Pine Island Eagle

VolumE 46, NumbEr 45

Lee County Commissioners unanimously vote down used car lot on Pine Island Road

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

T h e r e q u e s t t o r e z o n e a 1 4 + - a c r e p a r c e l f r o m Agricultural to Commercial Planned Development to allow for a vehicle dealership, located at 3640 S W Pine Island Road, was voted down unanimously at a meeting o f t h e L e e C o u n t y B o a r d o f C o m m i s s i o n e r s h e l d

Wednesday, March 8

The request was accompanied by a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the land use category from Rural to Commercial

RVI planning representative Fred Droblic, representing the land owner, Ted Allen, pointed out the disrepair of the property building, formerly the Greater Pine Island

Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center.

Allen, who is a resident of Indiana, said Droblic is currently working on becoming a resident of Pine Island Droblic explained that the current state of drainage, storm water and environmental protection is limited due to the year it was built, saying it would be brought up to code

Bokeelia resident Allison Pham attended the meeting and read a letter aloud to the commissioners, explaining her opposition to the proposed car lot

“Peace and tranquility is what brings people to Pine Island and that’s what we value most,” Pham said

The front door to Pine Island should not be a used car lot, she said

Other concerns, for Pham, are environmental, as the

MCA to host annual gala, this time to help restore Matlacha

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

In an effort to raise money to help restore Matlacha, the Matlacha Civic Association will be holding its annual Water Colors Fundraising Gala at the Matlacha Menagerie Sunday, March 19, starting at 4 p m

According to MCA president Michael Hannon, a great turnout would go a long way toward the community’s restoration Jason Bonham, who has committed to entertain at the benefit, will likely bring in some of his own fans, Hannon said

“This is our fourth gala, and we decided, despite the fact that many of us are still recovering, it was important to celebrate who we are and to continue to raise money to help those who are in need,” Hannon said

In addition to food and musical entertainment, Hannon said there will be a silent auction featuring artwork and some big ticket items, donated by island and mainland merchants

The restoration of Pine Island is of the utmost importance to Hannon, as he said the MCA have some

“This is our fourth gala, and we decided, despite the fact that many of us are still recovering, it was important to celebrate who we are and to continue to raise money to help those who are in need.”

MCA president Michael Hannon

very interesting projects in the works for the future

The schedule for the event includes drinks, music, hors d’oeuvres and the silent auction from 4-6 p m at the Matlacha Menagerie at 4625 Pine Island Road From 6-8 p m There will be live entertainment from 68 p m by Bonham, with the venue courtesy of Onofrio D Oro Fine Jewelry at 4600 Pine Island Road Dinner will be a available by That Barbecue Place Tickets, which are $50 in advance and $60 at the door, are available at www matlachacivicassoc org or in person at CW Fudge at 4548 Pine Island Road, Matlacha

property is located just east of the Matlacha aquatic preserve The Lee Plan, she said, promises to protect wetland areas, such as this

She also pointed out what she alleged were previous violations on the property such as fill dumped without a permit, a barbecue shop setting up on the lot and a landscape company operating there without permits

“By approving this rezoning, you would not be holding this property owner accountable for his actions and the violations that were committed,” Pham said

Another concern she brought to the commissioners was traffic In light of the recent hurricane, Pham

See USED CAR LOT, page 8

GPICA announces new officers, receives update on water clean-up

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

The new members of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association board were announced at the March 7 meeting at Pine Island United Methodist Church

D u e t o a n A V s u p p o r t scheduling error, the meeting w a s n ’ t l i v e s t r e a m e d o r r e c o r d e d , G P I C A o f f i c i a l s said, but minutes to the meeti n g a r e a v a i l a b l e o n t h e GPICA website at gpica org

F o l l o w i n g t h e F e b r u a r y m e e t i n g , H e l e n F o x a n d Michael Sweeney were reelected and Tim Heitz was elected The GPICA board subsequently met and elected new officers and also appointed new director Sue Dahod, who worked with the organization on water quality issues, to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Cindy Bear, who resigned her position following her relocation from Pine Island

At the March 7 meeting, board member Shari Perkins introduced the new board members and announced elected leadership changes that took place following the February meeting:

O f f i c e r s - D e b o r a h S w i s h e r - H i c k s , p r e s i d e n t (Development Committee Chair); Nadine Slimak, vice president (Membership and Communications Chair); Michael Sweeney, treasurer; Connie D'Alessio, co-secretary; and Helen Fox, co-secretary

The Greater Pine Island Alliance donated $300 to support the church rental with AV support and Hicks

See GPICA, page

Holloway Fund accepting scholarship applications

The Bobby Holloway Memorial Fund has opened the 2022-2023 scholarship application process as of March 1 The Holloway Fund gives away nearly $30,000 per year raised through its annual fishing tournament, currently in its 25 year

The 25 annual tournament will take place April 1 at

Alden Pines Country Club This year will kick off a special opportunity for students pursuing vocational or trade school with scholarships available through a special donation

To be eligible to receive a scholarship, students must fill out the application along with two letters of recom-

mendation and an essay on why they feel they should receive the scholarship

In addition, applicants must be residents of Pine Island or have attended Pine Island Elementary Applications can be picked up from school counselors, the Pine Island Library or Centennial Bank on Pine Island

All applications, letters and essays should be sent together in one packet to:

BHMF-Scholarship

PO Box 712

St James City, FL 33956

Applications must be submitted by May 5 and must include the essay and both letters of recommendation to be considered Holloway Fund officials look forward to helping students of all ages take this next step in their education

Affordable primary healthcare for uninsured islanders available

Uninsured Pine Islanders will soon have access to affordable primary healthcare thanks to a partnership between non-profit organizations Beacon of Hope and Samaritan Health and Wellness Center Inc Beginning Wednesday, March 22, the primary care health clinic will open at the Beacon, and men, women and children may make appointments for acute and chronic physical and mental health care needs

Samaritan Health and Wellness Center is a Christcentered primary care integrated behavioral health clinic that opened for business in November 2014 to provide care for uninsured and underinsured families and individuals To date, there are nearly 10,000 unduplicated patients who call Samaritan their medical home The center is fully led and staffed by advanced practice

registered nurses and mental health counselors One of the APRNs will provide care for patients at the Beacon

The main office of Samaritan Health and Wellness Center, at 643 Cape Coral Parkway, East, was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian The clinic was displaced for the past five months and used a space at Skyline Church in Cape Coral to continue caring for patients

The staff recently returned to the repaired office on March 1

Appointments are $25 each, and deeply discounted lab fees as well as diagnostic imaging services are also available

For more information, please call the Beacon of Hope, which is located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St James City, at 239-283-5123

OPINIONS

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor Valarie Harring vharring@breezenewspapers com

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Pine Island FISH is here to help Guest Commentary

Pine Island F I S H (Fellow Islanders

Send Help) had another great year in serving the people of Pine Island and Matlacha Even with the COVID challenges, Hurricane Ian and other issues, FISH was able to achieve the following during 2022:

■ Answered over 500 client calls and provided needed services

■ Provided over $25,000 in emergency assistance to over 50 clients

■ Provided over 400 articles of mobility equipment to loan to clients in need

■ transported over 100 clients to medical, dental, financial and related appointments

CLT 2023 Duck Raffle

a big success -- thanks to all

To the editor:

Unbelievable! Pine Island, you did it again! CLT’s 2023 Duck Raffle was a big success!

Even though the ducks could not swim to victory in the canals this year after the destruction Hurricane Ian heaped on us, and, against all odds and expectations, the Calusa Land Trust’s 2023 Great Rubber Duck Rock and Roll Raffle was a resounding success!

The Pine Island Community, snowbirds and visitors turned out to celebrate the CLT’s 24 Great Rubber Duck Raffle last Saturday, March 4, at the Fine Swine Restaurant Over 50 volunteers worked tirelessly for months rounding up donations from very generous business and individual donors Many, many thanks to those volunteers and donors for making this year’s Great Calusa Rubber Duck Raffle the success that it was! Near final figures are tallied and so far we are at $31,000! Thanks to all who participated!

Our Prize Sponsors this year were Honc Industries, Dr John M Richards (Richards & Associates Orthodontics) and Mike Shevlin (Century 21 Sunbelt Realty) All deserve a special round of applause for their contributions to the success of 2023 Duck Raffle.

First prize winner of $2,000 went to Tom Hadley of Po Boy Produce, who generously donated $1,000 back to the CLT The second prize winner of $1,000 was awarded to Jim Nelson of Bokeelia

The community spirit of the owners and staff of the Fine Swine Restaurant deserve extra special kudos for their support and hustle while providing fabulous food and beer and outstanding service on Duck Day And what Duck Day would be complete without our own singing emcee, Herb Smith What an outstanding performance from Washboard Scotty and the Coast Connection Band

■ Basket Brigade provided new school clothing and shoes to over 250 youths

■ Partnership with PILOT (Pine Island Leaders of Tomorrow) key supporter

■ Partnership with Matlacha Hookers, Beacon of Hope, Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District, local businesses and churches to ensure support to all Pine Island residents in need

The FISH organization is totally volunteer in all aspects and is solely funded by dona-

Letters to the Editor

It truly takes a dedicated community to raise $31,000 to acquire, manage and preserve the lands on this island that have been entrusted to the care of the Calusa Land Trust and Preserve After Hurricane Ian, our preserves require even more work, including clearing of fallen trees and debris.

Once again, we say thank you to all the magnanimous Pine Islanders, Snowbirds and visitors who so enthusiastically supported the Calusa Land Trust by buying Duck Raffle tickets, shirts, hats and all the wonderful White Elephant items that were donated to CLT As always, fun was observed as the bidding on our many and varied items at the Silent Auction got down to the wire And don’t forget the Spinning Duck Wheels, Squeals of joy and laughter (what a wonderful sound to our work weary ears) filled the day with the many winners of prizes and home baked goods

P i n e I s l a n d ’ s l a n d s c a p e h a s c e r t a i n l y changed, but the heart and soul of this island, its residents and visitors has never wavered! We ARE Pine Island Strong!

Looking forward to seeing y’all next year!

Alice Trant

Duck Raffle/Race Coordinator

Dump Trump and Biden

To the editor:

There comes a time in life when the political endeavors of our two parties are too out of line in reality Folks let’s face it Trump wants retribution No matter that he was hacked to pieces by the media on a daily basis or lied about in all the nonsense about the Russian Collusion by the press and the Democrats, there is no time for retribution in our government If Trump wants to play retribution games, he needs to do it on the golf course not as Commander In Chief

As far a Biden goes, he has built a woke society whereby the people he hires for major

necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome.

tions. If you would like to donate your time, talent or monetary gifts to FISH, call 239283-4442 or go to pineislandfish org for more information

We are especially in need of drivers for appointments and also to deliver mobility equipment We also need people to answer the phone one day per week

We thank all of you who have been a part of these achievements and are already working to do even more in 2023

responsibilities are by far the most incompetent of people that the Democrats have gathered together in one spot No one knows w h a t ’ s g o i n g o n a n y w h e r e J u s t w a t c h Merrick Garland or the FBI on where are they with the Hunter Biden’s laptop and if Joe is involved No one knows

As far as how President Biden’s performance is going, he is right on track to break Jimmie Carter's spot as one of the worse presidents ever We had a good laugh with Jimmie and his brother’s Billy Beer With Joe at the helm it’s pretty much don’t watch him as he stumbles up the ramp to get in into the plane or out of it

Leo Amos Matlacha

Cape Coral to again attempt to remove Chiquita Lock

To the editor:

The city of Cape Coral again hopes to remove the Chiquita Boat Lock on the South Spreader Waterway The Matlacha Civic Association, supported by many organizations and individuals, successfully defeated the first effort to remove the lock in 2019-20 In that proceeding, a Florida Administrative Law Judge concluded that removal of the lock would damage the mangroves and further impair the waters of the Matlacha Pass

The new effort to remove the Chiquita Lock is based on promises by Cape Coral to start several new projects to improve the quali t y o f w a t e r t h a t f l o w s i n t o t h e S o u t h Spreader Cape Coral also boasts that it has engaged in numerous projects which have also improved our waterways. Tell that to the islanders

Cape Coral’s proposal not only will not improve our waters, but also will violate a consent order binding on the city In the 1970s, the predecessor to the Department of Environmental Protection halted the digging of canals in the mangrove wetlands along the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve by developers of Cape Coral The outcome of that enforcement action was the largest fine ever levied for environmental crimes, the bankruptcy of the developer, the deeding of precious mangrove wetlands to the state of Florida, and the creation of a water detention system for the canals designed to ameliorate further eco-damage

The enforcement action was resolved by the entry of Consent Order No 15 on April

All

Our beloved brown pelicans

“A wonderful bird is the pelican it’s bill will hold more than it’s belican

“It can take in its beak enough food for a week, but I'm damned if I see how the helican!”

The brown pelican is a large grayish-brown bird with a distinct pouched bill During the breeding season, the plumage turns bright yellow on the head a n d w h i t e o n t h e n e c k T h e plumage fades to dull yellow and brown during non-breeding season Juvenile birds are almost completely brown with a whitish belly

Matlacha Hookers’ Bag ‘n Tag and Breakfast Saturday

Dixon Lanier Merritt

The Matlacha Hookers' 2023 Bag ‘n Tag and Breakfast will be held Saturday, March 18, at the Pine Island Moose Lodge on Stringfellow The Hookers' now famous Pancake Breakfast will be served from 811:30 a m , and the Bag ‘n Tag Sale will run from 8:30 a m until 2 p m

All proceeds benefit the "Hooked on Education Scholarship Program " From this event and other fundraisers, the Hookers have awarded $67,000 in $2,000 scholarships in the last few years

What is the Bag ‘n Tag?

Savvy shoppers can walk away with items valued well over $100 for their $5 investment

Check out in the Hookers' Chic Boutique tent for one-of-a-kind items priced to move, including jewelry All other items are tagged with suggested prices

Capt. Cathy Eagle Dolphin Tales

Brown pelicans feed on fish and have a very unique way of foraging Unlike other pelican species who work in flocks to corral their prey, brown pelicans d i v e h e a d f i r s t i n t o t h e w a t e r from heights as great as 50 feet to scoop up fish near the surface Once they capture the fish, they tip their head upward or to the side to drain the water from their bill pouch

Although it looks as if the pelican submerges itself in the water during the dive, they usually remain on or near the surface of the water Young pelicans feed by sticking their bills into their parents’ throats to retrieve food Oh baby!

The brown pelican breeds in large colonies of several hundred pairs In Florida, pelicans nest mostly in mangroves They are plentiful in Pine Island Sound.

Courtship involves the male swaying his head to attract a female mate Breeding months differ by location Both males and females share in child care

Pelicans hardly ever make noise Adults are silent except during wing-jerking displays, which force air from their lungs and produce a low hoarse sound Some call it a hum Nestlings use a shrill, rasping squawk to beg for food

Typical kids

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

The Matlacha Hookers reuse, recycle and repurpose donated items of gently worn clothing, household goods, decorations, small appliances and furniture by hosting the Bag ‘n Tag each year You can purchase a brown paper grocery bag for $5 and fill it with as many clothing items that you can fit into the bag

For more information or donations of large items, please contact Gwen 239-314-8121 or Carolyn at 707-291-0310

Burns and Sunny Jim set to perform March 31 at SJCCA

On Friday, March 31, from 6-9 p m , the St James City Civic Association will present B r e n t B u r n s a n d S u n n y J i m t o g e t h e r f o r a n o u t d o o r c o ncert Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased at sjccapi org or by calling Cindy at 954-2495512

A twice wounded, Purple Heart-winning combat veteran, Burns also has the distinction of being the first American entertainer to perform for troops overseas after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. Burns’ musical career has taken him to Italy, Australia, Mexico and coast to coast in the U S

B u r n s ’ p h i l a n t h r o p i c p r o j e c t s h a v e c o n t i n u e d throughout the years A portion of his CD sales goes to charities including the American Cancer Society, Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo and Habitat for Humanity Burns’ Habitat tribute song, “Build Them A House,” i s a v a i l a b l e f o r f r e e d o w n l o a d o n h i s w e b site, www brentburns com

Brent’s impressive CD sales and songwriting skills

continue to make him a highly s o u g h t - a f t e r a r t i s t a n d p e r f o rmer

A live performance by James “Sunny Jim” White calls up sea breezes, palm trees, sandy beache s a n d g o o d t r o p i c a l v i b e s Audiences often end up dancing in conga lines and moving to the up-tempo rhythms of his original music, a blend of influences that range from the Caribbean to California, by way of Texas

W h i t e , w a s b o r n i n S a n A n t o n i o , r a i s e d i n California, and then spent 12 years in the Cayman Islands In the Caribbean, he perfected his solo show featuring guitar, vocals and backup tracks He added steel drum and soaked up the culture of the West Indies, infusing his songwriting with the influences of Caribbean masters It was in Cayman that he picked up the nickname “Sunny Jim ”

Don't miss these two performers!

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

Island Fest with Mullet Toss March 25 at Calusa

Cay Shops/Publix Plaza

The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce will hold the Island Fest with Mullet Toss Saturday, March 25, from 10 a m t o 6 p m , a t t h e C a l u s a C a y Shops/Publix Plaza at 5100 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia

The event will include the Mullet Toss, K i w a n i s F i s h D r o p , B e r t ' s P i n e B a y Mermaid Contest & Parade, fishing seminars, live music, island fun and food, arts and crafts and local businesses.

Those attending can give a $5 donation at the gate and get a free mullet toss A portion of the process will benefit the Greater Pine Island Alliance

Sponsors for the annual event include Bert's, Bokeelia Rum, Bob & Annie's B o a t y a r d , B o b b y H o l l o w a y M e m o r i a l Fund, Barnhill Seafood Market & More, MME Contracting LLC, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, W-Yachts York Road Marine, Gerard's Tree Service and Bud Light.

For additional information, contact the GPICC at 239-283-0888 The chamber office is at 10530 Stringfellow Road, Unit 3, Bokeelia. You can also visit the chamber website at www pineislandchamber org

Greater Pine Island Elks offering ‘Calm Water for Vets’

“Calm Water for Vets” provides boating and fishing opportunities for veterans and their family members, offering the opportunity for veterans to relax, leave their concerns on the dock and enjoy the camaraderie with other veterans in a safe and enriching environment

The Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge h a s r e c e i v e d a g r a n t f r o m t h e E l k s National Foundation to provide small boat outings in partnership with local commercial vessel owners Commercial boat owners use their vessels to share therapeutic effects of being out on the water They are helping provide healing experiences for those who may not otherwise have an o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e o n a boat

“Calm Water for Vets” volunteers are made up of Elks who are both veterans and non-veterans alike, and

Island Mahjongg

We had a small group at the St James City Civic Association for mahjongg on March 9 But the smaller than usual number didn’t r e d u c e t h e l a u g h s a n d c a m a r a d e r i e T o p s c o r e r s

were Toni Lindsay with 50 points and a tie between J e a n n e N a t t r e s s a n d Carolyn Crosby with 75. Some of us were in the negative numbers Maybe we were having too much fun!

Come join the fun every T h u r s d a y f r o m 1 - 4 p m

The SJCCA is located at Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street We welcome those new to the game and are happy to teach

they understand that they only have the opportunity to enjoy this much freedom because of our active-duty military and veterans To show its appreciation, the G r e a t e r P i n e I s l a n d E l k s # 2 7 8 1 h a s opened these boating outings to those who are serving or have served to say thanks for everything they have done This program is free -- thanks to the Elks National Foundation and the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781

If you would like to hit the water with the Elks or know of a veteran who would benefit from a day on the water sign up by emailing gpielks@outlook com or calling Judy Hopkins at 425-346-7226

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Used car lot

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Sponsored by:

From page 1

explained that the location of this property is the only way, by road, on or off of Pine Island and exacerbating the roadway with unnecessary traffic could be dangerous during an evacuation In closing, P h a m r e q u e s t e d t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s uphold the Lee County Plan, by steering future growth in a sustainable fashion

Greater Pine Island Civic Association

President Deborah Swisher Hicks presented concerns to the board regarding the property location, which is part of the Pine Island Plan

“The Chamber of Commerce building and all lands to the west that has clearly indicated that particular building is part of the Pine Island Plan It doesn’t matter what a map says or what color the dot is It is part of the Pine Island Plan it was circumvented It did not go through the proper vetting and for that reason I would like it to just be rejected sent back and reviewed properly,” Hicks said

Commissioner Kevin Ruane shared his thoughts regarding the project, saying although he appreciated the applicant having utilized environmental consultants on the matter, he was not in favor of the project moving forward

“I don’t think it’s compatible with the area when you look further down, to the east of the property, it’s rural, there’s a mobile home park and you have the Greater Pine Island Water Association, which is in a rural area as well as Pine Island Fire Control they’re both really for public safety I don’t like that the fact that it’s in an environmental wetland area I appreciate the mitigation that you tried to do, but I cannot support this applicant whatsoever,” Ruane said

Commissioner Ray Sandelli commente d o n t h e i n t e n t i o n s f o r d e v i a t i o n s requested being an assumption to do right by one's neighbors

“I think by admission here, there were some decisions made early on that didn’t lend itself to that, but I applaud some of the changes that were made to try to rectify that,” Sandelli said, adding that there are likely better uses for the property, that are more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood

A motion to deny the project was initiated by Ruane, seconded by Sandelli, and eventually approved by each of the five Lee County Commissioners

From left are GPICA President Deborah Hicks, concerned islander Allison Pham and American Legion Post Commander Aaron Barreda on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse Building in Fort Myers, where the Board of Lee County Commissioners meets.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALLISON PHAM

Early ranching on the islands is topic of Pine Island Garden Club meeting Thursday

This Thursday, March 16, the Pine Island Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting beginning a 9 a m at the Fishers

of Men Lutheran Church The speaker for the program is Robert Ballard, who will enlighten the group with “An early histo-

Applications available for Matlacha Hookers’ ‘Hooked on Education’ Scholarships

The Matlacha Hookers are continuing their tradition of awarding scholarships to deserving and potential students These scholarships are not only for college, but for trade schools as well as technical s c h o o l s a n d f o r c o n t i n u i n g e d u c ation Since 2003, over $227,000 has been awarded to deserving students by the Matlacha Hookers.

The eligibility requirements in order to apply for a scholarship include a high school diploma or equivalent and ONE of the following:

1 F o r m e r s t u d e n t o f P i n e I s l a n d

Elementary school

2. Current member for at least one year of the Matlacha Hookers

3 Immediate family member for at

least one year of a current member of the Matlacha Hookers

4 Resident of Greater Pine Island for at least one year

Applications are available to download on matlachahookers org Click on scholarship application 2023 Print the application, review eligibility requirements, complete and mail to: Matlacha Hookers Scholarship Committee 2006 N W 11th Court Cape Coral, FL 33993

Applications must be postmarked by April 12 Submission deadline is April 14. Hardcopy applications will also be available at a few Pine Island locations in the near future

Game/Card Party March 23 at St. John’s

T h e S t J o h n ' s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h

Women's next Game/Card Party will be held Thursday, March 23, in St John’s Comfort Hall, at 7771 Stringfellow Road,

St James City, from 10 a m to 2 p m

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling Kathy Gredlics at 484-8944612

ry of ranching on Pine Island ” Ballard is a fifth generation Floridian, raised on Pine Island, who lived in New E

career, he returned to his island roots He has been active in civic organizations throughout his career and presently serves as president of the Calusa Land Trust

Garden Club mission includes the protection and conservation of natural resources, encouraging island beauty and stimulating the study of the fine art of gardening Its

civic duties include the creation and maintenance of the grounds at Philips Park, Museum of the Islands, Bokeelia Post Office and the butterfly garden at the Pine Island Elementary School It produces the annual Garden Gala (which will return in 2024), the proceeds from which are utilized to financially support several island b e n e v o l e n t o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s u c h a s t h e B e a c o n o f H o p e , C a l u s a L a n d T r u s t ,

CROW, Kiwanis Children's Park and the Pine Island Food Pantry

For more information, visit pineisl a n d g a r d e n c l u b o r g o r c o n t a c t M a r t y Kendall at 239-283-8175

Lee County launches Ian Progress Report

L e e C o u n t y h a s l a u n c h e d t h e I a n Progress Report, a data-driven site dedicated to updating the community on the fiscal needs, progress and opportunities with state and federal partners as Lee County moves forward after the hurricane

The county report is available at ianprogress leegov com and provides easy access to the following:

■ A snapshot of initial damage assessment

■ FEMA individual assistance

■ Survivor housing

■ Disaster recovery dollars

■ Parks and beaches updates

■ Public works projects

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Sept 28, 2022, as a Category

4 storm with a wind speed of 155 mph, the largest hurricane to make landfall in Lee County and the fifth largest storm in U S history

Initial damage assessments show Ian caused more than $7 3 billion in damage to residential and commercial structures It impacted every county beach, all county parks, every traffic signal and generate d a b o u t 1 2 m i l l i o n c u b i c y a r d s o f debris, with 6 million of that collected roadside in unincorporated areas The storm left more than 130,000 in need of housing assistance.

The information presented focuses on U nincorporated Lee County, meaning the areas within the geographic boundary of Lee County that have not incorporated into municipalities This site primarily

addresses the facilities, services and programs for areas other than City of Fort

o f Bonita Springs, City of Sanibel, Village of Estero or Town of Fort Myers Beach

d e d from the site Data on the site will be updated monthly

The Ian Progress Report reflects the Lee Board of County Commissioners c o m m i t m e n t t o S t r a t e g i c P r i o r i t i e s , which include Community Engagement Commissioners are committed to building communications strategies on multiple platforms and developing interactive tools to allow easy access to information for quality of life and for board policies Other such projects include Our Water Story, the Resident Information Tool and

the Our Hurricane Ian Debris Story Visit www.leegov.com/tools for more information

The progress report was presented last Tuesday at a regularly scheduled works h o p o f t h e B o a r d o f C o u n t y Commissioners as part of a Hurricane Ian six-month update

You can watch the meeting video and s e e t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t h t t p s : / / y o u tu be/tvLvV3xRnwo

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters

Follow the Lee County Government o n F a c e b o o k , w w w f a c e b o o k c o m / l e ecountyflbocc

Florida Disaster Recovery Center on Pine Island permanently closed

Two Disaster Recovery Centers in Lee County have permanently closed as of 6 p m , Friday, March 10 The locations are:

■ P i n e I s l a n d a t t h e P h i l l i p s Community Park, 5675 Sesame Dr in Bokeelia

■ Sanibel Community Church, 1740 Periwinkle Way in Sanibel

To continue to help survivors, Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers will be mak-

i n g s t o p s o n P i n e I s l a n d Dates, times and locations will be announced as they are confirmed

Although the deadline to apply for assistance for damage from Hurricane Ian has passed, survivors who were affected by Ian can still contact FEMA to:

■ Get help understanding

dates, times to be announced

FEMA decision or request for information letters

■ C h e c k t h e s t a t u s o f your FEMA application

■ Get information about help with rental assistance or other basic needs

■ Get referrals to agencies or non-profits that may o f f e r a s s i s t a n c e F E M A i s not able to provide

■ Meet with a U.S. Small Business Administration representative

■ Meet with a mitigation specialist

about protecting your home and property from future natural disasters

You do not need to go to a DRC to get assistance You can go online to disast e r a s s i s t a n c e g o v o r c a l l t h e F E M A helpline at 800-621-3362 The line is open every day from 7 a m to 11 p m ET Help is available in most languages

For the latest information on Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, visit florid a d i s a s t e r o r g / i n f o o r f e m a g o v / d i s a st e r / 4 6 7 3 . F o l l o w F E M A R e g i o n 4 (@femaregion4) / Twitter and at facebook com/fema

19, 1977, to govern the operation of the canal system thereafter The goal of Consent Order No 15 is “to restrict destruction of the mangroves and to provide additional control and treatment of stormwater discharges” and “to be a freshwater system designed to retain and treat the stormwater runoff and then to provide uniform discharge of the storm water into the adjacent mangrove ”

The consent order requires the maintenance of both the Chiquita Boat Lock and the Ceitus Boat Lift Barrier on the south end of the North Spreader Waterway Cape Coral has refused to maintain both spreader waterways as required by the Consent Order

Cape Coral removed the Ceitus Boat Lift Barrier many years ago As a result, Matlacha Pass is polluted and the mangroves along the North Spreader are dying Evidence of the damage to the mangroves on the north presented at

the 2019 hearing was dramatic.

Cape Coral should stop spending its taxpayers’ money on bogus promises to clean up the water, and use the money to build high-speed locks at both the Chiquita and the Ceitus Then implement best practices to maintain those waterways Cape Coral again will find itself spending more money when a petition is filed to defeat this second effort to remove the Chiquita Lock

Michael Hannon Matlacha

Penalties for fentanyl crimes should be as dire as drug’s impact

To the editor:

Our government has closed its eyes on how to control the fentanyl drug problem Every day we are losing our youth to this drug It’s even being made here in the U S I feel one way to control the rising use of this drug is to

take the profit away from the dealers by heavy fines, prison sentences, property seized, etc

It’s time to make fentanyl punishments harsher to possess, deal, manufacture, smuggle into our country Prosecute at the federal level This would free up the lower courts from the burden of fentanyl cases Long prison sentences, no deals, just hard time Cause a death because of a sale, life sentence

Contract your local congressional representative and senator to sponsor a bill to attack fentanyl

Gary Bongers Cape Coral

Cat of the Week

PHOTO PROVIDED

Little Miss

This picture shows a petite, 1-year-old dilute calico kitty. It does not show how sweet, gentle and very food motivated Little Miss is. It also can't show how she likes being talked to and scratched behind the ears. There are a lot of things pictures can't show about our kitties, but they would be happy to tell you Stop by Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary and meet some of our fur kids Little Miss will be glad to see you! For more information call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 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

It was a good week in area waters

Good tides and the absence of red tide brought good fishing across our waters Anglers fishing across Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor and around the Gulf passes report little to no red tide apparent over the past week Adding the strongest or highest tides of the year and it’s a combination for fishing success

As we expect, warm days, the presence of oily baitfish and the first spring tides of t h e y e a r t u r n e d o n t h e seatrout It’s like magic every year, big pre-spawn females s h o w u p t h r o u g h o u t t h e

inshore waters with this combination Seatrout up to 24 inches went for live bait and a host of lures across the east s i d e o f t h e S o u n d , n o r t h

M a t l a c h a P a s s a n d i n

C h a r l o t t e H a r b o r a r o u n d

On the Water

Bokeelia and Bull Bay Often in schools and at times most hooked we 18 inches and above

Snook and redfish were active much of the week as snook up to 40 inches and reds up to 32 inches were hooked over the incoming tides Large live shrimp, small baitfish, soft plastic baits and gold spoons were top producers Look for both on the higher water along shorelines, island points and docks or piers (at least what remains of docks and piers) Snook up to 32 inches went for live shrimp from the Matlacha Drawbridge after sunset

Jack crevalle, large and small, were hooked while fishing snook, reds and trout They are often running in schools with multiple hook-ups at once common Not much for food value, but they give a fight you won’t soon

forget A few cobia were sighted or hooked around Charlotte Harbor, a sure sign that seasons re changing Spanish mackerel are showing up inshore as they were caught in north Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor and in the Sound near Captiva Pass Often mixed with schools of large ladyfish, the action is hot if you find them That is until Flipper shows up Many anglers, once getting a bite going soon, had up to 10 bottlenose dolphin move in next to the boat Generally, fish lose their appetite when a huge apex predator closes in Dolphin have learned to follow fishing boats for an easy meal and they are getting more aggressive year after year Why hunt for food when they don’t have

With good water, weather and tides, fish like this 32-inch redfish were hungry over the week. This one took a live shiner along a shoreline in north Pine Island Sound fishing with Capt Bill Russell

to? A tired fought out fish is just too easy for them to pass up Dolphin are to smart for their own good, please do not intentionally feed them They are more than capable of hunting and catching fish on their own and should not learn to become dependent on humans Plus, its illegal

The winter sheepshead run is beginning to taper off Fish up to 5 pounds were boated but in lower numbers Inshore, docks and pilings around Punta Rassa, Tarpon Bay and the Gulf passes were the better bet Offshore, they were mixed with snapper and grunts over live bottom, ledges and man-made reefs between 25 and 50-foot depths.

Bottom diggers fishing Gulf of Mexico depths from

See GOOD WEEK, page 22

Obituaries

Death Notices

Capt Bill Russell

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pine Island Elementary’s Spring Fest Thursday

Pine Island Elementary will be hosting its annual Spring Fest on campus at 5360 Ridgewood Drive in Bokeelia this Thursday, March 16, from 5-7 p m This event is open to all Pine Island families

This carnival event will include bounce houses, inflatable slide, an obstacle course, games, Hippo Chow Down and a rock climbing wall There will also be food provided by the Outback Steakhouse Food Truck and other food items such as cotton candy, popcorn, water,

Concert to benefit GPIA this Saturday at the Fine Swine

Fine Swine has partnered with the Greater Pine Island Alliance, Bad Dogz 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 Saturday, 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 $300 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

soda and Blue Duck Ice Cream

Tickets and wristbands will be on sale for all festivities during the event: Yellow Wristbands - Unlimited use of all bounce houses, inflatable slide, the obstacle course, Hippo Chow Down and rock wall - $15; Red Wristbands - Unlimited use of all bounce houses, inflatable slide, and the obstacle course $10; and Tickets - Tickets, $1 each, can be utilized to play games and/or to purchase food.

There will also be a silent auction to support the

school’s parent organization CPTO to further students' education and experience at the school

There will be entertainment during the event provided by Kelly’s Dance Studio

Those 18 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult

For additional information about the Spring Fest, please call the school at 239-283-0505.

Applications available for Legion scholarships

Attention high school seniors…

If you attended Pine Island Elementary School or reside on Greater Pine Island or have an immediate family member who is a member of the American Legion Post 136, SAL member at Post 136 or Auxiliary member at Post 136, you qualify to apply for scholarships offered by the post

The Legion is interested in students attending 2 or 4year programs, colleges, technical or trade schools Some time exemptions may apply to technical and trade schools that are accredited

Applications can be downloaded from the post website at www.post136fl.org. Applications need to be in no later than May 16, 2023

Lee Commissioners enact burn ban for all of Lee County

The Lee Board of County Commissioners enacted a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municipalities effective immediately due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida

The county’s ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning. Grills for food and backyard fire rings are not included Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires

Extended weather forecasts are for continuing dry conditions, and there is an elevated risk of wildfires from fallen trees in undeveloped lands due to Hurricane Ian

The Florida Forest Service offers residents information and tips at:

■ Ready, Set, Go! Resources: www fdacs gov/ForestW i l d f i r e / W i l d l a n d - F i r e / F i r e - S a f e t y / R e a d y - S e t - G o ! -

Resources

For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) that reached or exceeds a value of 600 Lee’s index value today is a mean average of 602 out of 800. The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban

This ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks displays permitted by Lee County and other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws

County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the burn ban will be in place

Flea Markets

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Tony’s Tree Service

Pine Island Democrats to meet April 1 in library meeting room

The Pine Island Democrats will meet Saturday, April 1, at 10 a m at the Pine Island Library meeting room

The library is located at 10701 Russell Road in Bokeelia

Mary Lewis Sheehan will be leading a time of healing, sharing and recovery as many have experienced losses and trauma

as a result of the hurricane Sheehan is hosting the Coffee Klatch at the Beacon of Hope on Friday mornings, providing support to islanders, and this will be a similar experience

This will be the Democrats first meeting since Hurricane Ian Coffee and refreshments provided

Pine Island Sketchers Sked

Pine Island Outdoor Sketchers to meet March 21, 28

All artists meet each Tuesday, from 10 a m to noon, at different venues around Pine Island If you would like to join us for fun and to meet fellow artists, bring your media of choice and a chair

There’s no charge and beginners are most welcome

■ March 21: Jeff Abbot's place, 8165 Moyer Lane, Bokeelia Park in the empty lot on the left

■ March 28: Charlie Lieze home, 3597 Tropical Point Drive, St James City

Keep Lee County Beautiful’s 2023 Great American Cleanup scheduled for April 1

Keep Lee County Beautiful Inc is the local organizer of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup and has been hosting the event for 25 years

The event encourages residents and visitors to make a difference in their neighborhoods and communities.

The 2023 Great American Cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 1, at multiple locations across Lee County from 8-11 a m Volunteers will be cleaning waterways, shorelines, roadways and parks in the largest one-day event to help protect the environment

Hurricane Ian left an impact on every corner of our county making this cleanup more important than ever Since January, Keep Lee County Beautiful has already worked with over 600 volunteers removing over 20,000 pounds of trash and

GPICA

From page 1

announced that Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane was unable to attend the March meeting

Casey Streeter, a commercial fisherman and owner of Island Seafood Market, provided an update on the waterways clean-up he is undertaking and answered audience questions

Streeter is contracted to clean up the south end of Pine Island, while a second c o n t r a c t o r , R J G o r m a n M a r i n e C o n s t r u c t i o n ( o u t o f P e n s a c o l a ) , i s assigned debris clean up in waterways on the north end of Pine Island Streeter said clean-up is going slow due to the dark

Good week

debris

The Great American Cleanup is open to volunteers of all ages and any individual, family, school, group, place of worship, business or government entity can coordinate or participate CLICK HERE to register and for the details or call 239334-3488 for additional information

Keep Lee County Beautiful is truly grateful for the tremendous volunteers and their dedication and hard work as we continue to work together in our recovery KLCB just celebrated their 34th anniversary serving Lee County and is so proud to be part of our community helping to make the place we live, work, and play beautiful

Visit www klcb org or call 239-3343488 to find out how to get involved and support KLCB and their efforts

water and sheer amount of debris He told members he is carefully picking debris from the mangroves in order to not damage them further. His team has made one pass and will be going around one more time He said he isn’t sure how long he will be contracted to undertake the cleanup but said he is willing to remain and continue as long as he is able

Hicks said her first meeting after taking over the new position went very well

“I look forward to the new duties and I will do the island proud That’s my goal,” Hicks said

From page 16

80-120 feet boxed limits of red grouper plus added a variety of snapper, porgy and grunts to the box. Goliath grouper, barracuda, and sharks were caught from the same depths over artificial reefs

It was a good week on the water and let's hope the trend continues If the red tide remains in check and water quality remains good, there is no reason not to expect good fishing as the spring season arrives

To keep up on current fishing regulations, you can go to www myfwc comor 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