Pine Island Eagle

Celebrating Pine Islanders: Julia Gaylor

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Julia Gaylor has ties to Pine Island that span almost the entire duration of her life She originally moved to Pine Island when she was just 11 years old She attended Pine Island Middle School for half of her sixth grade year as well as her seventh and eighth grade school years

She is currently the site manager at Jug Creek Marina & Fish House and is currently a member of the Matlacha Hookers organization whee she has been a madam and vice madam, and on the board for nearly a decade

Gaylor admits she appreciated the island more after high school was over

“When I went away to college and then I came back, I started working on the island and I just loved everything

about it I love the people out here I’ve done everything from waiting tables to doing books,” Gaylor said

Gaylor said when she was pregnant, she lived in Matlacha, so she had her daughter while living here, and raised her here as well. Having a child on Pine Island, it was easy to get involved in everything related to kids, Gaylor said, explaining her role with F I S H (Fellow Islanders S e n d i n g H e l p ) a n d t h

Brigade Fundraiser

“That was my favorite thing The amount of support I received from

that organization when my child was younger was the reason that I became so active and involved in volunteering and helping others,” Gaylor said

The act of supporting one another, she said, is the whole culture of Pine Island, and the reason she continues to f

Something which, in part, defines her love for the island, she said, was her commitment to helping islanders post Hurricane Ian

For someone who has never heard

Manguson and Nelson say farewell to Pine Island Elementary

Both teachers retire at end of 2023-24 school year

By PAULETTE LeBLANC

pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Pine Island Elementary said goodbye to two teachers at the end of the 2023-24 school year Both Mindy Manguson and Jeff Nelson retired when the year ended

M a n g u s o n h a s b e e n t e a c h i n g a t P i n e I s l a n d Elementary School since January 1990 Unbeknownst to her when she started at PIE, it would also be the place from where she would retire one day

“My husband’s job brought him over here and a position opened up on Pine Island and I thought, ‘Wow, let me try’ and I got a position. The year I first started here, they were doing the Calusa Indian dig and

I thought, ‘This place has history,’ there’s so much on this little island,” Manguson said

Within the first half of her first year at the school, she said she knew there was nowhere else she wanted to be. After 34 years, she said PIE has become like a second home, complete with an amazing community

See FARWELL, page 17

Jeff Nelson and Mindy Manguson, far right above, prepare for the end of school year parade at Pine Island Elementary.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Preliminary report shows property valuation increase on the islands

M/PIFCD figure up 5% over 2023

Staf f Repor t news@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County Property Appraisers Office last week released its preliminary property tax valuations

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

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

T h e t o t a l j u

$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

For the Pine Island and Matlacha communities, the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District preliminary property valuations are also up.

The 2023 final roll was $2,007,867,634, while the estimate for 2024 is $2,111,820,000, a 5 18% value change of $103,952,366

The school taxable has a 3 86% change from the 2 0 2

s $153,416,714,000, a $5,701,431,125 value change from the 2023 final roll

Property tax increases are capped in Florida, with o w n e r - o c c u p i e

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 Homestead Exemption Annual assessed value increases for those without it are capped at 10% Caldwell reported that the final numbers on property valuations will be released on July 1

Julia Gaylor with her mom See JULIA GAYLOR, page 17

May 31 a busy day for M/PIFCD

Friday, May 31, was another busy day for crews from the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Early in the evening, crews responded to and contained a quarter acre brush fire near the Alaska streets in St James City

Then, just before 10 p.m., all Pine Island units were dispatched to a twostory, residential structure fire also in St James City

Upon arrival, crews found flames and heavy smoke coming from the garage

The occupants were able to safely evac-

uate their home along with their dog

The residents notified firefighters that three cats were still inside Along with Cape Coral Ladder 11, firefighters were able to rescue all three cats

In the end, the major damage was c o n t

m e smoke and heat damage to the upstairs

The cause is still under investigation

No injuries to people or pets!

Crews also responded to a vehicle accident and several medical emergencies that day

Burn ban enacted for all of Lee County

Lee County has enacted a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municip

Southwest Florida.

The burn ban officially w

Tuesday, June 4, when the drought index hit 600

The county’s 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.

The Florida Forest Service offers residents information and tips at:

Be Wildfire Ready: www fdacs gov/ F o r e

Prevention/Be-Wildfire-Ready

Resources

For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a

reached or exceeds a value of 600. Lee’s index value Tuesday afternoon was a mean average of 600 out of 800 The

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

This ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks displays permitt

other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws

The burn ban was accomplished by the b

Emergency Commission Vice Chairman Kevin Ruane signed the State of Local Emergency and the burn ban as authorized by a board vote at the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, June 4 Conditions were met after the board meeting, so the ban was signed and enacted

County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the burn ban will be in place

Check www leegov com and Lee County Government’s social media to monitor when the ban is rescinded

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter

letters. Follow Lee County Government o n F a c

countyflbocc

PHOTO PROVIDED

Island firefighters battle the blaze in St James City

OPINIONS

Publisher Raymond M Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers com

Executive Editor

Valarie Harring

vharring@breezenewspapers com

Editor Paulette LeBlanc

pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Advertising Director

Laurie Ragle

lragle@ breezenewspapers com

Advertising Sales

Charlene Russ cruss@breezenewspapers com

Design & Layout

Chris Strine cstrine@breezenewspapers com

Obituaries Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers com

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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

S a d l y , n o t e v e r y c h i l d i n S o u t h w e s

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

Protect your mail carriers

-- and your pets

To the editor:

Did anyone bite you at work today?

On average, nearly 15 mail carriers per day will say, “Yes ” P o s t a l S e r v i c

n 2023, over 5,800 letter carriers experienced dog bites or dog attacks With deliveries every day, including Sundays and holidays, carriers continue to experience dog bites in urban, suburban and rural settings

Dog attacks and bites are 100% preventable when dog owners remain vigilant and properly restrain their dogs.

To ensure mail carriers’ safety, dog owners must securely lock their dog in another room until a delivery exchange is done If a dog is outside, the dog must be leashed, away from the mailbox

When a carrier feels unsafe, mail service could be interrupted, not only for the dog

that kept dozens of centers in S o u t

tional, but that program ended last fall Quality early learning p

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 S

Chris Hansen

Guest Commentary

resources, including scholarships, to help bridge the gap T

Because of the support of local businesses, organizations and individuals, and generous contributions of United Way, Child Care of

S

Letters to the Editor

When mail service is interrupted, mail must be picked up at the Post Office Service will not be restored until the dog is properly restrained

With your help, we can keep our carriers, your neighbors and your dogs safe Thank you for protecting your pet and our mail carriers as we continue to bring packages and other important correspondence to your door each day

David Moyer, Postmaster Bokeelia

Lee Health: Breach of public 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

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper Opposing views are welcome Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Pine Island Eagle, 10700 Stringfellow Road, Ste. 60, Bokeelia, FL 33922; e-mailed to pineisland@ breezenewspapers com; posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com or faxed to 283-0232. All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes. You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: pineisland-eagle.com

provides tuition assistance that covers fees for families that need it most Last year alone,

financial assistance for 100 children in Lee and Hendry counties, with partial and full scholarships totaling approximately $129,000.

When these programs aren’t

heartbreaking choice between paying for tuition or quitting their jobs to stay home It’s a

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

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:

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, a c t i n g

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 s

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 1 2 0 -

deadline

The Lee Health’s Board of Directors and CEO have reported that they have hosted

PHOTO PROVIDED

Flags on display for the Greater Pine Island Elks' Flag Day ceremony at the lodge in 2022.

Elks to hold Flag Day ceremony this Friday at island VFW Post

This Friday, June 14, the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 will host the community for a special tribute to our American flag to celebrate Flag Day

The program will be held at 11 a m at the VFW Post #4353, located at 8150 Stringfellow Road in St James City

Refreshments will follow the program

Under the direction of Past Exalted Rulers Jack Rovaldi and George Smith, guests will see a moving historical display of our American flag Please join the Elks and let’s show support for “Old Glory ”

Four of the five seats on M/PIFCD board up for grabs in November General Election

Prospective candidates for the posts must file by Friday

A General Election will be held in Lee County on Nov 5 to fill the offices of the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District, Seats 1, 2, 3 and 5.

The deadline to file to fill one of the posts is noon Friday, June 14

The M/PIFCD is at 5700 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, FL, 33922 Contact the district at 239-283-0030 or via email at www pineislandfire com

The current M/PIFCD Board of directors includes:

Seat 1 Jamie Delacey 2020-2024

Macomber receives award from Florida Historical Society

Society recently presents awards in a variety of categories to recognize outstanding books, articles, and other projects that expand the public’s understanding about our state’s rich and diverse history and culture The society also presents Service Awards including a Lifetime Achieve-

Florida History and Volunteer of the Year

Among this year's recipients was local a

awarded the Patrick D. Smith Award for a novel on a Florida History Topic -- “Full

Naval Honors: The Final Novel of Peter Wake and His Descendants,” published by Naval Institute Press E

Historical Society is the oldest existing cultural organization in the state The FHS Public History Forum is held in a different Florida city each year and this year the event was held in Tallahassee to c

state capital

For more about the Florida Historical Society and for a complete list of this year's awards, please visit https://myfloridahistory org/

Dolphin baby talk

When adult humans encounter a baby human, they often greet the baby with a higher pitched, sing-songy voice This is known as parentese or motherese This is not unique to humans It is also observed in bottlenose dolphins Changing the pitch and frequency of the dolphin’s signature whistle around calves is similar to parentese or motherese in humans

When mother dolphins are near their calves, they continue to make their signature whistle sound, but at a much higher frequency This observation is based on research from the Sarasota Dolphin Research Center

T h e s c i e n t i s t s b e l i e v e t h e h i g h e rpitched whistle likely gets the calves’ attention It is also thought to enhance bonding and learning Calves nurse up to 3 years and rely on mom to teach and protect them Motherese serves to enhance the mother/calf bond and to call the calf to pay attention to mom’s instructions

Dolphin Tales

E v e r y b o t t l e n o s e d o l p h i n h a s a “signature whistle” that functions like our names do The animals use them to initiate and maintain contact with other dolphins and to communicate urgency Dolphin calves acquire these high-pitched calls in their first year of life by mimicking their mother and others By age 2, dolphin calves have already established their own signature whistles

Scientists with the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program have been recording the whistles of adult female dolphins and their calves for decades From the dolphin whistle database, scientists selected a set of 19 females that had been recorded both with and without their calves between 1984 and 2018.

All 19 mothers produced higher frequency whistles when in the presence of their calves They also emitted slightly lower minimum frequencies only when with their calves These higher and lower frequency patterns produced an overall greater bandwidth which mirrors the patterns seen in human motherese

Human babies are known to prefer motherese over adult speech The dolphin researchers don’t yet know whether dolphin calves prefer motherese whistles But for humans, this way of speaking seems to help children bond with their caretakers while learning the complex features and structure of language

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating on our local waters. As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours Visit CaptainCathy com or call /text 239 994-2572 Welcome aboard!

Steve Hook, left, Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial Corp. board member; Kai Streeter, Bobby Holloway Positive Attitude Award recipient 2024; and Ernestine Squires, right, Bobby Holloway Jr ’s mother, at the PIE awards presentation.

Streeter presented Bobby Holloway Positive Attitude Award

Pine Island Elementary celebrated many student accomplishments at the end of the school year during awards ceremonies One such award is the Bobby Holloway Positive Attitude Award, that exemplifies the kind, compassionate, happy-golucky and generous spirit that Bobby had.

This year’s recipient is fifth grader Kai Streeter

He is a student that has a kind heart and cares about others, especially his younger sister, Sailor His smile is contagious and his leadership skills are evident in everything he does

The staff at Pine Island Elementary is proud of Kai’s accomplishments and wishes him the best in middle school

Sinclair of Matlacha Isles 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, interna-

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 about the university, please visit https://www troy edu/

Capt. Cathy Eagle

PHOTO PROVIDED

Mobile Food Pantry at PIUMC on June 21

Community Cooperative has released its June 2024 mobile food pantry schedule With a commitment to serve the community, the operating hours have been adjusted to better accommodate the summer weather

The remaining dates and locations for the mobile pantry stops:

Wednesday, June 12

Cape Coral Technical College, 360 Santa Barbra Blvd N , Cape Coral, 3-4 p m

Friday, June 14

North Fort Myers Regional Park, 2000

N

Myers, 10 a m to noon

Monday, June 17

Mariner’s Landing, 2120 Carrell Road, Fort Myers, 10-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, June 18

Pine Manor Community Center, 5547 Tenth Ave , Fort Myers, 10 a m to noon

Thursday, June 20

L e h i g h S e n i o r H i g h S c h o o l , 9 0 1

Gunnery Road, N , 10-11:30 a m

Friday, June 21

Pine Island United Methodist Church,

5701 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, 1011:30 a m

Tuesday, June 25

Veterans Park Lehigh Acres, 55 Homestead Road, S , Lehigh Acres, 3-5 p m

Wednesday, June 26

North Fort Myers High School, 5000 Orange Grove Blvd , North Fort Myers, 10-11:30 a m

Thursday, June 27

Island Coast High School, 2125 De Navarra Parkway, Cape Coral, 10-11:30 a m

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, educ

Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community 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

Retur ning the favor

Brenda and Robert Boots of Bobber ’s Bait & Tackle recently held a raffle and Pine Island FISH was one of the recipients of their largesse According to Brenda, they are returning the favors they received from Pine Island FISH when they were in need Here, Brenda presents the check to Jim Wentz, president of FISH.

Pine Island Road project update: traffic delays possible

BARTOW, Fla. – This weekly report is prepared by the Florida

D

inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs:

As part of the Emergency

R

Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project bound-

i e s a l o

a

Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge

( B

West of Shoreview Drive M

occasional lane closures for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side

M

aware of the new traffic pattern Variable message signs are placed to alert drivers

■ Please be alerted to

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

■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted in the construction zone

■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected

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

■ Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway

Favorable fishing weather continues

If you wanted calm seas to venture offshore into Gulf waters, then you were in luck over several days this past week Light winds allowed boats of all sizes to venture into the gulf in search of a variety of fish

With recreational American red snapper season open, anglers took advantage of the weather and made the long run west with mixed success Depths from 140-180 feet turned up red snapper, plus other bottom dwellers, includi n g

On the Water

a m p grouper, along with porgy and

often found it difficult and at times near impossible to get fish to the boat without sharks taking them

In shallower depths from 55-70 feet, a mixed variety was caught over hard bottom, reliefs and structure Snapper and grunts, plus a few red grouper over 20 inches, along with sharks, barracudas and goliath grouper were caught. Artificial reefs were a good starting point for mangrove

and Pace’s Place reefs were a couple of areas mentioned over the week Barracuda and goliath grouper were also noted around the reefs

Catch-and-release snook fishing was good around the beaches and Gulf passes with the strong tides Some snook were also caught and released from nearshore reefs In Matlacha Pass, kayak anglers report catching snook, jack crevalle and a few redfish south of the bridge around oyster bars and island points Juvenile tarpon were sighted rolling and feeding along shorelines in the morning hours in south Matlacha Pass

Around the passes, action was reported with Spanish m a c k e r e l a r o u n d C

pilchards, white nylon jigs and silver spoons were the baits of choice The best bite was over the incoming tide

Anglers found seatrout scattered over grass flats in four to 6-foot depths, with the best option to drift and cover ground w h i l e c a s t i n g l u r

s o r f i s h i n g shrimp under popping corks This method also turned up several pompano, small blacktip sharks, bluefish and a lot of ladyfish

R

incoming water in the northern

Calm summer waters give anglers a choice of fishing opportunities in the Gulf of Mexico. This big permit took a live crab west of Redfish Pass fishing with Capt Jason Ramer out of the Tarpon Lodge

sound and Pineland area Reds averaged 19-25 inches Anglers noted that despite fish biting, it was difficult at times to keep bait alive fishing shorelines near Pineland Big hill tides concentrated tarpon fishing around Boca Grande Pass Fish were sighted along the beaches in the early mornings and in the pass on the afternoon/evening falling tide.

With the light wind and beginning of summer, if you haven’t noticed, it’s hot out there! Bring plenty of water, keep hydrated, find some shade and make sure those you are with do the same

visiting www myfwc com Also, upload the Fish Rules

app on your phone It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service at (239) 410-8576, on the web at www fishpineisland com or email: gcl2fish@live com

Have a safe week and good fishin’

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

Capt. Bill Russell

PHOTO PROVIDED

Breeze honors student athletes at Breakfast of Champions

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

The Breeze celebrated student athletes from all over Cape Coral and the West Zone Saturday, June 1, 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 – espec i a l l y C J H a d d a d , C h r i s S t r i n e a n d 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 first-ever a p p e a r a n c e i n t h e s t a t e c h a m p i o n s h i p 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 s e v e n r e g i o n a l f i n a l a p p e a r a n c e s Erickson has guided All-Americans, allarea players and has coached 20 players that have gone on to play college ball, including seven at the Division I level

From left, Mariner High School’s Stephanie Saracione, Ryleigh Acosta and Gabi Winters were among those recognized at the Breeze Breakfast of Champions. Acosta, a soccer standout at Mariner, was also named Female Athlete of the Year for the second year in a row. Another Mariner standout, wrestler Camren French, was named Male Athlete of the Year.

This year's Male Athlete of the Year w

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 T h e s e n i o

4 - 1 record in his weight class this year, was a F H S A A 2

n 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 H

Tournament, and has a career record of 160-21 on the mat

Ryleigh Acosta, the senior team captain and leading scorer of the Mariner g

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 M a x P r e p s e r a o u t o f Southwest Florida, male or female, to have three con-

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

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 500-meter freestyle, and was also part of a secondplace 200-meter 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 500freestyle 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 Bar & Grill, supporting sponsors Zak's Jewelry, Experience Real Estate Group and Gavin's Ace Hardware and in-kind sponsors SP Designs and Cape Vineyard Community Church

The Pine Island Eagle is also a sponsor of the Breeze’s weekly Athlete of the Week feature

VALARIE HARRING

Lee School District to hold Career Fair this Thursday in Fort Myers

The School District of Lee County is

p

, at the Lee County Public Education Center, located at 2855 C

l Blvd , in Fort Myers Principals and departme

interviewing and hiring for various positions for the 2

, including teachers, school psychologists, speech-lan guage pathologists, scho social workers, school co selors, bus operators and m High-demand positions for instructional positions include English language arts, elementary education, science, math and special education A

Schools net/Careers

among the largest school districts in Florida and the U S with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools

Th district offers a competiand comprehensive com-

and more Upon hire, a personal benselection process will be made available to the eligible employees For support or

The School District of Lee County is

SJCCA Schedule

The St James City Civic Association has announced the schedule for its upcoming activities:

Thursday, June 13

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m It's a fun way to meet the neighbors and play ping pong.

■ Mahjongg, 1-4 p m This is a great place to learn to play mahjongg!

Tuesday, June 18

■ Ping Pong, 9-11 a m

More details, contacts and ticket sales are available on the SJCCA website at sjccapi org

All activities are held at St. James City Civic Association, 3300 Fourth Ave , St James City

Mahjongg Scores

We were only six players at mahjongg June 6, but we ended with outstanding scores!

Terry Wilbur was in first place with 210 points, Mary Ann Harms closely followed with 170 In third place was Kathy Richardson with 115

We play mahjongg every Thursday from 1-4 p m at St James City Civic Association on Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street We'd love for you to join us! Call Carolyn at 239-233-7682 for more information

Registration open for 2024-25 Voluntary Prekindergarten

Registration is now open for the 20242025 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

S

Through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Flori-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

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

Better Together, Christ Community Church to host job fair in Fort Myers June 27

B

Christ Community Church to host a community job fair from 11 a m to 2 p m , Thursday, June 27, in Fort Myers

Registration is now open for hiring employers and job seekers to participate in the June event The church-based job fairs not only connect jobseekers with local employers who are ready to hire, but a

stronger connections and more hires Free

available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills, and additional services will be available onsite

The community job fair is part of Better Together’s “Better Jobs” program, which has helped 42,000 applicants con-

across 22 states At job fairs hosted by

Better Together, two-thirds of attendees get a job interview, and 1 in 4 receive a job offer on the spot Some 70% find work within six weeks

The June 27 job fair will take place at

Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers Job seekers

BetterTogetherUS org/CCC-FortMyers or by texting “JOBS” to 844-987-3949

National crisis

∫ 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

Churches interested in hosting a Better Together job fair can visit BetterTogether US org for more information

Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive Visit BetterTogetherUS org

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 r

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

Competency Exams in the five-county region, ensur-

equipped to offer quality care

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

and

DeSantis: be prepared for hurricane season

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

With the Atlantic Hurricane season having kicked off June 1, Florida Gov R o n D e S a n t i s v i s i t e d F o r t M y e r s 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 d

Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday The tax

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 s

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 outside 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 w h a t i s h a p

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

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 ”

D e S a n t i s s a i d v i a t h e J o b G

Grant Fund, he has dispersed almost $25 million to hurricane-impacted communities

He announced Tuesday he is awarding $ 7 5 m i l l

o L e e C o u

h e l p 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 d

u c k s O b

u s l y i t ' s a n important part of the economy, if it's needed, for disaster response ”

o n o f E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t 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 B u

include at least seven days of supplies

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

4 K

halfway full

5 Go tens of miles, not hundreds of miles

For a full list of tax-free items, visit h t

prep

For the recommended disaster supply k i t ,

/kit.

Museum of the Island Membership Drive underway

June is the Museum of the Island’s membership drive month.

This all-volunteer museum, located in The Center of the island, is a local hidden jewel filled with amazing artifacts, dating back thousands of years and is a wonderful part of the island community The purchase of a membership is the perfect way to help keep the doors open and show

your support

Family memberships are $25. This gives members and their families unlimited visits for 12 months There are also individual memberships for $20 and lifetime memberships for $100

Islanders can supper the museum and be a part of the preservation of the history of the islands

Cat of the Week

Pickles

Poor Pickles was returned to us when his owner left him behind i n h e r d o r m r o o m , a n d h e r roommates were unable to keep him He's only a year old and desperately looking for someone to love him Like any young cat, Pickles loves to play He also likes to help with the dishes - anything involving the sink intrigues him. Please give him

Animal Sanctuary at 239-2839100 for more information. If you’d rather just donate, our a d d r e s s i s 1 0 0 6 0 M a l l o r y Parkway E, Unit D, St James C i t y, F L , 3 3 9 5 6 , o r t h e r e ’s always our website www helpingpawsanimalsanctuary com

Summer hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Winter hours resume in the fall, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a m to 3 p m

Memberships can be obtained in per-

Sesame Drive, Bokeelia, or by mail to PO Box 103, Matlacha FL 33993 Please visit the museum website museumoftheislands com

Letters to the Editor

From page 4

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

days The public has three minutes to speak before the board who 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 govern

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 (U S 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 do Lee Health and the citizens of Southwest Florida stand to lose?

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 healthcare system as we have been since 1968

The next step after Lee Health Board’s v o t e i s a v o t e b y t h e L e e C o u n t y 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

From page 1

Manguson describes the school as a place filled with students she has come to love who are both intelligent and kind

“It’s a small, island school What I really liked about working here was the students, the staff and the parents The community is so involved. It just clicked with me and I didn’t want to leave,” Manguson said

She’s found the families of the students who attend the school are very invested in their education, with everyone getting involved, making PIE the closest thing to a private school she said she’s ever seen Manguson said she would love the opportunity to come back and volunteer one day, as she said she does not feel as though she is entirely finished teaching

B e c a u s e o f F R S ( t h e F l o r i d a Retirement System), I’m not supposed to step onto campuses for a year after I retire, so, for a year, I’ll bide my time because I love working with the children My favorite part of the day was working with kids in small group reading or math

I’ll miss that so I might volunteer and help out whoever needs me If I sub anywhere, I don’t know that I’d sub anywhere but Pine Island,” Manguson

'Nelson has been teaching physical education at PIE for three years. No

Julia

stranger to Pine Island, Nelson said he taught gifted students at the school for 9 years previously The in-between years found Nelson at a school downtown as a gifted counselor and also an art teacher

“I’ve done a lot of different things in my 30 years,” Nelson said.

Pine Island Elementary, he said, is thought of, by many, as taking a trip back to the 1960s The tremendous community support is far-reaching, held up by many island organizations.

“I think I was very lucky to be able to teach there for the years that I have I was really lucky to come back a lot of times if you leave, you don’t get a chance to come back, but I did luck out to be back for the last 3 years,” Nelson said

Due to his wife working at PIE and his being at the school so often, Nelson knew the staff before he even started at the school, so when the opportunity to teach gifted students opened years ago, he said he jumped on it.

“I’ve been to a lot of different schools and they’re all great but out here it is something very special,” Nelson said

He admits he’d like to stay connected to the PIE community, although he said he’s not thinking too far ahead for now, but staying open to possibilities.

Gaylor From page 1

of or seen the island, Gaylor said she would describe it as a unique and caring community of people who have come from all different walks of life Her greatest wish would be that everyone would help those less fortunate, such as those

struggling with drugs or homelessness, she said

“One of my biggest wishes for the island right now is to help those who need it the most,” said Gaylor

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Pine Island VFW provided a Mini Cooper to transport Jeff Nelson around in the parade and Amy Williamson provided the golf cart for Mindy Manguson’s ride

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