LANCE SHEARER

They made it official on Tuesday. Two days after the wrap-up of a successful and well-attended Mullet Festival, the first since the passing of Stan Gober last June, another gathering was held in his honor. Under a canopy set

Long before arriving at Stan’s on Sunday for the 29th Annual Mullet Festival, you could tell the place was packed. The line of cars parked along the road separating Goodland from the real world extended .75 of a mile, and ...

Friday afternoon, Mackle Park swarmed with life – and particularly with children. The City of Marco Island continued what is slated to be a year-long celebration of 15 years of cityhood, according to recreation manager Mindy

“Steady as she goes” could be the sailing directions for the Marco Island Yacht Club. After a turbulent period in the club’s history, coinciding with the national economic downturn, the MIYC installed a new bridge, or slate

Moving a pack of wolves into a new, permanent home is no easy proposition. Six months after Collier County Code Enforcement determined Shy Wolf Sanctuary's operation didn't comply with permitted uses for its site, the shelter is trying to move ...

Although the atmosphere was restrained and businesslike, for the most part, the event could have been considered a bit of a homecoming, even a victory lap. The Marco Island Property Owners (MIPO) hosted the four newest city

This weekend brings the 29th Annual Mullet Festival in Goodland, but in a way, it will also, in a way, be the first – the first without Stan. Stan Gober, the namesake of the waterfront joint he built into a ...

There are juried art shows in Southwest Florida this time of year, with national rankings, high-dollar price tags, and hotshot artists with their slick brochures and professionally crafted booths.

It’s a dream he’s had all his life, said Ken Barton – to sail around the world. On Sunday, he set out to make his dream into reality. With a crew of four, Bardon cast off from the dock and ...

As volunteer gigs go, being the judge for a barbecue ribs cookoff has to be one of the best. Saturday afternoon, judges Monte Lazarus, Kevin Donlan, Jerry Gibson, Tim Navin and Joe Granda sat at a long table outside the ...

Hideaway Beach will pay for most of its beach erosion control project, but some portion may be funded using tourist or ad valorem tax dollars.On Thursday, the Hideaway Beach Special Tax District Board took stock of its fina

Businesspeople are always looking for signs to indicate which way the economy is heading. To hear them tell it, the signs Marco Island merchants are seeing right now are dollar signs. One leading indicator was obvious to any

A Marco tradition is back – just be sure to bring your own lawn chair. The Winter Concert Series, which brings free concerts to Mackle Park every Sunday afternoon during the winter season, kicked off the 2013 edition on Sund

Little Eddie and his crew gave Marco Island a lesson in cooking on Wednesday night. The blues guitarist put on a show of tasty guitar licks, augmented by some well-seasoned musical collaborators, at the opening of “Florida’s Got the Blues,” ...

Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but the local real estate market is set to take off. After a prolonged slump such as no one has ever seen, both on Marco Island, in Florida and the nation as a ...

What will the year ahead bring? After a year of heated debates, political upheaval, and ongoing unresolved issues, some of what is coming over the bridge for Marco Island in 2013 can be summed up in four words: More of ...

It was the last meeting of the year, and the last meeting ever for several of the group. The Isles of Capri Fire Advisory Board met Thursday, in the all-purpose meeting room of the firehouse on State Road 952. With ...

Nearly 250 runners came out and braved a cold morning the Saturday before Christmas to experience some ups and downs. The Hill Run takes participants over Indian Hill and the estates area, where ancient Native American shell

The problem for stone crabbers is the same thing that makes tourists happy — gorgeous weather.

In three key votes Thursday, Councilor Larry Magel was on the short end of 6-1 decisions. In approving the firefighters’ contract, extending seawall regulations, and proceeding with a $150,000 expenditure to plan for a $1.5

There’s a reason the Christmas carol “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” includes the line, “and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again.” With kids out of school on a long holiday break, parents ...

You might think that Stan’s Idle Hour on a Sunday afternoon was not the best place to go looking for angels. Actually, this past Sunday, they were there aplenty, and for five dollars, you could take one home with you. ...

The Christmas Island Style street parade took over San Marco Blvd. on Saturday evening. In general, everyone in the crowd that lined the streets, several deep behind the police barricades at the Barfield intersection, seemed

Heroes come in many guises. The men and women of our public service agencies go above and beyond the call of duty, often with no recognition or acclaim, on a regular basis as they keep the rest of us safe ...

Marco Island gave an early Christmas present to the island’s military men and women on Tuesday. The Christmas Holiday Veterans’ Salute, a Christmas Island Style event, filled the Rose History Auditorium Tuesday evening for a blend of patriotic spirit and

There’s no doubt what Immokalee, as a community, wants for Christmas. At the Christmas Around the World Parade and Gala Saturday evening, the high school football team was front and center.

Marco’s Code Enforcement Board often takes up the cases of residences fallen into disrepair, with the possibility of becoming unsafe for the occupants. Tuesday, that was once again the focus of the CEB meeting in city council chambers, but in ...

Seawalls once again took center stage at a Dec. 7 workshop. The joint session of the Planning Board and the Waterways Advisory Committee, meeting around a U-shaped table in city council chambers, gave tentative approval to a number of revisions ...

Decorating a boat for a Christmas boat parade, said Fort Myers Beach skipper Vaughn Peters, is “just like decorating your house.” Of course, your house probably doesn’t have to contend with being rocked by wave action, and doesn’t have crew ...

Would you plunge into alligator-infested waters to pull a driver out of a submerged crashed vehicle? That’s what East Naples firefighter Manny Morales did.

The line between dogs and reindeer, between dogs and elves, and even between dogs and Christmas presents got a little blurry Tuesday evening. The Esplanade was invaded by dozens of dolled-up dogs and their doting human atten

With Christmas almost upon us, and the upcoming tourist season right behind, the membership of the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce took an evening to mingle, celebrate, and bestow awards for those who exemplify the spirit of giving.

The guest of honor could not be present, but a good time was had by all.“Ironman Sam” Fleming, age 7, was recovering from a recent treatment for the neuroblastoma he deals with every day, and wasn’t up to coming out ...

Most poker runs involve "hogs," massive motorcycles that move their riders via internal combustion power on their charitable rounds. The riders in the "Tour de Taverns," though, will depend on different bikes, with their legs pedaling to provide the propulsion.

City Council moves forward with lifesaving vessel

Sergeant Kristin Shiner didn’t have to respond and put her life in danger. She was off duty, at home, relaxing on her lanai in Cape Coral reading a book when she heard the sound of gunfire.

As the last light of sunset faded in the west, Joe Granda of the Marco Police Foundation held up, appropriately, red and green lights to vector Santa's helicopter into its landing zone. There, he and Mrs. Claus, who got to ...

Still stylin'

Clearly, that is not the case on Marco Island, where Christmas "Island Style" has evolved into a months-long series of community events, sweeping virtually the entire island up in an explosion of all things Christmas.

They shed their city-folk attire to gather, dressed in blue jeans, in a field just outside of Ave Maria, in the heart of the local farm belt.

Heroes come in many guises. The men and women of our public service agencies go above and beyond the call of duty, often with no recognition or acclaim, on a regular basis as they keep the rest of us safe ...

Collier County Library System to offer computer training courses for those without basic skills.

The sea is ever changing, and the two-day regatta held by the Marco Island Yacht Club over the weekend is a case in point.

The dinner music at "Boogie and Blues," the annual fundraising gala for Marco Island Charter Middle School, was courtesy of two student ensembles, as well as one science teacher at the school. The MICMS Jazz Band led off, followed by ...

It was a beautiful morning, with enough breeze to rustle the flags presented by the VFW color guard, as well as the national and service flags flying on the poles as part of the permanent memorial.

All the city departments, including building services, community affairs, public works, environmental services, parks & rec, police and fire were on hand to give citizens an idea of what they do or highlight a particular program.

To raise awareness of Calusa and Paleo, the Marco Eagle Sanctuary Foundation held a "Welcome Back to the Nest" party Thursday evening at the Snook Inn.

MARCO ISLAND _ In the lobby of the Iberia Bank branch on Marco Island on Saturday evening, 20 easels were draped with red, white and blue bunting.

The calendar has flipped to November, bringing crisp, blue days, returning snowbirds, and on Wednesday morning, the Farmers’ Market. Marco’s favorite outdoor emporium returned on Nov. 7 to Veterans’ Community Park, giving re

A political tsunami swept over Marco Island Tuesday, washing away every incumbent City Council member seeking re-election. With strong interest in the local races and voter turnout as high as 87 percent, islanders sent a strong message of dissatisfaction with ...