Coastal Breeze News

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 »

What could be more fun than eating hot dogs and hamburgers, listening to music and playing games with neighbors and friends on a beautiful day? The Goodland Civic Association Board of Directors decided absolutely nothing could be more fun for us Goodlanders than to have a “Spring Fling” – complete with all of the above. In other words, we wanted to have a FREE Islander Appreciation Day for residents of Goodland. We wanted everyone to come out, take it slow or shake things up, and just get to know their neighbors a little better. Why not? Consequently, with the help ... Read More »

The Marco Island Historical Museum is thrilled to host South Florida: A Villager’s View, oil paintings from Tara O’Neill on display from April 3, 2013 to June 27, 2013. The opening wine and cheese reception, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Thursday April 4, 2013 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Marco Island Historical Museum. Live entertainment provided by J-Robert. The tiny island of Goodland, Florida, has been a special source of inspiration for local award-winning oil-painter Tara O’Neill for many years. Born the ninth of ten robust children to an Irish ... Read More »

So…. I was going to write all about the Goodland Art Alliance’s Inaugural Harbor Arts and Music Festival held on March 10th. But then I found out that the GAA’s President and Coastal Breeze Artful Life Columnist, Tara O’Neill had it in mind for her column. Fine, Tara, it’s all yours. Besides, my fingers are tired and blistered from typing and photos are much more fun anyway. A special thanks to photographer Celeste Navara. Her pictures tell the story of what was truly a beautiful day of art and music, to – literally – say the very least.   Read More »

On Sunday, March 10th, MarGood Harbor Park in Goodland will be transformed for the Inaugural Harbor Arts & Music Festival. The host of the festival, which features 25 fine artist, six fabulous music acts and three delicious food vendors, is the Goodland Arts Alliance. What began as a bubble over the heads of 12 artists and lovers of art in Goodland only six months ago has become a reality in the form of the Harbor Arts & Music Festival. Proceeds from the festival will go towards preserving the arts in Goodland along with preserving the four historic cottages in the ... Read More »

Goodland’s Community Center on Mango Avenue used to be home to our Volunteer Fire Department and before that, who knows? It sits on land once occupied by Calusa Indians who were known as shell collectors and fierce warriors. And that’s a fact! These Calusas were fishermen who lived on the waterways of Southwest Florida for years. They died out in the late 1700 hundreds due to disease brought by the Europeans and invading enemy tribes. Incidentally, the Spanish explorers found these Indians to be very unfriendly and I think we would have too! Just look at one of their ceremonial ... Read More »

On Saturday, February 16th, fourteen boats (including the one that I was on) braved high winds and brisk weather to participate in the 17th Annual Goodland Mardi Gras Boat Parade, where all proceeds from the day go to Hospice. This year’s theme was Broadway Musicals and none was more represented than the musical, “Hair,” with three boats entering as such. Other appearances were “The Book of Mormon,” “South Pacific,” The Lion King,” “Cats,” “Mary Poppins,” and “Evita,” to name as many as I can remember. After all, I was on one of the “Hair” boats. Get it? The popular yearly ... Read More »

The Friends of Collier-Seminole State Park put on a fabulous festival the weekend of February 9 and 10. The Sixth Annual Jammin’ in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival featured music of the aforementioned genre from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. Visitors brought blankets and chairs and filled the covered seating areas to be entertained by the plucking, picking and strumming of instruments such as banjos, mandolins, fiddles, the stand up bass and guitars. The main fundraiser for the state park also brought a number of arts and crafts vendors and non-profit groups to the forefront. The Friends of the Florida Panther, ... Read More »

There are two non-profit organizations in Goodland that have been working towards bettering our small but mighty village. The Goodland Civic Association and the Goodland Arts Alliance not only take on specific community-related projects individually, but also recently collaborated on a project to repaint the hand-carved sign that greets visitors as they pull onto the curvy road from SR-92. The Goodland Arts Alliance is in its fledgling year, developed over the summer by 12 Goodlanders who wanted to shed more light on the multitude of artists, musicians and historians who call the .6 square mile island home. The GAA mission ... Read More »

By Donna Fiala On January 29th there was dedication ceremony to rename the Goodland Bridge to the Stan Gober Memorial Bridge. I don’t remember a more moving dedication in the years I have been doing this, nor one that had more people in attendance. There must have been at least 100 people under that tent while Stan’s favorite rendition of the National Anthem opened the ceremony. There were many tears and goose-pimples among the attendees. One of Stan’s band members played for us before and after. Stan’s portraits were looking out at the audience as though he were with us. ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] During the weekend of the Mullet Festival, the Goodland Civic Association (GCA) hosted a two-day Pancake Breakfast to fill up patrons’ stomachs before the big festivities. Members of the GCA host two pancake breakfasts a year. This year, they broke their own record with a whopping 420 guests between the two days. There must be something in the pancakes! Stop by the Goodland Community Center on March 2nd and 3rd for a second helping of the season. Read More »

By Joanie Fuller [email protected] Pioneers and adventurers always find the best kept secrets. And, lucky for us, one of those is smack dab in the middle of Goodland. Drop Anchor is a unique and sparkling waterfront community for those 55 and older, consisting of 62 manufactured homes with boat docks, a beautiful sunrise view to the East and a slew of interesting people. I have always wanted to learn more about the history of Drop Anchor and of the adventuresome types who reside there. Fortunately, I have become friends with a few of the seasonal residents and they offered to help ... Read More »

When I first moved to Florida, I met a woman named Louise. She lived in the condo I worked at on Marco Island; she was my first friend. Louise was 78 and lived alone. She complained about stomach pain and the next thing we knew, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Avow Hospice came to her condo and took care of her until she passed. They were a godsend. I miss Louise and think about her and smile every day. She was so much fun! I even took her to see the Chippendale Dancers at the Seminole Immokalee Casino – ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] On Saturday, February 9, The Knights of Columbus will have you laughing all night long as they host an evening of entertainment featuring comedian Tim Walkoe. Sign up for this one-day event and chuckle in the name of children’s charities supported by The Knights of Columbus. If you haven’t heard of Tim Walkoe, you may as well be living under a rock. The Grand Prize winner of ABC’s “America’s Funniest People” has been on HBO, Showtime, A&E, TNN, PBS and much more. A headliner of over 100 comedy clubs nationwide, including the Comedy Stop in Las ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder As part of the Ten Thousand Islands, the National Park Service aptly refers to this area as “a labyrinth of water and mangroves.” Add approximately 5,000 area boats out at any given time to enjoy this natural beauty, and it’s not a big surprise that Collier is one of the top ten counties in Florida for boating accidents, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The FWC adds that inexperience, inattention and speed were top causes of these accidents. “There are many reasons to understand safe boating around Marco Island,” points out Laura Carney of the ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder “Did you know that when you sell a house, you trigger a minimum of 18 other commercial transactions?” Debra Meredith-Peters is passionate about bringing home the point that her profession is a stronger engine for growth than it’s often given credit for in a post-real estate crash world. Peters is the broker/owner, who along with her partner, Rocky Farhat, purchased the Re/Max franchise on Marco after it was due to expire last fall. The partners also own Re/Max franchises in Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties and are excited to be extending their market share into Marco Island. ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff On Monday, January 14, the Calusa Garden Club held its monthly meeting at 1:00 PM in Fellowship Hall of Wesley United Methodist Church. An optional pre-meeting workshop,”All About Vines,” was conducted at 11 AM by Sue Oldershaw and Donna Kay. Donna listed a variety of vines, including pictures, that can be used in Southwest Florida. The business meeting included updates on environmental issues, Junior Gardeners at Tommie Barfield, the garden therapy program, “How Our Garden Grows,” at Sanitasole, upcoming field trips, and planning for the March 16 – 17 flower show. Dolly Tomalina presented a ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Saturday, January 12th, marked the start of The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2013 Python Challenge. The month long hunting competition aims to both educate the public and better understand the invasive Burmese python. Senator Bill Nelson joined the hunt alongside FWCC Commissioner Ron Bergeron on January 17th to bring awareness to the devastation of the Everglades caused by the constrictor snake. Before heading out on the hunt, Senator Nelson and Commissioner Bergeron addressed media alongside I-75 at the Mile Marker 41 Boat Ramp. Senator Nelson discussed the urgent need to control the ever-growing python ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder The littlest members of the community are lining up for repeated hand washing throughout their school day and local pharmacies are running out of the flu vaccine. As visitors from all over arrive for warm beaches, so does the seasonal germ influx. Wash your hands and cover your nose; flu season is alive and well on Marco. Dr. Joe Vickaryous practices family medicine at the Marco Island Medical Center. He observes, “This season on Marco has seen unusually high numbers of flu cases in our practice.” Vickaryous adds that his cases span all age ranges and the ... Read More »

by Fran Diebler I will be following s/v Moonbeam and her crew as they sail from Marco Island and through the Pacific Ocean to New Zealand completing a Pacific Circuit. Moonbeam is a 52’ Island Packet Cutter. There will be updates from time to time as they push forward to achieve their objective which is from Marco Island to New Zealand via the Panama Canal, visiting many South Pacific Islands along the way. A return trip to Marco by completing the circumnavigation is expected in the Spring of 2014. Ken Bardon, owner and skipper of the s/v Moonbeam, is a ... Read More »