Pine Island Eagle

Sweet Floret Cakery in Matlacha striving to find the pulse of the island community

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Jodi Trusty began making beautiful desert creations 7 years ago, when her children were grown After focusing on being a stay-at-home mom through the years, she explored her own talents after a friend told her she was getting married and Trusty suggested she make her friend’s wedding cake

Success from that experience brought about another commitment to yet another friend and it wasn’t long before Trusty conceded to the fact that elegant pastry creation was, in fact, in her wheelhouse Although she progressively grew her clientele as a licensed home baker,

Trusty would need a commercial kitchen in order to sell to coffee shops and other retailers

“I wanted to get a commercial kitchen so I could sell in different stores,” said Trusty, owner of Sweet Floret Cakery in Matlacha

Her son had also just opened his own coffee shop (Good Ground Coffee) in downtown Fort Myers and Trusty wanted to be able to add her product to his inventory Retail sales in Matlacha were always a part of her plan, she said, because she always wanted to cater to this particular area

“When he opened his shop, that really pushed me to take another drive out to Matlacha and when I did, and I

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Chuck Koucky

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Chuck Koucky first lived on Pine Island in 1976 in a tent with his dog inside a grapefruit grove. Although many might call him an artist, Koucky said he considers himself a craftsperson, in that, his work is more functional than abstract

“I’m not creative but I like working with my hands and I like people. I enjoy teaching because I like the students,” Koucky said

When he’s not teaching, or making pottery or string i n s t r u m e n t s , K o u c k y s a i d t h e r e w a s a t i m e , p r e Hurricane Ian, when you would often find him sailing, until he felt the need to come back home and begin again He credits wife, Nancy, for her artistic bent, in coming up with original designs they use to laser cut or engrave onto items made of wood, leather or slate.

“That’s kind of a new direction we’re playing with in the last year I’m still making pots, I’m still making guitars I’m not sailing so much, but now we’ve added the laser stuff so there’s always something going on,” Koucky said.

Koucky said his love for Pine Island becomes most obvious by the fact that he simply won’t leave After previously having lived in Naples for 13 years, Koucky said they waited until their kids were no longer in school and followed some friends over He admits he and Nancy had never felt the love and joy they were able to find here immediately

“ W h e n w e w e r e f i r s t c h e c k i n g t h i n g s o u t , w e brought the kids up and while out grocery shopping, my daughter said, ‘You should like it here, they all look like you,’ which in Naples, people did not After a year here, we had so many friends I stayed through Charley and I stayed through Ian I’m more comfortable here during a hurricane than anywhere else and I’m not going to leave,” Koucky said

Koucky explained the helpful nature of islanders, which was brought about in each emergency he’s experienced on Pine Island Watching locals work together

to bring about the best outcome went a long way toward making him feel as though Pine Island was the best place to be during an emergency He described Pine Island as an island without beaches, saying you’re minutes from being on the water, which is terrific if you

saw the building that I’m in, I knew that it was the one It was totally in shambles, but I could envision it, and then I had to convince my husband of that When he walked in, he said he could see it, too, and so I knew that the time was right and I knew that this was the building,” Trusty said

Going forward, Trusty said, she hopes to continue to serve the Matlacha community regardless of whether anyone walks through the door of her shop Currently, she is able to take on many different types of events, which is not dependent on a busy store, she said

FDOT public workshop on Pine Island Road

Shared

Use Path Feasibility Study May 7

The Florida Department of Transportation invites interested Southwest Florida residents to a public works

Stringfellow Road to Veterans Memorial Parkway, in Lee County

This study will evaluate the feasibility of connecting the existing shared use path network and providing a connection between Pine Island, Matlacha and Cape Coral In addition, this project will evaluate potential “Complete Streets” elements to be incorporated into the corridor to help provide a safe and viable travel option for all users

This public workshop is being conducted to present the preliminary concepts and provide the opportunity for the public to express their views about the project

You can participate in two ways: live online or in-person The same materials will be displayed at both events

In-person option: Tuesday, May 7, anytime between 5-7 p m , at Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road, N.W., Bokeelia, FL 33922. Project information will be available for review and comment The project team will be available for discussion

Live online option: Thursday, May 9, 6-7 p m Register in advance: https://bitly ws/3edMq This event will include a viewing of the project information showed at the in-person workshop There will also be a live question-and-answer component with the project team

If you are unable to attend the workshop, comments can also be provided through the project webpage h

email Steven Andrews@dot state fl us or mail (FDOT

, Bartow, FL 33830) While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by May 17, 2024, to be included in the formal workshop record Questions can be

See CHUCK KOUCKY, page 2 See SWEET FLORET CAKERY, page 9

page 16

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANCY KOUCKY Chuck Koucky.

The Beacon of Hope has scheduled the following activities for the month of May:

■ Samaritan Health and Wellness, a primary care clinic, is now open at the Beacon every other Wednesday from 8 a m to 4 p m This clinic provides care for the uninsured and underinsured The cost is $50 Help is available if needed People of all ages are welcome Mental health

s e r v i c e s a r e a l s o a v a i l a b l e I n M a y , Samaritan will be open Wednesday 1st, 15th and 29th, Call 239-360-7520 to make an appointment

■ C a s e M a n a g e r s a r e a v a i l a b l e o n Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. They can help with government programs and economic issues Call to make an appointment

■ Beacon Bites (our meals on wheels) are available Call if you need to sign up

■ Transportation to medical appointments and treatments is available to anywhere in Lee County Please call and reserve 48 hours before your appointment

■ GED classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 2 p m

■ ESOL classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p m

■ The Food Bank is presently on hold The Emergency Pantry is available on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

■ Blood pressure screening is available every Wednesday from 1-2 p m and Saturday morning from 9-10 a m

■ The Veteran’s Support group meets on the first Friday of every month from 9 a m to 12:30 p m Call 239-283-5123 to make an appointment

Beacon of Hope sets schedule of activities, programs for May Chuck

■ Fundraising Committee – Monday, May 29, at 10 a m Tickets will be available starting May 21 for another Beacon Madness Scratch Off Raffle. Tickets will be available at the Beacon The drawing will be at the American Legion on July 4

■ Strange Arrangement – Monday, 67:30 p m A musical experience

■ Pine Island Boy and Cub Scouts will be meeting Wednesday evenings at 6 at the Methodist Church

■ Girl Scout Troop will meet on Friday nights at 6

■ The Attic (Thrift Store) is open Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 3 p.m. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 3 .pm. Donations are accepted until 2:30 p m unless they get overloaded Every Tuesday is 50% off clothing, shoes and similar items The 50% off “almost everything” will be Tuesdays, May 7 and May 21

T h e B e a c o n o f H o p e , 5 0 9 0 D o u g

Taylor Circle, St James City, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a m to 5 p m Computers, fax and printer are available for use Case Managers are available at these times, as is the Grants Manager. Contact the Beacon at 239-2835123

PIE Word Wizards

Pine Island Elementary School celebrated learning new words at its Vocabulary Parade on Friday, April 19. Students and staff dressed as advanced words for the parade and became Word Wizards. The first place Word Wizard was Shane Gross in Mrs. Frahm’s kindergarten class with the word archaic The second place Word Wizard was Mason Player in Mr Beemer ’s fourth grade class with the word incognito The third place Word Wizard was Mason Ordway in Mrs Rigsby’s first grade class with the word integrity The top staff Word Wizard was Regina Notarianni with the words complainer and bellyacher It was a successful event with many families attending Way to go PIE!

Koucky Studios are at 5971 Bay Point Road in Bokeelia

PHOTO PROVIDED

OPINIONS

Phone: (239) 283-2022

Fax: (239)

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor

Valarie Harring

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Editor Paulette LeBlanc

pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Advertising Director

Laurie Ragle

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Obituaries

Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers com

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Circulation (239) 574-1936

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A wish for Florida waters

I had a lifelong dream A life just to be on, in and harvest our waters First a kid on the Chesapeake Bay, 27 years in the Florida Keys and in 2014, owning a small waterfront motel in Matlacha, giving boat tours to guests from around the world A place to live the rest of my life fulfilling passions in paradise My dream came true

Then came 2016, first time I learned of h a r m f u l c y a n o b a c t e r i a a l g a e T h e t o x i c bloom blanketed the Caloosahatchee River and Cape Coral canals I stood on my dock and thought, "If that bloom comes here, my business will be destroyed; I will have to leave

2017 saw a reprieve but not for long. Summer of 2018 brought the worst red tide in history to Southwest Florida Dead sea life blanketed beaches for months Businesses shuttered doors Millions of dollars were lost daily Laid-off employees were forced into lines at food banks My two businesses' revenue went to zero Fortunately, I survived the downturn; many businesses did not Many folks were forced away; dreams of paradise lost

Watching degradation accelerate, I began a deep dive on the 1,000 cuts killing Florida - agricultural pollution flowing into Lake Okeechobee, phosphate mining, failing infrastructure, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and ultimately failed legislative and regulatory stewardship cored in a framework of failure that does nothing until harmful impacts reach a point of no return favoring remedia-

New Beacon Buggy ready to roll

To the editor:

The Beacon of Hope has a new Beacon Buggy to keep our successful transportation program on the move This new vehicle is capable of transporting our patients in wheelchairs The cost of the Buggy was paid for by a grant from United Way and The American Red Cross.

Web Poll

While the purchase of the Buggy was covered by the grants, the ongoing costs of insurance, fuel, repairs and driver payroll are left to the donations of the local community and the contributions of the passengers In 2023 the Beacon Buggy made 1,167 trips for our residents medical appointments so you can see how those costs might add up

If you live on the Pine Island or Matlacha communities and have need for transportation to a medical appointment within Lee County, including the VA Clinic in Cape Coral, call the Beacon of Hope to schedule your ride

tion over prevention I hoped for respite from now perpetual algae blooms No relief came L y

blooms grew rapidly covering sea grass beds My backyard w

algae emitting hydrogen sulfide gases sending neighbors t

s complained and left Decaying algae sinks to burn all oxygen from the waters overnight and we awoke to major fish kills FWC would bring dead manatees to the Matlacha boat ramp at the end of my canal for pickup Explaining all this to t o u r

became impossible

Capt Karl Deigert Guest

Commentary

Being vocal, I was asked to run for office Shortly thereafter I discovered the most expedient way to bring effective change "We the People" can create protective laws we want; the petition process to amend local city, county and state constitutions NO POLITICIAN REQUIRED! It has taken several years to help build the 2026 Florida's Right to Clean Water state constitut i o n a l a m e n d m e n t c a m p a i g n C o l l e c t i n g 900K signatures will end the biggest problem impacting Florida waters We will have t h e m i s s i n g t o o l t o h o l d s t a t

accountable for actions allowing harm to our waters and legal standing to bring civil

Women have a right to life

To the editor:

To our menfolk --

Imagine you’re sitting with your daughter, your sister, perhaps your wife, in an emergency room, and she’s bleeding At first, its watery and light pink, but now, its red, and there’s more of it

The doctors and nurses avoid your eyes, her eyes, the room you are in and look away, talking about a fetus, lawyers, permission, jail Time seems to have stopped Nothing is being done

This is not a bad dream This is real

No matter what your belief system, when it’s your kith and kin, you want someone to stop the bleeding. You want her to live.

You want her to have rapid, effective medical care Demand they take care of your

from taxpayers’ backs onto the

tions will benefit from this new law in achieving their mission statements

Ask your favorite groups if

amendment; if not, ask why not? and How can they not? The power this law will bring

included in every discussion f

"Blue Economy "

I had a dream, and it’s now a life goal forever lost June 2021 was when I determined, "It's time to leave "

Fortunate enough to have lived my dream, I now have a wish; I wish for all Floridians to join our 100% grassroots effort with volunteers and organizations supporting the campaign statewide You can be the change for Florida waters. Five minutes to print, sign and mail your petition; a few more to share it with friends For the price of a stamp, we can recapture our dreams of clean waters Please visit floridarighttocleanwater org today to make this new law a reality

Capt Karl R Deigert is chairman of Florida’s Right to Clean and Healthy Waters

Far mers are not water-quality bad guys

To the editor:

There’s a troubling trend of painting farme

Having grown up in Clewiston, I’ve witnessed firsthand how certain groups vilify our farming communities, jeopardizing not just our way of life but also the stability of our nation’s food supply

Glades-area farmers are responsible for feeding more than 180 million Americans a year Special interest groups have unfairly targeted them, particularly sugarcane farmers, while disregarding the realities faced by our many smaller, family-run operations

It’s important to set the record straight on

They’ve relentlessly pursued agendas that w

seeking to convert large pieces of productive farmland into restoration projects to solve various water issues throughout the region oblivious to the economic devastation and food shortages that would follow.

Despite farmers’ significant contributions to improving water quality over the years,

Jim Garnett Volunteer, Beacon Of Hope

womenfolk

Vote YES on Amendment Four. Allow them to save her life

ML Sheehan St. James City

Garden Club donates to island charities

From the proceeds of the 21st Annual Garden Gala, the Pine Island Garden Club recently donated $80,00 in support of four local charities Accepting their checks from President Marty Kendall are Carlyn Herring (Beacon of Hope), Nancy Ruedi (Pine Island Food Pantry) and Frank Potter (Calusa Land Trust).

Veteran's Assistance Program at Beacon enters seventh year

The Veteran’s Assistance Program has entered its seventh year at the Beacon of Hope

This all started in 2017 The program focused on helping veterans come forward and talk to a Veterans Service Officer, Rodney VanNess, a Pine Island veteran, about their individual needs This included health issues, financial needs, surviving dependent benefits and people already on claim awaiting the outcome of Veterans Administration decisions.

Since that date, through the program, face-to face private meetings have been held with over 140 deserving men and

women from wars and service dating back to the Korean War Many of those local veterans are caught in the bureaucratic time warp, common to large government institutions The island program and its officer allow nearly instant action on the individual circumstances the day they meet, often answering, advising, applying or solving the issues that day

Please come meet with us The program is intended to help veterans in any way possible. Meetings are held the first Friday of every month

Call the Beacon of Hope at 283-5123 for an appointment,

GPICA May meeting cancelled

The May meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association has been canceled due to a conflict with a Florida Department of Transportation meeting

The FDOT meeting will focus on the share-use path along Pine Island Road and the GPICA board urges its members and other Pine Islanders to attend that meeting, which is taking place at the United Methodist Church of Pine Island

Please mark your calendar:

The June 4 GPICA meeting’s main speaker will be James Evans, CEO of the S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a

tion, who will provide an update on the lab, along with the latest news from the P

established in June 2023 by concerned citizens and organizations in opposition

to increasing building height and density and opening the door for hundreds of new hotel rooms on Captiva Island The coalition includes more than 13,000 residents, organizations and other individuals who are opposed to this shortsighted plan that will forever change the character and safety of Captiva

O

expects to host a zoning officer from the Lee County Department of Community Development

GPICA meetings take place at 6:30 p m on the first Tuesday of every month a

Island, 5363 Avenue D, Bokeelia, FL 33922

Members and non-members are welcome

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lifespan of the bottlenose dolphin

I had a young girl onboard last week who asked if I knew who the oldest living bottlenose dolphin was I responded that our local dolphins can live to be 5060 years old, but I did not know who the oldest living dolphin was As

u s u a l , m y o n b o a r d guests inspire me to do the research

T h e o l d e s t k n o w n dolphin is a female bot-

t l e n o s e d o l p h i n w h o

l i v e d i n t h e S a r a s o t a Bay area Her name is Nicklo and researchers studying dolphin for the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program photographed her in 2016 when she was 66 years old The research team had known her since she was born

T h e l a s t c o n f i r m e d s i g h t i n g o f Nicklo was in 2017 and she is presumed to be deceased At the time of her death, she was 67 Nicklo gave birth to at least four calves during her life Her last calf, Eve, was born when Nicklo was 48. Nicklo even has a grandcalf

T h e S a r a s o t a D o l p h i n R e s e a r c h team documented 820 sightings of Nicklo during her 67 years in the wild The Sarasota Bay was Nicklo’s home for her entire life Many generations of bottlenose dolphins live in the bay

Dr Randy Wells, who is in charge of the program, is quoted as saying Nicklo was the oldest documented bottlenose dolphin in the world and that her age is equivalent to a 100year-old human

Dr Wells has been

was

high school volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory. He is now director of the Chicago Z

world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin

Sarasota Bay is a unique

learning about the biolo-

social structure, health and communication of dolphins, as well as the effects of human activities on them

S

recording sessions of 293 individual dolphins Each dolphin in the bay has a distinctive signature whistle The team knows the age, sex and the matrilineage for most of the dolphin recorded.

unprecedented work you and your team do by providing information and knowledge of our dolphin community

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters As a professional charter captain, she specializes in Dolphin a n d N a t u r e t o u r s P l e a s e v i s i t CaptainCathy.com or call /text 239 994-2572 Welcome aboard!

Lodge 2781 recognizes Elk of the Year and Officer of the Year

Each year the Greater Pine Island Elks recognizes one outstanding Elk member as the Elk of the Year and one outstanding officer as the Officer of the Year Elks Lodge 2781 recently named member Rob Hobmier as its “Elk of the Year” for 2 0 2 3 - 2 0 2 4 , a n d J o h n H o t z f i e l d a s i t s “Officer of the Year” in a ceremony during which they were awarded commemorative plaques

Hobmier was cited for his “outstanding work” as lodge auditor along with his ongoing support of the lodge’s projects and events In addition to his volunteer work at the Elks, Hobmier volunteers weekly at the Pine island Food Pantry PER Judy Hopkins stated, “His commitment to our order and to

the community is unparalleled By showing what Elkdom is all about, it was only fitting the Rob received the award for all that he has done ”

The Officer of the Year selection is made by the Past Exalted Rulers Association and Hotzfield was selected for his continuous and outstanding efforts concerning the duties of his office as five year trustee, and many other instances where he stepped up and offered his support of lodge activities He also volunteers outside the Elks for many other island organizations: F I S H , Pine Island Chamber and Matlacha Hookers He has recently been elected by the members of the Greater Pine Island Lodge 2781 to serve as the Exalted Euler for 2024-2025

Capt Cathy Eagle

Dolphin Tales

PHOTO PROVIDED

Elks honorees John Hotzfield, left, and Rob Hobmier.

May might be the best month on the water

April didn’t turn out to be the great weather month we were hoping for Fingers crossed for less windy days in May

May is a month that ranks high for anglers fishing in the coastal waters of Southwest Florida It could be our best time of the year for chasing big fish

On the Water

T

peak -- if you want to hook into a big tarpon, this is the time to do it Large schools gather off the beaches, as well as in Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay a

Tarpon, aka, the Silver King, are also targeted around the Sanibel Causeway, Matlacha Drawbridge at night and Gulf passes up and down the coast, with Boca Grande Pass getting the most attention It’s common to see upwards of a hundred boats on any given d

Grande Pass

O

afternoon/evening falling or hill tides anglers’ line up along weed lines to scoop up tasty little crabs that tarpon love If you are going to fish there do your homework first

Sharks large and small invade our waters from the shallow inshore flats to offshore Many of the larger females including bull, lemon and blacktip, move into inshore waters to give birth to their pups Sharks are an underrated game fish -- when caught on moderate tackle they are an absolute blast, especially high-flying blacktip and spinners Be careful when handling them, or better yet, leave them in the water If you cannot easily remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as possible Watch those teeth!

May is time for big snook to head for the Gulf passes and nearby areas for their upcoming summer spawning session. Although snook season is closed, they offer a challenge, and a lot of fun for the catch-and-release fishing If you hook into one, please handle it with extra care for a safe release Never hang a large fish to be released from its lips or mouth; this has proven to do irreversible damage to the heavier fish, often leading to its death, plus its illegal It’s best to not remove a big fish from the water at all, not just snook, but any big fish to be released If you remove one for a picture, hold it horizontal with both hands while supporting the belly Make it quick, snap the picture and return the fish to the water

Hooking into redfish, and some big ones, is possible throughout the month. Calm mornings or evenings give sight anglers on the skinny flats some great opportunities at stalking tailing fish Shallow draft skiffs, kayaks, canoes or getting in the water and wade fishing gives the angler a better chance to sneak up on fish in the calm, shallow waters As days get hotter, fish under the shade of the mangroves, docks or overhangs on the mid-day high tides The last couple of hours of the incoming tide are often most productive Redfish may run in size from little guys less than a foot, up to brutes pushing well over 30 inches Redfish eat a wide range of baits including live, cut and artificial

Mangrove snapper might be my favorite fish on the table They aren’t the biggest fish around, but they fight incredibly hard for their size and offer excellent table fare As we move closer to summer, expect numbers of snapper to increase throughout the inshore waters, Gulf passes and nearshore reefs

Spanish mackerel are harassing bait schools inshore, around the passes and nearshore artificial reefs Mackerel, with blazing speed, are a blast to fight and often run in large schools They are good on the table but should be eaten fresh not frozen While a stationary bait like a live shrimp under a bobber works for mackerel, they really like quick moving shiny baits. A fast retrieve with a small silver spoon is hard to beat

With the month bringing days with little to no wind, fishing offshore in Gulf waters is a good choice Long runs to deeper water give you the best chance for the larger bottom dwellers such as red grouper, snapper, porgy and others If you’re looking for a shorter trip and the

Her first snook was a good one! Julie Dorn caught and released her first snook measuring 30-plus inches in Charlotte Harbor fishing with Capt. Bill

potential for action, hit the nearshore reefs in depths from 20-50 feet. Coordinates are available for all public reefs, and most hold a variety of fish large and small This is a month to be prepared for anything; you never know what you might come across I like to always keep a heavier rod rigged and ready, just in case If you are fishing for tarpon or sharks, you already have the heavy arsenal out, but if you are just having fun on the flats with trout you never know when that once in a lifetime cobia or school of tarpon might show up Preparation and awareness are the key Have a rod that will handle the job

PHOTO PROVIDED

rigged and ready and pay attention to your surroundings If not, that trophy fish might just swim right by without you even knowing it The weather should be good and fishing even better Get out there and take advantage of it!

As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Flori-da, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years

Capt. Bill Russell

Russell.

Kiwanis Club scholarship application deadline today

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island will again be providing scholarships to Pine Island students as they have for the past 40-plus years

To qualify, each student must meet the following cri-

teria: Be a resident of Pine Island or have attended Pine Island Elementary School The applicant must either be a senior in high school or a high school graduate, either already in a post high school program or entering one

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

The Calusa Waterkeeper has reported the F.I.B. results from its testing efforts from Saturday, April 20. Capt. Codty Pierce offers a big thank you to the Rangers for helping cover the coastal community and supporting the Waterkeeper's continued sampling endeavors. A special thank you to Mike Lee and Ken Chernesky for assisting in the lab and donating their weekend to science! Here is a link to the website outlining CWK’s testing programs: https://calusawaterkeeper org/monitoring/

The applicant must also need financial assistance

Application forms are available at the following locations: Century 21 Office, 10191 Stringfellow Road, St James City, or Pine Island Public Library or it can be downloaded from PineIslandKiwanis org

The deadline for turning in the applications is today, May 1, at the Century 21 Office or they may be mailed (postmarked no later than May 1, 2024) to Scholarship Chairman, P O Box 111, St James City, Florida 33956

The Kiwanis Club of Greater Pine Island is proud to offer scholarships every year to deserving Island students who are furthering their education This is one of the many ways Kiwanis gives back to the community Contact scholarship committee chairs Carlyn Herring 239-850-9613 or Tonya Player 239-203-4682 if you have any questions

Pine Island Elementary to hold Step Up Day May 28

Pine Island Elementary School will be hosting Step Up Day May 28 from 9 to 9:45 a.m. on the school’s campus

Step Up Day offers incoming Kindergarten students an opportunity to visit the school campus and classrooms to learn more about what to expect next year A welcome packet will be given to each child who attends Parents are required to attend with their child Call the school to let organizers know if you plan to attend

If you have any questions about, please contact Rosie Perez at 239-283-0505

Pine Island Elementary is at 5360 Ridgewood Drive in Bokeelia.

Sweet Floret Cakery

From page 1

“I do a lot of things behind the scenes, but the vision is really to cater to the community of Matlacha and even though it’s been going great, I don’t really know exactly what they want,” Trusty said

In an effort to answer the calls made by the island, Trusty is willing to try new things to find the things which work, including individual cake slices, cupcakes, donuts, in addition to the ability to order wedding or birthday, anniversary or graduation day cakes Having a finger on the pulse of the community around her is something Trusty desires to achieve

“I guess it’s going to take a minute to see what the Matlacha community is really looking for in me I also want to do events, where people can come in and learn in classes. I want to do things that will bring the community together,” Trusty said

Sweet Floret Cakery is located at 4618 Pine Island Road, N W , in Matlacha Hours are Thursday-Sunday, 10 a ma to 3 p m For more information, call 239-6771985

Summer hours start Monday at Beacon Attic Thrift Store

The Beacon of Hope Attic Thrift Store will have new hours for the summer season starting Monday, May 6 The store will be open Tuesday through Saturday Tuesday through Friday hours will be 9 a m until 3 p m Saturday's hours are 10 a m until 3 p m

Donations may be left from 9 a m to 2:30 p m when the story is open Every Tuesday is half price on clothing, shoes, jewelry, hats and purses

The Attic Thrift Store will return to winter hours in October.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Examples of Jodi Trusty’s creations, above, and below, at Sweet Floret Cakery in Matlacha.

A huge thank you to Auxiliary Unit 136 of S t . J a m e s C i t y f o r purchasing this elite w a

o r the SJCCA kitchen! E

recovery Next up for the kitchen: replacing the two hurricane

the new warming box

Romero, president of

Cena Hamby, SJCCA president PHOTO PROVIDED

SJCCA Schedule

The St James City Civic Association has scheduled the following upcoming events and activities:

Thursday, May 2

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m A fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong ■ Mahjongg, 1-4 p m You know y o u ' v e w a n t e d t o l e a r n t o p l a y mahjongg. This is a great place to learn.

Tuesday, May 7

■ Ping Pong, 9 a m to 12:30 p m

■ Golden Brush, 1-4 p m Enjoy and share your love of painting

■ Dominos, 6-8 p m Dominoes is a game everyone can play; kids, adults, and even the old M o r e d e t a i l s , c o n t a c t s a n d t i c k e t sales are available on the association website at SJCCAPI ORG

All activities are held at the St James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave , at the corner of Lemon Street, in St James City Contact the center at 239-283-0242

Bridge Beat

Bridge is a challenging, yet social

Stringfellow Road, St James City, near The Center on Pine Island

Anyone wishing to play, and likes the challenge is welcome and does not need a partner It costs $3 to play, some of which goes back to winners of the week-

ly games Last weeks’ winners were, first place, Karen McWright; second place, Mary Tobias; and third place, Barb Carrier Barb bid and made a small slam with Karen, but then she made another that she didn’t bid Imagine how different the score may have been had she bid it?

alive.

Letters to the Editor

From page 4

e n t l e s s a t t a c k s a n d m i s i n f o r m a t i o n campaigns have continued while the true s o u r c e s o f L a k e O k e e c h o b e e ’ s w a t e r issues remain largely unaddressed

Behind their facade of environmental concern lies a stark reality: These groups are driven not by a desire to protect our natural resources, but by a blatant antifarming agenda They’ve capitalized on crises like the blue-green algae blooms and red tide to further their fundraising, all while conveniently ignoring the fact that over 95% of Lake O’s water/pollutants

flows in from the north through a chain of lakes not farms south of the lake

We need to move beyond the divisive rhetoric and false narratives that have hindered progress of the big lake’s restoration. A cleaner lake benefits all areas and all interests connected to it

As president of the Lake Okeechobee

shedding light on the realities faced by our farmers and rural communities and advocating for their interests in the face of relentless, misinformed opposition

Julia du Plooy Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance

Cat of the Week

Valencia

This adorable little girl never got the chance to be a kitten and enjoy life. She's barely a year old and has already had a litter of kittens and found herself at our shelter. Now that her kittens have been a

ready for a home where she will have the chance to be someone's baby Valencia is beautiful, curious, affectionate and well mannered If you are looking for a young kitty, this is the girl for you!

more information. If you’d rather just donate, our address is 10060 Mallory Parkway E, Unit D, Saint James City 33956 or there’s always our website www helpingpawsanimalsanctuary com

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes

Week of the

(Selected by the Breeze Sports staff)

FDOT: Nighttime/overnight flagging operation set for May 23 on Pine Island Road for ongoing repair work

BARTOW, Fla – This weekly report is prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about u p c o m i n g r o

Florida

Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs

Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No

120111) to West of Shoreview Drive

UPCOMING: Motorists should expect a nighttime/overnight flagging operation on Thursday, May 23, as crews relocate barrier wall for the upcoming traffic shift

Variable message signs will be in place to alert drivers

Motorists can expect traffic shifts and flagging operations as crews continue installing utilities throughout the causeway P

equipment in the construction zone To maintain safety, motorists should find

alternate parking areas M

delays due to flagging operations for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment

Crews are maintaining two-lane traffic on causeway

Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone

workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected

Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area

For additional information, please visit the FDOT project web page at h

ject/451937-2 or email at shana overhulser@dot state fl us

Follow FDOT on social media at: https://www facebook com/MyFDOTS

https://instagram.com/myfdot swfl

Bobby Holloway Memorial Fund scholarship applications available

The Bobby Holloway Memorial Fund is accepting applications for its 20232024 scholarships

The Holloway Fund gives away nearly $30,000 per year that is raised through its a n n u a l f i s h i n g t o u r n a m e n t , w h i c h occurred on Saturday, April 6, at Jug Creek Marina in Bokeelia

This year will kick off a special oppor-

tunity for students pursuing vocational or trade school with scholarships available through a special donation The Holloway Fund helps students who are pursuing higher education whether it be through college, trade school, academies or vocational training

To be eligible to receive a scholarship, s t

Public workshop

answered by calling the FDOT project manager Steven A Andrews at 863-5192270

FDOT is sending notices to property owners, business owners, interested persons and organizations within 300 feet of the project to provide the opportunity to give comments to FDOT regarding this

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without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status

People who require special accommod a

Disabilities Act or who require translation

along with two letters of recommendation and an essay on why they feel they should receive the scholarship

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

services (free of charge) should contact Cynthia Sykes, District One Title VI Coordinator, at 863-519-2287, or email at Cynthia Sykes@dot state fl us at least seven days prior to the workshop You may also contact Jimmy P. Vilcé, P.E., C P M a t 8 6 3 - 5 1 9 - 2 2 9 3 o r Jimmy Vilce@dot state fl us

should be sent together in one packet to: BHMF-Scholarship PO Box 712 St James City, FL 33956

Applications must be submitted by May 10 and must include the essay and both letters of recommendation to be considered

Transportation may adopt this planning product into the environmental review process, pursuant to Title 23 USC § 168(d)(4), or to the state project development process.

TOMáSCONCRETE,INC