Pine Island Eagle

GPIA discusses Camp Noah, construction, grants

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

At the Tuesday, Feb. 20, meeting of the Greater Pine Island Alliance, Executive Director Erin Lollar-Lambert reminded members that Camp Noah will be presented to children March 18-22 at the St James City Civic Center

The camp is free of charge and includes breakfast and lunch

One thing the GPIA is still lacking, she said, is volunteers Volunteer positions needed are helping people set up, and working with the children

“Please do not hesitate to reach out and help support this amazing program,” Lambert said

“On the construction side, we are absolutely blessed and thankful for what’s going on right now Those funds are directed to put people back in their homes. We’re excited to be where we are...”

GPIA

founder

Aaron Barreda

GPIA founder Aaron Barreda gave an update on construction He said, with the help of donations, January brought four hurricane survivors back into their homes

The organization was able to present to the Lee County Unmet Needs Long-Term Recovery Group, which result-

ed in the GPIA receiving over $76,000, which will secure the recovery of another three families, he said

“On the construction side, we are absolutely blessed and thankful for what’s going on right now Those funds are directed to put people back in their homes We’re excited to be where we are It’s amazing to be able to work with people there is nothing more amazing than to be able to call someone and say, ‘Hey, we can find the rest of your construction ’ It’s absolutely incredible,” Barreda said, thanking the American Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army and the Habitat for Humanity

See GPIA, page 16

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY CARLYN HERRING

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Carlyn Herring

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Pine

Islander Carlyn Herring is a wife, mother, grandmother, Realtor, Kiwanian and Beacon board member Although she said she is proud of everything she does, Herring considers herself very lucky to have all her children and grandchildren living in Lee County, as well as having had the experience of raising her children on Pine Island where they had

access to surrounding water and nature She’s been on the island since 1978, after living in Fort Myers for just a year prior Herring said she knew Pine Island was the place for her because her husband Ralph’s dear friend and his wife had lived on Pine Island and being the only local people she knew brought her to the island frequently

See CARLYN HERRING, page 18

Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race at Marker 3 Coastal Cantina

Saturday

Top prize is $1,000, kids entertainment added to event

The Calusa Land Trust's 26th Annual Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 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

awards and crafts with assistance from the Pine Island

A

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 3-4 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 thereafter will 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, second scoops in $500, third place $250 plus five runners-up each waddling home with a bag of goodies worth at least

See GREAT CALUSA DUCK RACE, page 16

The Herring family, from left, Jake, Carlyn, Bryce, Kennedy, Ralph, Cassie, Payton, Tamara and Lacey.

Garden Club Gala called a huge success

Weather and winds cooperated as the Pine Island Garden Club celebrated its 21st Annual Garden Gala Festival at Phillips Park Hundreds of local islanders and visitors participated in its “Art in the Park” theme

Over 70 vendors exhibited Florida friendly plants, artwork, crafts, home and garden products Club members raised hundreds of native plants for the plant sale and also baked up some delicious treats for hungry shoppers

The emcee, Herb Smith, enlivened the crowd with his blastmaster megaphone while Tom Lecours and Charlie Rapazzo pleased the audience with popular tunes

There were multiple winners from the raffles, silent auction and raffle wheel The biggest winners were Debbie Memoli of Uni-Scape Landscaping winning an electric bike (donated by Island Bikeworks located at 10731 Stiringfellow Road) and Calleen Norris’s lucky ticket won a premium Yeti cooler (donated by Vision Ace Hardware located at the four-way stop) Other major

donations included two truck bed covers (donated by Tractor Supply Co) None of this would be possible without the overwhelming support of other local merchants

Garden Gala chairperson Beth Smith, commented, “What an outstanding day in such a beautiful setting. With the efforts and contributions of so many of our members, friends and neighbors, we recognize that Pine Island and its residents are truly special ”

Initial tallies conclude this is the most successful gala ever in attendance and with proceeds in excess of $10,000 These funds will be utilized to maintain the g r

s , Bokeelia post office and the Pine Island Elementary School The club also financially supports many local benevolent organizations such as the Calusa Land Trust, Pine Island Food Pantry, CROW, Beacon of Hope and the Kiwanis Children's Park.

Southwest Florida Ag Expo to showcase youth involvement

Fair favorites, including rides, midway and entertainment, return as county-rebranded celebration returns to

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

The Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair, a tradition for generations, has been rebranded this year as the Southwest Florida Ag Expo to put the spotlight on area youth

It's an exciting change, said event spokesperson Miriam Dotson of the Visitor & Convention Bureau

Set for Feb 29, through March 10, the Ag Expo will feature 4-H, a program involves the youth, education and activities with 373 participants this year

4-H has a long and rich history in Lee County A Cattle Club, the first 4-H club in Lee County was

established on Pine Island in the 1920s

Lee County hired the first 4-H agent in 1972

Lee County Parks & Recreation Operations Manager Lisa Weaver said after speaking with members of the community after the county took over the fair operation their interest was apparent showcasing the youth and livestock portion while highlighting the agricultural community

The event is intended to spotlight the kids who are working really hard on their projects and showing off their animals, she said.

“That is the whole real reason to showcase these kids, so they feel like the VIPs of the event,” Weaver said

“It is going to be a good show,” Weaver added “Many of them show multiple animals ”

Other fair favorites, including the midway, will be included as well

Reithoffer Shows Inc , which does numerous events in the state of Florida, is bringing in some rides that have not been showcased in the circuit yet, Weaver said, adding they have been a really good partner, and they are excited to bring something new to the community.

There also will be skills exhibits featuring a variety of artisans

“There will be a midway with rides, creative living events quilting, knitting and crafting,” Dotson said as they want to pay attention to the arts as well

its

roots

Live entertainment also will return

This year's lineup includes The Del Prados; One Man Band with Marc Dobson; Tadpole the Clown; Jurassic Kingdom Lockdown; the Moogician; Cowboy Camp with Les McDowell; Michael Felk’s Tinsmithing Show; Kids Foam Zone & Gameshow; Porkchop Revue; Pirate Man Down; Agricadabra Magic & Hypnosis Show and Roger Arahamson the Giant Bowl Turner and Reggie Delarm East Knoll Pottery

Another new component of the expo is work to expand parking and overflow parking which, in the past, has been one of the biggest challenges

“We are working on providing additional overflow parking across the street on 31 We are really excited to be able to offer that All parking on both sides will be free, no parking charges,” Weaver said

PHOTO PROVIDED

John Rice and rabbit Rex wearing a red, white and blue costume

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i n e I s l a n d E a g l e

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L e e C o u n t y i s e x c i t e d t o h o s t t h e Southwest Florida Ag Expo, and ready to showcase the youth of Lee County who are committed to their livestock projects.

The Ag Expo will open Feb 29 and close on March 10 at the Lee County Civic Center Complex on Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers It celebrates the work and accomp l i s h m e n t s o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a y o u t h a c t i v e i n 4 - H , F F A , a n d P e e W e e s o f Southwest Florida and more while offering fun, food, rides for the entire community

More than 370 animals will be shown at the Ag Expo, including poultry, rabbits, cattle, horses and goats to name a few The youth exhibitors have been working all year to take care of their animals to get them ready to show This is a long project for t h e s e y o u n g e x h i b i t o r s , r e q u i r i n g m a n y hours of their time, and we are proud of their dedication

I invite you to come support the youth exhibitors and see their animals during the Livestock Show You can spend time in the Steer Barn, Small Animal Barn, Show Ring, Horse Arena or Swine Barn It doesn’t get any more All American than this Some of my best memories are from events here.

Another venue at the Ag Expo that show-

Who will pay for the Punta Gorda Airpor t expansion?

To the editor:

Wonderful plans to improve the Punta Gorda Airport are in the works. The terminal will be expanded and improved Many new safety features will be installed This should bring lots of good paying construction jobs to the area, as well as more flights and destinations

Much of the funding for this massive project comes from the infrastructure bill passed by both houses of Congress and signed by President Biden without the help of our Congressman Byron Donalds or our two senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, who voted NAY To date over $8 billion of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act has been set aside for Florida

So much more can be accomplished if our r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w o r k t o g e t h e r a n d r e a c h across the aisle instead of blocking important legislation

Arlene Gilbert St. James City

The gift

To the editor:

T h e f o r m e r p r e s i d e n t ’ s h o l d o n t h e Republican Party and blatant support of

c a s e s o u r y o u n g p e o p l e i s Creative Living This contest f e a t u r e s 1 0 d i v i s i o n s f o r crafts, culinary and horticulture exhibits Participation is open to all ages of residents of

C h a r l o t t e , C o l l i e r , D e s o t o , G l a d e s , H e n d r y a n d L e e c o u n t i e s S t o p b y a n d s e e what they’ve created

O u r v e n d o r , R e i t h o f f e r Shows, knows how to make it fun Enjoy the live entertainment, games, rides and the food you love It will be a great time for the whole family We’ve even got you covered when it comes to parking, as the Board of County Commissioners has invested in improving your experience at the Lee County Civic Center Complex with a resurfacing project for the parking lot and perimeter Lee County has made a new website so you can load up on information before you head to the Ag Expo We also have a Facebook page dedicated to sharing all the offerings You can even buy tickets online

Russian (Putin’s) interests has been on clear display recently Just as both the House and Senate had agreed after serious negotiations to find a border plan that would satisfy the demands of the American people, and the current speaker and his inner circle to pass a bill that would, in addition, grant funds to resupply the Ukrainian military and protect Taiwan (also wanted by the majority of Americans), the former president used his treacherous power of revenge to bully the speaker into canceling that effort He did it as a gift to Putin.

Who will run our government if the former president is successful in his re-election effort? The answer is clear, Putin

Mary Lewis Sheehan St. James City

Another cover up

To the editor:

A recent letter to the editor neglected to reflect the true timeline and history of the Iranian hostage crisis that took place during the end of the Carter administration and beginning of the Reagan years It is well known that the Reagan campaign made a deal with the Iranians to not release the hostages until after the election The hostages were released the day after Reagan was elect-

ahead of time to avoid waiting in lines Don’t forget to take advantage of the online sales o f t h e M E G A P A S S i n advance for $25 It includes gate admission and wristband for unlimited mechanical rides on one day of your choice (Sale ends Feb 29 ) We have s o m e e x c i t i n g p r o m o t i o n a l nights and themes, including Moonlight Madness on each of the Ag Expo’s Saturday nights

V i s i t w w w s w f l a gexpo.com or visit Facebook f o r S W F L A g E x p o a t w w w f a c e b o o k c o m / s w f l a gexpo today Join me in congratulating our young people who will be showcased and come enjoy the S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a A g E x p o w i t h y o u r friends and family

Commissioner Mike Greenwell is chairm a n o f t h e L e e B o a r d o f C o u n t y Commissioners He represents District 5

ed (PBS News World, 3/19/23). It is truly unfortunate that the letter writer does not know this and takes potshots at one of the most selfless public servants of our time

Zan Lombardo Bokeelia

Biden keeps doing his job at the highest level

To the editor:

Republicans are losing at the local, state and federal levels in recent elections I know that makes the GOP faithful want to scream and lie and blame

However, while the GOP base does that, Joe Biden and his hard-working administration is rebuilding the infrastructure that’s bridges, airports, train routes, marinas protecting health care, managing inflation and creating a booming economy He is calling out the greed of the industries that have raised prices astronomically as others were fighting inflation He is leading us on combating climate change, engaging the fierce resistance to move us forward.

Young people know that when he fights for reproductive choice, climate intervention, loan fairness, DACA youth, he is fighting for them and our future

He is leading the world through the validation of existing alliances, where jealous rivals have sewn fear and threat:

Report your news to PINEISLAND-EAGLE.COM 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 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 Display Advertising (239) 283-2022 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 The Eagle is published every Wednesday 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922 Phone: (239) 283-2022 Fax: (239) 283-0232 Web: pineisland-eagle com 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% 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 Letters to the Editor 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 S t r i n g f e l l o w R o a d , S t e 6 0 , B o k e e l i a , F L 3 3 9 2 2 ; e - m a i l e d t o p i n e i s l a n d @ 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 We want your opinion Ag Expo to showcase Lee County’s youth See LETTERS, page 6 Mike Greenwell Guest Commentary

Get involved: Together, our schools can rise to new heights

I am deeply honored to serve as a School Board Member for the School District of Lee County, representing the interests of our students, families, and dedicated staff It fills me with immense pride to witness the unwavering commitment of our District towards fostering student success Achieving excellence in education, empowering our students to reach their full potential, is indeed a formidable endeavor Yet, our collective determination, demonstrated by our District and school leaders, teachers, and support staff, persists in propelling us towards our goal of becoming a world-class school district

R e c e n t l y , o u r D i s t r i c t , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e S c h o o l B o a r d , h a s r e v i t a l i z e d o u r S t r a t e g i c P l a n , Envision 2030 This initiative has outlined five crucial District priorities:

■ Preparing ALL Students for Life after Graduation

■ Enhancing a Safe Learning and Workplace Culture

■ R e c r u i t i n g , D e v e l o p i n g , a n d R e t a i n i n g H i g h l y Effective Staff

■ Strengthening Student, Family, and Community Partnerships

■ Improving Internal Operating Systems

Under each of these priorities, our District staff has meticulously crafted objectives with associated actions, all of which will be closely monitored through key performance indicators To delve deeper into the details of our Strategic Plan, stay updated by attending School

From page 4

China and North Korea, the two main threats in the region ”

President Biden is probably the only leader clear enough to not be distracted by all the nonsense spewed by the other candidate for the 2024 presidency Joe Biden just keeps doing the job he knows how to do at the highest level

Shari Perkins Bokeelia

Board meetings and visiting our website at l e e s c h o o l s n e t / s u p e r i n t e n d e n t / s t r a t e g i c plan

In the face of adversity, we often speak of grit and determination Our students and staff have demonstrated their resilience in the aftermath of hurricane Ian, and their u n w a v e r i n g c o m m i t m e n

e

l e n c e shines through in our latest state scores and t h e r e m a r k a b l e 2 0 2 3 g r a d u a t i o n r a t e These achievements, in the face of daunting challenges, underscore the progress we make as we personalize each student’s educational journey, equipping them with the tools needed for success The upcoming months will pass swiftly, and we will soon witness the 2024 graduating class take center stage Our students and staff are toiling relentlessly to reach that milestone, and we take immense pride in their continued success.

Jordan

technology, and enhance security across all our campuses

As we march forward, I urge our families to remain informed and engaged Here are some essential points to consider:

■ Get involved - Explore the various c o m m i t t e e s w i t h i n t h e d i s t r i c t , a n d become an active participant

■ Engage with your child’s schoolVolunteer, join PTA, and participate in various school activities such as Parent University

■ Stay focused - Keep yourself updated on your student’s progress and involvement

■ Be aware of the upcoming Student Code of Conduct - Read it thoroughly and don’t hesitate to seek clarification if you have questions

■ 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.leeschools.net.

Lee County School Board

Proposed Policy #3281, Personal Proper ty of Instructional Staff

To the editor:

I am a resident of and practicing attorney in Lee County and a Florida resident since 1952 I am writing

As our graduates embark on their futures, our District remains committed to shaping the future of our community With our population steadily increasing, our responsibility to serve more students continues to grow This underscores the significance of the half penny sales tax, which benefits our entire community It enables us to construct new schools, revamp aging facilities, upgrade

Letters to the Editor

this letter in the hope that it will be read and acted upon by the Lee County School Board which is considering a drastic new effort to prevent our teachers to express any individual thought in their classrooms, including expressions of their “personal ethics ”

I have read with interest the recent backpedaling by our Governor who, after working in concert with the Legislature to enact vague and extreme educational policies, realizes that these measures are unworkable, wasteful and, frankly, an embarrassment

I would add laughable were it remotely funny, but it is not.

Sadly, the Lee County School Board is on the same course and it appears that the goal is to turn our wonderful educators into automatons who cannot be trusted to think for themselves or to pass on their individual wisdom to their students

Perhaps they are fearful of crossing vague red lines observable only to those who see a communist under

I am confident that our District will persist in its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and commun i t y d e v e l o p m e n t R e a c h o u t t o y o u r s c h o o l s , g e t involved, and together, let’s elevate our school district to new heights

Debbie Jordan represents District 4 on the Lee County School Board

every rock, or perhaps some of the School Board members actually are those people?

Either way, they and other Florida school boards will drive away the best educators who will not return when the pendulum swings back to normal

Trust your educators You are the ones who hired them, remember?

Would any School Board member want to work in the environment they are creating? I doubt that very much

My sincere message to all Florida school boards is get off this destructive train before you do more damage Instead of attacking good and hardworking educators, call your representatives and tell them to dial back the political performance art and then do the same yourselves!

It is hurting your employees AND the children

Just stop it!

Louis X. Amato Bonita Springs

Winn-Dixie holding food drive for Pine Island Food Pantry

Bags with fixings for an Easter ham dinner are available through March 15

Winn-Dixie is hosting a food drive once again to benefit the Pine Island Food P a n t r y T h e h o l i d a y f o o d d r i v e i n D e c e m b e r w a s s u c h a g r e a t s u c c e s s , bringing in over $2,000 of non-perishable food, that Dan Loughren, Winn-Dixie manager, and his staff want to help the Greater Pine Island community again by hosting another for Easter

Winn-Dixie will sell $15 food bags with all the fixings for an Easter ham dinner They will be available through March 15 On Saturday, March 15, from 11 a m to 3 p m , Winn-Dixie will close the drive out by holding a formal event so please join us

The pantry has been in existence since 1993 and is run by 100% volunteer staff, so all donations go to its clients Since

Hurricane Ian, the pantry's client base has increase by 50% and is still growing so the need is greater than ever

Pantry staff asks that islanders consider purchasing a food bag at Winn-Dixie to h e l p t h e i r f e l l o w I s l a n d r e s i d e n t s “ i n need” this Easter

Also, to all island snowbirds, please c o n s i d e r d r o p p i n g o f f a n y e x t r a f o o d before leaving this season either at the Food Pantry or the many Pine Island “drop off box” locations: Winn-Dixie, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Centennial Bank and the Matlacha Post Office

The island Winn-Dixie store is at 9864 Stringfellow Road, St James City For a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e f o o d drive or the store, call 239-283-4404

Beacon announces activities for March

The Beacon of Hope has scheduled the following activities for the month of March,:

■ Free tax preparation by IRScertified volunteers is available at the Beacon of Hope on Fridays t h r o u g h A p r i l 5 S t o p b y t h e Beacon on any Monday, Wednesd a y o r T h u r s d a y s t o m a k e a n appointment and to pick up a packet of materials which are needed for the appointment Any questions, please call the Beacon at 239-283-5123

■ Samaritan Health and Wellness, a primary care clinic, is now open at the Beacon every other Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This clinic provides care for the uninsured and underinsured The cost is $50 and help is available if needed People of all ages are welcome Mental health services are also available Call 239-360-7520 to make an appointment ■ T h e r e w i l l b e a n A p p r e c i a t i o n Luncheon Tuesday, March 5, at 12:30 a m for staff and volunteers Please call if you plan to attend

■ The Food Bank – presently is on hold . The Emergency Pantry is available whenever we are open

■ Blood pressure screening is held every Wednesday from 1-2 p m and ev er y S atu r d ay mo r n in g f r o m 1 0 - 1 1 a m

■ The Veteran’s Support group meets on the first Friday of every month from 9 am to 12:30 p m Call 239-283-5123 to make an appointment

■ Beacon Bites (our meals on wheels) is available Call if you need to sign up

■ Transportation to medical appointments and treatments is available to anywhere in Lee County Please call and reserve 48 hours before your appointment

■ Strange Arrangement – Monday, 6-

7:30 p m Lessons given A musical experience

■ Wellness Committee – Next meeting to be announced

■ Fundraising meeting – Monday, March 18, at 10 a.m.

■ Pine Island Boy and Cub Scout T r o o p w i l l b e m e e t i n g W e d n e s d a y evenings at 6 at the United Methodist Church

■ Girl Scout Troop will meet on Friday nights at 6

■ GED classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 2 p m

■ E S O L c l a s s e s a r e h e l d e v e r y Monday from 7 p m at the Beacon and every Thursday from 6-8 p m

■ The Attic (Thrift Store) is open Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 3 p m Saturday hours are 10 a m to 3 p m

Donations are accepted until 2:30 p m , u n l e s s t h e y g e t o v e r l o a d e d E v e r y

Tuesday is 50% off clothing, shoes, and similar items 50% off “almost everything” will be on Tuesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 21

The Beacon of Hope, 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, Suite 3, St James City, is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Computers, fax and printer are available for use Case Managers are available at these times

C a l l a n d m a k e a n a p p o i n t m e n t T h e

Grants Manager is also available at this time

For information, call 239-283-5123

FDOT work continues along Pine Island Road

BARTOW, Fla. – This weekly report is prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida Below are the work schedule and lane closure locations for major state road projects

Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs

Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No 120111) to west of Shoreview Drive

CONTINUED: Motorists can expect traffic shifts and flagging operations as crews continue work on underground utility installation on the north side of the causeway

Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas

Motorists can expect occasional delays due to flagging operations for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment

Crews are maintaining two-lane traffic on causeway

■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone

■ Drivers are asked to please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway

■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected

■ Drivers are also asked to please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area

For additional information, visit the FDOT project web page at https://www swflroads com/project/451937-2 or email at shana overhulser@dot state fl us

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

F.I.B. results from 2-17-24 for Calusa Waterkeeper

Bacteria contamination plaguing Florida waterways has arguably reached a crisis point, according to the Calusa Waterkeeper For example, Billy’s Creek, a tributary flowing into the Caloosahatchee near downtown Fort Myers, has long been a hot spot for enterococci bacteria Enterococcus is used as an indicator of fecal contamination which can carry disease-spreading bacterium such as E Coli

Independent testing of several Lee County waterways is routinely performed by Calusa Waterkeeper staff and volunteer rangers Test results are determined in our independent lab and at Florida Gulf Coast University depending on the number of samples Calusa Waterkeeper’s close watch of local creeks has compelled more monitoring by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Volunteer help needed for GPIA’s Camp Noah March 18-22

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 school-aged children from Greater Pine I s l a n d a n d M a t l a c h a w h o h a v e b e e n a f f e c t e d b y 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 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 T h e c a m p i s m a d e p o s s i b l e i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h 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 more information, please call the G r

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

Applications available for Kiwanis scholarships

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

■ Be a resident of Pine Island or have

School

■ The applicant must either be a senior in high school or a high school graduate, either already in a post high schoo program or entering one.

■ The applicant must also need finan assistance

Russell Road, Bokeelia, or they can be downloaded

Application forms are available at the following locations: Century 21 Office, 10191 Stringfellow Road, St James City, or the Pine Island Public Library, 10701

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 furering their education. This is one of the y ways the club gives back to the community Please contact scholarship committee chairs Carlyn Herring at 239-850-9613 or Tonya Player at 239-2034682

School District sees bump in ‘disruptive behavior ’

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County has seen an increase in disruption, insubordination and respect and skipping classes since the 20 school year

The information was presented to the school board this week as part of a discuss on campus safety and how campus safety is perceived

S a f e t y , S e c u r i t y & E m e r g e n c y Management Executive Director David Newlan discussed the KPI 5 1 score card which is based on a scale of one to five said they are looking for a four to five rat g students and teachers feeling safe

year

Disruption on campus saw a decrease from 2% in 2019-2020 to 1% in the 2022-2023 school year he number of incidents have increased, but r e a s e d p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y f o r p o p u l a t i o n , ” arussi said

The accreditation survey questions were “adults make us feel safe for elementary students,” “adults make decisions to keep us safe for secondary students” and “at my institution, we think of everyone’s safety when making decisions” for the teacher survey

“A raw baseline was created from the spring accreditation data,” Newlan said

The raw baseline was 88% for grades 3-5 students, 71% for grades 6-8, 65% for grades 9-12 and 88% for employees Newlan said the four-year performance target is to go up 2% each year

They look at layers of security at every school site such as monthly drills, OPENGATE weapons detection system, School Resource Officers, Guardian Program, law enforcement access to schools, access control and auto locks and training Newlan said there are zone security inspections done at every school site to complete a school security compliance report

O n c e t h e f a l l s u r v e y r e s p o n s e s a r e c o l l e c t e d i n October, he said they will look at the level and individual schools to break down the responses that were a three or below

“We must take a deeper look by follow-up questions we have created,” Newlan said, so they can make necessary changes before the next survey

Student behavior

The presentation also dove deeper into student crime, violence, and disruption

Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Ron Iarussi said the official baseline is 4 79% of the total student population, which represents 4,749 incidents.

The top five School Environmental Safety Incident Report incidents are fighting, tobacco, drug use/possession, simple battery, and disruption on campus

Fighting went from 5% in 2019-2020 to 8% in the 2022-2023 school year

Tobacco saw an increase from 5% in the 2019-2020 school year to 1 1% in the 2022-2023 school year

Drug use and possession saw an increase from 3% in the 2019-2020 school year to 9% in the 2022-2023 school year There was an increase to 7% during the 2021-2022 school year

Simple battery also saw an increase from .2% in the 2019-202 school year to 6% in the 2022-2023 school

FOCUS.

TAMPA --

of

With that said, disruptive behavior in the local codes have seen a significant increase from 8.2% from 2019 to 17.2% in 20222023

I n s u b o r d i n a t i o n a n d d i s r e s p e c t a l s o increased from 8 2% to 13 9 percent for the a m e t i m e f r a m e a n d s k i p p i n g c l a s s e s reased from 4 5% to almost 9% e r e f e r r a l s a r e n o w d o c u m e n t e d i n t o

“It’s no longer a paper process of getting loss When

you refer an issue to another individual, you transfer the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o t h e m n o w t o d e a l w i t h i t , ” Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said

The goal overall is to see the numbers continue to decline, even when the population increases

“We specifically chose to present the information as local codes because some of the expression of the board When you think about some things that impact teacher and employee feelings about wanting to be in school classroom disruption, insubordination and whether or not kids are in the classroom (Those are) some factors that drive a less than positive feeling about the work environment,” Bernier said

Iarussi said they will be making more recommendations of restorative practices they are working on in the near future, adding they will tie some of those restorative practices to see the effects and measure the effectiveness

F i n a l l y , a w e e k o f decent weather, and comb i n e d w i t h a f u l l m o o n , b r o u g h t g o o d f i s h i n g opportunities. It was still cold for us locals but a step in the right direction

T h e s h e e p s h e a d b i t e was at its best with the full moon and cool water temperatures The big moon m i g h t h a v e b r o u g h t t h e height of their spawn as sheepshead up to 7 pounds and in good numbers were c a u g h t i n s h o r e a n d n e a r s h o r e S h e e p s h e a d w e r e f o u n d i n a l l t h e i r u s u a l s p o t s , i n c l u d i n g shorelines, oyster bars, docks, pilings, bridges, rock piles and offshore over reef and ledges Let’s hope the good action keeps going a little longer

120 feet were good Limits of red grouper along with s n a p p e r w e r e b o x e d i n depths between 90-120 feet A r t i f i c i a l r e e f s i n d e p t h s a r o u n d 9 0 f e e t g a v e u p strong battles from amberj a c k a n d s h a r k s I t o f t e n started with amberjack until sharks showed up and took over the show

N e a r s h o r e f r o m 2 5 - 5 0 f e e t a n g l e r s f o u n d sheepshead, lane and mangrove snapper, plus grunts and grouper There is a good number of big gag grouper in t h e s e d e p t h s . G a g g r o u p e r s e a s o n i s c l o s e d , b u t i t ’ s good see the numbers

Cooler water made it challenging for snook, seatrout and redfish The better reports came from late morning through the afternoon as the sun warmed the shallows Snook and redfish were located in the back waters sunning over shallow water near deeper creeks and under dock around the gulf passes.

Seatrout were located in 4 to 6-footdeep sand potholes over the morning super low tides and off bar drop-offs and 4 to 6-foot grass bottom over the incoming tides

Last week gave us a few cooperative days to run offshore Reports for both nearshore and further out to depths of

If you fished nearshore, odds are good you had a shark encounter or many On my boat about everywhere we fished we encountered hungry sharks, and they really like big snapper Sheepshead, grunts, grouper, small snapper would go unnoticed but as soon as a big snapper was hooked it was a race to the boat before the sharks got them

Anglers hooked into blacktip, spinner, b u l l a n d s a n d b a r s h a r k s o f f s h o r e . Inshore, plenty of bonnetheads, plus bull and blacktips were caught in Pine Island Sound When our waters begin to warm, I e x p e c t s h a r k s t o b e c o m e e v e n m o r e numerous

T h i s w e e k , d a y t i m e t e m p e r a t u r e i s forecasted for the 80s Water temperature will rise, and fishing should continue to

improve

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 Flori-da, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

SJCCA announces upcoming programs, activities

The St James City Civic Association at 3300 Fourth Ave , St James City, has announced its schedule of activities and events for the month of March:

Upcoming Special Events

■ 3rd Annual St James City Boat Club Nautical Flea Market -- Saturday, March 2, 8 a m to 2 p m Club members will bring boating and fishing gear they want to sell

■ Pick’in In The City -- Sunday, March 3, 2-4 p m Bring your instruments and jam

■ Kellie Simpson Painting Class -Wednesday, March, 3-4 p m Join host Kellie and paint "Surf's Up " $35 prepayment is required – the last session sold out! Call Kellie at 440-360-0980, email at kellie0707@gmail com, Facebook: Kellie Cantelberry Simpson, or tickets at sjccapi.org. Space is limited - sign up soon The class is appropriate for ages 18 and over

■ Big Breakfast Fund Raiser, Saturday, March 9, 8-10 a m Scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits, sausage gravy, panc a k e s , c i n n a m o n t o a s t , s t r a w b e r r i e s , whipped cream, coffee and tea - $9/person

■ Camp Noah -- March 18-22, 9 a m to 3 p m Greater Pine Island Alliance will host a Camp Noah experience here on the island at the SJCCA. Camp Noah is a nationally acclaimed program where chil-

dren in communities impacted by disaster can experience the power of hope and healing through a proven resiliency curriculum that includes creative activities and play For more information or to volunteer email Team@GPIAlliance org

Weekly Activities Schedule

New activity

■ Please contact Courtney DeWitt if you are interested in participating in a monthly Book Club at 757-409-5416 or Courtdoit@cox net

Thursday, February 29

■ Ping Pong -- 9:30 a m to 11 p m

■ M a h j o n g g , 1 - 4 p m Y o u k n o w you've been wanting to learn all about mahjongg This is a great place to learn

■ C r i b b a g e - - 6 : 3 0 - 8 : 3 0 p m Cribbage, or crib, is a card game, traditionally for two players, that involves playing and grouping cards in combinations which gain points It can be adapted for three or four players Contact Mike at 906-630-1023 with questions

Friday, March 1

■ Shuffleboard -- 9 a m - 11 p m

Come play shuffleboard with us No experience is necessary

Monday, March 4

■ Strength Training -- 9-9:30 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 train-

PHOTO PROVIDED

2023-24 students’ tag art designs ready for purchase

Need some new bling for the front of your car? Buy a decorative tag designed by fifth graders in the School District of Lee County

The Lee County Tax Collector and the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools have opened the online ordering portal LeeTC com/Kids-Tag-Art/202324 The portal features 3,460 student designs from 42 different schools All proceeds from the sales go back to participating art teachers to purchase supplies and introduce new techniques, like 3D art, to their students

Kids Tag Art was started in Lee County in 2016 and inspires fifth grade students to design their own license plates fashioned after Florida’s specialty plate program

S t u d e n t s l e a r n h o w t h e s e l i c e n s e plates support deserving causes, like environmental protection, health initia-

tives and public education Then, their designs are turned into decorative tags that can be placed on the front of a vehicle or on a bike Key fobs, mouse pads and mugs are also available

Since the program’s inception, more than $200,000 have been raised and given to participating art teachers in Lee County

The Philanthropist Sponsor for Kids Tag Art is Suncoast Credit Union Other sponsors include Lee County Electric Co-op (LCEC), Edison Bank/Bank of the Islands, Grant Street Group, First Horizon, Dprint, JP Morgan and The Community Foundation

For more about the Lee County Tax Collector, visit https://leetc com/

For additional information about the F o u n d a t i o n f o r L e e C o u n t y P u b l i c Schools, please visit leeschoolfoundation org

ing 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-inch yoga blocks

Tuesday, March 5

■ Shuffleboard -- 9 a m to 11 p m

Yard sale at the SJCCA

Come check out

SJCCA Yard Sale on Saturdays from 8-11 a m , and see the ongoing renovations while you are there

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

■ 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 sjccapi org

The licence tag artwork created by a student at Skyline Elementary School in Cape Coral

8 ,

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p i n e i s l a n de a g l e . c o m 2 0 2 4 ■ P a g e 1 2

e e k o f

e d n e s d a y , F e b r u a r y 2 8 , 2 0 2 4 b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s . c o m

i n e I s l a n d E a g l e

Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers announce March schedule

The Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers meet on Tuesdays from 10 a m to noon at different venues on Pine Island from November through April Just bring your art supplies and a lawn chair No charge Beginners are most welcome

■ March 5: Sweeney’s, 7102 Capri Lane, Bokeelia From the four-way stop, turn north towards Bokeelia on Stringfellow Road Go about five miles and turn left onto

First Baptist Church of Pine Island to hold Youth Camp Yard Sale Saturday

First Baptist Church of Pine Island will be hosting its annual Youth Camp Yard Sale this Saturday, March

2, from 8 a m to noon at 5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia

All financial donations for items purchased will go toward scholarships for 40 youth from Pine Island to Word of Life Camp for a week this summer

The youth will also have a car wash at the Yard Sale from 9 a m to noon There is no set pricing, your donations are greatly appreciated

This will be the church’s 10th year sponsoring students between the ages of 8 years old to 18 years old to attend Word of Life Camp Camp would normally cost a student $420 to attend FBCOPI raises funds to cover that charge along with a little spending money for the student It truly is a life changing experience for the student.

FBCOPI is blessed to report, because of numerous donations, it has never had to charge a student to attend

If you have questions regarding the Yard Sale, Car Wash or would like to donate funds, please contact the

Pineland Road; then turn right onto Robert Road Turn right onto Capri Lane, and then turn left at the gate

■ March 12: Galt Preserve, a Lee County Park, 3661 Stringfellow Road, go south toward St James City about 5 5 miles, look for Galt sign on the right, and turn right

■ March 19: Costal Cantina (formerly Ragged Ass Saloon), 3421 Stringfellow Road From the four-way

stop, go six miles south toward St James City Slow down crossing the bridge, and turn right into the parking lot

■ March 26: Chuck’s place From the four-way stop, drive north about six miles toward Bokeelia, turn left at Calusa Ridge Wait for the gatekeeper Turn left, see first house on left. Park on the side of the road.

Church of God of Prophecy to hold chicken dinner on 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

Ag Expo

From page 2

The expo will continue the mega passes, $25, which can be purchased until Feb 29

“That is your gate admission, as well as unlimited rides for one single day,” Weaver said

General gate admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 4 to 11 years old and free for children 3 and younger

Promotional nights will include:

■ Opening Day, Thursday, Feb 29, gates open at 4 p m for $1 gate admission

■ Sensory Friendly Day, Friday, March 1, gates open at 4 p m From 4-6 p m sensory friendly $0 gate admission and at 6 p m regular gate admission

■ Moonlight Magic, Friday, March 1, and Friday, March 8, from 8 p m to midnight $30 admission, which includes ride wristband

■ Community Night, Monday, March 4, gates open at

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

4 p m Free admission with three canned food items for Harry Chapin Food Bank, $5 gate admission, $25 ride wristband

■ Senior Day, Wednesday, March 6, gates open at 4 p m , regular admission, and $5 for 50 years old and older, $25 ride wristband

■ Latin Day, Sunday, March 10, gates open at 11 a m , regular admission and $40 ride wristband

The expo will be held at the Lee County Civic Center Complex, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers

For more information visit swflagexpo com, or follow its Facebook page, SWFL Ag Expo.

“We recommend people bookmark the website We will continue to add more information – entertainment lineup, pass information, tickets will all be available on t h e w e b s i t e , ” W e a v e r s a i d , a d d i n g t o a l s o c h e c k Facebook, as they will be pushing information out there as well

Greater Pine Island Water Association Engineer and General Manager Mikes Maillakakis gave and update on available grant money The $1 1 billion awarded to Lee County through the United States D e p a r t m e n t o f H o u s i n g a n d U r b a n D e v e l o p m e n t , i s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g d i spersed, he said

There are many regulations stipulated a l o n g w i t h t h i s g r a n t m o n e y , h e explained The county has four notices of funding availability (NOFA’s) set up, of which the GPIA with the support of the GPIWA is specifically applying for two

One is a grant request for planning services This grant is not designed for construction, he said, however, there is one designed for construction that will come this spring The application for curr e n t g r a n t r e q u e s t s i s o n t h e gpialliance org website, if anyone would like to look at it, or make comments, Maillakakis said

Planning is based on different needs collected over the past year Some of these needs are: road access on and off island, marine access on and off island, aerial access on and off island, an area operations center (AOC), recovery stations, access to food, access to mobile electricity generation, access to medical treatment, access to fuel, increased diesel

PHOTO PROVIDED

fuel storage, increased natural gas fuel storage, reestablish communications (two parts), establish radio communications and a high visibility billboard

These various needs will be chapters in

the Pine Island Recovery Resiliency Plan based on awarded grant money, he said A n o t h e r o f t h e N o t i c e s o f F u n d i n g

Availability is for critical infrastructure, Maillakakis explained Applications for

this grant will open in March and close in April

To watch this meeting in its entirety on l i v e s t r e a m , v i s i t t h e G P I A F a c e b o o k page

Randall Research Center ’s Karim to speak at MOTI meeting Friday

o f t

I

s ’ n e x t Membership Meeting is Friday, March 1, at 7 p m It will be held at the Fishers of Men Church Lutheran Church, at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St James City

All are welcome to attend and admission is free

To kick off the Calusa Coast 2024 Series of events, the museum has partnered with the Randell Research Center,

Matlacha Community Yard Sale on March 9

including original paintings, decorative tiles, dishes, furniture, fishing equipment, plants, clothing, kitchen items, CD’s and more

From page 1

and the featured speaker will be Annisa Karim, the center’s operation's manager Her topic will be “Knowing the Calusa - Turning Anthropology on its Ear ” For additional information about the

Museum of the Islands, which is located at 5728 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia, please call 239-283-1525 or you can visit the museum website at www museumoftheislands

Greater Pine Island Water Association Engineer and General Manager Mikes Maillakakis speaking at the Greater Pine Island Alliance meeting last week

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected

School District of Lee County presents preliminary budget

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A preliminary 2025 budget for the School District of Lee County was discussed during a workshop last Wednesday

The working document currently does not include the same full-time equivalent student enrollment numbers as the state Budget Director Kelly Letcher said the state has not come to a final decision yet r e g a r d i n g f u l l - t i m e e q u i v a l e n t s t u d e n t enrollment. The district is recommending 107,642 for FTE, a 3 88% growth over the third calculation of this year, which is 4,016 students

“Currently we have seen this year’s growth of 3,576 students,” Letcher said, adding it’s a 3 57% increase “We do expect that to continue to grow ”

Carlyn Herring

“I was coming out here all the time to see them and that’s when I knew, so I rented a place in Matlacha in 1978,” Herring said.

In true Pine Island style, Herring said while she doesn’t know if the island community has gained anything from her

The largest increase the district is looking at right now is the English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, population, which is what staff is going back and forth with the state about

Letcher said the governor’s budget, at the time it moved forward, showed the district at 106,632 FTE, which is about 1,010 students under what the district is projecting for the student population next year

She said the budget also showed a base s t u d e n t a l l o c a t i o n o f $ 5 , 2 4 7 0 2 , a n increase of $107

“In his budget, he did indicate a decline in our tax roll. I don’t believe we would be seeing a decline It does appear it would be going up,” Letcher said

In addition, the governor’s recommend-

From page 1

presence, she certainly counts herself fortunate to have been on the island all these years “I’ve made life-long friends I pinch myself every day when we go out on the boat and I can’t believe I live here how lucky I am to live here There are so many

Bridge Beat

Every Wednesday bridge is played at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church at 12:30 p m Anyone who plays a decent game of bridge is welcome and does not need a partner

It costs $3 to play, some of which goes back to three winners.

L a s t w e e k ’ s w i n n e r s w e r e J o h n Nyhus, first place; Mary Tobias, second place; and Marty Peyer, third

ed budget has a total overall proposed increase of $33 7 million The current year is $77 million

“The governor’s budget really is no indication of where we will end up,” Letcher said

The House and Senate budget also was discussed during the presentation, which did not include a breakdown by individual counties

“ I c a n o n l y m a k e a s s u m p t i o n s , ” Letcher said, adding that neither have finalized a FTE number

Both the House and Senate are recommending a base student allocation increase of about $175.

“It seems like that is probably where we will land at,” she said

The House is proposing that there will

great people out here and I feel so close to so many of them,” Herring said

Even those, with whom Herring is unfamiliar, are counted as being part of her community, she said, emphasizing that they share a love for the island Herring insists everything in which she has become involved, from the Beacon to

K i w a n i s t o t h e S c h o o l A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e ( S A C ) a t P i n e I s l a n d Elementary School, and even her commitment to Little League, has much to do with a deep desire to support the island youth

“The youth (and young ones) is really big with me I was lucky, I grew up in a fantastic family and I would like to think I raised a fantastic family things like

be no increase in the safe school and mental health allocation, while the Senate is proposing an increase for both areas

Letcher said the House is showing an increase in educational enrichment and Exceptional Student Education, or ESE, guarantee allocation, both of which would be beneficial to Lee County

Lee County is 3 46% of the total state allocation in the governor’s budget

U s i n g t h a t l o g i c , L e t c h e r s a i d t h e House would be an increase of approximately $54 9 million and the Senate a $51 8 million increase

C h i e f F i n a n c i a l O f f i c e r D r A m i Desamours said between now and June the school board will hear additional information as they continue to build on the budget of Fiscal Year 2025

being a volunteer in the kindergarten classroom I just love that kind of stuff,” Herring said, shying away from all the island has gained from her presence.

If there was anything Herring could grant Pine Island by sheer will, she said it would be instantaneous recovery from Hurricane Ian The number of locals suffering from PTSD brought about by the massive storm, she describes as an unbelievably trying time to be an islander

“We are all seeing, not only what we personally suffered, but what our friends and neighbors and fellow Pine Islanders are suffering it’s traumatic It’s so surreal to me that this beautiful island has been shredded like it has been it’s heartbreaking,” Herring said

The St James City Civic Center will host a Music Monday event March 4 from noon to 3 p m

North girls headed to state soccer finals

Down Mariner for regional title

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The North Fort Myers Red Knights girls soccer team toppled the top seed on the road Wednesday night, capturing the FHSAA 5A-3 Regional Championship and punching its ticket to the State Final Four

The Red Knights (17-3) snuck out a 1-0 win over rival and No. 1 seed in the class, Mariner (20-4), taking down a squad that had come out on top in two prior m e e t i n g s t h i s y e a r , i n c l u d i n g t h e 5 A - 1 1 D i s t r i c t Championship

North now heads to the Final Four for the first time since the 2020-21 season

“It's awesome It's just super happy for the girls,” said Red Knights head coach Nick Erickson “Based on the way we had played in the district final, to be honest, I didn't know if we'd get back to this game

“We had a little self-meeting as a team after that, and asked ‘What do we really want from the rest of the season?’

“I think they took that to heart, and had great leaders h i p f r o m E v i e ( M c C a r t h y ) , S o p h i a ( K e r n s ) , C a m i (Nunn) and Gigi (Gerke) These seniors want to play And they came to play They really were the aggressors yesterday and it showed ”

A terrible arm injury to a standout defender in Nunn just shy of 40 minutes into a scoreless contest could have proved costly for the Red Knights, but they gath-

ered and put the pressure on Mariner -- pressure that paid off

“It was go time at that point,” Erickson said “Cami is one of the toughest kids I've ever been around, and I told them you know exactly what she'd be saying -- she'd say ‘Go play the game ’”

Coming out of the half, Erickson said the feeling and effort on the field was possibly the most "electrifying" he'd witnessed in his 11 years coaching

It was Red Knights' leading scorer Kerns that netted the decisive goal in the 59th minute Kerns is playing great soccer at this point especially in the season, having come up with crucial goals for the Red Knights throughout the tournament

“It's just great to see her playing her absolute best soccer at North in these final games as a senior,” Erickson said “She just doesn't realize how talented of a player she actually is.

“She knows how she wanted to leave her mark, and she's not going down without anything but her best ”

North will head to Deland to play at SpecMartin Stadium ranked as the No 2 seed, where the Red Knights will take on No 3 ranked Lincoln (Tallahassee, 1 6 - 5 - 1 ) T h e S t a t e S e m i f i n a l m a t c h t a k e s p l a c e

Tuesday, Feb 27, at 10 a m If North advances to the State Championship, the title game will take place Friday, March 1, at 4 p m

“If we bring the effort that we've brought throughout these three regional games, we can play with anybody in the state,” Erickson said “Mariner was ranked number one and gunning for them And if we can play like that against the number one team in the state, then why can't we win the next two games? That's the way we look at it We're not going up there to lose ”

Rambo

Cat of the Week

Look at those chubby cheeks! Rambo is not only adorable, he is sweet and cuddly as well He loves attention and all the snuggles Unfortunately for him, he tested positive for FIV. FIV cats are often overlooked because of fear or lack of information. In a nutshell, FIV cats have a compromised immune system. They are not contagious to people or other species. FIV can be spread from mother to kitten and through deep penetrating bite wounds Rambo is a lover not a fighter, so that’s not something to worry about He is only 2 years old and has no other health issues Rambo is one of those cats you can’t help but fall in love with He just needs someone to give him a chance For more information, call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 or come meet this amazing cat. If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway E, Unit D, St. James City, FL, 33956, or there’s always our website www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com.

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