Memorial Day is more than picnic and backyard parties.

I write this open letter to the staff and volunteers at Cultural Park Theater, the theater's leadership, to the residents of Cape Coral and to the city fathers of Southwest Florida's largest metropolitan area.

Barron Collier High was near the top on the U.S. News & World Report's high school rankings, released today. The Naples school ranked 31 of 777 public schools in Florida and 486 of about 21,000 nationwide. It was the only...

Selecting a builder is more than a contract. It is more analogous to choosing a partner in a serious relationship.

A message to Nike about Tiger Woods advertisement:

Gun Violence in America

Tony discusses customer feedback and how passion drives the business. Also, he shares the story behind his Carrot Cake recipe.

Potential Market Impact of Sequestration and the Debt Ceiling

30 Days of election and we will have a new leader in under 39 hours.

Life poured into written word the laws of our country.

Good fishing despite the winy weather.

What are the most painful choices we face protecting our watershed?

When university faculty insert actual voter registration into an academic curriculum that narrowly embraces distinct ethic then how can it be construed as being anything but the partisan coercion of students beholden to their instructors for their grades?

Whether you think it’s wise or workable to require politicians to make public every burp and cough is not the story’s point. The governor drew attention to the issue with a new plan, and gave it an impressive name.

Byron Donalds receives Herman Cain's endorsement for Congress!

“Did Not Survive” opens with veteran, and pregnant, zookeeper Iris Oakley trapped in a hopeless situation as she attempts to save Zoo Foreman, Kevin Wallace, from an apparent elephant attack.

When she opens her mouth, hypocrisy flows and fact checking is essential.

independent voters have more responsibility then just voting in general elections; our political two party system actually does not want the 35 to 40 percent of the decision makers in the general election to have any responsibilty in selecting the primary candidates.

A startling announcement from the National Collegiate Athletic Association that will change college and professional sports forever

"Marriage" and More!

Fantasy sports are all of the rage today. How about we try a round of fantasy politics

On the last article we addressed hacking away at the unessentials. Unessentials are things that we actually don't need. Things like oxygen, water, food, clothing, and a house over your head are truly essential items. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, television, and...

Do you the difference between "weather" and "climate?" I thought I did, until I started preparing for a paper at the recent American Meteorological Society conference in Oklahoma City, OK. Now, I'm looking for input from others...

The green tunnel has arrived! So far on my journey I've hiked 416 miles. It's amazing what the human body is capable of doing. That being said, those miles are not done with zero pain. Blisters, bruises, and horrible swelling....

And now my daughter, soon to graduate from FGCU, has to leave?

The 2011 March Florida Panther Update is now available on-line!  

If you don’t prepare ahead of time, ‘You’re Screwed’ said the Little Red Hen

Just so you’ll think twice before calling me a right wing Republican extremist, let me tell you a little bit about myself. First, yes, I am a registered Republican, but other than Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, my votes have gone independent.

How to run an effective local campaign

I've had trouble, how about you?

Changes involving long held moral and religious positions are highly emotional and require much time and effort to effect in a positive way

Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s as compared to any other time of the year. The extra waste amounts to about 1.2 million extra tons per week (or an extra 6 million tons during the entire holiday season) and is being predicted to be roughly the same for this year even in light of the economic downturn.

People who suffer from burnout often feel fatigued, sapped emotionally and tired just doing the day to day grind. Tempers can get a little short or a reaction may seem like an overreaction to a small incident. You might see someone who is much less productive than they were before, or exhibit a more “I don’t care” attitude.

There’s a significant issue that plagues our great nation, yet it gets relatively little political attention—education at inner-city schools. In a country as great as ours, it’s inexcusable that only five out of thirty kids will show up to their English class on a Friday afternoon at West Philadelphia High School. Where's the political will to do something?

This invasion of France, the second one, will be successful.

What the School Board does now, can set the stage for future progress!

Stand up to slips, You can't afford to let them slide!

That starts with T which rhymes with P which stands for ... dirty pool

Occasionally, people are going to suffer a public meltdown that will be amplified by a combination of media and internet. The funny thing about meltdowns is that they always attract attention, but can have very different implications.

The NAA has made serious errors of judgment in proceeding with its largely secret plan to expand the runways to enable large regional commercial jets to use the Naples airport and two commissioners who's terms are ending should not be reappointed.

First of all, this installment is NOT about dogs! It is about (as the song says) those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. And known as the "dog days" of summer, August is the month when it is simply too...

What are probiotics and prebiotics? Are they beneficial for your health? Read on to lear more . . .

America Needs to Be More Self-Sufficient

This is the day. The day we reach our final destination, Houston. The excitement this morning is palpable. The riders are ready, the support team is ready. Lets roll. We eat, we pack up and hit the road. Much love...

Get ready for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! There are decisions made on your behalf that don't always make it into the media.

Maintenance, your money's worth?

The campaign for Central Bark has begun!

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking…or not…when they are trying to cross a road or walk along a street or highway.

Let this be a one-stop shop for questions, answers

Please start posting them below

Three new restaurants come to Naples

Come to our third Program of the Season on Tuesday, Jan.5th at The Conservancy of SW Florida auditorium at 7:30pm to hear Dr. Jerry Jackson talk about these marvelous creatures.

Discount for members of the Irish American Club

Master entertainer Louis Prima died in 1978, but he remains as popular as ever, mainly due to the efforts of his widow, Gia Maione.

Answer: Cap and Trade

Please share your experiences with this bug and its vaccine

Sustainable Tour Across North America, from Naples to the Pacific Northwest, to the Midwest, to the Great Lakes, Southeast...and back to Florida.

Sunflowers, Chad Oliver and me!

eNewsletter expert puts it all in perspective for professional service providers

Sometimes kindness, real and metaphorical, occurs in unexpected places, if only we take the time to look for it.

Welcome to this blog. I am running for election to the Marco Island City Council, and am very interested in what you, the voters on Marco Island, desire in your city government. I have developed a website http://www.magel4marco.com , you can read additional information about me, my position on some of the current issues, and thoughts on making city government more responsive to the citizens.
I believe my management experience in lean, cost effective operations and strong financial management are needed at this time in Marco’s history. I have been involved in numerous governmental committees serving the citizens on Marco and Collier County. My campaign theme is “ An Independent Voice – For A Change”, and if elected will work to represent the citizens of Marco balancing your requirements for services with the realities of the economy in these difficult financial times.
Please let me have your thoughts

Christopher Ellis gets a surprise aboard the USS Ronald Reagan that brightens his day.

An introduction to 'propaganda'

I bid you adieu!

I chastised myself for worrying about Ghanaians holding their own on the world stage as I eavesdropped on the two very astute Ghanaian nationals giving my fellow Americans a real run. I already appreciate how good we Americans are in these matters. I felt pride, too for the Ghanaians so up to the challenge. These people are important to me now, too.

Matt Hudson expects to be busy this year.

Councilman Wayne Waldack, here, reporting back from Orlando, where the annual Florida League of Cities Conference was held.

Marco Islanders' old cell phones can create a great benefit for our troops abroad

The Puerto Rican national team takes on the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium.

Time to go ... and an MVP from Glades Central

Allow me to get off of the Pop Culture Pedestal for a second and retell one of the most moving and inspiring stories I've ever heard, from my drama professor Sid Homan. I hope that, upon reading it, you feel as ready to take on the world as I do.

Well done Dr. Gray!

Officials with the Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office determined Tuesday night that the 1,000 faulty ballots have white blemishes in the tracking area on the left-hand margin. This prevented the machines from scanning them properly.

Kona Grill, an American grill and sushi bar, announced that it has closed its restaurant in Naples, according to a press release on the company's Web site.

I would like to give you a run-down of the many subjects involved with boating safety in the form of a quick Q&. I number them for easy recall.

Come join the grand opening of Mackle Park's Spray Park and Tot Basketball Court on Saturday, Oct 13th from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

The season finally ended and what a year it was. We took the season to the last possible day you can have in Minor League Baseball.

Margie Ogle is an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP™ ) and a member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP ™).

The sandy beaches and the gorgeous warm waters of Marco Island can make for the perfect day unless you are one of the unfortunate ones that encounter a Dasyatidae, also known as stingrays.

The snook bite is going off on the beaches! The best time to get out there with a fly rod is at daybreak but the bite can last well into the heat of the afternoon if conditions are favorable. Look for the bait and cast on the fringes. There's no need to cast out very far; in fact, you shouldn't even have to get your feet wet as long as the tides rollin' in!

The Pittsburgh Pirates made three early runs stand up in a 3-2 win over the Red Sox.

North Dakota fans are chanting and feeling better but FGCU still is in cruise control with a 77-56 lead with less than five minutes remaining. Well, there's a Steffi Sorensen steal and layup. That's how fast the Eagles are in this.

Monday qualifier Tim Conley finished up at 6-under.

I kind of worked it out the last 25 holes were just really as good as I can play, I think. I’m still making mental errors because it’s my first tournament since September.

She was always going to be a great champion, Serena Williams. From her early days on tour it was obvious she had great natural skill and a fierce drive to win and be more than just 'Venus' little sister".

One of the rites of passages of coming to Florida—at least in my eyes—is going to Disney World. I mean, how can you pass it up? It’s only a few hours down the road. I also have a girlfriend, who is a little too obsessed with Ariel for a 24 year old, who begged me to go.

X-tina and Ray LaMontagne get their retro on and in turn release some great music.

Have you heard the one about the man who died and went to heaven? As he approached the pearly white gates of glory, Saint Peter welcomed him to heaven and asked him where he was from. “Marco Island,” the man replied.
“Oh,” said Saint Peter, “You might not like it here.”

Answer: Corned beef hash, baked beans, ham and cheese and white bread.
Question: What are foods you won't find in The Ritz-Carlton dining room.

Are you sure that was a Category 3?

It's a good thing we all get along because working in a room that's probably 12 feet by 20 feet with five or six other people isn't the friendliest of situations.

South Lee County responders back in action, ready for assessments.

Fire alarms were tripped throughout the morning due to losses in power. Evacuees were already standing in lines that stretched the entire length of the concourse waiting for their breakfast, fruit and struedel, when an automated message blared over the loudspeakers at 7:58 a.m. telling them to report to the nearest exit.