Coastal Breeze News

By Craig Woodward So, have you been to Karina Island or Pelican Island? Even readers who are very familiar with the Marco Island area and the adjacent 10,000 Islands may ask “Where?” to that question. But even more amazing, for some local residents the answer is not only “Yes,” but that they currently live there. Many others have actually been there often without realizing it! We need to travel back in time 120 years to 1893 and take a peek at a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Nautical Chart of that era to help answer the question. First a little background ... Read More »

With a record-breaking 100 ‘Open’ entrants, the Hideaway Beach Club on Marco Island crowned champions in the following divisions: Men’s and Women’s 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 levels. We have recognized the winners, finalists and consolation winners in each category. For the second consecutive year, the rain interrupted our Sunday morning schedule but did not affect the awesome tennis displayed on court. There was stellar play throughout the weekend with outstanding performances in each division. Upsets were rampant in the men’s 4.0 category with newcomers Mike Piro (former University of Richmond soccer star) and talented Island Club assistant pro, Eric Sonnenberg ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Members of Hideaway Beach have a long history of backing the efforts of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, but this year, they raised the stakes, literally, with a Vegas-style fundraiser on January 27th. “In the past, we’ve done traditional golf outings with a silent/live auction and a dinner, but we wanted to do something different this year,” says event co-chair Debbie Shade. The committee researched casino-night fundraisers and found they had an excellent track record of raising money. The Hideaway Beach clubhouse was transformed into a casino game floor with card tables, horse racing ... Read More »

COASTAL COMMENTS Donna Fiala [email protected] Runways: Many things are happening around the County; some are quite controversial. I usually stay away from government talk, but today, through a little encouragement, I will write about what happened with the Marco and Immokalee Airport runway resurfacing and also about the Hideaway Beach/Collier Creek erosion control structures. Last year, the Airport Director, Chris Curry (who will be the speaker at the Marco Kiwanis Club on Thursday, Feb. 21st) advised the County Commission that the FDOT had determined that both airport runways were in “very poor” condition and would need resurfacing within the next ... Read More »

By Craig Woodward The former Coconut Island was a traditional place to raft up your boat, along with your friends’ boats, on a lazy Sunday afternoon and have a cookout on the beach while everyone swam and simply relaxed. It was a beautiful location – just north of the future Hideaway Beach, due east of Isles of Capri, situated in the mouth of the Marco River and the view to the west was of the Gulf of Mexico and the setting sun. Hurricane Donna created Coconut Island in 1960 when the south tip of Cannon Island was cut off; over ... Read More »

READ MY TIPS Doug Browne [email protected] Nothing was more apparent last week during the big tennis exhibition showdown at Hideaway Beach than when veteran Franco Mata continually made strategic changes to confuse his young opponent and dominate the second set. In particular, he altered his speeds and placements and thus disrupted his foe’s tempo. As we delve into future CTA/USTA league doubles matches, players must be ready to completely change their game plan if the first set goes awry. Clearly, one of my favorite doubles strategies is to change return of serve positions. Why? This radical modification is obvious to the ... Read More »

Donna Fiala [email protected] Happy New Year everyone! Let’s hope this year brings more peacefulness, progress, happiness and good health to us all. The Marco Chapter of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 95 held their “Change of Watch” ceremony on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at Hideaway Beach. The new Flotilla Commander is Arne Kelsey and the Vice Flotilla Commander is Skip Lee. I was honored to again be invited to view the ceremony and mingle with these distinguished servants to our community’s waterways. Not only do they hold search and rescues, as most would expect, but they monitor the weather, ... Read More »

READ MY TIPS Doug Browne [email protected] Mark down this date and time: Thursday, December 27, at 4 PM on centre court at the beautiful Hideaway Beach Club. Matt Browne’s opponent is the highly-acclaimed Port Royal Head tennis professional Franco Matta. Matta is the former number one collegiate star from Florida Gulf Coast University and Naples City singles champion who is a proud member of the 5.0 USTA champions from our area. Just a few months ago, Matta and his southwest Florida teammates competed in the Nationals and finished in second place. With Franco’s immense experience, he will be a heavy favorite ... Read More »

PROTECTING & PRESERVING  Nancy Richie  [email protected]  Did you attend the City’s Christmas Tree Lighting last weekend? Have you gone by Veterans’ Park to see this beautifully trimmed tree? If not yet, take a look and Merry Christmas! On our semi-tropical barrier island, there are predominantly three species of pine-like trees. None would make for a hearty Christmas tree, but all have a value in our community. So, put up your artificial tree or get one from a big tent; the pines on Marco Island are not your traditional Christmas trees. Southern Slash Pine  The Southern Slash Pine is a native tree ... 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 »

READ MY TIPS  Doug Browne  [email protected] In most cases, it has only been a brief five or ten minute warm up and it’s time to make a critical decision! Who is going to serve, receive, or are we going to leave the decision to our opponents? Oddly enough, far too many people over-think this decision and find it compelling to not make a decision; better yet, we will trick our foes and have them make the all-important verdict. Without a doubt, this has to be the most ridiculous idea in the game of tennis. Just like in life, avoiding resolutions is ... Read More »

READ MY TIPS  Doug Browne  [email protected] Each May in Collier County, clubs offer the most comprehensive reciprocal plan to everyone so members may experience different golf courses throughout the area. Numerous members from north Naples travel south to play golf at Fiddler’s Creek and Hideaway Beach. Interestingly enough, this great and expansive program has nothing to do with tennis; golf layouts are so unique and avid players are riveted to learn the different nuisances at each facility. Unfortunately this exciting reciprocal program does not include tennis, After all, a rectangle is a rectangle! Therefore it is essential for all tennis professionals ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  Baylor Rodman was on vacation recently with his family for his annual visit with his grandparents, Ed and Marianne Valvano. Baylor went out for a day of fishing and fun on the water with his father. They were off Coconut Island near Hideaway Beach when he caught something. As he reeled in the catch, passer-by’s were in awe of the catch, a 5-foot sawfish! They immediately took a photo and released the fish. “We knew the fish was rare, but didn’t know who to contact,” said Baylor’s father. Ed Valvano contacted Coastal Breeze New who ... Read More »

Several months ago I sent a Letter to the Editor of the Naples Daily News stating that East Naples and Marco Island did not have to endure carpetbagger representation on the Board of County Commissioners. District 1 has a wonderful, energetic and honest representative in Donna Fiala, and there is no need for someone from North Naples, supposedly moving into the District to support us. In a head to head confrontation, at the South Regional Library June 13th, between Donna Fiala and Steve Cosgrove it was apparent who knows the district better, and would make a far better representative than someone who would work for it ... Read More »

I attended the event staring Donna Fiala and Steve Cosgrove at the South Regional Library June 13th and all I can say is if Mr. Cosgrove believes in fiscal responsibility now is the time for him to withdraw from the race for County Commissioner. He is wasting his own money as well as Donna Fiala?s. Mr. Cosgrove seems to be a very nice person, but he is challenging the wrong person. The room of about 200-250 people was packed with Donna Fiala?s supporters and hardly a person appeared in support of him. Donna got all the applause at every turn, and the standing ovation, that Mr. ... Read More »

Donna Fiala [email protected] Ooooo, it’s really getting hot, humid and very buggy. It seems there are more mosquitoes than normal for this time of year. Oh well, it only lasts for a few months and then we have our marvelous weather for the rest of the year. Tim Pinter advised the county recently that the Interlocal Agreement between the County and the City of Marco Island concerning the public restroom and Erosion Control Structures for Hideaway Beach have received a Certificate of Substantial Completion. The Building Department still has final inspections, which are scheduled to be completed shortly, so if ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  A more honorable tribute to Memorial Day could not have been found for Frank Jerome, a 95 year old Navy veteran living on Marco Island. Frank is known to many as a guard at Hideaway Beach where he worked for over 20 years. A World War II Navy veteran and torpedo man, Frank awoke Saturday morning at 7:00 AM to a group of volunteers at his door. Many of those volunteers were veterans themselves. Their mission was clear; to help an elderly veteran with yard work which had, in this tropical climate, been too much ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom On Friday, April 27, Coastal Breeze received word that the first sea turtle nest had been marked for 2012. The nest was located along Hideaway Beach by Mary Nelson, Marco Island’s “Sea Turtle Lady.” The nest, itself, is roped off with yellow caution tape. The female turtle’s trail to the nest can be seen to the right of the photo. Female turtles take their time finding the perfect spot to nest. In this particular case, it is clear that this mother-to-be made quite the trek to find her perfect nesting location. This first nest marks a bit ... Read More »

By Carol Glassman New Marco City Council Chairman Larry Magel addressed a group of homeowners at Hideaway Beach, attempting to illustrate the true situation about water usage and costs, and kill negative, overblown rumors about increases, embellished for “political purposes.” When newly-elected City Council Chairman Larry Magel addressed homeowners at Hideaway Beach, he opened his remarks by promising to keep the avenues of communication open, thereby stopping the “misinformation” about the city being bandied about and “embellished for political purposes.” In order to do this, he is offering to speak to any community or civic group and to answer their ... Read More »

By Vincent Giannone  In its seventh annual run, Hideaway Beach hosted the much anticipated “Hideaway Chips Away at Cancer.” The event consisted of many different opportunities for members of the Hideaway Beach community to donate to the American Cancer Society. This year, the committee was hopeful for an even greater response from the community which raised over $120,000 in 2011. An amazing sum! Bill Dean, chairman of the “Hideaway Chips Away at Cancer” committee, was very happy with the turn out for the January 29th event, with 95 players for the Golf Tournament and 165 for the dinner and auction ... Read More »