Photos by Anthony Souffle

  • Steel girders of the Golden Gate Parkway overpass glow in the late afternoon sunlight in November 2006 as construction workers labor to complete the project .
  • Wildlife rehabilitation specialist Jonee Miller and intern Rebecca Steinberg watch as a group of newly released brown pelicans take flight at a release site near Marco Island. “It’s always a good feeling to watch them take off,” says Miller.
  • A brown pelican dives into the lines of fisherman as they cast from Naples Pier. The Conservancy has proactive steps to help fishermen and pelicans co-habitate by installing signs that explain what to do if a pelican gets hooked. There are also large nets that fisherman can use to bring the birds up onto the pier — if they get hooked.
  • “Well it’s not a pelican, but thanks for calling,” says Conservancy intern Julia Montellese after gathering up an injured cormorant at Residents Beach on Marco Island. Conservancy staff usually cannot pick up injured wildlife — they depend on volunteers and area residents to bring animals to the center.
  • A brown pelican that had died moments after arriving at the Conservancy lays covered by a towel on the check-in table. The bird was rescued by Conservancy workers after hearing that it was entangled with fishing line in mangrove trees near Marco Island.
  • After three surgeries to repair a tear in this brown pelican’s pouch, the wound still would not heal properly. Conservancy officials brought in a local veterinarian to try to fix the problem, but they also realize it just may take time for the wound to heal on its own.
  • Wildlife rehabilitation specialist Jonee Miller stitches up a hole in a brown pelican’s pouch. “Probably at least 80 percent of the pelicans that come in are from (fishing) hook-related injuries,” says Miller. “Lately everyone’s making a big deal about red tide, but that’s not what’s hurting the pelicans. It’s the fish hooks and fishing line.”
  • Wildlife rehabilitation specialist Jonee Miller, right, adjusts the light above the surgery table at the Conservancy’s wildlife hospital. She will repair a tear in the bird’s pouch.
  • Conservancy intern Sarah Funck, left, tries to calm a brown pelican as Ilma DanCourt opens the bird’s mouth — allowing Miller to intubate the bird before surgery.
  • Luis Lopez, left, removes a fishing lure while Frank Rudolf holds down the pelican he accidentally hooked while fishing from Naples Pier.
  • Conservancy intern Sarah Funck ducks her head down as a brown pelican goes flying in one of the Conservancy’s outdoor holding pens. Injured birds build strength there before undergoing surgery to repair tears in their pouches, usually caused by errant fishing lures.
  • Naples resident John Didonato chases away a brown pelican who tried to steal his catch during an afternoon fishing trip at Naples Pier. “It happens every day,” says Didonato. “They steal your fish, and you can’t help but hook them. When you do, you just have to pull them up and take the hooks out. Usually we take a few other hooks out, too.”
  • Calvin Paquette
  • Beachgoers watch as streaks of color illuminate the sky during the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration off Naples Pier on Sunday night. Spectators lined the Naples beach to enjoy the show and ring in the New Year.
  • Beachgoers watch as streaks of color illuminate the sky during the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration off Naples Pier on Sunday night. Spectators lined the Naples beach to enjoy the show and ring in the New Year.
  • Beachgoers watch as streaks of color illuminate the sky during the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration off Naples Pier on Sunday night. Spectators lined the Naples beach to enjoy the show and ring in the New Year.
  • Beachgoers watch as streaks of color illuminate the sky during the annual New Year's Eve fireworks celebration off Naples Pier on Sunday night. Spectators lined the Naples beach to enjoy the show and ring in the New Year.
  • Beachgoers watch as streaks of color illuminate the sky during the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks celebration off Naples Pier on Sunday night. Spectators lined the Naples beach to enjoy the show and ring in the New Year.
  • Ken and Nada Tonn of Fort Myers look though the work of photographer and painter Dick Zimmermann during the New Years Eve Art Festival Saturday afternoon on Fifth Avenue South. 'We com here every year,' said Nada. 'This guy does really nice work.'
  • Game action during Friday evening's sixth game in the Holiday Shootout between Community School of Naples and Central High School out of Erie, Penn. at Barron Collier High School in Naples. Community School won the game 47-34.
  • Game action during Friday evening's sixth game in the Holiday Shootout between Community School of Naples and Central High School out of Erie, Penn. at Barron Collier High School in Naples. Community School won the game 47-34.
  • Game action during Friday evening's sixth game in the Holiday Shootout between Community School of Naples and Central High School out of Erie, Penn. at Barron Collier High School in Naples. Community School won the game 47-34.
  • Community School's Jamie Navarro (center) tires to find the ball after being taken down by Central High School's Maniqua Williams (right) during the first half of Friday evening sixth game in the Holiday Shootout at Barron Collier High School in Naples. Community School won the game 47-34.
  • <strong>ANTHONY SOUFFLE</strong> — My most successful photographs come when people don't know I'm there, or when they forget I'm there. I don't want people to pose for the camera. I just want them to go about their lives. Elma Lewis wasn't worried about me when she began praying during a Victorious Life Ministries service. Neither were Bill McCully, left, and Gerry Franck when they came forward to provide comfort.
  • <strong>Getting to know sailing</strong> — Charles Camisa, 13, left and Clayton Sasaki, 11, pass their mark as the two boys participate in an introduction-to-sail racing mini-course Thursday at Lake Avalon in Sugden Regional Park in East Naples. The Collier County Parks and Recreation Department is holding two introductory sailing courses before the New Year.
  • <strong>Getting to know sailing</strong> — Clayton Sasaki, 11, right, passes his mark as he and Charles Camisa, 13, participate in an introduction-to-sail racing mini-course Thursday at Lake Avalon in Sugden Regional Park in East Naples. The Collier County Parks and Recreation Department is holding two introductory sailing courses before the New Year. Regular sailing classes are held on Saturdays.
  • Jason Lauritsen, a science director at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, counts Wood Storks Wednesday afternoon during one of his weekly fly overs to count the sites during the nesting season.
  • A group of juvenile wood-storks mixes in with great egrets during a fly over by Jason Lauritsen, a science director at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, to Wood Storks. Lauritsen does weekly fly overs to count the sites during the nesting season.
  • Delene Markley, center, hunts for after-Christmas sales with her daughter Linda Conrath, left, at Target in North Naples early Tuesday. “We’re bargain-hunters, always have been,” said Markley. “I never buy anything at full price.”
  • Karen Acuff, right, sorts through unsold holiday wrapping paper Tuesday morning at the Target store in North Naples. “I start wrapping in September and sometimes you just can’t find paper then,” Acuff said.
  • About 5,000 attended the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in Immokalee' on Monday at Airport Park in Immokalee.
  • Her face covered in cookie, Nathalia Rodriguez gets cleaned up by her sister Keyla, 12, during the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in Immokalee' on Monday at Airport Park in Immokalee. About 5,000 attended the event.
  • About 5,000 attended the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in Immokalee' on Monday at Airport Park in Immokalee.
  • About 5,000 attended the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in Immokalee' on Monday at Airport Park in Immokalee.
  • About 5,000 attended the Northside Naples Kiwanis Club's 'Christmas in Immokalee' on Monday at Airport Park in Immokalee.
  • Golden Gate Fire Commissioner David Stedman, playing Santa Claus, waves from atop a fire engine along with his two elves, played by Allison, 19, left, and Angela Steinmann, 17. The three drove around the fire department's coverage area Sunday and passed out candy canes. The event is in its 31st year with several engines passing out candy and spreading warm wishes for the holidays.
  • Cody Anderson poses for a portrait outside Homer Helter's Military Relics Store, where he works in Naples. Anderson has a box of supplies and phone cards for troops in Iraq. He recently returned from a trip to Iraq where he handed out phone cards to soldiers so they could call family members during the holidays.
  • Cleanup crews shuffle in and out of Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium after a fire destroyed nearly all of the interior Sunday.
  • During Sunday night's Christmas Eve at the Beach services at Lowdermilk Park in Naples, Richard Theurer says 'I think it's the beard that scared him' as he holds a crying Bowen Beshears, while his father, Brent, laughs. Theurer was there talking about Saint Nicholas, whom the iconic figure Santa Claus was inspired by.
  • Cleanup crews shuffle in and out of Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium after a fire destroyed nearly all of the interior Sunday morning on Cedar Lake Drive.
  • A fire destroyed nearly all of the interior of Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium Sunday morning.
  • Cleanup crews shuffle in and out of Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium after a fire destroyed nearly all of the interior Sunday morning on Cedar Lake Drive.
  • A fire destroyed nearly all of the interior of Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium Sunday morning.
  • The living room from Keith and Christine Monzillo's condominium after a fire destroyed nearly the entire interior Sunday morning on Cedar Lake Drive.
  • Keith Monzillo talks on the phone as he walks though the remains of his condominium after a fire destroyed nearly the entire interior Sunday morning on Cedar Lake Drive. Fire department officials say heat from an electrical receptor in the attic caused the fire. Monzillo and his wife Christine and one of their two cats all made it out safely after they were awoken by smoke detectors. The other cat was killed in the fire.
  • Christine Monzillo had collected dolls for more than 25 years. Now with charred faces and heavy smoke damage, the collection is ruined.
  • Tom Riley of Naples listens as the story of the Nativity is told by narrator Bill Morris during Christmas Eve at the Beach services Sunday evening at Lowdermilk Park.
  • Attendees of the 11th annual Christmas Eve at the Beach listen to Christmas music Sunday evening at Lowdermilk Park.
  • Keith Monzillo talks on the phone as he walks though the remains of his condominium after a fire destroyed nearly all of the interior Sunday morning. North Naples fire officials say heat from items too close to an electrical receptor in the attic caused the fire. Monzillo and his wife, Christine, and one of their cats made it out safely but their other cat died in the fire.

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