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The Farmer File: Taking English to the cleaners
Thursday, May 15, 2008
When pollsters reported that 77 percent of Hispanics believe English should be the USA’s official language, they must have missed some people in Southwest Florida. Keeping America predominantly English speaking is not everyone’s priority here. Just ask two Naples residents, an American of Hungarian descent and a Filipino-American who run a home-cleaning business. Full story »
Brent Batten: Fiala suggests charity work
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Donna Fiala has a suggestion for nonprofit agencies that want funding from Collier County taxpayers — work for it.
Tuesday, Fiala signaled a willingness to at least listen to the case that the county should resume funding deserving nonprofit agencies. But she wants proof that the community stands behind the idea. And for that, the nonprofits would have to put forth some effort. Full story »
Tuesday, Fiala signaled a willingness to at least listen to the case that the county should resume funding deserving nonprofit agencies. But she wants proof that the community stands behind the idea. And for that, the nonprofits would have to put forth some effort. Full story »
Brent Batten: CSI: Miami, CSI: Immokalee, What’s the difference?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Investigators using a Fast Real-Time PCR to look for evidence of HI. B DNA at a place called IFAS. It’s no wonder the new lab in eastern Collier County has been likened to the hit television show “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which follows the exploits of scientist-detectives in locations such as Miami, New York and Las Vegas. Full story »
Dr. Politics: The next big question, 'Who's the VP candidate?'
Monday, May 12, 2008
What will be the next major decision by the presidential candidates? At this point, the two major political parties seem to have settled on who they will nominate for the U.S. presidency later this summer. Full story »
Dan K. Thomasson: Democrats’ primary quagmire threatens to become November nightmare
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Now that it seems certain Sen. Barack Obama, barring some catastrophic occurrence, will be the first African-American to carry a major party banner into the presidential election, will he persevere all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.? Full story »
Michael Peltier: National hurricane plan dumped again
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. Backers of a national catastrophic insurance program have got to be feeling such a lack of a strong tail wind. Last week, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment to include wind damage as part of the national flood insurance program. Full story »
Brent Batten: Settlement issue far from settled
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Something to bear in mind about the proposed settlement between the Collier County School Board and former Superintendent Ray Baker – it’s just a proposal. It takes three votes to approve the $555,000 deal and as of Friday, there was no guarantee that the votes will be there when the matter goes before the board Thursday. Full story »
Phil Lewis: Not just a J-school is at stake
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Florida’s public agencies and state institutions are in the midst of a belt-tightening exercise that calls for some hard decisions. I bumped into one such decision on Thursday and it hit close to home — home being journalism and, by extension, a free press. Let me explain. Full story »
Jeff Lytle: When it comes to advice on life, Mom always has known best
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Surely the bee was dead. Central Pennsylvania swarms with moving, live, stinging bees come summer, and this particular lawn specimen was still, dead and harmless. “Yes, honey,” the mother told her toddler, eager to load the bee into his red toy dump truck. “You can play with it. That bee is dead.” Full story »
Ben Bova: What’s so wrong with being elite?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
When did the word “elite” become an insult? When did “elitism” become something to be ashamed of? Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines “elite” as: “The choice part ... the best of a class ... a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence.” Maybe the problem that some people have with the idea of “elite” is that phrase, “by virtue of position.” Maybe they object to the idea of a person being born with a silver spoon in his mouth, rich and secure from birth. Full story »
The Farmer File: Spend your federal rebate at restaurants
Thursday, May 8, 2008
If you’re a patriot with a federal cash rebate in hand, why not spend some of it at your favorite restaurants? You would be helping the dining industry through a rough patch. I’m joking, but restaurants here in Naples, Marco and nationwide are in challenging times. Full story »
Brent Batten: On dollars, a dollar and cents
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
News wires and blogs were abuzz last week with reports of representatives in Congress driving extravagant luxury vehicles at taxpayer expense thanks to a special program available to members of that esteemed body. The reports were full of examples such as Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, who drives a Cadillac DeVille for $774 a month and told the New York Times, “I want them (constituents) to feel that they are somebody and their congressman is somebody.” Full story »
Brent Batten: New Naples tale is the same old story
Monday, May 5, 2008
On the Naples city Web site is posted a collection of stories under the name, “Tales of Old Naples ... Some of Which are True.’’ To that collection you could add the story of the city attorney who was charged with murder and the city judge who remarked, upon facing a defendant accused of pulling a knife on an accordion player, “So what, have you heard him play that accordion?” Full story »
Michael Peltier: Saunders bids adieu to Legislature
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Southwest Florida’s senior delegate went out with a bang last week as legislation extending a pair of land-buying programs and a sweeping energy package were sent to the governor for his signature. Full story »
Jay Ambrose: We deserve more than these candidates’ unrealistic proposals
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Over here is the real world, and over here is the campaign for president, and the two do not meet. It’s not just that Hillary Clinton had imagined herself dodging sniper fire in Bosnia, or that Barack Obama had embraced a pastor convinced AIDS is a government plot. It’s that the two are blithely ignoring a coming catastrophe while merrily offering plans that would exacerbate it. Full story »
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- Armed Forces Day at Naples Zoo -- 05/16/08 at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
- Endangered Species Day at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens -- 05/16/08 at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
- Student Showcase Exhibition 2008 -- 05/16/08 at Art League of Bonita Springs
- 2008 Naples Bayfront Boat Show -- 05/16/08 at Bayfront Marina
- Pollo Tropical Grand Opening Celebration -- 05/16/08 at Pollo Tropical - East Naples
- Fort Myers Miracle vs. Tampa Yankees -- 05/16/08 at Hammond Stadium
