http://marconews.com/news/local/marconews.com Stories: Local Newsen-uslocalhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/12/marco-islands-walker-graduates-cornell/Kristyn Walker of Marco Island received a Doctor of Law and Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law (J.D./LL.M.) degree this year as a member of the class of 2008. Mon, 12 May 2008 04:00:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/12/marco-islands-walker-graduates-cornell/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/market-update-have-we-hit-bottom-yet/The real estate market on Marco Island is moving at a faster pace now. We see that the best view and value priced properties come off of the market at an increased rate. This trend continues in what is now considered the off-season as Buyers return for post-season buying sprees. Mon, 12 May 2008 03:02:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/market-update-have-we-hit-bottom-yet/real_estatehttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/women-wisdom-wealth-can-you-tell-true-false/A colleague and I were talking about how it might feel to work with a financial advisor. Realistically we decided that this experience could be viewed in several ways. Some may view it as a positive and constructive experience, while others could find it frightening or even painful. Mon, 12 May 2008 02:40:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/women-wisdom-wealth-can-you-tell-true-false/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/your-portfolio-attention-grandparents-recent-chang/As you may already know, by investing in a 529 college savings plan, you can give your grandchildren the opportunity to benefit from a college education while taking advantage of potential tax and estate planning savings. This is because you can make this investment federal-tax-free and you can also contribute up to $60,000 per beneficiary without triggering gift tax consequences. Mon, 12 May 2008 02:31:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/your-portfolio-attention-grandparents-recent-chang/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/peak-your-profits-tips-and-tidbits-timeless-triump/Several years ago, my family and I had the opportunity to visit the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in Fort Myers. These two innovators were close friends and winter neighbors. Mon, 12 May 2008 01:48:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/peak-your-profits-tips-and-tidbits-timeless-triump/businesshttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/tooth-talk-young-smile-part-ii/ Q: My dentist won’t stop bugging me. I had a tooth that broke and needed to be pulled, so my dentist pulled it. Now he keeps bugging me to have it replaced. I’m in my 60s and at my age it’s just not worth it. Why won’t he leave it alone? Mon, 12 May 2008 01:43:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/11/tooth-talk-young-smile-part-ii/healthhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/09/manatee-middle-school-students-add-color-history-s/For some students at Manatee Middle School in Naples, the monotony of daily classroom activities was broken up Thursday and Friday by a chance to leave a lasting legacy on their school. Under the guidance of renowned Marco muralist Stephen Muldoon, a select number of students got to jazz up their school cafeteria by painting the walls with a large mural inspired by Calusa Indian masks. Sat, 10 May 2008 02:46:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/09/manatee-middle-school-students-add-color-history-s/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/09/marco-leaders-authorize-draft-fire-assessment-ordi/As Florida legislators cut taxes, the Marco Island City Council may be looking to add an assessment to the tax bills residents receive this fall. The Marco council gave approval this week for city staff to move forward with the steps necessary to create a fire assessment. The council will make a final decision on whether to add a fire assessment during budget hearings this summer. Sat, 10 May 2008 01:25:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/09/marco-leaders-authorize-draft-fire-assessment-ordi/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/marco-landlords-may-be-held-responsible-tenant-nui/Residents living next door to short term rental properties may find some relief to their troubles – eventually. The rental housing advisory committee completed a draft ordinance that will require short-term rental homes to be registered with the city of Marco Island. Thu, 08 May 2008 18:56:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/marco-landlords-may-be-held-responsible-tenant-nui/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/resident-angered-over-marcos-use-property/Some rational answers surfaced Wednesday evening regarding what first appeared to be irrational behavior between the City of Marco Island officials and physician Andrew Guidry. What didn’t surface was a solution to the ongoing dispute over the use of the parking lot at 19 Bald Eagle Drive, adjacent to the police department. Guidry and the city first developed a working relationship as interdependent neighbors in February of 2005 when the city was making plans to construct the Marco Island Police Station. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:49:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/resident-angered-over-marcos-use-property/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/iguanas-gone-wild-exotic-pets-becoming-marco-pests/Once cute and caged exotic pets, iguanas are increasingly becoming a concern for some Marco Island residents. Steven Roberts, who lives near an inland waterway in central Marco, reported seeing a four-foot-long green iguana on his dock. “I had never seen an iguana on Marco Island before, even though I had heard they were here. I was most concerned that it might attack our dogs which we occasionally let roam in our backyard, or that it might attack me or my wife,” Roberts said. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:43:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/iguanas-gone-wild-exotic-pets-becoming-marco-pests/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/dinners-hugs-gifts-store-moms-mothers-day/If a snap survey of local youngsters is on the mark, a lot of Marco Island mothers are in for some serious pampering come Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day, of course, and local moms can expect cards, gifts and dinners by way of appreciation. Middle school student Danny Quintana said his mom Frances is in for a surprise gift. “You wouldn’t be able to live happily without parents, so it’s good to thank (moms) on Mother’s Day,” he said. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:42:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/dinners-hugs-gifts-store-moms-mothers-day/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/collier-boulevard-milling-paving-scheduled-marco/According to a notice from the City of Marco Island, On Thursday, North Collier Boulevard and Bald Eagle Drive will be milled. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:32:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/collier-boulevard-milling-paving-scheduled-marco/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/sheffield-drive-detour-scheduled-marco/According to a notice from the City of Marco Island, on Friday, Sheffield Drive will be temporarily closed at Sunset Street South. A detour is scheduled, beginning at 7 a.m., to guide through-traffic to San Marco Road for a two-block section between Covewood Street to the west and South Floral Street to the east. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:31:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/sheffield-drive-detour-scheduled-marco/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/positive-behavior-brings-sweet-music-tbe/The sweet sound of the Morning Musicians filled the multi-purpose room at Tommie Barfield Elementary Wednesday morning. This chorus of fourth and fifth grade students, under the direction of music teacher Lisa Braren, performed a program dedicated to positive behavior and making good choices. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:29:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/positive-behavior-brings-sweet-music-tbe/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/cert-week-two-arcpad-allows-immediate-assessment/At the beginning of this weeks’ CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) session we were greeted and thanked by MIFD Chief Mike Murphy. The chief voiced his full support for Marco Islands’ citizen corps, and reinforced to us just how important our various support roles are, and how we will take part of the burden away from the fire and police departments as well as helping our fellow Marco neighbors. Thu, 08 May 2008 16:28:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/08/cert-week-two-arcpad-allows-immediate-assessment/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/collier-school-board-settle-former-superintendent-/Former Superintendent Ray Baker reached a tentative agreement with the Collier County School District to settle a lawsuit against the district for $555,000. “We believe the agreement is a fair one. It is not great for either side, but it is good for both sides,” said School Board Attorney Richard Withers. Baker filed his lawsuit against the district on Aug. 20. The lawsuit alleged the School Board violated state Sunshine Laws, so its July 31 vote to fire Baker was void. Wed, 07 May 2008 21:05:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/collier-school-board-settle-former-superintendent-/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/photographer-produces-image-rich-book-chronicling-/People manifest their first impressions of Marco Island’s myriad charms in different ways. Some return for regular vacations, others take the plunge and buy property, but Jeff Bonaventure had a slightly different angle after first heading over the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge in 2004. Wed, 07 May 2008 20:11:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/photographer-produces-image-rich-book-chronicling-/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/marco-police-briefs-may-7/  Wed, 07 May 2008 20:05:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/marco-police-briefs-may-7/localhttp://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/marcos-letter-carriers-annual-food-drive-culminate/People might just be mistaken if they think that hunger in Marco Island’s backyard is a myth. Ask 40 local agencies, such as soup kitchens and pantries, shelters and nurseries, and they’ll confirm that hundreds of Collier County residents simply don’t have enough to eat. Wed, 07 May 2008 20:03:00 -0000http://marconews.com/news/2008/may/07/marcos-letter-carriers-annual-food-drive-culminate/local