Pine Island Eagle

Shining stars

GPICA discusses roundabout, residential development and hurricane preparedness

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

At the June 6 general meeting, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association addressed a number of issues, including a possible future roundabout on the island, a proposed residential development and hurricane preparedness for the new season

GPICA president Deborah Swisher Hicks made an announcement that there may be a general appropriations Senate bill to help fund a traffic circle on Stringfellow Road as well as Matlacha corridor repairs Swisher Hicks admitted she didn’t know why funds were requested for the traffic circle at this point, but hopes for more information soon

GPICA treasurer, Mike Sweeney, who attended the meeting about the Stringfellow roundabout subject with Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, said the plan had to be proposed 25 years ahead of any construction Although a possible roundabout has been in the discussion stages for many years on Pine Island, no decision has been made to start development on this project Morris Depew Associates project manager and engineer Stephen VerVaeke led the required public information meeting regarding 15 multi-family residences for a total of 30 units plus two single-family residences for property located on Tortuga Street in Bokeelia The goal, he said, was to present the project and obtain feedback from the public, as this is a developmental order applica-

tion requirement set forth by Lee County

The project, he said, which is located at the north end of Pine Island, is roughly a quarter mile north of the Barancas Avenue intersection The project, he went on, includes 4 lots, all under unified ownership under two separate LLCs, owned by the same parent entity

“The western most lot is a C1A zone property about 1 5 acres in size The central lot is a residential zone property RM2, that is a little over 4 5 acres in size, and then the two on the east are agriculturally zoned properties AG-2 and those make up the rest of the project area Overall, all 4 parcels make up roughly 8 68 acres,” VerVaeke said

See GPICA, page 16

More than 80 locations provided for Summer BreakSpot program

Island Winn-Dixie store manager

Dan Loughren with the students of Creative Coast Preschool, at the youngsters recent graduation party Loughren and the store provided food for the special celebration

PHOTO PROVIDED

Winn-Dixie’s Loughren comes through for graduates of island pre-school

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

When Creative Coast Preschool kids were ready to graduate, Pine Island Winn-Dixie store manager Dan Loughren wanted to make sure they had plenty of food to eat He said when Creative Coast Preschool owner Maria Ramirez called to ask him for help, he was more than happy to oblige

“We donated a sandwich platter, a fruit and vegetable platter and cupcakes, of course the kids were going to want something for dessert It was really awesome, as soon as I got there they ran up and started hug-

ging me That was kind of nice,” Loughren said According to Loughren, parents and staff celebrated approximately 12 preschoolers graduating, who are now headed off to kindergarten

Donating time and food is nothing new to Loughren, he said, whenever he sees a need on the island, he is sure to step in and help make things happen, at least at the store level

“In cases like these, they don’t have time to wait for a month for corporate approval, so we kind of just do

See LOUGHREN, page 12

Closest available sites to Pine Island are Mariner High, Mid Cape Global Academy

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Youngsters will be fed breakfast and lunch for free once again this summer through the Summer BreakSpot program, available at more than 80 sites through July 28

“The School District of Lee County has partnered with the Summer Feeding Program for over twenty years” Food and Nutrition Services Director Kandy Messenger said in a prepared statement “Serving summer meals to the students when school is not in session is an important service that we are able to provide ”

Food and Nutrition Coordinator of Staffing and Operations Sabah Yassin said through the National School Lunch Program, the district began offering the program in Lee County in 2013

“We have to have at least a minimum of 35 days Our locations include schools and community sites,” she said “We feed 18 years and under They can all have free meals all summer long ”

Yassin said although school finished for the year on June 6, they do not stop feeding kids, as they understand, for some, it is their only meal

Last year in June, Yassin said they fed almost 70,000 kids lunch, almost 43,000 meals served for breakfast and 11,000 kids received an afternoon snack.

“We fed quite a bit The kids need it,” she said

In July, Yassin said they fed 33,290 kids breakfast meals, provided 59,036 lunch meals and 13,592 kids snacks

“We feed complete meals We have the protein, the bread, vegetables, fruit and milk We have a dietician here to calculate all the components,” she said, adding that they offer both hot and cold meals “We vary to make it something the kids will like ”

As of Monday there were 87 sites that those 18 and

See SUMMER BREAKSPOT, page 12

School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Campaign kicks off

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Donations are being sought to support Community Cooperative’s School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Campaign to feed the kiddos this summer while they are out of school Community Cooperative Community Engagement Manager Janelle Olson said the School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Campaign is twofold She said no matter what kind of

campaign they are doing it is a constant reminder that one in six people around us are hungry, with 30 percent of that population being kids

“We know kids rely on school lunch programs It is a critical component,” Olson said She said they know that proper nutrition and rest helps students do better in school. But, with school out, some youths do not have the opportunity to rely on receiving that free lunch

“We know kids are going to be hungry in our community We know there are parents in our community that are struggling to keep food in the pantry,” Olson said, with many parents working multiple jobs

During the summer months, Community Cooperative

Mobile Food Pantry on the island Friday

The Mobile Food Pantry will be in the Pine Island United Methodist Church parking lot Friday, June 16, from 10-11:30 a m You will need to park and show your ID at registration Bring your own bags PIUMC is located at 5701 Pine Island Road, across from the fire station near the four-way stop.

puts together grab-no-go Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kits for children in need To fill the need, they are seeking individuals, businesses, organizations, churches and community groups to support the School’s Out, Hunger’s Not campaign by hosting food drives, volunteering, or providing a financial contribution

Olson said the Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kits are put together specifically for kids to be able to feed themselves, as some have parents working and they are responsible to feed themselves and their siblings

“It’s meals, so that they are not hungry in the summer,” she said

Some of those meals include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, ravioli, ramen noodles, stews and macaroni and cheese

“It’s not just the little snacks,” Olson said of sitting down and eating meals

The Hungry Hungry Kiddo Kits are available at their mobile food pantry. A list can be found at www.communitycooperative com

Middle School, VA Healthcare Center, North Fort Myers Regional Park, Hector Caffereta Elementary School, Island Coast High School and North Fort Myers High School

For more information, call (239) 332-SOUP

Island Mahjongg

Seven people played mahjongg on June 8 Midway through the games we took a break to celebrate Mary’s b e l a t e d b i r t h d a y w i t h c h o c o l a t e c a k e T h a n k you, Peggy!

The tiles were good to the winners: Mary Halbeib with 125 points, Peggy Finley with 145 and Toni Lindsay with 155 Well done ladies!

We play Mahjongg every Thursday from 1-4 p m at St James City Civic Association, located at Fourth Avenue and Lemon Street If you’re a beginner or have played before, we’d love it if you would join us.

OPINIONS

Florida VPK vouchers empower families to succeed

When it comes to the promise of school choice – that families can actively select the most appropriate educational paths for their c h i l d r e n – F l o r i d a ’ s p u b l i c l y f u n d e d prekindergarten programs are delivering in a big way

Program benefits are signific a n t F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f

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

Debbie Carletti obits@breezenewspapers

In the four-county region of Southwest Florida that our nonprofit education coalition serves, no fewer than 260 different Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs provided a head start to nearly 7,500 children in school year 2021-22

These state-approved VPK programs are offered not just through public and private schools but also at some childcare centers, and through home-based and faith-based organizations. Parents choose a VPK provider based on what programs best meet their children’s needs, with a curriculum that covers eight core developmental domains:

■ physical health

■ approaches to learning

■ social and emotional development

■ language and communication

■ emergent literacy

■ mathematical and scientific thinking

■ social studies and the arts

■ motor development

Once parents register for the free program, they receive a VPK voucher for the school of their choice, which fully covers program costs This innovative effort came to pass thanks to Florida voters, who more than 20 years ago approved a ballot initiative to provide highquality, publicly funded prekindergarten programs for every 4-year-old in the state Since the free program began in 2005-06, more than 2 6 million children have benefited

Web Poll

As we mark eight months since Hurricane Ian hit our community, some areas still look like they did the day after the storm Many members of our community remain in recovery mode, and that includes our staff and families While recovery work continues across the School District of Lee County, we have much to celebrate as we look back at all that we have accomplished to ensure that teaching and learning continued uninterrupted since returning to school after the storm

Amid the chaos and uncertainty caused by Ian, the School District of Lee County stood as a beacon of resilience, demonstrating unwavering determination and adaptability As the storm swept through the region, we faced numerous challenges But, under the leadership of a new superintendent, collaborative efforts, and a united spirit, we ensured the continuity of education and support for our students, staff, and community Let us celebrate the incredible journey of the Lee County School District as we triumphed over the challenges brought by Hurricane Ian

The Lee County School District had a robust disaster preparedness plan in place prior to Hurricane Ian, which proved invaluable The District, under the leadership of Dr Christopher Bernier, worked diligently to ensure the safety of students and staff, by implementing proactive measures such as early school closures, shelter coordination, and emergency communication protocols By prioritizing the well-being of our community, the District laid a solid foundation to face the challenges head-on.

Education data shows that children who participate in VPK are far better equipped for not just kindergarten but for their entire academic journey compared to than those who do not S t a t e w i d e , o f t h e r o u g h l y 1 8 8 , 0 0 0 s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e d i n kindergarten in fall 2022 who c o m p l e t e d V P K , 6 2 % w e r e deemed ready for kindergarten based on early literacy tests Only 40% of those who participated in VPK but didn’t finish, scored as high. And just 37% of those who didn’t attend at all were considered ready for kindergarten

R e s e a r c h b y T h e C h i l d r e n ’ s R e a d i n g Foundation found that children who enter kindergarten one year behind academically have a 26% chance of dropping out of high school Fall behind by two years, and the dropout odds increase to 45% Kids with a three-year learning gap at that point will drop out 55% of the time, research found

Such choices, of course, create lifelong hurdles, from housing and employment struggles to well-established income gaps comp a r e d t o t h o s e w h o f i n i s h s c h o o l

Fundamentally, it’s a matter of fairness: parents shouldn’t have to choose between early childhood education and covering rent, mortgage payments, utilities, food and other basic household costs

A t t h e E a r l y L e a r n i n g C o a l i t i o n o f Southwest Florida, we stand ready to help par-

Recognizing the importance of continued education amidst t h e s t o r m ’ s a f t e r m a t h , t h e School District of Lee County immediately launched recovery and rebuilding initiatives The D i s t r i c t w o r k e d t i r e l e s s l y t o assess damages to school facilities, swiftly repair infrastruct u r e , a n d m a k e n e c e s s a r y adjustments to resume classes a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , g e t t i n g most students back into their own buildings within 20 days of the storm However, some buildings simply took such a huge hit from Ian that more time was needed As such, the District either placed students in other buildings where there was space or we deployed portable classrooms In doing so, we fulfilled the goal of keeping school communities together in the wake of the trauma caused by Ian

The Lee County community came together to support the District’s recovery efforts School districts across the state, businesses, organizations, and individuals rallied around the schools, offering donations, resources, and volunteer support The outpouring of generosity and solidarity exemplified the resilient spirit of the community and played a vital role in helping the School District of Lee County overcome the challenges caused by Hurricane Ian

Understanding the emotional impact of a

ents and guardians enroll their children in either summer preschool, which provides up to 300 hours of classroom time, or the regular school-year program, which provides up to 5 4 0 h o u r s o f p r e s c h o o l Classes are capped at 12 students in the summer and 20 during the school year

If your child is 4 years old on or before Sept 1 of the current school year, they can sign up Kids whose fourth birthday falls between Feb 2 and Sept 1 can delay their VPK enrollment until next year, when they are 5, provided they don’t yet enroll in kindergarten

Temporary Florida residents are also eligible from military families and seasonal residents to those displaced by natural disasters or whose families are experiencing homelessness

Apply for a VPK voucher today by visiting us online at VPKSWFL org or calling the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida at 239-935-6100 You can also visit our Fort Myers office from 8 a m to 5 p m Monday through Friday for assistance, located at 2675 Winkler Ave The office provides free kiosks, and no appointments are needed

Melanie Stefanowicz is the CEO for Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, which provides access to high-quality early education services for children in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee Counties

natural disaster, the District prioritized the well-being of its students and staff We provided c o u n s e l i n g s e r v i c e s a n d resources to help individuals cope with the emotional aftermath of the storm By fostering a nurturing and compassionate e n v i r o n m e n t , t h e D i s t r i c t ensured that the healing process extended beyond the physical aspects of recovery

T h e c h a l l e n g e s p o s e d b y Hurricane Ian served as a catalyst for growth and learning within the School District of Lee C o u n ty Th e ex p er ien ce prompted the District to review and enhance its disaster preparedness protocols to refine our response strategies and build upon the strengths we exhibited during this challenging period.

H u r r i c a n e I a n m a y h a v e t e s t e d t h e r e s i l i e n c e o f t h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e County, but it did not break our spirit Dr Bernier led our District through the worst natural disaster the area has endured and will continue to lead us through the last stages of recovery as we finalize repairs to buildings and rebuild schools that Ian rendered total losses We appreciate the patience and continued support of our students, staff, and community

Chris N. Patricca is a Lee County School Board member representing District 3

Hurricane season is here, are you prepared?

(Editor’s note: In the coming weeks, the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Community Emergency Response Team will be providing a series on disaster preparedness for islanders )

By NARCISSUS E. MAGTURO and KAREN TITOLO, CERT members

Welcome to your CERT team’s series of disaster preparedness articles

Should You Evacuate?

Deciding whether to evacuate or shelter in place depends upon the incident or event Having a plan allows you to prepare in advance so you feel more confident and secure Regardless of the event, the first step is to know your risks and personal needs

When it comes to weather events, think through factors that may result in evacuation orders. Evaluating your risks will help you decide what to do and where to shelter When deciding where to evacuate, consider how available fuel will be, both i n l e a v i n g a n d r e t u r n i n g D u r i n g Hurricane Ian, and Hurricane Irma in 2017, many gas stations in the area and along evacuation routes ran out of fuel

PIE Book Battle Team

Pine Island Elementary School’s Book Battle Team competed in the Lee County School District Book Battle on June 2, 2023

left, Aaron Thorpe, Hannah

, Av a Lamberson, Casey Thorpe and Whitley Efird represented P.I.E. Students worked hard to read Sunshine State Books and compete in the Jeopardy-like competition A big thanks to the Bobby Holloway Jr Memorial Foundation for sponsoring the team

Remember, you need only evacuate to a location not under evacuation orders

To determine your risks, consider these factors:

■ What is your evacuation zone? Pine Island and Matlacha are in Zone A as are most coastal areas in Lee County

■ Does your neighborhood flood during heavy rains?

■ Do you require electricity for medical reasons?

W h e n L e e C o u n t y E m e r g e n c y Management issues an evacuation order for your zone, you should leave the area for your safety If Lee County has pulled emergency responders, you are on your own until the county determines it is safe for responders to be deployed Hazardous weather, downed trees and downed power lines may also prevent you from evacuati n g d u r i n g a n e v e n t o r k e e p i n g f i r s t responders from being able to get to you

Identify an evacuation location now Although Lee County opens emergency shelters during an emergency, it should be

Update

used as a last resort LeeTran will provide special transport to shelters once they have been opened

If you do decide to evacuate, ensure your home is safe before you evacuate

■ Secure all outside items (lawn/patio furniture, boats/kayaks, etc ); include yard items that can become projectiles, plants in containers, and trash cans

■ Put up hurricane shutters if necessary

■ Turn off water and gas to your property

■ Turn down refrigerators and freezer temperature

■ Keep a frozen cup of water in the freezer with a coin on top to determine if your power has gone out or if food in your freezer has thawed

■ Do you have liquid items such as paint that is no longer needed, pesticides, fertilizers, cans of gas, etc ? Secure them s

of hazards to review and a Family Emergency Plan that you can find at www LeeEOC com and on the LeePrepares app

A future article will discuss Sheltering In Place.

REMINDER: Did you prepare your Disaster Supply kit? Remember to include supplies for pet(s)

Below is the summary list of actions you can take now, ahead of a storm, to be prepared Use this list as a reminder each week of actions you can take now to be better prepared

Prepare Now actions:

Make an Emergency Plan (article #1)

Know your warnings and alerts (article #2)

Register now, ahead of time, with Lee County if you have Special Needs - online at www leeEOC com or by calling Lee County Emergency Management at 239533-0622; pre-registration is required!

Review important documents

Strengthen your home (this article)

Get tech ready

Help your neighborhood

Gather supplies (article #2)

Have Questions about this article? You can contact the MPIFCD, station #1, at 239-283-0030, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a m to 4:30 p m

Resident moving, looking to give political signs away

Anora Sidler is moving from Pine Island and would like to donate her political signs to anyone who cares to take them

If you are interested, please call Sidler at 239-283-3092

Matlacha Hookers offering Hurricane Ian Small Business Grants

The Matlacha Hookers Inc is a local 5 0 1 c 3 N o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n e s t a blished in 1998 with approximately 200 current members After Hurricane Ian, the group adopted a GoFundMe for hurricane relief and then continued to fundraise for the Greater Pine Island area The organization strives to make a positive difference in our community and has decided to use a portion of the money raised for hurricane relief and rebuilding for the locally owned and operated businesses of the G r e a t e r P i n e I s l a n d a r e a , d e d i c a t i n g $20,000 for this grant opportunity

Eligibility criteria:

■ Locally owned and operated businesses in the Greater Pine Island area. This is for small businesses Non-profit or social clubs are not eligible

■ Open and operating at least one year prior to Hurricane Ian (9/28/2022) – must provide Sunbiz annual report for 2021 and 2022

■ Currently open

Weighted Criteria (total points an applicant can earn 100 points):

1) 20 points: What type of assistance, if any, did you apply for? (Eg small business loan SBA,

2) 20 points: What did your business contribute to the Greater Pine Island area during the first 4 months of the recovery efforts?

3) 40 points: How can your business support the continued recovery efforts to Pine Island over the next 12 months?

4) 20 points: If you are chosen as a recipient, how would your business use the money?

Required information:

Location visits will be selected at random

Questions on application must be completed in their entirety If you are missing any of the required information on the application or do not include necessary supporting documents, your application will not be eligible to move to the ranking round

If you are chosen as a recipient, the Hookers will request that you submit a narrative on how the grant made a positive difference in your business. The applicant agrees that this narrative may be published a n d s h a r e d t o p r o m o t e t h e M a t l a c h a Hooker Hurricane Ian Grant Program and Greater Pine Island rebuilding initiatives

Once applicants are determined to be eligible, the weighted criteria will be reviewed and scored The ranking list will be completed and the top 10 highest scoring applicants will receive the grant In the event there is a tie, applicants will then be chosen via a blind drawing

See GRANTS, page 9

Moose Lodge to host Lee Health Bloodmobile Saturday

The Lee Health Bloodmobile will be visiting the Pine Island Moose Lodge at 8903 Stringfellow Road in St. James City Saturday, June 17, from 8 a m to 12 p m All the blood collected remains in Lee Health, which includes the Golisano Children's Hospital of Southweat Florida, the Regional Cancer Center and the only trauma center (which is located in the Lee Memorial Hospital) within a 5-county radius The blood also supports Cape Coral Hospital and Gulf Coast Medical Center

One in three people will need blood in their lifetime. You never know when you or someone you know or love will need blood So come out and Give the Gift of Life!

All donors will receive a free health checkup, cholesterol screening, and gift

New studies show that donating blood i m p r o v e s y o u r o v e r a l l c a r d i o v a s c u l a r

Grants

From page 7

E a c h b u s i n e s s c h o s e n w i l l r e c e i v e

$2,000 grant Only 10 businesses will be chosen

Grant applications can be found on the Hookers website under the Hurricane Ian Recovery Tab Completed applications and supporting documents can be mailed to the Matlacha Hookers, P O Box 111, Matlacha, FL 33993, and must be post marked by June 23, 2023.

If your business is chosen as a recipient, you will be contacted by a member of

health Regularly donating blood helps men in particular to reduce the amount of iron in the blood. This can reduce the c h a n c e o f h e a r t a t t a c k b y 8 8 % Additionally, regular blood donation can lower the risk of severe cardiovascular events such as stroke by 33% You also burn 650 calories! It's a win-win!

P l e a s e h e l p u s m a k e o u r g o a l of 20 units of blood

Requirements for donating blood:

■ Weigh at least 115 lbs

■ Be at least 16 years old (16 requires parental written consent)

■ Be relatively healthy

■ Provide photo ID

■ Have 56 days between donations

Eat a meal before donating blood and be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after donation

Questions about donating? Call us at 343-2333

the committee to be invited to our July 10 General Membership Meeting for a check presentation Those businesses not chosen will receive a letter from the committee acknowledging receipt of their application and thanking them for their submission

If you have questions about the grant process or criteria, please contact Julia Gaylor at 12thmadam julia@gmail com

Please add in the subject line “MH Grant Questions ”

Summer BreakSpot From page 1

younger can visit and enjoy a meal at the location, as there are no longer any graband-go services provided There are no income requirements nor is registration required

Loughren From page 1

it,” Loughren said

Although it’s in his nature to jump in and help, he admits he’s not exactly going rogue, as it is always with the company’s blessing that he utilizes the store to lend a helping hand. His seemingly never-ending

To find a Summer BreakSpot location, visit www.SummerBreakSpot.org, Dial 2-1-1, or text “FOOD” to 304-304 The interactive map on the website provides an area to put a ZIP code to find the near-

c o m m u n i t y i n v o l v e m e n t i s s e e n a s a win/win for Loughren, Pine Island and the heart of the company

“They like the stores to be involved in the community,” Loughren said of his corporate office. “It’s good for business

est location, as well as times offered

The closest locations for Pine Islanders are Mariner High School, 701 Chiquita Blvd , Cape Coral, and the Mid Cape Global Academy, 76 Mid Cape Terrace,

and I love to help people ”

Loughren credits many people in his life for stoking the desire in him to help, saying as a child he was often exposed to his family’s outpouring in their local community, which founded in him a need to help others As the Pine Island WinnDixie store manager, he is often able to do

Cape Coral

Those who have any questions are encouraged to call 239-461-8449

“We are always here during the summer,” Yassin said

exactly that

T h e W i n n - D i x i e s t o r e i s a t 9 8 6 4 Stringfellow Road, St James City For information, call 239-283-4404

Creative Coast Preschool is at 10731 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia. For addit i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e s c h o o l , please call 239-283-3423

Obituaries

Good fishing around the gulf waters

It was another good week for anglers with minimal rain, sunny skies and calm seas

With American red snapp e r s e a s o n o p e n , f e d e r a l l y licensed guides took advantage of decent weather and made the long run into gulf waters Red snapper limits were caught in depths from 110-160 feet The deeper the water the bigger the fish

Red and scamp grouper, a variety of snapper and a good number of large porgies were also boxed Squid, sardines, t h r e a d h e r r i n g a n d p i n f i s h were top baits American red s n a p p e r s e a s o n o p e n s f o r recreational anglers on June 16

Capt. Bill Russell

On the Water

In closer, from 65-90 feet, a variety of fish were hooked over hard bottom, relief, and artificial reefs Lane, mangrove and v e r m i l i o n s n a p p e r , p l u s r e d a n d g a g grouper, were caught on a variety of live and cut bait Barracuda, goliath grouper, amberjacks, permit and sharks were also reported

Catch-and-release snook fishing was steady around the beaches and gulf passes

d u r i n g t h e s t r o n g e r t i d e s Anglers hooked into a few big redfish mixed with the snook on structure around the gulf islands In Matlacha Pass, kayak anglers report catching snook, jack crevalle and a few redfish north of the b r i d g e n e a r P i n e I s l a n d Creek casting white or chartreuse paddle tails

Up until now the summer inshore snapper fishing has been disappointing Usually, the snapper arrive about the same time the bay is loaded with large schools of tiny bait fish The small-fry is late this year, they are just now beginning to show in areas of P i n e I s l a n d S o u n d L e t ’ s h o p e t h e s n a p p e r m a k e t h e i r p r e s e n c e soon.

Anglers caught seatrout scattered over grass flats in 4 to 7-foot depths across Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor The best option is to drift and cover ground while casting lures or fishing shrimp under popping corks This method also turned up

See GOOD FISHING, page 15

Look for seatrout over grass bottom with moving water Randy Hess and gang brought home a limit of trout up to 20 inches fishing the morning incoming tide in north Matlacha Pass. They were fishing with Capt. Bill Russell

Spanish mackerel, sharks, bluefish and ladyfish If you want to hook into a bigger shark, a chunk of ladyfish on a heavier rig with wire leader should do the trick

At Boca Grande Pass the best tarpon action came late afternoon, early evening before and after dark On mornings with little wind, fish were sighted along the beaches

in the early mornings from Gasparilla Pass south to Redfish Pass Small crabs, thread herring and a variety of flies were baits of choice

To keep up on current fishing regulations, you can go to www myfwc com or download the Fish Rules app for the latest rules and regulations

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www fishpine island com; or via email at 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

Repair crews begin driving sheet pile along Pine Island Road

As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, motorists can expect temporary, intermittent lane closures with flagging operations along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive

■ A lane shift remains in place east of the Matlacha Pass Bridge Eastbound traffic has shifted to the westbound lane, and the westbound traffic has shifted to the newly paved, temporary lane

■ UPDATED: Beginning the week of June 12, crews will begin driving sheet pile in the south side of the roadway

■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone

■ Expect noise from construction equipment in the area

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

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

For additional information, visit the FDOT project web page at https://www swflroads com/project/451937-2 or email at PineIslandinfo@qcausa com

The project location, he said, is almost entirely vacant, excluding the two agriculturally zoned properties to the east, currently being occupied as rental properties In 2008, there was a development order much like the current application, he said. The project was never completed due to unforeseen issues with the economy The owners are now seeking to complete the project

“We’ll be providing a dedicated storm water management system on site, connection to the existing water main under Stringfellow Road, a dedicated wastewater treatment system on the eastern side of the property and then landscaping and lighting, in accordance with the land development code,” VerVaeke said

GPICA members had concerns about the project where it pertains to wastewater management, lighting, landscaping, traffic flow, possible future flooding from a lack of proper drainage and the rebuilding of Tortuga Street

“When we submitted our development order application to Lee County, one of the requirements for a residential development greater than 4 acres in size is to provide a secondary access Tortuga Street being that secondary access The primary access will still be from Stringfellow which 95% of the traffic will use we will be working with Lee County through the development order application to determine what improvements, if any, are necessary to Tortuga Street,” VerVaeke said

The current requirement with the water management district, he explained, is to provide water quality attenuation at 1 inch over the project site or 2 5 times the percentage of impervious. The retention ponds are adequate for this, he said

“Our site is designed to contain the 25-year, 3-day storm, and all the units will be above the flood elevation of a 100-year storm,” VerVaeke said Members were asked by Swisher-Hicks for an informal vote on whether they were for or against the new development project, by a show of hands Roughly 80 percent were against this project

S a n d r a T a p f u m a n e y i , c h i e f o f t h e L e e C o u n t y Emergency Operations Center, shared information on hur-

ricane preparedness for the hurricane season She suggested writing down information generally kept on a cell phone, or electronic device, in the event of a power outage The website LeeEOC com is useful for obtaining various information when preparing for a hurricane She also suggested using the Lee Prepares app, which can also be found on the website

There will be a tax-free holiday to refill any of your disaster preparedness supplies from Saturday, Aug 26, through Friday, Sept 8 There is a pre-determined price on non-taxable items, she said If you go to the Florida Department of Revenue, there is an extensive list of items found useful in a disaster, such as a hurricane.

“Hopefully you know that you’re in Zone A, here along the coast Typically, Zone A is the zone that we would evacuate first. So, what we want you guys to do is have a good plan in place," Tapfumaneyi said "If it is a mandatory evacuation, as you saw for Ian, if you chose not to evacuate, we don’t come through and pull people out of your homes or force you to evacuate, but we want you to be safe, so we’re going to call for those evacuations and we’re encouraging people not to necessarily drive hundreds of miles away, just get outside of the areas that are being called for an evacuation,”

The closest public shelter is at Island Coast High School in Cape Coral For the sake of comfort, she recommends heading to a friend or family member’s home outside of the evacuation area If a ride to the shelter is needed, during an evacuation, there is a Lee Tran bus routed up and down Stringfellow Road, she said

It is also important to prepare before the actual evacuations are called Alertlee com is a resource that can be used to sign up a home address or phone to send alerts directly to you Another resource, for those still undergoing repairs from Hurricane Ian, who may be running into trouble with their insurance company is the Florida Division of Consumer Services 1-877-693-5236

Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control Chief Ben Mickuleit told members that if there is a mandatory evacuation, first responders, such as police, fire and EMS, will also be instructed to leave If there is an emergency in that time, there will be no one available to respond, he said, sharing that many of his team are still haunted by calls that came in from people, during Hurricane Ian, who found themselves in harm’s way, without help

Tami Sager, team leader for volunteer organization Project Hope, told GPICA members about various forms of help offered through its resource clinic from 10 a m to 12 p m on Fridays at the Pine Island Library There is also a Hurricane Ian support group, which meets at the library from 2:30-4:30 p m

To watch this meeting in its entirety, visit GPICA org The next general meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association will be on Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m., at the Pine Island United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922

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