The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau, recently announced a call to artists to develop a poster for the 2025-2026 season of ¡ARTE VIVA!
“Arte Viva celebrates Hispanic arts and culture for residents and visitors,” said John Melleky, arts and culture manager, Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau.”
“The creation of a commemorative poster for the event further enhances the activities … It will also serve as a vehicle to expand awareness of the variety of cultural offerings in Florida’s Paradise Coast. Recognizing the work of one of our local artists of Hispanic origin will create closer bonds within our community.”
To enter, the poster artist must be of Hispanic origin and be 18 years or older. They must live in Collier County, have a studio or business here, or be a part of a cooperative or association that operates a business or gallery in the county.
The poster will be used in the advertising and promotion of the 2025-2026 season of ¡ARTE VIVA!
Full details, including poster size, artist eligibility, selection process and artist honorarium, along with the application can be found at paradisecoast.com/article/2025-2026-arte-viva-poster-call-artists. The application deadline is noon, March 14.
JW Marriott celebrates 2024 impact
The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort recently announced its achievements in community service and philanthropy for 2024, “reflecting the resort’s unwavering commitment to uplifting the local region.”
Through the resort’s associates and with the support of the community, Marriott exceeded its goal of nearly 8,400 volunteer hours with 10,049 hours logged. The resort also contributed $242,006 in cash donations, $275,223 in in-kind donations and participated in 245 volunteer activities for a wide variety of local organizations, according to a press release.
“Our associates are the heart of everything we do,” said Jennifer Brooks, director of Human Resources at the resort. “Their passion for giving back and creating meaningful change is what makes this property so special. Our team members across every level are deeply committed to empowering our community and making it a better place to live and work. These achievements are a testament to what we can accomplish when we come together with purpose.”
This year, the resort is hopeful to again surpass volunteerism goals.
“As always, I am so impressed by our team and the remarkable volunteerism they accomplished last year,” said Sharon Lockwood, general manager. “Their efforts have genuinely made a meaningful difference in our local community, connecting our resort’s mission with real, tangible impact.”
Goodland ‘junkyard house’ update
In a recent newsletter, Collier County Commissioner Rick LoCastro had an update on the “junkyard house” at 660 Palm Ave. in Goodland).
“Recently the biggest success story in Goodland was finally putting a lien on the ‘junkyard house’ on a very visible corner in their community that sat for many years … incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines … but the owner snubbed his nose at the county for over a decade.
“Success! We put a lien on that house … put the house up for auction … it sold … and the new owner was responsible for the $258,480 in fines – which they immediately paid in full to the County … money owed the taxpayers that went into our general fund to use for all types of county improvements.
“Immediately, the new owner started overhauling the yard and renovating the house … and are working quickly on improving this visible home in Goodland that citizens no longer have to endure as an eyesore.”
New additions to Burrowing Owl Festival
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife recently announced exciting new additions to the 23rd Annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Wildlife and Environmental Expo, slated for Saturday, Feb. 22.
New this year: The “Learning Adventures Bus” from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida will be at the event; the “Roving Ranger” from “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will also be there; as will Lee County’s “Pop-Up Mobile Library.” A new vendor will also showcase an “active beehive.”
Organizers say that community favorites like Adam’s Animal Encounters, Children’s Corner and Tom Allen Butterfly House tours will also be there; as will the silent auction, bus tours and multiple vendors.
This year’s featured speakers include:
- 10:30 a.m., Adam Brame – “Florida’s Other Toothy Sea Creature: The Smalltooth Sawfish and Other Vulnerable Marine Species”; Brame is the recovery coordinator for the Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish and the Threatened Oceanic Whitetip Shark, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Department of Commerce.
- 12 p.m., Joseph Bonasia – “The Fight for Clean Water: Protecting Our Waterways and Ecosystems”; Bonasia is chair for the Florida Rights of Nature Network & Operations and communications director, FloridaRightToCleanWater.org.
- 1:30 p.m., Adam Pottruck – “Living with American Alligators: Biology, Behavior, & Avoiding Conflicts with American Alligators”; Pottruck is a wildlife biologist with Adam’s Animal Encounters and a board member for Adam’s Animal Rescue & Sanctuary.
The festival will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, at Rotary Park in Cape Coral, 5505 Rose Garden Rd., Cape Coral.
Proceeds from the event support Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife’s mission to “preserve and enhance wildlife and their habitats, as well as to educate the community about the local wildlife of Cape Coral.”
Learn more at ccfriendsofwildlife.org or call 239-980-2593.
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