VALERIE SYREN

• J&C Boulevard the place to go for home remodeling Published 10/28/2010 at 4:08 p.m.

  Naples showcases a variety of businesses that focus on home building and renovation, so many in fact, that they can conceivably get all of their needs met on a single street off Airport-Pulling Road. Both the Trade Center district of ...

• Black-belt bonding with tea ceremony Published 08/23/2010 at 6:49 p.m.

  The rigors of a black-belt study and a tea ceremony seem worlds apart. But when karate studio owner Victor Ortino’s brother, Paul Ortino, Jr., was promoted to ninth-degree black belt in karate and the title of Grand Master, his brother ...

• Faith through music: Temple Shalom’s first invested cantor has music-based spiritual duties Published 08/20/2010 at 5:01 p.m.

  Congregants of Temple Shalom have several new faces leading their Friday night services: Along with their new rabbi, Rabbi Adam Miller, the congregation has its first invested cantor, Donna Mashadi Azu.

• Sunrise, sunset: Rabbi Perman retires once more as new leader comes to Temple Shalom Updated 06/26/2010 at 1:59 p.m.

  Rabbi James Perman, who has been with Temple Shalom since 1993, was scheduled to pass the Torah last night and settle into re-retirement. That’s right — re-retirement.

• The Pewter Mug: A Naples icon reborn Published 05/27/2010 at 5:03 p.m.

  From the moment you walk through the wooden doors of the newly re-opened Pewter Mug 41, your mind will flick through memories of this longtime North Trail Eatery.

• Swimming for safety: Infant Swim Rescue sets sights on safer encounters between kids and water Published 05/03/2010 at 5:01 p.m.

  The children of fire fighters, police officers and other first responders in the Naples and Bonita Springs area are the first participants in a drowning prevention program for babies. Infant Swimming Resource, an Oviedo, Fla.-based teaching program, has pledged $10,000 ...

• Step Afrika! bringing good vibrations Published 04/29/2010 at 5:03 p.m.

  The booming sound of a drum pierces the atmosphere and sends a pulsating wave of energy. Its rhythm is powerful, loud, and exciting — but it’s not rally a drum. It is the perfectly synchronized stomp of human feet, and ...

• Maureen McGovern’s phoenix career Published 04/22/2010 at 5 p.m.

  Maureen McGovern, who first broke the charts in 1973 with her theme song “The Morning After” from “The Poseidon Adventure,” is actually in her second career as a singer.

• Party arty: Small local shows make buying, browsing more fun Published 03/10/2010 at 8:47 p.m.

  For artists in Naples, a desire to return to the past may be the best future. It has certainly helped to establish a very special — and very successful — type of art show.

• Violin Virtuoso or Rock Star? David Garrett Brought the Best of Both at the Barbara B. Mann Published 10/09/2009 at 3:29 p.m.

  The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall has been throwing some curve balls at us lately. Typically known for featuring Broadway shows and performances by more laid-back musicians, the Mann showcased two very unlikely artists this week: Alice Cooper and ...

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