Coastal Breeze News

By Natalie Strom - [email protected] Only weeks ago, BuzzFeed.com came out with its list of “The 33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places in the World.” Just after the underwater Christ of the Abyss in Italy and the Kolmanskop ghost town in the Namib Desert, is listed, in third place, the “Abandoned Dome Houses in Southwest Florida.” A photo and nothing more accompanies the third place title. With well over 1.5 million views on BuzzFeed.com and over 60,000 Facebook shares, it seems that the dome home of Cape Romano is no longer Southwest Florida’s secret treasure. Many may recall the September 8, 2012 issue ... Read More »

By Jane A. Marlowe Marco Island joined thousands of communities all around the country on April 13th in launching Relay For Life, one of the most successful and recognized events in American Cancer Society’s history. Ken Hobson, MC for the two-day Relay, welcomed survivors, volunteers and supporters to the opening ceremonies which began with Marva Sutt singing The Star Spangled Banner. Raul Medina of Suntrust Bank and Chair of Relay-Marco Island, described the phenomenal growth of Relay since its inception in 1985. More than four billion dollars has been raised worldwide, “to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to Save ... Read More »

By Donna Fiala [email protected] Some of you have taken one or more of my County Government tours to acquaint yourself with what goes on behind the scenes in county government such as the landfill and gas to energy plant, water and wastewater treatment plants, parks, museums, the jail, etc. I am in the planning stages for next year’s tours and wanted to mention them to you, as well as ask if any of you have any special requests you would like to submit to my office. We continue to have requests each year for the Landfill (we could even include ... Read More »

It is getting increasingly difficult to focus on events taking place around the world. It seems like a new story pops up every day in a different part of our troubled globe. Today things are much different from the “good old days” when the world was neatly divided up by the two super powers: USA and the Soviet Union. Whenever trouble started anywhere around the world, one of the two super powers reacted depending on whose sphere of influence covered the country where trouble had started. Things were neatly patched up after harsh words were exchanged, threats were made and ... Read More »

By Julia Barnett April is National Poetry Month, and Big Cypress National Preserve is celebrating by hosting its first annual poetry contest. Accepting submissions now through April 15th, the park encourages participants to visit the preserve and write about their experiences there. Big Cypress National Preserve is one of the United States National Parks, open to the public 24 hours a day. It is comprised of freshwater, and is a watershed to Everglades National Park. Set aside in 1974, it was named Big Cypress in reference to the large size of the area, and the expanses of cypress strands within ... Read More »

The highest level a scout can reach is Eagle Scout. It’s a rite of passage only a handful of scouts achieve. One requirement is to complete a community-oriented project. It must be planned and designed and submitted for approval to the District Eagle Scout Board of Review. Such was the case when Bradley Chute presented plans to Bryan Milk, Community Development Director, for a covered gazebo at Veterans Park. The plans were submitted and unanimously approved by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. As shown, the gazebo will be a 12 ft x 12 ft open sided wood structure anchored ... Read More »

After many years of fishing, I have come to the conclusion that there are basically two types of angling enthusiasts: Proactive anglers and reactive anglers. Both types serve preferred individual purposes and one is not necessarily better than the other. The reactive angler is patient and waits for fishing opportunities to present themselves. An example of this may be making the choice to anchor in an area and remain there until there is a change in tidal movement or when the fish may start to bite. This angler can remain quite content and patient in fishing one or two places ... Read More »

The mango is known as the ‘king of fruit’ throughout the world. Did you know more mangos are eaten fresh all over the world, than any other fruit? Its name ‘mango’ is derived from the Tamil word ‘mangkay’ or ‘man-gay’. When the Portuguese traders settled in Western India they adopted the mango which originated in Southeast Asia where it has been grown for over 4,000 years. Over the years mango groves have spread to many parts of the tropical and sub-tropical world, where the climate allows the mango to grow best. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to 60 ... Read More »

By Naomi & Karina Paape – [email protected] Dear Fellow Felines: I am so proud of my stealthy self! I managed to execute a discrete raid on the shelter’s pantry and pigged out on a bunch of food I’m allergic to before our co-founder, Jan Rich, caught me in the act. “She ate herself silly,” is how Jan describes my “crime.”  But then, in the very next breath, she brags about me: “If she wasn’t so smart….” And yes, you guessed it, I am now paying the price: a bunch of the hair on my tail and lower back has fled ... Read More »

I’ve recently gained admittance into a secret world, a parallel universe, as it were. A world both frenzied and fabulous: a world that exists only deep inside… The Art Festival. The parallel reference is certainly true; participating in art festivals doesn’t mean you have any idea how to organize one. Sure, you know the pretty bits that apply to you: there must be an application and selection process. There must be an itinerary for setting up and breaking down. There must be goody bags with cool gifts! There must be rules. I’ve always read the rules very carefully to avoid ... Read More »

Marco Island residents and visitors often ask whether live-aboard vessels are permitted in Marco Island waterways. Many boats moored for an extended period of time in the city’s bays and waterways. For example, in the Factory Bay or Smokehouse Bay in front of the Esplanade. Anchoring of live-aboards is not permitted in Marco Island waterways, except for within marinas and designated National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration anchorage sites. There is only one such site within Marco Island city limits – a football-field sized area in the middle of Factory Bay. The part that often confuses citizens is what exactly qualifies ... Read More »

Dave Gardner, the Flag supply Officer for VFW Post 6370 also handles the used flag receptacles. Recently, Dave received a call that the flag box at Veterans Park was overflowing. This, after only 16 days since the last trip made to empty it. He arrived to find the top door overflowing and jammed, and the bottom also filled. Dave filled two large bags with the contents, which numbered 89 US flags of various sizes, ranging from 8X12 stick flags to an 8’ X 12’ commercial flag. During the same time period, Marco Island VFW Post #6370 sold only nine US ... Read More »

By Anthony Armeni  Orlando Attractions Magazine    Summer Nights is returning to Busch Gardens Tampa starting this weekend with more extra entertainment than ever after the sun goes down. This year’s event includes a new Latin-infused show at the Marrakesh Theater and, for the first time, a fireworks finale each night through Aug. 12. The award-winning Kinetix show is returning for its third year in a row to Summer Nights with nightly performances of its rock-fueled blast of music and acrobatics including live musicians, singers, dancers and artists from around the world. It will take place every night in Gwazi ... Read More »

SPEAKING OF TRAVEL  Vickie Kelber  [email protected] If you are a regular reader of my column, you know that we prefer independent or semi independent travel. The few times we have taken a tour or cruise (with the exception of one of our cruises, but more on that one later), we’ve not enjoyed the experience. I think that part of what we enjoy so much with independent travel is what in Italian is called, il dolce far niente…. translated to mean the sweetness of doing nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing all that a place has to offer, but my ... Read More »

BUZZ FROM THE SWAMP  Patricia Huff  [email protected] Please join us in Everglades City on Saturday, June 30, for a fun-filled day to celebrate our country’s Independence Day. We like to start the festivities early before it gets too hot. There are lots of activities to keep you entertained so bring the whole family. Opening ceremony will begin at 9:30 AM. The theme of this year’s event is “Honoring our Veterans” with prizes for the best floats in the parade which will start at 10:00 AM. Last year, one of the floats was the boat built by Everglades youngsters during the CCSO ... Read More »

By Joe Granda Twelve members of San Marco Catholic Church went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from June 3 to June 14, 2012. We flew from Ft. Myers airport to New York Kennedy, and from there to Tel Aviv, Israel, where we met other members of the group who were arriving from other U.S. locations. We spent four days in Jerusalem visiting various Holy sites, starting outside the City walls at the Mount of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem where we visited the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of the Ascension. We walked along ... Read More »

BOOK REMARKS Diane Bostick [email protected]   Author: Adriana Trigiani Publisher: Harpers, 2012 It is time for a “summer read.” When the weather gets this hot there is nothing to do but try to find a cool, shady place where one can curl up, cool drink in hand, with a nice long romance novel (I believe I made this exact suggestion last summer. Must be a good one and worth repeating). Throw in a little history and you can tell anyone who asks that you are reading an historical novel, which somehow makes it seem as though you have not totally given ... Read More »

Goodbye, iconic red roof, tiki statues, grass huts and hula dancer mural: the McDonald’s restaurant located at 899 N. Collier Blvd. in Marco Island is undergoing renovations, making several contemporary changes designed to enhance the customer experience. The restaurant, operated by local business owners Mike Adams and Tom O’Reilly, will remain open during renovation. “Our customers and employees have enjoyed the restaurant’s unique tiki theme for years, but we felt it was time for the restaurant to change with the times,” said Adams. “We’re excited to continue serving up quality food and beverages in a fresh environment that is modern, ... Read More »

The Marco island Historical Society is pleased to announce that a reception for a new exhibit will be held at our museum from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, July 3, taking the place of our regular monthly meeting. The wine and cheese party will introduce our latest show: Quilts of the Tamiami Trail. This remarkable collection highlights the opening of the historic highway from Tampa to Miami in 1928, and includes scenes ranging from Domino Park in Miami’s Little Havana to the smallest post office in the country at Ochopee. It will focus on much of Florida’s remaining wilderness in ... Read More »

The appointment of Peter Rossi as Director of Marketing and Sales, his responsibilities include the development of a multi-dimensional marketing and sales plan covering the engineering disciplines that the Forge Engineering team represents. He brings 40 plus years of Marketing & Sales experience with major corporations in the worldwide market place. Pete is also an officer & member of the Naples Pelican Bay Rotary Club. Pete lives with his wife Karen, a Fine Arts Appraiser at Verona Walk for over six years. Forge Engineering, established in 1996, is a locally owned, multi-disciplined engineering firm based in Naples, Florida. Our professionals, ... Read More »