New school start times draw support
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The Lee County School Board supports the proposed safe start initiative, a new busing program and new school start times for the 2025-2026 school year
“One of the challenges that I have given
o u r t e a m i s t o t h i n k d i f f e r e n t l y , ” Superintendent Dr Denise Carlin said “Take the challenge head on and be bold, brave, and courageous on behalf of student
The Cape Coral Breeze
The proposal before the School Board of Lee County would take the transportation system from four-tiered to three-tiered, changing the start and end times of the school day for students Officials say the plan will mitigate busing challenges while providing for more academic minutes in the student day
learning and safety I’m really excited about this proposal ”
The proposal would take the transporta-
tion system from four-tiered to threetiered, changing the start and end times of the school day
40th Annual event to take place this weekend
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers
com
ne of the largest events in Southwest Florida returns to Cape Coral Parkway this weekend with hundreds of artists, artisans and vendors taking part.
The Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place, put on each year by the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, is set for Jan 11 and 12, from 10 a m to 5 p m each day The event, now in its 40th year, is free to attend
The parkway, from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard, will be transformed into an arts paradise for two days, as the possibility of selection for every eye is endless
See ART FESTIVAL, page 30
IF YOU GO:
What: Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place
When: Jan. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p m each day
Where: Cape Coral Parkway from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard
The first tier would consist of approximately 466 routes There would be 399 bus stops for all high schools with student times from 7:05 a m to 2:05 p m All K-8 schools, 49 stops, would have student times from 7:30 a m to 2:20 a m and Skyline Elementary School, 18 routes, would have student times from 7:40 a m to 2:20 p.m.
page 14
Popular city cycling event returns next weekend
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers
com
It’s that time of the year once again, as a long-standing tradition for cycling enthusiasts returns to Cape Coral next weekend
The 34th annual Tour De Cape cycling event takes place Jan 17-19 where riders from novice to expert can hit varying courses in the spirit of fun, exercise and self-competition
“The Tour De Cape is iconic in the sense that it’s been going on for 34 years,” said Cape Coral Special Events Coordinator Todd King “We are proud of the event that gets people out and active, kicking off their new year There’s a variety of different physicalities something for everyone ”
Next weekend’s festivities begin with a kick-off celebration next Friday night at Rotary Park, at 5505 Rose Garden Road
From 4 to 7 p m , participants can pick up race packets, maps and T-shirts at the event
Tour De Cape continues Saturday with a 5K run/walk and a mini kids bike ride and culminates Sunday with the Tour De Cape bike rides All three events start at Rotary Park
Riders have a choice of 15-, 30-, 62-, or 100-mile bike tours in the southwest, northwest, and northeast regions of Cape Coral
Each year, Tour de Cape brings in athletes from states across the U S , as well as other countries, with roughly 1,000 individuals
Lee Health hospitals accommodating high capacity levels
Cases of flu, respiratory ailments, seasonal patient numbers, boost hospitalizations systemwide
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Lee County’s leading healthcare system is experiencing high capacity amidst a growing number of individuals experiencing flu and respiratory illnesses
Director of the Emergency Department at Lee Memorial Marcie Stidams said during a Wednesday press conference that the region is accustomed to seeing higher capacity levels during seasonal months, as well as the growing year-round population in Southwest Florida
“We want our community to know that we are built for this,” Stidams said “We are staffed for this We are trained for this We will provide the medical care that everyone needs ”
Stidams said that on Tuesday, Lee Health saw 951 patients visit its emergency departments Overall, hospitals are at over 90% capacity, she said
“This is expected during this time of year,” Stidams said “Emergency departments may have long wait times for reading conditions, as care teams treat the most critically ill patients first ”
“We want our community to know that we are built for this We are staffed for this We are trained for this We will provide the medical care that everyone needs ”
Marcie
Stidams, director of the Emergency Department at Lee Memorial
Individuals can visit LeeHealth org to see in real-time how busy each hospital is and what an expected wait time could look like There also is a similar function for Lee Convenient Care locations
“I encourage everyone to utilize this resource,” Stidams said
Lee Health has various options available for those that need a trip to either the hospital or medical facility, and Lee Health officials said it’s useful to know the best place to go to get care in the most timely manner
Chief Medical Officer Dr Iahn Gonsenhauser said he wants Lee Health patients and the community as a whole to understand the many options for care at their disposal
“Our hospitals all stand ready to help patients in need,” Gonsenhauser said “We have acute care facilities across the county that are available to patients twenty-four-seven ”
Lee Health has more than 1,500 inpatient beds at those facilities, with Gonsenhauser adding that the system is prepared and continues to prepare for the growing needs of the community
Gonsenhauser said a fairly new program, “Hospital at Home,” offers patients the opportunity to receive hospitallevel care in the comfort of their own home
“It’s not an opportunity for everybody, but for many of our patients, it may well be the best place for them to receive care,” he said “And this gives us a whole new option and opportunity for supporting patients in their time of need, and in an innovative way ”
Gonsenhauser said while Emergency Departments should be utilized for serious ailments and injuries, and act as a failsafe for acute care and primary care, individuals can avoid emergency room visits, long wait times, and increased cost He encouraged patients to visit the Lee Health website and
start with the “Get Care Symptom Tracker” where you can input your symptoms and receive details as to where the best environment to visit may be
“This can help you get the treatment that you need, and can direct you to urgent care, a Telehealth appointment, or, for most serious concerns, the emergency department,” Gonsenhauser said, adding that Lee Telehealth is available at any time via a smartphone
Referrals and prescriptions can be made via Telehealth appointments
“These visits have patients speaking with physicians and other providers in minutes,” Gonsenhauser said “And it can help you get the care you need wherever you are ”
There are also Lee Convenient Care/walk-in clinics as options that are open every day where no appointments are necessary Golisano Children’s Health Center in Naples also offers urgent care for kids
Preventive Measures
“As we see illnesses circulating in our community, we want to encourage everybody to take the necessary precautions to protect both themselves and their loved ones,” Gonsenhauser said
Tips include frequent hand-washing and using hand sanitizer If you are at-risk, or not feeling well, wearing a mask can help protect you, Gonsenhauser said
If you are feeling mild symptoms of viral illness, Gonsenhauser said it’s best to stay home and take the necessary measures, such as resting and staying hydrated
The increased number of flu and respiratory illnesses have been noticeable to start the year, Lee Health officials said Some causes of that may be seasonal variation in the flu, and a lower number of individual patients becoming immunized As for whether or not this will be a record year for flu in Southwest Florida, Gonsenhauser said, "It may be a record year as the numbers are starting to bear out We stand ready to provide whatever care may be required by increased levels of flu.”
Sanibel Island experiencing heavy traffic
The city of Sanibel is issued a “Heavy Traffic Advisory” for Thursday afternoon and early evening, so residents could plan their travel accordingly Intermittent heavy vehicular traffic as FDOT’s Causeway Restoration crews work to complete underground inspections on the Sanibel Causeway can be expected
“Motorists are encouraged to download the FREE ‘Sanibel Bound’ App on their phone so that they can view and have immediate access to real-time traffic conditions anytime,” officials said To view the Traffic App information visit https://www mysanibel com/l ive-street-cams
Sanibel Police Chief Bill Dalton urges everyone to “be patient ” “Our number one priority is safety Please follow the direction of law enforcement personnel,” he said
CAPE CORAL BREE ZE
RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher
VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor
CHRIS STRINE, Editor
2510 Del Prado Blvd • Cape Coral, FL, 33904
• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693
Member Florida Press Association
Time to stop the public input charade
A handful of residents of Entrada, a community off the Del Prado extension in the north Cape, turned out Wednesday to ask the Cape Coral City Council to reconsider plans to build 40-foot water towers and other utility infrastructure in the preserve behind their homes
They said they were unaware that the Yellow Fever Creek Preserve acreage owned by the city would be more than the “passive park” promised
We agree with the city that residents should have been aware, at least since 2020 That’s when Council agreed the city would carve out about 14 acres of the 197 6-acre environmentally sensitive tract for a utility project it didn’t want to put on nearby properties the city also owns because, well, that would make it hard to attract development to those marketable sites
City officials also are likely correct that discussion started years earlier at least among staff in 2008
What they neglected to say Wednesday is that those discussions were not part of the public input sessions while the city was “selling” a $60 million general obligation bond to the voters so it could fund its proposed parks master plan of which the Yellow Fever Creek Preserve is a part
As The Breeze outlined in a March 6, 2020, editorial headlined “Bait And Switch,” there was much citizen input as to what residents wanted in the promised parks
Participant priorities for the land abutting Lee County’s 333 8-acre Yellow Fever Creek Preserve were more hiking trails, an equestrian trail, a dog park, disc golf and space for primitive camping
The city’s one-word-exercise for the preserve came back with “Natural ” “Unobtrusive ” “Quiet ” and “Inviting ”
This input was converted into concept plans which were not only posted on the city website, but plastered across a GO
This week’s poll question:
How would you rank the city of Cape Coral on “green issues” including preservation and environmental protection?
Previous poll question
Happy New Year, Cape Coral!
As we reflect on a remarkable year in Cape Coral, I am proud to highlight the accomplishments of 2024 and share an exciting vision for our future as we step into 2025
In 2024, we made significant strides in shaping Cape Coral’s infrastructure, investing nearly $450 million to enhance our city’s foundation This investment is part of a larger commitment to our city’s future, with over $2 billion dedicated to infrastructure improvements from 2020 to 2030 Some of this investment includes resurfacing of 122 lane miles of roads, replacing more than 9,000 traffic signs and maintaining 545 miles of stormwater drainage pipes, 24,177 catch basins, 997 miles of water distribution lines, and providing 1,846 new sewer service connections. More than 5 billion gallons of potable water was produced in 2024 and more than 6 billion gallons of reuse water was distributed for irrigation purposes
Guest Commentary
Our city also saw the groundbreaking of three new parks Festival Park, Crystal Lake Park, and Tropicana Park further expanding recreational opportunities for our growing community Additionally, we celebrated the opening of the new Lake Kennedy Racquet Center, which promises to be a hub for fitness and recreation
Cape Coral continues to lead in resilience and safety We
maintained our 25% Community Rating System discount on flood insurance premiums, meeting FEMA’s stringent floodplain regulation requirements Public safety has remained a top priority, with over 200,000 calls for service responded to by our 274 firefighters and 320 police officers To better serve our residents, we opened Fire Station No 13 in northeast Cape Coral
In total, the city issued 41,796 building permits, including 2,996 single-family home permits, with an assessed value exceeding $1 19 billion Staff investigated 23,809 code compliance cases Our community continues to grow and thrive
Education remains a cornerstone of our city’s success, and in 2024, we celebrated the achievements of our Oasis Charter Schools, all of which earned “A” grades, with Oasis High School reaching a 100% graduation rate This reflects the strength of our educational system and the dedication of our students and staff
The City was also recognized with a prestigious Triple Crown Award for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association This recognition highlights our commitment to transparency and fiscal respon-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Council wrote the equation for the Three Fisher men lawsuit
To the editor:
Referring to the Three Fishermen, Mayor Gunter said at a recent council meeting, “This is a legal case, and it has to go through the process An administrative law judge is the best person to weigh in independently and make a decision Take us out of the equation ”
Redfish Pointe illustrates the flaw in this argument
The Redfish Point property owner is applying for an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan to allow for development In the past, if a city council allowed such amendments, citizens could take legal action to stop what they considered to be harmful development But a law passed in 2023, SB 540, the “Sprawl Law,” changed this legal process
At the time, Friends of the Everglades wrote SB 540 “will effectively end citizen challenges to comprehensive plan amendments by saddling those who challenge an amendment and lose with the other side’s legal fees It will embolden developers to propose more environmentally perilous projects ”
SB 540 is a deplorable intimidation tactic meant to discourage citizen challenges to development no matter how environmentally unsound or harmful to communities Our state legislators knew regular folks and organizations do not have the financial resources that developers do Our legislature purposely tilted the playing field against citizens and citizen groups
If our city council decides to amend the city’s comprehensive plan, there will be little our community could do to stop the destruction of these wetlands and the consequences it will have on hundreds of Cape Coral families This is why the council must deny the application to amend our city comprehensive plan
Regarding the Three Fishermen, after losing the first court case about the environmentally harmful removal of the Chiquita Lock, our city council hired a new law firm, and then, like SB 540, threatened plaintiffs with legal fees should the city prevail in its appeal of the court’s decision Like SB 540, it was an unscrupulous intimidation tactic intended to snuff out citizen pushback
Respectfully, the city council does not now get to distance itself from a process it created It does not get to be “taken out of the equation ” The financial hardship it wreaks upon these citizens lies with the council, not a judge
Our city council can make things right by stopping the legal process immediately, pay what it owes this law firm, and let the fishermen, who were fighting to protect our waters, off the hook
“Be thankful you don’t live in this Florida city, which is trying to punish its own citizens,” journalist Craig Pittman recently wrote Tell the council to prove him wrong Joseph Bonasia Cape Coral
Town hall meeting generated a lot of interest from the
public
To the editor:
A recent town hall meeting held by Councilmember Laurie Lehmann at Camelot Park generated the following concerns about city operations I am glad I attended this meeting and encourage others to attend the future meetings as well
1: There were complaints of large trucks/semis that are parking on city streets The question was raised that if residents could not store boats in their yards why are semi trucks allowed to park along public streets, rights of way, and on vacant parcels ?
2: Three separate residents (out of about 30 attendees) voiced concerns that when they called code enforcement to register a complaint, they were told it was a police matter
The resident then goes back and forth between the police and the code compliance personnel Ultimately in all three cases after much documentation and many phone calls, code compliance performed their duties There needs to be more accountability with the code enforcement division If this has happened to you, please contact your council member
3: All departments need to be reviewed for efficiency This means reports detailing goals, projects in place with timelines and progress reports for outstanding projects Project closeouts need to be produced showing inefficiencies that could be used in developing better management of future projects, i.e. lessons learned.
4: Each department should report staff vacancies, how they are going to be filled along with a timeline for the hiring and training of this staff There needs to be a written transition policy for filling vacancies due to retirement and not an expectation that the assistant will be performing two jobs while the city works on filling the position It should not be an expectation that the assistant will become the first line manager unless this person can be qualified to handle the job Vacancies lead to inefficiencies and can no longer be an acceptable response as to why projects or services are not handled in a timely manner
5: Water tower/storage facilities in the Fever Creek Preserve need to be reviewed as to placement and if possi-
John Gunter
Blood donations critical in fight against cancer
The road to recovery for cancer patients can be a long and challenging journey, requiring not only medical treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery but also an ongoing need for supportive therapies, in particular blood transfusions
Each January, the American Red Cross celebrates National Blood Donor Month to recognize the lifesaving contribution of blood and platelet donors and raise awareness of the critical need for such donations
That need is particularly acute each winter, when seasonal illnesses, inclement weather and holiday travel create an annual donation shortfall
As it stands, just 3% of the U S population donates blood each year despite 65% of the population being eligible to do so Additionally, just 12% of blood donations come from individuals in communities of color
And while donations from those aged 65 and older increased 40% between 2019 and 2021, that increase also highlights the need for focused recruitment efforts on younger generations Compare those participation rates to the ongoing demand: every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood
The role of blood in cancer treatment Cancer treatments, especially chemothera-
From page 4
py and radiation, cause significant damage to the body’s blood cells While these treatments work by targeting fastgrowing cancer cells, they also affect other rapidly dividing cells, including those in the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced
That can lead to low levels of red blood cells, known as anemia; white blood cells, or neutropenia; and platelets (thrombocytopenia), which leaves cancer patients vulnerable to fatigue, infections and bleeding complications
Kathy Tolentino
Guest Commentary
As a result, many cancer patients require regular blood transfusions That can include red blood cell transfusions to help patients with anemia, platelet transfusions for patients whose bone marrow is unable to produce enough platelets; and white blood cell transfusions to help boost the immune system
While blood cell transfusions assist patients in need of a wide range of care, from emergency surgeries to women in labor, more than a quarter of the U S blood supply is used by patients battling cancer Among platelet
ble create more setback from existing homes Local residents were concerned about having to look at 40-foot towers that would be very close to their yards and a decline in property values
6: Citizens would like to see more water sampling for what our canal water contains Not just checking for salinity Questions were asked about whether the fish caught in the canals were edible or contaminated Results should be posted along with advisories about fish contamination
7: There were discussion about potable water shortages and concern that car washes are still being constructed if there needs to be a reduction in city water consumption
8: Impact fees for development need to be reviewed and see that they are set to cover the additional costs for infrastructure and services that are required to serve these added residences and facilities
9: Stop the persecution of the three fishermen that brought a lawsuit to prevent the removal of the Chiquita lock. Persecuting these individuals stifles the ability of the average citizen to question their governance The persecution of these individuals centers on the concept of a frivolous lawsuit which wasn’t so frivolous that they successfully won on the merits in a prior trial It was mentioned that the mayor should have to pay the costs associated with the arrest and removal of a citizen in an open meeting who was expressing their right to challenge the board through freedom of speech
10: The citizen input committees need to be re-established and timeline produced for the creation of these committees
11: A review is needed to address the public land swap for access to Redfish Point and the wetlands south of Rotary Park It was mentioned that these are wetlands and should not be developed Citizen input needs to be heard and the decision validated by the citizens if there is a land swap of public property to allow this development
12: There needs to be an investigation regarding the creation of Coviello Park and the resulting flooding of homes and foundation damage caused by creating the park There needs to be accountability to the citizens damaged by this development as well as an action plan to stop the flooding caused by the creation of the park
13: There were issues raised by the citizens in the neighborhood of Chiquita and Savona regarding the change in zoning It was originally zoned commercial and the expectation was restaurants and offices The change resulted in a large storage facility which is problematic to the neighborhood Let’s see what happens
J. Caplin Cape Coral
transfusion recipients, nearly half have a type of cancer that affects the blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes
How you can help
Blood is a perishable product that can only come from generous volunteers A blood donation takes about one hour from start to finish, but the actual donation itself only takes 8-10 minutes Each blood and platelet donation, in turn, can save the lives of as many as three people
To find a convenient donation site, visit RedCrossBlood org or call 1800-RED CROSS A blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required. Individuals who are 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health are generally eligible to donate
That said, some health conditions may require potential donors to defer, such as those who recently had surgery, received their own transfusion or were pregnant within the previous six weeks
For cancer patients interested in donating blood, your eligibility depends on the type of
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
President Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom
To the editor:
President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and leftwing billionaire George Soros Nothing like a clear demonstration of where your loyalties lie and identification of who your friends are
This is who the Democrats celebrate, the people who look down on Americans and want to take our freedoms and free speech away
Republicans need to make a commercial out of this and use some of that left-over campaign money to burn the image into American minds that this is who the Democrats work for Worse decision ever
First is “open society” billionaire George Soros, a threat to democracy everywhere he goes Hillary Clinton deleted over 33,000 emails after they were subpoenaed and then wiped out and destroyed cell phones and computers because of a upcoming investigation and you have Benghazi What this is really telling us is who owns Biden If I was the other notable recipients and bunched up in this group, I would have politely declined
If anyone deserves a Medal of Freedom, that would be Elon Musk He has done more for free speech in the last three years than anyone in this country The people who picked this list must be the same ones who have been running the country for the last four years It certainly diminishes the value of the medal
Lou Walker Cape Coral
What happens in Ukraine affects all of us
To the editor:
Greetings and Happy New Year! I would like to relay several updates to our community regarding the war in Ukraine and its ongoing affects on both Ukrainians and Americans:
First, I would like to say thank you to my community for donating to Commander Yuri’s campaign I touched base this week with Commander whose unit continues defensive battle, and the funds we raised are currently being utilized to repair the unit’s damaged equipment
I will continue to update you on Commander as we make progress on equipment deliveries
Third is a personal note After defending disabled American workers and veterans for almost 15 years, my husband, attorney Mark Zakhvatayev of Ukraine, has finalized his decades-long immigration journey to become an American citizen We hope that Ukraine will approve
cancer and your treatment history If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s disease and other cancers of the blood, you’re not eligible to donate
However, other types of cancer won’t preclude donations as long as the cancer has been treated successfully, and it has been at least 12 months since treatment was completedand there has been no cancer recurrence in this time
Lower risk, in-situ cancers, including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin that have been completely removed and healed, do not require a 12-month waiting period
At Partners in Care, our charitable foundation provides financial assistance, cancer screenings, patient support groups and additional educational programs to those in need, serving over 9,000 patients since 2007 while providing more than $1 1 million in support
We express our heartfelt gratitude to each person who regularly donates blood - and encourage all who are eligible to join these unsung heroes Such ongoing generosity not only save lives today but also extends hope for a brighter tomorrow for countless individuals in need
Kathy Tolentino is executive director of the Fort Myers-based Partners in Care Foundation To learn more, visit yourpartnersincare org
their latest dual citizenship law, as many foreigners, especially Americans, have gone to Ukraine to fight, and also deserve to become a member of the country they defended and quite frankly, these are some of the greatest countrymen out there, and our nation can’t stand to lose them
But also, for the Ukrainians who have fled their war-torn country and sought refuge in the U S , many of whom are now my friends
Though Rome was not built in a day, it did indeed fall Ukraine is not the only democracy at risk. This is why we must urgently seek to enable opportunities for people to participate in the privileges of citizenship, as nations of the free world now pivot toward an existential era
Mark and I started dating eight years ago after meeting at his law office, and since then I have joined his family legacy of promoting democratic freedoms Before the fall of the Iron Curtain, his father Vladimir Zakhvatayev, a jurisdoctor and esteemed academic of Kyiv, Ukraine, was one of the first Ukrainian law students to acquire a U S legal education The 1989 Washington Post article titled “The Soviets’ Cram Course In Freedom” documented a quote from Father’s journal upon coming to America:“We see the situation when old men with old minds and old inclinations are trying to solve new problems: spoiled men, spoiled minds, spoiled decisions ”
Who would have imagined that after 35 years, those words can still ring true in both our own country and in Ukraine, where the state of our nations are far worse off than during the Cold War In a matter of only three years, millions of lives have succumbed to Russia’s despotism as American leaders have stood by and watched with empty promises to defend our values on the global stage
Today, in our world embroiled by war, terrorism, and enemy attacks that have returned to our soil, what we decide next for our national security, for our allies, for our country, will be decisive in whether the will of our people can prevail over that of a tyrant dictator and his axis of malign interests who threaten to destroy the free world solely for their own oppressive self-aggrandizement “spoiled men, spoiled minds, spoiled decisions ” Ahead of this admin shift, I am taking the initiative to provide a social opportunity for members of our public to freely discuss the state of our national security interests, both at home and abroad, with an emphasis on military On Sunday, Jan 12, I will be present at the Starbucks on 2390 Surfside Blvd in Cape Coral from noon to 2 p m to engage in open dialogue and share ideas on the direction of the security of our country, our allies, and the world as we know it
Alexandra Zakhvatayev Cape Coral
Editorial: Progress and public input
bond billboard at the site
City staff, meanwhile, was simultaneously working on plans to put the municipal utility project in the northeast corner of the park
The project was not only not shown on the concept plans but was not part of the public input sessions on the park
In fact, good luck deciphering the whereabouts of the utility component on the “FINAL site plan” for Yellow Fever Creek Preserve currently posted on the city’s parks projects website
So yes, the residents protesting that “they did not know” are likely correct, too
A couple of things
The city of Cape Coral has much going for it It does many, many things well
Among them, the city’s Special Events Division sets the bar for community events
Not only are they some of the mostattended celebrations in Southwest Florida, most are free.
Public safety the Cape Coral Police and Fire Departments are model agencies
The city’s environmental efforts?
We’d say “what efforts,” but the city can trot out its have-tos and its must-dos, its ordered compliance efforts and its tree bank
But when it comes to proactive protection of city waters, wetlands and green space, Cape Coral gets zero kudos
The philosophy of what is now packaged as “highest and best use” by definition the most profitable use of any particular parcel for developers and city coffers alike is the bedrock upon which the Cape was literally built, has grown, and continues to grow
It is, in fact, the philosophy cited
Wednesday night when residents asked why the city rejected nearby sites which were neither dedicated park land nor near residences for the utility infrastructure
This disconnect between embedded city ideology and resident input related to development and existing greenspace, parks, waterfront and environmental concerns is the greatest source of controversy in Cape Coral.
From the redevelopment of the Yacht Club and Jaycee Park to the removal of the Chiquita Lock, the initial reception to pending development plans for Redfish Point, and the city’s plans to put utility infrastructure in a designated preserve, development trumps
“Natural ” “Unobtrusive ” “Quiet ” and “Inviting ”
Every time
Is this the city’s intent?
Or more importantly, is it what those who live here, work here, pay taxes here, want?
We don’t think pro-growth and pro-green initiatives are mutually exclusive
We do think, though, that it’s time for City Council to determine and share the nexus at which progress and projects of public concern meet
Inform the public and staff where you, as a body, see any intersection
Be the council to end the public-input charade while “highest and best use” sometimes perceived as “highest and worse use” from a public perspective continues to be the determining factor behind closed doors.
Tell us where you and we, the public stand
Breeze editorial
Guest Commentary: Ahead to 2025
From page 4
sibility, ensuring that every dollar spent is an investment in our future
Looking ahead to 2025, there are several exciting projects on the horizon We are moving forward with the design of a new community center at Yacht Club Community Park, with the design to be completed later in 2025 Alongside this, the design for marine improvements at the park, including the seawall, boat ramp, and marina, has been completed, and construction will begin once the necessary permits are obtained Our new Police and Fire Training facilities will open this year, further enhancing public safety services The design and permitting for Fire Station No 10/North Cape Public Safety Complex are also underway.
Our city’s growth is guided by the new Economic Development Master Plan, which will be implemented in 2025 This plan provides a clear roadmap for our city’s economic future, focusing on creating jobs, fostering innovation, and ensuring that Cape Coral remains a great place to live and work As Cape Coral grows from its current population of over 200,000 to almost 400,000 at buildout, we will continue to prioritize public safety, infrastructure, and sustainable growth Sidewalk expansion is also planned for areas
around schools Planning for the future of the Old Golf Course property that was recently acquired by the City also will take place in the new year
In addition, we are introducing school zone speed cameras in 16 school zones across the city to further ensure the safety of our children as they travel to and from school
Finally, I encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming budget workshops in January These workshops will provide an opportunity for residents to contribute their input as we plan for Cape Coral’s continued growth and success We will focus on critical areas such as infrastructure, transportation, and beautification to ensure responsible development and maintain our high standards of public safety
As we look to the future, let us move forward together united by the strength of our community and the promise of a brighter tomorrow Here’s to a year of continued progress, connection, and shared success in Cape Coral
John Gunter is the mayor of the city of Cape Coral This column first published in the January edition of the city of Cape Coral’s newsletter, Cape Connect
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The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze com
Burnt Store Road District Plan discussion to continue
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
With much debate and confusion as to what properties should be included and eliminated from the Burnt Store Road District Wednesday evening, Cape Coral City Council moved further discussion to an upcoming meeting, rather than transmitting the plan for review by the state Council, in a 6-1 vote, approved further discussion at a Feb 12 workshop, followed by the natter being placed on the March 5 meeting agenda for consideration
C
d against the motion and Councilmember Laurie Lehmann was not present at the time of the vote
P
Daltry said the city initiated a future land use amendment that involves 1,141 acres in northwest Cape Coral along Burnt Store Road north of Van Buren Parkway He said Council directed staff to move forward with a new district identified as the future
Joe Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting president, said Acorn, Gator Slough and the property making up just under 87 acres in the northwest corner of the designated Burnt Store Road District have existing conditions and entitlements CAC land use. He said the proposed BURST takes away one important land use — multifamily homes. City Council, in a 6-1 vote, called for further discussion at a Feb. 12 workshop.
economic corridor
The district would not allow new standalone residential, nor certain projects such as self-storage facilities
The back-and-forth discussion revolved around such areas as Gator Slough and properties in Westchester Estates
Joe Mazurkiewicz, BJM Consulting president, said Acorn, Gator Slough and the property making up just under 87 acres in the northwest corner of BURST have existing conditions and entitlements
CAC land use He said the BURST takes away one important land use multifamily homes
“If you make this change on both of these properties, you have taken away a significant entitlement You may have taken away the ability to develop as origin
come in and build what they want it’s what the market supports, absorbs ”
The Burnt Store Road District was initially transmitted in 2023 with the Gator Slough piece removed
“This particular item came before council,” Mayor John Gunter said “Staff made a recommendation and council directed staff to take certain properties out and
leave certain properties in When it went up to transmittal, unfortunately what council gave did not match Once they determined they made a mistake, they pulled that back and started the process again ”
Long said when they started the discussion, the BURST corridor was identified as the last commercial corridor in Cape Coral. He said the culmination of some errors made on Del Prado Boulevard and Pine Island Road were taken into account
Long said if they remove this piece or that piece it would take away from a large commercial tract in the area that could maintain the desire they have
“The goal is to move forward There is no meat on the bone left if we remove it all,” he said
Long said his continued vision is to make sure that they develop the commercial district in a way that is not going to be a huge concentrated area of standalone multifamily
Yellow Fever Creek Preserve utility add-on near final design
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Protesting residents close to the city’s Yellow Fever Creek Preserve were told Wednesday that the potable and irrigation water storage and pumping facility to be constructed there has a design that is nearly completed, making it a costly project to stop now
Utilities Director Jeff Pearson said in the wake of resident protests at the Cape Coral City Council meeting that the master plan for the park was adopted on Dec 7,
2022, and predates that by many years
“We were originally going to put it along Del Prado, but that site was taken to extend a road,” he said, “so we looked at the properties in that area We have been designing the reclaimed and potable water system around that site All the infrastructure is in place ”
A comprehensive plan was established in 1989 for the park, which is nearly 200acres with a primary use for passive recreation and nature study
The Public Works Department and the
Utilities Department for the city identified a portion of the park as an “ideal site” for an irrigation and potable water storage and pumping facility, which would have two booster stations, two potable water storage tanks, two reclaimed water storage tanks and a 4,375 square foot storage building
Pearson said the design is currently at 90%
“My department has literally billions of dollars of CIP projects on the horizon We work very hard to keep cost at a minimal and be good stewards with limited rate
payer dollars,” he said “By removing this project this far along would be extremely costly to ratepayers and all of our citizens ”
The project is not new, as they have had t o w n
o n s , Pearson said He said now that they are almost able to do construction on the site there are some objections, which he understands
“Drinking water and reclaimed water is extremely important This site helps us continue our worldclass reclaimed water service,” he said
FDOT seeks input on Pine Island Road expansion
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Cape Coral residents will have their opportunity to give their input when it comes to an upcoming project that will see lane expansion along Pine Island Road
The Florida Department of Transportation is conducting a Project Development and Environment study for the proposed improvement to SR 78 (Pine Island Road) extending from Veterans Parkway to the west of US 41 in Lee County
The study will evaluate the widening of SR 78 from four to six lanes, including safety improvements and multimodal accommodations
SR 78 is a designated Hurricane Evacuation Route and the only access road on and off of Pine Island
According to FDOT, primary objectives include providing additional capacity, enhancing traffic safety and emergency evacuation capabilities, as well as accommodating population and employment growth, and
An in-person kick-off meeting will be held Jan 16 from 5 to 7 p m at Cape Coral Technical College (Flex Room), located at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd
increased freight activity
“The goal of this Project Development and Environment Study is to collect and analyze information about State Road 78 to develop the best solution for transportation needs,” FDOT Public Information Specialist
David Scarpelli said “It is integral to a successful project because it allows us to provide alternatives for improvement to enhance safety conditions, add capacity, and accommodate future traffic demands ”
Public Involvement is an important part of the SR 78 Project Development and Environment study
FDOT officials state they will use various activities to engage interested parties in the study process and provide several opportunities for public input including an online interactive survey
Public meetings will be held including an
Alternatives Public Information Meeting and a Public Hearing Newsletters will be sent upon project kickoff, before each public session, and after the completion of the study
An in-person kick-off meeting will be held Jan 16 from 5 to 7 p m at Cape Coral Technical College (Flex Room), at 360 Santa Barbara Blvd
“Attendees can expect to learn about the PD&E study process and the potential improvement that will be evaluated for State Road 78,” Scarpelli said “They will be able to review project information, including the study area, and engage with visuals and boards Attendees will also get the opportunity to provide feedback by participating in a survey and asking questions directly to the project team ”
There also is an online option on Jan 22 from 6 to 7 p m that will include a viewing
of the meeting materials and a question-andanswer component with the project team
“Public Involvement is very important for this project,” Scarpelli said. “We will use the comments and input we receive from the community to assist in the development and refine alternatives, as the study progresses ”
Scarpelli added that as the project moves forward, FDOT will work with the city of Cape Coral, Lee County and the Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization, as well as other federal, state, local leaders and interested parties
After the in-person and online kick-off meetings, the public comment period associated with the kickoff meeting closes on Jan 31. Scarpelli said then, FDOT will begin developing and evaluating alternatives for improvement
For more information, how to submit public comment, and to register for the online meeting, visit www swflroads com/project/452680-1
Cape Christian Fellowship granted extra time to complete expansion
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Cape Christian Fellowship was granted a new buildout period another 10 years for a long in-progress expansion project
“The enthusiasm and growth of this church has been phenomenal I think it’s a wonderful thing and certainly in support of it,” Cape Coral City Councilmember Joe Kilraine said
The extension for the buildout period includes a 32,000-square-foot worship building, a 10,000-squarefoot office building, a 4,000-square-foot maintenance building, additional paved parking and site improvements
Planning Team Coordinator Mike Struve said the case
Development Project to extend a buildout date that expired in 2023.
“To allow development permits to be issued for this site and in particular for development previously reviewed by staff and approved by council, a new buildout period needs to be established,” he said
The master concept plan that was submitted in 2012 shows that the project has been developing substantially, Struve said
He said the justification of why the buildout period has
Hurricane Ian
The unanimous approval given by the council provides Cape Christian Fellowship with the opportunity to move forward if they desired to complete the construction on the buildings, as well as allow them to make less ambitious improvements, Struve said
Quite a few council members shared that the church is a huge asset to the community, which is why they supported the resolution
“I hope you have plans to make the sanctuary bigger, so more of us can enjoy the love you spread into the community,” Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said
City accepting applications to its Citizen Academy
Cape Coral offers residents an opportunity to gain comprehensive understanding of how the city operates
B y C J H A D D A D
c j h a d d a d @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m
L o o k i n g f o r m o r e i n s i g h t a s t o h o w t h e c i t y o f C a p e
C o r a l o p e r a t e s ?
A p p l i c a t i o n s a r e n o w b e i n g a c c e p t e d f o r t h e 2 0 2 4
C a p e C o r a l C i t i z e n ’ s A c a d e m y T h e p r o g r a m r u n s e i g h t
w e e k s , a n d i s d e s i g n e d t o g i v e r e s i d e n t s a n i n - d e p t h
l o o k a t t h e i r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t “ T h e c i t y o f C a p e C o r a l ’ s C i t i z e n ’ s A c a d e m y i s a n i n t e r a c t i v e e i g h t - w e e k p r o g r a m d e s i g n e d t o e d u c a t e r e si d e n t s a b o u t c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o p e r a t i o n s , ” s a i d c i t y
s p o k e s p e r s o n K a i t l y n M u l l e n “ P a r t i c i p a n t s c a n e x p e c t
t o g a i n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f a l l c i t y
d e p a r t m e n t s , t h e i r f u n c t i o n s , a n d h o w t h e y s e r v e t h e
c o m m u n i t y ”
T h e 2 0 2 5 C i t i z e n ’ s A c a d e m y s e s s i o n w i l l r u n f r o m
F e b 2 5 t h r o u g h A p r i l 1 6 W e e k l y c l a s s e s w i l l b e h e l d
o n T u e s d a y s , e x c e p t f o r t h e f i n a l c l a s s a n d g r a d u a t i o n , w h i c h w i l l b e h e l d o n A p r i l 1 6
H i g h l i g h t s o f f t h e p r o g r a m i n c l u d e : t o u r s o f c i t y f a c i l i t i e s a n d s t a f f i n t e r a c t i o n s , u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e “ c o m p l e x ” d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g p r o c e s s , a n d i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e “ c o m p l e x i t i e s ” o f r u n n i n g o n e o f F l o r i d a ’ s l a r g e s t
c i t i e s M u l l e n s a i d t h e p r o g r a m w a s c r e a t e d t o f o s t e r i n f o r m e d a n d e n g a g e d c i t i z e n s b y p r o v i d i n g i n s i g h t s i n t o t h e w o r k i n g s o f l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t I t i s g e a r e d t o w a r d s r e s i d e n t s i n t e r e s t e d i n b e c o m i n g m o r e i n v o l v e d i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t y a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g h o w t h e c i t y w o r k s “ A t t e n d i n g t h e C i t i z e n ’ s A c a d e m y o f f e r s s e v e r a l b e n e f i t s , i n c l u d i n g m e e t i n g c i t y o f f i c i a l s , v i s i t i n g m u n i c i p a l f a c i l i t i e s , a n d p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i s c u s s i o n s
t h a t c a n i n f l u e n c e f u t u r e c i t y i n i t i a t i v e s , ” M u l l e n c o nt i n u e d “ G r a d u a t e s o f t e n b e c o m e a m b a s s a d o r s f o r t h e
“The city of Cape Coral’s Citizen’s Academy is an interactive eight-week program designed to educate residents about city government operations Participants can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of all city departments, their functions, and how they serve the community.”
K a i t l y n M u l l e n , c i t y s p o k e s p e r s o n
c i t
t s ’ q u e s t i o n s , ”
M u l l e n s a i d M u l l e n s a i d r e g i s t r a t i o n w i l l r e m a i n o p e n
IF YOU GO:
What: Cape Coral's Citizen's Academy
When:
Tuesday from Feb 25 through April 16
Final class and graduation to be held Wednesday, April 16
Details:
An interactive eight-week program designed to educate residents about city government operations
How to take part:
Visit the Citizen’s Academy webpage on capecoral gov/ for details on registration
Comedy Night fundraiser to benefit Cape Police Athletic League
Saturday’s show to feature comedian RC Smith and will be hosted by John ‘Stuttering John’ Melendez
B y C J H A D D A D
c j h a d d a d @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m
A c o m e d y n i g h t w h e r e 1 0 0 % o f t h e p r o c e e d s w i l l h e l p l o c a l , a t - r i s k y o u t h c o n n e c t w i t h s p o r t o p p o r t u n it i e s v i a t h e C a p e C o r a l P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t t a k e s p l a c e t h i s S a t u r d a y
T h e C a p e C o r a l P o l i c e A t h l e t i c L e a g u e , a 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) j
o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i l l h o s t C o m e d y N i g h t f e a t u r i n g
C o m e d i a n R C S m i t h a n d h o s t e d b y J o h n “ S t u t t e r i n g
J o h n ” M e l e n d e z , w h o r o s e t o f a m e o n t h e H o w a r d S t e r n
S h o w a n d w a s a c o m e d y w r i t e r f o r J a y L e n o
T h e e v e n t w i l l s t a r t a t 6 : 3 0 a t L a k e K e n n e d y C e n t e r ,
a n d w i l l a l s o f e a t u r e a s i l e n t a u c t i o n a n d 5 0 / 5 0 r a f f l e
P A L O f f i c e r C o b y P a l m e r , s a i d , “ I e n c o u r a g e p e o p l e
t o c o m e t o t h e e v e n t b e c a u s e 1 0 0 p e r c e n t o f y o u r d o l -
l a r s g o e s t o s u p p o r t i n g c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e P A L k i d s i n t h e C a p e C o r a l c o m m u n i t y T h e m o r e m o n e y w e r a i s e ,
t h e m o r e k i d s w e c a n h e l p S o m e o f o u r P A L k i d s w i l l
b e t h e r e h e l p i n g w i t h t h e e v e n t a n d v o l u n t e e r i n g t h e i r t i m e P l u s , e v e r y b o d y c a n u s e a g o o d l a u g h a n d r e l a x -
a t i o n a n d a f u n t i m e ”
T i c k e t s a r e $ 2 5 a n d i n c l u d e d i n n e r a l o n g w i t h e n t e r -
t a i n m e n t
P A L i s m o r e t h a n j u s t a s p o r t s p r o g r a m , i t s m i s s i o n t o b u i l d s t r o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n p o l i c e o f f i c e r s
a n d t h e k i d s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y , c h a n g e l i v e s , a n d e m p o w e r a t - r i s k y o u t h t h r o u g h a t h l e t i c s “ P A L h e l p s t h e y o u t h u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o w o r k
t o g e t h e r t h r o u g h s p o r t s , ” P a l m e r s a i d “ O n a s p o r t s t e a m , y o u h a v e t o w o r k a s a t e a m m a t e t o c o n t r i b u t e y o u r p a r t t o a c o m m o n g o a l J u s t a s i n l i f e y o u w o r k w i t h c o - w o r k e r s t o a c c o m p l i s h c o m m o n g o a l s I t ’ s a n e c e s s a r y s k i l l s e t t o b e s u c c e s s f u l a s a y o u n g a d u l t w h i l e y o u g r o w a n d b e c o m e a p o s i t i v e m e m b e r o f o u r
c o m m u n i t y ” M o n e y r a i s e d a t t h i s e v e n t w i l l g o d i r e c t l y t o t h e
“I encourage people to come to the event because 100 percent of your dollars goes to supporting current and future PAL kids in the Cape Coral community. The more money we raise, the more kids we can help. Some of our PAL kids will be there helping with the event and volunteering their time. Plus, everybody can use a good laugh and relaxation and a fun time ”
Coby Palmer, PAL officer
C a p e C o r a l P o l i c e A t h l e t i c L e a g u e t o s p o n s o r c h i l d r e n w h o w a n t t o b e i n v o l v e d i n b a s k e t b a l l , b a s e b a l l , c h e e rl e a d i n g , g y m n a s t i c s ,
s t k i d
v e r t h e y e a r s f o r v a r i o u s c r i m e s , ” h e s a i d “ A l s o a s a p o l i c e o f f i c e r , I f e e l t h a t I c a n b e a p o s i t i v e i n f l u e n c e i n t h e l i v e s o f y o u n g p e o p l e b y m e n t o r i n g t h e m a n d s u p p o r t i n g t h e m , u s i n g s p o r t s a s a c r i m e i n t e rv e n t i o n t o o l A p o s i t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a n o f f i c e r a n d a n ‘ a t - r i s k y o u t h ’ c a n h e l p t h a t y o u n g p e r s o n b e d e t e r r e d f r o m a p o s s i b l e l i f e o f c r i m e ” T i c k e t s c a n
IF YOU GO:
What: Comedy Night hosted by Cape Coral Police Athletic League
When: Saturday, Jan 11, at 6:30 p m
Where: Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd
Start times: School district continues to tweak transportation plan
From page 1
The second tier, comprised of approximately 411 routes, would have a student start time from 8:30 a m to 3:10 p m for e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l s , Y o u t h P a r e n t
Education Program and Early Childhood Learning
T h e t h i r d t i e r , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0 0 routes, would be for a student time of 9:30 a m to 4:20 p m for all middle schools, Buckingham, Royal Palm and Success Academy
Carlin said she is very excited for a number of reasons
One, the district continues to struggle to hire bus drivers
“This is an opportunity to address a number of those concerns,” Carlin said
S t u d e n t a c h i e v e m e n t a l s o w i l l b e addressed
“When we get to add instructional minutes to a day of all the things that we do in our instructional environment have high-quality teachers and add more time is the only two variables that we can control to impact student achievement,” she said “We will have a small adjustment in the start time a little bit of pain with a tremendous amount of investment ” Safety, Security and Fleet Operations
Chief David Newlan said the proposed safety start initiative begins with implementing the proposed bus route tier system next school year
Students arriving at school late, as well as being dropped off at the end of the day late gives rise to safety concerns, as well as hardship for parents
“Parents have a very regiment schedule and any deviation to that creates a hardship to the family,” Newlan said
The proposal will enhance safety and
“When we get to add instructional minutes to a day of all the things that we do in our instructional environment have high-quality teachers and add more time is the only two variables that we can control to impact student achievement We will have a small adjustment in the start time a little bit of pain with a tremendous amount of investment.”
— Dr Denise Carlin, superintendent of schools
security, improve student achievement, respond to public feedback, increase operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility
The current transportation route system has four tiers The first tier is for the east, south and west zone and consists of five schools in each from 7:05 a m to 1:35 p m
The second tier consists of nine schools for the east zone, 12 schools for the south zone, 10 schools for the west zone and one special center from 7:55 a m to 2:10 p m
The third tier is from 8:55 a m to 3:10 p m and includes seven schools in the east zone, six schools in the south zone and west zone and six special centers
The current fourth tier is from 9:45 a m to 4 p m and is for five east zone schools, six south and west zone schools and one special center
Jarriad McKinney said the time is so compressed it is setting drivers up for failure
There is only an hour between tier two and three
“We have a deficit of 67 drivers every morning why we are so late everywhere,” he said.
Newlan said the new tiered system provides a safer and more consistent route that
is designed to support academic achievement
“The proximity that was a tremendous help to the busing transportation system,” he said
The current transportation route system has an 82 75% average morning on time rate, while the afternoon on time rate is at 59 5%
“We have some work to do to improve those times,” Newlan said
The current needs of a four-tier system is budgeted for 580 bus drivers There are 517 actual bus drivers There are 5,721 bus routes 1,177 bus routes daily for more than 9 million miles driven annually
The new system will create achievable goals for employees help in the right direction, McKinney said
With a three-tired system, there will be a need for a budgeted 520 bus drivers with an actual 500 bus drivers and 20 unassigned drivers The bus stops, routes and miles annually will remain the same
The proposed system has less time for students waiting at bus stops unattended, reduces hardships on parents and staff, provides driver route efficiency and improves fleet maintenance
Newlan said they cannot control traffic,
an issue year-round now for Lee County
The tiered system gives consideration to traffic
Chief Academic Officer Nathan Shaker said with reliable drop off and pick up, the district can start adding student instructional minutes 49-minute periods in middle and high schools and an additional 25 minutes for elementary school This would also include time for a 30-minute lunch
Currently, the middle and high school periods are 47 minutes, which is the bare minimum for instructional minutes
Shaffer said the teacher workday will remain seven and a half hours the difference less time without students during the day
“I am all for adding more time for elem e n
Chaviano said “Anything we can do to add more learning minutes, I am all for, and teachers have more time to have a lunch they would appreciate that.” T
increased access to breakfast services, decrease in negative student behavior and disruption to the learning environment
There would also be reduced driver fatigue and bus accidents, as well as increase for on-time arrivals for routes
The proposal to the school board was the first phase It will now go before other groups, including the bus drivers
“Our drivers do want to be on time
They don’t enjoy having to rush I can
McKinney said
Board member Jada Langford-Fleming said with school choice approaching, the sooner the better, so parents can start to make some decisions
School district looks at student cell phone policy
Discussion on devices among changes proposed for next year ’ s student Code of Conduct
B y M E G H A N B R A D B U RY
n e w s @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m
T h e L e e C o u n t y S c h o o l B o a r d c o n t i nu e s t o d i s c u s s h o w s t u d e n t c e l l p h o n e u s e
o n c a m p u s s h o u l d b e a d d r e s s e d i n i t s
C o d e o f C o n d u c t n e x t y e a r “ A t t h e m o m e n t , I a m n o t o n b o a r d
g o i n g f o r w a r d , ” C h a i r S a m F i s h e r s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t s h o u l d g o w i t h
t h e e l e m e n t a r y a n d m i d d l e s c h o o l m o d e l f o r a l l s c h o o l s c e l l p h o n e s i n b a c k -
p a c k s f r o m b e l l t o b e l l T h e s c h o o l b o a r d h e a r d a p r e s e n t a t i o n
T u e s d a y r e g a r d i n g p r o p o s e d c o d e o f c o n d u c t u p d a t e s f o r t h e 2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 6
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c y T h e p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s s t a t e s “ s t ud e n t s m a y p o s s e s s p e r s o n a l w i r e l e s s
c o m m u n i c a t i o n d e v i c e s w h i l e o n s c h o o l g r o u n d s d u r i n g r e g u l a r s c h o o l h o u r s
T h i s i n c l u d e s , b u t i s n o t l i m i t e d t o c e l l p h o n e s a n d a u x i l i a r y / a n c i l l a r y d e v i c e s s u c h a s w a t c h e s a n d e a r b u d s A l l p e r s o n -
T h e p r o p o s e d c h a n g e s s t a t e s “ s t
s c h o o l h o u r s . T h i s i n c l u d e s , b u t i s n o t l i m i t
a l W C D s m u s t b e t u r n e d o f f a n d i n t h e s t u d e n t ’ s b o o k b a g a t a l l t i m e s A t t h e h i g h s c h o o l l e v e l , a n d a t t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , W C D s m a y b e p e r m i t t e d i n n o n - i n s t r u c t i o n a l s p a c e s , s u c h a s c a f e t e r i a s A t a l l l e v e l s , W C D s a r e p e r m i t t e d w h e n t h e d e v i c e i s a p p r o v e d b y t h e s c h o o l , a n d u s e d t o m o n i t o r a h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n t h a t i s d o c um e n t e d t h r o u g h m e d i c a l
c e l l p h o n e u s e i n t h e h a l l w a y s h o u l d n o t b e h a d a t t h e h i g h s c h o o l l e v e l “ I s e e n o s e n s e i n t h a t T h e y n e e d t o b e p a y i n g a t t e n t i o n t o w h e r e t h e y a r e
g o i n g , ” B o a r d m e m b e r D e b b i e J o r d a n
s a i d
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h o w d o t e a c h e r s k n o w i f t h e y a r e t u r n e d
o n o r o f f
“ T h e y s h o u l d n e v e r b e i n t h e i r e a r s
T h e y a r e t h e r e t o l e a r n , ” s h e s a i d
B o a r d m e m b e r V a n e s s a C h a v i a n o
s a i d t h e r e i s n o t a l o t o f t i m e w a l k i n g t o
t h e i r c l a s s e s t o u s e t h e i r c e l l p h o n e
“ D u r i n g t h a t t i m e , I d o n ’ t t h i n k i s c r i t -
i c a l o r i m p o r t a n t , ” s h e s a i d “ P e r s o n a l l y , I w o u l d l o v e t o s e e i t g o n e T h e y s h o u l d
j u s t b e g o i n g t o c l a s s ”
C h a v i a n o s a i d i f t h e y h a v e t o g i v e a
l i t t l e , t h e n c e l l p h o n e u s e c o u l d b e h a d
d u r i n g l u n c h , a l t h o u g h t h a t w o u l d m e a n
e v e r y o n e i s o n t h e i r c e l l p h o n e a n d n o t
t a l k i n g
A n o t h e r p r o p o s e d c o d e u p d a t e i s t o
s e p a r a t e d i s r e s p e c t a n d i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n i n t o t w o i n f r a c t i o n s , e
o n d o f f e n s e m o v i n g t o a l e v e l t w o , w h i c h
We e k ly B R E E Z E R e c ap
Cornhole tourney to benefit Cape Charter School Foundation
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The Cape Coral Charter School Foundation will hold its first cornhole tournament fundraiser this weekend at Torched Bar & Grill The Rally on the Boards will be a competition of 60 teams
“It’s a double elimination cornhole tournament, so everyone is guaranteed two games,” Samantha Richardson, a member of the foundation, said
Pre-registration is $60 for a two-person team, which will increase to $80 the day of the tournament Register at www.CapeCharterFoundation.org.
Registration the day of the event will begin at 10:30 a m with the games beginning at 11 a m , Saturday, Jan 11, at 2408 Surfside Blvd
She encourages people to register ahead of time, as
they were at 70% capacity Tuesday morning
“We are hoping for full capacity,” she said “Teachers and former principals are coming out to play Alumni are coming out, so it should be a really good event ”
In addition to the tournament, the event will also feature entertainment from Oasis North Choir, Oasis Middle School Dance team and Oasis Middle School band, as well as a deejay
“If you don’t want to play cornhole, you can come out and watch and support,” Richardson said
Rally of the Boards will also feature raffle prizes, 50/50 items, food and drinks All the proceeds will go back to all four Oasis schools
“
Richardson said “It started out as a concert at the German American Club about 10 years ago After that it
switched to a golf tournament for probably the last five years ”
The foundation decided the event needed to be changed again to garner a bigger audience and provide an opportunity for the kids to participate
“Rally on the Boards is a new twist on things,” she said. “There is no age limit.”
Foundation, a nonprofit entity, benefits all four Oasis municipality schools for Cape Coral The foundation provides grants for teachers and sports clubs, scholarships for seniors and the Lighthouse Awards Richardson said they have also taken the Oasis Booster Club under their wing
The Rally of the Boards proceeds will benefit the foundation’s efforts
Daniela and Edward Martinez welcome Valentino Massimo Martinez into the world. He was the first baby born in Cape Coral in 2025 Valentino was born at 1:09 p m , New Year ’s Day, weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19.5 inches long.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Welcome to the world, Valentino!
First baby born at Cape Coral Hospital in the new year
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Whilethe world welcomed in the New Year last week, one set of Cape Coral parents welcomed a new bundle of joy, as the first baby born in the city arrived on Jan 1
Valentino Massimo Martinez arrived at 1:09 p m weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces, and 19 5 inches He was born to Daniela Martinez and Edward Martinez at Cape Coral Hospital, surrounded by loved ones
“It was an overwhelming feeling,” Daniela said of delivering her baby boy, whose gender was revealed in the moment and not known prior “It was unlike anything I can describe I was just flooded with love, emotion and happiness It's just a feeling that really can't be described ”
Jan 1 has been an eventful day for Daniela over these past few years On the exact date in 2024, she moved to Cape Coral from Toronto
“It seems like it's a pretty impactful date in my
life,” she said
Over that year, Daniela met her husband, Edward, and has now given birth to her first child
“It was pretty special,” she said of having Valentino born on the first of the year “It's obviously such a big day to celebrate And now it will give us something to celebrate even more every year I thought it was pretty cool to ring in the New Year with a newborn ”
Daniela and Edward arrived at Cape Coral hospital at 7 p m on Dec 31 They watched the ball drop in New York City together on the television in what was a calm night for the couple
Valentino was born the next day
“It was just a great feeling overall to be able to know that our bodies can do this, and women can bring life into the world,” she said “When he came out, it was just a big celebration Overall, it was a beautiful experience ”
See FIRST BABY, page 22
NTSB issues final report on February plane crash in Cape
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report regarding a plane that crashed in Cape Coral last February, citing fuel starvation as a result of an improperly secured fuel supply line as the defining event
The single-engine Bellanca 17-30A went down in the Cape on Feb 24, 2024, in the area of Andalusia Boulevard and Vogiantzis Parkway around 10 a m The pilot was not injured
According to the NTSB report, following a test run of the engine following the accident, the engine would not start, and a “significant” fuel leak was found at the fuel line from the throttle body to the fuel manifold
The report states, “The fuel line was found to be less than finger tight, and when secured, the engine started immediately and operated at various power settings without anomalies Based on this information, it is likely that, following this replacement of the fuel hoses, the pilot failed to properly secure the fuel line from the throttle body to the fuel manifold, which resulted in a fuel leak, fuel starvation, and the subsequent total loss of engine power.”
The NTSB report states that the pilot/owner of the aircraft stated the purpose of the flight was to ensure that r
According to maintenance log entries, the left magneto and harness was replaced with an electronic magneto and new harness, the engine mounts were replaced, the engine-driven fuel pump was replaced with an overhauled unit, and the engine fuel hoses “firewall forward” were replaced The pilot stated that he replaced the fuel lines, the report stated
The pilot departed from Pine Shadows Airpark in Fort Myers, and was in the air for roughly five minutes when the engine lost total power at an altitude of 1,500 feet above mean sea level The report stated the pilot changed power settings and used the fuel boost pump, but that no change in the power output occurred
Having elected to land in a residential neighborhood, during the pilot's approach, the aircraft struck power lines before landing in the grass of a divided highway, ultimately coming to rest on the roadway.
The NTSB report stated the plane had 84 gallons of fuel in the tank at the time of takeoff, and had not been flown or refueled since Dec of 2023
“(The pilot) performed a full preflight inspection the night before the accident; the fuel tanks were sampled at that time with no contamination noted,” the report reads “The pilot stated that, before takeoff, he completed an engine runup with no problems noted and all three fuel gauges showed ‘full ’ The pilot did not have any difficulties starting the engine ”
The wreckage was taken to an salvage facility where the examination of the airframe and engine was performed
COMMUNITY
Winter blooms in Southwest Florida
By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com
As we observe the snow, ice and frigid conditions that our northern friends are currently enduring, it’s hard to believe that Florida actually has a winter season! While temperatures are cooler from November through April and the humidity is lower, we can still enjoy
g a r d e n i n g a n d b e a u t i f u l blooming plants throughout this season that is usually associated with bare trees and grey conditions
i n t h e n o r t h e r n s t a t e s
GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL
There are many options for including winter blooms in your garden, and today I’d like to introduce you to a few trees, shrubs and annuals that will provide color and variety in your landscape
You are probably familiar with many of the winter flowering trees that thrive in Southwest Florida because they make such a dramatic impact when they bloom The Hong Kong Orchid Tree is one of the best known and most striking winter blooming specimens It’s hard to miss these trees with their abundant pink, purple or yellow orchid-like blooms There are many varieties of the Hong Kong Orchid (Bauhinia) available, and since the tree can grow quite large you should choose your site carefully and be prepared to prune your specimen!
The Golden Trumpet Tree is known for its bright display of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in late winter before the tree’s leaves emerge in the spring There are other trumpet tree varieties with pink and purple flowers that can be more difficult to find but are striking additions to your landscape The Chickasaw plum is a smaller Florida native tree that grows to about 6 to 12 feet; it sports clusters of small, fragrant white flowers in late winter
There are many winter flowering shrubs that can be easily incorporated into your garden One of the best known is the bougainvillea with its vibrant pink, purple, red and orange bracts. The "bloom" is actually a modified leaf structure, or bract, and if you look closely you will see the tiny white flower inside the colorful bract These hardy vining plants prefer the dry winter season and will reward you with nonstop color and little maintenance! Ixora is a versatile evergreen shrub that can be used as a hedge, border or even in containers This shrub displays clusters of red, orange, pink and yellow tubular flowers year round, and also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies The large, colorful blooms of hibiscus really shine in the winter months and provide a tropical flair for your garden With its vibrant red-orange tubular flowers and winter berries, the semi-woody perennial firebush attracts birds and butterflies throughout the year and can provide valuable cover for your shade-loving plants
‘The Da Vinci Code’ opens tonight at The Belle Theatre
The Southwest Florida premiere of “The Da Vinci Code,” based on the international bestseller by Dan Brown, will come to life on stage at The Belle Theatre from Jan 10-18 The mystery thriller, which has captivated readers worldwide, will unfold with both matinee (2 p m ) and evening (7:30 p m ) performances
Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $15 for students, with group rates available for groups of 10 or more This stage adaptation promises to deliver the suspense and intrigue that fans of the book have come to love, with all the unforgettable characters and plot twists that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats
“The Da Vinci Code” follows symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu as they unravel a complex web of secrets tied to the famous painting of the Mona Lisa As they race against time, they are drawn into a historical puzzle with global implications
This production promises to captivate audiences and leave them questioning the fine line between myth and reality The Belle Theatre invites theatergoers to experience the excitement of this groundbreaking thriller live on stage
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www TheBelleTheatre com or call 239-472-6100
‘The Natural Heart of Authentic Florida’ topic of Jan. 14 Cape Friends of Wildlife meeting
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife invites the community to attend its next general meeting Tuesday, Jan 14, at 7 p m , at Rotary Park Roger Klatt, manager of Babcock Ranch Eco-tours, will give a presentation on “The Natural Heart of Authentic Florida,” sharing insights into the diverse ecosystems and wildlife of the historic Babcock Ranch
Babcock Ranch, a working cattle ranch encompassing over 14,000 acres of pastureland, is home to four distinct ecosystems that support an array of wildlife Klatt will highlight the ranch’s unique environment and the species that inhabit it, including wild turkeys, caracara, soft-shell turtles, osprey, sandhill cranes, alligators, fox squirrels and more
“We’re excited to offer an in-depth look at Babcock Ranch’s ecosystems and the wildlife that call this unique area home,” said CCFW President Judy Mitchell “Roger’s presentation will provide attendees with a deeper appreciation for the beauty and importance of these natural habitats in Florida ”
The meeting will be held at Rotary Park, located at 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral Doors will open at 6:30 p m for sign-in and networking, with the presentation beginning at 7 p m Following the presentation, there will be a brief CCFW business meeting This event is free and open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend
A steer and calf at Babcock Ranch.
Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the habitats of protected wildlife species in Cape Coral Through education, advocacy and community involvement, CCFW strives to promote awareness and appreciation for the area's rich wildlife resources
For more information about CCFW, to donate, or to learn about membership and volunteer opportunities, please visit ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239-980-2593
Pine Island Potters’ Guild show Saturday
The Pine Island Potters’ Guild welcomes 2025 with the third in this season’s series of six showings at Koucky Studios Saturday, Jan 11, from 10 a m to 2 p m Celebrate the New Year with local artisans and listen to live music by the Fiddler and I
The show features the works created by local artists and craftsman in pottery, jewelry, woodworking, paintings, island-themed home décor, ready-to-wear art, children’s books personalized by the author, notecards, local honey, jams, gourmet mustards and hot sauces, plus so much more In addition, fresh baked goods will be available for a delicious snack or to take home as a delightful addition to any meal
Pat and Becky of the Fiddler and I will play from 10:30 a m to 1 p m At 11 a m , potter Chuck Koucky and some of his students will demonstrate the art of horsehair pottery firing Horsehair pottery, as the name implies, incorporates
hair from the tails and manes of horses into its design The random lines and patterns that are the signature of this style are created when applying strands of hair to the surface of a hot raku clay pot that has just been removed from the kiln The horsehair combusts and carbonizes, leaving random patterns on the pot’s surface The use of horsehair is preferred in the technique as it makes beautiful random patterns because of its coarseness and length
If you are interested in pottery classes, from beginners to advanced levels, please speak with Chuck Koucky about his year-round class schedule and take a self-guided tour of the pottery studio
The Pine Island Potters Guild shows are held on the second Saturday of each month, November through April, from 10 a m to 2 p m , in the courtyard of Koucky Studios at 5971 Bay Point Road, Bokeelia For more about the Potters’ Guild, call Nancy Koucky at 239-233-3003
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Belle Theatre is at 2708 Santa Barbara Blvd , Suite 135, Cape Coral
PHOTO PROVIDED
The cast of “The Di Vinci Code” at The Belle Theatre in Cape Coral
Friends of Cape Coral Library to hold General Meeting Jan. 18
All are invited to the next Friends of the
Saturday, Jan 18, starting at 9:30 a m , with light refreshments, a business meeting at 10, followed by the special program presentation
The program presentation for January w
affairs specialist for the South Florida Water Management in Fort Myers He is also the legislative liaison for that company and attends many legislative sessions in
Tallahassee His presentation will include the topics of clean water, alterations to the landscape and how it affects the environment - and what residents can do FOCCL General Meetings, which take place in the large meeting room of the Cape Coral
Library at 921 S W 39th Terrace, are free and open to the public
For additional information on Friends of the Cape Coral Library, please visit www capefriends org and follow us on Facebook
Winter blooms: Plants you can grow during cooler months in SWFL
From page 18
If you are lucky enough to have space for vining plants, there are two native plants that provide stunning winter displays The sky-blue clustervine or Key West morning-glory is a native vine that occurs naturally in coastal hammocks and along wetlands in South Florida This evergreen vine produces an abundance of small showy flowers in colors ranging from sky blue to pinkish-lavender with white throats As a member of the morning glory family, the flowers open in the morning and attract a variety of pollinators You can usually find this plant at a native plant nursery The Carolina jessamine, or yellow jessamine, is another native vine that blooms in late win-
ter to early spring The vines’ yellow, trumpet shaped flowers emit a sweet fragrance that attracts pollinators. Like the skyblue clustervine, the jessamine can be used as a groundcover (particularly on steep banks) and on arbors, trellises and pergolas
There are many familiar "winter annuals" that perform best in the cooler months here in Southwest Florida; these plants can be used in your garden beds or in colorful mixed containers
Begonias provide colorful pink, yellow, orange, red and white blooms with interesting foliage that can vary in color The bright cheery marigold will introduce pops of orange and yellow into your garden Dianthus, sometimes known as "pinks" or
Sweet William, provide vibrant blooms in shades of pink, rose and purple, and also have interesting foliage Pentas come in shades of red, pink, white and lavender and are wonderful pollinator plants with constant blooms Dusty Miller is grown for its silvery, wooly foliage and it makes quite a statement in the garden Other reliable winter annuals include pansies and violas, petunias, snapdragons and sweet alyssum These plants are now readily available at local nurseries and big box stores
The promise of year-round gardening was one of the compelling reasons that I decided to move to Florida I remember only too well the dreary winter days up north, when even the grass wasn’t green! This is the time of year to take advantage of
cooler temperatures and lower humidity, and there are many plants that will reward you with beautiful blooms. Whether you are a snowbird or a full-time resident, this is the perfect time for gardening!
Don’t miss March in the Park - the G
fundraiser on March 8 at Rotary Park, 9 a m - 3 p m
Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral member and president of the James
www gardenclubofcapecoral com Like us on our Facebook page!
First baby: Newest resident of community born at Cape Coral Hospital
From page 17
Edward helped deliver his son alongside the doctor, and held up his son saying, “It's a boy!”
“ I t w a s a g r e a t m o m e n t , ” D a n i e l a recalled
Her feelings holding Valentino for the first time?
“It was a very unreal feeling,” Daniela
said “He's been in my belly for the last nine months, so I didn't know what to expect or how it was going to feel -- this is my first child There was just an insane connection You create this life and now you can actually hold it in your hands instead of inside of you It was a very special moment And being surrounded by everyone, our family, it was incredible Even the nurses and doctors at the hospital;
everyone was amazing They made everything feel very warm and welcome ” Daniela, 33, and Edward, 29, tied the knot this past September and were not planning for Valentino to join their family so soon “It ended up being the best thing that could have happened,” Daniela said “Just adding more love into our relationship ” With a new addition to the family to
start a new year, Daniela said she's excited for what 2025 has in store
“We already have a beautiful relationship and friendship between me and my husband, but obviously more connection, and love, and new experiences are to come,” she said “Just learning how to raise a little one into the world ”
EDUCATION
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Ethan and Peyton King make Fall 2024 Dean's List at Olivet Nazarene University
BOURBONNAIS, Ill -- To qualify for inclusion on the Dean's List, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3 50 or higher on a 4 00 grading scale
Students making the Dean's List include Ethan King and Peyton King, both of Cape Coral Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 140 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the doctor of education in ethical leadership Additionally, Olivet offers graduate and continuing studies via online education
More ONU news is available at Olivet edu, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram
Simmons named to Lasell University Fall 2024 Dean's List
N E W T O N , M a s s - - L a t a y a S i m m o n s , a L a s e l l
University student from Cape Coral was named to the Dean's List for their academic performance in the Fall 2024 semester
To be named to the Dean's List, Lasell students must complete at least 12 credits as a full-time student and achieve a semester GPA of 3 5 or higher
Lasell University is a private university founded in 1851 as a women’s seminary before it became a college in 1932 and later a university proper in 2019 The school offers 60 undergraduate and graduate academic programs
For more information, visit https://www lasell edu/ Luban named to Fall Dean's List at Cedar ville University
CEDARVILLE, Ohio -- Hannah Luban of Cape Coral was named to the Dean's List at Cedarville University for Fall 2024 This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3 50 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours
Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation's top three evangelical universities Learn more at cedarville edu
School District of Lee County to host Social Lee: Coffee & Careers on Jan. 24
The School District of Lee County is hosting Coffee & Careers Friday, Jan 24, from 9 to 11 a m , to provide insight on career opportunities within the District
The informational event will allow participants to speak with the talent acquisition team and learn more about open positions within the District for the 2024-25 academic year Attendees will also be able to walk through becoming certified to teach in Florida The event will take place at Panera Bread, located at 5037 S. C l e v e l a n d A v e , i n F o r t M y e r s T o r e g i s t e r , v i s i t LeeSchools net/Careers
The School District of Lee County is among the largest school districts in Florida and the United States with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools
N e w h
y resources that will enable them to succeed upon entering the field of education The District offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees, and additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more. Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees
For support or additional questions, please email careers@leeschools net or call 239-337-8676
To learn more about available career opportunities with the School District, please visit LeeSchools net/ Careers
School District continuing to upgrade mental health programs
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
School District of Lee County officials said mental health continues to be at the forefront, an initiative that began in July 2018 in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
“It was game-changing legislation that married togeth-
Director Lori Brooks said “It set forth
Appropriations Act for mental health of schools and established requirements that districts must approve for the Mental Health Allocation Plan and report out-
Department of Education ”
The Tuesday afternoon School Board meeting touched upon the many layers the district says it is tackling mental heal
adjusting the support the student is receiving if needed
“We staff 57 LMHP positions Our growth is based on data, mental health needs, school leaders’ feedback and how well we are able to meet those needs based on allocation increases,” Brooks said
She said they assist students that may be in a crisis mode through suicide identification the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, which is administered b hool-based mental health professionals
requirements have been added, as the district is required to educate children about what wellness is, resiliency skills and coping skills with stressors that life can hand them
The Comprehensive School Mental Health Plan provides a broad spectrum of prevention, assessment, intervention and postvention services, officials said. Areas of support include swatting calls, school-based incidents or a natural disaster that could create exposure to trauma
“We are actually charged with engaging with our community-based partners and parents to create that system approach,” Brooks said
New this year the district’s first Mobile Crisis Response Team Crisis Assessment Response and Education (CARE) Team
Brooks said the district has been building its own CARE team for the past three years This spring they will be ready to deploy the district CARE team.
“Each region will have a dedicated CARE team ready to deploy,” she said
This team will respond when the Circuit 20 Mobile Crisis Response Team is unavailable This team serves Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties
The support starts at the school level with the school mental health team, which is comprised of school coun-
licensed mental health professional and school nurse The school mental health teams meet weekly for fact-based
“The level of response will always include he parent We have had to make significant progress on how to implement this protocol We are reducing the number of students based on the Baker Act,” Brooks said
The number of involuntary examinations under the Baker Act went from 129 in 2022-2023 to 54 in 2024-2025 school ear The number of students placed under Baker Act went from 107 for the 20222023 school year to 50 for the 2024-2025 school year The number of Baker Acts initiated by the Mobile Crisis Response Team went from 67 in 2022-2023 to 30 in 2024-2025 The number of Baker Acts initiated by School Resource Officer went from 62 in 2022-2023 to 24 in the 2024-2025 school year
The 2023-2024 school year had an increase across the board, which Brooks said was due to Hurricane Ian
The 2024-2025 school year data was reported through Dec 6, 2024
The district is currently looking into potential expansion with the University of South Florida for MIDAS and Project SMARTS
The Multi-Informant Decisional Assessment System is early identification for social-emotional and behavioral concerns through universal screening and implementation of evidence-based interventions
Project SMARTS (School Mental Health Assessment, Response, and Training for Suicide Prevention) will adopt an innovative prevention model that aims to decrease youth suicide and increase the delivery of critical prevention and postvention supports
Brooks said this will target up to 10 middle schools and provides staff training from USF.
“It’s a pathway for schools to become a Department of Education Suicide Prevention School It’s a pathway for schools to become certified, staff trained in suicide prevention training and how to connect students to that support,” she said
North Fort Myers High students
Performances are Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, at 7 p.m., and Feb. 2, at 2 p.m.
“Pippin” is a circus-inspired production which features an acrobatic troupe of per formers, led by the charismatic Leading Player (portrayed by Mia Zottolo)
The ensemble cast tells the story of Pippin, a young prince (Tyler Scott) who longs to find passion and adventure To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charles (Dominic Pilozo), and his stunning new wife Fastrada (Rilyn Dick), Pippin goes to war alongside his dimwitted s t e p
But when the Leading Player convinces the prince to fight tyranny, Pippin kills Charles and takes over the throne Thanks t o h
Duncan), Pippin realizes his mistake and begs the Leading Player to bring his father back to life The prince falls in
love with Catherine (Jay Encalada), a widow with a young son, Theo (Parker Laux), and much to the Leading Player’s chagrin, Pippin struggles to decide whether he should settle down and pursue a peaceful life or continue to make magic with the dazzling troupe of performers
Tickets for each of the performances can be purchased online at https://northfortmyerstheatre ticketleap com/ pippin/ or with cash at the door Seats range from $5-$20 and are assigned The lobby opens one hour before the curtain, and the house opens 30 minutes before the curain North Fort Myers High School is located at 5000 Orange Grove Blvd , in North Fort Myers Contact the school at 239-995-2117 or visit its website at https://nfm leeschools net/
School safety inspections continue across the district
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The School District of Lee County’s Office of Safe Schools continues to inspect schools to ensure campus safety
Safety, Security and Fleet Operations Chief Dave Newlan told the School Board Tuesday the office is required to provide quarterly reports During the first quarter six schools were inspected and 27 were inspected in the second quarter Inspection includes that exterior and interior doors
close properly as well as threat assessment management.
Of the 27 schools that were inspected during the second quarter, seven schools had deficiencies: Patriot Elementary
Elementary School, Gateway Charter Upper Campus, J Colin English Elementary School, Mariner High School and Coronado High School
Deficiencies are quickly corrected
“Once I get the notification the school was inspected, within three days they are fixed We have to acknowledge in one day and up to three days to fix defects With these
they were done within one day; way before the timeline they were fixed,” he said “The schools did a great job of meeting the compliance of all state requirements ”
The School District is not notified when the inspection is going to take place nor are the schools that will be inspected
“I am very proud of our schools for the great job that they do with student safety,” Superintendent Dr Denise Carlin said “I commend Mr Newlan for his leadership in that area Thank you for the support you provide our schools ”
Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program available for students
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Students now have the opportunity to receive the Florida Seal of Fine Arts
School District of Lee County Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Dr Jason Thomashefsky said an advocacy effort for at least the last decade finally came to fruition over the summer with legislation passing in July the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program
This provides an opportunity for high school students to showcase their talents, he said
“The purpose of the seal is to encourage students to
Thomashefsky said
The program began this school year and has set the course and experiential criteria for earning the seal
Criteria include earning a standard high school diploma, receiving an A or higher for three years in a selected fine arts discipline, as well as meet a minimum of two of the sub-requirements outlined by the Florida Department of Education
The seal requirements include such things as completing a fine arts IB, AP, dual enrollment or honors course with a grade of B or higher; participate in a district or statewide juried event for two or more years; record at least 25 volunteer hours of arts-related community serv-
ice and create a comprehensive presentation on experience; submit a portfolio that demonstrates the student is an exemplary practitioner of the arts; and receive a district, state or national recognition for the creation/submission of an original work of art
The district will be able to work with the parent portal app FOCUS to track everything the student submits for their seal moving forward
“The arts complete the education of the students,” Superintendent Dr Denise Carlin said “It helps them in so many ways it helps to make them well rounded great people I am excited about the state of Florida offering this ”
Instructional Talent Search Pool for 2025-26 school year now
The School District of Lee County has opened its Instructional Talent Search Pool for the 2025-26 academic year
The School District of Lee County is among the largest school districts in Florida and the United States with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools High-demand positions for instructional positions include English language arts, elementary education, science, math and special education
Interested candidates can visit Apply LeeSchools net and search for “2025-2026 Instructional Talent Search
Pool – 20244248” to apply Applicants who meet the necessary qualifications will be entered into a pool of prequalified candidates to be notified as new and relevant job openings become available for the upcoming school year
To be eligible for a full-time instructional position within the District, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a valid Florida teaching certificate or out-of-state teaching certificate that covers the appropriate area of responsibility Candidates with only a bachelor’s degree will need to take and pass a subject area exam to be eligible for certification. Interested
open for Lee County
candidates can register for exams at fl nesinc com
New hires will receive support and necessary resources that will enable them to succeed upon entering the field of education The District offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees, and additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees F o r s u p p o r t o r a d d i t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s , p l e a s e e m a i l careers@leeschools.net or call 239-337-8676.
Lee legislators move referendum bill for single-member county commission districts
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
Lee County voters could be faced with a referendum on whether to create single-member districts for the Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Lee County’s delegation of state legislators voted Thursday to move forward a bill sponsored by Rep Mike Giallombardo that would allow the vote
The bill, the language and specifics of which are still being ironed out, would change the way Lee County residents vote for their county commissioners. Currently, while all five county commissioners are divided by the districts they represent, each commissioner is elected by all of the voters in the county Under a single-member district system, only the voters in that district would be able to elect the commissioner representing them
The bill would first need to he approved by the state House and Senate and be signed by Gov Ron DeSantis
The measure is one of three bills creating new referendums that were approved by the Lee County Legislative Delegation on Thursday at a standing-room only meeting held at Florida Southwestern State College The Lee County Legislative Delegation includes all of the state representatives and senators that represent any part of Lee County
Giallombardo said the impetus for his desire to create single-member districts was to give county residents more direct representation including some unincorporated areas of the county who he said have told him they feel they “don’t have a voice ”
The all-Republican delegation approved moving the bill by a vote of 6-1 while calling on Giallombardo to flesh out more of the specifics of the legislation
Rep Jenna Persons-Mulicka, the lone vote against the bill, cited changing language in the bill as to whether it would create an elected county mayor or not The bill would also add another county commissioner once the county’s census reaches over a million residents The county’s population is currently estimated at more than 800,000 Persons-Mulicka and Sen Kathleen Passidomo both argued that a commission of six could lead to a divided board Giallombardo is also proposing staggered fouryear terms for the commissioners which could also present a t i m i n g i s s u e , P e r s o n s -
M u l i c k a s a i d P e r s o n sMulicka is married to David
M u l i c k a , w h o w a s j u s t elected to a four-year seat
o n t h e c o m m i s s i o n i n November
Commissioner Mulicka appeared in front of the legislative delegation Thursday to oppose the single-member district voting bill
M u l i c k a s a i d h e w o n every precinct in the county in November and vowed to represent all of the county’s residents “I will vigorously defend the right of voters to
elect all five commissioners,” Mulicka said
Of those who spoke in favor of the bill from the public, many represented the northeastern section of the county in communities like Alva and Olga who expressed feelings of disenfranchisement over the District 5 commission race last year in which Commissioner Mike Greenwell narrowly won a Republican primary against Amanda Cochran despite Cochran receiving more than 60% of the votes in District 5
The residents from those communities were also present to oppose a bill that the delegation ultimately approved to create a special stewardship district known as “Duke Farm Stewardship District” in the area around North River Road (State Road 78) in Alva
Many residents expressed opposition to plans of Neal Communities to build more than 1,000 homes on land that has long been used for farming in the rural area
Cochran said residents are concerned about “overdevelopment” in the area
State legislators approved the bill that could create the special stewardship district that would help bring infrastructure to the development, though the group of legislators largely passed off responsibility by saying the rezoning of the land was in the hands of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Cochran said that the vote by the county commission to approve the rezoning of property owned by Greenwell on nearby land “opened a Pandora’s box” to turn the rural zoning of the area into more commercial and residential developments
Cochran said she supported the single-member district bill of Giallombardo as a way to bring more local control to residents in the district
“The comment I heard most when I campaigned was from voters who said ‘I can’t vote for you, I don’t live in your district,’” Cochran said She said many voters didn’t realize they voted for all of the county commissioners regardless of their district “That’s a problem,” she said
Cochran said the county has grown so large, its population is greater than some states
Giallombardo, who held
four town halls throughout the county on the issue, said many of those who have come out to oppose his proposed bill are those who work at lobbying the county commissioners
The Lee County League of Women Voters has issued its support for single-member district voting
Under Giallombardo’s bill, the earliest the single-member district voting could take place would be in 2028 The county has had single-member district voting in the past Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass spoke in front of the delegation and said he wasn’t debating single districts but asked the legislators to “identify the problem you are trying to resolve Local bills should bring the community together ” Pendergrass said he “would be honored to get this done with you” if the delegation could identify what the problems were
Under the rules set up by the delegation’s meeting chair Rep Tiffany Esposito, all members of the public were limited in their comments to 60 seconds while those making presentations on behalf of elected government boards were limited to 90 seconds
“I don’t think special interests should speak for me,”
Tour De Cape: Event includes cycling, kids mini-ride, walk/run, more
taking part
The best part about the varying tour lengths, is that it gives an opportunity for all skill levels to take part It’s also a great way to kick-start a new fitness journey
“The variety of challenges lets you dictate what level you want to jump in at,” King said “In addition, if you want to start a 5K journey and have a running experience, we have that as well. Many, many people have bicycles in their garage and ride them once in a while This is a good reason to take on a challenge and get that old bicycle out and enjoy an experience with your family and friends ”
For expert-level riders, the Tour De Cape’s 100-mile ride presents an excellent moment to test your mettle
“A century ride is a milestone for many of our advanced riders,” King said “To be able to put that in their trophy case, whether that be in their memory case or an experiential thing that they accomplish in their lifetime, that's pretty big Being able to provide that for our expert riders well supported with lots of
support vehicles and rest stops throughout the hundred miles, I think our experienced riders get a challenge and a taste of Cape Coral "
There is a “speed zone” challenge built into each of the tours, which will time each participating rider’s final quarter mile Those who can complete their final quarter mile in under a minute have a chance to win a Trek gift card.
While cyclists and runners can register the day of the event, it is encouraged to register ahead of time to ensure participants receive a performance cycling shirt and chipped trackers
Each of the courses is fairly flat, with breeze and weather conditions at times playing a factor Each of the courses are opened, yet supported by police King said if riders are feeling fatigued, Parks and Recreation and Cape Coral Police Department staffers will be there to assist riders
The tour provides a continental breakfast, lunch, on-route rest stations with snacks and beverages, SAG vehicles, police support, and route maps Registration includes a performance shirt (while supply lasts), speed zone, and lunch
The 5K Run/Walk steps off at 8 a m on Jan 18 The 5K run/walk is designed for advanced and novice runners. A grab-and-go breakfast will be available for participants Registration includes a performance shirt (while supply lasts), chip time, and video finish
The Mini Kids Ride (5K bike ride) starts at 10:30 a m , with safety and helmet check at 10:15 Registration includes a performance shirt (while supply lasts) and lunch (Adult riders with paid children are free ) Training wheels or balance bikes are not permitted on the course
that for young people and families is amazing We just go out and have a lot of fun ”
The event also provides a positive economic impact to the area, with an influx of riders from around the region, along with seasonal residents
“It does draw from a broad regional area,” King said “We’ve had riders as far as Montreal come down and ride in our tour. It’s always fun to see the exposure our ride gets throughout the country, but that people are willing to come down and enjoy beautiful Southwest Florida There’s definitely an economic impact on our businesses ”
The tour rides are not races there are no prizes given to the fastest overall bikers
Cochran said
Additional information, including full course maps and registration can be found by visiting www tourdecape net From page 1
“Many (other) rides are run by organizations and not a city, and I think being the city, we’re able to put maximum resources out to keep it safe,” King said
“Any little kid that wants to take on a very attainable goal to start off 2025 as a parent, isn’t that amazing?” King said “You get to put something in front of your child to take on and reach a goal Being able to provide
Advance registration costs are: $25 for the 5K; $10 for the Mini Kids Ride; and $40 for the Tour De Cape Bike Ride For those inclined to take on both the 5K and Tour, individuals can register for both at $55 Prices increase on Jan. 17.
Single member: Voters could change county commission elections
From page 27
Passidomo said that while Giallombardo’s bill has a lot of work to do, Passidomo said she supported putting the bill in the hands of voters through a referendum.
“It has to start somewhere,” Passidomo said Under the current proposal discussed Thursday, a majority of voters in each district would have to approve single-member districts in addition to the majority of voters countywide
Legislators also moved forward a bill that would merge
the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District with the Lee County Mosquito Control District
The bill is sponsored by Rep Adam Botana, R-Bonita Springs. The bill, which was opposed in 2023 by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council and the board of the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District, failed to get onto the agenda of a subcommittee at last year’s state legislation
Legislators said on Thursday they would support the bill, provided Botana changes the language to require that
a majority of voters in the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District approve the merger
The Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District's millage rate is half the county rate which led to its board members strongly urging the legislators not to support the bill
The county’s millage rate is 22 per thousand dollars of assessed property value, compared to just 11 per thousands dollars of assessed property value for Fort Myers Beach property owners in the district
Art Festival: Rotary event rated as one of the top five nationwide
From page 1
Numerous exhibitors with the creative touch will show off their style and chat with attendees about their process and the meaning behind their works, which are, of course, for sale
This year’s festival promises to be even more exciting than ever before, with a diverse array of artwork, live entertainment, delicious food, and much more
The event, which sees well over 100,000 attendees each year, was named the Fifth Best Art Festival in the Nation by Sunshine Artists
“This is our major event of the year, and we’ve seen it grow with increasing artists and adding components,” said Vanessa Chaviano, Rotary Club member and public relations specialist for the event “This is the event that helps the club raise funds for different projects it does in the community throughout the year It helps the club make a bigger impact on local non-profits, organizations and projects this year ”
New this year is the addition of a boat show, which will have its own section at the festival The expo will run from 9 a m to 4 p m both days, and will also feature RVs, motorcycles, and “outdoor” businesses
“Adding on this expo helps us expand and make it a bigger event,” Chaviano said
When organizers say you can find anything and everything at the festival, they mean it Vendor booths will line the South Cape for more than a half-mile and, on most occasions, more than 140,000 attendees have turned out to view the vast array of selections
This year will feature more than 300 exhibitors, as well as a “Premier Artist Area ”
“We have artists that have participated in this event since its inception,” Chaviano said “We have a pretty solid artist group Many of them are locals, and people come to look for them And of course we get newer artists, newer faces, and up-and-coming artists We get a good diverse crowd with all of the different mediums we display ”
From paintings, to sculptures made of an array of materials, to photography, jewelry, furniture and more, the Cape Coral Art Festival & Marketplace is a one-stop-shop for art-lovers
“Any aspect you can think of when it comes to art, it is there,” Chaviano said “The new Premier Artists Area will feature a bit more of higher-end selections ”
Sponsored by Aubuchon Homes, this exclusive section of the festival is dedicated to showcasing the exceptional talents of highly skilled artists from around the world
Located in front of the Holiday Inn Express on both sides of the median along Cape Coral Parkway, from Del Prado Boulevard to Southeast 15th Ave , the Premier Artist Area offers a unique and distinguished experience for both artists and visitors
Featuring 78 Premier Artists with the highest jury scores, this area is a must-see for anyone seeking the finest in artistic expression
Jen Callahan, this year’s Poster Artist, will be in the Premier Area next to the T-Shirt and Poster Sales Booth She will be available to autograph posters and T-shirts
There are also bragging rights and prize money up for grabs The festival will be giving awards to three different sections: fine crafters, fine artists, and premiere artists
The artists will be judged based on three criteria:
1 Originality of the design of the work
2 Mastery or skill of the artist in making the piece, and
3 Cohesive Theme of the items in the booth; does it look like the artist has developed a unique style for all of his/her pieces?
Awards and prize money will be determined by the end of the first day on Saturday
The festival is a great way to meet artists, have meaningful conversations about their pieces, and possibly discuss custom works in the future
“Building relationships and that one-onone is always very helpful,” Chaviano said “You can ask them directly what the piece is all about, and the why There’s a lot of artists that will take on commissions as well It’s always fun to get something uniquely made for you Having those relationships, meeting artists, and understating their story gives more meaning when you're making a purchase ”
Chaviano added the event brings a positive economic impact to the city for the weekend
“This is a big draw,” she said “Travel and tourism all of those pieces People stay for the full weekend It’s just a huge plug for our area, especially with past hurricanes All of the businesses in downtown Cape and other areas see an influx during this time It’s a plus for people to see Cape Coral and what it has to offer, and it’s changing There’s new businesses and developments coming every day It’s an opportunity for people to see those changes.”
Overall, the festival is a great way to spend a day outside, perusing great art, and enjoy a free event
“It’s just nice to walk and be outside,” Chaviano said “It’s great to get out and do something that’s cost-free It's family-friendly across all ages There’s something for everyone there This also feeds (Rotary) to give back Having people come here and visit is what keeps these artists coming back ” Projects that Rotary is involved in or spearheaded that benefit from the festival include Rotary Park, Safe Zones for children at bus stops, and its Dictionary Project Cape Coral Parkway will be closed from Coronado Parkway to Del Prado Boulevard beginning at 4 p m Friday, Jan 10 The roadway is expected to reopen at 10 p m Sunday, Jan 12
For more information on the Cape Coral Art Festival & Marketplace, including vendor information, pieces, and map of where they will be located, visit www capecoralartfestival com
The 2025 Cape Coral Arts Festival & Market Place poster, created by artist Jen Callahan
Festival attracts a variety of artists & artisans
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“It’s about making connections through art because I have so many people come in and say that barn reminds me of Pop Pop’s barn or my father taught me to drive in a truck like that You’re not going to get that selling on Etsy or your website You’re not going to hear that ”
returning photographer Kyle Wilson, who has been selling his photographs at the Cape Coral Art Festival from 2017 to 2020 and again in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
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Supervisors of Elections offer scholarships
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The thrill of crappie fishing never gets old
If you and your seasoned crew are going offshore this weekend in your triple 400 horsepower 45-footer, fully equipped with NASA grade electronics for some out-to-the-horizon grouper and snapper bottom fishing, or plying the local inshore shallows in your new high tech, high dollar carbon fiber advanced poling skiff, equipped with all the latest and greatest overpriced gear and now consider yourself to be an advanced
advanced fishing careers with a bucket of minnows catching crappies in a local farm pond or stream
It's crappie season at
bluegills and a number
South American species although, if the weather doesn’t soon change, it may be an ice fishing outing Soon largemouth bass will begin their nest digging and spawning duties in these same waters throughout the state
While catching largemouth bass is the most popular angling pastime in America, crappies are the most popular pan fish target, and like bass fishing, big money tournaments have become popular across the country, such as the Crappie USA Megabucks Events with guaranteed $20,000 payouts
Twenty thousand dollar crappie tournaments for crappies? That’s nothing! How about the 2024 Crappie Expo and Invitational tourney held at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri? A $5,000 entry fee per boat with a $500,000 payout featuring the world’s largest aftertournament fish fry Bass fishing has its superstars like Kevin Van Damn, but the name associated with the king of crappie fishing is Wally Marshall
Across the country, crappie anglers fish for both black (pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white (pomoxis annularis) crappies with hybrids occurring in many lakes This is ultra-lite fishing at its finest with many anglers relying on tiny 1/16-ounce jigs to tempt fish away from submerged brush piles and other woody structure they love to inhabit The most common set-up
CRAPPIE FISHING, page 35
PREP REPORT
Wednesday
Boys Soccer
Oasis 3, LaBelle 2: Nicholas Odar had two goals to lead the Sharks (7-4-1) Ty Kerr also scored, and Sean Conger, Caden Bly and James Griffin made assists
Girls Soccer
Lemon Bay 4, Oasis 0: The Manta Rays (11-3-2) dropped the Sharks to 12-4-2
Girls Basketball
Estero 57, Mariner 11: Estero is 10-1
Tuesday
Boys Basketball
Cape Coral 61, Dunbar 54: Cape Coral (13-2) is on a six-game winning streak
Bishop Verot 55, Oasis 37: Austin Leslie had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings (11-5, 1-0 District 3A-10) Jerry Ashley scored 16 points and made 17 rebounds, and Gavin Williams added 11 The Sharks fell to 11-6, 0-1
North Fort Myers 47, Riverdale 41: The Red Knights (8-9) overcame a sluggish first half to take the victory
Girls Basketball
Cape Coral 37, Dunbar 29: The Seahawks upped their record to 12-5
Estero 60, Ida Baker 47: With the loss, the Bulldogs are 2-11 Maia Berdebes led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists Isabela Beauchamp had 10
Flying up the cour t
Island Coast guard
Nevaeh Janet-lynn Howard gets past Southwest Florida Christian Academy’s Reagan Sigman and dribbles down the sideline during the Wolfpack Howl at South Fort Myers High. The Gators came up short in the game, 47-42.
MARK CLIFFORD
points and 6 rebounds and Emilee Plummer added 9 points and 6 rebounds
North Fort Myers 62, Riverdale 22: Faith MacKay had 15 points to lead the 12-2 Red Knights Bianca Iten scored 12
Gateway 55, Bishop Verot 49: Cameron O'Halloran scored 21 points for the Vikings (11-5) Caroline Ward added 16 points
Girls Soccer
LCAC Tournament
North Fort Myers 5, Estero 0: Hannah Busenback led the North attack with two goals Jaelyn Hoefer had a goal and two assists, and Bailey Root and Kenlee D o m i n g u e z s c
Kinsley Seidl contributed an assist each
Cape Coral 2, Riverdale 1: Alexis Myers and Sophia Fallacara scored for the Seahawks (7-7-3) Sophia Vianest and Bailey Bianchi made the assists Fort Myers 4, Ida Baker 1: The Bulldogs are 4-9-1 Oasis 6, Port Charlotte 0: Mackenzie Canney had a hat trick, Erin Vezzola scored twice and Ariana Cates added a goal for Oasis (12-3-2) Cates, Tessa Kerr, Ashley Lynn and Kayla Theobald contributed assists
Boys Soccer
LCAC Tournament
Mariner 4, Gateway 1: Alessandro Gonzalez scored twice, leading the 17-2 Tritons Thomas Castano and Justin Medero each had a goal
North Fort Myers 3, Cypress Lake 1: The Red Knights are 3-12-2
Twins Spring Training tickets available at box office Saturday
The Minnesota Twins announced Thursday that the Lee Health Sports Complex box office will officially open for the 2025 spring training season at 10 a m , this Saturday, Jan 11, with tickets on sale for each of the Twins’ 17 Spring Training home games Single game ticke along with season, group and Pick Your Pack plans, are available for purchase online now at twins com/tickets/springtraining
Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Pablo López and the rest of their Twins teammates are set to convene for the club’s 35th spring training in Fort Myers, with all 17 home games at Lee Health Sports Complex featuring least one special ticket offer, promotion and/or special event:
Home Plate View or The Porch seating levels (sold only at the Lee Health Sports Complex Box Office with a valid ID)
■ Meal Deal (17 games): Grandstand ticket, hot dog and Pepsi
■ Salute to Service (5 games; Feb 22 and 27, and March 7, 14 and 25): Veterans, active military, first responders, EMTs, firefighters, healthcare workers and teachers can purchase up to four tickets at half price in the
■ Senior Day (5 games; Feb 22 and 28, and arch 5, 13 and 24): Fans 55 and older receive a
Home Plate View seat, hot dog and Pepsi
■ Lee Health Kids Day (3 weekend games; Feb 22, and March 2 and 16): Fans 12 years of age and younger are invited to run the bases after the game
■ Minnesota Day, presented by Mauer Auto Group (1 game; March 2): The annual ent features a pregame tailgate – the only time tailgating is allowed at Lee Health Sports Complex –prior to the Twins vs Rays game
■ New – Pickleball Ticket Package (1 game; March 7): Fans who purchase this special package will receive a ticket to the Twins vs Braves game and an exclusive Twins pickleball paddle!
Capt George Tunison
Rep. Giallombardo to speak at Cape Coral Militar y Officers Association of America meeting Saturday
T h e C a p e C o
A s s o c i a t
monthly breakfast meeting at 10 a m , Saturday, Jan 11, at the Cape Royal Golf Club, 1460 Royal Tee Circle, Cape Coral Florida District 79 State Rep Mike Giallombardo of Cape Coral will be the speaker
The breakfast cost is $12 per person and is open to not only Cape Coral MOAA members, but also former and retired U S military officers and senior noncommissioned officers.
Reservations are requested by calling Cindy Nolan at 618-580-2368 or emailing her at capecoralmoaa@gmail com
Author Spalding guest speaker for Gulf Coast Writers Association
meeting Jan. 18
The Gulf Coast Writers Association has a n n o u n c e d t h a t B
S
award-winning Florida writer, will be the guest speaker at the upcoming monthly meeting Saturday, Jan. 18. Spalding’s book, "The Alligator Dance" was inspired by a local news article regarding prosecution for alligator egg poaching and sent S
research and writing
Spalding has received several awards Her expertise in publishing and marketing makes her a regular guest speaker at writers' conferences and writers'
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Consulting LLC, was formed to help other authors on their creative journey She also consults occasionally with SCORE to help their clients
Writers Association Inc provides a forum for fellowship, education and information
Hurricane Ian," is available on Amazon and at local outlets Based in Fort Myers, GCWA attracts members from throughout Southwest Florida. At monthly meetings, the Association offers well-known speakers as well as workshops sharing expert advice on topics such as writing tech-
Participants at GCWA meetings also have the opportunity to read their works The literary genres run the gamut from poetry, adult fiction and nonfiction to children’s a
romance, mystery/thriller, memoir, essay, and screenplay Members include new and established writers, corporate professionals, teachers, and business owners, working or retired V
www GulfWriters Org for additional information
Cash Clothing Sale Jan. 18 at Saint
Hilar
y's Episcopal Church in For t Myers
Saint Hilary’s Episcopal Church/Saint Hilary’s Helping Hands Ministry, like all the other non-profits, have had a busy 2024 following the two devastating hurri-
Twins Spring Training: Tickets
From page 34
■ New – Golf Ticket Package (1 game; March 13): Fans who purchase this special package will receive a ticket to the Twins vs Pirates game, plus an exclusive Twins golf headcover!
■ Fireworks Night (1 game; March 14): Fans are invited to stay for a Friday night fireworks extravaganza following the Twins vs Rays game
The Twins’ 2025 spring home schedule includes three games against the Boston Red Sox (March 8, 16 and 20); a Feb 25 visit from the New York Yankees; three
contests vs the Pittsburgh Pirates (Feb 27, March 13 and March 24); two games apiece against the Atlanta Braves (Feb 22 and March 7), Baltimore Orioles (Feb. 28 a n d M a r c h 5 ) a n d T a m p a B a y R a y s (March 2 and 14); and single games vs the Philadelphia Phillies (March 10), Detroit Tigers (March 18), Toronto Blue Jays (March 22) and Colorado Rockies (March 25)
More information on the Minnesota Twins’ 2025 spring training at Lee Health Sports Complex, including the full game schedule, is available at twins com/springtraining
Crappie fishing: Always a thrill
From page 34
for non-tournament fun and food anglers is the traditional bobber rig with a lively 2-inch to 3-inch bullhead hooked minnow dancing down below, which is hard for any hungry crappie to resist, and white flakey sweet tasting fillets make great table fare
Crappies are definitely schooling fish and once found can be caught in good numbers unless you snag or disturb their home cover driving them away or off their feed
Try and break the world black crappie record weighing in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces caught in 2018, or go for the much easier F l o r i d a s t a t e r e c o r d o f 3 3 8 p o u n d s Breaking the white crappie record is a much harder task as this Mississippi fish weighed 5 pounds, 3 ounces, a record that’s stood the test of time caught way back in 1957
In the 1970s I was standing next to an acquaintance named Marvin Billips just shooting the breeze while catching typical 1-pound crappies in a small Delaware stream when his bobber suddenly disap-
canes, Helene and Milton, and are hosting a Cash Clothing Sale (buy a 30-gallon bag for $25, fill it with clothes, etc ) Saturday, Jan 18, from 9:30 a m to noon, at Saint Hilary’s Church by the Farmers Market, 5011 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers
information
Cape Computer Club to meet Jan. 22 via Zoom
The Cape Coral Computer Club meets over Zoom the first and third Wednesday of each month, with the next meeting being from 2-4 p m , Jan 22 The meeting topic: "How to Do Video and Image Searches and All About the New iPhone and the Latest iOS " There will be time for questions and answers
All skill levels are welcome For more i n
https://www capecoralcomputer club/ Use the “CONTACT US” feature to register for a complimentary Zoom link If you have any questions or need help with Zoom, call 321-430-5959.
Club Zoom meetings are recorded If you become a member and miss a meeting you have the opportunity to watch the presentation at a later date The Zoom format works well because you don't have to be in Florida to participate in and enjoy all of the benefits the club has to offer
Please see the website for additional information
Saint Michael Lutheran School to host 2025 TOUCH-A-TRUCK Jan. 25
Saint Michael Lutheran School will hold its 7th Annual TOUCH-A-TRUCK
event, presented by Drake Ready Mix and Dynamic Equipment Group, Saturday, Jan 25, from 10 a m to 2 p m
The free family event is open to the public and takes place at the Saint Michael Lutheran School and Church campus at 3595 Broadway, Fort Myers
TOUCH-A-TRUCK transforms Saint Michael’s campus into a hands-on interactive experience that allows kids to get up close with vehicles of all kinds The event gives truck-obsessed children a chance to turn their imagination into reality Kids can honk horns, open doors, climb into the driver’s seat, and learn from community leaders and vehicle operators
Michael’s campus, attendees will see construction equipment, fire trucks and police
delivery trucks, commercial lawnmowers,
(weather permitting)
Saint Michael’s gymnasium offers even
houses, family-friendly vendors, vehiclerelated arts and crafts projects, face painting and more.
Sponsored by SWFL Therapy Works, the first hour of the event, 10-11 a m , will be a sensory-safe time During this time, lights, sirens, horns, and other sounds that might disturb young or sensory-sensitive children, are prohibited SWFL Therapy Works will also provide a sensory-safe playroom inside and away from the trucks where kids can take a break from the noise and participate in games and activities
For additional information about Saint M i c
www smlcs org or call 239-939-1218
peared A 4-pound, 9-ounce crappie liked the look of his minnow and ate the last meal of its life becoming the current and still standing state record
Crappies or “specks” do taste good and if you decide to have a tasty pan fish fry, keep in mind you can keep 25 per angler of any size except in certain bodies of water like Lake O and others that require a 10-inch or in other lakes a 12-inch length limit Check the FWC website before picking your lake to stay within the law
Get back to your roots and take the kids crappie fishing It will bring back wonderful memories for you as well Lake O crappie fishing is at its peak right now and many guides will be glad to put you on the fish
As old as I’ve become I still get childlike excited when that bobber starts to dance then suddenly disappears Seems I’m hooked for life!
Capt George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide You can contact him at 239-579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol com
Caspian is a 1 to 3-year-old female
She has an adventurous spirit wrapped in a cute, furry package, and she is looking for a family who’s ready to sail through life with her Once she figures out all your house rules (we promise, she's a quick learner!), she'll be the best pup you’ve ever had
McRib is a 1 to 3-year-old male He is a sweet and sassy guy with a playful streak that’ll keep you entertained all day long Whether he's chasing a toy, zooming around the house or curling up for some cozy snuggles, he knows how to bring the fun and the love McRib has got just the
right amount of cattitude to keep life interesting, but don’t worry he is also a total sweetheart who adores his humans
If you are interested in meeting any of the animals available for adoption at The Cape Coral Animal Shelter, visit its website at www capecoralanimalshelter com for additional information
The shelter is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p m , and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p m
Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information
CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER
Caspian
McRib
Religious
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Darren Robert Hower, 52, of Cape Coral, passed away Thursday, December 19, 2024. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Harold “David” Bashford, 60, of Cape Coral, passed away Friday, January 3, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Kaye Lorraine Hamilton, 72, of Cape Coral, passed away Sunday, December 22, 2024. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
Nancy Klausner, 93 of Cape Coral, passed away on December 31, 2024. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Donald Lee Hoskinson, 78 of Cape Coral, passed away on January 1, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
James F. Gravedoni, 87, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on January 3, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Magali Mercedes Hernandez, 66 of Cape Coral, passed away on January 2, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Rodolfo Alfonso Lobaina, 59, of Cape Coral, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025. Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.
ALLON, Kevin Douglas, 86, of Cape Coral passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025. Arrangements by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, 950 Chiquita Boulevard S, Cape Coral, FL 33991, (239) 283-0540 https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/florida/cape-coral
Evelyn Jane Mrozek, 85 of Cape Coral, passed away on January 3, 2025. Arrangements are by Coral Ridge Funeral Home, Cemetery and Cremation Services, Cape Coral. Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com for additional information.
Kelly Nicole Hammond, 42, of Cape Coral, FL passed away on January 3, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Philomena “Philly” Hyacinth Christopherson, 86, of Cape Coral, Florida passed away on January 4, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Fuller Metz Cremation and Funeral Service. www.fullermetz.com
Fort Myers
Thais Josefina Sistiaga Camacho, 69, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away January 4, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation Services-Fort Myers.
William John Davis, 84, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away January 5, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee Conty Cremation Services-Fort Myers.
Charlotte County
Rebecca Ann Holley, 70, of Punta Gorda, Florda passed away January 4, 2025. Arrangements entrusted to Lee County Cremation-Fort Myers.
