http://www.marconews.com/news/news/environment/?partner=RSSmarconews.com Stories: Habitaten-usnews/environmenthttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/10/braided-experience/?partner=RSSTo start, I just may be a member of just a few who see the new era of synthetic braided line as the “devil” when it comes to interfacing with the environment. Until a few years back most fishing lines were branded as monofilament, strung from nylon in a myriad of tints and strengths it satisfied generations of anglers and helped land untold lunkers. dawnpatrolcharters@compuserve.com (BILL WALSH)Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:52:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300176-734543news/columnists/bill-walshBILL WALSHMarco Island, FLThe braided experiencemarconews.combraided-experienceurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300176-734543Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/10/hissssss-teria-over-snakes/?partner=RSSSnakes and alligators are two of the most feared species we live with on the edge of the Everglades. According to National Geographic News, Florida has unfortunately developed an established population of three large, alien constrictors or snakes. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:21:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300160-734543news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLHissssss-teria over snakesmarconews.comhissssss-teria-over-snakesurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300160-734543Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/feb/10/paddle-wild-side-canoe-through-floridas-natural-pa/?partner=RSSCollier County is known for many things. The area is a golf mecca, a shopping destination, and a gourmet restaurant lover’s delight. The beaches of Naples and Marco Island are world-class. But there is another side to Collier County, one that even many who have lived here for decades never experience. lances22@gmail.com (LANCE SHEARER)Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:05:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300155-734543environmentLANCE SHEARERMarco Island, FLA paddle on the wild side: Canoe through Florida’s natural past at Collier-Seminole State Parkmarconews.compaddle-wild-side-canoe-through-floridas-natural-paurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-300155-734543Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/29/fish-florida-gill-net-ban-constitution-amendment/?partner=RSSFlorida fishermen are now pushing a new grassroots effort to lift a net mesh size restriction, and Collier County is on its leading edge. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298899-734531environmentERIC STAATSNAPLESCollier fisherman helps lead push to remove 2-inch mesh limit on gill nets marconews.comfish-florida-gill-net-ban-constitution-amendmenturn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298899-734531Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/28/fruit-trees-bear-essentials/?partner=RSSBlossom and fruit drop and fruit splitting are fairly common problems for fruit trees. While losing blossoms and small fruit from your fruit trees can be disturbing it is usually a natural process. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298859-734530news/columnists/eileen-wardEILEEN WARDMarco Island, FLGardening: Fruit trees ... the bear essentialsmarconews.comfruit-trees-bear-essentialsurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298859-734530Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/23/tree-grows-winterberry-beautification-committee-pl/?partner=RSS“Ya got enough guys?” someone asked Public Works Director Tim Pinter as the crew assembled for the ceremonial tree planting Friday at Calusa Park on Winterberry Drive. A cast of thousands – well, a dozen or so – gathered to put two Jamaican dogwood trees into the ground, in celebration of Florida’s Arbor Day, along with eight shiny official shovels, heavy equipment, and the laborers who did the actual work of planting the trees. lances22@gmail.com (LANCE SHEARER)Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298247-734525environmentLANCE SHEARERMARCO ISLANDA tree grows on Winterberry: Marco Island Beautification Committee plants Jamaican dogwoods for Tree City designationmarconews.comtree-grows-winterberry-beautification-committee-plurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298247-734525Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/22/marco-island-beach-advisory-committee-beach-laser/?partner=RSSTourist tax dollars are up, and that’s good news for Marco Island’s Beach Advisory Committee. In preliminary reports, Tourist Development Council tax collections are $337,133 over budget for 2011. Money from the TDC helps fund beach projects. On Jan. 18, the committee learned that two projects have been moved to the permitting process. An e-mail from Victor Rios, a Marco Island member of Collier County’s Coastal Advisory Committee, informed the beach committee that a contract for laser grading was approved. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298250-734524environmentCHERYL FERRARAMARCO ISLANDMarco Island Beach Advisory Committee: Beach laser grading, south beach renourishment approved for permitting marconews.commarco-island-beach-advisory-committee-beach-laserurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298250-734524Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/19/marco-island-property-owners-question-mackle-park/?partner=RSSPublic comment sparked renewed debate over plans to build a one-story gymnasium, teen center, adult center and welcome area expansion at Mackle Park. Public speaker Joe Rola asked for an update on the new building at the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting Tuesday. Bryan Milk, community affairs director, said plans are progressing to fund a $4 million building and to negotiate a leaseback partnership with a selected builder. He said offers have been received from Mills Gilbane Building Company, Phoenix Associates, and more recently, Kraft Construction. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298000-734521environmentCHERYL FERRARAMARCO ISLANDMarco Island property owners question Mackle Park building expansion costsmarconews.commarco-island-property-owners-question-mackle-parkurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298000-734521Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/19/pedal-pushers-tout-tour-de-marco/?partner=RSSFor the world, April 22 is Earth Day. For Marco Island this year, it will be Bike Day. Members of the City of Marco Island Bike Path Ad Hoc Committee, taxed with handling all topics bicycle-related, confirmed at their meeting on Friday, Jan. 13 that they will hold a second running of the Tour de Marco bicycle event, with April 22 the target date. With Chairman Al Musico absent, the bike committee meeting, in the Niles conference room at City Hall, was led by Vice Chairman Victor Ordija. lances22@gmail.com (LANCE SHEARER)Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297999-734521environmentLANCE SHEARERMARCO ISLANDPedal pushers tout Tour de Marco marconews.compedal-pushers-tout-tour-de-marcourn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297999-734521Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/17/cousteau-mangrove-restoration-about-saving/?partner=RSS“If we invest in nature, nature will invest in us,” said Cousteau, 44, an ocean explorer, activist and documentary filmmaker in Southwest Florida speaking to the annual meeting of the Conservancy of Southwes emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:10:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297795-734519environmentERIC STAATSCOLLIER COUNTYCousteau: Mangrove restoration 'about saving ourselves' marconews.comcousteau-mangrove-restoration-about-savingurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297795-734519Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/16/photos-who-wants-know-rookery-bay-nature-fest-incl/?partner=RSSRookery Bay has Marco Island surrounded. The wetlands, estuaries and uplands managed by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve encompass all the land connecting Marco to the mainland, and even the island itself, outside the city limits, is the subject of a Rookery Bay-sponsored mangrove restoration project. Rookery Bay’s stewardship extends to the waters around Marco, and their Environmental Learning Center (ELC) is right down the road off Collier Blvd. So when Rookery Bay hosts their annual nature festival, for Marco Island, it’s basically a backyard party. lances22@gmail.com (LANCE SHEARER)Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:37:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298005-734518environmentLANCE SHEARERMarco Island, FLPHOTOS: ‘Who’ wants to know? – Rookery Bay Nature Fest includes lecture on Marco’s burrowing owlsmarconews.comphotos-who-wants-know-rookery-bay-nature-fest-inclurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-298005-734518Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/12/seminars-bring-anglers-scientists-together/?partner=RSSLove fishing? Want to know more about fisheries-related research going on in Southwest Florida? Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297372-734514environmentBy Bryan Fluech Collier County Sea Grant Extension AgentMarco Island, FLSeminars to bring anglers, scientists togethermarconews.comseminars-bring-anglers-scientists-togetherurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297372-734514Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/12/supporting-marine-sciences-next-generation/?partner=RSSThe Marco Island Shell Club recently announced the establishment of the Marco Island Shell Club, Inc. Tuition Scholarship Endowment at Florida Gulf Coast University in the amount of $25,000. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:57:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297360-734514environmentSubmittedMarco Island, FLMarco Island Shell Club: Supporting marine sciences for the next generation marconews.comsupporting-marine-sciences-next-generationurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297360-734514Change0Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/12/lack-fresh-anti-venom-concern-after-coral-snake-bi/?partner=RSSA 6-year-old local boy bitten by a poisonous coral snake lived to tell his story. But his story sheds light on a big problem for the next victim — a lack of anti-venom. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297330-734514environmentNBC-2NAPLESLack of fresh antivenom a concern after coral snake bites Naples-area boymarconews.comlack-fresh-anti-venom-concern-after-coral-snake-biurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-297330-734514Change734514Usablehttp://www.marconews.com/news/2012/jan/02/the-big-chill-southwest-floridians-visitors-for/?partner=RSSThe National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for Collier and Lee counties and a hard freeze watch for Glades and Hendry counties for Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:46:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-296480-734504environmentERIC STAATSMarco Island, FLBig chill: SW Floridians, visitors brace for coldest temps in months marconews.comthe-big-chill-southwest-floridians-visitors-forurn:publicid:www.marconews.com:news-Story-296480-734504Change0Usable