Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

A plan to bring a $40 million YMCA complex to Cape Coral moved forward Thursday.

Cape Coral City Council unanimously agreed to enter into a memorandum of understanding with YMCA of Southwest Florida, Inc to bring a competitive-sized pool, gyms and other amenities to Lake Meade Park at

Gene Jones, YMCA of Southwest Florida CEO and president

1120 Kismet Parkway East in the northeast

Cape

The next step will be to negotiate a devel-

opment agreement for Council consideration

“I believe every community deserves a good YMCA,” YMCA of Southwest Florida

Qualifying for local elected offices begins Monday

CEO and President Gene Jones said in a presentation before Council “It is a great opportunity If we can make this come together, it will be phenomenal for the community ” City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said when he was appointed as the interim manager last year, he learned about YMCA being a part of proposed project that eventually was not

By CJ HADDAD

cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Breeze has launched a new section geared toward prospective buyers and sellers that will feature some of the most distinctive homes in the area

“Welcome Home” is a new weekly component of the Cape Coral Breeze each Friday, that will showcase real estate to an audience of active buyers Whether it’s a home for the winter or a full-time residence, “Welcome Home” will present the best the Cape has to offer when it comes to live and current real estate listings

“The real estate business is such an important part of Cape Coral, it’s just natural it should be an important part of The B r e e z e , ” s a i d B r e e

p a p e r s Publisher Ray Eckenrode “We hope to provide interesting content for readers, including the return of published real estate transfers, and a great vehicle for advertisers looking to reach potential buyers and sellers We realize real estate marketing is a complex, multi-layered effort, and what the weekend Breeze can add to that mix is the largest single, simultaneous audience of consumers in Cape Coral each Friday ”

Among the content mix is two of The B

columns, which have moved to “Welcome Home ” Attorney Eric Feichthaler’s “Real Estate Law” appears on page 2 this week and “Homing In” will appear when Bob

Preliminary numbers countywide point to recovery post-Ian

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Preliminary property valuations show Lee County has recovered incredibly well as compared to overall valuation post Hurricane Ian

There are still areas that have some challenges to overcome, such as Sanibel, which saw continued decreases, including a total taxable decrease of 1 80%

Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell said at the countywide level, and citywide level of Cape Coral –higher projected valuations help stabilize tax revenues and so budget for taxing entities

It also relieves the pressure for tax increases, the other way to maintain or increase revenue in growing communities such as the Cape

Cape Coral saw its estimated overall just valuation dip 1 83%, compared to last year’s 7 28% Total just propert y v a l u a t i o n w e n t f r o m $ 4 5 , 9 9 2 , 2 8 7 , 2 6 9 t o

$45,151,544,000, a total decrease of $840,743,269, according to the Lee County Property Appraiser’s preliminary report released Monday

In terms of taxable valuation, overall property valuat i o n , t h o u g h , i n c r e a s e d f r o m $ 2 6 , 2 6 2 , 2 7 5 , 4 1

$28,956,229,000, an increase of $2,693,953,588

The estimate for new construction just for Cape Coral is $1,613,038,527 compared to 2023 final roll of $1,007,852,062 The estimate for new construction taxable for 2024 is $75,485,534 compared to 2023 final roll of $967,591,566

Caldwell said for Cape Coral there is an interesting dynamic, as the total just is down He said we will see how it plays out by July 1 when his office releases its valuations report

“Almost $2 billion came back onto the tax roll all the houses and businesses now back,” Caldwell said

New construction taxable is almost $75 million, which is why there is a small decrease at the city-wide level compared to the overall tax base

“Most of the construction activity is focused on recovery more than new construction,” Caldwell said

The total taxable compared to the percentage change from the 2023 final roll is 10 26%, which includes properties that changed hands due to the hurricane He said almost $3 billion of the property has been Homesteaded properties, meaning the owners had their tax increases capped through the years and the properties that were transferred are now assessed at their true value

“In the Yacht Club area, (people have been) in those homes for more than 30 to 40 years have sold to new owners and are at the full value instead of the extraordinary low taxable gap because of the homestead,” Caldwell said

He said the properties that were improved, torn down, you will see new construction – real construction numbers in 2025, 2026 as people build on the access lots of Cape Coral Parkway

Cape Coral City Councilmember Tom Hayden said they knew values were not going to stay as high for various reasons – inflation, high interest rates He said the statistics out there are home sales have slowed down

“I told the city manager I am for keeping the mil the same – not looking for reduction, or increases,” Hayden

said of the city's property tax rate

He said the city enjoyed two years of incredible growth and the fact that there is still an increase and not a decrease, is important to the city

From a countywide perspective, there is a little less than a 2% increase in the just value, and an almost 10% increase in the total taxable, Caldwell said

The total just estimate for 2024 is $207,056,218,000 – a value change of $3,051,540,686 from the 2023 final roll

The total taxable 9 65% change from the 2023 final roll stands at $132,214,496,000 for 2024

The school taxable has a 3 86% change from the 2023 final roll The 2024 estimate is $153,416,714,000 a $5,701,431,125 value change from the 2023 final roll

Countywide, there is a lot of the same effect, with a stronger increase on Fort Myers Beach, Caldwell said.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach saw a 36 37% increase from the 2023 final roll for total just with an estimated 2024 amount of $4,923,988,000 The total assessed had a 42 54% increase to an estimated 2024 amount of $3,991,587,000 The total taxable had a 45 36% change from the 2023 final roll of $3,754,553,000 for the estimated 2024

That increase is due to all the properties that have been rehabilitated and reoccupied that had been taken off the roll because of Hurricane Ian, Caldwell said At a countywide level, there is close to a billion dollars of property coming back on the roll of buildings itself with a lot on Fort Myers Beach.

“Hotels, condos, restaurants everyone that has been able to get back in, and operating again, is back on the roll,” Caldwell said

In addition, new projects, new construction across the board – such as Margaritaville on Fort Myers Beach, are all on the tax rolls now

The changing of ownership is also part of the increase – countywide – as properties that have been in the same family for more than 10 years that were capped at a 3% homestead, are now at 10% non-homestead

Property tax increases are capped in Florida, with owner-occupied residential properties receiving the greatest protection if taxing agencies do not adopt a rollback tax rate, the rate at which taxes remain level for exiting properties when valuations soar Assessed value increases are capped at 3% homeowners with Florida's

increases for those without it are capped at 10 percent “ N

w t h a t t h e y

a v e sold, not only do we have new land sales to look at for a totally new perspective –the cap is gone – the new o

value of 2024,” Caldwell said “There are a lot of changes and all of that is going to a positive tax roll for most jurisdictions ”

released

“You may see some revi-

Appraiser's Office tries to be as conservative as possi-

be some changes Caldwell said once they deliver the jurisdiction numbers, they will work the next six weeks to finalize the

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

P3 makes a splash

A new multi-million dollar recreation project is on the horizon, thanks to the tenacity of area non-profit dreamers and city staff

Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with YMCA of Southwest Florida, Inc , giving staff the green light to pursue and negotiate an agreement that could bring a $40 million complex to the Cape Coral, including a competitive-size swimming pool, an amenity our city of nearly 240,000 lacks

Talks about entering into a public-private partnership for a YMCA facility on undeveloped parkland the city owns at 1120 Kismet Parkway East began after a YMCA project fell though and City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn reached out last year to see if there was a way to bring a similar project to fruition in the northeast Cape

According to both parties Wednesday, it apparently is with the YMCA committing to a capital campaign to raise $16 million, the city placing $12 million on the table, and both agreeing to pursue grants and other resources to come up with the remaining $12 million

With the Council nod, both parties will now begin a “good faith effort” toward a development agreement for “a private YMCA facility that will include, but not be limited to a fitness center, gymnasium, and an outdoor competition-sized swimming pool” at the currently undeveloped park In addition, “roads, parking, playground, splash pad, sports courts and fields, sidewalks, restrooms, picnic tables, pavilions and landscaping” would be built or installed

Count us among those pleased to see the proposal on the table

Public-private partnerships can and do work

Especially when entered into with proven private partners, in this case a longstanding, community-focused nonprofit “P3s” save tax dollars by bringing private funding into the fiscal picture

Well-executed ones make sure the amenities are affordable, accessible, and to the benefit of the taxpayers who have paid for, or will pay for, the “public” component of the deal

This one has that potential.

It has, in fact, “whet” our interest

We look forward to seeing the development plans

Breeze editorial

This week’s poll question:

What do you think of the prospect of the city partnering with the YMCA to bring a $40 million facility, including a pool, to Cape Coral?

∫ I’m excited I’d love to see a Y come to the city

∫ I’d be happier if the plan did not involve the use of city-owned park land

∫ I’m opposed to public-private partnerships

∫ No opinion either way

Vote at capecoralbreeze com

Previous poll question Trump

∫

∫

∫

or not guilty?

Addressing a national crisis with a community response

Florida, and the nation for that matter, is facing a crisis in early childhood education

The challenge is not that early learning programs are ineffective or that parents don’t believe programs will benefit their children It’s that families simply cannot afford it

In Florida, the average annual cost for infant care is $9,238 For 4-year-olds, it’s $7,282 For many families, enrolling their children in an early learning program is not feasible from a financial standpoint That’s only furthering the achievement gap that shows a strong correlation between household income and academic success.

Sadly, not every child in Southwest Florida has the same educational opportunity to participate in an early learning program Based on financial guidelines from the U S Department of Health and Human Services, only 13 2% of Florida families can afford infant care

Low-income families often are left with two options: enroll their children in an early learning program and fall further into debt, or keep their children at home and hope they don’t fall too far behind their peers once they enroll in kindergarten That is unacceptable

Early childhood education providers are also feeling the pressure During the pandemic, the federal government provided funding that kept dozens of centers in Southwest Florida operational, but that program ended last fall Quality early learning programs are expensive; it takes money to pay for credentialed teachers, academic materials and a safe learning

environment, but centers cannot pass those costs along to families that do not have the means to pay for it

As a nonprofit with five local early learning centers, our team at Child Care of Southwest Florida witnesses the struggles of families daily Reliable child care is often the glue that holds low-income families together Without it, children cannot learn and parents cannot work That’s why Child Care of Southwest Florida provides numerous resources, including scholarships, to help bridge the gap

These scholarships can change lives Because of the support of local businesses, organizations and individuals, and generous contributions of United Way, Child Care of Southwest Florida’s scholarship program provides tuition assistance that covers fees for families that need it most Last year alone, the organization provided financial assistance for 100 children in Lee and Hendry counties, with partial and full scholarships totaling approximately $129,000

When these programs aren’t affordable, parents face the heartbreaking choice between paying for tuition or quitting their jobs to stay home It’s a no-win situation that costs everyone

In fact, an early childhood education provides taxpayers with returns of 7-10% per year for every dollar invested due to future reduced costs in remedial education, health, criminal justice system expenditures and the tax revenues generated from increased earnings

See GUEST COMMENTARY, page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cape residents top the city’s ‘or ganizational’ char t

To the editor:

In my email today I received Cape Coral’s monthly newsletter In the letter there is a link to a report called the Popular Annual Financial Report This is a summary of the city’s 213-page budget On page four of the report, it shows an organizational chart for the city At the very top of the chart, it indicates that “The People” govern the city

Nothing could be further from the truth

The People elected eight members to City Council based on how they said they would govern Also known as campaign promises Anyone who has followed current events in Cape Coral now know these promises are a lot of hot air

Examples include putting a moratorium on new car washes and self-storage businesses In other words what people can do with their private property

Another example is the elimination of volunteer committees, especially the CRA where they then appointed themselves to serve and doubled their salaries for all the additional work they were taking on Keep in mind that the new and improved CRA now meets every other month whereas the volunteers met monthly for free

Jaycee Park is another example of the council not following the wishes of The People. Not even 7,000 signatures on a petition could sway them from ruining a park that the nearby residents/users love

The lesson to be learned here is that this November be careful who you vote for Do your best to determine if someone is spouting a lot of hot air or are they truthful and sincere when talking about how they would govern

I suspect this would eliminate any incumbent from consideration

George Starner

Cape Coral

The Breeze leads the way

To the editor:

If you care about local taxes, how the city of Cape Coral is developing, and how you should vote in the coming primary

election Aug 20, then The Breeze is your best source for information As a former councilman (D-6) and a 34-year resident, I have come to value the reporting in The Breeze to keep me informed about what is happening in our city It is especially important this election, since five seats (Districts 2,3,4,5, and 7) are up for vote Five council members can stop and overturn what damage has been wrought on Cape Coral by this current mayor and self-serving council

Angry about the “stipend” cash grab, passed quietly before Christmas, that doubled the mayor and council’s salary? You should be! Angry about the treatment of our fellow citizens who attend council meetings? You should be! Angry enough to take our city back from this tyrannical despot that holds the mayor’s gavel? You should be! It starts by educating yourself, family, and friends about who are the best candidates for Cape Coral’s future when voting in the Aug 20 primary election

The Cape Coral Breeze asks questions of every candidate each week and reports their responses in the paper and on-line Please, take the time to research the candidates

Every voter in our city gets to select every council person from every district I believe that this gives our city a Cape Coral first approach, as opposed to fragmenting the city into warring districts

The two main questions I would like to see asked are; Will you pledge to rescind the CRA stipend approved by Council on Dec 13, 2023? The second and equally important, is a charter amendment to prevent another “cash grab” travesty like this from ever happening again! Will you pledge to bring forth a charter amendment prohibiting any increases for the mayor and council from any salary, stipend, or renumeration if not approved by the voters of Cape Coral? This would also give the voters approval over expense account balances and travel budgets Believe me, they can be and were abused by former mayors and councils

Until Council votes to bring back our Cape-TV candidates forum, The Breeze, and to a lesser extent, the News-Press are your best sources for unbiased first-person feedback from the candidates themselves Please take the time to learn what you can about these people who want to represent you in Districts 2,3,4,5 and7 Choosing five people who love this city more

Chris Hansen Guest Commentary

than their short-term personal gain is crucial to Cape Coral’s future going forward

God Bless America God Bless Cape Coral God Bless the voters who use this election to take OUR city back from the self-serving politicians Vote on Aug 20 like Cape Coral's future depends on you, it truly does!

Kevin McGrail Cape Coral former councilman D-6

Lee Health: Breach of the public’s trust?

To the editor:

The Lee Health Board of Directors are duly elected by the voters of Lee County

The Lee Health Board will be voting on June 13, 2024 to “convert” the Citizens’ Lee Health Care System from a Publicly Held Non Profit Entity to a Privately Held Non Profit Entity The meeting will be held at Gulf Coast Hospital at 1 p m

So how did this occur and what forces caused this to happen? The public record reports that a member of the Lee County Legislative Delegation, a state representative, acting on requests from Lee Health’s Administration and other interested parties that included a county commissioner acting as an interested citizen, not in his role as a county commissioner, had influenced the state representative to act as a “carrier pigeon” to author a bill during the 2024 Legislative Session The bill would enable the Lee Health Board to have the legal means to “convert” the publicly held Lee Health System to a private not for profit hospital system

A breach of the public’s trust regarding the bill is evident based on the fact that the citizens/voters of Lee County were not even considered as the most important piece of the legislation The bill did not include a provision for a referendum that would allow the voters/citizens of Lee County to vote on the “conversion issue ”

Moreover, it should be duly noted that according to Lee Health’s Charter and website, We the People are considered the owners of the Lee Health System via us having the right to vote for a Board of Directors to represent us from Districts in Lee County

The bill was passed in February with a 120-day hurry up enabling “conversion” dead line

The Lee Health’s Board of Directors and CEO have reported that they have hosted Town Hall Meetings giving the public the opportunity to voice their opinions on the “conversion ” Most of the meetings have been held late afternoon, 4:30 p m , when most people are getting off work and or still working As far as public hearings before the Board, their meetings are held at 1 p m twice a month on Thursdays The public has three minutes to speak before the board whom they elect

The rationale for the “conversion” proposal being touted by the Lee Health Board and its administration is that in order for Lee Health to have a competitive edge and expand its market share outside Lee County it must convert to a private non profit entity

What is suspicious and specious about Lee Health’s reasoning is that Lee Health is the primary health care provider in Lee County and Lee Health is providing pediatric rehab services in Collier County There is nothing under the current governance model that would prevent Lee Health from exploring and seeking to expand its services outside of Lee County

As far as Lee Health enjoying a competitive edge in health care, Lee Health has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 100 health care systems in the United States (US News and World Report)

This past week in Orlando, Lee Health received the Governor’s Sterling Award for “ how well Lee Health has strengthened, improved and innovated winning systems to ensure long term success and sustainability in a competitive environment ”

All of this leaves me with the following questions:

Why this and why now?

How will this impact delivery of health care services?

What will Lee Health gain from the “conversion?”

What does Lee Health and the Citizens of Southwest Florida stand to lose?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

In my opinion the citizens and voters of Lee County will suffer the greatest loss We the People will no longer be the owners and guardians of our health care system as we have been since 1968

The next step after Lee Health Board’s vote is a vote by the Lee County Commission to either support or deny the “conversion ”

Without a public referendum/vote, the citizens are shut out of this process thereby creating a breach of the public trust.

Steven R. Maxwell, Ed.D. Sanibel

It’s about time

To the editor:

Finally! A Florida House of Representative candidate who takes women seriously Jim Blue, who is adamant about the need to take the power back from Tallahassee and restore it to local communities, asks to be elected in November to represent Florida House District 76 This quote got my attention: “Government should protect access to safe and legal reproductive care and leave decisions about when and how to start or grow a family to Floridians and those they trust.”

Jim Blue objects to the six-week ban on abortion and asks all to vote YES on Amendment 4 in November because many women do not even realize yet that they are pregnant Hence, they are deprived of the opportunity to explore their own feelings and wishes about this reality and gain support to decide He wants to vote to repeal a law, which his opponent supports, that can put women and doctors in jail

Throughout his career as an Emmy-winning journalist, Jim Blue represented all sides of complex issues for many years in a nonpartisan manner This broad experience draws him to local issues as the core of his commitment to protect local power. He plans to do this by working with every person, regardless of party, to remove barriers for available housing, and to restore local control of zoning, building heights and environmental reclamation Pathways to affordable home insurance for everyone is essential for Florida’s growth

He seems to know what needs to be done, and how to do it

Mary Lewis Sheehan St. James City

Vote YES on Amendment 4 in November

To the editor:

My granddaughters now have fewer healthcare options than I had

I want female freedom in a pregnancy emergency

I want doctors, nurses and hospitals to be able to save the life of my granddaughters I want them to get medical attention in a pregnancy emergency and to have a D&C dilation and curettage in the event of a complication I do not want my granddaughters to travel to different states to receive female health care I want couples to be able to have infertility treatments to have a family, if they desire IVF is safe and involves the couple and their doctor to help to conceive a child

I want my granddaughters to be able to have availability for birth control pills.

As a young RN, my nursing care included taking care of women who had non- medical abortions I have taken care of women who had coat hangers or chemical abortions before Roe v Wade Complications included vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, clots in the uterus and veins and callard parametrial veins

I was relieved in 1973 when we had the Roe v Wade rule (7-2) that unduly restrictive state regulation on abortion was unconstitutional

Vote YES on Amendment 4 in November

Kathleen Callard RNBS North Fort Myers

Biden’s worst offense

To the editor:

There is not room in a letter to cover all the disastrous Biden policies that are destroying the USA One of the most egregious is the border and immigration situation Immediately upon taking office Biden cancelled all efforts to control immigration put in place during the previous Trump

administration Biden threw open the borders and permitted uncontrolled masses to cross the borders both legally and illegally It has recently been reported that the government has even been flying immigrants into the country It is estimated that between apprehended and gotaways that more than 20 million immigrants have entered the country

The big question to ask is why would the Biden administration not only permit what has to be called an invasion but also to actually promote it The answer we hear most frequently from pundits on the right is power Watch where the bulk of the immigrants are settled either by themselves or by the government They are sent to blue states that are benefiting from increased populations that will be counted in the next Census, thus more representatives in Congress Never mind the terrible human cost as well as the financial cost to our national budget that is already way into deficit spending Power is what the Democrats are seeking as well as perhaps, in the long run, more democrat voters if they push through citizenship for these illegals

An even more insidious question is why are so many Chinese nationals crossing the border One has to sure that they are not leaving China without the CCP’s concurrence. Are they going to Chinese-owned farms near our military installations or are they part of the huge marijuana grow houses popping up all over the country Keep in mind that the major source of drugs like fentenal coming across the border from Mexico is also China There needs to be a serious investigation about these issues that won’t happen as long as the obviously bought-off Biden remains in office

‘Sham trial’ ar guments belie logic

To the editor:

Let me see if I understand all this: Republican lawmakers insist Joe Biden orchestrated a bogus prosecution of Donald Trump to embarrass him and hurt his presidential candidacy, yet Biden could not get a flimsy gun charge against his own son quashed If we are now a banana republic, as Ted Cruz and other GOPers insist, why is the president unable to get his own son out of trouble?

A jury of his peers studied the evidence and found Trump guilty on 34 felony charges The idea that all 12 of those folks are raving liberals who hate Trump is just absurd; one of the jurors admitted he gets his political news from Truth Social If you think Alvin Bragg is a corrupt DA, I challenge you to read his biographical information; if you think Judge Juan Merchan is biased against Trump, I challenge you to read the testimonials to his character and judicial competence, many of them written by conservative jurists

The same Republicans who believe Trump was unfairly charged are demanding Hunter Biden’s head on a plate because at one time he was a drug addict and lied about that on an application for a gun license I wonder how many of them have a family member or friend who has suffered with addiction problems Even deeply conservative jurists admit they’ve almost never seen a case come to trial on the charge Hunter Biden faces President Biden could easily have fired the Trump-appointed special prosecutor in his son’s case; he didn’t because he, unlike Trump, believes in the rule of law Ray Clasen North Fort Myers

Trump denied constitutional rights

To the editor:

The U S Department of Justice has become nothing but a group of brownshirts for the Democrats and the Biden Administration They protect him, his family and his friends while creatively concocting make-believe criminal charges against his opponent, President Donald Trump

As a retired lawyer, I believe President Trump was denied many of his constitutional rights in this recent trial in New York City He was denied due process of law, the right to know the charges and crimes he was accused of and denied first amendment rights of free speech by a partisan judge, who should have recused himself from the case The judge even suggested potential crimes to the jury that they could consider but that Trump was never given notice of He was also

See LETTERS, page 7 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.

Neil Miller Cape Coral

Guest Commentary: Together we can make a difference

From page 4

The early learning advantages of a highquality program are crucial in preparing children with the academic and social skills they need to thrive Without it, they are:

∫ 25% more likely to drop out of school

∫ 40% more likely to become a teen parent

∫ 50% more likely to be placed in special education

∫ 60% more likely to never attend college

∫ 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime

These statistics highlight the importance of our mission at Child Care of Southwest Florida, which is to empower and prepare young minds for the future during their most formative years Access to quality early learning ensures that even the most disadvantaged children can succeed in school and life

Community investment in early childhood education yields significant benefits

Businesses that support quality programs see more stable employment among their staff, as parents are able to stay in their jobs and maintain financial stability This, in turn, boosts the local economy

Children from low-income families are reported to have academic proficiency rates that are 50% lower than their peers, often struggling through school and life Investing in quality early learning can break the cycle of generational poverty, allowing parents to pursue education and stable employment, paving the way for a brighter future for their children

At our nonprofit early learning centers, we know how impactful scholarships can be for the families we serve These are not handouts Rather, they are a means to support the parents we see working hard to improve their situations. Parents must be either working or attending school, and many are doing both working full- or part-time while earning a high school diploma, vocational certificate or college degree With a little help, these parents can lift themselves out of tough economic situations

Let’s invest in our children, strengthen our families and build a stronger, more resilient community Child Care of Southwest Florida is ready to collaborate with businesses, organizations and others in the community on solutions to expand access to quality early learning programs. We also coordinate the Florida Child Care Mandated Training and Competency Exams in the five-county region, ensuring centers are well-equipped to offer quality care

Together, we can make a difference Every child deserves to thrive

To learn more about sponsorships and opportunities at Child Care of Southwest Florida, visit CCSWFL org or call 239-2781002

Chris Hansen is CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit childhood education provider that serves more than 350 students from 6 weeks to 8 years old across five early learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties Visit CCSWFL org for more information

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From page 6

denied a change of venue to a more politically diverse area

O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , l e t u s l o o k a t

President Joe Biden According to Hunter Biden’s laptop Hunter made large amounts of money from oligarchs and a Ukrainian oil company and received money from the Chinese Communist Party but 10% went to the Big Guy We all know who that is Yet

n o s e r i o u s i n v e s t i g a t i o n o n P r e s i d e n t Biden. Biden stacked classified documents in his garage near his Corvette, yet the DOJ refused to prosecute him because he is a poor frail old man A G Garland even covered up for Biden by refusing to hand over the audios of the interviews with Biden and the DOJ to Congress Double standard much?

Arthur E. Amidano Cape Coral

The hidden burden: Why Militar y Mail should be postage-free

To the editor:

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, it’s astounding that the family members and those supporting our brave men and women serving in our military still have to pay postage for letters and packages sent to them

This is a practice that demands reconsideration, as it reduces the amount of expressed appreciation of those who are already sacrificing so much for our country A r e c e n t v o l u n t e e r e f f o r t o f t h e Cascades community in River Hall, Fort Myers, to purchase, package, and ship 31 boxes of donated items including useful personal items and snacks to active-duty members required over $652 in postage

When we send mail to our active-duty military personnel, we are not merely sending letters and packages we are sending support, love, and a piece of home These

tokens of affection and gratitude are crucial for their morale, especially when they are stationed far from family and friends in challenging and often dangerous environments It is nothing short of ridiculous that the family and friends of these heroes, who are actively protecting our freedoms including the operations of the United States Postal Service should have to pay for them to receive mail

These costs, though seemingly minor to some, can add up and become a significant issue, especially in today’s economy

Moreover, when packages and letters are clearly addressed to “military posts,” it stands to reason that the logistical burden of postage cost should not be required

These service members are stationed at defined locations, often within the infrastructure of the military itself The mail is a lifeline, and its delivery should be facilitated without additional charges

Eliminate postage fees for mail sent to active military personnel This is not only a gesture of gratitude but a practical step that acknowledges the unique sacrifices made by our service members It is a small but significant way to show that we value their commitment and that we are willing to support them in every way possible

As a nation, we must reflect on how we treat those who protect us Removing postage fees for military mail is a simple, tangible way to demonstrate our appreciation and support. It's time we ensure that our heroes can receive morale-boosting letters and packages from home without the added worry of postage costs Let’s honor their service by addressing this issue and making military mail postage-free It’s a small step with a big impact, and it’s the least we can do for those who do so much for us

Richard Erschik veteran, U.S. Army, Vietnam War Alva

City rachets up efforts to collect thousands in delinquent water bills, which may be treated as liens under Florida law

“This is not something that should be written off. We have an obligation to be diligent in our effort to recover these receivables.”

Connie Barron, assistant city manager

H e p l a n s t o b o t h p a y a n d c o n t e s t t h e

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Family Initiative buys 4.5-acre campus in Cape Coral

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A Cape Coral nonprofit dedicated to providing innovative programs and evidence-based therapies to children, teens and young adults impacted by autism spectrum disorder has announced the purchase of a new space to better serve the community

Family Initiative, with the help of state and locally provided grant resources, has purchased a 4 5 acre campus, including three buildings with approximately 20,000 square feet under air with plans for a school for middle and high school aged students called “Thrive Academy ”

The campus is in Cape Coral at the intersection of Chiquita Boulevard and Gleason Parkway Family Initiative officials say the campus will dramatically expand the services and support they are able to provide to the autism community, including a private autism specialty school Family Initiative received a $5 million grant last year to initiate the school and

Foundation

“We have worked for over a decade to build support and services for anyone in our region diagnosed with autism, and to create support for their entire family,” said Family Initiative co-founder and Vice President Anjali Van Drie “The acquisition of this property is a game changer for the autism community, allowing Family Initiative to continue to expand capacity as the prevalence of autism continues to climb ” P r e s i d

i d Brown, added: “We are so excited to con-

“ ... The acquisition of this property is a game changer for the autism community, allowing Family Initiative to continue to expand capacity as the prevalence of autism continues to climb ”

Anjali Van Drie, Family Initiative co-founder and vice president

tinue to invest in the autism community by creating the environment and support for every individual to flourish. We believe talent is universal but opportunity is not Thrive Academy, our private specialty school opening on the campus in the fall, will provide students a high-quality individualized education along with vocational training and wrap-around clinical support to ensure students’ success We cannot wait to see the incredible things ahead for the autism community ”

Brown said he’s excited to see what these new services will do for the community in Southwest Florida and beyond Thrive Academy has plans to open this fall,

Brown said Family Initiative has already seen two different families that will relocate from out-of-state for the school

“We really feel like it serves as a gamechanger for families that have children and adolescent/young adults on the autism spectrum,” Brown said “We really hope that the school serves as a vehicle to offer education in a meaningful way that gets our teenagers and young adults ready to transition out into the real world and into the workforce We also hope it serves as a vehicle to showcase what they can do, and have employers come out to the school and meet with the staff and students, and really figure out, in the community, what skills and abilities are employers looking for, and how do we incorporate that into the class-

room? We want that environment to be dynamic How do we make sure we’re setting up students to be successful moving forward?”

Family Initiative’s current continuum of care includes early intervention and access

Screenings (ages birth-3), Baby & Me G

Playgroup (ages 4 and up), FI Creates (ages 6 and up), Teen Hangout Group (ages 13-19), and Young Adult Group

( a g e s 2 0 - 3

o offers support for family members including a sibling group and a Parent Support Group. Thrive Academy provides middle and high school students with a unique, and high quality educational experience

Family Initiative is the leading ASD provider in Southwest Florida, also providing clinical services, workforce programs and community education for families across Southwest Florida In 2023, Family Initiative served more than 2,600 children and continues to grow to meet the needs of the autism community

Brown said having a new space of this size will allow Family Initiative to cast a vision over the next five to 10 years and bring in new programs and create new collaborations at the local and state levels

“It’s the possibilities that exist in the future that we’re also so excited about,” he said “The demand we’re seeing for clinical services is really high, and this really gives

us a larger footprint in a space that’s accessible for those in Cape Coral and beyond ” Brown said ultimately, the goal is to have 150 students on campus at the new facilities After serving nearly 3,000 individuals last year, they hope to now be able to serve up to 7,000 overall across the region with the expansion

Family Initiative is working to bring on additional staff and educators, as well as clinicians to help meet the need

Established in 2015, Family Initiative, Inc is a Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting children with autism and strengthening their families. Its team of clinicians serves children from compassionate, per-

Therapy services, and offers autism play groups, teen meetings, parent education, community conversations and more In addition, the organization provides child welfare caregiver training and support through its Family Impact Program

“The biggest thing for us is this is a grass-roots initiative that started almost a decade ago in Cape Coral,” Brown said “Our board of directors and staff are all involved in the organization, and we’re really driven to disrupt the status quo in the way things operate We couldn’t be more excited about this vision becoming a reality, and what’s next There’s a lot more really great things that we’re in talks about now that will have a really big impact ” To learn more about Family Initiative, the services they offer and their work in the community, visit FI-Florida org or call 239-910-0712

Cape Council eyes options for Lake Kennedy membership fees

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council was split between two options for membership fees for the Lake Kennedy Racquet Center during its budget workshop Thursday morning

The first option, Option A has an annual membership fee of $200 for an individual, $300 for a couple, $400 for family and $100 for juniors This option would include 24-30 tournaments per year

Option B, which would have 16-18 tournaments a year, includes a $250 annual membership for individuals, $350 for couples, $500 for family and $100 for juniors

For residents there is no initiation fee for Option A and B There is a non-resident initiation fee of $100 for annual membership, $50 for semi-annual and $50 for monthly membership

With both options, the membership fees are significantly lower than first proposed Councilmember Bill Steinke asked how many memberships are planned in the budget

Numbers provided ranged from 600-650

“We are dealing with a crystal ball at this point, and we have to start somewhere,” Steinke said “With the thought of the ultimate goal of a revenue neutral facility at the end of the year it won’t be zero It will be over, or short, somehow, someway ” City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said it’s a business model that they were discussing Thursday

“It’s not just about generating cash, it’s generating the interest of being a member and driving those membership fees,” he said “One or two drop ins, we prefer to happen at the park for free We want the different leagues all that happening at this facility That is the difference The price point is trying to drive individuals to take certain actions,” he said

The discussion was to have a drop-in fee either at $15 or $20

There also was discussion of miscellaneous fees for equipment rental, event space, tournaments, and camps, as well as additional staffing for rentals, tournaments and camps

The court reservation fees are waived with a membership, as well as having discounts for clinic registration, club tournament, leagues, concession, pro shop and guest passes and free drop in and play for tennis or pickleball

The city park’s new facilities notably 32 new pickleball courts and 12 tennis courts are under an operations contract

The Sports Facilities Companies Regional General Manager Adrian Moses said there are implications of reaching cost recovery for the facility

“The thing to remember is the cost associated with revenue fees are varied,” he said If clinics are run, there is a cost paying for pros to teach those clinics, which is much higher than the cost of selling a hot dog at the concession stand

The cost of the membership will ultimately determine which “leaders” will drive the revenue

“The thing I would like to make sure we are clear on today is, if we are going to get less revenue from membership, you have to go to other funds of revenue coming from the tournaments,” Moses said “Sliding scale of you choose your own adventure of structuring price points ”

There was also discussion about the number of tournaments, which would be held October through March

Moses said there are different types of tournaments local, regional, self-operated The first tournament, a state championship, will be held Labor Day and attract about 800 players

Councilmember Tom Hayden said larger tournaments would help reach cost recovery quicker

“The larger events will be a huge impact into our budget,” Moses said, as well as ability to sell sponsorships “We are confident in our ability, but still remains if we get this and get that ”

There also was a discussion about brand development that would be known locally and nationally for the center The name given was The Courts at Lake Kennedy, which received a lot of feedback from the council

“If it doesn’t get marketed properly it doesn’t matter,” Steinke said, adding that people will not know where Lake Kennedy is if they are not residents

Mayor John Gunter shared the same sentiment that they are selling Cape Coral, and that has to be in the name. He said he liked “The Courts,” but it should somehow incorporate Cape Coral

Other options are going to be given to council at a later date

Burn ban in effect throughout Lee County

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The city of Cape Coral and Lee County have issued burn bans due to the current drought index

Cape Coral Fire Department officials issued the city’s burn ban Wednesday, with the intent to limit fire hazards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents

“This measure prohibits recreational burns (i e fire pits, campfires) and city permitted burns (i e bonfires and land clearing control burns),” CCFD officials stated

The ban also includes burning vegetative debris. Fires solely for cooking purposes where the fire, flames, and heat generated are fully contained within the confines of the device being used (i e grill) are still allowed

Officials said the ban shall be in effect until the local drought index is below 600 for seven consecutive days

In addition to following the burn ban restrictions, the CCFD requests “the community be vigilant in not disposing of lit smoking materials outdoors, including from a car window The Department also requests vehicles, including ATVs, only be operated on paved, gravel, or dirt surfaces and not on grass or other vegetation ”

Lee County officials issued a burn ban for

unincorporated Lee County and municipalities effective immediately “due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida "”

The ban went into effect late Tuesday when the drought index hit 600 County officials stated its ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning Grills for food and backyard fire rings are not included. Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires

For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a KeetchByram Drought Index (KBDI) that reached or exceeds a value of 600 Lee’s index value Tuesday afternoon was a mean average of 600 out of 800

The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban

County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the ban will be in place Visit www leegov com and Lee County Government’s social media to monitor when the ban is rescinded

Breeze honors student athletes at third annual Breakfast of Champions

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Breeze celebrated student athletes from all over Cape Coral and the West Zone Saturday with its third annual Breakfast of Champions held at Cape Vineyard Community Church

“It's always satisfying to see hard work pay off so this event is doubly satisfying for The Breeze as we can see young athletes rewarded for their hard work and also get the satisfaction of completing another year, our third, of this program,” said Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode “It's something we couldn't do without the hard work of our staff – especially C.J. Haddad, Chris Strine and Laurie Ragle – and without the support of our community sponsors ”

Cape Coral Breeze Editor Chris Strine added, “I think our third Breakfast of Champions was the best yet The turnout was great and it was an honor to be able to recognize so many of our student athletes, their coaches and teams Our thanks to all of the athletes and their families, not only for a great year, but also for making the breakfast a success We wish everyone the best in the future and can't wait to see what the 2024-25 school year brings ”

The Breeze Team of the Year was awarded to the North Fort Myers girls soccer team, which made its firstever appearance in the state championship game, the first team, regardless of gender, to represent the Red Knights in a state title final

Coach of the Year was also connected to the North girls soccer team, as head coach Nick Erickson was bestowed the honor

Over 11 seasons, Erickson has compiled an impressive record of 198 wins, 36 losses and 14 ties He has led his team to six district titles, five LCAC titles and seven regional final appearances Erickson has guided AllAmericans, all-area players and has coached 20 players that have gone on to play college ball, including seven at

the Division I level

This year's Male Athlete of the Year was Mariner's senior wrestling state champ Camren French.

French was first named an Athlete of the Week, being tops in the 126-pound division at the John Joyce Memorial in North Port where he was named one of two “outstanding wrestlers” at the tournament, and took down a previously undefeated opponent to pick up the win

The senior, with a sparkling 54-1 record in his weight class this year, was a FHSAA 2A State Champion in

Kissimmee after finishing second the last two years He is a four-time district champion and two-time regional champion for his school He placed third in the National High School Coaches National Tournament, and has a career record of 160-21 on the mat

Ryleigh Acosta, the senior team captain and leading scorer of the Mariner girls soccer team, was again named female Athlete of the Year.

Totaling 26 goals and 29 assists over 24 games played this year going up against the toughest schedule in class 5A through the state, Acosta is the only female soccer player in the Max Preps era out of Southwest Florida, male or female, to have three consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals and 20 assists She led her school to its first team state title in the 2021-22 season, regardless of gender This gritty player and University of Florida commit has totaled 95 goals and 92 assists throughout her high school career, while serving as a three-year team captain and four-time team MVP

Cape Coral High School's Melissa Blaine was voted Reader’s Choice Athlete of the Year. The Breeze's selection for female Athlete of the Year two seasons ago, this state champion swimmer again impressed in the pool this year She came home with two first-place finishes at the Tarpon Invitational, where the Seahawks were victorious Blaine also placed first in the 200-meter IM and the 500meter freestyle, and was also part of a second-place 200meter freestyle relay team 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

This year's sponsors included major sponsor Torched

Community Church

PHOTOS BY VALARIE HARRING

Breeze Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad, left, with Ryleigh Acosta, who was selected as the Breeze’s 2023-24 Female Athlete of the Year

The North Fort Myers High School girls soccer team was recognized Saturday at the third annual Breakfast of Champions as the Breeze’s Team of the Year for 2023-24 The breakfast was held at the Vineyard Community Church in South Cape

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“ T h i s s h o u l d b e i d e n t i f i e d a s t h e ‘ i n i -

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2024 Breeze Breakfast of Champions

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Brian Meyer, Mighty Mussels manager, shares his experience and wisdom with student-athletes attending the '24 Breeze Breakfast of Champions.

VALARIE HARRING

Nick Erickson, head coach for the North Fort Myers girls soccer team, receives the Breeze Newspapers’ 2023-24 Coach of the Year award from CJ Haddad, Breeze Associate Sports Editor

VALARIE HARRING

Student-athletes from Oasis High School are honored at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions

VALARIE HARRING

Bishop Verot's Mackenzie De Lisle has her picture taken at the Breakfast of Champions. CHRIS STRINE

The Breeze Female Athlete of the Year is Ryleigh Acosta, a soccer standout at Mariner High School Acosta also was the Breeze Female Athlete of the Year in ‘22-’23

VALARIE HARRING

Honors Athletes of the Week, Month and Year

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:

Student-athletes from North Fort Myers High School are honored at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions.

VALARIE HARRING

Student-athletes from Mariner High School are honored at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions

VALARIE HARRING

Student-athletes from Ida Baker High School are honored at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions

VALARIE HARRING

Student-athletes from Island Coast High School are honored at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions

VALARIE HARRING

EDUCATION

EDUCATION BRIEFS

Knoth ear ns spring 2024 dean's list honors at Nazareth University

ROCHESTER, N Y -- Nazareth University has announced that Matthew Knoth of Cape Coral has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2024 semester

A student's grade point average must be at least 3 5 or above, and they must complete 12 credit hours of graded work that semester in order to be included on the dean's list at Nazareth

Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs at the university, which purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs For additional information, please visit https://www2 naz edu/

Ellis named to Dean's List at FSU

Jacob Ellis, an Ida S Baker High School 2022 graduate, attends Florida State University in Tallahassee He made the Dean's List both semesters of his freshman year

a

Program He was on the President's List both semesters of his junior year

Ellis plays on FSU's Club Baseball Team and will graduate in May 2025 with a bachelor's degree in criminology

Three students from Cape Coral among college-sponsored Merit Scholarship winners

This week the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Scholarships financed by U S colleges and universities

Officials of each sponsor college selected their scholarship winners from among the finalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program who plan to attend their institution These awards provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship An additional group of Scholars will be announced in July, bring-

Scholarship recipients in the 2024 competition to more than 3,600

This year, 149 higher education institutions are underwriting Merit Scholarship awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sponsor colleges and universities include 77 private and 72 public institutions located in 42 states and the District of Columbia

announced today are a part of the distinguished group of more than 6,870 high school seniors who will receive

National Merit Scholarships for college undergraduate study worth nearly $26 million Earlier this spring, NMSC announced winners of corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards and National Merit $2,500 Scholarships

Among the local winners are:

■ Patrick R Dendis of Cape Coral who attends Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers His probable career field is in mathematics He received a National Merit University of Florida scholarship

■ Jakob A Musich of Cape Coral who attends Dunbar High School in fort Myers His probable career field is in mechanical engineering He received a National Merit University of Florida scholarship

■ Gabriel C Wright of Cape Coral who attends Cape Coral High School His probable career field psychiatry He also received a National Merit University of Florida scholarship

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation is located at 1560 Sherman Ave , Suite 200, Evanston, Illinois

Lee County School District to hold Career Fair June 13

Madison University

Lehman named to Dean's List at James

H

Madison Lehman has been named to the Dean's List at James Madison University for the spring 2024 semester Students who earn dean's list honors must carry at least 12 graded credit hours and earn a GPA of between 3 5 and 3 899 Lehman is majoring in health services administration pursuing a bachelor of science degree

Founded in 1908, James Madison University is a public university located in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley With state-of-the art amenities and facilities, students have access to NCAA Division 1 athletics

Visit https://www jmu edu for information

Sinclair graduates from Troy University

TROY, Alabama -- Sarah Sinclair of Matlacha Isles graduated from Troy University during the Spring Semester/Term 4 of the 2023-2024 academic year She graduated with a undergraduate degree while taking classes at the Troy Campus

Troy University is a public, historic, international university with 22,500 students and 154,000 alumni Students on the Troy campus enjoy a traditional college experience, while adult students are the centers of attention at campuses in Dothan, Montgomery, and Phenix City, Ala , as well as at locations around the world and online

For more information, visit https://www troy edu/

The School District of Lee County is hosting a districtwide Career Fair Thursday, June 13, from 5:30-7:30 p m , at the Lee County Public Education Center, located at 2855 Colonial Blvd , in Fort Myers

Principals and department hiring managers will be interviewing and hiring for various positions for the 202425 school year, including teachers, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, school social workers, school counselors, bus operators and more High-demand positions for instructional positions include English language arts, elementary education, science, math and special education

Applicants can register at LeeSchools net/Careers

Registration is now open for the 2024-2025 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) school year in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties The free educational program is available to 4-year-olds who reside in Florida, regardless of family income

VPK gives children a strong start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills Classrooms are taught by highly qualified teachers with a focus on school readiness and social and emotional well-being As children develop the early skills needed to become strong students, they are more likely to be successful in school and life

To be eligible, children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before Sept 1 of the current school year Through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Flori-

The School District of Lee County is among the largest school districts in Florida and the U S with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools

The district offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees, and additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees

F

careers@leeschools net or call 239-337-8676

To learn more about available career opportunities, visit LeeSchools net/Careers

Prekindergarten

da, parents can register their qualifying child to attend 540 hours of preschool during the regular school year, or 300 hours of summertime preschool In 2021-2022, Early Learning Coalition reported 7,464 children attended 260 different VPK programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties

To register, families must first apply for a VPK voucher online at VPKSWFL org Individuals can also visit the Early Learning Coalition offices for assistance, located in Fort Myers at 2675 Winkler Ave , Suite 300, from 8 a m to 5 p m , Monday through Thursday, and 8 a m to 11:30 a m on Friday Offices provide free kiosks, and no appointments are needed

To learn more about the 2024-2025 VPK program, visit VPKSWFL org or call 239-935-6100

We

DeSantis urges everyone to be prepared for hurricane season

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

With the Atlantic Hurricane season having kicked off June 1, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis visited Fort Myers Tuesday morning to preach preparedness

“We prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” DeSantis said “It doesn't matter what the forecast is A lot of them aren't right People said that we're not going to have one, we would not just not do our job We would be ready to go ”

DeSantis said a lot of focus has been put into recovery and response in the state, touting the response after Hurricane Ian, a near-category 5 hurricane that devastated Lee County's island communities in September 2022 and left billions of dollars in damage throughout

“We'll be ready to do that,” DeSantis said

The governor said Floridians, as individuals, have a role to play in being prepared, and reminded residents to have a plan, to make sure to understand the needs of children, the elderly and pets

A big part of being prepared is having a preparedness kit that includes water, canned food/non-perishable items, batteries, flashlights, pet items, portable power banks, and other items

“We're not just saying ‘do this,’ we're actually helping people make this happen,” DeSantis said “We are now in the midst and this goes until June 14 of our Disaster Tax Preparedness Holiday for sales tax ”

Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2024 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday The tax holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by DeSantis

A second exemption period will begin Aug 24 and extend through Sept 6

Items exempt include various essential needs during a storm, such as reusable ice, pet foods and supplies, batteries, tarps, toiletries, portable power banks, portable generators ($3,000 or less), fire extinguishers, and more

“Take advantage of that, and make sure you're doing what you can,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also preached that in the case of an evacuation order, those told to leave do not have to go far or a state away, there are many places to go such as out-side

Gov Ron DeSantis speaks on hurricane preparedness Tuesday at a press conference held at the Home Depot on Three Oaks Marketplace Drive in Fort Myers

the zone hotels, many of which are now pet-friendly, to find reprieve from harsh conditions

Also important is generator safety, and making sure the devices are operating properly and not omitting carbon monoxide into a home DeSantis pointed out that carbon monoxide detectors are part of the tax-free holiday

DeSantis also shared tips on how to best get information in the event of an impending storm, and to listen to local officials

“Listen to instructions from your local officials they're the ones that are really charged with making the decisions about how people move around the counties, or out of the counties -- when bridges are open or closed -- that's almost always done at the local level So please heed what is happening in that regard Hurricane response is almost always a bottom-up thing ”

DeSantis said the “newly revamped” Florida State Guard will be on stand-by

“We've beefed it up,” he said “We've got a lot of folks in the state guard that we can deploy. That's different than the National Guard It's our own baby Federal government has nothing to do with the Florida State Guard, and

we will use that to be able to help Floridians ”

DeSantis said the state has made “historic” investments in hardening infrastructure

“We've provided massive amounts of money for grants in the My Safe Florida Home program, so people have been able to fortify their own homes, which is something that's important ”

DeSantis said via the Job Growth Grant Fund, he has dispersed almost $25 million to hurricane-impacted communities

He announced Tuesday he is awarding $7.5 million to Lee County to help rebuild and enhance the shrimp dock at San Carlos Maritime Park

“This dual-purpose facility will serve as an emergency operations site to launch barges, and provide a place for shrimp vessels to dock and transfer products to distribution trucks Obviously it's an important part of the economy, if it's needed, for disaster response ”

Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie said he's spent the last month visiting county emergency managers to discuss any unmet needs that may arise or challenges that may come, mostly discussing sheltering and supply needs

“We have a stockpile in three different warehouses, (perhaps) soon to become one, thanks to the legislature and the governor,” Guthrie said “We have plenty of water, plenty of food, plenty of tarps and other commodities and equipment that are on-hand ready to go.

“While we have these resources ready, we want to remind everyone the importance of your personal preparedness We cannot be successful inside of your home You have to take accountability for being successful and being ready inside your home ”

Guthrie shared five steps to be successful:

1 Make a plan

2 Build a disaster supply kit to include at least seven days of supplies

3 Know your evacuation zone and your home (and difference between flood and evacuation zone)

4 Keep your gas tanks at least halfway full

5 Go tens of miles, not hundreds of miles

For a full list of tax-free items, visit http://www floridarevenue com/disasterprep For the recommended disaster supply kit, visit http://www floridadisaster org/kit

Local fertilizer ban in effect until end of September

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Officials are reminding residents that fertilizer bans are now in effect

Starting June 1, both Cape Coral and Lee County have bans on the use of fertilizers that contain nitrogen or phosphorus during the summer rainy season that runs to Sept 30

“Eliminating the use of phosphorus and nitrogen during the wet season helps to protect our canals and waterways, quality of life, and economy,” Cape Coral officials stated “Excess nutrients can cause harmful algal blooms that can cause fish kills, harm pets and wildlife, and potentially injure people who encounter it ”

Critical points of the Cape Coral fertilizer ordinance include:

■ No fertilizer is allowed if a flood watch/warning, a tropical storm watch/ warning, or a hurricane watch/warning is in effect

■ Fertilizer cannot be used within 15 feet of any body of water

■ Phosphorus fertilizer is prohibited any time of year unless a soil test in the past two years identifies a phosphorus deficiency

■ The percentage of slow-release nitrogen content in any fertilizer used during the remainder of the year (October-May) must be at least 50%

No grass clippings or vegetative debris may be swept or blown into stormwater drains, conveyances, bodies of water, sidewalks or roadways

Lisa Kreiger, operations manager of Lee County’s Natural Resources Department, said the county adopted

its ordnance in 2008, that prohibits fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus being applied to turf and/or landscape plants in unincorporated Lee County

“The reason the ordinance was adopted was an effort to minimize negative environmental effects of fertilizer runoff entering waterways,” Kreiger said “Unwanted excess nutrients in our waterways can lead to feeding harmful algal blooms, like red tide, and blue-green algae in our freshwater systems, that can wash ashore or harm wildlife. (It can) affect water quality and oxygen levels, and can affect our ability to use the waterways for recreational uses We feel that everybody can play a part in helping us address harmful effects on waterways Everyone can chip in to be part of the solution ”

County officials state that protecting Southwest Florida’s water quality during the summer months means adjusting lawncare routines Homeowners should stop fertilizing and start trimming trees and preparing outdoor areas for hurricane season Lee County encourages residents and professional landscapers to follow the summer ordinance and use the following practices year-round:

■ Don’t fertilize your lawn if rain is forecasted Rainfall may wash away fertilizer or cause it to leach through the soil and into waterways

■ Keep fertilizer at least 10 feet from bodies of water and hard surfaces

■ Sweep up spills Never use a hose to wash away spilled granules This can lead to unwanted nutrients in storm drains and waterways

For residents that think what they do to their lawn during the summer months doesn't make a difference, they are sorely mistaken

“For people who think that whatever they do doesn't matter, we want to remind everyone we have almost 900,000 people living in Lee County,” Kreiger said “So one person may not think they can make a difference, but they can That one person leads to another person, to another person so all of us together, it really does make a difference what your personal behavior is ”

Kreiger said it costs much more than a $15 bag of fertilizer at the store to combat an outbreak of red tide or blue-green algae.

“Some of these horrible algal blooms, they get started and they feed and grow, grow, grow Nobody wants that,” she said “And once it starts it's easy to get started It's a lot harder to stop ”

Kreiger said while the county does have fines in place for infractions and repeat infractions, it's all about raising awareness and spreading education

“A lot of people just don't know any better,” she said “They just don't understand how important this is We come from a place of trying to educate people We want to continue to talk about this ordinance every year, and letting residents know they can be part of the solution We'd rather have people change their behavior ”

Kreiger reminds residents the ban is just for a short period of time, and you can still water efficiently

Having Florida-friendly landscaping can also help to keep lawns and gardens looking pristine, as native plants rarely need fertilizer to thrive

For more tips on how to properly treat your lawn and help curb unwanted runoff from entering waterways this summer, visit www fertilizesmart com

CCPD to use speed detection systems in school zones

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council unanimously established a school zone speed enforcement program Wednesday, OKing the use of a speed detection system that could result in a $100 fine for those driving more than 10 mph over the posted limit

The portable, or fixed automatic system detects the speed and captures the rear of a vehicle that exceeds the speed limit during specific times of the school day This is allowed through HB 657

Once the violation is captured, the Cape Coral Police Department will confirm the violation and a notice of violation will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle

The owner will have 30 days to pay the $100 fine, or submit an affidavit to establish an exception to liability, or request a hearing before the local hearing officer If the violation is upheld, the local hearing officer may require the individual to pay administrative costs up to $250 in addition to the fine

Once the system is up and running, there will be a 30-day notice where a fine will not be issued.

A speed study was done by Kisinger Campo & Associates throughout April of this year to look at established school zones to see how many drivers exceeded the posted speed

A speed study was done by Kisinger Campo & Associates throughout April to look at established school zones to see how many drivers exceeded the posted speed limit by 10 mph or more during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal periods Most schools showed a significant number of such speeders

limit by 10 mph or more during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal periods

That study presented more than 100 speeding drivers who exceeded 10 mph at 16 of the schools studied The highest maximum speed was at Diplomat Elementary School and Diplomat Middle School at 68 mph

Patriot Elementary School had the most speeders for one week at 15,487 while Mid Global Academy had no speeders during the time of the study

The school zones that demonstrated a heightened safety risk at least 100 speeders driving more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit included Ida S Baker High School; Challenger Middle School; Diplomat Middle School; Mariner Middle School; Trafalgar Middle School; Cape Elementary School; Diplomat Elementary School; Gulf Elementary School; Oasis Charter Elementary School North; Patriot Elementary School; Pelican Elementary School; Skyline Elementary School; Trafalgar Elementary

School; Heritage Charter Academy of Cape Coral; St Andrews Catholic School; Nicaea Academy of Cape Coral and Cape Coral Christian School

Police Chief Tony Sizemore said the heightened safety risk is met when looking at the numbers from the study

“There is a particular school zone on Skyline that is new I don’t think it was advertised in the best manner,” he said “Staff is out there daily enforcing these traffic safety laws ”

Councilmember Robert Welsh said he drives through the Skyline Elementary School zone every morning, which has increased in size and location He said he is definitely for it, but asked for additional signage between the start and end of the school zone

“I want to go above and beyond to add additional signage to bring more awareness that you are still in the school zone,” Welsh said

With the nod of approval from the council, Sizemore said two simultaneous projects will occur mechanisms will be put into place to get the program going, along with a side project of cleanup He said additional signage lengthening and alterations of long-standing school zones will be made

Sizemore said he is working out operations in his building on how they would run the program.

“When we are ready to go, we will be ready to go,” he said, adding that it could happen in the middle of the upcoming school year, but most likely at the start of the 2025 school year

There may be a need for additional full time personnel for the police department, depending on the speed in which this program is established

“The cost that would be for a new (full time employee) would be more through overtime in the meantime,” Sizemore said. “Anything new like this is going to be very high in the beginning It is a diminishing amount of work, and it settles into a particular level of work This time next year, assuming it is in and data set, I can accurately and responsibly request FTE ”

The city is looking into “piggybacking” another contract with procurement staff looking at several contracts

Welcome Home: See this week’s featured home, open houses, property transfers, popular columns

From page 1

and Geri Quinn return from a short break

“Welcome Home” is also a useful took to help Realtors gain new listings as homeowners get a lift out of seeing their home marketed in the newspaper Consistent a

receive free open house listings, and front page “Featured Home of the Week” promotions based on advertising commitments

“In order to create this new publication in the best way possible, we needed to find the right account executive with real estate

Newspapers Advertising Director Laurie Ragle “We were fortunate to find John Connelly, who recently relocated full time from the Boston area John brings years of print advertising experience in the direct mail and real estate markets ” Advertising spots of all sizes and weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or single commit-

ments are now available

Realtors to contact Connelly at jconnelly@breezenewspapers com to learn more about Welcome Home

Those interested can also call 239574-1110 to reserve space

Kiwanis awards dinner celebrates $198,000 in scholarships

By JOHNATHAN MINEHAN news@breezenewspapers com

Thirteen students received scholarships collectively worth $198,000 from the Cape Coral Kiwanis Foundation at its Scholarship Awards Dinner Wednesday

The scholarships recognized their service within the community and their hard work and dedication Awards winners are:

∫ Naissa Esperance Bishop Verot High School

∫ Elizabeth Keijl Cape Coral High School

∫ Nicholas Rodriguez Cape Coral High School

∫ Alexander Dingerson Ida S Baker High School, Florida SouthWestern State College

∫ Ethan Quick Island-Coast High School

∫ Alison Calle Island Coast High School

∫ Lim Nong Island Coast High School

∫ Mingwei Chen Island Coast High School

∫ A m a n d a E c h e v a r r i a R o m e r o Island Coast High School

∫ Olivia Arevalo North Fort Myers High School

∫ Darien Brown North Fort Myers High School

∫ Tyler Feichthaler Oasis Charter High School

∫ Janelle Octavien Oasis Charter High School

S c h o

Vanessa Silva introduced each candidate and expressed her gratitude to community

members who have stayed involved with the club

“I want to thank some of the volunteers from our thrift stores who are here today This is what it’s about when you volunteer It gives back to our community and allows the Kiwanis Club to do these types of events and give back to our community and the children in our community,” Silva said

“So every year, we do three endowments and, as I said previously, the sales group source helps us, and this year, we’re awarding ($198,000) in scholarships,” she added

Each honoree was presented with a scholarship and got the opportunity to discuss their involvement with volunteering and what they would like to pursue in their future endeavors These recipients received various scholarships that will remain as long as they meet the requirements provided by their colleges

One of these scholarships was the James C and Madeline K Hole scholarships, founded in 1996, which provides recipie n t s $ 1 4 , 0 0 0 o v e r f

Requirements include being a resident for one year within application deadlines and standing well in one of Cape Coral’s sponsored key clubs The recipient must also obtain an overall unweighted GPA of 3 5 and above at the time of their application, demonstrate financial need, and show evidence of leadership in school

One of these recipients was Olivia Arevalo from North Fort Myers High School, who had 163 volunteer hours

“Hello, everyone, I will be majoring in special education so I can come back to Lee County and be a special ed teacher,” said Arevalo

Rodriguez from Cape Coral High School, who volunteered more than 109 hours

“I’ll be going to UCF for mechanical engineering And then we’ll see where life goes from there, but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for making this happen for me and my parents for supporting me throughout the whole process Thank you,” Rodriguez said

As the ceremony went on, many shared their aspirations, from Janelle Octavien, who wants to be a biomedical engineer and also plans to work under doctors to help third-world countries, to Lim Nong, who plans to continue working within his community and will attend the University of Florida, majoring in finance and pursuing a combination degree in master of supply chain management

Scholarship, a scholarship established 20 years ago by a member of the scholarship committee, which gives Feichthaler a total of $16,000, with $4,000 being given out each year Feichthaler also served his community with 350 volunteer hours

“So with all those hours in all these wonderful young faces that you see here, they’ve completed a total of over 2613 hours that they have given to our community, and it’s something that not only shows leadership but shows dedication and appreciation to their community So we hope that the community can show the same to you as you venture in your new novel,” Silva said

The Kiwanis Club allows not only high school students to become a part of volunteering, but also middle school students

with their “Builder Clubs” and elementary school students with their “K Kids ”

The biggest thing is teaching them right You give to your community because we live here This is where you live, and giving back is fantastic, and they do these kids You know, there are events we have that if it weren’t for the kids, it wouldn’t be possible,” Silva said

The Kiwanis Club was founded in 1962 and has been expanding ever since Its goal is to help the community and give students an opportunity to get involved while learning leadership skills from their peers

Eric Feichthaler thanked the Kiwanis members and all the families of scholarship winners for their contributions to the community

“I would like to thank all the volunteers and members of our club, as well as those at the Kiwanis thrift stores How many of you have been in one of our thrift stores in the past few months? The store going on 47th Terrace and the North stores on Del Prado are very close down the road I tell you they have done an incredible job making those stores beautiful and great merchandise for a great price,” Feichthaler said “We’re benefiting the community that is providing that service and at the same time making funds to pay for all the programs that we have, like our grants and like this scholarship program So again, thank you to all those who volunteer I know many of our club members do, and for those of you who would like to spend a couple of hours a week in our stores

Students can become involved with Kiwanis by joining their local key club or volunteering at the Kiwanis thrift shops

Cape Coral Kiwanis Foundation scholarship recipients include Naissa Esperance Bishop Verot High School; Elizabeth Keijl Cape Coral High School; Nicholas Rodriguez Cape Coral High School; Alexander Dingerson Ida S Baker High School, Florida SouthWestern State College; Ethan Quick Island-Coast High School; Alison Calle Island Coast High School; Lim Nong Island Coast High School; Mingwei Chen Island Coast High School; Amanda Echevarria Romero Island Coast High School; Olivia Arevalo North Fort Myers High School; Darien Brown North Fort Myers High School; Tyler Feichthaler Oasis Charter High School and Janelle Octavien Oasis Charter High School

JOHNATHAN MINEHAN

Fund raising effort set for Saturday to aid injured boater

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

A benefit for Nichole Hall, who lost her leg in a boating accident in north Matlacha Pass, will be held in various locations on Pine Island this Saturday

Organized by islander Jim Frock, the June 8 effort will be held in various locations.

Hall suffered her injury after leaving a fundraiser on April 20 honoring Mary Lou Sharp, who died in a car accident on April 13 in Matlacha

Jug Creek Marina site manager Julia Gaylor said she was there when Hall was placed into the ambulance

“That near-death experience for this

young woman is a testament to her soul, her personality and her perseverance in overcoming this,” Gaylor said

A c c o r d i n g t o G a y l o r ,

Hall’s friends, in combination with EMS and all first responders on duty, saved her life that night Although Gaylor said she would never want to see anything like that accident

a

tragedy the Pine Island community came together in support, once again

Frock began organizing this benefit to help the family with medical expenses,

Hall, who was struck by a propeller, lost her leg at t h e h i p a n d w i l l n e e d house renovations, including wheelchair accessibility, to get around her own home after finally leaving the hospital

“They’ve got to redo their house so she can live in it, and get a different vehicle so she can get in and out of it just everything,” Frock said.

All of the participating venues are donating part of their profits from the benefit to the Hall family, including Blue

Dog Bar and Grill Island

Locations providing music for the special benefit include:

■ Miceli’s - noon, featuring Remedy, Pipe Dreams, Charlie Pace Band

■ Street Eatz - 1 p m , featuring Matt Lee Crew, Frank Bang.

■ Froggys - 12:30 p m , featuring Gary and Kerri, Brother Love, Tommy Lee Cook, Pedro and Friends

There will also be 50/50 raffles and a silent auction T h

donate, can contact Frock at 239-2239895

Nichole Hall

Development to become easier in Cape’s commercial nodes

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that relaxes the requirements for nonconforming residential sites to commercial sites

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said one of the things that was expressed is there is a barrier to getting commercial projects off the ground, especially in the north Cape

“We have gone in and rezoned properties as co mmer cial b u t s ittin g o n th e ground when done are single-family residential houses A business owner to go into the north and open a law office, accounting office, salon they would have to meet the commercial development standards need for specific space,” he said “They need side yard buffers, expand parking ”

He said this expands business opportunities and reduces permitting requirements to find a way to allow those single-family homes sitting in a commercial node to be used as commercial without degrading the ability to use commercial

“The ordinance is exactly our attempt to

“The ordinance is exactly our attempt to getting more commercial development and more business in the Cape on property that is zoned commercial, but is of a nonconforming use of a residential house ”

Michael Ilczyszyn, city manager

getting more commercial development and more business in the Cape on property that is zoned commercial, but is of a noncon-

Ilczyszyn said

Struve said the main purpose is to help encourage redevelopment of commercial sites with existing single-family homes and duplexes that are considered nonconformities

“Owners of the sites were not an applicant of the amendment,” he said

Struve said staff proposed that parking,

improvements be relaxed

“Who would be applicable? Any owner

with property with a single-family home, or duplex that is a nonconformity That benefit would be accrued by the owner of the property, but the future owners as well,” he said “Owners that choose to demolish a nonconforming single-family home, or duplex will not receive relief.”

For parking there is a minimum of three parking spaces regardless of the building A commerical trash bin accompanying an enclosure will not be required Stuve said they can either provide roll-out toters from the garage, or building, or provide a smaller enclosure for screening the solid waste receptacles on site

The landscape buffers are typically required along property lines, Struve said,

which would not be required because in most cases there is not adequate width to install a buffer He said it would require trees or shrubs

“Offsite improvements could be lessened or waived by the director,” he said There are several advantages of the relaxed standards such as encouraging the elimination of legal nonconformities and the redevelopment of commercial sites; encouraging infill redevelopment on sites; clarify city regulations; simplifying and streamlining permitting; reducing redevelopment cost and having adequate safeguards

Councilmember Dan Sheppard said he liked the ordinance as it helps entrepreneurs who are starting out with the ability to build their business and create something.

“I like where this is heading,” he said

Struve said live work use, would not be allowed

“It is not allowed in the C zoning district They could not live there as well,” he said

Former school superintendent no longer receiving benefits from district

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

W

Christopher Bernier accepting the superintendent post for the Duval County School District, his salary and benefits here ended on May 23

“I am writing to inform you that as per paragraph 7 of the Superintendent Separation Agreement signed on April 9, 2024, between you and the School Board of Lee

County, the School Board’s responsibility to provide salary, health insurance, and retirement benefits ends once you secure employment as a superintendent Since the Duval County School Board selected you on May 23, 2024, you have secured employment,” according to a letter from Chairman Sam Fisher to Bernier

His April 9 separation agreement states the district would pay salary, health insurance, and retirement benefits for 20 weeks His payrate was $275,400 annually

According to the separation agreement “If Bernier secures other employment as superintendent, or position at a cabinet-level within the 20-weeks outlined herein, all obligations under this agreement shall cease immediately, including salary pay, payment of health insurance, and retirement contribution Within 24-hours of hire, Bernier shall notify the chair of the school board of such employment ”

Qualifying: Begins Monday

From page 1

son elected board must be a registered elector of the city, a permanent resident, a continuous, full-time resident of the city for the entire calendar year preceding their qualification of office, and must reside in the district in which they are seeking office,

Cape Coral City Council races are non-partisan Council members are elected at-large meaning voters may cast a ballot in each race regardless of the district in which they live Terms are four years, and members are limited to two consecutive terms

As of Thursday afternoon:

In District 2, a seat currently held by Dan Sheppard who is seeking re-election, Craig Unroe has also announced his candidacy

In District 3, the seat is held by Tom Hayden who has announced he will not seek re-election Derrick Donnell, Daniel J. Ludlow, and Deborah Lee McCormick have announced

In District 4, incumbent Richard Carr is running for reelection Also announced is William Matthews and Robert J Sutter

Robert Welsh is seeking re-election in District 5 Also announced is Joseph Kilraine and Charles Pease

In District 7, Jessica Cosden has termed-limited out and may not seek re-election Announced thus far is Michael David Harper and Rachel Kaduk,

The total cost for qualifying for Cape Coral City Council candidates is $519 19

The registration period to qualify for all county positions also runs from noon on June 10 to noon on June 14

For the first time since the ’70s, Lee County voters will elect a superintendent of schools The race’s victor will be elected to a four-year term Current superintendent, Dr Ken Savage, has said he will not run As a result of a voter initiative which turned the role into a constitutional office, he will be the last superintendent to be appointed by the Lee County School Board

There are currently two announced candidates in th partisan race: Denise Carlin and Morgan Wright, both Republicans

There are three Lee County Commission seats on the ballot In District 1, incumbent Kevin Ruane (REP) is the only

announced candidate

In District 3, Ray Sandelli is not seeking re-election

Announced at this time is David Mulicka (REP), and Matthew R Thornton (REP)

Mike Greenwell (REP) is seeking re-election in District 5

Also announced is Amanda Cochran (REP) and Kizzle Fowler (DEM)

Lee County School Board seats are also on the ballot

These are non-partisan elections with some candidates elected at large, others by district

Incumbent Melisa Giovannelli has announced she will seek re-election in District 2. Also announced is Carol Frantz.

In District 3, Bill Ribble has announced his candidacy

In at-large District 7, Vanessa Melbis Chaviano and Joshua D Molandes have announced

There also are a number of constitutional offices open this election year

Supervisor of Elections: Incumbent Tommy Doyle (REP) is the only announced candidate at this time

Lee County Sheriff: Incumbent Carmine Marceno (REP) is the only announced candidate at this time

Lee County Tax Collector: Incumbent Noelle Branning (REP) is the only announced candidate at this time

Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller: Incumbent Kevin Karnes (REP) is the only announced candidate at this time

Property Appraiser: Incumbent Matt Caldwell (REP) is the only announced candidate at this time

Candidates can submit completed qualification documents by visiting the Supervisor of Elections Main Office at 2480 Thompson St , 3rd floor Auditorium, Fort Myers, from 8:30 a m - 5 p m Monday through Friday

The primary election is Aug 20, with the General Election to take place Nov 5

City looks at public-private partnership for Lake Meade Park in northeast Cape Coral

From page 1

awarded a contract He reached out to YMCA to see how serious they were about the project

YMCA was serious in its commitment to come to Cape Coral

The Lake Meade project, as originally planned, did not have a community center there was no funding for it, nor was there any money likely in the foreseeable future

Ilczyszyn said when he reached out to YMCA, they shared an interest in developing the center at the as-yet-undeveloped park, which is in a growth area of the city

“They were very interested in that opportunity,” he said “Ultimately it would bring a YMCA to the city of Cape Coral at Lake Meade Park ”

Jones said nationally, YMCA is celebrating its 180th anniversary, while locally they are celebrating 58 years serving seven counties

Every YMCA facility reflects the community it serves, he added

They want to hear from the community, so a community board will be put into place to talk to key stakeholders to ensure needs will be met

YMCA was a hub for many after Hurricane Ian, as it provided 57,000 tons of food and water across the region, as well as becoming the place for charging stations and showers

“Cape Coral certainly deserves a great YMCA It’s an opportunity to enhance and elevate the service to our community here,” Jones said Chief Financial Officer John Campbell said the nice thing about the project is they would maintain everything the city was originally looking for in regards to the site plan for Lake Meade Park.

“We have worked with the city and con-

tractor, architect to fitting the YMCA in this campus and still allowing the park amenities and to have one large parking lot to benefit everyone,” he said

Outside there will be amenities including pickleball, tennis courts, splash pads and ball fields, as well as a boat ramp for the canal that feeds around the lake

The two-story building would include both an indoor and outdoor portion.

There will be two full-size basketball courts in the gymnasium with a track above it on the second floor The gymnasium could also be used for emergency situations, such as a hurricane, and providing resources

There also will be an outdoor aquatic center with a competitive pool for long- or shortcourse, depending on needs In addition, there

will be a children’s play area pool and a warm water therapy pool The warm pool allows swimming lessons for youngsters, as well as comfortable temperatures for seniors

Inside the facility there will be a fitness center, group exercise rooms, wellness studio, cardio and strength training, and multi-generational rooms allowed for community and group events

“The facilities are flexible and adaptable for all ages infants to seniors with this facility,” Campbell said

Chief Advancement Officer Scott Barnhard said YMCA is all about community building confident, connected, secure adults, kids, and families

“We do all this through nurturing children and teens promoting healthy living and

social responsibility,” he said “We cannot do this alone At the YMCA, lasting personal and social change is best accomplished when we all work together – invest in kids, health and neighbors It’s all about partnerships It’s a blessing to have Y partner with the City of Cape Coral to help build this community to become stronger ”

The total project is projected at $40 million, with YMCA raising $16 million of the total, the city contributing $12 million and grants and other sources the rest Barnhard said he has all the confidence in the world they will be able to raise the additional funds

Council members shared their excitement for the project, especially with the pool and aquatics facility, something the city lacks

“It is very encouraging to see You will have my support 100% of the way,” Councilmember Robert Welsh said

With Council’s Wednesday approval, “both parties shall proceed in good faith to negotiate a development agreement, which shall set forth the responsibilities of both parties specific to the park facilities "

The agreement also states that the source of funds for the facility construction is anticipated to be approximately $12,000,0000 by city, $12,000,000 from as-yet identified funding by the county and state budgets and other grants, and $16,000,000 raised in a capital campaign from YMCA

The construction will be in two phasesplanning, permitting, construction management, and public infrastructure utilized by the entire park, and planning and construction of the YMCA facilities

The agreement also states that prior to the commencement of the second phase, “the city shall execute and deliver a 99-year lease of the lands to be utilized by the YMCA facilities ”

ARTIST RENDITION COURTESY OF THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL

BUSINESS

BUSINESS BRIEFS

4th Annual Drag Brunch Bingo June 23

The 4th Annual Drag Brunch Bingo is Sunday, June 23, at Nice Guys Pizza, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway, E , Cape Coral The event will feature Nice Guy's Brunch, bingo and a drag show starring Alyssa Lemay and Sizzy Griddles.

Tickets are $30 each & include a reserved seat, brunch menu item and the drag show viewing Bingo cards are $10 to play and $5 for extra cards (Please bring cash for bingo card purchases )

The Drag Brunch Bingo Menu includes Biscuits & Gravy made from scratch; Brunch Tots with hollandaise, crispy prosciutto, soft boiled egg, chimichurri and crispy shallot; Belgian waffle with fruit, whipped cream and fruited maple; B-b-b-benny & the Eggs Pizza with hollandaise, egg, prosciutto, cheddar and basil; Chicken & Waffles Pizza with chicken, waffle and maple; Street Corn Tots with quasi, corn, soft boiled egg, citrus garlic aioli, cilantro, parmesan and tan; and Vegan Chicken & Waffles Pizza with chik’n, waffle and maple

Interested in donating a raffle item or basket? Email info@pridecapecoral com

Tickets are available at https://www eventbrite com/e/drag-brunch-bingo-at-nice-guys-pizza-tickets908231885017

The Drag Brunch Bingo is a 21+ event ID's required at check-in

Contact PRIDE Cape Coral at 1322 Lafayette Street Suite A, Cape Coral, FL, 33904

Greater For t Myers Chamber accepting 2024 Leadership Program applications

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber has opened applications for this year’s Leadership Program

The program encourages chamber business members to get involved in the community, broaden their k n o w l e d g e a n d h

s through an 11-week structured, interactive program emphasizing local economic, education, government and volunteerism issues The program will take place on Wednesdays Aug 28, through Nov 13, with a kick-off welcome on Aug 27 and a graduation celebration on Nov 20

Topics will include team building, nonprofits/volunteerism, judicial, health care, community service, e d u c a t i o n , t o u r i s m , e n v i r o n m e n t / w a t e r q u a l i t y , city/county day and self Applications for the 2024 Leadership Fort Myers class will close Friday, Aug 23, and the cost of tuition is $1,250 for members and $1,750 for non-members

Visit FortMyers org or call 239-332-2930

Vigilant Guardian Home Watch & Ser vices ear ns accreditation

Vigilant Guardian Home Watch & Services has earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the second year The NHWA was formed in 2009 in order to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for Home Watch and absentee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada (www nationalhomewatchassociation org) Home Watch is a visual inspection of a home or property, looking for obvious issues, which means that it is a service that “keeps an eye on things” at your vacation or primary home while you are not in residence All principals of NHWA Accredited Member companies are backgroundchecked, insured and bonded

Founded by former U S Navy couple Tommy and Loretta Cameron, Vigilant Guardian Home Watch & Services is committed to providing exceptional service to their clients

Vigilant Guardian Home Watch & Services serves Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel/Capita Island, and Pine Island You can reach them at 651-263-4574 or at vigilantguardian-swfl@proton me

Learn more from their website, at https://vigilantguardianswfl com/

Matt

PHOTO PROVIDED

GYMGUYZ brings personal workouts to customers’ homes or businesses

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Sick of hitting the gym, having to wait to use equipment or just don't know how to get your fitness journey started?

GYMGUYZ, the world’s largest in-home and on-site personal training franchise, has now arrived in Southwest Florida, where trainers bring a tailored workout to you

Owned by local husband-and-wife duo, Matt and Alissa Torma, Matt is an Army Veteran who found a love for fitness while serving Fitness became a part of his daily routine, and after leaving the Army, he kept up with being active, but missed the service aspect of being in the Armed Forces Together, Matt and Alissa decided to combine his two passions, fitness and service, to bring a new GYMGUYZ location to Southwestern Florida, serving Cape Coral down to Naples

“Looking at this concept and meeting folks throughout my life, I had soldiers and folks around me that were never interested in exercise or going to the gym,” Matt said “Seeing them pick up on it and change their entire life was awesome From the physical aspect, to mental health aspect, and longevity after that, it's obvious what fitness does to someone's life

“GYMGUYZ is meant to service just not those for the convenience of having someone that specializes in this coming to them, having that one-on-one connection or group class that's focused on exercise and getting that person in front of them better, but also for those folks that have that gym anxiety It's definitely a thing We can tailor any program to that specific person, young or old, which is a unique concept ”

GYMGUYZ uses a variety of customized fitness programs, including strength training, cardio fitness, sports conditioning, group fitness, weight loss and toning, senior fitness, youth and teen fitness, assisted stretch and nutrition counseling to help people reach their health goals. GYMGUYZ’s certified personal trainers are experts in using program methodologies, and employ various techniques and tools to ensure that no two workouts are ever the same, but are always fun and challenging There are no contracts or monthly fees and the first session is always free

Matt said he and his team are excited to take on the Southwest Florida area with open arms, and are hoping to make a difference in their client's lives

GYMGUYZ officially introduced itself to the community at the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels game last week, spreading the word of exactly what they can do for those that chose their services

All trainers are nationally accredited and vetted, and all specialize in a specific type of fitness

A first session is for assessment of the individual, and to get to know exactly what that person is looking for on their fitness journey

“The whole focus of it is, we're not going to come to them and tell them ‘this is what we're doing This is what we want your goal to be ’ Because we have that one-on-one connection, we ask them what they're trying to do We can take that, and our trainers tailor a program from the data we received during our assessment You can't get more intimate than being in someone's home or work You don't have to look

around for equipment in the gym One hundred percent of our time is dedicated solely to that client and their goal ”

GYMGUYZ trainers travel in their own vehicle that's chock full of equipment for any and every type of workout- everything from resistance bands, dumbbells, kettlebells, bench, agility ladders and so much more

“Our trainers are really keen on being able to take something that I think someone would think is sort of a start-out piece of equipment, and be able to turn on different variables to make it more advanced,” Matt said “It's pretty impressive to see how our equipment is integrated to a full range of exercises to meet a client's goals And every workout is different, fun and creative ”

A big appeal of GYMGUYZ is that it can be an outlet for those who have gym anxiety, as well as those who are seasoned gym veterans

“I have my routine as a seasoned gym-goer, and our trainers challenge me all the time," Matt said "Being able to bring in a lot of this equipment and be able to make variations where folks see change in their routine is great Bring in our trainers with the background they have (golf fitness, hit and cardio, strength) -- there are a lot of different focuses which is hard to find Elimination of distraction is where you're going to get a lot of that change ”

With a high senior population in Southwest Florida, many want to stay active, and GYMGUYZ can be the perfect choice for an older generation

“We want to bring something here that's a massive asset, that young and old can participate in,” Matt said “There's a direct correlation between fitness and eliminating disease and illness Staying active keeps you healthy in any sense When it comes to seniors, it's a huge focus. Even if it's just for their golf or pickleball game They don't have to drive to the gym, and all of our trainers have experience with seniors ”

Currently, GYMGUYZ serves over 1,100 cities across three countries and is continuing to grow rapidly as in-home and on-site workouts grow in popularity Due to its success in the consumer market, GYMGUYZ has recently expanded its capabilities outside of in-home workouts, now offering fitness programs at corporations, schools, hospitals and residential communities including apartment complexes and senior living centers

GYMGUYZ workouts are 60 minutes, and are available to schedule from 6 a m to 9 p m

“We really want to cater to all walks of life,” Matt said “We want to make sure either early risers or those who need it after work are serviced "”

Trainers can assist with meal programs, and offer a longform assisted stretch program

“It's a new concept we launched across the organization,” Matt said “What that brings to the table is assisted stretch that benefits across the board of reducing injury, recovering from injury and advancing your program We've also seen a lot of attention around heavy golfers and senior community It's picking up across the country We also carry stretch tables, so you can add it to the end of the workout or another session during the week The feedback has been amazing and it changes the way you feel ”

For more information on GYMGUYZ Southwest Florida, visit www.gymguyz.com/southwestflorida/ or call 239-7442944

Torma, left, the owner of GYMGUYZ Southwest Florida, with trainers Adrienne Theisen and Jessica Kuchar, right.

COMMUNITY

Preparing your landscape for hurricane season

By CATHY DUNN news@breezenewspapers com

Those of us who experienced Hurricane Ian two years ago are painfully aware that we have just entered hurricane season in Florida, which lasts from June 1 to Nov 30 While August and September are generally the most active months, we unfortunately need to be prepared for the occurrence of hurricanes for half of our year While there is no way you can fully prepare for major devastation in advance, there are strategies that you can implement starting now to ensure that your landscape and gardens are prepared for a major storm

a n d p r o v i d e a s m o o t h e r recovery

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

T r e e m a i n t e n a n c e i s probably the most critical element in preparing your landscape for hurricane season Hopefully, you have followed the “right tree right place” guidance by planting trees that are best suited for your landscape This includes planting larger trees away from your home and other structures and away from power lines to reduce the risk of branches, or even uprooted trees, from falling on your home or power lines Your maintenance program should include regular pruning and maintenance of your trees to appropriately trim the tree and remove crossed, dying or damaged limbs Trees with a canopy in proportion to the trunk and branches are better prepared to withstand strong winds

“Hurricane trimming” of palms is one of the more controversial aspects of tree maintenance Did you know that the Cape Coral Code of Ordinances states: “Palms shall only be pruned in such a manner that removal of fronds does not exceed a 9:00 to 3:00 pattern and no more than one-half of the fronds are removed at a single time”? The University of Florida does NOT recommend hurricane trimming for a number of reasons First, excessive pruning reduces the canopy size and results in reduced photosynthetic capacity Over-pruning may result in greater frond production, but the resulting fronds are usually smaller in size

Observations of palms after the severe hurricane seasons of 2004, 2005 and Ian in 2022 showed that “hurricane-cut” palms were more likely to have their crowns s n a p p e d o f f t h a n p a l m s w i t h f u l l e r c r o w n s

Horticulturists theorize that this occurred because the youngest fronds at the top of the palm had not hardened off to the same extent as the older fronds, and therefore lacked the support of the older leaf bases

You should make a detailed plan now that you can implement quickly in the event of an approaching hurricane First, take photos and document your property Evaluate your landscape and develop a plan for protecting outdoor structures and planters; determine where

A work crew from Story Roofing replacing the roof on the home of Matlacha resident Janette Fraissinet, a U.S. Army veteran.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Story Roofing replaces roof on Matlacha veteran’s home

On Tuesday, May 28, Janette Fraissinet, a U S Army veteran of Matlacha, received a new roof from Story Roofing, an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor, as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project

Through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Fraissinet was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement

The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them Since the inception of this program in 2016, more than 550 military members have received new roofs

The Owens Corning Foundation donated roofing materials and Story Roofing donated the labor

Story Roofing provides a range of roofing services for

residential and commercial properties Its team of experienced professionals has the expertise, equipment and materials necessary to tackle roofing projects of any size - no matter how complicated they may be From the tip of Michigan's mitt to the coast of Florida's gulf, Story Roofing installs roof systems for the roughest weather, specializing in all types of roofing, including asphalt shingles, metal roofing, flat roofing and beyond The company also offers repair and maintenance services

Story Roofing has facilities in Buckley and Gaylord, Michigan, and Cape Coral at 3640 S W Pine Island Road, Cape Coral To contact the local office, call 239-4435564, or visit https://www storyroofing com for additional information

Community Cooperative launches summer ‘School’s Out, Hunger’s Not’ campaign

As the school year comes to a close, the challenge of summer hunger begins for many children in our community To address this critical issue, Community Cooperative launched its “School’s Out, Hunger’s Not” campaign, aimed at ensuring no child goes hungry this summer

During the school year, many children rely on school meals for their daily nutrition However, when school is out, these meals are no longer available, leaving many families struggling to provide enough food for their children

Community Cooperative’s mission is to bridge this gap by creating “Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kits” – boxes filled with nutritious food items that will be distributed to children throughout the summer months

“We need your help to fight childhood hunger in southwest Florida this summer. Sadly, we know families are facing food insecurity in every neighborhood within our community,” says Stefanie Ink Edwards, CEO of Community Cooperative “No child should ever have to worry about how or when they will eat their next meal ”

With your help, children in Community Cooperative’s many programs will receive a grab-n-go Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kit filled with nutritional and easy-to-access foods These kits will ensure bellies will stay full this summer and will be distrusted through Community Cooperatives Mobile Food Pantry Program, partner organizations, Community Market, and Sam’s Community Café & Kitchen

How can you support Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kits?

■ Sponsorship -- $25 per kit

■ Host a Food Drive -- https://communitycoopera tive com/give-help/donate-food/

■ Donate Wish List Items:

Easy to heat Canned Food

Breakfast Granola Bars

Fruit Cups

Cereal

For more information about Community Cooperative’s “School’s Out, Hunger’s Not” campaign, to view the wish list, or to make a donation, please visit Community Cooperative com or contact Jade Bird at Jade@communitycooperative com

About Community Cooperative

Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors and staff, Community Cooperative stays committed to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners Through c

Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity.

UF/IFAS PHOTO Flooding from a hurricane

SPORTS

Red snapper, red grouper, tarpon, sharks and more...

“I am proud to announce that this snapper season will be the longest season since our state took over red snapper management in the Gulf,” said Gov Ron DeSantis recently “Florida is proud to be the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World.”

While a great number of local and visiting anglers are laser focused on fighting a silver king or tarpon, the offshore crews are out searching for delicious red snapper This year the harvest season will be divided into two parts -- 61-day “summer season” that started this past week on the 1st and ends, July 31 Another 42, weekend “fall” season dates will be added, starting Sept 1-2 through to Nov 28-30

The few reports I’ve received agree that going out to bottom attractions in 150 feet and beyond puts you in the right area Before you motor out and drop your baits, make sure that you have the required venting tools or approved descending device on board and ready to use, as well as a dehooking tool Use only non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks in state waters, and non-stainless circle hooks in federal waters, with no offset requirements Lastly, be sure to have signed on to the State Reef Fish Angler program at GoOutdoorsFlorida com, which must be renewed annually

With red snapper one of the top most purposefully mislabeled or “fraud fish” sold to consumers today in both seafood markets and restaurants, catching your own is the surest way to know you’re actually eating true Gulf red snapper Studies by various groups over recent years all agree that 40 to 50% of the time you’re not getting what you paid for

Red snapper catches must have a TL or total length measurement of 16 inches to harvest with a limit of two fish per angler

With red grouper season closing at the end of the month there’s still time to locate hot spots and numbers of fish with most reports agreeing that the 100-foot zone is a good place to start

Boca Grande is definitely and still the place to be for concentrations of tarpon with crabs and threadfins the current hot natural baits The Zman Herculez and the DOA Baitbuster are always good soft plastic swimbait choices

Off the beach or coastal tarpon action is currently more productive when heading north of Boca while inshore canal dock lights draw typically very hard to fool juvenile tarpon, along with redfish and trout as by-catch

Want to challenge a shark? You’re in the right place and at the right time as we are currently in shark central From the top of the Spreader Canal, local flats, the river and passes, we have sharks aplenty Is a one-ton shark encounter a possibility? It is theoretically possible since a nearly 1,300-pound hammerhead has already been caught in Boca Grande

If you decide to do battle, just make sure you have adequate equipment as well as proper tools and knowledge, to make sure of a safe catch and release with hands and all 10 fingers still attached. If you’re new to the area or fishing and you happen to catch a shark and want to bring it aboard to get a picture with it, do yourself and others onboard a favor -- don’t! Even a small shark can hurt you Sharks are basically made from rubber and can bite their own tails, or you, in a flash Sharks lying on a deck

2024 Sunshine State Games features five sports this weekend

Amateur Athletes will be in action, between today, June 7 and Sunday, June 9, in archery, artistic swimming, fencing, pickleball and powerlifting

A short preview of each of the five sports follows: Pickleball

■ June 7-9, Pickleplex, Punta Gorda - Final registration is 150 players The PicklePlex of Punta Gorda will have 16 courts available for play the weekend of June 79 Competition begins each day at 8:30 a m with Mixed Doubles starting play on Friday. Men's and Women's Doubles will be played Saturday and Singles competition wraps things up on Sunday The 2024 Sunshine State Games Pickleball Championships are being held in conjunction with Punta Gorda Englewood Beach and The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast

The 2024 Championships are a qualifier for the 2024 Florida Senior Games, to be held in December, in Florida's Sports Coast/Pasco County Artistic Swimming

■ June 7-9, Florida Aquatics Swimming and Training (FAST), Ocala Final registration is 290 swimmers SSG Artistic Swimming visits a nearly brand new FAST facility Athletes will be in the pool each of the three days beginning at 7:45 a m The Junior Olympic Division will be contested on Friday Intermediate competition is Saturday and the Novice, Athletes with Disabilities and Open and Masters events close out the weekend on Sunday Powerlifting

■ June 8, Lift District Fitness, Margate – Final registration is 40 lifters Sunshine State Games Powerlifting always features some of the top talent in the state of Florida Two sessions will be held at 9 a m and 2 p m Archery

■ June 8-9, Gator Bowmen, Gainesville – Current registration is 115 archers and onsite registration will be available on Saturday, June 8, and Sunday, June 9 The Gator Bowmen range is nestled a wooded area outside of Gainesville It's truly back to nature when you compete at this venue Shooting begins at 9 a m both days Fencing

■ June 8-9, Miami Airport Conference Center A total of 138 fencers, representing 30 clubs will be in action in Epee, Foil and Sabre competition SSG Fencing heads south after a few years in the northern part of the

state One of the Games original sports dating back to 1980, SSG Fencers travel from all parts of the state to compete Find the schedule and competition information at www sunshinestategames com

Still to come

Registration is open for the remaining calendar of 2024 Sunshine State Games events Tell your friends, your teammates and folks who've often thought about competing in the Sunshine State Games about the following events.

Ultimate

■ June 15-16, Clay County Regional Sports Complex – Registration Deadline is June 12 Current registration is 11 teams With the capability having 20 fields, the SSG Ultimate field can expand to 20 to 25 teams The Clay County Regional Sports Complex is one of the state's newest sports facilities, having opened in March of 2024 Visit www sunshinestategames com/ultimate Taekwondo

■ June 15-16, Wiregrass Sports Campus, Wesley Chapel – Registration periods vary with price increases Final Online Registration Deadline is June 12 Onsite registration is available Current registration is approximately 200 athletes It will be a weekend of exciting competition at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex with plenty of opportunities for athletes to test their skills This will be the first Sunshine State Games competition held at the 9 8 , 0 0 0 s q u a r

www sunshinestategames com/taekwondo Table Tennis

■ June 15-16, Legacy Park Multipurpose Center, Alachua Registration deadline is June 8 Current registration is 20 athletes The Sunshine State Games Table Tennis Championships is unique in its setup as players compete in multiple skill divisions, in an effort to increase t h e i r r a n k i n g s R e g i s t e r n o

tategames com/table-tennis

■ Water Polo, June 21-23, Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center – Registration Deadline is June 10 Current registration is 39 teams SSG Water Polo features 50%2B teams on an annual basis We're more than halfway there Give the list of registered teams a look at www sunshinestategames com/water-polo

For complete results, please visit www sunshinestategames com/results

Summer Health Agility Running Camp July 15-18 at Bishop Verot

SHARC -- Summer Health Agility Running Camp -will be held July 15-18 from 8-11 a m at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers

Mackenzie De Lisle, a standout cross country runner and track and field performer for Bishop Verot who recently won the FHSAA Class 2A championship in the 1,600meter run and earned a runner-up finish in the Class 2A state cross country championship in November, is back to help run the camp Her former teammate, Kyle Thomas, started the camp as part of a school project and decided to keep SHARC going.

The SHARC camp is partnered with and sponsored by the Fort Myers Track Club, a local 501 (c ) (3) organization that helps raise funds for local charities and awards college scholarships to local high school athletes and volunteers

The camp is designed to promote fitness and health for the youth running community In addition, camp volunteers and leaders aim to spread the love of running in the youth of Southwest Florida

All proceeds from the camp are donated to the Fort Myers Track Club

The camp, which is open to youngsters kindergarten through 5th grade, will include daily stretching, conditioning, strength and core flexibility techniques; relay racing and team building exercises; running sprinting drills; and fun!

The cost is $75 (cash or with checks payable to the Fort Myers Track Club) Camp fees include a T-shirt and a goody bag This is an elite training camp and with no refunds

In-person registration will held Wednesday, June 12, at Fleet Feet at 13499 S Cleveland Ave , Suite 209, Fort Myers

For more information, contact De Lisle at Mackenzie DeLisle@bvhs org Bishop Verot High School is at 5598 Sunrise Drive, F

Capt George Tunison

Landscape: Providing some tips to help prepare your property before another hurricane hits

From page 37

you can move container plants, hanging baskets, yard ornaments and any other unsecured items to a sheltered area Plan to turn off your irrigation systems because

hurricanes invariably bring heavy rains, and you don’t want to increase flooding in your landscape

Other proactive steps that you can take i

stormwater systems clean by keeping grass

Red snapper and more: Local water catches

From page 38

can play possum, even seem dead, then suddenly come to life ready to chew on feet, ankles and legs A yard-long shark held up by the tail for that great Florida vacation picture is the classic way to get badly bitten from ribs to thighs

If you plan to fish sharks from any

shoreline then be sure to first take the Shark-Smart educational course at MyFWC com/SharkCourse to obtain your permit, which must be renewed annually.

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

clippings and plant debris out of storm drains; ensuring that gutters are firmly attached and directing water away from your home; clearing gutters of leaves, branches and debris; and placing pavers in runoff areas to reduce soil erosion If you have rain barrels, leave the spigots open; if the barrels are connected to your gutters disconnect them to prevent overflowing. To prevent damage in high winds, you should consider moving barrels that aren’t full of water to a secure area

After Ian, I’m sure that the arrival of hurricane season can cause concern for many of us, but one way to reduce your anxiety is to proactively prepare your landscape and gardens in advance of a potential storm Being aware of prospective threats

to your landscape and mitigating them before a storm approaches will save you valuable time, and having an organized plan to protect your landscape will provide you with one less concern before a storm strikes For more detailed information, the U n i v e

resources for preparing your landscape for hurricanes, as well as tips for cleanup after a storm: https://extadmin ifas ufl edu/disaster/

Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral member and President of the James

www gardenclubofcapecoral com and like us on our Facebook page

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