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Marco Island Woman’s Club 60-Year Diamond Jubilee High Tea

President Tammy Barstow and Honorary Founding Member Sheila Howard.
“Why you were born and why you are living depends on what you are getting out of this world, and what you are giving.” That is the motto of the Marco Island Woman’s Club (MIWC), a network of …

Big Cypress Preserve Celebrates 10 Years of Dark Skies

Joe Dermody adjusts his telescope to track the sun during the Big Cypress National Preserve’s Dark Sky Celebration on Saturday, November 7. With a special lens, he can safely view the sun’s surface.
Most people who travel to the Everglades expect to see the swamp, alligators, and mosquitoes, but out in Big Cypress, you can also see the universe.  November 7 marked the 10th anniversary …
Honoring our Veterans
Colleen Gill, a native Michigander, grew up visiting family on Marco Island and always had a dream to move here and work on the water. Her fondest memories are boating on the Great Lakes and around the island...
More news

Marco Island Farmers Market Returns

The Marco Island Farmers Market returns next Wednesday, November 18, bringing back the Veterans’ Park staple for another season. This year, there are 84 vendors scheduled to appear at the …
Board Chair and District Four Commissioner Daniel Kowal expresses his support for the affordable housing and how it would clean up blighted properties in the area.

County Approves Two Affordable Housing Projects in East Naples

The Board of County Commissioners approved two new affordable housing projects at its most recent meeting to address the need for homes for people who live and work in Naples....
Former City Council member Greg Folley criticizes the City Council’s decision to authorize City legal representation for Councilor Bonita Schwan in her pursuit of a stalking injunction against John David Boggs.

Schwan Dispute, Resident Concerns Take Center Stage at City Council

A dispute over Councilor Bonita Schwan’s allegations of online harassment dominated portions of the Marco Island City Council’s November 2 meeting, as speakers offered conflicting accounts of a …
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Spotlight on the Community

Tommie Barfield Salutes Veterans

Friday, November 6, was a special day at Tommie Barfield Elementary School (TBE). Every student participated in making the annual Veterans Day Celebration event happen. From the creation of red, …

Banded Shorebirds and Berm All Patched Up

A banded American Oystercatcher looking very bold in black and white feathers with a long, blazing orange bill and light pink legs.
The American Oystercatcher is a very eye-catching shorebird with its blazing orange bill and is a photographer’s favorite. Yet for beach walkers, it is easy to walk right by them as they forage for …
From left: Barbara Ann Heegan, Director of Business Development at The Arlington of Naples; Vicki Johnson, founder of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry; Jean O’Neill, Arlington resident and organizer of the 2026 Fall Food Drive; Dr. Ken Sumner; and Michelle Bettigole, Executive Director of The Arlington. The group gathered during The Arlington’s Men’s Coffee Program, where they shared information about the mission and impact of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and celebrated its 10 years of serving local families facing food insecurity.
The Arlington Residents Raise Money and Collect Food for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
The power of community and the spirit of generosity were on full display at The Arlington as residents came together for the 2026 Fall Food Drive, raising an impressive $14,845 in financial …
Tasty New Play on The Rhine Stage at Marco Island Academy
Marco Island Academy presents the world premiere of the comedic one-act play, P.B. and Jay by Christopher Dayett, on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM on The Rhine Stage at Marco Island Academy, …
Unidentified maker, 
Child’s Dress, c. 1935; feed sack cotton, 36 x 33 inches.
THRIFT STYLE EXHIBIT: American Ingenuity During the Great Depression and World War II
The Marco Island Historical Society (MIHS) presents Thrift Style , a touring exhibit that demonstrates how American homemakers made ends meet during one of the most challenging periods in history. …
Obituaries
Celebration of Life for Marya Repko
Marya Repko’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Rod and Gun Club on Saturday, November 21 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. If you are unable to attend but would like to remember Marya, you can donate …
Michelina “Lee” Turner
Michelina “Lee” Turner was born on October 7, 1936, to Marianna and Nicholas Valente. She is one of seven children. Lee is survived by her three children, Louis, Michael, and Linda. She …
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Marya Repko
There were only two of us, and Marya was five years my senior. It wasn’t until she moved to England in the 60s that I missed her. After a few years working for Cambridge University Press, she …
Jack Kenneth Shelton
Jack Kenneth Shelton passed away peacefully in July 2026, in Naples, Florida, at the age of 96. Born in 1929 in Jackson, Michigan, Jack lived a life defined by integrity, humility, and a deep …
Eileen Carlsen
Eileen Carlsen, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of love, friendship, and cherished memories. …
Opinion
Letters to the Editor

Thank You, Marco Island

On November 3, Marco Island voters elected me to City Council. I am honored and grateful. Thank you to every voter who placed their trust in me, and to the volunteers and residents who gave …

With Deep Gratitude and a Commitment to Care for Marco

Throughout this campaign, the kindness of my Marco Island neighbors kept me going. You stopped to share your concerns, offered encouragement, and reminded me how deeply people care about this island. …

Thank You, District 81

To the voters of District 81, thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to serve you for another two years. Your support means more to me than I can put into words. I am grateful for …

Vote for Jason Bailey for City Council Vote for Jason Bailey for City Council

Marco Island has been part of my life for nearly 40 years. I was born and raised here, spent some time away, and always hoped I would have the chance to come back and raise my own family on this …

Supporting Jason Bailey for City Council

Marco Island is facing serious challenges - water quality, city finances, quality of life concerns, and more. These issues require experienced and thoughtful leadership. That’s why I’m supporting …

Guest Commentary

Marco Police Foundation Rates 2026 City Council Candidates

As Marco Island begins voting for who will fill its 2026 City Council seats, the Marco Police Foundation reviewed the candidates and rated them on local public safety and law enforcement issues.

The More You Know, The More You Vote NO

I n this time of ever-increasing prices and declining affordability, it is tempting to latch onto any legislation that promises tax relief. Amendment 3 to the Florida Constitution is an example of …

It's Time for Florida to Go Hands-Free

Every day, Floridians witness the same dangerous scene: a driver looking down at a phone instead of the road ahead. They're texting, scrolling social media, reading emails, selecting a playlist, or …

Flock Caution

A tale of caution and HORROR of how not only Flock but emerging technologies such as Axon can be utilized warrantlessly and abused against law-abiding citizens to stampede over their Fourth Amendment …

How Much More Growth Can Marco Island Really Handle?

If Marco Island feels more crowded than it used to, there is a reason. Traffic is heavier, parking is more difficult, our beaches and waterways are busier, and our roads, bridges, utilities, police, …
Our columnists
William G. Morris, Esq.

Alimony. It’s Complicated

Alimony can be a big part of a divorce case. Alimony has changed a lot through the years. Courts in the United States inherited the concept of alimony from the common law of England. Under …
Tom Williams

The Friar, the Chili, and the Beginning of an Empire

History tells us about Friar Bernardino de Sahaguin. Apparently, the good Friar was a little on the sweet side of heavy and liked to eat almost as much as he liked spreading the good word. The Friar …
Darcie Guerin CFP®

Six Things to Review Before 2027

As we close out 2026, many of us are busy preparing for the holidays and looking forward to welcoming children and grandchildren home for Thanksgiving and Christmas....
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The Deadline Approaches!

The panic is setting in. Christmas has finally entered people’s minds. It has been at the forefront of our minds for months and we have been trying to encourage customers to plan ahead. There is …
Randall Kenneth Jones, Maryland Crab Wannabe.

Miss America, Misty Copeland, and a Maryland Crab Walk Up to a Barre

A couple of months ago, I wrote about my adventures attending the Miss America competition in West Palm Beach, including my brush with the law, the “congeniality” effect, and my fascination with …
Ashley Alting

Mom's on Purpose

As a single mom, I sometimes grieve the life I imagined I would have. Growing up, I dreamed of getting married, buying a house with a white picket fence and a dog in the backyard, having a few kids, and living happily ever after...

Oh No, A Traffic Stop: Part 1

No matter how good a driver you are, we all can be subject of a law enforcement traffic stop. Those of you who know me know that most Thursday evenings you can find me out at Port of the Isles at the …
Tom Williams

The Call of the Wild 

It was a cold and blustery Thursday when Michael first came to the door. The early November rain was blowing sideways, and the gray skies and chilling drizzle were not promising much in the way of …
Sports
Soccer!

Is Lely Soccer Really This Good?

Captain Angel Otero scored twice against South Ft. Myers.
Three games into the season, the Lely boys soccer team has outscored their opponents 22-2, including the Friday, Nov. 6, 8-0 mercy rule home win over South Ft. Myers. One can’t help but wonder …
Let's Talk Golf

GOAT or GOTE? The Greatest of All Time? Or the Greatest of Their Era?

Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, and President Gerald Ford Playing Golf at the World Golf Hall of Fame Tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

For those of us who are sports fans, and in our case, particularly golf fans, we love to compare. We love superlatives. We love putting the suffix “est” on just about everyone and everything in …

Local Sports

Hibiscus Golf Club Welcomes Naples Golfers for the 2026–27 Season

Hibiscus Golf Club is ready to welcome Naples residents and visitors for the 2026–27 golf season. The 18-hole, 6,900-yard course is in its best condition to date, with true, smooth-rolling greens …

Florida News

FDOT Outlines Major I-75 Expansion

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I-75 will see a major expansion in the coming months, with the addition of three new express lanes and a complete resurfacing from Golden Gate Parkway to Alico Road in Lee County. According to …

Florida pushes publishers to play down climate change in textbooks

How Florida quietly removed climate change content from textbooks “Good morning, class! Please take your seats. I’m your new science teacher, Mr. Ilg. “You’re probably wondering what happened to your old teacher, Ms. Glowasky. She made one factual comment on Facebook about Charlie Kirk, got fired, sued the school board, and collected a […]

FBI arrests Ohio man on charges of threatening to kill Rep. Fine, his family

A 26-year-old Ohio man was in custody after threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Randy Fine and his family, according to the congressman and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI determined there was probable cause to arrest Alex Miller of Columbus after investigators tracked his identity to an email address that sent a message with […]

Like other Florida universities, UNF gets one presidential candidate to consider

One finalist has emerged for the University of North Florida presidency, following a trend of state institutions relying on an “exceptional circumstances” carveout to state policy that otherwise requires three or more finalists. The university received 152 applications, search committee chair and trustee Jack Boyle said, calling it a “clear reflection of UNF’s momentum and […]

Did school vaccines just become a campaign issue?

Mandated vaccines for school attendance—and a parent’s ability to reject those vaccines— may have been injected into the race for Florida governor. With five months left before he’s term limited out of office, the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday released a proposed regulation that would eliminate a number of vaccines required for public and […]

Donalds chooses state Sen. Bryan Avila as his running mate for Florida governor

Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds named Miami-Dade County Sen. Bryan Avila to serve as his running mate Tuesday. The son of Cuban exiles, Avila, of Miami Springs, has served in the Florida Legislature since 2014, when he was first elected to the House of Representatives. He won a seat in the Senate while running unopposed […]