Coastal Breeze News

The Guadalupe Center of Immokalee seeks businesses and individuals for underwriting and donations for its annual Holiday Gift Shop, which provides toys, gifts and clothing for more than 800 Immokalee children. Recipient families are chosen based on financial need. The typical family of four typically lives on less than $14,000 per year. Guadalupe Center President Barbara Oppenheim said that in addition to toys, gifts and clothing, corporate underwriters are needed to sponsor one night each of the five-day Holiday Gift Shop. The underwriter contributes $2,000 and provides volunteers on their designated night. “Wells Fargo has pledged to continue its “Wells Fargo ... Read More »

After just one week, more than 500 people have signed a call to action in support of a law that would ban texting while driving in Florida. “We will build on this momentum,” Sheriff Rambosk said. “People tell me daily that they want to see a law like this, so I know the support is out there.” The Collier County Sheriff’s Office kicked off the “Stop Texting & Driving” campaign Nov. 28. As of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, 522 people had signed the online document. Sheriff Rambosk will deliver the results to the Collier County Legislative Delegation and also present them ... Read More »

The construction project currently under way along North Collier Blvd. is the City’s North Collier Blvd Phase 4 Drainage Project. This work is to install underground conduit and piping systems along Collier Blvd. between Barfield and Buttonwood. These new drainage system pipes will connect to a newly installed outfall located on Fairlawn Ct. In conjunction with the drainage pipe installations several water and sewer line deflections have also been constructed. The City will also be crossing Collier Blvd. at two locations to install large diameter connection pipes and outfalls. This work will be completed during night time operations in the ... Read More »

Post Offices in Naples, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres and Punta Gorda are offering extended holiday hours of operation on Saturdays and Sundays. The extended hours will be effective through Sunday, December 16. Postmasters are hoping that customers will take advantage of mailing on the weekends!  Postal customers who take advantage of this opportunity will avoid the heavy traffic on Mondays! Naples Main Post Office and Coco River Post Office will staff the Self Service Shipping & Mailing Centers on Saturdays from 2-4 pm and Sundays from Noon – 4 pm. For complete addresses of these locations visit usps.com/cheer or call ... Read More »

Because of your generosity and commitment to The Marco Island Historical Society we have our World Class Museum and Rose History Auditorium. Now it is time to plan for our future. MIHS established an Endowment Fund which will consist of gifts and donations from people just like you. In accordance with the Investment Policy Statement approved by your Board of Directors, donations will support exhibits, as well as historical and educational programs. Our Investment Policy Statement outlines parameters on spending policies to assure donors that funds are set aside to meet our long-term goals and needs. As the holiday season ... Read More »

The City Attorney for Marco Island, Mr. Burt Saunders, has informed me that the ethics complaint filed against me by Mr. Larry Sacher has been dismissed for lack of legal sufficiency.  I have appended the formal opinion from the State of Florida for your information and review. When the complaint was filed I refrained from public comment due to the ongoing nature of the proceedings.  Now that the State has found no legal basis for the allegations by Mr. Sacher that I misused my public position to endorse a group of candidates for election to the Marco Island City Council ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] British Petroleum was recently found guilty by the U.S. Supreme Court on 11 felony counts of misconduct or neglect pertaining to the Deepwater Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Over the next six years, BP is expected to pay an additional $4.5 billion dollars, on top of what the company has already paid towards the massive oil spill disaster. The British oil giant seems to be wasting no time doling out the federally mandated money; on November 7, Marco Island, Naples and Collier County were awarded grants totaling $1,313,650. The three government entities ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Vital input and citizen perspective often come to city managers via the nine committees that advise, and sometimes help create policy. The Planning Board, for example, makes key recommendations on growth and development, and was tasked alongside the Waterways Advisory Committee to develop a workable solution on seawall construction standards. Post-election, the city is seeking 56 volunteers for all nine committees, all of which will be completely re-sat, with the exception of the Code Board, at the January 7th city council meeting. “We are encouraging the residents at large to apply,” says Nancy Richie, the city staffer ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  It was late summer and the natives were getting restless. The slow, humid days dragged on and the mosquitoes – while not as bad as usual – pestered in the ears of us as we sat in front of our a.c. units to keep cool. We needed something fresh. We needed something new. And we were in the mood to get creative. Because we’re artists; all of us in one medium or another. And so it came to be, that on October 7, 2012, 12 artists from Goodland came together under the pavilion at MarGood Park ... Read More »

City of Marco Island  Marco Island has six miles of spectacular beaches, including a three-and-a-half mile crescent beach. From Tigertail Beach with its abundance of native flora and fauna, to South Beach, where a variety of beach experiences and activities are available, Marco Island offers a unique and fantastic beach experience to all of its visitors and residents. Tigertail Beach  Tigertail Beach, part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, is operated by the Collier County Parks and Recreation Department and hosts 60 species of migrating and resident coastal birds. The widest beach in Collier County opens up south of Tigertail ... Read More »

COASTAL COMMENTS Donna Fiala [email protected] Hopefully everyone reading this column had a truly Happy Thanksgiving! Our family had so many things to be thankful for, which we prayed about at our Thanksgiving feast. I love it when families gather together around the Thanksgiving table (rule – NO cell phones or texting) and share in each other’s lives. Lely High School is paramount in my thoughts at this time because of some outstanding achievements received recently, plus some new activity in the sports department. A new man, Stacey Stewart, has been hired to be the Football Coach at Lely High School. ... Read More »

By Monte Lazarus [email protected] Is it my imagination, or are holiday times accelerating? I believe I just received my first Christmas catalog – for 2014 that is. This year (I think this year is 2012, although it’s disappearing rapidly) Halloween began at the Fourth of July; Christmas began before Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving seemingly disappeared, only to reemerge this week. The deluge of catalogs doesn’t help. From Hammacher-Schlemmer to LLBean nary a day goes by without a clogged mailbox. We’ve been overwhelmed by offers for oranges, solar toys, stray dogs and cats, clothing for women, men, kids, pets and stuffed animals. ... Read More »

By Craig Woodward  [email protected]  On Wednesday, November 14, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, a church which first opened 46 years earlier in November of 1966, many old timers came together to celebrate the life of a Modern Marco pioneer – Helen Tateo. She and her husband, Vince, moved to Marco Island in August of 1966, just a little over a year and a half after the official grand opening of the Island on January 31, 1965. They had first visited in February of 1966 and within eight months moved here permanently, bringing with them their three young sons: Paul, age ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Working actors don’t get free designer gowns. They hear ‘no’ more often than they land a part. They don’t have layers of hired handlers, to steer them away from the unscripted side of their personalities. One of these actors, Sean Ringgold isn’t just climbing the fame ladder. He is putting his all into making a difference in his old neighborhood. He came to Marco to take part in Soapfest, where he vividly described the harsh reality of what poor neighborhoods experience when a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy hits. The negative impacts that unfold for months, and ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  CEO of Physician’s Regional Collier campus, Scott Campbell, is excited about the heathcare system’s introductory foray into the Marco medical market. Campbell expects the new medical center coming to the Shops of Marco to be on track for a mid- to – late January opening. “We continue planning and development for the opening- placement of physicians for the walk-in component,” says Campbell. The 8,200 square foot facility will house a walk-in clinic open 12 hours per day, seven days per week. It will also provide full-time primary care physicians and specialists on rotation, as well ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  For more than 40 years, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 95 has been offering boating education programs on Marco Island. Its mission is simple: “contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, and waterways.” It’s motto is direct: Semper Paratus – Always Ready. Through its education programs, Flotilla 95 is ensuring that all local boaters are informed and prepared. Recently wrapping its first round of courses, Flotilla 95 has set its eyes on the New Year as it prepares for the 2013. Below is a list of classes and their descriptions. Sign ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The Meals of Hope exceeded each goal set by event chairman, local attorney Neil Snyder; better known to his committee members as “Captain Hope.” The Captain and his “Hope Warriors” challenged the Sunrise Rotary Club, Noontime Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club, as well as schools, churches and organizations on the island. Then, they watched magic happen! The Meals of Hope takes dry ingredients, along with a mixture of protein and vitamins and packages them together. “There are rice meals and a macaroni and cheese meal. Each meal will feed six people.” According to Steve Popper, ... Read More »

Submitted “The sound of flutes and bells together is exquisite,” said Pinky Larson, director of Wesley United Methodist Church’s Wesley Ringers. The Wesley Ringers will join the seven member flute virtuoso group Flute Cocktail and the Marco Presbyterian Church’s Praise Bells at the 6:00 PM, December 2 Christmas Concert hosted by Marco Presbyterian Church, 875 West Elkcam Circle, Marco Island. The concert is free. A love offering will be received. Flute Cocktail consists of seven flute players comprised of professional and amateur flutists dedicated to the art of good music and fun. The group was organized by director, Wendy Willis ... Read More »

Submitted First, it was Thanksgiving Day. All the wonderful foods, desserts and the tradition of watching football consumed us over the holiday weekend. Then we would found islanders scurrying around to merchants on the island and over the bridge, in search of that elusive great deal on Black Friday, as the unofficial first day of holiday shopping season began. For many Marco Islanders and their youngsters, it was Friday night at the Shops of Marco that would have them focusing on the aerial delivery of Santa for his first official visit to Marco Island this year, kicking off the 2012 ... Read More »

By Calusa Garden Club On Monday, November 12, the Calusa Garden Club of Marco Island held their regular meeting in Fellowship Hall of Wesley United Methodist Church. Among the environmental issues discussed was the Junior Gardeners Program at Tommie Barfield Elementary School where a hands-on recycling program was presented at the last Junior Gardeners meeting. Linda Turner reported on the Island’s nesting Eagles. Sue Oldershaw described the new Garden Therapy program recently implemented at Sanitasole, 218 South Barfield. Sanitasole residents helped design fresh and artificial fall table decorations for their dining room. The next several Garden Therapy programs will involve ... Read More »