Pine Island Eagle

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

InsuranceBusters net is a 14-year-old public insurance adjusting firm based out of Texas. Public relations director Chuck Townsend said whenever there is a storm of any kind, the company sends a crew to feed everyone in the affected community The company owner pays for the entire menu, he said, as they do not accept donations, nor do they have sponsors They have been at the Pine Island Winn-Dixie cooking free barbecue for four weeks now, said Townsend

“We have three or four big smokers and we smoke

brisket, pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs all kinds of food and we never charge for any of it, we just give it out,” Townsend said

This is the company’s way of trying to help the community, he said, as they have no desire to take away any resources Once they have fed a significant amount of people, they can begin to do their job

After Hurricane Ian, they were offering food every single day at various locations, he said, but there weren’t that many people coming for food, so they have cut back to only doing this on weekends

“We tried to get out to Pine Island immediately, but

Continuing the legacy of Mel Meo

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Bokeelia Art and Gift Gallery owner Carol Garsky knows first-hand how important late, beloved islander Mel Meo’s artwork is to Pine Islanders Getting Meo’s work into their hands is not only a priority, but imperative, as she continues to inspire local artists, whether they are seasoned, students or collectors

Dan Alvo of Framing Wholesalers has agreed to do the matting, and framing for the Meo prints, of which Garsky will take nothing after necessary costs to create them New pieces depicting historic Matlacha and Pine Island will be offered each week in the Bokeelia Art and Gift Gallery, over 20 in all, she said, some dating back to the 1980s Proceeds from these prints will go to local art scholarships in her name

“Mel was such an amazing and giving person Art was such an important part of her and I feel like she

wanted kids to have the opportunity that she didn’t have to pursue following their dreams,” Garsky said Garsky explained something particularly touching to her was the reaction from those who’d lost various p i e c e s o f M e o ’ s a r t w o r k i n t h e i r h o m e s d u e t o Hurricane Ian. Various people came into the gallery asking specifically for anything by Meo, she said “If Mel was here, she’d be helping everybody She would be moving a hundred miles an hour, trying to do everything she could for everybody In that respect, this is the least we can do give them some of Mel back,” Garsky said Meo’s son, new father Luke Long, was instrumental in getting Garsky some of Meo’s work

Long said he was happy to lend a hand in continuing his mother's island legacy, as people often ask him

we would have just been in the way of the people doing work on the island,” Townsend said

Once the company reached Winn-Dixie store manager Dan Loughren, Townsend said, they were told the timing was perfect and to feel free to set up and use the parking lot to feed people Townsend said the company feels that knocking on people’s doors or searching for business by placing flyers on windows doesn’t create the helpful energy they’re trying to convey, the way feeding a community does

MME Contracting LLC helping Pine Islanders get back into their homes

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

New island residents Rhamy Emara and his wife, Monika, are the proud new owners of MMC Contracting LLC on Pine Island

W h e n h e f i r s t s a w P i n e Island, Emara said he knew he wanted to focus his efforts here, to make sure the island gets what it needs to become even b e t t e r t h a n i t w a s b e f o r e Hurricane Ian

“I heard about Pine Island, and when I came out here, I just fell in love with this island It f e e l s l i k e i t h a s n ’ t c h a n g e d from the day it was first discovered and then I started to get to know the people on the island and I got to see how close everybody is and how much e v e r y b o d y l o v e s t h e i s l a n d , how much pride everyone has here it’s a beautiful thing and I thought it was really special,” Emara said

W h a t m a k e s t h e c o u p l e u n i q u e , E m a r a s a i d , i s h i s i n s u r a n c e r e s t o r a t i o n b a c kground, in combination with h i s w i f e ’ s e x p e r i e n c e a s a n attorney in construction litigation. Together, he said, they are able to simplify what people need to do

“Our whole system is designed to get people back into their homes, so we want to start progression on construction,” Emara said

For their customers, investigating all areas where

Case Strategies working in collaboration with MME Contracting on Pine Island

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

According to Chief Revenue Officer David Sienema, Case Strategies is a group of companies in Dania Beach, Fla., focused on insurance recovery. The company is working in collaboration with MMC Contracting LLC on Pine Island The hope, he said, is to assist MME in helping Pine Island, with the expertise Case Strategies has to offer

“We specialize in helping people get settlements from their insurance company, so we do all sorts of claims, investigations, cost estimation, resolution and expert services,” Sienema said

C a s e S t r a t e g i e s R e s i l i e n c e a n d R e c o v e r y V i c e President David Goldberg, he said, was brought in this year to help in supporting communities in their recovery The idea is not to deal exclusively with the insurance companies, he said, but to support entire communities in their process toward a holistic recovery, by incorporating things, such as FEMA and federal grants

“Our company is essentially a family business owned and run by my father and myself, with large capital backing,” Sienema said

Shortly after Hurricane Ian, Sienema and his father came by boat to Pine Island as well as Sanibel, where he said they were shocked by the devastation

“We walked around and witnessed first-hand what these communities have gone through This is our business disaster recovery, but we do it from a standpoint of really wanting to help people We know that insurance recovery is sometimes very skewed and we like to be a strong advocate for an individual homeowner,” Sienema said

Along with Goldberg’s community expertise, they are looking to not just help Pine Island recover, but to recover better, he said Having previously lived in small communities has given Sienema a birds-eye view of

people’s capacity to band together through times of crises

“In the wake of devastation, I’m very encouraged by the way communities can come together that’s what we’re hoping to be a small piece of people rally back after a loss like this,” Sienema said

The intentions of their collaboration with MME is to be a resource for locals, he said, encouraging anyone who may have questions to stop by the Pine Island office for help or guidance

“Whether or not we get business, it’s valuable for people to be able to have a resource at hand to just to be able to ask questions,” Sienema said

Goldberg has been in emergency management, he said, since 2007, and has worked on local, state and federal levels with FEMA One of the biggest things he said he’s learned is amidst tragedy, such as was brought about in Hurricane Ian, there lies an opportunity for a generational change in evolution to build back intentionally

“This is an opportunity for a community to band together and say, what do we want to be in the wake of this? What do we want out story to be?” Goldberg said, adding that one of the things he’s excited about in this collaboration, is working with Pine Island both to ascertain and achieve that vision with available resources

Lee County Department of Community Development extends operation of Pine Island remote permitting office

Lee County Department of Community Development will continue operating a w e e k l y r e m o t e p e r m i t o f f i c e t h r o u g h

March at the Pine Island Public Library to assist those who are rebuilding and repairi n g t h e i r h o m e s i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f

Hurricane Ian

The weekly remote permit office at the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, has operated since Jan 4 to allow residents to obtain permits for repairs to existing buildings damaged by Hurricane Ian

Due to the use of the service by island residents, county staff will continue to be at the library each Wednesday at least through March 29 Hours of the remote permit office will remain 10 a.m. to 5 p m

Residents acting as their own contractor can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and issued from the remote office, depending on the scope of work The applicants need only a description of the work and their address and staff will walk them through the process which might include obtaining additional documents For example, engineered plans or Florida Product Approvals may be necessary to issue permits

The remote permit office is in response

to Pine Island residents requesting to have staff readily accessible to help them navigate the permit process, as many residences are without internet service

Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a struct u r e s t i l l n e e d t o v i s i t t h e m a i n Department of Community Development permitting office at 1500 Monroe St , Fort Myers.

D e p a r t m e n t o f C o m m u n i t y Development information can be found at www leegov com/dcd or by calling 239533-8585

Information and resources related to Lee County’s Hurricane Ian response can be found at www leegov com/storm

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter at w w w l e e g o v c o m / r e s o u r c e s / n e w s l e t t e r s F o l l o w L e e C o u n t y G o v e r n m e n t o n Facebook at www facebook com/leecountyflbocc

David Sienema David Goldberg

OPINIONS

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

Gov Ron DeSantis puffed up a lead balloon this week, saying that perhaps the state s h o u l d c o n s i d e r r e p l a c i n g A d v a n c e d Placement courses with, well, something else.

Maybe the International Baccalaureate program Maybe the Cambridge Assessment program Maybe some other vendor And there’s always dual enrollment, which allows qualifying students to take college courses while still in high school, he said Tuesday in a press conference in Jacksonville

The comments concerning the nationwide A P p r o g r a m o f f e r e d a n d a d m i n i s t e r e d through the AP College Board come in the wake of a couple of actions, one blocking an AP course on African American Studies, the other upending the direction of the state’s honor college, New College of Florida in Sarasota

Any bid to opt Florida out of the College Board’s AP program or reallocate its funding elsewhere is more than concerning: It is frightening

The program is a national one, recognized b y n e a r l y a l l c o l l e g e s a n d u n i v e r s i t i e s throughout the U S

In 2021, 1,178,256 public high school graduates 34.9% took at least one AP exam, up from 898,134, or 28 6%, as compared to the class of 2011, according to the College Board website, collegeboard org

Of that Class of 2021 total, 758,842, or 22 5%, scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, meaning they not only took what is essentially a college-level class but mastered

the subject matter

According to that same report, “students from all backgrounds, including those with average scores of 1 or 2, are more likely to enroll in a four-year college compared to academically similar students who did not take AP ”

An AP score of 2 means the student is “well prepared to succeed in introductory college courses” and will “perform as well or better in introductory college courses, compared to academically similar college peers” who did not take the AP course, the site states

Not only do the courses prepare students for college at top institutions across the country, they actually can provide them with college credits, depending on the course taken and a particular college’s AP policy

What types of classes?

More than three dozen AP classes are o f f e r e d t o s t u d e n t s n a t i o n w i d e C o u r s e s include classes in the arts, English, history and the social sciences, math and computer sciences, science, and world language and cultures

Everything from art history and music theory to calculus and Latin

Key here is that this is a nationally recognized and universally accepted offering with 31 states including Florida supporting the program financially to the benefit of the public school students the state educates

It allows participating students to demonstrate a commitment to their education, earn college credits, skip introductory courses or graduate earlier than they might have had the opportunity not been available to them at the high school level

Let us be clear: There is no comparable, nationwide, academically accepted replacement

Our students should not be left out especially in the “Free State of Florida” where the governor himself has said parents should be in control of their children’s education, not bureaucrats and certainly not politicians with an agenda

We know of no public outcry, not even a whisper, for a statewide opt out of the AP program

We know of no public outcry, not even a whisper, to legislatively shop for some other alternative which, we point out, any parent can do now as there are schools that offer the International Baccalaureate program and the Cambridge AICE program here in Lee County

This trial balloon needs to be shot down now

We urge parents who are invested in the education of their children, college bound or not, to provide the needed ammunition with loud and vigorous protestation

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

Are you satisfied with the county’s response after Hurricane Ian?

■ Yes 45%

■ No 23%

■ Somewhat 23%

■ No comment 9%

Current Web Poll Question:

Should a used car lot be permitted on the old chamber office site on Pine Island Road?

■ Yes

■ No

■ No comment

Share your opinion

Hurricane Ian was the most financially devastating hurricane to ever hit Florida and it has caused over $100 billion of damages to homes and businesses Many of us have not received insurance reimbursements, and others have only received a fractional portion of l o s s e s T a x p a y e r s h a v e t h e p o t e n t i a l t o r e c e i v e s i g n i f i c a n t i n c o m e t a x r e l i e f b y

c l a i m i n g a c a s u a l t y l o s s o n t h e i r 2 0 2 2 income tax returns (or their 2021 returns if a special election is made.)

The rules involving deductions relating to unreimbursed property damage caused by a casualty loss hinge on what type of casualty is incurred The last major hurricane to impact our area was Hurricane Irma, which was given special designation by Congress as

a “Qualified Casualty Loss ” As a result, taxp a y e r s a d v e r s e l y i m p a c t e d b y H u r r i c a n e Irma were able to maximize their loss deductions

Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian has NOT yet been designated as a qualified disaster by Congress I urge all Florida homeowners to contact their Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman Byron Donalds to advise them that we need our elected representatives’ help in order to recoup losses from this major disaster A form should be submitted through their websites

Casualty losses are determined based on the damaged property’s fair value immediately before and immediately after a disaster such as a hurricane Hurricane Ian is the most

s e r i o u s s t o r m to impact our a r e a s i n c e Hurricane Irma a n d t h e m o s t d a m a g i n g i n Florida history U n f o r t u n a t e l y , the tax deductions currently available relati n g t o H u r r ic a n e I a n e x p e n s e s a r e much less adv a n t a g e o u s t h a n t h o s e made available after Hurricane Irma Congress designated Hurricane Irma a qualified disaster, which meant that casualty losses would be subjected to only a $500 expense recapture Since Hurricane Ian has not been designated as a qualified disaster, taxpayers must deduct 10 percent of their adjusted gross income (“AGI”) plus an additional $100 from the amount that would have been their casualty loss

My clients have been seeing an average

Bottlenose dolphin are plentiful after Hurricane Ian

As we welcome our “snowbirds” to Pine Island, I’m happy to report that there is no shortage of playful dolphin in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor Our coastal bottlenose dolphins, who went offshore for Hurricane Ian, have returned home to our local waters, which are shallow and warm and teaming with snook, redfish, trout, mullet and sheepshead

Our dolphins are permanent residents and will live within a 5mile radius of our coastal inland waters for their entire life. If incidences such as hurricanes and red tide occur, it forces the dolphins to find food and shelter offshore temporarily

Adult coastal bottlenose dolphins weigh between 300 and 650 pounds and range from 6 to 10 feet in length Their bodies are smaller than offshore types, but their flippers are larger Coastal bottlenose dolphins and offshore b o t t l e n o s e d o n ’ t s o c i a l i z e w i t h each other.

I would venture to say that a male offshore dolphin might try to lure a coastal female dolphin to mate pirate behavior

Dolphin Tales

Our coastal bottlenose dolphins live in small groups and organize complex group behaviors particularly when mating and hunting Adults have no known predators, but juveniles are somewhat susceptible to shark attacks

Our local dolphins are considered to be one of the smartest animals on the planet They are extremely curious and their brain to body mass is second only to humans They have the ability to eco locate, which in some ways makes them even more intelligent than humans.

When looking for our dolphins, it can become very frustrating when a cormorant or anhinga pops up to breathe Both of these species of birds swim underwater to fish and must surface to breathe remember, we are looking for the dolphin dorsal fin. We won’t see a shark unless fishing. They have gills and don’t need to surface to breathe

Capt Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters As a professional charter captain she specializes in dolphin and nature tours Visit CaptainCathy com or call 239 994-2572

Rotary Club of Fort Myers donates nearly $50,000 to Beacon of Hope

In the aftermath of the destruction from Hurricane Ian, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers, and other Rotarian Clubs worldwide, saw the tremendous need and responded in kind Starting with its gala, the Fort Myers Rotary raised thousands of dollars to help those in the local community most in need Its gala proceeds were donated to United Way Subsequently, it reached out to Rotarians nationally and internationally to raise money Its efforts were successful Moreover, it raised matching funds with local Rotary Clubs and the SW Florida Rotary District donated With these funds, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers along with other local Rotary Clubs and the Rotary District initiated Phase 1 of its rebuilding efforts by supplying thousands of dollars of drywall to households in the hardest hit areas, including Pine Island

Now in Phase 2 of its rebuilding efforts, the Rotary Club of Fort Myers has granted nearly $50,000 to the Beacon of Hope Pine Island to assist residents in need of replacing appliances as well as mattresses

The Rotary has worked not only to raise the money, but also with companies in the area willing to provide the best deals on appliances and mattresses

The Beacon has identified households in our community most in need of this generous assistance and will contact them directly

The Rotary Club of Fort Myers is working with other local Rotary Clubs and the SW Florida Rotary District to raise funds for a possible phase 3 where they will continue to work with the Beacon of Hope Pine Island to continue to help Pine Islanders recover from Hurricane Ian

Capt. Cathy Eagle

PHOTO PROVIDED

On hand for the Rotary Club of Fort Myers donation presentation to the Beacon of Hope were, from left are Nancy Buthman, George Miller, Jayson Rider, Mary Ryan, Ray West, Sarah Mack, Dylan Geraci, Patricia Bell, Carlyn Herring and Jake Herring

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Sponsored by:

Verizon donates $250,000 in support of small business recovery in wake of Hurricane Ian

BASKING RIDGE, N J – Verizon recently announced a $250,000 donation to support small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian Verizon is partnering with Collaboratory, a local non-profit commun i t y - p r o b l e m s o l v i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a , a n d F l o r i d a TaxWatch, a trusted non-profit organization that serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of Florida taxpayers and promotes economic development across the state, to create $10,000 grants to provide small businesses in the hardest-hit areas of Florida with critical relief

Verizon engineers are continuing their efforts to add capacity to the network to s u p p o r t t h e t r e m e n d o u s d a t a u s a g e increase we’re seeing compared to prestorm levels. The influx of recovery teams to the area, coupled with customers using wireless service while their home internet service is out, has increased data traffic on the network by more than 70% in some locations

Collaboratory and Florida TaxWatch

worked with community leaders to select the final 25 small businesses from the h u n d r e d s o f d e s e r v i n g a p p l i c a n t s a n d nominees including:

■ The Crackerbox Restaurant, Fort Myers

T h e C r a c k e r B o x R e s t a u r a n t W a s founded in 1962 and is now known as the second oldest restaurant in Lee County This mom and pop restaurant has been owned and run since 1975 by the Welkers and now the next generation of the Jones family It’s known for its “Old Florida" feel and the at home atmosphere restaurant offering food and live music

■ D & D Matlacha Bait & Tackle, Matlacha

Debbie and David Root decided to open up D and D Bait and Tackle in 2000 after moving to Pine Island They have a true passion for the water and the fishing in Southwest Florida which inspired them to open a convenient bait and tackle shop located in the heart of Matlacha D and D Bait and Tackle is a family owned bait

and tackle shop which also has a proguide staff with many years of fishing experience to help you on your outdoor adventure Every July, D & D Bait and Tackle hosts the David Lee Root Jr fishing tournament in honor of their teenage son who died in a car accident. All proceeds benefit the Lee Memorial Trauma Center in David's memory

■ Hoops on Mission, Cape Coral Hoops on Mission is a 501-c3 nonprofit multi-cultural organization that is

focused on the youth of Florida communities It hosts many free programs and events throughout the year to help local families At Hoops on Mission, the organization reaches the community through school mentoring programs, basketball, m o n t h l y e v e n t s a n d m i s s i o n s t r i p s .

Established in 2014, Hoops on Mission has impacted over 10,000 students and their families with basketball training, school mentorship programs, free youth nights monthly and more

Applications available for State's Hurricane Ian Debris Cleanup Program

vessels and other titled property from waterways and properties due to Hurri-

owners in eligible counties can apply for the State’s Hurricane Ian Debris Cleanup Program to assist with debris removal, including lost and displaced vehicles,

visit IanDebrisCleanup com, or call the Ian Debris Cleanup Hotline at 850-961-2002

Update contact information to keep in touch with FEMA

Applicants for FEMA assistance after Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole should ensure that FEMA has their current contact information FEMA may need to contact applicants for more information or to arrange a home inspection to verify damage

If you are referred for a FEMA inspection and have

been waiting three weeks or longer, contact FEMA to check on the status of your application If your contact information has changed, you should update your FEMA application immediately

To update your information, you can create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov and click the green icon titled

Matlacha Community Park to reopen Feb. 25

Lee County’s Matlacha Community Park, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian due to damage, will reopen to the public with limited amenities at 7 a m , Saturday, Feb 25

The park, 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, will resume normal operating hours of 7 a m to 9 p m , seven days a week

Open amenities at the park include the boat ramp, kayak launch and large pavilion The small pavilions, fishing pier, playgrounds, basketball court and buildings

Open Mic and Picnic in the Park March 3 at SJCCA

There will be an Open Mic and Picnic in the Park event at the St James City Civic Center Friday, March 3, from noon to 4 p m

Organizers are looking for local musicians to take the stage… and folks to enjoy the music and picnic in the park!

Food will be available on site Coolers are welcome

Plans are to hold the event on the first Friday of each month Mark your calendar for upcoming dates April 7

All tips go directly to the St James City Civic Association to rebuild and repair the Civic Center, located at 3300 Fourth Ave , St James City

For additional information, contact Denise Huber at 208-290-2512 or Myra Watson at 717-817-1512

Cats of the Week

remain closed for repairs. There is a trailer parking fee of $10 daily, no fee for single car parking The Lee County Annual parking sticker is accepted

For additional information on additional openings and available amenities, visit the Park Progress Map tool at www leeparks org, please call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov com

“Check Status,” and follow the prompts to create an account or access your account, call 800-621-3362 from 7 a m to 11 p m ET or visit a Disaster Recovery Center

To find a center near you text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362 or visit fema gov/drc

Applicants should update FEMA concerning changes in insurance, current housing situation, phone number, mailing address and your payment preference Missing or wrong information could delay the financial assistance you may be eligible to receive When contacting FEMA, refer to the nine-digit number assigned to you when you applied

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole, visit floridadisaster org/info and fema gov/disaster/4673 or fema gov/disaster/4680 Follow FEMA Region 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook com/fema

Patsy & Merle

PHOTO PROVIDED

These adorable siblings came to us shortly before the hurricane. Now 6 months old, they are still waiting and hoping someone has room in their lives for one or both of them. It is adopt-one-get-one free... Patsy the torti, is the outgoing one While Merle (gray), is the shy sweet one Both kittens are fixed, up to date on shots and microchipped Stop in and meet them It is pretty hard to resist such cuteness! For more information call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 If y o u ’

s is 10060 Mallory Parkway E, Unit D, St. James City, FL, 33956, or there’s always our web-site www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary. Thank you so much!

Deadline March 8 for FEMA applications for mitigation funds to elevate homes

Applications to apply for FEMA flood mitigation funds to elevate homes is March 8, 2023 The program is administered through Lee County that has hired Hagerty Consulting to assist with applications

Ian losses

Lee County will hold another inform a t i o n a l m e e t i n g ( d a t e t o b e d e t e rmined )

For information now, call the program hotline at 239-451-4923 or email Lee CountyMitigation@leegov com

From page 4

Depending on the taxpayers’ adjusted gross income, this casualty deduction can result in a tax savings of thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of dollars Please keep in mind that deductions are also reduced by insurance reimbursements, but losses are not impacted by actual out-ofpocket repair estimates or payments

However, if Hurricane Ian is designated by Congress as a qualified disaster, the taxpayer’s casualty loss deduction would not be impacted by adjusted gross income and would result in even greater tax savings.

The casualty loss rules are complicated and require that several steps be followed correctly prior to the deduction of losses caused by Hurricane Ian Damage to busin

The services of an experienced CPA should be sought to help correctly navigate the Internal Revenue Service casualty loss rules I also encourage all Lee County homeowners to contact their elected officials to encourage them to help us recover from the damage suffered by desi g n a t i n g H u r r i c a n e I a n a Q u a l i f i e d Disaster Below is the telephone contact information for our Florida senators and congresspeople Each of these officials

has a form on their official websites t h r o u g h w h i c h c o n s t i t u e n t s c a n s e n d emails

Senator Rick Scott: (202) 224-5274 S e n a t o r M a r c o R u b i o : ( 2 0 2 ) 2 2 43041

Congressman Byron Donalds: (202) 225-2536

Mary Feichthaler is a licensed CPA and has 26 years of experience assisting i n d i v i d u a l , c o r p o r a t e , a n d n o n p r o f i t clients in all areas of taxation including income tax compliance and audits, sales tax, FIRPTA, and offers in compromise. She has lived in Cape Coral since 2002 She graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University with a degree in accounting and graduated magna cum l a u d e f r o m P a c e U n i v e r s i t y w i t h a Masters in Taxation She is a Gulfshore Business 40 under 40 Award Winner and was a 2021 FICPA Women to Watch Award Nominee. Mary Feichthaler can be reached at mary@feichthalertax com or at (239) 898-8522 The information in this article is general in nature and not i n t e n d e d a s t a x a d v i c e t o a n y o n e Individuals should consult with a licensed CPA before making any tax or investment decisions

Obituaries

Death Notices

March programs set at Pine Island Public Library

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

Download Drop-In

3 p.m., Thursdays, March 9, 16

Receive personalized help downloading e-books, movies, music and more from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, two of L e e C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m ’ s l a r g e s t online content providers Bring your fully charged digital device for this hands-on help session Note: Please bring any passwords you may need for downloading apps Kindle users will also need an Amazon account and their password for accessing it

Spring Break Family Movie Matinee

1 p.m., Saturday, March 18

Get spring break started with fun and laughter during this all-ages screening of t h e m u s i c a l c o m e d y h i t “ L y l e , L y l e Crocodile” based on the bestselling book series by Bernard Waber Rated G Light refreshments will be served

Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help

3:30 p m , Thursday, March 23

Need help with a laptop, tablet or ereader? 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

Children’s Programs

STEAM Nursery Rhyme Time

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 14

Explore nursery rhyme inspired activities and crafts based on the STEAM princ i p l e s o f S c i e n c e , T e c h n o l o g y , Engineering, Art and Math

Spring Break Family Movie Matinee

1 p.m., Saturday, March 18

Get spring break started with fun and laughter during this all-ages screening of t h e m u s i c a l c o m e d y h i t “ L y l e , L y l e Crocodile” based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber Rated G Light refreshments will be served

Family Storytime

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 28

For children through age 5 and careg i v e r s F a m i l i e s w i t h y o u n g c h i l d r e n enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes

and movement

Teen Programs

Download Drop-In

3 p.m., Thursdays, March 9, 16

Receive personalized help downloading e-books, movies, music and more from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, two of L e e C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m ’ s l a r g e s t online content providers. Bring your fully charged digital device for this hands-on help session Note: Please bring any passwords you may need for downloading apps Kindle users will also need an Amazon account and their password for accessing it

Spring Break Family Movie Matinee

1 p m , Saturday, March 18

Get spring break started with fun and laughter during this all-ages screening of t h e m u s i c a l c o m e d y h i t “ L y l e , L y l e Crocodile” based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber Rated G Light refreshments will be served

Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help

3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23

Need help with a laptop, tablet or ereader? 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

Bokeelia For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4350 Check the Lee

to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Joan LaGuardia, 239-533-2314,

least

Overnight lane closures planned on Pine Island Road causeway and bridge

Starting Monday, Feb 20, crews will begin collecting preliminary data for permanent repairs to the Pine Island Road causeway and bridge in Lee County

According to the announcement from

the Florida Department of Transportation, to minimize impact, lane closures will be o v e r n i g h t , s i n g l e - l a n e c l o s u r e s f r o m Monday to Thursday, from 7 p m to 6 a m , and last approximately three weeks

R e s i d e n t s a n d b u s i n e s s e s s h o u l d e x p e c t n o i s e f r o m c r e w s , e q u i p m e n t , backup alarms and lighting, FDOT reported

Also, drivers are asked to please use

caution in the area and consider additional travel time

F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www fdot gov

Good weather brings better fishing

Right on schedule, a cool f r o n t p a s s e d o v e r h e a d i n g into the weekend It brought a little wind for a day or two but weather was good the rest of the week

Sheepshead fishing is in full swing for the next couple weeks before it begins to taper off as they complete their annual spawning duties

catching one or two a day Most were hooked while fishing for sheepshead and seatrout inside the Gulf passes and Pine Island Sound Let’s hope the trend continues Also, a few Spanish mackerel are showing up inshore, a sign spring is near

If you find the right area, seatrout fishing is good Matlacha Pass is pretty well void of sea grass so that’s not the place Grass flats look pretty good in Pine Island Sound The water is not as clear as it should be but it’s getting better daily

Bill Russell On the Water

Fish up to 6 pounds came f r o m s t r u c t u r e a n d b e a c h drop-offs in and around the G u l f p a s s e s S h e e p s h e a d were also caught around St J a m e s C i t y a n d S a n i b e l a l o n g h a r d b o t t o m s h o r elines, creek mouths and oyster bars The better bite was over moving water fishing shrimp-tipped jig heads, knocker rigs and split shots a few inches above the baits

Anglers also scored with sheepshead fishing Gulf waters from 20 to 45 feet. Fish were hooked over public reefs, ledges and hard bottom Mangrove snapper, an occasional lane snapper and grunts were caught as well Live shrimp fished on bottom with a light leader and small hook gave the best results

Pompano catches are on the rise as many are reporting

Trout up to 22 inches were hooked on a variety of baits fishing depths from 3 to 7 feet. As the water clears, with a pair of polarized sunglasses you should be able to differentiate grass and sand bottom Look for breaks along bar drop-offs where grass and sand meet, or grass surrounding sandy holes Fish the transition at various depths If you hook a fish or two, give the area a little time Often more fish are nearby and hone into feeding activity Some prefer shrimp under a popping or rattling float and others working artificial baits Both work well, it just depends on how you want to fish

With the gradually warming water, snook fishing is beginning to heat up As water temps get into the mid70s and stabilize baitfish should show up in numbers and snook hungry and active Over the week snook were caught and released around Bokeelia, around docks and pilings off the barrier islands, Matlacha and St James City Snook, plus a few redfish, were hooked in mid-Pine Island Sound off oyster bars and shorelines on the higher t i d e s a n d s a n d h o l e s o r troughs on the eastern side of the Sound on the lower water

It feels like spring is almost here With a warm forecast for the upcoming week, it will get here a little quicker If the red tide stays out of our waters fishing should only get better

To keep up on current f i s h i n g r e g u l a t i o n s , y o u c a n g o t o w w w m y f w c c o m o r download the Fish Rules app for the latest rules and regulations

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast

Despite a breezy Friday, Jim and Terri Rolfes and family had a good day fishing including sheepshead, pompano and seatrout for a weekend feast They were fishing the western side of Pine Island Sound with Capt Bill Russell

Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the w e b a t w w w f i s h p i n e i s l a n d c o m ; o r v i a e m a i l a t gcl2fish@ live com

Have a safe week and good fishin’

As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

Capt

PHOTO PROVIDED

24th Great Calusa Rubber Duck Raffle to benefit Calusa Land Trust

The 24th Annual Great Calusa Rubber Duck Raffle is set for Saturday, March 4, and event organizers need your help.

H u r r i c a n e I a n h a s l e f t n e a r l y a l l islanders damaged -- physically, mentally and financially Island preserves have sus-

tained horrific damage to trees, plants, boardwalks, tikis and benches For these reasons, the Calusa Land Trust is ready to host a big party, Pine Island Strong!

The main event Great Calusa Duck Raffle has 3,000 rubber ducks at $10

each plus 50/50 raffle tickets and the White Elephant sale

The first place duck wins $2,000 for its ticket owner and second place wins $1,000 Participants need not be present to win

All the net proceeds from the event go to the Calusa Land Trust to acquire and maintain environmentally sensitive or historically important lands in the Greater Pine Island area Donations are very much appreciated

Lee County Parks & Recreation summer camp registration to begin

L e e C o u n t y P a r k s & R e c r e a t i o n Summer Camp registration opens at 7 a m Monday, Feb 27 Registration is expected to draw thousands of youngsters to programs, outings and activities at the department’s traditional camps, middle school camps and specialty camps

Traditional camps are for children that have completed kindergarten through fifth grade. Middle school camps are for sixth through eighth grade Specialty and special needs camps ages vary; check locations for specific ages

Summer camp runs for six weeks from June 19 through July 28 The cost for traditional and middle school camps are $75

per week per child Specialty camps vary; check location for price For locations visit www leeparks org

P a r e n t s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o s i g n u p early Each year, the allotted spaces at Lakes Park, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and Estero Recreation Center fill up well before school ends Camp registration is ongoing as long as space is available.

Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center and Matlacha Community Center are closed from Hurricane Ian damages and will not o p er ate a s u mmer p r o g r am th is y ear Estero Recreation Center and North Fort Myers Recreation Center will increase

MME Contracting

i n s u r a n c e m a y b e l a c k i n g , i s a n o t h e r major priority for MME The case is then shifted over to the estimators, he said, before going to a public adjuster who works to settle that portion of the claim

“While the adjuster is settling that portion of the claim, we, as the contractor, are communicating with the homeowner and we are pushing to avoid any delays so we do not have to stop work Everyone has an open claim from the hurricane and now they have damage Now they

Mel Meo

for his mother’s work.

From page 1

need to repair that damage,” Emara said

It has been Emara’s experience that not everyone has insurance, leaving MME with a desire to help As a contractor, he said, they are often left with excess materials from jobs, or have people who want to donate

Future plans, he said, include building a system to help those who are uninsured at no cost to them One of the tools MME utilizes is Xactimate, which is an estimating software program often used by insur-

From page 1

“This is awesome there’s such a demand for her work, but at the same time this would have been an overwhelming task for me on my own,” Long said

Meo worked at the Bokeelia Art and Gift Gallery, now selling her prints to fund art scholarships According to Long, Meo often described the gallery as her d r e a m j o b , l e a v i n g h i m with the contentment that her work is in the right place.

“ I ’ m j u s t p r o u d t h a t we’re continuing her lega-

Mahjongg Scores

Mahjongg players at St J a m e s C i t y C i v i c Association had to work extra hard to concentrate on Feb 16 But even with the roof being replaced over our heads, play continued We will all be glad to have the new roof completed

Top players of the day were Jeanne Nattress with 215, MaryAnn Harms with 165 and Sue Rasmussen with 145 We were happy to welcome a new player, Anne M J i s p l a y e d e v e r y Thursday from 1-4 p m at t h e S J C C A , l o c a t e d a t Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street in St James City

their attendance numbers to accommodate patrons who typically attend those sites

To register for camp at one of the three large recreation centers – Estero, North Fort Myers or Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres – obtain a membership first by visiting the location

If you currently have a membership at one of these facilities, please make sure it is active by calling or visiting the location s e l e c t e d A h o u s e h o l d a c c o u n t a t www webtrac leegov com is needed to register online Registration for swimming lessons and other aquatics programs begins Tuesday, Feb 28

ance companies to establish market costs

What is needed from the insurance company is dictated by this program, Emara said This alleviates any question about pricing, as the cost is already established as reasonable

“We just have to make sure that all the line items in the scope of work are necessary and comprehensive and also reasonable themselves Our whole discussion is always about construction it’s always about the scope of work necessary It’s never about numbers or price we never

cy and things are moving forward in the direction my mom would want them to go,” Long said

The Bokeelia Art Gallery is at 8315 Main St , Bokeelia Hours are Wednesday Saturday, 10 a m to 5 p m ; and Sunday, noon to 5 p m For additional information, call the gallery at 239-7385280

For more information about County P a r k s & R e c r e a t i o n l o c a t i o n s , c a m p s , amenities, and other special events, visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov com

Matlacha Civic Association to meet Feb. 28 at PIUMC

The Matlacha Civic Association will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6 p m in the sanctuary of the Pine Island U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h , 5 7 0 1 P i n e Island Road, in Bokeelia For additional i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e M C A , v i s i t www matlachacivic org

get into that We educate our homeowners and we become part of their family

"When our customers make a commitment to us, we make a commitment to them, to live the life that they’re living That feeling of getting someone back into t h e i r h o m e t h a t ’ s w h a t m a k e s u s happy,” Emara said

MME Contracting LLC is located at 5100 Pine Island Road, N W , Bokeelia, FL 33992 For additional information, call 800-218-8987

Work to improve intersection of Pine Island Road and Burnt Store Road/Veterans Parkway to slow traffic

T h e L e e C o u n t y D e p a r t m e n t o f

Transportation advises motorists to use caution at the intersection of Pine Island Road and Burnt Store Road / Veterans Parkway The work began Thursday and f o r t h e n e x t t w o w e e k s , i n t e r s e c t i o n improvements will be made that will bet-

ter the flow of traffic as part of the Burnt Store Road Widening Project

These improvements require temporary lane shifts and partial lane closures

Crews will be lengthening the northbound left turn lane and adding an additional northbound through lane at the intersec-

InsuranceBusters.net

“What we decided to do a long time ago was to go into a community and become known by making a difference our philosophy is, we shouldn’t take from anybody, but go in and give back. Once we have tried to show that we care, organically, they’ll see who we are and what we’re doing, and if they feel like they need our help, they’ll ask,” Townsend said

A c c o r d i n g t o T o w n s e n d , I n s u r a n c e

Busters assists policy holders with their claims filed with the insurance company, in an effort to get policy holder’s property back to where it was prior to their loss, he said After an adjuster has been sent to assess property loss, the policy holder is often instructed to mitigate further dama g e T h i s p r o c e s s i s f r e q u e n t l y o v e rwhelming, Townsend said, leaving policy holders to seek help This is where their job begins, he explained

“We assist them with their claim, we help them go through their policy and explain what their responsibilities are as the policy holder and how the whole process is supposed to go, and then we

From page 1

provide them with their own estimate, that we do for them That way they can compare our estimate to their insurance company’s estimate to make sure everybody is on the same page,” Townsend said.

Although Hurricane Ian hit almost 5 months ago, the needs on Pine Island are still great In an attempt to help the community further, a 40-foot container has been delivered to the Winn-Dixie parking lot beside the cooking station, Townsend said There will be necessities, such as non-perishable foods and cleaning supplies, among other things, which can be picked up on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a m to 2 p m , while the barbecue occurs. These items are meant for Pine Islanders, which may require proof of address for pick-up

Gratitude from the islanders has been o v e r w h e l m i n g , T o w n s e n d s a i d , a s h e shared with fellow employees

“I actually had to walk away from the Winn-Dixie entrance because so many people were stopping, that the Sheriff’s Office said it was causing a traffic distraction,” Townsend said

tion Crews will temporally shorten the northbound left turn lane at Pine Island Road to construct these improvements. For more information on the project, go to www burntstorewidening com For more information about the Lee County

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHARLES TOWNSEND Treston Clark cooks one of InsuranceBusters net free meals being served on the weekends at the island Winn-Dixie store

Smallblackcat.5pounds. Tippedleftear.Bow-legged infront.Lastseen 09/26/2022inLaguna ShoresFMB REWARD!239-248-9601.

Seeking Cleaning person for 5 hours per week, must be licensed and able to bill company for payment. Call 239-789-5560.

Seeking Lawn service. Must be licensed and able to bill company for payment. Call 239-789-5560.

BuccaneerEstates 2210N.TamiamiTrail

Saturday,March4th 8am-2pm

L UNCH 11amto2pm BakeSale&Raffle CLUBHOUSE HomemadeCrafts Stopby&takealook!

Two crypts in Ft Myers Memorial Gardens “Hall of Last Supper”. Now selling for $13000 ea, will sell for $9000 ea. Call 850-933-7600

Pressman

PressAssistant

TheBreeze

NewspapersBreeze CommercialPrinting hasanimmediate needforthefollowing positionsatour PrintingFacility.

PRESSMAN: experiencepreferred butnotrequired.F/T

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PaidVacation, Benefits,401K,great workenvironment!

ApplyinPersonor emailyourresume

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Bokeelia - Furnished 1/1 Condo. 5725 Genesee Pkwy, #9, 1 mile from center, NO hurricane damage, or flooding. New A/C, Newer roof. See Zillow / Trulia “other listings”. $194 K. Buyers’ agents call me. $241 mo. assoc. fee. Call for info. 941-200-0322.

Bokellia, Share my home. Room for rent, private bath. Fully furnished. Full use of kitchen, living & dining areas. $800 month. Includes utilities Retired female seeking female roommate. Call 239-887-1131

239-236-5311 C

Bokeelia. 5383 Ann Arbor Dr. Sat. Feb 25th 8am-1pm

Household goods, women’s clothing, shoes & much more

TrinityLutheranChurch Yard&BakeSale SatFeb25th,8am-1pm

706SW6thAve,CapeCoral (OffNicholas) GreatBargains PlantSale

SomethingForEveryone

For Sale By Owner 2008 Ford F350 Super Duty Lariat DIESEL 4X4 Clean, Burgundy with tan leather interior. Only 112,000 miles. Asking $19500. OBO MUST SELL Call 239-848-1030

Location. 3 minutes to river, no bridges, 2 bed/ 2 bath, Includes all appliances. Boat slip, carport. Second floor condo, No Ian water damage. New docks & pool. $398,000. 239-458-7733

Beautiful Home for sale.

2270 sq.ft. single level home. .93acre lot in a very nice, quiet subdivision just south of Pine Island Center. 3 bedrooms, 3 bath, office, 3 car garage with circular driveway. Great kitchen with island. Open living, den & kitchen area overlooking pool and back yard. 14’ x 27’ pool with built in SPA. 24’ x 63’ screen enclosed deck + 43’ x 12’ patio. Extensive landscaping makes pool and back yard very private.

On high ground with NO FLOODING or house damage during recent Hurricane Ian.

Being sold due to recent death of spouse, as I plan to move back to be with family. As I have no plans to buy another home, and my children have no room for furniture, the house can be fully furnished.

Price: $695,000 (No furniture). Furniture can be purchased separately at a very reasonable price. This one you gotta see! 239-994-5087