The controversial development plans for Jaycee Park will stand
After lengthy and heated discussion Wednesday, Cape Coral City Council decided the city will follow through with the contractual agreement in place
Mayor John Gunter said the elected board has spent two years talking weekly about the riverfront park at the end of Beach Parkway
“We make our decisions as a collective body. Quite frankly, we keep talking about this big elephant in the room. We need to decide what we are going to do. Let’s be blunt. Let’s quite playing around with this. We have a contract in place. We need to take a stand. Today is the day we have to put this behind us. We will go down the line and find out if anyone wants to change or alter the existing contract ” Mayor John Gunter
“We make our decisions as a collective body Quite frankly, we keep talking about this big elephant in the room We need to decide what we are going to do,” he said
“Let’s be blunt Let’s quite playing around with this We have a contract in place We need to take a stand Today is the day we have to put this behind us We will go down the
Cape Coral Animal Shelter preparing for a full slate of events throughout 2025
C a m p a i g n K i c k o f f E v e n t ” c o m m e n c e d , a s t h e
B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s a n n o u n c e d p l a n s f o r a
m a j o r e x p a n s i o n s e t t o b r e a k g r o u n d , w h i c h
w i l l t a k e p l a c e o n F e b 2 6
A s p a r t o f t h e e x p a n s i o n , a 1 9 , 0 0 0 - s q u a r e -
f o o t s h e l t e r f a c i l i t y i s t o b e c o n s t r u c t e d a d j a -
c e n t t o t h e e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g , a n d a l l s h e l t e r
o p e r a t i o n s w i l l b e m o v e d i n t o a l a r g e r , s t a t e -
h e p u z z l e f o r t h e 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) ' s c o n t i n u e d s u c c e s s , i t s e x p a n s i o n p r o j e c t , i s s e t t o b r e a k g r o u n d t h i s y e a r a s w e l l “ T h i s i s g o i n g t o b e a r e a l l y , r e a l l y e x c i t i n g y e a r f o r u s , " ” s a i d C C A S E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r
L i z M c C a u l e y “ E v e r y y e a r i s e x c i t i n g , b u t t h i s y e a r e v e n m o r e s o W e c a n ’ t w a i t ” I n N o v . o f 2 0 2 4 , C C A S ’ s “ C a p i t a l
o f - t h e - a
He added he was not there to promote the “new council’s” campaign promises, but the best interest of the city
“That is what we are here to do,” Gunter said
One by one, each council member shared their desire to move forward with the contractual agreement, with one council member
n t o p r o v i d i n g s o m e r e l i e f f o r p r o p e r t i e s b e h i n d t h e l o c k d u r i n g t h e c l o s u r e t o b e g i n i n A p r i l C i t y M a n a g e r M i k e I l c z y s z y n b r o u g h t t h e d i s c u s s i o n f o r w a r d a s , o n c e t h e w o r k b e g i n s , p r o p e r t y o w n e r s w h o d o n o t m o v e t h e i r b o a t s b e c o m e c a n a l c r u i s e r s f o r t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e l o c k c l o s u r e H e a s k e d C o u n c i l i f t h e c i t y s h o u l d p r o v i d e t e m p o r a r y r e l i e f f r o m i t s c o d e s f o r p a r k i n g b o
See SHELTER, page 12
70% of city’s municipal charter school employees are earning below wage midpoint
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Most employees working within the city of Cape Coral’s charter school system are being paid less than goal compensation, according to a presentation to the Cape Coral Charter School Authority governing board Tuesday
According to the presentation, nearly 70% of employees at Oasis Charter Schools are earning below the midpoint of their published pay range
Evergreen Solutions, LLC Senior Consultant Allie Crumpler said the study kicked off in July of last year with data collection for an assessment of the current condition to give them an idea of where the system stands, and areas to pinpoint during their analysis
Oasis Charter Schools structure is inconsistent for its range spread for the 339 Oasis employees the minimum starting salary to the maximum salary and how much range is within those numbers, she said,
With breaking the salary ranges into four parts, Crumpler said the largest concentration is in quartile one
with 56% the first 25% in the pay range, followed by the second largest in quartile four, which sits at 20%
“The tenor decreases from three to four,” she said
There was an employee outreach phase of the study, which was done virtually through interviews and focus groups, as well as a survey to all employees The survey received more than 185 responses, a 50% completion with employees
Those responses showed why employees came to work at Oasis and remains the location, opportunity to make a positive impact, type of work and coworkers and work environment
With that said, the study showed that 36% of participants had little to no understanding of the current pay plan structure and 87 8% felt that Oasis’s salaries were not competitive with surrounding organizations
The average satisfaction level with base compensation was 2 87%
The survey also revealed that 91% felt there was a need to adjust salaries to account for the local cost of living, as well as increase pay for employees, while 72% said there needs to be an increase in pay grade ranges from minimums to maximums.
There was a “small showing, 2 survey respondents that indicated Oasis compensation is at or above market rate,” Crumpler said
The study also revealed that there were classification concerns in terms of job descriptions, as well as requests for additional support positions to help with teacher workloads
“Overall, the top three issues that employees would like to see addressed: competitive compensation, adjusting compensation or pay, and adding career ladders for employees,” she said
The study looked at seven “peers” Charlotte County schools; Collier County Schools; Desoto County schools; Franklin Academy Charter Schools; Hendry County schools; Lee County schools and Pembroke Pines Charter
Schools, as well as data from the Economic Research Institute
When looking at the market comparison at the 50th percentile, at the minimum, Oasis is 10 4% below; at the midpoint 6 7% below and at the maximum 3% below
The recommendation was to create three pay plans and to move within the pay grades horizontally with consistent progression
The proposed pay plan for instructional employees has seven pay grades from a minimum of $53,336 80 to a maximum of $100,066 98 There is a range spread of 40% within each grade and a 5% distance from one pay grade to the next
The pay plan for support employees is proposed for a range of $15 to $47 48 within 15 pay grades There is a spread of 40% for range and 6% for midpoint progression
Administrative employees proposed pay plan has five grades and ranges from $84,240 to $157,499 89 The range is 40% for each grade with a midpoint progression of 7 5%
There were four options for implementation costs that include bring to minimum, an estimated $473,929 55 total salary cost with an average percentage adjustment of 5 8%; class years, an estimated cost of $1 28 million, or 12 1% adjustment; hybrid years an estimated $1 3 million cost, or 12 2% adjustment and tenure years an estimate of $1 42 million, or an adjustment of 15%
She said if employees were not adjusted because they are already making above, they would still receive at least a 1% adjustment with estimated costs
Superintendent Jacquelin Collins said they will share more exact figures from the study at a Jan 27 workshop
“Finance has to go through every column and figure to budget for next year,” she said “The figure this year is one thing Our intention is to come up with a plan that the board will adopt for salaries. Everybody will be bumped up this year with the new starting salary ”
The initial cost is one thing, Collins said, adding that compound from year to the next will be more as benefits increase
She said there is talk that they could be looking at a deficit year
“When we have a deficit year, it affects us,” Collins said, adding that they have to “take a very careful look at the maximum we are able to do and afford over time ”
there was a problem
“We are not even at the 50th percentile, but we outperform every single one of them,” he said “It’s a testament to our teachers That is
around and know our teachers are outperforming the rest of them ”
said
to the system, success of the system, dedication to the system and those in charge of creating the system, as well as capability to make a commitment and eagerness to stay He said whatever they are doing right now they need to continue, so they do not lose what they have
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
Back to the future
We don’t have a flux capacitor, heck, we’ve never even seen a DeLorean, but we do have the gigawatts to know that the past always looks better in the rearview mirror
For some, anyway
For the women of recent generations past, the struggle to get into med school, or law school, or simply to earn more than the current 84 cents to the comparable male wage dollar, a glance back does not beckon.
But for others, the old blather of where and whether women belong has become political gold
Fair enough We’re firm believers of “Tell us what you think and we’ll know who you are ”
Natter on
But know this
Scrubbed of its best-for-our-country, gender-role patina, the well-worn women-should-whatever is simply another argument that begins with a demographic of individuals and concludes with a word ending in “ism ”
Sub in your population group of choice and read the following blanket comments aloud:
(Demographic) don’t belong in combat roles or special forces
(Demographic) don’t belong in careers like firefighting
“Every effort should be made to not recruit (demographic) into engineering and ditto for med school and the law and every trade ”
These statements were made about women by would-be appointees, government officials and politicians at the federal and state levels this week
These, and similar diatribes, have been espoused, well, forever, about other individuals categorized by race, by religion, by what-have-you rather than ability and the equal opportunity to develop that ability for the good of themselves, their families, their communities and our country
We are America’s future
All of us
And we belong where we say we belong Breeze editorial
This week’s poll question:
Previous poll question
The success of campaign promises to improve families’ lives will come from states
Many leaders elected this November won by saying that families will be better off in the years ahead than the years behind Voters voiced their rejection of more of the same In 2024 exit polling, 80% of voters agreed that if we want policies that work better for families, we need different kinds of leaders than we have now making these decisions Families expect to see real progress: Voters want a government working with and for them not one stirring more polarization
Our collective call is to find common ground and deliver solutions that respond to the concrete needs of families
States are where budget decisions and policy implementation have impact and accountability is measured With 2024’s 11 newly-elected governors and 36 gubernatorial elections in 2026, state governments have a timely opportunity to lead
Ascend at the Aspen Institute has conducted 12 years of bipartisan election exit polling to test and track voter support
Happy New Year?
To the editor:
on the most critical issues and solutions for families with low-income (defined as up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level) Findings show continued strong cross-party support for two-generation (2Gen) approaches to family economic security and well-being those that focus on intentionally supporting children and the adults in their lives together For example, parents dropping off children at a quality child care center connected to their own job training program opens doors of opportunity for two generations at once This year’s polling, conducted by Lake Research Partners and The Tarrance Group, showed voter support for 2Gen approaches remains strong for four reasons
One, voters know 2Gen is pragmatic
Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) agree that if we want to ensure children in families with low incomes are successful in their early learning, then we have to also invest in their parents’ eco-
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
going to follow the laws of President Trump about picking up undocumented illegal immigrants in Florida
A comment on Mayor Gunter’s guest commentary, Happy New Year:
I glad he thinks it so great in Cape Coral with all city higher taxes and fees
Have you looked at your electric bill? Two taxes.
And look at your tax bill it never end with these people They can find more ways to waste money they need to spend billions on all these projects when people can’t even but food on the table and prices on gas and clothes are been going higher
Not for all the city employees, those who make over $100,000
If they want to better serve the people, bring down the taxes
They don’t care that a lot of people are retired and on fixed income and can’t afford all these fees that are on our tax bill It’s about time to get a budget so people can afford to live in Cape Coral and stop the waste and spending.
Roy Spegele Cape Coral
Cape Coral: Car washes, storage units... and marijuana dispensaries?
To the editor:
Recently there has been much discussion on the excessive carwash and storage units in and around Cape Coral
But I would like to add to the discussion regarding pot shops, aka marijuana dispensaries
On Del Prado alone, there are four in less than a quarter mile of each other. Sunburn literally just opened in the old Payless Shoe building and a new one called Green Dragon is now opening one building away! The ironic thing is the building that separates the two dispensaries is the Asian Buffet in case of the munchies I guess
In all seriousness, how many do we need? None of them are ever that busy when you drive by
I don’t know what is the right business model for strategic placement of these shop but it is kind of laughable
This is in no way meant to impart any sort of judgement on marijuana use; it just seems counter productive to have so many that close to each other
Maria A. Morris Cape Coral
Law enforcement must suppor t Trump’s policies on immigration
To the editor:
I encourage Gov Ron DeSantis to have all Florida sheriffs, who are elected officials, put in writing that they are
Get it in writing and publish the results
Next, have all cities that have a mayor and city council i e Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Naples, whose police departments are under control of elected mayors and city councils declare they will provide enforcement for President Trump
Any elected officials under Gov DeSantis need to comply or be removed by Gov DeSantis
I encourage Gov DeSantis to have all agencies be transparent and required to use news media to say yes or no that they are going to enforce the laws of this state and America
Time to take a stand
Zero excuses
Zero tolerance
This is what America’s voters voted for Eric Engelhart Lee County
Raise your hand if you want to be like Califor nia
To the editor:
T h e D E I a n
demonstrated how meaningful they are to America, especially in California We hear about them often but the massive fire now burning in Los Angeles displays their accomplishments vividly The California government in supporting these professional activists are focusing on feelings instead of the citizens of California. Some of their activities are:
Diverting water from reservoirs to the ocean for environmental reasons putting fish ahead of human safety The
California Globe has a very detailed article which graphs all the reservoirs in California and how short they are on water The article is very critical on the management of those reservoirs and the diversion of water from the reservoirs to the environmentalist’s choices
Kept the forests and woods in Los Angeles natural being able to enjoy walking on the heavy crunch of brush and leaves
The mayor is focused on DEI often filling positions with persons with that as a higher priority than the tough requirements of being a fireman
The fire chief Crowley spoke out about the Los Angeles fire department not being properly funded Yet The Globe and Business magazine reported that the mayor found funds for DEI advocacy-supported causes like the Gay
Anne Mosle
End the madness: Power to the patients
America’s health bill will surpass $7 7 trillion by 2032 That’s equivalent to one in every five dollars flowing through the economy
To address this crisis, we must make health care work like other sectors of our economy, rather than the bloated, over-regulated mess it is today And that will require giving patients more control over their healthcare dollars
Because massive government programs like Medicare reimburse providers so little, hospitals and doctors charge private insurers higher rates to make up the difference Private health plans pay hospitals 254% of what Medicare would have paid, on average Private insurers pass their higher costs onto patients in the form of soaring premiums, deductibles, and restrictions on what's covered
Obamacare’s many mandates have encouraged consolidation throughout the healthcare marketplace
Hospitals are getting bigger, too, in order to gain negotiating leverage with insurers The 10 biggest U S healthcare systems now manage more than 1,200 hospitals, or about
From page 4
Men’s Chorus
20% of our country's total
All that consolidation reduces competition and nudges costs higher
To top it all off, nobody knows exactly how much anything costs until they get hit with the bill As of February 2023, three-quarters of hospitals still failed to publish their prices, despite federal rules requiring them to do so
It’s time to end this madness
The first move should be to create a regulatory environment that incentivizes providers to disclose cash prices in a clear and usable fashion Enforcing price transparency rules would help
Guest Commentary
But so would empowering consumers to make real choices. If patients are responsible for spending their own healthcare dollars, they will naturally become more price-conscious
Los Angeles’ mayor and California’s governor have big hearts, spending millions more on the homeless even if that means cutting funds for the fire department which already has a much smaller budget Understand the homeless stipend even helps them buy fentanyl and other fun drugs
The LAPD took a person into custody last Thursday on suspicion of arson-related to a fire
Mayor Karen Bass and the governor both looked catatonic when questioned by reporters “Do you regret cutting the Fire Department budget by hundreds of millions of dollars?” Blank stare Shrugging emoji I don’t know!
Of course, the leaders are claiming the fire storm is totally due to climate change and extreme weather Wonder if a fully-staffed, tough, experienced fire department equipped with water at every fire plug from full reservoirs might have helped?
Californians should expect to let woke activism run its course
What is the cost of professional activism? So far:
Five large fires
Dry fire hydrants
No water in many areas where they are fighting fires
That’s where health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements come into play HSAs allow consumers to set aside money tax-free, which they can use to pay for health care as they see fit When people have control over their healthcare dollars, providers have to compete for their business
Over time, that leads to better quality and lower costs
Congress should consider allowing Medicare beneficiaries to contribute to HSAs
Lawmakers should also raise the limits on what people can contribute to an HSA each year
Health reimbursement arrangements allow employers to give their employees taxfree money for medical costs or insurance premiums.
Employers may prefer them to traditional health insurance plans because they’re a defined cash benefit Employees may like
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Insufficient fire fighters 24 deaths and 16 missing 12,000 properties (mostly beautiful homes) burned to the ground
$50 billion dollars of damage anticipated
Ah! Professional activism! How brave to stand up for your beliefs! Too bad it cost so much What if the DEI and woke community took over the rest of the country? Raise your hand if you want to be like California No longer civilized, focusing on a professional activism life.
John Benedict Cape Coral
A plan for 2025
To the editor:
As we step into the year 2025, it's essential to adopt a mindset I focused on critical thinking and proactive financial management This year, I plan to carefully monitor my spending habits Evaluate my purchases and keep an eye on tariffs while establishing a solid budget for my expenses.
I am committed to supporting local businesses, particularly restaurants, and choosing local products and fresh produce I’m also attending to pricing trends,seeking bundles, utilizing delivery services and making decisions on
HRAs because they can pick the health insurance plan that meets their needs or use the money to pay for care from a provider of their choosing, not their insurer’s
Finally, policymakers should relax rules that reduce the supply of health care Scopeof-practice regulations limit what services nurse practitioners and physician assistants can provide -- even when those providers are fully qualified
A 2018 study found that patients treated by nurse practitioners had lower rates of hospital admission, readmission, and inappropriate emergency department use than those treated by physicians Allowing NPs and PAs to practice more independently would effectively expand the supply of providers and thereby cause prices to fall
We don’t have to let health spending spiral out of control Common-sense, marketbased reforms could unleash the power of competition to lower costs and deliver savings for taxpayers and patients alike
Sally C Pipes is president, CEO, and Thomas W Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute
data analysis
Whenever I come across a online post, I take a moment to consider these author’s credibility and reliability of the information presented
In the grocery industry, maximizing profits is a priority, with owners making strategic choices for their bottom lines A grocery store in a high-traffic area has the potential to generate up to $14 million annually in a high traffic area, often occupying 45,000 square feet to encourage customers to browse more items.
Monopoly power is prevalent in various sectors as meat, automotive, banking, housing, energy, soft drinks and healthcare, where companies vie to claim the top spot in their respective markets,
We must ponder whether rising prices can be curbed and how we can put a stop to product shrinkage While prices seem to be on the rise, our interconnected world faces challenges such as global supply chains, conflicts, health/disease, climate change and other international issues
Legislation in the USA can be amended, circumvented or halted. As prices continue to soar it is crucial to budget wisely, care for our loved ones and prioritize our health in 2025
Kathleen Callard,RNBS North Fort Myers
Guest Commentary: 2Gen approach puts family voices at the center
From page 4
nomic well-being Helping half a family makes little sense: when every member of the family has support to thrive, they can do better together
Two, 2Gen works in red, blue and purple states including in red states like Georgia, where the Department of Early Care and Learning has partnered with the Technical College System to strengthen workforce pathways for young parents while their children access quality child care These policies are rooted in evidence that a strong predictor of a family’s overall economic mobility is parental educational attainment Leaders who want to make government more efficient can start by backing programs we know work
Don’t reinvent the wheel: find the wheels that are working locally and get them rolling across the nation
Three, a hallmark of 2Gen policies is improving family outcomes by involving parents in developing the policies and programs that most impact them In Colorado, the Family Voice Council has informed innovations in human services, early childhood, and mental and behavioral health policies and services to improve outcomes for families. Across the country, such 2Gen approaches directly reflect parents’ needs and visions for their families
Four, the tenets of 2Gen resonate with parents and non-parents alike Two-thirds (67%) of parents say you have to invest in parental economic well-being to support children’s
early-learning success, and 75% of non-parents agree Support parents need, like education, career, and skills training are wildly popular with the public Leaders have an enormous ability to energize a broad constituency for these solutions
In a time of seismic political shifts, leaders need to put family voices at the center Governors have the opportunity to embed a 2Gen approach in their state budgets so that every dollar from education, health, and labor departments delivers twice the impact by supporting whole families As the federal government considers ways to maximize efficiency and effectiveness, they can look to states for inspiration
In polls, 77% of people agreed, including two-thirds of Republicans, that it’s time to
stop judging parents and start supporting them in ways that truly help families become financially stable Locally, this provides opportunities to meet families where they are and where they dream, without judgement or red tape This is good economic and family policy As state and local officials look to their new terms in 2025, they would be wise to lead by putting families first just as they have been promising to do
Anne Mosle is the vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of Ascend at the Aspen Institute Ascend focuses on equipping leaders with the data and information needed to create real, lasting change for families
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
Sally C Pipes
Bimini Basin East project approaches demolition stage
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The city of Cape Coral’s Bimini Basin East project continues to progress with some pre-demo work being done to the South Cape site, Cape Coral City Council was told Wednesday
The completion date for the economic development initiative is spring 2026 Expenditures to date are $41,414,989
The city, late last year, awarded a demolition contract with Honc Destruction, Inc
The scope of work, according to the presentation, calls for the demolition of 43 parcels, covering approximately 18 73 acres the city purchased The cites are located at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Cape Coral Parkway and Coronado Parkway in the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency’s Bimini Basin District
The demolition of the properties is to prepare the parcels, many of which have houses, duplexes and other structures, for future development and use
CRA Project Manager Zac Gogel said they are trying to expand the city’s entertainment district with this property He said a significant amount of the exiting structures were unoccupied due to Hurricane Ian, and many were full of mold.
He said they have upped their patrol in the area with walks taking place through the buildings daily
“We brought in some supplies plywood and large screws to make sure these structures cannot be occupied by any inhabitant,” he said
Gogel said they have 24 tenants occupying 14 structures, while 29 others are unoccupied structures Permits were submitted last Friday and a preconstruction meeting was held on last Thursday with a notice to proceed assigned
“The plan is to move from Tarpon Court through Coronado Parkway Honc Construction won the bid for that project,” Gogel said
Gogel said they are ensuring the buildings are being numbered by parcel number and a letter associated with them to make sure checks and balances are done to ensure the correct buildings are being demoed
Some pre-demo work is being done with landscaping put in by residents taken out
“We have gone through the buildings and found a significant amount of appliances damaged from the flood of (Hurricane) Ian Some of the appliances we are looking to donate as well In the next few days, we will work to have those donated,” Gogel said, adding that freon from the refrigerators and AC units is being recovered as well
In addition, sidewalks are being torn up around the perimeter of the property, but not in the right-of-way
“Those sidewalks will remain,” Gogel said “The driveways, we are making saw cuts to ensure walkable path remains ”
Small items such as sheds are currently being removed as well
An update was also provided for Cove at 47th a mixed-use multi-family private development that has 290-units, 18,000 square feet of retail space and a 525-space parking garage, 125 which are reserved to public
Gogel said the parking garage has opened to tenants, but has yet to open to the public due to difficulty with their parking equipment
“With our system it is to allow their tenants to go through it. If they can’t lock down their area, then we can’t allow public parking We are waiting on them Our equipment is in and ready to go,” he said
The Cove at 47th is at 870 S E 47th Terrace in the South Cape
Lake Kennedy Racquet Center to be branded as ‘The Courts’
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Cape Coral City Council decided to Wednesday to move forward with a Lake Kennedy Racquet Center brand of The Courts, with Cape Coral, FL lettered underneath
The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center opened late August 2023
At the end of December, they were close to 1,400 individual annual members, Sports Facilities Company Regional Manager Adrian Moses said
“The data we are showing is over 3,000 members 2/3 of them are Cape Coral residents,” Moses said “We have been blown away by that A remarkable success ”
it was important to make a decision and move on to see the full benefit of the facility
Sports Facilities Company Art Director
Tristan Makaroff presented three brands for “The Courts” to interject a level of playfulness and energy
With weather, and holiday closures, they averaged 279 check-ins a day during December
“From that perspective there is a lot of positives about Lake Kennedy,” Moses said, adding that rebranding the facility with something modern and exciting will only enhance the center
With the lack of branding, they have not been able to represent the facility with merchandise, as well as put together a full outbound package of the center, he said, adding
The first brand presented the one Council chose by consensus offers a high energy that is more on the youthful side, as well as showing off the mood of being in Florida, he said
“It’s very Floridian It has to be retail ready something somebody wants to purchase and wear,” Makaroff said
The image has horizontal lines with orange at the top, yellows and then blue with palm trees and a moon in the background
The second design was a little more elevated and ran the line of being playful and very Florida that was colorful and sporty The brand included The Courts with a palm tree image
The third logo was the most elevated and the most expensive as it told the premium story throughout the three presented
The choice will come up again for a final vote at a future Council meeting
German bakery & cafe offers traditional breads & more
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
One Cape Coral business that provides authentic eats from Germany has seen fresh ownership take over, with a passion to push the establishment into the future for continued success
Bread Pete Bakery and Cafe, a German bakery that offers fresh breads, breakfast, and lunch items, is now operated by a husband-and-wife duo who recently made the move from Deutschland to Cape Coral
Melanie and Gerhard Wassink from Hamburg, Germany, moved to the U S with their two children to start a new chapter in their lives, and continue the tradition of Bread Pete with a passion for authentic, high-quality baking
The Wassinks purchased Bread Pete at the beginning of 2024, made the move in August, and took over the business shortly thereafter
Gerhard said his family was familiar with Cape Coral, having visited many times before making that move, and that he and his family were drawn to the climate and the American way of life.
As for why he and Melanie chose Bread Pete as their new venture, Gerhard said, “It’s our sense of hospitality, and also our familiarity with bakery products We had the unique possibility to continue this business from the previous owners, and it was a great opportunity for us ”
Bread Pete was founded in 2011 by Peter Lipkat and his wife Andrea, with the goal of bringing the traditional art of G e r m a n b a
Since then, the small, yet beloved bakery has become a popular destination for fresh, handcrafted baked goods and a warm
“It’s our sense of hospitality, and also our familiarity with bakery products. We had the unique possibility to continue this business from the previous owners, and it was a great opportunity for us ”
Gerhard Wassink, co-owner, Bread Pete Bakery and Cafe
atmosphere
The Wassinks were connected with Lipkat through a mutual friend in Cape Coral, where the Wassinks vacationed over the years
“We fell in love with this area here,” Gerhard said “The people, the weather ”
Since taking over Bread Pete, Gerhard said the experience has been “intense” and lots of hard work is being put in to not only keep up the name of the bakery, but to bring it into the future
“We get such good feedback from customers at the store,” he said
Bread Pete is deeply committed to quality and authenticity For its baked goods, Bread Pete uses only European ingredients that are free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs), additives, bleaching agents, or any artificial colorants Gerhard said they also consciously avoid added sugars or other sweeteners Bread Pete’s ingredients are as natural and pure as possible, ensuring an elevated taste and experience, he said
“Our best sellers and top items come from our bakery,” Gerhard said “Bread
are all without
Melanie and Gerhard Wassink, who
moved to the U S with their two children to start a new chapter in their lives At left, a sample offering
Cafe /PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
artificial add-ons That's our main focus and highlight ”
See BAKERY, page 9
Rolls And also sweet pastries and pretzel products, that are made with German and European products They
Shell Factory auction continues with second wave of offerings
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
More than 750 items from the historic Shell Factory & Nature Park everything from a 7-foot fiberglass Santa and ginormous dinosaurs to collectables, statues of Elvis, Frank Sinatra and more are up from bid through Jan 28
Fort Myers Auctions owner Jared Cox said they came on property early November to start taking photographs of the many items, which will be close to 2,000 by the time the auction is complete.
“About 70 years of accumulation there’s a lot of stuff to process and dig out,” Cox said
The first sale, which was held in December, had 550 auction items
“The catalogue is live at shellfactoryauction com You can see everything up for bid, all the pick-up information, and terms and sales in terms of pick-up days and payment.”
“The first sale is all picked up and removed from the property We had to restart the process over and over again,” Cox said The second auction is now live through 7 p m Tuesday, Jan 28
“The catalogue is live at shellfactoryauction com You can see everything up for bid, all the pick-up information, and terms and sales in terms of pick-up days and payment,” Cox said
He encourages the community to register and bid high and bid often before the auction closes He said the removal of the items will be from Wednesday through Saturday following the auction
He said pretty much all of the questions someone may have will be listed in the common question area of the website
This auction includes most of the primary memorabilia: signs, statutes, and 25 fiber
Fort Myers Auctions owner Jared Cox
glass fixtures from around the park There is also restaurant equipment and a retail jewelry section
“There is about 30% more from the first sale,” Cox said
The highlights of the auction items include the original Pick-A-Pearl giant scallop shell, working Zoltar Fortune Teller game, Largest Gift Store sign and other Shell Factory branded signs, Tommy’s Budweiser neon sign, Elvis statue and pictures, Frank Sinatra statue, multiple coin operated kiddie rides, multiple dinosaur statues, jewelry, theatre costumes and restaurant equipment, supplies and furniture
The bids start as low as $10 to $15, with
the most around $100 for the larger items
The final auction will be held in the middle of February
“We are about one-third of the way done with the third sale cataloguing,” Cox said
The items are from the tool room, warehouse fixtures, pallet rack, catering equipment, and golf carts. He said the items are things that are still being used for day-to-day operations
“It still has value and still needs to get removed from the building Everything will be removed from the property,” Cox said First established in 1938, the 18-acre old Florida roadside attraction was located in North Fort Myers Pam Cronin, and her late husband, Tom, took over the property in 1997 when it was under foreclosure
Hit hard by recent hurricanes, Pam Cronin made the decision in September to close its doors.
Bakery: Bread Pete also offers a sit-down breakfast and lunch menu
From page 8
To go along with its bakery products, Bread Pete also offers breakfast and lunch options
“We offer a fusion American-German breakfast, as well as traditional breakfast items such as omelets,” Gerhard said “Combined with our German bakery products, it’s a fantastic combination
“We have bratwursts, sauerkraut, pretzels We also have German-style schnitzel served on a roll or baguette. Our customers are all really enthusiastic about our meals They tell us they didn't expect how good it would be ”
Additional items on the lunch menu include a BLT, Philly cheese steak, and homemade tuna Dessert options include apple strudel, as well as plum, apple, and Black Forest cake
Gerhard added that to go along with the tasty products, the “cozy atmosphere” of Bread Pete is something for patrons to look forward to
“If you compare it to a traditional premises, we’re a bit more relaxed here,” Gerhard said “It’s cozy, and not so noisy, or not so hectic You can sit down, relax, and have a relaxing time No one should feel pushed to leave If you want to stay two hours, that’s no problem ”
As for how the new ownership is looking to advance Bread Pete, Gerhard said they may start baking cakes and cookies, created by Melanie
While Melanie was never a professional baker in Germany, it's something she's very much familiar with and has a passion for
“Our products are authentic,” Gerhard said “And I'm absolutely convinced of their quality ”
While Cape Coral annually sees an influx of German visitors, as well as now permanent residents, Gerhard said the business is hoping to attract the “American” market
“We want everyone to see our products,” he said “Of course, we love to see our German customers, but we’d love to expand our clientele German or American, our customers are our customers”
Bread Pete hopes to soon offer catering opportunities for private parties and businesses, as well as delivery
“We’re always aiming to please and reach our customer in the best way we can,” Gerhard said
For more information, including the full menu, visit www.breadpetebakerycafe.com.
Bread Pete is at 4402 Del Prado Blvd S
From page 1
S a
w a y
w a n e x p a
s i o n w a s p r o b a b l y o n t h e h o r i z o n , o f f i c i a l s d i d n ' t t h i n k t h e y ’ d b e a b l e t o a c h i e v e t h a t i n s u c h a s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e “ T h a t h a s r e a l l y j u s t b e e n b e c a u s e o f a m a z i n g d o n at i o n s , t h e l a t e s t b e i n g f r o m t h e G o l i s a n o F o u n d a t i o n ,
w h i c h w e w e r e n o t e x p e c t i n g T h a t w i l l g o t o w a r d s t h e b u i l d i n g , ” M c C a u l e y s a i d " A n d w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e
c o m m u n i t y a n d o u r v o l u n t e e r s , w e c a n d o t h i s q u i c k e r t h a n w e t h o u g h t ” T h e s h e l t e r w a s a w a r d e d a g r a n t o f $ 1 5 m i l l i o n f r o m t h e G o l i s a n o F o u n d a t i o n i n D e c e m b e r , T h e m i s s i o n o f t h e n o - k i l l s h e l t e r i s t o e n g a g e a s p ec i a l b o n d b e t w e e n p e o p l e a n d a n i m a l s b y m e a n s o f
a d
ARTIST RENDITION PROVIDED
As part of the expansion, a 19,000-square-foot shelter facility is to be constructed adjacent to the existing building, and all shelter operations will be moved into a larger, state-of-the-art facility, which will more than triple CCAS’s current capacity for both dogs and cats.
See SHELTER, page 13
A d d i t i o n a l e v e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r w i l l i n c l u d e :
“ W a l k , W i g g l e , W a g & R u n ” o n M a r c h 2 2 , “ 4 t h
A n n u a l O n l i n e A u c t i o n ” f r o m A u g 1 8 t h r o u g h 2 2 ,
“ 6 t h A n n u a l B l e s s i n g o f t h e P e t s ” o n O c t 5 , a n d t h e
“ 9 t h A n n u a l G o l f C l a s s i c ” o n N o v 8
M c C a u l e y s a i d a d o p t i n g a d o g o r c a t i s a s p e c i a l
e x p e r i e n c e , a n d f o r t h o s e l o o k i n g t o a d d a n e w m e m b e r
t o t h e f a m i l y , r e d u c i n g a n a n i m a l f r o m a s h e l t e r h e l p s t o
a l l e v i a t e a g r o w i n g i s s u e
“ T h e r e a r e s o m a n y u n w a n t e d a n i m a l s i n s h e l t e r s , ” s h e s a i d “ P e o p l e t h i n k t h e r e m u s t b e s o m e t h i n g w r o n g w i t h t h e m i f t h e y ’ r e i n a s h e l t e r . T h a t ’ s n o t t h e c a s e a t
Upcoming Events
“PJ’s & Paws” party, Feb. 2 1
The pajama party will feature 15 l l “celebrities” or “representatives” of local businesses who will dress in their finest pajamas and spend the night with the animals of CCAS to hel raise awareness and donations that wi benefit animals in need
Each celebrity is working toward a g of raising $2,000 to benefit shelter animals The goal is to raise $30,000 from this event
Additional events throughout the year include:
∫ “Walk, Wiggle, Wag & Run” on March 22
∫ "4th Annual Online Auction” from Aug. 18 through 22
∫ “6th Annual Blessing of the Pets," Oct 5,
∫ “9th Annual Golf Classic," Nov 8
Donations always welcome
For more information about CCAS, its events, to become a volunteer, to inquire about its veterinary services, or to adopt, visit www capecoralanimalshelter com
a l l W e h a v e t h e m o s t w o n d e r f u l d o g s a n d c a t s y o u ' l l f i n d a n y w h e r e T h e y h a v e g r e a t p e r s o n a l i t i e s W e h a v e g o t t e n t o k n o w t h e m r e a l l y w e l l , s o w h e n y o u c o m e i n , w e c a n g i v e y o u a g o o d i d e a o f w h a t a n i m a l c a n s u i t y o u r l i f e s t y l e W e h e l p p l a c e t h e r i g h t a n i m a l s i n t h e r i g h t h o m e s ” M c C a u l e y s a i d F l o r i d a i s t h e f o u r t h - w o r s t s t a t e f o r a n i m a l s b e i n g e u t h a
C C A S r e c e i v e s n o f e d e r a l f u n d i n g , n o r i s i t p a r t o f a n y n a t i o n a l h u m a n e o r g a n i z a t i o n I t r e l i e s s o l e l y o n c o n t r i b u t i o n s f r o m p a r t n e r s , d o n o r s , a n d s p o n s o r s M c C a u l e y s a i d C C A S h a s d o n e a p r o f i c i e n t j o b i n e n s u r i n g d o n a t i o n s g o d i r e c t l y t o w a r d s b e t t e r c a r e f o r i t s a n i m a l s . “ I c a n s a y f o r t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s , w e h a v e r u n a
e m a j o r i t y o f t h e m o n e y w e r a i s e , w i t
C o m m u n i t y C a t s A l l c a t s m u s t b e i n t r a p s a n d w i l l r e c e i v e a r a b i e s v a c
Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place again proves to be popular one-stop-shop for art lovers
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Cape Coral Parkway was transformed into an arts paradise this past weekend, as one of the largest events in Southwest Florida returned featuring 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, took over the parkway this past Saturday and Sunday for its 40th year
The free event saw countless exhibitors showing off their style, chatting with attendees about their process, and discussing the meaning behind their works, which were, of course, for sale
New this year was the addition of a boat/outdoor expo show, which had its own section at the festival This year featured more than 300 exhibitors, as well as a new “Premier Artist Area ”
“Overall, it was a great turnout,” said Vanessa Chaviano, Rotary Club member and public relations specialist for the event “We got great feedback with the outdoor expo And it was nice to have those artists recognized in the premier area ”
Amy and Bill McMullen of “The Vinyl Image” were vendors at the event, traveling from Spring Hills, Florida They create custom artwork from old vinyl LP records
“We have been doing this for about 10 years, but this is our first time at the Cape Coral Art Festival,” Bill said. “We are originally from Buffalo, New York, and moved to Florida about four years ago We do the craft circuit all year long, so this is a full-time business ”
So, how do they create what they create?
“We actually don’t use a laser to cut the vinyl, that’s a big misconception,” Bill said “If you use a laser on vinyl records, they have a very dangerous vinyl chloride gas in them We actually use water We use a water jet It’s a lot safer, it’s a lot cleaner Our neighbors aren’t going to complain about the smoke And it’s a lot healthier ”
Their impressions of the festival, especially being their first time?
“It is a very nice festival and very well organized,” Bill said, adding that he looked forward to walking
around when given the chance to Charles Lobosco and Eva Lewandowski were attendees of the event, enjoying the day and taking in the myriad of artworks and artists proudly displaying their pieces
“It got us out today, and it seems like it got everybody out today,” Lobosco said of the number of people at the event
Lewandowski added, “It’s really big The booths are great There’s a lot of good stuff ”
Lobosco seconded Lewandowski's sentiments “It’s really big It’s a lot bigger than I thought ”
Being first-time attendees, the pair were taken aback with the amount of vendors and things to see
“There’s a lot of good talent here,” Lobosco said “And a lot of us are here to walk around -- and we will walk around, (but) miss out on some of the talent that’s here ”
Lobosco picked up a bag of cinnamon licorice, while Lewandowski showed off a Beatles ornament
“We got, and this shows our age, (a Beatles) ornament,” she said “It’s kind of cool ”
Don and Carol Mayne are festival veterans, having turned up for the event for roughly 15 years
“We like the quality of the artists here, and we like the fact that we can freely walk down Cape Coral Parkway,” Don said
Their most memorable purchases?
For Don, it was an irrigation system to water the yard And for Carol, “I’ve gotten purses, some artwork and jewelry And it’s close to my birthday, so I come and spend my birthday here ”
From paintings, to sculptures made of an array of materials, to photography, jewelry, furniture and more, the Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place is a onestop-shop for art lovers
See ART FESTIVAL, page 38
Above, the Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place attracted thousands of shoppers to the booths lining Cape Coral Parkway over the weekend
MARK CLIFFORD
County operations adjust schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday
Most Lee County administrative operations will be closed Monday, Jan 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day The county’s holiday schedule adjustments are as follows:
Solid Waste
■ There will be no change to collection schedules on Monday, Jan 20
■ The Resource Recovery Facility on Buckingham Road will be open regular hours 6 a m to 6 p m
■ Lee County Solid Waste offices and the Household Chemical Waste Collection Facility, 6441 Topaz Court, are closed Jan 20
■ The Lee-Hendry Landfill, LaBelle Transfer Station and Clewiston Transfer Station will be open normal hours, 7 a m to 4 p m , on Jan 20
Community Development
■ All Lee County Community Development lobbies and phones will be closed Monday, Jan 20, and will reopen for regular hours on Jan 21
Parks & Recreation
■ Swimming pools, recreation centers and administrative offices are closed Jan 20 and will reopen Tuesday, Jan 21 Lee County Parks & Recreation beaches, parks, preserves and boat ramps are open on the holiday Lee County Utilities
■ The Call Center and the drive-thru window at 7391 College Parkway are closed Jan 20
■ A drop-box is on-site at the front door and another accessible via the drive-thru for payments by check
■ Payments can be made at any time at myutilities leegov com or 1-855-895-6939
Libraries
■ All library locations will be closed Monday, Jan 20 Each branch will resume regular operating hours Tuesday, Jan 21 The library always is available online at www leelibrary net
■ The Captiva Memorial Library, 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva, and The Johann Fust Community Library, 1040 West 10th St , Boca Grande, remain closed due to Hurricane Milton impacts
Domestic Animal Services
■ Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, will be closed Monday, Jan 20, and will resume regular business hours Tuesday, Jan 21
LeeTran
■ There will be no change to LeeTran’s bus, trolley, tram, paratransit or ULTRA on-demand services on the holiday Route schedules and maps are available at www rideleetran com
City offices closed Monday
Cape Coral City Hall will be closed Monday, Jan 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day City offices will reopen on Tuesday, Jan 21, for regular operating hours
Trash collection services will not be affected Parks & Recreation:
■ Parks administrative offices and recreation facilities are closed Monday, Jan 20
■ Eagle Skate Park will be open at noon Monday, Jan 20, and the Bill Austen Youth Center will host a School's Out Day For more information or to register your child, call 239-242-3950 or click here
311 Call Center & Water Account Services:
■ The 311 Call Center and Water Account Services are closed Monday, Jan 20, and will reopen Tuesday, Jan 21 To pay your water bill, visit the city’s website at www capecoral gov and go to “Pay Water Bill ” Checks can be placed in the designated payment drop box at City Hall.
Best South Cape Martini Competition returns
Public decides who wins the coveted honor of best drink and accompanying bite
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
Get your taste buds ready and drinking caps on, as the South Cape’s premiere pub crawl returns for its 19th installment next Saturday This annual event features creative concoctions and good eats at various downtown establishments
A t S o u t h C a p e H o s p i t a l i t y a n d E n t e r t a i n m e n t
Association’s Best South Cape Martini Competition, locals can enjoy a one-of-a-kind martini, as well as an appetizer sample at the Jan 25 event With an interactive component, it’s up to the public to decide which South Cape spot comes up with the most unique and palate-pleasing drink and dish
“SCHEA is incredibly excited about this event as it highlights the vibrant community of South Cape and showcases everything it has to offer,” said spokesperson Shannon Quinn. “From unique dining and entertainment experiences to a sense of connection and celebration, this event is the perfect opportunity for people to come together and support local businesses while enjoying all the charm that South Cape has to offer ”
Limo buses will be provide to take attendees to four designated areas, where they can then walk to multiple establishments Tickets include unlimited rides, a passport to all sampling locations, martini and appetizer samples, a voting ballot and access to win prizes at the official photo booth Attendees who get their passport stamped at each venue will be entered to win a martini gift basket
Quinn said with bragging rights on the line, those who take part embrace the spirit of competition.
“The participating establishments love the friendly competition and get incredibly competitive to claim bragging rights,” she said “They take pride in crafting unique and creative concoctions to stand out They pull out all the stops to impress attendees It’s all in good fun and adds an extra layer of excitement to the event, as each location showcases their talent and creativity to claim the top spot ”
Participating locations and their samples include:
IF YOU GO:
What: Martini Fest
When:
Saturday, Jan 25, check in from 6 to 7:30 p m
Late check-in will take place until 10 p m at Dolphin Key
Where:
Dolphin Key Resort, 1502 Miramar St and at Big John’s Plaza, 1215 Cape Coral Pkwy E
More information: More information can be found by visiting southcapeentertainment com
∫ BackStreets Sports Bar - Chocolate Covered Pretzel
Martini & Pulled Pork Slider
∫ Cruisers - Lemon Blueberry Martini & Raspberry Lemon Torte
∫ The Dive - Sugar Cookie Martini & TBD
∫ Dixie Roadhouse - Watermelon Cucumber Martini
& Caprese Skewers
∫ Hooked Island Grill - TBD
∫ Monkey Bar - TBD
∫ Paradise Pizza - TBD & Pizza
∫ Rack’em Spirits & Times - Pickle Martini & TBD
∫ Ralph’s Place - TBD
∫ Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill - Creme Brulee Martini & TBD
∫ Tiki Bar - TBD
Having been a staple in the South Cape for nearly 20 years, Quinn said this event is a true showcase of what downtown Cape Coral is all about
“This event has been a favorite for 19 years because it’s a great way to experience all that South Cape has to offer,” Quinn said “Every year, the bars step up their game with fun and creative drinks and people love coming back to see what’s new It’s the perfect mix of good times, local spots and friendly competition that keeps everyone coming back for more ”
Festive garb is encouraged and can be rewarded at the official SCHEA photo booth at the South Cape Hub Pictures that are posted publicly on Facebook are entered to win four free tickets to SCHEA’s Cupid's Pub Crawl on Feb 15
Guests can check in from 6 to 7:30 p m under the entry awning of the Dolphin Key Resort (1502 Miramar St.) and at Big John’s Plaza Late check-in will take place until 10 p m at Dolphin Key
This event is 21-plus Valid ID at check-in will be required
Tickets are $25 in advance with designated driver tickets at $20 Tickets are available only on Eventbrite Designated driver tickets include everything the normal ticket does, other than the drink sample, which can be replaced with a non-alcoholic beverage Day-of tickets are $30, if available
More information can be found by visiting southcapeentertainment.com.
Valerie’s House a caring resource to kids in grief
More than 1,000 children, parents, helped by ‘meeting them exactly where they are ’ after losing loved one
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Valerie’s House had a banner year last year, as they opened their family’s forever home in Fort Myers and helped 1,000 children and parents by meeting them exactly where they were in their grief.
Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin said that was one of her dreams from day one to always have a place to call home She said it was incredible to be able to have and build their own home the way they knew it to look and feel, debt free for the community and families
Saturday, Jan 11, was exactly nine years since Melvin started the first Valerie’s House group with 20 children in downtown Fort Myers, which has now grown to assisting more than a 1,000 youths a year
“The City of Fort Myers granted us this land in 2019 Then we went into COVID We were on hold with the project,” she said, adding that they got it going again in 2022 and the home was completed at the end of 2023 “We got in there in January 2024 It has really expanded the possibilities from what I could have imagined ”
The home, an 8,000-square-foot gathering spot, has allowed Valerie’s House to spread its wings, while meeting children and families where they are with their grief There is an assortment of rooms dedicated to helping with grief including a workout anger room, room focused on art, and meditation and breathing
With the house enabling them to reach a thousand lives that would not necessarily have an outlet, or a place to go to learn how to move forward in life after a tragic loss of a family member, is tremendous in helping with the grieving process Melvin said these youths are growing up to be “regular kids “ in the wake of a catastrophic tragedy in their family
“Valerie’s House becomes their family,” she said The new dedicated space enabled them to expand their age groups Melvin said they were able to spread their f o c u s t o p r e
“We did a camp last year for the first time We added a new full-time therapist because we have space now with counseling rooms,” Melvin said
Valerie’s House had growth in the schools as well She said they continue to be a resource for the Lee County schools, as they go to the schools and meet with the children on campuses if needed They work with 15 to 20 schools a year from elementary to high school, which includes charter schools and private schools
Valerie’s House also was able to provide $25,000 in college scholarships in 2024, something they hope to continue this year and in the coming years
Another special memory of 2024 was Valerie’s House first Sunset Soiree, which raised more than $600,000 in one night More than 300 people attended the event held at the new home Families shared their stories, as did donors
“It was a beautiful night A cold night We will be doing that again because we had such a great response It was an impactful evening To be able to host it where your services are provided and walk through the house and see and know where the support is going that is a huge night,” Melvin said
The second annual Sunset Soiree is scheduled for Thursday, Nov 20
“We do one event a year Come out and sponsor a table, buy a ticket, and see Valerie’s House in person and see how to help Valerie’s House for generations to come,” Melvin said
With a successful year behind them, the focus is now on 2025
Training as many first responders as possible the first responders in a child’s life from pediatricians, law enforcement to teachers so they know how to best help a child with loss, is a top priority
There were also several new initiatives in 2024 that revolved around mental health and counseling retreats where families were invited in for the weekend to spend time together
“We want to change the conversation around grief in our community,” Melvin said “The new house, and all the attention around the house has given us a platform to do that People are excited about Valerie’s House The com-
See VALERIE’S HOUSE, Page 17
PHOTO PROVIDED
Melvin at Valerie’s House’s first Sunset Soiree fundraiser
NFMHS’s ‘Pippin’ to hit the stage Jan. 31
By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com
North Fort Myers High School has always staged the very best musicals and occasional opera, from the classics to the modern variety
The school’s theater department will do so once again when it raises the curtain on the musical “Pippin,” to be performed on Friday, Jan 31, and Saturday, Feb 1, at 7 p m and Sunday, Feb 2, at 2 p m
Janelle Laux, theater director for the North Fort Myers High School Center for the Arts, said she liked the circus aspect of the musical, similar to “Barnum,” which they did a few years ago
“‘Pippin’ seemed like the next logical step It has a lot of lead roles for strong performers and a phenomenal senior class this year,” Laux said “They can showcase their
talent their senior year, so this is a great show for us ”
“Pippin” is a circus-inspired production, which features an acrobatic troupe of performers, led by the charismatic Leading Player
The ensemble cast tells the story of Pippin, a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charles, and his stunning new wife Fastrada, Pippin goes to war alongside his dimwitted stepbrother Lewis
But when the Leading Player convinces the prince to fight tyranny, Pippin kills Charles and takes over the throne. Thanks to his cunning grandmother Berthe, Pippin realizes his mistake and begs the Leading Player to bring his father back to life
The prince falls in love with Catherine,
a widow with a young son, Theo, 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
Tyler Scott, who plays Pippin, said he was excited to get the lead role, something he has been shooting for since entering high school
“I was over the moon when I got selected I am so grateful,” the senior said “Pippin is down to earth and trying to figure out who he is He believes there’s something bigger out there He discovers throughout his arc that just settling down with this girl is OK with him ”
The Leading Player is played by Mia Zottolo She said Pippin is a show within a show as she is narrating She said the char-
acter is a manipulator to every character on stage “It’s great to be with all my friends my senior year because we have such amazing parts We’re all super close and I’m excited to spend it with them,” Zottolo said “I get to explore different ways to play this character She’s the villain because she forces him to do something he doesn’t want and eventually, she just gives up ”
https://northfortmyerstheatre ticketleap co m/pippin/ or with cash at the door Seats range from $5 to $20 and are assigned The lobby opens one hour before the curtain, and the house opens 30 minutes before the curtain
Valerie’s House: Resource home privately funded; donations always welcome
From page 16
munity continues to support us ”
Valerie’s House is 99% privately funded. There is one small grant that comes from Lee County that makes up 5% of the budget
“We have a lot of support a lot of people that have found us through our social media channels,” Melvin said “We are trying to tell the stories through different communication platforms of who the people are behind Valerie’s House ”
In Southwest Florida, between Charlotte and Collier County, there are about 35,000 children that have lost a parent or sibling, she said
“Our work will never end,” Melvin said They will continue to work alongside Florida Gulf
Coast University with mental health counseling and social work to train the next generation and hire them and teach them the Valerie’s House way
“It’s not something they are going to learn We have a process and approach that is very unique to Valerie’s House and proved and measured It is focused on peer-topeer and friend-to-friend and giving the kids a voice,” Melvin said
Valerie’s House is growing its governing board of directors this year, with its newest member, city of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson, who lost his mom when he was 4
“We are continuing to reach and find influential members of the community who believe in the mission and
want to help us,” Melvin said
In addition, Valerie’s House is growing its footprint in other regions of Florida They now have locations in Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Naples, and Pensacola Valerie’s House Pensacola will become its own 501c3, a new
poration
“We are looking at documents and what that is going to look like,” Melvin said, adding that they are looking into how communities that want Valerie’s House in their region can run one, as well
The new Forever Home is at 3551 Shoemaker Lane (Valerie’s House Way) in Fort Myers
For more information about Valerie’s House, visit www valeriehouse org
COMMUNITY
Blue pea vine is a stunning addition to your edible garden
(Editor’s note: This article was published previously in The Breeze )
By DEBORAH HAGGETT news@breezenewspapers com
If you’re looking for color in your edible garden, consider the blue pea vine This perennial, climbing vine also known as the butterfly pea vine or technically, Clitoria turnatea, climbs 10 to 15 feet tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet wide It features gorgeous, deep blue flowers with yellow and white centers which bloom through the summer and into the fall Its deep green deciduous leaves are elliptically shaped and its fruits are narrow, thin pods containing about 10 seeds The leaves, flowers and tender pods are all edible by humans and also favored by birds, bees and butterflies, especially Skipper butterflies
Dried blue pea flowers make a stunning blue tea
GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL
s e r v e d f o r i t s d r a m a t i c color and health benefits. All parts of the plant have been used medicinally as an antibacterial, antioxid a n t a n d t o i m p r o v e insulin levels Blue pea flowers are also collected by food and cosmetic manufactures for its use as a natural colorant It has been found to hold its bright color during storage and processing making it a practical and healthy alternative to synthetic coloring additives
Although not native to Florida, the rapid growing blue pea vine thrives in Zones 10 and 11. It prefers wet conditions in well-drained soil, but will tolerate drought To encourage blooming, it requires 6 to 8 hours of sun blue pea vine grows well in containers and as a hanging plant, however, its climbing habit requires a support system such as a trellis or nearby plant for its twining shoots Once established, this beautiful plant needs little attention Occasional watering during the dry season and pinching back the tips just above a set of leaf nodes will keep your blue pea vine green and flourishing into a thick, full form
Blue pea vine is propagated by seeds and cuttings If planting from seed, be sure to soak the seeds overnight first. Seeds from the pod are known to germinate well. Keep the soil moist as seedlings develop Cuttings can be rooted in water or in a moist medium of vermiculite or sandy soil
As a legume and member of the pea family, blue pea vine has the added beneficial quality of nitrogen fixing Nitrogen fixing plants remove atmospheric deposited nitrogen from the soil with the help of rhizobium bacteria Rhizobium bacteria are one of many beneficial organisms found in healthy, rich, organic soil They are known as critical microbial members of the soil food web, a web of living organisms responsible for soil health
There is a symbiotic relationship between nitrogen fixing plants and rhizobium bacteria Carbohydrates and sugar are released by the plant from their roots feeding the rhizobium bacteria In return, the bacteria convert atmospheric deposited nitrogen into a usable form for feeding the plant This process has many beneficial ripple effects Not only does it feed the plants with nitrogen, reducing the need for applied nitrogen, it also reduces the amount of nitrogen in stormwater run-off, helping to protect water quality Additionally, healthy soil has the capacity to hold water longer, slowing the flow of stormwater run-off Consequently, this process gives plants and the soil food web time to filter out nutrients before they flow into our waterways and feed algal blooms
See BLUE PEA VINE, page 38
Tickets for Gulf Coast Symphony’s 30th anniversary event now on sale
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The universal language of music continues to be the driving force for one organization that has been part of Southwest Florida for three decades
“We have a lot to be grateful for and thankful for,” Gulf Coast Symphony Music Director and CEO Dr. Andrew Kurtz said, adding they are looking forward to the future, expanding and having a bigger impact
The 30th anniversary started in July with the bulk of their season starting now with five to six nights of music
To commemorate Gulf Coast Symphony’s 30th anniversary, “All that Jazz” will be held at 5 p m Saturday, March 1, at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa Tickets are $300 per person The night will include a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions, as well as performances by the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective and the symphony’s High School Jazz Ensemble
Gulf Coast Symphony began 30 years ago as a very small community orchestra after Kurtz initially donated the first couple thousand dollars to get the ball rolling The orchestra went from a handful of concerts a year to one that touches the community in a vast array of outlets
“It’s quite a lot We really expanded in the past five years between the 25th and 30th We really almost doubled our size in terms of budget and impact now,” he said
The Gulf Coast Symphony now operates the Music & Arts Community Center, Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, Southwest Florida Theater Company, Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, educational programs and daily after school string programs for second to seventh grade students
“We have 150 days of performance every year with all the different ensembles,” he said “Our reach has gone from 30,000-40,000 to over 100,000 people a year ”
Now in their 30th year, Kurtz said they are excited about the future and what they are doing
“We are hoping to do more for the community and with the community in terms of partnerships, education and outreach programs and continue to grow the diversity for music offerings,” he said “We really believe we are playing the music people love to hear We really believe we have something for everyone over the course of the year for the programming ”
More information: For more information visit gulfcoastsymphony org
“Our mission is to create community through music Our mission is not to do concerts, but bring people together for music as a core of those interactions,” Kurtz said adding that music is a universal language “It breaks down language barriers We really do a huge variety of music and different types of concerts throughout the year We keep on experimenting to see what the community needs.”
Gulf Coast Symphony is an organization that is not afraid to try something new
“We hope people will come and check out what we are doing and see if there is something they might like and get involved with us,” Kurtz said
For a complete list of concerts, visit gulfcoastsymphony org
“Part of what we are trying to do with our concerts this year is reflect back on all the things that have made us who we are and make sure that variety is reflective as well,” Kurtz said
Sun Splash Family Waterpark to hold Job Fair
Sun Splash Family Waterpark is now hiring for the 2025 summer season with a Job Fair scheduled to take place at the park on Saturday, Jan 25, from noon to 4 p m
Sun Splash is seeking enthusiastic individuals to help make the 2025 season extraordinary and be a part of creating unforgettable experiences at the park The park features a variety of slides and attractions for all ages in addition to the new Paradise Cove Wave Pool, debuting this summer
Sun Splash offers a diverse range of job opportunities for applicants aged 15 and older, great for students, teachers, parents, seniors and persons looking for seasonal employment
Available positions include junior ambassadors, slide attendants, lifeguards, EMTs, front gate, food & beverage, gift shop, cabana attendants, leadership positions and park
services and maintenance
November Job perks include complimentary park tickets, a flexible schedule, college scholarship opportunities and more No prior experience is necessary for most positions as in-park training and lifeguard certification is done by the park
Prospective employees can also apply now online at https://bit ly/SunSplash Employment Online applicants do not need to attend the Job Fair
Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest water park with slides, pools, flumes, food and fun for all ages It is located at 500 W Lake Kennedy Drive, just 2 5 miles north of Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral For more, please visit https://SunSplashWaterpark com Also, follow Sun Splash on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok
South Cape BEST Martini Competition Walking Pub Crawl Jan. 25
The South Cape BEST Martini Competition Walking Pub Crawl will be held Saturday, Jan 25, from 7-11 p m Participating locations will be competing for Best Martini and Best Appetizer Attendees will be voting for their favorites at the end of the night!
This is a 21+ event Valid ID at check-in will be required, per ticket
Limo buses will provide the transportation to four strategic locations, making it convenient to hop between nearby participating establishment on foot.
Tickets, available via Eventbrite, are only $25 in advance ($20 for designated drivers) Early check-in is from 6-7:30 p m at Big John's Plaza or Dolphin Key Resort Late check-in at Dolphin Key Resort from 7:30-10 p m
Participating locations include BackStreets Sports Bar, Cruisers, The Dive, Dixie Roadhouse, Hooked Island Grill, Paradise Pizza, Monkey Bar Steak & Seafood, Rack'em Spirits & Times, Ralph's Place, Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill and Tiki Hut Bar
Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place
Cape Coral Parkway was transformed into an arts paradise this past weekend, as one of the largest events in Southwest Florida returned featuring hundreds of artists, artisans and vendors taking part
The free event saw countless exhibitors showing off their style, chatting with attendees about their process, and discussing the meaning behind their works, which were, of course, for sale./PHOTOS BY MARK CLIFFORD
Shoppers check out some of the booths at the Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place over the weekend.
EDUCATION
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Drug House Odyssey set for Jan. 28-30 at Lee Civic Center
Jonathan Engh, chairman of the board of the Lee County Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, has announced that Drug House Odyssey – A Lee County Prevention Event, will begin Tuesday, Jan 28, at the Lee County Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, in North Fort Myers
Sponsored by the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, the event is held on Jan 28, 29 and 30 for Lee County fifth grade classes by reservation
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to offer this event for Lee County families, and we invite a community conversation on the importance of making good choices," Engh said
Since 1994, Drug House Odyssey, a 40-minute walk-through play, has been used in Lee County households as a means to discuss the importance of teens making good choices about alcohol and drugs. The play begins with a party scene and follows a group of friends through a drunk driving arrest, a courtroom, an accident and the emergency room
P
Sheriff’s Office, the Cape Coral Police Department, Lee Health, Lee County EMS, Bayshore and North Fort Myers Fire Departments, the Lee County Civic Center, Circuit 20 State’s Attorney’s Office, Lee County School
D
Department of Health in Lee County, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Hanley Center and Crimestoppers SWFL
Nor thorp graduates from Geor gia Southwester n State University
AMERICUS, Ga -- Barron Northorp of Cape Coral graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University
d
y Thursday, Dec 12, in the Convocation Hall of the Student Success Center Northorp earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management
588 students graduated in the ceremony, during which Georgia State Representative Patty Marie Stinson delivered the commencement address
The ceremony was streamed live and recorded on GSW's YouTube channel Photos from the day can be found via links at gsw edu/graduation
Georgia Southwestern State University is a public, four-year unit of the University System of Georgia with approximately 4,000 students Georgia Southwestern offers professional programs of study as well as degrees in the arts, humanities, sciences and graduate programs in business, computer science, education and nursing Visit www gsw edu for more information
SNHU announces Fall 2024 President's List
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students on being named to the Fall 2024 President's List The fall terms run from September to December
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3 700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer
Students from Cape Coral named to the list include Candice Rogers, Patrick Simpson, Izaak Pritchard, Crystal Gattis, Luke Kelly, William Duys, Christopher Pasapera, Angeline Medina, Charles Roaf, Rachael Crockett, Latrece Frazier, Cynthia Parracho, John Rader, Nathaniel Mastroeni and Phillip Brittain
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with a 92-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults Now serving more than 200,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, N H Visit https://degrees snhu edu/
District graduation rate increases, officials stress need for improvement
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Despite a tick upwards, the School District of Lee County’s graduation rate remains ninth among the 10 largest districts in the state
The district rate rose by 7% to 85 8% year over year
Florida’s graduation rate was 89.7% 2023-2024
“Increasing student achievement is one of my top priorities as superintendent and the improvement in graduation rates is testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, school administrators and support staff,” Superinten-dent Dr Denise Carlin said in a prepared statement “At the same time, the graduation rate also demonstrates our continued need to work harder meet and surpass the improvements seen other districts and the state, so we truly are a world class school district I am committed to ensuring we have the teachers and resources we need to improve academic excellence and student achievement ”
trict is celebrating the recent increase because it is a move in the right direction
“Is there room to still grow? Absolutely,” he said. “We know that up against the Big Ten it is not the highest (There is) still lots of room to grow I am incredibly proud of the staff and students for the growth We look forward to improvement year over year ”
The 2022-2023 graduation rate was 85 1%, 20212022 was 82 5%, 2020-2021 was 85 1%, 2019-2020 was 88 5%, 2018-2019 was 83 7% and 2017-2018 was 82 8%
According to the district, the 2019-2020 graduation rate was artificially inflated due to the exemption for seniors from statewide, standardized assessment requirements, which was stipulated by state law due to the COVID pandemic
Among the notable increases were Cypress Lake High School, which increased by 5 6 points to 94 3%; Lehigh Senior High School, which had an increase by 3 6 points to 89 2%; Riverdale High School, which increased by 3 4 points to 97 6%; and Lee Virtual School, which had a graduation rate of 100% for the Class of 2024
The graduation rate for the school district’s 15 high schools and Lee Virtual School, which eliminates charter schools within the district, was 93%
Chief Academic Officer Dr Nathan Shaker said the dis-
District staff is approaching it not only from he graduation rate, but also from the dropout rate “
school in pursuit of graduation,” Shaker said Shaker attributes the bump to preparing students with English Language Arts, as well as seeing great performance and strong increases in math
“An effort by high school teachers and staff epare students in math had a big influence,” he said “They had laser-light focus on increasing the graduation rate ”
Shaker said the opportunities for high school students also increased the graduation rate, as the district has a great group of college and career specialists and counselors who work with each student
“They find out what individual students need that were at risk for dropping out and helping them with those individual needs and achieving that goal of staying in school,” Shaker said
The effort also includes high school teachers who prepared students
The Lee County dropout rate is fourth overall with a 1 8% rate, compared to last year’s rate of 2 4% Some of the other districts ranged from 2 2% to 4 4%, Shaker said The goal of this year and next for increasing the graduation rate is through ELA performance and reading proficiency
The district is increasing training for high school administration and school staff The training will be for understanding the challenges in front of students, reading based training on programs teaching students, as well as skills to prepare for ACT, SAT and reading proficiency.
School District to hold first in series of Town Hall meetings at Cape High Thursday
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The School District of Lee County has announced it will hold a series of Town Hall meetings, with the first one Thursday, Jan 23, at Cape Coral High School School Board Chair Sam Fisher said as a board they talked about how they could get out into the community and have open dialogue He said once Superintendent Dr Denise Carlin came on board, they decided to hold town halls in locations unique, or important to each board member
“I wanted to look at somewhere fairly centrally located and an important school for people to go to,” Fisher said, adding that he also wanted to find a location that would best accommodate people from all different parts of District 1
The first town hall Thursday, Jan 23, will include Fisher, Board Vice Chair Jada Langford-Fleming and Carlin.
“I ran for superintendent on the promise I would empower parents to be partners in their child’s education,” Carlin said in a prepared statement “I encourage as many families as possible to attend at least one of the Town Hall meetings Working together is the only way we can truly achieve the educational outcomes I want for our students and parents want for their children ”
Fisher said he and Langford-Fleming will offer a few words, and Carlin will speak about the district’s priorities,
“I really want the community’s feedback –teachers, community members. I want to hear from the community – insight of things they want us to look into. That’s why I go out to schools, events, emails and meetings We want to know what is going on and want to know the feedback ”
School Board Chair Sam Fisher
followed by a question-and-answer portion
“Feedback is vital,” he said “I really want the community’s feedback – teachers, community members I want to hear from the community – insight of things they want us to look into That’s why I go out to schools, events, emails and meetings We want to know what is going on and want to know the feedback ” Fisher said they can put policy out there, and the superintendent can make administrative changes, but the true impact of those comes from feedback from the community
An email will be sent to parents prior to each meeting to notify them of the day, time and place of the meetings. It will also offer an opportunity for them to submit questions in advance, which may be included in the town hall meetings
Electic cooperative marks 85 years of service
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com
A milestone anniversary is being celebrated this year for the entity that keeps the lights on around Southwest Florida
Lee County Electric Cooperative is marking 85 years serving the region in 2025, as articles of incorporation were signed on Jan 20 of 1940
From a small power plant in North Fort Myers with just 15 miles of power lines and 158 members, to now serving 240,000 customers across six counties, LCEC has had a frontrow seat to the growth in the region while playing a major role in utility service
“I don't know that there’s that many businesses in our area that have been around (for as long as we have),” said LCEC Public Relations Director Karen Ryan “It’s really heartwarming to have served the community for as long as we have I think all of our employees take great pride in it ”
Ryan said the business model of a cooperative, being owned and run by its members, is what has allowed LCEC to have an 85-year footprint
“We’re not in business to make money,” she said “We’re only in business to serve our members That’s what makes the anniversary so special There was a need in Southwest Florida in areas that no other utility wanted to serve, and the people there formed the co-op, and that’s what really energized the community It is very meaningful ”
The event leading to LCEC’s inception actually dates back to May 11, 1935, when President Franklin D Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration, making $100 million available for loans to groups that would join to form electric cooperatives.
In 1937, orange Ggove owner George Judd ran a small power plant (think the size of a garage) for his farm in North Fort Myers He started an investor owned utility with 50 shares of stock valued at $100 each
However, Judd did not want to be in the utility business In 1940, he asked plant manager Homer T Welch to look into forming an electric cooperative While Welch was organizing the incorporation of LCEC, which entailed negotiating with government officials in Washington and facilitating a loan for $150,000 from the Rural Electric Administration, he also ran the generation plant and helped to build and maintain the
power lines Welch went door-to-door in North Fort Myers to gain enough members to form a co-op
“In order to become a cooperative, you had to have so many members,” Ryan said “Welch went to homes and said, ‘Hey, there’s this thing called electricity Are you interested? Would you like to be a member?’”
Oftentimes, Welch paid the $5 membership fee out of his own pocket because residents did not have it
Within its first year of operation, LCEC offered service to Pine Island, Sanibel and Captiva In 1941, LCEC retired the Mariana Grove generating plant in North Fort Myers and signed a contract with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to purchase power for members at a wholesale rate
World War II prevented further expansion, but following the war, LCEC purchased the surplus transmission line running from the Buckingham Air Force Base to Halfway Pond
Ryan said it was a strange and interesting circumstance as to how LCEC’s expansion progressed
“We started in North Fort Myers, but then we expanded to Pine Island and then Sanibel,” she said “Now, even today, that's quite a distance between all of those areas. But back then, it really was a big distance There were dirt roads and there
were no bridges. You had to take a ferry. But (we expanded there) because those were the rural areas that no other utility wanted to serve The people of LCEC at that time, they just looked for areas where people needed electricity, and that’s where they would go ”
By 1951, service had been extended as far south as Chokoloskee Island In 1953, LCEC acquired the Everglades City Power Plant from Collier County, and then retired the plant when a new distribution line was built to serve the city In the same period, a new line was extended from Carnestown to serve Marco Island
In 1955, members from Lehigh Acres began purchasing power from LCEC In 1958, power was connected to the first six model homes in Cape Coral.
LCEC got its start in Cape Coral when Welch and Gulf Guaranty Land & Title Company President Leonard Rosen shook hands in 1957
The handshake symbolized a promise between Welch and Rosen Welch agreed to return Rosen’s $3,000 deposit for the cost to run electricity eight miles down Del Prado Boulevard, after Rosen had 24 homes built and hooked up to LCEC’s electric service
Rosen got his money back in less than a year, and the first resident of Cape Coral, Kenneth Schwartz, was living in his brand new home in June of 1958 at the corner of Cape Coral Parkway and Coronado Parkway
“There were 17 lamp posts down Del Prado Boulevard, and I used to patrol them and let the cooperative know when a bulb burned out,” Schwartz said at an LCEC 60th Anniversary event
Service was then extended to the Yacht Club area At the time, waterfront property was selling for less than $2,000 a lot with terms of $20 down, and $20 a month
LCEC continued to branch out across Southwest Florida, providing power to Golden Gate in 1986, lighting up Alligator Alley in 1987, and most recently, powering Ave Maria in 2005
Today, LCEC has over 8,000 miles of line strewn out across the region, with 26 substations throughout the six counties it serves
“LCEC has expanded exponentially since that first year of
See LCEC, page 25
LCEC: Cape’s provider
From page 24
incorporation,” Ryan said “And what we focus on; our engineering department has a ten-year plan They have models that they run They utilize technology They determine what the capacity will be like They use data from economic development and what the trends are now talking to developers They incorporate that into our construction plan ”
For example, a brand new LCEC substation opened for operation in April of 2024 in Cape Coral, which officials said provides a boost for the increasing energy demands of a rapidly-growing city
LCEC CEO Denise Vidal, at the opening of the substation, said “The Kismet substation, like other LCEC grid-hardening projects, is built with state-of-the-art technology and robust planning and design to serve as part of the resilient LCEC electric grid ”
Ryan said in 2025, LCEC will expand on the Kismet substation as part of its 10-year plan
Ryan said electricity can be “quirky” in the way that it has to be provided before growth can truly begin
“For example, developments in Cape Coral You have to build that infrastructure before the development can even begin,” Ryan said “You have to stay ahead of the game The other thing that’s quirky about electricity is, it’s one of the few commodities that you don’t charge people until after they use it ”
Of course, operating in Southwest Florida comes with the possibilities of hurricanes that can cause major power-outages
In 1960, Hurricane Donna ravaged the LCEC service area In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit, and 25,000 LCEC customers had loss of power, which was restored in three days Hurricane Charlie in 2004 also impacted LCEC’s service area And, of course, the most recent hurricanes in Irma, Ian, and Milton
“The biggest challenge of recent times have been hurricanes,” Ryan said “We’ve had it pretty rough over the last few years But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that every time there is a situation like that, it’s an opportunity for us to learn Every storm I feel that we get better. And we cultivate relationships that help us for the next storm There was a big difference between Milton and Hurricane Ian, just because of the things we learned and relationships we were able to make "
When it comes to hurricanes, for residents and LCEC alike,
storm surge is a primary factor when it comes to damage and restoration of power
“Every storm is different, but storm surge is a whole different ball game,” Ryan said “And that’s what we had with Ian and even with Milton, too With Charlie and Wilma, we really didn’t have that as much, so it wasn’t as catastrophic to the electric system We also didn’t have as much underground utilities We have more underground utilities now, and with the storm surge, that just wreaks havoc on the facilities and it takes much longer to restore it ”
Ryan said for Hurricane Milton, there were 2,000 mutual aid workers that came in to help from all over the United States LCEC set up a base camp for the lineman where they could sleep and shower in trailers, and provided food.
Ryan added LCEC has powered through other trying times, such as war and economic downturn
“During the recession, people were leaving their homes and not paying their electric bills,” Ryan said LCEC has also played a shining role throughout the communities it serves not just via illumination, but by giving back
“One of our core principals is ‘concern for community,’” Ryan said “All of our employees live, work and play here It’s important for us to give back We do that in many different ways We’re one of the largest contributors to United Way And it's not just LCEC doing it, it’s employees digging into their pocket making donations We also hold events and fundraisers
“We also give a lot of our elbow grease We have environmental awards which are funding awards that help not-forprofit agencies that are doing good for the environment within our community ”
LCEC also has volunteer programs For example, its “Power of Us” program sees each of LCEC’s 450 employees be able to take a work day volunteering and giving back.
The “Pay if Forward” program is for LCEC employees that volunteer and give back on their own time they track their hours and when they reach 50 hours, LCEC will donate $50 to the charity of that employee’s choice up to $100
There’s also the LCEC “500 club,” where employees that volunteer 500 hours of their time are recognized and put into a drawing, where $500 is given to a charity
“And every year, the person that wins, they divide the money between all of the 500 Club members,” Ryan said “It’s really pretty cool
“Everywhere you go in the community, you’ll find LCEC volunteers Either working through chambers, or giving back to schools, churches, Little Leagues. The list goes on. It’s part of the mission and vision we were founded on 85 years ago ”
Over its 85 years, LCEC has seen just five CEOs, which Ryan said really speaks to the kind of company that they are, where leadership stays and is committed
“We have a few employees right now that have worked for all five CEOs,” Ryan, who has been with LCEC for 28 years, said “We have a great mix of company veterans and new employees And we have multi-generational employees We have lineman where their dad and grandfather were lineman ”
LCEC headquarters are in North Fort Myers, the same location where the cooperative originated in 1940 Approximately 450 skilled employees are positioned throughout the six-county service territory, including Immokalee, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Sanibel/Captiva, Pine Island, Ussepa, Cabbage Key, Marco Island, Everglades City, Ave Maria, and parts of Lehigh Acres
For more information on LCEC, visit www lcec net
South Cape to get dedicated code enforcement officer
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency and the city of Cape Coral entered into an interlocal agreement Wednesday to provide for one additional code enforcement officer to patrol and cover the CRA
Cape Coral City Council sits as the CRA governing commission
The agreement came about after City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn, who acts as the CRA’s executive director, was asked to improve the esthetics in the CRA last year
“We went about that in a couple different manners landscaping improvements,
adding beautification projects, hired a contractor on the mowing program to cut the exclusion zones around the poles,” he said
The ability to hire a code enforcement officer to get business owners to do their part was brought forward with a dedicated position out of the CRA office The code enforcement team did interviews but all the applicants turned the CRA down, citing benefits
“The employees were looking for fulltime benefits as opposed to be a contractual employee in the CRA,” he said, which did not provide pension benefits.
The city attorney was brought in to see if there was a way for the city to hire the employee and CRA to provide a financial mechanism to the city
“They are city employees, and we have them assigned to the CRA,” Ilczyszyn said
“The city would hire the code enforcement officer, (they would) work 40 hours a week doing the same job That would clear any of the benefit levels ” He said with the code enforcement officer being a part of the city, they are required to be in the defined benefit plan, which is a small increase to them
“It’s nothing worth abandoning Our goal is having the businesses help us clean up southwest Cape,” Ilczyszyn said.
An experienced code enforcement officer is ready to fill the position The responsibility is to look after a three-square mile CRA area to provide enhanced services If the officer
takes time off, it will be back filled with another code enforcement officer to fulfil the 40 hours a week obligation
Ilczyszyn said he will immediately begin working with the code enforcement officer with education right out of the gate for things they would like to see immediately cleaned
“We can immediately send out flyers and do some direct hits to businesses,” he said to let them know the CRA has a code enforcement officer, and they would like quick things to be addressed because in 30 to 60 days the officer will put them on notice for the violations
The grounds will be initially addressed, followed by the buildings and facilities
CRA awards contract for South Cape median curbing
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Bateman Contracting, LLP was awarded the bid for the construction of Palm Tree Median Curbing during the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency’s Wednesday meeting which also included a budget amendment for the 2025 fiscal year
Cape Coral City Council sits as the CRA governing commission
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn, who acts as the CRA’s executive director, said a few years back the engineering design standards for local roads, known as the Florida Green book, changed the design standards for local roadway improvements
About three years ago, those design standards required any median greater than 20 feet of distance on roadways over 35 mph to be curbed.
“It was a big hit to the City of Cape Coral
All of our medians basically have a 20-foot median and most of our divided roadways are greater than 35 mph What that meant is a whole scale change on how we can fund and perform median enhancements throughout the city,” Ilczyszyn said “It basically doubled, and some cases tripled what it required to do one linear mile of improvements ”
An attorney was hired to see if there was another way to challenge the design standards, as well as hire a planner and traffic engineer to review options Ilczyszyn said all the conclusions came back that it is required and a standard in the state, and if they did not want to implement the standard they did not have to
However, as soon as someone got into a traffic crash, there would be a law firm asking the city to open its checkbook for the damages, Ilczyszyn said personal and property
“Because of that we moved forward at adopting the new standards,” he said Budget amendment
With any CRA budget any additional revenue that comes in has to be immediately placed and assigned to a project in the CRA Nicole Reitler, budget administrator for the city, said Wednesday’s resolution was the first budget amendment for fiscal year 2025
The purpose of the resolution is to recognize approved items, including personnel, operating and capital adjustments
“We are required to adjust the budget anytime you approve anything by resolution,” she said. “We are amending revenue to reflect the City Council adopted millage rate for up to 5 2188 for fiscal year 2025 to recognize additional revenue ”
The fiscal year 2025 budget as adopted has an increase of $645,282, a 9 71% increase of an overall budget
Reitler said the 2024 encumbrance carryforwards of $55,248 is for purchase orders that were put into the system in 2024 and is rolling over into 2025 Among them is a vehicle purchase, permit with LCEC for light poles and a one-time clean out service for lot mowing
Also included is the appropriation of $458,416 for Country Club Median beautification project
“We recognize the additional revenue, and we work to allocate the funds for projects that are outstanding,” Reitler said
An increase in transfers of $131,618 for additional ad valorem from the general fund brings the appropriations for the Country Club beautification project to $590,034
The contract was in the amount of $329,558 50 with a 5% contingency in the amount of $16,478, for a total project amount of $346,036 50
HEALTH
HEALTH BRIEFS
Hospital at Home program launched by Lee Health
Lee Health recently announced its new Hospital at Home program, which launched at Gulf Coast Medical Center in November with plans to go live at other Lee Health hospitals in the future
Patients who would normally stay at a hospital may have the option to rest and recover in their beds and stay home for the holidays
To start, Hospital at Home will focus on five diagnoses, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), urinary tract infection requiring hospitalization and cellulitis
Hospital at Home utilizes the latest technology so patients can access expert care from hospital staff around the clock Patients admitted to Hospital at Home receive:
■ In-home assessments and treatments administered by Lee Health nurses
■ Regular and as-needed video visits from a doctor or nurse
■ Monitoring for temperature, pulse regularity and other important indicators of health status
■ Medications, IV infusions, testing, imaging and therapy brought to the home
■ Food prepared and packaged by Lee Health Food & Nutrition Services and delivered by Hospital at Home courier
To learn more about Lee Health’s Hospital at Home program, please visit www leehealth org Chronic Pain Self-Management Program workshops begin Jan. 21
Would you like to learn how to better manage chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches and more?
Lee Health’s “It’s All About You,” Chronic Pain S e l f - M
Resource Program with the SMRC is offering a research based Chronic Pain Self-Management program for the community The workshop is free and meets weekly for six weeks
Information presented in the workshop can help you become empowered to improve your quality of life Learn how to more easily manage your medications; understand the benefits of exercise; manage symptoms of stress, pain and fatigue; and make smarter decisions related to health eating Participants will also receive a copy of the book “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain”
The sessions will be held on Tuesdays beginning Jan 21, from 1-3:30 p m , in person at Dedicated Senior Medical Center, 4650 S Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers Call 239-424-3121 for information or to register
Imaging at Southwest Florida Proton Center now open
Lee Health recently announced the opening of Lee Health Imaging in partnership with Southwest Florida Proton
Located at 9961 Estero Oaks Drive, Suite 102, in Fort Myers, the new center will help Southwest Florida patients receive diagnoses, treatment and easier access to medical services in south Lee County
The Lee Health Imaging at Southwest Florida Proton Center will offer 3T MRIs, CT scans and PET scans The outpatient center is also the first at Lee Health to offer the 3T magnet, which produces high-resolution and detailed images with a magnetic field twice as strong as the standard 1.5T MRI.
This new technology will help ensure that physicians have the tools to create the most effective treatment plan possible The quick and painless tests available at the Lee Health Imaging at Southwest Florida Proton Center also help ensure seamless and supportive care for our community
Lee Health Imagine at Southwest Florida Proton Center officially started accepting patients on Dec 9, 2024
For more information, visit www leehealth org To schedule an appointment, please call 239-343-1999
Lee Health will be holding a free community health fair this Saturday, Jan. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Faith Church, 15690 McGregor Ave , Fort Myers This health fair is open to all ages and offers health screenings, car seat check-ups, featured speakers, health education, a prize drawing to win a Fitbit, healthy food samples, ACA health
resources
Transportation with Faith buses to the health fair will be available from the Gladiolus Food Pantry parking lot every half-hour The last trip to the fair will be at 11 a m and from the fair at noon
The food pantry is located at 10511 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
Featured speakers include Lee Health registered dietitian Carrie Bloemers, who will discuss nutrition tips and the MIND Diet, which is designed to keep the brain healthy Stephanie Malally from Lee Health Memory Care will speak about brain health
The health fair will also include:
■ Balance, blood sugar, blood pressure, foot, breast, lung and skin care screenings
■ United Way Beesley’s Paw Prints and Re-United
Program
■ Resources for quitting tobacco and Alcoholics Anonymous
■ Lee Health physician schedulers
■ Training for MyChart
■ Fleet Feet foot screenings
■ Iona Fire & Rescue Unit
■ Golisano Children’s Ambulance
■ The new Pet Ministry
■ Christian Medical Ministries
■ Free car seat checks and low or no cost booster and car seats for those in need, while supplies last
■ The ability to try Tai-Chai and yoga
“Lee Health is dedicated to bringing free health and wellness resources to the community and events like this allow us to help families enhance their health through
Kreuscher, director of community health and benefit for Lee Health “We are thrilled to partner with Faith Church and look forward to working with more community partners in the future to encourage healthy lifestyles for all ” For information, please visit https://www faithum com/ events
Community Health Fair Saturday at Faith Church in Fort Myers Spence named Lee Health COO
With nearly 30 years of experience serving in a variety of roles at Lee Health, Ben Spence was named chief operating officer to lead Lee Health into the future In this new role, Spence will be responsible for the oversight of the systemwide clinical and financial operations, facilities management, information technology services, supply chain management, analytics and revenue cycle management
Spence first joined Lee Memorial Health System in 1995 as a reimbursement clerk in the financial services department For the past 10 years, he has served as Lee Health’s chief financial and business services officer
As CFO, Spence helped lead the system’s strategic growth capital plan, giving patients improved access to high-quality care through expansion of the health system and its locations Investing in state-ofthe-art technology, he oversaw the system evolution to deliver care to patients in new ways He also helped launch and develop a Medicare accountable care organization, a Medicaid provider sponsored plan, a direct to employer health network, a specialty pharmacy, physician and pharmacy residency programs, and value-based contracts with payers
Spence-led programs and initiatives that enabled Lee Health to improve its S&P credit rating to “A+” and grow its positive cash flow to more than $300 million per year
with annual revenues more than $3.2 billion. "Ben Spence's experience with Lee Health is a testament to his unwavering dedication, visionary leadership, and commitment to our mission of providing exceptional care to our community," said Dr Larry Antonucci, Lee Health president and CEO "His extensive experience, continued successes, and passion for innovation make him the best leader to guide our organization into our next chapter We are excited for the positive impact he will continue to make in his new role ”
Earning his bachelor of science degree in business administration from The Ohio State University, Spence dual-majored in finance, as well as real estate and urban analysis In 2010, he completed his master of science in health science with a concentration in health services administration at Florida Gulf Coast University
Active in his professional and local communities, he c
Management Association and the American College of Healthcare executives, as well as vice president of the Horizon Council
An active search is underway for the next Lee Health Chief Financial Officer. In the interim, Spence will continue to fulfill the CFO role
Learn more at www LeeHealth org
Insights on lung cancer survivorship topic of LiveLung meeting
Melissa Sommers, LCSW, a seasoned oncology social worker and leader in the Survivorship Initiative at Lee Health Cancer Institute, will be the featured speaker at the free Fort Myers chapter of LiveLung, an educational lung cancer group, Tuesday, Jan 21, at 11:30 a m , at Hyatt Place Fort Myers at the Forum, 2600 Champion Ring Road, Fort Myers
Sommers brings over 12 years of experience working in oncology, including the last four years at Lee Health Cancer Institute, where she has dedicated her career to providing counseling services and support to people with cancer and their caregivers She facilitates support groups and actively engages in community programs and events to raise awareness and education about cancer survivorship. In her presentation, Sommers will focus on lung cancer survivorship and the importance of addressing survivorship within the lung cancer community, especially as advancements in treatment have increased the lifespan of lung cancer survivors
Sommers' insights and expertise will shed light on the evolving needs of lung cancer survivors and emphasize the critical role of survivorship care planning in ensuring longterm quality of life for patients Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Sommers, participate in discussions, and connect with others in the lung cancer community
Fort Myers LiveLung meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the same time and location Meetings include lunch, and are open to individuals impacted by lung cancer, including patients, survivors, caregivers and advocates Please register and place your l u n c h
https://livelung.link/ftmyers/cal.
Patients and care partners are welcome to contact organizers prior to the meeting with any questions Contact F l o r i d a S t a t e c o o r d i n a t o r S h e r r y H a i n e s a t sherry@livelung org or 877-311-LUNG (5864), extension 104
Ben Spence
City to begin work on a new parks & rec master plan
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The first step in developing a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan was delivered to the Cape Coral City Council during its Wednesday workshop
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said the existing master plan is 10 years old It’s a good management best practice is to revisit every 10 years, so they know the need to add, as well as what the community wants
“The last one is very successful,” Ilczyszyn said. “It helped us advance a Go Bond and 11 parks to the community and indoor programs ”
He said sometimes the master plan presentations at a workshop may be nothing more than kickoff information
“That is our action steps we are going to do over the next year to deliver the next 10 years,” Ilczyszyn said
Mike Svetz, with Pros Consulting principal, said it’s about creating a compelling vision for the department and recreation experience desired by the community
“There’s a heavy focus on infrastructure, sustainability and resiliency,” he said with a significant focus on implementation throughout the planning process
The process will include community
engagement by incorporating a social pinpoint website, which will go live towards the end of January, beginning of February
“There are ongoing opportunities to engage through surveys, interactive mapping tools where they can make comments or requests about specific parks, and vision boards,” Svetz said “It’s a tool that is exceptionally valued and will give us insight into getting the community engaged in a way the world has started to move in the use of technology ”
The presentation also highlighted park assessments, environment, creating GIS mapping and level of service, programming
assessment and capital improvement recommendations The cost estimating approach is about three different buckets sustainability, expanded services and visionary, he said “There are different funding strategies to be had We are not creating a laundry list of capital improvement plan (but) how the plan reflects changes and improvements of physical infrastructure of the park system,” Svetz said “The approach is the total cost of ownership capital investment, operations and maintenance and lifecycle replacement These costs determine, in many cases, your ability to get capital investment to intended life cycles ”
Jaycee Park: Officials told continued post-contract debate puts city at risk
From page 1
sharing more
Councilmember Laurie Lehmann said she would like to continue with the contract as stated and also see if there are possibilities to add things and do enhancements
“The contract as it stands now needs to stand It has been signed, etched in stone situation go from there,” she said
City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said enhancements are better lighting, additional trees, putting more cobblestone down in other words, making it more beautiful
With that said, Both Fortress, and the concessioner operator, can reject any proposed enhancements, as they are only required to follow through with the contract
“There is no negotiation, contract is over,”
Councilmember Keith Long said
Boksner agreed that there is nothing to negotiate, as the contractual agreement has been finalized
The conversation also led to whether the upfront payment has been made for the park
“The upfront payment that we keep being told has been forthcoming, has it been received,” Lehmann said
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn clarified that the initial upfront payment has not been received He said they received
notification from their legal counsel on the reason the topic of Jaycee Park keeps coming up and the perception is there is a risk of putting money into the project that would be lost
“I think having this discussion will bring some certainty for everybody, including my staff,” he said “We are not handling it as a breach. We are assessing penalties daily with interest.”
Boksner said continued conversation on Jaycee Park creates its own separate legal cause of action He said the private partners can suspend the contract until they get confirmation that the city will honor its obligation
“They put us on notice of that,” Boksner said of “suspend performance until collegial body reaffirms the city’s obligation agreement ”
This, he said, is a result of the new council members having continued discussion of eliminating, terminating, suspending which meet the element of separate cause of action
“They can in fact sue us right now for damages,” Boksner said “They are assuring the city will meet its contractual obligation They have asserted the right not to comply with the issuance of $1 3 million Every time we have this conversation it creates a level of uncertainty and creates a potential breach by us ”
A stakeholder group was also discussed for Jaycee Park
Councilmember Joe Kilraine, who proposed the idea, said he was thinking about having four, or five resident subject area experts, a member from the Parks and Recreation Department, Assistant City Manager Connie Barron, and one or two P3 partners to make up the group His vision is to have the stakeholder group meet to discuss opportunities to improve designs for enhancements of the park
“My point let’s follow the four corners of the contract and look for an opportunity to sit across the table and talk about beneficial things,” Kilraine said “We need to abide by the four corners of contract and follow the process following the contract and then standing up a group that could be sitting across the table and negotiate changes, enhancements beneficial to the operation of the park itself ”
Gunter said the P3 individuals, and contractor already have their marching orders and should not be part of the group
“I have no interest in doing this It undermines the contract
The design is 100%. I don’t want to do this for the sake to placate a certain group at the expense of wasting time,” Long said “I don’t have a desire ”
The conversation then changed to having the Parks and Recreation stakeholders group look at Jaycee Park, as well as other parks in the city, which the council agreed would be a good course of action
Ham radio operators’ Winter Field Day set for Jan. 25-26
Special event to be held at North Fort Myers Community Park
Ham Radio Fort Myers Field Day is a special event in the amateur radio community that will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-26, at the North Fort Myers Community Park, 2000 Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers The event serves as both a practice exercise and a public demonstration of the skills and capabilities of amateur radio operators (hams)
The primary purpose of Field Day is to test and improve the ability of ham radio operators to quickly deploy and operate in emergencies, such as natural disas-
ters or other events that may disrupt regular communication channels
Ham radio, or amateur radio, is a popular hobby and communication service that lets people talk across town, worldwide or even into space without the internet or cell networks Enthusiasts use radios and antennas to send and receive messages on special frequencies reserved for amateur use
It’s much more than just talking; ham radio is a blend
Operators, also known as “hams,” use it for fun, learning and public service They can experiment with electronics, participate in global contests, and help during emergencies when regular communication networks fail For example, ham operators often assist in disaster response by relaying critical messages when phones or the internet go down
Ham radio is open to people of all ages and backgrounds To get started, you’ll need a license, which involves learning basic radio theory and passing a test Equipment ranges from simple handheld radios to larger setups for global communication Many hams join clubs to share knowledge and participate in events
During Field Day, ham radio operators set up temporary radio stations in various locations, such as parks, open fields, or even parking lots The goal is to simulate the conditions of an emergency response and demonstrate the ability to establish reliable communication in lessthan-ideal situations.
Key aspects of Ham Radio Field Day include:
1 Operating on Emergency Power: Participants are encouraged to operate their radio stations using alternative power sources, such as generators, batteries, or solar power, to simulate the conditions of a power outage during an emergency
2 Setting Up Temporary Antennas: Ham radio operators deploy portable antennas to establish communication over various bands and frequencies This helps demonstrate the adaptability and versatility of amateur radio equipment
3 Contacting Other Stations: Participants aim to make as many contacts with other ham radio stations as possible within a 24-hour period Points are awarded for each contact made, and bonus points may be earned for factors like using alternative power sources or incorporating new technologies
4 Public Awareness: In addition to the emergency preparedness aspect, Field Day also serves as an opportunity to promote amateur radio to the public Many operators welcome visitors, provide information about amateur radio, and may even offer the chance for non-hams to make a radio contact under the supervision of a licensed operator Winter Field Day is sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association It's a valuable and enjoyable way for ham radio operators to hone their skills, showcase the capabilities of amateur radio, and engage with the community For more information about the Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, please visit https://www fmarc net, fieldday@fmarc net or Winter Field Day at https://winterfieldday org
Appointment of seven members and two alternates would be vested to propose possible changes
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
Lock: Will close to boaters in April
From page 1
nears for Six Mile Cypress Slough 2025 Photo Contest
Time is running out to submit entries for the Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve 2025 Photo Contest honoring Carolyn Babb The deadline is Jan 31
The contest is limited to amateur photographers and only digital entries can be submitted Photos must be of native species and must have been taken at the Six Mile C
Cypress Slough Preserve North
Last spring, the Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Board named the photo contest in honor of the late Carolyn Babb, a longtime volunteer and Friends member who founded the contest in 2009
Registration and entry submissions should be made on the Friends website, www sloughpreserve org Details about contest categories and entry fees are on the website
First, second and third place winners will be awarded in
Animals A Grand Prize winner will be awarded to the
photo the judges deem best overall In addition to the regular adult contest, there will be separate contests for youths and staff members
Winning photos from past years can be viewed on the Friends website, www sloughpreserve org, and in the Interpretive Center at the Slough The Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Mondays.
Admission to the Center and the Boardwalk is free with paid parking, which is $1 an hour or $5 for an entire day
Last year, a total of 244 photos were entered by 103 different photographers
The photo contest honors Carolyn Babb, who died in December 2023 She served seven years as president of the Friends Board, the longest tenure of any president
“She wore many hats at the Slough through the years,” said Theresa Roake, Friends Board secretary, “and had a hand in pretty much everything the Friends organization has accomplished over the past 20-plus years
“As the Board looked for a way to honor her lasting legacy at the Slough, we looked to one of her other passions The Slough truly inspired her love of nature photography She was seldom seen without her camera and shared this love with other photographers at the Slough ”
And that, Roake said, inspired her to create the photo contest in 2009, with the first winners announced in January 2010
The Friends organization is a nonprofit citizens group that provides support for the Slough’s staff and volunteers Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is over 3,500 acres o
Interpretive Center Animals like otters, alligators, turtles, wading birds, and more live at the Slough year-round Others, like migrating birds and butterflies, use the Slough as a feeding area or a winter home The Slough is managed by the Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation and is open daily from sunrise to sunset
Tommy’s Express celebrates grand openings in Cape Coral
Tommy’s Express is reaffirming its commitment to supporting communities by partnering with local organizations to celebrate the grand opening of its two newest locations in Cape Coral Guests are invited to meet representatives from local non-profits, enjoy food and entertainment and receive a free car wash next weekend
Both locations, at 2807 Santa Barbara Blvd and 1527 Chiquita Blvd., S., will offer free car washes all day today, Jan 17 There will also be exciting activities, prizes and food trucks throughout the weekend The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce will participate in ribbon-cutting ceremonies at both locations: the Chiquita Boulevard loca-
tion will hold its ceremony on Friday afternoon, while the Santa Barbara Boulevard location will have its ceremony on Saturday afternoon
Representatives from Lee Health will be on-site Jan 17 at the Santa Barbara Boulevard location to accept donations and meet with guests
Members of the Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida will be at the Chiquita location on Saturday, Jan 18, to provide information about dog adoptions and showcase dogs looking for their forever homes Additionally, 50% of all sales made at this location on that date will be donated to the organization
Additional information on the grand opening events at the Tommy’s Express Santa Barbara Facebook page, and the Tommy’s Express Chiquita Facebook page.
About Tommy’s Express
Tommy’s Express is a fast-growing national car wash franchise built around the Totally Tommy site model initially developed by Tommy Car Wash Systems More than 225 franchise locations across the U S are supported by exclusive training, marketing and technical assistance For more information on Tommy’s Express, visit www tommys-express com
Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing Feb. 4 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers
Celebrate the Edison Festival of Light and help feed the hungry by attending Mrs Edison’s Hymn Sing, Tuesday, Feb 4, at The First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Myers at the corner of Second Street and Lee Street
It’s the 35th anniversary of the hymn sing, which is an official sanctioned event of the Edison Festival of Light Sponsors are the Galloway Family of Dealerships and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media
Because of the overwhelming popularity of the event, two performances are planned at 1 p m and 4 p m The doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance
Admission is free, but because of the increased need for food for the hungry, organizers are requesting that those who attend bring cans of non-perishable food and a voluntary cash donation, if possible, to benefit Sam’s Community Kitchen & Café of Community Cooperative Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community Cash donations are especially valuable because Community Cooperative can buy five times as much food for the same amount of money that residents spend at local grocery stores
This year’s event will feature the First Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir and many other singers, along with a piano-organ combination
In addition to Mrs Edison’s Hymn Sing, First Presbyterian Church annually presents the popular Christmas Carol Sing in December Both events benefit Sam’s Community Kitchen & Café of Community Cooperative
For more information or directions to the church, call 334-2261 or visit www fpcfortmyers org
For more information about Community Cooperative, call 239-332-SOUP or visit www communitycooperative com
It was another cold week out on the water
Several cold fronts brought windy days and a drop in water temperature for the week Anglers reported water temperatures as low as the upper 50s with low 60s common inshore Not the best week for fishing However, hardcore fishermen fish no matter the conditions and actually turned in respectable catches
Sheepshead were reported around the gulf passes including Boca Grande, Captiva, Redfish, Blind and around structure at either end of the Sanibel Causeway Fishing docks, creeks and
sheepshead
Shrimp was the bait of choice rigged in various ways, including knocker rigs, split shot and hook and shrimp/jig head combination Anglers also had
n g fiddler crabs, mud crabs or o
A f e w black and red drum were also hooked mixed with the sheepshead
Redfish, most running small, were caught around creeks and oyster bars in south Matlacha Pass and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge Average size was about 15 inches with an occasional fish over 18 inches Sheepshead, small snook and snapper were also caught from these areas.
Small or undersize trout mixed with ladyfish were caught in north Matlacha Pass, grass flats around Bokeelia and throughout Pine Island Sound in 3 to 5foot depths Larger trout up to 20 inches were caught in sand holes and over grass flats near Rocky Channel and the fish shacks, west of Galt Island and between the channel and Buck Key Best baits included live shrimp, DOA and GULP shrimp under popping corks, and a gold spoon with a slow retrieve Pompano were also hooked from these areas
Fishing slow and low worked for catch-and-release snook action in canals and creeks around St. James and Bokeelia They tend to congregate in these areas during cold stretches Snook are a tropical species and don’t tolerate cold very well That’s why they are out of season during the winter If the water temperature drops to low for several days, they become lethargic, and catching
ANOTHER COLD
Cracker Day Rodeo returns to Posse Arena Jan. 24-26
By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com
One of Lee County’s oldest events returns to the Lee County Posse Arena next week
The 64th annual Cracker Day Rodeo will take place Friday, Jan 24, through Sunday, Jan 26, featuring three days of rodeo action, including a youth rodeo on Saturday
The rodeo serves as the biggest fundraiser for the arena, a non-profit organization which was founded in 1960 and has survived as an all-volunteer group that gets no financial support from any government entity
Considering what the arena went through over the last few years due to hurricanes and other weather-related activity, the money is certainly needed Most recently, Hurricane Helene turned the bleachers into a twisted pile of aluminum.
Despite everything, this year’s event has the green light
The events at this rodeo tend to be a little different There is still bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, but there are also unusual but popular events such as the Buddy-Pick-up
Some of the youth events include pole bending, ribbon roping, goat tying and breakaway roping, which has become very popular in recent years
Also, expect fun events for the kids such as the calf scramble and mutton busting and special guest, rodeo clown Rockin’ Robbie Hodges
There also will be more than 20 vendors selling everything from cowboy hats to Mexican food to perhaps even a ride on a mechanical bull
Mostly, the Cracker Day Rodeo is a tribute to the oldtime Florida ranchers who moved their cattle throughout the state
Gates open Friday at 4:45 p m with the rodeo starting at 7 Saturday’s youth rodeo begins at 11 a m , following
slack, which starts at 7 a m The open rodeo begins at 6, and the Sunday matinee kicks off at 2, preceded by Cowboy Church
Admission is $40 for adults, 13 and under is $20 and kids 5 and under are free. Military and first responders are $35
The new VIP special is $100, which includes parking, VIP seating, and food and drink There is a limit of 125 tickets per performance
For more information, go to leecountyposse com
PREP REPORT
Wednesday
Boys Basketball
LCAC Tournament
Gateway 66, Cape Coral 51: The Seahawks' ninegame win streak ended, giving Cape a 16-3 record Ida Baker 55, East Lee County 50: Baker won its second LCAC game, upping its record to 4-14
Boys Soccer
Mariner 2, Sarasota Riverview 1: The Tritons improved their record to 20-2 thanks to team captain Thomas Castano's two goals Justin Medero made an assist
Girls Soccer
Oasis 6, Golden Gate 0: Tessa Kerr scored twice as the Sharks (14-4-2) rolled to victory in their regular-season finale Evelyne Davis, Jazlyn Forbes and Kayla Theobald each contributed a goal and an assist in the game Ashley Lynn also scored, and Hailey Kundinger made an assist
Tuesday
Girls Basketball
LCAC Tournament
North Fort Myers 49, Estero 44: The red-hot Red Knights (16-2) were led in scoring by freshman Amrey Stockland, who had 19 points Lily Erickson scored 10 Bianca Iten had 11 rebounds and Gia Molloy had 10 boards
Ida Baker 58, East Lee 48: Maia Berdebes had a double-double with 31 points 14 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs J’Kayla Thomas also had a double-double with 13 points 16 rebounds
Other games
LaBelle 48, Oasis 46: The Sharks (11-3) were upset
by 2-7 LaBelle on the road
Boys Basketball
Oasis 80, SW Florida Christian 63: With the win, the Sharks are 12-7
Girls Soccer
Busenbark scorched the nets for five goals, leading the Red Knights (13-2) over the Raiders Kenlee Dominguez made three assists, Jaelyn Hoefer had a goal and an assist, Megan Bergin scored a goal and Lexi Neumann made an assist
Cape Coral 5, Palmetto Ridge 0: Freshman Alexis Myers scored twice and made two assists for Cape (9-93) Olivia Toro had two goals, Sophia Vianest scored once and Zoee Maurillo made an assist
Oasis 2, Cypress Lake 0: The Sharks improve to 134-2
Bishop Verot 5, Barron Collier 0: Katie Pelkofski led the unbeaten Vikings with two goals and an assist Caroline Pelkofski and Jillian Haataja had one goal and an assist each, Alyvia Mueller scored and Lea Scotti made an assist
Boys Soccer
Riverdale 1, North Fort Myers 0: The Red Knights (4-14-2) were blanked by 4-7-3 Riverdale
Palmetto Ridge 2, Cape Coral 0: The Seahawks fell to 3-16-2
Oasis 2, Cypress Lake 2, tie: The draw left the Sharks unbeaten in their last seven matches (5-0-2) and 10-4-2 overall
Bishop Verot 2, Immokalee 1: The Vikings (9-0-5) won a showdown at 12-4-1 Immokalee Anthony Becker and Raul Blandon scored for Bishop Verot
Action at a previous rodeo featured at the Lee County Posse Arena.
Capt. Bill Russell On the Water
SawChuck to per for m at Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill Jan. 30 R
Murray SawChuck from “America's Got Talent,” “Masters of Illusion” and “Pawn Stars” will be performing one show only, at 7 p m , Thursday, Jan 30, at Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill in Cape Coral
SawChuck has a diverse portfolio of over 25 reality show appearances and a memorable stint as a finalist on “America's Got Talent ” He just opened his new residency “Hairlarious Deceptions” at The Strat Hotel & Casino – LA Comedy Club on the famous Las Vegas Strip
For more information on SawChuck and upcoming projects, visit his official
and follow him on social media for the latest updates
Tickets for the show at Rusty's are limited and available on a first-come, firstserve basis via Eventbrite Doors will open one hour prior to the show
Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill is at 4631 S E 10th Place in Cape Coral Call 239360-8154 or visit https://rustysraw com/ for more information
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Card Par ty/Luncheon Feb. 28
at Epiphany Episcopal Church
A Epiphany Episcopal Church Women fundraiser Card Party/Luncheon will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p m The Church of the Epiphany is located at 2507 Del Prado Blvd , Cape Coral
Cards or games may be played There will be door prizes, raffles, crafts and bakery goods
Reservations are required Tickets are $15 Please call Ruth McConnell at 239574-4299 for tickets
Lee County Community Band presents ‘Love Notes’ Feb. 16
The Lee County Community Band will present “Love Notes,” a romantic, funfilled, free concert Sunday, Feb 16, at 3 p m , a t M a r i n
,
Chiquita Blvd , N , Cape Coral
The program features vocalist Fred Lamb performing Tony Bennett’s signa-
Francisco ” Lamb was raised in a family of musicians and sang with The United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own, in Washington, D C , for more than 20 years before
retiring to Cape Coral seven years ago
The band also will perform “Somewhere My Love” (Lara’s Theme, from the film “Doctor Zhigavo”); “Dam Busters,” from the British film of the same name; “Flutation;” Highlights from Carousel; Sousa’s “Liberty Bell March;” and Tribute to Irving Berlin
Under the direction of Gil Peltola, the 65-member adult band performs six con-
A
Programs reflect the band’s well-earned reputation for lively, upbeat music and promise an entertaining mix of new and familiar tunes, energetic marches and Broadway and Silver Screen hits
Band members are musicians from all walks of life who reside in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties
Lee County Community Band concerts are free of charge (donations welcome), and open to the public Additional concert dates are March 16 and April 13
All of the concerts will be at Mariner High School 701 Chiquita Blvd , N , beginning at 3 p m
An institution in Southwest Florida, the band enjoys a large, loyal and enthusiastic audience at every concert Guests should
plan to arrive early for best choice of seating
For additional information, please visit www leecountyband org, phone 239-6009 0 5 2 o r v i s i t L e e c o u n t y c o m m u n i t y band@ gmail com
Zion Lutheran Church Winter Concer t Series opens Jan. 25
Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers has announced its 2025 Winter Concert series, featuring four special Saturday performances at the church at 7401 Winkler Road
The series opens Jan 25, with the group Driven, followed on Feb 1 with a p
Chorale
On Feb 8, Final Harvest performs and then closing out the series will be the quartet Gold Tones on Feb 22
Admission is free with love offerings to help support the musical groups.
Doors open at 1 p m , with the performances starting at 2 p m
For additional information about the concert seriess, contact Denny Bowers at 239-887-8585
Another cold week: Sheepshead action picking up in the area
From page 37
them can kill them January 2010 was our last big kill-off from a cold winter Canal, creeks and protected areas usually maintain a little higher water temperature, that’s why they congregate
We've been waiting for the cooler tem-
peratures to spark the larger sheepshead and it looks like we may have a few days with good weather this week to find out
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission website at www myfwc com
Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone It has current regulations with pic-
tures to help identify fish If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service -- call or text 239-
or email gcl2fish@live.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida,
Art Festival: Annual event attracts large crowds to South Cape
From page 14
Sponsored by Aubuchon Homes, the Premier Artists Area of the festival was dedicated to showcasing the exceptional talents of highly skilled artists from around the world
Jen Callahan was this year’s Poster Artist She spent time in the Premier Area, autographing posters and T-shirts.
There was 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
Awards winners were: Fine Crafters
1st: Mike Williams
2nd: Michael Ray
Fine Artists
Jewelry:
1st: Kurt Sloan
2nd: Samuel Bush
2D & 3D Mixed Media:
1st: Cindy Hirt Purdue
2nd: Gerardo Laccese
Painting:
1st: Sergey Cherep
2nd: Michaela Hobert
Sculpture:
1st: Benjamin Peterson
2nd: Carrie Briggs
Wood:
1st: Michael Pararas
Leather:
From page 19
1st: Caroline Clarke
Ceramics:
1st: Ben Blumberg
Digital Art
1st: Thomas Wrenn
Metal:
1st: Donald Portchy
Photography:
1st: LaDora Sims
2nd: Andrew Valdes Mosedale
Drawing and Pastels:
1st: Brian Viamontes
Fiber:
1st: Philippe Laine
Glass:
1st: Tess Dirienzo
Premier Artists
1st: Joyce Slate
2nd: Yampier Sardina
3rd: Susan Oliver
Projects that Rotary is involved in or spearheaded that will benefit from the festival include Rotary Park, Safe Zones for children at bus stops, and its Dictionary
Project
Chaviano extended a “thank you” to the community for making this year's event another successful year
“We couldn’t do this without the support of the volunteers and the community coming out to support the artists,” she said “A huge thank you to the city as well for letting us take over the parkway A lot of businesses downtown saw a great influx of customers from the event ”
Shoppers check out some of the booths at the Cape Coral
Market Place over the weekend.
Rotary is already getting ready for the 2026 festival and marketplace, taking feedback into consideration and preparing to receive applications in April
For more information on the Cape Coral Art Festival & Market Place, including how
to sign up for next year's event visit capecoralartfestival com
Photographer Mark Clifford contributed to this story
