Naples

NAPLES, Fla. -- It's not a done deal yet, but Baltimore Orioles officials spoke officially and optimistically yesterday about plans for a spring-training complex.Orioles officials, confirming reports that leaked out Saturday, said they had agreed in principle to join with Florida Rock Industries Inc. in a deal to move the team to a new complex in Naples.Florida Rock will provide the land -- 310 acres, of which about 85 will be used to build a 6,000- to 7,000-seat stadium and five or six practice fields for the Orioles.

Danial "Danny" Reese, a former Baltimore broadcaster who was known as "Old Blue Eyes" and whose radio career spanned two decades, died April 28 from a heart attack at his Naples, Fla., home. He was 61. "I got to know Danny when we worked together at WCAO. We did mornings together and just clicked," said Ron Matz, a veteran Baltimore radio personality who is now a WJZ-TV reporter. "We were both friends on and off the air and remained so," said Mr. Matz. ""Danny was a very popular on-air personality who got Baltimore.

Prospects for the Baltimore Orioles setting up a spring-training home in Naples, Fla., have gone from remote to practically zilch.A week after public funding for the project was thrown out by a Florida court, Collier County commissioners dealt the project another setback this week. By a 3-2 vote, the commissioners rejected the proposal that would have provided real estate on which the project was to have been built.J. D. Nicewonder, a local real-estate holder, had offered to donate land for the Orioles complex.

It's a pleasure to end the year on a high note. Taste Mediterranean Grille has opened in the space that Cafe Troia left for shinier digs on the other side of Allegheny Avenue in Towson. The chef and owner of Taste, Luigi Palumbo, recently relocated here from Naples, where he operated a restaurant called A Ridosso. His American debut is off to a fine start. I went to review Taste — no relation to Ann Nault's similarly named Belvedere Square restaurant — on a cold weeknight before the holidays.

Plans for a Baltimore Orioles' spring-training complex nudged ahead yesterday.In Naples, Fla., the Collier County commissioners voted to permit the county manager to begin formal contract talks with the Orioles and two other parties involved in the project -- Naples landholder J. D. Nicewonder and SCA Development Corp.Orioles officials hope for a modern spring headquarters, one that would include six practice fields, indoor and outdoor batting cages and a stadium with seats for 6,500 to 7,000.

The Baltimore Orioles' experiment with an on-the-road-again spring-training schedule is ending after one year, the club announced yesterday.In a statement, the Orioles announced they won't repeat last year's arrangement, in which they played their entire Grapefruit League schedule at somebody else's ballpark. Instead, they'll again hold early spring workouts at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota, Fla. But when the spring games begin, they'll move about 40 miles north to St. Petersburg, Fla., where they'll play 10 to 14 games at Al Lang Stadium.

The Baltimore Orioles' search for a permanent spring-training home may be ending soon.The Orioles apparently cleared a major hurdle in the planning of a new training complex yesterday when they reached tentative agreement with a corporate partner that would provide the land for the much-delayed project in Naples, Fla.The Orioles plan to announce their partnership with Florida Rock, a supplier of construction materials, at a news conference in Naples on...

NAPLES, Fla. - It has been hours since the last early-bird specials of grilled chicken penne and bamboo steamed salmon were dished up at Zoe's. Midnight on Florida's Gulf Coast is approaching, and like Cinderella's coach, this city is undergoing a fast transformation. The tribute band that played on a downtown street corner is gone, as are the silver-haired strollers the musicians cajoled into gyrating to "Twist and Shout." Now, South Fifth Avenue belongs mostly to the young: teens, people in their 20s and 30s, here to mingle and party.

NAPLES, Italy -- Titti Beneduce was saying how the mob wars ricocheting through this city were because of a power struggle that erupted after boss Gennaro "The Monkey" Licciardi died in prison."

Danial "Danny" Reese, a former Baltimore broadcaster who was known as "Old Blue Eyes" and whose radio career spanned two decades, died April 28 from a heart attack at his Naples, Fla., home. He was 61. "I got to know Danny when we worked together at WCAO. We did mornings together and just clicked," said Ron Matz, a veteran Baltimore radio personality who is now a WJZ-TV reporter. "We were both friends on and off the air and remained so," said Mr. Matz. ""Danny was a very popular on-air personality who got Baltimore.

Joan Ebersberger A memorial service will be held Friday, May 1, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 15600 Tamiami Trail North, Naples. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Naples Equestrian Challenge Inc. 206 Ridge Dr. Naples, Florida 34108 or to the Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 15600 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, Florida 34110. Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home 992-4982 Family Owned Since 1978.

For Americans, Gomorrah will play like every other Mafia epic - and no other Mafia epic. The movie is named for Sodom's sister city and for the crime syndicate Camorra, which has made a Gomorrah out of Naples, Italy. The director, Matteo Garrone, working in the charged, realistic style of his predecessor Francesco Rosi (Salvatore Giuliano), achieves a journalistic drive on a scale so broad that it takes your breath away. Like Rosi, Garrone puts together a machine-gun mosaic as he depicts the Camorra's domination of everything from public housing to toxic-waste disposal and high fashion.

George J. Strakes, age 84 died in Naples, FL on April 12, 2008. He was born in Chester, PA on December 4, 1923. George's family moved to Baltimore, MD when George was a teenager. George was a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art and later used the skills developed there along with a series of progressive experiences in sales and marketing to found an a

Helen M. Watkins, a retired human resources executive and former Annapolis resident, died June 3 of coronary-pulmonary disease at her Naples, Fla., home. She was 74. Helen Marie Knapp was born in Middletown, N.Y., and raised in Baltimore. She was a graduate of Forest Park High School. From 1971 to 1982, she was head of human resources for the Allegheny Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in Baltimore. A Naples resident since 2005, she enjoyed collecting dolls, watching movies, cooking and gardening.

T heresa A."Terry" Crane A mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, Feb 26th at 10:30am at St. Finnbar Catholic Church, 13520 Tamiami Trail East. An additional memorial service will be held later in Taneytown, MD. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Naples, Inc, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105. Fuller Funeral Home Naples, Florida 239-417-5000.

On July 26, 2006, JOHN D. RAMBO, age 80. Born in Macon, GA and grew up in Talbotton and Columbus, GA. Auburn University Electrical Engineering graduate and Sigma Chi Fraternity member. World War II Veteran and regional salesman for many years in Baltimore for Bussman of St. Louis, MO and owner of Rambo Associates, Inc. An Elder at Moorings Presbyterian Church and member of Royal Poinciana Country Club, Sons of the American Revolution, and BArons of the Magna Carta. He loved golfing, fishing and hunting.

On August 28, 2005, after a long illness, NANCY FINLEY HILL, of Naples, FL, formerly of Baltimore, MD. Beloved mother of Susan Stang, of Naples, FL, dear grandmother of David Callahan, of Baltimore, MD. A graveside service will be held on September 14, at 1 P.M., in Druid Ridge Cemetery, 7900 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville.

ANITA R. BOLSHOW, 72, of Naples, passed away Tuesday May 3, 2005. Born in Baltimore, MD, she had lived there until moving with her husband to Naples 11 years ago. She was an avid reader and loved shopping. She will be deeply missed by her daughters Nancy Schmidt and Arlene Ponack, both of Naples, as well as her grandchildren Katie and Allyson Schmidt and Ricky and Kerri Walmsley. There will be a graveside service Friday, May 6, 2005, 1 P.M. at Naples Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Anita's memory may be made to Hospice of Naples, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, Fl 34105 or the American Heart Assoc.

NANCY LINTHICUM ZASTROW, 89, born September 25, 1916, died peacefully on June 7, 2006 at Naples Community Hospital, Naples, FL, following a long illness. A native of Linthicum Heights, MD, she had been a resident of Naples, FL since 1972. Nancy graduated from Temple University where she was a physical education major. She met and married her husband, Harold N. Zastrow, also a graduate and educator from Temple, who preceded her in death in 1973. Mrs. Zastrow taught in Plainfield, NJ before coming back to MD in 1954 where she taught physical education in Anne Arundel County.

On Thursday, May 25, 2006, at his home, FRANK C. TUTTLE, age 75, of Naples, FL. Mr. Tuttle had lived in Joppa, MD before moving to Naples in 1997. He was born in L'Anse, MI on September 6, 1930. He graduated from L'Anse High School. After graduation Frank and his buddy Vern Brown joined the army. After his service he worked at many sales jobs, Frank was transferred to Baltimore by the CNA Insurance Co. He ultimately founded along with his partner Mickey Darrell, Association Insureres Agency, Inc., in Baltimore, MD. Frank worked in the insurance industry for over 40 years, was a member of Apiga and a founding member of Pima, both professional insurance marketing associations.