Coastal Breeze News

By Natalie Strom - [email protected] Marco Island Academy has finally made the move to its permanent location. Students left for Spring Break and came back to a new school on March 18th. The site, made up of modulars connected by decks, is located on San Marco Road and has been years in the making. But in only one week’s time, the entire school was packed, moved and unpacked, making it ‘business as usual’ by the time Spring Break had come to a close. “We had so many parents and students that helped – even some grandparents came,” says MIA Board Chair, Jane ... Read More »

GOODLAND LIFE  Joanie Fuller  [email protected] ere we are right in the middle of another holiday season. They come so fast, don’t they? In Goodland we celebrate our season in many different ways. Let’s share a few highlights. • We held our 3rd annual Christmas Bazaar on December 7 and 8 at the Goodland Boat Park. Artisans, craftsmen, food and music created a holiday atmosphere and everyone had a great time. A big thank you goes to Connie Fullmer and Noreen Seegers for chairing this big event. If you missed it this year, we hope you will come next year! • Everyone ... 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 »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  Vince Lombardi: “A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.”  Coaches have a profound impact on our lives. They make us strive to be better. They have the opportunity to teach lessons that are carried on throughout life. Lessons our children learn which have less to do with individual winners, ... Read More »

By Danielle Dodder Living testimonials from Holocaust survivors are themselves becoming an artifact of history, so Abe Price’s story was recorded by Marco Island Academy Students as they witnessed it. Like the tattoo on his arm, his anger is still fresh 70 years later, and he displayed both proudly to the room full of students and faculty. History teacher Amber Prange hoped the lesson hit home. “It can be difficult for kids to connect with history, so hopefully this helps make it real.” Like your average Marco teen, Price knew a comfortable middle class upbringing until the Nazis invaded his ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The Marco Island Academy football team played their first ever homecoming game against Imagine High School. Thundershowers in the area threatened the start of the game. It was an intense game but many fans in attendance wondered if ‘replacement refs’ were on the field after some questionable calls left coaches and players a bit frustrated. Regardless, the Rays worked the field and although the loss of 42-6 stung, Coach Andy Delgado pledges more hard work will produce a tighter team. Support for the school, and their football team, was evident on the sidelines and in ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff On August 28, 1997, by just 181 votes, Marco Islanders elected to become a city. Seven members were subsequently elected to the City Council, a City Manager and staff were hired, and the huge task of becoming a city was underway. With the invaluable assistance of 75 citizens who volunteered to serve on various start-up committees, the structure of the city took shape. The new City Council took on everything from architecture to zoning. It was not easy. There were serious problems with the Island’s infrastructure. Bridges and roads needed repair, storm drainage was inadequate, ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] With the summer coming to a close, local schools are busy prepping for the upcoming school year. Marco Island Academy High School is no exception. Going into its second year, the school has come a long way since opening its doors last fall. The charter high school is looking forward to some big changes, including some new teachers, new coursework and a new school site. Joining the MIA team this year are three new staff members. Ms. Betsy Klemme has signed on as the school’s guidance counselor. Graduating from FGCU with a Master’s in School Counseling ... 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]  Marco Island Academy Charter High School has been working hard all year raising funds for the school. As the Academy’s first year is coming to a close, one final fundraising event is in the works. And it’s a big one! “Our year end fundraising event is a Cash Prize Drawing where the winner will get 25% of the money we raise,” explains Jane Watt, Marco Island Academy Chair. The high school is currently selling raffle tickets for $100 apiece. Only a total of 400 tickets will be sold, so odds to win are rather high. Over ... 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 »

The Rotary Club of Marco Island recently announced its final 2012 Spirit of Marco Island Award winner, Jane Watt. Jane Watt was advised of her selection last week during a fundraising event for the Marco Island Academy. Members of the Rotary Club of Marco Island made the surprise presentation in front of a group of nearly forty persons recognizing Jane Watt for leading the effort to establish the first high school on Marco Island, the Marco Island Academy. Jane was instrumental in creating the Marco Island Discovery Center in 2009, an organization set up to raise funds for the school ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) offered a presentation to students at Marco Island Charter Middle School for those interested in joining their cadet program. The Civil Air Patrol is an official auxiliary arm of the United States Air Force. Thousands of young people are introduced to aviation through their programs. Lt. Col. Ray Rosenburg, Commander of Group 5 FLWG Civil Air Patrol, held the presentation with Cadet 2nd Lt. Drew Fordon, a student at Marco Island Charter Middle School who has excelled through 10 levels of the 16 level cadet program in less than two ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff The Arts Afire committee took a new direction for its second annual event with A Walk with the Masters. The Walk showcased nine tableaus set up along the pathway at Mackle Park. A ‘tableau’ is a representation of a picture or scene, by one or more persons suitably costumed and posed. The Arts Afire committee could not have chosen a more beautiful day for the event. Many enjoyed a leisurely stroll around the lake while taking a moment to appreciate each of the different scenes along the way. Participants included: • Marco Players who portrayed ... Read More »

The Wearin’ of the Green started a tad early on Marco Island. On March 11, six days before St. Patrick receives his annual tribute, Islanders had a treat…the big parade! No corned beef and cabbage, but two marching bands, colorful floats and prominent Marco citizen, Dick Shanahan, as Grand Marshal. His wife, Debra, looked regal as she waved to the folks on the sidelines. Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala happily waved from her car in the parade, as did Kathleen Reynolds, the Grande Dame of the parade. She’s the organizer of the parade. Lely High School’s band performed some popular ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  In its first year, Marco Island Academy High School has made some pretty big strides. And it doesn’t stop here. Faculty, board members, students, parents and volunteers have been working hard all year towards bettering the school. For its second year alone, major plans are in the works which will feature some pretty exciting changes. One of the biggest changes will be the physical location of the school. Currently located at 1450 Winterberry Drive, next to the Family Church of Marco, MIA started its first year with 70 freshman and sophomore students. Next year’s plans include ... Read More »

The Marco Island Academy board of directors has announced the resignation of the science teacher. In an email to parents, the board wrote: The Marco Island Academy is writing to inform you that Dr. Michael Doherty (Science Teacher) has chosen to leave his position at our school. Dr. Doherty will be temporarily replaced by Mrs. Lori Havemeier, an experienced substitute teacher at both the middle school and high school levels. We are working to finalize the hiring of a permanent Science Teacher. Our goal is to find and retain high quality teachers that work collaboratively for the betterment of our ... Read More »

Goodland Life Joanie Fuller Wanna catch a little history this weekend along with some fun and hold a baby alligator, too?  Try the Old Marco Lodge right here in Goodland and you will see what I mean. First the history.  The Old Marco Lodge is by far the oldest up and running place in Goodland. The building was actually built in 1869 on Marco Island where it was a general store which belonged to W. D. Collier.  He was the enterprising guy who invented a motorized dredge for the Marco clamming industry which grew for years. But in the early ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff Jane Watt, Chairman of the Marco Island Academy, held a meeting at 2255 San Marco Road near the Estuary Condominiums, the future site of the school. Paul Meyer, assisting the school in procuring contractors and services, called on local contractors to offer their input for site work. The work is in advance of ten pre-manufactured buildings scheduled to be installed on the site. “Our preference is to work with local companies before we look outside Marco Island,” confirmed Jane Watt. The school had planned to begin construction on the site last year. However, plans changed ... Read More »

The Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall arrived on Marco Island before noon, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 escorted by hundreds of proud motorcyclists, Collier County Sheriff’s deputies, Florida Highway Patrol officers and police officers. They were honoring fallen heroes of a war which did not receive the kind of unconditional, unwavering support which sustained the fighting forces of World War II. Lee Rubenstein, Chairman of the Traveling Wall Committee that brought the Wall to Marco Island said, “If one person comes here and can let go and is relieved, it’s well worth it.” In an opening ceremony, guest speaker Doug Hartman, ... Read More »