Pine Island Eagle by BreezeNewspapers

WEEk of fEbruary 21, 2024 FLIER INSIDE

Donation to FISH Matlacha Hookers present $5,430 check to island organization — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com

VolumE 47, NumbEr 42

Local Elks Lodges support Army of Hope Picnic The Elks South-Southwest District Army Of Hope Picnic will be held at the Rotonda Lodge # 2710 Sunday, Feb. 25, from 12-4 p.m. The opening Flag Ceremony will begin at noon with music from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. The 10 lodges in the South-Southwest District have planned to serve pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, Philly cheesesteaks and sausages with peppers and onions, salads and desserts. Attendees will have an opportunity to take part in the silent auction, games and raffles, as well as having an opportunity to learn about the Florida Elks and its many

charitable programs that are making a difference in communities within South-Southwest Florida. All proceeds from the picnic will go to support the Florida Elks Army of Hope. The Army of Hope is a program of the Florida State Elks Association established in 2007 that helps families of all branches of service. Its mission is to provide aid assistance to the families of deceased, disabled and deployed members of the military. The families of Florida active duty military personnel, military reservists, Coast Guard, the National Guard and/or their dependents are eligible. An active duty member stationed in Florida

with his/her dependents would qualify as a Florida resident. The help you give through the Florida Army of Hope allows the military member to safely concentrate on his/her duties without worrying about the family at home. The Army of Hope also assists returning veterans with costs to re-establish their civilian life after deployment. Examples of aid assistance include: ■ School lunches, medical and dental emergencies not covered by insurance, minor home repairs (plumbing, See ARMY OF HOPE PICNIC, page 16

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Hanley checking stress levels Aaron Barreda By PAULETTE LEBLANC

By PAULETTE LEBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

aving retired from a 20-year career in the Army and graduating from the Military Academy, Aaron Barreda took command of American Legion Post 136 on Pine Island just after Hurricane Ian. Having been in the military gave him experiences all over the country, he said. One of his favorite encounters was seeing the results of small-town folks who helped one another without being asked. “When I came down to Pine Island and I started to meet people, I realized these are the same type of people. This is where the salt of the earth is — where people enjoy their community, and support each other. I was coming down and continually interacting with the folks here and watching the community events and seeing how close the community was — that’s when I realized that’s what I was missing,” Barreda said. Living in the concrete jungle of Washington, D.C., he said, where it seems no one is friends with their neighbor, made him realize a close community was the only place for him. He shared that seeing the needs of Pine Island in the weeks and months directly following the storm, came with the realization that the island lacked access to county, state and federal government resources needed to begin long-term recovery. “Even though we could feed a lot of people from the Legion, and we had tons of supplies being given away, there was still more that needed to be done,” Barreda said. By creating a long-term recovery group, he said, Pine Island would be recognized by all the aforementioned government entities, as an organization dedicated to helping with preparedness as well as post disaster in the future. That was the catalyst for founding the Greater Pine Island Alliance (GPIA). “Really, the impetus was not having the resources coming to the island that we needed and looking into and understanding the processes of how to get those resources,” Barreda said. From the standpoint of commanding the American Legion, Barreda said he wanted to take what he did to help his community to another level where he could really assist those in need. Even now, 18 months after the hurricane, he said, there are still people living in trailers, proving Hurricane Ian has left Pine Island with

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Islander Aaron Barreda. a continual need. “We’re very thankful for those relief organizations who came in, but we knew they were gonna be gone within a few months. In order to establish an organization that could continue to coordinate with other nonprofits and government entities to continue to bring in

According to Dr. Daniel Hanley of Ancuram Family Medicine in Bokeelia, stress is part of life we can’t control. He maintains that all we can control is our response to it. “Stress is good. It motivates you and gets you going. You achieve more than you thought possible. However, in general, you can only handle so much stress at one time before things can start going wrong. The toll stress can take on your body is cumulative over time,” Hanley said. The good news, he explained, is that human beings are resilient, possessing the ability to recover, heal and bounce back. In general, he said, try to think practically by Dr. Daniel Hanley using common sense. He utilizes medicines as much as the next doctor, but looks at them as tools. “As with any tool, when the job is done, you put the tool away. So, deprescribing wherever possible is a necessary part of my encounter. There are also numerous non-medication tools available, and some of them involve different professionals. Taking an active role in your personal health pays dividends over decades, and there’s nothing wrong with asking questions and coming up with the best answers you can for yourself – it’s your life, after all,” Hanley said. We must learn to think of stress as anything that gets us going, he explained. We have things to do, and not enough time to get these things done. From a basic biochemical standpoint, our hormones are activated in that “fight or flight” response powering our sympathetic system, which enables nerves to get us going. One such hormone, he said, is cortisol. Hanley said we should think of cortisol as a steroid (not to be confused with Cortizone — a common topical steroid cream sold over the counter). Cortisol helps to suppress your immune system, he explained. “That’s how it controls inflammation. It also comes at

See BARREDA, page 12

Athlete of the Week.........15 Dolphin Tales.....................6 Obituaries........................18 insidetoday Cribbage Corner..............20 Island Mahjongg.............16 On the Water......................9

See STRESS, page 17

Classifieds

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GPIA to present Camp Noah for island children The Greater Pine Island Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, is hosting a free spring break camp in March designed to support elementary schoolaged children from Greater Pine Island and Matlacha who have been affected by disaster. Camp Noah, a nationally recognized preparedness and resiliency day camp developed by Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, will take place March 18-22 at the St. James City Civic Center. The camp provides a safe and caring environment where children build resiliency skills within the familiarity of their own communities using a proven curriculum designed to help children process their

disaster and/or trauma experience through creative activities and play. In a safe and supportive setting, children are encouraged to face their fears, grieve their losses, identify and share their unique gifts and talents and plan for an amazing future. In addition to arts and crafts, campers will also participate in skits and other activities designed to support their resiliency. Camp Noah will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 18-22, with breakfast provided starting at 8:30 a.m. The SJCCA is at 3300 Fourth Ave., St. James City. The camp is made possible in partnership with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and the American Red Cross.

The camp is free of charge and includes breakfast and lunch. Volunteers Needed: The GPIA is seeking volunteers to support the camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during camp week. Volunteers must undergo background check and take a short online training course Campers Registration: Camp Noah is free of charge and is open to K-5 elementary school-aged students Transportation: Transportation may be available to help children attend camp. For information, please call the Greater Pine Island Alliance at 239.558.4901 or email Team@GIAlliance.org.

The Greater Pine Island Alliance The Greater Pine Island Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to provide leadership and coordinated management of the long-term recovery efforts for Greater Pine Island and to provide long-term assistance to individuals affected by the disaster who do not have adequate personal resources to meet their basic needs. For additional information, visit www.GPIAlliance.org or email Team@GPIAlliance.org | The GPIA office is at 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 2, St. James City, FL 33956.

Clarification from the GPIWA Lee County recently amended its Water Conservation Ordinance to “implement a one-day-week watering scheduling from the beginning of February through the end of May to conserve water and protect the aquifer.” After this information ran in the Pine Island Eagle two weeks ago, the Greater Pine Island Water Association (GPIWA) started fielding phone calls from concerned association members about the health of our aquifers. Our aquifers are fine and in good health, GPIWA has plenty of water for customers, and does not require or need the once-day-week watering restriction. We tried to articulate this in a letter to the editor in last week’s Pine Island Eagle.

In an attempt to set the record straight we did make a mistake. Even though GPIWA’s aquifers are fine and in good health, and the utility has plenty of water for customers, its service area is within unincorporated Lee County, and must adhere to all Lee County ordinances. All GPIWA customers must follow the new Lee County Water Conservation Ordinance. Additional information about Lee County’s ordinance can be found at https://www.leegov.com/utilities/customer-resource-center/water-restrictions. You can contact the GPIWA at 239283-1071 or visit pineislandwater.com for additional information.

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PHOTO PROVIDED

Hookers donation to Pine Island FISH In December, the Matlacha Hookers sang Christmas Carols every weekend at the bars and restaurants of Pine Island and Matlacha to raise money for Pine Island FISH. Donations were gladly given in order to stop the singing! This culminated in a lovely donation check of $5,430. It was presented to Jim Wentz, president of FISH by Joanne Correia, Darcy Conner and Carolyn Ryzanych of the Hookers. A BIG thank you to all the singers and Hookers involved!

Legion Auxiliary community yard sale, vendor event Saturday The American Legion Auxiliary is hosting its 4th annual community yard sale and vendor event Saturday, Feb. 24, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the post at 4106 Stringfellow Road , St. James City. All spaces are $25. There will be a bake sale as well as food for purchase. All vendor proceeds go to the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation fund to help veterans and families get back on their feet. Call the post at 239283-4434 for additional

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OPINIONS

Help ‘end the stigma’ 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922 Phone: (239) 283-2022 Fax: (239) 283-0232 Web: pineisland-eagle.com Publisher Raymond M. Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers.com Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers.com Editor Paulette LeBlanc pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com Advertising Director Laurie Ragle lragle@.breezenewspapers.com Advertising Sales Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers.com Design & Layout Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers.com Obituaries Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers.com Subscriptions 1 Year $52 To Pay For Your Subscription P.O. Box 151306 Cape Coral, FL 33915 Circulation (239) 574-1936 Classified Advertising (239) 574-5644

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The Eagle is published every Wednesday Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays. Letters to the editor must be typed or handprinted. Your name and phone number must be affixed to the copy. In the event of an advertising error, we are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion of the ad itself. We are not responsible for any credit or reimbursement after 30 days from publication. Postal Information: Bulk rate postage paid at Fort Myers, FL Postmaster. Send address changes to the Pine Island Eagle. Permit # 521.

Web Poll Previous Web Poll Question: In the past have you attend the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair? ■ Every year. 0% ■ Occasionally. 6% ■ Once or twice. 13% ■ Never. 34% ■ What fair? 47%

Unless you are one of the very lucky ones, addiction has touched your life or that of someone you know. A neighbor. A co-worker. A family member or someone else you love. Addicts — those with what is now called substance abuse disorder — are not limited to that “druggie,” “mugshot,” “panhandling-tosupport-their-habit,” unknown person on the street who we have labeled. Too often — too heartbreakingly often — it is someone we know as a friend, have broken bread with, or by the nickname we gave them in childhood when any thought of drug or alcohol abuse was an impossibility. In the world we live in, it is not. Fostered by the very institutions we pay taxes to to protect our families and our communities, the worst era of addiction the world has seen began in the 1990s when opioids were considered a miracle drug for those with chronic pain. Touted as non-addictive in time-release form, these pills were aggressively marketed by pharmaceutical companies while “clinical norms also began emphasizing patients’ pain and treating it with opioids,” according to “The Opioid Crisis and Recent Federal Policy Responses,” a September 2022 report published by the Congressional Budget Office. “In addition, oversight and reimbursement incentives in the health care system encouraged opioid prescribing.” That’s a formal way of saying the pills were formulated, addiction probability was overlooked or ignored, drug companies and pain-management clinics and their pharmacies made money by the truckload while lobbyistled politicians raked in campaign donations and government regulatory agencies did little as the catastrophic failure at all levels snowballed, leaving bodies and destroyed lives in

Eagle Editorial its wake. According to the report, the U.S. has subsequently undergone a continued “series of overlapping waves” of death and addiction since the over-prescribed wonder drugs hit the streets with Florida, the country’s prescription epicenter aka drug-distribution mecca. Crackdowns on pharmacy pop-ups did little to address the issue of addiction as heroin and counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl poured in to replace the drugs once not only legal but prescribed to well, most anyone for what ailed them. The political solution? Lock those “drug users” up. The U.S. prison population increased from 771,243 in 1990 to an estimated 1,585,400 in 1995 to 2.2 million in 2020 with 44.4% of the people there on drug-related charges. So stigma. Incarceration. And additional stigma. SalusCare wants to help effect a change in direction and is one of 100 sites nationwide for a whole new effort to replace stigma with treatment and recovery services. The pilot program of which SalusCare is now a part, the Addiction Policy Forum’s Anti-Stigma Initiative, has a goal of “reducing the stigma that prevents people struggling with addiction from reaching out for help.” The program was launched last year to “deploy and test new anti-stigma interventions.” The initiative includes a survey open to the community that officials say “will help identify challenges to addiction treatment. The goal of the initiative includes reducing addiction stigma, eliminating stereotypes and prejudice, eradicating discrimination and increasing knowledge about addiction.”

Letters to the Editor Can you smell the burning papers at our fire district? To the editor: Relax folks, it’s only our Fire Commissioners burning the paper from state’s ethics and Sunshine Laws. This only happens once a month when the board meets to blow your tax dollars by burning the sunshine and ethics laws. You could find out about the termination of a deputy chief’s lawsuit, for which the district paid a settlement of $750,00. You weren't informed about this at the time the board held these meetings, because the board

and their attorney didn’t announce the need for a closed door meeting in a previous board meeting. Or that the board hid the meeting by not posting a notice in the newspaper as required by Sunshine Laws. We also cannot read the court stenographers transcript, because the board had their clerk take the closed door minutes. Violations of Sunshine Laws happened many times. And yet this board is seemingly unfazed by being told that many laws were broken and calmly stated that it met their needs and promptly voted to approve their minutes. I brought up the question of the attor-

Current Web Poll Question: Should the GPIA apply for a HUD grant for continued storm recovery? ■ Yes, it can’t hurt to try. ■ Yes, if it’s a benefit to all islanders. ■ Maybe depending on the request. ■ No. Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle.com

“Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) are too often subject to harsh moral judgments and frequent discrimination, which can delay treatment access and increase rates of dropout from treatment and recovery services,” said Executive Director of Addiction Policy Forum Jessica Hulsey in a release about the pilot program sent to local media Wednesday. “All key sectors in our communities must come together to address the manifestations of stigma and improve knowledge and compassion. This initiative will allow us to test new scales and interventions to address stigma at the local level.” SalusCare, a not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse service provider based in Fort Myers, believes mitigating the stigma opens the path to recovery. “The Anti-Stigma Initiative reaffirms our commitment to providing a supportive and compassionate environment for individuals who are impacted by substance use disorders,” said Stacey Cook, president and CEO of SalusCare in the release. “By challenging stigmatizing beliefs, we aim to remove the barriers that often prevent individuals from seeking help and support on their journey to recovery.” SalusCare needs public participation for its efforts and to that end “invites the entire community... to take the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete. It includes questions about how people view addiction and addiction treatment.” It’s a start. And it’s an invitation to which we urge a “yes” from both residents and employers. For our neighbors and friends. For those we love. For all of us. The survey may be found at https://bit.ly/49ruqT4.

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

ney’s contract, which ended in October of last year, with no attempt to make a new contract or continue. The firm’s contract allowed the attorney to appoint a stand-in attorney from the firm to take her place. I asked why she wasn’t at the meeting. I found out she quit the firm. No one from the Fire District has yet to tell me when she quit. I asked the board how they were going to pay the stand-in attorney if the original signed attorney quit and couldn't possibly assign the stand-in attorney. This didn't seem to faze the board. Folks you just can’t make this stuff up. This month’s coming Fire Board meeting will no doubt add more paper to the fire with no way to put it out with these folks. Citizens need to run for this board with four seats up for election this year. Leo Amos Matlacha

Biden is no leader To the editor: In November of 1980, President Ronald Reagan was elected as president of the United States of America. Prior to the elecSee LETTERS, page 18

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Scanning the waters for resident dolphins As I cruise along the hours. As they ride in the waters of Pine Island wake they are twisting Sound and Charlotte and turning while the Harbor, I am vigilant, bubbles clean their skin. watching for our resident It is a bit of a spa treatbottlenose dolphins. ment which exfoliates Sightings of the dorsal what we call “marine fin surfacing, the tail dandruff,” aka, slime. fluke slapping or the When the dolphins spray from the blowhole, ride my wake, it is tell me we are close. I am always a thrill for my aware that the daily activguests. onboard ities of our dolphins range Dolphins have been seen from feeding, socializing, jumping as high as 16 Capt. Cathy Eagle traveling and resting. It is feet from the surface of important to be aware and the water and landing on observe their behavior so their backs, bellies or as not to interrupt their sides while riding the world. wake. Dolphins never comDolphins love to play. pletely sleep but they do take catnaps. Both young and old dolphins chase If both sides of the brain would shut each other. They carry objects around, down for sleep, the dolphins would toss seaweed to each other and use drown. They must surface to breathe. objects to solicit interaction. They While one half of the brain is asleep, sometimes use fish in seemingly playthe other half is awake. If the left brain ful ways, tossing them in the air or to is asleep, the left eye is resting. If the each other. They even use air forced right brain is asleep, the right eye is out of their blowholes as a form of resting. This switches every two hours. play, sometimes creating bubble rings When dolphins nap, they surface of air to play with. Playtime is lovely less often and are rarely alone as they to watch. need others for protection. They typiDolphins are very social creatures cally rise up together to breathe at a and live together in pods. Pod life promuch slower pace than when they are vides individuals with the companionplaying, eating or mating. I would ship which is so important to them. never interrupt their nap. They could The pod members look after one have a calf in tow and this would inter- another and cooperate to catch food, rupt much needed rest. raise their young and defend each Social behavior comprises most of other from predators. the dolphin’s daily activities. Feeding usually peaks in early morning and late Capt. Cathy Eagle has spent over afternoon. 40 years boating in our local waters. Dolphins frequently ride on the bow As a professional charter captain she wave or the stern wakes of boats. One specializes in dolphin and nature of the reasons for this activity is that tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or dolphins exfoliate their skin every two call/text 239 994-2572.

Dolphin Tales

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Holiday dolphins taken down The lighted dolphins that adorned the Matlacha Pass Bridge during the holiday season were taken down Tuesday night, Feb. 6. The five decorated dolphins enhanced the bridge for years until Hurricane Ian took all but two. FDOT partnered with the Matlacha Civil Association to assist in their removal. Several members of the MCA collected the dolphins so they can possibly be restored for another time.

Kiwanis scholarships available The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island will again be providing scholarships to Pine Island students as it has for the past 40-plus years. To qualify, each student must meet the following criteria: ■ Be a resident of Pine Island or have attending Pine Island Elementary School. ■ The applicant must either be a senior in high school or a high school graduate, either already in a post high school program or entering one. ■ The applicant must also need financial assistance. Application forms are available at the following locations: Century 21 Office, 10191 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, or the Pine Island Public Library, 10701

Russell Road, Bokeelia, or they can be downloaded from the Kiwanis website at PineIslandKiwanis.org. The deadline for turning in the applications is May 1 at the Century 21 Office or they can be mailed (postmarked by May 1) to Scholarship Chairman, P.O. Box 111, St. James City, FL 33956. The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island is proud to offer scholarships every year to deserving island students are furthering their education. This is one of the many ways the club gives back to the community. Please contact scholarship committee chairs Carlyn Herring at 239-850-9613 or Tonya Player at 239-203-4682 if you have any questions.

Next month’s roster of activities at the Pine Island Public Library offers topics for all ages. The following programs are free to the public.

Adult Programs Puzzle Tree Painting 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9 Paint a tree on canvas and utilize recycled jigsaw puzzle pieces to decorate the branches. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring along any extra supplies for your canvas. Registration is required. Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 14 Need help with a laptop, tablet or e-reader? Are you looking to gain basic computer skills? We can help. Bring your fully charged device and any passwords for a 15-minute, one-on-one technology session. Registration is required.

Children’s Programs Little Leprechauns Literacy Program 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 14 Green is the theme for this fun preschool literacy program celebrating Irish heritage. Join us for games, music and crafts focusing on the color green and St. Patrick's Day traditions. Don't forget to wear some green in case we get a visit from the leprechauns. Spring Break Creative Space for Children and Teens 1 p.m., Saturday, March 16 Start your Spring Break out with some creative arts and craft activities. Try out an abstract painting technique, a spring themed craft activity or create your own art project from a variety of materials provided. Games

Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., bridge is played at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. It costs $3, you don’t need a partner, and if you play a decent hand of bridge, you might have some fun! This week, the people taking home the cash were, First place, Kathy Downs; second place, Karen McWright; and third, Audrey Gehrig. Come join the bridge fun. It’s a great game.

Teen Programs Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help 3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 14 Need help with a laptop, tablet or e-reader? Are you looking to gain basic computer skills? We can help. Bring your fully charged device and any passwords for a 15-minute, one-on-one technology session. Registration is required. Spring Break Creative Space for Children and Teens

The Pine Island Public Library is located at 10701 Russell Road in Bokeelia. For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239533-4350. Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www.leelibrary.net to find out about programs at other locations. Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program. To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/ newsletters.

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Bridge Beat

Spring Fling Preschool Playdate 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 28 Join your preschool friends for this spring inspired playdate. We will enjoy spring crafts, games and a dance party. Light refreshments will be provided.

1 p.m., Saturday, March 16 Start your Spring Break out with some creative arts and craft activities. Try out an abstract painting technique, a spring themed craft activity or create your own art project from a variety of materials provided. Games and a light snack will also be provided.

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Island Page Turners: Book Discussion Group 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 27 Celebrate World Theater Day March 27. Read a play or a biography about a playwright and meet for a lively discussion. The library will help with book suggestions and a monthly book display.

and a light snack will also be provided.

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March programs scheduled at Pine Island Public Library

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Upcoming activities, programs at the SJCCA The following programs and activities are planned at the St. James City Civic Center.

Upcoming Special Events Sunday, March 1, noon to 4 p.m. Looking for local musicians to take the stage and folks to enjoy the music. Sound equipment will be provided. The event is to be held rain or shine. Food will be available on-site. Coolers are welcome. For questions, contact Myra Watson at 717-817-1512 or Denise Huber at 208290-2512. 3rd Annual St James City Boat Club Nautical Flea Market Saturday, March 2, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Club members will be bringing boating and fishing gear that they would like to sell. Pick’in In The City Sunday, March 3, 2- 4 p.m.

Bring your instruments and jam. Music Mondays March 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Music Mondays are returning and different bands will be scheduled for your enjoyment. Come on over and dance! Between the Buns food truck is scheduled. $25 vendor space. Call Cindy at 954-249-5512 for more information! Big Breakfast Fund Raiser Saturday, March 9, 8-10 a.m. Scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits, sausage gravy, pancakes, cinnamon toast, strawberries, whipped cream, coffee and tea — $9/person

Weekly activities schedule Wednesday, Feb. 21 Book Club is postponed. Please contact Courtney DeWitt it you are interested

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Shuffleboard has started at the SJCCA. Looking for new players Tuesdays and Fridays from 9-11 a.m. The SJCCA is at 3300 Fourth Ave., St James City. in participating in a monthly Book Club at four players. Contact Mike at 906-630757-409-5416 or Courtdoit@cox.net 1023 with questions. Friday, Feb. 23 Thursday, Feb. 22 ■ Shuffleboard, 9-11 a.m., Come play ■ Ping Pong, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. shuffleboard with us. No experience nec■ Mahjong, 1-4 p.m. You know you've essary. been wanting to learn all about mahjong. This is a great place to learn. Saturday, Feb. 24 ■ Cribbage, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cribbage, ■ Garage Sale. Fun way to meet the or crib, is a card game, traditionally for neighbors and see what you might like to two players, that involves playing and add to your treasures. Lamps, dishes, and grouping cards in combinations which gain points. It can be adapted for three or See SJCCA, page 12

On the Water

Good sheepshead fishing should continue through the week. Dave Lewandowski and his buddies caught a few big ones fishing around Pine Island Sound with Capt. Bill Russell. PHOTO PROVIDED

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Well, as per usual as the Sanibel A-span, of late, the week startinside Redfish Pass ed off cold, turned and off sand bars nice, then rain and around Charlotte colder for the weekend. Harbor. Pompano At least the days in were hooked on between are nice, and shrimp fished on botfish are biting. tom, under popping Calm seas over the or rattling corks, weekdays allowed bounced across the anglers to head west bottom on jig heads into gulf waters where and using pompano many report good fishjigs. If you hook one ing. Of course, heading pompano, fish the Capt. Bill Russell into the weekend area good, they are winds picked up and as generally in schools. we know, Sunday was This past week just a miserable day. may have been the A mix of snapper, peak of the grunts, sheepshead, sheepshead run. loads of small grouper and a few Good numbers and size were hogfish were caught in depths from reported inshore, around the gulf 30 to 50 feet. Shrimp fished on bot- passes and nearshore. Most larger tom was the bait of choice rigged in fish are full of eggs and often preta variety of ways. Several keeper- ty beat up, this means the final size tripletails were located under spawn is near. With the cool weathbuoys and fishing over artificial er, decent to good sheepshead fishreefs turned up Spanish mackerel, ing should continue through the sharks and barracuda. week. For larger snapper and keeper Anglers fishing deeper shorered grouper, depths from 70 to 100 lines with hard bottom and structure feet produced west of Captiva Pass in south Pine Island Sound and San and southwest of Knapp’s point. Carlos Bay also hooked in black Each week as we get a few days drum up to 8 pounds, snook and of good weather pompano catches redfish. Snook and redfish were are on the rise. Pompano were hooked on plastic shad tails in Pine caught in south Matlacha Pass Island Sound between Demere Key between the powerlines and Tropical Point, on the gulf side of See WEATHER FRONTS, page 12

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Fishing is good between weather fronts

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Weather fronts From page 9 and Pineland over the incoming tide targeting sand holes and shorelines. Seatrout were caught across Pine Island Sound from Useppa Island south to Chino Island. Numbers were often good; however, many fell below the 15-inch keeper size. Trout congregate over a variety of terrain. They were caught over 3 to 6-foot-deep grass flats, sand holes and bar drop-offs adjacent to grass flats, and near oyster bars. Shrimp-tipped jigs, live and DOA shrimp fished under a rattling float and paddle tails in various colors fooled trout up to 21 inches. Ladyfish and bonnethead sharks were common catches as well. One week, if we could just go one full week without weather becoming an issue.

I know we’ve got it better than most of the country, but it sure would be nice to settle into consistent fishing pattern. Winter is winding down so this could be the week. Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish. As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years.

Barreda From page 1 that aid, to fund homes on Pine Island. It’s been quite the journey and process,” Barreda said, adding that he didn’t realize all it would entail when he began. Part of the mission of the United States Military Academy is to create leaders who have a lifetime of service to our nation, he said, however, this lifetime of service is not just in the military field, he explained. “Being retired, I still had a duty and obligation to help those around me — having graduated the academy, that’s one of the things that’s instilled in you, is that

it’s a lifetime of service,” Barreda said. He went on to explain that this core training is what’s made him want to stand up and fight for his community on Pine Island. He credits this same training for his desire to volunteer and serve in ways such as founding the GPIA. The purpose of the organization, he said, is to return every survivor home. “I think my biggest wish is that we can continue to help people through gracious funding and grants, because it’s amazing when someone can get back into their home,” Barreda said.

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SJCCA From 8 artwork too much to list. New donations come in often. Vendors can join. Members $10; non-members $20 Monday, Feb. 26, ■ Strength Training, 99:30 a.m. Strength training is any form of exercise that involves using weights or resistance to build strength in your muscles. Strength training is also known as resistance training. Strength training involves you using equipment or your body weight. ■ Flow and Glow Yoga, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Get moving with Michelle! Please bring a yoga mat and two 4” yoga blocks Tuesday, Feb. 27 Shuffleboard, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. ■ Ping Pong, 9 a..m to 11 p.m. ■ Golden Brush, 1-4 p.m. Come enjoy and share your love of painting ■ Dominos, 6- 8 p.m. Please come out and join in as this is a growing group and we are looking for new players ■

More details, contacts and ticket sales are available at sjcca.org. All activities are held at the St. James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave, S.t James City.

Page 13 ■ Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Eagle

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Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 14

Page 15 ■ Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024

The Tritons’ leading scorer helped Mariner to a District 5A-11 Championship, turning in 2 double-double games. He scored 25 points with 12 assists vs Island Coast, and followed up with 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Cypress Lake.

Pine Island Eagle

“We felt good as a team heading into the playoffs. The group we have this year is special and willing to go to war with anyone for each other. We are focusing on improving as a unit, so staying in the gym together and traveling while playing some tough competition this summer got us ready for these moments.

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Marcus Kelley Jr. Senior Basketball

Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 16 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Legion’s 4th annual Chili and Cornbread Cookoff Saturday American Legion Unit 136 will host its 4th annual Chili and Cornbread Cookoff Saturday, Feb. 24, from 3-6 p.m. at the post at 4106 Stringfellow Road, St. James City. All entries need to be in between 2:15-2:45 p.m. to the kitchen at the American Legion. The contest is free to enter, but the tasting fee is $5.

All proceeds will be going to the Pine Island kids college or vocational school scholarship fund. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place categories. There will be live music from 6-9 p.m

Legion officers say it will be a fun-filled day of shopping, playing, eating, dancing and all-around good time. Call the post at 239-283-4434 for additional information.

Polka Worship Service at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church Sunday Fishers of Men Lutheran Church at 10360 Stringfellow Road, in St. James City, invite the island community to come and experience a Polka Service Sunday, Feb. 25, at 9 a.m. Don Ostrowsky, along with his accordion, will provide the music and Pastor Tom Hafer will lead us in worship. This is sure to be an exciting and wonderful

way to worship on the second Sunday in Lent and for sure, you’ll leave with a happy heart. Ostrowsky’s accordion music and fellowship will be featured in Solberg Hall after the service. The church office can be reached at 239-283-1170 or contact Pastor Tom at his web site, tomhafer.com for additional information.

Mahjongg Scores Thank you to the Moose for welcoming us back today, Feb. 15, whiles the St. James City Civic Center floor was being laid. Top scorers were Toni Lindsay with 175 points, Judy Burchianti had 155 points and Linda Selleck with 135.

We will be back at the SJCCA this Thursday, Feb. 22. We play Mahjongg every Thursday from 1-4 pm at the center on Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street in St. James City. For more information, call Carolyn at 239233-7682.

Army of Hope Picnic From page 1 painting, etc.), auto repairs or transportation when needed, full-time or back-up babysitting, phone cards to contact loved ones, lawn mowing, landscaping, sprinkler repairs, A/C and major appliance repairs, clothing, shoes, provide funds for past due bills after a deployment that were incurred as a result of a deployment. Other participating Elks lodges include Lodge 2753 ~ Bonita Springs/Estero, Lodge 2596 ~ Cape Coral, Lodge 2763 ~ Deep Creek, Lodge 2378 ~ Englewood, Lodge

1288 ~ Fort Myers, Lodge 2781 ~ Greater Pine Island, Lodge 2010 ~ Naples Lodge, Lodge 2742 ~ North Fort Myers and Lodge 2606 ~ Punta Gorda. Lodge 2710 ~ Rotonda is at 303 Rotonda Blvd., E., Rotonda West, FL 33947 For additional information, contact co-chairs Judy Hopkins, Greater Pine Island Lodge, at 425-346-7226, or Roger Spencer, Fort Myers Lodge, at 239-2878901.

day, but the bottom line is that if something isn’t working for you, you’re not going to do it,” Hanley said. He said to try to think about foods in terms of stressors. There are pro-inflammatory foods and there are anti-inflammatory foods, he said. Pro-inflammatory foods are the salts, the sugars, the glutens, greasy stuff and dairy products. Antiinflammatory foods are things such as lean meats, fruits, vegetables, unprocessed grains, nuts and seeds, he said. “The problem with pro-inflammatory foods is that they add a stress to your body. Good stress in some ways, but over the long haul, they’ll take their toll. The greasy foods will clog up your pipes. The sugars slow down your blood flow. The salts raise your blood pressures and increase the risk of your pipes breaking. So, whatever you eat or drink should, ideally, make you feel rejuvenated,” Hanley said. People should think of their literal gut as a primitive mind, he said. It only knows how we feel. We have our conscious mind and our gut mind, which has a lot to say about the stressors we face. If we are eating, drinking, peeing and pooping on a regular basis, he said then things are going pretty well overall. Handling negativity, ironically starts with boundaries, which sometimes means saying no. It’s not easy, he said, as nothing worth doing is ever easy — but when you buckle down and focus on what matters most to you, then that helps guide your moral compass. “Setting boundaries doesn’t equate to being mean, however, we could all be a

PAULETTE LEBLANC

Dr. Daniel Hanley at Ancuram Family Medicine on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia. little nicer to each other. Showing empa- no matter how you slice it, he said. “My best advice is to take my opinion thy and compassion or being neutral will go a long way, whereas a brief power-trip- with a grain of salt. It’s no different than ping episode for no apparent reason can getting estimates from plumbers or eleclead to a downstream, reverberating effect tricians. You’re going to decide for youron others, which isn’t cool,” Hanley said. self how you want to go about things. If Putting in the time and effort to make you’re happy, great. If you’re not happy, long-term, although not necessarily per- then please talk with your family doctor,” manent, change is not always right for Hanley said. Ancuram Family Medicine is at 10700 everyone. There’s no right or wrong way, but life is too short for nonsense. It’s short Stringfellow Road, Unit 50, Bokeelia.

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the cost of making you more susceptible to getting infections. It also prolongs your healing time. Until recently, nothing was better than steroids for inflammation, however, given how powerful they are, there are a lot of side effects – which is why they should be used with caution,” Hanley said. Managing stress, he explained, is best thought of in two categories; daily and lifetime. According to Hanley, a daily routine is best when it has a steady cadence, not unlike a metronome. The goal, he said, is to maintain what we enjoy and be disciplined enough to get past what we don’t. Just as important as what fills our day is unwinding afterward. Even a half hour goes a long way, he said. Another important point is whether we are eating or drinking anything before bed. Thinking of any small victories achieved that day can help us fall asleep and keep our thoughts from racing. When we think about our personal evolution, he said, we may have the same heart with which we were born, but the way we perceive the world around us changes. This means that our ability to handle the various stressors that come our way also evolves. “What I propose is a set of tools that may help us better withstand the stress in our life. Start with what you eat and drink, as well as the time of day and how much/how fast you consume meals. There’s a reason why so many books focus on these concepts over and over, but I do feel that they all miss the point. We can discuss diet and lifestyle all day, each

Page 17 ■ Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Stress From page 1

Pine Island Eagle

Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 18

Letters to the Editor From page 4 tion with Jimmy Carter as his opponent, Carter had languished over 52 American hostages that had been taken by Iran more than a year earlier. Reagan had taken a strong stand against Iran in the months leading up to the election and was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get our citizens back. So, do you really think it was a coincidence that Iran released every single hostage on Jan. 20, 1981, the same day that Ronald Reagan was sworn in as president? Of course not. They knew that the

new leader of the free world would not permit their bullying of the most powerful country on earth, and they eagerly let our people go. It’s called the “big stick,” remember that? As soon as Biden was sworn in Russia began finalizing their imminent planning for the invasion of Ukraine and in February of 2022 the invasion began after a timid response from Biden in January of 2022 saying that the West’s response would be muted if Russia committed a “minor incursion” into Ukraine. It wasn’t a minor incursion — it was an all-out invasion and Biden had given a tacit

Obituaries

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Pine Island Eagle

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approval to Russia that we would not respond. He was weak then and he’s even weaker now. Listen to the John Kirby responses in the press room when he’s asked if the U.S. response to the Houthi’s and other Iranian “proxy groups” attacks on U.S. forces should have been stronger. He said, “I push back on the push back of your comments that we did not respond strongly enough — we did respond to the attacks with force against them.” Obviously, the U.S. response went unnoticed by our enemies as they just murdered three young American service members while they slept in their bunks in the middle of the night and wounded 34 others in that attack. This happened after our so-called response. So, Mr. Kirby, it does not appear that your response stopped anything and blowing up huts in the middle of the dessert is hardly the response required to silence the Iranian mercenaries or stop Iran from attacking our troops. We keep hearing it over and over “we don’t want to escalate the current tensions in the Middle East.” Hello! Anybody home in the White House? Iran is escalating the tensions in the Middle East! Iran is escalating the tensions, and we are cowering under the desks in the White House meeting rooms. Iran is pressing and seeing how far they can push this president and will continue to do so as long as he is turning his backside to the fight. Russia knew this “commander-in chief” would do nothing other than sanctions against their invasion. He ran out of Afghanistan with no regard for the consequences as fast as his pen could sign the

order. Russia is now selling more oil than they were before the invasion and the only surprise for me is that China has not invaded Taiwan because you know that they know Biden will turn his back on that, too. Weakness, indecision and lack of leadership are the best highlights of this administration, but the list of the worst highlights goes on and on. Max Christian St. James City

Explaining fire department vehicles and their uses To the editor: In response to “Questions about the Pine Island Fire Department,” the writer is probably correct that consolidation with the Cape Coral Fire Department would be the most cost-effective way to provide high quality fire protection to Pine Island. He was way off his assessment of the need for a ladder truck. Engines are smaller vehicles that carry water and hose. Trucks are larger vehicles that carry tools and ladders. Most of the equipment carried on trucks will not fit on an engine. Most truck work has little to do with the length of the aerial ladder. The primary function of an engine crew at a fire is to get water on the burning material, and to knock down the fire which will save lives and exposures. The primary function of a truck crew at a fire is to perform search and rescue operations while supporting engine operations with forced entry and ventilation. Dennis McCloskey Cape Royal

Page 19 ■ Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 breezenewspapers.com

Pine Island Eagle

Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 20 pineisland-eagle.com Pine Island Eagle

Matlacha Hookers 12th Annual Island Luau Sunday The Matlacha Hookers 12th Annual Island Luau will be held Sunday, Feb. 25, from 1-5 p.m., at the St. James City Civic Center in St James City. This event will sell out again, Hookers officials said, urging those who wish to attend to get their tickets now. Over the past 11 events, the Hookers raised almost $106,000, and last year it increased the donation amount to $20,000 split between the Beacon of Hope and the St. James City Civic Center. The proceeds will again be divided between the Beacon of Hope and the St. James City Civic Center. The Beacon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedi-

cated 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 doctors appointments, helps those with financial needs, home repairs and much more. The St. James City Civic Association allows members to meet residents with shared interests. This facility accommodates various events, groups, clubs and activities. Due to Hurricane Ian, the building needs significant repairs. Tickets to the luau include music, island rum punch, wine and beer tastings, “Welcoming Leis” and island food for guests.

Musician Mark Dupuy will perform calypso island rock and fun dance music, and there will be hula dancers. Guests can also enjoy shopping for mystery wines, chic jewelry boutique items, Matlacha Hooker merchandise, a 50/50 raffle and thousands of dollars worth of silent auction items such as a $10,000 donation towards lifting a house on the island. Tickets are $45 in advance as none will be sold at the event. Purchase your tickets by ordering now online. Go to

https://events.humanitix.com/island-luau. The tickets will be emailed to you. Call Sherri Davis at 816-200-4100 or email her at sdavis2131@gmail.com to order or if you need help. The Matlacha Hookers is a 501(c)(3) women’s charitable non-profit organization, which has over 200 members from Matlacha and the Greater Pine Island area, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, and Fort Myers. For information, see the Hookers’ website at www.matlachahookers.org

26th Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race to be held March 2 The Calusa Land Trust's 26th Annual Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race is scheduled for March 2nd at the Marker 3 Coastal Cantina in St. James City. The festivities will begin at noon, comprising of live entertainment, raffles, spinning wheel games and a much larger and diverse silent auction of prizes and gift certificates donated by local businesses and individuals. Added this year will be a special kids’ entertainment area showcasing games, awards and crafts with assistance from the Pine Island Aquatics Team. The event also includes a live auction (emceed by Herb Smith) of 20 larger ticket items. Also for sale will be the second printing of the 7th edition of “The Nature Lover's Guide to Pine Island.” The newly renovated restaurant will be offering a luncheon special and a convenient beer tent for happy celebrants. Shuttled parking will be available. The big event will be the duck races occurring between 3 and 4 p.m. (wind and tide are factors). The Super Duck Race is first with 200 baby ducklings

($20 each, sold only on race day) with the top two ducks competing for 50/50 winnings. The major attraction will thereafter be with the adult rubber ducks consisting of 3,000 numbered ducks ($10 each and already on sale) racing for cash and gifts. The winning duck will earn $1,000 cash, 2nd scoops in $500, 3rd place $250 plus five runners-up each waddling home with a bag of goodies worth at least $200. Buy early since tickets are usually sold out by race time. After resting since pre-Ian, all ducks have been in training and are just itching and quacking in anticipation of race day. Even if you are not the owner of a winning duck, you can be proud of your support of the Calusa Land Trust, Pine Island's all-volunteer land conservancy, with its mission to acquire, preserve and protect this special place called Pine Island. Rubber duck tickets are now available from member volunteers at various locales or on its website (calusalandtrust.org).

Cribbage Corner Cribbage results from Feb. 8 at the St. James City Civic Center. 1st Place -- Mike Mulder 2nd Place -- Rick Parrott

3rd Place -- Dennis Gettys 4th Place -- John Hennessy "Turkey of the Week" with a perfect 0 for 8, Sue Mulder. Cribbage is played on Thursday evenings at 6:30 at the SJCCA located at 3300 Fourth Ave., the corner of Fifth and Lemon. Come out, have some fun and bring a friend.

Church chicken dinner March 9 The Church of God of Prophecy will be having a chicken dinner Saturday, March 9. Dinner will be takeout only, no dine-in. The price is $10 per dinner — chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn or green beans, dinner roll and dessert. Chicken is fried in peanut oil. Gluten free and baked chicken available upon request. Call your order in to 239-283-2128 as soon as possible, quantities are limited. Pick-up is from 12:30-3 p.m. The church is located at 15146 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.

Page 21 ■ Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 breezenewspapers.com

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Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 22 pineisland-eagle.com

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New Installation Includes Permit 2 Year Warranty Rain Bird Contractor A+ RATED - ANGIES LIST

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Week of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 ■ Page 24