Pine Island Eagle

Coffee Klatch at the Beacon bringing peace to Hurricane Ian weary islanders

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Retired nurse Mary Lewis Sheehan and Beacon Director Nurse Practitioner Nancy Buthman find themselves very encouraged by the work being done at the casual social Coffee Klatch meetings they facilitate each Friday morning at the Beacon of Hope, which began the first week of February

“I’m impressed with what we’re seeing in terms of release in people week after week,” Sheehan said

The changes in people are due to the realization that

they are not alone in the many ways they were all affected by Hurricane Ian, she said, making changes on the inside and making decisions that reflect their new growth Buthman added that dealing with the results of Hurricane Ian in a positive way has been a fundamental positive step forward for the group, the number of which varies week to week

“Some people come one week and get some help and other people may have to go for two months,” Buthman said

Both women stress that the Coffee Klatch is there for

Matlacha Menagerie reopens in new location on island

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

M a t l a c h a M e n a g e r i e o w n e r s L a r r y a n d L i n d a Solinger suffered major destruction by Hurricane Ian on Sept 28 According to Larry Solinger, the front of the building buckled due to a possible sinkhole

“About 10 feet inside the building, the foundation buckled and the west end of the wall just fell completely,” Solinger said

The building was left uninhabitable, leaving the couple wondering exactly what they might do They were able to salvage approximately 40 percent of their inventory, he said, with no place to sell it Wild Child Gallery owners, who had recently bought the building, turning

into the Gallery of Matlacha, suffered extreme damage to their home, as well as some damage to the gallery, he said

“They started renovating their building and in midprocess they just decided that they weren’t going to reopen and they would look for a tenant,” Solinger said.

Fortunately, neighbor William Tidball found out the gallery would soon be ready for occupancy and told Solinger immediately It took only two days for a lease to be drawn up and signed, which Solinger describes as a blessing for the couple

The Matlacha Menagerie, he said, is a gift shop

See MATLACHA MENAGERIE, page 16

whomever finds they have a need, and for as long as they need to meet with the group to find healing and peace Very stressful situations can bring on some of the same symptoms as PTSD, Sheehan said, although resolving faster than the clinically diagnosed condition.

“We use those symptoms to help people recognize some of the experiences they’re having and really pay attention to them identify them track them to the source and start to relieve the feelings around them

See COFFEE KLATCH, page 18

CW Fudge back open for business

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

CW Fudge owner William Tidball said he is happy and feeling blessed to be open again since Hurricane Ian blew through town. He and partner Carlos Gomez wanted to be open by Valentine’s Day

“We’re still a work in progress there are still some things we have to do, but we certainly didn’t want to wait any longer,” Tidball said

S e r v i n g l o c a l i s l a n d favorites such a, chocolate, fudge, ice cream and popc o r n , T i d b a l l i s h a p p y t o announce they also have gifts, a n d a r e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 5 p e r c e n t c o m p l e t e d i n t h e i r recovery.

“We’re still a work in progress there are still some things we have to do, but we certainly didn’t want to wait any longer.”

William Tidball

T h e p r o g r e s s y e t t o b e c o m p l e t e d i s b e h i n d t h e scenes work, he said, and not likely even noticeable at this point A temporary creamery has been acquired for the store, since Queenie’s Ice Cream, the usual provider at CW Fudge, is a short time from being able to come back “We’re still praying for Queenie’s and their recovery When they come back we’ll have a big celebration,” Tidball said

A large re-grand opening, where they can celebrate with all their business partners, is in the near future, he said, adding that when Queenie’s comes back, the owner will come in as a guest scooper and suggestions will be taken for a new flavor

“We have been blessed Our first day back open, we were very emotional because of the generosity of the community people coming out to wish us well people bringing us flowers, champagne and balloons It was overwhelming that people who lost more than we did still came out to support us

“We’d like to say thank you to everyone who prayed

See CW FUDGE, page 16

An example of some of the items available at Matlacha Menagerie The store has relocated to 4625 Pine Island Road in Matlacha.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANCY KOUCKY

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

The Greater Pine Island Alliance reports having been given $100,000 for island recovery from Volunteer Florida, a major recipient of the disaster fund, created by Gov Ron DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, just after Hurricane Ian

The GPIA was recognized as one of 17 official longterm recovery groups statewide Monies will go toward

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

According to owner Reid Freeman, Street Eats and Ale will be a little neighborhood restaurant and bar with a friendly environment Freeman, who graduated from

procuring office space for a disaster assistance center, which will house GPIA and volunteer organizations here to rebuild Pine Island

The Greater Pine Island Alliance would like to remind islanders that debris can no longer remain in the roadway, and must be kept on private property

“This is at least 6 feet off the road and if you still need help, you need to go to Iandebriscleanup com and fill out the form to state access to come onto your property to get

the debris,” GPIA co-founder Aaron Barreda said

As of today, March 1, he said the county ceased debris cleanup from anything other than private property According to the GPIA, direct housing on the island is approximately 60 days out. At least two 5-acre sites have been identified where FEMA trailers will be placed for those still needing to be housed since Hurricane Ian

GPIA awarded $100,000 for island recovery Street Eats and Ale opening sometime in April

the Cordon Bleu as a certified executive chef, plans to open the new place with his wife Natasha sometime in April

“I’ve cooked for really good chefs in my life I’ve cooked at Dallas Cowboys Stadium Over my years I’ve done a lot of fine dining,” Freeman said For the past 25 years, Freeman’s family has owned the Smoke and Oyster Brewery on Fort Myers Beach He said, although he was born and raised there, he’s thought a great deal about coming out to Pine Island due to his various island connections

“I don’t like the hustle and bustle I like this laid-back, rural lifestyle, so it’s always been a dream of mine to

come out here,” Freeman said

When Hurricane Ian destroyed the family restaurant on the beach, Freeman immediately began a food truck It was roughly a week later that friend and fellow restaurateur Mike Miceli called Freeman and told him he had put the building up for sale, which previously housed his restaurant, El Pollo Rico Freeman said when he got the call, he jumped on the opportunity to lease with the option to buy He looks forward to serving what he calls street-themed food

“It’s going to be very fast, easy style food, but gourmet at the same time,” Freeman said.

His Smash Burger, he said, is a combination of ground

Natasha and Reid Freeman

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY REID FREEMAN

Street Eats and Ale will feature ahi bites and other street-themed food. See

OPINIONS

Stringfellow Road, Ste 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922 Phone: (239) 283-2022 Fax: (239) 283-0232

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

Student School Assignment is changing for the 2023-24 school year a very important message especially for parents/ guardians of elementary school students.

O n F e b 7 , 2 0 2 3 , t h e S c h o o l B o a r d approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to adopt the 2023-24 Student Enrollment Plan The new plan represents a significant change from previous plans built on a primary zone and subzone model

Why?

The previous plan has become unwieldy and inefficient It was implemented in 2005 w h e n t h e D i s t r i c t h a d 6 8 , 0 0 0 s t u d e n t s Today, we enroll nearly 100,000 students and continue to grow The 2023-24 Student Enrollment Plan and future enrollment plans will be based on a proximity zone model intended to reduce the size of attendance zones and decrease the number and length of bus routes

The new Proximity Plan will be used for enrollment of ALL elementary students In the new attendance zones, families will be able to choose from between three to six elementary schools, with the exception of the Barrier Islands You can view a map of the

proximity zones and use the interactive tool to search by a d d r e s s o n t h e S c h o o l District’s website. Who is affected?

■ All incoming kindergarten students are required to enroll in a school in their proximity zone Transportation is provided if they live more than two m i l e s f r o m t h e s c h o o l Incoming kindergartners may select an out-of-zone school if a n o l d e r s i b l i n g i s a l r e a d y e n r o l l e d , b u t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n will not be provided

■ Students new the district will be assigned an elementary school according to the proxi m i t y z o n e i n w h i c h t h e y reside

■ Rising students (grades one through five) who live outside their new attendance zone will be given the opportunity to enroll in a new school within their new zone; if eligible, bus transpiration will be available to their new school Rising students living out-

s i d e t h e i r n e w a t t e n d a n c e zone and wishing to continue to attend their current school may do so but they must provide their own transportation

Who is not affected?

R i s i n g K - 5 e l e m e n t a r y s t u d e n t s w h o r e s i d e i n s i d e t h e i r n e w a t t e n d a n c e z o n e and want to stay in their curr e n t s c h o o l a r e u n a f f e c t e d and will continue to receive transportation if eligible All middle and high school students are unaffected by the new proximity plan in 20232 4 . T h e y c o n t i n u e t o b e e n r o l l e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e three primary zones and subzone model

How will students be enrolled?

Families participating in the Proximity Plan (incoming kindergarten students, elementary students new to the District and those enrolled in schools outside their new

The Eagle is published every Wednesday

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

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

■ Yes

■ No

■ No comment.

Current Web Poll Question:

Should a used car lot be permitted on

Veterans assistance at the Beacon of Hope March 3

To the editor:

More vets are calling the Beacon of Hope for help with our community-based program helping local veterans navigate the VA system for possible benefits Look to us on appointment days if you're a veteran who seeks help with understanding eligibility, guidance and assistance This is accomplished by meeting with a Veteran Service Officer and a local volunteer veteran We will help you through the sometimes-cumbersome system

We can help you, as an honorably discharged service man or woman, learn the details for which you would never ask or ever think of

Some of the most common requests for medical help are regarding eligibility for and enrollment in VA healthcare If eligible for VA healthcare, you can benefit in several ways Benefits include direct mental healthcare or access to VA resources and services that can support the care that you need in the community The first step is finding out if

you are eligible From there you can find additional resources that can support the care that is provided (for example, group treatments, specialty care, housing resources)

Generally, if someone has served 24 consecutive months of active duty service in the military and separated under conditions other than dishonorable, they may be eligible In some cases eligibility may be based on income

Determining the eligibility status and possible co-payment information for a veteran can be complicated Because of this we strongly encourage you to apply for enrollment even if you feel you may not be eligible

The most often sought-after benefit in the VA is for hearing loss It is also the number one benefit paid to veterans by our government Hearing loss is a direct result of being in the proverbial right place at the wrong time without hearing protection This is, in many cases, a wartime disability and is now a prominent factor in complicating our veterans' daily quality of life Testing, treatment and hearing aids can be supplied by the VA if

y o u h a v e a n i n - s e r v i c e r e l a t e d p r oblem. Getting tested by an audiologist is a start

Please schedule an appointment with us on the morning of March 3, between 9 a m and 12:30 p m to discuss any benefits for which you may be eligible

James L. Garnett USAF Veteran

Show some love and suppor t

To the editor:

Many readers of the Pine Island Eagle may have wondered what happened to Skip Elliot Bowman, who played steel pan calypso and most other styles of music for the past 11 years at Bert’s Bar

He recently married and they lost their home, his job at Bert’s and most of their possessions in Hurricane Ian Last week he began playing again at the Jungle Bird Tiki in Cape Coral He would love to see you all, when he plays at that restaurant Call ahead to check his schedule

There is a go-fund-me page in his new wife’s name, Mel Bowman, to help them, as they recover

Skip has been so good for Pine Island and has always been warm, friendly, and funny to all who went to Bert’s for lunch or dinner He also took requests for all types of music and liked to recognize birthdays and anniversaries He is a talented steel pan musician His wife is a teacher and sings in the Fort Myers Symphonic Mastersingers

Skip has been supportive of our families and community Now we have the opportunity to give him some love and support back and celebrate our efforts at Pine Island recovery Nancy McGuire and John Geib St James City

Beacon activities for March

The Beacon of Hope on Pine Island has scheduled the following activities and programs for the month of February The Beacon is open Monday, Wednesday and T h u r s d a y f r o m 9 a m t o 5 p m Computers, fax and printer are available for use

The Beacon will be closed from March 13-18 A new roof is being installed along with a few other needed improvements

March, 6 at 10 a m

■ Blood pressure screening is held every Wednesday from 1-2 p m and every Saturday from 10-11 a m

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

The crowd gathered for the Swine Bowl Feb. 12.

Fine

Swine

hosts Swine Bowl to benefit GPIA

By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

O n S u n d a y , F e b . 1 2 , t h e

Greater Pine Island Alliance held a Super Bowl party and concert at Fine Swine Restaurant, in order to raise funds for island recovery

According to Jay Sanderson, approximately 500 people attended, including Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, who spoke on Pine Island updates at the county level

“It was a fun event for everyone to hang out and re-group a little bit,” Sanderson said GPIA would like to thank Fine S w i n e , t h e M a t l a c h a H o o k e r s , Bokeelia Custom Apparel, Mad Dogz Productions and Lee Hagen for their contributions to this event

The next fundraising concert will be March 18 at Fine Swine Restaurant featuring Tommy Barr, S t r a n g e A c o u s t i c s a n d B r o t h e r Love

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Jay Sanderson, Commissioner Kevin Ruane and Legion Commander Aaron Barreda at the Swine Bowl

■ Coffee Klatch – Every Friday at 10 a m at the Beacon Come join us for coffee Pine Islanders have experienced so much loss and trauma with Hurricane Ian, coupled for many with an increased sense of connection and community The idea of the Coffee Klatch is to help us all cope with the many emotions we have been e x p e r i e n c i n g l i k e e x h a u s t i o n , s a d n e s s , anger and fear Come share experiences, offer support to others, help heal ourselves and others Call Mary Sheehan at 941404-6567 if you have any questions

■ Free Tax Preparation by IRS certified v o l u n t e e r s i s a v a i l a b l e a g a i n o n P i n e Island Volunteers will prepare Federal Tax Returns at the Beacon of Hope offices from 9 a m to 1:30 p m on Fridays Please call the Beacon at 239-283-5123 to schedule your appointment.

■ There are people at the Beacon on Monday and Wednesday helping people sign up for Florida disaster relief Call the Beacon to make an appointment

■ The Food Bank – Every Saturday at 9:30 a m The Emergency Pantry is available when we are open

■ Strange Arrangement – Mondays 67:30 p m Lessons given A musical experience

■ Funds/Communications meeting – To be announced

■ Grants Committee meeting – To Be announced

■ Homelessness Committee – to be announced.

■ Pine Island Boy Scout Troop meets Wednesday evenings at 6

■ Girl Scout Troop will meet on Friday nights

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

■ ESOL classes are held every Monday from 7 p m at the Beacon

■ The Attic (Thrift Store) will be open Monday through Friday, from 9 a m to 3 p m Donations are accepted until 2:30 p.m., unless they get overloaded. Every Tuesday is 50 percent off clothing, shoes, and similar items The next one will be March 21

The Beacon of Hope is located at located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City Call 239-283-5123 for additional information

Island Mahjongg

A special thanks to so many of the mahjongg players at the St James City

C i v i c A s s o c i a t i o n f o r t h e i r g e n e r o u s donations This money is being used to replace the side tables used during play which were destroyed by the hurricane

A very special thank you goes to Jeanne and Bob Nattress for ordering, assembling and delivering the first 10 of

these tables

On Feb 23 the top players were Toni Lindsay with 150 points, Peggy Findlay with 125 points and Jeanne Nattress with 100 points

Join us every Thursday from 1-4 p m , at the SJCCA, located at Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street in St James City

M/PIFCD board votes down health insurance option for members

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

While there was some concern over whether or not the Matlacha/Pine Island F i r e C o n t r o l D i s t r i c t w o u l d v o t e t o approve a health insurance option, the motion was voted down 4-1 at the district's Feb. 22 board meeting.

Board Chair and Fire Commissioner Tonya Player addressed the legality of the motion by stating the district’s attorney has documentation underlining the commissioners’ role as personnel The question, said Player, is not whether it is legal to approve health insurance for commissioners, but whether it should be done now or ever

“In our last meeting we had a tied vote, because we only had 4 commissioners, so we decided to put it off until this month,” Player said

Commissioner Jamie DeLacey reminded the board that Pine Island, having no mayor or city council, relies heavily on f i r e c o m m i s s i o n e r s t o b r i d g e t h e g a p between the community of Pine Island and

the county and state delegates, speaking specifically to the district’s role in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian

“People here may not fully understand how our commission helped get our island up and running again,” DeLacey said

C o m m i s s i o n e r N e i l P r i c e d i s a g r e e d with DeLacey’s stance saying he sees this as a voluntary position and fears adding t h e b e n e f i t o f h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e m i g h t change the ultimate motivation behind running for the position of fire commissioner

While Player agreed to the basic need for health insurance, herself included, she said, looking toward the future, it could be a great cost to include health insurance for all five commissioners

“If we put it in, then, until the board stopped it, it would keep going and going, so it’s not this year’s budget we need to consider, it’s ongoing It’s an ongoing cost to the budget,” Player said, emphasizing that she could not see using money for her own benefit when it could be utilized by putting another person on a truck

Make sure FEMA has your correct contact information

Applicants for FEMA assistance after

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 i n f o r m a t i o n h a s c h a n g e d , y o u s h o u l d

update your FEMA application immediately

To update your information, you can c r e a t e a n a c c o u n t a t D i s a s t e r A s s i stance gov and click the green icon titled “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 C e n t e r T o f i n d a c e n t e r n e a r

See INFORMATION, page 23

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced the first set of awards through the Broadband Opportunity Grant Program to expand access to broadband internet for Florida’s underserved communities More than $144 million was awarded for 58 projects in 41 Florida counties for broadband internet expansion that will impact nearly 160,000 unserved residential, educational, business, and community locations

“I am proud to be in Santa Rosa County to announce t h e f i r s t a w a r d s t h r o u g h F l o r i d a ’ s B r o a d b a n d Opportunity Program,” said Governor Ron DeSantis “Broadband internet access creates jobs and enhances educational opportunities for Floridians I look forward to continued investments through this program to ensure Florida families have access to important resources no matter where they live ”

“Broadband internet service is essential for workforce d e v e l o p m e n t , e d u c a t i o n , a n d h e a l t h c a r e T h a n k s t o

Cape

Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Sponsored by:

Bokeelia earns award through Broadband Opportunity Program

Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has taken monumental steps to bring reliable, high-speed internet to all Floridians,” said Department of Economic Opportunity Deputy Secretary Ben Melnick “There is no doubt that the projects awarded today will shape the future of broadband in Florida, and we look forward to supporting the Governor’s vision for a connected economy ”

Administered by the Florida Department of Economic O p p o r t u n i t y ( D E O ) , t h e B r o a d b a n d O p p o r t u n i t y Program funds the installation and deployment of broadband internet infrastructure in unserved Florida communities, providing valuable access to telehealth, economic, educational, and workforce development opportunities to offer a brighter future for all Floridians

The following local projects will be awarded through the Broadband Opportunity Program:

■ Bokeelia ($63,311) to add 1 1 miles of fiber optic cable to provide FTTH services to 110 unserved

locations within Lee County with minimum symmetrical download and upload speeds of 200 MBPS

■ Lehigh Acres ($3,988,532) to add 126 miles of fiber optic cable to provide FTTH services to 1,998 underserved locations in eastern Lee County with minimum symmetrical download and upload speeds of 1

GBPS

■ Lehigh Acres ($4,111,225) to deploy fiber optic cable service to 2,640 unserved and underserved locations within Lee County with minimum download speeds of 50 MBPS and upload speeds of 10 MBPS

■ City of Punta Gorda; Port Charlotte ($2,397,636) to provide FTTH services to 1,469 unserved or underserved residential customers and 195 businesses in Charlotte County with 1GBPS or higher symmetrical download and upload speeds

visit www FloridaJobs org/Broadband

24th Great Calusa Rubber Duck Raffle to benefit CLT this Saturday

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

Hurricane Ian has left nearly all islanders damaged -physically, mentally and financially Island preserves have sustained 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

Updates on island parks, waterways on GPICA March 7 meeting agenda

Islanders are invited to the next meetin g o f th e G r eater P in e I s lan d C iv ic Association to learn the latest information about island parks and the clean-up of area waterways as part of the post-Ian recovery Members and non-members are welcome to attend

The meeting will be held Tuesday, March 7, at 6:0 p m , at 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 NW, Bokeelia

The main speaker at the meeting will be Jesse Lavender, director of Lee County Parks and Recreation Department, who will provide an update on Conservation 2020 lands on the island and discuss what’s happening with park facilities following Hurricane Ian

Casey Streeter, commercial fisherman and owner of Island Seafood Market, has also been invited to provide an update on what’s been happening with clean-up to

Stringfellow Road

Everyone welcome!

area canals and waterways Streeter has b e e n o r g a n i z i n g w a t e r w a y d e b r i s removal.

There will also be an update about the Greater Pine Island Alliance, a new nonprofit organization formed to aid islanders with recovery in the post-Ian era

The meeting will also be livestreamed to the GPICA Facebook page: www facebook com/pineislandcivicassocation

H a v e y o u m i s s e d a m e e t i n g ? T h e GPICA archives meeting recordings and minutes on its website: www GPICA org

Want to get the latest news from the GPICA? Sign up at www.GPICA.org/ contact

Bridge Beat

239-286-5165

Results

Fishers of Men Wednesday, Feb 15 -

For further information, call Mary at

VFW, Elks educate PIE first graders about American flag

Last Tuesday, Feb 21, members of VFW Post 4353 and its auxiliary with the help from Elks Lodge 2781, educate d t h e f i r s t g r a d e r s a t P i n e I s l a n d Elementary on the proper etiquette and history of the American flag The students learned of the history and evolution of the flag that means so much to all Americans

1 Mary Tobias 2 Kay Winter 3 Audrey Gehrig

VFW Commander Scott Zilch was proud to tell the first graders of the respect and reverence that he has for the flag As a Navy veteran he is familiar with the display and meaning of all the v a r i o u s f l a g s t h r o u g h o u t t h e country's great history

Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge 2781, Eva Goodwin, an Army veteran, told of the importance of the proper display and retirement of the national colors VFW Auxiliary members Mike and Heather Thatcher also shared with the children the importance of the flag in our everyday lives

Dr Tom Millins had worked for the last few years to bring this program to Pine Island Elementary and was glad that it was finally able to become a reality The teachers also participated and learned interesting facts about the history and formation of the current flag.

Each student received a small flag and a coloring book/informational booklet Fifty stars and thirteen stripes have a meaning that all first graders at Pine I s l a n d k n o w s t a t e s a n d o r i g i n a l colonies

This program has been part of the Americanism initiative of the 40/8 Club, Voiture 1530 of the American Legion Post #284 for over 50 years and will continue to educate the future leaders (first graders) of the United States on the American flag for many years to come Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353 is proud to bring this program to Pine Island and will continue this on a yearly basis

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

A p p l i c a t i o n s t o a p p l y for FEMA flood mitigation funds to elevate homes is March 8, 2023 The prog r a m i s a d m i n i s t e r e d through Lee County that h a s h i r e d H a g e r t y Consulting to assist with applications

L e e C o u n t y w i l l h o l d a n o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n a l meeting (date to be determined )

For additional information now, please call the p r o g r a m h o t l i n e a t 2 3 94 5 1 - 4 9 2 3 o r e m a i l L e e

o u n t y M i t i g a t i o n @ l e egov com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Representatives of the island VFW, VFW Auxiliary and Elks with the first graders at Pine Island Elementary School.

St. John's Episcopal Church Women host successful game/card party

A v i d g a m e a n d c a r d p l a y e r s brought their best games to Comfort Hall at St John’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, Jan 26

T h e r e w e r e m a h j o n g p l a y e r s , Mexican train players and lots of assorted card players

T h e l a d i e s h a d c o f f e e , t e a a n d lemonade as well as snacks of candy and trail mix to start off their game challenges A lunch of pulled barbecue pork was served, with a side of cole slaw and potato chips After lunch they resumed play for another h o u r , t h e n d e c a d e n t d e s s e r t s w e r e served

Two ladies won prizes in the raffle and three ladies won door prize gift

baskets: Prize #3 was a Gift Basket of Games and won by Karen Hayhoe, Prize #2 was a Sweets Gift Basket won by Clem Moors, and Prize #1 was a Wine Country Gift Basket won by Sonny Koutsoutis

Organizers said a great time was had by all

T h e C h u r c h W o m e n i n v i t e islanders to the next Game/Card Party scheduled for Thursday, March 23, in S t . J o h n ’ s C o m f o r t H a l l l o c a t e d at 7771 Stringfellow Road, St James City, from 10 a m to 2 p m Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calli n g K a t h y Gredlics at 484894-4612

Open Mic and Picnic in the Park

Friday 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, please contact Denise Huber at 208-290-2512 or Myra Watson at 717-8171512

Cats of the Week

Patsy & Merle

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 ’ d r a t h e r j u s t d o n a t e , o u r a d d r e s 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!

PHOTO PROVIDED

Matlacha Menagerie

gallery focused on locals as much as tourists, carrying metal art, wall art, pottery, jewelry and toiletries

“We’ve decided to diversify a little bit because Matlacha has always been an artsy town The three main art galleries in

Street Eats and Ale

brisket, chuck and sirloin He’s also planning a buttermilk marinade, southern, deep-fried homestyle sous vide chicken, which he said makes the dish moist and succulent

“I always say it’s the side-chick it’s better than Chick-Filet and available on Sundays,” Freeman said

As for the menu, Freeman said spicy

From page 2

garlic shrimp will be an item as an entrée or an appetizer

Fresh seafood will be a staple at the new place, he said, as that was always something he did on Fort Myers Beach

“I used to buy tons of Gulf red grouper, so I’m going to do the same thing here bring in fresh Gulf grouper and filet it fresh every day I’ll have fried grouper

KOUCKY

CW Fudge

From page 1

our town were not going to be reopened, so we now have 8 local artists showing their products in our store, so we are now a gift shop gallery, rather than just a gift gallery,” Solinger said

Solinger said he’s very proud of what they have been able to accomplish in a short period of time, emphasizing that Matlacha will be just fine and that he and Linda are just happy to be a part of it

“We love the little ol' town and we’re really concerned about all the buildings that are for sale, but we find ourselves cautious ly optimis tic that everything’s going to be OK,” Solinger said Matlacha Menagerie is located at 4625 Pine Island Road, N.W., Matlacha. For a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 2 3 9 - 2 8 20099

From page 1 for us and helped us out We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our good friends on the island that helped us unselfishly This was a team effort We are blessed to have people who love us We are ready to turn this chapter and look forward to the future

also, fudge Ian,” Tidball said CW Fudge Factory is at 4548 Pine Island Road, Matlacha It is open seven days a week from 10 a m to 8 p m For additional information, please call 239-283-9911

sandwiches, blackened grouper sandwiches and regular grouper sandwiches I’m going to go after the best fresh local grouper you can get on this island

“I love to cook It’s something I’ve always done,” he continued “My dad bought the restaurant when I was 11 years old, so I was running around the kitchen shucking oysters and peeling shrimp I

was going down to the shrimp docks and fileting grouper for the captains I love seafood and I love the industry the island people We’re just gonna be that neighborhood bar I’m gonna show the love to the community ”

Street Eats and Ale is located at 5508 Avenue A, Bokeelia

At left is another view of the many decorative items available at the relocated and reopened Matlacha Menagerie.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANCY

John R. Wood Christies International announces to producers

John R Wood Christies International Real Estate has a n n o u n c e d i t s T o p Producers for the month of January.

■ Top Team - The Pine Island Team, includes Mike F a u l k n e r , B r i a n F a u l k n e r , Paula Barwick

■ T o p S i n g l e A g e n t -

Terri James

■ S e c o n d T o p S i n g l e

Agent - Paula Towell

T h e J o h n R W o o d Christies International Real Estate offices are located at 5 4 0 0 P i n e I s l a n d R o a d , Suite A, Bokeelia and 2959 Oleander St , St James City For additional information, visit johnrwood com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Legion Post 136 makes donation to Hookers

American Legion Post 136 donated $25,000 to the Matlacha Hookers in order to continue providing the island with building supplies On hand for the check passing were J u l i a G a y l o r, D J R u s c i k a n d P o s t 1 3 6 Commander Aaron Barreda.

Next Fine Swine benefit concert slated for March 18

Since Hurricane Ian devastated so many of Southwest Florida's live music venues, Fine Swine has partnered w i t h t h e G r e a t e r P i n e I s l a n d A l l i a n c e , B a d D o g z Production and Lee Hagan Music, as well as many local Pine Island businesses and organizations, to create and provide an outdoor music venue that assists with keeping local musicians employed, and generates a market for local businesses to operate, all while hosting a full day of fun in the sun with barbecue, beer, wine, games, prizes, vendors and giveaways.

Live music for the March 18 concert will be provided by Tommy Barr, Strange Acoustics and Brother Love

All proceeds from tickets go directly the performers, staff and the GPIA to aid in the rebuilding of the Pine Island Community General admission online is $12 or $20 at the door VIP online only is $40 Shade tents are available for $00 with VIP shade tents $500 Sponsorships are also available for $500-$5,000 (leehaganmusic@gmail com)

Follow the event page on Facebook for updates and information: fineswineconcertseries

Mike Faulkner Brian Faulkner Paula Barwick Terri James Paula Towell

People seem to have been affected by Hurricane Ian in ways they never considered,” Sheehan said

From anger in the form of road rage, to persistent insomnia or non-specific anxiety and exhaustion, Buthman and Sheehan agree the effects of the recent storm have o f t e n l e f t s e v e r a l i s l a n d e r s d e p r e s s e d , angry and in some cases, a bit lost emotionally

“I suspect there is likely increased alcohol consumption, which can affect the way people can cope,” Sheehan said Telling the story over and over can be very healing, said Sheehan, as long as it’s not re-traumatizing the victim The goal is to try to help people link parts of the story that make them upset to a calming and soothing experience, leaving them with a

safe memory experience, of something they survived

“We’re really getting people ready to be able to tell their story to a good and caring listener and to really listen to it again themselves, without triggering a lot of traumatic symptoms,” Sheehan said

The sharing and connecting at these meetings is not unlike watching those going through the stages of grieving, the

two agree Coming to the group meetings and sharing your story with those listening honors your own experience, Sheehan said

“It’s these quiet things that are hard to place, but they’re so real Every day, you get through it and maybe it’s over now but it’s not because it takes years for things to grow back. What we teach is, in a safe place, in healing relationships, to

recognize the patterns and learn skills to re-connect a sense of safety to the inner core self,” Sheehan said

The Coffee Klatch meets Fridays at 10 a m in the Beacon of Hope Classroom located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle in St James City

For additional information about the Beacon of Hope and its programs and classes, please call 239-283-5123

Assignment plan

zone) must rank the schools within the new Proximity Plan attendance zones in their FOCUS Parent Portal

Families desiring to remain in their current school when that school is outside the new Proximity Plan map must affirm they are waiving transportation in their FOCUS Parent Portal

When the number of applicants for a school exceeds the number of available seats, a lottery process will be used In the enrollment lottery, sibling preference will be honored

When will enrollment be completed?

O p e n e n r o l l m e n t f o r e l e m e n t a r y schools began Feb 13 and continues to March 10 Families who do not make an enrollment decision by the end of the enrollment period will be entered automatically in the new Proximity Lottery for a school in their attendance zone Families will receive information about their school assignment in late March or early April.

From page 4

How and where can families get additional information?

Every family with children enrolled in a K-5 elementary school will receive messages from the District and from their child’s current school For general inform a t i o n a b o u t E l e m e n t a r y S t u d e n t Enrollment, please go to h t t p s : / / w w w l e e s c h o o l s n e t / o u r d i st r i c t / d e p a r t m e n t s / a c a d e m i c s e r v i c e s / s t ud e n t e n r o l l m e n t / e l e m e n t a r y o pen enrollment

You may view the Jan 20, 2023 B o a r d W o r k s h o p a t w h i c h t h e Superintendent previewed the Proximity Plan, the Jan 24 Board Briefing update and the Feb 7 Public Comment and S c h o o l B o a r d a p p r o v a l a t www YouTube com/LeeSchoolsTV

Cathleen O'Daniel Morgan represents District 7 on the Lee County School Board District 7 is an at-large district meaning the seat is determined by votes throughout Lee County.

March brings changes out on the water

Over the past week red tide was reported in Gulf waters, along the beaches, and Pine Island Sound Eye and respiratory irritation, baits dying in the live well and dead fish were reported by many anglers

We’re going to hope for the positive and the red tide dissipates as we close out the month and look forward to March Good things happen this month on the waters around Southwest Florida The kick-off to the spring fishing season takes effect as we transition out of winter to the warmer days of spring

Over the winter it felt like we had endless low tides and little water to navigate That will change and make it possible to fish areas that were not accessible over the past several months. Spring tides will arrive with higher water during the daytime hours Yes, we will still have low water, but not all day every day Higher water opens up a lot more areas to fish across the inshore waters

On the Water

As the coastal waters warm, this may be one of the best months of the year to catch snook A rising thermometer will put them on the move and hungry, feeding on baitfish moving back into the warmer waters Snook are native to our waters and cold-water sensitive They thrive as water temperatures rise into the 70s and above However, when water drops below 70 degrees, they don’t have much of an appetite The snook bite this month will be up and down with the weather

Our largest spotted seatrout of the year are caught this month Big egg-laden females feed heavily on oily baitfish ahead of their upcoming spawn It’s hard to beat a frisky baitfish to entice a big “gator” trout, but a topwater lure fished over the grass flats early and late in the day can give great results The largest seatrout are caught around oyster bars, sand bar edges, sand holes and island points. These are the same areas to look for snook. We

generally catch our largest seatrout year in and year out while snook fishing.

Fishing grass flats 4 feet and deeper you can expect to hook into seatrout, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, pompano, sharks and others These fish are often following the food Look for birds such as gulls, terns, cormorants and pelicans to point you in the right direction

Higher water this month opens up more areas to hunt for redfish On the higher water or top of the tide, fish baits under or along shorelines Hurricane Ian destroyed a majority of the mangrove branches over the water so it may be a little tricky this year It’s common to hook into reds in the previously mentioned areas for snook and sea trout

In the Gulf of Mexico fish are on the move as they follow the rising water temperature King and Spanish mackerel will make an appearance a short distance off our coast Again, birds are a great indicator of the where the fish are Cobia prowling the inshore and Gulf waters, many are hooked around artificial reefs offshore and sand bars inshore Cobia can grow big. It’s a good idea this time of year to keep a few heavy rods rigged and ready, you never know what may show up Also, in Gulf waters not far from shore, tripletail is a good possibility Most are sighted hanging under floating debris, buoys and structure Tripletail rarely turn down a well-placed live shrimp

The best depths for larger grouper and snapper should be from 70 out to 120 feet or deeper Fishing closer to land, target snapper, grunts and a few late season sheepshead in depths from 25 to 50 feet over hard bottom and artificial reefs You will also catch grouper from these depths, just not the big ones

PHOTO PROVIDED

Gulf waters are producing a variety of fish

Captain Scotty Darna with Salty Boy Charters out of Bokeelia and his clients filled the cooler on a recent trip west of Captiva Pass. See MARCH, page 23

Capt Bill Russell

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M/PIFCD receives donation from Gary Sinise Foundation

We would like to thank Gary Sinise and his foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation, for donating $150,000 in assisting us with replacing our firefighters’ bunker gear

B u n k e r g e a r i s o n e o f t h e m o s t important pieces of gear providing thermal, bodily injury, contaminant and hazardous material protection The district's bunker gear was nearing the 10year replacement requirement. Crews are currently getting measured for new gear, which will provide enhanced protection compared to their current gear

With technology advancing so rapid-

Information

ly, the new gear will be more flexible, more heat resistant and have better b r e a t h a b i l i t y T h e s e a d v a n c e s h e l p reduce heat stress, improve range of motion, are more durable, are more comfortable and provide many other improved features

We are excited and proud to continue wearing Globe gear with the assistance of Ten-8

Thank you again from the entire team at the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District!

Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District

From page 7 you text “DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362 or visit fema.gov/drc.

Applicants should update FEMA conc e r n i n g c h a n g e s i n i n s u r a n c e , c u r r e n t 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

March

you when you applied

For the latest information on Florida’s r e c o v e r y f r o m H u r r i c a n e I a n a n d H u r r i c a n e N i c o l e , visit floridadisaster org/info and fema gov / d i s a s t e r / 4 6 7 3 o r f e m a g o v / d i s a st e r / 4 6 8 0 F o l l o w F E M A R e g i o n 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook com/fema

From page 21

Tarpon start showing off the coast, beginning to the south and moving north

Just how early in the month this happens is based on the weather and water temperature If the month turns warm it could be an early start to tarpon season.

March weather is often all over the place Cool days, windy at times and perfect sunny days are expected as we move into the warm season February closed warm but I expect we should see a couple more cool fronts All in all, it’s a great month to get on the water and enjoy good fishing

For current fishing regulations, you can go to www myfwc com or download the

Fish Rules app for the latest rules and regulations

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www.fishpine island.com; or via email at 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 a r o u n d P i n e I s l a n d a n d S o u t h w e s t Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

PHOTO PROVIDED

Mat West and Chief Ben Mickuleit of the M/PIFCD