http://www.marconews.com/news/opinion/?partner=RSSmarconews.com Stories: Island Viewsen-usopinionhttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-housing-leads-way-economic-recove/?partner=RSSSome economists have been suggesting the recession is largely over, and the U.S. economy appears to be breathing new life. A major factor in this resuscitation is the ongoing stabilization and steps toward recovery in the real estate market. Sales are higher than year-ago levels. Pending sales for single family homes increased 163.64 percent year-to-date October 2008 to October 2009 and increased from last month (September 2009) 81.25 percent. Pending sales for all property types from October to October period increased 77.78 percent. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:55:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215175-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Charlie Neal, 2009 President, Marco Island Area Association of RealtorsMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Housing leads the way to economic recoverymarconews.comguest-commentary-housing-leads-way-economic-recoveurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215175-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-lets-work-together-solutions/?partner=RSSOver the last several months our community has struggled through the process known as the annual budget. This year has been somewhat more tedious than others due to the downturn in the economic conditions around the world. Failing financial institutions, plummeting property values and the loss of jobs we’re felt by us all, so we don’t need sanctimonious lectures from those that make complaining instead of problem solving their only contribution. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215173-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Steve “Stef” StefanidesMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Let’s work together for solutions marconews.comguest-commentary-lets-work-together-solutionsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215173-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/guest-commentary-effective-budgeting-challenging-t/?partner=RSSWhile reading the front page article in last Sunday’s Eagle, “City Budget Cuts Don’t Please All,” I became concerned about numerous misleading comments, including comparing our financial process to “renovating a house while it’s on fire,” and council’s direction to explore additional cost savings as a “financial witch hunt.” Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215172-733717opinion/columnists/allBy Dr. Bill Trotter, City CouncilorMarco Island, FLGuest Commentary: Effective budgeting in challenging timesmarconews.comguest-commentary-effective-budgeting-challenging-turn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215172-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/06/letetr-editor-future-our-city/?partner=RSSThis letter is addressed to those in the city who don’t seem to know what the financial status is of our city. It is fine for Ed Issler and Steve Stefanides and their kind to be critical of MITA because it is pretty obvious they do not know the facts, figures, and impact that MITA has studied intently. Are they aware that the debt of this city stands at $165 million plus, plus as of Sept. 30, 2008. The amount at the end of 2009 will be known in the financial audit. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:48:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215170-733717opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: The future of our citymarconews.comletetr-editor-future-our-cityurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-215170-733717Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-condos-should-be-rewarded-efficiency/?partner=RSSI am not a political activist and I don’t want to be, but I am a long time condo owner and a full time resident and several of my neighbors have asked me to put out a point of view to answer those calling for a 400 percent increase in our base sewer charges. It does appear to be noble that these increases could help offset the 1.7 million dollar shortfall to utility invoicing ... but that is another story ... skip to the last paragraphs if you want to focus on that point alone. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:36:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214775-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Condos should be rewarded for efficiencymarconews.comletter-editor-condos-should-be-rewarded-efficiencyurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214775-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-budget-concerns/?partner=RSSWhat’s wrong with asking the city manager to propose additional budget cuts? Your headline in the Sunday edition, “City budget cuts don’t please all.” As one of the individuals mentioned in the article suggesting the City Council take a closer look at the budget, I would like to respond as follows: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214773-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Budget concernsmarconews.comletter-editor-budget-concernsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214773-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-thompsons-predicament/?partner=RSSThe front page article in the Nov. 1 issue of this newspaper contained two reported statements, attributed to the city manager that merit particular attention. The first entry stated that Mr. Thompson compared the city financial process with that “of renovating a house while it’s on fire.” Precisely what relevant information this disturbing analogy attempts to convey, and what the citizens of this city are supposed to make of it, is anyone’s guess. Perhaps Thompson dismisses annual budget trials in general as hopeless. Or it could be that he reserves this judgment exclusively for those that take place here on Marco Island. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214771-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Thompson’s predicamentmarconews.comletter-editor-thompsons-predicamenturn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214771-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-rates-seem-fair/?partner=RSSThere continues to be some concern primarily between Marco Island home and condo owners over meter rates. Homes which are individually metered, pay $23.69 base rate per month while condo owners pay $4.39 when tied to a master meter. On the surface this seems patently unfair. I am making, I hope, a correct assumption that the two rates were set on a break-even basis to cover the costs (primarily administrative) associated with the following: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:30:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214770-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Rates seem fairmarconews.comletter-editor-rates-seem-fairurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214770-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-water-costs/?partner=RSSCondo owners continue to pay less for a gallon of water than the single family home residents pay. Those who follow island politics know this happened in order to get the votes needed to win the last election. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214769-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Water costsmarconews.comletter-editor-water-costsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214769-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-magel-supporter/?partner=RSSAlong with so many other Marco Island residents, I am concerned about the city’s spending. I have sent letters expressing my concern to Rob Popoff, the chairman of the City Council, and Steve Thompson, the city manager, but received no reply from either. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214767-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Magel supportermarconews.comletter-editor-magel-supporterurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214767-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/03/letter-editor-public-record-requests-veils-hidden-/?partner=RSSI have been following with much interest the recent articles on the “A” Rated Marco Island Charter Middle School, regarding individuals requesting public records. Comments have been made with respect to “transparency,” however it is interesting to note that there is never a mention of what these individuals are searching for, nor what their motives are, therefore it is obvious that the party that is lacking transparency are the individuals making these public records request. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:23:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214766-733714opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: Public record requests veils hidden agendamarconews.comletter-editor-public-record-requests-veils-hidden-urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214766-733714Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor-pet-o-ween-thanks/?partner=RSSOn behalf of the American Cancer Society I would like to publicly thank the following people for volunteering their time at Pet O Ween, a costume contest for owners and pets to benefit children of cancer. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214456-733710opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: Pet O Ween thanksmarconews.comletters-editor-pet-o-ween-thanksurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214456-733710Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor-no-dirt-no-need-dig/?partner=RSSAs a former MICMS school board member and creator of the TBE PTO student directory (the first one was done in 2000), I am disheartened by the motivation behind creating a MICMS student directory. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214419-733710opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: No dirt, no need to digmarconews.comletters-editor-no-dirt-no-need-digurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214419-733710Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor-tea-swamp/?partner=RSSWould someone please explain what swamp buggies and “tea parties” have in common? Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:42:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214417-733710opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: Tea in the swampmarconews.comletters-editor-tea-swampurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214417-733710Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor-merry-election-day-2010/?partner=RSS‘Tis the season for public elections, Marco Island-style. Now’s the time for all voters to lift their collective heads from the sands and slumbers of the self-serving rhetoric, platitudes and hyperbole provided by incumbent office holders and their devoted advocates, devout opponents and severest critics. Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:39:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214416-733710opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: Merry Election Day, 2010marconews.comletters-editor-merry-election-day-2010urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214416-733710Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/30/letters-editor/?partner=RSSNext week our political representatives will meet in Copenhagen to discuss a treaty between the members of the United Nations concerning “climate change” and how to tax those most responsible for “climate change.” Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214414-733710opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetters to the editor: Climate issuesmarconews.comletters-editorurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214414-733710Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/28/letter-editor-how-it-all-started/?partner=RSSDear Marco Citizens: I have been studying WWII history this summer. I have a great many video documentaries as well as a few terrific books such as “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” As I read the Eagle online today, I was truly stunned to see the following quote come out of a school board meeting: Monte Lazarus, appeared even more upset, raising his voice and pointing his finger at this reporter saying the newspaper shouldn’t “give these people, who are making innuendos about a lack of transparency at the school, a platform to speak.” Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214917-733708opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter To The Editor: How it all startedmarconews.comletter-editor-how-it-all-startedurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-214917-733708Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/22/letter-editor-thank-you/?partner=RSSI want to thank Mr. LaLonde for shedding light on the most recent controversy at Lely High School. I feel the need to add a few clarifications and perhaps share some insight concerning this situation. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213708-733702opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter to the Editor: Thank youmarconews.comletter-editor-thank-youurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213708-733702Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/22/letter-editor-broken-pipes-broken-rates/?partner=RSSIn the recent article in the Eagle titled “Utility employee writes on Marco’s ‘proactive sewer’ project”, Mr. Bradshaw confirmed that the old vitrified clay pipes that comprise some 40 percent of the old Marco Island sewer system are in sad shape and are leaking. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:31:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213707-733702opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter to the Editor: Broken pipes, broken ratesmarconews.comletter-editor-broken-pipes-broken-ratesurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213707-733702Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2009/oct/22/letter-editor-parking-dilemma/?partner=RSSJust when I was beginning to relax a bit from the myriad of other controversies, e.g., budget, etc., which have plagued the City Council the past several months, up popped a new one – and a very serious one as it turns out, one that has many Marcoites rather upset. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:20:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213702-733702opinion/lettersMarco Island, FLLetter to the Editor: The parking dilemmamarconews.comletter-editor-parking-dilemmaurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-213702-733702Change0Usable