Socia lStudies T - Naples Daily News

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SocialStudies
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The beautiful 90-foot
Marco Island Princess
was the perfect location
to host the Marco
Island Chamber of
Commerce’s April After
Five. Members and
guests enjoyed a variety
of cheese and danish,
before heading up to
the complimentary hors
d’oeuvres buffet,
prepared by Chef Bob
Aylwin. The weather
was perfect and the
waters were still for
local business owners
and staff to get together,
share ideas, eat, drink
and be merry.
Ed Crane
Donna Wadsworth, left,
Donna Reily, Trish Brauninger
and Betsy Wohltam
Roe Tamagni, left, Kim McIntosh and Stephanie Zwade
Pat and Roy Birchland
MARCO | 34
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SocialStudies
Nearly 200 people
turned out in March to
celebrate the inaugural
Arts Afire festival with
an evening of music
and the presentation of
the first-ever Flame
Awards. The nine-day
Arts Afire festival
began as a project of the
city of Marco Island’s
Arts Advisory
Committee. Organized
by chairperson Howard
Blankman and six other
members, the event was
intended to show the
diversity of art available
on the Island, from
painting to sculpture to
music and theater to
culinary skills.
Rose Peterson, left, greets
Helen Ann Federspeil
Jonathan King
and Carol King
Doug Anderson
and Glen Johnson
Kora Johnson
and Dan Stoller
Lavonne Johnson, left, Bedford and Dr. Faye Biles
By John M. Wissocki
MARCO | 35
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Bistro Soleil, at the Old Marco
Inn, hosted a fundraiser
benefitting the Avon Walk for
Breast Cancer in March.
Owner Lisa Meurgue, and her
husband Denis, welcomed
more than 100 ladies who
came out to support the cause.
Joyce McFarland, co-owner of
Marco Island Clothing Co.,
provided all the clothing, plus
shoes and accessories, from
her apparel store. Even though
Meurgue said they were going
meatless for Lent, she did put
her best food forward,
catering her own fashion
show. After champagne and
hors d’oeuvres of homemade
smoked salmon, baked Brie
and bruschetta, the guests
enjoyed spinach and
Parmesan quiche with a salad
of field greens, and a crispy
apple tart tatin for dessert.
Geraldine Daniel
Joyce McFarland, left, Patrick
Nolan and Lisa Meurgue
Sue Holwinski
Mary Ann Pierson, left, Maria
La Palermo, Wanda McCasland,
Geraldine Daniel, Tommie Rowland,
Sue Holwinski, Jean King and
Joanne Blau
ByLance Shearer
MARCO | 36
M
SocialStudies
As theatrical
performances go,
“Bubba & Belle’s
Hillbilly Wedding”
owed more to Larry the
Cable Guy than
Laurence Olivier – in
fact, members of the
bridal party kept urging
each other to “Git ’R Done.” The festivities,
held at the San Marco
parish hall on Marco
Island in April, drew on
broad stereotypes of
country bumpkins, with
both the bride and the
maid of honor sporting
“a bun in the oven,” the
bride using her garter
for a beer holster, and
the groom in his best
overalls. The event was
a fundraiser for the
Wishing Well
Foundation.
Lou Tenant (Ralph Bayer)
and maid of honor Carrie
Oakey (Tracy Gudgel)
Bubba Gum (Dale Rod)
and Belle E. Flop (Donna Melton)
Dick and
Claire
Boulanger
Ricky Gilson
and Jonnie Gove
Bill and Lori
Du Bell
Chris Hadec, Dale Rod, and DJ Steve
By Lance Shearer
MARCO | 37
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SocialStudies
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Art enthusiasts were
invited to be detectives
and solve the mystery of “Who’s The Artist”
during the Last
Wednesday Art Walk at
the Esplanade in March.
Clue cards with hints
were given to all
interested parties.
Waterfront Gallery was
thrilled to announce the
addition of two new
artists, Rick Granneman
and Tim Davis. They
recently joined the gallery
and were present to show
of their artwork to the
many art enthusiasts
throughout the evening.
Karen Swanker, left, and
Claire Keery
Jim Allen and Tara O’Neill
Rick
Granneman,
left, and
Tim Davis
Artists Tara O’Neill, left,
Rick Granneman and Betty Newman
By John M. Wissocki
MARCO | 38
Maggie DeMarco, left, Tom Gallagher and Tony Dallmann-Jones
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SocialStudies
The students and artists
of the 2010/2011 Stone
Sculpting Program at the
Art League, Marco Island’s
Center for the Arts, held
their seventh annual Stone
Sculpture Exhibit, on
April 15. The McFarland
Atrium Gallery was filled
with unique, one-of-a-kind
sculptures. The exhibit
was curated by program
instructors Joe Cooper and
Frank de la Roche.
Glen Johnson
Keith Dameron, left,
wife Barbara, and Jeanne Rice
Bethian and
Scott Zoldan
Carol Roberts, left,
Karen Carson,
Craig Carson and
Steve Roberts
Linda Henell, left, Midge Winger and Jerry Leeman
By John M. Wissocki
MARCO | 39
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SocialStudies
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The Esplanade hosted the
third annual Mutts & Martinis
Yappy Hour in March, raising
money to support Bedtime
Bundles. The courtyard outside
CJ’s on the Bay was thronged
by a mass of costumed
revelers, sipping, socializing,
and parading in their finery.
And that was just the dogs.
Dale Rod and
Donna Melton
Samantha Gardner
and Gloria Gardner
Arlene Harris
with her Cairn
terrier, Elvis.
Dogs and their
owners crowded
the Esplanade
for the Mutts &
Martinis Yappy
Hour to benefit
the Bedtime
Bundles charity.
By Lance Shearer
MARCO | 40
M
SocialStudies
The Marco Eagle Sanctuary
Foundation held an inaugural Nest
Fest in May at the Art League, Marco
Island’s Center for the Arts. More than
100 people spread their wings to learn
more about why eagles are an
essential part of the fragile ecosystem
of Marco Island. Most importantly the
evening focused on protecting land
known as Tract K, where a pair of
eagles are nesting. Attendees enjoyed
wine and hors d’oeuvres.
Nicole DeBusman
Linda Turner and
Linda Boston
Carl Way
The crowd packs the
Art League, Marco
Island’s Center for the
Arts for Nest Fest.
By Lance Shearer
MARCO | 41
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SocialStudies
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Now in its 13th year, Soapfest’s
signature evening, A Night of
Stars was held in May, where
celebrities mingled with Marco
Islanders and others who
turned out for the weekend
festivities. After the main event
at Bistro Soleil where a
gourmet dinner was served
and attendees had the chance
to have their photo taken with
their favorite soap character,
Soapfest moved down Bald
Eagle Drive to Martini’s
Upstairs lounge, for the
Celebrity Bartender Bash.
Disco music pumped from the sound system as the stars competed to sell the most drinks.
Kristen Alderson
and Walt Willey
Organizer Pat Berry
Pat Berry with Austin Peck,
of “One Life to Live”
Soapfest presented A Night of Stars at
Bistro Soleil, where daytime drama actors
mingled with their fans for charity.Soapfest
has raised many thousands of dollars for
children’s charities, and the fundraising
pace quickened
Troy Porter and Bill Irvine
By Lance Shearer
MARCO | 42
M
SocialStudies
With “One Life to Live” killed, and
“All My Children” about to become
orphans, Soapfest, the annual
celebration of daytime dramas on
Marco Island, had a poignant quality.
All but one of the 15 or so stars who
came for the event have seen their
shows cancelled, and the fans were
mad about losing their television
“families.” But everyone had a great
time, rubbing elbows at the Celebrity
Bartender Bash, spending big in the
charity auction Saturday night, and
Cruisin’, Boozin’, and Schmoozin’
aboard the Marco Island Princess
Sunday afternoon.
Emily Boyer
and Carolyn
Nelson
Shenaz Treasury
Colleen Burns
Bon voyage!
Soapfest took
to the water,
with a “Cruisin’,
Boozin’ & Schmoozin’”
excursion aboard
the Marco Island
Princess for soap
stars and fans.
By Lance Shearer
MARCO | 43