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

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