new year`s eve on marco island

M
social studies
new year’s eve
on marco island
New Year’s Eve is the time for
renewal; the time we promise to ourselves
that we will improve or change something
in our lives. Many of us follow through,
and many of us don’t, but who can resist
the urge to go out and celebrate the
new year ahead? Many local and outof-towners did just that as they enjoyed
planned parties and dinners — and more
importantly, the good company of those
gathered on Marco Island.
—Kera Holzinger
1. Before the evening festivities began, locals
and out-of-towners celebrated with dinner at
Capt. Brien’s.
2. Hilton guests celebrated with a buffetstyled meal, listened to live music from T&T
and watched the ball drop in New York City on
large screen television.
3. The Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort &
Spa hosted a party for guests and Islanders
celebrating the new year.
4. Couples showed up for the festivities on
Marco Island for New Year’s Eve.
5. Capt. Brien’s Off the Hook Comedy Club
was a happening spot for dinner on New
Year’s Eve.
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rick’s island
salon 20th
anniversary
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It’s been 20 years of business for
Rick’s Island Salon and Day Spa; there’s
been ups and downs — but it’s mostly been
up. In November, Rick Popoff along with
his wife Lisa, and their three daughters
Sasha, Krista and Nikki, celebrated their
20 years of success with a rooftop party
above the Esplanade. Nearly 100 clients,
friends and Islanders turned out for the
event.
—Lance Shearer
1. Nikki, left, Rick, LIsa, Krista and Sasha
Popoff
2. Nori Mu–oz
3. Karen Young and Jennie Mitchell are
caught in the glow of the DJ’s lights.
4. Lisa Popoff hugs Vip Grover.
5. Larry Sacher, Susan Zimmerman, Judy
Sacher, Sandy Rick, and Phyllis Greenspan
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social studies
angels over
stan’s
Stan’s Idle Hour was an odd place
to go looking for angels, but in December
there were aplenty. The Goodland restaurant played host to the Wishing Well
Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Angels
Over Stan’s. The independent, Southwest
Florida-based charity has put smiles on
the faces of many kids who did not have
much to smile about, by granting wishes
to children with life-threatening diseases.
In addition to angels, Wishing Well volunteers also sold raffle tickets for the 50/50
drawing and quilts handmade by a group
of women in Naples. Longtime Wishing
Well volunteers Dale and Donna Rod circulated around the crowd listening to the
music, selling Wishing Well raffle tickets.
—Lance Shearer
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1. Craig Roberts and Laurie Turns
4. Dale Rod and “Queen Mary” Martin
5. Luisa Cortes
2. Krissy Sullivan
3. Vocalist Robbin Otto
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‘Tis the Season
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The Island celebrated Christmas
in several festive ways this year; all were
attended by crowds of Islanders and local
business leaders. First event was 35th
annual Christmas Gala for the Marco
Island Area Chamber of Commerce in
December. Bistro Soleil was bustling with
activity as many couples danced the night
away. Another Island holiday gathering was
the Yacht Club’s annual Boat Parade party,
where the ladies dressed in their finest.
And finally Santa and Mrs. Claus looked
like a Disney character when the finished
the show at the annual Street Parade.
1. Some 22 past presidents of the Marco Island
Area Chamber of Commerce pose for a group
photo at the 35th Anniversary Celebration and
Christmas Gala at Bistro Soleil.
2. Lisa Luft, center with daughter Amber, left,
and Leona Wreschner and Kathleen Beaufair at
the Marco Island Yacht Club’s boat parad party.
3. Santa and Mrs. Claus borrow Cinderella’s
carriage for the finale at the Christmas Island
Style Street Parade in December.
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social studies
canine christmas
parade
2
The line between dogs and reindeer, between dogs and elves, and even
between dogs and Christmas presents got
a little blurry in December when the Esplanade was invaded by dozens of dolled-up
dogs and their doting human attendants,
for the Christmas Island Style Canine
Christmas Parade. The pimped-out
pooches, mostly of the apartment-friendly
size, but including some dogs big enough
to know better, strolled across the red carpet as their name was called, passing in
review of the judges. They posed for pictures, with a portion of proceeds ironically
benefiting For the Love of Cats, which
had one cat on hand, looking askance at
all the costumed canines.
—Lance Shearer
1. Lauren Dehaan holds Abbie, her Sheltie.
2. The Canine Christmas Parade at the
Esplanade brought dozens of costumed
pooches out to walk the red carpet with their
owners.
3 Yolanda Brady shows off Bailey, dressed as
the Sugar Plum Fairy.
4. Buddy Doodah gets a boost from Nancy
Dowdall.
5. Judges Neil Snyder, left, Steve Stefanides
and Wanda Day
6. Natalie Strom gets a kiss from B.B.
Wrinkles.
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singing
sensations
Some say she kissed the Blarney
Stone, others insist she was born clutching a four-leaf clover but whatever the
case one thing is certain: when Kathleen
Reynolds promotes an event it’s sure to
be a success. As founder and president of
Southwest Florida’s Sons & Daughters of
Erin, she presented The Sicilian Tenors in
“Christmas Amore!” to a sold-out crowd
at San Marco Parish Center in December.
It was the second year for the popular trio
to perform for the group.
—Bernadette La Paglia
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1. The Sicilian Tenors: Sam Vitale, Aaron
Caruso and Elio Scaccio
2. Paul and Arliss Ander
3. Larry and Joanna Magel
4. Ruth Duklauer and Carol Gore
5. Joan Kenny, Joe Grande and Irish organizer,
Kathleen Reynolds
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christmas,
island style
Marco Islanders showed their
Christmas spirit when they turned out in
droves for the annual Tree Lighting and
just one week later at the Shops of Marco
when Santa and Mrs. Claus showed up for
a personal appearance. The Tree Lighting
is the unofficial start to the Christmas
Island Style events that take place in
the weeks between Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
—Lance Shearer
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1. Mrs. and Mr. Claus are charmed by Madison
Rohletter, age 7 months.
2. Katherine Aaron, 7
3. Angelina Stidham, 4, gets a boost from her
sister Isabella, 9, as Santa comes into sight.
4. Steve Stefanides
5. Mickey Thomas and Teddy, 6
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art of music
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Dozens of art enthusiasts filled
the galleries to view recent masterpieces of
local artists ranging from oil, water color,
photography and sculpture during “Art
of Music/The Music of Art” presented by
Marco Island Center for the Arts during
its second Tuesday Gallery Opening in
January. Art lovers of all types were in awe
over the new exhibition titled “Blur,” by
internationally renowned artist Rita Blitt.
Her inspiration for this recent collection
is inspired by the music of Lancing McLoskey, who was present at the event. McLoskey is an award-winning composer from
the American Academy of Arts and Letters in New York City where he recently
was awarded the prestigious 2011 Goddard Lieberson Fellowship among many
other accomplishments.
—John Wissocki
1. Rosemary Wick, left, Ron Doiron, Lansing
McLoskey and Lynn Holley
2. Singer and composer Hera Lynn
3. Local artists share their mediums for the Art
of Music/The Music of Art.
4. Islanders enjoy a cocktail during the
opening reception of Art of Music/The Music
of Art.
5. Robert Branstrator, left, Cindy Anderson
and Liz Haines
6. Lansing McLoskey, left, and Glenn Basham
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back to the nest
Paleo and Calusa, Marco’s resident pair of bald eagles, got a warm welcome when the Marco Eagle Sanctuary
Foundation held its annual “Welcome
Back to the Nest” party in November at
the Snook Inn. Guests, albeit not Paleo
and Calusa but rather the snowbirds and
year-round residents, enjoyed heavy hors
d’oeuvres and conversation, as well as the
tunes of Duncan Wheeler. Members sold
raffle tickets and an auction featuring a
framed eagle photo was held.
—Lance Shearer
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1. Karen Cosdisco, Bill Spinuzza, Dianna
Shearer and Sharon Pearson
2. Barry Grass shows up in the perfect hat,
complete with flapping wings.
3. Janeal and Carl Way, the president of the
Marco Eagle Sanctuary Foundation.
4. Linda Daniel as Mother Eagle, or maybe
Big Bird.
5. Sheila and Don Wilbur
6. Diane and Ken Honecker
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marco island
brewery rib
cookoff
Marco Island Brewery played
host to its annual rib cookoff, benefitting
the Marco Island Police Foundation, in
January when Islanders flexed their culinary skills on the barbecue. Volunteer
judges Monte Lazarus, Kevin Donlan,
Jerry Gibson, Tim Navin and Joe Granda
sampled each entry, as platters of baby
back ribs were placed before them. The
winner’s trophy, in the shape of a slab of
ribs, went to Jan Graf.
—Lance Shearer
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1. Jeff Hilt
2. Judge Jerry Gibson
3. Judge Monte Lazarus
4. Connor Riddle
5. Suzanne Amon
6. Mike Newell and Denise Garneau
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The Big One
Fishing around Marco Island has
always been a source of tall tales and fishing legends, but for these anglers the proof
is in the photo. Whether fishing for snook
or redfish, these fishermen captured their
prize to only release it to another fight
another day.
1. Cole Tansey caught this snook in the
mangroves of the Ten Thousand Islands, in
January.
2. Leo Sutera, of Marco Island, caught this
25-inch redfish while fishing with shrimp under
a cork, in December.
3. Jeff Childs, of Marco Island, caught snook
with Capt. Dave Anderson, of Goodland, in
January.
4. John Brossard with a 40-inch red fish
caught off Marco Island on a ladyfish chunk, in
December.
5. Paul Crain, of Marco Island, caught this
38-inch redfish off Marco Island in December.
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