Coastal Breeze News

By Julia Barnett Nestled in Marco Island’s Town Center Plaza, The Marco Players’ theater sits waiting to be filled for its next show; for laughter, for tears, for the next story to come alive inside its walls. Now in its 38th season, the Marco Players is a non-profit theater company that began putting on productions in hotels, churches and other borrowed locales. It eventually found the Town Center Plaza space and has made it home for the last thirteen years. The theater is run by a board of directors, all very hands-on in their involvement, whether it be financially or ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett When I was a child, my parents weren’t afraid to send me to school. In fact, they let me and my siblings walk to school and back by ourselves every day. We got to go to summer camp and daycare, without fear of being kidnapped or shot down. Because mass shootings weren’t an issue when I was a kid. The fact is that I’m still a kid. I’m 21 years old and it’s a sad state of the world that everything has changed so quickly. In 2012, there have been at least six mass shootings in the ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett  When the unexpected happens and disaster strikes, what do you do? What can you do, really, except gather your family, pick up the pieces, and find some help from a caring hand and a friendly face. The aftermath of the storm that struck the Northeast the week before Halloween, given the name ‘Sandy,’ involved such disaster and assistance. For some, the damage done to their homes and lives was relatively manageable. For others, the storm devastated their world. Rita Martin was in the latter group when the storm demolished her New York home. The daughter of former ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett  Nothing says Christmas to a child more than iconic Santa Claus. And every child knows that Santa loves milk, cookies, and cocoa. So when Mackle Park puts on their annual “Milk and Cookies with Santa” party, it isn’t very surprising the amount of kids smiling and excited to be there. Mackle Park has been hosting its Santa party for eight years, and always for free. This year, the party was on Saturday, December 8, and from the moment the doors opened at ten, families and children swarmed in to celebrate the season with Santa Claus. Some were ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett The story behind the Christmas Holiday is well-known and often acted out. God chose the Virgin Mary to carry his child, she and her husband Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census, and the Messiah was born in the stables. That is, of course, the short version. And every reproduction of this story is the same—until C. Barny and Carter Robinson changed it. A Christmas Musical entitled “The Bethlehem Project” was presented from December 6 to December 9, at the Rose History Auditorium, and this version of that beloved tale was something altogether fun, entertaining, and a ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett Among the various Veterans’ weekend events, the Saturday, November 10, gathering at Iberia Bank was an intimate and personal commemoration and recognition for the men and women who served our country and kept us free, centering on portraits painted with love and care by local artist Malenda Trick. The night included a private unveiling for the veterans and their families being featured in the portrait series, followed by a viewing open to the public. The private unveiling began with acknowledgments and thanks, followed by the “Pledge of Allegiance,” led by Bonnie Woodward, daughter of one of the ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett Saturday, September 8, twenty three volunteers gathered at the Pelican Bend Restaurant on Isles of Capri at 8 in the morning, smelling of sunscreen and loaded down with bottles of water, smiling despite the already stifling heat. These were the men and women who willingly gave up their Saturday morning to participate in the fourth annual Keeywaydin clean-up, picking up trash off the island’s beach. Waiting at the dock was the catamaran Calusa Spirit, ready to bring the volunteers to Keewaydin Island and back. Donated by Marco Island Water Sports for the morning, along with the time ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett  The City Planning Board met the morning of Friday, June 15th, to discuss two separate issues. One matter was put off for further discussion, and the other received the Planning Board’s recommendation for approval and submission to the city council. The first topic reintroduced during the meeting was a proposed “city-wide comprehensive parking plan.” This “plan” is currently a policy document recommending parking management in swales at both the south and north ends of the Island. The two priority areas, where the city is considering prohibiting swale “on grass” parking are the south end, specifically Swallow Avenue ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett The Marco Men’s Club honored their outgoing and incoming members of the Board of Directors at their Installation Dinner Dance on Saturday May 19 at Hideaway Beach Club. The event included cocktails, dinner and dancing, in addition to welcoming the new board members, and distributing awards. Meeting the second Thursday of each month, the Marco Men’s Club is a social club of over 500 members, all residents of Marco Island, the Isles of Capri, and Goodland. They are essentially a social network, and the club consists of members with different hobbies and lifestyles. In addition to the ... Read More »