Coastal Breeze News

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 »

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 »

COASTAL HISTORY Craig Woodward  [email protected]  As we reflect on a peaceful Veteran’s Day with great weather and our local beaches full, it is hard to envision a time when Florida skies were full of fighter pilots, our coasts under constant watch for enemy attack, and U.S. sailors both dead and wounded were being brought into Florida hospitals. World War II was not only fought in Europe and in the South Pacific, but was also fought here at home. Few remember that Nazi Germany brought WW II literally to our shores, with U-boats (submarines) paroling up and down our coasts looking for ... Read More »

Lee, Collier and Charlotte county residents are encouraged to purchase the Purple Heart FOREVER postage stamp during the month of November.  To celebrate Veterans Day November 12 and the opening of the new Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic in Cape Coral, post offices are tracking sales of this stamp through December 15.  A framed enlargement of the stamp will be presented at the grand opening of the V. A. Outpatient Clinic with a dedication plaque noting the total number of stamps purchased. The U.S. Postal Service is honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U.S. military ... 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 Coastal Breeze News Staff  On June 9th, 55 veterans and their guardians left Southwest Florida International Airport for a quick trip to Washington D.C. Sponsored by Rotary District 6960 and the Marco Island Sunrise Rotary, these veterans, many from World War II, had a chance to view both the WWII Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial The 55 veterans, all from Southwest Florida, were greeted by a send-off committee of Rotarians and an Honor Guard salute at the airport in Fort Myers. Each veteran passed through a 200 foot long display of American flags as they readied to board their ... Read More »

By Val Simon  [email protected]  In 2007, Gerry Rosenblum began a term as president of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors (MIAAOR) with the words, “I love Marco Island.” It may not have been earth-shattering enough to make headlines then, but enduring enough for him to take on another term as President of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors for 2012. Gerry’s love affair with Marco is certainly obvious to his family (wife Barbara, and daughters Annie and Lily) and to others involved in the island’s single largest industry, real estate. “Déjà vu,” Gerry began. “I accept this position ... Read More »

 If you have not yet visited the Marco Island Historical Museum to see the marvelous art exhibit by local painter Phyllis Pransky, do yourself a favor and drop in this month. The paintings will remain through December 3 and are a virtuoso display of Pransky’s talent. Some are for sale and others are on loan from local owners. Hours are 9-4 Tuesday through Saturday and admission is free. A remarkable exhibit opened at our sister gallery at the Art League on Winterberry this week. The show explores America at War through the use of photos, uniforms, posters, medals, paintings and ... Read More »

Vickie Kelber  Although we have traveled semi independently in other areas of Eastern Europe, we had never been to Russia. Perhaps growing up in the days of the Cold War still resonated and influenced our decision to book a tour, albeit one that gave us quite a bit of free time, rather than seeing the country independently. Having now spent a few days in both St. Petersburg and Moscow, there is no question in my mind that we would have felt very comfortable negotiating these cities on our own. English is not readily spoken, but with a few words of ... Read More »

By Natalie Strom Last February the Greater Marco Island Unit of the American Cancer Society held their annual Hope Ball at the new Marco Island Historical Museum. This black-tie affair consisted of a silent auction which raised money for R.O.C.K.  Reaching Out to Cancer Kids is a portion of the ACS which focuses on providing special opportunities to children with cancer and their families. The event, which raised over $125,000 for R.O.C.K. would not have been nearly as successful without the donations to the silent auction.  Some of these auction items included tickets to “Dancing with the Stars,” tickets to ... Read More »

By Val Simon In 1938 Walt Tucker was 18 years old. A priest told him he should go in the army or end up in jail. The army it was! “I had a buddy who went into the Civilian Conservation Corp and then onto Hawaii. I decided I wanted to go somewhere exotic like Panama. The next day I woke up and had a change of heart, I don’t want to be a hero, Hawaii would be a better choice. I was assigned to Pearl Harbor.” At the time, Walt says the population of Hawaii was dominated by people of ... Read More »

Bill Duncan recalls the Blazing Inferno on the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) – July 29, 1967 By Carol Glassman The USS Forrestal, the flagship of the 7th Fleet and pride of the Navy, was so large it was classified as a super carrier. The nearly 60,000-ton Forrestal was launched in 1954 and in spite of its size, could still attain speeds of 33 knots. On June 6, 1967 she left Norfolk, Virginia for combat deployment, routed to WESTPAC (Western Pacific) duty. On July 25, fully loaded with fighter/attack squadrons, the giant carrier arrived in Yankee Station, Gulf of Tonkin, off the ... Read More »

Navy from Feb 73-Sept 93 The draft was in effect so I decided to ‘join’ rather than be pulled out of school. The day I was sworn in, President Nixon ended the draft! My dad had been in World War II, I remember when asking him but he always refused to talk about it. I took service day by day, the war in Vietnam was coming to an end. I liked being in the navy, there were no worries. For boot camp, I went to the US Naval Station Rosie Roads in Puerto Rico, similar climate to here. Then transferred ... Read More »

I’ve had the pleasure of hearing Lieutenant Colonel William Howey (Ret) speak to a group of Rotarians on Marco Island. It is an honor for anyone to hear him speak. Lieutenant Colonel Howey readily garners the attention of every member of his audience with his thrilling, and often edge-of-your-seat scary, life experiences. Speaking with him candidly during this interview was even more enjoyable… “In the first game of my junior football season I had my arm broken badly; there were actually thirty-four breaks and chips! It was so bad I spent nine weeks lying in a hospital bed with a ... Read More »

The Greatest Generation includes Anthony “Bud” La Mendola who enlisted in the Navy in 1943 at seventeen years of age. Because of a sense of patriotism, Bud asked his dad if he could join before his eighteenth birthday. Being a kid and never really having been anywhere, Bud was ready for some adventure in his life. He went to Navy boot camp in Idaho which, ironically, had only one lake. “What was boot camp like?” I asked Bud.  “A lot of rules,” he replied. He spoke of his Barracks Commander who was nice, but very strict. If you got out ... Read More »