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MICA Discount Program Keeps theBucks on Marco and in Your Pocket

by Ruth McCannWhat is the ultimate program

designed to keep Marco Islandersspending their Marco dollars atMarco Island businesses? Mostbusiness owners agree - it’s theMICA Members DiscountProgram!

Businesses on the programcover many different areas, fromboating to health care, from icecream to seawall repair, andfrom pizza to dry cleaning! Thenext time you’re in need of anair condition repairman orsearching for a particular book,check the MICA DiscountProgram. You’re sure to find alocal Marco Island businesswaiting for your call or visit!

For example, VantasticTours, home based on Marco foralmost 10 years, offers narratedeco tours of the Florida Ever-glades. They offer two five-hourtours each day in their airconditioned van, which includesstops for a nature walk, an airboatride through the Everglades, aguided tour of Everglades City,and a wildlife habitat wheretheir guests can hold a varietyof animals. All along the tourthe guests are soaking up factsabout the Spanish settlers andlater the American Indians, aswell as the history of the Ever-

glades! Connie Fulmer ofVantastic Tours said that a goodamount of their business comesfrom Marco Islanders who bringtheir family members and othervisitors for this all-encompassingtour, and “they’re happy to beable to use their MICADiscount Card.”

Susan Vigneau, manager ofKonrad’s Restaurant at MarcoWalk, stated that “the MICADiscount Card is used primarilyby locals and those who havethe card are sure to display itwhen they stop in for a delectableKonrad’s dinner, making theirmeal even more enjoyable.”

Marco residents, Joe andKim Irigoyen, along with theirthree sons, started their momand pop business, Islander Pooland Patio, 15 years ago, and builtit on friendly and knowledgeableservice. The Irigoyen’s feel veryappreciative to the residents ofMarco Island for supportingtheir business and the localfamilies they employ. “TheMICA discount program is agreat way to show residents ourappreciation for all their support,”stated Kim when asked whythey participate in the program.

Past President Lynn Bradeenbegan the MICA Members

Discount Program nine yearsago with approximately 12businesses, by calling friendsand business owners andexplaining his thoughts on thisclever idea to help keepresidents shopping on MarcoIsland. The program has grownand now encompasses more than90 local businesses whoseowners now call the MICA officeto inquire as to how they toocan participate in the program!

Newly-installed MarcoIsland Chamber of CommercePresident Judy Gewirtz said, “Youcan use it almost everywhere onthe island. By using the MICADiscount Card, not only do yousupport island businesses, youalso benefit from doing so.” It’sa win-win situation.

When you do use yourMICA Discount Card, pleaseremember to show your cardprior to your order being rungup or tallied.

Why head off island whenso much is here at yourfingertips along with a nicediscount? In addition, eachtime you use your discountcard, you can reimburseyourself for your membershipfee, making your membershipquite a value!

A Periodic Publication of the Marco Island Civic Association. Read by Over 20,000 Members.News and Reviews of What’s Really Happening on Marco Island. February, 2005

Visit our web site: www.marcocivic.com 2005 Issue 1

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President’s Letterby Jim Arnold

“Season” has descendedupon Marco Island with avengeance! The mad-pitchedreturn of season is, of course,terrific for local businesses, andthe traffic doesn’t seem tooterribly unbearable this year,either.

Our MICA Members HolidayCelebration was the best partyMICA has ever thrown. J. Robertand Friends got the party startedwith bongos, steel drums, andsome wild fiddling! When thechildren weren’t sitting onSanta’s lap, they put their musclesto work playing tug of war andother games which were run byMICA director Howard Jordan.Eddie the Elf had the kidsjumping through hoops as well!The Drifters were spectacularand had everyone twisting intheir seats and on their feet! Asthe fog rolled in from the Gulf,the night was capped with acolorful fireworks display to thedelight of all. In the spirit of theholidays, many of you broughtcanned goods which the KiwanisClub distributed to less fortunatefamilies in the area.

Of course, a successfulevent doesn’t just happen on itsown. I’d like to extend thethanks of the MICA Board ofDirectors to Richard Joyce,Jeanne LaPointe of LaPointeGallerie, the Marco Dollar Storein Marco Town Center, theKiwanis Club of Marco Island, theMarco Island Police Departmentpersonnel, the Marco Island FireDepartment staff, and theResidents’ Beach staff andManager Dennis McCann.

MICA recently hostedseminars regarding two very hottopics in Southwest Florida:Mold and Water Conservation.Both seminars were very wellattended and filled with infor-mation. You will find articlesregarding both topics in this issue.

On Wednesday, February16th MICA will be sponsoring aseminar at 7:00 p.m. at theCommunity Room of MarcoCommunity Bank on what youcan do to lower your MarcoIsland property taxes. Variouslegal and property experts willbe conducting the seminar andanswering your questions.

On Wednesday, March 16th

MICA will be sponsoring aseminar at 7:00 p.m. at theCommunity Room of MarcoCommunity Bank on “LessonsLearned from Hurricanes Charley,Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.”

MICA’s Annual Meeting washeld on January 25 and thehighlight of our Annual Meetingis always the much-anticipatedpresentation of the “Humanitarian

of the Year” Award. To seewho earned this top honor,please turn to page 4.

Construction of the pavilion atthe Residents’ Beach continues tobe on track. The FloridaDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection issued a permit andbids are out for a contractor atpresent. The form to have a nameengraved on the building appearsopposite this page. Don’t miss thislast opportunity to participate in theconstruction of the beach pavilion!

We are looking forward to avery special event, the FebruaryMICAFEST, which will be heldon Saturday, February 26! J.Robert & Friends will kick off the“Fest” at 3:00 p.m., followed bythe Cornell Gunter Coasters,who were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in1987! Their hits included songssuch as “Yakety Yak,” “CharlieBrown,” “Searchin,” “PoisonIvy,” “Young Blood” and “AlongCame Jones.” You won’t wantto miss this event, so mark yourcalendar now! Bring your lawnchair or blanket for the “Concerton the Green.” Cold beer, wine,soda, and delicious food will beavailable for purchase. Comeand reminisce at the Residents’Beach on the 26th. We lookforward to seeing you enjoyingyourself. Fireworks will top offthe evening, as well!

Thanks to all our membersfor your continued support. Itis appreciated by your Board ofDirectors, who works for thebetterment of Marco Island.

MICAWAVE is a periodicpublication of the MarcoIsland Civic Association forthe benefit of its members.Copyright 2005 © MarcoIsland Civic Association,Marco Island, FL.All rights reserved.No part of this publicationmay be reproduced withoutthe written permission of thepublisher.

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BeachPavilion

FundRaiserSizzles!

by Lynn BradeenMICA members have signed

up in record numbers to have theirnames prominently displayed atResidents’ Beach.

The new members’ pavilionis out for bids and constructionwill start in April 2005. This willsurely be the last opportunitymembers and supporters of ourbeautiful beach will have to puttheir family names into theResidents’ Beach history book.Space is becoming limited andall interested members areencouraged to fill out theenrollment form and bring it tothe MICA office or mail it in.

Many members missed thedeadline to have their namesplaced on the MilleniumFountain and by getting yourapplication in now you canassure that your name isincluded at Residents’ Beach.Because of the large responsethe cut off date is rapidlyapproaching.

Placing your name will be agift that lasts forever and is theperfect family gift. All netproceeds from the fund raiserwill be used to pay for theconstruction of the newmembers’ pavilion.

The Marco Island CivicAssociation is pleased toannounce that along with a newBeach Pavilion at the MarcoIsland Residents’ Beach comesa very rare opportunity.

Columns that support theBeach Pavilion will be encasedin granite slabs. The granite willbe engraved with the names ofsupporters of the Beach Pavilionand the Marco Island Residents’Beach.

You may have your nameengraved on the granite columnswith a minimum of 15 charactersand spaces and a minimumcharge of $450. Each additional

space is charged at a rate of$30 per character or space.

THIS WILL BE YOURLAST CHANCE TO HAVEYOUR NAME ENGRAVEDINTO HISTORY!

Requests will be filled ona first come, first servedbasis. All net proceeds willbe applied toward BeachPavilion construction.

Simply fill in the spacesbelow with the inscriptionexactly as you wish it to appearon the column, enclose checkmade payable to “MICA-Residents’ Beach” for theamount required and send it to:

Don’t Miss theLast Opportunity!

MARCO ISLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION1770 San Marco Road, #204, Marco Island, FL 34145.

Telephone: 239-642-7778

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Name:_____________________________________________

Mailing Address:_____________________________________

__________________________________________________

Telephone #:_______________________________________

Number of characters:__________X $30=________________

TOTAL: ______________ (Minimum charge of $450 applies)

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And the Award Goes To . . .by Lynn Bradeen

The highly regarded“Humanitarian of the Year”award is given to outstandingand dedicated individuals whounselfishly serve their community.The Humanitarian Award isdesigned to honor the many“Good Samaritans” in ourcommunity who we seldom hearmuch about. It is a thank youto the many unsung heroes whodo so much for so many and askfor nothing in return.

The MICA “Humanitarianof the Year” Award has becomeone of the most prestigiousawards on Marco Island due tothe qualifications and dedicationof the recipients. Past honoreesare: Mimi Torbush, Shirlee andBrian Barcic, Ward Bradeen,D’Ann and David Brandt, Dr.Sam and Mary Ann Durso, Judyand Arturo Perez, Maury Dailey,and Art Segal.

The 2005 “Humanitarian ofthe Year” Award was presentedto long-time Marco Islandresident Stephanie “Stevi” VannWalthour at MICA’s AnnualMeeting on January 25, whosefamily joined her for this veryspecial presentation.

At a very young age Stevibecame a leader. She attendeda local middle school andgraduated from Lely HighSchool in Naples. While attendingLely our award winner served aspresident of both the Junior andSenior Class and was also amember of the Student Council

as well as being very active inseveral service and civic clubs.While earning a degree inCommunications at the Universityof South Florida, Stevicontinued working hard forseveral organizations thathelped other people. Fundraising for worthy causes hasalways been a passion for ourhonoree.

Eventually, Stevi, her husband,and two other couples openedthe popular Rookies Bar andGrill. Stevi organized and ranthe Rookies Golf Tournamentfor many years that successfullyraised money to benefit Kidswith Cancer and helped numerousMarco Island families. TheMarco Island Kiwanis Club was

continued on page 7

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TakingCare of

Businessby Ruth McCann

According to the bylaws of theMarco Island Civic Association,a meeting of the membership isrequired to be held each January,and that meeting was held onJanuary 25 at the United Church.

President Jim Arnold reviewedthe highlights of the associationover the past year, including theJuly Fourth Celebration, which wasfull of fun and festivities at theResidents’ Beach. MICA isplanning another day ofcelebration for our country’sIndependence Day in 2005! Mr.Arnold highlighted the importanceof the conclusion of a long-foughtlawsuit, in which MICA wassuccessful in upholding the deedrestrictions and protecting thesingle-family neighborhood. TheMICA office relocated duringAugust to the Marco CommunityBank building on San Marco Roadand members have found us!

Jim Arnold invited all membersto attend several upcoming MICAevents, including a Property TaxSeminar, a seminar to review“Lessons Learned from the FourHurricanes of 2005,” and theFebruary MICAFEST on February26 at Residents’ Beach featuringthe Cornell Gunter Coasters.

At the Annual Meeting themembers accepted the nomineesrecommended by MICA’s

continued on page 7

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Insurance & Mold Topic Draws Crowdby Maury Dailey

Calling your insurancecompany to ask what wouldhappen if you had mold couldbe on your record affectingfuture insurability. The recordis called a CLUE Report,Comprehensive Loss UnderwritersEvaluation Report. This is butone of the areas of discussionthat drew a standing room onlycrowd at the Marco IslandCommunity Bank CommunityRoom in November.

The Marco Island CivicAssociation kicked off a series ofhome owner awareness programswith its first program, “Mold, It’sWhat You Don’t See That GetsYou”. The event was developedby Maury Dailey of SunriseRealty. Dailey, acting as modera-tor, had a panel that includedAnn Carlano of Carlano HomeInspection Services and Joel Coxof Advanced Insurance Under-writers. In addition, George Wilsonof Fire-Water Restoration Ser-vices added valuable informationfrom a restoration perspective.

A relatively new instrument todetermine the risk of insuring aproperty or customer is a reportcalled a CLUE Report. Thisreport documents any claimsincluding inquiries that customersmake to their insurance company.The report was initially set up toprevent insurance fraud. Butwith rising insurance losses overmold incidences these reports arebecoming prevalent indetermining the risk of insuring a

area. A specialist should becontacted to determine the courseto take. “Mold is made up ofspores. The first thing consumersdo when confronting a mustyhome is turn the air-conditioningsystem to a low setting. Thatspreads the mold sporesthroughout the ventilation systemand the home,” said Carlano.

Humidistat systems weredebated. These systems, eitherserial or parallel types, takemoisture out of the air. However,consumers, property caretakersand renters can get easilyconfused on how to use them.The temperature in a home canreach 85 degrees before thehumidistat cal ls for theair-conditioner to go on. Wilsonpointed out that some largehomebuilders have eliminatedhumidistat systems as anoptional feature due to problemssurrounding these systems.

Additional homeownerawareness programs arescheduled. They includechallenging real estate taxes andmore. Jim Arnold, President ofMarco Island Civic Association,said, “We created this series ofprograms to keep propertyowners aware of current issuesaffecting them.” Maury Daileyof Sunrise Realty said, “Ourcompany enjoys conductingevents to protect and informconsumers of various issuesbefore them. Last May we held

property or consumer.Joel Cox confirmed that an

insurance company has up to 60days to review a customer’s riskpotential. The insurance companycan drop a customer anytimeduring that period. The realestate ramifications are significant.“If a home buyer doesn’t gettheir insurance until right beforetheir closing they could find outafter closing that due to theproperty or the buyer’s claimhistory, either here or backhome, their insurance can getdropped. The lender willdemand insurance. Oncedropped by one insurancecompany it’s unlikely another willpick them up”, said Cox. It wouldforce the buyer to an alternativesource at a much higher rate.

Dailey recommended buyersask sellers for a copy of aCLUE Report on their propertyto see if adverse insuranceissues might exist before buying.Only an insurance company,lender or property owner canrequest a CLUE Report.

Saying that mold is everywhere,Carlano differentiated types ofmold. Toxic types of mold affectyour body beyond the sneezing orallergic level. George Wilson saidhe experiences a kind of tremor inhis hands when he is around acertain type of toxic mold.Carlano also discussed whenmold is a serious problem andwhen it isn’t. Much of that has todo with the size of the affected continued on page 8

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continued from page 4 -Humanitarianfortunate to have our honoreeas a board member for severalyears, and she still heads theirScholarship Fund for high schoolseniors. As Co-Chair for an eventof the local Cancer Society, ourhonoree raised a record amountof money for the time.

Stevi became a Den Motherto lend a helping hand while herson was a Cub Scout. From theTommie Barfield PumpkinPatch to the Kiwanis’ Fourth ofJuly t-shirt design contest to theKiwanis Christmas Children’sFund, Stevi was there takingcharge and making everythingshe volunteered for a completesuccess. She was also named

Nominating Committee, andthe nominees are Jim Arnold,Jim Johnson, Howard Jordan,Preston Mottram, ThomasPollak, and Beverly Trotter.Ballots will be mailed to allMICA members in upcomingweeks. The MICA Board ofDirectors thanked NominatingCommittee members, JackPatterson, Jan Brewer, andArleen Soldano for theirservice to the association.

Past President LynnBradeen then presented theprestigious “Humanitarian of

the “Kiwanian of the Year” in2001 for her tireless work withchildren. Our “Humanitarian”chaired a Kiwanis fund raiserthat provided $23,500 to theMarco Island Charter MiddleSchool.

Stevi’s home and garage areusually stuffed with clothing,toys, and furniture that getssorted out and designated tothe Abused Women’s Shelter,Manatee School or the girls inImmokalee. Stevi personallyarranges transportation anddelivery of all the donated items.

One of Stevi Walthour’smost rewarding and heartfeltendeavors is the dedication ofmany hours of service to theImmokalee PACE Center for

continued from page 5 -Annual Meeting

Girls. PACE provides girls andyoung women, 11-17, anopportunity for a better futurethrough education, counseling,training and advocacy. Our“Humanitarian of the Year” is amentor and a member of thePACE Advisory Board. Inaddition, raising funds for thePACE Center is almost afull-time job.

Of course, our 2005“Humanitarian of the Year”Stevi Walthour also has todevote time to her husband andtwo children, Cullen and Kira,and a full-time job at theMarriott Marco Island Resort.The MICA 2005 award winnerpersonif ies the word“humanitarian.”

the Year” Award to Stephanie“Stevi” Vann Walthour for herexemplary, selfless service tothe community. An articleappears on page 4.

Pieter VanBennekom spoketo the audience recallingstories as an internationaljournalist for United PressInternational. Mr.VanBennekom stated that hehad seven expulsions fromcountries on his record, themost of any news reporter!During that time he wasassigned to countries in SouthAmerica, and there was somespeculation that a couple of

the expulsions were due to acurse placed on him by aVenezuelan witch at theWorld Congress of Witchcraft!Eventually, just to be on thesafe side, he flew to Rio deJenero for a ceremony to havethe curse washed away byanother practitioner of blackmagic! Pieter later becamePresident and CEO of UnitedPress International, so itappears that the curse waslifted! He now oversees thepublication of business tobusiness newsletters and isbased out of a much saferlocale, Malvern, Pennsylvania!

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The members of the MICA Board of Directors express their deepestsympathies to MICA’s Vice President Preston Mottram and his family.Preston’s wife, Lou, passed away on November 22, 2004. Preston and

Lou enjoyed more than 56 wonderful years together along with theirdaughters, Gayle and Susan and their families.

continued from page 6Insurance & Molda program on renovation issuesaffecting condominiums. It waswell attended and will berepeated this Spring.”

For additional informationabout the programs you cancontact the Marco Island CivicAssociation. Contact yourprofessional Realtor® for moreinformation about mold. Thereare web links and other informationsources they can direct you to.

Maury Dailey is the Broker/Owner of Sunrise Realty of

Florida, Inc. You can direct questionsand comments to him at

SunX@MarcoRealty4U.com.

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Meet Your City Manager: A. William MossA. William “Bill” Moss was

hired as Marco Island’s first CityManager in March 1998. Hewas selected by the seven-member City Council to establishthe newly formed governmentand to identify and providerequired services to the peopleof Marco Island. His selectionwas based upon his previouseducation, experience, andqualifications necessary to meetthe unique challenge ofestablishing and managingmunicipal services.

Bill has over 30 years of citymanagement experience. Hisinterest in city managementdeveloped while he was astudent at Southern IllinoisUniversity in Carbondale,Illinois. Appointed by thestudent body president to servewith the Carbondale CityCouncil, Bill was exposed to thecouncil-manager form ofgovernment and the role of acity manager. He adjusted hiscurriculum to allow for moreexposure to local government.He graduated with a Bachelorof Science Degree in Businesswith a major in Economics.

Bill Moss then enlisted in theU.S. Army and attended theInfantry Officers CandidateSchool in Ft. Benning, Georgia.He was assigned to an infantryunit in West Germany as hisfirst tour and then to Viet Nam,where he earned the BronzeStar. He left the Army after 3½

years and went to Australia to visita young lady he had met earlier.Her name was Faye Gordon, andshe has been his spouse andfriend for 30 years.

Bill and Faye returned to theUnited States in order for him topursue a career in local governmentmanagement. He earned aMaster of Public Affairs degreeat Southern Illinois Universitywhile working with the City ofCarbondale, Illinois where hebecame the Assistant CityManager. He was then hired asthe City Manager of AtlanticBeach, Florida, where he servedfor 3½ years before assuming aposition as City Manager forNorth Myrtle Beach, SouthCarolina. Bill served as theirCity Manager for 13 years. Duringthat time, he was appointed tothe Board of Directors for theSouth Carolina MunicipalAssociation, and he served onthe Board of Directors and asPresident of the South Carolina

City/County ManagementAssociation. Bill also attendedthe State of South CarolinaExecutive Institute.

Bill and Faye have twochildren. Jason, their son, is anattorney in Columbia, SC, andKaren, their daughter, is aSpeech Pathologist in Naples, FL.

Bill and Fay live on MarcoIsland. They enjoy meetingIsland residents and visitors,exercise activities, includingtennis, reading, and fishing.

Did youknow???

According to a surveyof 398 Carlson Wagonlittravel agents relating to allthe domestic destinationsbooked for 2005, Ft.Myers, Florida, is rankednumber eight in the top10 destinations! Youweren’t surprised, wereyou? The destinationsand their rankings arelisted here.

1 Las Vegas2 Orlando3 Maui4 Honolulu5 New York6 Phoenix7 Anchorage8 Ft Myers, FL9 Kauai10 San Francisco

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Marco Island Utilitiesand Water Conservation

The City of Marco Island isfinalizing its Business Plan forthe Marco Island Utilities. ThePlan will address such diverseissues as: long-term water supply,increasing water treatment capacity,expanding the wastewatertreatment plant, providingsanitary sewers throughout theisland to replace septic tanks,improving water pressure,improving reliability, etc. Oneimportant component of theBusiness Plan is water conservation.

Because irrigation is thesingle-family homeowner’slargest use of water, the easiestway to conserve is to make sureyour system is operating properly.Malfunctioning or impropersettings of irrigation systems arethe greatest cause of water loss.The following information shouldhelp you manage your watersystem and reduce your water bill.

Managing YourIrrigation System

Set irrigation times toadequately meet needs based onthe season of year.Irrigation Cycles

Set the timer to water basedon the season rather than anautomatic year-round setting ofthree days per week.

Fall and Winter. FromNovember through February,temperatures get cooler andplants go into a dormant orresting stage. Irrigation shouldbe limited to twice each week.

Spring. March, April andMay are months with littlerainfall and the driest soilconditions. A watering cycle oftwo days each week maysuffice. Consider watering threetimes per week only if grass andshrubs show signs of stress.Most grass will fold along theblade line and will not open inthe cooler evening hours whenwater is needed. Plants andshrubs will wilt. When spottedareas beyond the range of thesprinkler heads show signs ofstress, consider watering using ahose and nozzle rather thanlengthening the watering cycleor adding days for the entiresprinkler system.

Summer. June throughSeptember is historically the rainyseason. During the summermonths, lawns and landscapingneed about 1 to 1½ inches ofwater a week. For normalrainfall during the summer, asprinkler system may not benecessary at all. Turn off theautomatic timer and turn on forjust one cycle during a longspell without rain. If away foran extended period, considersetting sprinkler controls tooperate one day each week. Ifthe system is turned off, operateonce each month to keep valvesfrom freezing up. In October, ifrain stops, consider irrigationsimilar to the spring cycle, twodays each week.

Irrigation cycles shouldnever be set for more than thethree designated days eachweek, and only between thehours of midnight and 8:00am. As much as 30 percent ofwater can be lost to irrigationby watering the lawn mid-day.

Lawns need only about 1/2to 3/4 of an inch of water at atime. To determine how longit takes your irrigation systemto put out 1/2 inch of water,place empty tuna cans aroundthe yard and measure the watercollected in 15 or 20 minutes.Spread several cans around youryard to test for even distributionof water. Increase or decreasethe length of the cycle to achievedesired quantity of water.

To learn how much water isconsumed by irrigation for onecycle, read the last four digitsof your meter, including thefixed “0,” before you go to bed.Read it again when you get upin the morning after yourirrigation system has completedits cycle. Subtract the difference.You can then multiply thatconsumption by the number oftimes you irrigate each month todetermine how much water isconsumed by irrigation. Reducingyour frequency from three days totwo days each week will reduceyour consumption by 33 percent.

Set spray head zones for 15-20 minute cycles and rotorzones for 45-50 minutes.

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If you don’t want to measureyour flow, set your cycle to last15 to 20 minutes for zones withspray heads and 45-50 minutesfor zones with rotor sprinklers.

While water uses for irrigationwill depend on the landscape,turf, soil conditions and size ofyard, a rule of thumb is that asix-zone system operating 15minutes per zone on two daysper week will use 1,500-1,800gallons each day, or 12, 000-15,000 gallons each month. Seethe “Meet your Water Meter”section of the city’s brochure tolearn more about measuringwater consumption anddetecting leaks.

(opposite the Crazy Flamingo)

Marco Players, Inc..

Over the River & through the WoodsMarch 31st - April 17th 2005

Don’t Dress for DinnerFebruary 17th - March 6th 2005

Visit our brand new theater in Marco Town Center Mall -thanks to the Theater Angels, Marco Players now have tiered seating, new theater seats, stage and carpet.

Season tickets are available ($64) Call 642-7270Tickets for individual performances ($18) on sale at new BOX OFFICE in Marco Town Center Mall - call 642-3854

Water Conservation TipsMany residents are looking

to replace landscape plants,either for a change of scenery,or due to storm damage. Keepin mind that native plants willnot only thrive on less waterduring the dry season, but will alsosurvive the rainy season. Makea landscape plan before planting,grouping those with the same waterand sunshine needs together.

Whether using irrigation athome or business, everyone

needs to closely monitoroutdoor water use. Wateringless frequently but thoroughlywill help lighten the load onboth pocketbooks and theshared regional pool of water.

Keep water conservation inmind, since only constantawareness will maintain aconstant water supply. BigCypress Water Basin offers freeassistance with landscapingplans by calling 239-353-4244

Pick up your copy of the Marco Island Utilities and Water Conservationbooklet for more information.

ODD Numbered Addresses3 days each week: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday;12:01 AM to 8:00 AM for irrigation systems

EVEN Numbered Addresses3 days each week: Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday,12:01 AM to 8:00 AM for irrigation systems

City of Marco Island Water IrrigationRestrictions

REMEMBER, FRIDAYS ARE DRY DAYS244 Palm Street, Olde Marco

Reservations please 394-6262

FreshSeafood

since 1983

Cafe de Marco

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more pictures on pages 36 and 37

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The Homestead Exemptionby Todd L. Bradley, Esq.

How do I file for theHomestead Exemption?New applications for the

Homestead Exemption shouldbe made in person prior toMarch 1st at the PropertyAppraiser’s office. You areeligible for filing that year ifyou are a resident on orbefore January 1st of suchyear. Otherwise, you are noteligible for the current yearbut will be eligible for thefollowing year and may pre-file for the exemption anytime after March 1st.

How do I prove my residency in Florida in

order to file for the Homestead Exemption?Proof of legal residence

will require that you havesome ownership documentidentifying the property suchas a deed, contract for sale ortax bill. You must have legaland equitable title to theproperty as of January 1st ofthe year in order to qualify forthe Homestead Exemption forthat year. Further evidenceof residency can be providedby a Voter Registration, aDeclaration of Domicile filedwith the Clerk of the CircuitCourt, or a Florida DriversLicense or Vehicle Registration.

Can I file for homestead inFlorida and my spouse filefor a residency-based ex-emption in another state?The Property Appraiser’s

Office permits only oneHomestead Exemption per

“family unit”. Thus, if youapply for a HomesteadExemption in Collier County,your spouse may not claim aresidency-based exemption inanother state. If your spousedoes claim a residency-basedexemption in another state,you are not eligible for theHomestead Exemption.

Are there any disadvan-tages to the Homestead?

There are certain restrictionson transferring or bequeathingyour Homestead. For example,even if the Homestead istitled solely in your name, ifyou have a surviving spousewho has not waived anyHomestead rights, he or shewould be entitled to a lifeestate in the residence at yourdeath. In addition, keep inmind that Florida residents asof January 1 may also need tofile an intangible tax return.Thus, you should examine thetiming for filing for theHomestead Exemption.

Before becoming a Floridaresident, you should consultwith an attorney as to thebest procedure and timing.

Todd L. Bradley isa shareholder in the

law firm of Grant, Fridkin,Pearson, Athan & Crown, P.A.

Todd obtained his Mastersdegree in taxation from

New York Universityand is Board Certified in

Wills, Trusts and Estates.

What is meant by“Homestead”?

A “Homestead” is theprimary dwelling owned by aFlorida resident. In a municipality,the Homestead may not exceedone-half acre in size. Outside of amunicipality, the Homesteadmay be composed of the residenceand up to 160 contiguous acres.

Are there benefits to beingHomestead?

Yes, the Homestead receivesa $25,000 exemption on itsassessed value for real propertytaxes. In addition, the assessedvalue of the Homestead mayonly be increased up to 3%annually – which as most knowis far less than what the actualappreciation has been for realestate in Southwest Florida.The Homestead is also exemptfrom the claims of unsecuredcreditors. Thus, a generalcreditor cannot take yourresidence. This exemption fromcreditors may also extend to one’ssurviving spouse or heirs-at-law.

Should I title theHomestead in a

Revocable or Living Trust?It is generally not recommended

to hold your Homestead in aRevocable or Living Trust.According to the FederalBankruptcy Court for theMiddle District of Florida(which includes SouthwestFlorida), holding the Homesteadin a Revocable or Living Trustmay cause the property to loseits creditor protected statusunder the Florida Constitution.

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Dehydrationby Sarah Asbell and Jessica Valencia, Summer Day Café

As you check off your list ofthings for the beach don’t forgetone of the most importantthings, water. We all know weneed to “drink more water”, sowhen heading out anywheretake it with you. Sipping atstop signs and lights can helpimprove your concentration,your metabolism and help easemuscle cramps. Why? Theseare some results of dehydration.Drinking water throughout the daycan help hydrate your body andimprove your body’s well being.

Did you know that 75% ofAmericans are chronicallydehydrated? Dehydrationcauses stress and stress causesfurther dehydration. The “drymouth” is the very last sign ofdehydration. Not to mention 37%of Americans’ thirst mechanismis so weak it is often mistakenfor hunger. So, before you feedwhat you think are hungerpangs, try drinking a glass ofwater and waiting fifteenminutes before choosing to eatsomething. This can help cutdown on extra calories, and inturn help reduce weight gain. Astudy at the University ofWashington showed that 100%of dieters who drank a glass ofwater shut down their midnighthunger pangs.

Unintentionally chronicdehydration is at the root ofmany serious diseases, includingasthma, renal dysfunction,endocrine system and adrenalfatigue, high blood pressure and

other cardiovascular problems,arthritis, ulcers, pancreatitis,digestive difficulties and lowerback pain. It is also one of theleading causes of Alzheimer’sdisease. The number onetrigger of daytime fatigue islack of water. Not only canfatigue get you down but a 2%drop in body water can alsotrigger fuzzy short-termmemory. (Can’t rememberwhere you parked your car?Time to drink a little morewater.)

I’m sure everyone has heardthe “eight 8-ounce glasses aday” line, but is that what youreally need? Yes and No. Thelatest study by the Institute ofMedicine of the NationalAcademies recommends thatwomen should get 91-ounces offluid a day while men should get125 ounces a day. If it seemslike a lot to drink, don’t worry.They also say that 19% of thatcan come from the fluid in food.For example, cucumbers,tomatoes and zucchini are allmore than 90% water. Anotherrecommendation for the amountof water you should drinksuggests dividing your weight inhalf to determine the numberof ounces you should consume(ie: a 150 lb person shouldconsume 75 ounces of water).In reality, the size of eachindividual and the physicalactivity that one does in a daycan also change the body’srequirements of fluid. If you

try to drink eight 8-ounces ofwater a day you are headed inthe right direction.

So how do you drink all thiswater without running to therestroom every half an hour?The more pure the water youdrink, the better your bodyabsorbs it. When you drinkliquids such as tea or soda yourbody is busy breaking down themolecules in these drinks to seewhat it needs and what needs tobe excreted, it doesn’t havemuch time to absorb the benefitsof the water molecules found inthose liquids. When you drinkpure water, your body is able toabsorb it more rapidly into yourcells. Purified and distilled watercomes highly recommended.

If you choose to drinkbottled water, please make surethat you recycle your bottles.Every year more than 14 billionplastic water containers (notincluding gallon size or larger)end up in the trash. WithMarco’s curbside recycling bins,there is no excuse not to re-cycle. One easy way to cutdown on waste is joining awater delivery service andfilling up your reusable bottles.Not only does it cut out waste butit helps the pocketbook as well.

The Summer Day Caféparticipates in MICA’s Members

Only Discount Program, and islocated at The Marco Town Center

Mall and can be reached bycalling 239-394-8361.

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Bill, Bill, Bill!by Ruth McCann

We’re still playing “MeetYour Gate Attendant” and inthis issue we’re getting “upclose and personal” with GateAttendant Bill Ames, whogrew up in Jersey City, NewJersey. He attended JerseyCity Junior College. Bill methis wife, Gloria, at the lakewhere his parents’ had a truelog cabin. Bill has fondmemories of those times,recalling that the cabin wasbuilt of full oak logs andsituated on a rustic lake. Billand Gloria were married in1950 and moved to BergenCounty, about 30 miles fromhis birthplace. There Bill’spart-time job working inelectronics turned into alifelong career and a businesshe eventually purchased.Until his retirement, Bill’scompany serviced electronicsand security systems.

Bill and Gloria raised alarge family, four girls and aboy, Mary Beth, Christine,Kathleen, Julie, and Timothy.All their children attendedcollege in Colorado, andsome have remained there.Julie and Tim relocated tothe Boynton Beach, Florida,area, as did Bill and Gloriaupon their “retirement.”They lived for 11 years withBill working in managementat St. Andrews Country Club,before their move across thestate to Marco Island in1998. By 2000 Bill and Gloriahad enough “togetherness”and Bill began to work as a

fill-in gate attendant at theResidents’ Beach. He hassince graduated to the mid-day shift on a permanent

basis! Bill enjoys boating,kayaking, biking, and spend-ing time with his sevengrandchildren.

Obviously, this photo wasn’t taken on Marco!Just a glimpse of what we are not seeing in

Southwest Florida!

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Rather than institute a stateincome tax, the state of Floridaraises revenues in a variety ofother ways. Florida imposes an“intangible property” tax on allnon-exempt property owned byFlorida residents. The tax isimposed on all intangible propertyhaving legal “situs” in the stateof Florida. Situs refers to the“location” of something for taxpurposes. Intangible property,generally speaking, has situs in thestate of residence of the owner.

Typical examples of intangibleproperty include commonstocks, bonds, mortgages,mutual funds, and the like. Thetax is imposed using the valueof intangible assets as ofJanuary 1 of the year. Forpublicly traded stocks, bonds,mutual funds, etc. the value isthe closing price on the lastbusiness day of the previousyear. The tax is imposed on allindividuals who are residents ofFlorida on January 1 of each year.

Certain types of intangibleproperty are exempt from thetax. The exempt assets include:1) cash; 2) franchises; 3) generaland private limited partnershipinterests; 4) Florida municipalbonds; 5) direct U.S. Govern-ment agency bonds; 6) propertyheld in a tax qualified retirementplan or an IRA; 7) notes securedby real estate outside Florida;8 units of unit investment trustsorganized under the Investment

Company Act of 1940 if theassets of the trust consistsolely of exempt property (e.g.Florida municipals or U.S.government bonds).

“Cash” includes not onlypaper currency and coins butcertificates of deposit, checkingaccounts, bank money marketaccounts, and the cash value oflife insurance and annuitycontracts as well. Cash alsoincludes the accrued interest oncash deposits. Money marketmutual funds are not consideredcash. However, if the moneymarket mutual fund meets theexception number 8 above (i.e.,it is properly organized andinvests solely in U.S. governmentpaper) you may be able to securean exemption on that ground.

Public limited partnershipinterests are not exempt and areto be valued at the tradedmarket value when traded on anexchange or over the counter.If there is not a traded marketvalue, it is to be valued at theacquisition cost. If the ownerfeels that partnership should bevalued at a lesser value, he/shemay submit evidence (naturally,they don’t define this term) alongwith the return to support that.

The tax is imposed accordingto the following schedule:

Single Rate$0 - $250,000 0Over $250,000 1 mill

Married/Joint Rate$0 - $500,000 0Over $500,000 1 mill

A “mill” equals $1 for every$1,000 of intangible propertyor .001. One mill equals 10“basis points” (a basis pointequals .01% or .0001).

Consider this example: acouple (a married couple whoare residents of Florida) have$1,300,000 worth of non-exemptintangible property.

Their tax will be $800[(500,000 x 0) + (800,000 x.001)]

New residents of Floridashould pay the tax enthusiasti-cally since it only applies toresidents (and they are trying toestablish their residence) andthe rate is so much lower thanstate income tax rates. Existingresidents may wish to purchaseFlorida municipal bonds.However, if the yield on acomparable out of state bond ismore than 20 basis points higherthan the Florida bond, thebetter economic decision is tobuy the out of state bond. Note,however, that the intangible taxis a deductible tax for federalincome tax purposes.

Howard Jordon is Vice PresidentInvestments of Raymond James &

Associates, Inc.He can be reached for comments

or question at 239-389-1041 orHoward.jordon@Raymondjames.com

The Florida Intangible Taxby Howard J. Jordon AAMS

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Advances in Back Pain Reliefby Dr. Roger Sessions

The word “pain” comes fromthe Latin “poena” which meanspunishment or torment. In1931, the famous missionary Dr.Albert Schweitzer wrote that“Pain is a more terrible lord ofmankind than even deathitself.” Ancient civilizationsrecorded their thoughts on painon stone tablets and on walls.The treatments they tried toeliminate pain included heat,water and sun, among others.Early men and women believedthat pain was caused by evildemons or spirits. Thus, peopleturned to sorcerers, shamans,priests or priestesses for painrelief and used various herbs,potions, rituals and ceremoniesto treat their pain.

An estimated 90 millionAmericans suffer from chronicpain or continuous pain whichlasts more than 6 months, withthe resulting disability and lostproductivity amounting to morethan $100 billion a year.According to the AmericanAcademy of Orthopedic Surgeons,80 percent of Americans willexperience back pain some timein their life. And, in a September2004 survey it was found thatone in three Connecticut adultsare experiencing pain on a dailybasis while as many as 60 percentof Connecticut adults experi-ence pain on a monthly basis.

A doctor’s solution for painmanagement typically consistssolely of the use of drugs.However, according toconservative estimates in theAmerican Journal of Medicine,107,000 patients are hospitalized

annually for nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drug(NSAID)-related gastrointestinalcomplications and at least 16,500related deaths occur each yearamong arthritis patients alone.These anti-inflammatory drugsinclude Advil®, Aleve®,Tylenol®, ibuprofen, naproxen,and Aspirin®. The New EnglandJournal of Medicine in June 1999reported that “If deaths fromgastrointestinal toxic effectsfrom NSAIDS were treatedseparately in the National VitalStatistics reports, these effectswould constitute the 15th mostcommon cause of death in theUnited States. Yet these toxiceffects remain mainly a ‘silentepidemic,’ with many physiciansand most patients unaware of themagnitude of the problem.Furthermore, the mortalitystatistics do not include deathsascribed to the use of over-the-counter NSAIDS.” Doctorsfrequently prescribe prescriptionnarcotics, which dull the patient’sperception of pain by preventingpain messages from reaching thebrain. But many of the mostheavily prescribed narcotics,such as morphine, have seriousnegative side effects such assedation and the potential foraddiction.

Over the past few decadesmany doctors, scientists andcompanies have been studyingthe causes and mechanisms ofpain in hopes of finding outhow to manage and relieve thisworldwide crisis. One companyspecializing in nanotechnology,Ferris Pharmaceuticals Inc. of

Hinsdale, Illinois, has participatedin a number of medical andscientific studies on relievingpain. The result of FerrisPharmaceuticals’ research onback pain was the invention ofthe ActiveWorks® Pain reliefsystems for acute and chronicback pain. Ferris Pharmaceuticals’research led to the discovery ofthe NanoTech™ Pain reliefsystems for acute and chroniclimb pain for the shoulders,elbow, wrist, ankle, and knee.

In the January 2003 issue ofOrthopedics by Dr. Brian Cole,M.D. (Department of OrthopedicSurgery, Division of SportsMedicine, Rush Presbyterian-St.Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago,Illinois), Dr. Cole found thatpatients had significant reductionin postoperative pain and lowerskin temperatures after kneesurgery when using the FerrisPharmaceuticals NanoTech™Pain Pad. In his study Dr. Colefound “statistically significantreduction of postoperative pain”and “less postoperative swelling.”

In the February 2004 Journalof Pain of the American PainSociety, it was reported in aclinical study by Alvin J. Beitz,PhD and Alan R. Kahn, M.D.,that the Ferris PharmaceuticalsNanoTech™ Pain Pad was“useful for reducing pain,” therewas “a significant reduction inFos expression,” and that thepad “significantly reduced boththe number of inflammatory cellsand the spread of inflammation.”Dr. Beitz and Dr. Kahn also foundthat the tested Ferris Pharmaceuti-cals NanoTech™ Pain Pad

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“produces a local analgesic effectwhen applied to the skin.”

Two important back painstudies have been performedwith the Ferris PharmaceuticalsNanoTech™ back pain reliefsystem. In each of these studies,the patients were treated for 10days. The patients had backpain for at least six months priorto enrolling in the study.

In the most recent study ofpatients with untreatable chroniclower back pain by Dr. AlanKahn, M.D. and Dr. HansErsgaard, M.D., 87 percent ofthe patients responded wellwithin the 10-day treatmentperiod with 73 percent of thepatients experiencing total relieffrom lower back pain with theFerris PharmaceuticalsNanoTech™ back pain reliefsystem.

In an earlier study thatexamined 47 participants sufferingfrom chronic back pain, 72percent of the participantstreated with the ActiveWorks™back pain relief system obtainedrelief and 90 percent of thosediscontinued the use of their backpain medications. Of those whoreceived back pain relief, 27percent had pain relief within fourhours or less of beginning to usethe product. And more than twoweeks after completing treatment,the participants in the studyreported that the ActiveWorks®provided significant lasting reliefwhen compared to their regulartreatment methods.

NanoTech™ Pain Padscontain no drugs or harmfulchemicals. Over 100 milliontons (of 4x4 inch pads of thematerial) have been used inhealthcare facilities worldwideover the past 12 years without a

single reported adverse reaction(no MDR’s or Medical DeviceReports). The Fer risPharmaceuticals NanoTech™pain relief system is comfortableto wear and causes no discomfortupon application and removalduring the recommended 10-daytreatment process.

Dr. Alvin Beitz, an eminentneurophysiologist, suggests thatthe NanoTech™ pain reliefsystems relieve pain by disruptingthe signals sent through the paincircuitry and by simultaneouslyactivating the pain reliefmechanisms which exist in thespinal cord. Dr. Beitz alsospeculates that the NanoTech™Pain Pad somehow activates adifferent type of new neuron.

Evidence presented by Dr.Brian Cole suggests that this painrelief effect is accomplished bythe selective absorption ofvery small (nano) quantities ofsodium ions from the skin intothe NanoTech™ Pain Pad. Theabsorption of the sodium disruptsthe pain signal transmission sothe pain receptor andtransmission systems are notactivated, therefore the pain is“short-circuited.”

According to Dr. Beitz, theNanoTech™ pain relief systemuses spinal cord pathways similarto those seen with acupuncture.However, the NanoTech™ painrelief system provides addedadvantages over acupuncture.First, it eliminates the use ofneedles in order to get thebeneficial effects, and second,the treatment can be deliveredcontinuously rather than justduring the limited time that aperson is able to be treated atthe office, which speeds up thehealing process.

In the thousands of yearssince mankind first suffered withpain and the accompanyinganxiety and depression, scienceand physicians have provided uswith dramatic improvements inpain management. In 1869Friedrich Bayer founded a smallcompany in Barmen, Germany,to produce dyes. In 1887, a Bayerchemist developed a “wonderdrug” called the aspirin whichhas been used ever since torelieve pain. And, now in the 21st

century scientists have againdeveloped another “breakthrough”medical device- the drug-freeActiveWorks® back pain reliefsystem.

For more information on theFerris PharmaceuticalsActiveWorks® back pain reliefsystem for your chronic or acutepain or the other PolyMem®family of products, call toll-free1-800-POLYMEM. Or, pleasevisit and speak with ElizabethLaLonde, a Registered Nurse withover 25 years experiencespecializing in patient pain,ostomy and wound care.Elizabeth LaLonde is at theMedical Shoppe of Marco at theShops of Marco, 135 S. BarfieldDrive, Marco Island. Hours are9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday and Saturday10:00am to 2:00 p.m. Her officecan be reached at 239-389-4890.

Dr. Roger Sessions is a StaffPhysician at the Baylor Regional

Medical Center, Grapevine, Texas;Diplomat of the American College

of Emergency Physicians;Asstistant Director of Baylor

Regional EMS; Director of theNorth Texas Medical Center;

and, a member of the AmericanCollege of Sports Medicine.

- 20 -

The Marco Island Coast Guard Auxiliaryby Randy Weimer FSO - PA

The United States CoastGuard Auxiliary was created byan act of Congress on June 23,1939. It was originally called theCoast Guard Reserve. Thename was changed to the CoastGuard Auxiliary on Feb 19,1941. The Coast Guard andAuxiliary were at first organizedunder the direction of theDepartment of Transportation.However, today both areadministered by the Departmentof Homeland Security.

The Marco Auxiliary isentering its 38th year of serviceto Marco Island and the TenThousand Islands. Fifty yearsago the Naples Auxiliary was theonly Coast Guard Auxiliary inthe area. Then, as the area grew,Naples started the MarcoAuxiliary. Today the MarcoIsland Auxiliary is assigned anAOR (area of responsibility)that is 220 square miles andtakes in the Ten ThousandIslands. The Auxiliary on MarcoIsland has over 60 members, 18authorized vessels 18 ft to 44feet, 1 base radio station andseven home based land radiostations. The auxiliary is not alaw enforcement agency butserves as a support team forand operates under orders from,the Coast Guard. All of ourmembers are required to undergostrict Homeland Securityclearance checks.

We offer a wide variety ofboating programs including our

most popular course, BoatingSkills and Seamanship. All of ourclasses are taught by certifiedCoast Guard instructors. Theseprograms are designed forindividuals who either own aboat or are thinking of buying aboat. They provide valuableinformation to help make us allsafe boaters. Other coursesinclude GPS, Advanced CoastalNavigation, Weather, How toRead a Chart, Hurricanes andYour Boat, and many watersafety programs aimed at schoolage children.

Unfortunately, Florida leadsthe nation in boating fatalities,injuries and accidents. Coursessuch as the ones we offer are akey to a safer boating public.We encourage all boaters toexpand their knowledge base bylooking into the various Auxiliarycourses that are offered. Manyinsurance companies givediscounts on boat insurance ifyou successfully complete theseclasses and present them withthe appropriate certificates.Current Florida Law requires thatanyone born after September 30,1980, and operating a vesselpowered by a 10 horsepower ormore motor, must pass anapproved boater safety educationcourse. They must also have intheir possession, photographicidentification and a boatersafety identification card issuedby the Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission.

These identification cards willbe processed at no charge uponcompleting the courses offered bythe Marco Island Coast GuardAuxiliary.

Free Vessel Safety Checks(inspections) are available fromcertified Coast Guard Auxiliarymembers here on Marco Island.They can be done right at yourdock. The goal of theseinspections is to assure that youhave all of the required safetyequipment on your boat. TheAuxiliary will work with you untilyour boat meets all of the CoastGuard safety requirements. Youwill then be awarded a VesselSafety Check Certificate to affixto your boat.

In addition to an electedFlotilla Commander and ViceCommander, we have twelveappointed Staff Officers in ourFlotilla that have separateassigned responsibilities, includinga certified Marine Safety Officerwho responds to water pollutioninvestigations.

Although our vessel facilities(boats) are privately owned,they must be inspected to meetUSCG standards. The requiredequipment on board costs themember an average of twelvehundred dollars. The coxswainsand crews on all of our boatsmust be certified as well asundergo annual requalifications.A coxswain undergoes 4 monthsof training and then must betested on the water in the

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daytime and nighttime by a QE(Qualified Coast Guard Examiner).Crewmembers undergo similartraining and testing.

Anytime an auxiliary vesselis on the water flying the PatrolEnsign and the Coast GuardPatrol Sign, that vessel is underUS Coast Guard orders. It isassigned as Coast Guard Property,as is the radio equipmentsupporting it. The MarcoAuxiliary is designated asFlotilla 5 in Division 9 and isunder the command of theUnited States Coast GuardSeventh District. Flotilla 5 hassupported the Coast Guard withwell over twenty thousandhours in 2004 including manysearch & rescue missions andboater distress calls.

The importance of theAuxiliary became very evidentafter 9/11 when it was calledupon to fill vacant USCGpositions in stations that haddeployed staff to meet thedemands of national security.Today our trained members areutilized to staff positions at theFort Myers Coast Guard Station.

Our Auxiliary station onMarco Island (located atCaxambas Park) has receivedmany awards from the USCG.Its accomplishments includeleadership in establishing newseminars on boating safety,installing updated radiocommunications, providingdocking for emergency re-sponse vessels and for com-pleting a 24-month re-chartingof the Ten Thousand Island.

For information on boatingclasses, vessel inspections,seminars and availability ofspeakers please call the stationat 394-5911 and leave a message.If you would like informationon joining this fine family ofvolunteers and have eight hoursa month to give, please call also.Information on the Auxiliarymembership requirements, classdates, and course descriptions isalso available at our web site:www.uscgaux.org/~0700905.

Special Note on BoatingSpeed Zones

We get many questionsabout local boating speed zones.Therefore, in conjunction withlocal authorities, the followinginformation was prepared tobriefly cover some examples ofcommon boating speed zonesfound around Marco Island.

Boat speed limits are postedthroughout our waterways, justbe alert for the white signs andmarkers while on the water.Remember that PWC’s (per-sonal watercraft) are class Amotorboats and must follow thesame rules as other boats. Boatspeed limits do not give anyonethe option to operate in anunsafe manner. There is no“right-of-way” on the water!Some speed zone examples areshown below.On the Gulf- Boats must beoperated in a safe manner, at asafe speed.From the entrance of CapriPass to speed marker justpast the Snook Inn- Idle speed(no wake and a minimum speed

at which you can still maintaincontrol).From this point up to within300 feet either side of theJolley Bridge- 30 miles per hourwithin the channel.Within 300 feet either side ofthe Jolley Bridge- Slow speed(minimum wake and boat in anoff-plane position, riding level inthe water with the bow down).Outside of the Marco Riverchannel- Unless marked other-wise, the speed limit is slowspeed.Marco Island bays andcanals- Idle speed. This includesall bays* and canals on MarcoIsland. Also included in thisspeed limit is the area along theseawalls east of the Jolley Bridge.Special speed zones- areassuch as Rookery Bay and someareas around Goodland are markedwith 20 miles per hour signs.

* Barfield Bay speed limitsare under evaluation by the Cityof Marco Island.

Boating authorities cansuspend speed limits at any timeif unsafe conditions exist.Monitor channel 16 on yourVHF radio at all times for safetyalerts and emergencies.

Please remember, safety is everyone’sresponsibility. We cannot possibly coverall of the specific speed zones on Marco;so we have included some here forclarification purposes. Water speed zonesare clearly marked! It is the boater’sresponsibility to operate his/herwatercraft in a safe manner; this includesoperation at no more than the postedand safe speed. Courtesy goes a long wayon the water, if in doubt, give-way.

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United Way of Collier Countyby Shannon Anderson

Isn’t it great to have MarcoIsland as your place in the sun?Whether you are here year‘round, a few months or fewweeks, very few will argue thatMarco has the best of so muchfor so many. It’s easy tounderstand why the residents arejustly proud of their community.

Residents and civic groupsseek to improve life on theisland for all residents throughhard work and generosity anddonations to the United Wayassist with that task.

From the beginning of theMarco YMCA’s existence, theUnited Way of Collier County

has been a generous supporter,helping to pay for supervised,after-school care. The UnitedWay also helps to fund Marco’sscouting activities, withapproximately 115 childrenbenefiting.

Marco residents can counton all United Way-fundedagencies including those off theisland to give support in timesof crisis. Unfortunately, MarcoIsland shares some of the sameserious issues that existthroughout Collier County.Project Help provides 24 hour-a-day counseling for survivors ofrape, crimes and suicide andoffers support groups as well.Typically, 60 individuals fromMarco are served by ProjectHelp annually.

Some agencies hope theneed for their services declines.

The Child Protection Team(CPT) is one such agency.Their mission is to providemedical and social diagnosis ofchild abuse and neglect. Thispast year, CPT was involvedwith 64 children from Marco.

The list of agencies thatserve Marco residents continues:Sunrise/Tech of Collier County,providing the developmentallydisabled opportunities to liveproductively in the community;Step by Step, deliveringintervention programs forpreschoolers with developmentdelays; the Care Club, caring forAlzheimer’s sufferers in Collier’sonly licensed adult day program.These are a few of the 29 localagencies that are supported bythe United Way.

Although many businessessupport the United Waygenerously, Collier Countydoesn’t have as many largebusinesses from which to drawsupport as other communities do.In addition, local government doesnot fund charitable organizations.The financial support of theresidents of Marco Island andthe rest of Collier County aregreatly needed for the UnitedWay to meet its goal of $2.5million. Thank you for yoursupport.

Please contact the UnitedWay for more information at239-261-7112. And finally, youmay lend your support to theUnited Way by sending yourtax-deductible gift to:The United Way of Collier County848 1st Avenue N. Ste. 240Naples, FL 34102

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- 23 -

- 24 -

Nonprofit Collier County AnimalLeague, Inc. Formed to Save Lives of

Local AnimalsFoster homes, volunteers and donations urgently needed

Ronnye Randall, a health careindustry consultant, couldn’tstand the idea of the stray dogshe had turned in to the countyshelter being put down, so shedecided to do something about it.

In May of 2004, Randallfound “Fate,” as the little black labcame to be called, while outwalking her own three dogs. Hehad no identification tags, so shetook him to the county shelter.

“He didn’t look like he hadbeen dumped or abused, so Iassumed he had got out in thestorms the night before and thathis owners would quickly pickhim up,” said Randall.

Unfortunately, no one claimedlittle Fate, and, because he had aninjury to one of his front legsand also had Heartworm, a fatalparasitic condition if left un-treated, the shelter prepared toeuthanize him, as they do nothave the resources to treat orcare for dogs in such condition.

The thought of this friendly,happy young pup being put downwas too much for Randall tobear, so she set about trying tofind his owners or, if that failed,to find him a suitable home.

“I put up flyers in all thenearby shops and posted themin the local residentialcommunities,” she said. “But it

was pretty stressful, as I knew ifI didn’t find him a home quickly,he would be euthanized.”

Fortunately, this story had ahappy ending, as a wonderfullygenerous family agreed to adoptFate and treat his medicalconditions at their own expense.

After experiencing thesatisfaction of finding a homefor Fate, Randall began toresearch whether it would bepossible to find homes for otheranimals in the county shelterthat would otherwise beeuthanized. She quickly metTammy Morris, owner ofAmigo’s Restaurant on MarcoIsland, who had been quietlyrescuing dogs and cats fromshelter for over 13 years. Morrishad been using her network offriends, family and customers tofind the animals permanenthomes, paying for any medical

treatments needed out of herown pocket. The two beganworking together toward theircommon goal and, over the lastseven months, working withother individuals and rescueorganizations have found homesfor over 150 animals.

As Randall and Morris metmore and more animal loverswho wanted to get involvedwith their efforts, they decidedto organize the process, andrecently formed the nonprofitorganization Collier CountyAnimal League, Inc. (CCAL).

“We’ve just filed our incor-poration papers and are waitingto get our exempt status so thatwe can accept tax deductibledonations,” said Randall.“Then we can really starthelping some of the moredesperate cases that needexpensive medical treatment,”she continued.

CCAL’s stated mission is toend euthanasia in Collier Countyby reducing the population ofhomeless and unwanted animalsthrough low cost and no costspay/neuter programs andcommunity education; and byhelping local animal sheltersand rescue organizations withany needs that are not coveredby their operating budgets.

Honeybear is one of the animals atthe Collier County Animal League,

Inc. looking for a new home

- 25 -

“Thanks to some extremelygenerous benefactors, we havealready been able to save thelives of many animals whoneeded medical treatment,”said Randall.

CCAL has treated approxi-mately 25 dogs for heartworm;spayed/neutered, tested andvaccinated 50 cats; treated fourorthopedic injuries; paid fordiagnostics on several animalshit by cars; and treated four eyeinjuries.

CCAL also rescues healthyanimals from local shelters thathave simply been there too longand that are going to beeuthanized to make space formore incoming animals.

“It’s tragic, really,” saidRandall. “These animals wouldmake great pets for someone,but the local shelter simplydoesn’t have the resources tohold on to them forever. We tryto put as many as possible intofoster homes until we can findthem a permanent home.”

CCAL holds 1 to 2 adoptionevents a month at local businessesand currently has 17 cats and 8dogs available for adoption. Allof the cuddly creatures needingloving homes can be seen onlineat www.CCAL.petfinder.com.Adoption fees are $40 for catsand $50 for dogs.

“Right now, with the currentrate of animal intakes at thecounty shelter, we’re facing anuphill battle,” said Randall.“Although it’s always heart-breaking when we can’t rescue aparticular dog or cat, we are soencouraged by the support of

the local community so far thatwe are optimistic we can helpmake unnecessary euthanasia athing of the past,” she continued.

CCAL is always grateful toreceive donations to covermedical costs and animal supplies,and urgently needs foster homesand volunteers.

If you would like to find out howyou can help end animal euthanasia in

Collier County, contact RonnyeRandall, president, Collier County

Animal League, Inc.,(239) 642-5300;

e-mail info@collierrescue.com.Contact Information:

Ronnye Randall, PresidentCollier County Animal League, Inc.

589 Tripoli CourtMarco Island, FL 34145

Phone: (239) 642-5300Fax: (707) 598-7680

Email: ronnye@collierrescue.com Moshi, Granite and Boo

- 26 -

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MICA LettersDear MICA,

Just a note to tell you howmuch we enjoyed your latestpublication of MICAWAVE -what a great little magazine. Weread each article and found thesubjects so interesting andinformative - it is wonderful toread through the articles and learnso much about our beautifulIsland. Your choice of articleswas fabulous and so well written.

As condo owners on thebeach, we are very grateful foryour concern and caring - ThankYou so much for representing us.Can’t tell you how much you areappreciated - what a joy to knowyour group is watching over theresidents of Marco Island and alltheir needs and wants.

Congratulations, and manythanks for your MICAWAVE.

Jim and Joan Dunne

Be on the look out....

This card will be sent to youin future mailings.

It’s a good idea to fill outand place one on your

refrigerator and another inthe glove compartment of

your car.

It may help guide personnel inthe event of an emergency.

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Men, you have been keepinga wonderful secret from yourwives! When thinking of a poolsupply store, what comes tomind are floats and chlorine.Islander Pool and Patio couldn’tbe further from that picture.What a surprise I encounteredwhen I walked into IslanderPool and Patio for the first time!Beautiful patio accessoriesabound, like clocks and ther-mometers, tableware, wall décor,candles, and wind chimes.Towel racks, outdoor lamps,patio mats, and placements roundout the décor. They also sell hot

Islander Pool and Patio

tubs, Telescope Patio furniture,pool heaters, and the moretypical floats, toys, and waterexercise equipment. They alsooffer pool service with on-staffrepair specialists, water testing,and in-store equipment repairsfree of charge on labor.

Marco residents and owners,Joe and Kim Irigoyen, are veryactive in the community, fromchairing the Tommie BarfieldPumpkin Patch Committee for anumber of years to coaching sportsat the Charter Middle School.

by Staff

For the months of February,March, and April, Islander Pooland Patio is also offering MICAmembers an extra 5% offTelescope furniture, and 5% offfoam chairs.

For more information aboutthe company and discounts youcan log onto:www.islanderpoolandpatio.comThe store is located at 559 BaldEagle drive, betweenSu’s Garden Restaurant &Marco Office Supply.

Jim HughesELECTRIC CO. Inc.ELECTRIC CO. Inc.ELECTRIC CO. Inc.ELECTRIC CO. Inc.ELECTRIC CO. Inc.

CustomCustomCustomCustomCustom SerSerSerSerServicevicevicevicevice394-7314394-7314394-7314394-7314394-7314

GARAGEDOOR REPAIRS

Quality isvaluable, but

Experience isPriceless!

(239) 642-9050www.greatgaragedoors.com

Did you Know?

You can read the NaplesDaily News and the MarcoIsland Eagle on line early atno cost atwww.marconews.com

Most folks are about

as happy as they make

up their minds to be.

Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865)

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Spotlight on Konrad’s Restaurantby Ruth McCann

A visit to Konrad’s Restaurantis such a treat. No easily accessibleparking? No problem! Valetparking is at their doorstep. Afew minutes until your table isready? No problem! Thelounge is just a few feet awaywith a full bar and an amazingwine selection encompassing 67different wines. Just think - youcould dine at Konrad’s on 67consecutive evenings and neverdrink the same wine twice!

The entrée menu is just asvaried, ranging from Bavarianspecialties to seafood, to chickenand pasta, to beef and lamb.Konrad’s uses only the freshest,natural ingredients and everymeal begins with a trip to thefabulously fresh salad bar. Theshrimp is hand picked from thedocks of Ft. Myers Beach, and

all beef is aged in house. Theycut and smoke all of their meatsand seafood on the premises,giving their chefs creative freedomto accommodate any request.

Konrad’s Restaurant firstopened its doors January 2, 1992,under the helm of owner-chef,Konrad Mayerhofer. Konrad isa native of Germany and has anextensive resume beginning withan apprenticeship in Germany,five years in Switzerland and

Remember When?The picnic area at Residents’ Beach prior to raising of elevation!

England, followed by sevenyears aboard the Royal VikingCruise Line and the EssexHouse in New York City. Uponarriving on Marco, Konradserved as executive chef at theMarco Marriott Resort.

Konrad has continued thestandards of his training at hiselegant yet casual restaurantlocated in the Marco Walk. Therestaurant’s lounge menu wasrecently expanded, so if you’renot in the mood for a full coursemeal, how about an appetizer ora sandwich in the lounge? Out-side dining is available for thosebeautiful winter evenings as well.Konrad’s is open for dinner from5 to 10 p.m., with the loungemenu available until closing.They offer 10% off food withyour MICA Discount Card.You can view the full menu andread all about Konrad’s atwww.konradsrestaurant.com.Call 642-3332 for reservations.

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MARCO ISLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION - RESIDENTS’ BEACH1770 San Marco Road, #204, Marco Island, FL 34145

Phone: 239-642-7778 Fax: 239-642-8663

APPLICATION FOR 2004-2005 RESIDENTS’ BEACH USE

Enclosed is my check for $100.00 covering application fee for my non-transferrable Residents’ Beachmembership. Fiscal year is September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005. Fees are not prorated.PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO MICA - RESIDENTS’ BEACH.

I certify that I am a Marco Island resident, and in support of this application, I AM SUBMITTING HEREWITHPROOF that I qualify for membership by including legible copies of one of the following with my application:

• Copy of 2004 proposed tax statement or 2003 or later tax bill, or homestead exemption card forimproved residential dwelling on Marco Island showing the street address. OR

• Copy of current homeowner’s, wind, or flood insurance policy for my home on Marco Island,showing the street address. OR

• Copy of current condominium maintenance fee billing for my dwelling showing Marco Island streetaddress. OR

• New property owners: copy of warranty deed or copy of closing statement.

ONLONLONLONLONLY Y Y Y Y THE THE THE THE THE ABOABOABOABOABOVE DOCUMENTS VE DOCUMENTS VE DOCUMENTS VE DOCUMENTS VE DOCUMENTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WILL BE CONSIDERED WILL BE CONSIDERED WILL BE CONSIDERED WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AS AS AS AS AAAAACCEPTCCEPTCCEPTCCEPTCCEPTABLE PRABLE PRABLE PRABLE PRABLE PROOF OF RESIDENCYOOF OF RESIDENCYOOF OF RESIDENCYOOF OF RESIDENCYOOF OF RESIDENCY.....DO NODO NODO NODO NODO NOT SUBMIT ORIGINT SUBMIT ORIGINT SUBMIT ORIGINT SUBMIT ORIGINT SUBMIT ORIGINALSALSALSALSALS..... ORIGIN ORIGIN ORIGIN ORIGIN ORIGINALS ALS ALS ALS ALS WILL NOWILL NOWILL NOWILL NOWILL NOT BE RETURNED T BE RETURNED T BE RETURNED T BE RETURNED T BE RETURNED TTTTTO O O O O YYYYYOUOUOUOUOU.....

License plate number(s) will appear on the Residents’ Beach decal(s). Therefore, I AM ALSO SUBMITTING:one or two [please circle] copies of current vehicle registration(s), showing the license plate number(s),in names appearing on application.

If either vehicle is leased and your name is not shown on the car registration, please also submitcopies of the lease(s) or insurance card(s) showing your name. Vehicle titles will not be accepted.

• I also wish to join the Marco Island Civic Association, therefore, enclosed is an additional $25, for atotal of $125. (This is a $10 discount given when both Residents’ Beach & MICA memberships are purchased simultaneously).

I understand that: 1) Residents’ Beach membership will be granted only to natural persons (not corporations or trusts); 2) not morethan one membership will be issued to any resident; 3) membership is non-transferrable; 4) members entering Residents’ Beachwithout a decal affixed to their car (decal must match license plate) must present photo identification to the guard; 5) there is norefund of fees; 6) the fee to replace a car decal is $10.00. As a member of Residents’ Beach I waive for myself and any of my guestsany cause of action that may arise for damages of any kind and matter. I understand that any violation of membership rules andbeach access regulations will be grounds for cancellation of my membership. Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have readthe foregoing application and that the facts stated in it are true.

MARCO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________BUSINESS ADDRESS OR PO BOX IS NOT ACCEPTABLE

__________________ ______________________________________________________________Date Signature of Applicant

Please print legibly Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Daytime phone #: _________________________ Fax #: __________________________________

E-mail address: ________________________________________________________________________________

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South Naples Citrus Grove

South Naples Citrus Grove isa family owned and operatedbusiness for over 20 years. Our120 acre grove is located 1½miles east of Collier Boulevard( S.R. 951 ) on Sabal Palm Roadin Naples Florida.

Our retail store has alreadybagged fruit, many varieties ofMarmalades, Orange BlossomHoney, Grapefruit Spoons,Knives, Peelers, and Sippers. Wealso box our fruit so you cantake it on the airplane.

From our shipping departmentyou can order gift fruit boxes tobe shipped to your friends andfamily for Christmas and otherspecial occasions. DuringJanuary and February wereceive many orders for theyearly seasonal treat known asthe Honeybell Tangelo. Whatbetter way is there than to send

a fresh picked gift box ofFlorida citrus to friends andfamily sending “A LittleFlorida Sunshine” their way.

We are a seasonal businessopening approximately November20th and closing for the seasonaround May 10th each year. Ourbusiness hours are 9 A.M. till 5P.M. Monday through Saturdayand closed on Sundays.

We grow three varieties ofgrapefruit: Pink, Ruby Red, andStar. Orange varieties throughseason are: Hamlin, Navel, Page,Orlando and HoneybellTangelos, Temple, Pineapple,and Valencia. Tangerine varietiesavailable through season are:Sunburst, Poncan, Dancy, andMurcott honey tangerine.

So come on in and see howthe fruit is washed and waxed,bagged and trayed. Best of all, trybefore you buy because samplesare always-always available.

You can also visit us on ourwebsite at ww.naplescitrus.comor e-mail us atsncitrus@earthlink.net. We canbe reached by phone on ourtoll-free line at (888)547-6837or locally at (239)774-3838.

Congratulations to MICA Board member JoAnne Youman andher husband Bob, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary

on November 21, 2004. Pictures of then and now!