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