Pine Island Eagle

Matlacha Hookers — serving the islands for 25 years

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

DJ Ruscik is the Matlacha Hookers Madame; a job she does proudly This year, the volunteer organization will celebrate 25 years of serving Matlacha, Pine Island and surrounding areas

Over the past two and a half decades, Ruscik said, the Hookers have accumulated quite a history book, demonstrated on record in various laptops and accounts

“It’s hard to come up with an exact number, but, before this year, we’ve already put $227,000 in scholarships back into the community,” Ruscik said

Taking into account every fundraiser, derby, luau and donation, Ruscik estimates well over a million dollars

having come through the Matlacha Hookers back to the island Although it would be difficult to pinpoint an exact duty for the organization, Ruscik said the best way to say it is that their mission statement is to make a positive difference and take care of what’s in their own backyard

“How do we do that? We are the largest supporter of

our island food pantry We support education, through our elementary school and scholarships for higher education We support senior services on the island through the Beacon We have an outreach program to help individuals and families in need and we help other organizations achieve their goals,” Ruscik said

In addition to leaving fingerprints all over the island in service to others, the Matlacha Hookers organization remains a member in good standing with the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce The Hookers also host a quarterly blood drive, which is coming up Saturday, May 6, at Miceli’s Restaurant in Matlacha There is not a busi-

See MATLACHA HOOKERS, page 10

Ruane discusses $1.1 billion Hurricane Ian relief funds with GPIA

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Greater Pine Island Alliance founder Jay Sanderson reported that Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane attended the GPIA meeting Tuesday, April 11, where he talked about funds that have been allotted to targeted areas from the $1 1 billion allocated for Southwest Florida for restoration after Hurricane Ian

“It’s pretty much all of Pine Island,” Sanderson said

The money has been verbally awarded by the U S Department of Urban Development, but it can take as much as 60 days, Ruane said The figure, he said, was established by the unmet need when it comes to housing

“Most of Pine Island is eligible for HUD funding,” Ruane said

Island Tactical owners

Island Tactical to hold grand re-opening at new Stringfellow Road location

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Island Tactical owner Jay Sanderson is excited to offer guns, ammo and fishing gear at its new location in Bokeelia The grand re-opening is on Friday, April 29, with musical entertainment and food to celebrate, he said

“We’re super excited about the new location and our growth. We are equally excited about the support we’ve had from islanders, especially since the storm,” Sanderson said

Directly following Hurricane Ian, Sanderson said they began serving meals from their original location

The final tally of meals served is 4,000, he said.

“We were essentially a small mini-mart, as we were running supplies to and from the island, like fuel and water The relationships that we built after Ian have been invaluable, and while Ian was catastrophic, the unity and community that have come from it, have really excited us, and we want to celebrate that more t

HUD requires the submission of an action plan, he said, emphasizing he believes the figure of $1 1 billion to be extremely low.

See RELIEF FUNDS, page 10

HUD ACS 2011-2015 Low to Moderate Income Map of Lee County by block group PROVIDED

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAY SANDERSON

Pine

Jay Sanderson, left, and Stephen Soloway.

Owners, crew staying busy at the Eagle’s Nest

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Millie Roque and her husband, Yovan Santiesteban, o p e n e d t h e E a g l e ’ s N e s t R e s t a u r a n t a t t h e e n d o f

February Every Friday they host a flea market from 9 a m to 2 p m and on Easter, they welcomed the neighborhood children to an egg hunt, where they could also enjoy cupcakes and face painting

Roque said although her brother owned a restaurant for a long time, the thought of becoming a restaurateur herself had never been a thought before opening the Eagle’s Nest

“This is a new venture for us for being first-timers, we’re doing excellent,” Roque said

Certain they have the best char-broiled steak in town, Roque said she loves coming out from the kitchen to chat

with her customers and make sure they’re happy with the food and environment In addition to various cuts of steak, Roque said they serve a whole fried snapper, that has become very popular as well as a Cuban dish they make called, Ropa Vieja

“The cook and crew that I have is fantastic We love all of them,” Roque said

What owning the restaurant has brought to her life, Roque admits, is all the people, which she loves about this adventure

“Everyone already knows me and loves me They hug

and kiss me whenever they come in and when they’re going to leave It’s a very family friendly oriented restaurant,” Roque said

The Eagle’s Nest is located at 10880 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia For additional information about the restaurant, please call 239-558-5577 or online visit Eaglesnesteats com

Eagle’s Nest hours are Wednesday through Monday, 7-11 a m , breakfast; Wednesday through Monday, 12-9 p m , lunch and dinner; and Friday and Saturday, 12-10 p m , lunch and dinner

Island youngsters, with their parents and other adults close by, scramble to find eggs during the Easter Egg Hunt at the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant on Pine Island.

FEMA thanks the VFW

Over the past few weeks, a FEMA help center for claims and SBA office was set up in the parking lot of Greater Pine Island VFW Post 4353

FEMA has been working with the Pine Island community to simplify the processing of claims and appeals and the SBA has been working to secure loans for those in need

On Monday, April 10, Coordinator Remy Owens and his staff presented a new POW MIA flag and a thank you card to Post Commander Scott Zilch

It is close cooperation like this that is the hallmark of the VFW as it strives to do more for veterans and islanders

For more information about the VFW, call 239283-2277 or visit its website at vfwpost4353 com

The exterior of the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant on Pine Island.

PAULETTE LEBLANC

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MILLIE ROQUE

OPINIONS

Neighbors coming together

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

Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers

The Eagle is published every Wednesday

A good neighbor should make you feel welcome, and a great neighbor takes care of you when needed In this regard, Cape Coral is proud to have served the residents of Matlacha and Pine Island upon Hurricane

I a n ’ s d e s t r u c t i v e p a t h S i x m o n t h s h a v e passed, and we are collectively on a journey of recovery As a longtime resident of Cape Coral who went to Trafalgar Middle and Mariner High School with many island residents, spent countless weekends at friends’ houses enjoying the island lifestyle, fished in every nook and cranny on the island and swam in the community pool all summer long, it is important for me to write to you all and let you know what your neighbor did for you in response to Hurricane Ian

In times of crisis neighbors check in on each other to see if anything is needed and to give their neighbors a sense of security As you are all aware, Ian destroyed the bridge connecting Matlacha and Pine Island to mainland Cape Coral This left many people stranded and in need of supplies or, in some c a s e s , a n o u t r i g h t r e s c u e o f f t h e i s l a n d Hurricane Ian hit Cape Coral hard, too, causing a significant amount of damage, but in the wake of the storm while our own city was working to recover, we heard the call for help f r o m o u r n e i g h b o r s i n P i n e I s l a n d a n d Matlacha and we answered

The City of Cape Coral’s Fire Department helped evacuate residents from the island with our marine units We housed and fed mutual aid strike teams assigned to work on the island We allowed Pine Island, Matlacha, Bokeelia and St James City residents to use

'Stringfellow Effect!'

To the editor:

City boat ramps which included the D&D boat ramp as well as the Burnt Store Boat Ramp

The Burnt Store Boat Ramp essentially became home base for island transportation on and off the island It received so much traffic from our fellow islanders and Cape Coral r e s i d e n t s p r o v i d i n g m a r i n e transportation to their friends and families we cleared the property of vegetation This much needed room allowed f o r g r e a t e r t r a i l e r p a r k i n g , s t a g i n g o f m o r e m a t e r i a l s , food, water and goods Some island residents never even knew the Burnt Store Boat Ramp existed until the storm hit We are grateful they know it now and glad it served a very important purpose

Mike Ilczyszyn Guest Commentary

lights running We also provided needed supplies and offered fuel when they were running low. Cape Coral responded to fire rescue calls for service to Matlacha Isles and the rest of their district east of Matlacha for over three months poststorm

Directly after Hurricane Ian h i t , C a p e C o r a l a l l o w e d V e r i z o n t o u s e C i t y - o w n e d property to deploy a temporary cell tower to assist the United S t a t e s C o a s t G u a r d i n t h e i r cleanup efforts for Matlacha and we provided three Starlink s a t e l l i t e i n t e r n e t s y s t e m s t o assist them with communication efforts

Send address changes to the Pine Island Eagle Permit # 521

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question:

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

■ Yes 55%

■ No 17%

■ Poor water quality will be an ongoing issue 28%

Current Web

Poll Question:

What do you think of the state legislation banning most abortions past 6 weeks?

■ I support it

■ I think the 15-week ban is sufficient

■ Abortion should be legal

■ Abortion should be illegal

Share your opinion at pineisland-eagle com

From some reason it seems that when drivers make a left or right turn from Pine Island Road to Stringfellow Road they seem t o l o s e a l l d r i v e r s e n s e a n d e n t e r t h e “Stringfellow Effect ” The main symptoms are driving 10 miles slower than the posted speed limit and the unconscious desire to collect a long line of cars behind themselves This effect also extends to the lack of turn signal use and the general appearance of being naive tourists who are on a sightseeing trip and are so overcome by the “effect” that they are oblivious to the danger and problems they pose to others by their actions

It seems that a majority of those overcome by the “Stringfellow Effect” have out of state license plates and are only here a few months

For two months Cape Coral provided 6 72 million gallons of potable water to Greater Pine Island Water Association so it could be pumped to its customers 2 3 million gallons were supplied to island residents in October and another 4.42 million gallons were provided in November The city also provided wastewater disposal services to Lee County for Matlacha Isles These two essential services allowed our neighboring utilities the time needed to get back on their feet all while the residents had water to shower, clean and cook

Cape Coral repaired the Pine Island Fire Station 4 generator to keep the power and

out of the year I sure hope that the “effect” does not linger when they return to their hometown

Stringfellow is the main thoroughfare on Pine Island and everyone has to use the road whenever they venture out It is frustrating to be captured by those under the “Stringfellow Effect” and have no way out So if one is found to be under the “Stringfellow Effect,” do your best to snap out of it do the speed limit and realize that your actions effect many others Hopefully all of us can be strong and fight off the “Stringfellow Effect” and at the same time enjoy the island scenery and arrive safely at our destination Immune to the “Stringfellow Effect,”

Tom Ferguson St James City

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:

T h i s c o m m i t m e n t t o a s s i s t o u r i s l a n d neighbors in times of need comes from an understanding we are not strangers living next to each other We were and remain classmates We are business partners We are friends and family We are Lee County, Cape Coral and Pine Island/Matlacha Together we are stronger and together Cape Coral is committed to assisting when needed. Cape Coral appreciates the opportunity to be the best neighbor we can, and I hope you have a better understanding now on how we support you We are the kind of neighbor you want to have

Mike Ilczyszyn is Cape Coral's interim city manager

Thanks to all who made Moose Easter Fling a success

To the editor

I want to thank all those individuals, who worked so diligently to make the Easter Fling at the Pine Island Moose Club a tremendous success You are all angels! Love from all the children, the Easter Bunny and Ann Bokros Ann Kast St. James City

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

To the editor:

Branch Rickey, manager of the Dodgers, signed Jackie Robinson on April 10, 1950; integrating Black athletes into the big leagues 73 years ago When Don Drysdale pitched in game one of the 1965 World Series because Sandy Koufax refused to pitch on Yom Kippur, seven runs were given up in the first three innings, but the fans held their breath and hung in there Baseball, the American pastime, has had a proud place in innovating tolerance and cultural workplace changes

As robot technology invades the workplace, crashing cars in cities and downing planes from the sky, it should be no surprise that Artificial Intelligence will now call the game itself A human official will still stand behind the plate this season, but is only allowed to parrot the robot generated call in

PHOTO PROVIDED

Another successful community event was hosted by the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District This year's Easter Egg Hunt provided an opportunity for all islanders to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt, play games, receive toys, meet the Easter Bunny and much more. Kids collected more than 12,000 eggs and traded them in for toys and candy. The Fire District enjoys providing these events that bring joy to the island community, especially during these trying times as we all still recover.

Kindergarten registration underway at PIE, Step Up Day set

Pine Island Elementary School is registering all upcoming kindergarten students for the 2023-2024 school year If your child will be 5 years old by Sept 1, 2023, they are ready to start school Please stop by the school office to register them for kindergarten PIE staff encourages all new kindergarteners to be registered for school by May 1.

When registering your child for school, please bring the child’s birth certificate, proof of residence, driver’s license and current physical with Florida immunization records to Pine Island Elementary A Lee County School Registration Form will need to be completed also This form is located online at pie leeschools net or parents can stop by the school office to pick one up Once you have registered your child for school, P I E will contact you to schedule a kindergarten screener with your child on either May 10 or 11

PIE will also be hosting Step Up Day on May 26 from 9-9:45 a.m. on the school’s campus. Step Up Day offers incoming kindergarten students an opportunity to visit the school campus and classrooms to learn more about what to expect next year A welcome packet will be given to each child that attends this event

This is not a drop-off event Parents are required to attend with their child Please call the school to let us know if you plan to attend Step Up Day Administrators, teachers and staff hope to see you there!

If you have any questions about school registration or Step Up Day, please contact Rosie Perez at 239-2830505

Pine Island Elementary is located at 5360 Ridgewood Drive in Bokeelia, just east of The Center

Portion of Lavenders Landing boat ramp closed for repairs

The boat ramp lanes at Lavenders Landing, at 7290 Barrancas Ave , N W , Bokeelia, are partially closed for repairs

during this closure Please exercise caution and follow signage when using the ramp during repairs Pine Island-area boaters can also use the county’s n e a r b y r a m

p

For additional information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities and other special events, please visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275 or email leeparks@leegov com

M/PIFCD holds Easter Egg Hunt

May programs, activities set at Pine Island Public Library

Next month’s roster of activities at the Pine Island Public Library offers topics for all ages The following programs are free to the public

Adult Programs

Download Drop-In

3 p m , Thursdays, May 11, 25

Receive personalized help downloading e-books, movies, music and more from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, two of L e e C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m ’ s l a r g e s t online content providers Bring your fully charged digital device for this hands-on help session Note: Please bring any passwords you may need for downloading apps K indle us er s w ill als o need an Amazon account and their password for accessing it

Hot Mess Flower Painting

9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 13

We will be making flower paintings using a simple colorful dot work painting technique and floral stencils This fun craft is perfect for beginners Supplies will be provided Registration is required

Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help

3:30 p m , Thursday, May 18

Need help with a laptop, tablet or ereader? Are you looking to gain basic computer skills? We can help Bring your fully charged device and any passwords for a 15-minute, one-on-one technology session

Children’s Programs

Family Storytime

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 2

For ages up to 5 years and caregivers Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes and movement

My Gal & Me Tea Party

10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 9

Bring your favorite gal, wear your fanciest hat and join us as we celebrate mothers We will read stories, play games and make a craft Light tea party refreshments will be served

Literacy Fun at the Library

10:30 a m , Tuesday, May 16

Preschoolers will love practicing their letters and writing on the AquaDoodle mats along with other early literacy activities that support pre-writing skills

Teen Programs

Download Drop-In 3 p.m., Thursdays, May 11, 25

Receive personalized help downloading e-books, movies, music and more from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, two of L e e C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m ’ s l a r g e s t online content providers. Bring your fully charged digital device for this hands-on help session Note: Please bring any passwords you may need for downloading apps K indle us er s w ill als o need an Amazon account and their password for accessing it

Tech Thursdays: One-on-One Help

3:30 p m , Thursday, May 18

Need help with a laptop, tablet or ereader? Are you looking to gain basic computer skills? We can help. Bring your fully charged device and any passwords for a 15-minute, one-on-one technology session

T h e P i n e I s l a n d P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s l o c a t e d a t 1 0 7 0 1 R u s s e l l R o a d i n Bokeelia For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239- 533-4350 Check the Lee C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m ’ s w e b s i t e a t www leelibrary net to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239479-INFO (4636), for more information about a specific program

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

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities. To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate, contact Joan LaGuardia, 239-533-2314, F l o r i d a R e l a y S e r v i c e 7 1 1 , o r j l aguardia@leegov com Accommodation w i l l b e p r o v i d e d a t n o c o s t t o t h e requestor Requests should be made at least five business days in advance

Kiwanis Scholarship applications available

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island will again be providing scholarships to Pine Island students as it has for the past 40 years

To qualify, each student must meet the following criteria: Be a resident of Pine I s l a n d o r h a v e a t t e n d e d P i n e I s l a n d Elementary School The applicant must either be a senior in high school or a high school graduate either already in a post high school program or going to one The applicant must also need financial assistance

Application forms are available at the following locations: Century 21 Office, 10191 Stringfellow Road, St James City,

or Pine Island Public Library or it can be downloaded from the Kiwanis website: PineIslandKiwanis.org. The deadline for turning in the applications is May 3, 2023 at the Century 21 Office or they may be mailed (postmarked no later than May 3, 2023 to Scholarship Chairman, P O Box 111, St James City, FL 33956

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island is proud to offer scholarships every year to deserving island students who are furthering their education This is one of the many ways the club gives back to the community Please contact scholarship c o m m i t t e e c h a i r C a r l y n H e r r i n g 2 3 9850-9613 if you have any questions

Breeze Newspapers-sponsored 80’s Ladies Night set for May 18 at Palmetto-Pine Country Club in Cape

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Want to turn back the clock for an evening of fun, frills and fashion?

Breeze Newspapers will present 80’s Ladies Night on May 18 from 6-9 p m at Palmetto-Pine Country Club where all things retro are front and center

Attendees will be treated to an entertaining night of shopping, dancing, singing, hors d’oeuvres and drinks

“Who doesn’t love to remember a time in our lives that has great memories, and do it with friends?” said Breeze Newspapers Advertising Director Laurie Ragle “The music will be great, the food will be great and the line-up of vendors will make the shopping great.”

Attendees are encouraged to bring a pal for some “girl

karaoke, and door prizes

Attendees of the 80’s Ladies event will start off by receiving a swag bag of goodies from local businesses There will be lots of small bite foods as well as a cash bar. Each attendee gets a drink ticket with their entry.

One lucky attendee will go home with a three-day, two-night travel package, and a $100 gift card to a local business for the lady with the best ’80s attire

“Remember ’80s hair?” Ragle said “The higher the hair, the closer to god ”

Vendors at the event will include: Color Street Nails, Mary Kay, Your CBD Store, Pure Romance, Jenmar Skincare, Hotworx and Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa More vendors are being added daily

Matlacha Hookers From page 1

n e s s o r o r g a n i z a t i o n o n P i n e I s l a n d t h a t r e m a i n s untouched by the organization, Ruscik said

“Whether we’ve done a blood drive, or had a meeting at a business, when someone gives us a donation, how we pay them back is we go eat in their restaurants, we go shop in their stores and when we’re there, we find the manager and we let them know that If there’s an organization on this island that has not benefitted from the Matlacha Hookers, it’s only because we weren’t aware of the need

“We are a legit 501(c)3, which holds us to a higher standard, and by being a member of this organization, I

Relief funds From page 1

“We believe we have a much greater need and once we submit our action plan, we’ll be able to define that for them,” Ruane said

After all is said in done, Ruane said it would not surprise him to find the unmet needs for Lee County are, in

believe you are held to a higher standard in the community,” she continued “It’s not just a matter of pride and bragging rights and being able to wear a hook or saying 'Hey, I’m a hooker,' it’s the fact that our reputation has gotten well past our community We’ve been recognized by the state, by the Lee County foundation for public schools, by the Sheriff’s Department, by FEMA, by the American Red Cross, by the Fire Department. We’re held to a higher standard ”

Helping children is just one the ways the Matlacha Hookers organization has made itself a useful tool, as, in collaboration with The Pine Island Moose Club, the Elks,

reality, 10 times greater than what’s been awarded

The GPIA would like people to contact them who are currently affiliated with organizations and would like to be of assistance, as they are trying to fill committee positions for long-term recovery efforts

“If you have a business that caters to women, you can be a vendor but tables are running out so call soon,” Ragle said

Tickets are available at Brownpapertickets com by searching for “80’s Ladies ”

Tickets are $30 in advance until April 28; $35 from April 29 until May 17; and $40 at door on the day of the event

The Breeze also is welcoming a few more vendors to set up at the event Call Ragle at 239-574-3403 or send an email to lragle@breezenewspapers com for details

Palmetto-Pine Country Club is at 1940 Southwest 9th Court in Cape Coral

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad cj

Pine Island Kiwanis, Bobby Holloway and the American Legion, it has now sponsored a second child, Natalia Liano, to attend the STEM program this summer

On Sunday, May 21, the Children’s Derby will be held at Knight’s Landing, with the traditional Derby held the first Sunday in November Information on this will be forthcoming

If you’d like more information on the Matlacha Hookers women’s civic volunteer organization, please visit Matlachahookers org or email Matlacha Hookers at Matlachahookers org You can join online Membership dues are $20

“Whether you think you can be helpful or not, it’s always worth an email,” Sanderson said

The Greater Pine Island Alliance can be contacted at Team@GPIAlliance org

Tarpon season has arrived in Southwest Florida

After much needed rain e a r l y i n t h e w e e k , t h e w e a t h e r s e t t l e d d o w n allowing for favorable fishing conditions

Chances of hooking a t a r p o n w e r e g o o d a c r o s s our coastal waters as fish are moving into our waters each day Pods of tarpon a r r i v e d i n B o c a G r a n d e Pass with live crabs, pinfish a n d s a n d p e r c h t h e t o p baits In Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, tarpon were jumped on live t h r e a d h e r r i n g , p i l c h a r d s , ladyfish and a variety of oily cut bait

Capt. Bill Russell On the Water

Several tarpon were also hooked for a short time by anglers fishing seatrout over 5 to 7-foot grass flats in the Sound

Seatrout fishing was consistent across the inshore waters Those looking for a fish dinner often limited out with fat trout measuring from 16 to 19 inches Baits varied from small pinfish, pilchards and live shrimp to Slam Shady’s in paddle tail and jerk shad, plus Gulp Shrimp. Look for

trout along transition areas where shallow bars lead to d e e p e r g r a s s b o t t o m w i t h good tide movement Trout m e a s u r i n g o v e r 2 0 i n c h e s were hooked targeting snook and redfish along shorelines and oyster bars

For many, the snook bite was slow over the morning and picked up as the day progressed Kayak anglers found snook along with a few redfish and seatrout fishing out of Pineland Most fish were hooked working baits around the perimeter of sand holes and sandy island points. Live shrimp and a variety of artificials were top baits A few s n o o k m i x e d w i t h j a c k c r e v a l l e a n d seatrout were caught along shorelines in north Matlacha Pass over the incoming tide

Mahjongg play

Thursday from 1-4 p m

O f f s h o r e , l a r g e l a n e s n a p p e r w e r e caught from 50 to 60-foot depths and keeper-size red grouper were brought up from 70 to 90-foot depths Barracuda, g o l i a t h g r o u p e r , m a c k e r e l a n d p e r m i t were found over artificial reefs in depths from 30-50 feet off the coast

Island Mahjongg

Rasmussen with 80 and Tom Kopec and Melanie Giangrant with 60 each

T h e S J C C A i s l o c a t e d a t F o u r t h Avenue and Lemon Street in St James City Come join the fun

Look

To keep up on current fishing regulations, you can go to www myfwc comor download the Fish Rules app for the latest rules and regulations

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www fishpine island com; or via email at gcl2fish@ live com

Have a safe week and good fishin’

As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters a r o u n d P i n e I s l a n d a n d S o u t h w e s t Florida, and as a p r o f e s s i o n a l fishing guide for t h e p a s t 2 3 years

PHOTO PROVIDED

of Pineland's Tarpon Lodge.

Landscape hurricane recovery topic at Garden Club meeting

This Thursday, April 20, the Pine Island Garden Club, at its monthly meeting beginning at 9 a m at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, will host Mariana

P a r d o w i t h h e r p r e s e n t a t i o n o n “ F l o r i d a F r i e n d l y

Landscaping – Hurricane Ian Recovery ”

Pardo's recommendations will likely serve as a guideline for island recovery efforts Retiring to Sanibel from the Metro DC area in 2020, she earned Florida Master Gardener status, has become active in various island

From page 4

her ear-jack from clever technology. Perhaps next year the performative job will be removed altogether, and the

Vegetation Advisory Committee

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 and the butterfly garden at the Pine Island Elementary

Letters to the Editor

electronic scoreboard can simply declare the information on balls and strikes It will be futile and unsatisfying to boo the scoreboard

Public attendance at the games is down year over year

School. It produces the annual Garden Gala, the proceeds from which are utilized to financially support several island benevolent organizations, such as the Beacon o f H o p e , C a

Children’s Park and the Pine Island Food Pantry

For more information, visit pineislandgardenclub org or contact Marty Kendall at 239-283-8175

this century, so the major leagues have added a clock to speed up the baseball workers and are replacing the umpires with robot technology The fans’ short attention spans is credited as requiring this workplace speed up Wages for players have dropped from 1990 average annual pay of baseball $597,537 to a post employer lock out in 2023 of a minimum annual wage of $563,500 Some kids still say they want to be, when they grow up a sports hero; but fewer than before The glamour and allure of a high salary are available in other entertainment venues A pastime that does not cultivate an interest from the community youth may lack a future

Maybe the wresting of control away from players and making the workers more expendable and cheaper are not crowd- pleasing enticements the MLB public relations firm would have us believe Perhaps the charm of the game was in something other than getting it done quickly, and the sanitized performance of a machine’s function The poetry of a catch by Willie Mayes and his humanity in embracing an injured player from another team, might not be something that can be programed?

My guess is that the game, without the controversy of the human element, may be merely more brusk and efficient I have a suspicion that what gave the game it's grandeur in our culture may be missed in the ghosting by a machine

Starbird

Cat of the Week

PHOTO PROVIDED Ar thur

This handsome boy is hoping to be the center of your world Arthur was very scared when he first came to us, but time and kindness have turned him into a lap cat He enjoys foll o w i n g t h e v o l u n t e e r s a r o u n d , b u t t h e moment a lap is available, he’s in it. Arthur prefers to be petted on his head, which makes us curious about his history and if someone hurt him. He’s approximately 2 years old and is hoping to be your best friend. For more i n f o r m a t i o n c a l l H e l p i n g P a w s A n i m a l Sanctuary at 239-283-9100 If you’d rather just d o n a t e , o u r a d d r e s s i s 1 0 0 6 0 M a l l o r y Parkway, E , Unit D, St James City, FL, 33956 or there’s always our website: www helpingpawsanimalsanctuary com

Ellen

Cape Coral

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes of the Week

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

Sponsored by:

Elks sponsoring children for Youth Camp

The Greater Pine Island Elks #2781 will once again sponsor area children ages 9 through 13 to attend the Florida Elks Youth Camp in scenic, Umatilla, Fla All children are welcome!

The island lodge has 11 scholarships for children to enjoy a week of housing in the modern, air-conditioned cabins; meals; swimming; canoeing; aquatic center; campfires; arts and crafts; a rope course; and lots of fun, exercise and fresh air To register a child, simply utilize the online application at floridaelks.org/camp. A Greater Pine Island Elk will supply their name and member number as the child’s sponsor

The stated weekly cost per child is $220 Those who can afford this reasonable fee are urged to pay; those who cannot will be afforded the same opportunity It is through the generosity of the Florida Elks Association, the Greater Pine Island #2781 and donations from members that tuition-free scholarships are made possible for

campers

The Florida Elks Youth Camp is dedicated to enriching the lives of children from the state of Florida The mission is to mold the current generation of youth into adults The camp’s motto is to “inspire, connect and expand ” Kids are inspired through the quality of the facility, staff and programming Without electronics, they help kids build connections between themselves and their peers, counselors and nature Through all this, the campers have the opportunity to expand their compassion for others, their own self-confidence and their ability and desire to make an impact on the world around them

The camp staff presents a safe camp experience that contributes to each camper’s mental, physical and social growth

The Florida Elks Youth Camp, a project of the Florida State Elks Association, is located on 405 acres

of rolling hills, forests, lakes and open space in Marion County It is a unique camping experience for 7 weeks during the summer Camp sessions last from Sunday afternoon to Saturday morning and provide campers with housing, food and, of course, tons of fun!

The Florida Elks are proud that the camp is accredited by the American Camping Association and is re-certified every three years to insure compliance and a safe camping environment for children

Wish to take a virtual tour of the camp? Further inform a t i o n , v i d e o s a n d p i c t u r e s c a n b e f o u n d at www feyc org

The camp schedule is Session 1: June 11–17; Session 2: June 18-24; Session 3: June 25–July 1; Session 4: July 2–8; Session 5: July 9–15; and Session 6: July 16–22

Have any questions? Please call 425-346-7226 or email gpielks@outlook com

Pine Island Democrats to meet May 6 at the library

10702 Russell Road, Bokeelia Sue Dahod, member of the Charlotte Harbor Estuaries Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Network (of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection), will

Lee Health Bloodmobile to visit Pine Island

Moose Lodge April 22

health Regularly donating blood helps men in particular to reduce the amount of iron in the blood This can reduce the c h a n c e o f h e a r t a t t a c k b y 8 8 % Additionally, regular blood donation can lower the risk of severe cardiovascular events such as stroke by 33% You also burn 650 calories! It's a win-win!

R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r d o n a t i n g b l o o d : weigh at least 115 pounds, be at least 16 years old (16 requires parental written consent), be relatively healthy, provide photo ID and ave 56 days between donations

Eat a meal before donating blood and be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after donation

Questions about donating? Call us at 29-343-2333

Gulf Coast Writers Association and Alliance of the Arts collecting stories about local Hurricane Ian experiences

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc, and the Alliance for the Arts are working together to help the community share their Hurricane Ian experience either through an oral, or written story, which will be shared during the one year anniversary this September

Mary Charles with Gulf Coast Writers Association, Inc, said when she was meeting with her association, she mentioned she wanted to do something regarding Hurricane Ian

“I began to write about it for my own therapy,” she said, which led her to asking the other members if there was any interest in putting it out to the public to collect stories “I learned almost immediately that the Alliance for the Arts had a similar initiative ”

Gulf Coast Writers Association and the Alliance for the Arts decided to collaborate Both would harvest the stories, with one being verbal stories and the other written

“Our job would be to put together an actual book We would collect the stories and publish a book in time for the anniversary,” Charles said “We said let us be responsible for the printed book ”

Those who would like to provide an oral submission can call 239-744-3047,

a line dedicated to the project by the Alliance for the Arts, and leave a threeminute story anonymously If more time is needed, the storyteller can call back and continue The oral submissions will continue to be collected past the written deadline The Alliance also has an online form at https://www artinlee org/stormstories/

Both the published book and oral subm i s s i o n s w i l l b e s h o w c a s e d d u r i n g a month-long exhibit, and listening booth, a t t h e A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s d u r i n g September In addition, artworks inspired by Hurricane Ian will be featured by F l o r i d a a r t i s t s a n d d o c u m e n t a r y - s t y l e photography by Kinfay Moroti

Charles said so far they have received a dozen stories, with some in poetry form S h e s a i d s o m e a r e r e a l l y d r a m a t i c accounts individuals with water up to their necks in their homes, not knowing if the water was going to continue to climb Another story was from seasonal residents who were away when the hurricane hit, which offered a different perspective as they learned about the impact through the internet and on TV during the storm

“We have a few dozen We want a few dozen more,” Charles said

The book is intended to provide an opportunity for people who experienced Hurricane Ian to share their experience, while becoming published writers as a

result of having written their stories

“Everybody has the opportunity to tell their story and have it published in some form Gulf Writers will have a committee to look at each story and help by offering editing advice We will back them up with the editing and that makes people feel a little more comfortable,” Charles said

There are no fees, age restrictions, or a word count limit to participate Submissions should be made at www gulfwriters.org by April 30.

“We just want people to tell as much as they are willing to and feel comfortable telling and sharing it with their immediate neighbors and county and maybe further,” Charles said

Although six months have passed since Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction,

the impact is still very close to the surface f o r m a n y T h i s w a s a p p a r e n t w h e n Charles conducted a memoir workshop in her community, leaving many sharing their stories still in tears

“People need to get it out,” Charles said “As important as getting published, (it's about) getting it out All of this has really been stressful for so many people Getting it down on paper, or doing a three-minute barf, I hope it will be therapeutic.”

Charles said she has extended an invitation to other writer groups around the state to also put together a book with public submissions, as Hurricane Ian damage went beyond Southwest Florida

Those who have questions can email Charles at mary@marycharles com

American Legion Post 136 accepting scholarship applications; deadline May 16

attending 2 or 4-year programs, colleges, technical or trade schools Some time exemptions may apply to technical and trade schools that are accredited

American Legion Post 136, SAL member at Post 136 or Auxiliary member at Post 136, you qualify to apply for scholarships offered by the post

The Legion is interested in students

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