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 »

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 Natalie Strom [email protected] Beef – it’s what’s for dinner. And now you can purchase it at the Marco Island Farmers Market. Newcomer to the Wednesday market at Veterans Park is Arrowhead Beef, offering farm-direct, hormone-free, pesticide-free, antibiotic-free, grass-fed beef from Florida. What a mouthful! And what a concept! Co-founded in 2010 by George Fisher and Tom Pellizzetti, Arrowhead Beef, LLC is a cooperative of family farms located near Chipley, Florida. Every family-owned farm that is a part of the co-op raises French cattle known as Parthenais. “Our cattle’s bloodline goes back to the 1890s,” explains Steve Dunn, Market Ambassador ... Read More »

PROTECTING & PRESERVING Nancy Richie [email protected] It is common knowledge on Marco Island that Florida Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) are present, popular and so abundant that they are found in almost every neighborhood on the island. Not only do our residents enjoy these charismatic birds of prey, but people travel from all over the world to see them. Professional photographers charge top dollar to school the amateur how to photograph them in the “best light,” though any ol’ camera will do. One can’t go wrong when the subject has big yellow eyes, long downy legs and attitude that could take on ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Vacationers visit Marco Island to escape the cold weather, but often can’t escape the dreaded cold or flu. When this happens, where do they turn? Naples Community Healthcare Systems offers an Urgent Care Center on Marco Island to visitors, part-time and full-time residents of Marco in need of treatment of non-emergencies, illness and minor injuries. For over 20 years, NCH Healthcare Systems has provided Marco Island with quality urgent care services. Located centrally at 40 Heathwood Drive, NCH Urgent Care of Marco Island is “open 365 days per year – even holidays,” states Diann Chairge, Director ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Ahoy mateys! Arrrr ye ready for a day of plundering and pillaging at the Marco Island Historical Museum? On January 26, the museum will host its first ever Pirate Day in honor of the pirates of Florida’s coasts. It’s true; pirates played an integral role in Florida’s history. Just ask James and Sarah Kaserman, authors of “Florida Pirates: From the Southern Gulf Coast to the Keys and Beyond;” they will be the special guests of the day. In an effort to give the museum branches their own identities, “all of the Collier County Museums have an ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy where six school teachers and administrators and 20 young students lost their lives, Ann Curry of NBC News came up with the concept #26Acts of Kindness. Encouraging people through her Twitter account to commit one act for each of the 26 lives lost, she wrote on her December 18 blog, “I know the truth: if you do good, you feel good. It’s the most selfish thing you can do. Right now, this country wants to heal. I think the only thing comforting in the face of ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Hear the heavenly sounds of The Naples Harp Ensemble right here on Marco Island. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is excited to announce a performance by the “Love of Harps” musicians on Sunday, January 20, at 3:00 PM. Open to the public, the free concert will feature many harps performing a variety of programs. From Classical to Pop to Jazz music, “Love of Harps” has something for everyone. The ensemble’s main goals are “to promote the harp through performances, education, and building repertory.” Educating the Naples-area youth in the art of the harp is at the top ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Florida is celebrating an anniversary – 2013 marks 500 years since its discovery by the Modern World – a claim no other state can make. Searching for the elusive Fountain of Youth, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon landed near St. Augustine in 1513. Five hundred(!) years later, Florida’s landscape is ever-changing and ever-growing. In honor of this milestone, Florida is celebrating its heritage with Viva Florida 500, a yearlong homage to the state that so many call home. The statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State aims, “to highlight the 500 years of historic ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] “I was a killer,” admits Jeane Lefebvre, Grounds Supervisor at the Marco Island Marriott Resort and Spa. “I thought if there was a bad bug, let’s shoot it. Anything I could spray, I would.” Recalling his early years, Lefebvre laughs as he describes his “180 degree turn” when it comes to the use of pesticides. Under the Master Gardener eye of Lefebvre, the Marriott’s grounds have been pesticide-free for 20 years. As Lefebvre battles the biggest pest invasion of his career – the spiraling whitefly – he shares his secrets for a pesticide-free landscape. For 23 ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Artwork abounds at the Marco Island Farmers Market. Every Wednesday, from 7:30 AM until 2:00 PM, a mix of Florida’s finest artists set up booths amidst florists, food vendors, and vegetable stands at Veterans Park. A part of the cultural hub of Marco’s community, the Marco Island Center for the Arts sets up shop, showcasing multiple artists and mediums. The non-profit entity focuses on collaboration and education of the arts in all forms. Over 40 years ago, the Art League was formed on Marco Island. It found a home at 1010 Winterberry Drive and expanded over ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Typically, when visiting a farmer’s market, patrons are looking for the freshest fruits and vegetables they can find. The Marco Island Farmer’s Market, which takes place every Wednesday at Veterans Park from 7:30 AM until 2 PM, is no different. With a wide array of fruit and veggie stands to choose from, shoppers can find exactly what they are looking for. Inyoni Farms of North Golden Gate Estates sets up a stand every Wednesday at Veterans Park. Specializing in offering the freshest produce, owner Nick Batty is very particular when it comes to his product. “Everything ... Read More »

GOODLAND LIFE Natalie Strom [email protected] The signs are all around us. Season is here and a change is in the air. Not only can we feel it, but we can see it too. Especially in Goodland. Take a trip down our long and winding road and see for yourself what I’m talking about. Many have noticed that the sign at the entrance of Goodland has gone missing. The hand-carved and hand-painted piece or art was taken down as a part of a restoration effort between the Goodland Civic Association and the newly formed Goodland Arts Alliance. The sign was in desperate ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] Over the past four months, employees of the Marco Island Marriott Resort and Spa have been handing in their loose change to support the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. As a part of the Marriott’s Spirit to Serve effort, jars to collect change were handed out to each department. On December 19, all the coins were counted and the results were remarkable. In total, the employees at the Marriott raised $1,811.66 just by donating their spare change. The challenge began on August 14, as the entire staff gathered in the Islands Ballroom for the ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] In an effort to develop a statewide trail and paddle system, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Division of Recreation and Parks recently updated the overall vision for the Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS). The new five-year plan lists the River of Grass Greenway as a priority. In early fall, the Division of Recreation and Parks launched the new plan, calling for public comment on what specific trails and paddle ways should be considered areas of initial importance. After hosting six public meetings throughout the state, opportunity and priority maps were developed. This ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] “You better not pout, you better not cry, you better not shout, I’m telling you why… Santa Claus is coming to town!” For more than a decade, Santa and his sleigh have been making a regular stop at the Marco Island YMCA in mid-December to make phone calls to local children. This year, he stopped by on Sunday, December 16, along with Rudolph and a few of his elves. Children were delighted to hear from Santa and were surprised to learn that Santa really did know if they had been bad or good. With Rudolph’s bells ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom [email protected] We’ve been called the Griswold’s like it’s a bad thing!” Tim Smither of 548 North Barfield laughs as he shares the many comical stories that have developed due to his family’s extensive Christmas decorations over the years. Anything but hard to miss, the house at 548 North Barfield has become a tradition to visit by many and somewhat of an obsession for Tim and his mother’s significant other, Jerry Haas. What started with the purchase of a few wire deer with white lights on them by Tim and his mother, Linda Deppen, has turned into a ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  “Sam is a nine-year old boy who goes to school, loves to play with his friends, rides his scooter, plays baseball, is into Legos and is a master WII gamer. He also is fighting for his life everyday against a vicious beast in his body; Neuroblastoma cancer. It’s a cancer that isn’t genetic, isn’t self prevented, and has no boundaries. It’s very rare and is known as the great masquerader. It usually presents itself as common childhood symptoms and by the time it is diagnosed it spreads throughout the body and is extremely hard to cure. ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom  [email protected]  It is no secret that there is a serious problem with the mangroves that exist along San Marco Road leading to the Goodland Bridge. The problem has existed for decades. A sign has been erected explaining the issue in hopes of increasing public support. Scientists have been consistently studying the area and have come up with a solution to the devastation of what is known as Fruit Farm Creek. Now that one phase of the plan has been completed, monitoring the mangroves is more important than ever. Scientists from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida have been ... Read More »

By Coastal Breeze News Staff  The 2nd Annual Christmas Island Style Pets on Parade brought over 60 canines and their human companions to the Esplanade on December 4. Dogs dressed in holiday attire and special costumes paraded across the red carpet for judges to choose the top three winners in the categories of Most Festive, Funniest Costume and Most Original. All the dogs were winners as Critter Cafe on Marco Island provided goody bags for everyone. Mila Bridger photography also offered free pet sittings, with ten percent of portrait purchases going to For the Love of Cats. The non-profit organization ... Read More »