Fire District rep takes part in Tallahassee legislative trip
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
In an effort to stay ahead of any possible impactful legislation at the state level, a Pine Island Matlacha Fire Control District commissioner recently made a trip to Tallahassee to take part in the process.
Commissioner Jamie DeLacey said whenever legislation is introduced, it makes an appearance on the agenda prior to a meeting.
“I came to realize after a couple of years that it was too late to do anything by the time we talked about it— most of the decisions had already been made by then,” DeLacey said.
This year, she thought she would try to get ahead of issues that might pertain to local special districts by asking local fire chiefs if anyone might be traveling to
Tallahassee for open legislation.
“One of the fire chiefs out of Bonita said, ‘Yes, we go every year, we find it to be of great value and if you’d like to come with us this year, we’d love to have you sit in on our meetings.’ He said a lot of times the representatives and senators just get bombarded with people trying to access their offices,” DeLacey said.
After finding support from her own district, coupled with curiosity about the process, she said she reached out to each Lee County representative, prior to the trip, to let them know she looked forward to getting to know them better and opening up the lines of communication.
“Once I got up there, (to Tallahassee) I was very fortunate to sit in on Chief Craig Dewitt’s scheduled meetings. We got to meet with Sen. (Kathleen) Passidomo, Sen. (Jonathan) Martin, we got to meet with (Rep.) Adam
Pine Island Eagle sign found undamaged in Saint James City after Hurricane Ian
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Pine Island Eagle is grateful to a Good Samaritan from Saint James City who found, and stored, the paper’s historic sign lost in Hurricane Ian after the Category 4 storm made landfall on Cayo Costa on Sept. 28, 2022
Jan Robertson said the storm had blown it into a neighbor’s yard and, after her neighbor was finished cleaning up, Robertson took the sign to her house, where it’s been ever since.
“I figured I’d take the sign back to the office, because the Eagle means a lot to me. I always look for the cat of the week and there’s always good stories,” Robertson said.
The sign from the Eagle office, as well as a Little Lily’s deli sign, had made their way about two miles down Stringfellow to Woodstock Road. Robertson said
she removed the two signs from her neighbor’s debris pile, because she felt she should bring both signs back to the center where the Pine Island Eagle office is located. Robertson said she moved to Pine Island because it seems much like ‘Old Florida’ in her opinion, adding that she also loves the ospreys.
“It’s amazing that it traveled that far undamaged,” Robertson said of the saved sign.
“We’re so thankful to see our long, lost sign was returned,” said Ray Eckenrode, publisher of the Breeze Newspapers. “In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small item, but to have it make its way back to us after three years seems like a nice piece of symbolism to remind us how the Pine Island community has been so resilient in dealing with the trauma of Ian and we hope the Eagle has been a part of that.”
Jan Robertson returns sign to the Pine Island Eagle office./CHARLENE RUSS
Botana. Not only was Chief Dewitt there, but he also had a number of other fire chiefs from our special districts there,” DeLacey said.
Tice, Lehigh, and Bayshore Fire all had fire chiefs in Tallahassee, she said, adding that she was honored to have been allowed to sit in on their pre-scheduled meetings.
“It was very beneficial, because I could see the due process and the kinds of questions they were asking and the kinds of relationships they were interested in obtaining. It was very eye-opening,” DeLacey said.
Showing up to get a birds-eye-view of these representatives in their milieu was admittedly the right decision on the part of DeLacey, as she said, this can only do the
Pine Island Family Hair Salon owner celebrates 50th anniversary
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
This month, Marvia Cicchino, with Pine Island Family Hair Salon, will celebrate 50 years as a hair stylist. When she came here in 1974, Cicchino said, there were only two salons on the island. After being asked repeatedly, she finally agreed to run one of the other shops, a decision, she said, which made her the youngest hairdresser on the island.
“When I moved to Matlacha, it was a very laid-back fishing village.
There were no banks or large chain groceries stores. There were five small gas stations, three mom-and-pop grocery stores — Matlacha supermarket, Browns Grocery and St. James general store. Going to Cape Coral or Fort Myers to do banking or go to a large grocery store was like going to the big city back then. I kind of miss those days, but with time comes change,” Cicchino said.
After Hurricane Charley ravaged Pine Island, she said she decided to purchase her salon from the previous owner and she’s been here ever since. Being considered a non-essential business during COVID hurt many small business owners like her, she admitted.
“So we recouped from that and then, of course, Ian hit,” Cicchino said with a chuckle.
She credits the success of the salon, in part, to her employees who stayed the course with her, through both the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ian, as well as the more recent Helene and Milton storms.
Marvia Cicchino
First Baptist Church of Pine Island gets ready for World Gospel Outreach Honduras trip
By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
First Baptist Church of Pine Island Team Leader Jody Link said an international outreach organization sponsors a ranch in the mountains where the pastor’s sister-in-law
has been actively attending each summer for 25 years.
“It’s called Rancho Ebenezer, and it’s run by World Gospel Outreach. They take in the abandoned kids in the streets,” Link said.
The government takes them in to this ranch, she explained, saying there are foster parents and the kids are placed in homes with families and given a bilingual education, and also taught skills. Once they are adults, this foundation will allow them to go back to the city or area where they are originally from and be productive citizens.
“It really appealed to us that we’re going in and helping them with a skill set,” Link said.
The ages of the kids is a changing composition, with some children very young — 4 and 5 — to others 16 and 17, she said.
There are a number of women with sewing projects working with the Golisano Children’s Hospital, she said. They are preparing to gather with some of the girls at the ranch to teach them some sewing skills. The kids will also be offered a chance to help out in the kitchen and even work such as laying concrete floors for some of the houses in the city, she said.
“When they do that they can bring the young people with them and help them understand how to do labor such as to pour concrete, or they might learn to do a plumbing skill, or even electrical work, or something like that,” Link said.
When the church gets together to work on this trip, leaders submit a list of skills they all are able to offer, or are confident in doing.
“Like for me, mine is working in the kitchen and sewing, because I can do those things. When they see each group’s composition, they figure out what the projects are going to be,” Link said.
There also is a coffee plantation at the ranch, she said. Coffee roasting is something that they do and teach their
kids and young people in Honduras. Roasting and selling this coffee also is a vital part of raising the money necessary to sustain the needs of the ranch, she said.
“It’s really a moment where you learn the difference between giving a kid a fish or teaching that kid to fish so they can sustain themselves,” Link said.
The culture is different, she said, saying some practices, following, for example, the death of a parent can leave a child homeless, adding that this is why the government has worked with the World Gospel Outreach to care for the kids.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY WORLD GOSPEL OUTREACH
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Local woman shares gratitude for quick recovery after breaking her ankle while playing pickleball
An evening of friendly competition pickleball with friends last summer sent me to the hospital and led to months of rehabilitation, giving me a new appreciation for my mobility.
The injury came when I tripped, dislocating my ankle and breaking it in three different places. The doctor called it a right closed displaced trimalleolar ankle fracture. When I heard my ankle pop and felt my bones break, I just knew it was going to be a long road to recovery.
Keegan Myers Lee Health Guest Column
Thankfully, my care team acted quickly. I had surgery the next morning and started physical therapy four weeks later. My surgeon told me patients can have limited mobility for as long as 16 weeks with this break. With a lot of rehabilitation and collaboration from my care team, I was cleared to walk again in just one month.
I was thankful to have my friends and family there for me. I also appreciated the timely and compassionate care I received from the doctors, nurses and physical therapists at the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute. They became like a family while I had surgery and pre-and post-operative care at Gulf Coast Medical Center. They provided a positive environment to start my rehabilitation journey, and I was grateful for their support.
Undergoing orthopedic surgery
The first thing my care team did when I got to Gulf Coast Medical Center’s Emer-gency Department was X-ray my ankle and stabilize it for the evening. Later that night, I was moved to the hospital’s sixth floor.
The next morning, I began pre-operative care for my Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery where the surgeon placed
Greater Pine Island Water Association Inc. Notice of Water Rate Increase
To the editor:
Due to the unprecedented inflation over the last five years caused by COVID-19 lockdowns, supply chain disturbances, and insurance increases due to Hurricanes Ian, Helen, and Milton. The GPIWA Board of Directors,
a surgical plate and screws onto both sides of my ankle to realign the bone fragments and hold them in place to heal.
Since my experience, I learned the ORIF is a common procedure used to repair fractured and broken bones. It is recommended for severe fractures that can’t be helped with non-surgical methods, like a splint or cast.
Thankful for support from the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute
Since surgery was needed for my injury, an orthopedic surgeon developed a personalized treatment plan, performed the procedure and collaborated with the care team to support my recovery.
I’m grateful for the team of orthopedic experts at the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute who provided advanced care and helped me regain mobility. Bone and joint conditions can affect people of all ages, often making the simplest daily activities like walking up stairs and moving around the house more challenging.
Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition or preparing for surgery, the expert care team at the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute will support you and cheer for you every step of the way, like they did for me.
Physical therapy and being able to walk again
After two weeks of not putting weight on my ankle, my splint, stitches and staples were removed, and I began wearing a walking boot. I could finally start putting weight on my foot, and I appreciated even the small victories.
Eleven days later, I was starting physical
Letters to the Editor
after reviewing the 2024 GPIWA rate study, voted to support a 15 percent rate increase for the calendar year 2025, as advertised on the front page of The Pine Island Eagle on 11/27/2025. This 15 percent rate increase will take effect starting May 1, 2025. The real dollar cost of the 15 percent rate increase is dependent on how much water is used. As an example, a residential household that uses 2,000 gallons/month is now pay-
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 Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers.com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com or faxed to 283-0232. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle.com
therapy.
At my four-week post-operative appointment, my boot was removed and I was cleared to begin walking again — another small victory.
The last piece of the journey to resuming normal activities was a little over a month of physical therapy appointments. Yet another thing to celebrate.
Lee Health has physical therapy options throughout Lee County. I was happy there was a location closest to where I live. That really helped make the process easier, allowing me to easily get to my appointments each week — I was thankful to have options.
The greatest victory during this process was the encouragement and steadfast support from my physical therapists. Physical therapy was the key to helping me regain my strength and feel comfortable walking again.
Not only did they help me physically, but they also helped me mentally. I felt accomplished every time I left and that positive support really helped me feel like I could accomplish my goals.
I noticed a positive change every time. I was always looking forward to my next appointment. While I may not be playing pickleball any time soon, I feel like I’m back to the mobility I had before the surgery. I was able to walk around Universal Studios with my family and I know the physical therapy team and everyone at the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute helped me get there.
What to do if you injure yourself playing pickleball
Sometimes, all it takes is one specific movement to hurt yourself, where you trip or lunge for a ball. That’s what happened to me. If an injury does occur, the best thing someone can do is take a break. It’s also best to see a doctor if it hurts to put weight on the injury or if there is a lot of swelling. An X-ray can help determine the extent of the injury. For more information and to make an appointment with a physician, please visit www.leehealth.org.
ing $27.42 per month. With the 15 percent increase, they would pay $31.53 per month, which adds an extra $4.11 per month.
There were no rate increases in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as the Association was hoping the inflation seen in those years was momentary and would reverse itself. This has not been the case, and the increased cost of electricity, insurance, and other expenses require an adjustment to GPIWA’s rates. This was not an easy decision to make as the Association Board Members did not want to contribute to more inflation, but the Association could no longer absorb the increased expenses.
Please visit www.pineislandwater.com under the “More” tab, then “Rate Study” to see the recommended new fee structure. Mikes Maillakakis, PE General Manager
Bobby Holloway Junior Memorial Fishing Tournament
“It was a great turnout! Had a little wind, but lots of fish were caught and released. The kids in the Lil Bobber division had a blast. The adult division was very competitive. Team Hamilton brought home the win,” said Ernestine Holloway Squires, founder of the Bobby Holloway Junior Memorial Fishing Tournament.
PHOTOS BY JAMIE DELACEY
Lil’ Bobbers
Amanda Jones, volunteer face painting
Easter Sunday Egg Hunt at St. John’s Episcopal Church set for April 20
Join the hunt for Easter eggs on Sunday, April 20 at 1:00 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 7771 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, co-sponsored by the VFW and the Rotary Club.
All children, teenagers and adults are welcome. Receive prizes and participate in raffles to win door prizes. Enjoy free hot dogs, popcorn and beverages. So, how did a Christian holiday get scrambled up with colored eggs?
The egg itself is thought to be an ancient symbol of new life And in the Christian religion a symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus from the tomb.
The early church prohibited the eating of eggs during Holy Week, but chickens continued to lay eggs during that week. So folks painted them in bright colors to specially identify those as Holy Week eggs to eat on Easter Sunday.
Let the hunt begin!
Some suggest that the Easter egg hunt tradition dates back to the 16th century, when Martin Luther organized egg hunts for his congregation, with men hiding eggs for women and children to find. In the U.S., the first official
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church to host ‘Springtime Delights - A Family Friendly High Tea in May’
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church invites the public to a springtime Saturday of fellowship and refreshments at its Church HighTea. The event is a wonderful opportunity to connect, relax and enjoy each other’s company at the elegant high tea, filled with exquisite teas, delectable treats and mimosas. Also, a program is planned, fostering fellowship and community, with dance and special music..
Islanders and visitors are urged to take a break from their busy schedule and enjoy a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon at Springtime Delights - A Family Friendly High Tea in May Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fishers of Men Lutheran Church is at 10360 Stringfellow Road, St .James City. Please call the church office at, 239.283.1170 for reservations on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings, between 8 a.m. and noon.
Suggested donation is $15 per person.
White House Easter egg roll and hunt occurred in 1878. And what’s “hop” with the Easter bunny?
The most prominent secular symbol of Easter, the Easter bunny symbolizes fertility, new life, and the rebirth of spring. The Easter bunny was reportedly intro-
duced to America by German immigrants who brought over their stories of an egg-laying hare. Another story tells of the Easter bunny laying brightly colored eggs for well-behaved children to find on the morning of Easter Sunday. Some children would prepare nests in the garden for eggs to be left in, and even leave out carrots to refuel the Easter bunny after all its hopping.
Also join us at St. John’s for the following Easter Holy Week Services.
n Thursday, April 17, 5:00 p.m. Seder dinner
n Thursday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. Foot-washing Service
n Friday, April 18, noon Good Friday Service
n Saturday, April 19, 7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil Service
n Sunday, April 20, 10:00 a.m. Easter Service and Flowering of the Cross
At St. John’s Episcopal Church, our purpose is to LOVE GOD, FOLLOW CHRIST and SERVE OTHERS. We welcome all to our services on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. with a coffee fellowship hour immediately following. For additional information about the church and its services and programs, please visit our website at www. StJohnspineisland.com, or call 239-273-1930.
First Baptist Church of Pine Island Easter Weekend Services
First Baptist Church of Pine Island invites you to our Easter Weekend Services at 5363 Ave. D., Bokeelia at the center (across the street from Pine Island Elementary School:. The Good Friday Service will begin at
7:00 p.m. on April 18th. On Easter Sunday, April 20th we will be hosting a potluck breakfast at 9:15 a.m.
Our Easter Worship Service with a Concert by Larry Ford will be at 10:45 a.m. Larry is a Grammy award
winning tenor who has traveled the world singing on his own as well as with Bill Gaither’s Homecoming Concerts. Please contact the church office at 239-283-1737 if you have any questions.
Earth Day Celebration April 20 at SJCCA
Isaac Holeva and his band Pipe Dream are the headliners at an Earth Day Celebration Sunday, April 20, from noon to 5 p.m., at the St James City Civic Association located at 3300 Fourth Ave. in St James City. Tap your feet to the music, feast on food from Horse Eyed Jake’s yummies wagon, lick a frosty cone from Utterly Twisted Ice Cream, wander among numerous vendors peddling their wares and enjoy activities for kids and grownups.
The admission charge is only $5
(kids 12 and under free) and you are welcome to bring your own chosen beverages and chairs. The net proceeds will be donated to the Calusa Land Trust to support
its island land conservancy mission. Pine Island’s all-volunteer land trust is seeking revenue to restore its preserves blasted by recent hurricanes. In addition to membership donations, CLT has traditionally relied upon the monies raised at its annual major fundraiser, The Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race. This year’s race was canceled due to last fall’s back-to-back hurricane damage to its venue. Come enjoy yourselves and play islander by casting your donations to an Earth Day beneficial cause.
‘Use of Biowash Plant Stimulant’ topic at Garden Club meeting
On Thursday, April 17, the Pine Island Garden Club (at its monthly meeting beginning at 9 am at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church) will host Daniel Piper who will discuss the use of his Biowash 25 as a bio-stimulate to enhance plant absorption of nutrients with resulting plant growth and yield. His products (to include bio pesticides) are manufactured here on Pine Island in the industrial park.
Founded in 1975 the Pine Island 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, Kiwanis Children’s Park and the butterfly garden at PI Elementary School. It produces the
annual Garden Gala, the proceeds from which are utilized to financially support several island benevolent organizations, such as the Beacon of Hope, Calusa Land Trust, CROW and the PI Food Pantry. For more information one may visit pineislandgardenclub.org or contact Marty Kendall at (239) 283-8175.
Lee County Parks & Recreation community pools temporarily closed
All Lee County Parks & Recreation community pools will be closed temporarily Saturday, April 26, so that county lifeguards can assist with the 2025 Southern Zone Open Water Championships taking place at Lynn Hall Memorial Park, 950 Estero Blvd.,
Fort Myers Beach.
The locations that will be temporarily closed are:
n Pine Island Community Pool, 5675 Sesame Drive, Pine Island
n North Fort Myers Community Pool,
Kiwanis Club’s scholarship application process underway
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island is once again offering scholarships to local students pursuing higher education, continuing a tradition of community support that has lasted for over 40 years.
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria: They must either reside on Pine Island or have attended Pine Island Elementary School. Applicants must also be either high school seniors planning to enter a posthigh school program or high school graduates already enrolled or preparing to enroll in one. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
Applications are available for pickup at two locations: Century 21 Office, located at 10191 Stringfellow Road in St. James City, or the Pine Island Public Library. Applications can also be downloaded from the Kiwanis Club’s website at www.PineIslandKiwanis.org.
The deadline to submit applications is May 1. Completed applications may be dropped off at the Century 21 Office
or mailed to the Scholarship Chairman at P.O. Box 111, St. James City, FL 33956. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than May 1 to be considered.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island takes pride in supporting local students as they pursue higher education and career training. This scholarship program is one of the many ways the club gives back to the community.
Anyone wishing to support this effort through a donation may do so by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Kiwanis Foundation of Greater Pine Island. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 111, St. James City, FL 33956. All contributions go directly toward funding scholarships for local students.
For more information or any questions regarding the application process, contact
Scholarship Committee Chairs Greg Brown at 305-216-0522 or Tonya Player at 239-203-4682.
Legion Post 136 accepting scholarship applications
American Legion Post 136 is offering scholarships to students graduating from high school and attending college or university, accredited programs such as nursing school, technical or trade school an opportunity to continuing education.
Scholarship applications can be downloaded online or are available for pick-up at the Post for students who have attended
Pine Island Elementary, is a member of the American Legion or have an immediate family member who is a member of the Legion.
All applications must be post marked by Friday, May 16. Students can get their application by going online at www. post136fl.org or contacting Ed Mitchell at 239-246-7634.
5170 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers
n San Carlos Community Pool, 8208 Sanibel Blvd., Fort Myers
n Lehigh Acres Community Pool, 1400 W. Fifth St., Lehigh Acres
Signs have been posted at the sites and online to inform pool patrons of the one-day closing.
Lee County and Gulf Coast Swim Team are hosting this event, which attracts competitive swimmers throughout Florida. Admission to the event is free; patrons must pay to park.
Pools will reopen Tuesday, April 29, with
normal operating hours. County pools are closed Sundays and Mondays, except during summer. For more information about all Lee County pools, visit www.leeparks.org/ pools. For more information about the 2025 Southern Zone Open Water Championships, visit https://www.floridaswimming.org/ page/events#/team-events/upcoming.
To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters. Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc.
Pine Island Elementary celebrates learning
Pine Island Elementary celebrated learning new words at their Vocabulary Parade on April 4. Students and staff dressed as advanced words for the parade and became Word Wizards. The first place Word Wizard was Shane Gross in Mrs. Rigsby’s first grade class with the word chemist. The 2nd Place Word Wizard was Otis Kiely in Mrs. Amico-Dodig’s fifth grade class with the word scrutinize . The third place Word Wizard was Camila Najera in Mrs. Amico-Dodig’s fifth grade class with the word liberty. The top staff Word Wizard was Deb Palmieri with the words fragile. It was a successful
event with many families attending. Way to go PIE!
Winners:
n 1st Place Word Wizard - Shane Gross (Mrs. Rigsby’s first class) Word: chemist n 2nd Place Word Wizard-Otis Kiely (Mrs. AmicoDodig’s fifth grade class) Word: scrutinize n 3rd Place Word Wizard - Camila Najera (Mrs. Amico-Dodig’s fifth grade class) Word: liberty n Staff Word Wizard - Deb Palmieri n Word: fragile
‘Make up’ paddling tour to be held this Saturday
This month’s previously planned “Peter Ordway” Paddling Tour was canceled due to inclement weather. Its make-up will take place this Saturday, April 19th, paddling along the PI Sound shoreline up to the Big Jim Creek Preserve (325+ protected mangrove acres). Paddlers will meet at the public launch off Waterfront Drive in Pineland at 9 am. One may use their own watercraft or rent one from Carmen’s Kayaks (239333-7332). The guided tour will meander along the shoreline and through the preserve’s mangroves and share the day with the resident birds (including roseate spoonbills), dolphin and fish species. Including bottled water and bug spray in one’s knapsack is recommended. This will be the last paddling tour for the season.
The Calusa Land Trust is Pine Island’s all volunteer land conservancy, which sponsors events for public education and enjoyment. The paddling tours are held monthly in season. Since it is also a fundraising effort a donation of $20 per person/$10 for CLT member is requested. New/renewal membership forms will be available.
In the event of windy weather an alternative launch site has been planned. Please contact Jim Friedlander at (860)608-1158 or jimfri29@gmail. com prior thereto to confirm the location of the tour. If one wishes to be added to the paddlers’ contact list, Jim will also need your phone, email address and emergency contact information.
PHOTO PROVIDED
SJCCA Update
St. James City Civic Association has announced the following upcoming events and activities:
Thursday, April 17
n Ping Pong, 9-11 a.m. It’s a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong
n Mahjongg, 1-4 p.m. This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg! Contact Carolyn at 239-233-7682.
n Cribbage, 6-8 p.m. All are welcome for weekly cribbage fun and competition. Contact John Hennessy at 908801-2034 for additional information
Friday, April 18
n Shuffleboard, 9-11 a.m. All equipment provided. Beginners welcome.
Saturday, April 19
n Garage Sale, 8-11 a.m. Cool stuff added daily.
Sunday, April 20th
n Calusa Land Trust Earth Day Benefit Concert, 12 – 5 pm Please contact Marty for more information at 239-314-6446
Tuesday, April 22
n Shuffleboard, 9-11 a.m.
n Ping Pong, 9-11 a.m.
n Golden Brush, 1-4 p.m. Don’t be
shy! Explore your artistic muse with SJCCA’S painting group. The Order of the Golden Brush, founded over 45 years ago by Gladys Stroud, provides a supportive atmosphere for individuals wishing to play with paints and pencils. Newcomers, current members, novices, and established artists are all welcome. Need more information? Please call Linda Selleck at 239-313-1212
n Dominoes, 6-8 p.m. Dominoes is a game that everyone can play: kids, adults, and even the old. It is that simple, and it does not matter a person’s skill type or level when it comes to gaming. Contact Vicki Janda 954.655.4252 for additional information
Wednesday, April 23
n PI Learners Nature Group, 1011:30 a.m. Fun activities for the island’s children hosted weekly
n Guided Meditation with Christine, 4:15-5:15 p.m. This 30-minute meditation class will be a guided meditation offering techniques to focus on the present moment with non-judgmental awareness.
All activities are held at St James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave., St James City. More details, contacts and ticket sales are available at sjccapi.org.
Bridge Beat
12:30 PM every Wednesday at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, located at 10360 Stringfellow Road, Saint James City. Anyone wishing to play is welcome and does not need a partner. It costs three dollars to play, some of which goes back to winners of the game. Come join us. Sharpen your brain!
Winners April 9 were: Karen McWright, first place; Kathy Downs, second place; Ellie Fenyohazi, third place. With our ‘snowbird’ players heading north over the next few weeks we are in need of new players. Whether you are new to the game, long time players or have been on hiatus for a period of time please join us.
Cribbage Corner
St. James City Civic Association:
1.Dennis Gettys
2. Rick Parrott
3. Katie Austin
4. Fred Chernetski
Cribbage is played at SJCCA every Thursday from 6:30–9 p.m.
For more information, Contact John Hennessy at 908-801-2034.
From the Firehouse
Heads up, residents! Your Fire Department crews will be working in your neighborhoods over the next few months, performing essential maintenance on fire hydrants. You’ll see them greasing connections and placing blue reflective markers (dots) in the roadway. These markers
serve as a visual aid to quickly locate hydrants, working in conjunction with our advanced computer mapping system. For residents on dirt roads, we’ll be tagging hydrants with blue reflective bands to ensure they’re easily visible. Your safety is our priority.
Cribbage results from April 3 at the
Lamb of the Week: John Hennessy
PHOTO PROVIDED
Firefighter J. Hayes.
Celebration of Life held for Ed Chapin
On Saturday, April 5, a Celebration of Life was held for longtime Pine Island resident and Calusa Land Trust (CLT) member, Ed Chapin, who passed away last September. Ed’s family hosted the celebration with the help of Carmen’s Kayaks, Knight’s Landing, Salty Girls Cafe and CLT. Over 60 friends and family joined in sharing stories of Ed. Ed’s brother, Patrick Chapin, shared stories of Ed’s younger years before moving to Pine Island and nephew, Ryan Chapin, shared his visits with Ed on Calusa Island. Past CLT president, Robert Ballard, shared the history of Ed’s 40 plus years in the CLT. Ryan Chapin presented current CLT President, Cheryl King, a check representing the balance of Ed’s estate, per his wishes.
Ed moved to Pine Island in the early 1970s, and after buying his lot on Calusa Island he joined other residents as the fifth member (1978) of the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve Association, Inc., the predecessor to the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc. Ed served as President, Vice President, and Chief Ranger in the CLT and was a major factor in the annual Rubber Duck Race fundraiser as well as heading up the monthly Peter Ordway Wilderness Adventure canoe and kayak paddling trips. As Chief Ranger, Ed was instrumental in organizing the monthly
Preserve Work/Fun Parties and the work to be performed.
Ed loved to tell the early history of Clausa Island and its inhabitants to Pine Island visitors, often taking them on a tour of the island. He will be remembered by his fellow CLT members for his tireless devotion to the organization and to protecting Pine Island’s diverse ecology and archeology.
Cat of the Week
Ginny and Kiki
Do you like cats that talk? Kiki (right) would be happy to have a conversation with you. From the price of cat food to the legality of catnip, she has an opinion on everything. Her sister Ginny (left) really only likes asking what time dinner is. The girls are almost 2 years old and definitely have Siamese in them. Kiki is the social butterfly and Ginny is the shy until she gets to know you kitty. Both girls are sweet, affectionate and playful. Not to mention... it’s Adopt One Get one Free! Call Helping Paws Animal Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 for more information. If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Pkwy E, Unit D, Saint James City 33956 or there’s always our website www.helpingpawsanimalsanctuary.com
PHOTO PROVIDED
PHOTO PROVIDED
Lee school board approves new ‘bell times’ Change in campus hours next year will help alleviate transportation issues, officials say
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
Students will have different bell times for the 20252026 school year.
The Lee County School Board unanimously agreed Tuesday to implement the changes next year as part of the district’s Safe Start Initiative.
The initiative transitions transportation to a threetiered system. It focuses on improving bus routes, addressing driver shortages, and improving timely arrivals for students. According to the district, with the spacing of start times an hour apart will allow bus drivers with the opportunity to finish their first tier before moving onto the next.
According to past meetings, the district said the current transportation route system has an 82.75% average morning on-time rate, while the afternoon on time rate is
at 59.5%.
Elementary school bell times will change to 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. With a few exceptions.
Two elementary schools in Cape Coral will run from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Skyline Elementary School and Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary School. This time also includes North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts; The Alva School; Bayshore School; The Sanibel School and Veterans Park Academy for the Arts.
Middle school bell times will be from 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and high school bell times will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
With the high school change, classes will be extended to 49 minutes and a 30-minute lunch. This extra instruction will add 42 hours of class time during the 20252026 school year. At the elementary and middle school level there is an additional 15 minutes added to the day,
which will provide a 30-minute lunch break
There are different times set for special centers:
n Cape Coral Technical College and Fort Myers Technical College from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
n Lee Virtual School from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
n Young Parent Education Program from 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
n Early Childhood Learning Center – Head Start Schools hours from 8:55 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Infant and Toddler school hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
n Royal Palm Exceptional Center, Buckingham Exceptional Student Center and Success Academy from 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
The fiscal impact of the approved bell times and any bell times adjusted by plus or minus 15 minutes will be included in transportations budget for fiscal year 2026.
School district consolidates administrative positions
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
The Lee County School Board adopted 12 job descriptions for academic services, business services, human resources and executive services division, which will support a consolidated organizational chart designed to put more money in classrooms.
“When I bring you recommendations, from all my heart, I truly believe this is the team and structure that is going to lead us to number one,” School District of Lee County Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said at Tuesday’s meeting “Not only are you holding me accountable – I am holding myself accountable. If we don’t achieve our goals as a district, I will fire myself in four years. That is how serious I am about
myself in this work.”
Carlin was elected to her office in November. She is the district’s first elected superintendent since the 1974 when voters made the position one appointed by the school board. Voters overturned that decades-old decision in the 2024 election.
The new organizational chart will help the district help children, Carlin said.
“I want you to know, all of you to know, any job I bring forward, I am holding myself accountable that each one of these people that goes into this job is able to do the job necessary. None of these job changes were brought about because anybody was doing anything wrong. I have nothing but respect for people currently in the jobs. This is about a structural change
that is necessary to move the organization forward. I am passionate. I want the best for children. I want to see our district do better and we can.”
The board approved the adoption of the following positions: Deputy Chief of Staff; Arts, Athletics, Activities and Administration director; Communications, Marketing and Public Relations director; Core Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment director; Physical and Mental Health Services director; Risk Management and Internal Compliance director; Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management director; Organizational Performance and Analytics executive director; School Transformation senior director; Physical Mental Health Services assistant director;
Budget and Grants Director and Physical and Mental Health Services senior coordinator.
Board member Debbie Jordan was the sole board member that voted against the approval of the job descriptions. One of the issues she had was changing the chart to consolidate multiple directorships into one for Physical and Mental Health Services.
“We keep speaking about safety, kids’ needs, outcomes, student services, but when I look at this and see the units that we pulled out, they directly affect our students and they are specialized people in those fields,” she said.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said the school counselors, school social
See SCHOOL DISTRICT, page 16
Fish still biting despite windy, cooler weather
Between the wind and a couple of late season cold fronts, weather wasn’t the best for fishing over the week. Despite unfavorable conditions, anglers found success fishing.
Capt. Bill Russell
On the Water
More big sea trout were reported with a few pushing twenty-six inches, and many over the twenty-inch mark. Kayak anglers launching out of PineIand landed trout over the early morning hours working shorelines and sand holes around islands and keys. Fishing a variety of lures also produced snook, redfish, ladyfish, and a couple flounder.
Trout were also caught off the east side of Cayo Costa State Park, grass flats around Red Light Shoals, and in north Matlacha Pass. Ladyfish were also plentiful, plus jack crevalle, and several Spanish mackerel.
Spanish mackerel numbers are on the rise with hookups reported around Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia, the
PINE ISLAND TIDE CHART APRIL 2025
channel in north Matlacha Pass, bar edges around the Sanibel Causeway, and east of Foster’s Point in the Sound. While mackerel do eat shrimp, they really like fast moving, shiny baits. A small spoon with a fast retrieve is the preferred bait of many anglers.
Considering the wind and cooler weather, snook action remained steady. Bait fish are becoming more abundant across inshore waters and are be-
coming snooks primary diet. Pinfish, pilchards, and herrings were top baits along with a variety of lures. The best snook action was on the incoming water fishing shorelines and around structure, plus fishing after dark produced snook from the Matlacha Bridge. Redfish up to twenty-eight inches were also caught from the same areas, plus areas around Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.
Winds made it difficult for tarpon anglers with cut or dead bait fishing the best option. Tarpon, plus sharks and large stingrays took cut ladyfish and catfish tails near the powerlines in south Pine Island Sound and between the fish shacks and Cabbage Key.
OK, we’re into mid-April, it’s past time we get a solid week of consistent, good, favorable fishing weather.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at: www. myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service -- call or text 239-410-8576; website at www.fishpine island. com; or email 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
PHOTO PROVIDED
Fish we’re still biting in the windy and cooler weather. Snook and trout were caught along with redfish fishing shorelines in Charlotte Harbor with Captain Bill Russell.
Tickets on sale for Backyard Game Day to benefit Dubin Center
The Dubin Center will host its Backyard Game Day event from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, at Bay Street Yard in downtown Fort Myers. Proceeds from the event will support the center in providing services to local families affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia, and a lively tournament featuring ping pong, cornhole and more in the heart of downtown Fort Myers’ River District.
Founded in 1995, The Dubin Center supports individuals with dementia-related disorders and their caregivers by prioritizing comfort, dignity, compassionate care and education through resources, training and outreach specifically designed for family caregivers. The center pro-
vides caregiver education, support groups and assistance with resource referrals.
Services are offered at no cost, made possible by the generous donations and fundraising efforts of the community.
The Presenting Sponsor of Backyard Game Day is Cypress at Home. Game Sponsorships ($2,500) and T-shirt Sponsorships ($250 to $500) are still available. Tickets are $75 each and include food, alcoholic beverages and entry to the tournament.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit DubinCenter.com/backyard-game-day or call 239-4373007.
Discussion on Right to Clean Water & citizen initiatives set for May 3
The League of Women Voters of Lee County, Florida Right to Clean Water, and the SWFL RESET Center invite members and the public for an action-oriented discussion of Fundamental Rights and Citizen Initiatives to be held May 3 from 9-11a.m. in person at Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson Street, Fort Myers and virtually via Zoom.
A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants.
“Because Florida’s waters are badly polluted, FloridaRightToCleanWater. org has launched a citizen initiative to amend the Florida Constitution with a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters for all Floridians.” a rlease from the LWVLee sates. “Proposed new laws may cripple the citizen initiative process.”
Fundamental Rights and Citizen Initiatives will focus on the proposed right to clean water amendment and the threat these new laws pose to citizen initiatives and Floridians’ First Amendment Rights.
Register with this link: https:// FLRighttoCleanWater.eventbrite.com or Email: lwvlee@lwvlee.org Or call 239-278-1032.
Panelists:
n Joseph Bonasia, chair, Florida Rights of Nature Network and SWFL regional
CCA to hold final porch, patio event
The Captiva Civic Association (CCA) will host its End-of-Season Porch & Patio Social on April 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center, at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva. It will feature live music, refreshments and light fare. The Pfeifer Realty Group is the sponsor for the 2024-25 series. While the event is free, registration is required. To RSVP, visit https://ccacaptiva.org/ or the Captiva Civic Association on Eventbrite. For more information, visit online or call 239-472-2111.
director, FloridaRightToCleanWater. org. Original organizing member of ProtectOurWetlandsinCapeCoral.org and for several years served as Citizen Climate Lobby’s volunteer legislative liaison to Senator Rick Scott’s office. He writes about constitutional environmental rights and climate change. See some of his articles at The Invading Sea.
n ACLU of Florida speaker on impacts of new legislation on citizen initiatives and paths forward to address clean water and first amendment rights.
The League of Women Voters of Lee County, Inc.
The League of Women Voters of Lee County, Inc. is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose candidates and/or political parties.
Information on the programs and issues of the League of Women Voters is available on the web at www.lwv.org, www.lwvfl.org, and www.lwvlee.org. Call 239-278-1032 or e-mail lwvlee@ lwvlee.org
About
The Dubin Center
The Dubin Center was established in 1995 to provide assistance to families of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. The Center is named after Alvin A. Dubin whose widow, Zelda Dubin, made a generous donation to ensure the viability of a resource center in Lee County. Throughout their lives, Alvin and Zelda Dubin used both their time and assets to help others. Their legacy will continue through the center’s work. The staff and volunteers at The Dubin Center provide local expertise with resource referrals, caregiver education and support groups. For more information about The Dubin Center please visit dubincenter.com.
Community Market On Demand
An entirely new group of people have found themselves in uncertain positions because they are unable to afford to feed their families. Due to inflation, the price of food has risen drastically, and many families are working hard to put food on the table.
In response to the high need and new client base, Community Cooperative has launched Community Market On Demand, a one-on-one private shopping service at the food pantry. It allows clients to avoid waiting in long lines and offers them the chance to make an appointment that fits around busy work or kids’ school schedules.
By scheduling an appointment in advance online, clients can peruse a selection of fresh produce, pantry staples and more in a private setting, ensuring that each item is intentionally chosen and will be used effectively. Rather than providing clients with a box filled with food items, Community Cooperative’s Market
On Demand program strives to empower clients to make mindful and personalized choices that align with their preferences and available cooking methods to minimize food waste.
“According to the USDA’s 2025 Food Price Outlook, the prices of food are expected to increase 3.4% this year and were already 2.5% higher this January compared to January 2024,” says Stefanie Ink Edwards, CEO of Community Cooperative. “It’s a real problem that affects real people in our community. Our Market On Demand program has quickly become a popular resource, and it served 808 unduplicated households in the first six months of the program launching.” Market On Demand is the latest addition to Community Cooperative’s extensive list of innovative programs, including Sam’s Community Café & Kitchen, Meals on Wheels, mobile food pantries, Food Literacy in People and social and education resource centers.
Salon 50th
From page 1
Cicchino is also grateful for her salon customers, whom she said are very faithful.
“We’ve managed to keep the doors open and keep running,” Cicchino said.
Working around leaks and ceiling issues are something her crew has learned to handle, she said. Cicchino admits she is very grateful to island organizations, such as the Greater Pine Island Alliance, Matlacha Hookers and the Beacon of HOPE, in particular, for all their help following Hurricane Ian.
When thinking about what stands out most to her after all these years, in typical islander fashion, she chooses to thank everyone else, saying she could not have done it without them.
“If you can ever find a way to help someone else, that’s the most rewarding
School
Trip
From page 1
job of letting everyone know the Matlacha Pine Island Fire control District is interested in any upcoming Bills or legislation concerning out special district. She’s a bit too late this year to ask for any kind of appropriations, she said, but her goal was
Pine Island Family Hair Salon.
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY MARVIA CICCHINO
thing. I’ve learned to be thankful for even the smallest things, that no matter how hard whatever you’ve gone through has been, there is always someone who has had it harder than you have. I thank my girls for hanging in there with me. Without my customers and their customers being loyal and coming through, we wouldn’t be here. We have a fun place, I think,” Cicchino said.
Stylists celebrating with Cicchino are Lori Runner, Robin Weber and Jess Hawk.
Someone new, displaying her talent full-time at the salon, said Cicchino, is stylist veteran Sandra Carter.
Pine Island Family Hair Salon is at 9848 Stringfellow Road, St James City. To make an appointment or for more information, call 239-283-7000.
district From page 12
workers, school psychologists and the nursing program are all part of the comprehensive model.
“The only thing that is changing is job titles,” he said.
Carlin said there will be a director, assistant director of physical and mental health and a senior coordinator.
“Those jobs will be filled with those folks that have the skills to supervise to do what is necessary,” she said. “Instead of three directors, we will have one director over all of that work. We are consolidating bodies of work, but supporting underneath.”
The restructuring of the organizational chart includes changes to 50 positions and job descriptions — all in the central office, which will save an estimated $1 million for the district.
The district’s central office departments also reviewed their independent budgets and implemented a 5% reduction, an analysis that saved $15.9 million.
“It’s the right-sized chart,” Carlin said.
She said the entire 13 months spent on the campaign trail, the community shared with her a strong desire for more dollars to go into the classrooms and retain high quality teachers.
“When we have surrounding counties that pay more to their teachers than we do, we continue to lose teachers to the south,
the north, and now the east,” she said.
Over the last year, Carlin said they have saved $20 million.
“That is a significant savings. This is round one. We will continue to look at ways to reduce the bureaucracy in the district office. We embedded a succession plan, a natural succession plan,” she said.
“Under the directors – under the hood –there are assistant directors, coordinators, senior coordinators. In many instances as we have consolidated work at the director level and above, we provided assistant directors under the hood.”
Carlin said an organizational structure is necessary to achieve goals, while holding her accountable.
The school board heard a presentation during its Tuesday afternoon workshop from Savage regarding the proposed organizational changes. He took the board through multiple data visuals from the 2009-2010 school year to present day to depict how the district has grown over the past 15 years. The comparison also shared the growth in administrative positions during that time frame.
Savage said the administrative unit never increased more than 1% despite the significant growth in students from 2010 to 2013. The first big jump in administrative positions occurred in 2016 with a 3.8% jump and then a 4.3% jump in 2018.
to simply get the wheels in motion for next year, she said.
“When I went up there, I let everyone know, we are our own animal—our fire district is not like any other,” DeLacey said.
“In 2023, we had the single largest increase in administrative units we ever experienced, a double digit. What a story that tells when you see a massive increase in administrative units,” Savage said of the 14.3% increase.
From a performance standpoint, the district’s highest ranking was second place during the 2010-2011 school year, a ranking that has gradually decreased over time. That same school year, the district was an A district.
During the 2024-2025 school year, the district grade is a B and ranked ninth in the Big 10.
From the 2010-2011 school year to the 2024-2025 school year there has been a 33% increase in students, 23% increase in instructional positions, 1% increase in principal positions, 111% increase in district administrative coordinators and a 98% increase in district administrative directors and executive directors.
“Our school administrators, principals have hardly increase at all, but the central office more than doubled in terms of administration,” Savage said.
The desired state is the expectation to
become an A district again and join the more than 22 other districts in the state, he said.
“That is our expectation, to be first. We would like our leadership and action drive us to that outcome,” Savage said. “We cannot live in our problems. Let’s get to solutions. Let’s get the problem solved.”
He said the district still needs a great central office, but they have to take the view of understanding to create accountability, which the organizational chart supports high performance and accountability.
“While this is a huge change in a lot of people, we didn’t create the central office size it is today. The net total in size of people is six people,” Savage said. “We had to let people know they have jobs to the end of the year – you may have to apply for a different job, a lower title.”
Many of the positions were consolidated – two areas that were related were brought together.
“You see a leaner top level organizational chart,” Savage said of 69 directors or above were brought to 50. “It should be aligned and unified, so they are truly putting students in the forefront.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAMIE DELACEY
Sen. Jonathan Martin’s office.
Rep. Adam Botana’s office.
Rep. Tiffany Esposito
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