CHRIS CURLE

We are in the heart of the stone crab season and for professional crabbers there is good news to report.

Now we know why a lot of miniature golf courses are called “Putt Putt.” With two putts. It’s because sometimes they show up in pairs, at least conceptually, at least on Marco Island.

Last week we brought you observations from several restaurateurs about why they opened new places in the face of these tough economic times. Now we focus on others who have moved their establishments to new locations or occupied digs that ...

We were talking with Kim Komando on her radio program the other day after trying for several weeks to grasp the concept of the latest sea change in how humans use their computers.

Entertainer Lance Shearer says he believes what he read somewhere that, “you always want to hear the music for the rest of your life which was what you were hearing when you started steaming up car windows.”

When nationally known comedian and actor Bob Zany was in Marco two years ago, he and his wife Erin made a contribution to our nifty dog park, Canine Cove. Zany also poked fun at Capt. Brien’s restaurant, home of Zany’s ...

Going into the latest Marco City Council meeting, supporters and creators of the Big Flag Campaign were hopeful that the councilors would approve the no-brainer project, to put a huge U.S. flag in the median where the new Jolley Bridge ...

One of our family’s enduring memories of Marco Island in days gone by was the weather-worn, time-tested church building on Bald Eagle Drive. On the front the sign read, at first glance, “Church – God. The word “of” was obscured ...

The ever efficient, civic-minded Carole Roberts sends along important information for people visiting The Wall That Heals during its coming Marco visit. You already may know some of this, but it bears repeating, for obvious reasons. And there’s news to ...

The impression we get from talking with several Islanders who formerly worked for Pan Am World Airways is that the TV show set in the glory and glamor days of big league air travel, is light years from real life, ...

Don't wait to sing up for the "Jolley Be Good 5K Run."

We got word from Lee Rubenstein that if you want to get the full experience at the dedication of the memorial at Veterans’ Community Park on Nov. 11, you may want to arrive there by 9:45 a.m. or so. “The ...

Several Marco business people have combined talents and facilities to create a complete makeover for a Marco woman everybody involved agrees deserves it. The gift givers are part of a contest dreamed up by Rick Popoff, whose Rick’s Island Salon ...

Farmer’s Market days will come and go at the city park at 901 Park Avenue. And Christmas tree lightings will continue to brighten the park every December. But one day will stand alone in the history of that park. It’s ...

The Bargain Basket, a fixture on Marco Island for more than 35 years, is having an anniversary party today, Oct. 21, and you’re invited. It’s been a year since the Bargain Basket moved to its bigger, brighter facility at 750 ...

As I was coming out of the shiny new Naples Heart Institute the other day, after interviewing the facility’s Medical Director, Dr. Ron Levine, a couple also leaving the Institute struck up a conversation. They are among the many Marco ...

The cloudy sky gave way to several bursts of rain last Monday afternoon, but members of the Big Flag Committee were all smiles as they visited the site where they would love to see the flag flying. With them was ...

It’s amazing what a difference a fortnight can make in the life of what began as an idea and has rocketed to a real life happening. We refer to the Big Flag Campaign, the project to erect a large American ...

Owner Chris Burt of the Island Garden Center is banking on locally-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables, available six days a week to bring islanders to his newest feature of the center because, “The island doesn’t have anything like this. There’s ...

One very popular fish with sports fishermen and women is being celebrated here in a week-long fun fest October 17-21. It’s the “Redfish Rodeo” appropriately, because the fish of honor, so to speak, is the redfish. Sponsors of the annual ...

The Big Flag Campaign has a leader, a long-time Marco Islander and a veteran of more successful community projects than we can count. He’s Dave Rice, whose island good deeds list includes helping start Christmas Island Style and leading the ...

As we began preparing this column on Marco restaurants, mostly ones that had been on hiatus and are opening in the next few days, we came across news of some interesting changes in the restaurant landscape. Pincher’s Crab Shack chain ...

In our reporting on the effort to have a huge American Flag installed at the Jolley Bridge, we’re hearing varying ideas on how to pay for it. Should it be a government job or community donations or what? Lee Rubenstein ...

We are just beginning to grasp the size, scope, expense and expanse of the visit of the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Marco Island in December. It’s a daunting project. Here are examples of what’s in store for Islanders and the ...

For homeowner Tony Frazzano, a lot of thought and a lot of detail work went into creation of this garage-door flag even before artist Maggie Campo took on the project. “I’d been thinking about it for a long time,” Tony ...

As you may know a Marco-based company, Tarik Ayasun’s Taray International Corporation, has won a major award for excellence from the Economic Development Council of Collier County. The firm, a major global supplier to the tire and retread industries, has ...

Most Marco Islanders we know are proud to be Americans and feel blessed to be living here. We all don’t wave our arms and shout about it much, but there is a palpable atmosphere here, despite occasional outbursts of angst ...

As you may have noticed, Harbor Goldsmith jewelers has moved up Bald Eagle Drive from its former location on Front Street to Island Plaza, near Beall’s, CVS and Richard’s Reef. Richard and Andrea Alan own the Reef and have moved ...

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Marco’s newest theater troupe, the Island Players, hopes to become more than a traditional community theater. Sure, the Island Players will be staging plays – the first opens Sept. 30 – but the organization’s founders ...

We have at least two friends whose New Year’s resolutions for 2011 were to quit smoking. If good wishes would help, they both could have had a shot at it. But even at about $6 a pack at a Marco ...

The more than 300 or more people in a ballroom at the Marco Marriott Hotel were silent and still as the North Naples Firefighters Color Guard appeared. At the same time, the haunting sound of bagpipes swelled, played with solemnity ...

It no doubt will be a bittersweet time at the Marco Island Marriott Resort this Sunday, as Islanders pause to observe the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. Bitter, of course, because of the carnage, the outrage, the ...

Hey, somebody has to win, right? All you have to do is download an app to your smart phone and register to have a shot at a free iPad 2, courtesy of Marco Island Florist. It’s to promote the use ...

Here’s a reminder that on Thursday, Sept. 15, the Humane Society Naples will open its mall satellite adoption center. It’s a move born of necessity, a move to an otherwise unused space at Coastland Center Mall at 1900 Tamiami Trail ...

On Sept. 17, you can take a walk on the beach with a million or more other people. They won’t all be here, of course. That would make for a tough day for the attendants at our Residents’ Beach for ...

Here’s a suggestion for fine supermarkets on Marco. How about setting up reading rooms somewhere in the stores for shoppers who insist on clogging the aisles while reading every word of the fine print on the label of each item? ...

To all the Gammies, Mammies, Maamaws and PaaPaws out there and to all the other grandparents whose kids’ kids give them funny, endearing names, Happy (almost) Grandparents Day. It is on Sept. 11 this year, a day that will be ...

The many summer camps for youngsters around here this year created some unforgettable good times. One of the successful camps was the four-week event for visually impaired and blind kids, thanks to Lighthouse of Collier, Inc. “It was a hit,” ...

Brand names are hugely important, whether it’s Coke, Kleenex or locally Rookie’s Bar & Grill, The Crazy Flamingo or Paradise Seafood. You get the idea. So when an entity changes its name it’s often a big deal. Take CJ’s on ...

A lot of school kids on Marco Island went back to classes with fresh haircuts, and many of them got shorn free, thanks to the generosity of Rick and Lisa Popoff at Rick’s Island Salon.

Monday is the big day for one of the boldest moves in public education ever on Marco Island.

Angelica Andrews is having a heck of a sale at her tres chic boutique on South Collier Boulevard. She’s doing that because she’s closing the store to spend full-time in real estate.

Heads turn sometimes when Kaitlen Magdalener says she enjoys working on the 6 North cardiac unit at Naples Community Hospital. People are especially curious when Kaitlen calls it “a happy environment.”

If you subscribe to the theory that we can’t have too many patriotic events and observances in and around Marco Island – and we do – you’ll be happy to hear that our near future is crammed with love-of-country occasions.

One day four years ago, a tractor-trailer crashed into Vinnie Acunto’s car. Seriously injured, the next year or so was a miserable time for this then 19-year-old Marco Islander.

Several Islanders asked us why those signs were posted on Bald Eagle Drive last week, urging people to “Help fight crime” and to “Lock Your Car Doors.” Was there an island-wide epidemic of thefts from cars? Was a problem limited ...

Marco’s unofficial queen of yoga, Donna Hands, has another hands-on project these days. She volunteers as a golf coach for Collier County residents taking part in the Special Olympics. This coming Saturday, Aug. 6, is a big day for the ...

We realize the slowest months for the tourist-dependent Marco economy are ahead of us, but the island was hopping again last weekend and that was a good sign. We noticed the Marco Movies doing well with the hot new comedy ...

It was such a simple concept. Not only simple but presumably easy to accomplish with a smile and, more importantly, some weight loss. It’s called by the physician who suggested it, the “Six Apple A Day” day. Not every day, ...

If you missed the good news about tourism here in Collier County, the headline is, tourist visits increased by almost ten percent in June over the same period last year. Those tourists also spent more this June than last, up ...