for Majolica ceramics. Vietri sul Mare is the unofficial ceramic capital of this area. It is where one will find the largest selection and best prices. In Vietri, one can visit factories or peruse the many shops located there, particularly along the pedestrian only Via Madonna degli Angeli, as well as Corso Umberto I, and Via XXV Luglio. Unfortunately, as the “first” town on the coast after Salerno, it is not as large a tourist attraction as some of the better known towns further up the coast.

The tourist magnets of Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi on the coast and Ravello above it all feature ceramic shops and there are others along the coastal road such as Ceramiche Piccadilly in Conca dei Marini near the Emerald Grotto (between Amalfi and Positano) and Ceramiche Casola just before Positano.

The bowl I just couldn’t live without. PhotoS BY VICKIE KELBER

Shops sell a wide variety of items from inexpensive small bowls and plates to ceramic handled wooden and stainless steel kitchen utensils, tiles, large bowls and plates, platters, wall decorations, vases, planters, fountains, dish sets, and tables. The larger decorative tables are made of stone.

Most of the shops offer “free” shipping with a certain minimum purchase. The lowest threshold I saw was 250 euros, the highest 500.

After purchasing some small souvenirs at a few of the shops in Amalfi, I was ready for bigger and better choices. At a shop in Positano, we inquired about stone tables. I was thinking of a table for the lanai, but my husband suggested the dining room. The price for the size we needed was 4800 euros. My husband gave me that look that wives know oh so well and walked away. I was still thinking about it when the practical Swiss side of me took over so I walked away also. I hadn’t given up on the idea though; I knew we still had two weeks during which I could make a decision.

Our next ceramic stop was in Ravello at Ceramiche d’Arte. There was a large bowl to which we were both drawn. That is unusual as we typically have different tastes. When we purchased our first painting by a local artist here on Marco, we ended up with each of our’s third choice because that was the first one on which we could both agree.

The bowl had an unusual design that I describe as “feathered”. That’s probably not what it is called, but that’s is my best descriptor. The color didn’t really match anything in our living room or dining room, but we kept going back to it even though there were others of similar design with colors that would better match those rooms. I wasn’t quite ready to make a decision; I knew I still had time and Ravello was a short bus ride above our apartment.

A week or so later, I did go back and had a wonderful chat with the proprietor, Pasquale. I ended up buying the blue bowl which was to be shipped. Years ago, travelers were warned against shipping anything from Italy as it might well arrive broken if at all. Now, though, with so many shipping services available, shipping is reliable. I was a little nervous as I’ve had bad experiences with Big Brown, but I knew I was putting the purchase on my credit card and ultimately, if there was a problem, the card company would intercede on my behalf.

On the way out, I priced a similar table to the one we looked at in Positano. It was 2000 euros less! I must have seemed surprised as Pasquale said that I would pay a lot more for such a table in Positano but he does not have to make as big a profit as they do; he is happy with a smaller profit. Altruistic certainly….maybe true, maybe not. My mind started churning again. I knew I still had time to make a decision about a table.

Ultimately, I did not buy a table. The more I thought about it, I really didn’t want one as a dining room table and it was impractical for the lanai. I am usually by myself when I have to move the furniture in during hurricane season and it would just be too heavy for me to handle. But, I had my bowl! Or, at least I would after it was shipped.

Two days after we arrived home, I received an email from the shop that the bowl was about to be shipped and was given the DHL tracking number. I never imagined how much fun it would be to track the travels of my bowl. It was a mini adventure…..kind of a cross between Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? and Flat Stanley!

On a Tuesday, at 11:47AM Ravello local time, the bowl was picked up. Later that day it was processed in Sorrento. I was relieved that it went to Sorrento rather than Naples. I’ve read all those accounts about who controls the exports and shipping in Naples! Let’s just say it is rumored to be a well known organized secret society.

From Sorrento, my bowl journeyed to Rome and then spent all day Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany. It arrived there at 2AM local time and left at 9:30PM. Leipzig is the European hub for DHL.

Thursday at 1:04AM local time it arrived at a sort facility in Cincinnati, DHL’s US hub, a location which reportedly processes 2.6 million pieces of cargo a month. Eight minutes later, it was cleared, two hours later processed, and by 4:30AM on its way to Miami. After an hour and half stop over in Miami, it was on its way to Ft. Myers where it arrived just after 11:00AM. By Thursday afternoon, it was delivered, unpacked, found to be in perfect condition and placed on a table in my living room. I am pleased to report the color is fine. In fact, I realized I had a Gzhel vase from Russia that is exactly the same color and it has now been taken off a shelf and is on the table accompanying the bowl.

If a trip to the Amalfi Coast isn’t in your immediate future, Ceramiche d’Arte has a web site at http://www.ceramichedarte.com. The other two shops mentioned above are online at http://www.mcpiccadilly.com and http://www.ceramicacasola.it. To avoid sticker shock, remember that in European prices, the comma is equivalent to our period. So, something priced at 350,000 euros is actually 350 euros.

About The Author

Vickie is a former member of the Marco Island City Council and Artistic Director of the Marco Island Film Festival, and has been a volunteer for many island organizations. She is presently on the board of the Naples Mac Users Group. Prior to relocating to Marco, Vickie served as a school psychologist, Director of Special Services, and college instructor and also was a consultant to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Our summer water temperatures bring many types of Shark into the shallow waters of the 10,000 Islands. They are here to breed and arrive in good numbers. Although there are Shark here year round, It is now that they are most abundant.

Below is a list of the 5 most common Shark in our waters that one is most likely to catch. I have included some pretty interesting profile info obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myFWC.com) about their habitat, feeding, reproduction, and their sizes.

BULL SHARK Carcharhinus leucas. Habitat: Common apex predator that inhabits estuarine, nearshore and offshore waters of both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Commonly enters estuarine waters and is one of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater, sometimes venturing hundreds of miles inland via coastal river systems. Feeding: Versatile and opportunistic feeder. Stomach contents have included a variety of bony fishes and invertebrate species, sharks, rays, dolphins, sea turtles, and sea birds. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 1-13 pups. Size at birth about 2.4 feet. Utilizes shallow bays and coastal lagoons as nursery areas. Size/Age: Maximum size about 11 feet. Matures at approximately 14-18 years of age (about 6.5 feet) and is estimated to live 24+ years.

PHOTOS BY CAPT. PETE RAPPS

LEMON SHARK Negaprion brevirostris. Habitat: An abundant, inshore tropical shark that inhabits both estuarine and nearshore waters of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Commonly enters estuarine waters and often ventures into freshwater areas, but does not penetrate as far up rivers as the Bull shark. Migrates southward and into deeper waters in the winter months. Feeding: Feeds on a variety of bony fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, rays, small sharks, and occasionally on sea birds. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 4-17 pups. Size at birth about 2 feet. Utilizes shallow bays and coastal lagoons as nursery areas. Size/Age: Maximum size about 10.5 feet. Matures at approximately 11-12 years of age (about 8 feet) and is estimated to live 27+ years.

BLACKTIP SHARK Carcharhinus limbatus. Habitat: Common in Florida’s coastal waters, bays and estuaries. A very active, fast-swimming shark often seen at the surface. Often forms large schools during annual migration times. Migrates southward and into deeper coastal waters during winter months. May leap out of the water and, like the related spinner shark, spin around several times before dropping back into the sea. Feeding: Feeds primarily on fishes but also eats small sharks, some rays and skates, squid, crabs, octopus, and lobster. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 1-10 pups. Females swim into shallow bays in spring and early summer to give birth. Size at birth 22-28 inches. Size/Age: Maximum length about 6 feet. Matures at approximately 6-7 years of age(about 5 feet) and is estimated to live 10 + years.

BONNETHEAD SHARK Sphyrna tiburo. Habitat: Abundant in nearshore Florida waters. Commonly seen over shallow sand and mud flats. Moves into deeper, coastal waters during the colder months. Feeding: Feeds primarily on crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and small fishes. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 4-16 pups. Size at birth about 12 inches. Size/Age: Smallest member of the hammerhead family. Maximum length about 3.5 feet. Matures at approximately 2 years of age (about 30 inches) and is estimated to live 7+ years.

NURSE SHARK Ginglymostoma cirratum. Habitat: An abundant, coastal, tropical and subtropical shark that inhabits nearshore waters of both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Often seen lying motionless on the bottom. Preferred habitats are coral reefs, rocks, and mangrove islands. Feeding: Feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates such as spiny lobsters, shrimps, crabs, sea urchins, squid, octopi, and marine molluscs; also feeds on some fish species, especially grunts. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 20-50 pups. Size at birth about 1 foot. Mating aggregations reported in Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas, often in very shallow water. Juveniles utilize shallow coral reefs, rocky areas, grass flats, and mangrove islands as nursery habitat. Size/Age: Maximum size about 9 feet. Matures at approximately 7 feet and is estimated to live 24+ years.

About The Author

Captain Rapps’ Charters & Guides offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. Capt. Rapps’ top notch fleet accommodates men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Between their vast knowledge & experience of the area, and easy going demeanors, you are guaranteed to have a great day. Book your charter 24/7 using the online booking calendar, and see Capt. Rapps’ first class web site for Booking info, Videos, Recipes, Seasonings, and more at www.CaptainRapps.com 

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

The moment I heard that Jimmy Connors’ book was coming out I knew I had to get it from www.audible.com for our long ride to Edgartown, Massachusetts. When I researched the “The Outsider,” I was jubilant to learn the audio book was almost 12 hours long; simply stated, Leslie and I could not only drive through the entire state of Florida but we could continue listening through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina! Most well traveled people yearn to be well entertained as they drive long distances on the interstate weaving through endless traffic. Due to the good ole Nuveen (Senior Tennis Tour orchestrated by Jimmy Connors and his team) this writer, performing as a local tennis professional and as a journalist, has spent considerable time with Mr. Connors.

Our first meeting lasted almost six consecutive hours as I was running the Prince free clinic for kids and Jimmy literally blew me away when he stayed on-court for the entire time. “Jimmy, I’m feeling pressure from others to wrap this thing up.” He quickly responded, “I’m not finishing until I hit a ball to every single kid out here!” Truth be told, we had at least 300 kids lined up and ready to hit with Jimmy and hear a quick critique. The next day we had the opportunity to casually chat about the event, the overall senior tour and his feelings about fatherhood and other relevant subjects.

Having a bit of fun on the court. Submitted Photos

Quite frankly, I was literally blown away. We were new acquaintances and he revealed several intimate stories of his life and his feelings about traveling, his opinions about Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. To say it was “pretty cool,” is only scratching the surface since I had always been a huge fan of his tennis and his ability to entertain on the court. His new book, “The Outsider,” is alluring, mesmerizing, thrilling and enthralling because he is so introspective about his life and his travels throughout the world.

For example, he described in great detail his gambling addiction and the story about his match against Martina Navratilova. This match was like no other. The promoters had an interesting handicap to make the match more attractive to the viewers – the court was widened on Jimmy’s side so Martina could hit the ball half-way into the doubles alley. The other far less important chip Jimmy had to forfeit was one serve only. If Jimmy missed his first serve, he lost the point. Experienced tennis fans are well aware this is not a big deal as Jimmy usually just spun in his serve and was never a big weapon. Before the match, Jimmy nonchalantly bet one million dollars on himself. Oh, in Connor’s fashion, he not only had to beat Martina but he had to limit her to only 8 games or he would lose the bet! (He never discussed this huge bet with his wife, Patty!)

Down 3-1 in the first set, play had to be halted as Jimmy’s old buddy, the legendary Bobby Riggs (one of the television commentators) had passed out and everyone was concerned he had a heart attack. As Jimmy described in his memoir, apparently Bobby had also placed a considerable bet and was having a panic attack. Connors stormed back and won the match 7-5, 6-2 and a nice check was prepared for him as he left Las Vegas.

Before “The Outsider” was released there was a big controversy about a portion of the journal which contained intimate details about his relationship with tennis star and legend, Chris Evert. At one time, Jimmy and Chris were engaged to be married and there are particular aspects of their life that needed to be protected and Jimmy violated her privacy. Once Chris heard about Connor’s new book, she quickly responded “I am extremely disappointed that he used the book to misrepresent a private matter that took place 40 years ago and made it public, without my knowledge. I hope everyone can understand that I have no further comment.”

At no time did Jimmy ever hold back in his new book. He was open about his infidelity in his marriage and offered insightful dialogue about the damage to his kids, in particular Brett. “As I was preparing to serve, I could not stop bouncing the ball,” Jimmy’s well described depiction of his battles with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) I personally first observed one of his quirks, possibly a symptom of OCD, early in his career when he would walk between points to move to the baseline to serve. Without fail, he purposely stubs his toes with his shoes and continues to alter his front foot during his motion. Strangely enough, Andre Agassi used to have the same odd fixation when he walked near the baseline to serve.

Jimmy candidly opened up about Davis Cup coach, Arthur Ashe, McEnroe, Agassi and his personal favorite, Romanian Illie Nastase. He went into great detail and offered numerous judgments about each person. Not only is this a great read for tennis enthusiasts but it is an entertaining story for non-sports book-lovers who enjoy a well chronicled autobiography. Speaking of predictions, I’m rooting for Djokovic and Azarenka to win in Paris but realistically it is impossible to ignore both Nadal and Williams to capture another big Slam. Let me know how you feel about Connors’s book and your own predictions for the big event at Roland Garros.

Doug Browne has been a tennis journalist since 1992 and is the Director of Tennis at the beautiful Hideaway Beach Club on Marco Island as well as the prestigious Boathouse Field Club in Edgartown, Massachusetts. In 2010, Doug served as the Director of Tennis at the International Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Doug and his wife, Leslie Browne continue to love to coach players of all ages and can be reached at dbrowne912@aol.com

As of June 1st, hurricane season officially began and by midweek, the first named storm, Tropical Storm Andrea, was blowing by our island. Luckily, Marco Island just received lots of rain but not much wind from Andrea. As the season progresses, it’s important to know ahead of time what to do when a storm strikes to protect trees to prevent or minimize financial and aesthetic losses.

In the past couple of years, most of the trees on the island have been impacted by spiraling white fly and the ones which have had treatment are slowly recovering. The stress of infestation from the white fly, even with treatment, may make it difficult for some trees to withstand the storms that are an inevitable part of life in the tropics. Now is the time to take a look at your trees, canopy and palm, and determine if trimming is required, so they can sustain high winds. Unfortunately, it is common for lawn care contractors to assume tree care duties. Most often, they have little or no training and improperly cut or remove trees. Watch out for contractors posing as arborists. Here are guidelines to help you find a qualified tree-care specialist:

1. Ask for their license to trim trees.

2. Make sure they are part of an established business in the community or nearby area, with a listing in the yellow pages under Tree Service.

3. Ask for current certificates of insurance showing they are fully insured for property damage, personal liability and worker compensation.

4. Ideally, they should be members of a professional association of arborists, such as the International Society of Arborists (ISA) or the National Arborist Association (NAA).

5. Always get more than one estimate to ensure the price offered is competitive.

It is commonly seen that untrained tree-care specialists will “top” trees. Don’t top your trees! “Topping” – cutting the main branches down to stubs is one of the worst actions to do to your canopy trees. The stubs left after topping will grow back many weak and poorly attached branches (suckers) that are more likely to break when a storm strikes. “Topping” also reduces the amount of foliage on which the tree depends for food and nourishment via photosynthesis, needed for regrowth after a storm. There are eight good reasons NOT to “top” trees: starvation, shock, insects and disease, weak limbs, rapid new growth, tree death, ugliness and cost. Bottom-line, a “topped” tree prior to a storm has already sustained major stress and is more likely to die than repair itself after a storm. At the very least, it will be slow to recover and never regain its original shape and beauty.

Good pruning practices by an arborist will remove ¼ to ½ of the tree crown, or umbrella of leaves, without “topping”, which allows the tree to retain the ability to manufacture food and promotes the stability of the tree. Good pruning also does not remove the crown and leaves that protect the bark from direct rays of sun. Good pruning before a storm, such as reducing the crown properly and thinning it by removing secondary branches, allows strong winds to blow through the tree allowing it to remain upright rather than fall victim to the force of the winds. It’s time to consider good pruning of your valuable trees.

Over pruning to palm trees is as “topping” is to canopy trees. Palm fronds should be removed only when they die (chlorotic or are brown). Green fronds should never be trimmed off or removed. Palms are amazingly strong during tropical storms. They will need all the green fronds in the aftermath to produce nutrients to survive. “Hurricane cuts” – trimming all fronds but two or three top ones around the “bud” is unsightly, creates stress and weakens the palm during a storm. Prior to a storm, the dead fronds, fruits and flowers should be removed but leave the green fronds on the palm for survival!

When a storm occurs with strong winds, it can leave trees looking more damaged than they really are. Major limbs may be broken or damaged, leaves can be stripped and bark may be gouged or torn. Just don’t remove the tree – close assessments and repairs can and should be made to save the tree. Prune properly broken and damaged limbs, leaving all undamaged branches. Time is on the tree’s side. After careful pruning, give the tree time to recover. If bark has been gouged by debris or torn by damaged branches, use a chisel or sharp knife to smooth the ragged edges of the wounds of the bark without exposing any more of the inner bark (cambium) than necessary. This will improve the tree’s appearance, quicken the bark’s healing process and eliminate hiding places for insects and diseases. For large or multiple trees, call an arborist for trimming and debris removal after a storm. They have the expertise and all the right equipment to assess the damage and provide tree “first aid” after a storm.

“It is a marvel that trees should live to become the oldest living things. Fastened in one place, their struggle is incessant and severe. From the instant a tree casts its tiny shadow on the ground…it is in danger.”

– Enos A. Mills, Naturalist, c. 1910

For more information on arborist standards, proper pruning and other tree information, go to http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning.shtml

For more information on local locations to see wildlife, or interest in volunteering, please contact Nancy Richie, Environmental Specialist, City of Marco Island, at 239-389-5003 or nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com

I saw the writing on the wall a couple of years back. The result of the rising costs of precious metals caused many jewelry manufacturers to “re-tool” so to say. When I say re-tool I mean they will have to stop making what used to be great quality gold jewelry and produce it much lighter thus sacrificing the feel and wearability.

Back in 2005 gold was around $450 an ounce for pure 24 karat gold. 18 karat gold jewelry is 75% pure gold and 25% other metals such as brass copper and silver. 14 karat gold jewelry is only 58% pure gold.

That said; in 2005 a man’s solid gold 24”long heavy link chain would cost around $270. Today that exact same chain costs over $1500. Worse than the price is the fact that the new chain won’t be comparable to the beautiful heavy chain purchased in 2005. Some factories have figured out how to make chains cheaper and lighter by making them so hollow even the catch will be so lightweight it will cease to function as a clasp in less than a year.

I encountered a pair of broken gold hoop earrings in my shop that were only recently purchased in the Caribbean islands. When I proceeded to re-solder the detached post it vanished like a snowflake in July.

To my amazement the posts were of a lightweight hollow construction. Just for kicks and laughter I placed the earrings on the gold scale to weigh them. The pair weighed less than ½ gram!!

For those of you clueless on how gold is weighed it is usually by the gram. 31.1 grams = 1 ounce. Most normal earring backs alone weigh more than those new earrings combined. I didn’t have a single earring in my shop that weighed less than a gram and a half. I’m talking one earring here!

The quality (or lack thereof) of these earrings reminded me of the car I saw in Europe manufactured in the Soviet Union during the late 1950s, “the Trabant.” It possessed a smoky, clunky two stroke engine with a sketchy four speed transmission. Best of all the fenders were made of compressed cardboard coated with plastic. It is still considered one of the worse cars ever manufactured. It gets better, to purchase one required being on a ten year waiting list. The only other car choice available was unaffordable to the average Russian.

These have to be the worst earrings ever manufactured.

In all these many years as a goldsmith I rarely said no to a repair challenge. In the past I would let the customer know the odds of success or failure on a seemingly impossible project. I can proudly say most projects that I gave a 20% or less chance of repairing without incident wound up successful. I did these nail biting jobs only at the customer’s risk.

Today I have newly purchased (elsewhere) jewelry coming in broken at alarming amounts. I won’t even write up a job envelope let alone consider fixing it when the odds of success are in the low single digits, and even if by some miracle I can complete the repair, it will not remain that way very long. My advice; return it where purchased, if possible get something better.

I understand more than anyone how the cost of better made jewelry is beyond what most people can afford. In this business I buy gold jewelry on a daily basis. I write checks for thousands of dollars for what used to cost hundreds for the best quality merchandise that most folks in these present times cannot justify buying.

While writing this column in my office I overheard a gentleman lamenting to my sales associate that he would really like to purchase the $2000 diamond eternity ring for their anniversary but was more worried that his wife would chastise him for the expensive purchase, rather than appreciate the well considered gift. He purchased something less expensive. Welcome to my world! Nevertheless, I would rather close up shop before I fill my store with “cracker jack” quality gold jewelry that now seems the norm worldwide.

Top end fine jewelry has always been expensive, especially the jewelry enclosed in a pretty light blue box, from a store whose name begins with a capital “T” and ends with a y.

Substandard jewelry has always been around but even that was repairable. Hand crafted jewelry is rarely hollow and tends to be even overly heavy. That’s one of the fine points of having your jewelry custom made to your specification. Sure it’s expensive, but that piece of jewelry will last longer than the owner will and rarely will need to be repaired. My advice, save your money and invest in better quality jewelry.

About The Author

Richard Alan is a designer/goldsmith and owner of the Harbor Goldsmith at Island Plaza and welcomes your questions about all that glitters. Contact him at 239-394-9275 or harborgoldsmith@comcast.net

Over the years I’ve heard & read copious tips on what qualifies as essential characteristics to the artful life: you must commit yourself to being a lifelong student; you must be willing to embrace truth at all times; your first obligation needs always be to satisfy yourself; you must be willing to disregard recompense. Yes, these shards of advice range from the poetic to pure poppycock.

I agree that a life well learned is a life well lived, and while I approve of honesty, too much of it can certainly suck dry the marrow of creativity. Self-satisfaction is wonderful, but don’t we all owe something to those we reach out to? If not, then we risk shoving empathy out the door and inviting cruelty to stay for dinner. And to reject recompense denies you the possibility of earning a living at what you most love to do.

Recently I was musing on what I would put at the top of my list; I’ve written to you about love, about patience, about originality and courage…all absolutely necessary. But the top of the list? That’s going to have to go to humor. And I’ll add to that a good dose of humility (I tried to find an etymological connection between humble & humor but without any viable success.) I know “humble” isn’t the first word that comes to mind when thinking of artists, but bear with me.

The sort of humor I’m thinking of is having what it takes to laugh at yourself. When you choose to step out of the norm, to live an original life, to define yourself (instead of pawning the job onto others) you become instantly aware that there is no rule-book that you’ll be making stuff up as you go along. Less than satisfying results are a guaranteed part of the learning process. So is criticism, and much of that will be from people who don’t know what they’re talking about (since they don’t know what you’re trying to achieve.) If you can laugh off both of these goblins you are way ahead of the game.

The sort of humility I’m thinking of is having what it takes to not be frozen to inaction by the possibility of imperfection…or should I say the probability. One of my least favorite pieces of advice is you only get one chance to make a first impression. So many people interpret that as having only one shot to make a good impression that they make no attempt to impress at all.

From time to time my mind revisits my very first outdoor art show twenty-odd years ago when, armed with no useful knowledge, I had a green & white striped plastic canopy. At first I didn’t know how silly I looked I was so busy presenting my work to those who dared to enter what I came to see as my “circus booth.” I also remember presenting works to galleries wrapped in dry-cleaner bags. I was a typical broke artist trying desperately to cut corners. Goodness gracious, how foolish I was, but also how determined.

So what if my initial presentations were foolish? My art wasn’t. When my mind takes these field trips I just laugh and laugh. For one thing, I sold my very first painting to a total stranger from that circus booth (and then went out and bought a more suitable display.) For another, I was dismissed inelegantly from many a gallery until one owner kindly suggested I remove the dry cleaner bags and use something that “would better show off the beauty of the work.” She thought the work was beautiful. So I discovered archival clear bags and she represented me. Still does. She has a great sense of humor.

So, if you have a song to sing, a dance to dance, or a book to write, throw it out there. If it comes back to slap you in the face, fix it and throw it right back. Make that presentation, step into that spotlight, paint your house purple. Because next time will be better.

We’re all familiar with the expression someday you’ll look back on this and laugh, I say if that’s true, then why wait?

About The Author

Tara O’Neill, a lifelong, award-winning, artist has been an area resident since 1967. She holds degrees in Fine Arts and English from the University of South Florida and is currently represented by Blue Mangrove Gallery on Marco Island. Visit her at www.taraogallery.com.

Royal Ponicana flowers. Photos By Mike Malloy

When these three trees are blooming in South Florida, spring has officially arrived. Take a drive through some of the more mature, tree-lined neighborhoods around Naples, and you’ll find prime examples of these magnificent trees.

The first is the Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia), also known as the Flamboyant Tree from Madagascar. I think it is the showiest tree we have here in Naples. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll agree. The Royal Poinciana is fast growing and will quickly reach 40-feet tall and 40-feet wide. During spring and summer it is covered with clusters of neon-colored bright red to orange flowers and lacy, fern-like foliage. As a specimen tree in the garden, the Royal Poinciana has no match. As a landscape tree, it provides always-welcome shade during hot summer afternoons.

Jacaranda flowers.

The Royal Poinciana will acclimate to most soil conditions and requires very little care once established. Because of its large spreading surface roots, do not plant near pavers or walkways. Interestingly, some people consider the exposed roots an art form. If properly pruned, the Royal Poinciana can withstand high winds. In fact, severe prunings will probably be necessary in order to maintain a manageable height. It can be planted in large containers, but make sure the soil is kept rich and wet. Peltophorum pterocarpum is commonly known as the yellow form of Poinciana, having similar characteristics to the orange Poinciana.

During the winter months the Royal Poinciana is deciduous and produces large brown woody seed pods, which will wreak havoc on your lawn mower if you run over one by accident. A winter clean up of debris will be necessary, as the Royal Poinciana heavily sheds its leaves and pods. Take my word for it, the winter clean-up is well worth the sensational spring and summer show.

Jacaranda tree.

The Jacaranda tree is the second highly anticipated spring bloomer here in South Florida. It features feathery foliage and clusters of cascading bell-shaped lavender flowers that grow 14 inches long and 10 inches wide. The breathtaking Jacaranda tree grows about 20-feet tall and provides lovely dappled shade. It will make a beautiful specimen tree in medium to large yards. Jacarandas are considered messy by some, because of the blanket of purple flowers after blooming. However, I think it looks like purple snow. The leaves will eventually fill out the branches after the flowers fall. The Jacaranda and Royal Poinciana require very similar care. They are both drought-tolerant, adapt to almost any soil conditions, and can tolerate severe pruning.

Golden chain tree flowers.

The last of our spring bloomers is the Golden Chain tree (laburnum). A larvae food plant for several species of butterflies. It has gorgeous pendulous yellow flowers that densely grow 10 to 20 inches long, with trifoliate or clover-like leaves. A huge yard is not necessary for a Golden Chain, as it will only grow to about 20-feet tall. In order to keep it strong and healthy, trim off dead branches, seed pods and small limbs. Pruning after blooming will also encourage next year’s flower production. You’ll have to be very patient with your Golden Chain tree, because you may have to wait up to seven years for it to bloom. In fact, it will never bloom as a container plant. The good news is that Golden Chain trees are rarely bothered by damaging pests. The bad news is that all parts of this tree are poisonous and can be lethal if ingested.

If you want cooling shade in your Florida garden this summer and you have plenty of room, you can’t go wrong with one of these three super bloomers. Even when not in bloom, these trees are real traffic stoppers.

About The Author

Mike Malloy, local author and artist known as “The Butterfly Man” has been a Naples resident since 1991. A Collier County Master Gardener, he has written two books entitled “Butterfly Gardening Made Easy for Southwest Florida,” and “Tropical Color – A Guide to Colorful Plants for the Southwest Florida Garden”, and currently writes articles on various gardening topics for several local publications. Mike has planted and designed numerous butterfly gardens around Naples including many schools, the City of Naples, Rookery Bay, the Conservancy and Big Cypress. Bring your gardening questions to the Third Street Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings or on Thursdays at the Naples Botanical Garden where he does a Plant Clinic or visit his website, www.naplesbutterfly.com

Hello Marco Island!

Baby and I are going strong! As of me penning this article, we have fifteen days left until our “guess” date! Can you believe how quickly the time has flown? I simply cannot! There are still so many loose ends to tie up!

Here’s a brief update: baby is in the perfect position for birth, our blood pressure continues to rock, and I only gained one pound. I spent the weekend celebrating at our beautiful baby shower thrown by one of my dear friends/client who has been with us almost seven years. She did a fantastic job! Thank you, Liz!! We will always remember and treasure that special day. She did a cowboy/Spanish theme to celebrate my Texas roots and my husband’s Colombian heritage. We had lots and lots of food, desserts, and fun! We got some beautiful gifts that we will cherish forever. Thank you to all who attended the shower and to all who still took the time to bring our baby boy some precious gifts ahead of time, knowing that you would be traveling, or up north at the time. We truly feel like our clients are our family—we are unbelievably blessed in so many ways and we want to say THANK YOU!!!! We love you ALL so much!

We also went dresser/changing table hunting and picked up some items for the “birth” day; my birthing center provided me with a check list, so I am working on having that bag packed ahead of time! Amidst purchasing last minute necessities, finding a pediatrician, and making baby appointments, we are also doing some research ahead of time on other baby matters, deciding between cloth or disposable diapers, doing a birth prep session, hiring a doula, and finding time to take prenatal pictures. Oh and run a business. There is a gigantic list of other things we are also doing, but you get the picture. How do you people do this?! I am in awe of you fantastic multi-taskers!

As time ticks down to the Big Exciting Day, I realize how important it is to keep exercising. Whether I feel like it or not I get in my daily workout Monday through Friday (and sometimes Saturday). I make sure to get my weight training, cardio, and stretching in. I would be walking too, but it has been raining every day, so I get stuff knocked off my to-do list instead.

My question to you summer sons and sisters out there: are you keeping up with your workouts? If a full-term pregnant woman can do it five to six times per week, you can definitely find the time (and energy) to do it at least twice a week. If you’re not a morning person, make it a priority to do it in the evening (after you’ve eaten of course—never on an empty stomach) preferably a couple of hours before bedtime so that you aren’t revved up when it’s time to wind down. If you are too exhausted by the end of the day, sacrifice that snooze button and get out of bed before your brain realizes what you are doing and squeeze it in. It can be walking, running, swimming, weights, yoga, etc. Whatever it takes to motivate you right now. Eventually you will have to change it up to keep getting results, but start off slowly and progress from there. If you work from seven to seven (or later) every day, utilize part of your lunch break. If you have a half hour, bring your lunch and spend the rest of the time taking a brisk walk or do a mini workout at a nearby park. One of my clients takes periodic breaks at work from being at her desk and climbs the stairs for 5-10 minutes at a time. Over the course of a day, this adds up big time. The possibilities are endless! The key is to do something every single day; the goal is to make it challenging so that your body will reap the most benefits.

If you need motivation, email me at Crystal@PinkIslandFitness.com

Crystal Manjarres is the owner of One-On-One Fitness, a private personal training and Pilates studio for men and women on Marco Island. She is a Certified Personal Trainer, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Colon Hydrotherapist and Stott Pilates certified instructor. Her focus is “Empowering men and women of all shapes and sizes”. To send in a question, email Crystal@PinkIslandFitness.com She can also be reached at www.101FIT.com or www.PinkIslandFitness.com and 239-333-5771.

Generally speaking, we keep to a theme here at music notes. The subject of music has such a vast plethora of information that staying on topic is simple.

“But it’s all right now I learned my lesson well, you see you can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.”

-Ricky Nelson’s “Garden Party”

In this tweak’s edition, we will be venturing off course, dabbling in the wild and often controversial subject of UFOs.

UFO-any apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable as a known object or phenomenon by visual observation and/or use of associated instrumentation.

It all started like any other normal evening in Naples, Florida. A beautiful sunset had gone down over the Gulf of Mexico; the cool Gulf breeze eased across the beach. Then everything changed for local entertainer, Jorey Ortiz.

According to him, he saw four bright orange lights hovering over the water. Jorey, who has been living and entertaining in the Marco Island area for over 15 years, described what he saw as being 50 feet above the ocean, with no reflection, and no sound; no strings attached.

When he told his family and friends they thought he was crazy, drunk, or on drugs. That was when he decided to turn to his musical background, and he began writing an album all about his and other people’s experiences with UFO’s. He teamed up with an old songwriting buddy of his, Don Barber, and began work on a project of 19 songs that would be completed in record time and titled “Salamander Slim-UFO’s.” The response to Jorey’s album was so strong that he decided to start working on a radio show on the same topic. It would be a chance for him to talk about his chance sighting on the beach, hear other people’s experiences and also to showcase local entertainment.

The new show, called “Drumbeats & UFO’s,” hosted by Jorey Ortiz airs on Saturdays and Wednesdays on 98.1FM The Island. He will feature various guests, from local entertainers and personalities, to people who have seen things that they could not explain. A hotline will be available for reports and questions.

Of course a radio show cannot be run by one man alone, so it’s a good thing that Jorey has some friends in the business.

First off, the radio station that broadcasts “Drumbeats & UFO’s” is 98.1 The Island, owned and operated by Bob Ladd, who also acts as the shows engineer and editor. The normal operation of the station is Top 40 to golden oldies, but we’re glad they fudged a little on the format to squeeze in some excitement, UFO style! The show will not only be played on the radio, but can be viewed as a webcast and a DVD of the show is in the works, including video of the tapings and extra unseen footage.

Peter Berec, a photographer, videographer and producer will be heading up the DVD production. He also runs Marco Island Photography (marcoislandportraits.com).

Jorey also brought to my attention his songwriting partner, who helped put together the ideas into the structure of a song, then to a full length CD of original music. Don Barber and Jorey have put their talents together on over 350 songs, including Christmas songs, love songs and any other subject you might think to write a song about…The’ve written it!

The show would not be possible without the help and support of Jorey’s family, mostly made up of entertainers and musicians. He credits Steve Ortiz, his father, for getting him interested in music as well as helping him develop his skills. A well known regional entertainer, Barefoot Geno, is Jorey’s brother, and acts as a consultant for the show, as well as providing additional music. Jorey wanted to make sure that we included his nieces in the story. “Melody, Summer and Zoe have been a huge inspiration to my work for years,” he states, recalling walking them around for exercise, while penning lyrics to countless songs.

Be sure to catch “Drumbeats & UFO’s” on 98.1 The Island, Wednesdays at 5:30 PM, and Saturdays at 9 AM. You can also catch Jorey’s live performances at Stilts Restaurant at the Crystal Shores on Thursdays at Sunset.

For more info on Jorey, the radio show, or UFO’s, visit www.Jorey.org.

About The Author

Nate Augustus is a native “Florida cracker” and a singer/songwriter from the Marco/Naples area. His band, “Gator Nate & The Gladezmen” and his “One-Man-Band” can be seen at many local venues. He has released multiple albums on his record label “SwampSong”. For more info on Nate and his musical doings, go to www.Gladezmen.com or facebook.com/NateAugustus His latest CD “Gator Nate Augustus-Only Child Family Band” is available on CDBaby and Itunes.

by Harlan Coben
Dutton 2013

Jake Fisher, the protagonist, is a political science professor at a small liberal arts college on the east coast which also happens to be his alma mater. When we meet him, he is a mope, sitting in the back of the church at the wedding of the woman he loves, Natalie, to Todd, a former lover of hers whom she purportedly just reconnected with, torturing himself and wallowing in the soured course of human events. You can’t miss him – he’s the one carrying the huge torch. She seeks him out after the ceremony and exacts a promise from him that he will “Leave us alone.” He assumes “us” means Todd and Natalie but we learn along with Jake that “us” involves many more than two people.

For the next six years he honors this promise until he reads alumnus Todd’s obituary on the campus website. He then reverts to mope mode and attends the funeral, but does not recognize anyone. Todd’s widow is named Delia and considerably older than Natalie plus there are two children much older than six years. Natalie is literally nowhere in sight. Everyone claims to not know where she is.

Thus Coben sets the stage for this incredibly absorbing story. Many cliches come to mind – page turner, plot twists, etc. None of them do justice to this book. The entire storyline is serpentine. As quickly as you think you have it all straight, another character is introduced or a new facet of a known character is revealed and the story pulses on. Jake is beaten up, nearly killed, placed on leave from his job, but refuses to give up. Along the way he discovers nothing is as he thought and no one is who he thought they were.

Six Years is truly worthy of the term “thriller.” It was not only fun to read but the intelligent dialogue and winding plot kept my mind engaged throughout. The ending was not at all what I expected, but Coben inserted a last little twist lest the reader lapse into complacency. It was a pleasurable way to spend an afternoon and I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed in this book.

About The Author

Maggie Gust is a life-long avid reader whose career path has included working as a teacher and in various positions in the health care field. A native of Illinois, she has lived in Florida since 1993 and presently works from her home here on Marco Island. e-mail: winetaster13@gmail.com