021225 Pine Island Eagle by BreezeNewspapers

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Sue Dahod

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Sue Dahod said she would describe herself as an environmental advocate, an outdoors person and a biologist. As a retired islander she said her activities as a volunteer have been largely focused on water quality.

“Essentially I retired from a job where I was doing both engineering and biological project management,” Dahod said.

When she arrived from Wisconsin in 2013, she said she was looking at real estate in Naples. After expanding her search range, she said she found Pine Island, where her real estate agent told her she would absolutely love the island.

“He told me I would love Pine Island and that he would show me other proper-

ties on the mainland, but he was certain I would love how unique Pine Island is,” Dahod said.

Her first love, she said, is the outdoors and being in nature, so it’s no surprise that she returned to these things after retirement.

One of her favorite aspects of her experience on Pine Island, she said, has been connecting to the artist in her, as she’s always dabbled in the art of painting.

Part of her realization that the island was an extraordinary find came in simply being here.

“The people and the way of life here was perfect. I was told about it but then I experienced it,” Dahod said.

Her contribution to the island, she said, came during and after recent hurricanes,

particularly, Hurricanes Irma and Ian. She found herself getting involved with the Greater Pine Island Alliance. As a Greater Pine Island Civic Association board member, she said, she found herself wanting to go out and check on the community to make sure they knew they weren’t alone.

“I did a fair amount of walking around different parts of the island that had been flooded and talking to people and asking how they were doing and if they needed any help, and I was giving them the busi-

Carving happiness from devastation in Pine Island Cove

By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

When Floyd Cornett saw the state of some of the local trees after damage created by Hurricane Ian, he thought it would be a fun thing to do to carve the trees as monuments of the storm damage.

“I wanted to beautify the community and make something good out of Ian, I guess. It makes people smile,” Cornett said.

He said he thought the leaning trees looked like fish, more specifically, he said, they looked like a bunch of mullet jumping out of the water. Soon after seeing the potential, he said, he grabbed a buddy of his and they both began the project of carving the trees into fish.

“Another buddy of mine showed up and he said, ‘Man, I want to do a tarpon,’ so I told him to start

See CARVING HAPPINESS, page 16

22nd Annual Garden Gala Feb. 22 at the SJCCA

The Pine Island Garden Club, founded in 1975, is empowered with over 100 active members, who follow the mission of the promotion, protection and conservation of Pine Island’s natural beauty. Its annual fundraiser, the Pine Island Garden Gala, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, beginning at 9 a.m. and continuing until 3 p.m., at the St James City Civic Association located off Lemon Street between 4th and 5th Avenues.

Due to limited parking on site, the First Baptist Church of St. James City, located at the intersection of Oleander Street and 8th Avenue, has graciously allowed the use of its parking lot to operate a shuttle service to and from the event.

This fun-filled family day will encompass over 70 vendors promoting plants, art and related products, 50/50 and raffle drawings, a silent auction, the spinning lucky wheel (with neat stuff donated by local businesses), a yummy homemade bake sale plus your favorite sandwiches offered by Salty Girl restaurant.

The proceeds from the gala are utilized by the club to support its island efforts to maintain the grounds at the Garden Park, Museum of the Islands, Bokeelia Post Office and the Pine Island Elementary School’s butterfly garden.

The club also provides financial support to several benevolent island organizations such as the Calusa Land Trust, Pine Island Elementary School, Pine Island Food Pantry, CROW, Kiwanis Children’s Park and the Beacon of Hope.

For more information, please contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175 or martykendall@gmail.com

Active islander and environmental advocate Sue Dahod.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Island nurse accused of felony child neglect

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

A St. James City nurse has been arrested after she was accused of not properly feeding a child in her professional care.

Kelly Perrigo, 62, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with felony child neglect following an investigation conducted by Cape Coral Police.

According to CCPD officials, on Sept. 15 of 2024, officers were called to a home in the northwest Cape, where the reporting party stated Perrigo was not properly feeding their child, who has medical conditions that require roundthe-clock care.

On the morning of Sept. 14, the reporting party said she talked with Perrigo, who was the night nurse for the child, and that Perrigo said the child had low blood sugar and drank all of their nighttime bottles, police officials stated.

Police said that after Perrigo, who is a Licensed Practical

Nurse, left the home, the reporting party reviewed surveillance cameras in the child’s room.

“She saw that throughout the night, Perrigo would heat the child’s bottle and attempt to feed the child for about 2-5 minutes, then put the child in the crib and leave the room with the full bottle,” said CCPD officials in a release. “On the kitchen surveillance camera, Perrigo was seen placing an empty bottle in the sink. The reporting party believed Perrigo would empty the bottle in the bathroom sink before going into the kitchen. Looking through surveillance video, the reporting party noticed Perrigo wasn’t feeding the child any of their bottles since August 17.”

Kelly Perrigo

Police said the reporting party told them that since Perrigo started caring for the child in February of 2024, the child has had issues with “gaining weight, lack of energy, and has fallen into liver failure.”

The reporting party also told police that if the child does not drink the bottles, nurses are instructed to feed the child through a GI tube, which was never seen on surveillance.

CCPD officials said that officers reviewed the footage, which corroborated the reporting party’s claims.

The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified and took a report.

CCPD’s Special Victims Unit took over the investigation, and on Feb. 5, Perrigo arrived at the Cape Coral Police Department and was arrested.

As of Thursday at noon, Perrigo was still in custody at Lee County Jail. She is being held on a $50,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 10.

Lee County staff to pursue purchase of over 80 acres of land for Conservation 20/20 program

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize staff to pursue the purchase of two parcels – including an 80.5-acre parcel in Bokeelia – for the Conservation 20/20 land acquisition program.

The Bokeelia parcel is near the Conservation 20/20 Smokehouse Bay Preserve and within the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve on the northeastern portion of Pine Island. It is a former ornamental tree farm and plant nursery.

The other parcel is 15.5 acres in the southeastern part of Lee County surrounded by state-owned conservation land within the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

The Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee voted to support these nominations.

Any acquisition agreements will be brought back will be to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.

Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 program includes more than 31,520 acres and 52 preserves. More information on the Conservation 20/20 profile is available here:

www.leegov.com/parks/conservation2020

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at www.leegov.com/resources/ newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.

OLMMC to hold Rummage sale this weekend

Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church will be holding a Rummage Sale Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m. to noon.

The church has over 10,000 square feet of inventory

to sell including a motorcycle, kayaks, bikes, antique furniture, jewelry and so much more. Hope to see you there. Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church is at 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. Call 239-283-0456 for more information.

OPINIONS

10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922

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Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

n Yes. 14%

n No. 58%

n I do sometimes, but not this year 14%

n Never. 14%

Current Web Poll Question:

Have you gotten a flu shot?

n Yes.

n No.

n Not yet.

n I don’t think they are necessary.

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle.com

Sounds like a plan

The Lee County School District is planning to adjust school bell times next year, something that will impact students and families.

The proposed changes do have a down side — many elementary students will start their days later, which may affect working parents.

There also is the potential for a pretty significant upside.

District officials say kids will get to school on time.

And they won’t be waiting for late buses to get home.

At last count, nearly 8,000 students among the district’s 47,000 bus riders arrive late to school each day.

Approximately 18,800 are picked up late for their ride home from school.

These daily numbers — which compute to on-time arrival averages of 83% and 60% respectively — are wholly unacceptable, which the district acknowledges.

To rectify the problem — and to pick up a tad more classroom time — the district plans to convert its two-tiered transportation system to a three-tiered system.

District officials say the change will mit-

igate the challenge it has of hiring enough bus drivers.

It will be safer for students, particularly younger ones who should not be waiting at bus stops for a ride to school.

It also will help make sure kids arrive ready to learn instead of stressed and tardy.

We urge district officials to continue their efforts to make sure before- and after-school care programs are tweaked accordingly

But count us among those with fingers crossed.

—Eagle Editorial

Parents & students all have a role to play

One life is too many to lose, however in recent years, our community has dealt with multiple tragic losses of young lives at the hands of gun violence. In addition, it’s becoming more prevalent than ever to see social media posts of young adults showing off guns that somehow they’ve managed to get their hands on.

In response to this alarming trend, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers has produced a new public service announcement that addresses gun violence among teens, the horrific consequences of teens getting access to guns, and what we can all do to enact change. Starting today, the video will be distributed throughout our community via social media outreach campaigns, as well as to local school districts.

It leaves a hole in our hearts at Crine Stoppers every time we hear another case where a teen has been shot and killed. We know that there is a wealth of information

Vaccines are a lifesaver

To the editor:

I wanted to share some thoughts on vaccines, as it’s a topic that can evoke strong feelings and differing opinions. As many of you know, our experiences with vaccines, school shots and childhood diseases shape our perspectives, especially as parents and grandparents.

Vaccines play a crucial role in protecting our children from serious disease. For instance, the combination vaccine that includes

being shared amongst young people about who has guns, and where they’re getting them, but that information isn’t always getting to law enforcement until it’s too late. With this PSA, we want to encourage teens and parents alike that Crime Stoppers is here as the only anonymous way to report the information. One tip could save a life.

The new Crime Stoppers PSA was produced with the assistance of Fort Myers-based Full Circle Productions and Dreamtime Entertainment, who have assisted Crime Stoppers with a previous video on how Crime Stoppers works in the schools.

The gun violence PSA can be found at :

diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP), along with vaccines for influenza B, pneumonia and inactivated polio,helps safeguard our children’s health.

Diphtheria is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It can lead to severe complications if not treated.

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium, leads to painful muscle spasms and can result in lockjaw, making it difficult to open the mouth or swallow.

We Want Your Opinion

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 mailed to: Pine Island Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers.com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com or faxed to 283-0232. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle.com

https://youtu.be/_e48UceO0hE

For additional information on Crime Stoppers, how to submit tips and how we keep tipsters anonymous, check out our website at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or on Facebook page (SWFL Crime Stoppers), Instagram (swflcrime8477), X (SWFLCrime8477) or You Tube (SWFLCrimeStoppers).

The Crime Stoppers hotline is open 24/7 at 1-800-780TIPS (8477), online and on the P3 Tips app. All callers remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000.

Pneumonia causes inflammation of the air sacs in the lungs which can fill up with fluid, leading to serious issues.

The inactivated polio vaccine is crucial: it is one single dose and protects against polio, a disease that paralyzes muscles and can lead to a lifetime of health challenges. Watching someone reliant on an iron lung due to polio is a stark reminder of the disease’s severity. Pertussis, or whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. It leads to severe coughing fits that can be alarming and dangerous, especially to young children.

As a healthcare professional, I see the importance of vaccines preventing disease. It’s vital for us to take care of our loved ones and to keep our immune systems robust.

I also want to express my concern regarding the idea of eliminating vaccines, especially with some potential candidates for the Department of Health and Human Services advocating for such measures. Vaccines are the cornerstone of public health not just for individuals but entire communities.

Take care of yourselves and your families, Katheen Callard RNBS North Fort Myers

Trish Routte is the Crime Stoppers manager.

Trish Routte Guest Commentary

Right brain, left brain

When I tell guests on my boat that dolphins never completely sleep, they are astounded. But in truth, if dolphins fell completely asleep as humans do, they would drown. They have to surface to breathe and this is a conscious decision.

Humans have prolonged periods of unconscious sleep and we are not aware of our surroundings for periods of time while sleeping. Dolphins have to be somewhat awake and alert to make the decision to surface to breathe. Dolphins typically breathe 4-5 times a minute but this can change with activity level.

Dolphins have large brains with two hemispheres that are able to sleep at different times. The dolphins alternate which half of the brain is sleeping so that they can get the rest they need. After about 2 hours, the dolphin will reverse this process. They must remain conscious because their breathing is not automatic. They have to actively decide when to surface. The left eye will be closed when the right half of the brain sleeps. The right eye will be closed when the left half of the brain sleeps. The attentive side is used to watch for predators, obstacles and other animals. This type of sleep is known as unihemispheric sleep.

Dolphin Tales

Dolphins have two basic methods of sleeping. They either rest quietly in the water vertically or horizontally, or sleep by swimming slowly next to another dolphin. Individual dolphins also enter a deeper form of sleep, mostly at night. It is called logging because in this state a dolphin resembles a log floating on the water’s surface.

Manatees also use unihemispheric sleep. Just as the dolphins, this sleep state helps them breathe and swim while sleeping. Manatees often lie on their backs when they rest. They come up for air every 20 minutes or so expending as little energy as possible. They rest about 12 hours a day.

Unihemispheric sleep is widespread in birds and occurs even in reptiles.

During long migratory flights, unihemispheric sleep may allow birds to navigate and still maintain vigilance. Research even suggests that under conditions of potential threat, humans may do something similar.

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters. As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 994-2572. Welcome aboard!

SJCCA Update

St. James City Civic Association has announced the following upcoming events and activities:

Thursday, Feb. 13

n Ping Pong, 9-11 a.m. It’s a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong

n Mahjongg, 1-4 p.m. This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg! Contact Carolyn at 239-233-7682.

n Cribbage, 6-8 p.m. All are welcome for weekly cribbage fun and competition. Contact John Hennessy at 908-801-2034 for additional information

Friday, Feb. 14

n Shuffle Board, 9-11 a.m. All equipment provided. Beginners welcome.

n YOGA with Carole, 9-10 a.m. Come join in on yin yoga. Also for those who would like to participate in chair yoga. All are welcome.

n Open Mic, 1-4 p.m. “Open Mic” is a public event where anyone can get on stage and perform, typically music, poetry or comedy, offering a platform for new or developing artists to showcase their talent in front of an audience Contact Denise Huber at 208-290-2512 with questions

Saturday, Feb. 15

n Garage Sale, 8-11 a.m. We have received a lot of new things, so stop by and shop! Accepting donations.

Tuesday, Feb. 18

n Shuffle Board, 9-11 a.m.

n Ping Pong, 9-11 a.m.

n Golden Brush, 1-4 p.m. Don’t be shy! Explore your artistic muse with SJCCA’S painting group. The Order of the Golden Brush, founded over 45 years ago by Gladys Stroud, provides a supportive atmosphere for individuals wishing to play with paints and pencils. Newcomers, current members, novices, and established artists are all welcome. Need more information? Please call Linda Selleck at 239-313-1212

PHOTO PROVIDED Performing by candlelight

Four hundred luminaries set the stage for the recent evening Verlon Thompson concert at the St. James City Civic Association.

n Dominoes, 6-8 p.m. Dominoes is a game that everyone can play: kids, adults, and even the old. It is that simple, and it does not matter a person’s skill type or level when it comes to gaming. Contact Vicki Janda 954.655.4252 for additional information.All activities are held at St James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave., St James City. More details, contacts and ticket sales are available at SJCCAPI.ORG

Valentine’s Day event Feb. 14-15 in Matlacha

Islanders are invited to to celebrate Valentine’s Day visiting Matlacha’s businesses, restaurants and vendors who will be having a two-day event in downtown Matlacha Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15.

The event is being sponsored by Matlacha Civic Association and the Greater Pine Island Real Estate

Guide.

As a special feature, over 20 open houses on the island will be open for viewing. Find the house that you’ve been dreaming of “Living in Paradise.” Check Facebook’s Matlacha Civic Association and Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce pages for further details

Capt. Cathy Eagle

County Community Development office to be temporarily relocated to North Fort Myers Rec Center

The Lee County Community Development lobby, 1500 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers, has beed temporarily relocated as of Monday, Feb. 10, to allow for repairs to damage from Hurricane Ian.

The temporary office will be located on the grounds of the North Fort Myers Park and Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. The Community Development location will be on the south side of the park property amid the Pop Warner Football fields and will be open 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The online application portal, along

with telephone and email services, are expected to be unaffected by the temporary relocation.

The repairs are expected to be complete in about three weeks, after which services will resume from downtown Fort Myers. Monitor www.leegov.com and social media for an announcement of the reopening of the downtown lobby.

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.

Lee Health Bloodmobile at Moose Lodge this Saturday

The Lee Health Bloodmobile will be visiting The Pine Island Moose Lodge at 8903 Stringfellow Road in St. James City on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. All the blood collected remains in Lee Health, which includes the Golisano Children’s Hospital of SW Florida, the Regional Cancer Center and the only Trauma Center (which is located in the Lee Memorial Hospital) within a 5-county radius. The blood also supports Cape Coral Hospital and Gulf Coast Medical Center. One in three people will need

Friends of Pine Island Library Book & Cookie

Sale Saturday

Friends of Pine Island Library will hold its biannual Book & Cookie Sale Saturday, Feb. 15, at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, 10360 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a members only early hour opportunity from 8-9 a.m.; join at the door ($5).

The Friends will offer $2 hard covers and $1 soft covers. An added bonus will be all children’s and young adult books priced at BOGO prices of $1. And just in time for Valentine’s Day, they will offer A Date With A Book for $5 (a decoratively wrapped hardcover book that will be a surprise to the buyer and the receiver). Also new, are gently used puzzles and games.

One dollar bags of cookies (including gluten free choices) and other novelties will be available.

Friends of Pine Island Library is a non-profit organization of volunteers who support and promote the island’s library. The book sales are the only fundraisers for the year,

blood in their lifetime. You never know when you or someone you know or love will need blood. So come out and Give the Gift of Life!

All donors will receive a free health checkup, cholesterol screening and gift.

New studies show that donating blood improves your overall cardiovascular health. Regularly donating blood helps men in particular to reduce the amount of iron in the blood. This can reduce the chance of heart attack by 88%.

Please help us make our goal of 16+ units of blood.

Requirements for donating blood:

n Weigh at least 115 pounds

n Be at least 16 years old (16 requires parental written consent)

n Be relatively healthy

n Provide photo ID

n Have 56 days between donations

Eat a meal before donating blood and be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after donation.

Questions about donating? Call us at 343-2333

GPICA elects new board members, addresses more local issues

(Due to technical difficulties, last week’s Greater Pine Island Civic Association meeting live streamed without sound. The following meeting notes were taken by GPICA Board Vice President Nadine Slimak and presented as a wrap-up of the meeting.)

GPICA Members Elect New Board and Provide Other Community Updates

Members of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association (GPICA) elected new board members during the organization’s annual meeting, which took place Tuesday, Feb. 4, at the First Baptist Church of Pine Island. The meeting also included updates on a celebration of life for Calusa Waterkeeper and Pine Island resident Codty Pierce, new developments in the Seven Islands major development project in Cape Coral, a Conservation 20/20 land purchase proposed for Bokeelia and more community news.

Pierce Memorial

Board member Sue Dahod shared plans for the memorial for Codty Pierce, who died Jan. 13, and invited his Island friends from the community to attend the Tuesday, Feb. 11, activities starting with:

A short memorial beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Randell Research Center, 13810 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia; Followed at 6:30 p.m. by a gathering to share stories about Codty at Carmen’s Kayaks, Knight’s Landing, 16499 Porto Bello St., Bokeelia.

Seven Islands

Dahod also provided an update on the Seven Island project. This massive development has been envisioned by the Cape for more than a decade and the project moved forward when the developer, Gulf Gateway Development, and the city applied for an Army Corps of Engineers permit to build seawalls, dredge and build docks for the infrastructure of the mixed-use development proposed to include residential, commercial and entertainment facilities. The public notice of the application was made on Dec. 4, 2024. The project will encompass seven undeveloped man-made islands located on the east side of the Spreader Canal not far from Matlacha. The developer envisions a 10-year build out with

the first phase focused on Island 7 and the frontage on Old Burnt Store Road. Ultimately, the project calls for:

n Condominiums

n Apartments

n A Marriott-branded hotel with 240 rooms

n Fish houses

n Waterfront restaurants

n Tiki bar

n Public marina and more than 200 boat slips

n Lagoon resort where a beach will be created on the waterfront of the hotel

n More than 10,000 square feet of meeting space

n Commercial spaces

You can read the public notice about the permit application to the Army Corps of Engineers on the GPICA website: www.GPICA.org/seven-islands.

Conservation 20/20 Purchase

GPICA President Deborah Swisher-Hicks shared that the GPICA Board sent a letter to Lee County Commissioners in support of a proposed Conservation 20/20 land purchase in Bokeelia. The land is an 80.5-acre parcel located near existing conservation properties — the Conservation 20/20 Smokehouse Bay Preserve and the Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge (a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service property). The land is a former tree farm.

Conservation 20/20 is a Lee County land acquisition and management program voted into place twice by Lee County residents, who agreed to tax themselves to support the conservation of environmentally sensitive lands. At Tuesday’s Lee County Commission meeting, commissioners voted to allow staff to begin negotiations for the property.

Dahod also provided an update on the Chiquita Lock lawsuit: Cape Coral is seeking millions of dollars in legal

fees from the three fishermen who brought the suit opposing the issuance of a DEP permit to Cape Coral to remove the Chiquita Lock. The fishermen have filed suit in federal court to stop the Cape from attempting such a retaliatory action against citizens who oppose their government’s actions.

Resiliency Survey

Vice President Nadine Slimak urged all residents — not just GPICA members — to take the GPICA’s resiliency survey. The goal is to use the information gathered to help understand which parts of the island have received the most storm impacts and to possibly seek governmental or grant support to make those areas more resilient to future tropical storms and hurricanes.

Visit www.GPICA.org/resiliency-survey/ to take the survey

FDOT to attend GPICA March Meeting

Treasurer Steve Eldredge provided an update on the Little Pine Island Bridge reconstruction and announced that a representative of the Florida Department of Transportation will be at the March GPICA meeting to discuss the bridge. Residents are encouraged to attend.

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4

Where: First Baptist Church of Pine Island, 5363 Ave. D, Bokeelia, 33922, located next to Pine Island Elementary School

Adopt-A-Road

Swisher-Hicks announced the dates for the monthly GPICA road clean-up and invited volunteers to help on the first Wednesday of every month.

2025 Dates: Feb. 5; March 5; April 2; May 7; June 4; July 9; Aug. 6; Sept. 10; Oct. 8; Nov. 5; Dec. 3

Where/When: Volunteers gather at 9 a.m. at the Post Office on Barrancas, then fan out along a two mile stretch of Stringfellow Road, from the bridge at Four Winds Marina to Raymary Street.

No RSVP needed, but be sure to bring gloves, wear close-toed shoes or boots and a reflective vest if you have

See GPICA, page 11

one. GPICA provides trashbags.

Swisher-Hicks also thanked Member Ellen Ballard of Bokeelia for organizing the monthly clean-ups.

GPICA Board Election Results

The last item of business was announcing the winners of the Board election. Eldredge announced that Swisher-Hicks, Slimak and Board Member Scott Wilkinson were re-elected and that Bokeelia resident Kathy Chumley was elected as a new Board Member.

About the Board:

Deborah Swisher-Hicks was born and raised in Sacramento and retired from the state of California after 25 years of reviewing, interpreting, and applying complex and ever-changing laws. She moved to Pine Island in 2019, a place she not only calls home, but a community she embraces. While working in California, she saw how natural resources such as soil-rich farmland, and natural preserves disappeared in the name of progress. She raised her children to believe in protecting what is important, which is why her son serves in the U.S. Air Force. With the great community of Pine Island as her home — a place that she holds dear to her heart — she believes that it is important to protect the natural resources from overdevelopment, to provide smart mitigation measures to protect the community, and to provide the heartfelt service to the community that she loves and embraces.

Nadine Slimak has lived in Bokeelia since 2000 and joined the GPICA board in 2017 to help protect the coastal-rural lifestyle that drew her to the Island. She spent 15 years as a journalist in Ohio, upstate New York and Florida before joining Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, where she served as Director of Communications for 11 years, directing national, regional and local media activities, handling crisis communications and helping the organization develop direct communications with its members and supporters. In 2015 (tired of the long commute from Pine Island), she left Mote to develop her own communications and public relations consulting business, Vetted Communications, LLC. Her main clients are nonprofit organizations working in the marine environment.

Scott Wilkinson was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He received his BA (Cum Laude) from the University of New Hampshire and has been a Florida resident since 2005 and has lived in Bokeelia since 2008. He served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1971-1973 and was honorably discharged in 1977. Scott worked for the USPS from 1974-1975, then became a U.S. Department of Labor Wage & Hour Division Field Investigator from 1975-2001 in Manchester, New Hampshire. From 2001-

2005, he worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, U.S. Department of Labor. He retired in 2005. He is a current member of the American Legion Pine Island Post 0136, Loyal Order of Moose Pine Island Lodge 1954, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program — Civilian Advisory Committee, Calusa Land Trust, Charlotte Shores One Property Owners’ Association, S.W. Florida Central Labor Council.

Kathy Chumley was born and raised in New Jersey. She traveled the world as a military dependent before settling in Ormond Beach, Florida, in 1973, where she met and married her husband, Jim. Kathy has one son, Ben, who works as a Senior Planner for Alachua County. Kathy has a BA in History from Stetson University in Deland, Florida, and an MA in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. She worked for 10 years at

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, ultimately serving as Manager of Library Services for the University’s Extended Campus and Distance Learning programs. Kathy moved to Bokeelia in 2002 to work as a reference librarian at the Cape Coral Lee County Public Library and retired in 2019 as a Senior Librarian and branch manager at the North Fort Myers Public Library. Since retiring, Kathy has been involved with a number of community organizations, including the Beacon of Hope, Calusa Land Trust and the Pine Island Garden Club. She is interested in protecting our environment and way of life, building for resilience, and preserving our fishing and agricultural communities. Kathy would like to serve on the GPICA board to help preserve the beauty, uniqueness and Old Florida atmosphere of Pine Island.

DOH-Lee issues red tide alerts; Bokeelia Fishing Pier on the list

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near the following locations:

n Blind Pass Beach

n Bokeelia Fishing Pier

n Bowditch Park Beach

This is in response to water samples taken on Feb. 3. The public should exercise caution in and around these areas.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions if near affected area:

n Look for informational signage posted at most public beaches and/or check current water quality status at Protecting Florida Together https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/.

n Do not wade or swim in or around red tide. Red tide can cause skin irritation, rashes, and burning/sore eyes.

n Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have had recent contact with red tide, especially if your skin is easily irritated.

n Remain cautious and stay away from this location, especially if you have chronic respiratory conditions.

n Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner. Make sure the air conditioner filter is maintained according to manufacturer’s specifications.

n Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish or distressed

or dead fish from this location. If caught alive and healthy, finfish are safe to eat as long as they are filleted, and the guts are discarded. Rinse fillets with tap or bottled water.

n Red tide can cause illness and death of other animals, such as pets and livestock. Keep animals away and out of the water and sea life and away from dead marine life. If your pet swims in waters with red tide, wash them with soap and water as soon as possible.

What is red tide?

Red tide is caused by high concentrations of a toxin-producing dinoflagellate called Karenia brevis (K. brevis), a type of microscopic algae found in the Gulf of Mexico. Red tide typically forms naturally offshore, commonly in late summer or early fall, and is carried into coastal waters by winds and currents.

At high enough concentrations, K. brevis can discolor water and give it a red or brown hue. To learn more about the appearance of red tide, visit Protecting Florida Together<https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/education-center/red-tide>.

Is red tide harmful?

K. brevis produces potent neurotoxins (brevotoxins) that can be harmful to the humans, pets, fish, and wildlife. Wind and wave action can break open K. brevis cells and release

Emergency repairs made near Little Pine Island Bridge

MATLACHA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation remains committed to the safety of the traveling public and the integrity of roadway infrastructure. On Thursday, Feb. 6, construction crews performed an emergency repair at the eastside approach of the Little Pine Island Bridge on the single lane currently being used for both directions of traffic.

Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public safety, all traffic was stopped to allow crews to address the issue promptly. A hole had formed beneath a metal plate due to the heavy volume of traffic, combined with the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To

ensure stability, crews reinforced the compromised area using flowable fill. The approach to the bridge has now been stabilized, and FDOT will continue to monitor the area as Phase 1 construction progresses.

Public safety is FDOT’s top priority. FDOT also recognizes the importance of timely communication and will work to improve notifications regarding unexpected traffic impacts so that drivers can make informed travel decisions.

For more about roadway projects, visit SWFLRoads. com, on X: @MyFDOT_SWFL and on Facebook: @ MyFDOTSWFL

toxins into the air. This is why you should monitor conditions and use caution when visiting affected water bodies. People can experience varying degrees of eye, skin, and respiratory irritation from red tide. Sensitive individuals (e.g., children, the elderly, those who are immunocompromised, and those who have chronic respiratory conditions) may be at risk of experiencing more severe symptoms.

For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health’s harmful algae blooms webpage https://www.floridahealth. gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins/harmful-algae-blooms/index.html>.

Where can I find current water status information?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission routinely collects and analyzes red tide samples from around the state. Current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and beach conditions is available at Protecting Florida Together. You can subscribe to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area.

To hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state, call the toll-free hotline at 866-300-9399.

For local licensed shellfish harvesting status, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Where can I report issues related to red tide?

n Human Health: Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algae bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center by calling 800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist.

n Animal Health: Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with red tide contaminated water.

n Fish Kills: Dead, diseased, or abnormally behaving fish or wildlife should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission online at https://myfwc. com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/ or at 800636-0511.

If you have other health questions or concerns about red tide blooms, please call DOH-Lee at 239-252-8200.

Good fishing weather continues around SWFL

In less than two weeks, inshore water temperatures rose from the mid- to upper 50s up to the mid-70s. The weather was perfect over the week with warm sunny days and light winds. On the downside, red tide and poor water were scattered off the coast and inshore. Good weather allowed grouper dig -

cellent eating.

Spanish mackerel schools are a short distance off the beach and around the gulf passes. The key to locating fish is finding good water and birds. Gulls and terns are a giveaway for feeding macks. Long cast with small silver or gold spoons and white mylar jigs took

macks up to 24 inches. To prevent cut-offs, it’s a good idea to use a foot or so of light wire leader.

Inshore, fishing around structure inside the barrier island and passes turned up a variety of fish including sheepsheads, redfish, black drum and pompano. Preferred baits included shrimp tipped jigs or shrimp fished on bottom. Once again, the key was good water. Often the red tide concentrations are low enough not to kill fish but to take away their appetite. And the affected locations change day to day.

On the Water

Seatrout with a good number of keeper-size fish came from sand holes across the east side of Pine Island Sound over the rising tide. Baits included white or chartreuse shad tail plastics and live shrimp under popping corks. Ladyfish and a few pompano were also caught. If the warm trend continues we are going to move into good spring fishing

gers to make the long run west into gulf waters and return with limits of tasty red grouper. Fishing hard and Swiss cheese bottom in depths from 90-110 feet worked for reds up to 30 inches. Baits included squid, cut mullet or ladyfish, and live pinfish. Mangrove and vermilion snapper were caught over the same bottom as well.

Anglers fishing nearshore in depths from 30-50 feet often had to move up or down the coast to find good water. Bottom fishing with live shrimp turned up sheepsheads, grunts and a few mangrove and lane snappers. The average size of sheepsheads is down from previous years with lots of undersize fish, and keepers averaging 12-14 inches. On the positive, grunt numbers are up, and they are decent size. Although their name isn’t appealing, grunts are ex -

pretty quick. Let’s hope the red tide dissipates or moves away soon. Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at www. myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures 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 239-4108576; website at www.fishpine island. com; 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

PHOTO PROVIDED

This Pine Island crew caught a tasty bag of sheepsheads, grunts and snapper. They were fishing 40-foot depths west of Boca Grande Pass with Capt. Bill Russell.

Capt. Bill Russell

Outstanding employees recognized

A huge thank you to all our firefighters and staff for their incredible dedication and hard work in protecting our community. You are the heart of this department and provide an invaluable service.

This week, we had the honor of recognizing our outstanding employees with the following 2024 awards:

n Employee of the Year: S. Russ (below)

n Firefighter of the Year: J. Arias (right)

n Paramedic of the Year: M. Angrisani (below right)

n EMT of the Year: K. Childers (bottom right)

n Hot Shot Award (Most Emergency Calls Run): A. Richardson (far right)

Congratulations to all our award recipients! Keep up the excellent work!

From the Firehouse

on the other end and they both carved beautiful pieces. Eventually, I guess 3 years later, it was done,” Cornett said.

The project ended up in the hands of quite a crew, according to Cornett. After the carving was finished, he said, Janice Todd began painting the turtles and the jellyfish and adding a lot of contrast overall. He said it wasn’t long before the Men’s Club came in and cleaned the whole area and put rock in the front and then Pine Island Garden Club came in and planted new plants around the carved trees.

The finishing touch were the lights added to the display, he said.

The project crew included Mark Stevens, Erik Parker, Jackie Stanaland, Gary Hartwig, Brian Roe and Janice Todd.

Pine Island Cove is at 7290 Ladyfish Drive, St James City.

The display can be seen from Gulfgate Lane inside Pine Island Cove. XjX

on the island. The fish were carved from hurricane damaged trees.

Sue

Dahod From page 1

ness card of the Greater Pine Island Alliance. Then when Milton hit, it was a double whammy. I was in the office and taking phone calls and talking to people about getting volunteers to their house and helping them in Matlacha and St. James City and Bokeelia — there were people in need and I felt really connected at that time,” Dahod said.

Her greatest wish for Pine Island, she said, would have to be the ability to manage incoming development.

“I’d want the government to say, hey, you’re living on an island that’s been affected by storms and it is one of the few

fairly rural places on the coast, so we’re going to slow down development. Putting houses on land someone owns is not the same as big developments. I would hope that somebody sees the wisdom in turning Pine Island into a park land and saving it as it is.

“There’s ancient history here and there’s modern history — there are so few places that have any kind of character, it would be nice if this place was preserved, ” Dahod said.

Friends of Pine Island Library Book & Cookie Sale Saturday at island church

One dollar bags of cookies (including gluten free choices) and other novelties will be available.

Friends of Pine Island Library is a non-profit organization of volunteers who support and promote the island’s public library.

The book sales are the only fundraisers for the Friends. These funds help with the island’s library Summer Reading program for children and support programs of interest throughout the year to the greater Pine Island Community.

A close-up of one of the many carvings at the Pine Island Cove development

Bridge Beat

Bridge is played at 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St. James City. Anyone wishing to play is welcome and does not need a partner. It costs three dollars to play, some of which goes back to winners of the game. Come join us. Sharpen your brain!

Last week’s winners were 1st place, Karen McWright; 2nd place, Judy Nyhus; and 3rd place, John Nyhus. Judy and John bid and made a slam, and are still kicking themselves for not bidding a grand slam, a common mistake.

Mahjongg Scores

On Feb. 6 there were 16 players for mahjongg at the St. James City Civic Asosciation. The top scorers were Terry Wilbur and Peggy Finley, who tied with 110 points; Joyce Bieber had 105; and Kathy Richardson had 90.

Thanks to the ladies who raised $500 from your donations to SJCCA for Diane’s beautiful mahjongg tile necklaces.

We play mahjongg every Thursday from 1-4 p.m. at SJCCA on Lemon Street and Fourth Avenue. For more information, call Carolyn at 248-233-7682

Cribbage Corner

Scores for cribbage for Jan. 30 at the St. James City Civic Association:

1. Dan Collard

2. Joel Schuitema

3. Mike Mulder

4. Dennis Gettys

Lamb of the Week: Judy Schuitema Cribbage is played at SJCCA every Thursday from 6:30-9 p.m. For more information, contact John Hennessy at 908-801-2034

Tickets available for Supermarket Sweep

Due to last year’s storms, the Kiwanis Supermarket Sweep has been moved to Monday, March 3. Tickets are $10, and the winning ticket will be drawn on Wednesday, Feb 26. The winner will have 10 minutes to run through the grocery store, grabbing up to $1,000 in groceries. All proceeds help kids on Pine Island with scholarships, pool parties, Junior Olympics, Bike Rodeos and much more.

In the past, winners have donated some or all of the groceries to Pine Island Food Pantry. Tickets may be purchased at Century 21 by Frozen Flip Flop or from any Kiwanis member.

Kiwanis meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at the VFW on Stringfellow Road. Come out and see all the wonderful things Kiwanis does for children. Any questions, call Cindy 954-249-5512

Kindergarten registration continues at PIE

Attention parents of children entering Kindergarten at Pine Island Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year. If you have not done so already, please register your child for school as soon as possible. Come to Pine Island Elementary School, 5360 Ridgewood Drive,

Bokeelia, and ask for the Information Specialist. This will help ensure that we have the correct number of teachers in place for the start of next school year. Please call 239-283-0505 with questions.

Hookers 13th Annual ‘Island Luau’ March 2

The Matlacha Hookers’ 13th Annual “Island Luau” will be held Sunday, March 2, from 1-5 p.m. at the St James City Civic Center on Lemon Street in St. James City.

Over the past 12 luaus, the Matlacha Hookers raised over $125,000, and last year the group increased the total donation amount to over $22,000 distributed to the Beacon of Hope and the St. James City Civic Center, this year’s beneficiaries again.

The Beacon of Hope, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, supports the Greater Pine Island community through programs like Beacon Bites, serving 20-plus recipients at an annual cost of $30,000. It also provides transportation, financial assistance, home repair services and more.

The SJCCA promotes community engagement by hosting events and activities. The facility, damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton, now requires repairs.

Join the Hookers for an afternoon of outdoor fun swaying to live island music, tropical beverages, delicious food and desserts. Wear your tropical shirts,

grass skirts or muumuus and get ready to be “leid” as you enjoy Mark Dupuy’s calypso island rock and dance music, featuring steel drums, trumpet, flute, keyboard, and guitar, alongside captivating performances by the Hula Connections dancers.

If you own a business and would like to donate some items or be a sponsor of the event, three three levels of sponsorship are available:

Don’t hesitate to contact Linda Bohacek at 715-5795009 or email her at lbrdh4pets@gmail.com if interested, as these sponsorships close on February 1, 2024. Your ticket includes live music, two beverages, welcoming leis and island-inspired cuisine. Don’t miss the chance to join in the costume contest, dancing, and browsing the auction items in this tropical celebration! Tickets are $45 in advance as none will be sold at the event. The luau has sold out in the last four years, so please purchase your tickets by ordering online: o to directly to https://events.humanitix.com/13th-annual-island-luau and the tickets will be emailed to you.

Call Tracy at 317-501-9930 for information.