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Marco Eagle

Full gallery »Fess Parker dies at age 85

  • Fess Parker as Davy Crockett in 1955. After his years of playing frontier heroes, Parker retired and bought land in Central California. Along the way, he donated his movie long rifle to the Alamo and his coonskin cap and buckskins to the Smithsonian.
  • For Fess Parker, a life in show biz left him mellow, happily married and enjoying time with new friends. He sang for us his favorite song, before dinner at his Fess Parker Inn in California.
  • Our memorable evening with actor Fess Parker and his wife Marcella included a great time around the piano at the Fess Parker Inn in California. Marcella Parker, left, Fess Parker with wine glass, Robin Curle, Chris Curle, Don Farmer and Stan Smith.
  • Fess Parker enjoyed meeting guests at his Wine Country Inn and Spas in Los Olivos CA. We had a memorable evening there with him and his wife Marcella in 2004. Fess Parker died Thursday at 85 at the family home in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Fess Parker, the Davy Crockett star, died at age 85 on Thursday.



Full gallery »Marco St. Pat's festivities

  • Piper Mark Ryan entertains at Cathy O'Clarke's. He hails from Alaska, and made the trip down to Marco for the second year in a row.
  • Bob Mullen is all things Irish as he steps outside Cathy O'Clarke's for a look-see at what's going on outside.
  • Matthew Bartos reads out a winning ticket number from the bandstand outside Rookies at the Marco Walk Plaza, where hordes of people congregated.
  • Dawn Leonard leans in to give her son Brendan a kiss during the festivities at Cathy O'Clarke's Irish pub and restaurant at the Marco Walk plaza.
  • Deb Sullivan, who changed her last name to O'Sullivan just for the evening, settles in for the fun at Cathy O'Clarke's.
  • Angela Culhane tries her hand (and throat) at sucking down a yard of ale.

Green was everywhere, and grub and grog too



Full gallery »Bloomin' beauty

  • A cheerful bloom beckons attention at the annual Calusa Garden Club's annual show, held over the weekend at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Behind is World War II Staff Sergeant Dr. Phillip Ballou, dressed here in Sons of the American Revolution regalia.
  • Honoring the show's patriotic theme is this exhibit, dedicated to the country's armed forces.
  • Showgoers peruse what's on offer at the weekend display .
  • Simple, but this arrangement speaks volumes about the show's patriotic theme.
  • Janet Desch and Janet Cook study on of the horticultural entries in the show.
  • Military veterans Dr. Phillip Ballou (in Sons of the Revolution dress), and Lt. Cmdr. Ralph Wahl lend atmosphere to the club's theme this year of Celebrate America.

Marco Calusa Garden Club show has patriotic theme



Full gallery »Fine Art & Craft Festival

  • Nita Sissung and Barbara Weber make a purchase at the WaterBeads booth during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.
  • Yvonne Malinich browses the jewelry on display in the Ray & Susan Boroughs handcrafted contemporary jewelry booth during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.
  • A patriotic wind spinning ornament on display in Richard Study’s booth during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.
  • Andy and Debbie Getch from Ft. Myers enjoy the music of Patchouli during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.
  • Les Hofstetter from Chardon, Ohio admires a wind spinning ornament on display in Richard Study’s booth during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.
  • Richard Study adjusts a double spiral crystal twister ornament on display in his booth during the Fine Art & Craft Festival Sunday afternoon at Veterans Community Park.


Full gallery »Lions Club annual pancake breakfast

  • Alan Wetjen manning the griddle during the Marco Island Lions Club’s pancake breakfast Saturday morning.
  • The Marco Island Lions Club’s pancake breakfast sign enticed people to attend the pancake breakfast.
  • Joan Kenney prepares pancake batter during the Marco Island Lions Club’s pancake breakfast Saturday morning.
  • Joan Kenney prepares pancake batter during the Marco Island Lions Club’s pancake breakfast Saturday morning.
  • Bruce Miles pours a cup of coffee for Harry Devlin. Miles is the Tail Twister for the Marco Island Club. The Tail Twister is an officer and the ‘pep mater’ of his Lions Club. His duties are to instill enthusiasm and good fellowship in the meetings, and to keep harmony.
  • Keith Pershing purchases 50/50 raffle tickets from Iradj Taheri, left, and Russ Herrmann during the Marco Island Lions Club’s pancake breakfast Saturday morning.


Full gallery »Ralph’s Seafood at Farmers Market

  • Terry Townley, talks with regular customer Bob Schnitzius about favorite ways to prepare real black grouper, $19.95 a pound, at Ralph's Seafood.
  • Jumbo shrimp come right off the shrimp boat fleets of Ft. Myers Beach, to Ralph's Seafood at the Farmers Market.
  • Locally caught clams are just $5.95 a dozen, brought to Marco Island from Ft. Myers Beach by Ralph's Seafood, at the Farmers Market, every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Oysters from Apalachicola are available at Ralph's Seafood for just $6.95 a dozen.


Full gallery »Go Red Luncheon preview

  • Marco Island Florist, 178 S. Barfield Drive, is Marco's exclusive outlet for heart-healthy Norman Love Confections, a large sponsor of the 2010 Southwest Florida Go Red Luncheon For Women, scheduled for March 19 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point.
  • Nancy Carrington, left, owner of the Marco Island Florist, and Jenny Ann Oister, right, chair of the 2010 Southwest Florida Go Red For Women Luncheon, hosted the pre-party for the inaugural 2010 Southwest Florida Go Red For Women Luncheon.
  • Heart-healthy dark chocolates by Norman Love Confections are now available on Marco Island, exclusively at Marco Island Florist, 178 S. Barfield Drive.
  • Jennifer Baggett, regional director of the American Heart Association, left, Christin Collins of Norman Love Confections and Tiffany Homuth of Marco Island, attend the party at Marco Island Florist on Tuesday, to celebrate the inaugural Southwest Florida Go Red For Women Luncheon, March 19 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point.

Marco Island Florist and Norman Love Confections host celebration for inaugural Southwest Florida luncheon



Full gallery »Shells on show at Marco

  • Creativity catches the eye Saturday at Marco Island's 30th annual shell show at the island's Presbyterian Church. The juried show featured scientific collections, as well as artistic creations such as this one. Quentin Roux Staff
  • Saturday concluded Marco Island's 30th annual shell show at the island's Presbyterian Church. The juried show featured scientific collections, as well as artistic creations such as this one. Quentin Roux Staff
  • Saturday concluded Marco Island's 30th annual shell show at the island's Presbyterian Church. The juried show featured scientific collections, as well as artistic creations such as this one. Quentin Roux Staff
  • Typical of the imaginative exhibits is this unsual example of shell headgear, which picked up a third-place award in an artistic division.
  • Rose Fanello and her daugther-in-law Sherry Fanello complete a purchase with the help of Maria das gracas da Silva, who was also an exhibitor.
  • This lit creation is an exhibit, and won a second place in an artistic division.

The juried show features exotic specimens as well as creative art work. It runs through Saturday at the Marco Presbyterian Church



Full gallery »9-foot python found on Marco Island

  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission hold a nine-foot three-inch python that was found in the yard of a Marco Island resident on Thursday, March 11, 2010. This is the first report of a python on Marco Island officials say, but according to FWC Cpt. Jayson Horadam, they have found three in the last two weeks in the surrounding areas, including Rookery Bay. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg,' Horadam said. An estimated more than 100,000 pythons are spread throughout the area into the Everglades. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officer Marc Shea, center, measures a nine-foot three-inch python that was found in the yard of a Marco Island resident on Thursday, March 11, 2010. This is the first report of a python on Marco Island officials say, but according to FWC Cpt. Jayson Horadam, they have found three in the last two weeks in the surrounding areas, including Rookery Bay. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg,' Horadam said. An estimated more than 100,000 pythons are spread throughout the area into the Everglades. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Cpt. Jayson Horadam, center, and officer Marc Shea, left, measure a nine-foot three-inch python that was found in the yard of a Marco Island resident on Thursday, March 11, 2010. This is the first report of a python on Marco Island officials say, but according to Horadam, they have found three in the last two weeks in the surrounding areas, including Rookery Bay. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg,' Horadam said. An estimated more than 100,000 pythons are spread throughout the area into the Everglades. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission Cpt. Jayson Horadam, center, stands on a noose holding a nine-foot three-inch python that was found in the yard of a Marco Island resident on Thursday, March 11, 2010. This is the first report of a python on Marco Island officials say, but according to Horadam, they have found three in the last two weeks in the surrounding areas, including Rookery Bay. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg,' Horadam said. An estimated more than 100,000 pythons are spread throughout the area into the Everglades. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • A 9-foot Burmese Python was discovered on Marco Island at 831 Buttonwood Court on Thursday, March 11, 2010. The exotic snake was captured by officials with Florida Wildlife Comission and taken back to the FWC facility on Shell Island Road. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • An FWC officer, who works undercover and requested anonymity, nooses the mean end of the python discovered by landscapers near a Marco Island home's lanai on Thursday.

Landscapers discover a 9-foot python under a Marco home's pool lanai on Thursday and call FWC, Marco police for help.



Full gallery »Irish Ayes at Marco St. Pat's parade

  • Debbie Servente takes a call with nothing less than a green phone during the parade.
  • A young parade participant gets a low view on the proceedings.
  • Kathryn Foot and Lynn Morrell from Canada sport Irish-Marco Island palm headgear.
  • Guest of honor Peter Hayden, left, who was on duty at the time of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York, sits alongside Marco Island Fire Rescue Chief Mike Murphy.
  • Parade organizer Kathleen Reynolds shows how it feels to be part of another successful parade.
  • A Lely High School band member provides oomph.

The wind was still cool, but the weather toasty for Sunday's street parade on Marco Island



Full gallery »Knights of Columbus Fish Fry/Baked Dinner

  • Lee Cataldi serves Melissa Davis during the fish fry/baked dinner Friday night. Davis from East Lansing, MI was in town visiting her grandparents.
  • Jim Fox mans the frying station during the Knights of Columbus San Marco Council’s fish fry/baked dinner Friday night.
  • Jim Fox empties a basket of golden brown fried tilapia during the Knights of Columbus San Marco Council’s fish fry/baked dinner Friday night.
  • Attendees of the Knights of Columbus San Marco Council’s fish fry/baked dinner were treated to golden brown fried tilapia.
  • Jim Fox places pieces of tilapia into the fryer during the Knights of Columbus San Marco Council’s fish fry/baked dinner Friday night.
  • Jerry Brosky prepares coleslaw during the fish fry/baked dinner Friday night.


Full gallery »Marco CRA questioned at In the Round

  • Marco City Manager Steve Thompson uses flip charts to lay out the concept for the proposed Town Center CRA at the 'In the Round' meeting Thursday night.
  • Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala speaks to the audience at the 'In the Round' event Thursday night at Iberia Bank. Marco City Manager and Councilman Bill Trotter look on.
  • Steve Stefanides questions the panel during the Iberia Bank 'In the Round' CRA presentation Thursday night. He urged that private investment be allowed to take the lead.
  • Marco City Manager Steve Thompson addresses the crowd during the Iberia Bank 'In the Round' presentation Thursday evening. The event explored the advisability of creating a Community Redevelopment Authority, or CRA, on Marco Island.
  • Marco resident Jim Johnston questions the panel during the Iberia Bank 'In the Round' CRA presentation Thursday night.
  • Marco City Councilman Wayne Waldack, left, with necktie, listens to the presentation with other islanders at the 'In the Round' meeting Thursday evening. Waldack was later taken to the hospital by ambulance, after experiencing chest pains.

Marco residents had many questions for panelists at the In the Round held at IberiaBank on Thursday night. The city is creating a Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) for the Island's business district, which is an approximate 250-acre area around the Town Center shopping center.



Full gallery »Measuring the Weather

  • Spencer Baldwin waits his turn to ask Meteorologist John Patrick a weather-related question during the Tommie Barfield Elementary science day for 2nd Grade students.
  • Meteorologist John Patric of ABC-7 poses with Sebastian Haedelt, who presented the weatherman with a commemorative album prepared by the students in honor of his visit.
  • Victoria Novotny, a 2nd Grade Tommie Barfield Elementary student, holds a UV ray measuring probe aloft during a science and meteorological discovery day held Thursday at the school.
  • A young student shows rapt attention during John Patrick's talk.
  • Scenes from the science day at Tommie Barfield Elementary.

ABC-7 meteorologist John Patrick enlightens 2nd Grade students on all things weather during a science day at TBE



Full gallery »Abandoned homes draw attention to code policies

  • A pre-foreclosure home at 266 Seminole Ct., Marco Island, has more than $270,000 in code fines and city liens as fines for failure to connect to the sewer and a fallen seawall continue to accrue at $500 per day.
  • The City of Marco Island attempts to keep the seawall at 266 Seminole Ct. secure enough to prevent it from pulling down the walls of adjacent properties. The violation has existed for three years in the abandoned home.
  • The grass is greener on the other side of an abandoned home. The home at 266 Seminole Ct. has been abandoned for about three years, accruing more than $270,000 in Marco code fines which continue to grow at the rate of $500 per day, preventing the sale of the house listed at $299,000.
  • The neighbor to this abandoned home on Seminole Court has dealt with rat infestations, a failed seawall causing his yard to sink in and other signs of blight at the home next door for about three years.
  • 266 Seminole Ct., Marco Island

Some say reducing code fines may help sell and fix-up Marco's abandoned homes. Others say a more strict approach to fines would be most effective.



Full gallery »Broom dancers sweep Little Bar

  • Christine Harrison special to the eagle Connie Costello and "Spongebob," at the annual Broom Dance.
  • Christine Harrison special to the eagle Carol Mask of Abbington, Va., with her broom, "Spring Cleaning Bunny."
  • Christine Harrison special to the eagle Local entertainer Merrill, with friend Celeste Navarro at the Broom Dance, held Saturday.
  • Christine Harrison special to the eagle Kent Brown, left, Steve Laupert and Mike Duffy, of Marco Island, watch the dancers at the annual Broom Dance, held every year at Little Bar.
  • Christine Harrison special to the eagle Percussionist Val Nail puts on a show with Texas original blues band Diddly Squat, Saturday night at the Broom Dance at Little Bar in Goodland.

Broom dancers sweep Little Bar Restaurant goers off their feet in Goodland



Full gallery »Rollers roll away with title

  • Nicki Liolis of the Bocce team Ohio, follows through on her toss in the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship on Saturday. Her team took third place.
  • Roger LaLonde Franz Biase, Bocce judge, motions for teams to come forward for a measurement to determine which balls can be counted for points in the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship on Saturday at Mackle Park.
  • Yankees' Aldo Guerra studies his shot in the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship.
  • Fran Grajzl looks intently at her Bocce shot in the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship. Her Out-numbered team, the defending champs, came in second this time.
  • Mindy Matusiak Eagle i Contributor Jerry Grajzl concentrates on his bocce ball throw in the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship.
  • At a break for lunch, compteitiors and attendees, numbering more than 200, lined up for sandwiches and refreshments on Saturday at the 5th Annual Marco Island Bocce Championship.

The Rollers win the Marco Island Bocce Championship.



Full gallery »Pooches helping people

  • Rose Buchetto and Toby the Maltese enjoy an affectionate moment during a pet therapy session presented each Friday at Sanitasole, a Marco adult daily care facility for people with Alzheimer's and other degenerative age-related diseases.
  • Reggie the poodle enjoys the attention.
  • Bob Frettoloso sits with Toby the Maltese during the therapy session.
  • Presenter Florie Enders introduces her dog Reggie the poodle to Rose 'Rosebud' Buchetto.
  • Reggie shows his own interest when something catches his attention at the therapy session.
  • Presenter Jan Ross, in blue, acquaints Julie Domiano with her new pet therapy dog, Toby.

Weekly visit by dogs to adult care center in pictures



Full gallery »Final council meeting for two honors many on Marco

  • Chairman Rob Popoff hugs his mom at his last City Council meeting Monday night after giving her a symbolic key to the city for the patience she taught him.
  • Marco Island attorney and Historical Society President Craig Woodward is given a key to the city by Council Chairman Rob Popoff.
  • Former City Councilwoman Terri DiSciullo is given a key to the city by Marco City Council Chairman Rob Popoff on Monday night.
  • Councilman Ted Forcht and his wife Jennifer Forcht take a trip down memory lane together as they watch a slide show of Forcht's years on council created by City Public Information Coordinator Lisa Douglass. Douglass said Forcht, who served during his last meeting Monday, will be remembered as a gentleman with some of the best tongue-in-cheek quotes.
  • Chairman Rob Popoff, accompanied by his family, watches a slide show of his time serving on city council during his last scheduled meeting on Monday evening.
  • Marco City Council Chairman Rob Popoff honors his mother at the City Council meeting on Monday evening.

The final City Council meeting for Chairman Rob Popoff and Councilman Ted Forcht was a meeting of many proclamations and moments of appreciation to several individuals and organizations on Monday night.



Full gallery »Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk

  • Coriell Miller, left, Billie Maine, and Remy Miller celebrate after completing the walk. Coriell was walking in memory of Vivian Langberg. Maine is a cancer survivor, and Remy was walking in memory of Dianne Clatur.
  • The Marco Island Strummers provided entertainment before the start of the Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk Saturday morning at Tigertail Beach.
  • Marie Lynn McChesney places a Curves sticker on the check of Pat Wamsley before the start of the Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk. McChesney and Wamsley are members of the Curves walking team.
  • Anette Mennella purchases two legacy stars from Vanessa Warner during the Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk Saturday morning. The stars Mennella purchased were in honor of Mennella’s sister-in-laws, Veronica Mennella and Susan Pecora, who are both battling cancer.
  • Kirk Evans, Leslie Moore, Sue Evans, and Madelyn Harmeyer pose for a picture before the start of the Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk Saturday morning.
  • Natalie Kirstein, co-chair of the event, speaks to the participants before the start of the Making Strides Against Cancer beach walk Saturday morning.


Full gallery »Marco woman found dead in car pulled from canal

  • A Marco woman, later identified as Clare Tucker, 90, was found dead in her car in a canal near Sand Hill Street, Marco, at about 12 p.m. on Friday. Bald Eagle Towing, Collier County Emergency Medical Services, along with Marco Island police and fire personnel, assisted in pulling the car from the canal.
  • Marco Island Fire Rescue Department's dive team assists in removing a car, with a woman inside, out of a canal near Sand Hill Street on Friday afternoon. (From left) Marco fire Capt. Dean Heasley, Marco firefighter/paramedic Albert Munoz, Lt. paramedic Mike Sullivan with Collier County Emergency Medical Services and Marco firefighter Chris Bowden.
  • Marco Island Police Chief Thom Carr, left, and Capt. Dave Baer talk on the scene of what the Chief is calling a vehicular homicide investigation on Friday afternoon. They say a Marco woman, who was reported missing Thursday night and last seen by friends on Wednesday night, was found in the car located by Detective Glenn Zirgibel in a canal near an empty lot on Sand Hill Street.
  • Marco marine patrol and the Marco Fire Rescue Dive Team search for a woman and her car in a canal near Sand Hill Street, Marco Island, after police say they believe she drove the car off the road late Wednesday evening. She was found by the dive team, including Capt. Jimmy Pope, Lt. Ross Riegler and firefighter Chris Bowden, dead inside the car, on Friday afternoon.

Marco resident Clare Tucker, 90, who was reported missing to police on Thursday evening, was found dead in the car pulled out of a canal on Friday.




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