Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Mark Morris, commercial broker Cape Coral’s business community comes out against pause on permits as city looks to study possible land code changes

“My client is well-established, well-funded, national developer You are all trying and begging for national developers to come in here and build commercial They are prepared to put $12 million into the City of Cape Coral. I advise you all to be careful of the signal you send to national developers. The signal you are sending to national developers right now with potential moratorium could be devastating.”

World champion!

North Fort Myers woman freestyle Irish Dance champ

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A North Fort Myers resident has been crowned the World Champion f o r f r e e s t y l e I r i s h D a n c e i n Glasgow, Scotland

“ O h , m y g o o d n e s s , ” s a i d Meagan Urbanek “It was so surreal Being World Champion is something every dancer dreams of To win that title was so amazing All the work so hard day in and day out to get that was a dream ”

T h e W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p , which features dancers from around the globe, is organized by a recognized governing body of competitive Irish Dancing It was founded in 1903 The freestyle category was introduced in 2023 by Michael Flatley

For about two months leading up to the worlds, Urbanek lived in Dublin, which she said was “super cool” as the Irish dance community is so vast overseas, compared to what it is in the states.

U r b a n e k s a i d t h e r e a r e f o u r majors yearly that she competes in

See CHAMPION, page 39

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Meagan Urbanek choreographed a minute-and-a-half routine for a freestyle Irish Dance in Glasgow, Scotland where she was crowned the World Champion /PHOTO PROVIDED

C o r a l w o o d M a l l “ A l t h o u g h t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s o n g oi n g , w e t h o u g h t i t w a s i m p o r t a n t t o s h a r e t h i s p

Christopher D. Horne

9 arrested in multi-agency investigation

Drugs, cash, weapons seized following months-long undercover NETFORCE operation

B y M E G H A N B R A D B U RY

n e w s @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m

A f t e r w e e k s o f e x t e n s i v e s u r v e i l l a n c e a n d i n v e s t i g at i o n , n i n e p e o p l e w e r e a r r e s t e d i n a n u n d e r c o v e r o p e r at i o n b y t h e S t a t e A t t o r n e y ’ s O f f i c e N a r c o t i c s E n f o r c e m e n t T a s k F o r c e t h a t t a r g e t e d d r u g t r a f f i c k e r s

A p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e w a s h e l d a t t h e L e e C o u n t y P o r t

“To any drug trafficker out there, your days of profiting from the misery of others will end under our leadership. We will expose your criminal enterprises and we will bring you to justice. We will dismantle your networks and seize your assets Your choice of making a living profiting off the misery of others will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law ”

State Attorney Amira Fox

F o r t M y e r s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t , C a p e C o r a l P o l i c e

C o u n t y w i t h a f o c u s o n d i s r u p t i n g t h e d r u g t r a f f i c k i n g

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c o n s p i r a c y t o t r a f f i c m e t h , o n e c o u n t i n c o n s p i r a c y t o t r a f f i c M D M A a n d o n e c o u n t i n c o n s p i r a c y o f c o c a i n e

w i t h t h e i n t e n t t o s e l l w i t h i n 1 , 0 0 0 f e e t o f a s c h o o l , ”

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D e p a r t m e n t , L e e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e , C o l l i e r

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w o m e n w h o w o r k e d o n t h e c a s e . “ T h e s e a r e v e r y l o n g h o u r s Y o u w o r k t h e s a m e t i m e

a s n a r c o t i c s d e a l e r s , ” h e s a i d “ T h e r e i s a g r e a t s a c r i f i c e

a n d d a n g e r i n v o l v e d w i t h i t I t i s v e r y v a l i d w o r k t h a t t h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n p u t t h e i r l i v e s o n t h e l i n e f o r o u r c o m m u n i t y T h e y p u t t h e b o o t s o n t h e g r o u n d t o m a k e t h i s w o r k ” S h e r i f f C a r m i n e M a r c e n o s a i d “ p r o u d ” i s a n u n d e rs t a t e m e n t o f w h a t N E T F O R C E w a s a b l e t o d o “ E v e r y t i m e w e t a k e d r u g s o f f t h e s t r e e t w e s a v e l i v e s I t i s o u r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o h e l p t h o s e w h o h a v e a d d i c t i o n s a n d i n c a r c e r a t e t h o s e t h a t p r e y o n t h a t a d d i ct i o n , ” h e s a i d “ I t i s n o t i f w e a r e g o i n g t o c a t c h y o u , i t i s w h e n W e h a v e z e r o t o l e r a n c e T h e g r e a t r e s i d e n t s o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a d e s e r v e t o l i v e i n a s a f e a n d s e c u r e l a w a n d o r d e r e n v i r o n m e n t T o d a y i s a h u g e w i n A b i g w i n t o d a y ” F o x s a i d t h e y a r e s o i n c r e d i b l y p r o u d o f t h i s t a s k f o r c e a n d t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h i s t h e f o u r t h o p e r a t i o n c o n d u c t e d s i n c e N E T F O R C E w a s c r e a t e d T h e a m o u n t o f f e n t a n y l a l o n e s e i z e d d u r i n g t h e f o u r o p e r a t i o n s i s e n o u g h t o k i l l 2 8 m i l l i o n p e o p l e , s h e s a i d “ I w a n t t o e c h o m y a p p r e c i a t i o n t o t h e m e n a n d w o m e n o f l a w e n f o r c e m e n t Y o u a r e t h e o n e s a c t u a l l y o u t t h e r e r i s k i n g y o u r l i v e s i n t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s , ” F o x s a i d “ T h e y w o r k s o h a r d a n d i n s u c h d i f f i c u l t h o u r s a n d I s e e i t f i r s t h a n d w h e n I r u n t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s w i t h t h e m ” S h e s a i d w i t h a l l o f t h e m s t a n d i n g t o g e t h e r t h e y w i l l n o t t o l e r a t e t h e d e s t r u c t i o n c a u s e d b y d r u g d e a l i n g a n d d r u g t r a f f i c ki n g “ T o a n y d r u g t r a f f i c k e r o u t t h e r e , y o u r d a y s o f p r o f i t i n g f r o m t h e m i s e r y o f o t h e r s w i l l e n d u n d e r o u r l e a d e r s h i p , ” F o x s a i d . “ W e w i l l e x p

In Memory of the Cape Coral Yacht Club 1962-2024

The closed Ballroom may have been tarnished with signs of its impending fate nailed to its walls, the fountain may have been gutted to its bowels of pipes, but for the dozen or so Cape kids, Cape pioneers and others who attended the “In Memory of the Cape Coral Yacht Club” service Friday, the ceremony was about the memories of a lifetime

Childhood swimming lessons and fishing off the pier

Splashing in the river and picnics on the sand

Prom parties, weddings, celebrations of every sort all of the milestones of youth, of glory days, of glorious times past

All gone in a dash as memorialized by the poet Linda Ellis, whose work inspired the cover of the last invitation for the last event at the last remaining symbol of old Cape Coral, set for demolition by month’s end

“The Dash poem, by Linda Ellis, speaks to the value of the ‘Dash’ that is between birth and passing. We celebrate the date of birth and mourn the date of passing But what matters the most is the dash between those years The Yacht Club’s dash represents the time spent alive, entertaining and working for the community of Cape Coral Its dash may have only lasted 60 years, but those 60 years leave a legacy to remember, cherish, and savor,” the memorial keepsake reads

The intentionally small farewell was opened by former Cape Coral City Council member Gloria Tate, whose family was among the first to move to Cape Coral when the “waterfront wonderland” that now is the biggest city between Tampa and Miami was in its infancy

Those invited agreed the adieu was to be “honorable and respectful ”

And that is what it was from the speakers who shared their lives’ moments; to the hanging of a memorial wreath on wellweathered palms; to the last, the final, group sing-a-long which featured Bill Medley’s and Jennifer Warnes’ “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life ”

Those who spoke acknowledged that progress is not a bad thing

It is, though, sometimes a sad thing, especially for those who see the beauty in things buffed to a patina of lives lived,

This week’s poll question:

Should the Cape Coral City change its regular meeting time to mornings?

∫ Yes

∫ No

Vote at capecoralbreeze com

Previous poll question

Should the Cape Coral City Charter be amended to allow City Council set its salary by ordinance?

∫ Yes 6%

∫ No 94%

* Total votes as of press time: 110 votes Poll

Kudos and congratulations!

As we embark on this last quarter I want to welcome Dr Ken Savage back to the role of superintendent He served this district well during the last transitionary period and I am confident he will provide our students and staff stability in the months ahead while laying the groundwork for an elected superintendent in November

We also have so many wonderful things to reflect upon this school year New school projects are already under way We have so much excitement surrounding our spring sports Not to mention the amazing educators that have been presented the Golden Apple Award for excellence in their profession

As many board members have previously stated, we have seen exponential growth within our district To accommodate the approximately 12,000 new seats needed we have several projects in our near future Many of these schools needed are in our East Zone I would like to congratulate our newest schools, Amanecer Elementary and Lemuel Teal Middle, as they wrap up their inaugural year Under amazing leadership, the students in these two schools have soared

This year we made history by adding Girl’s Flag Football to the spring schedule This sport has taken off and I am proud to say many of these young women have never been a part of team sport until now. A huge congratulations to the schools that won their District title in our winter sports programs and I am confident we will have several more banners hanging in our gyms and on our field come the end of spring

High School Winter Sports District

Champions include:

n Boys Basketball: Gateway and Mariner

n Girls Basketball: Gateway High School

n Boys Soccer: Mariner and Fort Myers

n Girls Soccer: Mariner and Fort Myers

n Girls Weightlifting: Fort Myers in both Olympic and Traditional

Last but certainly not least, Congratulations to all of our Golden Apple Finalists All of these men and women have shown tremendous strength and passion for what they do inside our classroom walls Congratulations to our Golden Apple winners!

n Sarah Thornburg- Cypress Lake High School District of Lee County

n Jessica Lisi- Tanglewood Elementary

n Christie Bartz- Pine Island Elementary

n Jil Klausing- Dunbar High School

n Michelle Smith- Lehigh Senior High

n Sara Kizzire- Lehigh Senior High

Before closing, I would like to say thank you to all of our educators, bus drivers, support professionals and administrators What you do each day is appreciated and you are valued Keep an eye out next month It’s my favorite month in the world of Education Teacher Appreciation week is right around the corner Hug a Teacher!

Jada Langford Fleming represents District 6 on the Lee County School Board

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mor ning meetings times exclude Cape’s working residents

To the editor:

I address the following to the Cape Coral City Council: Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,

I’m writing to respectfully ask that you please reconsider the decision made at the Wednesday, April 10th Committee of the Whole meeting to move Regular City Council Meetings from 4:30 p m to 9 a m

While I understand the reasons provided by the members who supported this change, I strongly believe the public benefit and opportunity for in-person engagement FAR outweighs the arguments that “city business should be done during business hours” and “evening meetings require staff to stay long hours ”

The extra hours have always been part of the job for salaried employees, and supervisors can find better solutions such as flexing schedules if needed

Impact on Large Groups of Residents Based on Job Flexibility:

The opportunity for entire occupational sectors to attend and provide in-person input will effectively be stifled by this change of meeting time to 9 a m for Regular City Council Meetings

Here are a few job categories that come to mind immediately (but MANY more with normal working hours that are generally inflexible will be impacted):

Educators

City and County workers

First Responders who work day shifts

Healthcare workers who work day shifts

In order for teachers to attend morning Regular Council Meetings, for example, they would need to take time off work and potentially use paid personal/sick time Most teachers will opt not to do this simply because of the work required to prepare lesson plans for a substitute let alone the very real outof-pocket cost of having to use a personal day in order to participate in-person at Council meetings

What about City of Cape Coral staff or first responders who want to show strength in numbers by attending in-person or have the benefit of speaking in-person when issues such as compensation and other items that impact them are on the agenda? Physical presence often has a very real impact

Will City of Cape Coral staff and first responders be able

to attend morning Council meetings and flex their schedules without effectively paying out of pocket by using paid time off?

Most of the time, work logistics simply don’t allow for this (e g , first responders likely won’t have coverage available to take their shifts, so flexing work schedules would be a nonstarter)

Even those who do have the ability to flex their schedule with supervisor approval may feel uncomfortable attending morning meetings “as a citizen” during normal work hours

Many observers will (unfairly) say, “Shouldn’t they be at work?”

The Council represents regular working people who should have a chance to attend Regular City Council Meetings in-person if they so choose With a 9 a m start, the vast majority of these folks will find it very difficult to participate.

I urge you to please reconsider and bring this topic back up for discussion again at the April 24th Committee of the Whole meeting

Respectfully,

Charlie Pease Cape Coral

City should prioritize seawall protection

To the editor:

Several years ago many residents lost their seawall due to hurricane flooding Our council was very concerned about the loss of these seawalls and the fact that there was no insurance coverage for seawalls This city’s most advertised selling point is our many canals and access two the Gulf of Mexico The then-council was to look into helping residents who lost those seawalls and coming up with a solution to fix these seawalls

Many years have passed with no mention of any protection plan for our seawalls Our neighboring city of Punta Gorda has a plan to repair the seawalls, and our council was to look into seawall protection Years have passed with no mention of the city’s findings about this Punta Gorda idea I feel the city is more concerned with storage and car wash establishment than one of the city’s gems, canals!

Cape Coral Council, please find some solution to our canal systems that are slowly deteriorating and becoming a financial unwanted burden on homeowners I do not know how

Jada Langford Fleming Guest

From page 4

many seawalls were affected by the latest hurricane, Ian, but it’s time to address this problem before it gets worse

Gary

Bongers

Cape Coral

Citizen suggestions for Yacht Club, golf course, hailed

To the editor:

I read the Letters to the Editor last week

The letter from Ken Kendrick was such a thought-out solution to what the city should be doing with both the Yacht Club and the Golf Course I do not know Ken Kendrick but he has a solution that I would definitely support.

Thank you

Mr Kendrick for your insight and a solution

I feel the entire city would support 100% The letter should be reprinted in The Breeze for all to read again

David Hulsey Cape Coral

Kamikaze Council

To the editor:

Our city website contains approximately one year of council meetings and documents We can’t look back to see how Council has governed and how our hard-earned money is being squandered. We won’t know who acted on our behalf, except for one year Should this and other deceptive practices continue, the public will see a corrupt organization, not individual Council members

Fort Myers’ website includes videos and documents from 2019; Bonita Springs, 2015; Port St Lucie, 2019, North Port, 2014; Venice, 2013 and Sanibel, 1974

Our utility rates, impact fees, the stipend and salaries were determined by using data from other municipalities, some of which are above Consultants gather data from other municipalities to generate studies that justify increases in taxes, fees and other charges If cyber security is a problem why not retain consultants to bring us into compliance and help our city clerk ? Or is there something Council and/or staff doesn’t want us to see?

Voters will push back in 2024 and 2026 I intend to use any legal means necessary to defeat any referendum that codifies Council’s illegitimate stipend, no matter how it’s framed

Apparently, Council doesn’t want working people at the meetings Why else would Council consider 9 a m meetings, a draconian move? Why not charge $100 admission and keep the “pesky residents” away? This appears to be another selfinflicted wound, like the stipend, destroying the Yacht Club and Jaycee Park Council shoots itself in both feet while implying, through rule changes, it’s the residents fault

Good luck in November.

John Sullivan Former mayor Cape Coral

Economic impact of dir ty water

To the editor:

One million acres of Florida’s estuaries are polluted; 9,000 miles of our recreational waters are polluted; 80% of

our natural springs are polluted Every year we have toxic red tide that causes people to have severe allergies, coughing, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms

Additionally, the marine life our community and state rely on so heavily for tourism revenue suffers from blue green algae growth that shades their habitat and prevents them from flourishing during warmer months.

According to a study performed by Greene Economics LLC and published Dec 20, 2023, if Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties experience another harmful algae bloom of a scale similar to that of 2005/06 and 2018, our area would lose over $460 million in commercial and recreational fishing, over 43,000 jobs, $5 2 billion in economic output, $17 8 billion in property values and a resulting $60 million in tax revenue, and $8 1 billion in value from outdoor recreation

The economic health of our community is at risk! We must act now by taking immediate action!

Please go to this website to make a donation and or obtain a petition, sign it and mail it in: https://www floridarighttocleanwater org/donate The Florida Right to Clean Waters is seeking to hold those contributing to the pollution accountable for cleaning it up so taxpayers don’t end up footing the bill We can no longer afford to ignore this issue!

Whitney Taylor Cape Coral

Names are not always what they seem

To the editor:

Names are not always what they seem? Names are sometimes the easiest way to attract people who do not evaluate what they hear

Black Lives Matter is a fabulous name. How can anyone not like it and be drawn to it? But then you see what that organization does and you gasp Various reports show where BLM protests show up, there may be fewer police incidents but the community murder rate increases The name really should be PLDM for Police Lives Don’t Matter Three officers in Houston are ambushed and killed How many people even know about that?

Another name that sounds good is Reproductive Health, often used by pro-abortionists I wonder whose health is involved! Certainly not the life of the unborn baby They are being aborted at the rate of about 1 million per year just in America. The mother’s health is rarely involved. A Csection will take care of most health issues of the mother There is controversy about how to handle some very difficult and very few health issues, but that doesn’t justify killing 1 million unborn babies By the way, 2 million people want to adopt a baby One could say, they want to save a baby

Face it, abortion is a whoops-almost-too-late-contraceptive Should an unborn baby die because of a mistake in protecting one from pregnancy? Many people have unexpected pregnancies and accept it as a blessing in the long run So many times, one considers abortion, chooses life and is absolutely delighted with the person that she births. Abortion kills that possibility.

“Racists” is another strong word that one is drawn to accept but it has become more of a political statement Our cities are full of crime today and the same politicians are voted in each time One of their primary slogans is that Republicans are racist To illustrate the intelligence of the voter, there are few Republicans or Republican candidates

in the cities The term could more appropriately be said of the other party whose policies have resulted in crime and lack of achievement

Always look beyond the name It might only be a twisted advertisement unlike this letter which I will call a revelation

John Benedict Cape Coral

Don’t leave your pet in the car

To the editor:

While most Floridians are excited to see temperatures in the 80s, warm weather means that we must be more vigilant about watching for dogs left in hot cars Recently, I heard yelping and whining in a store parking lot and followed the sound to discover a black dog left alone in an SUV I found the owner, who said that his dog was fine because the windows were cracked and he had only been gone a few minutes but his mistake could’ve been deadly for his dog.

On a 70-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 99 degrees in just 20 minutes Leaving the windows cracked or parking in the shade makes almost no difference It takes only a few minutes for dogs to sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke Some dogs have turned off the car’s air conditioning or locked their guardians out It just isn’t worth the risk

If you see a dog left in a car, have the owner paged at the nearest stores, and call authorities if they don’t return Keep watch over the dog for signs of heatstroke, including heavy panting, heavy salivation, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and vomiting If authorities are slow to respond and the dog appears to be in danger, Florida has a “Good Samaritan” law that protects any citizen who breaks a car window to save an animal’s life

Michelle Reynolds

North

Port

A senior writer for the PETA Foundation

Gov. DeSantis said no

To the editor:

Many Floridians are still recovering and trying to rebuild after Hurricane Ian The Inflation Reduction Act had allotted $346 million to Florida in rebates for energy efficient improvements and appliance improvements, Gov. DeSantis rejected this funding and he also rejected $24 million to update rural waste water systems

The Department of Energy will give these funds to other states to help their people if the money if not allocated by Florida by August Why would our governor make a seemingly irrational decision?

Electrical wiring, heat pumps, solar windows and energy saving appliances could all qualify rebates issued to their buyers

Wake up, fellow Floridians! Why are we are not making this a big deal about Gov DeSantis turning away funding supported by President Biden and Congress?

Other state governors are welcoming this funding but not Florida

Anything the current administration proposes regardless of how much his opposition harms Florida residents It’s pretty clear that our governor is looking out primarily for himself

Kathleen Callard, RNBS North Fort Myers

Editorial: Final farewell to the home of many memories, the Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club

From page 1

of times enjoyed

What will replace the old Yacht & Racquet Club, built by community founders/developers Leonard and Jack Rosen as a free-membership amenity enjoyed first by the 2,000 or so new homeowners then living here and the thousands upon thousands who followed?

A brand-new resort-style “destination” with a Key West vibe

A two-story, 47,000-square-foot community center to replace the mid-Century ballroom, two resort-style pools, new piers, and a four-story parking garage

The beach will be retained and expanded, the yacht basin and marina will be upgraded and improved, the boat ramp will be moved and more trailer parking will be provided

Another restaurant with an outdoor dining deck will join the Boathouse, a relatively new addition to the complex via a public-private partnership and the only structure that will escape the wrecking claw this month

The cost has not yet been determined but has been estimated as high as $110 million with funding to come, possibly, from revenue bonds

The city also is exploring additional public-private partnerships, an arrangement or arrangements that could help offset some of

the construction and/or operational costs

Will the new Yacht Club be a “destination,” a place that draws residents and visitors?

It will be

Of that we have no doubt

Will it be a place to make memories

It will be

Of that we have no doubt

Will it be a low-cost, no-cost, sunny afternoon place replete with rods and reels, beach chairs and sand shovels, picnic food from home, swim lessons and teen gatherings?

Not so much

Probably not at all

Revenue bond financing and public-pri-

vate partnerships bring with them a pay-toplay dynamic as revenue bonds require, well, revenue, to pay back the loans and the private sector half of any “P3” needs to not only make money but to make enough to hand over a share to the city

That is the price of progress

That is the price of growing from a carved-from-pasture-land community to a small town, to grow from the city we are today to the city we will be tomorrow

The taste of progress?

It is bittersweet

Burrowing Owl Photo Contest now accepting entries

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Enjoy capturing photos of wildlife or can’t get enough of the city’s official bird?

The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is now accepting entries for its fourth annual Burrowing Owl Photo Contest

The non-profit organization committed to protecting the city’s wildlife is looking for the best the public has to offer when it comes to pictures of the city’s official bird

The photo contest submissions need to in by May 10, and the grand prize winner will have their photo used on CCFW’s 2025 official burrowing owl festival Tshirt

“We know a lot of photographers are also wildlife lovers, so this photo contest provides a forum for photographers to share their favorite pictures of burrowing owls, and to share the love of nature,” said CCFW spokesperson Janet Windisch “It’s a great opportunity for both photographers and the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife ”

There are two division categories for the contest: amateur youth (7 to 17) and amateur adult No professional photographer can enter the contest

Participants may submit just one photo, and are permitted to the following: crop; make minor adjustments to color, white balance, lighting levels and curves, shadows and highlight, saturation, contrast, sharpness; moderate dodging and burning; removal of dust sports and moderate reduction of image noise

Photographs that have been digitally or otherwise altered beyond standard optimization will be disqualified

Last year, CCFW received more than

Burrowing owls are the city of Cape Coral’s official bird and a favorite for photographers The Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife wants your best shot and is now accepting entries for its fourth annual Burrowing Owl Photo Contest.

100 submissions, and always looks forward to seeing the different ways the city’s favorite bird is captured

“It’s amazing to see the great poses, and the interesting thing is being able to see behavior that you don’t even think about,” Windisch said “The way they spread their wings -- sometimes they groom each other Sometimes you’ll see a family of chicks all

lined up It’s really interesting to see ”

Judging will be conducted by a CCFWappointed panel that includes expert photographers Judges will score eligible photographs on technical quality (30%), originality (30%), and artistic merit (40%)

A final group of pictures will be passed along to the final judges who are Cape C o r a l M a y o r J o h n G u n t e r , N B C 2

Meteorologist Rob Duns, and last year’s photo contest winner, Dr Christopher Robbin

There will be first, second, and third place prizes given to the highest-scoring photograph from the adult division and youth division No entrant may win more than one prize Prizes include CCFW swag and a 1-year membership to the group

“Our youth category is a great opportunity for youngsters to share their photos a n d g e t o u t s i d e a n d e n j o y n a t u r e , ”

Windisch said “Last year’s youth winner took a picture of two little owls peeking out of their burrow Which was so cute, and really appropriate for Ground Owl Day (the city’s take on Groundhog Day) ”

CCFW encourages every photographer to practice responsible bird photography

Prior to submitting any photograph, participants are strongly encouraged to read A u d u b o n ’ s G u i d e t o E t h i c a l B i r d

Photography and Videography A photograph that appears to the sponsor or judges to reflect a harmful situation is not eligible for submission, and if submitted, will be disqualified at CCFW’s sole discretion

Winners will be announced by ABC7

Weekend Morning Meteorologist Jesslyn Ferentz at the Burrowing Owl Census on May 18, at noon at Rotary Park, and on the CCFW website

For full contest rules, prize details, more information on CCFW, to enter the photo c o n t e s t a n d s e e c u r r e n t e n t r i e s , v i s i t

ccfriendsofwildlife org

Those interested in taking part in the Burrowing Owl Census can contact Honey Phillips at Rotary Park by calling 239549-4606

FILE PHOTO

Lee County, municipalities, seek extension for responding to FEMA on insurance downgrade

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Lee County has asked FEMA to extend its 30-day deadline to provide additional information before the federal agency eliminates its 25% discount on flood insurance policies.

Lee County Manager Dave Harner told county commissioners Tuesday that county staff requested the extension so it could have additional time to respond to FEMA’s retrograde of the county’s Community Rating System rating which resulted in the Federal Emergency Management Agency giving notice it would yank the National Flood Insurance Program discount in most of Lee County

Harner said the county is requesting additional time to provide more documents to FEMA to show its rating shouldn’t be downgraded The request includes four affected municipalities including Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach

“We did ask for an additional timeframe and that was collectively, the county and the municipalities, asked for additional timeframe beyond the 30 days, that is still in the process of being discussed,” Harner said “Regardless, I do feel confident that we will be able to provide the documentation based on the conversations we had to ensure we meet compliance and keep our rating.”

Harner said the county also received a 90day extension on its annual CRS recertification from FEMA since the county is concerned with staff taking the time to provide “voluminous” amounts of material for the current appeals process, and wouldn’t have enough time to meet the recertification deadline without an extension

Harner said county staff have met directly with FEMA administrators, including the district administrator that made the initial decision on the retrograde from a 5 to a 10, the lowest ranking which carries no discount on policies

“Through these conversations, we got to the point where they guaranteed they would have staff in the county (to meet with directly),” Harner said Harner said the county has worked with local municipalities to have a unified message to FEMA

“We continue to provide feedback collectively,” Harner said Harner said county staff has been meeting weekly with Sen Rick Scott to discuss the situation.

“The folks we have our committed to what they are doing They live and breathe this stuff They take every comment to heart,”

“We did ask for an additional timeframe and that was collectively, the county and the municipalities, asked for additional timeframe beyond the 30 days, that is still in the process of being discussed Regardless, I do feel confident that we will be able to provide the documentation based on the conversations we had to ensure we meet compliance and keep our rating.”

Dave Harner, Lee County manager

Harner said

“I am very confident that we will have the documentation,” Harner said

One of the main reasons cited by FEMA for its downgrading of the ranking is that work was done without permits after Hurricane Ian

Lee County District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass said the county shouldn’t be penalized if some residents did work on their homes without permits Pendergrass said there are still thousands of people waiting for permits

Pendergrass said the county doesn’t have the authority to go into every home and see if somebody is replacing a wall or carpet without a permit.

“People run red lights,” Pendergrass said “There are some people making the choices to ‘build back as fast as I can and I won’t get caught’ and they will get caught sooner or later ”

Harner said there are not enough staff to inspect all of the properties in the county

“I think there was confusion early on when it came to how we evaluate substantial damage,” he said

“When you are devastated like Lee County was, and I’m not talking the entity, I’m talking all the municipalities, that is a large number of people you need in order to go out and look at all those homes ”

Harner said it was “impossible” to have enough staff to handle all of the inspections

“Cape Coral, for example, needed 300 (inspectors,) we needed double that,” he said

There were more than 60,000 permits issued by the county in the 2022-23 fiscal year More than 5,000 demolition permits were issued in the special flood hazard area More than 2,000 violations were issued since Hurricane Ian for work without a permit.

Cape Coral ‘operational team’ working with FEMA

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The deadline for Cape Coral to go through the annual recertification process for the FEMA National Flood Insurance Community Rating System program to remain in the CRS program has been extended an additional 90 days, so the city can focus on avoiding the retrograde of the 25% discount

“He made it clear to us that if we are able to give him the information in the finding report we will be able to avoid retrograde and remain in a step 5,” City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said

He said one of the city’s key objectives is to maintain an open line of communication with city leadership to facilitate comm u n i c a t i o n w i t h F E M A , s o t h e y c a n remain on track together

FEMA gave the city 30 days to answer questions and provide permitting documentations to retains its 5 ranking and so keep the discount on flood policies

“These next 22 days are critical for city staff to stay on course, as well as FEMA staff,” Ilczyszyn said

With the regional administrator, subordinates, and staff assigned to the city, he said in their meeting with their onsite staff with FEMA, it was shared that they did not know an email was sent that the timeframe for recertification was extended from 30 days to 90 days.

Ilczyszyn said it has been a very busy few weeks relating to FEMA National Flood Insurance Policy CRS program He said they have assembled an operational team to conduct research and execute field work

Ilczyszyn said the city’s request for building inspectors and certified floodplain

“We pointed out to them their own manual of substantial damage determinations In the City of Cape Coral we followed No 2 I had went through the detailed timeline that I provided a series of letters we sent to owners, four letters to all of them indicating in the letter that their property under National Flood Insurance Program and they have a requirement to come in and get a permit and perform a substantial damage assessment.”

Cape Coral City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn, who told City Council Wednesday that his staff used an option allowed FEMA’s reference guide to remain compliant with ‘substantial damage’ permitting post-Ian

managers for 1,200 structures has yet to be met He said as it remains today, the city still had not received those resources and the request has been closed

J u s t t h i s w e e k , I l c z y s z y n s a i d t h e

F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f E m e r g e n c y

Management attempted to close the request without it being filled Instead, the state provided the city with a vendor list that could assist with the current work

Ilczyszyn said he fully intends to utilize the resources to support the ongoing effort in the city

“We are likely going to be incurring these costs,” he said, as they are not reimbursable after six months that the disaster declaration was issued

The city is looking into other ways to get appropriations to pay for the help and will continue to complete the work at hand

The update also included information about compliance regarding FEMA’s substantial improvement and substantial damage to maintain compliance with the CRS program

Ilczyszyn said it is important to note that the city has mentioned to FEMA that staff is using FEMA’s reference guide to remain compliant Two options are provid-

ed, one of which was notifying owners of the requirement to get permits and then waiting for property owners to apply for the permits

“We pointed out to them their own manual of substantial damage determinations,” he said “In the City of Cape Coral we followed No 2 I had went through the detailed timeline that I provided a series of letters we sent to owners, four letters to all of them indicating in the letter that their property under National Flood Insurance Program and they have a requirement to come in and get a permit and perform a substantial damage assessment ”

FEMA’s response, Ilczyszyn said, is the agency is working on changing that section, so they no longer have two options

“They are changing that and rephrasing it so communities no longer have choices

It is not yet in place and not in place during post Hurricane Ian They knew we had options to remain in compliance and util i z e d o n e o f t h o s e o p t i o n s a n d t h e y acknowledged that,” he said

Ilczyszyn went through examples of the established process of substantial damage and what the city’s work entails through a few examples

“The work of our staff post-Ian is independent of FEMA Cape Coral’s processes work are thorough and well documented” he said “In some of our inspections that we are doing, we are finding unpermitted work that was not post-Ian Unpermitted work, but was done maybe five or six years ago and we are still taking action on those properties ”

Ilczyszyn said staff has completed 96 elevation requests, 83 site inspections and 207 notice of violations all related to unpermitted work

“We approved 214 demolitions since the hurricane, 22 stop work orders,” he said

The city began working with Sen. Rick Scott, who has asked FEMA to be specific, so Cape Coral knows what the regulations are to remain compliant

“The definition from FEMA remains unclear,” Ilczyszyn said of being up against an undefined definition of compliance

The Federal Emergency Management

A g e n c y “ r e t r o g r a d e d ” t h e C o m m u n i t y Rating System class from a five to a 10, thereby removing benefits the Cape Coral residents receive for the National Flood Insurance Program policies earlier this month, before placing the decision on pause for a 30-day period on its decision to eliminate the 25% discount

The new grade, and the lose of the discount was to be effect Oct 1 throughout much of Lee County, including all unincorp o r a t e d a r e s a n d f o u r m u n i c i p a l i t i e s , includeing Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach

Only the cities of Fort Myers and Sanibel did not see their grades retrograded

City holds off on design services for Oasis Sports Field

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council postponed its pursuit of professional design services for the Oasis Sports Fields Wednesday night until more discussion is had with the charter school board

The resolution that was tabled was for an amount not to exceed $297,054 49 to Avalon Engineering, Inc

Councilmember Keith Long made the m o t i o n t o c o n t i n u e t h e m a t t e r u n t i l Council could have a joint meeting with t h e c h a r t e r b o a r d o f t h e f o u r - s c h o o l m u n i c i p a l s c h o o l s y s t e m H e s a i d although he is in full support of the project, there were still many questions unanswered as far as which entity will build the facility and what time would be dedicated to the school and to city residents

“I would be more comfortable in waiting to figure out what we do if the project is likely to come to fruition before I throw $300,000 into a design before moving forward with the discussion,” Long said “I personally prefer we wait to have discussions I am not entirely sure it will come to fruition ”

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said they were waiting on holding the joint meeting with the charter school board until the design consultant was on hand so consultant could participate with the discussion and understand who was going to be owning, operating, maintaining, and funding this project

“The design would not start prior to that meeting That meeting is important

for the design professional to understand the programming and geared principally towards the school, towards the community and engaging the priority The design professional takes input from the owner and understanding what we are trying to deliver and design an acceptable facility to meet the goals of what we are trying to accomplish,” he said

Ilczyszyn said they are still in that discussion mode, but at the end of the day t h e y s t i l l n e e d a d e s i g n p r o f e s s i o n a l regardless

“I don’t see the benefit for the wait, which is why we advanced this forward Having the design professional in the discussion is important They are going to need that input,” he said

Councilmember Tom Hayden said he thinks it is difficult to bring something forward when there is still a lot of confusion of what the facility will be

“I don’t think we are all certain of the uses for these particular fields I don’t think it makes a lot of sense to move forward with anything right now,” he said.

Ilczyszyn said his recommendation of bringing the firm forward was based on the assumption that the city would build the field

“I recommend bringing the consultant on board while figuring out the funding mechanism, ownership, and operation If this park is not going to be built, than I cannot recommend spending money on the design,” he said, adding that funding was set aside in this year’s budget to fund the design

New sprinkler ordinance to go into effect sooner for parts of Cape Coral

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

An ordinance designed to conserve water by modifying regulations pertaining to sprinklers and their installation will go into effect June 1 for a certain areas of Cape Coral before rolling out to the entire city in December

Mayor John Gunter and Councilmembers Richard Carr and Bill Steinke opposed accelerating ordinance 46-23, which addresses irrigation systems and moves the compliance date up for some property owners

“We have only fluctuated about one foot It’s that that drastic of a change over the last two months. It didn’t fluctuate that much. Going into the rainy season we know it is going to help with this only because we will be getting more precipitation,” Gunter, adding that there has also been no educational component for the community

City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said staff has a full communication plan and education sessions lined up

“It would have been premature training the industry on something you haven’t supported yet,” he said

Carr asked if they could consider leaving the increase of fines out of the amended ordinance until it is rolled out to the entire city because it will be difficult to get the message out properly for the impacted area

Steinke said with the rainy season coming in it would seem that everything is going to move in the other direction, and he was not sure “the juice is worth the squeeze” in making the compliance more restrictive for one area, versus the whole city

“I might be changing my tune at this point,” he said

Utilities Director Jeff Pearson said

Council came to a consensus at a prior meeting on accelerating the existing ordinance for water conservation measures from Dec 1 to start as soon as possible He said that date is June 1

“During discussions and development of the ordinance, we discussed adding a $500 cash rebate for a minimum of 70% or greater system sufficiency for smart controllers and soil sensors,” Pearson said of irrigation systems

In addition, Pearson said, they changed the responsible person from the Utilities director to the Development Service director for alternative compliance

There was also language added for penalties in terms of violation in a 12-month period He said they kept the first violation with no fine, while the second violation increases from $100 to $200, the third from $200 to $350 and the fourth and subsequent violation from $400 to $500

This ordinance will only affect a certain portion of the city from June 1 to Dec 1 On Dec 1 the ordinance will apply citywide

“Moving up the start time is just for that specific area, north of Pine Island Road,” Councilmember Tom Hayden said “We are just talking specifically about the area we addressed might be impacted because of the shortage in the reservoir ”

The ordinance amendment will affect north of Pine Island Road, east of Nelson Road North, South of Gator Slough Canal and Northeast 24th Avenue and Garden Boulevard

“We don’t appear to be in a good place and this bothers me a little bit This is to address water shortage in that specific area for the Mid Hawthorne Aquifer,” Hayden said

We e k ly B R E E Z E R e c ap

Memorial marks passing of Cape Coral Yacht Club

By VALARIE HARRING vharring@breezenewspapers com

A dozen or so long-time residents turned out last Friday to bid farewell to an icon that has been part of their families for decades

The gathering was small, the spill of emotion great, as “Cape kids,” Cape “pioneers” and others gathered in front of the Cape Coral Yacht Club Ballroom before its pending demolition this month

They shared memories made and celebrations held at the clubhouse built by the developers of what then was only the dream of a city to come

Gloria Tate, whose family was one of the first to move to Cape Coral and who twice served on City Council, was one of the organizers of the intimate, byinvitation event that was both a look back and a look ahead

“My life started here and it looks like my life is not going to end here,” Tate said of the building she enjoyed as a teen, loved as an adult and fought hard to save

She said she was happy that some its mid-century architectural elements would be repurposed

“I think that what makes me the happiest is we’re going to have the fireplace,” said Tate “We’re going to hang around that fireplace, and we’re going to talk about these days and remember this building and all the memories it had I don’t think there was a wedding, a funeral, a celebration, a birthday party, the Vietnam War, that we didn’t come here And if not, we were on the fishing pier or we were on the beach watching the sunset "

She paused

“And it’s extremely sad But I know that progress is just that, and I look forward to a new building as sad as that may be.”

Donna Schuman Germain’s family also was among the Cape’s first

Born here, she is one of the original “Cape kids ”

Germain returned “home” after college and is the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral

“As somebody who was born and raised here, in a city that doesn’t have a lot of history, this building meant so much,” she said, her voice breaking “Like everything, we will embrace progress, but we’re really sad to see the history that we had left, gone ”

Charlie Pease also grew up in the Cape He met his wife, Erica, here and they held their wedding reception

in the Ballroom

In 2007, it was the place to hold special events a beautiful waterfront venue that also was affordable, he said, adding he has shared this with city officials as plans for a new “resort-style” complex move forward

“We need to find a way to make this affordable for our residents, for people like us,” Pease said

“This was one of the only true community venues where we could have this beautiful backdrop and we could come in here and do it as two teachers ”

Attendees shared a program similar to those prepared for funerals and memorials

On the cover, was the dedication: “In Memory of The Cape Coral Yacht Club 1962-2024” and the words ‘The Dash’ poem, by Linda Ellis, speaks to the value of the ‘Dash’ that is between birth and passing We celebrate the date of birth and mourn the date of passing But what matters the most is the dash between those years. That Yacht Club’s dash represents the time spent alive, entertaining and working for the community of Cape Coral Its dash may have only lasted 60 years, but those 60 years leave a legacy to remember cherish and savor ”

The program concluded with the hanging of a memorial wreath

The city of Cape Coral is in the process of razing most of the complex that the Rosen brothers, Leonard and Jack, built along the riverfront as an amenity for those who were snapping up lots in the “waterfront wonderland” they were selling nationwide

The free-membership club complex which also included a pool, tennis courts, fishing pier, beach, marina and soon, a teen center opened on June 10, 1962,

See MEMORIAL, page 31

About a dozen long-time Cape Coral residents attend a short program at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Friday to mark the passing of the historic clubhouse, which is to be demolished by the end of the month Former Councilmember Gloria Tate, third from left, was among the organizers of the event, kept small as they said they did not want to create a disturbance, but wanted to share memories in a way that was “honorable and respectful.”

VALARIE HARRING

Local reactions to the start of the Trump trial

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The trial of former president Donald Trump got under way Monday in New York City, marking the first time in history a former U S president has been on trial for criminal charges

Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential candidate, is on trial to determine whether he falsified business records to cover up a “hush money” payment back in 2016 to keep Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress, quiet in regard to an alleged sexual encounter

Trump has denied the encounter as well as any wrong doing regarding payment made to the actress, whose name is Stephanie Clifford

The jury selection process, which has fallen under scrutiny over the first couple of days, was continuing as of Tuesday afternoon

Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents Southwest Florida's 19th Congressional District, appeared on Newsmax Tuesday to share his thoughts on the trial

“I view it as a political charade,” Donalds said “I view it as a farce, a kangaroo court, absolute foolishness, hot garbage Do you need more explanations than that? You have a situation where they took some bookkeeping charge, where, by the way, the statute of limitations has expired They tried to weave in something dealing with election law, when the FEC said there is nothing to see here, and all of a sudden, there are 34 felonies in New York? Give me a break That is a travesty of justice ”

Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and was indicted on March 30 Those charges involve allegedly burying allegations of extramarital affairs during his first campaign in 2016

The indictment was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg

“This is about Donald Trump, but it's not,” Donalds continued on Newsmax Tuesday “If they could do this to Donald Trump, they could do this to any American But the truth is, Alvin Bragg would not do this to any American, which means this is selective prosecution This is political interference The American people see it for what it is, and it should not be allowed to continue ”

The Lee County GOP also backs Trump in the unprecedented case, stating the left is using “law fare” to interfere with elections and “undermine the ability of the voters to determine who will be their future president.”

Vice Chair of the Lee County GOP Tara Jenner told The Breeze they pray that justice will be done and the truth comes to light

“The ability of President Trump to have a fair trial in New York is questionable at best,” Jenner said via email “Gag orders against him but not other witnesses highlight the fallacy that they are concerned about tampering with the jury pool The questions for the jury pool are very lopsided against President Trump and do nothing to clarify who, if any, in the possible jury pool are biased in favor of President Biden or any of the individuals involved in the litigation including but not limited to the judge, the prosecutor, prosecution ‘witnesses,’ and their respective family members ”

The Republican Party of Florida has endorsed Trump as its nominee for president in the upcoming election

“While we would still like to believe in the integrity of our judicial system, we have grave concerns at the local GOP that this is not a reasonable expectation at this point,” Jenner continued ”The fact that the President is not able to attend his own Supreme Court hearing nor

See

page 42

REAL ESTATE

While often complicated, estate planning provides major benefits

(Editor’s note: The following column is published previously in The Breeze )

Dear Mr Feichthaler:

I have heard horror stories about probate and disputes among family members, and I want to avoid that I am a widow that owns a house in Cape Coral with no mortgage, and I have a few bank accounts I have three children, and I only want two of them to receive my estate Do I need a trust for this?

Kelly P

Dear Kelly:

Although estate planning can be complicated, it has the major benefit of m a k i n g y o u r s p e c i f i c i n s t r u c t i o n s f o l l o w e d r e g a r d i n g y o u r a s s e t s Some clients require trust planning to have their wishes met, particularly where a client seeks to h a v e a s s e t s m a n a g e d after their passing For instance, if your kids are in their twenties and do not have a good financial footing, a trust allows your assets to be held for their benefit for a period of time, so that there is no chance of all funds b e i n g q u i c k l y s p e n t

Eric P. Feichthaler Real Estate Law

Other clients prefer their a s s e t s b e d i s t r i b u t e d immediately to their children To accomplish this, we will prepare Enhanced Life Estate deeds for their real estate, and advise them to work with all of their financial service providers, like banks and brokerages, to make those accounts “payable on death” to their beneficiaries

By doing so, the real estate and those financial accounts will not be subject to probate proceedings

Additionally, I advise all clients should have a Last Will and Testament In addition to naming beneficiaries, in your case you will want to specifically exclude any children you do not wish to receive the benefit of your estate This will help to establish you did not “forget” to name them on your real estate and financial accounts

There may be other issues to consider prior to completing your plan, so take the time to speak with an attorney regarding all of your options prior to proceeding You likely do not require a trust to accomplish your goals, but as noted above, every situation is unique

Eric P Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D C , he returned to Cape Coral to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, and Cape Coral Kiwanis. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 22 years, and they have four children. He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the Florida Bar, and primarily practices in real estate law and wills and trusts He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability, and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney com, or 239-542-4733

This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations

Cape’s first quarter 2024 luxury home sales up from last year

It is time once again for our quarterly tip of the hat to the late, great Robin Leach, and our Cape Coral version of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” as we review the first quarter sales results of our luxury home segment For our purposes, our luxury market in the Cape includes homes selling for $1 million and above

Overall, the Cape’s luxury singlefamily home market posted solid first quarter results this year with a total of 71 closed sales, including 17 sales in January, 26 sales in February and 28 closed sales in March The 71 sales were an increase of 14 5% over the 62 luxury home sales closed during the first quarter of 2023, when our market was still bouncing back from Hurricane Ian

Homing In

By comparison, in the first quarter of 2022, there were 115 luxury home sales as the post-COVID real estate boom was unknowingly approaching its peak The 2022 numbers blew away the 44 closed luxury home sales from the first quarter of 2021 by a whopping 161% For the record, back in 2020 there were only 12 first quarter sales in the Cape’s luxury home segment, as the first phase of the COVID shutdowns kicked in during mid-March of that year, highlighted locally when Major League Baseball called an abrupt end to spring training games and put their regular season on hold

The highest priced single-family home sale in Cape Coral during the first quarter of this year closed for $3 42 million on Jan 24, and there were two sales of $3 1 million and $3 3 million this past February The top home sale in the Cape this March was for $2 55 million One year ago, in the first quarter of 2023, the highest-priced home sale was on Jan 10, at $3 25 million, and the top sale back in the first quarter of 2022 was at $4.3 million. Looking ahead based on the current number of pending home sales in the pipeline, we appear to be on track with the historical market trends where the peak in closed sales for the year is reached in the second quarter before softening in the third and fourth quarters As of Tuesday, April 16, there were a total 863 pending home sales through the MLS in the Cape ranging in price from $225,000 to $3 799 million, including 61 homes under contract with buyers at $1 million and above The current m e d i a n p e n d i n g s a l e s p r i c e h a s d r i f t e d l o w e r t o $407,170 from $419,000 two weeks ago One year ago on April 11, 2023, there were 915 total pending home sales in the Cape ranging in price from $175,000 to $3 9 million, with 48 of these homes under contract at $1 million and above Two years ago on April 12, 2022, there

were 1,024 single-family homes in the Cape under contract with buyers as pending sales, with 83 of these homes under contract at $1 million and above

Briefly, as of this past Tuesday, April 16, there were 2,827 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral single-family h o m e s , w h i c h i n c l u d e s 3 5 0 l u x u r y homes listed at $1 million and above T h e c u r r e n t m e d i a n l i s t p r i c e i s a t $499,900 and 1,138 homes, or 40 3% of the active listings, are at $450,000 and under About one year ago on April 11, 2023, there were a total of 1,461 active listings through a Realtor for single-family homes in the Cape with a median list price of $534,900 and 208 of these listings were priced at $1 million and above Going back two years to April 12, 2022, there were a total of 519 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral single-family homes, at a time when most homes went under contract with a buyer in a matter of days Only 95 of those 519 listings were priced at $1 million and above, and the peak median list price based on our weekly market surveys hit $610,000 on April 19, 2022.

Going back to the highest-priced home sale in the first quarter, this home is located on an oversized pie-shaped lot on intersecting indirect gulf access canals south of Cape Coral Parkway and in between Agualinda and Sands boulevards in the Southwest Cape Built in 2018, this two-story home features 4,522 square feet of living area with six or more bedrooms, including four master suites and six bathrooms It has an insulated 38-foot RV garage and space for up to six cars and an RV Out back, there is a gorgeous infinity edge pool with a spa and shallow water sundeck surrounded by palm trees, a high-end outdoor kitchen, and a 13,000-pound boat lift There is also an office/in-law quarters with a separate entrance and too many other features to include here

The seller was an LLC that bought this home for $3 5 million post-Hurricane Ian on Oct 29, 2022 According to the records the prior owner purchased this home for $2 75 million in February 2021 The LLC put this home back on the market for $3 5 million on Oct 7, 2023, and the home went under contract with the buyer on Dec 15, before closing on Jan 24 of this year for $3 42 million with a conventional loan in a turnkey deal This helps illustrate the shift we have seen in our market in that the LLC listed the home for the same amount as their purchase price in October 2022. Granted, the LLC used this home as a vacation rental, so they did generate cash flow on the property, but how many people would list a home

See LUXURY HOME SALES, page 17

Lee County Commission launches Affordable Housing Development Programs

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted recently to launch Affordable Housing Development New Construction Programs with the publication of the Notice of Funding Availability for up to $200 million from C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t B l o c k G r a n t – D i s a s t e r Recovery funds L e e C o u n t y ’ s C D B G - D R A c t i o n P l a n i n c l u d e s Affordable Housing and Development Programs that provide grant funding for the development and preservation of affordable housing units

The competitive Notice of Funding Availability process will make up to $150 million available for new construction or acquisition and rehabilitation of new multi-family units, and up to $50 million available for new construction of single-family units The minimum funding award for new construction development is $4 million and the maxi-

mum is $20 million

Eligible applicants for these NOFAs are private nonprofit or for-profit housing developers, units of local government, and public housing authorities Applications for Affordable Housing Development must be submitted in Lee County’s online portal by June 26, 2024

These funds are part of the $1 1 billion in CDBG-DR funds allocated to Lee County by the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Lee County on Sept 28, 2022

Under this funding, 51% or more of new multi-family housing units must be occupied by income-eligible households, and 100% of all newly constructed single-family housing units must be sold to income-eligible households

See AFFORDABLE HOUSING, page 17

Bob and Geri Quinn

Development updates and outlook for Skyplex at Southwest Florida Inter national Airpor t topics of next REIS meeting

The latest land use plans for Skyplex at Southwest Florida International Airport will be presented by Donald Schrotenboer at the Real Estate Investment Society luncheon meeting Tuesday, May 14

The program will focus on updates to the Skyplex Conceptual Master Site plan Skyplex comprises 1,800 gross acres and 7 3 7 n e t d e v e l o p m e n t a c r e s a f f o r d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r l o g i s t i c s , i n d u s t r i a l , office, retail, entertainment, hospitality and aviation-related real estate development

Following the presentation, Schrotenboer will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry

Schrotenboer, a managing partner of REALVIZORY, is a real estate acquisition and development advisor with extensive experience in Southwest Florida’s development industry He previously served as president of the Private Equity Group and Alico Land Development, as well as director of real estate development for Ave Maria Development

The meeting is sponsored by Stantec, and will begin promptly at 11:45 a m on May 14 in the Osprey Room at Pelican

Preserve’s Golf Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard, one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers.

Admission to the meeting is $30 for m e m b e r s a n d $ 4 5 f o r g u e s t s , w h i c h includes lunch Reservations are required by Thursday, May 9

Christopher Alan Homes ranks as top local homebuilder by single-family residential per mitted units in 2023

Christopher Alan Homes has topped a regional list from LSI Companies Inc as the largest local and private homebuilder in Southwest Florida based on single-family residential permits pulled in 2023

For permits pulled in 2023 in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties combined, Christopher Alan Homes ranked as the sixth top builder by total units permitted, which includes rental community builders, and as the fourth top builder by singlefamily residential units permitted

For single-family detached new home construction permits pulled by builder, Christopher Alan Homes first in Cape Coral, second in Charlotte County and third in Lee County

The listings were created according to data compiled, analyzed and presented by LSI Companies Inc at Market Trends of Southwest Florida

Christopher Alan Homes closed 569 homes in 2023, a 26% increase year-over-

year Since its inception in 2017, the homebuilder has closed more than 2,300 homes

Headquartered in Southwest Florida, Christopher Alan Homes is a preferred single-family builder in Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town; West Port; Burnt Store Village and Deep Creek The builder-owned company also builds

o n i n d i v i d u a l h o m e s i t e s i n C h a r l o t t e , Sarasota and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida’s East Central Space Coast

F o r m o r e a b o u t C h r i s t o p h e r A l a n H o m e s , p l e a s e v i s i t c h r i s t o p h e r a l a nhomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH.

LQ Commercial announces recent transactions

Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR, and Mike D o y l e , C C I M , o f F l o r i d a - b a s e d L Q

Commercial have orchestrated the largest industrial sale ever recorded in Southwest Florida The 454,200-square-foot, 41acre “CenterLinks Business Park” sold to Exeter 9121 CenterLinks Commerce for an astounding $92 5 million shattering county records.

This leased, Class-A, dock high industrial park, located on Oriole Road in Fort M y e r s , w a s e x c l u s i v e l y s o l d b y L Q

Commercial on behalf of CenterLinks Associates, LLC

Sales

n 4418 Cleveland Ave LLC purchased

a 27,968-square-foot retail building at 4418 Cleveland Ave , in Fort Myers, from the Nelson E White Family Trust for $ 9 5 0 , 0 0 0 C a r s o n B a i r d o f L Q

Commercial represented the seller in the transaction

Leases

n Storm Smart Building Systems leased 15,390 square feet of industrial space at 6 1 7 0 I d l e w i l d S t , F o r t M y e r s , f r o m Wizzbang Properties, LLC Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR of LQ Commercial represented the tenant in the transaction

n The Window Depot leased 7,308 square feet of industrial space at 16995 Domestic Ave., Fort Myers, from Casa Napoli LLC Edward Larsen and Adam Palmer, CCIM, SIOR of LQ Commercial represented the tenant in the transaction

n Footopic Inc leased 800 square feet of retail space at 1112 S E 47th Terrace in Cape Coral, from SE 47th Terrace LLC Bob O'Connor of LQ Commercial represented the tenant in the transaction

LQ Commercial is a Florida-based commercial real estate brokerage organization It provides comprehensive propert y m a n a g e m e n t , t e n a n t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , leasing, sales, investments and consulting services Formerly LandQwest Commercial, LQ is a marketing company who provides commercial brokerage and property management services

For additional information, please visit LQCRE com

Affordable housing: County launches new development programs

From page 16

Multi-family development has a per unit subsidy cap of $250,000 and requires a 30-year affordability and restrictive use period

Single-family development has a per unit subsidy cap of $300,000 and requires a 20-year affordability period.

Additional funding for the development

of new units may be awarded to future projects, released through another NOFA at a later date or reallocated to address other urgent needs

The application portal for the LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program for individuals remains open

The two programs for which individuals can apply are:

n T h e H o u s i n g R e h a b i l i t a t i o n ,

R e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d E l e v a t i o n p r o g r a m may assist income-eligible property owners to repair, replace and/or elevate property that suffered hurricane damage

n The Home Purchase Assistance may assist income-eligible home buyers to purchase a qualifying primary residence outside of the flood zone in Lee County

To view a full list of eligibility requirements and documents needed to apply, visit

www.leeflcares.com. Questions can be e m a i l e d t o l e e c a r e s @ l e e g o v c o m Individuals also may call 239-382-5453

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

Follow Lee County Government on Facebook at www facebook com/leecountyflbocc

Luxury home sales: Top-of-the-market totals are up over last year

From page 16

for sale at the same price they bought it for a year earlier?

At the same time, they were carrying homeowners and flood insurance, along with paying the 2023 property taxes of $38,732 and the estimated seller costs related to their sale of this home for real estate commissions, doc stamps and title insurance, etc , was likely another expense of around $200,000 give or take a bit

This brings us back to our recent conversations about the lawsuit settlement by the National Association of Realtors and real estate commissions When we pulled up the Realtor Report for this home in the Multiple Listing Service we could see that the seller had agreed to pay cooperative compensation of 2 5% to the buyer's brokerage We are unable to see what the seller agreed to pay to the listing brokerage for the sale, but for the sake of argument, let’s say the listing brokerage was also paid 2.5% for a total commission of 5% paid by the seller This is all negotiable upfront when the listing agreement is signed between the seller and the listing brokerage, so the total commission amount could have been more or less than 5%

When we “dollarize” this transaction, 5% of the $3 42 million sales price comes to a commission totaling $171,000 paid by the seller, with the listing brokerage agreeing to compensate the buyer’s bro-

k er ag e w ith $ 8 5 , 5 0 0 o f th at amo u n t

Worth it? Maybe so Under the terms of the NAR’s recent lawsuit settlement, in the future the buyer may have to pay all or part of their side of the commission amount directly out of their own pocket and the seller will be given the choice of whether they want to pay anything towards the b u y e r ’ s a g e n t ' s c o m m i s s i o n H a d t h e buyer of this home gone directly through the listing Realtor and not used a separate “buyers agent” to represent their interests, the listing brokerage would have received the full $171,000 commission agreed to by the seller This is known in Realtor lingo as getting “both sides” of the deal Still worth it? Getting “both sides” of a deal is legal in Florida (and elsewhere) and most Realtors in our market work that way

Is it right and ethical? Is any Realtor’s service or “value proposition” really worth p a y i n g t w i c e a s m u c h f o r ? A l o t o f Realtors certainly seem to think so A smaller group of Realtors offer built-in commission discounts to the seller when listing their home to cover situations when a buyer is not represented by another Realtor This can result in huge savings to both the seller and the buyer

We tend to think the NAR settlement will ultimately lead to lower commissions for consumers, however, this seems to be a minority view within the industry at this point

The sales data for this article was o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e F l o r i d a R e a l t o r s Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of April 16, 2024, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral singlefamily homes, and does not include condominiums, short sales or foreclosures. The data and statistics are believed to be reliable, however, they could be updated and

revised periodically, and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the R E / M A X R e a l t y T e a m o f f i c e i n C a p e Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 44 years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined with Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on C a p e C o r a l r e s i d e n t i a l p r o p e r t y a n d vacant lots

Magical palms

By ANN BLOCK news@breezenewspapers com

I must admit it, I’m in love with palms Imagine my surprise when we moved to Florida from the northeast to discover so many varieties over 3,000 worldwide

So how to identify palm trees? Oops, palms are not TREES! They have several tree-like characteristics, but they also have characteristics that are typical of grasses Some people consider them to be a "hybrid” between trees and grasses In the end, they are classified as GRASS!

Looking at the shape of palm fronds (leaves) is the first step There are two basic shapes or types of fronds pinnate fronds (feather-like leaves) or palmate fronds (fan-like leaves) Also check out the trunks Some have long, slender single trunks and others have short fat palm trunks Others are dwarf palm Trees with bushy pinnate fronds and no trunk

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Palm trees are classified as Arecaceae Wikipedia states, “The Arecaceae are a botanical family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales Their form can be climbers, scrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms Those having a tree-like form are colloquially called palm trees ”

So that gives us a formal definition, but I must say that more importantly for me palm trees give that magical feeling conjuring up my idea of a tropical paradise!

After researching the history of the palms, I found that the palm is a symbol of life And that some palms can last a century or more Palm trees go back at least 80 million years to the time of the dinosaurs Fossils have been found of many varieties from that era Experts believe that palm trees were among the earliest of all flowering trees

Here in Southwest Florida we have an opportunity to choose how to create our own island escape right in our own gardens Did you know that palms improve our air Planting pygmy date palms are the most effective palms for purifying the air The good news about palms is that generally the roots are not invasive There are exceptions, like the stately, beautiful royal palm This palm can break apart a deck, sidewalk or pavement. So be very careful where you plant it

Let’s talk about small palms specimens that are 20 feet or less Think that’s not small, well, some palms grow to 80 feet or more! Just a few of the small palms that we can plant and grow in our gardens are Adonidia merrillii / Christmas palms (a smaller type version of the royal palm), Dypsis lutescens / Areca palm, Chamaedorea cataractarum / cat palm, Phoenix roebelenii / pygmy date palm and many more The cat palm is

See MAGICAL PALMS, page 42

Advanced

accepting

Hurricane Technology

applications for

Hero

Giveaway

Program open to local veterans, active military and first responders

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

One local business is giving back to the community through a Hero Giveaway, which equips a home with hurricane protection

Advanced Hurricane Technology Head of Marketing Fernanda Zabala said the business employs veterans who came up with the idea of a Hero Giveaway last year when the first giveaway AHT's patented 55mm rolldown hurricane shutters were awarded to Thomas and Connie Ruth of Cape Coral

She said AHT seeks to protect lives and investments and also protect those that protect us

“It is a contest open to military veterans, active veterans, immediate families and first responders,” she said.

It is open to residents of Lee and Collier county who own a home The selection process is done by a third party The recipient will receive a full home’s worth of shutters that are installed for them around the beginning of hurricane season

Applications are being accepted at: https://ahtworldw i d e c o m / 2 0 2 4 - a h t - g i v e a w a y / I n s t a l l a t i o n w i l l b e planned for completion before the onset of hurricane season

The deadline is April 24 with the winner announcement set for April 28

“Last year we had about 30 entries and we were really happy with Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ruth, Cape Coral residents,” Zabala said

Mr Ruth, she said, is a disabled Navy veteran with health issues

Now with a push of a button, his motorized shutters will help keep them safe

“It’s something we want to do for the community It is to make sure we are being part of the community that we live in and serve,” she said

AHT also has given back to the community through Zabala’s book “Rosie and the Hurricane ”

“Cape Coral has a special place in my heart I was a Naples resident, my family is in Naples, business in Fort Myers,” she said, adding she was prompted to write the book after Hurricane Ian

The book tackles some of the fears of a hurricane coming, as well as living through a hurricane and teaching kids about preparedness She read the book to a second-grade class at Oasis Elementary South School, and they left a mark on her heart

“They are so incredibly resilient They suffered through trauma and were able to turn that trauma into laughter,” Zabala said

As a family company, they really value giving back to the community

“The book is a big part of that,” she said.

The company now has a nonprofit – AHT – Education and Advocacy Fund, Inc , which will continue the journey of giving back to the community The hope is to raise enough funds to provide the books free kindergarten through second grade students in Lee, Collier, and Charlotte counties

“We have big plans for next year to continue to help in hurricane preparedness,” she said

AHT educates people on how hurricanes can cause destruction

“It’s not just debris, wind what causes the most amount of damage is the difference in positive and negative pressure that pushes and pulls on roofs, doors, and windows,” Zabala said

The company offers hurricane roll downs, accordions, and hurricane screens to protect the home

In addition, Zabala said her father patented an end retention system that prevents the positive and negative pressure from pulling shutters off of their track

“It helps to provide that extra level of security,” she said making it safe from the three main dangers of a hurricane

The hurricane roll down shutters are motorized

“It’s the best and strongest product we have in the mar-

ket and easiest to deploy,’ Zabala said

In addition, it has a WiFi hub making the deployment of the shutters accessible from anywhere

“You can be traveling, snowbirds in their homes up north and know a hurricane is coming and deploy the shutters from a push of the button,” she said

Accordion shutters are the most affordable product Zabala said although not motorized, they are easy to open and shut on a horizontal opening and shutting motion They are relatively easy to operate and have a secure lock to ensure they stay shut

The hurricane screen is another patented product known as the super span as it covers larger spans up to 27 feet wide depending on the individual’s zone

“It’s perfect for lanais They do a fantastic job for lanais It allows you to look out, but difficult to look in,” Zabala said “It’s a privacy screen in addition to having hurricane protection ”

The AHT sales people can take a look at the home and share what the best product is for the specific openings of a home.

“We also work closely with HOA restrictions on products and colors,” she said

Those interested in learning more about the hurricane protection can call (239) 594-7722, visit www ahtshutters com, or visit the showroom at 16501 Old Airport Haul Rd , Fort Myers

Zabala said the large manufacturing plant allows individuals to come to the factory, test the product and get a behind the scenes look at how they are made

“I am an engineer and I like to know how things work On average our tickets are about $12,000 for a home If I am going to spend that much money, I want to know what goes into the product that I am buying,” she said

From the time of purchase to installation, they like to stay between four to six weeks, which is greatly dependent on the permit filing process and HOA approval, both of which are out of their control

“We not only install, but we manufacture,” she said

Zabala said there is no wrong time to look into shutters for a home

“We live in a state that can pretty much guarantee to have at least one storm where you would want to protect your home,” she said “There is no wrong time to do the research and come up with a decision with the right product for you.”

Zabala encourages individuals to really research who is installing the product on their home, as the product is only as good as the installation

“If it is not installed well, it will not work well for your home,” she said “We really put quality first and foremost The products that we sell are products we use to protect our own families and our own homes ”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Jaime Zabala and Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala with Thomas Connie Ruth, center, last year ’s Hero Giveaway winners.

EDUCATION Garden Club of Cape Coral awards 2024 Merit Scholarships

Special to The Breeze news@breezenewspapers com

The Garden Club of Cape Coral recently granted four Cape Coral high school seniors a total of $7,050 through its Merit Scholarship Awards Program These awards are given annually to local students who excel academically and in their environmental efforts as active members in our community

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts middle school production of the hit musical "Descendants," will take the stage at the school on April 25 and 26

The performances, at 6:30 p m each day, will showcase the talents of students in grades 6-8

The show promises to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to storytelling, enhanced by the debut of the school's cutting-edge high-resolution projection system.

The 14th annual awards in memory of club cofounder Marty Ward were granted to Lilah Castro a n d R i l e y M c F a r l a n d , both of Cape Coral High School, as well as Kylee L a n g e o f N o r t h F o r t Myers High School They were selected because of their academic achievem e n t s , l e a d e r s h i p a n d hands-on participation in horticulture, agriculture, h y d r o l o g y a n d n a t u r a l resources, as well as commitment to continue with their efforts in conserving our precious environment for the future

In addition, the fifth annual award in memory of Donna Conway, funded by the Conway family and friends in 2020, was also presented to Nathaniel Lawson of Cape Coral High School due to his dedication throughout his high school years to mentoring other students as they work in the school’s Bella Verde Farms Donna Conway was a long-time member of the club who initiated the club’s main fundraiser “March in the Park ” This event has been held annually since 2009 and is the source of the funds for the club’s activities including scholarships.

Thanks to the support of club members and the community, 56 awards ranging in value from $250 to $2,500 have been presented to graduating seniors since the program was established in 2011 The value of the awards is determined by the relevance of each student’s course of study, extracurricular activities, community involvement and future goals to preserving the environment

Besides being a senior and a Cape Coral resident, applicants must present two references, academic history, active participation in horticultural or environmental p r o j e c t s a n d a 2 5 0 - w o r d p e r s o n a l s t a t e m e n t . Applications open in January, with a submission deadline in February, award notifications in March and presentations of the awards at the GCCC April meeting

G C C C m e e t s o n t h e s e c o n d W e d n e s d a y o f September through May at 5:45 p m Please check the club’s website for meeting locations as it will change next year Guests are welcome The club's website is www gardenclubofcapecoral com

GCCC Merit Scholarship winners:

n Lilah Castro, 17 Her passion is water and soil conservation That’s the reason why she assumed a leading role in implementing a hydroponic system at her high school She has also assisted other volunteers in understanding the benefits of utilizing water in a vertical way as a sustainable method for crop growth “This is due to its vertical layout, which allows for water not utilized by one plant, to be advantageous for the one below it,” she explained

Defined by one her teachers as a science and math young woman, Castro’s search for excellence goes beyond STEM (science, technology, engineering and math ematics ) S h e is th e p r es id en t o f th e F r en ch

Under the direction of Kathy Rivadeneira, the cast and crew have been hard at work rehearsing for this exciting p r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h b r i n g s t h e b e l o v e d c h a r a c t e r s o f Disney's "Descendants" to life on stage Set in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, the musical follows the journey of the teenage children of Disney’s most infamous villains as they navigate the complexities of friendship, identity, and acceptance

What sets this production apart is the integration of a state-of-the-art high-resolution projection system, allowing for seamless transitions between scenes and transporting audiences to the fantastical worlds depicted in the show With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, viewers will feel as though they've stepped directly into the magical universe of "Descendants "

"We're incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have put into this production," said Mrs Rivadeneira "The addition of our new projection system has elevated the theatrical experience to a whole new level, allowing us to create dynamic and visually stunning scenes that will leave a lasting impression on audiences "

The cast features a talented ensemble of young performers, each bringing their own unique energy and charisma to their roles From the charismatic descendants of Maleficent and the Evil Queen to the charming princes and princesses of Auradon, audiences can expect a delightful blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable musical numbers

T i c k e t s m a y b e p u r c h a s e d f o r $ 1 2 o n l i n e a t

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School Board of Lee County accomplished many of its priorities during the 2024 Legislative Session

At the top of the list?

Needed funds

“This year under your direction and the superintendent, we asked for $6 1 (million) for appropriation project funding As of right now we are waitin for governor’s ap-proval in funding for $5 6 m i l l i o n , ” C h i e f C o m m u n i c a t i o n & G o v e r n m e n t R e l a t i o n s O f f i c e r A n g e l

Gomez said at last week's Board session “A g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t . I c a n ’ t t h a n k y o u enough ”

O t h e r s u c c e s s e s i n c l u d e d C a p e C o r a l Technical College Phase II - $2 1 million which has been funded and is awaiting the g ernor's action, as well as Fort Myers Technical College - East Annex Phase 1, pre-construction, of $2 5 million, both of which have been funded and awaiting the governor's action

https://www showtix4u com/event-details/80367 or at the door for $15 the day of the performance

“Don't miss your chance to experience this magical journey with North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts!,” theatrical staff said

The school also is offering a VIP experience for existing and new NFMAA Foundation members in the Media Center before the show and during Intermission

VIPs may enjoy themed refreshments and decor

Foundation membership starts at just $50 for an annual membership and 100% of membership fees go to directly support the art programs at NFMAA

C o n t a c t A r i R e i s , A r t s F o u n d a t i o n P r e s i d e n t , a t nfmaa foundation@gmail com if you are interested in becoming a VIP

For more information on North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts visit nfa leeschools net

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts to present ‘Descendants’ School District provides legislative update

to plan for and manage their facilities for SB 7002

The other deregulation of public school bill, SB 7004 includes revising elementary school student progression planning to identify students in kindergarten through second grade with substantial deficiency in reading and math to greater flexibility in offering Voluntary Pre-K summer programs

Gomez said another student achievement prioriwas support for increase of per student fundng by at least 5%

“The total funds per student increase was 2 75%,” he said

Safety was a crucial priority as well, Gomez said

The request was support for an increase in the Safe Schools’ Allocation in the Florida E d u c a t i o n F i n a n c e P r o g r a m H e s a i d t h a t u l t e d i n a $ 4 0 m i l l i o n o v e r a l l i n c r e a s e statewide for a total of $290 million funded

There was another success for safety and security enhancements and a mobile disaster response vehicle appropriation project of $1 million.

Gray-Robinson Senior Government Affairs Advisor Dr Kim McDougal credited the board for its willingness to go to Tallahassee

“Great job and thank you. I can’t say thank you enough,” she said recently

Gomez went over the School District of Lee County’s 2024 legislative priorities and the areas that moved forward

Some of the highlights included two Senate Bills 7002 and 7004 for deregulation of public schools requests for all public schools to have the same statutory flexibility

The presentation went into detail of both of the bills, which ranged from flexibility to set salaries for instructional personnel to enhancing the ability of school boards

Another success occurred under the district’s teacher certification and retention priority House Bill 151 This bill permits retired classroom teachers and administrators to return to the classroom after six months

McDougal went through numerous other bills of interest, some of which were approved by the governor and others have yet to be sent to the governor

One of the highlights, HB 537 - a two-year musicb a s e d S u p p l e m e n t a l C o n t e n t t o A c c e l e r a t e L e a r

e r E n g a g e m e n t a n d S u c c e s s P i l

t P r o g r a m w

e Department of Education She said it’s a pilot program that will use music to get students interested in STEM programs

May programs set at Cape Coral Lee County Public Library

Next month’s roster of activities at Cape Coral Lee County Public Library offers topics for all ages The following activities are free to the public:

Adult Programs

Book Discussion: “The Violin Conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb

11 a.m., Wednesday, May 1

Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician When he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather's fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition-the Olympics of classical music-fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen

English Café

10 a.m., Fridays, May 3, 10, 17, 24

6 p.m., Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21

F r e e , i n f o r m a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s e s s i o n s f o r a d u l t ESOL/ESL students

The Fighting Baileys: Florida's Black Military Experience

6 p m , Tuesday, May 7

During World War II and the Korean War, seven brothers from a black Punta Gorda family served overseas Yet, the family received no acclaim for over 50 years for their exploits From a high-flying Tuskegee airman to a grunt in the Red Ball Express, the Bailey brothers' struggles speak to the hidden and ongoing struggle to accord black Americans their place in the military Presented by James Abraham, a former journalist who now edits and publishes books and is a popular writing coach, critic and lecturer. Registration is required

Military Appreciation Month programs accompany “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” opening at the Cape Coral Lee County Public Library Sept 14

Smithsonian Institution and Florida Humanities Support for the local exhibition and programming was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida H u m a n i t i e s o r t h e N a t i o n a l E n d o w m e n t f o r t h e Humanities

Spanish Conversation Club

2 p.m., Wednesday, May 8

Improve your Spanish fluency by chatting with other adults Join us as we practice speaking with others on a variety of topics, including current events and everyday situations Intermediate to advanced Spanish-speaking skills are recommended in order to get the most out of the session Registration is required

Download Drop-In

11 a.m., Thursdays, May 9, 23

R e c e i v e p e r s o n a l i z e d h e l p d o w n l o a d i n g e - b o o k s , movies, music and more from Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, two of Lee County Library System’s largest 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 Kindle users will also need an Amazon account and their password for accessing it

Crafts at Cape: Watercolour

10 a.m., Thursday, May 9

10 a.m., Saturday, May 18

Join us as we explore layering watercolours to create m o u n t a i n r a n g e s o r o c e a n s d e p t h s R e g i s t r a t i o n i s required Each class has a maximum seating of 20 Participants may only register for one class in the series. Registration is guaranteed until the start of the watercolour program

Beyond the Homefront: The Untold Stories of World War II Heroes

F a t h e r ' s W a r : M e m o r

Soldiers," delves into the long untold stories of World War II veterans Drawing inspiration from his father, a World War II veteran who seldom discussed the war, Valera embarked on interviews with other veterans Join him as he shares captivating photos and firsthand narratives spanning both theaters and all branches of World War II, complemented by an exclusive four-minute film trailer Registration is required

Military Intelligence in Early U.S. History

2 p m , Tuesday, May 16

Cloak-and-dagger is the second oldest profession It began with war itself This presentation by retired special agent and law enforcement executive Thomas Eastwood examines the role of military intelligence in U S history during the American Revolution and the Civil War It explores spies you know and some you don't Registration is required

Children’s Programs

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 1, 8, 15

For babies up to 18 months Babies and caregivers wiggle and giggle in a supportive environment Space is limited Please arrive early and pick up a ticket at the Youth Services desk

Family Storytime

10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 2, 9, 16

For children through age 5 years and caregivers

Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories, songs, rhymes and movement Space is limited Please arrive early and pick up a ticket at the Youth Desk

Family Build It

4 p m , Thursday, May 2

For all ages Drop in for building challenges the whole family will enjoy No registration required All materials are provided C

“Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the

2 p.m., Tuesday, May 14

Renowned author Charley Valera, known for "My

See CAPE LIBRARY, page 21

Cape Coral Library: Programs, activities planned for month of May

From page 20

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p m , Saturday, May 4

5:15-6:15 p m , Wednesday, May 15

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card and check in at the Youth Services Reference Desk

Mother's Day Storytime

10:30 a.m., Monday, May 6

For ages 3-5 years Celebrate mothers and mother figures at this special Mother's Day Storytime Space is limited Please arrive early and pick up a ticket at the Youth Desk

Preschool Storytime

10:30 a m , Tuesdays, May 7, 14

For ages 3-5 years Children attend this program independently while parents and caregivers wait nearby Space is limited Please arrive early and pick up a ticket at the Youth Desk

Out of This World Storytime

10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 11

Join us for a storytime with books, rhymes and music all about space For children through age 5 years and a caregiver Space is limited Please pick up a ticket at the Youth Desk First come, first served

STEAM Club

4 p.m., Thursday, May 23

Be ready for fun experiments and projects as we explore the world of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) This program is intended for ages 5-11 Dress for mess Registration is required and is guaranteed until the start of the program All materials provided

Family Movie Afternoon

2:30 p m , Thursday, May 30

Families are invited to join us for a movie and a themed

craft The film is rated PG Snacks will be provided

Teen Programs

Family Build It

4 p m , Thursday, May 2

For all ages Drop in for building challenges the whole family will enjoy No registration required All materials are provided

Kids Read Down Fines

1-2 p.m., Saturday, May 4

5:15-6:15 p.m., Wednesday, May 15

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card and check in at the Youth Services Reference Desk

The Fighting Baileys: Florida's Black Military Experience

6 p.m., Tuesday, May 7

During World War II and the Korean War, seven brothers from a black Punta Gorda family served overseas Yet, the family received no acclaim for over 50 years for their exploits. From a high-flying Tuskegee airman to a grunt in the Red Ball Express, the Bailey brothers' struggles speak to the hidden and ongoing struggle to accord black Americans their place in the military Presented by James Abraham, a former journalist who now edits and publishes books and is a popular writing coach, critic and lecturer Registration is required

Teen Thursdays

4 p.m., Thursday, May 9

Hangout, tinker around, and geek out with something new each month This month, we will build obstacle courses and play with spheros All supplies and snacks are provided while they last This program is intended for attendees ages 11-18 years to attend independently Please

speak with staff if caregiver assistance is needed

Military Intelligence

in Early U S History

2 p m , Tuesday, May 16

Cloak-and-dagger is the second oldest profession It began with war itself This presentation by retired special agent and l a w e n f o r c e m e n t e x e c u t i v e T h o m a s Eastwood examines the role of military intelligence in U S history during the American Revolution and the Civil War It explores spies you know and some you don't Registration is required

Family Movie Afternoon

2:30 p m , Thursday, May 30

Families are invited to join us for a movie and a themed craft The film is rated PG Snacks will be provided

The Cape Coral Lee County Public Library is located at 921 S W 39th Terrace in Cape Coral For more information about a program or to register, please call the library at 239-533-4500 Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www leelibrary net to find out about programs at other locations. Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-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, Florida Relay Service 711, or jlaguardia@leegov com Accommodation will be provided at no cost to the requestor Requests should be made at least five business days in advance

GCCC Merit Scholarships: Four high school seniors earn awards

From page 19

National Honor Society, the co-president of her school’s Bella Verde Farms and vice-president of the Key Club In 2 0 2 3 , s h e w a s a w a r d e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l H i s p a n i c Recognition Program

She also combines all these leading roles with over 200 volunteer hours to her school as well as her love for sports, such as varsity softball and varsity cheer. In fact, she has been awarded as the "most persistent" player by her softball coach

Florida Gulf Coast University is the next step in Casstro's career, where she plans to pursue bachelor's and master’s degrees in environmental engineering

“I seek to help preserve our soil, clean our water and prevent the further degradation of our ecosystems,” she said

n Kylee Lange, 18 She loves calculus as much as she loves the natural world Participating at the Model United Nations conference on biodiversity ignited her desire to conserve and restore ecosystems. That’s why she is excited about starting a new chapter in her life by studying e n v i r o n m e n t a l e n g i n e e r i n g a t G e o r g i a I n s t i t u t e o f Technology

“I want to help communities in the U S and internationally that are struggling to live alongside their environment and struggling because of different environmental issues facing the world,” she explained She understands that people and the environment are not two separate entities Furthermore, she believes that, “We affect each other, and as a species, we need to stop treating the natural world like it is invincible ”

Lange wants to be part of the solution and dedicate her life to improving societies and the environment. She knows time is of the essence Not in vain, the list of extracurricular activities, which involves volunteer hours at her church and working as a supervisor in a local water park, is as long as her achievements and awards not only in academia, but also in music (captain of her school’s marching band), writing and sports From 2016 to 2023, she has been the recipient of the Carson Scholarship, an academic and volunteer-based scholarship given by the Carson Foundation

n Nathaniel Lawson, 18 He sees the trees and the forest His attention to detail and his desire to restore large ecosystems allows him to not lose sight of both. Rain or shine, he is where help is needed; either planting at the school’s garden over the summer or volunteering on the weekend at a local event to explain the benefits of gardening responsibly You might also find him trying an original recipe with the fruits and vegetables of his labor because cooking is his particular way to show appreciation for the people in his life

Teachers at his school admire his maturity, kindness, positive take in life and uncompromising ability to overcome hardships

“My love for the forests of our nation is something I have known for nearly as long as I can recall, and the years I spent living within them will be the only motivation I need to protect them for as long as I live,” he said He wants to revolutionize the logging industry, “so that we may better utilize the forests as a natural resource and prolong its survival ”

The program of environmental engineering offered by Florida Gulf Coast University will help him achieve his goal The unique student-led garden on campus known as the Food Forest should also help satiate his passion for

gardening during his college years

n Riley McFarland, 18 Riley does not stop Besides her outstanding academic achievements, she volunteers for local organizations, has a part-time job, holds awards in creative writing and excels in sports, such as track and field, cross country, lacrosse and swimming She is a four-time state medalist swimmer and has been recognized as one of the fastest local girls

Witnessing firsthand natural disasters motivated her to study the impact of humans on global ecosystems and vice versa In fact, right after Ian hit the Southwest Florida area, McFarland rolled up her sleeves in hurricane pickup efforts with her youth group from church and participated in a rescue rebuild program a year later Her main interest focuses on agricultural runoff and how nitrogen and phosphorus pollution contributes to harmful algae blooms in local waters

Besides pursuing a career in environmental studies at Florida State University, she said she is determined to volunteer and travel around the world to be a part of conservation initiatives at the bottom level She knows that gaining hands-on experiences will enhance her “perspectives and knowledge on environmental issues and their relation to different cultures ”

Legislative update: School District report

From page 19

Another education bill, SB 7032, is the creation of the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program, GATE Scholarship Program, GATE Startup Grant Program and GATE Program Performance Fund

McDougal said this bill was driven by the Senate and has not yet been sent to the governor. The program reengages students who have withdrawn from high school by providing opportunities to earn career education credentials while also completing a standard high school diploma, or equivalent credential

Others school related bills include:

n HB 0003: online protection for minors on social media platforms

n HB 0049: employment for minors

n HB 1403: school choice

n SB 46: R A I S E Program for VPK to 12th grade students

n HB 1285: education provisions for K-12 public schools

n HB 187: antisemitism

n HB 917: career and technical education

n HB 523: Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program

n HB 883: short-acting bronchodilator use

n HB 931: school chaplains

n HB 1291: educator preparation program

n HB 1403: patriotic organizations

n SB 994: student transportation safety

Memorial: Long-time residents gather at Cape Coral Yacht Club

From page 14

just four years after the first family moved into the Cape’s first house on Riverside Drive

Nearly 2,000 residents welcomed the opening of what those first residents came to call “the hub and the heart” of their fledgling community

In 1973, it was sold to the city which operates the complex and grounds as a park.

The Yacht Club was set for refurbishment and upgrades as part of the city’s $60 million Parks Master Plan but the city began to explore the possibility of a more concerted redevelopment

Damage from Hurricane Ian which took out the pier and damaged most of the facilities then spurred a whole new vision

City Council voted to demolish most of the buildings to build a resort-style “destination ” Plans call for a new two-story community center, two resort-style pools, new piers and a four-story parking garage

The cost has not been determined but has been estimated as high as $110 million with possible funding to come from revenue bonds

The city also is exploring a public-private partnership, an arrangement that could help offset some of the construction and/or operational costs

Sharing memories

PHOTOS BY VALARIE HARRING

Above, Gloria Tate, Tom Hobel and Mark Fleming prepare to hang a memorial wreath at the Cape Coral Yacht Club last Friday The special wreath, at left, was created by SuEllen’s Floral Company in the Cape A group of longtime residents gathered at the Yacht Club Friday to share their memories and bid farewell to the soon-to-be demolished city building Below, Charlie Pease recalls the time he spent at the Yacht Club and in its ballroom over the years. He and his wife Erica held their wedding reception there. City officials have indicated that they expect the demolition of the Yacht Club facility to be completed by Memorial Day weekend, May 27.

LCEC opens new substation in Cape Coral

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A brand new Lee County Electric Cooperative substation opened for operation last week in Cape Coral, which officials say will meet the increasing energy demands of a rapidly-growing city

State and local elected officials, project partners, local business owners, and community members gathered to commemorate the milestone at a special ribbon cutting event held last Friday The ceremony featured remarks by LCEC CEO Denise Vidal and Chamber of Cape Coral President, Donna Germain LCEC officials said the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the energy needs of the community was the focus and project details were shared

“The Kismet substation, like other LCEC grid-hardening projects, is built with state-ofthe-art technology and robust planning and design to serve as part of the resilient LCEC electric grid,” Vidal said

Officials stated that the infrastructure “aims to alleviate pressure on surrounding facilities, which could eventually have been strained by the increased energy load stemming from new homes and businesses in the region ” The new Kismet substation is part of the LCEC long-term system plan, and that addressing the need for infrastructure and ensuring facilities are in place before the need becomes urgent

“As the community grows, the demand for energy also grows,” said LCEC spokesperson Karen Ryan “Eventually, existing electric facilities would feel the strain LCEC utilizes growth and energy demand forecasts to build facilities that allow for additional capacity and maintain electric system reliability For nearly 85 years, our goal has been to have the

infrastructure ready and reliable when it is needed for homes and businesses in the region ”

Planning for the facility began in 2021, with route selection, permitting, and material procurement having taken place in 2022

Ground broke in 2023, and the substation will serve roughly 10,000 homes

Ryan said the addition of this substation will allow for an alternate source of power if an outage occurs or when maintenance is performed at another substation in the region It provides a redundant source of power

She added, “It also reduces the strain on existing substations in the region as a result of growth and allows for more growth Fiber was also installed along the transmission line. This enhances the ability to monitor and manage the electric system to ensure reliable power for members ”

As for future plans for LCEC in Cape Coral pertaining to bolstering service for its customers, Ryan said, “LCEC works yearround to maintain and upgrade the electric grid for increased resiliency A consistent inspection process and vegetation management also helps to harden the system A new service center is slated for the long-term which will help for response and efficiency. On-going load forecasting helps to identify areas for increased growth and where future infrastructure will be needed so that construction can be completed before the need is critical ”

As for the impact of this new facility when it comes to strong storms or even hurricanes, Ryan said that fortunately, LCEC only sustained severe impacts to two substations after Hurricane Ian (Sanibel and Pine Island) due to storm surge

“Our ongoing analysis, inspection, and

maintenance helps with infrastructure resilience and reduce the amount of time customers are without power,” she said “Building facilities, such as the new Kismet substation, in anticipation of growth, helps to mitigate the impacts of a storm as much as possible Crews can begin rebuilding the poles and wires that deliver the power to homes and neighborhoods quicker ”

Ryan added that, “This project, and many

like it, could not be possible without the support of the local municipalities and county governments For the Kismet Substation specifically, the City of Cape Coral was instrumental in approving the location, easements, transmission route, and permitting We were able to focus on the construction and challenges related to supply chain disruptions and long lead times for materials ”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Co-op, city officials and other dignitaries cut the ribbon for LCEC’s new substation, which opened for operation last week in Cape Coral.

BUSINESS

Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer to close

Owner of Cape store to say goodbye with Rock ‘ n Art Expo and concert this Satuday

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A downtown Cape Coral establishment is closing its doors, and is inviting patrons to come out and partake in one last celebration with a Rock 'n Art Expo and concert this weekend

Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer has provided Southwest Florida with constant entertainment, being one of the remaining venues that celebrates the heart of rock music of all genres while providing a one-of-a-kind artist showcase to its walls The venue has hosted many of the region's most talented artists in music, comedy and art

Owner Sean Dunnigan welcomes the public this Saturday to celebrate Ollie’s with a good old fashioned "Irish Goodbye" by throwing a celebration of life party, and honoring the artists that have graced its walls, and inviting back some of Southwest Florida’s most popular rock bands and performance artists for a prohibition inspired theme

The celebration runs from 4 p m to close Attendees can enjoy live art, art classes, live music, belly and fire dancing, raffles, giveaways, art auctions, infused foods, prohibition photo ops, a vendor village and more.

Ollie's Pub Records and Beer is at 1019 Cape Coral Parkway, E

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Bonefish Grill in Cape to hold blood drive Monday

The Bonefish Grill at 900 S W Pine Island Road in Cape Coral will be holding a blood drive Monday, April 22, from noon to 6 p m Donors are asked to look for OneBlood's Big Red Bus

For their donation, participants will receive a $20 eGift Card, an insulated tote bag and a Bonefish Grill $10 Dining Certificate

A wellness checkup is included as part of the donation process

Appointments are available and walk-ins will be a c c e p t e d T o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t O n e B l o o d , v i s i t www oneblood org

New Jersey Mike’s Subs opens on Del Prado Boulevard

Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, opened Wednesday, April 17, at 1806 Del Prado Blvd., S., in Cape Coral.

Franchise owners Dylan Reid, Garett Teel, Sandra Teel and William Mulholland are holding a grand opening and fundraiser from Wednesday to Sunday, April 21, to support the Cape Coral High School Athletic Department Customers who received a special fundraising coupon distributed through a grassroots effort prior to the opening can make a minimum $3 contribution to Cape Coral High School Athletic Department in exchange for a regular sub Customers must have a coupon to be eligible

Guests can place orders in-store or for pickup through the website or through the Jersey Mike’s app Additionally, delivery is available in most areas through the Jersey Mike’s app or through third-party delivery partners Curbside pickup is available for orders placed in Jersey Mike’s app

Jersey Mike’s is looking for individuals interested in career opportunities with extraordinary growth potential to join their team Candidates who are passionate about customer service and connecting with their local community are invited to apply at jerseymikes com/careers

The new restaurant’s hours are 10 a m to 9 p m , seven days a week You can contact this location directly at 239-443-5218

Culver’s opens in North Fort Myers

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

North Fort Myers now has a Culver's For people in love with their famous Butterburgers and frozen custard, that's good news

T h e n e w C u l v e r ’ s o p e n e d M o n d a y a c r o s s f r o m Merchants Crossing at 2974 Pine Island Road, adjacent to a new development which should bring in a built-in audience

Dozens had already arrived at the new location 30 minutes before the 10 a m ribbon cutting to be the first to order food and perhaps grab some Culver’s swag, which included free frozen custard for a year

For them and for owner Miguel Carmona, it was a long time coming since his first interview with the company with Justin Lawler, who is now his partner

“Today, I’m opening my first Culver’s Me and my wife have been with them since 2014 and it’s been a goal to open a store of our own,” Carmona said “From day one, I was motivated and driven and today, we get to achieve that goal ”

Lawler was already opening his second Culver’s 10 years ago and now owns 11 Carmona said if Lawler can do what he’s done, he could, too

Carmona said Culver’s success is because they are something between fast food and casual dining, with the Butterburgers and frozen custard their signature items

“Everything comes straight from the farm to the table You can’t get that anywhere else It’s quality over quantity,” said Carmona, whose 11-year-old son, Miguel Jr , and wife, who was born and raised in the area, was also there for the happy occasion

The impact of Culver’s for the North Fort Myers community is expected to be huge It will not only employ close to 80 people, but also be a contributor to the community

It showed that months before they opened by offering frozen custard to the golfers at the Calvin Peete Golf Classic in October

It has become a member of the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Wendy Murray, executive director, said the new Culver’s is a great addition to the area,

Partners

along with the new Starbucks

“We are excited to have something like Culver’s come into our community I’m a huge fan The pot roast sandwich is excellent and the custard is great,” Murray said “They are a great community partner and will host some events here.”

Carmona said there were some hiccups with permitting that delayed the opening, but thankfully everyone was patient and the day has finally arrived Now, locals don’t have to go to the other end of Cape Coral or South Fort Myers for Culver’s

Phil Metzler is a huge fan of Culver’s and was happy to see the new location open

“It’s just good fast food It’s right there with Chick-filA P e o p l e f r o m W i s c o n s i n a n d t h e M i d w e s t l o v e Culver’s,” Metzler said “It’s in a great location with an apartment complex right behind us that I’m sure they’re going to get lots of people from there ”

Owen-Ames-Kimball completes

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, a general contractor with a longstanding presence in Southwest Florida, has completed the second phase of Lee Health’s Outpatient Center at Surfside, situated at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Surfside Boulevard in Cape Coral

Phase two of the project marks an expansion of the twostory complex, which initially opened its doors in 2015 Located at 2441 Surfside Blvd , this outpatient facility provides Pine Island and Cape Coral residents convenient access to a wide range of healthcare services under one roof

The newly constructed two-story building seamlessly integrates with the existing facility, enhancing its capacity and offerings Spanning approximately 15,321 square feet, the expansion includes finished medical offices, exam rooms, treatment bays and point-of-care testing areas Additionally, the project involved the demolition and reconstruction of connection points with the existing facility and the expansion and reconfiguration of the site plan, resulting in the addition of sixty-six parking spaces

O-A-K oversaw the implementation of new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection systems, site utilities, and a robust, rigid insulation roofing system, ensuring longevity and efficiency

“We take immense pride in our collaboration with Lee Health on the second phase of the Outpatient Center at Surfside, which will significantly enhance access to primary and specialized services for residents and visitors alike,” saidd Matthew Zwack, president of O A-K Florida Kevin James was the project manager, and Kristen Raposa was the project engineer Jordan Fike and John Bojczuk provided leadership as superintendents Plunkett

Raysich Architects, LLP was the architect for the project

O-A-K offers commercial construction services to clients in Michigan, Florida, and Colorado Owen-AmesKimball Company has provided general contracting, design-build, and construction management services in Southwest Florida since 1982 An employee-owned company, O-A-K Florida, Inc 's board of directors comprises members from the company's Florida operations

O-A-K's Florida operation is an affiliate of its parent company in Grand Rapids, Michigan The Florida operation has offices in Collier and Lee counties Its Lee County office is at 11941 Fairway Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Learn more about O-A-K at www owen-ames-kimball com or call 239-561-4141

CHUCK BALLARO

Justin Lawler and Miguel Carmona before the grand opening of the new Culver's at 2974 Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers on Monday

Moratorium: City of Cape Coral puts pause on car washes and self-storage facilities

From page 1

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n t h e i r p r o p e r t y i s u n f a i r l y a f f e c t e d b y g o v e r n m e n t a c t i o n ” S h e a l s o c i t e d S e n a t e B i l l 2 5 0 , s e ct i o n 1 4 , w h i c h s t a t e s t h a t “ a c o u n t y o r m u n i c i p a l i t y l o c a t e d e n t i r e l y o r p a r t i a l l y w i t h i n 1 0 0 m i l e s o f w h e r e e i t h e r H u r r i c

Champion: Top competitor celebrates her Irish heritage through traditional & creative dance

From page 1

in Florida, compared to weekly competitions in Ireland

The ability to compete all the time was helpful in preparation for the competition, she added,

This was her second time staying in Dublin in preparation for the Worlds

The freestyle category provides a way for dancers to stimulate creativity and expression in Irish dance, without restrictions to arm or head movements She said freestyle allows for more creativity and expression of dancers in a more modern way

“To compete in that I had to be World qualified,” Urbanek said

S h e q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e W o r l d Championship by earning the title of the World Medal holder in the Ladies and Girls Solo Championship last year by placing ninth

The training was a little bit different for freestyle as it is geared a bit more towards a performance style of dancing Urbanek said it ties in the fitness, intensity, and techniques

“It allows to express emotion, performance and cater to the audience in a different way,” she said

The performance, a hard shoe Irish dance routine choreographed by Urbanek, was a minute and a half at a very fast tempo

“I am used to traditional competitions, which I love so much This was a really cool, different way to express Irish dancing I love to tap into the performance aspect It gave me a different love for Irish dancing ”

Of Irish heritage, she and her family took part in many cultural activities, often

“I am used to traditional competitions, which I love so much.

This was a really cool, different way to express Irish dancing. I love to tap into the performance aspect It gave me a different love for Irish dancing ”

Meagan Urbanek

attending festivals when she was young

Her grandparents told her she had to do Irish dancing

“I started when I was 5 and haven’t s t o p p e d , ” t h e F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t University senior said

Urbanek is studying health science and will graduate in the fall She said her dream is to tour with shows “Lord of the Dance,” or “River Dance ”

“I would love to be a dance teacher and open up a studio here in town and teach other kids to Irish dance and show my love of Irish dance,” she said

Urbanek dances for Aisling Scoil Rince and her teacher is Geraldine French, in Estero

Her winning performance can be found a t https://youtu be/2sVMG0paan0?si=fEkW wUC1Yir-Lbrb

M e a g a n U r b a n e k , w h o w a s crowned the World Champion for freestyle Irish Dance, with Michael Flatley, who introduced the competitive category in 2023

PHOTO PROVIDED

Arrest: Cape Police say additional arrests are coming in the shooting death of Kayla Rincon-Miller

From page 1

SPORTS

What is whitebait?

Southwest Florida fishing newbies often ask: “I keep hearing guides and local anglers talk about using ‘whitebait’ for fishing What do they mean? What is it, and where can I buy it or find it?”

Whitebait, or pilchards, are small baitfish used by live bait anglers to catch several varieties of game and food fish, especially snook Typically captured by “chumming” them close to the boat, collected and then deposited in well aerated live wells within the boat, they are transported and used during the fishing day

Basically, chumming means small amounts of prepared fish feed the size of your thumbnail are tossed into the water every 10 to 20 seconds, which is then carried by the current creating a chum slick out behind the boat attracting baitfish close to the back of the boat or food source

Capt George Tunison

“Chum” can be storebought or homemade, typically consisting of a combination of a solids like oatmeal or tropical fish food flakes, menhaden oil and cans of jack mackerel mixed together in the proper ratio ending up as a sort of paste

If you’ve done things right you should start to see pilchards and other bait like pinfish show in your chum slick With the boat anchored at both ends to keep it from spinning, the proper mesh size cast net (usually a 10-foot wide x 3/8-inch mesh) is then thrown and hopefully soon you’ll have a live well full of fresh bait Most bait is chummed on the flats but can also be collected around structure like pilings or channel markers

This is a simplified explanation about the “art” of chumming Spending some time with an experienced chummer will help you get with the program as there are several other variables to consider like when to chum, how much to chum, current flow, best times, seasons and locations, etc One thing for sure, fresh baits like these often prove irresistible to our local gamefish, especially snook

With water temps in the mid-70s, fishing isn’t quite on fire but definitely heating up and will only improve as it continues to warm Anglers are seeing, hooking and catching some tarpon in the typical locations like Boca Grande with shrimp one of the best bait choices, and lures like the reliable DOA Baitbuster also getting the nod for the casting crowd That being said, there have been reports of a few tarpon anglers already reporting multiple hookups so the best bet is to try your luck now rather than waiting for consistent reports

See WHITEBAIT, page 41

APRIL

CCSAPS Weekender Group gathers at Boathouse 31

Special to The Breeze news@breezenewspapers com

Despite some intermittent morning winds, the Cape Coral Sail and Power Squadron’s Weekender Group met at Marker 68 on the southwest side of the Midpoint Bridge over the Caloosahatchee River Saturday, April 13, for its monthly boating venture The departure was delayed a few minutes as the boat captains discussed the river conditions and how rough the ride might be

An alternative destination was proposed in North Fort Myers but as it turned out, the river cooperated, and the vessels were able to pick up to speeds above 20 miles an hour to their destination This day, the destination was Boathouse 31 in Fort Myers, about an hour trek north on the Caloosahatchee River, past the Power Plant, and Manatee Park

Tides were low and winds still present late morning when the group arrived at the restaurant for lunch, however, everyone assisted each other to provide for a safe docking of the vessels Present in the group were five vessels, captained by Curt Collins, Ed Estes, Jerry Feldmen, Jeff Maddy and the group leader, Scott Fergen, totaling 23 people The restaurant staff were quick to set tables up for the group upon arrival and got drinks ordered as the group decided what to eat for lunch

Wednesday Baseball

Weekenders is a monthly outing group of the CCSAPS chaired by Fergen, a Sail and Power Squadron member. The group is open to all members of the Squadron, however, passengers on a members’ boat do not have to be members of the Squadron It’s a great way for Squadron members to take out friends and meet, exchange fellowship, improve boat handling skills with other boaters and for their boat guests, learn about the activities of the Squadron

For those wanting to avoid some of the weekend congestion on local waters, another Squadron group, the Weekdayers, chaired by Doug Benton, also meets monthly with the same objective: rendezvous at a central location and venture out as a group, but, as the name implies, they gather on weekdays, usually Tuesdays or Thursdays, instead of Saturday

Rendezvous locations and times for both Weekenders’ and Weekdayers’ locations vary depending on the destination, usually around 10 a m , and most vessels participating are back at their home docks between 2-3 p m Vessels monitor their VHF radios at all times should conditions warrant a change in destination or to update skippers of docking conditions at their destination restaurants

For more information about either the Weekenders or Weekdayers or joining the Squadron, contact the CCSAPS at 239-549-9754 or webinfo@ccsaps org

PREP REPORT

Witter (NFM) 12 46

Oasis 11, Lehigh 2: Gabriel Gair drove in four runs, leading the Sharks (11-6) past the Lightning Grayson Medico and Sean Osborn had two RBI each Medico pitched four innings for the win Both runs against him were unearned

Mariner 13, Gateway 3 (6 innings): The Tritons (1012) scored three runs in each of the last three innings to put the game away Ryan Kotarski was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Sam Guth scored three runs, stole two bases and was one of five Tritons -- along with Jacob Gorra, Romero Gist, Trenton Taylor and Xavier Muentes -- with one run batted in

Softball

Oasis 15, Lehigh 5 (5 innings): Madison Hartsgrove went 3-for-3, scored three runs and drove in three for the Sharks (5-13) Jetta Fisher had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI

Immokalee 14, Mariner 2: Mia Standard drove in both Tritons (10-9) runs

Lely 19, Island Coast 0 (3 innings): Taylor Brown, Adrianna Curry and Ashlynn Curry had hits for the Gators,

Girls Lacrosse District 1A-11

Championship

Canterbury 10, Bishop Verot 7: The fourth-seeded Cougars, who had already upset top seed Fort Myers, took the district title from No 2 Bishop Verot

Boys Lacrosse District 1A-12

Championship

Community School of Naples 15, Bishop Verot 4: The Vikings, seeded second, fell to the top-seeded Seahawks

Track and Field

LCAC Championships

At Cypress Lake Girls

Team scores: Fort Myers 152, North Fort Myers 113, Lehigh 110, Dunbar 70, Ida Baker 48, Cape Coral 45, Estero 42, Gateway 36, Riverdale 29, Island Coast 21, Bonita Springs 17, South Fort Myers 10, Cypress Lake 6, East Lee County 2, Mariner 1.

Individual events:

100 meters: 1 Kayla Hopkins (D) 12 04 3 Mi'Kayla

200: 1 Kayla Hopkins (D) 25 00 3 Mi'Kayla Witter (NFM) 26 31

400: 1 Torrie Gary (L) 54 64 3 Skyla Stevens (NFM) 1:00 80 5 Emily Wilson (IB) 1:03 65

800: 1 Gianna Del Pizzo (L) 2:21 53

1600: 1 Gianna Del Pizzo (L) 5:13 13 4 Riley

McFarland (CC) 5:41 20

3200: 1. Gianna Del Pizzo (L) 12:09.58. 3 Hannah

Green (CC) 13:05 41

100 hurdles: 1 Sanaa Geter (L) 15 08 3 Noel Davis

(NFM) 16 18

400 hurdles: 1 Joelle White (FM) 1:06 75 4 Samarrah

Desir (IC) 1:12 44 5 Kayleen Rodgers (IC) 1:14 73

4x100: 1 Dunbar 48 49 2 North Fort Myers (Mia

Viera, Mi'Kayla Witter, Karmen Rich, Noel Davis) 49 33 3 Cape Coral (Yolandy Vassania, Mckinzie Acide, Milan

Laurent, Kyra Hayes) 51 28 4 Island Coast (Ivianna Ivy, Keman Lacomme, Sandra Moore, Kayleen Rodgers) 52 18

4x400: 1 Lehigh 4:02 71 5 Ida Baker (Lexi Klutsarits, Taylor Coates, Addison Kalbhenn, Aubrey Tansey) 4:25 99

4x800: 1 Fort Myers 10;23 50 3 Cape Coral (Riley

McFarland, Makiah Michaels, Mia Moran, Hannah Green): 10;42 99 5 North Fort Myers (Alexis Neumann, Jayden

Mitchell, Karina Vega, Skyla Stevens) 11:00 23

High jump: 1 Noel Davis (NFM) 1 57m 3 Addison

Kalbhenn (IB) 1 47m 5 Mia Viera (NFM) 1 47m

Pole vault: 1 Giovanna Molloy (NFM) 3 25m 2 Haley

McKinnon (NFM) 2 55m 3 Addison Kalbhenn (IB) 2 55m 5 Ivianna Ivy (IC) 2 25m

Long jump: 1 Rianne Smith (L) 5 30m 3 Mckinzie

Alcide (CC) 5 23m

Triple jump: 1. Sanaa Geter (L) 12:05m.

Shot put: 1 Julia Lemmon (FM) 12 49m 2 Brooke

Hankinson (NFM) 9 81m

Discus: 1 Sarah Hopkins (BS) 30 73m 4 Katherine

Castaneda (IB) 24 95m

Javelin: 1 Kennedy Siedl (NFM) 30 27m 2 Giovanna Molloy (NFM) 28 49m

Boys

Team scores: Dunbar 151, Fort Myers 144 83, Lehigh 62, Ida Baker 49, Cypress Lake 45 33, North Fort Myers 43, Riverdale 32, South Fort Myers 32, Island Coast 30, Mariner 26, Cape Coral 23 5, Estero 19 33, Gateway 19, Bonita Springs 13, East Lee County 12

From page 41

Individual events:

100 meters: 1 Dandre Morrison (D)

10 86

200: 1. Dorian Mallary Jr. (L) 21.75.

400: 1 Dorian Mallary Jr (L) 48 59

800: 1 Joshua Dorestin (D) 1:58 08

1600: 1 Joseph Koraya (FM) 4:31 08

3 Nazayer Franco (CC) 4:35 96 4 Jake

Jacoby (CC) 4;42 31

3200: 1 Craig Allard (FM) 9:54 56 2

Angel Cruz (M) 9:55 66 3 Antonio Snyder (IC) 10:13 62

110 hurdles: 1 Thiago Lopes (FM)

14 90 3 Thom Neely (IB) 15 57

400 hurdles: 1 Ramon Martinez (D)

57 63 3 Antonio Snyder (IC) 1:00 02

4x100: 1 Fort Myers 42 00 4 Mariner (Nathaniel Clark, Kaelan Davidson, McNathan Sainvil, Steven Carter) 43 95 4x800: 1 Dunbar 8:08 98 4 Cape

Coral (Jake Jacoby, Nazayer Franco, Ryan Mitchinson, Ethan Lukow) 8:37 12 5

North Fort Myers (Brody Hill, Michael Creus, Martin Garcia, Bryce Napier) 8:37 63

High jump: 1 Alex Thelusma (FM)

1 82m 5 West Powell (IB) 1 72m

Pole vault: 1 Caden Frana (FM) 4 05m

3. Dustin Castagna (NFM) 3.90m. 5. Nick

Coppola (IB) 3 75m

Long jump: 1 Michael McDonald (SFM) 7 07m

Triple jump: 1 Ja'Quann Anderson (L) 13.27m. 2. Mike Luma (IB) 13.19m.

Shot put: 1 James Johnson (NFM)

14 99m 2 Adrian Stone (NFM) 14 73m 3

Steven Alvarez (IC) 12 67m

Discus: 1 Shedrick Townsend (M) 37 70m 3 Steven Alvarez (IC) 35 68m

Javelin: 1 Gage Blanchard (IB) 43 41m 3 Owen Fife (NFM) 40 80m

Tuesday Girls Tennis

District 1A-12

At Community School of Naples

The Oasis Sharks earned District 1A-12 runner-up honors in the tournament in Naples Community School of Naples was the district champion Oasis' Sophia Abreu, Emily Feichthaler and Suzanne Greco all reached the finals of their singles levels Abreu and Sophia Pollard lost a close match at No 1 doubles Bishop Verot's Olivia Kushner won the No 3 singles title

District 3A-16

At Charlotte

Team scores: Charlotte 16, North Fort Myers 14, Braden River 13, Bradenton Southeast 13, Ida Baker 9, Cape Coral 6,

Parrish 6

District champion: Charlotte Runnerup: North Fort Myers

Singles champions: 1 Nomee Smarty (BR). 2. Alexis Neumann (NFM). 3. Kendall Carrico (C) 4 Janelle Bombino (CC) 5 Juliette Olarte (C)

Doubles champions: 1 Jones/Hamilton (IB) 2 Clancy/Carrico (C)

Baseball

Island Coast 3, Canterbury 2 (8 innings): The Gators (13-8) forced extra innings as Mason Blackburn scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning Island Coast then walked off with the win as Blackburn singled to score Isaac Lopez. Ryan Mueller held the Cougars to one hit and two unearned runs over six innings, then Hunter Fretwell worked two innings of scoreless relief for the win

Ida Baker 5, Fort Myers 3: The Bulldogs (9-8) put up all five runs in the bottom of the first, enough to give Ryan Torres the win Torres pitched six innings, with Cayden Farmer working the seventh for a save Michel Valdez drove in three of Ida Baker's runs, with Janiel PeguerroRodriguez and Torres adding an RBI each

Naples 2, North Fort Myers 1: Naples pushed across the winning run in the bottom

of the seventh inning Haden Staruk went six-plus innings for the Red Knights (6-13), allowing two unearned runs on three hits and a walk

Softball

LaBelle 10, North Fort Myers 9: The Red Knights (13-4) tied the game at 9 with a five-run sixth inning, only to have the Cowgirls (16-6) score what would be the game-winner in the bottom of the inning Axlynn Gomes went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI for North, while Abigail Hynes had two doubles and a homer, driving in two runs and scoring three

Riverdale 5, Mariner 1: Stephanie Saracione was 2-for-3, driving in the Tritons' run. Mariner was 10-7 with the loss.

Fort Myers 18, Ida Baker 7: The Green Wave scored 10 runs in the final two innings to pull away for the win The loss left the Bulldogs 8-7 on the season

Cape Coral 13, East Lee County 2 (5 innings): The Seahawks (8-7) put the Jaguars away with a nine-run fifth inning Emma Brannan, Kesia Gonzalez, Abigail Brannan and Isabel Watts had a RBI each Brannan stole five bases and scored three times

Naples 8, Oasis 2: The Sharks dropped to 4-13

Whitebait: Chumming and using pilchards to fish local waters

From page 41

Remember, tarpon will hit casted Baitbusters but will also eat them suspended under floats especially in the coming summer months especially in Charlotte Harbor

Wind is still the problem for those heading offshore but when a safe day is available the lack of fishing pressure is sure to mean very hungry bottom dwellers Nearshore numbers will also host a large variety of hungry wind neglected fish as well ranging from end of season sheepshead, to various snappers, sharks,

king and Spanish macs, freshly arriving permit and bound-to-show-up-anywhere cobia Best bet is to carry multiple rods and set-ups for different species you might encounter Often fish are seen but quickly gone after spending several minutes hurriedly rigging.

With most local snook heading to the coast, this is a great time for intercepting them along the way which to me means pitching and flipping docks in the lower Caloosahatchee and along ICW Pick a line of docks and go to work carefully picking them apart with accurate side arm skip casts getting your offering back and under in the

CAPE CORAL ANIMAL SHELTER

Zuri

Looking for a loving home

Zuri is a 5 to 7-year-old female

She is a smaller medium-sized adult dog with a heart as big as her love for burrowing under blankets! She is a friendly gal, though she might be a bit shy when you first meet Give her a little time, and she'll warm up faster than you can say “treat!”

Figgy is an 8 to 11-year-old female

She is a seasoned senior lady with a heart full of love With her beautiful, longhaired coat, she brings a touch of elegance to any room While it may take her a moment to warm up, once she gets to

know you, she is all cuddles and purrs

If you are interested in meeting any of the animals available for adoption at The Cape Coral Animal Shelter, visit its website at www capecoralanimalshelter com for additional information

The shelter is located at 325 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral, and hours of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 5 p m , and Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p m

Please call 239-573-2002 for additional information

dark danger zones The Cape Bridge and Sanibel Causeway are also great early snook targets as well Lots of smaller snook and redfish are being reported along mangrove edges, especially in Bull and Turtle bays and both sides of Charlotte Harbor Chum up a flats shark this month and

enjoy exciting high-speed, drag-burning action

Capt George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide You can contact him at 239-282-9434 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.

Magical palms: Local favorites

From page 18

one the few palms that stays very small with dark green foliage with a full appearance Its growth habit is shrub-like because it suckers (grows baby plants) from its base Cat palms are easy to grow They like fertilization three times a year with palm fertilizer like all Palms Remember, there is no fertilization from June 1 to Oct 1 in Cape Coral

The Areca palm is not one of my favorites, however, they are great for inexpensive screening if you are looking for privacy The natural color of the frond tends to be yellowish and you can expect some brown fronds if you don’t want to maintain (cut off fronds) The Christmas palm is one of the most popular palms for home use because of its remarkable appearance and small size It generally reaches only 15 feet in height This palm is easy to grow and it

is self-cleaning (the old fronds fall off by themselves). One of my favorites! All of these small palms are great for your entry, center of a circular drive, corner of the house, focal point, borders and shading sunny windows When you plant your palm trees always allow room for growth especially near your lanai and home entrance

In the creation of your “tropical paradise” garden you will incorporate many different plants, shrubs and trees for color, texture, balance and rhythm Most important for me is the magic of palms

I’d like to leave you with this gardening inspiration from Claude Monet: "My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece " Happy gardening!

Ann Block is Past President of the Garden Club of Cape Coral Visit our website at www gardenclubofcapecoral com Like us on Facebook!

Reactions: Trump trial under way

From page 14

was granted a short break in the trial schedule to allow attendance at his son's graduation is appalling ”

Jim Rosinus, chair of the Democratic Party of Lee County, also shared his thoughts

“While it has been too long in coming, the trial of Donald J Trump in New York is a good thing for the United States and the rule of law in our nation,” Rosinus said via email “Regardless of the eventual outcome, it is vitally important that no individual can ever be above the law, not even, and not especially, presidents We are all subject to the Constitution and the laws that flow from it Without that most basic truth,

we become a nation of men subject to the whims of whichever potential tyrant is in power at the moment and no nation can function successfully or for long under those circumstances Mr Trump deserves a fair trial and a fair verdict but he cannot, simply by virtue of his former office, be excused from the responsibilities and obligations that fall on all citizens ”

Members of the media state the jury selection process could take several more days, or weeks, as it has been difficult to find individuals who can provide a fair trial

Information reported by the Associated Press regarding the status of the trial is included in this report

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