News

Five-time champion Roger Federer reached his seventh straight Wimbledon final Friday and will face Andy Roddick for a chance at a record 15th Grand Slam title.

What will we be celebrating tomorrow, July 4, 2009? It’s been quite a few years since I studied American history, so I had to refresh my memory. During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June. After voting for independence, Congress then focused on the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining their decision, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated for two days and revised the Declaration and finally approved it on July 4, 1776. In 1791 the holiday became known as Independence Day.

Cloudy skies and the threat of rain Thursday afternoon did not deter Camp Director Dithson Noel and his staff of 5 counselors from organizing and hosting a pre-Fourth of July party for the Greater Marco Family YMCA campers at Parkside Elementary School in East Naples.
Over 80 campers and parents enjoyed a holiday parade by the children who made their own floats and each group’s routine was based on a patriotic theme.

”The Green Period” 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday through July 8. Multi-medium juried art exhibition features works by members of the Art League Marco Island Center for the Arts. All work is available for purchase.

Bonita Chamber wins award

On occasion, you know I feel obligated to dive into the “Peak Your Profits” “vintage vault” and uncover, dust off, and once again share with you and the world, a “classic column.” One that’s just too good to be published only once!

Banks may have had their bail outs, but small business loans are no handout, Island business owners say.

Every year, come spring, I get uncharacteristically excited about gardening and — filled with optimism and good intentions — I buy all the herbs the local garden center carries, ranging from basil to cilantro and from oregano to thyme.

Is there a formula for success in the restaurant business? If there was one, Scott Gibbs must know the secret, because he has succeeded where others have failed.

What a star spangled week it has been at the Greater Marco Family YMCA.

July has arrived, and it is a good bet not much will change for Southwest Florida anglers when it comes to the very warm weather and warm water temperatures. Factors anglers might have to consider in order to be more comfortable and have productive fishing and catching will include changing the time to fish and just maybe targeting different areas.

Major League Baseball is playing hardball with Florida, and with Lee County. Poised to spend $75 million to build a new spring training home for the Boston Red Sox, county officials have commissioned a study of just what the presence of the team - and of the Minnesota Twins - means to the local economy. Who comes from where to see games? How many games do they see while they’re here? Do they come here solely for spring training baseball? How much do they spend?

The Goodland Baptist Mission was established in the 1960s and held services at Tommie Barfield Elementary.

Could Collier County commissioners outsource services currently provided by Clerk of Courts Dwight Brock?

Star-Spangled Sing-a-Long and Ice-Cream Social: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, Disseler Hall, United Church of Marco Island.

Two symbols of faith were recently added to San Marco Catholic Church. A hand-carved wooden crucifix was affixed to the wall in the main room of the parish hall, and a wood and glass ambry was mounted on the wall to the left of the altar in the church sanctuary.

I love the woods. I was born and raised in Vermont and Connecticut where the woods were my playground. As the population increases, it has become necessary to set aside natural areas to preserve native plant and animal communities.

Marco’s Amber Prange steps up to the varsity girls coaching position at Marco Island Charter Middle School.

Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, is once again reaching out to families, promoting “togetherness in golf” with the International Family Golf Festival program.

Much of the design work for six-laning Daniels Parkway where it runs by the Boston Red Sox stadium property in Lee County is already done.