Coastal Breeze News

By Carl Kelly Question: Which big band holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Dance? Question: Which big band received the first Gold Record? Answer to both questions: The largest dance was 25,000 people; the first Gold Record was Chattanooga Choo Choo; and the band was Glenn Miller, arguably the best of the big bands. The modern version of the Glenn Miller Orchestra played to a house of something less than 25,000 people at Lely High School recently. Some of these people may well have been among those who danced to the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra when ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff It was announced to students just before winter break. For the first time in its history, Lely achieved an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education for the 2011-2012 year. The announcement congratulated the students for their hard work and honored the school’s administration. The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kamela Patton said in a press release by the District, “I am so proud of all of our high schools. To see four schools improve their grades – including two improve two letter grades – and five schools maintain their grades, despite all the many ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The 25th Anniversary of Christmas Island Style brought us one of the best parades in Marco Island history. Santa could certainly sense the holiday spirit on the island! In true Marco style, the chairs and vehicles staked out their favorite viewing areas early in the day. By 6 PM, the streets were filled with holiday revelers. Whether it was the bands from Lely High School or Marco Island Charter Middle School, the Newcomer’s ladies, or the Italian American Club, Santa and Mrs. Claus, or the Shriners, the parade ran like clockwork. Dozens of businesses and organizations ... 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 Coastal Breeze News Staff The following students achieved a place on the Honor Roll for the first semester of the 2012/2013 school year. Listed are only the schools in the Coastal Breeze News circulation area, except for Manatee Elementary. Congratulations to these students! EVERGLADES CITY SCHOOL Elementary Straight A Honor Roll  Brandy Bowen, Destany Vanleeuwen. LELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  ‘A’ Honor Roll  Emiliana Bossio, Michelle Castro, Halmer Castro-Davila, Rommel Cintron Santos, Angel Diaz, Riley Dorestal, Nathaniel Gustave, Ariel Joel, Renee Listrom, Nephtalie Merisnor, Fauster Pierrecharles, Leonardo Quezada, Julian Rodriguez, Vincent Rosati, Naesha Saint Louis, Yasmin Samaha, Taylor Savage, Hisam Setyawan. ... Read More »

Submitted  Attaining the highest rank of Eagle Scout within the Boy Scouts of America program is no easy task. Alexander Robau of Marco Island has been in Scouting for the past 11 years, starting out as a Tiger Cub in the first grade. Now a high school student, he is working on his final project to achieve Eagle Scout status. Among the heavy criterion that goes along with receiving top Scouting honors is to plan, develop, and give leadership to a service project for any religious organization, school or community. “When deciding on my Eagle Scout project, I realized I ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Eight years ago, Victor Meza worked as a painter for a large painting company. He saw going into his own business as a goal he was ready to take on and so he began, Commex Painting. Victor already knew the bidding process, the hiring (and sometimes firing) workers, job requirements, materials specifications, and more. Victor saw an opportunity to run a job the way he wanted to run it with Commex. It gave him a fresh new outlook, sort of like a fresh new coat of paint on the buildings. Running your own business has ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff On October 17 at 6:30 pm, Lely High School will host its 3rd Annual Dig Pink Match. This year the Trojans will play the Stingrays of Seacrest Country Day in what has become the biggest game of the season. In 2010, more than 500 people attended the match and over $1000 was raised. Last fall, approximately 700 individuals attended, and the team managed to raise nearly $2000 for the cause. This year, we anticipate somewhere between 800 and 1000 in attendance while we have set a goal of raising over $3000. Please join us in ... Read More »

By Kathleen Zehler As of July 2012, the Marco Island Radio Shack took new ownership under a dynamic Father/Son Team. This Radio Shack is not your norm, Thomas and Derek Lang are changing the way the islanders can obtain their every need for almost all electronics from cell phones & wireless contracts, accessories, home theater and networks installations, trouble shooting of electronics, security systems and much more. The Langs have been residents of Marco Island for over 7 years and have shown the community their support through various activities such as coaching sports, recently giving a flash drive to every ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  Dr. Melissa Bogdan-Sarantos grew up on Marco Island and is proud to call to it her home. After graduating from Lely High School she continued her studies at the University of Central Florida. It was here that she found her calling and knew she wanted to help people. While she attended UCF she met her husband Dr. George Sarantos. After the two graduated from UCF they were accepted into Palmer College of Chiropractic and graduated four years later with a doctorate of chiropractic degree. Dr. Sarantos furthered his education by attending the University of Miami, ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff One of Marco Island’s most beloved firefighters had a send-off from an overflow crowd at the firehouse on July 27th. Steve Fickling retired after 28 years of dedicated service, beginning June 20, 1984. His last position was Driver/Engineer, but he was also the guiding force behind Marco’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) which prepares citizens to deal with emergencies and catastrophes. Many of the well-wishers were CERT members, and numerous others were members of Marco Island’s Fire Rescue Foundation and the Marco Island Police Department. Steve says that he considers himself: “a native Floridian because ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The end of year honor roll for Collier County District Schools in the Coastal Breeze coverage area has been released and is printed below. The hard work and determination of the students listed in the roll have earned them this distinction. Coastal Breeze News applauds the efforts of each student and wishes them the very best for future academic success. Editor’s Note: Manatee Elementary does not do an Honor Roll. EVERGLADES CITY SCHOOL – STRAIGHT A HONORS  Jerry Pablo-Ramirez, Stephanie Pablo-Ramirez, Claybrook Story, Destany Vanleeuwen, Dustin Young. LELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – ‘A’ HONOR ROLL  Maria ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  People often say, “you are judged by the company you keep.” If that is correct, than the oddity of the “Do-Goodlanders” begins to make a lot more sense. Not many people in Goodland can remember a time prior to the Stan’s on Sundays mania. After all, Stan Gober has been a fixture in Goodland since he first moved here in 1969. He bought Stan’s Idle Hour in 1970 and had the first Mullet Festival in 1985. Ever since then, we have been “Buzzard Loping,” handing in our “Yankee Dollars,” dancing to live music, listening to Stan’s ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  IN MEMORIAM: September 19, 1956-April 15, 2012  Robert D. Madonna was a science teacher for Collier County Public Schools for 20 years, on the high school level, in Immokalee, Everglades City and in Naples at Lely High School. Mr. Madonna leaves behind his beloved wife, Joan Leindecker Madonna, his daughter and son, Joanna and Robert and extended family. He was a passionate fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and, of course, ‘Da Bears.’ Bob coached baseball and soccer for the Marco Island YMCA, Lely High School and Gulf Coast Little League. He was a popular teacher and ... Read More »

Submitted  On Wednesday, May 9th, the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts awarded scholarships to four Marco Island students. Each student received a $1,000.00 scholarship to be used towards higher education in the arts. These students included Jacob Sheldon, son of Trevor and Dawn Sheldon, Christopher Niemczyk, son of Stan and Donna Niemczyk, Connor Hegarty, son of Danny and Eileen Hegarty and Michael Rimes, son of Andy and JoAnn Rimes. Michael Rimes was not able to leave school to attend the reception but his parents represented him. Jacob Sheldon is a graduating senior who has attended Lely High School, Lorenzo ... Read More »

Donna Fiala [email protected] Soon you’ll see changes in advertising and promotion from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. For the first time, the Florida and Collier County bureaus will be promoting “Brand USA.” This is a national tourism program to advertise in other countries that come to the United States; countries like England, France, Germany, Sweden, and Brazil. The program is just kicking off now, so it will be interesting to watch as it moves forward, and see what impact it will have in our particular part of Florida. Recently I attended the 10th Annual Tourism Awards held at the Marco ... Read More »

Submitted  Linda and Paul Flores are very proud to announce the graduation of their son, Matthew Paul Flores, from Ave Maria School of Law, Naples, Florida. Matthew received his Juris Doctor from Ave Maria School of Law. The annual commencement exercises took place May 12, 2012 at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, Naples. Matthew grew up on Marco Island with his younger brother Bryan, attended Lely High School and is a graduate of the University of Florida in Gainesville. He plans to sit for the BAR exam in July and hopes to remain in Naples to practice and serve ... Read More »

By Coastal Breez News Staff The following is the third quarter honor roll of Collier County District Schools in the Coastal Breeze coverage area. Congratulations to each of these students! Tommie Barfield Elementary “A” Honor Roll  Haylie Abreu, Cassandra Alonso, Victoria Alvarez, Armando Anaya, Alexandria, Anderson, Avorie Anderson, Francisco Antunez, Sophia Aylwin, Emma Bailey, Spencer Baldwin, Kevin Barry, Diego Britt-Alvarez, Megan Brown, Madeline Burt, Scottie Buss, Hailey Cartt, Kelsey Cashin, Tyler Chute, Hunter Delgado, Daniel Desantis, Michael Desantis, Stuart Endres, Casey Erickson, Lauren Faremouth, Samuel Fernandez, Joseph Golec, Grant Gordon, Karmynn Guttenfelder, Ryenn Hart, Teagan Havemeier, Cameryn Henell, Madison Hopkins, Allison ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  On Saturday, March 3rd, the seven Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Color Guard and Drill Teams from the seven Collier County high schools went head to head at the annual Collier County JROTC Color Guard and Drill Championship Meet. This year it was hosted by Lely High School. The teams were judged in the following categories for both male and female teams: • Color Guard. • Platoon Regulation, both Armed and Unarmed. • Platoon Exhibition, both Armed and Unarmed. • Platoon Squad Regulation, both Armed and Unarmed. • Individual and Dual Exhibition, both Armed ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  Lely High School is honored to announce one of their own as a recipient of the Florida Education Foundation’s Sunshine State Scholar program. The Foundation, which recognizes “Florida’s top 11th grade students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), chooses one to two students from each school district. Alexander Robau, of Marco Island, was chosen to represent the entire county of Collier for this prestigious award. “Alexander is part of an elite group of 80 eleventh graders, selected by their school districts as being Florida’s top students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” explains Mary ... Read More »