Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Hector A. Cafferata looks to new beginning

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

H ecto r A C af f er ata J r Elemen tar y School was among three schools to receive funds from a 5-year competitive grant

U S D

a w

o f Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program

The School District of Lee County

“It means a lot, especially for our school Coming out of the hurricane, being a portable campus, opening a new campus It will allow us to be innovative in our teaching and how students are learning I think it is really going to redefine and reimagine Hector A Cafferata for our students, families, and community ” Principal Dr Jason Kurtz

received a $12 million grant that will support innovative magnet programs at Hector A Cafferata Jr Elementary School, Bonita

Springs Elementary School, and Edgewood Academy

“We are committed to providing enrich-

Memorial Day tributes include Cape Coral, Fort Myers ceremonies

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

ach and every year, Americans pay tribute to fallen military members on Memorial Day a time to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting for our country

In the veteran-rich community of Southwest Florida, and Cape Coral being a Purple Heart City, residents have a myriad of opportunities over the holiday weekend to pay their respects and honor those who put it all on the line in the name of freedom, national security and independence

Observed each year on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is how America has saluted those who have lost their life while serving in the U S Military since 1868.

Events include: Coral Ridge Coral Ridge Funeral Home & Cemetery in Cape Coral will host its 43rd annual Memorial Day service at 10 a m on Monday in the Veterans Honor Garden at 950 Chiquita Blvd S The event is free and open to the public

“Our veterans and their families are extremely important to us,” said Coral Ridge Location Manager Alyse Bollheimer “It’s an honor to serve our community in that respect We have lots of different programs that serve veterans, and seminars we take part in We have a lot of service members and family members of veterans on our staff, so it’s something that we hold near and dear to our

See MEMORIAL DAY, page 20

ing and engaging learning environments for all of our students and thankful the U S Department of Education is recognizing our efforts,” Chief Academic Officer Dr Jeff Spiro said in a prepared statement “ O

instruction, hands on learning and unparalleled experiences through the magnet pro-

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Millions of dollars of pending capital improvement projects were highlighted during Cape Coral City Council’s Wednesday workshop, with many both on track and within budget

Interim Director of Capital Improvements

Dave Hyyti said the North 1 West Utility Expansion Project is under way, with several contracts.

All of the projects are on track, even after several having a slow start because of the delay of getting contracts and initial paperwork started

“They all started to crank up We expect all to be on schedule and currently on track budget wise,” Hyyti said

Although each of the projects had different notices to proceed from May through July 2023 they should all be completed by the end of 2025 The project is $250 million

The bidding for North 1 East UEP $225 million is anticipated to begin in November 2024 The designs are also being worked on for the North 3 UEP area $300 million

Other areas that were highlighted during the quarterly reports for capital improvement projects include the Police Training Facility, which is about 65% complete The project,

NOAA forecasts ‘above average’ hurricane season

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Forecasters at the NOAA National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center are prognosticating “above-normal” hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year

NOAA officials state they believe there is an 85% chance of an above-normal season, a 10% chance of a near-normal season, and 5% chance of a below-normal season

NOAA is forecasting between 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), with eight to 13 to become hurricanes, with four to seven major hurricanes (Category 3,4, or 5) Officials state they have a 70% confidence rate in these ranges

Factors for this prediction are due to near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, as well as development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific Officials say reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear are also major players, as they tend to favor tropical storm formation

“With another active hurricane season approaching, N O A A ’ s c o m m i t m e n t t o k e e p i n g e v e r y A m e r i c a n informed with life-saving information is unwavering,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph D, in a statement

Coming next week:

Breeze Newspapers Hurricane Guide 2024 Emer gency management teams share what you need to know before, during and after a stor m to keep your family safe. Look for this special section in The Breeze on May 31.

“AI-enabled language translations and a new depiction of inland wind threats in the forecast cone are just two examples of the proactive steps our agency is taking to meet our mission of saving lives and protecting property ”

As officials state that one of the strongest El Ninos ever observed is nearing its end, NOAA scientists predict a quick transition to La Nina conditions, which are conducive to Atlantic hurricane activity because La Nina tends to lessen wind shear in the tropics To pair with those conditions, abundant oceanic heat content in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea creates more energy to fuel storm development

“Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A Hooks in a statement “Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow ”

NOAA officials state they will upgrade its observing systems critical in understanding and forecasting hurricanes These projects will provide more observations of the ocean and atmosphere in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, on the U S East Coast and in the tropical Atlantic Researchers at Colorado State University, one of the leading entities in hurricane season forecasts (now in its 41st year), predicted an “extremely active” season in their

initial 2024 estimate

The team points to record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for the high number this year

The CSU Tropical Weather and Climate team predicts 23 named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov 30 Of those, researchers forecast 11 to become hurricanes and five to reach major hurricane strength with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or greater

The CSU team will again issue forecast updates on June 11, July 9 and Aug 6

Weather experts and forecasters with AccuWeather are predicting a potentially “explosive” season on the horizon, also pointing to warm water temps They are also pointing to a swift change from El Nino to La Nina conditions

Experts said La Nina results in wind shear, or “less disruptive winds,” over the majority of the Atlantic basin

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to the final day of November, and the AccuWeather team of long-range forecasters state it’s never too early to prepare Last year saw 19 named storms with four direct U S impacts, including the Category 3 Idalia

Overall, AccuWeather meteorologists have forecasted 20-25 named storms across the Atlantic basin this season, including eight to 12 hurricanes, of which four to seven being major, and four to six direct U S impacts

The Texas coast, Florida Panhandle, South Florida and the Carolinas are at a higher-than-average risk of direct impacts

F o

preparedness tips, the city of Cape Coral will host a free Hurricane Expo from 11 a m to 3 p m on June 15 at the German American Club of Cape Coral Agencies taking part will

Club, Area Agency

Animal Shelter, Cape Coral

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Lee Health, National Weather Service, and more

Meteorologist Matt Devitt

Hurricane Season Outlook presentation from 12:30 to

area

and food trucks onsite The first 100 attendees will get a free case of water to add to their preparedness kits, courtesy of Midwest Food Bank, and there will be three giveaways of

OPINIONS

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE

RAYMOND M. ECKENRODE Publisher VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

CHRIS STRINE, Editor 2510 Del Prado Blvd • Cape Coral, FL, 33904

• Phone 239-574-1110 – Fax 239-574-5693

Member Florida Press Association

In memory, in gratitude

Its birth date is disputed, its city of origin debated, but its purpose is not: Memorial Day is the day Americans remember, and honor, those who died in service to their country

Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday began sometime in 1866 with the placement of spring flowers on the graves of soldiers who died in the Civil War to this day still America’s bloodiest

Among the observances recorded, according to the U S Veteran’s Affairs’ website, was one in Columbus, Miss., on April 25 of that year

“ a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well ”

Whether that empathy-spurred commemoration of the fallen was first, whether it was one of the many other spontaneous efforts through North and South alike, or whether it was the remembrance held in Waterloo, N Y , on May 5, 1866, that 100 years later was declared by Congress as the official “birthplace” of Memorial Day, the commemoration allowed a reunited but still-healing nation to come together to grieve a shared loss

Gathering to mark a common grief continues to underpin America’s Memorial Day services today

Memorial Day says to those who served and did not come home, you are remembered, you are missed

Memorial Day says to the families of the fallen, we, as a country, share your loss, we are grateful

We are eternally grateful

As we begin our three-day weekends, plan our barbecues, trips to the beach and visits with friends and family, let us all pause, if only for a moment, to remember those who did not come home

As always here in veteran-rich Lee County, there are a

Previous poll question

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

more information anyone could provide

So I really wanted to speak at Wednesday’s city council meeting about ADA access and safety concerns with the new plans for Jaycee Park

A few weeks ago, I attended my first Cape Coral City Council meeting but because of my disability, I needed someone to hold the microphone for me

At that time, city staff gave my family a multiple page handout, that explained Cape Coral requires 48 hours notice for anyone with a disability to request assistance

I just needed someone to hold a microphone That could be a friend or family member, it didn’t require staff time or training or any kind of special skill I thought that because the city staff wouldn’t need to help me, I wouldn’t need to give notice

I called the City Clerk’s Office on Tuesday, just to give a heads up that I would be there, but not to worry, because I would have a helper and the city wouldn’t need to do anything special for me

I was very surprised when I was told that I still needed to provide 48 hours’ notice

Council keeps residents in the dark

To the editor:

I attended the Cape Coral City Council meeting on the evening of May 15 and asked the mayor and Council to provide feedback and/or updates of five issues I describe below I received zero feedback from them

1 Parks GO Bond is $28 million over budget and remains about $10 million unfunded How does Council plan on paying for the unfunded $10 million? Does the council plan on scaling back park plans reduce the $10 million in unfunded improvements?

2 Yacht Club demolition was decided quickly and with little public input The city continues to roll out grandiose plans for a new Yacht Club with no plans to pay for it and no estimated time of completion How does the city plan on paying for Yacht Club improvements and reconstruction?

3 Water Issues in North Cape continue to be a problem for residents I proposed a moratorium on new home construction until such time the city can establish the quantity of homes the aquifer can truly support or until such time utilities could be installed

4 Council has decided to NOT provide a ballot referendum regarding the stipend or a pay raise for themselves Council had more than enough time to provide a properly worded referendum to put on the ballot to allow the citizens the opportunity to vote on what Council members and mayor should be paid However, Council, after several meetings and hours of discussion, decided NOT to allow the citizens to have a say in the council compensation, thus leaving in place the shady stipend for at least another two years Where’s their courage now?

5 Most importantly, the city continues to hold secret “shade” meetings regarding the several lawsuits against the city, specifically, suits brought on by (1) Rob Hernandez – ex City Manager, (2) Michael Thompson –First Amendment issue and (3) Scott Kempe – First Amendment issue Where, in process, are these lawsuits? How much are these lawsuits costing the city?

As a property owner and taxpayer in Cape Coral, I demand answers to these questions and issues Yet again, the council fails their “transparency” pledge and continues to keep the citizens “in the dark ”

It’s time for new leadership in Cape Coral Jay Higgins Cape Coral

Accessibility should be a given

To the editor:

I’m disabled and regularly visit Jaycee Park I have several concerns about the new plans, especially regarding safety and accessibility for people with disabilities

When I called the city parks and recreation department and asked to speak with someone about my concerns, I was told that everything meets ADA codes

When I asked to speak with someone about specifics, I was told that everything was on the website and there’s no

I explained I didn’t need any help from staff, but she said “these are our policies and best practices If we made an exception for one person, we’d have to make an exception for everyone ”

She kindly offered that if I arrived 15 minutes early, she would make sure I could speak

So on Wednesday morning, when I had a transportation problem and couldn’t get there early, I gave up

I understand needing notice if someone requires a sign language interpreter, or any changes to the meeting space, or a separate entrance But I didn’t need that The fact that I bring someone else to help me should not limit my participation

ADA policies are supposed to ensure access for disabled people, not prevent, impede or limit access But that does not seem to be the interpretation by Cape Coral city government

I believe the city needs to have a disability advisory group, made up of residents with different disabilities, their family members and caretakers That group needs to represent people of all ages, with all kinds of disabilities including: limited mobility, conditions that cause weakness in the upper body, arms and hands, neurological conditions, kids with cerebral palsy, adults, teens and children on the autism spectrum, and more health concerns that affect the way we interact with our environment.

Please encourage our city council, mayor and staff to include disabled residents in creating plans about what’s truly accessible for us Encourage them to work with the community and create an advisory group to fully understand, appreciate, and address the needs of our city’s disabled people, their families and caretakers

Heather O’Connell Cape Coral

Timing is ever ything

To the editor:

I saw the City Council again shelve any advancement for irrigation conservation I did see them spend millions of dollars to pipe more wastewater from Fort Myers, but nothing for the citizens to conserve

Many cities in Florida offer rebates for homeowners to upgrade their sprinkler timers to Smart Timers I got tired of waiting, last week I upgraded my one-year-old manual timer, that continued to water while it was raining I switched to a Smart Timer that was less than $100 on Amazon I purchased an Obit B hyve Smart Time that with a wifi connection will adjust lawn watering amount to local to weather forecast by ZIP code

For years I used external rain sensors on my manual timers that always failed in a couple of months. The new manual timer did have a rain delay switch, but I had to go outside in the rain to use it, or forget after it stopped raining My sprinklers continued to water when it wasn’t needed The excessive water amplified the dollar weed problem from over water costing more to have the weeds treated One less lawn treatment paid for the new timer

The Smart Timer has a rain delay that comes up on the phone app, when rain is forecast, asking if you want to continue with the rain delay and for how many days With Smart

Watering turned on it will automatically adjust the amount of time each zone needs to water, if any, during the rainy season. Instead of watering all four hours, the actual water needed may only be two hours worth and will be adjusted automatically There is no need during the rainy season where most sprinklers are still running four hours after a 2-inch rain

The timer was plug and play, with simple programming for the Smart Watering Several factory YouTube videos made everything very easy to understand

Why the city has not gone to rebates for irrigation conservation sprinkler timers before spending millions of dollars to buy more water and the pipeline doesn’t make sense I still see most of my neighbors sprinklers are on after a heavy rain, so not many of the Smart Sprinkler Timers are in use in our area

Chuck Fedora Cape Coral

Dishonesty in Cape Coral

To the editor:

The council took great offense when a citizen declared that Cape Coral was one of the most corrupt cities in the U S and Florida Corruption in this case is abuse of power by an elected official or city government for personal gain Corruption can imply illegality I will simply use the term “dishonesty ” Have we had this in Cape Coral? I think so Here are many examples of what I consider dishonesty:

Using the Consent Agenda to pass the doubling of pay to the Council without discussion via the stipend resolutions. This was clearly dishonest as I define it

Certifying the election results of Patty Cummings when we have discovered that most Council members were aware that she did not live in her district This was clearly dishonest

The city manager stating during a Council meeting that “zero” tax increases were passed last year Taxes and assessments were increased by over $30 million last year The truthin-millage laws define a no tax increase requires the use of the “rolled back rate ” Did the Council approve the rolled back rate? They approved a millage rate that was 13% higher than the rolled back rate, therefore approving a tax increase They also increased all three of the tax assessments This false narrative is clearly dishonest

Councilmember Dan Sheppard stating on the record that everything about him and other conclusions in the Vicky Sprout’s independent report on where Patty Cummings lived was false The States Attorney’s Office concluded with three still-pending felony indictments against Patty Cummings, which substantiated the report to be true The council has not dealt with Dan Sheppard’s comments on the dais about his attempt to keep Ms Cummings on the council Mr Sheppard should be asked to resign from the council; not doing so is dishonest Council is setting precedents that it is OK to not tell the truth on record; there will be no punishment

Proceeding with plans to rebrand Jaycee Park. What is the motive to do this? Modifying the park was not in the 10-year park plan; it was not included as a project in the Parks GO bond; 7,000-plus voters have signed a petition to stop what the council and city management are spending money to do Why is this a priority when our GO Bond parks are not done and way over budget? The Yacht Club Park changes are unfunded; why would we focus on spending money of Jaycee Park when it is a neighborhood park that the local homeowners are happy with? Is smells of dishonesty Through the city’s Project Sparkle for parks, only $15,000 over the next five years is allocated to Jaycee Park It is clear that they plan to let this park deteriorate as they did with the Yacht Club Ballroom.

The city appears to be entertaining “unsolicited” and solesource proposals in the form of public-private partnerships This type of activity leads to suspicion of ulterior motives Examples are Jaycee Park and Lake Meade What is the secret plan?

The Boathouse Restaurant at the Yacht Club still has nine years left on its lease that grants them exclusive rights to food and beverage service at the entire Yacht Club Park area They are also allowed access to all public parking at the Yacht Club Why is this lease being ignored with all the changes being proposed at the Yacht Club? What discussions are being made with the restaurant that is not open and transparent? Is this honest?

Council members meeting for dinner and drinks after

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

council meetings Does this give a perception of Sunshine Law violations and dishonesty? I think so

Limiting citizen involvement by eliminating volunteer boards and committees and controlling free speech during citizen input at council meetings Eliminating oversight, review and free speech allows for dishonest behavior.

The mayor’s attempt to limit council members from speaking to the press and public so he and city management can control the narrative How many times have we heard that the GO bond parks are on budget and on schedule when it is clearly not the case?

Spending city tax dollars on our charter schools without public discussion or concern The city has quietly been supplementing the Charter Schools with roughly $5 million a year in city tax revenue It is clearly not transparent

These are all forms of dishonesty, not necessarily illegal, but surely challenges the incumbents’ and city management’s, motives, morals, transparency, and integrity

Thomas Shadrach

Past Chair of the Budget Review Committee

The world’s policeman, no more

To the editor:

As we prepare to commemorate Memorial Day once again, some of us will remember that old saw: “War never decides who is right, but only who is left ”

I think we should openly acknowledge that our veterans are admirable patriots, precisely because when their country called, they stepped forward In so doing, they voluntarily put at risk the most precious thing of all, their lives They did it in our name.

I also think that we should openly acknowledge that the United States has paid its debt to the international community and that we have paid it in spades At a preposterous cost in blood and treasure, we came to Democracy’s defense three times (World War I, World War II, and the Cold War)

We should no longer do this: We have quite enough on our own plate here at home, we can no longer afford it, and other nations should be attending to their own affairs

As my party (the Libertarian Party) said quite plainly in its 2020 national platform (Part 3 1, National Defense): “ We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world ”

I couldn’t have said it better myself

Democratic nonsense

Larry Gillis Cape Coral

Enforce the law to keep our waters clean

As a business owner and mother to two teenagers living in Florida, water quality is important to me When I moved here from Wisconsin in 1995, going to the beach and weekends on the boat were a major source of happiness

I never would have dreamed that one day I’d feel anything other than joy about being near the water, much less concern over my kids going in that water! Checking the news for the fecal monitoring report and hoping the blue-green algae coming from Lake O won’t ruin a vacation for visiting friends and family is now part of life

Rainy season is coming and massive amounts of Lake O’s polluted runoff water will be sent to the Caloosahatchee River When they last stopped the release it didn’t take long at all for me to notice the difference while driving over the bridge to Sanibel pale blue is much more inviting than smelly reddish-brown.

We have many groups in Florida trying to tackle these growing issues with some success, but we have LAWS that have been in place that regulate the amount of pollutants like agriculturally sourced pollutants, septic runoff or fertilizers that need to be enforced! I found an effort that looks to do just that

Go to www Floridarighttocleanwater org Print out the petition Match your signature to your voter registration card, and mail it to the given address If you want to help with our efforts to get this amendment on the ballot, please email LeeRighttoCleanWater@gmail com

Project 2025

To the editor:

changes to our country if Conservatives win in the 2024 election Be an informed voter 2024 may be the last democratic election in America Google “Project 2025” and forward it on to everyone you know Read the Policies and the Playbook And ask yourself not whether you are a “conservative” or a “raging woke liberal” but if these policies are what you really want for the future country of your children and grandchildren A “Unified Reich” indeed

e T h e

c h a r t s t h a t a r e s h o w n o n n e w s p r o g r a m s a l m o s t e v e r y d a y c l e a r l y s h o w t h a t i n f l a t i o n w a s a r o u n d 1 % w h e n h e

w a s i n a u g u r a t e d a n d t h a t h e m a n a g e d t o p u s h i t o v e r 9 % i n j u s t o v e r a y e a r I d o n ’ t h a v e t o r e p e a t w h a t

e v e r y o n e k n o w s , t h e B i d e n - c a u s e d i n f l a t i o n h a s d e v a st a t e d t h e c o u n t r y

E x p l a n a t i o n s a s t o t h e c a u s e i s j u s t p l a i n D e m o c r a t n o n s e n s e T h e n t h e r e i s a n o t h e r w r i t e r ’ s c l a i m t h a t h i g h c o r p o -

r a t e p r o f i t s a r e t h e c a u s e o f r u n - a w a y i n f l a t i o n T h e a r g u m e n t i s c o n t r a r y t o e v e r y t h i n g w e l e a r n e d i n E c o n 1 0 1 . I t i g n o r e s t h e b e n e f i t s o f c o m p e t i t i o n i n t h e m a r k e t p l a c e

T h e o b v i o u s c a u s e o f c u r r e n t h i g h i n f l a t i o n i s d e f i c i t g o v e r n m e n t s p e n d i n g , c u r r e n t l y a b o u t a t r i l l i o n d o l l a r s e v e r y 1 0 0 d a y s a s i s a t t e s t e d t o b y e v e r y e c o n o m i c a l l y i n t e l l i g e n t p e r s o n t h a t a p p e a r s o n t h e n e w s

S u c h a r g u m e n t s m e r e l y r e p e a t t h e l i e

If you again vote for elected representatives who voted to overturn the will of the people in the free and fair 2020 election (as determined by 62 court cases in nine states dismissed, overturned or overruled) know that you are complicit in determining your loved ones’ fate and the fate of our great country We have previously elected a corrupt, pathologic liar as POTUS who supports SCOTUS members who fly the American flag at their homes upsidedown in support of the January 6th Insurrection Who lied to get appointed and who, with their wives, also supported o v e r t u r n i n g t h e r e s

c

l e d “Republican” politicians are doing the bidding of wealthy corporations and campaign donors in order to keep their jobs They have demonstrated that they care more about their current paycheck than women’s rights/healthcare, the environment, educating our young, protecting them from gun violence, stopping illegal immigration They have been purchased fair and square but we common folks are paying the price Thank you SCOTUS for Citizens United and the ability of the wealthy to buy the rules Will you now rule that no one is above the law except Trump? Can we all agree that it is time for term and age limits for all of our elected and appointed officials? And do away with corporate money buying our elections?

We “the people” need to unite to take our country back from the powerful corrupt on the payroll of the wealthy who we ignorantly support and put into power We can probably all agree that our government corruption is only getting worse and our legal system is in shambles If you want more of the same, keep voting party lines as if it were the same as choosing a sports team

When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time

Lynn A. Hagedorn. MD Cape Coral

Agree? Disagree? Weigh in! Letters, guest opinions, comments welcome

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper Opposing views are welcome Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to vharring@breezenewspapers com All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: capecoralbreeze.com.

Carrie Cremia Cape Coral

CCPD to provide critical training course

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Cape Coral Police Department will host a two-day training course this fall designed to teach skills and survival strategies for violent critical incidents including those involving active shooters

On Aug 5 and 6 at CCPD headquarters, the department will make ALICE Training and certification available to anyone in the community who wishes to take part

ALICE Training, which is an acronym for “Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate,” has to mission to improve chances of survival in situations such as an active shooter

CCPD Public Affairs Officer Lisa Greenberg said the training gives the Southwest Florida and Cape Coral community the opportunity to learn important skills and tools

“It’s crucial to be equipped with the knowledge to survive an active shooter situation, and that’s exactly what the ALICE

Training does,” Greenberg said “The goal of the ALICE program is to empower you to participate in your own survival in the gap between when a violent situation begins and when law enforcement arrives ”

Greenberg added the course is valuable for everyone, including law enforcement, schools, universities, hospitals, businesses, and places of worship Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be a certified ALICE instructor and have the knowledge and resources to train others

“We feel anyone who is able to take advantage of this training opportunity should,” she said

The instruction will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p m each day, and will go over law enforcement response time and how to implement ALICE Training and strategies It will also feature hands-on demonstrations and scenarios

According to the ALICE Training website, officials state “we believe that individuals should be authorized and empowered to

make their own life-saving decisions Once empowered to make their own life-saving decisions, individuals must be trained in proactive response options, rather than a passive, mandated, one size fits all response We want all Americans to have the knowledge and skills to survive when shots are fired We can achieve this by training as many people as possible and implementing training in drill form We have seen the successful results of fire drills It’s time to start anticipating manmade disasters ”

At the end of this course, Alice Training states that participants should be able to:

∫ Describe the history of active shooter events in America.

∫ Discuss how the traditional Lockdownonly strategy became a standard response

∫ Discuss the history of options-based responses

∫ Identify the research and documents which support proactive, options-based strategies and training for civilians

∫ Understand what trauma-informed

training means and how to properly identify and avoid re-traumatizing any individual in the training that may have an adverse change in behavior due to personal trauma

∫ Explain how Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate strategies work and can be implemented Apply ALICE Training as part of Organization Certification for their organization, through a blended learning model consisting of eLearning and hands-ondemonstrations, practical scenarios, critical thinking drills, and evacuation drills

∫ Properly implement age and ability appropriate training to ensure all individuals in your organization or community are properly informed based on their cognitive, emotional, and physical capacities

Greenberg said those interested in participating should register ahead of time, because there is a pre-requisite e-Learning course that will take an hour to complete

The course costs $749

To register and for more information, visit https://cvent me/99ZxNk?Refid=social

Editorial: Memorial services & events to be offered in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, through the holiday weekend

From page 4

number of ways to do so, this year including two major Memorial Day services that annually attract hundreds to mark Monday’s solemn holiday and another couple of special note:

In Cape Coral, the largest of the services will again be at Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery, which will hold its 43nd annual Memorial Day service at 10 a m on Monday, May 27, in the Veterans Honor Garden at 950 Chiquita Blvd S

The event is free and open to the public

Across the river, Memorial Gardens

Funeral Home and Cemetery in Fort Myers will host its annual Memorial Day service with a cookout immediately following

The service honoring local and national heroes will take place the Field of Honor at 9:30 a m on Monday, at 1589 Colonial Blvd

Both events will feature various speakers and activities appropriate for the one day

America remembers its war dead

Let us highlight a dual event this year

A special tribute to those who served on the USS Nimitz will be held here in Cape Coral on Saturday

The open-to-the-public event will take

place at Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library and will honor those who died aboard the ship that suffered a flight deck fire that resulted in 14 deaths Fortynine sailors were injured

The remembrance will take place from 11 a m to 2 p m

The Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library, meanwhile, will hold a cookout with free hamburgers and hot dogs, with ice cream to be provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office

The veterans resource center is at 4522 Del Prado Blvd

And one more: American Legion Post 90

at 1401 S E 47th St in Cape Coral invites the public to join them for a Memorial Day

“Remember and Honor” ceremony at noon on Monday, May 27

After the ceremony free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served

More details on these Memorial Day activities and more may be found in today’s Breeze or on-line at capecoralbreeze com

We thank those who serve

We thank the families of the fallen Such sacrifices should not, will not, go unmarked

Breeze editorial

City provides update on sidewalks & traffic signals

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council got an update on sidewalk construction Wednesday.

Public Works Director Damon Grant said city sidewalk crews are working on grant-funded sidewalks

El Dorado, Tropicana, and DeNavarra are all 100% complete, while Southwest 29th Avenue to Oasis Elementary North is 75% complete

The next priority for city crews is Southwest 10th Street Chiquita to Skyline

The contracted sidewalks, which changed from a design-build approach to a design-bid-build approach will be coming back to Council on June 5 for approval of a design consultant

The contracted sidewalks under the new

design contract includes Nelson Road for 1 3 miles

Grant said this quarter Miramar Street is complete for one mile of sidewalks, while 75% is complete on Southwest 29th Avenue

“We continue to average one mile of sidewalk per quarter,” he said, adding it will “get better as we continue to recruit and retain our staff that we lost recently We are back up to 80% staffing levels ”

Once the levels return to 100%, they will become more efficient with progress

The median landscaping program was also addressed Wednesday, as it includes five projects

Those projects include Embers Parkway East, Country Club, Vincennes Boulevard, Palm Tree Boulevard and Embers Parkway east of Chiquita Boulevard

“Each of the projects are in a different stage of development,” Grant said

The Embers Parkway West, Country Club and Vincennes Boulevard are slated to have landscaping installed by the end of the year, while the remaining two are entering into the design stage

“We are actively exploring opportunities to enhance the program and improve efficiencies moving forward,” he said ’

Traffic signals

Traffic signals was another project discussed, as the intersection at DeNavarra and Del Prado Boulevard has been completed

Bids opened May 20 for new traffic signals at Averil and Del Prado Boulevard

The other three signals – Andalusia and Diplomat, Santa Barbara Boulevard and Tropicana and Chiquita and Embers are at a 60% design completion

“The hope is to get through the design in August of this year and move forward into the construction phase,” Grant said

Palmetto Pines golf course irrigation

The water quality project at Palmetto Pines Golf Course irrigation was also discussed The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved the permit

The idea is to pull water from the canal in the west and circulate those waters through the golf course and reintroduce and recirculate with fresh water at the dead-end canal

“We continue to work with property owners looking to intake the water and working on access and construction easements Those are ongoing, as well as agreements with the golf course owner moving forward,” Grant said

Capital projects: Fire stations, training facilities, roadway expansions in the works or under way

From page 1

which is on track, has a $14 9 million construction cost

“There were a few items specifically the air circulation system for the gun range has a longer lead time and the item may cause a couple month delay,” Hyyti said

The proposed completion will be pushed to August 2024.

Two fire stations were also highlighted

The first, fire station No 13, a $7 5 million construction cost, is 90% complete

“We are working to get it complete by the end of May, but I just received an update It may be a few weeks beyond that,” he said, adding that the contractor requested an extension to the contract date, and they are evaluating the request

Fire Station No 10 and Public Safety

Annex $1 13 million design and permitting has a 20% preliminary design completion Hyyti said they are working through some issues with platting and replating and adjusting the size of the property

“That one is on track,” he said.

Four hundred and fifty paved parking spaces for Sun Splash and Lake Kennedy is at a 25% complete design and permitting stage

Hyyti said they expect to bid out the project, $3 2 million, in January with a six-toseven month construction time frame

Other projects included the Skate Park building replacement, a $1 7 million construction budget, which the city recently awarded a contract and design The proposed

completion is July 2025 The design elements include kitchen/snack bar/eating area; open retail/pro shop area; recreational offices, two classrooms, general seating/covered area and restrooms

“The notice to proceed was given at the end of June,” he said.

The Emergency Operation Center addition recently had a Request for Proposals legal advertisement for consultants to do the design

“We are currently in the process of evaluating the proposal and move it forward once we select a consultant,” Hytti said

The fire training facility phase one project

$11 6 million construction cost is 45% complete The second phase of the fire

training facility has been pushed off until next year

“We won’t advertise or amend the contract for design until next year,” he said The presentation also highlighted the Andalusia Boulevard extension, an estimated $15 million construction cost.

“The city is going to complete the design of the road and platting process in exchange for the property,” he said “We also awarded the contract for design and notice to proceed to happen next week It’s an 18-month design process ”

The improvements will include new roadway construction, traffic signal at Kismet Parkway, curb and gutter, sidewalks, street lighting and median curbing and landscaping

Numbers & projects: Economic development indicators remain strong

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral’s experts in economic development delivered an update to City Council this past Wednesday as it pertains to key economic indicators, industry updates, business retention, marketing, and strategic plan and activity updates

Economic Business Director Sharon Woodberry started her presentation by sharing Cape Coral unemployment rates, which sit at 3 4%, which is right on par with Lee County as a whole, and up 4% from March of 2023

When it comes to vacancy rates in the city, retail and office space were at 1 9%, with industrial at 2 2%, and multi-family at 13% These rates are lower than other cities in Southwest Florida and throughout the state, other than Naples in most categories

Rents in the city are averaging $25 per square foot, which Woodberry said is an uptick from years past

“In the past three years, though, there has been an increase of that number of 15and-a-half percent compared to 16% in the wider Fort Myers market,” she said

The city has just under 10 million square feet of retail space, with roughly 87,000 square feet under construction

When it comes to industrial space, the current 2 2% vacancy rate has increased 1 2% over the last year compared to 5% in the broader Fort Myers market Rents are sitting around $13 60 per square foot, which is a 7% uptick from a year ago and a 30 6% increase over three years About 110,000 square feet is under construction, representing a 2 9% expansion of inventory

Commercial projects currently in permitting/under construction include:

Regarding the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, the EDO is examining tourism opportunities, looking at infrastructure and land use analysis, and conducting employer surveys. The lead consultant on the plan is DCG Corplan Consulting. The project completion is expected in August of 2024 for the plan.

∫ Terrace Village Market: Located at 1482 Southwest 6th Terrace, will offer retail and tiki lounger Groundbreaking is to be determined

∫ Island Pearl: Located at 723 Southwest 32nd Place, will offer a restaurant, retail, and office space

Groundbreaking to be determined

∫ Lucky’s 13 Restaurant: Located at 3902 Del Prado Blvd S, is a family friendly, rustic-style pub. Will be adding a 3,500foot addition that will include indoor and outdoor seating, a second bar, bone ball courts, and a stage for live performances

Pub will have seating for up to 300 guests

Expected completion is in fall of 2024

∫ Slip Away Food Truck Park: Located at 1811 Cape Coral Parkway E , will offer food trucks and marina shop with boat slips

Expected completion is spring of 2025

∫ Tiki Tails Dog Resort: Located at 4420 Southeast 16th Place, is constructing a new building to accommodate the growth of the business that includes pet boarding and grooming Broke ground in late February and is expected to be completed in early 2025

Grants & incentives

When it comes to incentive projects to date in 2024, three building infrastructure grants have been approved by the city manager totaling $303,076 in grant awards,

and $6,719,014 in project investments

Two additional projects are under review totaling $174,411 in grants, with a project investment of $10,716,134

Enhanced value recapture grants have two applications in review with $79,626,105 in grant awards Cape Collaborates has one application in review with $50,000 in grant award, with three others in progress The CRA has two applications approved with $68,000 in grant award, with one other in review and six in progress

Updates

An update was given on the $920 million project in Cape Coral Grove It will feature 70 buildings, 350,000 square feet of commercial retail and dining space, 125 hotel rooms, and 125,000 square feet of leasable office space

“(It’s) another one of our projects that we have slated for our project priority,” Woodberry said “And in helping to keep those projects moving forward and facilitate permitting and assistance as needed Updates are that they provided us with progress drawings They’re receiving feedback from different staff on the percentages as they move forward with those drawings ”

In Quarter 2 of 2024, the infrastructure will begin, with multi-family starting in Q3, and the town center starting in Q2 of 2025 Updates also came in on 7 Islands - Gulf

Gateway Resort Architects are under contract for all island structures The Army Corps of Engineer application was submitted in January, and a project manager assigned. The city anticipates 18 to 24 months for the application review period Woodberry said a traffic impact study is being procured, and that the Southwest Florida Water Management District application is in progress with the anticipation for a June of 2025 issuance

When it comes to Bimini Square, a $55 million investment, Woodberry said there are building permits in review for the medical and outpatient space The project includes a waterfront restaurant, nearly 50,000 square feet of retail and professional space, 218 premium apartments, a 25slip boat dock, 500-space parking garage, and more

“They’re 16 percent complete with construction of the mixed-use, multi-family structure,” Woodberry said

The city continues to have monthly meetings via its business and industry roundtable discussions with various entities and realms of business in the city

“We’ve gotten great responses from restaurants and different businesses, as well as industrial,” Woodberry said. “Great participation every month We’re getting good feedback and trying to identify some takeaways for things that we can execute as far as input from our businesses ”

Regarding the city’s Economic Development Strategic Plan goes, the EDO is examining tourism opportunities, looking at infrastructure and land use analysis, and conducting employer surveys The lead consultant on the plan is DCG Corplan Consulting The project completion is expected in August of 2024 for the plan

On the water or on the road, Take care this holiday weekend

Record Memorial Day traffic anticipated as summer excursions begin

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Whether you plan to hit the roads or the waterways this Memorial Day weekend, local officials are preaching preparedness and best practices to keep all travelers safe

National Safe Boating Week runs from May 18-24 and kicks off the summer boating season a popular recreational activity for droves of Florida residents and visitors

Florida is recognized as the “Boating Capital of the World,” leading the nation with more than 1 million registered vessels across the Sunshine State

According to FWC, there were 659 reportable boating accidents in 2023 and a l m o s t 3 0 % o f t h o s e a c c i d e n t s w e r e caused by a collision with a fixed object The primary causes for these accidents were improper lookout and operator inexperience. To reduce the number of boating accidents, FWC encourages boaters to p a y a t t e n t i o n , m a i n t a i n 3 6 0 - d e g r e e awareness at all times and take a boater safety course Over 80% of operators involved in fatal boating accidents in 2023 had no formal boater education

“Florida waterways are a destination for boating activities by residents and visitors, and those activities increase as we enter the summer months, unfortunately s o d o t h e a c c i d e n t s , ” s a i d M a j B i l l Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader, in a statement. “FWC officers respond to far too many tragic boating accidents that could have been p r e v e n t e d b y f o l l o w i n g a f e w s i m p l e boating safety guidelines ”

A m o n g b o a t i n g t i p s f r o m F W C , boaters are encouraged to find and wear a comfortable U S Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while on the water According to 2023 FWC boating accident statistics, approximately 50% of the boating deaths were due to drowning Events can cause a boater to end up in the water unexpectedly, and a person will not have time to grab their life jacket before they find themselves in the water

B o a t e r s s h o u l d a l s o e d u c a t e t h e mselves on the dangers of impaired boati n g A l c o h o l a n d d r u g s c a n i m p a i r a b o a t e r ’ s j u d g m e n t , r e a c t i o n t i m e a n d overall ability to operate a boat safely

“Boating while impaired by alcohol or drugs is not only dangerous but illegal,” s t a t e d H o l c o m b “ F W C o f f i c e r s a r e always on the lookout for impaired operators and these operators will face arrest if found to be operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs ”

Local police are also stressing safe practices on the water this holiday weekend

“Boating is big on Memorial Day and Cape Coral has the longest stretch of canals in the world,” said CCPD Public Affairs Officer Mercedes Phillips “All Cape Coral canals are “no wake” zones We see manatees in the canals often Protect the manatees, and in turn, it protects your boat ” For a summary of Florida’s regulat i o n s a n d a v a i l a b l e c o u r s e s , v i s i t : MyFWC com/Boating

To report dangerous boating activity, the public can submit anonymous tips by texting 847411 (Tip411) with keyword “FWC” followed by the location and any information about the violation or call 8 8 8 - 4 0 4 - F W C C ( 3 9 2 2 ) A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

Android app: “FWC Wildlife Alert ”

Hitting the Road

AAA-The Auto Club Group, anticipates Floridians to travel in record numbers this Memorial Day weekend, as they forecast nearly 2 3 million throughout the state will travel. AAA expects to rescue more than 378,000 stranded motorists, during the holiday weekend an increase of 5% from last year

The three most common reasons drivers call AAA are for flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts

“As you finalize your travel plans for the holiday weekend, make sure your vehicle is ready for the road,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA spokesperson, in a statement “We encourage all drivers to get a pre-trip inspection of their tires, battery, brakes, and other basics This could help prevent a breakdown before it happens ”

Tips for a safe ride this weekend and for any trip include checking your tires, listening and feeling the brakes, checking your battery, replacing wiper blades and repleni s h i n g w i n d

engine oil and other fluids, and replenishing emergency kit supplies

According to AAA officials, fatal roadside crashes are a growing problem nationwide Each year, nearly 350 people are struck and killed outside a disabled vehicle On average, one tow operator is killed at the roadside every other week These deaths can be avoided if drivers follow the law and move over

“AAA’s roadside technicians will put their lives on the line to rescue the hundreds of thousands of drivers on the roadside with car trouble,” continued Jenkins “We urge drivers to stay focused on the road and its shoulders Whether it’s a first responder, tow truck or disabled vehicle, if you see flashing lights, move over so everyone can make it home safely for the holiday ” For the 26th year, The Auto Club Group has provided the Tow to Go program When called upon, The Auto Club Group dispatches a tow truck to transport the driver and vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius for free

“ B y p r o v i d i n

h i s p r o g r a m , A A A gives drivers no excuse for driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol or impairi n g m e

s

“However, we remind people to treat Tow to Go as a last resort Instead, make a d v a n

d e h o m e , because you do not want to be remembered on Memorial Day as the person who made the fatal mistake of driving impaired ” Since its inception, Tow to Go has removed more than 30,000 impaired drivers from the road Tow to Go is active from 6 p m Friday, May 24, to 6 a m Tuesday, May 28

Curbing impaired drivers locally is an important venture for local police this weekend as well.

Phillips said “We are ready and excited for Memorial Day weekend Safety is always our top priority We will have extra patrols in the city this weekend, specifically related to DUI observation and enforcement ”

Phillips continued to say that typically, CCPD has seen higher rates of drinking and driving on holiday weekends

“(We) do all we can to make sure our residents get home safely,” she said “We encourage drivers to stay attentive and say something if they see something ” The Tow to Go service can be reached by calling (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246

City hurricane seminar to offer preparedness tips

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

With hurricane season commencing June 1, local experts will host an event to give residents the best information on how to be prepared should a major storm arrive over the next six months

On June 15 at the German American Club of Cape Coral, the city will host its second annual Hurricane Expo from 11 a m to 3 p m

“The event will showcase representa-

tives from local organizations and agencies that play a key role in disaster preparedness, response and recovery,” Cape Coral Fire Department officials stated

Agencies taking part will include Cape Coral City Government, Amateur Radio Club, Area Agency on Aging, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center, Department of Financial Services, Department of Health, LCEC, Lee Health, National Weather Service, and more

WINK Chief Meteorologist Matt

Devitt will provide a 2024 Hurricane Season Outlook presentation from 12:301 p m , followed by a preparedness question-and-answer session with Emergency Management officials There also will be a preparedness area for kids and food trucks onsite

“The Hurricane Expo is free and open to the public and will provide opportunity to gather essential information, connect with local experts, and become equipped

More than 150 volunteers turn out for annual Burrowing Owl Census

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Members of the community showed up in full force this past weekend to help count the little furry friends that are Cape Coral's official city bird

The sixth annual Burrowing Owl Census, put on by the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, spread throughout the Cape where more than 150 volunteers helped get a better idea of how many of these unique owl species call the city home

While official numbers won't be ready for a few weeks, in 2023, organizers tallied nearly 4,000 burrowing owls, with all signs pointing to that number holding steady.

“The census is a tremendous effort which could not happen without many volunteers from the community,” said CCFW spokesperson Janet Windisch “It’s an important duty, but it's also very exciting for nature lovers I talked to many volunteers as they returned to Rotary Park with their census results and everyone had a story about the burrowing owls they saw ”

Experiences included seeing a dark eyed owl for the first time, watching owlets pop out of their burrows to check out the census takers, and seeing owls lay on the ground with their wings spread to stay cool Windisch said this is sometimes misinterpreted as a deceased owl, but on the contrary, they are just trying to stay cool Volunteers noted that owls were

very visible in the early morning but disappeared into their burrows later when it got hot

CCFW officials do this each year to get a better understanding of where and how these owls live, especially with a continuously growing city

“Measuring the population helps guide future conservation efforts,” Windisch said “We need data to find out if the policies and programs currently in place are working and how they can be improved The census can give us clues as to where the owls go when development displaces them What habitat do the owls prefer? Are starter burrows effective? What is the effect of environmental factors like the

hurricane?”

At left, CCFW volunteer Dan Carney records data during the Burrowing Owl Census. Above, three burrowing owls near their burrow in the Cape.

PHOTOS BY MICHIALE SCHNEIDER

Every week on Wednesday mornings, weather permitting, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife members performs maintenance on some of the nearly 2200 burrows located in the city Armed with City maps, weed whackers, safety equipment, and lots of enthusiasm, this group of dedicated volunteers trim burrows with high weeds, install PVC pipes and perches on newly found burrows, repair and clean up existing burrows

For more information on CCFW, burrowing owls, and how to install a starter burrow or help with maintenance, visit www ccfriendsofwildlife com

with tools and knowledge to stay safe this hurricane season,” CCFD officials said

The first 100 attendees will get a free case of water to add to their preparedness kits, courtesy of Midwest Food Bank, and there will be three giveaways of preparedness items/baskets throughout the event

The German American Social Club is at 2101 Southwest Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.

Local airport sees largest increase in traffic statewide

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers saw the largest increase in traffic in the first quarter of this year statewide, Gov Ron DeSantis announced The airport saw an increase of 25% in the first three months of the year compared to last year

According to figures from the Lee County Port Authority, there were 3 8 million passengers on planes going through the Fort Myers airport in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 3,066,754 in the first quarter of last year

The month of March saw the secondmost passengers recorded in a single month at the Southwest Florida International Airport with 1 5 million passing through That was approximately 4,000 off the record in March 2022

Overall, the number of passengers going through the Fort Myers airport was down last year, dropping from a record of 10,343,802 in 2022 to 10 07 million in 2023

The numbers released by the governor's office showed that Florida had more than 140 million visitors last year, which the state considers a record For the first three months of the year, the state tallied an estimated 40 6 million visitors

“Once again, Florida leads the nation as an unrivaled destination for tourists,” DeSantis said “These record-breaking numbers show that our work has made the free state of Florida even more attractive to visitors ”

Last year's tourism numbers marking an increase of 2 3% from 2022's recordbreaking figure Of those visitors, 129 1 million were domestic visitors along with 8 3 million overseas visitors and 3 2 million Canadian visitors

Total enplanements at 19 Florida airports increased by 9 4% in Q1 2024 from Q1 2023, climbing to 30.2 million.

Orlando International was the state’s busiest airport with 7.6 million enplanements (+6 8%), followed by Miami with 7 5 million (+12 1%)

RSW is at 11000 Terminal Access Road in South Fort Myers

Revenue projections give school district pause

In the face of lower numbers, officials look at reduction in capital plan expenditures, projects; suggest reaching out to Lee County for a discussion on impact fees

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L e t c h e r s a i d t h e r e a r e a l s o l o w e r c o l -

REAL ESTATE

Done properly, seller financing is a safe way to sell a home

Dear Mr. Feichthaler:

I am selling my primary residence and moving up north to be near our grandkids I have a buyer that is interested in purchasing at full price, but he wants me to finance the purchase I have never thought of this before, but I like the idea of monthly income. What should be my concerns in this?

Dear Isabella:

I am sure your family is happy you will be moving to be nearer to them Having grown up with my grandparents nearby (including next door until I was 10), this will be a great benefit to the development of your grandkids

Isabella N

Eric P. Feichthaler

Real Estate Law

I am seeing more seller financing as interest rates have knocked so many buyers out of the market Rather than go to a bank or credit union, you would finance the purchase by not demanding the full dollar amount of the net proceeds. Instead, you will accept a mortgage note from the buyer with the terms, such as interest rate, time for payment and how many years the payment will be amortized upon Amortization is the calculation of what payment, with interest, will result in the mortgage being paid off in a given period of time

Most of my clients look at seller financing as a shortterm way to facilitate a sale, and will require a balloon payment This type of loan results in the buyer paying off the loan to you, typically in three to five years, through refinancing Some clients who want long-term payments will structure the loan just like a bank, having the buyer pay over 20 or 30 years a level payment to its conclusion No matter how long or short the loan, if a buyer decides to sell the property, they will be required to pay you in full when this occurs

Many clients ask if you will get the house back if the buyer defaults on the mortgage and doesn’t pay you The short answer is, no, it is very unlikely you will have the house returned I advise clients to never “over-loan” to a buyer As long as there is equity in the home, a mortgage foreclosure will result in a sale by auction As long as someone makes a bid, you will receive all your money back, plus attorney’s fees and likely a higher rate of interest due to a default You could end up with the house if nobody bid

I often write about the importance of professional advice in certain situations A note and mortgage, written properly, will protect your money and lead to recovering those funds later I noted above that my clients require a substantial amount of equity when making a loan Because of this, the buyer will have a major financial stake in the property, such that they won’t simply “walk away ”

There is more to consider than this brief answer, but

MAY 24, 2024

Part 3: Perfect storm? Or what a return to normal feels like?

For the past two weeks we have been discussing our local real estate market in the context of whether we are in a “Perfect Storm,” as reported in a recent local television report, or if we are just returning to something more along the lines of what normal feels like?

One of the problems in trying to decipher exactly what normal is, or should be, is the fact that pretty much everything related to the economy, interest rates and the real estate market has been abnormal since the Great Recession years We could actually go back to the Pets com “spokespuppet” from the late 1990s original Internet boom, followed by the Y2K boondoggle and the subsequent “tech wreck” stock market crash to make the “abnormal” argument, but we do not have enough space in this column So suffice it to say that for a lot of people, their basis of comparison for today’s local real estate market conditions consisting of a seemingly painful “return to normal," is the completely out of whack, abnormal conditions that have been in place since at least the Great Recession years

To illustrate this, last week we outlined the precipitous collapse in median sales prices in the overall Cape Coral single-family home market during the Great Recession years, when median home prices plunged 59 7% from their peak of $285,450 in January 2006 to their bear market bottom of $115,000 in October 2010 One of the things we did not discuss was that during that time frame, the number of closed home sales in the Cape went through wild monthto-month swings as stunned investors desperately chased the market lower in an all-out panic trying to unload their properties, while a number of buyers ended up “catching a falling knife” as they were convinced home prices could not possibly go any lower

In 2006, there were a total of 2,987 single-family homes sold in the Cape before declining by 35 7% to a total of 1,922 closed sales in 2007 Sales jumped by 28 6% to 2,471 homes sold in 2008, with the 898 closed sales in the second quarter of that year topping the 874 sales total from the second quarter of 2006 Then the number of closed home sales hit rock bottom in the first quarter of 2009 with 318 homes sold, including the Great Recession monthly low of only 70 closed home sales in January 2009 Everything back in this time frame screamed “perfect storm.”

This brings us to the second perfect storm event in our local market during the past 20 years, which meets the definition of being a wild, dramatic, one-of-a-kind event formed by an unusually powerful combination of events However, this perfect storm was anything but disastrous, as it raised the bar on something we referred to in this column as the “new abnormal ” This perfect storm exploded onto

the scene, catching everyone by surprise, beginning in the June and July timeline of 2020, when Gov Ron DeSantis reopened the State of Florida for business following the COVID shutdowns from earlier that year

The real estate business got off to a strong start in 2020, despite the talk of a mysterious virus coming out of China With a solid pipeline of pending home sales leading to a then record 553 closed sales in the Cape for the month of March 2020, the sudden COVID-19 shutdown resulted in a dramatic decline in sales to 435 in April and down to only 360 closed sales in May 2020 Note that even in what we will define as an extreme disaster, the number of home sales did not drop to zero Our market got back on track quickly as buyers started flocking to Florida from cities and states that were dealing with wild social unrest while remaining in strict lockdowns Home sales in the Cape came off of the May COVID lows with 484 sales that June, before spiking to 620 sales in July 2020 With a tight “just in time” inventory, most homes were selling in frantic bidding wars well above list price within days of coming onto the market The number of closed sales peaked in perfect storm fashion at 739 homes in April 2021, and remained strong through June 2022 However, the peak month in 2022 occurred in March with 686 closed sales, coinciding with the beginning of the Federal Reserve’s most aggressive series of interest rate hikes in history

As crazy as the number of sales were during our postCOVID market boom, increasing by 32% from a total of 5,340 sales in 2019, to an all-time record of 7,048 home sales in 2021, before dropping to 5,758 sales in 2022 and to 5,141 sales in 2023, home prices went absolutely ballistic For example, in December 2019 in the overall Cape Coral single-family home market, the median sales price was $254,000 In 2020, the peak month was in November at $299,125 followed by a 28 7% jump to the 2021 peak in the month of December at $385,000 In 2022, our median sales prices ranged from a low of $395,000 in January to an all-time high of $470,000 in April of that year, before finishing December 2022 at $399,990 due in large part to the “clearance sales” of storm damaged homes

In 2023, median sales prices ranged between $420,000 in each of the months of February, April and May, to a low of $389,900 in December So far in the first four months of 2024, we have been in a tight range between $400,000 and $425,000 So median sales prices skyrocketed by 85% from December of 2019 to April 2022, while currently remaining roughly 63% above the December 2019 levels

REAL ESTATE BRIEFS

Christopher Alan Homes ranks 91st on Zonda’s 2024 Builder 100 list

Christopher Alan Homes was ranked 91st in Zonda’s 2024 Builder 100 list, marking the first year the homebuilder has broken into its top 100 In 2023, Christopher Alan Homes was ranked 114th

The Southwest Florida-based private homebuilder closed 569 homes in 2023, a 26% increase year-overyear Christopher Alan Homes recorded over $200 million in gross revenue for 2023, marking a substantial 45% year-over-year increase

Zonda is the leading provider of comprehensive market data and insights for the residential homebuilding industry

Its annual list looks at the top 100 homebuilders across the U S , ranked by closings The list is populated from responses to its annual survey and includes the companies’ gross revenue from homebuilding operations and where and what they built

In 2023, Christopher Alan Homes celebrated numerous achievements that helped its increase in home closings

These milestones included opening a new Palm Bay division on Florida’s East Coast and initiating sales in Creekside Run at Babcock Ranch, where 27 homes were s o l d w i t h i n t h e i n i t i a l f o u r m o n t h s A d d i t i o n a l l y , Christopher Alan Homes launched the second phase of The Hammocks at West Port in Charlotte County Since 2017, Christopher Alan Homes has closed more than 2,300 homes.

Headquartered in Southwest Florida, Christopher Alan Homes is a preferred single-family builder in Babcock Ranch, Burnt Store Village and Deep Creek The builderowned company also builds on individual homesites in Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida’s east coast For more information about Christopher Alan Homes visit christopheralanhomes com or call 855-44-MYCAH

Bob and Geri Quinn Homing In

Scuba Quest Fort Myers grand opening this weekend

By JASON PHILLIPS

Special to The Breeze

Scuba Quest is a Florida-based NAUIcertified company with five stores in Southwest and South Florida and a warehouse in Sarasota The new Scuba Quest Fort Myers officially opens this weekend May 24-26

Scuba Quest offers a comprehensive range of technical dive courses and openwater certifications at both locations Spearheading these operations is Brandon Wolters, a seasoned diving professional with an impressive track record of over 25 years in the industry His passion for diving was ignited at a young age, and he has been a dedicated diver ever since.

Wolters lives by the motto, “Always teaching, always diving,” which is evident

in the number of divers he certifies yearly Last year, Scuba Quest Cape Coral certified more instructors than any other NAUI dive shop in the country

In addition, Wolters offers cave diving certifications, a unique offering in South Florida Last year alone, he issued more than 40 of these specialized certifications

NAUI believes in academic freedom, and Wolters embraces this training ethic

Although 10 is the youngest age that can be open water certified, Scuba Quest offers swimming lessons for children and has implemented a “try SCUBA” program for children 8-10

Brandon Wolters

years old

Scuba Quest Cape Coral started in 1994 and hired Wolters’ business, Depth Finder Scuba, to oversee the shop and its website's management in 2018 Wolters’ Cape Coral Dive Club is an extension of Scuba Quest, and he hosts monthly meetings at the shop He also heads up international diving trips This year, the Cape Coral Diving Club is headed to Africa

Wolters is deeply passionate about ocean conservation and actively teaches students about proper conservancy As a young man, he owned a dive shop in Hawaii and noticed the

bleaching of the coral reef systems due to sunscreen and other man-made products

He was drawn to NAUI because of its environmental stance They were the first scuba diving organization to issue an ecological statement, and he has been drawn to that way of life since All newly certified instructors through Scuba Quest must watch PowerPoint presentation about reef safety during training

Scuba Quest Fort Myers is larger than the Cape Coral location and has a larger pool. The key to their success is standing on NAUI’s stringent principles and having professionals like Wolters at the helm

Wolters jokes that he thought it was a good idea to have two children under the age of 2 and run two dive shops simultaneously

Lee County Solid Waste, Habitat for Humanity, Cape hold successful waste collection event

Lee County Solid Waste partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties during the Cape Coral household chemical and bulk waste collection event held earlier this month Residents donated 36 items to Habitat for Humanity for reuse, diverting about 500 pounds of waste

Donated items included ceiling fans, light fixtures, furniture, rugs, beach chairs, a bicycle and a kitchen sink

Lee County Solid Waste and the City of Cape Coral have a long-standing partnership hosting household chemical waste collection events in tandem with Cape Coral’s bulk waste collection day The Lee County Solid Waste Department saw an opportuni-

ty to divert items from the waste stream and partner with Habitat’s ReStore to promote donation and reuse

Hendry Counties has four ReStores, which are nonprofit thrift stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used items

One hundred percent of the profits from its

four locations in Lee County contribute to Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities and hope

Humanity’s Restore and how to donate new and gently used unwanted items at www ReStoreLee org

Part 3: More on the possible ‘perfect storm’ market in Cape Coral

From page 16

Basically, we have seen median home sales prices “correct” by about 12% since the April 2022 high

Simply put, we are not ready to call this “market correction” a perfect storm It is, however, clearly uncomfortable and frustrating to a lot of people trying to sell their homes right now. But at this point in time, our market is in a corrective, sideways price consolidation This has been a much needed “pause to refresh” with the number of closed home sales returning to what we would call “more normal levels ”

That said, if you want, or need to sell your home right now, you will probably need to be more aggressive with your list price to attract an offer from a buyer than

you may have thought As a seller, you will also need to make sure your home is in extremely good repair and well maintained because of the amount of competition out there from both existing home sellers and new construction homes Right now, new homes built in 2023 and 2024 currently make up 41% of the pending home sales in Cape Coral, and homebuilders are offering way more incentives to potential buyers and Realtors than the average seller could ever afford to do When you put your home on the market, view it as “floating it out there” to see how buyers react to your list price in a form of “price discovery,” with the realization that you may need to reduce your price to attract offers

Right now, we tend to think this may be your opportunity to capture the best price

for your home for the next year or so, in part because of the actual perfect storms that could be looming on the horizon From what we read, there could be some serious issues yet to play out in the banking industry, along with a looming debt crisis that could be in the works The wild cards seem to be in how the Jerome Powell-led Federal Reserve handles interest rates and inflation, along with how the global unrest and wars play out Also, the impact of the likely chaos surrounding the upcoming presidential elections could loom large over the economy, creating more of a “wait and see” approach before people make major decisions

The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors

Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of May 21, 2024, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral single-family 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 RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape 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 fulltime Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots

Seller financing: If done properly, it can be a good way to sell home

From page 16

seller financing has proven to be a useful way both to sell property and to have a relatively safe income stream in the future

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

Class of ’24

PHOTOS BY LAURA HOWARD & MARK CLIFFORD MORE PHOTOS AT CAPECORALBREEZE COM

Memorial Day: Multiple ceremonies and events in Cape Coral and throughout Lee County

From page 1

The service will bring community leaders and veterans organizations together to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and read a Proclamation from the city Special guests will include the Gold Star parents and families, individuals who have lost a child or sibling while serving A “Roll Call” of deceased veterans will be read by U S Army veteran Jorge Bracero Guest Speakers include Lt Col Harvey Rocha and Col Robert Douglas

Additional activities will include the opportunity for family members to take a rubbing of their loved ones’ names on the Honor Wall; a Memorial Wreath presentation; a ceremonial fly-over by Lee County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit; and a Motorcycle Ride-In by the American Legion and Patriot Guard Riders The Harney Point VFW 8463, American Legion Post 90 and Post 136, Vietnam Veterans of America Firebase Chapter 594, Combat Infantrymen’s Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Knights of Columbus Assembly 2115, Cape Coral Fire Department, and Cape Coral Police Department will also participate

“It’s amazing seeing the support from the community and the number of people that come out each year,” Bollheimer said “We hope the families who join us for the service gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of honoring our military, whether it’s those currently serving or veterans who served in the past ”

Roughly 2,700 veterans are buried at Coral Ridge

“It’s such a moving, beautiful ceremony,” Bollheimer added “Being out there in our

veterans area, it kinds of brings it all to reality ”

Memorial Gardens

Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in Fort Myers will host its annual Memorial Day service with a cookout immediately following

The service honoring local and national heroes will take place in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens’ Field of Honor at 9:30 a m on May 27, at 1589 Colonial Blvd

“This is the most important event of the year to us,” said Holly Donahue, Memorial Gardens managing partner of operations “It is definitely our biggest event of the year Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country By hosting this event, we ensure that their memory lives on and that their contributions are never forgotten ”

A welcome address will be delivered by Graham A Stein, with the processional performed by Guns ’N Hoses Pipes ’N Drums of Southwest Florida Presentation of the colors will be performed by Harney Point VFW Post 8463 The national anthem is to be sung by Tina Fiorino

Sen Marco Rubio’s Southwest Florida Regional Director, London Rotundo, will be the keynote address speaker

A wreath placement ceremony will also take place to honor specific individuals who served This year’s wreaths will be placed on the graves of Cpl Samual M Sampler, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War I; and Marine PFC Paul Ison Harney Point VFW will also place wreaths in honor of Navy and Air Force veterans

“For anyone who is a patriot, for anyone who has this kind of regard for our veteran community, it’s extremely important, not just

to us, but to the entire community,” Donahue said “We invite everyone to this ” Beginning at 8 a m on Saturday, May 25, community members will have the opportunity to place flags on each of the graves of the many veterans resting in the cemetery Interested participants should arrive at the location’s Colonial Family Center at that time to await further instructions

“It’s beautiful to see,” Donahue said of the thousands of flags that will be placed “We just want people to remember the sacrifices made We live in a world with a lot of questions We just don’t ever want to forget our veterans and their sacrifices, and want them to know they matter to us Our annual event is pivotal in bringing together members of the community toward this common goal of respect and reverence for all of the veterans who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Their presence underscores the unity of purpose in honoring those who served ”

For additional information, visit the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens website: fortmyersmemorial com

American Legion

American Legion Post 90 in Cape Coral invites the public to join them for a Memorial Day “Remember and Honor” ceremony at noon on Monday, May 27 After the ceremony free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served.

“Memorial Day is one of the special days when the Post is open to the public without the necessity of being a member’s guest,” officials stated To be held at 1401 S E 47th St in Cape Coral, the ceremony will include a remembrance of all veterans and a 21-gun salute Post 90 encourages attendees to bring the whole family, as children can enjoy the ceremony as well Families with active-duty

military or veterans are especially encouraged to join When the formal ceremony is concluded a free lunch will be served to all

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about the American Legion and the important work we do to support our community,” officials stated

Additional information is available at post90swf org or by visiting its Facebook page

German American Social Club

The German American Social Club of Cape Coral invites the Southwest Florida community to an All-American Country BBQ this Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, which will focus on the grassroots food and patriotic music that distinguishes the United States throughout the world Given the nature of the holiday, members of the club will honor those who have died in the nation’s wars, paying tribute to U S armed forces members as well as honoring veterans from within the club

The event will be held in the Bavarian Gardens on the grounds of the German American Social Club on Pine Island Road Beginning at noon, the barbecue festivities will be offered to members and the public until 8 p m , and will feature a variety of barbecue fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, bratwursts, and more

There will be music throughout the afternoon, featuring Dustin St. One and Ed Feehan and the Pure Country Band from 2:30 to 5:30

The American Legion Post 90 Cape Coral will provide an Honor Guard and Quilts of Valor, which will be presented to two of the club’s members at around 2 p m

“There’s plenty to look forward to as the community has the opportunity to sit in the

See MEMORIAL DAY, page 21

Ceremony to commemorate lives lost on the USS Nimitz

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Memorial Day tradition now in its fifth year, a special tribute to those that served on the USS Nimitz will take place at a Cape Coral museum dedicated to preserving history and assisting local veterans

The Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library on Saturday will host an open-to-the-public event honoring those who perished on the ship as well as veterans who were on board the day the vessel saw a flight deck fire that took the lives of 14 sailors and injured 49

The memorial takes place from 11 a m to 2 p m , with local dignitaries present and a ship bell to be rung for each of the 14 who perished Cape veteran and business owner Chris Cammarota is a major organizer of the event, and was aboard the USS Nimitz the day of

incident 42 years ago

“The ceremony is to pay tribute to the events on May 26, 1981, when an accident on board the U.S.S. Nimitz took the lives of 14 men,” Cammarota said “One of the men that died, my best friend at the time, was Dennis Driscol from Birmingham, New Jersey ”

On that day in ’81, a Marine Corps EA6B Prowler crashed on the flight deck of the USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier named after World War II Pacific fleet commander

Chester W Nimitz The crash, which occurred right off the coast of Jacksonville, and subsequent explosions and fire either destroyed or damaged 19 other aircrafts The fire was fed by the steady flow of fuel from the punctured tank of a just-refueled aircraft

When the fire was believed to be out and orders were given to start the cleanup, a “sparrow” missile warhead detonated, killing

two and injuring seven while rekindling the fire It left a 12-inch by 24-inch wide by 3inch-deep depression in the flight deck Two other warheads detonated after the first explosion

Driscol, one of the two dozen who died that day, was a member of his and others attendees’ division, Cammarota said

“We were called ‘purple shirts’ and fueled everything,” Cammarota said “He ended up being the first killed, because he didn’t know what hit him ”

Various U S S Nimitz veterans will be in attendance to pay homage to their failed comrades Cammarota will read each of the 14 names, while a veteran rings the ship’s bell

One of the largest warships in the world, the “super carrier” U S S Nimitz is a multimission, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and part of Carrier Strike Group Eleven

There is a 12-foot replica of the ship and

memorial to Driscol inside the museum, which will be open for tours following the ceremony

Cammarota said Memorial Day isn’t quite about barbecues and cookouts, or discounts at stores

“It’s for the men and women that made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said “Without these people, we wouldn’t have a country None of us would have the freedoms we enjoy every day ”

Cammarota said he enjoys having the youth come out and learn about the importance of history

The Brotherhood Heroes Resource Center and Museum is at 4522 Del Prado Blvd Parking is located behind the building. Refreshments will follow the ceremony

For more information, visit www thebrotherhoodofheroes com

Memorial Day: Multiple ceremonies and events in Cape Coral and throughout Lee County

From page 20

shaded gardens with friends and family,”

GASC officials stated Tickets are $5 and parking is free Admission is free to active military and veterans with ID as well as to children 12 and younger

President Erich Kohl and his team “are proud to be able to open up to everyone in Cape Coral and beyond so that we can celebrate who we are a strong nation Southwest Florida strong ”

The German American Social Club is at 2101 Southwest Pine Island Road

Sun Splash Family Waterpark

Sun Splash Family Waterpark will provide free Military Admission throughout the

weekend (May 25-27), as a courtesy to all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve their country in the armed forces

“As a thank you to all of the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country in the armed forces, we’re glad to honor them this Memorial Day Weekend with free admission,” stated SunSplash General Manager Eric Reed

A valid Military ID is required at the ticket booth

Memorial Weekend is also the official kick off to summer Daily summer hours of operation will begin on May 24

For more information on hours, season passes, admission rates, birthday parties,

upcoming events, and directions to the park, visit SunSplashWaterpark com

SunSplash is at 500 W Lake Kennedy Drive

Gulf Coast Town Center

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Residents continue to criticize plans for Jaycee Park

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Those opposed to city-planned changes t o J a y c e e P a r k c o n t i n u e t o t e l l C a p e Coral’s City Council that the largely passive park should remain the same with only simple enhancements.

Clarie Dooley said she is still receiving petitions in the mail from people who do not want the project calling for substantive changes to move forward

“I have almost 8,000 petitions that they don’t want this project,” she said

Dooley said Wednesday that Jaycee Park is unique there is no other place in the city where she can drive her disabled father and sit and watch the river or have a picnic and enjoy the shade by the water

“This council is extremely short-sighted in ignoring us I have to ask why? What is so compelling about this project? Why else are you ignoring us and going ahead and destroying the unique nature of the park

To take away a public entity most-used, most- loved park in the city to create something you can find elsewhere,” she said “There are plenty of bars in the city, plenty of food trucks The Yacht Club at some point will be open again There are other places boaters can have a drink and a meal I urge the council to stop ignoring the people who love Jaycee Park the way it is.”

Other residents asked about the hours the park will be open for the public, as well as if a bar, which the city is calling a bistro, remains in the plans

Councilmember Robert Welsh said he will never support a bar in Jaycee Park

“You are very well versed in the issues

t h a t e x i s t a n d y o u r o p i n i o n s , ”

Jaycee Park is at 60% design and permitting has begun with the potential of starting construction later this year Some of the amenities included in the design stage are a splash pad, bistro, food trucks, bandshell and boardwalk deck. The city also plans to remove the decades-old Australian pines along the river and to replace them with native species.

Councilmember Richard Carr told those who spoke about Jaycee Park “I found great value in your input as long as I have been sitting here mid-December We are in a process that has already been preapproved and paid for ”

Jaycee Park was among the quarterly updates during Council’s Wednesday’s workshop

“We already approved the design that has already been paid for We haven’t identified a funding source for Jaycee Park Even when the design is done how much is it going to cost, or if the council wants to move forward with the funding to do that construction,” Mayor John Gunter said

Jaycee Park is at 60% design and permitting has begun with the potential of starting construction later this year Some of the amenities included in the design stage are a splash pad, bistro, food trucks, bandshell and boardwalk deck The city a l s o p l a n s t o r e m

d Australian pines along the river and to replace them with native species

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said as part of any design service contract, permitting is involved

“The idea is to have the park designed and permitted before we go out to bid, so when we issue the bid, it is a shovel-ready

project,” he said “The permits are typically submitted just after the 30 percent design through the 60 percent design Any comments that come back allows design companies to make any adjustments on the plan before they get to 100 percent ” Ilczyszyn said contractors are not on board at the permitting process

He said two things are happening with the Jaycee Park project

“Council has authorized city staff to move forward with the design,” Ilczyszyn said “When I am given direction from the governing body, my role is to follow through with that directive Asking me, or my administrative staff to stop something we were directed to do is insubordinate We are moving forward with the design, approved in a contract.”

While plans were advancing, a privatesector group liked the concept and submit-

Partnership proposal

Assistant City Manager Connie Barron said the target date to have an agreement, if they are able to negotiate a P3 agreement with the group that has put in the unsolicited proposal, would be by the end of July

“The statute out there allows the private sector to partner with government to bring forward ideas and solutions in the community that otherwise would not have funding,

or the funding is such that is multiple years away,” Ilczyszyn said. “The design is still going to be completed through 100% ”

He said the council will have a discussion on if they want to fund the project, seek grants, wait for other outside funding sources, or have it sit on the shelf as a shovel-ready project

Ilczyszyn said the originating ideas for the concept stemmed from a city-wide analysis, which laid the vision of how they are designing the parks and bringing forward improvements Within the master plan for Jaycee Park, some attendees suggested a passive approach, more active facilities, and others to improve the existing areas

“This diversion of opinion is even noted in the master plan and was suggested that there is going to be some that want passive and a lot more active, and it lays those out,” Ilczyszyn said

In addition to that, the plan also talks about activating the waterfront

“It specifically mentions Jaycee Park is one of the handful of parks where residents in the community want access to the waterfront,” Ilczyszyn said “Right now, you can see the waterfront, you don’t have access from a boat ”

Teens and the youth of the city specifically mentioned that they want to have jam night, music at Jaycee Park, which was the reason for incorporating a bandshell in the new design

“The entire input given in the master plan is how the design originally started as a concept Input was gathered and that is where we landed with the concept today,” Ilczyszyn said.

Parks update presented to Cape Council

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The completion of Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, which was slated to be finished in February, continues to lag behind schedule

Cape Coral City Council received a quarterly update regarding the city’s GObond funded parks master plan during its Wednesday workshop, including an update on the Yacht Club

I

Improvements Dave Hyyti said Yellow F

Although the schedule is behind, the budget is on track

The contractor for this project is OAC Action Construction

“We are charging him liquidation damages for the last couple of months,” he said “We are looking at taking measures to stimulate the contractor. It is difficult to make people work that are not performing ” T

August

The contract amount for the preserve is $5,739,321 and a 5% contingency of $286,966 for a total of $6,026,287

As for the Yacht Club, Hyyti said they are working on a contract to do the full design work for the nearly-from-scratch rebuild, as well as waiting for permits

“One of the key components was transferring boat slips,” he said, which was approved “Once that is completed the finalized slip transfer goes to FDEP ”

The “deconstruction” of the first phase of the city’s first public amenity is wrapping up, Hyyti said, with the buildings down

The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is currently at 95% completion The city is shooting for an end-of-June completion, but it looks like July will be the actual opening date The center, to be operated under a management contract, will have 32 pickleball courts, 12 tennis courts, pro shop, office, and concessions.

The site is now being regraded and sod laid “That work should be completed this

week, if not very early next week,” he said The remaining parks were also highlighted to share where they are in the

process

The Lake Kennedy Racquet Center is currently at 95% completion The city is shooting for an-end-of-June completion, but it looks like July before the actual opening

“There are a couple of delays with materials We are currently reviewing the extension to the completion date,” Hyyti said The center, to be operated under a management contract, will have 32 pickleball courts, 12 tennis courts, pro shop, office, and concessions

The contract amount for the center is $10,707,648 with a 5% contingency of $ 5 3 5 ,

$11,243,030

Crystal Lake Park, which just got started with a notice to proceed on March 18, has a budget of $10,293,147 The contractor is Pavement Maintenance, LLC Hyyti said the project is about 10% complete with an anticipated completion date of March of next year

The bid for Festival Park was awarded and groundbreaking has been pushed off until the end of July The notice to proceed starts July 1 after the expiration of nesting season for burrowing owls. T

$17,829,987 with a scheduled completion of March 2025 The contractor is Burke Construction Group, LLC

Hyyti said they are working on a publicprivate partnership for the Lake Meade Park project with more information to come in the future as it becomes available

The last park, Tropicana Park, is awaiting permits, so the city can get ready to put it out to bid

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL

Hector A. Cafferata: New campus will be a K-8 school with opening expected in two years

From page 1

grams this grant will develop ”

Each of the schools selected to use the funding in different ways from adding an arts and science magnet through an elementary computer science and coding curriculum at Edgewood Academy to adding a S T E A M i n t e g r a t i o n a t B o n i t a S p r i n g s Elementary School

Hector A Cafferata Jr Elementary will

c r e a t e a L e a d e r s h i p , E n v i r o n m e n t a l Education, and Design (LEED) magnet program The program will lead the efforts to promote conservation, manage campus r e c y c l i n g , a n d u n d e r s t a n d a l t e r n a t i v e resources that benefit learning and preservation.

Principal Dr Jason Kurtz said they applied for the grant more than a year ago and were notified last Friday of receiving the grant

“It means a lot, especially for our school Coming out of the hurricane, being a portable campus, opening a new campus It will allow us to be innovative in our teaching and how students are learning,” he said “I think it is really going to redefine and reimagine Hector A Cafferata for our students, families, and community ” Kurtz said leadership is super important for their students The school’s mission statement talks about making productive citizens for the future allowing students the opportunity for leadership

With the new K-8 school opening in two years, it is a great opportunity to have middle school students serve as mentors for elementary students

The environmental education piece will develop students into individuals who understand that they are part of something bigger. With all the changes that come from climate change, and having experi-

Hector A. Cafferata Jr. Elementary will create a Leadership, Environmental Education, and Design (LEED) magnet program. The program will lead the efforts to promote conservation, manage campus recycling, and understand alternative resources that benefit learning and preservation

enced Hurricane Ian recently and what it did to their school family, sustainability and doing their part to minimize impacts of climate change became important, he said

“With the opening of a new campus on a brand-new piece of property, it’s a unique opportunity for us to reimagine the campus to include some things other campuses don’t have,” Kurtz said

With the new campus, he wants to have outdoor classrooms, and outdoor learning spaces that include the ecosystems of Florida such as wetlands, palmetto and scrub Kurtz said it’s about providing an up-close and personal experience to see how each of those ecosystems work and what draws insects and animals to those areas

The design piece will incorporate a LEGO lab, which includes such skills as geometry and the development of math skills

“We are super excited,” Kurtz said, adding that by “integrating leadership, environmental ed, and design will enhance our academic program and attract students from diverse populations ”

The grant is most welcome.

“I think this is going to allow us to be innovative and really meet the needs of our students,” Kurtz said, while preparing them to meet the Florida benchmarks and their future

Students and staff are a week away from

finishing a year and a half at the portable campus after being displaced from the original building following catastrophic damage

“This year went really well We are finishing up end-of-year assessments,” he said Tuesday afternoon “Our student achievement numbers are all up Being on a portable campus is not ideal, but our students are super resilient Our team is amazing I really take my hat off to faculty and staff for their hard work ”

Kurtz said after Hurricane Ian he shared that it’s not the building that makes the school, but the people and students within the walls that makes it a school.

“We haven’t missed a beat continue to grow and make progress,” he said “Last year we had the highest school grade the school has had in seven, or eight years This year even higher ”

It will probably be another two years before students and staff move to their new K-8 building

“We continue to focus on things in our realm of control,” he said “Our families have been super supportive, students are happy to be together.”

All demonstrating that it’s not the building, it’s the people

Currently the district is negotiating a final contract with a vendor that submitted a proposal, something Kurtz hopes will be signed and sealed soon

“I know the vendor and school district are both anxious to get started and get the shovels in the ground, so to speak The district is doing a P3 partnership, which hopefully speeds up the timeframe a little bit,” he said of bringing a prototype to the table

Kurtz is excited about having a K-8 campus, as it will be great for their families He said with three kids of his ow, there was one point he had one child in elementary, middle, and high school, which can be challenging for all their school schedules

In addition, a K-8 school allows those middle school students three extra years at the same school

“The great thing is we get to raise them up for six years. They know expectations, procedures, climate, and the culture in the school building That middle school comp

another middle school,” Kurtz said, which could have the potential of students coming from a handful of four or five other schools

Parent involvement is another great highlight of a K-8 school as relationships have already been built for parents, and can continue through the middle school years

Another benefit due to the help of the grant is creating an identity for Hector

Kurtz said when he first got to the school, now finishing his fourth year, he said everyone would be talking about them and what an amazing place the school was going to be

“It’s much bigger and brighter than I ever imagined It’s exciting to be a part of it There are challenges with change new buildings, portables, hiring an entire school worth of staff,” Kurtz said, but with that they can “grow our influence and impact with our local community ”

Funding changes to give school principals greater flexibility

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Funding for schools has changed for the 2024-2025 school year, giving the district more money and principals more flexibility

“The new formula is driven off student population and given a dollar amount with requirements,” Budget Director Kelly Letcher said during the school board’s Thursday meeting

Chief Financial Officer Dr Ami Desamours said the new allocation was structured overall to drive more resources into schools

“That looked different Some were up, some down, depending on projections, populations, and circumstances in the school,” she said

The new allocation put an increase of $20 million into schools

“This model represents a real interest of driving more dollars to the schools,” Superintendent Dr Ken Savage said “Some schools that were, for the lack of better words, overfunded All in all, the result is a significant increase in the tune of $20 million substantial.”

The formula is based on full-time equivalent projections for the school and unweighted FTE based on student population There is additional funding for such things as Exceptional Student Education guarantee, class size and schools that have an above average English for Speakers of Other Languages population

“Small schools do not generate enough money to handle the required things We provided an additional allocation for a small school,” Letcher said “There’s one very small school allocation in order to help them meet some of the requirements and needs ”

Additional allocations were provided for 254 and 255 levels of service, students in self-contained classrooms Letcher said the current way was not generating enough dollars to provide the teacher and paraprofessional for the classroom

There are also additional enrichment dollars for such areas as the arts, International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and Cambridge AICE.

“This is the first year we are working through things The academic services team is working closely with the schools to make sure they are meeting requirements and serving the pop-

ulation the way they should be serving,” Letcher said A meeting is held every Monday with the academic services team to go over any requests, or any concerns that come from the schools

“We will work through the summer to make sure the numbers projected to them are aligning with the students,” Letcher said, adding that numbers will also be pulled on day 10 of school, and after the October FTE survey to make sure everything is aligned

Board member Cathleen Morgan said the allocation is a huge lift for principals and academic services

“Some principals have a lot more experience doing this than others There is bias As soon as you take away

guardrails, bias comes in,” she said “I think this is fantastic that we are doing this there will be some abuse to the system I want to make certain that someone is watching the allocations and to ensure we are having the impact we intend ”

Desamours said the point is well taken She said when it was first rolled out, there were a lot of questions

“Those checks and balances take a lot of work Will it necessarily be perfect, I am going to say probably not It took time to put things into place to help us monitor those things that we feel need to be monitored,” she said.

That would include whether resources are utilized most appropriately, which depends on academic services patterns to understand what those are

Healthy Lee to celebrate National Senior Health & Fitness Day on May 29

Free event at Sam Fleishman Regional Sports Complex in Fort Myers

Healthy Lee will join local organizations to celebrate the 31st annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day Wednesday, May 29, at Sam Fleishman Regional Sports Complex in Fort Myers

The theme of this year’s National Senior Health & Fitness Day is “to make fitness your friend for life” and help promote active, healthy lifestyles through physical fitness, optimal nutrition and preventive care

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, less than 15% of Americans who are 65 years old and older get the recommended amounts of aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity outlined in the second edition of t h e P

Americans The event will help seniors make, renew, and revitalize their commitment to living healthier lives

The event will be from 9 a m to noon and include ways to increase physical activity, including pickleball, tai chi, aqua Zumba and yoga There will also be meditation, healthy food samples, and a variety of educational vendors and screenings for f

Complex is at 1750 Matthew Drive

“We encourage all older adults at all fitness levels and their friends and families to come out for National Senior Health & Fitness Day on May 29th,” said Healthy Lee program manager Cheryl Schlichte

“The goal is to highlight the benefits of regular exercise, sports, and overall education about seniors’ health, and have fun while doing it We encourage all older adults to take advantage of the health and fitness activities offered in their communities, through Healthy Lee, Lee Health and Fort Myers Parks and Recreation. It’s a chance to stay physically fit and healthy and make new connections and create lasting friendships It is a win-win ”

Healthy Lee is a community-driven cross-sector collaborative, including businesses, educational institutions, government, healthcare organizations, social services, faith communities and more Healthy Lee works to ensure every Southwest Florida resident and visitor receives support to live a life of optimal health and well-being.

Events like National Senior Health & Fitness Day help seniors make, renew, and r e v

healthier lives through better health and fitness

While the event celebrates seniors in the community, all ages are welcome to attend

To RSVP, please visit: https://healthy lee com/senior-health-fitness-day/ S

Complex is at 1750 Matthew Drive, Fort Myers

To learn more about Healthy Lee, please visit https://healthylee com

Mercola Market, Solspring Café adjust summer hours, schedule events

Mercola Market of Cape Coral and Solspring Café are adjusting their hours for the summer From now through October, the natural health store and café will be open Monday through Thursday, 7 a m to 6 p m ; Friday and Saturday, 9 a m to 6 p m ; and closed on Sundays

Both shops will also be closed on Memorial Day

The Mercola Market and Solspring Café, located at 125 SW 3rd Place, hosts a series of family-friendly events throughout the year Some of the upcoming events include:

End of School Bash

Saturday, May 25, 9 a m to 2 p m

Celebrate summer with this free event that will offer bounce houses, food trucks,

vendors and more

Paint & Sip – Summer Themed

Wednesday, June 12, 6-8 p m

Hosted on the second Wednesday of every month, this event is $30 to attend and includes a glass of wine along with a beach and turtles portrait for you to create Marvel Trivia Night

Saturday, June 15, 4-6 p m

Celebrate Father's Day in style with the ultimate treat for Marvel-loving dads. This monthly event is free to play, featuring special beverages, a costume contest and exciting prizes

Meet the Local Candidates

Thursday, June 20, 5:30-7:30 p m

This meet-and-greet event with 92 5 FOX News Radio will allow residents to

connect with local candidates running for office

Annual Roast the Competition

Saturday, July 13, 1:30-6 p m

Typically a monthly event, this special competition will be bigger than ever with extended hours and more space to roast your friends, family and others in a Super Smash Bros Charity Video Game Tournament It’s free to enter, and all donations go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Mobile Blood Drive

Tuesday, July 16, 11 a m to 5 p m

The blood drive is hosted quarterly, and walk-ups are welcome

Pirates of the Caribbean Trivia

Saturday, July 20, 4-6 p m

Another fan-favorite trivia event that’s

free to play with a chance of winning prizes

Running Scared 5K Saturday, Oct 5, 5 p m , Race starts at 6 p m

Organized by Lee County Law Enforcement, this Halloween-themed event is perfect for the whole family to get out and support a good cause

Mercola Market also offers a 4,000square-foot room available for the public to rent for special occasions or business meetings If interested, please contact Mercola Market at 239-599-9400 or mercolamarketcc com/banquet-room aspx For more information or a complete list of upcoming

COMMUNITY

PHOTO PROVIDED

The glory in gardening - pentas

By ANN BLOCK news@breezenewspapers com

When I came to Southwest Florida, I couldn’t wait to plant flowers year-round The Northeast only had 2 1/2 seasons to plant summer, spring and early fall because there would be early freezes or snow

To my delight, I found my favorite perennials that require little maintenance here in this part of Florida … pentad Of course, I had to research what are these pentad? hey make a spectacular flamboyant flower show! Here is what I found pentas are native to Yemen, Madagascar, the Comoros, Southern Africa and the Arabian peninsula They are also called Egyptian starclusters or star flower for they have blooms with five lobes at the end of each flower Pentas Lanceolata is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

I found pentad are very easy to grow They are non-stop bloomers and it’s not necessary to dead-head another reason I love them so much They come in a variety of showy colors: lavender, red, white and pink The best part is that I have also found that the butterflies love them for their nectar I have heard that pentad are a favorite of hummingbirds although, sadly, I have never seen one in my garden However, happily, I have lots of monarchs, sulfurs and zebra butterflies who enjoy the food that pentas has to offer

There are many varieties of Pentas Lanceolatas from dwarf, which grow to a foot high, to full size, which can grow to three feet Good news, pentad grow in full sun and can tolerate some shade. When I started my garden, I had absolutely no shade so I was very excited to have a flower that will tolerate our afternoon sun!

When you first plant, water daily (true of any plant or tree) I make sure to water daily for an entire month for it to get established After that, pentad are drought tolerant Although during our long dry season, I do water and they seem to flower more and are happier

Make sure to fertilize during our dry season every six weeks with a balanced slow release granular fertilizer Rainy season, please do not fertilize anywhere in your garden as it is environmentally unsafe for our waterways Always use mulch but never against the stems as it will make them die quickly The dwarf variety will live for about three years and the full size about six years You can prune pentad whenever the plants grow too tall or too wide for your landscape Generally, pentad are disease free What a great flowering plant!

I like to plant in the same color clusters so it makes for a dramatic effect in my garden However, there are four different colors of pentad to choose from and you can make a fun arrangement with all four colors! That’s the joy of creating your own garden It is an empty palette when you start and an artistic outdoor multi-dimensional painting when you are done

I’d like to share my special gardening quote from Alfred Austin:

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul!” Happy gardening!

Ann Block is Past President of the Garden Club of Cape Coral

MAY 24, 2024

Ed

(senior vice commander), Bob Johnson (finance officer), Jack Wagner (commander) and member Alfredo Giraud with some of those from the Golisano staff

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bert Kurland Chapter 696 of MOPH makes donation to Golisano Children’s Hospital

The Bert Kurland Chapter 696 of The Military Order of the Purple Heart (Lee, Collier and Hendry counties) presented a check for $1,000 to the Golisano Children’s Hospital on April 16 This gift went to the “Little Red Wagon Fund” at Golisano Children’s Hospital MOPH Commander Jack Wagner stated, “So many of these children at Golisano are facing traumatic health challenges at such an early age in life. We want to sup-

port and honor these children with love and help by putting a smile on their faces through their treatment and recovery ”

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is awarded to those veterans who were wounded in combat or killed in action Associate membership can be obtained by being a lineal descendant of a Purple Heart recipient

For more, visit https://chapter696moph.org/

Burrowing Owl Photo Contest winners announced

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife has announced the winners of the 2024 Burrowing Owl Photo Contest Adult Category:

■ First Place: Darlayne Coughlin

■ Second Place: Paul Tressler

■ Third Place: (tie) Lynn Delahanty and John Hawkins Youth Category:

■ First Place: Abigail Gallagher

■ Second Place: Seth Gallagher

■ Third Place: Adalyn Miller

The response to this year’s photo contest was overwhelming with almost 100 submissions, featuring stunning and distinctive images capturing the essence of Cape Coral’s official bird The awards were presented at a ceremony on May 18 at Rotary Park Jesslyn Ferentz, Meteorologist for ABC7 news, was the emcee Cape Coral City Council Member Richard Carr presented awards to the winning photographers

The first-place photo from the adult category will be featured on the 2025 Burrowing Owl Festival T-shirt First-place winner in the youth category will grace the 2025 Ground Owl Day T-shirt Winners received a oneyear membership to Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife and other gifts

The CCFW wishes to thank everyone who submitted their amazing photos Start saving your favorite images for next year’s competition!

Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to preserve and enhance the habitats of protected wildlife species and to educate the community about Cape Coral’s wildlife resources

If you are interested in joining for volunteering, please visit the CCFW website at ccfriendsofwildlife org or call 239-980-2593.

Coughlin earned first place with this

Social Club’s ‘Hippy Dippy Tie Dye Dinner Dance’ June 1

Hosted by the Cape Coral Social Club monthly, the June 1 dinner dance theme is "Hippy Dippy Tie Dye Dinner Dance " Dust off those old bell bottoms, fringe vests, tie-dye shirts, platform shoes, etc

Admittance includes choice of three entrees with all the sides, dessert, soft drinks, music and a huge dance floor

See all the details online at https://www capecoralsocialclub.org/monthlydance.

Dances are open to the public The Cape Coral Social Club hosts a dinner dance every month on the first Saturday The dance will be held at the German American Social Club, 2101 S W Pine Island Road, Cape Coral

Red pentas.

From left, Dan Bernard (chaplain),

Charles

Darlayne

photo in the Adult Category of the CCFW Burrowing Owl Photo Contest

EDUCATION

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Baxter named to Dean's List at Mount St. Mar y's University

EMMITSBURG, MD -- Kyle Baxter of Cape Coral is among the 557 students who earned Dean's List honors for the Spring 2024 semester at Mount St Mary's University An additional 156 students were named to the President's List for earning a grade point average of 4 0

Mount St Mary's University is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland The university offers more than 80 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for undergraduate students, and more than 20 adult undergraduate and graduate-level programs The Mount includes Mount St Mary's Seminary, the second oldest in the United States, and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, an idyllic shrine for spiritual reflection located on the hill above the university

For more, please visit https://msmary edu/

Florida State awards 339 honors medallions to spring 2024 graduates

TALLAHASSEE Florida State University awarded honors medallions to 339 high-achieving graduates during an April 29 ceremony in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of some of the university’s most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change

Among the recipients were:

■ Cape Coral -- Samantha Strickland, psychology, Honors in the Major

■ Pine Island -- Madison Tilton, English (editing, writing and media) and history, University Honors

For more about FSU, visit https://www fsu edu/

Bokeelia resident Onorato graduates from Stonehill College

EASTON, MA -- Lucas Onorato of Bokeelia was among 625 students to process at Stonehill College's 73rd Commencement on Sunday, May 19

Stonehill College, a Catholic institution of higher learning, was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1948 Located on the beautiful 387-acre campus and former estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames in North Easton, Massachusetts, the college offers more than 100 academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, business and pre-professional field

For more information, visit https://www.stonehill.edu/

Barcena makes Spring 2024 Dean's List at Geor gia Southwester n State University

AMERICUS, GA -- Daniel Barcena, a resident of Cape Coral, made the Spring 2024 Dean's List at Georgia Southwestern State University and was among 730 students recognized for scholastic achievement

To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must earn a semester GPA of 3 5 or better and take a minimum of 12 credit hours

Georgia Southwestern State University, located in Americus, Ga., is a public, four-year unit of the University System of Georgia with approximately 3,500 students Founded in 1906, Georgia Southwestern offers professional programs of study as well as degrees in the arts, humanities, sciences and graduate programs in business, computer science, education, English and nursing

Visit www gsw edu for more information

Lopez named to Southeast Missouri's Spring 2024 President's List

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO - Janelle Lopez of Cape Coral has been named to the Southeast Missouri State University President's List for academic achievement during the spring 2024 semester

Students named to the list earned at least a 4 0 grade point average and completed at least 12 hours of standard graded credit in a semester

For more about the university, visit https://semo edu/

MAY 24,

Cape High’s Dupeyron attends Sunshine State Scholars conference for STEM

Soon-to-be senior also earns one-year college scholarship

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral High School student was among 111 student-scholars that attended the 27th annual Sunshine State Scholars conference in Orlando for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

“The Sunshine State Scholars program recognizes Florida’s brightest STEM students and their outstanding

Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr said in a prepared statement “I extend my highest appreciation for their dedication and hard work, and I am hopeful these scholars will continue their postsecondary education in Florida and succeed throughout their academic journey ”

Cape High's Sophia Dupeyron was among the students that attended the conference

“When they first told me I was really excited and surprised when I first heard about it,” she said, adding that she puts a lot of effort into school and her extracurricular activities “I was really honored to be chosen in Lee County as one of the delegates I am really grateful for the opportunity they gave us It’s an interesting program ”

There were also 37 students, Dupeyron among them, who were awarded a one-year scholarship, which was provided by State Farm and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation

“I am very grateful for their contribution, appreciative I was able to get a scholarship,” she said

A new iPad, courtesy of AT&T, was given to each student, as well as SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment tickets

The two-day event highlighting 11th grade students was co-hosted by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation

The conference included networking, workshops, a career panel and college readiness

“We also had an engagement activity, a STEM-related activity,” Dupeyron said of the really fun scavenger hunt “They started off by giving us envelopes, divided across 20 different tables ”

The envelope included coordinates that they searched for around the hotel

“Around the hotel every stop gave us envelopes,” Dupeyron said of the five different envelopes

The students had to make a presentation about the five different cards that had a specific STEM career-related

question

“You had 30 minutes to do it. It was fast paced creativity with different teams and ideas,” Dupeyron said She is just finishing up her junior year at Cape High, which she deemed the busiest yet

In addition to her schoolwork, the junior student is involved in a plethora of activities, such as Key Club, Mock Trial, IB Ambassadors, Cape Coral Youth Council and editor of the school newspaper

Her senior is shaping up to be the same, as she wants to continue to be involved in clubs while also applying for scholarships and colleges She said her college list is balanced with both in state and out of state schools

Once Dupeyron graduates from high school she would like to get a bachelor’s degree in technology, business or science Once that degree is completed, she would like to go to law school – for such areas as patents, technology or artificial intelligence

“It’s really important to have lawyers to handle technological issues,” she said

Google Roadshow teaches students at Oasis Middle School how to be safe online

Google’s Online Safety Roadshow assembly was presented Thursday to more than 500 students at Oasis Middle School to help them learn how to be smart and stay safe online State Sen Jonathan Martin and Rep Mike Giallombardo spoke to students about the importance of internet safety and participated in interactive education games

“In today's digital age, it's critical that our students learn how to navigate and utilize the internet in a safe way Events like the Online Safety Roadshow not only provide students with the tools to protect themselves but it opens an important conversation we should be having statewide," Martin said.

“Google's Online Safety Roadshow provides a proactive approach to educating our youth on the importance of online safety I look forward to seeing more initiatives that empower our students while safeguarding their wellbeing,” Giallombardo said

“The internet has revolutionized education, opening up a world of information for our students However, It's imperative that we equip our students with the skills, knowledge and awareness to navigate that world safely Events like Google's Online Safety Roadshow play a crucial role in

ensuring the well-being of our students " Jacquelin Collins, superintendent Oasis Charter Schools

Students spent the 45-minute program learning important skills, including how to create a safe and memorable password, avoid talking to strangers, prioritize well being, and be kind online

The event is part of Google’s initiative to help empower young people with tools and training they need to safely explore online Google is dedicated to creating safe experiences for children across its platforms with strong parental protections and dedicated features that help young people and their parents navigate their time online

Google’s Online Safety Roadshow is based on the Be Internet Awesome curriculum, which focuses on five tips for staying safe and being smart online Those tips include sharing content with care, don’t fall for fake online scams, secure your information with strong passwords, be kind to others online and when in doubt, talk it out with a trusted adult

For additional information on how to help kids and teenagers safely navigate online resources, please visit wellbeing google/for-families

PHOTO PROVIDED

Cape Coral High School junior Sophia Dupeyron

Scholars conference in Orlando

SPORTS

It’s definitely tarpon time!

Tarpon fever is in high gear with the biggest question for local anglers being, where will you find your silver king? Join the fleet at Boca Grande and why not, as you already know the fish are there If you enjoy pass fishing but with fewer boats, nearby Captiva Pass always holds some of the big fish

Then we have anglers who like to anchor or stake out along the beaches and wait for a passing shot as tarpon travel the coastline Tossing a small crab, medium-sized pinfish or whitebait in their path will get attention Lure anglers will do well with a variety of offerings with DOA

proven producers

O t h e r s w i l l q u i e t l y loiter off the coastline, scanning the surface for signs of tarpon rolling, then motor out and ahead of the moving school, s

sure to carry your binoculars Cutting in front of a boat already waiting for a n a p p r o a c h i n g s c h o o l that they’ve spotted is bad medicine

I n s h o r e , t h e r e a r e early morning backcountry targets for fly and spin anglers to probe throughout Pine Island Sound Other anglers wait for night, then head to local bridges for under the lights, big game excitement

Choose your location and your favorite technique and go to work It’s definitely tarpon time!

Hungry snook are waiting for your lure, fly or castnetted white bait Island points, channels between islands, back country early morning shallows, passes and now with the thermostat on high, out on the beaches are all great spots Beach walkers should fight the urge to make long casts out into the Gulf searching for a big snook bite when the fish you’re seeking is swimming in knee-deep or less water Long casts down the beach is the ticket, as these fish patrol the surf zone and the edges, docks and structures of the passes.

Make yourself bug-proof, pick a moving tide and throw big topwaters at night for a jumbo, surf-zone snook or a possible surprise tarpon, or shark Daytrippers looking to sight fish do best, again, on a moving tide with an east wind at their backs

Try to match your surroundings when choosing sightfishing, beach-walker clothing On calm days the Gulf shallows are gin clear and fish, especially big fish, have sharp eyes If you can see them, they probably have already seen you

Always help put the odds in your favor whenever you can If the beach slopes upwards behind you, “sand-colored” hats, shirts and pants would be the obvious choice, rather than your bright red hat and favorite purple, green and blue tie-dye, concert tee Try making side-tilted casts rather than having your 9-foot fly rod at 12 o’clock spooking fish 30 yards away Learn to manage and cast longer leaders in the clear shallows

Any structure along the beach, big or small, can be a snook magnet, especially a downed tree, which can house a whole school Approach quietly but don’t get too close, then pick away at the edges so as to not get hung up, ruining your new hot spot

Beach snook can be caught on huge variety of personal favorite lures and flies, but a simple white bucktail jig, soft plastic or a fly in white or white with a little chrome flash tied in is a winner

Blue water anglers leave early and get to choose from a big variety of species to pursue these next months The

Avery Jones, 15, earned a No 6 world ranking in her class in 20inch and cruiser (24-inch) PHOTO PROVIDED

Cape Coral cyclists compete for Team USA at UCI BMX World Championships

Avery Jones earns No. 6 ranking

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Riders at the Cape Coral BMX Track had their presence felt in a big way at a recent international event.

A whopping 10 riders from the Cape represented Team USA at the UCI BMX World Championships last week in Rock Hill, South Carolina It was 15-year-old Avery Jones that came out of the races with a world ranking, as she earned the title of being No 6 in the world in her class when it comes to riding a cruiser (24 inch) and regular 20-inch bike

Remarking on sending 10 riders to participate, Cape BMX coach and Track Director Nick Jones, who was also one of a dozen coaches of Team USA and father to Avery, said it was special to see Cape Coral represented

“Our track has come a long way in the past eight years,” Jones said “We have fantastic riders at our facility, and now, one of the best in the world It feels good Our track is looked upon as one of the better tracks in the country, especially on the east coast of the United States I think it's cool for our city -- some recognition from Cape Coral ”

As a show of support to the riders, who range in age from 14 to 50-plus, the track is hosting a “welcome home” celebration Tuesday, May 28, where each rider will be honored for their accomplishments

There were seven teens and three adults that represented Cape BMX

“It was great to see them get to compete against the best,

and to walk out there with ‘Team USA’ on my back and one of the riders being my daughter, it was pretty awesome,” Jones said

The riders put in lots of hard work week in and week out, multiple times each week, to prepare and qualify for Team USA

“They put in a lot of work,” Jones said “BMX is a tough sport It's an extreme sport There are lots of things that can happen on the track; injuries that can sometimes be pretty severe ”

Jones said on the course they were competing on most recently, they were hitting speeds of well over 25 mph

They also had to endure some less-than-idea racing conditions, as there was a good amount of rain across the competition

Though there's no rest for the weary, as a few riders will head to Nashville this upcoming weekend to take part in a national competition to earn Team USA points rankings

“There's a bit of traveling all over the place,” Jones said

As far as an individual track sending that many representatives to compete for Team USA, Jones said it's not a common occurrence

“There's over 300 BMX tracks in the United States, so it was quite a lot for our track down here in Southwest Florida,” he said “It was a lot, for sure ”

For more Information on Cape Coral BMX, visit www usabmx com/tracks/1871/about The track is located at the Strausser BMX Sports Complex at 1410 S W 6th Place, near the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Trafalgar Parkway in Cape Coral

Voting underway for Breeze Readers’ Choice Athlete of the Year

Breeze Staf f Repor t news@breezenewspapers com

It’s been quite a year for high school athletics in the Cape Coral Breeze coverage area during the 2023-2024 high school season

The Breeze will be recognizing its Athletes of the Week at the Breakfast of Champions event Saturday, June 1, at Vineyard Community Church There, each Breeze selected Athlete of the Week for the entire year will be honored. Additional awards will be given for male and female Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, and team of the Year There is also a Readers’ Choice Athlete of the Year, with 10 nominees to choose from the Breeze list of this year's Athletes of the Week Voting starts today, May 24,

and will run until May 31 Voting can be found on the home page of www capecoralbreeze com

The Breeze sports staff has selected the following student athletes to be nominated for Readers’ Choice High School Athlete of the Year:

■ Max Brady, Mariner High School: Brady defeated Bradenton Manatee’s Luke Arthur by major decision in the 132-pound final to take home the FHSAA 2A State Championship in the 132-lb weight class This is the third consecutive state championship for Brady, who finished the season with a 47-2 record

■ Mackenzie De Lisle, Bishop Verot High School: De Lisle finished second overall in the FHSAA 2A girls cross

See READERS’ CHOICE, page 39

Capt George Tunison

Schoolcraft named Breeze May Athlete of the Month

The votes are in for the Cape Coral Breeze’s May Athlete of the Month, and the winner is Island Coast High School's Austin Schoolcraft

During his nomination week, the sophomore came up with the clutch hit twice as Island Coast won the District 5A-11 title over Fort Myers in extra innings His RBI single in the bottom of the seventh extended the game, and a bunt single brought home Jordi Guerrero with the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth

“Full count, two outs with the game on the line is every kid’s dream," Schoolcraft told The Breeze "I didn’t want to leave it in the hands of the umpire and was able to put a good swing on the ball In the bottom of the ninth, we were able to execute what we had practiced all week I’m glad my coach had confidence in me to get the bunt down, and the rest is just a blur The e x c i t e m e n t w a s o v e r w h e l m i n g W e weren’t ready for the season to end just yet ”

This is the final Athlete of the Month for the 2023-2024 school year The Breeze's annual Breakfast of Champions takes place June 1 at Vineyard Community Church

Tarpon time: ‘Silver king’ season

From page 38

100-plus-foot mark is still the spot for grouper and always tasty snapper catches along with other typical bottom targets Don’t forget that red grouper harvest season ends July 1

If you haven’t done so, it’s time to scratch catching a big and beautiful chrome

permit off your bucket list Our near-shore reefs and structures are a good place to start, as long as you bring along permit candy -- small live crabs

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

Readers’ Choice: Voting for AOY

From page 38

Tallahassee Her time of 17:52 2 helped pace the Vikings to a fourth-place finish in the team standings She also won the FHSAA Class 2A championship in the 1600 meters Her winning time of 4:59 82 was more than a second faster than the next-best competitor

■ Justin Lewis, Mariner High School: The senior two-sport athlete excelled on both the gridiron and basketball court this year once again He scored four touchdowns in the annual Black and Blue Bowl and was a key starter for the hoops team that went to the state final four

■ Mia Lane, North Fort Myers High School: The junior led a Red Knights team that made it to the regional final with 7 home runs this season, while posting an

scored 43 runs on the year, compiling 49 hits, and led the team in slugging percentage and RBI with 52

■ Carter Smith, Bishop Verot High School: One of the top quarterbacks in the region showed why he’s a special player throughout the year, setting several Lee County records at his position. The junior helped lead the Vikings to the regional final game The University of Michigan commit threw 29 touchdown passes and rushed for 19 more, posting a 129 4 quarterback rating He threw for 2,223 yards on the year

■ Ryleigh Acosta, Mariner High School: The Athlete of the Month for February and University of Florida commit, the senior standout helped the Tritons again return to the FHSAA 5A-3 Regional Championship with an assist in the opening round versus Seminole, and a two-goal, two-assist performance against Naples in the semifinal

match

■ Melissa Blaine, Cape Coral High School: Blaine finished second in the 200 individual medley in the FHSAA Class 3A State Championships in Ocala, and brought home a fifth place finish in the 500 freestyle The senior also contributed to the Seahawks’ 200 medley relay team that came in eighth; and a seventh place in the 400 freestyle relay

■ Saige Thibodeaux, Ida Baker High School: The senior was on top of her game in both volleyball and weightlifting this year for the Bulldogs The senior was tops in District 2A-13 in Olympic Weightlifting

i n t h e 1 6 9

Thibodeaux’s lifts totaled 290 pounds She led the volleyball team with 199 kills, 247 digs and hitting percentage

■ Camren French, Mariner High School: French, with a sparkling 54-1 record at 126 pounds, was a FHSAA 2A State Champion in Kissimmee The junior captured his first state title winning after twice

against Rylan Herrera of Clay

■ Sophia Kerns, North Fort Myers High School: The senior was a major player in the Red Knights trip to the state championship this year, leading the team in goals with 30 Kerns also was tops on the team with 14 assists

■ Katarina Hagler, Oasis High School: The senior bowler continued her stellar high school career this season, helping the Sharks take home a district championship Hagler was inducted into the Florida State U S B C H

Performance, and set a new state record for high school bowling with her 5-game total at FHSAA state championships, as well as increased another 10 Lee County records along with high average for the county

Austin Schoolcraft

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