Pine Island Eagle

Alden Pines residents wonder what the future holds

Hurricane Ian-damaged golf course, clubhouse no longer in operation; property might be sold

By PAULETTE LeBlANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

An informational meeting for Alden Pines residents was held Monday, March 6, at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church in St James City According to Homeowners Association Board President Diana Hembrook, things have gone from bad to worse since Hurricane Ian blew through town

The HOA at Alden Pines is a voluntary organization, she said, and not mandatory for residents

“It’s more or less just a social group at

this point,” Hembrook said

The meeting was well attended, she said, with over a hundred people there to gather the first bit of information on what’s going to happen to the neighborhood, where there is currently a prospective buyer with a proposal to build 76 more houses on the golf course

A c c o r d i n g t o H e m b r o o k , R o b b y R o b i n s o n , w h o c u r r e n t l y o w n s A l d e n Pines, is waiting on an insurance claim from the hurricane to move forward on the prospective sale There is no closing date, as of yet, she said

“In the meantime, everything is stalled and our golf course is not operating,” Hembrook said

Since the hurricane, Hembrook said, residents have taken to trying to maintain the course, such as mowing grass with their own tractors and trying to clean up the fairways The clubhouse needs to be bulldozed, Hembrook said, due to dilapid a t i o n , l e a v i n g r e s i d e n t s c o n c e r n e d because they have no idea what the future holds for Alden Pines.

The prospective buyer, she said, is talking about reducing the golf course to a

12-hole course, in addition to the new homesites Hembrook is concerned the land will sit vacant for a long period of time, as people outside of the neighborhood have already begun to come in to utilize the golf course

“We’ve had problems in the past with f i s h e r m e n c o m i n g t o o u r p o n d s , ” Hembrook said

T h e r e a r e S h e r i f f ’ s D e p a r t m e n tapproved signs posted to keep non-residents from trespassing on the property,

See ALDEN PINES, page 14

IslandFest, Mullet Toss, and Fish Drop draws a crowd

By PAULETTE LeBlANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Cynthia Welch of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce said the chamber would like to thank everyone who came to IslandFest, Mullet Toss and Fish Drop Saturday, March 25.

Captain’s Harbor

a community of islanders within the island

By PAULETTE LeBlANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

The residents of Captain's Harbor in Bokeelia liken the close-knit community in which they live to the nature of Pine Island, as though Captain's Harbor is an island within the island

The annual pickleball tournament, beloved by residents, is only one of the events they enjoy together Having had the 2023 tournament two weeks ago, resident Yvonne White said she really enjoys playing each morning, as well as playing at the annual event, which just celebrated its fifth year

“All levels play, from beginners to those who are really good players. We have teams who play together as partners, so good players play with beginners, too We named it the Jane Perry I n t e r n a t i o n a l P i c k l e b a l l T o u r n a m e n t , ” White said, explaining that Perry, who is from Canada, first started the tournament

—

White said she never played pickleball or any other sport until about three years ago, when Perry asked her to join in the fun

“Jane is really good at getting people to do things,” White said, emphasizing that you do not need be athletic to play

White explained that playing pickleball is a fantastic way to have a great time while getting some exercise with other community members

While the games at Captain's Harbor are intended just for the residents, White said it’s not likely they’d turn anyone away From November to May, she said they have at least one event per month for residents

“This is a great community Our management company has said that our association is different from every other, because we are so closely knit You get a project going and at least three or four

See CAPTAIN’S HARBOR, page 14

PROVIDED BY YVONNE WHITE

Above, Ted Stricker, 81, is the oldest pickleball player in the community, and Lauria Sharrar, 56, is the youngest. Top, pickleball players competing in the tournament.

According to Welch, the event was important in showing support to Pine Island and its businesses, as well as being a great example of the spirit that resides on Pine Island

“Pine Islanders of all ages were taking part and having fun,” Welch said

In spite of Hurricane Ian, Welch said, though the island looks a little bit different, it’s important to note the same spirit was alive and well at this traditional and beloved island event.

“It was a great mix of all ages from the 5 year olds throwing mullet to the old men that you could hardly believe they could stand up, but they were throwing mullet It was a great turnout and a great fun day That’s what the chamber is all about Making sure that our island and its businesses had people come out to support them,” Welch said

Musical entertainment by RJ Howsen a n d f r i e n d s w a s e s p e c i a l l y w e l c o m e , Welch said, as the chamber brought in someone from off-island, in order to have something a bit different for the event

“He seemed to be well received and he certainly had a great sound,” Welch said

See CROWD, page 14

Ambrose to address Friends of Pine Island Library

The Friends of the Pine Island Library will be hosting an author talk at the Pine Island United Methodist Church Tuesday, April 11, at 1:30 p m Complimentary r e f r e s h m e n t s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d b y t h e church.

Local author Marty Ambrose will be the speaker She is the author of a historical mystery trilogy “Claire’s Last Secret,” “A Shadowed Fate” and “Forever Past” all set around the Byron/Shelley circle in 19th century Italy Her novels have earned starred reviews in Publisher’s Weekly, as well as a gold medal for historical fiction in the Florida Writers Association’s Literary Palm Award Her work has been featured internationally in blogs, journals and websites; and her new stand-alone historical mystery with women’s fiction elements, “A Forsaken Vow,” will be published in fall 2023

Ambrose Marty will be talking about

unveiling Frankenstein from a proto-feminist perspective a n d t h e f a c t s a n d f i c t i o n behind Mary Shelley and C l a i r e C l a i r m o n t ’ s s c a ndalous lives. She will share how doing the background work for the Clairmont hist o r i c a l m y s t e r y t r i l o g y involved journeying down complex avenues, because many of her characters are actual literary figures who possessed a large degree of fame from their work (which means they have modern-day devotees)

Marty Ambrose

Lord Byron, Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley all figure prominently in her books, though their lives are narrated by the “almost famous” member of their circle, Claire Clairmont (Mary Shelley’s step sister) She had to pay respect to their

well-known personas, but also finds a way to make them work as characters in h e r o w n m y s t e r i e s a tricky process, to say the least.

So how does an author find that balance between fact and fiction, especially w h e n w r i t i n g a b o u t t w o w o m e n w h o l i v e d s c a ndalous lives for their time?

Ambrose reveals that as “proto-feminists,” Mary and C l a i r e w e r e n o t s e e k i n g equality with men but simply a position in society that did not necessarily relegate them to the home, where they were isolated and completely dependent on their husbands financially, socially and intellectually And yet they were, to some degree They lived and loved as unconventional

rebels, carving out their own paths in life, but they were also women who experienced the great joys and great losses as mothers and wives, which is the essence of their intertwined stories

Sponsored by Friends of the Pine Island Library, there is no fee for guests, but please register by calling 239-454-9196 o r e m a i l i n g A u t h o r T a l k P I L i b r a r y @ gmail com so that complimentary refreshments can be accurately ordered

The Friends of the Pine Island Library is a n i n d e p e n d e n t , n o n - p r o f i t v o l u n t e e r organization dedicated to providing support for the services and resources of the library

The United Methodist Church of Pine Island is at 5701 Pine Island Road, N.W., Bokeelia Please call or text 239-4549196 if you have questions

Warnings issued about post-storm mold exposure

Millenium Physician Group Family Nurse Practitioner Kristin Gustin MSN, FNP, who also holds a master’s of science in nursing, is concerned about the mold left over from Hurricane Ian Mold, in minute amounts, is a normal occurrence in air, water and homes, she said, however when it grows and multiplies uncontrollably, it can become problematic and possibly increase risk of potential health problems

“Symptoms of an allergic reaction to mold can include sinus irritation, cough, congestion, mucus in the throat post nasal drip, itchy throat, eyes and nose

Mold can trigger asthma attacks, causing shortness of breath, tightness of chest and wheezing It can cause skin rashes, which can present as dry, scaly patches, sensitivity, non-healing sores, bumpy texture and or discoloration,” Gustin said

According to Gustin, signs and symptoms of an infection caused by mold can vary significantly in each case Some patients present with candida (fungus) of the stomach, mouth and esophagus, she said, which can cause causes gastroenterology symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, nausea, white patches in the oral cavity, dry mouth, pain and dif-

ficulty when eating and swallowing, as well as cracking at the corners of one’s mouth

A candida infection of the lungs may present with cough, shortness of breath, fever, generalized weakness, and or pain, she said.

“Mold toxicity can lead to memory i m p a i r m e n t , m o o d s w i n g s , h e a d a c h e s , generalized body aches, elevated heart rate, sweating, and swollen lymph nodes," she said "There is evidence of long-term effects from consuming mold toxin foods, however, less is known to the actual risk of long-term exposure to mold via skin contact or breathing

"We have found that since Hurricane Ian, there have been a significant amount of people complaining of the various symptoms listed above, and that once treated as a fungal infection, their symptoms resolved We have been tracking and d o c u m e n t i n g d e m o g r a p h i c s , s y m p t o m s and outcomes of these cases,” Gustin said Because people are all different, she explained, it is difficult to say, with any certainty, how much exposure to mold each individual can safely tolerate, as it varies from person to person Some will be

affected sooner and more severely than others, such as the elderly, those with compromised immune symptoms, chronic respiratory conditions, and children

“We want our islanders to know that exposure to mold in their home, air or water can present serious complications if left untreated Unfortunately, many people are not even aware that they are being exposed If anyone feels that they may have been exposed to mold, and are experiencing any of those symptoms or if anyone has any questions, they can always call the office to be evaluated It’s important that no one feels that they have no choice other than to live with mold,” Gustin said

Besides being one of your local healthcare providers, Gustin is on the board of the Greater Pine Island Alliance, which focuses on Pine Islanders who may still have unmet needs after Ian The organization is currently working in collaboration with a company who is offering free mold remediation, she said

The Millennium Physician Group is at 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 1, St James City Call 239-283-5200 or visit Team@GPIAlliance org for information

Open mic event this Friday at SJCCA

The St James City Civic Center, located at 3300 Fourth Ave , is holding an open mic event Friday, April 7, from noon to p m

The SJCCA is looking for local musicians to take the stage and folks to enjoy

the music!

Organizers are planning to hold the open mic activities inside the building.

For information, call Denise Huber at 208-290-2512 or Myra Watson at 717817-1512

OPINIONS

10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste 60 Bokeelia, FL 33922

Phone: (239) 283-2022

Fax: (239) 283-0232

Web: pineisland-eagle com

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

Let’s keep Southwest Florida children safe in the community

A staggering 1 in 5 children in the U S will be abused by the time they are 18 With April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida is educating the community and raising awareness about how to help prevent child maltreatment The initiative is rooted in communities working together to serve children and their families in meaningful and impactful ways that provide families with what they need to thrive through both calm and challenging times

For over 40 years, the CAC has worked to improve the lives of children and their families through a coordinated response to child abuse and neglect by offering them a safe environment in which to heal We have provided thousands of children with free abuse determination services, pet therapy, therapeutic counseling, parenting education, advocacy, and prevention programs in Lee, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties

In 2022 alone, the CAC Family Alliance Program provided nearly 2,130 therapy hours to victims of abuse serving over 300 adults and children The Child Protection Team worked with over 1,500 children by providing forensic interviews and medical exams

The Community Outreach Programs trained

over 100 individuals on abuse prevention education, in hopes o f e x t e n d i n g k n o w l e d g e throughout Southwest Florida on the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report it

According to the Children’s Bureau of the U S Department of Health and Human Services, in 2021, about 17% of child abuse reports were made by friends, neighbors and relatives, and the rest were made by professionals such as educators or law enforcement One of the CAC’s community outreach programs, Kayla's Club, u t i l i z e s t h e M o n i q u e B u r r Foundation’s prevention education program, empowering youth with safety rules and strategies to prevent, recognize and respond a p p r o p r i a t e l y t o b u l l y i n g , c y b e r b u l l y i n g , child abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and digital dangers We recently implemented the program in local schools, and six students have already spoken up about incidents of abuse and bullying

Julie Boudreaux Guest Commentary

grams In Southwest Florida, w e c a n c o n t r i b u t e t o t h i s nationwide initiative and minimize the likelihood of child m a l t r e a t m e n t , b u t f i r s t , w e must address vulnerabilities by u t i l i z i n g e v i d e n c e - b a s e d approaches that genuinely support families By investing in our community, we can create a safer environment for children, youth, and families, leading to improved outcomes

Ultimately, National Child Abuse Prevention Month is not only about bringing attention to the issue of child maltreatment but also about taking steps to prevent it Taking action to reduce the likelihood of child abuse is a critical step toward creating a better future for our community Together, let’s keep children safe across SWFL and end child maltreatment. For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t t h e C h i l d r e n ’ s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida on our website: cac-swfl org or call 239-939-2808

Wednesday

Candidate racism, bigotr y, should make voters recoil

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question: Current Web Poll Question:

Should the benefit terms of Social Security be re-evaluated

■ Yes 10%

■ Maybe, but not on retirees 40%

■ No 50%

■ The Feds should provide a private retirement option 0%

With Ian-caused damage and more red tide, are you concerned about the water quality around the island?

■ Yes

■ No

■ Poor water quality will be an ongoing issue

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle com

To the editor: There has actually been a rise in antisemitic hate speech and violence lately The Anti Defamation League arrives at a huge increase last year of Anti-Semitism, citing 3,697 acts Some of their “incidents” made their grade because the ADL conflates legitimate complaints of Israel for their political and physical attacks on Palestinians But the rock under which hatred abides has allowed Anti-Semitism to crawl out into the public view It is a trope best left in the dustbin of history

Sadly, the concern of rising hate mongering is real Last year has been more than Kanye frothing at the mouth of the internet

Our own city police are investigating as a hate-crime the attack on our local Chabad this month This should be a concern of all of us, and I wish our police godspeed in finding this criminal Normalizing evil is a mistake

W h e n a f o r m e r g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l , screeds complaint of the New York district

These are just a few examples of the hundreds of lives impacted by various CAC pro-

Letters to the Editor

attorney as “Soros” financed, calling the DA “an animal,” we should all recoil This hate speech should be below the dignity of any candidate for public office, even those antici p a t i n g i n d i c t m e n t G e o r g e S o r o s i s t h e Hungarian immigrant who survived the holocaust in Europe and now lives in the U S In this latest tweet-feast of self pity, connecting Soros name to the Afro-American DA is supposed to be a dog whistle for the anti-Semitic (Soros was born Jewish, but was hidden by a local Catholic family from Nazi extermination ) My friends, we are better than this We should and can take the time to speak out against all hatred sowing against our fellow citizens Has our collective discourse become so bizarre that we really need to say out loud that someone is not an “animal” because he is Black? Really? My mother had a general rule of thumb with her voting If a candidate race baited during his campaign, she would vote for the other one Even if she had initially wanted to vote for the hater. Using such language would disqualify him from her vote

We want your opinion

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Pine Island

J u l i e B o u d r e a u x i s t h e C E O o f t h e

Children's Advocacy Center of SWFL

There will be many others running in the Republican primary If you are a registered member of the Grand Old Party Feel free to follow mom’s protocol and pass along my horror with your vote in the primary Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

George T. Gabriel Trust to award scholarships

The George T Gabriel Trust, a private benevolent fund, is now awarding scholarships, vocational/trade school tuition payments and financial aid to deserving individuals and those in need. Awards will be b a s e d u p o n s e v e r a l c r i t e r i a , i n c l u d i n g financial need, general merit and other related factors

All awards are at the discretion of the trustee, and in accordance with the guidelines of the trust

Gabriel was helped financially by a caring family, making it possible for him to attend college, and eventually earn a doctorate degree in public education Because of his gratitude for this kindness, it was his wish to pay it forward; thus his life savings will be used to help those who wish to pursue college, other educational goals, or career and vocational training

If you or someone you know would like to be considered, please call or text 239789-0137 All replies are strictly confidential

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Sponsored by:

(Selected

Breeze Sports staff)

New golf exhibit at Museum of the Islands

T h e M u s e u m o f t h e I s l a n d s recently had a special guest, Bill M a c D o n a l d , s o n o f t h e f a m o u s

Scottish-American golfer and golf teacher, Bob MacDonald, pictured with bagpipes

Bob won the Florida Open in 1914, the 1922 Texas Open and a l s o w o n t h e 1 9 2 1 a n d 1 9 2 3

Metropolitan Open In 1940, Bob a n d h i s b r o t h e r , g o l f p r o J a c k MacDonald, flew to Useppa Island and played with Carl Dunn and w e r e g u e s t s o f t h e U s e p p a p r o

Elmer Seeling

Golfers that flew to Useppa to golf would either land on the fairways or land by sea plane Early American golf greats that played the islands of Southwest Florida included Jock Hutchison, Walter Hagen, P a t t y B e r g , G e n e S a r a z e n , L e o D i e g e l , B i l l M e h l h o r n , H e l e n

Hicks, Gil Nichols, Mike Brady, Joe Kirkwood and more

Check out the golf exhibit at the Museum of the Islands

On exhibit in the museum is a collection of clubs, golf bag, photographs and articles about the golf p r o f e s s i o n a l s a n d o t h e r n o t a b l e s w h o p l a y e d o n t h e i s l a n d s o f Southwest Florida. This collection was donated by Dick Hartshorne.

On March 30, we had some great scores during our weekly mahjongg games at the St James City Civic Association The three top scorers w

Bill

The Museum of the Islands is l o c a t e d a t 5 7 2 8 S e s a m e D r i v e , B o k e e l i a , F L 3 3 9 2 2 F o r m o r e

Island Mahjongg

points, Carolyn Crosby with 205 and MaryAnn Harms with 220!

Mahjongg is played on Thursdays from 1-4 p m SJCCA is located at Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street in

Potters' Guild’s Spring Cleaning Show April 8 at Koucky Studios

It is the season for spring cleaning, and the artisans showing at the Pine Island Potters’ Guild are eager to dig into the corners of their studios for hidden treasures to offer Saturday, April 8, in the courtyard of Koucky Studios at 5971 Bay Point Road, Bokeelia

This April tradition, which runs from 10 a m to 2 p.m., was passed on to the guild by Chuck and Nancy Koucky, who have honored this age-old ritual usually assigned to closets since they opened their studio in 2001 They pull out previously unseen “seconds” pottery from their season of kiln firings

Many of the other craftsmen will be cleaning out their studios as well, making room for next season’s fabulous creations or closing for the summer as they head north.

The show will feature, in part, forgotten works brought out from the back of working studios and into the courtyard sunlight at Koucky’s, where visitors and shoppers will discover treasures

This month’s show will highlight works in pottery, woodworking, jewelry, paintings and sculpture, as well as island-themed décor, candles, perfume oils, children’s books, T-shirts and hats, jams, jellies, local honey, freshbaked cookies, pies or fruit breads

By popular demand, the art of firing horsehair pottery will again be demonstrated by potter Chuck Koucky and some of his students at 11 a.m. As the name implies, horsehair pottery incorporates hair from the tails and manes of horses into its design The random lines and patterns, which are the signature of this style, are created when applying strands of hair onto the surface of a hot raku clay pot that has just been removed from the kiln.

This small, inviting venue provides a welcoming environment to chat with local artists and artisans, inquire about their craft, and learn about opportunities in our area for classes and workshops All works by participating artists and craftsmen will be available for purchase

For more information, please call 239-233-3003

about the museum call 239-2831525 or visit www museumoftheislands com

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOTI

MacDonald, left, and Dick Hartshorne at MOTI

County update for Pine Islanders needing permitting services

Due to a decline in demand for permitting services on Wednesdays at the Pine Island Public Library, the Lee County Department of Community Development will streamline its operations to its main office in downtown Fort Myers, but the county will begin a new, temporary weekly service next week for islanders who need transportation to downtown

DCD staff will conclude the final day at the library at 5 p m , Wednesday, March 29 The service has been offered on Wednesdays since Jan 4 to assist those who are rebuilding and repairing their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall Sept 28, 2022 DCD has assisted more than 490 residents who were obtaining permits for repairs to existing buildings

Residents with active permits who need to check the status can now use online services, send DCD an email or call DCD staff

Residents acting as their own contractor who still need

to submit permit applications now will need to visit the downtown Fort Myers permitting office, as will residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a structure The address is 1500 Monroe St , Fort Myers

For those islanders who do not have transportation, the county is setting up a temporary, weekly LeeTran service beginning Thursday, April 6 Here’s how it will work:

■ Permit applicants must schedule a Thursday appointment between the hours of 10 a m and 2 p m Please call 239-533-8330 for scheduling purposes

■ Applicants must then request transportation by calling LeeTran at 239-533-8726 at least 24-hours in advance of their scheduled Thursday appointment

■ The LeeTran shuttle will leave from the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, with service beginning at 9 a m The shuttle service will run every 90 minutes for residents with appointments to and from the DCD permitting office

■ Parking at the library and the shuttle roundtrip ride are free

■ LeeTran will continue the shuttle service until the last scheduled customer is returned

■ Continuation of the service will be contingent on demand

Applicants for rebuilding and repairing need only a description of the work and their address, and staff will walk them through the process, which might include obtaining additional documents For example, engineered plans or Florida Product Approvals may be necessary to issue permits Hired contractors are asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process

Calusa Land Trust work/fun party Saturday at Chapin Preserve

The Calusa Land Trust's monthly work/fun party will be held Saturday, April 8, at the Chapin Preserve beginning at 9 a m This 91-acre preserve is located at the terminus of Royal Okley Lane (Stringfellow Road to Harbor Drive to Mannheim Road and then follow the signs )

The entrance area/Kell Kellermann Vista now provides a picnic area with ample parking and access to a kayak launch through a mangrove canopied waterway trailing out to Matlacha Pass Hurricane Ian debris and invasive plant removal will be the primary missions of this event

As an all-volunteer land conservancy, the Calusa Land Trust relies upon work/fun parties to accomplish its stewardship mission on its 2,400-plus acres of preserved lands It is recommended that volunteers pack with them, work gloves/clothing, pruning tools and a happy spirit CLT rewards participants with cold beverages, a pizza lunch and lots of warm fellowship

For more information, contact Les Smith at lesmanatee3355@gmail com

Cat of the Week

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

Of the traditional Mullet Toss, Welch said you can buy it, you can eat it, you can toss it, you can drop it, emphasizing that if there is anything you can do with a mullet, it will be done on Pine Island

“Thanks also to all the volunteers who helped put on the event, as well as the sponsors and vendors also the nice weather making for a fun day We hope you all enjoyed yourselves,” Welch said

Mullet Toss Winners 2023

Longest Toss 2023

153 feet by Cole Christianson

Fry Division, ages 1 – 5, B o y s : G o l d : A b l e , S i l v e r : D a n i e l ,

Bronze: Graham G i r l s : G o l d : S a i l o r , S i l v e r : O l i v i a ,

Bronze: Ava

Fingerling, ages 6 – 10,

Boys: Gold: Isiah, Silver: Kai, Bronze: Benjamin G i r l s : G o l d : S t e p h a n i e , S i l v e r :

Georgia, Bronze: Eden

Juvenile, ages 11 – 15

Boys: Gold: Nathan, Silver: Dawson, Bronze: McCoy

Girls: Gold: Leiana, Silver: Paetyn, Bronze: Paige Grey Mullet, ages 61 +

Men: Gold: Lance V, Silver: Dennis

Thomas, Bronze: Eric Nelson

Women: Gold: Sally Bristow, Silver: Lori, Bronze: Joanne Stevens

Adult, ages 16 – 60

Men: Gold: Cole Christianson, Silver: Nicholas Rosalino, Bronze: Jarod Bigler

Women: Gold: Morgan Riddle, Silver: Ashley K, Bronze: Alean

Parade of Mer maids 2023

Thanks to everyone who took part The Chamber of Com-merce is delighted that it could help keep an island tradition going as Matlacha recovers

The People’s Choice awards

Mermaid Queen: Jules Kayatta and her Fishers of Mermen

Runner-up: Jenny Kayatta

Alden Pines

From page 1

she said, which helped for a while, but now it seems trespassers are making their way onto the private property once again

“We’ve even had people in here after dark, both in the evening and in the morning fishing the other day tires were slashed on a vehicle, so it’s going from

bad to worse,” Hembrook said

For now, the HOA is trying to come up with a solution, Hembrook said In the meantime, there will be another meeting this month, to discuss the future maintenance and or development of the Alden Pines community

Captain’s Harbor

people show up offering to help,” White said Fellow Captain's Harbor resident Gary Darling, who watched the tournament, said it’s become a wonderful tradition

a m o n g r e s i d e n t s , w h i c h h a d m e a g e r beginnings and blossomed into something they now all look forward to “I don’t know what the future of this

From page 1

event is, but it’s caught on big time Afterwards there’s pizza and they have first, second, third place from the tournament and they even have a booby prize It’s a fun event,” Darling said, describing the event as informal, but great goofy fun

C a p t a i n ' s H a r b o r i s l o c a t e d a l o n g C a p t a i n ' s H a r b o r D r i v e o f f o f Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia

The Fishing Seminars area at the IslandFest.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GREATER PINE ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

April is a great time to fish area waters

A month that has a lot to offer anglers across our coastal waters, April holds maybe the best fishing of the year, plus great weather.

On the Water

Spanish mackerel invade our waters inshore and offshore They are roaming in s c h o o l s l o o k i n g f o r f o o d a c r o s s t h e i n s h o r e a n d nearshore waters Watch for birds working the water as mackerel often push schooling bait to the water’s surface Artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico may hold l a r g e n u m b e r s o f S p a n i s h , p l u s a f e w o f t h e i r l a r g e c o u s i n s , k i n g m a c k e r e l o r king fish Groups of birds dipping to the water is a dead giveaway

Reefs in the Gulf within sight of land hold a variety of fish on any given day Goodeating snapper, grunts, mackerel and the last run of spawning sheepsheads, plus hardfighting barracuda, sharks, goliath grouper, plus a big cobia or permit, are a good possibility.

Many anglers look to get a jump start on tarpon seas o n w i t h e a r l y a r r i v a l s a n d l i t t l e a n g l i n g competition May and June are the months that get most of the attention Schools of tarpon are milling around waters off the Gulf beaches ranging in depths from just off the beach out to 30 or more feet Tarpon are moving

If you want to have fun while supporting a great cause, volunteer your time to take kids fishing in the Lil' Bobber's Derby of the annual Bobby Holloway Jr Memorial Fishing Tournament This all-girl team is all smiles after landing this snook that was one of 57 fish they caught to earn them a second place trophy They were fishing with Capt Bill Russell and Captain Tanner Peer Great job girls!

inshore as well, as they are on the move and could appear anytime Tarpon hookups were common over the last week of March

Warm water brings sharks to our area on the hunt for their next meal and a great challenge for willing anglers Blacktip and spinner sharks are some of the most challenging fish to catch in our waters Not only do they possess an extremely hard fight, they make violent jumps and they’re extremely fast. Many of the big spinners explode into such a wild spinning leap it’s very difficult to keep them from exploiting the weak link in your rigging A large spinner or blacktip will rival a tarpon for sheer power and fight Also moving in with the tarpon are the hammerhead and bull sharks, the largest of which are hanging around the tarpon schools awaiting a fish in dis-

tress for an easy meal

About every kid or young adult that goes fishing wants to catch a shark It’s not always possible, but it’s good if you can match the size of the shark you target to the kid’s age You get a young kid hooked up to a big shark and it may be more fish than they can manage There are plenty of sharks of various species ranging in size from 3-5 feet, this is a great size for most kids For that matter, it’s a good size for most adults!

With water temperature in the mid-70s and above the snook bite should be very good Snook may range in size from little guys barely a foot long to big girls pushing 40 inches or more My favorite thing with snook, no matter the size they all strike and fight with the same tenacity and determination Redfish also appreciate the warmer days where a properly placed bait under the shade of a mangrove shoreline, dock, or around an oyster bar may result in hard-fighting reds These areas are more difficult to find after Hurricane Ian’s destruction Like snook, size can vary widely with the largest measuring over 30 inches.

Our largest seatrout of the year come this month as their spring spawn is in full swing Trout over 20 inches are common with a good number measuring 24 inches and larger Trout are feeding heavily on oily baitfish; live baitfish or lookalike lures are the best way to get their attention Look for trout throughout the inshore waters with a grassy bottom, around oyster bars, sand holes and transition areas

Keep your options open as this is a month with so many fishing opportunities that it’s easy to start the day with one species in mind and get sidetracked with another. With recent red tide outbreaks, monitor the area you plan to fish While one area may be affected, other locations a short distance away may not have any issues With good weather and the potential for great fishing, get on the water and take advantage of it!

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 around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

Capt Bill Russell

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