News

Naples Botanical Garden has received an anonymous gift of $21,345.59. The donation was received on Wednesday, May 7th and will help fund the Garden’s expansion capital campaign.

If you’re a patriot with a federal cash rebate in hand, why not spend some of it at your favorite restaurants? You would be helping the dining industry through a rough patch. I’m joking, but restaurants here in Naples, Marco and nationwide are in challenging times.

The inaugural performance by Southwest Florida Ballet, Inc. takes place this weekend in Naples. The not-for-profit company is the first of its kind for the southwest Florida area.

Residents living next door to short term rental properties may find some relief to their troubles – eventually. The rental housing advisory committee completed a draft ordinance that will require short-term rental homes to be registered with the city of Marco Island.

Some rational answers surfaced Wednesday evening regarding what first appeared to be irrational behavior between the City of Marco Island officials and physician Andrew Guidry. What didn’t surface was a solution to the ongoing dispute over the use of the parking lot at 19 Bald Eagle Drive, adjacent to the police department. Guidry and the city first developed a working relationship as interdependent neighbors in February of 2005 when the city was making plans to construct the Marco Island Police Station.

Once cute and caged exotic pets, iguanas are increasingly becoming a concern for some Marco Island residents. Steven Roberts, who lives near an inland waterway in central Marco, reported seeing a four-foot-long green iguana on his dock. “I had never seen an iguana on Marco Island before, even though I had heard they were here. I was most concerned that it might attack our dogs which we occasionally let roam in our backyard, or that it might attack me or my wife,” Roberts said.

If a snap survey of local youngsters is on the mark, a lot of Marco Island mothers are in for some serious pampering come Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day, of course, and local moms can expect cards, gifts and dinners by way of appreciation.

Karen Glaub’s letter to the editor today suggests alternative energy options for reducing the city’s electric bill. Solar energy, a major feature in South Florida (the Sunshine State), is a viable energy resource. While reducing risks on the political, environmental, and financial fronts, the quality of our lives is improved as well.

This year’s Marco Island Charter Middle School golf team had the benefit of youth and experience. The four returnees were Michael Mitchusson, Brandon Black, Alexander Robau, and Clayton Halunen.

According to a notice from the City of Marco Island, On Thursday, North Collier Boulevard and Bald Eagle Drive will be milled.

According to a notice from the City of Marco Island, on Friday, Sheffield Drive will be temporarily closed at Sunset Street South. A detour is scheduled, beginning at 7 a.m., to guide through-traffic to San Marco Road for a two-block section between Covewood Street to the west and South Floral Street to the east.

The sweet sound of the Morning Musicians filled the multi-purpose room at Tommie Barfield Elementary Wednesday morning. This chorus of fourth and fifth grade students, under the direction of music teacher Lisa Braren, performed a program dedicated to positive behavior and making good choices.

At the beginning of this weeks’ CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) session we were greeted and thanked by MIFD Chief Mike Murphy. The chief voiced his full support for Marco Islands’ citizen corps, and reinforced to us just how important our various support roles are, and how we will take part of the burden away from the fire and police departments as well as helping our fellow Marco neighbors.

What annoys you most in the kitchen? I’m constantly sweeping up when anything drops on the floor — I can’t function when in a messy kitchen!

The Marco Island Charter Middle School has come of age in many ways. It went from the early days of clearing sand and trees to placing portable trailers for its school 10 years ago.

The truth is out: Filmmaker brothers Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski do have a lighter side than what they showed in directing and writing the “Matrix” trilogy and in writing “V for Vendetta.”

When it comes to cats, the experts agree: Leave those whiskers on Whiskers alone. That’s the advice of animal experts when it comes to vibrissae, the technical name for whiskers. They serve a purpose and it’s not a good idea to cut or trim them, as many pet owners feel they should do.

The “buzz” around Marco Island has been the talk of the Summer Day Camp the “Y” is offering along with the Specialty Camps that will be offered during the same time period.

Former Superintendent Ray Baker reached a tentative agreement with the Collier County School District to settle a lawsuit against the district for $555,000. “We believe the agreement is a fair one. It is not great for either side, but it is good for both sides,” said School Board Attorney Richard Withers. Baker filed his lawsuit against the district on Aug. 20. The lawsuit alleged the School Board violated state Sunshine Laws, so its July 31 vote to fire Baker was void.

The Marco Island Charter Middle School baseball team finished its season on a positive note, topping First Baptist Academy (FBA), 7-2 in the Southwest Conference Baseball League playoffs.