Pine Island Eagle

Island concert

County, FEMA officials address post-hurricane issues on island at GPICA’s January meeting

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Lee County officials and FEMA representatives provided post-storm updates at the Tuesday, Jan 10, meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association at Pine Island United Methodist Church GPICA President Helen Fox reminded members that they currently support the largest civic organization on the island, as the GPICA has nearly 300 members, kept up to date on everything for which the organization stands.

“The GPICA has been confronted with unique chal-

lenges in the wake of Hurricane Ian,” Fox said.

While the island is beginning to come back, thousands of islanders are still struggling, he said Several Lee County officials as well as some FEMA representatives were present, as they were invited to address post-hurricane concerns, such as road reconstruction, planning, rebuilding, permitting, waste removal and flood insura n c e . A m o n g t h o s e p r e s e n t w e r e L e e C o u n t y

Commissioner Kevin Ruane, Assistant County Manager Glen Salyer, Director of Lee County Department of Transportation Randy Cerchie, as well as Director of Community Development Dave Loveland and Director

of Solid Waste Doug Whitehead.

Ruane said he has been meeting with the Greater Pine Island Alliance each week to address concerns and will continue to avail himself to islanders The first of everyone’s concern has been debris, he said For this reason, Gov Ron DeSantis has gotten involved in the task of removing debris, which is unusual at the state or county level, Ruane said.

“It was approved by FEMA for the first 75 days for 100 percent reimbursement Thereafter, it goes to a

Hospitalizations hit historic high

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Owners John Lynch and Jesse Tincher have been hard at work repairing the popular establishment, which recently reopened

When the clock started ticking again at the Blue Dog Bar & Grill

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Local health officials on Wednesday detailed why hospital beds have become scarcer in recent weeks as an unprecedented number of patients are being treated

During a press conference at Gulf Coast Medical Center, Lee Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Iahn Gonsenhauser said hospitals are at “nearly 100% capacity ”

Gonsenhauser said contributing factors include the usual rise in patients this time of year due to a seasonal influx of residents, a slew of viruses, and an increase of COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past few months

“Thankfully, the most recent spike (in COVID-19) has been trending down, but the overall increase, along with seasonal visitors, has brought additional challenges for us that have placed a strain on our hospital capacities and our health care resources,” Gonsenhauser said

Health officials noted that of the roughly 1,700 beds currently in use, only 80 are for COVID-19 hospitalizations Prior to the pandemic, Lee Health had never had 1,500 patients being treated at one time At the height of the pandemic, that number climbed to 1,674 Last week, Lee Health was treating 1,750 patients

Blue

John Lynch and Jesse Tincher weren’t sure where to even begin picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ian blew through the island, flooding their iconic island watering hole

“I said to myself, I guess you just start with the first chair as you walk in the door and then go from there,” Tincher said about his first reaction to seeing the damage Both owners got what they’d wanted when they were hoping people today would say everything looks just as it did before the hurricane

“Some people said it seemed as though time had stopped until they walked through the door and then the clock started ticking again,” Tincher said

Lynch found the whole experience very overwhelming, he said, referring to the post hurricane period as dark days, although he and partner Tincher couldn’t help but feel thankful because that they still had a standing structure to work with

“We could still turn the building back into our restaurant So many other people didn’t have that opportunity

“We are seeing an incredible volume of patients,” said Lee Health Chief Officer of Hospital Operations, Armando Llechu “(Some) because they were delayed access to care while the pandemic was taking place. This year, upper-respiratory issues flew, viruses (have seen) high numbers We are experiencing a much greater surge of patients this year as we did last year We’re managing it better We learned a lot of lessons But the numbers are staggering ”

On Tuesday, he said Lee Health emergency departments saw more than 1,040 patients, and is hopeful that members of the community will look for the most practical place to seek medical help, including places other

Uproot Hootenanny returns for a performance at the St James City Civic Center

The damaged interior of the Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha after Hurricane Ian.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dog Bar & Grill owners

‘Staggering’ number of patients has officials urging alternatives to ER for non-emergencies

Pine Island Kiwanis 5K fundraiser a success

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Pine Island Kiwanis brought back a bit of normalcy with their third annual 5K run, this past weekend.

Proceeds will go to the Pine Island Kiwanis general fund, until the board decides how best to use them

Race director and local Pine Island Kiwanis treasurer, Susan Saulsbury, reported the number of runners at 157, just under last year’s 176

“We’re hardly down 19 after a hurricane here,” Saulsbury said

Varying from years past, the run began and finished at the Alden Pines Clubhouse Generally, the run takes place along Pineland Marina beside the Tarpon Lodge, said Saulsbury, but the course had to be altered this year, due to commercial traffic

“Everyone was very happy. Several people thanked us for putting on the event,” Saulsbury said, naming 5K sponsor, Bob Russell of Guymann Construction, who she said was especially thankful to have had the winter run to sponsor this year

Saulsbury calculated roughly 80 percent of this year’s participants to be from Pine Island, with the remaining 20 percent, from Cape Coral and Fort Myers The race was won by 17-year-old Fort Myers resident Hayden Tank, who clocked in at 16:50 Tank, who is on a track team, also won the race last year, she said, commenting that several boys and girls from his track team also ran in this year’s Pine Island 5K race. A customary donation is made to the Calusa Heritage Trail, for their children’s

programs as the race typically involves their property, she said

“We really appreciate the island supporting us with

this event We really appreciate the community supporting the children of Pine Island It was nice to do something normal,” Saulsbury said

Calusa Land Trust to hold 47th Annual Meeting Jan. 22

T h e 4 7 t h A n n u a l M e e t i n g o f t h e Calusa Land Trust will be held Sunday, Jan 22, beginning at 1 p m The location will be at the land trust's Fritts Park on B e a c h D a i s y L a n e i n B o k e e l i a , t h e entrance to which is just north of the fire station and south of the Palms of Pine Island trailer park

The meeting is open to all CLT members, guests and interested individuals Attendees will be briefed on the care of its 2 , 4 0 0 - p l u s a c r e s o f p r e s e r v e d l a n d , Hurricane Ian struggles in 2022 and restoration plans for 2023 and beyond A l s o a v a i l a b l e w i l l b e t h e C a l u s a Clothesline (to buy needed CLT stuff)

plus an opportunity to acquire the newly p u b l i s h e d , s e v e n t h e d i t i o n , o f “ T h e Nature Lover's Guide to Pine Island ”

There will be raffles, socializing with old and new friends and a deli spread buffet feast To join seven continuing directors (Carolyn Murphey, Judy Ott, Frank Potter, Joan Rosenberg, Cheryl King,

Marty Kendall and John Kendall), the membership will choose to elect five incumbent directors (Robert Ballard, Bill Hummer, Carol Mullin, Les Smith and Nancy Weir) with other nominations open from the floor

F o r a n y q u e s t i o n s , c o n t a c t R o b e r t Ballard at 239-770-0070

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DARCY CONNER

Above: They’re off! Racers leave the starting line at the third annual Kiwanis 5K run held Saturday Right: Race winner Hayden Tank of Fort Myers, who clocked in at 16:50

Since taking office, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made a name for himself as America’s Everglades Governor

D u r i n g h i s f i r s t i n a u g u r a l a d d r e s s i n 2019, Governor DeSantis said, “It now falls to me to build upon the foundation that has been laid, navigate the challenges economic, environmental, constitutional that lie ahead, and steer Florida to a stronger, cleaner and safer future ” He has done just that

I n t h a t s a m e a d d r e s s , h e s a i d , “ F o r

Florida, the quality of our water and environmental surroundings are foundational to our prosperity as a state it doesn’t just drive tourism; it affects property values, anchors many local economies and is central to our quality of life The water is part and parcel of Florida’s DNA Protecting it is the smart thing to do; it’s also the right thing to do.”

Two days later, Gov DeSantis signed an executive order that would take immediate action to protect our environment and one of our most critical natural resources, that also sustains our thriving economy our water The order laid out numerous environmental policies and directives and pledged to: 1) s ecure $2 5 billion over four years for Everglades restoration and protection of w a t e r r e s o u r c e s ; 2 ) e x p e d i t e c r i t i c a l

Everglades restoration projects, including the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir; 3) establish a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, charged with expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of blue-green algae blooms; 4) appoint a Chief Science

Island Pizza, owners Pete and Melissa Marsala thanked for their help

To the editor:

There is a quote, "The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward ” I think this quote exemplifies Pine Island Pizza and its owners Pete and Melissa Marsala.

In my time with Pine Island Elementary, to serving with Kiwanis and the Bobby Holloway Foundation, if there is a need, Pine Island Pizza is and was willing to help From school events, fall fest and other community events -- Pete and Melissa are there to help

Their pizza and food is excellent, but more importantly their kindness and generosity is priceless In the midst of recovery, they

Officer; and 5) establish an O f f i c e o f R e s i l i e n c e a n d Coastal Protection

He accomplished all of this and more This commitment was only the start of a first term t h a t w o u l d i n c l u d e m a n y extraordinary milestones and achievements for restoring the Everglades and protecting our n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s , i n c l u d i n g signing into law Senate Bill 712, which included the most s i g n i f i c a n t e n v i r o n m e n t a l reforms in decades and created t h e s t a t e ’ s R e s i l i e n t F l o r i d a program with the state’s first Chief Resilience Officer Under Gov DeSantis’ leadership, the South Florida Water Management District started, hit major milestones, or finished more than 50 Everglades-related project components

This is why the Everglades Trust was proud to endorse Ron DeSantis in his re-election for a second term as governor When it c o m e s t o E v e r g l a d e s r e s t o r a t i o n , G o v DeSantis fulfilled the promises to secure record funding, decrease harmful discharges through a new Lake Okeechobee operations p l a n , a n d a d v a n c e a n d e x p e d i t e c r i t i c a l Everglades restoration projects.

With Gov DeSantis’ overwhelming victory on Election Day, it showed that restoring America’s Everglades and protecting the environment is top of mind for Floridians and

that the economics of the E v e r g l a d e s ’ h e a l t h a n d Florida’s waters continue to be a priority for voters and t h e b u s i n e s s e s t h a t d r i v e F l o r i d a ’ s t o u r i s m - b a s e d economy

A healthy environment is an essential ingredient to a f l o u r i s h i n g e c o n o m y , a n d Floridians who have been here for decades and even for t h o s e t h a t h a v e e v e n j u s t moved here recognize that i m p o r t a n t l i n k G o v DeSantis has understood that from the start that the economy and environment are tied together

On Jan. 3, 2023, when Gov. DeSantis g a v e h i s s e c o n d i n a u g u r a l a d d r e s s , h e showed that the Everglades and the environment continue to remain a priority He reiterated his commitment to Everglades restoration, saying “Florida is now in a golden era for conservation of our treasured natural resources Our momentum is strong, and we will finish what we started we will leave Florida to God better than we found it!”

A week after his inauguration, on the anniversary of the momentous executive order he signed in his first term, Gov. DeSantis signed a new executive order laying out a blueprint that builds on the promises he

More effor t needed to save Florida panthers

To the editor:

The killing of Florida panthers on the highways is a travesty for their numbers in Florida Twenty-four panthers a year, on average, are killed on Florida roads year after year This says nothing for our law enforcement officers that should be protecting them

It shows that we need more law enforcement on the roads that panthers frequently use H o w d o w e g e t m o r e t r o o p e r s a n d deputies on our roads to stop this panther carn a g e ? T h e C o n s e r v a n c y o f S o u t h w e s t Florida and other environmental groups need to pitch in and give the Florida Highway Patrol and county sheriff’s offices grants of several thousand dollars to patrol panther habitat roads on their free and patrol time with a goal to cut the death toll of panthers on our roads in half each year Right now we have about 125 panthers in Florida If we kill 25 panthers a year on our roads and have about 25 kittens born a year we are just maintaining that 125 panther population If we save just a dozen a year, our total population will go up by 12 to grow our panther counts year after year.

Other things we must do is put pantherproof fences in all panther and deer habitat roads but especially out on all new towns in eastern Collier County and along Corkscrew and Alico Roads in Lee County and all other counties that have panthers as well All wildlife corridors will have wildlife underpasses under them designated by FWC and federal Wildlife officials This would also go for Babcock Ranch

C o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n e r s i n a l l p a n t h e r counties and FWC should help with this and heartily endorse these panther saving edits and pass legislation to protect our panthers

Pine

stepped up and offered assistance The island community and island businesses are indeed special and willing to help Please support them and thank them for all they do for children and the community

Steve Hook

Former Pine Island Elementary School principal

Carl Veaux Cape Coral

Anna Upton Guest Commentary

New state property insurance law leaves little recourse for consumers

Gov Ron DeSantis signed legislation Dec 16 that he stated is designed to stabilize Florida’s property insurance market, increase competition and strengthen consumer protections, with a goal of reducing the cost of property insurance for consumers

While there is no doubt that the property insurance industry needs help, my experience indicates this law will primarily hurt not benefit consumers like you and

me

The new law is not all bad It removes Assignment of Benefits, which are agreements that transfer the insurance claims rights or benefits of the policy to a third party Assigning benefits to restoration companies is one of the biggest cost escalators to insurance companies because it gives contractors an unnatural incentive to inflate estimates and scope of repairs When insurers balk at the inflated claims, the assignees are often quick to sue Frivolous lawsuits for insurance claims that are driving up the cost of insurance are primarily the result of Assignment of Benefits

While removal of the Assignment of Benefits is a positive change, another provision of the new law will make it extremely difficult for consumers to get insurance companies to pay legal fees when lawsuits are necessary to fairly cover consumer losses. The law effectively means policyholders must pay all their attorney fees, even if the insurance company wrongfully denies, underpays or delays their claims.

The new insurance law negates

Florida’s one-way attorney fees statute, which required insurers to pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees if the carrier loses in court The law had been in effect, in one form or another, since 1893

The ability to hold insurance companies responsible for paying claims is necessary because insurance companies, many of which are already in financial trouble, will make low-ball offers or deny coverage on many occasions, hoping a desperate homeowner or business will jump at the offer.

Guest Commentary

Records from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation show that insurance companies denied roughly 30% of the nearly 1 million claims filed after Hurricane Irma in 2017

In other cases, insurance companies may try to claim they do not have to cover anything if damage was caused by both flooding and wind In 45 states, including Florida, insurance policies have a clause allowing insurers to deny claims if two catastrophic events occurred simultaneously and one of those events was not covered, like wind or flooding

These disputes can result from concurrent causation, the legal term for when damage is the result of two or more causes, but one (or more) causes are not covered by the policy. For example, if you have wind and flooding damage, but do not have flood

Mahjongg returning to SJCCA Thursday

Weekly mahjongg play will resume Thursday, Jan 19, from 1-4 p m All are welcome. St James City Civic Association members pay $2, others pay $4 Now is also a good time to renew your annual Civic Center membership ($25)

DeSantis

fulfilled during his first term

From page 4

Be sure to bring your National League game card as spare cards were lost to flooding.

The SJCCA is located at 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Street in St James City

In detail, Gov DeSantis increased his funding commitment to $3 5 billion over the next four years for Everglades restoration, water quality initiatives, and water supply protections for Floridians, businesses, and tourists alike The executive order prioritizes investments to restore water quality in the Indian River Lagoon a n d s e e k

Everglades restoration It also continues to prioritize and expedite the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir; it fortifies progress made on the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual; it reestablishes the BlueGreen Algae Task Force; and it strengthens basin management action plans and seeks to improve best management practices working in conjunction with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

There is no doubt Gov DeSantis’ commitment to the Everglades in his first term was monumental, but the commitment he has made to the Everglades and the environment in the newly signed executive order is unquestionably historic

Time and again, Gov DeSantis makes promises, and he delivers on those promises If his first term is any indication of what he can accomplish, Floridians and the great state of Florida will see this historic commitment become a reality

Anna Upton is the CEO of the Everglades Trust To l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e E v e r g l a d e s T r u s t , v i s i t

insurance Certain provisions state that insurance coverage is only applicable when the predominate or superior peril causing the damage is covered by the policy Thus, the homeowner would have to show that the damage sustained was caused more by wind than flooding Insurance adjusters may also try to indicate that some damage was due to normal wear and tear, not the storm.

The law approved in December effectively gives insurance companies, with resources and engineering experts available to deny or low-ball claims, the advantage over homeowners who face high deductibles and post-storm expenses, and may not have the financial resources to dispute insurance

denials on their own The practical impact is that it invites a Florida insurer to deny, delay and underpay on a systemic basis

While the state’s property insurance crisis did not happen overnight, it’s interesting that the law touted as being necessary to help lower insurance premiums went through the approval process in just six days, with public comment limited to only one minute

Damage from Hurricane Ian is so extensive and insurance losses so great, the chances of premiums being reduced any time soon is not likely

Insurance companies were not prepared for the kind of damage a storm like Hurricane Ian could do to the state However, that is not a fact that should hurt consumer’s ability to be able to ensure a fair insurance claim

Richard L Purtz is a former insurance adjustor and attorney at Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice and Purtz

Richard L. Purtz

Uproot Hootenanny performs at St. James City Civic Center

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Uproot Hootenanny performed at the St. James City Civic Center on Sunday, Jan 8

According to Civic Center president Cindy Bickford, Uproot Hootenanny has played several times at the SJCCA and always sells out

“The weather was perfect to hold the concert outside this time Spotlights were positioned to shine in the trees and the moon was just past full Attendees were generous with donations for repairs to the building,” Bickford said

Spectator and Bokeelia resident Darcy

Conner said it was a wonderful show on Sunday

“It was amazing They’re so much fun, the crowd was going and it was a beautiful night where everything couldn’t have been more perfect They were great,” Conner said

Conner also reported that she thought the crowd seemed to have as great a time as the band, doing what they do best

“I’m so happy that they’re able to start enjoying doing things again, even though it was outside,” Conner said of the Civic Center

The SJCCA is located at 4th Avenue and Lemon Street in St James City

Friends of the Pine Island Library set to hold annual meeting, elect new board directors

According to the late Carl Sagan, “The health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can be tested by how well we support our libraries ”

February presents an opportunity for Pine Islanders to actively support the Pine Island Library The Friends of the Pine Island Library is a non-profit, charitable group formed to do just that The mission of the organization is to benefit and enrich t h e g r e a t e r P i n e I s l a n d c o m m u n i t y through its projects

Over the last several years, the Friends have contributed more than $32,000 to both the Lee County Library System and the Pine Island Library The group's contributions have supported library activities, including the summer reading program and the annual Reading Festival held every March at the downtown Fort Myers Regional Library location

H a v e y o u c o n s i d e r e d j o i n i n g t h e

Friends of Pine Island Library? It is a great opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that promote and support the local library and the Pine Island community In addition, it is an organization

where membership provides many ways to have fun such as book discussions, author luncheons and book sales

For more information on membership, please stop by the Pine Island Library and pick up the new Friends of the Pine Island Library pamphlet Fill it out and send it to Friends of PI Library, PO Box 290, St. James City, FL 33956 Annual dues are $5 or Lifetime membership is $100

With membership comes the opportunity to join the Friends of Pine Island Library Board Currently, the Nomination Committee is looking for potential candidates to fill several openings Members will be electing several new board directors at the Feb 21 Annual Membership meeting The meeting is a Zoom hybrid meeting which begins at 2 p m Join us in person at the Pine Island Library or on Zoom Remember, in order to vote, you must be a current member

Dues for 2023 must be paid prior to Feb 21 if attending by Zoom or collected in person at the meeting (cash or check only, please) If attending via Zoom, contact president@friendsofpilibrary org and on the morning of the meeting a link will be sent to you

St. John's Episcopal Church to host Game/Card Party Jan. 26

The Episcopal Church Women of St John’s will host a Game/Card Party on Thursday, Jan 26, from 10 a m to 2 p m , in Comfort Hall

Come bring your best game with you and share in the fun

The tickets will be limited and the cost

is $20 per person, which includes a delicious lunch with decadent desserts and coffee, tea or lemonade and the chance to win door prizes For tickets, please call Kathy Gredlics at 484-894-4612

S t J o h n ’ s i s l o c a t e d a t 7 7 7 1

Stringfellow Road in St James City

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARCY CONNER

Uproot Hootenanny performing recently at the St. James City Civic Center.

37th annual RV show returning to the Lee Civic Center Jan. 26-29

”

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

For those who live the RV lifestyle, it brings adventure, freedom and ability to share time with family and friends

For those who want to, the Fort Myers Recreation Vehicle Show will motor back to the Lee Civic Center for its 37th annual show from Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 26-29.

This year’s show will provide attendees an opportunity to see the latest and best camping products available to RVers and lovers of the great outdoors offered by a slew of local RV dealers and vendors

Dave Kelly, executive director of the Florida RV Trade Association, said the show will appeal to all levels of travelers and provides the perfect learning ground for those interested but afraid to ask questions at a dealership

“RV shows are a great place to come whether they are just getting started or experienced RVers The great thing is you have multiple dealers showing multiple brands and styles of RVs,” Kelly said “There are RVs for every price point,

hobby and interest

The Fort Myers RV Show is one of the largest RV shows in the state, with more than 11,000 attending for last year’s show and as many as 16,000 during its heyday 20 years ago

Attendees can view hundreds of recreational vehicles aged 2018 and newer of all different types, sizes and price points

In years past, the show featured mostly new RVs, with some models costing nearly $1 million That changed a few years ago so the event could include older models to allow more people the opportunity to afford one, including a growing number of younger people

“ S o m e p e o p l e d o n ’ t w a n t t o b u y something brand new as a first unit, so seeing some used models gives them an idea of where they can get started,” Kelly said “For a while, bigger was better It’s now switching with a younger audience, who now just want a place to sleep because they’re going to use them to do things outside the RV ”

Units on display will include gas and diesel motorhomes, travel trailers, toy haulers, 5th wheels, park models and van

Pine Island Community Pool reopens, normal hours of operation resume

ages and abilities

campers

The show also will feature more than 50 outdoors and camping supply vendors that focuses on the fun, flexibility and affordability RVs can provide, along with equipment and accessories to help outfit RVers or provide information on camping throughout the nation

Items will include new towing systems, specialized lighting, RV insurance, unique camping equipment and where to camp throughout the nation Daily free RV travel and maintenance seminars also will be offered.

There is a fundamental change happening in the way Americans travel, work and live More people are choosing RVs as their preferred option for travel as they prioritize spending time outdoors and embracing the freedom that comes with RVing

T h e n e w R V s M o v e A m e r i c a Economic Impact Study, released by the RV Industry Association, shows the RV industry has an overall annual impact to

the U S economy of $140 billion, supporting nearly 680,000 jobs and paying more than $48 billion in wages This is a 23 percent increase in economic output in just the past three years

“Even after COVID, you see how storms have impacting flying and having trouble getting people where they need to be Since 2020, people have re-evaluated how they travel and vacation,” Kelly said “They want those experiences that you want in traveling, not just getting on a plane and going somewhere ”

The 37th annual Fort Myers RV Show is open from 10 a m to 5 p m Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a m to 4 p m on Sunday

Admission is $10 with children under 16 free Parking is free courtesy of the RV Trade Association

F o r a d d i t i o n

Hurricane Ian due to damages, reopened to the public at 10 a m , Tuesday, Jan 17 The pool is resuming its normal winter operating hours

The hours of operation and schedule o f p r o g r a m s c a n b e f o u n d a t www leeparks org/pools

The Pine Island Community Pool was built in 1973, making it the first owned and operated aquatic facility of Lee County It features six lanes, a diving area with a one meter springboard and a two-flume water slide that is open year round Lap lanes are provided for the lap swimmer and water aerobics are offered three days a week Learn to Swim classes are offered throughout the year for all

The pool is located at Phillips Park, 5675 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia, at the Center

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and children under 18 For more information about Pine Island Pool call 2 3 9 - 2 8 3 - 2 2 2 0 o r v i s i t

www leeparks org/pools

For additional information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities and special events, please visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov com

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www leegov com/resources/newsletters

Lee County’s Pine Island Community

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Cape Coral Breeze Athlete

Week of the

Sign-ups to begin for island youth baseball

After a long fall due to the recovery from Hurricane Ian that wiped out youth baseball on the island, the possibility of Pine Island families getting back on the field seemed bleak

Phillips Park at Pine Island Center, the island's home field, had been a main drop zone for supplies and coordination of recovery efforts after Hurricane Ian In addition to the storm itself, this created its own challenges for the field and facilities But after hard work by many, the field is

‘March

ready to go ahead of schedule and officials are excited to announce that Pine Island Youth Baseball will be back for the spring 2023 season!

Sign-ups for the spring season will take place from Jan 21 through Feb 13, with b o t h o n l i n e a n d i n - p e r s o n s i g n - u p s planned (see our Facebook page for a link to online sign-ups, Pine Island Youth Baseball)

The first in-person sign-up will be at Phillips Park on Saturday, from 9:30 a m

to 12:30 p m , during the Junior Olympics sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Look for the sign-up table outside by the concession stand

A second in-person sign-up will take place on Monday, Feb 13, from 5-7 p m Pine Island Youth Baseball, in the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth Baseball, recognizes that this season may look different from normal At this time, the spring season will run from early March through mid-May More details will fol-

low as to specific dates and times

Officials are hoping that as many families as possible will come out to support the island league The normal spring registration fee is being waived and replaced with an optional donation

It’s time to play ball!

Keep an eye on the league Facebook page, Pine Island Youth Baseball, for more upcoming information and the link for the online sign-ups

in the Park’ set for March 11 at Jaycee Park in Cape

On Saturday, March 11, the Garden Club of Cape Coral will present its 15th Annual major fundraiser “March in the Park,” a plant and garden art sale. This sale will be held from 9 a m to 3 p m at Jaycee Park, 4125 S E 20th Place, in Cape Coral

With over 35 vendors, there will be plants of all kinds, trees, shrubs, ground cover, native plants and lanai plants to name a few

Garden art will include essential and fragrance oils, glass reflections, stepping stones, metal works, fish faces and various planters. Thrifty treasures will also be available!

Master gardeners and Garden Club members will be available all day to answer questions A kids’ booth, with a face painter, will have activities and takehome projects for all ages Food, music and opportunity drawings will be avail-

able throughout the day Admission and parking are free

The Garden Club of Cape Coral is a non-profit organization and all proceeds go to the club objectives -- Local High S c h o o l S e n i o r s “ M a r t y W a r d ” M e r i t

Scholarships in horticulture; civic beautification; local middle and high school garden projects; and to promote civic awareness of environmental and conservation concerns

If you are a vendor selling plants or do a craft that is garden related and want to join the juried show, please contact Ginny H u f f e r a t 2 3 9 - 2 5 7 - 2 6 5 4 , H u f f m o m 5 @aol com or check our website: gardenclubofcapecoral com

For additional information, check the c l u b w e b s i t e a t g a r d e n c l u b o f c a p e coral com

Sponsored by:

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Matlacha Hookers 11th Annual ‘Island Luau’ Event Feb. 26

The Matlacha Hookers 11th Annual “Island Luau” Event will be held Sunday, Feb 26, from 1-5 p m , outdoors at the St James City Civic Center in St. James City. The rain date is March 5

The Matlacha Hookers is a 501c3 woman’s charitable non-profit organization The organization has over 200 members from Matlacha and the Greater Pine Island area, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers

This year the proceeds will be split between the Beacon of Hope and the St James City Civic Center The Beacon is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping the needs of the Greater Pine Island Community. The 20+ recipients of Beacon Bites meals cost about $30,000 a year The Beacon also provides transportation to doctor appointments, helps those with financial needs, home repairs and much more

Over the past 10 events, the Matlacha Hookers have raised almost $76,000, and last year the Hookers increased the donation amount to $16,000 for the Beacon

The St James City Civic Association a l l o w s m e m b e r s t o m e e t c o m m u n i t y members with shared interests This facility accommodates various events, groups, clubs and activities Due to Hurricane Ian, the building needs significant repairs to the roof, floors, kitchen and lanai Join the Hookers for a fun outside

afternoon, swaying to live music, and sampling punch, food, wine and beer Get out those tropical shirts, grass skirts, and mu-mu’s and plan to get “leid”!

Your ticket includes live music, exotic island punch, wine, beer tastings, “welcoming leis” and island food for guests Mark Dupuy, a musician who plays steel drums, trumpet, flute, keyboard and guitar, will perform calypso island rock and fun dance music

Guests can also participate in mystery wines, “Classy Lady Boutique “pre-loved accessories,” Matlacha Hooker merchandise and beautiful Silent Auction items

Tickets are $40 in advance as none will be sold at the event The event has sold out the previous two years, so purchase tickets early They can be purchased at the following local businesses on the island: B e a c o n o f H O P E T h r i f t S t o r e ( P i n e Island), Centennial Bank Drive Up (St James City) or you can find tickets online a t E v e n t b r i t e K e y W o r d : M a t l a c h a Hookers Or ask your favorite Hooker Only 250 tickets are available to the public

Beacon offers assistance with appeals to FEMA

The Beacon of Hope wants to ensure that Pine Islanders get the maximum FEMA award possible Applicants may be eligible for up to $37,900 in home repair/replacement assistance and up to $37,900 in other needs assistance Other needs assistance covers personal property, transportation and more In addition, FEMA will also provide rental assistance Please note, FEMA requires you to exhaust your insurance first to avoid duplication of benefits.

If your FEMA award was less than these amounts, consider an appeal FEMA

award You have to provide documentation, e g contractor estimates to support your claim that you should get a larger award

The Beacon of Hope will help islanders fashion an appeal, and the Beacon has other partners who can also provide assistance if needed

The Beacon has a special phone number for FEMA appeals Call 727-6050709 to request assistance.

The Beacon of Hope is located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City

Sinclair named to Troy University Chancellor's List

Sarah Sinclair of Matlacha Isles, Fla , has been named to the Chancellor's List a t T r o y U n i v e r s i t y f o r t h e F a l l Semester/Term 2 of the 2022-2023 academic year.

The Chancellor's List honors full-time undergraduate students who are registered for at least 12 semester hours and who earn a grade point average of 4 0 Troy University is a public, historic, international university with 22,500 students and 154,000 alumni Students choose TROY for its quality academic

programs, reasonable costs and availability of financial aid, outstanding faculty, and flexible in-class and online class offerings Students on the Troy, Ala campus enjoy a traditional college experience, while adult students are the centers of attention at campuses in Dothan, Montgomery and Phenix City, Ala , as well as at locations around the world and online

F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www troy edu

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

For the first time, the School District of Lee County will hold a High School Student Enrollment Showcase for eighth grade students later this month

Inaugural High School Student Enrollment Showcase this Saturday Open Enrollment for middle and high school students begins Jan. 17

“We want our incoming high school students to choose a school that meets their interests, but recognize not every family has the ability to attend each school’s open house,” Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said in a prepared statement “By holding a showcase, with every school available on the same day, we are making it easier on our families to compare the high schools in their zone All of our high schools have done a great job creating unique opportunities, so that every student can find their place ”

In addition to all 15 traditional high schools, Lee Virtual School will also be among the schools present Those rising eighth grade students have from Jan 17 through March 3 to submit their choices for the high school assignment lottery

In addition, applications for IB, Cambridge, arts, FGCU and STEAM advanced programs are due by Jan 27

The showcase will be held at the Lee County Public Education Center, 2855 Colonial Blvd., from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p m Saturday, Jan 21

Those who attend the showcase are asked to enter t h r o u g h t h

Boulevard and McDonalds They will be given a map to show where to go

The schedule is broken down into zones:

East Zone from 8 to 9:30 a m

■ Dunbar High School

■ East Lee County High School

■ Gateway High School

■ Island Coast High School

■ Lehigh Senior High School

■ Riverdale High School

South Zone from 10 to 11:30 a m

■ Bonita Springs High School

■ Cypress Lake High School

■ Dunbar High School

■ Estero High School

■ Fort Myers High School

■ South Fort Myer High School

West Zone from 12 to 1:30 p m

■ Cape Coral High School

The School District of Lee County Open Enrollment process is moving entirely online for the 2023-2024 school year

To rank schools for the student assignment lottery, families must use their FOCUS Pare a c c o u n t S t u d e n t s w h o w i s h t o c schools for the 2023-2024 school y must also use their FOCUS Parent Port to rank their choices for the lottery Th online application process makes it unnecessary for families of students enrolled in a District school to stand in l o n g l i n e s o u t s i d e t h e S t u d e n t

Enrollment Office

The Open Enrollment period for ris ing fifth and eighth graders is from Ja 17 to March 3

Open Enrollment for elementary sch being delayed until a new proximit implemented that will shrink school zones to create neighborhood schools Elementary school parents can view the proposal presented to the Lee County School B o a r d a t h t t p s : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = YS8GClSDM E

Parents without a FOCUS account can create one at https://www leeschools net/our schools/focus

■ Ida S Baker High School

■ Island Coast High School

■ Mariner High School

■ North Fort Myers High School School Development Executive Director Clayton Simmons said although they will still have the regular Choice open houses, this event will provide parents with the opportunity to see all of the schools at the same time and obtain information about the schools He said it also allows the parents and students to see what career and technical programs the schools offer

The showcase will feature a counselor table, student enrollment information, exceptional student education and athletics In addition, the schools will focus on their

Student assignment uses a lottery system, so a family who registers the first day of Open Enrollment has the same chance of getting a school as that of a family who registers the last day high school students interested in B, Cambridge, Arts, FGCU and E A M A d v a n c e d P r o g r a m s m u s t b m i t t h e i r A d v a n c e d P r o g r a m pplication directly to the school of their choice by Jan 27 A Choice A p p l i c a t i o n S u b m i s s i o n R e c e i p t o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h t h e F O C U S Parent Portal showing the desired school ranked first is required to be n c l u d e d w i t h t h e A d v a n c e d ogram application

Any student that is new to the disr transferring into the district from a hool next year must still come to the Student Enrollment Office at 2855 Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers to register and fill out the application

Additional information about Open Enrollment is a v a i l a b l e o n t h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t w e b s i t e a t https://www leeschools net/our district/departments/ac ademic services/student enrollment/student open enr ollment

clubs, activities, special academic programs, academies and general student information

“A lot of times freshmen may not be thinking about career and technical academies,” Simmons said, adding that it might spark an interest and help in selecting a school “All of the high schools, no matter where you go, have an advanced curriculum - IB, AICE, or Cambridge program There may be other factors that weigh into what parents may want It’s time for them to walk around and see what's there ”

For additional information about the Lee County School District and student enrollment, please visit www leeschools net

Fire District seat 5 candidates sought

The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District is now accepting resumes to fill vacant seat five for the Fire Board Anyone interested in filling the vacant position must meet the qualifications listed below:

■ Is at least 18 years old

■ Is a United States citizen

GPICA

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75/25 split, where 25 percent gets split between the state and the county I can tell you the amount of debris that we have to pick up that could almost bankrupt the county,” Ruane said

Legislators however approved payment of the entire 25 percent, he said, leaving Lee County with no cost for debris whatsoever It is unprecedented for vegetation or construction debris pick-up to be done at the county level, and resources are being allocated as quickly as possible, Ruane promised

“Rest assured that we will make sure the debris gets picked up,” Ruane said

During the legislative session, Ruane said Gov DeSantis promised rebates on property taxes would be sent back to taxpayers

“What he basically passed was any substantially damaged homes from Sept 28, or theoretically the last quarter, would receive zero value for the building portion and would rebate that one quarter of whatever your tax bill is so if you have $500,000 in building, $5 million in land, he would rebate $125,000 - whatever that

■ Is a resident of the district ■ Is a registered voter within the district

The due date for applicants has been

Resumes must now be turned in

Friday, Jan 20

prorated share of taxes are He’ll do the same in '23 and that comes from the state’s coffers The problem with that is we’ve passed our budget, so we have a revenue issue where we’re without that revenue so the legislators passed the bill to allow us to actually get revenue replacement to allow the municipalities, especially the smaller municipalities, the opportunity to continue to operate and perform the services that you require,”

Ruane said

While Ruane was in the legislative session in Tallahassee, he said Lee County was able to receive over $750 million in appropriations He will also testify this week as to the needs of Lee County

“I will testify to make sure we continue to have representation to make sure we continue to have the funding that’s needed I asked for this job and I’ll make one promise I’m not going anyplace,” Ruane said

Some of the things Ruane said have already been accomplished or are currently in motion on Pine Island are permitting, the pool reopening, a centrally located

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dropped off at M/PIFCD Station 1, 5700 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922

If you have any questions, please contact M/PIFCD Administrative Assistant Miles at 239-283-0030

debris site and identification of sites for housing Some requirements for housing sites are keeping out of flood zones, and ascertaining water, power and sewer

F E M A D e p u t y D i r e c t o r R e c o r d i n g Officer for Hurricane Ian, Bob Flora, reported over $22 million in individual household programs have been provided to Pine Island and Matlacha residents as well as $18 million in homeowners assistance for repairs and $3 million in rental assistance

“As the commissioner mentioned, this is a catastrophic event and we are doing things that we’ve never done before, that are extraordinary the governor pushed hard and we responded to this what’s called commercial and private debris removal in the catastrophic areas of a disaster That has gone well I’m told 26 million cubic yards and over 12 million cubic yards in Lee County. The rough sense of what that is, is you could fill the Hertz Stadium almost 12 times from bottom to top and if we had a debris pile it’d go from here to Minneapolis and back to Pine Island,” Flora said

As far as temporary trailer homes, Flora said, licensing is already underway They have worked with flood plan managers of every municipality to get a temporary permit to allow travel trailers without raising them to the base-flood elevation, on a very temporary basis

“We are working this every single day I tell my team every day, we’re not done. You have a roof over your head it may be a FEMA trailer you’re sleeping in but it’s a roof and a lot of people do not have those out here, so we will keep pushing to get that done until we are done I too have been here since the beginning of the disaster, I will be here throughout the rest of this year into the summer two thirds of the housing mission is in one county that is Lee County and in Lee County, it is Pine Island So we will continue to work as best we can to get folks what they need and the needs they have to recover,” Flora said

To access this meeting on video or for other important GPICA information, visit GPICA org

That point is not lost on us I truly mean that Despite everything -- all of this, we feel really, really fortunate We feel lucky because we can open our business again, I mean, look at everybody who can’t Our people can go back to work that is not lost on me, every single day,” Lynch said Lynch and Tincher, who had to have both their homes gutted in the midst of cleaning out the restaurant, said once they began the process of rebuilding, there came a sense of hope and optimism The most difficult aspect, Lynch admitted with a chuckle, was attempting to clean everything without water

Despite the three-month waiting period, every front of the house employee has

returned to work at the Blue Dog, Lynch said

“We’re always looking for kitchen people cooks, prep-cooks, dishwashers and we will train,” Lynch said

An important aspect of Pine Island recovery, said Lynch, is supporting the local businesses when people come to town The local fishing families, who are an integral part of the island, make their living selling stone crab, blue crab and mullet to places just like the Blue Dog

“The more you support us, the more you support them, because we’re buying from them The shrimp is all wild caught, gulf shrimp,” Lynch said

Tincher emphasized that reopening the

restaurant was not just good for the owners and employees, but also for the community, which hit him hard in the first few days they were reopened

“It really sunk in since we’ve been open, how much it means to everybody out there It means a little bit of normalcy is coming back to light a sense of continuity that things are going to be O K We got knocked down, but not out We’re standing up and going for another round,” Tincher said.

In the midst of the mess still being cleaned up on Pine Island, Lynch said he’s heartened to walk through the doors of the restaurant and find that it looks exactly the way it did before disaster struck

“We really worked hard at that to make it feel that same way So, you walk in and say, 'Yeah, this is just the way it was before the hurricane ' You can see it and it gives people a good feeling It gives us a good feeling We’re happy to open that door,” Lynch said

Upon reopening, Wednesday, Jan 4, Lynch and Tincher agree it was more like a celebration than an average work day, as people flowed in and filled the place

“It seemed like all of Pine Island and Matlacha was there for lunch, and then they came back for dinner Wednesday morning, when I unlocked the door, I thought, is anybody gonna walk through, because it’s been it seems like a forever three months I was scared that it was out of sight/out of mind and people would just move on, but evidently that’s not the case,” Tincher said

In the days and weeks after the storm, how close-knit this island really is became apparent to both Lynch and Tincher, as they said people kept asking them how they could help with the restaurant

“People were coming up and asking what we needed or how they could help They don’t have a home, they had zero, they had nothing left and they want to help us,” Tincher said

“I am so impressed with the resilient, tough people here what spirit the people on this island have,” Lynch said

The Blue Dog Bar & Grill is located at 4597 Pine Island Road, Matlacha For more about the restaurant, call 239-5584970 or visit www bluedogmatlacha com

The Blue

Dog

Bar & Grill today, at left and below, after damage caused by Hurricane Ian was repaired, and the business reopened

PHOTOS PROVIDED

County remote permit office on island to close

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Community Development remote permit office at the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, is scheduled to close today, Jan 18

The temporary office was set up to allow residents to obtain permits for repairs to existing buildings damaged by Hurricane Ian Hours of the office are 10 a m to 5 p m

Hospitalizations

than the ER

“That’s been the trend over the past few weeks,” Gonsenhauser said. “Every single patient who arrives at our facilities and emergency departments is treated as q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e , b u t e m e r g e n c y departments can have long wait times for non-life-threatening conditions ”

Care teams triage patients based on how critical their needs are when they a r r i v e , G o n s e n h a u s e r s a i d , a d d i n g , “Patients with the most critical needs are going to be treated first ”

Non-critical issues could see longer wait times

“Those patients with lower-acuity illn e s s e s m a y e n d u p e x p e r i e n c i n g a l o n g e r w a i t , ” G o n s e n h a u s e r s a i d “ T r i a g i n g i s i n c r e d i b l y i m p o r t a n t t o assure that we get patients the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and we t h a n k y o u a l l f o r b e a r i n g w i t h t h a t process ”

Those experiencing a life-threatening i l l n e s s o r i n j u r y , i n c l u d i n g d i f f i c u l t y breathing, chest pain, stroke-like symptoms, persistent vomiting or abdominal pain should call 911 or seek immediate medical attention, health officials said. But not all medical needs require a trip to the ER

“Many emergency room visits can g e n e r a l l y b e a v o i d e d , ” G o n s e n h a u s e r said “We as a health system are always t r y i n g t o e x p a n d o u r o f f e r i n g s a n d resources to assure we have alternative sites of care when and where it makes sense ”

Llechu said national statistics show roughly four in every 10 patients who go to an emergency department should have,

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and could have sought care at another facility

“At Lee Health, we are trying to be good stewards of our health system, our s t a f f , b u t m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y , o f y o u r time,” Llechu said “If we can get you to the right setting, for the right care, at the right time, it is what is in your best interest, and in the best interest of every patient that is seeking care in the ER ”

O p t i o n s o t h e r t h a n t h e e m e r g e n c y room include:

■ Lee Convenient Care – LCC operates four locations throughout the county that are open seven days a week, require no appointment and offer extended hours.

■ Lee TeleHealth – This service is available 24/7 from your smartphone, computer or tablet Visits are $49 dollars, and patients can see a physician in minutes for any of the same ailments they would use a walk-in clinic for If needed, the physician can also make a referral or write a prescription

■ DispatchHealth – Lee Health also offers a mobile healthcare service to community members in Lee County, provided t h r o u g h D i s p a t c h H e a l t h , a n a t i o n a l p r o v i d e r o f i n - h o m e m e d i c a l c a r e .

Through the service, patients can be treated at home for many conditions that are commonly treated in urgent care settings

■ Primary care physician – Patients can call their physician office to make an appointment if not experiencing an emergency

For more information on Lee Health, visit www leehealth org

C o n n e c t w i t h t h i s r e p o r t e r o n Twitter: @haddad cj

Obituaries

Residents acting as their own contractor can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and issued from the remote office The applicants need only a description of the work and their address and staff will walk them through the process

The remote permit office is in response to Pine Island citizens requesting to have staff readily accessible to help them navigate the permit process as many residences are without internet service.

Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process

Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a structure will need to visit the Lee County Department of Community Development permitting office located at 1500 Monroe St in Fort Myers

To receive updates from Lee County G o v e r n m e n t , p l e a s e s i g n u p f o r t h e n e w s l e t t e r h e r e : w w w l e e g o v c o m / resources/newsletters

For additional updates related to Lee C o u n t y ’ s r e s p o n s e a n d r e c o v e r y f o r Hurricane Ian, visit www leegov com/ storm

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Southwest Florida’s most famous eagles pair, Harriet and M15, are once again proud parents with the hatching of eaglets E21 and E22 earlier this month at the Pritchett Farm in North Fort Myers

Eaglet E21, whose egg was laid in the nest on the Pritchett property off Bay Shore Road on Nov. 29, finally came out of its shell on Jan 4 at 8:22 p m , about 36 hours after pipping out of the shell

Meanwhile, a pip was seen in E22’s egg at around 11:16 a m on Jan 5 A close-up was seen of a small crack as the new baby used it to keep its balance It wasn’t until 4:43 a m on Jan 7 that E22 hatched, 37 days after the egg was laid on Dec 2

Both eggs were laid in the early evening shortly after nightfall They also came a little bit later than normal as Harriet and M15 were busy rebuilding their nest after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ian Ginnie McSpadden, who helps run the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, which broadcast the day-to-day lives of the eagle family in and around the nest, said it’s amazing that there was even a season at all “It’s been challenging Like everyone else with the hurricane and the recovery process, the eagles have done the exact same thing,” McSpadden said “Their nest was destroyed, but within two days, they were rebuilding in the original tree It was amazing to see them rebuild the nest and be able to hatch two eggs ”

People were able to watch the event on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, now in

its 11th season of showing us the daily goings on with Southwest Florida’s most famous feathered couple.

McSpadden said they weren’t sure they would be able to have an Eagle Cam, but they were able to pull it off

“The technology is still in the tree We had to make some minor switches to get it back streaming again,” McSpadden said “It’s a storybook season for us ”

What happens next?

According to www eagles org, When first born, the eaglets are covered with white down By the time they are 9 to 11 days old, the first down is replaced by a second down which is much darker in color

Eaglets come into the world totally helpless They cannot hold their head up; their vision is limited; their legs are too weak to hold their weight, cannot regulate their body temperature, and must rely 100 percent on their parents to protect them and care for them

Feathers begin to appear when they are about 24 days old and grow in by the time they are 6 weeks old, able to stand and tear up their own food

Fledging occurs at 10 to 14 weeks They are still fed by their parents for a time before they leave the nest

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam may be viewed at http://dickpritchet-

-

cam Four cams provide a variety of viewing options, including a primary cam, a noiseless camera, which also provides night vision, positioned 6 feet above the nesting tree.